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Dinner is the last meal of the day and a time when families can get together and discuss their day. It is also a hectic meal for busy moms who are just getting off of work or who have been busy with other activities all day. If you are a busy mom or you know a busy mom, here are  some menu planning tips to help make dinner meals easy and even fun.

Menu Planning Tips

1. Schedule your meals a week in advance –  This is one of the most important menu planning tips. Knowing what you are going to eat throughout the week means less chance that you will stop off at the closest fast food joint for a convenient, but unhealthy meal. Decide on the   last day of the previous week (let’s say Saturday for the sake of argument) what the menu will be for the following week. Create your shopping list from the list of ingredients to avoid   buying what you don’t need at the grocery store.    Also see Meal Planning Central for a free meal planning report.

2. Look for bargains – Clip coupons, read advertising circulars and the like to decide where the best grocery to shop is for your menu items. If one ingredient is a common denominator in  many meals, consider buying in bulk to save money. Common staples like milk, eggs, bread and  sugar can be bought in bulk as well. Some stores will have double or triple coupon days when  you can save even more.

3. Search online - After a while your family will get tired of chicken and rice every Thursday. You can get into a menu rut sometimes. Use the Internet to search for new and exciting recipes. Learn to put a twist on old recipes for a new taste.

4. Have a leftover night – After preparing meals for five or six days, there is bound to be so  me food left over.   One of my favorite menu planning tips is to designate one night to be leftover night and let everyone mix and match for dinner. It saves mom from having to throw away any food.

5. Cook your meals in advance. After deciding on a menu plan for the week, go ahead and fix as many meals as you can. Choose a day when the entire family can help like Saturday morning or Sunday afternoon. Each person can take one meal and fix it for the following week. Once everything has cooled, store it in sealed containers or casserole dishes to be frozen until the  night it is needed.

6. Do prep work in advance –  All of the meals can’t be cooked at once. Some foods just taste better freshly prepared. For them, so as much prep work in advance as you can. Enlist your kids to help chop (give them the kitchen shears instead) vegetables, dice cooked meat and mix to  gether dry ingredients. The night of the meal, all that is needed is to add the wet ingredients and bake.

As you can see, using some menu planning tips will be your ticket to saving money, sanity and time  – what else could a busy mom ask for? Now, let’s get Cookin’!  Remember that meal time doesn’t have to be all on mom. The entire family can help with dinner so it is a relaxing meal for everyone.

More Menu Planning Tips Here

Also see Meal Planning Central for a free meal planning report.

With the global economy at one of its all-time lows, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to make ends meet. However, many of us are looking for easy ways to save money fast.   There are many easy ways to save money fast and you don’t necessarily require drastic action, and you may even want to try some of these out simply as ways to save up for something you want. So here are a few great money-saving tips that you might never really have thought of.

Easy Ways To Save Money Fast

Ditch your car (sometimes): Your car is probably one of the most expensive things in your life. We forget that not we’re not only paying up for fuel on a regular basis, but we also have to pay all the maintenance costs for our cars.

We don’t necessarily need cars to get on with our daily lives. Public transport is great alternative. Another great alternative to a car is a bicycle. Bicycles cost almost nothing to run, with very low maintenance costs and zero fuel bills. Better still, you’ll even get fit by using a bike.

Finally, you can walk as much as possible. While some things will probably be too far away for walking, there’ll almost certainly be plenty of things you can do by walking which you’d normally take your car to do.

Many can’t imagine life without a car, but you don’t actually have to drop your car altogether to save money. Just making shorter journeys by bus, bike or on foot can start saving you money on fuel, and will reduce wear and tear on your car making maintenance less of an issue.

Stop going to the gym: If you are looking for  easy ways to save money fast, you may want to check out your work out habits.   If you’re paying out to go to the gym on a regular basis, then consider doing your workout from home – at least until your financial situation is looking a bit better.  You can arrange to go on runs in a local park or on the sidewalk with friends if you want to get out of the house. But it’s also possible to do lots of exercises in the house.

You can also try to cycle journeys that you would usually make in the car. As mentioned above, this can reduce fuel costs at the same time as keeping you fit. It’s also a timesaver, as you won’t need to use up as much of your free time on exercise if you’re cycling to get around.

