Who doesn’t love new life and all it brings?! The cuddles, the cute outfits, the tinyness of everything….but, we will probably all agree that there is definitely a lot of chaos that comes with new life, too. 

As a homemaker expecting another little one, I anticipate the coming of our baby, but I also dread the unforeseen chaos that will undoubtedly come, too. While we shouldn’t worry and should cast all our cares on Him who can sustain us, it is good for us to minimize the chaos that we can control. It will help us be less stressed and more virtuous when the chaotic season of post partum comes. 

This year, one of my goals is to conquer unnecessary chaos in my homemaking. While there is much chaos that we can do away with, it is realistic to note that some we cannot completely do away with no matter how much we prepare or cultivate good habits. We can however plan accordingly as best we can and minimize the chaos that is within our control. 

If you are looking to minimize some chaos in the newborn/postpartum season, join me as a share all my tips in this homemaking guide and what I’m personally doing to prepare my house and home for our little one.

Wash all the things!

Laundering and washing all the baby stuff is nearly half of the work that goes into preparing for a newborn. Here are the things that are on my checklist to wash and find a home for so that they are quickly accessible….

• NB and 0-3 mo clothes – If you aren’t sure what size clothes your baby will fit into make sure to wash the first two sizes they could need. My babies tend to be smaller so I know I will need newborn clothes, but I also don’t know how fast they will grow out of them so I went ahead and washed the 0-3 month clothes as well.
• Sleepers – Although I love having cute newborn outfits especially for church, the reality is that I’m much too practical to dress them up everyday. It’s easier for me if my babies hang out in their sleepers or other one piece outfits that make it easy to change their diapers. Babies mess their clothes up all day long with spit-up and blow-outs and it doesn’t bother me as much if they ruin or stain a sleeper over a super cute outfit. I have also discovered that actual outfits that fit tighter like onesies and little pants or leggings can cause blowouts or make them worse so it just makes sense to me to just keep them in their sleepers. These are the style of nightgowns and sleepers that I love. I also do like footed PJ’s, too, just not as much. And besides, they will probably be in the baby wrap most of the time anyways.
• Swaddles – These swaddle pods have been a life saver. They aren’t the typical velcro ones. You actual just put your baby in and zip it up leaving them to decide where they want to position themselves. It’s still snug enough but with just enough room for them to wiggle just a little bit. It’s always a nightmare trying to figure out how the baby wants to be wrapped up or if it even wants it. These swaddles take care of that worry for you and they come in all sizes!
• Carseat – I disassembled, washed, air dried, re-assembled the car seat then stuck it right into the back of our car so I wouldn’t have to worry about forgetting about it when it was time to go to the hospital.
• Burb rags – Cloth diapers make the best burp rags because they absorb a lot more.
• Muslin Swaddle blankets
• Extra Baby Blankets – I like to keep extra blankets that are smaller around as extra sheets because you never know how many times a day you are going to have to change the baby’s bedding.
• Baby washcloths
• Pump and bottles
• Snot Sucker – I know, it sounds silly, but that’s actually what it’s called. If you have ever used one those suctions bulbs to help remove your baby’s congestion, you know how difficult it is to make them work. This nasal aspirator is a great alternative and is the only thing that I have found to work.
• Pacifiers
• Baby bathtub

Set up the baby bed.

Setting up the nursery area is probably a given, but I also like to have something set up in the living room, too, so I don’t have to go back and forth so much. Even though my baby stays in a baby wrap for most of the day, I do like to have a pack-n-play set up in the living room so that I have somewhere safe to lay the baby out of the reach of my toddlers if I need to set them down for a bit. The one I have has a little bassinet insert and a changing station insert which is also super helpful, not mention an enclosed zippered section with collapsible shelving for extra supplies like diapers and wipes.

Clean bedroom/nursery.

Whichever room the baby will be sleeping in, take a little bit of time to give it a good clean. A little decluttering and organizing is a good idea, too. 

You and baby will be spending a lot of time in this room so why not set your self up for success by making it a peaceful place to be! The baby will bring enough drama by themselves. Having clutter or unnecessary things stored in that room can easily become noise in the background. 

So take a few moments, take a step back and evaluate. Is this room decent and in order in the very least?

Blow up the yoga ball.

When I was in labor with my last baby, I got to the point that this was the only thing comfortable enough to sit on so this has definitely made it on to my checklist to have done before that time comes.

Set up the changing station.

Extra diapers, extra wipes, extra clothes, extra changing pad sheets, and probably extra of everything else, too!

There is nothing like going to change a diaper and find that you need something that is out of reach. It is terribly inconvenient when it’s out of reach to have to get it yourself in the middle of a diaper change. 

Besides, newborns are notorious for going through diapers and clothing during diaper changes so keep a little bit (or a lot) of everything in reach. 

Prep freezer meals.

Did you know that meal prep parties are a thing?! I had no idea until a friend asked if she could throw me one. 

Of course I said “YES PLEASE!” Making food after having a baby can be really chaotic and just tough to do so having a decent stock of freezer meals even if it’s just meat in a marinade or sauce can be a life saver. 

Ask a close friend or your mom if they would be willing to host a meal prep party for you or if that isn’t possible, take some time and prep some yourself. 

