Organizing Tips and Thoughts for Moms

Get Those Toys Organized in 5 Steps

2010-09-29T07:10:00.004-05:00

For more Work for Me ideas, visit We Are THAT Family.

Toys! Toys! And more toys! Many of my clients, readers and friends frequently ask me about organizing toys. Don't worry it can be done. I've used my five-step STUFF System™ to break it down into doable steps.

Sort
Gather all the toys and start making piles by sorting like items together. This step may take awhile, especially if you have lots of smaller pieces. This is a great time to get the kids involved as sorting is the first basic skill you can teach your child about organizing.

Take Out
Now it's time to make some decisions. What toys can go? Have a box or space for those toys which you can donate, sell or give away. Don't forget to have the garbage and recycling containers near by.

You may or may not want your children involved in this step. It is a perfect time to teach them that it is OK not to keep everything. On the other hand, it might be a battle of tears, pleading and stress for all. Use your judgment; you know the personalities, tendencies and age of your children the best.

Utilize the Space and Systems
Where will everything live? Consider the space from your child's point of view. Keep their favorite toys in easy-to-reach and convenient places. You'll thank yourself later, as this makes clean-up time less challenging.

Think about zones. Keep toys together that go together. For example, a building zone, a reading zone, an arts and crafts zone, etc. This is also the time to determine if shelves, hooks, or other space-utilizing hardware should be added. Perhaps there are such items elsewhere in your home that are not fully utilized.

Fill Containers
At this point you have identified the keepers and have a good idea of how you want to use your space. You can now think about containers. Containers can be boxes, bins, bags, baskets, etc.

Not sure how many and what sizes you'll need? No problem! Just take a look at those piles from sorting and you'll get a good idea of what you'll need. Try to keep like items together and don't forget to take your space and any shelves into consideration. Take some measurements and make notes to aid you if need to make a trip to the store.

Open containers work really well for most children, however if you need to stack them to make the most of the space, go with the lid. Avoid big toy boxes that hold many different items because EVERYTHING tends to get pulled out during play.

Labels are essential! I like to use pictures and words for younger children. You could even label the spots on shelves. Labels make retrieving and returning items easier for children and adults.

Follow-up
Keeping those toys organized is almost always an on-going process for parents and kids. Try to maintain the space on a continuous basis with regular clean-up times and frequent purging (before birthdays and Christmas is a great time). Your family can start a new habit of sharing and trading toys with other families. Put the focus on making room for new toys rather than eliminating their stuff.

On a final note, children typically play with 20% of their toys 80% of the time. Too many toys can make play time difficult and clean-up time overwhelming. You may want to try rotating toys and books; store one-third to one-half of the toys and books and switch them about every three to four months. This helps to keep kids interested and your living space less congested. Remember, the more stuff you have, the more stuff you have to take care of! Play time should be enjoyable not a stressful experience for child and parent.

Back-to-School: 8 Tips to Help You Plan Ahead and Reduce the Morning Stress

2010-08-18T09:44:00.004-05:00

I know this post is a bit of repeat but it's back just in time for Back-to-School! For more Work for Me ideas, visit We Are THAT Family.

Think for a moment how your family starts off the day. How would you describe the mornings in your household once school starts? Do they tend to be calm and peaceful or rushed and stressful -or, somewhere in the middle?

I found that planning ahead really helps to curb the morning madness. This month, I'm sharing 8 quick ideas to help make your mornings less of production for you and your family.

1. Give yourself time to get up and ready to go before the children need to be up, even if it's just 15-30 minutes before the kids. I find that when I do this, I am more relaxed and able to focus on helping my children. The day is more likely to start off with conversation rather than prodding and nagging. I also feel better about myself. When I feel good about myself, it has such a positive impact on my day and those around me.

2. Make sure the kids have adequate time to get ready for school without being rushed.

3. Empty the backpacks after school, not in the morning to avoid any last minute surprises.

The Night Before
4. Have your children pick out their clothes for the next day. Make this part of their bedtime routine.

5. Make sure the backpacks and school supplies are ready to go near the door. Maybe even the shoes and jackets, too. In the winter I get all the snow gear get out and ready to go as well. What about the lunches? Can they be made ahead of time? Does money need to go to school to pay for hot lunch?

6. Determine the breakfast menu and set the bowls and cereal out after dinner. A healthy breakfast really adds a positive start to your child's day.

7. Develop a bedtime routine that works for your family and stick to it the best you can.

8. Double check your calendar, including the car pool schedule and after school activities. Think about what tasks or errands you want to accomplish the next day. I'm not talking about a major to-do list but maybe 2-4 items, or maybe just one part of a major project.

Don't Forget!
Another part of planning ahead is getting the school activities on your calendar or planner. This includes the school calendar for the year, any sports, activities, scouting schedules, etc. You can use a wall calendar, a personal planner or computer, but try to limit it to one.

I like to use Outlook on my computer. At the start of each week I print the 7-day view and post it on my refrigerator so everyone in the family knows what's going on. I tend to color-code activities by type of event (personal or child-related). You might want to color-code by member of the household.

Do you want ideas for organizing, displaying and maintaining your child's school papers and artwork? When you order my Tickler File System , I'll also send you my popular e-book, Maintaining Childhood Treasures: A Mom's Guide to Organizing School Papers and Artwork!

Is This Missing From Your Summer Calendar?

2010-06-16T09:17:00.004-05:00

Me Time!!!

Taking a little time for yourself will allow you to give more to your children and family. This means doing something just for you that you enjoy.

You may give yourself the time to read a good book, work on a favorite hobby, exercise, or have a cup of coffee with friends. You could make a date with your spouse, join a Bible study group, get a massage, or spend some quiet time alone.

If we want to be the best we can be in our roles as parents, co-workers, spouses, friends, and members of the community, we must remember to also take time for ourselves.

What's top on "Me Time" list? Reading, going for walks, and getting together with good friends. How about you?

FREE Shred-a-Thon: New Berlin, Wisconsin

2010-06-16T07:40:00.001-05:00

Saturday, June 26, 2010
9:00 am - 11:00 am
Maritime Savings Bank - New Berlin
15505 W. National Ave.
(Just East of Moorland Road)

Feel like you are drowning in paper?
Tired of shredding everything yourself?
Concerned about identity theft?

• Bring up to 5 boxes or bags of papers (staples, paperclips and rubber bands are okay)
• Watch the SecurX truck shred paper safely and securely
• Drop off non-perishable food items for the New Berlin food pantry or make a cash donation

FREE Shred-A-Thon Sponsored By:
www.napo-wi.com
www.MaritimeSavings.com
www.ssm-securx.com

Organize School and Papers in 4 Easy Steps

2010-06-09T07:32:00.004-05:00

For more Works for Me Ideas, visit We Are THAT Family.

Understandably, many parents want to treasure and capture their children's journey. However, good intentions can quickly create a great area of stress for many moms and dads. The key is to be selective in what we save and organize it so it can be enjoyed and treasured. Having a system in place with limits will help you and your child make decisions as the numerous papers and artwork enter your home.

The Simple Steps

Collect it.
Have a basket or spot for each child to put the finish school papers, permission slips, communications from school that you need to look at. Be sure to put it in a spot that they can reach. Make this part of their coming home routine.

Limit it.
If you kept everything, your home would quickly become a storage site. This is a good opportunity to teach your children that it is OK not to keep everything. Get your children involved in the process to help them to learn the skills they need to help themselves as they get older.

Depending on the age of your child, work together to figure out what papers and projects will be kept and/or displayed. Maybe the keepers go on display and the rest is recycled. Typically, younger kids will want to save everything. As always, use your discretion.

If you find it hard for you and your child to make a decision right away - that's okay! Some families may prefer to keep all the items from a school year and then go back to pick out the best representatives of the whole year. Others may want to limit the collection to whatever can fit inside a designated container.

I recommend, if at all possible, making decisions as you go and use my 3 T's to help you.

-Take Out: Toss, recycle, or give away the items that are not keepers.

-Take Action: Display it for a set time period.

-Take Back: If you are keeping it, take it to the designate storage container in a reasonable timeframe, perhaps weekly, every other week or monthly.

Share it.
Be sure to spend time letting your child tell you about their work. That's why they bring it home to you!

Store it.
However you decide to store the memorabilia, take time to label the containers with the child's name, the contents, and the age or school year of the child. That way when you do want to pull something out, you can locate the items without having to search and dig through one big container.

Do you already have years of school papers and artwork piled or stuffed in large totes? Don't worry! Start from this point forward and then go back later to thin out and organize past memorabilia small steps at a time. Set an appointment with yourself (write it on your calendar now). Get your system in shape before summer starts!

Do you want more ideas for organizing, displaying and maintaining your child's school papers and artwork?

When you order the Tickler File System by June 30, 2010, I'll also send you my popular e-book,
Maintaining Childhood Treasures: A Mom's Guide to Organizing School Papers and Artwork!

Zero Clutter Week! Getting Ready for Summer Break

2010-06-01T10:33:00.004-05:00

Summer break starts in less than 2 weeks! Some of you are already there. My family had a great and busy Memorial Day weekend and now I have this urge to get the house, calendar and my mind prepared for summer. I'm planning ahead and tackling the clutter around here before the kids get out of school. I want a clean plate and a fresh start with ZERO CLUTTER!

I'm going to finish up those projects on my to do list. First up, uploading my family photos to my online photo book for the year 2010. I like to work on this month by month and well, I got a little behind.
I want to clean off the refrigerator. Stuff gets piled on top, stuck on the front and WOW - the dust is thick! I'm also going to clean out the refrigerator. This job isn't so tough because I try keep on top of it whenever I do a big grocery store trip but could use a good cleaning.
The paper clutter is going to be eliminated! OK, I cheated and did a majority of this last week when I cleaned out my files and went through the school papers and artwork (when the kids were at school). But, I do have a few loose ends to take care of. My June newsletter comes out this week and this month's article focuses on getting those school papers organized.
I'm returning phone calls and getting in touch with friends and family. Of course my friends and family are NOT clutter, but I have a pretty lengthily list of calls I would like to make and I have some down time this week to get back in touch with those important people in my life.
Summer activities will be finalized. I'm taking care of the registrations for my kids' summer activities and camps. I'm also getting everything on the calendar, even the 2010-2011 school calendar! I know my husband and I will be looking forward to a few date nights alone so we are picking some dates now and making arrangements. I want to be clear that I am careful not to over schedule; I need to be sure to protect our free time. I prefer last minute spontaneous get-togethers with friends over scheduled events.
I'm taking a break from Facebook this week. I realized a while ago that this technology has its positives and negatives for me. I spend way too much time checking Facebook and I have fallen into the trap of "feeling busy" with all the energy I have put forth. Once I realized that I had time for that but not to give #4 my attention, it was an ah-ha moment. Please note: my blog post automatically get posted to my Stuff 2b Organized Fan page so I'm not really breaking my 5 day hiatus already. :)

ZERO CLUTTER.....It feels so good!

Where Have I Been?

2010-04-30T08:56:00.005-05:00

So, it's been over a month since I've posted. Have you been wondering what I've been doing? That's OK if you haven't, I'll tell you anyway.

This last month or so I've been doing the mom thing. Our little Lia is now 6 months old! She, like her older sister, does not stop moving. I'm not complaining (out loud), but she has my attention. My older two are also keeping me pretty busy with plays, practices and after school activities. Lucky for me, I have a great group of friends that keep me sane and laughing.

On the organizing side of things, I had the opportunity to speak to a group of fabulous women last week in Delafield, WI. The Lake Country Women's Club invited me to speak on The Five Steps to Getting Your STUFF Organized.

On the home front, I'm busy putting together our summer schedule. I'm so glad that I kept last year's calendar; it's all too much to remember. I'm also actively protecting our free time. It goes by too fast!

How to Set up a Household Action Center

2010-03-10T10:02:00.004-06:00

Does junk mail, school papers, bills and other paper clutter pile up quickly and take over your counter tops and table top? Do you find yourself stacking and then stashing the piles out of sight when company comes over? Are you scrambling in the mornings to get the kids out of the house with everything that they need? Do you miss appointments because you forgot or pay bills late because you can't find them?

If you said yes to more than one of the above, a Household Action Center (HAC) may be the answer. This is the same system I use and teach my private clients. A well-organized HAC can help you to deal with activities, information, and papers that come into your home.

Your HAC should be set up in a central location, most often it is the kitchen-the hub of the home. I like to utilize a portable file box (shown in the picture to the right) but it could also be stationed in a desk or filing drawer. Supplies, such as envelopes, tape, stapler, pens and pencils, and the telephone, should be near by. Through your Household Action Center you can manage your mail, bill paying, calendar, events and projects.

A very important component of your information center will be a Tickler File, which consists of a dated accordion file (1-31 and January-December) and action files. Another important and very necessary component is a calendar or planner.

So, as paper and information come into your home, you must make decisions on each item. Use my 3T Plan™ for making decisions: Take Out, Take action (now or a future date), or To file. Things you need to act on will go into your action folders - labeled with the actions your need to take. If you have a paper that you need to act on at a specific date, put that paper in your tickler file behind the appropriate date or month.

