How to declutter and organize your house

Is your house a mess? Are you wanting to put your house in order, yet just don’t know where to start? If so, the KonMari method might be for you. Here are some simple steps to consider as you get started on your journey to tidying and reclaiming/restoring back the balance in your home methodically, thoroughly, and completely.

Prepare

1)   Take the time to envision/picture what kind of house you would like to live in, and how it would be like to have a clutter-free organized space. What vibe would you like it to radiate?

 

2)   Prepare your mindset and consider the following before starting.

 

·     Keep: Keep and surround yourself with only things you love, not “just because,” or that you “might” use it in the future. The question of what you want to own/keep is really a question of how you want to live your life.

 

·     Discard: Discard anything that you no longer need, has outlived its purpose, or does not spark joy (radiate the vibe you want). A general guide is that if an item has not been used in a year, throw it away. Often, if you are having a hard time letting go, it might be because you are attached to your past, or have a fear of the future. Remember, the joy you feel here/now are more important during your tidying journey. 

Discard 

3)   Go through each item in your house by category, in the exact order listed below. Check that you gather and handle every single item in the house in the category you are working on to determine if you want to a) keep it or b) discard/give it away. Note, make sure that you hydrate yourself and plow steadily, yet quickly through each category. 

 

·     Clothes--- First tops (i.e. shirts/sweaters), then bottoms (i.e. pants/skirts), clothes that need to be hung (i.e. jackets, coats, suits), socks, underwear, bags (i.e. handbags), accessories (i.e. scarves, belts, hats), specific event clothes (i.e. swimsuits, uniforms), and shoes. 

· If you need to try something on, set it aside to do so after you have sorted all your clothes.

·     Books--- Divide into four piles: General (i.e. books you read for pleasure), practical (i.e. references, cookbooks), visual (i.e. photograph collections, coffee-table books), magazines

· Don’t stop to read them as you are decluttering.

· Only keep the once you absolutely love. Remember, there is a very low chance you will reread your books again.

· In the end, your bookshelf should contain books of what you aspire to be. 

·     Papers--- Divide into three piles: To pay/action (i.e. outstanding bills, letters that need to be sent), To file (i.e. papers that need to be kept indefinitely), To recycle/shred.

· A general guide is to try and discard everything

· Papers should be kept in one spot only, and not spread to other parts of the house. 

· Deal with your “To pay/act” pile at the end of your paper tidying campaign. 

·     Komono(miscellaneous) --- CDs/DVDs, stationary supplies (i.e. equipment, paper/letter-related supplies), electrical equipment/appliances (i.e. digital cameras, USBS, electrical cords/stuff), skin care products, makeup, accessories, medicines, relaxation goods, valuables (i.e. passport/credit cards/wallet), sewing kits, tools, hobby items, collectables (i.e. figurines, themed items), linen and bedding, recreational items (i.e. badminton sets, balls, fishing gear), Seasonal items (i.e. holiday décor), Emergency supplies, rain gear, kitchen items (i.e. eating items, cooking items, food), Cleaning items, laundry items, bathroom items, other (i.e. spare change, figurines)

· The order you declutter in this category is up to you. 

· Don’t stop to listen to music or watch a DVD. 

·     Mementos/Sentimental

· Remember, we cannot live in the past. The joy and excitement we feel here and now are more important.

 

Organize 

4)   Start organizing that which you have decided to keep. 

·     Designate a space for everything. Clutter is caused by a failure to return things to where they belong. 

·     Start by filling the built-in storage, and the largest items first.

·     Store all items of the same category in the same place, and don’t scatter storage spaces. Consider storing by material: cloth, paper, electric.

·     Store items in such a way that you can tell at a glance where everything is stored.

·     If an item can stand on edge without falling, it should be stored upright. If an item is soft/pliable, it should be stored folded

·     Maximize your storage capacity using square storage spaces. 

·     When storing clothes, arrange your closet by category so that they rise to the right. Start in the far left with coats, followed by dresses, jackets, pants, skirts and blouses. 

· If you are feeling extra fancy, you can even color coordinate within each category with darker colors on the left gradually moving towards lighter colors. 

· If possible, keep clothes ready to use regardless of the season. 

 

5)   Decorate and celebrate your accomplishment!

·     Personalize your house using items that spark joy (i.e.  flowers/plants, wall art, color coordinate curtains/bedsheets with your favorite color, add aroma oils, or put other special items on display).

What things have you finally decided to discard on your tidying journey?

