Based on extensive research conducted by Di Vincenzo, a journalist by trade, this book includes information and answers from experts through interviews or readings. The topics covered range from when to make purchases of everything from eggs to homes, when to travel, and when to get some items on your to-do list crossed off. Issues revolving around personal health care, education, and employment are also included, as well.

With such a wide range of information included in this small book, my only critique as a reader is that there is no index to use to find specific topics quickly. Instead, I opted to read the book straight through and highlight the specific tips that related to my own needs, and then make note of their locations in the blank pages at the beginning of the book. Among my favorites- the best time to travel to Paris (September and early October), the best time and day to see the Mona Lisa at the Louvre (9 am on Sunday), and the best age at which to potty train a child (eighteen to thirty months old). Can you guess which of those three is most likely to be realistically applied to my own life?

If you’re looking for an interesting book gift idea, or you’re in need of some advice on the perfect timing for any of a wide range of activities, purchases, or travel, be sure to check out Buy Ketchup in May and Fly at Noon: A Guide to the Best Time to Buy This, Do That, and Go There.

Not included in this book, but definitely something you must be dying to know- the best time to read Dawn’s blog, my thoughts exactly, is whenever you have a moment that should be filled with book talk, NPR love, crazy kid stories, or random rants.

From the page after the dedication page:

“This is a memoir of a certain time in my life. The names of some characters have been changed, and some are composites of various people, experiences, and conversations I had then. If you think that’s unfair, you’ve obviously never lived in a small town and written a memoir about your neighbors.”

Author’s caution (from the page after that):

“This book is not about living your dream. It will not inspire you. You will not be emboldened to attempt anything more than making a fresh pot of coffee.”

Josh Kilmer-Purcell goes on with that quote to compare The Bucolic Plague: How Two Manhattanites Became Gentleman Farmers, an Unconventional Memoir to other memoirs that are “written by courageous souls who have broken with their past, poetically leaving behind things such as drugs, career ennui, and bad relationships.” Of course he’s writing with tongue firmly in cheek, and as an advertising exec, he’s learned the value in setting the bar low so as to exceed expectations.

In spite of his disclaimer, this book does address career ennui, relationships, and does inspire one to figure out how to live “Your Best Life Now.”

After buying a mansion and farm with his partner Brent as a weekend getaway from their busy lives in Manhattan, Josh was inspired after attending an Oprah taping to figure out how he could really live his best life. He decided that his best life would be living full time in the bucolic setting of their new country home, growing vegetables, raising goats and becoming a part of the local community.

His partner Brent receives his inspiration from another media mogul: Martha Stewart, for whom he works as a “wellness expert.” After an appearance on her show, their goat’s milk soap business and their Beekman1802 “brand” takes off, causing what was meant to be an escape and a place of restoration to become a plague — on their relationship and to their time off.

The humor in this book kept me flying through the pages, as did Brent and Josh’s struggles and extraordinary experiences (like creating and cooking from an heirloom garden). Kilmer-Purcell is right that he is not writing to change the reader’s life, as some memoirists seem to set out to do. The fact that he’s just sharing his experience helps it to avoid that completely self-important trap that many memoirists fall into.

I came to care about this farm, the community, and its owners. I wanted to see them succeed, because their effort and intent was valiant, but also to prove to myself that it was possible to go for it and achieve your dream.

I loved this book. I’m surprised at how much I loved this book. It seemed to end somewhat abruptly (maybe because I just wanted it to go on and on?), but I was reminded that real life doesn’t tie itself up neatly with pat resolutions. It earned the 5 Stars Read label.

The good news is that the Fabulous Beekman Boys can be followed on the small screen starting June 16 on Discovery’s Planet Green (follow the link to read my review of the two episodes I previewed).

The other good news is that I have a copy of The Bucolic Plague to give away to one of you. Please leave a comment if you’d like to win. We’ll announce the winner on June 23.

Check out our current giveaways. Subscribe to our feed. Follow us @5M4B on Twitter.

After being raised in the suburbs of the 4th largest city in the U.S., Houston, Jennifer Donovan loves her bucolic existence in small town Connecticut. She blogs at Snapshot about her life as a mom, but never about goats or heirloom gardens.

