When Entertaining Snowballs Into Re-Roofing the House

I am hosting a baby shower for my sister next weekend.  (I know Emily Post thinks this is a no no that a family member is the host, but my sister really hates asking people to do things for her, except me!)  As the shower invitations went out, my honey-dos around the house began.  My husband kindly refers to these honey-dos as “it’s time to re-roof the house again”. 

My poor husband is not a big fan of manual labor and in all actuality, when we start a project it can be hilarious.  We went to Home Depot to get caulk to re-caulk a few areas and we had to go back to ask how to use the caulking gun…we just don’t do home projects enough to know what we are doing.  Also, we are working on replacing our front walk way’s flower bed with gardenia’s, and as we started to dig we just kept hitting roots, big roots.  Murphy’s Law always joins in when we start our home maintenance projects! 

Any time we decide to have a party, the type that is more than friends over for dinner, we realize how many things around the house need to be done.  These are the types of things you look at and think, I will get to that over the weekend.  A few months pass and there is that same project waiting to be done.  Home maintenance is so important for the value of your home.  Not only will deferred maintenance cost you money in the long run, it also will cost you time.  Let’s take something as simple as dusting the baseboards.  It you were to weekly, or even monthly, wipe down the baseboards, it would be quick and easy.  Use a Swiffer Duster, a rag on a broom, or a vacuum, but you will be able to quickly pass over the baseboard and be done.  If you delay this project, it will require you to actually get on your hands and knees with a spray and a cloth.  But I digress…

As my husband and I have learned, we don’t use our time or money wisely when it comes to home repairs.  We wind up purchasing the wrong tool, paying someone to fix our mistakes, or spend many trips back to Home Depot (they must love people like us, you know, the clueless kind).  We don’t save money by doing it ourselves!  Bless those of you who have Home Maintenance 101 under your belts, we are envious!  As a professional organizer, my home is organized, but not perfect.  There are areas of weakness that even I admit.  I am realizing that the best solution for me is to outsource when necessary.  Home repairs ranks high up on the “I need help” list.

My best advice for keeping up a home is to schedule the deferred maintenance on a weekly or monthly basis.  Look around the house and see what needs to be done.  Figure how long it will take to do the project, then put it in your calendar.  You can break projects for 30 minutes a day, or a few hours on a weekend.   The key is to actually put it in your calendar and do it.  Prepare by researching (if you are tackling a project you have never done before) and getting all the supplies you need before your start date.  If you are lacking home maintenance ability, schedule the right repair person to come in and help.  If you have a friend or family member who is a Maintenance God, trade something for their help.  Buy them dinner, babysit for them for a day, wash their car, etc.  Bottom line is to not wait on repairs.  Figure out what needs to be done and do it!  And once you have caught up with all your projects, keep an eye on the house and keep it up!

If you would like more tips on organizing, visit my website at:  www.afreshstartorganizing.net/tips.  Also, you can subscribe to my newsletter “Fresh Ideas for A Fresh Start”  . Subscribe Now

Are your children ready?

No one wants to instill fear in their child, so it may be easier to avoid the conversation with them of what to do in an emergency.  I know with my boys, if I start a conversation with them on what types emergency situations could happen, I will have two reactions.  My oldest will ask lots of questions and, in his quest for a military future, will talk of how the armed forces will save the day, oblivious to the point of the conversation.  My youngest is more concerned with if there is life after death.  He has asked numerous times, “after I am done being an angel, will I get to come back to live on earth?”, again the conversation going off track.  Knowing these types of conversations are looming, I have always avoided them.  But in my desire to make teaching a hard lesson easy, I know I will do a disservice to my children to not let them know what potential scary situations may lie ahead and how we can handle them.

l found a link through Ready.gov that has helped me with this difficult subject.  I know it will help you and your children’s teachers discuss preparing for anything from a house fire to a hurricane.  The Department of Homeland Security’s Ready Kids initiative created a program for school age children for its ongoing emergency preparation awareness. 

Here is the link to the children’s site:  http://www.ready.gov/kids

It is set up like an adventure, and helps you get your kids involved in a fun way.  There is a four step process in preparing that will allow the kids to “Graduate”.  In addition, there is a “fun and games” link your children will enjoy.  There are also fun facts on natural disasters.  Like did you know ” “Tornado” was a 14th-century sailor’s word for a voilent, wind thunderstorm.  It may come from the Spanish word tronada, meaning “thunderstorm” ” (from Ready.gov).

