kids snack and lunch station

School just started and one of the few challenges that comes with school time is keeping the kids eating healthy during and after school. This year I wanted to keep things simple and easy to grab. The solution was a snack basket that I keep in the middle shelf of the fridge; at the girls eye level.

The basket holds carrots, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, celery, peanut butter cups, cheese, fruit juice and yogurt drinks. I used small bags like these to store the veggies and fruits.

The girls grab from the snack basket for snacks during and after school. It also helps making a healthy school lunch a breeze. They pick one veggie, one fruit, one juice drink for lunch then I add turkey, smoked salmon or salami sandwiches, pasta, or chicken noodle soup.

Do you have any snack tips to help the kiddos eating clean? Please share it in the comment area.

Read More

Mission Organization: Kitchen Command Center

As the girls are getting older,  it became daunting trying to keep up with all the homework and their planned activities. I couldn't keep track of homework, bills, coupon, important reminders and with the lack of time and memory, I needed something to help keep everything in one place; Solution: Create a kitchen command center.
I went shopping at Target (aside from Amazon, it is my next favorite store for anything organization). I found a whiteboard calendar, a portrait hanger, and a wall frame. I also purchased these Mini Dry Erase Markers with Magnet through Amazon.
This is the final result:

Now everything is kept in one place and no need for me to worry about trying to remember events or where I placed the bills or coupons or homework. It's all in one place :)
And before I go shopping, I take a picture of the list written on the Notes space on the right. No need to write them down again. Just write as you go and take a pic.

I found this Magnetic Dry Erase Calendar on amazon and boy I wish I searched on Amazon for a calendar before I left for Target. Anyway, it all worked out where now I keep homework in the folder and I place the bills with clips

Need more inspiration, check out these two command centers

From Howtonestforless

from CiberBanity

Happy Organizing!!

Nisrine

Read More

Half priced Shakes at Sonic Today Only

Sonic is offering half priced Shakes all day today June 18, 2015
Woot Woot for Oreo Blast Cookie :)

Read More

Lima Bean Soup

Growing up in Morocco, Bissara or fava bean soup was a staple in our household. I make mine with lima beans; also called Butter beans because of their starchy buttery flavor. They are a great source of fiber and minerals.

During the winter months, the soup keeps us warm, full, and full of energy. Even though we are past the winter months in Houston, I still make it at least once a month. I prepare it the day before and puree it then warm it up the next day. Served with some bread, I hope you will love it as much as my eight year old does :)

Lima Beans Soup

Ingredients:

A bag of small or big dried lima beans or fava beans (1 Lb)

3 garlic cloves, peeled and chopped
6 Cups Chicken stock or water
2 Tbsp. of olive oil
1-1/2 tsp of cumin
½ tsp paprika
Salt and pepper
Juice of 1 lemon

Directions:
Rinse the beans and let them soak in water overnight.
In a Dutch oven or a soup pot, heat the olive oil and add the garlic. Sauté for 1 minute. Add the beans, spices, salt and pepper, and chicken stock or water. Cover and let cook for about an hour.

Once the beans are cooked, let it cool then start blending the soup.

Heat the pureed soup. Once the soup is warm enough, add the lemon juice and enjoy

Read More

Our current meal planning

I transitioned from working part time to becoming a full time working mother about three years ago. At first I found it difficult to juggle work, kids, home while keeping a healthy meal on the table MOST days of the week. If only I could buy time.
With a lot of trial and error; spending too much on food, I realized that I might be complicating things trying to simplify things.
So to simplify our meal planning, I sat down and wrote a list of a few recipes that fit the following criteria:

• Simple
• Fast
• Healthy
• The whole family can enjoy

Simplifying the meal planning process saved me my sanity and kept everyone in the family full and eating healthy :)

Every Sunday, I sit down for 5 minutes and pick 5 of the following (Friday is going out to eat, Saturday is Pizza and movie night) and then put the grocery list together.

• Ground Beef, Red Pepper, and Potatoes
• Taco Salad
• Soup (Carrot Soup, Lima bean Soup , Chili , Chicken noodle Soup, sopa di Toscana (copycat from Olive garden) served with Cheese quesadillas or Grilled Cheese sandwich
• Fish with roasted Cauliflower and rice
• Grilled steak and green beans or edamame
• Seafood or grilled chicken with Spaghetti with Salad and/or steamed broccoli

Also instead of cooking everyday, I cook every other day by preparing the next day meal while I am cooking dinner. On the weekend, we either barbeque or I take the time to try a new recipe.

Do you have any tips on how to make meal planning easy?

