Many of you may already have kids that are back in school or like us in New Brunswick are just preparing for the kids to head back next week. To help you manage Back to School ritual we have put together some of the best tips we could find to help YOU get and stay organized with a busy family.
Backpack Safety for Children
The first is a warning about kids backpacks, Backpack Safety America is a fabulous site that will educate you and your children about the risks involved in letting children carry too much weight on their back.
Back to School Routines
We found this great video at About.com that has some excellent Back to School tips if you have very young children that need to transition into getting back to school. Some of the tips include starting the school bedtime routine a week or two before they head back, my favorite was the tip to start bathroom breaks at certain times of the day so that your wee ones get used to going to the potty when they have breaks at school…I think this is a great tip for the very young as I know from experience this can be a issue. Clich Here to see the video
Never Oversleep Again
We loved the tip on using 2 alarm clocks if you have to in order to get up in time from Canadian Family’s article ‘10 back to school tips’. Although we did not agree with everything in this article…we are entitled to our opinions….we agreed on most points. We both think travelling is an education in itself and do not agree that it teaches the kids bad habits. Overall it is a great article with some good tips.
Back to School Essentials for High Schoolers
For those of you with High Schoolers heading back to school an article from Joseph Cohen titled ‘10 Essential back to School Items for High schoolers’ had some great ideas of the needs of Highschoolers in this digital age. Above the normal fares of mechanical pencils, papers and pens he includes the need for Digital Cameras, memory cards or flash drives and of course a computer. I totally agree we have to embrace the new digital age and allow our kids all the benefits it offers, it is how their world functions and they need to be part of it!
For those of you who have a hard time staying organized throughout the year we have written some articles to help you out:
Last but not least. How do you deal with all the notices that come home from school? and How do you manage your kids schedules? Do you have a hard time finding the papers when they are due back or keeping track of all the activites and places the kids need to be?
If the answer is yes, we have the solutions for you, check out this video:
Here is the latest KV Style article with timely Back To School tips. You can read it online or follow along here.
It is hard to believe that it in just one month the wee ones will be donning their backpacks and heading into a brand new shiny school year.
All at once you are probably feeling a sadness that summer break is winding down and at the same time excitement to get back to routines, and for many…some peace of mind and quiet.
Make a commitment to yourself this year to be in charge of this annual event and save a pile of stress, time and some money by getting organized and taking control.
Counting Sheep, getting the required ZZZZ’s
There is nothing worse than cranky sleep deprived children. Typically children need 9-10 hours of sleep a night. If you have to wake the wee ones at 7:00 am for school, then a bedtime of 9:00 will do it…giving a buffer of an hour to settle and actually get to sleep.
• Set a date a week or so before school starts and let the kiddies know that they will be getting back on schedule as far as sleep goes.
• Make sure they have an electronic game free hour before bed so their brains have time to come off the game high.
• Have them go to bed 15 minutes earlier each night, this will help them to adjust slowly to the change.
Cha Ching, the School Supplies
If you have a crew to shop for then you need a master list. By combining all the lists into one you have a complete picture of what you need. However, before you run out with your list in hand take a few minutes and dig through the supplies that were brought home at the end of the last school year.
Take the obvious garbage paper and recycle it. Sort out any pictures that are wall worthy and set aside for framing. The rest can be reused. Yes you can re-use school supplies, so what if the 32 page Hilroy book is now only 25 pages…you are saving your hard earned cash and it is good for the environment.
Once you have assessed what you already have, mark it off the list and you now have a complete picture ready for a marathon School Supply Shopping event.
Fuel for the brain, the School Lunch
As a parent, nutrition as well as simplicity are a priority for the school lunch.
I consulted the experts at Simply for Life in Quispamsis for some advice on this hot topic. Nela McHugh was delighted to share some great Lunch Box Tips that satisfy both requirements for simplicity and nutrition.
Ideally, a school lunch box would contain all or some of these items:
1. Fruit that is easy to pack such as apple, pear, banana or berries
2. Vegetables like carrot sticks, cucumber slices, celery or peppers and a yummy dip like hummus…which kids actually do like.
