Category: Personal

  • To Host or Not to Host

    bbq pic

    There are many occasions throughout the year where you will have the opportunity to party. But, to host or not to host, that is the question.  Right now, we are one-step away from the busiest celebration season of the year: Summer and all the fun and events it brings. After all, we have Memorial Day BBQs, Graduation parties, 4th of July and with all the great weather, there is always a good excuse for a Friday night BBQ. For some, hosting a party is an impulsive decision, for others, a mental struggle. There are several things to consider and many others to plan, if you go ahead. Therefore, I recommend asking yourself these three main questions before deciding whether to host:

    1. Do I have the time to pull everything together before the event?
    2. Do I have the space to comfortably fit the number of people I will invite?
    3. Do I have the money to spend on this event?

    If the answer to any one of the above questions is no, then do not host. You can stop reading here and go ahead with your day.

    If you are still reading, then you must have decided to host. YAY, party time!  Now, it is time to start planning and organizing. This is the only way to minimize unforeseen situations, provide the best time for your guests and make sure you have fun too.

    1. Plan the menu. In the case of a small gathering, you may want to ask your guests about food allergies or dietary preferences, so that you can avoid conflicts. On the other hand, in a large gathering, you will want a variety to cover all tastes and preferences (like having meat and veggies options).

    You can do the main dishes and ask your guests to bring sides and dessert. Be thoughtful in your assignments to set the party up for success. Don’t assign appetizers to your family member that is always late. Don’t ask your friend that can’t cook to make something challenging. Most importantly, keep your menu simple enough or to things that can be made ahead of time so that you can enjoy your party and not spend the whole time in the kitchen.

    2. Sit down vs. buffet. This should be decided based on the number of people attending being able to sit at a table and by the formality of the event.

    3. Real dishes vs. paper/plastic. It all depends on the type of event you are hosting. Using paper/plastic dishes minimize the risk of breaking something (something to consider especially when you have kids around) and also make the cleaning much easier, which is something to think about it when you have a large number of guests. If you have a more intimate party with a small number of guests, the real dishes will save you some money, but will also add to clean up time. Real is always more elegant, but you will need to weigh elegant vs. easy clean up.

    4. Beverages. Do you plan to serve alcohol? If so, the first thing to consider is what you are going to serve (wine and beer or full bar) and consider the number of guests and the duration of the event. When you think of a full bar, the general rule is: 50% will prefer wine, 30% beer and 20% mixed drinks. If it is just wine and beer, consider that 60% will prefer wine and the rest, beer. Usually, a person will consume 2 drinks in the first hour and 1 drink/hour in the following.
    For non-alcoholic events (or as options for children and non-drinkers): soda, water, juice or sparkling water. You could even create a punch or mocktail that both kids and adults can enjoy like an Arnold Palmer (ice tea and lemonade) or a large dispenser with flavored water (water with cut limes, lemons, cucumbers or oranges)

    dispenser

    5. Background noise. If there is an important sporting event or the Preakness, you may have the TV on. Or, are you going to have music? If so, what type? Make sure that everything is working, your stereo is set up and that important game is part of your TV package.
    Not sure what kind of music you want, check out Pandora or download the app. You can search genres and you can find a pre-built station that will suit your tastes. Pandora has stations for Dinner Party, Classic Rock BBQ or Laid Back Brunch and many more that continuously play a variety of artists that fit that theme.

    6. Stock your house. Fully stock your bathroom with extra toilet paper, wipes, feminine products and air freshener. Put extra trash bags in the bottom of the trash can so that the bag can be easily changed when it is full. Have extra napkins, paper towels, dish towels handy. Guests will want to help and if you make it easy for them, you will get extra help!

    7. Entertainment.  If you are having an outdoor party, you may want to have a few games to keep people busy.  Corn hole, croquet, frisbees, volleyball or even just some footballs to toss around can keep fidgety guests and kids entertained for hours.  If it is a night party, kids would love some glow sticks, flashlights or a few jars to catch lightening bugs.

