Before you recycle your Christmas cards or put them away take a quick photo with your cell phone and save them to your contacts. Here’s a post I did on this life changing subject 🙂 almost exactly a year ago.
If you’re a blogger, mark your calendar to back up your blog every single month. (Even every week if you’re really on top of things.) Here’s how to back up your blog if you use Blogger.
Beginning with this spankin’ new year, keep a Sharpie near your fridge and mark the date on items that you put in there, particularly condiments and freezer items. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve thrown out items (salsa, pickles) because I can’t for the life of me remember when the jar was opened. Ewww. {Check out this post for a link to a printable food freezer guide.}
Along those same lines, this month I am going to try meal planning for the first time ever. I’m sick to death of running to the grocery store last minute, throwing out food that doesn’t get eaten, and hearing the teenage mantra of “there’s no food in the house” (what they mean is: no junk food :)). If you’re new to weekly meal planning, check out this guide at Raising Vintage Kids In A Modern World that I found helpful.
If you’re looking to take some of the stress and disorganization out of your life, consider scheduling your year ahead in one fell swoop. Check out this post by Tobi Farley about why she takes a day at the beginning of the year to schedule appointments and organize her yearly calendar.
Happy organized year ahead my friends!
Sam @ The Junk House says
I've been meal planning for a few years now and I love it. I plan all of my meals for the upcoming week on Sunday and then do my grocery shopping the following day. Sitting down and planning out a week of meals can be a pain, but it's SO nice having everything on hand and ready to go.
Mallory High says
Thank you for this! I will be backing up my blog on Blogger today! Didn't even know that was possible. And I love the Christmas card photos for the cell phone. Love the blog!!
Simply LKJ says
Great ideas! I have been meal planning for awhile now. The first thing I do however is make a list of staples to keep on hand. I find those are the things that have you running to the store last minute. I stock up on those (we have a separate pantry for them (things like rice, pasta, can goods, cooking essentials-oils, vinegars, spices). Then I sit down with my cookbooks on Sunday after church and choose a meal for each day. When the girls were home, I made sure to keep in mind their activities. On days we were going to be rushed, I would make something in the crockpot. This way I was only running to the store once, mostly for fresh items and maybe a few staples we had run out of. I found we wasted A LOT less food too!! Big money saver.
Jennifer @ Dimples and Tangles says
I love your practical reminders! My Christmas card pile is sitting on the DR table right now…I need to get snappin!
Vel Criste says
I didn't know about backing up for my blog?!! Thank you so much Lisa, your a life saver!!!!
Vel Criste says
I didn't know about backing up for my blog?!! Thank you so much Lisa, your a life saver!!!!
pam {simple details} says
Great tips! I do go through my new planner and put in all the important dates, but I have a feeling she does much more – will check it out. I'd love to have a meal plan for the week, I sound exactly like you! Maybe you should share yours and I'll just copy! 🙂
Cassie @ Primitive & Proper says
OH CRUD! i recycled my cards- duh!!!! why didn't i remember!!!!!!
Linda {Calling it Home} says
I have never backed up my blog. Thanks for the tip!
Linda {Calling it Home} says
I have never backed up my blog. Thanks for the tip!
NanaDiana says
Thanks for the reminder, Lisa. I appreciate it. I had not done this in a while and I used to do it on a regular basis.
Just so you know-there is a soft-porn sort of advertisement that is running on your blog-that is the first thing I saw when I opened it. Just thought you might not know it-It is called something like Adult Games. xo Diana
Jenny says
Great tips! I love the card idea! And I did not realize that I had to back up my blog – yikes! Meal planning is an ongoing struggle, and I *always* hear that we have "nothing" to eat. Same translation = no junk food. 🙂
Kris @ Driven by Décor says
Thanks for sharing the tips! Meal planning is something I'd like to do this year too because going to the grocery store is on my top five list of things that I dread doing. Will have to check out your links! And the Christmas card thing? So smart! And lucky procrastinator me still has mine!
Val says
These are some pretty awesome ideas. I need to truly start meal planning in my life.
Privet and Holly says
Thank you for keeping
me on track, Lisa! Love
all these ideas. I'd saved
your post from last year
regarding backing up
blogs….dated January 9,
2013, exactly one year
ago : )
xo Suzanne
Tiffany says
Fantastic tips! I've got to bookmark this post. Thanks Lisa!