Updated Purse Organization ~ Spring 2014

I am quite particular about keeping my purse organized. I like to know where things are and have it neat. I don't like things just thrown in there...nor do I like things in there that don't belong (trash etc.).

I thought you may enjoy seeing how I am organizing my purse this spring. :) Above is the picture of my bag from the outside. I just love the huge flower!

And here is how you will see my bag on the inside (at any time...I always keep it this same way)...

What's all inside, you may ask? Well, let me show you...

 This is a small Vera Bradley wallet (which I found inexpensively on ebay) that keeps my iPod safe. I haven't had an iPod very long, but it was necessary to own since I began teaching spinning classes at our local Y...

 My phone (a simple flip phone...I don't use it for much like most people do. I don't even text! It's mainly a "just in case" phone. I am not against phones...but just don't feel like people need to find me *all* the time, does that make sense?), a couple pens, Chapstick (cake batter ~ yum!), Lip Gloss from Avon, and my peppermint essential oil roll-on for headaches or whatever I may need it for while on the go...

 My kindle case and filofax (which serves as my bill-paying-register and checkbook which I may do an updated post on soon)...

Here is my kindle. It is nothing fancy...just a simple one that I bought on super-sale from Amazon. I have downloaded loads of books for free (mostly theology) and it is great to have to read while waiting at a dr's appointment or if stuck in traffic etc. The case was bought on Etsy (I love Etsy!) from THIS store. My kindle tucks perfectly in there and then sits safely in my bag!

This little gem holds feminine products (not overly interesting, but I thought I would mention it!)...

This is my keep-all container. I keep extra Chapstick (of course) along with bandaids, tissues, ibuprofen, cough drops and extra hair things in there. I guess you could call it a "just in case" pouch...

And finally, in my bag I keep this little card-keeper. I have this one photo of my children in there along with some store cards, health insurance cards and the like...

So there you have it! And now all my items are back in my bag, just the way I had them before. It's always so nice to know just where everything is and to have it neat and tidy.

I hope you have enjoyed seeing how I organize my bag.
How do you organize yours? Feel free to share a link to your blog post about how you organize your purse! I'd love to see it!

Clean Out Your Fridge!

Have you cleaned out your refrigerator lately? If not...go do it...right now! ;) Just kidding...of course you should wait until you have time (hopefully that will be soon!).

There are so many reasons why keeping your fridge clean is so important!

1. Proper cleaning keeps bacteria and germs away. **Keeping you and your family healthier!**

2. It saves you money! (Woohoo!) Think of how many things you waste because they have expired in the fridge. Had they been in proper view and labeled, you would easily remember to use it and thus, save money! (Plus, it is such a blessing to have the amount of food we do...wouldn't you agree? We should try our best not to waste it when so many go without!)

3. It leaves you room to put things where they belong and still be able to *see* everything. Using bins or containers to hold things can be quite helpful. All you need to do, then, is slide the bin out to get what you need and not move a lot of things out of the way to get to the back.

4. It looks *fabulous*! Honestly, it is such a great feeling to open the refrigerator door and see everything in its place...isn't it?

 Don't worry...we aren't egg hoarders. ;)  We own chickens and get over a dozen eggs a day usually. We just took 6 dozen to use for our church's sunrise service for Resurrection Sunday...otherwise we would have more than this!

So, what are you waiting for? 

Clean out, wipe down and restock that refrigerator! 

You'll be glad you did! :)

My Favorite Pens

I have found the *best* pens to use with my planner! They are the FriXion erasable pens! They are absolutely fantastic...

They come in all these great colors...

 So I wrote this on a sticky note...

And with the other side of the pen, I erased it!!! Isn't that fantastic? The awesome colors and flow of a pen...and the ability to erase like a pencil!

These are definitely my favorite pens to use! I highly recommend them! You can find them HERE! What are your favorite pens to use with your planners?

My Favorite Books on Cleaning & Organizing

Having a good book to help you with your cleaning and organizing is of great value! A book can give you the right steps to take, all-natural recipes, cost-cutting ideas and more! I use a few books that I treasure!

The first one I highly recommend is Cleaning Plain & Simple by Donna Smallin. It is full of homemade recipes (with simple household ingredients), tips and tricks, and a simple plan to follow to get your whole home *clean*!

Boy was I excited when I found out Donna Smallin makes a book on organizing as well! Organizing Plain and Simple helps you solve all of your clutter challenges! Like her other book, this one gives tons of tips, tricks and ideas. As well as helping you organize your home (room by room), it also has a section that helps you organize your finances! Again, I highly recommend this book!

If you are interested in cleaning your home naturally (as I am) but don't always have the money for costly green cleaners, you can simply make your own! The Naturally Clean Home has 150 recipes for all-natural cleaning using things like Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps Pure-Castile Soap, lemon juice, vinegar and essential oils!

Mrs. Dunwoody's Excellent Instructions for Homekeeping is an absolutely *wonderful* book. It is full of simple homemaking advice...written from a mother to her children. It is a little old fashioned which makes me love it even more! It has chapters highlighting the art of homekeeping, entertaining, the garden, health and beauty, laundry and more. It is a treasure of a book, really.

What books do you find helpful in guiding you in your homemaking? I would love for you to share them! If you have any of these books, I would love to hear your thoughts on them too!

Bible/Book Covers

 My Bible is extremely well-used and well-loved. It's amount of use has led to it starting to fall apart...slowly but surely (even though I do have a hardback  ESV Study Bible.) I previously had my Bible in a large, pretty bible case. It *was* truly pretty and all...but what I really wanted was a simple cover. I didn't want a zipper or anything fancy...just something to protect the cover and keep it all *contained*.

I perused the shops on Etsy and found one that seemed to have just what I was looking for! KIVVERS by Daisy Jane has a cute assortment of different covers custom fit for your book! I picked a faux leather cover and gave her the measurements of my Bible. Soon, in the mail, I received a cover that slid like a glove right onto my bible. It fit perfectly.

Now, if you can find something to protect the delicate pages of my Bible, I would be much obliged! Not sure that they make anything like that though! ;)

I have had to reinforce all the tabs with matte scotch tape because they were getting so damaged as well. If you don't have tabs in your Bible but *want* some...you can find them here: Majestic Bible Tabs. 

If you are looking for a simple book cover, I recommend the shop I linked to above. But if that doesn't interest you, please go check out other shops on etsy. Shopping small/handmade is definitely the way to go! :)