tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11498396700330334532024-03-05T13:05:02.182-08:00Organized Momma!Home organizing/cleaning and practical parenting ideas.1organizedmommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10888759377043656731noreply@blogger.comBlogger62125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1149839670033033453.post-83980344329675405282016-11-11T20:12:00.002-08:002016-11-11T20:14:42.392-08:00How to Stay Organized Through a Move<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My family is moving in January 2017 (2 months from today if you are reading this the day I publish it).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Man, as organized as I am, there is still so much work when trying to sell a house and buy another and prepare for a move.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here is one thing I'm learning...you have to keep at it with the end goal in mind. Too many days off will leave you with a frantic demeanour the closer you get to "key-day".</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The trick is to start early, like really early...like you are going to look at houses, or you have decided it's time to sell your home.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZVwXfREidmvf-db4Vl8DaxYmEWZBcahTeWtrdoKp1DGMpYHTbt7APg3tGXSFSgyJG3THGIJJeL8N5rhaLo4ZxshQli_nkCmkWymy65jhbsLLBSBOE-1iEWvLjaArQRpFQaVqMaKGrcVkj/s1600/smart+start.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZVwXfREidmvf-db4Vl8DaxYmEWZBcahTeWtrdoKp1DGMpYHTbt7APg3tGXSFSgyJG3THGIJJeL8N5rhaLo4ZxshQli_nkCmkWymy65jhbsLLBSBOE-1iEWvLjaArQRpFQaVqMaKGrcVkj/s400/smart+start.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Photo taken from the Internet Site<br />https://www.csusuccess.org</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What I mean by this is, start purging right away. The longer you live somewhere, the more stuff you accumulate...it's like a universal law or something...we become magnetic "stuff" attractors.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Start with your closets, garage, dishes, pantry - everywhere. Break it down by picking 1 spot per day.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So we are in the selling our home stage...we have purchased and there is a move date in the books. Because we are SOOOO excited for our new home, the motivation is ever-present - which is good because day in and day out of organizing, packing, purging, repeat, takes a lot of energy and you need that boost to keep you going.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I have gone through my kids books and clothes. I've gone through my clothes and urged my husband to go through his (especially his LARGE pile of work clothes - by work, I mean around the house - who needs that many grubby clothes?). Anyways, I digress.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I've gone through blankets, pillows, bathroom articles (we all accumulate hotel stuff, shampoos we don't like, you know...all that stuff).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It all <i>has</i> to be MOVED so if you don't USE it NOW, why waste time packing, moving and unpacking?!? What makes you think you'll use it later? You are not changing, you patterns most likely will stay the same so be honest with yourself.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And start packing away your excess. Because of staging and showing a house, I've packed away all decor, family pictures and they are in moving boxes, <b>labelled</b>, ready to go. (I can't stress labelling - especially if you are getting an early start - all moving boxes look the same after a while).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq7KInD5JdL1ZRjhprHBu3owISeMF7i3Wz9ejCXynR80CWZD6m5VGtNoutO5t1n7u0x6CeDvqj6luT6_w_CSoTMEyiR-4MmnU4-Cg7EXLK23z8Xy-SsZSsKtISWZrS8aNgHZFUIVIMyRWw/s1600/label+boxes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq7KInD5JdL1ZRjhprHBu3owISeMF7i3Wz9ejCXynR80CWZD6m5VGtNoutO5t1n7u0x6CeDvqj6luT6_w_CSoTMEyiR-4MmnU4-Cg7EXLK23z8Xy-SsZSsKtISWZrS8aNgHZFUIVIMyRWw/s400/label+boxes.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Photo taken from Internet Site<br />http://www.boxshop.ca/</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I've gone through my kids toys and FINALLY sorted them into plastic mini-totes (shoebox type sizes). It keeps them together (birds of a feather) and clean and EASY TO MOVE! :) And it's easier to dish out 1 bin of toys at time when you have a home showing coming up.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here's another idea why starting early is a good thing - if you have things you don't use and you've finally gotten honest with yourself about the stuff you are needlessly holding onto, you have time to sell the valuable stuff and donate the other stuff. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Hint: maybe even having a garage sale - yes it takes time, but it also gives you some extra cash in your pocket while you offload stuff from your moving task.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'll be adding other posts as we get closer, move tips, and organizing a new home...lots of ideas for my new home I can't wait to share with you!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Please share your tips and ideas, how do you stay organized during a move?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>1organizedmommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10888759377043656731noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1149839670033033453.post-62075183937940301172016-09-03T06:15:00.002-07:002019-04-30T21:31:13.635-07:00Meal Planning to Reset your Freezer<i><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">*Note before you start: our family are meat eaters and rare (but not never) eaters of processed foods. So if you are looking for a vegetarian plan or vegan or celiac or any other specialized menu, you're going to have to adjust some of the wording for yourself but the concept is the same.</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></i>
<i style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">1OrganizedMomma is a participant in the Amazon.com.ca, Inc. Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.ca.</span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you are like me you do really well with eating and cooking for you and/or your family until you don't.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Periodically, I look in my freezers and get overwhelmed with the repeat view I get day in and day out. So I go to the store for more groceries because today I feel like having ___________________! (fill in the blank). Sound familiar?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8Aexz48xtV0TmxEbzFzc3VxZUU/view?usp=sharing" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWpsINL0ijwjKq9yaEiZ32C-ggpe7dQEPGETb3hfahGBrvkFL5IcZA30u2DIAbHRtzAe4zwTkyDzv7UEG-y8vxakozSLaqiNtWEs_rnwJqKPmDTFlqeyxfbbL9jrS-nUKrSebAVa2Iuj96/s320/2+Week+Meal+Plan.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The food in the freezer sits and sits until one day you don't recognize the color any more so you throw it away. Money down the drain and good food too (well, it was months ago when you bought it).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This stopped happening in my house because....</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When I'm stuck on dinner, or get into the pattern of stuck on what to make for dinner, I head to my freezer and inventory what's there.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sample:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">- half a package of salmon burgers</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">- 2 packages of pre-portioned ground beef</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">- full box of chicken</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">- hot dogs (immediately throw in our donate to food bank box - we're kind of not doing hot dogs anymore)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">- perogies (sorry if I have offended any Ukrainian readers with this spelling, it's seems to be up for interpretation how to spell perogies, but in my defense, the box spells it this way)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">- bag of frozen veggies (what's left of it)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">- 1 lonely beef roast</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Why are dinner plans so difficult now? There seems to be so much in there but of course, in our culture, we want instant gratification so if it's cereal we want, we eat cereal!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8Aexz48xtV0TmxEbzFzc3VxZUU/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank"> </a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null"> </a></span><a a="" gt="" href="https://www.blogger.com/null" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />
<br />
</span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So then, I sit down and very quickly (I want to stress this doesn't have to be a day long event), I create a <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8Aexz48xtV0TmxEbzFzc3VxZUU/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">meal plan</a> that keeps me on track for 2 weeks and cleans out my freezer so we can start over. If I get stuck on not wanting to make the same old, I Google my ingredients or my protein and I try something new. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And the plus is, I know what I need to buy at the grocery store that will COMPLIMENT <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8Aexz48xtV0TmxEbzFzc3VxZUU/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">this plan </a>instead of add to another plan from the future. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here are some tips for meal planning. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1. Stagger your proteins so that every day you have something different. Example: Monday - fish, Tuesday - beef, Wednesday - pork, Thursday - poultry, Friday - order in pizza (you have to live a little), Saturday - have a BBQ with steak or burgers after all the last time you had beef was 5 days ago and Sunday - leftovers (this one is flexible).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2. Be flexible. If you said salmon burgers on Tuesday and you had too many leftovers, switch it up. The key here is that it's all laid out before you to take the guesswork out of every day.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">3. Pick the easy meals for the days when you have soccer, swimming, gymnastics, and church all on the same night.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">4. Keep picturing your freezer as empty and a clean slate for a new grocery shop. This motivates me to keep at my plan when I feel like heading to a drive-through. We do so well eating at home when I've made a meal plan.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">5. Once your plan is done, look at every day to see what you need to buy for groceries for the next 2 weeks to make it happen. In my examples, I would need buns, more vegetables, a good sausage to have with the perogies and maybe to make it a great Ukrainian dinner, some cabbage rolls. You get the picture without me going into every detail. To better refresh your mind while at the grocery store, take a <a href="http://1organizedmomma.blogspot.ca/2015/09/grocery-shopping-inventory.html" target="_blank">picture of your pantry</a> or fridge so you don't overbuy.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin0GRJQtdkuRf7fu_RjzyDJyFg9SFtQq0hi2j8IfaqYhTesch8nhHl9y5YYWbnxBHSXlAMNgZb9ACPgVJe3N9UL9LxqZAKBsLOZ7yTrUjoE2Fza8oj1W1j4GsInJKpBtRXk3fd52WubKo9/s1600/2+Week+Meal+Plan2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin0GRJQtdkuRf7fu_RjzyDJyFg9SFtQq0hi2j8IfaqYhTesch8nhHl9y5YYWbnxBHSXlAMNgZb9ACPgVJe3N9UL9LxqZAKBsLOZ7yTrUjoE2Fza8oj1W1j4GsInJKpBtRXk3fd52WubKo9/s320/2+Week+Meal+Plan2.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">6. Post it where you will see it easily. You can create a meal plan using my template but then transpose it to a <a href="https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00PRZ3ABE/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=15121&creative=330641&creativeASIN=B00PRZ3ABE&linkCode=as2&tag=1organi-20">magnetic fridge calendar</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-ca.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=1organi-20&l=as2&o=15&a=B00PRZ3ABE" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> where you can recreate your meal plan without having to print every time. I call that Green Meal Planning (doesn't that sound appealing)?<br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">7. <a href="http://1organizedmomma.blogspot.ca/2015/01/never-forget-vitamins-and-supplements.html" target="_blank">Put reminders</a> where you need to that helps you remember to take the roast out before heading out the door in the morning, or thaw the ground beef, or<a href="http://1organizedmomma.blogspot.ca/2015/09/marinating-in-bag.html" target="_blank"> marinate your steak or chicken</a>, etc. A <a href="https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00R2SENN8/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=15121&creative=330641&creativeASIN=B00R2SENN8&linkCode=as2&tag=1organi-20">whiteboard organizer</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-ca.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=1organi-20&l=as2&o=15&a=B00R2SENN8" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> that doubles as a mail and key holder (how convenient) is a great place for such reminders.<br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">8. Feel better about eating at home and using what you buy. Raise your hand if you dislike wasting food!!!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Please download this <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8Aexz48xtV0TmxEbzFzc3VxZUU/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">sample meal plan and grocery list</a> to help you start right now with cleaning out your freezer and starting over. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When you get home from the grocery store, save yourself time by <a href="http://1organizedmomma.blogspot.ca/2016/02/pantry-update.html" target="_blank">organizing your pantry</a> as you put everything away.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Please let me know your meal planning tips below.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span> </div>
1organizedmommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10888759377043656731noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1149839670033033453.post-55890591895149300622016-07-11T09:10:00.000-07:002016-11-01T20:32:19.793-07:00Keeping Squirrels Away from Garden Pots<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This isn't so much an organizing post, per se, as it is a practical idea for how to keep squirrels out of your gardens and flower pots. You organize your garden every year, <a href="http://1organizedmomma.blogspot.com/2016/03/gardening.html" target="_blank">plant your seeds</a>, invest your heart and time into your garden, now you have to preserve it so you can enjoy it for the entire growing season.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I've been finding dug up dirt and holes in my flower pots around my deck and this isn't the first year this has happened.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My pot has some herbs that aren't that big yet so there is ample space for the squirrels to get in for digging and storing their food, and just to be pests.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I've researched many ideas of how to keep squirrels out and most of them are temporary that need to be reapplied after rain (like cayenne pepper, for example). I wanted something permanent that didn't compromise my garden. Adding stones would take away growing space.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I recall reading somewhere once that using plastic utensils in the garden, upside down, would keep pests, deer and other creatures out of gardens. So I thought I would use this concept in my pots for the smaller creatures.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I went looking for bamboo skewers I knew I once had in my house but then remembered I must've thrown them out because I never use skewers. But in my hunt I came across plastic spoons I had put in my craft space. I bought these spoons at our dollar store but because they have the sharp edges I don't like using them as spoons. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So I cut them into sporks and along with some plastic knives I found, stuck them handle first into my gardens. The knives have the serrated edges pointing out.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifVzAf9uDChl2IEiNdxcRi2ZcQJ46EVST6a-hIphF7hUNJnxxoPwFgBCPbLUUUyem0pDlXpwxbuhcP6650-Vfom3dRXvoQBysYTqwu9Dx-6w_z6SQzcg1vp4JKLvJ2QZtNQ88_zR72dcfI/s1600/IMG_7220.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifVzAf9uDChl2IEiNdxcRi2ZcQJ46EVST6a-hIphF7hUNJnxxoPwFgBCPbLUUUyem0pDlXpwxbuhcP6650-Vfom3dRXvoQBysYTqwu9Dx-6w_z6SQzcg1vp4JKLvJ2QZtNQ88_zR72dcfI/s640/IMG_7220.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This has created a space that maybe isn't the most attractive but it is functional for keeping squirrels away. You can use <a href="https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00LL454QY/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=15121&creative=330641&creativeASIN=B00LL454QY&linkCode=as2&tag=1organi-20">clear forks</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-ca.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=1organi-20&l=as2&o=15&a=B00LL454QY" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> for a less obvious approach.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This method will hold up in the rain, does not need to be reapplied, is pet and children friendly and doesn't cost more than a few dollars. Win-win-win!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Have you ever used something unconventional to keep away pests? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I would love to hear some ideas of how <i><b>you</b></i> keep away squirrels or mosquitos or any other pests. Please comment below.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Update: it's been about a month since I added sporks to my garden box. I have thyme instead of squirrels now. I'm happy this worked.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">1OrganizedMomma is a participant in the Amazon.com.ca, Inc. Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.ca.</span></i></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span> 1organizedmommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10888759377043656731noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1149839670033033453.post-84357796321774070672016-06-14T13:22:00.001-07:002019-04-30T21:33:01.440-07:00Storing Water Bottles Better<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">How to Store Water Bottles</span><br />
<br />
<i style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">1OrganizedMomma is a participant in the Amazon.com.ca, Inc. Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.ca.</span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I have a narrow cupboard (9") that houses our few water bottles....and they always fall over and get in the way (can anyone relate?).......well they used to but not anymore! Yey!!!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-peqIqGa5bhmlWHcJxkE1Kjy9-geohbqf9MziBUBIxzP_lsniXjsg-JkQup_kslpDn69QC18Wi6BIwO9jeOcZ9bd5g_UTli8Iz4Ob_wcN6yO4Sy6dVzUYBnAiZFaXXso1RWIaPNLxoN_o/s640/before+bottles.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="508" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Photo courtesy of Where It Belongs</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-peqIqGa5bhmlWHcJxkE1Kjy9-geohbqf9MziBUBIxzP_lsniXjsg-JkQup_kslpDn69QC18Wi6BIwO9jeOcZ9bd5g_UTli8Iz4Ob_wcN6yO4Sy6dVzUYBnAiZFaXXso1RWIaPNLxoN_o/s1600/before+bottles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I had a friend ask me how to handle the water bottle storage solution and then this idea hit me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Most water bottles have a handle or a carabiner or some hanger on them, not all but most. All of mine do. So I used that handle with some <a href="https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00EZ0QHB2/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=15121&creative=330641&creativeASIN=B00EZ0QHB2&linkCode=as2&tag=1organi-20">Command Hook</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-ca.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=1organi-20&l=as2&o=15&a=B00EZ0QHB2" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> (0.5lb rating each) and hung them inside my cupboard door.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWdfCc24xZM92pmYNh42JbGdcbjyZ4LH6jpWZLqSuRhDVcpg5FGqbkh3Dq7NQJ2Ygg1nBy3gOYjCqhr6tIBzzHxJDvGGH7h-7VSAkQKh-qu1IK1dN3qHmeiZT_AW1aLwAEOHsxfpSRKL0v/s1600/command+hooks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWdfCc24xZM92pmYNh42JbGdcbjyZ4LH6jpWZLqSuRhDVcpg5FGqbkh3Dq7NQJ2Ygg1nBy3gOYjCqhr6tIBzzHxJDvGGH7h-7VSAkQKh-qu1IK1dN3qHmeiZT_AW1aLwAEOHsxfpSRKL0v/s400/command+hooks.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And most cupboards have space between the door and the interior shelves. Even with shelves that almost touch the door, there is space usually if you position above/below the shelf and the door is a great space to store spices, bottles, oven mitts, etc.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQOQFqqZEOehZSP_3QN5ycuxD0B_9W4NHymb9-l3i6AZcj8gb-sNODWZa80XoXecedWAPCrOm8xpQM2dFxEd08GY8JbAUqmieHo7pWUbLsOnqUuFjoKamO0AUbp0TnUgcxLbOpcDDiA-dQ/s1600/water+bottles+after.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQOQFqqZEOehZSP_3QN5ycuxD0B_9W4NHymb9-l3i6AZcj8gb-sNODWZa80XoXecedWAPCrOm8xpQM2dFxEd08GY8JbAUqmieHo7pWUbLsOnqUuFjoKamO0AUbp0TnUgcxLbOpcDDiA-dQ/s640/water+bottles+after.jpg" width="399" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Photo courtesy of Where It Belongs</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">They are not so wide that the cupboard is inaccessible. I still can get out the things I need to get out. This would work better on a wider cupboard or on a pantry door.</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Before taking the backing off your sticker, hang the bottle up by doing a "dry run". You want to ensure clearance from any shelves, the sides, affecting closing, the tops, and bottoms.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Using the inside of your cupboard doors is a great way to get some extra space. Just make sure that the things on the doors are not going to hit the shelves inside.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you like ideas like these, please like my <a href="http://www.facebook.com/whereitbelongs" target="_blank">Facebook page</a> as all my blogs are posted there and you'll never miss a tip. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Stay tuned for a water bottle solution when they don't have hooks.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span> 1organizedmommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10888759377043656731noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1149839670033033453.post-7304363081257314722016-04-06T13:58:00.004-07:002016-04-06T13:58:57.167-07:00Overhauling your Space...Sometimes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sometimes your space needs a complete overhaul..</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here is an example of how our space wasn't really working for us. So we DIY'd it with the help of Ikea. (in case you do not know, DIY stands for Do It Yourself)</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We had wall to wall furniture, the fireplace we never used was taking up so much inefficient space, the toy organizer looked untidy contributing to visual clutter and the server cabinet was just one more piece of furniture to add to the wall that didn't match, while it was very useful and had a great purpose for the "less used" items (e.g. vases, candles, etc).</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What you do not see here is the dining room table which followed the server on the wall...that whole wall was a steady stream of mismatched furniture.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglpHI9JS4SF6AEmM1LlgDQWVn-5HE9dAM87hAvG8776i1RVjO3mHj8GnDqEpmJ0x5B9VJJk0gm6qLlcjlk__ZPryyOMcYT2efu19a4LsKxpO51Ed0vF5uHsZhiyLNmrMpVg6VDUI4RrNgl/s1600/IMG_1566_Fotor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglpHI9JS4SF6AEmM1LlgDQWVn-5HE9dAM87hAvG8776i1RVjO3mHj8GnDqEpmJ0x5B9VJJk0gm6qLlcjlk__ZPryyOMcYT2efu19a4LsKxpO51Ed0vF5uHsZhiyLNmrMpVg6VDUI4RrNgl/s640/IMG_1566_Fotor.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For months we decides to plan a different system, something probably from Ikea.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Then one day, I just started removing the fireplace, piece by piece, while my husband was at work. That's how most of our projects get started, then we are compelled to finish them. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Over the course of the week, we removed the fireplace and the 63 year old framing of it (that was the hardest part). They constructed things so soundly 63 years ago.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We drywalled, mudded, primed and painted.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Then my kids and I took a trip to Ikea. This is the BESTA system, which is very good quality. We have soft closing doors and push to open drawers.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And this is the "almost" end result. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEMFhiiwX8F1ZqLTBKqofdBpSK_imXhVVRRikSb87G1G7V665hwD85vPj0cYPLmWJ0T3X32EU9sZVXCS6-IDgvppvu3QQDyc8E2eIKZd6WmYEwkMNKZk5pwL9yOhXxTm29eHL1Jg8J77n1/s1600/IMG_2084_Fotor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEMFhiiwX8F1ZqLTBKqofdBpSK_imXhVVRRikSb87G1G7V665hwD85vPj0cYPLmWJ0T3X32EU9sZVXCS6-IDgvppvu3QQDyc8E2eIKZd6WmYEwkMNKZk5pwL9yOhXxTm29eHL1Jg8J77n1/s640/IMG_2084_Fotor.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We have since gone back to Ikea and bought an AS IS BESTA tv bench, and disassembled it to us the top of the bench as a computer desk, and 2 table legs from AS IS. Any other "real" desk would've been too wide, leaving an edge for knocks to the heads, bruises to the thigh.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp0s0F6R007_mYSYOplUyLtoiERZ8-fnCl2sqdI8xdBcwkHzCc5uAwU0ytZu_TEHXm6ModbVSl_pK4BWrnas7OooA8CiWcb4TgyonsAmI3TwlXULsrgTMK09u4pTl0TgQxquEvCU5lHKdR/s1600/livingroom+besta.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp0s0F6R007_mYSYOplUyLtoiERZ8-fnCl2sqdI8xdBcwkHzCc5uAwU0ytZu_TEHXm6ModbVSl_pK4BWrnas7OooA8CiWcb4TgyonsAmI3TwlXULsrgTMK09u4pTl0TgQxquEvCU5lHKdR/s640/livingroom+besta.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Now all the "stuff" (flower vases, candles, seasonal decor) that was in the server, is up in the upper cupboards, all the toys are in the bottom 8 drawers (love this part), my computer is no longer on my kitchen island (which frees up space there), we have some nice things on display behind the glass doors that the children cannot and do not touch, our TV is lower now, there is a shelf for decorations or play space for the children under the TV, the perfect system for our house.</span></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And even though this is "more" furniture than what we had before, it makes our living room look bigger, more functional, cleaner, and just an all-around great space that we enjoy being in.</span></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And you may ask, what about toys that do not fit in the drawers - well, she neatly set them in front for the next day. And we <a href="http://1organizedmomma.blogspot.com/2013/04/beat-boredom-blues.html" target="_blank">rotate our toys</a> while we are not playing with them too.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNFf4QRpx8eB4SXEKLffPzHMHJlyUEdvYVLagGEm4z8HxIZKSdd_X0yKpQ-SbFnMdfQIx0h7c6onWrgl2YgkZJnqv35_IOLcDJX-8diNU8uervNeEV58uM1DnD_SJaN-LlnX7OTr3oKZZX/s1600/livingroom+best+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNFf4QRpx8eB4SXEKLffPzHMHJlyUEdvYVLagGEm4z8HxIZKSdd_X0yKpQ-SbFnMdfQIx0h7c6onWrgl2YgkZJnqv35_IOLcDJX-8diNU8uervNeEV58uM1DnD_SJaN-LlnX7OTr3oKZZX/s640/livingroom+best+2.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The top shelf over the "desk" is a great spot to put stuff out of reach.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sometimes a quick organizing job isn't what you need. But the new system is well worth the investment!!!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Penny for your thoughts?</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<br />1organizedmommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10888759377043656731noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1149839670033033453.post-23371520816498101572016-03-20T10:43:00.002-07:002016-03-20T10:43:40.218-07:00It's Gardening Season<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gardening is about time management, organizing, planning and getting a jump on the process!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you are in <a href="http://www.planthardiness.gc.ca/" target="_blank">planting zones 2 or 3</a>, it is time to start your seeds so they are hardy plants by planting season (mid-May).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With a gardening period that is relatively short, getting organized and starting early, will give you home-grown food earlier in the season and then well into Autumn.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gardening suppliers and experts have made it easier than ever. So I've put a few pictures and information together to help you get this done NOW and stay organized for next year.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With a little help from my daughter, we used the Jiffy Peat Pellets. I pre-planted all my flowers and veggies in 1 tray. I do not have large gardens so 72 pods was more than enough (although I did fill them all just so we could choose the strongest plants).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx6xwr_N9pdcBOKxSSXyDe0cicWNLyY9rmR-oXiECZvwFAEPpiCbIq6FvaHyhho5ZYHz9Pb32_Gqr1OYEKUWcCf7zPQ2knJ00sRZ8879av1DE1VtP75juFhpQPx4TMOodhsGoIH0kqGQMU/s1600/seeds+collage+final.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx6xwr_N9pdcBOKxSSXyDe0cicWNLyY9rmR-oXiECZvwFAEPpiCbIq6FvaHyhho5ZYHz9Pb32_Gqr1OYEKUWcCf7zPQ2knJ00sRZ8879av1DE1VtP75juFhpQPx4TMOodhsGoIH0kqGQMU/s640/seeds+collage+final.jpg" width="640" /></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In about 2 hours, we watered, "fluffed", planted and labelled. Well worth the time, in my opinion.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For labels, I used toothpicks with labels. I had to tape the labels to the sticks as they were stock I was using that had lost their adhesiveness.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Standard gardening labels/sticks/pegs would be too high for these greenhouses so this is our temporary solution until we transfer to the garden.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then I categorized my seeds (bottom left picture).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are still flowers to see in May, directly into the ground, and vegetables to do the same.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My labels are difficult to read but they say:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Flowers to sow early</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Vegetables to sow early</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Flowers to plant in May</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Vegetables to plant in May</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then I will grab my flower and veggie seed stack when I'm putting in my garden without having to sift through the pile of seed packets.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And then I store all my seeds in an air-tight plastic container during the winter months.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, are you ready to get the smell of soil, seeds and SPRING into your senses?!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />1organizedmommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10888759377043656731noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1149839670033033453.post-10498846336807263532016-03-15T07:07:00.003-07:002016-03-15T07:07:40.747-07:00Signs Make the Difference - Posters at Home!<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Now that you've purged your house (many times) and are ready for your garage/yard sale, you need a good sign.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I love having garage sales but they are a lot of work and traffic is the key to selling all your goods!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Having the right signage can make your sale/event even more successful.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">How do I know it's the road signs that drive traffic? Because at this event from the picture below, a volunteer polled the traffic and about 80% (rough number) said they came because of these signs.