Another useful tool is a household binder. This 3-ring binder can be used to keep regularly accessed information. Common things you would store in your household binder might be school calendars and directories, lunch menus, practice schedules, and frequently used telephone numbers. I like to keep action forms in mine.

Use your system on a regular basis. Get into the habit of consulting your Ticker File and calendar at the same time every day, preferably the night before or in the morning. You should be continually adding and taking out items. Setting up a Household Action Center will help you eliminate the piles and reduce the stress.

For more Works For Me Ideas, vist Rocks In My Dryer.

Giveaway Winners: Drawer Organizers

2010-03-06T11:27:00.007-06:00

Thank you to everyone we entered my last giveaway for Rubbermaid's 6 piece Drawer Organization Set. It was fun to read your junk drawer stories! I hope you found some inspiration to tackle your junk drawers one by one.

I used Random.org to generate the two winning numbers of 5 and 1.

#5: Sandy said...
"Junk drawers???? I have junk cupboards - two corner cupboards that I just don't know what to do with and they collect everything - BBQ equipment, matches for the grill, sand from a trip to the beach, just a whole lot of everything. Thanks for entering me."

-Sandy, are those two corner cupboards an awkward space by any chance? This might call for some re-utilizing of your space, sorting like things together and finding new homes for that stuff that's just hanging out. Also, taking out that stuff that you don't really use or need.

#1: Sheila M. said...
"I have multiple "junk" drawers all over my house -- and I'm fairly certain I've got previous drawer contents hanging out in packing boxes from a move we made almost 3 years ago. *yikes*"

-You're not alone on this one, Sheila! I've seen this before. The great news it that most likely you'll be able to ditch what's in those moving boxes that you haven't looked at in 3 years. Remember one step at a time. One drawer at a time, one box at a time.

Congrats Sandy and Shelia and thank you Rubbermaid!

Be sure to contact me with your address. Thanks!

Quick Organizing: DVDs, CDs and Silverware

2010-03-03T08:03:00.005-06:00

Project #5: DVD and CD Recovery
Grab a box or a basket and gather all the cases and lose discs scattered around the house (The kids could easily help with this project). Match up the CD, DVDs and their covers or, perhaps you can use a CD album to store your music and movies. Get rid of the ones that are unwanted, damaged or not used.

Project #6: Silverware Drawer
What does your silverware drawer look like? Does it need attention? Take everything out of the drawer and wipe it out. It's amazing how many crumbs can get in there! Sort all the utensils. Take out the stuff you don't use. Could you add inexpensive containers to keep the drawer better organized? Hey, maybe you could win some free ones! Enter my giveaway to win Rubbermaid's 6 piece Drawer Organization Set.

View more Quick Organizing Tips.

For more Works for Me Ideas I usually tell you to visit We Are THAT Family, but this week, visit Rocks in My Dryer.

Quick Organizing: How to Organize a Junk Drawer

2010-02-24T09:52:00.007-06:00

Project #4: Junk Drawer
Almost every home has one (or two). It’s that special drawer where you can find anything, from hair bands to hammers, batteries to balloons. My friend calls it the magic drawer because you just don’t know what you'll find in there.

I’ll break it down using my STUFF System™
Take everything out of the drawer and Sort like things together. Take Out (throw, recycle, donate) the broken items, keys that have no home, dead ink pens, etc. Determine how you will Utilize the Space. Where will everything live? It makes sense to keep the frequently used items near the front of the drawer.

Fill Containers to keep like items together and eliminate the shifting of items when you close and open the drawer. I like to use the inexpensive containers shown here. Finally, Follow Up with your organized space on a regular basis. Straighten up things every once in a while, put items back in their homes after each use and adjust as needed if you find something just isn’t working.

Watch a short video on Organizing a Junk Drawer. Feel inspired to get your junk drawer organized? Post a link to your before and after photos. I'd love to see them!

View more Quick Organizing Tips.

For more Works for Me Ideas, visit We Are THAT family.

Enter my giveaway to win Rubbermaid's 6 piece Drawer Organization Set.

Rubbermaid Drawer Organization Set Product Review and Give Away

2010-02-24T09:13:00.012-06:00

The good people at Rubbermaid sent me a set of their new 6 piece Drawer Organization Set to try out. This is perfect timing as I just shared my latest Quick Organzing Idea, How to Organize a Junk Drawer.

Here's shot of the product out of the package.

The drawer organizers interlock with one another. This allows you to adjust and create any any configuration that fits both your needs and your drawer space.

These containers are very sturdy and I like the various sizes.

The drawer organizers also have grips on their bottoms which stop them from shifting back and forth when the drawer is opened and closed. I love this feature because it I want my baskets to stay put!

You can use the drawer organizer in other places, too. Places that come to mind are the utensil drawers in the kitchen, desk drawers, bathrooms - to keep all those hair band and barrettes organized. These would be great for craft supplies as well.

Another neat thing about Rubbermaid's drawer organizers is that they come with a tip sheet on how to tackle your junk drawer. I like that they supply the buyer with the how-to!

Updated Note on the Tip Sheet: The tip sheet is not included in the package when you buy this product at the store. I was mistaken. I'd love to see this happen in the future!

Now for the giveaway.

Simply leave a comment on this post and tell me about your junk drawers. Don't be shy. Everyone has them.
I will randomly pick 2 winners and notify them by posting the results on my blog.
This giveaway will close at 5pm Central Time on March 5.

Feel inspired to get your junk drawer organized? Check out my post Quick Organizing : How to Organize a Junk Drawer. Post a link to your before and after photos. I'd love to see them!

Quick Organizing: Make a Donation Box

2010-02-17T13:07:00.004-06:00

Project #3: Make a Donation Box

Have a designated container for donations. When you come across an item that can be donated, put it in the box right away. Keep a slip posted near by to make a note of items for tax deduction purposes. Be sure to grab your donation box when you are working on an organizing project.

I keep my donation spot in the laundry area because it's right by the back door. When it gets full, I put it in the van and drop off the items the next time I'm running errands.

View more Quick Organizing Tips.

For more Works for Me Ideas, visit We Are THAT family.

Quick Organizing: Tackle One Moving Box at a Time

2010-02-16T09:44:00.001-06:00

Quick Organizing: The Kids' Dresser Drawers

2010-02-03T09:45:00.002-06:00

I know it's not always easy for busy moms to find large chunks of time to devote to major organizing projects. When time is tight, I like the idea of tackling mini organizing projects projects around the house. Last fall I posted 8 Quick Organizing Ideas and over the next few weeks, I'll share even more ideas.

Project #1: The Kids' Dresser Drawers
Get the kids' clothes in order. Areas that are used frequently will require more attention so I tend to straighten up my kids' drawers about once a month and it doesn't take much time. Another good time to do this is during the change of seasons.

This is a great project to do with your children. Show them how to sort the clothing. Let them help fold their clothes ---- don't expect perfection.

As you are sorting, take out the stuff the doesn't fit or isn't worn. Have the kids try items on questionable items. Have a donation box close by.

Eventually, older children can tackle this project on their own. Getting the kids involved in a small organizing task like this can help teach them the skill of organizing and that it's okay to let go of things. Talk about how having an organized dresser makes getting ready in the morning easier and finding that favorite outfit is a snap.

For more Works for Me ideas, visit We Are THAT Family.

Get Ready for Tax Season Now

2010-01-21T08:25:00.008-06:00

April is a ways off but now is the time you'll start receiving all those documents in the mail. Have a designated folder labeled and ready to go. As you recieve any tax-related documents, put them in your folder right away. Open and toss envelopes right away -no need to add clutter.

Start compiling information now instead of waiting. That way you can work on your taxes little by little. Or, if someone else prepares your taxes, you can get the items to them early and avoid the busy times. Be sure to keep all tax-related paper work away from other mail and papers to avoid losing important documents.

For more Works for Me Ideas, visit We Are THAT Family.

January is Get Organized Month!

2010-01-12T10:36:00.004-06:00

This year marks the sixth year of NAPO sponsoring Get Organized (GO) Month. GO Month is dedicated to raising awareness of the benefits of getting organized and of hiring a NAPO professional organizer. During GO Month, NAPO’s dozens of chapters and thousands of members hold public events throughout the country.

Get Your Closet Organized

2010-01-08T08:03:00.000-06:00

Organizing a Kid's Closet: The First Steps

2010-01-08T08:00:00.000-06:00

Organizing a Junk Drawer

2010-01-08T07:56:00.001-06:00

I Was on TV! Get Organized in 2010

2010-01-07T12:15:00.009-06:00

I couldn't resist sharing my exciting news. I spent this morning doing organizing segments for the morning show on Fox 11 News out of Green Bay, WI. It was a great experience and I had lots of fun. Angela Kelly, the reporter, did a great job helping me feel comfortable.

Click HERE (or see video on sidebar) to check out tips for:
-Kid's Closets
-JUNK DRAWERS
-Master Bedroom Closet

Ready to make your daily life easier and less stressful?
Subscribe to Paula’s FREE Monthly Newsletter to help you take the steps to getting organized! When you subscribe you will also receive Paula’s FREE gifts: 5 Must-Know Organizing Tips For Busy Moms and The Clutter-Free Gift Giving Guide. Click HERE

Focused and Balanced: 4 Great Ideas for the New Year!

2010-01-04T14:25:00.002-06:00

Are you looking to make some changes this year? Hoping to feel more balanced? Wishing you could be less busy? Do you want more time for those things that are most important to you? Don't spend your time hoping and wishing; take action!

Look back. Take time, even if it's just 10 minutes, to look back to 2009. Write down your excitements, accomplishments, your frustrations and your letdowns. Now make a list of everything you would like to do or improve upon in 2010. There is no wrong answer here; allow your thoughts to spill out onto the paper (or computer screen). Pick one or two of the most important areas you would like to work on in the coming year.

Think ahead. In other words, plan ahead as much as you can. I believe this is one of a mom's most useful strategies. For example, plan your meals out for the week and then make your shopping list. Take time to plan your next day the night before. Planning also includes grouping like activities and tasks together to make the most of your time. For example, it makes sense to do all your errands on the same day.

How you spend your time will be determined by your priorities not your availability. Too often we forget to look at what is truly important to us and our families before we add another thing to our already busy calendars. Take the time to reflect on what matters most to you and your family. Ask, "Do these requests of my/our time fit with my/our priorities? If the answer is no, it probably doesn't belong on your calendar.

Don't overload your calendar. When we over-commit ourselves and our time, the results can be counter-productive. Busyness leads to stress, frustration, and fatigue (mentally, physically and emotionally!). Be sure to include down time on your calendar. Actually write it down like you are setting an appointment with yourself. If a request of your time comes up during that "free" time, simply say, "I'm sorry, that's not going to work for me."

You can feel more balanced and focus on the important stuff. Now is the time to make those changes. It starts with a commitment from you.

If you are determined to be focused and balanced in 2010, check out my Making Time for What's Important Home Study Program.

Endings and Beginnings

2009-12-29T09:07:00.007-06:00

I find it so hard to believe that 2009 is coming to a close. Looking back a year ago, I would have never imagined I'd be where I am today....a mom of three! Having a baby is definitely the beginning of a new chapter for me. I'm re-thinking my business structure, my volunteer involvement and my priorities.

If I'm honest with myself I have to admit change is hard for me. I like my routines. I like having a plan I can follow. You're not surprised, are you? I can also acknowledge that change brings growth. I'm holding on to that.

I'm so thankful for the many blessings in my life and thank God for the wonderful experiences, challenges and joys He has brought me this last year. I'm excited to see what His plan is and what 2010 will bring!

Thank you for allowing me to be with you this last year!

Happy New Year!

Countdown to Christmas: Last Minute Gift Ideas

2009-12-22T12:44:00.003-06:00

Final Touches Week

If you are looking for some last minute gift ideas, check out my previous post on Clutter-Free Gift Ideas.

Short on time? Skip the wrapping and grab some ribbon or raffia and a gift bag. Or, pick up an inexpensive stocking and tuck you gift inside.

Countdown to Christmas: Final Touches

2009-12-21T08:19:00.003-06:00

This is my sixth week of Countdown To Christmas and it's Final Touches Week and I'll be focusing my organizing tips and thoughts around the final details of getting ready for the big day.

The biggest tip I can share with you this week is to focus on the most important thing(s) and let the little stuff go. Negative stress can invade and take away your focus. Make note of those things causing you stress and make note of how you can make changes for next year.

If there are lots of things floating around in your head and you feel overwhelmed, get them out of your head and onto paper. Find a quiet spot for 15-30 minutes and just start writing.

If you are thinking, "Ya right! If I had time to do that, I'd have time to finish those cookies or Christmas Cards!" I find that just getting a few minutes to myself can make a big difference at those stressful times and that's good for the whole family!

Christmas Countdown: Last Minute Baking

2009-12-17T08:50:00.008-06:00

Wrapping and Baking Week

This is the week I attempt to do a little baking. Serious Holiday bakers might have tons of cookies frozen and ready to go by now. I'm not one of those serious holiday bakers; I have to be in the mood to be in the kitchen by choice. So, I thought I would share my easy Holiday baking plan with you and provide some links to some great ideas. Please share your ideas and links, too!

