Articles for Household Organization
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!
Written by Rachel Paxton
I recently gave my bathroom a complete makeover. It was much easier than I expected, and only took a few days to complete. For less than $200 I gave my bathroom a completely new look that I love.
The first thing I did was choose some paint. I started out with bare white walls. I chose Kilz brand paint. The color is called “Garden Glove” (a cheerful spring green), and a gallon cost about $15 at Walmart. One gallon was plenty to paint the entire bathroom. Just painting the bathroom gave it whole new look. I also bought a small can of white paint to touch up the paint around the doorways.
With 12 minutes to spare (thank goodness for Pacific Standard Time), I am posting Throw away Thursday.
I firmly not only believe but have proven to myself that keeping LESS stuff saves me time and my sanity. So every Thursday (maybe you can complete this on Friday ;) I challenge you to join my by throwing out something you really really don’t need. Of course if you can recycle that would be a better option, or if what you don’t need can be donated then by all means that would be a better route as well. So my challange for you is to join me by getting rid of those socks your washing machine didn’t want to eat.You know the OTHER sock. The one with a pink ballerina who has no dance partner ? Or maybe its just a box that has sat next to the washer for how many months ?. Just do it. Really you will feel good when you next do laundry.
A tip – train your children (your future daughter in law will love you ) to take their socks off , fold the tops and put them in the laundry. Keeping them in the same load next time around.
Tell me if you participated in Throw away Thursday by posting a comment and you could win a an amazon gift certificate worth $10 at the end of the month.
