Organizing your Evening Routine

Happy Thursday to you! Only a few weeks left of our book. I can hardly believe it!

 

If you are just joining us, we have been getting organized using Jennifer Ford Berry's Organize Now book.  

 

It has some great info and tips on organizing various parts of our life and home. You can see past posts here:

Week 1 about Organizing Your Mind and Life Vision HERE,

Week 2 about Organizing Your Priorities HERE,

Week 3 about Organizing Your Schedule HERE

Week 4 about Organizing Your Cleaning Schedule HERE.

Week 5 about Organizing Your Personal Information HERE. 

Week 6 about Organizing Your Finances HERE. 

      Week 7 about Organizing Your Bill-paying System HERE.

        Week 8 about Organizing Your Receipts and Taxes HERE. 

Week 9 about Organizing Your Files HERE

                          Week 10 about Organizing your Magazines and Newspapers HERE.

                                               Week 11 about Organizing Your Email HERE

                                                Week 12 about Organizing Your Mail HERE

                                         Week 13 about Organizing Your Child's Toys HERE.

Week 14 about Organizing Your Crafts HERE.

Week 15 about Organizing Your Photographs HERE.

Week 16 about Organizing Your Purse or Wallet HERE. 

 Week 17 about Organizing Your Vehicle HERE.

                                                  Week 18 about Organizing Your Pet HERE.

Week 19 about Organizing Your Books, CDs and DVDs HERE.

Week 20 about Organizing Your Entryway or Mudroom HERE.

                        Week 21 about Organizing Your Family Room or Living Room HERE.

Week 22 about Organizing Your Kitchen Countertops HERE.

Week 23 about Organizing the Kitchen Cabinets HERE.

Week 24 about Organizing the Pantry HERE. 

Week 25 about Organizing the Refrigerator HERE.

Week 26 about Organizing the recipes HERE.

Week 27 about Organizing the dining room HERE.

Week 28 about Organizing the Laundry Room HERE.

Week 29 about Organizing the Bathroom HERE

Week 30 about Organizing the Medicine Cabinet HERE.

Week 31 about Organizing Your Child's Clothes and Closet HERE.

Week 32 about Organizing Your Child's Memorabilia HERE.

Week 33 about Organizing Your Child's Bedroom HERE.

Week 34 about Organizing Your Bedroom Closet HERE

Week 35 about Organizing Your Memorabilia HERE

Week 36 about Organizing Your Master Bedroom HERE

Week 37 about Organizing Your Jewelry, Accessories and Purses HERE.

Week 38 about Organizing your Home Office HERE 

Week 39 about Organizing the Linen Closet HERE.

Week 40 about Organizing the Basement HERE.

Week 41 about Organizing the Attic HERE.

Week 42 about Organizing the Garage HERE.

Week 43 about Organizing the Yard and Garden HERE.

Week 44 about Organizing Your Holiday HERE.

Week 45 about Organizing Your Party HERE

Week 46 about Organizing Your Trip HERE. 

Week 47 about Organizing Your Move HERE.

Week 48 about Organizing Your Back To School Time HERE

Week 49 about Organizing Your Pregnancy HERE 
Week 50 about Organizing Your Nursery HERE

Week 51 about Organizing Your Family's Safety Plan HERE 

Week 52 about Organizing After a Loss HERE

Week 53 about Organizing Your Morning Routine HERE

 

Last week we talked about the morning routine so today we are talking about the evening routine. This is a nice part of my day. I love to cook so I enjoy making dinners (on most nights!) and then my husband comes home. So it is always nice to have some family time and time when I can take a little break as he spends time with  the boys. My husband is great with taking care of baths, which allows me some quiet time to get the dishes done and kitchen cleaned. I know, those aren't the most enjoyable tasks, but it is some much more enjoyable when I can do it by myself without distraction:) It helps me to recharge a bit. Then we share getting the kids to bed and have a little time together. Sometimes my husband has to go back to work so I take that time to either relax or get some of my own work done.

 

I always try to read a little before bed. I have some spiritual books that I like or scripture. It always calms me before bed and I feel more relaxed and sleep better after.

