Clean the inside of the refrigerator

Task of the Day: Clean the inside of the refrigerator

This task is to not only make your refrigerator look clean, but it needs to be clean. E.coli, salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes are just some of the 8,000 bacteria lurking in your refrigerator and happily contaminating your food. The temperatures between 40 degrees and 140 degrees are the breeding ground for most bacteria. Make sure your refrigerator is set cooler that 40 degrees. These bacteria are ready for battle, contaminating your food and they want you to be sick.

When Joshua and Hannah were younger they were like little tornado's running through the house demolishing everything. We were not sure how we would make it past that very long stage. WE know now that what doesn't kill you makes you stronger! During this very difficult time, they thought the refrigerator was such a fun place and I was constantly trying to keep them out of it. We tried taping the refrigerator door shut after the alarms, buckles, straps and many other things had failed. They all just bought us about two seconds. Joshua would ALWAYS figure these things out. During this challenging time, Joshua was four and Hannah was two years old. I felt like I was always running in catching them in the refrigerator, pulling stuff out. I quickly became Mom-Commando when I heard the sound of their little feet, sneaky laughs and then the sound of that door opening. This time I was a little too late, ok, a lot too late! As I walked into the kitchen, I saw the smorgasbord, the feast, the picnic! Food was all over the gray carpeted kitchen floor! They had orange juice poured out onto the floor (trying to make it into the glasses they climbed up on the cabinet to get). This orange juice, and its pulp, was liberally layered with grated cheddar cheese, ice cream and of course cherries on top of it all! That's not all, what do most Americans need with every meal? That's right, MEAT! They were sitting in the middle of this horrible mess, with their little mouths opened up, as big as they could be, ready to devour a fork full of raw ground beef! This meat had been taken out of the big 5 lb package and had been added to their floor "artwork". I am not, and have never been one of those mom's that puts a pretty picture frame around their children's messes to call it art, and I sure didn't become one this time. Me, mad, that is a HUGE understatement. I love all my children, but they sure know how to push my Mom-Commando button. 

Post your before and after pictures, or comment when task is accomplished!

Task Mama's, or should I say, Refrigerator-Commandos?... it's time to kill those refrigerator germs.

Dust your Ceiling Fans (or light fixtures)

Task of the day: Dust your Ceiling Fans (or light fixtures)

I know, I know, that is probably enough to make you cry, "Not today, too much for me!" I know where you are, and believe me, my ceiling fans are horrible (wait until you see the before pictures). My ceiling fans are so dusty that they are a completely different color than what they should be! Don't give up on me, I know this is a Monday, but lets punch out the task of dusting those fans (or light fixtures)! I have a fun (as fun as cleaning can be) and very easy way to dust those hard to reach, allergy starting, dust blowing ceiling fans. Use a pillowcase! Yes, that's right, an old pillowcase will do just fine. Put the dusty fan blade into the pillowcase, then pull the pillowcase toward you, gathering and trapping all the dust inside the pillow case. When you are finished dusting all your fans, turn your pillowcase inside out, and shake out the dust (outside) then wash the pillowcase. It is so easy, there is no excuse for my ceiling fans to look the way they do...or yours. After today, they will all be beautifully clean and I won't be cringing every time someone wants to turn one on. No dust blowing in the air, no sneezing attacks, we will all breath easier and just in time for the summer weather. So grab that old pillowcase, and a mask if you need it, then get to work! Today we will win the war against ceiling fan dust!

Oh, one more thing, turn the fan off first, the blades will fight back... 

