When my son was young, a fellow mom asked how I organized his Legos? I paused and said, "I don't." Being clutter-free does not mean perfection. Toys were not neatly stowed every night, certainly not Legos. I learned pretty quickly that organizing Legos was unnecessary. In our house, we love Legos. The benefits far outweighed the clutter and our loose organization system worked well. The LEGO Group The LEGO Group makes a high quality, fair trade product. My son would request a special set for Christmas or his birthday from his grandparents. Legos are what I call a "work-horse" toy because they stand the test of time. They also encourage friends and siblings to play together. But I learned that the more toys my son had to clean up, the less he played. And the fewer toys he had, the more he would play. With Legos, he was creative and content. He played with mini-figures from Marvel and Harry Potter at the same time. Sometimes all in one body. We did not stress …
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7 Easy Ways to Get Organized for Back-to-School
Summer is coming to an end and many kids are already back to school. Articles fill your feed with items to buy for back-to-school." But what if you handled it differently this year and saved money? Families want to start the year off right. Organizing your school supplies can be a great way to signal the transition from summer to school. Just keep a few things in mind before you shop. Advertising Works Advertising works because billions of marketing dollars make it happen! Ads lure you into buying 64 brand new crayons and all those cute IKEA desks you had to have during the pandemic. Let's be real for a minute. June-scissors work in August, right? Crayons and pencils might be scattered but still create art, correct? Kids are productive in different spaces, so do NOT force them into a desk. (I learned this from a homework expert years ago.) Before the ads convince you to buy, take an inventory of your supplies and consider what you really …
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How to Get Kids Organized for School – At the Beginning of Summer
Summer has arrived! Time for flip-flops and swimming suits. The last thing you're thinking about is how to get organized for school. That's months away, right? Meanwhile, the backpacks are tossed on the floor with papers and lunch boxes still inside. The contents are left to decompose. Perhaps you have piles like this scattered all over your house? In August, articles will fill your feed about how to "get kids organized for school." But what if you did something about it now? And saved time and money. Advertising Works Soon, back-to-school sales will flood the aisles of local stores. Advertising hits you at every turn. The advertisements convince you that your children need a brand new box of 24 sharpened pencils, colorful scissors, cute erasers, and a box of fresh crayons. (I do love new crayons.) But I'm pretty sure the June scissors will still work in August. So before these ads beckon to you like a siren, why not spend a little time unloading the backpacks and …
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A Simple and Healthy Meal Plan for Busy Moms
We value time for family dinners, together. To ensure we eat healthy and sit down as a family, I create a weekly meal plan. A meal plan saves time and money Every Sunday, I build a meal plan and prep ingredients from my arsenal of simple healthy recipes. The recipes are organized and searchable in Evernote. I like the ones that turn into several meals and create leftovers for lunch. Here's how. Grab my FREE Meal Planning Template +5 Weeknight Meals HERE. Mom! What's for dinner? Now, you have an answer. Use Existing Inventory First, check the fridge and freezer for proteins on hand. Veggies? Are there any likely to spoil soon? I clean and cut fruits and vegetables. Make muffins from overripe bananas. Defrost meat. And I also keep a stash of frozen veggies for a quick side dish. With a little prep work, veggies are ready for snacking, steaming, or sautéing. Spinach and romaine on hand for smoothies and salads. Snacks pre-portioned into …
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How to Organize Family Board Games
Board Games and Playing Cards We routinely hold a family game night. Our favorite board games come in the smallest boxes or no box at all. We travel with three decks of cards (Monopoly Deal, standard playing cards, and a Pinochle deck.) While the Fish Bowl Game requires only a pen and paper. And after many years, these games remain our favorites. To keep it organized, I designated a small cabinet for our collection. Games cycle in and out. The key to organizing board games is setting boundaries and being realistic about which games are played. How to Organize Board Games Collect all the games and cards Designate a cabinet or shelf to store them Check each box for missing pieces and instructions Fix or reinforce boxes with tape. Secure with rubber bands Donate games your family has outgrown Throw away damaged or incomplete games Confirm playing cards are complete decks Keep 1-2 high-quality decks of cards Limit your collection to what you use …
How to Prepare for Online Learning in the Fall
If you’re a parent with school-aged children, the question of the hour is about school in the fall. How will online learning be taught? When will it start? Should I homeschool? Our family weathered the storm of distance learning this spring, but I recognize that’s easier to do with an only child and a flexible work schedule. For many families, the spring was a nightmare. And now we're trying to start the year off right. I get it. But before you rush out and spend a bunch of money on new desks, homeschooling curriculum, and rearrange your house, I recommend taking a step back to “pause and plan.” You have time, I promise. Take a deep breath and read on. Step 1 - Enjoy Summer The school year will be here before you know it. For the sake of our children and their childhood that was turned upside down in March, let’s try to enjoy the last few weeks summer. Be present, in this moment, which we’ll never get back. Since I have 4 summers left before my one-and-only heads …
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