September - National Preparedness Month - What Are Your Potential Emergencies?

  
As a result of moving to Montana, my husband and I have a different set of emergencies to anticipate than when living in Ohio or Maryland. As a result, we had a conversation recently on how to prepare for such eventualities.

First, we identified those emergencies we might face.We thought we might encounter no electricity, no water, extreme temperatures, high wind,  and heavy snow. No longer do we need to prepare for tornadoes, though, as we did in the other two locations.

Next, we identified the ramifications of those emergencies.It could mean no heat, no connection with the outside world, lack of water, no indoor cooking facilities, being stuck in snow, being cold.

Third, we identified action items to prepare for these possible emergencies.- We plan to get a kerosene heater to provide heat should our electricity go out.- We decided to get a battery with which to charge our phones and computers. We already have car chargers for them.
- We will begin to fill empty containers with water and a little bleach so we would at least have water to flush the toilets.
- We'll stock up on nonperishable items should we not be able to cook at all - tuna, canned veggies and fruit; and a manual can opener.
- We'll make sure to have a full back-up gas canister for the grill should we need to use it as our main source of cooking.
- I bought a pair of heavy-duty snow boots. My husband already has a couple of pairs.
- By the end of September, we should winterize our car - have blankets, hand and feet warmers, water, etc. in each car should we get stuck somewhere.
- Our snow shovel is accessible.
- We have coats, gloves, etc. that are appropriate for snow removal.

What emergencies might you face in your area and how will you prepare for them?

More on preparedness:
Prepare for the Unexpected - Winterizing Tips
Getting Your House in Order - A Great Wintertime Project
Organizing for Safety During the Holiday Season - A Simple  Tip

Hoarders Dos and Don'ts Guide

  
If you're a hoarder or have a hoarding friend or family member, you might be interested in the Hoarders Dos and Don'ts Guide put out by Address Our Mess, hoarding experts. 

Hoarding is a complicated issue and must be handled carefully and thoughtfully. This guide will give you some valuable insights on how to most effectively address hoarding.


More on hoarding:
Hoarding - There Are no Easy Answers
Are You Turning into a Hoarder? Find Out.
Dehorder Game - Clean Up a Hoarder Home

 

Peace-of-Mind Vacation Check List - What to Do Before You Leave

   
Here's an updated blast from the past:

In order to insure that your time away on vacation is relaxing and refreshing, make sure to take care of a few things before you leave.

- Make arrangements for your mail and packages. One option is to stop your mail through the post office. If you do this, you may want to ask a neighbor to watch for packages, as well. If you have one of those weekly papers that is delivered whether you want it or not - it's a sure sign that you're not home if it's sitting on your front porch for days.

If you don't stop your mail, get a neighbor or friend to pick up your mail and watch for packages. Sometimes we hire a neighbor kid to pick up the mail and walk around the house to look for packages. UPS sometimes delivers to our front porch and sometimes to our back porch!

- Put your lights on timers. We have some that are programmable to go on at different times each night. It makes it look like you are home and there is activity in different parts of the house. We actually leave them on all the time, so if we're out for the evening, it doesn't look like it.

- Stop your newspapers. Most newspapers give you the option to donate your unused days to schools, etc. It's still helpful to have someone watch, though, as we've had newspapers delivered even when we've requested a stop.

- Make arrangements for your pets - a kennel, someone to come over and feed and play with your cat, feed your fish or birds, etc. There are all sorts of pet-sitting services these days, too.

- Make arrangements for your plants - either have someone water them or use a long-term watering system.

- Make arrangements for your lawn. A shaggy yard with yellow newspapers sitting around is an invitation to thieves.

- Pay your bills that will be due while you are gone and soon after you arrive home. You don't want to have to face bills as soon as you come home!

- Remove perishable items from your fridge and pantry. You may want to make a list of items you'll need when you return while it's fresh on your mind, so you don't have to think about it when you come home. Both milk and bread are freezable - just remember to buy milk with the screw-on lids and empty a little so it doesn't explode all over your freezer!

- Adjust your thermostats to save energy while you're away. If you have a programmable thermostat, set it to reflect your absence.

- Give a neighbor your cell phone number or contact number - just in case they notice water pouring out of your house, or some other such emergency!

- Have a key made for someone to get into your house in an emergency.

