We've Just Increased Our Closet Space by More Than 70%

(Click photo to enlarge.)
A few weeks ago, while looking at all the under-utilized space in our main closets, Joe and I decided to hire California Closets.

This company designs and installs organized custom closet systems.

The process was so simple. A designer paid us a visit to learn about our needs and to give us suggestions. She then had plans for the closets in our Master Bedroom, Guest Room and Amanda's Room in less than a day. She sent the plans to me via email in a PDF file.

After carefully looking at what she sent and what we planned to put into our closets, we made a few revisions and then signed the contract.

The installers were here yesterday, and boy, I can't even begin to tell you what a difference this one-day project has made. You can click on the photo above for a larger image of all the storage space we've just acquired in our Master Bedroom Closet.

I don't have a photo of what the closet looked like prior to the transformation, but imagine a room with a few white wire racks and a couple of rods for hanging. Now, we have a good number of shelves, plenty of hanging space and drawers!

I estimate that our usable storage space has just increased by at least 70% if not more.

Here is their web site if you're interested in learning more about their company. I'm not getting anything for recommending them, but I'm so thrilled with what they've done that I feel compelled to tell everyone I know about what a difference they've made!

http://calclosets.com/

If you're ever in need of a closet system, I highly recommend California Closets!

Time is the Most Precious Commodity

According to a Lou Harris survey, the amount of leisure time enjoyed by the average American has shrunk 37 percent since 1973, while the the average workweek (including commuting) has increased from fewer than 41 hours to nearly 47 hours. In many professions, an 80-hour work week is not uncommon!

Harris concludes that "time may have become the most precious commodity in the land."

Look at your typical week. Is it balanced between work and leisure time, or is the scale weighing heavily on the work end?

Don't ignore leisure time. You work hard, and you deserve to enjoy the fruits of your labor.

Container Gardening--No More Guesswork!

I'm definitely not what you would call a gardener, but I do occasionally toy with growing some vegetables and flowers in containers.

I just received a catalog the other day, promoting these new self-watering planters. This is definitely right up my alley.

Each of these planters have a reservoir that holds a few days worth of water. There are also channels in the base that wick moisture upward as the plants need it. This eliminates me having to decide if I'm watering enough or too much, which I'm sure will end up saving time.

I'm planning to buy one of these to see how I like it. If I do, I'll buy a few more. Since I'll be putting these on my deck, I definitely plan to purchase some casters so the planters can be rolled when necessary, rather than dragged or lifted.

Anyway, I'm hoping for a nice supply of tomatoes this year, and if all goes well, next time we'll try some green peppers, eggplant and squash.

Potty Power!

Amanda recently had her 2-year old check up at the doctor's office. As we were walking out the door, her doctor said, 'It's probably a good time to begin potty training.'

We already had it in our minds. We purchased a potty chair awhile back, and we were planning to begin right after Amanda's birthday in January. But then we had to fly out to New Jersey shortly afterwards and when we returned to work, we were both really busy and hadn't really thought about it. But, we agreed with the doctor. She was showing all signs of being ready to begin.

There are countless books on the market that share so many tips on potty training--each with it's own personality and opinions. We're going the route of underwear and PODS-- which are a potty training product--when we're home, and pull-up diapers when we're out shopping.

We also got a potty training video called Potty Power. Amanda enjoys watching it, and every time Amanda goes to the potty (she's only gone number one so far), she throws her hands in the air above her head and yells, 'Potty Power!!!!!' It makes us crack up laughing each time.

We only started 7 days ago, and she is already frequently telling us when she has to go. We pick her up, rush her to the potty--this is a top-speed mission, mind you--and she actually succeeds about 40% of the time. She gets stickers for every success and lots of hugs and kisses.

If you or someone you know is in need of a good web site that's exclusively for potty training, I recommend this one:

www.pottytrainingsolutions.com

I'm not getting anything for mentioning this site. Just thought I'd share it, as I read some very good information and have purchased several of their products.

Now, what does all of this have to do with organizing? Actually, quite a lot, and this potty training thing has been a definite time management challenge.

Now, not only do we have to keep track of work and our own personal thoughts, but we also have to remember to ask our daughter if she has to go. We have to keep track of the last time she went so we have an idea of when she has to go again. And we also have to remember that she's not going to make it all the time. Every once in awhile we're going to have to stop everything we're doing to clean up an accident.

By the way, did you know that toddlers pee about 12 times each day??? It's true.

The first few days were rough, but after that it wasn't too bad. The regular reminders from my husband and I asking our daughter if she has to go, have paid off. She's now telling us at least half of the time, if not more. So, she has progressed in a short time simply from repetition.

This is the same idea you can use when starting something you're not used to doing. It may be rough at first, but very often after you repetitively do something, it ends up becoming easier each time you do it.

