Facebook Withdrawal: I just want to tell the world what I'm thinking!

So it's been just over a week since I took the plunge and gave up Facebook for Lent.

I am not going to lie, I've been missing it. 

It hasn't really been that hard, but I definitely wish I could log in. I need my FB fix.

I actually had to log in twice - once to reply to someone about a Relay For Life question.  And another to respond to a message about a fundraiser for a friend with breast cancer. 

Both valid reasons. Both great temptations.

And I am not going to lie - I skimmed that screen shot of the news feed closely.

I didn't scroll, but I was tempted. ;)

This past week, when we've taken a great picture of Hannah or I had one of those this-is-the-greatest-thing-I've-ever-seen-moments, I've longed to type some words in that cute little 'status' bar.

So...one week down.  Five to go.

Bring it.

-M

Life without Facebook?

Facebook. 

Seems like that little 'F' icon is everywhere these days.

I don't think I remember what life was like without Facebook.

I signed up back in college because I was headed to study abroad in Spain, and thought it would be a great way to keep in touch with friends back home and friends I was making overseas.

And I did exactly that. It's a great way to keep in touch with your friends and family. But I didnt' spend much time on it back then.

And then they introduced the News Feed.....

At first everyone hated it.  But then, people realized it was an easy way to stalk your friends and see what they are doing every day.

Admit it, you do the same thing. I admit it fully.

I LOVE the News Feed.

It's addicting. 

I can't get enough.

So why am I talking about Facebook? 

Well, my blogging friends, I am giving up Facebook for Lent this year.

Gasp! Did she just say she was giving up FB!

Yes, I am giving up the world of social networking for the next six weeks.

Might be an unusual thing to give up, but when I started thinking about what to give up this year, it just seemed logical.  I spend entirely way too much time on there - patroling the news feed and checking out my friends' latest statuse updates and photos. Time that could be spent keeping up my household (have you noticed I am totally slacking on Toni's weekly challenge?), spending time with my family, and dedicating time to God.

So, I have challenged myself to stay off of FB for the next six weeks and devote that time to something meaningful.

Who knows, I might have so much free time I won't know what to do with myself? :) 

Not likely.

I'll try and frequently update my blog with my progress! Wish me luck!

What about you - what are you giving up for Lent? 

Or if you don't practice that, what are your thoughts on giving up Facebook? Would it be difficult for you? I'd love to hear from you!

-M

Home Management Binder

I'd like to think that I am a pretty organized person when it comes to paperwork. Problem is, I have papers and important information in several locations. So, when Toni over at A Bowl Full of Lemons challenged us to create a Home Management Binder I decided to give it a try!

The only thing that I had to buy for this project was some tabs. The rest I had on hand. I used a binder, some scrapbook paper and my awesome new labeler that I got for my birthday! (Thanks Mom!)

I found this cute paper in my scrapbook supplies. The picture isn't very good -but it is lime green and gray print. I kinda have a thing for green!

My sections are:

To Do

Cleaning

Schedules

Finances

Medical

Contacts

Gifts

Daycare

Blog

 I used a mix of free printables I found on the net and some that I made myself. I will try and add links where I found the printables.

To Do: 

I have a lot of To-Do Lists lying around. I wanted something I could customize for a certain day of the week or a certain task, but didn't see anything that worked for me online. So I decided to make my own. 

Cleaning:

I also made up my own cleaning schedule that I could change/edit as needed. I made weekly, monthly, quarterly and yearly lists. 

Schedules:

No printables here. Just work and church schedules. These were previously hanging all over my fridge, so it's nice to get them off of there!

Finances:

I made a monthly checklist for each of my bills. My list has the bills typed in, but this is blank for my privacy.

Medical:

I found this printable at Tip Junkie. 

Gifts:

I start next year's Christmas shopping extremely early....like December 26th. So I like to keep tabs on the gifts I have picked up throughout the year (and not just for Christmas). So I typed up these sheets (of course mine are filled in with the names of my family members) to help me keep track of what gifts I have already purchased.

Daycare:

I keep H's daycare schedule and important papers.

Blog:

I am really just getting started with this blog, but eventually I'd like to do a scheduled daily post. I need to start writing down all my ideas on this handy sheet from I Heart Organizing.

