It Takes Time to Make Time – Tip #1

Business owners have long heard it takes money to make money.  The thought being you have to invest in your business to get ahead.  The same rings true for our time.  It truly takes time to make time.  You have to be willing to invest a little up front to get more out of your time.  Time management has always been a hard pill for most to swallow.  How can you manage something that isn’t tangible?    I look at it more along the lines of there are portions of the day when I wish the time would slow down (late for pick up at school and I am begging the clock not to tick away) or when it seems to go by so slowly (when I arrive early for pick up without something to read or do).  How can we manage ourselves to make sure our time is used wisely?

My next few posts will deal with how to take time to make time.  These aren’t time management tips per se but more organizing ideas will help you to find more time in the long run.

Tip #1  Clean Out Your Closet

We all know, fashion diva or not, what it is like to be in a hurry to get dressed.  It seems like when you are pressed for time nothing looks good, fits or is clean!  Mornings are hard enough, and it seems as though the minutes we have in the morning tick more like seconds.  Having your closet organized can be a great way to find more time in your day.  If you take the time to sort out your clothes, purge what you no longer wear (or fit into) and group the clothes you have left into categories, you will:

• Easily find what you are looking for
• Have clothes that fit and look good ready to put together
• Know what you have and what you need

Who doesn’t want to look good when they walk out the door?  Getting dressed should not occupy that much time in our day, but if you have ever stood in front of your closet and thought, “I have nothing to wear”, you know how fast time can be sucked away.  For ease and convenience, it is important to find clothes that are easy to mix and match.  Think staples and uniforms.

• Choose bottoms and tops that can easily be put together to create a whole new look.  Beware of the hard to match tops and bottoms…you wind up with lots of unworn clothing.
• Choose what you like to wear.  You will always have “go-to” outfits that will be quick and easy to throw on.  These become a “uniform” of sorts.   A child who wears a uniform to school doesn’t have to think before they get dressed!  Why do you think they still exist in schools? – ease and convenience.
• Choose clothing that fits.  Tailor items which almost fit, but need a little adjustment.  If the clothes don’t fit, you won’t wear them!

I also want to include accessories in this tip.  A boring white shirt can be brought back to life with a fabulous necklace.  A plain black dress can look different if you wear different accessories with it every time.  Shoes can transform an outfit from OK to WOW in no time flat.  (no shoe pun intended!)  The same as organizing your clothes, organize your accessories and shoes.  The easier it is to see what you have, the more likely you will wear it.

For more ideas of organizing your closet and accessories check out my other posts:

http://afreshstartblog.wordpress.com/category/closet-organizing/

http://afreshstartblog.wordpress.com/category/jewelry-organizing/

Organizing your closet will free up many minutes on a daily basis.  A little hard work upfront will go a long way.  But remember it is an on going process.  A closet is a boundary.  You must limit what goes in.  The one-in-one-out rule is very important to remember when shopping!

I want you all to know that every tip given here is not the only solution to an organizing dilemma.  They are suggestions to help you get started on a path to organization.  No two people are alike and no two spaces are alike.  If you have tried something I have suggested and it doesn’t seem to be a good fit, write a comment and I will try to offer another solution.  By all means, I want you all to have the Fresh Start feeling that organizing gives you.  I am here to help!

Homework Haven – Organizing Your Homework Station

OK, I can’t really say I understand why teachers give so much homework.  I don’t see why children are in school all day long and then are given 2 hours of homework a night.  I guess this is all in preparation for the real world when we take work home with us and are attached to our PDA’s.  None-the-less, I still detest homework, just like I did when I was in school.  Maybe it is my own memories of hours of homework that just make me cringe when I sit my kids down to do theirs.

I have to be honest.  My oldest son will be entering 5th grade and the school he attends starts homework at this grade level.  I know, don’t hate me, but I am freaking out!  My son hated doing his easy reading homework the past two years and his occasional book report threw him over the edge.  This year I am going to be aimed and ready for battling helping him.

First and foremost, I know a good study area is important to keeping the focus on the work assigned.  You may be thinking, she is just starting homework with her son, so what does she know…long story short, we have moved numerous times and we have attended schools that assigned heaps of homework.  His kindergarten had 12 worksheets a week with coloring on each page, enough to send a 5 year old into tears.  I have talked with my son to find where he thinks studying will be best.  He has chosen his room at his desk.  I asked him because I value his input and want him to take ownership in his work.  Whether you have a desk in your child’s room, a place a the kitchen table, a place in the family room or a desk set aside in your office, a space designated for homework is key.  (Hey, I did well laying on my bed, although my wrist suffered from the numerous leaning sessions!)

