7 Ways A Planner Will Organize Your Life

If you don't use a planner to organize your life, then you are missing out! Here's why....

I love planners! Honestly, I don't know how anyone manages to stay organized without them. For as long as I can remember (I think my obsession started in junior high), I have always used some sort of planner. The ones I used were the small calendars, but once I upgraded to a bigger planner (horizontal), I never looked back. It's amazing the difference it makes in keeping me organized  and if you're not already using a planner to organize your life, here are 7 reasons why you should:

 7 Ways a Planner Will Organize Your Life

1. A planner will help you remember your appointments

Most doctor's appointments and dentist appointments are made well in advance (especially for my kids) as well as hair appointments for all of us. My planner helps keep track of these appointments so I am less likely to forget them. 

2. A planner helps keep track of work commitments

As a blogger, I have various commitments that are all due at different times. I keep my blogging schedule in my planner and I have recently started a twitter schedule  that I also keep in my planner. My planner helps me keep track of all these things do that I don't miss a deadline.

3. No more belated birthday wishes

I love how Facebook often reminds of everyone's birthday but what happens when I don't log into Facebook that day? Because of this I have probably sent just as many belated birthday wishes as regular wishes. So, if it's in my planner I can see it in advance and send the birthday card on time or even early.

4. Keep various school activities and events straight

Using my planner for all of daughter's school activities was a life saver this school year. From school pictures, to field trips, to the last day of school, everything was in my planner. I even had her school lunch menu in there as well. 

5. Pay bills

Using my planner for bill payments is an absolute must for me. All of our bills are due on different days so it's nice to be able to check my planner and know what amount is being paid, to who it's being paid to, and on what days. Believe it's useful.

6. Remember past events

I have serious mommy brain and sometimes I can barley remember what I had for dinner the night before much less what year it was that certain events happened. I've saved all of my old planners because they have become like mini diaries to me. It's fun to look up certain things (like my second pregnancy) and reminisce about them.   

7. Piece of mind

There's something about being organized that just brings piece of mind. You don't have to try to remember a million different things because you can open your planner and it's all right there in front of you. Having a planner really makes life in general so much easier. 

How do you organize your life using a planner? 

What To Do When You Are Not Getting Enough Sleep

Raise your hand if are getting enough sleep! Crickets right? I figured! The truth is most people do not get nearly enough sleep. Myself included.

Backstory:

I have a toddler who does not sleep through the night, which means that I am up with her usually 2-3 times almost every night. She goes to bed around 730pm, my oldest goes to bed around 830pm and I try to go to bed around 11pm. This means that two hours after I go to bed then my toddler wakes for the the first time that night. It then takes 1-2 hours to get her back to sleep. This repeats until about 7am the next morning. So this means that I usually get maybe, if i am lucky 1-2 hours of sleep every night. However, there the occasional nights where she does sleep through the night, but let me remind that these night a few and far between.

Because of my lack of sleep I decided to research ways in which I can get more sleep. Here's what I have found to be the most helpful:

What To Do When You Aren't Getting Enough Sleep

In my research I have found that taking a catnap in the early afternoon will make for some of the sleep that is lost at night. They key is to make the catnap brief, by doing this it will improve your alertness, performance, and mood. The short afternoon nap can make up for the loss of one hour of nighttime sleep.

1. Do not nap after dark 

This can trick the body clock into thinking we're down for the night, making it harder to shake off the sleepiness when we wake up. This is somewhat challenging in the short days of December, especially for those who in are a place like Seattle, where the sunset can come as early as 4:18 p.m. 

2. Power up your power nap

Try drinking your post-lunch espresso immediately before you're scheduled to nap. A nap can help clear the brain of the sleep-inducing compound adenosine and gives the coffee just enough time to kick in.

3. Don't over indulge

As most of us know from experience, 10 to 20 minutes hits the sweet spot. Research shows that hat anything longer can put us into the deeper stages of REM sleep—that's when we wake up with a bad case of "sleep inertia," the clinical term for that groggy, where-am-I? sense that makes us feel even worse than we did before we closed our eyes. So, this means that severely sleep deprived may only want limit naptime to only 10 sweet minutes. 

4. Give in to an early bedtime

On those nights when we can barely keep our eyes open it is important to try and go to bed an earlier. A consistent bedtime is important to feeling well-rested, so tuck in early if you must, but don't even think of touching that snooze button. 

What are some tips that you might have to get enough sleep?

Note: Information taken from the following website. http://www.oprah.com/health/how-to-make-up-for-lack-of-sleep-sleep-deprivation-tips#ixzz554ewSj9f

My Laundry Routine

Hi Lovelies! 

Today I wanted to talk about my laundry routine. Grab some coffee, relax, and enjoy!

Laundry is my nemesis. I battle against it every single day and most times it a losing battle. It just keeps coming back and never ends. Never. Never. Never. 

There are several different ways for managing laundry and believe me I have tried all of them. It has taken me years to finally figure out a system that works for my family. 

