WFMW: Weekends and Motivation

This past weekend I found myself highly motivated. That's not far from my norm, but my motivation to do chores in the early morning was high. Minutes after my son got out of bed, I had my first load of laundry in the wash (I'd even prepped it the night before), and shortly after breakfast, I was already dusting. Sure, we had company coming later in the day, so of course I wanted the house clean, but I had a moment (yes,  a moment), where I thought, "I should do this every weekend, get the chores done early and have most of the rest of the day, or next day off." I felt exhilarated by the idea, then realized that while I felt that way Saturday, I might not feel that way every Saturday.

What I realized that might just work instead, is to go with the flow each Saturday, and see where my motivation takes me. I often try to plan, plan, plan my moments, to get the most accomplished, when in actuality, sometimes the less I have planned, the more I actually get accomplished because I do things as I'm in the mood for them. I also find I seem to have more fun and am more in the moment, versus where I need to be going or what I need to be doing next.

Of course, while that feels like a revelation, and one I'd like to stick with, who knows if I'll really follow through? I always love great ideas to start with, but don't always continue with them.

How are you best motivated on weekends?

See We Are That Family for more of What Works for Me Wednesday.

WFMW: To Do Lists for Weekends

Sure it is only Wednesday, but if you are like me, during the week you think of all kinds of things you need to catch up on on the weekend.

What has worked for me is to make a Weekend To-Do List, that is a general Sat./Sun. list that could get done any of the two days. It helps me keep track of those little things I need to remember, like mailing a birthday card, or taking a pair of pants back to the store that I didn't like when I tried them on at home, and I can cross them off over the weekend.

I find it important to do this, as those little things just seem to slip on by. As well, my list is somewhat flexible, in that if it doesn't get done that weekend, usually it can move onto the next weekend's list. The list isn't the normal "to-do's" of each weekend, like laundry and things I'll never forget about, but just the odds and ends.


What do you do to help you remember your to-do's for the weekend?

For more ideas that work, see We're That Family.

WFMW: Looking Ahead

I'm a planner. You could definitely call me that.

I like to look ahead, plan ahead, and fill in my organizer.

One thing I have found that really works for me is to write those things on the side of my monthly calendar that I need to remember to do in an upcoming month, as a reminder.

For instance, as I turn the page to November, I see:
*Condition leather car seats
*Call and make dentist appt. for Feb.
*Make gift for Aunt Pat

It is really the only way I can remember some of these things, and by writing them down the month I need to do them, I can clear out my mind for more important, current events.

What works for you related to remembering dates?

For other great ideas, see We're That Family.

WFMW: Lunch Break at Work

My lunchtimes at work are precious to me. I have found that sometimes this is my only quiet time in the day to think and organize things on my to-do list. Sometimes it is the only way to get "me time" too.

I close my office door and do any of the following, depending upon the day of the week, while I eat my lunch:

1. Write a blog post (doing that today)!
2. View coupons I might be able to use that week grocery shopping.
3. Send a much-needed and late email to a friend or family member.
4. Peruse other blogs I like to read.
5. Make my grocery list.
6. Write down my home to-do list.

Sometimes it is a little messy and I may get a little chip grease on my keyboard (oops), but it allows me to go back to work a little more focused and feeling like I accomplished something too.

When do you find those little snippets of time for to-do's or things you like?

WFMW: Cash Only for 3 Months, My Findings

So, just about three months ago, I decided to challenge myself and use cash only for all grocery purchases (okay, looking back, it was supposed to be for my son's purchases and gifts too, but I didn't do that). In our household, groceries include all health, beauty, general household supplies and cleaning, and Pull Ups and wipes. I have found, through talking to other people, that their grocery budgets only include food items and they don't really budget for those other items. If you do, how do you fit in those expenses then? Just curious.

Here were some of my findings:

1. I don't use the same amount of grocery money each week, because I may go to only one store, or I may go to several, including a big Costco trip (for things that last longer-like several months), so I had to take out more than a quarter of my budget for the month just in case.

2. In the beginning, I was really bargain hunting, hitting up several stores a week, like CVS and Walgreens, to get their deals, on items I use, but didn't particularly need that week or even that month. Result of that? Lots of extra time spent shopping when I could have been relaxing on some time off I had, AND it actually left less money for the necessities that month.

3. I did a great job stocking up, but I noticed on things like body wash (I'm set until February probably) and for some reason, granola bars. We don't usually buy granola bars, though we like them, but all of a sudden, I had a ton. We're still eating on them now, and really, the sugar in those aren't so great for you, even if they are all natural (and not so great for someone who is hypoglycemic either.) I also found that a lot of the coupons that are out there are for junk-type food and that isn't what we typically eat. I found myself gravitating toward them, however, because they were good deals, on sale, and I had a coupon! Not the route I want to go though.

