Black Friday Guide – Get Organized with this Printable List


This week is going to be overwhelming and with Thanksgiving approaching and all of the deals you’ll be wanting to take advantage so I made this Black Friday guide to help you get organized.

You can print this Black Friday Guide for Free!

Black Friday Guide

In this Black Friday Guide, you can add your shopping list as well as plan the stores you may want to hit during the week.  Some of the deals may happen on Brown Thursday or Cyber Monday and should help with getting the tasks you want done during the week.

Do you have your own Black Friday Guide you use?  How do you stay organized?

If you need more Holiday Organization, Go here to get more Free Holiday Printables.

 

Get Organized this Holiday ~ Free Holiday Printables

Free Holiday Printables

Free Holiday Printables

The holiday season is really stressful for me.  I can’t seem to enjoy myself until Christmas day and by then it’s all over!

Each year I stress over the same things… decorating, buying presents, shopping for the dinner, making dinner and wrapping gifts.  I tend to tackle this all and overload myself with stress!  We’ll this year I’m saying No to the Holiday Stress!

I’ve created several holiday printables to get organized.  I want to make I’m ready for the holiday by the first week of December.  I plan to have all of my shopping done, my gifts wrapped and my decorations up and be able to celebrate this wonderful season.

Do you feel like that too?  If so, join me on this journey this holiday season for a stress free holiday.

I’ll be sharing tips throughout the week to help you stay on track and get through the holiday as stress free as  possible.

To get your Free Holiday Printables, like PinchThisStretchThat on Facebook and gain access to all of these printable holiday forms.

Free Holiday Printables

  • Holiday Card List
  • Holiday Gift Organizer
  • Holiday Cleaning Schedule
  • Holiday Menu Planner
  • Calendar
  • Black Friday Shopping Guide
  • Holiday Planning Guide
  • Decorating Checklist

Want more Organization Tips?  Be sure to check out all of my Organization posts!

 

 

Thrifty Thursday: This Week’s Thrift Store Find – How to Organize Plastic Containers

Organize Plastic Containers

I really hate my plastic containers.  I hate how all of mine are different sizes.  With them being different sizes, that means different lids.

With different lids, it seems once you try finding the right size plastic container lid.  That becomes a nightmare.  I get extremely frustrated and never really knew how to organize plastic containers.

So this week’s thrift store find, is simply AMAZING!!

I found this white Cabinet Organizer  similar to this:

Cabinet Organizer

I paid $1.50 for this cabinet organizer !! Wahoo!!! What a find!   When I laid my eyes on this, I knew I was going to use it to organize  my plastic containers.

Here’s what my cabinet looked liked before.  All of my plastic containers and lids were stored together.  I could never find anything on how to organize plastic containers and It was just a pain.

Before

How to Organize Plastic Containers and Lids

 

Here’s a look at what it looks like after.. everything nice and organized.

After 

How to Organize Plastic Containers and Lids

 

I love how I’m now able to pull out the shelf and all my lids are in one place.  No more digging to find the right lid.  Yay!

I know all of you won’t be able to find the same deal I did at the thrift store but if you love the way that I organized my plastic containers.  You can grab the same Cabinet Organizer at Amazon.

Do you find that you have the same issue?  How did  you organize your plastic containers?  I’d love to hear your thoughts on:

How to Organize Plastic Containers

Free Printable Commission Chore Chart and Help Wanted Tabs

We started using a commission chore chart instead of giving our kids an allowance. The allowance didn’t work for us. They would lose interest in repetitive chores, plus our kids would argue on why they have to do this, while the other has to do that. Rather than changing the charts and trying to figure out who does what.  I created these Help Wanted Tabs to go along with our Commission Chore Chart.

Commission Chore Chart

Each kid get their own Commission Chore Chart.  Then they get to choose which chores they want to do. When they are are we fill out their Commission Chore Chart this way we can keep track of which chore is done and how much each child earns.

This is great motivational tool for our kids and it teaches our children how they have to work to buy things and work isn’t always easy.

Right now they are saving up for Christmas and Birthday presents.

Here’s how we break it down:

1.)  The kids have daily chores they need to do to contribute as a part of this family.  Such as making their beds, picking up, doing dishes and so on..  They do not get paid for this.  If they don’t do these items they have consequences they need to face such as losing privileges, extra chores, etc..

2.)  Help Wanted Tabs.  These consists of things that need to be done, but are not things that have to be done daily such as picking up weeds in the yard, washing the car or picking up dog poop.  It’s an incentive for the kids to choose whether they want to work or not.  If they want to work they get paid.  If they don’t want to do any of these “jobs” they don’t get paid.  It’s simple and It’s their choice.  No more fighting about paying them for a job they didn’t do.  Now If more than one child wants to do the chore, they are required to work together and split the pay.

