In today’s post, I’m sharing a few ways to get ready for a fun and organized summer! I’ll include a few of my top summer organizing tips, ideas for things you can do together as a family, and some sunny decor ideas too. Let’s go!

7 Tips to Reduce your Energy Bill in the Summer Heat

Do you live in a part of the world where the summers can get insanely hot? If you have trouble saving money on your summer energy bills, my friend Leah is here to help you out. In this post, she shares some of the cost-cutting measures she has taken to reduce her electricity bills in hopes that whatever climate you are in, you can do some of them to see savings on YOUR bills. Read her tips here!

Organize a Summer Grab-n-Go Kit

Summer means we’ll be spending lots of time outdoors. Taking a few minutes to organize a summer grab-n-go kit means that you’ll always be ready for whatever outdoor fun the season might bring! No matter how busy your day is, you’ll always be ready to take care of your family. Find out how to make your busy summer days just a little bit easier.

Free Printable Summer Bucket List

Do you have any big plans this summer? Whether it’s time you’ll be spending at home as a family or having adventures elsewhere, you should print out this colorful summer bucket list to help you make sure you don’t miss out on any fun this season! You can’t have a fun AND organized summer without a checklist, right?! Get the printable here.

Organized Family Camping Trips

A couple of years ago, we started a new summer tradition with our kids and friends: annual family camping trips! The plan was for this to become a fun family tradition that our kids and all our friends’ kids look forward to each summer. So in this post, I’m sharing how I plan for our trips and how planning ahead for an organized camping trip is the way to go! There’s even a free printable for you.

How to Plan for an Outdoor Party and Summer Get-togethers

Now that summer is here, it’s time to start thinking about pool parties, BBQs and lots of impromptu outdoor get-togethers! In this post, I give you 8 tips on how to plan for an outdoor party, and what to always have on hand for when your friends drop by. Host the most organized party ever!

Tips & Tricks for Organizing Outdoor Toys

I don’t know about your house but here, the kids are running around enjoying summer, we’re swimming every day and filling the sidewalk with chalk drawings. I’m sharing a few tips for how to organize outdoor items from pool toys, towels, outdoor games, etc. These tips have all come from experience; I’ve tried lots of different things but these are the ones that have worked the best and stood the test of time! ?

DIY Birdhouse Wreath Tutorial

The warm spring and summer seasons bring two great things: bursts of colorful flower blooms, and chirping birds. In this short tutorial, my good friend Bev will show you how to use these timeless accents to make a DIY burlap mesh wreath for your door that will wow the neighbors! Not only is it quick to make, but it’ll last the entire summer. Here’s how to make it!

How to Get Rid of Green Pool Hair

My family lives in the pool during the hot summer months! The only downside to hanging out in the pool all summer is that being a blonde, my hair always ends up turning an off shade of green. If you’re a blonde, you know what I’m talking about. ? Last year my daughter fell in love with swimming too and I noticed her hair was doing the same thing! Instead of spending a ton of money on expensive shampoos, use this super cheap trick instead!

Kitchen Organization Ideas for an Outdoor Kitchen

After our outdoor kitchen construction was finished, I was eager to stock it and organize it. I remember ages ago, when I moved out into my first apartment, my dad took me to Walmart and helped me pick out everything I’d need in my new kitchen. I did the same thing when it was time to stock our outdoor kitchen. We were starting from scratch so I needed all the necessities, including silverware, napkins, plates, bowls, cups, scrub brushes for the dishes, etc. In this post, I share how I organized it all!

Over to You…

I hope you find all of these tips helpful for you when you’re planning your super fun and organized summer! Do you have anything big planned, like a vacation or a family (or solo!) adventure? I’d love you to let me know in the comments so we can all be excited for summer together!

The post 9 Tips for a Fun and Organized Summer appeared first on Ask Anna.

The problem is, it’s so easy to struggle with motivation – especially when it comes to cleaning and decluttering. The idea of getting up to clean or throw out clutter definitely doesn’t beat doing something more fun! That’s why I’m here: to help you with your spring cleaning motivation!

Here are some of my favorite spring cleaning checklists and printables to get you up and moving. If you’re not sure where to start, just choose a checklist, start from the top, and away you go! Your home will be sparkly clean in no time!

