Hello Titus 2 Ladies! I know I am a tad bit late posting this but I have had a full weekend. My SUV decided it wanted to have a few problems and we had to get that fixed. (Praise God for a mechanic step-father) Then my two year old son got an ear infection and we had a fun night staying up until 4am with him and on top of that I had my prenatal glucose screening done. (If you have had a baby, then you know what I am talking about!)

But…as promised here is Part 1 on my from Clutter to Clarity Series: The Home Management Binder!

I have seen multiple binders from fellow blogger sister and I decided that this will be the perfect tool for me and my large family of 7! I have my HMB broken down into the following sections:

1. Master Calendar:  To-Do Lists etc
2. Groceries and Menu Planning
3. Finances
4. Health and Fitness
5. House Rules and Quick References
6. DIY Household Cleaner Recipes

• Here is the cover of my HMB:

When you open it it has my pencil pouch that holds a calculator, a couple on ink pens, highlighters and I will be adding a few paper clips.

The first page  I see is our family’s mission statement that a got from one of my favorite blogs Cajun Joie De Vivre where you can find how to create your own family a mission statement here.

The next page is a master copy of emergency numbers (dr’s offices, fire department, police, etc.)

Then I printed the entire verses of Proverbs 31:10-31 as a reminder of my “why”!

• Then comes my Master Schedule Tab – To Do Daily List

I decided on the Confident Mom’s daily planner because I wanted to have a full week on one page that allowed me to check off my daily chores as I went throughout the day. I thought it was fantastic and the colors are really pretty. It even has daily quiet time scripture verses to read each day! How cool is that! You can view the planner here.

• My next section is Groceries & Menu Planning

I have searched and searched and searched to find a menu plan for my family and after weeks of research I finally decided on eMealz! Let me first say that I absolutely love eMealz as an option for my family. Sure I could have sat down and wrote out a menu plan based on my local sales (and you can still do that if you actually prefer that way better) but for me and my family, this was the better option for us. I am expecting my sixth child and I have two toddlers/preschoolers (that I home educate) and three older children that are in public school and we have a full busy schedule. The last thing I would do was plan a menu and finding eMealz was like finding a diamond in the rough. Check it out here as it has customized menu plans according to certain grocery stores (we use the one for Wal-Mart) and they even do the sales matching so I won’t have to! Each week I spend $75 on a family of seven (they also have plans for smaller families). All I paid for this service was $5 per month! Well I won’t go on and on about the benefits but would really recommend this service if you are looking for a menu plan service. Here is the link below to check it out for yourself.

• My next tab is for Finances

This section of my HMB houses my monthly budgets for each month with a total monthly spent after the end of the month. We are currently recovering from bankruptcy due to my husband’s lay-off and we are rebuilding our family nest egg and will be starting Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University/Total Money Makeover to get ourselves back on track.

I download and printed these sheets from Cajun Joie De Vivre also here.

• My next tab is for Health and Fitness

Being that my husband is a certified personal fitness trainer and Team Beachbody Coach (think P90X), we are somewhat a family that loves to exercise. Although since I have been pregnant, my exercise regimen as been walking up our stairs to get into bed (or bathroom) and opening and closing the refrigerator door! LOL We needed a log to keep up with our daily exercise  and water intake.

Lists are from ListPlanIt! and Moms Budget. I am however looking for another alternate for this section.

• My next tab is for Quick References & House Rules

(7 Rules of Behavior, Children’s Rules and Kimble Family House Guidelines)

• And last but certainly not least my tab for DIY Cleaner Recipes

These tips and ideas are from Cajun Joie de Vivre ( Amy over at amybayliss.com) and her 17 Days of Natural Cleaning Series also!

I also purchased the eBook: Simply Clean – DIY Solutions for a Naturally Clean Home because we have decided to start making our own cleaning supplies and incorporate a more natural healthy lifestyle. Check it out below!

Well that concludes today’s From Clutter to Clarity Series: Home Management Binder! Stay tuned for tomorrow’s binder – Homeschool Binder. Looking  forward to connecting with you then!

