Organizing Your Way

Becoming an “At-Home” Family

Mandi Ehman — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 11:32:19 +0000

The sunrise from our front porch!

As I’ve hinted at several times over the past couple of weeks, our family is going through some pretty big changes right now.

If you’ve read my very neglected personal blog, you may have already heard the news. At the end of this week we will be signing papers to sell my husband’s business, and he will become a stay-at-home dad.

Being home with my girls is all I’ve ever wanted, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. But I am also passionate about blogging, writing and consulting, and when the opportunity presented itself for Sean to stay home so that I can continue to work from home and homeschool as well (without feeling torn by all of the other responsibilities that come with being an at-home parent), we jumped on it.

Is the transition going to have its challenges? Oh, absolutely.

But we’ve been planning for this for three months now, with written schedules and expectations and responsibilities for both of us. It’s going to be an adjustment, but we’re beyond excited about the flexibility it will give our family to travel, to explore museums and historical sites together and to do more extracurricular activities.

Sean’s been home twice before — once after we moved back east while I was pregnant with our second daughter and once after the birth of our third daughter while we were waiting on the purchase of this same company. He is an amazing dad & husband, designer and craftsman, and we’re looking forward to him having more time to spend on those things as well.

And if it doesn’t work out, he can always start looking for another job.

Although I’ll be sharing about some of the changes here on Organizing Your Way (like my beautiful new home office and some of our new routines), I don’t plan to make this a family journal any time soon. However, because this obviously affects my perspective on some home management and organizing topics, I wanted to share our news with you.

Ideally, I’d like to chronicle our journey to becoming an “at-home family” on Doodles’ Place, but realistically, I don’t know how much time I’ll have for doing that. We’ll see.

So that’s our news! And also what’s been keeping me extra busy the last week or so, as we move furniture and make plans for the change.

Support our sponsors:
:: Reduce your piles (and your stress!) with Simplify 101’s Organize Your Paper Clutter workshop (starts 3/9).
:: Mabel’s Labels: Your number one choice for children’s labels!
:: Achieve your goals with the Life & Goal Organizer from Get Organized Wizard.
:: Check out the Plan to Eat Online Meal Planner, because eating at home should be easier.

Plan to Eat Online Meal Planning Giveaway (2 Winners!)

Mandi Ehman — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:13:43 +0000

I am a big believer in meal planning to help stretch your budget and your sanity! My method usually involves sitting on the couch, racking my brain for meal ideas, and then creating a grocery list based on the meals I plan. It’s not a horrible system, but it’s definitely not my favorite thing to do, and I am always afraid I’m going to forget some key ingredient…which I often do.

The Plan to Eat system makes meal planning easier (and kind of fun!):

:: import & share recipes from your own collection, from friends & family also using the system and from popular recipe sites

:: drag & drop meals on your calendar

:: create customized grocery lists for multiple stores based on your meal plan and pantry staples

Getting the system set up is the most time consuming part because it means adding your favorite recipes so that they’re available for your meal planning. But once you have those stored in your recipe box, you can simply drag and drop the meals to your calendar, make any adjustments to your grocery lists and you’re ready to go. How simple is that?

This week, two lucky Organizing Your Way readers will each win a one-year membership to Plan to Eat! Plan to Eat also offers a free 30-day trial so that you can try it for yourself. Once you sign up, be sure to click on “Add Friends” and invite me to share recipes with you (email address: organizingyourway@gmail.com).

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Every reader has four methods available to enter this contest (for a total of up to four entries):

1. Leave a comment. What does your current meal-planning system look like? What is the hardest part of meal planning for you?

2. Subscribe to my feed via RSS or email. You must confirm your email subscription for it to be a valid entry! Leave a separate comment letting me know you have done so. If you’re already a subscriber, simply leave a separate comment letting me know you’re already subscribed.

3. Sign up for a free 30-day trial. Come back and leave a separate comment once you’ve done so!

4. Follow @mandiehman and @plantoeat and tweet the following on Twitter. Be sure to come back and leave a separate comment once you’ve done so!

