Yes, “Organized“, “Stress Free” and “Thanksgiving” can be used in the same sentence.
It all starts with the word “organized”. Don’t let it scare you. Embrace it. By being organized and planning ahead you can actually enjoy a holiday.
Start by deciding on what you want your holiday to be like. Do you really want to serve a sit down dinner for twenty (20) people? Or would a buffet be acceptable for you? Would it be acceptable for your “family”?
The pressure of trying to please everyone, especially parents and doing things “exactly” like when you were little and everything was perfect is how the “stress” starts.
It’s your house and your dinner party. You can start new traditions. I didn’t say that it would be easy or that you wouldn’t get some flack, but all “traditions” started somewhere. Make your own. You deserve some happiness.
If you really want a fancy sit down dinner party but twenty (20) people is too much for you to handle then cut the guest list down.
If you really want all twenty (20) people there then maybe you should consider a buffet. It’s much easier and your family will eventually come to terms with the fact that maybe you aren’t serving a formal sit down dinner, but the food is just as good.
You can make Thanksgiving as simple or as complicated as you want….it all depends on how organized you are willing to be.
A good way to keep the stress levels down is to divide and conquer.
Enlist your family for help. Don’t take “no” for an answer. This is your holiday too and you have a right to enjoy it.
And we all know that old saying “if Mom isn’t happy, no one is happy”.
Start at least two (2) or three (3) weeks before Thanksgiving.
Decide on the type of gathering (formal or informal), the size of the guest list and the menu.
Don’t attempt to make something new for dinner or try out a new dessert that day. It could turn out to be a disaster and that would cause you more stress. If you really want to try a new dish….test it out prior to Thanksgiving.
Menu: Do you really want to serve cranberry relish and sweet potato’s even if you don’t like them and only serve them because “they are always served at Thanksgiving”?
Make up your own menu (yes, it is radical). Serve something different. Serve something you like!
If you are having a small Thanksgiving dinner don’t feel obligated to serve Turkey. I know, blasphemy! Last year I made stuffed Cornish Hen. It was wonderful and just as delicious as turkey. You can also stuff a small chicken or even a duck! Or be really different and have Ham! The possibilities are endless.
Start new traditions! It’s not easy to buck the system but once you make up your mind that you deserve to be happy and stress free on a Holiday you will wonder why you waited so long.
Remember, the whole point of a Holiday is family and friends and spending “quality” time together. Everything does not have to be perfect. Be thankful for what you have and not for what you don’t.
A great piece of advice: don’t attempt to clean your oven Thanksgiving morning before you put in the turkey. I did that once, years ago. I then found out that after the oven is cleaned it needs to cool down and the oven will stay locked for another hour or so after it’s done. And you can’t open it! It certainly put a dent into my dinner timetable!
By starting early and making lists and getting as much done ahead of time as possible you will avoid a lot of stress.
Once you have your menu planned work backwards and make up a timetable to what needs to be done. For example: if you want your dinner to be served at 6 p.m., what time do you have to put the turkey into the oven? What time do the potato’s and vegetables need to be started? Just make a list and put it on your refrigerator door so that you don’t have to second guess yourself and aren’t panicking at the last minute.
When your family or guests start to arrive your mind and attention will be elsewhere….so a list can help you stay on track. Don’t leave anything to chance.
A few days before Thanksgiving:
* Shop for all of the essentials, including as much of the food as can be purchased ahead of time
* Make sure that you have enough spices and things that you will need for the food (and rarely buy)
* Do any of the baking or make any desserts that can be made ahead of time
* Thaw the turkey (the size will determine how many days it takes to thaw in the refrigerator)
* Buy the wine or any beverages
The day before Thanksgiving:
* Buy any last minute items at the grocery store
* Chop anything that can be chopped ahead of time (vegetables, bread for stuff…but do not stuff the turkey ahead of time) and put them in plastic bags so that you will be all ready to go the next day
* Make sure you have enough ice
* Prepare any of the food items that can be made ahead of time
* Make your family aware of exactly what you need them to help you with on Thanksgiving.
* Having assigned tasks for your kids and spouse ahead of time takes away some of the stress of what’s expected of them the next day.
The night before Thanksgiving:
* Set the table and get out all of your platters and serving dishes.
* Make sure that you have enough dishes and silverware. If you don’t, now is the time to call one of your guests and ask to borrow something. Don’t wait until the last minute to find out that you broke the gravy boat last Thanksgiving and never replaced it.
When I entertain I love to use all of my special platters and dishes. I love to fuss over my family and I love to set a very special table. I don’t consider it extra work or a hardship or stressful. It’s my way of telling my family and friends just how special they are.
But again…..the Holiday and family and friends are what’s important….not the china or the food. So if you aren’t the type of person to pull off a sit down dinner with all the decorations don’t beat yourself up. There are only so many Martha Stewarts around. And she has a staff to help her!
Thanksgiving Day:
* Wake up early so that you can have some “you” time to have coffee and relax before
the day starts (it will get stressful enough later, so the morning might be the
only time you have)
* Read over your lists and timetable
* Gather all of your food and cooking utensils, pots and pans ....
* Measure out everything that you can ahead of time and set it aside
* Follow your time table and start making the food according to the schedule
* Once the food comes out of the oven let it rest a while (you can cover it with
foil)
* Start cutting the meat and plating the food
* Have family members start their assigned tasks (setting out and serving food,
pouring the drinks…)
ENJOY your meal…… sit and talk…..
