MomTime TV

We've all done it at least once. You're on vacation having a great time and you want that moment in time to last forever in your memory. You spontaneously buy the giant wooden fish, snow globe or beer stein from the place you are visiting. It seemed like a good idea at the time........ But when you got home and the dust settled, well, the dust seemed to settle on that "thing" you brought home.


Here's a tip for purchasing memorabilia on vacation. Before you buy, think about what you will use the item for and where you will store it. If the item will be used for decoration, what room will it go in and does it match your decor? Do you have room for it and is it the right scale to fit the space? If you can't answer these questions to your satisfaction, a photo may just be the best piece of memorabilia to represent this vacation.


Now that we are talking about photos, let's talk about how to sort them. It is really a personal preference of whether you sort them topically or chronologically. Which one makes more sense to you? I tend to think chronologically so that is how I sort mine. Remember to mark down some dates while things are still fresh in your mind or later you will be trying to rack your brain to figure out what year that was. For more tips on photo organizing (both digital and traditional), read one of my former newsletters on this topic. http://www.perfectlyplaced.org/newsletters/PPNewsletter4.pdf


And, if this information wasn't enough to get you through the mountains of photos and memorabilia you have stored up from years past, have no fear, Perfectly Placed is here. We are offering 25% off all photo and memorabilia organizing during the month of June. Enjoy your vacation and beware of the giant wooden fish!

If only it were as easy as 1, 2, 3....... Summer is almost here and the kids will soon be home all day. No homework, sleeping in, vacation,?lethargic children who would like you to let them watch TV all day. ?Ahh, the joys of summer!?


To help you maintain some sense of structure to your summer, I am highlighting 3 products that may end up as lifesavers to those of you who are moms. The first is a Chore Pad made by Mom Agenda. I find that if I don't start the summer with chores for the kids, I spend the entire summer trying to regain control. Save yourself the trouble of trying to make your own chart and use these convenient tear off pages.


http://www.momagenda.com/products.cfm?cID=2&pID=60


Second is the Mom's Notebook which is useful for taming all the papers sitting on your kitchen counter. Mom's Notebook gives you a place for kids activities, party invitations and plans, personal papers and more. Mom's Notebooks are $20 + S&H. Contact me to order.


The third product is for those of you with children aged 2-6. It can be frustrating teaching your child how to get ready in the morning when they are unable to read. Morning cards have pictures and simple instructions for the tasks your child needs to do in the morning to get out the door. Comes with a set of 11 cards. Start with a few and add in more cards as your child masters each. Morning Cards are $10 +S&H. Contact me to order.


Wishing you all a fun and encouraging summer!

For a mom with young children, having an extra set of hands or several extra sets seems not only helpful but critical! Do you wish your kids could do more tasks independently?

Here are some tips to making this wish a reality.

Make it tangible. Use a list or "Morning cards" (cards with printed pictures of tasks to be done) so your child knows step by step what tasks need to be accomplished in the morning. If you are interested in purchasing "Morning cards", you can purchase them from me for $10. Contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Keep it low. Place plastic cups and bowls in a place where your child can reach so they can help themselves to drinks and make their own breakfast. It may sound unconventional, but consider using a drawer. Be sure the cereal is also on a low shelf in the pantry.

Simplify. Hang a sweater hanger in your child's closet. Place a folded uniform or school clothes in each slot (some sweater hangers even come with the days of the week labeled on them). Kids can easily get dressed and match successfully on their own in the morning.

It must be easy. Hanging kids clothes in the closet or using drawer dividers, makes things easier to find and put away. If you use hangers, make sure the rod is low enough for your child to reach. Double rods are inexpensive to purchase online.

Designate an area. Have a spot for kids to hang their backpacks after school. Choosing a place close to the door increases the likelihood that it will get used. Use labels for each child's hook.

Put the snacks together. Have a drawer or basket labeled "snacks" in the pantry. Place individual size portions of mom approved snacks inside. Give kids a limit of how many snacks are allowed per day. Let them pick them out themselves.

