Sweet House Keeping * Antique ~ Vintage Wire Potato Basket

{image via Ruby Lane}

I need one of these Vintage Wire Potato Baskets. I saw one a few years ago at an antique store but didn't buy it. Now I wish I did. My potatoes end up staying the plastic bags they come in. This potato basket would look oh so much better and keep them fresher longer as well. The one pictured is pending sale at Ruby Lane. I need to head over to Cat's Cradle in Provo and see if they happen to have one. If anyone has seen one please let me know.

Sweet Family Life * Mary Jane's Farm

Last year for Christmas my sister gave me Mary Jane's book Mary Jane's ideabook-cookbook-life book for the farm girl in all of us. It has everything from embroidery patterns, to gardening tips, to apron patterns, to how to make cherry pie, to tips on camping, to how to fold a cloth diaper. I think I love this book because she came from the same type of people I did. A large family with a small gentleman's farm in Utah. These are good people that are self-reliant, grow gardens, live the golden rule, raise animals, make things from scratch, "put-up" (can) jam & green beans & mustard relish for the winter and love their families. I recently stumbled upon Mary Jane's website. It is a treasure of information for anyone who likes to create, sew, cook, organic garden, farm, etc. etc. She has a bed and breakfast where you can stay. She has her Pay Dirt Farm School. She has a magazine. She is truly a marvel and testament to all women to follow your dreams and do good things with them. Oh and she also has a chat and chapters of The FarmGirl that you can join or create in your area. Have fun exploring her site!

Sweet Family Life * Five Simple Rules

{Five Simple Rules}

1. You will be asked to do something such as- Will you please put away your shoes? You will be give a second chance -Put your shoes away now. Then you will be given an bonus chore-we have a list of extra chores from which Mom chooses a bonus chore. The consequences for not listening should be something the child finds unpleasant. It could be taking away video game time or a time-out away from everyone. I give the children 10-20 seconds to do the thing asked then I ask again then give them 10-20 seconds then they receive a punishment.

2. Do your chores- Dailies Weeklies & Rationals with an earned allowance once a month. We have a chore chart that is our to do list for the Day, the Week and then chores we Rotate between the children. I will post our chore chart sometime in the feature. The allowance is $15 per month for ages 10 & 12 with a chance for more after 6 months with a review of how they have been doing.

3. After chores & school work are finished you have the rest of the day free. We have agreed that the children can take all day and night to do their chores & school work but they do not get any TV time, video game time or get to play with friends until the work is done.

4. Do your best the first time or you will do it over. If they truly make a good effort in their school work & chores they can move on for the day but if they don't they will do it over.

5. Be kind to others. Simple & sweet!

Sweet House Keeping * Bottle Opener

{Image Via me }
I must be the weakest person there is because it is almost impossible for me to open a bottle without help. A bottle opener is an essential in my kitchen. To make an inexpensive and very effective jar/bottle opener you need the following:

-roll of grippy shelf liner
-pen
-scissors
- large cookie cutter or other item to trace

Trace your desired shape on to the shelf liner & then cut out. Simple quick and easy! Just use your shaped bottle opener to help you get a tight grip on your jar or bottle. I hope you find it as useful as I do.

Sweet House Keeping * Dish Soap Bottles

{Dish Soap Bottles}

{image via martha stewart.com}

Years ago back before I was married & before children & back in the earlier days of Martha Stewart, Martha came out with this idea in her Good Things feature in Martha Stewart Living Magazine. I wanted to tell you all about it since there is a whole new generation of ladies that keep house since then and a whole lot of your who didn't even know about Martha Stewart back in those days. It is very simple. You take a lovely bottle and top it will a spout, the kind one would use for a liquor bottle. Fill the bottle with your favorite dish soap. It is much prettier than a plastic bottle sitting on your counter top and you can buy a refill bottle instead of the little bottles and save a lot of plastic. You can find the spouts at William-Sonoma and most any kitchen supply store.