3. Whole grains – fiber! Like in granola bars, Kashi are the best for low sugar content. Home made pita chips are great with hummus as well. Perhaps some crackers or a wrap.
4. Protein like tuna, leftover meat from the evening before and cheese provide healthy protein choices.
5. Water…children need 1.5 to 2 liters a day so pack a water bottle.
Nela said. “But being realistic, it would be a wonderful thing to see at least one piece of fresh fruit and a fresh veggie in every kid’s lunch.”
I am going to add leftovers to this list. It is a quick, healthy lunch that is always a welcomed choice in our home.
Take the next month to purchase supplies, get the kids back to a regular sleeping routine and practice the lunch making so the kids learn how to prepare their own lunches.
By taking these simple steps you will set the tone for a successful school year.
Wow cannot believe it is the end of July already…here in Canada we have been having a spectacular summer so far. One of the big challenge a lot of us face during long school vacations is how to keep our homes from getting totally destroyed while the kids are all home, I know my home gets its share of chaos as we have a beautiful pool that attracts lots of visitors throughout the summer and along with visitors comes clutter and mess.
In my cruising the web today I found this great article about Taming kids Clutter from Readers Digest, it has some great info to keep the clutter at bay and teach the kids some good habits. Check it out here.
Is it possible that how we talk to our kids can actually be encouraging them to be future clutters? A fellow professional Organizer Tracy Paye wrote about a conversation she overheard one of her clients having with his daughter…read the article here for more.
While we are on the subject of kids clutter I have some helpful hints if you are tackling the kids toy room, read the article: Playroom Storage Solutions for Kids Toys.
As it is Summer here in North America things seem to be quite quiet and I have not found any upcoming events to mention, if you have any organizing events coming up please share them with us so we can share them with all our readers.
Here is a great book if you have kids that are interested in organizing, my daughter loved this one as it is written by kids:
Hope everyone had a great July and are looking forward to the coming months…Drop us a line if you have anything to contribute to the next Watercooler at the end of August, we love to share!
Once again I would like to share my Organizing Column from the KV Style magazine. It is sometimes a gals worst nightmare and can be a health issue as well. I hope that you find the expiry dates on cosmetics to be helpful.
Have you reached the Beauty Routine Storage limit?
Does your dresser or vanity look like it has been dusted with pink, blue or brown powder? …yes that is the residue from the makeup du jour. How about the flat irons, straight irons, curling irons in 4 different barrel sizes and the hair dryer with the diffuser that looks like a mass of cords? What about the polish…oh not the stuff for the floors….the stuff for the fingers and toes?
Just like any other organizing project, it is fun to think about the vanity of your dreams. Check online and look through magazines to find ideas of what you want your Dream Vanity to look and feel like.
Spend a bit of time doing some planning.
Take some of the ideas from your dreaming and scheming and create a mini vision board with pictures, colors and ideas that you can use in your own home. We may not all have glossy magazine homes but it is quite easy to create the same look and feel on a dime…I know you can…there are many TV shows that do this on a very tight budget or with no budget and a bit of creative flair.
Next you need to gather all beauty routine items together
The make up, hair stuff and nail care items and sort so all the like items are together. Don’t forget to take a peek in the bathroom vanity, linen closet and the bedroom to gather it all up…yes I mean all the beauty items….leave no stone or should I say emery board unturned.
Now the big purge…yes I said purge.
I am not sure if you are aware of it but anything that you put on your body has an expiry date. It may not say it on the package or item but there are some standard guidelines you can follow.
Make-Up best before dates
Mascara – 3 months, don’t pump as it adds air and bacteria
Cream eye shadow or blush – 6 to 12 months
Cleansers, moisturizers and toners- 6 to 12 months. Tubes or pumps are better due to reduced exposure to air.
Liquid Foundation- 1 year
Powder Foundation, eye shadow or blush – 1 year
Lipstick – 1 to 2 years
Sunscreen- 1 year after opening
Refrigeration will actually extend the shelf life of your cosmetics. Keep your brushes free from contamination with regular cleaning.
Hair care best before dates
Shampoo, conditioner, gels and mousse – 12 months after opening. They won’t damage your hair but they do lose their effectiveness.