For children ages 3-5, Sesame Street Workshop teamed up with Ready Kids to provide a great source for information on teaching your small children about natural and man made disasters and how to prepare for them:

http://www.sesameworkshop.org/initiatives/emotion/ready

This site has downloads available in both English and Spanish.  There are instructional booklets for adults, including caregivers, and activity books for children.  “Fun and easy ways to help the whole family prepare for any type of emergency”, is their tag line and with characters from Sesame Street, fun and education go hand in hand. 

There are many talks we want to avoid with our children but these websites make the “disaster preparation” talk an easy one.   We owe it to our children to teach them to be ready for anything that comes their way.  We educate them in academics, sports, music, and many other areas.  If your children are educated in disaster preparation, they will be psychologically and physically protected in an emergency.  So get the family together and Get Ready!

If you would like more information on emergency/disaster preparedness, visit my website at:  www.afreshstartorganizing.net/tips.  Also, you can subscribe to my newsletter “Fresh Ideas for A Fresh Start”  where I discuss how to put together and Emergency Preparedness Kit. Subscribe Now

What’s your plan?

September is National Preparedness Month. 

Recently Hurricane Ike has renewed the urgency to be prepared for a natural or man-made disaster.  An emergency situation does not give you enough warning to gather all you need for the “what-ifs” .  Even with a warning, you may not be in the frame of mind to know all that you need in the aftermath.  Do you have all your documents? Do you have food for the family and the pets?  Do you have a plan if you and your loved ones are separated?  Chaos will arise as you panic to find everything.  Planning is the only way to ensure you are protected. 

Your home is where your heart is.  It is where you keep all you need to survive, both physically, mentally and emotionally.  Your home may not be your ideal (too much clutter, not enough space, you want a new kitchen) but if it were to be destroyed, you may realize it is all you could ever need.  Being prepared for an emergency starts in the home.  Here are some tips to be educated around the house for an emergency:

1.  Start with a Family Plan:

• Prepare and practice emergency escape routes out of your home.  Create a meeting place (and a back up) where you can check in and make sure everyone is OK.  Make sure you plan at least two ways out of each room.
• Find safe places in your home in case of an emergency.  Contact your local emergency authorities to find out where they may be.  Old school thought (like a door frame) may not be the best place anymore.  Educate yourself and your family.
• Purchase and maintain fire extinguishers.  Educate the family on how and when to use them.
• Keep an extra set of tools needed to turn off the main gas and water valves.  Educate yourself on how to do this.  Having the tools is not enough, knowing how to turn off the valves will ensure safety. 
• Test your smoke detectors monthly and change the batteries every six months.

2.  Establish a Family Communication Plan

• Decide how you will get in contact with each other.  Give all your information to schools and daycare so they will know how to get a hold of you. 
• Review what your child’s daycare and school policies and procedures are so you will have peace of mind when they are not with you.
• Create Family Emergency Cards.  Laminate copies and make sure each family member has a copy.  You can find a sample form at: www.ready.gov/america/_downloads/familyemergencyplan.pdf      
• Establish emergency contacts for both local and out of the area/state.  Keep up to date information on your contacts.  Remember to update your children’s schools and daycare with these changes  they should occur.                        

3.  Assemble your emergency preparedness kit. 

• Visit www.ready.gov for a list of what supplies you may need.  Be sure to check with your local emergency preparedness authorities (you can link to your local authorities through Ready.gov) as to what they recommend as well.
• Keep these items together in a waterproof container or back pack in an area that is easily accessible (not in an attic or hard to reach cabinet). 
• Schedule a time to check batteries, food supply and working conditions of all the items in your kit.  Add this to your calendar so you are sure not to forget.  Schedule this just like you do your smoke detectors.  There would be nothing worse than taking the time to prepare only to have the items useless in the time of need.

Stay tuned for my next emergency blogcast!  Next week I will talk about ways to help your children understand and prepare for an emergency.  If you would like more information on emergency/disaster preparedness, visit my website at:  www.afreshstartorganizing.net/tips.  Also, you can subscribe to my newsletter “Fresh Ideas for A Fresh Start”  where I discuss how to put together and Emergency Preparedness Kit. Subscribe Now

Are You Ready?

September is National Preparedness Month

Are you ready?

We never know when an emergency will happen, but having the peace of mind knowing you are prepared for anything can empower you.  Are you ready for an emergency?  It is easy to think you live in an area that nothing will happen, but you run the risk every day for man-made or natural disasters.  I am not the type of person who thinks about such negative things, but knowing my family is prepared gives me a the peace of mind I need.   I will be blogging about this subject for the month of September to give you help in getting you and your family prepared.