4. I had some great food (or at least food) stocked up through August, but when September hit, my freezer and cupboards seemed quite empty, and at the end of August, I didn't have any excess money to carry over either. I ended up having to make a big Costco run, which left us with little money this month. We actually had cereal one night for dinner and I have an $18.00 budget for food this week to make it to October.

5. Having cash actually meant I was spending MORE, I think, and not monitoring it as well. It wasn't as easy for me to see as when I wrote down my debit purchases each week (or every so often) to see what I'd have left.

6. Ending up with so little in August, and needing to buy lots of Pull Ups at that point too (I'd stocked up earlier and ran low), led me to decide my son really needed to be potty trained so we could save on the cost from here on out (he'll be three in November). Sure, I spent the extra money I would have spent on those on incentives toys the last two weeks, but hopefully it will be worth it in the end.

I gave it a shot, using cash only, and it didn't work for me. I think I'm actually going to go back to my old way of shopping with my standard coupons at one store a week (and Costco once a month) and just try my best to save.

What is your best money saving trick with your grocery budget? 


See other great things that work for bloggers here.

WFMW: Grocery List

Something I do every week, throughout the week, is make my grocery list.

I don't know about you, but when I think of something I need, I have to immediately write it down, or I'll forget it.

I use a 5 1/2" x 8" or so spiral notebook, and make a page for the grocery store, with my menu on the bottom portion, and separate 1/2 sheets for Target and Costco as well, for when I go there eventually.

What works best for me, and is something my mom always did, is to write down the items I need in the general location of where they are in the grocery store. For instance, dairy is in the far right as I walk in, so dairy products are written there on my list. That way, when I shop, I can't miss anything on my list as I go through the store.

For coupon savings as well, I may write "C" and circle it next to the item, reminding myself of the coupon I have paper clipped to my list, or if the store is running a "Buy 10 of these products, save $5.00" type of deal, I'll write "10" and circle it near the item so that I can make sure I've purchased the 10 I need for the savings.

It is what works for me.
Do you have some ways that help you stay organized with your list of needed groceries?

For more things that work, see We're That Family.

WFMW: Keeping My Wardrobe Manageable

If you were to look in our walk-in closet, you might see that I actually have fewer clothes (at least out, hanging) than my husband. You would never call me a hoarder of clothing.

You see, I tire of clothing pretty easily, and I find myself just stopping wearing clothes that I don't care for anymore. I try to take these clothes, prior to them getting too worn, and fold them up to take to a resale shop so I can at least look for some new items or get some things for my son in exchange. It also gives me an excuse to go out and shop for new things!

Every few months or so, I take out those items that I don't really love anymore. I find that those things I do love I sear all the time, and truly those are the "keepers". This is at least for my work and casual clothes. Of course there are those items you want for those rare special occasions too, and those are worth holding onto.

That's what works for me. What works for you?

WFMW: Harness Backpack

Okay, you may be a mom who dreads seeing these things on children too. I say "too", because I used to feel that way, until I realized my child is a "runner". Yes, at 2 1/2 he is prepping himself to be an Olympic runner in a moment's notice. He just looks away and Boom! He's off! There is no stopping him.

A great friend suggested I try a harness style one, with a cute stuffed animal, but my son picked out this one for a trip we recently took (very cool and masculine, isn't it?). I have to say, it is THE BEST investment we've EVER made for him, at $13.99! Target. It even has a whiteboard under the flap, but we haven't used that yet, as I feared he'd draw everywhere except the backpack.

We started on a walk around the block.

Then, the airport. This was the main concern for a mother of a runaway. It was either this or the stroller, which would have been so restraining prior and in-between two 2 1/2 hour flights.

When he was safe from the fear of running away, he would simply just wear the backpack to hold his toys and sippie. Then I could easily grab the strap when it was time to walk back.

The best, when he just wanted to participate in pushing all our gear in the airport on the way home. We never did use our stroller, except to lug around the carseat and carry-on.

Go here for more great ideas of What Works For Me Wednesday.

WFMW: wall art

I just love being able to display my son's artwork, so in various places in the house, instead of fine artwork, I share toddler artwork:

The bathroom-

The hallway outside his room-

The wall between the kitchen and living room-

and of course the fridge (no photos there). Doesn't everything put their child's artwork on the fridge?

Where do you display your children's artwork?

WFMW: Activities for Toddlers

Lately, I have found some great ideas for kid activities on Teach Mama. 

I saw these great Silly Bandz on her blog and had to order them for my son. He was thrilled when they came in! We had to get the dinosaur ones of course.

What he loved most of all was when I showed him they could go on your wrists. He put all the triceratops on his wrists and had me put on the brontosaurus ones. A little warning (#1), I think 2 1/2 might be a little young. He later wanted to put them around his ankles and up his thigh. Hm....maybe we should have stuck to matching exercises? Warning #2...they don't go well with new scissors. One should put them away before taking out scissors. We lost a brontosaurus to curious fingers. :(

All in all though, I love them. I tucked them away for a little while later when he's older. I could see they'd make great gifts!


