Taking Ordinary to Extraordinary: the Painful Way

Today I went into the file where we keep all our important papers so I could get Juliet's Birth Certificate.  As I held the Birth Certificate in my hand, I gently touched the lower left hand stain.  To an untrained eye, it may look like a simple dirt smudge, but to me it brought back so many emotions.  You see, this grey area is actually a scar on this paper.  The paper never felt pain, but we carried the pain for it.  This scar was a result of this paper sitting in an inferno for better than 24 hours as our home burned down in 2001.  That inferno stole most everything from us - our clothes, shoes, food, beds, and even sense of reality.  It ripped from us 99.9% of everything we owned - minus a few miracles: this beautiful Birth Certificate and some beloved photographs.

Time has healed our painful wounds, and new shoes and clothes were purchased to replace all those that were lost, but we also carry scars like that Birth Certificate belonging to Juliet. Our scars aren't grey singes located on our bodies, but rather something unseen by mere human eyes forever changed within our souls.  This event made our little, simple, ordinary family - extraordinary.   A day never closes without us sharing our love for each other, we treasure our family time, I take way too many pictures, and simple things are greatly appreciated - like being genuinely grateful to see a house standing when returning from a vacation.  That isn't even taking into account that my business is now helping others find their true treasures while clearing out the clutter in their own lives.

I had to replace Scott and my Birth Certificate and Dylan of course has a brand new Birth Certificate - as he was born well after the fire in 2003.  I also had to order new Social Security cards, Marriage License, etc. Now, all the papers are stored in a safe location, and each carry a very important purpose - but no paper is more special that that Birth Certificate with the grey scar on the bottom of the left hand corner.

I could have replaced Juliet's Birth Certificate many years ago.  She could have a crisp white one like her brother's, unscathed with no scars to speak of anywhere.  But, much like our own life's journey, it is not about remaining crispy white; each wound has a purpose - to teach and to change.  Life would be glorious without pain and loss, or would it?  From deaths, miscarriage, and our fire, I have learned empathy - pain has been an incredible teacher. 

Someday when I am long gone, I hope Juliet can still treasure that Birth Certificate with the grey scar on the bottom of the left hand corner, and appreciate that through our loss - we were forever changed.

New Year's Resolutions No More!

Five years ago my sister and I wrote down our resolutions and sealed them in an envelope.  We decided to open them at the end of 2007 and bask in the glory of resolutions achieved.  That 2007 celebration never did take place, and we never attempted to do that again! The problem is, I wrote down the same resolutions as I have every year…without truly examining why I always failed to achieve most resolutions in the past.  The larger problem is not the topic of each resolution, but what success in each resolution actually meant.  A common resolution for me was exercise more.  “Exercise more” is not a clear enough definition to truly be a goal for me.  And then other years when I broke the goal into “exercise 5 times a week” I would find myself doing well at first and then some event would take place, I would get off track and would realize that success in “exercising 5 times a week” was already not an option anymore…and quit. 

My senior year in high school, my group of friends and I got together and created a must-do list for ourselves.  Some were little things, like drink a “Yoo-Hoo”, and others were a little trickier for some: getting kissed on the high jump mat on the track field.  We vowed at the beginning of the year that all 20+ tasks would be achieved by graduation.  It made the year so fulfilling by checking off task after task.  No, I never did get kissed on the high jump mat on the track field, but I look back over twenty years ago and can clearly remember so many of these other little achievements.  It made the year so memorable.  

Last year I decided to take my senior checklist to the next level.  Create a list of the little things that I could do throughout the year that would make 2012 memorable.  The items on my list did not require a lot of time or money; most required very little of each. 

Here is a small sampling of my personal list:

1. Have a picnic out in the yard
2. Bake cookies for the neighbors for no reason at all
3. Send a letter to a long lost friend

I realize now that placing on my New Year’s Resolution list “Exercise 5 times a week every week” is equivalent to me as “Pet a Unicorn.”  It is nice to think about, but it’s not going to happen.  I have become realistic to what I will and what I won’t do.    This year try and find simplicity in your life.  Look for the little things to bring you fulfillment.  If exercise is your end goal, add run a mini marathon to your checklist.  It’s not about being the ultimate best you can be this year, it is about living a better and more fulfilled life in 2013 than you did in 2012.

Have fun creating your checklists!

Betsy

   

7 Days to a Clean and Organized Kitchen

There really is no right or wrong way to clean. Whatever works best for you is great. Be very careful that you do not get stuck in the details of these projects. Do what you can and then move on! Don't spend this week cleaning and organizing your spice cabinet. We'll spend some time down the road de-cluttering this room and you can focus on those areas at that time. Your main goal for this room is to end up with a clean, functional, and easily maintainable kitchen.

I must admit that for me the kitchen is the zone that requires the most work. If my kitchen looks clean I feel more relaxed and in control...and vice-versa. My family (myself included) can tend to use the kitchen as a dumping ground. Attempt to come up with clutter-busting solutions to fit your home. If you have an area that seems to accumulate clutter, try to come up with a system to get rid of it (or at least contain it).

Break this job into small tasks. Each day you should plan to spend between 15-30 minutes. I do best if I set the timer.

Below is a sample of my list: (Please keep in mind to break up your job into tasks however it suits you best)

Purge
Clean refrigerator (inside, outside, and above)
Clean Stove
Clean cabinets
Dust walls, ceilings, corners, ceiling fans
Thoroughly sweep and mop of the room including corners and under furniture
Take down curtains and wash according to directions
Clean area carpets
Clean windows & windowsills
Purge and clean knick knacks
Wash baseboards, radiators, doors, etc.
Decorate for fall

Now break the large list into daily checklists:

Day 1:
Grab a bag and purge! Set the timer for 15-30 minutes and purge what you can. If this is a project that requires more than the time permits, just write this down for a project to do when you have a chance. Don't let yourself get stuck!

