Katie from Kitchen Stewardship is launching a Spring Cleaning: Get the Junk Out carnival this week! I’m honored to have been invited to participate, and I will be tackling the clutter topic in a few weeks.

To be honest, I tend to be crunchy-lite (I just made that up…), and some of these topics — such as parabens and CAFOs — are new to me, so I’ll be looking for the baby steps offered each week to help me get started. Those of you who are more experienced with them will find more in-depth resources and steps as well.

Overall, I’m excited to learn about all of the topics — from plastic food containers and antibacterial soaps to debt and gluten — from women who are ahead of me on the crunchy spectrum!

The carnival will run over the next ten weeks, with one topic per week, which I think is a fantastic way to present so much information without it becoming overwhelming. Each Tuesday, a different blogger will host the carnival so that you can post about your own experience with the topic at hand (or share an older post on the subject) and link up.

3/23 :: Katie @ Kitchen Stewardship :: antibacterial soap/bleach

3/30 :: Amy @ Simply Sugar and Gluten Free :: gluten

4/6 :: Beth @ Fake Plastic Fish :: plastic food containers

4/13 :: Donielle @ Naturally Knocked Up :: refined sugar

4/20 :: Micaela @ Mindful Momma :: parabens

4/27 :: Lenetta @ Nettacow :: food additives

5/4 :: Kelly @ Kelly the Kitchen Kop :: CAFOs

5/11 :: Laura @ Heavenly Homemakers :: pesticides

5/18 :: Mandi @ Organizing Your Way :: clutter

5/25 :: Claire @ Saving Money Plan :: debt

There will also be special giveaways each week at Kitchen Stewardship to go along with each week’s theme, so be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss any of them!

Are these things you’ve been thinking about already? Which one are you most looking forward to learning more about?

source: Ali Nassiri

My monthly column is up at Simple Mom, and I’m talking about task- versus people-oriented personalities. Come on over and share your thoughts about your personality and how you find balance between your to-do list and the people you love!

While personality tests and reading about personality types have been regarded by some as self-indulgent navel gazing, there is real value that comes from identifying your natural tendencies. Every personality has strengths and weaknesses, and understanding what yours are allows you take advantage of the strengths and create a plan to overcome the weaknesses.

The most popular personality test is the Myers-Briggs typology, but I’ve always been fascinated by the task-oriented versus people-oriented personality spectrum. Perhaps it’s because I am so strongly task-oriented, and I appreciate having a name for the focus I tend to place on my to-do list and getting things done.

Read more at Simple Mom…

Congratulations, Keilah, you won the Organize Your Paper Clutter workshop giveaway! I’ve emailed you with information on how to claim your prize.

The workshop starts tomorrow, so if you haven’t signed up yet, be sure to do that today so you don’t miss a thing.

Simplify 101 also has some more great workshops coming up, including:

:: Organize Your Closet, March 11th — April 1, $24

:: Help! I don’t know where to begin!, March 25 — April 1, $7

:: Quick & Simple Clutter Control, April 8 — April 29, $24 (special early bird price!)

Aby has offered to answer any questions you all may have about the workshops, so please feel free to leave a comment with your questions and she’ll answer them this evening and tomorrow!

Our birthday girl and her baby sister!

The forecast says 50 degrees or more all weekend, and while there’s still snow covering most of the ground, I don’t think it’s going to be around long. As we usher in spring, we’ve got some pretty big changes coming for our family too (I’ll tell you more about those this week!), and life is busy and full of possibilities and promises.

I’m going to add a new feature to my weekend links posts where I share just a little bit about one of our current sponsors each week so you can hear a little bit about my perspective on each company and why I support their business. This week, let’s talk about Mabel’s Labels!

If you’ve been an Organizing Your Way reader for very long, you know that I tend to focus more on the function of an item than on its form. Thankfully, my husband is a very creative guy, and he combines my ideas with his design talents to make our home practical and beautiful. What I love about Mabel’s Labels is they’re extremely practical — iron-on clothing labels, allergy alerts and “my 411″ wristbands, labels for cups, bottles, toys and more. But that’s not all. They go a step further than your everyday label maker to combine practicality with fun & style in personalized labels that everyone in your family will love!

Before we head out for a fun family day, I’ve also got some great finds to share from the week. Be sure to check out my Tumblr account for even more (and I actually made it through most of Google Reader this week, so there’s quite a few if you’re looking for thought-provoking, practical and engaging posts!).

Home Management

:: Check out this adorable DIY earring holder that Tatiana found on YouTube.

:: List of Steps for Preparing Your Spring Garden, ListPlanIt

:: Get to Your Mess Before It Gets to You, Zen Family Habits

:: Organizing Tips for Bathrooms, A Fresh Start

:: Best Ways to Store Board Games, The Confident Mom
Welcome to the newest Life Skills Network member! Susan and her team of contributors have put together an amazing resource with practical tips and encouragement for moms.

Time Management

:: Healthy Sleep Habits, The Finer Things in Life (by Catherine at The Shoe Box Daily)

:: 5 Tips for Creating Family Routines and Establishing Rhythm in Your Home, Simple Kids

Money Management

:: 101 Common Money Myths, The Wisdom Journal

:: Do Something You Love Before You Have to Do Something for the Money, Frugal Dad

Have a wonderful weekend!