Today I OFFICIALLY became Eastern Washington's premire consultant.
I cannot wait to get everything up & running...........Until then, let's ORGANIZE !!!
8.22.2011
8.21.2011
Keep It Or Toss It?
Less stuff equals less mess, who would have thought?
I have noticed one little problem though, the rooms are so small that when anyone makes a normal mess it seems so much worse! There is no room for a mess and still get around.
To fix this problem… I got out my trusty timer and put myself up to a challenge. I gave myself 15 minutes. I had to pick up put items back in their designated “home.” Fifteen minutes is just about long enough to get the whole room picked up if I do it without dragging my feet. That is where the treat comes in. Nothing wrong with a little bribery, I mean motivation!
This works for kids too. Using a timer will help you stay on task for a specified amount of time. Take 5, 10 or 15 minutes and do a sweep through the house putting away out of place items. Pick a time each day to do this and you will be one step closer to taming the clutter monster.
My current ptoject is to get the computer, craft, music room under control. Since we just moved in two months ago 90% of the entire house is in order… But because of the out of placve room, the order of things get out of hand if I slack even one day. Even an organizer & organized person has to work at keeping things in order.
One of the reasons mental health professionals and social psychologists believe people struggle with clutter is because humans are always trying to be immortal. This explanation is referred to as terror management theory (TMT), and is certainly one of the reasons I struggle with parting with some of my clutter.
From the book Stuff by Randy Frost and Gail Steketee:
“Many collectors think of their collections as a legacy to pass on to their heirs or even the world. Some, especially art collectors and collectors of historical artifacts, donate their collections to museums or create their own museums for posterity … Thus a collection offers the potential for immortality.”
Have you ever thought about keeping an item, like a wedding dress, to give to your daughter one day? (Even though you don’t have a daughter or your daughter isn’t the same size as you are or the current style is nothing like it was in 1975 when you were married or your daughter doesn’t have plans to ever be married?) Are you keeping other mementos, not because you’re enjoying them, but because you want there to be proof of your life? Do you equate your stuff as being an extension of you?
A good question to ask yourself is if the people in your life will actually value the items you’re collecting, or if your things will create a burden for them. Boxes and boxes of mementos in a basement covered with dust will most likely look like trash to others instead of a valued collection. If you truly value something, it should be honored in a way that conveys that respect to others.
Do you keep clutter or extraneous possessions because of a desire to live on through your things? Is simply being aware of TMT helpful for you to keep in mind when sorting through your objects to decide what to keep and what to purge? Or, do you think the whole theory is bogus?
Clutter-Busting Secrets of the Pros
"Edit" Your Rooms
Start in the upper left-hand corner of one wall and start "reading" from left to right and from top to bottom. "The room is a book, a dresser is a chapter, each drawer is a paragraph, the boxes or trays or Ziploc bags in the drawers are the sentences, and the things in the containers are the words," says Alice Winner, an organizing consultant in Hummelstown, Pennsylvania. "Get rid of the extra words―things―that are making your life more complicated and unmanageable."
Toss-It Tips
Any time you feel your attention straying to another part of the room or house, take a break or simply repeat, "Left to right, left to right."
Resist the urge to skip "chapters." If you jump around the room, dealing with a pile here and a pile there, the room might still look cluttered after a three-hour session.
Find a motivator for your work. Tack up an image from a magazine or book of a room you'd like to emulate.
Why It Works
It's difficult to determine the best place to plunge into an organizing project. This eliminates that problem: Just go straight to the upper left-hand corner of one wall. It also curtails aimlessness, because you always know what to tackle next.
You provide yourself with a prototype as you go. Say you're editing your filing cabinets, and you feel your focus flagging as you encounter another overstuffed folder labeled "Miscellaneous." Look at the drawer you've just completed for a visual reminder of what all the drawers will look like when you're done.
Organize Your Desk in 8 Steps
1. Remove everything from your desk. Place your phone on your left if you're right handed and on the right if you're left handed. Display personal items elsewhere.
2. Keep a spiral notebook by the phone for messages and phone notes. Write your voice mail messages in it and delete them from the system. Jot down reference notes before you make a call to reduce phone time.
3. Open your planner or turn on your PDA and place it on your desk. Use it to keep track of to-dos, follow-ups and ideas.
4. Keep office supplies in one drawer only. Buy a dozen of your favorite, inexpensive pens and keep them in a cutlery tray in the drawer. Keep back-up supplies in a plastic storage container with drawers
.
5. Sort through your desk files. Keep in your desk drawers only files you use weekly or those that are personal or confidential.
6. Place your computer at a 90 degree angle to your desk. Keep your desk work surface clear of everything except essentials and your current project.
7. Set up a system for active files either in a step file sorter on your desk or in your file drawer. Sort your paperwork into it: Do, Consider, Awaiting Answer, File, Hold, Read and Refer.
8. Take ten minutes at the end of each day to keep your desk organized. Place tomorrow's top priority project in the center of your desk. You're ready for anything!
Featured in the March 2011 issue of O Magazine.
Toss it if....
...1. You have twice as many as you need.
2. It's a gift you don't love.
3. It's not worth repairing.
4. Your gut says lose it.
5. You don't know what it is.
Keep it if...
1. It's Sentimental Gold.
2. It fits your life today.
3. You think it's gorgeous.
4. You'd buy it again.
5. You'll find a place for it.
I have noticed one little problem though, the rooms are so small that when anyone makes a normal mess it seems so much worse! There is no room for a mess and still get around.
To fix this problem… I got out my trusty timer and put myself up to a challenge. I gave myself 15 minutes. I had to pick up put items back in their designated “home.” Fifteen minutes is just about long enough to get the whole room picked up if I do it without dragging my feet. That is where the treat comes in. Nothing wrong with a little bribery, I mean motivation!
This works for kids too. Using a timer will help you stay on task for a specified amount of time. Take 5, 10 or 15 minutes and do a sweep through the house putting away out of place items. Pick a time each day to do this and you will be one step closer to taming the clutter monster.
My current ptoject is to get the computer, craft, music room under control. Since we just moved in two months ago 90% of the entire house is in order… But because of the out of placve room, the order of things get out of hand if I slack even one day. Even an organizer & organized person has to work at keeping things in order.
One of the reasons mental health professionals and social psychologists believe people struggle with clutter is because humans are always trying to be immortal. This explanation is referred to as terror management theory (TMT), and is certainly one of the reasons I struggle with parting with some of my clutter.
From the book Stuff by Randy Frost and Gail Steketee:
“Many collectors think of their collections as a legacy to pass on to their heirs or even the world. Some, especially art collectors and collectors of historical artifacts, donate their collections to museums or create their own museums for posterity … Thus a collection offers the potential for immortality.”