Paula's Super Easy Holiday Baking Plan

Pick 1-3 favorite recipes

Determine a shopping list, if needed. I tend to choose recipes that use items I have on-hand already.

Pick the date(s) to bake.

Know your limits. I can handle doing one recipe at a time if the kids are helping and perhaps 2 if by chance I am doing it alone.

Be realistic! If there is a lot going on and the stress level is high, skip the baking. Focus on the stuff that is important. Chances are, there will be plenty of time during the kids' winter break when you'll be looking for something to do to pass the time.

Plan ahead and pre-measure. If you have a small window of time, get some of the prep work out of the way.

Bake and share! Wrap your goodies in a creative way and share with friends and family.

Clean up! If I'm lucky, my husband will do the baking with the kids and I'll take the pictures and do the clean-up. Get the family involved and use your strengths.

Great Holiday Baking Ideas and Tips

Hassle-Free Holiday Baking: 6 Easy Days to Perfect Christmas Cookies

Hershey's Kitchen Baking Hints and Tips, including:

Gifting Ideas

Cookie Exchange

'How To' Videos

Bake Sale

Holiday Cookie Exchange Checklist

Check out more Countdown to Christmas organizing tips and ideas.

Christmas Countdown: Setting Up a Wrapping Station

2009-12-16T07:32:00.008-06:00

Wrapping and Baking Week

How to Set Up a Temporary Wrapping Station

Gather your wrapping supplies.
Organize Your Wrapping Supplies if they aren't already.
Set up a table that is out of the way or isn't being used on a daily basis. Avoid setting up your wrapping station in a main living space so it won't be disturbed and can be kept up for a period of time. I'm setting up mine in the basement where it won't be disturbed (hopefully) by the kids.
Have a basket or container to hold your scissors, pens, tape and extra tape for easy access.
Have another container to hold your name tags and pre-cut ribbon if you'll be using it.

Keep your supplies close by but try to keep your table clear so presents can be wrapped easily.

Use a Wrapping Checklist to keep track of what gifts need to be wrapped, are wrapped and where they are located. DON'T LEAVE THIS LIST OUT IN THE OPEN for little eyes to see!
Clean up your space after each use so it's ready to go the next time you have a window of time to wrap a few presents.

If getting the presents wrapped with the kids around is a challenge, schedule a day or night when you can make arrangements for them to be out of the house (or asleep). Swap some time with a friend or enlist the help of the grandparents. If you'll be wrapping solo, send dad and the kids away to a movie or another activity. Host a wrapping party; invite your friends over and share supplies and ideas. Put on some Christmas music, grab a glass of wine and start wrapping.

Not into wrapping? Take advantage of gift wrapping at the stores or malls. You'll pay a fee or a donation, but it'll save you time and the cost of having your own supplies on-hand.

What works for you? For more Works for Me idea, visit We Are THAT Family.

Check out more Countdown to Christmas organizing tips and ideas.

Countdown to Christmas: Wrapping and Baking

2009-12-15T07:47:00.004-06:00

This is my fifth week of Countdown To Christmas and it's Wrapping and Baking Week and I'll be focusing my organizing tips around getting those gifts wrapped and finding time to bake your favorite goodies.

Next week is Christmas! I see this as my last week to get some major stuff done. The kids have two days of school next week and Thursday is Christmas Eve. I've started some wrapping. OK, the kids did some, not me, so I'll try to get that done this week while they are at school.

Here is an article I did on Organizing Your Wrapping Supplies. You might want to set up a temporary wrapping station in your home using a folding table or dining room table with all your supplies close by.

Countdown to Christmas: Sending Packages

2009-12-09T09:32:00.010-06:00

Cards and Packages Week

Do you have packages that need to be sent out for the Holidays? The United States Postal Service has tons of useful information on their site, including a Holiday Countdown Calendar for Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa. They also have information sending packages to the troops.

You can avoid the post office by ordering boxes to be delivered to your home and pay and print postage online.

The post office will also pick up your packages from your home for free. Time is running out! Here are some tips for sending packages.

Make a list of packages and gifts you want to send.
Set a deadline that items should be bought and/or made by.
Order shipping boxes.
Wrap and pack items.
Schedule package pick up or take packages to the post office.

Check out more Countdown to Christmas organizing tips and ideas.

Countdown to Christmas: Letter to Santa

2009-12-07T11:55:00.010-06:00

Cards and Packages Week

Do your kids send a letter to Santa? My eight-year-old did this year and I made this simple Letter to Santa sheet. She stuck it in her stocking on St. Nick day.

Kids can also send it to the North Pole by mail, of course. The USPS has information on how you can get the North Pole postmark on a letter from Santa. Check out more on the Letters to Santa Program.

They can also go online a let Santa know what they would like at www.christmassantaclaus.com. I also found a site where you can get a letter from Santa, www.greetingsfromsanta.com.

Did you know Santa also accepts pictures from toy catalogs for those who can't write and requests via his lap at various locations? Be creative and make it fun for the kids.

Check out more Countdown to Christmas organizing tips and ideas.

Countdown to Christmas: Cards and Packages

2009-12-07T10:18:00.001-06:00

This is my forth week of Countdown To Christmas and it's Cards and Packages Week and I'll be focusing my organizing tips around sending cards and packages.

It just so happens I'm in the process of designing and sending out my cards this week. I would prefer to have them ready to go by this point but that's the way it goes sometimes. While I'm waiting for the cards to arrive in the mail, I'll address and stamp the envelopes. And, I'll be enlisting the help of my children.

Here's some simple steps I've shared on this topic recently.

Locate the cards/envelopes you will be sending out. Using a photo card? Decide on the picture you would like to use. Even if you will be getting prints or cards made at a later date, you can still complete steps 2-6 in the meanwhile.
Compile your list.
Determine the date you will be putting the cards in the mail. Put it on your calendar!-Mine is December 16-a little late this year.
Create a family letter if you will be including one.
Address envelopes. Break it down into smaller batches.
Buy stamps before the post office gets super busy. I ordered mine via the mail-super easy!
Stamp and send the cards out by your target date.

I like to use computer generated labels. I have my address book on my computer and so printing address labels for Christmas cards takes no time at all. Throughout the year I stay on top of updating the database. You may prefer keeping track of your addresses on paper. Here's a simple Christmas Holiday Card List for that.

Countdown to Christmas: Decorations

2009-12-04T14:36:00.003-06:00

Home Week

Quick Organizing Tips for Decorations

If there are decorations that you do not use or just don’t have time to put up, eliminate them from your collection. Donate items to charity or to your favorite college student.
Plan a decorating party with the family. Play your favorite holiday CDs and break out the cocoa. Make it an event you look forward to, not dread.
As you take down decorations designate a box for each room in the house and label it with the room name and its contents. This will make the following year’s decorating a breeze.
Use heavy cardboard or those plastic holders to wrap and store your lights. Taking time to do this when taking down your decorations will save you time and stress next year!

Check out more Countdown to Christmas organizing tips and ideas.

Clutter-Free Gift Giving

2009-12-02T07:47:00.004-06:00

It's another Works-For-Me Wednesday. I've talked about this idea before around Christmas time, but it's an idea that works for me throughout the year! For more works-for-me ideas, visit We Are THAT Family.

I love giving Clutter-Free Gifts! Clutter-free gift giving is the act of gifting that does not add more stuff (often unneeded) to the recipients' homes. With clutter-free gift (CFG) giving, you can make the move away from the "materialistic focus" of gift-giving to a "love focus".

I divide the ideas into 5 sections:

Experiences (family weekend at a water park, a day with grandma and grandpa at the zoo and a movie, a romantic weekend away with your spouse)

Donations (give to you local food pantry as a family, sponsor a needy family during a holiday, make a donation in honor of a recipient)

Consumables (gift cards, fruit of the month, certificate for cleaning services, memberships)

Time (offer to watch a busy mom's kid while she take a day off or does some Christmas shopping), start a family night)

Expressions of Love and Gratitude (letter, photo books, home-made calendar, coupon booklet)

If you like the idea of giving and getting less stuff, talk with family and friends about the ideas. What are you favorite CFG ideas?

I have shared over 100 CFG idea in my free guide book, Clutter-Free Gift Giving: Giving Love, Not Stuff.

Find out how you can get your copy here!

Check out my Countdown to Christmas organizing ideas.

Prepare Your Home for the Holidays: 4 Tasks You Can Do Now To Ease The Stress Later

2009-12-02T07:00:00.000-06:00

Home Week

Previously, I talked about how it was important to prepare you heart for the Holidays. This month I'm touching on how you can prepare you home. Planning ahead and getting your home in shape before the heart of the busy Holiday season arrives can help to reduce some of the stress. I cover four areas that can be tackled early on.

Declutter
Take time before you put up your holiday decorations to spend time decluttering your living spaces. Grab a box and walk through one room at a time. Gather items that belong elsewhere and return those items to their homes. Use another box or container to gather items that can be donated. Have a trash bag close by to toss the unwanted stuff. It's much easier and more enjoyable to decorate a space that has been decluttered.

Cleaning
Make a list of cleaning tasks you would like done. Perhaps you can list them for each room of the house. Don't forget to give yourself a deadline. Do a little each day or week. Remember the refrigerator and oven. It's also a good idea to schedule the carpet cleaning or cleaning services. Read more on Holiday cleaning HERE.

Linens and Bedding
If you are going to be hosting dinners, gatherings or houseguests, take care of the linens and bedding ahead of time. Are the table clothes, napkins, guest towels and bedding all laundered and in good shape? Don't leave these for last minute surprises and last minute stress.

Stock the Pantry
Why not make sure your have all the necessities and basics on hand now? What baking supplies, beverages and nonperishable food items do you need? Take some time to make a shopping list before you go to the store to avoid multiple time-wasting trips.

Don't wait until the last minute to do everything. Start now and do a little as you go. Too often holiday stress is caused by doing so much in a small window of time. Stick to those tasks that support the focus and spirit of your family's Holiday season.

For more Works-For-Me Ideas, visit We Are THAT Family.

Check out more Countdown to Christmas organizing tips and ideas.

Countdown to Christmas: Home Week

2009-11-30T12:31:00.006-06:00

This is my third week of Countdown To Christmas and it's Home Week and I'll be focusing my organizing tips around decluttering, cleaning and decorating.

I like to plan ahead and getting our home into shape before the heart of the busy Holiday season arrives. This allows me to get many tasks around the house out of the way early on. This helps to reduce some of the stress because I'm not rushed trying to get everything done at the last minute. I'm able to focus my energies on those things that are important to me and my family, like reflecting on the gift of Jesus, enjoying time with friends and watching a few Christmas movies.

The first task for me this week is to make a list of the cleaning tasks that need to be done by Friday before our guests arrive on Saturday. Then, I'll decide when I'll do each task. It does no good to make a to-do list without determining the when. I'll also be sure to enlist the help of family members.

I'm going to break my cleaning tasks down by room. Here's my Simple Household Cleaning Checklist. You can also organizing your cleaning by tasks (vacuum, dust, windows, etc).

So this week I'll do the Big Clean and maintain that throughout the month.

Countdown to Christmas: Online Shopping

2009-11-24T20:07:00.007-06:00

Shopping Week

Skip the stores, crowds and long lines and do your shopping online. I found a helpful article over at MSN Money on Savvy Tips for Shopping Online. It covers shopping safely, special offers and best prices.

When I order items online, I keep all email confirmations in a folder labeled "Orders" in Outlook. I also keep track of my purchases with my Internet / Catalog Shopping List.

I love shopping online because:

I can find great deals without paying for shipping many times.
It saves me time!
I can find items that I can't find in stores in my area.
The variety is endless!

Countdown To Christmas: Shopping Week

2009-11-23T11:34:00.001-06:00

This is my second week of Countdown To Christmas and it's Shopping Week.

Before you head out to the stores, take time to make lists. I have a few options for you so you can choose which form works best for you.

Holiday Shopping List

It also pays to think about your budget ahead of time.

Holiday Budget Sheet

Still deciding what gifts to give? Take some time to brainstorm ideas. Keep jotting ideas down throughout the year.

If you are cooking or baking for the Holidays, be sure to determine your menu and shopping list before food shopping.

Thanksgiving Organized

2009-11-23T09:34:00.009-06:00

Did Thanksgiving sneak up on you this year? Here are some quick tips to help you get organized and ready for Thanksgiving, even if you are just getting started this week.

Cleaning

Focus on the areas your guests will be using such as the kitchen, dining room and bathroom.
Don't forget to straighten up the coat closet and have extra hangers ready to go.
Make a checklist of the cleaning tasks that are a priority and get them done.
If possible, assign family member tasks.

Shopping

Make your menu and then your shopping list. Don't forget to think about a budget.
Use my Thanksgiving Shopping List with Menu Form

Determine what day you will be doing your shopping.

Decorating and Finishing Touches

Again, focus on those areas that your guests will be using. Decorate after you clean and declutter.

Inspect the dishes, serving pieces, utensils, glassware and linens to make sure there are no surprises.

Set the table the day before. Get your center pieces and candles set.

Planning for the Big Day

Create a cooking schedule for the day. Make sure you have allowed enough time for your turkey to defrost! It can take 3-4 days for the bird to thaw, depending on it's size. Visit Betty to find out how to thaw, cook and carve a turkey.