Go and Do

Task of the Day: Go and Do

Go and Do, Get out and about, errands, AWAY FROM HOME, gallivant, garage sale, hang-out, loiter, tea-time, bond, cherish,sunshine, learn, share, go for a walk, shop, make a memory, tax office, AWAY FROM HOME, build igloo, coffee house, bowling, eat out, picnic, frolic, fish, see a notary, tic-tac-toe, recycle, farmers market, float down a river in a tube,AWAY FROM HOME, exercise, dune buggy, pizza, sing a telegram, trip, ride bike, inspection sticker, walk the dog, AWAY FROM HOME, mini golf, vending machine, pick up, movie, phone, park, zoo, swim, feed the ducks, friend, roller skate, hot-air balloon, party, yoga, hike, AWAY FROM HOME, rodeo, sword fight, doctor, baseball, tennis, Skip to my Lou, sail, sky dive, cleaners, beach, ride horse, root beer float, flea market, AWAY FROM HOME, mall, bungee jump, get your handwriting analyzed, steak, run, gas station, rock climb, paddle boat, sing in the rain, camp, AWAY FROM HOME, defensive driving, drop-off, caroling, visit, hunt, converse, hike, art museum, grass fight, bonfire, climb tree, date, AWAY FROM HOME, origami class, library, charades, ice sculpt, paint, pottery, donuts, AWAY FROM HOME, breath, relax, absorb, have fun but make sure it is AWAY FROM HOME. 

Go and Do, AWAY FROM HOME...then post about it.

Make your own Dishwasher Detergent Tabs and then Set the Table

Task of the Day: Make your own Dishwasher Detergent Tabs and then Set the Table 

Well Ladies, this is the last day of Homemade Cleanser Project week, but we have had a fantastic week and we have some great cleansers to show for it! Today's cleanser is a very nice addition to your cleanser belt and I have been excited all week for this one. I have heard great things about these and can't wait to start using them! We are going to make our own Dishwasher Detergent Tabs! I have done some research on the best ingredients for washing dishes in the dishwasher and I really think this is a great recipe!

If you are not making the dishwasher detergent tabs with us you can still join in and do the second part of today's task: Set the Table! Be creative and have fun with this. Be Martha Stewart for the day! You know you have always wanted to be her, now you have the excuse!  When you set your table, keep your family (or guests) in mind. If you are having a nice quiet "solo" meal tonight then set it up just how you would like it done. If you want to bring out the best dishes and have all the different forks and spoons on the correct sides, two glasses, cloth napkins, and you want to use a color themed setting, that would be great! What I have in mind for this task is for you to do what you and/or your family/guest would appreciate and enjoy for dinner, not necessarily what is considered to be "correct". If paper plates are your dining choice, put those paper plates down on the table and decorate around them. I have to be honest, I don't put out my best dishes when I know my 4 kids under the age of 9 will be my dining guests! I might make things a little more exciting and "inviting" with the color scheme, and theme.  Just think of your guests/family/self, whoever it might be. It will be fun to see all of your creative table settings.

Enjoy your day, It is FRIDAY!

Click Here for instructions: Dishwasher Detergent Tabs , have I mentioned how much I love @www.onegoodthingbyJillee.com ?

Make Liquid Laundry Detergent and Improve Laundry Room

Task of the Day: Make Liquid Laundry Detergent and Improve Laundry Room

After today, you will have made an awesome countertop cleanser, Task Mama's "Punch it out" (homemade shout), antibacterial soft scrub cleaner, and liquid laundry detergent in your cleaning tool belt! It has been a great homemade cleanser project week and I am pleased with how the cleansers are working. When I first made my own laundry detergent years ago each batch was for a 5 gallon container and the soap had to be grated and boiled! With one batch, I felt like it lasted a long time..too long, and because I didn't like all the effort I had to put into making and storing, it was so much easier to grab some Arm & Hammer off the shelf at Wal-Mart bring it home and it was ready to use. I was very excited to find this laundry detergent recipe, because really it couldn't be any easier. I can make it very quickly, with little to no effort. I made the liquid laundry detergent on Monday so I could start testing it. I have been washing load after load with it the last several days. I have been very impressed with the smell (I like for my clothes to have a scent so I added 3 tablespoons Downy Unstoppables "Spring" to the warm water when making batch). I also let the warm water and ingredients sit for a while before adding the cool water. If you prefer fragrance free detergent don't add Downy Unstoppables to your homemade liquid detergent. I really wanted this laundry detergent to prove itself by washing my baby food stained clothes with it and no spot remover treatment was added before washing. When I pulled the stained clothes out of the wash, I have to say I was not impressed. The spots were still on several shirts. So I ran the exact load a second time with GAIN apple mango tango (which is the detergent I have been using) to see if the spots would come out with the store bought detergent. There was no change in the spots at all. So I began to be more open minded to the homemade liquid detergent. It was also hard for me to NOT see suds in the wash, but I have learned since, that suds do not equal clean. I have washed about 15-20 loads throughout the last few days including my kitchen and bath towels, poor rags, jeans, sheets, whites, colors, dark's and dedicates and have been pleased. As for the spots in the shirts I was able to get them out with the homemade shout...which I love! Remember my dress? The first greasy looking spot on the back that was on it when I bought it from the store, the spot is hardly noticeable! I am very happy about that. Oh, the many products I have used, Oxy Clean laundry boost, Shout spray, Oxy Clean spray, Oxy Clean rubbing gel with pads, alcohol, hairspray, soaking with Arm & Hammer liquid detergent, and I had even soaked it in with the Gain Apple Tango Mango all with NO luck at all. I am happy to see some improvement with the homemade Shout, even though it didn't get it completely out. If I work on it, I bet I can get it all out.

