This is a great time to get yourself organized.
This time of year everyone is switching closets from summer to winter and getting ready for the holidays that always seem to come too quickly…here are some Helpful Hints and Tips and a few Misconceptions to Keep You Organized.

Myth #1
My home HAS to be clean to be organized:
There are many days my home could use a cleaning, dusting, vacuuming but I am still organized. People think if their home is dirty or messy that it isn’t organized.

Myth#2
Once I organize my closet, draw, or room it should stay that way:
Your closets and draws need attention a few times a year. the more you use that space the more attention it needs. Clothes closets need to be weeded out twice a year, when you change your wardrobe from summer to winter and then winter to summer.
This is a great time to get rid of the clothes you aren’t wearing.
Draws you use more frequently need to be weeded out more often.

Myth #3
I can do my bills anywhere.
Create a spot where you can have some quiet time.
Make sure you have stamps, letter opener, envelopes, pens etc.
Keep a simple file draw or a file carry case and keep bills for only 1 year and tax papers for 6 years.
A simple file system is all you need to keep your bills under control.

Time management and space management is important to live a stress free life. Remember once you have set up a new system to keep organized, give yourself at least 6 weeks to get accustomed to the new routine.

Lisa Gessert is a professional organizer at Administrative Solutions.

Start to Declutter and organize your home today with Clutter Diet

They turned out great – though I had to turn the temp down a little and we cooked them for 9 minutes.

1 1/2 c. flour
3/4 c. soft butter
1/4 c. peanut butter
2 eggs
3 c. oatmeal
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 c. sugar
1 c. packed brown sugar
1 tsp. vanilla

Mix all ingredients together. Drop by spoon onto lightly greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. Makes 2 dozen

I am starting a series of mom interviews to feature bloggers and get some of their great tips for organizing and time management for their families this week. All of which will be posted here at Organized Families.

If you are interested in being interviewed please drop me a note through the contact form.

I also have a client blog to complete, an aupair training manual to write for Rod’s new aupair (my boyfriend for those of you who are new to my crazy life blog), another client who needs help getting started on twitter to promote their blog, a fence to finish staining, invoicing, and you know the daily life of being a single mom with three children !

Of course I also have my ongoing To Do list to work through and a library book that I really WANT to read.  Reading is a guilty pleasure for this busy mom. One I rarely dip into, for this very reason.  I of course had to start a trilogy which could result in my nose in a book for a week straight ;)

Speaking of library books my tip for the day: Get a library bag. I keep mine next to the door on a hook and the children are told to KEEP their books in the bag not on their book shelf or under their book shelf, bed, or laundry hamper (all places they tend to disappear to). It keeps them handy to grab when I get time to stop by the library.

While you are there check out the HouseHold Helpers Guide to Time Management for moms.

My question was ” What meal ideas do you have for those days when you get the kids home at 5:30 and have to be at the Soccer practice by six !”

Of course this is because I am now dealing with this issue every Tuesday and cheese sticks and cold meat just aren’t doing it for the kids anymore !

If you have some quick on the go healthy meal ideas for my Soccer Mom delima please do comment !

Here is the cause of my Tuesday Dinner concerns:

Actually it was the video on their front page that resulted in my children running to see where the music was from and they twisted my arm. So Head on over to the party ….. Click Here

To those of you from the party … be sure to subscribe to my feed. Because you won’t want to miss out Mothers Day Contest next month!

So who is this Organized Mom at Organized Families?

I am a mother of three children – My middle son the “SPY” wanted to share the top secret desk of the Organized Mom …

Yes I have successfully not only infiltrated moms office but taken Michelle’s camera as well. A spy in the making – Peace everyone. D you think she will know its me ? Wait is this thing working ? FLASH CLICK Oops busted

Yes I am the Organized Mom. Well I was the professional nanny who kept other moms organized then I had three children of my own ;) My skills are goal setting, planning, time management, marketing and advertising. I work in advertising for an online company to pay the bills and have recently turned my website OrganizedFamilies.com into a BLOG website. The official launch isn’t until April 1st 2008.

I have a few printable dayplanners I have designed and on occasion I help other families (with no fee) to get a system in place to help the stay organized and keep their schedules together. I also volunteer on my children’s PAC, and as a family advocate in my community.

I look forward to learning more about from all the great Bloggers at the party….

Prizes in order:

7 — Bead Dangle Photo Tile Necklace
Provided by: Elemental Memories

20 — $50 gift certificate to Paperlicious
Provided by: Paperlicious.com – Hip Invites & Notes

62 — Boca Beth Bilingual Beginner Set
Provided by: The Boca Beth Program

29 — $25 gift card to My Mommy’s Bracelets or Baby Girl Bracelets.

8 — 50 Nights of Family Fun
Provided by: Essential Family Living

38 — 20 Custom Made Teacher Notecards
Provided by: My Little Monkey Boutique

64 — Pirates of the Caribbean portable CD player
Provided by: The Geeky Housewife
11 — $40 gift certificate to Good For The Kids
Provided by: Good For The Kids

18 — Wrap-N-Mat and Chico shopping bag
Provided by: Nature Moms

44 — Jump Start World 1st Grade
Provided by: Mom Reviews

61 — The Very Cool Lunchbox
Provided by: Victoria P. Zurcher Designs