Day 2:
Clean ceiling fan, walls, doors, ceilings, and baseboards. If you have time left, try to tackle a bit more purging.

Day 3:
Clean your fridge. This means inside, outside, and on the top. Also clean your oven. If your oven is not a self-cleaning type, you may want to do this at a later date.

Day 4:
Take down curtains and wash
Clean the windowsills and trim
Windex windows, mirrors, and all glass surfaces
Hang the window treatments back up

Day 5:
Completely clear off your countertops and wash them down thoroughly. Clean small appliances and decorative accessories and make an effort to be very selective which items get placed back. Appliances which are not used much should be tucked away. If you are like me and seem to accumulate clutter in one area of the countertop, place a basket there! Old habits are really hard to break! If you have a table in the kitchen, wipe that down as well.

Day 6:
Wipe down all the cabinets and try to wipe inside as many cabinets as possible.
Sweep and mop floors
Treat yourself!  Decorate for fall; new tablecloth, placemats fall flowers, etc.

Day 7:
HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Before you start any of the above projects, make sure you start with a straightened room.

Some of the tasks may need more time than what you have this week. An example of this would be if you really need a thorough de-cluttering of plastic ware, spices, freezer, etc. For larger tasks, skip it for now (or do what you can without making a larger mess for yourself) and make a to-do list. At the end of our 8 weeks (or during, when you have the time) you can go back to the list to see what needs to still be addressed. I don't want you to get stuck and lose your momentum.

Happy Cleaning!!
Betsy
Reminder:
This is not a contest, and your goal is not to get your home the best it can be, rather you want it to look better than it did before you started!  Applaud yourself for the little achievements on the way to completing this complete overhaul

EASY One Week Plan to Clean/Organize Your Living Room, Dining Room, and Family Room

This week we are working in the living room, family room and dining room. If you have decided to define zones differently in your home, just adjust these challenges to best suit your needs.

Sit down with a piece of paper and write down everything that you would like to get done in these areas this week.  Be realistic with how much time you have to work on this project.  Break each job into small tasks achievable tasks. Below is a sample of my list:

Purge
Dust furniture
Dust walls, ceilings, corners, ceiling fans
Thorough vacuum of the room including corners and under furniture
Take down curtains and wash according to directions
Clean windows & windowsills
Purge and clean knick knacks
Wash baseboards, radiators, doors, etc.
Decorate for Fall

Now break the large list into daily checklists.  I find it easiest for me to spend between 15-30 minutes each day on these challenges.  In your own circumstances, you may have to break it up differently.  Keep in mind, the true goal in this overhaul is to simply get things clean and organized before Thanksgiving.  It doesn’t matter if you do it 15 minutes each day, or take one day a week and devote a couple hours to the project.

Here’s a sample:

Day #1:
Grab a bag and purge! Set the timer for 15-30 minutes and purge what you can. If this is a project that requires more than the time permits, just write this down for a project to do when you have a chance. Don't let yourself get stuck!

Day #2:
Clean ceiling fan, walls, doors, ceilings, baseboards, etc.

Day #3 :
Purge and clean knick knacks, frames, DVD’s, books, etc.

Day #4:
Take down curtains and wash
Clean the windowsills and trim
Windex windows, mirrors, and all glass surfaces
Hang the window treatments back up

Day #5:
Dust all the furniture thoroughly

Day #6 :
Clean under couch and chair cushions
Thoroughly vacuum the floors (don't forget the corners and under furniture)

Day #7:
Free Day (or catch up)

Some of the tasks may need more time than what you have this week. An example of this would be if you really need a thorough de-cluttering of your movies, cd's, or books. For larger tasks, skip it for now (or do what you can without making a larger mess for yourself) and make a to-do list. At the end of our 8 weeks (or during, when you have the time) you can go back to the list to see what needs to still be addressed. I don't want you to get stuck and lose your momentum.

Before you start a cleaning and purging session change into comfortable clothes.  Next, turn off the ringer on your phone and allow your answering machine to get your messages.  Pour yourself your favorite beverage (mine is hot tea), and grab a bucket of hot soapy water and a microfiber cloth, and a couple garbage bags.  Turn on your favorite upbeat (cleaning) music and set your timer for 15 minutes (or whatever time you have allotted).  You will be amazed what can be accomplished in a short amount of time!! 
Happy Cleaning!!
Betsy

Family Menu Planning

Think you don’t have any extra money to save up for that car or dream vacation?  Did you know that the largest expenditure second only to mortgage in the average American household is food?  According to Consumer Expenditures reports,
the average American household spends $8000.00 a year on groceries alone.  If you could cut that cost by ¼ you could save $2000.00 a year!  And then there is the nearly $3500.00 that the average family spends on dining out as some reports suggest.  Those numbers may sound high when combined over a year, but it is really $154.00 week on groceries and $67.00 a week on dining out.  Dining out includes any meal purchased outside the grocery store including but not limited to coffees, sodas, fast food,  and snacks.

When I talk about menu planning, I do not mean a strict “meatloaf on Thursdays” approach to your family meals.  Rather I want you to plan ahead each week what you are going to have the following week based upon 1. Food you already have and 2. Foods that are on sale.

Menu Planning Tips:

1.     Plan out your groceries for the following week before you go to the grocery store for the week

2.     Shop your freezer, fridge, and pantry first for ideas

3.     Plan meals that share ingredients.  Don’t forget to chop once, use twice.  For instance, if you have a couple recipes that call for sliced carrots; slice them all at once and store the extra in the refrigerator until needed.

4.     Plan your meals based upon your week activities.  For example, if you work late on a certain night, make that night soup and sandwich night.

5.     Buy meats that are on sale this week to create a meal a following week.  Don’t plan to make a boneless skinless chicken breast meal only to go to the grocery store and find that it is $5.99 a pound.  Rather, put that recipe on hold for another week when you have purchased your chicken on sale. 