I try to wash one load a day. Usually this means that I have a mixed load which usually works out great. Now sometimes this works great and other times it doesn't work so well at all. I mean that I wash my one load a day, but the load just sits in the basket for days at a time. And while it's sitting there, usually 6 loads are piled on top of the first one which then equals me having to rummage through the clothes whenever we need something to wear. Then when this routine gets old, I then find the time to fold all of the clothes which usually takes me up to 2 hours to complete. 

As you can see, I am working on the folding part of the laundry routine. We will get there with time. 

Another key to my laundry routine is that I try to the process the night before by gathering all of the clothes at night and then putting them in the washer. This way I get a jump start on my morning routine. 

Like I said, this is still a work in progress and I plan on having this routine down as soon as possible.

Do you have a laundry routine?

30 Things To Do During Our New Normal

I get it. This whole being at home all the time isn't the ideal situation for many people, but we might as well make the most of it, right?

Today's post is all about things to do during this crazy time. Enjoy, spend time with your family, and just make the best of this time.

30 Things To Do During Our New Normal

1. Try out a new skin care  routine

2. Read a new book

3. Walk outside for 30 minutes

4. Put together a 1,000 piece puzzle

5. Start and finish a television series (my favorites are The Walking Dead, Gilmore Girls, and How I Met Your Mother)

6. Try a new exercise that's out of your comfort zone

7. Facetime with a different friend each time

8. Cook a new recipe, learn how to meal prep

9. Have a dance party. This is essential

10.  Listen to an uplifting podcast

11. Start a journal or blog

12. Go through old pictures and share those memories with family and friends

13. Write an actual letter and mail it to a loved one

14. Clean out your closet

15. Or just clean out all the rooms in your house

16. Take a really long bubble bath and don't even feel bad about it

17. Maybe even have a glass of wine with long bubble bath

18. Have a game night

19. Start a garden, mow your lawn, pull weeds, just get outside

20. Rearrange furniture in a room to make it feel like a new space

21. Download a meditation app and use it

22. Bake cookies

23. Declutter your make-up drawer

24. Take a virtual tour (museums, parks, etc)

25. Start planning a vacation

26. Grab take out and make a buffet spread at home

27. Deep clean your fridge

28. Host a virtual Netflix watch party with your friends

29. Have a picnic outside (weather permitting)

30. Learn a new skill

Remember, we are all in this together! Stay home because it saves lives!

Interesting Facts About the Month of April

Hi Lovelies!

Since I am trying to avoid the news right now (mainly for my sanity) I thought I would share some interesting facts about April.

Interesting Facts About the month of April:

1. The birthstone for April is the diamond.

2. The zodiac signs for April are Aries (March 21 - April 19) and Taurus (April 20 - May 20).

3. The birth flower of April is typically the Sweet Pea or the Daisy.

4. Global Child Nutrition Month

5. Humor Month

6. Mathematics Awareness Month

7. The Revolutionary War in America began on April 19, 1775.

8. April 23rd is known as the Feast day of the Patron Saint of England.

9. On April 30, 1975, General Duong Vanh Minh surrendered and the Communist forces captured Saigon which led to the end of the Vietnam War.

10. On April 4, 1818, a flag that contained 1 star for each state and 13 stripes was adopted by Congress.

11. In Fayette, N.Y. on April 6, 1830, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was founded by Joseph Smith.

12. On April 6, 1917 the United States declared war on Germany in World War I.

13. On April 4, 1949, the North Atlantic Treaty was signed.

14. On April 11, 1814, Napoleon Bonaparte was exiled to the island of Elba and he was abdicated as Emperor of the French.

5 Tips For Getting Up Earlier

Getting up earlier isn’t all about getting more done, sometimes it’s about just sitting and reading or listening in quiet or drinking a cup of coffee at the dining room table by myself.  Some days it’s going for a walk around the block and returning before everyone is awake, working on the day’s cleaning tasks, and other days it’s getting caught up on some emails or working on a blog post.  Take the time to journal, plan in your planner, or even work your devotions.  Whatever isn’t getting time during the day, make it your purpose to get up earlier so you can do it.

5 Tips for Getting Up Earlier

1. Start the evening before.  Making this a good, sustainable habit begins the night before. I recommend a clean kitchen at night as one of the things that really makes getting up earlier a little easier.  Why?  You won’t have to wake up to a mess from the day before – you’ve already reset your kitchen.  This is a huge component in keeping up with this habit because you aren’t waking up to work.  You’re waking up to do something that will make your day run more smoothly.

2. Turn off the screens.  Turning off phones and computers and televisions a little earlier is the best way to get yourself ready for bed.  Stop sleeping with your phone – the EMFs (electro and magnetic fields) aren’t good for you and it messes with your natural body rhythms. Get an old-fashioned alarm clock and use that instead of your phone.

3. Go to bed when you’re tired.  Stop fighting through the tiredness and just go to bed. If you are used to staying up late, try going to bed earlier and see how you feel.  See if it makes a difference in your day.  Everyone needs to sleep but everyone’s perfect amount of sleep is different.  Make your goal 6-8 hours and experiment to find what amount makes you feel the best during the day.

4. Get your morning drink going.  Coffee, lemon water, a smoothie, tea – whatever you drink first thing in the morning, get that going.  While I’m waiting for my coffee to brew I empty the dish drainer that sits on my counter by the sink.  This is a small, but integral step in starting the day off well because the sink and drainer are empty and ready for dishes.

