Happy Home Tip

Posted on April 12, 2013 by Nina

Put Your Home on a Diet

Do you have a tendency to have way too much stuff in your home, yet you keep purchasing and stuffing your home? Maybe your home needs to slowly go on a diet and some purging is necessary. Start getting rid of old, not needed, not loved stuff.

A cluttered home can give you an unconscious feeling of overwhelm. I always had the feeling that a cluttered home creates a cluttered mind. Now just to be clear, I have a lot of stuff! I am definitely not a minimalist. I love my stuff, but I also like my home to be as neat as possible. Neat and uncluttered gives me such a feeling of calm. Having a place for everything, and everything in it’s place is the secret! How do you have it both ways?

Well, I’m really to the point with so much stuff that I’ve run out of places. So now on the rare occasions when I purchase something new for the home, then something else has to go. Something has to either go to Goodwill, or it is packed away if I can’t bear to get rid of it.

New things only give a temporary boost in your mood and happiness anyway. Not that there is anything wrong with a temporary boost once in a while, but to purchase and purchase just for that temporary boost actually can make you unhappy. You will always see something else that you think you want even more and since you are dependent on that temporary mood boost you keep wanting more.

If you see something, go home and think about it first, decide what thing it is going to replace, and a lot of the time you’ll decide you don’t really need it. Think about purchasing experiences rather than possessions. Put your money toward a family vacation, or a family reunion, or a dinner with good friends. This may feel like it’s not tangible or long lasting, but it is! There is usually very little regret with these purchases and the good feelings and the memories last much longer than that feeling of the temporary happiness boost from buying that new “thing” that you really don’t need.

You can learn more about my Happiness Journey courses HERE

You can sign up for a course HERE

Happy Home Tip

Posted on April 5, 2013 by Nina

Stop Multi-Tasking

Oh, this is a hard one! Something I really am working on. My many projects, courses I’m teaching, housework and meal preparation, bookeeping and our rental management, family vacation plans that need to be made, jeesh!! I really should fit in time to exercise and talk nice with my husband!

Here’s the problem with trying to do all these things I love to do and that make me happy. They can all be done, just not all at the same time! Because included in that list of things to do, I want to Live my life, Enjoy my day, and Savor each moment.

When you get so many things going at once and so many thoughts in your head, you almost become paralyzed and nothing really gets done very well. On top of that, you can become so scattered, which leads to frustration, which leads to unhappiness for you and anyone else you live with or come in contact with.

“Multi-tasking: The best way to get nothing done in the longest amount of time!”

Learn to control your attention. Become fully engaged in one task at a time, enjoy the task while you’re doing it, appreciate what you are accomplishing and the good job you’re doing, then move on to the next thing.

If I have several things I want to get done in a day, I make a list of the most important at the top. Don’t try to do a little bit of the first task, then a little bit of the second task, then go back to the first task, and so on. I have to really practice at not doing this! By doing one thing at a time you’ll notice how much calmer and happier you settle down to. Your spouse will feel the calmness and the happier tone. The feeling in your home will be happier and calmer. And if you don’t get it all done, that’s OK!

There’s always tomorrow. So make enjoyment one of the tasks at the top of your list and take time to savor your accomplishments.

You can learn more about my Happiness Journey courses HERE

You can sign up for a course HERE

Happy Home Tip

Posted on March 22, 2013 by Nina

Grocery Shopping

Not always the most favorite chore. There are ways, though, to make it easier, and save a little money, too. Groceries have become so expensive. I am constantly trying to find ways to save a little, but still eat what we like and eat healthy. Whenever I can I buy store brand. If I find, though, that it just doesn’t measure up and doesn’t taste good, I check that brand off my list. Food quality is worth a lot.

Try to shop on the same day each week. Pick a day that is the most convenient so that you don’t feel rushed. And by shopping on the same day, the other family members know that if they need something, it has to go on the list by that day. My husband is pretty well trained at this. If he forgets, then he doesn’t get it until the next week or he has to go get it himself. This way I’m not wasting time all week by running to the store every day or so to pick something up. This is such a time waster. I usually know each morning what I’m going to make for dinner that evening and I know I have all the ingredients to make it.

Definitely make a list. I try to plan ahead and have at least a couple of meals and recipes planned for the week to come. Then I look to see what ingredients I need and write them on my list. If I am diligent in sticking to my list while shopping, I always spend less. If it’s not on the list, we usually don’t NEED it.

Coupons — I had to learn this lesson. Unless you’re a professional extreme couponer, don’t clip every coupon you see and then feel like you have to buy it just because you have a coupon for it. You will spend way too much money this way and probably waste a lot. That used to be my experience, anyway. Now I make my list first, then look through my coupons only for those items that are on the list. Since there are only the two of us in the house most of the time, if I have to buy 3 boxes of cereal to save 40 cents, the coupon isn’t worth it. The cereal will go stale before we can eat it all.

