Showing posts with label Housewife MacGyver. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Housewife MacGyver. Show all posts
Last Sunday evening, my husband and I noticed that a house that we had looked at and been very interested in was back on the market. We had LOVED the house and seriously considered putting in an offer, but, for multiple reasons, we hadn't.
Seeing it back on the market, we felt like maybe this was a divine sign that this was the house we were supposed to have... so, first thing Monday morning, we had our realtor draw up papers and I spent the morning running around to get the papers filled out -- to my parents' house to use their printer since ours was out of ink, to my husband's school to catch him on his lunch hour so he could sign each page, and then, thankfully, just to the office of his school to fax them (thank you, nice secretary!) -- all in the lunch and naptime hour.
And then, that afternoon, a call from the realtor: We didn't get the house. The sellers didn't even LOOK at our offer.
All of that work.... all of that feeling of divine intervention... for nothing??
I hung up the phone and shed a couple of tears while preparing dinner -- completely frustrated. Why did we even bother going through all of that running around and paperwork?
As I chopped the garlic for dinner, a thought came to me. Not necessarily an answer, but a comfort nonetheless:
After ALL that we can do. With this house that we love, we've done all that we can do, and now we have to continue on in faith and leave it in the Lord's hands, knowing that He loves us and He wants us to be happy, but also knowing that He expects us to do our very best, to work for the worthwhile things in life. Even the strongest belief can't help you win the lottery if you don't buy a ticket. :)
The concept of doing all that we can applies both to spiritual topics as well as to topics of everyday emotional and mental well-being -- which are often very hard to separate. :)
As a parent, I teach my children and love them and do all that I can for them to teach them correct principles, to raise them to be respectful and kind, to help them to not embarrass themselves (or me) in public. But there comes a point when I have done all that I can do and I have to let them exercise their agency and make their own mistakes -- and hope that they will learn to trust our Heavenly Father so that he can make up for where I lack. (My little babies won't be fully on their own for quite a while, though. :)
As a wife, I do all that I can do love my husband and keep our marriage strong. I cannot preserve and sanctify our marriage on my own. For our marriage to be its best, my husband also needs to be doing all that he can do. And, in turn, as we both do our very best and do all that we can, we rely on the Lord to help us as well.
As a follower of Christ, I do all that I can do live the best and most virtuous life that I can, repenting and then relying on Christ's atonement to span the gap between my best and the perfection that is necessary for me to return to His presence.
Right now, I don't know why things work out the way they do, why we would feel so strongly about that house for naught. Maybe at some point I will know, but maybe not. That's not so important. What's important is knowing that I've done my best. And what's more MacGyver than that? :)
This post is part of the Housewife MacGyver series on just Lu. Read more about Housewife MacGyver and see all the posts in the series here.
Read more from this post in Beauty follower »
Seeing it back on the market, we felt like maybe this was a divine sign that this was the house we were supposed to have... so, first thing Monday morning, we had our realtor draw up papers and I spent the morning running around to get the papers filled out -- to my parents' house to use their printer since ours was out of ink, to my husband's school to catch him on his lunch hour so he could sign each page, and then, thankfully, just to the office of his school to fax them (thank you, nice secretary!) -- all in the lunch and naptime hour.
And then, that afternoon, a call from the realtor: We didn't get the house. The sellers didn't even LOOK at our offer.
All of that work.... all of that feeling of divine intervention... for nothing??
I hung up the phone and shed a couple of tears while preparing dinner -- completely frustrated. Why did we even bother going through all of that running around and paperwork?
As I chopped the garlic for dinner, a thought came to me. Not necessarily an answer, but a comfort nonetheless:
...for we know that it is by bgrace that we are saved, after all we can cdo. (2 Ne 25:23)
After ALL that we can do. With this house that we love, we've done all that we can do, and now we have to continue on in faith and leave it in the Lord's hands, knowing that He loves us and He wants us to be happy, but also knowing that He expects us to do our very best, to work for the worthwhile things in life. Even the strongest belief can't help you win the lottery if you don't buy a ticket. :)
The concept of doing all that we can applies both to spiritual topics as well as to topics of everyday emotional and mental well-being -- which are often very hard to separate. :)
As a parent, I teach my children and love them and do all that I can for them to teach them correct principles, to raise them to be respectful and kind, to help them to not embarrass themselves (or me) in public. But there comes a point when I have done all that I can do and I have to let them exercise their agency and make their own mistakes -- and hope that they will learn to trust our Heavenly Father so that he can make up for where I lack. (My little babies won't be fully on their own for quite a while, though. :)
As a wife, I do all that I can do love my husband and keep our marriage strong. I cannot preserve and sanctify our marriage on my own. For our marriage to be its best, my husband also needs to be doing all that he can do. And, in turn, as we both do our very best and do all that we can, we rely on the Lord to help us as well.
As a follower of Christ, I do all that I can do live the best and most virtuous life that I can, repenting and then relying on Christ's atonement to span the gap between my best and the perfection that is necessary for me to return to His presence.
Right now, I don't know why things work out the way they do, why we would feel so strongly about that house for naught. Maybe at some point I will know, but maybe not. That's not so important. What's important is knowing that I've done my best. And what's more MacGyver than that? :)
I'm so excited today to have Keira again! Give her a nice warm welcome back...
Hello again! I'm Keira, a frequent guest-poster at Just Lu. This is a copy of my original post: The Disease of Social Comparison. Although I never did enjoy hating my body for its tiny imperfections that I magnified my entire life, becoming a mother brought this depressing habit to the forefront of my mind for the past year. This is a modified post, intended to label for clarity what we do everyday, and hopefully we can all come up with ways to change it.
This post is part of the Housewife MacGyver series on just Lu. Read more about Housewife MacGyver and see all the posts in the series here.
Read more from this post in Beauty follower »
Hello again! I'm Keira, a frequent guest-poster at Just Lu. This is a copy of my original post: The Disease of Social Comparison. Although I never did enjoy hating my body for its tiny imperfections that I magnified my entire life, becoming a mother brought this depressing habit to the forefront of my mind for the past year. This is a modified post, intended to label for clarity what we do everyday, and hopefully we can all come up with ways to change it.
As a Psychology major, I am required to take Social Psychology, a class that has really opened my mind to a new, deliberate way of thinking. I absolutely love the insights I gain in college that I can now use throughout my whole life, things that are qualified as "the world's knowledge", but actually display vividly the truths of the Savior's teachings.
One of those psychological findings that has shown over and over again to actively depress people is just what my title states--social comparison. You are guaranteed to be a pessimist and are many times more likely to be depressed when you compare yourself to others. Not to mention the things we ALL know are true, research or not--you just feel like garbage whenever you do it, whether you compare up or down.
