Spring Cleaning Time! (Yes, that's an exclamation mark!)

My loyal readers, or, really, everyone who has ever met me, all know that I like things neat, organized and clutter-free. I also love finding authors who share this passion, like Ruth Soukup. Her books have inspired me, and her Living Well Spending Less website, which I have only recently discovered, is a wealth of resources, with categories like Home 101, Life, Etc., Smart Money and Food Made Simple (loyal readers would also know that this would be my least-visited category).

When asked if I would be interested in spreading the word about the free Living Well Spending Less Spring Cleaning Planner, I couldn't refuse! I downloaded the Planner myself, and it's full of handy cleaning information, checklists, and calendars that you can use for your plan of attack! I took the Cleaning Personality quiz too...are you shocked to learn that I am classified as a "Clean Colleen"?

(Note that to download the planner and receive the results from the cleaning personality quiz, you need to enter your email address.)

Here's all the info you need...happy cleaning!

Spring is here, and that means it’s time for Spring Cleaning! Our Spring Cleaning Planner is the perfect resource to help you get your house in ship-shape this spring. For a limited time, we are offering it for free at Living Well Spending Less®--just our little way of saying Happy Spring! Get yours here: http://www.livingwellspendingless.com/springcleaningplanner

Not sure you’re ready to dive into spring cleaning just yet? Take our short and simple free quiz assessment and discover your cleaning personality! Take the quiz here: http://bit.ly/lwslcleaningpersonalityquiz

6 Ways to Simplify Your Life in 2017

Whether it's an official New Year's resolution or not, I'm sure you would love to streamline, organize and simplify your life in 2017...and while there are lots of things I am not good at (let me know if you want to see those in a blog post) I am definitely a skilled organizer. Here are my tried-and-true tips to help make your life easier!

1. Finances: Ensure you're receiving bills by email (as little paper-handling as possible, people) and pay as many as you can using preauthorized debit (or a points-earning credit card whenever the option is available). While I know many are wary of online banking, I couldn't function now without e-transfers, and I am also in love with e-deposits...no more carrying cheques around until I can hit a bank machine!

2. Streamline appointments. Think of the year ahead, and book all routine dental, eye, and immunization appointments for you and your family members, as well as any others that fit your situation. Get them all in your calendar (believe it or not, I'm still in love with using a paper datebook). For years after moving to where I live now, I continued to drive to my former community for the dentist and optometrist, and a few years ago I finally switched to local professionals, which saves a ton of time, especially when appointments are multiplied once kids come into the picture. While I was sad to see my family doctor retire (he actually delivered me) the silver lining is that my new doc is 15 minutes closer and much more convenient.

3. Declutter. Yep, I'm hiding this one in the middle of the list, even though it is almost always my streamlining priority. Get rid of stuff. I know that not everyone gets an actual high from purging clutter like I do (I assume it's like doing drugs, though of course I wouldn't know), but I don't think anyone is immune to the good feeling that comes from paring down belongings. Take the altruistic angle if it helps: donating the clothing, toys, and household items that are no longer being worn or used in your home can help to bring happiness to so many others who may not be in a position to buy everything they need, and getting the kids involved also helps teach them some very valuable lessons about giving. Start as soon as you're done reading this post; just clean out a drawer. Maybe your underwear drawer, maybe the kitchen utensils - no, you don't need six whisks. I swear. Post the before-and-after on social media (maybe not of the underwear drawer, and tag me, of course!) and inspire others to do the same. I have a big donations delivery heading to Vinnie's this week; maybe I'll see you there!

4. Do a digital declutter. If you spend a lot of time looking at your computer screen, that desktop needs to be organized into folders with a nice wallpaper image...and again, delete as much as possible. If you're really ambitious, you can even delve into folders and look for documents and other items that are outdated, which I do about once a year. While some time-management experts don't feel "Inbox Zero" is worth the hype, I keep as little in my inbox as I can. Most emails I receive are deleted as soon as they're read (or even before), others get filed away immediately for future reference, and a precious few remain in my inbox as a to-do list (which, again, some advise against, but it works for me). If it's still in my inbox, whether for my work or personal account, it means I have to do something about it...so I do. You should also unsubscribe from any blogs or newsletters that you don't truly read and enjoy (keeping This Mom Loves, of course!) and brand mailings that you don't actually take advantage of. I even do a social media cleanout every so often, streamlining which accounts I'm following.

5. Simplify lunches. No one knows as well as my colleagues how lazy I am when it comes to lunches, and I have absolutely no leg to stand on when it comes to promoting healthy eating. So when I tell you that you should keep simple snack and lunch items at work, you should take that as fresh-cut fruit and veggies, Greek yogurt and whole-wheat pitas (that's all healthy, right?) when what I really keep handy are a big box of Cheerios, milk, crackers, cheese and huge pack of granola bars...and rarely have to think about what I'm taking for lunch (leftovers are also a big hit, and working at a school gives me the perk of hot lunch days once a week as well!) My husband, however, is great at cooking up chicken breasts, vegetables, rice, etc. on the weekends and freezing individually portioned lunches to pull out each morning before work. Maybe try it his way.