Plan your food shopping: One of the most common mistakes we make is not planning our food shopping properly. By using some key family meal planning tips, you can save a lot of money monehly.  It can seem like an annoying chore, but by buying only what you know you will need you waste far less. It also means you can take advantage of bulk-buy special offers.

Check out supermarket clearances: Supermarkets often have end-of-day, or end-of-week clearances. These are definitely worth checking out! You can find some truly amazing deals here, particularly if you’re buying meat. Find out when food clearances usually take place at your local supermarket and make it a habit to turn up for them frequently. It’s possible to cut food bills down quite a bit this way.

Drink less alcohol, smoke less cigarettes:  It sounds boring and difficult, but if you can manage it then cutting back on alcohol and cigarettes can be a huge money-saver. Cigarettes are one of the biggest money wasters – especially for chain smokers. Those who are unable to quit cigarettes might be able to cut back and save some pretty decent money.

Alcohol is actually easier to cut back on than many people think. You don’t have to stop drinking it altogether, but saving it for just one or two nights per week can really make a big difference to your expenses. Also, if you drink out at bars a lot, consider drinking at home beforehand. This can reduce the cost of a night out quite a bit!

As you can see by the list above, there are many  easy ways to save money fast ways.  These are just a few ideas to help get you thinking. Take a look at your daily life, and see if you can find other ways to save yourself money in addition to these.

Click Here For More Easy Ways To Save Money Fast

Here are some great tips for more organized mornings.  Are your mornings chaotic? Do you want them to move more smoothly? Here are some tips to help you do just that.

1. Plan ahead.

Develop the habit of preparing for the next day the evening before. That will not only give you a head start for the day, but will get your body in the habit of slowing down to fall asleep when you want it to. Realize you can’t work or play until you fall into bed exhausted. Exercise is great, but earlier in the day, not right before bed. Your mind and your body need to relax after the busy day to get a good night’s sleep, that’s a big plus toward an organized morning.

The length of time required to prepare will depend on family size, and what the next day holds for each person. Start with 30 minutes to an hour, making adjustments as necessary. Also note that planning is done by each family member mature enough to do it, not by Mom or Dad alone, though someone will have to take the lead.

 2. Select tomorrow’s clothing.

Does work require a suit, business casual, or casual? Is this a tennis or golf day? Will someone volunteer at the food pantry? Will the children need school uniforms, or more sturdy clothes for a field trip? What about sport uniforms or dance outfits for after school?

Select clothing and set it out where each person dresses. Check for missing buttons, broken zippers, rips, or stains. Those problems are more easily corrected in the evening.

 3. Prepare tomorrow’s food.

Prepare and refrigerate lunch boxes in the evening when time is more relaxed. Part or all of breakfast may be fixed at the same time. This minimizes cleanup: two meals, one cleanup.

In addition, set the table for breakfast. More time for breakfast means a more readily digested breakfast.

 4. Collect tomorrow’s needed items.

What goes to work, reports or contracts? Put it all in the business case(s). What goes to school, homework, or projects? Put those in the book pack(s). Is anyone going to the doctor? Bag the patient’s prescriptions and over-the- counter medicines; remember to include all of them. Any questions for the doctor are written out and included with the medicines. Does anything need to be picked up? Make sure the ‘picker’ has the needed ticket or receipt. Does the tennis player have his racket, the golfer her golf bag, the canasta player his cards? Try to think all this through before going to bed.

Stage these things by the door. Set them in order as needed, and in tote bags or containers to keep everything together. For example, if Dad leaves first, his items will sit at the door. Those leaving next have their items behind Dad’s. If Mom leaves last, her things are at the end of the line. Each person’s pack is waiting for them as they leave. Everything is in order, nothing is left behind.

5. Wake up refreshed.

When the clock goes off, do not push the snooze alarm. If you got to bed early enough, that won’t be necessary. Even if you didn’t, don’t push the snooze alarm, and don’t jump out of bed immediately. Instead, do easy stretches, like a cat does. While stretching, think gratitude, be grateful for another day, for another chance to succeed and be happy. That way when you do get out of bed, you’ll feel great. Continue feeling great by remembering how you prepared the night before; there’s no need to rush this morning.

