Beauty Secret

We ladies never stop working at our beauty.  Each of us has our own look and our own expression.
I have a tip I thought I'd share with you that applies to us all.

I have an extended family member who is 79 now, and she could pass for about 20 years younger than she is.  She keeps her weight in check and eats sensibly of course, but her skin... She can still wear shorts that end near the top of her thigh, and her legs aren't all wrinkled like a raisin.  Her face still looks smooth.
Last year I asked her what fountain of youth she is drinking from because she just looks so good.  I'll tell you her secret.

Everyday after her shower she covers herself head to toe in moisture lotion.

It's that simple.

You can organize your time around this easily.  It will only take 3-5 minutes after your bath or shower to apply this simple beauty secret to your regime.  I have been doing this for the last year, and I can't imagine ever stopping now.


Here is my collection.

 I have 5, count 'em, 5 different fragrances of lotion to choose from.  I tell my friends and family that I am into the lotion thing, and I get it as birthday and Christmas gifts.  I don't even have to buy my own!
I seem to have a steady flow of the stuff arriving in the form of gifts.

If you are like the average woman I have met, chances are you have lotion in the house.  It might be a big pump dispenser type, or some of these smaller gift type bottles, but I'll bet you have some.  Try this out on your next shower.  If you stick with it for a few weeks, you'll really notice how good it feels.
In a very short time you'll wonder how you ever skipped this in your shower routine.

Organize an extra 5 minutes into your shower routine to allow for this most important of beauty secrets.
You'll be glad you did.
Thanks for reading.

Cassie


Linked up at: 



www.womenlivingwell.org

Summer Reading Challenge

This is a personal challenge as we face the halfway point in our summer. It's a challenge to be intentional about spiritual health. It is July 31st.  There is one month of summer left before the kids all go back to school. (at least, in our area they don't go back until September anyways)
We're going to talk about reading our Bible to nourish our spirits.

Organizing is not a faith, it's not the pinnacle of your existence. Organizing is a means to an end.  The end being the things you value most in life.   Remember, our values dictate our behavior, not the other way around.
 When we have effective systems in place, they are easy to follow and not cumbersome to do, so we will stick with it, which in turn means we will stick to our routines.  
Our systems and routines keep us on track. 

I have done A LOT, and I do mean A LOT of reading and studying of the habits and ways of organized people.  A common thing I hear them state in books, blogs, interviews, etc is that organized people claim to be some of the laziest people you will meet.  You read that right.  Here's the thing...they don't want to be dragged down by complicated systems and routines.  Organized people want to simplify and streamline things to free them up for the things they love the most.

Does that sound nice to you?  Me too.

We all know we need to eat to nourish our bodies.  It doesn't take too long to see the results if we neglect our bodies.  Our spirits need daily nourishing too.  We can't physically see our spirits, but the lack of nourishment will be evident in our behaviours if we neglect this area.

Now, in keeping with the thought that a simplified, streamlined system will help us organize and do what we need to (and stick with it),  I found a Bible reading plan that is very easy to follow, and does not require any planning or organizing on your part beyond setting aside the time to read.  It's 100% free to use too.

Steps to Organized Bible Reading.

1. Go to www.biblegateway.com
2. on the left side click on the tab that says READING PLANS
3. Select the reading plan you want.  I chose the New Testament in 1 year, NIV (New International Version).
4. Scroll down the page to the area where you can select email reminders.  Fill in the information to receive the email reminders.  You have to select your reading plan here too.
5. When you have filled it all out click to SIGN UP.
6. Starting tomorrow you will receive an email in your in-box with the day's reading right there in the body of the email.

This is so easy to do.  You don't have to plan or organize anything except the time you will read.  I suggest to you to do this reading in the morning.  Either with your morning coffee, or make it the first thing you do when you sit down to your computer each day.

Here's your challenge - you need to nourish your spirit daily with the Bible.  Find a reading plan that works for you and take the challenge to read your Bible every day for the rest of the summer.  Before you know it, this will be a routine you can keep up as the fall schedules start up again.

Thanks for reading,

Cassie
linked up at: www.time-warp-wife.blogspot.com

An Easy Fix

Here is some quick easy fixes that will add a fresh touch to your bathroom.  Shop around and you can find stuff at a very good price.

This is the kids bathroom.
Notice how a quick change of a shower curtain makes the room look much more grown up.
Sponge Bob - you have been a friend in the house for a long time, but I must warn you, your days of reminding the kids to wash up via the bath mat are numbered!  You will be replaced with a colour coordinating bath mat and waste bin. You'll just have to go bless some other kids with your friendly reminders.  LOL!