6. Mobilize your children. Unlike the tip above, this one's a definite do-as-I-do. What chores could you train your kids to do at their ages? My daughters are 10 and 8. They've been making their own beds as long as they've been dressing themselves (at first I had to accept less-than-perfection, by now they're actually pretty good) and they also fold and put away their own laundry, load and unload the dishwasher, dust and vacuum their rooms, and do all bunny-related care. When they get in the door after school, they unpack their bags, leaving their agendas, notes, etc. in a designated spot on the counter, before making their lunches for the next day. This they've been doing since Eva started kindergarten and Liv was in grade 1, and they know the rules about what they need to pack. Next it's guitar or piano practice, then singing, and homework as necessary. Rest assured that my girls get tons of free time, and also more valuable time with mommy since I'm not wasting time on jobs they can do themselves. (Speaking also from a teacher's perspective: you're not doing your kids any favours by coddling them.)

I could go on all day about this topic, but I'm getting the urge to purge...so I may head to my closet and see what I haven't been wearing regularly (it's easy to tell, because I have a system where I move items to the right end of the rod once worn...is this gift a blessing or a curse??) I certainly hope these tips are helpful to you, and I'd love to know if you have any other ideas to share!

Hey, what are you doing, about to click on something? You have a drawer to clean out, my friend!

Stop Living On Auto-Pilot! (Guest Post)

Today I'm welcoming special guest blogger Kelly McCann from Your Formula For Life.

***********

Do you ever just put your head down, nose to the grindstone, and tell yourself – it won’t be like this forever… I just need to get through this week… past this one deadline… beyond these toddler years… through the holidays… etc.? I lived my life like this for several years before I had an “a-ha” moment that made me realize I was wasting precious time just going through the motions of life rather than truly living it!

My name is Kelly McCann and I’m a mom to two not-so-little ones anymore. Zach is now 11 and Julia will be turning 9 this year. My husband and I juggle their activities around our own career pursuits — his as an electrical programmer with a local automotive parts manufacturer (where he’s on call 24/7) and mine as an accounting manager at a local electrical utility. Yes, that’s right – I’m an accountant who blogs! That’s part of what makes my message so unique. I’m not just about sharing some right-brain life design ideas with you — I balance those ideas with left-brain logical execution techniques; because if you can’t execute on the ideas that intrigue you, reading about them is really just a waste of time, isn’t it?

Growing up, my goals and dreams were substandard I suppose, looking back on them now. I thought all I needed to be happy was a stable career where I “made good money”. I also wanted to get married and raise a family. After that, I really didn’t give it much thought. I would work and take care of my family and that would be all I needed for a lifetime of happiness.

During the years 1996 – 2007 I marched through life ticking as many of those items off my list as possible — university degree in Business, career in my field, professional accounting designation, marriage, puppy, baby #1 and finally baby #2. That’s a lot of big changes in a rather short period of time; but in the years that followed, I was feeling a bit underwhelmed with life. While my days were certainly full, they were all relatively the same, jam-packed with my job and day-to-day responsibilities. I’d created exactly what I’d thought I wanted, and yet I found myself wondering… is this it?

In 2010, I attended a women’s conference where many sessions were dedicated to professional women in the workforce sharing their tips for success — in business, and life in general. I listened to speaker after speaker talk about her life and how she balanced family and career, yet I still walked away from the conference feeling deflated. Not one single woman had described living her life in a way that I thought would work in mine; a way that would allow me the space I was craving for myself, away from the day-to-day, doing something regularly that was just for me!

My conclusion… there simply was no way to have it all. I should just resign myself to life as it is in any given moment, put my head down and plow through; essentially, make life bearable by going through the proper motions. I concluded I would have to wait until life “slowed down” before I could spend more time on pursuits that were just for me. But, I rationalized to myself, what was I complaining about anyway? I had a good job, a healthy family, great friends – it was all good from anyone’s outside view looking in; and so… I resigned myself to life on auto-pilot.

My “a-ha” moment came a few months later when I was sharing my story of the conference — and my conclusions from it — with a mentor and she simply said to me, “Kelly, if you believe you can’t have it all, you never will.” Such simple words but they had such an unbelievable impact on me. It was in that moment that I knew the answer was not to put my head down and accept life as it was just because it looked good from the outside – but to consciously and purposefully design my life so that it felt good on the inside.

It seems so straightforward to me now why I didn’t find any “one-size-fits-all” life design at that women’s conference. We all have our own unique formulas for living a life that truly makes us happy; while we can certainly embody suggestions and success techniques we learn from someone else, really… not a single one of us is going to have a formula that fits exactly for anyone else.

From 2011 through to 2015 I was driven to find my formula. A way of living that was just right for me (and most importantly, made me feel alive!) No more auto-pilot for this girl! I took courses on defining my priorities, seeking out the origins of my personality, improving my relationships, creating systems for efficiency so I could work smarter – not harder – both at the office and at home, and I read a bazillion self-help books on a multitude of topics! I was obsessed with learning about and implementing new habits that could be the missing puzzle pieces for my life formula.

Once I got really comfortable with the idea that I was absolutely the only one in charge of designing my life, I began to more clearly identify other women around me who were following ‘the auto-pilot guide to life’. I could sense the boredom and dissatisfaction… but I wasn’t yet great at articulating my message. I’m still learning how to do this as I regularly hear from other ladies that they do not have a formula for living their life; then I fumble over my words as I excitedly try to convince them that they can have their own formula, and that I can help them define it!