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Have you ever felt like your life was spinning out of control? Or wish you had more time in the day to get things done? Is your house out of order? Dishes piled up in the sink constantly? What about appointments that were made and you forgot about them until the very last minute?

Well…you’re not alone! I am officially an unorganized and cluttered person and I have made a vow to get myself organized! Starting on Monday, February 20, 2012 I will start sharing with you my own personal mission of getting organized with organizational binders! I call it:

I will discuss the start of my journey in detail with each binder that I create to help get my life back in order. This past week I ran upon some great fellow bloggers out there that utilize customized binders to help keep them organized. And I figured I really needed to do this because my head is really starting to spin and I need everything to be in order before our new bundle of joy arrives. (EDD May 17th, 2012) YAY!

So far I have written down everything that I need and have come up with the following (separate) organizational binders to create:

Home Management Binder – Monday, February 20, 2012
**HUGE BIGGIE** This will be my central location for everything; such as a daily to do list and hourly calendar. (emergency info, chores/cleaning, meal planning, health and fitness etc.)

Homeschool Binder – Tuesday, February 21, 2012
**ANOTHER BIGGIE** This binder is definitely needed right now!!! I am a homeschooling mother of two children (SAHmother of five…although my oldest three are in public school); one is almost 3 and the other one is almost 4 (next month). I am currently doing tot school and preschool at the same time and OMGosh, when I tell you my head hurts some days to the point where I feel like pulling out my hair! LOL So I am very excited about completing this task!

Bible Study Binder – Wednesday, February 22, 2012
This binder will hold my printable Bible stories for women that I have saved over the years, a prayer journal etc.

Blog Organization Binder – Thursday, February 23, 2012
With me being a blogger I wanted a central location to keep my blog organized so that I may keep track of everything I have going on at Pursuit of Titus 2 Womanhood!

Home Business Binder – Friday, February 24, 2012
Yes…yes…I am officially a momprenuer! *streamers* Not only will I share my binder with you but I will share my new business with you ladies on this day and how this came to be along with a SURPRISE giveaway! So be sure to check back or better yet…if you haven’t already, subscribe here to get the updates by email!

I look forward to sharing this journey with you and if you would like to participate with me then do so! I would love to see what you have come up with and please link your blog posts in the comments below if you decide to share! May God BLESS you!

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Valentine’s Day is all about being with the one you love. The most important thing to remember is that just by honoring the love you share with heartfelt and meaningful expressions, you will make their day a very special one.

You don’t have to spend a lot of money to celebrate your love together. Even a quiet evening at home filled with romantic movies, a delicious meal and your husband’s favorite dessert can serve as an incredible night to remember.

It’s easy to forget to take a moment to pause and show our partner that we really care, and that’s what Valentine’s Day is really all about. We’re given that much needed reminder that we need to pay attention to the things that truly give our lives meaning.

I wish you and your partner the most memorable Valentine’s Day of your lives,

I really hope you enjoyed this series! I really enjoyed sharing these tips with you.  Please  come back and subscribe here for updates via email for more topics, discussions and more!

My family and I are not big musical award show people and last night as I was preparing for the week, I logged into my Twitter account to catch up on tweets and clean out my follow list.

Well…everyone was raving about the Grammy awards show and the performers. And everyone started to tweet about this Hip Hop singer/rapper by the name of Nicki Minaj…now she is known to be very…weird to where she claims to have multiple personalities that live inside her. As a matter of fact she has one personality (she says) within her of a homosexual male. My tweeple (twitter people) where using terms such as: blasphemous, witchcraft, cover your family etc while describing her performance and so my husband decided to tune in to the her Grammy performance live online. You would be amazed at what we saw next!

This “superstar” entertainer was on stage with people in monk robes and a catholic priest on stage singing “Oh Come All Ye Faithful” with a choir in the background singing. She then began to have all types of satanic rituals performed on stage in where she basically sacrificed herself in live television on stage with millions of people watching. My spirit was so vexed as  I watched this that I began to pray and cover my household…At the very end of the performance she levitated high above stage and what sickened me the most was that the audience stood up and applauded! It was almost like they where in a trance…I could not believe my eyes!

Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead.  Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord, and because of these detestable practices the Lord your God will drive those nations before you.  You must be blameless before the Lord your God.  The nations you will dispossess listen to those who practice sorcery or divination.  But as for you, the Lord has not permitted you to do so” (Deuteronomy 18:9-14).

My sisters…it is time for us as mothers, wives and women that follow Christ to stand up against the forces of evil darkness. There is a connection with the music industry and satanic worship that a lot of people do not know about that goes on in Hollywood. We must be discerning in ALL that we let into our homes, minds and hearts. At the end of this post I will link a video clip about the truth behind Hip-Hop and it’s satanic influence. If you have any loved ones that are influenced by this culture, I highly recommend that you visit EX Ministries with G. Craig Lewis. My family have all six of his DVD’s about the Truth Behind Hip-Hop and he also has more titles available.

The truth is…satanic worship is very real and very very common in the music industry and Hollywood…so much so that they have to take an oath and sign a deal with the devil (selling their soul) if they want fame and fortune. Now…I must say this is not my area of ministry but I was so appalled at what I was seeing I could not let this pass without sharing with my sisters in Christ.

Thoughts to Ponder:

How many of our children out there actually are influenced by this?

How many of our families, friends and loved ones are influenced by this?

What are we as Christian women and believers of the Most High God going to do about this?

Action Steps:

We are called to be “Keepers of Our Home” and one way for me to do this (as a wife and mother) is by being careful of what I let into my home to influence my family.

And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.  Joshua 24:15

Blessings my sisters in Christ and I Love you!

In Christ with Love,

Mystiqua

P.S. As promised here is a preview to one of the Truth Behind Hip Hop DVD below: (Please watch this and pray for protection because it is very disturbing and I do not recommend watching this in front of young children.) I will also link resources below that of fellow brothers and sisters in Christ for more information on the music industry culture that is taking over.

Helpful  Articles:

Who is Sasha Fierce?

The Beyonce’ Possession Series

Satanic Influence at this Year’s Superbowl

The Effects of Music

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Treasure hunts aren’t just for kids at birthday parties; adults can certainly enjoy the thrill of the chase just as much!

Consider planning out an elaborate treasure hunt that leads your husband to each destination with love notes, offering simple clues as to what to do next. Start with giving your husband one little clue while offering “rewards” along the way.

For example, when I did this for husband I started with offering him a love note, which instructed him to go to a certain address. This address, the local florist had a man gift basket waiting for him with a note attached that led him to his next destination.

From one place to another, each stop presented him with another love note and another gift.

By the time he reached the final destination, a package containing a room key and a blindfold in a secret envelope were handed to him by the clerk at a luxury hotel. When he entered the room, I had a gorgeous spread on the floor by the fireplace.

Accompanying the picnic lunch, there were candles all over the place, music playing and of course,  ME – waiting to begin the treasure and pleasure hunt in a whole new way. *blushes*

Stay tuned tomorrow for Day 14 – The Conclusion of Romantic Ideas for a Memorable Valentine’s Day! Please subscribe here for updates via email!

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If you have a drive in theater in your area (and there are still many in existence, just check your local yellow pages), Valentine’s Day is the perfect opportunity to turn the hands of time back and become nostalgic!

Drive in theaters can be very romantic and during Valentine’s Day weekend, it’s likely that they will be running a romantic feature film so call ahead and mark down the times that are available.

Pack a picnic lunch complete with a comfortable blanket, and prepare for a intimate night together.

Watch the movie from the car, or sit out for a picnic lunch, and enjoy each other’s company.

This is one of the easiest and most affordable Valentine’s Day dates possible, and it will bring an old time flavor filled with memories.

Stay tuned tomorrow for Day 13 of Romantic Ideas for a Memorable Valentine’s Day! Please subscribe here for updates via email!

Dancing the Night Away

One of the things we as women look forward to on Valentine’s Day is the opportunity to dance with the man we love. You don’t have to go out dancing to be able to share an intimate moment together.

Just turn the lights down low, turn on some romantic music and offer your husband your hand in a slow dance together.

This is one of the most traditional ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day yet it’s often overlooked with so many people focusing on more elaborate plans.