What didn’t I love and enjoy about Radical Homemakers: Reclaiming Domesticity from a Consumer Culture!?! This book was penned from my heart and I didn’t even know it! I was pulled into this book on reclaiming the art of homemaking from the get-go:

“Ordinarily a calm public speaker, my hands shook when I stood in September of 2007 before an audeince of 600 professional registered dieticians, many of whom were women. I had a painful message to deliver, one that I considered leaving out every time I rehearsed my speech. Eating local, organic, sustainably raised, nutrient-dense food was possible for every American, not just for wealthy gourmets or self-reliant organic farmers. But to do it, we needed to bring back the homemaker.” (Introduction, page 12-13)

Author Shannon Hayes is here to argue that the problem with America’s physical and emotional health is that the home lacks stability. As a culture, we Americans want to work overtime, spend more time out of the house pursuing our goals, and are running life on a treadmill that never steps. Two income homes are expected and have become the norm instead of the exception. Fast-food has taken over our bodies, causing obesity and the rise of disease. What Hayes suggests is that we return to a life of simplicity – where we don’t feel the need to keep up with the consuming public. She argues that we don’t need two cars, larger homes, more clothes, convenient and processed foods. Rather, her argument in this book is that we need homemakers who can maintain stability and peace in the home. We need someone at home to think about preparing foods and be given the time to cook nutritional meals. Homemade toys? Clothes? Riding bikes instead of driving cars, without the pressure of having to watch the clock? This is the world Hayes suggests we return to in order to gain back our health and, indeed, our lives!

I could not agree more.

Now, before you get up in arms about the message, note the title: Radical Homemakers. She’s not painting a picture of 1950′s ads. Rather, Hayes interviewed twenty families from around the country whom she would deem to be “radical” in their approach to keeping home these days. She showed men and women who shared the burden and responsibility of maintaining the home. Some kids were homeschooled, not only to provide a unique and opportunistic education, but also to maintain a peaceful, less hectic lifestyle. Some of the people she interviewed lived on farms and some gardened in their backyards in ghetto Chicago. She interviewed a diversity of people and lifestyles but all had one goal in mind: simplicity and health.

This book is divided up into two sections. In the first section, Hayes makes her case as to why it is beneficial for homes to have homemakers (for the benefit of the family and society at large). She talks about living locally and recognizing the differences between needs and wants. In the second half of the book she allows us to take a peek at the lives of those she interviewed to see how people across the country are moving away from corporate America to pursue something “different.” She writes of these radical homemakers:

“In these households, men and women share both authority and responsibility. As we will see, these homemakers have evolved a more sophisticated view of what constitutes an economy, and they have surrendered a false sense of independence to embrace genuine interdependence. In place of conventional employment, these men and women build security through frugal living, domestic skills and reduced material needs. They have opted to trust and actively nurture their personal partnerships and to cultivate a web of family and community that supports them.” (page 43)

I have booked so many passages and arguments that Hayes makes in this book and I honestly don’t feel that I can do this book justice in an attempted review of it. In short, I agree with her premise that we don’t need all the things we think we do, and are, in fact, hurting ourselves in trying to obtain the “American dream.” Hayes lays out her case well, arguing her points with facts and figures that are motivational for change. I’m excited about this book and the message it delivers to a busy world of harried moms and I’m going to give this book five stars because I think it deserves it! If you are tired of the rat race and need a good argument to change your approach to life, then by all means pick up a copy of Radical Homemakers! If you are already a homemaker and want encouragement and affirmation that you are doing the best thing for your family by staying home and ‘keeping the home fires burning’ then look no further!

I’m happy to say that the author has agreed to giveaway a copy of her book to one of you. But even if you don’t win it, I hope you’ll consider tracking down a copy. It’s worth the time!

Leave a comment if you’d like to win. We’ll announce the winner on June 9.

Carrie comes by her book obsession honestly, having descended from a long line of bibliophiles. She blogs about books regularly at Reading to Know.

