How do you stay organized with your busy schedule?I was reading about various organizational systems that people use to keep essential items straight and realized that I have a few of my own going on, mostly created by necessity due to my own forgetfulness.
Here are 4 rules for keeping track of your stuff:
Lost Item #1: Keys
Rule: Don't touch the handle of your house or car without making sure your keys are in the other hand
I have been losing keys since I was a kid. I swear keys seem to try their hardest to get well away from me. My poor parents had to change the locks on the house a number of times due to a set of keys that I had dropped on the sidewalk or maybe at the mall, or the library, or the park. Very often they would come home from work on a weekday to find me sitting on the front stoop still in my school uniform. I'd been sitting there for hours because I'd once again lost my keys and couldn't get inside. Eventually they began leaving a set of spare house keys with a neighbor, but I often avoided going over there because
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Forget Me Not: 4 Rules for Keeping Track of Your Stuff
By Babble.com | Team Mom – Thu, Mar 14, 2013 3:55 PM EDT5 Must-Know Tips for Planning a Vegetable Garden
By Martha Stewart Living | Team Mom – Tue, Mar 12, 2013 3:10 PM EDT
Good planning is essential to a successful vegetable garden. Vegetables have specific requirements, and you must choose your site carefully to ensure a bountiful harvest. Here are the basics you need to consider before you select your seeds.
1) Test Your Soil
Drainage is the soil's ability to absorb moisture and let excess water drain away. You can test soil drainage by digging a hole a foot deep and a foot across. Fill the holes with water, and time how long it takes the water to drain away; two to three hours after the hole has emptied, refill it, and again time the interval it takes for it to empty. Then calculate the rate of drainage by dividing the total depth of the water (24 inches) by the total number of hours it took for the hole to empty two times.
Related: Vegetable Seed Guide
2) Consider Sun and Shade RequirementsIn general, plants described as requiring "full sun" (most vegetable plants fall under this category) need at least six hours of exposure to direct sunlight
Read More »from 5 Must-Know Tips for Planning a Vegetable Garden
Read More »from How to Do Laundry like a Pro
Veer/ The Nest14 tips for doing the wash...so you never let them see you shrink.
By The Nest Editors
1. Take Your Temperatures
First and foremost, follow the item's care label. Generally, the rules are as follows:
Cold is for fine fabrics, items that might shrink, and sensitive dark colors.
Warm is for moderately soiled stuff and man-made fabrics.
Hot is for whites, really dirty clothes, and colorfast items.
2. Keep Whites Bright
When your whites start going gray (or yellow), consider these factors: You might not be using enough detergent to get clothes clean; the water temps might be too low (whites do best in hot water); and you could be contaminating the laundry with really dirty clothes that are making the mildly soiled clothes even dirtier! Make the contaminated load a do-over and try a bleach product that's safe for the fabrics in the wash.
3. Prevent Fading
It's a sad day when your perfect black pants don't look so black and crisp anymore. Turn dark-colored clothes inside out beforeFreshen Up Your Standard 'Mom' Beauty Routine
By Yahoo! Contributor Network | Team Mom – Tue, Mar 12, 2013 12:06 PM EDT
Make a just a few tweaks to your mom makeup routine for great results!If you're stuck in a beauty or makeup rut and are ready to try something new this season, add a few new products to your makeup bag. Any busy mom can enjoy a mini makeover just by adding a few new color palettes or basic makeup products to her routine. Whether you want to amplify the eyes, create a radiant glow, or achieve flawless skin, you'll need to employ a few simple makeup tricks and techniques for a fresh new look. Here are some things you can do to freshen up your standard "mom" beauty routine:
Create a Smoky Eye by Day
You don't have to wait for date night or a girl's night out to glam up your eyes. Use a lighter shade of shimmering grey, blue, or green to create a smoky eye for daytime. This can be a great match with virtually any outfit and will add a glamorous twist to your look. Keep things simple but add a sultry twist with a thicker liner that you can smudge slightly to create the smoky effect. Add a few sweeps of volumizing mascara and you'll be good to go.
Read More »from Freshen Up Your Standard 'Mom' Beauty RoutineGot a Minute? 25 Ways to a Healthier You in 60 Seconds!
By FitSugar | Team Mom – Tue, Mar 12, 2013 12:58 PM EDT
Source: Got a Minute? 25 Ways to a Healthier You in 60 Seconds!
What if we told you all it takes is one minute to get healthy? No, this is not an infomercial, and yes, all you need is 60 seconds. When it comes to your schedule, time is of the essence, but it's the little things that help keep you on track. Consider these 25 simple acts that will quickly improve your health and wellness with or without stepping foot in the gym!- Floss: You've heard it time and time again, but flossing your pearly whites really does make a difference - it may even prevent a heart attack.
- Stretch: A quick stretch no matter where you are will quickly ease tension. The next time you're standing in line or watching a commercial, give it a try.
- Pack a healthy snack: Rather than waiting for hunger to strike or buying a sugary treat at the coffee shop, grab a healthy snack like nuts or an apple before you head out the door.
- Take the stairs: Instead of waiting for the elevator or taking the
What Your Food Cravings Say About Your Health
By The Editors of WOMEN'S HEALTH | Team Mom – Fri, Mar 8, 2013 3:25 PM EST
Read More »from What Your Food Cravings Say About Your Health
How to decode 5 common cravings Is it the saltiness of potato chips, the cool creaminess of ice cream, or the rich flavor of chocolate? Whatever you're longing for, it may be your body's way of letting you know you're missing valuable nutrients. Here's how to decode your cravings.
SWEETS
If you crave sweets of almost any kind, you may be experiencing blood sugar fluctuations. Giving in to pie, candy, cake, or other goodies only makes the problem worse by causing blood sugar roller coasters that lead to more cravings. Yo-yo-ing sugar levels cause spikes in insulin production, which can put you at risk for type 2 diabetes.
Instead, choose a piece of fruit--preferably one that's not loaded with natural sugars when you're craving sweets. And, in general, choose more high-fiber foods like beans and legumes and complex carbohydrates like whole grains that keep your blood sugar stable.
Related: How to Fight Sugar Cravings and Curb Your Sweet Tooth
CHOCOLATE
Cravings for chocolate often indicate
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