Today's task is to not only make laundry detergent (for those that are making the cleansers with us this week), but to improve the place you do your laundry. Doing just the simplest little things sometimes will make the whole dreaded experience easier to take on, and accomplish. By adding funny sayings, a usable shelf, organizing a cabinet, making the sorting system functional, adding a chalk board to help you stay on task, dusting off the top of the cabinets, cleaning out the closet, sweeping, moping, vacuuming, or just by adding some music to your laundry room environment are a few examples that might make doing laundry less of a chore. Pick anything that YOU think would improve the way YOU feel when you walk into your laundry room...and make it happen today!

Post your before and after pictures of your improved laundry room, or pictures of your liquid laundry detergent victories or comment when your task is accomplished!

Today is the day so wait no more,
Sorry to say this, but your laundry room is a bore... 

Click here for the instructions: @Liquid Laundry Detergent another awesome blog by www.onegoodthingbyjullee.com

Make "Punch It Out" Homemade Shout and punch out a stain!!!

Task of the Day: Make "Punch it out" (Shout) and work on the spots in your clothes.

This is the second day into Task Mama's cleanser making project! Yesterday was a good day, and I have really enjoyed the Kitchen Spray. It smelled so fresh I went on to cleaning all the countertops, cabinet doors and kitchen appliances with it! I did end up adding a 20 drops of lemon oil to my batch.

Today we are going to be making our own version of Shout. Don't forget to put a label on the bottle so you will remember what's in it. Task Mama label downloads can be found in the file section at the top of this page or let me know and I will gladly e-mail them to you. If you are not making the Task Mama's "Punch" it out shout with us, then use the spot remover you have on hand to "punch" out those spots!

Even though I love clothes and shopping, (now you know my weakness), having four kids makes it really hard to get to shop for myself as often as I would like to. I do enjoy shopping for my three boys and my little girl! Every once in a while, I will head over to the woman's or junior's department and get to look at my size clothing. When my foot crosses out of the aisle into the clothes I am in a different world...my world.  I always load up my arms with exactly what I would love to buy, and head back to the changing room to try them on. One day when as I was headed back to the changing room, with two arms full of wonderful clothes, I saw it. It was pink and grey (my favorite color combination), it had polka dots (which I love), it was long (which I never find anymore) It was THE DRESS, and I had to try it on! I was so excited, and it was in my size! How often does that happen? I didn't even look at the tag. I tried it on and of course, It fit perfectly, but as I went to take it off, I saw this black greasy looking spot on the bottom of skirt in the back. It wasn't very noticeable, but I went and asked if they had any more of these dresses somewhere else in the store (this one was randomly placed on a rack by itself). There were no more left in the store. That is when I looked at the tag...$30. That is a lot for me to spend on one item for me. I showed the lady the spot and asked if I could get some kind of a discount. They gave me a 10% discount at checkout, and I walked out of the store hoping I could get the spot out. Since then, I have used multiple spot removers on it with no luck. I ended up wearing it to church one time, even with the spot. Somehow the one day I wore it to church I got different colors of Dry Erase marker spots all over it.  I am hopeful that my own version of Shout will get the spots out, but if not I might just wear it anyways. 

Post your before and after pictures, or comment when your task is accomplished. I can't wait to see and hear about your results with this spot remover!

Lesson Learned don't use my clothes when I can't find paper...