Nail Care best before dates
Nail polish – 1 year
Polish remover – indefinitely
Makeup and Nail care Storage
A simple cutlery tray or a variety of containers will do the trick. You can get low end plastic options at the dollar store or visit Winners for sleek high end wood and cloth box options.
Curling/Straightening irons;
Here are few creative options; a wastebasket to stand them all in, cloth shoe holder that hangs over the door, stainless steel kitchen utensil bar to hang multiple items from.
If you are a visual person like me and want your everyday items organized so you can see them, then open storage is best for you.
If you prefer things tucked away then use the recommended storage ideas and tuck the organized items in a great looking cabinet, closet or box that will get it out of eyesight.
This simple organizing project could save you valuable minutes in the morning…reducing your morning stress and starting your day in a beautiful way!
Here is the article from the KV Style magazine from the June 26th edition. A subject that I am very passionate about and get on a soap box quite frequently when in presentations to local service groups. You can read it online here.
Over the past seven years I have had the pleasure of sharing my organizing expertise with many people from retired veterans to corporate executives. I am amazed that the same question pops up at each session regardless of the audience. It is something that you probably have on your mind as well. Are you ready for this million dollar question?
How do I let go of my stuff, stuff that has history attached to it?
The stuff that was received as a gift, perhaps passed down by a family member or stuff that is being kept because it was expensive ?
During the excess of the nineties people bought and bought…because it was all about having stuff. Some how we began to associate our stuff with our self worth…the stuff that fills our home, office and our time.
Here we are in the 21st century and we want to move forward in our life. We know that the things that we had in the past worked then, but they really don’t fit who we are today.
Intellectually we know that we need to cut the clutter but in our hearts we can’t let go.
Here is a new way to think about the things that you are holding on to for sentimental reasons. For you it is sentimentality…for someone else it may be about survival.
For as long as I have been sharing my expertise I have also been sharing information on where to donate our gently used things. Places like homeless shelters, food banks, churches and service associations have been receiving the generous donations that I make on behalf of my clients. I am still touched by the gratefulness of the receivers of your generosity. Your beloved items that you are keeping for sentimental reasons that are stored in boxes in the basement of your comfortable home suddenly become the house wares that a homeless family uses to start over again.
It was clutter to you.…. It is survival for them.
If you are ready and willing to move on and let go, here are some places where you can donate your stuff and help others at the same time:
Books can be donated to the 5th Annual Big Brothers Big Sisters Book sale up until August 21st. Drop off your books at any Saint John Sobeys location. (all book types except encyclopedias, textbooks and magazines
Towels and blankets can be donated to the local animal shelter as well as food, toys, brooms and laundry soap. Contact them for further information 642-0920.
Clothing and Household items can be picked up by community living, making it very convenient. Call them at 642-5511.
The Saint John Boys and Girls Club are always looking for socks, shoes and various items for the preschool daycare. As well as beds and furniture.
Women’s and children’s clothing as well as hotel toiletries can be taken to the local women’s shelter.
If you have any antiquities contact your local museum to see if they want to add it to their collection.
Your great-grandmothers period clothing may be just what your local theatre company is searching for.
Be sure to ask for a donation receipt when you are dropping off.
I would like to leave you this week with a very thought provoking video that was produced several years ago and has reached over 10 million viewers. It is The Story of Stuff. Watch it now…
Happy Canada Day to all of our Canadian friends and to everyone else…a happy July 1st.
Canada Day, previously know as Dominion Day has been celebrated “from far and wide” here in Canada since 1867 when the British Colonies came together to become this great country we call CANADA. For most of us it will be a day of beach parties, barbeques, community fairs and fireworks. A real kick off to the summer months.
For this months Watercooler I will be taking you across Canada to introduce some amazing Canadians who have helped shape the Organizing industry and have been a big influence on my life. They are all Silver Leaf members of Professional Organizers in Canada and I consider all if them friends.
British Columbia
Elinor Warkentin of Goodbye Clutter is one of the reasons that I am actually in this industry. Back in 2003 I read the most interesting article about a gal from BC who grew up in a Mennonite community. Her story made me think of all the organizing I had done as a child and to this day I look forward to seeing Elinor’s beautiful smile at conferences. Take a minute to check out her site and to follow her on twitter.
