MomAdvice Simplified: Canceled This Week

I am sorry to say that I am going to have to cancel the podcast for this week because I was not able to secure a speaker for our podcast today. We also are suffering from end-of-the-year craziness in our family with school coming to a close, making my time more limited.

I so enjoy doing these podcasts, but I think it would be best to take a break from the show for the summer. It will be difficult to do these shows with both kids home and my daughter not napping anymore. There is a great deal of work and effort that go into each of these episodes.

If you guys really enjoy this, I can definitely consider picking it back up in the fall when the kids are in school and I am able to devote a little more time to it.

In all honesty, we are trying to enjoy a relatively schedule-free summer and this would free up some time for me to spend with my children this summer. Being a mom is quite the juggling act, isn't it? I am trying to learn to prioritize my commitments and hanging out with my beautiful kids this summer is #1 on my list. I hope you understand!

Simply Choosing Great Wines Resource List

We would like to thank Charlene, from My Frugal Adventures for sharing her wine expertise with us on MomAdvice Simplified.

Click above to listen to this episode at anytime or visit our sidebar on the left-hand side to listen to the episodes anytime throughout the week. These episodes are also available in iTunes format for you to take on the go!


Here are some of the resources that were highlighted in today's episode:

Cheap, But Good (Wine That Is)- Charlene shares a lot of great information on buying inexpensive wine and how to spot those killer deals in your town!

Vinturi Essential Wine Aerator- This is one investment that Charlene recommends as a great way to aerate your wine. It makes even an inexpensive wine taste better.

Vacu Vin 3 Piece Wine Saver Set- Paired with the wine aerator, this would be a wonderful gift to give a wine drinker in your life. The Vacu Vin helps to keep a bottle of wine fresh for up to two weeks versus a couple of days.

Great Tastes Made Simple & Great Wine Made Simple- These are books that Charlene recommends on learning more about wine and pairing wine & food together.

Riedel Overture Red Wine Glasses- Charlene recommends this stemware which is widely available and will make any wine taste better. She spends more money on her glassware than on the wine itself so these would definitely add to your wine experience.

Wine- Two of the wineries that Charlene recommends sampling from are Ste. Michelle Wine Estates and Bogle Vineyards.

Boxed Wines: An Eco & Wallet-Friendly Choice- This is my article and recommendations for sampling great boxes of wine. They have come a long way, believe me!

On next week's show...

Nada! Would you like to be my guest on the show? We are looking for great guests to share ideas on simplifying processes for moms. I need you! Please email me at amy(at)momadvice(dot)com and tell me what you would like to talk about. Interviews can be pre-recorded to make it easier for our guests.

MomAdvice Simplified: Simply Choosing Great Wines

On MomAdvice Simplified, we will be joined by Charlene, from My Frugal Adventures, who will be sharing with us her tips on choosing a budget-friendly wine. Charlene has over nine years of experience in the wine industry and brings with that a lot of knowledge on how to spot the best deals on great wines, what pitfalls to watch out for when choosing a wine, and how to care for and store wine so it will last longer.

She is incredibly knowledgeable AND budget-savvy at the same time so I know it will be a great episode to listen to when choosing great wines that won't break the bank! Best of all, she helped compile a really great resource list that will help you with a lot of your shopping!

I hope you can tune in! You can catch this podcast weekly at 2PM EST each Thursday afternoon!

Simplifying Our Cleaning Routine Resource List

What a fun interview that was and I want to thank Trish Suhr for taking time out of her busy schedule to speak with me. I hope that you learned a lot in that half hour and I enjoyed getting to share all of our giveaways this week too.

Click above to listen to this episode at anytime or visit our sidebar on the left-hand side to listen to the episodes anytime throughout the week. These episodes are also available in iTunes format for you to take on the go!

Here are some of the resources that were highlighted in today's episode:

Pledge Cleaning Quiz We uploaded this fun little quiz from Pledge to figure out what type of cleaning habits you have. A huge thank you to Pledge Multi-Surface for sponsoring the giveaways for our show this week.

Clean House- Trish hosts this great show on the Style Network. You can catch the show Wednesdays at 10/9 Central.

Gearing Up for Summer- This article will offer some helpful little tips for getting your house ready as summer quickly approaches. Get that grill gleaming again and tidy up that patio furniture so you can really enjoy your time outside this year.

Spring Cleaning For Today's Mom- This article offers some insight on how to make that spring cleaning a little more manageable this year.

Happy Homemaking the Homemade Way- If you can't afford the expensive cleaners, this article will guide you into making cleaners at home that are better for the earth and easier on the wallet!

On next week's show...

Next week we will be joined by Charlene, from My Frugal Adventures, who will be sharing with us her tips on choosing a budget-friendly wine. Charlene has over nine years of experience in the wine industry and brings with that a lot of knowledge on how to spot the best deals on great wines, what pitfalls to watch out for when choosing a wine, and how to care for/store wine so it will last longer.

MomAdvice Simplified: Simplifying Our Cleaning Routines

On MomAdvice Simplified, we are joined by Trish Suhr, the amazing co-host of “Clean House” on the Style Network, to help offer us tips on keeping our homes in tip top shape. Trish has some great tips for making our homes the sanctuaries that they should be and offers valuable advice on ditching the clutter in our homes so we can truly enjoy it. Trish is lovely and dynamic and I had the best time interviewing her. Talking to her was like chatting with an old friend and I hope you will enjoy this interview half as much as I enjoyed conducting it!

This podcast airs weekly at 2PM EST each Thursday. Due to Trish's busy schedule, we did have to pre-record the interview portion, but we will be offering a great giveaway for five of our listeners sponsored by Pledge Multi Surface.

Simply Great Jeans & T-Shirts Resource List

A huge thanks to Kathy Friend for joining us this week on our podcast. I would also love to thank you for all of your questions for Kathy. We tried to answer all of the questions that were submitted so please listen in if you have made a request!

Click above to listen to this episode at anytime or visit our sidebar on the left-hand side to listen to the episodes anytime throughout the week. These episodes are also available in iTunes format for you to take on the go!

Here are some of the resources that were highlighted in today's episode...

Not Your Daughter's Jeans- This is a great jean pick for women with curves. Although an investment, Kathy suggests looking at how many pairs of jeans you have that you are not wearing that have cost less and consider making one good investment into a pair of jeans that you can wear often and that will accentuate your curves.

T-Shirt Recommendations- Budget-friendly Mossimo Target T-Shirts are an inexpensive way to add some splash to your wardrobe. Other great t-shirt brands are linQ & Three Dots T-shirts.

IsABelt- Are your jeans gapping in the back? Are you in your early stages fo pregnancy and looking for a way to make your jeans fit properly? isABelt is the Original invisible belt, the MUST HAVE Fashion “fix-it” accessory. A thin, strong and flexible clear plastic belt, that virtually disappears when worn, providing you with the assurance that all is secure without even knowing it's there. isABelt prevents back gap, slippage and of course, belt bulk and belt bulge. The isABelt solves all of these fashion issues and many more. If you would like to order one directly, please contact Kathy Friend for an order. She is selling these to help with funds for their adoption!