A couple of years ago, I woke up to the fact that my family was living a life of too much. Too much stuff and too much debt. My husband and I decided it was time to make a change. We started purging our home of unimportant clutter and began working toward paying off the debt. We didn’t realize it, but we were preparing for his unemployment.

Since we learned my husband would be losing his job, we’ve worked even harder to be frugal. I’ve read many books and blogs on that subject. The most recent being Thrifty: Living the Frugal Life with Style by Marjorie Harris.

To be honest, most books on frugality are the same. The bottom line is to spend less than you make (something our culture has been slow to learn). Thrifty is different because, while the information itself is nothing new, Harris offers wit and wisdom for building a life that’s thrifty, yet valuable.

…what we lost in our rush to acquire more material goods and status symbols was how to value what we already have. The push to be bigger and better was part of the whole ethos of what describes success, and we lost our handle on just how much is enough.

Harris also points out that thrifty people are often mislabeled as cheap.

Thrift is so muddled with the idea of cheapness that it’s a source of great irritation to frugal types. Cheap is someone who buys based only on price…The rules of thrift aren’t meant to develop a stingy quality; indeed, it should bring on a feeling of well-being rather than deprivation.

Thrifty is filled with ideas for thrifty cooking (Harris even includes a few thrifty recipes), entertaining, travel, and home keeping. She concludes the book with her 20 most important tips for thrifty living.

If you’re looking for a different approach on the… well, let’s face it… sometimes boring subject of saving money, Thrifty is definitely worth a look.

Melissa has been captivated by books as long as she can remember. She’s living a thrifty yet valuable life in Virginia, and blogs at Breath of Life.

Anything — there for you to discover within the pages of a book!

Unfortunately, for me, another not-so-lovely effect is letting some things go because of all that time spent reading. You know, some things like housekeeping, laundry and basic hygiene.

I jest — sort of. But seriously, I want my home to be nice and inviting, but I’ve never gone for the stuff high-class look that some designers seem so fond of. It just doesn’t seem practical. Did I mention that I have two kids and a dog and lots of stuff, and I don’t have time to walk around after them with a broom and feather duster 24 hours a day?

If this sounds like the way you live, please click through to 5 Minutes for Mom to read my full review and enter the giveaway of Slob Proof: Real-Life Design Solutions.

Comments are closed here to remind you to leave your comment/entry on that post. The winner will be announced on Monday March 8 at 5 Minutes for Mom.

When I got an email from someone asking if I’d like to try out the Nuddle, I accepted, knowing that since I am a confirmed throw blanket user, my mind might be swayed about this particular innovation. Plus, the Nuddle is the blanket to the stars with celebrity endorsements from stars such as Debra Messing, Mariska Hargitay, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Rebecca Gayheart and more.

Am I a convert? I am.

But do I repent of my TV-advertised blanket scoffing? I do not.

The Nuddle is different. The thing that my kids and I love is that it’s thick and warm. Not thick in a stifling-hot sort of way — it’s that ultra-soft fuzzy fur-ish material that you just can’t stop touching. Also, notice that it does not have big weird sleeves. Instead it has slits that you can stick your arms through with an ultra furry soft pocket in the front if you want them covered. It also has a pocket for your feet.

There’s only one thing that I don’t like about this blanket: that we only have one.

We’ve been fighting over it. In the week that we’ve had it, I’ve used it several times as I cuddled up and read while the kids were at school. My 11-year-old daughter has taken it to her room several times, and we’ve had to retrieve it. In fact, she went to a slumber on Friday, and begged me to let her bring it with her. On Friday evening while she was gone, 5-year-old Kyle said with a sad sigh, “Oh no, the warm blanket is gone.”

This would be a perfect Valentine’s Day gift, especially if your love is far away at college, or in the military or something like that (could a cool soldier cuddle up with a super-soft blanket if his wife sent it to him??). Or just treat yourself so that you can get through the rest of the long winter.

You can buy them online at nuddleblanket.com. They are more expensive than the cheesy one, but in this case the quality is evident.

Would you like to win a Nuddle blanket of your own? Hop over to their website, and tell me the style (they come in adult or children’s sizes) and the color that you would like if you win. We’ll announce the winner (U.S. residents only) on February 10.