You don’t have to spend years of self-discovery and self-development to begin implementing the concept of creating a formula for living that’s just for you. If you take these first small steps that I’m about to describe below, you will be on your way… moving from auto-pilot to consciously living each day with your own happiness in mind:

1.       Create the space to do something that is just for you every single day.

2.       Then do something that is just for you every single day.

Um… is that it? Yep! It’s super simple advice that you’ve read or heard a bazillion times before, but I have to ask… have you taken it to heart and truly executed on it?

Because — I’m going to be pretty direct here — I’m as much about execution as I am about self-exploration. When I think of creating more space for my own happiness, I think of being super-efficient at the “must-dos” that come along with the life I’m currently living. What this means is that I have systems in place in my life that allow me to: be efficient at the office so significant overtime isn’t a constant factor; keep up with household chores; stay on top of our personal finances; and manage our full calendar of activities and to-dos.

Certainly when you learn about creating space in your life you are most likely told to: cut back where you can, delegate where possible, and eliminate things you are doing that are just time-wasters. Yep, I agree — all of those suggestions are good pieces of advice! But the fact remains there are elements of life that, as a responsible adult you need to have a handle on — like paying bills, cutting your grass regularly, and getting your kids to and from hockey practice! Rather than waste time avoiding these things or beating yourself up for procrastinating on them – why not put your mind to use developing systems (your own formula, if you will) for managing these “must-dos” efficiently! Create space by being smarter about your responsibilities.

Once you’ve nailed step #1, step #2 is the fun part... using the space you’ve just created to add daily activities that are all about YOU! Some things that hit my “just for me” list (and I do have a lengthy list that may appear to make me seem quite selfish… but also very happy!!): I include walks every day with my dog, yoga, writing in my journal, bubble baths with light easy reading and a glass of wine, reading blogs and listening to podcasts that intrigue me, and — the biggest passion that now consumes the space I created when I developed my own formula for life — connecting with women like you through my website: yourformulaforlife.com.

I think you can recognize if you’re on auto-pilot. I also think you are the only one who can decide if this is the way — or not — you want to live your life. Start small by taking action to create just enough space to be able to do one thing that’s just for you every single day! Say goodbye to auto-pilot and hello to living a life that fits YOU!

---

Thanks so much for sharing your story, Kelly!

Kelly McCann is a Life Design Coach and Lifestyle Blogger

Follow Kelly on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter

kelly@yourformulaforlife.com

www.yourformulaforlife.com

Spring Cleaning - Teach Kids To Declutter! My CHEX Daily Segment

Last night on CHEX Daily, I chatted with hosts Teresa Kaszuba and Mike Judson about what kids can learn from spring cleaning (responsibility, organization, social justice/generosity, etc.) I share what chores my girls do, and how I am teaching them to declutter their own belongings. I even managed to work in a reference to The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin, one of my favourite books ever - no matter what my book club says!






A few things we didn't have time for:

-Kids can be motivated by the thought of making money. While donating is wonderful, some items can be set aside for a yard sale, and larger items can be sold on Kijiji under your supervision. (Also a great lesson about Internet safety!)

-The one-in-one-out rule can work from toddlers to teens. No new toy/game/pair of jeans until you can find (at least) one to donate.

-Once items are purged, bins and labels are an organizer's best friends. I like the idea of putting photos (e.g., of Lego, Barbies, cars) on the bins so pre-readers know where everything goes too!

Feel free to leave other suggestions or links to kids' spring cleaning posts below. I'm always on the hunt for new ideas!

At Home With Madame Chic

In "At Home with Madame Chic", Jennifer Scott continues to share the wisdom she gleaned as a foreign exchange student from her Parisian hostess. Though I haven't yet read her first book,  "Lessons From Madame Chic: 20 Stylish Secrets I Learned While Living in Paris", it was a huge success, and my own mother got on board with the 10-item wardrobe that Scott recommends.

The sequel (already a New York Times Bestseller) focuses on how we can live like Madame Chic in our own homes, and I found it a fun and refreshing read - keeping in mind that some of the tips were far too idealistic for my own life!

Chic ideas which I embrace:

• "The French value an orderly home life, even in times of upheaval" - organization, efficiency and lack of clutter are essential ("Play music while you clean and organize" is also a good one - though I do love to watch/listen to talk shows while I work)

• Appreciate what you have/where you live. Fix the problems you can, and try to let go of the rest.

• Give yourself positive affirmations.Some examples Scott offers:

"I am a calm and patient parent." (I'm going to try this one)

"I choose to eat healthful foods today."

"My home is a sanctuary."

"I can change the world."

"All is well."

• Wake up early enough to make sure things run smoothly (and lay out your clothes the night before). Most of our morning stress occurs when we don't have enough time, so make time. This might mean going to bed early, and I know most of you laugh at my early-to-bed schedule, but our mornings are fairly smooth. Until the last five minutes, when somehow the volume of my voice always rises.

• Don't obsess and internalize world news. From the Ottawa shootings to the Jian Ghomeshi scandal (sorry American readers if you have no idea what I'm talking about) I definitely keep up-to-date on what's happening (especially on Twitter) but try to let it go when I need to.

• Put things away after you use them. People ask me for my organizational secrets, but this one isn't a secret. People just don't tend to want to do it.

• Give your kids downtime and don't overschedule.

