Free-Day Friday!

Congratulations to Joanna!

E-mail me and I'll send your new binder

rjluckycharmed@yahoo.com

She's the lucky winner of the "Fashion View" Binder.
E-mail me - and I'll drop them by your house!
Thanks to everyone who joined in the fun!
.
Don't forget to check in again -
There is another give-away coming up soon
and just organize yourself ...one step at a time

Delegating Dishes

WORK is one of the principles that successful families are established and maintained on. We don’t have to feel guilty about requiring our children to work – work is essential element of a successful family!

Next week I will be posting tips on how to involve your children in the work around the house! Please feel free to share some of the ways your children help you as well as ways you motivate them to work!

Mom Under Pressure

A wise man gave this counsel to moms:

What can you do, as a young mother, to reduce the pressure and enjoy your family more?

1. Recognize that the joy of motherhood comes in moments. There will be hard times and frustrating times. But amid the challenges, there are shining moments of joy and satisfaction.


2. Don’t overschedule yourselves or your children. If we are not careful, we will find every minute jammed with social events, classes, exercise time, book clubs, scrapbooking, Church callings, music, sports, the Internet, and our favorite TV shows. ...Families need unstructured time when relationships can deepen and real parenting can take place. Take time to listen, to laugh, and to play together.


3. Find some time for yourself to cultivate your gifts and interests. Pick one or two things that you would like to learn or do that will enrich your life, and make time for them. Water cannot be drawn from an empty well, and if you are not setting aside a little time for what replenishes you, you will have less and less to give to others, even to your children... Turn to the Lord in faith, and you will know what to do and how to do it.


4. Pray, study, and teach the gospel. Pray deeply about your children and about your role as a mother. Parents can offer a unique and wonderful kind of prayer because they are praying to the Eternal Parent of us all. There is great power in a prayer that essentially says, “We are steward-parents over Thy children, Father; please help us to raise them as Thou wouldst want them raised

http://lds.org/conference/talk/display/0,5232,23-1-851-37,00.html

Don't you LOVE it!

Forming New Habits

Sometimes you have to get drastic when "helping" everyone to form new habits! :0)

Dish Duty

Sometimes it seems like even when we get a break - we pay for it when we get home - especially with dishes. However, there is a way to solve the dish dilemma - work together as a family!

Below is the best dish system ever. I have yet to find a household (that has a dishwasher-sorry Laura) where this simple system hasn't worked. This system has literally changed my life: DISHES are no longer an issue.

There are only three steps:

1. Start the Dishwasher every night no matter what.
2. Un-load the dishwasher every morning.
3. Load dirty dishes all day as dishes are used.

It's as simple as that.

Just plug those steps into your daily routine, communicate the steps to your family members to get their help. Practice the new steps to form new habits and your dish system is on it's way.

Here's how it works in my home:

• Every night Dad & one assigned child loads the dishes (that didn't get put in during the day) and starts the dishwasher. (even though it is one child's dish day - they are not in charge of putting everyone's dishes in. The person that uses the dish puts it in.)
• Every morning one child empties the dishwasher - (older childrem can empty the whole dishwasher. Younger children can work together by having each do 1 part - top, bottom, or silverware)
• Everyone loads the dishes in the empty dishwasher during the day. (of course, we are still working on this one)
  

Try it - you'll like it!

Menu Monday & Dinner Strategies

So far we've worked on these Meal-Planning Strategies:

• Schedule a time to Menu Plan each week.


• List your Family Favorites, keep it handy in your household notebook for quick reference when meal planning!


• Prepare a Master Grocery List.


• Organize your Recipes into a Recipe Binder

Today I'll share my three favorite "getting-the-meal-on-the-table" strategies:

1. Start Dinner Early in the Day – make it part of your MM!!


2. Use the Crock Pot


3. Cook Once - Eat Twice: double your recipe and freeze one batch for later.

Here's my Menu Plan for the week -

• MON: Little Caesars Pizza & Green Salad (If you live in Bakersfield - it's customer appreciation day!- 3.99 pizza at Stockdale and Stine )
• TUES: Chili & Cornbread
• WED: Crockpot Chicken a la JILL (see recipe below)
• THURS: Spaghetti
• FRI: Pizza again for the boyz - Date night for Mom & Dad!
• SAT: Leftovers
• SUN: Slow Cooker BBQ Pork Sandwiches - throw in Pork & Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ sauce

What's your plan?