As you get up, make your bed. This takes little effort, yet gives lots of benefits. It makes the room neater; it keeps people from fussing, and it makes the bed feel oh so nice when you climb into it at night. If children are too young to make their own beds, let them ‘help’ until they can do it alone. The earlier they develop this habit, the easier it will be for them, and you.

Another stress reducer is staggering awakenings and bathroom times. Not everyone can crowd in there at once, so stagger times to allow those leaving first to get into the bathroom(s) first. Whoever guides the rest of the family, leads the way. Last ones out of the house are the last ones in the bathroom(s). Make the schedule so each person has the time they need. Unless you live alone, consideration for others is the key.

6. Eat a healthy breakfast.

Don’t forget breakfast. Everyone needs a little fuel for the morning’s activities. Even those with small appetites can have coffee, juice or milk, toast or fruit, a hard boiled egg, something so they won’t leave the house on an empty stomach.

Since most or all of it was prepared the night before, breakfast doesn’t have to be rushed. There’s even time to wash the dishes or put them in the dishwasher.

 7. Ready, set, go!

Finally, make sure the first person home has keys to get in the house. Have the last one leaving make sure the door is locked while everyone is away. As each person goes out the door, encourage them to tell the rest still home that they love them. Being organized is great for relationships.

Result: The previous night’s preparation smoothed the morning routine. Organization replaced chaos. Each person had ample time to dress, enjoy breakfast, collect his or her things, and leave on time, relaxed and eager to meet the challenges of the day.

Stop by Get Organized Now – and check out the amazing collection of 2,175 ideas, tips and techniques for organizing your home, getting rid of clutter, organizing your time, your schedule, your money, your paper, your family and much more!

It is no surprise that moms feel overwhelmed when they try to fit everything into their busy days. After all, few single people can manage to juggle work, home life, and fun successfully. On top of these responsibilities, moms add car pool duty, cupcake emergencies, and last minute science projects to their to do lists. So, how do moms manage to fit all of those tasks into their lives and still keep their sanity without resorting to cloning?

First, you may want to consider making a list of tasks that need to be completed. Then, take a hard look at that list for anything that could be simplified or eliminated. For example, do your children really need home baked cupcakes for the school party? The bakery up the street will be happy to box up 24 cupcakes and have them ready for you to pick up the next morning, saving you at least a half hour.

Next, look for tasks that really take a lot of your time, but could be done by someone else. If your children are too young to help walk the dog, you may want to consider hiring a dog walker to give your pooch his daily exercise. Errand services are also a great time saver. You can have your errand service shop for back to school supplies, pick up groceries, or get the dry cleaning. A maid service can come in once a week to do some heavy duty cleaning.

Another task that takes a lot of time is cooking. However, you can stop cooking a meal from scratch every evening and still feed your family without hitting speed dial for your favorite pizza with bulk cooking. Pick a weekend and cook enough food for an entire month of meals. Freeze the food in dinner size portions and simply reheat a dinner each evening.

Of course moms who work from home have a flexibility that other moms don’t have. If you become overwhelmed with all that you have to do, give yourself permission to take some time off to catch up. If you simply can’t take time off, you may want to find a mother’s helper to watch the children and do some basic household chores while you work.

Finally, if it seems you are always spending your evenings helping your children complete big assignments that are due the next day, give each of your children a homework notebook. If they neglect to write assignments down, ask their teachers to initial the assignment book, so you will know that all assignments are listed. This will eliminate all of those last minute posters, science fair projects, and reports that moms seem to end up helping with until midnight the night before they are due.

Visit Real Life Guidance for more help for moms.. available 24/7.

How does your computer look? Can you find documents and email easily? Or do you have so many documents and email you don’t know where to start? Organizing your computer is an important part of making your life easier and more efficient. Here are some ideas to get your computer organized and keep it that way.

1. The best thing about filing documents on your computer may also be the biggest challenge. Set up broad-category folders within My Documents (in Windows) or on your hard drive (in a Mac). You can also set up subfolders within each category. Use the computer’s sorting function. An easy way to organize is by file types. Put ‘AAA’ (or a space) in front of the names of the most-used folders and ‘ZZZ’ (or a bullet) in front of the least used ones.

2. Name your files and folders with meaningful and recognizable names. Also, be specific and include dates if possible. The goal when naming files is to be able to tell what the file is about without having to open it and look.