6.     Use your freezer!  Don’t store your meats in your refrigerator, unless you absolutely plan on eating the meat within the next two days, place it in a freezer safe baggy and clearly mark its contents.
 

7.     Plan a leftover night once a week.  I prefer to do this the night before I go for groceries

8.     Prep your produce when you come home from the grocery store – wash and cut vegetables and wrap in a paper towel and place into a ziplock storage bag. 

9.     Coupons are great…but:  If you cannot find the time (or desire) to clip coupons, don’t sweat it.  I would much prefer you buy what you eat and eat what you buy.  That said, there are many great online sites to teach you how to maximize your grocery budget with coupons.

10.   Lastly, get the family involved in picking out the meals for the following week.  Have your older children come up with a menu.  Encourage them to shop in the cabinets and see what recipes could be made with certain foods.

Autumn Overhaul: Bathroom and Foyer

 

We are working on our third zone this week. For me that is my bathrooms and foyer. If you have decided to define zones differently in your home, just adjust these challenges to best suit your needs.

Break this job into small tasks. Each day you should plan to spend between 15-30 minutes. I find I do best if I set the timer.

Below is a sample of my list: (Please keep in mind to break up your job into tasks however it suits you best)

Purge and clean storage areas (list each drawer, closet, cabinet etc., individually)
Dust furniture
Dust walls, ceilings, corners, ceiling fans
Thorough cleaning of the floors including corners and under furniture
Take down curtains and wash according to directions
Clean windows & windowsills
Purge and clean knick knacks
Wash baseboards, radiators, doors, etc.

Now break the large list into daily checklists however it best works for you.  Here’s a sample of my list:

Day #1:
Purge and dust knick knacks, books, frames, etc.
Clean out cabinets from one bathroom

Day #2:
Clean walls, doors, ceilings, baseboards, etc.
Purge and clean cabinets from another bathroom

Day #3:
Clean out foyer closet (wipe down walls, sweep floors, purge and sort) - Do as much of this as you can. If this is a project that requires more than 1/2 hour, just write this down for a project to do when you have a chance. Don't let yourself get stuck!

Day #4:
Take down curtains and wash
Clean the windowsills and trim
Windex windows and mirrors
Hang the window treatments/shower curtains back up
Purge and clean remaining cabinets

Day #5:
Dust all the furniture thoroughly
Clean tubs and showers

Day #6 :
Wash floors
Thoroughly vacuum the floors (don't forget the corners)
Decorate for spring.. spring flowers, etc.

Day #7 :
Free Day (or catch up)

Before you start any of the above projects, make sure you start with a straightened room. Place clean laundry away and dirty laundry in the hamper.

Some of the tasks may need more time than what you have this week. An example of this would be if you really need a thorough de-cluttering of your closet. For larger tasks, skip it for now (or do what you can without making a larger mess for yourself) and make a to-do list. At the end of our 8 weeks (or during, when you have the time) you can go back to the list to see what needs to still be addressed. I don't want you to get stuck and lose your momentum.

Keep in mind that throughout the year we tackle many of these de-cluttering projects in a far more thorough manner, so only attempt to tackle what you can realistically do in 15-30 minutes/day. Your goal is to have a clean (and easily maintainable) home by the holiday season... NOT a perfect home.

Happy Cleaning!!
Betsy

Candy Clutter: The True Fright at Halloween!

 

What should you do with all those candy filled bags coming into your home?  Ban Halloween?  Send notes with your children that all who give must give only nutritious snacks? Bury them in the backyard when no one is looking? Or my personal favorite… eat it yourself!!

This time of the year can just be simply wretched for the sugar aholics among us.  I bet I am not the only one who buys candy “for decoration” and then ends up eating it.  I can mow through a bag of candy corn in 24 hours without batting my eye!  And then there are the Halloween parties, parades, and the mother-of-them-all… trick or treating.  Years ago, we would get maybe a mini chocolate bar or a quarter per house, but not anymore!  The majority of the houses my kids visit have mini bags of candy!  Full size bars!! 

So what is a parent to do?  Should we allow our children to eat until their hearts are content and then just get them in for a good dental cleaning after a few weeks, or should we go the other way?  Ban all candy from the house?

I am suggesting a bit of a compromise:

1.  Don’t buy candy for your own house!  There are many other healthier alternatives for you to give out if trick-or-treaters come to your home.  Also, you won’t have double the candy if you buy for those who come to your house and then send your children out to get more!  Pretzels, fruit snacks, granola bars, etc. are all good choices.  You can use the leftovers for packing lunches!  A word of caution regarding fruit snacks.  My Dentist said these are an absolute nightmare on the teeth!

2.  Have your children pick out their favorites and take the rest to work.  What happens if you don’t do this is YOU will end up eating what is left!

3.  Use the candy for holiday baking.  Tandy cakes, candy bar cookies, M&M cookies, etc. are always great holiday favorites!  I freeze the candy so I won’t be tempted to sneak some.  If you don’t trust yourself, take them to a relative’s house.  Do you think I am joking??  I know how yummy frozen chocolate can be!

 4.  Re-use the hard candy.  Take the lollipops and other hard candy and stash them away until you have an occasion to stuff a piñata or need hard candy for some other occasion. 

5.  Allow your children to overindulge the first day and then be limited after that.  What I have found works best for us (keep in mind… I am not implying this will necessarily work for everyone) is we pretty much (within reason) allow them to eat whatever they desire Halloween night.  After that, they can have 1 piece of candy after school and another after dinner.

Hopefully some of the suggestions above will help you reclaim some of the control over the amount of candy in your home.   If nothing else, it certainly reaffirmed to me that I don’t need to buy a bag of candy corn “for decoration.”  Regardless, have a safe and fun-filled Halloween!

