Neat Doctor's Top 2021 Planners

Welcome to 2021!

Stop and take a deep breath. . . .

You have 365 new days ahead of you in 2021!  As much as we've probably embraced the (hopefully not so dreaded) word "resilient" in 2020, I'm sure we are all ready to move on to new inspirations in 2021.  My inspirations for the year start with my planner.  I have a few favorite planners I would like to share with you. 

1)  The High Performance Planner:  

If you have not heard of Brendon Bruchard, you should add his books and podcasts to your list to check out this year.  He has a way of focusing on goals, limiting distractions, and calling out the best ways we can achieve high performance in our lives.  His High Performance Planner incorporates the Whole Life and High Performance Assessments.  I love that the planners are not dated.   You can start at any point of the year.  In addition to this multi-pack the planners are also sold individually.  I also like the morning mindset and evening scorecard.  These build in the habits of focus before you start your day and reflection at the end of your day to truly stay focused on what matters most and if you are staying on track.  

The High Performance Planner

2)  The Organize 365 Planner:

Organize 365 has a fabulous planner which you can get if you are part of the 100 Day Home Organization Program.  If your home is in chaos and you don't know where to start - this program is for you!  The planner integrates the 100 Day program tasks. 

 

3)  Erin Condren Life Planner:

Erin Condren's Life Planner offers so many customizable options!  I love the accessories they offer and the set up of the pages.  Adorable options!  There are stickers, colored pens and coordinating accessories.  Check out the snap in accessories such as the party planner, dashboards, etc.  These are reusable too - simply use wet erase markers and clear off for next time you need them. 

4)  Tools4Wisdom 2021 Planner:

The goal setting section of this planner is on point!  It lays out clear goal setting pages for personal, work, prioritization of your goals, and opportunities to evaluate the why and how of your goals on a monthly basis.  There are many designs available too.  

5)  The Simply Whole Moms Planner:

This planner is lightweight, very budget friendly, and embraces simplicity!  It's got space for budget, groceries, goals, and has weekly and monthly views.  If you don't need daily pages, and are looking for a simple planner, check this one out. 

*Thank you for your interest in Neat Doctor's recommendations and tips!  There are affiliate links posted on this page which help keep this blog going.  

(Virtual) Back to School Tips!

Ok, it is literally the 11th hour over here before my oldest child starts school.  I am so excited.  I loved school.  I would not say excited describes how he is feeling lol!  This is such a strange and stressful time for many families, and school looks so different right now.  I have so much more to share, but thought I would start with this quick post of  5 things that are helping me plan and adjust to this virtual schooling for my 2 kids while my husband and I work full time from home.  This may not work for every situation, but hopefully some of these tips can help ease the transition.

1)  Print Schedules - In addition to printing the schedule our school gave us, I create a Google calendar for each child and print that out every Sunday for the following week.  Each child gets one and we post in a shared family area as well.  We include activities, important due dates etc.  We also utilize reminders on our Amazon Echo to alert when class times are.  

2)  Lunch Planning/Prepping:  Pack, prep or plan lunches just as if it's regular school.  I am having my kids fix and plan their own lunches.  They now have some basic cooking skills too which is helping a ton!  I plan my own lunches for the week too.  

3)  Prep the Computer:  Make sure the computer your child is working on has a clear desktop.  If more than 1 family member works on the computer, set up a profile for your child so they can have a customized desktop.  Save bookmarks for their school learning platform, teachers Zoom links, and any other links they will need to use.  Teach your kids how to access or even create those bookmarks.  You may also want to create a shortcut to their calendar on the desktop.  Set a reminder to clean, or better yet have your child clean their keyboard and screen on a regular basis.  

4)  Supplies:  Only keep supplies that are absolutely necessary for the day/week on their desk.  Store away all other supplies that are not needed.  

5)  Have fun!:  Plan some ways to surprise and encourage your kids (and you!!) while at home.  Ice cream sundaes one afternoon, a fun waffle breakfast bar (even if just frozen waffles with sprinkles and whipped cream), impromptu dance party during a virtual recess, adding their decorations on the Christmas Tree in September (yes, I am putting the tree up very early this year!). . . ask yourself, what does my family enjoy?  I find it helpful to plan these things on the weekend for the following week as well.  

Most of all, embrace the fact that everything is so different and hard right now.  If we let ourselves be sucked into negativity, our kids will see it.  Even the littlest steps of planning ahead and being positive and encouraging to each other can be so powerful!