Once you have found the best location for homework to take place, make sure it is free of clutter and distractions.  Don’t have piles of papers on the kitchen table and expect your child to have great focus.  Also, if working in a room, make sure the toys are kept away from the study area.  Kids will be distracted easily and you can’t expect them to want to do homework when they are surrounded by things they would rather be doing!

After you have cleared the space, stock your study area with the tools they need to get the job done.  Don’t have all your school supplies away from the area, or they will have to get up to get what they need and will lose focus.  If they will need a ruler for homework, keep one in arms reach.  Do they need additional paper, pens, pencils, erasers, crayons, markers, colored pencils, scissors, glue, or calculators? When setting up their work area, keep these in stock.  If your child will work in a transitional area (kitchen table) then keep these supplies in a caddy or box so they can bring it with them to work and put it away when they are finished.

Finding the best time to get the homework done is a must in getting the job done efficiently.  If you wait until 8 pm to get started, the kids will be tired and it will be hard for them to focus.  I have found that if you get them right when they get home, they are still in school mode and you can reward them with play time.  This works for me, but may not work for you.  Have your children help decide what is the best time for them to get it done, because if they have ownership in the decision, they will have ownership in the results.  Take into consideration practice schedules and when their neighborhood friends are playing.  If their friends are outside playing while they are working, you will never get your child to focus on their work.  Talk to the neighborhood moms to see if they have a set schedule for homework.

Finally, make sure the area they are work in is comfortable.  Would you want to sit on a hard chair for two hours?  Also, don’t forget they need adequate lighting.  How would you want to be working?  Make sure they are well fed for the energy they need to accomplish their work.  A cranky, hungry child will take longer to get the job done!

I still wish there was no homework assigned, but since I will not have my wish granted this year, I am going to have a great attitude with my child.  I am determined to make it as great an experience as I can so he will not go in with a bad attitude (OK, the bad attitude will be there, but I will try and curb it as best as possible!).

Now What? Organize Your Free Time

I know the back to school dream of the parent.  The one where if you finally have your kids in school full time so you are going to get all the projects left untouched in your home complete.  You may even squeeze in a leisurely bath while you dread anxiously await your lovely children to return.  What to do with all this new found free time?  Then reality kicks in and you realize your dream did not come true as you kiss your kiddos good bye every morning.  You seem to have nothing done at the end of the day.  They come back much sooner then you every imagined.  When did the clock start going from 9:59 am to 3:05 pm?  What happened to all the other minutes?  Now don’t get me wrong, you want your kids to come home, but how can you be excited when all you’ve accomplished is the gym and the grocery store.  The productivity gods are not impressed. 

For those who went from corporate life to stay at home mom, you think “I used to have 8 reports, a conference meeting, pitch 4 new clients and go out to lunch all before 3 pm!  Now I am lucky to get a shower in during the day!”.  How does the day disappear so quickly when you have a the same amount of time that you used to?  There are still only 24 hours in a day, but why do the 24 hours seem to go light speed  now?  It all has to do with managing your day. 

Contemplate:  Think about where your time is allocated to in each day.  Take time to make time.  Look at where you are wasting time.  Now be honest and don’t think you don’t waste time.  We all do it.  You got sucked into the latest status updates on FaceBook, you had a phone conversation with a friend that went way too long, you volunteer for an activity that you dread, you click on a link in an email that starts a web surfing adventure…you see what I mean.  We all waste time.  This isn’t to say you can’t do those things ever, it just means you need to set boundaries to help guide your time.  Also, think about when you work best:  morning, afternoon, evening?  Make sure you know when you can be most productive so you can allocate your time better.

Delegate:  When you worked in an office, you had help.  Whether you had an assistant, a co-worker, or even an employer, you had the opportunity to ask for help.  Why does that seem to be a problem for the stay at home/work from home folks?  You think, I should be able to do this all without the kids around, but really delegation is more important than ever.  You may not get it done the right your way, but you can at least know it is getting done.  Delegation is best for those tasks you tend to procrastinate on or fail to remember to do.  They aren’t getting done because they aren’t a priority.  Pass the buck and get it off your list!  Great people to delegate to:  Husbands, children, house cleaners, neighborhood teens, grandparents, friends, I mean the list is endless!  Just make sure you compensate by doing something back that works in your schedule or with monetary tokens of appreciation! 

