Articles for Household Organization
Yesterday my copy of The Clutter Diet: The Skinny on Organizing Your Home and Taking Control of Your Life arrived in the mail ! Over the next few weeks I will be sharing some of my thoughts as I work through the book and better YET – YOU could win a copy over the next few weeks!
My excitement was evident and my son was quickly caught up in it as we opened the parcel. Upon opening the parcel, he was a bit disappointed to learn that the book was “about cleaning his room”. He perked up when I asked him to be my model though.
So just how do you win a copy of Lorie Marrero’s book The Clutter Diet: The Skinny on Organizing Your Home and Taking Control of Your Life?
The contest starts Saturday February 28th and runs through to March 14th 2009. (Hopefully this will be enough time for me to get through the book and share my favourite sections with you.)
During this time you can earn one entry for each of the following (be sure to comment and tell me which you have done and provide your email address in your comment):
1) Tweet this contest out to your followers for one entry (you can do this each week for two entries).
2) Simply leave a comment telling me why you need this book
3) Mention the contest on your blog for two entries.
UPDATE: Contest is now over.
On March 14th one winner will be selected using Random.org and notified by email. The winner has four days to reply at which time a second winner will be selected. This contest is open to residents of the USA, Canada, UK, and Austrailia.
Good Luck !
The Almost Always Organized Mom
I was reading Cathy Bates Newsletter this morning and I have to share one of her Laundry tips. Everyone knows I have an obsession with laundry. Likely due to the fact that I have an ongoing nightly affair with my washing machine. This tip is one of the TOP reasons why I am able to keep up on the laundry for eight people divided by TWO homes (yes we are blending our families over the next year :).
One of my must maintain issues discussed when we decided to work together and blend His family of four and mine is this Laundry RULE;
* Fold and put away ALL clean laundry as soon as it comes out of the dryer. Folding it when it is still warm keeps you from having to iron as much. Also you don’t have unfolded laundry reminding you that your work is never done. Cathy Bates – Professional Organizer - PSOrganizing.com
I have to add my laundry saving grace – My children’s clothing is not in their bedroom (with the exception of dress clothing in the closet and one drawer of PJ’s). I have a white pantry (slim) for each child in the laundry room. All of the clothes come out of the dryer, are folded, and put int heir pantry. Each evening I pick out an outfit for the younger kids and bring it to their room (prevents fighting and saves time in the morning) and the two oldest simply grab their clothes in the morning.
Happy organizing !
Seems like the words “busy” and “mom” just go together much too well. With everything we have to do as moms it seems like the word “organized” and “mom” don’t go together. But to the contrary, Home Organization for Busy Moms by Cara Mirabella can make the words “organized busy mom” a reality for you.
Home Organization for Busy Moms is not one of the books that makes everything just peachy keen. It’s a realistic look at what clutter is, how being disorganized affects our lives and our health and then it provides the exactly steps to helping you get your life, home and family in order and keep it that way.
Most people fail at being organized, it’s true but if you why that happens and that answer is provided then you can overcome it knowing what it is. Cara takes you through each and every room of your home including the garage and your car and gives you practical tips you can use to get your life, your home and your family organized. She’s motivating and just reading through Home Organization for Busy Mom gave me not only ideas on how to achieve that goal of organization but it is also motivating.
If your life isn’t as organized as you’d like it to be don’t worry, it can be with the tips Cara Mirabella sets out in her eBook.
Guest Article
Let There Be Light & Space
One thing that surprises many of my clients is that somewhere around 35ish they get the urge to get rid of stuff. They have made a mental list of the areas of the house that are annoying and aggravating them. The second thing that surprises them is when I assure them “This is perfectly normal“. Then it becomes about “Aunt Mary gave me that lamp and I don’t want to hurt her feelings.”, “I’m saving the _______ in case one of my kids want it” or “I may use/need/want that one day.“
So let’s look at what is behind this urge to purge
- Somewhere & somehow there was an acceptance that husband is not going to pick up his socks, the kids are always going to leave their things in a pile in the hallway & in the real world the house is never going to be perfect.
- Next comes a realization that their home needs to be both liveable (translation family & pet friendly) and a relaxing refuge from the outside world.
- The feeling that is gaining momentum and often triggers the earlier confession is the desire to only have around them the things that give them pleasure, are important to them and that represent their taste and speak to who they are as a person.
Here are steps to get past the excuses & closer to the home you deserve
Guest Article by Cathy Bates
It’s that time already – back to school time! A Staples commercial once said “it’s the most wonderful time of the year.” What are your thoughts on back to school? Here are some tips to help make it a wonderful time:
* Stock up on supplies needed throughout the year and create a homework center. A clearly labeled, plastic draw unit makes a great homework center where you can store paper, pencils, markers, glue, and anything else your student needs to complete assignments.
* Set up a command center with files or bins for school papers that must be signed and returned to school, homework or projects that are ongoing, library books, and anything else that comes to and from school.
* Install hooks near the door to hang backpacks, and jackets.
* If your child packs a lunch, set up an area in the kitchen to store prepackaged lunch items and the supplies needed to assemble sandwiches, etc.
* If your child purchases a school lunch, post the menu inside a cabinet door or on the refrigerator.
* Post a calendar in a central place to track all of your family’s activities.
Studies show students thrive in an organized environment. I hope these tips will help your students have their best year ever and a little extra time to just be kids
Once the kids are settled into their school schedule, it’s time to gear up for some organizing of your own. It’s the perfect time to catch up on organizing projects around the house so that by the time the holidays arrive, your home is organized and you are able to enjoy the festivities without all of the stress!
Cathy Bates is owner of Practical Solutions, a professional organizing company that provides organizing services for your home or office. Practical Solutions is offering a free organizing workshop on Monday, September 8, 2008 at 6:30 p.m. at Citibank in Yucaipa to jumpstart your organizing efforts. You can register at www.psorganizing.com or call (909)810-3719.
