A place for your cell phone/ipod/camera chargers

Now that we have so many little devices that must be charged, there is a solution to the clutter it creates! Charger valets hold your devices while they are charging.

You can find a black or brown faux leather valet that charges four devices from www.Spacesavers.com for $29.99: http://www.spacesavers.com/cellphone.html.

Brookstone sells a wooden valet for $75 that holds six: http://www.brookstone.com/store/product.asp?pid=543447&wid=100&cid=59&sid=624&search_type=subcategory&prodtemp=t2&cm_re=A_PRC*100*624_543447

Replace Your Computers every Four Years

David Carnoy, executive editor of CNET, a technology review web site, recommends replacing your desk top and laptop computers every four years unless your use is at a very basic level. In that amount of time, technology advances will dictate a hefty upgrade. Even if you are savvy enough to upgrade your old computer yourself, it will likely cost as much to do it as it would to buy a new computer. The same is true with laptops, which are much more complicated than desk tops to upgrade. From When to Replace Common Household Items by Kelly B. Grant, www.smartmoney.com.

Five causes to disorganization

Organizational expert Vicki Norris from HGTV (www.HGTV.com) believes that there are five underlying causes that might explain why people are diorganized:

Situational Disorganization: A precipitating life event that causes disruption and disorganization in your life.

Habitual Disorganization: Bad habits that have developed over time.

Historical Disorganization: When your upbringing (either orderly or disorderly) impacts your state of order.

Social Disorganization: When you are influenced by your social world to create and exist with disorder as a way of life.

Chronic Disorganization: When we live in a chronic, debilitating state of disorder even though we have tried and failed to help ourselves.

Football, Middle School and Time Management

Braylon Edwards, wide receiver for the Cleveland Browns, gave this advice to middle school students at Nordonia Middle School in Northfield, Ohio yesterday:

"If there is anything you want to do, you can do it. No ifs, ands or buts about it. You can always make time to do what you want to do. It's called time management. That's the biggest thing I learned in college.

I'm not lucky. I worked hard to be here. But nobody wants to see that -- that I didn't smoke, drink or do drugs in high school, that I got good grades, that I even put females and social life on hold. But I'm having my fun NOW. I just got back from Puerto Rico from doing a photo shoot. Anything is possible, achievable and doable for you. As long as you use your time wisely.''

Isn't that motivating?

For the entire article in the Akron Beacon Journal see http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/news/17199491.htm?source=yahoodist&content=ohi_news

Keeping cats off furniture

As I was organizing a client's home, she told me how she keeps her cat off the back of her couch while she is at work: she places foil over the back of the couch. For some reason, it keeps the cat away!

Great info for college students, their parents, and college professors

I have recently beeen made aware of a great resource for college students, their parents and college professors: www.campuscalm.com. Maria Pascucci provides tons of insight from her own experience, as well as drawing on experts in the field. Her goal is to help you be your best you in college - emotionally, physically, vocationally and more! She has a bi-weekly ezine which continually feeds you with valuable college-related information. Check it out today!

Storing seasonal shoes

Top 10 organizing tips from HGTV viewers: "I store out-of-season shoes in shoe boxes in the top of my closet. I write a description of the summer shoe on one end of the box for storage during winter. I use the same box for my winter shoes and write the description on the other end." - Diane Walton. For the other nine organizing tips from HGTV viewers, click on the link below.
http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/ah_organizing_other/article/0,1801,HGTV_3138_4487107,00.html

Wrapping Up Today So Tomorrow Runs Smoothly

At the end of the day, take stock of what you have accomplished and celebrate! Are there unfinished jobs that need to go onto tomorrow's list? Think through other tasks that need to be accomplished tomorrow. Now, prioritize your list so you are ready to go when you start your day!

Easy microwave cleaning

My daughter shared with me a great tip: if your microwave gets cooked-on-food on the walls or ceiling, place a bowl of water in it and run it for 5 minutes on high. The steam will soften those hard- to-clean spots.

Intentional Summer

Instead of dreading the expanse of summer, be intentional! Consider how you might spend some time with your child each week to strengthen your relationship. Are there topics you need to talk about? Is there a project or challenge you'd like to tackle together? Is there a memory you'd like to make? A trip you'd like to take? Activities you want to do together? Ask your child for his/her ideas or requests.