Whether it be someone in front of you in line at the checkout or a celebrity in a movie you'll never meet, we are always comparing, and we're obviously not any happier. Not only is it unfair, but in a comparison, someone wins, and someone loses. We are often the losers, since we know our faults and insecurities better than anyone else, and we compare to what others present in public. Comparing their best to your worst? You lose, every time.
Why do we compare, then?
Because it's addictive.
It becomes a compulsion with enough time.
Although you may only "win" one out of every five comparisons (or one out of every thousand!), the addictive part is that we win at all. Just as gamblers in a card game will win once or twice in a whole night, but end up badly in debt waiting for the next stroke of luck, so we compare ourselves endlessly, hoping for our stroke of luck. And do we have one? Of course!
There is always someone worse off than us--health issues, family dysfunction, lack of faith or joy in their lives, less education or experience, and someone is always not as well off and is wearing last year's styles. But just as there is always someone who we can look down on, there are a myriad of people who we can look up to in envy and quietly hate. Even if you lose the comparison, it feeds our pride to lose in one area (income) but gain in another (beauty), thus affording us a back-door "win".
But you know what's funny about winning and losing? It means that we are at war. When you compare yourself with another person, hoping to win (whether you do or not), you have committed an act of psychological violence on that person. Yes, even that completely oblivious woman standing in front of you in the grocery line. What is so significant about doing something to someone who is not affected and has no idea you are using psychological warfare?
It makes you a warrior.
With everyone you meet.
We women (and men) are targeted enough by the media and advertising. They strive to keep us unhappy so we will buy their products. They encourage this competition because it is profitable. And while it may take some effort and time to correct society as a whole, what we can do, right now, TODAY, is put down our weapons. Let's stop being warriors and start being comrades.
What I need help with is the how.
How do we cure this disease that permeates our (even casual!) relationships, and sickens our minds and hearts?
How do YOU suggest we become comrades? It is so easy to compare with blogs and Facebook, where every moment of life is documented--including how you looked one month after birth! It's easy to compare when we are told that perfection IS attainable--just buy _______. It's easy to compare when current instant communication keeps us distanced from people, where real change can occur. What do we do?
And by the way, this theory doesn't just apply to the interaction with one another. It also applies to how we treat ourselves. Every time you pass in front of that mirror and see your flaws and calculate them in a split second (I'm right with you all, I do it, too, unfortunately), you are at war on yourself.
Sometimes, I get so caught up in looking at myself or others that way, that I literally have to scream in my mind, "STOP!" I have to admit, it is a long-ingrained habit that I fight every time I pass a reflective surface! Isn't that just awful?
How can we all be kinder to ourselves and each other? How can we create meaningful relationships with other women that never surround a number on a scale or what we ate that day? I would love to hear your suggestions and examples! What do you do when the media insists on war?
And in case you need ideas or encouragement, I have a spiritual, emotional, AND cognitive-behavioral answer of my own here.
One of those psychological findings that has shown over and over again to actively depress people is just what my title states--social comparison. You are guaranteed to be a pessimist and are many times more likely to be depressed when you compare yourself to others. Not to mention the things we ALL know are true, research or not--you just feel like garbage whenever you do it, whether you compare up or down.
Whether it be someone in front of you in line at the checkout or a celebrity in a movie you'll never meet, we are always comparing, and we're obviously not any happier. Not only is it unfair, but in a comparison, someone wins, and someone loses. We are often the losers, since we know our faults and insecurities better than anyone else, and we compare to what others present in public. Comparing their best to your worst? You lose, every time.
Why do we compare, then?
Because it's addictive.
It becomes a compulsion with enough time.
Although you may only "win" one out of every five comparisons (or one out of every thousand!), the addictive part is that we win at all. Just as gamblers in a card game will win once or twice in a whole night, but end up badly in debt waiting for the next stroke of luck, so we compare ourselves endlessly, hoping for our stroke of luck. And do we have one? Of course!
There is always someone worse off than us--health issues, family dysfunction, lack of faith or joy in their lives, less education or experience, and someone is always not as well off and is wearing last year's styles. But just as there is always someone who we can look down on, there are a myriad of people who we can look up to in envy and quietly hate. Even if you lose the comparison, it feeds our pride to lose in one area (income) but gain in another (beauty), thus affording us a back-door "win".
But you know what's funny about winning and losing? It means that we are at war. When you compare yourself with another person, hoping to win (whether you do or not), you have committed an act of psychological violence on that person. Yes, even that completely oblivious woman standing in front of you in the grocery line. What is so significant about doing something to someone who is not affected and has no idea you are using psychological warfare?
It makes you a warrior.
With everyone you meet.
We women (and men) are targeted enough by the media and advertising. They strive to keep us unhappy so we will buy their products. They encourage this competition because it is profitable. And while it may take some effort and time to correct society as a whole, what we can do, right now, TODAY, is put down our weapons. Let's stop being warriors and start being comrades.
What I need help with is the how.
How do we cure this disease that permeates our (even casual!) relationships, and sickens our minds and hearts?
How do YOU suggest we become comrades? It is so easy to compare with blogs and Facebook, where every moment of life is documented--including how you looked one month after birth! It's easy to compare when we are told that perfection IS attainable--just buy _______. It's easy to compare when current instant communication keeps us distanced from people, where real change can occur. What do we do?
And by the way, this theory doesn't just apply to the interaction with one another. It also applies to how we treat ourselves. Every time you pass in front of that mirror and see your flaws and calculate them in a split second (I'm right with you all, I do it, too, unfortunately), you are at war on yourself.
Sometimes, I get so caught up in looking at myself or others that way, that I literally have to scream in my mind, "STOP!" I have to admit, it is a long-ingrained habit that I fight every time I pass a reflective surface! Isn't that just awful?
How can we all be kinder to ourselves and each other? How can we create meaningful relationships with other women that never surround a number on a scale or what we ate that day? I would love to hear your suggestions and examples! What do you do when the media insists on war?
And in case you need ideas or encouragement, I have a spiritual, emotional, AND cognitive-behavioral answer of my own here.
Here to add her two cents to the discussion about self-(or not)-reliance this month is my dear friend Heather. On top of being incredibly creative and awesome, Heather is one of the sweetest and kindest people I know. I'm so happy to have her here today to share!
Hey! I'm Heather. I document my lives adventures over at The Many Adventures of Heather and Squidget. I love a good laugh, being creative, clearance racks, and my wonderful little family. You can hop on over some time to see craft ideas, recipes, and stories of the crazy things that always seem to happen :) I am excited to share my thoughts with you today. My life has been full of some pretty big challenges, and I would love to be able to use what I have learned to help make those kinds of things easier for anyone who might be going through them.
