A Simple Way to Complete Large Projects

It's a new week and a new day!  Attack it!

Here is a jump start for you...do you have several medium or large projects around your home looming over your head?  However, you won't start any of them because they will take too much time and you won't be able to finish it?

Break that large project down into small steps or small mini projects.

If you are like me, my schedule is very full right now.  To include a project into that full schedule would mean that I slack on a regular duty.  

You don't want to take one step forward just to find yourself two steps back in something else.

One of my projects is to do some spring cleaning in my backyard.  This is a large project so I am going to break it down into small mini projects.

1.  Take the metal from the old trampoline to the scrap yard.

2.  Rake all old leaves, twigs, branches, etc. from the winter and dispose.

3.  Pick up and stack the extra wood.

4.  Disassemble the swing set that the storm destroyed.

5.  Discard of the swing set.

I have now taken a very large project and broken it down into hour long projects that I can fit into my day.

Baby steps.  

But you won't do anything until you create that plan...and then put it into action.  

Happy Monday!

Budgeting Your Time

We are busy folks, aren't we?  Right now, I am finishing up our year of home schooling.  1 more day for Sierra in K-5 and 11 for Addie and Autumn.  I work 48 hour work weeks at my care giving job.  And I manage a household of four kids, a husband and two dogs.  LOL! Our girls also participate in a spring softball league which takes up to 5 days in the week.  In addition, I have many responsibilities in and for our church.  I oversee the nursery, teach Junior Church, teach a monthly ladies Bible study, manage the church secretarial and financial matters, oversee the music program, play the piano, clean the church bi-weekly.  

My plate is full.  I was thinking about managing your time. Everything in your life, if you want to be successful, must be on a budget.

 Two things that my husband and I are doing at this time is a budget.  A budget for our finances - including a debt reduction plan.  And a budget for our daily calorie intake.  

If I want to be able to pay my bills and pay off our remaining debt, I must stay on that budget!  

If I want to lose these extra pounds, I must stay on my daily calorie budget!

And if you want to be successful in your time management, you must stay on a time budget.

1.  Even if you think you are not a time waster, make a plan and follow that plan.

You would be surprised how many minutes in a day that you spend on Facebook browsing through your friends' lives.  

Time that you could use to read a chapter in your Bible...if you had it in your budget plan.

Time that you could use to write a note to a hurting friend...if you had it in your budget plan.

Time that you could use to take that walk...if you had it in your budget plan.

You see, you will accomplish far more, by simply having a plan and a budget for your time.

2.  Eliminate time wasters.

What do you waste time doing?  

Decide what your big time waster is...and eliminate it for one week.  

Use that time on the things you need to accomplish.  

3.  Simplify your life.

Clear out the physical clutter in your life.

Clear out the mental clutter in your mind.

You know when they say if you buy something new for your closet, you need to get rid of something?  The same applies with your schedule.  If you add something to your already full and complete schedule, you need to delete something that you already have in your schedule and replace it with the new thing.

Realize your capabilities and limits.  Don't use them as excuses.  Use them as your budget - your guidelines.  

Is your time on a budget today?  

Saving Dinner

Are you a busy mom?  I sure am!  Yesterday, I was listening to some workshops for moms (see yesterday's post :).  I was going to the grocery store, listening to the workshop with my earbuds, and thinking what to make for dinner.

Guess what the workshop was about?  Saving dinner!  Here I was running to the store...trying to think of something to throw together for dinner...and these ladies are talking about the importance of family dinner.  Way to convict!

I am fairly consistent at decent dinners.  There are some days that I just don't get it done...and we eat leftovers or ramen.  After listening to the workshop, I was renewed to stay on top of family dinners.  I want to keep it a time of togetherness and family.

I think back to my childhood.  So many good memories are centered around food.  I could go on and on about my memories of food.  LOL!  Not because I loved to eat but because they symbolize family time.  