Swagbucks- This is my new way to earn cash towards my jeans & t-shirts this year. Sign-up for Swagbucks and simply use their search engine to search on the web, earning some great money for your shopping fixes. I signed up last week and have already earned $30 just doing my regular old searching.

Ebates- The shopping site that I would recommend everyone check before doing their shopping for your new summer clothes. Sign up today and you will earn an automatic $5 in your account for signing up. This site gives back a percentage on qualifying purchases. I always try to check here before doing any online shopping.

Bring Anya Home- In 2004, Marty and Kathy Friend dedicated their lives and hearts to adopt a 2 year old girl, Anya, from Irkutsk, Russia. During the summer of 2005, the Friends were preparing their home and family for the addition of a toddler, when they got a call with the news that a woman from Virginia had killed her Russian-adopted daughter. This caused shock waves throughout the international adoption community - and stopped adoptions to American families in Irkutsk.

After nearly 5 years, 5 trips to Russia, unceasing prayer and tens of thousands of dollars, the Friends see an end in sight. The Judge in Irkutsk, Russia has accepted the Friend’s case, and it is currently pending before the court in Russia. Marty and Kathy are hopeful they will receive a court date in June of this year. It is a very real possibility that Anya will be a part of her forever family by her 7th birthday - the end of June, 2009.

Because of new requirements to obtain a passport (for Anya), and “waiting periods” imposed by the Russian court system, the Friends need to plan for an 8 week stay in Russia. The financial reality is overwhelming.

Your generous donation through the purchase of a piece of jewelry or other items on their website is truly appreciated. This would make a wonderful Mother's Gift and is a great way to support a wonderful family!

On next week's show...

Next week we are joined by Trish Suhr, the amazing co-host of “Clean House” on the Style Network, to help offer us tips on keeping our homes in tip top shape. Trish has some great tips for making our homes the sanctuaries that they should be and offers valuable advice on ditching the clutter in our homes so we can truly enjoy it. Her cleaning tips will help you get back on track and we will be offering a great giveaway for our listeners sponsored by Pledge Multi Surface.

MomAdvice Simplified: Simply Picking the Best Jeans & T-Shirt

On MomAdvice Simplified, my weekly podcast for moms, I am very excited to share that I will be gabbing it up with my real-life friend & wardrobe coach, Kathy Friend. This podcast airs weekly at 2PM EST each Thursday.

I asked Kathy to join our show again, but to help guide moms into choosing the right jeans and t-shirts. Since becoming an at-home mom, my wardrobe mainly consists of these two key pieces and I thought it would be great to have her share which brands are the best and how to find the best cuts for our figures.

Kathy is going to share with moms how to pick the best jeans and t-shirts for your figure, but also find a look that is both flattering and comfortable. We will be discussing the best brands, how to get the best look for any budget, and what items to add to our jeans and t-shirt wardrobe to take them from day to night.

Do you have any questions about choosing the right jeans or t-shirt for Kathy? Please leave your questions here and I will be sure to get them worked into our discussion!

Simply Scoring the Best Freebies Resource List

A huge thanks to Heather, from Freebies 4 Mom, for joining us this week on our podcast. We have had a lot of technical difficulties today so I apologize for the delays on everything.

Click above to listen to this episode at anytime or visit our sidebar on the left-hand side to listen to the episodes anytime throughout the week. These episodes are also available in iTunes format for you to take on the go!

Here are some of the resources that were highlighted in today's episode...

Freebies 4 Mom - Heather blogs daily about free samples, coupons, sweepstakes and giveaways with the goal to help everyone save money every day with freebies.

Freebie Friday - Every Friday MomAdvice highlights the best new freebies each week on The Motherload blog with Heather as a contributor.

Walmart Free Samples - The best single-source of free samples by mail, new ones are highlighted every Freebie Friday

Be A Smarter Freebie Finder - Learn how to spot the potential scams yourself and how to be careful about the personal information you submit in order to receive a freebie.

Customer Service for Free Samples - If you receive a damaged or missing free sample in the mail, then you should definitely contact Customer Service about it and here are tips on how to do that successfully. Companies want your feedback and to hear about your free sampling experience with them.

Roboform - A way to fill out forms quickly by saving commonly entered information.

Entertainment Freebies 4 Families - Great sources of free movies, music, and books for everyone in your family.

Free Magazine Samples - The best sources of free magazines subscriptions plus creative ways to give those magazines a second life after you are done with them.

Ebates- If you do have a magazines subscription that you need to pay for, why not pay less by getting cash back through Ebates! They offer up to 40% back for magazines subscriptions (watch for a double cash back event).

Swagbucks- Anyone can use Swagbucks as their search engine and start earning free gift cards. It's an easy way to be rewarded for doing something you already do, search the internet.

YouData - Readers earn money by glancing at ads on Freebies 4 Mom! An easy and quick way to add a dollor or two each week to your PayPal account.

On next week's show...

Kathy Friend, my wonderful fashionista friend, is joining our show again to share some of her savvy fashion advice with our listeners. Kathy is going to share with moms how to pick the best jeans and t-shirts for your figure, but also find a look that is both flattering and comfortable. We will be discussing the best brands, how to get the best look for any budget, and what items to add to our jeans and t-shirt wardrobe to take them from day to night!

MomAdvice Simplified: Simply Scoring the Best Freebies

This week on MomAdvice Simplified, my weekly podcast for moms, I will be chatting it up with Heather, from Freebies 4 Mom. This podcast airs weekly at 2PM EST each Thursday.

Heather will be offering assistance on finding the best freebies out there, how to get those freebie forms filled out more quickly, and shares why freebies are so advantageous to a frugal lifestyle. She even offers some tips and tricks for finding free money to get that latte fix you have been craving without blowing your budget.

Heather has been a longtime friend of mine and has been such a great supporter for my website by offering her assistance each Friday on our Freebie Friday list. It was such an honor to finally get to talk to her in person and I think you are going to be in for such a special treat when you hear this episode.

As an added bonus and incentive to get people to listen, Heather is offering one lucky listener a $50 Sephora e-gift card to get you motivated to tune in.

I hope you can make time to tune in to this invaluable episode!

Simplify Coupon Cutting Resource List

Click above to listen to this episode at anytime or visit our sidebar on the left-hand side to listen to the episodes anytime throughout the week. These episodes are also available in iTunes format for you to take on the go!

Here are some of the resources that were highlighted in today's episode...

Deal Seeking Mom- Tara scopes the internet for all of the latest freebies and makes shopping and finding freebies easier for moms. Please visit her site for all of the latest and greatest deals on the web.

Money4Moms Podcast- Tune in to Money4Moms for practical advice and ideas to help you save money. We will be covering money saving topics and answering your questions, as well as providing you with deals, weekly store previews and encouragement and support. This podcast is brought to you by Tara, from Deal Seeking Mom, and Mercedes, from Common Sense With Money, each Wednesday at 10 PM/9 PM CST.

Coupon Lingo Quick Reference- Tara has gathered all of those abbreviations and explained them in one great place so you know what you are reading when scouring those shopping boards.

