This coming Sunday is Daylight Savings day. The only way I can remember which way to change the clock is by the little saying I learned as a kid. “Spring forward, Fall backwards”.
So I’ll move the clock forward on Sunday and lose an hour of sleep. Bummer! But on the bright side, it also means that it stays light later in the evenings. Continue reading
Posted in Calendar, Family Fun, Holidays, Organizing, Planning
Last week I posted the first two Halloween tips on this blog. I know not everyone has Facebook and Twitter so here are the tips I have posted on those sites over the past week.
All these tips come from the eBook “How To Have A Safe, Fun, And Decluttered Halloween”. There are dozens of more tips in the eBook plus it goes into more details on many of the tips below.
If you have any questions or suggestions regarding these tips please leave a comment below. Thanks.
Halloween Tip (3): Homemade decorations can help use up many of those left-over craft and sewing materials you already have on hand. Fabric or soft material items can usually be stored flat which takes up a lot less storage room. Time to get creative!
Halloween Tip (4): Extend your Halloween/Fall decorating by layering the decorations. Add black bats or pumpkin cut-outs to an autumn wreath on your front door. After Halloween replace the cut-outs with Turkey or other Thanksgiving/Fall ones on the wreath.
Halloween Tip (5): Strings of Halloween lights can help provide more light to your front yard making it safer for trick-or-treaters. Make sure the wires aren’t in a place where they can be tripped on.
Halloween Tip (6): Homemade costumes are one of a kind. You don’t even have to know how to sew to create some of them. Many times you can use materials/items you already have. Check out the ideas at this site. http://familyfun.go.com/halloween-kids-costumes/all-halloween-costumes/1/a/
Halloween Tip (7): Halloween make-up is easy to use to create all kinds of costumes/masks. It’s best to buy new and fresh products each year. Leftover make-up can breed bacteria after being stored for a long time.
Halloween Tip (8): Use battery operated tea lights inside pumpkins where ever a real flame could cause a fire hazard. This is especially important on the front porch where trick-or-treaters will be.
Halloween Tip (9): Safety pins or duct tape work well for last minute hemming and other alterations of costumes.
To a lighter load along the way.
Janice
For a lot more tips on Halloween you’ll want to get this eBook “How To Have A Fun, Safe, and Decluttered Halloween”. It’s only $2.99 and is available for your PC(PDF), the Kindle, or the Nook.
Posted in Calendar, Crafts, Family Fun, Holidays, Organizing, Planning
Labor Day weekend is just a little over a week away. Since that is considered the last weekend of summer many people take advantage of the 3 days off to take that last summer trip, go to the pool or beach, or just relax before the routines of fall set in.
We don’t usually plan much for the weekend. But just in case we get bored and want to do something I did an internet search for my city and Labor Day events. It came up with quite a few of them.
If you want to find out what is happening in your city Labor Day weekend then just put in the search box: Labor Day 2012 events, your city, your state, and see what events you may want to attend.
If you want to find out more about the holiday and also find fun ideas and crafts to do with your children then check out these links.
Enjoy the last week of summer and the holiday weekend. The fall months are filled with school activities, sporting activities (baseball, football, hockey, basketball, etc.), and of course the holidays of Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Chanukah, and Kwanza. The lazy days of summer will be over very soon.
To a lighter load along the way.
Janice
Posted in Calendar, Family Fun, Holidays
July and August are big vacation months. I know I’m looking forward to taking my vacation at the end of this month. But before I go there is a lot of planning to do ahead of time to make sure everything goes smooth.
The main thing people want during a vacation is to have some fun or relaxation and not worry about what could go wrong. So a great offence is the best defense. Think about what could go wrong now and plan to prevent it as much as possible.
Here is a list of some of the common worries and what actions to take before leaving on your trip. Below I have listed several websites and articles for more information.
Do you worry about:
Take the worry out of the vacation by taking care of the little things before hand. That will free up your time during the vacation to have fun and/or relaxation.
Here are some sites to help you with packing checklists. Just remember to pack light. Most airlines not only charge for luggage they will charge extra over a certain weight. The key is to stick with the basics and be willing to wash out some clothes at night in the bathroom sink if necessary.
If traveling with children has you worried about them getting bored or anxious during the trip check out the links in this blog post. There are lots of easy travel games and ideas to keep them busy for a long time.
http://organizebythemonth.com/are-we-there-yet-travel-games/
To a lighter load along the way.
Janice
Posted in Family Fun, Planning, Travel, Vacation
We’re in the heart of summer and there are so many ways to enjoy it. Below are some of the special events that are celebrated during the month of July. First the month starts out with a bang on The 4th of July. Then there’s National Hot Dog Month, National Ice Cream Month, National Watermelon Month, and even National Baked Bean Month. You would think that all we do is eat during this month!
Well, below are links with information and recipes to celebrate these events. If you have children or grandchildren pick a date and plan on a festival to enjoy their favorite foods. Get them involved in picking out the recipes and then making them. It will be a fun time for all!
