I am a huge fan of Command adhesive hooks and I use them often throughout our house. Recently they asked if I would try out a few new products and of course I was all for it! They sent me some fun goodies, but for now I’m going to share with you the new Command Picture Clip. The picture clip is simply a small plastic clip that you attach to the wall and can essentially clip up anything you want like a photo or a note. I especially love this idea because my kids are constantly wanting to hang things up with tape and of course tape can peel off the paint on whatever it is attached to. So far I haven’t had that issue with Command products.

For me, the best thing about trying out new products is finding alternative uses! When I first saw the Picture Clip I knew another one of my problems would be solved….

That’s right socks! My laundry room counter always has a small pile of miss-matched socks waiting to find their mate and quite frankly I hate seeing them just laying around. I put up a few of these new Picture Clips then clipped up our mate-less socks and well… problem solved! Thanks Command!

So tell me, what do you do with your miss-matched socks while you are waiting for the mate to show up?

Yesterday the kids and I whipped up some brownies for a gathering we were attending. I wish I could say that having the kids helping me bake is always a joyous occasion in our house but usually it stresses us all out. I am not the regular cook of the house, hubby is, and he is just awesome at multitasking while cooking! The kids are usually right under foot as he cooks and everything magically comes out tasting exactly as it should. I on the other hand can get easily distracted and forget which ingredient goes next. I usually line everything up and measure it all out as I go but inevitably it happens…. something is forgotten when a child starts arguing over whose turn is next to pour what.

I finally found what works for me!  This time before the kids came in the kitchen I got all the ingredients out and measured them in individual bowls. And here I thought this stuff was just for TV and making pretty pictures! Then I had the kids come over and gave them each what they could pour in, no fuss no muss and everyone gets to lick the bowl at the end! :)

It’s really common sense but I think I avoided it before because I didn’t want to dirty the extra dishes. In reality it was just three extra bowls but we all were much happier during the process! Well worth it!

Do you have any tips to share for making cooking easier with kids under foot?

I live in Minnesota where it is cold eight months out of the year. Summer is the one chance to really get out and enjoy the outdoors, so it’s best to take advantage of it while it’s here, and that usually means more outings, more running around, more activities. But it doesn’t have to mean more drive-thrus. With just a little bit of organization, you can ready yourself for a summer of easy meals and even meals on the go that don’t involve a single French fry.

Pack a Picnic Basket

You don’t really need a picnic basket for this, but what I am referring to is packing a bag or small box full of things that allow you to seize the day. Just a few weeks ago on a randomly warm day here, we were out grocery shopping as a family on the weekend.

The plan was to go home to prepare dinner, but it was so nice outside (and we weren’t quite done running around) that we decided we’d have a picnic. We simply grabbed a rotisserie chicken, a few rolls, coleslaw and grapes and set off to a picnic at the park overlooking one of the many lakes near our house in between our shopping stops.

You don’t need much to be picnic ready. A small container that slips under the seat should suffice.

What to pack:

– paper or polycarbonate plates, one for each member of your family
- plastic forks and knives
- napkins
- bibs for younger children
- wet wipes

Make More Protein

I have found that having excess cooked protein is always a good thing. On the night when my husband is grilling, I simply toss a few extra pieces of chicken on the grill. If I’m making lentils, I make extra. It is as simple as that. I then store the protein in the fridge if I know I will need it that week, or I freeze it in airtight containers. This way I can always have a dinner ready in just a few minutes. It’s perfect for unexpected outings or when the kids’ baseball games run long.

A few simple ideas:

Chicken Salad Sandwiches: Extra chicken becomes a meal quickly when it’s chopped and tossed with a squeeze of lemon, a couple stray vegetables and some mayo. Put it between two slices of bread with a thin slice of cheese and you have a meal.

Chicken Quesadillas: We always have extra sour cream and salsa in the house. Simply top one tortilla with chicken chunks, salsa, cheese, top with another tortilla and heat on a griddle, flipping once until cheese is melted. Cut into triangles, wrap in foil and bring along wherever you’re going.