All You Magazine- Tara suggests getting a subscription to this great magazine because it offers a load of coupons in each issue. Follow the link for a 2 year subscription for only $17.99.

35 Ways to Save On Your Grocery Budget- Don't want to clip coupons? This article sums up some other great ways you can save on those groceries.

Grocery Shopping Tips- Here is another article to help make that grocery day easier by sharing some shopping strategies that I have used for my own family.

On next week's show...

In this episode we will be chatting it up with Heather, from Freebies 4 Mom, and learning the best ways to score free products and samples from companies. Heather is an expert in the freebie market and will be sharing her valuable advice with us!

MomAdvice Simplified: Simplify Coupon-Cutting

This week Tara, from Deal Seeking Mom, will be joining us to give us a glimpse into how to effectively save the most money using coupons. We will learn simple strategies for organizing our coupons, how we can apply our coupons for the maximum savings, and what online resources will give us the best bang for our buck.

Tara is a mom of five and I can't wait to hear her strategies for time-saving and what strategies in shopping should be a top priority. Tara is a savvy shopper and a great friend so I look forward to sharing our interview with you.

This podcast will be airing today at 2PM EST so I hope you can join me and learn how to maximize your savings when shopping.

If you have any questions on coupon clipping, please leave them in the comments below and I will make sure to ask them!

Simply Capturing Great Photos Resource List

Another big round of thanks to Mishelle Lane for sharing her invaluable advice on photography and choosing the right photography equipment with our listeners. It was an exciting and information-filled half hour so I hope you can listen to this at your leisure, if you didn't get a chance to catch it live!

Here is our list of resources that were highlighted in today's episode:

Mishelle Lane- Mishelle is very connected in the photo world and you can find her at Secret Agent Mama, Mishelle Lane Photography, Flickr, or connect with her through Twitter (@secretagentmama)

Photography Sites to Visit: Mishelle recommends visiting Photo Bliss, Shutter Sisters, & Pioneer Woman to help breathe some life into your photography. All sites offer great advice on photography and can give you some new ideas for picture-taking.

Picknik- This is the photo editing site that Mishelle mentioned as a great and inexpensive photo editing tool for moms. They offer free & a premium membership for $24.95. This is a great beginner programmer to use, but still offers some great features that watermarks for your pictures.

Canon Cameras-Mishelle recommends this site for checking out great cameras when upgrading your equipment.

Opteka- Find great budget-friendly accessories for your camera on this great website!


On next week's show...

Tara, from Deal Seeking Mom, will be joining us to give us a glimpse into how to effectively save the most money using coupons. We will learn simple strategies for organizing our coupons, how we can apply our coupons for the maximum savings, and what online resources will give us the best bang for our buck.


Related Links:

5 Tips for Great Photography Straight From A Pro

Take Your Own Pictures to Save Money

MomAdvice Simplified: Simply Capturing Great Photos

This week on MomAdvice Simplified, my podcast for moms, I am so excited to be joined by photographer extraordinaire, Mishelle Lane. Mishelle blogs at Secret Agent Mama and I had the great pleasure of meeting Mishelle at Blissdom '09. I couldn't wait to have her on our show as a guest to share her photography tips with us.

Mishelle will be sharing her tips for purchasing the right photography equipment, some ideas for capturing our busy children, and how to get out of the automatic modes on our cameras. Best of all, she shares her resources for budget-friendly camera equipment & photo editing tools. You don't want to miss this one!

This podcast will be airing today at 2PM EST so I hope you can join me for this exciting half hour!

Simplifying Home Organization Resource List

A big thank you again to Stephanie Vozza, from The Organized Parent, for joining us today for our show. I hope you got a lot out of it and we can't wait to bring more great guests to you on our show!

Here is the resource list from today's podcast:

The Organized Parent- Be sure to check out Stephanie's website for oodles of smart & stylish organizing tools for moms. Stephanie said her top seller is this chic File Tote that was featured in Family Circle Magazine.

Wuduplz- This is text messaging service that Stephanie uses to get her older child motivated to help. You can text your children and let them know what you need assistance with around the house. Now that is a brilliant way to send a chore list!

Organize Your Week- This was one of the original articles I wrote when we began the website five years ago. Although I have tried other methods of organizing my week, I always fall back on this great plan and I definitely recommend trying this in your house!

Free Weekly Planner Download- Be sure to visit our Resources section for your printable needs. In addition to our great Weekly Planner Download (filled with loads of room for all your most important engagements), you will also find a great Menu Planning Sheet that would be a lovely addition to your fridge!

20 Tips for Finding Your Routine With Kids- I had to highlight Tsh's excellent article this week, on Simple Mom, because it falls in step perfectly with finding organization in your week. Be sure to read this article to give you more great ideas for establishing a good routine!

On next week's show...

Next week on MomAdvice Simplified we will be discussing how to simply capture great photos! I am so excited to be joined by photographer extraordinaire, Mishelle Lane, who blogs at Secret Agent Mama. I had the great pleasure of meeting Mishelle at Blissdom '09 and couldn't wait to have her on our show as a guest.

Mishelle will be sharing her tips for purchasing the right photography equipment, some ideas for capturing our busy children, and how to get out of the manual mode on our cameras.

This episode will air next Thursday (April 2nd) at 2PM EST.

MomAdvice Simplified: Simplifying Home Organization

This week on MomAdvice Simplified, my weekly podcast for moms, we will be joined by Stephanie Vozza, the Founder of The Organized Parent and organizational expert, and she will be giving us simple and affordable techniques and tools that moms can used to stay organized in our home.

Stephanie knows that most mothers have been in the workplace (or still are) before their “mom lives” began. She also recognizes that in corporate and home offices, there are tools and standard practices to structure a workday. But when it comes to organizing your personal life, it’s every mom for herself!

Stephanie is going to guide us in this journey towards getting our mom lives as organized as our corporate lives were. That podcast will be airing today at 2PM EST so if you are looking to get your life organized again, be sure to tune in for that episode.

Just for our listeners, we will be giving away a product from The Organized Parent to one lucky caller. Please tune in for this fun and exclusive giveaway!

Simplifying Your Money Management Resource List

Another big round of thanks to Julie for joining us in this half hour and sharing her expertise on money management. I hope you will be able to pick up her book and learn more about our emotional responses towards money and how we can improve our lives through these discoveries. The player above highlights the past few shows, but you can visit MomAdvice Simplified where all of the shows have been archived and be listened to or even downloaded to your iPod!

Here are some of the resources that were highlighted in today's episode:

The Emotion Behind Money: Building Wealth from the Inside Out- Julie offers valuable advice in this book on understanding our emotions behind money and how to gain control of our finances. Please be sure to check out her book or visit her site for more details about what this book has to offer!

CheckFree- Julie discussed automating those bills to make it easier for moms. If your bank does not offer free bill-paying services, CheckFree is a great option that has worked for my family for years. It is a free bill-paying service and they have the relationships with the companies. I am sent an email alert when bills are due and I pay each of them manually. You can also set it up to automatically take it out of your account. Feel free to share in the comments below if you have found a great service through your bank or a third party service that has worked for you.

