This title may make you think of the picturesque, lovely photos… and I hope to include some of those here as well… but I am also going to be very honest and say some days the mess is much more obvious than the beauty. December brings many things with it for the homemaker- including wrapping gifts! I enjoy getting wrapping paper and trimmings after the season on clearance and saving for the next year. One way to save money and still get good quality. Ok, let’s jump in to December!

Consistency

It is way to easy to let things slide. The dishes or the kids’ misbehavior. But, staying consistent helps in so many ways. Staying on top of little messes keeps the big messes from rising up and taking over. Dealing with small misbehaviors in our children’s attitudes or daily grumps not only shows them that they cannot manipulate, but it also helps you to follow through with what you said. What a happier home we have when things are tidy and calm.

I am doing dishes several times per day and my oldest son does them after supper. This time of year can mean lots of sun and, as with today, brightly reflecting off of the snow outside. It sure helps to keep me warm on these winter days.

Say ‘yes’

How hard this is for me at times. Some things I can easily get behind, other things I have to encourage myself in. Home making during the winter means more inside messes. This is ok! But, in general, my kids know that things can’t stay out forever. Have a plan in place to say ‘yes’ to fun projects but let your family know that there is an ‘expiration date’ for forts and cities and tents. Keeping things in a specific spot also helps keep pieces from getting lost.

Saying ‘yes’ may also mean more baking. Another mess to be made. But, think of the memories that come with it. I am notorious for not liking cooking messes in my kitchen. As my kids have gotten old enough to learn to cook, they have learned the rules I have set in place for everyone’s sanity as well as function. As we use an ingredient in our recipe, we put it away- that way 1) we know we didn’t forget to add it and 2) more counter space and less to put away at the end of the cooking project.

In my post about the 2 things I need to have my days working well, I wrote about always making my bed. Except on Sundays, I make my bed almost the first thing. In winter, homemaking can also mean deciding if we need more or less blankets, flannel sheets, or even any new purchases so that every family member is sleeping well. Sleep is very necessary for our immune systems.

Be Home

It goes without saying that homemaking means being home. This can be for a few hours a day or all day. But, our homes need attention. This particular weekend, we had a lot of obligations as a family. Here and there and everywhere. Lots of good stuff, but lots of time away from home. So, when I had the morning home (before the next outing), I thoroughly enjoyed picking up and putting away, catching up with the mess. My 8 year old was also home with me and we both got busy. She has her chore list and got right to work after breakfast. We took a mid-morning break and brought Abel inside, reading our newest Christmas book together. In the end, the house looked so much better. Welcoming. Tidy. Put together. And calming.

I love adding beauty to my homemaking. Twinkle lights are not expensive, can be purchased in a small strand, and placed most anywhere to give a sweet light to the space.

During the winter, homemaking also means washing water bottles more often. Keep those germs at bay! Drink your fluids, eat balanced and nutritious meals, and clean your counter surfaces.

Reading is a favorite of mine in the winter. I like to have many options on my bedside bookshelf- fiction, theology, Bible Study, and my Bible. The suitcases at the end of the bed are cute, but they are also utilitarian, holding keep sake letters and cards. And, since I haven’t yet completed the kids’ birthday books, they are out as well.

Winter

Knowing what season I am homemaking in, I can more easily set myself up for success. My daughter brought up our snow clothes drying rack and Sweet Husband added a wee fan. There has been much snow play and sledding with this rare before-Christmas snowfall! Having things ready for drying makes my life much easier. The kids know where to place things, so their winter attire is ready to go for the next chore or play time.

Winter also means being prepared in other areas. Cooking and baking (do I have my staples replenished?); cleaning and sanitizing (are my all-natural cleaning products full and ready to use); nourishing and taking care (do I have broth made and nutritious foods ready for colds and flu?). I made a version of DIY disinfectant spray this past week(as seen in the bedroom photo), as we have had some cold symptoms. We kept taking our immune boosting gummies and tinctures. But I am no purist- we also had some cold tablets and liquids. I am thankful that we are generally healthy during this time of year.

Tidy and Warm

I had to remove my jute rug from under our table this past week. It was not staying clean and bunched up terribly. What are your favorite under-dining-table rugs?? And, although it is much cleaner there now… it isn’t as cozy. Especially during winter, I like a rug in the dining room- not only for warmth, but also noise.

Outside

What are your outdoor homemaking chores? I am spoiled and don’t have many, but I do find feeding the birds and keeping treats out for my hens and rooster a joy. There is still quite a bit of snow on the ground and watching the birds enjoy the food we put out is something we like to do as a family. FYI: corn increases the blood pressure in chickens, so giving it to them this time of year is especially helpful. We soak our main food source, but they also get some scratch grains daily.

What do you enjoy about homemaking in December?