 Betsy

Quick and Easy Steps to Clean & Organize Your Child's Room

This week we are working in the children’s rooms.  I know it may seem easier to do this job when the kids are at school, but children benefit from helping out!   Break this job into small tasks. Each day, plan to spend between 15-30 minutes per bedroom. I find it very helpful to set a timer to stay on task.

If your schedule does not allow you to spend 15-30 minutes per bedroom, adjust the challenges accordingly.  The true purpose of this overhaul is to break up large overwhelming jobs into smaller attainable tasks.

It may come as a shock to you that I actually don’t enjoy cleaning, but I know that certain jobs need to be done, and cleaning children’s bedrooms is one of them.  Sit down and write yourself a list of everything that you need to do in order to clean your children’s bedrooms. Below is a sample of my list: (Please keep in mind to break up your job into tasks however it suits you best)

Purge toys- (toss broken, donate/sell unused, etc.)
Purge and clean storage areas (list each drawer, closet, cabinet etc., individually)
Dust furniture
Dust walls, ceilings, corners, ceiling fans
Thorough vacuum of the room including corners and under furniture
Take down curtains and wash according to directions
Clean windows & windowsills
Purge and clean knick knacks
Wash baseboards, radiators, doors, etc.
Wash all bedding and flip mattresses

Now break the large list into daily checklists (or whatever works best for you):

Day 1:
Purge and dust knick knacks, books, frames, etc.
Purge and clean 3 drawers

Day 2: Clean ceiling fan, walls, doors, ceilings, baseboards, etc.
Purge and clean 3 drawers

Day 3: Clean out closets (wipe down walls, sweep floors, purge and sort) - Do as much of this as you can. If this is a project that requires more than 1/2 hour, just write this down for a project to do when you have a chance. Don't let yourself get stuck!  Be very realistic with the amount of time that you have. If you truly only have 15 minutes, do not empty out the entire closet in order to clean it!  Give yourself a goal to simply purge 20 items.

Day 4: Take down curtains and wash
Clean the windowsills and trim
Windex windows and mirrors
Hang the window treatments back up
Purge and clean 3 drawers

Day 5: Dust all the furniture thoroughly
Purge and clean 3 drawers/cabinets

Day 6: Clean bed linens and flip mattress
Clean out underneath the bed
Purge and clean last of drawers
Thoroughly vacuum the floors (don't forget the corners)
Decorate for spring.. spring flowers, etc.

Day 7: Free Day (or catch up)

Before you start any of the above projects, make sure you start with a straightened room. Place clean laundry away and dirty laundry in the hamper. Make the bed and put away anything that does not belong in the room.

Some of the tasks may need more time than what you have this week. An example of this would be if you really need a thorough de-cluttering of the toys. For larger tasks, skip it for now (or do what you can without making a larger mess for yourself) and make a to-do list. At the end of our 8 weeks (or during, when you have the time) you can go back to the list to see what needs to still be addressed. I don't want you to get stuck and lose your momentum.

How to keep it clean:
Does it seem your child has a different vision of what a “clean room” looks like?  Once the children’s bedrooms are cleaned, take a picture.  Keep a picture of the cleaned room with a check-off list on how to get it that way (tailored to your child’s age and abilities):

make bed
put clean clothes away &dirty clothes in the hamper
clean off dresser, bookcase, desk, and nightstand of those things that don’t belong there
put toys away
check under bed and behind doors
straighten closet
etc. 

This will serve as a reminder to your child what a clean room looks like and the steps needed to achieve it!

Happy Cleaning!!
Betsy

Autumn Overhaul 8 Week Challenge: Week #2 Master Bedroom

We are working on our first zone this week. For me that is my Master Bathroom and Bedroom. If you have decided to define zones differently in your home, just adjust these challenges to best suit your needs.

Break this job into small tasks

Below is a sample of my list:

Purge and clean storage areas-Bedroom and Master Bath (list each drawer, closet, cabinet etc., individually)
Dust furniture
Dust walls, ceilings, corners, ceiling fans
Thorough vacuum of the room including corners and under furniture
Take down curtains and wash according to directions
Clean windows & windowsills
Purge and clean knick knacks
Wash baseboards, radiators, doors, etc.
Wash all bedding and flip mattress

Now break the large list into daily checklists:

Monday:
Purge and dust knick knacks, books, frames, etc.
Purge and clean 3 drawers/cabinet

Tuesday:
Clean ceiling fan, walls, doors, ceilings, baseboards, etc.
Purge and clean 3 drawers/cabinet

Wednesday:
Clean out closets (wipe down walls, sweep floors, purge and sort) - Do as much of this as you can. If this is a project that requires more than 1 hour, just write this down for a project to do when you have a chance. Don't let yourself get stuck!

Thursday:
Take down curtains and wash (I am actually going to use a dry cleaning bag and do this myself in the dryer). Don’t have time for this?  Take the panels off the rod and take them outside and give a good shake!!
Clean the windowsills and trim
Clean windows and mirrors
Hang the window treatments back up
Purge and clean 3 drawers/cabinet :

Friday:
Dust all the furniture thoroughly
Clean the master bathroom tub, shower, and sink
Purge and clean 3 drawers/cabinets

Saturday:
Clean bed linens and flip mattress
Clean out underneath the bed
Purge and clean last of drawers/cabinets
Thoroughly vacuum the floors (don't forget the corners)


Before you start any of the above projects, make sure you start with a straightened room. Place clean laundry away and dirty laundry in the hamper. Make your bed and put away anything that does not belong in your room.

Some of the tasks may need more time than what you have this week. An example of this would be if you really need a thorough de-cluttering of your closet. For larger tasks, skip it for now (or do what you can without making a larger mess for yourself) and make a to-do list. At the end of our 8 weeks (or during, when you have the time) you can go back to the list to see what needs to still be addressed. I don't want you to get stuck and lose your momentum.