When entertaining guests, I like to be ready 30 minutes before arrival time. This gives me time to relax, be prepared for early arrivals and to be able to focus my attention on guests when they arrive.
If things start to feel stressful, stop and remember your focus of this celebration.
Enlist the help of family and friends. Have guests offered to bring something to contribute to the meal? Take them up on their offer - it'll help you and they'll feel great, too.

Countdown to Christmas: Holiday Christmas Binder

2009-11-21T09:57:00.006-06:00

Preparation Week

You can create you own Holiday or Christmas Binder to help you stay organized before and during this busy time of year. It's really simple.

Grab a 1 inch 3-ring binder and 6-8 divider tabs.
Label your tabs with the categories that I laid out HERE. Or, you might also come up with your own categories. Add a large envelope or a plastic page protector to store receipts.
Print out the forms that I have and will provide you throughout my Christmas Countdown and keep them behind the corresponding tab.
Keep anything related to the Holidays in your Binder so you know where to find that list, menu or form when you need it. Take it with you when you go shopping.

Countdown to Christmas: 5 Ways to Reduce Holiday Stress

2009-11-19T21:29:00.003-06:00

Preparation Week

Don't expect perfection.
Ask for help.
Stick with what works for you and your family.
Do less and do it better.
Focus on your priorities and values.

Countdown to Christmas Recap

2009-11-18T07:11:00.002-06:00

I'm currently doing my Countdown to Christmas: Six Weeks of Organizing Tips for the Holiday Season. For the rest of November and December, I will be walking you through tips and ideas on how you can take the stress out of the Holidays and Christmas through a bit of easy organization and planning.

Each week I will focus on one area. This week is Preparation week. So far I've talked about reflecting on your values and traditions now, before you are in the midst of the busy Holiday season. You can get my Holiday Values and Traditions Worksheet HERE.

If you typically feel behind with getting it all in and want to avoid last minute stress, you'll want to take some time to Get Your Holiday Calendar into Shape.

Looking for some gift ideas? How about clutter-free gifts this year? When you subscribe to my monthly newsletter, you'll receive my popular guide, Clutter-Free Gift Giving Guide: Giving Love, Not Stuff.

For more Works For Me Ideas, visit We Are THAT Family.

Countdown to Christmas: Get Your Calendar into Shape

2009-11-17T07:58:00.004-06:00

Preparation Week

It's time to take a look at the calendar. This is so helpful in planning because it helps you get sense of how much time you really have to do the all the things you want to do for this Holiday Season.

Grab your calendar or planner and take a look at November and December. Or, you can print my November and December 2009 Countdown to Christmas Planning Sheets and keep them organized with your own personal Holiday or Christmas folder or binder as I talked about HERE.

Make sure you have upcoming events on your calendar, such as church programs, children's' school programs, parties and gatherings, cookie exchanges, planned shopping dates, etc.
Now think about the tasks you would like to do such as send out cards and packages, get the carpets cleaned, get haircuts for the kids, take a family photo, etc. Make a list of appointments that you have to make and once those are confirmed, enter them on your calendar. Book your babysitters now!!

If you are using your own calendar or planner, enter my Countdown to Christmas topics for each week. If you are using my planning sheets, they are already printed for you.

Take a look at the empty spaces you have left on your calendar. Is it enough for all those Holiday things you want to do? Make sure you have time for the most important ones, the rest is extra. Review what you wrote for you have-to-do traditions on the Holiday Values and Traditions Worksheet. If you skipped this step, go back and do it.

Countdown to Christmas: Preparation Week

2009-11-16T16:10:00.003-06:00

This week is the first week of my Countdown to Christmas and it's Preparation Week. It's time to get your mind, heart and calendar in shape.

I find it helpful to time time to reflect on the Holidays before they arrive. I touched on this in my recent article, Prepare Your Heart and Mind for the Holidays.

To go even further, I've come up with a few more questions to consider.

What three things are most important to you during the Holidays?
What are you have-to-do traditions?
What traditions would you consider letting go
What stressors do you want to eliminate from your Holidays?
What would you like to do different than from last year?
What would you like to do the same as last year?

You can also find the same questions on my Holiday Values and Traditions Worksheet.

If you ready to be super-organized this Holiday Season, grab a folder or 3-ring binder and start creating your personal Holiday or Christmas organizing tool. Use it to keep all your forms (I'll have more for you) and lists in one place. I'll more about this on Friday.

Countdown to Christmas: Six Weeks of Organizing Tips for the Holiday Season

2009-11-13T10:33:00.008-06:00

Does the holiday season overwhelm you or seem to come at your full force? Do you just not feel prepared as you would like to be? I want to help!

For the next six weeks I will be covering an area or topic to help you prepare (your home and your heart) for the holidays. Here's a sneak peak:

Week 1 (Nov 16): Preparation

Week 2 (Nov 23): Shopping
Week 3 (Nov 30): Home: declutter, clean, decorate

Week 4 (Dec 7): Cards and Packages

Week 5 (Dec 14): Wrapping and Baking

Week 6 (Dec 21): Final Touches

Reflection

I hope you will follow along with me as I share tips, ideas, forms and checklists to help make your holidays and Christmas more meaniful and less stressful. I hope your share your ideas and questions, too.

Prepare Your Heart and Mind for the Holidays.....November Newsletter Article

2009-11-09T07:51:00.006-06:00

There are so many events, tasks, and meals that need planning for the upcoming holidays. Planning now definitely helps, but don't forget to also prepare your mind and spirit.

Many times we feel like we have to recreate something right out of a home magazine. That just isn't realistic. We end up being so busy trying to make everything just right, we miss out on what is going on around us. There are so many "should do's" and obligations floating around in our heads.

Here's a great tip: You don't HAVE to do it all! Make time for those things that are most important to you and your family and cut the rest out!

I have challenge for you.

What if you could go into the holiday season with your heart, spirit, and mind with a new focus - one that wasn't focused on the stress, to-do lists, and busyness? What would that look like to you?

Answer the question: What does my calm and spirit focused holiday season look like? Yep, that means writing or typing it. What are those things that cause you stress - can you cut those out?
What are 3 ways (your action steps) you can make that happen? Write those down, too! They don't have to be big ones. For example, "I will only put up those decorations that I really love", "We will go to 2 holiday gatherings", or "I will let go of perfection."
Share your actions steps or comments with me other moms!

Click Here to find out how you can get more strategies, tools, and actions plans to help busy moms like you make the most of their time and take back control from the busyness.

For more Works-for-Me Ideas, visit We Are THAT Family.

New Baby, New Life

2009-11-06T08:54:00.005-06:00

So I've trying to think of a creative way letting my readers know about the arrival of our new baby and at the same time adding some thoughtful organizing tips to go along with it. My brain just is not there yet. So.............

Baby Lia arrived this week. She is dearly loved by her big sister and brother. So much so that I am seriously considering developing "Who Gets to Hold Lia Now" schedule.

From the first day home, I quickly got a taste of what being a mom of 3 (that just sounds strange to hear) will be like.

I realize that this is a major transition period in our lives and so things will seem off balance from time to time as we all adjust (especially my 5 year old son). I anticipate some unnecessary things will fall to the way side and our family priorities will be the focus. - Hey, there's that hidden organizing thought.

We have been blessed.

Moms Rock!

2009-11-05T08:14:00.000-06:00

I love working with moms and I enjoy helping them make their daily lives easier and less stressful through the tool of organization. God has given us an awesome responsibility and it's so easy to at times feel caught up and overwhelmed with the every day tasks. I truly believe that organization is tool that can help us so much.

I've recently had the opportunity to get know and work with some great women who took my Paper Organizing for Busy Moms Virtual Workshop. I am always so impressed by their determination and commitment. These women are taking care of their families, working and striving for organization and balance in their lives.

Stuff 2b Organized on Facebook

2009-10-29T09:42:00.002-05:00

Become a fan of Stuff 2b Organized

Christmas Cards: Paula's Easy Action Plan

2009-10-28T06:00:00.002-05:00

If you have struggled with meeting your goal of sending out Christmas or Holiday cards this year, now is the time to lay out an action plan. I've broken down the steps for you. Start now and do one or two steps a day or a week.

Locate the cards/envelopes you will be sending out. Using a photo card? Decide on the picture you would like to use. Even if you will be getting prints made at a later date, you can still complete steps 2-6 in the meanwhile.
Compile your list.
Determine the date you will be putting the cards in the mail. Put it on your calendar!
Create a family letter if you will be including one.
Address envelopes. Break it down into smaller batches.
Buy stamps before the post office gets super busy.
Stamp and send the cards out by your target date.

Why not consider sending cards for Thanksgiving, New Year's or Valentines?

For more Works-for-Me ideas, visit We Are THAT Family.

School Papers Piling Up? 3 Steps to Get Them Organized Today

2009-10-21T14:40:00.003-05:00

Now that school is in full swing, are the papers starting to pile up? Use my 3-T Plan™ to sort your mail daily and to get through those growing piles on your kitchen counters, table, and mudroom.

Take Out -Get rid of (recycle, shred, throw) the stuff right away that you don't need! That includes junk mail, fliers, the envelopes the stuff comes in, expired coupons and anything else that you don't need in your home sucking up your energy.
Take Action - If something requires action from you, pick a time and/or a date that you can do it. Put it on your calendar like you are scheduling an appointment with yourself.
Take Back or To File - Got stuff that you have to file or take to another part of the house? Take it there once you are done sorting through the pile.

For more Works-For-Me Ideas, visit We Are THAT Family.

Wisconsin BBB Hosts Secure Your ID Day -- ShredFest!

2009-10-15T08:47:00.003-05:00

Did you know that most identity theft crimes occur when something containing your personal information is lost or stolen? Protecting yourself from identity theft is in your own hands. If you don't need it, shred it -- responsibly!

This Saturday, October 17th, the Wisconsin Better Business Bureau will be hosting free document shredding at these three locations:

Madison
Anchor Bank - Hilldale Mall Location
302 N. Midvale Blvd.
from 8 am to 10:30 am
Limit of 3 boxes per person, please.

Metro Milwaukee
State Central Credit Union
10015 W. Greenfield Avenue
West Allis, WI 53214
from 8:30 am to 11 am
Limit of 3 boxes per person, please.

Appleton
AnchorBank
1220 W. Northland Ave.
from 8:30 am to 11 am
Limit of 3 boxes per person, please.

~The following info is provided by the WI BBB~

What needs to be shredded?

Canceled checks
Canceled checks with no long-term significance for tax or other purposes can be destroyed after one year. However, canceled checks that support tax returns, such as charitable contributions or tax payments, should be held for at least seven years – long enough to cover the six-year tax assessment period. BBB advises that consumers indefinitely keep any canceled checks and related receipts or documents for a home purchase or sale, renovations or other improvements to owned property, and non-deductible contributions to an Individual Retirement Account.

Deposit, ATM, credit card and debit card receipts
Consumers should save credit, debit, and ATM receipts until the transaction appears on their statement and they have verified that the information is accurate.

Credit card and bank account statements
Credit card and bank account statements with no tax or other long-term significance can be discarded after a year; remaining statements should be kept for up to seven years. If a consumer receives a detailed annual statement, they should keep it and shred the corresponding monthly statements.

Credit card contracts and other loan agreements
Credit card contracts and loan agreements should be kept for as long as the account is active in case the consumer has a dispute with their lender over the terms of the contract.

Documentation of a purchase or sale of stocks, bonds and other investments
Investors should retain documentation of a purchase or sale for as long as they own the investment and then seven years beyond that time. Monthly retirement and monthly investment account statements can be shredded annually after being reconciled with the year-end statement.

Paycheck Stubs
Paycheck stubs can be shredded yearly after the income has been reconciled with a W-2 or other tax forms.

Utility or monthly bills
Monthly bills should be shredded the year after being received by the consumer. This way, if it’s a power bill, for example, consumers can compare this month’s bill to last year’s bill for any major changes before shredding it.

Shred-it Checklist - Don’t just toss it, shred it!

Documents that include Social Security numbers, birth dates, PIN numbers or passwords
Banking documents and other financial information
Leases, contracts or letters that include signatures
Pre-approved credit card applications
Medical or dental bills
Travel itineraries
Used airline tickets

For more information, visit the Wisconsin Better Business Bureau or find locate your local BBB.

Countdown to Halloween

2009-10-14T09:36:00.005-05:00

There are 16 days left until Halloween. Are you prepared? Here are some things to think about to get ready for the spooky day.

Decorations
Gather all your Halloween or Fall decorations. Sort through the items and get rid of any broken pieces. If there are decorations that you aren’t displaying, pass them on or donate them. Now is a great time to weed through your decorations.

It’s always a good idea to do some de-cluttering before putting up the decorations. Here are some past De-cluttering Ideas.

When the season has passed, store your Halloween and Fall decorations together in labeled bins. You might also have your Thanksgiving decorations in the same containers so you can pull those out as you are putting your Halloween themed décor away.

Costumes
Has everyone in your family chosen their costume? Are there items that need to be made or purchased? If you are making the costumes, be sure to give yourself enough time so that you are not sewing on tails as your little creatures are running out the door. You might even want to put a reminder on your calendar for next year to allow time for costume making so you don’t feel rushed.

