Planning

One Easy Way to Prevent Clutter

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If clutter and organization are a problem for you (most likely since you’re reading this blog) then I’m sure you’re always looking for an easy way to solve that problem. Even if you take the time and effort to clear out the clutter it’s so hard to keep it from coming back. After all, we have to buy food, clothes, and household items on a regular basis.  Then there is the incoming mail, school papers, gifts, etc.

We can’t prevent everything from coming into our homes nor would we want to. But we do have the power to control many things that might become clutter if we take a little time to plan ahead.

One of the easiest and simplest ways is to use a shopping list. Yes, I said a shopping list. I know that sounds boring and ruins the fun of shopping. But, most of the items that become clutter are purchased on impulse and without planning.

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Creating a habit of making a shopping list every time you go to a store will help reduce the chance of bringing clutter into your home now and in the future. This really is an easy habit to create if you have the right tools always available. I use a white board on my refrigerator for grocery and other household items I’ve run out of or want to buy. I also make sure I have pen and paper to transfer that list to take with me. I know a lot of people are using their smart phones to make the list. It doesn’t matter what you use as long as you make that list before going to the store.

Think about it. How often have you stopped at the grocery store without a list and bought items you thought you needed. When you got home you found there were several cans/packages of that item already on the shelf or in the freezer. If you use it up before the expiration date then that’s great. But if you don’t get around to using the item (because you have too many) before it’s expired then you’ve not only created clutter you’ve also wasted money.

The same thing holds true for clothes shopping, back to school shopping, or any other kind of household shopping. If you make a list before you go to the store you’ll know exactly what you need or want. No guessing involved! That will reduce the times you purchase something that ends up as clutter. Therefore you’re preventing clutter from entering your home to begin with.

Remember, a bargain isn’t a bargain if it ends up as clutter!

So make that list. Check it twice. Then you’ll find it so much easier to keep your home nice.

To a lighter load along the way.

Janice

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Ideas For A Fun July

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We’re in the heart of summer and there are so many ways to enjoy it. Below are some of the special events that are celebrated during the month of July.  First the month starts out with a bang on The 4th of July.  Then there’s National Hot Dog Month, National Ice Cream Month, National Watermelon Month, and even National Baked Bean Month. You would think that all we do is eat during this month!

Well, below are links with information and recipes to celebrate these events. If you have children or grandchildren pick a date and plan on a festival to enjoy their favorite foods.  Get them involved in picking out the recipes and then making them.  It will be a fun time for all! 

 

Fourth of July:

If you are planning to set off fireworks here is some information you’ll want to read first.  Every year around the 4th of July the emergency rooms are filled with burn injuries. Learn how to prevent them before you set off those fireworks.

http://www.fireworksafety.com/

 

National Hot Dog Month:

All those summer BBQ’s seem to include the little (or not so little) red dog, grilled to perfection.  But there are lots of other ways to cook those hot dogs.  If your up to experimenting with recipes here are a couple of links to get you started.

http://www.recipe4living.com/articles/national_hot_dog_month.htm

 

National Ice Cream Month:

 

Is it any surprise that National Ice Cream Month would be in the middle of summer?  The 3rd Sunday in July is National Ice Cream Day but pick any day to celebrate with your family.  Make homemade ice cream with or without an ice cream maker.  The links below have recipes and instructions on how to do it.  Oh, the simple pleasures of life don’t have to cost much.  Just a little planning ahead can make a memorable sweet experience.

http://www.ice-cream-recipes.com/ice_cream_month.htm

http://www.southernliving.com/food/entertaining/ice-cream-desserts-00417000074424/

 

National Watermelon Month:

What would summer be without a cold juicy watermelon to bite into?  July is also National Watermelon Month.  Now is the time to buy those big red fruits and experiment with different ways of eating them.  Find a couple of recipes from the link below that look good. On a day when it’s too hot for the children to play outside just pull out a recipe for all of you to make together.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/topics/watermelon/index.html

 

National Baked Bean Month:

                                                                                                                                                                       Beans go great with those hot dogs and hamburgers.  Check out some of the links below for recipes to make them special.

 

 

http://www.classbrain.com/artholiday/publish/article_355.shtml

http://southernfood.about.com/od/crockpotbeans/r/bl15c11.htm

 

July can be a long boring month if you have children at home with nothing to do.  It’s not too late to make this a fun and active summer.  Check it this post for lots of ideas. “Vacation In Your Own Home Town”

To a lighter load along the way.

Janice

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Are Your Children Already Bored With Summer?

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Today is the official first day of summer.  However, for most families summer started around Memorial Day or shortly after.  If your children aren’t going to camp or summer school most likely they are already looking for things to do.

Below are some ideas to help you get organized and come up with ways to keep your children busy.  These ideas are great ways to keep them from spending hours and hours in front of the TV or computer.  That may keep them out of your hair but it isn’t healthy for them.  Check out these links now and have a plan in place before you hear those dreaded words, (if you haven’t already) “Mom, we’re bored.  What can we do?”