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNKGJehpksc-2turVJLhvXCITuN8_Dwl1d7KGh9oKci1_aj4-OwWmcSKUvfuDevSUYq9820vvkuKNmrt10OPP0F0H3HbAE9MaqoeJZrMBcj3dXk6JJFbB3Hr-pf2guP8mG1SwKCRgRVi1u/s1600/road+signs_Fotor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNKGJehpksc-2turVJLhvXCITuN8_Dwl1d7KGh9oKci1_aj4-OwWmcSKUvfuDevSUYq9820vvkuKNmrt10OPP0F0H3HbAE9MaqoeJZrMBcj3dXk6JJFbB3Hr-pf2guP8mG1SwKCRgRVi1u/s640/road+signs_Fotor.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So how did I make them?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The signs are attached to plastic saw horses and corrugated plastic boards hold the bristol board. I used twine to attach the corrugated boards to the saw horses. I used a screwdriver to puncture holds in the plastic.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For bristol board, use bright pinks, yellows and greens as they gather the most attention because they do not look like most signs on the road.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Here's the fun part!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And rather than using your own handwriting, create a Word document with all the information you want, on a simple 8x10 format. If your signs are long, like mine were, using Portrait orientation but if you want to put the signs width ways, use Landscape orientation. That would depend on what you need to put on the signs for information.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Here's the key!!! Do NOT put more information on the signs than you have to.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">People driving can only read a few words - so put arrows and symbols as often as possible and signs frequently along the path.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Another key point: And get your arrows going in the right direction!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Next save your document, then print it to PDF (or save to PDF, depending on your computer). Here's a screen shot from a Mac if you aren't sure how to do this.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNh6-oUpw7GSlyOFyBsnt9n147A__E0Tv34Vu6NfzU170O2z-goDCGsXVSbcvx2G718EViiQFwnSgsre2i8gCAMun9URdWPH8ND04mNqOtZzBkGvcawF0H9YCTVxL50yzJ0vnYYxptQkws/s1600/pdf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="614" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNh6-oUpw7GSlyOFyBsnt9n147A__E0Tv34Vu6NfzU170O2z-goDCGsXVSbcvx2G718EViiQFwnSgsre2i8gCAMun9URdWPH8ND04mNqOtZzBkGvcawF0H9YCTVxL50yzJ0vnYYxptQkws/s640/pdf.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Then open your PDF in Adobe Reader (or whatever Adobe software you have). The free basic Adobe software is usually fine.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Then in the print setting, you play around with the size, until the poster will be the size of your boards (as in this screenshot).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx2ELcfEB6w4HKDuzhjW1Z5XVBL65qWfVYKxC9Uh7GmfLmrdHKbVkHc7jLvkCKI89OlNgLaXVi_OCinU_5lIgkkpTify32COdZxw5pl94r0Hqj_2cRbJWZizuyhxxgJpGXdOl-jSctuNxO/s1600/signs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="596" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx2ELcfEB6w4HKDuzhjW1Z5XVBL65qWfVYKxC9Uh7GmfLmrdHKbVkHc7jLvkCKI89OlNgLaXVi_OCinU_5lIgkkpTify32COdZxw5pl94r0Hqj_2cRbJWZizuyhxxgJpGXdOl-jSctuNxO/s640/signs.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Now cut out the print outs, tape them together, and tape or glue (not white glue) them onto your poster board. You need to cut out the print outs, so you can see the colorful poster board underneath. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYTTmPiYKMoqz_41nCq02BenSHJoCeuI2AN0ZXX02xy3Upk8wE5WHhrXNT129m-Dg4vyxCmESGiXwmSFt_4gVm1WLO2WXMrS8hZVnbgTCeSU3OvKxitnpR0IZiuCXqHIqlJQGCZ48yCkKv/s1600/12219404_517821861716318_8261164114837787931_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYTTmPiYKMoqz_41nCq02BenSHJoCeuI2AN0ZXX02xy3Upk8wE5WHhrXNT129m-Dg4vyxCmESGiXwmSFt_4gVm1WLO2WXMrS8hZVnbgTCeSU3OvKxitnpR0IZiuCXqHIqlJQGCZ48yCkKv/s640/12219404_517821861716318_8261164114837787931_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Note: Buy the poster board, because it is that color that attracts eyes to your signs.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There is your quick little tutorial to having the best sale/event you've ever had!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You can do this for 50/50 draws, school fairs, anything you could use a sign for.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Making posters was never easier! Don't these signs just make you want to have a sale tomorrow?!?!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>1organizedmommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10888759377043656731noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1149839670033033453.post-86257614303755667692016-02-26T07:26:00.000-08:002016-08-10T21:16:31.522-07:00Pantry Update<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Even the most organized people still have to keep organizing. Staying on top of the little tasks is very important. So today I re-reorganized my pantry. It was pretty organized but now it's even more organized and I'll tell you a couple of simple tips to make it a little bit easier for you. </span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I took everything out of their original packages where it makes sense. I had 2 diaper genie refills in their plastic wrap. Not only is this untidy but it takes up more space. You may think how does plastic wrap take up space but if you stack something underneath of it in the plastic wrap gets caught then things fall when removed and you have to pick it up and reorganize anyway. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I had a large Costco sized box of popcorn packages. That box was taking up a lot of space and it was hard to tell much was in the box. So I went to my inventory of organizers and found a simple drawer organizer that fit everything perfectly. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I also have a large box of oatmeal packages. I did not have a drawer organizer that would fit well so I cut the box down to a reasonable height so you could see how many packages of oatmeal was left. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYVrVwVFVuSCmeH2WxJQvFzsqqjfo-hTbRRbpS13fbNAd22g63Ed433DKTFB5jZHNYQc-iIUAzlUizYd5lrKUkpd_nCIH5LmGYgSiTwwIDJYN1RQv3nHHRXgQH-fO46gvdUAIK8zvLdHcq/s640/blogger-image-223038395.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYVrVwVFVuSCmeH2WxJQvFzsqqjfo-hTbRRbpS13fbNAd22g63Ed433DKTFB5jZHNYQc-iIUAzlUizYd5lrKUkpd_nCIH5LmGYgSiTwwIDJYN1RQv3nHHRXgQH-fO46gvdUAIK8zvLdHcq/s1600/blogger-image-223038395.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">While I was tidying everything up I was thinking about my upstairs pantry and what needed to be refilled. I was able to bring up two kinds of rice and fill my containers in my Lazy Susan. I also brought up some oatmeal, some pepper and other things that were getting low. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Then I set aside a couple of cans of ham that I recently bought that I do not like for the food bank. This is always a great opportunity to assess what should stay in your pantry and what should go.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I have bought a lot of coffee recently and it had ended up on two different shelves so I put all like things together. The coffee filters are stored with the coffee. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">All cleaning supplies are stored together. I took all the toilet cleaner out of its box and placed neatly on the shelf. It just fits better that way.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This is my final product and it looks nice and tidy again but I expect in about three months I'll have to do this again. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgykNQ5lGFvPZYkC3_C2wcBCTAUJQNFvYOiHNWQ7gD28NO8fbiEVneAtcWqk9ownEHAexKh9PmYIcjntbDPlBDkqO7xGj570fQqlrEv8CX0ba_9qj0ZYe2WMsT4A7Ornulyz53NE5emHdX5/s640/blogger-image--1253406119.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgykNQ5lGFvPZYkC3_C2wcBCTAUJQNFvYOiHNWQ7gD28NO8fbiEVneAtcWqk9ownEHAexKh9PmYIcjntbDPlBDkqO7xGj570fQqlrEv8CX0ba_9qj0ZYe2WMsT4A7Ornulyz53NE5emHdX5/s640/blogger-image--1253406119.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It only took 10 minutes. Can you find 10 minutes in your day??</span><br />
<br /></div>
1organizedmommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10888759377043656731noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1149839670033033453.post-83809412820793325992016-02-18T21:12:00.000-08:002016-11-10T23:00:16.774-08:00Outgrown the Bibs but not the Bobbles<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My children refuse to keep bibs on, and so they should. They are 2 and 4. But I continue to remove stains from their clothes often. And so I should, they are 2 and 4.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I recently discovered a great way to avoid the bobbles staining their clothes and it's as simple as having them wear an <a href="https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B01ET690DS/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=15121&creative=330641&creativeASIN=B01ET690DS&linkCode=as2&tag=1organi-20">apron</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-ca.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=1organi-20&l=as2&o=15&a=B01ET690DS" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />. Yes, boys can wear aprons too, especially like this <a href="https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B01KXCMKP2/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=15121&creative=330641&creativeASIN=B01KXCMKP2&linkCode=as2&tag=1organi-20">waterproof apron</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-ca.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=1organi-20&l=as2&o=15&a=B01KXCMKP2" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Children really enjoy "being like Mom" or Dad, so giving them "grown up" things to wear that keeps them clean is a win-win, if you ask me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbbhC_JnDdU-v8TFU7ExHyiFrV2ov6BcLaC2ddB-5Sz5mIyQXfq9ezuNvBkrnJhhGYVCx_TCRuNKdTU8tqG7HN85makIh9yiTGZnkZtWsMM_XTVFWo4HK4mgjmFPNDBIL_cynER0GnBHUS/s640/blogger-image-1401271780.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbbhC_JnDdU-v8TFU7ExHyiFrV2ov6BcLaC2ddB-5Sz5mIyQXfq9ezuNvBkrnJhhGYVCx_TCRuNKdTU8tqG7HN85makIh9yiTGZnkZtWsMM_XTVFWo4HK4mgjmFPNDBIL_cynER0GnBHUS/s640/blogger-image-1401271780.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Bibs are for babies but aprons are for big kids. Some of the best chefs in the world wear an apron!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj34TIvpJsT7P9ctWpIwThg8vWL0wOPksmSosXFIM6Skcf7CcCCt62QBFHQLNO2Wfksuw9ADVcb1WgxC7NJDz0z44-21nlL79Rn6mXC6AG6Z0USKV1151dmEZrhrtPkXpYz0RYnQ8q8jBBw/s640/blogger-image--1600258031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj34TIvpJsT7P9ctWpIwThg8vWL0wOPksmSosXFIM6Skcf7CcCCt62QBFHQLNO2Wfksuw9ADVcb1WgxC7NJDz0z44-21nlL79Rn6mXC6AG6Z0USKV1151dmEZrhrtPkXpYz0RYnQ8q8jBBw/s640/blogger-image--1600258031.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Easy to wash, easy to wear (for anything, really) and easy to replace (or sew) if required.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Do you have any other solutions that you use for keeping the Bobbles off the kids' clothes? I'm always looking for suggestions and discussion!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Are you looking for a different selection? Try some of these 1OrganizedMomma approved aprons.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For the sewing parents</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B004N3AYCO/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il?ie=UTF8&camp=15121&creative=330641&creativeASIN=B004N3AYCO&linkCode=as2&tag=1organi-20"><img border="0" src="https://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B004N3AYCO&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=CA&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=1organi-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-ca.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=1organi-20&l=as2&o=15&a=B004N3AYCO" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For Christmas dinner</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B01KFS819S/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il?ie=UTF8&camp=15121&creative=330641&creativeASIN=B01KFS819S&linkCode=as2&tag=1organi-20"><img border="0" src="https://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B01KFS819S&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=CA&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=1organi-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-ca.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=1organi-20&l=as2&o=15&a=B01KFS819S" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">1OrganizedMomma is a participant in the Amazon.com.ca, Inc. Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.ca.</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>1organizedmommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10888759377043656731noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1149839670033033453.post-1415136064925890942016-02-07T20:20:00.000-08:002016-02-07T20:20:37.795-08:00Best Chemical-Free Calcium Remover<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I have done a few posts already about the <a href="http://1organizedmomma.blogspot.ca/2014/10/magic-vinegar.html" target="_blank">magic of hot vinegar</a>, <a href="http://1organizedmomma.blogspot.com/2014/11/easy-germ-free-cleanup-of-any-mess.html" target="_blank">how vinegar kills some germs</a>, and even <a href="http://1organizedmomma.blogspot.com/2015/01/clean-oven-chemical-free.html" target="_blank">how to clean your oven chemical-free</a> (using vinegar), but never a photo diary of just how <i><b>well</b></i> it removes calcium, without using harsh chemicals.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Pictures do not lie!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In this post, you'll see before and after pictures, as well as step by step process for removing calcium from shower heads, sinks, kettles and coffee pots.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">(Not my fondest, proudest pictures of my calcified shower head.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Why should you soak your shower head in vinegar? Because without calcium, your shower head has more pressure, steady water stream, and all the "strays" find their way back.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgH9f4wHwfctgVHKMB94NYPr0cTIqFSkRi6wUtAZkXqCU2ysb74plfYRodbQ8zv4zrZkmlkDkQRpkYTtrNNZZEXujkkmHJcD5X-Cks7wZBdMhKGim46r1w2pZmW8_nf-kag4Lmv22W6OGI/s1600/before+shower+head+fotor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgH9f4wHwfctgVHKMB94NYPr0cTIqFSkRi6wUtAZkXqCU2ysb74plfYRodbQ8zv4zrZkmlkDkQRpkYTtrNNZZEXujkkmHJcD5X-Cks7wZBdMhKGim46r1w2pZmW8_nf-kag4Lmv22W6OGI/s640/before+shower+head+fotor.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It does not matter what your shower head looks like, I can GUARANTEE you this method WORKS!!!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Remove your shower head if you can. I'll discuss what to do if you cannot remove it a little further along.</span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When you are selecting your dish to heat the solution, make sure it is glass and deep enough to submerse a shower head, faucet and other items you wish to de-calcify. Glass holds heat well, doesn't interfere with leeching from plastics and it's fun to watch the calcium bubble off.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here's your solution: 3 parts vinegar to 1 part water (mostly just to stretch how far it goes). 3 Cups may seem like a lot, but you'll clean so many things with it all at the same time.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I purchased my vinegar from Costco but the brand and type does not matter, as long as it is WHITE vinegar.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNa3vqSQe8PCmc_tFjzoWjy1gBod9OmEB_HDXwT8x0u37HhFOIL6mf578hhaHHlhRt824M-n2lfdgbQEXMDC4E3LcyLnA-H-KjdqvU5KxfG_S5IVty1uGiygQ47M-OPauoLpYlI0aeddux/s1600/vinegar+water+collage_Fotor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNa3vqSQe8PCmc_tFjzoWjy1gBod9OmEB_HDXwT8x0u37HhFOIL6mf578hhaHHlhRt824M-n2lfdgbQEXMDC4E3LcyLnA-H-KjdqvU5KxfG_S5IVty1uGiygQ47M-OPauoLpYlI0aeddux/s640/vinegar+water+collage_Fotor.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is the <b>KEY</b>! The heat - you've read many things about vinegar not working, because you need to heat it. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My experiences show that it does not ruin the finish on my shower heads or sink faucets (unless they are really cheap and plastic, so please use caution, as this part I cannot guarantee nor am I responsible if this solution ruins your shower head).