Follow this link for instructions: @ Make your own homeade shout by Jullee from one of my favorite blogs www.ONEGOODTHINGBYJULLEE.com

Antibacterial Soft Scrub Cleanser and clean a sink

Task of the day: Make your own Antibacterial Soft Scrub Cleanser and/or clean a sink.

First, I want to welcome the new members that have recently been added to Task Mama's. Please, Join in and take on any of our daily tasks and challenges! I also want to mention that our group has reached 100+ members! Yay! I am looking forward to seeing others accomplishing our tasks with us! 

This is day three in our homemade cleanser project week and I am so excited to make this new cleanser today! I have intentionally left my sink alone for a full week so I could test this scrub on it today. After I post the before pictures you will see just how bad a sink can get! I have stopped myself several times starting to clean it with my store bought cleanser, because I really want to give this homemade scrub a chance to shine!

Post your before and after pictures, or comment when task is accomplished!

Have a wonderful day!

Click here for instructions: Antibacterial Scrub Cleaner another awesome homemade cleaner product recipe from @www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com

Make Homeade Kitchen Countertop Spray

Trim, Clip and Water Outdoors

Task of the Day: Trim, Clip, Water -Outdoors 

I have been trying to trim a lot of things in my yard for a few weeks and haven't had the time. My Japanese Honeysuckle, Lilac bush, at least 5 or 6 rose bushes and the apricot tree almost died last summer. Last year we thought all of the plants died, due to the harsh wind and lack of moisture in the air and the drought. I was so happy to see little green blooms and leaves on some of them this week. Saturday's family (or friend) oriented task is to trim, clip, and water all the little plants in your space that need TLC. If you don't have any plants to take care of, come to my house I will gladly share mine. 

I love, love, love flowers, vines, trees and rose bushes! I grew up in the Rose Capitol where there is a huge garden dedicated to the rose. Have you ever seen a blue rose, how about a green rose? The garden is absolutely gorgeous and the smell is so wonderful when all the roses are all in bloom. When I moved to West Texas, 10 years ago, I have to admit I was a little lost and didn't know where to start with gardening. I tried planting all sorts of things the first few years, things that I thought would grow, and everything ended up quickly dying. Three years ago, in the Fall, we moved into the house we live in now. I had no idea how excited I would be when Spring rolled around that next year and I found 8 big, beautiful rose bushes in MY yard! The last two years have been really hard on them and everything else in my yard. We have no grass, only weeds, because we put in new plumbing and had the yard dug up a few months ago. The other day, after I painted my front door red, (by the way, I do like the red now) I started trimming the rose bushes in my front flower bed. Not long after it kept sticking into my fingers, scratching me and snagging my clothes, I also realized the hot pink will clash with the red door. So, I never thought I would say this, but I am going to take out the thorny rose bushes and replace them with something less dangerous, something that will match my front door. I am thinking another Lilac bush, or Butterfly bush. I want something pretty full, medium height, drought-tolerant, it needs to be able to handle West Texas evenings, summer sun and scorching 60 mph wind, perennial and I would love for it to have flowers. Any suggestions?


Post your before and after pictures, if you have them, and/or comment when your task has been accomplished!


Have a wonderful Saturday trimming, clipping and watering...

Task Mama's Homeade Cleanser Product Labels

The Task Mama labels for your cleaning products are ready! The label's will print perfectly on Avery 48264 Shipping Labels. Avery Template 5164 is on the front of the package near the top right hand side. The shipping labels measure 3 1/3"x4". I buy mine from Wal-Mart near the copy paper. Leave your e-mail address if you would like for me to e-mail the labels to you. You will get the best quality and the exact size through e-mail (Facebook will re-size and change the quality of images a lot). I will have these under the File section at the top of this page also so you will be able to download it from there.

Click Here for your Free label Download for your awesome Task Mama's cleaning products!

Task Mama's Homemade Cleanser List

This is the list of the ingredients that will be needed to make the household cleansers. Most of these can be found at a dollar store. This list can be downloaded from the Task Mama's Facebook page under the files tab.

Task Mama's Homemade Cleanser Container List

Feel free to print this list out and take it with you to the store, or just open it up on you phone. It always helps to have a list!

