organization Archives — Thrifty Mommas Tips

The Art of the Fresh Start: Free Butterfly Chic Planner

Paula — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 20:07:00 +0000

There is something inherently restorative about a blank page. Whether it’s the first of January, the start of a new school year, or just a particularly chaotic Tuesday morning, the act of sitting down with a pen and a plan feels like taking a deep, centering breath. For me, staying organized isn’t just about ticking boxes or meeting deadlines—it’s about reclaiming mental space. When the schedule is swirling around in my head, it feels like heavy static; once it’s on paper, it’s a list of manageable steps. Intentional Planning We all have those seasons where life feels like it’s moving at a hundred miles per hour. Between managing work commitments, navigating family schedules, and trying to squeeze in a bit of “me time,” the days can easily become a blur. I’ve found that the best way to combat that overwhelmed feeling is to embrace a daily ritual of intentionality. It’s that quiet ten minutes with a cup of coffee before the rest of the house wakes up, where I can look at the day ahead and decide exactly where my energy is going to go. Why Aesthetics Matter in Productivity I’ve tried every digital app and minimalist spreadsheet under the sun, but I always find myself returning to paper. There is a tactile connection between the hand and the brain that digital alerts just can’t replicate. However, I’ve also realized that if a planner looks like a clinical chore, I’m less likely to stick with it. I wanted something that felt light, airy, and—dare I say—a little bit whimsical. That’s where the Butterfly Chic planner aesthetic comes in. Butterflies are the ultimate symbol of transformation and grace. They remind us that even if things feel a bit messy right now, there is a process unfolding. Adding a touch of beauty to the mundane task of scheduling makes the whole process feel less like a to-do or a chore and more like a want. Designing Your Daily Flow This butterfly chic planner printable isn’t just about writing down appointments. It’s about organizing your life in a way that prioritizes your well-being alongside your productivity. In this daily planner, I’ve focused on: Whether you are planning a busy week of meetings, mapping out your next travel adventure, or just trying to keep on top of the grocery list, this planner is designed to be your flexible companion. Get This Cute Planner Now I am so excited to share this Free Butterfly Chic Daily Planner with you. It’s a little gift from my desk to yours, intended to help you find your wings and navigate your busiest days with a bit more ease and a lot more style. Ready to get organized? Click on the above link to download your free high-resolution printable and start your transformation today! Don’t forget these: Don’t forget to order paper – HP Printer Paper and also be sure to use a good printer. This Epson Eco Tank Printer is amazing. It saves ink like nobody’s business. Post contains affiliate links. I receive a small commission when a purchase is made.

The post The Art of the Fresh Start: Free Butterfly Chic Planner appeared first on Thrifty Mommas Tips.