    Planning before will allow you to fully enjoy your party without having to keep checking every moment if everything is ok!

    If you liked today’s post, you’re welcome to use it in your own newsletter or blog as long as you include the following blurb: Tara Rudo, Life Strategist, helps working moms and families focus on what’s important. Get our FREE weekly tips and advice at www.NoMorePiles.com.  Image courtesy of tiverylucky at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

  • Meal Planning Made Easy

    The winter is upon us and it is the perfect time to work on your meal planning.  The days are shorter and full of school (or snow days), work, sports, homework and activities. The fast-paced afternoons and evenings, which leave us little time to make dinner every night. Even for those of us who love to cook, getting dinner on the table every night can be a challenge.

    The hours between 4pm and 7pm are often referred to as the witching hours. Babies are fussy, kids are grumpy and grown-ups are tired. Now, add hungry to that mix and you can see why they call it the witching hours.

    Often many families find they are scrambling at the last minute trying to decide what’s for dinner. Unfortunately most will find that they lack the proper ingredients or simply the lack of time or energy to make dinner. This leads to…you guessed it, take out.

    Maybe one of your new year’s resolutions was to cook healthier meals for your family.  Now is a great time add more vegetables or try new recipes.

    Meal Planning

    Meal Planning is key to cutting down on the stress and confusion during the dinner hour.

    1. The first step in meal planning is to clean out and organize your pantry and kitchen. Make sure to check expiration dates. It’s important to know what you have and to have the right things on hand. Organize your pantry the way you eat. Keep the pasta with the tomato sauce. This way when you want to have spaghetti you only have to check on place for the ingredients.
    2. Create a list of meals your family eats. Be sure to get input from everyone. This gives you a great place to start. Now pick one or two recipes you want to try. I recommend saving them for the weekend when you have a bit more time to focus.
    3. Sit down with your calendar and plan your week. If you know you won’t to be home in time to make dinner consider making a crock pot meal that day. Or using a meal from the freezer.
    4. Once your meal plan is set, make your grocery list. It’s a lot easier to shop when you know exactly what you need. Make sure you also have the ingredients for your “simple go-to meals”. Always have a shopping list and always take it with you when you shop! Make your own essential list and create a template so all you have to do is check off a list and leave room for the additional supplies.
    5.  Write it down so you don’t have to answer questions.  The first thing my and Tara’s kids ask every morning as soon as he wakes up is, “What’s for dinner?”.  Having a Write N Wipe Weekly Dry-Erase Calendar on the frig eliminates these questions.  Below is Tara’s calendar of meals this week.  She uses the word “Smorgasboard” instead of leftovers since kids (and husbands) often don’t like the idea of leftovers.  But, pulling all the leftovers out of the frig and letting the kids choose which items they want to eat sounds great!

      Magnetic Dry Erase Weekly Meal Calendar
      Magnetic Dry Erase Weekly Meal Calendar

    Meal planning is just the start. In a perfect world we would make a plan and follow it with no problems. But in the real world kids get sick, cars break down and you forget to pull the meat out of the freezer. So it’s just as important to have a plan B and sometimes even a plan C.

    • Simple go-to meals: Always have the ingredients for one or two simple meals on hand. A perfect example is spaghetti. A jar of tomato sauce and dry pasta can sit on the shelf and can be made in a flash. You can add whatever veggies or meat you have on hand. Find a few recipes that work for your family and always be sure the ingredient are on your shelf.
    • Try to prep ahead when you can schedule time after your trip to the grocery store to wash and prep you veggies for the week. If you have more time consider getting a head start and cooking a meal or two or at least chopping items ahead of time so you have them handy on the nights you need to get dinner on the table quickly.
    • Freezer Meals: Spending on day in the kitchen once a month can save you time and frustration several nights a week.
    • The 6 O’Clock Scramble: Still need help with meal planning. Consider signing up for an online meal planning service such as The 6 O’Clock Scramble. Every week you are sent a list of 5 recipes and the grocery shopping list. The website even let’s you customize your meals for what your family enjoys or for dietary needs.
    • Meal Swap: Consider joining or starting a meal swap group. Make one meal several times and swap with your friends.