Girl Scouts: Brownie Quest Journey - Adapting for At-Home Completion

If you have a Girl Scout in 2020, chances are a lot has had to be modified for online and at-home completion of projects.  My Brownie Troop had started the Brownie Quest Journey just before the Covid-19 pandemic hit.  We decided to do the "Bee Prepared Not Scared" series through Girl Scouts of California's Central Coast together as a troop via Zoom meetings.  However, I wanted the girls to have a chance to complete the Brownie Quest Journey over the summer.  For those who had also completed the Wonder of Water Journey and the World of Girls Journey, this would give them the chance to earn the Brownie Summit pin, which can be carried on their vest year after year as they advance. Our troop is a 2nd year Brownie Troop.

Below you will find the Google Doc I adjusted to share with my Brownies and families to complete as an at home project this summer.  Download it and adapt to your troop as necessary.  *NOTE:  There is a poll in there about an activity for the girls to choose an incentive for their cookie sales achievements - you may or may not need that.   I put it in a fun padded envelope with a craft activity (putting bling on small mirrors), some patches they had earned (virtual meeting and an optional baking activity).  I also included the Brownie Quest patches, and the beads and materials for the Girl Scout Law SWAP.

PS - To reference the Family Star, Girl Scout Law Printables, and Community Service/Community Learning parts, see the Appendix from this resource:
https://www.girlscoutsneny.org/GSNENY_Files/Brownie%20Quest%20Turnkey.pdf

Enjoy and Happy Girl Scouting! :)

Quarantine Virtual Happy Hour Games via Microsoft Teams

Wow has our world changed lately!  Since we are all staying home, even the happy hour has changed.  I was tasked at work to come up with ways to play happy hour games via Microsoft Teams.  We wanted to bring our team together at the end of the week to celebrate a week of accomplishments in this new world with some lighthearted fun.  Here is a collection of games we've played and how we've made them work on the Teams platform.  I'd love to hear other ideas too in the comments!  All of these games were arranged via a Teams Meeting.  I'll be adding more . . . Enjoy!

1) Trivia:

• Split into teams.
• Choose a set of Trivia Questions - there are many options online, like this one:  https://hobbylark.com/party-games/FreeFun100QuestionQuiz
• Keep score and determine the score goal to win.
• Want to add some extra fun to your trivia and scorekeeping?  Check out the Horse Race Game template HERE and customize!  It's fun to see the horses cross the finish line.  

2)  Pictionary:

• Split your group into 2-4 teams.  I chose the team colors to be the same as the pen colors offered in Microsoft Blackboard app, blue, green, red and black.  You may want to have people sign up via a shared spreadsheet first, or just randomly split into teams via the chat when the meeting starts.  
• Each team takes turn.  The first team picks someone to draw.  I individually messaged that person the randomly generated password via https://randomwordgenerator.com/pictionary.php
• A note on the Pictionary Generator:  There are 4 levels; easy, medium, hard and really hard.  I'd start with medium or hard.  
• They have 1 minute to draw.
• Use the Whiteboard app in Teams - you can find this as an option when you go to share your screen.  We found it easiest to just leave the whiteboard up - everyone on the call can use it, but only one team at a time draws.  Erase after each round.  

Took a Break . . . My Generation was Calling

It's been almost a year since my last blog post.  "Life is just busy" seems to have been my (undesired) mantra so much in the last 10-15 years.  Taking a break from my blog has been great, yet heart wrenching at the same time.  You see, there are so many things in life, especially the lives of us busy GenX women that we so desperately want to do, yet we are pulled in so many directions, we are often pulled away from things we enjoy most.  It can be ab absolute fight to make those things happen.  It was good for me to take a break, and simplify in many ways, but I'm also yearning to get back to writing.  I recently finished the book "Why We Can't Sleep" by Ada Calhoun - Gen X women, this is an absolute must read!! I started another blog HERE where you will find a short review of this book.  Do I have time for 2 blogs?  Not really lol!  Sometimes you just have to step out and make things happen . . . even if you don't revisit it for a while.



We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Open the DOOR to Simplicity

Today I want to present you with a way to think about the entire process of decluttering and organizing, and achieving a more simplified life.  I like to refer to the process as DOOR, Decluttering, Organizing, Opening, and Routines. 

Decluttering is the first step.  It is also quite often the most difficult and time consuming step.  It can be difficult when you are faced with decisions to pare down either sentimental items or items you once loved, but no longer fit your life, and time consuming considering the enormity of how many items have snuck into so many households.  Marie Kondo is a wonderful example of an expert declutterer.  She has been inspiring many to discard any items that do not spark joy.  Whether you are "kondo-izing" your dresser, or following one of the many minimalism decluttering challenges , the key is to purge, purge, purge! I encourage people to not move on to organizing until a significant amount of decluttering has been done.

