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
organized living
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
Spring Home Maintenance
Though our temperatures have been slow to warm up, the calendar does indicate that spring has arrived. We’re finally stowing our snow shovel and pulling out our lawnmower. This change serves as a reminder that it’s time for us to complete spring home maintenance tasks. Our home is a huge blessing and we’re committed to being faithful … [Read more...] about Spring Home Maintenance
Why and How I Plan Monthly Menus
I’m often asked about why and how I plan monthly menus for my household. Usually these questions are accompanied by an exasperated statement such as “I could never be that organized.” Believe it or not, it’s pretty easy to plan monthly menus. Additionally, it has saved my family so much time and money that I haven’t considered reverting … [Read more...] about Why and How I Plan Monthly Menus
How to Afford Healthy Eating
Last week I shared some price comparisons that debunked the myth that healthy foods cost more than unhealthy foods. Of course, if you shop carelessly then it is unlikely you’ll be able to purchase nutritious foods for the same price as junk foods. However, by judiciously enlisting some simple strategies, you can eat healthily and stay … [Read more...] about How to Afford Healthy Eating