This is the list of the containers that will be needed to "hold" the household cleansers. Most of these can be found at a dollar store. This list can be downloaded from the Facebook Task Mama's group page under the files tab.

Make a schedule and stick to it

Task of the Day: Make a Schedule and Stick to it

Every night before I go to bed, I go through my phone and go through all the things I want to accomplish next day (I use @Jorte calender and @Astrid task manager on my phone). When the next day comes around and I review that day, sometimes everything has been accomplished, but then again, sometimes I haven't even done half of the things I had planned on doing. At the end of the day, I feel unaccomplished and a little disappointed in myself for not getting to the things I had wanted to do. Today that will be different! Today's task is to make a schedule (written on paper or digitally in your phone) of the things you WILL do today. Whatever is on your schedule, MAKE yourself stick to it. We will all feel accomplished at the end of the day. The second part of this task is to be on time with everything you have scheduled for yourself. We all have stories about, "trying to beat the time", but utterly fail and get there late anyways.

Oh, the many excuses trying to justify tardiness:

"You should have told me to be here on time."

"Is it Spring forward or Spring back?"

"I had to wait for the Fed-Ex guy. My Richard Simmons: Sweatin' to the Oldies DVD arrived today. I can loan it to you if you want."

“I drove to the place I'd rather work at by mistake.”

"My Alarm didn't go off!" (I have used this one)

“I didn't have money for gas because all of the pawn shops were closed.”

"My husband thinks it's funny to hide my car keys before he goes to work."

Try your best to keep your schedule and be on time. Until we can all own a time machine, time will sneakily take control of our lives. Time loves to age us, to make us wait, and it laughs when we are late, but not today!!! We can be in control of what we do and when it gets done!

Share a picture of your schedule or comment when your task has been accomplished! If you want to share a picture of yourself doing something ON TIME ( and from your schedule) you get a Task Mama punch, because we all know how hard being on time can be.

Go, take on the day (and be on time)...

Clean the windows

Task of the Day: Clean the Windows

I can see clearly now the rain is gone, I can see all obstacles in my way, gone are the dark clouds that had me blind, oh wait, that is just my dirty windows! 

It is amazing how clear you can see things when your windows are clear.  Oh, the happiness that comes with having a clear window to look out of, and all of those bad feelings have disappeared. Look all around there is nothing but blue skies!!! Today's task is to Clean the Windows. Start with the window you look out of the most, the last one you clean should be the one you rarely ever look out of. For me I will start with my kitchen window, since that is where I spend most of my time...then my laundry room window.

Post before and after pictures, or comment when task is accomplished.

Here is the rainbow you've been praying for, It's gonna be a bright, bright, bright, bright sunshiny day!

Do something nice for someone you DO know

Task of the day: Do something nice for someone you DO know

I am going to start of by writing the same words I wrote yesterday. Sometimes it is easy to let life take the wheel, we forget there are many people around us every day that are in need or that could really use a brighter day. We get so wrapped up in our routine it is hard to break loose from it and notice the people in our own little world. Today's task is to do something nice for someone you DO know. Sometimes, it is just the simple things that can make a big difference in someone's day. The people we know and love the most are usually the ones we give our least to, we might save our leftover for them. Sometimes listening, sharing your time, or even asking what they need could be what they need from you (Bringing something with you might help also). Show them you care by doing something nice for them today.

Ok, so I Googled, "HOW TO BE NICE". I am very aware, that was kind of weird, but I just had to do some research... "What is it about being nice that is so HARD, and is usually far from our mind?" and "Why do we find it easier to be snappy and Diva or Boss all the time?" The information online in infinite, all helping and guiding people to be nice. I even found a few photo guided tutorials! Ha! Ha! It was even helpful reading some of the comments, and to see others explain how to be nice. YAY! Now, there is no excuse, being nice is so easy even a caveman can do it, it should not be hard at all for a Task Mama! lol!

After you do something nice for someone you DO know, comment, or post your story. I just loved the stories from yesterday's task. They were all so very inspiring and encouraging. I can't wait to hear the stories after today's task!

Make your own world a better place...

