About the Book
by Renee Metzler
Christian Non-Fiction / Self-Improvement
Available August 2012
Ambassador International
224 pages
Get a Total Home Makeover in 20 days. Each day, Let’s Chat (daily coaching session) about one secret to home management, then Get Moving (daily to do list) and apply what you just learned. Stay motivated with a Daily Renewal (prayer, Bible verse and journal) and a Weekly Reward (fun ideas to celebrate your success).
Total Home Makeover is a complete home management course. During your journey, get yourself, your family and your home all paddling in the same direction, toward order. Travel through three phases:
• Phase 1: Transform Self. Learn smart daily and weekly home management routines that create order in the home.
• Phase 2: Transform Family. Coach your family to learn and maintain healthy home habits that bring order to the home.
• Phase 3: Transform Home. Organize (clear, sort, store) room-by-room to create a functional home with activity zones that meet your family’s needs.
Plus get worksheets (meal planner, chore chart, daily routines, room planner), stories from the author, and a supportive website. Grab a friend, your sister, or your small group and get started on your Total Home Makeover.
My Thoughts
Total Home Makeover by Renee Metzler is one of those books that you don’t really want to read but you know you need to read it. I mean, who wants to admit that they’re not a very good housekeeper or that they feel overwhelmed by the state of their home. But I decided to take the plunge and see what Renee had to say.
Even though I knew I needed to read it, I was still skeptical at first. I think more than anything, I was afraid that she was going to say three things. Number one, this 20-day home makeover only works for women who work from/at home. Number two, you as the woman/wife must shoulder the entire burden of housekeeping. Number three, you’re not a very good woman/wife/mother if you’re not a good housekeeper. Anybody else with me here? Well, let me go ahead and assure you that she doesn’t say any of these things! So, put aside your pre-conceived notions of what a book about housekeeping might be like and let’s talk about this incredible little gem of a book.
The book is short at only 224 pages and a fairly quick read. I went ahead and read straight through for the purpose of this review, but I definitely plan to re-read and implement the strategies that Renee teaches in the coming weeks.
Throughout the book, Renee’s focus really seems to be on learning organizational and time-management skills so that you can enjoy your home and family and serve the Lord through both. That’s something I want and can get behind!
I loved how everything was just so simple. Renee does a great job of laying out small steps that you could take one at a time to help you get completely organized. She provides helpful tips and stories from her own experience to help you think creatively about how to use your space, how to organize based on your family’s needs, and how to reach the goals that you think are important.
The first half of the book is especially strong and helps you think through to the end results of all your hard work. I appreciated the words of wisdom about implementing a simple morning and evening routine that would help you get the majority of your straightening and cleaning done “as you go” rather than taking hours. Plus, there are lots of helpful lists, worksheets, charts, etc. to help you implement the things Renee talks about.
The second half of the book wasn’t as helpful as I had hoped. Renee offers suggestions and tips for organizing each room of your house. These chapters were pretty repetitive. An annual “detailed clean” for each room of the house was mentioned at the very end, and I was disappointed that it was so generic and didn’t really give more guidance as to how and what could or should be included in that.
Overall, though, I think this book is going to be a helpful tool for getting our house organized and structured so that we can better use it for ourselves and for whatever purposes the Lord lays on our hearts. In fact, we’ve already implemented two or three small changes that have made us feel like we’ve made big progress! Whether you’re just starting out or have been keeping a home for many years, I highly recommend Total Home Makeover! [4 stars]
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my fair and honest review.
Total Home Makeover by Renee Metzler is one of those books that you don’t really want to read but you know you need to read it. I mean, who wants to admit that they’re not a very good housekeeper or that they feel overwhelmed by the state of their home. But I decided to take the plunge and see what Renee had to say.
Even though I knew I needed to read it, I was still skeptical at first. I think more than anything, I was afraid that she was going to say three things. Number one, this 20-day home makeover only works for women who work from/at home. Number two, you as the woman/wife must shoulder the entire burden of housekeeping. Number three, you’re not a very good woman/wife/mother if you’re not a good housekeeper. Anybody else with me here? Well, let me go ahead and assure you that she doesn’t say any of these things! So, put aside your pre-conceived notions of what a book about housekeeping might be like and let’s talk about this incredible little gem of a book.