I enjoy my life for the most part, but sometimes things just become more than I can take. I am sure we have all had these moments. Just when you need to be out the door, you look down to find that you're wearing the contents of your fridge on your clothing, you drop a nice hot pan of something you have carefully prepared on the floor and burn yourself AND have to throw it all away. You discover your favorite piece of clothing no longer fits. These things happen to all of us, and we can usually cope pretty well with one or two at a time, but on occasion, life starts piling it on.
Sometimes I really feel like Lucille Ball in the episode of I Love Lucy where she gets a job at the chocolate factory. She does all right putting the chocolates in the boxes even though it is challenging. But every time she thinks she might just have a hang of things, they speed up the conveyor belt. Lucy does every thing she can think of to try and deal with the onslaught of chocolates. She tries eating them and even puts them in her hat and clothing. And in the end Lucy looses the job.
We are at the end of that conveyor belt sometimes when it's turned up to extra super fast mode. One thing after another goes wrong and it just does not seem to stop. It would be nice if our problems were as easy to deal with as chocolates (they sure would be a whole lot tastier :)
The fact is sometimes, we can't succeed on our own. We need help!
You may have heard the saying "When life gets to hard to stand, get on your knees". I find that there is great wisdom in this advice. We can all have help from our Heavenly Father any time we need it. He is never too busy. He always listens. He loves each one of us and wants us to be happy. If we ask him for the strength we need, he will help us accomplish great things. He can heal broken hearts and lead others to our aid. Reading his words in the Bible and Book of Mormon are also His way of comforting and helping us in our times of need. He is ready and willing to bless and help us, all we need to do is ask.
We also need to know when it's time to ask for help from others. It can be such a scary thing to do. It seems we need to put on a good face for people, even when we are a mess behind closed doors. Even though asking others for help seems like not taking care of ourselves, remember it takes a brave and wise person to admit when they can no longer do something alone.
We need to do our part to help ourselves by letting those who can help us know we are struggling. Church leaders, family and friends all love us. More often than not people are overjoyed to be able to lend us aid. People can receive blessings in their own lives by serving others, so when it is our turn to need help, we shouldn't deny others the opportunity to serve us. It can also help us grow closer to those serving us.
We are not alone. We are children of a Heavenly Father who loves us and knows us perfectly. He wants to bless us, all we need to do is ask. Our answered prayers may come as a quiet comforting moment, or a feeling in our heart. They may also be answered through the people in our lives, whether a smiling store clerk or a loved one who calls at just the right time, they are blessings from our loving Father.
Don't go it alone. Don't struggle by yourself. Don't believe the lie that your problems are not important enough to deserve the help you need. Open your heart to those whom you love and trust and let them help you. No matter what kinds of troubles life throws your way, monumental or minuscule, physical or emotional, financial or spiritual, chocolate related :) or otherwise, you NEVER have to face it alone.
Thanks, Heather! Heather and I were neighbors in a former life, and often the heaven-sent smiling face for me was hers! Stop by The Many Adventures of Heather and Squidget to hear more from Heather and check out her super cute (and easy) crafts.
This post is part of the Housewife MacGyver series on just Lu. Read more about Housewife MacGyver and see all the posts in the series here.
Read more from this post in Beauty follower »
Hey! I'm Heather. I document my lives adventures over at The Many Adventures of Heather and Squidget. I love a good laugh, being creative, clearance racks, and my wonderful little family. You can hop on over some time to see craft ideas, recipes, and stories of the crazy things that always seem to happen :) I am excited to share my thoughts with you today. My life has been full of some pretty big challenges, and I would love to be able to use what I have learned to help make those kinds of things easier for anyone who might be going through them.I enjoy my life for the most part, but sometimes things just become more than I can take. I am sure we have all had these moments. Just when you need to be out the door, you look down to find that you're wearing the contents of your fridge on your clothing, you drop a nice hot pan of something you have carefully prepared on the floor and burn yourself AND have to throw it all away. You discover your favorite piece of clothing no longer fits. These things happen to all of us, and we can usually cope pretty well with one or two at a time, but on occasion, life starts piling it on.
We are at the end of that conveyor belt sometimes when it's turned up to extra super fast mode. One thing after another goes wrong and it just does not seem to stop. It would be nice if our problems were as easy to deal with as chocolates (they sure would be a whole lot tastier :)
The fact is sometimes, we can't succeed on our own. We need help!
You may have heard the saying "When life gets to hard to stand, get on your knees". I find that there is great wisdom in this advice. We can all have help from our Heavenly Father any time we need it. He is never too busy. He always listens. He loves each one of us and wants us to be happy. If we ask him for the strength we need, he will help us accomplish great things. He can heal broken hearts and lead others to our aid. Reading his words in the Bible and Book of Mormon are also His way of comforting and helping us in our times of need. He is ready and willing to bless and help us, all we need to do is ask.
We also need to know when it's time to ask for help from others. It can be such a scary thing to do. It seems we need to put on a good face for people, even when we are a mess behind closed doors. Even though asking others for help seems like not taking care of ourselves, remember it takes a brave and wise person to admit when they can no longer do something alone.
We need to do our part to help ourselves by letting those who can help us know we are struggling. Church leaders, family and friends all love us. More often than not people are overjoyed to be able to lend us aid. People can receive blessings in their own lives by serving others, so when it is our turn to need help, we shouldn't deny others the opportunity to serve us. It can also help us grow closer to those serving us.
We are not alone. We are children of a Heavenly Father who loves us and knows us perfectly. He wants to bless us, all we need to do is ask. Our answered prayers may come as a quiet comforting moment, or a feeling in our heart. They may also be answered through the people in our lives, whether a smiling store clerk or a loved one who calls at just the right time, they are blessings from our loving Father.
Don't go it alone. Don't struggle by yourself. Don't believe the lie that your problems are not important enough to deserve the help you need. Open your heart to those whom you love and trust and let them help you. No matter what kinds of troubles life throws your way, monumental or minuscule, physical or emotional, financial or spiritual, chocolate related :) or otherwise, you NEVER have to face it alone.
Thanks, Heather! Heather and I were neighbors in a former life, and often the heaven-sent smiling face for me was hers! Stop by The Many Adventures of Heather and Squidget to hear more from Heather and check out her super cute (and easy) crafts.
This post is part of the Housewife MacGyver series on just Lu. Read more about Housewife MacGyver and see all the posts in the series here.
As I mentioned in my earlier post, I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. My friend, Jocelyn, is hosting a fantastic segment right now, called the Book of Mormon Forum wherein members of the LDS church share their belief in and testimonies of the Book of Mormon and answer questions about the book.
I debated about including my testimony of the Book of Mormon here as part of the Housewife MacGyver series. How does my personal testimony of this sacred book relate to the aims of Housewife MacGyver, of helping each person reading to improve his/her relationship with God? I thought. And then the answer came: Because each individual's testimony comes through developing a relationship with God. Regardless of belief, testimony -- that which inspires action because of belief -- must come from a supreme being, whom I call God.