Susan Stewart is a professional organizer and the founder of Perfectly Placed Professional Organization and Design in the Phoenix area. Perfectly Placed specializes in bringing peace and order to busy families through organization. You can find out more about Susan and Perfectly Placed at her website: http://www.perfectlyplaced.org
 

Are you wondering what mom should be paid for her work as mom? Salary.com has valuated the "mom job" of both Working and Stay-At-Home Moms! Based on a survey of more than 40,000 mothers, Salary.com determined that the time mothers spend performing 10 typical job functions would equate to an annual salary of $138,095 for a stay-at-home mom. Working moms 'at-home' salary is $85,939 in 2007; this is in addition to the salary they earn in the workplace. Nobody works harder than mom. Why  not lighten her load this year by giving her a gift that keeps giving. Cutting down on clutter and having systems in place will save mom precious time and reduce her stress.

These sugar/flour bag in dispensers are great for storing baking staples like flour, sugar, brown sugar and even Bisquick. Having staples in containers makes them less likely to spill and keeps them free from bugs. The handles make them easy to grab and using all of the same containers gives your pantry a unified look. So here's to all of you who were motivated to get your pantry and refrigerator organized!

http://www.organizedatoz.com/product-p/103.htmclick=831
 
 

September is Self Improvement month. Now I know you’re thinking “what in the world could I possibly do to improve myself?,  but here are a few ideas just in case.
 
1.  If you are not already doing this, begin a routine of exercising. I know it’s hard. I’m with you there. But, you end up feeling better about growing older and bigger if you are at least keeping active. Exercise also has this strange way of giving you more energy throughout the day so put it on your calendar and set your schedule around it- even if it starts with only a few minutes a day.

 
2.  Do you ever feel like hyperventilating when you walk in a room in your home or open a certain closet because of the amount of stuff? We tend to fill our lives with so much stuff in hopes that if we have just a little bit more, we will feel better. Unfortunately, having so much stuff tends to have the opposite effect because having so much creates more responsibility and adds stress. De-cluttering your home can be such a freeing feeling and may allow you to start breathing normally again. For a great video on stuff, see www.thestoryofstuff.com Mention this email and get 10% off organizing services this month.

 
3.  This one kind of ties in with the above tip. Often, our addiction to stuff goes a little deeper. We’ve all got stuff that goes beyond the physical stuff in our homes. One of the best things I did in my life was spend 3 years in counseling with my husband. It has made me a better woman, a better wife, mom and organizer. Knowing your personal “stuff” can be life changing. I highly recommend therapy for everyone. www.truenorthconsulting.org

 
4.  Pay attention to the spiritual part of your life. So often we are on this fast paced treadmill we call life and don’t take the time to be thankful for what we have and who has given it to us. When I’m grumbling about gas prices, maybe I should be thankful that I have the convenience of a car at all! Thank you God that you have given me a home, a healthy family, food on my table each night, many friends, a job that I love and the opportunity to be used by you.

 
5.  Give. Yep, you heard me. We all have that need to be needed and even in our darkest times, there are few things that can pick you up more than giving. I don’t care who, what or where. Do something for someone else. Take your focus off yourself and put it on someone else. You’ll be amazed at your new perspective.

I used to drip across my kitchen floor constantly. I couldn't help it. The towel to dry my hands which hung on the refrigerator was across from the sink. I confess, I'm kind of a cleanliness freak and I must wash my hands at least a dozen times during dinner preparation with all of the interruptions I get. By the time dinner is in the oven, I have drips all over the floor which manage to attract dirt and everything else (ie more cleaning- oh lucky day!) Well, I've found a solution to my problem and I thought I'd share it with all of you with thoughts that just maybe, you have wrestled with this too. These over the cabinet towel bars fit on any cabinet instantly giving you a towel anywhere you need it in the kitchen and they come in two colors which allow you to match nearly any decor.I've attached mine to the cabinet just under the sink. Happy hand washing and enjoy your dry floor!

http://www.organizedatoz.com/product-p/383.htmclick=831
http://www.organizedatoz.com/product-p/381.htmclick=831
http://www.organizedatoz.com/product-p/380.htmclick=831
 
 

Dear Friends,

You may have already guessed but the answer to this question is ME! As many of you know, I was diagnosed with breast cancer in April of 2006 and underwent a double mastectomy followed by reconstruction in the months to follow. Two and one half years later, I am still here to tell you about it and continue to be cancer free! October is breast cancer awareness month and as a survivor of this disease, I can't tell you how important this is! My cancer was found extremely early on a mammogram. I know they aren't the most pleasant things to have done but it could save your life like it did mine.

