The Grace Christian Center Mothers of Preschoolers (GCC MOPS) Children’s Consignment Sale is right around the corner!

Stop by on Saturday, March 15th between 8:30am and 2:00pm to find some great deals on gently used children’s items including outdoor play equipment, cribs, strollers, toys, clothing, and more! For more details, visit www.gccmopsconsignment.com. Hope to see you there!

Update: The MOPS Sale has adopted a new name… Lilybugs! Visit www.lilybugskids.com for current sale information.

Woohoo! Thanks to a referral made by Candace Steyn, I have been invited to conduct an organizing presentation for the Northeast Christian Church MOPS group in Lexington, KY!

What: “Get Organized, Mom!” Seminar
When: Thursday, February 21st @ 9:00am
Where: Northeast Christian Church, Lexington, KY
Cost: Free!

The seminar will include tips on how to get (and stay) organized with children through all the stages—infancy, toddlerhood, preschool years, and beyond.

I will share plenty of practical tips and ideas including:

• managing schedules,
• maintaining accurate records,
• storing clothes, toys, and other children’s items,
• travelling with children (from shopping trips to long vacations), and
• cultivating your marriage and personal interests.

In addition, the MOPS moms have been asked to bring photos of the most cluttered (i.e., least organized) rooms of their homes. During the meeting, without knowing which photo belongs to which mom, each woman will vote on which room she believes should be deemed the “messiest.”

At the end of the organizing presentation, all votes cast will be tallied and the “messiest room” award winner will receive a 1-hour organizing gift certificate (a $40 value)! Plus, there will be plenty of free samples, door prizes, handouts, and ideas to take home!

I can hardly wait! Hope to see you there!

BTW: If you join us at the MOPS meeting, please stick around after the presentation to chat with me. Plus, mention my blog for a special bonus!

Wow! How exciting! I have been invited to conduct a seminar at Babies “R” Us for moms-to-be and new moms!

What: “Organizing 101 for New Moms” Seminar
When: Tuesday, February 26th @ 7:00pm
Where: Babies “R” Us, Lexington, KY
Cost: Free!

The seminar will include tips on how to prepare for baby’s arrival, how to manage life with a newborn (and all the accompanying stuff), and how to adjust as baby grows and life continues to change.

I will share plenty of practical tips and ideas including:

• managing schedules,
• maintaining accurate records,
• storing clothes, toys, and other baby items,
• travelling with a little one (from shopping trips to long vacations), and
• cultivating your marriage and personal interests.

There will be plenty of free samples, door prizes, handouts, and ideas to take home! I can hardly wait! Hope to see you there!

BTW: If you attend the seminar, please stick around after the presentation to chat with me. Plus, mention my blog for a special bonus!

Courtesy of Nina Restieri, creator of momAgenda and mom of four:

What if, in the last week before Christmas, you decided to cast off all the stuffy responsibilities, and commit to trading tedious obligation for carefree celebration? Intrigued? For a truly joyful holiday finale…

• First, go through your day planner and cross out anything that looks more like a chore than a chance to celebrate. Spend the time with your family instead. Holding your children close and feeling the sloppy kisses bestowed reminds you that the best holiday spirits are found at home.
• Second, instead of worrying about how you’ll look in this year’s trendy holiday dress, skip the style-slaving and opt for something soft or sparkly instead: a snuggly cashmere scarf or a shimmery pair of heels will have you feeling festive in no time.
• Next, forget about turbo-cleaning before the out-of-town guests arrive, and focus instead on adding a few welcoming touches to make them feel right at home: orange-scented incense on the mantle, extra-luxurious towels, a cozy fleece blanket. For such elf-like touches, your guests will surely forgive the fairy layer of dust on the window sill, or the broken toy from last year’s booty adorning the floor.
• Remember, sometimes the best Christmas present you can give your family doesn’t come in the intricate Martha-Stewart packaging your husband and kids could care less about anyway. The gift they’ll truly cherish is a mother who is well-rested, beaming, and has enough energy to get down on the floor and play with their new toys. On that note, why not give yourself an extra hour of beauty rest to compensate for all the busyness of the last few months? You can thank us when the holiday pictures arrive.