5. Start small.  If you want to get up at 5 am but you’re getting up at 7am, don’t just jump into the two hour time difference.  Set your alarm for 6am for a week or so and go to bed earlier.  When you’re ready to make the adjustment to 5am work in 15-30 minute increments over a week or two.  If you like the results, keep going to bed a little earlier and waking up earlier until you’ve formed this habit.

 What are some your tips for getting up earlier in the morning? Please share you tips in the comments below!

April 2020 Goals

Well, it's finally April, which means Spring is here. That means it's time to set some new goals. Now, this months goals are going to look a tad different from last month's goals due to circumstances that we cannot control. Everything and everyone is pretty much on lockdown until the end of the month.

Enough about that, let's get into this month's goals!

 

1. Read at least one book (or even 2). I have two books saved on my phone that I am reading at the moment plus I am re-reading Flowers in the Attic and Petals on the Wind ( I love these two books!). Hopefully I can get through these this month. I mean there isn't much to do right now since my town is pretty much on lockdown (shelter at home orders were given March 31st.)

2. Work editorial calendar Spring content.

3. Schedule blog posts for this month

4. Post more consistently on instagram and learn how to do insta-stories.

5. Set up a twitter account for my blog

6. Schedule posts for my Facebook page and update it more often.

7. Drink more water.

8. Find some virtual tours for the kids (museums, parks,etc.)

9. Spend some time outside so we don't go stir crazy staying inside all day every day.

10. Try not to stress over what I cannot control.

11. Figure out and implement a new schedule for all of us. 

What some of your goals for April? Please share in the comments below!

Happy Homemaker Monday {3/30/2020}

Good afternoon Friends! I hope everyone is doing well. We are on day #16 of social distancing/self isolating. So far we have watched Frozen 2 about 1,000 times, we have had many dance parties, played every board game the we have, put puzzles together, learned some new card tricks, and we have been playing outside whenever the weather allows it. So far we are all doing okay. I have had a few breakdowns (mainly because I worry about not be able to feed my kids), I cry for a few minutes, take some deep breaths, put on some of my favorite music (80s rock is my favorite) and have a dance party in the living room with the kids. It's the only way I know how to deal with everything that is going on in the world.


This is something that I know we will get through. It's tough, but we will get through it one day at time.

Anyway, let's get to Happy Homemaker Monday! Shall we?

Weather:

It looks like we have quite a few rainy days this week. I sure the warm weather from last week.

Monday: Rain 55
Tuesday: Sunny with clouds 66
Wednesday: Mostly Sunny 72
Thursday: Cloudy 76
Friday: Rain 61

Saturday: Partly cloudy 71
Sunday: Rain 71

On the breakfast plate this morning:

French toast with some fruit

Outside my window:

It's raining at the moment with some dark scary clouds in the sky.

Right now I am:

Sitting at the dining room table working on this post and watching my youngest play with her stuffed animals in the living room

On today's to do list:

Laundry
Clean the bathrooms
Mop
Steam carpets

On the menu this week:

Monday: Hamburgers and chips

Tuesday: Salisbury steak, mashed potatoes, veggies, rolls
Wednesday: Leftovers
Thursday: Baked potatoes, veggies
Friday: Pizza with breadsticks
Saturday: Creamy chicken with rice and veggies

Sunday: Beans, fried potatoes, cornbread


Currently reading:

Small little things by Jodi Picoult

Big Little Lies

On the TV today:

We are going to watch some more movies on Disney+ and we will be catching up on The Masked Singer on Hulu. I am also watching some older shows on Hulu (America's Next Top Model, BH 90210, Full House)

On my mind at the moment: If the weather gets real bad, you know Tornado season is coming, where are we supposed to go since we don't have a cellar. Just something else to worry about, I guess. 

Inspirational Quote:

Trying Not To Break Down

I'm still having trouble processing everything that is going on in the world. It's hard to explain to my daughter why she can't go to school or even play with her friends. It breaks my heart when my kids get upset or even cry when they can't eat what they want to eat. Grocery shopping has become stressful and reminds of the supply runs that are taken on The Walking Dead.

The four of us have been social distancing for the past week. Which means we have been at home just being together. It's hard. I break down every now and then. I have a good cry, take a deep breath, listen to some music (80s rock is my favorite), and have a dance party with my girls in the living room.

It's a difficult time right now, but I know we will get through this and come out stronger than ever. We just have to stay home because it does save lives.

Good night and I will "see" you tomorrow!

Happy Homemaker Monday {3/23/3020}

Good morning Friends! I hope everyone is doing well. We are on day #9 of social distancing/self isolating. So far we have watched Frozen 2 about 1,000 times, we have had many dance parties, and we have been playing outside whenever the weather allows it. So far we are all doing okay. I have had a few breakdowns, I cry for a few mintues, take some deep breaths, put on some of my favorite music (80s rock is my favorite) and have a dance party in the living room with the kids. It's the only way I know how to deal with everything that is going on in the world.

Oh, and we wash our hands a million times a day!

This is something that I know we will get through. It's tough, but we will get through it one day at time.

Anyway, let's get to Happy Homemaker Monday! Shall we?

