Are you getting ready for a big family vacation and need some new headphones for the kids? Or do you like to listen to music while you’re on the computer and can’t every hear because the kids are playing too loud?
Well, the good folks at iFrogz recently sent me a nice set of their EarPollution CS40 Headphones in order to give them a try and I couldn’t be more pleased.
Headphones in our house have been a bit of a problem for awhile. We’ve tended to use the little cheap earbuds that come with whatever equipment we’re using and they’ve never worked out well. The kids never really liked wearing them since they were uncomfortable and the sound was never too strong. When I used those types while on the computer, I could still hear a lot of background noise and would have to turn the volume up to an uncomfortable level.
With the CS40s, however, these problems have largely been eliminated. The sound quality is simply amazing. Nice and clear with plenty of bass. The beauty of these headphones, though, is that they block out external sounds, leaving you with nothing but the output from the headphones. And, when the kids are listening to their music or playing their games with the headphones on, you can’t hear the sound leaking out from the earpieces.
These headphones are also extremely comfortable. I’ve found myself wearing them for an hour or more and I’ve simply forgot they’re still on my head. I can watch my favorite shows on the laptop now while the kids play noisily around me or watch TV and the CS40s block out the sound.
Here’s my little guy practicing his keyboard with the CS40s on. He likes to play the practice tunes over and over and now we all don’t go crazy hearing the same song all day…
We’re all looking for clever ways to get our kids to participate around the house, especially when it comes to getting organized and cleaning up clutter.
Well, the Les Mess Organizing Card Game is just the trick to help accomplish these oftentimes difficult tasks.
According to their website, “LES MESS, a fun interactive card game that teaches children how to clean up after themselves and manage their possessions.”
Les Mess recently sent me a deck of these cards to try out and my kids have had quite a bit of fun with these.
The game is set up so that your child draws a card and then does the task in the allotted time. There are also “Bonus” cards that allow the child a free day or some other twist. You can then set up the game to offer a prize or reward when the task is completed.
This game seems like a handy way to get your kids involved in tidying up his or her things as well helping out around the house. Ideally they will then become a bit more aware of keeping things organized and develop a habit of picking up more often.
All you need to get organized are some nice storage bins and racks or a few decorative storage boxes up on the shelves! Right? If you have a Container Store near you, or something comparable, then you’ve probably had a similar thought.
Well, if only it were that simple. I don’t know how many times I’ve bought a bunch of nice storage bins, carefully put a bunch of things in each one and threw them up in the closet or on a storage rack…only to pull them all apart a month later desperately looking for that missing glue gun or electric stapler. Now I know I put that in one of these boxes!!! Read More→
Whether you use your desk for paying household bills or making multi-million dollar deals, an organized desk will help you function more efficiently with less stress.
- · Clear your desktop and drawers of everything except large items like computers or printers. While you have your desk clear, wipe down surfaces and drawers.
- · Put desk accessories (pencil cups, calendars, desk pad, rolodex) back on the desk where you are able to easily reach or see what you need. Insert drawer dividers or other desk organizers you need to keep like items together and stay organized.
- · Sort the items you cleared from your desk. Set up boxes with categories like: shred, recycle, trash, office supplies, equipment, papers to file, decorations, and elsewhere (items that don’t belong at the desk to be put away later). Place items in these boxes.
- · Put items you have sorted away. Place the things you use daily within easy reach, items you use weekly close enough to reach them with little effort, and supplies you use monthly or less often away from your desk. These can even go in a closet or storage area in another room. Keep your workspace clear so that you have a clutter free environment that allows you to focus on your work and put like items together so you can easily find them.
- · File papers. If you do not have a good filing system, set up simple system for handling paper where you can find the paper you are looking for in less than a minute. Don’t pile—file!
- · Place any decorative items where they can be seen and enjoyed, but not on your workspace. Display items that inspire you most, but minimum the amount of decorations so you are not distracted from your work.
- · Maintain the hard work you have done. Take time to put things in their proper place each time you use them. When you are working your desk can become cluttered, which is understandable. Just make sure that at the end of the day everything is put away and the desktop is clear, ready for a new day of work.
Cathy Bates is owner of Practical Solutions Professional Organizing and a Golden Circle Member of the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO). They offer hands on organizing help for homes and offices. To find out more about how they can assist you, contact them at www.psorganizing.com or call (909)810-3719.
It’s spring cleaning time again…or at least time to start thinking about a spring cleaning checklist. The days are getting longer, the weather is starting to warm up a bit and there’s no better time to start organizing yourself to tackle the dust bunnies, wipe down your dirty walls and organize the closet. It’s time to let the light in, reduce the clutter and get control of your house again.
The key to a good spring cleaning is to not overwhelm yourself so much that you put the entire project off for another day. Instead, try to organize the cleaning so that you tackle different sections of the house at once or different types of cleaning at the same time. When you have the duster out to clean the ceiling fans and knick-knacks it’s a good time to hit the plants and bookshelves.
Here’s a list of just a few of the basic tasks to get you started. You can find some printable checklists below.
In the Kitchen
- Empty out the refrigerator and the freezer.
- Vacuum under the fridge around the coils behind the grill.
- Wipe the top of the fridge off.
- Wipe down all of the seals around the doors.
- Clean the inside of the microwave. Hint ~ Heat up a cup of water for a couple of minutes to build up some steam first…it makes cleaning much easier.
In the Bedroom
- Clean out those closets. Don’t hold back…if you haven’t worn it in a few years, you probably aren’t going to start now. Get everything out of the closet and thoroughly vacuum the far corners.
- Flip over and turn your mattress. While you’re at it, move the bed frame out of the way and vacuum or dust under it. You might even find that old, missing sock you lost last year.
- Take the comforter or bedspread to the cleaners.
- Throw out all those old toys your kids haven’t played with in years.
- Get blocks of cedar to help keep the moths away and things smelling fresh.
Elsewhere
- Dust and wipe down all of the ceiling fans in house.
- Take your screens down, hose them off outside and wipe them down with warm soap and water.
- Dust your lampshades.
- Remove all of the cushions and pillows from your couch and chairs and vacuum this out. You might even find some money here!
- Clean your windows inside and out.
- Wipe down the tops of all door frames.
- Test all of your fire alarms and change the batteries if needed.
- Change the filters on your air conditioner.
- Get new entry mats at every entrance.
- Use a magic eraser to get those pesky scuff marks off of walls.
For the Hardcore
- Remove and clean all the faucet aerators.
- Change the pollen filter in your car.
- Change the shelf liners in your drawers
Remember
- Donate anything you don’t want or can’t use.
- If you find something you haven’t seen in years or forgot you had…chances are you don’t need it.
- Start from the top and work your way down. Vacuum the dust that has settled from your marathon dusting session.
- Remember that a clean home makes for a healthy one. You can literally breath easier once your house is clean.
More
Check out some earlier articles on spring cleaning:
Printable Spring Cleaning Checklists