Another great thing I found on her blog were lessons in literacy using bottle lids. I saved up some tea lids and have been out looking for good markers. I found some fabric paint, which I thought would work well, but after two days, I found it peels off, so I need to get some different colors of permanent markers I think. I started off with just a few letters, since that is all I had, with those to spell my son's name, CAR, TRAIN, DOG and CAT. He's so into the alphabet though, that he wanted to lay out all his ABC's.

I'm always on the lookout for great children's (specifically toddler) activities if you see any!
For other ideas too, on WFMW go here.

What are some of your favorite activities for toddlers when the weather is so warm?

Works For Me Wednesday: Pantry Storage

In joining in this "saving more by shopping in bulk club", I've had to reevaluate my space, particularly in my large pantry that suddenly became a catchall for all storage other than food. As I started stocking up, I realized it was quite tacky of me to continue putting food boxes on top of our kitchen cabinets, and how important it was to just reorganize.

Here's what became of that endeavor, and I'm really happy with it. It is easy to see everything, reach for cooking or snacks, and inventory for an upcoming shopping trip.

One thing I learned this week though (or actually realized last week), that in stocking up, and learning this way from scratch, it is easy to spend more of one's budget during good sales, so I have to keep a close eye on my grocery budget. This week we had only about $40 to use, so we're eating lots of leftovers from the fridge and being creative.

I also learned from someone's blog to really monitor your receipts-BEFORE YOU LEAVE THE STORE. I came home from Target with a Clean and Clear item marked down to $2.00, and I used a $2.00 coupon on it, excited it was free, minus tax. I came to find out, at home of course, I was charged the full $6.49. So I'm going back. Funny I didn't remember to check in the store. I certainly learned something there.

For more, see Works For Me Wednesday.

What are ways you are saving money lately?

Works For Me Wednesday: Sandy Kids' Shoes

Ever bring your child home from daycare or the playground, take his or her shoes off (usually on the sofa, right), and LOADS of sand end up on your sofa or floor? On a just-cleaned floor, this can be sooo frustrating.

Here's what I've done to remedy the situation. We stop just inside the door and I take my son's shoes off there, while he's standing up. I even take off his socks and kind of roll them into themselves and set them back in the shoe that is filled with...see below...sand.

At least the sand can be cleaned up from one central location if I spill some, which doesn't happen very often. Then I walk them over to a garbage can in his room and dump out the sand and empty out the socks too(the sand just sticks to the sweaty socks).

Then I throw his shoes in a fabric crate in case any more sand come out. That that doesn't come out in the initial shake seems to settle overnight and be there in the AM.
My hubby jokes that we need to save up all the sand and return it to the daycare. I remarked I didn't think that was a good idea, mixed with all that shoe sweat. Ick..

For more ideas of Works For Me Wednesday, go to We're That Family.

Works for Me Wednesday: Digital Photography

Isn't it the worst when you are right in the middle of an event and you see you have one bar left on your digital camera? When I got mine, my husband suggested getting a spare battery, to always have on hand.

As soon as I see mine is getting low, I pop it out into the charger and put the new one in. Then as soon as it is charged, I put it back in its sleeve and back in my handy little camera bag.
I have had this little bag every since I saw it in some hippie shop or craft fair, or somewhere unique years and years ago. It fits my camera perfectly, and I can slide the extra battery right in that outside pocket.
For little jaunts, I can even slide in a few dollars and my ID. The strap is long enough that I can wear it across my chest so I can run around and do whatever, but I have it within reach.

See, I have it on in this picture:
I certainly wouldn't want to "wear it" for a special event, but for everyday, it is great.

Go here for other ideas of Works for Me Wednesday go to We are THAT Family.

Works for Me Wednesday: Grocery Planning

I look forward to grocery planning each week, and I do it just once a week. My mom always had a "menu" that she created each week and had on the refrigerator so that she, and we, could see what was for dinner each night.
I use this same method, keeping in mind different events during the week that may influence the amount of time I have to cook (or desire to cook) as well.

One thing I do differently now though, is I keep a running list of things I have in the freezer and cupboards on a steno pad, and I take the Tuesday night ad from my favorite grocery store, in this case Fry's, and do my planning from what is on sale and what I already have, to try to save money. It is always a bonus when I have a coupon for an item as well.

On top of this, I go through my coupons to see what is expiring soon, and if my grocery store is still offering the "all coupons worth a dollar" offer. I figure it is best to try to get an item I will need in the future before that coupon expires.

I also do a once-a-week trip to Target, to purchase food and non-food items that are less expensive there than the grocery store. Some time back I wrote down commonly purchased items and price compared to determine where I should buy certain things.

My favorite thing about shopping?
Going by myself so that I can truly think about my purchases, and price compare. I try to leave on time from work on these days, do my shopping, then pick up my son.

It is truly what works best for me. For other great ideas that work, see We Are That Family.


What works well for you as far as your weekly grocery planning?