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Free: Organized Simplicity e-book

January 15, 2012 Leave a Comment

Amazon is currently offering the e-book Organized Simplicity for free.  I have heard fantastic things about this book by Tsh Oxenreider and just started reading One Bite at a Time which is also written by her.  I have included these books in my tool kit to help me get organized in 2012 and aid me with my ongoing self-discipline and accountability goals.

If you are like me and don’t have a Kindle, you can go simply go here and download a free Kindle application for your computer which will allow you to read Organized Simplicity.

The price is currently $0, but could increase at any time.  Please be sure to check the price before you buy the book.

Filed Under: 2012 Goals, Books, TV, & Movies, Freebies, Organizing Tips & Tools, Shopping & Deals Tagged With: , , , , , ,

The Year of Organization…help

December 30, 2011 10 Comments

New Year’s resolutions are not my thing.  I don’t stick with them and I don’t remember what they were to begin with after a few weeks.  So for 2012 I have my list of goals.  I like my list:  it is attainable, realistic, and motivating. 

I’ll share more about my 2012 goals soon, but at the top of my list is “complete home organization.”  To help me carry out this task and keep me on track, I’m joining the weekly challenges at Home Storage Solutions 101. 

I’m excited to begin this 52-week series on home organization.  You can jump in and join at any time or choose which “challenges” you wish to work on–a great idea for people who just have a few things to work on.  Since I’m working on reorganizing and purging my entire home (I’m still working on my accountability and self-discipline), I’m going to try my best to work on each weekly challenge.  I can do this….I can!  I will!  Repeat, repeat, repeat.

I’d love to hear about your goals and if you’re joining the challenge, please let me know– I’d love to support you and cheer you on:)

Filed Under: 2012 Goals, 52 Week Organized Home Challenge Tagged With: , , ,

The Great Purge: Part II

December 7, 2011 2 Comments

I’ve come off my purge high since cleaning out and organizing the hall closet.  I should have taken advantage of the high and moved right on to the next room, but instead I basked in the beauty of the clean hall closet for far too long and now I’m in trouble.  Big trouble.  Self-discipline, where are you?

In two days, most of our new bedroom furniture will be delivered and I have not addressed the black hole which is my bedroom closet and the random items in my bedroom which don’t belong in a bedroom.  Like the desk which houses a myriad of items including, but not limited to, scrapbook supplies (I have completed 3 scrapbook pages since purchasing and receiving a gazillion scrapbook supplies. 3 pages.  I can see my best friend shaking her head now), princess candy from Annalise’s birthday piñata, magazines from 1997-2007, a sewing kit, a roll of undeveloped film (um), stationery and letter-writing tools (I don’t write letters at this desk.  I write them at our desk in our office), 2 fruit bars, 4th of July cookie cutters, and cookbooks.

And then there are those little bits of paper peeking out of the drawers, covering the writing space, floating through the air like leaves in the wind when someone walks by–misfit coupons.  I have all my other coupons under control and filed in my binder so why are these on this desk?  I don’t have an answer for you.

I want to curl up in a ball on the couch and eat Doritos when I think of beginning work on that room.  And I can’t even begin to describe my closet.  Let’s just pretend it doesn’t exist until I have cleaned off and moved the desk.  Baby steps, itty-bitty baby steps.

We have a few errands to run today (do I buy Doritos while we’re out?), but in between those tasks I’ll be working on my bedroom.  I’ll even enter The Room Which Shall Not be Named.  If you call or text me and I don’t reply by, oh, 8 o’clock or so, call someone.  Save me.  And make sure my husband uses hair detangler on Annalise’s hair before brushing it for preschool tomorrow.

Filed Under: The Great Purge Tagged With: ,

Freezer Cooking

December 3, 2011 8 Comments

As I attempt to streamline my household tasks, I’ve committed to making a meal plan each week and freezer cooking plays a vital role in my success.  I don’t do this weekly and sometimes I don’t even get to it at all in a month, but it’s another concept which helps reduce 5 o’clock fridge panic (that’s a real illness–it strikes hard and fast).

For those of you unfamiliar with freezer cooking, it’s pretty self-explanatory and simple–you put together meals that freeze well, stick them in the freezer and pull them out when needed.  Coupled with a meal plan, this can make your week of meals a breeze.  There are many helpful online resources for freezer cooking (it has many names–sometimes called once-a-month-cooking or bulk cooking).  Here are a few websites that I find useful:

Once a Month Mom: This site is dedicated to freezer/once-a-month cooking.  A great resource–Dig around and enjoy!

Tammy’s Recipes: This page on Tammy’s Recipes is a nice peek into freezer cooking.  You can search Tammy’s site for freezer meal tips and non-freezer cooking recipes.  I like that her recipes aren’t out of glossy magazines.  Real food for real families. :)

Life as Mom: This article on freezer cooking basics is helpful especially if you’re just getting started.

Moms by Heart: I recommend this site for those of you who, like me, want to adjust freezer cooking to fit you a bit better.  Freezer cooking takes time, planning and a good deal of effort.  Moms by Heart has addressed this and you might find her freezer cooking style better suits your schedule and needs.

Everything Mom: This page offers useful tips and organizing strategies for your cooking session such as what types of food freeze well and how to package your prepared food for the freezer.

Like I said, since there are dozens and dozens (actually, probably hundreds!) of online resources for freezer cooking ideas, you could spend hours looking at them.  In addition, many of these websites offer strategies, tips, and organizational tools for your freezer cooking adventure–if you feel overwhelmed, you’re not alone!  You don’t need to do it all to be successful.  In fact, I’d recommend choosing just one or two recipes your first time around.  You’ll get a better feel for what works for you and you can carry out new strategies and recipes in your next cooking session.  Take your time getting started and remember–This is supposed to make life easier, not more stressful!

I’d love to share some of my favorite tips and recipes with you soon.  I’ll include my freezer cooking plan on Monday’s Meal Plan Menu.  In the meantime, please feel free to share your ideas with me!  What’s your favorite freezer cooking meal?

Filed Under: Freezer Cooking Tagged With: , , , , , ,
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