Spring Cleaning Project - the Pantry.

Note: It's weird as I write this I know that it will post while I'm in Haiti. So um, hey from the Caribbean? Hope you enjoy the posts this week and forgive me for slow responses, I'll be back the 28th. Hope you'll still stay tuned here, I've worked hard to keep interesting content in my absence.

I was slow to jump on the Pinterest bandwagon. First off, when I got in my invite and logged in I thought 'this is completely overwelming!'. Then when I realized how it worked, it grew on me slowly. When I later found out it has amazing organizational tutorials and blogs as well as cleaning tips and gift ideas - I came over to the dark side!

If you follow my board you may have found, liked, or judged my OCD pinboard which I started to tag all the amazing organizational and cleaning ideas I've found and want to put into practice. I have found some serious heros via Pinterest! These women are legit.

Let me introduce you to my pantry hero:

Image.

This is amazing. I wish that my pantry looked like this. BUT I'm planning on revamping mine in May when I do my official spring cleaning, condo upgrade, and guest bedroom project overhaul! So, while I had that $50 One King's Lane giftcard I got a canister set (for free) that looks like this:

I had been keeping an eye on similar items at Big Lots and Target - but the prices still seemed a bit steep and I was hoping to find them clearanced. Then when OKL had them AND I had a giftcard I thought, perfect! I want to move away from having bags of baking supplies and into having organized, easy-to-find and easy-to-keep-fresh baking supplies in canisters.


A few days later I pinned this - a magic decal tutorial that teaches you how to label your canisters for good. I think I'm going to have to do this, right?

I have a few silver canisters now that will be used in my coffee cupboard. I've also been saving glass jars (because I kind of hate the idea of buying them) to make my own seasonings in, eventually. Ragu pasta sauce in the glass jars was recently bogo so I started with those. I may still have to buy a few for various projects but I figure as much as possible, I will use what I would have otherwise thrown away.
I'm in the process of saving up and cleaning out some BIG glass jars for homemade laundry detergent which I plan to make soon. I find that the large sangria bottles are my favorite, so I snagged a few from a party recently and delabeled them.

I'm still in the market for a great spice holder for my pantry so if anyone knows of a great place to find them, shoot me a comment or e-mail!

What organizational project are on your spring cleaning list?

Have no fear - before and after pictures will happen for this project and many others!

Love,
B

Budget Cuts.

One topic I consistently get e-mails, text messages, twitters, and calls about is budgeting. It turns out that many of my blog readers are trying to meet financial goals and trying to make cuts in their budget to get there. While out to dinner last week one of my neighbors as well as my friend Jessica were asking me about leading another Financial Peace University class, apparently they'd be the first two to sign up! The next night I had a scheduled phone call with my friend, Mer, in Chicago to help her start towards a budget as well.

For now, it's not looking promising that I will have the time needed to play hostess to an FPU course BUT I would like to continue to share with you all what I've learned along the way in hopes that each of you will meet your goals too! And as always, keep the e-mails coming. I love talking through your budgets with you, I really do.

I'm pleased to share that 2012 has been my best year financially yet. I know it's early in the year but my hardwork at learning the system in 2010 as well as my gazelle intensity to get debt free in 2011 have paved the way for 2012 to be fabulous (on a budget still, of course). However, there's no resting in your current situation...getting ahead and staying ahead takes work. So here's some resources and hints you might find helpful...

Total rookie? Need to make a budget? Start here and make yourself a 'quickie budget'. Note: this is a free resource, take advantage of it!

More of a techie? Try this one. This helps you use Mint.com to get your catagories right. I have several friends who use this and love it! There's an app on your phone that will automatically update when you use your debit card. It does alot of the leg work of budgeting for you. Once you make your catagories, it tells you when you're out of money. This is a thing to know, clearly.

If you feel like you have money oozing out of your house it might be time to look at how you can cut your at home expenses. If so, take a look at this:

Cut your costs by room: via pinterest.

One of the big ones for me that I was pleased made the chart? Making your own coffee! I buy amazing gourmet coffee at Marshalls (yes, Marshalls) for 7.99 which lasts me more than a month v. Starbucks at 3 bucks a day. This is a big money saver. I should, however, confess that I hit up Sonic Happy Hour pretty much daily to the tune of 1.23 per day. I rarely eat out, but this is my splurge. Diet cokes. And you can't judge me because they're in the budget!