Here is the shower curtain before, fish, dolphins and whales everywhere:

Here is the shower curtain now:

My son had mentioned that he also wouldn't miss the little duckies that held the toothbrushes for so many years if I just so happened to replace the toothbrush holder too.

Toothbrush holder before and after.  See the little duckies swimming in the blue water at the bottom of the cup?  They have been with us for a very long time too. 

Now here is the cup that matches the shower curtain. 

Like those paper cups?  Ha, ha.  They were FREE!  We have so many of them to use up.  At my husband's work place they got rid of the water cooler and they were just going to throw these in the garbage, so my husband brought them home to use.  Why not?  Saves us having to buy bathroom cups for a long while.

Here is another quick fix I did.  Since we moved into this house 11 years ago, we have had these Tucker's Marketplace cups from the restaurant holding the toothbrushes in our bathroom, only because the cups fit into the holder on the wall.  Isn't it funny what you just don't notice after a while?  

And here it is....for only 98 cents each, some clear cups that fit the space and look much more elegant.  They are plastic, so they are durable enough and easy to care for. 

Steps to your own quick fix:

1. Take a walk through your house and evaluate if there are some things that could use a simple update without too much fuss.

2. Consider what will work better in it's place?  Does it need to be de-cluttered? Replaced? Repaired?  or simply washed?

3. Shop around.  Take your time and be on the look out and you will eventually find the perfect fix for the spot you want to improve.

Happy Organizing,

Cassie

Day Off Shopping Finds

My day off was very enjoyable.  I had a nice quiet start to the day and then I was off and shopping!

As I said in yesterday's post, I was going shopping for some paint and wallpaper, and I am always looking for a bargain.  I did find some very nice bargains too.

Here are some storage containers I found at a super affordable price.  These are for the music room, my daughter's room, and for a closet.  You can organize small items into containers like these and it makes it super easy to locate what you want.  These wer 5 containers with matching lids for $5.  Only a dollar per container.  Yay!

Then for the fun stuff.  I was on a quest for some major bargains on paint and wall paper.  I found paint on sale for $15 per gallon!  That's right, not a typo.  I don't know how durable it will turn out to be, but for the areas I want to paint this will be fine.

I will be painting the powder room bathroom, and some closet areas with this.  I also got this really pretty wallpaper to put on the back of the shelves in the linen closet and bathroom cupboards.  I also got this wallpaper on sale for half price.  Why pay full price ever if you can shop around and keep the extra money in your pocket. 

When I get the projects done I'll be sure to post the pictures.

So that was my fun day of shopping.  Now I get the fun of organizing the projects and completing them.  It is so nice to add a fresh burst of colour.

Have a good one.

Cassie

Day Off

I have a day off work today. Yay!
We have a summer hours program that we work a few extra hours, and then each staff person participating gets 4 Fridays off over the summer.  Today is one of mine!

Here is what I wake up to after a nice little sleep in bed:

Her name is Bonnie.  She is one of our pets.  We have a dog and 2 cats who all came to live with us one at a time for various reasons.  It's a lot of pets, which means a lot of sweeping and vacuuming, but it is what it is.  We love these critters so much.  When you get a day off though, the pets sense this, and it can feel like you are running a nursery.  They all gather round and want attention, and in and out of the house.

Of Course....sometimes they just ignore you too! LOL!

What do you do with a day off?  After you manage all the pets and kids - if you have these?

Remember those of us not "born organized" must pace ourselves.  Do you get a free day and then realize you have a list of what you hope to accomplish that is too big?  In fact, when you really look at the list of what you want to do, you need a week off, or even a month? ha ha!

I have learned when planning my days off to listen to that unsettled feeling I get when I am making my ambitious "to do" list and somehow even I know that I'd need a staff of people to complete the list.  

Steps to a good day off:

1. Plan your day.  What do you want to do on your day off?

2. Reduce your list to be realistic.  Most things take longer than we expect, and on days off you have to allow all the more for unexpected times.  (such as pets.  ha ha!)

3. Do the responsibilities you have planned in your day first.

4. Give your "play" time priority when the time comes.

5. Relax and enjoy every moment.

6. If something doesn't get done, transfer it on your calendar to another time.

My day off:

My day off involves shopping!  Yes, these shoes are going out!

I had a nice sleep in, which I don't often do.

I will do some chores this morning and a bit of paperwork.

This afternoon I am hitting the stores.  I am looking for some paint and wall paper items at a super discounted price.  I'll let you know what happens.

Remember, we organize every day.  We are constantly organizing our days, calendars, work spaces, homes, etc etc.  Just remember to keep those days off at a realistic pace.  Before you know it you'll have a day off again!

Happy organizing.

Cassie

Cute Puppy

This is for the Things I Like page.
This puppy is just SO CUTE!
Check out this photo.