Check out our current giveaways. Subscribe to our feed. Follow us @5M4B on Twitter.

Whether Jennifer is watching TV or reading, whether it’s winter or summer, you’ll usually find her cuddling up with a blanket. Learn about more of her quirks at her blog Snapshot.

Focusing on every possible individual room that may be in a house, Honeybloom offers advice and suggestions to keep in mind to cultivate the type of home that encourages and supports children’s natural development and needs. With an eye to the artistic and beautiful components of a home, the book is rich with vibrant photographs of Honeybloom’s own home and children interacting with their indoor and outdoor spaces. The author’s own experiences with the Waldorf educational model are quite apparent in her mindfulness of children’s whole development, including their creative and sensory needs. As the mother of three young children and a former educator, Honeybloom certainly has the experience to write from. She speaks plainly of her views on appropriate toys and activities for children, and she is a strong proponent of a home environment that incorporates natural materials and simple beauty.

I have to admit that I felt more than one pang of jealousy as I gazed at the photos of her inviting and spacious home, especially as I long for a playroom or basement in my own living space. While Honeybloom arguably has about as perfect a house and outdoor environment as I can personally imagine, I don’t think that means that small townhouse dwellers like myself, or others in any other type of living space, cannot take some things away from her book. While much of the book focuses on physical space, there’s also a great emphasis on the feelings, attitudes and approaches parents can have as they become mindful of the home environment they are creating.

With a warm voice and an inviting approach, Shannon Honeybloom invites us into her home in Making a Family Home as she shares sage advice for homemakers, with a respectful nod to child development, artistic beauty, and the ever-present love we all have for our children.

The family home in Dawn’s life is often chaotic and messy, but always full of love. The fun parts are chronicled at my thoughts exactly.

I’ve always been a fairly optimistic, roll-with-the-punches, glass half-full kind of person. I’m happy. But even before reading Gretchen Rubin’s yearlong exploration of happiness The Happiness Project, I knew that there were choices I made and habits that I have that interfered with the goal of happiness — not only my own, but also the people who share life with me.

This book impacted me in a big way. I not only enjoyed reading it, but I feel like I’ve learned and grown as a result of it. That’s why I’m adding it to my 5 Star Reads.

Please click over to 5 Minutes for Mom to read my full review (and enter to win one of two copies).

Please read about how this book inspired my own Happiness Project for 2010 at my blog.

I’ve closed comments here to remind you to comment/enter at 5 Minutes for Mom.

There’s something comforting about hot tea. It’s cozy and relaxing. Something to savor. England has built its days around the tradition of the afternoon tea. It’s a time to take a break and enjoy good company. Personally, I’m in favor of America doing the same. I’m not holding my breath, though. In the meantime, Emilie Barnes has written some wonderful books for those who adore tea as much as I do.

The first, The Tea Lover’s Devotional is filled with short devotions and guided prayers that are perfect for an afternoon break with God. Recipes and tea time ideas are woven into the book. Small enough to tuck into your purse, it’s great way to take a few minutes out of a busy day and feed your soul.

In An Invitation to Tea: Special Celebrations with Treasured Friends, Barnes shares quotes, recipes and ideas for incorporating tea into your life.

Both books are fantastic gift ideas for anyone who loves tea…be it a special friend, aunt, or co-worker.

Another way that we can show hospitality — to those outside or within our family — is to prepare a meal for them. Jennifer reviewed Mary Ostyn’s Family Feasts for $75 a Week on 5 Minutes for Mom (click through the link to read her full review) and enthusiastically recommends it for anyone who would appreciate some family-friendly recipes as well as tips for saving money on their food bill. This book is especially good for someone who might be new to the kitchen or who is trying to make an effort to prepare more meals from scratch.

Melissa has been captivated by books for as long as she can remember. She resides in Virginia and blogs at Breath of Life.

For our gift guide and giveaway, one winner (U.S. only) will receive a copy of Family Feasts for $75 a Week, An Invitation to Tea: Special Celebrations with Treasured Friends, and The Tea Lover’s Devotional.

Leave a comment if you’d like to win these books for yourself or pass them along to someone looking to serve up some comfort from the kitchen.

This giveaway is now closed.

