Week 3: Children's School / Art Work

When it comes to your children, everything that they do is precious. Every page that they color is perfect and every straight A report card is the greatest achievment. What happen's when you've got piles of school and art work, but limited space? You've got to sort through it and dwindle those piles down to absolute keepers. There are many ways to store these precious items, the most popular being with a binder or a file box. I prefer the file box because you can store more. I love Jen's templates over at i heart organizing!

The basic concept of this whole project is to have a divided section for each year your child is in school. A great idea is to also put in school pictures with each section along with the teacher's name and year. There are so many different ways to store all of the school work, so choose what works best for you and run with it!

Week 3: Manuals & Warranties

Creating a binder that houses your manuals and warranties may not seem like a task that is absolutely necessary for an organized home. But, you would be surprised how much you might need that junk drawer you've secretly been stashing them in. I've gathered up a few steps and ideas to help you out. You will need a 3 inch binder, sheet protectors and dividers.

1. Sort through all of the manuals and warranties and get rid of the one's you no longer own.
2. Put the remainder into categories... Appliances, Electronics, Children's Toys, Furniture, Etc.
3. Slip the Manuals in to a sheet protector with the matching warranty.
4. If you have receipts for any of these items, staple them to the manual.
5. Place the manual behind the appropriate divider in the binder.

Voila... Easy-peasy. If you want to take this a step further, you can print out a list of your items and the warranty expiration date and put it in the front of the binder. This is a small task and is something that doesn't take up that much of your time. If you do one small project a day, you will have your entire house organized in no time!

Week 2: Laundry Room

Laundry rooms come in all shapes and sizes. In my home it's more of a closet, so there isn't room for much. The laundry room, like the linen closet, is also not a place for you to store miscellaneous items. Function is key when it comes to a place where you want to spend as little time as necessary, ha-ha  There are a few key things that I keep in my laundry closet other than the obvious detergent and bleach.

• A sock bag. I just use a linen bag and hooked it on a hanger to store all of those pesky, unmatched socks.
• An emergency kit. I grabbed a little white basket from the dollar store, threw in a flashlight, some candles, and a lighter, just in case the electricity ever goes out.
• 2 baskets, labeled: To Mend (clothes that need mending) & Hand wash/dry-clean. Some people also put in a donate basket, I however, keep a laundry basket in my coat closet for items to donate (or garage sale).

In the laundry room, shelves and baskets are key players to adding additional storage. If you have a nice sized room to do laundry in, but lac the additional storage place you need for bulk items, I would suggest putting in a shelving system. Ikea has a very basic unit that works great in the larger utility rooms & in the garage. 

What are some key elements in your laundry room?

Week 2: Linen Closet

The Linen Closet.

It has a name that describes exactly what it should be used for, to store your linens. It is not called the "junk closet." My point is.... utilize your linen closet for linens: Sheets. Towels. Drapes. Blankets.

• It's only necessary to have 2 sets of sheets per bed (some people even place the extra sheet set in between the mattress & box spring it belongs with).
• The same goes for towels, 2 per person and an extra 4 for guests.
• Label your sheet size on the tags.
• Fold your sheets and put the matching sheet sets inside the corresponding pillowcase that way there are no straggling pieces.
• If you need to, label your shelves by size or even by room, placing the corresponding items on their matching shelves.

What have you found in your linen closet that doesn't belong?

Week 2: A Place for Everything

"A place for everything, & everything in its place."

One of the biggest issues that I run across are finding a place for everything. If everything in your house has a designated spot to "live" then you will not have a problem organizing.

If you were to stand in the middle of the living room and do a complete 360 degree circle, looking at every aspect of that room.... What do you see? Is everything in its place? Or, do you have items that are constantly stacked on your desk and coffee table. If the latter it the case, then it's very likely that those items do not have a designated place to belong to in your home.

What first comes to mind when picturing my home and an item not having a place is the living room remote controls. Before my remotes had a place, they would always end up on the couch arm rests, jammed down in the couch, or on the kitchen counter top (away from button happy toddlers). I finally got tired of constantly searching for the remote and it getting in the way of food splatters in the kitchen, so I created a spot for them. The remotes are still located in the kitchen. They are now placed in a pencil holder that is hung on the wall right as you leave the living room and enter the kitchen. I know this is not everyone else's ideal place to put TV remotes, but it's what worked for me.

Choose to put your items in places that work for you. Your shoes don't necessarily have to go in your closet. If you have a mud room that you would rather put them in, then go for it! Brush your teeth in the shower?! (ugh,men....) Then hang a toothbrush holder in your shower. It's YOUR HOUSE people! The whole point of being organized is to simplify. If you are constantly putting things where other people want you to, you'll never remember where they are and will spend most of your time searching.