Super Easy Chicken Recipe
About 2 whole chicken breasts.
Seasoning such as Pappy's
Put in the crock pot in the morning on low and season.
Sshred and enjoy on salads, rolls, or tortillas
Thanks Jill!

I Hate Laundry

HI Ladies-

Here's a fun guest post by Mandi -See if any of you have ever felt this way-

Dear Laundry,

I hate you! You are never done and when I think you are done, someone just adds more to the pile.

You are like a bad habit, you are just always there. You know that commercial, I think it is for "swifter", where the old mop keeps peeking around the corner or rings the doorbell and someone is serenading "Baby Come Back", That is what you are doing to me. You must love me so much, you just want me to put you in the warm tub of soapy water and then get whirled around in a tub full of warm air. What ever your reason, I wish you would cut me some slack. Please!

And then you expect me to fold you and put you away. You are asking a lot from me! I try to organize you and make it easier, and this helps, but, for once I would love it if the hamper just stayed empty.

Towels are the worst! You love to get all dry and warm. But, first you had to take that soapy bath. There is one good thing about you though, you smell so fresh and clean when you are done and how nice it is when a warm towel is thrown around you or to crawl in a freshly made bed with clean sheets. That is the Best!

Although I hate you, I love you at the same time. We wouldn't be anywhere without you. I guess I just have to accept that my life will forever consist of you.

So I guess I will say to you Mr Laundry, see you everyday and we will be friends orever, or is it enemies?

Posted by mandi

Binder Give-Away!

This is a "Fashion View" binder - which is a fancy way of saying there is a place to slide in a picture that will show through the cover. I'll be giving away this binder on "Free-Day Friday" (January 30th).

Remember you can get your name in the drawing multiple times by completing the challenges below. Your name will go into the hat each time you've completed one of the tasks! Just don't forget to leave me a comment and let me know!

ON FRIDAY - I'll have one of my 5-joys pick a name out of the hat. So get going and ... JUST ORGANIZE YOURSELF!

Challenges:

• Each day get your MM done - that means you have SEVEN chances to get your name in the drawing just by doing your MM each day.
• Work Daily in the "zone of the week" (for at least 15 minutes)-7 more chances!. This week's zone is Bedrooms and Linen Closet. Next week zone is Bathrooms and Laundry Room. Remember to start by De-Cluttering the zone. It's sooo easy to detail clean in a clutter-free zone!
• Have you written out your MITs? Leave a comment and let us know what they are.
• Organize a project into a Binder.
• Develop a Master Grocery List.
• Develop a list of Family Favorites. (meals, that is)
• Plan your menu for the week.
• De-clutter a closet, cupboard, or bookshelf.

Hooked on Binders

My husband collects Hot Wheels. My son's collect Records, Baseball Cards, Build-A-Bears, and Monopoly. I usually try to discourage collections. I am a firm believer that collections cause chaos, if not kept in check. But I give in when it comes to Binders. Yes, I have an addiction to three-ring binders.

Binders help me organize my goals, my systems, my recipes, my home decor, my children's responsibilities, my emergency preparedness, ... my life!

Binders help catogorize projects and contain the paperwork for each project. Binders are easy to grab when you have just a few minutes to work or when your running out the door. Binders keep you focused on FINISHING projects, rather than spinning from one task to another, never making any progress.

Here's a few binders that might be useful:

1. Recipe Binder - I love my recipe binder. It is divided in the usual recipe book catagories and includes family favorites as well as magazine and internet recipe's I want to try.
2. Artwork Binder - My friend Vaun has a little artist in her home. She saves the special work in a binder to be ooed and awed over for years.
3. Emergency Binder- We have no idea what tomorrow will bring so it's important to have all your documents in order. It has been suggested to include important phone numbers and paperwork that might be hard to replace -examples are birth certificates, immunization records, social security cards, homeowners, auto, and life insurance polices, monthly bills with phone numbers to the company, banking information and medication perscription.
4. Doctor's Binder -Doctor and dentist could be organized in a three ring binder. Place doctor requests, suggestions, lab reports and much more in the binder. Organize the binder based on subjects, such as; bills, specialists, and lab reports.
5. Warranties Binder - Every time a new purchase is made there is always the choice to buy an extended warranty. A binder would be helpful to keep all the warranties in a convenient location. Use plastic sleeves and include the receiept and any other documents pertaining to the warranty.
   