- Look back at your house as you leave. We almost left our front door open once. And you certainly don't want to be wondering if you left your garage door open!

- While you're away, you may want to pick up a souvenir or gift for anyone watching your house, pets, or plants.

With all these details taken care of, you'll have peace of mind while you're away and can enjoy being refreshed and rejuvenated!

More on vacations:
Helping Your Child Organize Vacation Packing
Organize Your Family Vacation
Organizing a Family Reunion

Apps for Organizing Your Home Inventory

Feeling a need to have an inventory of the important things in your home? Kit Eaton does and wrote the following article for the Boston Globe, reviewing apps that help you create that home inventory. Enjoy!

"I am not a hoarder.

In fact, I'm exactly the opposite: I would love to live in a minimalist house, and I have strong opinions about disposing of or recycling old things.

But no matter how I feel about hoarding, my family home is constantly accumulating ‘‘stuff.’’ And we now have so much, it’s nearly time for a big spring clean-out, a process that would be much easier if I had an inventory of all the important things in our home.

Of course, I'm going to use some apps to help.

Nest Egg

$2.99 for iOS devices at Apple App Store

My app of choice for building an inventory is Nest Egg. It’s a powerful tool for storing data about your purchases, new and old, including photos and relevant information like warranty expiration dates.

I love this app for its interface, which is logically and attractively designed.

The app’s main page provides one-touch access to a list of all the household items you've cataloged, a category-by-category list of your items and even a location-based list — for example, whether the items are in your study or bedroom. There is also a pie chart that shows you the number of items you've entered in each category and an estimated value total.

Adding items to the app is easy. You simply enter the ‘‘items’’ menu, tap ‘‘+’’ and then enter all relevant data. Each item’s entry is clearly organized, starting with text boxes for name and description, then parameters like manufacturer, serial number, product category and location in your home.

The app can even use your phone’s camera to scan an item’s bar code, by linking to the free scanning app Pic2shop, which you are prompted to download.

Scanning a bar code like this populates some of the data for you, including a photo in some cases and even an estimated price sourced from online store data.

The app is flexible enough that you can enter your own category types; I had to add ‘‘paintings and photos,’’ for example. Nest Egg can also remind you if a product’s warranty is about to expire, and it can even be used to keep track of items you've lent to someone.

One big criticism is that it can be easy to get lost in the app’s submenus. They all look similar, and you frequently need to double-check the title to see where you are.

MyHome Pro: Home Inventory

$3.99 for Android devices at Google Play

A great alternative to Nest Egg is MyHome Pro: Home Inventory. A very limited free ‘‘Lite’’ edition is available, so you can test it first. The paid app is more utilitarian in design than Nest Egg, but it has many of the same features, like the ability to scan bar codes. The app is just as easy to use and has clear sections to let you add items to an inventory or to browse through existing entries.

As a nice touch, it also lets you specify details of your various insurance policies, including policy numbers and deductible amounts. This sort of detail could be invaluable in case of a burglary, breakage or other home disaster — and you wouldn’t have to scramble through your documents to find the information.

In keeping with its functional design, the user interface of My Home Pro is designed more around drop-down menus and entering lots of text than tapping on cute icons or checking out pie charts. But this straightforwardness does at least make it easy to navigate, although it takes some of the fun out of interacting with the app.

MyStuff2 — Home Inventory and Database

$4.99 for iOS devices at Apple App Store

MyStuff2 — Home Inventory and Database is another good inventory app. The app, like MyHome Pro, has a user interface that’s designed around lists.

Its main page is a list of item categories, like ‘‘electronics’’ or ‘‘video games,’’ with a total that shows how many entries are in each one. Tapping on a category takes you to a page that lists the relevant items, and you can sort this list in a number of ways, like alphabetically or, in the ‘‘books’’ category, by author or genre. Entering the information for each item is a similar process to the other apps mentioned here, and you can scan bar codes to speed up the process.

One warning with these apps: They'll take up a lot of your time if you intend to log every possible detail about all the things you own. I'll admit, though, that there’s a certain geeky pleasure that goes along with the process."

More apps to help you get organized:
Tips to Help with Digital Decluttering
5 Best Apps for Getting and Staying Organized
How to Sell Your Old Phones, Equipment and Gadgets

Following My Own Organizing Advice - Getting My House in Order

  
Yesterday, my husband and I spent the holiday organizing our tax information. It was not too taxing (haha), as my husband had kept up with the filing of receipts. Aren’t I blessed?
 