Organize Your Summer

These sites are filled with ideas to help you organize your schedules.

http://www.bhg.com/videos/m/32064133/organize-your-summer.htm

http://www.bhg.com/health-family/parenting-skills/family-relationships/family-tips-for-a-successful-summer/

Summer Game Ideas

Here are some ideas for backyard games. Create a simple notebook with the instructions so it’s easy to help your children get started playing.

http://www.bhg.com/health-family/activities/games/backyard-games/#page=1

http://familyfun.go.com/summer/summer-games/1/

Vacation in Your Own Home Town

Last year I wrote a blog post after the 4th of July filled with ideas and links to websites about vacationing close to home. This year I’m giving you the link to that post now so you can plan ahead and take advantage of some great things to do before, during, and after the holiday. There are also some links for ideas for the 4th of July.

http://organizebythemonth.com/vacation-in-your-own-hometown/

http://fun.familyeducation.com/fourth-of-july/holidays/32874.html

http://holidays.kaboose.com/july-4/

 

It’s not to late to set up a Summer Planner filled with ideas to make this summer an organized and fun one.

Janice

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So Many Things All At The Same Time

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This is the time of year where so many things are happening at the same time.  In the next three weeks there is Easter, Passover, taxes (USA) due, and Spring has come extra early with gardening chores in full gear.  As Willie Wonka said in “Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory”:

“So much time, and so little to do! Strike that, reverse it.”                                          ~ Willy Wonka

 

Tax formsRight now I’m trying to finish up the taxes so I get them out of the way. They are due three weeks from today (April 17th) so it’s time to finish them up if you haven’t already.

 

Passover matzoA week from this coming Friday is the first Passover Seder.  I’m using my planner ( see last blog post on how to set one up) to help me stay organized. I’ve already purchased some of the food items. I check the planner on a daily basis to see what babysteps I can take each day to help me prepare for my company ahead of time and prevent the last minute panic. I’m still working on changing my lifelong procrastination habit!

 

Easter is less than two weeks away so if you celebrate this holiday and are having the family over you should also be taking babysteps to prevent the last minute panic.

CB030060If you haven’t see up a planner yet I suggest you do it today. It gives you a place to write down all the information and schedules so you don’t have to worry about forgetting to remember to do something. 

 

 

Here are some sites to help you prepare for either or both holidays.

Easter:

http://holidays.kaboose.com/easter/

http://www.apples4theteacher.com/holidays/easter-fun/

http://wilstar.com/holidays/easter.htm

http://www.holidays.net/easter/

Passover:

http://www.aish.com/h/pes/

http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/holidaya.html

http://www.chabad.org/holidays/passover/default_cdo/jewish/Passover.htm

To a lighter load along the way!

Janice

 

 

 

 

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Easter or Passover Planner

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If you have read my blog for awhile you know I’m big on creating planners to help me get organized for special events, holidays, or travel. Today I’m setting up my planner for the Passover Seder.  Since the holiday dinner is at my house every year I know I have a lot to do during the next 2 1/2 weeks.

Through experience I have learned how this kind of planner helps lower my stress level and even saves me money. Last week I went to New Orleans with my husband for a few days.  My Travel Planner helped keep all the papers (airline tickets, hotel, emergency phone numbers, etc.) in one place so when I left town I had everything I needed.

I had even researched some places we wanted to visit beforehand. For the Aquarium I found a $3.00 off per person coupon online. I printed it out and put it in the Travel Planner. It saved us $6.00 that morning. That paid for the streetcar ride later in the day to see other attractions.

So whether you are planning an Easter dinner for the family or a Passover Seder creating a planner now will help you get organized and reduce the stress over the next couple of weeks. Here are a few simple steps to create that planner. You most likely have everything you need on hand so take a few minutes today to set it up. It will make planning for your celebration much easier and more enjoyable!

Step 1

You will need some kind of notebook, pocket folder, or file folder to keep everything in. If you have several celebrations or events you are planning for it might be easier to use a small 3-ring binder with pocket folder dividers to keep each event separate. Since I only have the Seder I’m using a pocket folder with clips to hold notebook paper.

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Step 2

You’ll need enough paper to create several lists.

    • Shopping list for groceries.
    • Shopping list for table or household decorations.
    • Write out the full menu and any condiments, special seasonings, etc. that you plan on serving. If other people will be bringing certain dishes for the meal make sure you put their name next to that dish on your list. Also make sure they know way ahead of time what they are expected to bring so they can plan accordingly.
    • Write out a timetable for the next couple of weeks of what and when you will do things such as cleaning, shopping, polishing silverware, and baking or cooking things ahead of time. You can write this timetable on the notebook paper or print out a calendar (monthly or weekly) to write it on. Here is a site to download a free calendar, either monthly or weekly.

http://www.calendarlabs.com/blank-calendar.php?template=weekly

Step 3

Put copies of the recipes you plan on making into the pockets of the folder. Check all the ingredients for each one and write the things you need to purchase on the grocery list.  If your recipe is in a cookbook you can list the cookbook and page number next to the dish on your menu page. Just make sure you check the ingredients for the grocery list as soon as possible.

 

Now your planner is for the most part organized and ready to go. Customize it for your particular needs.  If your family dresses up in special clothes for church then you can make a list for each family member and what they will wear. If you need to buy anything new you can plan for a shopping trip now instead of running out to the store at the last minute.

Keep this planner in a place where you can check it daily. If you know you’re going out to run errands check your shopping lists first to see if you can buy some of the things now.  With the cost of gas you don’t want to make any extra shopping trips for just a few items.

If you have any questions or suggestions on creating this planner please let me know.

To a lighter load along the way.

Janice

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