Don't forget to invest in a good three-hole punch!

Zone Defense

In sports, instead of man-to-man defense, some coaches prefer having their players cover specific areas or zones. This is called Zone Defense.

In Home Management, Zone Defense is covering one area of the house at a time. Zone Defense is a great way to to get deep cleaning done. This is how it works:

• Divide your home into 5 different zones.


• Each week concentrate on a different zone.


• Work daily, in the zone, for 15 minutes. Start with de-cluttering. As the clutter disappears, the area will become easier to clean. It's amazing how quickly detailed cleaning can done in a clutter-free space.


• After a full month, you'll have worked your way around the house. If you missed a spot, you'll have the comfort of knowing you'll catch it next time around.

Here is an example of my Zones:

Zone 1: Entrance/Living Room - 1st few days of month (until Sat)
Zone 2: Family Room - First full week of the month
Zone 3: Kitchen/Pantry- Second week
Zone 4: Bedrooms/Linen Closets - Third week
Zone 5: Bathrooms/Laundry - Last days of month (Mon. to the 1st)

Go Team!

Computer Chaos

Hi Everyone-

I hope you didn't give up on me! My computer has been down for A WEEK!!!! I've been going crazy thinking of all kinds of posts I wanted to write. Please check back often this week - because the posts are going to be coming soon!

Family Favorites

It's Menu Monday again! Don't forget to take a few minutes to plan your meals for the week!
Here's a tip to make your meal planning easier:
Make a list of your Family's Favorite Meals. Be sure to consult each family member and add their favorites too. Really brainstorm to get a good list. Include simple meals as well as your tried and true recipes. Keep your list in your household notebook as a reference for quick and easy meal planning.

Here's some of my family's favorites to help you get started:

• Frito Boats
• Tacos & Tostadas
• Burritos
• Quesadillas
• Chili Verde
• Taco Soup
• Scalloped Potatoes & Ham
• Shepherd's Pie
• BBQ Beef on Hamburger Buns
• Sweet & Sour Chicken
• Chicken & Rice
• Teriyaki Chicken
• Breakfast Casserole
• Sub Sandwiches
• Spaghetti
• Lasagna
• Pizza
• Roast
  What are some of your family favorites?

Jennifer Wolff nominated me for this award - thanks a bunch Jen - she is amazingly talented at EVERYTHING she does - check out her photography blog: http://jenwolff.blogspot.com/ - you've got to see her red couch!

As Jen said, "the purpose of these awards is to bring attention and notoriety to some pretty great blogs from average Joe's like us." So, now it's my turn to nominate five people to receive this award and post links to their blogs for you to check out.

So the winners are:

http://simplyhealthier.blogspot.com/
I discovered this blog thru my friend Linda - I'm trying to eat healthier these days and she offers some great tips that are "user friendly". I can do this!


This next blog I just love! You never know when an emergency might come. This blog helps you prepare for emergencies. Store some food, prepare some emergency packs, and pay off your debts - wise counsel which brings peace of mind during thes challenging times.
http://safelygatheredin.blogspot.com/

This blog I just discovered thru my friend Renee - It' s going to help me on my quest for good health (and especially good weight loss!) http://zonefitness.blogspot.com/

And the last award goes to MY BLOG FAIRY. You've probably heard me brag about my blog fairy before! You've got to check out her amazing site! She can grant all your blog wishes and make all your blog dreams come true.
http://www.theblogfairy.com/


Okay I know that's only four - but I'm new at this blogging thing so I'm counting Jen's blog as one of my five. Anyway - this is kind of like a tag. Jen says if you receive the award you're supposed to post a link to my blog, choose five blogs you love to read and give them this award. Post a link to their blog as well. Don't forget to save the jpeg image above to post on your blog.

Thanks for the honor Jen!

Friday's Re-Cap!

Here is a quick review of what we've learned so far:

• Set up a "Momspace" or a Command Center in your home.

• Keep a calendar in your MomSpace and use it!

• Create a Household Notebook which includes Routines, a Week Plan, Household Systems, Menus & Grocery Lists, and Important Contacts and Info.

• Set up Household Systems to get Household Chores accomplished in an organized way. (check out Laundry & Dishes in the archives)

• As you develop your Household Systems - make them habits by including each step in your daily routines. Get help by delegating tasks to family members- they need to develop good habits and routines too!

