The Art of Family Management!
March 19, 2010 by Nikki · Leave a Comment
As many of you may have already seen on the TCO website, facebook, and/or Twitter, I am very excited to introduce the coaching series, “The Art of Family Management”. This teleseminar is going to be lead by myself and Susan Heid of the Confident Mom.
I first met Susan through Twitter. I had signed up for one of her other teleseminars on ScreamFree parenting. It was such a great learning experience for me. The class was very informative and the best part was talking with other mom’s about our experiences. We all helped each other. It was the first time I have ever read a parenting book cover to cover. 
Susan and I found out after the teleseminar that we had a lot in common. Our businesses were similiar in nature and she had asked me to be a guest blogger on her site. After more discussion, we decided to collaborate on a coaching series we could conduct together as a parent coach and an organizing coach. We are both mom’s, we both know and understand the challenges that families face everyday. We knew with our different expertise, we could offer a great service to our clients and from these conversations the Art of Family Management was born!
The study group will be based off of the book, ” The Busy Mom’s Guide To a Happy, Organized Home” By Kathy Peel. Susan is certified Family Manager Coach from Kathy Peel. We will be offering the study guide based on the book along with lots of “extras” that we feel each mom can benefit from.
There are seven major topics we will be discussing: 
- Time Management and Scheduling
- Home and Property Management – Including excellent organizing tips and tricks
- Food Department – Grocery and Meal Planning
- Family Relationships / Parenting
- Finances
- Best ways to organize and plan for Special Events
- Managing Yourself – taking care of you
What is so great about this teleseminar is you are getting two experts, one in organizing and one in parenting. You get to talk with other mom’s about their challenges and their solutions. We all can learn so much from each other. This is a great opportunity to find support, encouragement, and practical solutions to your everyday problems.
Because of the intimacy of the group, this session is open to only 12 mom’s.
The introductory session is on Monday, March 29th at 6:30pm (PDT).
The coaching series will be held on Mondays, April 12th-May 3rd at 6:30pm (PDT) (4 Monday Sessions, 75 minutes each)
The best part…. The series is over the telephone, No sitters or Driving!
For more information about the teleseminar and to register for the series, click here.
I hope to see you there… This is a fabulous learning opportunity, and I am so thrilled to be a part of a great service!
Happy Organizing!
Guest Post For “The Confident Mom”
March 15, 2010 by Nikki · Leave a Comment
This month for The Confident Mom, it’s all about “Spring Organizing”!
I love the change of seasons, it gives us just the motivation we are looking for. And no better time than Spring to get your home in order! The days are longer and hopefully depending on where you are located, the weather will be a little warmer!
In this post, you will find my 5 top tips in getting organized this Spring!
Enjoy! Happy Spring! Happy Organizing!
Guest Blog Post at The Work at Home Woman!
March 2, 2010 by Nikki · Leave a Comment
Recently, I had the privilege to write a guest blog post for, The Work at Home Woman. This is a great website and I highly recommend you check it out! 
The article, Get Your Home Office Organized, is about giving your desk a makeover. Something we all should do from time to time! Just this past weekend, my husband and I cleared our office and recycled 2 bags of paper! No matter how organized you are, you always need to do a purging session every now and then!
When you get busy, and in our case we both share the same space, you must maintain the organization by taking time to file, purge, and rework your system. It makes a difference. It felt so good to get the office back to working for us and not against us!
Happy Organizing!
Your Main Entrance
February 26, 2010 by Nikki · 3 Comments
There are places in our homes that can become what I call “dumping grounds”. Things get put there. It can be anything; keys, papers, toys, books, it doesn’t really matter. If there is room, the item gets placed there.
An entryway, can become a dumping ground very easily. They can become piled with mail, brochures left on the door, coats, shoes, you name it and it could be there.
This is what “Clear Your Clutter” by Karen Kingston says about the entryway:
“In Feng Shui, the main entrance to your home represents your approach to the world as you look out, and your approach to your own life as you look in. Just as people enter and leave through this doorway, so too does energy. If the area is cluttered in any way it can restrict the flow of opportunities coming to you and hinder your progress in the world. This is a very important area to keep clear. Clutter near the main entrance creates unnecessary struggle in your life.”
