Buying Books at Bargain Prices

I love reading books. The problem with this is that my family of seven all have the same affection for books. We love to read, and we love to continually build our growing library of books. The truth is we have officially run out of bookshelf space for our growing collection.

My parents also love to read – just ask them about the many, many heavy boxes of books we had to move as children each time we moved into a new home. You would think I would have learned my lesson!

So where do we purchase books without breaking the bank?

Click here to read where I find books at bargain prices over at SC Johnson Home Economic blog.

Be sure to leave me  a comment over at SC Johnson

De-Clutter Children Clutter

Our children arrive into the world empty-handed and within days of their birth, the clutter begins! The clutter starts off with diapers, clothes and rattles and as they begin to grow, so does the amount of items and clutter they obtain. You may begin to ask yourself how much stuff does one little person really need?

Maybe your children are now in elementary school or have entered the teen world. No matter what stage of life your children are in, their items can clutter and overtake their rooms and your home.

To de-clutter it all and keep it under control you have to begin with a system that works for you and your children so they can help maintain their clutter.  Click here to read my simple De-Clutter Children Clutter steps over on the SC Johnson Home Economics blog.

Be sure to leave me  a comment over at SC Johnson

*Each week Trisha Blogs on SC Johnson Family Economics website as a paid writer be sure to read her weekly article

Organizing Instruction Manuals, Receipts and Warranties

With the upcoming holiday season upon us, my family will soon acquire a few new items that will arrive with instruction manuals, receipts and warranties. Every year after the holiday cleanup, I find them piled on my desk and waiting for me to find a safe place to keep them just in case they are needed at a future date.

Click here to read about my latest solution for storing and organizing my pile of instruction manuals, receipts and warrantiesover on the SC Johnson Home Economics blog.

Be sure to leave me  a comment over at SC Johnson

*Each week Trisha Blogs on SC Johnson Family Economics website as a paid writer be sure to read her weekly articles

Christmas Organized In One Binder

 Are you making your lists and checking them twice? preparing, planning, shopping, cleaning and getting all the many tasks done for the upcoming Christmas celebrations can often be overwhelming. So years ago I created my Holiday planner binder.

This binder is filled with past gifts purchased, favorite recipes, our holiday card list along with pictures that I have taken of my home decorated so that I can remember how I decorate from year to year.

Create your own Holiday Planner binder with my full how to instructions  over at SC Johnson Home Economic blog.  Click here to read them now.

Be sure to leave me  a comment over at SC Johnson

Free Rewards for Good Grades

My children have always loved finding good deals, whether it be using a coupon or shopping the clearance racks. Above all, they love when they get something for free! With that little known fact, it is easy to motivate them with free rewards for good grades.

This school year, I found several stores and dinning places that reward children with freebies for their good grades. Let’s see how motivated my children get throughout the year with this list of free offers:  Click here to see my full list of free rewards for good grades.

Be sure to leave me  a comment over at SC Johnson

*Each week Trisha Blogs on SC Johnson Family Economics website as a paid writer be sure to read her weekly articles

Online Tips to Save You Time

Not only has the Internet given us the ability to search for information in seconds, it has also given us the convenience to pay bills and shop through many online services. Check out my list of ways to begin saving time and money using online services on the  SC Johnson Family Economics blog.  Click here to read  them now.

Be sure to leave me  a comment over at SC Johnson

*Each week Trisha Blogs on SC Johnson Family Economics website as a paid writer be sure to read her weekly articles

Date Nights on a Budget

by: Trisha Novotny

My husband and I are strong believers in the importance of having date nights. However, with five children, long to-do lists and an often empty wallet, we have to get creative and create date nights on a budget.

As parents, our lives become so focused on our children that it is easy to put our marriages on the back burner. To help keep your marriage on the front burner and adventurous, begin a weekly or monthly date night with these date night tips:

You can read my Date Nights on a Budget ideas steps over at SC Johnson Family Economics blog.  Click here to read  them now.

Be sure to leave me  a comment over at SC Johnson

*Each week Trisha Blogs on SC Johnson Family Economics website as a paid writer be sure to read her weekly articles

De-Clutter It Daily

By Trisha Novotny
24/7 MOMS

Do you often feel your home has become out of control or overwhelmed with clutter and mess? I did until I discovered how to stay on top of our family’s daily clutter and cleaning with a few easy steps. Make these steps a part of your daily habit and soon the clutter and mess within your home will feel under control!