Have you ever thought about keeping an item, like a wedding dress, to give to your daughter one day? (Even though you don’t have a daughter or your daughter isn’t the same size as you are or the current style is nothing like it was in 1975 when you were married or your daughter doesn’t have plans to ever be married?) Are you keeping other mementos, not because you’re enjoying them, but because you want there to be proof of your life? Do you equate your stuff as being an extension of you?
A good question to ask yourself is if the people in your life will actually value the items you’re collecting, or if your things will create a burden for them. Boxes and boxes of mementos in a basement covered with dust will most likely look like trash to others instead of a valued collection. If you truly value something, it should be honored in a way that conveys that respect to others.
Do you keep clutter or extraneous possessions because of a desire to live on through your things? Is simply being aware of TMT helpful for you to keep in mind when sorting through your objects to decide what to keep and what to purge? Or, do you think the whole theory is bogus?
Clutter-Busting Secrets of the Pros
"Edit" Your Rooms
Start in the upper left-hand corner of one wall and start "reading" from left to right and from top to bottom. "The room is a book, a dresser is a chapter, each drawer is a paragraph, the boxes or trays or Ziploc bags in the drawers are the sentences, and the things in the containers are the words," says Alice Winner, an organizing consultant in Hummelstown, Pennsylvania. "Get rid of the extra words―things―that are making your life more complicated and unmanageable."
Toss-It Tips
Any time you feel your attention straying to another part of the room or house, take a break or simply repeat, "Left to right, left to right."
Resist the urge to skip "chapters." If you jump around the room, dealing with a pile here and a pile there, the room might still look cluttered after a three-hour session.
Find a motivator for your work. Tack up an image from a magazine or book of a room you'd like to emulate.
Why It Works
It's difficult to determine the best place to plunge into an organizing project. This eliminates that problem: Just go straight to the upper left-hand corner of one wall. It also curtails aimlessness, because you always know what to tackle next.
You provide yourself with a prototype as you go. Say you're editing your filing cabinets, and you feel your focus flagging as you encounter another overstuffed folder labeled "Miscellaneous." Look at the drawer you've just completed for a visual reminder of what all the drawers will look like when you're done.
1. Remove everything from your desk. Place your phone on your left if you're right handed and on the right if you're left handed. Display personal items elsewhere.
2. Keep a spiral notebook by the phone for messages and phone notes. Write your voice mail messages in it and delete them from the system. Jot down reference notes before you make a call to reduce phone time.
3. Open your planner or turn on your PDA and place it on your desk. Use it to keep track of to-dos, follow-ups and ideas.
4. Keep office supplies in one drawer only. Buy a dozen of your favorite, inexpensive pens and keep them in a cutlery tray in the drawer. Keep back-up supplies in a plastic storage container with drawers
.
5. Sort through your desk files. Keep in your desk drawers only files you use weekly or those that are personal or confidential.
6. Place your computer at a 90 degree angle to your desk. Keep your desk work surface clear of everything except essentials and your current project.
7. Set up a system for active files either in a step file sorter on your desk or in your file drawer. Sort your paperwork into it: Do, Consider, Awaiting Answer, File, Hold, Read and Refer.
8. Take ten minutes at the end of each day to keep your desk organized. Place tomorrow's top priority project in the center of your desk. You're ready for anything!
Featured in the March 2011 issue of O Magazine.
Toss it if....
...1. You have twice as many as you need.
2. It's a gift you don't love.
3. It's not worth repairing.
4. Your gut says lose it.
5. You don't know what it is.
Keep it if...
1. It's Sentimental Gold.
2. It fits your life today.
3. You think it's gorgeous.
4. You'd buy it again.
5. You'll find a place for it.
Not-So-Ordinary Organization!
June 28th, 2011 by Natalie Conrad
I am posting today. Below, for your visual enjoyment, some not-so-ordinary ideas for organizing things. May it help you to think outside your box!
Remember those soda can holders for the frig?
See through cosmetic bags can organize all the small stuff!
Perfect for bedside reading!
Finally.. a use for those hangers from the dry cleaners!
Old credit cards never die!
Easy solution for those cords that slip behind the desk!
Hang some planter baskets for toys & books!
JOIN MY TEAM AS A CLEVER CONTAINER CONSULTANT!
Earn extra monthly income!
It's easy to get started.
No inventory needed.
It's easy to get started.
No inventory needed.
Your starter kit is all you need!
It's a fun business that enables
you to work your own hours,
as often as you want to!
It's a fun business that enables
you to work your own hours,
as often as you want to!
No deliveries
(all orders are delivered directly to the home of the party/event hostess!)
It's a business high in demand
(all orders are delivered directly to the home of the party/event hostess!)
It's a business high in demand
(since clutter is an issue for ALL
homes and offices, storage solutions &;
organizing products are popular now!)
organizing products are popular now!)
Free tele-training to get you started.
Immediate payment (you pay yourself the night of every party!)
Approx 25% commissions earned (sometimes higher!).
Collect royalty payments on team-members,
so join and start building your team today!!!
so join and start building your team today!!!
As our Clever Family grows, we are still looking for dedicated and motivated consultants to join our team. Please email me at : northwesttealady@aol.com to be a part of this new and exciting ground level opportunity. "Discover the Clever Entrepreneur in You!"
Random Thoughts..................
"Out of clutter, find simplicity. Out of discord, find harmony. In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity."
- Albert Einstein
- Albert Einstein
What Clever Container Has to Offer
Consultant Opportunity
Clever Container is a home party business that combines organizational products with time saving tips and ideas to help you stop procrastinating, de-clutter, and find more time in your life! Who could want more?
There are so many reasons to take a closer look at joining our company! Here are just a few:
• NO INVENTORY
Your starter kit is all you need.
Your starter kit is all you need.
• NO DELIVERIES
Orders are delivered directly to the home of the hostess.
Orders are delivered directly to the home of the hostess.
• PAY YOURSELF THE NIGHT OF YOUR PARTY
Enjoy an instant paycheck. You do not have to wait until the end of the month to get paid.
Enjoy an instant paycheck. You do not have to wait until the end of the month to get paid.
• BUSINESS IS IN DEMAND
Organization and De-cluttering is a top priority for 90% of Americans and a $4.36 billion industry per year.
Organization and De-cluttering is a top priority for 90% of Americans and a $4.36 billion industry per year.
• GROUND FLOOR OPPORTUNITY
With only a handful of consultants across the country, there is still PLENTY of room for YOU! This is truly an opportunity to build a successful business which provides income for you and your family for years to come.
With only a handful of consultants across the country, there is still PLENTY of room for YOU! This is truly an opportunity to build a successful business which provides income for you and your family for years to come.
• LOW QUARTERLY MINIMUMS
$300 a quarter is all you need to sell to maintain your incentives, royalties, and downline.
$300 a quarter is all you need to sell to maintain your incentives, royalties, and downline.
• FLEXIBLE HOURS
You decide when YOU want to work.