Where are you storing the:

• TV Remotes
• Dog's Collar
• Camera Charger
• Mail

Every single thing in your home needs a spot. What still needs a spot in your home? What is an area that you struggle with?

Week 1: Let Go

One of the hardest parts of getting organized is having to just let something go. Well, I'm here to tell you that it's okay.

It's okay to let go of:

• The things that we think we ought to have; Such as that crock pot or toaster oven that takes up an entire shelf in your kitchen that you've only used once since you got it 5 years ago. It's okay that you don't use it, but get rid of it. All it's doing is collecting dust and taking up space.
• Expensive Items. This is always the hardest for me. Getting rid of something I spent a lot of money on but don't use. A prom dress you bought when you were a size 10 is not something you need hanging out in your closet when you have been a size 2 for years now. Newsflash: You're not going to need that prom dress.... and it's already out of style.
• Things you think you may need one day. A fur coat in Texas. Unless you make frequent trips to the Northeast in the winter for formal events, there is no need to keep this large item in your coat closet. It's just taking up space.
• Things you are saving for your kids. This is my mom all over (sorry mom). Saving every piece of artwork and every test that your child brings home is crazy. They aren't going to want a paper they wrote about a bird in the 3rd grade to hand down to their own kids. Pick a few key pieces out and trash the rest.
• Gifts. Just because someone gives you something, doesn't mean you have to like it (or keep it). If it's not something that you are actually going to use, take it back to the store & exchange it, re-gift it, or get rid of it.

I know that I may sound harsh when I tell you to pretty much get rid of everything you own (since i'm sure that's exactly what it feels like), but I'm just being honest. If you continue to keep everything that comes into your home without getting rid of something else, you will end up on a reality tv show about hoarding. 

Letting go of things is hard, I get it. But, if you don't let go of old, unused things, how will you have enough room for the new?

"Never love anything that can't love you back."

Week 1: Clutter

Clutter.

The one word that defines all of that extra "stuff" you have lying around your house. It's stacked on tables, shoved in closets, and packed in boxes in your garage. All of those cernaic cats on your bookshelf, what purpose do they serve other than collecting dust?

Clutter is all the stuff that keeps our homes from being what we need them to be.

As the days pass, I want you to keep in mind that one of the main goals for getting your house organized is to get rid of as much clutter as possible. A good quote to envision as you are going through your house and clearing your clutter is by William Morris.

"Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."

With that in mind, I want you to picture what you want your home to be. If you have to, get out a pen and paper and write a motto for your home. Maybe you want your home to be your Haven or Sanctuary. Your home does not become these things by just uncluttering; but by ridding your house of clutter, you open a door (or window) for that to shine through.

"Clutter is the meaningless getting in the way of the meaningful."

Week 1: Intro

Good Morning!

I know, I know. It's been a little while since I've posted but I've got a great series that I have been working on. That's right, I'm going to get you on the fast track to organizing your home in 30 days (or less)!! I'm going to cover things like your linen closet, what to do with all of those pesky manuals you have laying around for all of your electronic gadgets, & even your kid's school work.

Have a trouble spot in your house? Feel free to reach out to me!

" Happiness is a place between too little and too much"

Meal Planning 101: Freezer Meals

One of the best ways to save time with cooking is by making freezer meals. There is A LOT of planning that goes into them. I am just going to briefly touch on this topic because there are so many tips, tricks and techniques that go into freezer meals. My meal plan bible is called Don't Panic Dinners in the Freezer and the sequel, Don't Panic--More Dinner's in the Freezer . It not only tells you how to prepare and package your meals but also how to triple and quadruple to have multiple meals to freeze or share. I have picked a couple of my favorite recipes out of the second book to share with you.

• The 1st step is to just get started. The freezer cooking method can be implemented simply by choosing a favorite family recipe & just doubling or tripling it. 
• The 2nd step is to choose a day. I cook my freezer meals the day after I go to the grocery store. This way the meat does not have to be frozen and none of the produce goes bad. Block out 2-3 hours, one day a week and you can make about 6-9 meals!  
• Step 3 is to choose your recipes. 
• Step 4 is to write up your shopping lists

EASY AS PIE!

The first one is the Balsamic Roasted Chicken Thighs  I actually cooked this meal on Tuesday and it is the absolute best one so far.I couldn't get over how well it turned out! The only adaption I made to the recipe is that I used boneless instead of bone-in thighs. This can be done in the oven or on the grill, yields about 6 servings and is only 225 calories.