Time to treat yourself!!  Purchase a bottle of lavender essential oil.  In a small spray bottle add a touch of the lavender oil to water. Sprits throughout the room and enjoy the relaxing aroma!  Next, unscrew the light bulbs from the lights in your bedroom.  Dab some lavender oil on a cotton ball and rub gently on the bulb (not the screw-in metal part).  Make sure it is dried completely and screw back into the light.  Turn on the light and as the bulb heats up, the lavender scent will be released.  It makes the most wonderful and natural air freshener! 

Autumn Overhaul 8 Week Challenge

Want to get your home clean and organized before the holidays this year? Follow the steps to purge and purify your home just in time with the 8 week challenge. 



Step :1 Plan and purge…

For this week, I first want you to make a plan of action. Break up your home into 7 zones (whatever works best for you). This is an example of what I have done for my home (but please do whatever works best for you). 

Zone #1- Master Bedroom/Master Bath
Zone #2- Kids Bedrooms, Laundry Room
Zone #3- Bathrooms, Foyer
Zone #4- Living Room, Family Room and Dining Room
Zone #5- Kitchen
Zone #6- Garage and basement
Zone #7- Deck, front porch

The above zones will be the timeline. Each week we will focus on a zone. The steps actually will be quite similar for each week, so please don't feel that you need to do the same zones as I am doing.

Now, you know that I could never do a project like this without making organization a main focal point!! In addition, to cleaning our homes we are going to do a massive purge! Designate one day a week to run to your local thrift store so your donations don’t pile up and make sure that you keep a good list and get a receipt!!  Do your best to recycle your trash and keep your clutter out of the landfills.

Your goal for this week is to do a quick purge on all the rooms. Clutter is simply put-off decisions! Try to tackle as much clutter as you can this week! Set the timer, grab a bag, and go to town!  Set the timer for 10 minutes for each room and start tossing. If needed, do this 10 minute routine a second time for whichever zone is still in need. 

Jump start for next week:  Spend a little extra time purging your master bedroom this week; it will make next week’s missions a little less challenging!

Betsy

Space of the Month: How to Organize Your Wallet

Do you know how you can spend 15 minutes to protect your identity and safeguard your financial life? It’s time to grab those wallets and purge, organize, protect, and simplify!!
Do you find that the only time you truly purge your wallet is when you buy a new one? It’s time to gather up your wallet (or wallets, if you have more than one that have items inside) and dump out on a table. Wipe your wallet down lightly with a germicide cleaner and set aside.

Purge- The first step is to toss out the trash from your wallet; receipts that you don’t need, out of date appointment cards, etc.

Organize- Place back into the wallet the following items:

• Insurance medical/prescription ID cards

• Driver’s License

• Membership cards

• Supermarket bonus cards- Make sure you purge out the stores that you really do not shop at, just carry the card around. If you have more than 5 bonus cards, you may want to hole-punch a corner of each (make sure you stay clear of the magnetic strip) and place them on a carabiner key ring (can be found at sporting good stores) and keep them separate from your wallet.

• Roadside Assistance card

• Credit cards – Only the ones that you really need to carry

• ATM card

• Cash – Keep $20- $30.00 in your wallet, depending on how many cash transactions you do in a week.

• Coins- Only keep a couple dollars worth of change in your wallet in a variety of coins.

• Emergency contact card- If you don’t have a standard emergency contact card, simply grab one of your business cards and write your contact information on this. Keep it very simple: just make sure your name and phone is marked on here. In addition, place the phone number and name of person (or persons) to contact in the case of an emergency. In addition, place on here any other information that could be helpful (blood type, allergies, etc).

• Checkbook (if your wallet has an area for your checkbook)

Protect: Take all of the cards you have decided to keep in your wallet and lay them face forward on a copy machine (may have to do this more than once). Once you have made a copy of the front, turn over and make a copy of the backside. Keep this paper with your other important papers. In the event your wallet becomes stolen or missing, you will have all the information (account and telephone numbers) for each of your items in your wallet.

Simplify: Once a week purge out your wallet. If you do this weekly, it should not take more than 2-3 minutes.

Happy De-Cluttering!
Betsy

Home Office Overhaul - Week #1

If I were asked which area my clients find the most daunting, I would definitely say the home office area is at the top of the list. Whether there is a designated room, or a corner in the kitchen, the area where paper clutter accumulates often causes stress. As we are in the midst of tax time, this problem area becomes more evident. Paper accumulates quite rapidly, it is easy to stash, and there can be great apprehension to toss.

Like everything else, you need to come up with a system. Try to toss immediately what you don’t need, and sort and file the important papers. Don’t allow the clutter to build up. This is step #1.

Prior to our home fire, I literally hoarded all types of papers. I kept all paid bills, used duplicate style checkbooks, receipts, magazines, years of pay stubs, and piles of insurance papers (medical, house, and car). I kept everything because I really did not have a clue what I needed to keep and for how long. In addition to not knowing what to keep, I also had an ineffective filing system. If I needed to find something, it was nearly impossible because it was buried in a pile of clutter. After the fire I realized 99% of what I had kept was really not necessary.

Before you can start, you need to purchase (if you don’t already have) a few items including 2 filing containers, hanging file folders (at least 20), small container or basket for unpaid bills, and a paper shredder. The first container needed is some kind of filing drawer, if you don’t have a filing cabinet. These filing containers are rather inexpensive at office supply stores. Second, you need an easily transportable small filing folio that you can quickly grab in case of an emergency. You should instruct your family members on the location of this smaller filing folio, as this will contain the most important of your papers. Suze Orman created an amazing Portfolio that I would definitely recommend. Not only is the portfolio a perfect filing folio for the most important papers, but it also includes much more: http://www.suzeorman.com/igsbase/igstemplate.cfm?SRC=MD002a&SRCN=catalogdetail&ProductID=21&StartRow=1&GnavID=10&SnavID=48&TnavID

Throughout the month of February we are going to work on creating a paper system that works for you. For this first week, I would like to challenge you to simply toss out the paper clutter that you KNOW you don’t need. In addition, purchase the items I mentioned above if you do not already have them in your home. Don’t forget to shred anything that has your personal information. While doing this quick sort I want you to collect all the unpaid bills. Open these immediately and toss out the junk filler and place the bill and return envelope into the bill basket/bin.