 

This Week's Goals:

 

1.  Make a list of all things each family member needs to do in the evenings. Figure out how much time it takes for each task. Remember to put relaxation time on the list so you have time to unwind from your day. Kids need this too when they get home from school.

 

2. Make family dinner time consistent and a priority. Try to have dinner at the same time every evening when possible.

 

3. Determine a good bed time for everyone in your household. Subtract the time from when you need to wake up. Most adults need 7-8 hours of sleep and children more depending on their age. Don't you just feel so much better after getting a full night's rest? I know I do!

 

4. Once you have determined dinner and bedtime, arrange the other things in our evening routine around those times and around weekly scheduled activities like sporting events or music lessons. Put a schedule up where everyone can see it. Try to not put too many outside activities in your weekly routine. Jennifer says that children enjoy their childhoods more when they have some free time to just play and be kids. Allow them to participate in activities that they really love, not everything offered to them.

 

Tips:

 

1. Ask your family what the best part of their day was and also the worst part. This is great to do during family dinner time and helps to keep communication lines open. Be sure to turn off your cell phones and TV during family time. Keep yourself free of distractions and help your kids to know they are first.

 

2. Give your children a distraction-free zone to do homework in. Turn off TV, cell phones, computers, etc so they can concentrate.

 

Do you have a good evening routine to share? Any tips? Would love to hear!

 

There are only 2 weeks left of our series! Next week we will talk about organizing your grocery shopping. Meal planning will follow. Any ideas for our next blogging series? Please let me know what you would like to see.

 

Thanks for reading and please visit me on Facebook soon! Would love to connect with you there.

 

Have a great day!

 

Rebecca    

Family Picture Updates

I realized that I am over due for some family picture updates. The days go so fast with the kids and they are growing up! We had a blast with them over the holidays. They are so much fun and crack us up everyday with the cute things they say and do. Here are some pictures from the past months. Enjoy!

with grandpa C before Halloween

with grandma C

with cousin Jessie at Thanksgiving

with Uncle Dan in Wisconsin

with grandpa T

Benjamin with grandma T

at the Purdue Christmas parade

walking in daddy's shoes

at the purdue union enjoying the huge tree and gingerbread house

pictures a little out of order - at the tree farm cutting our first tree down!

too cold to go out so we brought the snow in!

at the childrens museum in Milwaukee after Christmas

with cousin rachael at christmas in WI

at the Train Expo in Indy

Thanks for taking a look! Have a great weekend!

Rebecca

Organizing Your Morning Routine

It's Thursday again! And we are on the final stretch of the organizing book. It has been so helpful to me this past year. How about for you?

 

Sorry I have been a bit MIA with blogging this past week. I have been really busy with the launch of the Shaklee 180 program and it has been a Huge success so far! There is still time to join us in our Transformation Challenge so if you or someone you know has weight loss on their goal list, contact me today for the details. Exciting stuff!!

 

If you are just joining us, we have been getting organized using Jennifer Ford Berry's Organize Now book.  

 

It has some great info and tips on organizing various parts of our life and home. You can see past posts here:

Week 1 about Organizing Your Mind and Life Vision HERE,

Week 2 about Organizing Your Priorities HERE,

Week 3 about Organizing Your Schedule HERE

Week 4 about Organizing Your Cleaning Schedule HERE.

Week 5 about Organizing Your Personal Information HERE. 

Week 6 about Organizing Your Finances HERE. 

      Week 7 about Organizing Your Bill-paying System HERE.

        Week 8 about Organizing Your Receipts and Taxes HERE. 

Week 9 about Organizing Your Files HERE

                          Week 10 about Organizing your Magazines and Newspapers HERE.

                                               Week 11 about Organizing Your Email HERE

                                                Week 12 about Organizing Your Mail HERE

                                         Week 13 about Organizing Your Child's Toys HERE.

Week 14 about Organizing Your Crafts HERE.

Week 15 about Organizing Your Photographs HERE.

Week 16 about Organizing Your Purse or Wallet HERE. 

 Week 17 about Organizing Your Vehicle HERE.

                                                  Week 18 about Organizing Your Pet HERE.

Week 19 about Organizing Your Books, CDs and DVDs HERE.

Week 20 about Organizing Your Entryway or Mudroom HERE.

                        Week 21 about Organizing Your Family Room or Living Room HERE.

