Tuesday’s Tip: Use Recurring Dates As Triggers

I mentioned in my March To-Do List that daylight savings is when we should change the batteries in our smoke detectors. Using this recurring event triggers a reminder to me to a chore or task that I might not think of. These are seasonal or annual tasks that need to get done.

I have several dates that remind me to do something:

• Our Anniversary – review our life and home-owners insurance policies and our will.
• My Birthday – make an appointments with all my doctors for annual visits (OB/GYN, dentist, eye doctor).
• First Day of Spring
  • inspect air conditioners and prep for use
  • schedule pest inspection and service.
• First Day of Fall
  • inspect the furnace and prep for use
  • schedule car tune-ups and maintenance
• Semi-Annual Church Rummage Sale – declutter, purge and donate

Each month, I check the calendar and make time for the annual or seasonal chores based on my trigger.

March To-Do List

WOW – I can’t believe it’s March already. One of my favorite months – my Birthday and St. Patrick’s Day are this month!

Let’s start this month right with some proper planning. Grab your calendar, a note pad and a pencil and let’s get to it!

Check birthdays for the month and make note to buy presents and/or cards. (Mine’s on the 15th, a free ecard will be nice – LOL)

March is National Nutrition Month. Try to evaluate the meals you make for your family and start making modifications for a healthier meal plan!

The Home Depot Kids Workshop is Saturday, March 6 – this week they’ll make a birdhouse rain gauge.

March 9th is Organize Your Home Office Day. I personally have big plans for this day. Because of a lot of changes here in the house, I need new office space. So this month’s project is just that – a new office space for me! Stay tuned – I’ll share pictures.

Daylight Savings Time Begins March 14 – set your clocks an hour ahead. And it’s time to change the batteries in your smoke detectors, carbon-monoxide detectors and flashlights. Need batteries? Add them to your shopping list!

St. Patrick’s Day is just 2 weeks away! Are you celebrating? What are you cooking? Even if you’re not Irish, a festive dinner is lots of fun (especially the beer). Did you know it’s super easy to cook corned beef in a slow cooker? Here are some more free recipes for you from my pal Christine, “The Menu Mom”.

March 20th is the first day of Spring! If you are going to have a garden, it is time to start planning what you want to plant and create your shopping list of supplies you will need.

March 25th is National Let Go Of Stuff Day – mark your calendar and join me for a day of purging!

National Cleaning Week starts march 28th. Stay tuned – I’ve got something planned!

Easter is right around the corner – April 4th. Start thinking about your plans for the holiday. Do you have the kid’s Easter outfits? Are you cooking?

So did I miss anything to do this month? Let me know!

Tuesday’s Tip: Cleaning Straws and Sippies

Ever have one of those “DOH!” moments? I had one of those recently when doing the dishes.

I’ve struggled keeping Little Dude’s sippy cups and straws clean. You know how yucky stuff gets caught in every crevice of those things, right? Well I figured it out.

Are you ready for this? It’s so simple, you’ll say “DOH!” too.

Use a pipe cleaner to clean straws and sippy cups.

Yeah, I know – it’s so obvious now isn’t it? I’ve been kicking myself for not thinking of it sooner.

Run to your craft supplies and grab a pipe cleaner and put it by your kitchen sink. I bent-over the tops so they wouldn’t be sharp and poke anything. It works like a charm!

PS: I’m linking to Blog Mommas’ Tuesday’s Tip Jar. Check out the tips over there.

PPS: If you already knew to use a pipe cleaner to clean straws and sippy cups, feel free to make fun of me in the comments

Tips for Saving Time and Money in the Grocery Store

As a kid grocery shopping looked like fun. As the parent, it is a chore that many of us could do without. Here are a few tips to save you both time and money on your next excursion to the grocery store. You might just change your mind about the experience after trying one or two.

First, why do people dislike going to the grocery store? You probably don’t like the long checkout lines or the time it takes to go up and down every aisle to find what you are looking for. Or, it could be the high cost of food and other grocery items these days.

Now, examine the following tips in light of what bugs you about the grocery store:

1. Clip coupons. This point can’t be stressed enough. Using money-saving coupons on the items that you use most is free money. Some grocery stores routinely double or triple coupons. (You can print coupons from SmartSource, RedPlum and Coupons.com here)

2. Create a grocery list from your meal menu. Meal planning saves money at the grocery store because you start with a list that encompasses everything you will need for all meals that week. Only pick up those items. With a list, you can target what you want and get out of the store fast.