It was a logical time to sort through our fire-proof safe and condense our important papers, too, as we usually keep our current year’s tax info in the safe. We also have a file for each of us which holds our birth certificates, degrees, Social Security cards, passports, and other information we would not want to lose.

We have a file of important documents for each of our children and for each set of parents. Another file holds our will and marriage license. And I have a file for important documents relating to my business – trademarks, licenses, certificates, etc.

We also copied pertinent credit cards, insurance cards, driver’s licenses, and other cards in our wallets. We each lined our cards on our copier and copied front and back, and placed those copies in each of our files. So now, if our wallets get lost or stolen, we have a copy of each card. A good time to declutter that wallet, too, and get rid of outdated cards.

Even though we had organized our important documents before, we found some items that could be removed, and some that had been removed, used, and needed to be returned. It was helpful just to look over what we had and know where it was.

So if we need to evacuate quickly, we can scoop up those files and know we have the most important information in our hands. We’ve also given our children the code to our safe in the event they need to get to our important data.

Next on my list: putting my password list in my file.

Can your family members find your important information easily? Would you be able to evacuate quickly if necessary? If not, take a little time to consolidate your important documents. It gives such peace of mind!

More on important documents:
Getting Your Affairs in Order
National Preparedness Month – Emergency Kit #8 – Emergency Documents
Get Your House in Order – A Great Wintertime Project

Get Your House in Order - A Great Wintertime Project

This is a sobering yet motivating story I read in the Washington Post by Michelle Singletary about having our lives in order should a tragedy strike. A great wintertime project! 

"Over the past several months, I’ve dealt with a lot of death. 

My youngest brother died in April. My father-in-law died in October, and a friend’s grandmother passed away in November. 

The day after Thanksgiving, a close friend who was more like my sister died in an automobile accident. 

I’d like to share with you what I’ve realized from all this tragedy: Get your house in order. 

 I’m not suggesting that you live in fear of death, but I am asking you to do what my 54-year-old friend, Juanita Ann Waller, did for the people who loved her. She left her personal affairs and her apartment in an awesomely organized manner. 

 I know you’ve heard this advice from me before. I’ve stressed over the years how important it is to have an estate plan. But Juanita’s death has touched me like few others. She was always thinking of her family and friends, and what she left behind is testimony to her thoughtfulness. 

Yes, she had a will, life insurance and the necessary paperwork to take care of her estate. But there was a higher level of organization in her affairs than I’ve ever seen. 

Juanita had a place for everything. She catalogued what was in her file cabinet. She had a composition notebook that detailed what was in each cabinet drawer. As a result, when our mutual friends packed up her belongings, we didn’t have to look through her private papers to be able to label the boxes. 

She kept binders of her awards and accolades, including a letter to her signed by President Obama, protected behind sheets of plastic. She had sent Obama an e-mail saying that she was praying for him, and the White House responded. 

There wasn’t a single junk drawer in her apartment. There were no stacks of papers on her desk threatening to unleash an avalanche of craziness on the floor. Nor did she have bags of papers stuffed in corners or in her closets. 

She didn’t even have a trash can because there wasn’t much waste to throw away. Her closets weren’t overstuffed. Her pantry and refrigerator weren’t overstocked with food that would take months to eat or go to waste. There wasn’t a single item in any room that we could tell went unused for very long. 

My friend could have been the spokeswoman for the simplicity movement, which strives to get people to reduce their consumption and material possessions. Her place was so tidy and uncluttered that I wept. It made me ashamed of my personal living space, my cluttered office and my hoarding of things that long ago should have been tossed or donated. 

 Over the years, I’ve promised myself to get organized. But whenever I clean my office, it’s cluttered again a few weeks later with piles of papers sitting in stacks on the floor. 

Just think about this: If you were to die, how long would it take for people to go through your stuff? How many hours would they have to take off from their jobs to find and organize your personal property? Could they find your will? Where would they look for any instructions on your estate? Have you written down in a secure place the passwords to your computer or phone so friends and family can contact people if you pass away? 

 I wouldn’t characterize Juanita as obsessive with her orderliness. She never lorded it over anyone or criticized us for our clutter. 

