I get asked lots of questions about how to get organized, what are the best organizing tips, and how to organize certain rooms or spaces. With all these questions lining up, I’m launching Tiny Tip Thursday! Twice a month I will answer one reader’s questions on a video!
Today’s question came from Ruth and she asked about tips for moving. Here are my Tiny Tips for Ruth!
Paper, paper, paper. We all have it, but some of us keep it in piles on the desk, the countertop, the floor, and the kitchen table. Purging paper takes time and it can take a long time. Never fear, I’ll show you what to do.
This Half Hour Organizing Project is all about those piles of paper! Ready, set, go!
Today on the Hampton Roads Show I show you how to not only set up, but also organize a home office. I said it a few days ago and I said it again today, a pile is not a file system!
1.Use a dresser for storage or decorative containers that stack. Use as much vertical wall space as you can, especially is the space is small.
2. Hanging files work best; get a file cabinet or desk top containers.
Every office needs at least one hanging file area. Most need a 2-drawer filing cabinet.
3. Use 3 ring binders to organize different areas of business
4. Set up stations-
5. Make a place for every paper!
I’ve talked about being prepared for emergencies before in other posts, but this Half Hour Organizing Project happened when we recently cleaned out our garage and I realized that we did not have all of our hurricane supplies in one place. They were in various places throughout the garage and even the attic! Not great when the lights go out and a storm is barreling down on your home.
I live on the East Coast and while hurricane season doesn’t officially start until June 1st, I wanted to get my new hurricane and emergency container ready now. Hurricane Preparedness Week actually runs May 26th-June 1st, so hey, you’ll be ahead of the curve! Wherever you live, it’s a good idea to have a container with basic emergency storm supplies. Here is a quick list:
Flashlights and/or lanterns
Batteries
Landline phone (not cordless)
Candles and matches
Water
Shortwave radio
This review was made possible by Mom Spark Media. Thoughts are my own. I received a Wahl Hot/Cold Massager for the purpose of this review.
As a mom and someone who does CrossFit workouts I feel like I am always needing a massage! But who has time for weekly massages, let alone the expense of weekly massages? My job as a Professional Organizer has me bending over, lifting, and standing a lot and at the end of a long work day, my body is tired. Add a workout to that and you have a recipe for not only a tired body, but a sore body.
So when the folks over at Wahl sent me their new Hot-Cold Therapy Therapeutic Massager to try out, I was super excited! I made this quick video to show you all the features and attachments, but I have to say that it has been a hit with my whole family, especially after my son’s lacrosse game and for my chronic hip pain. Be sure to check out their whole product line at www.wahlmassagers.com
After using this Therapeutic Massager for a few days I love it! With Mother’s Day in a week, this would be the perfect gift for any mom, but new moms and moms-to-be would benefit so much from this hand held massager because it is great for swollen muscles, poor circulation, and general pain. Hello pregnancy? Hello new mommy?
The two massage speeds and hot/cold settings deliver a gentle, soothing massage or a vigorous, deep penetrating action. And the brochure that comes with the massager gives complete instructions on how to use each attachment and for what issues to use each for!
Be sure to enter the giveaway form below. Giveaway starts May 5th and runs to May 12th! Winner announced on Mother’s Day!
This review was made possible by Mom Spark Media. Thoughts are my own. I received a Wahl Hot/Cold Massager for the purpose of this review.
Organizing craft supplies, crayons, markers, pencils, and paints can be easy if you use the right containers. This Half Hour Organizing Project shows you what steps to take and containers to use to make is super easy and super quick to organize.
Be sure to visit my You Tube Channel for all the Half Hour Organizing Projects!
Sometimes is just better to stay home and stay-cation rather than travel! On this segment of Organize Your Life on the Hampton Roads Show, I share my top 4 Stay-Cation Tips
1. Unschedule-
Don’t plan to do laundry, cleaning, or errands during your Stay-cation!
Turn off the alarm clock and sleep in.