Do something nice for someone you do NOT know

Task of the day: Do something nice for someone you do NOT know

Sometimes it is easy to let life take the wheel, and take us the quickest way possible. We get so wrapped up in our routine it is hard to break loose from it, and really hard to notice the world going on around us. Today's task is to take control of your busy life routine, pause for a moment, and do something nice for someone you DO NOT know. Sometimes, it is the simple things that can make a big difference in someone's days.

My family and I were going through the drive-thru at Taco Bell one Wednesday night after church. My husband and I, and all four of our children were singing goofy songs, telling silly stories, and laughing really loud (I know, I'm embarrassed when I think about it). We were having a great time, and definitely not noticing anything or anyone around us. If you looked in our bouncing, crazy van you would have just laughed at us (or, I guess I should say...with us). When we got to the first window to pay, the girl at the register explained that the car ahead of us paid for our meal. I have no idea why anyone would want to take the bill for two adults, and a van full of kids without even knowing us? Especially, the way we were acting. We tried to look at the vehicle as it was driving off, but didn't recognize anyone we knew. This happened months ago, and we still talk about it when we go through the drive-thru at Taco Bell. The person that paid for our meal probably hasn't thought about it much, but we sure do. Doing something nice for someone you DO NOT know might not seem to be a big deal to you, but it really makes an impression on the ones you give to, possibly for months or even years. A big smile, and a loving heart is all you need.

You do not have to spend money to make someone's day brighter.

When you do something nice for someone you Do Not know, comment, or post your story. We can't wait to hear the way you made someone else's day a little brighter.


Task Mama's, Go make the world a better place....

Make your front door more welcoming

Task of the Day: Make your front door more welcoming

I immediately think of all the situations where I wish I had kept my door bolted, curtains closed, turned the TV off, and made the kids be extra quiet until the person on the "other side" drove away! I think of the people selling yellow scented water, with a creative name stamped on the front, charging $40 for one bottle (Yes, I fell for it). I get a little nervous when I look out the peep hole and see a bunch of guys with weed eaters, lawn mowers and chainsaws.

Of all the unique people I have found waiting for me on the "other side", I have one that will be a hard one to beat...The Kirby Guy. The guy didn't even come to the door when I answered it, he sent some really polite girl to greet me, "We would love to clean your carpet for you, Can I come in?" I answer, "I do not have any money at all, I am sorry, but you will be wasting your time at this house." I still remember how sweet she replied, "Oh, no, you do NOT have to buy anything, our company pays us $20 for each house we clean, you would really be helping us out if you could just let us talk to you, but do NOT buy anything we get paid another way." I was a little confused, so I spoke slowly and clearly, "Just so you know I will NOT be buying anything, I have no money." She quickly reassured me that they would be getting paid by the company just for doing the job. At that moment, I made HUGE mistake...I said, "Sure, my little girls room needs some shampooing". After I agreed she motioned to her vehicle, and out pops a man with a dress shirt on, slacks, fancy shoes and a grin the size of Texas. Oh dear, what have I done. An hour and a half later, he was STILL talking. He had already used up his 30 minutes he told me it would take, and it was past time for me to start supper. So as he was talking, I started browning my meat and pulling out my vegetables (hoping he would get the idea). That's when things went downhill, he did not get the idea. Brian walked in, and I immediately smiled and said, " Hey, babe the Kirby guy is here." Then the guy started his whole lecture over from the beginning. He picked up his Kirby and started to head back to our room so he could vacuum our bed??? After he told me we were sleeping on our dead skin, he asked "doesn't that bother you?" I said, "Not really, it's my skin this is not a hotel bed or anything (Is that supposed to bother me?). The guy noticed the fast approaching cliff he was about to plummet down. He was pulling at anything, He asked Brian, "Don't you want the best for your kids?, look at all this dirt they are playing in when they are sitting on this carpet" ( earlier he had vacuumed a lot of dirt from the carpet and put it on black velvet circles, he had them lying all over the floor). Brian already frustrated with the guy for storming back to our room uninvited, unmaking the bed, waking up the baby, and asking him if he wanted the best for his kids, firmly said, "Look, dude, my kids play outside in the dirt every single day!!! Brian spread out his hands and kept going, "I have a list of Priorities and buying a VACUUM is way down here on the list (he reached down and pointed toward his feet). It was so hard not to laugh. The Kirby guy was fuming and puffed back to my little girls room, vacuumed a little and then left. I went in Hannah's room, and with the sorry "shampoo" job, I found a note.

