I am so excited to introduce you to the next Featured Creative Organizer, Amanda from Mommy’s Idea Book. Amanda’s blog is full of inspiration, beauty, and very useful tips and information. I especially love her series on vacation planning. Amanda discusses Deciding Where to Go, Budgeting, Don’t Forget to Take…, and Playing it Safe. And the part I love most is that she also offers her own FREE printable planning sheets to help you plan your next vacation! So, without further ado, here is a bit about Amanda, and her favorite organizing tip.

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 About the Author

Amanda is a full-time mom to a five year old son and a two year old daughter, as well as a wife of almost 11 years. In addition, she blogs at Mommy’s Idea Book, a blog devoted to sharing information, tips and encouragement with other moms, wives and homemakers. She enjoys reading, cooking and spending time with her family.

Photo Link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/davidmasters/3668547763/
Photo by: David Masters
Photo Credit Link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/davidmasters/

Organizational Tips for Entertaining with Ease

I like to entertain in my home. It’s a great way to get to know people better and provides a much more relaxed atmosphere than a restaurant. However, I can’t stand to be so exhausted because of cooking and preparing that I don’t enjoy my time with my friends.

Today, I’d like to share a few tips I have for entertaining without wearing myself out. Hopefully you will find them useful too.

The key is to have a well organized meal plan.

1. Be on the lookout for easy to prepare foods – There are plenty of delicious recipes available that are easy to prepare. You just have to find them. For example, soups or stews that only require you to throw the ingredients in the slow cooker and let them cook are great, easy and comforting meals.

2. Make dishes ahead of time – One of my favorite things to do is serve dishes I can prepare a day or two before our dinner. Now, this might be a lasagna or casserole that will only need to be baked the day of the dinner, or another idea is a salad that can be left in the refrigerator and served cold at meal-time. You can do this with so many foods. You just have to think ahead.

3. Manage your time wisely – Know how long it will take you to prepare each menu item and be sure to allot the appropriate amount of time. Also check to be sure last minute items finish cooking at approximately the same time. Again this only takes a little forethought and planning.

4. Get out necessary ingredients & supplies – Lay out any supplies and non-perishable food items earlier in the day, so you’re not using precious time and energy running back and forth between your pantry and cabinets looking for cooking supplies.

5. Ask the hubby for help ahead of time – Remember, you’re not superwoman, so if you think you might need a little help, be sure to ask your spouse if he is willing to lend you a hand. (After all, it’s his friends too. Right?) Many times, it’s not that men are not willing too help. It’s usually that they just plain don’t realize you need the help.

6. Enjoy your friends – Once you’ve made it this far, it’s time to sit back, relax and have a good time.

Well, there you have it, a few simple tips for helping you pull off a super dinner without leaving you worn out and disappointed. I hope you’ll be able to implement these suggestions into your next entertaining endeavor.

Don’t forget, it’s okay if something doesn’t go quite right or as planned. No one can have a perfect meal prep and dinner every time, and if someone expects that of you, then they don’t deserve for you to fix them a meal in the first place.

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Head on over to Mommy’s Idea Book for more great inspirational readings! If you are interested in being Featured as a Creative Organizer e-mail me at abbieipark (at) gmail (dot) com. Have a wonderful weekend and Happy Organizing!

This week I am excited to introduce you to the next “Featured Creative Organizer.” 

Sherri is the author of Serene Journey. Join her on a journey to gather and share tips, tricks and philosophies that can help us all enjoy life a whole lot more. Serene Journey is about living your life deliberately, purposefully and fully by choosing happiness; keeping in mind it’s often the little things that mean the most.

Sherri wrote, “you might be excited to know that being organized is a learned behavior. Trust me I know, I was NOT born organized! I was well into my 20s before I found my organizing groove and now I can’t get enough. Anything that simplifies, makes my life easier or keeps my stuff neat, I’m in.”

Sherri’s Favorite Organizing Tip(s)

Sherri wrote,

” It’s impossible for me to choose my favorite organizing tip so I’ll share with you my top 5. I hope you’ll find them useful.

1. Begin with the end in mind. This is a great place to start any decision making process, especially organizing. If you don’t know where to start think about what you want the space to be and feel like when you are finished. Visualize your space, what you’ll use it for and how it’ll be set up. Start going through your stuff and make mental notes of what fits and what doesn’t.

