Organizing Tips for Around the House

Here are a few organizing tips for around the house:

Entry Way

• Create a landing space near the door you come in. Keep keys, cell phone, purse and other items you need when you walk out the door together in the landing space.
• Individual baskets for each family member at entry. Decorative and useful baskets can be found at many places, included Michael’s and World Market.
• Kid level spaces for storage and retrieval of coats and book bags

Mail

• Create a spot for sorting mail and paying bills. Use a basket, decorative box or organizer to store pen, checkbook and stamps so material is handy

Kitchen

• Make sure the tools you need for each task are near their designated area (pots and pans near stove/oven; dish detergent, and cleaning agents near or under sink; dishes and utensils near table/breakfast bar).
  
  Beverly & Kristen
  www.KeyTransitions.net

Bring Organization to Your Bedroom

Here are a few hints to bring a little organization to your bedroom:

List the things you do in the bedroom. Then determine the best place to accomplish that task, given the space available. Think of the bedroom in zones (Sleeping Zone, Dressing Zone, Play Zone, Study Zone, Relaxing/Socializing Zone)

Group the items that are needed for that activity together in that space as much as possible.

• Create a reading station near the bed that includes adequate lighting, book mark, and a place for book and glasses. Great reading lamps and organizers can be found at Office Max.
• Store children’s must have bed items in a bedside table or an under-bed rolling storage box that is easy for them to access. Underbed storage containers are available at Home Depot, Ikea, Lowe’s and Wal-Mart.
  

Use decorative pegboard with various size hooks to keep belts, scarves, small purses, and even, jewelry displayed for easy access. Local hardware stores will custom cut to your specifications or you can buy it in pre-cut sized. Pegboard and peg board accessories can be found at local hardware stores and Home Depot, Lowe’s, and Wal-Mart.

Simple, stacking, jewelry trays from places like Bed Bath & Beyond, Homestoragewarehouse.com and Lillian Vernon will fit in most dresser drawers.

Egg crates and ice cube trays also make good containers for small items (earrings, tie tacks), that allow the items to be easily seen and can be stacked in a dresser drawer.

Increase space in your closet by using thin, flocked hangers available at Bed Bath & Beyond, HSN.com, Target and Wal-Mart.

Store everyday and athletic shoes in rolling bins available at Lowe’s and Wal-Mart

Keep shoes accessible and easy to locate by storing in clear plastic boxes that are labeled or even have a photo of the contents attached. Clear shoe boxes are available at Bed Bath & Beyond and Dollar Tree. A clear shoe organizing system is available at Neatboxes.com.

Beverly & Kristen
www.KeyTransitions.net

PREPARE FOR ROAD TRIP WITH A TODDLER

We are getting ready to take a thirteen-hour trip-with a three-year-old. So my thoughts have turned to preparation for traveling with a toddler. This actually takes more preparation and organization than traveling with a baby or older child.

First there is the comfort factor. Is the car seat a good fit and is the cover pliable enough to not chafe or rub? Is the stroller portable enough to take up minimum space and will it allow the child to sit comfortably. Our little linebacker’s wide shoulders made this a challenge. Part of comfort is keeping the little darling well hydrated and supplied with healthy snacks. So pack water, juice and snack favorites in an accessible container. After eating and drinking thoughts turn to keeping him clean and dry, so a supply of diapers, pull-ups or underpants also need to be nearby. A changing pad, portable potty or child’s folding commode seat make comfort stops easier for everybody in the traveling party. It is a good idea to stop every hour or two to stretch legs and check on bathroom needs.
A supply of tissues, wipes and paper towels to mop up any messes round out the comfort items.

Next comes the safety factor. Car seats should be safely installed and fastened according to directions. The child should remain safely buckled in the car seat while the vehicle is moving. When it is time to get out of the car, a tether that fits loosely around the child’s arm and a caregiver’s arm provides freedom and puts limits on how far a child can roam. Nothing substitutes for carefully watching the little one at all times. Even with vigilance, it is hard to keep up with the energy level of a toddler, so bring a few childproofing items for your room. A child safety doorknob cover and a latch lock a couple of items that will come in handy. A night-light may give the child a level of comfort in a strange place and allow him to sleep more comfortably. If the place you are staying does not have a suitable bed, you may want to take an air mattress or sleeping bag. Some manufacturers make toddler size air mattresses with inflatable rails for restless sleepers. A first aid kit should be in the car to handle any minor mishaps.

Do not underestimate the need for entertainment. With short attention spans, toddlers need a variety of toys and games to keep them occupied during a trip. Some good travel toys are Colorform sets, water coloring pens and paper, and talking books. A DVD player can entertain with favorite videos and a supply of sing-along favorite songs will provide some interactive time with the traveling party. Interactive games like Seek and Find (find a cow, find a school bus, find a flag) keep a child entertained during long driving periods. Consider wrapping a few “surprises” to pull out when the going gets rough or to reward for good behavior. A ball for tossing during rest stops can help burn off some energy before returning to the car.

Then there is the usual. Enough clothes appropriate to the climate, medicines, and a favorite comfort toy or item. While you are at it, pack a good sense of humor and the knowledge that if you forgot it, you can probably find it to purchase.

Beverly & Kristen
www.KeyTransitions.net

Organizing Alone

What if you want to get organized but other people who live in your home do not? Many folks who long for a little order in these circumstances just give up and live with the mess. It is not an easy task to be neat when all around you is chaos. Clutter begets clutter.

If you are one of those people who want to be neater but cannot gain cooperation from housemates, there are a few steps you can take to bring a little order to your life

Talk to others in your home to see if there can be agreement on keeping certain spaces clutter free. Perhaps the living room and entryway are a good start. You may even find you have an ally or two who also want a neater space. You may want to agree on a pick-up day when everyone picks up items that are where they don’t belong.

See if introducing some new tools into the environment will help decrease the clutter. Some ideas are a big brass tub or basket for books and magazines, a trunk or wagon bench for toys, a trash can in the family room where people eat snacks or near the microwave where containers are discarded, clothes hampers in the bedrooms to keep dirty clothes off the floor.

Organize what you can control. Straighten your side of the closet, organize your study or work area, and purge your old books and papers. Your example of being able to find your stuff when you need it may prompt others to stop wasting their time digging through clutter to find what they are looking for.

The most important thing is that you will have taken control of what you can directly affect and will have made your desires known to those with whom you share space.

Beverly & Kristen
www.KeyTransitions.net