If you are planning to set off fireworks here is some information you’ll want to read first. Every year around the 4th of July the emergency rooms are filled with burn injuries. Learn how to prevent them before you set off those fireworks.
July is National Hot Dog Month. All those summer BBQ’s seem to include the little (or not so little) red dog, grilled to perfection. But there are lots of other ways to cook those hot dogs. If your up to experimenting with recipes here are a couple of links to get you started.
http://www.hot-dog.org/ht/d/sp/i/38571/pid/38571
http://www.recipe4living.com/articles/national_hot_dog_month.htm
Is it any surprise that National Ice Cream Month would be in the middle of summer? The 3rd Sunday in July is National Ice Cream Day but pick any day to celebrate with your family. Make homemade ice cream with or without an ice cream maker. The links below have recipes and instructions on how to do it. Oh, the simple pleasures of life don’t have to cost much. Just a little planning ahead can make a memorable sweet experience.
http://www.southernliving.com/food/entertaining/ice-cream-desserts-00417000074424/
What would summer be without a cold juicy watermelon to bite into? July is also National Watermelon Month. Now is the time to buy those big red fruits and experiment with different ways of eating them. Find a couple of recipes from the links below that look good. On a day when it’s too hot for the children to play outside just pull out a recipe for all of you to make together.
National Baked Bean Month is in July. Beans go great with those hot dogs and hamburgers. Check out some of the links below for recipes to make them special.
http://www.classbrain.com/artholiday/publish/article_355.shtml
http://southernfood.about.com/od/crockpotbeans/r/bl15c11.htm
July can be a long boring month if you have children at home with nothing to do. Last year I wrote an article in my newsletter (sign up here) about how to vacation in your own home town. It’s not too late to make this a fun and active summer. Check it out for lots of ideas. “Vacation In Your Own Home Town”
To a lighter load along the way.
Janice
Posted in Calendar, Family Fun, Holidays, Planning, Vacation
Many holidays are celebrated with a meal or two that have lots of special foods. Looking forward to eating those foods is part of what makes the holiday fun.
The Fourth of July is no different. All the summer vegetables and fruits are at their best. Their cool refreshing taste in the heat of the summer help balance out all those heavy hot dogs, hamburgers, ribs, and baked beans that are a part of the meal.
If your not sure what to cook or want some new ideas I’ve listed below plenty of links with mouth watering recipes. Don’t forget the decorations to complete the festive celebration.
http://recipes.familyeducation.com/slideshow/recipes/51053.html
Happy eating!
Janice
Website: http://cutclutterwithscissors.com
Facebook Page: http://facebook.com/CutClutterWithScissors
Twitter: http://twitter.com/jlscissors
Posted in Baking/cooking, Calendar, Family Fun, Holidays
Today is the official first day of summer. However, for most families summer started around Memorial Day or shortly after. If your children aren’t going to camp or summer school most likely they are already looking for things to do.
Below are some ideas to help you get organized and come up with ways to keep your children busy. These ideas are great ways to keep them from spending hours and hours in front of the TV or computer. That may keep them out of your hair but it isn’t healthy for them. Check out these links now and have a plan in place before you hear those dreaded words, (if you haven’t already) “Mom, we’re bored. What can we do?”
These sites are filled with ideas to help you organize your schedules.
http://www.bhg.com/videos/m/32064133/organize-your-summer.htm
Here are some ideas for backyard games. Create a simple notebook with the instructions so it’s easy to help your children get started playing.
http://www.bhg.com/health-family/activities/games/backyard-games/#page=1
Last year I wrote a blog post after the 4th of July filled with ideas and links to websites about vacationing close to home. This year I’m giving you the link to that post now so you can plan ahead and take advantage of some great things to do before, during, and after the holiday. There are also some links for ideas for the 4th of July.
http://organizebythemonth.com/vacation-in-your-own-hometown/
http://fun.familyeducation.com/fourth-of-july/holidays/32874.html
It’s not to late to set up a Summer Planner filled with ideas to make this summer an organized and fun one.
Posted in Calendar, Family Fun, Holidays, Home, Organizing, Planning, Vacation
This year March has only two special dates/holidays. There is Daylight Savings day on Sunday, March 11. Most of us will move the clocks forward and lose that extra hour of sleep. You don’t want to be late for any plans that day so be sure to set your clocks the night before.
Then there is St. Patrick’s Day on Saturday, March 17. St. Patrick’s Day may have started out as an Irish religious holiday over 1000 years ago but many people, including all us non-Irish, love to join in the celebrations today. Below are several links to find out about the history of this holiday and fun ways to celebrate it with your family.
March also has several month long events. There is Women’s History Month, American Red Cross Month, And National Craft Month. There is also Poison Prevention Week. If you have small children or pets be sure to check out the FAQ’s at the link below for a lot of good information.
