Countdown to Thanksgiving Checklist

 

We want to help your preparation for Thanksgiving go as smoothly and stress free as possible.  Make sure you have your bases covered. 

Read on for our Thanksgiving quick checklist PLUS Black Friday shopping tips and more!

Halloween Can be Healthy

Halloween can be a balancing act for parents who are in the business of raising healthy kids. 

With intentional good choices Halloween does not need to be a free fall of junk food extravaganza for kids.  On the other hand, what is Halloween without the collection of sweet delights!  So how do you balance it all?

Make it a Minimalist Holiday and Stress Less

Ok, I just checked the calendar and there are only five weeks until Thanksgiving!! Whoa… and only nine week until Christmas!!  Do you feel the stress coming on?  How about considering a minimalist holiday?  Strip away the holiday trappings and get down to the essentials!

Tap into what is of greatest value. 

·         Adjust your expectations and commitments according to your values. 

Pace yourself.

·         Beware of over-committing.  What do you want to do this holiday season?  Who do you want to spend the holidays with?

·         Start a holiday planning schedule that will allow margin for mind, body, and soul.  Your schedule should reflect your values.

·         Budget wisely.  Stop over-spending and live within your means!  This will reduce much tension and stress!

Cherish the small stuff.

·         The little notes, the handmade gifts; these can be more meaningful than expensive store bought gifts.

·         Time is a gift in itself.  How much time will you spend with those you cherish.

Keep your home simplistically tidy.

·         Stay on target with your weekly green cleaning routines and you'll avoid the trap of a mad cleaning spree before company comes!  

·         Stay well stocked with great, non-toxic, aromatherapy green cleaning products.

You can enjoy this upcoming holiday season with less stress with the right focus!

Stay tuned for more encouraging tips to navigate the holidays.

"A Healthy Halloween" post coming up next!

Green Cleaning Routines Are Like Preventative Medicine

We have all heard of preventative medicine; caring for our bodies through proper diet, exercise, and routine health checkups at the doctor's office. 
We have all heard of preventative maintenance for our vehicles and homes.  Preventative maintenance for our vehicles such as oil changes, tire rotations, fluid/belt checks, etc.  Maintenance for the home as in:  furnace filter replacements, air conditioner tune up—to name a couple.

Can green cleaning your home be considered a key preventative act?  Absolutely!

Five Reasons Green Cleaning is Preventative:

Green Cleaning Routines Like Preventative Medicine

We have all heard of preventative medicine; caring for our bodies through proper diet, exercise, and routine health checkups at the doctor's office. 

We have all heard of preventative maintenance for our vehicles and homes.  Preventative maintenance for our vehicles such as oil changes, tire rotations, fluid/belt checks, etc.  Maintenance for the home as in:  furnace filter replacements, air conditioner tune up—to name a couple.

Can green cleaning your home be considered a key preventative act?  Absolutely!

Five Reasons Green Cleaning is Preventative:

In Pursuit of Your Passions

Are you living with a level of frustration that gnaws at you?  In your mind's eye you can envision where you want to be and what you want to do.  Your dreams and passions are there, but just beyond reach.   

Take a step back to get to the future.  Go back??  Shouldn't I be heading forward?

Strategic Ways You Can Help Families in Crisis

Have you known of a family in crisis and with the best of intentions told them, "If there is anything I can do to help, let me know."  Did that person take you up on the offer?  More times than not, the extended offer is not taken.  Why?  For most of us, it is very difficult to ask for help, even if we really need it.

To avoid missed opportunities to serve a family or individual in need, our offers of help must be specific and targeted. 

For example: 

Avoid saying:  If it would help to have a dinner brought over, just let me know.

Better stated:  What evening would be good for me to bring dinner over?

Tacking on the phrase, "just let me know" will 98% of the time not be responded to.  Telling the individual that you will be making dinner for them, they simply need to tell you what night to bring it alleviates to a larger extent the uncomfortableness of the offer.  If also shows that you really mean business and will follow through.

Perhaps childcare is more of a need during the crisis.  Offer a specific event or place you would like to take their child(ren), name the date and time unless there is more flexibility for the parent in need to give you that information.

If time is not something you can devote, then mail a card or drop by their place with a card and include a gift card for gas, grocery, or restaurant.  The unique need will dictate the proper gift card.

Another way to bless an individual or family in need would be to pay for a green cleaning company to clean their home.  In crisis, a family's attention narrows done to the immediate circumstance while other tasks simply cannot be handled. 

The ideas to serve are too numerous to write.  Be aware and attentive to the possibilities and then be specific in how you can help!

Would you like to do more but…

Your lack of available time plague you when it comes to helping people in need

Your lack of time keeps you from volunteering at the organization you are passionate about.

Stay tune… You won't want to miss our next post on time stealers as we look at ways many people have been able to "get time back."

We hope this post has given you inspiring new ways to come alongside people you know who are in crisis or great need.  Let us know if this has been of help, leave a comment! 

 

 Harmony Aromatherapy Cleaners   

100% all natural , aromatherapy, green cleaners