Morning Routine

Do you have a morning routine?

I follow a blog called Flylady.  Anyone pursuing organization will likely have stumbled onto her site.
Flylady always says that our routines keep us on track.

I submit to you that this is entirely true.  Do you have a morning routine?
A routine is a series of activities that you do, often in a similar or same order to complete tasks that need to be done on a regular basis.
A system is something that you put into place that will hold up, even when the routine isn't there.  A filing system for example, remains in tact whether you are on your routine or not.  In a time of crisis, you would still be able to find what you had filed because it was filed in a system. (hint** systems work for clothing, food, books etc.  If you manage your systems, your routines will be a snap to do!)
Spontaneitey is the unplanned moments and inspirations that bring us creativity and refreshment.  You will find spontaneity comes more often if you stick to routines and systems because it will free you up for other things in life.

What is your morning routine?  Here is an example:
1. 10 min, prayer and Bible reading
2. Make Bed
3. Shower/get dressed
4. Walk Dog (or put outside to use washroom - if you have a dog that is!)
5. Feed pets
6. Make lunches
7. Empty dishwasher and put away all dishes
8. Pull meat from freezer for dinner (check your pre-written menu)
9. Leave kitchen tidy
10. If your living arrangement permits, put in a load of laundry.  I have to wait until after work to do mine.

This might sound like basic stuff, but if you are not naturally organized, then you will be able to relate to the following scenario:

"I woke up and had some extra time.  The house is quiet and it feels so good to have an early start to my day.  I think I'll just sit with my coffee and say my prayers.
Next I think I'll check that book/magazine I was looking at....IT'S SO EARLY, I STILL HAVE LOTS OF TIME.
Oh!...time is getting on, I should make my lunch and the kids lunch too...
What am I going to wear?  let's see....what doesn't need ironing....don't want to take time to iron....
Text coming in!  It's my hubby!  text, text, text (how has 10 minutes slipped by?) text, text, get dressed, text, text, brush teeth, etc.
What!!!!!?????!!!!  I have only 10 minutes left to get to work!  ahhhhhh!  I still have to feed the pets, and pull meat from the freezer, and I had wanted to leave all the breakfast dishes put away.  How has this happened again!??"

Okay, this is an abbreviated version, but this is the sort of thing that happens when we don't establish evening and morning routines and stick to them.  When I look at where my trouble starts, it usually stems back to what I did or did not do with my routine and calendar the night before, and if I let myself get disracted in the morning, I find myself rushing to work with no make-up, meat left in freezer and the kitchen with all evidence of breakfast, and perhaps the dishwasher still full of last night's clean dishes.

If you don't have a morning routine, this is a great place to start.
MAKE YOUR MORNING ROUTINE
1. make a list of what you need to accomplish every morning.
2. Re-evaluate if this list is realistic, or are you trying to do too much before work/school?  If it's unrealistic or full of unnescessary things, you won't stick to it.
3. Write up a list to follow.  I use the task list in iCal.  Any method that you are comfortable with will do.  I sync my smartphone to my calendar, and then morning and evening routines are on my phone too.
4. Start to follow your routine.  You will probably have it memorized in only a few days, but it's still great to check back with your list.  I love the "check mark" that I finished a task.  I need that feeling of accomplishment.
5. DON'T GET DISTRACTED.  You already know there will be days that your routine gets bumped by life, don't allow yourself to get distracted by internet, books, phones, texing etc.  Sometimes I text my hubby and tell him its a busy morning and I'll call soon.

You will feel great when you leave for work/school or be ready for your day at home and you know your morning routine is done and you're ready for the day.

Happy Organizing,
Cassie



Organized Linens

It was time to re-organize the linen closet. I wish I had remembered to take a before picture. It was pretty crowded in there.

The next steps for the linen closet pictures you see will be to add a nice wallpaper backing to the back wall, and a fresh coat of paint. I plan to add shelf paper to the shelves too. This will make this space bright and pretty.

Organizing and decorating are not the same thing. This project was about organizing the space. In the near future I will add the decorative touches I described.

Here is the linen closet.

The top shelf.  Blankets moved to a new location.  Sheets folded extra nice, with matching pillowcases wrapped around each set.

Next is the shelf that holds tablecloths, spare pillow cases, wash cloths and hand towels.

The shelf after that is our towels.  This shelf is more full when all the laundry is back from the dryer. Our daily towels aren't all in perfect sets, but remember its about organizing to have your belongings serve you and your family.  It's ok if they aren't all a perfect set.

The last shelf is to keep toilet paper and tissue handy, and of course, as stool so I can quickly and easily reach that top shelf!

YOU CAN MAKE YOUR LINEN CLOSET ORGANIZED

1. De-clutter any items that you no longer use.

2. If your linen closet is small like mine, move bulky items you don't need on a regular basis to another closet or storage space.

