Today I’ve got a post on Roo Mag with some tips for staying organized in the summer. If you’re one of my regular reader, I hope you’ll stop by Roo Mag for a visit.
If you are visiting from Roo Mag, I bid you welcome.
In the Roo Mag post I mention my idea for posting summer lunch options on the fridge for hungry kids. Today I’ve got a special announcement regarding that lunch idea post. Thanks to my friend and assistant Natalie Longoria, all of your lunch suggestions from last month have been compiled, including the recipes, and are available for free in a downloadable PDF. To access them, go to the “Resources” section on my blog and you’ll see them as the first option.
This is my first time offering a download, so please let me know if you have any problems accessing it. I’m absolutely delighted to offer it to you.
And if you have any tips for keeping your home and family organized in the summer, I’d love to hear them. Who knows, I might compile them for everyone to enjoy. I LOVE reading your comments and advice. I’m learning from all of you!
In His love,
Glynnis
P.S. If you are reading this in an email, you’ll need to visit my blog directly to leave a comment. Click here.
I bought the Lands End XL tote that zips for all our pool needs. I always keep it stocked with our towels, pool toys (kept in a separate bag that zips), shampoo and soap (in another zip bag), wet bag with dry swimsuits that can be used to take home the wet suits, and one set of undies for everyone (we always forget those!). It hangs in the laundry room and when we return from a trip I hang, wash or dry all that needs to be cleaned and as soon as it is ready- I pack it back up so we are ready for our next trip at a moments notice. My kids have an extra towel and suit that is for use at home so we don’t have to unpack our pool bag unless we are heading to the pool.
Wow can I relate to the paper problem. I have a friend who was a chemist at a paper mill that computers were going to put them out of business. That was about 25 years ago. Guess they were wrong.
LUCKILY, God blessed me with a husband who is a master paper organizer – for that matter he is a master orgainizer of all things.
like your site…..been slowly trying to get more organized
Was able to get into your resource file–great!
Thank you
Thanks for the lunch menu pdf! I love your tips and I will be reviewing you book- I Used to be So Organized soon!
Thank you very much for the lunch tips. I am not very creative with food, so your tips really come in handy.
Downloading was no problem.
I love your blog. I got on board because I have a problem with clutter. Your advise has helped already, although I am still learning. Getting rid of stuff that has been piling up for years isn’t easy. Especially since I work and when I have time, there always seems to be something more important (or more enjoyable) to do.
Keep the tips going though. They are really helpful.
Ellen (from the Netherlands)
Thank you SO MUCH for posting the wonderful lunch ideas! As a mom, I struggle with the daily activities of maintaining a home and providing healthy food options that are EASY is a never-ending challenge for me. Now I might have a fighting chance!
Hi Glynnis, I like to fix up a drink station with flavored tea bags, stevia, or individual on the go packets like lemonade with disposable cups The kids can put it in a cup with water & ice:) or cold bottled water To keep children or grand kids from using lots of cups I take a sharpie & write their names on it! You can also fill up a plastic sun tea jar with ice water with lemon slices &orange slices or lime slices! It might get pretty sticky with Kool-aide
When my kids were little I longed for a water fountain in my house then they could get something to drink @ any time! 
I put all the drink station supplies in cute red & white polka dot soup cups or cute baskets even sand buckets would be cute! I try to get out of the box sometimes!!! A breakfast station is fun too with the mini boxes of cereal, granola bars, instant oatmeal & fruit & disposable spoons & bowls!! We all need something fun & different! Just let those creative juices flow Happy Summer
When my kids were in summer sports, I kept game supplies in a quickly grabbed tote: a book, bottled water, granola bars, a blanket to sit on, sunscreen, first aid kit, small towel, change for the snack bar, and so on. It made spending hours at the ballpark or pool bearable.
I also keep a book and a folding beach chair in my car, for times when I have to wait somewhere. Sitting under a tree in the shade is much better than waiting in my car, even if the tree is in the middle of a parking lot. You’d be amazed at how many nice waiting spots there are when you’re prepared!
To help my 11 year old daughter keep up with her chores, I typed up a one page sheet with 7 days of her daily chores, and any weekly chores go on the particular day she needs to do them, i.e., water plants on porch on Monday, gather trash around house on Tuesday, bring the large garbage can up from street on Wednesday, etc. We post the week’s date at the top of the page, and she checks off the chores as she gets them done. She turns it into me at the end of the week to receive her allowance. She has certain chores she has to finish before going off to play with a friend or having one over. It keeps me from having to remember to tell her daily to make her bed, unload the dishwasher, etc. When she asks to go play I can just ask if she’s done the chores required before going. If she says yes, and I find she hasn’t, then she loses privileges. It has stopped the, “but you didn’t tell me I had to do that,” when I’ve forgotten to name one of the chores. We are all much happier.
Forgot to mention that I made one for myself to help me stay on track with daily and weekly main stuff. I leave room to write in any other things I need to add to the list. I need to set up my larger notebook with everything, but for now during the summer, this system has worked for me.
I love this list! Thanks!
I’ve been enjoying your blog and this study immensely. Now if my whirlwind summer would just slow down so I can implement some of these great ideas. As a homeschool mom, I have more than my share of unorganized paper. I have 3 over-scheduled weeks left and then I have promised myself to go back and tackle some of these projects that you have so graciously given us tips to get started.
I bought a paper shredder. Now I collect all my papers I don’t need and shred them. Oh, and magazines? The nail salons in my neighborhood LOVE magazines!!!! Still tackling my night stand’s paper issues…..one step at a time!!!
Great tips, thanks. I just need to get out of the mind-set of thinking that I have to keep the paperwork ‘just in case’!
Read your note this morning about paper clutter. I am being suffocated by paper! I recycle newspapers, so that’s not a problem. It’s the piles of paper that do not have a home, and I guess I’d rather pile than file! I find myself moving a pile from the kitchen counter to the table; then from the dining table to the coffee table. My “piling system” is driving me crazy! After reading your post this morning, I think there may be hope for me! Thanks!
Thanks for the encouragement. Our kids are teens now,
but the paper piles continue!!! Looking forward
to getting the organized.
You have such a pretty page. That alone inspires me! I found this site through a newsletter from Barbara Tako on clutter. I’m glad I checked it out!
Thank you for leaving a comment! I’m glad you found my site!