 

Author Jennifer L. Scott

Photo: Kevin McIntyre

Ways I will never be chic:

• Dress nicely at home. I totally see how this could have psychological benefits, but my home uniform includes sweatpants and a ponytail. I will only change if someone is coming over. Sometimes not even then.

• Sit down to eat breakfast. I LOVE restaurant breakfasts, but at home it's usually a Quaker Oatmeal-To-Go bar (Cinnamon Roll flavour) alternating each bite with a task (check phone, put lunch by door, etc.) I realize this is not the best way to do things.

• "One of the pleasures of the afternoon is thinking about dinner." Eating it, maybe. Preparing it, never.

• Don't use TV for background noise. I LOVE TV background noise. I don't let my kids do it, however, and I make sure whatever they hear in the background when I'm watching is appropriate. Ish. (They're a bit too familiar with the names of all Canadian talk show hosts, and Maggie is prone to ask questions like "Where's Lainey today?")

The book is also full of helpful little checklists, hair and makeup tips, sample cleaning schedules and recipes for everything from drinks to meals to cleaning sprays, plus playlists and candle scent suggestions for different tasks and times of day.

"At Home With Madame Chic" is a fun read, whether you're a busy mom looking to make life smoother or a hostess-with-the-mostess on the hunt for new ideas. As I mentioned earlier, the book is at points a tad idealistic, but Scott writes with a self-deprecating and honest tone: we're not supposed to strive to be her, she's striving along with the rest of us to live a more chic life. Even when she comes across Pollyanna-ish, that's not a bad thing, especially when the other books in my nightstand involve murders, divorce, accidents and mistaken identities (pas chic).

For more information, visit www.jenniferlscott.com

Efficient Organization: My Clothes Closet

After the overwhelming response to my "Efficient Organization: The Filing Cabinet" post (thanks so much to that person who commented!) today I am sharing with you how I keep my half of the walk-in closet organized and running efficiently. (Hubby is organized too, but I'll leave it to him to share his strategies someday if he wishes. He loves to joke about his plans for his own blog, "This Dad Hates".)

• Since our home was custom-built, I was lucky enough to be able to determine how I wanted the closet divided. This is super-helpful, as people use space differently. For example, I have very few long dresses, so I only designated a small amount of space for hanging long items. I have one rack for hanging short items, split between tops and bottoms, and I use shelves to organize sweaters, t-shirts/tank tops, and gym/comfy clothes.

• Just this year, I invested in matching hangers (the thin space-saving ones) for all of my hanging items. It really did open up some space, and there's something very visually pleasing about having them all the same. (I think I paid about $50 to do my whole closet.)

• Here's my biggest tip when it comes to purging unused items: whenever I wear something, I return it to the end of the rack/pile. For example, at the end of the day, my pants get hung up on the far left of the closet, and the sweater I wore placed at the bottom of the far right pile, and items get shuffled along. At the end of each season, it's very easy to see what has been worn and what hasn't, and therefore what can be painlessly donated. This system also helps me to add some variety to my wardrobe because I can make an effort to choose items I clearly haven't worn in a long time. While putting together this post, I noticed exactly where my themed Halloween shirt from Old Navy is hanging, and it's pretty fair to assume that anything to the left of that hasn't been worn since October, and is ready to be culled from my winter wardrobe.

• I also live by the rule that you've heard from every other organization junkie - one in, one out. While it doesn't always happen on the same day, I try to generally get rid of (by which I usually mean donate) an item for every new one that I bring into my closet. When I have a few new pieces coming in (perhaps Christmas gifts or the result of a back-to-school shopping spree) I force myself to take the time to weed out as many items, so that my closet never becomes overstuffed and unmanageable. (We do the same thing with the girls' toys, but I'll save that for another post.)

• Speaking of seasons, I have my wardrobe streamlined enough that I keep everything (for all four seasons) in my closet. Shorts get moved up to the top shelf (on top of my wedding dress) after their disappointingly brief season of use is over, and trade places with heavy sweaters, which tend to get much more airtime. Other than that, most of my items can be worn year-round, and I'm actually making more of an effort to repurpose clothing as much as possible. A lot of cute short-sleeved tops look great with blazers in fall and spring, for example, when it would be far too cold (for me) to wear them alone. (Well, not alone, exactly. There would always be bottoms. Just to be clear.) My bedroom dresser holds socks, underwear, and swimsuits, but everything else is right here in the closet.

• I wrote about my jewelry organization once before, but here is the photo of my "Little Black Dress" which hangs on the closet door (earrings are stored in compartments on the back):

• I recently put up a small rack on the back of the door for belts (and by "I", of course I mean my father, who is still always willing to do odd jobs for me, even though I'm unable to bat my eyelashes through text. Or is there a way?) The rack will only hold about a dozen, which gives me incentive to keep my selection pared down. Until Christmas, the only belts I owned were black or brown, so my friend (and next-door-teacher) spiced things up with red, green and grey ones as gifts!

• Because our walk-in closet is right beside our ensuite, we use wall space in the closet to hang our towels and bathrobes, 

• All shoes are kept on the shoe racks at the bottom of the closet, although we have a large shoe storage unit on the landing in our garage where we keep the items we wear on a regular basis. (How I wish it could be the sandals and flip-flops instead of the boots.) There's no way I am showing you a photo of anything out there at this time of year, though. Things are always kept "organized", but in March, there's just no way to keep everything clean! (Same with my car. Living in the country is never good for the outside, but this winter is killing the inside too.)