You decide when YOU want to work.
• LOW START UP INVESTMENT
For only $199 plus tax, plus $25 shipping, you will receive $350 worth of products and business supplies.
For only $199 plus tax, plus $25 shipping, you will receive $350 worth of products and business supplies.
• FREE HOSTESS REWARDS
You do not have to pay for hostess gifts. Our hostesses receive free and half-priced items for qualified parties, all paid for by our Company.
You do not have to pay for hostess gifts. Our hostesses receive free and half-priced items for qualified parties, all paid for by our Company.
• FREE TRAINING
Our National Sales Director personally offers individual coaching and
e-newsletters. Her team offers a Ning group and monthly meetings.
Our National Sales Director personally offers individual coaching and
e-newsletters. Her team offers a Ning group and monthly meetings.
• NO TERRITORIES
You can sell anywhere in the United States. Build your business where you choose.
You can sell anywhere in the United States. Build your business where you choose.
• INCENTIVES, PRIZES AND FREE VACATIONS!
Many fabulous opportunities await you!
Many fabulous opportunities await you!
Look @ What Clever Container has to Offer !!!
Call me & Let's talk organization !!!
Jenelle 509.406.9195
8.20.2011
30 Day Clear Your Clutter Challenge
Imagine the weight
that will be lifted from your shoulders,
your closets and…
...maybe even your thighs!!
But don’t take my word for it!
1. Clean up the utensil drawer by moving the four or five things you reach for most often to a countertop canister or crock. Take stock of what's left and toss anything superfluous. You'll be pleased when you can slide the drawer open and closed without it jamming.
2. Sort craft supplies into piles of like items—glue and tape together, ribbons and bows—then stash it all in clear plastic bins, says Stephanie Vozza, author of Five Minute Mom's Club (Franklin Green). Stack bins, whether on the top shelf of a linen closet or on an office bookcase. The next time you need a pair of scissors, you'll be able to locate them in seconds. If your boxes aren't clear, label them.
3. Pull cleaning supplies from under the kitchen sink and create space for them in the room they're used in, suggests Vozza. Move shower and toilet cleaners to a bathroom cabinet, the stain stick to a shelf in the laundry room, and wood polish to a dining room cupboard. The benefits are twofold: You'll have more room in your kitchen cabinet, and cleaning products will be close at hand.
4. Clear out visual clutter in the family room: Pull your DVDs off the bookshelves and arrange them in sleek, stackable cases. Either put the boxes back on the shelves—they'll look infinitely neater—or stack them next to the DVD player for easy access.2. Sort craft supplies into piles of like items—glue and tape together, ribbons and bows—then stash it all in clear plastic bins, says Stephanie Vozza, author of Five Minute Mom's Club (Franklin Green). Stack bins, whether on the top shelf of a linen closet or on an office bookcase. The next time you need a pair of scissors, you'll be able to locate them in seconds. If your boxes aren't clear, label them.
3. Pull cleaning supplies from under the kitchen sink and create space for them in the room they're used in, suggests Vozza. Move shower and toilet cleaners to a bathroom cabinet, the stain stick to a shelf in the laundry room, and wood polish to a dining room cupboard. The benefits are twofold: You'll have more room in your kitchen cabinet, and cleaning products will be close at hand.
5. Put an end to cord chaos once and for all. The BlueLounge Cable Box (bluelounge.com, $30) holds even the biggest power strips—plus, it has room for adapters and extra-long cables. Simply drop everything into the container and close the lid.
6. Keep a stash of 10 or so trash bags in the bottom of the kitchen garbage can. After taking out the trash, just grab a fresh bag.
7. Hang a small shoe organizer on the back of your pantry or kitchen cabinet door, suggests Donna Smallin, author of The One-Minute Organizer (Storey). Use it to store measuring spoons and other items that go missing in the back of drawers
8. Outfit the wall next to the back door with a series of hooks hung at different heights for holding stuff your kids would otherwise dump on the floor—like jackets and scarves. 3M Command self- adhesive hooks (amazon.com) come in a variety of finishes and can be pulled down without damaging paint, says Smallin.
9. To keep a few extra towels tidy, fold in half lengthwise and arrange on a floating shelf above the bathroom door frame. Or, if you have the space, neatly arrange rolled-up towels in the vanity or in an oversize basket on the floor.
10.Don't let your shower be taken over by half-empty bottles. "It should be a peaceful place, not a shampoo graveyard," says organizing expert Jill Pollack (jillpollack.net). SimpleHuman's Adjustable Shower Caddy has shelves that slide up and down to accommodate extra-tall bottles, and a rubberized clamp and pivoting suction cup to ensure a secure fit.
11. Leave a woven or canvas hamper on the floor by the door in the entryway so you can toss junk mail as soon as it arrives, offers Stephanie Goldberg Glazer of yourpersonalmanager.com. And follow tips numbers 18 to 21 to stop junk mail at the source.
12. Create a place for storing your kids' special essays or A+ tests before they land in the trash. Medium Flat Rate USPS boxes (free) are the right size and fit neatly in an out-of-the-way cabinet, like one high above the fridge. At the end of the school year, label each, seal, and stack on a basement shelf. "School papers either go in the box or the recycling bin," says Dawn Billesbach of menufortheweek.com, "so I never have to shuffle through stacks of papers."
13. If your kids are in the habit of scattering things all over the house, designate a common spot to stockpile items like MP3 players and textbooks. Laura Brady Saade of giveme10.info leaves "goes back to your bedroom" baskets at the bottom of the stairs. Before the kids are allowed to watch TV or surf the Web at night, their containers need to be emptied and everything put away.
14. Give your wardrobe room to breathe by using ultra-thin hangers that have a velvety coating—it keeps silky shirts, satin-lined blazers, and super-thin strapped dresses from sliding off.
15. Move your various types of flours, sugars, and other baking ingredients from the boxes or bags they come in into clear, stackable airtight canisters, says Target style expert for home and HGTV designer Sabrina Soto (sabrinasoto.com). The goods will be more accessible, less likely to spill, and stay fresh longer if they're neatly stacked.
16. Reduce clutter in the linen closet by keeping a maximum of three sets of sheets per bed. This way you can have one in use, one in the laundry, and one on the shelf. To store sets neatly, says Stacey Platt, author of What's a Disorganized Person to Do? (Artisan), put the flat and fitted sheets and one pillowcase folded inside the second pillowcase. These stackable bundles are easy to find and grab when needed.
17. Don't hide your kids' clothes hamper in the closet; move it to a user-friendly location like the bathroom. Try an open-top version, and, if your kids are sports-minded, Platt suggests installing a basketball hoop on top "so they might feel inspired to aim, shoot, and score."