In addition, think through areas in which you'd like to see growth in your child: physically, mentally, spiritual, socially, finanacially, and functionally. Growth produces a positive self-image. Sit down with your child and discuss what they'd like to accomplish over the summer in the following areas. Caution: know your child - don't impose a 10-ring circus summer on a 3-ring circus child. Provide rewards and celebrations as goals or milestones are met.

- Physical goals might include learning how to: brush teeth, floss teeth, ride a bike or tricycle, swing, swim, skate, run a mile, play a sport, read nutritional information, appy make-up, determin what colors look best on him/her, take care of his/her skin, do a manicure or pedicure, build muscles, dance, etc.

- Mental goals might include: learning or reviewing math facts, learning a foreign language, investigating a subject of interest, exploring a new place, reviewing difficult school subjects, reading books, learning how to read, creating a collection, learning colors, learning shapes, preparing for ACT or SAT exams, etc.

- Spiritual goals might include: learning about forgiveness, internalizing Biblical character qualities, practicing extending grace and mercy toward others, finding a place of worship that fits you, establishing an evening routine of reading age-appropriate Bible stories and praying together, learning to be grateful, memorizing verses, attending a vacation Bible school, doing a Bible study, attending a Bible study, attending a youth group, planning a family devotional with activities, begin a prayer journal, pray, etc.

- Social goals might include: learning to share, manners, how to ask in an appropriate voice versus whining, learning to compromise and negotiate, how to express anger appropriately, how to carry on a conversation, balanced assertiveness, kindness, volunteerism, etc.

- Financial goals might include: learning to save, resisting impulse purchasing, managing an allowance, budgeting, tithing, starting a small business, being generous, opening a checking/savings account, balance a checkbook, use an ATM card, etc.

- Functional goals might include learning how to: get dressed, put away toys, set a table, hammer a nail, build something, sew, iron, sew on a button/mend, change a tire, pump gas, do laundry, remove stains, do cleaning chores, etc.

When to toss spices

Kelli B. Grant from www.SmartMoney.com says to replace your spices after one year. She quotes Tina Ujlaki, executive food editor for Food and Wine magazine (www.foodandwine.com): "Dried herbs and spices lose their flavor over time. Whole spices, such as star anise or coriander, may last slightly longer — less of the spice is exposed to the air. To tell if your spices are past their prime, open the bag or jar and take a whiff. "If there's no scent, there won't be any flavor."

5 things to do with 5 minutes

Nice suggestions for tasks you can do in five minutes from Joni Hilton in Woman's Day on 3/6/07 (www.Womansday.com):

1. Water your plants. It’s easy to forget, so they probably need a drink.

2. Turn over sofa cushions so they’ll wear evenly.

3. Wash the dryer’s lint trap to remove the buildup from fabric softener sheets. Water should run right through the screen, but softener buildup may prevent that.

4. Thumb through you recipes and choose a new one to try this week.

5. Tuck love notes under your kids’ or husband’s pillow. Include a favorite treat or toy. Bring back the element of surprise!

Cleaning burner pans

When you need to run your dishwasher, but you're feeling guilty because it isn't quite full, fill it up with the burner pans from your stove. You'll feel great because you're being efficient and because you're doing some cleaning with no effort!

Tickler files

Tickler files are files that tickle your memory, reminding you that you need to do something. The typical tickler file consists of 31 files, hanging files, or slots (in an expandable, wooden or plastic tickler file), each for a day of the month. Place items in the file that represents when action must be taken. For example, if your electric bill is due on the 15th of the month, place the bill in file #8. On the 8th of the month, you take out items in that file and deal with them. That gives your bill a week to arrive at its destination on time.

For those of you who do not have numerous items-that-need-attention throughout the month, four tickler files may suffice - one for each week of the month. Designate a particular day of the week to handle those items.

The beauty of tickler files is that your items-that-need-attention have a place to live until action needs to be taken. This eliminates piles on your desk, lost bills, and and late charges!

Sorting Mail

When you sort your mail, do it near your trash can, paper recycling container, and shredder. Shred anything that has sensitive information (your social security number, credit card applications, etc.). Look through ads of interest to you and toss the rest into your recycling bin. Take a few seconds to go through ads you want to keep. Circle items you may want to purchase, so you don't waste time having to search through the ad again. Place coupons or ads in the place where you keep them, or put them in your car. Anything that can't go into recycling or be shredded goes into the trash. What's left is mail you need to keep - bills, letters, invitations, etc. Read mail and determine if you need to keep it. Place bills, letters to answer, etc. in your tickler file. More about tickler files next time!