No Spend Challenge- This was a challenge that our family embarked on to get our finances back on track. Scroll to the bottom to start the journey from the beginning and don't be scared to tackle a no spend challenge of your own.

Free Monthly Budget Sheet- You will find this great budget sheet to be helpful to your family in getting those family finances back on track. Visit our resources section for many downloads to help with your home management needs.

On next week's show...

Next week we will be joined by Stephanie Vozza, the Founder of The Organized Parent and organizational expert, she will be giving us simple and affordable techniques and tools that moms can used to stay organized in our home. Stephanie knows that most mothers have been in the workplace (or still are) before their “mom lives” began. She also recognizes that in corporate and home offices, there are tools and standard practices to structure a workday. But when it comes to organizing your personal life, it’s every mom for herself! Stephanie is going to guide us in this journey towards getting our mom lives as organized as our corporate lives were. That podcast will be airing next Thursday at 2PM EST so if you are looking to get your life organized again, be sure to tune in for that episode.

MomAdvice Simplified: Simplifying Money Management

This week on MomAdvice Simplified, my weekly podcast for moms, we are joined by Julie Murphy Casserly to discuss tips on simplifying money-management. Julie will help us identify our preconceived thoughts and feelings about money, how to overcome negative thoughts and put ourselves on a path to a positive financial future. Julie is a CLU, ChFC, CFP® and a 14-year veteran of the financial services industry and author of the new book, The Emotion Behind Money: Building Wealth from the Inside Out.

Julie’s mission to “financially heal America” by helping people understand their emotions behind money, and how these attitudes affect how they earn, spend and save – or, conversely, accumulate debt. She delves into the emotion and psychology behind her clients monetary issues.

Just as a reminder, you can listen to the show live every Thursday at 2PM EST or you can listen later right here on my the left sidebar! Check back after the show for our resource list so you can explore all of the great links to the books and advice that we share during our half hour.

During this podcast, we are going to be offering one lucky listener a copy of Julie's book! I know this would be an invaluable tool for money management so I hope you will tune in live to hear Julie's wise words for understanding our feelings behind our spending.

Julie will be joining us live so if you have any questions you would like me to ask her, please leave those here in the comments and I will ask them on the air!

Simplifying Your Grocery Day Podcast & Resource List

A HUGE thank you to Aviva Goldfarb for joining us this week on MomAdvice Simplified. I hope you can take a half hour out of your day to listen to Aviva's advice on simplifying your grocery day. Aviva has some really excellent advice for what to stock in your pantry, meal ideas for those crazy nights when you don't know what to fix, and ideas for how to streamline the menu planning process.

Congrats to our lucky winner, Genevieve, on winning a 6-month subscription to the menu planning service. We hope it relieves the stress of planning for their family.

Here is today's resource list from the show:

The Six O'Clock Scramble- This is Aviva's menu planning service that you can use to plan your family meals. Each recipe is tried and true and will include a grocery list to make those grocery trips easier.

The Six O'Clock Scramble Cookbook- Aviva shares her recipes and menu plans in this handy cookbook and I would definitely recommend that moms check this out for some menu planning inspiration!

Grocery Shopping- This article gives you some quick & easy tips for simplifying your grocery day and staying on track with your budget.

35 Ways to Save on Grocery Day- This is my absolute favorite post on ways to save with links back to recipes and tips for ways to save money on your groceries.

On next week's show...

Next week This week we will be joined by Julie Murphy Casserly to discuss tips on simplifying money-management. Julie will help us identify our preconceived thoughts and feelings about money, how to overcome negative thoughts and put ourselves on a path to a positive financial future. Julie is a CLU, ChFC, CFP® and a 14-year veteran of the financial services industry and author of the new book, The Emotion Behind Money: Building Wealth from the Inside Out. Julie’s mission to “financially heal America” by helping people understand their emotions behind money, and how these attitudes affect how they earn, spend and save – or, conversely, accumulate debt. She delves into the emotion and psychology behind her clients monetary issues.

MomAdvice Simplified: Simplifying Grocery Day

On MomAdvice Simplified, my weekly podcast for moms, I will be speaking with Aviva Goldfarb on simplifying our grocery day. Aviva is the author of the book, “The Six O'Clock Scramble” and founder of TheScramble.com and I am sure she is going to be sharing a wealth of information for our listeners.

Aviva will be sharing some of her tips for making dinnertime healthier while saving time and money along the way. She will also be discussing time-saving tips for planning your dinnertime meals in advance, how to maximize your time and budget at the grocery store and how to waste less food each week. I am really looking forward to sharing that interview with you!

Please be sure to tune in because Aviva is going to be sharing with our readers a chance to win a free six-month membership to The Six O'Clock Scramble dinner planning services just for those who listen in!

Just as a reminder, you can listen to the show live every Thursday at 2PM EST or you can listen later right here on my the left sidebar! Check back after the show for our resource list so you can explore all of the great links to the books and advice that we share during our half hour.

Aviva will be joining us live so if you have any questions you would like me to ask her, please leave them here and I will try to squeeze them into our show!

Simplify the After School Chaos Resource List

Thank you again to Mary Lou Retton for joining us for our podcast today. If you missed the show, please feel free to listen at your convenience and hear some of Mary Lou's great ideas for managing the chaos, after school snacks, and how she makes family time a priority in her house.

Here are a few of the resources that were highlighted in today's episode:

A Few Words About Convenience Foods- We talk a lot about how to save on convenience foods on our site. This post will showcase some of my ideas for making your own convenience foods and a few recipes to get you started. I have even explored if baby carrots are a convenience food because I love to maximize those grocery dollars as much as I can.

Schedule a Day in Your Kitchen- This post shares my idea on how I try to keep our grocery budget low by scheduling a baking day or prep day in your kitchen.

2008 Online Calendar Round-Up- This post is full of great online tools you can use to manage your day and/or your home business. Online calendars can be a useful tools for minimizing the stress of planning your day and your after school time.


Thank you to Tyson Foods for sponsoring a giveaway for our listeners and I loved getting to share some coupons with those of you who listened in. I am hoping to offer more fun giveaways in the future so please make sure to tune in live to take advantage of these fun giveaways!

On next week's show...

I have two exciting podcasts happening next week that I would like to share with you about. I am partnering up with Walmart on a very exclusive and exciting project to interview one of the stars from the movie, “Twilight” based on the Twilight book series by Stephenie Meyer. I am going to be co-hosting this BlogTalkRadio show with Taylor Lautner, AKA Jacob, on a very special interview while the cast is on location for the second film ("New Moon"). I will be co-hosting this on the “Stardish Radio” program March 9, at 9 pm (EST).

Speaking from the set of The Twilight Saga’s New Moon, Taylor will take questions from fans “logged in” to BlogTalkRadio with host Jo Ann Kubasek (Stardish Radio) and myself. We are very excited about this opportunity and I am particularly excited because I am a mom and also a super fan of the books and I am so happy to represent the mom community and share about my own adoration for the books and the film Twilight. I hope you will be able to join me for that and again, it will be airing March 9, this coming Monday, at 9PM so be sure to mark your calendars.