Next week we are going to create the files and I will tell you what papers you need to keep and for how long.

Happy Shredding!!

Betsy

How to Achieve Sweet Dreams in a Clutter-Free Master Bedroom - Week #4

This month we have been focusing on de-cluttering your bedroom. If you have not completed the de-cluttering you may want to continue working on that before you begin the cleaning process. If, however, you are ready to get down and clean the dirt, yet you are so stretched for time… this is my answer for you. Each day set your timer for 10 minutes and see how much you can tackle. During the 10 minutes don’t answer the phone, don’t even go to the bathroom, you will be amazed at how much you can accomplish in a little amount of time! Some of these challenges may be done under 10 minutes and, depending on your own situation, some may need more time. If the timer rings and you are not done with your challenge, simply reset the timer for 10 minutes. One final warning: don’t obsess, do the best that you can do!

7 Steps to a Clean Master Bedroom 10 minutes a day
Recommended items:

• Bucket
• Dry mop
• All purpose cleaner & window cleaner
• Microfiber Cloth
• Germicide Cleaner
• Special extras: Fresh flowers and Lavender essential oil

 Monday: Walls & Ceilings – We are working from the top down this week, so grab your dry mop (I use the Swiffer mop) and give the walls a good thorough wipe down. Don’t forget to clean off your ceiling fan! If you can live without your curtains being up, you may want to take them down today and wash them (according to the manufacturer directions) so you will have them ready for your next day’s challenge.

Tuesday: Windows & windowsills – Take down your curtains and either wash them or at least take them outside and give them a good shake. You can also use the upholstery attachment of your vacuum for heavier dry-clean only drapes. Don’t let the evil head of perfectionism creep in, do the best you can do in the time you have available. Don’t get stuck! Next, grab your window cleaner and wipe down your windows and wipe off the windowsills. Finally, hang your curtains back up. 

Wednesday: Sanitize – Grab your bucket with hot water and germicide cleaner (something that will kill bacteria) and a microfiber cloth. Clean all the germ infected areas and items such as: switches, doorknobs, telephone, remote control, etc. Anything that you or your family have touched with your hands, give a good wipe!
Thursday: Furniture and knick knacks – Use your all-purpose cleaner (or whatever you use that is safe for wood and other surfaces) and wipe down all of your furniture and knick knacks. Once again, don’t get obsessed with one item, just do the best you can do and be as thorough as you have time for.

Friday: Bedding – Strip your bed and wash all your bedding. For your ten minute challenge I want you to take your vacuum onto your bed and give it a good vacuuming. Next, flip your mattress and vacuum the other side as well.

Saturday: Carpet & Flooring – If you have wall to wall carpet give your bedroom a thorough vacuuming, if it is hard wood or another surface, it is time to mop.

Sunday: Rest and enjoy – If you have made it this far you deserve a little treat! Place fresh flowers in your bedroom. For an aromatic treat, take out the light bulbs in your lamps and rub lavender oil, with a cotton ball, all over the bulb. Screw it back into the lamp and enjoy the fragrance each time the bulb heats.

Sweet Dreams!
Betsy

How to Achieve Sweet Dreams in a Clutter-Free Master Bedroom - Week #3

As I mentioned a few weeks ago, I truly believe that the master bedroom sets the tone for the family. If you feel overwhelmed in your life, make it a priority to keep your bedroom as free from stress as possible. For the past few weeks we have been talking about clearing out the clutter in your master bedroom. This week we are going to focus on all that stuff that has somehow accumulated on top of the surfaces.

The best way to tackle this job is to box and banish the items. Grab a box, set your timer for 5 minutes, and clear off one surface area, dumping everything into that box. During this same five minutes take a microfiber dusting cloth and give the surface a thorough cleaning. Do not obsess over making it spotless as our main goal is to de-clutter. Now, set the timer for 5 more minutes and this time shop through your box and place back onto the surface area only the necessary items. Place the trash in the garbage can and leave the items in the box that need to go somewhere else. Before you attack another surface area you must put the remaining items that are left in the box away. Do not make the common mistake of “out of sight…out of mind” and just tucking this box away for another day.

If you do this every day this week, spending just 10 minutes a day, you will be amazed at what can be accomplished!!

BONUS: What are the 5 things that every Master Bedroom should have?:

Soft lighting: Replace any harsh lighting with the glow of soft bulbs. You will feel more relaxed almost immediately.

Wedding pictures or other happy pictures: Try to keep things in your bedroom that make you thankful for the day and hopeful for the future.

Candles: It is amazing what a little inexpensive candlelight can do to make a space calming and romantic!

Tablet and a pen- By placing these items next to your bed at night you have the ability to write down your “to-do” list that wakes you in the middle of the night and prevents you from going back to sleep.

A little bit of color- Try sprucing up your bedroom with a little inexpensive paint. Think warm and spicy! If you are unable to paint, have some pillows or curtains to add a little pizzazz to your space.

Have fun this week reclaiming your bedroom!

Betsy

How to Achieve Sweet Dreams in a Clutter-Free Master Bedroom - week 2

When I go into a client’s home to completely overhaul and organize a closet, the average time is normally around 3-4 hours, and that is with at least two of us working, the client(s) and myself. It is quite understandable that a job like this can become very overwhelming and inevitably a major procrastination issue. How can you tackle this job in 10 minutes a day? You may not achieve perfection, and may need to spend additional time on this project one day this week where you have a little extra time, but 10 minutes a day can be quite surprisingly productive!