18. Instead of waiting for your household bills to land in your e-mail inbox and then logging into a bunch of different sites (credit card company, electric company, and so on), Smallin suggests managing all your accounts with Doxo (doxo.com). The free Web service lets you receive, pay, and electronically file all your bills in one place.
19. Stop unwanted catalogs from flooding your mailbox. Register with CatalogChoice (catalogchoice.org)—it's free!—then search for the companies that inundate you most frequently. The site provides all the information you need to opt-out of mailings as well as the customer service phone numbers—which are often hard to locate.
20. Put an end to unsolicited credit card mail offers. Sign on at optoutprescreen.com and your name won't be shared with credit card or insurance companies for five years. As an added bonus, says Goldberg Glazer, there will be less of your personal information floating around.
21. Stop the flood of coupon mailers, magazine offers, insurance promos, sweepstakes entries, and more. For about 70 cents a month, the nonprofit 41pounds.org will keep all of your family members' names off of consumer mailing lists for five years.
10.Don't let your shower be taken over by half-empty bottles. "It should be a peaceful place, not a shampoo graveyard," says organizing expert Jill Pollack (jillpollack.net). SimpleHuman's Adjustable Shower Caddy has shelves that slide up and down to accommodate extra-tall bottles, and a rubberized clamp and pivoting suction cup to ensure a secure fit.
11. Leave a woven or canvas hamper on the floor by the door in the entryway so you can toss junk mail as soon as it arrives, offers Stephanie Goldberg Glazer of yourpersonalmanager.com. And follow tips numbers 18 to 21 to stop junk mail at the source.
12. Create a place for storing your kids' special essays or A+ tests before they land in the trash. Medium Flat Rate USPS boxes (free) are the right size and fit neatly in an out-of-the-way cabinet, like one high above the fridge. At the end of the school year, label each, seal, and stack on a basement shelf. "School papers either go in the box or the recycling bin," says Dawn Billesbach of menufortheweek.com, "so I never have to shuffle through stacks of papers."
13. If your kids are in the habit of scattering things all over the house, designate a common spot to stockpile items like MP3 players and textbooks. Laura Brady Saade of giveme10.info leaves "goes back to your bedroom" baskets at the bottom of the stairs. Before the kids are allowed to watch TV or surf the Web at night, their containers need to be emptied and everything put away.
14. Give your wardrobe room to breathe by using ultra-thin hangers that have a velvety coating—it keeps silky shirts, satin-lined blazers, and super-thin strapped dresses from sliding off.
15. Move your various types of flours, sugars, and other baking ingredients from the boxes or bags they come in into clear, stackable airtight canisters, says Target style expert for home and HGTV designer Sabrina Soto (sabrinasoto.com). The goods will be more accessible, less likely to spill, and stay fresh longer if they're neatly stacked.
16. Reduce clutter in the linen closet by keeping a maximum of three sets of sheets per bed. This way you can have one in use, one in the laundry, and one on the shelf. To store sets neatly, says Stacey Platt, author of What's a Disorganized Person to Do? (Artisan), put the flat and fitted sheets and one pillowcase folded inside the second pillowcase. These stackable bundles are easy to find and grab when needed.
17. Don't hide your kids' clothes hamper in the closet; move it to a user-friendly location like the bathroom. Try an open-top version, and, if your kids are sports-minded, Platt suggests installing a basketball hoop on top "so they might feel inspired to aim, shoot, and score."
18. Instead of waiting for your household bills to land in your e-mail inbox and then logging into a bunch of different sites (credit card company, electric company, and so on), Smallin suggests managing all your accounts with Doxo (doxo.com). The free Web service lets you receive, pay, and electronically file all your bills in one place.
19. Stop unwanted catalogs from flooding your mailbox. Register with CatalogChoice (catalogchoice.org)—it's free!—then search for the companies that inundate you most frequently. The site provides all the information you need to opt-out of mailings as well as the customer service phone numbers—which are often hard to locate.
20. Put an end to unsolicited credit card mail offers. Sign on at optoutprescreen.com and your name won't be shared with credit card or insurance companies for five years. As an added bonus, says Goldberg Glazer, there will be less of your personal information floating around.
21. Stop the flood of coupon mailers, magazine offers, insurance promos, sweepstakes entries, and more. For about 70 cents a month, the nonprofit 41pounds.org will keep all of your family members' names off of consumer mailing lists for five years.
22. Prevent "my house is a mess" stress when unexpected guests drop in. Keep an empty container with a lid in every room for quick cleanups. Try a handsome storage ottoman in the living room, a covered basket in the kitchen, and under-the-bed bins in the kids' rooms.
23. Make your mornings more efficient by carving out an area on the counter for breakfast things, suggests Platt. Keep appliances—blender, coffee pot, toaster—clustered in one spot and beside them a basket of coffee-making essentials, like beans, grinder, and sweeteners.
24. No more digging through a bottomless makeup bag: You'll be able to find what you need in a flash if you sort everything into an upright silverware caddy, says Vozza. Put eye pencils in one compartment, lipstick in another, and so on.
25. Weed through holiday decor—a big space guzzler. Toss discolored and half-used candles along with any broken ornaments or mismatched tableware and linens. Donate what you haven't bothered to use in years. (If you don't like it now, you won't miss it!) Divide the remaining decorations among boxes or stackable plastic bins by season.
26. Designate a few bins in the garage for unwanted clothes and items. Lorie Marrero, author of The Clutter Diet (Reason Press), suggests stocking the area with shopping bags for bringing the castoffs to Goodwill. Find the value of your donation for tax purposes at itsdeductible.com.
27. Corral your family's most frequently used information in a binder. Stored in a central location like a kitchen cabinet, it should be the go-to place for phone numbers and addresses, as well as school flyers, sports schedules, home maintenance records, and other easy-to-forget household data.
28. Reorganize your refrigerator: Group like items in transportable containers, suggests Marrero. For example, put the mayo, pickles, and luncheon meat in one bin, salad dressings in another. Try a small lazy Susan in the back of the fridge for hard-to-find condiments.
29. Running out of kitchen drawer space? Stop hoarding plastic supermarket and takeout containers. Unless you regularly put them to good use for leftovers or school lunches, recycle whatever you can and toss the rest. Platt suggests investing in a new set. Get square containers, which take up less space than round, and buy only two sizes, so you don't have to choose from a mess of similarly sized lids.
23. Make your mornings more efficient by carving out an area on the counter for breakfast things, suggests Platt. Keep appliances—blender, coffee pot, toaster—clustered in one spot and beside them a basket of coffee-making essentials, like beans, grinder, and sweeteners.
24. No more digging through a bottomless makeup bag: You'll be able to find what you need in a flash if you sort everything into an upright silverware caddy, says Vozza. Put eye pencils in one compartment, lipstick in another, and so on.
25. Weed through holiday decor—a big space guzzler. Toss discolored and half-used candles along with any broken ornaments or mismatched tableware and linens. Donate what you haven't bothered to use in years. (If you don't like it now, you won't miss it!) Divide the remaining decorations among boxes or stackable plastic bins by season.