On MomAdvice Simplified, next Thursday at 2PM EST, Aviva Goldfarb, Author and Founder of “The Six O’Clock Scramble” will be joining our show and sharing some of her tips for making dinnertime healthier while saving time and money along the way. She is the author of the book, “The Six O'Clock Scramble” and founder of TheScramble.com. She will be discussing time-saving tips for planning your dinnertime meals in advance, how to maximize your time and budget at the grocery store and how to waste less food each week. I am really looking forward to sharing that interview with you!

MomAdvice Simplified: Simplify the After-School Chaos

On MomAdvice Simplified, my weekly podcast for moms, I have a very exciting episode scheduled and a guest that I think you are really going to enjoy hearing from. Olympic gymnastic champion, Mary Lou Retton, joins our show to discuss how she simplifies and deals with the after-school chaos in her home. As a mother of four girls, she offers helpful real-life tips she uses with her family, and supplies a game plan that will help you conquer after-school chaos. I would love if you would join us as we discuss making after-school time easier for your family.

Just as a reminder, you can listen to the show live every Thursday at 2PM EST or you can listen later right here on my the left sidebar! Check back after the show for our resource list so you can explore all of the great links to book and advice that we share during our half hour.

I hope you will join me and feel free to chat with me in the chat room or you can even phone in your questions. During this episode, we are going to also be doing a giveaway with Tyson Foods that you will not want to miss!

I think this is going to be an invaluable episode for moms and I am really excited about the information that we are going to share in this half hour.

Bursting With Excitement for Twilight Fans Everywhere!

I am wrapping up the final book in the Twilight series. I just haven't wanted it to end, which is why I have been savoring these last few pages. This will be the end of some of my best reading in a long time. If you would have told me that I would be sitting on the edge of my seat reading a young adult vampire novel, I would have laughed at you. I have never been into the vampire books or anything that would resemble this genre before, but I somehow got sucked in. It is a book series that transcends generations and all my mom friends are equally as excited about these books as myself!

And this is why I am bursting with excitement to announce to you today that I am partnering up with Walmart on a very exclusive and exciting project. I am going to be hosting a BlogTalkRadio show with Taylor Lautner, AKA Jacob, on a very special interview while they are on location for the second film ("New Moon"). I will be co-hosting this on the “Stardish Radio” program March 9, 2009 at 9 pm (EST). Speaking from the set of The Twilight Saga’s New Moon, Taylor will take questions from fans “logged in” to BlogTalkRadio with host Jo Ann Kubasek (Stardish Radio) and myself. I will definitely be updating you as details arise about this exclusive interview and I hope you can be a part of this with me!

Walmart has launched a Twilight site for you to get the scoop on the DVD release, e-bites (instead of e-vites) that you can use to host your own movie party at home, and loads of exclusive fan gear at really affordable prices. Walmart plans to give fans thirsting for more Twilight a good reason to be at its 24-hour stores late Friday evening, Mar. 20 as they await the midnight DVD movie release. Among store activities will be ideas and products for fans looking to host their own Twilight viewing party. And, especially for Twilight super fans, Walmart has reserved special exclusive Twilight gifts for those first 50 fans in line to purchase the DVD movie at each 24-hour store.

In addition, customers can visit the Twilight pages on Walmart.com to see new behind-the-scenes movie footage and to download a widget that tests their knowledge daily with Twilight story trivia.

Many of the Eleven Moms will be offering exclusive fan gear gift packs and other great Twilight giveaways. I know we are all equally excited about this fun program and getting to be part of this fun adventure with the movie!

And if you haven't read the books, perhaps you will now!

Simplify the Bedtime Resource List

Thank you all for joining me this week on MomAdvice Simplified and the discussion on simplifying the bedtime routine. I just wanted to gather up a resource list, from today's episode, to help you manage the bedtime hour a little easier. You can still listen to today's show, just by visiting the BlogTalkRadio widget on the left. I am having some weird audio problems on today's episode so the first five minutes cut out, but we are working to fix this, as we speak!

Bedtime Bootcamp- Nickelodeon’s ParentsConnect and Dr. Marc Weissbluth are proud to present Bedtime Bootcamp to help parents establish healthy family sleep habits. Dr. Weissbluth is highly regarded among parents for being one of the biggest names in sleep-training, and now parents can participate in what is quickly becoming all-the-rage online: Bedtime Bootcamps, hosted by Dr. Weissbluth himself. Each week for four weeks, Dr. Weissbluth will post a challenge on Nickelodeon’s ParentsConnect.com where parents can discuss with the site’s community of parents, and apply what they learn at home. From implementing techniques to wind down after school, cook healthy dinners that promote good sleep, ritualize bath time and story time, Dr. Weissbluth will help parents get a good sleep routine in place, and he’ll answer their questions online along the way. He’ll even comment on parent’s routines if they post them on the site.

Sleep Rules- These are the rules that Dr. Weissbluth recommends for getting your child to go to bed and stay in bed. These guidelines, in particular, are designed for children who are over 2 1/2-3 years old.

Healthy Sleep Habits, Healthy Child- One of the country's leading researchers updates his revolutionary approach to solving--and preventing--your children's sleep problems. Dr. Weissbluth outlines proven strategies that ensure good, healthy sleep for every age. This distinguished pediatrician and father of four explains with authority and reassurance his step-by-step regime for instituting beneficial habits within the framework of your child's natural sleep cycles.

Sleep Deprived No More- Although there are many books on getting baby to sleep, Sleep Deprived No More focuses on someone else who isn't getting any rest — the mom! Organized trimester by trimester both during and after pregnancy, this guide is straightforward, accessibly written, and easy to navigate so moms can quickly get the help — and rest — they need. Covers sleep conditions common to pregnancy and afterward: In addition to erratic feeding schedules causing moms to lose sleep, there are many sleep issues specific to pregnancy and new motherhood, including Restless Legs Syndrome, Insomnia, Sleep Apnea, and more. Tips and tricks for making it through the day: Mindell also gives moms the lowdown on how to catch up on sleep and stay focused throughout the day, even if you're waking up every few hours at night. Includes sleep advice for baby, too: Included also is the author's expert advice on the best ways to get baby to sleep through the night, making this an all-in-one resource.

Great Sleeping Tips- These are some of the tips that I highlighted in today's episode that can help you get your child to sleep.

Just Call Me Ticketmaster- This is the rewards system we used to get our son to go to bed nicely and head to school nicely and is a fun variation on the Sleep Rules Chart that Dr. Weissbluth recommends.


On next week's show... I have a very exciting episode scheduled and a guest that I think you are really going to enjoy hearing from on simplifying the after-school chaos. Olympic gymnastic champion, Mary Lou Retton, joins our show to discuss how she simplifies and deals with the after-school chaos in her home. As a mother of four girls, she offers helpful real-life tips she uses with her family, and supplies a game plan that will help you conquer after-school chaos. I would love if you would join us as we discuss making after-school time easier for your family. This show will air on March 5th at 2PM EST!