 No, Juanita was organized for a purpose. She never wanted to cause confusion. Clutter can contribute to a sense of unease because you can’t easily put your hands on the things you need or the things others might need on your behalf. Every year, Juanita would purge her place of unneeded items, another friend recalled. 

Juanita kept copious notes in her day planner and in notebooks, to remind herself and others, especially me, of things we needed to take care of. This practice gave comfort to her family members who could see their special events or moments documented over the years. No loose paper or sticky notes for her. 

As we were boxing up Juanita’s possessions, we all felt embarrassed, mortified. We, in our abundance, saw a woman who kept only what she needed, knowing it was more than enough. 

We all pledged to spend some time organizing and getting rid of stuff as a remembrance of Juanita, who gave an abundance of hugs. We promised her that we’d get our houses in order." 

More on getting life in order:  
Getting Your Affairs in Order
Choosing Emergency Contacts
National Preparedness Month - Emergency Kit #8 - Emergency Documents

Prepare for the Unexpected - Winterizing Tips

 
As cold weather descends upon us, it's time to winterize and prepare for the unexpected. Frozen pipes, getting stuck in snow, and power failures are just some of the possible difficulties we may find ourselves experiencing.

Last weekend we went without water for two days - not from frozen pipes, but from a glitch with our well pump. So on Saturday, we woke up to no water - without warning. No time to fill bathtubs, no time to prepare! We had some water stored, but not the seven gallons of water we ended up using each day. And that was being extremely frugal with our water for just two of us!

Tip #1 - Store Water and Food

So, needless to say, my first tip is to store up some water. All of it doesn't need to be purchased water. You can fill up cleaned out milk containers for flushing toilets (it takes about a gallon). And of course, you'll need clean water for drinking, bathing and other hygiene needs.

Have food in your pantry or in an emergency location (the basement, for example) that does not require cooking - tuna, canned fruit and veggies, nuts, etc. Occasionally swap out any expiring food for fresh. Keep a can opener, utensils, and disposable dishware on hand, also.

Tip #2 - Stay Connected with the World 

If your electricity goes out, you'll want to make sure you can connect with others.

- Have a land line phone which doesn't require electricity to recharge.

- Get a car charger for your cell phone.

- Purchase a NOAA radio that includes a hand crank which can charge your cell phone and charge the radio. NOAA radios allow you to listen to local weather and emergency warnings on select stations. Keep batteries on hand for that radio.

- Designate a person whom your family members can contact if they can't contact one another. That person can be a liaison between all of you.

Tip #3 - Winterize Your Car

Put a blanket and an extra coat in your car in case you get stranded in cold weather.

Keep some snacks and water in your car. Empty a little water from your water bottles so they don't explode if they freeze.

Keep your car charger for your cell phone handy and accessible.

Have something you can put under your tires if you're stuck in ice or snow. Kitty litter, a carpet remnant, for example. I have reusable grocery bags in my car which should do just fine. Not a fan of kitty litter smell.

Stash some hand and toe warmers in your car. These little packets used by skiers, hikers and hunters are available at Walmart and sports stores and last for hours.

So, as winter approaches, do a little prep work to insure your safety and comfort should the unexpected occur. It will give you peace of mind knowing you're prepared.

More on safety in winter:
Getting Organized for Winter - Your Chimney
Deadly Clutter
Organizing for a Power Failure - Are You Prepared?
National Preparedness Month - Emergency Supplies

 

5 Safety Lessons for Holiday Hosts

 Can't believe Thanksgiving is less than a week away! We're going to be celebrating at our daughter's house, as it's easier on our granddaughter to be at home. Our son-in-law is a gourmet cook, so it should be fabulous. Of course, we'll share with sides and desserts, but haven't decided yet what to bring. Any ideas?

Here's another article on safety while preparing holiday meals: 5 Thanksgiving Safety Lessons for Holiday Hosts by Catherine Jones. She comes from the food service industry and shares from her expertise there.

"It's your turn to host Thanksgiving dinner. Your house is filled with family and friends, many of whom are "helping" you in your suddenly cramped kitchen. There are dishes everywhere, open drawers and cupboards, steam rising from boiling pots, and where did you put that carving knife?

For those who work in food preparation, this chaos is all too familiar. And so are the hazards. So here's some advice from the food service industry to help you and your guests stay injury-free in your kitchen this Thanksgiving-and throughout the year.

