Work at Home Moms Articles – WAHM Articles

Something about the phrase “Spring Cleaning” doesn’t sit well with me. The concept is good and right. In spring, all of nature is waking up from its winter hibernation, shaking off the old, preparing for the new. It is natural for humans to feel an obligation or even a desire to do likewise. The word “Spring” is not the problem. In the phrase “Spring Cleaning”, spring is used as a description of another word – an illusion. The focus falls on the noun or the object that just happens to also be the word for a much-despised action. Must I say it? Cleaning is absolutely a necessary evil. There is not a living thing that does not perform some type of cleaning practice. Plants and animals clean with nary a complaint. They simply know what must be done and do it. Human beings, on the other hand, have built for ourselves such a complicated nest of rooms and possessions, that all we can do is struggle to maintain a healthy existence.

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I love summer; it’s my favorite season. On many days summer is just good ol’ fun, but there are some precautions you should take when it comes to your home and family.

Home Saving Tips
– One way to keep your home cool is to keep the blinds drawn and windows closed.

– Avoid using your oven during hot summer days because this will make your air conditioning work harder. Opt to use your crock pot, grill, barbeque or toaster oven.

– Hang your laundry outdoors to dry. If you must use your dryer, run it at night.

– When you’re planning your landscape, look for tall shrubs to shade your home in the hot summer months. Use a sun umbrella to shade your home.

Home Security
People tend to be a bit careless in the summer when it comes to home security. Don’t leave windows slightly opened when you’re away from home. Even if your window is high up (unless it’s a tiny window), don’t think that won’t cause a problem because if someone really want to get into your home, they will find a way. It’s like leaving a ladder and crow bar in your unlocked garden shed.

Family Safety Tips
During the summer, sunscreen is a must for everyone, but getting your daily dose of vitamin D is just as important. Before you slather on your sunscreen, spend about 10-15 minutes in the sun to get your vitamin D.

Hats and sunglasses are important accessories to have even on cloudy days as UV rays can penetrate the clouds. Make sure they are good sunglasses that will protect your eyes.

First Aid Kit
Being outdoors can pose to be hazardous at any given time. Whether it’s a bee sting, pesky mosquito/insect bite or falling off your bike, make sure you have a first aid kit handy. In your kit, you may have an epi-pen if you or someone in your family has severe allergic reactions, an assortment of Band-Aids, gauze, polysporin, antiseptic wipes, tweezers etc. Don’t forget to replace what you have used.

Water
Being near the water to cool off is a given in the summer. Parental supervision is a must for kids who are at the beach, lake or outdoor pool. Inner tubes, water noodles or water wings are not a substitute for parental supervision. These float-like devices provides a false sense of security and they shouldn’t be relied upon. Teach or remind your kids about water safety.

Food
Hot summer days mean a lot of consumption of ice-cream, juices, lemonade etc. Be wary of how much sweets your kids are eating. Be sure to keep fresh fruits accessible within reach. Instead of eating sugary, store bought popsicles, make your own. Also, cut up and freeze your fresh fruits, make fruit smoothies, or yogurt popsicles. Most kids need to be reminded to drink fluids to stay hydrated and plain, filtered water is best!

I hope you have a fantastic summer with your family. Play and stay safe!

Sophia McIntyre is an Internet Marketer, Article Marketer, Ghostwriter, and founder of WorkAtHomeSpace.com, a free resource focusing on work at home companies and jobs, home businesses, ghostwriting services and other work at home related topics.

The winter months can be hard on your home and your home office. Clutter tends to build and piles become more the norm than the exception. If winter has wrecked havoc on your home office, be thankful that Spring will soon be making an appearance. Try the five tips for spring cleaning your home office below to get your space back on the road to clutter-free existence.

1. Plan
The first thing to do is come up with a plan of attack. This may seem like a waste of time, but by creating a timeline for getting things done, you eliminate the odds of feeling overwhelmed. Using either a simple piece of blank paper or a spreadsheet, designate five days for working through the clutter and cleaning your office from top to bottom. Divide the office space into four zones and work through one zone each day, with the last day being used for overall dusting, polishing, and freshening up.

2. Purge Piles
Purging the piles of paper and clutter around your office is a big step toward getting organized. Keep a trashcan handy and sort through piles. Throw away or shred the things you do not need and immediately file the things that you do. You will find that you can quickly get through this part if you stay focused.

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I was lucky enough to marry into an Italian family…well, my husband’s stepdad is Italian and his mother is an amazing cook!! For Christmas, three years ago, she gave me a cookbook of all of their favorite recipes. My husband was thrilled because I wasn’t very creative when it came to cooking. Anyway, every year on Christmas morning, she makes a “Christmas Morning Italian Strata”. She does most of the preparations the night before and pops it in the oven in the morning and lets it bake while they open gifts!

Christmas Morning Italian Strata

1 ½ pounds pork sausage meat
1 12 oz loaf French bread
2 4 oz cans mushrooms; drained
6 large eggs
8 ounces Mozzarella cheese
1 quart milk
2 tsp Italian Seasoning
½ tsp garlic powder
¼ tsp pepper
4 ounces Shredded Cheddar cheese

Instructions:
Combine mushrooms, bread (cubed) and cooked sausage. Whisk together eggs, milk, seasonings and pour over sausage mixture in a greased cake dish. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake for 1 hour. Sprinkle cheeses over the top and bake an additional 15 minutes. Let stand for 10 minutes.

Serves 8

This is the exact recipe that my mother in law gave me. She did not say where she got it from, so you may find something similar on the Internet. Also, you might like the variations that searching the internet could provide. I hope that everyone reading this has a very Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year! Blessings to you all!

Amy Royce has two children and has been married since 1995. She is an affiliate marketer and a Virtual Assistant. She enjoys helping others through the programs she markets and the tasks she performs as a VA. To learn more about Amy and what she offers, visit her site by clicking here.