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Be Organized in the Family Room | Tidy Thursday

by April Welch, The Mental Clutter Coach

Finding ways to be organized in the family room {great room, bonus room, living room} can be one of the most difficult projects you take on.

Why?

Because there are so many different organizing personalities using the same space.

{and yes, that picture is the Man Cave in my home ... no adjustments made before the shot}

 

How to be Organized in the Family Room | deClutter

Let's start at the beginning.

Take a look around.

1. Start collecting the garbage into a trash bag
2. Sort "stuff that doesn't belong" into piles based on where it needs to go {ex: dishes = kitchen}
3. Deliver piles to their destination

 

How to be Organized in the Family Room | Function

Next, you'll want to look at what's left in the space.

Ask yourself the following

1. What do I do in here?
2. Who do I do those things with? {other family members, guests, myself}
3. Where does it make sense to do those things in this room?

 

How to be Organized in the Family Room | Maintaining

Finally, keeping up on it.

Here's the deal. When you live in a space, it will never look like a magazine ad. Well, unless you're selling storage containers to your friends ... but I digress.

• You're going to have snacks while you watch TV
  • and place dishes or garbage on the convenient surfaces
• You're going to cuddle up under blankets when you're cold
  • and leave them sprawled out all over when you sleepily head to bed
• You're going to find a catastrophe after the kiddos have friends over {or girl's night or the Super Bowl or the animals were left home alone all day}
  • and wonder what tornado arrived inside your home when you weren't looking

These things happen.

Now.

I give you permission to allow all that to go on under your roof without anxiety.

Why?

Because, this is what life looks like.

 

How to be Organized in the Family Room | Reality

How do other people do it?

They see things are lying around and they make the time to pick them up.

Oh, and don't get me wrong. I'm not talking about the strict "you must do it this way" regime.

I'm talkin' - you enter the room, notice the blankets & either fold them up and put 'em away or you get back under them ... then fold 'em up & put them away when you're done.

Give yourself a break.

No one is perfect. And a family room is most definitely NOT the place to begin measuring yourself against any sense of normal.

 

Join me in the conversation below or over on the VolunteerSpot Facebook Page ...

What does your family room look like right now, and what attempts have you made to be organized in that shared space?

Keepin' it Tidy,

April

April is a Mental Clutter Expert | Mom of 2 boys | Wife to 1 Fireman | Horrible Cook | Loyal Friend | National Public Speaker who gives you permission to be imperfect

Want more? Come join the DIY Declutter Club today!

 

Organize at Work | Tidy Thursday

by April Welch, The Mental Clutter Coach

Are you at work reading this? If so, look down ... right now. What do you see around your work chair?

• A clear floor?
• Maybe a few active projects in piles?
• How about the overflow of "stuff" from your desk?

or maybe

You work from home, and the home office is a constant struggle. If you're lucky enough to have the space to dedicate to a home office?

Ugh.

Now what?

Organize at Work Problems:

I see two organize at work fundamental issues:

1. You've come into someone else's system, and it doesn't really work for you
2. You work from home & there is no pre-set system

Time to Organize at Work:

Then there's the whole time issue.

• When you travel to an office, you can't wait to get home :: who wants to hang around after hours to organize?
• When you work from home, you can't escape :: "I already feel like I work 24/7!"

Organize at Work Boundaries:

There I said it. Boundaries.

Admit it, you knew it was coming.

• Setting limits in a professional space for both your co-workers & yourself can go a long way when it comes to clutter.
• Establishing guidelines for yourself and others in the home can help you gain control over the chaos.

 

Organize at Work Client Story:

I once worked with an executive that used all surfaces as the potential filing system. {the couch, the chairs, the conference table, the desk, the top of filing cabinets, books on the bookshelves}

I was called in to help "organize" the space.

Taking one look around I immediately knew what the problem was.

This executive had inherited someone else's system. More importantly? It didn't work for the executive's organizing personality.

Once we realized the flow of the office and the filing system were the biggest concerns we set about re-arranging. EVERYTHING.   

1. First gathering piles, relocating them to a "staging area".
2. Then moving the furniture to a more comfortable layout
3. And finally, bringing piles in one at a time - assigning them a new home in files or project areas.

These solutions may seem simple, but trust me - the process took several weekends over the span of about 6 months.

So, "what happened to the executive?"

After our work together the executive felt so confident, a promotion was applied for & accepted!

Moral of the story?

• Take in the view.
• What is frustrating about the space?
• Do you respond with 'it's always been that way'?
• What can you change?

 

As for you Work-at-Home folks:

My best advice is to establish a space dedicated to productivity. Even if it's the coat closet.

Corral your work related clutter there.

Then, when you take care of domestic chores add the work space to your list.

Chipping away at the clutter of your workspace when you're in "home" mode can be effective as long as you don't get sucked into "work" mode.

Remember, when you work from home - you are the janitor as much as you are the CEO.

 

I'd love to hear more over on the VolunteerSpot Facebook Page:

What organize at work tips {or struggles} have you had?

 

Keepin in Tidy,

April

 

P.S. If you're interested in more tips you can join the DIY Club - with daily, weekly or monthly emails! 