Visit @mandiehman to win a 1-year subscription to @PlantoEat, (2 winners!): http://bit.ly/8XqlEe

Prize:
(2) 1-year subscriptions to Plan to Eat

This giveaway ends at noon EST on Saturday, 3/20. I’ll use Random.org to select the winning comment. Winner will be notified by email, and this post will be updated with their name as well!

Support our sponsors:
:: Jumpstart your organizing efforts with the “Help, I don’t know where to begin!” workshop from Simplify 101 (starts 3/25).
:: Mabel’s Labels: Your number one choice for children’s labels!
:: Achieve your goals with the Life & Goal Organizer from Get Organized Wizard.
:: Check out the Plan to Eat Online Meal Planner, because eating at home should be easier.

Weekend Reading, 3/13/10

Mandi Ehman — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 17:28:14 +0000

I hope you all enjoyed the same beautiful spring weather that we did this week. We kept our windows open during the day, spent quite a bit of time playing in the mud and reveled in the fresh air. As we welcome spring, it’s hard to complain about the rain we’ve had for the past two days, and the creek in front of our home — much like our life — is beautiful and full.

The week turned out to be busier than I expected (and the coffee mug in the picture above has been my constant companion), with an exciting project launch at Deal Seeking Mom, preparations for the big changes I hinted at last weekend and what I’m afraid may be the start of the stomach flu. I didn’t share our big news as promised or finish up my bathroom series, but I plan to do both this coming week as well as nail down the editorial calendar for the next couple of months. Are there topics you’d like to hear more about here at Organizing Your Way?

Today I want to tell you a little bit more about another one of our advertisers, Get Organized Wizard.

When I first started reading the Get Organized Wizard blog, I didn’t realize that the Michele Connolly, the brains behind it, also had a vibrant company offering a variety of tools designed to empower people to move from procrastination to action. Michele’s philosophy on life is much like my own, that you are only limited by the limitations you place on yourself, and the tools she offers — from the Inbox Zen ebook to the Life & Goal Organizer — help you break your goals down into manageable steps to achieve happiness, productivity and personal organization.

Here are a few links to add to your weekend reading, and be sure to check my Tumblr account for more as I work through my feed reader this weekend!

Series & Carnivals

:: The Build a Frugal Pantry series at Good (& Cheap) Eats is off to a great start, and this week Jessica’s been exploring the role of whole grains in a frugal pantry.

:: A couple of weeks ago, Tanna from Complete Organizing Solutions shared a great post on Reducing Sentimental Clutter by Photographing Your Memories. Because of the great response she received, she’s created a weekly Picture My Memories carnival where you can share the memories you’re photographing as well!

:: Head over to Money Saving Mom for to follow her 31 Days to a Better Grocery Budget series. So far, my favorite post has been The Buy Ahead Principle. This is something I’ve gotten out of the habit of doing, and I’d like to do better!

Build a Pantry that Works for You

Mandi Ehman — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:48:46 +0000

source: Br3nda

The following is a guest post from Jessica at LifeasMOM and Good Cheap Eats:

Building a healthy and frugal pantry can be a challenge. But, it’s a rewarding one. I love to cook, my family loves to eat, and all of us are happy knowing that what we’re eating is good for us.

Having a full pantry is a dream come true. When my kitchen is well-stocked, it’s easy for me to develop menu plans and to prepare meals that our family enjoys. Plus, if I’ve already got the ingredients I need, I don’t have to run out to the store and risk spending more money than I should.

Often we shop without a long-range plan. We buy what’s on sale or what looks good and we end up with a cupboard full of stuff that doesn’t go together. I can live without that; can’t you?

Want to build a pantry that works for you? It’s easy and simple!

1. Make a list of 7-10 meals that your family loves. It might look like this:

* Beans and Rice
* Burritos
* Tacos
* Tuna Melts
* Burgers and Fries
* Spaghetti and Meatballs
* Lasagna
* Baked Chicken and Rice
* Tuna Noodle Casserole
* Meatloaf and Mashed Potatoes

2. Make a second list of the ingredients needed to make those meals. Hopefully, there will be several ingredients that these meals have in common. If not, you may want to revisit your meal choices. Save recipes with specialized ingredients for special occasions.

