Get back on track with your organizational strategies!! Post #2

Great!!! You came back for tip #2!!

2. Organizing Meals in Advance

It’s easy to get a bad case of kitchen burn-out after the holidays, but your family still needs you to plan and prepare meals – even in January. Try making an effort to include foods that you haven’t eaten during the holiday months to help prevent your picky eaters from getting tired of certain meals. Sure, you’ll probably have leftovers to use up, but try to give them clever disguises. For example, if you’ve got Christmas ham sitting in your refrigerator, bring in some of the unexpected with Caribbean ham and pineapple sandwiches. Add cilantro, green peppers, fresh chopped pineapple, and Caribbean jerk to your typical ham sandwich to spice things up and keep variety in the mix. By planning meals like these in advance, you’ll be able to worry about one less thing in the New Year, allowing you to stay focused on keeping the unexpected organized.

I love this one, my Mom has always been a great example of this tip…Growing up she always had a menu. I try really hard to do the same, but sometimes life just gets in the way. I know it is truly important, I know it will save you time, money, and from unhealthy foods!!!

Friday is the day to see the last 2 tips!!! Don’t forget to come back!!

Get back on track with your organizational strategies!! Post #1

The holiday season can be crazy and stressful. So it’s important to be prepared to reorganize your life. Once you’re back to your regular routine, which I must say, is more difficult to take the time to organize the post-holiday craziness that’s been left thrown around your house. So, before the real world gets in the way, try organizing your post-holiday schedule. Sounds overwhelming? YES I know…but I have some advice from, The Crafting Chicks. Try some of the following tips to help you make your way through the post-holiday crunch.

Here is tip #1!

1. Scheduling Events
Don’t let the first few events of the New Year catch you off-guard. Keep your family calendar updated and, even more importantly, maintain updates in your personal planner as you receive notice of future engagements. By keeping your planner in your purse or near you at all times, you’ll be able to pencil in new events without double-booking or getting too overwhelmed. You can easily find a small planner that’s well suited to your needs at an office supply or local craft store, and November and December are great months to find planners for the New Year. To supplement your organized schedule, try using sticky notes in places that will get your attention at the appropriate times. For example, if you know you have to get to a PTA meeting right after dinner on Tuesday, put a sticky note reminder on the refrigerator or above the sink to remind you while you make and clean up the evening meal.

Come back on Wednesday for tip #2!

How to Keep Your New Year's Resolutions Last 2 steps!!!

Okay here are the last 2 step on how to make New Years resolutions…

3. Tell everyone you know. Some say that New Year's resolutions are best kept to oneself, but look at it this way: the more people to who you announce your resolution (say, to get more organized by spring), the more people will help remind you if you fall behind. There's no shame in seeking help if you can't accomplish your resolution on your own.

4. Reward yourself. Following through on a New Year's resolution is rarely easy, so a reward for doing your best never hurt…for example, maybe you can reward yourself with a new pair of shoes for organizing all your closets in your house. WHY NOT… THERE SHOULD BE ROOM!!!! RIGHT?????

I feel it is important to always set goals for your self. It shows that you always want to be a better person.

Homework: Write down at least 2 goals and tell someone you know. Have a great and organized weekend!!!

Okay here are my 2 NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS…YES I AM TELLING LITERALLY EVERYONE!!!

-Have more one on one with the kids.
-Have prayer every night with Justin.

How to Keep Your New Year's Resolutions

Well, I have missed writing in my blog…My sister from Utah came to visit, with her kids, and with Christmas my life got real hectic!! I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and New Year!!! Mine was great but very busy!! I am excited to get back to my normal schedule, even if I do have to wake up at 5 am again!!

I remember every year in grade school, the first day back, all of my teachers would make us write our New Year’s resolutions down…WELL IT IS that time of year again to set some goals and make New Year’s resolutions.

Here are the 1st 2 tips on making New Year’s resolutions…

1. Aim low. It goes without saying that most New Year's resolutions are easier announced (or written) than done-but if you set the bar too high, you're doomed from the start. Instead of saying I am going to write in my blog daily, say I will at least write in it 2 times a week. That way you are not setting yourself up for failure!!!

2. Don't overload yourself. It's difficult enough for the average person to follow through on one New Year's resolution; why would you make a long list of 20!!! Pick 2 or 3 and really concentrate on those.

Come back on Friday for the last 2 tips!!!!