As a member of the LDS Church -- a Mormon -- I believe that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God in the same manner that as I know that the Bible is the word of God -- because I have acted on their teachings and prayed to know of their truth, and received powerful confirmation through the Spirit.
Both books of scripture declare that by their fruits ye shall know them:
As I have read and acted upon the teachings of the Book of Mormon, the fruits of those teachings have been made apparent.
I struggle with daily scripture study. But as I study diligently and make the word of God a priority in my life, I see the fruits of that labor, the blessings of obedience to His words.
Daily scripture study doesn't become any easier, but it becomes more meaningful. Daily life doesn't necessarily become easier, but it becomes less overwhelming as my ability to cope is increased, as I have His help in my trials.
When I read the Book of Mormon, I find peace amidst the chaos of everyday life. I find that there is more to enjoy in life, because I am noticing the hand of God in my life, not because it wasn't there before. I find that there is more joy, more calm, more love, and more fun in our home when we are studying the Book of Mormon regularly and applying its teachings.
As we read, we learn of faith in Jesus Christ, and of the protection that faith brings to us. We learn of love and of service. We learn of prayer, of repentance and forgiveness through the atonement of Christ.
As we act upon these teachings, we become more like our Savior Jesus Christ -- more loving, more patient, more selfless, and more dedicated to doing the work of our Father in Heaven. In short, as we follow the teachings of Christ, as we do good, we become good.
Every good tree bringeth forth good fruit.
If you have questions about the Book of Mormon or my beliefs as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, please leave a comment or email me at iamjustlu@gmail.com. If you're interested in receiving a complimentary copy of the Book of Mormon to read for yourself, I would love to send one your way, along with my testimony and a special copy of The Ensign magazine explaining the origins of the Book of Mormon.
Learn more about the Book of Mormon here at mormon.org.
Learn more about this Housewife MacGyver segment here and the entire Housewife MacGyver series here.
Read more testimonies of the Book of Mormon through the blog-hop:
Read more from this post in Beauty follower »
I debated about including my testimony of the Book of Mormon here as part of the Housewife MacGyver series. How does my personal testimony of this sacred book relate to the aims of Housewife MacGyver, of helping each person reading to improve his/her relationship with God? I thought. And then the answer came: Because each individual's testimony comes through developing a relationship with God. Regardless of belief, testimony -- that which inspires action because of belief -- must come from a supreme being, whom I call God.
As a member of the LDS Church -- a Mormon -- I believe that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God in the same manner that as I know that the Bible is the word of God -- because I have acted on their teachings and prayed to know of their truth, and received powerful confirmation through the Spirit.
Both books of scripture declare that by their fruits ye shall know them:
Even so every good tree bringeth forth agood bfruit; but a ccorrupt tree bringeth forth devil fruit.see Matthew 7:17-20, 3 Nephi 14:17-20
As I have read and acted upon the teachings of the Book of Mormon, the fruits of those teachings have been made apparent.
I struggle with daily scripture study. But as I study diligently and make the word of God a priority in my life, I see the fruits of that labor, the blessings of obedience to His words.
Daily scripture study doesn't become any easier, but it becomes more meaningful. Daily life doesn't necessarily become easier, but it becomes less overwhelming as my ability to cope is increased, as I have His help in my trials.
When I read the Book of Mormon, I find peace amidst the chaos of everyday life. I find that there is more to enjoy in life, because I am noticing the hand of God in my life, not because it wasn't there before. I find that there is more joy, more calm, more love, and more fun in our home when we are studying the Book of Mormon regularly and applying its teachings.
As we read, we learn of faith in Jesus Christ, and of the protection that faith brings to us. We learn of love and of service. We learn of prayer, of repentance and forgiveness through the atonement of Christ.
As we act upon these teachings, we become more like our Savior Jesus Christ -- more loving, more patient, more selfless, and more dedicated to doing the work of our Father in Heaven. In short, as we follow the teachings of Christ, as we do good, we become good.
Every good tree bringeth forth good fruit.
If you have questions about the Book of Mormon or my beliefs as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, please leave a comment or email me at iamjustlu@gmail.com. If you're interested in receiving a complimentary copy of the Book of Mormon to read for yourself, I would love to send one your way, along with my testimony and a special copy of The Ensign magazine explaining the origins of the Book of Mormon.
Learn more about the Book of Mormon here at mormon.org.
Learn more about this Housewife MacGyver segment here and the entire Housewife MacGyver series here.
Read more testimonies of the Book of Mormon through the blog-hop:
We've come to the final segment of Housewife MacGyver... what a year it has been! Hopefully you have learned as much as I've learned and added a few tricks to your MacGyver bag... if you need to review, pop over here to see all of the Housewife MacGyver posts.
Our final segment here is all about becoming more self-reliant spiritually and emotionally, which is a far cry different from the other segments we've had this year! I saved these topics for last partly because I wasn't sure how to approach them when we started this, and mostly because I feel that they are the most important.
After all, what good is a organized, prepared household if we are deficient spiritually and emotionally? A full pantry and a balanced budget can't compare to a happy house full of love. :)
We have some great guests lined up this month who I can't wait for you to meet -- and you can still be among them if you'd like! Just email me at iamjustlu@gmail.com. I'd love to have you share your thoughts and experiences about being/becoming/trying our very best to be spiritually and emotionally self-reliant.
I hesitate to say self-reliant, however, because when it comes to our spiritual and emotional well-being, it isn't about SELF. It's about relationships. Other people. Not just me-myself-and-I.
So that's really the focus of this month... talking about how we develop, maintain, and improve our relationships with God, our families, and the other important people in our lives.
Originally, these two (spiritual and emotional self-reliance) were planned as two separate topics. But as I thought more about it, they are hard to separate. Maybe it's just me, but I struggle to talk about my relationships with my family members, and the importance of those relationships, without also talking about the influence that my Father in Heaven and my relationship with Him has on every other relationship in my life. I'll share more about my own feelings later (starting later today), but for now, just a word or two more about this topic...
First and most important: respect. We will most definitely be talking about religious beliefs, but I expect each of my invited guests and each of you as readers to be respectful of differences in beliefs and practices.
I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the LDS church, often called the Mormon church). Most of you are probably not. But our differences should be a source of strength to us, not a source of contention or frustration. The next 6-ish weeks will hopefully be full of discussion of how to improve our families and relationships, regardless of which building we worship in. We can always learn from others even if we don't always agree with them. :)
So, let's get this party started! Tell me... how would you describe spiritual and/or emotional self-reliance? What does it look like to you in everyday life?
Oops! I'm a week behind on life... so even though it's October, we're going to finish out September's Housewife MacGyver in the car and then move on to October and becoming spiritually self-reliant starting next week. And please, drop me a line if you'd love to participate!