6 Spring Cleaning Checklists to Help Get You Motivated

This handy checklist breaks down every single one of your spring cleaning chores into rooms, to make it less daunting. This way, you can choose to focus on one or two rooms at once, instead of doing it all in one go! Download it here.

Prefer something more fun and colorful? Try this one instead, lovingly created by my friend Jennifer! Again, this one is split into rooms, giving you a handy overview of everything that needs to be done. There’s also a blank section at the end to add things that might not be included already. Jennifer has also included some extra tips to help you when you get down to work, so go and have a look!

Now for the bathroom! The bathroom is one of the areas that should definitely be kept clean all the time, but when you’re spring cleaning the rest of the house, it’s a good opportunity to give it a real deep clean. Here’s a useful list of everything you should clean, including some areas you’re likely to miss. As well as the list, I’ve also shared some tips on how to clean some of these areas, so you’re good to go! See the full list here.

Don’t forget the dining room! When you think about spring cleaning I’m sure you don’t immediately think of the dining room but there’s quite a lot to be done in there. It’s the room where a lot of us have guests over for dinner, so it’s a good idea to give it a thorough clean. With this checklist, it’ll be ready for a dinner party in no time!

Decluttering is important, too. It’s difficult to spring clean when you have clutter everywhere, so decluttering while you clean is the most proactive way to a spotless home. My friend Krista has put together this awesome checklist filled with tons of ideas, so you can work your way through and get rid of some of that junk! Download your decluttering checklist here.

If those weren’t enough, how about 25 more?! In this huge post, I’ve shared 25+ spring cleaning checklists, tasks, and other free printables that I know will be so helpful for you! I’ve also included some handy tips and tutorials to help you along the way. This post has everything you need to tackle your spring cleaning!

It’s Time to Spring Clean!

Now it’s over to you. I hope all of these spring cleaning checklists make tackling your home feel a little bit easier. Just choose a printable or two, print them out, and get started. If you need any more help, I have loads more spring cleaning tips and tricks for you on the blog.

It might feel difficult to get started, but imagine how amazing it’ll feel when you have a beautiful, sparkling, home! Good luck!

The post 6 Spring Cleaning Checklists to Get You Motivated! appeared first on Ask Anna.

People are split on Black Friday shopping – some people love it and others wouldn’t do it if you paid them. I only go Black Friday shopping after I have done my shopping research and have a plan. In addition to my shopping preparation, I take just a few minutes to make sure that I have organized several basic items to make my shopping easier and more comfortable. A comfortable shopper is a happy shopper.

Wear comfortable shoes – If you only plan for one thing, plan to wear comfortable shoes.  You’re going to be doing a whole lot of walking and standing so you want to make sure your feet and back don’t hurt. You also need to consider inclement weather conditions and wear the appropriate (comfortable) shoes for the weather.

Wear layers of clothing – You’ll be out shopping early in the morning and it will most likely be cold outside, but it will be warm (maybe even hot) inside the store. Plus, with all physical exertion from carrying items and fighting through crowds, you’ll get overheated in the store. Be sure to dress in layers that can be unzipped or easily removed to help you stay comfortable in changing temperatures and environments. A hot, sweaty shopper is not a happy shopper.

Wear a coat with deep pockets – When you enter a store from the cold outside weather, you’ll immediately remove your hat and gloves. Be sure to wear a coat with deep pockets so that you can stash your hat and gloves in your pockets and not worry about them again until you leave the store. Without secure pockets, you’ll be juggling your hat and gloves when you need your hands to carry items. You also don’t want to stuff them in your purse, because they’ll be in the way when you need to pay for your items and you’ll hold up the line of harried shoppers while you wrestle with your hat and gloves.

Keep an envelope in your purse to hold receipts and coupons – You want to be able to quickly find your coupons when you’re checking out and you also want to keep track of your receipts for budgeting and for any returns. Check out my tips on how to organize your purse receipts and coupons.  Consider requesting receipts be emailed to you so you don’t have to keep track of them on the busy Black Friday day.

