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Simplified Pantry Review

May 24, 2013 by Emilee Evans

Simplified Pantry
I’m sure I’ve mentioned many times how amazing it has been to be part of the Schoolhouse Review Crew. Little did I know I would also get to review great homemaking resources as well! Let’s face it, homemaking can become a daunting task while homeschooling, and a little extra help is greatly appreciated! I had the opportunity to review 3 ebooks from Simplified Pantry:

  • Simplified Dinners
  • Simplified Dinners Gluten Free/Dairy Free
  • Paperless Home Organization

Simplified Dinners You may have noticed I changed my tagline recently to “My journey to Proverbs 31,” and it has everything to do with the fact that I want to be a better homemaker, but I’m just not “there” yet. Time management is a big problem, and with time management problems come poor planning in the kitchen. When I saw the title “Simplified” I knew this would be right up my alley. Mystie Winkler really has done just that in Simplified Dinners – she has truly simplified the process after she experienced the mental exhaustion many of us face at some point in time. Her Simplified Dinners is exactly what I needed. I had been searching for something similar and just couldn’t put my finger on what I needed to do. I was buying a TON of ingredients then finding I still didn’t have all that I needed and wasn’t using all the ingredients I did purchase! It was a frustrating cycle! Plus, when everything is simplified grocery shopping is MUCH easier! No more 2 page long check lists!
The main purpose of “Simplified Dinners” isn’t necessarily to provide recipes as much as it is to provide a general method of certain standard family dinners. Each page gives a basic method for the meal type and specific combinations are listed below for different varieties. Her purpose was to see how far down she could pare down her pantry and still create plenty of meal options. This is EXACTLY what we were needing! I was overjoyed cleaning out my pantry of things I honestly needed to get rid of long ago and knowing I would no longer have items that would sit there for too long and not get used. She then includes a “Master Pantry List,” and (get this!) it all fits on ONE page!
The remainder of “Simplified Dinners” are the (incredibly simple) recipes with a few notes on different options followed by a large variety of Side Dish options, and example of a Menu Plan, and a blank Menu Plan. I think “Simplified” really is the perfect description. “Simplified Dinners” can be purchased for $12.99.

Gluten-free dinners Mystie also offers Simplified Dinners Gluten Free/Dairy Free. This really appealed to me because it has been suggested to us to try a gluten-free diet due to the kids’ and my own special needs. I have tried this idea a couple of times and found it complicated because I thought I was on the right track then would realize I overlooked something that had gluten. I had someone tell me it has to be “all or nothing” with a gluten-free diet. So if we’re going to be gluten-free, it truly has to be COMPLETELY gluten-free. To be honest, I wasn’t sure we could do it then. I knew there were health benefits (and I know there are health benefits to dairy free as well), but we don’t have an ALLERGY, so is it worth it?
Well, again, Mystie has really simplified the process. She has included a master list of ingredients in which gluten and dairy may be hidden, which I found to be extremely helpful. The master pantry list is once again only one page long! “Simplified Dinners Gluten Free/Dairy Free” is otherwise set up exactly like “Simplified Dinners.” I started with “Simplified Dinners” first and plan on transitioning over to “Simplified Dinners Gluten Free/Dairy Free.” Thanks to her set-up, I know this will be simple! “Simplified Dinners Gluten Free/Dairy Free” can also be purchased for $12.99.
Paperless Organization The 3rd ebook in this review is “Paperless Organization,” and it is absolutely amazing. I also found it ironic that a book I was reading about homemaking suggested I purchase this ebook! So, it obviously has some credibility as well! I definitely understand why. In “Paperless Organization” Mystie helps you move everything from paper binders, files, etc. to electronic organization using mostly an app called Evernote, which is available on your computer and smart phone and tablets. She compares it to having binders with tabs and papers. Stacks are binders, Notebooks are tabs, and notes are papers. So if you currently use a binder system it would be very simple to transfer over to this system! I tried Evernote a long time ago, but until I read “Paperless Organization” I really didn’t know how to use it and definitely overlooked its full potential. It is definitely now my “go-to” for organization, and I use it every day. As she quotes it is the “workhorse” of “Paperless Organization.” Even when I just need to “jot down” a quick note I simply pull up Evernote and either snap a picture, type a note, voice a note, etc. It’s so easy! She also provides pre-made templates for things like your daily checklists and weekly checklists. Again, this is key in homemaking, and it is exactly what I’ve been needing to get myself more organized so I CAN get on that right path I’ve been seeking! Prior to “Paperless Organization” I was a bit of a scatter brained organizer. I wrote random notes, made random lists, and kept them all in random places. I had good intentions, but I often forgot what I wrote or where I put it! This is a much more efficient system, and I love that it is paperless, which is also much better for our environment as well!
The other components used in “Paperless Organization” are Google Mail and Calendar, and she walks you through the set-up. I already had Google accounts, but there were things I do dislike about Gmail that I didn’t know I could change until she pointed out how to do so! She also gives tips about keeping the inbox uncluttered, which is a big deal for me because every morning I have over 100 emails, and that has been really stressful to tackle each morning! With her system in place I’ve learned how to prioritize messages to skip the inbox and go straight to other folders if necessary or even straight to Evernote! It’s amazing! She also gives tips on keeping Google Calendar more organized!
The final component she suggests is Remember the Milk. I have to admit, I was stubborn on this one because I have a lovely set-up in ToDoist. I have tried Remember the Milk before and didn’t like it nearly as well as ToDoist, so I opted to stick with ToDoist since I love it so much (and I’m stubborn). I otherwise followed the guidelines and suggestions used in regards to using the program as a component in the whole Paperless Organization system.
Overall, I wouldn’t say I’m completely paperless yet because I have A LOT I still need to transfer over to the paperless system, but anything current definitely goes straight to the paperless system, and it has made a big difference in my productivity. It’s amazing how refreshed I feel because I don’t feel as “out of sorts” when I actually have things organized! Plus the Paperless Organization system is so easy to share with my husband that if I do have a bit more than I can handle in a day I can simply let him know, and he can log in and see if there is anything he can check off the list! It is great for the whole family! “Paperless Organization” can be purchased for only $3.99!
*Plus as a special offer Mystie is graciously offering 30% off to my readers now through June 3rd! To take advantage of this great offer please use the code TOS2013 when checking out!*
For more Simplified Pantry reviews from the Schoolhouse Review Crew please click on the banner below!
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Chronicles (iOS app) Review