Regulate:  Set a regular schedule to get your tasks done.  Look at what normally needs to take place and what you usually do in your week.  Group errands together and group chores around the house together so you are more efficient.  It seems so mundane, but in actuality, it will be so much easier to know what to do and when to do it.  Your family will also know when laundry gets done so they will have what they need ready to be washed (OK, we may still need to check with them and ask repeatedly, but hopefully it is easier than throwing in another chore throughout the week).   

For more tips on Regulating check out my blog post on Automating Your Day :

http://afreshstartblog.wordpress.com/2009/06/26/automate-your-day-clearing-the-mental-clutter/

Manipulate:  I don’t mean be deceitful to others, I mean be flexible with your ideas of time and scheduling.  How can you change things on the calendar to be more efficient.  Does this mean you used to work out in the morning at 9 am and now it will have to be 11 am because  you can accomplish more in the morning around the house?  Can you go to one grocery store instead of 3 or 4?  Or can you grocery shop once a week on a specific day and get all you need for a week instead of running out multiple times?   There are ways to change our habits and become more efficient in the process.

Just say NO:  OK, it doesn’t rhyme, but it is the most important thing to get more done.  Stop doing for others if you aren’t getting things done yourself.  Take a break from volunteering, sign up for the easy jobs in the classroom, don’t attend events you aren’t excited for.  Say no to yourself as well.  Does it have to be done perfectly, or is just OK good enough?  Do you really need to send out elaborate invitations to an all out birthday, or would a small gathering or activity be enough to celebrate?  Think about what you can take off your to-do’s and know it is OK to say NO.

Don’t let interruptions get you down!  This can be the worst culprit of time stealing and an unproductive day.  Can you turn off the phones, turn off the email reminders, turn off the TV and don’t answer the door for two hours a day?  Can you see friends in the store and let them know you will give them a call later, but you must get going?  Avoiding the interruptions can make you a speed machine in no time!

Once you have readjusted your schedule, delegated tasks, said no, and limit interruptions, you will be on your way to a taking those bubble baths and maybe even a leisurely nap!  Well, really, you just might feel a little less frantic and a little more mellow.  Also, you will be ready to focus on the kids when they walk back through the door!

It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year – 5 Tips for Organizing Your Back to School

For a few years there was a commercial (I believe it was for Staples) that ran for back to school shopping.  It had a casually dressed father soaring on a shopping cart shopping for back to school supplies.  The kids walking behind him were absolutely miserable.  The music playing is a Christmas song, “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year“.  For most parents, after a long summer break, they are ready to get their kids back to school.  I know personally I love routine (or should I say I thrive on routine) and summer makes me a little crazy with the relaxed schedule.  My husband is probably reading this thinking, “yeah she could lighten up a little”, but thought process is easier for me when there is an agenda for the day.  I am one of those excited parents dropping off my kids on the first day.  I love that they are in a controlled environment and I don’t have to listen to them fight for a few hours!   I miss them for awhile during the day, but soon enough they come back to me.

For most kids (at my sons’ school the term kids is thought to be reserved for baby goats, but I still can’t help but use it!), going back to school is torture.  They are exhausted, nervous and feel overwhelming dread about sitting in a classroom and studying again.  Not to mention homework!  Since when did parents have to host a second school session at home with hours of homework.  Maybe that is just the way school is preparing them for the real world…our work is never done!  I am not aware of one family who actually can’t wait for the homework to be assigned, yep, not one!  I can’t blame children for hating homework, but again it is a life lesson to build a functioning, working  adult.

How can you make this transition between summer lazy and school crazy go off smoothly?  One solid way is to start early.  I mean, don’t think you can travel the weekend before school goes back, let the kids stay up late until the day before school and expect to have a high functioning child in the chaotic morning!   Organizing your daily routine ahead of time will be beneficial to all in the long run.  Here are a few ways to make sure going back to school is less of a headache and more of a celebration (even if it is just yours alone!):

