I do love looking back at old photos with the kids even if it is in the format of a slideshow on the TV. I would love to add our old photos to the mix as well. The one thing holding me back is the time and/or cost. I’m not thrilled about the idea of scanning each individual photo. It sounds much better to box them up, ship them off and pay someone else to take care of the daunting task. However it could cost a few hundred dollars never placing it high on the priority list.

My husband and I have gotten in the habit of getting each other “organizing’ type items for the house for birthdays or Christmas so maybe this will have to go on the list.

How many old photos do you think you have stored away? Do you find them getting overlooked when going down memory lane? Have you used a photo scanning service and how did you like it?

The photo above happens to be my all time favorite…my grandparents.

Have you ever taken a step back and gotten a bird’s eye view of your home? This will certainly give you the motivation needed to get the ball rolling on an organizing project. Stop what you are doing and go take a picture of a random room in your home. What do you see??

Often we get so busy in our day-to-day lives that we don’t allow ourselves to see the big picture. We can easily let the clutter fade to the background as we go about our day. Once we get to the point of overwhelm we finally take notice.

If you are getting organized this year start by taking a picture of each space and taking note of those problem spots that stick out. The picture allows you to disassociate yourself from the space and for a moment you can pretend it is someone else’s clutter!

Are you taking on a big organizing project in 2012? Where will you start?

The stockings are hung by the chimney with care… oh, wait we don’t have a fire place anymore! This year we have had to get a little creative with our Christmas decorations. Less space means less décor! We knew that going into this smaller house we would not have as much room for seasonal decorations.

Before the move we took the time to go through our Christmas decorations and weed out the excess.  In fact this is a good practice to do every year! When you are getting the decorations out there always seems to be a few you don’t put out but keep anyways.  If you don’t love it, why store it?

Every season weed out the decorations to keep your collection under control. Fix what needs broken and take note of things you need more of so you can shop the post-season sales! And, don’t forget Mabel’s Labels Bin Labels are just the thing you need to get your Christmas décor labeled and organized!

One of my favorite motto’s is “have guests, will clean.” I am so excited that Thanksgiving is next week because I have been so much more motivated to organize and clean. And apparently so are the new clients that have been calling me this week!

Tis’ the holidays to get the house in order. Not only is it the perfect time to weed out the old but to clean the house from top to bottom! Before the guests come next week I am completely doing a cleaning overhaul. I love giving the house a deep clean before a big day where the house will be full! You may be asking why bother if it is going to get messy again with so many people! The fact is, after everyone is gone there is minimal work to be done besides surface areas and vacuuming then it is time to rest!

We start getting out Christmas decorations shortly after Thanksgiving so the house is all ready to go. Clean, decluttered and ready for a new season!

For the past few months I have been collecting shoe’s from friends, family and clients for Soles4Souls, the organization I traveled to Haiti with. It is certainly a great time to start weeding out those shoes and summer clothes! I just had to pull out the winter clothes for the kids and I know some of you in the north have done that long ago.

Before the holidays are upon us let’s think about other things we can start weeding out. The maintenance part of staying organized is all about keeping on top of things that no longer have a purpose in the house. What about that ice-cream maker you bought five years ago and never touched? Unless you have made that a summer family tradition by now, it’s not likely to happen. Take a good look through cabinets and closets to see what needs to be weeded out.

What about spots equipment and pool toys? It’s easy to throw them in a big box when they are not in use. Remember the float that has a hole beyond repair. Or the helmet that the youngest has grown out of? If it’s broken let it go. Unless it can be handed down to another sibling let things like helmets and outgrown bikes go as well.

All of this stuff takes up space in our homes and lives. It’s time to weed! Don’t let these things lead to overwhelm.

The Mabel’s Labels Loot Bag Combo is a great gift at Christmas if you want to go for that personalized touch. The children’s faces just lit up in Haiti, “that’s me!” they would say. Something undeniably belonging to them. This year why don’t you share a personalized gift!

