Using Time Wisely

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Archives for 2012

Home Depot: Cork Bulletin Board

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The Home Depot Kids' Workshop for August 2012

Photograph Credit: The Home Depot

In preparation for the new school year, The Home Depot Kids’ Workshop tomorrow will give kids a free cork bulletin board project.

If your student could use a special place for notes, reminders, and favorite photos, then visit a participating Home Depot location.

Saturday, August 4, 2012

9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Home Depot

Kids’ Workshop making a cork bulletin board

• Kids will learn to build their very own cork bulletin board while learning tool safety
• Have fun, make friends, and gain a sense of achievement and work ethic
• You can paint and add embellishments to your project while at the workshop

This free activity is recommended for ages 5-12, but younger children will enjoy them as well. Each child gets to keep his craft and receives a free Kids’ Workshop apron, commemorative pin, and certificate of achievement.

My children love taking out the project, counting the pieces, and working through the instructions step by step. As you plan your weekend, enjoy using time wisely with your family and friends.

For more family events, check Using Time Wisely’s Facebook page. The events tab is updated often to keep you posted on free or inexpensive events. While on Facebook, join our community by clicking “like” and sharing this journey of using time wisely. Happy weekend!

Question: What activity are you planning for the weekend?

MeetPenny.com: Free Oven-free Menu Plan

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Meet Penny.com's oven-free August menu plan

Photograph Credit: MeetPenny.com

For those who enjoy the warmth of summer, is it hot enough? I am amazed at how often my air conditioner kicks on during the day. The evening is more sporadic, but the daytime cycles seem much too frequent.

In keeping the heat out of the kitchen, Tabitha from MeetPenny.com offers a free printable August oven-free menu plan on her blog. Woo hoo!

To maximize your savings, compare her menu to what you have on hand. Start with those meals while you scour your store ads for sales and buy one, get one free items. Then enjoy feeding your family without turning on your oven.

Keep enjoying your summer before it’s gone. Stay cool, and happy menu planning! 😉

Question: What is your favorite non-oven-needed meal?

Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day – August 1, 2012

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Support Chick-fil-A on August 1, 2012

Photograph Credit: Mike Huckabee

I love the Chick-fil-A food chain for so many reasons. Chick-fil-A gave me my first job. I was a cashier for a summer during high school.

Besides finding Chick-fil-A chicken delicious, I also appreciate the work ethic expected and demonstrated from the management down to fellow cashiers.

As a Christian, I never had to compromise my standards while working. Sundays were set aside for worship and family time which continues today at every Chick-fil-A. So, when the CEO of Chick-fil-A speaks about family values, he speaks from conviction and by example.

I am honored to support Chick-fil-A’s stand defining the family unit as a husband and a wife. Though I expected some resistance, I did not expect the uproar over Chick-fil-A’s stance.

As a response to the backlash, Mike Huckabee endorsed a Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day for today, August 1, 2012. For more information, check out Mike Huckabee’s post.

If you also agree with Chick-fil-A, consider stopping by to show your support. I know I will support Chick-fil-A, which is “my pleasure!”

Question: Was the backlash Chick-fil-A received justified? 

Summer Picnic & Barbecue Planning Guide – Part 2 of 5

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Distributing the responsibilities

Photograph Credit: iStockphoto

Getting that high utility bill encourages me to plan more grilling, leaving the heat outside. Though really hot during the day, we get a little reprieve in the evening hours with some shade at dinner time. If you can handle the heat, then start the grill and invite some friends over for a summer picnic and barbecue.

After a break for our What Do You Think? Week, I return to our planning guide. In Part 1 of 5, we planned our menu and created a list of all items needed for our gathering. Today, we continue our planning guide by distributing the responsibilities.

Part 2: Distributing the Responsibilities

The idiom “many hands make light work” applies to events. After getting the details written down, I enlist the help of my guests. Usually our guests offer to bring a dish to contribute to the meal. With my menu planned, I can offer suggestions when asked, “What can I bring?”

Possible suggestions include:

      • Beverages
      • Breads (hamburger and hot dog buns)
      • Dessert
      • Side
      • Paper products
      • Condiments

By referring back to my master list, I can distribute responsibilities for items still needed on my list. In working together and distributing the responsibilities, we plan our summer picnic and barbeque together and share the work.

As you endure these hot summer days, entertaining friends is not only possible, but doable with a grill and a little planning. In using time wisely, we have chosen our menu and distributed the responsibilities for our summer picnic and barbecue.

Next week, we will create an inviting space to welcome our guests. Continue using time wisely while organizing your next gathering. Happy planning!

Question: How often do your guests ask, “What can I bring?”

Organizing: Finding Solutions at Home

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Organization - finding a solution at home

Final Product!

Summer fun continues to fill my days. However, school is fast approaching, and my schedule is about to change.

With a second grader at school all day and a kindergartner going half day, I will shuttle back and forth with my toddler. Yikes!

Knowing my time at home will come in short spurts, I am working to get my home in shipshape. Concentrating on my downstairs, I cleaned top to bottom and focused on my eye-sore downstairs.

Blue totes to hold electronics

The Eye-sore

The Problem Area

Around Christmas in 2011, we purchased our first flat screen television to replace our small box television set downstairs. After moving our large mirror to our half bathroom and mounting our 40” television, we discovered that the cords were short and on opposite sides of the screen.

The short cords on the one side hook up to our VCR (yes, we still have one), DVD player, and Wii console. Needing to elevate our units, we choose a stack of totes as our temporary solution. Well, our temporary solution lasted for six months. Time got away from me.

Finding a Solution

Finding an organizational solution

Our media storage unit

As I checked each station downstairs to improve efficiency, I needed a solution to the blue totes. Not wanting to spend any money, I looked around our home for an option. As I scanned my downstairs, my eyes detected a possible solution in our media storage center.

Hopeful that all the cords would reach the outlets, I moved (read: unloaded and carried to new spot) and found success. Allowing the VCR, DVD, and Wii to sit on the mantel with the power strip resting on the media storage center brought a smile to my face.

The totes were returned to storage, and I loaded the items back onto the media storage center. Whew!

The Result

By moving our media storage center to create a workable space, I found a solution in using time wisely that fits our needs, looks nice, and required no purchase. 🙂

Collage of before and after pictures

Before, During & After

Finding organizational solutions that complements your room may not cost you any money. Look at items around your home and view them in light of solving your solution. I passed over that media storage unit many times, but it worked.

As you prepare your home and children for a great school year, continue using time wisely while saving money, energy, and time. Happy organizing!

Question: What space needs attention in your home?