What do you think your husband would rather have? A quiet night alone with you, dancing in his arms, or an adventurous and busy night out on the town?

Create your own compilation CD of slow songs that your husband loves and set it up in the CD player before the night begins (or iPod playlist like I do). Set it on repeat so that you don’t have to stop once you get going!

Stay tuned tomorrow for Day 12 of Romantic Ideas for a Memorable Valentine’s Day! Please subscribe here for updates via email!

Love Coupons

Not sure what to get your husband this Valentine’s Day? Let THEM Decide!

Create a love coupon book that entitles them to cashing in on many different favors. From back rubs to giving up the remote control for a night, you can easily customize an entire coupon book based on your husband’s desires.

This idea is not only affordable, but it comes straight from the heart, as every coupon will be based around spending quality time together.

Other ideas: Rather than giving them the entire coupon book, consider hiding coupons around the house for your husband to find.  Put a love coupon in their briefcase, under their pillow or in a book they’re reading!

Stay tuned tomorrow for Day 11 of Romantic Ideas for a Memorable Valentine’s Day! Please subscribe here for updates via email!

While this idea isn’t for everyone (if your husband is shy, you might just want to skip it!) but for those who want to go all out and truly profess their love in front of the world, there are many options available to you.

Consider calling the local radio station and planning out a public dedication to your husband. Just make sure to time it correctly so that they are sure to hear it! (Tip: Consider taping it to offer as a keepsake).

Create a sign or banner that goes into your front yard or a magnetic strip that attaches to your car professing your words of love. This a fun and playful way to show your husband that you want the whole world to know how much you love him!

Consider hiring a local plane to carry a banner over your home that carries your message of love. While this can be quite expensive, it’s a rather classic idea that’s been used for both proposals and special Valentine’s Day romance.

Place a classified in your local newspaper that describes the love you feel for your husband. Make sure to keep a clipping, this one is certain to go into the photo books!

Stay tuned tomorrow for Day 10 of Romantic Ideas for a Memorable Valentine’s Day! Please subscribe here for updates via email!

Nothing puts the sizzle back into a marriage or brings back the spark than changing your environment.

According to a study by Lava life, the large majority of married couples who were surveyed claim to have had better sex with their spouses in hotel rooms and other places outside of the home than they ever have had in their regular bedrooms.

And it’s no surprise. Whether you consider yourself traditional, conservative or wild, changing your setting from its usual environment will instantly turn up the heat on any marriage relationship. It unleashed the carefree side of ourselves, and allows for fantasy to take control.

For romantic getaways on Valentine’s Day, make sure that you plan ahead. Depending on how far you want to travel, whether it’s your local hotel or a getaway outside of town, you will want to make sure of availability and book your getaway as early on as possible.

While Valentine’s Day is primarily for couples, many towns have Valentine’s Day events that will bring people into the city, so make sure that you make reservations early on.

Your getaway can be as simple or as detailed as you make it.

From a simple weekend getaway to the country with a quiet dinner, walk on the beach or tour of the surroundings, to a single night away from home where you are given the privacy and quietness that perhaps lacks at home (especially for us parents out there), you can plan out an affordable and memorable getaway adventure that it tailored towards your husband.

Nothing beats a surprise adventure, and so you should try to plan and book it without your husband knowing.

Then, moments before you are ready to whisk him away, tell him to pack a bag (or better yet, pack it for him if you can), and then head out for your private excursion.

There is much to be said about having an entire day alone together especially if heavy work schedules, kids or family life usually causes day to day distraction.

Hotels make for easy getaways as you’ll be surrounded by restaurants, can order room service, rent a romantic movie for a quiet night in, or book your weekend at a hotel that provides live entertainment.

You could also consider booking in at a lodge or resort where you’ll be able to have fun dancing and socializing while retreating back to your room for some alone time.

This private retreat will do wonders for your marriage, whether you’ve just recently gotten married or have been married for years.

Make sure to place do not disturb signs on your door and call down to the front desk and request a late checkout!

Stay tuned tomorrow for Day 9 of Romantic Ideas for a Memorable Valentine’s Day! Please subscribe here for updates via email!