The cost of Christmas gifts can really add up. In today’s installment of Christmas in July 2014, we’ll look at a novel way to pay for Christmas gifts. If you missed the initial installment (which describes the purpose of Christmas in July), you can read it here. Credit cards are a contentious subject, especially among individuals who … [Read more...] about Christmas in July: Paying for Christmas Gifts with Credit Card Points
organized living
Christmas in July 2014
No, your eyes are not playing tricks on you. It is only July, but I am already thinking of Christmas. As I explained in last year’s introduction to Christmas in July, I am not attempting to minimize the celebrations that occur between now and Christmas, nor am I promoting “Christmas creep” (the phenomenon of retailers exploiting the … [Read more...] about Christmas in July 2014
19 Zero-Technology Road Trip Games
Zero-technology road trip games used to be the only entertainment during long family road trips. In many families, these games have taken a backseat to onboard DVD players and handheld electronic devices like tablets and portable video game players. Classic road trip games offer some benefits over these new technologies. The games … [Read more...] about 19 Zero-Technology Road Trip Games
Simplify Vacation Preparation with a Packing List
Vacations are supposed to provide an opportunity to relax and be refreshed. Unfortunately, they’re often somewhat stressful. For me, the stress can begin when it’s time to pack. How many shirts will I need? Will I need a bathing suit or sunscreen? I don’t want to forget my toothbrush or any other critical toiletry items. Years ago my … [Read more...] about Simplify Vacation Preparation with a Packing List
Using To-Do Lists Effectively
If you’ve read many of my posts, you may have realized that I enjoy making lists. When I have a lot to get done, to-do lists are one of my favorite ways to tackle the tasks before me. I wasn’t very productive during the early months of my pregnancy, so now I have quite a bit to get done. As I’ve been making to-do lists, I’ve realized … [Read more...] about Using To-Do Lists Effectively
Summer Home Maintenance
It’s been about 8 months since my husband and I began taking an orderly approach to maintaining our home. We’ve caught a few problems early and hopefully we’ve preempted a few others! Links to our fall, winter, and spring home maintenance checklists are below: Fall Home Maintenance Winter Home Maintenance Spring Home Maintenance The … [Read more...] about Summer Home Maintenance
Simplify Shopping List Creation with a Household Supply List
My approach to menu planning has minimized the amount of time it takes me to plan a grocery list. Though this process has been streamlined for some time, there were days when I found myself taking a lot of time to determine which non-food items I needed at the store. I finally sat down and compiled a Household Supply List that catalogs … [Read more...] about Simplify Shopping List Creation with a Household Supply List
The Line Between Restfulness and Laziness
The one symptom of pregnancy that has been most surprising to me is fatigue. Some afternoons I can barely function unless I first take a nap. Because of my fatigue, I’ve been accomplishing less around the house. Laundry has piled up, I’m preparing easy meals instead of those I planned on our menu, and I’ve been cutting my workouts … [Read more...] about The Line Between Restfulness and Laziness