3. Reserve your desktop for items that need immediate attention. When you are done with them, file them in the proper folder. Try not to store documents long-term on your desktop. You can also use the Desktop Cleanup Wizard. In the Windows program, you can use this automatic desktop cleanup tool. Go to ‘Start,’ ‘Control Panel’. In the ‘Desktop’ tab, click ‘Customize Desktop’. Then choose ‘Clean Desktop Now’. You can also choose to run this tool periodically. The wizard moves unused items from the desktop to an archive folder.

4. Back up your files often so they can be cleared from your computer. There are a number of affordable back- up options that will keep all your important files, media and photos saved if anything should happen to your computer. This is very important. It is better to be safe than sorry.

5. The most common type of computer files that creates clutter are music files. Music files have shrunk in size over the years, however, they add up fast and you can lose track of how many you have stored on your computer. You should regularly remove excess MP3s onto discs, flash drives or backup drives to keep your computer clear of clutter.

 6. An effective email system is easy to establish and maintain. Reserve your Inbox for action items. Set up email file folders. Set up individual folders for people with whom you communicate often. Create additional folders related to specific projects, events and companies, and a holding file for pending email that you plan to keep for a very brief time. Last, but not least, create a folder name ‘Important’ for high priority items.

7. Put complete information into the subject line of email so they will be easier to find later. You should also allot an amount of time each day to review and file email. Try to download and respond to email no more than twice a day. An important tool to use in Outlook is the Message Rules tool. You can set up your rules for the system to do certain things with different email messages automatically.

8. Other ways to tackle your email include avoiding subscriptions to online newsletters that don’t contain helpful information. Limit your receipt of jokes and chain letter type email. Not only are they time consuming, they can also contain computer-threatening viruses.

9. Is your Internet Explorer Favorites folder busting at the seams? It needs weeding out and organizing from time to time. To organize your Favorites in Internet Explorer, on the Favorites menu, click Organize Favorites. Also, there is additional clean up that is easy to do. Start Internet Explorer and on the Tools menu click Internet Options. In the General tab of the Internet Options dialog box, you have two choices: (1) In the Temporary Internet files section, click Delete Files to remove all temporary files, and (2) In the History section, click Clear History to remove the list of sites you’ve previously viewed.

10. Last, but not least, regularly clean your keyboard, monitor and peripherals. Use lint free cleaning cloths and a cleaner for electronics. Compressed air is also helpful for cleaning dirt and dust out of crevices and between keys.

It’s that time of year once again.   The leaves are beginning to change colors, Halloween is approaching quickly, the kids are in school and have adjusted, and Thanksgiving is just around the corner.  Creating a traditional Thanksgiving day menu is easier than you think, even for a novice cook. 

When you sit down to plan your traditional Thanksgiving Day menu be sure to start with a shopping list.  For a family of four, a smaller turkey will fit the bill, take less time to cook and still provide plenty of left overs for those delicious cold turkey sandwiches the next day.   A basic list will include the turkey, of course, cranberry sauce, gravy, stuffing, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes and for some families – green beans and French fried onions for a casserole.  Biscuits or crescent rolls with butter are a great addition as well.  Don’t forget the pumpkin pie and the whipped cream!

To be sure that you have all of your traditional Thanksgiving Day menu items on hand.  Plan your trip to the grocery store in advance.  This will give your turkey plenty of time to defrost if it is frozen and it will also give you time to visit other stores for price checking and bargain huntint.  Always allow the turkey to defrost over the course of a few days in the freezer, rather than sitting it out on the counter for hours.  This will prevent bacteria from developing, which can cause food poisoning.  No one wants food poisoning.  If the turkey is still slightly frozen on Thanksgiving, place the plastic wrapped turkey in the sink and run cold water over it for a while.  This will help speed defrosting. 

After the turkey is defrosted it is time to prep it for cooking.  Preheat the oven to the manufacturers recommended temperature.  Remove the plastic wrapper from the bird and discard it.  Remove the wrapped package that is in the turkey and place it to the side.  This is the innards and the neck and can be used later to make other things.  Rinse the turkey in cold water and remove any remaining feathers by pulling them out.  If they are hard to get out, grab a pair of pliers to remove them.  Pat the turkey dry with paper towels and throw them out.  Place the turkey, breast side up, on a rack in a deep roasting pan.  For a crispy and delicious skin, melt a half stick of butter and brush it on the turkey, making sure to get all of the parts including the wings and legs.  After coating the turkey with the butter, sprinkle garlic powder and black pepper all over the bird, again getting the wings and legs.
 