Entries will be closed on December 8, and we will announce the winners on December 9. Please watch your email and check the site for your name, so that we can collect your shipping information and you can get your gift by Christmas.

Be sure you’ve entered all the giveaways in our 2009 Gift Guide and Giveaway event.

Another marvelous aspect of this calendar book is that it covers a year and a half. (The current calendar goes from July 2009 to December 2010. Naturally it also gives you a preview of 2011 if you are curious as to what day your birthday falls on in the next calendar year! Ok, so now you know what *I* always check . . .) I love that it covers more than a year’s worth of time because as a wedding photographer I typically plan my life out quite far in advance. Being able to look several months ahead, and frequently into the next year, is a huge benefit to me. Love this calendar very much.

Peter Pauper Press’s i-Clips will save me numerous pieces of shredded paper. When I’m reading a book, I usually keep a sticky note pad next to me. As I read along, I shred the sticky note to pieces and place it on paragraphs of note that I want to remember and write down/type up into a review. When I’m finished reading a book, I’m usually looking at pieces of paper sticking out from all angles and then, of course, I just throw the papers away after I’m done. (It is a horribly wasteful habit, I do admit it!) Enter: the i-Clips. These fantastic magnetic tabs allow me to mark the pages I wish to re-references and then I can easily reuse them on the next book I read. Furthermore, they are just plain cute! They have a variety of designs to choose from so you can find a clip that suits your personality or the personality of those you are gifting them with! Love these things too!

Lastly, Peter Pauper Press have a wonderful variety of journals. I’m particularly fond of the look of their Floral Silhouette Journal just because it’s so pretty. It has 160 lined acid-free pages. An elastic band holds your page in place which I also like. Additionally there is a pocket inside the back cover allowing you to keep a few important papers of your choosing. This is just one journal of many that they have to offer and the one that caught my eye. Check out their line of journals to find something unique that suits you best!

You can also pre-order the next year’s Mom’s Weekly Planner if you’d like. I now know it’s a calendar I don’t want to live without! It suits our lifestyle well.

Would you like to win one Mom’s Weekly Planner, a set of i-Clips and a journal? Peter Pauper Press is graciously and generously offering one of each to one of our readers here for our Gift Guide and Giveaway. If you would like to win, simply leave one comment (and only one) below. U.S. Residents only.

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED

Even if you do not win, consider Peter Pauper Press for some of your Christmas gift giving (or receiving?!) ideas this year. They are a wonderful company with quality materials and a good variety of styles at that! Check ‘em out!

Entries will be closed on December 8, and we will announce the winners on December 9. Please watch your email and check the site for your name, so that we can collect your shipping information and you can get your gift by Christmas.

Be sure you’ve entered all the giveaways in our 2009 Gift Guide and Giveaway event.

Carrie comes by her book obsession honestly, having descended from a long line of bibliophiles. She blogs about books regularly at Reading to Know and Reading My Library.

My (Jennifer’s) husband is a huge sports nut. Right now he’s all about football — college football, professional football — and he even tried to talk our daughter into going to a high school football game with him. A Sportscaster’s Guide to Watching Football is a neat little book that not only gives insight into the hows and whys of the game, but what might interest women even more — some behind-the-scenes personal interest stories from the author Mark Oristano’s life as a sports broadcaster.

Flannery: A Life of Flannery O’Connor is the first major biography of noted Southern author Flannery O’Connor. Author Brad Gooch looks beyond the talent and delves into the relationships and convictions that made O’Connor tick.

I’m Too Young to Be This Old takes a light, fun approach to dealing with issues we face as we near middle age. Among the topics Poppy Smith tackles: changes in health & appearance, erratic emotions, wondering if the best of life is over, and relationships with aging parents. Full of wit and wisdom, Smith teaches readers how to thrive (rather than just survive) getting older.

From the back cover of Organizing Your Day: Time Management Techniques That Will Work for You: Nothing beats the satisfaction of coming to the end of the day and feeling it was a successful one. Well-managed time makes that possible. It reduces stress, helps you accomplish more in less time, and, most importantly, gives you greater freedom to enjoy doing what you love. This book shows you how to make it all happen. Professional Organizer Sandra Felton & Time Management Expert Marsha Sims have teamed up to write a book that teaches both time management and organizational skills to those who find themselves at the end of each day, wondering where the time went.

