"The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed." ~ Titus 2:3-5 There are so many negative views in this modern world of homemaking that this little series was born. It shares the romantic side which hopes to encourage and inspire you to love your home and embrace your daily tasks. We are sharing all our past prose in one place so that you can make a visit when/or if the battle of the "homemaking blues" sets in. My hope is that some of these brief articles and sweet sentiments will be a blessing to you! “It’s amazing how lovely common things become, if one only knows how to look at them.” ~ Louisa May Alcott {titles shared below are linked} "She Riseth" Early ~ A Homemaker's Morning "Work of Our Hands" ~ A Homemaker's Wash Day "Swept and Good Order" ~ The Mistress of the House "She Strengtheneth" ~ A Homemaker's Health "He Praiseth Her" ~ The Contented Homemaker "Lemon Honey Marmalade" ~ A Homemaker's Musings {This is more than marmalade, it shares the versatility of being a keeper at home.} "Soul Enjoy Good" ~ A Homemaker's Day Inn "The Linens" {An Old Fashioned Day} ~ Whatsoever Thy Hands "O dear mothers, you have a very sacred trust reposed in you by God! He hath in effect said to you, “Take this child and nurse it for Me, and I will give thee thy wages.” You are called to equip the future man of God, that he may be thoroughly furnished unto every good work. If God spares you, you may live to hear that pretty boy speak to thousands, and you will have the sweet reflection in your heart that the quiet teachings of the nursery led the man to love his God and serve Him. Those who think that a woman detained at home by her little family is doing nothing, think the reverse of what is true. Scarcely can the godly mother quit her home for a place of worship; but dream not that she is lost to the work of the church; far from it, she is doing the best possible service for her Lord. Mothers, the godly training of your offspring is your first and most pressing duty." ~ Charles Spurgeon "There are many women who know how to keep a house, but there are but few that know how to keep a home. To keep a house may seem a complicated affair, but it is a thing that may be learned; it lies in the region of the material; in the region of weight, measure, color, and the positive forces of life. To keep a home lies not merely in the sphere of all these, but it takes in the intellectual, the social, the spiritual, the immortal." ~ Harriet Beecher Stowe "Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates." ~ Proverbs 31:28-31 This post may be shared with some or all of the following link-ups: The Art of Home-Making Mondays, Modest Mom Monday's, Monday's Musings, Make Your Home Sing Monday, Good Morning Mondays, The Scoop, Titus 2sdays, Titus 2 Tuesdays, Roses of Inspiration, Tuesdays with a Twist, Raising Homemakers, Wise Woman Link Up, Homestead Blog Hop, Wow Us Wednesdays, Coffee and Conversation, Homemaking Thursdays, Home Sweet Home, Our Simple Homestead, From the Farm Blog Hop, Front Porch Friday Blog Hop, Awesome Life Friday Link Up, Five Star Frou Frou Friday, Simply Natural Saturdays and Clever Chicks Blog Hop. Thank you lovely ladies for hosting these.

I have so many fond memories of my Mom reading to my sister and me from the "Little House Series" written by Laura Ingalls Wilder. My …

Inside: How to love your home all over again by bonding with it emotionally. Sounds weird. Changes your life anyway. I used to love running errands. Not because I liked the aisles of the grocery store, but because I wanted to get out of the house, a house that felt strangely boring and stressful all

Ditch the leggings and try a vintage-inspired house dress instead. This simple act can help you feel more productive and put together, plus vintage clothing is so much fun. This post is originally from 2017

Embracing technology without losing the charm of tradition. Discover the art and heart of modern homemaking today! 💐🔌

Just because you get married doesn't mean you automatically know how to be a homemaker. Homemaking is an art that needs to be learned and refined.

Learning to love homemaking is really about your mindset! I'm sharing why I love homemaking how you can fall in love with homemaking too.

