Isn’t there another day? Do you sometimes feel like all you ever do is clear clutter and you never get to the end? I was helping my 9 year old daughter clean her room (several years ago) on a Monday evening and I was telling her where to put things and without realizing it I was working way to fast and wearing her out.

She looked at me and asked, “Isn’t there a Tuesday?” It took me a few seconds before I realized that she was asking if some of the things could be done another day.

When you clear clutter from your bedroom, kitchen or other rooms it doesn’t have to be done all at one time! Set a timer and only work for that amount of time. Then give yourself a break and come back to it later. (It could be 5 minutes later, the next day or in a couple of days). Keep your eye on your goal. By working slowly and steadily taking tortoise steps you will clear clutter from your home and life without the stress of doing it all at once.

Show ‘N Tell Tuesday In A Girl’s Bedroom

I have this wonderful friend who has the sweetest little girl. She is a happy 4 year old. Every night she refused to sleep in her own bed. She would always sleep with her parents.

Because I am a professional organizer my friend asked for my help with clutter control in her daughters bedroom. She showed me her bedroom and after doing an evaluation of her room we decided to get rid of clutter and see if that would help her daughter sleep in her own bed.

Her mom got rid of clutter by separating the toys and making a home for all of them. She downsized the amount of dress up clothes to clear clutter and make space. Other toys were donated and some were sold to a local consignment shop.

The result was her daughter slept in her own bed for the first time in months!

What have you done to get rid of clutter that has made a big difference to you and your family? (For me it is that I don’t waste hours looking for something important as things have homes and they live in their homes when not being used—that is most of the time).

This week we are streamlining and simplifying to get rid of clutter. Here is a great tip if you pack lunches for yourself or your family:

Rather than doing the same thing over every morning prepare items in advance. For instance, if you pack crackers or cookies buy a large package and transfer serving sizes all at one time to small baggies. This will save a lot of time. Put these in a plastic bin or basket that can be simply pulled out in the morning and items selected. The same thing can be done for items that need to be refrigerated such as grapes, baby carrots, and fruit.

What do you do to get rid of clutter and simplify making lunches?

School is starting in our neck of the woods next week. I always loved the feel of the first day of school. I am sure it is different in every part of the world but for me it has always had a special feeling. Here is a tip to help your kids get organized for school.

Use wider shoe shelf organizers that hang over closet rods. Use one for clothes and the other one for items to take on specific school days. Label each shelf with the day of the week. On Sunday help your child organize for the week.

In one shelf organizer put the clothes to be worn each day, school socks, sport socks, undies, uniform, etc.

In the other organizer put school items that are needed on specific days, music book, swim suit, sport clothes etc.

If there are notes to return to school or special instructions they are placed in the specific day’s shelf.

This eliminates looking for clothes or forgetting important school items. What tips do you have to help children organize for school and avoid the hassle that mornings can bring?

Summer is almost over and I hope you have had a great one. Our grandchildren were here for a week and we went to our county fair. The most fun was feeding the goats and seeing the smiles on the children’s faces when the animals lick their little hands as they feed them.

No clutter clearing was done while the kids were here—sometimes it is just good to take a break isn’t it?

We took lots of photos and as a surprise we are making a simple little memory book to give to their parents so they can see how much fun the kids had at grandma’s home.

What did you do this summer (besides clearing clutter) that was fun?

Happy Groundhog Day! Do you think of Punxsutawney Phil popping his head out of his hole in Pennsylvania and hope for an early spring? Here in my neck of the woods we will have six more weeks of winter if we go by Mr. Phil. (It is a bright, hazy sunny day). What organizing tips can we pick up from the groundhog Punxsutawney Phil?

Organizing tip #1 Mr. Phil must have a calendar he keeps current so he doesn’t miss his most important day of the year. If you don’t have a planner to keep track of appointments, to do lists (so you don’t have to use sticky notes that get lost)—get one and start recording everything you need to do, want to do, and will do in it. Check off each item as you do it and you will realize you get a lot done in a day!
Organizing tips #2 If you dread getting out of bed and facing the day because everything is in a mess from the night before; do some planning ahead—lay out your clothes for work and have the kids lay out what they are going to wear. Check to see if your cell phone is charged. Is there food in the cupboards for breakfast?
Organizing tips #3 Relax, organize just one thing at a time, don’t think of your entire home needing to be organized NOW—start slow and stay focused on that one place until it is just how you want it and then move on to another project.