• Move your kids bedtime back 15 minutes a night for 3 weeks until they are going to bed at a decent hour.  If your school bedtime is 8 pm, don’t expect your child to willingly go to bed then if they have been up until 9:30 every summer night.  This will slowly get their body clocks back to where you want it. 
• Make sure you have your morning routine down before the first day.  Almost like a fire drill, practice your busy mornings a few times before the first day.  Plan an early morning activity on those days that will help mimic a school departure.  For example, have an activity planned in which the kids will need be dressed, lunch or snack packed, and books or activities to take along with them.  
• Practice preparing the night before.  We know mornings are chaos, no matter how well you plan something inevitably goes awry. Get as much done the night before as possible to avoid the screaming “Hurry!  We are SOOO late!”  chants we parents love to cry! 
• Let your children know what will be expected from them.  If they have chores, after-school activities, and homework, there is little time for play.  Have your child see where their time will be spent on a calendar and help them to realize time management (IE don’t waste time) is a huge role in allowing them enough time to be a kid, too.  The sooner they do what is expected of them, the sooner they have time to do what they want (within reason of course).  Let them know when they will have to do homework and when they can have fun.  Establishing this type of a routine will help in the transition.  If you establish the rule upfront, you will get less hassle once school is underway.
• Help them establish routines.  Work with them to find out how they would like to do things.  If in the morning they would rather eat before getting dressed, then see how productive they are when doing that.  Even if you would do things another way, taking ownership and responsibility for themselves will help them actually do what they are supposed to do.  Guide when necessary, but don’t lecture and tell them “I told you so” when they realize maybe this isn’t working.  We all make mistakes and part of growing up is learning from them.

Give yourself enough time to get the kids ready for back to school, so it really can be The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!  Next post I will talk about school supplies and setting up a homework station.  Also, I have previously posted more Back to School tips here on my blog…check them out:  http://afreshstartblog.wordpress.com/2008/08/.

What have you been doing to help ease the transition of back to school?  Let us know your tips and tricks by leaving a comment below!

Dream Weaver – Organizing your Ideas and Thoughts

I feel like a mental drain has been attached to my brain.  I am in the process of updating my website and blog. I have had this WordPress blog for over a year and wanted a more custom look.  I wanted my blog to stand out!  I love to look at blogs with style.  I wanted that!  I  found a great designer who only designed on Blogger, so not knowing much of anything, I moved my blog (www.afreshstarttheblog.blogspot.com).  I LOVE the design but was uncomfortable on Blogger.  I am not saying Blogger is bad, I am just more familiar with WordPress and this change has been tough!   I have decided Iwill be moving my blog back to WordPress and my website, too!   This process will take time. (Ugh, patience is not my strongest asset!)   I am hiring a designer to handle both the Blog and Website, since again, I want a more custom feel.  I have learned that I am NOT good at digital design…no matter how hard I try! 

In the process of this change, I have found a lot about organizing ”ideas”.   This has been a challenge because you don’t physically see and touch these ideas floating in your head.  How do you organize something that isn’t physically here?   But really, if you don’t organize them, they will get lost in your mental clutter!  I have been wasting time trying to make these changes because I didn’t have a game plan in place.  I was just searching for ideas, but not placing the ideas I have or found in an organized home!

My project has been critiquing my website and blog, as well as other websites in and out of my industry.  I have been making notes, printing of pages for likes and dislikes, and thinking about what I want from my site.  I found that my designer really helped guide me in organizing my thoughts.  His questions helped me to understand what I should be looking for as well as how to help guide him in understanding what I want.  I have had a file of “Web Ideas” filling up for months now as I have been getting ready to take the plunge.  I had a cluttered file of ideas and no real master plan as to what to do with it.    I wound up sorting through my papers and creating a chart of what I like and dislike about each site I have visited.  This helped me to articulate what I wanted.  I had a clear path to the finish line!

I have many clients who have this same problem with ideas they want to do with their home projects.  Whether it is remodeling, redecorating or a dream home file, they have all these ideas (scraps of papers, magazine clippings, photos, catalogue pages) all stuffed into one file with no rhyme or reason.  I work with them on creating a binder or accordion file folder to keep their “ideas” in an organized manner.  If using a binder, we use page protectors and dividers (easily found in discount stores or office supply stores).  I personally like the binder because you can flip through the pages, remove things you no longer like, add to each section and protect the pages as you look at them.  Use the dividers to break the “ideas” project binder down into bite size pieces.  For example, you may be renovating a kitchen.  You would want to break it down by counters, cabinetry, appliances, decorative accents, paint colors, fixtures and flooring.  One thing I realized in my project is that you need a way to communicate to others what you really like, by showing them what you don’t like.  I really have found it helpful in guiding me to what I want!

