Living Everyday Ultimately Organized - Opt Out to Declutter Your Inbox

I'm opting out this summer... not opting out OF summer... but I've decided to unsubscribe (opt-out) from any unnecessary email lists I've managed to join over the years.  It finally hit me when I opened my inbox the other morning to find 20 emails waiting for my attention.  Not one of them was work related or a message from family or friends.  They weren't "spam" either.  These were emails from companies I have ordered from online or signed up to receive coupons... and it's gotten out of control!  As you might expect, my inbox is pretty organized, so it's not that I can't keep up with the deluge.  I have just decided that I no longer want to give my time to the task of purging these soliciations.  Plus, I have a feeling I might just save a little money too without the temptation of 10% off or "one day only" sales bombarding me throughout the day.  I know my friends in the marketing world are cringing right now.  After all, that is the point of all of this email marketing... to get us to buy something. 

The number of marketing emails sent by U.S. retailers and wholesalers this year will hit 158 billion and grow 63% to 258 billion in 2013. - Forrester's US Email Marketing Volume Forecast (2008)


I do appreciate all of the coupons and great deals over the years, but if you are struggling to keep up with your inbox, or like me have just decided your time is better spent doing something else, the first step is to start opting out.  Look for the "unsubscribe" link, which is usually at the end of each email (usually in teeny-tiny print with a hyperlink to an opt-out website).  If you are concerned you will miss out on the sale of the century, then see if the company offers the option to send emails less frequently.  Many companies don't want to see you go, so they offer to only send emails once a month or only on certain offers.  One company list I left even sent me a follow up email to be sure I really meant to unsubscribe.  They were concerned I forwarded the email to a friend who may have unknowingly unsubscribed me.  Sorry to see you go too, but it's time to spring (or summer or any time of year) clean my inbox.  Use this tip to declutter your inbox and you will soon be on your way to Living Everyday Ultimately Organized.                      

Living Everyday Ultimately Organized - Back to School

I read a back to school article recently on how to have an organized morning. Moms shared their secrets to keeping things moving, but one mom's comment stood out. She said she tries to keep mornings as low-key and as calm as possible because it sets the mood her kids will carry with them for the rest of the day. Think about it. If your kids are rushed out the door because one can't find a piece of homework or the other can't find a shoe, then they leave feeling anxious and stressed out. That feeling could affect their performance on a test or their interactions with their friends and teachers throughout the day. Here are a few organizing tips so the last thing you say to your child in the morning isn't "hurry, you're going to be late!"

1. Designate a Family Center. This is the most important time saving tool for back to school. A family center is a designated area of your home where you keep your family calendar, important school papers, and any after school activity schedules. Each family member should have a folder for anything that needs to be signed or reviewed. My sons' folders contain weekly spelling lists, site words, class lists, and other papers that may need to be referenced later in the school year. If you don't have the space for a desktop file holder, then try a wall mounted magazine holder. Our family center is also a drop zone for backpacks (thanks to a coat rack from IKEA) and electronics (laptop, phones, and even the boys' DS games).


2. Start Preparing the Night Before. Make a checklist of anything you can do the night before including gathering books and homework, finishing projects, picking out clothes, leaving shoes and backpacks by the door, making lunches, and even setting the table for breakfast. In our house, my husband even puts the belt around my 5-year-old son's pants so all we have to do in the morning is help him with the buckle. It may sound like a lot of work, but if you take care of the predictable items ahead of time it won't be such a big deal when something unexpected happens. This goes for you too. Make sure everything you need is ready to go so you're not scrambling to find your keys or your phone in the morning.


3. Get an Early Start. You have to stay ahead of your kids, so that means you need to be ready before they even wake up. I'm talking fully dressed, hair and makeup done, walk out the door ready. That way if one of the kids finds a stray homework sheet that has to be turned in today you're not blow drying your hair while trying to explain how to multiply fractions. If everything goes smoothly, then you may have a few extra minutes to play a quick game with your kids or knock out a few chores.


4. Keep Breakfast Simple. Whether you go all out preparing a hot breakfast or just pour a bowl of cereal in the morning it's important to keep this meal simple. Prep as much food ahead as you can and keep choices limited to two "main dish" options. Instead of asking "What do you want for breakfast?" try asking "Do you want cereal or a waffle?"


5. Set Time Reminders. Kids are pretty good at tuning out the sound of our voices, so you may need to find another way to encourage them to keep moving in the morning. You can use the kitchen timer or the alarm on your phone to signal when they need to be finished with breakfast or when it's time to walk out the door. My kids like to watch TV in the morning, so we use commercial breaks as cues that they need to move on to the next step in their routine. They wake up at 7 a.m. and we leave at 8 a.m., so by the first commercial break (approx. 7:15) they are sitting down to eat. That gives them 15 minutes until the next break to finish breakfast. A change in shows (around 7:30) signals it's time to get dressed (which I let them do in front of the TV). By the 7:45 commercial break it is time to brush hair and teeth, put on shoes and grab backpacks. That leaves them 10 minutes to either finish their show or do something fun.

With a little planning and organization your morning routine can be stress free and you will soon be living everyday Ultimately Organized!