26. Designate a few bins in the garage for unwanted clothes and items. Lorie Marrero, author of The Clutter Diet (Reason Press), suggests stocking the area with shopping bags for bringing the castoffs to Goodwill. Find the value of your donation for tax purposes at itsdeductible.com.
27. Corral your family's most frequently used information in a binder. Stored in a central location like a kitchen cabinet, it should be the go-to place for phone numbers and addresses, as well as school flyers, sports schedules, home maintenance records, and other easy-to-forget household data.
28. Reorganize your refrigerator: Group like items in transportable containers, suggests Marrero. For example, put the mayo, pickles, and luncheon meat in one bin, salad dressings in another. Try a small lazy Susan in the back of the fridge for hard-to-find condiments.
29. Running out of kitchen drawer space? Stop hoarding plastic supermarket and takeout containers. Unless you regularly put them to good use for leftovers or school lunches, recycle whatever you can and toss the rest. Platt suggests investing in a new set. Get square containers, which take up less space than round, and buy only two sizes, so you don't have to choose from a mess of similarly sized lids.
30. Don't let bulk purchases eat up precious cabinet space. Instead of cramming 12 bottles of water under the kitchen sink, establish a Sam's Shelf or a Costco Corner in your garage or pantry for "back stock," suggests Marrero. Keep only a working supply on hand—five cans of soup instead of a case.
Originally published in the February 2011 issue of Family Circle magazine.
Originally published in the February 2011 issue of Family Circle magazine.
30 Day Photo Challenge
So start off by making a photo album and naming it "The 30 Day Photo Challenge" It's all about being creative everyone! I came across this on Facebook. Then I got to thinking, why cant we take a 30 Day Challenge for ourselves? For the photo challenge it says: Day 01 - A picture of yourself with ten facts Day 02 - A picture of you and the person you have been closest with the longest Day 03 - A picture of the cast from your favorite show Day 04 - A picture of your night Day 05 - A picture of your favorite memory Day 06 - A picture of a person you'd love to trade places with for a day Day 07 - A picture of your most treasured item Day 08 - A picture that makes you laugh Day 09 - A picture of the person who has gotten you through the most Day 10 - A picture of the person you do the most ****** up things with Day 11 - A picture of something you hate Day 12 - A picture of something you love Day 13 - A picture of your favorite band or artist Day 14 - A picture of someone you could never imagine your life without Day 15 - A picture of something you want to do before you die Day 16 - A picture of someone who inspires you Day 17 - A picture of something that has made a huge impact on your life recently Day 18 - A picture of your biggest insecurity Day 19 - A picture and a letter Day 20 - A picture of somewhere you'd love to travel Day 21 - A picture of something you wish you could forget Day 22 - A picture of something you wish you were better at Day 23 - A picture of your favorite book Day 24 - A picture of something you wish you could change Day 25 - A picture of your day Day 26 - A picture of something that means a lot to you Day 27 - A picture of yourself and a family member Day 28 - A picture of something you're afraid of Day 29 - A picture that can always make you smile Day 30 - A picture of someone you miss Day 31 - A picture of yourself | |
you can start this any day, any time, anywhere.
Now.....
How about a 30 Day Clear Your Clutter Challenge ?
8.19.2011
Time-Saving Ideas
I love collecting time-saving tips.
*collected from other sites/blogs/articles....
Use of Time
- Get up 1 hour earlier than the kids. This was how I survived, too. It wasn’t always easy, but SO worth it.
- Use time when folding laundry or washing dishes to interact with kids – games, read, etc.
- Up early with husband before kids are up.
- Schedule appointments, shopping, etc. early in morning.
- Don’t say yes before talking to husband.
- Limit movies, TV, socializing on computer.
- Recognize “me time” as an idol.
- Get up before family, pray on way to gym, grocery stop, kids up. (This idea came from Leanne, who won the random book drawing. Congratulations, Leanne! You’ll be getting an email from us.)
- Take time for a nap. Will be more rested, more productive, less irritable
- Empty or load dishwasher while overseeing slow eater .
- Make few evening and weekend plans. Involves less time preparing to leave, more time at home together.
- Schedule!
- Older children care for younger while mom plans.
- Follow a written schedule.
- Make a plan at the beginning of the day to help you stay focused. I have also found that planning at night for the next day helps me. I know what I didn’t get done during the day, what needs to still be done, and I get up the next morning with a battle plan already drawn up. All I have to do is follow it!
- Prioritize. Stop for children’s needs. It’s easy to let a to-do list become more important than the people we are serving!
- To-do list to check off.
- Morning list and lists for each portion of day.
- Workouts in a.m.
- On Sunday evening, review the upcoming week, email husband events and calendar for week. This is a GREAT idea! I would probably try to do this on Saturday night.
- Breastfeed. Saves time, and gives Mom some down time!
- Get enough sleep. Even if it means getting a nap when the kids nap.
- Analyze and streamline. Eliminate tension-creators.
- Try to follow fairly consistent scheduling.
- Don’t procrastinate. You’ll eventually have to do it anyway. Get the job done right away.
- Do 2 things at once – memorize verses while kneading bread, etc.
- Take kids for a Once-a-Month Retreat Day at grandparents. Gives Mom a break.
- Whiteboard in kitchen for recording upcoming events, prayer requests.
- Do it. Don’t spend too much time planning and scheduling. It’s easy to spend a lot of time writing up elaborate plans that aren’t always all that necessary and that just keep us from getting started.
- Listen on iPad while working.
- Bible app on phone.
- CDs in car.
- Post Bible verses in bathroom.
- Read books/magazines while waiting for children’s activities – save time at home for Bible study.
- Listen to Bible teaching while folding laundry.
- Address discipline issues as they arise.
- Train children early to behave properly.
- Take books, flash cards, vocabulary cards to use while waiting at dentist, etc.
- Double recipe and freeze extra for future use.
- Pre-soak utensils.
- Meal plan for month. Shop for at least the "always used items" once a month...then bi-weekly for fresh/extras/etc.
- Use the crockpot. Especially on days when you are going to have to be away from home. Or start something the night before if you need to take a meal with you the next day.
- Cook ground meat ahead.
- Cook chicken breasts ahead in crockpot and freeze.
- Know at least one of your fastest meals and keep all its ingredients on hand.
- Keep a well-stocked pantry with building blocks for simple meals.
- Bag up dry ingredients for baked recipes.
- Prepare as much of breakfast as possible the night before.
- Prepare snack-size baggies of crackers, fruit, cut veggies.
- A menu plan allows a spouse to be more easily involved in shopping/cooking.
- Do food prep ahead – grated cheese, cut up veggies, etc.