I remember warm cinnamon rolls for breakfast...corn on the cob from the garden...shredded beef sandwiches for a simple dinner...homemade caramel corn for a night snack at my Grandma Holt's house.

I remember fresh garden strawberries...large, crusty homemade dinner rolls...pan fried fish caught at the lake...and homemade Christmas candy at my Grandma McCurdy's.

I remember fried chicken and roast on Sundays...canning peaches and veggies from our garden...my mom's warm sugar cookies...just the simple things at home as a child.

I want my kids to have special memories...about food.  About Mom.  About family.

It is important.  Make it important. It is my goal...make it yours too!

Time Management-Part Four-Making a List

Time management...simply trying to get the most out of your time in a day.  

Lists.  

Simply make a to-do list the night before.  

Two reasons I make a list.

1.  The minute I wake up, I have a plan I am putting in action.  

2.  Every thing you can cross off is a sign of success.

This may seem simple.  A no-brainer.  For some who may already have this habit, it probably is.  But if you don't have this habit, try it for one week.  And see how much more you will accomplish in your day. :)

Time Management-Part 3-Dishes

My tip for time management for dishes...

DO THEM.  LOL!  If you are blessed, you may have a dishwasher.  I live in a home that was built in 1950...and when we bought it, we did not have dishwasher hook-ups.  

So, needless to say, with 4 kids that home school, there is a constant stream of dirty dishes coming to the kitchen.  

My usual dishes schedule:

1.  I start washing any dishes from the previous night as I cook my husband's breakfast and make his lunch in the morning.  I also wash the breakfast dishes at this time. 

2.  When I begin dinner preparations, I wash dishes again.  This includes lunch and snack dishes and any dishes I dirty while preparing dinner.

3.  After dinner, I wash the dinner dishes.  This should be only the dishes that we ate off of for dinner as well as the serving dishes.

If I do not do the morning routine, I will come to the time to prepare dinner and I have double the dishes.  Yuck.  The trick is to stay on top of them...just like the laundry. 

I also have my daughters take turns drying the dishes each time.

Time to manage that dirty pile of dishes! :)

Time Management-Part Two-The Paperwork Trail

Let's tackle another tip for time management...

Another area that seems to overtake me is...office work.  Perhaps I should clarify...not all office work...just the paper part of it.

I recently started a new system for me.  You see, I HATE paper trails.  It is annoying, messy, takes up valuable space.  Some people keep every receipt, every bill, every pay stub...I can not.  However, there are necessary things that we must keep and have a record of.  

I am also the church secretary and I do our church's finances and have to keep record of all those blessed receipts.  This last year, it has nearly overwhelmed me.

And then there is that horrible word...FILING.  Ugh.  I hate, hate, hate filing.  It is just a horrible task.  It is something I let pile up...and overtake my office.  Geez.

I needed to make a change if I was to be successful in this area of my life.  So...

This year, I am going paperless.  I am scanning and saving in files on my laptop...all my receipts, pay stubs, important documents, etc.  

No more filing.  No more paper trail.  No more headaches. :)  I can not tell you what a change in my life this has made.  You see, clutter really does affect you physically and mentally.  I try to stay clutter free in my home...but I was having difficulty in my office...due to paperwork!  Now, I can work better with a clearer mind...because I have eliminated that clutter of paper.

Maybe this tip will help you too!

Time Management-Part One-Laundry

I was asked recently about time management as a mom of young children.  How do you manage to balance it all?  There is no magic formula...but I do have things I do that help me in my daily life.

Laundry...

It is something you can't avoid.  And if you do, you will soon regret it.  These are my laundry rules. :)

1.  I do laundry EVERY day.  Even if it is just one load, do it!  We have six people in our home so it is very needful.  I used to do laundry one day (or maybe two) a week.  I find that doing smaller amounts on a daily basis is really no more work than doing it all on one day.