After the meal:
Have a plan in place to clear the table. Since I always make a ton of extra food so that my guests can take home leftovers I start with portioning the leftovers into plastic containers and putting each family’s containers into a plastic bag and setting it near the door so that they don’t forget them.
Once I have the leftovers divided up and mine put away in the refrigerator and freezer I then start to collect the rest of the dishes and put them into the dishwasher. I don’t start the dishwasher until after they leave so that we won’t be bothered with the noise.
Again, this is where your family members can jump in and help clear and stack dishes. It makes quick work of things when you have other people help.
I need to have as many things cleared up and put away as possible before I start serving dessert. This also gives everyone time to rest and relax before they start eating again.
Some people like to leave the dishes and the mess until the next day. And sometimes I wish I could too, but its worse the next day when you get up and walk into a mess. I’d rather get it done and over with.
Make quick work of it (or as much as will fit into the dishwasher) and then sit and relax and spend time with your family.
Remember, a Holiday is supposed to be enjoyable. If it’s not, figure out why it isn’t and change it. Skip the big complicated meal, the fancy desserts and the good china and make it as simple as you are able to handle.
Start your own tradition….and make it about family!
Happy Holiday !
Organizational Consulting Services
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com/
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
STAGING YOUR HOME
You have decided to sell your house and want it to look it’s best for your Open House. So where do you start?
Having a clean home is very important but it’s only the beginning. You need to be able to step back and see your home through the eyes of a buyer. That’s not very easy to do if you’ve lived in your house a long time and have become attached. There are probably a lot of memories in your home. But you have to remember, they are your memories and not a potential buyers.
This is the perfect time to get the help of an “outsider” to help you with organizing, de-cluttering and staging your home for a sale. Someone that is not “attached” to the house can give you an honest opinion on what needs to happen to get your house ready for potential buyers.
Staging is not “interior decorating”…. it is the art of making your home look its best to show off the features that can really sell your home.
Before you start the actual “staging” you will want to simplify, de-clutter, clean and fix anything that is wrong with the home (painting, fixing loose tiles, replacing missing light switches, replacing missing light bulbs…..). You probably won’t want to start any major renovations at this point. It all depends on your budget or time frame, but fixing the little things that you’ve let go for the last ten years is a “must do”.
De-cluttering is a must. Remember, not everyone is a collector of dolls or salt-and-pepper shakers. You will need to box up your collections and put them in storage.
Basically, and I know this will “hurt”…but you need to remove anything that is “you”. It’s not an easy thing to do. You need to stop thinking of the house as “yours” and start thinking about it as “someone else’s house”. Remember, you are trying to sell your house. It’s not about “you” anymore.
Since you are moving anyway start boxing up as much of your personal items as you can including all of your family pictures. Just think about the time you will save by doing this now instead of waiting until you actually move.
Remove everything from the top of your dressers. Take down any personal items that are on the wall. Have your children take down all of their posters and any certificates or awards that they have hanging up.
Wallpaper is very “personal”. If you can take it down it’s recommended. If you can’t do it yourself and its cost prohibitive to have it done by a professional, see if you can paint over it. Check with a professional first, but there are ways to seal the paper so that you can paint over it and still have the walls look good.
Make sure that the wall colors are neutral. Black walls or dark or vibrant colors will turn off potential buyers that can’t see past the orange walls.
Freshen up as much of the house as you can with new paint. It’s an inexpensive way to make your home look inviting.
Clean your house from top to bottom. Yes, those dust bunnies must go! People do not want to see dust bunnies, dirt and bathtub rings when they are looking at your house. Make sure that there are no fingerprints on the cabinets or the mirrors. Empty the wastebaskets in the bathrooms. Get a cleaning service if you don’t want to do it yourself. This is not the time to scrimp on cleaning.
Also, before your Open House have your carpets professionally cleaned. I bet you didn’t know that your carpeting was actually blue and not brown!
When you have your Open House turn on all of your lights (and please make sure they all work) and show off each room in the best possible light.
Now to the actual “staging”. You need to be sure that each room does not have “too much” furniture in it to make it look crowded. You want to make each room appear as large as possible. That might mean putting some furniture into storage.
Be sure that any furniture that you have in the room is clean and in good condition. Slip covers might be an inexpensive option for a worn couch if you can find one that looks good and not like a slip cover! If not, remove it.
Rearrange your furniture so that the room functions for it’s intended purpose. If you’ve used your dining room as a toy room for the kids, now is the time to turn it back into the dining room.
If you’ve turned your living room into an office, playroom and game room….now is the time to turn it back into a living room.
If you have children….be sure that all of their toys are put away and out of sight. You might turn off potential buyers if all they can see is kiddie clutter.
If you have pets….clean out their litter box and put it away for the Open House. Never have any pets around for the Open House or you will turn off potential buyers who can’t get past the fact that the dogs probably peed on the carpet!
The exterior of your home. Not only is the inside of the house important but so is the outside. That will be a potential buyer’s first impression. Make sure that the grass is cut and the weeds are non-existent. Trim any overgrown shrubs and bushes.
Add some inexpensive plants for a splash of color so that the outside will lure potential homebuyers in.
Staging is a “process”. Remember, you want to sell your home, so don’t forget to add a professional organizer and a stager to the list of people that will make that a reality.
Organizational Consulting Services
www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
Having a clean home is very important but it’s only the beginning. You need to be able to step back and see your home through the eyes of a buyer. That’s not very easy to do if you’ve lived in your house a long time and have become attached. There are probably a lot of memories in your home. But you have to remember, they are your memories and not a potential buyers.