I found it overwhelming to meal prep whole meals for us but I knew that something would be better than nothing so for several weeks before the baby was due, I picked up extra meat and random bottles of sauce every time I went grocery shopping. 

Things like…

• BBQ sauce
• Salsa
• Teriyaki sauce

Then I just dumped them into a ziplock with whatever meat I bought and threw them in the freezer. Super easy, right?

I knew as long as I had meat prepared to throw in the crockpot or instant pot in case I forgot, I could easily throw together a tasty little meal with some rice, potatoes, or tortillas on hand. 

Oh, and don’t do what I did! You might want to label them so you know what your actually pulling out when it comes to make them. 

Pack the hospital bag.

There are definitely a few things that will have to wait to be put into the hospital bag like your daily toiletries, for example, but it’s a good idea to at least plan ahead what you are going to take before the time comes. 

Here are some ideas of what to pack….

• Daily toiletries – toothbrush, hairbrush, deodorant, hair ties, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, etc. whatever you need on a daily basis. 
• Newborn and 0-3 mo outfit – It can be hard to tell what exact size the baby will fit into when they come so I pack one of each of these just in case. You could always have someone bring you something else if it doesn’t fit so don’t stress it. I also only take one outfit of each for the ride home (they just hang out in a diaper and swaddle blanket during the hospital stay) because you know, blowouts. There is no point making extra laundry away from home. 
• Pacifiers – Take two different sizes or types in case your baby has preferences. 
• Nursing clothes – If you have been around here on the blog for awhile you know I love my dresses. There are comfy and you don’t have to worry about it fitting especially after having a baby. My mom got me a new nursing dress that I’m saving for this purpose and having a new dress makes the occasion of coming home even more special and anticipated! If you can, maybe treat yourself to a new outfit for when you finally get to bring that baby home.
• Snacks – There is nothing like nursing to make you starving! Pack some convenient comfort foods so you aren’t hangrily wasting meal times. Even if you are more health conscious, this is definitely an appropriate time to splurge. You don’t need the extra stress of hangriness after you have the baby so pack some goodies! Your future self will thank you. 
• Extra clothes and toiletries for hubby – Maybe a book, too, or something you know he would appreciate to pass the time during the hospital stay after the baby comes. And definitely, pack extra snacks for him, too! 

I don’t pack diapers, wipes and other diaper changing necessities or post partum necessities for myself. The hospital always provides plenty of these. In fact, they will probably send you home with some, too. 

Stock up on…

The last thing on my list that I have been working on to prepare for my newborn is stocking up on household necessities. The less things you have to think about after the baby comes the better. 

Unfortunately, homemaking duties will still be present even as you are recovering, but there are things you can do now to make it easier on you and the rest of the household then. 

Basically, the idea here is to minimize dishes and to stock up on anything that you might go through in a month. This will also keep your grocery lists shorter which will help minimize the shopping postpartum. 

The things on my list to stock up on are…

• Paper plates
• Plastic utensils
• Paper napkins
• Diapers – Running out of diapers because I had no idea how many babies went through as a first time mom was a very stressful thing for us with our first. Obviously, we couldn’t have known that ahead of time, but if this isn’t your first newborn season, you may have a decent idea of what size your babies will be in. My babies typically are in newborn diapers for the first 6 weeks at least so I stocked up on two packs of newborn diapers per week for those first 6 weeks. I also got a couple of size 1 because you never know when they will size up. If this is your first and you have no idea what they will be in, grab a couple of newborn and size 1 packs and find good ones to order online .in case you need some in a jiffy. I really like Mama Bear diapers from Amazon. 
• Wipes – You will definitely go through any wipes you stock up on eventually so grab a good bit. Buying them in bulk wouldn’t be a bad idea. I know for my babies, I easily go through a pack of wipes a week so I will definitely be grabbing a lot to at least make it through the first month or so. 
• Toiletries – This is definitely not a necessity to stock up on, but it may help to minimize the chaos if you don’t run out of anything that you use on a regular basis and have to remember to order or pick it up. The less stress the better!
• Household Products – Think toilet paper, pads, hand soap, dish soap, dishwasher detergent, laundry soap, etc. Anything that you might run out of in the first month after having the baby. 
• Pantry Items – Are there any foods that you family enjoy that are also super easy to prepare that you could stock up on? This way you know that you will have options to fall back on. Things like dried and shelf stable goods (pasta, pasta sauce, and rice) or sides and things that accompany meals like sauces or frozen veggies. 

Final Thoughts!

I truly hope this homemaking guide was a help and not overwhelming to you! After going through a few newborn seasons, I really wanted to enjoy this upcoming one as best as I could without being stressed about things that I could have done something about ahead of time.

The newborn season can be chaotic as homemakers when we have our typical responsibilities still asking for our attention alongside the new responsibilities of an adorable life and not to mention recovering ourselves. While we can’t completely minimize all the chaos, there are definitely things we can do in the month or so leading up to the newborn season. 

If you were encouraged or inspired by this post in any way, please PIN IT! so that other homemakers will find it and can be encouraged and inspired, too!

Are you and your home ready for this fall season? Here’s a get ready for fall checklist so that you can make the most out of this season!

Getting ready for fall becomes a bigger priority to me each year. I didn’t grow up with a fall season so it has been exciting to learn how to make the most of it as a homemaker and really slow down and enjoy everything I can about this delightful season!