    Hopefully this will get you on the right track. In the next few weeks we will discuss Freezer Meals and Meal Swaps in further detail. Also be sure to check our website and Facebook page for quick and easy meals.

    If you liked today’s post, you’re welcome to use it in your own newsletter or blog as long as you include the following blurb: Joan Robinson, helps working moms and families focus on what is important. Get our FREE weekly tips and advice at www.NoMorePiles.com.

  • How to Pack Like an Organizer: 3 days, 3 people, 1 bag

    Are you ready to pack like an organizer?  I am going to show you how to pack for 3 days for one adult and 2 kids in ONE carry on bag (and a backpack for keeping busy on the plane).  I don’t know about you, but my husband always packs his bag the night before we leave or the morning of, in about 20 minutes.  That works because I am in charge of everything and everyone else: myself, the kids, clothes, identification, tickets, sunscreen, snacks, electronics, cords, etc.  There are two keys to packing like an organizer:

    1. Don’t over pack. You don’t need four extra changes of clothes for a 3 day trip.

    2. Have the right tools so you can stay organized once you get to your destination.  My new favorite tool for this is the Ebags Packing Cubes.  I bought each of us the 3 piece multi-pack.  We each have a different color so it is easy to tell whose clothes are whose AND since they are in nice zipper packs, you can set the zippered packs inside a drawer or on a chair/table (depending on the set up where you are staying)

    Ebags Packing Cubes

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    For each child, I packed: 1 pair jeans, 3 shorts, 3 tshirts, 4 underwear, 4 socks, 1 pajamas, 1 bathing suit, 1 sweatshirt, 1 pair keens.  For myself, 3 tshirts, 2 shorts, 1 jeans, 1 long sleeved shirt, 1 sweatshirt, 1 pajamas, 1 bra, 4 underwear, workout clothes, sneakers, toiletries and makeup.  Of course, we will have the clothes on our backs as well, so everyone has at least one extra outfit.

    Each outfit for the day is rolled with shirt, shorts, underwear and socks.  This minimizes packing space and also reduces choices for getting dressed in the morning.

    Roll Your Outfits

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    When it comes to toiletries, I want to be prepared and yet carry the smallest amount of any given item.  If you are staying in a hotel that provides shampoo, soap, etc., you can carry less (that is not the case for me this weekend).   Since all the liquids need to be separate for the TSA and all fit in a quart sized bag, you need to be strategic.  I have the medium sized LL Bean toiletry bag which I pack with the toothbrushes, brush, hair ties, mini first aid kit (I add extra flex bandaids), tweezers, nail clippers, razor, ear plugs, bathroom wipes, deodorant, contacts and emergency medicines.  In the quart sized bag is saline solution, sunscreen, body lotion, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, hair gel, toothpaste, benadryl cream and my Arbonne RE9 sample pack (I never leave home without my Arbonne skin care and their sample pack is smaller than travel sizes.  If you want to get yours click here).  For makeup, I go minimal: tinted moisturizer, powder, eye liner, one eye shadow, mascara.

    toiletries

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Here is the finished product.  I used the medium packing cubes for our main clothes and the two small packing cubes for my workout clothes and sweatshirt and the kids shoes.

    Packed carry on

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Now, for the backpack.  First, my mini backpack.  I love my Dakine Cosmo mini backpack, it is perfect for days where you are doing a lot of walking with kids and need some stuff and a purse is too uncomfortable for all day (think amusement parks, fairs, hiking, etc).  It has a main compartment and a front organizer compartment with small zippered sections.  I ALWAYS carry a small zippered case with the following: hand cream, saline, extra pair of contacts, sanitizer wipes, kleenex, chapstick, nail file, pen, advil/tylenol, mints and an Arbonne fizzy pack (click here to get your fizzies).  So, in my mini backpack, I have the small zippered case, my wallet and sunglasses.  This backpack is small and will easily fit inside my larger backpack.