I grew up in a family where our cars were always prepared for your standard car emergencies: gas tank always at least half full and a tow rope, jumper cables, first aid kit and a blanket in the trunk, at a minimum.
I've continued these habits (mostly...) in our family cars since I've been married, and I've always been grateful to be prepared, even though I've never had occasion to use most of the contents of the emergency kit.
Previously, Tricia gave us some great links for how to jump start your car and create a roadside emergency kit. But how do we stay prepared and MacGyver-ish for those everyday emergencies, like errands taking longer than expected or a puking child or leaky diaper?
Enter the Everyday Emergency Kit.
Take ten minutes to think of the last few months of everyday out-and-about "emergencies" and what supplies you wished you would have had.
Then round up the items, tuck them in to a place mat car organizer like Debra showed us how to make, and toss it in your glove compartment or trunk. (If your supplies are too big for a place mat organizer, you might try a back of the seat organizer or putting the supplies in a small crate in the trunk.)
Here's what's on my list:
What's on your list for those everyday in-car emergencies?
This post is part of the Housewife MacGyver series on just Lu. Read more about Housewife MacGyver and see all the posts in the series here.
Read more from this post in Beauty follower »
I grew up in a family where our cars were always prepared for your standard car emergencies: gas tank always at least half full and a tow rope, jumper cables, first aid kit and a blanket in the trunk, at a minimum.
I've continued these habits (mostly...) in our family cars since I've been married, and I've always been grateful to be prepared, even though I've never had occasion to use most of the contents of the emergency kit.
Previously, Tricia gave us some great links for how to jump start your car and create a roadside emergency kit. But how do we stay prepared and MacGyver-ish for those everyday emergencies, like errands taking longer than expected or a puking child or leaky diaper?
Enter the Everyday Emergency Kit.
Take ten minutes to think of the last few months of everyday out-and-about "emergencies" and what supplies you wished you would have had.
Then round up the items, tuck them in to a place mat car organizer like Debra showed us how to make, and toss it in your glove compartment or trunk. (If your supplies are too big for a place mat organizer, you might try a back of the seat organizer or putting the supplies in a small crate in the trunk.)
Here's what's on my list:
- grocery or garbage bags: for stinky diapers, wet clothes, puke, trash, rounding up the umpteen toys that your toddler has brought out to the car over the last 5 trips...
- extra diapers/wipes: sometimes I forget my diaper clutch. and sometimes the diaper clutch is just poorly stocked. but that is *always* when one child or the other has the mother of all bad diapers. plus wipes are good for cleaning up any sticky that is sure to happen when children are involved
- deodorant and tampons: yup, sometimes I forget to bring a spare or apply before I leave the house. but at least I've never forgotten a kid... that I recall
- granola bars or other durable snacks: for both my son and me, because when we are hungry, we are HUNgry and cranky. and that always hits 15 minutes before we're home
- pen and paper: useful for jotting down notes or stalling a screaming toddler when you're in line at the drive-through
- spare change: for parking, library fees, or happy hour at Sonic :)
- a blanket: for impromptu picnics at the park (fun!) or keeping a diaper-only child warm after a blowout (not so fun)
- duct tape: because it's just so MacGyver :)
What's on your list for those everyday in-car emergencies?
This post is part of the Housewife MacGyver series on just Lu. Read more about Housewife MacGyver and see all the posts in the series here.
Happy Monday! Today we have Debra from Housewife Eclectic, my BFF -- or is bestie the term to use when you're not texting and/or adolescent? whatever it is, she's the best :) -- and she's here sharing a cute and easy craft for your car. You'll love it and want to make one in every color... so here's Debra:
Hi friends, I am Debra of Housewife Eclectic, where Lu shares her web knowledge weekly. I wear many hats, crafter, photographer, mother to an almost 3 year-old, avid reader, writer, baker and a bunch of others that I only pull out for special occasions. I am excited to be here to share a easy and wonderful craft with you guys today.
We all like to be prepared in case of an emergency and the car is no exception. This glove box sized organizer is made from a place mat and holds your insurance cards, a pen, a tire pressure gauge, small notepad, scissors and a flashlight.
In order to make your organizer you will need a place mat, a hair elastic or elastic headband and the items you want to include in your organizer for measuring purposes.
Take your place mat and fold it up about a third of the way.
If you want a card pocket, fold down the corner. Sew the corner down first. Do NOT SEW it down to the large section/back of the organizer, just to your front third that you folded up. This pocket is perfect for your insurance card.
Then lay your objects into the fold to see how much room they need. I sewed a seam right besides my folder corner, then I placed my notepad in the center of my place mat and mark how much room I would need on either side of it. After sewing your large pocket for the notepad, I took the left over space on the right side and sewed a seam down the middle to give it too even sized pockets. Those pockets are the right size for a lot of items, like pens and your tire pressure gauge.
After you are done sewing your pockets, fold up the organizer around the middle panel and mark where your hair elastic needs to go. I used a head band and had to cut a couple inches of length off of it to make it fit snugly. Go over the hair elastic multiple times to get it secure and you have complete organizer. This quick project can be made in just a few minutes time and is perfect for a beginning sewer, so pick up a place mat at the dollar store and organize your glove box!
Now you want one in every color, right? I told you that you would ;) And this is the perfect place to store your log of car maintenance that Tricia told us about last week!
And stop by and say hello to Debra over at Housewife Eclectic. She's pretty much da bomb in every way - she crafty, shares amazing recipes, and is a fantastic photographer to boot -- and nice enough to share her photo tips once a week. :)
This post is part of the Housewife MacGyver series on just Lu. Read more about Housewife MacGyver and see all the posts in the series here.
Read more from this post in Beauty follower »
Hi friends, I am Debra of Housewife Eclectic, where Lu shares her web knowledge weekly. I wear many hats, crafter, photographer, mother to an almost 3 year-old, avid reader, writer, baker and a bunch of others that I only pull out for special occasions. I am excited to be here to share a easy and wonderful craft with you guys today.
We all like to be prepared in case of an emergency and the car is no exception. This glove box sized organizer is made from a place mat and holds your insurance cards, a pen, a tire pressure gauge, small notepad, scissors and a flashlight.
Now you want one in every color, right? I told you that you would ;) And this is the perfect place to store your log of car maintenance that Tricia told us about last week!
And stop by and say hello to Debra over at Housewife Eclectic. She's pretty much da bomb in every way - she crafty, shares amazing recipes, and is a fantastic photographer to boot -- and nice enough to share her photo tips once a week. :)
Today's Housewife MacGyver guest is the ever-creative Tricia of Leafy Treetop Spot. She's rounded up some great resources for giving your car all the TLC it needs... Here's Tricia:
Why hello, I'm Tricia of Leafy Treetop Spot. I'm thrilled to be joining in on the Housewife MacGyver fun. When Lorene first mentioned the series I thought it was a fantastic idea, but when she asked for volunteer contributors I was terrified. I'm the kind of person that will do my best to figure things out on their own before calling in a professional, but I'm not yet an expert in any area. So I'm going to focus on BECOMING a housewife MacGyver...with an emphasis this year on auto repair.
