Farmers Market Pasta Salad

Farmers Markets are open and ready for business. In the next few weeks their bins will be full of fresh locally grown produce. This is by far one of my favorite parts of warmer weather. I may not always choose the best food for myself, but I fine it mush easier to eat healthier during the warmer months when I grill lean cuts of protein and there are plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables to choose from.

Here's an easy dish - perfect as the main course, but works as a side as well. It's easy to take to cook-outs, pot-lucks and picnics too. Make it heartier by adding some grilled chicken or steak to the top.

Farmers Market Pasta Salad

Ingredients and Directions

• Cook 1 lb, short pasta - Farfalle, Small Shells, Rotelle, etc., drain.
• Chop miscellaneous vegetables. I had grape tomatoes, celery, a green pepper and red onion. You could use steamed asparagus or zucchini and any color peppers. Corn from the cob would sweeten this up as well.
• Add salt and pepper to taste.
• Toss all ingredients in a large bowl with your favorite Italian Dressing (homemade, bottled, etc).
• Chill and Serve.

A great summer dinner doesn't get any easier - add a yummy loaf of crusty bread and a glass of your favorite chilled white wine, and eat al fresco! 

Spring Cleaning - Naturally

I may have mentioned this before, but I am not a fan of cleaning. That doesn't mean I don't like a clean house, because I most certainly do. I just don't particularly care to clean my own house when I could be reading a great book instead.

For years, I had a fabulous young woman that helped me keep my house clean. When I started working from home, and freelancing, we decided that having her come to clean, wasn't a necessary item in our household budget, and I took on the main house cleaning role again.

Being the organized person that I am, I decided on a daily cleaning schedule, much like my grandmother did when I was a little girl. On Monday, I clean the bathrooms, Tuesdays is dusting day, and so on. Every day includes tidying up and laundry. By sticking to this routine, my house is usually neat and relatively clean, should you drop by.

In the spring, I get a little more enthusiastic about clearing out the junk, cleaning the place up and brightening up everything. And I love the way a house smells when it's clean. Recently, through my essential oil journey, I found the most wonderful, non-toxic multi-purpose cleaner. I had read countless testimonies about how wonderful it was and how people used it to clean just about everything. . .from fabric to granite.

This amazing multi-purpose cleaner is the Thieves Cleaner available from Young Living. It's sold in a concentrated form, and you you can make your own spray bottles of cleaner in the strength best suited to your cleaning needs. It's very economical, as a cap full of concentrate, mixed with three cups of water, goes a long way. I feel so good about using this cleaner on my counter tops and where my kids and cat hang out. No harsh smells to irritate us, or lingering chemicals on our surfaces. And it cleans GREAT! I don't notice any difference between this and my old, chemical-filled harsh cleaners.

In fact, there are all sort of natural cleaning recipes from Young Living you can use this spring!

Photo Courtesy of Young Living

 Another way you can "clean up" your cleaning game, is by using reusable cloths (such as microfiber or old t shirts) to save on paper towel waste,  By making your own cleaning supplies, you can re-use your spray bottles and containers, cutting down on the amount of plastic bottles that are discarded too. Those are two more wins for the environment and our planet!

What's your favorite natural cleaning method or product?

catch you soon - 

Easy Muffin Tin Eggs

The other night, I had leftover buffet on our weekly meal plan for dinner. The problem? No leftovers.

As I was sitting at my desk, debating what I had on-hand that was easy (this is precisely why I meal plan each week), an email popped into my inbox for mini frittatas. Now my kids were not going to eat the asparagus and mushroom variety featured in the recipe idea, but I could come up with my own.

What You Need

• Eggs - 1 egg per muffin cup (I made 12 muffin cups and used a dozen eggs)
• Milk - 2 Tbsp per 6 eggs (I used 4 Tbsp for my 12 muffin cups)
• Vegetables, Meats and Cheese of your choice, diced.

What You Do

• If you're using hard Vegetables, you may want to cook them first.
• Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.
• I used Bacon, so I put that in the oven before I prepared my eggs.
• You can use ham, sausage, broccoli, tomatoes, spinach, onion, the choices are endless.
• Whisk up your eggs and milk in a bowl.
• Spray your muffin tin with oil.
• Divide your "filler" among the muffin cups. 
• Fill each cup with the egg mixture about 2/3s of the way up.
• Sprinkle your favorite cheese on the top.
• Bake in the oven for about 20 minutes or until the eggs have set.

