7 Ways You Make Cleaning Harder Than It Has To Be

3 things you never knew you could do with hot glue, a must-make holiday snack mix, and more. December 4, 2021 [View Online]( Good morning! I hope you’re having a great weekend so far, and I hope to make it even better with the cleaning advice I’m sharing in Today’s Good Thing. You’ll learn about 7 ways we make cleaning harder for ourselves than it has to be, along with what you can do instead to save time and effort. Also in today’s newsletter, I’m sharing the recipe for one of our favorite holiday treats. We have our neighbors the Hopkins to thank for introducing us to the blessing (and curse, as far as my calorie intake is concerned) of this addictive snack mix. Jillee DAYS UNTIL 🎄 Christmas: 21 🎊 New Year's Day: 28 TODAY'S GOOD THING 7 Ways You Make Cleaning Harder Than It Has To Be [Photos of Jillee looking at a clipboard, looking at bread, and cleaning a mirror.]( One of the best ways to save time and effort while cleaning is to stop doing things that make it harder. If you had to choose between living in a world where cleaning was always quick and easy, and a world where cleaning was always arduous and took forever, which would you pick? And take all the time you need to answer—there’s a lot to consider before making a decision here. Just kidding! There’s nothing difficult about this choice, because no one wants to live in the “cleaning always takes forever” world. (Well, maybe Mr. Clean would live there... but I guess that depends on whether cleaning is his true passion, or if "Mr. Clean" is more of an honorary title, like Miss America.) Unfortunately, our desire for cleaning to be quick and easy doesn’t always reflect in our actions. In fact, many of us regularly do things that ensure cleaning tasks will be more difficult or take longer the next time around. But it’s not all bad news, because being aware of the ways we make cleaning harder for ourselves is the first step toward stopping those self-sabotaging behaviors. To help, I’ve put together a list of 7 common behaviors that can lead to cleaning tasks requiring more work, taking more time, or making you more miserable. For each item on the list, I’ve included alternatives and suggestions you can adopt to make cleaning easier for yourself in the future. Start your journey toward quicker, easier cleaning by checking out the list at the link below. [7 Ways You Make Cleaning Harder Than It Has To Be ➜]( Related • [7 Cleaning Mistakes That Are Making Your Life Harder]( • [Gross, These 9 Cleaning Mistakes Actually Make Things Dirtier]( ⚡️QUICK TIPS⚡️ • Feeling frustrated by cluttered kitchen counters? Find out what to keep and what not to keep on your counters. [Read more ➜]( • Dirty suede shoes may be less of a lost cause than you think—learn the 6 steps that make cleaning suede easy. [Read more ➜]( • If you tend to worry about forgetting something when you leave for a trip, double check these things to ease your mind. [Read more ➜]( COOKING This Recipe Belongs In Your Holiday Snack Rotation [Photos of Pigeon Mix.]( Like all the best snack mixes, Pigeon Mix is as easy to make as it is impossible to stop eating. Rod and Janet Hopkins, who are both our longtime neighbors and my daughter Britta’s in-laws, have given us a big bag of a deliciously chewy, crunchy, and coconut-y concoction they call “Pigeon Mix” for the past several Christmases. We’d never had it before they brought it over for us, but now it’s a family favorite! In fact, the only thing more consistent than the Hopkins’s annual gift of Pigeon Mix is how quickly and fiercely we consume it. (We’re generally a pretty laidback bunch, but not where this stuff is concerned!) Lucky for us, Janet was willing to share her recipe with me, which I highly recommend adding to your holiday snack rotation. Here’s how to make it: In a large bowl, combine 6 ounces (about half a box) of Corn Chex cereal, 6 ounces (about half a box) of Golden Grahams cereal, 1/2 cup of slivered almonds, and 1/2 cup of shredded coconut. To a saucepan, add 1 cup of white corn syrup, 1 cup of sugar, and 3/4 cup of butter. Place the pan on your stove over medium heat, bring the mixture to a boil, then cook for 2 minutes while stirring constantly. After 2 minutes of cooking, pour the liquid from the saucepan into the bowl with the cereal mixture, then stir until well combined. Spread the cereal mixture out on a lined baking sheet and let it cool completely before storing in a ziplock bag or other airtight container. [See The Full Recipe / 2 More Christmas Treats ➜]( UNUSUAL USES 3 Things You Never Knew You Could Do With Hot Glue [Photos of various uses for hot glue.]