• As you practice your routines each day, effective habits are formed.

• Your habits will help determine whether your home is filled with CALM or CHAOS!

Leave a comment and let me know how your organizing is going! And feel free to e-mail me with any questions! rjluckycharmed@yahoo.com

Develop a Week Plan

A Week Plan is basically a weekly schedule with regular days for errands and chores. Follow these steps to develop yours:

First, list all the major tasks you are responsible for every week. Things like running errands, grocery shopping, paying bills, planning menus....

Then assign these tasks to a day - like Menu Monday! I've included my Week Plan on the side bar to help you get started.

After you decide on a day to do each task - stick to it! Remember you've got to turn these new routines into habits. Make your new habits a priority. Write them in your calendar and schedule other things around it. Make sure to put a copy in your Household Notebook. Your week plan easese your mind because you don't have to stress about when things are going to get done. You can take comfort in knowing you have an appointment scheduled to complete your major tasks!

Try it for one week. When you know what the day is, you know what has to be done. It may surprise you how your life can revolve around these "priority" appointments. With a weekly plan you trade chaos for calm.

Paper Patrol

Paperwork is one type of clutter that affects everyone and never seems to end. Whether it's bills, mail, or magazines, paper seems to multiply when we leave the room. If you don’t have some sort of system to control it – it will overwhelm your home.

One word that can help patrol your paper is…FAT. This doesn’t mean snacking on Twinkies while reading your mail. It stands for File, Act and Toss.

• File: Unfortunately we must save some paperwork, but there isn't always time to file papers immediately. Choose a space to hold your "to -be filed" stash. It's helpful to use something with limits like a basket or a drawer. When it's filled - it's time to file!

• Act: Paperwork you have to DO something with is SO easy to leave around the house. This includes items to read, forms to fill-out, or catalogs to look over. I keep these items in the top stacking tray in my MomSpace. This way they are in plain sight, yet corralled in a organized way.

• Toss: What more is there to say? - Toss all you can!

Today's Challenge: Set up your Paper Patrol System and don't forget the (healthy) FAT!

Wednesday - Work in the Yard Day!

I know it's winter - I know it's chilly - But get those gloves on! (gardening gloves that is) & spend 15 minutes outside today!

You could start with your front porch - Look Up! Are there some 'not-so' eency weency spiders crawling up there? Get a broom, get a ladder, get a hose and clean those 8-legged creatures and their sticky webs off. You'll feel better and so will your 2-legged guests.

Today's Challenge: Enjoy the outdoors!

Step by Step Organizing

When the task at hand is
a mountain in front of you,
it may seem too hard to climb.

But you don't have
to climb it all at once—
just one step at a time.
Take one small step, and one small step, then another,
and you'll find....

The task at hand
that was a mountain in front of you
is now a mountain you
have climbed.

Train Up A Child

This is a "Guest Post" by Judy. She wrote me about training her children for the real world. You gotta read it.

Laundry--- it is a funny story. My sister-in-law had recently gone back to work full-time (she is also a teacher). When we were visiting-- her kids were telling me that they all did their own laundry. Honestly I was appalled at first. I thought it was so mean to make the kids do it, they seemed so young. When I grew up my mom always had us just help-- funny thing... I always remember there being laundry on the dining room table-- we weren't so good about helping.

Anyway, I returned home and found myself a few years later entering the work force... during the first few months of teaching I asked-- really it was begging-- my kids to help by starting loads, folding, etc. I can't think of one time they did what they were asked without me taking something away or resorting to yelling.... not my favorite thing to do as a mom.

One morning on my way to work I had an epiphany.... I resolved to follow my gut and let them on their own. I can still remember their faces at FHE. Marissa ran to the kitchen to get paper and pen.... she couldn't remember what got washed in cold, warm, hot!! Her laundry note of directions was taped to her laundry basket for months. Every once in awhile they asked questions, but honestly not one of them complained...

... the big payoff came when Kevin went to college. He said that some boys in the dorms had such a hard time. Not only did they not know how to do laundry very well, they struggled to find time to do it. They didn't know how to fit it their schedules. Kevin said, "Mom-- laundry is so easy for me because I've been doing it. It wasn't even an adjustment." He was so grateful that he had learned to do it independently long before he left home. I'm sure now in the mission field it is still easy for him.

