Get unlimited access to ListPlanIt for 30 days. Then pay just $5/month!
This morning, I had a revelation. I have always told myself that when the children get a little older that I would add responsibilities. I have always believed in working hard and being efficient and getting things done for yourself. For some reason, I have not allowed my children to experience those things as much […]
Fall, with all of its beauty, means that winter is right around the corner. I don’t know if that puts the majority of you in a panic like it does for us up here in Maine, but that means we have only a couple of months before the snows come and all outdoor projects will […]
Today is the first day of the new school year for my community and family. It is an exciting time filled with enthusiasm and change. Kids have met their new teachers and now it is time to begin settling in to a new routine. Though I am now considered a “working mom” (translation: I now […]
Back to school presents many exciting steps and transitions. It usually means earlier bedtimes, earlier waketimes, and hurried mornings where parents and children rush to prepare lunches and make it to the bus on time. Establishing a morning routine for your child provides the confidence he or she needs to independently prepare for school so […]
For a great many people, the month of March offers hope for the end of winter. It has been another long and snowy one, and though I do not kid myself that it is over (snow is pouring out of the sky as I type this post), March offers hope that spring is around the […]
My children and I love routine. They get excited about the things that we repeat week after week. When school started this year, we started Pizza and Movie Night on Fridays. It is something we look forward to all through the week. Because it has been so successful, I have given additional thought to including […]
I have recently started working 2 days a week and it has upped the level of intensity during the hour between wakeup time and off-to-the-bus time. However, I do find that I try to streamline that hour a little bit more since I like very much to come home to a decent looking house (not […]
“It is better to give than to receive.” And there are plenty of opportunities to give throughout the year. While gift-giving is so much fun and brings enormous joy to both the giver and the receiver, gift-buying can be a stressful ordeal if you have not planned ahead. Here are some occasions in which you […]
On your gift list, you’ve got your parents, your husband, your kids: check, check, check. But if you are anything like me, there are a slew of people that you choose to ignore until mid-December when it all of a sudden occurs to you that you didn’t buy them a present, but maybe you should! […]
For many families, stockings on Christmas morning are as much a part of the holiday tradition as gifts and a Christmas tree. Children dream of getting up and seeing those stockings bulging with toys and sweets. However, I usually forget about stockings until I end up running out to a store during the final days […]
Today is a very special day! Today, September 16, is exactly 100 days to Christmas. It is a reminder that Christmas is coming. It may not be tomorrow or next week, but it will be here. If you have promised yourself that you would try to start earlier this year so that you can enjoy […]
We are given 2 glorious chances each year to start fresh – at the start of the calendar year and at the start of the new school year. Right now, we are facing one of the most beautiful, yet busiest, seasons of the whole year. Take a moment to go to your planners or calendar […]
While sitting at my child’s first soccer practice, it occurred to me as a determined multitasker that this could be a fantastic opportunity to catch up on a few things between the cheers, the snacks, and the goals. Call your mom – Catching up with Mom and fill her in on the play-by-play action of […]
This is a hard one. It is like asking a mother who her favorite child is. These are the pages that I print most frequently, tote around with me in my binder, or hang on my refrigerator. If you have never made some of these and would like some help with them, please feel free […]
Every family is different and each family has their own set of priorities. Some families may find a game of kickball is what they need directly after school. Some families may find themselves shuttling one child to karate, another to soccer, and yet another to piano lessons all in the same afternoon. Some families cook […]
Your children may have already started school or may be starting soon, but getting a routine that keeps everyone on schedule takes a few weeks to master. Here are a few ideas to help streamline the process of getting ready so children make their bus. Get homework, permission slips, lunch money, and anything else that […]
No, you are not seeing things. I said Christmas – or whatever December holiday you celebrate. You might be thinking, “We have almost 6 months until Christmas! Why rush it?!” Confucius tells us that “Success depends upon Preparation,” and while we are still far away from chopping down a tree or hanging the stockings, there […]
Summertime in Maine means beautiful weather, days at the beach, festivals galore, and lots of guests. I love having friends and family come and visit, but there are many things to be done before I feel comfortable letting them sleep in our beds and brush their teeth at our sinks. Prepare menu of all meals. […]
A new statistic says that Americans do in a 24-hour period what should be spread over 31-hours. The first thing we should do is evaluate and see how we can cut back. Productive is one thing, but working so hard that life passes you by is quite another. In the event that cutting back is […]
This is the week for anniversaries. One year ago today, ListPlanIt.com launched. I got 3 members in my very first day! I have learned oh so much since then. I am excited at all that ListPlanIt.com has accomplished in its first year. Two options for membership (as little as $2.50 per month) will get you […]
What’s a free hour, right? I never thought it would happen to me, but now that my kids are getting a little older, I find myself with an occasional free hour. So with this list, I will be able to keep from squandering that precious time. Read a magazine. Get a pedicure. Browse slowly through […]
Many home cooks believe that meal planning is either too much work or unnecessary, but I believe that proper meal planning can be both simple and sanity/money-saving! It is a fact that fewer trips to the grocery store means less money spent. I like to plan my family’s meals bi-monthly (every pay period). This means […]
Anybody who has ever celebrated Easter or another variation of a spring holiday has probably participated in one of the following activities. Start now by planning your family’s fun for this upcoming weekend. Easter baskets prepared Easter parade in various cities OR have your own! Egg hunt Religious service/ceremony Easter dinner with family and friends […]
If you can decide on these basics, then finding the right recipes should be a snap. It helps to have a clear plan before you start to fill in the details. Brunch or lunch? Ham or lamb? Roasted or scalloped potatoes? Green beans or asparagus? Leafy green or fruit salad? Loaf of bread or dinner […]
Each family has a ritual that is special to every member. You might participate in certain rituals daily, weekly, monthly, or even yearly. For more information, check out my eHow article about How to Develop Family Rituals. Religious services/ceremonies Family dinnertime Reading at bedtime Holiday celebrations Chores Trips to the same spot every year Family […]