2.  Put in your first load as soon as you get up.  It takes 3 minutes of your time and the washer does the rest of the work while you are doing other things.  The later you wait to start, the later in your day you will be doing laundry.

3.  As soon as the dryer stops, let me repeat, AS SOON AS THE DRYER STOPS, stop what you are doing...and fold and hang up that load of clothes.  If you wait, the clothes will become wrinkled causing more work.  You will want to put in a load of clothes into the dryer and realize you never put away that first load.  Really, if you do anything, DO THIS TIP!  Your laundry for the day will be done just like that (even if you have several loads) and you won't have the unsightly piles of clean laundry around the house.

4.  I fold and hang up the clothes directly from the dryer.  
I don't put them in a basket...and then fold them at the couch.  Why?  Because it is too easy to let them sit in the basket.  Because then I will have piles of clean, FOLDED laundry on my couch.  LOL!  

This is the procedure at our home:  I wash, dry and fold the clothes.  As soon as I have a load folded, I have the older girls stop their school video and put away their clothes.  I put away my own clothing and towels.  Immediately, the clothes are back where they should be and it really only takes around 3-5 minutes from their school time.

5.  I iron my husband and my clothes BEFORE I hang them in our closets.  So whatever clothing item is needed to be worn, it is ready to go.  

Just a few tips in the laundry department!  Have a great Wednesday! :)

Kitchen Tip: Keeping Lettuce Fresh Longer

How to make lettuce, spinach and greens last longer in the fridge...

Place a paper towel on the bottom and on top of the lettuce in the bowl.  Cover with plastic wrap.

The paper towels will absorb the moisture and your lettuce will last longer. :)

Homemaking Tip: Cleaning Laminate Floors

When we moved into our home over four years ago, my husband installed laminate flooring into our kitchen, dining room and living room.  It was supposed to be a cheaper version of hardwood and easier to maintain.

Throughout these past years, I have tried many different laminate cleaners.  And as time went on, cleaner after cleaner, I just grew more frustrated.  The cleaners, designed for laminate flooring, would leave a film on my floor.  It was so bad that the second someone walked on my floor after cleaning it, you could see the skid marks, footprints, etc.  It was AWFUL. :/

I had almost given up when I found the secret!

And I want to share the secret with you that I have found. :)  Warm water and ammonia.  Yep, that is it.

These are the steps I do:

1.  Sweep my floor well.

2.  Scrub a small section of your laminate floor at a time with the green scratchy part of a regular kitchen sponge.

3.  Dry with an old bath towel.

4.  Move and do next section until your floor is completed.  (I do change my water often because it can get quite dirty fast.  I also use several bath towels because the towels get wet quickly and I have a very large area to do.)

The film is gone!  And even though it does take more time to do the floors, they stay cleaner and looking nice longer so I do not have to do them as often.  FYI:  I did try the vinegar and water solution - it did not work for me...and I did not care at all for the vinegar smell. :(  The ammonia has no smell and does the job!

And I am no longer buying expensive floor cleaners at almost $5 a bottle.  You can buy a large bottle of ammonia at the Dollar Tree for $1. :)

Praise the Lord...for I was losing my insanity over a floor.  LOL!

Libraryelf.com

Here is a website that some of you may find useful.  It is called libraryelf.com.

If your library participates, you can sign up your family's library cards.  Then you may choose to receive e-mail reminders about due dates, hold pick-ups, overdue books and such.  It sounds like a great program.  I know my library now fines you if you do not pick up your holds.  And who can remember all your due dates for your family's great collection of borrowed books?  

My library does not participate but perhaps yours does!  Check it out today. :)

DIY: Make Super Crayons!

Here is a fun activity to do with your kids with your old crayons from last year.  

Make it a science activity. :)

Super Crayons

• Spray the muffin pan with a light coating of non-stick spray.
• Place a few bits of crayon in each cup, filling it about halfway full.
• Place in the oven at 250 degrees for about 20 minutes until melted. NOTE: Ovens will vary and yours might do the job in more or less time. It is best to start at a low temp and check the progress in five minute intervals until done.
• Remove and allow to cool.
• Once cool, pop the new super-rainbow-crayons out and start scribbling!