• The only laundry baskets in our home also reside in this closet, one clearly for darks and one for whites. I'm in there constantly, so I can see pretty quickly when one is full, and throw a load of laundry in the washing machine. Once the girls are old enough to do their own laundry (I'm giving Frannie a couple more years) I'll get them similar baskets for their own rooms.

• I only keep things that belong in the clothes closet in the clothes closet. That might sound obvious to some, but those who have their wrapping paper, garden tools and soup cans stored in their master bedrooms should pay attention.

• As a random note for those people who think that I get rid of things a little too ruthlessly and am completely devoid of sentiment, I would like to share with you two other items that have a special storage place in my closet, in a box of mementos: 

See? I'm not completely cold and heartless when it comes to meaningful material items!

I also have to say that when the members of our Student Government selected "80's Day" as one of our Spirit Week themes, I was actually glad that I had kept a pair of retro earrings that I wore for an 80's party years ago (my cousin hosted the party and included an accessory in every invitation - neat, right?) This is the sort of thing I would normally give away after the fact, but for some reason I held on. However, worst-case scenario would have been paying a couple of bucks at Ardene for a new pair, which wouldn't exactly have been the end of the world.

To wrap up with some exciting closet-related news: while in the process of writing up this post, I realized that my dress selection could probably use some attention, so I'm happy to announce that my personal stylist, Lisa McLatchie, is on the job! (She visited my house to do a Wardrobe Makeover and also helped with a Coat Intervention.) I'm sending her pics of me wearing all of my questionable dresses, and she'll be responding soon with her kind yet ruthless professional opinion, which of course I will share with you here! Looking forward to that!

How do you keep your clothes closet neat and organized? I'm always thrilled to get new tips! If you've done a closet-organizing post, feel free to leave your link below - I'd love to check it out!

Efficient Organization: The Filing Cabinet

I am definitely an organized person. I come by it naturally, and have always seen the value in lists, schedules and everything having its place.

When discussing “The Happiness Project” at book club, one of the members commented “I just don't get how having a clean closet is going to make you happy!”  and I was stunned. Doesn’t everyone get a high from organizing, sorting and purging?

A reader and friend recently suggested that I parlay this area of obsession expertise into more blog posts, and while I’m all for it, I need to explain something.

I would call myself “efficiently organized” – which is not always what organizational-blog readers are interested in. Here’s a perfect example to illustrate what I mean: my filing cabinet.

At home and at school, I have well-groomed filing cabinets, with file folders neatly hand-labeled and arranged in alphabetical order. I’ve used this system forever, adding or deleting files as needed. For this reason, the hand-written labels work well for me.

Most organizational bloggers, though, go for the beautiful photo op. Readers like to see carefully typed labels in fancy fonts, done in a computer program, printed out on special stickers and carefully applied to the files.

But here’s the thing: I already have a perfectly functional system – taking a couple of hours just to change the look of the labels would not at all be efficient. It would be a waste of two hours of my time. Plus, what happens whenever I need a new label? My printing is neat and I never have trouble locating what I need in the cabinet, so it certainly serves its organizational purposes. And while I’m all for things being attractively presented in many areas of life/organization, literally NO ONE else sees my files but me. I’m pretty sure not another soul has ever opened by classroom filing cabinets, and on the very rare occasions my husband goes rooting around for a document himself at home, he’s certainly not complaining. Though I must admit that I did submit to Pinterest-pressure a couple of years ago and replace the folders that weren’t the same colour, which was refreshing. (Yes, I am being serious.)

Without further ado, here’s my very organized, but admittedly not really swoon-worthy photo:

On Pinterest, you can find tons of examples of filing cabinets that are beautifully refinished on the outside, but my cabinet at home (standard black, but in great condition) is kept in a closet, and I really don’t think there would be enough of a return on my investment to spend time beautifying the school cabinets which aren’t even my property.

My tips for filing success:

1. File immediately. People in the staff room the other day were talking about having a “To-File” pile. I never do. If something really needs to be kept (see next point) it goes from my hand directly into the filing cabinet. I open the mail as soon as I get in the door, and I truly do walk right downstairs, items in hand, and file any important pieces right where they go.

2. Only file what you absolutely must. So many things are available on the internet now, and filing within document folders on your computer is a much better idea than adding to paper folders. Getting e-mail notifications of bills and paying online helps with that, as well as removing your name from unnecessary mailing lists. Most of what I get in my mailbox at work, and a lot of what arrives at home, gets recycled. Even if it is something important, like a party invitation, I write the details down in my planner (RSVPing immediately if it’s required) and recycle the hard copy. For holiday cards, I keep a designated spot in the home for them to be collected/displayed. Most other correspondence (e.g. thank you cards) gets read, appreciated, showed to my husband or daughters if appropriate, and recycled. (Sorry if it sounds cold, but if you’re still reading, I assume you want me to be honest about my system!)

3. Whittle down your files on a regular basis. At school, I usually do this in June; pulling out a few folders at a time and whipping through them while the kids snack or work on art, or sometimes in the staff room while enjoying recess conversation. At home, it’s on the summer holidays, sitting in front of the TV. If I haven’t used it in a couple of years, I have multiple copies of it, or I know I can find it on the computer quickly if I need it again, it’s gone. I once read that tax stuff needs to be kept for seven years, so by year eight, it goes in the shredder or the fire pit. (To be clear, I mean the one in our backyard. I don’t camp.) I know I’m weird, but it gives me joy to pare down what’s in my filing cabinet (or pretty much any closet, cupboard or drawer).