Make a DON’T DO list. These are all the things you would normally do when at home and commit to not doing them!
2. Create an idea jar-
What are things you would like to do on a regular vacation? Write it down! What are things you keep wanting to do while home? Write it down!
Things like a spa day, a massage, a manicure/pedicure, rent bikes, kayak, read a book, watch an entire series on DVD, visit local museums, a day trip to sight see, etc.
Have each family member write down their ideas on strips of paper and place in a jar. Each person gets to draw out a paper and that’s how you plan your days!
3. Say NO to technology!
Stay off the computer, cell phone, gaming systems and other gadgets that can suck you back into working or get in the way of building the relationships in your family.
4. Think like a tourist-
I said this last year, but because we live in a resort area there is an endless list things to do. Pick up the brochures that only tourists look at and do some of those crazy things and eat at one of the off-the-wall restaurants.
sunshinetexasday.com
It’s month 4 of the The Great Wardrobe Challenge of 2013 that Jenny on the Spot started this year. Remember last month when I told you that I bought the bracelet at Blissdom because it was “for a good cause”? Yeah, well, at least I didn’t fall for that this month!
No, this month I bought something I actually needed, but didn’t really want. Here’s an update on my progress and let’s just say, I’m still learning.
The number one question I still get is,“how long do I need to keep paperwork?” And recently, it’s getting asked more then ever! Even in this digital age folks are all up in arms about what’s important to keep and for how long to keep it. With almost every single document available to us online, either to print or view, I still see people keeping way too much paperwork.
Here’s what I know for sure-people (not you, of course) are keeping papers that they never look at again, but somehow keeping them feels like a soft warm blanket on a cold night. All safe and secure and cozy in knowing that they are there, “just in case.”
I did this Organize Your Life segment over a year ago on The Hampton Roads Show, but every single thing I said still applies. Please, from the bottom of my heart, get rid of the majority of your paperwork!
According to CreditCards.com and Consumer Reports, we need to keep very little paperwork. Here are a few guidelines and what you do keep & a tip about maintaining it.
Don’t Need to Keep or One Month Only:
Keep ONE year:
Keep 7 Years:
Keep Until Updated or Changed:
Never Toss:*
*all of these documents should be in a fire safe or safety deposit box
Tips to Maintain Paperwork!
This is important, this learning to love ourselves. Without it, we are critical and fault finding of ourselves and it transfers to others too.
I suppose that’s why when I see the Dove Real Beauty commercials and print ads they resonate with me. I want to love who I am so I can teach that to my daughter.
I have always loved Dove beauty products and not because it’s the only soap my husband isn’t allergic to, but because they have been a one-man show when it comes to addressing women’s body issues. Heck, part of their mission statement reads…
Just today, I had a conversation with my friend about her 9-year-old daughter who doesn’t like her tummy and is already saying things like, “I need to watch what I eat and exercise.” My own daughter has been saying her thighs are fat! Please, she is a size 00! I’m not immune either though, and honestly, I don’t know why I’m so critical of me.
It makes me sad that I see the wrinkles, the imperfections, and the gray hair as negatives. So, how do us moms go about teaching our daughters about a healthy self image when we ourselves struggle with it too?
I guess that’s why Dove’s mission feels so personal to me.
Their website is full of amazing information and my favorite is the Dove Self-Esteem Toolkit Recommender which encourages girls to embrace their unique beauty.
It doesn’t take long to impact a girl’s self-esteem. Just an hour of your time can make a big difference. Get simple, handpicked activity suggestions that are perfectly matched to you and the girl (or girls) in your life.-Dove.com
But by far, the most thought provoking and heart tugging thing they have done is their newest video, Real Beauty Sketches. Get a box of tissues out and be ready to have a talk with yourself. And your daughter, if you have one. We should all be talking about this video and having real conversation about how we see ourselves and what real beauty if about.
What were your thoughts after watching this? I just loved it so much and have shown a dozen people, my daughter included.