Treats
What about treats? Will you be handing out candy to the neighborhood goblins? What about small prizes in place of sweet treats, such as pencils, crayon, plastic bugs, etc? Are you contributing to your children’s classroom party? Will you be hosting a scary gathering of your own? What ghostly goodies do you plan to make?

Shopping
If a shopping trip is in order, be sure to make a master list. Make note of the items and the store where they might be located. If your family really loves to celebrate Halloween, it’s also not a bad idea to consider making a budget. It’s so easy to get carried away at the store when you see all the fun stuff but the extras add up fast. Here’s a Simple Halloween Shopping List to help keep it all organized.

For more Works For Me Ideas, visit We Are THAT Family.

What Cleaning Routine Works for You?

2009-10-07T13:15:00.005-05:00

Cleaning the house. It's one of those jobs that is never done. NEVER. Just like laundry.

Are you looking for some ideas and tools to help you stay on top of this never-ending chore? There are so many different approaches to take. What will work for you will depend on your preferences, schedule and family.

Here some ideas that come to mind:

Routines: Create a schedule to tackle the various house cleaning chores. Do a little each day or all of it in one marathon cleaning spree.

Daily Maintenance: The clean-as-you go approach.

Get the Family Involved: Each member of the household is responsible for specific tasks. Here's a sample of a Simple Chore Chart for Kids - It's what I'm currently using.

Make it "Fun!": Here's an idea my mom used when I was growing up. She would make a list of chores, cut the list into strips of papers and each family member randomly picked a task from a hat. Of course my brother and I didn't think it was that fun. Put on some fun music and have a reward for the family when everything is done.

The theme for today over at We Are THAT Family is Cleaning Tips. Check out the other great ideas today!

Feeling Off-Balanced?

2009-10-06T08:46:00.001-05:00

What are those things that are most important to you?

Are you satisfied in those areas of your life?

If not, what is one thing you can do today to start making changes?

Time to Get Out the Hats and Mittens

2009-10-02T08:38:00.013-05:00

Fall weather is officially here in Wisconsin! I've already sent my kids to school with hats! One of my readers sent me a great reminder to share with everyone.

Becky writes,

With the colder weather approaching we gathered the family last night, pulled out the winter coat, snow pants, hat and mitten bin and went through the whole thing. We basically did an inventory of what fits, what doesn't, and who needs what.

It seems if you want until the snow flies to buy snow pants etc, the stores are already picked over by then. I like to give my business to the local gently-used kids consignment stores, but they are even already starting to get picked over.

Its just a good idea to do your winter-wear inventory NOW, not wait until you are in panic mode!

Thanks Becky! Becky has a couple sites to check out.
Travel Activity Bags For Kids
Lake Area Moms Squad

Organize Your Recipes and Cookbooks in Five Steps.....(October Newsletter Article)

2009-10-01T06:47:00.012-05:00

Have your recipes and cookbooks gotten out of control? Do you have good intentions to get them organized but get overwhelmed when you think about it?

Imagine if you could put your hands on the exact recipe you are looking for in seconds!
To help you achieve that goal, I've laid out the 5 steps to get your recipes and cookbooks organized using my STUFF System™.

Sort
Gather all your cookbooks, loose recipes and cooking magazines. Next, start sorting into piles - cookbooks, cooking magazines and loose recipes. Then, sort your loose recipes into piles by the type of dish (desserts, poultry, fish, meat, vegetables, appetizers, etc). Look at a cookbook to get ideas of possible categories ideas.

Take Out
Go through each pile and decide what you will keep and what you will let go. If you are limited on space you'll have to be more selective. If you use just one or a few recipes from each cookbook, consider making a copy of those favorite ones and pass the cookbook on or donate the books to your library.

If you have a collection of cooking magazines taking up lots of space, tear out the recipes you use or would like to try. Recycle the rest of the magazine.

What about all those loose recipes that you've printed from the internet and clipped from magazines? Do you have more than you'll every try? Toss any incomplete or duplicate recipes.

Utilize Your Space and a System
Look at your available space. Where will your cookbooks and recipes live? In the kitchen? On a bookshelf? In a cupboard? In the pantry? Avoid storing them on your countertops.

~Ideas for Your Loose Recipes~
Create your own recipe binder to store your loose recipes. You just need a 3-ring binder, clear page protectors and divider tabs. Lay out your binder just like a cookbook. You've already sorted your recipes into piles - use those categories to label your divider tabs. Then slip the recipes into the clear page protectors. The page protectors also protect the recipes from spills and are easy to wipe clean. Perhaps you can have a section devoted to your family's favorites or a section of new recipes you want to try.

Another idea is to use a portable file box to store your loose recipes. Label each hanging file folder with the categories and slip the recipes behind the appropriate tab.

You may prefer transferring recipes to index cards to store in a recipe box or small plastic photo albums. Here is an example of how I use small photo albums for my favorite recipes. I love using this system because they are always handy.

Fill Containers
Containers keep like items together. Your recipe binder is a container. A recipe box is a container. See how this step and the previous step can go together? Be sure to label your containers.

Follow-Up
Once you have your cookbooks and recipes organized, you'll want to stay on top of them to keep it that way. Be picky about what you keep. If you try a new recipe and it just doesn't work for you family, there's no need to hold onto it anymore. Think before you print and clip! How easy would it be to get those recipes again when you are ready to make them? When you do come across a new recipe on the internet or in a magazine that you want to keep, put it in your binder and on your menu right away.

If you get a new cookbook, is there another one you can part with? Consider utilizing your local library when you're in the mood to try out a new cookbook.

Make it Happen!
Now that you have all the steps, pick a date to start working on your recipes and cookbook organizing project. Do one step at a time. Depending on how much you have, you may have to schedule multiple sessions.

*Holiday Tip* If you will be hosting or attending Holiday gatherings this season, start making your menus now. If you come across a recipe you'd like to try, make a note of it and where it is located.

*Gift Idea* Compile your and your families' favorite recipes, print them so they look nice and compile them into a small photo book. Present them as a gift by itself or in a kitchen theme basket. My Mom did this for my brother and me about 6 years ago. We both cherish that gift of her favorite recipes that she used to make. Every time I make something from that book I think of her and the memories.

My Favorite Recipes

2009-09-30T06:00:00.002-05:00

It's so easy for recipes to get out of control.

I like to keep my favorite recipes in small photo albums.

My mom gave me and my brother this one as a gift. I have all her favorites right at my finger tips.

For more Works for Me Ideas, visit We Are THAT Family.

It's a perfect time to get your cookbooks and recipes organized - just in time for the Holidays! I'll be sharing Organizing Your Cookbooks and Recipes in Five Steps in my October Newsletter. Sign up here and I'll also send your my Clutter Free Gift Giving Guide.

Do You Have a Support System? What about a Mom's group?

2009-09-25T12:52:00.004-05:00

Last night I had the privilege of presenting to the Janesville MOMS Club-East. What a great bunch of women! I shared my Prepared, Organized and Focused: 7 Great Back-to-School Tips for Moms to Start the Year off Right talk.

Here's a picture of me (looking very pregnant) with the moms.

Do you have a support group of other moms? Mom's groups are a great thing to be involved in. I've found that being connected with other moms has a great way to share ideas and information, to support one another and to just have fun!

Thanks ladies!

The Secret About To-Do Lists

2009-09-23T07:04:00.004-05:00

Writing a task on your to-do list doesn't automatically make it happen, but here are 4 simple tips that can help make your list work harder for you.

Be specific. Be clear on what you want to accomplish and how.

Set a deadline. When do you want to accomplish your task by?

Be realistic. Don't pile on so much that you start to feel overwhelmed. If you are guilty of overloading your daily list, try for 2-3 tasks a day.
Break it down. Take large projects and break them down into smaller tasks.

What are 3 things on your to-do list? Here's my to-do list for the month of October:

Set up the baby crib.
Upload our last summer photos to my online photo book project.
Call about piano lessons.

For more Works-For-Me ideas, visit We Are THAT Family.

Organize School Papers in 4 Easy Steps

2009-09-16T16:50:00.002-05:00

School papers and artwork - this is an area I know many moms struggle with because I get asked about this quite a bit. I'll share what works for me. For more Works-for-Me Ideas, visit We Are THAT Family.

Here are the simple steps:

Collect it. Have a basket or spot for each child to put the finish school papers, permission slips, communications from school that you need to look at. Be sure to put it in a spot that they can reach. Make this part of their coming home routine.
Limit it. If you kept everything, you home would quickly become a storage site. Perhaps you save your favorites from each year.
Share it. Be sure to spend time letting your child tell you about their work. That's why they bring it home to you!
Store it. However you decide to store the memorabilia, take time to label the containers with the child's name, the contents, and the age or school year of the child. That way when you do want to pull something out, you can locate the items without having to search and dig through one big container.

If you have piles of artwork and school papers you have been meaning to get through and organized, set an appointment with yourself (write it on your calendar now). Get your system in shape now!

Are you ready to put an end to all the paper piles in your home? Want the help to do it? There's still time to join me and other moms on September 26, 2009 for my Paper Organizing for Busy Moms ~A Virtual Workshop~ to learn the exact systems and steps I teach my clients to eliminate those piles. Click here to learn more and to register.

You Can Recycle Your Car Seats and Baby Gear!

2009-09-14T09:26:00.004-05:00

Toys R' Us is hosting a great recycling program for your old baby gear!

From Friday, August 28 through Sunday, September 20, Babies"R"Us and Toys"R"Us stores nationwide are holding the "Great Trade-In" event, providing customers the opportunity to trade-in any used

cribs
car seats
bassinets
strollers
travel systems
playards
high chairs

in exchange for a 20% savings on the purchase of any new baby item, in any of these product categories, from select manufacturers.

Get the details here.

You Can Get Your Papers Organized!

2009-09-10T08:00:00.005-05:00

If are looking for help to get your papers organized, I don't want you to miss out on my Paper Organizing Workshop for Busy Moms. Sign up now!

When you take part in my workshop, you'll get:

Four hours spent virtually with me in your home--As your personal organizing expert, I'll teach you step by step the systems, tools and steps to getting and keeping your papers organized. ($ Priceless)
All of the recordings of the Virtual Workshop classes--You'll receive all the downloadable recordings from the Virtual Workshop so you can listen to the classes again when ever you need a refresher or tune-up. ($59 value)
The Busy Mom's Paper Survival Kit--I'll send you my favorite paper organizing tools including the Tickler File and the HomeFile Filing System. I will teach you how to use these awesome tools during the Virtual Workshop. ($69 value)
Paper Organization for Busy Moms 30+ page Workbook and Reference Guide--The Workbook and Reference guide is a valuable resource for you to use during (and after) the Virtual workshop. It includes helpful worksheets, forms, and articles, all designed to help you take control and get your papers organized. ($29 value)
Complementary Membership in the Busy Moms Get Organized Success Circle--As soon as you register for the Virtual Workshop, you will be able to connect with other moms who are working towards organization, too. This is a great place to share information, ideas and support one another. ($39 value)
And....A Special Reunion Teleclass and Accountability Follow-up Emails--You will join me and your classmates for a 60 minute follow-up teleclass one month after the Virtual Workshop. You'll have the opportunity to share your successes and ask me questions so I can support you after the workshop. I'll provide you with accountability through reminder emails for 4 weeks following the Virtual Workshop. ($59 value)

The total value of the Virtual Workshop, materials, and bonuses is over $400.00! If you have considered working with an organizing expert in the past, now is the time! Register Now!

Quick Tips to End the Paper Clutter

2009-09-09T06:00:00.001-05:00

Paper just seems to multiply. You get so much in the mail and the kids bring home even more every day. Pretty soon the piles grow and take over your counter tops. It doesn't take too long before it's overwhelming!

I believe it's best to deal with the paper that comes into your home on a daily basis. This works for me and saves me so much time and energy. For more Works-For-Me ideas, visit We Are THAT Family today!

I suggest making a point to make decisions on those papers every day by asking yourself:

Do I need to act on this? If the answer is yes, pick a date and do it.
Do I need to refer to this on a later date? Put it on your calendar.
Do I need to give this to someone else?

If you answered no to all three questions, most likely you don't need to keep it. Make this part of your daily routine and you will be on your way to putting an end to paper clutter before it even starts.

Are you ready to put an end the paper piles in your home? Want the help to do it? Join me on September 26, 2009 for my Paper Organizing for Busy Moms ~A Virtual Workshop~ to learn the exact systems and steps I teach my clients to eliminate those piles. Just $97 when you register by 9/11/09, $137 after that.

Click here to learn more and to register.

I Want to Help You Get Your Papers Organized!

2009-09-07T11:49:00.004-05:00

Paper Organizing for Busy Moms
~A Virtual Workshop

This virtual workshop is for you if you:

Have tried getting your papers organized before and failed
Are a busy mom who is determined to spend more time doing those things you enjoy instead of searching through papers
Have considered seeking the help of organizing expert
Want to be free from the paper piles and mess in your home

When you register by Friday, September 11 you'll receive these special bonuses:

Making Time for What's Important Home Study Program (manage your time, manage your life and create the balance you yearn for)
A Mom's Guide to Organizing Children's School Papers and Artwork (the resource for maintaining, organizing and displaying your child's work)
The Early Bird Special of only $97 (regular price of $137 after 9/11)
Register Now!