What project are you working on that could use an idea binder?  We would love to hear what it is and how organizing your ideas will benefit your project!  Leave us a comment.

Getting Your Duck in a Row…Organizing Tips for Back to School

As a young girl, my mom used to call my sisters and me her little chick-a-dees. This was a term of endearment, as well as a way to call us one name instead of listing us off one by one. I think she should have called us her little ducklings, because her goal was to keep us in line (literally and figuratively). Ducklings seem to follow their mother all in a row, hence the phrase “ducks in a row”. Chicks seem to be running a little more chaotically than ducklings.

I am always amazed by those mothers with large numbers of children. They appear to be in more control of their large brood than those with one or two (me included). If you were to ask these mothers who have it all under control, the majority would probably say it is due to their great organization and delegation. Because they have limited time to devote to each child, they must have help. The Duggar’s (TLC stars of 18 Kids and Counting) are a large family who envelop this practice. From a very young age the children are assisting with laundry, house work, cooking and looking out for their siblings. This family in particular is considered to be abnormal, but the fundamentals are there. With all the TV coverage they have, they seem to be well adjusted and happy kids.

As children are preparing for back to school, now is a great time to think about getting your ducks in a row. Get your home organized and ready for the action of early mornings, busy schedules and after school activities. Before going back to school you have a great opportunity to get your children involved in helping around the house. Establish chores they can do to assist you. For your sake, don’t expect perfection, but give guidelines and step by step procedures until the children have it down themselves. Moms and dads are stressed and overwhelmed because we do all the work load of the home. Get the kids involved, you will be happier in the long run!

Teaching your children how to clean and organize is a vital life skill. This will also lead into time management. The more that is expected of them, the more they need good time management skills. Establish routines in order to show them how to get things done in a timely manner. Teach them how to schedule on a calendar. Calculate how long things will take and then pad the calendar for the “uh ohs”. Teach them how to prepare the night before for the next days activities. Be sure to include fun in their schedules. Don’t overload them with after school activities. Pick one or two a season (depending on time commitment) and make sure they have time to just relax! Helping them schedule the work and fun will help them lead a balanced life as an adult.

My next few posts will be dedicated to getting you, your children and your home organized for back to school. To follow these posts, subscribe to the feed by clicking on the RSS feed button on the right.

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It Is Time To Cut The Ties That Bind You (To Your Clutter)

When you are ready to start organizing an area in your home you realize the emotional value you have put on your things. There are items you can readily throw away or donate, but then there are the items you have held onto for a reason. You feel guilty about getting rid of something that was a gift. Or, you think you may need this someday. What about the memories that come with the items? We have seen on many home organization TV shows where people break down crying because they can’t purge the items in their home. Not until you truly look at the reason you have been saving your items do you understand their pain. How can we let go?

First, you will not be able to start to dispose of anything if you are not mentally ready. You can purchase all sorts of storage containers and organizational tools, but if you have too much stuff you will never feel the calm of having your space organized. Once you have made the decision you are ready for a change, then you are ready to begin.

Second, determine why you have held onto something. Did you save it for the memories, the value, the potential value, the guilt? Once you have figured out what emotion is behind each item you will be more prepared to make decisions. If you held onto an item because you think it has monetary value or will eventually have monetary value, look it up on EBay to see what it is going for currently. I was surprised to find that the 1980’s Sports Illustrated Magazines that my husband has been holding onto are going for about $1.99 each. Not the big bucks we were expecting! That made the decision to get rid of them much easier.

Guilt is a big factor in holding onto items. From furniture and clothing, to nick-knacks and kids items, people don’t want to hurt others feelings for the gifts (and hand-me-downs) that were given to them. Most family and friends wouldn’t want you to hold onto an item you no longer need. Those who can’t understand why you need to dispose of an item may need to hear the reason you are getting rid of their gift. Let them know you will find good homes for the item(s). If it is a family member who has admired the item or a charity that will benefit from the item, you can feel good about giving it away. Goodwill and Salvation Army are well know for taking donations (in good condition), but there are also women’s shelters, animal shelters and other smaller charities that can take your items for those in need. Finding a good home may take time, but if it helps relieve your guilt, and that is time well spent. Don’t procrastinate on finding a home, or you will never be free of the item. Be vigilant in your progress!