After seasoning the turkey, place it in the preheated oven.  Checking it frequently, allow the turkey to bake for the correct amount of time as indicated by the label.  Once the skin begins to brown, pull the turkey out for a minute and baste it with 2 cups of turkey broth.  Cover the turkey with foil at this time and return it to the oven.  Baste it every 30 to 40 minutes with the juices from the pan, recover and return it to the oven.  You may be wondering about the stuffing.  Well, for safeties sake, and because crispy stuffing just tastes better, this guide calls for the stuffing to be prepared separately in a baking dish.  Stuffed turkeys can be havens for bacteria and can cause both the stuffing and the turkey to not cook thoroughly. 

Approximately 1 hour before the turkey is scheduled to be done, begin preparing the other dishes.  The stuffing can be made using chicken or turkey broth to add additional flavor.  After preparing the stuffing on the stove top, spread it out evenly in a baking dish and place it in the oven below the turkey.  This will give the stuffing a crispy top layer, with a softer layer underneath. 

If you traditional Thanksgiving Day menu doesn’t include the plain cranberry sause, a delicious alternative is to mix whole berry cranberry sauce with a can of drained pineapple tidbits.  The pineapple adds a unique flavor to the sauce and goes well with the turkey and stuffing.  Another great side dish is a string bean casserole, made with fresh string beans, cream of mushroom soup and topped with crunchy fried onion strings.
 
For the sweet potatoes, a casserole is another great way to go.  After cleaning and taking off any bad parts, take your sweet potatoes, cut them up into 1-2 inch chunks and place in a microwave safe bowl.  Add 3 tablespoons of butter, also in chunks, to the bowl.  Microwave on high for 4 minutes, then stir or mash the potatoes and butter together in the bowl.  Return it to the microwave for an additional 4 minutes, then remove and stir again.  To the sweet potato and butter mash, add cinnamon and sugar to taste, stirring to mix it thoroughly.  Once it is mixed, place the mixture into an oven safe baking dish.  Top with granola and miniature marshmallows and bake for 15 minutes, or until the marshmallows are melted and browned. 

By now, the turkey should be done.  Most turkeys come with a pop-up timer.  If it has not popped yet, keep checking every 5 minutes until it does.  Once the timer is popped, remove the turkey from the oven and put in the green bean casserole and biscuits.  Place the turkey on a safe surface and keep it covered for at least 20 minutes with aluminum foil.  This allows the turkey to rest, reach its maximum cooking temperature and gives the juices a chance to settle back into the meat.  Cutting into a turkey as soon as it is removed from the oven is a sure way to lose all of the juices and get a dry turkey.

After the turkey has rested, and the rest of the dishes have come out of the oven, it is time to carve the bird.  Start by removing the legs and wings.  After slicing with a sharp knife in the joint of each piece, using a bit of force, bend it backward until you hear a crack.  You can then slice through the rest of the way, creating clean cut pieces.  Once the parts are removed, you can begin slicing the breast meat.  Using a sharp knife, slice the meat into thin layers and stack onto a serving dish.  Surround the white meat with the legs and wings and serve. 

Everyone has different variations on their traditional Thanksgiving Day menu.  Any of the above recipes and ideas can be modified for your family’s preferences and dietary needs.  The most important part of preparing for any Holiday meal is not that you enjoy the prep work, the cooking and the eating but that you enjoy spending this important time with your family and friends. 

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Do you want to get in on the coupon craze  and start saving on grocery bills?   The practice of clipping coupons nowadays seems to be sweeping the nation in these money-conscious times? Couponing may seem overwhelming to consider at first – who has time to clip, organize, and calculate coupons? You do! It doesn’t have to take a tremendous amount of time, and the money saved (if it’s done efficiently) is said to be worth it.

Here are tips on saving on grocery bills using coupons:

How Do I Do This?