If you've been on this blog for a while then you've read a lot of my budgeting advice but what I may not have touched on before and want to make sure you know now is this: pay yourself first. Wait, maybe I should start by saying that if you're a believer - tithe first, pay yourself second! But anywho, put what you've determined into savings BEFORE you start paying bills, spending, etc. And let me go ahead and say for those of you who are anything like me, don't take it out (some of you just started sweating). Pay yourself before you pay your bills because let's be honest, there are never leftovers!

Also, never ever forget to weigh out needs v. wants! This is key. But to assure you that I put my money where my mouth is I will tell you that I've decided to cut my cable as of March. It costs me $108 bucks a month and I watch less than 2 hours of TV per week (on average). So, it's going goodbye in honor of being a good steward of the money I have. I am KILLING my savings this year, blowing my goals per month out of the water and it feels great.

So loves, make those budgets, cut those expenses, pack those lunches, and manage those wants because I want to see you all reach new levels this year!

Love,

B

Weekend Recap: Purchases, Productivity, and Style.

Well Happy Monday to all -

Hope your weekends were fun, productive, and restful. I also hope you all start this work week feeling as prepared as any of us every feel for our weeks! ; ]

This weekend was anything BUT restful for me considering Saturday night I slept for less than 3 hours BUT what it lacked in rest it made up for in productivity (this is the part where you pretend me be shocked).

I worked A LOT this weekend but inbetween I managed to get a few other things done. I finally broke down and bought the towels from Nordstrom Rack I have been stalking weekly for MONTHS. These will be for the guest bathroom and they are huge and plush as all guest towels should be, in my opinion.

If I haven't shared before this is the bedding for the guest bedroom which will be black, white, and kelly green....

As of the end of a weekend spent working I'm over halfway in my savings for having my whole place painted in the spring (April or May) AND I've made some headway on saving up to furnish the guest bedroom hopefully before my summer company influx. I'll keep you posted on that but I'm feeling good about the progress.

I did find time to put together and try out my new vacuum which I also saved up and bought in cash (delayed gratification is so HARD) - Dave would be proud.

I will enter the honest box long enough to say I'm impressed with this beast of a vacuum BUT vacuuming the stairs is still a pain in the rear. Such is life with 2 carpeted staircases I suppose.

Since I worked the majority of this weekend and drank caffiene like it was my JOB I pretty much looked like this all weekend (yes, I'm drinking out of someone else's Annie mug):

I did take a break from working to attend a NASCAR party on Sunday. I had nothing to wear (my mom suggested cut off jean shorts and showing my middrift would be most appropriate) so below you can find my NASCAR party wear and my feelings about A. having nothing to wear and B. the race getting rained out and ruining my neighbors party....

Who doesn't love a good mirror pic? I sported a flowy tank top, skinny jeans, and sandals. Though I was completely unfestive - I did get several compliments on my top.

The food was amazing, which spoiled my dinner @ the Lodge with Joy and her new hubby! I ended up having to opt out of dinner (which was probably a good thing considering I sat too close and therefore ate a whole place of nachos at the NASCAR party...oops).

I'm feeling good about starting off week two of the daily cleaning crew with the girls prepared! My mom stocked me up with all the household essentials via Sam's Club last week (thanks Mom!) and I not have a year (literally) supply of TP, paper towels, laundry soap, dishwasher tablets, etc. Whew. Let's do this, work week.

Love,

B

Time Management & a New Strategy.

via Pinterest.

I've griped before about my annoyance with people who always make excuses for themselves. Of these excuses I am most irritated by the excuse of 'not enough time'. Now I recognize the need for boundaries where our time is concerned and for staying on track with our priorities. But making the time excuse ignores the fact that we CHOSE our priorities in life.

If I had a nickle for every person who said they wished they had 'time' to read as much as I do, I'd build myself a library off the back of my townhome. No really, I would. And it might look like this:

via Pinterest.