Organizing is the process of putting everything in it's place.  Evaluate where the best place is for each item, and implement tools where necessary.  Another Marie Kondo organizing example, her use of boxes within a drawer to corral like items together.  (Tip:  for a budget friendly option instead of her expensive boxes, cut down a cereal or cracker box and cover with shelf paper.) 

After you have Decluttered and Organized you may think you are done, but that is only half of the process!  Next is Opening.  Space will open up when you declutter.  Do not be afraid to leave this open space as is.  Leave more open space than you think is necessary.  In music compositions, the rests between the notes are often just as important as the notes themselves.  Likewise, the open space in your home can be very conducive to reducing stress.  Another space we need to make sure is open?  Your schedule.  We are so over booked with jam packed schedules.  How can we ever expect to recover if we do not have restful unscheduled Open time in our week?  Granted, there may always be unavoidable jam packed weeks.  Make sure to follow up those weeks with down time.  Fight for that down time if you need to.  Write it down, block off your calendar, and simply say no.  You can always say you "have an appointment" . . . with yourself or that you have a "prior commitment" . . . of unscheduled time. 

Finally, we round out this process with Routines.  I like to think of routines as the heart of the organizing process.  Without consistent routines, things get out of control.  There are the obvious things that need routines:  dishes, laundry, housework, administrative tasks, etc.  Don't forget things like purging!  Stuff has a habit of sneaking back in.  You might also want to make a routine of evaluating your space, schedule, and routines.  What works for you today may not work 6 months from now. 

Put Your Plates Down! Simplify Your Schedule and Reduce Stress

Ah the analogy of the spinning plates.  How many plates can you keep successfully spinning all while maintaining your attention on the necessities of life.  Although this analogy can be applied to anyone, I know it  especially should echo for my fellow mothers who are currently raising kids.  We just have so many plates!  Of course there is the meal plate, making sure everyone in our family including ourselves get fed, the raising our kids plate, the relationship with our spouse/significant other plate, friendships plate, job(s) plate, home cleaning plate (not to be overlapped with the home organization/purging plate which can be a whole other category), kids activity plate, extended family plate, pet plate, health plate, spiritual plate, and a whole list of specialty plates which varies depending on each family.  Bottom line:  We have a lot of plates.  We drop a lot of plates, and that's OK!  I love when I see encouragement from one person to another saying, it's all good, I dropped that plate last week, let's pick it up together.  (Little Challenge:  Do that for someone this week.) 

There is no doubt that decreasing the amount of plates you have will simplify and reduce stress in your life.  But what do you do when you are just strapped and can't get rid of a plate?  Or maybe you see that it is possible to get rid of that plate, but you have to keep it spinning for another 6 months before you can put it down?  Let's do this instead:  During such times when we simply cannot get rid of said plate, give yourself permission to put the plate gently down for a while.  It doesn't have to crash and shatter into a million pieces that you will have to pick up (in addition to all of the other things you picked up today!).  Just simply put the plate down and pick it up later.  Also try rotating the plates you put down.  For example, on a Sunday evening you look ahead to what is on your calendar for the coming week.  The week is like Grand Central Station of events, volunteer commitments, and meetings.  There is just no down time to keep up with housework that week.  So, place the housework plate down for the week.  Be sure not to leave it down for too long.  Look at future weeks where you can put the events plate down and pick back up the housework plate.  Beware of the critical point you may find yourself hitting if there just does not come a week where you can put the events/activities plate down.  That then indicates that you need to make some decisions to find the plate a new home. 

Put more simply:  Declutter your plates and rotate the ones you have so they do not all come crashing down. 

Simplify 2019: Technology: Is it Sucking Our Mindfulness Away?

This was not going to be my second weekly topic of Simplify 2019.  There are so many fun organizing topics I want to cover! However, I feel that this message is so needed right now and has been heavy on my heart.

First, let's define Mindfulness.  It has been described as the practice of paying attention in the present moment.  We know that addiction to technology and our smart phones has had negative consequences on our presence in relationships, driving ability, and even our communications with people we come across in public places. We just do not greet and converse with people like we used to - too many people have their necks craned down into their phone. 

One phenomenon I have observed:  people are in technological overload and are suffering the effects daily.  On one hand, it is amazing to think about the massive amounts of information at our fingertips.  I remember being a freshman in college when it was first made possible to get internet service in my dorm room.  I was totally amazed that I could sit at my desk and send an email to a friend in another state!  Wow!  Now, I can be sitting on a soccer field while processing work emails, ordering household goods, checking in with a friend, and watching a YouTube video on what Instant Pot recipe to try next - all within 1 hour!