 

Photo source: housedigest.com

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Tips For Breastfeeding Success

If it is your first time trying to breastfeed and your baby does not latch on as quickly and effectively as you thought they would, or perceive to have not enough milk production, breastfeeding can be quite frustrating and your confidence quickly plummet. Here are some helpful tips to consider, to make your breastfeeding experience more successful: 

 

1.   Is your baby showing signs of hunger, or is it time to feed again? 

 

·     Some hunger cues to look out for are mouthing (hands to mouth), rooting (turning head side-to-side), fidgeting (moving arms and legs), suckling and smacking (licking lips). Crying is often a late sign of hunger. 

·     You want to feed the baby 8-12x/day, or every 2-3hrs. A feeding can last a few sucks to 40+ minutes long. Yet, allow your baby to feed more often and longer if they desire. 

·     If possible, it is best to start breastfeeding within the “golden hour”, or first hour after birth since newborns are most alert and most likely to feed during this time. Also, your breasts are softer, thus making it easier to learn how to latch on. 

·     If your baby is sleepy, and does not want to feed despite 3+ hours passing, undress the baby, place skin-to-skin and offer breast. Placing the baby skin-to-skin will also help increase your milk production.

 

2.   Get yourself and the baby into a comfortable position to feed. 

 

·     Wearing a wireless nursing bra/clothes will help offer support and easy access for baby to breastfeed. 

·     Consider what style, or “holds” you want to breastfeed (i.e. cradle, cross-cradle, clutch/football hold, or side lying). You may need to try multiple positions to find what is most comfortable for you. 

·     Use pillows (i.e. nursing pillow) to help support the baby and you in a comfortable position. 

·     Avoid needing to lean over. Bring the baby to the level of your breast instead, with the baby’s nose at level with your nipple. 

3.   Get the baby to latch on properly 

 

·     Hold the baby close to your body, and support the baby’s head at the base with your hand in a “c” shape. Ensure the baby’s ear, shoulder and hip are in a straight line.

·     Support your breast with your other hand in a “c” shape (like you are holding a cup) 1-2 inches from the areola, with your fingers parallel to the baby’s lips and making the breast more oval shaped. 

·     Ensure the baby’s head is tipped up, with chin touching the bottom part of your breast. This will help ensure your nipple is pointed to the roof of the baby’s mouth, and that the baby latches on to more of the lower part of your areola. 

·     Rub the upper lip in a downward motion with your nipple to entice/tease the baby to open their mouth wide open. Once wide open bring your baby quickly and gently onto the breast, chin first, with their lower jaw far below the nipple. 

·     The baby’s lips should be “flanged,” or turned out. Your baby should have long stretches of sucking and swallowing that you should be able to hear. Wait for the baby to suck before relaxing your hold on the breast. 

·     Watch this 15 minute video to help you visualize good breastfeeding technique.  

https://firstdroplets.com

 

4.   Troubleshooting

 

·     If your baby is having difficulty latching, hand express some milk before feeding to help soften your breasts, thus making it easier for the baby to latch on. Also, you can rub some expressed milk on your nipple/areola, as well as under the baby’s nose to entice the baby to latch on. 

·     The latch should not hurt you and have any biting/pinching pain. If it does, you need to break the suction by sliding your finger into the corner of the baby’s mouth, and try again. 

·     If you have sore/cracked nipples, consider rubbing some breastmilk that has anti-pathogenic and healing properties onto your nipples before/after breastfeeding.  Also, applying gel pads may help soothe and reduce friction on your nipples.  

·     If your baby is crying, they might be too upset to breastfeed. Calm your baby down first by rocking them before trying to breastfeed. Also, consider if your baby needs their diaper changed, or if it might be too hot/cold for them. 

·     If your baby is too fidgety/active, it might help to wrap them up in a swaddle.

·     If your baby is too sleepy to suck at the breast, implementing breast compression massage will help increase milk flow/production, thus stimulating the baby to suck. Also, you can gently rub behind baby’s ear, back, legs, and feet to help stimulate them to suck at the breast. 

 

5.   Things to consider

·     Learning how to hand express colostrum (baby’s first food, aka “liquid gold”) every 2-3hrs after breastfeeding for ~5 minutes, until your milk “comes in”, is a good way to stimulate milk production. 

                    i.     To hand express, lean slightly forward to help gravity pull milk down. Gently massage your breast to help milk get ready to flow. Then, support your breast with your hand in a “c” shape about 1-1.5 in away from the nipple, and push your breast back. Next, compress your breast gently by bringing the pads of your thumb and fingers together. Lastly, relax your hand. 

                   ii.     The earlier and more frequent milk is expressed, the sooner milk comes in, and more milk is produced. Your partner can also help hand express if you get too fatigued. 

                 iii.     If the baby is having a hard time latching on, you can hand express/pump your milk, and then provide it to the baby via a spoon, syringe, or SNS (Supplemental nursing system). 

                 iv.     In general, breastmilk is good for 4-8 hours at room temperature, and 4-8 days if refrigerated. 