Alberta
Shelly Morrison of Clutter Cutter is Western Canada’s first Certified Professional Organizer in Chronic Disorganization. That is no small feat, it has taken Shelly years of education and hands on work to achieve this designation. With this specialized training she works with Hoarders which you have probably seen on the recent shows about hoarding. Not an issue to be taken lightly and people like Shelly are there to help…bravo to you! Shelly is someone I can look at eye to eye if you know what I mean….we are both vertically challenged and I like that about her
Manitoba
Morva Bowman of Masters of Time and Space has been organizing Winnipeg since 2001. We met at my first organizing conference in 2004 and I immediately fell in love with Morva’s sense of fun. I look forward to seeing what color hair Morva will be sporting each year at conference. I also had the pleasure of sitting on our National Board together in 2004-05. Morva has been a mentor and an inspiration to me over the past 7 years.
Ontario
Jane Woolsey of Professional Organizers.com is the Past President of Professional Organizers in Canada as well as the 2009 winner of the Harold Taylor Award . Jane is a leader, a mentor, a teacher and a friend. I received my introduction to the world of professional organizing with a 3 day training program that Jane and former business partner Debra Milne offered. It was the foundation for my career and thankfully Jane is still offering this amazing opportunity to others who want to enter the professional organizing industry.
Hellen Buttigieg of We organize U is someone who I have admired from afar for many years. Hellen has been inspiring people to conquer clutter since 2003 as the host of the Gemini nominated show neat and with her recent book launch. Hellen is a busy mom with lots on the go and manages to maintain balance…I think this is why busy mom’s connect with her because they know she has walked a mile in their shoes…thanks for paving a path for the rest of us.
Clare Kumar of Streamlife inspires me with her energy, ideas and creativity. I had the pleasure of a lovely lunch with Clare and another pal Marlo Nikkila on a recent trip to the big city…yes that would be Toronto. Clare is a busy gal with her hands in many organizing pots. She has been on the talk Show Stephen & Chris to share her organizing tips. She writes for Staples and Canadian Tire and has made her Shopping channel debut. Clare is on my list of Organizers to Watch for 2010.
Nova Scotia
Colette Robicheau of Organizing Anything is my good friend and conference buddy. In 2006 we shared a room, some crackers and lots of giggles at the NAPO conference in Boston. In 2007 we shared a room in Johannesburg South Africa where we both had the pleasure of speaking at the POAA conference. Wow…I still can’t believe that we travelled halfway across the world and had the pleasure of speaking to our peers at the Professional Organizers Association of Africa Conference. We tried new foods, drank some South African wine and met the most amazing people that opened their homes and hearts to the Canadian girls.
And last but certainly not least Kim Eagles….my business partner and friend. In 2007 we embarked on a journey to bring affordable organizing help to the market. Through our professionally produced Home Organizing Videos we did just that. With over 60 minutes of How-to videos and 70 pages of worksheets and e-book tips we have created a product that is affordable, easy to follow and available instantly as a download. Want to preview it now
I hope that you find the people I have introduced to be as interesting and informative as I have found them to be.
Happy Canada Day from the Shannon and the Eagles families…enjoy!
Please enjoy this weeks column from the KV Style Magazine. You can read the article here or read it online
Over the past few years I have clearly seen the connection between the inner and outer clutter in life.
Think about how you feel when you come home to a messy kitchen or arrive daily to work in an office that makes you feel less than motivated. Your environment has a direct impact on your inner well being.
The more I learn about stuff and the connections that we have to our things I realize that the organizing industry is about so much more than de-cluttering. It is about letting go of the past; past failures, successes, relationships, regrets and memories. By holding on so tight to the past it is hard to move into the present and in the direction of your future. Living this way is like driving the car while looking in the rear view mirror…you might be able to do it for a few seconds but soon enough you are going to crash.
Perhaps it is time to start looking forward.
I have an awesome library full of organizing resources. This week I want to share some words of inspiration from a few selected books, words that will hopefully inspire you to move forward.
