1. Plan ahead – It is important to have a plan ahead of time, especially if you are cooking for a large group. Planning ahead keeps you from having to make split-second decisions when you are supposed to be cooking.

2. Prep ahead – Once you have your plan, it is important to begin to prep as soon as possible. This can be done several days in advance. For instance, if you have to dice a bunch of vegetables, you can probably get that done two to three days in advance and store them for use. Same with making stock or broth; make it a week in advance and freeze for use. Prior prep work makes for a smooth cooking day.

3. Don’t be overly ambitious – Just because you think you can pull off a full five course professional meal with one oven and a dog that eats crumbs off the floor, doesn’t mean you need to show off your skills for the first time with 30 hungry people waiting. Keep your meals simple yet elegant and not only will your stress levels be down, but so will the stomach growling of your family and friends.

4. Time plan – One of the hardest things to accomplish is getting everything ready on time so it comes out hot, all at once. This is a simple thing to figure out, but many people don’t take the time to think about this ahead of time. Take a look at what you need to cook, how you are going to cook it, (i.e. stove, oven, crock pot) and how long it takes to cook. Once you have those figures, just walk back from the time you are supposed to have company in order to figure out when you need to put stuff on or take it off.

5. Use simple recipes – Using one pot, or simple recipes that do not call for a mess, can keep your life simple as peach cobbler (which also uses one pan). The fewer pans you use, the better off you will be. There will be less to clean up and less you need to worry about finishing at the same time.

6. Clean as you go – Not every recipe calls for single pan usage, so if you have to dirty more than one pan, cleaning as you go will reduce stress big time. Keeping your area clean is a major stress reducer, especially once the food is cooked and ready.

7. Music – Listening to music is another great way to take the stress out of the kitchen. Studies have shown that music actually helps to calm the system and remove stress.

8. Reduce movements – While music might take the mental stress out of the picture, reducing your movements will help to take the physical stress off. Grab a trash bowl to put on your counter and throw everything in there so you are not walking back and forth to the trashcan. Organize your kitchen to help you find things quickly and lower the stress level every time you don’t move.

9. Delegate – Stress usually happens because you have too much stuff to do and not enough time to do it. If you have any children, now would be a good time to delegate and distress. Having some people to help you out can reduce stress quickly and efficiently.

10. Clean out your fridge ahead of time – Nothing is more stressful than ending a fantastic meal, only to find out there is no room in your fridge for the leftovers. Having a clean fridge will help reduce the after-party stress. A clean fridge mans less wok for you and less chaos trying to keep the food from spoiling.

By following some, or all, of these simple tricks, you can distress your cooking. Grab your knife and cutting board; flip on some tunes and start whipping up a storm of scrumptious goodies.

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Tip #1 – Delegate Tasks – It’s easy as a mom to take on every task yourself. This is only going to stress yourself. Take time to delegate some of those tasks to give yourself a break and free yourself to do more important things.

Tip #2 – Create a To-do List – Every day, it’s a good idea to create a to-do list for that day. This way you know what needs to be accomplished. Looking at the list will help you remember what you must do and as you check things off the list, it will keep you motivated to keep on going.

Tip  #3 – Plan for the Next Day – At the end of every day, it can be very helpful to plan for the next day. Figure out a schedule of tasks so you can put things to rest when you go to bed.

Tip  #4 – Organize Your Work Space – If you do any work at home, make sure that you are keeping your work space organized. If you keep things together and have a place for everything, you’ll find it is easier to take care of business within your home.

These are just a few of the top tips for moms who need help with time management. Start implementing these tips into your life and you’ll see a huge difference in the time you have available and all that you accomplish.

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Where to buy: www.getorganizednow.com

My Oh-So Organized Filing System is a filing system you wish you had known about before. In no time at all, your endless piles of paperwork will be organized in an appropriate paper filing system. This system comes with many categories and subcategories to get your family’s paperwork filed in easy to find places.