MomAdvice Simplified: Simplify the Bedtime Routine

On MomAdvice Simplified, my weekly podcast for moms, we will be joined by Dr. Marc Weissbluth, professor of pediatrics at Northwestern University in Chicago and founder of The Sleep Disorder Center at Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago and a practicing pediatrician.

Is bedtime an hour of stress in your house? Are you constantly battling with your children at bedtime? Are you struggling with getting sleep yourself?

Dr. Weissbluth will be joining us to share his expertise to help with those bedtime blues. Dr. Marc Weissbluth & ParentsConnect are proud to present Bedtime Bootcamp to help parents establish healthy family sleep habits.

Dr. Weissbluth is highly regarded among parents for being one of the biggest names in sleep-training, and now parents can participate in what is quickly becoming all-the-rage online: Bedtime Bootcamps, hosted by Dr. Weissbluth himself.

He joins my show this week to share some tips for nailing the bedtime hour and I can't wait to share them with you.

Just as a reminder, you can listen to the show live every Thursday at 2PM EST or you can listen later right here on my the left sidebar! Check back after the show for our resource list so you can explore all of the great links to book and advice that we share during our half hour.

Simplifying Your Accessories Resource List

Another big thank you to Sarah Morgan for sharing her wise words of wisdom on choosing great accessories for our outfits. Thank you also to everyone who was able to catch the show and provided such fun entertainment on our chat board as you listened to our interview.



As promised, here is our resource list from today's podcast:

eenamaria- Here is where you can find all of the latest and greatest styles from Sarah Morgan's wonderful handbag line that she will be sharing this month with QVC viewers. If you would like a first-hand review, you can read our review on her I Mean Bizness Travel Tote which is perfect for a working woman on-the-go!

The Budget Fashionista- I wanted to share about The Budget Fashionista because Kathryn happens to be one of my favorite budget-minded fashion bloggers in the world. She offers great tips for accessorizing your outfits on a budget. Be sure to check her Shopping Guides for great guidelines on budget-friendly shopping and her book, "How to Be a Budget Fashionista" for more great tips.

Free Diaper Bag Checklist- You can find this practical checklist for keeping your diaper bag stocked with everything you need for your daily outings with your little one. We have provided additional check boxes so you can personalize it with whatever you might need.

On Next Week's Show...

Is bedtime an hour of stress in your house? Are you constantly battling with your children at bedtime? Are you struggling with getting sleep yourself? Dr. Marc Weissbluth, professor of pediatrics at Northwestern University in Chicago and founder of The Sleep Disorder Center at Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago and a practicing pediatrician, will be joining us to share his expertise to help with those bedtime blues. This show will air on February 26th at 2PM EST!

MomAdvice Simplified: Simplifying Money Management

This week on MomAdvice Simplified, my weekly podcast for moms, we are joined by Julie Murphy Casserly to discuss tips on simplifying money-management. Julie will help us identify our preconceived thoughts and feelings about money, how to overcome negative thoughts and put ourselves on a path to a positive financial future. Julie is a CLU, ChFC, CFP® and a 14-year veteran of the financial services industry and author of the new book, The Emotion Behind Money: Building Wealth from the Inside Out.

Julie’s mission to “financially heal America” by helping people understand their emotions behind money, and how these attitudes affect how they earn, spend and save – or, conversely, accumulate debt. She delves into the emotion and psychology behind her clients monetary issues.

Just as a reminder, you can listen to the show live every Thursday at 2PM EST or you can listen later right here on my the left sidebar! Check back after the show for our resource list so you can explore all of the great links to the books and advice that we share during our half hour.

During this podcast, we are going to be offering one lucky listener a copy of Julie's book! I know this would be an invaluable tool for money management so I hope you will tune in live to hear Julie's wise words for understanding our feelings behind our spending.

Julie will be joining us live so if you have any questions you would like me to ask her, please leave those here in the comments and I will ask them on the air!

MomAdvice Simplified: Simplifying Your Accessories

On MomAdvice Simplified, my weekly podcast for moms, we will be joined by Sarah Morgan, the handbag designer behind the new eenamaria handbag line, who will be sharing tips for simplifying our accessories. Sarah joins us to explain what to look for in a good handbag, how to care for our handbags, what we should carry, and how to spot those fake purses.

Sarah has not only been nominated twice for the Fashion Group International’s ‘Rising Star Award’, but she will be airing her new line on QVC this February. With her placement on QVC Sarah hopes to share her new collection with women who are modern, confident and strong women on-the-go.

Just as a reminder, you can listen to the show live every Thursday at 2PM EST or you can listen later right here on my the left sidebar!

Simplify Your Wardrobe Resource List

Thank you to everyone who got a chance to listen on on our MomAdvice Simplified Podcast on simplifying our wardrobe. Kathy offered really great suggestions for organizing the closet, what classic pieces you should invest in, where you can skimp, and tips to help with successful thrift shopping. Kathy Friend is actually the spokesperson for our local Goodwill and that is why I thought she would be such a great guest for the hour. She understands that many of us do not have the money to buy expensive name-brand clothing, but she can help guide you on picking styles that will fit you best from your thrift and consignment shops. She has been an invaluable resource to me in my career and I hope you will enjoy this interview half as much as I enjoy sharing it with you!



Here are a few of the resources that were highlighted in the show:

Kathy Friend- Kathy offers her services both virtually and locally (in Michiana). Please visit her site for more details on hiring her to help you with your wardrobe.

Bra Fitting: When & How to Do It As I discussed in our show, I had been fitted for undergarments at our local mall. What I discovered, after having Kathy correctly fit me, was that I had been improperly fitted. This article will help guide you on getting the right bra and how to do the fitting yourself. Lesson learned by me...don't trust someone who only carries standard sizes because they will sell you what they carry.

What Is Your Body Type? This article guides you to help discover your shape and how to pick the clothes that will be the most flattering for you.

On Next Week's Show...

Next week we will be joined by Sarah Morgan, the handbag designer behind the new eenamaria handbag line, who will be sharing tips for simplifying our accessories. Sarah joins us to explain what to look for in a good handbag, how to care for our handbags, what we should carry, and how to spot those fake purses. Sarah has not only been nominated twice for the Fashion Group International’s ‘Rising Star Award’, but she will be airing her new line on QVC this February. With her placement on QVC Sarah hopes to share her new collection with women who are modern, confident and strong women on-the-go.

MomAdvice Simplified: Simplify The Wardrobe

On MomAdvice Simplified, my weekly podcast for moms, I am very excited to share that I will be gabbing it up with my real-life friend & wardrobe coach, Kathy Friend. You are going to LOVE her and the savvy fashion advice that she offers.

Kathy is the Fashion and Style Expert on the WSBT Morning Show, the Fashion Editor of Michiana FAMILY Magazine, and Wedding Day Magazine and a Contributing Editor for and Prom Night Magazine. She also writes for a national online magazine, Blissfully Domestic.

Just as a reminder, you can listen to the show live every Thursday at 2PM EST or you can listen later right here on my the left sidebar!