Cut those boys off....
it is truly the best parenting. Let them be independent now... when you are available to answer their questions. :) You really don't have to be brave (or feel guilty about it)-- just do it. I'm sure your boys will step up to the plate and amaze you. You will also be amazed at how much time depleting two or three kids from your laundry will free up!!!

Thanks Judy!!! - next Monday night my two boyz over 12 are in for a real treat!

Clean Up Your Laundry!

I used to be a FIRM BELIEVER in only doing laundry one day a week. I felt really strong about this and thought I‘d never change my mind!

But, when the wash is only done once a week - your laundry piles turn into Mount Washmore! The piles are too overwhelming to carry, to wash and even to look at. Wash day means a whole day dedicated to gathering, sorting, washing, drying, hanging, folding, and putting away. Given that there isn’t enough time in a day to complete all the loads that have built up, you end up with little piles all over the house, a load still in the dryer and worse yet - there is already more laundry in the hampers.

I finally realized washing once a week was not the answer and I humbled myself and began to do a little wash each day. I learned that for my family of six - two loads a day kept the piles away!

Once I set up a laundry system and enlisted my family’s help, the large piles disappeared, the stress lifted and I could actually say my laundry was DONE! (for the day).

The System:

The first thing you must do is set up an efficient Laundry Room (see January 3rd post).

Then list each step in completing the laundry for the day:

• Put dirty clothes in hampers (I use laundry baskets)
• Bring Dirty Laundry to Laundry Room
• Sort Laundry
• Wash & Dry 1-2 Loads a day (depending on family size & situation)
• Fold & Hang Laundry
• Put Away Clean Laundry

That's a lot of steps - no wonder it seems like the laundry is never done!

Now set up a system to accomplish each step!

• Place hampers in strategic locations - where the natural clothes piles form. Require each family member put their dirty clothes in hampers
• Add "Bring Laundry Down & Sort" to your MM list
• Add start a load of laundry to your MM list (Wash and Dry 1- 2 loads on most days)
• Take clean laundry out of the dryer.
  Hanging items go on hangers on rod.
  Folded laundry goes into family member’s assigned laundry basket.
• Each family member responsible to put away their own laundry from their basket
  

As you put each step into practice and make them part of your family's daily routine - they really will become habits and be as natural as brushing teeth.

Menu Monday & The Master Grocery List

It's Menu Monday today! Make sure to take a few minutes to get your meals for the week in order. If you've planned out your month - you'll still need to take a quick peek at your menu. Do you need to make any changes this week? Has there been any unexpected schedule changes? Do you need to switch any meals around -turn a more complicated meal into a freezer meal? It's important to be flexible, especially when you've planned for the month.

If you're grocery shopping tomorrow, make to you write out a grocery list. Grocery lists keep you focused, save you money, and prevent multiple trips to the store for forgotten items.

I love using a Master Grocery List. A Master Grocery list consists of the groceries you like to keep stocked in your pantry, including breakfast and lunch items.

Here is an easy way to create your own master list: (See Links below for two samples)

• Start with a blank grocery list which is divided in grocery categories - produce, deli, meat, dairy, frozen, canned, breads & cereals, baking, snacks
• Add a weeks worth of typical breakfast and lunch ingredients onto your list. IE cereal, bread, eggs...
• Add Snacks
• Add a few Freezer and Quick Meals like Lasagna & Mac & Cheese for emergency dinners.
• You can also include produce and canned & frozen veggies for side dishes

Now each week, on Menu Monday - print out your Master list - cross off the items you already have in your kitchen, add the dinner ingredients for the week - and your ready to shop!

Today's Challenge: Create Your Own Master Grocery List

To See a Simplified Master Grocery List click on this link: http://www.mediafire.com/file/zgdtyomhuwt/menu planner -with weekly groceries.doc

To see a more complex sample Click: http://www.mediafire.com/file/2yknj5fzzor/Winco Master Grocery List-planner size.doc

Essentials of an Effecient Laundry Room

No matter what size laundry room you have, you've got to fit in these "must-haves" .

Washer & Dryer (obviously)

Sorting Bins - i.e. darks, mediums, whites

Basket for each family member’s clean laundry

Pole to hang items right our of the dryer

Basket or Drawer for Socks

Easily accessible laundry,soap, stain treatment, dryer sheets & trash can