You can read my De- Clutter it Daily  steps over at SC Johnson Family Economics blog.  Click here to read  them now.

Be sure to leave me  a comment over at SC Johnson

*Each week Trisha Blogs on SC Johnson Family Economics website as a paid writer be sure to read her weekly articles

No More Kitchen Spice Disarray

By: Trisha Novotny

I used to dread opening my spices cupboard. At one point, there were at least 30 or more various size jars and bottles of spices stuffed inside my cupboard in complete disarray. When I would sit down to do my weekly meal planning and grocery list, I would often give up searching to see if I had the spices needed for that week’s recipes. I’d then place them on my grocery list only to buy additional spices that I already had.

It was definitely time to organize the spices in my kitchen. Had I only known how simple it was to organize, I could have been saving myself time and money for the past several years.  Are you ready to conquer the spice disarray in your kitchen?

Read my complete how to organize your spices overt at SC Johnson Family Econmois blog.  Click  here to read now.

Click here to read about them now.

Be sure to leave me  a comment over at SC Johnson

*Each week Trisha Blogs on SC Johnson Family Economics website as a paid writer be sure to read her weekly articles

Holiday Planner Binder

By Trisha Novotny

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when you begin to think about all of the shopping, planning, cooking and preparing you will need to do this holiday season.  We all know that the more prepared and organized we are the less stress there will be during the holiday season and the more we will enjoy it!

Nearly 15 years ago, I simplified all of my planning and preparing by creating my first holiday planner binder, which I continuously use year after year to keep track of everything. This binder is filled with past gifts purchased, favorite recipes, our holiday card list along with pictures that I have taken of my home decorated so that I can remember how I decorate from year to year.

Create your own Holiday Planner binder with my full how to instructions  over at SC Johnson Home Economic blog.  Click here to read them now.

Be sure to leave me  a comment over at SC Johnson

*Each week Trisha Blogs on SC Johnson Family Economics website as a paid writer be sure to read her weekly articles

Keep Track of Your Daily Deals

The number of daily deal websites offering money, coupons and online shopping deals is constantly growing. I find myself purchasing an assortment of deals and coupons from local restaurants and shopping services, only to forget when they expire, which daily deal site I made the purchase, or what deals I even purchased!

I decided it was time to find a solution to keep track of them.
 
 Read the solutions I found and wrote about over at SC Johnson Home Economic blog.  Click here to read them now.

Be sure to leave me  a comment over at SC Johnson

*Each week Trisha Blogs on SC Johnson Family Economics website as a paid writer be sure to read her weekly articles

Dinning Out Fun: Do-It-Yourself Restaurant Kits

By Trisha Novotny

Over the years, I’ve discovered the more prepared and organized I am occupying my children while they wait for their meals, the more successful our dining out experience has been. This inspired me to create a Do-It-Yourself (DIY) restaurant kit. This kit is full of fun to keep children busy as they patiently wait for their meals to be delivered to the table.

You may find less fidgeting and “I’m bored” moments by creating your own DIY restaurant kit to take along on your dining experiences.

Create your own DIY Restaurant kit with  my complete how to instructions over at SC Johnson Home Economic blog.  Click here to read them now.

Be sure to leave me  a comment over at SC Johnson

*Each week Trisha Blogs on SC Johnson Family Economics website as a paid writer be sure to read her weekly articles

10 Tips to Save Time in the Kitchen

By Trisha

My fall schedule is filled with children’s activities, upcoming holidays and the day to day craziness of running a household, so I’m always looking for ways to save time in my day. Since most of my day is spent in the kitchen preparing meals and organizing schedules, I developed these 10 time-saving kitchen tips to help my day run a lot smoother:


 Read my 10 time-saving kitchen tips that I wrote about over at SC Johnson Home Economic blog.  Click here to read them now.

Be sure to leave me  a comment over at SC Johnson

*Each week Trisha Blogs on SC Johnson Family Economics website as a paid writer be sure to read her weekly articles

Fall Express Meal Planning

By Trisha

When my children head back to school and all the fall activities begin, my life can get crazy. And putting dinner on the table each night can easily become a frustration.

Rather than being frustrated this fall, I created a list of eight theme nights to assist me in creating an express meal plan, quick and simple.