This is the perfect time to get the help of an “outsider” to help you with organizing, de-cluttering and staging your home for a sale. Someone that is not “attached” to the house can give you an honest opinion on what needs to happen to get your house ready for potential buyers.
Staging is not “interior decorating”…. it is the art of making your home look its best to show off the features that can really sell your home.
Before you start the actual “staging” you will want to simplify, de-clutter, clean and fix anything that is wrong with the home (painting, fixing loose tiles, replacing missing light switches, replacing missing light bulbs…..). You probably won’t want to start any major renovations at this point. It all depends on your budget or time frame, but fixing the little things that you’ve let go for the last ten years is a “must do”.
De-cluttering is a must. Remember, not everyone is a collector of dolls or salt-and-pepper shakers. You will need to box up your collections and put them in storage.
Basically, and I know this will “hurt”…but you need to remove anything that is “you”. It’s not an easy thing to do. You need to stop thinking of the house as “yours” and start thinking about it as “someone else’s house”. Remember, you are trying to sell your house. It’s not about “you” anymore.
Since you are moving anyway start boxing up as much of your personal items as you can including all of your family pictures. Just think about the time you will save by doing this now instead of waiting until you actually move.
Remove everything from the top of your dressers. Take down any personal items that are on the wall. Have your children take down all of their posters and any certificates or awards that they have hanging up.
Wallpaper is very “personal”. If you can take it down it’s recommended. If you can’t do it yourself and its cost prohibitive to have it done by a professional, see if you can paint over it. Check with a professional first, but there are ways to seal the paper so that you can paint over it and still have the walls look good.
Make sure that the wall colors are neutral. Black walls or dark or vibrant colors will turn off potential buyers that can’t see past the orange walls.
Freshen up as much of the house as you can with new paint. It’s an inexpensive way to make your home look inviting.
Clean your house from top to bottom. Yes, those dust bunnies must go! People do not want to see dust bunnies, dirt and bathtub rings when they are looking at your house. Make sure that there are no fingerprints on the cabinets or the mirrors. Empty the wastebaskets in the bathrooms. Get a cleaning service if you don’t want to do it yourself. This is not the time to scrimp on cleaning.
Also, before your Open House have your carpets professionally cleaned. I bet you didn’t know that your carpeting was actually blue and not brown!
When you have your Open House turn on all of your lights (and please make sure they all work) and show off each room in the best possible light.
Now to the actual “staging”. You need to be sure that each room does not have “too much” furniture in it to make it look crowded. You want to make each room appear as large as possible. That might mean putting some furniture into storage.
Be sure that any furniture that you have in the room is clean and in good condition. Slip covers might be an inexpensive option for a worn couch if you can find one that looks good and not like a slip cover! If not, remove it.
Rearrange your furniture so that the room functions for it’s intended purpose. If you’ve used your dining room as a toy room for the kids, now is the time to turn it back into the dining room.
If you’ve turned your living room into an office, playroom and game room….now is the time to turn it back into a living room.
If you have children….be sure that all of their toys are put away and out of sight. You might turn off potential buyers if all they can see is kiddie clutter.
If you have pets….clean out their litter box and put it away for the Open House. Never have any pets around for the Open House or you will turn off potential buyers who can’t get past the fact that the dogs probably peed on the carpet!
The exterior of your home. Not only is the inside of the house important but so is the outside. That will be a potential buyer’s first impression. Make sure that the grass is cut and the weeds are non-existent. Trim any overgrown shrubs and bushes.
Add some inexpensive plants for a splash of color so that the outside will lure potential homebuyers in.
Staging is a “process”. Remember, you want to sell your home, so don’t forget to add a professional organizer and a stager to the list of people that will make that a reality.
Organizational Consulting Services
www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
Monday, October 19, 2009
AN ORGANIZED CLOSET
An organized closet does more than just look good. It serves an important function. Yes, it holds all of your clothes. But it does more than that. It keeps you organized. Or it should.
If your closet is organized correctly it will save you time and money. Time – because you will be able to find things easily. And money – because you won’t be buying clothes that you don’t need because they are already in your closet and now you can find them.
But remember, a closet has to work for you. Not me. I designed my closet to fit my wardrobe. I wore only suits so I needed lots of space for skirts and jackets. I never wore pants or dresses to work so I didn’t need any space to hang long things. But that’s me.
In designing your closet space you have to look at what types of clothes you wear. Don’t just accept the closet space that you inherited when you moved into your house or apartment. It’s probably totally inefficient. So why do you think that you should be stuck with it? Even if you are in an apartment and are not allowed to “build out” your closet there are plenty of options that will work to make your space more efficient.
First, take everything out of your closet. Sort your clothes into piles. Don’t analyze each piece at this point. Right now you just want to put everything into the proper pile.
* Keep pile : wear regularly (at least in the last 6 months) and it fits
* Haven’t worn in the past year
* Doesn’t fit
* Needs to be repaired
* Donate
* Garbage
Next, go through each pile and make the next decision.
Keep pile : wear regularly (at least in the last 6 months) and it fits
* It’s still in style > keep
* It’s out of style > put into the Donate pile
Haven’t worn in the past year
* Haven’t worn it because you didn’t know you had it > put it back into the Keep pile
* Haven’t worn it because you don’t like it > put it into the Donate pile
Doesn’t fit
* If in good condition put it into the Donate pile
* If you have a tendency to go up and down in weight frequently you might want to keep a few basic items in another location should you have another weight change (but only a few items). Please do not torture yourself and think that you will go back down to a size 2 “one of these days” – donate the item – it’s been 10 years!
