Jewelry Jewelry Everywhere!...But it doesn't have to be!!

A couple of weeks ago, I did a post about how to organize your jewelry using a cork board or even your wall at home. A lovely fan of The Nifty Mom's Notebook contacted me telling me that she loved the idea, but that she had her own spin on it.

Below is what Bettina had sent to me. Her partner was over seeing her earrings all over the place and she knew she had to do something about it. So she used a canvas, painted it and lined the border with ribbon and it looks great!
So not only is she showcasing her beautiful and amazing collection of earrings, but she's doing with art that she created.

This is a wonderful idea and a great way to stay organized while incorporating this into the style and decor of any room!

(Photo Courtesy of Bettina M.)

If you see something you like and you create it yourself or have a spin on it, email me (DanielleS.PC@gmail.com) and with pictures!!! I love to see great ideas at work!

Mom's Daily Inspirations

The ultimate goal of parenthood is to allow your children to become the persons God intended them to be.
-Author Unknown

Mom's Daily Inspirations

The worst things about work in the house or home is that whatever you do it is destroyed, laid waste, or eaten within twenty-four hours.
-Lady Hasluck

Mom's Daily Inspirations

Being a full-time mother is one of the highest salaried jobs, since the payment is pure in love.
-Mildred B. Vermont

Mom's Daily Inspirations

Learn the wisdom of compromise, for it is better to bend a little than to break!
-Jane Wells

Mom's Daily Inspirations

Outings are so much more fun when we can savor them through the children's eyes.
-Lawana Blackwell

Mom's Daily Inspirations

Making the decision to have a child--is momentous. it is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body.

--Elizabeth Stone

Finances a little crazy?!

Today, everyone is affected somehow in their life by a Financial woe. We are in or know someone who is. Not to mention that money is the NUMBER ONE argument between couples. So let's not make it an issue, start preparing for the future even more so than what we have before, and prepare ourselves for those random events that just pop up in our life.

I'm pretty savvy when it comes to creating budgets...I LOVE IT! It's a part of my sickness with organization and numbers. But I took it upon myself to take an online Credit Counseling Course and I feel rejuvenated! So I would LOVE to share some of the things that I learned and that I also already implement into our family finances. Sharing is Caring :) So this is going to be the start of a series of Financial & Budgeting Posts that I will be doing. I want you to set your goals and most of all.... to achieve them!

Some find it crazy, but I have a budget sheet that I update weekly, if not daily and I know where we'll be sitting financially up to February of NEXT YEAR! So if we want to spring for a vacation or birthday trip...I know just how it will affect us..even 4 months from now!!

There are wonderful tools for us to use and to have. To be on a budget does not mean that we are poor or do not have enough money. Even those who make over 7 figures should have budgets. If not, who would know what was in the account, what's coming in, where it's going and what all has already left?!

So for your first step to creating Financial relief..create goals.

I know it sounds crazy, and it seems too fictitious, and you will never reach your goals...but you can and put your mind to it and YOU WILL!

Have three categories for your Financial Goals..

1. $1-$500 Goal
2. $500-$3000 Goal
3. $4000+ Goal

These could include everything from buying that new Coach bag to purchasing your own home. But write them down on a card or a sticky note and put them in your wallet. So every time you go to make that spontaneous purchase, you see what your goals are and can make the right decision from there!

I would love to share what our three goals are:

1. $1-$500 Goal: Paint and decorate the new home
2. $500-$3000 Goal: Pay off our Dicks Sporting Goods Credit Card
3. $4000+ Goal: Pay off the Truck (then my SUV and then my school loan!!)


What are your financial goals?! I would love to hear them!
If you don't want to post them, feel free to email me at DanielleS.PC@gmail.com

Microwaved Chicken...that's NOT a typo

I love Stoneware and this just completed me. The Deep Covered Baker not only cuts down your cook time, but also your clean up time and gives you delicious food!

IN THE MICROWAVE...Pork Tenderloin in 10 minutes...Whole Chicken 20-30 minutes...Chicken Breasts 10-15 minutes...Meat Loaf 17-20 minutes

These are before and after pictures of a WHOLE chicken that took me 25 minutes in the MICROWAVE! So while getting my side dishes done, this bad boy was being cooked and made to look roasted! The meat was just FALLING off the bone.

Can we say AH-MAY-ZIIIING?!

Before:
Notice...no juice added and only seasonedAfter:
Looks roasted, meat falling off the bone and juice! Good enough to add a little flour and make yourself a gravy with it!
If you are interested in learning more about the Deep Covered Baker (aka..the Magic Pot)...email me at DanielleS.PC@gmail.com

Jewelry Jewelry Everywhere!...But it doesn't have to be!!