This year I have a baby coming in the fall so I’ trying not to make it too complicated. The more I can slow down the more delightful this year’s fall will be, I think, for all of our household. He isn’t here yet, though so there is plenty I can do until then.

Are you ready for the fall? If not, join me as I set up my house and seek to enjoy a simple, yet delightful fall with this practical get ready for fall checklist!

Stock baking items

I’m not an avid baker, but the urge to bake hits me quite often in the fall and winter. The cooler weather just begs for it!

There is nothing like wanting to bake and realizing you don’t have the basic ingredients you need. This has happened to me too often so I’m learning to be a little more prepared and stock up on the basics. 

This looks like…

• Sugar
• Cocoa
• Spices (cinnamon, cloves, pumpkin spice, nutmeg, all spice, etc.)
• Flour
• Baking Soda and ACV (or whatever method of leavening you like.)
• Butter (I’m attempting to keep a stash of this in the freezer this year.)

Before you head out to grab some of these items though, don’t forget to take stock of what you have. 

To add a little more loveliness to my kitchen this fall, I’m also collecting pretty china and stoneware dishes from thrift stores and antique stores to put my spices in. It just adds a little more beauty and makes me smile. 

I also like to take advantage of this stock up time to make a few more healthier swaps for our baked goods since we will be devouring more of them in the fall and holiday season. 

This looks like getting better quality ingredients like…

• Organic cocoa
• Organic cane sugar or natural sweeteners
• Grass-fed butter
• Organic unbleached and unenriched flour
• Organic spices without additives
• Organic ACV with the mother

I’m so excited for the temperature to drop back down so I can turn the oven on again and let all the delicious fall baked goods scent my home! Aren’t you?!

Make a fall baking list

Baking, baking, and more baking! That’s what fall is coming to mean to me as a homemaker. 

If you are like me though, you can get all kinds of crazy ideas to try, so many of them that you get overwhelmed and don’t end up doing much baking at all. Don’t let this grand opportunity to try something new go to waste. Make a list of things you want to make, and enjoy some fun baking adventures!

A great place to put this so it doesn’t get lost is on the fridge or in your homemaking binder. If you don’t know what this is, read about it here. Making a homemaking binder has changed my life. It gives me a designated spot to write all my homemaking ideas and aspirations in one place. 

Gather some fall meal plan ideas

Fall is also a great time to try a new soup or two, maybe make some chili, or something pumpkin inspired. Gather some fall meal plan ideas wherever you get your inspiration (Pinterest, Google, Youtube, social media, etc.) and don’t forget to write them down. 

If you haven’t grabbed them yet, I have a bundle of fall printables including a baking list and a meal plan among other things.  

Switch out bedding and clothing

The weather is getting cooler….slowly, but surely so it’s time to start thinking about switching out the warm weather clothes and bedding for cooler ones. This gives you a chance to see if you have what you need and if everything you have is clean and in good condition. 

I live in a very mild area for winter so cooler weather clothes simply means layering on a sweater, some leggings, and socks with my summer wardrobe. In last years fall post A Fall Checklist for Homemakers, I mentioned getting boots and leggings. This was all I needed that year. These boots should last me several seasons, and I did invest in some comfy maternity leggings since I’m in and out of that season of motherhood. 

Honestly, I prefer maternity leggings over regular leggings because they still fit even when you aren’t pregnant and they are so much more comfy because they don’t have a low waist band. This is definitely a more comfy option even if you aren’t expecting a little one. 

For winter bedding, this simply looks like pulling out some throw blankets to add to all of our beds and living spaces. There’s nothing like a warm blanket to snuggle under that makes for a cozy fall!

Check decor

I have slowly started accumulating fall decor so my plan is to pull out what’s in storage and see what I have. Last fall was a whole year ago and no doubt you can’t remember every little piece of decor you used and have. Taking stock and decorating with what you have is a great way to see what you need to fill in some spaces and also to save money so you don’t go out and buy duplicates. 

It’s also a great idea (if you are in a calmer season of life) to see if you can make some decor items that look like that expensive arrangement that your budget really can’t cover. The dollar store, thrift stores, Hobby Lobby, and even Walmart are great places to get decor items and supplies on sale so you can save a little more. 

For inspiration on fall and decor and for any time of the year really, I love following the decor YouTube channel She Holds Dearly. I always leave inspired! 

Related post: 11 Frugal Fall Decor Ideas

Decorate the porch or patio

It doesn’t have to be fancy or perfect. Sometimes you just have to start or put something out knowing that you will gain experience the more you do it. 

I’m the type of person that leaves things undone until I feel like I actually know what I want for the space. There is nothing wrong with this and it’s a really good slow decorating principle, but at the same time at some point I have to just do something and start somewhere. We all start somewhere and we have to be willing to try something even if you might make mistakes or buy something we don’t end up liking. 

When I buy something that we end up regretting or don’t love once it’s actually in our home, I try not to feel guilty about it, return what I can or donate it, and realize that this is my tuition in my decor education journey. 

I have never decorated our porch because I didn’t know where to start. I decided to tackle it and make this the year to have something on our porch to welcome people. The goal is just to do something and to simply have….

• A fall welcome sign
• A pumpkin or two
• Some mums

I’m really trying to keep it simple so that I will actually do it. Have any new areas that you are going to tackle decorating this year?

