Update!

Hello everyone! I apologize for being absent for so long without any notice, but I have a good reason (I swear!). 

As a lot of you may know, I've been pregnant for a while now. Actually, my due date was November 15th and while that date came and went, I was still pregnant. So, I had to get induced- which is a fancy way of saying that my body needed just a bit of help going into labor. And, I may say that I was more than ready to get things going after being pregnant for 41 weeks. 

After trying to induce labor for three days, it was a big failure. Well, I must say that I was dilated 9.5 cm and had my water broken, but my little man refused to come out the way I had planned. See, I had a very detailed labor plan, and my little man just wasn't feeling it. I plan on writing a detailed post on my labor experience later on. Anyway, I was forced to have a c section on November 22th and I was finally able to meet my little man. And he is absolutely perfect, all 7 pounds and 15 ounces of him.

So (long story short) I have been struggling to adapt to being a new mother and healing from surgery. While I may not post as frequently as I would like to on here, I would like to make a note that I have not forgotten about this page. I will do my best to post as often as I can. :) Also, I plan on redesigning the blog too so there may be a lot of changes going on around here in the next few weeks. Stay tuned!

Printable Christmas Gift Tags

Hello everyone! Can I get a woot woot for it finally being Friday? Thanksgiving is over (unfortunately), but hey there is always Christmas to look forward too! Speaking of Christmas, today I'm sharing my printable Christmas gift tags.

I prefer to make gifts instead of buying a lot of junk that my family and friends will just throw in the back of their closets. I'll be sharing all of my finished gifts a little closer to Christmas this year, but I'm very excited about the gifts! :-)

Grab Your Own Printable Christmas Gift Tags

Download these gift tags here.

Instructions:

1. Download the image by right clicking the image above or going to the link above.
2. Save the image to your computer.
3. Open the image in a Word Document and resize according to your needs.
4. Print out the gift tags.
5. Decorate your gifts!

Do you prefer to receive handmade gifts or store bought gifts during the holiday season? I love reading all of your lovely replies so feel free to leave any comments, questions, or personal stories in the comment section below!

If you would like to see something featured on Methodical Living please send me an email at Methodicalliving@yahoo.com and I will do my best to have a post up as soon as possible!

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How to Clean Your Computer & Other Electronics

Electronics have become an essential part of our daily lives. In fact, how many of you think that you could live without your cellphones, computers, or other electronic devices for a day, week, or even a month? I know that I use my computer, television, and cellphone every day, and I'm not sure what I would do without these devices. Since these electronic devices are a major part of our lives, you need to regularly clean them! 

Check Out These Great Ways on How to Clean Your Computer and Other Electronics

Telephones & Cellphones

These devices are used every day and can accumulate too many germs and bacteria to think about.(Gross!) Telephones and cellphones are just a trap for icky things that lurk only in your nightmares. But, cleaning a cellphone could not be easier.

How to clean 

Simply wipe down the device with an alcohol pad. Be sure to include the ear piece and mouth piece because that is where bacteria lurks the most. For the touch screen, use a dry cloth to wipe away all of the smudge marks.

Computers

Computers have become an essential part of our daily lives. Many of us sit at our computers daily doing work, having fun, watching beloved shows, or just wasting time. A computer is a great place for dust, germs, and bacteria to multiply; so, make sure to regularly clean your computer.

How to clean

Cleaning a computer is easy. Simply wipe down the screen with a soft, damp towel. After your screen is clean you can clean between the keys of the keyboard by using a q-tip. Also, taking a rag that is slightly damp with alcohol and run it over your keyboard. The alcohol can eliminate any bacteria that is lurking there.

Televisions

The television is a great invention. It does keep me entertained for many late nights and definitely doesn't help my insomnia. But the television is a great place where dust collects.

How to clean

Take a soft, damp towel and wipe down your television. Using harsh cleaning products on your television can have adverse effects on the screen. So, if you want to use something other than water be sure that it will not harm that plasma or projection screen.

Do you have any tips on how to clean your computer and other electronics? I love to hear from you, so feel free to leave any personal stories, comments, or questions in the comment section below!

If you would like to see something that has not yet been featured on Methodical Living send me an email at methodicalliving@yahoo.com and I'll do my best to get back to you as soon as possible!

If you want more of Methodical Living check out me out on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. 

Free Thanksgiving Printable

Thanksgiving is just around the corner and its the perfect time for celebrating and giving thanks with the people that mean the most- whether that be family or friends. Personally, I am anticipating staying at home with Zander, the hubster, and my fur babies because Zander will barely be a couple of weeks old. But, I have made this particular Thanksgiving printable in anticipation of Thanksgivings to come.

For those of you that are planning on hosting a grand Thanksgiving this printable is for you! I know that there are so many people that suffer from food allergies these days; so, I made these labels. Or you can use them as place settings to add the perfect flair to your holiday table this year! 

Get Your Own Thanksgiving Printable

Grab your free Thanksgiving printable here.

Instructions:

1. Download the Thanksgiving printable from the picture or link above. 
2. Open the picture in a Word Document and re-size it to your liking.
3. Print out as many as you need.
4. Fill them out and fold them.
5. Decorate your table! 

Do you have a special Thanksgiving tradition that you use to decorate your table with? I love reading all of your lovely replies so feel free to leave any comments, questions, or personal stories in the comment section below!