I grew up in a home where my dad would do his very best to avoid paying anyone to do what he could do on his own. I remember as a kid being frustrated that it took him so long to repair the car, and I'd like to tell him that professionals are professionals for a reason, and that he should pay them to do their job.
Now that my husband and I have to pay for our own car repairs, I find myself calling my dad regularly for car maintenance and repair advice. I didn't marry a "Mr. Fix It", or even a "Dear, it's time to take the car in for tire rotation", type of guy, so now it's my turn to figure out how to become more self reliant when it comes to keeping my/our cars functioning properly.
After buying my first car in college, I soon realized that much like with an infant, I was supposed to "know" how to care for a car. My car didn't tell me when it needed changing (oil), or needed to be fed (have fluids topped off), or even when it was ready to sit in a new position (tire rotation). Fortunately for us all, unlike infants, cars come with owner's manuals, and provide us with a bit of insight as to how we can keep them in their best condition.
The first step to avoiding major automobile repair costs is to prevent them by properly caring for your car. Much like that newborn infant that needs to keep a regular schedule, your car has a schedule to be kept as well. While you're car isn't going to cry when it needs it's oil changed, you can find a handy dandy odometer behind the steering wheel, and it will help you easily track when it's time for a change, or a rotation. Your owners manual will give you information on how frequently your particular car will need these services.
I recommend creating a spreadsheet that lists any and all automotive repairs or maintenance that are done on your car. List the date, the mileage, and the service performed (even if you aren't the one performing the maintenance). Keeping an accurate record will help you avoid letting things go for too long. Some things that you might want to record could be: fuel mileage on each tank of gas, each time oil is added to your car, when wiper blades are replaced, when coolant is added, etc. Keeping an accurate record of these things will also help you diagnose automotive problems early on. If your car is burning through oil really quickly, or your tires are showing signs of irregular wear, you will be able to take note and look for the underlying cause.
If you are looking for a helpful checklist of when you should be checking different parts of your car, this Expert Advice Tip Sheet, from OnlineOrganizing.com could help you.
For some of us, keeping accurate records, and knowing what regular maintenance our car needs, is a big step toward being self reliant. For others you may be looking for some particular advice on how to perform regular car maintenance. So for those of you looking for a bit more information or instruction, here are a few links to tutorials and articles to help you perform regular car maintenance, and save a few dollars. There's also a link below for how to create your own roadside emergency kit, something that I'll be putting on my Christmas list this year.
How to Check Your Oil
How to Change Your Oil
How to Check Your Tire Tread
How to Change a Tire
How to Rotate Your Tires
How to Change an Air Filter
How to Clean the Battery Terminals on your car
How to Jump Start a Vehicle
How to Replace Windshield Wiper Blades
How to Check the Fuses in Your Car
How to Create Your Own Roadside Emergency Kit
Thanks, Tricia! Everything we've ever wanted to know and more! Be sure to stop by Leafy Treetop Spot and visit Tricia -- you'll love everything she makes, from her adorable baby shoes to her fantastic quiet book pages and fantastic free patterns!
This post is part of the Housewife MacGyver series on just Lu. Read more about Housewife MacGyver and see all the posts in the series here.
Read more from this post in Beauty follower »
Why hello, I'm Tricia of Leafy Treetop Spot. I'm thrilled to be joining in on the Housewife MacGyver fun. When Lorene first mentioned the series I thought it was a fantastic idea, but when she asked for volunteer contributors I was terrified. I'm the kind of person that will do my best to figure things out on their own before calling in a professional, but I'm not yet an expert in any area. So I'm going to focus on BECOMING a housewife MacGyver...with an emphasis this year on auto repair.
I grew up in a home where my dad would do his very best to avoid paying anyone to do what he could do on his own. I remember as a kid being frustrated that it took him so long to repair the car, and I'd like to tell him that professionals are professionals for a reason, and that he should pay them to do their job.
Now that my husband and I have to pay for our own car repairs, I find myself calling my dad regularly for car maintenance and repair advice. I didn't marry a "Mr. Fix It", or even a "Dear, it's time to take the car in for tire rotation", type of guy, so now it's my turn to figure out how to become more self reliant when it comes to keeping my/our cars functioning properly.
After buying my first car in college, I soon realized that much like with an infant, I was supposed to "know" how to care for a car. My car didn't tell me when it needed changing (oil), or needed to be fed (have fluids topped off), or even when it was ready to sit in a new position (tire rotation). Fortunately for us all, unlike infants, cars come with owner's manuals, and provide us with a bit of insight as to how we can keep them in their best condition.
The first step to avoiding major automobile repair costs is to prevent them by properly caring for your car. Much like that newborn infant that needs to keep a regular schedule, your car has a schedule to be kept as well. While you're car isn't going to cry when it needs it's oil changed, you can find a handy dandy odometer behind the steering wheel, and it will help you easily track when it's time for a change, or a rotation. Your owners manual will give you information on how frequently your particular car will need these services.
I recommend creating a spreadsheet that lists any and all automotive repairs or maintenance that are done on your car. List the date, the mileage, and the service performed (even if you aren't the one performing the maintenance). Keeping an accurate record will help you avoid letting things go for too long. Some things that you might want to record could be: fuel mileage on each tank of gas, each time oil is added to your car, when wiper blades are replaced, when coolant is added, etc. Keeping an accurate record of these things will also help you diagnose automotive problems early on. If your car is burning through oil really quickly, or your tires are showing signs of irregular wear, you will be able to take note and look for the underlying cause.
If you are looking for a helpful checklist of when you should be checking different parts of your car, this Expert Advice Tip Sheet, from OnlineOrganizing.com could help you.
For some of us, keeping accurate records, and knowing what regular maintenance our car needs, is a big step toward being self reliant. For others you may be looking for some particular advice on how to perform regular car maintenance. So for those of you looking for a bit more information or instruction, here are a few links to tutorials and articles to help you perform regular car maintenance, and save a few dollars. There's also a link below for how to create your own roadside emergency kit, something that I'll be putting on my Christmas list this year.
How to Check Your Oil
How to Change Your Oil
How to Check Your Tire Tread
How to Change a Tire
How to Rotate Your Tires
How to Change an Air Filter
How to Clean the Battery Terminals on your car
How to Jump Start a Vehicle
How to Replace Windshield Wiper Blades
How to Check the Fuses in Your Car
How to Create Your Own Roadside Emergency Kit
Thanks, Tricia! Everything we've ever wanted to know and more! Be sure to stop by Leafy Treetop Spot and visit Tricia -- you'll love everything she makes, from her adorable baby shoes to her fantastic quiet book pages and fantastic free patterns!