Now this gives your clutter at the entryway a lot of deeper meaning than just clutter. I agree with the importance of keeping it clear. The entryway is the first impression of your home to your visitors. But more importantly it is how you are welcomed everyday into your home. Coming home to a space which is not cluttered is more relaxing than not. It can set the tone of how the rest of your evening is going to go.
Here are simple ways on keeping the area clear:
1) Evaluate your space. What do you like about it, what troubles you? Ask yourself what first impression are you giving off to guests? When you enter, do you feel welcomed? If not, then what changes can you make? Maybe adding a table by the front door or a picture on the wall that you enjoy.
2) If you have a table by the front door, make sure to designate it’s purpose. Do not allow things that do not belong there. If it’s purpose is to hold keys and wallets, then place a small decorative bowl or basket on the table.
3) Place a large vase with flowers or decorative pieces on the table to prevent piles from getting stacked. If something is already there that is suppose to be, the likelihood of the other stuff staying is not as good.
4) If you have a lot of coats and shoes, decide what the right amount is in the space to eliminate it from getting too crowded. Only put in the space the items you wear on a daily basis, everything else should be put somewhere else.
Happy Organizing!
What is Clutter?
February 22, 2010 by Nikki · Leave a Comment
The book I will be talking about this week is called, Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui, by Karen Kingston. For the next 3 posts, I will be discussing certain aspects of the book. I will share what is written and then you give some of my own insight.
Clutter. It’s a very common term in the organizing world. We talk about clearing clutter, conquering clutter, cut the clutter and so on. If you have ever studied Feng Shui, you will see the word clutter come up many times. What is clutter? What does this term mean to you?
In the dictionary clutter is defined:
clutter |ˈklətər| noun a collection of things lying about in an untidy mass : the attic is full of clutter.• [in sing. ] an untidy state : the room was in a clutter of smelly untidiness. verb [ trans. ]crowd (something) untidily; fill with clutter : his apartment was cluttered with paintings and antiques | luggage cluttered up the hallway. ORIGIN late Middle English (as a verb): variant of dialect clotter [to clot,] influenced by cluster and clatter .
In Clear Your Clutter, there are four categories of clutter:
1) Things you do not use or love
2) Things that are untidy or disorganized
3) Too many things in too small a place
4) Anything unfinished
I really like how she has defined these categories. They make sense to me. These categories can be a great guide for you when deciding if something should stay or go. Do your things belong in one of these categories?
I am a true believer that for everything there is a place. I believe we should only keep what we love. You can have too many items in a small space, and your home is much easier to organize and stay organized if you have less stuff.
I have said this before and is worth repeating, organization is not about perfection. It looks different for everyone. What I might think is clutter is not for someone else. They love what they have and have a place for it, then it works.
“Clutter” is not a word I use often. I never want to give the impression the items you own are of no value and should be thrown away. Sometimes the word can feel that way. When we are always talking about getting rid of it, clearing it, what have you. If the items are something you love and bring joy into your life then it’s not about getting rid of it, as much as it is finding a home for it that works.
My goal for clients is to help them make tough decisions. To help them build systems to maintain their organization and ultimately live in a happy and peaceful space.
With using these 4 categories, what can you do to “clear your clutter”? Do you relate to one of the 4 categories more than the others? How do you define clutter?
Next Post: How To Let Go!
Happy Organizing!
A Few of My Favorite Things!
February 12, 2010 by Nikki · 1 Comment
To keep with the theme of the kitchen, I have compiled a few of my favorite kitchen organizing products. All of these items can be found at the Container Store. There a lot of great products out there and this is only a sample… What are some of your favorite things? 
1. Junk Drawer Organizer – A must for keeping your junk drawer contained. It’s a great way to find what you need when you need it!
2. Plastic Wrap / Tin Foil Organizer - If you have the space in a pantry or cupboard, this is a great tool in keeping those long wraps under wrap!