Set the timer for 10 minutes and attack as many drawers as you can, using the following system.

Grab 3 bags and label each one the following 3 categories:

- Sell
- Donate/Give Away
- Throw out

Attack one drawer or small section in your closet at a time and toss the items into the appropriate bag. Once you have cleared out the drawer, place the keep items neatly back.

What to Keep?

I have heard all different strategies on how to decide what to keep. My system is quite simple. If I would not buy the item TODAY it does not get kept. Try to not think about how much (or how little) you paid for the item. It’s time to take the emotions out of the things around you! Also, do not keep items that no longer fit you. I clearly remember hanging onto a dream size wardrobe. What I discovered is when I hit my dream size, the clothes were not as spectacular as I had envisioned. If you are trying to fit into a certain dream size, tear out a picture of an outfit from a catalog. When you reach your goal, try the outfit on before you buy it. This is especially true if you are a woman holding onto clothes that fit you before children…5 + years ago!

What to Sell?

Prior to trying to sell your item(s), it is best to research what is the current market price. If you choose to use an online auctions site (such as eBay) it is very easy to find out the current market price by looking at what final prices similar items have successfully sold. Next you need to decide if you want to sell it or donate it. One thing to keep in mind when selling your item(s) on online auction sites is that there are no guaranties your item will sell at the price you would like it to, or will sell at all, even if similar items have sold.

What to Donate/Give Away?

If you plan on donating your items to a non-profit charity make sure you keep a good record of what was donated and have the charitable organization sign your receipt. When you donate to a non-profit organization that is accepted by the federal government as such, you can claim each item for its fair market value. A good rule of thumb to use when trying to come up with a fair market value would be 25% of the retail price. For more information, check out the IRS publication for charitable giving. http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p526.pdf

Another suggestion is to give your items to someone, perhaps a friend or family member. My only request is that you contact this person first and ask if they would like your items. You do not want to make your good intentions become their clutter.

Throw Away:

Throw away overly used and damaged undergarments, shoes and clothing. If it is no longer of any use to you, or anyone else, it is garbage.

It’s time to evaluate what areas of your closet and drawers were the most cluttered. If it was your shoes, place a shoe shelf in the bottom of your closet, or an under the bed storage unit. Perhaps it was the shelf above the closet that was overwhelmed with stuff. Measure the area and place bins or baskets and designate each; purses, belts, etc. Before you run right out to your nearest “mart” store to get bins, baskets, etc. make sure that you don’t already have something in your home that would work just fine.

I promise you that it feels amazing to let go of those items that you don’t need, meanwhile gaining more appreciation for the things that are left. As I mentioned last week, if you find great sadness and an inability to attack the clutter yourself, contact someone for help. You owe it to your family, but more importantly yourself, to have a bedroom in which you can rest.

Sweet Dreams!
Betsy

How to Achieve Sweet Dreams in a Clutter-Free Master Bedroom - week 1

Want to create a dream bedroom in 10 minutes a day? For the next few weeks we are going to focus on the master bedroom, or as I call it, the new heart of the home. Week 1 will focus on planning and purging in 5 quick and easy steps.

I have often heard that the heart of the home is the kitchen. Instead, I would like to suggest that the Master Bedroom is the true lifeblood of the home, which is why I found it imperative to start the “Around the House Overhaul” in the master bedroom. So often we focus our attention on the rooms in which everyone else sees, and put our own needs last. When your bedroom is clean and organized, you will sleep, love, and live more fulfilled. In turn you will be healthier and happier, which makes everything more manageable in life.

For the next few weeks I am going to give you the steps to create a haven for yourself. This week we are going to focus on planning and general purging. Following are the steps for your clutter busting challenges for this week:

Step 1: Sit down with your spouse and share the frustrations with your current bedroom. Try and listen to each other and not get defensive. Perhaps come up with a reward for your room for when the bedroom de-cluttering project is complete.

Step 2: Create a timetable of when you would like to complete your project. I have 4 additional clutter busting challenges for you throughout the following month, but you may adjust the time-table to your own needs.

Step 3: Locate the closest donation center and get the details on donation criteria and rules. In addition, get the information for the recycling center in your area.

Step 4: Grab a couple garbage bags and set your timer for 5 minutes a day and start purging the trash from your rooms. Trash is something that is no longer of use to you, or anyone else. Now, just because it is trash, there is no need to clutter up the landfills. Make sure to recycle all that you can! We will focus on donating clothing and other items during a future weekly challenge, so for this week simply attack the garbage.

Step 5: Set the timer for 5 minutes a day and put away items that have found themselves in your room, but don’t belong there. Put clothing back into drawers and place shoes away.

Attempt to do these simple 10 minute challenges each day this week. If at the end of the week you find yourself still overwhelmed with clutter, don’t fret. Throughout the following four challenges we will attack every nook and cranny in your master bedroom. If you find great sadness and an inability to attack the clutter yourself, contact someone for help. You owe it to your family, but more importantly yourself, to have a bedroom in which you can rest.

Sweet dreams!
Betsy

An Apology: Long Time...No Post

It is with great shame that I begin typing this blog as I have not written here in a few months. After my Father-in-law passed away, every time I started writing I found myself unable to write about anything other than loss. Business stopped for about two weeks, and during that time I often tried to write something, but it never seemed worthy of anyone else's eyes. I was not ready to move forward, so I just levitated in a pained state while I nursed my family's fresh wounds.

Once the kids were done with school, I fully expected my normal summer months of leisure. All my previous years in business, the summer months always proved to be very quiet. This year, however, I found myself busier than ever before. My mother-in-law watched the kids on my workdays, and when I wasn't working out of the house, I did the best that I could at being the same mom that I was years before. Not only did I not have the time to wallow in my sadness, but I could literally feel my wounded heart being healed with the work of helping others through their circumstances. Although I was busy from dawn until dusk, it was an incredibly satisfying summer.