Getting on Track with Sharpie and Paper Mate #SpreadJoy #Giveaway

Paula — Wed, 16 Aug 2017 12:04:34 +0000

I have partnered with YMC and Sharpie/Paper Mate and have received compensation for this post. All opinions in the post are my own. Getting on track for the school year is especially important when the kids hit junior high and high school. Every year is important, but it seems like time is starting to run out when your kids hit high school. Grades, volunteering, extracurriculars – are all incredibly important for college and university admission. This year it’s crucial the kids have everything they need to stay on task. Sharpie and Paper Mate offer tools that make getting on track and staying on track easy. Getting on Track with Team Payton and Ainsley My daughters are now 13 and 16. They’ll be entering grade 8 and grade 11 respectively, and my husband and I want to make sure they have every edge possible for the coming school year. Our kids both have IEPs, individual education plans, and some unique learning challenges. Fall is a stressful whirlwind of making sure their new teachers understand their needs from the start. I will be honest sometimes I struggle with Fall. It’s not my happy place. The summer months can be busy with camps and jobs, but the Fall months, well those can be chaotic if you don’t have a plan and the right tools to stay ahead of all the back to school demands. Starting the DAY school goes back we have an incredibly hectic schedule filled with acting, martial arts, and horseback riding. Not to mention homework and then of course travel commitments and skiing! My oldest daughter, Payton struggles with organization and planning and anxiety too. She’s starting to show progress, but my husband and I want to support that progress with a simple way to keep her on track. That’s why we’re using Sharpie and Ink Joy products to colour code her agenda, as well as the family calendar. The colour code system has worked for us in the past for chore charts when the kids were small, so we have high hopes for this. My youngest daughter Ainsley struggles with ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and FASD (fetal alcohol spectrum disorder), and she can become easily overwhelmed. Both my girls are creative and very artistic, so we’re hoping that using both the Sharpie markers and the Paper Mate InkJoy products will help them in a few ways. By allowing both to use different colours to add an artistic flair to work I hope Ainsley adds a bit more fun to learning. Homework is a chore for her. I need her to look forward to writing and putting pen to paper. Of course organizing is a big deal. This year we have also added a whiteboard and hope to add a pinboard to the girl’s bedrooms so they can jot down reminders, important dates and even inspirational quotes. Getting on Track Made Easier with Sharpie and Paper Mate There’s a reason we’re using Sharpie and Paper Mate products to help get our kids on track and keep them organized. They’ve been a staple of back to school for as long as I can remember. From the old days of their ball point pens to their vast array of products available today, Sharpie and Paper Mate have been keeping kids on track for decades. Now Paper Mate has something to help make getting on track even easier – InkJoy Gel Pens. InkJoy Gel Pens from Paper Mate spread joy, not smears, with vivid gel ink that dries 3 times faster vs the leading gel pen for reduced smearing. Reduced smearing is important for Ainsley, my left-handed girl. She smears all her work when printing. It’s not intentional, but she often smudges work and can lose points for that on projects, so these will solve that issue for good. They come in 14 different colours to choose from so my daughters’ notes will be bright and fun and easy to keep track of. They also come fully wrapped in a comfort grip for easy writing over a long period of time. SO important for my youngest whose hand fatigues easily. Writing can be frustrating for her when her hand tires, so anything that makes the grip less stiff is gold. Right before she left for camp I gave her these so she can get used to them. Also it helps Ainsley to ease into school if she has fun tools to use. These InkJoy Gel Pens are bright and cheery and new. Have to love that! [tweetthis]Enter now for a chance to win $315 ARV of tools to help get kids on track for #BTS #giveaways #spreadjoy [/tweetthis] My husband and I are also using Sharpie permanent markers to help our daughters stay on track. The original pen style permanent marker, Sharpie permanent markers in fine and ultra fine come in a variety of colours to make our daughters’ marking unique and keep it from wiping away. Sharpie Fine comes in 37 assorted colours, and Sharpie Ultra Fine comes in 25 assorted colours so there’s always a new way to personalize. I told Payton to pick a colour for each task. Red is Back to School. Light green is martial arts night and pink pastel is babysitting. Green is her youth acting troupe. Get on Track with Sharpie and Paper Mate at Walmart Getting on track is easy with Sharpie and Paper Mate, and they’re both affordable and available at Walmart. You can find Sharpie Permanent Markers and Paper Mate InkJoy Gel Pens at Walmart either online or in-store. They’re a great way to make getting on track for the school year easier and fun. Sharpie and PaperMate Back to School Giveaway

The post Getting on Track with Sharpie and Paper Mate #SpreadJoy #Giveaway appeared first on Thrifty Mommas Tips.

