Remember Your Breakfast

How many times a week do you skip breakfast?  Everyone has always told you breakfast is the most important meal of the day.  However, this saying does not always stay in your brain as you are running out the door in the morning.  Make sure you get your breakfast every morning with these five tips.  You can learn more at The Kitchn.

1. Keep breakfast in mind when you grocery shop.

This sounds simple, but when the week gets busy, this step can be easy to overlook. If you've ever filled your cereal bowl only to realize you were out of milk, you know what I'm talking about.

During the weekend I like to stock up on all of the staple items I'll need for the week. Think about what you want to eat for breakfast during the week — maybe it's fresh fruit, a simple bowl of cereal, oatmeal, yogurt, or muffins. Whatever it is, pick up everything you need before the week gets rolling. There's a good chance you'll eat a better breakfast when you have the things you want to eat on hand.

2. Prep breakfast basics ahead of time.

This one simple step makes all the difference in the world. If your mornings are anything like mine, time is a precious commodity, so the less work I have to do, the better! It makes your routine easier, when your favorite foods are prepped and ready to eat. Keep breakfast foods easy and convenient.

For you, maybe this means cutting up fruit, prepping smoothie ingredients, or leaving the bowls, spoons and boxes of cereal ready to go on the kitchen table.

3. Hard-boiled eggs are your friend!

This is one of my top picks for a quick and easy breakfast! I make a pot of hard-boiled eggs on Sunday night, and they last me through the week. Hard-boiled eggs are quick to make, nutritious, and so versatile! Eat them on their own, or slice on top of a piece of toast along with some greens. (Soft-boiled eggs can be made ahead too.)

4. Find a few make-ahead breakfasts you like.

When food is prepped, prepared, and pretty much at your finger tips it's a lot more likely you'll end up eating a better breakfast. Whether it's porridge, granola, or scones, find something you like and make and make a week's worth ahead of time.

5. Grab and go containers are a game changer.

Don't stop at make ahead breakfasts; also make them ready to go. Again, convenience is the name of the game in the morning. The less work you have to do, the better. I love making a week's worth of oats on Sunday night, then portioning them into individual-size containers (along with toppings!). In the morning all I have to do is reach in the fridge and grab it as I'm running out the door for work.

What's your best tip for eating a better breakfast during the week?

De-Clutter Your Apartment

Does your apartment get cluttered throughout the week? Here are some great tips on how to slowly eliminate the clutter that builds up throughout the week. These tips will help your apartment stay cleaner, and it will help you feel less stressed when you come home. You can learn more at apartment therapy.

Designated Outbox: Set up a permanent basket, box, or bag by your front door to toss things that need to go. Make it part of your decor so that it's part of your daily life and doesn't just look like a messy cardboard chore lurking in the corner, sending accusing looks at you. Try emptying it once a week or at least twice a month.

Clean As You Cook: Somehow a messy kitchen with a pile of dishes is always the first stop on the ride on the messy train. Never go to bed with a sink full of dishes. Waking up to dirty dishes just sets you starting your day off wrong. Also, try to clean up as you cook so that when dinner is done you don't turn around to more work and can end your night on a good note.
Sort Mail Immediately: I am guilty as charged when it comes to piles of mail in various places that "I'll get to later." My new workflow is: pick up mail; open it over the recycle bin; put bills in a designated bill cubby; and feel good while doing it.

Tidy Up 10 Minutes a Day: You can split this up into two five-minute chunks or a full ten. Quickly shuffle through your house (preferably at the end of the day) and put away all those little things that you took out, opened, or tossed on the couch throughout the day. This way you can reset your home each evening and start fresh each morning.

Refocus Your Energy: A long time ago I heard someone say, 'it takes just as much energy to be messy and it does to be clean" and it always stuck with me. It makes total sense: when you're messy you are just delaying the energy it will take to clean it up instead of doing it immediately. I find that, when I clean as I go, I'm much happier and rest so much better without 'to do's' weighing on my mind, or seeing guilt-ridden piles of stuff.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Holiday Planning Countdown Part 2

Are you ready for the holidays?  We have found a great Holiday countdown checklist.  In this final blog, we will go over what you need to have done to prepare for the big holiday.  This week we will learn about what needs to be in done in the third and fourth week of December.  You can learn more at Real Simple.