The Hazards and Safety Practices of a Busy Kitchen

The food service industry is not the most hazardous, but it does have its dangers. Here's how to handle five common food service hazards that can also be found in many kitchens on holiday weekends.

1. Slips, trips and falls. Dress for cooking with safety in mind. Choose low-heeled, secure shoes with a non-skid sole and an enclosed toe. (A falling measuring cup can inflict as much damage on your toes as a falling hammer if it lands the wrong way.)Don't hurry; take short steps to prevent slips.Pick up trash and food scraps that fall to the floor, and wipe up spills promptly to prevent slipping accidents.

2. Collisions. Be alert for potential collisions with others, especially at doorways and around the stove.When passing someone who may not see you, say, "Behind you."

3. Burns and scalds.   

• Never wear loose clothing or baggy sleeves while cooking.
   
• Don't reach across fryers, stoves and other hot surfaces and materials.


• Use potholders when handling pots.


• Use caution around steam and boiling water. Protect your face and arms when lifting pot lids. When removing the cover from a boiling pot, expose the far side of the pot first, to release steam.


• Never leave oil under heat unattended.
   
• Never overfill a fryer with oil or food.
   
• Cool oil before moving it.
   
• Turn pan handles aside so they don't get bumped or snag on clothing, but keep them clear of other burners.
   
• Before microwaving food, vent the container by lifting the edge of the cover.
   
• Use caution when opening covered containers that have been in the microwave, and open them away from your face.

4. Heat illness. Kitchen workers are at risk for heat illness as well, so drink plenty of water and make sure you take an occasional break from your hot kitchen.

5. Cuts from knives or other sharp kitchen tools.

• Unplug the food processor when loading, emptying or changing blades.
   
• Keep knives sharp. Dull knives require too much force to operate; they can slip and cause cuts.
   
• Use the right knife for the job.
   
• When cutting, slice down and away from your hand and body.
   
• Keep your fingers and thumbs out of the cutting line.
   
• Carry knives with the cutting edge angled slightly away from your body and the tip pointed down.
   
• Don't hand a knife to someone. Instead, place it down on a clean surface and the let the other person pick it up.
   
• Don't place knives near the edge of a countertop.
   
• Don't use a knife while distracted.
   
• If you drop something, let it fall. You can receive serious cuts if you try to catch falling knives or glassware.

Conclusion: It's a lot of work preparing a holiday meal, but it doesn't have to be dangerous. With care and attention, you can stay safe and injury-free, and able to enjoy the blessings of a special meal with your loved ones. Happy Thanksgiving everybody!"



More on Thanksgiving:
Getting Organized for Thanksgiving
Three Steps to Planning Dinner
Pulling Off a Smooth Thanksgiving Meal - Food Handling Safety

Pulling Off a Smooth Thanksgiving Meal - Food Handling Safety

    
As we prepare for holiday meals, we need to organize with safety in mind. I found the following article on food safety. I had not considered some of these suggestions before - they are definitely ones to practice! By putting these tips into practice, you'll help create wonderful memories, not ones that include the emergency room! 

"Thanksgiving is upon us and with it comes the traditional turkey dinner. However, the improper storing, cooking, and serving of roast turkey can lead to the growth of harmful bacteria like salmonella, which can cause foodborne illness. 

The DuPage County Health Department advises consumers that safe food handling of turkey and other holiday foods is essential in preventing foodborne illness. Here are some tips to share with your family for preparing a Thanksgiving bird safely.

• Thaw the frozen turkey in the refrigerator. Allow one day for each five pounds of turkey. A twenty-pound turkey will take about four days to thaw. Hint: Remove neck & giblets from inside the bird as soon as possible to hasten thawing.

• Do not thaw on the kitchen counter. If you do not have time to thaw in the refrigerator, you may thaw it in cold water, provided that the turkey is in a leak-proof packaging, it is submerged, and the water is changed every half-hour. Allow 30 minutes per pound of turkey to thaw in cold water.

• Cook fresh turkeys within two days, thawed ones within four days.

• Wash your hands with hot, soapy water before and after handling raw poultry. Wash all knives, cutting boards and utensils also after using for raw poultry.

• Read and follow the cooking directions on the label. Cook turkey until it is done (165°F). Do not slow cook overnight at low temperatures or partially cook. Some turkeys come with pop-up thermometers. They are to be used only as a guide to doneness. Take the temperature with a meat thermometer to be sure the temperature is over 165°F.