Cleaning our cars is something that we all (probably) know we should do and also (probably) alternately feel guilty about, depending on the visibility of the dirt...
With our previous car, the bright yellow paint (if you're thinking Bumblebee, you're right on track) hid the everyday dirt pretty well. But our new car is black... which means that her paint job shows EVERYTHING. Even the slightest rain or neighbor's sneeze makes her look like she's been through a tornado.
(On a side note... she needs a name. Six months in the family and nameless. Shame.)
So what does a clean car have to do with MacGyver?
clean car = happy car!
And a happy car is more likely to get you from point A to point B successfully for a longer span of time.
You can always drive down to the corner gas station and pay the arm-and-a-leg to go through the automatic car wash... but why do that when you can wash your car right at home for only pennies?
(During the winter months, however, it's wise to take your car through the automatic wash occasionally, both to save yourself from frostbite and to give the undercarriage a nice cleaning -- the salt that the plows put down to melt the ice can corrode and otherwise gunk up the underside of your car.)
So, let's get started.
The best time to wash your car is when it's warm but not hot -- we try for late morning so it's warm enough we don't freeze when we get wet but still cool enough that the car isn't too hot already (on the small chance that the cold water from the hose could crack a hot windshield) and that the car won't dry too quickly and leave water spots.
The best time to wash your car is when it's warm but not hot -- we try for late morning so it's warm enough we don't freeze when we get wet but still cool enough that the car isn't too hot already (on the small chance that the cold water from the hose could crack a hot windshield) and that the car won't dry too quickly and leave water spots.
First, gather your washing supplies:
- bucket filled with water. warm water if you don't like icy hands :)
- soap. dish soap works fine, but won't leave a nice waxy finish like most commercial car wash soaps.
- scrubbers. be sure they're gentle enough on your car's paint job, but pretty much anything will work. I like the furry-looking mitt (similar to this) and the sponge with netting on it (similar to this) -- great for getting bugs and other gunk off without taking off any paint.
- old towels for drying the car. a chamois like this is fantastic, too, if you have one.
- a helper with cute little toes. :)
Once you've gathered your supplies (and checked the weather forecast to be sure it will be clear and warm), move the car onto a grassy area... may as well water the grass while we clean!
Do NOT forget to roll up the windows....
Begin by spraying the car to remove all excess dirt, bugs, dead bird remnants... you get the idea.
Spray a high-power spray up into the wheel well since dirt and debris tend to accumulate there.
Add a couple of ounces of soap (depending on the type of soap - check the bottle) to your bucket of water and lather it up nicely.
Starting at the top and working your way down, soap up the car.
You'll want to let the water and soap sit a bit on the front to soak off all the bug debris...
and then scrub, scrub, scrub. You might have to repeat the soak-and-scrub a few times to properly remove all bug guts.
Be sure you get all those tricky places...
 |
| like everywhere within your toddler's reach that is COVERED with fingerprints or the door handles or the rear view mirrors (again, watch for bug guts!) |
Sources have confirmed that if you and your helper are cleaning properly, at least one of you will be completely soaked:
When you get down to the wheels, keep scrubbing. BUT, be sure that whatever scrubber(s) you use for the tires and wheels are reserved for *only* the tires and wheels - if you use the same scrubber(s) later on your car, you might bring the junk from the tires with you and scratch the paint.
 |
| tire and wheel labeled for your learning convenience... my helper is still working on learning the difference, too :) |
Once you've properly sudsed everything, rinse!
(If the day is hot and you find that the soap is drying before you're ready to rinse and dry, spray and suds and rinse and dry the car in sections so that you're not left with soap scum.)
And then grab your old towels (or special car towels) and dry, dry, dry.
Don't forget to open the doors and trunk (or hatchback, in my case) and dry there too:
(optional) Use a tire cleaner (like the one pictured or this one) to shine up those tires!
Follow the directions on your cleaner, but usually it's just
spray and watch it dissolve (and repeat as needed for VERY dirty tires like ours :)
Now we move to the interior! You'll need glass cleaner, protectant (such as Armor All), paper towels and/or a microfiber cloth, and a vacuum.
Apply your protectant to the surfaces of your car and buff to a shine (following the directions for your particular brand).
Don't forget trouble spots like
 |
| vents, dash gauges, cupholders, glove compartment, and door handles |
Clean the windows, inside and out -- and don't forget the rear-view mirrors!
Before you vacuum, you'll want to (and probably need to) move the car to a dry location... electrocution is never a good thing. :) Then, just remove and vacuum the floor mats and vacuum the seats and floor (and ceiling, if you have children :) of the car. This step isn't pictured because... we forgot. We were too busy playing at grandma's... the location of the shop vac. :)
Now stand back and look at your beautiful car... and wait for it to rain, no matter what the forecast said. :)
In addition to being here today introducing this month's Housewife MacGyver theme, I'm also over at Housewife Eclectic sharing the fourth segment in my web-favorites series. Feel free to pop on over. :)
My, how time flies! I can't believe it's already September... and that means that there's only 3 more months of Housewife MacGyver! What a year it's been. Head over here to see the last 8 months of our MacGyvering, and drop me a line at iamjustlu@gmail.com if you'd love to be a guest for one our upcoming months (details here).
Up this month...
MacGyver did his fair share of work with cars and other mechanical doohickeys... on top of hotwiring plenty of vehicles, he also built several airplanes to rescue POWs and trapped journalists. Oh, MacGyver...
For us housewives, though, we'll keep things a little simpler and talk about how to keep our cars clean and organized and running well, as well as some items to keep in your car for emergencies of all kinds.
To get us started, I have two assignments for you. Homework, if you must. And I'll be completing these assignments too!
First assignment: Grab a piece of paper and write down the following (leave some space below each item):
Why do this? Because it's good to know. Because even if the men in our lives (or our neighborhood mechanics) know, it's still good for us to know, or at least think about every once in a while!
My dad always taught me that a car is not an investment, it's a money pit. Taking good care of your car will (hopefully) help the pit take in less money in the long run. :)
Second assignment: Learn what the different notification lights mean for you car. Yup, those little blinking things on the dashboard ALL mean something. And they are your car's main way of speaking to you. For example, I recently learned that this little light
means that you have a flat tire.
Or, more accurately, that you are well on your way to a flat tire.
When you pull over right then to check (after consulting the owners' manual to figure out what in the world that symbol means), all the tires will appear fine. And then you may or may not forget about the aforementioned light until your husband has driven your entire family to the grocery store and says "Oh crap!" when he gets out there.