They look beautiful and puffy when they come out of the oven. They will fall a little bit, but should pop right out of the tins. I made Spinach and Onion with Cheese, Bacon and Cheese and just Cheese for my first run with these. I served them with orange slices or salad on the side.

An easy and quick dinner was born. Got some leftover? I put them in a ziploc bag in the refrigerator and re-heated them for a quick breakfast the nest day! These could easily be sliced in half to make a sandwich to-go as well.

catch you soon -

Menu Plan Monday - 2015 Week 2 Plus Ideas for Recharging Your Family Dinners

With a brand new year underway, many of us are making the commitment to get back to family dinners. It's not easy, but research tells us it's good for our kids and our families. But in this crazy world of after-school sports and activities and late nights at the office, how can one family gather around the table for a healthy meal all at the same time?

It's not easy - it takes a little organization and a little commitment, but with some tips and ideas, it's entirely possible - I promise. I was recently sent an advance copy of the new book Home for Dinner by Dr. Anne Fishel, co-founder of The Family Dinner Project, and this was just the jump-start I needed to get my family back to the table and on the family dinner track.

Not only is the book full of ideas for GETTING your family to the table, it also has a great selection of recipe ideas and better yet, ideas for getting the conversation going. Because once we're all AT the table. . .there's no telling what could happen. I found the Managing Conflict section to be particularly interesting. My kids are spaced in ages, 14 and 8 . . .so finding an all-age-appropriate topic can be a challenge. Also, let's not even get into teenager moods (look for that post later in the year). Technology at the table? That's a no-no, but a 2012 study discussed in the book, found that adults use technology at the table twice as much as kids!

By far, my favorite chapter in the book is Chapter 7: Telling Stories to Promote Empathy, Self-Esteem, Resilience and Enjoyment.  Maybe it's the scrapbooker in me, or this quote, "consider a family of four and their story-generating capability" RIGHT?? The book continues to give suggestions for story starters (like a conversation starter jar perhaps) for grown-ups and kids alike.

The book is available on January 7th, but here's a little preview just for you:

Home for Dinner: Mixing Food, Fun, and Conversation from FSB Associates

With all this inspiration for Menu Plan Monday, this week we are trying out two new recipes and we are shaking up a family favorite. We're also turning over a new family dinner leaf this week and returning to the dining room table for dinner. And with that plan, here's what's on the menu for this week:

Monday - Garlic Parmesan Shrimp, Caesar Salad, Rice
Tuesday -  Taco Tuesday with Taco Potato Boats, Guacamole and corn
Wednesday - Broccoli Cheese Soup, Salad and Bread
Thursday - Homemade Chicken Tenders and Cutlets
Friday -Pizza Night
Saturday and Sunday - TBD

What's for dinner at your house this week?

catch you soon -
This post is linked up at I'm An Organizing Junkie for Menu Plan Monday. Check it out for more meal planning ideas and inspiration. I received a FREE copy of Home for Dinner in order to facilitate this review. I was not compensated and as always, all opinions are my very own.

One Little Word - 2015

Since 2008, as each new year has rolled around, rather than making resolutions that I can't keep (or choose not to keep), I have selected a word to guide me. Each year, that one little word has provided me with a sort of framework to navigate the year, and then stays with me at year's end.

This year, my one little word is joy.

Three simple letters.

Why joy you may wonder? Well, first of all, this was one of those years where my word chose me. I started my journey with essential oils almost 5 months ago, and one of my favorites was Young Living's Joy. The thought of diffusing that into my home and having everyone feel a little happier was too much for me to ignore. That was the first time I thought, "joy may be a good word for 2015."

Next, while I was holiday shopping, I was constantly drawn to the word. . .Joy to the World after all. I had John search every Target in our area for the lighted marquee word JOY - no other holiday sentiment would do, it had to be JOY. Each evening as I gazed at those lighted letters up on my mantle, I began to feel open to letting more joy into my life.

With my over-developed sense of right and wrong, I sometimes have a hard time seeing the joy and enjoying the moment. The boys are not babies any longer and I am in the middle part of my life - if now isn't the time to experience all the joy in my life, when is?

So joy it is for 2015. Opening myself to joy - seeing it, experiencing it, feeling it, enjoying it and savoring it.

Do you have a word for 2015?

catch you soon -

Be Unstoppable This Holiday Season

I wrote this post as part of my participation in a blog tour for The Motherhood on behalf of the makers of Children's MOTRIN® and received compensation to thanks me for taking the time to participate, However, all opinions expressed are my own.