As you may find from post to post that I love to organize things. Whether it's organizing a drawer, room, box or even under the sink...I love organization. I feel that it helps your everyday life run a little smoother. Having your jewelry hanging up, not tangled and visible, you are able to see what you have, what you want to wear..can grab and run out the door without having to untangle or dig through a box. This is an inexpensive project that will save you time and even money!

Materials needed:
Jewelry (OF COURSE)
A cork board (You can use cork board tiles or even a blank wall space)
A box of Push Pins (As many as you have jewelry..as of now at least!)

1. Lay out all the jewelry that you have. Untangle those pieces that may be knotted up!

2. Begin with your longest necklace first and place it on the push pin before you put it up on the board. This is done so that you are able to distance the necklace from the edge so it's not hanging off. And when you begin to hang other pieces, you will need to know the distance necessary between each piece.
**This is where you can get creative! You can put your gold with your gold, silver with silver, etc. I hang mine from long to short and from skinny to chunky.

Once you have filled up the entire top row, move to the second row. The second row will begin at the length of the longest necklace from the top row.
Then finish off the rest of your necklaces3. Next is to hang up your smaller items, such as your rings, earrings, bracelets, watches and anklets. This is done in the same fashion as above.
4. Now put up the earrings! I have kept most of the plastic hanging pieces that came with mine. If you did not, then you can simply hang your earrings on a push pin, like I did with a couple of mine. If you have studs, you can just push them into the cork board and they will stay secure.

Make sure that you leave room in between your jewelry so you can always add more! I leave a few extra push pins on the board and that way I'm not digging through a drawer trying to pull more out.

USE YOUR IMAGINATION WHILE DOING THIS TASK! You can either plan your attacks before placing anything on the board/wall, you can just place as you go. Cork board is very forgiving. Be sure that you make it so that you WILL utilize it.

If you have any questions, you can email me at DanielleS.PC@gmail.com

No Allspice..No problem!

I found myself in a small bind when I was going to be making Mini Carrot Cake Cups...it was late at night, munchkin in bed and could not leave to go to the store to pick some up. I, amazingly, had everything BUT what I needed! So I found, at Chef2Chef Portal, a way to create your very own Allspice.

Ingredients:
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp ground cloves

Instructions:
Combine all three ingredients

This creates 1 tsp of Allspice

Source: Oregonian FoodDay, Food Tip column; typos by Dorothy Flatman
1996

List It!

I have always been big on making lists. Whether it's a to-do list, grocery list, packing list, etc. I am always making lists! My family calls it OCD, but I call it ASSISTANCE! These bad boys have become very helpful, not only to myself, but to my husband since our little boy Boston was born.

They say that baby brain kicks in again and stronger when your youngin' turns Seven Months of age..they weren't lying. I became even more frazzled and yet I over loaded my plate like I usually would and went back for a second helping!

But ways to ease my crazy mind has been making a list. I have a daily to-do list that I begin, usually the end of the night prior to the day (Monday night for Tuesday To-Do's). This way, when the house is quiet, I can think of everything that I need to do the next day. As the day goes on, I tend to add to the list when I think of something. I even keep a notebook in my car with a pen handy in case I remember something I had forgotten (which has been happening often).

This past month we have been traveling A LOT! But to help remember all of the things I needed for my little man, I made a list and even counted the number of items that we had taken. This way, when I was packing back up (after all had been scattered throughout our room and the house) we knew just what we took and what we were missing. (This included our phone charges, which tend to be the first thing forgotten at home).

I went ahead and created a master copy and left it on my computer. So if the trip is longer or shorter, all I have to do is add something or take it off and print it out and I'm good to go!

So I know that it may sound crazy...even a little obsessive compulsive...these lists are a blessing in disguise!

Below: This is what I did for our week long Georgia Trip

Keep one in your car for those last minute reminders!


I keep one next to my keyboard on my desk


What type of a list do you use on a daily, weekly or even a monthly basis?

Tasty Tidbits

If you are interested in receiving an emailed newsletter monthly that includes Host and Guest specials for each month, sneak peaks at products, sneak peaks at Specials for the upcoming month and a recipe of the month, please email me at DanielleS.PC@gmail.com. Please, Subject: Requesting Tasty Tidbits.

Please be advised that when my newsletters are sent out, that each and every person is BCC'd so that no one else will receive any of your information! I hold everyone's information as personal unless they request otherwise.

Have a wonderful evening!

The Beast

This is "the beast"! Probably some of the best cardio I have received in a while. We did girls vs. boys and we beat them at least 5 times. But they kept asking for a rematch! (Imagine that...lol!) All in all...it was a wonderful night with family and watching and enjoying the kids having a blast! We will definitely need to do it again. If you can find local places that are indoor inflatables, I suggest going with your tikes. It's inexpensive and you can not beat the exercise that you and your little ones will receive!

I found a couple in Florida....

Clermont, FL: Big Bounce Fun Zone
Mulitple Locations (Sunrise/Orange Park/Tampa): Jump Zone (You can choose your state)