Oh My…things are rough..between the Debates and Covid, things coming out of Washington are getting even worse (just when you thought it really couldn’t). I decided to bring us back in time to the White House. Back to what life was like Upstairs At The White House, when J.B. West was the Chief Usher. His career spanned over 3 decades

In this New York Times bestseller, the White House chief usher for nearly three decades offers a behind-the-scenes look at America’s first families.
 J. B. West, chief usher of the White House, directed the operations and maintenance of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue—and coordinated its daily life—at the request of the president and his family. He directed state functions; planned parties, weddings and funerals, gardens and playgrounds, and extensive renovations; and, with a large staff, supervised every activity in the presidential home. For twenty-eight years, first as assistant to the chief usher, then as chief usher, he witnessed national crises and triumphs, and interacted daily with six consecutive presidents and first ladies, as well as their parents, children and grandchildren, and houseguests—including friends, relatives, and heads of state.
 
J. B. West, whom Jackie Kennedy called “one of the most extraordinary men I have ever met,” provides an absorbing, one-of-a-kind history of life among the first ladies. Alive with anecdotes ranging from Eleanor Roosevelt’s fascinating political strategies to Jackie Kennedy’s tragic loss and the personal struggles of Pat Nixon, Upstairs at the White House is a rich account of a slice of American history that usually remains behind closed doors.

Such as great thing to read during an election year, especially when tensions are so high. For more information or to order this book,. click HERE.

Pixabay CC0 License

We all have a variety of tasks to take care of around our homes, on a daily basis – and, often, these are not the kinds of things that are intrinsically motivating.

Chores need to get done, DIY jobs need to be taken care of, meals need to be prepared, and that massive stack of papers on the desk of your home office probably needs to be worked through sooner rather than later.

The feeling that things are “stagnating” is always deeply uncomfortable and unpleasant, to say the least. But when that feeling strikes in your own home, it can be especially demoralising.

Here are a handful of tips for gaining momentum in the home and regaining a sense of control over things.

Feel the “resistance” and do it anyway

The writer, Steven Pressfield, is well known not only for his novels (including “The Legend of Bagger Vance”), but also for his cult classic book on the artistic and creative process, titled “The War of Art.”

In this book, Pressfield argues that there is a force called “resistance” that always gets in the way and tries to steer us off course when we are in the process of trying to move from a “lower” to an “higher” state. Writers experience resistance, painters experience it, athletes experience it, and so on.

“Resistance,” however, is also something that we all experience in everyday life as the desire to procrastinate and avoid tasks like dealing with household chores, or getting started on a potentially tricky project.

The key thing – according to Pressfield and many others – is to realise and remember that “resistance” is eternal, and that it never goes away fully. You just have to move forward despite it.

To develop momentum in your home, you need to “feel the resistance, and do it anyway.”

Get yourself the right tools and incentives to support an optimum mindset

It’s always easier to build and maintain positive momentum in your home, if you have the right tools and incentives to support an optimum mindset – one that’s based on a sense of positivity and intrinsic motivation.

If you want to spend more time home cooking your own meals and making them special, getting some high quality cooking utensils such as Made In Cookware might help you to really enjoy the process more, and to feel more inclined to engage in it.

Clarify what it is you need to get done

It’s difficult enough to build and maintain momentum when you actually know what it is you need to do next, and have a clear view of the path ahead.

When everything is chaotic, however, and you just know that you “have a lot of work to do here,” it can be virtually impossible to actually get the ball rolling.

Begin the process by getting systematic, and by identifying and clarifying exactly what it is you need to get done, point by point.

Using a good task management tool such as Omnifocus or Todoist might help here.

As you know we have readers from all areas and of all ages. In the past week, I have received emails from 2 readers that they had new babies!!! Having a baby is one of the most exciting experiences you will ever have but you may be overwhelmed with the sheer responsibly of caring for your little one. You will be responsible for your baby’s every need so it is easy to get carried away thinking you aren’t doing enough as a parent. Whether you’re overwhelmed with the number of items you think you need to care for your baby properly or you are stressed out by several weeks of sleep deprivation after the baby arrives, here are three truths that can help you prepare for and navigate the newborn stage.

You’ll Need More Clothes Than You Think

A lot of people get carried away while buying baby clothes and end up purchasing way more than they need. Other people try to limit the number of clothes they buy and end up with a full hamper and no clean baby clothing because they haven’t had time to do laundry. If you want to reduce clutter by buying fewer baby clothes, you may make life harder for yourself in the long run. Make sure you have enough clothing of different sizes to change the baby several times a day for at least a week. If you have enough clothes, you won’t get as stressed if you can’t always keep up with laundry. This also gives you an excuse to purchase adorable designs from online boutiques that carry brands such as Little Green Radicals baby clothing.

You Don’t Need a Million Toys

You may think you need a ton of toys to help your baby develop properly, but having so much stuff to put away will only put more stress on you. In reality, babies need very few toys at first. Rattles, books and playmats will likely be all the baby needs for the first couple of months and you can add new toys throughout the year as the baby grows. Introduce teethers and three months and add a set of wooden blocks around six months. Stuffed animals make great toys at any age.

It’s OK To Take a Break

It’s normal to feel overwhelmed for the first few weeks of your baby’s life. You probably won’t get much sleep and your house may not be as clean as it usually is. You may be surviving on fast food and frozen meals instead of cooking healthy foods every night, but you don’t need to feel bad about being in survival mode. When you’re feeling overwhelmed, don’t be afraid to ask a friend or family member for help. It will do you a world of good to step away from parenting responsibilities for an hour or two so you can focus on your mental health.

Parenting is a huge responsibility and you may be overwhelmed by it. Whether you are anxiously awaiting your little one’s arrival or are struggling with all of your responsibilities after the baby is born, keep these three truths in mind to remind yourself that you are doing your best to be a good parent.