Weather:

This week's temps are going to beautiful!

Monday: Sunny with clouds 72
Tuesday: Sunny 77
Wednesday: Sunny 81
Thursday: Sunny with clouds 89
Friday: Partly cloudy 87

Saturday: Partly cloudy 65
Sunday: Sunny 70

On the breakfast plate this morning:

Homemade pancakes with some fruit

Outside my window:

Sunny and beautiful outside

Right now I am:

Sitting at the dining room table working on this post and watching my youngest play with her stuffed animals in the living room

On today's to do list:

Laundry
Clean the bathrooms
Wash sheets and blankets
Mop
Steam carpets

On the menu this week:

I'm still working on the menu. 

Monday: Pizza and breadsticks
Tuesday: Beans, fried potatoes, and cornbread
Wednesday: Leftovers
Thursday: Chicken broccoli aflfredo, veggies
Friday:
Saturday: 
Sunday: 

Currently reading:

Small little things by Jodi Picoult

Cinderella Murder by Mary Higgins Clark (still reading, but almost done)

On the TV today:

We are going to watch some more movies on Disney+ and we will be catching up on The Masked Singer on Hulu

Inspirational Quote:

4 Reasons to Start a Bullet Journal

If you've ever talked to me at all over the last few months, you've probably seen the blue and white striped notebook that never leaves my side. Now, even though I'm not keeping a diary or keeping a journal of all the things that I hear and see throughout the day that blue and white striped notebook is still very important. That's because I've recently put myself into the family of bullet journalists.

Bullet journaling is a fancy way of saying "I'm making my own planner out of to do lists and habit trackers". Now, don't get me wrong, I loved the Life Planner and the Lily Pulitzer planner. It's just that neither planner worked for me. Taking a notebook and a pen and designing my own layouts is what has started working for me.

If you are finding that it's difficult to keep your life on track and regular planners are just too hard to keep up with, then here are four reasons why you should start your own bullet journal.

4 Reasons to Start a Bullet Journal

1. You can make it how ever you like.

Even though there are general guidelines for bullet journals, ultimately the journal is something you create and work on until you're pleased with what you have created.

 2. It's just a bunch of "to do lists".

To do lists are a whole lot more satisfying to check off then just writing your tasks in your planner.

3. You can keep track of anything and everything.

I tend to keep track of meal plans, books that I want to read, movies and tv shows that I want to watch, habits, bucketlists, routines, and cleaning tasks.

4. It will definitely keep you organized.

Even though I still use a planner, my bullet journal also helps me stay organized.

Do you use a planner or a bullet journal?

How To Make Time For Each Other (when life gets crazy)

It can be hard to make time for each other as life gets busier. You get married, have kids, buy a house, and things just add up. When you do have free time there are a million things to get done. But relationships have to come first. They have to be the foundation for everything else. 

I want to share how to make time for each other when the rest of life can get crazy.

How to Make Time for Each Other (when life gets crazy)

• Schedule it in: Some people need to schedule their workouts in so there is nothing wrong with scheduling in date nights or time together. We make it a point to put date nights or potential date nights on the calendar. We are far less likely to skip them or cancel them.
• Unplug: When you are spending time together, put the phones away. This is something we are constantly working on being better at. The social media will always be there.
• Do a project: Maybe you need to organize a closet, or paint a bedroom or something else around the house. Doing a project together is a great way to spend time as a couple.
• Take advantage of days off: My husband teaches psychology part time at a local University so hours a very flexible and I work for myself so I can take a day off whenever. 
• At home date nights: When you have kids, an at home date night is sometimes the best you can do. While we make going out on dates a priority it just doesn’t always work. We’ve had to cancel dates because the kids have been sick. So cooking a meal together, or even picking up take out is fun. We have done puzzles, watched movies, played games, or just talked.

These are just a few examples of how to make time for each other. I would love to know if you have anything you’d add?

Friday Favorites {3/20/2020}

Hi Lovelies,

Oh man oh man!! Am I glad it's Friday. My biggest little celebrates her 10th birthday on Monday. She is growing up so quickly, time needs to slow down! This year we will not be having a birthday party for her due to the Argentine situation in our state. Everything is closed so we will be celebrating at home with her favorite meal (chicken tenders and mac and cheese) and her birthday cake. Hopefully once everything is back to normal we can have a birthday party for her.

Anyway, here is this week's edition of Friday favorites: 


Favorite throw back: Homemade Chef Boyardee Beef Ravioli.  This was one of my favorite meals to eat as a kid. I'm so excited to have finally found a recipe for this!!

Favorite must have:  Chocolate cloud cupcakes. When I saw these I knew that I had to make them. I love chocolate and anything chocolate filled.

Favorite dip:  Peanut butter S'mores cheesecake dip. OMG!!! When I stumbled upon this recipe I laughed out loud at how insanely delicious this looked!!

Favorite bite: Italian meatballs.  No words needed!!! 

Favorite funny: 25 Husbands that must be stopped. I laughed until I cried reading through this.

Favorite sip: Slow cooked spiced white hot chocolate.

Have  a great weekend!!

Motherhood is.......