“Organization” is the key to effective couponing. Experienced couponers suggest the following organizational tips:

* Get a coupon book or notebook. Organize it alphabetically, by item type, according to your store’s layout, etc. You might want a special section for items that are on special on shopping day. Do whatever works for you and helps minimize time spent standing in the store trying to fish through coupons.

* Know your store’s specials, discounts, and coupon policies. Some stores routinely double coupons; others do so periodically or for certain items.

* Count on anywhere from 25 minutes to an hour to prepare for your shopping trip – this includes clipping, downloading, printing and organizing your coupons and studying up on your store’s deals.

Where Do I Find Coupons?

You can find coupons at a surprising variety of places. There are electronic ones, paper ones, coupons stuck to the outside of products or printed on the inside of boxes, and so forth. Here are some ideas.

1. Websites

Coupon websites can offer printable coupons, sometimes in conjunction with your store’s current deals. Here is a partial list of some well-known coupon sites:

- CouponMom.com
- RefundCents.com
- Boodle.com
- CoolSavings.com
- Valpak.com
- MyCoupons.com
- SmartSource.com

When it comes to saving on grocery bills, dont forget to see if your store has a website.  If your grocer store does have a website, visit it and see if there are places where you can sign up or join. Some stores offer electronic coupons that you can upload onto a card that is scanned at check-out. Also, when you begin participating in a store’s coupon program and upload various deals, they may send you coupons in the mail or electronically. You can even sign up for electronic notice of store specials.

2. Flyers

Viewing your local newspaper and other local publications is also a great way to begin saving on grocery bills.  Flyers are also a great way to see what’s on special at your store.

3. Product Sites

If you visit your favorite products’ websites, look for coupons offered there. If, for example, you like sauce made by The Hot Sauce Company, you can do an internet search for “The Hot Sauce Company coupons.” 

Know When It’s Not Worth It

The point of couponing is to begin saving on grocery bills. If you find yourself spending a lot of time and gas money driving long distances between stores just for that great deal, or if you are uncomfortable having to go to stores whose business practices you don’t agree with, then you might want to back off a bit. If you’re not clearly saving, then it’s probably not worth it.

At time, figuring out  some age appropriate responsibilities for children can be hard.  Issuing out chores to your children is one way to help to instill responsibility into children and they can start chores at an early age. Many parents today are looking for ways to teach their kids to be responsible, and chores are a great place to start. Here are some suggestions for chores – and how to introduce them – that can be done by elementary school-age kids.

Rewards

You don’t have to pay your kid to make her bed, but psychologists agree that a reward system, or positive reinforcement, can go a long way toward motivating your child to do his or her chores. Rewards can take the form of privileges, such as television time, video games, time on the phone or internet, etc. Earning rewards for doing chores tends to work better than receiving punishment for not doing them, say psychologists.

Age Appropriate Responsibilities For Children

Elementary school spans Kindergarten to fifth grade. So, here are some ideas for those grades and ages. Of course, chores for younger kids will already be a part of the chore regimen by the time you get to older grades – the following lists of chores are intended to build on, not replace, each other.

Kindergarten (age 5-6)

This age tends to respond well to simple chores. You can also use this simple approach with older kids for whom this is a new concept. Some ideas include:
* Feeding pets
* Watering plants

First Grade (age 6-7)
* Sweeping the floor
* Emptying trash cans throughout the house into a garbage bag
* Washing bathroom or kitchen sink

Second and Third Grade (age 7-9)
* Vacuuming a small room
* Setting the table
* Clearing the table
* Loading dishwasher or washing/drying dishes

Fourth Grade (age 9-10)
* Taking out the garbage
* Walking the dog
* Making part of dinner (such as a salad or side dish)
* Washing the car

Fifth Grade (age 10-11)
* Making dinner
* Helping with laundry
* Vacuuming several rooms

Helping Them Out

While the list above gives many examples of age appropriate responsibilities for children, it is important to help your child get acclimated to the idea of chores, lists can help. If your child likes organization and takes satisfaction in completing tasks, lists with squares he can check off might help.

A competitive child might respond to timed chores. For example, time how long a certain chore takes him and then see if he can beat his time next time (while still doing a good job).

You can also elicit your child’s help in making a chart or list of chores and privileges, or just the chores. He or she can illustrate the list or decorate it with cut-outs from magazines. If your child participates in thinking up chores and creating the list, he might be more likely to be motivated to do the things on the list.