This is a great way to repurpose old crayons and save them from the landfill, and at the same time it is a great rainy day activity that you can enjoy with the kids!  (Not that we have rainy days here in the desert! LOL!)

 So start scouring the house for those crayons bits!

Project: School Room/Office

So today, I woke up and thought...What am I going to do today???  My mom left me and went back to Ohio. :(  LOL!  So I decided to tackle a project-organizing the office/school room.

As you may remember, I just finished painting and putting new curtains in this room.  I also received this beautiful bookcase as well.

The new bookcase turned out to be so helpful for organization!  Before, my clothes closet also held all my cards/stationery, all office and school supplies and all school books and grading materials.  Now, I have this nice storage space that is neat and very handy.  I love it!

I have my secretary in the dining room where I use it to write letters, read my Bible, etc.  This is my desk in our office to pay bills, grade papers, etc.

The girls desks are all set up ready to go.  School books, pencil/supply boxes filled and DVD players ready to go.

Ready to begin!

I love this drawer!  It is perfect to place all our needed paper for our printing jobs. :)

Ten Ideas to Minister to the Homebound

10 Ideas to Minister to the Homebound

Call or Text
Checking in every once in awhile allows others know you are thinking of them. A phone call is more personal, but a quick text message can be equally appreciated by most people. Even a Facebook message or email can be encouraging.

Clean the House
Most people will not ask others to clean their house, even when they desperately need the help. Be generous and offer to do a few chores. Most household tasks are fairly easy and doing them won’t take a lot of time. It is a simple way to help ease a burden.

Donate Money
In certain circumstances, many people have great financial need. Anonymously sending money is often a tremendous blessing, not only to the one who receives it, but to the giver as well. Donations don’t have to be large sums of money either. In most cases, every little bit helps.

Give a Hug
Sometimes people just need an arm around the shoulder to reassure them that they are not alone. A simple touch on the arm or a pat on the back can be comforting as well.

Make a Meal
Bringing dinner can help ease meal-time stress for families during hard times. If you have the space, you can make freezer meals ahead of time. When one is needed you can either warm the meal up before bringing it over or take it “as is” to allow the family to store and eat it at a time that is convenient for them.

Run Errands
Offering to pick up items from the grocery store, pharmacy or supermarket can be a huge blessing. Many people will not ask others to do this, so making the offer is important. If you mention that you are on your way to the store (or are already there) you will almost always get positive response, even if it’s only for one item.

Say a Prayer
Knowing that somebody cares enough to pray is often very reassuring to people. If you tell somebody you will pray for them be sure to do it!  Also, offering to pray with them is a nice gesture. It doesn’t have to be long or fancy. A simple prayer for peace and their well-being can be comforting.

Send Flowers
A vase of bright daisies can cheer up almost everyone, in my opinion. Or a potted plant can have a nice, calming effect and will last even longer than cut flowers. If flora is not an option due to allergies or other issues, silk flower can be just as pretty.

Visit
Taking the time to visit can be very meaningful for many people. Be sure to call ahead and make sure visitors are wanted. Also, plan for a short visit unless the desire for a longer one has been indicated. Show up with a smile and a positive, encouraging attitude.

Write a Letter
There is nothing quite like getting a handwritten letter, especially during difficult times. Or even an encouraging “thinking of you” card. Stock up on some nice stationary and/or blank note cards in order to have something handy for unexpected needs. Be sure to have a few gender neutral cards that you can send to men and fun stationary that children would enjoy.

I hope this list has given you a few ideas for showing hospitality to others. May you be filled with joy as you minister to the homebound people in your life.

Challenge:

Think of one person you know that is homebound and find a way to bless them some time in the next week. If you would like, share about it in a comment below. We would love to read about it!