You'll Learn:

The steps to get rid of those invasive paper piles with my 3-T Plan
How to set up your own Household Action Center so you can find what you need when you need it with no more piles
What papers you should keep, for how long and where
How to set up an easy-to-use filing system so you can have your important papers at your finger tips
My five step Stuff System to help you get through those overwhelming stashes of paper, including the kids' papers and artwork.

How it Works:
Throughout the workshop there will be a series of four live teleclasses with me. I'll walk you through the exact steps of paper organization. After each teaching session you will then be able to apply what you have learned right away during your in-home organizing session. I'll be holding your hand all the way through. You'll also receive a 30 page workbook and products worth $98! Learn more here.

What one mom had to say after participating in my Paper Organizing for Busy Moms Virtual Workshop:

"Things are going well and I'm setting aside time each day to work through the rest of the paper piles. I LOVE the systems and it is motivating to see how much I have accomplished already! The day of the workshop I kept organizing until that night. I was amazed at how much I got done in one day. I've already had several times where I needed to locate something and I actually found it within seconds! No more wasting time searching. Thanks again!"

Find Out More and Register Now!

9 Quick Tips for Reducing the Morning Stress! .....September Newsletter Article

2009-09-03T12:53:00.007-05:00

Think for a moment how your family starts off the day. How would you describe the mornings in your household? Do they tend to be calm and peaceful or rushed and stressful -or, somewhere in the middle? I found that planning ahead really helps to curb the morning madness. Here are nine quick ideas to help make your mornings less of production for you and your family.

Tip #1: Get up 15-30 minutes before the kids. Give yourself time to get up and ready to go before the children need to be up. I find that when I do this I am more relaxed and able to focus on helping my children. The day is more likely to start off with conversation rather than prodding and nagging. I also feel better about myself. When I feel good about myself, it has such a positive impact on my day!

Tip #2: Make sure the kids have adequate time to get ready for school without being rushed. Note how much time it takes them to complete all their necessary morning tasks and chores. Ideally, I like to have a 15 minute cushion of downtime before they walk out the door.

Tip #3: Have the kids empty their backpacks after school, not the next morning, to avoid any last minute surprises. Designate a drop-off spot for school papers, notes or permission slips that you need to see.

The Night Before
Tip #4: Have your children layout their clothes they want to wear the next day. Make this simple step a part of their bedtime routine.

Tip #5: Make sure the backpacks and school supplies are ready to go near the door. Maybe even the shoes and jackets, too. During the winter month, I get all the snow gear out and ready to go.

Tip #6: What about the lunches? Can they be made ahead of time? Does money need to go to school to pay for hot lunch?

Tip #7: Determine the breakfast menu and set the bowls and cereal out after dinner.

Tip #8: Develop a bedtime routine that works for your family and stick to it the best you can. A rested child is able to focus and learn better than a tired one. Tip #9: Double check your calendar, including the car pool schedule. What tasks do you want to accomplish the next day?

You Can Still Join Me Today for My Free Teleclass

2009-09-03T08:59:00.002-05:00

Prepared, Organized and Focused:7 Great Back-to-School Tips for Moms to Start the Year off Right!

I'll share the top seven tips that will help you get focused, organized and ease the stress during this busy time and beyond.

Here are some of the things that I will be covering during this call:

How to keep your focus on the important stuff during this busy time
8 tips to put an end to the morning rush
How to make the most of your time without feeling overwhelmed
The steps to finally getting those organizing projects done
The 4 steps to controlling all the school papers and artwork
How to reserve your spot for my upcoming Virtual Workshop, Paper Organizing for Busy Moms with bonuses and special pricing

When: TODAY! Thursday, September 3

Time: 12:00pm Eastern / 11:00am Central /10:00am Mountain / 9:00am Pacific
Cost: Nothing! It's Free, but you must register.

If you can't make the call that's OK! Still register and I'll send your the link to the downloadable recording.

Organizing Ideas for Laundry Duty

2009-09-02T05:01:00.001-05:00

For more Works-For-Me ideas, visit We Are THAT Family.

Join me September 3 for my free Back-to-School teleclass! I'll be talking about the morning rush, school papers and artwork, getting more done without feeling overwhelmed and my Paper Organizing Workshop for Busy Moms.

Organizing Ideas for Laundry Duty

The average person spends six hours a week washing clothes, according to a survey of homeowners conducted on behalf of Sears, Roebuck and Co. There are possible solutions to make your laundry less invasive in your daily life.

Start with the Laundry Area
Depending on the size of your space, there may be steps you can take right where you do your wash. Try to locate your machines side by side to save on steps.

Install a closet rod with a shelf or a rod between two cabinets to hang clothes. Keep your detergents, stain removers and fabric softeners right next to the machines, preferably in a cabinet or on a shelf. Keep a clean surface to fold clothes and have bins or baskets for sorting.

Your System
Only do what you can wash, dry, fold and put away in one day. You may prefer to do all your wash in one day; someone else might prefer to spread it out to a few days. Some prefer to do all their ironing for the week at once, others may prefer to do it daily. I prefer that my husband does the ironing; he’s much more efficient and therefore he’s better qualified!
If your space allows it, save yourself the extra work and fold clothes right out of the dryer and into baskets for each member to put away.

If you have the closet space, try hanging more clothes rather than folding and storing items in drawers. Less folding means less time spent doing laundry. Have a hamper or basket in each bedroom that can easily be carried to the laundry room.

Help from Family Members
Involve family members as much as possible and get children involved from a young age. Yes, a toddler will take great pleasure in learning how to fold towels and putting away their own clothes. This may mean a little extra effort from you now, but in the long run you are teaching them the skills to do it on their own.

Assign each child a day to help with the laundry. Chances are being involved will help them understand that every item of clothing they try on does not automatically go into the dirty clothes.

Teach family members to assess the level of dirtiness of the clothing they remove. Socks and underwear automatically get tossed in the hamper. Jeans can be worn more than one time.

Other Time Saving Ideas
If you are doing a major clean and come across a ton of laundry (most often found in children’s bedrooms), consider making a trip to the laundry mat. You could get multiple loads done at once. This is also a great idea for the return home from a trip. Rather than unpacking all those dirty clothes, take the suitcases right to the laundry mat.

Take a good look at the amount of clothing each family member owns. If you can go for 2-3 weeks without running out of clothing, you may have more than you really need.

Whatever system you try, stick to it for a few weeks and then make changes or adjustments if needed. Laundry is something many of us dislike; it is time consuming and never ending. But, I am grateful I don’t have to boil the water, scrub my clothing on a washboard, or by a river bed, for that matter.

First Day of School

2009-09-01T08:53:00.004-05:00

Well, my kids are off for their first day of school. My daughter is in second grade and my son is in Kindergarten. Both are excited to be going to school.

This is a new transition for us. Both of my children will be in school full-time 5 days a week. I'm excited for them and for me!

I've always felt blessed to be a work-at-home mom with my own business. It has given me the flexibility to be there for my kids and to work when it works for me and my family.

I've got my list of tasks I want to accomplish today, including putting the finishing touches on my free teleclass, Prepared, Organized and Focused:7 Great Back-to-School Tips for Moms to Start the Year off Right!. I also have a couple household tasks that need to get done like laundry (blah!).

Yes, I am so enjoying this time! In 9 weeks or so I will be starting another life transition as our third child will hopefully be arriving healthy and happy. I have to be honest with you, the thought of starting again with a baby scares me a bit. It's also exciting. What will this child be like? Where will this take us? I can't help but think that we can't even imagine the wonderful times and blessing that are in store for us.

How did your first day of school go? What emotions are you feeling?

Organizing Your Volunteers

2009-08-31T08:29:00.006-05:00

I just learned about a great tool — a free, easy-to-use online tool that takes the hassle and headache out of coordinating volunteers and encourages everyone to get involved.

Check out www.VolunteerSpot.com if you coordinate volunteers or belong to a group that could use some help getting their volunteer efforts organized. This is even great for teachers who would like to recruit parent helpers in the classroom.

With just a few simple clicks, VolunteerSpot enables anyone to organize a group, no matter the size, to sign up for any activity — from reading to the first-grade class to staffing the football concessions stand to attending parent-teacher conferences. Organizers can mobilize parent volunteers with an easy e-mail sign-up invitation, and parents can volunteer for tasks with a simple click on an online calendar. No registration required. Automated e-mails remind folks of their commitments and schedule. No more mass “reply all” e-mails, late-night phone calls, dreaded clipboard sign-up sheets or confusion over exactly who will be doing what.

How to Prevent Child Identity Theft

2009-08-31T04:41:00.000-05:00

Tips provided by TrustedID.

1) Shred all documents that contain your child’s personal information before throwing them out.

2) Keep personal information in a secure area in your home.

3) Monitor incoming mail in your child’s name. Marketing letters, pre-approved credit card offers or even debt collection notices may not be random consumer mailing – these could be red flags that your child’s identity is being misused.

4) Teach your children not to give out personal information without your permission, and to be careful about publishing information about themselves online.

5) Teach your kids to play games only from trusted sources, and to ask your permission before downloading free software.

6) Try requesting your child’s credit report. You should be told that no such report exists yet, but if you do receive a report, take that as a sign that someone has tried to apply for credit using your child’s Social security number, and follow up accordingly. If your child does have a credit report, request a Minor Alert which works like a credit freeze, stopping any third party from getting access to your child’s credit report.

7) Do not carry your child’s Social Security number in your wallet. If necessary, make a photocopy of the card and cut off the last four numbers.

8) Be careful with whom you share your child’s personal information. For example, if your child’s after school sports program requires a copy of a birth certificate and/or Social Security card, ask if the coach has had a criminal and financial background check done by an independent or hiring source. Show the papers to the coach and then put them in a sealed envelope, and write your name across the sealed flap so you can tell if it has been opened when it is returned to you. Initial the back of each page so you can tell if you got the original back at the end of the season. Ask where these papers will be stored during the season.

Back-to-School: A Complimentary Teleclass Just for Moms!

2009-08-26T07:14:00.013-05:00

If you are determined to start this school year off right, join me on Thursday, September 3 for my complementary teleclass.

Prepared, Organized and Focused:7 Great Back-to-School Tips for Moms to Start the Year off Right!

I'll share the top seven tips that will help you get focused, organized and ease the stress during this busy time and beyond.

Here are some of the things that I will be covering during this call:

How to keep your focus on the important stuff during this busy time
8 tips to put an end to the morning rush

How to make the most of your time without feeling overwhelmed

The steps to finally getting those organizing projects done
The 4 steps to controlling all the school papers and artwork
How to reserve your spot for my upcoming Virtual Workshop, Paper Organizing for Busy Moms with bonuses and special pricing

When: Thursday, September 3
Time: 12:00pm Eastern / 11:00am Central /10:00am Mountain / 9:00am Pacific

Cost: Nothing! It's Free, but you must register.

If you can't make the call that's OK! Still register and I'll send your the link to the downloadable recording.

For more Works for Me ideas, visit We Are THAT Family.

Quick Organizing: Makeup

2009-08-24T08:40:00.002-05:00

Do you feel like you just don't have a lot time to devote to organizing? No problem! You can schedule mini organizing session to tackle small projects.

I've come up with 8 simple home organizing projects that you can do in 20 minutes or less. See past Quick Home Organizing Ideas.

Project #8
Go through your makeup, skin care products and lotions. Get rid of the old stuff. Keep only what you use on a regular basis. Can you add containers to keep like items together?

Quick Organizing: Linen Closet

2009-08-21T08:08:00.004-05:00

Do you feel like you just don't have a lot time to devote to organizing? No problem! You can schedule mini organizing session to tackle small projects.

I've come up with 8 simple home organizing projects that you can do in 20 minutes or less. I'll be sharing these quick projects with you during the next few weeks.

Project #7
Take a look at your linen closet. Sort through the items and take out the stuff that you don't use or need anymore. Straighten up the stuff that you do use.

Utilize a system by designating a purpose each shelf. For example, one shelf could be for the master bedroom linens, another for the children's room, and the next for extra toiletries. Check out the before and after photos of this linen closet.

*Apply project #7 to any closet in your home.

See past Quick Home Organizing Ideas.

Quick Organizing: The Nightstands

2009-08-20T10:24:00.000-05:00

Do you feel like you just don't have a lot time to devote to organizing? No problem! You can schedule mini organizing session to tackle small projects.

I've come up with 8 simple home organizing projects that you can do in 20 minutes or less. I'll be sharing these quick projects with you during the next few weeks.

Project #6
Clear off your nightstands. Are there books that need to go back on the bookshelf or back to the library? Dust off the top. Go through the drawers using my STUFF System™.

See past Quick Home Organizing Ideas.

Back-To-School Routines

2009-08-19T07:00:00.005-05:00

Making that back-to-school transition can be tough. Getting the kids (and myself) back into the routine before school starts works for me. For more Works-for-Me Ideas, visit We Are THAT Family.