The different categories are color-coded for ease of use. The filing system comes with hundreds of preprinted and color-coded file category labels for all your family’s needs. Find a place to file restaurant menus, to do lists, important family papers (eg legal papers) bills to pay, coupons, home repair documents, car repair, membership information, photographs, recipes, taxes, appliance manuals, gift certificates – just to name a few.

Overall, if you are in the process of getting on top of your paperwork and don’t quite know how to do it, the My Oh-So Organized Filing System by professional organizer, Maria Gracia, is an essential and must-have product. It will certainly help you to organize and declutter your home.

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Instructions:
Place sliced onion in a large bowl, season with salt and pepper and cover with buttermilk. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for about ½ hour.

Place the flour on a shallow dish, mix in the garlic powder and season to taste with salt and pepper. Each onion ring needs to be dredged first in the flour, then dipped in the buttermilk, the again dredged in flour. Repeat with all the onion rings.

Heat the oil in a large skillet until very hot, then fry the onion rings in batches until golden brown and crispy. Drain the rings on paper towels and enjoy.

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One of the most important reasons for having a hobby is that it gives you an outlet for enjoyment rather than concentrating only on work. Another benefit is that hobbies allow you to spend time learning a new skill. Depending upon your hobby, you may actually have something physical to show for it when you spend time on your hobby.

Another reason for having hobbies is that it can actually help you to get a job. Employers want employees who are well rounded and have interests outside of work. They will probably ask you about your hobbies or activities you enjoy when you’re away from work.

What are some types of things you have always wanted to do but haven’t taken the time to learn? Some people want to learn to play an instrument, learn a new language or something similar. Now is the perfect time to take up a new hobby or learn a new skill.

Find other people who share your interest. These could be people you meet in person or those you meet online. Look for forums or organizations related to the interests you have and then join in the fun!

Be sure to find a hobby that you will enjoy and not something you will have to force yourself into doing. If you love taking photographs you may want to set up a darkroom and learn to develop black and white film. However, just because you love to take pictures doesn’t mean you have to do scrapbooking. There’s no reason why you can’t take pictures and share them with others or let someone else put together a scrapbook out of the photos you’ve taken.

Taking up a new hobby is a great New Year’s resolution. Think about your interests or what you’ve always wanted to learn. Knowing these things will give you some ideas of what New Year’s resolutions to make.

This year I am planning on working on sewing,  I want to learn how to make a quilt and dresses. I do know the basics just not anything more beyond that. So this year I am taking up sewing. I will be sharing pictures of these finished creations.

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Living/Family Room
Pick up any newspapers, magazines or books and either stack them neatly on your coffee table or throw any old ones away. Fluff your pillows and cushions and place and fold any blankets and put them away. Put away DVD’s and movies that are lying around, as well as any video games and video game equipment.

Kitchen
Place any dirty dishes in the dishwasher, or stack them neatly in the sink. Throw or put away any objects that clutter up your kitchen, such as old newspapers, mail, magazines, etc. Vacuum the floors instead of sweeping them for a quick touch up. Spray counter tops with Windex for a nice shine, as well as the front of the microwave and stove. Empty the trash.

Dining Room
I know our dining room table tends to be a catch all in our house. Jackets tend to get hung on the backs of chairs and the mail piles up, as well as backpacks and purses. If that’s the case for your house, have everyone come and take care of anything that belongs to them. Wipe down the table or place a new table cloth for a fresh clean look.

Bathrooms
If you have a guest bathroom, this is the only one to worry about at this point. Give the sink a fresh touch up with some disinfecting wipes, squirt some toilet cleaner around the inside and on the seat, and clean the mirrors with Windex. Pick up any clutter and close the shower curtain. If you have time go over the floor with a damp mop. Hang fresh towels and wash clothes.

Just before your guests arrive, give the house a fresh clean scent with a few sprays of air freshener. The fresh scent plays a trick on the brain and tells it this is a clean place. After your guests leave, you can put things away properly and give your home a proper cleaning. Just think how much easier it will be now that you’ve gotten this much done.

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