3. Lazy Susan- This is a great organizing tool pretty much anywhere in your home but it is particullary helpful in the kitchen. By keeping all like items 
together it’s easy to turn and go right to what you need!
4. Freezer Containers – This is a product I have used for clients in the past. It helps contain like items together in your freezer. It keeps it all together but because it’s wire like, you can easily see everything too. 
5. Baking Pan Divider – This is a great way to organize the muffin pans, baking sheets etc. Sometimes it can become a real mess and difficult to pull things out when you need them. Not with this system, it keeps them organized and easy to get! 
There are so many great products out there and it’s very easy to get ahead of yourself and buy before you know what you need. Remember to take measurements of the space and only buy it if you will use it!
Happy Organizing!
Meal Planning!
February 10, 2010 by Nikki · Leave a Comment
Grocery shopping and Meal planning! Two things that sometimes I enjoy doing and other times I dread. When I dread it the most is when I have not planned ahead. I hate the feeling of it’s 5:00pm and I have no idea what to make for dinner. Asking my children is not a good idea, they will say McDonald’s! Asking my husband is often no help, because he never cares what we have for dinner! So what to do?
Ideas to relieve the dreadful 5PM hour:
- Make a list of everything you like to cook. This gives you a list to refer back to when you are planning your weekly meals.
- When planning your meals, take into consideration everyone’s schedule. The weeknights can get busy in our house, between sport practices, meetings etc. On busy days, decide on take out, or an easy meal to put together.
- Plan your meals has a family, if everyone gets to pick out a meal within reason, you will eliminate some of the “I don’t like this”, however in my house it never eliminates it completely, but it’s something!
- Plan your meals for the week and then go grocery shopping. This saves you time and money. You will not buy anything extra you do not need.
- Keep your weekly planner of meals and reuse it for a different week. You don’t have to recreate the wheel each time.
- There are many resources and websites geared to helping you plan your menu. Check them out and see if it’s a good fit for your family. Also consider places like Dinners Done Right, where you can go and prepare the meal, freeze it and then eat it later. I know a lot of families who find this helpful during busy sport seasons, surgeries, new babies, etc. ( TCO can also help you with meal planning as part of our service! )
- Most important – schedule meals together with your family. Use this time to reconnect and talk about your day. Turn off the TV and don’t answer the phone. Just focus on each other.
Happy Organizing!
What can you do in 15 minutes?
February 8, 2010 by Nikki · Leave a Comment
What can you do in 15 minutes to organize your kitchen? Many things! Just spending a little time each day can and will make a big difference!
What can you do today in 15 minutes? 
Clear out one cupboard - the other day, while I was watching Oprah, I decided to clear out our cup cupboard. This cupboard had been bothering me for some time. We had a bunch of old sippy cups and “to go” coffee mugs with no lids! It literally took less than 15 minutes to clear out. Even my husband noticed how organized it was! Get rid of the dishes you are no longing using, the dishes that are missing partners or are broken.
Purge the Junk Drawer - You don’t need to organize it all at one time, just take a few minutes to throw away anything you no longer need. Old menus, old notes, check for pens that no longer work.
Clear out the Utensil Drawer- I am so guilty of buying the latest and greatest utensil thinking I may use it. I have not once used my lemon zester! Time to take inventory, donate, and keep what you love and what you use!
Do One Large Sweep- Set the timer for 15 minutes and go through as many cupboards and drawers as you can and donate all of the old appliances you no longer need, want, or are broken.
Clean the surfaces of your refrigerator- Having a clean refrigerator makes a difference. I suggest taking out old food right before your trash day. Take a damp washcloth with a little soap and clean the spills.
Pantry- I hate to admit this, but sometimes food is wasted at our house. And it is always a good idea to check the pantry for stale potato chips and moldy bread. You can do this very quickly, and then take note of what did not get eaten and don’t buy it again! Or at least make sure the bread is eaten quicker!
Spices- Take a few minutes to do a little spice inventory, what do you have, what are you low on. Re-organize them. Sometimes depending on who is cleaning up the meal, the spices sometimes get put back in the wrong spot, now is the time, to make sure they are all together.