"I could have saved you $200 today, next time this won't be an option,
and now I won't get my credit to go to Las Vegas for my company trip.
I am sorry that your children are NOT your priority."

He signed his name and left us his phone number to call (I guess in case we changed our minds).

He was one of those people I do not want a very welcoming door for. In his case, I would prefer a door with a few cobwebs, black tar oozing out of the door knocker, a tack sticking out of the door bell, and a big wreath made out of pictures of Kirby's hanging from trees at a firing range.

Today's task is to make your door welcoming for those you want to welcome in. I realize, by making your door more welcoming, you might risk having the Kirby guy at your door. My advice, don't let him in! If you want the Kirby, just buy it on the front porch. 

Post before and after pictures, or comment when you have completed the task!
Have you had any unique experiences with someone from the "other side"?

Tackle the mountain of paper

Task of the Day: Tackle the mountain of Paper

How do papers get so out of hand? I'll tell you why.. Every day, I get some kind of, what I consider to be "junk mail" in my mailbox. Something will come that I do not care about, and it is usually credit card offers. I throw so many credit card applications away. Funny story: My husband and I thought we would "show" the credit card companies we weren't interested in their applications. We started sealing up their enclosed, prepaid envelope with nothing in it, and mailed it back to them. Ha! Ha! Ha! We did that for months, and we were having fun sealing those empty envelopes! Then one day, the mail carrier asked us why we were doing that, after we told her, she politely asked us to not do it anymore. The excitement was over, our child-like bubble burst, and now I must go back to ripping them up, and throwing them in the trash, over and over and over and over. 

I know, tackling the paper clutter, isn't exactly fun, especially if you have a lot of paper that needs to be filed, or the bills that have stacked up and need to be sorted. Think about how nice it will be when you look at that counter top again, and it is a counter top, instead of a pile of clutter! Tackle that paper, punch it right in the face, you can do this! Part of this task is to find a way to organize your paper so it will not stack up anymore. If you need a box or bin nearby to help you keep this clutter organized, make it happen. There are some really neat ideas of how to turn cereal boxes into bill collector bins, look online. There is no need to have go out and spend money on this task. Ask yourself, "Do I really need this?" and "Why do I need this?", then file the stuff you need to keep, and throw away the rest. Get it out of sight and in the right place, no longer cluttering your mind. After today, no more picking up paper that has blown off the mountainous pile, just to put it back on the pile, and then to wait for it to blow off again! 

Post before and after pictures, or comment when you have completed the task!


Good Luck, and don't fall off the mountain, stick with it until the end!

Go visit someone special

Task of the Day: "Go Visit Someone Special"

Today's task is what I had in mind when I came up with Tuesday's task. Now you already have food for today's task... if you made extra to freeze! If you didn't have any extra that is okay, when you call ask the person you are wanting to visit if they need anything. Sometimes bringing a few cans or packages of frozen vegetables is a great help, or a couple cans of tuna or salmon (most of the time we have the things they really need in our pantry). Remember th diet of the person you are visiting, some elderly have to have very strict eating habits for health, and have to limit a lot of foods from their diet. You wouldn't want to bring your prepared meal if they couldn't eat it, it would be better off staying in your freezer for you to have for later. The first part of this task is to call around and see if there is someone that needs/wants a visit. If you cannot find anyone at home (or anyone that wants a visit), you can go and visit the sweet people at a nursing home, or at a hospital.

I know some people may not be comfortable getting their picture taken or especially posted on facebook. If this is the case, just comment when your task in accomplished. You can explain this group to them and that they are the "Special Someone" you chose to visit for today's task. If you have their permission, take a picture with them and post it on Task Mama's!  If you would like to go with me let me know, I would love to visit with you too! I haven't made any calls yet so I am not sure who I will be visiting... but I do have some special people in mind.

I can't wait to hear about your day!!!