This little bit of extra planning and time will become habit. Grocery shopping can be enjoyable. And the “What should I make for dinner?” problem is no longer a problem.

It’s usually just the little things that keep your Home Calm and Happy!

Have a great weekend

Happy Home Tip

Posted on February 22, 2013 by Nina

Be Tolerant

Most of you, like me, are probably empty nesters. The only two people in the home most of the time are my husband and myself. If most of you are like me, those husbands can get on our nerves. I have found that to be truly happy myself, I need to be more tolerant of him. The same holds true if you still have children in the house, or even if you are living alone. Of course, with children and teens, being appropriately tolerant would be the balance. Just as important, be tolerant of your self.

You’ll find that you are much calmer and more at peace. Fights among family members won’t erupt for no reason or over minor things. The atmosphere in your home will become one of tranquility and comfort. The home should be a place where no one needs to be in constant fear of yelling, criticizing, or being controlled.

Have a Great Weekend

Happy Home Tip

Posted on February 8, 2013 by Nina

Speak Calm and Soft and Say Nice Things

We all get impatient, or frustrated or upset about things. This is only human nature and is usually very impulsive. If you think, though, before you speak, this can be avoided to a great degree. It takes a conscious effort and practice, but just think how much calmer and nicer it is in your home when you, your spouse and your household family members are speaking calm and soft and saying nice things. If there is constant yelling and blaming and talking mean it’s not a very pleasant happy atmosphere in the home.

Our relationships with our spouse and close family members are key to our happiness. We need to keep this in mind on how we interact in our home with them so that our home can always be a loving, welcome, and safe haven for everyone.

Happy Thought for the Day

Posted on November 12, 2012 by Nina

For some of us, last week was an emotional tough week. This new day of a new week can hopefully give us a fresh new outlook!

Love your family, take comfort in your home, and take care of your own physical and emotional health!

Have a good and Happy Week!

Peace and Calm are Coming Back to Me

Posted on November 8, 2012 by Nina

I just wanted to say to my good friends and family – If I came across as upset and angry yesterday, it’s because I was! Just being honest! ”Evil’ was a harsh word, but I’m calmed down and at peace and I hope you can be understanding that you would have felt the same way. Understanding and acceptance of other’s views goes both ways and family and friends are way more important to me than politics or who the President is! —

After much thinking, analyzing and tears yesterday, I’ve come to realize that we just don’t live in the same world anymore. I like America and have a good life and the older I get, change is hard. I just hope the changes coming about are good, and I guess that can always be a matter of individual opinions.

I also wish that acceptance, understanding and inclusion to be reciprocated. It has to go both ways and not just “us” accepting “them”. The days of “June Cleaver”, “Happy Days”, and “Norman Rockwell” are over. I’m sad about that. Thank goodness, though, I have the freedom to live in my own little world as I want to. I will now get back to my cleaning and cooking, decorating for Christmas, knitting, and planning for my vacation to see my kids! I don’t apologize for that. It’s a good life and I have worked hard at making it this way for me.

That doesn’t mean that I can’t accept other’s views, visions, and way of life. But again, acceptance and understanding needs to go both ways.

Happy Home Tip

Posted on October 19, 2012 by Nina

Strive for Calm and Quiet and Avoid Chaos and Noise.

Turn off the television. Take a walk.

Speak to each other in a calm, quiet tone. Loud and yelling words don’t get a point across any better, and sometimes it’s better to say nothing.

This makes a huge difference in the feeling in your home.

Have a great weekend!

Bored and Lonely?

Posted on July 30, 2012 by Nina

THIS IS NOT ME! I can’t even remember the last time I ever felt Bored or Lonely. I’m sure there were times when I was younger, but not a particular occasion that sticks out in my mind. I can assume that as a teenager I probably had times of being bored. The definition of me being bored would just be a matter of being tired of whatever I was doing at the moment and looking for a new exciting thing to take it’s place. And I would always find some new interest rather quickly, so my rare moments of “boredom” never lasted long.

As a young mother I was way too busy to be bored. Now as a relatively young grandmother, I have so many interests and hobbies that I can say with absolute confidence that I am never bored.

As far as lonely - NEVER! I honestly don’t think I have ever been lonely. Even when I’m alone, which isn’t very often!, I’m not lonely. Quite the opposite. I treasure my rare moments of being alone. The other morning I took a long early morning walk with my little Fergie and I became very aware of how nice it was to have that half hour of quiet time all to myself. It gave me the opportunity to think, organize some ideas in my head, and just not have to talk or listen or do. Walking alone, or just being alone, is so calming and relaxing. Poor little Fergie was worn out, though!