- Store foods and supplies where they will be used – i.e. coffee, filters, etc. by the coffee pot. A baking area where your mixer is. Knives, cutting board where you do prep work. Pot holders by the stove.
- Start dinner in the morning.
- Package dry ingredients ahead – baking, seasonings, etc.
- Start breakfast in crockpot the night before.
- “Clean out the refrigerator” for dinner once a week. Homemade soups are a great way to use up miscellaneous leftovers in the fridge.
- Buy a month’s worth of groceries to save trips.
- Always shop with a list.
- Shop online and from food co-op.
- Organize shopping list according to store layout to save backtracking.
- Master laminated shopping list – separate for different stores.
- Master shopping list on refrigerator. Take with you when you head for the store.
- Keep a list of family members’ current sizes and needs of clothing. Refer to at garage sales and stores.
- Buy all but perishables in one shopping trip.
- Buy in bulk. You won’t run out so often and shopping time is shorter because there is less to buy. If you have the storage space, this is kind of like having your own little store! When the flour bin in the kitchen is empty, you can go to your bulk storage and replenish. This has really helped minimize the times when I am in the middle of a recipe and find out I am out of an important ingredient.
- Stockpile when items are on sale. This saves money in the long run!
- Use a magnetic pad on fridge for noting items that are getting low.
- Separate lists on fridge for individual stores – grocery, warehouse, general.
- Keep master list on computer. Highlight in red items needed
- Clip coupons will husband drives.
- Organize errand day to be most efficient.
- Plan menu and shopping list on day when shopping flyer comes out.
- Errands all on one day. Take snacks and water.
- Delegate!
- Train children to help when they are young.
- Train children to do chores – work with them, laminated checklist.
- Give “portions to your handmaidens” in morning – get washer, crockpot, dishwasher, etc. busy working for you. Your appliances are your servants! Keep them busy, and you’ll have more time for people.
- Use Maxwells’ chorepacks. http://www.titus2.com/chores/chorepack-faq.html
- Set up 36 folders. File copies, workbook pages, plans ahead for each week.
- Presort as clothes get dirty.
- Use mesh bags for each person’s white socks. Wash and dry in bags. No need to sort! I like this one! Another one I wish I had known about a LONG time ago!
- Organize clothes as you hang them.
- Do laundry together for all the people in one room. Makes sorting easier.
- Hang shirts out of dryer.
- Store undies under sink for easy access after baths.
- Iron all in one day while kids are napping.
- Wash each kid’s clothes separately – saves sorting.
- Kids put away clean clothes.
- Mattress protection pad under sheets on toddler bed.
- Hang clothes on the line on their hangers. Great idea!
- Put together outfits ahead for kids to grab.
- Fabric hanging shelves – label by day, put complete outfit in each cubby hole.
- Do 1 load of laundry 5 days a week.
- Clean bathroom while child bathes (sweep before kids come in).
- Finish one room before moving on to another. Use a basket to gather things that go somewhere else. Disperse all at once when finished cleaning.
- Dishes all done before going to bed.
- Kitchen clean before going to bed
- Use Swiffer duster and Clorox wipes.
- Coffee filter in bottom of potty – poo dumps out easily and bottom of potty stays relatively clean! Love it!
- Read and follow “31 Days to Clean.” Another of my favorites for bringing the house into order is “The House That Cleans Itself,” by Mindy Starns Clark.
- Sweep while daughter eats in high chair – saves time, and food doesn’t have time to dry onto floor.
- Try to exercise most days. Leads to more energy.
- Exercise while child bathes.
- Walk with friends to combine exercise and socializing. The accountability also helps you and your friends keep up the walking.
- Read newspaper standing. You will be more apt to only read the essentials.
- Scan documents into computer files instead of paper files
- Carry notebook or use whiteboard to write down tasks, research topics, etc.
- Handle mail once.
- Tear articles out of magazines to read or to file.
- Large wall pocket chart for 8-1/2 x 11 sheets for sorting papers.
- Email/text answers to phone messages to schedule time.
- Paperwork during kids’ classes.
- Use cell phone – no sales calls, on silent to avoid interruptions, respond to voice mail with email or text.
- Return phone calls while on a walk.
- Cook while returning phone calls.
- Keep email always accessible. Use a shortcut in browser window.
- Set timer to limit time spent at computer.
- Keep running list of needs on computer. Go to computer once or twice a day and refer to list. I think I’ll try this one. It’s so easy to run to the computer to look for something, and then get distracted with a dozen other sites and emails.
- Get up early for computer time, and leave computer alone once everyone is awake.
- Read facebook and email while standing.
- Save facebook and computer time for when kids are in bed.
- Separate email for shopping/retailers. Another email address for correspondence. I really need to do this!
- Limit Facebook to once a day or 2 x per week.
- Follow blogs with Google reader.
- Use a Facebook account without personal info for coupons from companies, and don’t have a regular account.
- Organize favorites into folders for easy access.
Sunday
- Prepare on Saturday
- Keep a basket for items to be returned/delivered to other people/places.
- Get rid of things not used.
- Organize what you use.
- Keep an inventory system with numbered boxes and lists of what is in each box.
- Try to stay on top of maintaining rather than letting things get bad. This saves you from major time-consuming overhauls of the house, and also saves time because you’re not wading through a mess, looking for things all the time, or demoralized by the mess.
- Put things away in right places. This saves everyone time, especially the next person that needs the item!
- Organize buckets for specific activities/events (swimming, picnics, baseball, coloring, etc.)
- Store library books on separate shelf.
- Remember that less is best.
- Invite group of friends to your home all at once.
Travel
- Keep potty chair in car trunk.
- Keep wipes in car.
- Set clothes, etc. out the night before.
- Diaper bag, load van night before.
- Clean house before leaving on trip. Come home to a clean house!
- Plan errands for efficiency.
*Thanks Pam http://www.doorposts.com/blog/
Friday Favorite: Super File Solutions
Friday Favorite: Super File Solutions
The end of summer is a great time to think about having your office organized and ready for the fall. For all you folks who can’t fit ALL you want to say on a file folder label, there is a new file folder by Smead called the SuperTab and it’s super cool. There is up to 90% more label space on the SuperTab file! You can see by the photo where they’ve added the space—why didn’t somebody think of this sooner! The tab sticks up a little higher, but you can still fit regular size paper and it will still fit in all standard file drawers. Now if you’re file drawers are stuffed full and files are already sticking up, you are going to need to clear out some space. You may want to consider adding box-bottom hanging files to fit more papers with less files. The space on the SuperTab file is so big, I use my Dymo LabelWriter to create address labels and crank out files with all kinds of headings. Given that my eyesight has gotten bad lately, I also love that I can use my Dymo file folder labels and just make the font extra large so I can see the labels without my glasses! If you have a terrific tip for organizing your office, Dymo is running a contest and you could win a free labeler! Here are the details: To enter: email your tip to: info@getbuttonedup.com Subject line: Dymo OR Go to their Facebook page and post a tip on the wall www.facebook.com/getbuttonedup. Happy filing!Getting a Habit to Stick
Being organized boils down to the series of good habits we incorporate into our day. The rituals we go through each and every day inevitably become the habits we acquire. Getting organized requires creating and maintaining good habits to keep systems in place. For example, do you rush out of your office at the end of each day and leave it in chaos? Creating a habit of cleaning off the surface of your desk can not only help you feel more organized, but it will also increase your productivity. Here are a few steps to follow when you’re ready to make a change:- Start Small: Work on one habit at a time. Putting too much on your list will only sabotage your hopes of making it happen.