The Three Gifts of Christmas

YES!!!! It is almost here. We all long for this special day not only to spend with family and friend, but to also reflect on the Savior, and the many gifts in our lives.

Back in October my Mom called me and said she had just been to this great class, about what to do for your children at Christmas time. She said that it kind of makes Christmas a little easier, meaningful and MORE ORGANIZED…Okay I was sold!!! Here is the idea; I hope you love it as much as I did!!!!


The idea of giving three gifts reminiscent of the gift of the three wise men.

Gold: "The Gift of Wonders" (Gold)These are gifts that tickle and delight. They are the gifts that are really wanted or desired-- the gift the receiver just can't go without! A wanted toy, a planned outing, a season pass... something they just HAVE to have.

Frankincense: "The Gift of Meaning" (Red)These are gifts that have meaning and express affection. These might include: A scrapbook, A quilt, A special doll, an heirloom, a childhood memento, a ctr ring or piece of jewelry, new temple clothes, a treasure box, a framed photograph, or letters from the heart. This gift could be spiritual, meaningful or both.

Myrrh: "The Gift of Usefulness" (Green)These are gifts that are truly needed. Look at your loved ones needs and choose a gift that would be truly useful. These might include a new coat, a down comforter, or a new pair of shoes and socks. Use this gift for something practical yet worthwhile.

We also make sure Santa does come because the tradition of Santa needs to be preserved.

Homework: Have a MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Do you need more than 24 hours in a DAY!!!

One of the greatest challenges many people face in their personal lives is that there never seems to be enough time to accomplish everything they need to do, let alone finding time for things they want to do, especially around Christmas time.

I have always envied those who are able to successfully fit work, family, personal, and other activities into their lives, with no problems... (Though it seems.) In reality we all have the same 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. But it’s how we choose to spend that time that makes all the difference.

To develop a time management system that will work for you, it’s helpful to write down a plan to help you compare the way you are currently living your life with the way you would like it to be.

Find the obstacles that are preventing you from managing your time wisely.

Here are 8 great suggestions by Janet Barclay…

1.-Organize your space and paper so you don’t waste time looking for what you need.
2.-Eliminate interruptions by closing your office door and letting telephone calls go to voice mail.
3.-Be prepared with reading material or small tasks you can complete while waiting for people or in line.
4.-Get tasks you find distasteful or overwhelming out of the way first. Better yet, consider delegating them to someone else.
5.-Set personal and professional goals to help you identify your priorities.
6.-Learn to say “no” and to focus on what’s important to achieving your goals.
7.-Find a calendar system you’re comfortable with, and use it for all your activities.
8.-Build flexibility into your schedule to accommodate the unexpected.

Don’t try to do all of these things at once! Changes to the way you manage your time should be implemented one at a time. Just like any other life changes, if you try to make too many at one time, you’re apt to get overwhelmed and discouraged..

Effective time management doesn’t happen overnight, but by determining what changes are needed and incorporating them into your lifestyle, you can take control of your time, instead of letting it control you.

Homework: Organize your stack of papers that are sitting on your counter (I know you all have one,) and find a home for them.

Is your Christmas tree organized???

Okay most of you said NO…because your GREAT PARENTS and let your kids do all the DECORATING!!!

My kids have their own 6 foot tree up stairs with all of there ornaments on it. Since our little ducklings were born we give them an ornament a year. So by the time they leave the nest they will have a box full of there own ornaments to put on there very own tree!!

However MOM has her very own tree that she gets to do what she wants with. (Okay mom is a little selfish.)

I still have 2 little ducks wanting and pleading to help me…so this year I gave them the very important task of organizing all of the decorations. So Mama Duck can put them on in an organized fashion. Here are some great tips on decorating your Christmas tree, and in doing so teaching your kids a little about organizing!!!!

1. Put the tree up where you want it in the room.
2. Put the lights on, and make sure they all work.
3. Place all the bows together, bulbs, berries, sparkly ornaments, and fruit filler together. In other words organize all ornaments into sections on the floor. (This is how kids can help!)
4. Place all the big ornaments on first, like bows or big bulbs. Then medium ornaments, last small ornaments. Make sure they are all spaced throughout the tree evenly.
5. Put any filler in like berries or sparkly sticks.
6. Last but not least place the TOPPER on!

Oh and don’t forget the Christmas music…that is a MUST!!!