Summer Organizing Tips.

It's Summer--
Organize So You Can Chill Out

Summer can a wonderfully lazy time of the year, but that doesn't mean we can't be productive at the same time. Here are a few examples to help you organize so you can chill out this summer:

1. Plan your dinner first thing in the morning. Make it a crock pot or grill meal. Defrost your meat in the refrigerator overnight. Get your veggies washed and ready, early in the morning. Better still, cut and clean them when you return from the grocery store. Have your dessert planned--something cool and fresh. Some examples are fruit, pudding, Jell-o, or a simple scoop of ice cream.

2. Pre-cook or pick up a rotisserie chicken and use that for a dinner or lunch during the week. It's yummy and saves a bunch of time!

3. Do laundry in the morning. Before the heat of the day sets in, you will be done. If you can, hang clothes outside to air dry. There's nothing like fresh air sheets on a bed.

4. Use bath towels a couple of times before washing them. Have each person hold on to their towel for a couple of uses if possible. Designate a different color for each family member. If the kids are in the pool, have them put towels over the railings or a portable drying rack to dry, and use them over.

5. If you have plans to go to the beach, have everything packed up and in the car the night before--including non- perishable foods. If possible have all the perishable foods prepped and ready to grab from the refrigerator and placed in your cooler before you leave.

6. Plan some short distance (especially with the cost of gasoline) local places to visit. If possible take public transportation. Visit a local museum, or park. Pretend you are visiting a new city and look at it with 'new eyes,' even if you have been there before. Exhibits change often, or they could be a favorite exhibit that you enjoy seeing over and over again.

7. Have a picnic dinner one evening each week. Sit outside and have sandwiches--perhaps the kids can prepare them. Serve quick-to-prepare items like fruit salad or pre-made potato salad from your grocer. If the weather doesn't cooperate, have a picnic in the family room or living room! It is the 'being together' that is important.

8. Close your blinds or drapes on a hot day and keep the sun out. The house will stay cooler and you won't have to run the air conditioner all day.

9. Stow some decorations in the house away for the summer. The house will look more 'empty' and free for the summer. Less to dust and clean, and more time to play!

10. Plan on doing yard work either early in the morning or late afternoon to avoid working in the heat of the day. Remember to drink a lot of water to keep hydrated. Don't forget your sunscreen before going out in the sunshine.

11. Enjoy not having plans a few of days a week. Sleep later and just enjoy the day, read, or work on crafts. When you make your schedule for the week, leave a day or two open to just enjoy.

12. Have the kids' clothes laid out the night before going somewhere. That way there is no delaying in the morning, and you can get on the road to wherever you're off to without being late.

13. Have a movie marathon! Make a simple meal that includes finger foods, sit in the family room and watch movies together. Have each person suggest a movie and then all can vote on the ones to rent.

14. Each week, exchange a meal. Cook a double-size meal for your family and give half of that meal to a neighbor. Then your neighbor does the same for you.

Some of Oprah's reading suggestions.

For Your Book Club: Reader's Guides

Print discussion questions to get even more from the books of summer.

FICTION

Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann
Read O's review
Start Chapter 1
Get the reader's guide

The Glister by John Burnside
Read O's review
Start Chapter 1
Get the reader's guide

Lime Tree Can’t Bear Orange by Amanda Smyth
Read O's review
Start Chapter 1
Get the reader's guide

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith and Jane Austen
Read O's review
Start Chapter 1
View illustrations from the book
Get the reader's guide

NON-FICTION

Columbine by Dave Cullen
Read O's review
Start Chapter 1
Get the reader's guide

A Pearl in the Storm by Tori Murden McClure
Read O's review
Start Chapter 1
Get the reader's guide

Peep Diaries by Hal Niedzviecki
Read O's review
Start Chapter 1
Get the reader's guide

Get O's complete summer reading list

Kind of New Pictures

Here are few pictures of the family, not so recent, but pictures none the less. The one with Madison and the beautiful pink head band if for Shelley.

Good Article

Top Ten Ways to Enjoy Being a Stay At Home Mom

by Tiffany Blom
Do It Yourself Gifts


I have been a stay at home Mom for over eight year now, and have grown to enjoy every minute of it!

It wasn't always this way, though. Don't get me wrongI love, love, love being with our children and watching them grow every step of the way. There is no other place in the world that I'd rather be. However, making the switch from being a full-time working woman to being a stay-at-home-mom is a big adjustment!

Gone were the days of taking care of myself first, and showering when I wanted to. I missed adult conversations, and the freedom that went along with having a job outside of the home.

Over the years I have discovered ways to enjoy each and every day that I am home with them, and avoid the isolation that sometimes comes with being a homemaker:

Top Ten Ways to Enjoy Being a Stay at Home Mom:

1. Create a routine. Make a time schedule for your days, and do your best to stick to it. I realize that it's not always possible with little ones, but if you can do it most days, it will help you from feeling so overwhelmed.

