Spring Makes Me Want to Clean

I have to say, even as I typed that title I laughed to myself.  I'm here to admit that I am not the best at housekeeping.  Not for lack of trying mind you, it's just not something I have ever enjoyed. I love it when it's done, I just don't want to do it. Can I get an amen from anyone. It's okay, this is a safe place. 

See I would much rather be making a mess crafting or DIYing then cleaning one up.

But to my surprise the posts that get the most action on pinterest are the ones about cleaning. This post I did about cleaning baseball pants has been all over. It really is a great tip!! If you have a child who wears a white polyester uniform in the dirt you need to read about this magic soap!

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Recipe Organization

I consider myself an organizing junkie.  In that, I like to try out all kinds of organization methods. In fact, I try out several different ways to organize the same thing, until, hopefully I discover a way that actually WORKS for me. Anybody else out there?

Aside from design inspiration, I love pinterest for new recipes.  When I am feeling in a bit of a rut, I will spend an hour or so printing recipes from my pinterest boards I have collected.  After a while of doing this I have quite a collection of printed recipes just floating around.  A couple of years ago I made myself a binder with pocket tabs for different types of recipes, and sheet protectors to slide the recipes into.  

Well....after a while I quit sliding the recipes back into the sheet protectors.  And then....after a while I stopped putting the recipes back into the right category.  And then....I stopped putting the recipes back into the pockets.  So, I ended up with this mess.

I knew it was time to try something new.  I tend to organize better loosely.  Meaning, I don't do well when I have to put things into lots of things. So, a sheet protector, into a section, into a binder was just too many things.

I found this cutie at walmart and decided to give it a go.

Since I am using this mostly for main courses - for meal planning purposes - I labeled each section by the type of meat and also a "favorites" section and a "misc" section. Favorites for those meals that my family could eat everyday, and misc for a few side dishes, bread, salads, and you know, misc.  :)

I re-sorted all the recipes, threw out a few that hadn't turned out well, and filed them away.  

I've shared before my easy-peasy meal planning system and where I store the recipes for the planned period.  I still love this method! It's easy to see the meals, it keeps the recipes I need handy, and the sheet protectors keeps the recipes clean while I'm cooking!

I'm hoping this new file sorter will be easier for me to manage when it comes to meal planning, and putting things back in the right place!  We shall see.  :)

Linking up with March Linky Party / Hit Me With Your Best Shot / One Project at a Time / Tutorials & Tips Link Party / Show and Tell Link Party / Inspire Me Monday / Work It Wednesday / Wow Us Wednesdays / Create It Thursday / The Creative Circle / Thrifty Thursday / Frugal Friday / Link Party Palooza / That DIY Party / Share Your Creativity / Frugal Crafty Home Blog Hop / Inspiration Monday

Fridays Unfolded Link Party {#142}

Time to party this week!!  :) 

It seems like everyone I know has been getting sick lately!  And, the lo and behold it hit our house this weekend.  It started with hubby and then moved onto me.  No flu, just cruddy colds with ZERO energy.  Needless to say, my house is still in disarray and I did not get near as much done as I had planned.  But, sometimes I think God puts the brakes on for us when we don't do it for ourselves.  Sometimes you just need to rest your body!!

I shared with you this week our DIY trundle bed that got a lot of use during winter break while my college boy was home.  It was a simple inexpensive solution for extra sleeping space!

I enjoyed perusing through all of your creativity this week.  A variety of things really caught my eye!  

Remember, If you are pinning one of these great ideas for yourself, please click over to the original link and pin from there - thanks!

Andrea from Scrapality was brave enough to let us into her mess as she is tackling her Heap of Change Challenge.  I think we all have a closet like this in our home.  I know I do!!  Great job on the clean-out!

Heap of Change Challenge from Scrapality

I think I have expressed my love of pom-poms on this blog on more than one occasion, so how could I resist this adorable wreath from Elizabeth at Just Following Jesus?! So cute and I love the red and white bow.  :)

Pom Pom Wreath How To from Just Following Jesus

These carrots that Heather from My Sweet Mission shared look and sound delicious!  They are going on my must try list for sure!