In “The spirit of getting organized” author Pamela Kristan shares some strategies for letting go of stuff. She says, “Stuff constricts us, drains our energy, confuses us and makes our path through life unclear”. In a technique she calls shedding she suggests to have criteria for deciding what to let go of. For example; if it is out of date, expired, over with or no longer applies you would let it go. This would be a great technique for the kitchen or bathroom where there are specific expiry dates on most items. This technique would allow you to ease into the shedding process. I would suggest this book for those who like to write, the book provides ample space for journaling.
In the classic book “It’s hard to make a Difference when you can’t find your keys” author Marilyn Paul grabs attention with this profound title. She wrote the book from first hand experience of her own struggles with disorganization and the damaging affect it was having on her life. People who feel disorganized are so hard on themselves and I want to share how Marilyn shifted her self perception. She says ”I brought respect and compassion to my messy ways instead of disdain and impatience”. The bright side is by being gentle with yourself and working through the organizing process you will become more creative, experience emotional aliveness…it is the highest form of self-care.
At last but not least, Peter Walsh star of TV’s Clean Sweep and author of “Does This Clutter make my Butt look Fat?” shares his advice for living the life you deserve in the body you want. I love how he has made the connection between clutter in the kitchen and the clutter on our bodies. In chapter five he says”if you walked into a new restaurant and saw a messy, disorganized kitchen and dining area, you would leave. You wouldn’t eat dinner in a place like that. So why would you do it at home?” By taking care of your kitchen, the Heart of the Home, you can take care of yourself, your family and feel better about having friends in.
If you want to create your ideal home, office and life…pay attention to where the clutter and stuff show up, then you can better assess how to let go and move forward.
On this last day of the Month of May I would love to share my recent column from KV Style Magazine on the importance of planning and preparation for the upcoming Summer Break. You can read the article online or right here.
May is traditionally the unofficial start to summer. The time when we can get out into the garden and nurture relationships with plants we have not seen for months. When lazy days on the golf course and backyard bonfires become more than just a distant dream.
For most of us the end of the school year is a busy time with wrap up activities – dance performances, NB Music Festival, recitals…. How can you even think of the lazy days of summer when you are on a schedule like this? You really have to; once the spring activities are over the summer activities are right there in front of you. Summer is a special time of year and our Eastern Canadian ones are so short. You don’t want to miss out on all the fun things that you can do and see because you didn’t get organized and plan ahead of time.
Here are some helpful tips to get a jump start on organizing and planning your summer activities;
• Start with the big picture. Grab your June – September calendar and determine what time you have available to enjoy 2010 summer.
• Next you need to time block. What weeks have you booked for vacations? What weeks are the children booked for summer camps? Oops, have I opened a can of worms. If you haven’t booked the summer camps yet you need to do this sooner rather than later. The popular camps fill up early and you don’t want to be looking at last minute alternatives.
• Have a family meeting and ask the important question. What do you want to do this summer? What if Sara wants to play soccer and Brad wants to play baseball, but they both practice on Tuesday night—at different ends of town. Do you want to be running all over town all summer? Is car pooling a possibility? Make a plan.
• What about the actual summer vacation? Was there something that you wanted to do last year and just didn’t get around to it? Plan as a family, do some research online and make this a real family event from start to finish.
• Have you thought about summer childcare for when the wee ones are not in school? Are they under 12 and need all day supervision or are you going to be dealing with bored teenagers? There are many options from day camps to volunteer activities and summer jobs that can be investigated.
• Do you have a summer budget? This time of year can be a very costly yet with proper planning you will be able to manage your money as well as the expectations of your family. Take into account the cost of entertaining, special gatherings, summer camps and the overall cost of the Family Vacation.
Lastly, remember that Organizing Today Saves Time Tomorrow...it could also save you some money and add peace of mind this summer.
Last month we surveyed our readers and the results were awesome, thank you to all who shared their thoughts with us we appreciate it very much. The survey has given us direction in how we move forward with the Watercooler. It is now a monthly post instead of a weekly one and we have had requests for more organizing tips and yes…contests.
Enjoy this May Issue of the Watercooler and what is happening to help you on your journey to get more organized.