• Stuffing should not be prepared a day ahead and the turkey should not be stuffed until ready to cook. A quicker, safer method is to cook the stuffing separately in a casserole, using some of the pan juices to flavor and moisten the stuffing.

• Eat the meal as soon as it is prepared. Do not leave leftovers out on the counter or table after dinner. Cut the meat off the bones and put it in shallow containers in the refrigerator.

• Reheat all leftovers to 165°F. (Use your meat thermometer.) Gravy should be brought to a rolling boil."

Source: DuPage Health 


More on Thanksgiving:  
Planning Thankfulness into Your Thanksgiving Celebration  
Getting Organized for Thanksgiving  
Planning Ahead for Thanksgiving

Safe, Space-Saving Storage for Hair Appliances

  
I recently found a great storage solution for small (or any!) bathrooms: The Polder® Style Station Hair Care Storage at Bed, Bath and Beyond. For only $19.99, it provides a safe place to store hot hair tools while they're cooling. As a former foster parent for a houseful of teenage girls, this looks like a no-brainer to me! All the reviews scored 5 stars.

Here's BBB's description:

"In a sleek, handsome design, this style station offers a unique solution to all hair-styling-implement storage and organization needs. It can hang on a towel bar or towel hook, or you can even store it in a drawer, overhead cabinet or under the vanity sink.

Styling station safely stores up to three implements: dryers, curling irons and straighteners. Or, you can use one of the three separate compartments to keep brushes and/or combs conveniently at-hand.

With its stainless steel mesh body and internal silicone base-insulator, even hot tools can be safely stored immediately after use. Great for keeping unruly electrical cords organized in the split compartments in the rear."

Great idea, don't you agree?

More on bathroom storage:
Some of My Favorite Organizing Products - Tall Laundry Hampers
Clever Bathroom Organizing Ideas from Martha Stewart
Magnetic Paint - An Innovative Space Saver!

Clever Event - Shredding, Tax Advice and Food Bank Donations

        
Someone in Oro Valley, Arizona had a great idea: combining shredding with tax advice and providing an opportunity to donate to the local food bank. Here's what they're doing:   

"Get rid of old documents safely at a free community shredding event Saturday, Nov. 10.  It will be held from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. at Oro Valley Marketplace, at Oracle Road and Tangerine.

Tax professionals from the Southern Arizona Chapter of Enrolled Agents (SACEA) will provide information on how long to keep tax records, as well as year-end tax planning tips and how to save money with Arizona tax credits.

Shredding will be done by Shred-It Arizona for free, but a suggested minimum donation of $5 per box and/or three cans of food to the Marana Community Food Bank is requested. The Food Bank will have representatives at the shedding event to receive donations of money and canned goods.  Cash donations may qualify for a “dollar-for-dollar” tax credit."

Why not organize such an event in your community?

More on shredding and taxes:

Some of My Favorite Organizing Products - My Heavy Duty Shredder

National Simplify Your Life Week - 5 Simple Tips

Color-Coded Taxes

Advocating for Your Child's Health - Organizing Your Child's Medical Records

    
Michelle King Robson of EmpowHer wrote the following article for Fox News on how to keep on top of your child's medical records. Great resource!

"As a parent, you can be the most important factor in helping your children stay healthy. Your knowledge of what is normal for your child and your intuition when something doesn’t seem right are key factors in advocating for your child’s health.  So what can you do to help yourself be a better advocate?  I say start by keeping really good records.

I think everyone – men, women and children – should have a binder to hold all of their medical information.  It’s an invaluable resource to help you track back to the cause if something goes wrong with your health.  You can read more about my binder system on EmpowHER.com.

The best time to start your baby’s binder is as soon as you know you are expecting.  Journal the stages of your pregnancy and make note of everything – ordinary or not.  If you have any tests done – like an amniocentesis – make sure you get the results and include them in the binder.  Include all the details of the birth and don’t forget to record your baby’s blood type.  If you have a video or pictures of the birth, put them in as well.  

If you’re having trouble getting started, there are a variety of baby books – such as My Baby Trakker – that include space to record everything from your pregnancy, baby’s birth and beyond.  The website myphr.com also has some great resources including a free form you can print out for your child’s binder to help you start getting organized.

