Organization

Organize your home, your kids, your kitchen – all with these handy tips to make home organization seem like second nature… which we know it’s not.

How a Planner Can Keep You Sane

How a Planner Can Keep You Sane

I make no secret that I struggle with anxiety and depression.

The constant rising feeling of panic I feel in my worst moments.

Combined with the belief that nothing I do will ever make a difference, so why even bother?

Oh ya, these thought patterns are real.

And can I say, they suck.

You might know what I’m talking about.

Not only do my thoughts make me feel horrible, but they also tamper with productivity, make me snap at my kids and overall make me not a nice person to be around.

When they’re at their worst, I rely on a simple system that I set up in my planner.

Is your kid overscheduled?  Here’s your fix.
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Is your kid overscheduled? Here’s your fix.

When we started my daughter in piano lessons at 4-years-old, I was excited.

You see, I had always wanted to be able to play piano.

Make no mistake, my parents signed me up for lessons. First through the local parks and rec, then through a private teacher when I got to high school.

I bordered on mediocre – mainly because I never practiced.

In high school, I saw the students who played piano beautifully and secretly envied their skill

They went to summer music camp in Boston, got offered college scholarships – all sorts of recognition. And here I was – too lazy to practice.

When my daughter started piano, I vowed that she wouldn’t be like me.

Your perfect after school checklist (that’s completely editable)
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Your perfect after school checklist (that’s completely editable)

I’ve learned one major thing about picking my kids up after school.

I cannot – by any means – ask them in any sort of cheery voice, “How was your day?”

My nine-year-old daughter recently told me that for some reason that question produces this fiery rage inside of her. She can’t explain it, but it makes her so mad.

I asked my husband about it that night and he said that the question has too many expectations attached to it. If someone really wants to know about your day, they will ask you directly with no fake cheer.

The cheer places too much of a burden on having a happy answer in response and that’s all fake.

OK, I get it.

But then, I realize that the response to anything I ask my kids to do after-school is met with groans and whines.

Why? Are your kids like this too?

The Way You’re Losing Money (and not even realizing it!)

The Way You’re Losing Money (and not even realizing it!)

Wouldn’t it be nice if we never had to worry about money?  We could just enjoy life and know that we had enough for later?

Unfortunately, money doesn’t work that way – especially when you’re saving for the future.  In fact, you might be losing money from your nest egg and not even know! Thankfully, there’s a solution in this investing for beginners life hack!

How to Keep Kitchen Counters Clear

How to Keep Kitchen Counters Clear

Don’t look. Ok, take a peek. See that pile of paper on your kitchen counter? In it, you’ll find your kid’s papers from school, past due bills, maybe even a check or two. Looking at that counter brings up all those feelings of overwhelm you so try to avoid. Why? You try so hard to keep it organized, but without fail it always manages to look like that. Here’s how to keep kitchen counters clear without using a blowtorch.

Middle School Checklist
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Middle School Checklist

It’s 6pm on a Thursday and I get a frantic text from a friend. Her daughter goes to the same school as mine.

“Hey, does your daughter have the math test from 2 months ago? The teacher is letting Celina retake it but she can’t find it.”

“Yeah, hold on, let me ask her.”

My daughter does have the test – which she doesn’t hand over right away because she wants to know exactly why she needs it, what it will be used for… third degree basically.
Satisfied with all my answers,she opens her binder to the math section, pulls out the test and hands it to me.
“Thanks,” my friend texts back, “I don’t know what Celina did with it.”

Creating A Bare Bones Budget When You’re Not Making Much Money
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Creating A Bare Bones Budget When You’re Not Making Much Money

In the midst of this strange season of social distancing and change, money may well be a scary topic for you. Maybe you’re like my family and you’re working through a big loss of income due to the pandemic? Maybe overwhelm and anxiety define your money situation in this season of uncertainty? Maybe you’ve decided to keep your head down and eyes closed, playing the “if I don’t look at it, then it can’t be real game” that our kids played when they were little?