 

April is a Mental Clutter Expert | Mom of 2 boys | Wife to 1 Fireman | Horrible Cook | Loyal Friend | National Public Speaker who gives you permission to be imperfect

How to Organize | Tidy Thursday

by April Welch, The Mental Clutter Coach

Looking for the elusive How To Organize tips?

Yup, it's that time of year.

Unfortunately, it's also about that time of the month where most good intentions have fallen back into life as usual.

Don't worry, I've got tips to help re-energize your motivation!

All week, over on The Mental Clutter Coach, I've been talking about those catch-all spots in our homes :: the entryway, the stairs and the wonderful hallway.

I've also walked you through what's going on with that amazing pile of clothes you always end up with at the end of the day - week - month.

There's even a visual how to organize piece on hangers ... go check it out, I'll wait.

Back? Okay, good.

With the first week of January all about the spaces you see first thing and the second week all about where you land I thought I would give you a few ideas on how to organize that dining room table and chairs that seem to always attract the most fantastic clutter!

How to Organize :: Dining Room Table

In most situations, the dining room table is either a place for meals and conversations or a flat surface that aids in the fluid chaos of a household.

If you're still reading, I'm guessing you're one of the fluid chaos folks.

Truth is, once you get in the habit of 'dumping' stuff on the table - it's REALLY hard to stop.

Setting limitations on yourself rarely works. However, finding a way to redirect the habit can help.

• Consider
  • when you're about to put something on the table, ask "does this actually belong somewhere else?"
  • then determine, "why am I not putting it there?"
  • Don't worry if you discover you're dumping on the table because you don't know where to put something ... that's the part that makes it a catch-all.

When you have a focused effort to declutter you'll begin to flush out the habits that contribute.

How to Organize :: Dining Room Chairs

Inevitably, if your table is a catch-all your chairs might be as well. The good news? It's a much smaller space to declutter.

Working on one chair at a time can be highly rewarding and give you a needed boost to keep it up.

1. pick a chair
2. grab things that belong somewhere
3. put them away
4. move onto the next chair

Worried about the leftovers? Then take a few minutes to evaluate their purpose.

• why do I have this?
• when will I need this again?
• where does it make sense to put it?

Getting stuck is all part of the process, working through the answers is the path to the solution.

Are you a fan of the VolunteerSpot Facebook Page? Join me for a conversation, I'd love to see some before and after photos, if you're up for it!

What "how to organize" tips have changed your life?

 

Keepin it Tidy,

April

 

April is a Mental Clutter Expert | Mom of 2 boys | Wife to 1 Fireman | Horrible Cook | Loyal Friend | National Public Speaker who gives you permission to be imperfect

VolunteerSpot Blog | Best of 2011

Blog Series, Guest Regulars and Wonderful Readers Made 2011 our Best Year Yet!

We want to celebrate and thank our guest contributors for a great year of all things service and giving back.  From insightful perspectives on school parent involvement,  non-profit success and benefit auction how-to's, to volunteer management and social media tips, teacher appreciation and fun class party ideas, employee volunteering and corporate responsibility news, faith group and community-building concepts and so much more - our blog proved to be an ever-evolving foundation for sharing timely and desired content.  

 
A favorite summer blog series, Teacher Tuesdays, was a thrilling opportunity to feature guest posts focusing on parent engagement in education from a teacher's perspective.  

 

Our Summer of Service feature gave us the privilege of featuring leading guest bloggers who shared their unique and personal perspectives on service, volunteering and citizen philanthropy.  Topics ranged from volunteering for kids and volunteer management, to the power of story-telling, employee service, supporting military families and so much more! 

 

The My School My Way campaign brought together over 30 bloggers sharing the highs and lows of parent volunteering, and how they did it their way in their school.  From humourous anecdotes to heart-warming insights, our My School My Way blog campaign had something for everyone, and we were honored to share these wonderful parents and writers with our readers.  Wrap-up and roll call.

_______________________________________________________________

April Welch, our resident Mental Clutter Coach, joined us week after week for Tidy Thursday - bringing fresh ideas and bright new ways to approach organizing our lives!

Worship Wednesday guest posts from Sue Brage were a true blessing.  From a faith-based perspective, her thoughts and words shed light on growing one's faith group and the interpretation of service in doing so.

 

 

Sherry Truhlar of Red Apple Auctions LLC brought us countless helpful tips, ideas and strategies when it came to running a successful auction.  From publicitiy, to gathering volunteers, legal refreshers, and best practices, expert advice made auction fundraisers less of a dream and more of a reality for many readers.

 

___________________________________________________________________ 

VolunteerSpotlights gave us a chance to shine a light on the amazing individuals and organizations who use VolunteerSpot to make a difference in their community.  From school parent leaders to festival organizers, conference coordinators to humane societies, congregational volunteer leaders to regional homeless shelter organizers - the willingness to do good was colorful and widespread and we were honored to share each and every story.

Additional Guest Regulars included:

Chris Jarvis of Realized Worth brought us insights into workplace volunteering, corporate social responsibility, and employee volunteer programs.

Andrea Patten of What Kids Need to Succeed illumined top tips, best practices, fun stories and helpful hints when it comes to running a successful nonprofit.

