As the news reports keep coming in about the devastation of Haiti’s earthquake, I can’t help but wonder what would happen if I lost everything.

In an earthquake you have little time to react, if any at all, but what about other natural disasters? The type of disaster that gives you a moment or two to grab something of importance. I listened to a discussion about this very topic last night at church. Obviously you would make sure people were OK and accounted for. But what about important documents, photos, identification? Some of these items can be reproduced. It might be a time consuming process but not all is lost if you can’t recover them. How about photos? What would you miss?

For me, stuff is stuff; I can’t take it with me in the end anyway. However, I know my wedding photos and baby photos of my first born would be something I would miss dearly. I don’t have copies. I think this year I will make the effort to get them scanned.

Everything else is on my laptop. Would I grab my laptop if I had a second to spare? If I had to trip over it to get out, maybe; otherwise, no. Everything is backed up on an online site so safe and secure.

Other than pictures, I can’t think of anything else I would miss terribly as long as my family was safe and sound.

Let’s discuss this in the comments…

What would you miss if you lost everything? What are some actions you could take this year to make sure you have copies or backups of important items?

The Shorty Awards honour the most note-worthy Twitter feeds of 2009. Mabel’s Labels is striving for the #smallbusiness award! If you wish to help out @Mabelhood in gaining a spot in the top five, please follow these simple directions:

Vote by updating your Twitter account with a tweet like this:

“I nominate @Mabelhood for a Shorty Award in #smallbusiness because… (add your reason here).”

Thank you in advance for your ongoing love and support for Mabel’s Labels!

Cub Scouts now, Rescue Worker later

This week I was feeling a little glum. I had a few close calls with the kiddos that really threw me off my game.

One kid didn’t hold the bus buddy’s hand on the way to the bus stop the other day. She stepped onto the road but jumped back quickly when a driver honked. I spent the rest of the day feeling like I was going to puke.

The very next day, I left baby alone rolling around on the floor to put something in the garbage. When I returned 10 seconds later he seemed to be doing something weird with his mouth. After some serious fishing, I pulled out the remnants of an old balloon. Gasp. I don’t even know where it came from. And here I thought I left him in a safe place.

So in my world, I had a couple of near disasters, though I find it a bit weird using that word in light of Haiti.

I didn’t want to hide Haiti from my big kids. We went on the Internet and heard political leaders speak about the tragedy and watched some Haiti footage. I even told them about all the deaths. I know they will have an answer to the question “Where were you when you heard about the earthquake in Haiti?”

It was a teachable moment and if I played my cards right, they would experience appropriate empathy and feel empowered to help without being totally traumatized. We made a family plan about how we, as a family, were going to response to this tragedy. Our plan included a donation made by me and the Daddy-o. In exchange, the kids had to decide what they were going to give up so that we would have the funds available. It was important to me that they had to do without so that we could give. In addition, each child contributed all of their “donate” money. Each week the biggies get allowance and it is divided between their “spend”, “save” and “donate” piggy banks.

It all ended in tears (by me) when my 10-year-old son asked if he could be a rescue worker and go over the Haiti to help out. Maybe one day.

Did you tell your kids? How much information did you share? Do you worry about protecting them from such news? Does your family plan to help in any way? Please share!

This year is getting off to a great start! Our new Label Out Loud™ Sticky Labels were just named a Winter Campaign Winner by PTPA Media.

PTPA Media sources and appraises new products for kids and families. They research items, coordinate testing with parents and give their Seal of Approval based on each product’s value, functionality, quality and appeal.

It’s especially gratifying to win an award that’s “parent tested, parent approved” and we’re LOL’ing that it went to our new Label Out Loud™ Sticky Labels!

I don’t know how many homes I have gone into to organize only to come across a client’s beloved memories packed away in a box. A favorite trophy or knick-knack that hasn’t seen the light of day in years. A token from a trip taken years prior sits in a box labeled “memories” and collecting dust.

For many people there are strong emotions attached to “stuff”. It brings back a memory, a feeling, or perhaps a dream we once had. Some are considered prized possessions yet they sit there in a box untouched and unloved. We fill our lives with clutter that remind us of the past, all the while trying to make room for the future.

I’m going to share with you one of my favorite tips for dealing with sentimental clutter.

Take a picture, it will last longer.

Next time you come across a box of sentimental items, ask yourself if you can use it or display it. Do you really love it to have it displayed on your wall? Does the item work now or can you put it to good use? Otherwise these items just sit in a box and take up space.

I want to challenge you to let these items go. It is time to reclaim your space! Instead of hanging on to the physical item, take a picture and journal your thoughts. This would make a great paper journal or even a blog! Each time you revisit these pictures you can write down your thoughts. Imagine passing down pictures and thoughts instead of stuff!

What are you hanging onto and why? How would you feel about letting the item go in exchange for a photo?