Now what does this have to do with organizing Not a lot to be honest. But, in celebration of my victory over this disease and the victory of thousands of others, I am offering a 40% organizing discount during the month of October to all breast cancer survivors! You may not be a survivor but chances are you know someone who is. Why not pass this on to someone you know who can benefit from this fabulous discount

I also wanted to take a moment to list some amazing resources that could be helpful to you or someone you know who is facing this disease.

www.empowher.com
This national website featuring women's health issues is filled with health news, a video encyclopedia of more than 2,000 conditions, a medical dictionary, forums and blogs.

www.happilyeverafterleague.org
Their mission is to nurture, facilitate and provide support services to mothers diagnosed with cancer living with at least one dependent child.

www.rachellhall.com/go/page.phppage=BtG_Foundation
Bridging the Gap Foundation is an organization created to educate, empower and assist women with their rights, choices and options before, during and after breast cancer.

http://www.shc.org/content.asplnavid=66
The Virginia G. Piper Center provides care and guidance for all cancer patients and their families by offering the services of a cancer care coordinator, an oncology-trained nurse who guides patients through cancer care and treatments.

I'd also like to thank my medical team for doing such a fabulous job. I recommend all of them to anyone going through this experience.

Dr. Elena Sibley (surgeon) (480) 947-7401
Dr. Barry Fernando (plastic surgeon) (602) 956-3596
Dr. Hood Franks (oncologist) (602) 248-0311

* A special thanks to Paul Sebring www.sebringphotography.com for donating the survivor photo.

Sincerely,
Susan Stewart
Perfectly Placed
Do you need help getting your life organized Sign up for free tips at the Perfectly Placed website.
www.perfectlyplaced.org
(623) 202-9199

Last night I put together my Jakoter Health Organizer. My medical records were together before- sort of. Of course, every time I referred one of my doctors to someone, I was flipping through my business card rolodex trying to find the number. This organizer has a place for all your doctor business cards. Smart, I know! It also has a place to keep hospital and surgery histories, test results, letters from your doctors, resources and even directions to your doctors offices. Keeping all the medical stuff together is pretty logical, after all!

For the average person, this Health Organizer might not be necessary. But, if you have a medical history and multiple doctors to keep track of, this organizer could be a major time and stress saver. It's hard to put a value on peace of mind.

http://www.organizedatoz.com/Home-Management-s/55.htmclick=831

2 other medical organizing products you may be interested in:

http://www.organizedatoz.com/product-p/484.htmclick=831
http://www.organizedatoz.com/product-p/485.htmclick=831
 
 

  
What you can't afford in this economy is to be DISORGANIZED. Here's why:
 
Buying duplicate items because you couldn't find what you needed or you didn't remember you had it in the first place wastes money.

Questions to ask:
            •  Do you have more than 3 bags of pasta or spaghetti sauce in your pantry?
            •  If your entire house were searched, would more than 3 staplers turn up?
            •  When it comes time to decorate for the holidays, do you purchase additional secorations because you cannot locate the ones you already have?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may be wasting money by purchasing things you do not need.
 
Food uses a bigger portion of the budget than is needed.

Questions to ask:
            •  Does your lack of meal planning lead to eating out more than twice a week?
            •  Do  you often go out to eat simply because the kitchen is so cluttered that the thought of cooking is completely overwhelming?
            •  When you grocery shop, do you shop without a list?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may be spending more money on food than is necessary.
 
1 in 4 adults say they pay bills late (thus incurring late fees) because they lose them.

Questions to ask:
            •  When a bill comes in the mail, do you have a consistent place to put it?
            •  Do you have a schedule you follow for paying your bills?
            •  Do you feel in control of the mail and have a system for dealing with it?
If you answered no to any of these questions, you may be wasting money on late fees.

Susan Stewart
Perfectly Placed
Do you need help getting your life organized? Sign up for free tips at the Perfectly Placed website.
www.perfectlyplaced.org