August 2026; Monthly Musings
I haven't been super great about linking up with Patty for her Monthly Musings series but this month the questions sounded like fun and I have way more free time on my hands so I figured why not join in.
1. Are you good at managing the weekly laundry at your house or do you need help? Share tips if you're good at this.
Yes, I really am. The minute my boys could reach the buttons on the washer and dryer, I taught them to do their own laundry and each person has their own hamper and laundry basket. That way those of "us" that don't like to put laundry away and live out of their basket doesn't affect the rest of "us" who are doing our laundry and need a basket to put the clean clothes in. I also enjoy folding clothes since I read or watch TV while doing it and will fold while most clothes are still warm from the dryer. I am just not a procrastinator and am home often enough to tackle these sorts of chores before they become overwhelming.
2. Best tips for containing the kitchen and dishes chaos.
I try to make sure the dishwasher gets emptied almost as soon as it finishes (or first thing in the morning when we run it overnight) so that dirty dishes don't have time to pile up in the sink. I also like to make sure the dishwasher is ready for dinner dishes as I start cooking so that I can just clean as I go and then the boys can put their own dirty dishes in.
3. What grocery items do you always have on hand to make a quick meal? Feel free to share recipes.
Things like pasta and sauce with either premade meatballs or ground meat/pepperoni, burger/hot dogs & potatoes for homemade fries, pesto and frozen veggies with pasta, eggs- either we make breakfast for dinner or egg salad sandwiches or quiche, I always have a giant bowl of tossed salad in our fridge that we use as a side dish each night to go with dinner but it makes a great quick meal on it's own with some protein added like canned tuna or a diced burger on top.
4. Best tips for saving money on groceries.
Whelp, sending 2 kids off to college certainly cut our grocery bill by a whole lot (though overall I'm pretty sure we're not saving money! LOL😂)
5. Cleaning service, DIY, or is household cleaning overrated?
DIY
6. Favorite cleaning products?
I did a whole post on this earlier this year (here)
7. Do you try to use "green" products in your house?
Yes, though I do feel like there is a lot of conflicting information in what makes a product "green." But I do try.
8. Do you schedule certain tasks for certain days of the week?
Nope, I do laundry and dishes and cooking every day but as far as cleaning the house with vacuum, dusting, toilets, etc. that is more of a tackle as I feel like it/as I notice it sort of thing.
9. What is the most overwhelming part of your week that you think you need help with right now?
Right now I am mostly consumed by all the admin tasks of dealing with my dad's estate and I just hate admin tasks. Calling people/professionals I don't know, asking for help, filling out forms (many of which I only partially know the answers to), it's all quite stressful. Monday I attempted to set up a rollover IRA and the accompanying paperwork, Tuesday I made it a goal to get to the social security office, and Wednesday I met with a local lawyer to get a better list of what needs doing and how to handle that from afar, what order to tackle things in, etc.
10. What part of your week do you think you excel at?
Pretty much everything else. With only 1 young adult left at home with my husband and I and not working a full time job all the rest of my life/household tasks seem pretty easy and manageable.
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I had my kids helping with laundry at pretty early ages as well. I will have to go back to your post about cleaners. Do you make your own? I've made (and still use) a homemade dust spray.
ReplyDeleteI have made my own cleaners a few times but other than the floor spray I'm not great at consistently making my own.
DeleteSounds like you are running an organized and tidy ship my friend!
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteI do many of the same things as you do. I do dishes, laundry, floors to some degree every day except Friday. I am really working hard to try not to do much of this on Fridays. I use many of the same cleaners. My biggest nemesis is dog hair which you don't have to deal with - lol. I hate the smell of vinegar so I can't clean with it. I also have that glass cleaning cloth and you are a genius - I am going to take it out to my car windows today! I love the Method brand, too.
ReplyDeleteYes, I am so thankful I do not have pet hair to contend with.
DeleteLots of good things here! I absolutely love vinegar for around the house. I add it to my laundry! Thanks for sharing, my friend.
ReplyDeleteYes, it's a great laundry boost!
DeleteHaha, Zachary likes to keep his clean clothes in his laundry basket and his dirty ones on his floor! I was still running the wash for him (not sure why but he didn't want to put his things in the machine!) but not folding them or putting them away.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I will fold clothes for those that put their laundry away but not for those that live out of the basket and the only time I put clothes away is the laundry they leave behind when they leave for college or a trip.
DeleteAhh! I have a couple of those here who live out of their laundry basket. hehehe
ReplyDeleteWhenever we want a quick meal we always turn to pasta.
Sending love and hugs. It does sound so stressful dealing with your dad's estate.