To me, it is---

- waking up every time she makes a noise on the monitor and find it nearly impossible to go back to sleep.

- finding new and creative ways to get her to eat because she is such a picky eater. 

- sneaking into your child's room when they are sleeping to watch them dream.

- kissing boo boos and telling them it will be okay.

- cleaning up the pile of toys and books only to have them scattered all over the floor five minutes later and realizing that it is okay and to just go with the flow.

- crying at random times because you hope you are not screwing them up.

- going shopping only to find yourself spending money on clothes for your kid instead of on yourself without even realizing it.

- loving another so unconditionally and knowing that you are willing to sacrifice anything just make sure that their needs are being met. 

What is motherhood to you?

How to Pre Plan For A Successful Month

The start of a new month can mean many things for some of us.  For me, the feeling is like the start of a new year.  I like to evaluate what I´ve accomplished and what I need to work on.  Before writing out my daily to-do´s all over the place like a crazy woman, I like to do a session of pre-planning.  Which leads us to the question of what exactly is pre-planning and how can it help us create a successful month?

PRE-PLANNING: PLANNING TO PLAN

Pre-planning is obtaining the information you need to anticipate and prepare for the future, before solidifying the actual action or scheme of doing something.

It is setting up all your upcoming events and scheduling your tasks around them.  There is a short but sweet process I like to go about at the beginning of each month and I thought that perhaps it could be interesting or helpful to some of you.

It is true that sometimes things don´t go as planned but if you dedicate a few minutes to work around your ideas you can create a general outlook of everything to best accomplish your goals.

Why is it beneficial?
 
You will be focused exactly on what you have to do because you´ll have everything mapped out and ready to go.  Consequently you won´t waste un-necessary time trying to schedule appointments and remembering important dates.

Reaching your goals will become much easier once you have a clear  plan and the ways to fulfill it. Thanks to this process you´ll become aware of your strengths and weaknesses.

WRITE THINGS DOWN

Take a few minutes to sit down and brainstorm the upcoming month.  I like using a trigger list to brain dump all of my thoughts, sort of like creating a big master to-do list.  Don´t worry about it being pretty or organized.  You can even dedicate a separate notebook for this or a plain sheet of paper to write out everything and anything that comes up in your head (this can include tasks, notes, reminders, appointments, etc.). This is the moment when you shouldn't leave anything out, even the simplest thought like buying butter at the market or that your knee hurts should be written down.

This exercise comes in great to make your brain feel a lot less cluttered.  So go ahead and schedule a few of these sessions if you need them.  Personally I only do them once a month, but if I´m having one of those days where I feel like my head is going to explode from stress, working on a brain dump always makes me feel better.

DEFINE YOUR PURPOSE AND FOCUS OF THE MONTH

Once you have relieved your brain of all those pestering to-dos and struggles, you should now have a clear head to really consider and identify what success will look like.

I´m not talking about earning more money or getting a promotion at your job, I´m talking about thinking of that one thing that you really want to accomplish but have been putting off.  This can be ANYTHING, from organizing your office space, to walking 40.000 steps in 30 days, to painting wall art, to reading 10 books, ANYTHING.  What may seem like something silly to someone else can be a huge milestone for you.

So think about what you want to focus during the month and write it down in BIG BOLD LETTERS. If your goal requires several steps, make a separate to-do list, or even create a mind-map about your mission.

At this point grab your planner and open it to your monthly spread.

ORGANIZE YOUR IDEAS INTO PLANS

Now you´re all set to start organizing and grouping all those thoughts, ideas and tasks you wrote out during your braindump.  Batch similar tasks together, think about how much time each task will take, re-write them in order of importance, see if there are things you can delegate to someone else.

Don´t forget about your month´s focus and how you´ll be accomplishing it.

I find it easier to organize my to-do´s around what´s happening each month.  For example, I have a future log at the beginning of my planner where I write out the holidays and events that are taking place (national festivities, birthdays, movie/book premieres, etc.).  I schedule all those things first in my monthly calendar to get a general overview of the time I´ll have free and then distribute everything else around those events.

The key is to PRIORITIZE what matters most.

You don´t have to schedule every single to-do from your brain dump.  I´m sure there are a ton of ideas that can be put on hold for next month´s pre-planning session, so don´t feel obligated to find a spot for everything.  Though if you do that´s awesome and totally okay too.

SOLIDIFY THE ACTION

Woohoo! Now your month is ready to tackle and take action on all you've pre-planned. Get ready? Set? DO! DO! DO!

As you can see the process is very very simple, and only requires you to create to-do lists and sort them out by order of importance, scheduling them on to your planner with a sticky note or pencil, in case you need to move it around later on. Having the basics in your planner is key so you know what´s happening.  I can assure you that just the act of writing it all down will already work wonders for some of you (I know it does for me!), your head will clear just a little bit and give you space for other things.  I´d love to hear how you all like to prepare your planners for a successful month, so please let me know your process in the comments below or if you found this post helpful and it inspired some new ideas to incorporate to your system.  Let me know!  

Talk to you soon!

Happy Homemaker Monday {3/9/2020}

Good morning Friends! I Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend. We the weekend at home just relaxing and spending time together as a family, reading, and watching movies. We did have a rainy Sunday, which meant we just stayed in and did some projects around the house and I worked in my planners. It was a great weekend.