Secretly… we keep the Commission Chore Chart all together that way they compete with each other.  The kids don’t like how one is earning more money than the other.  Plus this works better for me because on those weeks that I might low on funds, I can control how much and if I want to pay out any commissions.

Do your kids get an allowance/commission?  If so I’d love to hear how you manage this!

Want to print your very own?

Free Printable Commission Chore Chart

Free Printable Help Wanted Tabs for Commission Chore Chart

 

 

Freezer Cooking: Part 4 – Stuff Every Freezer Cook Should Know

Freezer Cooking

Welcome back to Part 4 – Stuff Every Freezer cook should know.  If you are just now joining in on this series, be sure to check out Part 1 – The Benefits of Freezer Cooking , Part 2 – Different Methods of Freezer Cooking  and Part 3 –Seven Necessary Freezer Cooking Steps

Stuff every freezer cook should know.

Freezer Cooking

Lingo

Flash Freeze – You’ll hear me say this.. This method use to freeze food items individually.  Here’s an example of Flash Freeze.  Lets say we are making meatballs, you’ll roll each meatball, place them on a baking sheet that has been lined with wax paper and place the baking sheet in the freezer until all the meatballs are frozen.

Get the Air Out – You’ll hear me say this… This method is used to remove all of the air in your storage container.  Air is the enemy when you’re freezing foods.

Foods that should not be frozen

  • raw potatoes
  • sour cream
  • lettuce
  • mayonaise
  • eggs in their shell, whole hard cooked eggs

 Freezer Do’s and Don’ts

Do’s

Do make sure you have all of your supplies on hand.

Do take breaks

Do prep foods the day before hand

Do wear an apron

Don’ts 

Don’t go overboard, especially if this is your first time freezer cooking

Don’t shop and cook on the same day

Don’t refreeze a frozen meal

Don’t forget to label each item along with the date

 

This concludes the Freezer Cooking series… Join me on throughout the week where each Friday, I’ll be using the multiple meal cooking method.  Then throughout the following week I’ll share with you my shopping list, recipes as well as my tips and tricks on how to shop, save and reduce your time in the kitchen.

Can’t wait to get started?  Grab these books for:

Freezer Cooking

 

Freezer Cooking: Part 3 ~ Seven Necessary Freezer Cooking Steps

Freezer Cooking

Welcome back to Part 3 –Seven Necessary Freezer Cooking Steps. If you are just now joining in on this series, be sure to check out Part 1 – The Benefits of Freezer Cooking and Part 2 – Different Methods of Freezer Cooking.

In order to get started with Freezer Cooking there are a few necessities you will want to do before you get started.

Step One:  Organize your pantry.  This is important because you need to know what you have on hand and how much you’ll need to purchase to get started.

Step Two:  Stock up on Freezer Storage Supplies which include:

  • Freezer Bags, Gallon and Pint size
  • Plastic Wrap
  • Aluminium Foil
  • Wax Paper
  • Drinking Straw
  • Sharpie
  • Optional:  Freezer Containers, Aluminum Trays.  – These tend to take up more space in your freezer.  I would only recommend using them if you have the space.

If you have a foodsaver and the bags, those work wonderful, however can be pricey.  I’ll be showing you the cheaper way around that, but still an effective method.

Step Three:  Think of all of the appliances you have and can use.  Examples are items, such as Crockpot, Rice Cooker, Grill, etc.  This can help you cook more items at once and get done quicker.  When planning your menu, be sure to include those recipes.

Step Four:  Choose a Freezer Cooking Day

Step Five:  Make a list of the recipes you want to freeze.  If you are trying a new recipe, make sure to cook one ahead of time to ensure your family likes it.  This way you aren’t making a weeks worth of food your family will not eat.

Step Six:  Make your shopping list and shop ahead of time.  You don’t want to shop and cook on the same day.  You’ll be exhausted before you even get started

Step Seven:  Have Fun!!

Join me tomorrow where I’ll conclude this series with Part 4 – Stuff Every Freezer Cook should know.

 

Freezer Cooking: Part 2 ~ Different Methods of Freezer Cooking

Freezer Cooking

freezer cooking

 Freezer Cooking

Welcome back!  If you are just now joining us on this series, be sure to visit Part 1 – The Benefits of Freezer Cooking…

Today I wanted to share with you the different methods of freezer cooking.  Here are some of the most common methods:

  1.  Once a Month Cooking – This is where you take an entire day or two and you cook for an entire month.
  2.   Bulk Cooking – This is where you do mini sessions, throughout the month .
  3.   Multiple Meal cooking – This is where you cook daily, but you make more than one meal.  You’ll eat one then freeze the others.
  4.   Freezing Leftovers –  This is when you take  leftovers and freeze them into another meal, a single meal or to add on to a future meal.