You'd think we would be more on top of our life with such technological abilities.  However, I have observed, and experienced, that so many of us just get overloaded and so much falls through the cracks.  One cannot be mindful when this overloaded.  Then, we end up frustrating those we work with; co-workers, teachers, coaches, volunteers, anyone we need to communicate with and have some kind of "transaction" with.  By "transaction" I mean that the other person needs something from you in order to serve some part of your life or your family member's life.  They may need information, an RSVP, an item, a deliverable etc.  For example, a mom is checking her emails while in line at the supermarket.  She sees an email from her sons teacher come through with a link to the classroom sign up for the party coming up in 3 weeks.  She doesn't want to get out of the long line, figures she has plenty of time to respond, and will be back at the store within those 3 weeks and will look at the email later.  However, next time she checks her email, she has received more emails, and the teacher's email drops below the line of vision on the screen.  She is so busy, and it trickles away from her mind, even after she starred it or marked it unread.  The "transaction" was left incomplete.  A few days go by, other immediate tasks pop up and it's forgotten, lost in the huge information pile.  If you have had incomplete transactions like this, and if that relationship is important, or necessary in your life, take this as a beacon for change.  You need to change something now so that you don't let this stuff fall through the cracks.  Maybe you don't have time in your schedule to do the administrative work to support your family and home.  Opening up that time may seem absolutely monumental.  A kids activity may have to be denied, sleep deprived, a project dropped, a class pushed back, or a break from technology needs to be taken.  We want to do it all!

This phrase may seem a little harsh, but it's necessary.  Sometimes we need a push, a huge nudge from a coach to get us to accomplish a goal:  If you are not following through on the basic commitments of a part of your life, you need to give something up.  It is not fair to yourself, to your family members, friends, or to those who make that activity possible to not do your part.  I serve in a variety of volunteer leadership capacities and hear the excuses time after time:  I just didn't have time, we are soooo busy, I have x, y, z going on how am I supposed to do that?!  I get it, I truly do.  I myself have 2 kids a dog and family commitments, my husband and I both work full time, we both volunteer in a variety of roles, and I have this little Neat Doctor side gig.  Reflect on the past few years and ask yourself if you have given these excuses  (or even thought these excuses in your mind) for not following through on something.  If so, again listen to the beacon and change something so that you don't find yourself in this situation this year.  I have had to give up stuff to see this through in my life, and it can be really hard!  Believe me, you will feel the wonderful positive effects of simplifying.  You will be giving yourself, your family, and those around you the gift of less stress emanating from you, and more mindful presence.

Here is my challenge for you this week:  Really observe your relationship with technology.  Find a way to limit your relationship with technology, yet give yourself time to complete transactions that come through technological vehicles, and be totally present with the people surrounding you.  See what it will really take to be on top of your important transactions.  When you are NOT face to face with people, turn to technology.  Catch up on emails (and process any to-do's and transactions from those emails!), check in on social media, watch a Netflix episode, etc.  It's perfectly fine to feed your soul and passion via a technological vehicle, but evaluate if the technology is blocking you from those who you love and care about.  Ask yourself, am I doing a disservice to others by checking my phone right now?

Simplify 2019: Start with a Plan

“If you don't know where you are going,
you'll end up someplace else.” 
― Yogi Berra

2019 is upon us - Do you have a plan?

The key to achieving goals is to have a plan.  The key to an effective plan is identifying what works for you.  You may be an all digital planner, all paper or perhaps a combination.  Bullet journals, spreadsheets, or a simple paper planner or wall calendar may be the key to your success.  

Step 1: Identify the most effective planning method for you.  Take some time to evaluate what you have used in the past and what works best.  You may find you need to adjust throughout the years. I use a combination of digital and paper planning.  For the digital part, I use Google calendar, which I share with my husband.  We can each add and change events and see the changes in live time.  I also love that our school and some of the kids activities use Google calendar as well, which I sync up to our calendar.  

I have tried many paper planners throughout the years.  There are so many amazing choices out there.  This year, I went with the Tools 4 Wisdom 8.5x11 Hardcover Planner.  I love how the week is set up and the goal setting pages in the beginning of each month.  It comes with stickers, and I also love the affordable price.  If you are focusing on money saving goals for 2019, you do not need to spend $50+ to have an effective planner.  Many different cover designs are available.