3. Put like items together.  

4. Fold it all nice and neat.

5. When ready - add decorative touches such as shelf paper, wall paper & paint.

Happy Organizing!

Cassie

10 Minutes for Calendar

Today I have spent most of my day re-working pages on this blog.  There are still the thumbnail albums I want to prepare.  It has been quite a journey to even locate how to add a contact page and the thumbnails at the end of each blog entry.

Do you have days where your time table can get away on you?  An unplanned visit?  Engrossed in a project and time seems to stand still?

You can get back on track so easily before your day ends.

MAKE YOUR CALENDAR ORGANIZED
1. Set aside 10 minutes before you go to bed and check your calendar.
2. Transfer any tasks or events not completed to tomorrow or another planned time when you will complete them.
3. Update your calendar with any new items.  Be sure to put these items when you can realistically do them also.
4. Refresh your calendar if it is electronically synced to the other computers in the house.
5. Go to bed at a reasonable time and get yourself back on track tomorrow.

Happy Organizing!

Cassie

Organized Pantry

Here is the pantry I was working on this weekend.
This might seem like a basic task at the start, but I was 2 1/2 hours fussing over these cupboard which were already partly done before I had started.

I had done a couple of shelves the week before, but decided that I didn't like where some of these jars of cooking sauces and condiments were because they were right in the middle of everything.  This is not what I wanted, I wanted the main shelf there to be for snacks and food for the family.

After much pushing and arranging things and letting go of some products that were hiding on the bottom shelf that were past their date, I have come up with an arrangement where you can see everything on each shelf and EASILY reach it.  I do believe this is a user friendly arrangement and products we buy won't get forgotten again.  (Please recall that I have another cupboard where I store my pasta, rice, & flours, and I also have another cupboard where I store the tea and coffee etc.  If I could ever figure out how to link one of my blog entries to another I will do that for you.  In the interim,   you'll have to check my older entry called Organized Shelf)

Here is the results of my work on the pantry:

The top three shelves hold snack foods, crackers, dried soups, etc.  The baskets and plastic storage containers really help keep things organized and easy to access.  The third shelf down is all our cooking  oils.  It's the tallest shelf and at easy to reach height for daily cooking.  

The next shelves you can see are directly under the cooking oils, but they have their own cupboard door.  

Under the oils we keep breads.  Again, fingertip access for the busy family.

The next shelf is canned goods.  When we do a big stock up of groceries this shelf can get very full.  We cook with diced tomatoes a lot, and when they go on sale I buy a case of 12.  Imagine squeezing 12  of those fat round cans into this cupboard!

The last shelf was the one that gave me the trouble.  It was full of beans, corn meal, etc.  I transferred most of these items to the pasta cupboard, and then the baskets of items you see on this shelf were formerly the 2nd from the top.  This is a much better use of the space here. 

There it is!  It still looks like a very full cupboard, but we are a busy and active family.  We have 3 adults and 2 teenage kids.  This requires a LOT of food, and we LOVE to cook, everything from scratch whenever possible.

You can make your pantry organized too.

 - put like items together as much as the space will allow

- use storage baskets from the dollar store to create organized spaces within each shelf

- check the expiry dates on products.  If they are past their date, let them go

- don't overstock your shelves.  We all tend to cook certain things on a fairly regular basis, so stock the pantry for those items.  Overstocked pantry shelves just lead to waste. 

- make sure you create an arrangement that meets your family needs

Thanks for reading,

Cassie

Pretty Labels.

Here are some lovely labels I found that you can customize your shelf with.
Check out the TOTALLY AWESOME Summer 2012 issue of STORAGE.  It's the Better Homes and Gardens Special Interest Publication.

Simply click on the link below and it will take you to the site.  You can also browse around for fantastic ideas of how to use the pretty little labels.    Below I have attached a picture of one of the labels for pantry.  It is saved here as a jpeg, so you won't want to print from that.  check out the website where they offer 27 different labels and each has a provided recommendation of whether to print in on an Avery type label, or cardstock.

There are just sooooo many creative ways to organize our home and work spaces, and improve their function, all the while making it pretty.  I love the colours and ribbon ties on the baskets in this entryway cupboard.

And one look at this pantry, and you'll be buying some storage containers and adding labels too!  My pantry is organized, but I plan to add these labels.  Later I will post pictures onto this entry to share it with you. (I couldn't wait to post this.  The labels are such pretty colours, and already designed for you!)

Click on the link below and you'll be on your way to some super easy to use, visually pleasing labels for your every need!

http://www.bhg.com/decorating/storage/organization-basics/free-printable-storage-labels/

- You can select colours you like.
- You can customize them to say anything you want them to.
- A variety of shapes, sizes and styles for different uses.
- You can print and/or hand write as needed.