Enough with the chatting let's get to today's post!

Weather:

This week's temps will be very warm with some rain thrown over the weekend. 

Monday: Sunny with clouds 77
Tuesday: Sunny with clouds 76
Wednesday: Sunny with clouds 81
Thursday: Sunny with clouds 83
Friday: Rain 58
Saturday: Rain and62
Sunday: Rain and 63

On the breakfast plate this morning:

Just had some waffles with a glass of milk

Outside my window:

Sunny and beautiful outside

Right now I am:

Sitting at the dining room table working on this post and watching my youngest play with her stuffed animals in the living room

On today's to do list:

Laundry
Clean the bathrooms
Wash sheets and blankets
Mop
Steam carpets

On the menu this week:

Monday: Spaghetti with garlic bread
Tuesday: Chicken fried steak bites with mashed potatoes and veggies
Wednesday: Leftovers
Thursday: Chicken and rice with veggies
Friday: Pizza and breadsticks with salads
Saturday: 
Sunday: Beans and cornbread with fried potatoes

Currently reading:

The Outsider by Stephen King. I am determined to finish this book even if I have to read the rest of it online. I will finish it by the end of the year!

Cinderella Murder by Mary Higgins Clark (still reading, but almost done)

On the TV today:

We are going to watch some more movies on Disney+ and we will be catching up on The Masked Singer on Hulu

Inspirational Quote:

March 2020 Goals

Happy March! Hard to believe we are almost through winter. I decided to sit down this morning and organize my March (in my planner) and to jot down some goals that I want to accomplish.

So here's what I'm planning for March in the terms of goals:

1. Implement a cleaning routine

In order to accomplish this I will be following The Flylady. I have seen this on facebook and it seems to be working for most. I just hope I can stick with it this time. I have tried a few times and have just given up. This time I will stick with it and my house will be clean and decluttered by the end of the month. 

2. Plan A's birthday party.

We have the place reserved for the day, I have activities planned and I know what type of cake I am going to make. She is having a Minecraft theme thus year. 

3. Have a fun spring break.

We need to plan a fun trip and I will be celebrating A's birthday during this week as well. Her party will be the week after. 

4. Read at least one book (maybe 2).

I have quite a few books that I have that just haven't taken the time to read. Hopefully I can at least get through one book (maybe 2) this month.

5. Work on editorial calendar for Spring content.

6. Schedule blog posts for this month. 

7. Post more consistently on intragram and increase my followers.

8. Set up a twitter account for my blog.

9. Schedule posts for my blog's facebook and keep it updated.

10. Figure out how to use Intagram stories. 

Well, those are my goals for March. What goals do you have planned for March?

Easy Healthy Snacks

I am such a snacker, specially late at night. I also have a weakness for salty foods! I try to go towards easy healthy snacks because I know I will snack so why not make them healthy?

 A few of my favorite easy healthy snacks are:

Popcorn: We love air popped popcorn. It's one of our go to snacks in the evening. We just add a little bit of butter and a little bit if salt. I know not too healthy, but we eat healthy most of the time so this is an indulgence for us.


Crackers with Baby bell light cheese: This is a go to recently. I get Ritz crackers Pretzels from Sam's Club and Baby Bell light cheese and eat them together. My kids love this as an afterschool snack.

Horizon String Cheese: I love it, it's quick and easy to grab and another thing we always have in our house.

Greek Yogurt with Berries/Granola: I am a huge Greek yogurt lover. I put it in my smoothies and love it for snacks with granola and berries. Specifically blueberries. Yum. Bonus blueberries are amazing for you.

Fruit Smoothies: This is a daily must have. We try to drink one every day. It's such an easy, quick breakfast as well as an after school snack. We add different fruits like strawberries, blueberries, pineapple chunks, peaches, and mango. We add some greek vanilla yogurt, and some apple juice. These are so healthy and so easy to make. We love them.


What are your easy healthy snacks that you love?

5 Simplre Ways to Stay Organized

Lately I've been thinking alot about habits. I'm realizing more and more that habits are so important because they are what we resort to when we are going through the motions of our day. Forming good habits and sticking to them over time can build phenomenal long term results.

Today I thought I would share 5 habits that I've either gotten into already or am trying to get into that will make life more productive. These are all easy things to d that I think will help my days run more smoothly.

5 Simple Ways to Stay Organized

1. Make your bed. I never used to make my bed, but I quickly found out that If I made my bed my day was more productive. It gives a more positive start to my day.

2. Clean the kitchen and quickly straighten the house. Cleaning the kitchen and straightening the house are the two things that I strive to get done before going to bed each night. Like making the bed a neat and tidy house before going to bed puts me in the right mind set for keeping the rest of life organized. I do love waking up to a neat and tidy house.

3. Use your wait time. I used to be good at this before I had a cell phone. It I was heating up something in the microwave, I would use those minutes to wash dishes or wipe down the counters. I am amazed at what I can get done when I am waiting on something to finish in the oven when I commit to using my time wisely.

4. Make your to do list. I a good to do list. I mean, who doesn't? Right? I love checking things off and sometimes I make them just so I can check things off of them. 