Step 2:  Carve time out of your schedule to plan & make that planning time routine.  This is essential to seeing your plans through!  If you do not have a part of your week, or part of each day set aside for planning, your plans will sit idle.  I like to go over my plans in the morning as I start my work day.  I open my planner and go over the goals and schedule for the day.  I also evaluate my plans every Sunday as I prepare for the week.  I adjust my schedule as necessary and update both the Google calendar and the paper planner.  Include not only calendar appointments, but carve out time for you.  Include time to prepare meals, self-care, time for daily household routines, quality family time and rest time.  Yes, plan to rest and recharge!  So many families suffer from over scheduling.  Blocking off open time to focus on family and rest is a way to help prevent over scheduling.  

I love the Pilot FriXion Erasable Gel Pens.  They erase really well!  Just be sure to not leave your planner in a hot car as the gel will melt.  

Step 3:  Re-evaluate if your planning system is not working for you.  Tweak things until you get in an effective planning groove!

Book Review: "Decluttering at the Speed of Life" by Dana K. White

I'm listening to this book on Audible right now. If you are looking for a fresh, real-world mom's perspective on decluttering, give this book a read or listen!  Dana shares the good, bad, and sometimes ugly times of the process of decluttering.  At the same time I feel like she's having coffee with me and I leave inspired to tackle a project.  I have to admit, I have been in somewhat of a decluttering rut lately with some life changes that have come our way.  Sometimes we just need a fresh perspective and a friend who has been there to inspire change.  This book certainly does that.  

Conquer Email Overload!

Are you suffering from e-mail overload?  I know I sure am!  On one hand I appreciate the convenience and effectiveness of communicating via e-mail. However, it can also absolutely suck the life out of you and has been known to drown many.  If you are the one communicating via e-mail, it can especially be frustrating when you need responses and your inquiries go seemingly ignored.  Chances are, the person on the receiving end is suffering from overload, especially if they have not set up an out of office reply and you still get no answer.  Or, they could just be ignoring you, but that's for another blog ;).  If you use e-mail for work, chances are you are not that thrilled to catch up on the onslaught of personal e-mails on your breaks or when you are home for the evening or weekend.  A while ago I posted about mastering e-mail management.  Keeping on top of your e-mail takes maintenance.  In addition to the mastering e-mail management tips I have wrote about before, you may need to boost with these 2 actions as well:

1)  Unsubscribing Sprees:  Getting to many advertising e-mails hitting your inbox?  Even if you designate 1 account for sites you buy from, those pesky ad e-mails can still sneak in to your other accounts.  Some services like Gmail have great filters which catch those ads.  You can also designate a week where you focus on unsubscribing.  Every time you check an e-mail that's an ad, click on unsubscribe, which usually is at the bottom of the e-mail.  I'm in the middle of one of those weeks now.  It's amazing what a difference this makes!  You can also try a service like unroll.me - a free service that cleans these e-mails out of your inbox. 

2)  The Big Cleanout:  Every once in a while I also have to declare a "Big Cleanout" time.  I delete a ton via rapid-fire deletion, starting in reverse chronological order.  If I haven't taken care of it or read the low priority item that I thought I would "look at later,"  it's just not going to get done.  Get rid of those now!  This is a good time to reevaluate your folders that you file e-mails you want to keep.  Are all folders currently relevant to your life?  If not, get rid of those too.  Once your cleanout is done, give yourself a time limit to process any e-mails that are left - respond, delegate, file, or delete!

Sunday Basket Unpackaging

I dare you to #unplug

I've been spending less time on social media sites.  It's been amazing!  I shouldn't be surprised at the amount of "extra" time and I have and that I'm getting more accomplished, but I am.  I think back to life in the 1990's.  My cell phone lived under my car seat in case I had to call AAA.  I had a pager for my job on the weekends I was coordinating flights for people.  I was in awe of e-mail that arrived at my dorm.  I did not have a problem achieving "inbox zero."  The only e-mails I had were all school or job related, and I checked e-mails only about twice a day from my apartment desktop computer, or at work, as part of my job.  I was watching an episode of Friends the other night and reminiscing about how the coffee shop scene really was quite a special thing of the time.  We not only went to coffee shops to study, but really connect with others.   Now, almost everyone in a coffee shop is on a device, distracted by their world on their phones and laptops.  It's not all negative.  I can see and have experienced a lot of great connection with friends and family over Facebook especially.  I feel as I continue my 2018 year of Recovery, that unplugging is a much needed remedy.  I'm scared to even try to estimate how many hours I have wasted doing mindless scrolling!  It's a sign of the times really.  I've been sucked in.  What scares me most?  I've seen it manifest in my kids.