If you would like to see something featured on Methodical Living please send me an email at Methodicalliving@yahoo.com and I will do my best to have a post up as soon as possible!

If you would like more of Methodical Living follow me on Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest! 

How to Make Your House Smell Good

Good morning all of you lovely people! Today, I want to focus on the holidays and how to make your home smell good. The holidays are looming closer and closer. I love this time of the year and I love the holidays, especially Thanksgiving and Christmas. The fact that I can get together with my family and friends to enjoy great food and share even better memories fills my entire body with warmth and good feelings.

The Scent of the Holidays

Smells have a funny way of bringing back memories and I associate those delicious smells of turkey, cranberries, and other goodies with the holidays. Sometimes I want to enjoy those delicious smells of the holidays but I don't want to do all of that work. So, here is a great way to fill your house with the delicious smells of Thanksgiving and Christmas with just a few simple ingredients.

How to Make Your Home Smell Good

What You Need:

• Ground Cinnamon
• Cinnamon and Sugar
• Cinnamon Sticks
• Dried Cranberries
• Oranges
• Crushed Cloves

What to do:

1. Mix the ingredients above in a large pan with water.
2. Let the mixture simmer on low.
3. Be sure to check up on the water every so often and add more as needed.
4. Enjoy the smell of the holidays throughout your entire house.

What holiday smells are your favorite? How do you make your home smell good? I love reading all of your lovely replies so feel free to leave any comments, questions, or personal stories in the comment section below!

If you would like to see something featured on Methodical Living please send me an email at Methodicalliving@yahoo.com and I will do my best to have a post up as soon as possible!

If you would like more of Methodical Living follow me on Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest!

Psychology of Color and Home Decor

Good morning everyone! Today, I would like to discuss the importance of picking the right color for that one room in your house. You know “that room” that is dated and you've been talking about sprucing it up since forever. Yeah, that one.

Does color really matter?

Nothing can change the personality and feel of a room quite like the color of the walls that is unless you do some major renovating. The color you choose to paint a room can have several effects on the outcome of your decorating endeavors. On the positive side, the color can make the room more inviting, calming, or open. But on the opposite side of the spectrum, the color you choose can make the room look smaller, darker, or dated. Choosing the right color can be a toughy- believe me I've been trying to come up with the perfect color scheme for my future living room for a few years now.

Luckily, I have time to decide what will work for me and my family and what colors are just off limits. For example, I'm into bright colors that really open up a room. My husband on the other hand likes darker colors, and absolutely hates the color yellow (which I'm quite fond of in small doses)! So, when we actually have a space that we can paint without fear of a land lord's disapproval there will be a lot of compromise But, there are some colors that we absolutely agree with each other on 100%, and that's always a great thing.

Personally, I am a lover of the neutral colors especially gray. That is actually what I want to paint my future living room, and then I'll add hints of colors to really catch the eye. Neutral colors are great when you are in a situation like the one my husband and I are in because they don't really go out of style and they are simple but functional.

Neutral Colors

If you're not into neutral colors that is okay too! Just remember that colors can be a very powerful tool in home decorating. Certain colors are more suitable for different rooms in your house. For example, blue is a great color to use in your bedroom because of the calming properties the color possesses. My mom's bedroom is this beautiful sage green that is absolutely gorgeous! Since green is a mix of blue and yellow it definitely has a lot of the calming aspects of blue.

How Colors Affect Us

• Yellow: Cheery and warm. Can hurt your eyes. Has been proven to make a baby cry.

• Green: Tranquil and serene. Is seen as being more natural than other colors.

• Blue: Calming and serene. Has been proven to lessen appetite.

• Purple: Creative and thought provoking. Is seen as being related to royalty and very luxurious. 

• Red: Passionate and intense. Has been proven to stimulate appetite.

• Orange: Excites and warms. Is seen as being youthful and generates happiness. 

• Black: Sophistication and mystery. Has been linked with death or evil.

• White: Hope, light, and purity. Gives the feeling of cleanliness and simplicity.

• Gray: Authority and maturity. Is stable and strengthens character.  

Are you affected by the psychology of color or do you just pick whatever colors you like? I love reading all of your lovely replies so feel free to leave any comments, questions, or personal stories in the comment section below!

If you would like to see something featured on Methodical Living please send me an email at Methodicalliving@yahoo.com and I will do my best to have a post up as soon as possible!

If you would like more of Methodical Living follow me on Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest! 

Thanksgiving Printable Activity

Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks for family, friends, what we have, and pretty much everything else in our lives. During most of the year, we often forget to give thanks for the little, amazing things in our lives- I know that I do (too much).

Here is a great activity to do with your family and friends on Thanksgiving. Simply, print it out, give a copy to everyone before or after dinner, and fill them out. You can pass the time by reading out your answers to each other and find out what everyone is truly thankful for!

Get Your Free Thanksgiving Printable Below! 

Download the thanksgiving printable here

Instructions:

1. Right click on the picture or click on the link above and save the picture.
2. Open up the picture in a Word document.
3. Print it out.
4. Hand it out.
5. Fill it out.
6. Give thanks!

Do you and your family have any Thanksgiving traditions? I love reading all of your lovely replies so feel free to leave any comments, questions, or personal stories in the comment section below!

If you would like to see something featured on Methodical Living please send me an email at Methodicalliving@yahoo.com and I will do my best to have a post up as soon as possible!

If you would like more of Methodical Living follow me on Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest!