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Not Sure Where to Begin? Here Are 6 Steps to Help You Start to Organize Your Life!

Sharon Rowley — Sat, 15 Nov 2025 10:00:00 +0000

When you find that things are feeling out of control, that the house is a mess, that you can't get anywhere on time, and that you aren't getting anything done on your to-do list- you start to feel as if you'll never be able to get organized! So when you get to that point where you want to dig in and regain control over your home and family, follow these 6 steps to help you start to organize your life again!

Even if you are someone who considers yourself to be a “fairly organized person” we all have weeks when things just slide right out of our control and chaos reigns supreme. (I know that it happens to me all of the time!)

As an example, I received this email from a reader, Renae, who was feeling unorganized and stressed from all that she deals with in her busy life. Here’s some of what Renae wrote:

“I am writing because there are so many areas that I need to tackle- it is most embarrassing yet at the same time confusing. I don't know where to start. I do have a clean and tidy home. Cluttered many times due to everyone not following chore times or helping out. My children are 14, 12, 9, and 4. I truly want to help them learn the disciplines of keeping a home, keeping organized and also keeping care of themselves. Any thoughts on where a organize misfit would begin to put order in her world so that these important challenges can be lived out? I would be so appreciative for any direction you could provide.”

When it happens (and it always does!)– this is how to get started on the path to organizing your life again:

Step 1 to Organize Your Life: Sort It, Do It, Trash It, or List It!

When the clutter of paperwork, schoolwork, and unopened mail stacked all over the kitchen counter is threatening to bury me, I feel very out of control. So I start on the far left side of my kitchen counter and I begin going through the piles. I pick up each piece of paper once, quickly read it, and then decide what needs to happen next.

If it is something that can be done within a minute or two such as RSVP'ing to a birthday party and then adding it to my calendar, I do it immediately and then file the paper. If it is school work that I just needed to review, I read it and then toss it (recycling it when possible!), or if it something that is going to take me a little while- such as paying bills, making a lengthy follow-up phone call- then I write it down as a “to-do” item to get to later.

When I am done going through all of the papers- I should be left with one small pile which requires follow up. I put that in a folder on my desk and add an appointment on my calendar to deal with it.

Complete the To-Do List

Once you have tackled the piles on your kitchen counter, take your to-do list and walk through your house, writing down all of those things that you see every day and think “I really should do this”, or “When am I ever going to get this (closet, bookshelf, desk drawer) cleaned up?”. Even write down the things that are holding you back from a more organized life such a “re-vamp the kids chore chart” and “set up a family calendar that we can all sync to.”

Now you have a clear picture of what you'd like to get done. Sometimes I feel better just from this step alone- what's it's on a list, it is off of my mind!

Don't Forget About eMail!

And don't forget your email inboxes when battling back the clutter! The same rules apply- do it, delete it, or add it to the to-do list.

Does This Step Feel Too Overwhelming?

If sorting it, doing it, trashing it, or listing it on paper seems in itself to be a monumental task- break it up. Set a timer for 30 minutes and see how much you can get done in that time. Or tell yourself to work on just one countertop or area and work until you get through it. Then the next day, move on to the next area and so forth until it is sorted, done, trashed, or put on the to-do list.

I promise you- that your mind will start to relax a little once you have cleared the paper clutter and created one place where you have one big “to-do” list. You are starting to gain some control.

2. Use Bins to Deal With House Clutter

Kids aren't always going to put stuff away when they are done with it. Projects, books, and graded papers are going to come home from school that the kids will want to save. Keeping on top of finding a home for all of this “stuff” can make a Mom crazy- or certainly send her on 4000 trips up and down the stairs to put things away every day.

I suggest finding a few plastic bins This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. that you can label either with a location in the house or with each child's name. Then when you find an item in the kitchen that belongs in a kid's bedroom you toss it into the appropriate bin.

The kids are then responsible for cleaning out their bins on a regular basis- and failure to do so can result in bin-items being trashed (or at least that's what I tell them!)

3. Make Peace with “The To-Do List”

Now that everything that you need to or want to do is on your master to-do list, it is time to make peace with the list. If your list looks anything like mine- you could work 24/7 for the next year only on trying to complete the items on that list, and even then not make it to the bottom.

But that's not how we want to live our lives, is it? We're here to be with our families and create our own happiness too, not just get “stuff done”. So the first thing you need to wrap your head around- is that the to-do list is never going to be finished. Never.

And you need to tell yourself that while it is very nice (and frees the mind) to have all of your “to-dos” listed in one place, so you aren't tripping over them all day long- you need to give yourself permission to leave things on this list for a very. long. time.

Looking for more great tools to organize your home?

Then be sure to check out these lists of my favorite Closet Organizing Tools This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. and Bathroom Organizing Tools This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. over on my Amazon influencer page This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. !

4. Give Each Item on the To-Do List a Priority and a Scope

Assign a Priority

Now that you have accepted that you cannot get it all done, it's time to start figuring out where to start with the things that are important to you. So let's start going through the list.

Look at each item and next to it, give it a priority rating A-D. “A”s are for things that you need to do right now- things with defined and immediate deadlines. “B”s are things that are important but can wait a week or two (or longer), “C”s are things you need to do (such as clean out the coat closet) but they are things you've needed to do for a while now, so if another month or two goes by, so be it. And “D”s are kind of wish-list things- like clean out the attic. Boy, I'd sure like to get to it, but since I don't walk by it every day, it can wait. For forever… or until the kids all graduate from high school and we move again!

Assign a Scope

Once everything on the list has a priority assigned- it's time to go back through just the items with an A or a B next to them and assign a scope- which means a “guesstimate” of the amount of time needed to complete that task. Maybe one “A” item requires an hour of time to complete and another one 4 hours. Give your best guess next to each A or B item.

5. Examine Your Schedule and Determine When You Have Time to Work On Tasks

Now take a look at your busy schedule and decide for each day of the coming week when you can find an hour or two to start working on the A-list items, and keeping in mind the scope of time needed for each, start assigning A list tasks to days of the week.

Be careful not to over-schedule yourself by cramming three 20-minute projects on the list into a spot where you know you only have a half-an-hour to do them. You'll just be setting yourself up to fail!

Once you've got this week's items assigned, start working through them day by day as you've designated. Actually getting some things done will feel great!

6. Keep the Process Going!

Admittedly, this is the step that falls apart all of the time- you've battled back the piles, you've made your lists and assigned priorities and scopes, and are starting to work through items on your to-do list. So why is it that you turn around next Tuesday and there are piles of paper all over your counters again and you feel as if you've lost control?

It's because you did not keep the process going! At least once a week you need to go through incoming paperwork and emails and follow the do it, trash it, or list it routine. Throw the kids clutter into their bins and follow up with the kids to empty them. Review your to-do list often- because priorities change! Figure out what items you are going to tackle this week. It is hard- but if you keep the process going, you can organize your life!

Would you like to get more organized this year?

Best Family Calendars – whether you prefer electronic, paper, or wall calendar- these are the best ones of the year!
Best Planners for Moms – a family calendar can help you organize your schedule and your time- but a planner can help to make sure that you are giving your life purpose!
15 Fantastic Command Centers to Help Busy Moms Stay Organized
20 Organized Kids Bedroom Ideas
10 Organized Laundry Room Ideas
12 Organized Closet Ideas

Are you ready to get your life organized? Register for Busy Moms Boot Camp!

It's a free series of 10 weekly emails that can help you put some organization back in your life and help you to create room for all of those things that you'd like to be doing- whether that's making time to celebrate the little things with your family or carving out some space for yourself. Busy Moms Boot Camp can help you to move from chaos to organized! Simply sign up below to get started!

I hope these 6 steps will help you get started, and I would love for you to leave a comment and tell us if this will make you feel more in control. I wish you the best of luck!

The post Not Sure Where to Begin? Here Are 6 Steps to Help You Start to Organize Your Life! appeared first on MomOf6.

The Best Charging Stations For Powering Your Devices and Hiding Cord Clutter!

Sharon Rowley — Fri, 24 Oct 2025 09:00:00 +0000

As the number of devices in our household continues to grow- it has become a challenge to find places to charge all of our family's devices, and corral all of the cords! With 6 kids I decided that I wanted each family member to have their own charging station which will help each of us to get organized at the start and end of each day. So here is a round up of the best charging stations we are using in our own home-plus a few other ones that I love- to help you keep your devices charged and hide all of that cord clutter!

The Best Charging Stations- Our Top Picks!

Best For:	Charging Station:	Rating:
Best 3-Port Charger (for iPhone, Watch, Airpods)	BoxThink Charging Station This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you.
Best 4-Port Charging Station	Jewelry-Box Style Charging Station This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you.
Best 5-Port Charging Station	MobileWatch Black Leather Charging Station This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you.
Best 6-Port Charging Station	Hercules Tuff 6-port Charging Station This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you.
Best Non-Slot Style Charging Station	Bamboo Multi-Device Charging Station This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you.
Best 1-Port Wireless Charging Stand	Anker PowerWave Wireless Charging Stand This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you.
Best Wireless 1-Port Charging Pad	Anker PowerPort 5 Wireless Charging Pad This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you.

What Type of Charging Station Do You Need?

What it really comes down to is:

What do you need to charge?
How many devices do you own
Where do you like to charge them?

In my case, I keep a charging station at my desk (I love my bamboo charging station shown above!) to charge my iPad, my AirPods, and my credit card swiper. I specifically chose a charging station that would allow me to see my iPad as it charged (vs. a slot-style charging station).

Next to my bed, I keep a wireless charging stand so I can charge my phone, which also serves as my alarm clock.

The number of devices you intend to charge in a location should determine the number of ports you need in a charging station. But don't forget to future-proof… you never know what new device is around the corner that will be the next thing you'll want to own!

What Features Should You Look For In a Charging Station?

The key things to consider as you are comparing charging stations are:

How large is the footprint of the charging station? Will it fit nicely into the space you have?
Is there enough room inside of the station to contain all of the cord clutter as well as a multi-port charger?
And of course- you want it to be aesthetically pleasing to the eye!

Here are the Best Multi-Device Charging Stations:

Here are some of the charging stations we use in our own home, plus a few others that I love!

Top Pick: BoxThink Charging Station

If you are looking for a charging station for your bedside table This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. to charge your Apple phone, smartwatch, and wireless airpods- this one is perfect! Made from natural bamboo- this unit has built-in connectors for all three devices as well as a power cord to plug the base into a wall. (7.9 x 2.3 x 3.1 inches)

Top Pick: Jewelry-Box Style Charging Station

I love the beautiful sleek design of this white wood charging station This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. with room for 4 devices. The compartment in the back opens easily to get all of your wires and cords set up (I suggest using a multi-port charger so you only have one cord to plug into the wall.)

The drawer is handy for storage of small items. (12″W x 6″H x 12″D)

Top Pick: MobileWatch Black Leather Charging Station

With space to hold up to 5 devices plus an included extension to charge an Apple watch, this charging station This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. looks sharp and organized. It has a deep base that is wide enough to hold a 6-port charger and is constructed of faux leather with contrast stitching. (7.8 x 10 x 8.2 inches)

Top Pick: Hercules Tuff 6-port Charging Station

This unique charging station has slot dividers This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. that glow while your device is charging- and when they stop glowing they are fully charged!

The station comes with six 8″ charging cables that keep everything neat and organized. (I believe the company will work with you to switch out the cables to match your devices). (7.2 x 5 x 1.2 inches)

Top Pick: Bamboo Charging Station

I like this bamboo wood charging station This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. for its clean lines and separate compartments for each device that allow me to see and use the devices while they charge.

Inside of the box I use a 6-port charger and hide all of the device cords underneath- leaving one power cord to plug into the wall outlet. (11 3/4″W x 6 3/4″D x 4 1/4″H)

Top Pick: Anker PowerWave Wireless Charging Stand

Charge your phone through its protective case and without plugging it in using this charging stand This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. . Anker's exclusive WaveBoost technology uses advanced components and a state-of-the-art cooling system to charge up to 30% faster than other wireless chargers. Can charge in landscape or portrait mode. (3.23 x 2.68 x 4.65 in)

Top Pick: Anker Wireless Charging Pad

It is as simple as resting your phone on the top of the wireless charging pad This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. . It will charge through your phone case up to 10% faster than a standard charger. An LED light indicates that the device is charging. Simple and sleek. (3.9 x 0.4 x 3.9″)

Looking for more great tools to organize your home?

Best Multi-Port Charger for the Inside of These Charging Stations:

So the key to containing all of the cord clutter, is to have one unit inside of the charging station that is your power supply. All of your devices plug into that power supply, and only one cord snakes out of the back of your station and into the wall!

Top Pick: RAVPower 6-Port Charger

This multi-port charger This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. simultaneously charges six phones, tablets, or a combination of both. Safety protections prevent your devices from overcharging, overheating, or short-circuiting. It comes with a 5-foot detachable power cord. (6 x 4.9 x 1.5 in)

Looking for More of Our Top Picks?

The Best Family Calendars
The Best Planners for Busy Moms
20 Fantastic Hidden Storage Ideas for Your Home

I hope that you found this post to be very helpful as you consider your options. Please leave a comment if you have any questions!

The post The Best Charging Stations For Powering Your Devices and Hiding Cord Clutter! appeared first on MomOf6.

10 Home Office Organization Ideas!

Sharon Rowley — Thu, 23 Oct 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Your home office should be a place that inspires you, not overwhelms you. It should be clear of clutter and organized so that you can accomplish your goals. Clean desk, clear mind! Today I hope to inspire you to get organized with some ideas on how to organize a home office with these 10 home office organization ideas!

Most people have some sort of a home office- whether it's the place where you work from home or just a place to pay your bills.

For some people a home office is in a separate room, for others, it's a desk tucked away in the corner, or even a closet that has been converted into a workspace. It's where you keep your computer, your files, and the towering stack of papers that threaten to take over your entire space!

Wouldn't it be great to get it organized!

Home Office Organization Ideas: It All Starts With An Inbox!

The key to keeping your home office decluttered is to have a place to collect, and then process all of your incoming papers- bills, forms, bank statements, mail, school papers, etc.

I have an awesome fabric covered oversized inbox that I bought at Target eons ago and it sits on my desk patiently holding all of my papers until I am ready to sort and act upon them! Alas, it is no longer available, but if you are looking for a stylish new inbox to organize your paperwork, I love this pink stackable letter tray This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. – it's pretty AND functional!

Or if you'd like to make one, this tutorial to create your own fabric mail organizer from The Stonybrook House is awesome!

I also love this magnetic paper bin that was made from a recycled cereal box! (link no longer available)

Looking for more great tools to organize your home?

Organized Office Ideas: A Place for Files

Once you tackle your paperwork- sorting and process everything- things not destined for the recycling bin usually need to be filed.

Personally, I like to keep a desktop filing box for papers I need to use often- projects I am working on for MomOf6, upcoming shows I am doing for cabi, etc. And then I have a separate stand-alone filing cabinet for papers that I don't need regular access to- but I need to keep around for a while, like paperwork for taxes, receipts for home improvements, and the 50,000 other things that end up sticking around in my files!

I am in love, love, LOVE with this chalkboard painted filing cabinet! This tutorial created by Haeley over at Design Improved shows just how she took a thrift store filing cabinet and after prepping it, used chalkboard paint This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. to cover it! I love the white frames on the front of the drawers and the pink hardware details!

If you are looking to purchase a standing filing cabinet that looks cool while holding all of your important papers, this one This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. has great style!

Organize the Supplies!

Envelopes, stamps, pencils, pens, paperclips, post-it notes, labels, business cards, stationery… the list of small items that we keep at our desks goes on and on!

There are things I like to keep on top of my desk for easy access, and items I prefer to keep organized in drawers since I don't use them as often. But I especially love it when everything has a neat and organized home so I can quickly tidy up my desk at the end of the day (especially since I share my home office space with our dining room!)

I love this awesome desktop organizer created from cereal boxes and glued atop a wooden plaque from Mod Podge Rocks!

Another idea is to mount a wine rack This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. under a cabinet and then use plastic tumblers This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. to hold supplies. (Idea courtesy of Better Home and Gardens).

A quick way to achieve supply organization is to use this mesh desktop organizer This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. ! It has tons of compartments to hold everything you need!

Home Office Organization Ideas: A Place to Tack Up Inspiration!

The back wall of my desk is covered in corkboard, but you actually never see the original surface because I always have papers pinned to it! My MomOf6 mission statement is there, as well as tons of helpful notes and guidelines that I use all of the time while creating new content.

I also have these command clips This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. which I covered in decorative washi tape This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. attached to my wall so I can tack up even more important papers!

To create a beautiful bulletin board for your home office, you only need a canvas, fabric, and a staple gun (tutorial over at DIY Candy)

I also love this pretty decorative bulletin board This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. which comes in a variety of sizes.

You Need to Have a Desk Blotter!

One of the best ways to make your home office pretty and presentable (not to mention colorful!) is to use a gorgeous desk pad to brighten your space. It protects the desktop from scratches when you are moving around equipment, it functions as a mouse pad as well as a beverage coaster, and it just gives you something nice to write on.

I love the desk pad This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. that I use so much, that I purchased pastel ones for my daughters' desks as well!

Looking for more ways to organize your home and your busy life?

Best Family Calendars – whether you prefer electronic, paper, or wall calendar- these are the best ones of the year!
15 Fantastic Command Centers to Help Busy Moms Stay Organized
20 Organized Kids Bedroom Ideas
10 Organized Laundry Room Ideas

Are you ready to get your life organized? Register for Busy Moms Boot Camp!

I hope that these home office organization ideas inspired you to create a pretty yet functional workspace in your own home office!

The post 10 Home Office Organization Ideas! appeared first on MomOf6.

Mason Jar Photo Centerpieces

Sharon Rowley — Thu, 23 Oct 2025 09:00:00 +0000

When it comes to centerpieces, you generally won't find one adorning my kitchen or dining room tables. It's not that I don't love how they look- it's just that it becomes one more thing to remove from the table (along with school books, papers, pencils, the stray baseball cap) when setting the table for dinner. But when the holiday season approaches, I like to make our table look special. And I love to do it with a personal touch that celebrates my family. Which is why I love decorating with these mason jar photo centerpieces!

For Your Mason Jar Photo Centerpieces- Choose Photos that Highlight the Year

The holiday season is the perfect time to look back on the last year and reflect on all that we have to be grateful for. And if you feel that life is racing by at an alarming rate, taking the time to swipe through your phone's camera roll will remind you of all of the great things you did with your family in the last 12 months!

So pour yourself a tall mug of something yummy and enjoy an hour of reminiscing! As I found photos I wanted to use in my centerpieces, I exported them to a folder on my desktop, so it would be easy to find them.

Next, I went into PicMonkey This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. (my favorite online photo editing site) and opened each photo one at a time to edit them before printing.

Most of the time I used the “Auto Adjust” feature to brighten the photo, and then I clicked on the magic wand icon, and then selected “Black and White” and applied that filter to my photo.

I then saved and printed each of my photos on 4 x 6 matte photo paper This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. .

Prep Your Jars

Confession time. No mason jars were used in the making of these Mason Jar Photo Centerpieces. Why? Because I don't believe in paying for something that is so readily available for free! Do you buy pasta sauce?

Are you just tossing those jars into your recycling bin? Well, stop it!

Give them a good rinse, and while you're at it- run a stream of water over the label. Most of it will peel right off.

Use a little Goo Gone This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. to remove anything left behind. Simply spray it onto the sticky area, let it sit for a minute or two and then wipe away.

The best part is that they are clear glass jars- unadorned with decorations or lettering!

Looking for some great ideas for holiday gifts?

Then be sure to check out these lists of my favorite Tech Gifts for Busy Moms This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. over on my Amazon influencer page This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. !

I like to add a few wraps of raffia This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. or ribbon This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. at the top of the jar, which helps to hide the lines for the screw top.

I then choose the pairs of photos for the inside of the jar. I use 4×6 prints, but they will overlap a bit inside, so I try to choose one photo where the subject takes up the entire picture and one photo where there is a bit of background on the sides. That second photo will tuck behind the first one, so you won't see all of the background.

I simply roll up the photos to fit them through the neck of the jar- putting the larger subject photo in first, followed by the photo with the background on the sides.

I then add a battery operated tea light This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. to each jar- which makes the jar “glow” from the inside.

Last year I used several of these mason jar photo centerpieces as part of my tablescape on Thanksgiving. I love how it turned out!

Mason jar photo centerpieces are such a fun and easy way to celebrate the ones you love- and decorate your table!

Looking for Some More Holiday Ideas?

5 Tips for Your DIY Family Photo Shoot
Free Holiday Planning Printables!
50 Thanksgiving-Themed “Would You Rather” Questions for families! (free printable game)
50 Christmas “Would You Rather” Questions for families (free printable game)
10 Great Stocking Stuffers for Busy Moms!
10 Great Gift Ideas for Tweens

Kids LOVE to play this game- but if they head off on their own to make up the truth questions and dares together- the game can sometimes get a little out of hand- with truth questions becoming more and more personal, and dares growing crazier and crazier.

So I thought it would be a good idea- to provide the game for them- with all of the questions reviewed and Mom-approved and all of the dares too." />

The post Mason Jar Photo Centerpieces appeared first on MomOf6.

10 Fantastic Thanksgiving Table Ideas!

Sharon Rowley — Wed, 22 Oct 2025 09:00:00 +0000

I love to set a fancied up table for Thanksgiving. It's one of those times of year that I am not worried about the number of dishes it adds to the evening's clean up, I don't care about the extra time it takes to make it look oh-so-pretty (in fact, I relish that time!), and I believe the extra effort makes the meal taste even better! If you too would like to kick your table up a notch this year- here are 10 fantastic Thanksgiving table ideas!

Last year, I added a long plank to our tabletop that had once served as a shelf somewhere in the house- and I covered the board with sugar pumpkins, artificial leaves This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. , vases of pinecones, and lots of candles. One of my favorite touches was creating these mason jar photo centerpieces !

Thanksgiving Table Ideas: Centerpieces

I never know quite how to bring together a tall centerpiece for the table, and I think this one using tall candlesticks This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. and even old books to give some height and covering the base with faux leaves This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. and berries is awesome. And the white pumpkins with fresh roses makes it all look like a pro pulled it together! Courtesy of New House New Home (site no longer available).

I love the use of pillar candles This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. as well as candlesticks and elevated pumpkins in this gorgeous centerpiece as featured on LoveLucyGirl (link no longer available).

I love the simple idea of carving a hole in the top of an apple and adding a tealight This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. , like the apples featured here on One Little Project.

I love table confetti– and this project involving watercolors and a silhouette paper cutting machine This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. is awesome! Courtesy of Two Purple Couches.

I so want to make this simple wooden box to use as a centerpiece for our table! Courtesy of The Idea Room. But maybe I'll just buy this one on Etsy instead!

Looking forward to cooking a delicious holiday dinner?

Then be sure to check out my favorite Kitchen Tools for Holiday Meals This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. over on my Amazon influencer page This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. !

Thanksgiving Table Ideas: Layering

Beyond just the use of color (I love how the turquoise pops against the orange), I also love the way that Linda from Craftaholics Anonymous layers her place setting. Cloth placemat This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. , wicker charger This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. , two different size square plates This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. , brown linen napkins This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. , and gourd place card. So beautiful!

Thanksgiving Table Ideas: Placemats and Place cards

I love the simplicity and elegance of these free printable Give Thanks placemats and Thankful For place cards (and love for she inserted them in the napkin rings) from Unexpected Elegance.

These silver pumpkins as place card holders are adorable. Full instructions over at Stockpiling Moms. (Or you can purchase similar ones here This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. ).

We still have rosemary growing in our garden-and using them in these sweet yet simple rosemary place cards is a great idea! Courtesy of The Kitchn.

Gratitude Tree

Last year I was inspired by this Thankful Tree I saw over on Simply Vintage Girl- and while I absolutely love her wooden chalkboard tags, I wanted to be able to write more than a few words on our tags. So I created paper tags using scrapbook paper that gave us more room to write and hung them from a branch that we found in our yard.

Looking for Some More Great Holiday Ideas?

5 Tips for Your DIY Family Photo Shoot
Free Holiday Planning Printables!
Mason Jar Photo Centerpieces (perfect for the holiday table!)
10 Amazing Thanksgiving Desserts (besides pumpkin pie!)
10 Delicious Thanksgiving Side Dishes

Are you feeling inspired to create your own beautiful tablescape this Thanksgiving?

The post 10 Fantastic Thanksgiving Table Ideas! appeared first on MomOf6.

Thanksgiving “Would You Rather?” Questions that are perfect for families!

Sharon Rowley — Wed, 22 Oct 2025 09:00:00 +0000

This year I've decided to “jazz up” the conversation around the Thanksgiving table and play a fun game of “Would You Rather?”! It's one of my kids' favorite sleepover party games for kids– so I thought that developing a list of 50 Thanksgiving Would You Rather questions to play with the kids and adults after dinner would be a fun way to cap off one of my favorite days!

I simply cut the list of 50 questions into little strips (using my scrapbook paper cutter This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. ), folded the strips in half and placed them inside of a cleaned-out pasta jar.

I love to recycle glass pasta jars for use in all kinds of projects and displays in my home! You don't need to spend $ on canning jars when you can recycle something you already have for free!

I added a sweet little burlap bow This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. and applied an orange and yellow “Would You Rather?” label to the jar using my scrapbook roller adhesive This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. .

Getting Ready for Thanksgiving?

Then be sure to check out this list of my favorite Kitchen Gadgets This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. for Busy Moms over on my Amazon influencer page This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. !

Download Your Copy of the 50 Thanksgiving Would You Rather Questions for Families Here:

Simply sign up below to join the MomOf6 community, and you'll be directed to a thank you page with access instructions!

*You can view our Privacy Policy here. To access the printable without subscribing to our newsletter, click here to send an email requesting access.

Looking for Some More Holiday Ideas?

Free Printable Thanksgiving Mad Libs (kids love these!)
Free Printable Thanksgiving Photo Scavenger Hunt for Kids!
Free Printable Thanksgiving Charades / Heads Up Game!
Free Holiday Planning Printables!
10 Amazing Thanksgiving Desserts (besides pumpkin pie!)
10 Delicious Thanksgiving Side Dishes
10 Fantastic Thanksgiving Table Ideas

Does your family like to play party games on Thanksgiving? If so, please leave a comment and tell us all about it!

The post Thanksgiving “Would You Rather?” Questions that are perfect for families! appeared first on MomOf6.

Sweet Potato Torte Recipe

Sharon Rowley — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Is it a side dish or is it a dessert? It can be hard to decide! But if you are looking for a fabulous side dish for your holiday table or need to find something to take along to a family get-together, I promise you that this sweet potato torte recipe is one everyone will be talking about for a long time!

The crust is made in the food processor and has a tangy bite to it due to the small amount of vinegar in the dough.

The sweet potatoes are cooked in the microwave, and once cooled, the flesh is scraped into a large mixing bowl and mashed (kids can help with this step- with or without glittery orange nail polish!)

The torte is assembled in a springform pan- with the dough pressed into the bottom and up the sides of the pan to seal.

And then baked in the oven until the edges are golden brown and the center is just set.

Do you love to cook?

Sweet Potato Torte Recipe

5.0 from 4 reviews

Sweet Potato Torte

This sweet potato torte recipe is so good- it will have you asking if it is a side dish or is it a dessert? I promise you that this is one holiday dish that everyone will be talking about for a long time!

Author: MomOf6

Ingredients

For the Crust

2 cups flour
1 Tablespoon sugar
¾ teaspoon salt
¾ cup shortening, cut into cubes
2 Tablespoons (or more) of ice water
2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
1 large egg yolk
1½ teaspoons white vinegar

For the Filling

4 large sweet potatoes
2 14-oz cans sweetened condensed milk
½ cup sugar
6 Tablespoons butter, melted
¼ cup honey
2 large eggs
2 Tablespoons maple syrup (the real stuff!)
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

For the Crust

In a food processor, combine flour, sugar, and salt, and blend for 10 seconds. Add the cubed shortening and process using on/off pulses until mixture resembles large crumbs.
In a small bowl, whisk together 2 Tablespoons ice water, egg yolk, oil, and white vinegar. Add liquid mixture to food processor and blend using on/off pulses until dough comes together in large moist clumps. (Add more ice water if the dough is too dry).
Gather dough into a ball, flatten to a disk, and wrap in plastic wrap. Chill for at least an hour and up to a day.

For the Filling

Cook the sweet potatoes until tender in the microwave, piercing them first to allow steam to escape. (I cook them on high for 10 minutes and then test for squishy-ness, adding two additional minutes of cooking time until they are done). Allow them to cool.
Scape cooked potato flesh into a large bowl and mash until smooth. Measure 3 cups of mashed sweet potatoes for use in the torte.
Add all remaining ingredients to the mashed sweet potatoes and beat until the filling is smooth.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Place disk of dough into a 9" springform pan. Using your fingers, press dough into the bottom and up the sides of the pan, pressing seams together to seal.
Add filling to springform pan and bake for 90 minutes, or until the torte is brown at the edges and the center is just set. Allow the torte to cool for 45 minutes before serving.

This sweet potato torte recipe is delicious served alongside a beef roast, a ham, or turkey- it will be a hit at the table!

Looking for More Recipes that Kids Will Actually Eat?

Then check out my Recipes page for breakfasts, dinners, desserts, and more that have been Rowley family approved!

The post Sweet Potato Torte Recipe appeared first on MomOf6.

Free Holiday Planning Printables!

Sharon Rowley — Mon, 13 Oct 2025 09:00:16 +0000

I think that the key to having a stress-free holiday season is to spend some time planning ahead. And it really helps if you can find some time early in November to talk with your family about what you want the holidays to look like this year. So if you'd like to get organized for the holidays, download these free holiday planning printables to get started!

A few years ago I made the decision that I wanted to spend my holidays intentionally– doing the things that are important to my family and eliminating the holiday “to-do’s” that were not adding to any personal joy. So watching those adorable claymation Christmas shows is a “yes”, but making handmade Christmas cards is “out”!

To make sure that these intentions are made and carried out- I created this set of holiday planning printables to use while I am in the planning process!

Holiday Planner Timeline:

We try to do so many things during the holiday season- decorate our homes, shop for gifts, send holiday cards, bake delicious treats from our kitchen- that it can feel overwhelming when you write it all down on one list! To ease the stress, I like to plot it all out on a timeline and assign just one or two things to accomplish to each week. Here's the holiday timeline that I use:

You can see how this can be helpful, right? Want a blank version that you can fill in with your own activities? Scroll down to the bottom of this post to join our MomOf6 community and get your copy! Laying all of the tasks out on a timeline really helps to break it all down into manageable steps!

Need Help Planning an Intentional Holiday?

Do you need to cut back on everything you try to do during the holiday season so that you can actually enjoy the holidays with your family? This checklist helps you to narrow down what is important and put it all out on a calendar.

Looking for some great ideas for holiday gifts?

Holiday Gift Wish List

Not only do we have the holidays, but we also have two kids with birthdays coming up as well- so it helps if I can start gathering gifts ideas now, not only for myself but for the Grandmas who are already wondering what to buy the kids!

And no- my kids are not each going to receive 36 gifts this year! They usually receive 4-5 presents from Santa, one “family gift” from Mom & Dad and 1-2 gifts from each of their grandparents. These sheets just leave lots of room for brainstorming and crossing things off.

Ready to Download Your Free Holiday Planning Printables?

Awesome! Simply sign up below to join the MomOf6 community, and you'll be directed to a thank you page with access instructions!

*You can view our Privacy Policy here. To access the printable without subscribing to our newsletter, click here to send an email requesting access.

Looking for Some More Holiday Ideas?

5 Tips for Your DIY Family Photo Shoot
50 Thanksgiving-Themed “Would You Rather” Questions for families! (free printable game)
50 Christmas “Would You Rather” Questions for families (free printable game)
Mason Jar Photo Centerpieces (perfect for the holiday table!)
The 16 Best Christmas TV Specials and Movies for Families
10 Great Stocking Stuffers for Busy Moms!
15 Gift Ideas for the Organized Mom
10 Great Travel Gifts for Road Trip Warriors!
10 Great Gift Ideas for Tweens

Are you ready to start working on your holiday planning?

The post Free Holiday Planning Printables! appeared first on MomOf6.

The Best Scavenger Hunt Ideas for Tweens!

Sharon Rowley — Thu, 09 Oct 2025 10:51:42 +0000

There are lots of different ways to conduct a scavenger hunt for kids birthday parties or get-togethers- in the neighborhood, at the mall, even in your home or backyard- so allow me to inspire you with these 10 best scavenger hunt ideas for tweens!

The Best Scavenger Hunt Ideas for Tweens

A scavenger hunt is a great activity for tweens because it gets them moving. And since a scavenger hunt is so interactive it is easy to put kids together into groups to work on finding items- even if they don't know each other well, which is why they are also perfect for club icebreakers and larger groups!

The Best Glow In the Dark Scavenger Hunt

This glow in the dark scavenger hunt idea is featured over on The Dating Divas- and includes three different hunt ideas. In each one, you download and cut out the game pieces and hide them throughout your backyard for the kids to find at night (attach them to glowsticks if you'd like for them to look without the aid of flashlights).

Once the kids find the cards- they use them to either assemble a puzzle, unscramble words, or decode a riddle!

The Best Shopping Mall Scavenger Hunt

I love this editable scavenger hunt template This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. that you can download from Lily Girl Paper over on Etsy to conduct a shopping mall scavenger hunt. Be sure that you review the ground rules with all of the participants before you let them lose! And check to see if there is a party room adjacent to the food court that you can rent to enjoy cake afterward!

Planning a party or get together for tweens?

Then be sure to check out this list of Best Birthday Party Supplies This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. on a Budget and The Best Party Games for Tweens This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. over on my Amazon influencer page This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. !

The Best Photo Scavenger Hunt

I created this fun photo scavenger hunt for kids that can take place in your own backyard or at a nearby park!

If you are playing this game at a party- have the guests upload all of their photos to a shared folder on Goole drive, and create a collage out of the scavenger hunt photos using PicMonkey This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. and place them in these inexpensive frames This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. . These make for a great party favor that kids will keep around for a long time!

The Best Halloween Scavenger Hunt

This Halloween scavenger hunt This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. can be used as a fun alternative to trick or treating for tweens that feel they are too old to go around “begging for candy!” A downloadable game available at the Wild Truth Design Co over on Etsy!

The Best Nature Scavenger Hunt

Simply hand the kids a list of nature scavenger hunt This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. items and send them off! From Cut Party Supplies on Etsy!

And if you are looking for a fantastic idea for older tweens and teens- this Outdoor Treasure Hunt This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. is part scavenger hunt, part outdoor escape room game!

The Best Christmas Scavenger Hunt

This Christmas Scavenger hunt printable is a great idea for a holiday party! Finish up with cocoa and cookies!

The Best Video Scavenger Hunt

This video scavenger hunt is so much fun! Be sure to go over the rules of the video scavenger hunt with all of the participants before you start- including the time frame (one hour is suggested). Each video should be edited as the teams go along- deleting clips they don't need so that all clips appear in order of the printed scavenger hunt.

And offer a special bonus for the teams that pull all of their clips together into a movie complete with text, music, and sound effects!

The Best Easter Scavenger Hunt

This Easter scavenger hunt is a great idea for older kids to do while the younger kids do an Easter egg hunt in your backyard!

The Best Road Trip Scavenger Hunt

A road trip scavenger hunt for tweens and teens that combines harder to find items with some that are funny and kind of icky? Perfect! From Meander and Coast!

The Best Gratitude Scavenger Hunt

This gratitude photo scavenger hunt is a fun way to give thanks for everything we've been given in life. Perfect as an after-Thanksgiving game! From Let's Get Together!

More Fantastic Party Games, Crafts, & Activities for Kids:

100 Truth or Dare Questions for Tweens (free printable party game!)
“What's On Your Phone?” (free printable party game for tweens and teens!)
50 Would You Rather Questions for Tweens (free printable party game!)
10 Great Birthday Party Games for Tweens (tons of ideas from around the web!)
10 Awesome Birthday Party Crafts for Tweens (tutorials and supplies you'll need!)
10 Fun Birthday Party Activities for Tweens (fun things to do at your party!)

Or You Can Shop for These Awesome Games!

So do you think your kids will love these scavenger hunt ideas?

The post The Best Scavenger Hunt Ideas for Tweens! appeared first on MomOf6.

Apple Galette Recipe

Sharon Rowley — Wed, 08 Oct 2025 09:00:00 +0000

This apple galette recipe is made with dried cherries and it is the perfect dessert for fall! In case you are wondering, a galette is a technically a “thin round cake or pastry”. I would say it's a lot like a pie, but without the top crust or crumble topping. This is truly a family favorite!

While we enjoy this recipe all throughout the fall- I especially love serving it as one of our Thanksgiving desserts. I think Thanksgiving with all of its decadence deserves a pumpkin pie, an apple-based dessert, and something chocolate too! (And yes, I will indulge in all 3!)

Preparing the Apple Galette Recipe:

I begin by preparing the dough for the crust using my food processor. Be careful to only use short pulses to cut the cold butter into the flour. You want bits of butter scattered throughout the dough.

While the dough chills for 30 minutes, I prepare the apples.

After the apples are peeled and sliced, they are cooked on the top of the stove for about 20 minutes in butter, with a nice sprinkle of sugar of top to soften them. After I remove the pan from the stove, I add in the dried cherries and cinnamon to the top of the apples while they cool.

Next I roll out the dough onto a parchment sheet and arrange the apples on top allowing for a 2-3″ border all around the apple mixture. Then I fold the dough over on top of the apples, leaving most of the center of the galette exposed.

I sprinkle another generous amount of sugar on top of the galette before baking it for 40 minutes.

Do you love to cook?

Apple Galette Recipe

Apple Galette with Dried Cherries

This apple galette recipe is made with dried cherries and it is the perfect dessert for fall! In case you are wondering, a galette is a "thin round cake or pastry". I would say it's a lot like a pie, but without the top crust or crumble topping. This is truly a family favorite!

Author: Momof6

Ingredients

For the Crust

1½ cups all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon salt
½ cup (1 stick) chilled unsalted butter, cut into ½-inch pieces
4 tablespoons (about) ice water filling

For the Filling

1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1½ pounds tart green apples (such as Granny Smith; about 5), peeled, cored, each cut into 8 wedges
4 tablespoons sugar
⅓ cup dried cherries
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon

Instructions

Prepare the crust

Mix flour and salt in processor. Add butter and cut in using on/off turns until mixture resembles coarse meal.
Add 3 tablespoons ice water and process until moist clumps form, adding more water by teaspoonfuls if the dough is dry.
Gather dough into ball; flatten into a disk. Wrap in plastic and chill 30 minutes. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Soften slightly at room temperature before rolling out.)

For the filling

Melt butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat.
Add apples to skillet; sprinkle 3 tablespoons sugar over. Sauté until apples are golden and begin to soften, about 8 minutes.
Add dried cherries and cinnamon and stir 30 seconds.
Remove from heat and cool completely.

Assemble and bake

Preheat oven to 350°F.
Roll out dough on a parchment covered rimless baking sheet.
Arrange apple mixture atop dough, leaving a 3-inch border.
Fold edge of dough over apple mixture, pinching to seal any cracks in dough.
Sprinkle remaining 1 tablespoon sugar over apple mixture and dough edge.
Bake galette for 40 minutes until the crust has turned golden brown.
Allow to cool for 15 minutes before slicing and serving.

Looking for More Recipes that Kids Will Actually Eat?

Then check out my Recipes page for breakfasts, dinners, desserts, and more that have been Rowley family approved!

The post Apple Galette Recipe appeared first on MomOf6.