I found that it's helpful to break it down and look at all the mini routines. For example:

Bedtime: Start the bedtime routine about two weeks prior to the first day of school. The body takes time to adjust and helping your kids get back on track ahead of time will allow them to be more focused and less physically stressed once school starts.

Morning: What do you want your children to accomplish before they head off to school for the day? How much time do they need to complete all the tasks without being rushed? Now is the time to figure that out in case you have to adjust the wake-up time. I like to have a cushion of time so the kids can play a bit before heading out the door.

Chores: What tasks and chores can your kids do around the house on a regular basis? Perhaps start a chore chart prior to school to get them into the swing of things before other new activities start.

Your family might consider having a family meeting so you can talk with your kids about the routines and expectations during the school year. Take this time to discuss interests or extra activities the kids will participating in during the fall as well. Is it all realistic for your family and for the ages of your children? Will they have time for homework, playing with friends, and good old down-time?

If you are determined to start this school year off right, join me for my complementary teleclass, Prepared, Organized and Focused: 7 Great Back-to-School Tips for Moms to Start the Year off Right! as I share the top seven tips that will help you get focused, organized and ease the stress during this busy time and beyond.

Six Tools to Relieve Your Child's "Back-to-School-itis"

2009-08-18T13:00:00.000-05:00

By Charlotte Reznick PhD, author of The Power of Your Child's Imagination: How to Transform Stress and Anxiety into Joy and Success

http://www.imageryforkids.com/

For some kids, going back to school at the end of summer can be traumatic. Anticipating a new teacher, classmates, grade, or school can trigger fear, anxiety, and depression--not to mention very real physical symptoms such as stomachaches, headaches, and insomnia.

Fortunately, your child has a whole toolbox to draw from--in her own imagination. Here are six imagination tools parents can use with young children to relieve "back-to-school-itis."

Teach her to balloon breathe. With her hands around her navel, have her breathe slowly and deeply into her lower belly so it presses into her hands like an inflating balloon. The Balloon Breath has dramatic calming effects and facilitates a waking state of focused concentration and receptivity to positive suggestions. This one tool makes all the other ones easier.

Visit his special place. This is a safe private place within your child's inner world where he can work out problems or take a mini-vacation from stress and worry. He can invite a wise Animal Friend into his special place to talk to and help him, or he can even dig for a treasure box there that contains the antidote to his fear.

Draw the fear. Putting an image on paper: (1) makes her fear of separation realer and less frightening than keeping it inside, and (2) makes her fear less likely to grow because there is a concrete picture to work with. Once she has a picture, she can talk to it, find out why it's trying to scare her, strike a bargain with it, surround it with a soothing color bubble, and so on.

Talk to his symptom. When a child suffers from a worry headache or stomachache, these three questions can help eliminate the pain. Have him do deep balloon breathing (diaphragmatic breathing), then ask: (1) What color is it? (2) What shape is it? (3) How heavy is it? After more breaths, ask him again. Continue to breathe and question in rounds. His pain will likely change or disappear. If it doesn't completely go away, ask the ache what it wants him to know, do, or understand to release any more bits of pain.

Picture the future. Artwork is also an effective starting point when you're working with clear end-goals, like getting a good night's sleep or reducing a fear. Have your child draw two drawings--how things are now and how she'd like them to be. Hang the picture in her bedroom; this is a great reminder of her desired goal and the first step toward getting there.

Encourage drama. For kids whose nature tends toward drama, acting out their worries and troubles is a wonderful way to release them. Let them play it out--with puppets, with their bodies, with anything their imagination suggests. It's amazing what creative solutions come up when given free reign.

* * * * *
Charlotte Reznick is a child educational psychologist, an associate clinical professor of psychology at UCLA, and author of a new book, The Power of Your Child's Imagination: How to Transform Stress and Anxiety into Joy and Success (Perigee, 2009, $14.95). Receive Dr. Reznick's Top Ten For Free: What Kids Most Want and Need From Their Parents here.

Quick Organizing: Declutter Your Closet

2009-08-17T10:28:00.000-05:00

Do you feel like you just don't have a lot time to devote to organizing? No problem! You can schedule mini organizing session to tackle small projects.

I've come up with 8 simple home organizing projects that you can do in 20 minutes or less.

Project #5

Get rid of 10-20 items from your closet that you haven't worn in the last 6-12 months.

See past Quick Home Organizing Ideas.

Quick Organizing: Kitchen Counters

2009-08-14T07:31:00.004-05:00

Do you feel like you just don't have a lot time to devote to organizing? No problem! You can schedule mini organizing session to tackle small projects.

I've come up with 8 simple home organizing projects that you can do in 20 minutes or less. I'll be sharing these quick projects with you during the next few weeks.

Project #4
Feeling overwhelmed in your kitchen? Clear you kitchen counter tops. Keep only what you use on a daily basis on your counters. Think of your counters as a work space, not a storage space. Do you have large appliances that are use only a few times a year that are taking up your workspace? Can they be stored in a lower cabinet? If you are feeling really ambitious, check out my post on Kitchen Organization.

See past Quick Home Organizing Ideas.

Quick Organizing: Fast De-Cluttering

2009-08-13T11:19:00.008-05:00

Do you feel like you just don't have a lot time to devote to organizing? No problem! You can schedule mini organizing session to tackle small projects.

I've come up with 8 simple home organizing projects that you can do in 20 minutes or less. I'll be sharing these quick projects with you during the next few weeks.

Project #3

Set a timer for 15 minutes. Next, grab a box and fill it with all the stuff hanging out in your kitchen that doesn't belong there. Then, return items to their homes. If you come across something that you are holding onto "just in case", get rid of it. If you come across an item that you are just not sure what to do with, start asking yourself questions.

1 - Do I need this?

2 - Do I have a use for this?

3 - Is this something someone else can use?

*Repeat Quick Organizing Project #3 in your mudroom, entryway and laundry room.

See past Quick Home Organizing Ideas.

School Tips from a Teacher

2009-08-12T09:26:00.003-05:00

I came across a wonderful post from Drivel and Whatnot. Check out her School Tips from a Teacher. A good reminder for all parents and very informative for those just sending their little ones off to school.

Back to School: Registration, Forms, and Schedules

2009-08-12T08:10:00.006-05:00

Planning ahead helps me get the new school year off to a great start. Here are a few tips and ideas to help you make that school year transition.

Registration

You got the school registration date on your calendar, right? Do you have the countless forms you have to fill out? (OK, I know the picture to the right is a little bit of an exaggeration, but I think it conveys the feeling well).

If possible, get your hands on all the forms you will need to complete ahead of time. This gives your ample time for fact finding that you may need to do.

Get the forms filled out and then make copies! Now, almost definitely you won't be able to use these copies in the future, but you can file them and have them on hand to make next year's registration that much quicker.

Immunization Records

Not sure on your children's immunization records? Call your children's physician's office or check your state website for a immunization records database.

Click here if you live in Wisconsin: Wisconsin Immunization Records

Calendars and Schedules

Take the time now to get the school calendar dates on your calendar. Do the same with the kids' various activities, practice schedules, games, performances, etc. Are you planning to take any vacations during school breaks? I like to keep my calendar clear of extra appointments before and after family trips to keep the stress of family vacations to a minium.

For more Works For Me Ideas, visit We Are THAT Family.

P.S. I'm hosting a free teleclass on Thursday, September 3rd called Prepared, Organized and Focused: 7 Great Back-to-School Tips for Moms to Start the Year Off Right! It's free, you just have to register!

Back to School: Tips for Shopping for School Supplies and Clothes

2009-08-10T08:16:00.005-05:00

Back-to-school time is a busy and often stressful period for many families. One of the tasks that is usually tackled first is the school shopping. Take some time to plan ahead before you rush out to the stores.

First determine what you need before you start school shopping. If you take the time to do an inventory, you may find out that you don't need to buy as much as you thought (saving money is great!). Making lists will also help you save time at the store and reduce your stress.

School Supplies
Get the supply lists for all your children. Most schools now make these lists available to parents in school mailings, the school website, or at the local stores.Determine what supplies you actually need to buy. I believe this is a great opportunity to teach your children that there is a big difference between need and want.

There is an excitement for kids to have all new stuff for the new school year but what are we teaching them if we have perfectly usable folders and notebooks at home that end up becoming more clutter? Chances are, if you have children returning to school, some of their supplies sent home at the end of the year will be ready to go back.

I tend to buy a few extra supplies to have on hand at home. Check your inventory and the supply lists. What do you need to buy? Get the kids involved and let them create the list.

Clothes
Again, take inventory of the clothes and shoes at home. You might need to have your kids try stuff on to determine what fits and what they have outgrown. Have a bag ready for donations. Drop the donations off on your way to the store.If you do need to stock up on clothes, make a list of exactly what you need. If it will be a while before the weather changes, wait to buy the warm season clothes when they are on sale.

Back-to-school time doesn’t have to be stressful. With some planning and organization, you can help make a great start to a new school year!

P.S. I'm hosting a free teleclass on Thursday, September 3rd called Prepared, Organized and Focused: 7 Great Back-to-School Tips for Moms to Start the Year Off Right! It's free, you just have to register!

Quick Organizing: Paper Shredding

2009-08-07T09:31:00.003-05:00

Do you feel like you just don't have a lot time to devote to organizing? No problem! You can schedule mini organizing session to tackle small projects.

I've come up with 8 simple home organizing projects that you can do in 20 minutes or less. I'll be sharing these quick projects with you during the next two weeks.

Project #2
Do you have a pile of papers that are sitting around waiting to shredded? Gather all those papers and box them up. Find a free upcoming shred-a-thon near you and get those papers shredded!

See past Quick Home Organizing Ideas.

Quick Organizing: Magazines

2009-08-05T06:23:00.004-05:00

Do you feel like you just don't have a lot time to devote to organizing? No problem! You can schedule mini organizing session with yourself to tackle small projects. These mini tasks may give you the motivation to tackle larger organizing projects.

I've come up with 8 simple home organizing projects that you can do in 20 minutes or less. I'll be sharing these quick project with you during the next few weeks.

Project #1

Weed through that magazine pile and keep only the last 2 months' issues. Straighten up the pile or put them in a decorative basket. Re-evaluate the subscriptions you are getting. If you find you just have the time to read all the magazines, decide which one you will no longer receive.

For more Works-For-Me ideas, visit We Are THAT Family.

Garage Organization: 4 Simple Steps

2009-07-29T05:20:00.000-05:00

Before you start hauling stuff out, know what your local dump will accept and will not accept. And, know their hours of operation. You probably won’t want to have a pile of trash sitting in your driveway for too long.

1. Totally clean out the space. Use the driveway and yard to sort items into piles (this is where watching the weather can be helpful). Some main categories might be yard tools, sports equipment, auto items, donations or things to take to the dump. As you are sorting, ask yourself, “when is the last time I used this?” Don’t sort the small stuff, such as nuts and bolts, at this time. Put all those smaller items into a container and save the detail sorting for a later time.

2. Take the time to sweep out the garage and wipe off surfaces. Start with a clean slate. A clean space tends to stay organized longer than a dirty one.

3. Now that your garage is cleaned out and your items sorted, decide where you want to store everything. Think about zones. Some examples of the different zones you might have in your garage are sports equipment, tools and work space, auto or seasonal. Use sturdy shelving units and containers with labels. Keep the kid stuff at the lowest level for easy access and, more importantly, easy clean-up. Use wall-mounted racks to safely store shovels, racks, bikes and sports equipment.

4. Finally, you are ready to actually park your vehicles in your garage, but don't forget about the maintenance. Every organizing system requires effort and upkeep from those using the space. Remember, a clean space stays organized longer. Make it an expectation that items will be returned to their bin or shelf after each use.

For more Works-For-Me ideas, visit We Are THAT Family.

Want to Get Organized? Here Are the Steps

2009-07-23T08:00:00.000-05:00

"Where do I start?" I am asked that over and over. Many have good intentions of getting organized-they just don't know where to start. Start small! If organizing is a challenge for you, break it down and start small. Pick a drawer. How about that junk drawer that just won't close (or open) when you want it to? Here are 5 simple steps that will help you break your organizing project down and keep you on track.

STUFF System™

Sort. Take everything out of the drawer and sort like items together. Get all the batteries together. Pile up all the pens and pencils.

Take Out. Throw out broken items and pieces that just don't go to anything. Make a pile of items that just don't belong in that drawer, but don't take them to their homes yet! Wait until you are all finished before you do that.

Utilize a System. How can you divide that drawer to make the best use of the space? Pens and notepads on the side closest to the phone? Flashlight near the front so you can find it in the dark?

Fill Containers. Use small inexpensive containers to to contain like items. Remember those piles you created while sorting? Keep them together so when you retrieve something and return something, its quick and easy. Plus, you will keep your stuff from getting all mixed up from opening and closing the drawer.

Follow-Up. Yes, it will take work to keep your new organized drawer nice and neat, but having a system in place will make it so much easier.

So, where can you start today? What drawer or shelf or cupboard will help you get warmed up? Pick one small area that you can do today and follow my STUFF System™.

Get your copies of my special reports just for moms, 5 Must-Know Organizing Tips For Busy Moms and The Clutter-Free Gift Giving Guide HERE.

