FREE Shred-a-Thon: New Berlin, Wisconsin

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

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

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!

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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!

How to Set up a Household Action Center

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.

Get Ready for Tax Season Now

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.

Moms Rock!

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.

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

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.

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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!

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.

Organize School Papers in 4 Easy Steps

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:

1. 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.
2. Limit it. If you kept everything, you home would quickly become a storage site. Perhaps you save your favorites from each year.
3. Share it. Be sure to spend time letting your child tell you about their work. That's why they bring it home to you!
4. 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 Get Your Papers Organized!

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

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!

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!

How to Prevent Child Identity Theft

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!

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: Paper Shredding

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.

5 Organizing Tips to Beat the Mail Monster: June Newsletter

It's another Works-For-Me Wednesday! Stop over at We Are THAT Family for more tips and ideas.

The daily mail - Do you dread it? Do you pile it? Do you avoid it? It must be dealt with or it will take over your counters, suck up your important papers and drain your energy every time you look at the piles.

Here are 5 tips that will help you beat that mail monster.

Tip # 1: Develop a Routine. Pick a time of the day that you can devote to sorting through the mail. This should take you about 5 minutes. Is there a time that you are not distracted? What about getting up 15 minutes earlier than the kids? Or, are you a night person that gets stuff done after everyone else is asleep?

Tip #2: Designate a Spot. Do you have one spot that the mail goes to when it comes into your house? Or, do you just set it down anywhere? Picking a home for the mail keeps you from searching and saying, "I know I just saw that somewhere." Of course my favorite and effective system is a Household Action Center. Have a recycling bin close by!

Tip # 3: Make Decisions. Barbara Hemphill, Author of Taming the Paper Tiger, says "clutter is postponed decisions." Most likely, those piles of paper and mail are sitting there because you haven't made decisions on those items yet. During my Paper Organizing for Busy Moms workshop, I teach my 3-T Plan™ and you can use this to sort your mail daily and to get through those old piles on your kitchen counters, table, and mudroom.

1. Take Out -Get rid of (recycle, shred, throw) the stuff right away that you don't need! That includes junk mail, flyers, the envelopes the stuff comes in, expired coupons and anything else that you don't need in your home sucking up your energy.


2. 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.
   
3. 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.

Tip #4: Follow-Up. Yes, you have to continue dealing with mail on a regular basis. If you deal with your incoming mail and papers on a daily basis, it's much easier and less time consuming.

Tip #5: Eliminate What You Can. Think of ways you can keep that paper from ever entering your home. Are you taking advantage of paperless statements through email? What about online bill paying? Are you finding that you just don't have time to read all the magazines and newspapers you get? Should you eliminate some of those subscriptions? Visit the Federal Trade Commission website for more information on opting out of receiving unwanted solicitations.

If you are ready to take control of the mail, start from this point going forward. Then, go back through the old piles bit by bit. Set and reach mini goals. Set a timer for 15 or 30 minutes chunks. Focus on one pile or area at a time. You'll be amazed at how much you can get through in a short amount of time. You can make the decision to beat the mail monster!

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.

Purging Papers on Tackle it Tuesday

This is my first Tackle it Tuesday. I've thought about doing this before but my friend Dore over at Dore's Diary inspired me with this post.

So here goes. I've been in the purging mood. I get like that in the spring. Among other projects, I recently focused on my filing cabinet. My business files have been neglected. They were in good working order but I needed to thin them out - Take Out (recycle and shred) the stuff that brings me no value.

I'm pretty quick at making decisions on what stays and what goes, but here are the 5 questions I like to ask if I get stuck:

1. Will I need to refer to this in the future?


2. Is this information current?


3. Can I get this information again? (online?)


4. Do I need to keep this for legal/tax purposes?


5. What would be the worst thing that would happen if I got rid of this?

Here's the end result - a large box of papers to recycle.

If you are looking to tackle the papers in you home, you'll want to join me for my successful Virtual Workshop: Paper Organizing for Busy Moms.

You'll join me and other moms by phone as I walk you through the steps of eliminating those piles of papers.

"Paula, I LOVE the systems [we set up] 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."

My next class is taking place on Saturday, September 26, 2009. Can't wait that long? Contact me to learn how you can schedule your own private class along with 5 of your friends.

Spring is Shred-a-Thon Time!

If you have a LOT of shredding to catch up on, search for a FREE Shred-a-Thon near you. Spring is the time to get rid of those sensative papers and documents. Using a shredding company is fast and efficent.

For those of you who live in the Madison and Milwaukee area of Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Chapter of the National Association of Professional Organizers will be hosting 4 FREE Shred-a-Thon events.

April 17 & 18 Madison
Partnering with ARMA International and Kard Shredding
Friday from 10am – 3pm
Saturday from 9am-Noon
Location-Kard Recycling, 710 Watson Ave

May 2 New Berlin
Partnering with SecurX and Maritime Savings Bank
Saturday from 9am – Noon
Location-Maritime Savings Bank, 15505 W. National Ave.

May 2 Kenosha
Partnering with AM Community Credit Union
Saturday from 9am – Noon
Location-AM Community Credit Union

May 9 Mequon
Partnering with SecurX and US Bank
Saturday from 9am – Noon
Location-US Bank, 11111 N. Port Washington Ave.

How Other Moms Get Organized: Great Tips and Ideas!

I love checking out other Mom Blogs to see what organizing tips and ideas are out there. I've come across some that I wanted to share with you. Check them out for some inspiration.

Organizing hair clips and stuff: Heidi over at Blue Eyed Blessings shares some simple, but really cute ideas. I love her pictures!

Keeping Track of Stuff: Susan from Everything Mom has found organization with her new planner and turned her "everything drawer" into her personal command center.

Organizing Tool for Pot Lids: Kerry at Colored With Memories writes about how her kitchen gadgets have followed her through each of her 7 moves and she always has a home for her lids.

How to Enter Blog Contests and Giveaways: Thrifty Jinxy has an awesome post on what you need to know about giveaways and other social media tips. I know I can use all the help I can get this department!

P.S. Still time to enter my giveaway here!

Organize School Papers and Artwork in 4 Easy Steps

School papers and artwork - is an area many moms struggle with -there's so much of it. So I'm sharing some simple tips that work for me. For more Works-For-Me Wednesday Ideas, visit Rocks in My Dryer.

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 could 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.

Are you ready to put an end to the paper piles? Join me on January 31, 2009 for Paper Organizing for Busy Moms ~A Virtual Workshop~ and learn the proven systems to eliminate all those piles. You have just 3 more days to register and receive the final bonus, A Moms Guide to Organizing School Papers and Artwork! Details here.

P.S. Check out my current giveaway. You'll love it!