Coupon Organizing

OK, I love the idea of saving money at the grocery store.  I hate the idea of spending so much time clipping coupons (I used to do it religiously anyway but not since having babies).  I came across something today that might just be the answer I’ve been looking for.  Its called The Grocery Game.  I have not played the game yet but I see that my zip code is included in Teri’s Listand that I can subscribe for 4 weeks for only a dollar.  Has anyone else out there played the game?

I am almost through reading Messie No More but cannot wait to comment on this interesting look into what keeps us from being organized. I picked this book up in order to help clients, but find that parts of it hit home ( like the chapters on how fatigue and depression directly affect order in your home).

I have long thought that being organized touches every aspect of my life. This has become even more clear to me since having children and struggling to maintain my home the way I did in the past while juggling sleeplessness and two small children. This book supports the idea of organization being part of an overall life balance with chapters like: Accepting yourself, Parenting the Child Within, Cleanliness and Godliness, and Doing Nice Things for Yourself.

I want to help people feel better about their lives and this book brought a greater understanding on how I can do that. It showed me what is going on for people who desginate themselves as “Messies” (although I believe there are times in a life when this label could apply to anyone - self included). If you too are a self proclaimed “Messie” pick up this book and start to see that the guilt you secretly harbor for the way you’re living does not need to define you. There is a way out.

This is a response for item #23 from The To-Do Group Research Project.

Awhile ago I started using the Citrus Scraps template.  I noticed that there was text that showed up indicating that related posts should be showing up. Being new I just figured that once I had enough related posts they’d just magically appear. 

Well, nothing happened.  Then Wendy’s Wish List project came to fruition.  I put on my wish list that I wished my related posts would show up, as if wishing would make it come true.  It wasn’t until I saw her final project list that I learned it was a PLUGIN that I needed.  An A-HA moment!

And thus began my adventure in getting my ‘Related Posts’ feature to work.  Obviously I am a ‘newbie’ and will be writing this post for others who may be at my level.  Please forgive me if you are well into the advanced stages of this thing we call blogging!

First off I want to start at the adventure’s end. 

In the end I found a Plugin that worked for me right away.  So if you are not interested in knowing what the longer drawn out process taught me then just go here and get the thing loaded! (A new version is available too!)

The Adventure 

1. I clicked the link Wendy provided in list and downloaded the Plugin
2. I unzipped the file and used my FTP Manager (Unlimited FTP - I use Bluehost) to upload the file to the wp-content_plugins file
3. When it showed up in wordpress on the plugins list (check and double check where you are uploading to!) I activated it.
4. Nothing happened!  I started troubleshooting.
5. I stared at the code and figured out there was somehting about custom fields I needed to address
6. I played around with adding keywords (this was a first for me and something very valuable to figure out!)- still nothing showed up for related posts
7. Then I looked at the code within my own template and found it referenced a ‘realted posts’ function
8. hmmmm…I went back to the Citrus Scraps linkand they had a different plug-in for this so I downloaded that and followed the installation info
9. I was not one of the lucky ones that had the tables automatically update and had to follow a step that started by saying “Don’t worry its not hard”.  Yeah right:) It still did not work due to unavoidable errors and my inability to navigate my phpMySQLadmin! YUK/HUH??!!
10. I wrote to the writer of that plug in - I’m still waiting for response
11. I filled out a support ticket with Bluehost but did not think they’d get back to me in time to submit by Wendy’s deadline.  SO….
12. I Googled and found without much searching….drum roll please……Aizatto

The Aizatto’s Related Post Plugin is great for newbies because you do not have to modify template files and for me it worked as soon as I actived it under the ‘Plugins’ tab.

Things Learned

• What that Custom Fields Area is at the bottom when I’m writing posts - Very valuable!  Although my understanding is that the Aizatto plugin wrote around the need to fill these in.
• How to upload and activate a Plugin - FUN &  EASY (when they work right away:))
• Do not give up - keep searching for another answer - its out there!
• If you stare at code long enough it speaks to you & some day I’ll actually know it!

I am shifting into the life of a full time professional organizer.  As I do so I cannot help but examine my own problem areas and I feel stuck.  It is difficult for me (recovering perfectionist as previously mentioned) to believe that I can really help others stay organized when I myself struggle to maintain my order.

It is one of those ‘What Would I Tell My Best Friend’ moments.  I would tell her that through her struggle she can BETTER help those who need her organizational skills.  I would tell her that it makes her more approachable and more believable.  I would tell her that you do not have to be perfect to make a contribution and if that’s what she’s waiting for then she better be ready to wait a long time.

I know that I always find some way to help others find their way and in so doing help myself.  Its just been one of those days!

I ran into a friend today who asked me how I got started blogging.  There are so many posts out there on this topic, but I thought I’d direct people to a few of the places that were the most help to me. 

First and foremost I needed direction and inspiration.  You find that in abundance in the blogging community.  The following come to mind (I’ll add others when they float to the top of the old brain):

• eMoms at Home
• The Blog World
• Problogger
• Liz Strauss
• EmpowerWomenNow

Then I needed a theme for my blog.  One that I could add my own graphic to and was already SEO optimized since I had no clue what I was doing.

I knew I wanted to try to use affiliate marketing to generate income and I came across a great Adsense layout while participating in a group writing project.

I’ve learned so much since I started about a month ago.  I know:

• some code
• how to add my own graphic to a theme
• how to add Adsense code to a page - more to learn here
• how to add a Blogroll - more to learn since it needs fixing!
• some great people out there in the blogosphere
• I’d like to connect with more ‘newbies’ like me!
• that I have so much more to learn!