I hope you will join me and feel free to chat with me in the chat room or you can even phone in your questions. If you are having trouble picking out the best clothes for you, if you struggle with finding undergarments that fit, if you don't know how to get your closet organized...then this half hour is just for you!

Simplify the Clutter Resource List

A big thank you again to Laura, from I'm An Organizing Junkie, for joining us today on MomAdvice Simplified. Laura had some really invaluable tips for cutting the clutter in our homes and ideas for making our lives more organized.

I completely forgot about the code word for the day for the podcast. I apologize about that- I am feeling a bit scattered today. If you email me at amy(at)momadvice(dot)com and tell me one frugal organizing solution that we recommended during the half hour, you will get an extra entry for the iPod Touch!

Here is the resource list from our show:

Menu Planning Mondays- Join in on the menu-planning round-up each Monday on I'm An Organizing Junkie. Hundreds of people participate and it can help breathe some new life into your menu plans.

Organizing Polly Pockets- One question on the chat was how to organize Polly Pockets and all of their pieces. Laura has a great solution for this that you should definitely check out.

Organize Your Week- This article offers some general guidelines for simplifying your week and routines. By doing this, you will have some time to cut the clutter. I also share my idea for setting aside one day to tackle the one thing you hate.

Simplify the To-Do List- Simplify the to-dos in your life and you will have more time to get organized.

On the Show Next Week...

Does your closet overwhelm you? What key pieces do you need in your wardrobe to look good? My friend and local fashionista, Kathy Friend, is joining me to share her tips for simplifying our closets. With her guidance, we can simplify our closets easily and make a list of what to look for when doing our thrift shopping or wardrobe shopping. Join us next Thursday (02/12) at 2PM EST for some ideas on Simplifying Your Wardrobe.

MomAdvice Simplified: Simplify The Clutter

On MomAdvice Simplified, my weekly podcast for moms, I will be interviewing a very special and favorite blogging friend of mine. Laura, from I'm An Organizing Junkie, joins me for this half hour of fun to share her tips for simplifying the clutter in our homes.

Laura will be sharing great tips for how to whittle down the clutter that plagues our lives. She offers thrifty solutions for organization, ideas for toy clutter control, and how to control those spots in our house that become a dumping ground for clutter.

Laura is a Christian work at home mom living in BC, Canada. She three kids (girl 11, boys 9 and 3) who give her plenty of organizing material to work with each and every day. She also admits she is addicted to organizing and loves sharing her tips with other moms.

Just as a reminder, you can listen to the show live every Thursday at 2PM EST or you can listen later right here on my the left sidebar!

I hope you will join me and feel free to chat with me in the chat room or you can even phone in your questions. I think this is going to be another invaluable episode for moms and I am really excited about the information that we are going to share in this half hour.

Simplifying Our Time In the Kitchen Resource List

Thank you so much to everyone who was able to catch the show live and chatted with me while I was on the air. Anyone who listened has to agree that Robin Miller was full of such great information for moms. It was really an incredible interview and I hope you can take a half hour to listen to what she shared with us!

As promised, here is today's resource links and a couple of recipes from Robin Miller!

Getting to Know Your Freezer- Some inspiration and ideas for ways to stock your freezer!

Starbucks Peppermint Mochas- This is my favorite recipe to share and just one reason to stock those ice cubes in your freezer.

Schedule a Day In Your Kitchen- Recipes for items you can make ahead of time on a scheduled day in your kitchen. This is a great way to save cash and eliminate the convenience foods in your diet.

Bulk It Up- Ideas for maximizing that wholesale club membership to the fullest, if you plan to cook in bulk.

Feed the Freezer Cooking Guide

Sneak Up on Freezer Cooking

Freezer FAQ

30 Day Gourmet

Recipezaar's Freezer Recipes

Books to Check Out:

Robin to the Rescue

Quick Fix Meals

Dream Dinners Cookbook

Frozen Assets

Super Suppers

Don't Panic- Dinners in the Freezer



Beef Stroganoff

Recipe Courtesy of Robin Miller and Tyson Foods

Recipe serves 4
Preparation Time: 15-20 minutes
Time Savings: 30 minutes compared to traditional recipe

Ingredients

8 ounces wide egg-free egg noodles
2 teaspoons olive oil
½ cup chopped onion
2 cups sliced fresh cremini or white button mushrooms (about 8 ounces)
1 teaspoon dried thyme (optional)
1 ½ cups reduced-sodium beef broth
2 packets (6 ounces each) Tyson® Fully Cooked Seasoned Steak Strips
1 cup light sour cream
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
Pinch salt and ground black pepper
2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives (optional)


1. Cook noodles according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
2. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
3. Add onion and sauté for 2 minutes. Add mushrooms and sauté for 3 minutes, or until mushrooms are tender. Add thyme (if using) and stir to coat.
4. Add beef broth and steak strips and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 5 more minutes.
5. Stir in cooked egg noodles, sour cream and Dijon mustard. Mix well.
6. Remove from heat and season to taste with salt and black pepper. If desired, top with fresh chives just before serving.

Chicken Parmesan Casserole

Recipe Courtesy of Robin Miller and Tyson Foods

Recipe serves 4
Preparation Time: 30 minutes
Time Savings: 30 minutes compared to traditional recipe

Ingredients

1 pound whole wheat pasta
2 packets (6 ounces each) Tyson® Fully Cooked Grilled Chicken Breast Strips
¾ cup prepared no-salt added tomato sauce (pasta sauce or pizza sauce)
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, regular or part-skim
3 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons Panko bread crumbs
Pinch salt and ground black pepper

1. Cook whole wheat pasta according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
2. Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
3. Arrange chicken breast strips in the bottom of a shallow baking dish. Pour tomato sauce over the chicken and sprinkle mozzarella cheese over the tomato sauce.
4. In a small bowl, combine the parmesan cheese and bread crumbs. Mix well and sprinkle the mixture over the mozzarella cheese.
5. Bake for 20 minutes, or until the top of the casserole is golden brown and the cheese is bubbly, and season to taste with salt and black pepper. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.
6. Divide whole wheat pasta among four individual bowls, spoon casserole mixture over the top and serve.

MomAdvice Simplified: Simplifying Our Time in the Kitchen

I am very excited to have a very special guest on MomAdvice Simplifed this week. Food Network star, Robin Miller, from Quick Fix Meals with Robin Miller is joining me today to share her tips for simplifying our time in the kitchen.

I am so incredibly excited about this interview because I am such a big fan of Robin Miller and her time-saving strategies for making healthy meals without cooking for hours and hours. Robin promotes healthy eating and I so admire what she has done with her background in nutrition. During this interview, Robin is going to share with us some ideas for stocking our freezer, some ideas for easy side dishes that aren't boring, and ideas for ingredients that you can make ahead so you can spend more time with your children, and less time cooking.

Robin Miller has 18 years of experience as a food writer and nutritionist and is the author of the best-selling cookbook “Quick Fix Meals.” Her popular show, Quick Fix Meals with Robin Miller, currently airs on Food Network, and her prime time show, Robin to the Rescue premiered on Food Network in March 2007.