Myrdin Thompson of RootsandWings Library and MomCongress provided a keen and astute perspective from everything grant-writing, to literacy promotion, and advocating for more school involvement.

Susan Wells of SteveSpanglerScience joined us to share super creative and much-needed ideas incorporating science into the classroom, whether for a class party, school science fair, or the "dreaded science project."

A variety of incredibly talented and knowledgable contributors made our array of free e-books available as a highly sought-after resource for countless volunteers, organizers, teachers, team moms, and room parents!  From healthy snack ideas, to parent-teacher conference, class party, volunteer recognition, bake sale, school carnival, fundraising, talent show, and family volunteering ideas and tips, our e-books continue to be a fun and helpful resource for our readers and we are thrilled to be able to share them on our blog.

Family Friendly Volunteering: Service Project Ideas from A-Z

View more presentations from VolunteerSpot

There are so many more favorite posts and contributors in addition to these listed and we hope you take the time to look around.  Of course, our blog would be nowhere without our amazing readers and those who help promote and share our posts.  2011 was an incredible year and we are sure 2012 will prove to be even better - many thanks and here's to a New Year!

Declutter Tips :: Dresser | Tidy Thursday

by April Welch, The Mental Clutter Coach

Happy New Year!

How's the week gone so for? Any Holiday Hangover? Decorations still up? Gift clutter looming?

Meh, that's what January is for right? And most of y'all are thinking that's what New Year's Resolutions are for!

Hey, to each their own. Although I don't advocate a resolutions mindset {it's riddled with minefields from the start} I do encourage a plan full of do-able actions.

Last year I published a 31 Days of Organizing Series that walked you through the steps of organizing different areas. This year I thought we'd break things down even more, for the overwhelmed, with a series on Declutter Tips. 

The declutter tips {over on TMCC} this week are focused on what you see first thing in the morning. Like rolling over to hit the snooze button on your nightstand and maneuvering the adventure of your bathroom counter.

Here on Tidy Thursday, I thought we'd chat about the top of your dresser. Why? Well, over the years I've seen a client's moods shift drastically after we did a personal space declutter.

The difference between waking up to clutter as the first thing you see or surfaces that are a bit more orderly can have a huge affect on your mood. Let's face it, we're all challenged by something these days, why not give ourselves a leg up by spending a little effort on a declutter session?

Dresser Declutter Tips:

Confession time ... this is our dresser, right now ~ as I write this post:

trust me, #FireDude is going to be so excited when he finds out I busted us out like this!

 

But, hey. I live a busy life just like you. Full of responsibilities, chaos, volunteering, having fun and currently a bed ridden injury.

So, what do you do first?

How to Declutter Your Dresser 5 Minutes at a Time:

As I said, you & I function in the same sphere. Whether lack of declutter sessions is a result in focus, priority or time issues - it's there. Now what?

Taking 5 minutes here & there can be a way to get started, without commiting to the long process of decision making, purging and cleaning.

Give these 5-at-a-time tricks a try:

• Using some form of a time tracking tool, a timer - a song - a phone conversation, spend 5 minutes putting away items from the surface of your dresser
• Divide your dresser surface into 5 sections, 
  • either spend 1 minute on each section or 
  • 5 minutes for a section - 
  • then repeat the next time you have 5 minutes to spare
• Include co-habitants, tell them you need 5 minutes of their time - then delegate their job 
  • "you'll be my kitchen runner, I'll hand you all the dishes" ... 
  • "you'll be my paper person, I'll hand you all the papers that need to go to my office" ... you get the idea. 
  • Then stop at 5 minutes.

The one thing you won't see in this post is an after photo. Partly because my ankle is still healing but also because that clutter up there will take more than one 5 minute session. What can I say? I try to keep it as real as possible around here!

If you want to post some before & after photos over on the VolunteerSpot Facebook Page I would love to see them! In the meantime let's chat ...

What declutter tips do you have for your dresser?

Keepin it Tidy,

April

 

April is a Mental Clutter Expert | Mom of 2 boys | Wife to 1 Fireman | Horrible Cook | Loyal Friend | National Public Speaker who gives you permission to be imperfect

I'm Bored | Tidy Thursday

by April Welch, The Mental Clutter Coach

I'm not myself this week.

I had an entire post written about my philosophies on New Year's Resolutions and referred you to the Why New Year's Resolutions Fail.

Then I did my typical "read it over editing" and realized :: I sounded a bit grumpy.

It is never my intention to leave anyone feeling less motivated after I've shared advice.

The original post did that.

Why?

Well, to explain that I would have to whine a bit. So forgive me a moment.

It all started about 2.5 weeks ago. I was headed to the Middle School Organizing Program, in my awesome 4" heels. (I'm short & we grow 'em big around here).

In the garage, I was met with a limited space to walk around. {#FireDude had pulled the car forward in order to get the tree stand down}. I also made a mental note of the vacuum hose that had been left in the middle of the walkway.

Arms full of supplies, my water bottle & a snack I attempted the obstacle course.

All this to say:

I fell down.

