Just Organize Yourself

Simplify Your Spring Cleaning

2012-04-18T11:11:00.000-07:00

Today, I have all my windows open...feels great after a long, stuffy winter.

This time of year I feel that itch to de-clutter every closet & drawer, then disinfect what's left.

To keep things simple when I'm on a cleaning rampage, I like to carry around a cleaning caddy. To find out how to set one up......check out the monthly tip in Kern County Family HERE

March "Organizing" Madness

2012-03-09T11:47:00.001-08:00

Lets join our basketball buddies again this year by using our ZONE DEFENSE to spiff up our homes this month.

While our hubbies are watching the battle of the basketball, lets use our own strategy to organize our homes, one ZONE at a time. Cleaning and organizing by zones keeps us focused, more efficient and feeling in control.

Who is Ready to Take the Ball?

Click HERE for the newest article of the month in Family magazine.

Storm Watch - controlling the downpour of family activities!

2012-02-07T14:40:00.000-08:00

Does it ever feel like your family is treading water in a flood?

Click HERE for some tips to avoid the torrential storms of business in your home:)

Get Organized Month Continues...

2012-01-26T05:22:00.000-08:00

Here's the Latest Kern County FAMILY Magazine.

Click Here for my organizing article this month :)

Enjoy!

On Your Mark, Get Set...... Go Get Organized!

2012-01-24T08:51:00.000-08:00

source

I haven't blogged in a while...because I've been ORGANIZING!
Organizing is all over BLOGLAND this month, and I've determined to spend time getting my house in order instead of computer-ing.

Don't you find that it is often more fun to read, write, and think about getting organized than actually getting your body up and doing the actual organizing? Oh ya...that's totally my problem...and now with PINTEREST, I've turned into a "virtual" crafter, decorator, and chef too.

So here's your challenge today...GET UP and GO DO something!!
Then leave me a comment and let me know what you did :)

I'm heading out now to do just that...I'll blog about it tomorrow :)

Happy Day!

Tame the Trimmings & Trappings

2011-12-29T15:32:00.000-08:00

Christmas is OVER - now lets get the JOLLY-JUNK cleaned up :)

Click HERE for my latest article in the Kern County Family on how to tame the trimmings and trappings in an organized way.

Down to the Christmas Wire

2011-12-11T13:08:00.000-08:00

Every moment Counts now...

Here's some "Week at a Glance" printables that might help you stay focused.

HERE is one made just for December.

or HERE is a more detailed one, if you'd like:

Hang in there!

Take Time for Family Traditions!

2011-12-09T08:38:00.000-08:00

Be sure to stop your busies and take time for those family traditions!

They are among the the things that matter most.

and they will be the things you will cherish.

AND THEY GROW UP SO FAST!

Click HERE to check out my recent article in Kern County Family Magazine on family traditions.

Addicted to Advent Calendars

2011-11-22T08:27:00.000-08:00

I CONFESS!

I am addicted to Advent and Christmas Countdown Calendars! Are you?

Here are a few of my fav's

Family Christmas Activity Countdown with Free Printable HERE

LDS Advent ....Prophecies of Christ Coming HERE

Christmas Book Advent HERE

Printable Stocking Countdown HERE

Adorable Christmas Tree Calendar HERE

Activity Advent Calendar with tags HERE

And here are a few in my etsy shop:

CLICK HERE & HERE for pricing and info :)

Happy Counting!

Stocking Up-35 more days

2011-11-19T05:22:00.000-08:00

If your out in the stores this weekend - pick up a few supplies and stash them in a "secure location" in your home. (if you have kids - you know what i mean about a secure location - HIDE the supplies or they'll disappear :0) ).

Here's what I like to stock up on:
Paper Goods
Scotch Tape
Scissors (if yours are already missing)
Mailing Tape
Printer Cartridges
Printer Paper
Cardstock for tags & things
Wrapping Paper

Any more ideas?

Date Night!

2011-11-18T05:52:00.000-08:00

While your getting ready, check out your closet and do a pre-holiday wardrobe check!

We’ve all experienced the panic on the night of our husband's work holiday party and there's NOTHING in the closet to wear! But we can prevent it from happening THIS year by planning ahead.

Find out which items you need and write them on your shopping list. Make sure you have at least one nice Christmas Outfit to wear. What about the shoes? Earrings? belt? Hose?