2. Don't lose your interests. Remember the things you like to do, and keep a some of them going. For the first few years I was at home, I completely lost myself. I would come to the section on a form that says "What are your hobbies or interests? What do you do in your free time?" and I realized that I didn't have any free time, and my hobbies had all taken a back seat to raising the children! I slowly incorporated my hobbies back into my life, even finding ways to get the kids involved with them, and I am a much happier person for it.

3. Just because you are a stay-at-home-mom doesn't mean you need to stay home! Sitting around the house with your children every day can get very lonely. Get out of the house and meet other moms, or just take your children places where you can interact with others. Since money is often a concern for single income families, look into free options to get yourselves outthe library, the playground, a Mommy's group, etc.

4. Make time for yourself each day. I know that this sounds impossible with all of your responsibilities, but I'm here to tell you that it is essential to your well being. Schedule "me time" any time of the day that it's most convenient. Don't do any housework or homework with the kidsthis time is ONLY for you! A half an hour to read a book or exercise will make a world of difference to your mental well being.

5. Connect with other stay-at-home-moms. Find forums and blogs on the internet where you can ask and answer questions and feel a sense of community with like-minded people.

6. Volunteer or find way to give to charity. Although you may not feel like you are contributing financially to the family (even though you are by saving on day care costs), you can still volunteer your time to get the feeling of contribution. Work at a nursing home a few hours a week, serve lunch once a week at a homeless shelter (or make the food at home to donate to the shelter), if you have school aged children then volunteer at their school, mow the lawn for one of your older neighborsthe ideas are endless! Not only does this make you feel great at the end of the day, it is also a great example to your children.

7. Schedule "date night" with your spouse at least once a month. Keeping in touch with your relationship with your husband is so important. You need to go out and be a coupleaway from the everyday stresses. Find some other Moms that will trade you hours of babysitting (you watch their kids one Friday night, and they watch your children the next Friday night) to save on the cost of a babysitter.

8. Don't try to be perfect. I've often felt like my house should be sparkling clean, my children should be dirt-free, and all my affairs should be perfectly in order---all because I don't work outside of the home. The truth is, that is not a reality for any stay-at-home mom. In fact, I think that it is even harder to be organized with your kids at home all day than if they were away at day care! So, don't sweat it if the laundry piles up for a few days, or the dishes go unwashed until the morning. The housework will always be there, but your children will grow up in a blink of an eye. Spend as much "fun time" as you can with them now.

9. Get a part-time job. After being home for a few years, I really started to feel guilty about not making any money for the family. The good news is, there are several part-time jobs that you can work a stay-at-home mom's scheduleyou, too, can become a WAHM (Work At Home Mom)! Start your own website or blog, watch other people's children (also a great social tool for your children who are at home), sell children's clothing or other items on an auction site such as Ebaythe opportunities are out there, you just need to look for them. Where there's a will, there's a way!

10. Remind yourself each day how fast your children grow. Visualize them being grown, and how you will feel when they leave the house. This automatically makes you savor every minute that you have with them.

About the Author: Tiffany Blom is the publisher of http://www.do-it-yourself-gifts.com , a website dedicated to creative and unique homemade gift ideas. She lives in Midlothian, Virginia with her four children, and husband of ten years.

Originally published on SearchWarp.com for Tiffany Blom Wednesday, April 09, 2008
Article Source: Top Ten Ways to Enjoy Being a Stay At Home Mom

What to do first?

Things I want to accomplish.....
1. Take an art class
2. Take a photography class
3. Own my own business
massage therapy
retreats
bed & breakfast
4. Learn to knit
5. Teach a homemaking class
6. Become more active
running
biking
tennis
7. Take swimming lessons
8. Take a pottery class
9. Fishing
10. Singing lessons (because I suck and I want to be able to at least be okay with singing in church)

Soaked

Braxton is quite the kid. He was outside with Penny, the dog, and he filled the dogs water dish up with dirt. So it was full of mud!! Lovley! So being the smart lady that I am, I went to the front of the house where the only water spout is and was going to wash it out, ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! I took the hose off(we have a splitter hose thing on the original spout, so we can hook up 2 hoses, you get the point) and turned the one side of the splitter on and it came all the way off, hence spraying water all over. AWESOME!! Let's just say by the end of it Braxton & I were both soaked. I couldn't get the water shut off, so being the great wife I am I called Steve. Come to find out he was in Ogden. Can't get here really fast from there can ya. So I continued to attempt to shut it off for about 10 min. and called Troy, who was able to shut it off. Thanks Goodness. Family is great aren't they!

Yeah, Madison!

Madison rolled all the way over onto her stomach 4 times today!!!