Happy Birthday OrgJunkie
First off we want to start by wishing our good Friend Laura the OrgJunkie a very Happy Blog Birthday, she is celebrating the 4th year of her blog and I can tell you she has been an amazing supporter to us personally and a go to gal for ideas in the organizing industry- I am sure all her readers can attest to the amazing information she provides on her blog and we wish her many more Birthdays to come. Happy 4th Birthday Laura!
I know organizing is a tough subject and often the major task in trying to get organized in just getting started. For that I have some inspiration for you to show you that it is NEVER to late to START anything you put your mind to…watch this video of an 80 year auditioning for Britain’s Got Talent…she will Blow you away and teach you to live with NO REGRETS, I absolutely LOVE her laugh as well:
Overcome Procrastination
For those of you who have a really hard time getting started I have discovered in the past year this awesome gal who can help you overcome your procrastination issues through Hypnosis, sounds kind of funky but I can tell you from personal experience…it works! I had the pleasure of meeting Wendi last Summer in Vegas at a conference and have been getting help on many issues ever since. Check her out at WendiTV to see live broadcasts and also check out her Do It NOW! End Procrastination program:
Awesome Organizing Book
‘Organizing Your Home…In No Time’ is one of my all time favorite organizing books, it is easy to follow and has fabulous tips and tricks to getting any home in tip top shape. Check it out and get your copy today:
We love sharing information so if you have any organizing tips, tricks, news, product launches or links you would like to share please leave us your comments or email us to be included in an edition of Around the Watercooler.
Oh and before we forget…a little shameless self promotion…last month we were interviewed for the Financial Post magazine about our entrepreneurial journey and on May 4th our interview was published…read the article here.
Here is my latest column for the KVStyle magazine for the Organize Column. With Garage sale season upon us the tips are timely for exchanging cash for your clutter…to read the article online click here.
A garage sale is an excellent way to clear out clutter and make some money at the same time.
Having a time-sensitive event is a good way to motivate you to complete a task.
Many years before having my first over-the-top garage sale ($2,000 in one day) I did a lot of research. The research was years of attending rummage sales, garage sales, yard sales and tag sales… immersing myself into the world of buying and selling treasures.
Garage sale junkies are up and at it early with a plan prepared long before the garage door opens. It is an art form. Finding that coveted purchase makes the whole day worthwhile.
At garage sales first impressions do count. Having a great sale or a “drive by” is all in the planning. It could mean the difference between clearing out the clutter or packing it all back up at the end of the day.
Here are five key steps to elevate your garage sale from “drive by” to “must see”:
1. Set aside time to prepare for the sale by going room by room and clearing out the unused/unloved/unwanted stuff. Remember, your clutter is someone else’s treasure. Make the event worthy of your time and the buyer’s time.
2. Get others involved and have a community garage sale or have your sale during a town-wide event. This cuts down on your ad costs… yes, there is a cost. Place an ad in the local paper and make it interesting by mentioning a few of the key items. The diehards will already be on the road with their Friday paper before the Saturday paper even arrives. So place your ad in both editions.
3. Attract attention with brightly coloured signs that provide the address and the time of the sale. Use several sturdy signs with a post so you can be sure it will stand out and stay in place. This is also good for the environment as it can be reused. Post the signs by 4 p.m. the day before the sale; you want people to add it to their agenda for Saturday. (P.S. don’t forget to pick up your signs after the sale.) If you are lucky you will get a few earlybirds on Friday. Yes, let them in and let them buy; this is a garage sale not a garage show.
4. Sell good stuff… not garbage or broken things. Broken is just broken; if it is garbage then throw it out. If it does has some life left in it have a free box at the end of the driveway and give it away. As I said earlier “Your clutter is someone else’s treasure.” Make sure it is treasure worthy.
5. Make it easy for people to shop at your garage sale. Clearly mark the prices on the items. People like to know what the prices are without having to ask. Group similar items together like clothing/books/dishes and have a price list above or near the items for quick reference.
You can organize a successful garage sale when you have the right plan of action. Garage sale season has officially started. Now go and organize, advertise and sell!
Many of you may already have kids that are back in school or like us in New Brunswick are just preparing for the kids to head back next week. To help you manage Back to School ritual we have put together some of the best tips we could find to help YOU get and stay organized with a busy family.