    mini backpack

     

     

     

     

     

     

    My larger backpack is a regular sized backpack with a main compartment and front zippered compartment.  In here are our boarding passes and flight itinerary, my ipad (not pictured since I was taking pics with it), my kids’ itouch and ipad, their blankies, a bag of snacks, all our electronics cords, my TSA liquids bag and my mini backpack.

    travel packpack

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Here is my last set of tips to ease some stress while you are traveling with kids.  I have found four great accessories that I can’t live without.  The are all less than $20 each and worth every penny.  My Cocoon Grid It, it is pictured above and keeps all of my cords and chargers organized.  The other three are pictured below and I got them at Five Below or through online daily deals (Living Social, Eversave, Groupon).  They are a head phone jack splitter (in pink) so that kids can watch the same thing on one device and each use their own headphones.  My three way charger that has the new small I jack, the old larger I jack and an android jack.  Last but certainly not least, my Pebble Smartstick.  This is an emergency charger that can bring your phone back to full power or keep an ipad from dying while in use.  Perfect for on a plane if someone’s device runs out of juice.

    favorite electronic accessories

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Now we are ready to go!  Just make sure everyone goes to the bathroom before you get in the car.  Happy Travels!

    If you liked today’s post, you’re welcome to use it in your own newsletter or blog as long as you include the following blurb: Certified Professional Organizer, Certified Organizer Coach and Life Management Expert, Tara Donohue Rudo, helps working moms and families focus on what is important. Get her FREE weekly tips and advice at www.NoMorePiles.com.

  • Organize Your Fitness: We LOVE Fitbit!

    At No More Piles we are Fitbit fanatics. Tara and I wear our Fitbits every day. Don’t know what a Fitbit is? Well, some will say it’s just a pedometer, but really, it is so much more.

    It tracks:
    • How many steps you take
    • How many miles you’ve walked
    • How many flights of stairs you have climbed
    • How many calories you have burned
    • How many active minutes you have had in your day
    • GPS your walk, jog or run
    • The Force, Flex and One can even monitor your sleep.

    I have the Force and Tara has the One and we are working on getting them for the rest of our No More Piles team.  But, as organizers, we are analyzing the pros and cons of each model to figure out which is best for each of our lifestyles.  I prefer the Force, but it is currently retired.  Tara has the One and loves it because you can clip it anywhere: shoe strings, bra strap, belt loop, etc.  The only drawback to the One is that you have to remember to move the clip when you change clothes.

    fitbit

    Fitbit also provides you with a free app and website to keep track of your vital information. It syncs via Bluetooth to your device, so you don’t have to do a thing once you initially pair it with your device. You can also log your daily food intake to get an accurate account of the calories you take in and those you burn off (although we prefer to log food with MyFitnessPal app which integrates with the Fitbit app). View all of your information on your smartphone or directly on the FitBit website from your desktop.

    You are able to customize goals. You can set how many steps you want to take per day. You can also set your active minute, ounces of water consumed and weight loss goals. When you reach your daily goal your Fitbit buzzes to let you know or if you are looking at the app or website it send off happy little smiley faces for reaching those targets. It only needs to charge once a week (Tara charges hers in the car on the way to clients) and once it is recharged it always has something nice to say to me. This morning it was “Cheers”.

    Our favorite feature is the ability to compete with your friends. Link up with others who have Fitbits and you are able to see who has the most steps. You can cheer, taunt or message any of your Fitbit friends to up the competition or encourage them to reach their goals.  If you are striving to stay active this is a great product to help keep you motivated. It’s always a big competition between Tara and I to see who is getting the most steps. And if I’m honest sometimes knowing Tara is only a few steps ahead of me, is all the motivation I need to go for a walk in the evening to edge her out!

    Check out the Fitbit we love it!!

    If you liked today’s post, you’re welcome to use it in your own newsletter or blog as long as you include the following blurb: No More Piles Project Manager, Joan Robinson, helps working moms and families focus on what is important. Get our FREE weekly tips and advice at www.NoMorePiles.com.

     

     

  • Top Tips for Managing the Flu

    The arrival of old man winter also brings with it peak flu season.  How can you keep yourself and family healthy during this time? Here are our top tips for managing the flu.

    We all know the basics of washing our hands frequently with soap and water, coughing and/or sneezing into our elbows or a tissue, staying home or keeping your distance from others when sick and to disinfect frequently touched surfaces at home, work or school.  Many local food/retail stores also offer wipes to disinfect shopping carts for your health and convenience. 

    What are some other ways of keeping your health in check?  Some of you might be feeling run down after the holiday rush and getting back into a routine of work or school with your families.  Here are a few tips to assist:

    • get plenty of sleep (7-9hrs. per night
    • be physically active (at least 30min. a day and a 15min. standing/stretching/walking break per hour for each hour while sitting at a desk)
    • manage your stress (exercise and planning can help – consider a life coach or a new form of exercise {yoga or meditation} to keep your mind fresh and engaged in a new activity)
    • drink plenty of fluids; stay hydrated
    • eat nutritious food (fresh fruits and vegetables high in vitamins A and C; vitamin D & E)

    If you or a family member does become ill, here are a few tips to assist in keeping the rest of the family healthy.  Gather some items to put into a “health kit.”

    Health Kit items:

    • thermometer and thermometer covers, if necessary
    • box of tissues
    • disposable gloves
    • bottle of water
    • disinfecting wipes or your own mix of disinfecting agent
    • paper towels
    • plastic tub or bowl

    Keep in mind the symptoms one may have while being ill with the flu – fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, headache, muscle aches and/or fatigue, vomiting, diarrhea.  You could also keep any over-the-counter or homeopathic remedies for these types of symptoms in your kit.  Be sure to avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth while caring for someone whom may be ill before washing your hands thoroughly and disinfect doorknobs or any other shared surfaces throughout your home.  A humidifier could be helpful to the person whom is sick as well.  The No More Piles team wishes you and your family a happy and healthy rest of winter.  Bring on Spring!

  • New Year’s Resolutions – Week One

    accountability in team
    There is accountability in teams

    So, we are one week into our New Year’s Resolutions 6 week accountability program and we are off to a rough start!  Like many of you, we are busy getting back into the swing of real life after time off over the holidays.  I would say that our current success rate is about 10%.  Sounds terrible, right?  Actually, it is just the reality of starting a new habit.  We begin with the best of intentions, but actually putting a plan into reality takes work, discipline, creativity and organization.  Our team is proof that the best of intentions only get you to about 10%.  Here is what we each learned over the last week:

    Tara – Flossing your teeth sounds easy, but remembering to do it every day (or not blowing it off to go to bed and get an extra 2 minutes of sleep) is harder.  I am going into the next week by carrying flossing supplies with me everywhere: in my car, my purse, kitchen, etc.  My goal is that if I remember AND the supplies are convenient, my chances of success are higher.

    Joan – Didn’t get those 5 hours of exercise in, but realized that exercise is a necessity, not a luxury.  She has booked 6 days of exercise into her schedule for the next week, so if one gets derailed, she will still hit her target.  She has also downloaded an app called 7 minute workout https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/7-minute-workout/id650762525?mt=8. This way, even if she can’t make it to the gym, she is still getting in a workout.

    Tracey – She bought a nutribullet so she can pack more fruits, vegetables and nutrients into her (and her family’s) diet.  She isn’t getting any more complaints from the kids about ‘having to eat’ their veggies.

    Terri – Instead of losing, she gained a pound.  So, she cleaned out her pantry and frig of all the holiday, bad-for-you remnants and has restocked to restart!

    Krista – Krista realized that it is easier to have accountability when her husband is not traveling for work and is there to work out with her.  She is working to put a secondary accountability in place (like her work teammates) to hold her to her workout schedule.