Needs to be repaired
* If it can be repaired and fits & you will wear it > fix it and then put it into the Keep pile
* If it can be repaired and doesn’t fit > fix it and then put it into the Donate pile
* If it can’t be repaired > put it into the Garbage pile
Donate
* Things that you will not wear or haven’t worn or are out of style
* Be sure to keep a list of donated items
Garbage
* Anything that can’t be fixed
This is the time that you will need to decide on the type of storage accessories that you need for your particular space. Do you need more hanging space? Do you need more shelf space? There are many options for shelf dividers. Do you need more space for shoes?
There are many inexpensive options available and this is where a professional organizer can help you make the right decision so that you can get the most use out of your closet.
After your closet has been re-designed to accommodate your lifestyle it’s time to put your clothes back into the closet. Neatly and folded ! You will be amazed at how much more room you will have.
Organizational Consulting Services
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com/
If your closet is organized correctly it will save you time and money. Time – because you will be able to find things easily. And money – because you won’t be buying clothes that you don’t need because they are already in your closet and now you can find them.
But remember, a closet has to work for you. Not me. I designed my closet to fit my wardrobe. I wore only suits so I needed lots of space for skirts and jackets. I never wore pants or dresses to work so I didn’t need any space to hang long things. But that’s me.
In designing your closet space you have to look at what types of clothes you wear. Don’t just accept the closet space that you inherited when you moved into your house or apartment. It’s probably totally inefficient. So why do you think that you should be stuck with it? Even if you are in an apartment and are not allowed to “build out” your closet there are plenty of options that will work to make your space more efficient.
First, take everything out of your closet. Sort your clothes into piles. Don’t analyze each piece at this point. Right now you just want to put everything into the proper pile.
* Keep pile : wear regularly (at least in the last 6 months) and it fits
* Haven’t worn in the past year
* Doesn’t fit
* Needs to be repaired
* Donate
* Garbage
Next, go through each pile and make the next decision.
Keep pile : wear regularly (at least in the last 6 months) and it fits
* It’s still in style > keep
* It’s out of style > put into the Donate pile
Haven’t worn in the past year
* Haven’t worn it because you didn’t know you had it > put it back into the Keep pile
* Haven’t worn it because you don’t like it > put it into the Donate pile
Doesn’t fit
* If in good condition put it into the Donate pile
* If you have a tendency to go up and down in weight frequently you might want to keep a few basic items in another location should you have another weight change (but only a few items). Please do not torture yourself and think that you will go back down to a size 2 “one of these days” – donate the item – it’s been 10 years!
Needs to be repaired
* If it can be repaired and fits & you will wear it > fix it and then put it into the Keep pile
* If it can be repaired and doesn’t fit > fix it and then put it into the Donate pile
* If it can’t be repaired > put it into the Garbage pile
Donate
* Things that you will not wear or haven’t worn or are out of style
* Be sure to keep a list of donated items
Garbage
* Anything that can’t be fixed
This is the time that you will need to decide on the type of storage accessories that you need for your particular space. Do you need more hanging space? Do you need more shelf space? There are many options for shelf dividers. Do you need more space for shoes?
There are many inexpensive options available and this is where a professional organizer can help you make the right decision so that you can get the most use out of your closet.
After your closet has been re-designed to accommodate your lifestyle it’s time to put your clothes back into the closet. Neatly and folded ! You will be amazed at how much more room you will have.
Organizational Consulting Services
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com/
Saturday, October 10, 2009
ORGANIZING YOUR KIDS
It seems like an impossible task – getting your kids to be more organized. But it all starts with you !
Kids learn from watching their parents. So if you aren’t organized, your children won’t be.
Maybe now is the time to start changing the way you do things so that you can set a good example for your kids.
Let’s start with breakfast. I’m sure that you’ve heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. I know that for a lot of families it is also one of the most stressful times.
The kids get up late. They can’t find their homework or shoes. You can’t find your car keys. There is no time for breakfast much less packing lunches. Everyone is yelling. And you are ready to pull your hair out.
Let’s take a deep breath and see what we can do to rectify this situation.
First, we rewind the clock and go back to yesterday. Let’s pretend the kids did their homework. Then they put their homework into their backpack and put their backpack in a designated spot, maybe near the door.
Then, they get their clothes ready for the next day. No more trying to find the “right outfit” at the last minute in the morning. If anything is missing you have time to hunt down the missing socks or shoes before you get ready for bed.
After their homework is done and put in the appropriate spot and their clothes are all laid out for the next day, they have time to make their lunch for school.
Give the kids some responsibility. Expect them to be responsible. This should start at a very early age. Even if they can’t get their clothes ready on their own or make their own lunches yet….this is the time to teach them. Help them decide what to wear (but as the mother of girls…don’t pick their outfits…or you’ll be up all night because they can’t possibly wear what their mother picked out). Let them help make their lunches if they are too young to do it on their own. This is the time to guide them in the direction of “good food choices”.
If you don’t expect the kids to help….they won’t. If you don’t expect the kids to pick up after themselves…they won’t. If you don’t expect the kids to make good choice…they won’t.
Having a routine is crucial. It not only teaches the kids responsibility it also helps to reduce your stress as a parent.