3. Visit the grocery store early in the morning. This works for stay-at-home moms. Everyone else is at work so you will have the place pretty much to yourself. Many trucks deliver supplies to the grocery stores in the morning. You’ll be the first to get the freshest cuts of meat and the best produce.

4. Know your store. The biggest pet peeve has to do with the need to shop every aisle to find something. Choose a grocery store that has all of the food and qualities you like in a supermarket. On your grocery list, put the number of the aisle next to the item. Now, you won’t skip over the bread on aisle two while looking for the green beans which are on aisle four.

5. Stock up on common staples. Since you plan your meals every week, you know which items are needed most. When shopping, it’s okay to buy those items in bulk so that it cuts down on weekly shopping bills. For instance, if peanut butter is a lunch menu item most of the time, buy a lot when the peanut butter is on sale to save money.

6. Leave the kids home. Grocery shopping can be chore on it’s own. There is no need to add onto it keeping an eye on the kids. Plus the distractions! My bonus of shopping alone: I use this time to catch-up on podcasts and take my iPod along.

These tips make you want to run to the grocery store right now don’t they? Start with one and eventually use all five to shop like a pro.

All The Best-

PS: Do you need help meal planning? Here’s a how-to-guide to get started.

Thrifty Thursday: Save Money Heating & Cooling The House

We’ve had up-and-down weather here in NJ this October. So far we’ve had temperatures from cold and damp 40 degrees to breezy and sunny 68 degrees – and that was all within a week! Plus, we’ve already had SNOW!

So I got to thinking about ways to keep the house comfortably warm but not get a giant increase on my next gas bill.

• Change the temperature in your house. Your thermostat should be set no higher than 68 degrees in the winter and no lower than 78 degrees in the summer. Did you know that every extra degree you raise your heat in the winter can cost you an additional 3% in heating costs? And in summer, each degree cooler that you go can cost you 6% more.

• Install a programmable thermostat. With a programmable thermostat you can automatically lower the temperature in your house at set times. If no one is home all day long, drop it a few degrees between 9am and 4pm. By the time you arrive home it will be back up to temperature and you’ll have saved money all day long. Likewise at night when everyone is in bed.

• Be sure to replace or clean your furnace filters monthly. Having a dirty furnace filter restricts how much air can flow through the furnace – as a result you pay more because more energy is being used. Take a few minutes once a month to clean or replace your furnace filter and you can reduce your heating costs by as much as 5%.

So, what tips do you have to keep your home heating costs down this year? Share here!

PS: For more ways to Make Your Home More Energy Efficient And Save Money check out my how-to guide!

Friday Faves

JoysOfHome posted her totally awesome way of preparing dinners for her “boys” before going away.

AngiesPangies gave me a way to keep my abundance of herbs from my garden – freeze them!

Unclutterer posted on how to prioritize your decluttering and organizing projects. (I coach this when someone doesn’t know where to start. Great minds think alike!)

You must read 5 Quick Tips for Helping Kids Keep Their Rooms Clean from TheHappyHousewife.

NatureMomsBlog shares how to make old furniture look good again.

SimpleNotebook wants to know how to keep magazines from piling up and cluttering your space.

And finally, if you’re a cat person here is a video you have to watch at MomsTalkNetwork! (I think this was made based on Hubby and my cat!)

Friday Faves: Breakfast Shortcuts & Recipes

I’ve mentioned before that we like to have smoothies for breakfast. Little Dude takes a long time to fully wake-up in the mornings. So during the school year, we have smoothies for breakfast on school days because it’s what i can get hime to ‘eat’.

The recipes I use came from Natural Mom Recipes ebook Simply Delicious and Nutritious Smoothie Recipes. Little Dude’s favorite is the “No Need For Pancakes” smoothie.

If you’re looking for more ideas, here’s a free report with breakfast smoothie recipes just for you! (Right click and save as).

Now, hubby and Little Dude can’t do smoothies everyday. So I have mini veggie quiche cups in my freezer. Talk about easy peasy! Here’s the recipe:

Veggie Quiche Cups

Ingredients:
1 package (10 oz) frozen chopped spinach
3/4 liquid egg substitute
3/4 C shredded reduced-fat cheese
Salt, pepper and/or hot sauce to taste

Directions:
Microwave spinach for 2.5 minutes and drain the excess liquid.
Line muffin pan with foil baking cups.
Spray the cups with cooking spray.
Combine all the ingredients – mix well. Divide evenly among the muffin cups.
Bake at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes, or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.
Once cooled, I wrap in plastic and freeze them. In the morning, I just unwrap, take out of the foil, and microwave for 1 minute.