Every time Amanda 'goes' (on the potty or not), I write it down. After 3 to 4 days, we began to see a pattern. She pees about every 45 minutes, or so. That's not true every single time, but it is a lot of the time. So, we know about when she's going to have to pee again and we're prepared.

Again, just another idea you can use for yourself. Write down everything you do for a week or so--a time log--and you'll have a visual of exactly what you're doing with your time. Perhaps you can then eliminate tasks that are wasting your time, and streamline those that are taking up too much time. Having it in writing is a big help.

When Amanda runs up to Joe or I and says, 'go potty', that's an interruption that neither of us can ignore. We basically drop everything we're doing, pick her up and run to the potty. But when she's done, we get back to the projects we're working on.

When you're working on a project and you get interrupted, only allow that interruption if it's really important--like your rug is about to end up with a big puddle on it. If you must stop, be sure you return to the project you were originally working on when you're done handling the emergency.

Of course, the rewards for potty training can also be applied to your daily tasks. Small rewards throughout the day after you've dusted, finished laundry or completed a report at work, could do heaps of good for keeping you motivated throughout the day. They can make you feel very positive at day's end.

I could go on and on, but it's getting close to the next sprint to the potty, so more later. Gotta go!


For hundreds of free organizing tips,
visit Get Organized Now!

My Gift Idea List

My husband Joe's birthday is March 14th--obviously a date that's quickly approaching.

But no stress on my end. We always have simple celebrations and I know exactly what to get him as a gift. (Because Joe often reads my posts, I can't say what it is here.)

In fact, it's like this with everyone for whom I buy gifts.

That's because I use a very simple tool called a Gift Idea List.

Throughout the year, when I'm talking to my husband or another person on my gift list, I take mental notes of what that person's current interests are, something they said they may like, something they mentioned is a problem that can easily be fixed with a purchased product, etc.

As soon as I can, I then jot these notes down on my Gift Idea List along with the person's name.

Anytime I go shopping or flip through store catalogs, I keep my Gift Idea list with me. I jot down any possible gift that matches the notes on my list.

Once I have a few possible gifts next to each name, I make a decision--even if the occasion is still several months away, and make the purchase.

Once I get the gift, I wrap it up immediately, tag it with the person's name and hide it in a special area that I reserve especially for gifts from me.

This beats the last-minute rush looking for a gift, plus it gives me the opportunity to really put some thought into what I'm giving which almost always makes it extra special for the receiver.


For hundreds of free organizing tips,
visit Get Organized Now!

Planning Our Fall Vacation

While on Midwest Express Airlines flying back from New Jersey a few days ago, I was flipping through Midwest's flight magazine. There was an article in it about vacationing in San Diego, and it appealed to me so much that we're planning a family vacation there in the fall this year.

Even though we're not planning to go until September or October, we have already begun some initial research. I searched online and immediately found San Diego's travel and tourism web site. From there, I was able to order a vacation planning guide. It was free since we're willing to wait 3-4 weeks to receive it--that's fine, we have plenty of time. If we needed it right away, it would have cost us $6 to get it sooner. So, we're already saving money by planning early.

I also saved the article from Midwest's magazine in a file folder labeled 'T-2006 San Diego Trip' and it's filed in my filing system under T for travel. As I come across information that might be helpful for this vacation, I'll have someplace to put that data and will be able to find it quickly when we need it.

While we're waiting for our guide book, we'll begin asking friends and family who've been to San Diego for any of their suggestions. (By the way, if you know San Diego well and you have any suggestions, please feel free to post them here. I'd love to hear from you.)

Our hope is that we could find a nice hotel with an ocean view, a kitchen, full-breakfast service and perhaps a divided room so that our toddler could go to bed at her normal bedtime without my husband and I disturbing her while we watch TV.

While Joe and I are interested in visiting attractions of historical significance and shopping, Amanda (who will be about 2-1/2 years old in September) will most certainly be more interested in the zoo--so we'll need to have a mix of both types of activities included.

My husband, Joe, and I like to make a day-by-day agenda of what we plan to do when we vacation. We use this agenda more of a guide that as something written in stone. For instance, if we have an outdoor activity planned and the weather is not so good, we're open to switching to a more appropriate indoor activity in its place. Or, if we're enjoying just walking on the beach, we might eliminate one of the original activities we had planned.

But at least we'll have something to refer to so we're not spending our entire vacation trying to figure out what to do, and so we don't miss anything we're really interested in doing.

On a sidenote, one of my tips for making a vacation agenda is to plan any outdoor activities very early in the trip. This way, if the weather doesn't cooperate, there are generally still opportunities to reschedule those outdoor activities later on in the trip.

Anyhow, when you plan your next vacation, whether it's a plane ride away or a relaxed weekend at home, plan ahead a bit. When you begin envisioning and writing down your plan, you'll have something to refer to, and look forward to.

Again, it's not set in stone and you don't have to follow it to a T. But it will serve as a tool to help you make the most out of every vacation you take.