Now back to breakfast. Maybe you might want to set the breakfast table the night before to give yourselves a head start in the morning. Or you might want to pack a quick “take along” breakfast that the kids can eat in the car or at school before school starts.
It is much cheaper and healthier to make your own breakfast at home. You can make a nutritious breakfast in less than five minutes at home. Try cutting up an assortment of vegetables ahead of time and putting them into a tupperware container for use later in the week. Pop a couple of slices of toast into the toaster. Heat up a skilled and throw in a spoonful of vegetables. Stir in an egg and in a couple of minutes you have a nutritious breakfast. Add a few slices of fruit and it gets even better.
The trick is to have everything prepared ahead of time.
My husband makes the world’s best pancakes (just ask the kids!). When he makes pancakes he usually makes up a huge batch and puts two at a time in individual freezer bags. When the kids were younger they just took a bag out of the freezer, popped it into the microwave and in a couple of minutes had a hot and delicious breakfast.
It’s all about planning. That’s what being organized is all about. Planning ahead to make things easier in the future.
The more organized you are now….the less stressed you will be later.
Teach your kids when they are young and it will become a part of their lives.
It’s not an impossible task. And it all starts with you.
Organizational Consulting Services
www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
Kids learn from watching their parents. So if you aren’t organized, your children won’t be.
Maybe now is the time to start changing the way you do things so that you can set a good example for your kids.
Let’s start with breakfast. I’m sure that you’ve heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. I know that for a lot of families it is also one of the most stressful times.
The kids get up late. They can’t find their homework or shoes. You can’t find your car keys. There is no time for breakfast much less packing lunches. Everyone is yelling. And you are ready to pull your hair out.
Let’s take a deep breath and see what we can do to rectify this situation.
First, we rewind the clock and go back to yesterday. Let’s pretend the kids did their homework. Then they put their homework into their backpack and put their backpack in a designated spot, maybe near the door.
Then, they get their clothes ready for the next day. No more trying to find the “right outfit” at the last minute in the morning. If anything is missing you have time to hunt down the missing socks or shoes before you get ready for bed.
After their homework is done and put in the appropriate spot and their clothes are all laid out for the next day, they have time to make their lunch for school.
Give the kids some responsibility. Expect them to be responsible. This should start at a very early age. Even if they can’t get their clothes ready on their own or make their own lunches yet….this is the time to teach them. Help them decide what to wear (but as the mother of girls…don’t pick their outfits…or you’ll be up all night because they can’t possibly wear what their mother picked out). Let them help make their lunches if they are too young to do it on their own. This is the time to guide them in the direction of “good food choices”.
If you don’t expect the kids to help….they won’t. If you don’t expect the kids to pick up after themselves…they won’t. If you don’t expect the kids to make good choice…they won’t.
Having a routine is crucial. It not only teaches the kids responsibility it also helps to reduce your stress as a parent.
Now back to breakfast. Maybe you might want to set the breakfast table the night before to give yourselves a head start in the morning. Or you might want to pack a quick “take along” breakfast that the kids can eat in the car or at school before school starts.
It is much cheaper and healthier to make your own breakfast at home. You can make a nutritious breakfast in less than five minutes at home. Try cutting up an assortment of vegetables ahead of time and putting them into a tupperware container for use later in the week. Pop a couple of slices of toast into the toaster. Heat up a skilled and throw in a spoonful of vegetables. Stir in an egg and in a couple of minutes you have a nutritious breakfast. Add a few slices of fruit and it gets even better.
The trick is to have everything prepared ahead of time.
My husband makes the world’s best pancakes (just ask the kids!). When he makes pancakes he usually makes up a huge batch and puts two at a time in individual freezer bags. When the kids were younger they just took a bag out of the freezer, popped it into the microwave and in a couple of minutes had a hot and delicious breakfast.
It’s all about planning. That’s what being organized is all about. Planning ahead to make things easier in the future.
The more organized you are now….the less stressed you will be later.
Teach your kids when they are young and it will become a part of their lives.
It’s not an impossible task. And it all starts with you.
Organizational Consulting Services
www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
Monday, October 5, 2009
DOWNSIZING, DE-CLUTTERING and DONATING
Three D’s that can not only make your home more livable and function better but it can also be a godsend to other people.
People downsize for a variety of reasons – economics, the house is too big after the kids leave or a spouse dies, they want to spend less time cleaning a big space or yard, they want a different lifestyle.
Downsizing can also be “freeing” – both financially and emotionally. If you have less space (or things) you have more time for yourself and time to pursue other activities (hobbies, volunteering, school….).
Do you really need a 3,500 square foot house if you live alone? Do you really want to spend all of that time cleaning rooms you never use? And what about the mortgage? Wouldn’t you rather spend that money elsewhere? Like your retirement?
Downsizing is not a “bad” thing. It doesn’t mean that you are “poor”. The word should actually be changed to “right sizing”. What was “right” ten (10) years ago might not be “right” for your today.
If you always wanted to live in the city and be a part of the hustle and bustle and in the center of all of the culture….maybe now is the time. If your kids are grown and you don’t need a four (4) bedroom house in the suburbs why stay?
Change is hard. But once you jump in and “right size” you might wonder why it took you so long.
De-cluttering. Not only will you gain space you never knew you had in your home but you will be able to find things more easily. Saving you time and money. Think about the repercussions of not being able to find things. What happens when you can’t find your keys and are late for work? You could possible be fired.