One Week Before

• Deep clean your house.
  You’ll enjoy those decorations even more if the floors are clean and the kitchen is organized. One important task: Clear out your refrigerator. Toss old leftovers to make room for big dishes and ingredients that’ll be piling up closer to the holiday.
• Buy batteries for children’s toys.
  If you haven’t stocked up while Christmas shopping, make sure you have all the accoutrements necessary for that handheld video game or remote-controlled car.

Three Days Before

• Shop for fresh ingredients.
  Hit the store for the last-minute vegetables or fruit you need for meals.
• Set the table.
  So you use those gold-rimmed goblets only once a year? Enjoy them! Go ahead and set the table. Make it even easier on the big day by putting a sticky note on each platter that states what dish you plan to serve on it. (That also allows people to help you without asking 12 times.)

Two Days Before

• Start cooking.
  You’ve probably socked away some things in the freezer already, but now’s the time to prep main courses and make anything that can sit for a couple of days.
• Buy fresh flowers.
  Whether they are for a party or a family meal, fresh flowers should always be purchased two days in advance. Blooms have time to open up, and they’ll still be lush and fragrant.

The Day Before

• Recharge the batteries on your camera or video recorder.
  You don’t want to miss the reaction on a little one’s face because the battery ran out during the school pageant the week before.
• Finish last-minute wrapping.
  And assemble toys that will be surprises from Santa.
• Finish cooking, and make a timeline for the next day.
  Decide when you’ll be feasting, then count backward to determine when to put the turkey (or ham or roast beef) in the oven and what else needs to be cooked.
• Sit back and relax.
  Enjoy your family and friends and relish the traditions you share.

Holiday Planning Countown

Are you ready for the holidays?  We have found a great Holiday countdown checklist.  Over the next two blogs, we will go over what you need to have done to prepare for the big holiday.  This week we will learn about what needs to be in done in the first and second week of December.  You can learn more at Real Simple.

Three Weeks Before (First Week of December)

• Mail cards.
  If you’re too busy to get them addressed and mailed during the first week of December, consider putting them off until after the holiday rush. People generally enjoy getting a card a few days late, when things have slowed down and they actually notice the mail.
• Buy a live tree.
  This is a good time to get your tree, if you want it to stay fresh and retain its needles through Christmas. Same goes for fresh greenery or garlands.
• Decorate!
  You may be one who decks the halls as soon as the Thanksgiving turkey carcass has been tossed. That’s fine, too, but by the first week of December, it’s time to get the house looking festive. Find holiday decorating ideas here.
• Finalize menus.
  If you’ll be serving the holiday meal make sure you know what you’ll be cooking and what family members will be bringing. Start a master grocery list.
• Order a turkey or ham.
  Or whatever else is the centerpeice of your holiday meal—you don’t want to get caught short.

Two Weeks Before (Second Week of December)

• Make sure out-of-town presents are mailed.
  Try to have gifts in the mail by December 10.
• Shop for nonperishable items.
  Buy alcohol and any canned goods or pantry staples you’ll need.

DIY Vapor Rub!

Vapor Rub can be pricey, but it is always a good product to have in the winter. However, there is a way you can make a homemade vapor rub. This all natural vapor rub will help you with your congestion with the chemicals. You can learn more at Apartment Therapy.



If you don't already have the assortment of essential oils and coconut oil on hand, this recipe can be a little pricey. If you are the least bit interested in essential oils I highly recommend investing in these particular oils because they can all be used for other home remedies as well as aromatherapy treatments.

What You Need

Materials
30-35 drops eucalyptus essential oil
12 drops peppermint essential oil
12 drops lavender essential oil
12 drops rosemary essential oil
5 drops tea tree essential oil
5 TB coconut oil
2 TB cocoa butter
1 1/2 TB beeswax
Tools
Saucepan
Wooden spoon
Glass jar with a lid
Measuring spoons
Instructions

1. In a saucepan (I used my stockpot!) on low heat, melt the coconut oil and cocoa butter. Once melted, add the beeswax.

2. Once the beeswax has melted, remove the pan from heat and let cool for 5-10 minutes so the heat won't spoil the essential oils.

3. Add in all the essential oils.

4. Pour the mixture into your glass and let it set up for 15-20 minutes. It might be a bit softer than what you are used to, so proceed with caution. And remember - a little goes a long way! Makes one 4 ounce jar.