It’s that time of the year again: you finally get settled into a workable summertime routine with the kids and everything changes again. It’s back to school time and that means back to morning chaos, homework disorganization, and dealing with massive amounts of information between school and home. I’ve got some interesting tips that highlight some lesser-known ways for keeping kids organized for school, and I thought you might be able to use in a story you’re planning. It’s normal for kids to generate chaos and disorganization (it comes with the territory), but being organized is a learned... (Read More ...)

Think you can’t pull it together? You CAN! For all of our married life, it was my ex that did most of the cooking and for ALL of the holidays. My literal “Soup to Nuts Nazi” NEVER consulted with me on menu and pretty much banned me from the kitchen (“Why did I give him the boot, you ask???”). My Thanksgiving holiday role was as “staff” and party planner meant that I was responsible for issuing the invites through clean up (all the while stoking the fireplace, pumping enough heat, and throwing blankets on my 70+ year old father, up from Florida visiting... (Read More ...)

I’m a Professional Organizer AND a mom, so I absolutely love working with other moms. We speak the same language and share similar experiences, especially when it comes to organizing. I’ve been working with a local mom named Lucy on and off over several years, both in her home and business, and I recently returned to her home after a long hiatus. “I’ve got no one place for my paper,” she told me in a recent phone call. “It’s all over the place and I’m having trouble finding things.” Before I even arrived at Lucy’s house I could guess... (Read More ...)

Want to have more ho-ho-ho moments this ho-liday season? The knowledgeable people at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota suggest you be aware of and plan ahead to avoid things that trigger stress. With this in mind, ChicMom.com serves up a Top 10 recipe for a happier holiday season. 10. Simplify. Simplify. Expense and extravagance are not essential for a joyous holiday. What does pay off is time well spent with the people you love. Make your holiday tasks more manageable. Start early. Decorate only what gives you pleasure. When it’s time for guests to arrive, your work is done even if... (Read More ...)

You may not think that your home kitchen has much in common with a professional kitchen, but think again. Oh sure, you’re not cooking for hundreds of diners each evening. But you also don’t have a staff of 5 to 8 people helping you. You, and you alone, are left with the task of cooking dinner for your family each night. So, just like a professional kitchen, yours should be organized and efficient. So let’s bring some of the practices of professional kitchens I’ve worked in to your home kitchen. The focus of this article will be on the organization of your pantry and refrigerator... (Read More ...)

Hub Of The House – Create a central location to hang a bulletin board that will hold important school and family information. Teach kids to update the calendar upon receiving new information and get in the habit of checking it the night before for the following day’s activities so that they can prepare in advance. GotFamilyGetOrganized.com – An organized parent sets a good example. This website stores in a unique, simplified, and easy to use format, important family information: school schedules and extracurricular activities, social and sport information, and medical, just to name a few,... (Read More ...)