There are some important things you will need to do to get your house prepped for the colder months. Just tackle a couple of these simple chores each week, and your home will be good to go until next Spring! Of course if you are one of the lucky ones living in the south, some of these might not apply. Here is a FREE PRINTABLE of my handy dandy check list. Grab a clip board, print the list, and get to work!

CLICK HERE for free printable

(As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.)

How to Prepare your Home for Fall:

INSIDE

• Ensure that the furnace is in proper working order
• Change air filters
• Bring out winter bedding and clothes
• Inspect an clean fireplace and chimney
• Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, replace batteries
• Check and replace work weather stripping
• Create a dedicated space for muddy shoes and rain coats
• Check and service the HVAC system
• Drain the hot water heater
• Reverser your fans (they will circulate warm air if they turn clockwise)

Outside

• Stock up on firewood
• Check the roof for and obvious signs of damage
• Clean the gutters and downspouts
• Clean the BBQ grill
• Winterize your pool with a winterizing and closing chemical kit, and cover with pool cover
• Service and prepare your snowblower
• Put away or cover outdoor furniture
• Drain and stow hoses
• Check exterior caulk and redo if necessary
• Fix cracks in your patio and driveway

Garden

• Clean flower and garden beds
• Rake up leaves and clear brush
• Mow and fertilize the lawn
• Bring in potted plants
• Plant bulbs for spring flowers
• Cut back perennials
• Cover tender plants with mulch

Looking for more household help? Check these posts out!

• 12 Things you Should Clean Right Now
• 7 Steps to a Clutter Free Home
• Age Appropriate Chores

The post How to Prepare your Home for Fall (free printable) appeared first on The Rockstar Mommy.

Sanitizing, disinfecting and cleaning are on the top of our minds right now. While you are probably already a pro at cleaning your phone, countertops, and bathrooms, there are a ton of places you have probably forgotten to scrub, BUT very important to clean. Those of you who know me, know that I am a germaphobe, and pride myself on my sanitizing skills, but even a couple of these I have missed.

12 Things You Should Clean Right Now

1. Vacuum handle – Holy cow. I’m embarrassed to say, I don’t think I have ever Cloroxed my vacuum handles! (yes handles, I have several vacuums)
2. Refrigerator handle – Some people totally forget this one.
3. Microwave touchpad – Think of this as your gross kitchen remote control.
4. Cleaning supply bottles ⁠— Even if you are cleaning with gloves on, you can transfer bacteria and viruses back on to to the handles of the bottles.
5. Floor baseboards ⁠— These get wiped down all the time, but how about sanitized? This is most important when you have littles in the house.
6. Remote controls and gaming controller. – Most of the time when you are channel surfing, or gaming, you are also snacking. So all those germs will be going right into your mouth if you are snacking on chips, popcorn, or candy.
7. Light switches – Think about how often you touch these. EVERY DAY!
8. Toilet flusher – These can be just as gross as the inside of your toilet.
9. Dresser handles – Door knobs are a no brainer when cleaning, but the dresser handles in our bedrooms are something I rarely think about cleaning.
10. Car ⁠— This includes your steering wheel, gear shift, radio buttons, door handle, seat and your keys.
11. Mail box ⁠— Just take a Clorox wipe with you when you go get the mail. Problem solved.
12. Reusable grocery bags – Make sure to give those a good cleaning after shopping at the stores. Here is a link explaining how to clean the different kinds of bags.

Side note: If you are not following GoCleanCO on instagram, you need to start now! She has SO MANY cleaning tips, and a secret mixture of bleach, water and tide that will change your cleaning game completely! Ps. Don’t forget to follow The Rockstar Mommy too!

(As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.)

SOME OF OUR FAVORITE CLEANING SUPPLIES (some maybe hard to get during this time)

• Spin Mop – with removable washable mop
• Microfiber clothes – we use these on everything!
• Box of rags – these are long lasting, reusable and easy to sanitize.
• Powdered Tide – this is key in the bleach, water, tide mix!
• Soft Cleaner – This stuff is that bomb! It is a Rust and Stain Remover for Stainless Steel Sinks and Countertops, Porcelain and Ceramic Tile, Copper, Brass, and More
• Steam Mop – got dirty grout?

The post 12 Things You Should Clean Right Now appeared first on The Rockstar Mommy.