Aw, thank you. It's just every time I think we're making progress we find ourselves back a few steps. It's so frustrating.
DeleteI was the executor on my mom's estate a few years ago and I remember how time consuming that process was. I was grateful that I had retired a few months beforehand but it was all so bittersweet because my mom passed away quickly (only two weeks after her diagnosis) and we had planned on spending so much time together once I was no longer teaching. Wishing you all the best as you navigate everything!
ReplyDeleteAw, that is tough.
DeleteYes to your laundry method!! Our kids have been doing their own laundry since they were tiny and it is SO NICE to not have to worry about doing it myself.
ReplyDeleteIt really is! I'm still happy to do theirs on occasion when they get too busy but it's nice knowing I don't have to.
DeleteI need to check out your post on natural cleaning. I'm a huge fan and they just changed the formula of my "free and clear" dishwashing tabs and they smell now. Ick. Timely tip. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteOh I really hate when they switch up the formulas and pass it off as their old one. At least change up the name and packaging so I know it's not the same.
DeleteWe do that with the dishwasher. Anytime we're having a party or friends over. We make sure to run the dishwasher beforehand so it's empty after the party.
ReplyDeleteXoxo
Jodie
Absolutely!
DeleteI like to fold laundry too. I find it super relaxing. You are really quite organized.
ReplyDelete-Soma
Yes, I find it very relaxing.
DeleteI don't envy all your administrative tasks! I agree about the lower grocery cost but increased other costs when kids go to college. We have made our last tuition payment and it was a relief!
ReplyDeleteYay!
DeleteI never let my kids do laundry because I always wanted to do full loads. That's what happens when your mom and grandma are very energy efficient...hahaha!! I did make them put their own laundry away. Their bedrooms were on the second floor, and I'd put their laundry on the stairs. Two of them would do it. The third would just leave the clothes there and get dressed on the steps! I have to admit I miss doing laundry for a big family. When my daughter lived with us while her husband was deployed, I loved doing all the little baby things! Even now, if she's in the middle of folding her laundry when I'm at her home, I'll help. It's such a comforting thing to me. I wish I liked cooking as much as you do! My cleaning methods are a lot like yours...when I notice it, then I'll clean it!
ReplyDeletehttps://marshainthemiddle.com/
Oh our loads are FULL! In fact we usually have the problem that the washer is overloaded. Our washer and dryer are upstairs just off Ian's bedroom so no schlepping the clothes up and down stairs. The firs house my husband and I bought had the washer and dryer in the basement and I loathed carrying the clothes up and down two flights of stairs so we made sure not to have to do that in this house.
DeleteOoh yes I love that laundry idea! Our mum taught us how to cook and clean and do our laundry from a very early age! Such a great idea.
ReplyDeletecheers
sherry
I did the same with my boys. These are valuable life skills that they need to know how to do.
DeleteOh Joanne, those administrative tasks sounds like a lot. Hopefully, just one at a time, it will seem easier, but I know so much is just a waiting game. Hang in there friend!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteLoved reading your musings this month! You are so organized!
ReplyDeleteAw, thanks!
DeleteYou’ve got such a great system in place, Joanne! I love how you taught your boys laundry early -- it really does make life easier.
ReplyDeleteIt sure does!
DeleteI"m good with doing laundry too. I have this rythm that works very well. What's it like, having your boy in college and having more free time?
ReplyDeleteI haven't felt like I've had much free time this week... maybe next week?
Deletesuch a great system! my boys did laundry early as well!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteI always enjoy a post like this! I like your system. Very organized. I feel for you with the estate administration stuff. That's a boatload of work, takes a lot of time and it's not in our average wheelhouse of things we can do quickly and easily. Good luck. I hope the worst of it is over soon.
ReplyDeleteThanks! Oh I really don't think we'll be done anytime soon but hopefully once I turn most of the paperwork over to a lawyer in his home state the bulk of my work will be done for awhile.
DeleteI taught my kids to do their own laundry fairly young as well, and for the same reasons. Plus I thought it was an easy life skill to start being personally responsible for.
ReplyDeleteGood plan to just tidy things up as you notice it's needed. I do try to do that, but when I'm on a time crunch to get to work or whatever I tend to "leave it till later" more often than I should.
Praying that all the admin tasks with the estate start going smoother and things fall into place and it's all done soon!
Aw, thank you!
DeleteJoanne, your food always looks so Good! Settling someone's estate is super time consuming even if they were organized before they passed. Wishing you all the best with this project. Thanks for joining up this month, you are always welcome to jump in and out of any month.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much!
Delete