By using the tips and ideas above you will be well on your way to issue out age appropriate responsibilities for children in your home.

Take two! That is, take two organizing tips for every room in your home. These will help you begin getting each room in organized, tip-top shape.

1. Garage

A. Set up activity zones in the garage. For example, group garden tools in one spot, sporting goods in another, and tools in their own area.

B. Using the walls (vertical space) and the ceiling (over head storage) will help you make better use of the space you do have within your garage. Use various storage solutions such as peg boards, containers (see-through and labels make it easy), and open crates which allow for easy access and are easy to clean. Do not use cardboard boxes because of water damage, mold and bugs.

2. Kitchen

A. Clear up your countertops. Put away any used (but not used often items or appliances such as a bread machine) into drawers or cabinets. Take a look at some of your appliances and if you haven’t used it in 12 months then it might be time to donate it to charity or a friend who could use it. This also works with all the little gadgets such as lemon zesters and melon ballers that might not be used and cause clutter in drawers. Empty the contents of a drawer into a box and put it into your garage or a closet. If you need an item, go get it, use it, and put it back in the drawer. Determine a time to clean out the box (such as a month, 3 months, 6 months, or even a year) and donate what is left in the box to charity.

B. Arrange zones or stations in the kitchen to make your life simpler and easier. For example, coffee, filters, mugs, and the coffee maker should be near each other to make it easy and convenient to make coffee in the morning. Another zone may be your baking zone. Include baking supplies like flour and sugar, cookie sheets, measuring cups, etc.

3. Dining Room

A. Is there always stuff piled up on your dining room table? Determine what the stuff is and what solutions can be made to conquer the clutter so you and your family can sit down and share a meal. For example, do you use the table for hobbies such as scrapbooking? Make sure you have a solution for your scrapbooking supplies such as a plastic drawer system on wheels. Does your table get piled with mail and other papers? Designate a basket or wall folder system to hold all the papers, magazines, and newspapers that come into the house. Make sure you dump the junk mail as soon as it arrives. Empty the basket on a daily basis.

B. A china cabinet for storage or another storage cabinet for fine china? Depending on your lifestyle you might want to have storage for your everyday dishes (maybe even plastic dishes that are within your child’s reach, so he could set the table for dinner all by himself).

4. Living or Family Room

A. Can you use multi-purpose furniture such as coffee tables, storage cubes, or ottomans with storage inside for children’s toys, extra blankets and pillows, or board games?

B. List all the purposes and activities that will take place in the room. Divide your living room into zones. Find storage solutions for your TV and DVDs. Store DVDs or CDs in a cabinet or shelving system that will help keep out dust. Keep all remotes in a basket in a central location.

5. Office

A. Keep most-often used items within arm’s reach. For example, items used daily such as pens and pencils, a stapler, and your calendar should be kept on your desk; while items such as scotch tape and paper clips that may only be used occasionally can be kept in a nearby drawer. Find an area to store extra supplies such as printer and fax machine paper, such as a closet organization system, a shelving system, or plastic drawer.

B. Sort and file paperwork. For sorting large amounts of paperwork the RAFT method can be useful. The R stands for papers that need to be Read. The A stands for papers that need to be Acted upon, such as a party invitation that needs to be responded to. The F stands for Filed, such as already paid bills. The T stands for papers that can be trashed such as junk mail.

6. Kid’s Bedroom

A. Sort your children’s toys. Take and pile those with broken or missing parts and make a decision of whether the toy is still safe, useable, or repairable. If not throw it in the garbage. If there are toys that your child has outgrown, decide what you are going to do with them. They may be passed on to a younger brother or sister, cousin, family friend, or donated to a local charity or woman’s shelter. They could also be given away on a website such as Freecycle or Craigslist. Next you must find a storage solution for the children’s toys that you are going to keep. Plastic drawers and shelves are good options.

B. Make sure organization tools are easy to use and at a child’s level. For example, hooks can be lowered to accommodate book bags, hats, bags, scarves, and more on the back of their door or in their rooms. Another important tool is to label storage solutions with both pictures and words– especially for those who are too young to read.