It's true . . .all across America, Christmas Trees are going up. As I sit here looking at my calendar, I cross off Halloween, and see Thanksgiving coming up in just 4 weeks. But I can't get the "Oh My Goodness Christmas is Coming" mantra from my head. What about all those Americans that don't even celebrate Christmas - to have 2 months of decorations, music and endless advertisements? It can make even the most sane person start to twitch.

How do you get through it? The shopping, the decorating, the guests, the gifts . . .the list is ENDLESS!! Not to mention the pressure to make it all perfect. Here are the things I am planning to do this holiday season to stay #unstoppable:

Eat, Drink, Rest
Our bodies cannot survive on stress (and cookies) alone. We need to continue to plan and enjoy well-balanced meals. We also need to stay hydrated, so that means drinking plenty of water each day. And that ever elusive rest. Getting a good night's sleep can make or break us the next day, so be sure to go to bed at a reasonable time each evening that you can.

Let it Go
I know that term is a little over used right now, but Elsa may be onto something. For the first time in 20 years, I did NOT send Christmas Cards last year. Truth be told, I only missed it a tiny bit. Not one person asked me where my card was, or complained about not getting one. So take a few minutes and think about your list (see my next tip). What things on your list can you truly let go without diminishing your holiday experience?

Make a List and Check it Twice
Even if Christmas is not your holiday, take a tip from Santa and make a list of all the things you'd like to accomplish this holiday season. Now go back through that list and mark all your MUSTS with an "A" or a star or a number "1". Can you fit that all in? See if there's anything you can move to your B-list, or better yet, let it go (see above tip). Keep this list with you - on your phone, in a little notepad, somewhere handy so when you find yourself with an unexpected block of time, you can get something accomplished.

Update the Calendar
In partnership with your list from above, mark ALL important events and to-dos on your calendar. School plays, concerts, neighborhood caroling, tree lighting ceremonies, all of it. Keep it updated as things change. Take the opportunity of a clear afternoon to check off some to-do's. Organization can be your best friend during the hectic holidays.

Live in the Moment
This is my best tip for staying unstoppable this holiday season. I vow to remember to live in the moment. That may mean not taking a picture and posting it to Facebook - it's ok, because I will get to see and enjoy the look on my child's face when they light the tree. It's important to acknowledge and appreciate your own needs and feelings throughout the holiday season. Taking care of ourselves is the best step to taking care of all the rest.

This is my Holiday Survival Plan. I hope you'll join me on the journey and keep me posted on what's working for you.

What makes you unstoppable as a mom?

The makers of Children's MOTRIN® are asking moms to post their tips and tricks to the MOTRIN® Facebook page under each week's Kelly Ripa question video. For every post, Children's MOTRIN® will donate $1 to Safe Kids Worldwide, a global nonprofit that provides moms with the tips they need to help keep their children safe. You could even win weekly giveaways of $100 gift cards, just for posting! *

What are you waiting for? Good Luck and stay #unstoppable!

catch you soon -

 *NO PURCHASE NECESSARY, OPEN TO LEGAL RESIDENTS OF THE 50 UNITED STATES AND D.C., 18 AND OLDER. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. Promotion ends 11:59pm ET on 12/28/14. Sponsor will donate $1 for each approved Submission made as part of the promotion, with a minimum donation of $30,000 and a maximum donation of $50,000. For Official Rules, and complete details, visit www.unstoppablemoms.com. Sponsor: McNeil Consumer Healthcare Division of McNEIL-PPC, Inc. To learn more about Safe Kids Worldwide, visit safekids.org.

How-To Organize an Emergency Supply Kit

I love organization. I take great pride in figuring out great organizational strategies, implementing them, and then sharing them with you! While this is a sponsored post in collaboration with Milkman, I hope to arm you with some simple ideas that help make your life run a little more smoothly.

One area that is not currently organized in my home, is my Emergency Kit. I have all the basic pieces, but they are spread throughout my house, rather than organized in one specific place. Winter is coming. You may remember last year, when I had to flee PA with my kids for power and heat in NJ with my parents. Well this year, I want to be ready.

In an ideal world, you should get a large plastic container with a lid to keep your Emergency Kit in. This will protect it from critters and moisture. Plus, if you need to move location, it travels more easily. Once you have your container, what should you put in it?