How To Plan For Thanksgiving with Less Stress

Preparing your home: 1 month before.

As Thanksgiving draws near, you will likely have people staying with you. Now is the perfect time to start preparing your home for guests, and preparing your home for a full house! Start by going through your holiday dishware. Make sure you have enough place settings for everyone and serving dishes. If you don’t, now is the time to get them before the Thanksgiving rush in stores. Next, give your home a good deep clean. Remember that your guests will be staying in rooms that don’t usually get a lot of foot traffic, so take one room at a time and scrub down your home! Change the sheets on the guest bed, and get things ready now so you won’t have to think about it when Thanksgiving gets closer.

Preparing your menu: 3 weeks before.

Start thinking about what you are going to prepare for your Thanksgiving feast. You want to keep things simple while also making sure that there is enough food for everyone. If you’re unsure what to make, stick with this setup: Turkey, three side dishes, one dessert. If you have a larger family, then you may need to add additional sides or desserts. If you want more variety, ask your guests to help out by bringing a dish.

Prepare your table setting and decorate your home: 2 weeks before.

If you want to prepare a table setting or decorate your home for Thanksgiving, go ahead and get that out of the way now. This will make your Thanksgiving holiday less stressful, and everything will already be in place! If you need to make something for your tablescape or home, you’ll have time to do it this week.

Start shopping for food: 1 week before

Now is the time to start gathering your food. Most Thanksgiving food can be stored and even cooked ahead of time! Take advantage of your freezer to start buying things ahead of time, so you don’t have to make any last-minute trips to the store. Start preparing your desserts and anything that can be made ahead of time.

The day before Thanksgiving prep.

Thanksgiving is tomorrow, and now is the time to start preparing your food! Start by getting anything out of the way that you can now! If all you have time to do is cut up your vegetables and prepare the gravy, do it now! This will save you tons of time in the morning!

Thanksgiving Day

It’s Thanksgiving Day, and it’s time to start cooking! Take out your prepared foods and make a note on the dishware when they need to go in the oven. Next, start preparing the food that will take the longest to cook. This will likely be the turkey. Get out a sheet of paper and write down a timeline for when things need to go in the oven and start preparing them as soon as you can within reason!

I hope this planner has helped you better prepare for Thanksgiving so you can enjoy a stress-free holiday with your friends and family.

The post How To Plan For Thanksgiving with Less Stress appeared first on The Rockstar Mommy.

8 Things Productive Moms Do Before 9 am

Make Your Bed

Before you even start your day off, be sure to make your bed. This will help inspire a productive mindset and make you feel ready to take on the day. The process of making your bed helps you feel like you’re already winning at life and allows you to start the day with a winning mentality.

Start One Load of Laundry

Laundry is one of those never-ending tasks that can get quite daunting. Starting one load of laundry before 9 am allows you to feel like you’re tackling household chores before the busyness of the day sets in. Starting laundry at the beginning of the day will allow you to get more laundry done each day.

Drink Water

Water is a necessary part of human life, but it also works to hydrate you in a way nothing else can. Start your morning off right by drinking at least 16 ounces of water before you venture off to do your day to day tasks away from the house as a means to make your brain wake up and energize your body.

Empty the Dishwasher

If you’re like most moms, then you probably started the dishwasher after dinner the night before. This means your dishwasher has some clean dishes in it ready to take care of. Be sure that you start your day off by emptying the dishwasher so that you have on less thing to do later in the day.

Write a To Do List

Being able to have a to-do list that you work off of every day helps inspire a productive day because you have a road map, so to speak, for what needs to get done that day. This will allow you to keep your mind clear as you work to get things done before 9 am.

Plan Dinner

Every productive mom knows that planning what’s for dinner at the start of the day will help inspire a more productive day. Knowing what you’ll cook the family later in the day helps you to get the supplies ready and options out so that when dinner preparation time comes you’re ready to simply get the meal items together and cook without much extra time involved.

Get Dressed

Being a stay at home mom or work at home mom means there are many mornings that you neglect taking a shower and getting dressed. It’s much easier to just jump out of bed and start your day, but if you truly want to be more productive in life then it’s best to take a shower and get dressed before 9 am so that your mind and body are ready for the busy day ahead.