Assuming that you haven't found someway to have more or less than 24 hours in your day, you have exactly as many opportunities to read books as I do. In college I gave up cable for 2 years in an attempt to refocus my time. Watching hours of TV per week is a habit I've never picked back up. Now, in the spirit of full disclosure here I should share that my TV hour per week goes up noticeably during football season - since I usually watch at least 2-3 games per week (the colts, SNF, and MNF).

Working out is another area people love to make excuses for, right? 'I'm just not a morning person' is a good one. Several days a week I workout at 6am, because after work I have to go to do more work til about 10 pm. I confess that working out at 6am and then working a 12 hour day is BRUTAL and not for the faint of heart. But it is doable. So the moral of this post is really, don't make excuses about your time - sit down, determine your priorities, and go at them hard.

I love having a clean house. I love that if a friend calls me last minute and wants to lay by my pool or stop by to watch a movie, my house is always company appropriate. But I'm trying a new idea I got, also from pinterest, for doing a little cleaning every day. This is my first week trying it. On Saturday I vacuumed my room and bathroom and mopped the bathroom floor. Sunday I changed the sheets and did the laundry. Monday I cleaned the bathroom. Tuesday I dusted. Wednesday I paid bills. Tonight is cleaning the inside of the microwave and cleaning out the fridge.

I'll have to report back a little farther in, but so far I'm loving it! There was a list on pinterest (check my OCD board if you're interested) on how to do this. I made my own way, per my usual. But I love the concept and so far, the results!

How do you manage your time to get in all the important things?

Love,

B

When I'm Stressed I...

...get really productive. Ok fine, I'm kind of weirdly productive anyway. But when my stress levels go up it gets so much worse! Instead of a daily one page list of 'to do's they get 2 pages long. I wake up hours early and stay up later and I crank out every possible chore you can think of. Last year mid-event-season I was dusting the trim in my house at 3am on a regular basis. I mean, it's better than taking up drinking, right? ;]

So last night after work, errands, fro yo with a friend, and catching up on the phone with one of my close friends from Indy - I reorganized my whole bathroom. Yeah, because who doesn't need to totally revamp their bathroom once a month, in the middle of the night, when they have to get up at 5:30 the following morning? Anywho, I bought some new storage containers and went to town in my medicine cabinet, the built in cabinet above my toilette, and the cabinets underneath my sink. My drawers are already pretty organized although I try'n go through and toss a few old tubes of mascara from time to time.

I don't like using a busy week (like working 20 hours of overtime, traveling for work all weekend, and starting new classes at the gym) as an excuse to let other important things fall by the wayside. So, I'm pleased to report that I'm staying caught up with my bible study homework, finished book #24 just in time to return it the library, have a clean room and bathroom, and have managed to do 4 loads of laundry (though I do confess they're not yet put away).

I was struck while stuffing my face with yogurtology by something my friend, Daniel said. He said that while his job keeps him more than busy he realizes he's a relational person and he can't neglect time with friends. He is wise in so many ways and this really hit home with me. As I've purposed this year to be a more thoughtful friend I've really realized just how important it is to invest in my relationships. I may not have a ton of free time but I work in face time with friends, phone calls to my back-home-bffs, and I send about a card a day. I refuse to let the chaos that is my work, home, and sometimes even spiritual life keep me from being a great friend.

No excuses here. I may write half my greeting cards before 6am and I may read books at stoplights to work it all in - but it gets done. I never want to look back and see a list of accomplishments and no solid friendships. This time in my life and those relationships are important. And I may or may not have some of those phone conversations while scrubbing bathroom tiles with a toothbrush, but hey, don't judge. : ]

Love,

B

As life continues to get even crazier for me, one thing I've managed to do well is stay organized. Partly because I've self-diagnosed myself with severe OCD with more obsessive than compulsive behaviors. But also because I refuse to allow my crazy life to get the best of me. I desire to be someone who is disciplined, purposeful, and productive. So with my growing life and schedule, has come even more need for my freakish organizational skills.

I've been carrying my faithful black Coach planner for 5 solid years now (I'm thinking of rewarding myself with a new one this winter) but in 2011 I've added a few new things. The tiny spiral notebook pictured above holds my shopping lists. Sams club, Publix, even clothing needs - they're all listed there until they've been checked off and bought. It keeps them handy, so that I don't have to make extra trips for things I forgot I needed. Cuts down on wasted time and money. Love it.