- Write it Down: Write down the good habit you plan to acquire and put it somewhere you can see as a reminder of your intention.
- Be Accountable: Having an accountability partner always helps to ensure success. Schedule set times to check in and confirm your progress.
- Have Urge-Defeating Strategies in Place: Try the “Only Two-Minute Rule.” When you’re rushing out of the office, commit to spending two minutes on straightening up. You’ll be amazed how much can get done with two minutes of clear, focused time.
- Give it 30 Days: Experts are firm in the fact that it takes at least 30 times of consciously repeating the task in order to even start acquiring a new habit.
- If You Stumble, Don’t Quit: We all stumble from time to time. Use this as an opportunity to go through the checklist again. This will help to ingrain the good habit even more!
Turning your focus from what you’re not getting done to concrete action steps you can take will help you get started in acquiring the habits you need to be more efficient and productive.
Source: http://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/inc-well/Getting-a-Habit-to-Stick-Guest-126665683.html#ixzz1U5TzzjudTape8.18.2011
Getting the Kids Organised to Clean: 10 Tips
Cleaning around the house can be a huge chore, so it’s a good idea to get your kids involved. Getting your children to clean also helps them learn valuable skills that they’ll be using for the rest of their lives. Here are 10 tips for getting your kids organized so that they can get cleaning.
(A Guest Post by George Baker)
1. Remove Distractions
Keep kids focused on the cleaning. Don’t turn on the television – it’s an invitation for distraction. Turn on the radio if the kids need some noise while helping.2. Make The Process Organized And Easy
Set aside a day to get organized before cleaning. Buy or compile attractive storage containers, small object caddies, drawer organizers, and safe cleaning items. When everything has a place, it’s easier to keep everything neat and tidy. Organize your kids’ rooms, the bathrooms, the living room, the kitchen, and any other room your kids will help you keep clean. Label storage containers and boxes so children can easily see what goes where. They’ll be more likely to keep everything effortlessly tidy. Also keep recycling and trash bins available so that toy and food wrappers and drink containers will go into it instead of being left on counters or tables.3. Set Schedules
Keep one day a week for more major cleaning, but also set aside small cleaning times each day. In the mornings, have a few minutes before breakfast for children to make their beds and clean up their morning bathroom mess. Before bedtime, put away any toys, clean up bathtime messes, and put homework and school items in backpacks to cut down on panic time the next morning. On your major cleaning day, keep in mind that kids, especially smaller children, have short attention spans. It might be easier to conduct cleaning in 15 to 20 minute periods throughout the day.4. Make Sure They Know What’s Going On
Give your children tasks that are age-appropriate and go through the cleaning methods very clearly, step-by-step. A five-year-old is more able to help you make his or her bed and put away clothes and linens, while a toddler is more suited to running around picking up toys and putting them in their boxes.5. Find Out What They Like To Do
Make a chart to keep track of which tasks children enjoy most. Some will hate vacuuming or sweeping, while others might love to straighten shelves, put away books, or dust tabletops. Figure out which activities they enjoy and they’ll get the task accomplished more easily. It can also be helpful to give children choices. When they choose their own tasks, the interest makes them more likely to complete the job.6. Give Them Safety Tips
Teach kids how to clean safely. Show older children – 12 years and up – how to use cleaners such as dusting spray, anti-bacterial cleaners, air fresheners, etc. Keep anything that might be toxic well out of reach. There are now non-toxic, environmentally friendly cleaners that make it easier to let children help with cleaning.7. Don’t Overcomplicate Things
Keep it simple! Don’t start out by expecting your children to scour the inside of the fridge, clean toilets, or mop the kitchen floor to a spotless shine. Find jobs that they can do easily and that won’t have to be completely re-done if they aren’t done perfectly. Sweeping, vacuuming, dusting, and wiping doorknobs with anti-bacterial cleaner are great jobs for kids. Older kids will be great at cleaning the insides of windows, cleaning bathroom counters and sinks, and organizing their closets.8. Make It Fun
Make cleaning a competitive game. Set up some tasks as a race or give each child a list of tasks and see who can finish their list first. Let them know that there will be a quality check, though, so everything is done correctly. When you have a winner, give a small prize or some kind of recognition within the household. Print out your own ‘tickets’ and give one for each task accomplished. You can cash in tickets for a prize or fun activity, such as a trip to the zoo, library, park, or movie of the child’s choice. The option to choose a favorite dinner or dessert is a great prize, as well. For older children, when simple prizes cease to have meaning, making their allowance dependent on having their chores and cleaning done can be an incentive.9. See What They Think
Ask your kids for their opinions. Children are smart and have great ideas. When you listen to their ideas and put those ideas into action around the house, it can make things easier for everyone. Ask the kids where to put the items they use the most in the refrigerator. Ask what utensils should be put in the kitchen drawers that are on their height level, where their items should be placed around their bathrooms, or how to rearrange the living room furniture so everyone can enjoy family time.10. Set An Example
Leading by example is important. If the parts of the home that belong to adults are a mess, kids might not see a reason to keep their own areas cleaned up. Keep your own bedroom and living room nice and tidy, and your children will have a role model to follow in tidying up their own areas.(A Guest Post by George Baker)
Getting Rid of Clutter: How to manage your child’s paperwork
Getting rid of clutter with kids in the house really is quite the project. Most of us have tried keeping up with the endless supply of paper that walks through the door with little success. The trick to getting rid of clutter (while keeping the important stuff) is having a system to deal with everything you will encounter. With kids comes lots of stuff. There are toys, equipment, and all the papers that come home from school each day. While some of the paper can be tossed, there will be papers requiring immediate action and some should be saved for future reference. We have divided the clutter into 3 topics for discussion below:
Getting rid of cluttering artwork
- Create a Gallery to display a child’s artwork, using limited space such as a sliding glass door or a large bulletin board.
- Let your child decide what stays and what goes in the Gallery.
- Maintenance Tip: When the gallery is full, take a photo of the artwork before replacing with newer ones.
- Sort through papers daily, tossing items you know aren’t needed for future reference.
- Set aside papers needing immediate response.