Ingredients:
6 chicken thighs, with bone and skin
1/2 c. extra virgin olive oil
3 T. balsamic vinegar
2 garlic cloves, pressed
1/2 t. salt
1/4 t. pepper
Cooking Day:
Mix oil, vinegar, salt , and pepper in a small bowl. Transfer marinade to a large freezer bag. Add chicken to bag, turning to coat thoroughly. Freeze!
Serving Day:
Thaw chicken completely. Place chicken, skin side up and well coated with marinade, into rimmed baking pan/dish. Roast uncovered in a 350 degree oven until brown and cooked through, about 35-40 minutes, Chicken may also be grilled over medium-hot coals until cooked through, turning once, Serve with salad, tomatoes and cheese biscuits.


The next one is my second favorite, Telluride Black Bean Tortilla Bake. This recipe yields about 4-6 servings and ground turkey can be substituted for the ground beef.
Ingredients:
1 lb. ground beef
1/2 c. chopped onion
1- 15oz. can black beans, drained & rinsed
1- 16 oz. can stewed tomatoes (Mexican style)
1/2 c. enchilada sauce (Mild or Medium)
1 t. chili powder
1 t. cumin
1/4 t. pepper
6 flour tortillas (I use more like 8)
3 oz. low-fat cream cheese, softened
1- 4oz. can diced green chilis, chopped.
Serving Day:
1/2 - 1 cup shredded Monterrey jack or cheddar cheese (or both)
Cooking Day:
Brown ground beef and onion in a large skillet; drain fat, Put stewed tomatoes in a blender (or food processor) and blend just long enough to break up large tomato pieces. Add to skillet with meat. Stir in black beans, enchilada sauce, chili powder, cumin, and pepper. Bring to a boil, cover, and simmer about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool.
Spread one side of tortillas with cream cheese, topping with green chilis. Fold tortillas in half over cream cheese. Pour half of the cooled meat sauce into the bottom of a lined 7x11 baking dish, Arrange the folded tortillas over the sauce, overlapping if necessary. Pour the remaining sauce over the tortillas. Freeze.
Serving Day:
Return the unwrapped meal to original baking dish and thaw to a slushy state, Cover dish with foil and bake in 350 degree oven for 20-30 minutes, until heated through. Uncover and sprinkle cheese on top; bake for 5 more minutes or until bubbly.

I highly encourage you to pick up one of the books above if you are at all interested in diving into freezer meals. Since I hate paying full price for anything, I got my books at half price bookstore for under $8 a piece.

If any of you decided to try one of the meals above please let me know how it turns out! Check back tomorrow for a little insight to crock pot meals.

Happy Freezing!

Meal Planning 101: Sample Meal Plan & Recipes

Today, I'm going to show you a few of my favorite recipes along with what my shopping lists actually look like filled out. You will notice that there are quite a few things already marked off on my weekly shopping list because I already have those items at home. The list I actually take to the grocery store (bottom picture) is much shorter because I didn't put the items I already own on there.

 

  Paula Deen's Baked Spaghetti   

 Rachel Ray's Beef & Chicken Fajita Burgers

Extra Easy Lasagna

Salsa Stoup and Double Decker Baked Quesadillas

 

I hope this helps take some of the confusion out of meal planning. I know it may seem a bit extreme to go to such great lengths to actually write down every item in each recipe, but trust me when I say, nothing is worse than getting 75% through with a meal and realizing you don't have any cheese. These recipes are also located on our Pinterest. Please feel free to comment and add your own tips/techniques you use when planning your meals.

Happy Cooking!

Meal Planning 101: Shopping/Cooking Day

The day has come for you to head off to the grocery store and buy the items on your list. Here are a few tips to remember when you head out the door:

• The best way to stay on a budget (if you have one) is to only buy the things that are on your list. DO NOT IMPULSE BUY! One item turns into two and then to twelve extra items you don't need.
• Go by yourself. You don't need anyone else with you that will lead you astray from the things that are on your list.
• Don't forget your coupons if you have them. If you forget them, they will more than likely be expired before you need to buy that item again.
• If your budget allows, buy your meat in bulk once a month. I go to a meat market and get really great deals on chicken and ground beef, which we eat alot of due to a teenage boy in the house. Plus, it's always nice to have a little extra meat in the freezer just in case you have unexpected guests or a change in plans.

After you get home from the grocery store is when the work actually begins.

• I like to get my meals ready for at least the first few days on the day that I go shopping. Almost any weeknight meal can be frozen and then cooked at a later date. It saves a bunch of time on the nights when you are working late and don't have a whole lot of time or energy to stand around in the kitchen.
• Separate all of your meat and package it. With my chicken, I bag each breast seperatly. Ground beef is bagged by the pound. I started bagging my meat this way when I started having too many leftovers due to people waiting until the last minute to decide they weren't hungry or had other plans.
• It's also a good idea to separate any produce you may need for each meal. If you have two meals this week that need chopped onions, go ahead and chop the onions, separate and bag them accordingly (Don't forget to label them).

