Each of us has a certain chore that we just don’t like to do.  This has me thinking of some tips to help us accomplish these dreaded chores.  Hopefully, tomorrow I’ll get to put these tips to use.

1)  Reward yourself.  Tell yourself that after your chore is completed, you’ll do something nice for yourself.  It could be a quiet cup of coffee, your favorite television show, or reading a chapter from a book.

2)  Set the timer.  Sometimes when there’s a chore I don’t want to complete, I set the timer for 15-20 minutes.  I know that I only have to work until the timer beeps so it’s easier to get started.  Once I get started though, I usually end up working quickly and trying to see how much I can get done before the timer sounds.  Sometimes I even work after the allotted time.

3)  Make it fun.  Turn up the music and dance or sing.  If the kids are helping out, set the timer and make it a race.  Have a good time. 

What is the chore that you hate to complete?

image sxc.hu

Post from: Keeping the Castle

I’m sure that we have all learned in school why our leaves change into those gorgeous colors, but I was just reading something interesting in the November issue of Martha Stewart Living and she has a different take on it and I like it! According to folklore, apparently Jack Frost had quite a bit to do with it… at least the brightly colored leaves that we love so much. The story goes that he pinched those particular leaves with his frigid fingers and they turned red. He then went on to paint the rest of the fall leaves in tones of brown and gold.

*What to do with those leaves?? Collect the prettiest you can find, place  them  between sheets of wax paper and then iron them. They can now be used to decorate window sills, coffee tables, you name it.  I have tons of memories of doing this while in public school!

Post from: Keeping the Castle

LG Electronics has a new Steam Direct Drive Washing Machine that claims to “bring dry cleaning to your home” and “remove creases from your garments, eliminating the need for ironing.” The machine applies steam after the cleaning cycle to remove creases and wrinkles. Although the company’s Don Kwack admits that the treatment may not work on all garments, it will make ironing mostly unnecessary. The machine will go on sale in the UK in June.

When the appliance’s cleaning cycle ends, a steam generator kicks in for 20 minutes.

The LG Direct Drive conserves more water than standard machines
It blasts the clothes with hot, damp air to even out creases and wrinkles.

Don Kwack, an LG executive said steam treatment extended the life of clothing and did not cause them to shrink.

The major drawback though is that the entire cycle takes two and a half hours. Now, that’s much longer than what I’m willing to allow for a load of laundry. OK, so it claims to “iron” my clothes too. But the way I do laundry right now gives me pretty much wrinkle-free clothes anyway. LG has to try a little harder and get that steam de-wrinkler to work much faster.

[Source: Sky.com]

Post from: Keeping the Castle