It's just embarrassing to say "I fell down" as an adult. So I had to give you the entire scenario.

During my last step, the 4" heel pulled up the hose and took me right down.

Saving grace?

The dog has a fantastic squishy bed that is positioned right by my driver's side front wheel.

It broke the fall for the upper body.

The lower body, wasn't so lucky.

After a doctor visit I was diagnosed with a high ankle sprain, given a brace, assigned crutches and told to stay off of it for 6 weeks.

Um. Did you just hear the sound effects of semi-truck breaks in your mind too?

Yes, the doc said 6 weeks.

I laughed. Then I cried.

Back to today.

I thought "no problem, I have a laptop & an excellent internet connection". Ha!

Little did I know how long it would take me to get truly bored.

Especially at a time when everyone is gearing up for exercise??? Uuggghhhh.

I knew I had hit an all time low when I was getting bored with Pinterest!

Boredom busters so far have included 

• picking on the cat
• staring at the dog
• watching the snow fall, that I won't be able to play in
• surfing Pinterest
• commenting on EVERYONE'S status on Facebook
• and as of yesterday :: getting my tush kicked at Words With Friends (yes, the game that got Alec Baldwin kicked off a flight)

When I do attempt to hobble around I discover things like

• my laundry desperately needs done
• the mail is sporadically discarded as it's opened
• the coffee pot is actually more than 10 steps away
• balancing on one foot in the kitchen and bathroom is a lot less fun when you really can't put the other foot down

 

And, did I mention I'm bored? I used to think this was an impossible state of mind in our current society. Clearly, I was wrong.

So, if you'd like to capitalize on my Facebook availability be sure to join me over on the VolunteerSpot Facebook Page and ask me any questions you like ...

Has an injury left you bored out of your mind?

 

Keepin it Tidy,

April

April is a Mental Clutter Expert | Mom of 2 boys | Wife to 1 Fireman | Horrible Cook | Loyal Friend | National Public Speaker who gives you permission to be imperfect

 

How to say Thank You | Tidy Thursday

by April Welch, The Mental Clutter Coach

With Hanukkah in full swing and Christmas this weekend, the big question on many minds will be "how to say thank you" in a timely and appropriate manner.

How to say Thank You :: making a plan

It seems this tradition has definitely taken a back seat over the years. I can remember my Mom insisting I write Thank You notes before the school winter break was over. If I procrastinated past that, I was grounded until it was done.

Needless to say, I wasn't motivated to continue the appreciative act once I was on my own. However, I was taught well and got those notes out before the beginning of the new year ... most of the time.

Here are some of the strategies I've come up with over the years.

How to say Thank You :: kids

Finding a "pre-formatted" thank you note / letter is a great way to help the kiddos along. At this point in life it is simply about teaching the lesson of etiquette. When you receive a gift, you send a note of appreciation.

How to say Thank You :: adults

Saying thank you to adults can be a bit tricky. Here are some guidelines I follow:

• Friends I see daily / weekly / monthly = I literally say "Thank You" upon receipt of the gift {and usually give them a big squishy hug}
• Family = if they see me open the gift, I say "Thank You". If the gift is opened at a later date, I call and say "Thank You". If they are older than my parents I send a "Thank You" note.

How to say Thank You :: distant family

With notepad in hand, I keep track of who sent what as the gifts are opened.

Then after all the craziness calms down I gather the kids and we compose a "Family Thank You" note.

Taking a picture of the kids holding the words "Thank You" and then using a stationery site such as TinyPrints to print note cards is a great way to customize the gesture.

Including personal touches such as

"Thank you for the Xbox 360 game! I've already played it a few times and it is awesome ~ {signed} The Pipsqueak"

"Thank you so much for the cash! I've put most of it with the other money I'm saving for my first car and used a little to hang out with friends ~ {signed} The First Born"

**Note: obviously, my boys sign their real names {grin}**

How to say thank You :: volunteers

Saying Thank You as a volunteer that has received a "Thank You" gift may seem a little, well, backwards. I know. But hear me out.

Being appreciated is a wonderful thing. Being appreciated and knowing the etiquette is a fantastic thing.

When you are given a physical gift, etiquette states you acknowledge the gesture with a note. However, if you've simply been sent a "Thank You for your volunteer efforts in {insert year here}" you can relish in their appreciation.

Make sense?

 

Leave any tips or comments over on the VolunteerSpot Facebook page {or below}

What do you do when faced with how to say thank you?

 

Keepin it Tidy,

April

 

April is a Mental Clutter Expert | Mom of 2 boys | Wife to 1 Fireman | Horrible Cook | Loyal Friend | National Public Speaker who gives you permission to be imperfect.

What to do with Christmas Cards | Tidy Thursday

by April Welch, The Mental Clutter Coach

With all this talk of fund-raising I thought we could shift gears a bit and answer one of the most asked questions when it comes to clutter:

 

What to do with Christmas cards after the holidays?

Here's why it's hard:

Christmas cards {or any other season's greetings} are emotional clutter.

Friends and family put a lot of effort into sharing their updates with you. Pictures of the growing family, newsletters that document the year, hard earned money spent on printing and postage.

 

"How dare you just discard that?"

Right?