Perhaps when you saw the title of this post you envisioned all the domestic skills of days gone by. You imagined an older lady teaching me how to can food from the garden, wash clothes by hand, or knit blankets. But that's not where I'm going with this at all. I've been watching the older […]

I wanted to create a good morning routine because I knew the practices I wanted to integrate into my routine were the cornerstones of success

You could spend all day cleaning up after your kids, running to the grocery store for that thing you forgot for dinner, and looking for lost paperwork. Or you could, you know...not. Mastering homemaker time management isn't just about squeezing more tasks into your day; it's about doing the most with your time so it

It does not both me to be called a homemaker. I believe it is a high and holy calling and this is why. ~ Hospitable Homemaker

I decided to try a week-long cleaning experiment and see if there were any hundred-year-old vintage housekeeping techniques that work for my modern household.

With all my love for organizing with binders, it is hard to believe I never had a home management one. I always wanted a place to store the weekly, monthly and seasonal chores. However, it seemed so tedious to write it all down (let alone come up with them) and to be honest, I didn't know where to start! When I found some printable and thorough lists online, I was thrilled! I incorporated them into a simple system that may be a help to you as well. This is flexible so I encourage you to use it however it will work for your family. It is kind of like a "choose your own adventure" binder! List of recommended supplies: three ring binder plastic sheet protectors (protect your pages from spills and stains, just wipe clean) adhesive divider tabs (you will need 6 at least) free printable (includes a cover insert page, spine insert page, six subject divider pages and back cover page insert) Here is how I prepared our binder using printable pages from other sources. Most are from Martha Stewart unless stated differently (listed and linked below): "Daily Schedule & Calendar" Section ~ daily planner (Courtesy of Artful Homemaking, includes meal planner, to do list, etc.) list of daily chores shopping lists "Weekly Work" Section ~ weekly cleaning checklist how to keep the refrigerator clean checklist how to keep the freezer clean checklist weekly menu planner printable weekly to-do lists "Monthly Work" Section ~ monthly to-do lists monthly cleaning checklist monthly shopping lists monthly home maintenance checklist "Seasonal Chores" Section ~ spring-cleaning checklist spring home maintenance checklist prepare your home for summer checklist fall home maintenance checklist prepare your home for winter checklist seasonal cleaning checklist "Household Cleaning Recipes" Section ~ (Not shown in photos) printable recipes here "Misc" Section ~ I have a lot of magazine articles related to seasonal cleaning and caring for items that I included here (such as the best way to clean appliances, how to repair household items, etc.). When I printed out these cleaning lists, I knew I would not get them all done in the spring. I removed that burden right away! However, when I do accomplish something, I write the date next to it so that I know which items are long overdue for attention, etc. I will be happy to get them all done by the end of the year and then start anew the following one. You will find the printable HERE (just "download" and print). If you are looking for other organizational binder systems, then you may also be interested in making an "Inspirational Recipe Book", "Good Steward" Record/Home Manual Binder, "Book of Household Wisdom" or a "Garden Journal Planner". "Few things we can do in this world are so well worth doing as the making of a beautiful and happy home." ~ J.R. Miller, Excerpt from The Family This post may be shared with some or all of the following link-ups: The Art of Home-Making Mondays, Modest Mom Monday's, Monday's Musings, Make Your Home Sing Monday, Good Morning Mondays, The Scoop, Titus 2sdays, Titus 2 Tuesdays, Roses of Inspiration, Tuesdays with a Twist, Raising Homemakers, Wise Woman Link Up, Homestead Blog Hop, Wow Us Wednesdays, Coffee and Conversation, Homemaking Thursdays, Home Sweet Home, Our Simple Homestead, From the Farm Blog Hop, Front Porch Friday Blog Hop, Awesome Life Friday Link Up, Five Star Frou Frou Friday, Simply Natural Saturdays and Clever Chicks Blog Hop. Thank you lovely ladies for hosting these. Clip art is courtesy of Reading, Roses and Prose.

What amazed me in my research about homemaking the old fashion way was that many of the things they used to clean involved no chemicals or harsh detergents.