I may do a Menu Plan section as well. After seeing everyone else's info, it has motivated me to create a weekly meal plan. I need to try it out for a couple weeks and see if it is beneficial to me.

Well, that's my Home Management Binder.

Hopefully it will prove to be helpful in keeping all of my important info in one place!

A Bit of Thanks

As Kansas prepares for the 'Blizzard of 2011' that is supposed to bring us anywhere from 3-12 inches of snow (seriously...can't all you weather people get on the same page?) on top of the layer of ice that is already on the ground, I was thinking today about how thankful I am that I have the opportunity to work from home. 

When we moved back to Marysville in 2008, my boss was also getting ready for maternity leave, so Turner gave me the chance to continuing working for them remotely while she was out on leave. Those three months went well, and they decided to make it permanent.

Three years later, I am still working remotely, traveling to KC on an 'as needed' basis. All I need is my computer and an internet connection and I am good to go.

Seriously, I love my job.

Love the people I work with.

Love what I do.

Love that I don't have to leave my warm house for the snow, wind and freezing rain happening right outside my window.

And love that I get to sit at home in my comfy sweatpants and sweatshirt in front of my computer with Sirius XM the Blend blaring in the background.

that's my current music fix...changes on a weekly basis ;) 

In today's economic and employment situation, I am EXTREMELY fortunate that I even have a job, let alone an employer that allows me work from home nearly three hours away.

 That's all. Just a little random note of thanks on a Monday afternoon.

What are you thankful for?

Here We Go Again! Challenge Accepted!

In case you missed it, I participated in the 21-Day Organization Challenge over at A Bowl Full of Lemons.  Toni hosted an amazing challenge, and as a result, my house is on it's way to total organization!

ok, well, maybe not totally organized... ;)

Missed out? That's ok, because Toni is getting ready to host a new weekly challenge over at ABFL.  I'm excited for this one, because it will involve bigger projects, but we'll have a week to finish them. 

Ready to jump in and get organized? Click here or visit a A Bowl Full of Lemons to get started!  But, hurry, it starts on Sunday!

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Day 21: Your Choice.....Coupons

WOW!  Today is the last day of the 21-Day Organization Challenge over at A Bowl Full of Lemons!

Hard to be believe just a few weeks ago, my house was in complete disarray and totally un-organized.

And now it is...um....semi-organized?!?  It is - but there is still MUCH more to do!

No, truthfully, the organization in this house has greatly improved. The 21 tasks, whether small or large, have made my daily routine more efficient and just down-right easier. 

Thank you Toni for hosting such an awesome challenge! Can't wait to get started on your weekly challenge! There's always something more to do to keep/get this household organized!

Thanks also to all the other bloggers for their supportive comments! And for giving me such great ideas!

Now...on to Day 21.

Toni told us to pick our own challenge for today - to highlight something that we have organized at our house.

So, I chose kind of a weird thing...my Coupon Binder. I keep it very organized - it really never gets to out of shape.

I started using coupons in 2008 when my husband and I moved into our first home. Money was tight as we purchased needed items for our new place.  I say that I truly started 'couponing' in late 2009 when I found out I was pregnant with our first child. 

(Isn't there some statistic that says it takes $250,000 to raise a child from birth to age 18? If that doesn't make you want to save money, I don't know what will!)

When I first started using coupons, I used one of these small photo albums. I just grouped like items together. It was small and easy to throw in my purse.

I qiuckly outgrew that binder as I started using more coupons, so I grabbed an old binder from college, picked up some cheap tabs at a back-to-school sale, bought some baseball card holders, and made up this binder.

I have 16 different tabs, such as snacks, soup/bread, baby items, pet items, etc. This is the best way for me to easily find the coupons I need as I am creating my shopping lists.

I am not an 'extreme' couponer by any means, but I estimate that I have cut my grocery bill in half by using coupons and pairing them with store sales.  I also price match other grocery stores' ads at Walmart (since Walmart and our small, local grocer are my only choices for shopping).

Couponing does take time and patience, but has definitely proved to be worthwhile for my family.

And that's a WRAP! We're done!