* canned beans
* rice
* flour tortillas
* cheese
* canned tuna
* sandwich bread
* ground beef
* hamburger buns
* condiments
* potatoes
* spaghetti
* lasagna noodles
* pasta sauce
* chicken

3. Divide your list into two columns: dried/canned goods and perishables.

4. As you shop each week, be on the lookout for sales on these items. Buy extra lasagna noodles or cans of spaghetti sauce when the price is low and stash them in the pantry. If you see perishable items on sale, such as ground beef, buy as much as you can reasonably store in the freezer. Over a few weeks’ time you will have built up an inventory of ingredients you know you will use. Keep it up and it’s rare that you’ll ever lack the basics needed to prepare your 7-10 tried and true suppers

Keeping a well stocked pantry is like getting a free pass from meal planning and shopping. Sure you can keep buying and rotating your ingredients. But every once in awhile, you’ll be able to give yourself time off, something no one can live without.

Jessica Fisher, aka FishMama, is mom to six busy children. She regularly writes about family, fun and frugality at LifeasMOM and posts “delicious ways to act your wage” at Good Cheap Eats.

Support our sponsors:
:: Reduce your piles (and your stress!) with Simplify 101’s Organize Your Paper Clutter workshop (starts 3/9).
:: Mabel’s Labels: Your number one choice for children’s labels!
:: Restore harmony and order to your home with the Ultimate To-Do List Pack: Home & Family from Get Organized Wizard.
:: Check out the Plan to Eat Online Meal Planner, because eating at home should be easier.

Spring Cleaning: Get the Junk Out Carnival

Mandi Ehman — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:34:10 +0000

Katie from Kitchen Stewardship is launching a Spring Cleaning: Get the Junk Out carnival this week! I’m honored to have been invited to participate, and I will be tackling the clutter topic in a few weeks.

To be honest, I tend to be crunchy-lite (I just made that up…), and some of these topics — such as parabens and CAFOs — are new to me, so I’ll be looking for the baby steps offered each week to help me get started. Those of you who are more experienced with them will find more in-depth resources and steps as well.

Overall, I’m excited to learn about all of the topics — from plastic food containers and antibacterial soaps to debt and gluten — from women who are ahead of me on the crunchy spectrum!

The carnival will run over the next ten weeks, with one topic per week, which I think is a fantastic way to present so much information without it becoming overwhelming. Each Tuesday, a different blogger will host the carnival so that you can post about your own experience with the topic at hand (or share an older post on the subject) and link up.

3/23 :: Katie @ Kitchen Stewardship :: antibacterial soap/bleach

3/30 :: Amy @ Simply Sugar and Gluten Free :: gluten

4/6 :: Beth @ Fake Plastic Fish :: plastic food containers

4/13 :: Donielle @ Naturally Knocked Up :: refined sugar

4/20 :: Micaela @ Mindful Momma :: parabens

4/27 :: Lenetta @ Nettacow :: food additives

5/4 :: Kelly @ Kelly the Kitchen Kop :: CAFOs

5/11 :: Laura @ Heavenly Homemakers :: pesticides

5/18 :: Mandi @ Organizing Your Way :: clutter

5/25 :: Claire @ Saving Money Plan :: debt

There will also be special giveaways each week at Kitchen Stewardship to go along with each week’s theme, so be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss any of them!

Are these things you’ve been thinking about already? Which one are you most looking forward to learning more about?

Support our sponsors:
:: Jumpstart your organizing efforts with the “Help, I don’t know where to begin!” workshop from Simplify 101 (starts 3/25).
:: Mabel’s Labels: Your number one choice for children’s labels!
:: Make peace with your email and achieve Inbox Zen with these tips from Get Organized Wizard.
:: Check out the Plan to Eat Online Meal Planner, because eating at home should be easier.

