Archive for Homemaking

Beginning of Summertime

June 15, 2007 at 11:28 pm · Filed under Homemaking

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket
I know that the official start of summer is still a few days away, but don’t you feel that time during the summer seems to go faster than any other time during the year?  Maybe it is just me.  I know it has been a while since my last post and apologize for that.  The past couple of weeks have been crazy with guests coming and going.  It started last weekend with my husband’s friend Kyle from Birmingham, Alabama.  Kyle and Mr. T have known each other since grade school and haven’t seen each other in a few years.  He and his parents were actually in the area for a little summertime vacation so we all decided to use the situation to our advantage for a little visiting.  Don’t you love how you can meet up with an old friend that you haven’t seen in a while and it just seems like you’ve never been apart?  The conversation flows easily and the laughter spills around the room. 

Last night Mr. T and I went to a couples’ house who we are good friends with.  They just got married about a month ago and recently returned from their honeymoon so this was the first time they had a get-together as a married couple.  Also, this weekend Mr. T’s brother and his wife will be coming to visit us from the Memphis, Tennessee area.  We haven’t seen them since Christmas so we are definately looking forward to this visit.  After my in-laws go back to Memphis next weekend I have a couple of weeks until our next house guests come–my parents for the weekend after 4th of July. 

As much as I enjoy visiting with family and friends from afar, I have to be honest and admit that I am a little relieved when everyone leaves and my schedule returns to normal.  Hopefully I’m not the only one that feels that way.  I hope you all are having a safe and happy summer, and I looking forward to writing to you again soon!

Blessings to You!

Mrs. T

P.S. To those of you who are interested in doing surveys, I have come across another great site that I have been using the past few weeks.  So far I haven’t been getting as many offers to do surveys as other sites I participate with, but, in my opinion, the reward amounts are quite satisfactory.  Here is a link to the site:  

Leave a Comment

Surveys

May 28, 2007 at 8:02 pm · Filed under Frugal Living, Green Living, Homemaking

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket
If you are looking for creative ways to add a little income to your budget, but don’t want to commit yourself to a part-time job, you should look at doing surveys from home.  I know you may be a little skeptical.  I was too at first.  But after doing some research and discussing it with my husband, I signed up with a few companies just to try it out, and boy am I thankful I did!    

On average, I do inbetween a half dozen and a dozen surveys a month through a few different companies I have signed-up with, and this gives me an income of about $75-$100 a month.  Of course you won’t be making as much as working outside the home at a part-time job, but the benefits of doing the surveys in your home and at your own pace is well worth it I think.  They are something you can do early in morning before the rest of the family gets up, while your kids are taking their afternoon nap or in the evenings after they have gone to bed. 

My husband and I use the extra money when things come along that we would like to have but aren’t necessities that we have alotted in our budget.  For example, I know I mentioned in a previous entry that I have been wanting to buy some Lunapads so that during that during that special time of the month I can be a bit “greener”.  Well, to order what I felt like I needed for my cycle totaled approximately $150.  Typically this would be a blow to our budget, but I used money I had made from taking surveys to make the purchase, and wa-la…I have the Lunapads I have been eyeing!  By investing in Lunapads, I no longer have to worry about throwing away money each and every month on disposable menstrual products, and I don’t have to worry about exposing my body to toxins and chemicals found in these products.  

I am sure you have all seen the advertisements out there, either on webpages or maybe even in your e-mail inbox, but you don’t know what survey companies to choose.  Here are a few I have signed up with and have had nothing but good experience with: 

www.e-rewards.com

www.globaltestmarket.com

www.surveysavvy.com

www.your2cents.com

After you sign-up, I recommend checking your e-mail at least twice a day.  I check mine early in the morning after my husband has left for work and in the evenings after dinner.  The reason for this is a lot of times companies will post surveys for only a certain amount of people to respond in a certain amount of time.  Once that number of people have responded, the survey is closed and your opportunity to make money is lost.  It takes a few weeks to work taking surveys into your schedule but I think the benefits are worth it.  If you are an experienced survey taker, and you have any tips for readers or survey sites you recommend, please leave a comment.

I hope you all had a wonderful Memorial Day!

Blessings to You!

Mrs. T

P.S. I also give survey-taking “two thumbs up” because it is sooo environmentally friendly.  You don’t have to go anywhere, which would use gas and put wear and tear on your vehicle.  It doesn’t require you to print anything out, and they take a short amount of time so not much electricity is used.  The only paper that may be involved is the check you receive in the mail.  Yippee!           

Comments (2)

500 Items Before November 30th

May 16, 2007 at 2:28 pm · Filed under Homemaking, Simplifying

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Mr. B and I recently renewed our lease for another six months for the apartment we are living in.  I know, I know.  I’m sure a lot of you are saying, “Lease?….Aren’t you just throwing away money?”.  The main reason we are leasing is because we recently moved here to the Mississippi Gulf Coast and as you all know, this was one of the worst hit areas by Katrina.  The housing market is still pretty crazy so we are waiting for it to calm down a bit.  We didn’t want to invest in a house only for the market to dive, us possibly have to move again and then take an enormous loss.  Also, we didn’t want to commit to buying a house when we are both unfamiliar with the area. 

Anyway, so our lease will now be up at the end of November and I am already dreading moving everything.  When Mr. B and I first got married and moved-in together in October of this past year we had multiples of almost everything (2 toasters, 5 lamps, 2 coffee tables, 3 printers, 5 sets of dishes, etc.).  Most of the multiples are gone thanks to a yard sale we had early this year at my parents house, but I still feel like we have so much ’stuff’–things that are not really used, they just sit there and take up precious space in our 700 square foot apartment.  You all know what I am talking about.  Clutter.

So to alleviate the problem and make myself feel better about the whole future moving situation I have decided to challenge myself.  My goal is to rid my home of 500 items before November 30, 2007.  Why 500?  Well, I don’t really have a very logical answer to that.  I just thought 100 wasn’t enough and I would still be feeling cluttered, while 1,000 would leave us with an empty apartment. 

To keep myself motivated I will be taking pictures for your viewing pleasure and, of course, keeping count of what goes out the door.

Remember, “In everything you do, put God first, and He will direct you and crown your efforts with success.”  Proverbs 3:6

Blessings to You,

Mrs. T    

Comments (1)

Welcome to Keeper of My Home!

May 13, 2007 at 4:55 pm · Filed under Homemaking

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

When pondering what to write as my first entry, I had a little trouble deciding what it should be about, because I feel the first entry is what my readers will create their first impression from.  I wanted something that would express who I am, what I believe and what I strive to become.  After a lot of thought and prayer, I decided to write about Proverbs 31.  This piece of scripture has become very dear to my heart,  although I must be honest and tell you that it is something that I didn’t come across until a few months after I was married.  Nonetheless, it is scripture that, through the grace of God, has opened my eyes and provided many blessing to my husband and myself in a short amount of time.  For those of you who have never taken a good look at Proverbs 31, I highly encourage you to.  Read and savor each and every word.  I think that not only will you be inspired by God’s word, but you will also be blessed by it.

In Christ,

Mrs. T

P.S. If you are looking for more guidance on the topic of leading a Christian life, I also suggest reading Titus 2.  Blessings to you all! 

Leave a Comment