Thanks for reading - Cassie

Organized Bathroom Vanity

Here is a free standing cupboard in our Master Bathroom that I recently arranged with some storage baskets.

This cupboard was in pretty good shape to begin with, but over time there was a few items that had somehow migrated to this place that did not belong.  I started by removing the extra make-up, first aid supplies, and odds and ends that didn't belong.

Next I arranged the top drawer again with all my hair clips toward the back, and the handheld mirror and brush towards the front of the drawer. 

I added a basket to my husband's shelf to make it easier to pull things in and out for use.  

I added a basket to my shelf for the same.  The smaller items, to keep them sorted and easy to use.

The next shelf is common, shared products like soap.  I need to re-stock on toothpaste!  When you make a designated place for common bathroom products, your family will always know where to find them when they need them. 

The last shelf, I must admit, I keep changing what I am using it for.  Presently it is holding a few cleaning supplies, and a toiletries travel bag.  That is part of organizing, if something is no longer working, you re-work the space to fit your present needs.  This shelf is tidy, but I will re-visit it at another time. 

There you have it!  An organized vanity in the bathroom makes it easy to locate the things you need.  

- Put like items together by category or who uses them

- Arrange neatly the items that will stand or stack on their own

- Place small or awkward shaped items in a basket, and you'll never again be knocking things over as you reach for something

- re-visit your spaces regularly and if you daily use and needs have changed, re-work the space to match

You can MAKE YOUR LIFE ORGANIZED!

Cassie

Calendar Fail!

No one is perfect.

Even the blogs that look like someone has everything perfect...its not.  Life happens and none of us can keep everything perfect.  Do you remember getting a gold star on a test in grade school if you got a perfect score?  Well, I don't get a gold star this time, but I did get through the situation.

I had a fail with my calendar management this week. 

 Here is the story of how this situation unfolded.  My kids are away at a youth camp this week.  All of last week as we were painting our livingroom, I was keenly aware that the packing for this trip was looming in the background.  If you have been following my blog, you will know that the painting was an all encompassing project.  In addition to the painting we had the party on Saturday for my birthday, which is actually on Thursday. 

In any event, I kept telling myself that I will get to the packing list for the kid's trip, and that I really only had to buy bug spray and sunscreen anyways.  Imagine my dismay when I realized the day before the trip that I had FAILED on 2 big things.

1. We needed sleeping bags to borrow.  Ours are old and jumbo sized.  Not suitable for a camping/portaging trip.
2. My son had outgrown all of his swim shorts.

I managed to borrow 2 sleeping bags from a friend (whew!), which saved us a very unnescessary expense of buying them.  So I managed to side step that emergency quite quickly.

The swim short problem was more difficult.  First of all, the last day before the trip my time became occupied with visits. We had family visiting, from the party the night before that slept over and stayed until almost noon. It was a real treat to have them there and I enjoyed every moment with them.
Then I had to borrow the sleeping bags, which had the added bonus of a cup of coffee with friends.  All of these events just take good honest time to do. The next thing I knew, it was late in the day on Sunday and the family and I headed to Wal-mart to try and find a swim suit and grab the other supplies.  By this time of the day there wasn't any other stores to shop from that would be open, so we were at the mercy of the inventory in one store only.

My son needs a mens small or waist 28-30.  This is not a size that they stock very many of at Wal-mart.  We searched the racks for what felt like forever, and finally found 2 pairs of swim shorts in his size.  Of these, only 1 pair fit.  That's right, my son had the choice of 1 pair of swim shorts, or have nothing at all.  He opted for the swim shorts, of course!

I was so upset with myself.  This is exactly the sort of problems I am working away from.   This is why I am working so hard to be organized, is so that I am no longer the Mom standing in the department store at the last minute with the emergency shopping and no choice on price or selection.

Let's look at how to fix this....what was going on here?

1. I was too ambitious with my calendar.  I honestly thought that painting would be done by Tuesday, or Wednesday.  It took until Friday to finish painting both our living room and Mom's.  This paint project, plus planning and hosting a party, and preparing for the camp trip was too much in one week.
2. I did not work back from my due date.  I already know this, and you probably do too, but if you work back from the due date, you can usually figure out when you need to start something on your calendar.  I should have started to look at that packing list on Wednesday or Thursday, and this trouble could have been avoided.
3. I didn't check my calendar daily while on holiday.  It was a working holiday week, as we were painting and I let the disruption cause my daily routine to de-rail.  You will save yourself so much heartache if you enter things in your calendar and then really, really....check it daily, and get your tasks done.
4. I didn't adjust my calendar.  If you refer to my page titled Organized Calendar you will see that I state there that you need to check your calendar each day and if you did not get something done, you need to transfer the task to a PLANNED date when you will complete it. 
When I realized the painting project was taking longer than anticipated I should have made a plan to move some of the painting to the next week so that I could still allow proper time for party preparations and packing for camping preparations.