Um. No.

 

I give you permission to appreciate all of those things, then discard, at-will, when the season is over.

 

Too hard? How about these ideas:

 

Recycling Christmas Cards:

As any VolunteerSpot reader knows, I have a borderline unhealthy relationship with Pinterest. But of course, this benefits you. Here are some fantastic ideas I came across for recycling those Season's Greetings:

 

save all the old picture cards you receive,

punch a few holes in them and add rings to keep them together...

use as coffee table books at the holidays

Holiday Card Ornaments

 

Chair garland

 

Gift tags

When all else fails, drop them in a shoebox for the next school project that requires miscellaneous images {like the beginning of the school year when the Pipsqueak was assigned to create a collage on the front of his planner to "customize" it}

 

For the tech-savvy:

If tossing items after they've served their purpose is a natural habit for you ... but you want to hang on to some of the memories ::

1. take a picture of the picture:
   • using your smart phone or a scanner, make a digital image out of that family picture your best friend from high school sent.
2. create a screen saver:
   • at the end of December collect all the pictures from the year that represent good memories ~ including those holiday family pictures from others ~ and save them to a folder titled "Highlights from (year)" then instruct your computer to use that file for the screen saver. 
   • Wa-lah! You can now enjoy memory lane each time your computer is sitting idle for a bit.

 

No matter what solution seems right for you be sure to keep the guilt factor in check.

So often clients have held on to clutter due to the emotional pull they feel. Truth is, if you asked the person who sent the card if they wanted you to hang on to the clutter or have a better quality of life? I'm sure the sender would tell you "toss it!!"

 

How about it? Join me over on the VolunteerSpot Facebook Page and share your strategies

 

What do you do with Christmas cards after the decorations are all put away?

 

Keepin it Tidy,

April

 

April is a Mental Clutter Expert | Mom of 2 boys | Wife to 1 Fireman | Horrible Cook | Loyal Friend | National Public Speaker who gives you permission to be imperfect.

Cleaning Out Closets | Tidy Thursday

by April Welch, The Mental Clutter Coach

Cleaning out closets may be the last thing on your holiday to-do list, but trust me, it could be worth it.

Cleaning Out Closets :: for donations

I know I don't have to tell you what a benefit those old coats could be to a local shelter or even a family down the road. Although, the coat closet isn't the only place you can find unused items.

• Linen closet, donate unused towels & sheets

• Kid's closets, donate outgrown clothes through the school {the counselor always knows which kids need it the most & can handle it discreetly}

• Pantry closet, donate items close to their expiration date along with those coats to the shelter

 

Cleaning Out Closets :: for cash

The big buzz is always how you can sell your clutter for cash. Just remember, it's time consuming and can cause more stress than you're prepared for this time of year. If you're so inclined ...

• Craigslist - keep track of what you're selling, how much you're asking and once it's sold so you can remove the listing
• Amazon - be ready to ship as soon as you have the order request
• In Home Swapmeet - gather a few friends who have items to sell as well and host a holiday swapmeet in your home {the kids could even bake cookies to sell}

 

Cleaning Out Closets :: for guests

Clearing some space out of those extra closets so your holiday guests can make themselves comfortable is often overlooked {or avoided}. Making room for them is a gesture that says you made time for their arrival, it doesn't have to be the whole closet - just some room to hang a few things or unpack their suitcase if they're in for an extended stay.

• Clear 10 hangers worth of space on a rod
• Clear a dresser drawer
• Clear a shelf or two

 

Cleaning Out Closets :: for your sanity

Honestly, there is nothing like opening a closet door and being unable to close it without a little shove and push. The simple stress of knowing "if I open that closet door it's gonna take me 15 minutes just to get it shut again" can keep even the best of us from tackling a closet cleanout.

The upside? Most closets are small enough you can tackle them in an afternoon. Turn up some holiday music, grab a garbage bag and a few laundry baskets and dive right in! Plus, once you're done you can revel in that feeling of accomplishment! One closet down ... a few more to go!

 

Join me on the VolunteerSpot Facebook Page and share what your thoughts are

 

What's your strategy for cleaning out closets this holiday season?

Keepin it Tidy,

april

 

April is a Mental Clutter Expert | Mom of 2 boys | Wife to 1 Fireman | Horrible Cook | Loyal Friend | National Public Speaker who gives you permission to be imperfect.

Chaos & Order During the Holidays | Tidy Thursday

by April Welch, The Mental Clutter Coach

Go ahead, laugh at my topic today - Chaos & Order.

Only an organizing expert would be brave enough to take on such a laughable title ... Chaos & Order {{geesh}}

But let's give it a shot shall we?

 

Chaos & order post-shopping frenzy:

The true inspiration for this courageous move is, as always, a result of my own life.

I didn't brave the physical crowds of Black Friday ... but I do have a mean-clicking-index-finger, oh and I suppose my ethernet connection helps too. Many of my holiday gifts were bought over the weekend - online - and are now trickling in. 

NOTE :: Yes, the UPS & FedEx guy are impressed by my mad-clicking-skills too. They even bring 'cookies' for our sweet black lab to show their admiration {grin}

The trouble I have, with the whole online shopping experience is :: it's easy to loose track of what I've bought and for whom.