Being informed is your first step in being prepared.  There are so many amazing sources of information that are geared towards emergency/disaster preparedness.  Here are a list of web sources that will educate you for what you need to know:

www.fema.gov/areyouready

www.ready.gov

www.citizenscorps.gov

www.redcross.org.preparedness/npm

www.homesafetycouncil.org

Also, you need to check with your community’s Emergency Management Office or local Red Cross chapter to find out what types of disasters are most likely to happen in your area.  Ask them to send you information on how they suggest you prepare.  Find out what types of ways does the community inform you of the potential for a disaster.  Do they have sirens, emergency workers who go door to door or television and radio broadcasts?  Knowing what to expect is essential to staying calm in the face of potential danger.  In addition, contact your children’s schools or daycare givers to find out what there plan of action is and if they are prepared.  If not, give them the information you have and give yourself the peace of mind that your children are protected when you are not there.  While you are gathering information check to see what the disaster plans are for your workplace.  Knowing that there is a plan of action with your office and co-workers is essential. 

Again, knowing what to expect will keep you calm in the face of an emergency.   Disaster preparedness is nothing to procrastinate on.  Get informed and get to work on keeping you and your family ready for anything!

Stay tuned for my next emergency blogcast!  Next week I will talk about ways to be educated around the house for an emergency, including having a family plan.  If you would like more information on emergency/disaster preparedness, visit my website at:  www.afreshstartorganizing.net/tips.  Also, you can subscribe to my newsletter “Fresh Ideas for A Fresh Start”  where I discuss how to put together an Emergency Preparedness Kit. Subscribe Now

Finishing Up Back to School

My last post for Back to School is getting the garage in order for your kids sports activities.  The garage is a very busy place for the home.  From gardening supplies and sporting equipment to long term storage and hopefully a car, your garage can become a mad house very easily.  Garage storage can become a catch all for items you don’t quite know what to do with. 

Living in Southern California, we have limited attic space and no basements for storage.  You have to be creative to store items in a garage as well as fit a car or two in it.  If you have no organizational systems working in your garage, it will be hard to have your kids be able to access their sports equipment easily and quickly.  The best way to make your garage function is to get the “stuff” cleared out and in order.  Plan on spending a weekend clearing out all the unused, unwanted, and unnecessary items.  After you decided what you have left that MUST stay, find containers that will help access items easily for all.

There are many incredible products out there for transforming your garage.  Before you decide what type of storage you need or want, set a budget.  There are plenty of items that will make your garage function for every budget.  Before you set anything up, figure out a space in the garage for the kids sporting equipment.  The best use of garage space is the walls.  Going vertical will allow you to get the most use of the space.  Following are a few ideas you can use to help the kids keep equipment in order and allow them to maintain this order on their own.

1.  A bag for each child’s sports.  If they have a bag to coral all their equipment, they can have their bags packed and ready for practice.  If it is swimming, they can have their towel, goggles, cap, suit and change of clothes for after practice.  This will save you running around the house finding all the items and wasting precious time. 

2. Hooks for sports bags. Be it tennis, hockey, lacrosse, football, swimming, or soccer, your child will need a bag to transport their equipment to and from practice and games.  Have a hook for each child’s bag that is at their reach and will allow them to grab it and go.  Label above the hooks to avoid conflicts of whose hook is whose (yes you know it will happen that they will fight over one hook for who knows what reason other than to just drive parents crazy).

3.  A place for cleats or shoes worn for each sport.  Cubbies are great as well as wall racks.  Again, make it easy for them to grab or put away, and in the same vicinity as their equipment bags.  Label these like the hooks so there is no fighting.

4.  A list of what they need for each sport to make sure they have their bags packed and ready.  Laminate it if necessary, so they can refer to it as much as necessary. 

Let’s face it, after school sports are expensive and take a lot of a parents time.  Between making sure each child is where they need to be and with what they need, it can be a full time job.  Having your child be responsible for their own equipment is an important life lesson.  In addition, you can hold the kids accountable for the loss of any items.  Establish family rules for how a child can help re-pay for the equipment lost.  They will be more aware of their equipment when they know what it will take to purchase a new one.

As I have mentioned in previous posts, Back to School is not just about buying new school supplies and clothes.  It is a time for a fresh start!  Having the things you need for your kids to manage their own lives will allow you to be able to enjoy them more!  Teaching your children about organization and responsibility (no matter what age) are so important for their adult lives.  Use this transition time to work new habits and responsibilities into their lives as well as yours.