So…are you inspired to get your filing cabinets into shape?

I already have a few more questions from a reader to get me rolling with this organizational series, but if you want to get a peek into an area of my home/work/life organization (besides, of course, my oh-so-gorgeous filing cabinets!), please comment, e-mail me, tweet me, etc. and I’d be happy to add your idea to the list.

I will never say that my way is the right way, but I certainly know what works for me, saving me time and making my days (from the crazy mornings to the exhausted evenings and everything in between) less stressful.

If you’re still with me, you may be interested in my previous clutter-control series:

# 1 - The Underwear Drawer

# 2 - Beauty Products (no more contact lens products for me now!)

# 3 - The Linen Closet

# 4 - Clutter Flashbacks (including hair accessories and coat closet)

# 5 - Organize Your Jewelry

"The EveryGirl's Guide To Life" by Maria Menounos

I just finished rereading another gem from my bookshelf: The EveryGirl’s Guide To Life by television reporter Maria Menounos (you may know her from ExtraTV, or her time on Access Hollywood, Today, or Entertainment Tonight).

In her book, Maria covers a huge range of topics, from decorating and organization (this gal could give me a run for my money!) to hair and makeup to work and travel, with an incredible number of tips for women.

You might think that as a television personality, Maria’s suggestions might not exactly apply to you (and I will admit her closet is to die for) but as the daughter of Greek immigrants with incredible worth ethic, Maria keeps it real and stretches her time and dollars in the same way most of us do. Not only does she do her own hair and makeup for her daily TV appearances (most of her counterparts spend two hours getting “done”; Maria does her own in less than half an hour) but she, her partner Keven and a friend set up and photographed the cover shoot for her book, with no additional staff required.

Of course I’m fascinated by the lives of those who work in broadcasting, so I had a particular interest in the book, but I took away all sorts of practical ideas ideas (cleaning tricks, packing tips and work suggestions) as well as soaking up Maria’s “famous reporter” lifestyle.

Her sections on diet and exercise are very thorough, and while she’s much more dedicated than I am in these areas (she details how she lost 40 pounds several years ago) she’s also pretty realistic and practical about health and fitness – again, very accessible for what she calls “the EveryGirl”. Though I have to say that I could never get on board with one carb per day! (Her second book is coming soon, focusing specifically on diet and fitness.)

The book is packed with photographs of not just Maria, but her gorgeous home and many of the interesting people she’s met or interviewed (the Obamas, for example).

While I feel a bit old/experienced for a few of the topics, I still pick up new ideas every time I read the book (which is why it gets to stay on my shelf, rather than being passed along as most of my books are).

The EveryGirl’s Guide To Life would be a perfect gift for a young woman starting out – maybe someone entering the work force, or someone who just rented her first apartment or bought her first house.

You can follow the hardworking Maria Menounos (as I do) on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/mariamenounos

Back To School Organization!

You know how excited I get about organization, and today I'm thrilled to welcome Jessica Johnson from www.extraspace.com, here to offer her back-to-school organizational tips!

**************

Shift Your Organizational Gears for Back-to-School Time

With summer's end on the horizon, it's time to start thinking about ramping back up for school. But instead of groaning, approach this school year with a renewed determination to do things "right" this time!

Of course that means different things for different people, but there are some general guidelines and best practices that apply across the board. Basically, it's all about getting in sync with the various gears you and your kids will need to shift now that days will be spent in the school yard instead of the backyard.

Here are a few "smart syncing" ideas to get your neurons firing and help your kids skip to the head of the class.

Start with a Clean Slate

In the same way that "Spring Cleaning" applies to adults, kids should observe "Back-to-School Cleaning." If they haven't already cleaned out their backpacks from last year (something to keep in mind for the end of this year!), a good flush is in order first.

Create a System

Once you're back to the beginning, set up a system to keep you on track for the rest of the school year. This includes organizing items for school, setting up a designated working area for homework and school supplies, and planning ahead to avoid last minute scrambling that only piles on unnecessary stress.

• Files and folders are great for separating items as they come in from the classroom. Consider color-coding files and labeling folders to find what you need in a flash.
• Toss trash at the end of the day – whether it's afterschool snack wrappers or scratch paper from math homework, place trash in the recycling bin or trash can at the end of every day to avoid it piling up and becoming unmanageable.
• Become a fan of lists. Adults have a hard enough time keeping everything in order without the aid of a "to do" list, so help your kids understand the value of writing things down – you won't forget them and you won't have to use precious brain power trying to keep it all straight. After all, they'll need it for geometry or algebra or whatever else the kids are learning these days!