Living Everyday Ultimately Organized - Children's Playroom Decluttered

My youngest son recently had a playdate with our new neighbors, twin four-year-old boys. They played together contently for hours exploring every inch of our playroom. As any mom would be I was thankful for the chance to do a few things around the house while my little one was entertained. When our guests left, I reluctantly made my way into the playroom to assess the damage. As expected, there were toys scattered from one end of the room to the other. I didn't panic. My playroom motto has always been "don't worry about making a mess... everything has a place and it goes back together quickly." Friends and neighbors who offer to help usually shrug their shoulders and think I'm just being kind, but it's true. Thanks to various bins, buckets, shelves, and storage drawers even the tiniest toy has a home that's easy to find. Whether it's me doing the clean-up or my kids this chore never takes more than five minutes. The key is using open bins and buckets and clear plastic storage containers and drawers to make it easy to see what goes where. It's also important to use the right size container. For example, we have tons of cars and other vehicles but they don't all go into the same container. Smaller cars like Hotwheels go into small bins, while larger cars are sorted into larger bins. It's all about making the toys easier for your kids to put their hands on and easier for you and them to put away.

Living Everyday Ultimately Organized - Time Saving Tip

Do you dread the last minute morning rush? Try to get as much as you can done the night before. I'm not just talking about packing lunches (although that should be on your list). Lay out your kids clothes or encourage older children to do this for themselves before bed. Review the next days activities to be sure any library books, gym clothes, instruments or projects are put in backpacks or by the door so they don't get left behind. Even leaving the next days shoes by the door can save a few minutes of searching in those wee morning hours.

Living Everyday Ultimately Organized - Be More Efficient

This Sunday morning I took advantage of a rare opportunity. I was ready to make a cup of coffee and sit down to clip a few coupons when I heard my two boys upstairs playing a game together. I quickly changed gears and got out my cleaning supplies. To my surprise, and with only one minor meltdown between brothers, I was able to dust and vacuum the house while both boys were entertained. So, what made this task more efficient? I didn't have to scramble to gather my supplies. I keep a dust cloth right next to my vacuum so I am able to move quickly from one task to the next. You may even need to keep more than one set of cleaners and clothes in different places throughout your home. Keep a bottle of disinfectant wipes or a bottle of cleaner and a roll of paper towels in each bathroom to give them a quick wipe down daily. You'll be to take advantage of those unexpected opportunities to knock out a few chores when you are Living Everyday Ultimately Organized.

Living Everyday Ultimately Organized - Dinner is Done

The four words I hate to hear when I come home after my hour long commute are "what is for dinner." While I have my mom's knack for organizing, I unfortunately did not inherit her cooking skills. For some reason I convinced myself that after getting married and having two kids I should be able to walk in the door, open the pantry, pull out two or three ingredients and whip up a scrumptious dinner that satisfies everyone. It has taken me 10 years, but I have finally realized that the only way dinner is going to make it on the table in a reasonable amount of time for the hungry masses in my house is if I plan ahead.


So, I sit down once a month and plan out our dinners. I take into consideration when I get home and how long it takes to prepare a meal. Four nights a week are designated theme nights with quick and easy meals. For example, Tuesday is pasta night, Wednesday is leftovers, Thursday is pizza, and Friday is breakfast night. Saturday I include fun choices like sliders or chicken nuggets. Sunday I typically have more time to prepare a full meal, so we will have a chicken dish, pork chops, meatloaf, turkey or other "home cooked" meal. That leaves Monday, which I like to save for international selections like tacos, sweet & sour chicken, or calzones. I put my dinner menu in a protective plastic sleeve and tuck any recipes for the month behind it for quick reference.


Now that I know what's for dinner I can also shop more efficiently. I know exactly what I need to prepare 30 meals. I buy as much as I can at one time, and then I only have to stop at the grocery store for perishables and necessities.


I use my dinner menu as a guideline, which means I am always flexible. If we eat out one night or feel like having something different, then I simply move that night's meal to another night or save it for next month.

In my house dinner is done by Living Everyday Ultimately Organized.

Living Everyday Ultimately Organized - Laundry

Laundry is one of those skills I learned from my mom, and I tend to do laundry the way she did when I was growing up. Everyone in the house has a laundry basket, and one day a week, in our house on Sunday, I gather the laundry, sort, wash, dry, iron, and put away. One thing with laundry is that you are making a committment to stay at home, at least long enough to move it from one machine to the other and get it out before it turns into a ball of wrinkles (thus doubling your work load). If you find your laundry day keeps getting put off til tomorrow, then set a date with those dirty clothes. Make an appointment to do laundry and block off two, three, or four hours so you aren't tempted to let other activities take it's place.

Many people may not have the time to dedicate half a day to laundry, so they spread it out throughout the week. Even if you do one load of laundry each day, you need to follow the process through to the end. That means, WASH, DRY, IRON, FOLD & PUT AWAY the entire load. Also, be sure you are doing a full load. It not only saves water and energy, but also your time.

Here's something you may not have thought about... time how long it takes to run a load in the washer and the dryer. Set a timer so you know exactly when the wash cycle ends, and use the end of cycle alert on your dryer .

When I have to do a load of laundry during the week I know if I put it in the washer before I shower in the morning, then after I am dressed I can move it to the dryer. I budget about 5-10 minutes to fold and put it away before we leave the house. Now, this load is usually towels or sheets, which don't require ironing or a lot of running around to put away.

Get out from under those piles of dirty clothes and start Living Everyday Ultimately Organized.