The memories of items are the hardest to deal with. You feel if you get rid of the item you will never remember the good times that came with it. There are wonderful things you have saved that are worthy of being displayed. Display items as a collection or in a manner that shows its “value” (to you). If they are not worthy of being displayed, re-evaluate if you really need them. Can you take a picture of the item and write a note to go along with it telling the story of why it was important to you? Many times that will be enough to be able to let go. For those that are tactile and enjoy touching the item, can you clip a part of it off and save it with the picture and story? Yes this may destroy the item, but letting go is important.

Make the decision if you want to live in the past (all your memento’s), in the future (one day I may need that), or live for today. Living for today will help you to keep clutter down. Organizing isn’t about boxes and bins to put items in, it is about finding homes for those items you need and love. If everything has a home, then you will be able to find what it is you are looking for. Putting things away will be easier. This will free up your time to spend it doing what you want. Really look at what you are saving and ask yourself why? This question will help you in your decision making process to accomplish that area you are trying to organize!

Automate Your Day – Clearing the Mental Clutter

How would you like to clear your mind from all the little distractions that get in your way? These everyday distractions can wreak havoc on your productivity. Wouldn’t you love to have a machine that automatically made your life easier? Well, I have a little secret for you. You already own it! It is that thing in your head that weighs about 3 pounds. Your brain!

Wikipedia defines automatic as “Capable of operating without external control or intervention. Done out of habit or without conscious thought.” There are certain things we can’t avoid in life. We must wake, sleep, eat, bathe and dress everyday (now don’t try and tell me you don’t do at least three of these every day). There are also things that must take place on a weekly or monthly basis, like laundry, cleaning your home, personal grooming,

Creating a routine for your regular to do’s will not only make your life easier, but will free space in that crazy brain of yours to actually think of more important things. I have so many clients feel they are ADD, regardless of whether they were every diagnosed or not. It is the crazy way we run through the day, feeling like we are spinning our wheels and not getting anything done. We are so distracted by what we have to do that we simply don’t focus easily.

Create regular routines for your Home

• Laundry
• Changing sheets
• Dust
• Vacuum
• Bathrooms (yes the dreaded bathrooms)
• Empty Trash Cans

For your Errands

• Grocery Shopping
• Dry cleaning
• Bank
• Gas
• Library
• Discount Stores

For your Personal Grooming (whether you are a do it your selfer or you visit a spa/salon)

• Manicure/Pedicure
• Haircut/Color
• Waxing
• Facials

For your Workouts (if it is scheduled, you will be more apt to stick to it!)

• Weight training
• Cardio
• Stretching/Yoga/Pilates

For your Work

• Meetings
• Writing
• Phone Calls
• Email Checks

Other benefits of having your life scheduled:

• Ease in budgeting. You will be able to know what you spend in the month and/or what you can afford to spend in the month.
• Others will know what to expect of you and you will have an easier time in saying NO! Stick to what you need to accomplish to make you and your family’s lives productive. If the schedule allows, you will be able to help others when necessary.

Reflect back on what you do on a regular basis, whether it is routine or not. Wouldn’t it be easier for you to know what you can handle in your day, your week, your month? I know, scheduling seems so boring and rigid. But if you can accomplish what you need to do with ease, you will have more time for fun in your life and you will accomplish things much more efficiently.

Take the strain out of your brain by making the to do’s in your life so routine you don’t have to think about them any more! What do you do to make your life a little more routine? We learn best from each other!

My Life is Like a Country Song

There is no doubt I am a Country Music Fanatic. I love the concept of a country life, plain and simple. Now, in saying My Life is Like a Country Song (to give credit where credit is due, this is a play on Chris Cagel’s My Life’s Been a Country Song), I don’t mean the country song about how the wife has left him, the dog dies, and he has been drinking to no end. I mean the concept of family, good values and simplicity! The front porch swinging, slow paced living kind of song.

When you live in a busy area (like Orange County, CA) you somewhat feel the need to stay busy like all the others. There is a feeling you are missing something if you don’t do it all. Whether you are a stay at home mom, with a crowded activity/volunteer schedule, or the high powered executive who needs to close just one more deal, it seems as if we are wearing ourselves out. Personally, the fast paced life can beat me up. Some days I dream of sitting on a wrap around porch, sipping tea, rocking in a swing and staring out at a field of grass. (Of course I would be listening to some old Kenny Rogers and the sound track to Urban Cowboy). I guess I just wish the world would slow down, at least for a day or two.