Exercise

Develop a simple exercise routine that helps inspire a productive day. This could be some stretches or yoga, perhaps a short 20-minute walk around town. There are no real rules for what type of exercise you should do before 9 am, but the key is to have some physical activity before 9 am to help you start the day off right and feel motivated to get everything completed.

These 8 things productive moms do before 9 am are a wonderful way to switch up your morning routine to ensure that you’re able to have a productive day no matter how much life throws at you. Use my tips shared today as a means to have more free time all the while getting stuff done.

The post 8 Things Productive Moms Do Before 9 am appeared first on The Rockstar Mommy.

How to Stay Motivated and Organized as a Stay at Home Mom

Create a Realistic Schedule

Sit down and think about what you have to do in a single day. Write down necessary tasks and prioritize them in a list. Now that you have a list of prioritized daily tasks, it’s time to create a realistic schedule. Set specific times for each task and be sure to devote one hour of your day for break time.

Take Breaks

This leads us to the next step in staying motivated and organized as a stay at home mom, take breaks. The best way to keep from going insane is to schedule a minimum of two 15 minute breaks and one half hour lunch break every day.

Create a Budget

It’s important that you work to create a budget when you’re a stay at home mom so that you don’t stress out about finances. If your partner is the only one working then you both need to sit down and evaluate the income versus expenses to create a solid budget to stick with to keep financial peace.

Wake Up Before Kids

Let’s face it; your day is full of kids. Everything you do all day long will have something to do with your kids and your duties as a stay at home mom. This is why it’s very important for you to wake up before the kids get up. This can be your moment of peace to prepare for your chaotic day.

Meet with Friends

Having playdates with friends so that the kids can play and you can socialize at least once a week will help you to stay motivated as a stay at home mom. Having time to meet with friends and a chance to let your kids play together will help break up the mundane day to day lifestyle of a stay at home mom.

These are just a handful of ideas for you on how to to stay motivated and organized as a stay at home mom. Each of these tips will help guide you forward to feeling more relaxed and with more energy as each day passes during your stay at home mom days.

The post How to Stay Motivated and Organized as a Stay at Home Mom appeared first on The Rockstar Mommy.

5 Ways to Get Kids to Help with Spring Cleaning

Give Choices

Don’t assign spring cleaning chores to your kids, ask them which chores they want to do. Create a spring cleaning chore list that is kid-friendly. Place this list somewhere where your kids can pick a specific number of spring cleaning chores to do during your family spring cleaning event.

Offer Rewards

Some parents opt to offer incentives or some form of reward system to help get kids to help with spring cleaning. Since these chores may be up and beyond the kids regularly scheduled chores, you may want to offer some sort of reward system or incentive to get them moving and helping.

Age-Appropriate

When it comes to getting kids to help with spring cleaning, it’s important that you assign age-appropriate chores. If the chore is too tedious or extreme for a kids’ age then they’ll get more discouraged and frustrated which could make them give up completely.

Have a Blast

There’s something about the words “spring cleaning” that don’t sound like much fun, but this can be a fun event. Whether you set timers to challenge the family to get things done quicker or you make a game out of spring cleaning or play music and dance around, there are ways you can make this FUN.

Be Creative

Dusting can be done with a pair of socks. Cleaning windows can be done with a fun, kid-styled spray bottle. There are many creative adjustments you can make so that the kids have fun with their spring cleaning chores, such as using socks to dust.

If you’re going to be venturing into spring cleaning season with kids in tow, it’s important that you use my tips to help get those kids involved without any drama. The key to getting kids to help with spring cleaning is to require their assistance, allow them to have choices and make it fun for them. When you use my tips you’ll find that the kids are happy to assist in spring cleaning this year.

The post 5 Ways to Get Kids to Help with Spring Cleaning appeared first on The Rockstar Mommy.

7 steps to a clutter free home

Have you actually started decluttering your home? When I started, I could not believe have much stuff I had! I used to feel so frustrated at how long it took and how much energy it took to manage all our crap! I used to spend hours and sometimes even days trying to get the house cleaned up. Finally, I said enough! It was time to create a clutter free sanctuary in our home! Decluttering is so freeing and letting go of excess can do wonders for your home! Here are 7 steps to a clutter free home. 