Establish an "End of the Day" Routine

In an ideal situation, everything is ready to go in the morning when your kids wake up. Fortunately, with a bit of day-before prep, this perfect scenario can be a reality! So before bedtime, make sure your kids take care of these tasks:

• Complete all homework. Few things are as frustrating for a kid than having to rush in the morning to finish assignments and get ready at the same time. Plus, isn't the point of homework to actually learn something? This is made much more difficult when done during the mad dash to get out the door.
• Pack up backpacks and book bags. One of the things that is worse for a kid is spending the time to do assignments in a thoughtful way, completing them with plenty of time to spare the day before and then forgetting something at home.
• Place all bags near the door. If backpacks are waiting with the shoes by the front door, there's no need to run around frantically at the last minute when the bus is pulling in, or worse, pulling away from the curb.
• Pre-make lunch (as much as possible). If you need to wait until the morning to put together sandwiches so they don't get soggy, that's much easier to handle in a pinch if you have already compiled the other components of the meal. All you need to do is add the sandwich to the sack with the pre-bagged snacks and drink and send them on their way!
• Lay out all clothes and accessories. No more sending your daughter back upstairs to change when she comes down in the morning with mismatched clothes. Forget facing the shame of sending your son to school with the same smelly socks he wore yesterday because he didn't tell you last night that he needed a clean pair when you could have done something about it. Nope – if school clothes are assembled the night before, you retain final approval over outfit selections and the ability to run a load of laundry if necessary.
• Stick to a routine. Consistency is key: in addition to applying to all of the tips above, maintaining a regular schedule with sleeping and waking up will help the transition go more smoothly until the point that your new lifestyle becomes automatic.

What are some of the ways you and your kids have successfully streamlined your day to facilitate victory in the classroom?

Jessica Johnson works for www.extraspace.com and contributes to the Extra Space Storage blog, exploring various aspects of organizing and storing possessions.

Rearranging Kids' Rooms: Better Than Christmas

Looking for something free and (relatively) easy to entertain and inspire your kids for the March Break?

My darling Frannie (who turned 7 yesterday) had been asking me about rearranging the furniture in her room, so one day last week before she got home, I took it upon myself to do so. The girls' rooms are fairly small (10 x 12) so there aren't that many options.

One piece of furniture had to go, so I (tentatively) peeked inside my hope-chest-turned-toybox and was relieved to see that Frannie was only storing a few items in it, which could easily fit in the unused under-bed drawers. (The hope chest is now in my bedroom, as I ponder what to do with it. I know some people shudder at the thought of painting natural wood - especially a beautiful item that my Dad lovingly made for me - but painted wood is all the rage now...okay, I digress.)

So when Frannie arrived home, I told her I had a surprise for her, led her to her room...and based on her reaction, you would think that Santa Claus had come. Her eyes lit up and got really wide, and she threw her arms around me, thanking me profusely (days later, she's still thanking me). I'm telling you, there wasn't a single new item in the room, and I had even left a pile of junk for her to sort sitting on her bed, but for some reason she was just thrilled, and has been super excited to play in her room ever since.

Here's a before and after of the incredibly dramatic transformation:

From this (desk and bookshelf hidden around the corner on the right):

To this (dresser and bookshelf  hidden around the right hand corner):

Seriously, that was it. Then, of course, Maggie was terribly disappointed (those of you who know her and think she is always smiling would be very disheartened to know what she looks - and sounds - like when terribly disappointed) and we quickly did her room too.

It's a great chance to freshen things up (and do a little Spring dusting/vacuuming behind the furniture) and if my kids are any indication, inspires them to purge unneeded items and rediscover their old favourites.

Let me know if this works for you!

Stay Organized This School Year: Tips From a Mom and CEO

Please welcome my special guest poster today: Megan Brown, Co-founder of HatchedIT.com, an online family organizational platform. (She had me at "organized".)

How Stay Organized as the Kids Head Back to School

As another summer draws to a close and we begin to prepare our kids for the start of a new school year there are several tips we can follow to help stay energized, organized and on track.

1. Turn off the TV

Television time is ok but it should be designated. It is too easy to get sucked in and waste hours in front of the tube. Create a schedule with your kids on when they can watch TV and how much they can watch at a given time.

2. Schedules

With sports, after school activities, homework, play dates and more scheduling can be one of the more stressful tasks during the school year. It is important to be on top of your scheduling by using calendars, online organizers, and reminders to help you keep track of your busy day.

3. Storage

Buy boxes and baskets to help store things around the house like toys and gadgets. Compartmentalizing is great for organization and de-cluttering! They are also the perfect way to help each child know where to put items specific to them like homework assignments, permission slips and after-school activity information. Kids are used to putting things into labeled bins at school – why not let them help you keep organized at home too!

4. Cleaning

“A place for everything and everything in its place” is a great motto to live by. Don’t let the cleaning work pile up; try and disperse chores through the week so that you aren’t overwhelmed.

5. Preparation

Start preparing anything and everything that you can ahead of time. Some examples? Prep your outfit for work before you go to bed, prep dinner meals on the weekend, pack the kids’ lunches the night before and keep them in the fridge. This way everything is ready when you need it to be and you can start the day feeling prepared rather than discombobulated or rushed.

6. To Do Lists

To gain perspective on what needs to be done now and what can be held off - lists are always a great tool. However, sticky notes scattered across the walls of your home are not the best method for list making. Make one list at the start of your day and use it as you get things done throughout the day.

7. Sleep

You may not realize it, but getting adequate rest and having a regular sleep schedule will help you to be more organized throughout your day. Both kids and parents should have a bedtime.

8. Communication

Coordinating is never going to work without communication. Talking it out is also important in any busy family.

9. Stop Buying Things

Seriously! Consider what you actually need versus what you want. Not only will you be saving money, but you will also have less to clean up.