Only then will you remember about the light. But then you will be SO grateful that your brother-in-law who manages one of a chain of tire stores is in the state visiting right then because not only can he get your tire fixed, he can get your tire fixed free.Thank you, dear brother.
Anyway, the sort-of moral of that rambling story is... know your dash lights. And pay attention to them. Generally, all of the lights turn on when you start the car, and then turn off. Some of them turn back on momentarily (like the one that tells you to buckle up! it's the law!) and some of them turn back on regularly (such as the check engine soon or change oil soon lights on some models) and some of them turn back on and should have your attention immediately (like the aforementioned flat-tire-coming light).
Just think of knowing your dash lights like knowing the different screaming noises your toddler makes -- you need to know which ones are important and should be heeded immediately, which ones will escalate into further trouble, and which ones can be ignored because they'll eventually turn off on their own. :)
I'll stop rambling at you now. Go learn and be MacGyverish... more goodness coming soon.
Thanks for reading!
This post is part of the Housewife MacGyver series on just Lu. Read more about Housewife MacGyver and see all the posts in the series here.
Read more from this post in Beauty follower »
My, how time flies! I can't believe it's already September... and that means that there's only 3 more months of Housewife MacGyver! What a year it's been. Head over here to see the last 8 months of our MacGyvering, and drop me a line at iamjustlu@gmail.com if you'd love to be a guest for one our upcoming months (details here).
Up this month...
MacGyver did his fair share of work with cars and other mechanical doohickeys... on top of hotwiring plenty of vehicles, he also built several airplanes to rescue POWs and trapped journalists. Oh, MacGyver...
For us housewives, though, we'll keep things a little simpler and talk about how to keep our cars clean and organized and running well, as well as some items to keep in your car for emergencies of all kinds.
To get us started, I have two assignments for you. Homework, if you must. And I'll be completing these assignments too!
First assignment: Grab a piece of paper and write down the following (leave some space below each item):
- tires
- windshield wipers
- oil and filter
- air filter
- coolant/antifreeze
- wiper fluid
- brake pads
- spark plugs
- gasoline
- car wash!
Why do this? Because it's good to know. Because even if the men in our lives (or our neighborhood mechanics) know, it's still good for us to know, or at least think about every once in a while!
My dad always taught me that a car is not an investment, it's a money pit. Taking good care of your car will (hopefully) help the pit take in less money in the long run. :)
Second assignment: Learn what the different notification lights mean for you car. Yup, those little blinking things on the dashboard ALL mean something. And they are your car's main way of speaking to you. For example, I recently learned that this little light
means that you have a flat tire.
Or, more accurately, that you are well on your way to a flat tire.
When you pull over right then to check (after consulting the owners' manual to figure out what in the world that symbol means), all the tires will appear fine. And then you may or may not forget about the aforementioned light until your husband has driven your entire family to the grocery store and says "Oh crap!" when he gets out there.
Only then will you remember about the light. But then you will be SO grateful that your brother-in-law who manages one of a chain of tire stores is in the state visiting right then because not only can he get your tire fixed, he can get your tire fixed free.Thank you, dear brother.
Anyway, the sort-of moral of that rambling story is... know your dash lights. And pay attention to them. Generally, all of the lights turn on when you start the car, and then turn off. Some of them turn back on momentarily (like the one that tells you to buckle up! it's the law!) and some of them turn back on regularly (such as the check engine soon or change oil soon lights on some models) and some of them turn back on and should have your attention immediately (like the aforementioned flat-tire-coming light).
Just think of knowing your dash lights like knowing the different screaming noises your toddler makes -- you need to know which ones are important and should be heeded immediately, which ones will escalate into further trouble, and which ones can be ignored because they'll eventually turn off on their own. :)
I'll stop rambling at you now. Go learn and be MacGyverish... more goodness coming soon.
Thanks for reading!
As part of our month spent developing our talents and smarts, today we have my good friend Rachel from A Little Bit of Kooky and The Bowlicious Bowtique here to share a few pointers on starting your own handmade business, to take your creative endeavors from a hobby straight to the bank! :)
Hi Housewife McGyver fans!
I'm Rachel---The Kooky Queen from
I bet there are a lot of you amazing and crafty gals out there who are making your fabulous items, wondering "Hmm...could this make money?"
My answer to you?
Most definitely!
Those crocheted shorts
your hubby is getting millions of comments CAN bring in the bucks!It's just all about getting it out there!
To the right crowd, the right people.
But how?
Where??
I started making hair bows for my daughters 4 years ago.
Granted, they were pretty stinking enormous
and very crappy looking.But eventually it blossomed to what it is today,
a thriving online business.So Step 1:
Make sure you have perfected your product.
This means that you have spent much time making your product beautiful and perfect. Then it will most definitely catch the eye of your desired crowd.
Once my bows were looking darn cute, I made sure my girls were walking advertisements.
Step 2:
Advertise in any way you can!
This part can be inexpensive! I have done giveaways on blogs, passed out business cards I designed myself and printed through Vista Print, made Facebook fan pages, and spread the word through friends and family. These were a tremendous help to getting my business started.
Step 3:
Find ways to get your business OUT THERE!
I started small with the local farmer's market that allowed crafters like myself to come in. It was a small investment of a shade tent and a fold up table. Make sure you have a pretty good inventory. The more items on your table, the more likely people are to stop and look. The fees at the markets are very minimal compared to huge craft shows and boutiques. Once my business grew, I was able to afford the larger avenues and events. But make your business known! The more exposure, the more you'll make.
Step 4:
Branch out online!
I started by making a blog and using PayPal buttons so people could purchase them. I tried to make it look as professional as possible. Click the button below to see.
I still have this site and now I just advertise discounts, giveaways and new items because blogging is a very hot thing these days. I taught myself a little html to make my own blog buttons and eventually, when my blog was doing well and I had a lot of sales, I moved it to a *real* site where I pay a small monthly fee of $15.00 a month. I created it myself through much online searching so I didn't have to pay someone to set it up for me.
And if I can do it, SO CAN YOU!
I promise, it's not as daunting as you think. I use only PayPal transactions so accepting credit cards is easy. I have also tried Etsy and eBay. Both worked well but remember, some of those websites will have a lot of competition and might not be worth the fees. They weren't for me so I chose to spend my energy on my own site.
I hope these tips will help some of you ladies, who have great talents and are looking for a way to share them and earn some money for your family. It's not difficult and if you have the desire and the motivation, you can totally do it!!!
Thanks, Rachel! And don't forget to stop by A Little Bit of Kooky for a laugh (because Rachel is seriously funny! check out one of my very favorite posts here) and then swing by The Bowlicious Bowtique to check out Rachel's fantastic handiwork... I have a very long wishlist of bows for my little girl (or maybe for me...), starting with these gorgeous ranunculus clips...
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