Reducing stress...what do you do?

I am curious as to what other people do to reduce stress. In the past, I have tried deep breathing, taking a bath, being quiet, reading the Bible and watching a funny movie. What have you done to reduce stress? Please share!:)

Clothes washing & drying

Doing laundry is something that I enjoy. Okay, I know, to many that may sound very strange. But there is something about clean clothes. The freshness of them...how clean they smell coming out of the wash and how crisp they are coming off of the line.

My laundry room is adequate, my line outside is perfect for one load, my detergent is homemade by another mama and my dryer works if I want to use it. What more could a girl want?! My favorite time to hang clothes is in the morning, when the dew is still on the ground. I talk to God as I hang them and feel a peace about life. I feel so blessed.

During the warm months I try to use my outside line a lot. I like how the clothes smell, it uses less energy and the sun bleaches my whites for me. My husband doesn't appreciate crunchy jeans or towels...but he lets me dry as I please. Some days I do use the dryer. Sometimes it is just out of plain laziness...other times I don't plan ahead for the needed drying time.

If anyone is interested, you can make your own homemade laundry detergent. It is very simple. I plan to make my own when my current stash is gone. The recipe is as follows (This is from a mama on Diaperswappers)...

1 cup Washing Soda
1 cup 20 Mule Team Borax
1 bar Kirks Castile Soap

Slice soap into strips and run through food processor to make "soap beads".
Combine soap beads, borax, and washing soda. Done!
Use 1 tablespoon for small loads, 2 tablespoons for large loads. Twice as much for soiled clothes, half as much for HE washers.

This should save you money and doesn't have all of the ingredients that commercial brands do.

Happy laundering!:)

Finding contentment at home

I am trying to find contentment at home. I love our home. I say home, instead of house, because our home is a home. It is so much more than a house. Our house could use some updating and isn't everything that I would like it to be...but we have made it a home. I feel completely relaxed when I am home. I like finding things to do, taking walks with my boys, spending time with my husband at night while the boys are sleeping, sewing, and sometimes just sitting in the quiet.

But there are days when being at home with a five and almost two year old feels suffocating. I find that I want to leave to keep my sanity. Why is that? I feel like a trapped monkey at times. I guess running around seems easier at the time. Then we get out to run errands, go to the park, etc. and I think..."what was I thinking?". This is not easier! We end up eating out, I end up frustrated, the little one doesn't get a nap, and I don't even like driving. What was I thinking?

This realization has given me the opportunity to try and find contentment at home. Yes, sometimes that means letting them watch television midday (we usually do not have the tv on during the day), or it means me having a nap when they do. Staying home is so much easier and saves so many resources (gas, money, energy-to name a few). It just doesn't seem as fun at the time that I am searching for an escape.

So what do you do to find contentment at home? What are your ideas for bringing relaxation in to the sometimes hectic days? Thanks for sharing!