10. Reward Yourselves

Give credit where credit is due! If the kids are doing their chores and helping, don't forget to reinforce their good behavior with compliments and rewards like going out for ice cream or renting a movie. And if the parents have had a great week, treat yourselves to a night out.

The most helpful hint of all- Don’t over stress the start of the school year. If the family supports and loves one another then being organized will happen naturally, especially if you remember to follow the tips!

About Megan Brown:

Megan Brown is the co-founder of HATCHEDit.com, the online organization and collaboration tool for families. She has over a decade’s worth of Wall Street experience spanning both sales trading and Asset Management Sales and Marketing.

School Daze: Back To School Tips and Tricks

So, are you excited about "back to school" yet? Never mind that the phrase also translates into "back to work" for me...personally I can't wait to spend too much for my daughters' clothes, handle piles of extra paperwork on my kitchen counter, and -- wait for it -- pack lunches every single night, since both girls are full-time this year!

(If you're new here, yes, that is sarcasm.)

I think we could all use some help easing into a new school year, which is why I wrote School Daze for Peterborough, Northumberland and Lakeridge Kids; a compilation of tips and tricks for making 2012/2013 the best school year yet.




With contributions from many of my readers, the article includes ideas under several "back to school" categories: Get Back on Track, Calm Jitters, Shop Around, Start Organizing and Simplify Lunches...with a sidebar of "Tips For a Successful School Year" right from teachers!

Check out the entire School Daze article from Peterborough, Northumberland and Lakeridge Kids.

Clutter Control #5: Organize Your Jewelry

Okay, ladies (gentlemen? anyone?): we're back in clutter-control mode, and this time we're tackling our jewelry. Until recently, my stash has been somewhat organized. I had an old blue organizer that was designed to both hang (I had it on my closer door), and fold up for travel purposes (which I never did with it). I was never happy with how the compartments were divided, the bottom section buckled under the weight and there wasn't room for some of the longer, chunkier necklaces which just ended up hanging piled on my closet doorknob. I was also keeping a lot of pieces unnecessarily.

BEFORE:

I had done many internet searches for a new system, but short of solid wood jewelry dressers, nothing appealed.

Then one day I was browsing in the Green Earth, and lo and behold I found a beautiful "Little Black Dress" Jewelry Organizer by Umbra for $24.99. This two-sided organizer hangs on a rod or hook to maximize space and swivels so you can see your jewelry collection easily, with clear pockets on one side and hanging loops on the other. I'm usually very much a "hide the junk" kind of gal, but I also know that if I keep jewelry stored away in boxes or drawers I just won't use it. This way it's hidden in a closet, but still visible to me when I need to accessorize.

I handed over my debit card, and decided that was the day to switch systems.

Ready to get started?

As always, my first piece of advice would be to dump everything out on a flat surface, and then purge! I know this is easier said that done, but if you're going to keep everything, then all you're doing is shifting from one storage system to another.

Now, there is an issue I need to address here, which is: Sentimental Items. If you've kept every piece of artwork your little darlings have ever created, I'm talking to you. If a particular macaroni necklace or string bracelet is deeply valuable to you (perhaps your first Mother's Day gift) then by all means hang on to it. But seriously, pitch the junk. Many items of beadwork have found their way into my classroom treasurebox, and the paper/cardboard "gems" have been duly recycled. If it's something that you wouldn't actually be caught dead sporting, maybe you want to find a way to display it, or put it away with other mementos so it's not taking up valuable jewelry real estate. Same with things that you're "saving for a daughter/granddaughter" - store them in a safe spot, not with your regular jewelry.

Things get easier from here. If it's broken or tarnished and worth less than...well, set your own dollar value here...throw it out. Only serious bling is worth repairing, and I'm not going to polish my $2.99 bargain earrings. (Speaking of extremely valuable stuff, make sure you have an extra insurance rider on your really big-ticket items. I used to type these up when I worked for an insurance company, which gave me an important early understanding of cut, clarity, colour and carats!)

I have containers of gold and silver cleaners (one from a local jewelry store and one from Zellers), and I soak things (usually just my four main rings) when they need a good polish. I also throw in less valuable silver stuff and if it scrubs easily, it's a keeper.

Out of style bangles? It's your call what to do with them. My students have been the lucky winners of outmoded goodies with no hygenic concerns (bracelets, rings, watches) but I have held on to a few just in case I need to go retro for a party or a school theme day.

Next put like items together. Can you downsize from there? I realized I had two almost identical cheap black necklaces, so one found a new home.

Time to store and/or display. Generally speaking I kept earrings with earrings, etc., except in a few cases of matching sets (e.g. silver Celtic earrings and charm/chain that a student gave me) which I stored together.

If you don't want to be a total copycat and buy the Little Black Dress Organizer, there are lots of other options:

• drawers with small organizers (from expensive to dollar store - e.g. ice cube trays) to sort like items
• pretty display options like "trees" (not nearly efficient enough for me as they don't hold much)

Click here for source.

• DYI ideas like chickenwire attached to an old frame (spray paint to suit)

From Us Three Birds

• hooks (metal, suction, 3M removable Command hooks) attached to almost anything (walls, shelves, mirrors)
• tool/tackle boxes (my system of choice as a teenager)
• corkboards

AFTER:

As always, I love to hear from readers who are following the Clutter Control series, and I'd be glad to show your "before and afters" or link to related posts.