While your at it - check out your kiddos closet too. I love getting boyz matching Christmas ties....I found a great ETSY STORE for that this year :) (You'll have to do your own research on the dresses :0))

Have a great night out (or in)!

Just Organize Yourself for Thanksgiving!

2011-11-01T18:42:00.000-07:00

Click HERE to check out my monthly organizing tip in
Kern County Family Magazine

Christmas Card Progress

2011-10-26T09:44:00.000-07:00

2012 Stamps available soon!

We are down to 59 days!

Today's Task: Purchase Your Christmas Stamps.
Save yourself a trip and purchase them on-line.
I just ordered 100 stamps
($44.00 with free shipping)

Click HERE for the USPS site for their holiday stamps.

Simplified Planner

2011-10-11T12:33:00.000-07:00

giverslog.com

75 more days...if you already feel behind don't stress.

Giver's Log has done it again with an amazing and simplfied planner.

Click HERE to get your own copy....I'm printing mine now.

Thanks giverslog

Get Your Menus Planned Before the Crazies Begin!

2011-10-10T11:20:00.000-07:00

With Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas sneaking up on us, the holiday crazies HAVE begun!

In order to stay sane, we must keep up on our EVERYDAY responsibilities!
The only way to do both is simplify and plan ahead. This week we'll be checking our systems and routines around the house, revamping and simplifying so that we can NOT ONLY handle the next few months, but enjoy the fun!

Today's Task: Menu PLAN!

Here's what I do to keep it simple:

Sunday: Crock Pot

Monday: Leftovers

Tuesday: Taco Tuesday (or any Mexican dish)

Wednesday: Pasta Night

Thursday: Hubby BBQ's

Friday: Pizza

Saturday: Leftovers

Now each Monday I just fill in the blanks, make a quick grocery list...and wha la -simplified meal planning.

Here's some menu boards, just to make it fun:

Click HERE for a Darling Printable Weekly Planner!
Mndy-made suggets you frame it and use dry erase markers on the glass to plan each week.

Here is another take on the Weekly Menu Planner
Chalkboard Paint on the inside of the kitchen cupboard.

and HERE's mine on Etsy.
I like to use magnets and put the recipe right on the board.

How do you simplify your menu plan?

Homemade Gifts: It's time to start!

2011-10-04T09:54:00.000-07:00

http://www.lilluna.com

Home-made gifts are so much fun to give!
There's not many things that top giving a friend something you've created!
However, handmade gifts take time, effort and a lot of creative energy.
If you want to have energy in December to enjoy the things that matter most,
finish up those homemade gifts early!

Click HERE for a printable list for your planner "Gifts to Make"

Here's some DIY ideas:

Click HERE for Christmas Block, HERE for photo necklace, HERE for Sugar Scrub

Click HERE for wooden Nativity, HERE for picture frame, HERE for ornament

What are you crafting this Christmas?

Halloween Printables

2011-10-01T05:00:00.000-07:00

Are Halloween preparations driving you BATTY?

Keep the trick out of the treat by using free “printables” on the web.
Click on the BLUE links below to find a few that will delight your little ghosts & ghouls:

Halloween Banner

Halloween Banner by …Moselle

Halloween Game by… theidearoom

Halloween Cupcake Toppers by eighteen25

Masks by familyfun.

Gift Tags & Stickers by The Twinery

Bookmarks by leehanson

Lunch Box Jokes by Allisonwaken

bookmark

cupcake toppers

printable masks

halloween game

whole party

and a whole printable Halloween party by “clickableparty”

and my all time fav...printable 'stashes" by fabulous savings

Happy Haunting!

Season's Greetings!

2011-09-30T16:02:00.000-07:00

Are you including a Family Letter this year?
This is something you can complete very early!

Todays Task: Start your Christmas Letter!

Here's my TOP FIVE ways to share!

•Newsletter - Click HERE for some free templates for Microsoft Word

•CD or DVD slideshow - Choose a favorite song or a Christmas carol and add photos for a fun way to share images of your year.

•Top 10 list - Dave Letterman style.

•Photo Update - Create a page of photos printed from your computer. Make the photos different shapes and sizes and use captions to tell about things that happened to your family throughout the year.

•A New Perspective - Try writing your letter from the perspective of your child, another family member, your neighbors, a pet, or any other person that could give your letter a fresh new outlook. Better yet-have your child write the letter for you!

SAY Cheese!