This is how we learn to change.   We must stop and assess the situation and ask ourselves what is happening here.  If we can understand what is happening, then we can see the steps to change. 

I hope that sharing this story will encourage you to keep on learning and that with intentional changes and practice you can MAKE YOUR LIFE ORGANIZED! I'd love to hear from you if you have a story of how you have learned the value of being organized and how it can set you free to do the things that are important. 

Thanks for reading my blog!
Cassie

Party Punch

We had our party Saturday, and it went really well.
Everyone enjoyed the food and drinks.

I made this non-alcohol sangria juice and it was such a hit with the guests that they drank all 4 jugs of the drink I made.  ( my camera is charging, I will add the photo later today)

Here is the recipe if you want to try it this summer.

Sangria Juice - makes 1 jug

1 Cup Orange Juice
4 cups Grape Juice
1-2 cups Sprite or Spritz-up pop to top it up to your liking.
1/2 fresh lemon, sliced thinly
1 peach sliced thinly ( or an apple)
1/2 small orange or clementine finely sliced.
a few strawberries, thinly sliced
A handful of blueberries

Mix together the orange juice and grape juice in a serving container such as a jug or a punch bowl.  Add approx 1-2 cups of Sprite or Spritz-up pop.  You just want to get some nice fizz in the drink.
Drop in the berries and serve in an elegant glass!

Note:  If you are using club soda instead of pop, you might want to add about 1/4 cup sugar.

My guests just loved this drink and you will too!

Party Plan - GO!

It's crunch time, the party is tomorrow.
I am away with the ladies at my church all day tomorrow too.  We are off to a rural Menonite community to shop and enjoy the company of women.
For sure I will be bringing home some honey, sausages and cheese!

This means that the house preparations and party planning must be most of the way done today.  I can't leave my hubby to do it all while I am gone.

Here is a picture of my party list.  It includes the attendee's and who is confirmed or declined.

The menu and drink plan is there also.  From here I will build the grocery list and buy the supplies for the party.

Being organized is what allows us to make special times and enjoy them too.  You don't want that pit in the stomach feeling that comes with being unprepared or rushed.  A very important part of organizing is learning to adjust and re-organize when life messes up your best laid plans.

The painting project this week.  It has swallowed most of our week.  Sometimes by the evening we were just so tired we relaxed and watched a movie as a family.  I honestly thought the painting would be done by Tuesday, and it took until Thursday.  We still have a few areas to touch up where the paint needs a second coat on the edges.  The hubby says he will take care of that.

So now I have a choice to make, I can get upset that my "to do" list for yard work, gardens, tidy up etc isn't where I wanted it, or I can adjust to the new situation.  In the past I must confess, I would be in a total flap.  Now I am learning that part of being organized to to adjust your plan to a realistic pace and then WORK THAT PLAN.

Today we will concentrate on making the yard look nice and inviting, get everything swept and those weeds pulled that seem to like to torture us by coming back with a vengeance.  They seem to come back almost overnight, and weed killing products have been outlawed here, so we just have to keep pulling. 

Remember this blog was started because I am not a "born organized" person.  I have been learning the value and payoff's that being organized brings.  The rewards are many.  Anyone can become organized and re-write this part of their character.  You can do it and so can I.  You must be kind to yourself when journeying to organized and remind yourself of the areas you have done well already. 

Do you get discouraged that it isn't all done already?  Go now and open that drawer you have sorted and remind yourself that it wasn't that way last week, but it is now.  Like penecillin working through the body a bit at a time, your organizing will work through your life a bit at a time.  Drawer by drawer, room by room, social by social, calendar even by calendar event etc. 

Well, I have to go now.  I'm off to WORK MY PLAN as I finish the cleaning, shopping and party preparations so that my organizing will allow me to really enjoy a special party with my friends.

Still Painting

Sooooo many paint cans!  There is so much work to painting.  We have not painted these main rooms in so many years.  It has been a big project.  We also lost almost all of Tuesday to running errands and celebrating our anniversary.  We will finish up the painting today and resume with planning for the party on Saturday.

I can't wait to tidy up the room and post pictures of our before and after!

Here are a few basics for an organized painting job:

1. Plan your colour scheme first.  Be sure to evaluate how these colours you want to do will flow with the rest of the house.  Unless it's a powder room bathroom that is very separate from the other parts of the home, everything should have harmony.  If you were to walk through your house and pull a paint swatch from every room in the house and line them up together, they should all match or be harmonious together.  