What are you going to do today?
Happy Organizing!
Organizing Products For The Utility Room!
February 5, 2010 by Nikki · Leave a Comment
We have a schedule. We know how and what to delegate to family members. The next step is to talk about organizing products for the utility room. I have seen a lot of utility rooms in my business. I have seen large rooms, small rooms, closets, and garage walls being used.
No matter how big or how small your area is there are some essentials in every utiltiy area. If you have anything to add to the list, please share!
Trash can – For the tags, dryer lint, and the misc. trash you may find in pockets. I was surprised how convenient it is to have a trash can in your utility area. I believe it is a must have! 
Bins to contain laundry supplies- Depending on your space, these can come in all shapes and forms. The point is to keep all like items together in one spot. For example one bin may contain all stain removers, one bin may be all laundry detergents. 
Lazy Susan – Can be very useful in utility rooms for items used frequently. It is an alternative from using a bin.
Think up- If you are working in a small space, look up, adding a couple of shelves can really make a difference in your storage space.
Think thin- The portable stacking shelves to the right can easily fit in between the washer and dryer. It doesn’t take much space, however you can fit all of the essentials.
Sorting Hampers – If you have the room, sorting hampers can contain your laundry. Rather than having a bunch of clothes on the floor, you can sort and put them in the hampers. If you are not able to finish all of the laundry like planned, it looks more contained and tidy.
Hanging Rack – You can buy inexpensive hanging racks for your utility room and then when you are done they fold easily in between the washer & dryer. 
Iron Organizer - You can find these that go on the back of the door or on the wall. Very handy to keep the iron and board together, without taking up a lot of space.
There are many great products available. The most important thing before buying product is to assess your needs and your space. Measure and know what is going into the product then buy.
All of the products shown can be found at The Container Store.
Happy Organizing!
Build a Laundry System!
February 1, 2010 by Nikki · 1 Comment
Recently I asked my readers, “what is your biggest organizing challenge?” Laundry fell into the top 2 headaches we have in running our households!
We all have it and most of us dread it!
To eliminate the nagging feeling of when is the laundry going to get done… Think about creating a system for your laundry. Creating a system means creating a schedule.
Here are a few ideas to get you started!
- Decide on a schedule - do you prefer to do laundry during the week or leave it for the weekends? There are pros and cons for each. Doing a little each day means having your weekends free. On the flip side waiting until the weekend, means you do not have to worry about it during the week. Some like to do a little bit of laundry everyday. Others have designated days for different loads. For example; Mondays- towels, Tuesdays – adult clothes, Wednesdays- children’s clothes. The point is to have some kind of schedule you can follow as a guideline. This will not always be the same every week as schedules change, but it’s a good starting point.
- Once you set a schedule, make sure your family is aware. If you have decided Friday is the day, make sure all of the laundry is in by 8am! Family involvement will help maintain your system. More on this later.
- Do laundry from the beginning to the end. This does not matter if you haven chosen one day or every day of the week. Finishing from beginning to end means all clothes washed that day are put away. By making it a priority to complete the loads means you will not accidently leave anything in the washer! And your utility area will stay neater and be more organized!
- Make sure each family member has their own hamper. To eliminate some of the sorting, do the laundry by family member rather than putting all the clothes together. First load belongs to Suzy, second load belongs to Johnny, and so on. Buy hampers that are divided into sections. Teach your family to put the whites in one section, darks in another. It can eliminate you from doing all of the sorting.
Quick Tip: Some will say to start your washer before you leave for work, and then when you come home, put in the dryer. Well, I am one to not recommend this. About 2 years ago, we had a flood in our house due to the washer machine. The water never stopped filling up. I was home, so I lucky caught it in time to where it did not cause too much damage..I can’t even imagine if I was not home, what the outcome would have been. My tip: Run all of your appliances, washing machines, dryers, and dishwasher only when you are home!
What is your system at home? Do you have something to share? Believe me, mom’s all over are looking for ideas! We would love to hear yours!!
NEXT BLOG POST: Getting your family involved in helping with the laundry!
