Join me on Friday at the Westport Road Church of Christ in Louisville, KY for my all-time favorite organizing presentation for the Mom2Mom Kick-Off Event!

What: “Get Organized, Mom!” Seminar
When: Friday, August 26th @ 6:30pm
Where: Westport Road Church of Christ, Louisville, KY [ map ]
Cost: Free!

Being a mom is the single most challenging (and most rewarding) 24-hours-a-day, 7-days-a-week, 365-days-a-year, entire-lifetime experience. Getting some help along the way as your children grow—infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and beyond—is simply the smart thing to do!

I will share plenty of practical tips and ideas including how to:

• keep track of everyone’s schedule,
• manage the influx of household paperwork,
• store clothes, toys, art supplies, and sports gear,
• stay organized as the needs of your family change, and
• cultivate your marriage and personal interests (guilt-free).

Bonus: There will be plenty of door prizes, handouts, and ideas to take home!

I can hardly wait! Hope to see you there!

Photo Source: krossbow

Along with any major transition in life comes a time of self-reflection and soul searching, especially when caught off-guard by unwanted or unplanned change. So, needless to say, with all the changes that have been going on in both my personal and professional lives over the last few years, my brain has been pretty darn busy! 😉

And, this month has been no exception. I’ve been back at it again… full force… trying to determine exactly what my big picture looks like. Particularly for my business. I’ve found myself so consumed by the precise details of the ‘how’ that I’ve really lost focus of the ‘why’ (as in why I’m ‘doing this’ in the first place)!

Indeed, I am a professional organizer. But, I am not here to help you ‘get organized’!

(Yes… you did read that correctly!)

I am here to transform the way you live. I am here to ask the tough questions. I am here to help you refocus on your big picture. I am here to challenge your thinking. I am here to help you make choices that are right for you. I am here to ensure that what you own does not own you. I am an agent of change… a catalyst of sorts…

So, let me ask that question again… What does your big picture look like?

Photo Source: Will Lion

This whole semi-new “single-mom-trying-to-turn-her-lifelong-passion-into-a-viable-full-time-business-and-pinch-pennies-at-the-same-time” thing is definitely something that I could do without! But, as one of my good friends always says, “It is what it is…” (and it has been quite an adjustment, that’s for sure!)

How interesting (…major understatement…) it has been to be forced to choose which of life’s necessities should be paid for this month. Until now, I never fully realized just how many things I have always taken for granted…

Anyway, in light of these unplanned changes in my life and family and home over the past year-and-a-half, I now meticulously scrutinize every single expenditure like I never have before. And, I have come to realize that, aside from the love of family and friends, what Amanda and I truly need boils down to this: car, apartment, electricity, water, medications, and groceries. So, that’s where the money goes right now… absolute necessities only!

Sure, all the “no’s” that Amanda gets from me are tough (on both of us!), but I have no doubt that the time and attention and love that I am investing in my daughter today will reap far greater rewards in the years to come!

So, what about you? Are there things in your life that you could do without? I challenge you to take a moment today to reflect on the true essentials in your life, and I dare you to let go of the rest!

As any parent knows, adding a child to the family can quickly and drastically alter the environment of any home. From infants to teens, kids come with a lot of “stuff.” What are you supposed to do with it all? Here are a few simple tips to help you teach your children how to get organized and stay that way…

• Bins, boxes, and baskets kept on lower shelves make it easy for your child to put away toys. Label storage containers with both pictures (for young children) and printed words (for preschoolers).
• Better yet, have your child draw pictures for the labels. Or, you can cut out the toys’ logos straight from the original boxes, take photos of the toys, or print the logos directly from the manufacturer websites. And, if your storage containers have handles, luggage tags are a quick and easy way to attach the finished labels.
• Before birthdays, Christmas, or other special gift-giving occasions, sit down with your child to sort through toys together. Guide your child through the decision-making process of which toys to keep and which to donate in order to make room for new toys received as gifts. In fact, take your child with you to the donation center.
• As you fold laundry, separate your child’s clothes into complete outfits. Store them individually in gallon-sized zip-top bags. Keep one bagged outfit in the car, just in case. And, when you travel, squeeze any extra air out of the bags to make packing the suitcase a breeze.
• Provide low hooks for your child to hang up sweaters, pajamas, jackets, book bags, etc. Before bedtime, check the weather forecast with your child. Then, have your child select an appropriate outfit to wear the next day.

Photo Source: freefotouk