For most, to slow down we dream of relaxing vacations. We go on vacations with the idea we are going to relax, but come home more exhausted then we left because we crammed in so much on vacation we never had the opportunity to relax. Not to mention the amount of money we spend on vacations that make us feel we need to work more to pay off what we spent! It is like a vicious cycle that never ends.

I keep myself, home, and family organized so I feel a little less crazed in my daily life. There is rarely a time where we are stressing out looking for something. We are efficient as we can be in a busy life. This allows us to have time to hang out and just be. But for some reason, I still feel the need to do more. My brain can be on overdrive, while my surroundings are not. On my lists: write a book, update my website, send out a mailer, work on my presentations, PDF downloads on my website…the list goes on and on. I want to try and squeeze in so much I don’t allow myself to have the down time I need. I am always thinking of the next project.

This summer, I am making a vow to allow myself at least one day to just do nothing. Well, not really, I am a mom and that requires full time work, but to really not work on the house or my business. Just to be with my family and just BE! We have Adirondack chairs on our front porch and this summer I will be planting my bum on those while I watch my kids play. I will read, I will relax, and I will know that my work will still be there when I get back to reality. With my organizational skills, having a systems and procedures in place, I know I can allow myself to have the quite happiness I am looking for! Now if only the asphalt street I look out to on my front porch could turn into a field of wild flowers…

Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend, But Only if You Can Find Them! A Guide to Organizing your Jewelry

Photos courtesy of Erin Markland with Stella and Dot www.gotstella.com

Whether you are dripping in diamonds or collecting costume jewelry, it does you no good to have it if you don’t wear it. Most women don’t wear their jewelry because it is just too complicated to find it. There are the balls of necklaces that are so complicated to untangle you would rather write a thesis on nuclear fusion than deal with it, the lost earring collection, and bracelets that need repair.

The proper storage of your jewelry is not only important to keep it in good condition, but also so you can wear what you have. Even if you spent $5 on a pair of earrings, it is a waste of money if they sit in a drawer or box.

Drawer:

You can use containers specifically for jewelry as shown below, or even kitchen/bathroom drawer organizers work well too. The benefit of the ones designed specifically for jewelry is the lining keeps the jewelry protected, but the cost of the standard drawer organizers can be significantly less.

Wall:

With how beautiful jewelry is today, you can treat it like art and decorate a wall with it. Use bulletin boards to hang and display. Keep it simple though. Decorative bulletin boards will look cluttered and confusing and will not show off your treasures, nor will you be able to quickly see what you have. Also, consider peg racks or hooks. I great way to separate your necklaces and bracelets. Utilizing both is great. Earrings just poke into the cork, smaller necklaces and bracelets can be hung on the board with push pins (stick to clear so you it doesn’t interfere with the color/design of your jewelry. Then hang the chunkier necklaces and bracelets on the pegs. Arrange by color or style, which ever way makes most sense to you.

Closet:

The Container Store and Ikea, among others, sell closet organizing systems with portions of the closet designated for jewelry. They have beautiful “trays” that pull out like a drawer and allow you to see your jewelry up close. The only problem with these trays is that they only work if you have a large closet to designate that much space to. If space is an issue, try going vertical with hanging jewelry organizers. These allow you to see what you have, but keep items separated for ease in retrieval.

On Top of Dresser or Counter Top:

Decorative storage is widely available to hold your jewelry. Keep in mind though, what you wear. If you are trendy and wear the large chunky necklaces, traditional jewelry boxes won’t do. They are built for small delicate jewelry and you will only fit one necklace inside. Make sure the items you choose will fit what you use!

Cabinet:

Drawer organizers that stack are useful in a cabinet, but you will have to pull it all out to see what you have. . Also, any of the counter top containers mentioned above will work as well, but since they will be out of sight, the expense for the beautiful containers is somewhat wasted. 3M hooks that are removable can be attached to cabinet doors that are not opened more often than looking at jewelry. Otherwise the necklaces and bracelets will bang against the door and risk damage. Also, clear acrylic containers are great because not only can you stack them, but you can see through them to know what you have! I have used clear double sided adhesive tape to hold them in place when stacked.

Accessories are the finishing touches to your outfit. You have spent money on jewelry, organize it so you can see what you have and actually use it. No more tangled messes – get out there and look like the super model you were meant to be!