Looking to fulfill God’s plan for your family? Mission Minded Family, The: Releasing Your Family to God’s Destiny provides practical advice and encouragement to inspire families to reach beyond their own home and to reach the world for Christ. Author Ann Dunagan includes activities and resources to help families grow their passion for missions while strengthening family bonds.

In Living for Jesus Beyond the Spiritual High, author Greg Speck discusses a common problem many Christians face – how to come back to reality after an exciting conference or missions trip. Can we sustain the spiritual highs we experience during those set-apart times? Speck challenges believers to change their thinking and praying, and to move forward in their relationship with Christ in their day-to-day living.

The book is 1/3 narrative about her money-saving habits, and 2/3 recipes, since cooking — and cooking from scratch for the most part — is the primary way to realize significant savings on food.
Please click through to 5 Minutes for Mom to read my full review of this book, and enter to win one of FIVE copies (comments are closed here to remind you to comment over there).

Even if you don’t think that this book would help you out, I think that it would make a fabulous gift to anyone setting up their first kitchen, or looking to eat more meals in.

Jennifer Donovan loves to cook and loves to read cookbooks. If she doesn’t have her nose in a book, you might find her stirring the pot with a wooden spoon, or shoveling it in with a fork. She occasionally blogs about her adventures in the kitchen at Snapshot.

“You should see my closet,” says one.

“You can’t imagine my kitchen countertops,” says another.

Still a third leans in and whispers, “I don’t have clutter. I have books.”

This is where book-lovers may bristle.

My response is “Books can be clutter.”

As an organizer, I’ve helped clients declutter and in doing so have unearthed lots of books. I’ve see books they meant to read, started reading but didn’t finish and books they totally forgot that they bought. I’ve seen one, two and three copies of the same book.

Clutter, by my definition, is anything and everything that gets in the way of what you really want to be doing. Too many books and too unorganized books can indeed keep you from really enjoying reading and from finding a peaceful spot in your home to read.

When we sort clutter, I stick to a very simple list of questions. Ask yourself if you love it, use it or need it. If you don’t love it, use it or need it, why do you have it in your house?

This same simple list of questions can help you get your books organized. Begin sorting them by asking if you love the book, use the book or need that book. If you don’t love it, use it or need it, then why do you have it in your home?

Allow yourself to feel good about the books you are ready to let go of by making sure they end up doing good in their next life. Swap them at a trade-in store to stretch your book budget. Donate them to the local library for their annual fundraising book sale. Take them to a thrift shop so that the sale of them can benefit the homeless or the abused. Pass them on to someone who can’t afford to buy books.

Once you’ve sorted out the books that you don’t love, don’t use and don’t need, here are some basic tips for organizing your books you wish to keep.

• Divide your books into ones you have read and ones you have not read.
• Establish one spot in your home for books you wish to read. This might be a shelf, a box or basket. Anytime you bring in a new-to-you book, it goes to this one spot. This way you won’t forget to read that book.
• Set a limit on unread books. Your storage area for the unread books might be a good way to set that limit. Once your shelf, box or basket is full, you say no to new books until you’ve worked your way through some of them.
• Keep in mind that not everything is worth knowing or spending time on. Ask if this subject is really worthy of your precious time?
• Once you have read a book, ask yourself if you love it, use it or need it. If you enjoyed the book but you didn’t love it and don’t use it or need it, set it aside to be recycled in one of the above suggested ways. A tote bag is a great place to store already read books. When it is full, it goes out to the car with you and is taken to the store or to donate.
• If you did indeed love it, use it or need it, then the book should be stored away in your home properly.
• Sort your books into fiction, non-fiction and reference. Be sure that you really need that reference book. Ask yourself, “Will I really turn to this book or will I hop on my computer?”
• If there are children in the home, you’ll also want to sort by age so that children know where to access age appropriate materials.
• Fiction can sorted by genre- romance, mystery, science fiction and so forth and then by author.
• Reference or non-fiction can be sorted by subject, such as biographies, gardening books and cookbooks.
• Stay organized by adding unobtrusive shelf labels. Adding the words “cookbook,” “gardening,” or “mysteries” to your shelves will not only help you continue to stay organized but will help guests or other family members return the books they borrowed.
• Strive to make your life easier. Accumulating heaps of books, to be dealt with later, doesn’t make your life easier, it just makes it cluttered.