What if you are running late for your child’s play rehearsal because you can’t remember where you left your purse? You are probably screaming at your kids, running around the house looking for your purse and they are crying because you’re yelling at them. Whose fault is it that you can’t find your purse?
De-cluttering brings about “order”. It reduces stress – because now everything has a place and you aren’t searching for things.
Do you really need to keep bits and pieces of toys that you can’t find? Do you really need to keep toys that don’t work? Or your children have outgrown? Do you really need to keep clothes from when you were 20 something ? Really ? Like you actually believe they will come back into style? Before you’re 50 ?
LET GO! It’s a hard concept for most people. It’s mostly psychology with a bit of nostalgia thrown in. What if you “need” (insert whatever you are keeping). What if ?
Now take a deep breath and say to yourself “I can live without (insert whatever you are keeping) “. Put it into a garbage pile or a donate pile and move on. Don’t think about it too long or you might try to fish it out.
Soon you will have de-cluttered an entire room and when you look around you will have so much more space you might think you’re in the wrong house!
Donating. Not only are you “recycling” your household items and helping people that don’t have the money to buy new things, but you are also getting a tax write-off. Be sure to keep a list of exactly what you donate, date, amount, value and where donated. Be sure to get a receipt for your taxes.
We keep a “donate box” in the garage and make it a habit to go through our closets and cupboards every few months to get rid of things that we’ve outgrown or haven’t used in a long time.
Then when the box gets full we drive down to a donation center and drop off our box.
It makes us feel good that we aren’t just throwing things out that others can use.
Organizational Consulting Services
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com/
People downsize for a variety of reasons – economics, the house is too big after the kids leave or a spouse dies, they want to spend less time cleaning a big space or yard, they want a different lifestyle.
Downsizing can also be “freeing” – both financially and emotionally. If you have less space (or things) you have more time for yourself and time to pursue other activities (hobbies, volunteering, school….).
Do you really need a 3,500 square foot house if you live alone? Do you really want to spend all of that time cleaning rooms you never use? And what about the mortgage? Wouldn’t you rather spend that money elsewhere? Like your retirement?
Downsizing is not a “bad” thing. It doesn’t mean that you are “poor”. The word should actually be changed to “right sizing”. What was “right” ten (10) years ago might not be “right” for your today.
If you always wanted to live in the city and be a part of the hustle and bustle and in the center of all of the culture….maybe now is the time. If your kids are grown and you don’t need a four (4) bedroom house in the suburbs why stay?
Change is hard. But once you jump in and “right size” you might wonder why it took you so long.
De-cluttering. Not only will you gain space you never knew you had in your home but you will be able to find things more easily. Saving you time and money. Think about the repercussions of not being able to find things. What happens when you can’t find your keys and are late for work? You could possible be fired.
What if you are running late for your child’s play rehearsal because you can’t remember where you left your purse? You are probably screaming at your kids, running around the house looking for your purse and they are crying because you’re yelling at them. Whose fault is it that you can’t find your purse?
De-cluttering brings about “order”. It reduces stress – because now everything has a place and you aren’t searching for things.
Do you really need to keep bits and pieces of toys that you can’t find? Do you really need to keep toys that don’t work? Or your children have outgrown? Do you really need to keep clothes from when you were 20 something ? Really ? Like you actually believe they will come back into style? Before you’re 50 ?
LET GO! It’s a hard concept for most people. It’s mostly psychology with a bit of nostalgia thrown in. What if you “need” (insert whatever you are keeping). What if ?
Now take a deep breath and say to yourself “I can live without (insert whatever you are keeping) “. Put it into a garbage pile or a donate pile and move on. Don’t think about it too long or you might try to fish it out.
Soon you will have de-cluttered an entire room and when you look around you will have so much more space you might think you’re in the wrong house!
Donating. Not only are you “recycling” your household items and helping people that don’t have the money to buy new things, but you are also getting a tax write-off. Be sure to keep a list of exactly what you donate, date, amount, value and where donated. Be sure to get a receipt for your taxes.
We keep a “donate box” in the garage and make it a habit to go through our closets and cupboards every few months to get rid of things that we’ve outgrown or haven’t used in a long time.
Then when the box gets full we drive down to a donation center and drop off our box.
It makes us feel good that we aren’t just throwing things out that others can use.
Organizational Consulting Services
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com/
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
GOING GREEN
The world is changing. People today are going back to the basics. Part of it has to do with the economic climate and part of it is that people today care more about the planet and how what we do affects the planet and its people.
Personally, I care about my health. I seem to have gotten more “sensitive” to scents and chemicals as I’ve gotten older. Throw in a mild case of Asthma and everything seems to bother me these days.
So, I’ve slowly eliminated (or banished) a number of things from my home. Nail polish, polish remover and perfume have been banished from my home. My daughter has vowed to come up with an odorless and chemical free nail polish. And I hope she succeeds.
Cleaning products, harsh chemicals and toxic fumes have also been banned from my house. Replaced by “earth friendly” or “chemical free” or “green” products.
Watkins has a great line of “earth friendly” cleaning products that really work and don’t make me wheeze ! (www.watkinsonline.com/fried)
There are numerous sources of “green” cleaners. And going back to basics not only saves the earth but saves you money too !
A bottle of vinegar and a box of baking soda can clean your entire house. You can use vinegar and water to clean windows.
Make a paste of baking soda and water to get rid of stains in your sink and countertops.