Week 22 about Organizing Your Kitchen Countertops HERE.

Week 23 about Organizing the Kitchen Cabinets HERE.

Week 24 about Organizing the Pantry HERE. 

Week 25 about Organizing the Refrigerator HERE.

Week 26 about Organizing the recipes HERE.

Week 27 about Organizing the dining room HERE.

Week 28 about Organizing the Laundry Room HERE.

Week 29 about Organizing the Bathroom HERE

Week 30 about Organizing the Medicine Cabinet HERE.

Week 31 about Organizing Your Child's Clothes and Closet HERE.

Week 32 about Organizing Your Child's Memorabilia HERE.

Week 33 about Organizing Your Child's Bedroom HERE.

Week 34 about Organizing Your Bedroom Closet HERE

Week 35 about Organizing Your Memorabilia HERE

Week 36 about Organizing Your Master Bedroom HERE

Week 37 about Organizing Your Jewelry, Accessories and Purses HERE.

Week 38 about Organizing your Home Office HERE 

Week 39 about Organizing the Linen Closet HERE.

Week 40 about Organizing the Basement HERE.

Week 41 about Organizing the Attic HERE.

Week 42 about Organizing the Garage HERE.

Week 43 about Organizing the Yard and Garden HERE.

Week 44 about Organizing Your Holiday HERE.

Week 45 about Organizing Your Party HERE

Week 46 about Organizing Your Trip HERE. 

Week 47 about Organizing Your Move HERE.

Week 48 about Organizing Your Back To School Time HERE

Week 49 about Organizing Your Pregnancy HERE 
Week 50 about Organizing Your Nursery HERE

Week 51 about Organizing Your Family's Safety Plan HERE 

Week 52 about Organizing After a Loss HERE

 

These next few weeks will focus on organizing our routines. First up - the morning routine. Are mornings stressful in your house? Do you have some family members who are just not morning people and it is a struggle to get them out the door in the morning? My kids do ok with the waking up part, but getting them out the door on time is another issue. My 4 year old really loves to take his time in the morning. I have learned that I just need to get him up 10-15 minutes earlier and let him do his routine by himself at his pace. (toileting, brushing teeth and hair, getting dressed). This works really well so I can get other things done while he is getting his done and I am not stressed by how long it is taking him to put his toothpaste on the toothbrush. lol

 

This Week's Goals:

 

1. Create a morning "to do" list for every person in your family. Or have them do it themselves if they are old enough. Figure out how much time it takes to complete each task. Add that time up and add an extra 10 minutes to make sure you have enough time. Subtract those minutes from the time you need to leave the house to the time you need to wake up.

 

 

 

 

 

2. Don't over book your morning routine. Be realistic about what needs to be done in the morning and what can be done the night before. I am much less stressed when I get things done the night before. I sleep better and wake up feeling good.

 

3. Use a family launch pad near the most commonly used door to your house to help you organize and get things prepared the night before. I talked about this in week 20 when I wrote about organizing your mudroom.

 

4. Keep a laminated copy of the morning routine in your launch pad area so everyone can stay on schedule and knows the expectations.

 

Tips:

 

1. I like to try to get my Bible study or spiritual readings in first thing. This helps me to have a more positive outlook on the day and get myself started on the right foot. Motivational books work well here too.

 

How do you organize your morning routine? Is it full of stress or stress-free?

 

 

Thanks for checking in and be sure to visit me on Facebook soon! We have lots of fun over there sharing health and wellness tips. :)

 

Rebecca     

 

Organizing After a Loss

Happy Thursday! It's the first one of the New Year! Time sure flies, doesn't it? It has been one whole year since I started this series! We are winding down and will finish the book on Jan. 31st.

 

My wheels have been turning about another book or topic to start in place of this one. Any suggestions on what you would like to see?

If you are just joining us, we have been getting organized using Jennifer Ford Berry's Organize Now book.  

 

It has some great info and tips on organizing various parts of our life and home. You can see past posts here:

Week 1 about Organizing Your Mind and Life Vision HERE,

Week 2 about Organizing Your Priorities HERE,

Week 3 about Organizing Your Schedule HERE

Week 4 about Organizing Your Cleaning Schedule HERE.