According to FEMA, your Basic Emergency Supply Kit should contain the following items:

• Water - FEMA recommends one gallon per person per day, for at least three days. For us, that would be 12 gallon water jugs. Obviously these do not fit in our container.
• Non-perishable Food - Tuna, soups, Milkman Instant Lowfat Dry Milk, protein bars, jerky and fruit leather are all good choices.

• Battery-Powered or hand-crank radio -You may also want to consider a NOAA Weather Radio and don't forget extra batteries.
• Flashlight and extra batteries
• First aid kit
• Whistle - You may need to signal for help.
• Dust mask, plastic sheeting and Duct Tape - Depending on the type of emergency, you may need to shelter in place.
• Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties - These can come in handy for personal sanitation.
• Wrench or pliers - Handy of you need to turn off your utilities.
• Can opener - Select a manual can opener to keep in your kit if you've put canned foods in there as well.
• Local Maps - in case you need to leave the area.

Once you have all your supplies together, keep them in a handy place - like your basement or garage, clearly labeled. I have a few blankets in mine as well. Don't forget to add any baby items or medications if necessary. With a little luck, we won't need any of these things this winter, but it never hurts to be prepared, and being organized makes it that much simpler.

Do you have an Emergency Supply Kit? If so, what's in yours?

catch you soon -
I received compensation for the time I spent preparing this post. As always, all opinions are my very own. 

Packing for a Trip Without Bringing Your Entire Closet | What I Wore #ootd

Last week, I traveled to Atlanta, GA for the Type-A Parent Conference. I do a fair amount of traveling (always looking for opportunities to do more) but most of it is by car. I rarely fly, so the idea of packing for four days, while keeping it light (under 50 lbs seems SO easy-but not so much) and versatile, can be a little overwhelming! My 2 biggest tips?

• Get Organized
• Keep it Simple

To get organized, I use a packing spreadsheet. Stay with me here. I sketch out a grid of the days of my trip, then divide the days by Daytime, Nighttime and Extra. I simply plug in the pieces I plan to wear at each time. This lets me see any gaps, duplicates or opportunities to pack less (or more) at a glance.

To keep it simple, I try to pack in a color-scheme. I find versatile, classic-style pieces work best in the Mid-Life Mom wardrobe.  For this trip, I went with a black, white and cranberry color-scheme. I added in a traditional leopard print (shoes) and also a black and white leopard print cardigan for variety (I never wore the cardigan).

What I Packed:
3 jeans (white, dark denim, black)
1 pants (black and white polka dot)
3 t-shirts (cranberry, white and black)
3 cardigans (black, black and white leopard and cranberry)
2 blouses (white shirt, black and white polka dot top)
2 tanks (black and white)
1 jacket (black)
1 scarf (cranberry)
2 bags (1 tote bag and 1 small bag for evening)

I only needed seven outfits for my trip, but I could have easily made several more with this combination. Here are some highlights from what I did wear during the conference.

I wore this for my trip to Atlanta:

Jeans - Coldwater Creek

T-shirt - Lands End

Cardigan - Ann Taylor (in stores now)

Shoes - Target (this season)

Bag - Vera Bradley

Necklace - Tiffany

For my first day at the Conference, I went casual and comfortable:

Jeans - Ann Taylor Black Skinny Jeans (in stores now)

Top - Ann Taylor (last year)

Cardigan - Ann Taylor (in stores now)

Shoes - Aerosoles

Necklace -Tiffany

The second day of the conference I stayed with my comfortable and casual style:

Jeans - Ann Taylor Dark Denim Super Skinny Jeans (now in stores)

Shirt - Ann Taylor (now in stores)

Shoes - Aerosoles

Bag - Vera Bradley

Scarf -Ann Taylor (now in stores)

Necklace - Tiffany

For an evening look, I went with basic black:

Jeans - Ann Taylor Black Skinny Jeans (now in stores)

Tank - Chico's

Jacket - Ann Taylor (clearance rack find)

Shoes - Life Stride/DSW

Necklace - Ann Taylor

So with a few basic pieces in mix and match colors, it's easy to create several outfits and looks to last through your whole trip.

What's your best fashion tip for traveling?

catch you soon -
This post is linked up at The Pleated Poppy and at Get Your Pretty On

 

Menu Plan Monday - 2014 Week 39

When you're in a regular meal planning routine, staying organized and planning meals can be pretty simple (if sometimes uninspired or even down-right boring). But once that routine - at least for me - is broken, all heck breaks loose.

I'm just back from the Type-A Parent Blogger Conference in Atlanta, GA. It's Meal Plan Monday, and I haven't been to a store in over a week and am not planning to go until tomorrow. Tomorrow's trip will only be one of the two regular weekly stops I make for my weekly meals.