Do some fall themed cleaning 

While you are cleaning out that spice cabinet or switching out your clothes, this is a prime opportunity to do a quick clean of that spot in your house. 

Some other things you’ll probably be using or areas you will be interacting with this fall and could do with a quick clean are…

• The oven
• Vents
• Windows
• Spice cabinet
• Pantry
• Closets
• Porch

You don’t have to do it all in one day, but as you are already working in these areas, this is a great time to do a simple touch up of these areas and make them nice and shiny.

Stock fall scents

Baking is a great natural way to scent your home in the fall, but I don’t bake everyday nor do I always have a fall potpourri going. This is why I love to have some essential oils and a diffuser or some wax melts for these days. 

Some scents to stock up on are…

• Cinnamon
• Pumpkin spice
• Vanilla
• Maybe something with Maple in it

You could also just grab a fall essential oil bundle to make it easier, too. 

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.

Another great natural way to scent your home is to use oil reed diffusers. I really got into them this year so I’m looking forward to using them this fall. If you want more natural ways to scent your home, you can find them here. 

Make a wish list for Black Friday sales

I’m frugal and probably frugal to a fault, but honestly, who doesn’t love getting something they need or have been wanting on sale?!

I try to be mindful of certain times of the year when there will be sales and start thinking ahead of time, making a list of sales to look for when that time comes. There isn’t always great sales for the things on my list, but last year, I was able to get a grain mill for a third of the price!! 

Don’t let Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales sneak up on you. Start making a list of things you need or have been wanting to improve the quality of your life so that you can be more intentional and productively search for good deals. It’s good stewardship. 

I also have a printable just for this included in my fall printable bundle.

Final Thoughts!

How I love fall! It’s warm and cozy and beckons you to slow down and enjoy some simplicity. 

I try to do what I can to make the most of this season, and fall makes it easy to embrace a slower pace for a season. It’s so delightful, too with all the goodies to make and share and warm drinks to sip.

Fall really is a beautiful season and I hope you make the most of it this year!

I hope you enjoyed reading this post and if you were inspired in any way, please PIN IT so that other homemakers can find it and be inspired, too!

As I began to think of fall projects or DIY decor that I want to add to my home, I get an itching to sew something.

It was fun to browse around online and find fall sewing projects to make. As usual, there were so many good ideas out there that my list of things I want to make was very large. I’m learning that it’s okay to dream of creating all these cute things, but the reality is that I should only pick one or two things to make.

Especially this year with a baby coming this fall season, it is even more important to have realistic expectations of what will probably really happen. Life is about finding balance and it is no different when it comes to choosing a sewing project for the fall.

I hope you enjoy looking over this narrowed down list of sewing projects. I still haven’t quite narrowed down which one I’m going to make, but I’m leaning towards a fall table runner.

11 Fall Sewing Projects

Fall Dress Sewing Tutorial

Easy Flannel Throw Blankets

How to Make a Sweater Pumpkin

Easy Fabric Coasters

DIY Fall Apron

DIY Fall Placemat

Lace Trimmed Cloth Napkins Tutorial

DIY Burlap and Lace Table Runner

Ruffled Table Runner

Burlap and Lace Placemats Tutorial

Burlap Coaster DIY

If you were inspired by this post in any way, please PIN IT! so that other homemakers can be inspired, too!

Looking for some printable planner pages for your home management binder?

This monthly, daily, and weekly planner printable fits right alongside my old fashioned daily routine and is perfect for your homemaking binder.

The daily planner sheets include space for the theme or business of the day (which I talk about in my weekly routine) as well as space for a brain dump and a morning routine.  It also time blocks your day by meal times and has a little room after the mealtime label for you to write down the meal plan for the day.

After searching around and using different planners, I couldn’t find something that worked for me. I decided to create my own with adequate space to plan my days so I could be a productive homemaker.

I hope these printable planner pages are a help to you! You can find your printable planner pages here…

• Planner Printable Bundle
• Daily and Weekly Planner Printable
• Black and White Planner Printable Bundle

Save it for later!

Have you read any of Sally Clarkson’s books? I’m almost finished with “The Life-Giving Table” and it has been a refreshing read. Yes, it is alot about food, but at the core of everything is the choice to be a life-giving homemaker. 

One of my goals as a homemaker is to create a place where my family and I can flourish, a place that is life-giving to all who may enter. 

It would be so easy to fill this summer with all kinds of to-do’s, but I want to make sure the things I choose to put on my summer checklist is life-giving and helps me and my family flourish. Perhaps it’s not so much what you do, but how you do it. 

What do you have planned for this summer? If you need some life-giving ideas so you can make the most of this season, here are 7 old fashioned ideas to add to your summer checklist. 

Make Homemade Ice Cream

Hot weather calls for cold desserts and what better way to be a little more old fashioned this summer than to make some homemade ice cream, popsicles, or an ice box cake. 

Anything that’s sweet and frozen will surely be a hit when your kids come in from playing outside. Growing up one of our favorite treats was actually frozen mandarin slices or other fruit. Grapes are quite good, too. 

Is there anything more essential to a life-giving home than delicious food? I know deserts aren’t the main thing we should think about when we think about food, but they do play a role. You should read about it in Sally Clarkson’s book.