Be sure to check back the rest of the week because i'll be sharing some of my favorite, go-to meals. I'll also talk about crock pot and freezer meals (my favorite). If you have any additional tips or comments feel free to shoot me an email or comment below.

Happy Shopping!

Meal Planning 101: Picking Out Your Recipes

Before you head out the door and scramble dreadfully travel to the grocery store, you must set out a portion of the day to work on your actual meal plan. I would suggest setting aside about 30-45 minutes a week to gather your recipes and make your list. I do my meal plan and grocery list the night before I go to the grocery store.

Step One: Gather your materials. I highly encourage you to use some form of calendar and list to plan your meals. I have provided a few pages that you may print out and use in the free printables section.

Step Two: Find the recipes for the meals that you are planning on cooking for an entire week. Keep in mind the amount of time you have each day to prepare your meals. I find a lot of my recipes off of pinterest and sites like the food network.

Step Three: Make your lists! Be sure to double check what you already have at your house. You don't want to spend any additional $$ on items you already have. I like to use both lists that I have above. It really helps make your trip a lot faster if you have all of your products categorized. You don't want to get to the last item on your list only to find out it's back on aisle 3 that you've strolled down 5 times already.

Step Four: If you are using coupons, go through your stash and clip the coupons that you are planning on using for your trip to the lists. This makes things much quicker when it gets time for checkout. 

Voila! 

Grocery List made simple! In my opinion, actually sitting down and picking out recipes it the hardest part. Especially if you are trying to please other people in your home. After you find a couple of weeks worth of recipes that work for you, reuse them!   

Be sure to check back tomorrow for tips on the actual shopping day!

Intro to Meal Planning

After much deliberation, I've decided that my first series of posts will be an introduction to meal planning. I started meal planning while I was out of work and staying at home with my son. It was the only way that I knew to really control how much I was spending on food and what I was putting in to my body. I made a lot of freezer meals and I bought my meat in bulk. Meal planning can save you a lot of money, time and sanity. On average, I spend about $300 a month to feed a family of 5 (which I consider to be pretty impressive).

Throughout the next few days, I'll be sharing some tips, tricks, and yummy recipes to get you on your meal planning way.

Organization 101

Being organized is the single most important thing you could ever do for yourself. It not only saves you time (and sanity), it can also save you a lot of money. To kick things off, I've come up with a few tips that will help ease you in to the process of being organized.

• Stop whatever you're doing and BUY A PLANNER. Not too big, not too small. Just something that you can keep track of appointments in and that will fit inside your purse. The one I use is a Weekly/Monthly planner from Target ($7.99). 

• If you are more of a tech-savvy person, my go-to online calendar and app is called Cozi for a million different reasons (free app for iPhone, Blackberry, & Android).  I'll be sure to do a follow-up on it later, but if you are looking for more than your basic phone or online calendar, I would highly suggest checking it out. 
• Set up a daily routine. Things will run more smoothly in your household and in your life when you and your family have a daily routine. Having a schedule that you stick to will help to take some of the guesswork out of your day, which in turn will free up all of the time you spend wondering who, what, when, and where? 
• Start small. Getting organized does not happen overnight. Although you're garage my look like an episode of hoarders, trust me when I say that with some planning and a weekend it can be fixed. My go-to starting point when I need to "get myself together" is my purse. My purse is my go-to storage bag for hauling items back and forth between home and the car. Socks, receipts, cups.... You name it I have probably had it in there. 
• Breathe. Getting organized is not something to pull your hair out over. It will take time, but just like with anything else in life, after a little practice and dedication it gets easier. Getting organized can appear very overwhelming, but with baby steps we get the job done. 

With Organizing, Simplicity is Key.

Welcome

I want to take a little time today to provide you with a little insight and motivation behind this blogging adventure and what my hopes are for this page in the future.

Homemaking, to most of my fellow Gen Y's out there,  is often labeled as easy or traditional; a word that is thought of as out-dated to most. To me, homemaking is more of a lost art.

Growing up, I envisioned my life as most young girls did; as Miss America or an Olympic Gymnast. One way that I differed from the majority of my peers, was that I also desired to be a homemaker. As I got older and it became time for me to head of to college, I settled on a degree plan and left home. When it came down to first day of class introductions , I often spoke of my desire to be a professional SAHM (stay at home mom) and that I was only in college because "that's what you're supposed to do." People will always tell you that if you love your job then it's not really considered a job. Well, I got my chance to test the homemaking experience and, much to everyone's surprise, I am good at it. Now that I have gone back to work after staying at home with my adorable 2 year old son, my eyes have been opened to the fact that there are a limited amount of women in my generation that have any homemaking skills. They can't cook. They hire maids. They even send out their laundry.

It is my hope that I can not only inspire the women of my generation to want to learn these forgotten skills, but to also show that homemaking does not have to be "out-dated and traditional".