</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihwGF5XNyu48aFXZa3ipbbWoiCNiEOjT1mR1PwQNWvQK1Py7dTI9wKB9OlJczaxl04YAc0ZovPM3m1A21azTuR2PFnxOrBcI8IG8PhZcYEQ7BNKsAUz3WfqTe3fh6DH7ty7MDrXLhqwkrK/s1600/heating+vinegar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihwGF5XNyu48aFXZa3ipbbWoiCNiEOjT1mR1PwQNWvQK1Py7dTI9wKB9OlJczaxl04YAc0ZovPM3m1A21azTuR2PFnxOrBcI8IG8PhZcYEQ7BNKsAUz3WfqTe3fh6DH7ty7MDrXLhqwkrK/s640/heating+vinegar.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So I heat it just before boiling for about 2 minutes or so. I have a nail brush from our local dollar store that I use strictly for cleaning. It works wonders so have it handy.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZSvwth8XHCYxlge0jQCTxDacoHVRlQH0GEysFIkGh7bRzZUWO3FcuhDWpn1Q3USXyWnpz9dmT8QwkumdSHi17m_gxZYH9zmG_LwCHHuQomR70i1Al5pq7bgvnacN8zlk1ptUKYXK2DEUc/s1600/bubbles+working.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZSvwth8XHCYxlge0jQCTxDacoHVRlQH0GEysFIkGh7bRzZUWO3FcuhDWpn1Q3USXyWnpz9dmT8QwkumdSHi17m_gxZYH9zmG_LwCHHuQomR70i1Al5pq7bgvnacN8zlk1ptUKYXK2DEUc/s640/bubbles+working.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You do not have to soak your shower head very long. Try for 1 minute to start. Then move onto the next step. If the calcium remains, soak for another minute.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you were not able to get the shower head off, with oven mitts or rubber gloves, hold the vinegar bowl up to your shower head, submerse it and let it soak.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL_kzHGtFExzuCA77hmHlLXZ7-PexBQGy6SvTCXMQqn9oMaq0ly_yqRaqJ8Sc_U3jdChwsMkj-PuWqdU8oVLDhdBsFVytA8tLXsEI50Z-cbXUyQ_WyAhW5wSghkCBecJoORT7xe0PWzLBZ/s1600/Scrub+and+soak.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL_kzHGtFExzuCA77hmHlLXZ7-PexBQGy6SvTCXMQqn9oMaq0ly_yqRaqJ8Sc_U3jdChwsMkj-PuWqdU8oVLDhdBsFVytA8tLXsEI50Z-cbXUyQ_WyAhW5wSghkCBecJoORT7xe0PWzLBZ/s640/Scrub+and+soak.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Use the nailbrush to scrub off the calcium. If you have soaked it long enough, this should not take much effort at all.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Do not leave the shower head soaking for an extended amount of time.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">TA DA! Your "new" shower head!!!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMYurSBYPchV6WLFZvyzIl3lWuhu5joYM-oaX6bBDEqN8YQYKFnDvaeMAy0ZzjuKgD-Gvya9a-19NrfCEjpgjsZqiFu-OlN4H0JBXzhZkbhsvWGM9MGpJ2t1E8D73w6vOq6qTfhIl6iJQQ/s1600/After+Shower+head.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMYurSBYPchV6WLFZvyzIl3lWuhu5joYM-oaX6bBDEqN8YQYKFnDvaeMAy0ZzjuKgD-Gvya9a-19NrfCEjpgjsZqiFu-OlN4H0JBXzhZkbhsvWGM9MGpJ2t1E8D73w6vOq6qTfhIl6iJQQ/s640/After+Shower+head.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This blog gets better and better, doesn't it!?!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Using the same vinegar from above, go around your house looking for anything with calcium on it...here is your chance to clean it! YEY!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, I found my sink faucet head also had a bit of calcium on it. It's a pull out kind so I found something to clip the hose so I didn't lose it down the neck of my faucet.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHpET8Mt111AmcGV6ktL1g6mVaxIr7hk0md-TW8AqKEOFLjg95tQZcRMuVrvPYTlhatRwjjMqvJ8RerY3tH1T5qMyjVfyNPjXkVGhQT6Jfk1IbiGmGPPrNzSPL1CWvfAgurSVyDrcVuF0f/s1600/Faucet+head.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHpET8Mt111AmcGV6ktL1g6mVaxIr7hk0md-TW8AqKEOFLjg95tQZcRMuVrvPYTlhatRwjjMqvJ8RerY3tH1T5qMyjVfyNPjXkVGhQT6Jfk1IbiGmGPPrNzSPL1CWvfAgurSVyDrcVuF0f/s640/Faucet+head.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then I took whatever vinegar solution was left, and soaked my shower head from the basement as well.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlK_db5B78WbmCEDElGSsFUDc4SUzZmQ9FFztBj4Byehn_wXfjivPgS3S5I4KxxvnV0tys21IpCFK6RiF7snujcxvPNr2U_Iat0zN0lIoUS-k9E2KO4uVnt2hjGAX_E6QDe3tl4dVijvJn/s1600/Downstairs+Shower+Head.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlK_db5B78WbmCEDElGSsFUDc4SUzZmQ9FFztBj4Byehn_wXfjivPgS3S5I4KxxvnV0tys21IpCFK6RiF7snujcxvPNr2U_Iat0zN0lIoUS-k9E2KO4uVnt2hjGAX_E6QDe3tl4dVijvJn/s640/Downstairs+Shower+Head.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then I poured the leftover vinegar solution into my stainless steel kettle.</span></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfYhQqHJxKcQtcCt0-v-BuWE7GJs_NdwttHiVoNVhoM4Y6-yr2VGSWWJuVffVYR6cwhrB5bsRe6HfaazwBysk2QBXniayQrhFVOr7dZqkLeBjaYSm68uazz_zntP5Ql8sg5qSVWUQ8wf8v/s1600/Steel+Kettle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfYhQqHJxKcQtcCt0-v-BuWE7GJs_NdwttHiVoNVhoM4Y6-yr2VGSWWJuVffVYR6cwhrB5bsRe6HfaazwBysk2QBXniayQrhFVOr7dZqkLeBjaYSm68uazz_zntP5Ql8sg5qSVWUQ8wf8v/s640/Steel+Kettle.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: left;">I set the kettle to boil, poured the vinegar into my coffee pot, rinsed the kettle in cold water and another clean item in my kitchen.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkiSv-8UQfJM1zLCvE3Gl7K7J2yaubYO_-xhbCrrQExy8e-z-M7LvmuV5nGHWUDk6HJipKp45okLrnIov4N5fLTWr6J_zgsBNLrRH8cysJYtjyWr1PXSDO9xqPAgJc5vN0S0qN0H2P5Dqg/s1600/IMG_5863.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkiSv-8UQfJM1zLCvE3Gl7K7J2yaubYO_-xhbCrrQExy8e-z-M7LvmuV5nGHWUDk6HJipKp45okLrnIov4N5fLTWr6J_zgsBNLrRH8cysJYtjyWr1PXSDO9xqPAgJc5vN0S0qN0H2P5Dqg/s640/IMG_5863.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So from those 3 cups of vinegar, I cleaned 2 shower heads, my kitchen faucet, my kettle, my coffee pot and some calcium around the faucet of my granite.</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Please leave a comment for me to tell me how this worked for you - post a picture even! I get great joy seeing my blogs help others!</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />1organizedmommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10888759377043656731noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1149839670033033453.post-5452386324350870162016-01-19T17:03:00.001-08:002016-08-10T21:22:33.353-07:00Little Things Make Children Feel Special<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My oldest daughter just turned 4 and one of the things we did the night before her birthday while she was sleeping was decorate her door. And now she doesn't want to take it down.</span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0iKxdczI5jgTKFvHIm5wIOFDUGJgHOTfUpTDNKnsFhV0zn2nWhRJ3bRJOYD7T0fOHfmeu1ZfOLk1RZDfaw7AssFcE1KIzJDomfCR3qo-VbXyviTYOiV-DCPRPRJ1RikshOQLILPWPUUIY/s1600/blogger-image-1455802655.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0iKxdczI5jgTKFvHIm5wIOFDUGJgHOTfUpTDNKnsFhV0zn2nWhRJ3bRJOYD7T0fOHfmeu1ZfOLk1RZDfaw7AssFcE1KIzJDomfCR3qo-VbXyviTYOiV-DCPRPRJ1RikshOQLILPWPUUIY/s1600/blogger-image-1455802655.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica neue, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">working on my photo-editing skills</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It doesn't take much for children to feel special and when my daughter woke up in the morning you should've heard the absolute delight when she saw the house decorated very simply for her birthday.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The thought does not have to be big but if a little thought does cross your mind act on it because it is little things like this your children will remember as they get older. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The best part is something this simple only takes a few dollars. </span></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We also chose a few little decorations to put around the house of her favorite character. Three days later everything was still up. </span></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjSuxFHtwGWFotL8H8YXIbNSY1fKJDuulzs_YnK5AjDC06uLezZJZ9cnpQNEVQ22J6ZpcddiAIUP1jMFho4bBuYcQT4Nxi1dGMti3COsM_gdw_c2m6VnfhfdnW7MIhBd5o1fFI5QGeKwT5/s1600/blogger-image--1983515214.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjSuxFHtwGWFotL8H8YXIbNSY1fKJDuulzs_YnK5AjDC06uLezZJZ9cnpQNEVQ22J6ZpcddiAIUP1jMFho4bBuYcQT4Nxi1dGMti3COsM_gdw_c2m6VnfhfdnW7MIhBd5o1fFI5QGeKwT5/s1600/blogger-image--1983515214.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Children are only little once so try to do little things to make them feel special - the things memories are made of!</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0iKxdczI5jgTKFvHIm5wIOFDUGJgHOTfUpTDNKnsFhV0zn2nWhRJ3bRJOYD7T0fOHfmeu1ZfOLk1RZDfaw7AssFcE1KIzJDomfCR3qo-VbXyviTYOiV-DCPRPRJ1RikshOQLILPWPUUIY/s640/blogger-image-1455802655.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></a></div>
<br />1organizedmommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10888759377043656731noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1149839670033033453.post-41958532020481394972016-01-17T17:27:00.000-08:002016-01-17T17:39:53.085-08:00Resolution: Less Technology!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I will be the first to admit that I'm addicted to technology and in saying that so are my kids. Recently it has become very evident because my kids will do nothing without the iPad, cell phone or TV and I am always complaining I don't have enough time to clean my house and have thought multiple times about hiring a house cleaner. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfqKw_hMbvyyp0m7-WM4-YN6s2um0ET0ux0urJI9INS8qTDZ2B9FtKmj1QO9BvXXTkiKDFcqbAK0G3BXcRQMN3l8wmMSc2vf0AkAjr11oX4snmhFsM99etQPSjA2Ahyphenhyphenm3Wih11irWPZZTL/s1600/technology.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="343" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfqKw_hMbvyyp0m7-WM4-YN6s2um0ET0ux0urJI9INS8qTDZ2B9FtKmj1QO9BvXXTkiKDFcqbAK0G3BXcRQMN3l8wmMSc2vf0AkAjr11oX4snmhFsM99etQPSjA2Ahyphenhyphenm3Wih11irWPZZTL/s400/technology.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Taken from: www.listcrown.com </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well, recently in our house things have been a little bit different and I'd like to share with you how you can make a simple change so everybody feels better. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">First of all, let me say I do not judge because I got us in this situation myself and second, I don't think technology a bad thing. I think our kids are growing up in a technology world where they need to have those skills but even technology needs to be dished out with moderation.</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I recently have been limiting the amount of time my kids are on technology. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here's what I do first thing in the morning while I am making breakfast I let my kids have one show which usually runs about 25 minutes. Then we all have breakfast. The rule has always been in my house that we never have technology at the table so that part hasn't changed. This also goes for house guests and I'm not afraid to announce it. After all, everybody is a role model for my children.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then I set a "no-technology timer" for three or four hours depending on the time in the morning it is to get us as close to noon and lunch as possible.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That timer is not just for my kids it is also for me. Too often I would let them play while I was blogging or surfing Facebook or whatever the excuse was.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now in that 3 to 4 hours I can clean up my kitchen from breakfast, <a href="http://1organizedmomma.blogspot.com/2014/11/lunch-time-crunch-time.html" target="_blank">make lunch</a>, interact with my children more and mostly the interaction is to <a href="http://1organizedmomma.blogspot.com/2016/01/6-for-endless-fun.html" target="_blank">keep them busy</a> because they often ask for technology throughout the morning and my job is to <a href="http://1organizedmomma.blogspot.com/2015/10/Creativespaces.html" target="_blank">distract them</a> from that request and get them playing with toys they don't play with very often. Over the past week it's happened many times that they take a <a href="http://1organizedmomma.blogspot.com/2013/04/beat-boredom-blues.html" target="_blank">keen interest in a toy they haven't seen in a while</a>. Bonus!</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then while my littlest one naps my oldest one is allowed to have the iPad - she can play a game or watch YouTube - whatever of her choosing and this gives me a chance to do some blogging and surfing. Then we set another timer until suppertime. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You can use a simple egg timer or the timer on your stove or microwave. I particularly like the stove timer because the alarm at the end is very loud so it doesn't matter where we are in the house we can hear it.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And then before bedtime they're allowed to have one more show but usually this is time when my husband and I play with them together before bedtime and then bath so usually the evening they don't get any TV at all. What I like about the strategy is that if you do have to go to the doctors office and you have to entertain them with a cell phone or an iPad while they wait you don't feel guilty that they've already spent so much time watching stuff throughout the day at home.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My house is a lot cleaner and my meal plans get done quicker. All around us is been great for our family and it's a bit of an eye-opener for me because it proved to me that I use technology to often. Too many times my four-year-old comes up to me while the timers on and catches me check in the bank account which then leads to surfing. It's great that my four-year-old keeps me in check when I'm trying to keep her in check.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">*Update note: I haven't even posted this yet and we have already seen some great changes. They know how to entertain themselves when they need to (like when we are out, or in the car).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And we have incorporated technology-free Sunday. This is a little loose as we do allow a bit of TV (pared way down from the rest of the week). But no iPad or cell phones on this day.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Has anybody else done something like this in your homes? How did it turn out - is it easy to keep at it, or do old habit die hard?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
1organizedmommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10888759377043656731noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1149839670033033453.post-71751008486569909512016-01-04T20:22:00.001-08:002016-01-04T20:23:25.101-08:00$6 Fun & Creative Possibilities<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Buying a roll of paper at Ikea (or any craft store) can last a long time and have MANY <i>great</i> uses.</span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsLpE4jqi_Y9_mXMLTQXH1P-2DT3cIM2Mkh1dOpXK2QeBzApOer_f6uUcHJGF8BFU0s3eBZL4zGaIWBOoyjeX4kot3InTDlb8Av9NBUP94D0rsSQBYtKgcT-5NQsLtchh09biPTFN_M59l/s1600/Screen+shot+2015-10-05+at+9.11.29+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsLpE4jqi_Y9_mXMLTQXH1P-2DT3cIM2Mkh1dOpXK2QeBzApOer_f6uUcHJGF8BFU0s3eBZL4zGaIWBOoyjeX4kot3InTDlb8Av9NBUP94D0rsSQBYtKgcT-5NQsLtchh09biPTFN_M59l/s400/Screen+shot+2015-10-05+at+9.11.29+PM.png" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Of course, colouring and painting goes without saying, but I will say it, because there are many ways you can have your youngest children show their budding art skills as early as 18 months, or even younger. Kids need to express their creativity and remember, EVERYTHING is washable. Just buy washable crayons, markers and paints and then set your mind to let you kids be kids (the hardest part, I know).</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Murals</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Using painters tape, secure a long strip of paper to a long hallway or wall, where you can supervise and get down on the floor with your child to trace their hands or, more creatively, their feet. Just ensure you use washable markers and crayons because the little artists do like to wander.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFkylCORj3_fyCnKG36wzA2T_oRlwLNiGLdRjlPEBNDXSL2jdFSlrlVpfb2G8NipdZb5IRm4N_KyXzmlBK-vterKnGvnu-fP88K0htrYV0PXuahxXDsQ3j2u9qeWE-pNIIsvJ8AoEgFJUW/s1600/blogger-image-667803277.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFkylCORj3_fyCnKG36wzA2T_oRlwLNiGLdRjlPEBNDXSL2jdFSlrlVpfb2G8NipdZb5IRm4N_KyXzmlBK-vterKnGvnu-fP88K0htrYV0PXuahxXDsQ3j2u9qeWE-pNIIsvJ8AoEgFJUW/s640/blogger-image-667803277.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwLLJO0SGNhga6H1wmJZuDhvHCK-25rSV2ODg8uU_mTilUjze76ZGmzDL0VrTI12RnwUYVj2n_LGtvv1jGAYCtRsB6M52YOTmr_gGH1oTeuADrTpldSU9uJILAdc-4ItLXsHXXZDiNlqV1/s1600/blogger-image-272212664.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwLLJO0SGNhga6H1wmJZuDhvHCK-25rSV2ODg8uU_mTilUjze76ZGmzDL0VrTI12RnwUYVj2n_LGtvv1jGAYCtRsB6M52YOTmr_gGH1oTeuADrTpldSU9uJILAdc-4ItLXsHXXZDiNlqV1/s640/blogger-image-272212664.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My kids brightest eyes are watching me try to draw Mickey Mouse (you can see my attempts in the photo below) or the Clubhouse for them, upon request. I do not tell them I do not know how, I try and it never looks great but they smile and laugh because I tried - for them.</span></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Leaving the paper up for a week or so creates a one-of-a-kind art piece for your home. All your visitors will love the idea. And it's a great idea for play dates.</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX3yGopNa7n9xBDvDhFz_F3pCS-lUUwsOOroKtw9DwfoPMAQDo_WzZIuQadQxnaBAHUTEDBt1XwDxsOcPu8-GLQLxBRzvJXSdkJ-wL1xtaBjCrxumsQgSmousgnCq1x4dZT1OCTSBGJHAV/s1600/blogger-image--109334988.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX3yGopNa7n9xBDvDhFz_F3pCS-lUUwsOOroKtw9DwfoPMAQDo_WzZIuQadQxnaBAHUTEDBt1XwDxsOcPu8-GLQLxBRzvJXSdkJ-wL1xtaBjCrxumsQgSmousgnCq1x4dZT1OCTSBGJHAV/s640/blogger-image--109334988.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Colouring</b></span><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Tablecloth</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Cooking supper can be challenging with a few young kids and instead of popping on the TV to get through the prep work today, tape some paper to your dining table and set your children down with some art tools. Even play dough or play sand can be done on paper, making the clean up a breeze.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In this picture, my daughter was less than 2 years old, just scribbling, which in her mind was a creative masterpiece. This is an important stage for children and especially when they see their older siblings doing things we wouldn't allow them to do "because they are too little". It is important to let even the youngest children experience the big world. And for the few minutes they are occupied, take a minute, Mom and watch the wonder in their eyes.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQCsor2aYc8ytjq0aPGKLHZ8PwcFOJBoPjllY39RxbQNlnMbqaXpJrIiIshtcwHB8M-H3p6grZoacUK4mQTy_ox6QX306JxXjwBAlZG0YCaqg0FUnjQhAAKE7FihyphenhyphenH9SkXio7R1U75Dzbg/s1600/IMG_4960.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQCsor2aYc8ytjq0aPGKLHZ8PwcFOJBoPjllY39RxbQNlnMbqaXpJrIiIshtcwHB8M-H3p6grZoacUK4mQTy_ox6QX306JxXjwBAlZG0YCaqg0FUnjQhAAKE7FihyphenhyphenH9SkXio7R1U75Dzbg/s400/IMG_4960.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Gift Wrap</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Many times I have had a birthday coming up and forgotten to get some gift wrap and all my stocked gift bags are "girly". Your kids will love to create a <b>one-of-a-kind </b>wrapping paper. Stickers, markers and crayons can make some interesting wrapping paper and while you are getting everything ready for the party, keep your child busy decorating the wrapping paper.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMApCLVKEKN7aAKiMs3NceFJZM49G13cG0nkGGwwVhWjh6esHbMXJ_tJXwEHxaoMZPCnsqGtS1t9sVp-WQ8Lxtmk42x1It1yBwyRzPcvJ9DHhf9Xu7ORtFewc2Sv-3TBArwOHmjVrRGSj3/s1600/blogger-image-1702089355.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMApCLVKEKN7aAKiMs3NceFJZM49G13cG0nkGGwwVhWjh6esHbMXJ_tJXwEHxaoMZPCnsqGtS1t9sVp-WQ8Lxtmk42x1It1yBwyRzPcvJ9DHhf9Xu7ORtFewc2Sv-3TBArwOHmjVrRGSj3/s640/blogger-image-1702089355.jpg" width="480" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdzeP1FWuLujyRb0R-EbiSNfoMIka-iujyNcEmbPA7ISyYLKBDASL5-BcmypgizSv1Gq2ESKUlmmvtLUKJU__5rZR0ZmMYDcVDMKhdOwwb9VTKGNm_aJmz7AEkgSEN6TPgPbzwojc9cFJa/s1600/blogger-image-2057919983.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdzeP1FWuLujyRb0R-EbiSNfoMIka-iujyNcEmbPA7ISyYLKBDASL5-BcmypgizSv1Gq2ESKUlmmvtLUKJU__5rZR0ZmMYDcVDMKhdOwwb9VTKGNm_aJmz7AEkgSEN6TPgPbzwojc9cFJa/s640/blogger-image-2057919983.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Car Mat</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Children do not need to have store bought toys all the time. You know this every time a big box comes home. The same goes with the car mats. They do not mind if you drew them a mat that has crooked lines - that is part of the charm; YOU took the time to create something for them, and that, my friends is what memories are made from.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Don't be too busy to sit with them, even for 3 minutes and create a space for them to play. This photo is, from an adult perspective, a pretty non-elaborate car mat, but my kids played with it for quite a while, pretending it was horse stables, Home Depot and anything else that popped into their mind. They helped the creative process of creating it, then played with it in more creative ways. The best part, no 2 car mats or play spaces will ever be the same, when created this way.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRKkS7ejJx7GEiu_0Sa1UnE-SvRP3vX8L6e_8RoJZIVOHybYLd8FtuBsDv0pijTcnTlIiYxccatd5Sa8S3MHb65XtIQ4xYZuv2J66jSikY-adPbnbswnGba4w8FBsGWPIpumc2LaVgmfBF/s1600/IMG_4958.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="566" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRKkS7ejJx7GEiu_0Sa1UnE-SvRP3vX8L6e_8RoJZIVOHybYLd8FtuBsDv0pijTcnTlIiYxccatd5Sa8S3MHb65XtIQ4xYZuv2J66jSikY-adPbnbswnGba4w8FBsGWPIpumc2LaVgmfBF/s640/IMG_4958.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Everyone has heard the cliché but you realize it at every growth stage a child goes through...our time with them is limited. The wonder grows up, the desire to be with us grows up and fostering great relationships with our children in the early years builds better teenagers and better adults.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Enjoy your moments - this roll of paper isn't just for them - it's a creative way to spend time TOGETHER!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<br />1organizedmommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10888759377043656731noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1149839670033033453.post-53557274783441058742015-12-25T21:12:00.001-08:002015-12-25T21:12:25.996-08:00Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is a simple message wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I so enjoy blogging about the things in life that make my life more meaningful as a Mother and Wife, the ways I make our home run smoother.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am so thankful for my readers and I hope you glean some value from my suggestions, tips and hints.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I want to wish you a very happy season, safety, blessings and LOVE, most of all!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the New Year, I will be changing the format slightly on my blog!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Enjoy your time with your family - and see you next year!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Stephanie</span>1organizedmommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10888759377043656731noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1149839670033033453.post-1180945345853736292015-10-30T16:29:00.001-07:002015-10-30T16:29:47.650-07:00Creative Spaces for your Children<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Being a stay at home Mom is a tough calling sometimes, balancing meals, housework, errands, raising healthy, happy children and maintaining sanity. Coming up with interesting things for my children to do is one of the more challenging parts of my parenting. Please tell me I am not alone.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sometimes when you need 15 minutes to yourself to catch up on cleaning the kitchen, or folding laundry or even having a shower, finding something for your children to do that will give you some interrupted time can be challenging, to say the least. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Note, what I am referring to is quite different than just keeping them busy all day without you. They still need interaction with their parents. I recently read a fabulous blog post that helps you with ideas for spending some quality time with your children. It's worth the read so read it <a href="http://kidsactivitiesblog.com/72811/how-ten-minutes-changed-my-relationship-to-my-kids" target="_blank">here.</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have a few ideas, however, to help you create a special environment just for your children to spend by themselves or with you, different ideas that use unique things to make them feel like you created a special space JUST FOR THEM!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Personal Movie Theatre</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Whether it is just a flat sheet made into a tent (king size is best), or a pop-up tent like you see in our video, create a <b>personal movie theatre</b> space for your children. With a laptop, small TV or an iMac (like we have), you can turn a small tent into a great environment your children are bound to adore.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Give them a pile of cushions, bean bag chairs, kid-sized chairs or just blankets on the floor, pop some popcorn, fill some water bottles and prepare a good chunk of time to yourself.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There is some prep involved and definitely cleanup, but my kids love to help vacuum the dropped popcorn, while I put other things away.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here's a brief clip of how our special space worked out.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwJRHGzQsnanKYLBOef9Uze5MepbwqmmsM6Ju8wjDCj-9YtavTzC_fK-9BIurnUjcS25gIPaeioUBkqVS0SEA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<script async="" src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>
<!-- 1organizedmomma_main_Blog1_468x60_as -->
<br />
<ins class="adsbygoogle" data-ad-client="ca-pub-8519145840695720" data-ad-slot="7701583068" style="display: inline-block; height: 60px; width: 468px;"></ins><script>
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
</script>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Jumping Pad/Tumble Floor</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today while holding my sick toddler most of the day, I had to come up with something so we could all lay down together in the living room and watch TV/movies. When someone is sick, all the rules (mostly) go out the window. I thought of putting our shallow queens-sized air mattress on the living room floor. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Rather than it turning into a place for us all to lay down, it turned into a place for my 4 year old to play on. Somersaults, flips, freefalls, bouncing, jumping - all sorts of exercise was had on that mattress while her sister and mommy hung out on the couch, falling in and out of sleep. So this has become yet another activity to add to the list of things we can do on those cold winter days.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUEb6BbeWv8vac5CtdwF23ACFlecDvUTGnHY_LI9UPn3TaR2ULbca43voa2d37UFetHnqYH3wePB9gNe8NsS02MxMn49c4vFieOhceQ0n-nO5clGP_TeY-VfYnV9OBm_b3rydQtJ0J531D/s1600/Jump+Pad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUEb6BbeWv8vac5CtdwF23ACFlecDvUTGnHY_LI9UPn3TaR2ULbca43voa2d37UFetHnqYH3wePB9gNe8NsS02MxMn49c4vFieOhceQ0n-nO5clGP_TeY-VfYnV9OBm_b3rydQtJ0J531D/s640/Jump+Pad.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This would not be a suitable activity for school-aged children, multiple children or playing with sharp objects.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The reviews from my children are very positive! The air mattress lasted for an entire day. I had to put it away after they went to bed because they wouldn't let me clean it up.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The personal movie theatre "was so cool" in my 4-year old's eyes.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Enjoy creating special spaces and sharing them with me.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>1organizedmommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10888759377043656731noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1149839670033033453.post-46399479646120350572015-09-29T20:52:00.000-07:002015-10-07T08:46:53.730-07:00Marinating in a Bag<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggRahU23GeDTdQLxiL7jwl5HhNC2Y_rkfDqjP_V3H9J88-UriK-hRnbR7BmLT9CZR4og9PvBFh6umEMBuqGBvwG1q8qKF6fk4wnzSnNkOMXs887j-A_-ZJJLtkzCTPpxohCpxNn67tgOnV/s1600/marinating.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggRahU23GeDTdQLxiL7jwl5HhNC2Y_rkfDqjP_V3H9J88-UriK-hRnbR7BmLT9CZR4og9PvBFh6umEMBuqGBvwG1q8qKF6fk4wnzSnNkOMXs887j-A_-ZJJLtkzCTPpxohCpxNn67tgOnV/s400/marinating.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The absolute fastest, cleanest, easiest, convenient way to marinate...anything.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you have a small bowl as I have shown in the picture, that is the best...but a container will do as well. If the bag doesn't fit over the opening, try the next size smaller...breaking the bag is not a good idea and completely defeats the </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">purpose.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Once you have put all your ingredients into the bag, then close the bag and shake it really good to get your dried ingredients mixed well with your wet ingredients. Best place to do this is over the sink, just in case there is a small hole you didn't see before.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then, with tongs, add your chicken, steaks, shrimp, pork...whatever you are marinating. Seal the bag.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Grab a plate that will fit all of your meat laying flat, and lay the bag on the plate and put it in the fridge. (The plate solely acts as a rigid surface to hold and carry your marinade).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Set your timer for 30 minutes. Flip the bag and continue doing this every 30 minutes.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">About 1 hour before grilling, take the bag out of the fridge and set it on the counter to warm up a bit.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Once the grill is hot, take the plate and bag straight to the grill. Using clean tongs, place your meat on the grill.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Toss the bag in the garbage.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<script async="" src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>
<!-- blog -->
<br />
<ins class="adsbygoogle" data-ad-client="ca-pub-8519145840695720" data-ad-slot="6938030260" style="display: inline-block; height: 90px; width: 728px;"></ins><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<script>
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
</script>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">No mess, no handling of raw meat, no cleanup, no bacteria. Very little waste.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Helpful?!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I couldn't forget to add my 2 favorite marinades: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Chicken: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/30523/marinade-for-chicken/?extkb=1</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Steak: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/143809/best-steak-marinade-in-existence/</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As always, thank you for reading...please share, if my tips are helpful to you, they may be for someone else too!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<br />
<a class="twitter-follow-button" data-show-count="false" href="https://twitter.com/SEMCordova">Follow @SEMCordova</a>