Schedule Do you struggle with the weight of all that needs to be done? Whether you stay at home, work from home or work full time out of the home, there is a lot to be done and sometimes it all just seems impossible. If you want to be productive as a homemaker and learn to come out from under the p

In this article, we are getting deep and emotional into how you can save money for your family when you don't work outside the home.

"My second favorite household chore is ironing. My first being hitting my head on the top bunk bed until I faint." ~Erma Bombeck Before we begin, I have a small confession to make. Ironing, sadly and truthfully, is the least of my favorite homemaking loves. In fact, every time I read the words (shared above) by the late Ms. Bombeck, I am in tears (the humorous kind)! Here is a compilation of ideas, old fashioned homemaking tips, diy's and encouragement that may help to inspire you (and I) to love those linens and iron! I think in a very few minutes, your mind may be transformed to see the beauty in this little task! "Ironing gratifies the senses. The transformation of wrinkled, shapeless cloth into the smooth and gleaming folds of a familiar garment pleases the eye. The good scent of ironing is the most comfortable smell in the world. And the fingertips enjoy the changes in the fabrics from cold to warm, wet to dry, and rough to silky. There is nothing like keeping the hands busy with some familiar work to free the mind. You can learn Italian while you iron, as a friend of mine did, or you can simply think." ~ Cheryl Mendelson, Home Comforts: The Art & Science of Keeping House To begin, it helps to have a peaceful and clean environment to iron in. That is often difficult to do because the ironing board is usually the household item that gets stowed away and hidden. If you have a large laundry room, that would be ideal. Decorating with old fashioned signs can also make it more enjoyable (you will find our printable set here). Our ironing board is kept in our back room and before ironing, I make sure the area is clear and clutter-free to make it a pleasant homemaking experience (such as the one described below). Gentle Homemaking Inspiration The Linens {An Old Fashioned Day} ~ Whatsoever Thy Hands It is interesting to note that the artist Degas (who was famous for his impressionistic ballerina paintings), also took the time to capture women doing the daily duties of washing and ironing. Perhaps he saw the beauty in the ordinary homemaking arts! His work is depicted in all the paintings featured above this paragraph (except for the painting showcasing the "Gentle Homemaking Inspiration"). How to Clean Your Iron {Gleaned from Cleaning Plain & Simple by Donna Smallin} The Sole Plate Wipe the soleplate with a sudsy cloth or nylon-mesh pad (make sure your iron is unplugged and cool). If starchy buildup or corrosion is present, remove either with a cloth saturated in white vinegar or make a solution by heating equal parts of vinegar and salt (until it is dissolved). Do not use abrasive cleaners or metal scouring pads. The Reservoir If mineral deposits are coming through the holes of the soleplate, the reservoir needs a routine cleaning. To do so, fill the reservoir approximately one-quarter of the way up with white vinegar. Turn on the iron and steam-iron a clean rag or towel until the reservoir is empty. The fumes may be strong so keep a window open and a fan going if necessary. If problem persists, refill the reservoir with water and continue to steam iron the rag until empty once again. Do a final rinse on the reservoir by filling it with (distilled or purified) water and then emptying it out. To prevent future buildup in your iron, use only distilled water. Routine Maintenance Each time you use your iron, empty water from the reservoir while it is still hot so that it will dry out. This can be achieved by slowly and carefully tilting the pointed end of the iron down over a sink. For best results, always store your iron in an upright position. A few do-it yourself ironing recipes can be made to create a sense of purpose in your ironing area. One of my personal favorites is this DIY Lavender Water. It makes for a lovely and aromatic ironing spray. There is also an old fashioned spray starch recipe that can be made in minutes! Store these handcrafted goods in recycled glass bottles with attractive labels in order to foster a sense of delight in this homemaking task. "You may also like to utilize the essential oils when ironing. You can either put 1 drop of essential oil in a plant mister and spray the clothes before ironing, or put a drop on a damp linen cloth and place that between the iron and the material. You could also put the essential oils directly into the water compartment of your steam iron, but essential oils are not water soluble and could leave a residue in the iron." ~ Valerie Ann Worwood, The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy Is Ironing Still Relevant Today? Perhaps you are thinking that the modern-day denim and knit clothing you own does not require such ironing and care. However, the clothes we wear to our Sabbath gathering should be considered. Are we dressing appropriately for the "House of God"? Do you remember the term "Sunday best"? Dressing up and ironing your clothing for worship shows its importance and seriousness. It shows something that our modern-day culture often neglects, it is called "reverence". Dear Moses met with the Creator in the dessert via a burning bush and learned this lesson. Our formal meetings in the church with the Almighty should be just as important. "Then He said, "Do not come near here; remove your sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground." ~ Exodus 3:5 "Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: For our God is a consuming fire." ~ Hebrews 12:28-29 "I find it soothing to take something wrinkled and make it smooth. It feels anticipatory. It's what I do before a celebration." ~ Alexandra Stoddard And life, my dear homemaker, is a celebration! If you enjoyed this article, you may also be interested in: Gentle Homemaking Inspiration The Housecleaning Inspiration Collection Wash Day Collection of Inspiration All the fine print. This post may be shared with some or all of the following link-ups: The Art of Home-Making Mondays, Modest Mom Monday's, Monday's Musings, Make Your Home Sing Monday, Good Morning Mondays, The Scoop, Titus 2 Tuesdays, Tuesdays with a Twist, Raising Homemakers, Wise Woman Link Up, Homestead Blog Hop, Wow Us Wednesdays, Coffee and Conversation, Homemaking Thursdays, Home Sweet Home, Our Simple Homestead, From the Farm Blog Hop, Awesome Life Friday Link Up, Five Star Frou Frou Friday, Shabbilicious Friday, Simply Natural Saturdays and Clever Chicks Blog Hop. Thank you lovely ladies for hosting these. This post may contain affiliate links (which are merchant links that help to support this site at no additional cost to you if you purchase an item through them).