The book is short at only 224 pages and a fairly quick read. I went ahead and read straight through for the purpose of this review, but I definitely plan to re-read and implement the strategies that Renee teaches in the coming weeks.
Throughout the book, Renee’s focus really seems to be on learning organizational and time-management skills so that you can enjoy your home and family and serve the Lord through both. That’s something I want and can get behind!
I loved how everything was just so simple. Renee does a great job of laying out small steps that you could take one at a time to help you get completely organized. She provides helpful tips and stories from her own experience to help you think creatively about how to use your space, how to organize based on your family’s needs, and how to reach the goals that you think are important.
The first half of the book is especially strong and helps you think through to the end results of all your hard work. I appreciated the words of wisdom about implementing a simple morning and evening routine that would help you get the majority of your straightening and cleaning done “as you go” rather than taking hours. Plus, there are lots of helpful lists, worksheets, charts, etc. to help you implement the things Renee talks about.
The second half of the book wasn’t as helpful as I had hoped. Renee offers suggestions and tips for organizing each room of your house. These chapters were pretty repetitive. An annual “detailed clean” for each room of the house was mentioned at the very end, and I was disappointed that it was so generic and didn’t really give more guidance as to how and what could or should be included in that.
Overall, though, I think this book is going to be a helpful tool for getting our house organized and structured so that we can better use it for ourselves and for whatever purposes the Lord lays on our hearts. In fact, we’ve already implemented two or three small changes that have made us feel like we’ve made big progress! Whether you’re just starting out or have been keeping a home for many years, I highly recommend Total Home Makeover! [4 stars]
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my fair and honest review.
About the Author
Renee wrote Total Home Makeover after she went from career woman to full-time, stay-at-home mom. After feeling completely lost with the 24 hours of unstructured time, Renee began to research smarter ways to manage a home. In 2009, God stripped many things out of Renee’s life, including religious services and a career in sales. He gave her a hunger for more – to intimately know the living God. That began Renee’s journey of letting go, surrendering and trusting a God who can do all things. Her young daughters and husband, encouraged Renee to “finish that book.” After God gave her husband, Nevin, a dream about publication, God opened the door for publication of Total Home Makeover through Ambassador International. Renee recognizes that God pours out favor to those who seek Him.
Renee Metzler Online
The publisher, Ambassador International, has graciously offered to give away a copy of Total Home Makeover today! Open to US residents through Aug 31. Enter via the Rafflecopter below!
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I struggle the most with the kitchen, it's a busy hub in our house and i'm always trying to keep it more organized.
ReplyDeleteSmall steps to complete organization! I like that, and think we can always improve even if we think we're at least in the "acceptable" range. LOL....thanks for the thoughtful and helpful review!
ReplyDeleteMerry - The kitchen is an issue for us to. Our main entry/exit leads directly into the kitchen, so it tends to be a catch-all for purses, backpacks, shopping bags, shoes, etc. Ugh!
ReplyDeleteCarrie - I'm trying to think of things in small increments so I can feel a little accomplishment each day. Glad the review was helpful to you!
ReplyDeleteI would have to say it is the bedrooms. I have two small children and trying to keep clothes in check is not fun. They just grow too darn fast.
ReplyDeleteI struggle the most with all the closets--linens/towels, storage, clothing. We have a small apartment, so I never feel like it's organized to the best of it's ability.
ReplyDeleteBeth
Kelly & Beth - Yes, my clothes seem to threaten to overtake the house. :) Causes issues for my bedroom and closet. Going to get it organized though!
ReplyDeleteMine is definitely the kitchen. When hubby is home all day and I come home from working, I refuse to clean his dishes from the day or the supper dishes, so it backs up on us.
ReplyDeleteMine is definitely the kitchen! I just hate to clean a kitchen.
ReplyDeleteCloset storage is an issue in our home!
ReplyDeleteJes
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