As Punxsutawney Phil snuggles back into his home, it is our chance to look in our homes to see what we are going to organize during the next six weeks.

I am always on the lookout for organizing ideas to share with my readers and I am excited about this. It is called Scentsy. This is a fabulous way to have your home smell good and be safe at the same time.

Several months ago my daughter gave me a Scentsy “un-candle” (that is what I call it) and I love it. These are the reasons I love it and recommend it:

1. My home smells good when I use it. (Which is every day)
2. It is safe! It is safe to leave on all day, it is safe around children. My grandson stuck his finger in the wax and he pulled back quickly and looked at his finger when he felt the warm wax, it did not burn and he did not cry.
3. They come in wonderful styles to fit every room. This is the one I use in my family room. They just added plug in ones which I have on order. They also have ones for the car.

4. When ordering on line S/H is very reasonable—it is just 10% of the entire order. I really like that.
5. They are reasonably priced and the refills are cheap.
6. They fit into any decor and in any room.
7. It is easy to order on line at: www.scentsy.com/jschofield

We would love to hear what you think of this product.

My third daughter was due to be born on December first. As you know December and the weeks before Christmas are busy any year let alone having a baby at that time.

I have always loved Christmas and I didn’t want to give up the joy and happiness of this season of the year by being overwhelmed with the birth of my baby. I made a plan and I stuck to it. The following organizing tips are what I did then and still do to this day:

1. I set a goal to have all of my Christmas gifts bought or made, wrapped and delivered before December 1st. And I did too, then she didn’t come until December eighth so I had bonus time.
2. I made a detailed list of everyone I would give gifts to and what I wanted to buy them. This way when I saw a sale early in the year I was able buy what I wanted at a reasonable price.
3. I planned time with my other two children by making goodies and paper crafts with them that we later delivered to families surprising them with goodies every night for 12 days before Christmas.

It has been over 30 years since that Christmas but it has been one of the most memorable. Because of the planning and preparation that I thoughtfully put into it in advance; * there was time to get gifts for everyone, *enjoy the decorations and music of the season without being rushed, and *spending time with my family and *being able to help another family at this
busy time.

What organizing tips do you use to plan ahead for the holidays that have made them easier and more organized?

This month is Halloween and I always thought that somehow this was just an American tradition. I didn’t realize it originated in Britain.
Trick-or treating started in the Middle Ages and All Souls’ Day, when poor people in Britain would beg for soul cakes, a sweet-bread treat, and pray for dead relatives in return.
Clearing clutter used to be a part of Halloween in the small town I was reared in because boys (we always blamed it on the boys) would smash pumpkins from people’s yards if they didn’t get the kind of candy they wanted.

When the little kiddies bring home their candy and dump it out on a sheet or table cloth on the floor to sort through it, this a good time for clearing clutter. The clutter is the candy they don’t like but keep it around because they got it and think they might want it someday. Throw it away, or take it to a shelter or food bank. Some dentists in our area buy the candy (by weight) and then they send it to third world countries. Check with your dentist to see if he/she has a program to do this.

Clearing clutter is spreading around the globe as trick or treating has spread from the U.S. to Canada, Australia, and Western Europe. Chocolate makes up about three-quarters of a trick-or-treater’s loot, according to the National Confectioners Association. Chocolate would be my favorite if I went trick or treating today—how about you? What is your favorite treat?

My daughter and I had the opportunity of taking care of my two grandchildren for almost six days. ( One is 2 ½ the other is 4 months old). Their parents were moving to a different state and I volunteered us to take care of them.

May I just say I have a greater appreciation for routines than I ever did before? As I organize for seniors and women I am going to start emphasizing routines (or systems) more than ever before. Of course the kids had their routines-sort of-which threw mine off completely. Just one example is: the baby would wake early some days to be fed and other days at a later time so I couldn’t go for my morning walk without waking someone to tell them to listen for the kids.

When their daddy came to pick them up I was a little sad to see them go yet I was happy to get back in my routine. Having a specific routine certainly helps me stay organized. My planner saved me more than once as my focus wasn’t on ‘real life’ but I checked it daily so I was able to keep up with appointments I had committed to before they came to visit. It was fun, but I am glad to get back into my regular routine. If you ever think you are in a rut—remember that isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

How do you feel about routines? What works for you?