Step 1: Know your why
Before you can truly live with less, you need to know why. Why do you want to declutter your space and what benefits could your family have? Start with getting a clear picture of why you are choosing to start down this path and keep this goal in mind when things get hard.

Step 2: Build a plan and take action!
Before you start going through every drawer and closet in your home, you need to make a plan for how you are going to work through this space. When you have a plan, you’ll be able to easily navigate through your home and get to work. Decide how you want to declutter, such as by room or by object.

Step 3: Do a sweep through your entire home
This is the best way to get started when decluttering your home. Take a box or a trash bag and go through each room and get rid of everything you don’t use or don’t love. This is the perfect way to get some momentum going, as you’ll be able to really dive into the hard stuff later. This will remove the surface clutter that don’t require emotional decisions.

Step 4: Clear your surfaces and keep them that way
Clear surfaces have a big impact on your home as a whole. Finding places for things that normally clutter your counter tops and other surfaces should be one of the first steps for that reason. Make a spot for your mail, cords, keys and anything else that doesn’t have a logical place already. After you’ve cleared your surfaces, keep them that way! Keeping this space clear at all times will immediately keep your home from looking cluttered.

Step 5: Start with the easiest spot
At this point, you want to keep your momentum by starting with an easy place to declutter. Find a place you can do quickly and with ease. This space should not have too many sentimental items or take more than a few minutes. Don’t try to take on a whole room at once, and instead start smaller such as a drawer or cabinet. Bathrooms, the pantry, or a coat closet are a great starting point!

Step 6: Identify which area is your highest priority and take control!
Now that you’ve identified the areas that are causing you stress, it’s time to tackle it! Your focus should be on ruthlessly decluttering whatever area is your highest priority to create space in your home. This room will have the biggest impact on your life and the benefits should be almost instant.

Step 7: Stick to your plan
Now that you’ve tackled the most important areas in your home, it’s time to continue throughout the rest of your house! Keep following the plan you’ve created from highest to lowest in terms of priority. Keep yourself accountable and don’t stop until you’re completely finished! Take before and after pictures to keep you motivated and keep track of the stuff you’ve gotten rid of.

Be sure to celebrate your success as you work to build a clutter free home for you and your family. Don’t forget to keep clutter from creeping into your home and destroying any progress you’ve made. Enjoy your clutter free home!

NEVER MISS A ROCKSTAR MOMMY POST! SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER AND RECEIVED

THE 10 TRAITS OF A ROCKSTAR MOMMY FOR FREE!

The post 7 steps To a Clutter Free Home appeared first on The Rockstar Mommy.

Doesn’t it feel like just yesterday you were holding your little ones in your arms for the first time? One thing we all know is that our kids grow up faster than we can keep up with. As a mom, it’s really hard to let go of our children’s mementos.

Even if when we run out space, we still try to cram every memento in our homes. Here are 15 Ways to Preserve your Childrens Memories Forever!

15 Ways to Preserve your Childrens Memories Forever

1. Child Memory Ornament
2. Create an Annual Photo Album
3. Frame their Artwork
4. Document your Pregnancy
5. Salt Dough Keepsakes
6. Make a Baby Onesie Quilt
7. First Day of School Tshirt
8. Frame their Favorite Toys
9. DIY Memory Jar
10. Turn your Kid’s Art into Custom Jewelry
11. Use a Giant Growth Chart
12. Handwriting Samples
13. Organize School Papers
14. Birthday Interviews
15. Sand Clay Keepsakes

NEVER MISS A ROCKSTAR MOMMY POST! SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER AND RECEIVED

THE 10 TRAITS OF A ROCKSTAR MOMMY FOR FREE!

The post Preserve your Childrens Memories Forever appeared first on The Rockstar Mommy.

Every parent can tell you that getting children to do chores goes one of two ways: their initial excitement at helping, to realizing routine chores aren’t fun. Once they realize they hate doing chores, you find yourself in a position of having to nag your child incessantly.

Yet we keep assigning the children chores, and reminding them constantly to do them.

Why do we set ourselves up like this?

I know it doesn’t seem like it when you’re practically begging a child to do the dishes, but you’re actually teaching them a lifelong skill. RESPONSIBILITY. Every person on the planet has a certain amount of responsibility to deal with in life.  The sooner your child learns their own, the better.