You can find more menu plan @ orgjunkie.com

Read More

Money Tips from the Oracle of Omaha

Photo credit

Read More

Favorite Organizing products to keep your house organized without stress

I found throughout the years that the best way to keep my house looking clean or easy to clean is to keep most things organized. I cannot emphasize enough how much having most of my house organized (there are still a few things under progress) is what helps keep it clean without much stress .
If you want to organize your house and don't have much time or just dislike spending hours cleaning, I believe that having the right tools on hand makes a huge difference .
Below are one my favorite tools to organize every room in the house without breaking the bank.

Kitchen:

 

 

 

Drawer Organizer

These are great for keeping your kitchen tools handy and easy to grab while cooking.
 





Expandable Drawer Organizer
Buy Two of these and use one for silverware and the other to store pens, pencils, batteries, etc..
 

Pullout Waste Containers

6 piece organizer set
 

Living Room:

Keep all your remote controls and magazines handy with this Remote Control Organizer

These Storage Bench with 2 Side Ottomans can be used for seating, storing games, toys, etc. and for resting your feet. We all need that after a hard day at work.

Closet:

Hanger Clothes Organizer

Wish your closet had more space? Well, wish no more. Who knew that investing in a Clothes organizer for $13.99 could do just that :)

Need extra closet space, this Closet Organizer will do just that. It is also really easy to assemble and disassemble.

Laundry Room:

Space Saver and double duty Ironing and Sorter Combo Laundry Center is a must in every laundry room

Bathroom:

This Style Station is a perfect storage for the hair tools. Keeps them neat and easily accessible.

Expandable Under sink Shelf Organizer

Storing products under the sink is usually a problem due to plumbing angle. This organizer is easily adjustable and allows you to store all the products. It can fit any space regardless of plumbing placement.

Please note that all these links are affiliate link. You can read our disclosure policy here

Read More

Carrot Soup Recipe

Coconut Carrot Soup Recipe

I love soups. Not only are they good for you but they are one-pot meals which means less cleaning , and I am all for less dishes to wash.
I try to make different soup recipes at least once a week. A soup recipe that the hubby would like and the kids will approve.
This carrot soup recipe is definitely a winner in my household; picky 8-year-old-who-does-not-like-carrots-approved.
I made a similar recipe before but decided to substitute coconut milk for cream and boy did it make such a big difference in flavor. It gave it somewhat of a subtle sweetness that earned it a place in my weekly menu plan.
Try it and let me know how it turned out :)
Bon Appetit !!

Click Link below for a PDF format
Coconut Carrot Soup Recipe



Ingredients

2 – 3 Tbsp. of Olive Oil

1 yellow onion, peeled, sliced in half

2 gloves of garlic, chopped

8 medium sized carrots, peeled and sliced in half

3 potatoes, peeled and sliced in half

½ tsp of ground sage

3 ½ cup of Chicken stock, broth or Miso stock

One 15 ounce can of full fat coconut milk

Salt and Pepper to taste

Bacon (optional)

Directions

If using bacon, add the bacon to the pot and cook. Remove and set aside once it’s cooked.

Heat the olive oil in the soup pot then add the onions. Sautee the onions for about 2 mins then add the garlic. Add the carrots and the potatoes and cook for another 5 minutes. Add the sage, salt and pepper then pour in the stock or broth. Put a lid on and let it cook until the carrots are soft, about 20 minutes.

Turn off the heat and let it cool. Blend the soup in batches in a blender then pass the pureed soup through a strainer. Warm the blended vegetables in the soup pot then add the coconut milk.

Read More

how to find the best interest Rates for refinancing or buying a new home

With the low interest rates on mortgages and with the Fed talking about increasing the interest rates by the end of this year, this might be the time to lock in a low interest rate. Whether you are thinking about refinancing or purchasing a new home, here are some tips on how to get the best rate available.

Just like anything else, you need to shop for the best interest rate with a reputable lender.
There are two ways that you can do to get the best interest rate:

1) You can use LendingTree to search for the best interest rates, one of the largest mortgage networks online today.
The way how it works is you enter in basic information about your mortgage and the banks compete to provide you with the best rate. I personally never used lending tree however many financial bloggers seem to recommend it.

2) Bankrate.com is a great website to use for comparing interest rates with different lenders. This is the one that I use whenever we are looking to refinance or purchase a home and I have always found it great at finding and locking in the best interest rate with the least fees possible.