2011-09-29T12:54:00.000-07:00

http://thebmcreport.blogspot.com/

Do you want to include a picture or order a picture postcard this year?

The great thing about starting this early is you have the time to make sure you have a great picture to share with your friends and family.

BTW: That photo to the right is not my family...but I just couldn't resist including it today. :)

Today's Task: Take steps toward finding or taking the right picture

*Ask a friend to take a Christmas picture & calendar it now. OR
*Set an appointment with a professional photographer OR
*Choose a picture you've already taken AND order enough copies.

There are a TON of ideas on the internet - for some of my favorites check out my pinterest board HERE

Just Oganize Your Gift List

2011-09-26T08:41:00.000-07:00

For today's task, you'll need to grab your
Gift-Giving List & some highlighters!
We are going to organize our list!
(Did you know you could organize a list?)

Here's one way:

Use different colors of highlighters to group your "giftees" into categories:

Highlight immediate family in one color.

Highlight gifts to be mailed in another color

Highlight gifts that will be home-made crafts

Highlight all that will be home-made goodies

Highlight any other groups you find....

As your organizing...be realistic. If your list is way too long then simplify!
Don't hesitate to CROSS some names off or if that's too brutal...transfer some names to your Christmas Card list instead! Many times a personal note on a Christmas card means even more than a gift.

Enjoy your 15 minutes today!

Stock Up!

2011-09-24T09:08:00.000-07:00

If you’re out in the stores this weekend - pick up a few supplies and stash them in a "secure location" in your home. (if you have kids or hubbies - you know what i mean about about secure location - HIDE the supplies or they'll disappear :0) ).

Here's what I like to stock up on:

Paper Goods
Scotch Tape
Scissors (if yours are already missing)
Mailing Tape
Printer Cartridges
Printer Paper
Cardstock for tags & things

Any more ideas?

92 more days :)

Christmas List Brainstorming!

2011-09-22T09:30:00.000-07:00

http://www.mindmapinspiration.com/

Today's Task: Fill OUT your Gift List.

Don't be concerned about WHAT your going to give, focus on WHO.Who are you giving to this Christmas. We want to include everyone that you mightpossibly need to give to this year It will probably be a huge list, but we can pair down later, if needed. Include Teachers, Bus Drivers, Mailman, Babysitters, Grandparents, Neighbors, and of course, your immediate family. This list will be the core of our Christmas Countdown so really make it count!

Here are My THREE Favorite Printable Gift Lists:

Click HERE for my #1 Fav

I like this one because it gives you separate pages for family gifts and friend's gifts.It also gives you a column for ideas, budget & when the gift is wrapped & sent.

Click HERE for #2.
I like this one because you can type use the computer to type the names & ideas in. I like to use this one when I'm actually brainstorming for who I'm giving to this Christmas

Click HERE for #3.

I like this one because it's simple and you have the choice of printing in a bit slimmer, more portable size.

Printable Planner Cover

2011-09-21T10:14:00.000-07:00

I wanted a new cover for my planner,

so I got busy and digi-scrapped one.
I thought I'd share it with you.
Click HERE to download and print.

Be sure to follow on facebook or subscribe to posts, so you don't miss out on our Christmas Countdown!

Enjoy!

96 days - Get Printing!

2011-09-20T11:59:00.000-07:00

Today's Task: Print out forms for each section of your Christmas Planner:

Click HERE for ChristmasYourWay printables (as seen in pic above)

Click HERE for a huge assortment of Christmas Printables from OrganizedChristmas

Smiles:)

97 days - Divide & Conquer

2011-09-19T08:52:00.000-07:00

This countdown is all about NOT being stressed - about doing a little each day so the Christmas hustle doesn't take over your entire life. Hopefully on Friday, you grabbed an empty binder to begin creating a Christmas Planner.

Today we are going to take it a step further and by adding dividers and some blank paper.

mysistersjar.wordpress.com

My dividers are:

• Gift Lists

• Traditions

• Supplies Needed

• Christmas Cards/Mailing List

• Decorations

• Food (Holiday Menu's & Recipes, including treats!)

• Projects

• Budget (my least favorite one) A manila folder can be hole punched and added to the back of your binder for receipts.

Other dividers could include party ideas, children’s activities, and a calendar section.

Don't spend time planning each section, we' be printing out forms & discussing each section another day.

Remember: 15 minutes a day keeps the CRAZIES away!

Happy Day!