Instead of using a gift tag you can attach a Loot Bag Combo and write who it’s from on the back. If your kids are in sports or Scouts or anything like that it can be expensive getting individual gifts but these are the perfect size and price! Also, great for giving to teachers. Last but not least this little pack of labels is the perfect size for a stocking stuffer!

Can you think of any other creative ways to give labels?

We don’t just wear the mom hat but we feel like we can take on the world sometimes!

Oh but it feels good to be needed though doesn’t it? We pile up those responsibilities like no tomorrow until one day we catch ourselves leaving the house with our hair standing on end, yesterday’s gym clothes still on and on the table you just noticed the kid’s lunch boxes that should be at school with the kids! Not again!

Our families are busier than ever with sports and school activities but you don’t have to take it all on! Peel back those obligations and find out where your true priorities need to be. Work on those first before you take on extra activities.

Some of us are natural doers when it comes to extra activities and the rest just feel bad that they aren’t doing as much as Molly down the street. If it stresses you out it’s not for you! Find what you are great at and stick to it!

I’m sitting at the airport for my third trip in the past month. I love to travel and my load is certainly getting lighter each time. Today I carry only a backpack and purse with all the stuff I need for a three day trip! I truly live for keeping it simple! 

Last night my friend said she would need a backpack for her shoes alone! While I remember a time like that myself that is surely not the case now. It is so nice to get where you are going and not have to lug a bunch of baggage around!

Here are a few things I have learned over years for simple packing:

• Roll your outfits into bundles. It keeps the wrinkles out and you can grab a complete outfit in a flash! Much easier to stack in a backpack. For an overnight trip I use a large purse. 
• Choose colors that are similar and can go with the same pair of shoes.
• Don’t carry the whole makeup ensemble. Decide what you will absolutely need and stick to it. 
• Don’t bring the whole kitchen sink… empty out that purse! Don’t bring loose receipts, credit cards, or stuff that you won’t need on the trip. It simply wastes space!
• I have learned over time to enjoy the experience rather than fuss with the mess.

How do you travel light for quick trips? Feel free to share your tips!

You would think that being a perfectionist means we get stuff done with ease but sometimes it is the complete opposite. See, every time I try to use a list, I focus more on the list itself. It has to be just right or the “system” has to be just right before I can get started. A client showed me the elaborate systems she had tried one day and I told her she was spending more time fussing over the lists than actually cleaning.

For us simplicity was key. I told her to stop with the lists and just make cleaning a habit. For instance, I bought a set of cleaning supplies for each bathroom. When I help kids get ready for bed my habit is now to do a quick clean up (because the supplies are right there) and I don’t have to do a deep clean nearly as often! These spaces almost maintain themselves. The laundry gets done because it is a habit wrapped in with our morning routine.

The kids have certain things they have to help out with each day, not as a chore to earn a reward, but as being part of this team. They have a list of things they can do for money, but they rarely opt to do that.

How about you? Are you a lover of checklists? Or not so much?

When school starts up that usually means a new season of soccer in our house. In your house it might be football, dance or some other activity. They certainly don’t give us Mom’s much time to get the school schedule figured out before the activities come piling on top. Of course, the more kids you have the crazier the schedule!

Among the chaos we tend to seek perfection, we envy a picture perfect schedule. The truth is we go through seasons of life and sometimes a few seasons are going to be crazier than others.

Yes we would like to get the kids, fed at a normal hour while sitting down with the whole family, homework done in a quiet serene space and bedtime gone over like a breeze. However, most days we feel frenzied as if walking on a tight rope. Take a deep breath with me now!

Remember, your bet is good enough! Now is the time to pull together as a family. Perhaps dinner has to be done in shifts and things aren’t quite as put together as they normally are. Enjoy these more chaotic years because the older the kids get the years seem to go by that much quicker!