And now we have three bottles of syrup.

I understand where he’s coming from, though. There are things I’m afraid to run out of also, and sometimes buy multiples without realizing it. Garbage bags are one. Batteries are another. (Not syrup – but there you go – different priorities!)

So it got me thinking… are there certain items you end up buying over and over again for fear of running out?

Image: sxc.hu.

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Buying Multiples of Products

The Meal Planner 101 System

Let me start off by telling you how much I love the Meal Planner 101 system. For $29.95 you get a notebook with a few pre-printed pages on it for menu planning, grocery shopping, family favorite recipes and so on. You get to choose which notebook you want and all the designs are great. As I always say, when something is appealing to the eye, you’ll use it more. I really enjoy using my notebook and making my grocery list and planning my meals with it.

The next thing you get is a DVD and this is the gold mine here. This DVD isn’t just a “plan your meals and life will be easier” type DVD. The creator of Meal Planner 101, Julie Sheldrup, takes you step by step through the whole process of great meal planning. It’s not just about making a list and a menu. There’s a lot more to it then that.

She starts off by showing you how she organizes her kitchen. When it comes to meal planning, an organized kitchen is a must! I have always been an advocate of that. She explains how to best organize your refrigerator and pantry area. This is where meal planning begins – with an organized kitchen.

Read the rest of my review below the cut.

She also explains in depth about how she plans her meals using that week’s grocery flier. She can see what’s on sale, plan her meals around that and save her family some money.She also shows you how to make a menu, do the grocery shopping and bring it all back home to start cooking delicious meals for your family.

If you are a newlywed, new parent, or someone like me who was out of the routine of planning meals, I know you will enjoy her notebook and DVD.

What Meal Planner 101 Has Done for Me

Now, let me tell you how things have been for me the past two weeks. They have been great! I sit down on Sunday afternoons with the newspaper and clip coupons and go through the grocery store ad. I make my grocery list (which she has divided into sections for easier shopping), go shopping on Monday and have at least a week’s worth of food for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

My kids have loved waking up every morning and knowing what they are having for breakfast. I have nothing against cold cereal, but my two oldest do. So I’ve been up early making muffins, waffles, cinnamon rolls,etc and I know they have been sit off to school with a full tummy.

I also know that I have enough food for their lunches for the entire week. That has been a blessing.

As far as dinners, since I know exactly what we are having, I have been able to remember to thaw or marinate the meat, let the rolls rise, and plan our meals around out busy schedule. I have our meals posted on a calendar and everyone can look and see what we’re having.

Surprise Guests

Another great thing about meal planning is that when you have surprise guests, you can just add some more food to the meal you already had planned. This happened to us last weekend. My father-in-law called and said he was stopping by. We saw him at Christmas, but he lives in Albania so we want to see him as much as we can while he’s in the states. I didn’t have to panic and wonder what and the world I was going to feed him or look in my pantry and cringe. I was able to set an extra plate at the table and just enjoy the fact that he was here with us. Now that was a wonderful feeling!!

Give Meal Planner 101 a Try

I highly recommend Meal Planner 101 and know that if you are struggling with meal planning, that this could be your answer. Julie’s personality is great also and you’ll enjoy watching her. Don’t turn the DVD off too soon or you’ll miss her adorable bloopers.

Stop by the Meal Planner 101 website and take a look at the company. I am very glad I stumbled upon their video on You Tube. I hope everyone is having a great Saturday. Oh and guess what..I know what we’re having for dinner tonight…do YOU?

Technorati Tags: meal planner 101,meal planning tips,meal planning system,julie sheldrup,how to plan meals,kitchen organizing tips

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Meal Planner 101 Review – Supper Saturday

Charging Valet for Handheld Electronic Devices

With this charging valet, you can store and charge up to 6 devices at the same time. A hidden power strip keeps all the cords neat and tidy and the wood decor makes it look stylish enough to leave out in plain site. This is the perfect product to keep your handheld electronics organized!

Desktop Family Charging Station

Here’s a smaller version that will hold up to 3 electronic devices. This item is small enough to sit on your desk and would be great for offices and home offices.

ReSource Power Station, Black (Pack of 2)

This also keeps cords neat and tidy and out of sight. The adjustable tabs can fit any size electronic device and three adaptors can plug into the Power Station and one central cord which plugs into the wall outlet powers all three units. This item is also small enough to fit on a desk top or kitchen counter.

As you can see, there are a lot of solutions for keeping all that electronic clutter under control. Since my two older kids both received a Nintendo DS for Christmas, it looks like we need one of these asap! I think I am going with the first one. I love it!

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Charging Stations – Where’s My Desk Wednesday

I just put a new cube organizer in my daughter’s room and she loves it and actually uses it to keep her things organized! It’s a wonderful thing.

That’s why I love this Sassy Flower Pop Up toy organizer. It has an adorable pattern and it’s something that is fun and easy for kids to use.

Kids could store anything from stuffed animals, blocks or clothes. It also collapses for easy storage and transportation. This is a great item to add to your little girl’s room.

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Sassy Flower Pop Up – Tame Those Toys Thursday

Utility Caddy

You can store all of your bathroom cleaning supplies in a utility caddy similar to the one pictured here. It can hold your basic cleanser, rags and sponges. When it’s time to clean, all you have to do is tote it from room to room. When you are finished, just put the caddy back and you are done!

Under the Sink 

Another way to organize your cleaning supplies is to store one bottle of cleanser, or Clorox wipes, and rags or sponges under each bathroom sink. Make it a point to quickly wipe down the sinks,toilets and tubs every morning and cleaning the bathroom will not become such a chore. I have done this for years and it has served me well.