If you are a crafter then this will be a month filled with special sales and classes at your local craft store. Below are some links for some of the major stores where you can find out the specials in your area.
If your craft/sewing area is filled with clutter and unfinished projects it may be time to clean it out before starting any new ones. I’ll be posting an article on decluttering craft supplies next week. Be sure to check back here or better yet sign up to receive an email when a new post is written. You can sign up here…..
Check out the sites below and start getting organized for the month ahead. Remember that a little planning today makes tomorrow easier and a lot more fun!
Janice
http://womenshistorymonth.gov/
This is a great site for projects and links to blogs on crafting.
If you’re into sewing and crafts these links are for the major craft stores. On the main page of each site you can also link to their Facebook page.
http://www.hancockfabrics.com/
March 18 – 24, Poison Prevention Weekhttp://www.poisonprevention.org/poison.htm
Make sure you move your clocks forward. Spring forward, fall back. That’s how I always remember which way to move the clock.
http://www.holidaysmart.com/z_daylightsavingstime.htm
March 17 (Saturday), St. Patricks Dayhttp://www.history.com/topics/st-patricks-day
Posted in Calendar, Crafts, Family Fun, Holidays, Planning
It’s hard to believe Christmas is just a little over a week away. The first night of Chanukah is next Tuesday, December 20. The greeting cards are arriving in force now. If you haven’t mailed yours yet it’s time to do it.
In my monthly newsletter I included a lot of website links for ideas on Christmas and Chanukah. Here are some of those links to help you with ideas for gifts, organizing your holidays, making homemade decorations with your children, holiday recipes, and lots of other ideas. Check them out for some last minute inspiration.
If you aren’t signed up for the newsletter you can do so here.
Christmas
http://christmas.organizedhome.com/
http://www.amazing-christmas-ideas.com/
http://holidays.kaboose.com/christmas/
http://browse.realsimple.com/holidays-entertaining/holidays/christmas/index.html
Chanukah
http://www.chabad.org/holidays/chanukah/default_cdo/jewish/Hanukkah.htm
http://holidays.kaboose.com/chanukah/
To a lighter load along the way.
Janice
The free Holiday Tips eBook is still available. Get it now so you can take advantage of all the tips to help the next few weeks be more enjoyable.
If you are already a subscriber to this blog then you should have received an email with the link to download the eBook.
If you aren’t a subscriber then go here to sign up and receive the eBook now.
Please share this blog post with all your friends by using the “Share the Knowledge” links below so they can get this free eBook. Thanks.
Posted in Crafts, Family Fun, Holidays, Organizing
December is one of the most hectic, crazy, and hopefully fun months of the year. There are the holiday parties at the work place, schools, friends’ parties, and family gatherings. Then there is the shopping for gifts plus the shopping for groceries for meals and baking. Don’t forget there are all the decorations to put up to create that festive mood in your home. Plus sending out all those greeting cards!
Whether you celebrate Christmas, Chanukah, or both there are a lot of preparations for the holidays.
Along with all these activities comes a lot of stress. The expectations are high. Usually these high expectations come from long standing traditions, many which we don’t even know where they came from. Maybe it’s time to lower those expectations and create some new traditions that fit our lifestyle of today.
It’s not always easy to change a tradition without feeling guilty, especially if it’s been handed down for several generations. If you enjoy the tradition then go ahead and keep it going. If you don’t enjoy it you probably experience un-needed stress to keep it going. Maybe it’s time to question why!
Here is a little story about following traditions and not knowing why. I’ve heard many times in different ways. Some call it “Grandma’s Cooking Secret”.
A young newlywed was cooking a brisket. Her husband asked her why she cut off both ends of the brisket before putting it in the roasting pan. She replied that was the way her mother always did it. She later asked her mother why and her reply to her daughter was because her mother had always done it that way. The next time they were over at the newlywed’s grandmother’s house she asked her why she always cut off the ends of the brisket. The grandmother replied, “because my roasting pan was too small”.
Snopes has several variations of this story. They will make you question why you follow some of your traditions.
Start some new traditions this year that fit your current family, not past generations. You’ll be starting new traditions to pass down to your children. And let them know why you are doing things your way. Be opened minded about your children wanting to create some of their own new traditions.
Change is sometimes hard to accept. If you’re not happy with a new tradition then you can always go back to the old one next year.
To a lighter load along the way.
Janice
P.S. Don’t forget to get the free Holiday Tips eBook. If you are already a subscriber to this blog then you should have received an email with the link to download the eBook.
If you aren’t a subscriber then go here to sign up and receive the eBook now.
Please share this blog post using the “Share the knowledge” links below so all your friends can get this free eBook to help them simplify their holiday’s!
Posted in Family Fun, Holidays, Organizing, Planning, Simplicity
Have you ever found yourself thinking; "Wow, if I had a garage sale I could makes lots of money and get rid of all this stuff!" I know that thought has crossed my mind more than once. This eBook can help you make that happen.