So I call this "living off the land". We live in the suburbs of Philadelphia, and a greedy groundhog eats any plants we try to plant. . .so we are far from farmers. But for me,"living off the land" is trying to make a meal plan mostly from what I have currently on-hand. That's where I find other blogs and the Meal Plan Monday linkup to be so valuable for ideas.

After raiding the freezer and pantry and making a small produce and meat list, here's what we have on our Menu Plan for this week:

Monday - Pasta
Tuesday - Mini Meatloaves, Broccoli Trees
Wednesday - Flank Steak, Baked Potatoes
Thursday - Salmon, Buttered Noodles, Spinach (we did NOT have this last week)
Friday - Pizza Night
Saturday and Sunday - TBD

What are you having for dinner this week?

catch you soon -
This post is linked up at I'm An Organizing Junkie for Meal Plan Monday

Refresh Your Routine for Back to School

I don't know about you, but for us, this week brings back to school time. That means our laid-back summer vacation routine, is out the door. I need to make sure I have two kids ready to leave the house at two different times heading to two different schools.

I'm working on teaching my kids to prepare as much s possible the night before. Both my husband and I do that as well. Bags get packed and lunches get made the night before. Water bottles and snacks are set-out and ready to go. I like to do a quick schedule check so everyone is on the same page for the day.

Menu Plan Monday - 2014 Week 36

It may be week 36 of the 2014 calendar, but to my sense of organization and planning, it feels a lot like the beginning of a new year. I've noticed more and more planners and calendars beginning in August or September also. Do you feel like back to school and the start of Fall is a type of "new year"?

Well this week we are saying goodbye to summer and easing into our new school routine with simple, casual, low-mess dinners. Also, the calendar may say September, but our weather is going to be like mid-August - hot and humid.

Here's what we have on our plan this week:

Monday - Bye Bye Summer Ribs, Hot Dogs and Potato Salad
Tuesday - First Day of School - Taco Tuesday, Guacamole and Corn
Wednesday - Spaghetti and Meatballs
Thursday - Back to School Night - Quick Dinner
Friday - Pizza Night
Saturday and Sunday - TBD

catch you soon -
This post is linked up at I'm An Organizing Junkie for Menu Plan Monday

Menu Plan Monday - 2014 Week 35

This is our last hurrah and I have to admit, I'm getting very lax in my menu planning. I faithfully plan each week, but in all honesty, my heart isn't in it and when the time to cook rolls around, I just don't feel like it. I'm going to blame these last two weeks of summer vacation, and hope my menu planning mojo comes back after Labor Day!

Here's what's on our menu for the last week of summer vacation:

Monday - Pappardelle with Shrimp and Spinach
Tuesday - Mini Meatloaves and Broccoli
Wednesday - Homemade Chicken Fingers, Baked Beans and Applesauce
Thursday - Leftovers
Friday - Pizza Night
Saturday and Sunday - TBD

What are you planning to make this week?

catch you soon -
This post is linked up at I'm An Organizing Junkie for Menu Plan Monday.

Menu Plan Monday - 2014 Week 34

We are in the midst of winding down summer vacation around here. We are keeping things simple and casual, by using the grill, enjoying fresh produce and eating outside whenever we can. Using these strategies, limits the heat of the oven and dishes to clean up.

I've enjoyed the slower pace of summer break meal planning, and I'm thinking about how we can incorporate some of those ideas into our more hectic fall meal planning. Are you making any changes to your meal planning when the season changes?

Here's what we have planned for this week:

Monday - Phillies Game fare
Tuesday - Shrimp and Pasta, with spinach perhaps (just throwing this together off my head)
Wednesday - Flank Steak and Caprese Salad
Thursday - Grilled Chicken, Baked Potatoes, Green Vegetable (broccoli or zucchini)
Friday - Pizza Night
Saturday and Sunday -  TBD

What's on your plan this week?

catch you soon -
This post is linked up at I'm An Organizing Junkie for Menu Plan Monday

Menu Plan Monday - 2014 Week 33

Summer is quickly winding down, but we're planning to enjoy these last three weeks of carefree afternoons with no time constraints. There are 33 Weekly Meal Plans for 2014 up on the blog, for you to review and use to plan your own ideas for family meals. I am no super-chef. They all use ingredients found at your local store, and require a minimum of muss and fuss in your kitchen.