Enter ... {{wait for it}} ... the Gift Spreadsheet. I know, so predictable.

Don't worry though, SO easy.

• First column shows who the recipient is
• Second column lists what the gift is
• Third column links directly to the product purchased

See, easy peasy!

Now, I've also added two more columns. One for quantity ~ because I ordered a few Xbox games for the Pipsqueak & FireDude to share. Another for from, since I purchased the gifts my boys will be giving one another. 

Customize the concept as necessary to your needs!

 

Chaos & Order the revolving houseguest door:

For me, the holidays mean house guests. It also means ~ LOTS of rotating laundry, the dishwasher running several times a day, ALL of our bathrooms in use ... and needing cleaned frequently, as well as a fridge busting at the seams.

Luckily, I love this chaos & order doesn't seem to be such an issue. We've come up with quite a variety of safety nets around these parts ::

• Laundry is dumped on the main couch :: to be folded by the next available family member
• Dishwasher is unloaded as soon as the dishes are cool enough to touch :: started frequently by who ever takes up the last available real estate
• Bathrooms are wiped down between uses :: deep cleaned between guests or when no one is looking
• Fridge is purged of leftovers once a week :: the night before garbage goes to the curb

Granted, at each of these crossroads there has been plenty of training! My boys know to pitch in, my husband knows how to effectively use the washing machine and guests are shown how to start the dishwasher. {gasp!} Yes, guests help out too. They often ask what they can do, and I often respond with a task or instructions. Lightweight ones, but still - they help out.

 

Chaos & order for Sports Moms and Volunteers:

The beauty of being such a dedicated and giving person is that we could literally tattoo "chaos & order" to our foreheads and most people would just nod in agreement. 

During the holidays managing efforts, time and the pull of what cannot be accomplished is flat out stressful. Some of my tried and true sanity saving tips:

• Protect your time like you protect your children :: 
  • say NO or I'll have to check the family calendar often
• Take brief respites :: 
  • 5 quiet minutes in the morning with a warm beverage ALONE {even if you have to hide in the bathroom, with the water running - not that I'd know anything about that!}
• Multi-task, when appropriate :: 
  • work on homemade gifts before games and between quarters, socialize after the game while you wait for your athlete to surface from the locker room
• Forgive your limitations :: 
  • you are not superhuman, and it is alright.

Most importantly, keep an eye on what you want most. If you're feeling disconnected from loved ones, ask yourself "am I promising my time to the right things?". Then adjust accordingly.

 

Life is full of chaos & order can be right around the corner, if you only take a minute to search for it. I'd love to spend some social time with you over on the VolunteerSpot Facebook Page or down below in the comments!

What does chaos & order during the holidays look like for you?

 

Keepin it Tidy,

April

 

P.S. I'm busy redesigning The Mental Clutter Coach site, be sure to stop by and let me know your thoughts! Thanks

 

April is a Mental Clutter Expert | Mom of 2 boys | Wife to 1 Fireman | Horrible Cook | Loyal Friend | National Public Speaker who gives you permission to be imperfect.

Thanksgiving | Tidy Thursday

by April Welch, The Mental Clutter Coach

This is my second year of having the honor to post on Thanksgiving here at VolunteerSpot.

Last year I shared a bit of insight into my day and what the "Thanksgiving Thankfuls" sound like.

Oh, and I also gushed about how Thanksgiving is my ALL TIME favorite holiday. {it truly is}

But whoa, what a year.

I've realized in the past few weeks, most people reflect on their life around their birthdays or the new year.

I, reflect around Thanksgiving.

Probably something to do with living in a house full of boys. This is my time to express all that "girly" talk, and they have to sit there and take it. Cause family's watching and all {grin}.

My Thanksgiving inventory consists of:

The ususal suspects family, health and the ability to give back.

But then ... there's these:

• Twitter handles that have become friends that make my life a better place to be
  • @outsidevoice
  • @baptistwineclub
  • @christinebpc
  • @vspotmom
  • @carolschiller
  • @socialologist
  • @crazyadventures
  • @highimpactmom
  • @zaellen
• The food blog that gives my family hope, that maybe ... someday, I'll be able to actually cook {thanks Ree}
• Unforgettable events & clients
• You, the readers of my various columns

and

• Pinterest

{not sure if I should be blessing or cursing the inventors of Pinterest, but today I'll be thankful}

 

Be sure to leave any fantastic stories or thoughts over on the VolunteerSpot Facebook Page ...

I hope this finds you enjoying a Thanksgiving day full of love, laughter and memories.

 

Keeping it tidy {and Thankful},

april

April is a Mental Clutter Expert | Mom of 2 boys | Wife to 1 Fireman | Horrible Cook | Loyal Friend | National Public Speaker who gives you permission to be imperfect.

House Guests | Holiday Food

by April Welch, The Mental Clutter Coach

House guests and holiday food are a perfect match this time of year!

Feeling the stress of all your tasks looming can really be a bummer though. So how do you balance everything out?