<script>!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],p=/^http:/.test(d.location)?'http':'https';if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=p+'://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js';fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document, 'script', 'twitter-wjs');</script>1organizedmommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10888759377043656731noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1149839670033033453.post-72132073351273552762015-09-15T13:24:00.002-07:002016-11-02T07:05:51.231-07:00Grocery Shopping Inventory<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Today, I have to do some grocery shopping. My mission has been to clean up what we have before going to Costco and so far we've done great, but now I'm stretching what we can do.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I am sure you can relate to this...you get to the store, you see something on sale or even something you <i>think</i> you need and you cannot, for the life of you, recall if you have any at home.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You text your husband and wait. Nothing! Should you buy it or not? Why buy it if you have it at home, but what if I don't have it at home?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Then you hit the milk aisle. How much milk do you have left in that jug of milk? Do you have enough to last you until your next shopping trip?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I do this probably on every shopping trip. Most of us forget something at the store we need, or buy lots of things we already have.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I just thought of a GREAT way to help you out when you are having this dilemma. </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">99.99% of us have a cell phone with a camera. Here is how you can <b>use your phone </b>to make your life just a little more convenient.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Take pictures of your current state of fridge, freezer and pantry. These are your reference tools in the aisle.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzo1AcePjxj2ipUsWoJQq-1p89mFMMzd0OMojVl-CAM9BAR_4NjaMy5RMTsdMVk1er4qz6JjVt1Kt59G816dIKDBG4FKn4WUSFFc_SqzDSLaU9ODXp7fvqmv2NHU8Z_COL-07rEvf8cpLB/s1600/pickerimage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzo1AcePjxj2ipUsWoJQq-1p89mFMMzd0OMojVl-CAM9BAR_4NjaMy5RMTsdMVk1er4qz6JjVt1Kt59G816dIKDBG4FKn4WUSFFc_SqzDSLaU9ODXp7fvqmv2NHU8Z_COL-07rEvf8cpLB/s400/pickerimage.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So later when I go to the store, I'll know that my whole milk is almost out. I know I just brought up the last tub of margarine from the freezer. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Once you can see your pantry and fridge in a picture, it jogs your memories of what those empty spaces are.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I can see in one of my pantry pictures that the big gap in the top right is where I keep my extra paper towels. Next time I see them on sale, I know I need to get a few bundles.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Same with the soaps and household items. I know I have a full Finish dishwashing agent so that is not even considered, even if on sale. Those last a long time so I know it'll be on sale again before I need it.</span>
</div>
<script async="" src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>
<!-- blog -->
<br />
<ins class="adsbygoogle" data-ad-client="ca-pub-8519145840695720" data-ad-slot="6938030260" style="display: inline-block; height: 90px; width: 728px;"></ins><script>
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
</script>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I still have a grocery list of things I know I need, but when I cross paths with something I am not sure I now can look at my home, from a virtual view.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You can also take pictures of your deep freezer, liquor cabinet, any spot where you store goods. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I hope this has helped remove one more obstacle from your life! </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">P.S. Don't forget to delete these photos after you are done putting everything away so you don't fill up your memory and get confused for the next trip!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Cheers!</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>1organizedmommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10888759377043656731noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1149839670033033453.post-86635863851636996112015-03-11T07:01:00.001-07:002015-03-14T17:01:38.933-07:00Fast Way to Wash and Devine Grapes<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Grapes are a great, healthy snack. Easy to take on the go and my kids love them.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have found a simple and FAST way to wash and de-vine them at the same time. I am sure many of you know this, but for me, it happened by chance one day.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1: In a colander, place your grapes and get the water going</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeTcXupX8byuyehHqKwlYftKMlMgoE6Z3AQ3naIXbecGhsiUMwvY8MLoMwAxNe_Ac2iDQkBSCMPsFS4b_cd7LgJ1vVJdbsfdeEXS_roiQYej8UkLRSBdHavrokksWTyHmOeQmhjVc2fjMm/s640/blogger-image-638331373.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeTcXupX8byuyehHqKwlYftKMlMgoE6Z3AQ3naIXbecGhsiUMwvY8MLoMwAxNe_Ac2iDQkBSCMPsFS4b_cd7LgJ1vVJdbsfdeEXS_roiQYej8UkLRSBdHavrokksWTyHmOeQmhjVc2fjMm/s640/blogger-image-638331373.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2: Pick the grapes up in 2 hands and pretend you are going to wash your hands, using the grapes like soap</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk7Z9U_x7AHjX4EIgaPDji5fkSKcs4WNPRKi8cwXwufo0UKaS9kUbWKC1VzNq1beY4IsdHaYMn4_zMp_5MyqYL9qUu0KmyEyAsZHbiIbJpiF_cFAi3v6_90H8qXsQ7pgs2Cxaa8nhgQmQQ/s640/blogger-image--1493803999.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk7Z9U_x7AHjX4EIgaPDji5fkSKcs4WNPRKi8cwXwufo0UKaS9kUbWKC1VzNq1beY4IsdHaYMn4_zMp_5MyqYL9qUu0KmyEyAsZHbiIbJpiF_cFAi3v6_90H8qXsQ7pgs2Cxaa8nhgQmQQ/s640/blogger-image--1493803999.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">3: Rub your hands back and forth under the water and start watching the grapes fall off the vine into the colander, clean as a whistle.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYk9HE_k53lQBKEn2rAkM2TqnCJnXjpXccyA6BdaTf101oR2peTosolVEsLj3MWZp_s3Ww5FYD21V4wHjpyCi1D2BRrz4TRvHI0VUESO-rmQdLkUvTLi3HfjpdfWq9vef9PmV3FSXQWExm/s640/blogger-image-76936186.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYk9HE_k53lQBKEn2rAkM2TqnCJnXjpXccyA6BdaTf101oR2peTosolVEsLj3MWZp_s3Ww5FYD21V4wHjpyCi1D2BRrz4TRvHI0VUESO-rmQdLkUvTLi3HfjpdfWq9vef9PmV3FSXQWExm/s640/blogger-image-76936186.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD9IQKedAspRk8U92HCPKQM3tulwxleyQHz8ZnmCMCnJLdNesCz4oaJxCZX79CZ7mgx7Tbl0JCu6_szVsFhgPwB2Z_suTahsOcfWJPhf-e1dJuy5zskaEExM2rfeQlTfI4qrUlQ2hc2xpN/s640/blogger-image--1003020361.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD9IQKedAspRk8U92HCPKQM3tulwxleyQHz8ZnmCMCnJLdNesCz4oaJxCZX79CZ7mgx7Tbl0JCu6_szVsFhgPwB2Z_suTahsOcfWJPhf-e1dJuy5zskaEExM2rfeQlTfI4qrUlQ2hc2xpN/s640/blogger-image--1003020361.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Time lapse between the first picture and the last one, is about 7 seconds. Can't get any faster and better than that.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhccTz9tFi_cYQxc82Kr8uvchVtsIFZisitl1ozopUrc23gc_st9EuuRzc2BX1Xm6vFDjYYrV6EuHXT0v6I0aBEhZxh6e5mu3e6PZ1gA7K74I2cNY06OdUeE_cVOPlLHVXTpSWaJ-quzMc7/s640/blogger-image--1290402311.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhccTz9tFi_cYQxc82Kr8uvchVtsIFZisitl1ozopUrc23gc_st9EuuRzc2BX1Xm6vFDjYYrV6EuHXT0v6I0aBEhZxh6e5mu3e6PZ1gA7K74I2cNY06OdUeE_cVOPlLHVXTpSWaJ-quzMc7/s640/blogger-image--1290402311.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">NOTE: This works best on fresh grapes. The longer they sit, the more you'll have the little vine pieces sticking out of every grape, then the process is not fast anymore.</span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4cED0TuVyjW3oG_GyObG5IT1sjLukvkcpJ3RT_JY-m10RRVetQIrZUkyAfxcjRR4ynMIi-57fgyO09DaKTFuaxoA363OzNl51d9TXSSpLO65oSHhiHHQjjgfyH0UgJAmlYlwhwhZednk1/s640/blogger-image-986534234.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4cED0TuVyjW3oG_GyObG5IT1sjLukvkcpJ3RT_JY-m10RRVetQIrZUkyAfxcjRR4ynMIi-57fgyO09DaKTFuaxoA363OzNl51d9TXSSpLO65oSHhiHHQjjgfyH0UgJAmlYlwhwhZednk1/s640/blogger-image-986534234.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />1organizedmommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10888759377043656731noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1149839670033033453.post-8379536555756057342015-03-11T06:41:00.002-07:002015-03-11T06:41:25.389-07:00Sick Kids...Disinfecting Toys<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This winter, my kids have had a lot of colds, and I mean a lot, which is leaving me desperate to find ways to keep things clean, disinfect and keep the germs at bay. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">However, with so many toys, it's hard to clean them all, everyday. I have a 15 month old who still loves to put everything in her mouth. Oh, and a 3 year old who loves to chew on everything too (not sure why this is as she has all her teeth).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I took this idea from a Mom's Group I used to attend. There is a bin at the front of the gym that has a sign on it that says something to the effect of, "Put all toys in this bin that have been in your child's mouth".</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So finally during this last bout of colds in our house, I adapted the same principle in my house, as best as I could.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_mSQbMvqw2Cvpts8Iyto19MVDgGNBXPN32LoSecSQaznvAg385mNKNFlBlU4z1m2QYrFsrLo4JwHNSOVTu3BXPu4eBRLf1OLbLHZTVwkTfiNMwPVIEdjL82YA4aGSwTTZRD5KxFFEmru5/s1600/toy+organizer.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_mSQbMvqw2Cvpts8Iyto19MVDgGNBXPN32LoSecSQaznvAg385mNKNFlBlU4z1m2QYrFsrLo4JwHNSOVTu3BXPu4eBRLf1OLbLHZTVwkTfiNMwPVIEdjL82YA4aGSwTTZRD5KxFFEmru5/s1600/toy+organizer.png" height="320" width="295" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I took a bin from our toy organizer and set it up on the island.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If I spotted a toy/phone/remote in a mouth or was sneezed/coughed on, I would watch for when that toy/phone/remote was discarded and then quickly I would whisk it away to the "dirty bin".</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">At the end of the day, or periods throughout the day, if the bin got full (or if we needed the phone or remote), I would dilute a bit of bleach in water and let the toys soak. For the remote and phones, I would dip a cloth in my disinfecting solution and wipe them with the damp cloth a few times. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To avoid taking up a kitchen sink, just put your solution right in the toy bin you've been setting aside, if it has no holes in it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Note: There may be a lot of dislike for the fact that I use bleach, however, my <a href="http://1organizedmomma.blogspot.com/2014/11/easy-germ-free-cleanup-of-any-mess.html" target="_blank">vinegar solution</a> for cleaning up messes doesn't kill all the germs. There are some viruses that are too strong for vinegar and requires something stronger like bleach. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So then I let the toys air dry and this allows the bleach to totally evaporate.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This seems like it takes a lot of attention and work to catch every toy that goes in the mouth, and it is. So I was just careful to catch as many as I could and realized that I wasn't going to get them all and something was better than nothing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you are the type to use hot water and soap to wash kids toys, here's a fast, easy and effective method to washing a lot of dishes quickly and economically, using less water. <a href="http://1organizedmomma.blogspot.com/2013/04/dishwashing-in-snap.html" target="_blank">My Favorite Dishwashing Method</a> (besides the dishwasher, of course).</span><br />
<br />1organizedmommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10888759377043656731noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1149839670033033453.post-7316621152970694822015-02-01T12:17:00.000-08:002015-02-02T15:30:01.476-08:00Protecting your Children Against Sexual Predators<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This post is considerably deeper than most other posts on my blog. It doesn't really fit but yet it does because it's practical and it involves your kids.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm being completely vulnerable in this post and I hope you share it with your friends with children to get my message out.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have a 3 year old girl who started talking very early and her level of understanding just seemed so mature for her age so I started very young prepping against sexual predators, whether they are strangers or, God forbid, someone close to our family.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yesterday, I saw a Tweet about a sexual predator (of children, no less) who will be released from jail and living close to our city. My first emotion was anger. Seething anger. I wish that was something we never had to protect our children against. But alas, it's a sickening fact of life.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In a related topic, earlier this week, a friend of mine asked me what I call my child's private parts. She was curious because her daughter is getting old enough to start listening to the "real" words. I told her I call the back side her "bum" and the front side her "vagina". I think it is important to separate the 2 so if one is hurting she can differentiate.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I also told her about my past, when I was a very young girl, before school age, I have memories of being a victim of sexual abuse. It happened for a while and the thoughts are so vivid. And in my case, the person was a family member. Now that I have 2 girls of my own, the thoughts flood back. The emotions are so hard to describe.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My friend was taken back that I had told her that but I have nothing to hide. As a matter of fact, I think the more awareness that is out there, the more we can protect our children. You never know who has experienced it in their life, it could be your neighbour, friend, coworker. Most people are silent about it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But I am not silent and definitely not with my children. I do not get into deep details about it because my daughters are too young but this is what I do.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Usually at bathtime, I explain to my daughter that her vagina and bum are just for her to touch. Mommy and Daddy can wash her but that only takes a moment. Then I run through all our close friends and family by name and ask her if they can touch her in those places. I use her friends names, the men and women, very close people (even grandparents) and people she's only met a few times. I even ask her if Daddy or Mommy can touch her there. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She now knows that nobody can touch her in those places. We repeat this exercise about once every 2 weeks. I quiz her. I ask her, by name, if certain people can touch her.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now she knows quite solidly what the boundaries are. I will continue to do this so it is so instilled in her head that if someone does try something, she will know, without a shadow of a doubt, what is wrong and right.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lately, I've also told her she isn't allowed to touch other people either. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On top of all of this, we tell her repeatedly when we think of it, that nobody is to tell her a secret that she cannot share with us. She doesn't understand this concept yet but it doesn't hurt to start setting down the foundation.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As she grows, I plan to tell her more. I plan to tell her that even if people threaten her, she needs to talk to her Mommy and Daddy. That goes way deeper than a 3 year old needs to handle so that part I am waiting for until I feel she can understand what that means.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have friends tell me, "Ah, I have boys. I don't need to worry about that". But I think of cases like Theo Fleury. I wonder if his parents could go back, would they have talked to him like I talk to my girls?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sexual predators do not discriminate on gender, it seems. According to <a href="http://www.victimsofcrime.org/media/reporting-on-child-sexual-abuse/child-sexual-abuse-statistics" target="_blank">Crimes Against Children Research Center in the US</a> 1 in 5 girls and 1 in 20 boys are victims of child sexual abuse. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">According to a more local organization, <a href="http://www.aasas.ca/index.php/main/page/fact-2010-10-01-11-10-40" target="_blank">Association of Alberta Sexual Assault Services</a>, 1 in 3 girls and 1 in 6 boys will be sexually abused.