The tan and brown notebook is my new to-do list notebook. Note: spirals are the way to go for these type lists, as they're not hard to write in or keep open while you're checking off. I work 2-3 days out at all times. As I think of what needs to be done, I put it either on that day, the next, or something 2 days out. This helps me stay on top of dry cleaning, house cleaning, bible study homework, cooking, cards I want to send out, birthday presents that need to be mailed, etc. Also, being able to check things off gives me a sense of accomplishment.

I enjoy having the ability to see what's been done or is coming up to be done later that week at all times, but when a notebook is finished, I toss it. Not reason to hang on to what's been done and checked off. This notebook keeps me both purposeful and productive and reminds me what needs to be done if I have a free 10 minutes. I even keep track of who I owe a phone call this way, and it keeps me from letting weeks go by without calling a friend or family member.

You'd be surprised how much more you accomplish when you have a list. I encourage any of you who feel a little overwelmed lately to give it a try. Takes a little while to get in the groove but I promise you, it's life-changing.

Love,
B

Reader Question.

Hello lovies.

After posting my 'about me' page. I got the following question (via facebook) from a good friend/faithful blog reader:

So, I'm quite interested in how your organization works. I'm figuring out the best system for me and so far, haven't been successful. Any tips or resources you can suggest?

Most of my friends shy away from allowing me to voice my freakish opinions about organization - so thanks for asking Lisa. I think being organized it like being on a weight loss plan, you have to find what works for you. Example: I was a horrible, miserable, chubby failure at Weight Watchers but I am a crazy good calorie counter. Really, they're similar but one just fits me and one was off. In other words, my disclaimer for this entry is that what works for me may not be the perfect fit for you but it might help you find what does work for you.

The first step and maybe the hardest/most obvious is that to be organized you also have to be disciplined. Anyone can make a plan, it's sticking with it that hangs people up. So while I can give you some helpful hints, the trick will be you really being committed to being organized.

1. Have a good planner. As previously mentioned I use a Coach planner but there are certainly cheaper versions. Mine is laid out similar to this:

This refill by Franklin Covey found here is $12.95 per year and you can pick whatever fabulous outside you want. With Coach the planners (the size I have) are about 200 bucks ( I bought mine when I worked there so I had a REALLY good discount) but the inserts are $20 bucks per year.

Here's the key to keeping up your planner well. Force yourself to write everything you commit to into your planner. Even if it's 'I'm going to spend 2 hours on Saturday studying' - go to Saturday pick your two hour window and right it in. The other thing that's REALLY upped the helpfulness of my planner is that I color coordinate it with highlighters. Here's my key:

Orange - important! aka: bills, due dates, doctors appointments,etc.

Yellow - work. aka: meetings, travel dates, plane flights and confirmations, work parties, etc.

Pink - fun stuff. aka: dates, girls nights, facials - the stuff I plan just because I want to do it.

Green - church. Because I'm in leadership at my church I have a lot of church things in a given month. My small group, which meets weekly. My leadership meetings (once a month). Volunteer commitments. And I even highlight when I plan out my times to prep for some of the aforementioned items.

Blue - blue for me is blog stuff. Because I have so many crazy things happening with the blog right now, it gets a color as well. This helps me remember when my book reviews are due. When I promised to review events or products. You get the idea.

For you Lisa, you may want to have orange, yellow, and pink the same as mine but change out green and blue for school & ______. Whatever you find yourself needing to keep track of the most.

I also schedule my workouts so that I really get them done!

2. Don't leave all your cleaning for when someone's coming over. I was SO guilty of this. Seriously, I'd reek havoc on my condo and then when I knew I was having company I'd stress myself out trying to get it all done before they came over. This is a crappy way to keep you house clean AND it's murder for your nerves. Turns out a clean house helps you keep a clean mind and stay low stress.

I know for Lisa, my reader who wrote it, you have ...2 dogs is it? AND a husband. Boys are dirty, I know these things. This probably makes it even harder to keep a clean house.

Here's my nerdy organized way of dealing with this.