Let me know what ones you add to your own weekly meal plan!

Here's what I'm planning for this week's meals:

Monday - Ribs and Hot Dogs, Green Salad, Pasta Salad
Tuesday - Taco Tuesday, Corn, Guacamole
Wednesday - Roasted Pork Tenderloin with Potatoes
Thursday - Easy Dinner like Nuggets, (Summer Camp Family Fling Night)
Friday - Leftovers or Pizza Night
Saturday and Sunday - TBD

What's for dinner at your house this week?

catch you soon -
This post is linked up at I'm An Organizing Junkie for Menu Plan Monday.

LockLaces. . .A Great Alternative to Tying Shoes

disclosure: I received LockLaces to facilitate this review. I was not compensated for this post and as always all opinions are my very own.

I must admit . . . I have mixed feelings about shoe laces. Yes, shoe laces. I want my kids to know how to tie shoes - it's a life skill. However, I seem incapable of teaching them. My oldest learned to tie shoes at Day Camp. (that counselor was one of my favorites) My youngest is learning right now.

Tying shoes used to be a passage to school. There's a cute book, "Countdown to Kindergarten" and the premise is that she will not be allowed into kindergarten if she cannot tie her shoes.

We of course, know this is not true. Almost every pair of kids shoes comes with straps, velcro and other options for keeping them on your child's feet. So now, you may very well have a child that doesn't know how to tie shoes. . .but has a pair of shoes that HAS to be be tied. . .like cleats.

What's a mom to do? I spent the first five years of baseball double knotting or yelling "tie your cleats" to my oldest. Then I got these LockLaces in the mail.

First of all, they fought over the cool colors. . .everyone wanted the Apple Green or the Orange. Being slightly type-A, I like them to match or coordinate with the shoes. I convinced the oldest that the pretty blue ones would go great with his Detroit Tiger's jersey for baseball this season.

They are a snap to put on - here's a quick video of me replacing the old shoe laces with the LockLaces right before we had to leave for practice.



He's had the LockLaces on his cleats for a couple of weeks now and he loves them. They stay tight, don't come untied and are easy on and off in the dugout.

I sent a pair to my Uncle. He is in his 70s and has suffered from polio for his entire life. He has little use of one hand and arm, so many everyday tasks are difficult for him, such as tying shoes.

I admit, we were stumped on where to use our LockLaces at first, the kid's current sneakers all have straps.  Ryan was the one that thought of his cleats. And since they are prone to coming untied, I agreed to put them in. John is taking the Apple Green pair for his sneakers.

 
So far, we love them. They seem to work great and hold up well. Here is some information from the company:

Patented elastic shoelace and fastening system. Fast. Convenient. Secure. Engineers and designed to improve athletic performance, reduce pressure points, promote circulation using simple compression, and eliminate heel crushing. One size fits all. Available in a dozen colors. 48 inches in length.

I can't comment on the claim of improved athletic performance, however, there are no lumps or bumps where the cords flow through the shoes, and my oldest says they are very comfortable. Those things make them a win my book.

catch you soon -

Cleaning. . .it's not just for spring.

Many years ago, when I worked a corporate job, I had a cleaning person. She was wonderful and came to see us once every two weeks. The days Audrey was here, were my favorite to come home, as the floors shone, and everything smelled great.

For 10 years, I never looked back.  Our wonderful cleaning person even came with us when we moved 2 miles away from our original home.  I couldn't imagine a life without her. But between the sagging economy of a few years ago, I left the corporate world and began my new career from the comfort of my home.

In light of that, we made a financial decision to let our cleaning person of 10 years go. . .I was in pain. 

So armed with a Spring Cleaning issue of Real Simple and the internet. . .I  set up a regular cleaning schedule for myself. . .one "big ticket" item a day:

Monday - Clean the Bathroom
Tuesday - Dusting - all rooms
Wednesday - Vacuuming and Water the Plants
Thursday - Mop the Floors
Friday - Catch-all Day for anything that didn't get done

Weekends - Wash towels and sheets and Water plants

Everyday - Tidy-up and Declutter, Clean the Kitchen, 1 Load of Laundry

I prefer one thing a day to 3 hours of cleaning on the weekend. And it's worked out really well. Over the years, I've made some modifications and I add that day's activity to my daily to-do list, so I also get the sense of accomplishment when I finish it and cross it off. I also have a "pretty" version laid out on a back page in my Planner to remind me.

Got any great cleaning ideas?  What works at your house?

catch you soon -