Homemaking: Laundry Tips

Quick homemaking tip:

Is keeping up with laundry your homemaking hang-up?  You just never seem to be caught up?  Here are two tips that help me in my never-ending laundry dilemma...

1.  Put a load of clothes into the washer the night before.  But do not start it!  

In the morning, the first thing (after you make coffee :) is start the washer.  Add detergent.  NOW, enjoy your coffee.

By the time you have enjoyed your coffee and have woken up, the first load of laundry will be done.  This will help you to get on the ball and just do it knowing all you have to do is turn that little knob... :)

2.  The second your dryer stops, STOP WHAT YOU ARE DOING AND FOLD/HANG UP/PUT AWAY THAT LOAD OF LAUNDRY!

-Don't take it out of the dryer and put it on the couch to fold later.  Don't leave it in the dryer to fold later.  

If I stick to this rule, I am able to breeze through many loads of laundry very easily and quickly.  It eliminates clean laundry lying in various places in piles.  It eliminates wrinkled clothes that look like they haven't been washed...and now you need to iron them.  It eliminates washing a load of clothes and then realizing you have to put away the clothes in the dryer before you can dry the ones in the washer.

If you have children, teach them how to fold, sort and put away their own clothing.  The minute the dryer stops and it is a load of my daughters' clothes, I have them fold and sort and put away their own clothing - straight from the dryer and into their drawers. 

I hope these tips can help you. :)

How To Keep Your Berries Fresh Longer

It can be hard to find great deals on produce items. And keeping produce fresh is just another obstacle that comes along with buying fresh fruits and veggies. The last thing any smart shopper wants is to throw away their produce that spoiled before being eaten. It’s like throwing away money! Here is a simple solution to make those berries you buy this summer last longer and end in your family’s bellies rather than the trash can.

1. Mix your fresh berries in a bowl filled with one part vinegar and ten parts water (white cider can be used in place of vinegar).
2. Swish berries all around to ensure they are all mixed well.
3. Rinse your berries out in a strainer with just water.

Your berries are now ready to eat! Or they can be stored in the refrigerator until you are ready to eat them.

By using this mixture, you’ve killed off the mold that may have been living on the surface of berries. As a result, your produce will stay fresh a whole week longer. Enjoy those berries that are now in season, and get more bang for your buck with this smart rinse!

DIY: Coffee Shower Scrub

Invigorating Coffee Shower Scrub

This I have to try!  I am a coffee lover and this looks awesome! :)

Ingredients:

1/2 cup ground coffee

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup olive oil

Mix well.  You can even add a bit more olive oil if scrub seems a little dry to you.