Unclog your drain by pour baking soda down your drain followed by a cup of vinegar. Step back as it will bubble up like a volcano!
Use a mixture of ½ tsp. olive oil and ¼ cup vinegar to use as furniture polish.
Sprinkle baking soda on your carpet to get out odors. Vacuum up after a few minutes.
These are just some of the ideas for earth friendly cleansers – and you thought they could just be used for
cooking!
Plastic bags. Everyone knows that plastic does not biodegrade, yet people still use plastic bags for their groceries. Even my husband does! Why? Because we haven’t gotten in the habit of remembering to take the cloth bags out of the trunk of the car! It will take time to change our habits….but if each of us starts using cloth bags we can save thousands of trees.
Plastic and Styrofoam plates and utensils. There are now alternatives to disposable plates. Products that are biodegradable, compostable and sustainable. Try plates that are made from “sugar cane fiber”. They biodegrade in 60 – 90 days. Cups that are made from “cornstarch” biodegrade in 150 days. There are many site on the internet that have products available that are more earth friendly and won’t be around 100 year from now. An internet search of “going green” or “biodegradable products” will give you many options to choose from.
Going green is not a “trend”. It is a “must”. Because if we don’t get back to the basics and start eliminating the chemicals and pollutants we won’t have much to worry about. Because we won’t have a planet. Harsh, maybe. But it’s a reality.
It will take a lot of “organization” in our lives. Changing the way we do things and think about things. And that’s the first step. “ Thinking ” about things. And realizing that we have to start caring about ourselves and our earth if we are to have a future.
Go Green and help to save our planet ..... Start today !
Organizational Consulting Services
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com/
Saturday, September 26, 2009
AN ORGANIZED HOLIDAY SEASON !
Yes, it’s getting to be “that time of year”…. And anxiety starts to build.
Why? Aren’t holidays supposed to be a “wonderful time of year” ? Of course they are…and they are also supposed to be about family and friends. Not “material things”.
Maybe with the current state of the economy people might now “get back to basics”. And learn to “enjoy” the holiday season.
That said I know that a number of my friends run around like maniacs and try to cram everything into the last minute right before the holiday. And the “joy” that’s supposed to be there….is only on T.V.
What goes into the Christmas holiday? Buying cards, sending cards, buying presents, wrapping presents, sending presents, decorating your house, decorating the tree, family dinners, holiday traditions….and so much more.
And all that is crammed into the few weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Why?
Where is it written that you can’t write Christmas cards until two or three weeks before Christmas? Why can’t you write them…..now? You can write out a few each day instead of cramming in a hundred cards in one sitting. The holiday police won’t come and get you!
Condense the time it takes to get cards ready by putting all of the people that you send cards to every year on computerized labels. It might be a bit time consuming at first but after that you can add, delete or change your list quickly. It will save you hours of writing out cards every year.
If you want to save even more time….get your cards pre-printed with your name on the inside.
If you want to save money….skip the (mailed) cards all together and send e-cards! One site that is free is http://www.123greetings.com/ They have cards for all occasions.
Take some time to sit down and make a “holiday schedule”. Put all of your parties, dinners, commitments on a calendar.
Plan your holiday meals and make a grocery list for each meal so that you aren’t scrambling at the last minute and forget something.
This year, instead of trying to do it all yourself divide the meal among your family / friends and have everyone make / bring something so that all of the work does not fall onto your shoulders. Yes, I know that “you” always do it all….but it’s time to let go and give yourself a break so that you too can enjoy the holidays.
Decorating the house and the tree. Some people go all out and decorate every room and multiple trees. Some people don’t decorate their tree until Christmas Eve. Some people don’t decorate at all. It’s all a matter of preference. But it should be a fun process and not a chore.
We have a tradition of decorating the day after Thanksgiving. It’s an all day process that includes Christmas music to get us in the mood. Singing at the top of our lungs. Champagne and snacks.
We talk about every ornament as it gets put up on the tree and my daughter whines about how embarrassing it is that I kept the ornament she made when she was five. I love that ornament. Almost as much as the one that I made when I was that age that I still have and proudly put on the tree every year.
The holidays are supposed to be about memories and tradition and keeping them is very important. No matter how horrible your year has been….by forcing yourself to follow tradition you too can find peace and a little happiness.
If you make it a fun day where everyone in the family takes part and helps it will not only get done faster but a tradition can be born and the kids will never know they had a “bonding moment”.
Holiday gifts….keep it simple and get back to the basics. I really look forward to my sister’s gift every year. She makes the best homemade pasta sauce and I am lucky enough to receive a gift basket of her sauce every year. One year she gave me something else and I was upset. She said she didn’t want to give me the same gift every year. But I really looked forward to it and a “ tradition “ was born. I make up a basket of dried herbs and herbed oils and vinegars that I make from my garden. Simple and made with love.
Everyone has a talent. Whether it’s cooking, baking, sewing, knitting or any number of other things. There is the ever popular “coupon book” idea. Kids can make up coupons for things like lawn mowing, babysitting, tutoring….
If you have a talent such as wallpapering or laying tile and your best friend doesn’t ….exchange your talent with her talent of decorating your house or having her cook you a few meals. You both get something you need and you also get the satisfaction that you helped a friend.
Gifts don’t need to be expensive and the most cherished ones are ones from the heart.
Wrapping gifts…. This is also a time consuming process. I don’t do it. I am the world’s worst gift wrapper. I stumbled across a sale of gift bags at Marc’s (3 for $1.00) and bought a ton of them in various sizes. Every gift is now put into a gift bag with tissue paper and I saved a ton of time wrapping and beating myself up over the fact that I am a terrible wrapper..
