Hello Homemakers and Happy Friday!

I'm writing to you this morning huddled under a blanket in all my cozy layers as we hunker down for our annual South Texas freeze. Thankfully, we are not expecting anything like 2021's snowpocolypse where we had a week of below freezing temps, 15 inches of snow, and utility grids shutting down leaving people without power and water for days on end. Still, these "once-in-a-century" events seem to be happening more often and when they do I am so grateful that we have taken some measures to be prepared.

We are not hard-core preppers, but having grown up on the Gulf Coast where you face the potential for hurricanes every June-November, we understand the value of emergency preparedness. Having a good supply of things like bottled water, batteries, canned food (with a manual can opener), firewood, extra propane tanks, candles, baby wipes, and if budget allows a gas-powered generator can go a long way towards enduring an extended period of disaster recovery. When you have seen to the needs of your household, you are freeing up public aid for someone else and perhaps you're even able to provide aid to your neighbors.

Having extra supplies on hand for emergencies can present a bit of a storage problem, but I encourage you to get creative here. Under beds, above cabinets, little-used closets, and under cloth-covered side tables are just a few out of the way storage places you can utilize.  Just remember that you need to rotate through your supplies, especially food, so that you don't end up with expired goods that you have to throw out. Your storage system should be such that you can access these goods easily, use them on a regular basis, and continually replenish your supply. In the "What We are Loving" section below I have listed my basic emergency preparedness supplies as well as my favorite ways to organize them.

Whatever kind of weather you are experiencing in your part of the world, I pray you enjoy a restful and refreshing weekend. I'm going to make myself a coffee and put on another pair of socks. 🥶

Enjoy this edition of The Art of Home Newsletter and keep practicing your art with grace and confidence. 

Love,

Allison

🎙New Episode 🎧

Season 5: Episode 2

Homemaker Portrait: Kim Coburn

I had a wonderful conversation with 47-year seasoned homemaker, Kim Coburn, about her practice of The Art of Home. Here are Kim's Top 3 Tips for Homemakers:

• Once or twice a year, evaluate where the family is at and adjust accordingly. The family is like a mobile. Adjustments are required with each new piece added in order to maintain balance.
• Do backwards planning. When your husband gets home, what do you want the situation to be? Implement a plan for the day that will facilitate that end goal.
• Establish a time of day when you will be "off duty". You will never be done with housework. There has to be a daily stopping point, and you need to have peace with that.

This wisdom and so much more is waiting for you in this latest episode. Enjoy!

💗What We Are Loving🏡

Basic Emergency Supplies & Organization

*contains affiliate links

• Batteries.....................clear plastic storage box with adjustable dividers

• Dry Goods (rice/beans)........food-safe 5 gallon bucket with gamma lid

 *the gamma lid creates an air tight seal, but you can still access the food inside. 

• Canned Food....Only stock food you regularly use. Be sure to have a variety, including good sources of protein, fat, and carbs. Make sure you have at least one manual can opener.  

• Candles......................tapers and pillars, store in baskets or clear plastic bins.

 *Don't forget the matches!

• Water......If you know ahead of time disaster is coming (ie, hurricane, blizzard), fill up all the bathtubs in your house with water. This water can be used for flushing toilets and bathing. To use for drinking, you would need to boil it first. For long-term emergency water storage, you may want to stash some of these water bricks around your house. They are pricy, but they preserve water safely for up to 5 years if unopened, and they are compact and stackable. They can also be used for dry goods. You may need to access water from natural sources (rivers, streams, lakes). A Life Straw is a great portable, compact way to filter this type of water making it safe for consumption. Our family has used these often in back-country camping.

• Medicine Kit.....always keep a small kit in your purse or car and keep a larger kit for home use. Some basics you want to be sure you have: pain reliever/fever reducer (adult and child), glass thermometer, gauze, bandages, medical tape, gloves, antibiotic ointment, anti-diarrheal, anti-nausea, dissolvable electrolyte packets (for treating dehydration), antihistamine oral and topical, medical scissors, alcohol wipes, antiseptic solution (peroxide), tweezers, ace wrap, basic first aid manual.

• Cooking Options.............In an extended power outage situation, you will need a way to boil water and cook food. Don't overlook your fireplace or your outdoor grill for cooking (this is where cast iron cookware comes in handy). If you have access to a generator, having an electric skillet or hot plate is invaluable. If you have no power source, a camp stove is a good option or for a more compact option, a backpacking stove. Just be sure to have a stock of appropriate fuel (propane or butane). **Remember to practice safety when using generators or other power sources. Never run a generator inside, in your garage, or near windows or doors. A generator should be placed at least 20 feet from the house with engine exhaust facing away from windows and doors.

• Entertainment......Do not underestimate the importance of fun in an extended disaster recovery. Once your basic needs are met, you will likely have many long hours to fill with no TV or Internet. Having a ready supply of books, cards, board games and craft supplies will go a long way towards making things a bit more cheery and hopeful. If you don't have a lot of room to store games, a simple deck of cards, some dice and a notepad are all you need for dozens of "homemade" games. Invest in a book of dice games and card games . Assemble a little game basket or box with these books and basic supplies and you are all set.

📝 The Art of Home Resources 🏡

L.I.V.E. Organization Guide

If you would like a little extra help setting up a system of organization for your supplies or for any area of your home, be sure to download our free guide based on Season 5, Episode 1, a Deep Dive into Organization with Joi Welch. We will be following up with a second episode in 2 weeks!

💬 Listener Shout-Out 💝

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We appreciate you!!

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