    Accountability is about self-flagellation for not getting it ALL done exactly right the first week.  Accountability is about noticing what got in the way of you achieving your goals and gathering your resources to restart and try again.  Noticing what gets in your way, whether it is self-talk, scheduling issues, lack of will power, lack of organization or all of the above, will help you take an honest inventory and strategize ways to avoid those pitfalls.  So, if you are off to the same slow start that we are, find a partner for your own accountability.  If you can’t find one, use us.  We are available for coaching or you can just post questions or successes on our facebook page.

  • Top 5 Tips on Organizing for Summer Camp

    There are only a few more weeks of school and then summer is upon us.  The kids are thrilled that summer is almost here, but personally, it brings me another set of ‘to dos’ in the form of prepping for summer camp.  Whether your kids are going to one summer camp for all 9 weeks or they are switching camps week-by-week, these tips will help make your summer run a little smoother.  Here are my top 5 tips for organizing for summer camp:

    1. Buy enough of each clothing type so that you don’t have to do laundry mid-week.  Most kids need swim suits, towels, shorts, socks, sneakers, water shoes, etc.  My recommendation is that you go find 10 towels, 10 bathing suits, shorts, socks, t-shirts, etc (not shoes, but at least 2 each of those).  Trying to do a full load or two of laundry on Wednesday just to ensure that you have enough clothes for Thursday and Friday just adds more stress to

    Over-the-door-pockets
    Use this over-the-door organizer to keep things at your fingertips.

    your week.  You can find cheap towels in a 5-6 pack at Sam’s Club or Costco.  Hit the consignment stores for bathing suits since they won’t last more than one season anyway.

    2. Label Everything!  I can’t stress this one enough, unless you have unlimited funds to replace all the items of clothing that will get lost if you don’t.  Lovable Labels has great self stick labels that adhere to the tags of the clothes and stay on even through the wash.  They even have a camp pack that includes labels for water bottles, shoes and clothes.   https://www.lovablelabels.ca/     Enter code TaraRLB1 to get 10% off your order.

    3. Make lunches easy.  There are 9 weeks of summer, so if your kids are in camp 5 days per week that means you have 45 lunches to pack for the summer.

    a. Pre-label all 45 bags (our camp requires disposable lunch bags) with your child’s name, bunk and other necessary information.  If you want to get fancy, use 4×4 shipping labels and just print a few sheets of them to affix to the front of the bag.

    b. Pre-pack 5 bags for the week with all the non-perishable items: snack, fruit leathers, spoon/fork, napkin, water bottle, etc.  This way you will only have to add a sandwich or main course.

    c. Don’t over pack. Our camp tells us that 50% of all packed lunches end up in the trash.  Only pack what you think your kids will reasonably eat while having a fun lunch with their friends.

    4. Streamline your morning routine.  There are so many things that need doing in order to get out the door in the morning, so make your life as easy as possible.  Hair needs brushing, ponytails put in, sunscreen on, bug spray, back packs packed, etc.  Keep all the items you need to get this done in a bin in your kitchen or mudroom or get an over-the-door hanger with pockets to keep everything at your finger tips.

    5. Prepare for summer first aid.  No matter how great the camps are at supervising our little ones, there will always be sunburn, bug bites, bee stings, cuts, scrapes, water in the ear, red eyes from chlorine in the pools and any number of minor first aid situations.  Make sure you have a good stock of all the necessary cures on hand.  Whether you like to use aloe, Calendula, peroxide or cortaid creme for whatever ails your little people, stock up now before the need arises.

    Summer is a time for the kids to step away from the books and enjoy all that summer has to offer, just make sure that you are ready to handle the the changes before they hit.  By getting organized for summer camp, you can ensure that both you and your kids have a fun-filled and stress free summer!

    If you liked today’s post, you’re welcome to use it in your own newsletter or blog as long as you include the following blurb: Certified Professional Organizer and Life Management Expert, Tara Donohue Rudo, helps working moms and families focus on what is important. Get her FREE weekly tips and advice at www.NoMorePiles.com.