Options:
I use the Egg Beaters Garden Vegetable liquid eggs. This adds a nice bit of peppers, celery and onion to the quiches.
I’ve added left-over diced ham to these – Hubby loves them! You could also add bacon bits.
I once made these with chopped broccoli. Not a big hit – tasted too much like a dinner casserole!

Next, I’m going to try something new – Breakfast Cookies! I’m thinking these will be a big hit! So this weekend, one morning before it get’s too hot to use the oven, I’m going to bake some of the recipes for breakfast cookies I found.

These Hearty Breakfast Cookies are made with oatmeal and wheat germ.

Banana, apple sauce and raisins are in this recipe from wisebread.com. Just sounds yummy!

Now this recipe that I’ve already tried  isn’t labeled as a breakfast cookie, but it’s chock full of goodness.

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies

(I found this recipe many moons ago at Taste Of Home)

Ingredients:
3 egg whites
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup reduced-fat peanut butter
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/4 cup honey
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 cups quick-cooking oats
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup nonfat dry milk powder
2 teaspoons baking soda

Directions:
In a large bowl, beat egg whites and brown sugar until frothy. Beat in peanut butter, applesauce, honey and vanilla. Combine the oats, flour, milk powder and baking soda; gradually add to peanut butter mixture.
Drop by tablespoonfuls 2 in. apart onto baking sheets coated with cooking spray.
Bake at 350° for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown. Remove to wire racks to cool. Yield: 5 dozen.

Options:
I use Skippy Natural Creamy, but a chunky will work too.
I’ve added raisins and dried cranberries to this recipe.

Your Turn! If you have any breakfast short cuts, let me know by leaving me a comment!

Toddler Tuesday (Tuesday’s Tips)

I mentioned on my recent talk show that the only theme I use when planning my family meals is Toddler Tuesday. You’ll notice in this weeks menu plan I listed his choices. Well for Tuesday’s Tip Jar (hosted at BlogMommas) I thought I’d share more toddler tips that have worked for me. To be honest, Little Dude will be 4 in September, but Preschooler Tuesday doesn’t sound right!

Travelling

• I keep a zip-close sandwich bag in my purse with crayons and a small notepad. This way, Little Dude can color wherever we go. (Came in handy recently at the DMV!)
• I also keep a few Bob The Builder cars in my glove box in case I need to keep him entertained unexpectedly while we’re out and about.

Snack Time

• I filled a drawer in my fridge with pre-cut and ready to eat treats just for him such as cut-up carrots and celery, cheese sticks, snack bags of grapes, and juice boxes. He feels self sufficient because he can just go pick-out a snack all by himself. I do have to check to make sure he closed the drawer and fridge door.
• I also have a box in my pantry of single-serve and ready to eat treats. Once a week I pre-bag items like graham crackers, raisins, popcorn and peanut butter pretzel sandwiches. (A box of Annie’s Bunny Grahms fills 6 snack-size zip top baggies) I also keep fruit snacks, cereal bars and mini muffins ready for him to grab.

Meal Time

• Not only does my son use a plastic plate and cup at meal times, so do hubby and I. I purchased a set meant to be used outside for picnics for all of us to use on a daily basis. This way, when Little Dude helps clean off the table, I don’t have to worry about dropped plates or bowels shattering all over the floor.
• I created space in my cupboard where he can reach the plastic dishes and cups so he can help me set the table too.

Bed Time

• I put Little Dude’s pajamas (aka jammies) in the bottom drawer of his dresser. This way, each night he can pick-out his jammies all by himself.
• I keep his hamper right next to his dresser so he can easily put his dirty laundry in it.
• On the door of his bedroom, I’ve hung his chore chart. Each night, before his nightly story, cuddle and tuck-in, we review the day and place stars on on his chore chart.

Well, that’s all I can think of right now. Most of these tips help me in trying to raise a self-sufficient boy. Actually, like I’ve said before “I don’t want to be cursed by my future daughter-in-law, so I’m trying to raise a good husband”.

Leave me a  comment with your favorite tip – and don’t forget to participate in Tuesday’s Tip Jar!

