Great tips on how to keep schedules, assignments, and daily life together while the kids are in school.
Can You Finish This Organization Challenge?
Yesterday, I went to the dollar store and picked up some cheap plastic trays and organizers. I’ve gotten so sick of my bathroom sink; it’s just been cluttered with makeup, hair supplies, lotion, q-tips, and other random beauty supplies. So, I decided to fix it. I organized it into different makeup products: lipsticks, eye shadows, makeup brushes, and I organized all my lotions and body sprays. Now it looks amazing! Not to mention, it’s way easier to find things I need. And it only cost me about $5, and 30 minutes of my day.
Ultimately, the key to having a completely organized house is taking it day by day. Tackle one messy area at a time, and try not to get overwhelmed. Just transforming one area from chaos into order is enough to significantly make a difference. Are you ready to get your home under control? Try out this daily organizing challenge by Holiday Sparkle! Each day, you simply organize one small space in your home. Here’s the first five days:
Day 1- The Medicine Cabinet
Day 2- The Coat Closet
Day 3- Under the Beds
Day 4- The Laundry Room
Day 5- Your Handbag!
Wordless Wednesday: Bookshelf Organization
Creating A “Command Center” For Your Home
We all have that one place in our home where everything seems to end up: a junk drawer, the cluttered counter, or just the trash can. Wouldn’t it be great if there was a designated space for incoming and outgoing mail, spare pens and pencils, important school info, meal planning, and a calendar of upcoming events? Well, you just have to create one of your own! Check out this awesome post by Erin at How To Nest For Less to see how she built her own beautiful kitchen command center. She included:
-A large dry erase board calendar + a holder for markers
-Organizing slots for receipts, extra paper, pens, and bills
-Extra artwork for the wall
Friday Fun Video: Planning 101
These are great tips for people who work from home, freelance, or don’t have traditional 9-5 jobs
Home Hidey Holes
We all have things we’d like to keep from the prying eyes (and hands) of others. Do you have a firearm in your home that you’d like to keep hidden from your kids? A small stash of cash, expensive jewelry, and other valuables can be hidden from guests, children, and burglars if it is strategically placed. Check out this super creative post by the Family Handyman blog for hiding places in your home that no one would ever think to check!
-Hollowed out books
-Right out in the open- stash your stuff in any item that has a cavity- an old vacuum cleaner, printer, computer tower, etc.
-Stick your cash in a pill bottle or other watertight container and bury it in the soil of a potted plant.
-Stash valuables in your kids room- burglars never check childrens’ rooms for valuables, but make sure you put it where your kids can’t find it either. Obviously, never store guns or weapons in a child’s room.
-Stash money in an old mayonnaise jar, coke can, paint can- anything that no one would bother checking.
If you are storing guns, make sure they are NOT loaded, and that bullets are stored elsewhere, but are still accessible to ONLY you in case of an emergency.
Friday Fun Video: Office Organization Inspiration
Really great ideas here!
Apps For People With Poor Time Management
That would be me. I’m a terrible procrastinator, and tend to find a million ways to be super un-productive for my entire day. I did just get a new app called Habitica, which is great for forming new habits and kicking bad ones (like meeting deadlines, working out, quitting smoking, or literally anything you want to achieve). I like it because it’s set up as a video game. Every time you check off something from your to-do list or your good habits list, you get experience points and can level up. It’s super fun (and free on the App Store)! If that’s not your style, check out this post by Laura at I Heart Planners for more apps that will keep you organized:
Cozi (free)- It has a calendar, journal, to do lists, and shopping lists.
iTrackmyTime (free). This is a very simple, clean, and well designed app for tracking your time.
Any.DO (free). This to do app is amazing! I’ve tried a lot of to do apps and this is the best free one.
30/30 (free). This is really great app to help you stay focused and on task
Decluttering Tips: Things You Can Throw Away Without Missing
I recently moved into a new apartment, and I was extremely selective about what I brought with me. I only kept essentials, like furniture, my laptop/electronics, toiletries, kitchen ware, and clothes that I’ve worn in the past year. I also kept things I love, like favorite books, movies, cosmetics, a few sentimental items, and craft supplies. And that’s honestly about it. My new place is clutter free and super easy to clean, and I’m much happier because of it. It’s less stress in my life, and it was really empowering to get rid of 70% of the junk I owned. And I don’t miss any of it! If you are doing some extreme decluttering, or just some basic Spring cleaning, read this post by Sunlit Spaces for things you should immediately throw in the trash:
-Old shoes- if they are ratty or smelly, toss them. Same with ANY clothing item with holes.
-Unworn clothing- if you haven’t worn it for a year, give it away.
-Unidentifiable fridge food- go through your fridge at least once a month and toss expired items.
-Wedding invitations and greeting cards- unless they have a serious sentimental value
-Books and movies- pare down your collection to only your favorites
-Expired coupons- go through the drawer where they inevitably accumulate and toss ’em.
The Pros And Cons Of Working Remotely
One of my friends recently moved to another state because her husband got a new job there. She hasn’t found a new job there yet, so her current company is allowing her to work remotely for them. Working from home is great in some ways- you set your own hours, you don’t have to leave the house and deal with a commute, and you honestly have much more free time. However, it is MUCH easier to get distracted, get behind, and spend your evenings and weekends playing catch up. Check out this post by Ieva at therandomp blog for the pros and cons of working remotely, and decide whether or not it’s right for you:
Con- you can feel misinformed, out of the loop, and miss out on communications if you are not diligent.
Con- there is less contact with coworkers and clients- you can’t judge reactions by body language.
Pro- you can do things whenever you want.
Pro- way more independence and freedom
Con- hard to organize other people and projects from far away.