     

  • Don’t Forget! Organizing Tips for Remembering Things

    On any given day we need to remember a ton of things: what to get at the grocery store, take our vitamins, brush our teeth, call someone, email someone else, send a birthday card, etc. How can we possibly remember everything that we need to do? In my humble opinion, it is virtually impossible to just ‘remember’ everything that we need to do. So, if you are relying only on your brain to remember everything that you need to remember, you are setting yourself up for failure.

    Here are some of my tips to keep you organized and looking like you remember everything with ease!

    1. Have a central calendar.  By this, I mean have a calendar that has ALL of your information on it.  It doesn’t necessarily need to be in a central location, although that would be preferable.  This calendar should contain all the appointments, birthdays or events that are happening at a specific time in the future. Tip 1a of this is: You need to check the calendar at least once per day.

    2. Write it down.  If you are busy and most of us are, don’t rely on your brain to remember something you were thinking of as you fell asleep by the time you wake up in the morning.  Keep a note pad by your bed, in the kitchen, in the car or wherever you have thoughts OR, if you are techno savvy, make the notes on your phone or tablet.

    3. Set alarms or timers.  If there are certain things that need to happen at a certain time, set an alarm or timer.  Most of us are not very good a judging time, so this will ensure you are punctual.  This could be for picking up Johnny from school, taking medications or baking something in the oven.  You can use a manual timer, your calendar program on your computer or there are several apps where you can set alarms or reminders.  My favorite is Alarmed.  You can set alarms with multiple reminders.  Have to make an important dinner and you are notorious for trying to get ‘one more thing done before you leave’, you can set it to chime 30 minutes before, 15 minutes before, 10 minutes before to really light a fire under you to get out the door on time.  There is an upgrade from the free version for $1.99 that will allow you to repeat reminders throughout the day to get up and stretch every hour or drink your water.

    4. Make lists of other’s good ideas.  We have all had those conversations where your friend tell you about the great movie, book, restaurant, wine, etc that you MUST watch/try/read.  You think it is a great idea and can’t wait to take their advice.  The problem is that the minute you get home you have already forgotten what restaurant/book/wine you were supposed to remember.  This is what I think Evernote or SpringPad apps are perfect for.  I have a ‘notebook’ in SpringPad for each of these great categories and every time someone tells me about their great idea, I have someone to put it AND somewhere to look when I want a new movie, wine, restaurant, etc.  I also have a notebook for gift ideas, so that if I see something when I am out and about, I can log it in.

    5. Make checklists.  If you are someone that needs a checklist to get out the door in the morning, pack a suitcase or complete a project, then make one.  You can do it on paper,in a word document or on an app like paperless lite, reminders, toodledo.  This way you can set up a check list once and reset it each time you need it without starting from scratch.

    6. Create visual reminders.  If you absolutely CAN’T leave the house in the morning without the really important work file, put a giant note on the door leading out of your house reminding you to get the file.  It is not silly to have a giant note on your door.  It IS silly to forget the really important work file.  I have a weekly reminder of my kids daily activities where they need extra items for school and it is on the door to my garage.  It is easy for the kids and me to check the board before we leave the house to ensure we haven’t forgotten the gym shoes, library books or special projects (see picture).  It is dry erase, so it can be easily changed for schedule changes.

    Remembering details, being prompt for appointments, sending timely emails or calling someone on their special day makes everyone in your life feel respected and cared for.  Remembering to take necessary medications, test blood sugar and eat on a regular schedule can prevent unnecessary side effects of chronic illnesses.  Taking the time to put systems in place will help you take better care of yourself and those around you.  It will also reduce your stress knowing that you don’t have to ‘remember’ everything!

    If you liked today’s post, you’re welcome to use it in your own ezine or blog as long as you include the following blurb: Certified Professional Organizer, Tara Donohue Rudo, CPO, helps families, solopreneurs and mompreneurs focus on what is important.  Get her FREE weekly tips and advice at www.NoMorePiles.com.