Now I find myself at the beginning of the school year. My sweet babies are growing up way too fast. Juliet is in the 7th grade and Dylan is now a First grader. As the kids get into their new routine, I find myself kicking back into my old routine. I promise (okay, "promise" is a pretty strong word)... to try (the word "try" will bail me out of the "promise" word) to be more diligent with the musings of my life that are tucked into this blog. As for now I can assure you that I am happy and hopeful. In the scheme of life, what more can I ask from myself?

Until I blog again, (I promise to try to make it sooner than later)
Betsy

Not all change feels good

I did not expect the inevitable to happen so soon...

On May 22nd 2010 my beloved father-in-law passed away. 
Passed away...
Passed away...
Dead?
How can this be?

He received the devastating diagnosis just this past fall.  Stage 4 esophogeal cancer.  I am a google info hog, but when I started reading the prognosis I stopped googling. The information was so bad, so lacking of true hope.  Even the good stories contained such horrendous information.

I am not terrified of death.  I have great faith in the promise of a wonderful afterlife.  I am, however, saddened to the core about losing those around me.  Its a shame we can't get an occasional visit, phone call, or even a postcard from those who have passed before us.

Over the past month the inevitability of the situation became more and more apparant.  I tried to ignore the signs my brain was trying to signal to my heart.  Instead I told myself, "Please no... just shut up... I don't want to hear this!"  But then something happened, I started seeing what life would look like if we kept him around for our comfort, despite his deteriorating health.  He was not getting better... each day he was suffering more and more.  I changed my pleading prayers for healing to pleading prayers for peace.

"He just went to sleep," this is what I told my children when they asked if I was with him when he passed.  It is a much glorified version of what happened in that hospital room his final hours, but it is what I am going to change as my reality.  He fell asleep here painlessly, and woke up healed in heaven.  I can accept that.

Now what?  How do I make sense of this all?  How do I take what happened and turn it good?  Is it possible? 

For now I will just try to turn his legacy into learning lessons for my children.  I have been confronted with the frailty of life, but as a result it just seems all that more precious.  I apologize to my children that death seems to have cruely stripped away their beloved Pappy far too soon for their comfort.  His absence will be an open sore on all the happy times ahead for them for quite some time. 

Until we meet again...

"Slipping Through My Fingers"

This morning was like many other mornings at my house. I woke up at the same time, wandered around the house, made my hot tea, and then went upstairs to wake up my 11 year old daughter Juliet. Through our sleepy eyes we did our morning exercises together. We laughed when we bumped arms into each other and giggled at our awkwardness. This girl is such a joy!

After breakfast, and after she and her 6 year old brother Dylan were ready for school, I loaded them up in the car and took them to the bus stop. After a tight hug and sloppy kiss, Dylan ran to the bus with the same burst of energy that drives him every day. He stomped all over the worms that were scattered out on the road due to the early morning spring rain. Juliet took a bit more time to walk to the bus. Her long curly golden blonde hair drifted over her face as she looked back and me and smiled.

I let out a long sigh of relief and gratitude that she looked back. It does not happen that often anymore. Her life does not revolve around mine anymore. Her absolute adoration for me has now been replaced with friends, boy crushes, and dreams for her future. Oh, I know that she still loves me, but it is not the same.

My love for Juliet has never changed. With each step she takes, I know she needs me less and less, but that does not mean that my love has wavered. In some ways I think I appreciate her even more. These days are quickly slipping through my fingers. I am trying to hold tight, but I cannot stop the hands of time no matter how hard I try. As each chapter ends a new one begins. This chapter is full of fun things: girl movies, make-up, and shopping. But I can’t help to flip back through the pages of the last chapter and feel a sense of longing and regret. Did I realize how special each day was? Did I hold her enough? Read to her enough? Did I stop housework to listen to her special little stories enough?  Did I do enough to place her on the path to the person she is supposed to be?

I hope she and I can continue to grow a bond that time cannot take away. May my life weave through her, so that long after I’m gone – she and I will still be a special pair, and may she look back at these days with even a fraction of the fondness that I have for them. Yes, I see her slipping through my fingers. I feel her emotionally growing away from us, and looking forward to the person she is going to become. I have full faith that person will take good care of her. Until that time, I hope that I can continue to focus on the grains of her childhood remaining in my hands, rather than focusing on the ones slipping through my fingers and blowing gently away, forever gone, in the wind. 

Betsy

Training Wheels

The time has arrived that one of the last toddler items in our home will soon be cast away.  My 6 year old son Dylan is ready to ride his bike without his training wheels.  He has become quite the bike rider with his training wheels; whizzing up and down our driveway like an expert biker.  It is going to be an adjustment when he realizes that those little noisemakers were really giving him extra balance.  But, without taking off his training wheels, he will never learn to truly balance and trust himself.

This poses a question for you, what training wheels do you still have firmly attached in life?  Are you using something as a security blanket?  Is there something or someone that you are leaning a bit too hard on, so that you don't need to trust and balance within? 

Many of my clients have found themselves immersed in clutter as a result of bad habits.  They often do things, collect things, save things, shop for things, and even sometimes hoard things because it is what they have always done.  Those things seem to prop them up, give them security as they ride through life. 

What will happen if they kick off those training wheels?  Much like my son, they will probably fall flat on their face a couple times.  But the real strength comes as they hop back on the bike.  Soon, they will begin to trust in themselves and not the annoying noise-makers that used to slow them down and hold them back.

My dear friends, I ask you to give a thought to what is holding you back today.  Let me assure you, that you don't need the clutter in your life that seems to give you the comfort.  You will be stronger without it.  The more you let go, the more you will learn that you are so much more capable than you have given yourself credit. 

Take off those training wheels and ride like you have never rode before...

Betsy