2. Gather all supplies needed to paint.  Drop cloths, paint, brushes, trays, tape, wall repair mud, sandpaper, screwdrivers (to remove outlet and light covers), ladder etc.

3. Move furniture and paintings to the middle of the room.  We did this in stages as it is such a busy room of the house.  

4. Tape wall, ceiling and baseboard edges to cut in with paint.  Unless you are like my husband who can cut in without the use of tape.  I am not so skilled with the 2" brush....I need the help of the painter's tape.

5. Cut in your edges with the paint and brush.

6. Paint with roller.  I trust you know to not paint in perfect straight lines...it will show.  You need to spread the paint out, think of a v type pattern.

7. Wait for it to dry and apply second coat of paint all around.

8. Clean up and return things to where they belong.

Notes:  When washing the brush you need to rinse and rinse until you see no more colour in the water.  then your brush will dry properly and be ready to use again.

- You can buy paint tray liners, or tape a garbage bag into the paint tray, and then cleaning up is a snap.

- If you need to stop painting and return to the job the next day, take a white kitchen bag or other bag of similar size and remove the roller from the apparatus, and place the roller in the bag and wrap it up securely and fasten with a bit of tape.  This will keep for a few days or even up to a week and you can resume painting and not have to purchase a new roller.

I look forward to showing you the finished results.  Be back soon!

A Lifetime of Love

This will be a short entry.
We are still home this week and STILL  painting the house.  I has turned out to be a very large project to move everything, repair all the bumps and scratches that happen to walls that have not been painted in 11 years, and then paint, and put everything back in place again.

Wow....it is all encompassing.

We celebrated 19 years of marriage in the midst of this organized chaos.
I feel privileged to still be with my guy and our love is strong as ever.

We organized a VERY nice dinner at home (beyond the painting! LOL!)  we ate outside on the patio.
We enjoyed some marinated chicken breasts, marinated shrimp, corn on the cob and large baked potatoes with all the fixings!  We cooked everything on the bbq's (one full size and 1 travel size bbq).

Then we watched a romantic movie called The Vow, and it was a perfect night.

Today we are back to the reality of finishing the painting in our living room and in Mom's living room. (Mom lives with us).  This means 2 living rooms with tv's, desks, books, heavy furniture.
My party planning details will be on hold until tomorrow, which will require even greater organizing as the time leading to Saturday closes in.

I look forward to posting the pics of our finished work!
Happy Day!

You have a chance to link-up with my blog below.  This is a blog hop.  Post the link to your blog by clicking on the link below.  There are so many amazing writers out there and if you link up, we can all encourage each other. 

Join the fun, do a little blog hopping and don’t forget if you link-up below -please add the link http://makeyourlifeorganized.blogspot.ca to your post so your readers can find us here!(Posts can include the topics of organizing, family, marriage, home keeping, faith, work life,  recipes, finances etc. )

Backyard Party Preparations

The reason I started this blog is to be a voice of encouragement to others like me.  People who are capable of being greatly organized....but... maybe you don't have it all organized just yet.
We are having a party this Saturday at our house, and there is some work to be done.

Not only are we finishing a paint project inside the house, but we have this yard work to get to.  I am not a natural gardener.  I'm not even that good at pulling the deadheads without being too hard on the flower.  Oh no!  That can be a problem eh? That's ok, we'll get through.    See my garden that looked AMAZING a few weeks ago is now caught between blooms. Hopefully I can spruce this up by Saturday!

I have learned that being VERY diligent with watering will produce lovely flowers, even if you aren't a great gardener.


Preparing for a party is part of an organized social you.
If we want to build friendships and create great memories, we must organize times to do this.

I sent out my invitations almost 2 weeks prior using the free service called evite.  This gathering is with close friends, so this is enough lead time for the party.

During the week I will post some more information on party planning.  The first step is always to prepare the invitations. Next you will want to plan the menu, and then prepare the environment.

Here is some party planning ideas from the current July 2012 issue of Real Simple magazine.  It's quite paraphrased, but some of it is taken direct.  Grab the magazine - its a nice issue.

Setting the Scene

1. The Invitation: 3 things to include:

- What they'll be eating.  This provides an opportunity for guests to mention food allergies or any other concerns.
- Attire.  Everyone (OK, every woman) is wondering what to wear.  Tank top?  Sundress?  Give guests a sense of the vibe: "You wear the flip-flops; we'll flip the burgers" or "bring your swimsuits"
- Rain Plans. Unless it is a large event, you probably won't need to make rain plans, but if it is a large gathering you will want to provide this information.