House guests ... holiday food ... and preparation

Before your house guests arrive, ask them about holiday food allergies. Some traditional dishes are only served once {or twice} a year, be sure the unique ingredients won't be a problem for anyone.

Last year I shared my friend's Brown Bag Turkey Organizing System, a twist on all that prep work could be: ask house guests to arrive with the ingredients for the holiday food they've been assigned. This saves you in preparation time and alleviates some of the cost for the meal.

House guests ... holiday food ... and delegation

Don't be afraid to ask for help. Or, better yet, assign tasks to available bodies. 

• Children & tweens can help with keeping things picked up, laundry, stocking bathroom supplies
• Teen drivers & young adults can assist with errands :: running to the store, shuttling kiddos or guests from point A to point B
• House guests can help with holiday food grocery lists, meal prep and K.P. duties

House guests ... holiday food ... and being perfect

A philosophy I eat, breathe & live myself is :: the permission to be imperfect.

Luckily, I learned a long time ago that trying to pull off the perfect holiday food menu or being the best house guests hostess is just too high of an expectation.

When you're constantly putting yourself under pressure to be perfect not only do you loose out on the fun but you tend to drag the mood of the day down with you. {yes, speaking from experience}.

After ruining a turkey, feeling like the worst cook {& Mom} in the world and slumping my way to the semi decorated dining room table surrounded by house guests {I was mortified to face} ~ I was reminded by each one of them that I was loved, appreciated and admired for so many things that added up all year long.

That was when I realized, the efforts that go into accommodating house guests and making a day long holiday food menu were only the accessories of the day. Spending time with everyone, laughing, making new memories {like a vegetarian Thanksgiving & the guys now making the bird each year} was what I was suppose to be focused on.

Life is too short for many things, especially the unreachable goal of being perfect.

 

I would love to pick up the conversation over on the VolunteerSpot Facebook Page ...

Are you looking forward to the holiday food menu and your house guests arrival?

Keepin it Tidy,

april

April is a Mental Clutter Expert | Mom of 2 boys | Wife to 1 Fireman | Horrible Cook | Loyal Friend | National Public Speaker who gives you permission to be imperfect.

Date Night In | Tidy Thursday

by April Welch, The Mental Clutter Coach

Keeping with our theme of clutter free gift giving both here on Tidy Thursday as well as over on TMCC, I thought I would share another one of my favorite gift exchange ideas ...

 

the Date Night In gift

 

Using the initial tips on how to be an ultimate gift giver, this can quickly become a go-to-gift-in-a-pinch idea. Don't worry, it's pretty easy to customize and appropriate for anyone in a relationship {life partner, family, friendship}:

 

Date Night In For Couples:

Sure, most of us immediately think of candles & romantic music when we consider a date night in kit as a couple, but truth be told folks appreciate many other things in a gift like this. 

Take the night off:

Think activity based, what does the couple like to do together? Maybe a certificate for baby sitting services and a few items to reflect their interest. Do they like wine tasting? Collect a few bottles from local wineries, a block of cheese and some crackers ~ tie a bow around it and away you go.

 

Date Night In For Families:

These are always fun gifts to give, who doesn't like giving another family "quality time"? Again, consider their interests ~

Do they have toddlers?

Maybe ingredients for a kid-friendly recipe and a special dish to bake or serve it in?

School Aged?

How about a classic board game? Hasbro has a fantastic "Family Game Night" they celebrate every year, I'm sure you could find age appropriate recommendations on their site.

How about tweens & teens?

We all know video games are popular in this group, do they own the Xbox 360 Kinect? Is there a game that everyone has put on their wish list? Or maybe this family is less about tech and more about movies? How about a holiday classic on DVD with a cozy blanket and a gift card to the local grocery store?

 

Date Night In For Friends:

When I give this gift, I'm often the hostess as well. Opening up my home for my girlfriends to giggle, connect and relax is a gift I love to share. Although, I've been known to "give" the gift to others too.

• In a special popcorn bowl, I include:
  • Their favorite sweet & salty treats {think bags of M&M's, nuts, licorice, chips or popcorn}
  • Fun napkins
  • A chick flick {my fave to give is Steel Magnolias or Sweet Home Alabama}
  • A favorite beverage {some of my friends are tea drinkers, others enjoy spirits}
  • and a note that states "I'm at your beck and call as a leaning post or a giggle partner, just say the word"

 

So, why tell you all this now?

Well ... that good old Black Friday is just around the corner.

With all it's good deals and potential gifting power.

If you participated in the Shopping Habits Series you're well equipped to face the cash registers. Now, I'd like to help you arm yourself with that "plan of action". If you know you're on the lookout for a good family board game, you'll be able to navigate the sea of ads with a sense of purpose {instead of feeling tugged in a gazillion different directions by the promise of a "good deal"}.

Of course, you know what's next. I want to know what your up to :: head on over to the VolunteerSpot Facebook page and tell me ...

Have you ever given a Date Night In gift?

April is a Mental Clutter Expert | Mom of 2 boys | Wife to 1 Fireman | Horrible Cook | Loyal Friend | National Public Speaker who gives you permission to be imperfect.

Homemade Gifts | Tidy Thursday

Last week I walked you through the steps to becoming the ultimate gift giver, this week I thought I'd give you a few clutter free ideas for homemade gifts.