Frugal Ideas for Used Coffee Grounds

• Kill fridge odor - If your fridge is full of foul odors, place a bowl of fresh, unused coffee grounds inside and leave it for a day or two. The coffee will absorb the odors and leave your fridge smelling fresh. You can save around $4 a month!
• Reduce cellulite - Pricey cellulite creams have one major ingredient in common: caffeine, which enhances fat metabolism, reducing the appearance of these fatty pockets under the skin. To make your own coffee cellulite treatment at home, mix warm used coffee grounds with coconut oil and rub it onto your skin in circular motions for a few minutes before rinsing. Average cellulite creams from your local drugstore can run as much as $20.00 a jar.
• Reduce fireplace mess - Wait until the embers are cool, sprinkle damp coffee grounds all over the ashes, let them sit for about 15 minutes, and scoop out the mess into a metal ash can. The coffee grounds cling to the ashes, so they don’t spew as much dust. The monetary savings here vary, but you will be saving yourself time.
• Repel ants - Sprinkle dry, used coffee grounds in problem areas where you notice ants. To tackle huge ant mounds, pour an entire pot of brewed coffee right on the mound. The cost of ant traps can be around $8.00 a package, plus they are toxic and harmful to pets.
• Erase smells on your hands - Some things smell delicious when cooking but aren’t so pleasant later when they linger on your hands. Get rid of them by rubbing a handful of used coffee grounds on your hands and rinsing with warm water.
• Make rich compost - Coffee grounds are rich in phosphorous, potassium, magnesium and copper. Plants thrive off of these ingredients. You can score used grounds for free at your local coffee shop; just ask.
• Get shiny hair - Coffee is recommended as a natural treatment to make hair glossy. Brew up an extra-strong pot, let it cool and apply it to your dry, clean hair. Leave it on for at least twenty minutes, then rinse. Keep it up once a week or so for best results. A bottle of leave-in hair shiner can run you around $5.00 and contains harmful chemicals. This method not only saves you money but is safer on your hair.
• Make your own natural dye - The natural pigments in coffee make it a great natural dye for fabric, paper, Easter eggs and even your hair. Just allow a strong brew to cool, then saturate whatever it is you are trying to dye with the mixture. Dyes can run anywhere from $4.00-$10.00 depending on brand.
• Fertilize plants -  Acid-loving plants will thank you for sprinkling your used coffee grounds around their roots. Azaleas, blueberry shrubs and rhododendrons are just a few of the plants that flourish when treated with coffee, thanks to all those nutrients. You can also dilute the leftover coffee in your mug and pour it right into your potted plants.  Fertilizer at your local home store can cost as much as $5.00 per pound.
• Keep cats out of your garden - Sprinkle used coffee grounds on the soil, and cats will want nothing to do with it. Products that promise the same performance can cost as much as $10.00 at home supply stores!
• Scrub surfaces - Mildly abrasive, coffee grounds are great for scrubbing surfaces like cooking ranges and refrigerators. Use them alone or mix them with a little dish soap. Even store brand kitchen scrub can cost as much as $3.00 a bottle.
• Repel fleas - Rub used, damp coffee grounds through your pet’s fur after bathing to repel fleas. Everyone with pets knows how expensive flea repellants can be. Even a simple flea collar can cost upwards of $5.00.
• Secret recipe ingredient - Just a little hint of coffee can put a unique flavor into foods like chili and chocolate cake. Use a little bit as a marinade for steaks, and not only will it make them tender, it’ll also provide a hint of deep, smoky flavor.
• Repair furniture scratches - Scratches on wood furniture disappear almost instantly by simply rubbing in a little bit of instant coffee dampened into a paste with hot water. Repeat if necessary until the scratch matches the surrounding wood. Products like this can cost as much as $10.00!

DIY: Frugal Homemade Cleaning Solutions

Here are some homemade cleaners that you can try in your home. I am out of window cleaner and furniture polish...so I am going to try these. :)

All Purpose Cleaner

• 2 tablespoon vinegar
• 1 teaspoon Borax
• Hot water
• a few drops of a mild dish detergent
• about 10 drops of essential oils
• Mix ingredients together in a spray bottle and use to clean any hard surface.
  

  Floor Cleaner

• 1 cup white vinegar
• 1 gallon warm water
• Mix together in your cleaning bucket and use this to clean floors.
  

  Wood Floor Cleaner

• 1/2 cup vinegar
• 1 gallon water
• Dip your mop into the mixture and squeeze until it is almost dry, then mop.
  

  Oven Rack Cleaner

• hot water
• 1/2 cup Dawn dish soap
• 8 dryer sheets
• Soak oven racks in bath tub with hot water, 8 dryer sheets and 1/2 cup Dawn dish soap overnight. You can use the dryer sheets to scrub off any remaining gunk.
  

  Furniture Polish

• 1 cup olive oil
• 1/2 cup lemon juice

• Shake well and apply a small amount to a cleaning cloth. Spread over surface and then dry with a separate cloth.

Window Cleaner

• 1/2 teaspoon mild dish detergent,
• 3 tablespoons vinegar
• 2 cups water

• Combine ingredients and pour into a spray bottle. Use just like you would use Windex.
  