2. Mosquitoes: How to prey on their weaknesses.  

- Get rid of standing water.  This is where they lay their eggs.
- Plug in some fans.  It might sound funny to run a fan outside, but mosquitoes are weak flyers, so even a fan set to low can create enough airflow to keep them away.
- Offer guests bug wipes or spray.  Try to find something that won't create a smelly cloud of vapours.  Bug wipes are available through Avon, Skin so Soft Bug Guard Plus Picardin Towelettes ($14 for eight, avon.com)

3.Lighting - Don't leave your guests in the dark. 

- a bit of ambient lighting will make things pleasant and easy for people to move around.  Set out some patio lights to provide extra lighting.
- as the sun is setting turn on the lights.  Your eyes will adjust to the lighting gradually.
- If you need to run cords through the yard, snip old wire hangers and bend them into skinny U-shaped pegs (like cricket wickets, but only an inch or two wide). Then are them over the cords and hammer them flush to the ground.

4. Hey, Mr. DJ.  These are playlist tips from Michael Antonia, the owner of Flashdance, a production company in Los Angeles.

- Don't crank the speakers.  No one will want to stand near them if they are blaring.  Either use several smaller speakers spread out through the yard, or if you are using a boom box, place it above ear level so it's not blasting at guests.
- Go heavy on classics.  Use songs the people recognize.  Keep it upbeat, and mix in some newer tunes here and there.
Plan for five hours.  Most parties aren't going to last longer than that, and if there's anyone who realized the playlist has started over at hour six, then that's ok!

5. Have a seat.

- You will want to try to provide a seat for everyone.  Consider if there is any indoor furniture that you can double duty outdoors.
- Ask a friend or two to tote along some lawn chairs
- Consider renting. Renting can be surprisingly affordable.  Many vendors will even drop off and pick up, so all you have to do is round up the guests and good cheer.

6. Food and Drink

Stick to easy to prepare, standard summer cookout menu options.  Think make ahead options.  You won't want to miss the party because you are bogged down in preparations.

- Serve hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken, pre-prepared skewers.  Something tasty and simple to serve.

- Pre-make salads.  Provide a variety of leafy greens and creamy salads such as potato.

- Either serve food from an indoor buffet, or put temperature sensitive items on ice. 

- Simplify the bar.  Select 4-5 drinks only that you are prepared to serve.  Be sure you have all the ingredients on hand.   If yours is a non-alcohol bar, you will need to increase the amount of drinks available. i.e. 4 gallons of alcohol-free drinks for every 25 people. 

- Have a bucket of ice to store drinks in to keep them cool.

- dessert.  Assemble desserts ahead of time and store them in the fridge or freezer so when it's time to serve you can just pull out the ready desserts. 

As I prepare for our party this week I will post more information on party preparations and ideas as we lead up to the day to entertain.  

Busy Ants

Are you like an Ant?

Have you ever noticed how excited we get to plant our garden in the spring?  Oh, we rush to the store and pick out the annual flowers in pretty colours, each year picking a fresh new colour scheme for the garden!  We race home with our new plants, budding with hope, and put them in the garden and arrange them "just so".  We water them and watch with careful diligence to see that they grow.

From the first week we plant, we watch for weeds, and deadheads and protect our purchase, with the knowledge that our diligence over this little garden WILL grow and it WILL produce the results we hope for...a beautiful garden to enjoy.

Here is a scripture from the book of Proverbs that speaks of diligence.

Proverbs 6:6-11

New International Version (NIV)

⁶ Go to the ant, you sluggard;
consider its ways and be wise!
⁷ It has no commander,
no overseer or ruler,
⁸ yet it stores its provisions in summer
and gathers its food at harvest.

⁹ How long will you lie there, you sluggard?
When will you get up from your sleep?
¹⁰ A little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the hands to rest —
¹¹ and poverty will come on you like a thief
and scarcity like an armed man.

This scripture can have many, many applications in our life, but today we are going to focus on spiritual diligence.  The ant knows it has to gather and store if it will eat.  (Maybe the ant likes to organize and categorize its little harvest....LOL!)

We KNOW that if we want our garden to grow and be healthy we must water, prune, weed, and tend to it with diligence.

Our spirits need regular nourishment, just like a garden.  No food, no growth.  The ant does not wait for someone or someting else to feed it.  The ant is steady and faithful, one day at a time.

We can nourish our own spirit daily, just like the ant.  If you are not diligent to nourish your spirit, a spiritual famine and drought will come upon you like a theif and you will feel a spiritual poverty that drains you in every area of your life. 

Feed your spirit today.  Read your Bible, pray.  Sing a song.  Do the things that ground you in your faith.  When you are centred with the Lord, you have an inner peace that helps you face all the things that life throws at you.

Be like the ant....be diligent to nourish your spirit every day!