Search Results for: blog the ready pile

Boston Bombings and a New Reason to Stockpile Frugally

The Boston bombings have taught us many things. Some we already knew, such as the resilience of the human spirit, how easily ordinary people become heroes, and the strength of a community all working together. It also has taught us some other, more practical lessons, such as to always be aware in crowds, to report suspicious activity, and to be prepared for the unthinkable. One of the many photos of that time that sticks in my head from the Boston bombings is the image of a police officer delivering two gallons of milk to a young family who couldn’t leave … Continue reading →

Red, White and Ready for Santa

The countdown to Santa’s visit is officially on in my home.  My 8-year-old has already plumped up the pillows on the recliner, so St. Nick will have a comfy spot to sit before he unloads his sack and piles her gifts under the tree.  My daughter also penned a short note to Mr. Claus welcoming him to our home and inviting him to nosh on the cupcakes she is leaving out for him. Yes, cupcakes. This year we are deviating from the traditional sugar cookies because my child has deduced that it would be barbaric for Santa to chomp on … Continue reading →

I Lost Some of My Stockpile

When you improperly store your stockpile, you can wind up losing money. That is what happened to me. Don’t let it happen to you. The other day, I was packing up some sandwiches to take with us on one of our frugal summer adventures when I got to the last of the roll of plastic wrap. Since I try to buy ahead when things are on sale, and I have a small stockpile, I’m never worried when I run out of certain things. I just headed downstairs to the basement to pick up a new roll. It used to be … Continue reading →

Getting Ready For A Yard Sale

Have you been spring cleaning? Are you finding a houseful of things that you no longer need? Now is the perfect time to start planning that spring yard sale. Every year my subdivision has a community yard sale, it’s a great time to get rid of things I don’t need and make a little extra money. A little preparation now will make sure you are ready when the time comes for the big sale. As you are cleaning closets and dresser drawers, take out anything that is too small, out of style, or you just don’t like anymore. This goes … Continue reading →

Get Ready for Spring With Composting Gadgets

These composting solutions will have gardeners creating soil with a creative flair! Composting ideas from worm bins to bokashi, from compost tumblers to garden benches. Gadgets are gradually coming to the composting world. Whether it’s a tumbling composter to make aeration easier or a swish stainless steel compost container that doesn’t retain smells, here are some composting ideas for avid green gardeners this spring. While some go for a plastic compost container under the sink, these containers quickly become saturated with fermenting compost smells. For those who like to move compost from indoors to outdoors less frequently, a ceramic or … Continue reading →

Are You Ready For A Multi Racial Family

If you are considering adopting a child or children that are not part of your own race there are a few other things that you need to take into consideration. If you are considering it you are willing to welcome a child into your heart that does not look like you, great we did too. Have you considered that when you do welcome that child into your hearts that you will no longer be like the majority of other families? Are you ready for that? Have you given any consideration to what your friends and extended family may think? Think … Continue reading →

A small pile of leaves

So… it’s Autumn. We moved to a less desert-like climate and, as a direct consequence of that action, we’re experiencing the glory of Autumn instead of just a colder “brownness.” As I type this our front door is open to allow the sound of leaves blowing in the wind, falling on the grass, and blowing down the street into our home (along with the cooler air). The sunlight flickers against the doorway as the leaves move in and out of its rays due to the wind. The whole effect is like that of a candle, but with daylight. It’s a … Continue reading →

Two Kids With Epilepsy

So my middle son has been admitted to the hospital for what we thought was possibly a stroke, his face is droopy and looks like a stroke patient. Turns out he had Bells Palsy and they think this could be caused by a seizure. So with one child with epilepsy already the idea of having a second child with epilepsy is a bit over whelming. I will admit when he was asleep in his bed I did lay there in the dark and cried just a bit. In the morning they ran an MRI and an EEG on him to … Continue reading →

The Ready Pile

I’ve been having difficulty getting my work started. There are two things I need to be actively working on for the next week (and longer) but I haven’t been able to find the time. I finally realized that my problem was preparation. I am a far cry from the romantic ideal of writers who magically dip their quill into their pot of ink and begin to manically scribble brilliance onto their parchment paper for eternal noteriety. I tend to (like most people) need some amount of preparation, even if it is just entering a certain state of mind. Dissertations and … Continue reading →

Keeping the Paper Piles at Bay

If you have a home office you likely have a paper issue. Paper piles can abound. They seem to grow almost overnight. So if you are ready to tackle those paper piles, here are some ideas. Invest in a bulletin board. A bulletin board is a great place to stick notes on. Instead of having sticky notes all over you can keep everything in one place. You can tack on reminders, to do lists, or passwords. Binders are another way to keep papers organized. Binders can organize school papers, receipts, bills or even CDs. Clear page protectors are a great … Continue reading →