5. Get some sleep. Sleep has everything to do with productivity. My natural inclination is to stay up as late as possible to get things done. Then the next day I'm tired and unproductive. Since realizing this I try to get to bed earlier so that I can get enough sleep.

So, there are my 5! What would you add to the list?

7 Things To Do On Sunday For A More Productive Week

Hi Lovelies!

Imagine if you will.... it's Monday morning and you can barely drag yourself out of bed. You're exhausted and you are getting ready for work barely making it out of the door on time. You forgot to pack your lunch so you will have to grab some fast food on your lunch hour. Your desk is a mess and your email box is full. It's going to be a long day. This sounds familiar, doesn't it? We have all been there, but it doesn't have to be that way. If you take advantage of your Sundays to prepare for the week, Mondays can be a lot easier! Here are seven things you can do on Sunday for a more productive week:

1. For thing's first.... think of Sunday as the first day of the week instead of the last. Most people tend to think of Sunday as a day of rest, instead think of Sunday as the first chance to prepare yourself for the week, This one simple little thought will make Monday seem less overwhelming.

2. Clean out your email inbox. If you work a typical 9 to 5 job, chances are most of the emails you receive Friday night through Sunday are personal and junk mail as opposed to work email. Clean these out on Sunday night. By doing this it will help you jump into the work week more quickly.

3. Write a to do list for the week and then begin to tackle it.

4. If you work from home clean off your desk on Sunday so you start the week off with a clean desk. Put anything you will need for Monday's projects front and center.

5. If you are a blogger, schedule your social media posts for the week. Now, I haven't started this yet mainly because I'm still finding the best free social media scheduler. I hope to start this sometime next week.

6. Clean the house. There's is nothing worse that starting the week with a messy house. I don't know about anyone else, but I am much more relaxed when my house is clean.

7. Meal plan and meal prep for the week. I tend to one big shopping trip at the beginning of the month. So, I usually have a detailed menu plan for the month. I still shop at least once a week for the essentials like milk, bread, and eggs and some fruits and veggies. It make all the difference when it comes to meal times.

What do you do on Sundays to have a more productive week?

Mom Inspiration

Hello Friends.

I usually have a currently post up by now, but today has been a doosy of a day. Plenty of mom guilt over here. It's just been an up and down kind of day, with the dishes piling up, the kids fighting, and messes that need to be dealt with.

So, for today's post I am sharing some much needed mom inspiration.

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Good night everyone!!

10 Daily Sanity Saving Habits for Moms

Hi Lovelies and welcome back to the blog. Today's post is all about daily sanity saving habits for moms. Now, some of these I took directly from my mom and some I figured out on my own. Either way all these habits are helpful in saving a mom's sanity.

So, let me share,

10 Daily Sanity Saving Habits for Moms

1. Have quiet time. For me, this is about an hour before my kids wake up. I sit and work on my bible study, answer emails, or just sit and enjoy the quiet.

2. Prepare the night before. What part of the morning is the most stressful for you? Take that one thing you dread and do a little prep for it the night before. Lay out the kids clothes, shower, prepare breakfast, do baths, or just preset the coffee pot. 

3. Do one load of laundry every day. This really helps in keeping "Mount Washmore" at bay. Just remember to fold and put away. Let's be honest, sometimes I forget that step. Don't we all?

4. Clean as you go. Giving yourself plenty of grace, clean up as you go. If you make dinner, wash those dishes right then. If you see a million crumbs under the high chair, grab a broom and do a two-second sweep.

5. Play with your kids. Slow down and enjoy your little people. Offer to play a game or build blocks. Do something that you know will bring a smile to their face.

6. Do one large chore. Knock out one of the bigger chores everyday. Clean a bathroom, vacuum the floors, organize a drawer,..etc.

7. Have kid clean up time. Instead of the house being a tornado throughout the entire day, choose a couple times a day for them to clean up their messes. A good schedule might be everyday before lunch and then again before bedtime.

8. Meal plan. Save yourself the stress of picking meals every few hours and plan them out. Not only will this be a time saver but a money saver as well.

9. Be thankful. There is always something to be thankful for. Let gratitude drive your attitude and actions throughout your day.

10. Have a regular bedtime for your kids. Kids love routine, even if they fight it sometimes. Make your routine as lengthy and as fun as you want, but get the munchkins to bed so you can recoup and have some quality time to yourself or with your spouse in the evenings.

What is an essential daily habit for you?

10 Ways to Practice Self Care

Many of us want to take care of ourselves, but we have no idea where to start. I'm on of those people. I want to take of myself but I just don't know what to do. I decided a few a days ago to do some research on this particular topic and I found these ten simple ways to, for lack of a better phrase, take care of yourself.

10 Ways to Practice Daily Self Care

1. Eat healthy foods like fruits and veggies.

2. Practice yoga. Stretch and concentrate on your breathing. You will feel better, I promise

3. Take a bath. Soaking in the tub soothes your muscles and relaxes you. Enjoy it you deserve it.

4. Celebrate the small changes. Celebrate turning in an assignment early or being there when a friend needed you.

5. Get 10 hours of sleep.

6. Walk outside. The fresh air does wonders for body, mind, and soul

7. Take a personal day.

8. Write a gratitude list.

9. Let go of unwanted things.

10. Meditate

What some of the ways that you practice self care? 