Decorate with flowers

One thing I love to do in the spring and summer is decorate with flowers. They are so life-giving and beautiful! There is just something refreshing about having flowers around. 

Even if you don’t have a flower garden or you can’t afford to have real flowers all the time, fake flowers will still brighten up your home making it more cozy and life-giving during these hot months. 

Spend time in the sunshine

The cold winter will come again soon so let’s make use of the warm sunny days and get outside. Whether you meet up with friends for a play date, find a park to walk around at, or simply step outside into the backyard; sunshine and fresh air will do you a world of good. 

Sometimes I like to take a chair and a book and sit in the backyard while my toddlers play. If they have the kiddy pool out, I might even get my feet wet. 

Overall, I just feel better when I get a bit of fresh air and sun everyday. Sometimes when I’m feeling unmotivated towards housework, stepping outside for a few minutes helps me feel better and have a little more energy to give towards my responsibilities. 

It’s life-giving!

Play in the water

Maybe I’m weird, but I absolutely love playing in water! Whether it’s splashing in the kiddy pool with my kids, talking a stroll in my backyard during a misty rain, or simply soaking my feet in the kiddy pool, I love to get out and play in the water!

There’s just something refreshing about cool water in these summer months so take every opportunity you get to get a little wet. 

Work on Fall/Christmas Decor

When the holidays come around, do you ever feel like you have so many things you want to work on or create, but you simply run out of time? Why not work on decor or handmade gifts way before the holidays get here. That way, you can actually relax and enjoy them a bit more instead of running around like a chicken with its head cut off. 

This is a new idea for me. I always have so many grand ideas for DIY stuff, but I always get overwhelmed with how little time there is during the holidays that I rarely even do half of what I want to do. 

This summer, I’m starting early and I’m excited to create some handmade decor for my home!

Sew a Sundress

I’m in the lovely season of motherhood and it’s hard to find clothes that I can wear that cover all the seasons of pregnancy, nursing, and everything in between and still look attractive. 

Recently, I saw a homemaker wearing a sundress with a t-shirt over it. She had it tucked or tied up over her baby bump and I thought it was so cute! 

This would work well for every season of motherhood, not to mention that sundresses are pretty easy to make for a beginner seamstress. 

Perhaps you are not on the journey of creating your own wardrobe to tailor it to your specific needs as I am. Maybe you just want a new sewing project to work on. Why not make yourself a cute outfit this summer?

I’ve noticed that creating things is very life-giving for me, that’s why I love sewing. Maybe it’s not your cup of tea. 

What are ways that you can create things that are life-giving to you?

Open the windows

I’ve been hearing a lot about how opening your windows at least 15 minutes a day can improve the air quality inside your home. This summer it’s one of my goals to cultivate the habit of opening all the windows even just for a little bit everyday. 

Even if you aren’t worried about air quality, a little bit of fresh air inside will freshen up your home and make it a little more life-giving. 

Final Thoughts!

Perhaps some of these things seem really small in the grand scheme of creating a life-giving home, but in reality, it’s the little things that we change and choose to do that add up and make a huge difference. 

Perhaps, you are like me and in the thick of raising little ones and adding more to the family. Life is crazy and it’s hard to start doing a lot of big things, but small changes here and there are more sustainable. They still make an impact. 

If you are looking to create a more life-giving home that’s healthy and full of the wisdom from homemakers gone by, you don’t have to make huge changes this summer. 

Maybe it’s starting to cook from scratch so you can save money and eat healthier. Maybe it’s learning to sew so that you can create things at a fraction of a price. 

Whatever your goals are this summer, make headway. Do a little bit here and there. Progress is what counts. 

Wishing you and yours a life-giving summer!

Save it for Later!

As I learn and strive to be the keeper of my home, I find it ever so necessary to have some sort of system to help things run smoothly and to actually get things done. Unfortunately, I am one of those people who can make lists all day long, but to get around to accomplishing all those things is a vice of mine.

There is no doubt that most homemakers can relate to how hard it is to get every single thing done that we think ought to be done. There is a quote from a vintage homemaker from the late 1800’s that says it best.

“It is almost appalling to look at the list of daily duties of the household, when one remembers that it frequently happens that there is but one part of hands to do all the work; yet there are thousands of women who are well and happy in passing their lives that way, knowing that they contribute to the health and comfort of their families. If there be a system in doing the work, that burden will be materially lighter.” ~ Miss Parloa’s Young Housekeeper, 1893

All the work that we as housekeepers must do can easily be laborious and discouraging to think about, but if we create a simple system that can hold all our responsibilities, then we can more easily and joyfully succeed in our role as keepers of the home.

It has been my quest to create a system that helps me as the homemaker and my household flourish. One old fashioned part of this system that can be seen in the lives of homemaker’s in the late 1800’s to the early 1900’s is to have themed days as part of a weekly routine.

If you want a step-by-step system for creating a weekly routine that actually works, grab my ebook here.

Themed Days

The idea of themed days or days devoted to a certain housekeeping task intrigues me and I find that it is a good and simple way to structure your week as a homemaker. The themes can be anything from laundry to cleaning to hobbies. Some themes that I have found helpful in my own homemaking journey are…

• Sabbath Day
• Cleaning Day
• Laundry Day
• Hobby Day
• Shopping Day
• Business Day
• Family Day

This is what I have found that works well for us in the season that we are currently in. As with all things though, I am learning to keep it flexible and not to be too rigid in keeping this weekly routine if something should come up or if I get invited to a play date.