These days homemade gifts can be much more than that go-to plate of cookies. There are recipes for anything from gluten free to traditional casseroles. But don't stop at the kitchen {we all know I don't, with my ability to burn water and all}. Look for inspiration in unique ways too.

Most importantly, all elements of the gift serve a purpose. A mason jar full of goodies during the holidays can turn into a vase during another season or the chef's gift of cooking supplies are all things they need to make a gourmet meal.

Remember having a sense of directions helps keep clutter at bay.

Enter Pinterest and a Homemade Gifts Addicition

Hello, my name is April and I'm a Pinner.

If you haven't visited Pinterest yet, proceed with caution. Once you're sure you can handle the eye candy, let me know if you need an invite {I can totally enable help you out}

I've found great ideas for homemade gifts, like this one ...

... I'm going to put this mix in mason jars {as shown on the blogger's site} and give them as homemade gifts to my neighbors.

~~~

Then there's these ...

... that I plan to have the kiddos make for their teachers, since we're in middle & high school grades around my house, there are several teachers to consider {and honestly, what teacher wouldn't love such practical homemade gifts?}.

~~~

And for our 'older' loved ones, I'll be heading on over to The Pioneer Woman for casserole and comfort food inspiration like this:

~~~

Homemade gifts can come in the form of a finished project, but I've also been known to give the perfect brown paper bag - complete with premeasured ingredients for a favorite meal or tools from a wishlist. Something like this, but not quite as fancy:

 

 

No matter what homemade gifts inspire you this season be sure to consider how "clutter free" you can make the gesture.

Now it's your turn! Have you made homemade gifts for friends or loved ones? Let me know on the VolunteerSpot Facebook Page or just come by for ideas.

Keepin it Tidy,

April

 

April is a Mental Clutter Expert | Mom of 2 boys | Wife to 1 Fireman | Horrible Cook | Loyal Friend | National Public Speaker who gives you permission to be imperfect.

How to be the Ultimate Gift Giver | Tidy Thursday

by April Welch, The Mental Clutter Coach

As you're well aware, I've been sharing all kinds of tips and strategies over on the Shopping Habits series. What you may not know is I have a plan. See, I know we are about to enter into the shopping season frenzy and I wanted to arm you with the knowledge of conscious consuming ~ from a clutter standpoint.

Assuming you've participated in the weekly challenges { Start at the Beginning | Self Assessment | Habit Breaking Strategies } you would then be armed with all kinds of information to help navigate the next few months.

For me, knowledge is only as good as your next step. So naturally, the next series of tips are about gifting. I don't believe you can say "I'm not going to shop" or "I'm not giving gifts this year", those kinds of declarations tend to be a little too bold for most folks.

This week I thought I would give you a few insider tips on how to be the ultimate gift giver - one that doesn't contribute to clutter. Interested? I thought you might be.

Take notes:

How often does someone say "I wish" these days? The ultimate gift giver listens to these statements as potential ideas for the next holiday.

Capturing the fleeting wish can be a challenge. I personally use Evernote for things like this. Usually as the app on my phone, because you know ~ it's always when we're in a store or I'm driving that the kids will drop a hint.

Then, when I'm ready to start holiday shopping, I pull up the note I've titled gift ideas and review what each person has "wished" for over the past few days / weeks / months.

The Details

Here's where buying for neices, nephews, BFFs can make or break a gift. The details.

After you've heard the "I wish" statement, pay attention to things like favorite color ~ sizes ~ stores that sell what they want. These little things can really take your gift from "gee thanks" to "Wow! You're the best!"

Money Talks

When I was growing up, I remember my Mom resisting requests for cash or gift cards. She always reasoned that opening an actual gift was the "point" of the season.

Update for today's ultimate gift giver :: this isn't the case anymore.

Gone are the days of taboo gift cards. Many recipients, especially teens, really appreciate the opportunity to go shopping themselves. In my house, where there are now 2 teenage boys, they look forward to the collection of gift cards. One grandparent sends $25 and an aunt sends $20 ... it adds up quick.

If you're not sure which store to get a gift card to, send cash. If you're nervous about sending a check or actual money, consider the pre-paid credit cards. Most local grocery stores stock them and you can activate it right at the register.

Organized Gifts

When my kids were younger I was known as the ultimate gift giver among the birthday party circuit. Not because I showed up with the perfect gift every time, but because I always gave gifts with a way to contain the clutter. For an entire school year our standard gift was a Lego set with a plastic container that had a snap on lid & handle.

Yes, my child was a rockstar among his friends and I was the Mom "who thought of it all".

 

Which is really what gift giving is all about ~ being thoughtful. Listening to what people actually want. Giving people things that made you think of them and their interests.

 

Have ideas on how to be the ultimate gift giver? Join me over on the VolunteerSpot Facebook Page and share your questions, memorable gift ideas or tips on what you already do.

Keepin it Tidy,

April

 

April is a Mental Clutter Expert | Mom of 2 boys | Wife to 1 Fireman | Horrible Cook | Loyal Friend | National Public Speaker who gives you permission to be imperfect.