Here's what I am doing:  I am unplugging from my personal social media account.  I am staying away from scrolling down my newsfeed.  Just say no to mindless scrolling!  I have replaced my profile picture with the unplugged symbol to spread the word and let others know I'm unplugged.  I will still continue to post on my Neat Doctor social media pages with what I hope to be helpful tips and inspirations to lead you towards a simpler, organized & fulfilling life. I challenge you to do the same.

There are 2 campaigns I've found happening in 2018, "Screen-Free Week" from April 30-May 6, and "National Day of Unplugging" on March 9-10.  At the very least, participate in one of these and let me know your experiences.

Focus 2018: Recovery

I haven't done New Year's resolutions in a few years.  I guess you could say I simplified them!  This year I have one focus for 2018:  Recovery.  Not recovery from an actual sickness or injury, although I would say that this recovery is very similar.  I need to recover from the chaos of life, and I'd like to bring you along with me on this journey.

I am in what I like to call the "crunch" stage of life.  There are kids to raise, jobs to work, volunteering responsibilities, family to spend time with and help, pets to feed, a household to manage, retirements to plan for, budgets to stick to, aging bodies to keep healthy & vibrant, friends I strive to spend much needed time with, home repairs to make, and much more that I can't think of right now because I am so tired!  I try to have a little "me" time every once and a while too.  We are so busy.  If the budget does not allow for chores to be outsourced, they often are delayed for a bit longer than I'd like.  Some weeks they don't get done!  This is typical life for so many.  Don't get me wrong, I have fun with this crazy chaotic life and count every blessing.  It gets tiring though and often times something has to break down for us to force us to slow down.

In February of 2017 I got really sick.  I had not been this sick in years!  In fact, I don't think I had been this sick since pneumonia knocked me down in elementary school.  It was a virus that led to bronchitis on the brink of pneumonia.  I got my antibiotics, was taking supplements, and was forced to rest.  I don't think I got out of bed for 5 days.  It was awful.  Everything stopped.  This actually caused more stress because if I was not doing the every day responsibilities of my crazy mom life, then who was?  You know what?  It all turned out ok.  I did of course have extra work to catch up on after my recovery, but it eventually got done.

Any time we are sick or injured, our successful recovery is dependent on the right treatment, nutrition, and rest.  In order to recover from our chaotic lives and get back to calm, organized and simpler lives, we need much of the same.  The problem is, many of us just keep on swimming along, without taking time out to recover.  This will eventually wear on you.  It probably is wearing on you at this moment!  We all need to work recovery time into our lives before something happens in our life that forces us to stop.

The Right Treatment:  The right treatment will truly depend on the most pressing chaos that surfaces in your life.  Is your schedule out of control?  You need to start slashing activities and saying no.  Are you literally tripping over things in your home?  An extreme decluttering is needed.  Are you under repeat stress?  Identify what the cause of the stress is and put an action plan into place to either step away or find a management solution.  You may need to get some extra help from professionals to get you through the right treatment.  Bring in the specialists and make your way through the chaos to see the calm on the other side.  . . . and a "specialist" can mean a Professional Organizer, Life Coach, or even as simple as having your friend who is great at decluttering over for coffee to help you.  I am a huge advocate for DIY, but it's no surprise things go quicker and you can often find more motivation doing things with someone else.

Nutrition:  I'm talking actual nutrition here.  So much of our food intake in a chaotic life is rushed, not savored.  It's no surprise that during vacations I find myself wanting to explore great restaurants, and cook more homemade food if I have access to a kitchen.  During these times I end up making healthier choices too, and I feel better!  So much more gets accomplished and I feel so much more present.  As part of our recovery from the chaos, we must consider nutrition and make strides toward infusing our cells with nutrient dense foods.  This will not only support physical recovery, but mental as well.

Rest: I cannot emphasize enough the importance of rest, not only in the form of sleep, which has many health benefits, but rest from our busy schedule.  You absolutely need unscheduled days to recover your home, mind and soul from the chaos.  I'm sure many of you have been in this situation.  You look at your calendar for the week and there are 2 evenings that are free with nothing on the calendar.  I have sighed a big sigh of relief on these times as I look forward to recovering.  I pour a cup of tea, pick up the house (have the kids participate as well!), do some chores, cook and prepare some food, spend some quality time with my family, and perhaps even catch up on some reading.  You may read this and think, that's not exactly rest, that's doing a lot of activity!  This is true.  However, your Routines in recovering your home, mind and soul back to serenity and calm will work wonders for the energy, clarity and motivation you will have throughout the week. Next time that call comes in for 1 more playdate, volunteer need, or social activity, know that it's ok to take a rain check and schedule for a week that will be more balanced for you.  Some might say that we should seize the day and live in the moment!  Yes, absolutely!  But there are times when we need balance and recovery.  If we are in a constant state of go, go, go, we will break down.  It's ok to say no,no,no.  You may have to block out "recovery time" on your calendar for this to happen.