Caribou Cabin – A New Line of Framed Whiteboards #Giveaways

Paula — Thu, 03 Aug 2017 11:07:48 +0000

Caribou Cabin is a new line of chalk, cork, pin, and whiteboards from one of my favorite companies, Posterjack. If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you know that I’ve used Posterjack products in the past, and I love them. Now, I’ve come back to them again to use one of their Caribou Cabin framed whiteboards. These boards look great, and they make adding a bit more organization to your home easy and stylish. These Caribou Cabin framed whiteboards and framed pinboards are also perfect for back to school. That’s exactly why we got one for our daughter. This year grade eleven is coming up fast. Grade eleven and grade twelve are serious years at school and organization is crucial. BUT, style is important in my home too. Caribou Cabin – Stay Organized and Stylish Growing up, I loved my old pinboard. As I got older and whiteboards came out, I had one of those. Boards like this can be great for helping your family stay organized. Leave important notes for yourself or your family to stay on track with schedules. The thing is, it can be hard to find attractive framed whiteboards and pinboards in Canada. The owner of Posterjack noticed the lack of boards available, which is why they created this line of boards to fill in the gap. In addition to helping my family stay organized, chalk, cork, pin, and whiteboards have a slightly nostalgic feel to them. These are the tools we used before we had desktop calendars and real time alert apps. While technology has come a long way in helping keep us all organized, I believe there’s still a place for these. That’s why my oldest daughter and I decided to get a whiteboard for her room. She has a hard time staying organized, and with the high school years being so important, we wanted to give her every edge in her studies. Staying Organized and Stylish We chose a Caribou Cabin framed whiteboard with a polished grey frame. It’s hanging right over her desk right now so she can leave herself notes about studies and scheduling so she can stay on track. The great thing about the board – and all the boards you can choose – is that they have a nice modern take on an old classic. I love that because we redid her room a couple of years ago and wanted this to look grownup and finished. [tweetthis]Start the Fall in style with this beautiful framed whiteboard. #giveaways[/tweetthis] So far, the Caribou Cabin whiteboard we chose looks great in my daughter’s room. I am optimistic it will help her stay organized, too. The chalk, cork, pin, and framed whiteboards from the Caribou Cabin line of Posterjack look super cute, and they’re excellent for keeping busy families on track. We are loving ours. If you’re looking for a bit of old school with a new school twist, give Caribou Cabin a look. This post has been sponsored by Caribou Cabin which means I received product or compensation. My opinion is all my own and it is also truthful. Follow instructions for a chance to win one of your own Caribou Cabin 18 by 26 chalk, cork, pin or whiteboards. Entry-Form

The post Caribou Cabin – A New Line of Framed Whiteboards #Giveaways appeared first on Thrifty Mommas Tips.

Renewing Your Passport – What you Need to Know in Canada or USA

Paula — Tue, 16 May 2017 13:01:36 +0000

Renewing your passport often conjures up images of a long, miserable process that feels like torture before you take an amazing trip abroad. But it doesn’t have to be. Chances are you’ve heard horror stories about the process, but as a frequent traveler, I’ve found that those stories generally come from people who weren’t prepared or didn’t have the right information. So let’s talk about renewing your passport. Renewing Your Passport – Canada If you do any traveling at all, or if you’re preparing to travel abroad, you need to make sure your passport is up to date. First things first. If you have a current passport, don’t let it lapse. It makes it so much easier to travel. That’s because many countries won’t allow you to enter the country with a passport that will expire within 3 months. PIN FOR LATER – > By Mail Keeping your passport up to date well before any travel also allows you to make it easy on yourself with mail in services rather than rushing to get a passport ASAP. You can print and complete this passport form, and then simply mail it in. You’ll need all pertinent documents to get your passport and photo. Those being: Your most recent passport 2 identical passport photos 2 references who have known you for more than 2 years Payment – Visa, Mastercard, American Express, certified check, and money orders accepted In Person You’ll need to find a passport office or receiving agent in your area when renewing your passport in person. The requirements are the same, as are the payment options. Be aware that even though you’re applying in person, you still cannot pay with cash. You can pay an additional fee to pick up your passport in person. For even more information on renewing your passport, visit the Government of Canada webpage here. Renewing Your Passport – United States The process is very similar to the Canadian process of renewing your passport. You can use the Passport Application Wizard for a step by step guide through the application process. You can also download the application here and complete it by hand. You’ll need: An original proof of citizenship document An acceptable photo ID document A photocopy of the front and back of the photo ID document Passport photo (requirements here) Payment (fee calculator here) For more information on renewing your passport, visit the USA government passport page here. If the passport renewal is urgent you might be able to get the process expedited, but you should definitely go to an office in person and find out how to do this. In some cases, you can pay an added fee $60 US to expedite the passport. But don’t wait. The average time for a passport processing is 3-4 weeks and that varies. You should not leave this to the mail. Go in person with all of your necessary documents and photos. Check this US govt site out before you renew your passport. Renewing Your Passport Keeps You Good to Go As an avid traveler and Canadian travel blogger, I can tell you it is vital to keep your passport up to date at all times. Renewing your passport 6 months before expiration is the rule of thumb for the easiest passport renewal possible and worry free travel. Stay on top of renewing your passport, and you’ll be good to go for adventure no matter when or where. And if you are traveling and you lose your passport or if it is stolen when you are travelling don’t panic, follow the steps outlined in the What to Do If You Lose Your Passport post.