Five Steps for Decluttering Your Kitchen

Mandi Ehman — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 02:02:02 +0000

source: lusi

It’s turned into guest post week here at Organizing Your Way. Thankfully, I wrote all of these posts before the start of what’s turned out to be a very busy week! Today I’m also sharing Five Tips for Decluttering Your Kitchen as part of Kimi’s Spring Cleaning Carnival at The Nourishing Gourmet.

I don’t know about you, but I love kitchen gadgets. That sounds funny coming from someone who is an admitted kitchen dunce, but it’s true. Even in high school and college, I had a hutch in my room with dishes, glasses and various kitchen gadgets for making smoothies, sandwiches, quesadillas, etc. for my friends. When I got married, I had a Pampered Chef bridal shower and I was a Pampered Chef consultant several years ago, so it’s no wonder my kitchen cabinets and drawers were bursting at the seams.

Understanding Your Personality: Balancing Tasks and People

Mandi Ehman — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 12:59:19 +0000

source: Ali Nassiri

My monthly column is up at Simple Mom, and I’m talking about task- versus people-oriented personalities. Come on over and share your thoughts about your personality and how you find balance between your to-do list and the people you love!

While personality tests and reading about personality types have been regarded by some as self-indulgent navel gazing, there is real value that comes from identifying your natural tendencies. Every personality has strengths and weaknesses, and understanding what yours are allows you take advantage of the strengths and create a plan to overcome the weaknesses.

The most popular personality test is the Myers-Briggs typology, but I’ve always been fascinated by the task-oriented versus people-oriented personality spectrum. Perhaps it’s because I am so strongly task-oriented, and I appreciate having a name for the focus I tend to place on my to-do list and getting things done.

Question of the Day: Have You Filed Your Taxes?

Mandi Ehman — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 06:35:39 +0000

source: AlanCleaver_2000

With just a little over a month to go until Tax Day on April 15th (also the 11th anniversary of when my hubby and I started dating, back before Tax Day really meant anything to either of us!), I’m embarrassed to admit that I have barely even started my tax preparation. I’m hoping to make some headway soon, as I don’t want to be stuck trying to sort out a mess at the last minute.

If you’re still working on your taxes, here are some posts from last year to help you get organized:

:: Preparing Your Taxes: Thinking Through Your Needs

:: Preparing Your Taxes: Make a List

:: Preparing Your Taxes: Planning for Next Year

So today’s question of the day is…

Have you started your taxes? Have you filed already?

Where are you in the process?

What things do you wish you’d done differently? Will you do them differently this coming year?

What’s the hardest part about filing your taxes?

Simplify 101 Winner & Special Offer

Mandi Ehman — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 18:36:01 +0000

Congratulations, Keilah, you won the Organize Your Paper Clutter workshop giveaway! I’ve emailed you with information on how to claim your prize.

The workshop starts tomorrow, so if you haven’t signed up yet, be sure to do that today so you don’t miss a thing.

Simplify 101 also has some more great workshops coming up, including:

:: Organize Your Closet, March 11th — April 1, $24

:: Help! I don’t know where to begin!, March 25 — April 1, $7

:: Quick & Simple Clutter Control, April 8 — April 29, $24 (special early bird price!)

Aby has offered to answer any questions you all may have about the workshops, so please feel free to leave a comment with your questions and she’ll answer them this evening and tomorrow!

Support our sponsors:
:: Reduce your piles (and your stress!) with Simplify 101’s Organize Your Paper Clutter workshop (starts 3/9).
:: Mabel’s Labels: Your number one choice for children’s labels!
:: Restore harmony and order to your home with the Ultimate To-Do List Pack: Home & Family from Get Organized Wizard.
:: Check out the Plan to Eat Online Meal Planner, because eating at home should be easier.

The Time Cost of Our Stuff

Mandi Ehman — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 13:18:07 +0000

source: jek in the box

This week, Marci from Overcoming Busy is celebrating the relaunch of her wonderful blog, and she invited me to participate with a post on The Time Cost of Our Stuff.

You’ve probably thought about the cost of various knickknacks, doodads and gadgets around your home — at least for a minute or two — but have you ever stopped to think about the time cost of these same items?

How much time do you spend moving things? Cleaning them? Thinking about them?