7. Master Bedroom

A. Re-organize your closet space. Remove the excess items. Donate items that others can use and trash stained or damaged clothing. Double your space in your closet by adding a second rod for part of your closet. Keep an area for long hanging items such as gowns or suits. Use the full height in your closet. Maybe there is room for a shelf or two for out of season storage for clothing or linens. Have a basket, bin, or container to put items that need to be dry-cleaned and another one for items that need to be mended. Invest in a shoe storage solution.

B. Use all free space, such as under the bed or mattress, for extra linens or out-of season clothing or shoe storage. There are many shallow bins or bags that can be used for this purpose.

8. Bathroom

A. Organize and declutter all the stuff on your counters and surrounding your sink in the bathroom. Do you need three different types of hair gel or can you consolidate down to one bottle instead? Go through all the different bottles and throw out anything with only a drip left in the bottom and those items you do not use on a daily basis. Any items that were bought or even the hotel sample sizes that are unopened can be donated to a homeless or women’s shelter. Get a small shelf, small plastic drawer system, or a decorative basket for each person to contain their daily products.

B. Declutter your medicine cabinet. Remember many medications are affected by the steam and moisture in the bathroom. Use a shower holder or cabby to hold your bath supplies in the shower or bath tub.

9. Attic

A. Do not use cardboard boxes to help avoid bugs and moisture attacking the contents of the boxes. Use plastic bins or containers that are either clear or clearly labeled.

B. Keep like items together in zones. Have zones for holiday decorations, one for sentimental items, another area for keepsakes, another for sports equipment, among others.

10. Laundry Room

A. There are many different laundry hampers or laundry sorters depending on your space. Some even fold flat when they are not being used. If you provide an easy place for your family to put their laundry, they will be more likely to put it into the laundry room. Who knows? Maybe they will even help do the laundry.

B. Use the space above the washer and dryer. Install and use shelving or cabinets to hold laundry cleaning supplies such as laundry soap, fabric softener, and stain removers. On the wall or inside the cabinet, tape up a copy of stain removal and fabric care symbols.

Stop by Get Organized Now – and check out the amazing collection of 2,175 ideas, tips and techniques for organizing your home, getting rid of clutter, organizing your time, your schedule, your money, your paper, your family and much more!

Most families spend a lot of time in their kitchens. In many households the kitchen is really the heart of the home. You definitely want to make this room a relaxing family space and in order to do that you have to put some kitchen organization solutions into place.  This way you can make  family meal times and cooking as stress free as possible.

Here are a few kitchen organizing solutions:

Organize Your Work Stations – To make cooking easier you want to make sure you have everything you need close at hand. Have an area for preparing the meals. It’s good to keep your spices and seasonings close to this area. You’ll also want to have chopping boards, knives and mixing spoons close at hand. Have another area for serving and keep all your dishes, serving spoons, placemats and utensils there.

By incorporating work stations into your kitchen and keeping everything you need near each work station, you’ll save a lot of time.

Organize Your Fridge – Clean out your fridge and organize things in categories to make finding them easier when you’re in a rush. It’s a good idea to keep all your dairy products together. Place cold cuts in tightly sealed plastic containers and label them. This will keep them fresh and also make it easier to find. You can do the same thing with cheese and left over foods.

Separate your fruit and salad items from your other vegetables so that you can find them easier. Often times you’ll forget you have those tomatoes in the back drawer and buy more. By keeping things organized you’ll waste and spend less.

Organize Your Pantry - When practicing kitchen organization solutions, dont forget about your pantry.  Arrange your pantry or cupboards according to foods. For example keep all your canned goods in one place and cereal in another. Keep the items you use most within easy reach and put away those appliances you never seem to use. They’re just taking up counter top space.

Plan Your Meals – This is by far the easiest way to organize your meal times. Take a few minutes and write out a meal plan and shopping list for the upcoming week. Buy everything in advance and stock up on items you use regularly and have a long shelf life. Then stick your menu on your fridge, glance at it each morning and plan ahead. Thaw any meat that needs thawing or chop and add your items to your crock pot.

For more Kitchen Organization Solutions visit the links below:

Visit Dine Without Whine – A Weekly Menu Plan & Grocery List Delivered To Your E-mail Box

Stop by Get Organized Now – and check out the amazing collection of 2,175 ideas, tips and techniques for organizing your home, getting rid of clutter, organizing your time, your schedule, your money, your paper, your family and much more!