Create a spreadsheet listing all the stuff you buy regularly at the supermarket. Organize into various categories like dairy, produce and paper goods, etc. Print it out every week and hang it on the fridge. (You can also find lists already made online) Then during the week everyone in the family can circle the things you use up or need so you can take the list when you go to the store. No more forgetting that you just ran out of jam! Simple!

real simple

Some of you might think of getting crafty as we start into the holiday season (halloween costumes, fall decor, christmas gifts etc.)... Here are a few tips to "simplify" the process!

*Sharpen your scissors by cutting sand paper.
*Place a little bit of Vaseline to the end of your glue gun to get rid of those long glue strings.
*Soak your paint brushes in fabric softener or hair conditioner for 10 min…cleans right off!
*Need to create a large pattern? Use newspapers!
*Keeping a magnet close by makes picking up those sewing pins a cinch!
*Store those pipe cleaners for kid’s crafts inside of a paper towel tube.
*Break up some styrofoam to create snow for craft projects.

simple tip

Lunches aren't just for kids! Whether you're packing for school, work or a busy day at home... these "simple tips" will have your midday meal under control.

Time: packing lunches the night before will save lots of time during your morning rush. On grocery shopping day, have your children help individually wrap their cookies, snacks , etc. for their lunches. Makes lunch time prep for the rest of the week a breeze and snacks don't disappear before lunches are made.

Money: homemade lunches are so much cheaper than prepackaged meals and fast food.

Calories: skip the calories and sodium in prepackaged food and pack fresh fruits and veggies instead.

Waste: use washable storage containers and reusable lunch bags/boxes to help “save the environment”!

simple tips

Dust Off Your Library Card

If you can no longer justify paying $22 for the latest hardcover, request the book at your local library... and some offer much more than books. Your local branch might allow you to:

1. Borrow newly released movies, the latest cable-TV shows on DVD, and CDs.
2. Download e-books from your library’s website. The loan period is usually two weeks.
3. Listen to podcasts of library lectures you don’t have time to attend.
4. Try out a Kindle, the new handheld e-book from Amazon (retail price: $359).
5. Check out puzzles and games, like Clue, Monopoly, and Yahtzee.
6. Borrow a museum pass. Many city libraries have city passes, which will get you into local attractions, including zoos, aquariums, planetariums, and more for free.
7. Get free delivery. Some libraries can send books, games, and CDs to you via a mail-order program.

Here are the links to our City Libraries as well as our County Libraries.

http://www.mesalibrary.org/

http://www.mcld.org/

Laundry Lunges:
Load the washer one item at a time and do a leg lunge in between each item. Stand facing the washer with both feet together, put one piece of laundry into the washer and take a big step back with your right leg. Lower body straight down into a lunge position. Press through the left heel to bring yourself back up to starting position. Put another piece of laundry in the washer and repeat with the other leg.

Commercial Crunches:
Use those two minutes between programs to work your abs. Bend your knees, place your feet flat on ground, and place rest your head in your hands. Begin to lift your upper body off the ground using your abdominal muscles. Hold for three seconds return to starting position. Do as many as you can during the commercial break and repeat during all commercials. An hour-long program can have as many as 20 minutes of commercials.

Traffic Tushies:
Stoplights and traffic are a fact of life. Make the most of your time by squeezing your glutes when you are stopped in traffic or at a stoplight. See if you can hold it until the light turns green or the traffic starts to move.

Waiting Wall Pushups:
You've got time on your hands while you wait for something, find the closest wall, and place both hands at shoulder height, stepping back from the wall (the farther back your feet are, the more challenging this will be). Lower your body towards the wall. Use your chest and arms to push away from the wall back to starting position.

Calf Raise Cooking:

Dinner preparation time is a great chance to work in some lower leg movement. Whether standing by the sink or the stove, you can do calf raises by standing with your feet together about hip width apart. Begin to raise your heels off the ground so that you are standing on the balls of your feet. Hold for three seconds and lower to starting position. When you are ready for a greater challenge try doing this on one foot at a time

...simple tips...

30 Chores that are 30 Seconds Long!
Empty the Bathroom Trash
Dust the TV Screen
Empty the Vacuum Cleaner dirt bin
Clean a mirror
Wipe down an appliance (dishwasher, oven, fridge...)
Change the towels in the bathroom or kitchen
Test your smoke alarm (make sure no one is taking a nap)
Dust the air vents
Change a battery in a clock
Sprinkle baking soda in the trash can
Toss Junk Mail, Catalogs, Magazines
Treat a stain before laundering
Dust or water the plants
Wipe down a countertop
Wipe down those "forgotten" areas (doorknobs, phones, remote controls...)
Clean out the fridge of any "science experiments"
Replace the box of baking soda in the fridge/freezer
Help your drains by putting 1 c baking soda and 1 c hot vinegar. Wait 5 minutes and then flush with 2 quarts of water. (Use the baking soda you took out of the fridge/freezer)
Clean out the lint filter in your dryer
Sweep your entryway
Clean out the cupholder in your car
Throw out or refill empty cleaning bottles
Check expired or unused prescription medications
Shake the rug in front of your door
Toss the trash/clutter from a small area
Dust a ceiling fan
Wipe down blinds
File the mail from today
Vacuum the windowsills or tops of the doors
Remove outdated papers from the refrigerator

...simple tips...

Make a One Year Clutter Box

Simply pack away all the items you feel you can’t bear to part with but haven’t used for at least 6 months. Label the box with today’s date. On March 1, 2011 if you haven’t opened or used an item from this box, donate it to charity.

...simple tips...

The average bag weighs 3.4 pounds and contains 67 objects!

Pare down to these essentials:

*money, ATM card, & ID

*credit cards or a checkbook

*keys

*work badge

*sunglasses, reading glasses

*basic communication tools such as a PDA, cell phone, day planner

*two core cosmetics, like a compact and lipstick

1. make a meal one day during the week that can be doubled and put in the freezer for Sunday.

2. Pick three or four simple meals, like roast and potatoes in the slow cooker, which can be rotated throughout the month and prepared on Saturday.

3. Depending on your meeting schedule, have sandwiches when you get home and prepare a simple, hot dinner later.

4. Use shortcuts. Store-bought rolls and microwaveable vegetables will round out a casserole taken from the freezer. Put leftover spaghetti sauce on noodles and top with cheese for baked spaghetti.

5. Expect less of Sunday meals. It doesn't have to be your grandma's Sunday dinner every week.