- Papers for later reference could include long-term school projects like reports or research for an upcoming science project. Help your child store these important papers near his/her study area using either of these two methods:
- Open file box – If your child is old enough, let them choose the color of files and encourage them to do the actual labeling of each file. This is a great way to transfer responsibility as well as create a sense of ownership in their file system.
- 3-ring binder – Use tabs to designate different categories or subjects. Use dividers with pockets or sheet protectors to store smaller items or papers you don’t want to punch.
- Maintenance Tip: Most homework assignments will eventually be tossed; however, as your child gets older you’ll probably begin recognizing certain talents such as writing or art. Allow yourself to keep 4-7 items each school year, storing them in a separate file cabinet in files labeled by year.
- If your household has several active children, you’ll probably want to separate your paper information first by child, then by activity such as Football, Piano, Choir.
- Binders or a hanging file system work great and make it easy to access information quickly and easily.
- Maintenance Tip: sort/purge your papers at season end as well as the end of each school year.
By: Audrey Thomas
Printable To-Do Lists for Organizing: Tips for creating your own to-do list
Creating printable to do lists for organizing can help us think out loud about the things that we need to accomplish. The problem is that many of us never get around to actually creating our printable to do lists and starting the organizing process.Printable to-do lists for organizing help you to achieve organization and productivity in the same process. To-do lists serve the purpose of reminding us of things that need attention. Without a To-do lists, you’ll no doubt add clutter by grabbing other pieces of paper or sticky notes to jot things down as you think of them.
Which brings more pleasure? A day off of work with absolutely nothing scheduled on your calendar or the end of a busy day in which you checked off countless items on your To-Do List?
In using printable To-Do lists, keep the following in mind:
- Don’t go overboard. If you’re making a list of things you want to accomplish on a given day, be reasonable in what you’re expecting to get done.
- On your printable To-Do list create categories such as Errands, Groceries to Buy, Cleaning, etc.
- Allow for a blank space at the bottom of your list to add notes and other information as they come to mind. This will help in staying focused on your tasks.
- Prioritize your items on your printable To-Do list. Use the A-B-C method. “A” items are high priority and need to be finished before going on to the B’s. Anything assigned a C represents something that isn’t urgent or timely and can be finished at a later date.
- Print out several copies and place them in high-traffic areas such as your refrigerator, bathroom mirror, with your cell phone or purse, back door, or even your car. The more you see your list, the more you’re reminded of the tasks that need your attention.
- Adopt the mantra of “Focus and Finish”. You’ll have greater results if you’re able to avoid getting sidetracked and will feel good about checking things off.
- Reward yourself. Having something you can look forward to will put the “fun” into your hard work.
By: Audrey Thomas, Certified Professional Organizer®
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How it works
Product Details
The Couponizer®
The Couponizer® is a complete set of tools designed to make saving money easy. It is made up of 18
category pockets for grocery coupons and other coupon and discount category pockets.
The Couponizer® is a complete set of tools designed to make saving money easy. It is made up of 18
category pockets for grocery coupons and other coupon and discount category pockets.
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cards and gift cards here for easy access.
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Shopping List
Stay efficient! The shopping list helps to keep you on track while shopping. They have item-by-item listing
with check marks so you can go aisle-by-aisle.
Stay efficient! The shopping list helps to keep you on track while shopping. They have item-by-item listing
with check marks so you can go aisle-by-aisle.
CoupTracker
Track your savings with handy list pad. adding up your savings over time will motivate you to keep saving!
Track your savings with handy list pad. adding up your savings over time will motivate you to keep saving!
Scissors
A pair of scissors to carry with you for clipping coupons anytime, anywhere!
A pair of scissors to carry with you for clipping coupons anytime, anywhere!
CoupStacker
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BOOK REVIEW: A mom's ultimate book of lists
There is no greater job in the entire world than being a parent. When that joyous day finally comes and that little bundle of joy makes their grand entrance, no one tells you what comes next. Sure, there are lots of nurses and doctors (and sometimes family members) sharing their expert opinions on what you are "supposed" to do, but really there is no step by step manual to tell you what comes next.As a parent, I look back at the last eight years of my life and I think about all the struggles we have overcame and how many books I read telling me what to do and why.
As an organizer and someone who functions well from a "check list" I was thrilled to have had the opportunity to read, A Mom's Ultimate Book of Lists, by Michelle LaRowe.
This book is by far one of the handiest books I have ever read. No new mom has time to read the reason why babies cry, they just want to know how to calm them down and make them stop. A Mom's Ultimate Book of Lists is the perfect book for every new parent and what' even better is that it's "ultimately" organized!
Every good project needs a plan. Michelle starts you out with many lists on what to do when preparing for baby's arrival, trip to the hospital and specific questions you really should ask your physician. She walks each parent through the first few years arming you with valuable techniques and methods in dealing with those unexpected moments.
Throughout the book she takes on the journey of life preparing and arming you with some helpful advice and how to's. My personal favorite is Michelle's Top 10 Tips for Time Management. All extremely valid and truly important to any parent!
1. Have a routine.
2. Be organized.
3. Have a place for everything.
4. Use a family calendar.
5. Keep a daily to-do list.
6. Delegate.
7. Learn to say no.
8. Prioritize.
9. Keep a running grocery list.
10. Plan a weekly menu.
What I really appreciated was that throughout the entire book, Michelle walks mom's through all the many challenges that require us to plan ahead and most of all be prepared. Dealing with friendships, working through family budgets and how to feed a picky eater just to name a few. There is no situation that Michelle doesn't cover. Being a parent is a demanding job and being a mom is a lifetime career. Why not arm yourself with the best book of lists!
Thanks Michelle for this powerful book!
Available January 2010 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”
Daily tips FROM unclutterer
Four sanity restoring strategies for the over-committed
If you’re constantly pressed for time, it could be because you think you have more time in your day than actually exists or you can’t stop saying, “yes,” to every commitment that comes your way. If you’re being pulled in more directions than you want to be, now is a great time to start putting the breaks on the constant agreements and start being more selective with your time commitments.None of the following ideas is revolutionary, and you have likely heard them before today. However, they’re good reminders for all of us, especially those who fall into the realm of the over-committed.
- “Let me get back to you,” should be the first thing you say in response to any request that comes your way. A little time between you and the request can give you some perspective.
- Make rules for your agreements — If the request is from someone very dear to you and the request is for her well-being, you will very likely accept the request. If the request is from an organization you find morally questionable, and you don’t want to do the work, you’ll say, “no.” Length of commitment, obligations outside of meetings, and the person or organization making the request should all be considered when creating your rules.
- Keep your attention focused on what matters most to you. (If you aren’t clear about what matters most to you, check out “Make a list, check it twice.”) Keep your eye on the big prize.
- Reframe your perspective. Saying, “no,” to a less-important action gives you the opportunity to say, “yes,” when a request you really want to accept comes your way.
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