Organize Your Life!!!

Some of you may remember the year long Organizing series I did awhile back using Jennifer Ford Berry's Organize Now book. It was really helpful to me to get things organized in my house and in my life. Now that we are getting ready to put our house on the market, I am revisiting some of these posts and thought to share with you too! 

You can scroll through all of the past posts HERE on organizing.

Is getting more organized one of your new year's resolutions? How are you planning to do it?

Thanks and join me on Facebook soon! I would love to connect with you there!

Have a great day!!

~Rebecca~

Organize your Meal Planning

  Happy Thursday! It's our LAST organizing post! Wow! It's been over a year since I started these posts. I hope you have enjoyed this series as much as I have and will refer back to the posts often.

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

Week 54 about Organizing Your Evening Routine HERE 
Week 55 about Organizing Your Grocery Shopping HERE

This week we are talking about organizing the meal planning. Do you do this already? I will admit that this has been a harder habit to get into for this procrastinator. But when I do plan at least a few meals out for the week, it saves me time and I always have the ingredients I need from when I did my grocery shopping. I try to plan things out on Friday or Saturday so I am ready to go on Sunday when I shop. I also try to look at the ingredients I already have and plan meals around some of those to avoid the food spoiling.

This Week's Goals:

1. Keep a list of family favorites and staples that everyone enjoys.

2. Search through your cookbooks and online recipes sites that you enjoy. Bookmark ones that you like online or ones you want to try. Keep a list of your favorites and ones to try in the front of your cookbook with the page numbers for easy reference.

3. Jennifer suggests preparing 2 family favorites each week as well as a couple of the staples that your family regularly enjoys. Try one new recipe each week.

4. If your kids are old enough, allow them to plan a meal or help you with the cooking. When you get kids involved in the preparation, they are more likely to eat it. Even if it does have "green stuff" in it. lol

Tips:

1. Do left over night once a week. Save yourself some time and money! You can double a recipe earlier in the week and either have it again or freeze for a future meal.

2. Don't make separate meals for different family members. Make a healthy dinner that everyone will enjoy (at least a portion of) and keep that rule consistent.

What tips do you have?

Well, this concludes our organizing series. What would you like to see me blog about next? I am open to suggestions.

Thanks and be sure to visit my facebook page soon!

Rebecca    

Organize Your Grocery Shopping

It's Thursday! We are almost done with our book! It's hard to believe! How has it gone for you this year? Have the posts and tips helped?

 

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

Week 54 about Organizing Your Evening Routine HERE

This week we are talking about organizing your grocery shopping. I will admit that grocery shopping is not my favorite thing to do. But it is nice when I can do it by myself without distraction and get in and out quickly. To do this, I always make a list. And never go to the store hungry so I don't make impulse buys that I will regret on the scale later. lol. I am also a coupon clipper. I have found that when I find an item on my list that is on sale AND I have a coupon, I can save a ton of $$$!

This Week's Goals:

1. Organize your shopping list. My husband and I keep a dry/erase board on our fridge. Anytime we are running low of an item we add it to the board. I use that to quickly make my shopping list. I also have a master list of things that we buy every week like milk, bread, items for my husband's lunch, produce, etc. When things are on sale that will not spoil fast, I stock up.

2. Organize your fridge and pantry before you go to the store so you really know what you have. This will save you time and money from buying things you do not need that week. You can see more about organizing these items in week 24 and 25.

3. Organize your weekly meal planning before you shop (next week's post). Lately, I have been trying a new recipe and a new veggie each week. It's been fun finding new and healthy (and tasty!) recipes and I learned that parsnips and brussel sprouts are really good! who knew? lol Now they are regulars on my shopping lists. 

Tips:

1. Check the store flier before shopping so you know what is on sale. Stock up on items you use often and bring coupons for more savings! Some stores will even double your coupons so you can save a surprising amount of money by using them. And be sure to get your store's shopping or reward card for extra coupons and discounts.

2. Try to shop when it is the least busy at the store to save you time. Week days, esp. in the morning are typically a good bet. 

What grocery shopping tips have worked for you?

Thanks for reading and remember to visit me on Facebook soon! 

Would love to hear from you. :)

Have a great day!

Rebecca    

 

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    

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