So where are you on the Boredom and Loneliness spectrum? Are you someone that is busy all the time but bored? Or are you someone that doesn’t necessarily take on a lot of activities but yet you wouldn’t consider yourself bored at all? And are you surrounded by people but are still lonely? Or are you alone quite a bit and yet don’t think of yourself as ever being lonely?

What makes the difference? A lot of it could just be who you are. Your own natural tendency and personality. But I have found that there are some common traits in those that are never bored. That would be Passion. If you have a love and a passion for whatever it is you are doing or experiencing, you can’t possibly be bored. If you have a hobby or an interest, then throw yourself into it. Study it, become good at it, become an expert, experiment with it, learn and practice all there is to know and do about it.

One of the common traits in those that are never lonely is Self Love and High Self Esteem. I don’t mean self love in a conceited way, but in a way that you are content and happy with who you are. Self Acceptance may be a better term. You enjoy your own company. You enjoy your time alone with yourself. But you have to love yourself first, otherwise you won’t want to be alone with someone you don’t like.

Age has fine tuned these traits in me. My problem now is reigning in the Passion and Self Love/Acceptance. I have so many interests that I love, and I wish I had more time alone and all to myself. Everything in balance and moderation, even this.

Now, back to my knitted beaded jewelry making!

My new passion and obsession. I’ll probably be up until 1:00 a.m. working on my newest project. I’m really working on the balance and moderation part!

I Can Only Do So Much!

Posted on July 12, 2012 by Nina

Wow, it’s been a busy summer so far. I love that I work from home so that I’m able to work in my yard, do my housework, be here with the visiting grandkids, and – Oh Yea! – still try to work at our business. I’m fortunate – but it’s not always easy to juggle it all and get it all done.

One of the really good things about being Over 50 is that there are no longer kids of any age living here full time. I honestly couldn’t do that anymore. I’ve also learned to say “No” a lot more so that now in my life I do more of what I want to do and less of what I feel I have to do. My time is more my own. But — there’s still not enough of it. Time, that is!

I have my two most important jobs – the Financial Planning business that pays for everything, you can see our website here, and my homemaker job that I love. I take both of these jobs very seriously and they are both a lot of work. There’s the inside work; cleaning, cooking, laundry, etc., and yes, I LOVE doing it all myself. I consider this a real job and I have schedules and lists to prove it. And the summer brings more because I also love doing outside work. Watering my flowers has been a twice a day routine on these hot days.

There are the flowers on the deck

There are the flowers under the deck

And the flowers on the front stoop.

I love my hobbies and I know I have too many of them. My sewing and quilting, (I just finally finished my 5th baby quilt for 21 month old Heath. His dad, my son, is in the Air Force and Heath’s room has a red, white and blue with airplanes decor)

my knitting (I’m currently working on a drawstring purse with knit flowers on it)

It will look like this when finished.

I also just finished a really cool scarf/necklace/neck wrap.

Some of what I make I have on my Etsy shop here. Then, of course, there is my website. I know I’ve been a little neglectful lately because I just can’t seem to get it all done right now. That’s when the prioritizing has to start. The business has to come first. And for me, a clean and organized home is important for my happiness and peace and calm.

We had our daughter-in-law and grandchildren from Spokane visiting in June. They went back and forth between her parents’ home and here. These kids are just so beautiful and precious - and busy!

I was worn out by the end of June, but I sure did hate to see them go home!

Two weeks ago Mom and I drove to Baltimore for 2 days to a relative’s 50th anniversary party. Then this past Saturday we had our 4th of July Celebration here on our Lake.

It was a great day with some of my nieces and nephews and my parents, complete with swimming, boating,

and beautiful fireworks! This was the view from our backyard.

I’ve been good busy!

Just when I thought things were now slowing down, I got word from my Texas daughter-in-law that she and the kids would probably be coming here in two weeks! I’m very excited to see them, but that of course means that priorities and hobbies are going to have to be switched around and re-ordered.

So what is the secret to doing it all and getting it all done? Well, first of all, you just CAN’T always do it all and get it all done. One of the secrets, though, to doing what NEEDS to get done and then still have some time for yourself, is to prioritize and have a schedule. I have many of my family members make fun of my schedules and lists, but this is the only way I can stay on track, get done what needs done, and not forget to do things (the Over 50 brain tends to forget easily!). Then I’m able to relax at night and the evenings are usually free for me to do whatever hobby I feel like doing and not feel guilty or rushed about it. It feels so good when you can keep your life calm, relaxed and peaceful – no matter what you have going on. And it’s OK if you can’t do it all!