( Heat up your hot glue gun and put it to work making wintery crafts, cleaning up pet hair, and more. 1. Make Snowflake Window Clings. To make festive window clings, lay out a piece of parchment paper and use your glue gun to “draw” snowflake shapes. Let the glue dry, then peel it away from the paper and stick to a window, mirror, or wherever else you want. And when you want to remove it, it’ll peel right off. 2. Damage-Free Hanging. Use hot glue and painter’s tape to hang photos, Christmas cards, and more without doing permanent damage to your wall. Just place a piece of tape on the wall, then use hot glue to stick what you want to hang to the tape. Whenever you’re ready to take it down, just peel the tape off the wall. 3. Clean Up Pet Hair. Rubber gloves are already useful for picking up pet hair, but a bit of hot glue can make them even more effective. Just apply a few lines of hot glue to the palm and fingers of a rubber glove and let it dry. Then pull on the glove and use it to swipe pet hair off of couches, clothes, and rugs. JILLEE'S PICK My Favorite Christmas Movies: White Christmas [A still image from the 1954 movie ]( Starting from now until Christmas, I’m dedicating the Jillee’s Pick segment on Saturdays to highlighting one of my all-time favorite Christmas movies. I’m starting with a classic, which I’ve watched almost every year since I was a girl: 1954’s [White Christmas]( starring Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, and Vera-Ellen. There are so many great songs and dance routines in this movie, like “[Sisters]( and “[The Best Things Happen While You’re Dancing]( Who could forget “[Sisters (Reprise)]( and Kaye swaying with their feathery fans never fail to crack me up! And the film's big finale “[White Christmas]( is surely among the most iconic scenes in Christmas movie history. Between Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney's voices, Vera-Ellen's dancing (and frankly impossibly tiny waist!), and Danny Kaye just being Danny Kaye, there’s no doubt why this movie has stood the test of time. No matter what era you’re from, it’s great entertainment! REMEMBER WHEN Kitchens Through The Ages [A photo of a kitchen.]( While I’ve been idly dreaming about redoing my kitchen for the past several months, my kitchen design research has gotten me thinking about the way kitchen trends have evolved over time. So I thought today we’d take a look at “kitchens through the ages” (or at least “kitchens through the past few decades!”) • 1950s: After the war, families moved out to the suburbs and kitchens were the domain of the “modern housewife.” The post-war steel industry began manufacturing cabinets and appliances, and pastel-painted steel cabinets graced many kitchens. • 1960s: The more free-spirited 60s saw an increase in kitchens designed to connect to dining rooms for entertaining. And as wood became more affordable, wood cabinets began replacing steel, and bright-colored accessories and wallpaper completed the look. • 1970s: We all know the knotty pine and harvest shades of the 70s kitchen. New tech like the microwave lived among wood cabinets and wood paneling. Color, texture, and pattern could be found everywhere, from the linoleum floors to the cookware. • 1980s: Much like our hair, kitchens in the 80s were big and bold. With more women working full time, the kitchen became more of a family gathering place. Kitchen floor plans opened accordingly, with big islands and breakfast bars that led to living spaces. • 1990s: Sleek was out and shabby-chic was in, as were white cabinets with ornate panels, ceramic tiles, and granite counters. Large refrigerators and gas ranges also became popular, due in part to the popularity of the Food Network. • 2000s: The new millennium ushered in a new level of awareness of kitchen design trends, thanks to channels like HGTV. Stainless steel took off as the material of choice for nearly everything, as did high-contrast kitchens with light cabinets and dark countertops. • 2010s: Some trends of the 2010s are still popular today, like subway tile, farmhouse sinks, and brass hardware. But the most memorable trend of the last 10 years has nothing to do with food—it’s plants, which are central to the “urban jungle kitchen.” A FEW MORE THINGS... Me Want Cookie: It’s National Cookie Day, and I was tickled to learn that the AHL’s Cleveland Monsters will be celebrating in style in [Cookie Monster-themed jerseys](. Check your local cookie purveyors to see if they’re offering any freebies or deals in honor of the occasion, or make a batch of your favorite cookies at home! What I’m Watching: Tonight we’ll be cheering on our Real Salt Lake as they take on the Portland Timbers in the MLS Cup Western Conference Final at 4:30 pm MT on FS1. Despite our dismal record against the Timbers this season, our sole MLS Cup win in 2009 was also highly improbable, so we never say never around here! What did you think of today's email? [Not good]( | [Just okay]( | [Loved it!]( 🏠[Visit the By Jillee Shop]( 🤗 [Join OGT Free]( Let's connect! [facebook]( [instagram]( [pinterest]( [youtube]( If you have thoughts, comments, questions or a tip or trick you'd like to share, I'd love to hear from you! My inbox is always open, so just hit "reply" and let me know what's on your mind. See you tomorrow! Sending you bright ideas and simple solutions to help you create a home and life you love. My mailing address is: One Good Thing by Jillee 841 S. Main St. Heber City, UT 84032 If you're not happy please reply to this email to tell me why, or you can [update your preferences]( or break my heart and unsubscribe [here](. View our privacy policy [here](.