Articles for Household Organization
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.
Written by: Q Quinn
Again as I work to get myself to get back on track after losing control for a few weeks I amazed at the power behind a simple daily schedule.
In reworking my Home Management binder I’ve had to come up with a new daily schedule. As my daughter grows things change. Much of my time with her is in creative ventures and teaching her how to do things. I can get very caught up in that.
But enough about that. What really happened is I got so engrossed with working with my soon to be preschooler that I kind of threw my schedule out the window. Some things were no longer done on certain days or done at all so as a result I dismissed my usual pattern of checking my daily schedule throughout the day or when I felt unproductive.
The result? Chaos.
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I know most people create their To Do List on Sunday or Monday and I am considering making Sunday our “to do day”, but there is a Tuesday TO DO list that we all should make. It’s Our Earth Day to do list.
I feel as though I live in the last city in all of Canada to get curbside recycling, and as a result I have let my recycling go down the tubes since moving here five years ago (you heard right – FIVE years). So my Earth Day to do list item was to get a system in place to start recycling ALL of may paper, metal, and glass products.
I purchased three large white round laundry bins that fit a clear recycle bag wonderfully and place them on the patio with a label printed from my computer. Refundable Paper/Cardboard and Metal/Glass recyclables.
Click here to print your own our family recycles sign and container labels.
Now I can simply throw it in the van when it is starting to look full and drop off the recycling with the kids on our way home in the evening. Of course I have been advocating for curbside recycling for some time and I am happy to say it looks like we will have a program here next fall!
Happy Earth day everyone!