10 Tips For A Clean Home

You can drastically stretch the time between weekly and daily cleaning just by following these 10 simple tips for a clean home. 

1. Make your bed

As the focal point of the bedroom, an unmade bed can make the whole room look messy. By making the bed, the room instantly looks tidy. Strive to do this every day, it makes a world of difference.

2. Empty the dishwasher each morning

If you have ever timed yourself then you know that emptying the dishwasher takes only about 5 minutes. Empty the dishwasher while the coffee is brewing or while the kids are getting ready for school. An empty dishwasher lets you put breakfast dishes in so they don't pile up in the sink all morning.

3. Clean up after each meal or snack

Dishes, pots and pans, food containers and spills all make your kitchen look messy since you already emptied your dishwasher. Load dishes after every meal or snack and then wipe down your counters with a homemade all purpose cleaner.

4. Do a load of laundry daily

No one wants to spend their weekend doing laundry and you won't have to if you do a load everyday.  Can't decided what to wash first? Use a laundry sorting hamper and grab the one that has the most clothes. Worried about mildew? Use your washing machine's delayed start (if your machine has one) so that the load is finished when you get home and transfer to the dryer.

 5. Wipe your sinks and faucets

Toothpaste spatters and hairs in the sink look gross. Food spills in the kitchen eventually stink. Grab a disinfecting wipe and spend a few minutes cleaning the sinks and faucets before you leave for work in the morning. Or use a microfiber cloth and a daily sink spray to clean, disinfect, and shine your sink as you go.

6. Sort and recycle paper right away
  
Keep papers from piling up on the kitchen island and dining table by dealing with the mail when you walk in the door. Run junk mail through the shredder, then put bills and letters in your mail sorter to pay or answer.

7. Use floor mats at every exterior door.

Even if you can’t train your family to not wear shoes in the house (which really reduces household dust) you can keep some of the dirt out by placing floor mats both inside and outside of each exterior door. Vacuum or shake the mats outside every few days.

8. Tidy counters before bed

Before you head to bed give the kitchen a quick glance and put away any clutter. Wipe the counters down with an all purpose disinfecting spray.

9. Nitpick your carpet.

We’ve all heard that we should vacuum high-traffic areas at least every other day, but not everyone has the time or energy for that. Get in the habit of looking over your floor and picking up small messes (cat hair, scraps of paper, etc.) between regular, weekly vacuuming and it will look nicer all week.

10. Run a kitchen sweeper or sweep the kitchen floors nightly 

Let’s face it, brooms and dustpans are a hassle and, thanks to their cords, vacuums aren’t much better. Use a multi-surface sweeper each night to pick up crumbs and pet hair from the kitchen floor so your kitchen always looks company-ready.

Performing these tips to keeping a clean house takes only a few minutes a day but they’ll keep your house looking constantly clean and make your regular, deeper cleaning tasks much easier.

What are some of your tips for a cleaner home? Please share in the comments below!

Jake Ryan, Electric Youth, and Sweet Valley High: All Things 80s

Hi Friends! 

I have been taking a trip down memory lane and loving every minute of it! As some of you know I am an 80s baby through and through. It was a time of mismatched socks, scrunchies, feuds between pop princesses, and of course the ultimate boy band, New Kids on the Block. Those were some of the best days. So, today's post is dedicate to some of my favorite 80s memories. 

(1) Putting plastic charms on every possible accessory and knowing that each charm had its own special meaning.

(2) You knew being a rock star with a secret identity was the best job ever!

 Also, the life lessons Jem taught you:

1. It’s OK if your man cheats on you, as long as it’s with your secret alter ego.

2. Sometimes it’s way more fun to be the villain (looking at you, Pizzazz).

3. That anything can be solved by pressing down on your earring and saying, “Showtime, Synergy!”

(3) The importance of always nailing the perfect sideways ponytail.

(4) The smell of Electric Youth.

(5) How Jake Ryan is still your perfect man.

(6) Knowing that Over Our Heads was the best fictional store to ever exist.

(7) Watching these movies over and over again.

(8)  You went through, like, one Sweet Valley High book a day.

(9) You needed to a SWATCH watch to match every outfit.

(10) Making something in your Easy-Bake Oven was your favorite way to spend a Friday night.

(11)  The style icon that was Denise Huxtable.

(12)  Wanting to paint your room like Punky Brewster’s

(13)  And totally wanting that badass sofa chair from My Two Dads.

(14)  The horrible smell jelly bracelets left after you wore them all day…

(15)  …but knowing that these smelled way worse:

(16)  Drooling in front of your TV on 21 Jump Street night. 

(17) You looked forward to ABC Afterschool Specials and felt sort of edgy watching them.

(18)  Sitting in your room for hours poring over Teen Beat, SuperTeen, Bop, and Tiger Beat.

(19)  You loved NKOTB and had memorabilia mostly of your favorite one in the group.

(20)  The importance of the Slam book.

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I hope you enjoyed my little trip down memory lane. What are some of your favorite memories?