Reorganization: The Cost of Starting Over

Maybe it’s the writer in me. Or the perfectionist. Possibly the perfectionist writer. In any case, when it comes to organizational systems, I’m forever revising, producing new drafts of my methods, and occasionally scrapping what I’ve got and starting over. If necessity is the mother of invention, then annoyance is its kooky uncle. (TWEET THIS BY [...]

Practicing Hospitality

What does it mean to practice hospitality? I recently had the opportunity to utilize my home as a ministry tool and host two sisters in Christ for a week. As you might guess if you frequent my Home Management posts, this was a bit of a mountaintop moment for me. However, hospitality isn’t confined to [...]

When There’s No Time to Make Dinner Under a Writing Deadline

You’re pounding away at the keyboard in the middle of losing a feverish word war with time itself, and suddenly you hear a sound that you probably shouldn’t recognize, but you do. Someone has opened the very last sleeve of Ritz crackers in the house. “Excellent,” you think. “Now I don’t have to make dinner.” However, do [...]

Preparing for Holiday House Guests

Let’s see, by now you’ve decorated the tree, sent cards, wrapped presents, baked cookies, roasted chestnuts and sung carols, all while achieving a daily average of 2000 words, and your house is ready for hosting the perfect Christmas, right? Or maybe not. The holidays are always busy, particularly if you’re preparing for a houseful of [...]

A Funny Thing Happened On My Way To Thanksgiving

Last year I wrote about listing your Thanksgiving “Lessons-Learned” to track those once-annual thoughts of adjusted recipe measurements and where the fancy serving platter is stored. (Mine was in the guest room closet. Obviously.) I’m sharing my notes from this year’s feast, because sometimes the best you can be is a bad example. Accept your [...]

Project ADD? Why It’s So Hard to Finish

Is there such a thing as project ADD? If so, I’ve got it! Probably had it all my life. I remember when I was little my mom saying I always start things, but never finish them. I see that in my adult life now as I look in my office with piles of writing and [...]

Little Fixes to Prevent Big Problems (Part 2)

Last month, we discussed the toll unexpected home repairs can take on your household budget and looked at preventative maintenance for the kitchen, laundry zone, and roof. Today we’ll list some interior and exterior checkpoints to keep emergency repairs from becoming a major interruptions in your writing time! If your home has a garage, oil [...]

Little Fixes to Prevent Big Problems

I’m blessed to have a husband who is very good with schedules. I like to think I manage our daily routine well enough, but I tend to concern myself with whatever’s right in front of my face. Meanwhile, minute by minute or month by month, my husband excels at keeping up with meetings and appointments [...]

Plan a Great Yard Sale

Yard sale season is in full swing! Here are a few tips to make yours a success. -Set a goal. Planning and executing a successful yard sale is a lot of work, and as with any big job, setting a goal at the outset is key. Are you primarily interested in reducing clutter? Augmenting your [...]

Making the Most of the Minutes

  My greatest challenge in balancing writing time with household responsibilities is avoiding my own tendency toward the all-or-nothing approach. I’ll happily use every available hour to write – except those times when I studiously ignore my manuscript in favor of chores and errands. The problem is that total lack of progress in one priority [...]

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