A weekly routine is part of a system. It is not your master, but your servant to help you create a place that is decent and in order. It is okay if it changes with the seasons and I definitely do not expect your weekly routine to look exactly like mine.

Experiment. Find what works for you, but let it be flexible so that it will stand up to any change that may come your way.

Sabbath Day

Sunday is the first day of the week and although much of it is given to church and ministry opportunities, the family must still eat and dishes still need to be washed. It has been incredibly helpful to think through a simple routine for Sundays and record what works in my homemaking binder.

Things that I have thought through and simplified for our Sundays are…

• What time do I need to get up?
• What is a good simple breakfast that is hardy but not time consuming to prepare?
• What kind of lunch is ideal for this season of life?
• When should I do dishes so that I am not having to do them last thing before I go to bed?
• When should we eat supper?
• How can I simplify the meals?

I am in the midst of experimenting with making the same meals every week on Sunday. Our Sundays are full and having it set it in stone what we are going to eat would really simplify things.

Something else that I am finding helpful (especially in this season with toddlers who need a nap right about the time we get home from morning services) is to serve lunch in the car as we drive back from church. We have a 30 minute drive so it works well to have some sort of snack lunch or sandwiches to eat on the way. Since we have started doing this, part of the tradition is to take a Sunday drive and take the back way home.

Cleaning Day

By Monday after the whole household has been home all weekend and after our crazy, but fulfilling Sundays, the house needs a good reset.

This doesn’t mean that this is the only day that I clean on or that I must get everything done on this day. Having one day a week given with the cleaning theme simply means that cleaning is big priority and I need a day that is dedicated to getting a head start on it. Whatever I do not accomplish on this day can be spread out during the rest of the week.

Laundry Day

We all have to wear clothes, and when you have a family, there is a lot of laundry to keep up with in order for everyone to have clean clothes to wear. My laundry themed day is used for getting ahead on laundry so I usually do several loads and I try to catch up on folding and putting away laundry.

There is more on how this works for us in my laundry routine.

Hobby Day

I love creating things to a fault. There have been too many household tasks that I can talk myself out of in order to fit in some kind sewing project or hobby. This is why I have decided to dedicate the theme of a whole day to hobbies.

This doesn’t mean that I only do hobbies all day long. I actually try to fit in a little hobby time every day as I talk about in my daily routine, but it is very refreshing to my creative soul to have an extra large chunk of time fully dedicated to creating something.

This also works really well as a theme for Wednesdays since we go out every Wednesday evening for church. When I know I will be going out in the evening, I try to keep the housework low for that day so that I am not wiped out before having to go to church.

Shopping Day

Shopping takes at least a couple of hours if not more depending on the stores I go to. Usually I am just going to Aldi and Walmart, but occasionally the children and I go on an adventure and explore a new store or we stop by hobby lobby for some sewing stuff.

We find it best to fit all this in during the morning hours first thing after breakfast so that we are back in time to prepare lunch and aren’t to hangry while everything gets put away.

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Business Day

This may not not apply to very many of you, but as a homemaker and a gate keeper to my families health, I find that life gets expensive really quick. That is why I have created this blog in order to bring in a little extra income. Since I am naturally old fashioned, I like to think of it as my egg money. A little can go a long way towards blessing us and helping us create a place to flourish.

This is why I have one day with a business theme. This gives me an extra chunk of time to give towards blogging and all that goes into it.

I will say though that I am not super faithful in keeping a business themed day. This is the day that is often set aside if something comes up or if I end up spending time with friends and that is perfectly okay with me. Business is a priority for me, but it is way down on the list.

Family Day

We have recently started making Saturdays as sort of a family day. This is my husband’s day off and although we both still have responsibilities to carry out, we have both (I haven’t really asked my toddlers options, but I assume they enjoy this day, too) throughly enjoyed having a good portion of time to spend together as a family.

Someday, we might spend some of our Saturdays planning day trips or hiking or something like that, but for now, we find it refreshing to grill some burgers and play croquet in our backyard. We just recently started doing this this summer, so I am intrigued to see what adventures we will get ourselves into for our family day during the colder months.

Final Thoughts!

Having themed days is a simple way to create an old fashioned weekly routine. It originates from homemaker’s back in the late 1800’s (and perhaps father back then this). As it is with much of the old fashioned homemaking things I have come across, this little bit of vintage living is so wise and helpful for homemakers and housekeepers.

It gives structure and helps you know what you are doing each day of that week. Although I have pretty set theme days for each day of the week, there have been seasons that like to rearrange it. This is the beauty of being a homemaker though. You have the flexibility to plan out the week to meet your family’s needs.

The themes don’t always have to be the same. In fact, there have been times on Monday when I plan out the week, that I have not been able to stick to all of these themes, but having my homemaking priorities as themed days allows me switch it up as needed and be as flexible as the season demands.

Once again, I have found that looking to the past has provided me with wisdom in my homemaking journey. This is why I love being an old fashioned homemaker!

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More on Old Fashioned Homemaking….