If you keep the hamster wheel of chaos going in your life, you simply can never recover.  Radical things may have to be done in order to achieve recovery.  Will the chaos of life stop after recovery?  No.  But we will be able to manage the chaos and maybe even enjoy it along the way. 

Perfecting the Art of Serving as the Family Sherpa

For the past few years I have been serving as our family's Sherpa while my husband and kids ski and snowboard. (I don't ski. Maybe someday!) While I cannot claim to have anywhere near the skills, perseverance, and dignity of the  Sherpas of say, Mount Everest, I have found much value and enjoyment in serving my family in this capacity. Here are some tips I've learned during this little journey of mine.

1) Know the Best Place to Set Up Home Base: Scope out the resort, either in person or online and figure out where your best home base will be. Consider proximity to where your family gets off the slopes. This is super handy for safety if kids are making it down the slopes at different times, as they will know to go straight to you.  Also consider proximity to food, restrooms, and strong wifi signals.

2) Packing Gear: When the kids were younger (toddler to about 6 years), we found it super handy to bring our all terrain wagon. That way we could pack gear, food, and tired kids in there. We occasionally needed to enlist the help of someone to hoist the wagon up the stairs, but we found help was easy to find. Now that the kids are older they can carry more gear, and we can get by with a backpack or bag.

3) Food: If you want to save money, pack healthier or dietary restricted food, or want to avoid long food lines, packing your own meals and snacks is the way to go. Keep it simple. We pack sandwiches, chips, fruit and granola bars. Leftover pizza is a hit too.  Thermos' full of coffee, hot chocolate, and soup are perfect for extra cold days. Water and electrolyte drinks are great for rehydrating. Use a sharpie to mark everyone's initials on the cap ahead of time.
A backpack that has a cooler in it is particularly handy (great for vacations, hiking, & theme parks too!):

4) Keeping the Sherpa Entertained: I do love some good people watching, but I like to pack things to do as well. A good book, Kindle, and my phone with a great wifi connection are usually plenty to ensure I have an entertaining and productive day. In fact, I am writing this blog via the Blogger app as my family skis Bear Mountain! Make sure your favorite apps are updated on your phone.

5) Keeping Warm: Today it is unusually warm in Big Bear, CA.  However, days will come when many layers are necessary. Today we have a bag of extra layers to pack on when the sun goes down behind the mountain around 3pm and a cold chill moves in. There are also days when toe warmers and hand warmers become much needed items. My fellow Sherpas, it's important to get up and move around every once in a while. Have some exercises ready to do to keep your blood flowing.

Maybe one day I'll take some ski lessons, but for now I am enjoying serving as my family's Sherpa, and having some precious reading time 😉.   I will add more as I experience more!  I'd love to hear any tips you have too!

5 Things We Can Learn From Boxing Day Traditions

Happy Boxing Day!  Boxing day is December 26, the day after Christmas.  It is a national holiday in the UK and Ireland, and also celebrated in Canada, New Zealand and Australia.  It's a day off for many to enjoy family and friends, and many traditions.  It's also a big retail shopping day and sporting events.  Historically Boxing Day was a day off for servants who were typically working on Christmas Day.  They were given gifts of gratitude for their service.

From Wikipedia:

In Britain, it was a custom for tradesmen to collect "Christmas boxes" of money or presents on the first weekday after Christmas as thanks for good service throughout the year.^[8] This is mentioned in Samuel Pepys' diary entry for 19 December 1663.^[9] This custom is linked to an older British tradition: since they would have to wait on their masters on Christmas Day, the servants of the wealthy were allowed the next day to visit their families. The employers would give each servant a box to take home containing gifts, bonuses, and sometimes leftover food.

Here are 5 Things we can learn and implement during the holiday season from the Boxing Day Tradition:

1)  Gratitude:  How have you honored those who serve you throughout the year?  Do you have a tradition of giving gifts to teachers, coaches, delivery services, cleaning services, hairdressers, etc.?  Reflect on how your life has been blessed by these services.  Even the smallest of gestures can make a big difference.  I like to plan ahead during the winter break to think of these gestures for next year.  I like to identify homemade treats to make for next year, and if there's a sale on a non-perishable holiday item that would make a practical gift, I wrap them a year ahead of time to be ready for next year.  You may also consider leaving a basket of bottled waters and snacks at your door or lace of business for delivery service employees to enjoy.

