Articles for Ask the Almost Always Organized Mom
This questions from a new mom returning t o work arrived today. I wasn’t able to reply so I thought I would post her question.
“I am a first time mother who just returned to work on Monday! My head is spinning. I was once an organized person but i now feel life spiraling out of control. I read on this site that there are many Blackberry applications for moms to help keep them organized. I was wondering if there was a list of these applications somewhere on this website or on the internet? Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks.”
Although I don’t have a list – I will share with you MY SECRET for using my blackberry to keep organized.
Are you ready ? It’s not about a Blackberry Mom application. It’s about using a service that offers EVERYthing you need on a remote server so you can access it from HOME WORK and your blackberry.
If you are a busy working mom, busy stay at home mom, Busy work from home mom, you need to DUMP and simplify. To do this you head over to: http://www.Gmail.com and created yourself an email (then get RID of all the others – its a time waster.
With your new Google account you can SYNC directly to your blackberry AND to your outlook (where you can also download your GMAIL email), organize your calenders, and have access to everything from your desktop, remotely from work, and on your blackberry.
You can also:
Invite others to share with you – colour label your kids, work, personal appointments, in google calender – share documents you create (google docs) – budget & track payments in google (excel), create a monthly grocery list ect.
If you don’t have the time to ‘set it all up yourself. Check out Famundo -it’s $4.95 a month – but you have to sync to outlook then to your blackberry. Whereas Google will Sync Real time with your blackberry.
So my Mom Blackberry keeping it all together trick is GOOGLE.
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 !
Summer is here ! This summer I have decided that each week I will answer ONE reader question. (Maybe more.)
So here is your chance to ask away – family, home, work, organizing, time management, even your silly questions.
Ask away and each week one reader will will have their question answered AND I will send you a “suprise”.