Bring a snack and drink – Pack a thermos and snacks to leave in the car. You will be out of the house before breakfast and will work up an appetite with all that shopping. There will be long lines at all the restaurants and coffee shops, so unless you like standing in line, pack a snack. A hungry, thirsty, caffeine-deficient shopper is not a happy shopper.

Bring cloth shopping bags with you – I always shop with cloth bags to save the landfill, but they’re also a great way to keep curious eyes away from your purchases. Since cloth bags are opaque, it will be more difficult for curious family to see what you purchased when you get home.

Stash a box in the trunk of your car – Place a large box or two in the trunk of your car to keep your bags organized. A simple box will keep your bags and contents from sliding all over the trunk of your car. When you finally arrive home after a tiring morning (or day) of shopping, it’s a nice reward to simply pick up your bags and walk into your home,  put your feet up and relax.

What tips do you use for Black Friday shopping? I always love to learn new tips! Have a happy Thanksgiving and happy shopping!

For a FREE printable Christmas shopping list click HERE.

Susan

Organized 31

Here are a few more great organizing tips from Susan, check them out over at her blog.

The post 7 Must-know Tips to Organize Black Friday Shopping appeared first on Ask Anna.

My niece just turned two. She’s a bubbly, vivacious and energetic little girl. She just became a big sister about 2 months ago and smothers her adorable little brother with love and lots of kisses. She recently went into the doctor one afternoon with a strange rash, after they confirmed the rash wasn’t anything to worry about, the doctor said he was concerned about her tonsils because one was abnormally large. Long story short, she had her tonsils removed about two weeks after her little bother joined the family. After they did some preliminary tests on her tonsils, one came back abnormal and my sweet niece, my brother and sister-in-law were referred to an oncologist. That’s a scary word, especially when it’s a young child.

The good news is that the oncologist told them he didn’t find anything and that my niece seems to be a picture of health. They will be doing more in-depth tests just to be sure, but things look good. So, even when things seem to be crumbling down and the world seems to be ending, you might just be changing into a butterfly.

This helped me to appreciate my sweet little niece and to think about others, rather than myself. About the time this was all going on, my husband was gone for a week and I had all three boys by myself on “vacation” (single parenthood is rarely a vacation, and super kudos and admiration to those of you who do it all the time!). I was also tasked with meal prep for 50 people. It is incredibly difficult to get that much food and three boys in one shopping cart, in case you were wondering.

This experience with my niece helped me be a little more patient with my own kids because you never know what might happen, so make the most of your caterpillar life and when it seems like everything is falling apart, just remember, it might be your turn to fly.

 Click here to DOWNLOAD THIS PRINTABLE QUOTE

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 Krista

While He Was Napping

Check out these other great posts over on Krista’s blog!

Momma’s Back to School Essentials

5 Site Word Apps

How to Pack a School Lunch FREE Printable

The post “…Everyone Else Calls a Butterfly” FREE Printable Quote appeared first on Ask Anna.

Let’s see those creative Father’s Day Gift Ideas…

Free Father’s Day Printables  by Scattered Thoughts of a Crafty Mom 

Photobook Gift Ideas by Find it Make It Love It

Free Father’s Day Printable Coupons by My Love for Words

Superhero Print for Father’s Day by Today’s Creative Blog 

DIY Photo Holder by Simply Designing 

Father’s Day Dad Mug by A Night Owl Blog

Father’s Day Gift Tags Free Printable by Uncommon Designs 

Wood Burned Father’s Day Card Idea by Cherished Bliss

Mod Podge Photo Canvas by Finding Home 

Father’s Day Photo Frame Craft by At the Picket Fence

Daddy Date Jar with Free Printable by While He Was Napping 

Monogrammed Necktie Coffee Cuff by Dukes and Duchesses

Toddler Activity: Tacky Tie for Father’s Day by Simple Home Blessing

The Stache Jar by Thoughts from Alice

Printable Tie Card from The Crafting Chicks

I know that you guys must have found something for Dad with these awesome ideas.  Enjoy every minute spent with that special guy in your life!

 Happy Father’s Day to all the amazing dads!

The post Creative & Mostly Free Father’s Day Gift Ideas appeared first on Ask Anna.