The post Renewing Your Passport – What you Need to Know in Canada or USA appeared first on Thrifty Mommas Tips.

31 Days of Positive Messages Inspirational Calendar

Paula — Fri, 01 Jan 2016 04:00:56 +0000

Happy New Year to each and every one of you! Where do you find your inspiration? Is inspiration important to you? In the spirit of the new year, I am sharing an inspirational calendar for the month of January. Use this inspirational calendar to help you stay positive this January regardless of the weather, the bills, the challenges that come your way. Here’s to you and a glorious happy healthy brilliant year full of opportunity and moments to remember. Find your inspiration every day this month with this inspirational calendar. Sometimes all it takes is a visual quote to help give you focus or strength, even to remind you of what you already have. To download click below here on the highlighted link and save it then print the calendar out for your own reference. Inspirational Calendar for January. daysofinspiration What is your favourite quote?

The post 31 Days of Positive Messages Inspirational Calendar appeared first on Thrifty Mommas Tips.

Getting Organized For the Holiday Season with Microsoft Office 365

Paula — Thu, 26 Nov 2015 13:38:14 +0000

Getting Organized During Holidays and afterwards during the new year can be a huge hurdle. It might seem daunting from where you sit looking out over your mound of papers on that messy dining room table or office desk, but here’s the thing you just need to break it down and make it work. Getting organized is the key to a happy, stress-free holiday. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza, or something else, getting organized and staying organized is the best way to enjoy the holiday season. Happily for you, I have a few thoughts and tips on how to get and stay organized this holiday season and well into the New Year. 5 Tips for Getting Organized and Staying Organized If you fly through the holidays by the seat of your pants, chances are you’ll miss at least some of the fun. It’s much better to do a little planning and keep your sanity intact during the holiday season. I use Microsoft Office 365 to help keep my life organized over the holidays and everyday. With Microsoft Office 365, getting organized is easy. Office 365 is the Office we all know and love, only better. It has all our favorites like Word, Outlook, and Excel. It also has new additions to the lineup like Skype, OneDrive, and Sway to help us get things down anytime, anywhere, and on any device. This is One Subscription I Can’t Live Without Because it’s a subscription service, it’s always up to date, and it can be installed on up to 5 PCs and Macs, 5 tablets, and 5 phones. This cross-platform productivity makes getting organized easier than ever because I can use my Office tools to manage my life on the go. And I love that it’s available on Mac. Yay! It’s a little known fact about Mac products – you pretty much aways need to still add Microsoft Office software for business or simply for organizing. It’s the first software product I bought for the MacBook immediately after my laptop purchase. Not negotiable. 1: Track Expenses We keep an eye on our expenses year round, but during the holidays, we’re extra vigilant about finances. It’s all too easy to spend more than you think. I use Excel to track expenses and keep my Christmas budget on track. It’s a great way for me to quickly and easily view and manage my Christmas shopping budget. 2: Manage Shopping I do the majority of the holiday shopping in our home, but my husband has taken the initiative at times and surprised me by helping. We use OneNote to manage shopping lists so that my husband’s help is, actually, helpful. If either one of us finds a great deal on a holiday item, we just cross it off the list, and it’s instantly viewable on OneNote across all devices. 3: Manage the Calendar Getting organized during the holidays means time management, as well. With Outlook, I can easily manage my family’s calendar. That’s doubly important for the holidays. Between school events, holiday parties, and figuring out what we’re bringing to our various Christmas get togethers, things can get confusing. With Outlook, we can keep it all straight. Beside Outlook is still the standard across businesses as well. So it’s pretty much necessary for personal and business use. 4: Homework Keeping track of homework is definitely a big part of getting organized and staying organized over the holidays. There’s enough going on this time of year without having to worry about homework and projects that haven’t been done. My kids use Word and OneDrive to keep track of homework, and in many cases, complete it. My oldest is just getting into PowerPoint a bit now in high school. In fact she has one of her first PPT assignments due next week. My younger daughter is not yet there. She actually opts to use OneNote often. 5: Get Help One of the biggest keys to getting organized and staying organized for the holidays is getting help. Everything should be a group effort, from the shopping down to the cooking and cleaning. Send your husband out for ingredients, while you prepare for the cooking. Have the kids clean the house. And don’t forget that Microsoft Office 365 can be a huge asset for you and the family. Microsoft Office 365 Makes Getting Organized Easier I have kids, a blog, a husband, a successful consulting business, and a hundred other things on top of that, so anything that can help me with getting organized is always welcome. Office 365 is a great tool in my toolkit that makes getting organized and staying organized easier than ever. With Microsoft Office 365 and its huge variety of productivity tools, getting organized is easy, and I can enjoy the holidays a bit easier rather that try to manage the stress of them. Starting TODAY, November 26th, as part of Microsoft’s great Black Friday deals, Office 365 Home and Student will be available for $89.00 (or $69.00 with the purchase of any PC). Additional product details and Office deals can be found here. This post was generously sponsored by Microsoft. My opinion is all my own and it is truthful.