·     Watch this 7 minute video to help you visualize good hand expressing technique.  

 

https://med.stanford.edu/newborns/professional-education/breastfeeding/hand-expressing-milk.html

 

·     Remember to offer both breasts at a feeding. If the baby only takes 1 breast make sure you start with the other breast at the next feeding to ensure proper milk removal, increased milk production, and reduced breast engorgement. 

·     Also, consider using different “holds” positions when breastfeeding which will help your baby drain the different areas of your breasts more effectively, thus helping prevent clogged ducts. 

·     The more milk you pump, or baby takes from the breast, the more milk will be produced. Therefore, be cautious when supplementing with other milk sources for it may lead to the baby not breastfeeding as often, breast engorgement, and a lower milk supply.

·     Wait when your breastfeeding is going well for at least 1 month before introducing an artificial nipple/pacifier to your baby.

·     Make sure you are sufficiently eating and drinking.

·     Consider meeting with a lactation specialist, joining a breastfeeding class, and/or talking to your pediatrician.

 

6.   Manage your expectations

 

·     Your mature milk will increase in quantity, or “come in” in 2-5 days after birth. Until then, you have colostrum to provide to the baby. 

·     Remember, a newborn’s stomach is very small at birth (~5-7ml, or the size of a grape), thus will not need a lot to become full. 

·     On days 1-4 of a newborns life, a teaspoon (5 ml) per how many days old they are, per feeding is usually considered a normal good feed. By day 10, most newborns eat 12-15 tsp (60-75 ml) per feeding. 

·     On days 1-4 of a newborns life, a wet/stooled diaper per how many days old they are is usually considered sufficient. 

·     Babies are born with extra fluid, and so it is often expected for them to lose 7-10% of their birth weight during the first couple of days after birth, and should regain their weight by day 10.

·     Remember to be patient with yourself and baby for a good latch is a learned response that requires practice for the both of you to get used to. 

7.   Track your progress and look for signs of a well breastfed baby

 

·     Here is an example of how you can keep track of your progress 

 

Date; Time	Pee	Poo (Color)	Breastfed (min, side)	Expressed (mls, how)	Supplemented (mls, how)	Burp
1/1/22; 04:00	Yes	Yes  , Black	10 min, Right side	2mls, Hand	5mls, Donor milk	Yes

 

·     Some good signs that your baby is getting enough milk are: your baby’s mouth and lips are wet and pink, they are active/alert with a strong cry, and have enough wet diapers/stools for their age. 

·     Your breasts soften after the baby feeds, as well as seeing/hearing your baby swallow is a good sign your baby is getting enough milk. 

·     Another good indicator of a well fed breastfed baby is if the baby is having bright yellow stools, and 5-7 wet diapers per day by day 5. As well as, if the baby has regained their birth weight back by day 10.

 

 

What tips have you found helpful when breastfeeding? 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo source: bbcgoodfood.com

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35+ Christmas Advent Traditions

The Christmas Advent season starts the first Sunday after Thanksgiving, where you look forward to celebrating Jesus’ first coming as a baby in a manager.  It is the time of year that many families come together to remember the past, pass down stories of faith, values, and create new memories together. Here are some Christmas traditions you can incorporate with your family this year: 

 

The Christmas Story

1.    Read passages from the scripture that tell of the nativity story: Luke 2:1-21, Mathew 1:18-2:12. Or, have everyone in the family choose a passage from scripture that means a lot to them, and then take turns reading it and sharing why it is so important to us. 

2.    Have an advent calendar with bible verses/pictures/hidden treats behind the door of each day counting down to Christmas day. 

3.    Wrap 12 Christmas booksand open one each day to read with your children.

4.    Have kids follow a little shepherd on his quest to find Jesus through, “Shepherd’s Treasure.”

5.    Read, “Twas the Evening of Christmas,” poem that share the story of Jesus birth.

6.    Have on display the nativity scene in a reachable spot so that the kids can play with it through December. Place baby Jesus in the manger on Christmas day, and light a candle next to him. As an alternative, you can mold a nativity scene from clay dough, or visit a local live nativity scene.

7.    Dress up as “wise men” or “Shepard’s” looking for the nativity by using thrifted clothes. Or, act out the Christmas story as a family using a nativity script, or take turns telling the story piece by piece. 

8.    Prepare and re-enact the “Journey to Bethlehem meal,” turning on Jewish folk music and sharing a simple meal that Mary and Joseph might have shared. 