Organize Linen Closet

Task of the Day: Organize your Linen Closet

There is water dripping off your hands, you have just finished washing your face and it is dripping. As you move your hand around the counter top, you discover real fast that you forgot to get a washcloth. Like a baby learning to walk, you stagger down the hall, to your "linen closet" using the walls as a guide. It is hard to see, your eyes are only squinted open and now there is water dripping down your shirt and up your sleeves, Ahhh! You made it, the linen closet! Your excitement is quickly zapped when you realize the difficulty you will have finding that little square cloth. Sheets are mixed in with the bath towels, and the bath towels are mixed in with the washcloths, the fitted sheets have been rolled instead of folded, along with other random things that have been stuffed into this helpless little space! Your are pulling and grabbing, pushing and tugging, then finally you find a washcloth! Sadly, it is too late, by now your face has already air dried, so you use it on your neck instead. It is at that very moment you realize, "I have got to tackle this someday!"

Well, Task Mama's it is your lucky day, "someday" is today! Today is the day you take that jumble of cloth you call a linen closet, and transform it into what will have the RIGHT to be called a linen closet. When you are done with this task, your "roll it up and throw it in" closet WILL look like a linen closet!

Don't throw in the towel just yet, YOU CAN DO THIS! I just had to say that. If you don't have a linen closet organize the area where you keep your towels or sheets or modify this task in a way that will work best for your home.

Upload your "before and after" pictures and/or post a comment when task complete! I am cheering for you and please cheer for me. My linen closet really needs to be organized...can you tell, look what I go through when I forget my washcloth! 

Make a meal and make extra

Task of the Day: Make a meal and make extra.

Now is your chance to get in the kitchen and make something delicious! Pick an old family recipe, personal success, or something you pinned on Pinterest, and keep telling yourself you will get to it one day. Today is that day! Make this meal for your family to sit down and enjoy tonight, or for you to have a nice quiet meal by yourself. The meal you prepare is up to you, but make sure you make enough to save for a "LATER DATE" (Yes, that is a Task Mama's hint).

Take a picture of your delicious prepared meal, post the meal's name and the recipe (unless it is a family secret), or comment when your task is complete. It is okay if you need a couple days for this task, I know several of you live far from a store and have scheduled trips into town.

Now, until we meet again, I will be in the kitchen... 

Revive a Cabinet that needs help

Task of the Day: Revive a Cabinet that needs help.

Surely, we all have one of these "Shut the door before anyone sees" cabinets! The cabinet that's even hard to walk by without cringing, and you try to look in the opposite direction when you are both in the same room together. This cabinet must be haunted the way things pile up and move around in it, when "no one" is looking.

It is time to take on that cluttered up cabinet. The one that yells at you through its' doors... "I will get you, my pretty, and your little dog too! Ha! Ha! Ha!" (witches cackle).

Today our task is to take that haunted cabinet and transform it! From now on, it will work for us, and not against us! When we are done with it, it will be organized, squeaky clean and the best part, it will be USEFUL! 

Remember to take your before picture, no one will judge, we are all in the same shape, and it is very encouraging to see how others organize the chaos in their lives.

Post before and after pictures if you have them, or comment when you have accomplished your task!

Now to the dreaded cabinet... (scary music playing)

Rest

Task of the Day: Rest

Sunday's will be rest days for Task Mama's. Good Luck, I know this is a hard task to accomplish. At least do a little something that helps you relax. Make yourself. 

Share a picture of how you rested and what helped you to relax, or comment when task is accomplished! Take as much or as little rest time that you need, there is no time limit, but it has to be done by 12 midnight. 

Enjoy.

Plant something that makes you smile! :)

Task of the Day: Plant something that makes you smile. 

Preferably plant something that is alive. lol! ;)

Choose something to plant so that when you see it, your mood lightens and a smile comes to your face. It may be flowers at the entrance to your home to greet you, a window box outside the kitchen window to make you want to do dishes  or you could have the kids make you some crafty flowers to look at. I am excited to see pictures and hear about all the many ideas and creative approaches this task brings to the group!

If you live in an area that's too early to plant in the ground or if you are not able to go get anything to plant, there are other things you can do instead. Get the ground ready for planting, or plant seeds inside and then move them out when your ready, or try silk flowers.

Post before and after pictures, or comment when task is complete.

These are just a few suggestions, but any of the daily tasks can be modified to fit your home, and your family and your creativity. If you want to do more..."Go for it", but not any less. lol! 

Have fun and big smiles...