To make it simple, below are the steps that I use when shopping for a new mortgage/refinance loan:

• Go to bankrate.com and check on either mortgage or refinance then choose the term loan (example: 30 year fixed)
• Click on Add products (left) then enter the information necessary
• The website will list a few lenders with the interest rate they offer
• Pick the lender with the lowest interest rate + $0 in Fees in APR.
• Check the reviews on the lender on google.com before contacting the lender
• If the lender has good reviews then contact the lender via their website or by email or by phone to request a quote.
• Make sure you request quotes with the monthly payment + fees from at least 2 lenders to compare before you make the final decision

Also, one thing that I would recommend before you start shopping for mortgage loan is to check your credit score. If you have a discover credit card, you can log into your account and check your credit score for free or you can check it here.

Photo credit

Read More

Free Car services

Did you know that Pep boys offer free auto services?
Check out their website for the free services they offer
 http://www.pepboys.com/service/free_services

You can also get a free Alignment check at Good Year
http://www.goodyearautoservice.com/service/Services/Free-Alignment-Check/pc/668/154938.uts

If you are in need of car repairs but don't have the means to pay for them, check out this list of non-profit organizations that can help you repair your car for free.
http://www.needhelppayingbills.com/html/free_car_repairs.html


Photo credit

Read More

FREE 2 Year Subscription to LEGO magazine

Click on the link below to get a free 2-year subscription to LEGO magazine.
You will need to create a login ID for your child the go to Profile -> Subscribe
http://www.lego.com/en-US/club

Read More

How to set and accomplish your Goals and New Year's Resolutions

 

With every new year comes new resolutions. A New Year is a time to reflect on the changes we want in our lives ; a time to flip a new page and focus on new goals or habits.

Every year, at least 45% of americans make new resolutions but only 8% are successful at accomplishing them.

So what do the people who are successful at attaining their goals know that the rest of us don't? , and How can we become successful at following through with our new year's resolutions and achieving our goals?.

As I was researching and mulling over these questions for the past three weeks, I came up with a list of things to do to help stick with the new year's resolutions or goals:

• Write it down: The very first thing you need to do is define your new resolutions and write them down. Writing down your goals makes them more clear and concrete. You will be a lot less overwhelmed when you can see it rather than think it. It helps you move from the phase of dreaming to making your dream a reality.


• Make SMART goals and track your progress:

Specific: Your goals should be specific not broad, vague goals. Example: I would like to lose 20 pounds (specific) vs. I want to lose weight (Vague).

Measurable: You should be able to measure them.  If it's not possible to measure your goals, make a scale from 0 to 10 for example with 0 being the worst and 10 being the best.

Achievable: Your goals need to be realistic; not something that is highly unlikely and almost impossible to achieve.

Relevant: You should have good and important reasons for wanting to make these resolutions. Your goals should matter to you; they need to hold an importance to accomplishing them. If not, you will most than likely end up giving up before even making any visible progress.

Time bound: Establish a time frame to your goals. Whether it takes 6 months or 6 years to get it done, you should always set a time boundary for whatever you are trying to achieve. You will have an easier time tracking your progress and moving forward when you know when it needs to be done.

For more on creating SMART goals, refer to this post.

• Commitment:

According to Wikipedia; "A New Year's resolution is a commitment that a person makes to one or more personal goals, projects, or the reforming of a habit. A key element to a New Year's Resolution that sets it apart from other resolutions is that it is made in anticipation of the New Year and new beginnings. People committing themselves to a New Year's resolution generally plan to do so for the whole following year. This lifestyle change is generally interpreted as advantageous."

When you are committed to something, your only option is to go through with what you are committed to do. Giving up is not an option. When you narrow your options down to one; not giving up, you have already set yourself up for success because it is your only option.

• Excuses Excuses Excuses:

We all have experienced setbacks and had to face our failures by making up excuses for not going through with our resolutions. Realize that setbacks will happen and you have to be prepared with an action plan. Step back and reflect on all the excuses that you usually allow yourself to believe for giving up on your goal and create strategies for dealing with them. What caused those setbacks and what can you do different this time around to avoid them?

• Procrastination:

I confess, I am one big procrastinator. Mind you, I do get a lot of things done but I wait until the last minute to get them completed. I am not the one to start a project right after it has been presented. I usually wait until the last day OR the same day to start. I like to work under pressure so when there is no deadline, that project never gets done. If you are a procrastinator or you like to work under pressure, have an external deadline. Create a realistic deadline (not too far in the future and not too close making it almost impossible and highly stressful to accomplish) and have someone; who you would not like to disappoint, hold you accountable for it.