9.    Watch Christmas-themed, family oriented movies: The Nativity, Jesus, Jesus of Nazareth, Chasing the Star, Chronicles of Narnia, The Passion of the Christ, Silent Night, Ben-Hur, The Note, The Star of Bethlehem, The heart of Christmas etc. 

10. Complete a Christmas themed puzzle together

Music

11. Turn on and listen to Christmas-themed music at home. 

12. Visit someone, or go door-to-door “wassailing”, aka singing classic Christmas carols that remind us of the love and hope given to the world by God through Jesus. 

13. Listen to Handel’s Messiah performed by London’s philharmonic choir, or watch it live at a local event.

14. Read the, “Festival of nine lessons and carols,” and sing together a lesson a day. Or, you can listen to the entire service performed by Chapel of king’s College, Cambridge on BBC on Christmas Eve. 

15. Watch a Christmas Play/Concert.

 

Lights

16. Drive around town and look at Christmas lights while listening to Christmas music and enjoying your favorite ice-cream. And, perhaps put a thank you card in mailboxes of homes that display the nativity in their yard.

17. Take the time to pause, stargaze, and sense the darkness outside at night, thanking God for sending the light.  Turn on the Christmas lights and remember that the Light we celebrate at Christmas also shines through our lives as we live for Jesus. 

18. Attend your local church’s Christmas Eve candlelight servicewhere the light from the candle represents the light of Christ that guides believers from the darkness. 

 

Food

19. Bake and decorate sugar cookies, or other festive cookies/candies that you put in a jar, and can only eat one each day leading up to Christmas day. Or, perhaps put in a bag and share some with friends and family. 

20. Decorate a gingerbread house/manger as a family, or other holiday craft. 

21. Make and drink homemade hot chocolate, apple cider, or eggnog.

22. Burn a large yule log in the fireplace on Christmas Eve, or bake a yule log chocolate cake for Christmas day. 

23. Have an immediate family Christmas dinner and take turns sharing your favorite part of the Christmas story. Or, organize a holiday party using Christmas themed table clothes, silverware, and/or centerpieces that remind us of God’s gift to humanity. As well as, perhaps host a game night, or cookie decorating party.

24. Organize a birthday party for Jesus, making him a birthday cake and sing Happy birthday. You can also write a Christmas letter to Jesus telling him what your gift will be for him this year. 

 

Decorations

25. Decorate an evergreen Christmas tree representing the cross and everlasting life of Christ. Add a star on top to symbolize the star the three wise men saw, or put an angel on top to symbolize the angel who told the shepherds about Jesus’ birth. You can also hang, “The 12 names of Christ” ornaments that help tell about who Christ is. As well as, sleep under the tree.

26. Decorate a bare Jesse tree branch with ornaments/symbols that represent people from Jesus’ family. On Christmas day, you add an ornament representing baby Jesus, and you can also add a picture of your family to represent being part of Jesus’ family. You can also read a corresponding devotion every day that you add a new ornament to the tree. 

27. Decorate the house with holly whose leaves represent the thorns in Jesus’ crown, and red berry represent his blood.  Or, bells that represent the ringing of the good news.

28. Have on display an advent evergreen wreath with four candles, one to be lit each Sunday leading up to Christmas day.

29. Implement the 12 days of Christmas (Gifts of the Savior) secret service by doorbell-ditching a simple gift correlating with a gift note/tag that focuses on a name of Christ.  

 

Gifts

30. You can make a gift for a local charity, friend, family, orphan, or widow in need. Or, you can fill a shoebox with toys and gifts for children around the world through Operation Christmas Child and distributed through Samaritans purse. Gift-giving represents the gifts the three wise men gave Jesus upon his birth, and also symbolic of the ultimate gift of God-the gift of his son.

31. Donate to a charity (i.e. Compassion International, World Vision) to help someone in need. Volunteer at a local charity, or do another good deed as a family.

32. Send Christmas Cardsor write a letter to friends and family. Or, perhaps you can create a family holiday greeting video together. 

33. Create a  “serving others jar” that is filled with ideas of how you can serve your family, friends, neighbors, or community this season. Choose one out of the jar each day leading up to Christmas. 

34. Get matching pajamas for everyone in the family on Christmas Eve, and have a photo-op together. 

35. Play Christmas bingo by choosing 24 things you would like to do during the Christmas season and write them in a blank bingo card. See how many bingo’s you can get by Christmas Day. 

 

 

Important: Remember, if you are only able to complete one or two of these, that is OK. Ultimately, the time you spend with the people you value most, even in the quietest of moments and remembering, Jesus, is one of the most important and meaningful parts of the Christmas Season you can do. Merry Christmas!

 

 

What are some of your favorite Christmas traditions?

 

 

Photo source: scripturecatholic.com

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