2)  Giving:  Boxing Day has also been a day of giving.  As referenced here on The Spruce, boxes are placed at churches to collect money for the poor on Christmas Day and opened the following day.  Find ways you can involve your whole family in giving this holiday season.  Sponsor a family in need, serve meals to the homeless, or give to a charity that is close to your heart.  It's also a great time to take a close look at what you have around your own house that can bless others. Clear the clutter and donate! Here in Ventura County, California, we have many families who were affected by the historic Thomas Fire.  Click HERE to see where to donate and HERE for resources for the recovery process.  

3)  Presence:  Celebrate presence more than presents!  Put your phones and devices down and focus on spending quality time with those you love.  

4)  Slowing Down:  Boxing Day extends the Christmas holiday.  In our fast paced world of go-go-go, we truly need more slowing down days.  This is a time to recover from the daily chaos.  Consider having a day with no plans whatsoever.  No to-do lists, no plans!

5)  Relish in Leftovers!:  Chances are there are many leftovers to enjoy from family celebrations.  Enjoy them to their fullest!  No leftovers around?  Use this day as a day to enjoy and appreciate food as the nourishing and delicious life force it gives you.  I like to plan ahead for next year too - if you have a Christmas or Holiday binder, add some recipes you'd like to try next year.  Thank you The Spruce for this handy blog post on recipes for leftovers!  

Holiday Tips for the Week Before Winter Break

This next week is the week before Winter Break for us.  If you have kids, chances are this is a very, very busy week.  Some activities like sports practices may have eased their way off the schedule by now, but others may have crept in like special performances.  There are also most likely parties galore at school, workplaces and with family and friends.  This is a wonderfully festive time of the year.  However, with all of the to-do's, it can be a very stressful time of year as well, especially for moms.  Here are some tips for this week that are helping keep me calm the chaos. 

1)  Gift @ the beginning of the week:  I like to bring gifts for teachers, staff, coworkers, etc. at the beginning of the week, not on Friday.  Friday typically has a lot going on; class parties, potlucks, other stuff to remember.  Bless those around you when you have more of a chance to take a moment to breathe and give a genuine thank you and holiday greetings. 

2)  Have some extra gifts on hand:  These are the "just in case gifts."  I like to make homemade things, baked items, hand scrubs, candles etc.  As much as I think I've captured everyone on my Christmas spreadsheet, I'm amazed how every year I am so glad I had an extra gift or 2 on hand.  I like to get these gifts prepped ahead of time as much as possible. 

3)  Plan some self care:  Being the one of the busiest and sugar-laden times of year, it's no wonder we are more prone to getting sick.  In addition to taking your vitamins and supplements, work some more veggies into your diet.  Drink plenty of water.  Limit your sugar intake.  You may want to also plan some pampering.  Anything that will relieve stress and rejuvenate your spirit you should plan to have in your schedule. 

4)  Simplify, Simplify, Simplify!:  Do things that will make your week easy.  Use paper plates, have a night or 2 of eating out if it's in the budget, prep food ahead of time, say no to extra commitments.  Simplify anything you can think of so you can truly enjoy this time of year. 

Best wishes for a wonderful week!

Emergency Kit DIY - Step 1 - Discount Store Items

Back To School Prep - All of the Little Gifts!

When Life Takes You to the Farm!

When life takes you to the farm, you get to veggie powered meal planning!
This morning I accompanied my daughter's Kindergarten class on a field trip to our local farm.  We came home with green onions, kohlrabi, beets, and carrots.  I already have quite a few veggies at home.  I knew that if I did not get to planning right away some would inevitably go to waste. Here's how I tackled the veggie powered meal planning!

1)  Check out Super Cook!  www.supercook.com

This website allows you to enter ingredients you have on hand and it searches for recipes with those very ingredients.  My first search yielded some great results!  Here are my selections from a long list of possibilities.  The site first lists recipes for which you have all of the ingredients, as you scroll down it will say the extra ingredients you need for other recipes. Quite often this includes pantry staples. so you may find quite a lot of recipes that would work for you.  

      Quick Carrot Beet Juice
      Easy Balsalmic Italian Beets
      Kohlrabi & Carrots
      Kohlrabi & Egg Noodles
      Roasted Kohlrabi

2)  Get a Plan for Leftover Ingredients.

I have not utilized my green onions yet.  I also know I have cauliflower to use up.  So, I delete all of my previous ingredients and focus on those instead.

I found some great Cauliflower recipes, however, Super Cook does not always have every food item. Case in point: green onions!  I entered green onions and nothing came up.  So, I head on over to Google to do a search where I found this great option:

Cauliflower Green Onion Mash

Summing things up, Super Cook can help you quickly get some awesome recipes for random ingredients!