Week 5 about Organizing Your Personal Information HERE. 

Week 6 about Organizing Your Finances HERE. 

      Week 7 about Organizing Your Bill-paying System HERE.

        Week 8 about Organizing Your Receipts and Taxes HERE. 

Week 9 about Organizing Your Files HERE

                          Week 10 about Organizing your Magazines and Newspapers HERE.

                                               Week 11 about Organizing Your Email HERE

                                                Week 12 about Organizing Your Mail HERE

                                         Week 13 about Organizing Your Child's Toys HERE.

Week 14 about Organizing Your Crafts HERE.

Week 15 about Organizing Your Photographs HERE.

Week 16 about Organizing Your Purse or Wallet HERE. 

 Week 17 about Organizing Your Vehicle HERE.

                                                  Week 18 about Organizing Your Pet HERE.

Week 19 about Organizing Your Books, CDs and DVDs HERE.

Week 20 about Organizing Your Entryway or Mudroom HERE.

                        Week 21 about Organizing Your Family Room or Living Room HERE.

Week 22 about Organizing Your Kitchen Countertops HERE.

Week 23 about Organizing the Kitchen Cabinets HERE.

Week 24 about Organizing the Pantry HERE. 

Week 25 about Organizing the Refrigerator HERE.

Week 26 about Organizing the recipes HERE.

Week 27 about Organizing the dining room HERE.

Week 28 about Organizing the Laundry Room HERE.

Week 29 about Organizing the Bathroom HERE

Week 30 about Organizing the Medicine Cabinet HERE.

Week 31 about Organizing Your Child's Clothes and Closet HERE.

Week 32 about Organizing Your Child's Memorabilia HERE.

Week 33 about Organizing Your Child's Bedroom HERE.

Week 34 about Organizing Your Bedroom Closet HERE

Week 35 about Organizing Your Memorabilia HERE

Week 36 about Organizing Your Master Bedroom HERE

Week 37 about Organizing Your Jewelry, Accessories and Purses HERE.

Week 38 about Organizing your Home Office HERE 

Week 39 about Organizing the Linen Closet HERE.

Week 40 about Organizing the Basement HERE.

Week 41 about Organizing the Attic HERE.

Week 42 about Organizing the Garage HERE.

Week 43 about Organizing the Yard and Garden HERE.

Week 44 about Organizing Your Holiday HERE.

Week 45 about Organizing Your Party HERE

Week 46 about Organizing Your Trip HERE. 

Week 47 about Organizing Your Move HERE.

Week 48 about Organizing Your Back To School Time HERE

Week 49 about Organizing Your Pregnancy HERE 
Week 50 about Organizing Your Nursery HERE

Week 51 about Organizing Your Family's Safety Plan HERE

This week we are talking about organizing after a loss. Not the most cheery topic but one we will all have to deal with at some point in our lives and for many of us, already have. I cannot help but think about all of the families who are grieving in Connecticut right now as I write this post. Continued prayers sent to everyone directly effected by what happened there.

 

Jennifer suggests to wait until you are really ready to go through the organizing process after you lose a loved one. Everyone's time frame is different and there is no right or wrong. Don't be afraid to ask for help. Many people want to help but don't know if you want or need that. Allow yourself to let your loved one's things go when you are ready. It is ok to not hold on to everything they had.

 

This Week's Goals:

 

1. Go through your loved ones things and sort into piles: Keep, pass onto a family member or friend, sell, donate, throw away, not sure.

 

Throw out the things that you are not keeping and cannot sell or giveaway. Ask other family members before you sell or donate items in case they want them. 

 

Hold an estate sale or garage sale. you can also sell things online.

 

2. Put your "not sure" pile away into clear bins and label them to go through later. Sometimes it just takes more time to decide on certain items. Set a deadline to go through these things.

 

Tips:

 

1. Talk to your kids about what happened. Answer their questions in the best way you can to help them to understand and grieve too.

 

2. Jennifer says, "Remember that ultimately memories are in our minds, not in things."

 

Next week we will start on the final section of the book: Organizing Your Routines.

 

Thanks for reading and please visit me on Facebook soon! I still have room in my Shaklee 180 weight loss challenge to start the new year on a healthy note! :)

 

Rebecca