2. Reduce. After taking stock donate or sell everything that doesn’t fit with your vision. Take another look around your space and become aware of what is causing the most clutter. Is it books, paperwork, electronics, stationary or shoes? Once you’ve narrowed it down it’s time to start purging all non-essentials. It’s important that you start out small and celebrate the victories as you go. You just need to start.

3. Linen cupboard. One way to keep your linen cupboard looking neat and tidy is to store your bed sheets inside a pillow case. Not only does this reduce the amount of material floating around the shelves it keeps sheet sets together. Everything is conveniently stored and wrapped up inside the pillow case, which makes stacking multiple sets easier.

4. Spices. My favorite alternative to the standard spice rack is using tiny mason jars or canning jars, especially if you buy spices in bulk. These clear jars have tight sealing lids and can be labeled and stored in a drawer or cupboard. When sorted alphabetically it makes finding the spice you need a breeze!

5. Gift wrap station. There are many systems, containers and ideas to choose from. You can make a gift wrap station as extravagant or as simple as you want. At the very least you should have all the essentials at your fingertips, such as: scissors, tape, wrapping paper, ribbon, bows and tissue.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by all of the stuff piling up around you then pick a room, start small and get going. Purge in short bursts, it’s just as effective as doing it all in one go, just get a tiny step closer to where you want to be. When it comes to organizing it’s all about progress not perfection.”

Picture courtesy of: el patojo

Thank you Sherri for sharing some wonderful creative organizing tips with other readers! Be sure to visit  Serene Journey and read more of her posts about organizing.

To see your blog or business featured here at Organizing-Life, simply leave a comment on a post you love, or, send an e-mail request to abbieipark at gmail dot com with your name, the name and a brief description of your blog or business, a brief author bio, and your favorite organizing tip. (All parts should be no more than 500 words.)  I confirm a new commenter Monday of each week.

Happy Organizing Friday!

There are many wonderful commenters who are offering their organizing experience and tips daily here at Organizing-Life. I am excited to highlight one commenter in my new weekly theme “Featured Creative Organizer.” Each Friday I intend to highlight a special reader, introduce you to his or her blog or business, and lend you their favorite organizing tip.

This week I am delighted to introduce you to Mama King, author of 4 Crazy Kings.

4 Crazy Kings features parent-friendly craft projects you can do with your kids and chronicles the general craziness of her family. It is a wonderful hodge podge of kids, family, adoption, and of course, lots of craftiness.

Mama King is a stay-at-home-mom with two beautiful little girls. She has a Masters in Art Education and taught High School Art before marrying her husband of six years.  She has also worked as a freelance designer and illustrator. 

Mama King’s Favorite Organizing Tip

“My oldest daughter has graduated to puzzles and games with millions of pieces!  I had to quickly come up with a way to wrangle all of her puzzles for fear that they would take over our house.  I live in a house with very little storage.  This solution saves you some serious space! Plus there is nothing more frustrating than trying to finish a puzzle only to discover you are missing a piece. Place the pieces into a small zip top bag, label and place into a designated puzzle container, [like the one pictured below].

When my daughters want to do a puzzle I can take down the container and they can pick out a puzzle. It also makes cleanup a breeze.  Just slide all the pieces in the bag and throw in the puzzle container. No more busted taped up boxes taking up precious shelf space.  The puzzles that have cardboard or wood backs are easy to slide in next to the puzzle container and take up hardly any room.

For games with bigger pieces (like a matching game) I reuse diaper wipe containers.  I tape the label from the original box onto the side of the wipe container. I also write in permanent marker on the top what is inside and how many pieces (this is really helpful.)”

Thank you Mama King for sharing your creative organizing tip with other readers and for being a loyal reader and commenter! Be sure to visit  Mama King’s blog and read more of her posts about organizing.

 To see your blog or business featured here at Organizing-Life, simply leave a comment on a post you love, or, send an e-mail request to abbieipark at gmail dot com with your name, the name and a brief description of your blog or business, a brief author bio, and your favorite organizing tip. (All parts should be no more than 500 words.)  I plan to confirm a new commenter Monday of each week.

Happy Organizing Friday!