• Take it one cake, one bite at a time:

Growth is an erratic forward movement: two steps forward, one step back. Remember that and be very gentle with yourself. Julia Cameron

This is when the power of focus comes to mind. Many of us have a long list of resolutions. We want to lose weight, get more organized, run a marathon, get out of debt, learn a new language, start a scrapbook, a blog, socialize more often and the list goes on and on.When you attempt to do it all, your attention gets pulled in different directions which makes you lose focus and at the end nothing gets done ; you just end up more frustrated. When you are making your list of new year's resolutions, narrow it down to only a few goals; don't try to do it all or all at the same time. When you think you can do it all or try to do it all, you are already setting yourself up for failure. You have to recognize that you have limited resources that you need to use wisely. So keep what's important to you on your list and focus on those few resolutions for now.

• Get out of your comfort zone: We all have comfort zones where we stay in what's familiar to us and fear to venture out elsewhere. We usually stick to the path of least resistance. But to be able to change habits or experience a personal growth, we need to leave our familiar comfort zone to the unfamiliar road of change.

A dream is your creative vision for your life in the future. You must break out of your current comfort zone and become comfortable with the unfamiliar and the unknown. Denis Waitley

When you give yourself a chance to stretch beyond your comfort zone, you give yourself a chance to make your dreams a reality. Noone changed his life by sticking to the familiar. You will most likely feel some type of fear, anxiety, and stress but at the same time you will feel a sense of confidence. Confidence that you have what it takes to be successful and arrive at your desired destination.

• Forget about the past, enjoy the present, and focus on the future:

“Forget past mistakes.  Forget failures. Forget everything except what you're going to do now and do it.” ―      William Durant

Don't ask "Why" but rather ask "What". What can I do to go through with my new year's resolutions. Focus on the future and stay positive in your road to success.

• Associate a bad habit with a negative feeling:

We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit. - Aristotle

Is one of you new year's resolution to stop smoking, drinking, overeating, or any other bad habit that stands between who you are and who you want to become? You are not the only one. Noone is perfect but it helps to recognize the bad habits that stand between us and success and try to change them. The first step to improvement is to be honest with yourself and recognize the habit you need to work on or let go of and comtemplate the possibility of replacing it with a good habit. Start with one habit at a time and make it a 30 day challenge to change that habit or develop a new one. Don't be afraid to ask friends or family members for help. Noone succeeded by doing it all on his own.

So whether you are trying to form a new habit or make a dream come true, I hope that you will be able to find this list helpful in helping you achieve what you have set your mind to this new year. Be determined to make every day a better day and don't forget to have fun and enjoy life on your road to your dreams.

You might also be interested in:

How to organize your way to a balanced life

Photo Credit

Read More

Bad habit: Procrastination

There are many times or a lot of times where I keep on delaying getting a task done or working on achieving a goal or a dream. It's a constant battle with my own self, with my procrastination. A battle that seems too impossible to win.
Since I am also the type of person that only feels better when I get things done, I feel like in order for me to be happy and satisfied in life, I have to work on my procrastination ; this mental delay, a handicap, so that I can feel better. Maybe I like the adrenaline rushing through my body as I am getting rushed to finish a task to make it on the deadline. However, I realize that this only causes me much more unneeded stress and therefore is a bad habit that I needed to work on and eliminate altogether.
I have been trying to work on this bad habit for a long time and I found that what had helped me work on eliminating this bad habit is:  

Sometimes we tend to think that life is all or nothing. That achieving our dreams and goals are giant steps that we need to be ready to make or stay put. The destination is too far to see that we rather give up than be faced with pain and frustration. But goals and dreams can be big, yes they can be HUGE. Dreams that can seem too big to achieve or too impossible to fathom. However, I found that if I start a big goal by taking one step at a time, time really just flies by. If I have a big task on hand that I don't even know HOW to start it or impossible to even be able to finish it. I take one small bite, one small step, even if the finish line is nowhere to be seen.
So my advice to you is TO START. No matter how big the goal or impossible the task seems, take it one small, even a tiny step at a time. It is better to start today than never. Take it one bite at a time - There is No mountain high enough.
When I feel like I have a goal that's too big to reach, I am reminded of the story of the "turtle and the hare". As long as you keep on moving, as long  as you keep on doing something that will get you closer and closer to your goal. You will surely get there.

Read More

Free Shipping Day

Tomorrow; Monday December 17th is Free shipping day. Check this website for more information and the list of the participating online retailers.

Read More

*HOT* Seventh Generation Body Wash (3-Pack) for $5.14

Amazon has Seventh Generation Sensitive Care Body Wash, Chamomile, 15 Ounce (Pack of 3) for $5.14 only after you clip the $6 coupon and Subscribe and Save for Free shipping

Note: the $6 off coupon is on the same page when you scroll down and you can cancel the subscribe and save anytime even after one order. There are no fees and no obligations so enjoy your savings

Read More