I keep an excel sheet that gives me a couple chores per day but divides up both the chores that need to be done every week - changing the sheets, cleaning the bathroom, etc. and the ones that need to be done (in my case) every 2-4 weeks: mopping my hardwoods and tiles, vacuum my staircases, sweeping out the garage, etc.

Plan it out so it works with your schedule though. For example, Thursdays are a CRAZY day for me because after work, I have company til 9:30pm (my bible study) and I'm frequently packing that night to head out of town early Friday morning. So Thursdays are NOT the day for mopping or vacuuming the whole house. Thursdays are dishes. I run the dishwasher and empty it every Thursday while I'm brewing coffee and setting things up for my bible study. Tuesdays are my night at home - so these are a good day for some harder, more involved chores.

You get the idea.

These are my two main things that keep my calender working and my house in working order. If you've got some other problem areas you want me to comment on, get at me. I'll happily look into it. : ]

Love,
B

If Chaos is your Nature...

I've frequently accused of being 'the most organized person I know' by friends. I admit to being a bit OCD in many aspects of my life and organization of some varieties would fall into this category. As those of you who have been reading me for any length of time know, I'm an extremist. I tend to throw myself whole-heartily into that which I get excited about.

I've been pouring over some organizing blogs, ideas, tips, and lists this week thinking of ways to be more efficient in my personal life. I do a decent job of staying organized with work-related items but sometimes I fall behind at home. I would be willing to bet that a few of you have the same problem, made worse by coming home after an 8+ hour work day and wanting to do nothing but eat dinner and watch TV.

I'm going to identify my weak areas. Here we go...

Sidetracked by the Macbook.

Fly Lady has listed as one of her 11 Commandments, 'don't allow yourself to be sidetracked by your computer'. Bam - guilty. Pulling out my macbook (which thankfully I only do once or twice a week at home) can be like entering a time warp for me. When I emerge from Internet-land back into the real world and an hour has gone by I can't believe I've let myself get so sidetracked. Anyone feeling me on this one?

I might have to start setting a timer for myself like my parents use to do with us when we first got AOL in our house. Oh AOL, the old school days of dial up Internet and lame 10-year-old screen names. If only that were all that distracted me on my computer these days. Say no to face-stalking, extreme budget overhaul, and Internet window shopping Becca. Say no.

The Great Mail Pile-up.

For someone who seems endlessly organized I have NEVER been good at dealing with mail. In college my Mom use to remind me to check mine or I'd go weeks without dealing with my overflowing box (which by the way, supposedly promotes break-ins). Even after I'd finally trudge down to the mail area and gather my 39489302 pieces of mail, it'd take me another week or two before I'd go through it, usually throwing most of it away unopened.

Where did I acquire this attitude about mail? I love getting cards but I hate dealing with documents sent from companies such as: insurance related, bank related,HOA related, etc. And before you suggest I go 'paperless', that would be equally disastrous as I'm also horrible about printing and filing those documents.

No excuses, I'm to start tackling the mail as it comes. I cannot keep being fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants about paying bills and such. I've never been late on a bill BUT I've been a 'day of' girl most my life. No more. I will find a way to deal with mail. I will report back to you all with my solution.

Fly Lady's thoughts are this:

Mail - often a big pile up problem! This works - the "DO IT NOW PRINCIPLE" (from the FlyLady's Dear Husband):

- Go through the mail as soon as you bring it in the house.
- Only open it with your calendar, cards, and garbage can at your side. (This cuts down on handling it twice.)
- Have one place for bills. And put them there!
- Have a day for paying them and stick to it. FlyLady's date with her bills: on the 1st and 15th of each month.
- Reconcile your bank statement the day you get it.
- Put sale papers, advertisements, and catalogs by your chair, so you can look at them when you deserve a break. Do not let them pile up! Look at them the next time you sit down and have your scissors, grocery list, and garbage can handy.

Car Chaos.

I have a tendency to do really well at keeping my car nice for a few weeks or months and then something will happen (like moving) and it will be a disaster for a while before I want to face it again. This is avoidable. I just can't let my car become a war zone or the black abyss that my papers and trash fall into. But this is certainly an area of organizational weakness.