Do you think you’ll use any of these tips?

©Professional Organizer Lea Schneider is the author of Growing Up Organized: A Mom to Mom Guide (follow the link for Jennifer’s recommendation on this book). Her organizing advice has appeared in Woman’s Day, Natural Health and Better Homes and Gardens Kids’ Rooms magazines. She is the Grand Prize Winner of the Rolodex Office Makeover Challenge. She helps people get organized at www.organizerightnow.com.

Professional Organizer Lea Schneider takes a similar approach in her book Growing Up Organized: A Mom to Mom Guide. She also reminds us moms that trying to do everything yourself makes it almost impossible to be organized. In each chapter she underscores several principles:

You can get rid of clutter.
You can become organized.
Your children can learn personal responsibility for their things.
The family can work together.

This book was easy to read and is chock-full of advice that is practical and easy to implement. Topics that were of particular interest to me are

• How to tackle a big organizing job
• Keeping up with the cleaning (maintenance)
• Sharing the household chores with the family

She also includes things in this book targeted directly to families – things I would not have considered an organizational issue, such as managing homework and reading deadlines and those school lunches!

“Part of disorganization comes from trying to do everything for everybody” (page 153). Does that resonate with anyone else? Are you tired of trying to keep up with your own stuff and everyone else’s?

You can buy this book (and I recommend that you do!), either on amazon or at her website (where you can also buy an e-book, which is the version I used so that I could download it to my Kindle, using the emailed pdf option. Other than a few formatting glitches, I enjoyed reading it this way.).

You can find more information at Lea’s Organize Right Now! site, including signing up for her newsletter.

One of you will win your choice of a printed copy (U.S. only) or an E-book (anywhere in the world!). Leave a comment if you’d like to win. Just for fun, tell us who the most disorganized person in your home is (you don’t have to name names).

Jennifer Donovan would have honestly said she was most disorganized in her family, but lately her tween daughter is edging her out. Read more about her family’s strengths and weaknesses at Snapshot.

This is part of the 2009 Back-to-School Giveaway. We’d love it if you helped spread the word!

1. Leave a comment on this post as your entry.
2. This giveaway is open to residents anywhere in the world (e-book only)! One entry per person.
3. New giveaways will be posted through August 26. Winners will be announced August 31.
4. Check out the list of the other giveaways in the 2009 Back-to-School Giveaway at the main post.

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The folks at Peter Pauper were so nice, they even let me pick out my own pattern! I requested Acadian Tapestry, shown here.

I like this calendar for several reasons:
*It’s pretty
*It fits in my purse
*It has a hard back
*It runs from September 2009 – December 2010
*It has a few convenient pages for notes & addresses
*It’s in a weekly format, so I have plenty of room to write (monthly formats don’t give enough room, and daily formats are too bulky)
*Each week includes a calendar for the current and previous month

I also received the matching compact journal. I’ve been mulling how I can make the best use of this gorgeous thing. It fits in my purse, so it would be a terrific “To Do” or “Grocery” notebook. The pages are large enough to use as a journal, recipe book, or just about anything else you can think of.

As part of our Back to School Giveaway, we have a calendar & journal set to give to one lucky commenter. Visit Peter Pauper Press to select your pattern. I’m already debating which I’ll pick for 2011!

Melissa has been captivated by books for as long as she can remember. She resides in Virginia and blogs at Breath of Life.

This is part of the 2009 Back-to-School Giveaway. We’d love it if you helped spread the word!

1. Leave a comment on this post as your entry.
2. This giveaway is open to U.S. residents. One entry per person.
3. New giveaways will be posted through August 26. Winners will be announced August 31.
4. Check out the list of the other giveaways in the 2009 Back-to-School Giveaway at the main post.

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