I will rotate these eight theme nights over the fall choosing a variety of meals from each theme to feed my family without a lot of work.

You can create a fall express meal plan with my eight themed nights ideas. Click here to read about them now.

Be sure to leave me  a comment over at SC Johnson

*Each week Trisha Blogs on SC Johnson Family Economics website as a paid writer be sure to read her weekly articles

Keeping Tabs on Cleaning Supplies

By Trisha

Have you ever found time in your busy schedule to clean your home and begun gathering up all of your needed supplies only to discover many of your items are nearly empty? Fear no longer! I have a few tips that you can use to help prevent making a quick dash to the store and wasting time set aside for cleaning.

Click here to read Trisha's Cleaning Supply tips  at SC Johnson

Be sure to leave me  a comment over at SC Johnson


*Each week Trisha Blogs on SC Johnson Family Economics website as a paid writer be sure to read her weekly articles.

Successful Garage Sale Tips

By: Tisha Novotny

I don’t know why, but all of my children have enjoyed the adventure of hosting garage sales during the summer. Maybe it is the fun of pretending they have a store or the idea that they are making extra money. I, on the other hand, look at hosting garage sales as a lot of work. But over the years I have learned a few successful garage sale tips and tricks.

 
Click here to read Trisha's how to have a successful garage sale over  at SC Johnson

Be sure to leave me  a comment over at SC Johnson


*Each week Trisha Blogs on SC Johnson Family Economics website as a paid writer be sure to read her weekly articles.

Outdoor Activities at the Pool, Lake or Home

By Trisha Novotny

The heat is on and the kids need some cooling down so whether you are hanging at the house, playing at the beach or headed to the cabin, your kids will enjoy cooling off to these fun splish, splash games and activities. To read about my FUN activities clock here to go to SC Johnson.

Click here to read Trisha's how to create a DIY Kids Writing Kit over  at SC Johnson

Be sure to leave me  a comment over at SC Johnson

*Each week Trisha Blogs on SC Johnson Family Economics website as a paid writer be sure to read her weekly articles.

My Magazine Addicition

My obsession with magazines began soon after the birth of my third child. I came to the realization that reading an entire book in a reasonable amount of time was becoming impossible with three kids under the age of four. Thus, the beginning of my addiction to magazines began. Knowing I could sneak in a few minutes here and there to read the latest parenting advice, ideas and tips to inspire me as I traveled my mom journey.

The biggest problem with my new obsession was that there were so many great ideas and articles in each magazine that I had a hard time parting with my already read magazines. I had the attitude that someday I might want this information, recipe or fun idea again. After my stack of magazines began to grow I had to come up with a plan to organize them all. So, I’m going to let you in on my secret to organizing my magazine addiction.

Click here to read about my secret magazine organizing at SC Johnson.

Click here to read Trisha's how to create a DIY Kids Writing Kit over  at SC Johnson

Be sure to leave me  a comment over at SC Johnson

*Each week Trisha Blogs on SC Johnson Family Economics website as a paid writer be sure to read her weekly articles.

Summer Supplies Organized

By Trisha

Summer is here, and for our family that means lots of park days, pool time, day trips and backyard playing. This also means lots of supplies to pack and keep organized. Over the years I have discovered helpful tips that keep our summer supplies organized and ready for fun.


Click here to read Trisha's tips to organize your summer supplies  at SC Johnson

Be sure to leave me  a comment over at SC Johnson

*Each week Trisha Blogs on SC Johnson Family Economics website as a paid writer be sure to read her weekly articles.

Relaxing Summer Meals on the Grill

By Trisha
 
I often refer to summer as my family’s relaxing time of year – it’s when we like to hang out, travel and move at a slower pace of life. When it comes to cooking meals during the summer, we also take the “relaxed” approach by cooking outdoors and using our grill to prepare dinner.

Outdoor cooking can be more than just barbequing hamburgers or chicken, there are lots of simple and tasty meals that you can prepare. Get ready for a relaxing summer of meals on the grill with my tips and organization help over at SC Johnson.

Click here to read Trisha's grilling and BBQ tips over  at SC Johnson

Be sure to leave me  a comment over at SC Johnson

*Each week Trisha Blogs on SC Johnson Family Economics website as a paid writer be sure to read her weekly articles.