This tip has to do with helping to get yourself organized.  It comes from BabyCenter and although a REALLY, REALLY long list…there is LOTS of great info and very helpful tips.

Their first 5 are some of my favorites:

1. Commit to change
2. Take it slow
3. Keep it simple
4. Sort & purge
5. Store things sensibly

Some others from the list that I really like and our family does as well:

Find a key spot for your keys.
We have a bowl in the kitchen for ALL keys (and sunglasses), next to the phone / iPod / iGo Charger stand.

Make old toys new again.
I learned this from the family I was a nanny for in college. The mom was BRILLIANT.  She rotated boxes of toys.  She actually went so far as to number each box 1 thru 5 and each week pulled out a different large box of fun.

Cut clutter on bedside tables.
I LOVE to go to bed feeling free from the day (and wake up to something clean – might be the only time I do!).  So I try to keep as few of things as possible on the bedside table.

Maximize closet space.
OHHHH do we maximize!  Check out the recent Master Closet post. My youngest sister came to my rescue in super organization hero style! Or this past organizing post, the last time I attacked it all.

Designate a “kid zone”.
I’m a big fan of keeping a space from feeling KID RUN OVER so I try to give them spaces within our space.  For example, a reading area (with a cute bean bag and baskets of books ~ they may even grab a quick shut eye if you’re lucky), and their own kitchen area (with a little table and chairs, black like our grown up one so it fits into the room).

Make space for play things.
We have lots of cute Pottery Barn type baskets and storage ottomans that I hide the kids things in. (The Havana lidded basket is a great option!) It makes family spaces family friendly without feeling like we live in a toy store.

Happy Friday everyone!  Enjoy your weekend!

Be sure to check back on Monday with a new week’s menu along with the Battle of the Belly update.  For those of you with me in the battle, keep charging on! Keep  your eye on the prize and we can all get rid of those once loved (for the food we got to eat), but no longer needed baby lbs!!!!! (If you do not have the Flat Belly Family Cookbook, check out the MFE Recipe category for a few yummy examples.)

I’m  hoping to finish up a couple more closets this weekend.  Getting the weight off my shoulders and life back in gear is feeling good!  Remember, if you’re stuck in the mud, STOP, and get back to basics, and get mama feeling good again!!