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Talk to your children - boys and girls alike.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Parenting needs to get deep sometimes. It can't be all fun and games. We talk about it and then we move on. Repetition is the key (balance that so you don't repeat it too much). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Please share your thoughts and how you are teaching your children.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Some other resources:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.parents.com/kids/safety/other-safety-issues/protect-your-child-from-a-predator/" target="_blank">Parents.com - Protect Your Child From a Predator</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.nsopw.gov/en/Education/TalkingChild?AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1" target="_blank">National Sex Offender Public Website</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.drphil.com/articles/article/266" target="_blank">Dr. Phil's Advice</a></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>1organizedmommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10888759377043656731noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1149839670033033453.post-78677127916873451292015-01-24T14:16:00.003-08:002015-01-24T14:17:12.095-08:00Bib Velcro is Distructive in Laundry<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have been battling washing bibs in baby laundry for 3 years. Now that I am about 1 year away from never using another bib (I am so looking forward to that day), I have figured out how to wash the bibs without them sticking to, and ruining everything else in the load.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Especially now, as my 3 year old wants to wear little tights that attract velcro it seems and then when you pull it off, the tights just snag and look horrible.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We just bought her a new swimsuit for her swimming lessons, a cute little Speedo one. Looks like she is a miniature professional (although she won't even get in the water without one of her parents next to her). Velcro put a nice snag on it, in it's maiden voyage through the wash - the "before-you-can-wear-it" wash. I was so ticked.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>My Solution:</b> I wasn't sure how this would work but now that I've tried it and it stood the test of time (and washer...and dryer) here goes my solution to destructive velcro.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsxOw-viw9txLTU07HoMyo7sXUIx9Yom6-EwG10sonCYv4GGCC9V5qWg72l8luhgzzvnMOkr0qeqwXA5iE08Pt9VXJEDofh6oCuYa7eqjAOKiWNHmgw152DJHKq_CRsq82tOaEwD2jXWzf/s640/blogger-image--1269530854.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsxOw-viw9txLTU07HoMyo7sXUIx9Yom6-EwG10sonCYv4GGCC9V5qWg72l8luhgzzvnMOkr0qeqwXA5iE08Pt9VXJEDofh6oCuYa7eqjAOKiWNHmgw152DJHKq_CRsq82tOaEwD2jXWzf/s640/blogger-image--1269530854.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you wash your bibs (or anything else with velcro on it) you have seen this picture before. Even if you put the velcro together prior to washing, it comes apart and sticks to anything else, except for what it's supposed to stick to (go figure)!</span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So the simple solution is using safety pins. I didn't think they would stay together in the wash, so as I was pulling clothes out ready for the dryer cycle, I was very careful, cautiously picking the clothes out so I didn't prick myself.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was very pleased to see all 5 pins stayed in through the wash and the dry, and I didn't have any sticky incidents, no frayed tights, no frustrating moments.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now what is going through my mind...."Time to buy new bibs - with snaps only"!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRK0IpQIs0oUvyQcy0iwqMn7W17iBOlHvT0KqueBd5jia6b3Cv5xJ8b5TVeajLusmKUikTPV9LfOJgXY229-Ic2TYwiai5QhS10Ny6uw68CmOHRtghoirYzxQlZvjwOavCA-1LCqYD89GR/s640/blogger-image-351401589.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRK0IpQIs0oUvyQcy0iwqMn7W17iBOlHvT0KqueBd5jia6b3Cv5xJ8b5TVeajLusmKUikTPV9LfOJgXY229-Ic2TYwiai5QhS10Ny6uw68CmOHRtghoirYzxQlZvjwOavCA-1LCqYD89GR/s640/blogger-image-351401589.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Oh, and the plus to having the pins in them when they come out of the dryer, if the velcro isn't so sticky anymore, use the pins to help keep them on baby (if your baby isn't a squirmy monkey or a ferocious bib puller). Remember, safety first!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Feedback time: What kind of bibs do you prefer using? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<br />1organizedmommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10888759377043656731noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1149839670033033453.post-88300437355235896082015-01-13T05:47:00.000-08:002015-01-13T05:50:00.295-08:00I'm Getting Fit at Home<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We are our children's role models. They watch everything we do and they want to be just like us. It's flattering and scary at the same time.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Am I saying the right things, am I acting the way I want them to grow up? It's all very heavy with responsibility.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A couple of things I've learned about being a parent since I started being a parent is about self-esteem. Not just our children's, but ours. Not putting ourselves down in front of our children. We are their everything and they don't want or need to hear our shortcomings, nor should we focus on them.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So today's blog post is about doing a few things at home to make you feel better about yourself. Working out, getting a little more fit, exercising and letting our children watch us do it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My 3-year old daughter has my old, broken iPhone. It still works for some of the apps and she has discovered my "Sit-Ups" app. She puts her little feet under the couch, does her sit ups and then puts her feet up on the couch to rest "between sets". It's all very cute. But I am so proud because she sees me doing something healthy and good for all of us.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If you do not have the time to go out and work out, there are many things you can do at home to start you into shape, gradually, at your pace. The nice things about using an app on a smart phone is they usually have reminders when it's time to do your next "work-out". </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Let me stress, if you have no fitness level you can still do something. <b>That is how it starts.</b> If you really want to get a little more fit, just push yourself. I get up a little earlier in the morning to do my sit ups (most days) and then I do the plank during the day. Sometimes I do it all so my kids can watch me, for that specific reason.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I was not fit before. I had bad posture, I was thin but very out of shape, I had back pain. I hated it! So now, when the sit ups get hard to do, I tell myself, "<b>Stephanie, you will not get in shape if you do not finish this set. You can do it. You've always quit before and that is why you are not fit now and in this position. Keep going! PUSH YOURSELF for the first time in your life".</b> It's my mantra.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It started off with </span><b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">sit-ups</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">. A small number. It was so hard. But now I wish I only had to do that many. You may feel like quitting but you will not get stronger if you do not continue. If I can do it, ANYBODY can! And I really mean that. It is not just a cliché!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUbM8XA3wsoKrCVDjNt6pl4poYP29MC5xd5Tw-kxybKP6b6JMxWOUOCt-tuFIgb07_1d7rvTbLZ21Qi3GWHTddtA3M66hPkGtHjVjQi6EhOoLVf1hVysjOfwEf-RZcRreejUhTKODDXVh1/s1600/sit+up+2.webp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUbM8XA3wsoKrCVDjNt6pl4poYP29MC5xd5Tw-kxybKP6b6JMxWOUOCt-tuFIgb07_1d7rvTbLZ21Qi3GWHTddtA3M66hPkGtHjVjQi6EhOoLVf1hVysjOfwEf-RZcRreejUhTKODDXVh1/s1600/sit+up+2.webp" height="320" width="179" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Summary page tells you so much</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8cPYNs2DhCKDgRTAzPMK1v4MQuxQkXihqhphV41duQZExY9aR_9JXQfLwIOVU6EUbBuOFjLtko4kIYtOg41JoKqsKjJponoRzCZUBoFiW5GkoETGj9ao6C3d4fMwzyQxa3uJLvlOiBpfd/s1600/sit+ups.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8cPYNs2DhCKDgRTAzPMK1v4MQuxQkXihqhphV41duQZExY9aR_9JXQfLwIOVU6EUbBuOFjLtko4kIYtOg41JoKqsKjJponoRzCZUBoFiW5GkoETGj9ao6C3d4fMwzyQxa3uJLvlOiBpfd/s1600/sit+ups.webp" height="320" width="179" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Voice controlled workout</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The sit-up app I use is super easy to use. It gives you rest periods, it gives you break days, it gradually increases your sit-up quantity so you progress through a program. The app is free. You can get it through iTunes or Google Play. Here are a few screen shots of it.</span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXp4Vg-f3Q-9SxesQwjwlCw9A7gHVeBgfL-RgydWUjrZEhH28JAsx6XiRBeSYKMOdnDjDC5hJ2IWfKQJBC5KDS2FrJ_d78s0wcDhwQwih_h0Q6R1sSdQ6q272dy1CjO1mFt3ZPwNJFursl/s1600/training+day.webp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXp4Vg-f3Q-9SxesQwjwlCw9A7gHVeBgfL-RgydWUjrZEhH28JAsx6XiRBeSYKMOdnDjDC5hJ2IWfKQJBC5KDS2FrJ_d78s0wcDhwQwih_h0Q6R1sSdQ6q272dy1CjO1mFt3ZPwNJFursl/s1600/training+day.webp" height="320" width="179" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This is level 1 - starting slow</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Nbci5PC07z_TyuDVyNm_M8ckvlVHwtmIl6Vi90J35olqHEyvdCKSVxV0CQ8yzYv_4hb12Ez1UGZIQXLe2ZNdtC3kLaBiD3rAkWOqCwoULor6qXmPkS7N8XKNL1DxEB_gx48ZIhilLu_y/s1600/Screen+shot+2015-01-13+at+6.27.12+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Nbci5PC07z_TyuDVyNm_M8ckvlVHwtmIl6Vi90J35olqHEyvdCKSVxV0CQ8yzYv_4hb12Ez1UGZIQXLe2ZNdtC3kLaBiD3rAkWOqCwoULor6qXmPkS7N8XKNL1DxEB_gx48ZIhilLu_y/s1600/Screen+shot+2015-01-13+at+6.27.12+AM.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">App icon looks like this</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Then once I got a little stronger in the core, I started with the </span><b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">plank</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> - a great overall exercise the activates shoulders, triceps, core muscles, glutes. </span><a href="http://exercise.about.com/od/abs/ss/abexercises_10.htm" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;" target="_blank">Visit this site</a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> for a detailed description of how to do a plank. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
What is great about the plank app I use (see photos) is it's all at your level. Unlike the sit-up app that dictates how many sit ups you'll be doing the next day, the plank is all timed. If you can hold a plank for 6 seconds the first time, the next time you only go to 6 seconds. Then you tell the app if it was easy or hard, or "I can do better" and the app adds on 1 second, or 3 seconds or keeps it the same. If you want to do 6 seconds of plank for 1 week, you can. I got the free app, which does not give you full functionality of the app (music mode, personal best mode and plank interval mode is not included) but for just doing the plank, you do not need those features.</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0deZe_yGkEuIer2gP9oZD7zvkRQMKDKxbvXBkz1hjh9z8uIxpHghi-4Z5SPZsNI9ZV_e0jk1ssC7UmKMwBFgibKvQKVqjWFKXMNCucwupNk69Pt30nz7P1xBrVKhRsihqr2hWVTIAQqb-/s1600/plank.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0deZe_yGkEuIer2gP9oZD7zvkRQMKDKxbvXBkz1hjh9z8uIxpHghi-4Z5SPZsNI9ZV_e0jk1ssC7UmKMwBFgibKvQKVqjWFKXMNCucwupNk69Pt30nz7P1xBrVKhRsihqr2hWVTIAQqb-/s1600/plank.jpeg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Free app has only top right functionality - all you need </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2FlNFSuhVAljQ36bTzLoUuutffuG5UtDLwtelHdHSim99FcwuC5BdEQpgDPdxKodCRQNtWBmBc2n7pX1Q4dQtORwTfXtEISJGHvozwHoZcMcLN3K0zTz3fDZ3ndd4zVOUsqSTzamWYXd9/s1600/plank+2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2FlNFSuhVAljQ36bTzLoUuutffuG5UtDLwtelHdHSim99FcwuC5BdEQpgDPdxKodCRQNtWBmBc2n7pX1Q4dQtORwTfXtEISJGHvozwHoZcMcLN3K0zTz3fDZ3ndd4zVOUsqSTzamWYXd9/s1600/plank+2.jpeg" height="320" width="180" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Once you start working out and building your confidence, you may find you want to do more. Even though it is hard, it is rewarding, especially when you can see muscles starting to form in your tummy region, or you don't have as much back pain, or you feel like you are standing taller. You see the benefits and you want to keep going. (Please, for your family who needs you and for yourself, get to a point where you see the benefits in your workout.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I enrolled in Basic Pilates. I love Pilates because it stretches me out, works me out in a kind way. Even doing Pilates once a week makes a difference. I go to a class that starts when my kids are just in bed so I don't need the childcare and I'm putting the bedtime routine to just one parent (because that can be very daunting some nights). At Pilates, I learned that just sitting on the floor without using your hands and then getting back up is a great workout.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Then just recently, I attended a Basic <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xzgc-h5ObhA" target="_blank">Barre</a> class (video to just show you what Barre is), which was more intense. I have never felt more "burn" in my muscles than I did taking that class. I hated it but loved it all at the same time. You can seriously get into shape doing Barre.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The reason I am blogging about this process is because I was never fit in the true sense of the word, in my life. I always quit when it got tough and hard. I complained and whined. I said, "I can't do this". But now I am desperate for change, and so I keep pushing. Because "No pain, no gain". And I don't mean physical pain, necessarily. I mean mental strength, mental pain, pushing past the comfort zone.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My "work-outs" take only a few minutes a day. The sit ups take about 5 minutes and my plank only is at 40 seconds. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I would LOVE to hear from you! Are you going to try this? What do you do at home to get fit?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
1organizedmommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10888759377043656731noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1149839670033033453.post-28209162835276037182015-01-07T11:08:00.000-08:002015-01-07T11:29:40.042-08:00Never Forget Vitamins and Supplements, or Anything Really!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipa_NbySkTbgsCRFyrcfupbdA7M3Q0Kgz7GFR_W4B8TXW52uDwjrrjpPXCDz2IIWGLF7MAaslxlnDua8QMEmyZFi9XCHUR8iJ78b7efRDp7RD-Ffv118ejWD25eOT5SD3MlGEDMpKWlTLU/s1600/question_clipart.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipa_NbySkTbgsCRFyrcfupbdA7M3Q0Kgz7GFR_W4B8TXW52uDwjrrjpPXCDz2IIWGLF7MAaslxlnDua8QMEmyZFi9XCHUR8iJ78b7efRDp7RD-Ffv118ejWD25eOT5SD3MlGEDMpKWlTLU/s1600/question_clipart.gif" height="320" width="131" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am so bad at remembering to take medicine, vitamins and supplements. Worse yet, I don't remember for my kids either. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Come to think of it, since I had kids, I've had a hard time remembering anything, things I need to do, people I need to call, places I need to go. Sound familiar, Moms?!?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This year we have been getting sick a lot so I had to come up with a different plan. I needed to remember to do things to keep us healthy. Although, </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I keep the vitamins out in plain sight I still forget so that doesn't work for me. Meals come and go and I have forgotten to take them again. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I know if you do something over and over again it becomes a habit but you have to remember to do it over and over again.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfgPkagUqwY88_DrrEXyiCXkBGDYPLaur8pHqbbu6e-7W_rRZgLTNFwXl_W5IXZZyie8oPS3chnlh7oEbRPpQ95rwwWNQ3nuEJZWbDsisGtSR31qmcSV3nnfrKrOPweupoOq5CG8UwfTw8/s1600/IMG_3095.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfgPkagUqwY88_DrrEXyiCXkBGDYPLaur8pHqbbu6e-7W_rRZgLTNFwXl_W5IXZZyie8oPS3chnlh7oEbRPpQ95rwwWNQ3nuEJZWbDsisGtSR31qmcSV3nnfrKrOPweupoOq5CG8UwfTw8/s1600/IMG_3095.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So I rely on technology. I rely on my smart phone.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The key to using technology is to make sure you'll hear it regardless if your phone is on mute or not. So I set alarms, not timers or reminders. Alarms go off even if your phone is muted. You do have to keep the ringer up enough so you hear it but not too loud it wakes up the whole house if your timer is like my 5AM one you see in the picture.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I currently have 5 recurring alarms on my phone, 3 for vitamins and supplements, 1 to remind me to call my sister (how horrible is that?) and 1 to wake me up in the morning.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Just yesterday I deleted an alarm to tell me to call the Apple store that I had one my phone for about a week. If they didn't have what I wanted in stock, I reset the alarm for the next day. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The key to getting this to work is you keep "snoozing" the alarm until the task is finished. So for me, when I give D drops to the family, I wait until all 4 of us have had our D drop before I stop the alarm. Sometimes that means that it takes multiple snoozes because the baby needs food to put her D drop on as she doesn't just open her mouth to take it (yet!).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We take our probiotic with our evening meal so until that meal is cooked and mostly eaten, the alarm gets the "snooze" until we have all taken the probiotic.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So far this system works for us. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Because I keep my phone with me almost constantly, if I remember to call someone or do something throughout the day, I put an alarm in my phone as a reminder the moment I remember it otherwise I know I'll forget. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This gives me peace of mind that I am not forgetting things and I don't carry that stress around with me: one less thing to worry about! And that is a lot for Moms, AM I RIGHT?!?!?!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Does anybody else use this method?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>1organizedmommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10888759377043656731noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1149839670033033453.post-7031333771701953862015-01-06T10:59:00.001-08:002015-09-25T19:51:38.834-07:00Smoothies Fit for the Whole Family<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Smoothies are my thing....again! I go through spurts throughout the year where we go smoothie crazy and then give it a rest for a while.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have a one year old with only 3 teeth. How do you get your child to consume dark leafy greens at this age with no teeth to chew them? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have a 3 year old who is "allergic" to colourful</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> foods sometimes. (Sarcasm inserted here)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My husband and I are not daily eaters of dark, leafy greens, either.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So I have a solution for the whole family.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">SMOOTHIES!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have been using my blender daily. I have a Ninja and even the hardest, frozen fruit is nothing to blend.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The trick to smoothies is anything goes. I buy very large bags of frozen fruit at Costco. Blueberries, mango, pineapple, mixed berry are the ones that come to mind easily in my freezer. There are so many more options.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I always keep fresh bananas around. I love them in my smoothies.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Fresh avocados are a good idea too. Also, fresh fruit is always a good idea if you prefer fresh over frozen. I prefer frozen because I don't have to worry about it going bad or becoming less nutritious as it gets older and older. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I buy the 1lb bag of kale at Costco as well. This is good motivation to start making smoothies as soon as you get home from Costco because kale goes bad pretty quickly.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And I keep juice on hand. Pure 100% orange juice or 100% pure apple juice. I do not buy any other juices than that. Each supplies an entire's day of vitamin C in 1 cup. There is no sugar added to either of these.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So my go-to smoothie is add a little of each of everything I have already mentioned. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When it comes to kale, I add 2 huge fistfuls. Even though it is triple washed, I wash it again. Not only does this clean it again, it adds a little water to the mix. I don't spin it dry or anything.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1 Banana</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1/2 cup of each frozen fruit</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1 cup of juice</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2 fistfuls of kale</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Enough water to make it fluid enough to pour out of the blender</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikyOeIZAtOxT8HRwekpvWWcIPdmc4QiK2OsBiCPj1rBvjzS4RgLFEksnYkGzYlsdLS6luOeTYl3IDFE-qPpdCQEfW0hN8-wZ2X6Wd-M6KLZUaSM9A_tWq-xBQd1QwTG1hHVB3-pUvVLsw1/s1600/ikea.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikyOeIZAtOxT8HRwekpvWWcIPdmc4QiK2OsBiCPj1rBvjzS4RgLFEksnYkGzYlsdLS6luOeTYl3IDFE-qPpdCQEfW0hN8-wZ2X6Wd-M6KLZUaSM9A_tWq-xBQd1QwTG1hHVB3-pUvVLsw1/s1600/ikea.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We have Ikea popsicle molds</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Next week, I am going to try power greens. I find spinach has a stronger taste in smoothies. Kale is virtually undetected so it's great.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The baby cries when she is finished her entire 1 cup of smoothie. She wants more. And if there is any leftover, I freeze it in popsicle makers for freezer pops when the kids ask for them.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Please share your smoothie recipes. I am always looking for some new ideas. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How do you get your kids to consume their green vegetables?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Update September 25, 2015:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have started seeing a Naturopath and she advised me to add a "fat" into my smoothies. This "fat" helps our body absorb the nutrition from the fruit. So I have started adding Hemp Hearts to my smoothies. Avocado, as I mentioned above is great for fats and texture. I just blend it a few moments longer to blend the Hemp Hearts down to a texture that doesn't require <i>eating</i> your smoothie.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Also, use less or no juice as you do not need added Vitamin C with all the fruit packed in there.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>1organizedmommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10888759377043656731noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1149839670033033453.post-18694013481993973062015-01-05T06:42:00.000-08:002016-08-09T21:23:40.731-07:00Clean Oven, Chemical Free<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I have been putting my oven cleaning off for a long time. My oven has a self-clean feature that I really don't like using. Not only does my oven get incredibly hot, it stinks and sometimes sets off my smoke detector. But the worse part is it doesn't even clean that well. The glass never gets clean.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I also don't like oven cleaner. I suffer from sinusitis often throughout the year so I like to be nice to my sinuses. Who knows if using oven cleaner and other harsh chemicals is the reason I suffer in the first place. I would not be surprised.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So I did some searching for ways to clean the oven naturally. Currently, my oven looks amazing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I failed to take <i>before</i> pictures once again. Let's just say, I don't clean my oven often, maybe only once per year. I use my oven 3-4 times per week. I bake bacon in my oven instead of frying it, I bake salmon burgers in the open, I just baked a Christmas ham without covering it. That will give you a good idea of how well my oven is used and how dirty it was.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>NOTE:</b> Before cleaning your oven, have a meal plan in place that does not require your oven. Stove-top or crock-pot meals only as this method requires your oven to be out of commission overnight.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>The Racks</b></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2DIdzalF8c21IDywNAvMCc-bYsDBjTGEKftKLfXdTNYGBYR5F94_j7TpUpTMhbZJBpAByYYx9gPolBIpvi-gWJdmKlHzCz0X7Rcnsjmo-JZjDv7cm5GB0y4Cf5Dz4eY9V8WDF4uR9al1l/s1600/vim-cream.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2DIdzalF8c21IDywNAvMCc-bYsDBjTGEKftKLfXdTNYGBYR5F94_j7TpUpTMhbZJBpAByYYx9gPolBIpvi-gWJdmKlHzCz0X7Rcnsjmo-JZjDv7cm5GB0y4Cf5Dz4eY9V8WDF4uR9al1l/s1600/vim-cream.jpg" width="74" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Removes bathtub scratches</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">First, I took out my 3 oven racks and put them in my bathtub on an old towel so they didn't scratch my bathtub. They scratched the tub a little bit while I was wiping them. However, I got the scratches off very easily using <a href="https://www.amazon.ca/Vim-Lemon-Scent-Cream-500ml/dp/B003S78JO6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1470802645&sr=8-1&keywords=vim+cleaner" target="_blank">VIM Cream</a>. It's abrasive enough to get scratches off but not too abrasive.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I filled my bathtub up with hot water, as hot as it could be coming out of the tap. I dissolved a dishwasher soap tab in the bathtub and added Dawn dish washing liquid. Then I let them soak for a few hours.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Wipe them down with a <a href="https://www.amazon.ca/Scotch-Brite-Heavy-Scrub-Sponge-9-Sponges/dp/B00CPLBTKW/ref=sr_1_4?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1470802743&sr=1-4&keywords=sponge" target="_blank">plastic brillo pad</a> or rough rag. Most of the stuff should wipe right off. I removed my wet racks using a dry towel rag (wrapped around them so I didn't drip all over the floor) and placed them in my laundry room to dry and sit overnight while I cleaned my oven.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>The Oven</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I made a paste of baking soda, water and concentrated lemon juice (mostly for scent) in a small container. It will foam a little bit when you add the lemon juice. It was a thick liquid, not too solid, not too loose. You want it to be able to sit on the side walls of your oven without running down or crumbling into pieces.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">With <a href="https://www.amazon.ca/Scotch-Brite-Kitchen-Gloves-Small-Medium/dp/B00CPLC5D2/ref=sr_1_1?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1470802790&sr=1-1&keywords=rubber+gloves" target="_blank">rubber gloves</a>, slather on the paste. Make sure to get it in every nook and cranny. Let it sit overnight. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The next day, remove the oven door. If you are not sure how, search YouTube for a video based on your oven's make and model. (You can find anything on YouTube.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I wiped my oven door down first, using my rubber gloves and a rough rag. I also used a plastic brillo pad/sponge combo. There is some scrubbing involved but it is worth it to save your nostrils from the harsh chemicals.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Then I made another batch of paste and slathered it on the door again. I let it sit while I wiped out my oven. I find the oven door gets pretty gross and I like a nice clean glass so I did my door twice.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Then start wiping out the oven. It should come off pretty easily. If you do need to scrub in places, use the plastic brillo pad. I never had to.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Then put vinegar (I used distilled white vinegar) in a spray bottle and lightly spray your oven. This helps clean up any baking soda residue and loosen baking soda paste from any crevices.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I had to take the bottom panel out of my oven because the paste/vinegar went underneath. The screws were easy to find and remove. I wiped under very gently, careful not to touch the element then put the panel back on.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Once you are done wiping out, let it dry. You will see some more baking soda residue. In some of my pictures you can see it too so I had to do another wipe.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I have a convection fan in my oven and lots of baking soda got in there so I had to spray it a fair bit with the vinegar. Then I had to turn the oven on to get the fan to loosen any bits that had gone inside the fan. Turn off the oven before it gets too hot and wipe out what has fallen to the bottom.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Wipe until all the residue is gone. The best part about using baking soda is even if you leave a little bit on, no chemicals will be getting into your food or air when you turn the oven on. It is completely safe.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Replace the oven racks and you have a clean oven with minimal combined effort, no harsh chemicals, no sore nose and sinuses and no environmental damage. YEY!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Let me know if you have tried this method before. Did it work for you? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Do you still prefer the store bought cleaner? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">What did you make while the oven was sitting overnight for supper?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>After Pictures</b></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqNTxC3CmQJ-cqCnGm_VWrzYLDDhw8U-LNL_cZdAnxAU8NjQyOr7QOlLq4QAQMQtO1iE2qDckXZhBLvJTUw5wjFsaAcMrPSK20f-JOGrsxVCqAH5toaxScyuy407gsDoTqbaeLnyRTbCji/s1600/blogger-image-1321814660.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqNTxC3CmQJ-cqCnGm_VWrzYLDDhw8U-LNL_cZdAnxAU8NjQyOr7QOlLq4QAQMQtO1iE2qDckXZhBLvJTUw5wjFsaAcMrPSK20f-JOGrsxVCqAH5toaxScyuy407gsDoTqbaeLnyRTbCji/s1600/blogger-image-1321814660.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">At this point I still had to wipe out remaining baking soda residue</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmi_xhYmBawLn30fCcV2PdSG2SKP3A6uAifezPlixqipQoNx_7Jr4HHRcJZZenuhVwfk0m7r8qXhHPUjQNfJU15qkNmbz28BosulZPto0XJdRd_yLHazjL6xQJnaJJDX84xfA-Fh07lSxn/s1600/blogger-image--1970691270.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmi_xhYmBawLn30fCcV2PdSG2SKP3A6uAifezPlixqipQoNx_7Jr4HHRcJZZenuhVwfk0m7r8qXhHPUjQNfJU15qkNmbz28BosulZPto0XJdRd_yLHazjL6xQJnaJJDX84xfA-Fh07lSxn/s1600/blogger-image--1970691270.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The bottom of my oven is "stained" from my self-clean option used in the past.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-SEBx7czY1ntqCUsNvIIb25g7MjwCVIrmpZEfDN_0iIbq2X2oBG_wfZxllhSbXP3JHF2L72nztLG1SKymDLQBfoiagsiwHHa_8c3D6UsPdfLuan9GLOZdN5Hy85wzUL_PQ0AcvIzi_hvO/s1600/blogger-image-116304448.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-SEBx7czY1ntqCUsNvIIb25g7MjwCVIrmpZEfDN_0iIbq2X2oBG_wfZxllhSbXP3JHF2L72nztLG1SKymDLQBfoiagsiwHHa_8c3D6UsPdfLuan9GLOZdN5Hy85wzUL_PQ0AcvIzi_hvO/s1600/blogger-image-116304448.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Hard to really see how clean it is but I was impressed</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
1organizedmommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10888759377043656731noreply@blogger.com3