PS: This week, Little Dude picked ham and peas for his Toddler Tuesday dinner! Luckily I had a ham steak in the freezer. Much better choice than chicken nuggets or fish sticks – right?

Summer Buzz (Saturday SOS)

Last weekend we gave Little Dude his first buzz. He looks like a big boy – sob! Anyway, we did this because he has a lot of hair and is a sweaty guy. With a buzz he’s much cooler and it’s easier to take care of. Plus, he smells a lot less like a goat after a hard day playing outside in the yard! (I love him, but seriously, my preschooler plays hard and smells like he does!)

So My Save Our Sanity Tip: Get An Appropriate Hair Cut For Summer

If you have a little boy, give him a buzz.

If you have a little girl, keep it long enough to put in a pony tail. And go get the accessories to keep hair off her face and neck.

As a matter of fact, I’ve done this myself. I recently went to the salon and I told Dawn, my hair dresser,  that I wanted a cut that was:

• short enough to style like a grown-up
• layered enough to just wash-and-go (embrace my curls)
• long enough to be pulled back off my face and neck into a pony

After clearly communicating what I wanted, and discussing options with her, mission accomplished – for the most part. (Note: do not cut your own bangs – they always come out too short. Yep, I did that a few weeks ago.)

So what’s your Summer Saturday Save Our Sanity Tip? Leave comment, and include a link if you’ve posted it on your blog.

PS: Don’t forget to earn bonus points with me by commenting just how darn cute my Little Dude is!

HELP – I’m Trapped Inside With A Toddler

UGH! It’s been raining and raining here in NJ for the past few weeks. And there is more in the forecast for the next 3 days!

Sure the grass is nice and green, but my geraniums have been beat-up, my pansies are a mess, the lettuce and spinach in the veggie garden are mush, and the strawberries are making jam on their own.

But worse – we’ve been stuck in the house for days. Sure we head outside when we can, but Little Dude is going stir crazy! We’ve played every game at least 5 times. We’ve done every puzzle in the house. And the coloring books are on their last pages.

I’m calling out to my interwebz peeps – HELP!

Share in the comments your favorite rainy day activity. I need something new to do! Provide suggestions to those of us in the NY/NJ area that are feeling like drown rats and need something to keep the kids busy!

PS: I’m “Do Follow” so link love is provided

And spread the word – If there is enough interest and sharing, maybe we’ll vote on favorite and creative activities and give away some prizes!

Clean House Using The Focus Formula

It’s a common occurrence – life happens and we get behind in our housekeeping. Or you have company coming this weekend and the house is a mess. How do you make your home presentable? There is no magic trick – you just gotta clean it up with good old fashioned elbow grease.

So how can you clean up the house without exhausting yourself? By using a timer and the focus formula. It’s simple – 45/15. You work for 45 minutes, then take a break for 15 minutes.

The idea is to totally focus your energy and attention to a project 45 minutes. Then when the timer goes off, stop for a break for 15 minutes.

It’s been taught by several internet marketing gurus, including Jimmy D Brown, for focusing on business. The idea is to ignore the phone, close your email, twitter and anything else that might be a distraction, and totally focus on the task at hand. Then when the 45 minutes is up, you can check your email, return a phone call or (my favorite) log-on to Twitter.

This formula can be applied to your home cleaning. Just set your timer and tackle a room. It’s especially helpful when you are short on time or have a deadline to meet (like the in-laws coming over for dinner tomorrow). It’s amazing how much you can accomplish when you have complete, total focus on what you are doing. And you’ll be surprised how quickly the time goes.

And while you may not look forward to cleaning, you can look forward to the breaks using the formula!

How To Clean Kitchen Cabinets (Tuesday’s Tip)

I have a constant battle with the white cabinets in my kitchen. The doors are always a mess with toddler finger prints, dog paw prints and spilled drips of juice, coffee or whatever I’m making for dinner (because of tripping over said toddler and dogs).

So I get Little Dude to help me clean them. I give him a sponge and a small spray bottle filled with warm water and baking soda, a let him at ‘em! He “cleans” the cabinet doors, the appliances, even the floor if the mood hits him.

He loves “helping” me so I take advantage of it. Yes, this may seem like child labor, but the benefits are not just for me. He’s 1) busy and not causing trouble 2) practicing his motor skills and 3) learning how to clean. My future daughter-in-law will thank me!

If you like tips like this, visit BlogMommas for Tuesday’s Tip Jar!

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