4 Ways to Use Baskets and Bins to Organize Your Home in a Flash

Tips on organizing your home using bins and baskets…. Ok. I admit it. I have a little bit of an OCD problem. I like my books and dvds organized by color, my drinking glass in order by height, and all of the clothes in my closet have to be facing the same direction, in categories marked with dividers. Maybe it’s because of all of the other chaos that I deal with daily – running my own business from home, Mike running a business of his own from home too, and life with an incredibly energetic toddler. So keeping the house clean, neat, and organized helps me feel a little more in control. And the best tip I’ve found for helping keep things picked up and put away is to use baskets and bins to organize around the house – they work in every single room, and can solve just about any challenge you have. Check out a few of my favorite ideas…


Home Office by Minneapolis Interior Designer LiLu Interiors
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Posted by on May 14, 2013 Filed Under: Busy Mom Solution, Homemaking | 3 Comments

Why I Filed for Bankruptcy at 25, and What I Learned

I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Aflac, to share my personal experience with insurance and medical debt. I received a promotional item as a thank you for participating.

Can you afford a medical emergency?… The average cost of a heart attack and the care needed to recover is $65,427, according to the US Department of Health and Human Services. A broken leg costs around $10,000. Some cancer medications can cost upwards of $10,000 per month. Add those up, and it’s no surprise that medical debt is the leading cause of bankruptcy is this country. I know from experience that even with insurance, the bills add up quickly, and can become overwhelming. Because it’s not even just the medical bills – it’s also the money you lose if you aren’t able to work for awhile. Many people believe that if they have health insurance, they’ll be ok if a health crisis hits – but do you have a real idea of what out of pocket costs will be if someone in your family gets sick or injured? I didn’t. And that’s what led to me filing for bankruptcy at the young age of just 25.

How to avoid medical debt [Read more...]

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Posted by on May 13, 2013 Filed Under: Busy Mom Solution | No Comments

How To Use a Garden Hose to Fertilize Your Plants

I’m a sponsored blog partner with Pennington and participated in their Pennington Smart Feed Program – I love their new Smart Feed products and think you will too. See full disclosure statement below the post.

“One of the most delightful things about a garden is the anticipation it provides.” – W.E. Johns… This is our third summer now in this house, and the big piece of property it sits on is finally coming along nicely. All of the overgrown brush is gone, the driveway has been leveled and got a fresh coat of gravel, we planted more trees this summer {bringing it to a total of 17 in the back now!} – and the gardens are all set and beginning to fill out! We have a huge vegetable garden in the back filed, bordered by fruit trees, and there are flower beds and container gardens from the front of the house all around to the back. {Read and see a little more of my garden here.} I’m not the most skilled at putting all of this together – But my mother is a Master Gardener, and teaches me so much as she helps me. And one thing that is a must is using the right products, because just like every other mom out there – even Mother Nature can use a little help!

Pennington Smart Feed [Read more...]

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Posted by on May 11, 2013 Filed Under: Outdoor Living | No Comments

What I Learned About Motherhood from Dory on Finding Nemo – #FindingDory

Parenting Advice from Dory, of Finding Nemo… I loved this movie before I even became a mom. I used to watch it all the time when my nephews would stay with me…. And admit to watching it a few times on my own too. {And yes, I cry every.single.time when the mom dies at the beginning. Darn these Disney-Pixar films pulling at my emotions!} And, with Mother’s Day around the corner {this Sunday!} I thought it was a great time to share some of the lessons I’ve learned from watching this movie so many times. Dory may or may not be a mother {would she remember?} – but she has some great lessons to teach us about motherhood….

Dory quotes on motherhood ©2013 Disney?Pixar. All Rights Reserved. [Read more...]

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Posted by on May 10, 2013 Filed Under: Parenting | 2 Comments

Splishin’ and Splashin’ – It’s Bath Time with Caillou!

Growing up with Caillou… If you’re mom to a toddler, odds are that you are a big fan of Caillou – the little boy who explores, discovers, and shares his adventures in growing up – each day on PBS and the Sprout channel. My little girl absolutely adores him. And, once I took some time to watch the cartoons with her, and saw the great messages and lessons that each episode teaches little ones, I loved it too. So, when I had the chance to check out one of the newest Caillou toys for bath time – Well, I don’t know who was more excited – me, or Abby…. :)

Caillou bath toy [Read more...]

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Posted by on May 9, 2013 Filed Under: Giveaways | No Comments

What Tools Do You Need to Capture Your Spring Memories?

“If you see something that moves you, and then snap it, you keep a moment.” – Linda McCartney… Spring is so full of things that need to be photographed… The garden is in bloom. There are events like graduation, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Memorial Day, and more. You’re on the go, it’s a season of change, it’s a time full of moments to capture. And that means you need something a little better than just your smartphone to photograph all of those amazing memories.

Capturing priceless memories [Read more...]

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Posted by on May 9, 2013 Filed Under: Tech Tips | No Comments

How to Make Your DIY Dreams an Affordable Reality

Do you DIY?… We moved into our house about 2 years ago, and it needed a bit of work. First came the property… It’s got some amazingly good stuff, like a HUMONGO-size 4 bay shop, in ground pool, and big field out back. But it had a lot of amazingly bad stuff too – like no irrigation to water that field, a lot of overgrown weeds and brush, and that pool had to be drained, scrubbed, and refilled again after not being used for years. {There were salamanders living in it… Lol.} But now that we’ve got it under control out there – the veggie garden is planted, flowers are blooming, and things are coming along nicely – it’s been time to tackle the inside of the house. We’re about halfway through a Master Bedroom remodel, planning to redo the Master Bath too, will be fixing up the laundry room, AND a crazy-fun redecorating project for Abby’s new playroom. But, I’m on a budget, and am always looking for creative inspiration to help make my DIY dreams an affordable reality…

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Posted by on May 8, 2013 Filed Under: Busy Mom Solution | 2 Comments
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