• Easy Housekeeping Schedule that You Can Stick to
• Daily Routine: A Simple Daily Schedule for Homemakers
• Laundry Routine: How to Simplify your Laundry Schedule
• Dishwashing Routine: The Best Way to Hand Wash Dishes
• Morning Routine: How to be a Productive Homemaker
• Evening Routine: How to End Another Lovely Day

Ready for a simple old fashioned summer? Here’s how you can enjoy all kinds of old fashioned adventures that summer holds and still keep up with your responsibilities as a homemaker.

Each season is unique and exciting in it’s own way and summer is no different.

There’s watermelon to eat, burgers to grill, pools/sprinklers to splash in, blooming gardens to enjoy, ice cream to make, and bright sunny decor to brighten up your home with. Homemaker, if you are looking to have an old fashioned summer, than here are my top 7 things to help you do just that!

From gardening to making ice cream to keeping up with homemaking tasks, here’s how you can enjoy a lovely old fashioned summer as a homemaker.

Grow something!

It may be past the “planting season”, but there are still plenty of opportunities to grow something. The spring always gets away from me, and even more so this year with a baby on the way.

I had gardening plans, and even though I wasn’t able to do hardly any of it, I still was able to see the fruit of last years gardening. Wildflowers, sunflowers, tomato plants, and cilantro all popped up out of the ground without me lifting a finger this spring.

This was all from seeds I had planted last year. It was my goal last year to just grow something and see how I get to benefit from it even a whole growing season later when I couldn’t plant anything!

If you want to get into gardening, but find it daunting or just too much work, just grow something. Buy some herb plants and stick them in your kitchen. Throw some seeds out and see what happens!

It can be hard to find seeds now that it is summer, but there are still plenty of places that are still selling plants like herbs, flowers, or a few vegetables. Just grow something and enjoy a little bit of loveliness this summer season even if you have very little to give to gardening.

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Make homemade ice cream!

There is nothing that screams summer more than ice cream. It’s cold, it’s perfectly sweet, and it’s so very refreshing in these hot months!

One old fashioned thing you can do this summer is learn how to make your own homemade ice cream. Granted you may have to buy an ice cream machine and they can get pricey. You could start out with a smaller one that is much cheaper or create a grand adventure out of it and make some mason jar ice cream!

Whichever path you choose, it’s so nice to be able to make homemade ice cream. It can be cheaper and you get to control the ingredients. It’s so much healthier to make your own than to go out and buy the stuff that has the list of 50 ingredients that are completely foreign to you.

if you are looking to take a small step towards a more old fashioned life this summer, than try your hand at making ice cream. I doubt that you will regret it!

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Master a quick and simple housekeeping routine!

Summer is definitely a time for relaxed housekeeping and more outside time, but things still have to get done. This season is the perfect time to make and master a super simple housekeeping routine so that the house doesn’t fall apart while you are out and about enjoying the warm sunny days and all the adventures they bring.

If you can identify what the main daily tasks are and a few simple ways to incorporate a little cleaning then you will be all set to venture out without having to dread coming back to a disaster.

Some things that I have found helpful are…

• Do a quick pick up the main living room area before you go out. Most of the time I grab the laundry basket and toss everything in that is on the floor and that doesn’t belong in that room. Then I place the basket in my room or out of sight and deal with it later. Sure the jobs not done, but it’s so much nicer to come back to a cleaned up space then to just leave it because I don’t have time or energy for this before I go out.
• Wash the dishes before you go out. This could mean loading the dishwasher or quickly hand washing the big stuff so that the sink looks emptier than it really is. Sometimes homemaking is a mind game and it doesn’t take much to add a little peace to a space without having to go all out.
• Do a quick bathroom clean once a week. Pick one day before you anything fun and give yourself 15 minutes to just wipe everything down and make it look clean. A spray bottle with soap and water and a rag that is handy does the trick very nicely and doesn’t take too long at all.
• Meal prep one thing. You could make a crock pot meal, or get ahead of the game and just prep one thing so that it is already to cook when you get back. This is especially handy if you anticipate that you won’t be back till close to supper time. It’s really nice to plan super simple meals for the summer time, too like tacos, burrito bowls, pasta, etc. Something that comes together in no time.

Summer time is so wonderful in that we have lots of freedom and sunlight to enjoy all kinds of adventures, but responsibilities still beckon us when we get home or come in from the back yard. Any one of these things will make coming home so much better after a day or afternoon out.

Decorate with sunflowers!

Or any flowers really! Sunflowers might not be blooming when the summer hits, but flowers are a lovely old fashioned way to bring the warm sunshine indoors.

I love decorating with flowers because they are a super simple way to add beauty to a room. Even fake flowers make me happy especially because they stay beautiful all season long and don’t need any attention.

I especially love to decorate with sunflowers because they are easy to grow yourself and they are a great way to transition between summer and fall decor. I got some red and yellow sunflower seeds last year and it’s so much fun to watch them grow up and bloom!

Enjoy the outside!

Perhaps I don’t need to say it, but get outside! Especially before the heat hits (if you live in the south).

Enjoy the new life popping up everywhere and maturing into what God designed them to be. See the beauty of color and warmth and appreciate it because it reflects the beauty that only comes from God.

Could there be anything more old fashioned then sitting outside during the warm summer evenings and taking in a breeze or watching the sun go down! Not to mention the fairy-like fireflies that start to blink here and there as dusk approaches.