  • Organizing for the Flu

    With all the news reports of a record flu season, you better get prepared.  Today, we are organizing for the flu.   Even if you escape the flu, there are still a bunch of different viruses that are circulating around throughout the winter months.  You can do everything right: wash your hands, eat healthy, get plenty of rest and still get sick, so here are some of our tips and tricks for surviving flu season.

    • Have a ‘middle of the night’ emergency kit.  Have a bucket or small trashcan and fill it with paper towels, lysol or disinfecting wipes, old wash cloths and hand sanitizer for when you or someone in your family gets a stomach bug in the middle of the night.  You don’t want to have to run downstairs and collect supplies at 2 a.m.  You may even want one or two waterproof pads to put on the bed if you have small kids.
    • Check your stock of medicines.  Make sure you have everything you or your kids would need for the onset of symptoms: pain reliever, fever reducer, decongestants, cough medicine or their natural equivalents.  If you use nebulizers or humidifiers, check their filters or keep extra on hand.  If you have a full stock, check their expiration dates to make sure all are still current.
    • Have a sick day bin with stuff to keep the kids occupied if they are stuck at home.  This could include: videos they haven’t seen, coloring books, legos, books or other self-contained and not-too-messy activities.
    • Set up a small section of your pantry with easy-to-make or ready-made soups, noodles, Gatorade (or other electrolyte/rehydrating drinks), crackers, jello, etc.  Items that are easy on the stomach or easy to make for the non-sick family member who is stuck cooking for you sick people.
    • Have a back up plan!  If you are working crazy hours or work a distance from your child’s school.  Have a list of people who could and would be willing to pick up your sick child from school and keep them until you get home.
    • Have a list of delivery places for groceries, meals, prescriptions, etc.
    • Have your boss’ or some of your co-worker’s home phone numbers.  If you are sick or need to stay home with a sick kid, be nice and let your boss or co-workers know as soon as possible.  This is especially important if appointments need to be cancelled or if someone at work needs to deal with your work.

    We all get sick from time to time, but if we are organized and prepared we can at least minimize the impact that it has on us and our families.  Wishing you all a happy and healthy 2013!

    If you liked today’s post, you’re welcome to use it in your own ezine or blog as long as you include the following blurb: Certified Professional Organizer, Tara Donohue Rudo, CPO, helps families, solopreneurs and mompreneurs focus on what is important. Get her FREE weekly tips and advice at www.NoMorePiles.com.

  • The 24 Hour Rule

    I was working with someone last week to schedule a meeting with 7 other people. We had sent out an email with all the details and gave a deadline 5 days out to respond to various action items.  On the day of the deadline, we had still not heard from half the group.  I had to send a second email reminding the group about the deadline and promptly got everyone’s responses. Why did they wait so long to respond?  If they could respond so quickly to the second email, why couldn’t they have responded just as quickly to the first?

    I am guilty of this too.  A friend called me on a Friday and when she hadn’t heard from me by Sunday, emailed to make sure that I was OK.  I am sure that you are either guilty of this offense or have been on the receiving end of the ‘no response’.

    In this day of instant messaging and access to email and text messages from our phones which we carry with us everywhere, why is it that so many people don’t respond, don’t call back and don’t RSVP. Are we too busy? Are we just rude?  OR, are we not placing high enough priority on prompt responsiveness and our personal relationships.

    If we waited several days to call our mothers back, we would probably find the cops or fire department banging down our front door.  Whether personal or for business, I think we should adopt the 24 hour rule.  If you are soooo busy that you can’t find the time to call someone, then shoot them an email and arrange a time for the call.  If you have an email that requires lots of time and thought, at least send an email back telling the sender that you need a little time and will respond by____ (fill in the blank). Responding promptly will let the people in your life know that you appreciate and respect them and their time.

    If you liked today’s post, you’re welcome to use it in your own ezine or blog as long as you include the following blurb: Certified Professional Organizer, Tara Donohue Rudo, CPO, helps families, solopreneurs and mompreneurs focus on what is important. Get her FREE weekly tips and advice at www.NoMorePiles.com.