Together this series is meant to explore some of the hidden things behind our struggle with hospitality and how we overcome them.

The Good Wife's Guide goes around the internet quite often as a "how to be a good wife" kind of post. However, most find these 1950's housewives' rules outdated so this is a modern Good

If I had a dollar for every time someone told me that they aren't very domestic, I think I'd be rich. All it takes a few hangs with me and next thing you know, they're on shopping sprees at Target getting "stuff for the house". Being a domestic goddess or god is pretty si

Explore totallymystified's 3789 photos on Flickr!

Your home is a sacred place, a place where you get to control how it feels. Ultimately, home is all about the small stuff, the stuff you may not even realize you're missing out on.

Growing up on Little House books meant that I learned a great many lessons from Ma. Check out these five homemaking lessons with Ma Ingalls!

I have a confession to make - I probably have 20 books on how to organize my home. I have read some, skimmed some and not even looked at some. There have been bits and pieces I

From worst to best

Are you happy with your homemaking? Ever wish you enjoyed it more? Or would like to be better at keeping your home? Here's some inspiring help for you!

One of my favorite parts of homesteading is learning new traditional skills that have been lost due to technology. Start by learning today!

A lighthearted look back at the 50s housewife during the sunny days of yesteryear, when a woman's home was her castle -- and her kitchen was the heart of that home.

Recently I did a simple makeover of my daughter's room. I used a lot of vintage items and personalized a little for each girl. To see how I made a two beds ou…

Ever feel overwhelmed by the need to keep busy at home? Proverbs 31 shows there's actually something really good about it.

Get your day organized, make a meal plan, take control of your money and more with the Chaos to Calm Life Planner. Over 100 planning pages ready to make into the perfect planner.

Hey, sometimes you have to get creative to keep cool during the hot months.

Seasonal living doesn't have to stop at home decor. Here are some simple ways to bring autumn into your kitchen!