It takes a lot of work to keep a household functioning. These day to day tasks become overwhelming when it is all on one person’s plate. Divide those tasks up between the members of the house, and it becomes much more manageable. You’re not an island unto yourself, you’re a team. Letting your children take some responsibility for the management of their household lets them know they are a part of the team. Being a part of the team lets them know they are a valued member of the household, not just someone who has to do what they are told.

Even though the tasks may be small, you are setting your children up for success when you expect them to do their chores. Happy nagging!

CLICK HERE for your printable Age Appropriate Chores for Kids!

NEVER MISS A ROCKSTAR MOMMY POST! SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER AND RECEIVED

THE 10 TRAITS OF A ROCKSTAR MOMMY FOR FREE!

The post Age Appropriate Chores for Kids appeared first on The Rockstar Mommy.

We all know how it goes. You go to Target, telling yourself you’re only going in for a few things. You make a mental list of what you need- light bulbs, dog food, and toilet paper. That’s it! You will be in and out in 15 minutes, tops.

Then you walk through the front doors, grab that oversized cart, and almost immediately your eyes are magnetically pulled to the Dollar Spot. You feel like you have hit the jackpot. Planners and murals and mason jars…oh my! You can never have too many of those things.

And how adorable is that picnic blanket? Who cares if you haven’t gone on a picnic since college- if you buy that picnic blanket, you will go on a picnic with your family every weekend.

It’s an investment in family quality time. In the basket it goes!

After throwing $20 worth of Dollar Spot goodies in your basket (“It’s a deal, really”), you tear yourself away to hunt down the things on your shopping list. By the time you check out, you have magically spent $200. What? Where? When? How? Why?

Target strikes again!

Listen, friend, you are not alone. Many Target shoppers go through the same cycle of completely going over their budget. But that doesn’t have to be your reality. Let’s talk about some ways you can check your Inner Deal Lover at the door and stop overspending at Target.

First things first….

1. Make a List

Never go to Target without a list of what you need to buy. Sit down with pen and paper while you are at home and make a list of only the things you plan to buy. Make sure you spend time on this. You don’t want to leave something off the list and then realize it while you are shopping.

Why not? Because once you add THAT one thing to your cart (even if you actually do need it), that makes it easier for you to justify adding other things (that you may not need). It’s a slippery slope!

2. Stick to Your List

Once you have your list in hand, shop only from that list. In other words, if it isn’t on the list, it doesn’t go in your cart (or in your belly). Resist the urge to window shop lest you decide that you “have to have” something extra.

3. Be Strategic

If you are a regular Target shopper, you probably have a mental map of the store’s layout. Use this mental map to plan the route that you will take to get everything on your list.

This will cut down on random strolling through the store. Random strolls only increase the chances that you will see something that you love and will be tempted to buy it. Focus on getting in, getting what you need, and getting out.

4. Don’t Be Fooled by Bargains

Let’s pause to do a little bit of math. You are at Target to buy dog food for $20. You happen to see a really cute blouse on sale. It usually costs $50 but right now it is 70% off. How much money will you save when you buy the blouse? If your answer is $35, I’m sorry to say that you are wrong.

Since you had no intention of buying that blouse, you are actually spending $15 MORE than you planned. That’s nearly twice as much money as you had budgeted for. Buying deals that you didn’t plan on buying is spending, not saving.

5. Only Take The Money You Need

If you feel like you will not be able to resist the urge to buy extra items, the one surefire solution is to only take enough money to cover the items on your list. Go to the ATM and withdraw money and then leave your debit/credit card at home. You can’t spend money that you don’t have.

6. Add Splurges to Your Next Shopping List

If you see something that you absolutely must have, make a note of it and be sure to add it to your shopping list for next time. Especially if it is something that they will likely have in stock for a while. By delaying gratification, you may even find that you don’t even want it once it’s no longer in your face to tempt you. Take that, buyer’s remorse!

So…do you think you have what it takes to handle your next trip to Target? Go forth and stick to your budget!

NEVER MISS A ROCKSTAR MOMMY POST! SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER AND RECEIVED THE 10 TRAITS OF A ROCKSTAR MOMMY FOR FREE!

The post How to Stop Overspending at Target appeared first on The Rockstar Mommy.