I recently cleaned my car inside and outside. I took it to the car wash, stopped and got it vacuumed out, I even scrubbed my floor mats with spot shot. To all my friends who ride in my car with their grimy feet on my floor mats: I.blame.you! I also FINALLY went through my glove box and disposed of the rotting renewals of my insurance cards and registrations from the last oh, 2 years. Now I know that my 'packet' is up-to-date and I will have no problems should I need to reference that info (Lord willing, I hope I do not).

Inbox Influx.

I hate e-mail. I'm not sure why but for some reason I am just not a fan of getting e-mails. Some of you may remember from my former blog post about the buying of my blackberry that not long after my e-mail started stalking me via my phone, I unsubscribed from practically EVERYTHING I was getting via e-mail. But alas, somethings are just best handled through e-mail and so therefore I must learn to stay atop of them.

I have made myself categories for e-mails that need to be saved ie: receipts from my Kindle purchases, condo documents, personal e-mails to reference on crappy days, etc. However, I need to start sorting e-mails every day instead of once every couple weeks. This would really cut down on the annoyance I experience when I have to do this process. Gr.

So as not to 'Debbie Downer' myself too terribly much today...let's also talk about areas I do well at and how I got to those points. In the last year or so I have become increasingly well organized in the area of greeting cards. I bought a Vera Bradley card organizer a while back which helps me ensure that I send holiday cards, birthday cards, thank you cards, and 'just because' cards every single month. I think this is a great habit that few people have developed. I love the cards I get in response or knowing that I've put a smile on someone's face. I remember to pull out and write cards because I highlight (in orange which equals important) on my calender a day a week out from a birthday 'send Rach a card'.

For me, the key to success with most everything has been to have a plan...and an accurate planner. I color coordinate my 3 year old Coach planner that my best friend graciously refills for me with her discount every year. That has become my compass as I navigate my somewhat intense life of balance church, work, bills, condo stuff, personal life, football related things, and event-world details for work. Without my planner, I tend to get lost. I believe I've posted a picture of my infamous color coded planner on my blog before. My friends tease me mercilessly...except the 2 of them that have adopted my habit. They love me for it. I color coordinate in the following 5 catagories:

Pink - personal or as I call them 'treats'. This includes lunch dates, facials, girls nights out, and this month: the super bowl!
Orange - Important. These are the mustnotforgets! When bills are due, cards, birthdays, prescriptions, etc.
Yellow - work. This is self explanatory. Meetings, due dates, reminders, PTO days, paid holidays, etc.
Green - church related. Meetings, appointments, services, small group homework, finance class meetings, and soon-to-be calling my group every week to see how their budgeting is going.
Blue - Blog related. When I've scheduled posts, when I have promised to mail a freebie, etc. This is the least used color...but it still has one.

Well, there you have it. I'm good at a few other organization things but these will do for now.

Time to get to work...

Love,
B

Ahead of schedule.

I have over half of my Christmas shopping done! If you knew me a few years ago, you will know that the amount of organization I've learned in recent years is certainly astonishing. Nothing short of miraculous, in fact. This is including but not limited too, Christmas shopping. I started last year in August, this year in September. I am now over halfway done with my newly shortened present list. Now that I'm on a budget I can't buy something for everyone (sorry readers)...

Left to tackle this weekend in Orlando: Rae, Bres (bro-in-law), and Dad. Why is Dad always the hardest? I swear it always comes down to golf balls or ties. Poor Dad. Last year was a cashmere sweater. As far as I know he liked it...he wore it at least.

Anybody else almost done with their Christmas shopping?

I also decided in the spirit of being frugal that I will be taking my Christmas presents home in my suitcase over Thanksgiving instead of paying to ship them. I'm flying Southwest (my favorite) both Tgiving and Xmas. So my bags fly free (love those commercials). One of Ruthie's presents makes me a tad nervous because it's breakable. But other than that, I think I'm safe.

Just wanted to brag on myself for finally getting it together and being ahead of schedule at Christmas time. Yay me.

If you're struggling for good Christmas ideas, go to Target and scope the magazines. Most of them (In Style, Glamour, People, etc) do a best gifts under $50 section around this time of year. They don't always have practical ideas BUT sometimes you find a winner. Worth looking into for inspiration.

Example...check this list from Oprah.

Love,
B