Don't Answer The Phone

2009-07-21T08:00:00.001-05:00

Got stuff you want to get done around the house and your determined? Don't answer the phone! This interruption can get you off track. If you need to answer, keep the time to a minimum. Just kindly ask the caller if it would be OK if you give them a call later because you are right in the middle of something that needs your attention.

Oh yeah, resist the urge to "quick check" your email, Facebook and Twitter, too.

Traveling With Children: I Will Not Over-Pack This Time!

2009-07-17T08:42:00.012-05:00

I've said it before but this time I am determined!

I will not over-pack for our family vacation. What makes this year different from the last 11 years? This year I have a plan and I'm sticking to it!

Here's My Simple Plan:

Use my packing list.

Stick to my packing list.

Resist the urge to pack one more thing "just in case."

Blog about my plan to give myself some accountability.

Reflect on the benefits of not over-packing.

We have been going on this "Up North" vacation by the lake for 11 years now (8 with years with children) and I have perfectly clear idea of what we need and what we don't need. So no more excuses for me! I'm just going to focus on why I don't need to or want to over pack.

The less stuff I take with, the less I have to deal with going and coming home. That means more time to focus on the important stuff...family!

When Do You Know You Need a Break?

2009-07-16T14:24:00.003-05:00

Ever have one of THOSE days?

If we want to be the best we can be in our roles as moms, co-workers, spouses, friends and members of the community, we must take time for ourselves. This is something I really need to remind myself to do on a regular basis.

When my patience is low, I know I need a break. When I don't feel like communicating with my husband, I know I need a break. When I lock myself in the bathroom so my kids can't find me, I know I need a break.

Some of my favorite things to do when I need a break for me-time are:

Read a book in a quiet place.
Go for a walk by myself or with a friend and listen to why they need a break, too.
Go to the local coffee shop and order an iced Chai tea and work on a project.
Get a facial or massage or a pedicure.
Get together with friends for dinner or dessert.

How about you?

Inexpensive Container Ideas for Organizing

2009-07-14T15:56:00.021-05:00

You don't have to spend a lot of money when it comes to organizing and sometimes no money at all! I like to use containers that I have around the house when it comes to organizing. Filling containers is the forth step in my simple organizing STUFF System™.

To the right is a drawer in my kitchen. The front checkered cardboard box came from a cheese gift basket. I keep my chip clips in a handy location because we use them so much. The back two baskets were odd and ends from my collection of containers. The items I don't use as much are stored in the back.

I believe I picked up this inexpensive basket pictured on the left at Goodwill or a rummage sale. It works perfectly for my home video cassettes. I keep the tapes right by my photo albums, scrapbooks and picture DVDs.

To the right is a picture of my daughter's "hair stuff drawer". I made use of a set of decorative boxes and their lids. Now, this drawer is not always this tidy! When it gets out of hand, we sit down together to resort and reorganize.

To the left is the cabinet in the main bathroom houses mostly kid stuff. On the top self to the left, I simply covered a cardboard box with wrapping paper--that one holds medicine. The container on the top right holds first aid items. I've made use of another decorative box and the lid on the bottom shelf. Extras are kept in the box and the lid holds regularly used items.

Do you have any clever and inexpensive organizing ideas that work for you?

For more Works-For-Me Ideas, visit We Are THAT Family.

Learn how you can get your copies of my special reports just for moms, 5 Must-Know Organizing Tips For Busy Moms and The Clutter-Free Gift Giving Guide HERE.

Camping and Organizing

2009-07-13T09:11:00.002-05:00

We took the kids camping this weekend. I like camping, but one weekend a year is just right for me.

I remember as a kid setting up the tent in our backyard. I loved getting everything just right. Not much as changed and I'm now in charge of packing everything up for the weekend-what a surprise, right? In fact, my husband now knows that’s my job and ‘lets’ me do it.

When we get to the site, he sets up the tent and I unpack the rest and get stuff set up. My 7 year old daughter loves to help me. Half way through the weekend, I do a “reorganizing of the site” and my husband just rolls his eyes at me (I can’t help it!). I’ve also learned to let a lot go and just enjoy the time with my family. The kids are going to remember the fun stuff, not the tidy campsite.

Getting Stuff Done

2009-07-08T07:54:00.002-05:00

What time of day are your mental and physical energies high? If possible, use that time for completing your most important projects and tasks.

I find that I am most productive in the morning and though I hate dragging myself out of bed before the kids, I do it when I have things I want to get done and out of the way. Most of the time it gives me a lot of motivation for the rest of the day.

Please understand that I don't think the goal is to cram in as much as you can during your day. Busyness in itself is not a healthily goal. I find that having a general idea of what tasks I would like to accomplish for the next day gives me direction. If I have a never-ending and unrealistic to-do list, I end up feeling stressed out and exhausted. I'm not happy and my family is not happy.

For more Works-For-Me ideas, visit We Are THAT Family.

A Quick List for the 4th of July

2009-07-04T08:38:00.005-05:00

Happy 4th of July! Thank you to all who work and fight for the freedoms I enjoy!

Our family headed out to watch some fireworks last night. I thought I would quickly list what I brought along in the hopes it might help one mom avoid that "I wish I would have brought......."

Bug spray!

Blanket and chairs
Snacks and beverages
Long pants and jackets, just in case

Plastic bag for garbage

Camera
Glow sticks - 12 for $1 at target!
Lots of friends!

Here's my "I wish I would have brought" items: balls and Frisbees of some sort. The kids ended up improvising with a stuffed toy. Just goes to show you that you should never underestimate your kids' imagination for self entertainment.

Don't Over-Schedule your Summer and Family

2009-07-02T07:21:00.001-05:00

Allow for an adequate amount of free time this summer and be flexible. It's not your job to entertain your children every minute of every day. Empower them to think of possibilities and to be creative.

Richard Carlson Ph.D, states in his book, Don't Sweat the Small Stuff with Your Family, "Children who have too many opportunities, choices, scheduled activities, and things to do are often the ones who are the most susceptible to boredom." He adds, "You'll be doing your kids a tremendous favor by teaching them that there's nothing wrong with not having something to do every minute of every day."

What about you? I admit, I'm keeping my kids pretty busy this summer, but we do have down time, too. I find that if I don't plan ahead for certain activities, they just won't get on the calendar. I also love last minute surprises and I can be flexible. Yesterday as a special treat, I took the kids to see Ice Age 3. Swim lessons were cancelled because of the cold!

"Oprah®'s Clean Up Your Messy House Tour." is back on July 1, 2009

2009-06-30T15:55:00.003-05:00

Peter Walsh is back on the The Oprah Winfrey Show® as part of "Oprah®'s Clean Up Your Messy House Tour."

You can watch tomorrow, Wednesday, July 1, 2009. Check your local listing.

The Container Store is running a special, 25% off the entire store with promo code CLUTTERCREW. This deal expires on 7/12/09. Shop the Container Store now !

Top 5 Organizing Tips to Ease the Stress from Your Family Vacation...July Newsletter Article

2009-06-28T08:19:00.000-05:00

Family vacations are a great time to have fun, take a break from the everyday routine, see new sites and recharge. It can also be a time of stress - preparing and planning, traveling and returning home are all high stress points for many. I'm sharing my top five organizing tips to help ease some of the stress that comes along with taking a family vacation.

Tip #1: Make Lists

Lists will definitely help you reduce your stress while you are planning your family vacation. Rather than trying to remember it all, I suggest creating master lists on your computer that you can print and use each time you take a trip. You will be able to greatly reduce your planning time and stress for the next vacation and lessen the chance of forgetting any details.

Start with the list of the things you need to do to get ready to leave on your vacation. Do you have to make arrangement for the mail and paper? What about pets and plant watering? Will you be using a house sitter?

Next, make lists for the items you need to pack. Give children their own lists to be responsible for. Help create lists for younger children by using pictures, numbers, and words of the items they can gather.Keep your printed lists with you so you can easily jot down ideas whenever they come to you. Take time to update the master lists as needed.

Tip #2: Clean and Organize that Vehicle
If you will be taking to the road, be sure to take the time to clean out that messy van or car. Pick a day, preferably the week before you will depart, to get your vehicle fresh and ready to go. Most people tend to feel more relaxed in a clean and organized space. There are some neat car organizers that make it easy for the kids to have items, such as coloring books, crayons and games close at hand.

Tip #3: Set a Budget and Stick to it!

Take time to create a budget for your vacation. How much will you spend on lodging, fuel, travel expenses, food and souvenirs? It's so easy to say yes to unplanned purchases when you are in the joyful moments of your vacation, but can that expense be justified when you get back home or get your credit card statement? Keep in mind that kids will remember the experiences, not the stuff.

Tip #4: Copy the Contents of Your Purse and Wallet

Photocopy the credit cards, driver license and other documents that you are carrying with you while on vacation. Keep this information in another location. If your purse or wallet were lost or stolen, you would have that information at your finger tips. I also try to limit the items in my purse I take with me on vacation.

Tip #5: Schedule Returning Home and Downtime

I think this is an area that many families overlook. I would suggest allowing at least one full day of recovery time before you get back to your normal schedules. Just think about the tasks there are to do when you return home. How long will it take you to complete those? There's laundry to wash, the car to unpack, mail and email to go through and you barely have the energy.

Remember to focus on one task at a time. If you look at the big picture, you'll get overwhelmed and that's when that stress level rises. Don't schedule appointments or play dates in the first few days after your return. Give your family time to adjust and get caught up.

If you would like to receive my monthly newsletter PLUS my special guides, 5 Must-Know Organizing Tips for Moms and the Clutter-Free Gift Giving Guide, just sign up on the right sidebar or click here.

Organizing for Husbands and Wives - Where to Start

2009-06-24T08:07:00.007-05:00

Do you and your spouse clash when it comes to organizing? If you say "Yes!", please know you are not alone. Unfortunately there is no magic answer or system to settle this battle, but there are steps you can take to try to understand each other a little better and perhaps make some compromises.

When this topic comes up when I am speaking or teaching a class, the number one thing I stress to start with is communication -talk about it in a manner that is open and non-criticizing and leave the blaming out!

What areas are stressful for each of you and why?

In what areas have each of you been successfully organized?

Are there underlying issues in the family or relationship that are involved?

Remember, organization is different for each person. Our brains function in different manners and we each have our own thinking styles. I strongly believe when you bring two people together, compromises have to be made.

For more Works-For-Me Ideas, visit We Are THAT Family.

Don't Store the Clutter, Eliminate It!

2009-06-22T13:00:00.000-05:00

Got plans to accomplish some organizing projects soon? Don't skip the second step in my simple organizing process - The STUFF System™ - Take Out!

Get rid of that stuff that is just not bringing value to your life.
Let go of those things you've been holding onto for "just in case."
Free yourself from the stuff!
Organized clutter can be just as draining.

I always tell my clients that I will never make them get rid of something they don't want to. I'm not a big meanie, after all. But, I do challenge them to take a good look at the stuff that is taking over their homes. What does it really represent? Are you going to let it control you?

P.S. I was straightening up a bathroom closet today and realized I have a lot of unused space-others would die to be in this situation. Then a thought came to me I knew I was going to blog about it. Just because you have the space, doesn't mean you have to fill it up. Now, this is not my own unique and brilliant thought. Professional organizers everywhere know this fact (and many who are not P.O's, know it too). I challenge you to really look at that stuff that you store in your home.

Get Your Purse Organized....The Easy Way!

2009-06-17T20:04:00.010-05:00

I've talk about these awesome super organized purses before. The Butler Bag is a busy mom's answer to keeping all those things we carry around with us stay put and organized.

I'm not a purse girl but did get spoiled at Christmas time. I now have the Classic and the Hybrid in Espresso and Black Licorice. I love how I can locate anything is just a few seconds. The Classic, the larger of the two, holds so much!

There are over 32 products so you'll want to take a look at all the organized purses!

I just found out about an exciting special offer starting now thru this weekend. Order any regularly priced Hybrid or Classic Butler Bag and received a FREE (in stock) Limited Edition Small Tote of your choice (a $50 value!). Click here to see the Small Tote!

Team up with a friends and family to take advantage of this offer.

"I want to be organized, just like her!"

2009-06-17T06:22:00.000-05:00

Organization is different for everyone. Keeping that in mind works for me and I hope it will help you as you strive to use organization to help make your daily life easier, less stressful so you have more time for what's important to you and your family. For more Works-For-Me ideas, visit We Are THAT Family.

When it comes to how you organize your home, try not to compare yourself to others."I if could just be more like Sally Jo; she makes it look so easy. What's wrong with me?"

This kind of thinking will get you nowhere. I tell my clients that organization is different for each person and each family. What works for one mom or family, might not be the right solution for you. Do be sure to share ideas and be open to trying new strategies.

How do you know if a new organizing tip or strategy is right for you? If it works! If it creates more work and stress for you in the long run, then it probably wasn't a match for you. Organization is about making your life easier, not harder.

P.S. This one of my top five favorite organizing tips for moms. Interested in the other four? I'd love to send you my 5 Must-Know Organizing Tips for Moms AND my Clutter-Free Gift Giving Guide. You will receive both special guides when you subscribe to my monthly newsletter on the right sidebar or click here.