  Tub Cleaner

• baking soda
• water
• Combine ingredients to make a paste, apply to the tub, and let it sit for about 10 minutes. Wipe off with a wet cloth.
  

  Glass Shower Cleaner

• 1/2 of a lemon
• kosher salt
• Dip the lemon into a bowl of kosher salt and scrub the glass shower walls. Watch the magic!
  

  Toilet Bowl Cleaner

• 2 cups of vinegar
• Pour the vinegar in your toilet and let it sit overnight. Clean with toilet bowl brush and flush.
  

  Carpet Deodorizer

• baking soda
• Just sprinkle it on your carpet and let it sit for about 10 minutes. Then, vacuum it up.

DIY: Children's Chore Charts

I love To Do lists.  I have one most every day.  I wanted to create a To Do list for the girls for their daily chores and responsibilities.

There are many different ideas out there.  

These are the things that I wanted in a chore chart:

1.  Simple to make.  (I am not a crafty person so I wanted something that I could create easily.)
2.  It would not be costly to make.
(This is a one time cost.  I do not need paper, stickers, printer ink, etc. to continually make new charts.)
3.  All ages of my girls could easily use their chart and understand it on a daily basis.
(Ages 4, 6 and 8)
4.  It could be easily changed in just a few minutes time each morning to adapt to our schedule for that particular day.
(I did not want to have to erase and write new and different chores onto a dry erase board every day.  That is time consuming for the parent.)

I found this idea online on Pinterest.  There were many more fancy variations...but I choose the most simplest one.  I wanted to get this implemented right away on our first week of summer vacation so we did a very simple one to start off with.  Down the road, I can always add and embellish these charts to pretty them up.

Materials needed:

1 cookie sheet per child - I used the Mainstays brand from Wal-Mart.  Cost is $.92 per sheet.

Magnetic paper sheets - I used the ProMag brand from Michael's.  Cost is $5.99 for 3 sheets.  They do have magnetic sheets at Wal-Mart too.  I don't know the price and size compared to Michael's. (I have only used a little over 1 sheet so far with 3 children.)

Stickers and a Pen/Marker

Simply cut the sheet into rectangles.  Write the job/responsibility on the rectangle.  Place on cookie sheet.

In the morning, place the jobs that the child is to do for that day.  If you have a special job such as washing windows for that day, simply make a magnet that says "Mom's Job".  They will know that there is a special job to complete that day and you will instruct them.  

This eliminates the need to tell or ask your child to do their regular responsibilities.  When they complete a task, they can simply move the task magnet to the "DONE" side of the sheet or take it off the sheet.

This is a great tool for teaching your children.  They will learn to work independently, be responsible and instill a work ethic into them at a young age.

Why I Like Glad Storage Containers

I just love these Glad storage containers!  Above are three in use right now...grapes, last night's dinner-quiche, and red bell pepper strips.  I had a set of larger containers that I would use for leftovers and such.  

However, I found five things:

1.  They took up too much room in my fridge.

2.  No one wanted to eat the leftovers.

3.  They were too large to send in my husband's lunch.

4.  They dirtied more dishes for me.

5.  Often the leftovers I had only took up a 1/3 - 1/2 of the larger container.

I bought this size containers and they have done wonders for me. :)

Now...

1.  It is easy to grab a container of leftovers and send it in my husband's lunch or for me to eat for a quick and easy lunch.

2.  They take up less space in my fridge and stack easily.

3.  You can microwave the food right in the container - in doing so, you don't have to dirty more dishes.

4.  I can prepare fruit and veggie snacks such as the red pepper strips or grapes (above) and store for easy access for the kids or the hubby.  In the morning, I just put an amount in baggies for his lunch...it takes me about 30 seconds to put together a healthy lunch in the morning for him. :)

5.  Most of the time, leftovers fit easily in one container and are used up by the next day - no waste.