May 4, 2013 by Emilee Evans


ChroniclesDo you know how you’re spending your time? Do you feel like you have a good organization system but still can’t get everything done? Well, that is what I had going on. I just couldn’t understand why I wasn’t getting things done when I *thought* I was better managing my time. So, when I had the chance to review the Chronicles app I don’t know who was more excited – my husband or myself! He was always telling me that my perception of time and how much time I was ACTUALLY spending on a task were two totally different things. So, I knew this would be a great app for me!
The Chronicles app can be used on both the iPhone and iPad (if you zoom to 2x). I usually used it on my iPhone, though, since I always have it with me whereas my iPad is with me a lot of the time but not all of the time. The biggest issue where I was having time concerns was my computer time. Obviously as a blogger I do spend a fair amount of time on the computer. The problem doesn’t lie in my work per se, but the fact that I don’t focus on just my work and tend to do many other things while I’m working on things for my blog. It is really easy for me to get caught up on Facebook when I plan on getting on there to network to start chatting with people, visiting other groups, pages, etc. Before I know it, I’ve been on Facebook for an hour when I meant to be on there for 15 minutes just to post a couple of things on my page or in my blogging groups! I also get in the habit of going on “rabbit trails” when I’m posting something and am reminded of something else, so I go look that up real quick. Again, I end up spending time on the web I didn’t intend to spend! Without a visual reminder like the Chronicles app, though, I realized it was happening, but I didn’t know how extreme the problem was. There is something different about looking at the clock and realizing “oh, it’s only 7:30” vs. “oh, wow! I’ve been online for 2 hours!” They are totally different mind sets. The first one is “it’s still an hour before the kids’ bed time,” and the second one is “I’ve been on the computer an hour longer than I planned.”
TimerSo here is how I’ve been using the Chronicles app to better plan my time. First I started by using the app to track how long I was online. I created a profile for myself, “Em,” with my picture (fun, right?) and the activity, “online” and added it to my Favourites so I would have immediate access to it each time. Once I started on the computer I would start the timer. Each day I started cutting out more unnecessary activities to reduce the time I was on the computer. Once I got it down to a comfortable time I started using the timer to count down. So I would set the timer for an hour, and when it was up I had to finish what I was doing (no cheating!) and I was done. I give myself a few times a day to be online but only for specific periods of time each day, and the Chronicles app is what helped me create a “work schedule” for myself. My blog IS my business, and a work schedule is exactly what I needed! I can then go in to the Chronicles and view all the activities that have been recorded!
I have tried using various stopwatch and timer apps in the past, but nothing has been as feature rich as Chronicles! It’s nice to be able to create a profile to each family member and assign specific activities. I was able to use it for so much more than just creating a work schedule for myself! I was able to keep track of “screen time” for the kids – computer and iPad time as well as study time, chores, physical activity, etc. The possibilities are endless! The chronicles feature allows you to store all of this information if you choose so you can refer back to it when needed!

For More Information:

Visit the Chronicles Website
Connect with eMCeSqrd on Facebook
Follow eMCeSqrd on Twitter
Disclosure: I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own and may be different than yours.

Catching Up

September 24, 2012 by Emilee Evans

Wow! What a whirlwind life has been! I have so many posts and ideas in my head that need to make it here! haha We had such a great visit when my mom and grandma were here that I’d love to share some of their visit as well! I had the big Fort Hood Army Wives Expo on Saturday where I represent Cloud 9 Parties, which was so much fun! I definitely have a post coming on that one as well! I have more great reviews to share! And amongst it all I’ve had sick kids and got so run down preparing for the Expo then being on my feet all day that I got sick, too! Phew! But the good news is since I’m sick and don’t have much of a voice that means we’re taking a few days off from homeschooling, which also means I can FINALLY catch up on everything on the computer!! WOOOO HOOOO!! I think it will take me a few days! haha I need a nice break to just sit down, though, because I feel like I’ve been go, go, go this whole month! I’m gladly welcoming in Fall and a new month! Of course, here in Texas it doesn’t actually feel like Fall, but it has been under 100 degrees, so that’s definitely a plus!

Family
My mom and grandma with the kids

So, here is my post announcing that I am finally catching up! I am planning on keeping better track on my calendar as well now that we’ve gotten our Homeschool schedule pretty laid out as well as Dr appts, the kids’ therapy appts, etc. I’m ready to just pull it all together and get organized and be more disciplined this Fall! What are you looking forward to this Fall?

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