The cold of winter is finally all behind us, but it’s coming up again and we will be back inside again. Make the most of the warm sunny days even if they are hot. Make it a goal to go out (even if it’s just in your backyard) as much as possible.

Save money on your electric bill!

Electric bills can be crazy high in the summer, but you can actually save money on your electric bill if you want to be more frugal this season. Most electric companies will do what I call a summer AC program where they will offer you a lower rate during certain hours of the day during the week with a higher rate during other hours as an incentive for you to not use extra electricity so that they can spread it out to power grids that need it more, like commercial ones.

Mostly it comes down to not using the AC during the hottest part of the day. It can be an adventure, but if you are planning to be out anyways why not be a little more frugal this summer season!

Enjoy a second childhood!

Although summers are more relaxed, they can easily get filled up with doing this and that. Before you know it, you might be running around like a chicken with it’s head cut off trying to fit this or that activity in. It will wear you out!

Slow down and enjoy being a child again when you had less responsibilities, when you played outside till the sun when went down, when the heat really didn’t bother you so much because you were so busy having fun.

Make the summer a wonderful time for you kids, but enjoy it immensely yourself. Get outside and play with your kids in their little swimming pool or in the sprinkler. Let them stay up and catch fireflies with them.

Just because you are a mom and homemaker with lots of things you need/want to do, don’t forget that you are still a big kid and that it might do you a world of good to simply enjoy this summer like you were a kid again.

Final Thoughts!

Summer is a wonderful time and full of so many lovely things to do! If you love the old fashioned life, then I hope that you were inspired by this post on old fashioned summer homemaking and that you are ready to make the most of this summer.

I hope that you take advantage of the slower pace of summer and truly rest and yet enjoy many adventures. Create beautiful memories and traditions with your family this summer and make it the best old fashioned summer you’ve had yet as a homemaker!

Save it for later!

The first antique store I visited was only about year ago. I can’t believe I had never been to one before! We easily could have spent hours looking at old dishes, paintings, and books among other things. Needless to say, I am hooked!

I love to visit antique stores any chance I get and this past weekend when my husband suggested we visit some antique stores on his day off, I was ready to go.

We ended up visiting 5 different antique stores and this is what we found…

• a wicker basket with a lid that latches
• some red transfer ware dishes
• a framed cameo

How I Used the Wicker Basket

As soon as I saw the wicket basket, I knew it would be perfect to hold my frequently used sewing essentials. I have a basket that I currently use, but I liked the idea of being able to latch and hide my scissors and such away from my curious toddlers.

I didn’t know if my large scissors would fit, but I crossed my fingers and bought it anyways! Thankfully, they fit….barely, but enough to satisfy me.

How I Used the Red Transfer Ware Bowl

I fell in love with red transfer ware when I saw some in an antique store last summer. I, however, didn’t purchase any because I didn’t know if it was a passing whimsy or if I would actually like it long term. My love for red transfer ware did stick around though so I have been looking to add some of these beautiful old world pieces to my home.

Unfortunately, blue transfer ware is much easier to find than the red. Almost every antique store we visited had a piece or a whole collection, but it wasn’t until the very last store that we stumbled on some red transfer ware hiding in a corner stall.

Now I don’t know if this is real transfer ware or a good imitation because these pieces were made in the US and not in England where these type of dishes are typically made. I’m thrilled to find some even if they aren’t the real deal.

I immediately knew that the decorative shallow bowl would work wonderfully as a ring dish in my kitchen.

How I Used the Red Transfer Ware Plate

Originally, the plan was to use the red transfer ware plate as part of a gallery wall in the living room, but then I realized my kitchen cabinets have a ledge above them. I have seen a few homemakers use that ledge to prop decorative dishes on so I gave it a try.

The elegance was a wonderful touch! I couldn’t believe how well it looked and fit with our kitchen. Up until now, I thought our kitchen was kind of ugly and would love to some day remodel it, but adding this little bit of beauty totally distracted and almost hid what I didn’t like about our kitchen.

Maybe my kitchen was ugly because it simply needed some elegance to make it beautiful. If I can find more red transfer ware to add to my kitchen, I think I could be satisfied with the kitchen just the way it is. You will never know how much a little bit of beauty can transform and cosy up a space.

The Plan for the Cameo

For now, the cameo is set aside for a gallery wall in my little girls room. This is just the beginning of a simple and elegant collection that I believe will make a huge difference in her nursery room. Some other ideas I am keeping my eyes out for are…

• vintage floral or portrait artwork with decorative frames
• more cameos
• a decorative mirror
• perhaps and old decorative brush or comb

Also, if I don’t end up liking the way the cameo looks because of how the background has aged and discolored, the background and portrait part actually come out so I could still use this beautiful frame.

Final Thoughts!

Finding antiques that you like and that will work with your home takes time and patience. We actually didn’t find anything at the first four stores. All the pieces I got were actually at the very last store.

Part of the reason that we didn’t get anything at some of them is because some antique stores can be overpriced. Perhaps they are priced correctly for the antiques they are selling, but I prefer to shop at the stores that have super great deals or have affordable pricing.

I am so thrilled that I finally did find some red transfer ware though! It’s a good thing that the store where I found them isn’t very close to where we live because I am tempted to go back and get some more ASAP even though it isn’t in the budget for this month. Oh, well. I know the patience will do me good and help me curate a better collection.

Save it for Later!