Maple Glazed Carrots from My Sweet Mission

And these little birthday hats that Amy from Delineate Your Dwelling shared are the most precious things!

How to Make Simple Sprinkle Birthday Party Hats from Delineate Your Dwelling

Thanks again for inspiring us each week!! Remember to grab a button for your blog if you were featured!

Each hostess chooses their own features so be sure to stop by each one to see what they picked. :)  Also make sure you check out our pinterest boards.  One board is for features and one board is for other things that may have caught our eye.

Now let's see what you've been up to this week!!

You remember the rules ;)

• Follow ALL of our hostesses in some way: Frazzled JOY, Nancherrow, Sew A Fine Seam, and Skipping Sideways
• Link up as many posts as you like - recipes, decorating, faith, kids, homeschooling, humor, giveaways...whatever unfolded for you lately.
• Grab the code and post the party button or linked text somewhere on your blog.
• Visit a few links (it's a party, people!).
• Pin only from the original posts.
• By joining Fridays Unfolded you are giving us permission to post a linked photo from your shared post.

An InLinkz Link-up

Fridays Unfolded Link Party {#139}

Hello there everyone!  We're back!!  Again, I hope everyone had a wonderful time with family over the past couple of weeks!  My kids went back to school this week and I am eager to get back into the routine of things.  So, let's get back to the party shall we?

My Christmas decor came down a little sooner this year than it usually does.  I was craving the space back and the peace of it all.  Honestly my house has a lot of empty space that it looks a little strange right now. 

Do you take time at the close of a year to look back and see all that the year brought you?  We do, and it's one of my favorite things!  Looking back and recounting God's blessings is a really great thing!!  

In like style I shared with you some of the most popular posts from last year on the blog! There were a lot of changes around our home last year! It was nice to mark some things of my list of to-dos.  :)

I also shared where I am headed for the new year. After all the Christmas decor was gone, the festivities and lazy days were over, and the kids went back to school, I was left with a brain of mush that needed a little direction.  Hopefully my plans will help me get there!!  :)

You guys shared some wonderful stuff as usual. Some of my favorites are Christmas related - since the party started before Christmas, but hey - pin and save for next year right??

Kristi from Making It In The Mountains shared this adorable project.

Rustic Pallet Wood Christmas Card Tree - Making It In The Mountains

A pallet-wood Christmas tree for displaying Christmas cards.  I love displaying Christmas cards - especially since most of them are pics of family and friends we don't see often.

Shelley from Calypso In The Country shared this super cute tablescape complete with gingham and chalkboard - two of my favorite things!!

Christmas Breakfast Table - Calypso In The Country

I love the idea of homemade salad dressing and Jami from An Oregon Cottage shows how to package them up in these adorable mason jars!

Ranch Salad Dressing Mason Jar Gift - An Oregon Cottage

And this sweet story from Jemma touched my heart and reminded how good it is to take a moment with your kiddos (or your nieces and nephews, or your grandkids), and be creative with them!

The Art of Making Snowflakes - At Home With Jemma

If you were featured here be sure to grab a button for your blog!

Make sure you check out the other hostesses to see what they picked.  Also make sure you check out our pinterest boards.  One board for features and one board for other things that may have caught our eye.

As always, thanks for sharing here with us!! Cannot wait to see what you have for us in 2015!!

Remember the rules :)

• Follow ALL of our hostesses in some way: Nancherrow, Frazzled JOY, More Than Mommies, Sew A Fine Seam, and Skipping Sideways
• Link up as many posts as you like - recipes, decorating, faith, kids, homeschooling, humor, giveaways...whatever unfolded for you lately.
• Grab the code and post the party button or linked text somewhere on your blog.
• Visit a few links (it's a party, people!).
• Pin only from the original posts.
• By joining Fridays Unfolded you are giving us permission to post a linked photo from your shared post.

An InLinkz Link-up