The post Getting Organized For the Holiday Season with Microsoft Office 365 appeared first on Thrifty Mommas Tips.

Home Organization – Keep Your School Days Smooth

Paula — Mon, 09 Nov 2015 17:32:06 +0000

Home organization is the most important thing you can do to help your days go more smoothly if you have kids, especially when those kids are in school. Between rushing the kids off to school trying to get homework finished and getting the kiddos into bed on time, home organization makes a huge job a little less chaotic. Home Organization Steps to Make it All Easier Having kids is chaotic enough, so anything we as parents can do to make the environment a little less chaotic is a good thing. Theh key to making things run more smoothly is home organization. Breakfast Next to getting the kids out the door, breakfast time is one of the most hectic parts of the morning. You can stay organized by serving the kids easy and healthy breakfasts like packaged oatmeal, whole grain English muffins, or microwaveable breakfast options. All of these will make sure the kids get a good breakfast that’s also fast. A School Station I mentioned getting the kids off to school, and it’s one area where home organization is so important. You can cut the rush and the stress by having a school station set up next to the door. A cabinet area to store shoes, book bags, and any other related school items will allow you to get the kids – and all of their stuff – off to school in a jiff. My friend Margarita Ibbott over at DownshiftingPro calls it the launch pad. Some people have a mud room that’s dedicated as the space for books, backpacks and shoes. Clothes and Lunches To lessen the chaos of the morning, get one thing out of the way the night before. Planning ahead is what home organization for school is all about. If you can, make school lunches the night before. If you send chips, veggies, or fruit to school with your kids, put those items in little resealable bags the night before. That way in the morning, all you have to do is throw together a sandwich and you’re done. I actually typically make sure the kids do their lunches the night before school to avoid the morning chaos. For clothing, pick outfits and lay them out the night before. That includes socks, hats, and any other accessories. That way, the kids can get up, make the bed, and get into their school clothes lickity split. No more, “Mo-OOOOMMMM, have you seen my – whatever.” A Homework Station As important as home organization is to getting the kids to school, it’s equally important for after school. It’s far easier to do homework in a well organized environment, so consider making a homework station. It doesn’t have to be a fancy desk with lots of shelves. It can be any place that’s specifically designated for homework. That way, it’s always nice and neat and ready to go. The simplest homework station is just a table with a comfy chair and a small desk organizer with pencils, crayons, and other homework necessities. Scheduling Home organization is more than just having everything in its place. It’s also about time management. Scheduling is one of the best ways to implement a plan of home organization for school. If its possible, make specific times for dinner, homework, play time, bath time, and bed time. If you’re running on a well oiled schedule, your home will run like a well oiled machine. Home Organization – Manage Your Home and Your Time With a little planning, home organization is easier than you think, and it makes those school days so much easier. All you really need is a plan of action and some consistency, and your home will be a humming school machine in no time. What tips do you have for organizing your home for school?

The post Home Organization – Keep Your School Days Smooth appeared first on Thrifty Mommas Tips.