Archive | May, 2010

Ep 4: Spring Cleaning

Posted on May 10, 2010 by in Home Organizing, Taking Control: The Organizing Podcast

Does the idea of Spring Cleaning cause you to break out in cold sweats? Don’t fear! You can give your home the perfect seasonal once-over if you break it up in pieces, and work your plan. This week on the show, Nikki Kinzer and Pete Wright talk about spring cleaning, and how you can make all your seasonal cleaning chores fun and productive!

Audio MP3

iTunes Audio RSS Audio

Organizing Tip: Buy One Get Rid of One!

Posted on May 7, 2010 by in Staying Organized

This rule does not say, Buy One Get One Free!  As good as this may sound… Do you really need two?  This rule is all about keeping your belongings at a minimum.  This rule is about thinking before buying.  It’s about making choices and deciding what is important and what is not.  So when you buy something new into your home, it’s time to take something out.

For example: You went shopping and bought a new shirt, now go into your closet and get rid of a piece of clothing you no longer need.  You went shopping and bought a new kitchen utensil, now go through your drawer and get rid of one kitchen utensil you no longer need.  It’s a simple concept, but you have to stick with it to make it work!

This rule is nothing new… but it’s important to remember!  Especially if you are trying to downsize or organize your house this spring!  This is also a very important rule when trying to maintain your organized home!

Whenever you are at the store and are getting ready to purchase, think about these three things:

1)  Where is this item going to go in my home?

2)  Can I get rid of something old to bring in this new item?

3)  Do I really need this item or am I buying it on impulse?

Quick Tip:  When you are organizing your belongings, make sure to put like items with like items.  This way prior to going to the store you can see exactly what you have and see what it is you really need!  This will save you time and money!

Happy Organizing!

Get Ready, Get Set, Go! (On Time!)

Posted on May 5, 2010 by in Productivity, Time Management

Scenario: It’s Saturday morning and the baseball game is at 10:00am.   It is now 9:40am and we can’t find the mitt, we can’t find the shoes, and we are not sure where the shirt is.   We are all scrambling around the garage, the bedroom, the backyard, the laundry room, everywhere trying to figure out where everything was put. This is not a happy stress-free environment, anything but.   The clock is ticking…

Does this sound familiar? Anyone who has children with sports activities on the weekend may have felt this kind of pressure!  Oh and don’t forget the sideline chairs, the blanket, the umbrella, and do we have enough snacks and entertainment for the younger sibling?

This was my family on Saturday morning.  I was frustrated and just plain mad at myself for not  planning well enough ahead to make this morning go a little more smoother!  I should know better!

Luckily and I mean with luck and teamwork from the whole family, we found what we needed and we were at the game on time!

Every experience we encounter can become learning experiences.  We can grow from them and make ourselves better.  In this situation we needed a better system in getting ready for our games.  On our way home, we came up with one, that I think may just work!!

Our Plan:

  • From now on, we have a small bin in the garage, right before you come into the house, this is designated  for all of our son’s baseball equipment.  This includes the hat, the uniform, the mitt, everything!  When he gets home from the game, he is to take off his uniform before going into the house, and place everything in this bin.
  • I will be sure the uniform is washed and folded and put back into the bin prior to his next game.
  • If he takes out his mitt to play, he is to place it back into the bin as soon as he is done.
  • The chairs, blanket, and umbrella are staying in the car.
  • Snacks and entertainment will be packed in a backpack the night before the game.
  • Our son is responsible for his mitt and hat out on the field.  If he takes them off, he needs to make sure they are with him when we leave.

The expectations are now set…. Our next game is on Wednesday, with this new system in place, the half hour before the game, should be a breeze!

Happy Organizing!

Ep 3: The Touch it Once Rule

Posted on May 3, 2010 by in Home Organizing, Taking Control: The Organizing Podcast

Nikki wrote about the “touch it once” rule on the blog and has since plagued us with guilt when we don’t put things in their proper place as we use them! How did the application of “touch it once” go in the Kinzer house? This week on the show, Nikki Kinzer and Pete Wright talk about the “touch it once” rule, and how to apply it in your home without getting caught up in protocol!

Audio MP3

iTunes Audio RSS Audio

Daily Schedule Checklist

Posted on May 3, 2010 by in Downloads

The Daily Schedule checklist is designed to help you keep up with your busiest days. Keep your most important priorities and projects in line with your daily tasks, and give your tasks life by scheduling them on your schedule.

Download the Daily Schedule Checklist