Which method is best?  Well that all depends on you.  Depending on your schedule the once a month cooking may work best for you.  Others may want to double or triple their meals so the multiple meal option may be better for them.

I started off with the once a month cooking and for me it’s exhausting, especially doing it by myself.  Once the weekend was over, I was thrilled and the benefits paid off when we got to enjoy all of the meals I made.

You can set an hour a day to get your freezer cooking done.  You can save on time and cooking by getting  a few friends involved and do the multiple meal cooking method.   Where 5  of your friends each makes 5 of the same meals.  Then Swap.  You instantly have 5 different meals.  Like I said choose the method that will work for you and your schedule.

Before we move on to part 3 – I want to make sure that each of you understand with freezer cooking you still have to “cook” the meal.  When you pull it from your freezer some of the recipes will require you to defrost them and all of the require you to “cook” them.  What you are saving on is the preparation time and clean up time.

Still interested?  Join me tomorrow where I show you the Necessary Freezer Cooking Essentials.

Freezer Cooking

Freezer Cooking ~ The Benefits of Freezer Cooking

 

This week’s 4 part series is going to be on Freezer Cooking!

This is something that I did for my family when I worked full time.  My husband and I were on opposite schedules, he would often be exhausted after picking the kids up from daycare that he’d stop and pick up fast food on the way home.

As a working Mom, I felt guilty.  I didn’t want my family eating out every night therefore, I incorporated freezer cooking in our lives.  I would spend one  entire weekend cooking up 30 different meals and all my husband had to do was come home and heat it up.

Now as a stay at home mom, I haven’t really done much freezer cooking, however I plan on getting back into the habit, this way on those nights full of activities or just the lazy I don’t want to cook days, I’ll have something in my freezer.

Let’s get started shall we?

Some of you may not be familiar with freezer cooking.  Freezer cooking is about making your life easier.  You’re preparing meals ahead of time, such as breakfasts, lunches, dinners, side dishes and other ingredients you can use to make a meal.  It’s to help you save time in your kitchen and alleviate stressful evenings, giving you more time to spend with your family.

Picture this – Mom, what’s for dinner?  You reply, I don’t know.  Mom, I’m hungry!   You reply, I know sweetie, mommy will start cooking soon.  The clocks ticking away and you realize anything you make will take about an hour or so, exhausted you decide to call in for Pizza instead.  – Sound familiar?

Now imagine this instead… Mom, what’s for dinner?  You reply, (opening your freezer seeing all of these prepared meals) and you list……  Whatever you decide is just a heat up away.

Aren’t you excited?  If so, be sure to join me tomorrow and I’ll show you the different methods of Freezer Cooking.

Back to School Lunch Tips

Last year, I asked my readers to share with me tips on making back to school lunches easier.
The tips I received were:

  • Cutting their sandwiches into shapes
  • Save time by making their lunch the night before.
  • Freezing a water bottle, instead of sending an ice pack.  Water will stay cold and keep lunch cold.
  • Pre-making sandwiches using 6 pack dinner rolls, cutting them and freezing left overs, put frozen ones in lunch box, defrosted by lunch time.  (You can use regular bread too, but it takes longer to defrost)
  • Buy a 6 pack of Gatorade bottles, reuse bottles.  Send kids with juice, koolaid etc.
  • Heat soups or pasta in the morning, will be lukewarm by lunch time
  • Fruit and Veggies along with dip make great sides in lieu of chips
  • PBJ in a tortilla.  (Add apples slices for more fun)
  • Make a list of all the items you’ve made lunch with, this way on those days that you can’t figure out what to make, you’ll have your list to refer to.
  • Bagels and cream cheese
  • Get a large flour tortilla, stuff it will all your goodies and roll it.  Cut into slices.  An easy way to make multiple lunches.
  • Often times my kids come home with a good bit of their lunch.  I started feeding them a hearty breakfast and sending quick things for them to eat at lunch.  Cheese slices, crackers, ham slices (kind of like your own homemade lunchable.) Fruits and Veggies.
  • Hot dogs or Corn Dogs heated and wrapped in foil before leaving for school

One of the things I purchased was an insulated food container, like this:

This made my life so much easier, because I would open up a can soup or pasta, heat it up and it would stay warm for the kids for lunch time and the best part of it there was no fuss involved.  One of the things I did have difficulty with is giving them enough to drink.  My kids always seemed so thirsty.  I’m still working on what works best for quenching their thirst.

Do you have any other ideas I may not have mentioned?  If so, please share, I’ll be sharing more suggestions!

MomsLifeboat ~ Las Vegas, NV
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