Saturday Morning Links: Mama Gets Organized Edition

I often joke that I used to be organized before I had kids and it’s true.

Clutter, inconsistency, and not so great time management: these are my organizational fails.

Now what am I doing right?

I’ve become a pro at saying no to projects, both on the school volunteer front and for my blog and elsewhere, and I generally limit the girls to one activity outside school. I’m woefully inconsistent, however, in other areas. I tend to traipse all over the place when it comes to home management, whether it’s our budget or grocery shopping (thank God my husband doesn’t mind grocery shopping or cooking but he works about 85 billion hours a week) or laundry. I’m pretty gung ho right now about planning our meals, but I’ve joked with hubby about how long that will last.

Perhaps the first step to consistent organization is owning up to my slacker ways.


Mama like (from Ballard Designs).


Here are some helpful posts about organization, productivity, and products:

  • I know Christmas is over and you super organized people packed your decorations the nanosecond December 26 rolled around, but for those of us procrastinators who still need to take down the tree (yes I have managed to pack away everything else), Penelope Loves  Lists has a great post about holiday organization products.

  • Love these storage sacks made from recycled coffee bags at Henry Road (via Busy Bee Lifestyle).

  • Great advice on paper clutter from Stephanie Calahan guest blogging at Organize With Sandy. Paper clutter is one of my biggest issues (nothing makes me happier than the zum zum zum of our mondo paper shredder.)

  • I bought a magnetic dry erase calendar for our fridge last fall from The Container Store and it’s really helped us stay on track of the girls’ obligations for school, soccer, and Girl Scouts.

  • This vinyl chalkboard wall decal from Urban Outfitters would be a great family message center.

  • Love this creative ways to say no. I’ve made great strides in the past year determining what projects are worth focusing on and what to turn down.

  • Love these colorful storage boxes on sale at Land of Nod. My younger daughter is a pack rat and I like that these are semi-translucent so you can see your junk, er, treasures.

  • These Orleans Wire Baskets on sale at Ballard Designs would be pretty in a bathroom or kitchen or on a desk.

  • This book, Absolutely Organized: A Mom’s Guide to a No-Stress Schedule and Clutter-Free  Home, is now on my Amazon wish list

  • Great post from 2009 on Simple Organized Life about reducing memento clutter by taking photos. This is something I really struggle with, especially when the girls bring home tons of cute pictures, artwork, papers, etc.

  • Centsational Girl has a fun guest post by Cristin Bee featuring stylish planners. If you’re going to be organized, you might as well be stylish!

Have you found something fabulous to help you get organized? Let me know in the comments.

Disclosure: Affiliate link used.

Saturday Morning Links: Coveted Cardigan, Hot Toddy, Good Book Edition

A few weeks ago I was waiting at the chiropractor and I noticed that the woman sitting across from me was wearing the most gorgeous gray cardigan. She told me she bought it at a little boutique near my office (cha ching!) that looked expensive but was filled with reasonable things. (Double cha ching!)

I love cardigans because it’s never really THAT cold in Nashville, or at least for very long, and cardigans are versatile. I haven’t quite been able to find a match online to the coveted cardigan but here are a few I love.

This one at Target is a close match and is less than $32:

Have you heard of J. Crew Factory? It’s an online store ONLY open on the weekends. Love this sweater. I read about it on Nashville blogger Dr. Baby Mama Drama’s blog.


I love this one from Anthropologie, too. Although Anthropologie is not cheap.


Oh and this sweater from Sundance, owned by Robert Redford. My mom used to get this catalog and I had completely forgotten about it. Pretty!



Now that Don Draper has left the house until season 5 of Mad Men, SOB, I am down to watching virtually almost nothing on TV except for House with the hubby. There was a time I was totally addicted to HGTV but I burned out on it and all the 9.2 million DIY projects I could be tackling at our 42-year-old house and I’m on a reading kick.


Since Labor Day I’ve read The Help, The White Queen, and Girl in Translation. I’m now reading The Other Queen by Philippa Gregory. I love hearing about a good book and then requesting it on the Nashville library website. Typically, being the ADD kind of girl that I am, I forget about what I’ve requested and then a few weeks later I get an email telling me it’s available at my local branch.


This makes me quite giddy.


Yes, I am a nerd.


Next subject.


Some other fall tidbits for you:

What are you reading or drinking these days?


p.s. Don’t forget to enter my awesome Lipo in a Box shapewear giveaway on my review blog (as featured in O magazine) and my SmartyAnts reading software giveaway.


Affiliate links used for book titles.


Saturday Morning Links: It’s Finally Cold Ya’ll Edition

What can I say? I love Starbucks’ Pumpkin Spice latte. But they aren’t exactly cheap. I found this recipe for pumpkin white hot chocolate at Good Life Eats that sounds amazing and is great for all the non-coffee lovers out there.

I’m in love with this ruffle wool-blend coat from Old Navy. (And all their outerwear is 50 percent off through Nov. 10 just fyi.) I would like to take it out on a date, maybe dinner and a movie.



Speaking of ruffles, I love these DIY baby leg ruffles made from adult size knee high socks featured on Finding My Aloha.


Love these gray boots from Scarpasa. I mentioned on my review blog this week that all their boots are on sale for $150. I kind of have a thing for boots.


These boots would look great with this flyaway cardigan from Nordstrom that Big Mama linked to (she has a great Fashion Friday wrap up every week.) She is also Southern. And funny.


I have naturally wavy hair that tends to be dry and although I am usually one to buy my shampoo and conditioner on sale and at the drug store, I brought home Aveda Smooth Infusion products from New York in August and they have RADICALLY ALTERED MY FOLLICLES. Seriously, I love this shampoo and conditioner. I also use the style prep smoother.


Don’t laugh, but I also love the Schick Intuition razors I brought home from all the swag in New York. I love that I don’t have to schlep out my shaving foam AND my razor. Hey seconds count when you’re a mom.


Stop the presses, but I have actually started CHRISTMAS SHOPPING. This is very unlike me. Sears and Old Navy both have great sales out outerwear this weekend and my mom ordered cute winter coats for the girls from Sears at 60 percent off!


Speaking of shopping, my friend Colleen from Classy Mommy has launched a great new gift guide website called The Gift Guide Girls. Check it out!


I love my demi purse from Thirty One and I’m having a giveaway on my review blog for one of their most popular items, the monogrammed thermal tote, perfect for lunch.


Do you Groupon? Speaking of holiday shopping, kids, and stuffed animals you can spend outrageous amounts of money accessorizing, if you’re looking for a great kids’ gift, Chicago has an incredible side Groupon deal good at any Build A Bear location nationwide.


Target’s Deal of the Day is a gorgeous damask apron for just $12.99. Another great gift idea! I follow Target Daily Deal on Twitter.



I’d never heard of Paper-Moments’ website until they ran a Groupon special. I love these personalized holiday garden flags!



I’m no Martha Stewart, but I love this chalkboard charger idea from Tatertots and Jello. The Thanksgiving table setting is beautiful.


Speaking of international tryptophan induced coma day, Pioneer Woman has a great wrap up of all her Thanksgiving recipes. And my friend Rachel from A Southern Fairytale posted a delicious pumpkin pie pudding with gingersnap crumbles recipe. My friend Leah from So, How’s It Taste? recently posted an amazing banana pancakes with toffee walnut sauce recipe. Drool.


I finally had to physically remove the girls’ Halloween candy from my presence. Everyday Celebrating (a great Middle Tennessee blog), shares ideas for what to do with all that #$%! candy!


Disclosure: Groupon affiliate links used in post.

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