You need this information to help you take care of your child’s health. But the binder can also be a wonderful gift that you are putting together now to share with your child when he or she grows up. I know from personal experience how much kids love to look back at the moment they were born.  And we all love to read about ourselves. So include the fun and wacky details like how much weight mom gained and how long labor lasted.  Your kids will thank you later, plus you’ll have the details recorded if anything shows up in your child’s health that could be tracked back to the moment of delivery or before.

If you already have children, you probably have a pediatrician you like.  But if you are having your first child, don’t wait until the baby is born to look for a doctor.  Finding the right pediatrician is one of the most important things you can do for your child’s health.  Start by talking to friends and family in your area who have young children for recommendations.

Once you find a promising candidate, schedule your first appointment so you can meet with the doctor before your baby is born.  That first appointment gives you a chance to see if you feel a rapport with the doctor. Think about the doctor’s communication style, office setup, hours and backup plan in case he or she is not available.  Be sure to talk about after-hours care and what help will be available to you if your baby gets sick in the middle of the night.

Every parent knows that a good pediatrician is worth his or her weight in gold, which means the good ones may be booked up months in advance.  So don’t put off making that first appointment.  Once your baby is born, make sure you always follow through on recommended well-baby visits. And of course, keep all the records from every appointment and add them to your child’s health binder.

If you didn’t start keeping your baby’s records early on, don’t give up. Any information you can pull together now can be an asset to your child’s healthcare in the future. Ask the pediatrician’s office for copies of your child’s records.  You might have to pay a little bit for the copies, but you will gain the security of knowing those details are at your fingertips any time you need them.  You can’t always count on a doctor’s office to be open when you need to see the records.  And if you or your doctor decides to relocate, you won’t be left without access to information you need.

As parents, we love to document all the milestones of our children’s lives.  Your child’s health binder is another important layer to that documentation.  And it is an excellent tool to help you be the best possible advocate for your child’s health."


More on organizing for your health:

How Being Medically Organized Could Save Your Life

National Preparedness Month - Emergency Kit #8 - Emergency Documents

How Quickly Could You Evacuate?

 

Wireless Chargers Coming to Cars - Will Cut the Clutter

     
We are having so much fun being mesmerized by our new granddaughter! I get to babysit this afternoon while our son-in-law defends his doctoral dissertation in astro-physics. Lots happening in our lives!! On to our blog for today:

Tired of all the tangled cords in your car needed to charge your phone and other devices? Chrysler has the cord-free answer! Other car companies are sure to follow. Here's the scoop from Driver's Seat's Jonathan Welsh:


"Chrysler said it will offer a system on the coming Dodge Dart compact car for charging certain personal electronics without using a charge cord. The wireless charging option promises to cut the clutter and tangled wires that often result when drivers use dashboard power outlets to charge their devices. 

The car maker said the new feature will allow iPhone, Blackberry, MP3 Players and Droid devices to charge without being plugged in. Instead, the driver places the phone in the “power bin” in the center console. Inside the bin is a charging grid you activate by placing the phone on it. A special case designed to fit a number of phones is necessary for the system to work. 

Wireless charging will be available first on the 2013 Dodge Dart, which is scheduled to arrive in showrooms in the second quarter of this year. The system comes from Chrysler’s Mopar parts division and costs $199.99 plus installation.

Even if you don’t plan to buy a Dart or any other Chrysler product, the introduction of the new charging system means it will soon be available across the industry. Some companies are also working on similar grid systems which, embedded in the garage floor, would allow drivers to charge their electric cars without a plug."

More on decluttering cars:

Clutter in Your Car = Danger

Spring Cleaning the Car

More Statistics on Clutter

 

Deadly Clutter

        
It has begun. News stories about people dying in house fires because they couldn't be found amidst their clutter.

I've already seen several such articles this year. One firefighter in the recent Portland, Oregon blaze says that one in four of the fires he works is due to uncontrolled clutter.

In the winter we have fireplaces and heaters going. If there's abundant clutter, this combination can be literally deadly.

If you know someone who is struggling with dangerous clutter, at least help him or her remove clutter from around heat sources. Cleaning up the clutter is a monumental job, but this would be a beginning. Clutter is not worth a life!