Texas Caviar: I adore chips and salsa, and this is like chips and salsa taken to the next level. Add cooked beans to diced tomatoes and peppers, maybe some canned corn and olives. Then simply add a bit of Italian dressing. Tastes better after it’s been sitting. Serve with corn chips.

Hard-boiled Eggs: This one goes without saying, really, but they make an excellent portable meal and are easy to have ready beforehand. Packed with protein and low in calories, they fill you up and keep you satisfied.

Pack a Table

Sometimes you don’t even have to leave your yard to enjoy the weather. One of my family’s favorite summertime activities is moving dinner outdoors. This became a problem when we moved three years ago without any patio furniture. Rather than give up this favorite pastime, we simply improvised. A bed sheet is large enough to hold all of us, and it will also cover dirty wagons that are converted into rolling buffets. Use an old one that you don’t use any longer. Sit on the steps, in the grass, on beach towels and, yes, your bed sheets. Get outside and enjoy eating without a roof over your head.

Simply pack a makeshift table to eat wherever you may be, even in your own house. Try stepping outside for a bowl of granola in the morning with fresh fruit. There is nothing more refreshing than a dewy morning before the summer’s hot sun starts baking the ground.

What do you do to enjoy the weather of the summer months with your family?

I don’t know about you but when I got my first place it was always so thrilling to do little projects around the house on my own. Yes, I might have had to try a few times and perhaps patch a few holes as a result but try, try again! I never gave up. Last week I got to meet Scott Roewer of Solutions by Scott at the NAPO conference. Last year Scott did a fabulous series about organizing your closet and I want to share it here with you. He takes you step by step not only through the clutter but installing new elfa shelving! These videos are very helpful if you are the do-it-yourself type! You can watch the first video above and check out the rest of the series at MonkeySee.com.

So what does your closet look like right now? Do you have anything jumping out at you when you open the door?

Spring is here, and while it’s a great time to air out the house, go through the closets and get rid of what’s been building up over winter, it is also the perfect time to declutter your kitchen. When I think about tackling my kitchen I get a bit overwhelmed because it’s an area of my home that I use every day, so I find that it’s easiest to take it in chunks, and I am starting with the cupboards.

More specifically, I’ll be starting with the cupboard that houses all of the canned foods in my kitchen, the pastas, whole grains and rice (that isn’t in larger bulk containers in the pantry cabinets) and foods like dried fruit and some random ingredients here and there. It happens to be the smallest as well, and it seemed like a good place to start my project for that reason.

Step 1:

Empty the cupboards. Starting with a bare cupboard serves many purposes. It helps you assess the true amount of space you have, and it also forces you to see all of the possible items that were hiding behind one another in the cupboard before.

Step 2:

Categorize the items that have been removed. It’s easiest to locate things if you group them together. Plus, it will help you when you’re taking inventory and going grocery shopping so you know exactly what it is you do have and don’t have.

Step 3:

Clean out the cupboards. Using a natural, non-toxic cleaner, give all of the cupboards a good wipe down to remove any crumbs or dust that have built up.

Step 4:

Decide what to put back into the cupboard. Throw away expired food items, and determine what you’re actually going to use. That can of beets that you had an odd craving for but aren’t really interested in, will you really eat them before they expire? Donate any unexpired items that you won’t use to the local food shelter. Items that don’t have clear expiration dates can be tricky, so check to see how long things are shelf stable once they are opened or in their unopened packages to be sure.

Step 5:

Put the food back on the shelves. After determining what you’re keeping, what you’re tossing and what you’re donating, restocking is an easy task. Try to stock by food variety. For instance, I put all my grains on one shelf. I then places the taller packages in the back so that they would be easily visible once the cupboard was full. This way I’m not forgetting that I have something and buying it before I use it, only to let the old package expire.

I also determined that I needed to invest in a few containers for the foods I buy in the bulk food section. Having them stored in the bags is frustrating, and they go bad faster that way. Storing them in airtight, see-through containers will keep them fresh longer and make them easier to organize on the shelves.

What have you been doing to spring clean your kitchen? Which areas do you find to be the most difficult for you? (My difficult area is the cupboard with all the spices and baking supplies.)