Do you have any tips for storing and organizing your bathroom cleaning supplies?

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Organize Your Bathroom Cleaning Supplies

While I am looking forward to the festivity and fun of the holiday season, the one thing I am not looking forward to is putting all the stuff we get for Christmas away once the gift giving is done. As a matter of fact, I am trying to reduce the amount of stuff my family has – not add to it. So what is a Mom to do?

The following are ideas I have collected over time for gifts that don’t have to be dusted, don’t have a gazillion little plastic pieces, always fit, and don’t create more clutter in your home.

She has ideas for kids, teachers, coaches and all the other adults in your life. It is a SUPER list and she gave me some great ideas. Don’t add to people’s clutter this Christmas, enhance their lives with a gift they can really use and enjoy!

Read the rest of her post here.

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Clutter Free Gift Ideas from Casual Keystrokes

She is a good student though and all of a sudden her grades starting slipping a little bit. It was completely out of characteristic for her and so I had a chat with her teacher. Come to find out, she had lost a couple of homework assignments and just one 0 affected her grade big time! We didn’t realize this had been a problem for her because she um, forgot, to tell us.

Anyway, my daughter was devastated about her grade and I told her teacher I was devastated that I couldn’t help keep her organized. Me, Ms. Organized, could not figure out how to help my own daughter. Well, her teacher shared an idea with me that has made ALL the difference in the world. It has been an amazing tool for my daughter.

What tip did she give me? She told me that for her students that have problems keeping up with papers, she recommends that instead of using a binder, they use an accordion file folder similar to the one pictured below.

She said that it allows them to file their papers quickly instead of having to mess with the opening and closing of the rings on a binder. You see, if it takes too long, my daughter won’t do it. So, instead of putting her papers in the rings, she would just shove them in her binder and then eventually lose them.

With the accordion fie folder, she can place it in the correct file in a jiffy. We made a separate file for each of her subjects and also added one labeled ‘Return to Teacher’ and one labeled ‘Homework’. Anytime I have to sign a paper or send in a note she puts it in the ‘Return to Teacher’ file and she knows to check than file first thing when she gets to school. Also, as soon as she gets a paper for homework she puts it in the ‘Homework’ file and as soon as she finishes her homework, it goes back in that same file.

I am telling you, this has made such a difference for her and I am just amazed! She doesn’t lose papers anymore, she also hands in her homework and notes to her teacher. It’s just been a great accomplishment for her and all from this one simple tip!

If your child struggles with this same thing, try this. You never know – it might just be the one thing they really need.

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Organizing Idea for School Children

1. Kindle: Amazon’s New Wireless Reading Device – This is a new product from Amazon. The Kindle is “a convenient, portable reading device with the ability to wirelessly download books, blogs, magazines, and newspapers.” This will make any organzing junkie very happy because it helps eliminate paper clutter. They are currently out of stock and are shipping then on a first come first serve basis.

2. LetraTag Plus

3. Kodak Easyshare SV-710 7-Inch Digital Picture Frame

4. Rubbermaid Configurations Three-Handle Storage Chest With Cedar Inserts #3F23

More gift ideas below the cut.

5. 2008 BusyBodyBook Personal & Family Organizer: Brown

6. Rubbermaid / Organizer W/2 Letter Trays11 Compartments, 13″x10″x8-5/8, BK / RUB12906

7. Whitmor Resin Weave Storage Basket

8. Organizing Idea Book (Tauton’s Idea Book Series)

9. The Smart Approach to the Organized Home (Smart Approach to Series)

10. Front Seat Mobile Office

11. HGTV – Mission: Organization 3-Disc Set

12. Car Trunk Organizer Keeps Grocery Bags Upright – Folding Cargo Bag – (Black)

13. Storage 2 Systems Wall Storage System Tool Center Kit #S2-6001

14. John Louis Home Standard Shelving System for 6-10’ Closets – Honey Maple (12D”)

15. SmartShopper® Grocery List Organizer, Model SS101

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15 Christmas Ideas for the Organizing Junkies

Snap ‘n Stack by Snapware

Pros
•Takes up less space than several containers would.
•Easier to tote supplies from one room to another.
•Easy enough for kids to use.
•Keeps all supplies together in one place.
•Helps your craft space look more organized.

Cons
•If you do not attach lid and sections properly and securely, it falls apart and items fall out.

One of the biggest complaints I have heard when it comes to organization, is how to organize craft supplies. Whether you are a big time crafter with a whole room dedicated to your hobbies, or a weekend crafter with a designated drawer in your kitchen, the Snap ‘n Stack by Snapware would be a great item to reign in your craft clutter.

I first discovered these containers in 2005. I worked for an organization that required quite a few craft supplies on hand for about 150 kids. Keeping them organized had always been an issue. My co-worker and I purchased several of these and to this day, they have been one of the best purchases we have ever made.

Later, I then realized how perfect these would be in my own home for sewing supplies, kids crafts such as crayons, glue and scissors and scrapbooking/rubber stamping items.

They not only help craft areas look very well organized, but they are easy for children to use as well.

If your crafts are out of control and you would like to get them organized, start with one of these containers. Choose one group of items to organize and see how easy Snapware is to use. I’m fairly certain that you will be just as pleased with the item as I am.

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Snapware Snap N Stack Craft Container Review

Who was comment number 83? It was Denise from http://shortybearsplace.blogspot.com/. Congrats Denise! I’ll send you an email requesting where to send your coat hooks to. Enjoy them!

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The Winner of the Fall, Y’all Bloggy Giveaway is…