Robin’s recipes and nutrition features can be seen regularly in a variety of magazines, including Clean Eating, Experience Life, Guideposts, Cooking Light, Health, Fit Pregnancy, and Toddler. Robin is also the author of eight books including her latest, Robin to the Rescue.

Robin has been a guest on hundreds of local and national television and radio programs and has hosted home videos (for Jane Fonda), cable television vignettes (for Food Network and a variety of food companies) and spoken at media events in various markets nationwide.

She regularly appears on local, network and cable television, with past appearances including The Early Show (CBS), Regis & Kelly, The View, The Today Show (NBC), Good Morning America(ABC), CNN, ABC Eyewitness News and CBS Evening News.

As a nutrition expert, chef and mother of two, Robin has teamed up with Tyson Foods to give busy families strategies and tips using Tyson® Fully Cooked Chicken and Steak Strips to create faster, lighter and budget-friendly versions of favorite meals.

Just as a reminder, you can listen to the show live every Thursday at 2PM EST or you can listen later right here on my the left sidebar!

I hope you will join me and feel free to chat with me in the chat room or you can even phone in your questions. I think this is going to be an invaluable episode for moms and I am really excited about the information that we are going to share in this half hour.

MomAdvice Simplified Resource List

I hope you will get a chance to listen to today's show for some menu planning inspiration!


I did want to share our resource list for this episode:

Dine & Dish- Kristen joined us this hour to share some great ways her family has been simplifying their dinner hour and her new approach towards menu planning. She is a valuable resource for moms and I am very thankful to have had her on the show.

Simple & Delicious Magazine- Kristen recommended this magazine subscription as a great resource for busy moms in helping add some sparkle back to our dinner hours.

Food Photography for Bloggers- Kristen pointed towards this article as a great resource for bloggers who are beginning the venture into food photography.(@ VeganYumYum)

How Do You Do Your Menu Plans?- In this entry, I discuss some fun & creative approaches towards menu planning. In my goal to simplify this year, I am now doing two week menu plans instead of one month. It has made my life a lot easier and now I can fit my daughter in the cart AND my groceries at the same time.

One Month of Slow Cooking- We discussed how hard it can be to get dinner on the table when you have small children, and I shared that my solution when we brought our new baby girl home was to try planning a month with my slow cooker. This article contains the recipes that I used to simplify my dinner hour with a new baby.

Menu Plan Mondays- I'm An Organizing Junkie offers a wonderful round-up for moms where you can post and share your family's menu plans. This has inspired me many times and is a great spot to visit when you are lacking that inspiration! Laura will also be joining us in just a couple of short weeks to share how I can simplify the cluttered mess I am currently living in. I can't wait for that discussion.

MomAdvice Simplified: Simplifying the Dinner Hour

On MomAdvice Simplifed, my weekly podcast, we will be discussing how we can simplify the dinner hour. You can listen to the show live every Thursday at 2PM EST or you can listen later right here on my the left sidebar.

Getting a healthy dinner on the table can be a real challenge for moms. What are some things that you can do ahead to get dinner on the table quicker? How can you get out of the rut of preparing the same dishes every week? This week we will be speaking with Kristen Doyle, of Dine & Dish, on some ways we can make our dinner hour easier and how to simplify the planning process for busy moms.

Kristen is a busy mom of three and has another baby on the way! Besides her family, she is passionate about cooking, entertaining, photography, reading, and shopping. I knew she would be the perfect guest for the show and I can't wait to share our interview with you!

Tune in for this interview and you can chat with me live and ask any questions or share your own tips for menu planning!

MomAdvice Simplified: Simplifying the To-Do List

Wow, that half hour went by fast and I just want to thank everyone who listened live and chatted with me while I did my first podcast. Thank you, thank you, thank you! You made my day and I feel very proud to have accomplished this first one! I hope that we provided some great information for you and that these podcasts will help to make your day easier.

If you weren't able to listen live, scroll down and you can click on the player on the left-hand sidebar of the site. These episodes will update as new ones become available. To visit my show page, just click on over to BlogTalkRadio to see what we will have in store for the upcoming month.

Here are some of the resources that we highlighted in our first episode:

Full Out & Fearless- Coach Charrise joined us for our first podcast and offers a valuable blog and website where you can get tapped into accomplishing goals that you have always feared. Many thanks to her for joining us on our first episode and sharing how moms can work through those to-dos!

Simplify the To Do List- Have you ever looked at your to-do list and just felt completely and utterly overwhelmed before you even start? My day was often looking like that and rarely did I actually ever complete all of the things off of the list. I would end my day defeated before the next day had ever begun. While the high of checking things off the list was there, the items left unchecked left me feeling less euphoric about what was actually accomplished... continue reading this entry.

remember the milk- This site is great for our list-writing mommas. You can make as many lists as you like and no one will tell you to put your notepads away. Into tagging items on your blog? Use the task cloud to easily see what you have to do. Want to store notes along with your tasks? You can do that too. Saving gas is always a priority too and you can use the map feature to see where your tasks are located in the real world. See what's nearby or on your way, and plan the best way to get things done.

Ta-da Lists- Another great site for the list-writing mommas because that is virtually all this program is. It is simple, it takes about ten seconds to sign up for an account and you can make as many lists as you like. You could also be like, "Ta-da!" and have this open on your computer with a giant list of things you need your spouse to do... you know, if you were that kind of spouse!

Simple Mom- I highlighted Tsh as a great example of a mom who uses a wonderful tool for time management. Here is her entry on her daily docket and the goals she creates for her day.

What's Up Next Week?

Getting a healthy dinner on the table can be a real challenge for moms. What are some things that you can do ahead to get dinner on the table quicker? How can you get out of the rut of preparing the same dishes every week? This week we will be speaking with Kristen Doyle, of Dine & Dish, on some ways we can make our dinner hour easier and how to simplify the planning process for busy moms.

The MomAdvice Simplified Show Starts Today

Today is the big day and I am a ball of nerves. Venturing into the world of podcasting is a big step for me, but I am hoping it will be just another wonderful way to connect with all of our readers and hopefully give us some exposure with people who have not heard of my website before.

Here is today's show description:

Does your to-do list each day overwhelm you? Join us as we discuss how to make a better to-do list and actually feel productive at the end of the day. Charrise McCrorey, of Emergence Business Coaching, will be helping us organize our day better by offering practical advice for moms on time management. To learn more about Charrise's latest program Full Out And Fearless, please visit http://www.fulloutandfearless.com for more information.

You can listen to this show live at 2PM EST every Thursday where we will discuss quick and easy tips for simplifying our home management routines. To visit my show page, just click on over to BlogTalkRadio to see what we will have in store for the upcoming month. I am still working on shaking the dust off on my page, but I plan to have lots of very inspiring guests and great content for simple living. To see all of the Eleven Mom's shows, you can visit the Eleven Moms Channel for shows on all different topics.

If you are an expert in simplifying whether it be home organization, food, money-saving, or in work/time management, please shoot me an email at [email protected] and tell me your idea for a show. I would love to share your business and advice with our readers.

Thank you so much for your continued support and I can't wait to start this adventure with you!