I always keep a supply of gift bags on hand….because you never know when you might need to give a gift throughout the year and wrapping paper is something that people tend to forget.
A good time to buy your supply is immediately after the holidays when everything is discounted 50 % – 75 %.
Wrap your gifts as you get them and have a spot set aside for them. But, you will need to keep a list of gifts that you already have so that you don’t forget what you have and who you bought it for. I keep a list for each family. Wrapping as you go is a lot more painless than sitting down and spending hours doing it at the last minute.
Start planning, organizing and putting your holiday plans into motion a little bit at a time so that you are not overwhelmed when they actually roll around.
Now that you have everything under control you can sit back and enjoy the holidays as they approach.
Organizational Consulting Services
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com/
Why? Aren’t holidays supposed to be a “wonderful time of year” ? Of course they are…and they are also supposed to be about family and friends. Not “material things”.
Maybe with the current state of the economy people might now “get back to basics”. And learn to “enjoy” the holiday season.
That said I know that a number of my friends run around like maniacs and try to cram everything into the last minute right before the holiday. And the “joy” that’s supposed to be there….is only on T.V.
What goes into the Christmas holiday? Buying cards, sending cards, buying presents, wrapping presents, sending presents, decorating your house, decorating the tree, family dinners, holiday traditions….and so much more.
And all that is crammed into the few weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Why?
Where is it written that you can’t write Christmas cards until two or three weeks before Christmas? Why can’t you write them…..now? You can write out a few each day instead of cramming in a hundred cards in one sitting. The holiday police won’t come and get you!
Condense the time it takes to get cards ready by putting all of the people that you send cards to every year on computerized labels. It might be a bit time consuming at first but after that you can add, delete or change your list quickly. It will save you hours of writing out cards every year.
If you want to save even more time….get your cards pre-printed with your name on the inside.
If you want to save money….skip the (mailed) cards all together and send e-cards! One site that is free is http://www.123greetings.com/ They have cards for all occasions.
Take some time to sit down and make a “holiday schedule”. Put all of your parties, dinners, commitments on a calendar.
Plan your holiday meals and make a grocery list for each meal so that you aren’t scrambling at the last minute and forget something.
This year, instead of trying to do it all yourself divide the meal among your family / friends and have everyone make / bring something so that all of the work does not fall onto your shoulders. Yes, I know that “you” always do it all….but it’s time to let go and give yourself a break so that you too can enjoy the holidays.
Decorating the house and the tree. Some people go all out and decorate every room and multiple trees. Some people don’t decorate their tree until Christmas Eve. Some people don’t decorate at all. It’s all a matter of preference. But it should be a fun process and not a chore.
We have a tradition of decorating the day after Thanksgiving. It’s an all day process that includes Christmas music to get us in the mood. Singing at the top of our lungs. Champagne and snacks.
We talk about every ornament as it gets put up on the tree and my daughter whines about how embarrassing it is that I kept the ornament she made when she was five. I love that ornament. Almost as much as the one that I made when I was that age that I still have and proudly put on the tree every year.
The holidays are supposed to be about memories and tradition and keeping them is very important. No matter how horrible your year has been….by forcing yourself to follow tradition you too can find peace and a little happiness.
If you make it a fun day where everyone in the family takes part and helps it will not only get done faster but a tradition can be born and the kids will never know they had a “bonding moment”.
Holiday gifts….keep it simple and get back to the basics. I really look forward to my sister’s gift every year. She makes the best homemade pasta sauce and I am lucky enough to receive a gift basket of her sauce every year. One year she gave me something else and I was upset. She said she didn’t want to give me the same gift every year. But I really looked forward to it and a “ tradition “ was born. I make up a basket of dried herbs and herbed oils and vinegars that I make from my garden. Simple and made with love.
Everyone has a talent. Whether it’s cooking, baking, sewing, knitting or any number of other things. There is the ever popular “coupon book” idea. Kids can make up coupons for things like lawn mowing, babysitting, tutoring….
If you have a talent such as wallpapering or laying tile and your best friend doesn’t ….exchange your talent with her talent of decorating your house or having her cook you a few meals. You both get something you need and you also get the satisfaction that you helped a friend.
Gifts don’t need to be expensive and the most cherished ones are ones from the heart.
Wrapping gifts…. This is also a time consuming process. I don’t do it. I am the world’s worst gift wrapper. I stumbled across a sale of gift bags at Marc’s (3 for $1.00) and bought a ton of them in various sizes. Every gift is now put into a gift bag with tissue paper and I saved a ton of time wrapping and beating myself up over the fact that I am a terrible wrapper..
I always keep a supply of gift bags on hand….because you never know when you might need to give a gift throughout the year and wrapping paper is something that people tend to forget.
A good time to buy your supply is immediately after the holidays when everything is discounted 50 % – 75 %.
Wrap your gifts as you get them and have a spot set aside for them. But, you will need to keep a list of gifts that you already have so that you don’t forget what you have and who you bought it for. I keep a list for each family. Wrapping as you go is a lot more painless than sitting down and spending hours doing it at the last minute.
Start planning, organizing and putting your holiday plans into motion a little bit at a time so that you are not overwhelmed when they actually roll around.
Now that you have everything under control you can sit back and enjoy the holidays as they approach.
Organizational Consulting Services
http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com/
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