More on decluttering:
Three Steps to Decluttering (print)
Three Steps to Decluttering (kindle) 
Don't Let Clutter Create a Fire Hazard
 

Organizing for an Evacuation

   
If your smoke alarm went off, and you needed to evacuate quickly, you wouldn't have time to go through your house and collect your purse or wallet, cell phone, laptop, car keys, etc.

Not that I want to be gruesome, but the thought of losing everything in a fire is bad enough. But what if you had to go through the agony of getting a new driver's license, a new insurance card, new credit cards, a new cell phone, etc. If you had them all in one place, and you could grab it all as you leave, at least you wouldn't have that headache to contend with.

At night when I go to bed, I've started putting my laptop in my large bag that I carry every day. It holds my wallet and car keys already. I place it next to my bed. And my cell phone is plugged in next to my bed. So if we have an emergency, I just need to grab my phone and bag. 

Just something to think about.


More on evacuating:

How Quickly Could You Evacuate?

National Preparedness Month - Evacuation Plan

National Preparedness Month - Making a Plan

 

Organizing for a Power Failure - Are You Prepared?

       
This is the season for power outages (if winter ever shows up!!) - snow and ice and high winds. We had high winds recently with a forecast of power failure. So I decided to make sure we were ready. My brother first told me about power failure lights - lights plugged in throughout your home that activate if the power goes out. 

Yes, flashlights are good. But these lights illuminate a whole room for up to six hours. It makes a scary situation not so scary.

These are not night lights and do not shine unless the power goes out. I put one in the living room and one in the upstairs hallway, so we'll be able to navigate safely. 

 I found my Brinks Emergency Power Failure Lights at Walmart for about $10 each. My brother found his at Sam's. I'm not sure of the brand he bought.

Just one more thing to put your mind at ease in an emergency.

More on emergency preparedness:

National Preparedness Month - Emergency Supplies

National Preparedness Month - Emergency Kit #1: NOAA Radio

National Preparedness Month - Emergency Supplies

 

Don't Fall Prey to these Thieving Tricks - Plan for Your Security

A couple of stories to learn from:

I recently heard a story of someone's house being cleaned out after their car was broken into. Their GPS and garage door opener were stolen. The GPS had "home" listed as a destination. The thieves drove to their home, opened the garage door and loaded their truck with their victims' valuables.

The moral of the story: don't put "home" on your GPS. Put a nearby location (a gas station or other store) so you can find your way home, if you need to.

The second story was of a woman whose purse was stolen. The thief texted her husband using her cell phone and asked for the pin number for their bank account. "Hubby" was listed on her phone. Her husband texted the pin number and the thief used her ATM card and cleaned out their bank account. 

The moral to this story: don't put your relationship to the person on your contact list or make sure to call back if your spouse texts to get a pin number.

Pretty sneaky tricks, huh? But easy to happen if we don't pay attention.

More on safety:

While Spring Cleaning, Update Insurance Photos

Organize Your Smart Phone for Safety

An Emergency Entry on Your Cell Phone

 

Some of My Favorite Organizing Products - My Heavy Duty Shredder

  
We always have good intentions of keeping up with our shredding, don't we? But it gets out of hand and we overheat our shredders (or catch them on fire!!) when we finally get around to shredding.  

One of the best investments we've made is the Royal MC14MX 14 Sheet Microcut Paper Shredder. It is a heavy duty shredder which will shred 14 sheets of paper at a time.

I don't know about you, but we get a lot of paper. Even though we've joined LifeLock, which removes us from credit card ads, etc., we still manage to have a considerable amount of mail and documents to be shredded.

What I like about our shredder:
- it's heavy duty - if it is getting close to overheating, which is rare, it stops
- the shredding basket holds 10 gallons of paper
- it microcuts, which means it shreds into one-fourth the size of normal shreds
- it shreds 14 sheets of paper at the same time
- staples, DVDs, CDs and credit cards can be shredded
- auto stop and start
- it makes the job of shredding shorter and safer.

I can't remember where we bought ours, but I saw it on several online sites at varying prices. And there are similar products at local office supply stores. It's an investment, but in my opinion, well worth it if you do a lot of shredding. 

More on my favorite organizing products:

Some of My Favorite Organizing Products - The Epson 1500 Scanner

Some of My Favorite Organizing Products - Cabinet Expanders

Some of My Favorite Organizing Products - Tall Laundry Hampers