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Back To School Organizing

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It’s already the middle of July. The stores are stocked up with back-to-school supplies. The TV and newspaper ads are bombarding us about all the things our children “need” in order to have a great year.

Before you rush out and buy all those things be sure to check what you already have at home. Last year’s backpack may still work. Their school clothes may still fit , at least the ones to start off the school year with. They may have enough left over supplies that you only need to buy a few new ones.

Now is the time to take inventory so you can figure out what they will need and how much. It will be a lot easier if you first declutter what they don’t need or can’t use anymore.

Below are some steps to help you declutter. Then I have listed some options on how to get rid of the clutter in fun ways for you and your children.

Decluttering Steps:

  1. Go through all their clothes. Pull out any that do not fit or they won’t wear. Last year’s favorite style may make them feel like they will die of embarrassment if they wear it this year.
  2. Any clothes that are wearable but need repair should be put in a separate pile. Mending can be done while watching TV.
  3. Go through school supplies. Take inventory of what you have from last year that is still usable. Make a list of what each child needs (elementary schools usually provide a basic list). Mark off what you already have. What’s left is the shopping list.
  4. Go through their books. Have them pull out all the ones they have outgrown and are willing to part with. See below for a fun way to recycle the books.

Options on How To Clear out the above items:

  1. A garage sale is a good way to get rid of the outgrown clothes, school supplies, and books. The money you make can help buy new clothes and supplies. If you are interested in having a garage sale before school begins check out my eBook, “Decluttering With A Garage Sale”.
  2. A children’s book exchange is another fun way to clear out some clutter. This can be done in your neighborhood, church group, or other group you and your children belong to. School supplies can also be exchanged. A simple method to do this is explained in this article “Declutter Children’s Books With a Book Exchange”.

Although decluttering the previous year’s school papers won’t help with taking inventory it’s still a good idea to do it now if you didn’t at the end of the school year. You’ll make room for all the new papers that will soon be coming in.  Plus, as your children go through the old papers it will refresh their young minds as to what they learned the past year.  This article will give you some tips on it, “Decluttering Children’s School Papers”.

To a lighter load along the way.

Janice

 

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New Look: Clean and Simple

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After three years of the same theme I have decided it was time to clean up and simplify the look of my blog.  The brighter cleaner look makes me want to write more about decluttering and organizing. It’s motivating to share those tips on a simple looking blog.  I hope you find it easier to read also.

I’m still working on tweaking it to make it more user friendly.  I’m always open to suggestions if you have any.

I did want to let you know that the picture in the header above is of the Grand Basin in Forest Park, St. Louis, MO.  This is keeping with the theme of vacationing in your own town. I’m lucking to have this park and many others around to take advantage of during nice weather.

Of course St. Louis is in the middle of a heat spell like most of the mid-west and southern states.  That’s when indoor options or cooling water options work best. If you’re trying to keep those out-of-school children busy be sure to check out your local museums, bowling alleys, swimming pools, or movie theaters.

There is always the sprinkler in the backyard to help keep them cool, active, and out of trouble for a little while. It’s clean and simple. Just don’t run the sprinkler in one place for too long or the clean part will end up a muddy mess!

Please let me know how you like the new look of this blog. If you don’t already get blog post updates in you email you can sign up here.

Janice

P.S.  If you are planning a garage sale this summer you’ll want to get this eBook first. Learn how to use the garage sale as a tool to help you clear out a lot of clutter from your home.  Check it out here:  https://cutclutterwithscissors.com/decluttering-with-a-garage-sale-ebook/

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Vacation In Your Own Hometown

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The 4th of July is over. Back to school doesn’t get into high gear for 4-6 weeks depending on where you live and grade level. So how are you planning to spend the next 4 plus weeks?

This is the time of year where many families take vacations. But sometimes it’s just too expensive to go anywhere. Or maybe one or both parents can’t take the time off from work. That doesn’t mean your are destined to have a long boring summer.

Learn how to vacation in your own hometown!

Get organized by first creating a Summer Planner.

It’s not too late to do that. 

What you need:

  1. 3-ring binder. Size: 1/2 inch thick to 2-3 inches. It depends on how many different things you have going on during the summer.
  2. Dividers to create different sections. Pocket dividers work great so you have a place to put any pamphlets or other info in them.
  3. Notebook paper to write down info.

What to do to set up and organize the planner:

  1. Label all the sections you need or want. Examples:
    1. Vacations
    2. Summer Camps
    3. Local Attractions (Free and paid)
    4. Rainy day activities
    5. Sunny day activities
  2. Start researching ideas for each section. Google you city or one near by and the following topics. Either print out the information you like or write on the notebook paper the sites to check into later.
    1. Museums
    2. Festivals
    3. Parks and special activities and/or events
    4. Mini vacation spots, either overnight or one day vacations
    5. Rainy day projects – art activities, scrapbooking, decluttering, redecorating a room, etc.

Be sure to include your family when researching and creating this notebook. They will be more enthusiastic about partaking in these activities and excursions. Set a day each week to plan out what they want to do and where they want to go during the next week or two. Be flexible with your plans. It’s okay to change activities on any given day as long as everyone agrees. Don’t forget to leave some days each week for good old lazy boring days. We all need those sometimes!

Here are some sites to with more ideas for things to do.

Familyeducation.com – Summer Vacation

Family.Disney.com – Summer Ideas

TheSpruce.com – free summer ideas for kids

 

Janice

 

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Summer Can Be A Busy Time!

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It’s been a while since I wrote in here. The past month has been very busy and something had to give. Unfortunately it was this blog.

Both my sons and daughter-in-law came in town for a long weekend. It was also the same weekend my neighborhood was having a subdivision garage sale. Preparing my house for out of town company and a garage sale at the same time was a little hectic.

I made a little extra money at the sale. I also cleared out a fair amount of clutter from my home and what didn’t sell went to Goodwill.

The visits were great, although too short. The little money I made disappeared quickly with meals out and frozen custard desserts.

My invalid mother also got some new live-in caregivers during this time. Since I live down the street and my sisters are out of town the problems associated with the adjustment period fell on me.

And last weekend I participated in my local American Cancer Society Relay For Life. I walked 10 miles and so far have raised over $400. Yea me!

Whew! I’ve been busy. I’m sure you have been also. That’s what happens this time of year. It’s summer time. There are vacations, camps, summer school, 4th of July parties, etc. and that’s just during June and July. If you have children then you know that by the time August hits you’re preparing for back to school time.

I want this blog to be a place where I can share my tips and tricks I have learned over the years that have helped me get more organized. Each month and season brings new challenges.

I have done the research looking for information regarding holidays and special events during each month. I have put the links for some of the information on this blog but most are in the monthly newsletter.

I would like your feedback to know if this is information you like to receive. Is there other information you would like to read about in this blog that would help you get more organized each month? Your input will help me be able to give you the information that will be most relevant to you.

Please leave a comment and let me know.

Thanks,

Janice

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Take Time To Enjoy The Moments

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I’m sitting on my porch in the late afternoon on an April spring day writing this blog post. The birds are talking up a storm. A gentle breeze is tickling the newborn leaves on a nearby tree.

I’m trying to relax and enjoy the moment. Life is all about the moments but so often we miss them in the pursuit of taking care of the things that should be done, have to be done, or need to be done.

As Willy Wonka said: “So much time, and so little to do! Strike that, reverse it.”  We rush through our lives trying to take care of all those little things we feel are so important. But how important are they in the big scheme of our lives?

Right now I’m replenishing my soul by enjoying the moment of this Spring afternoon. I’m working hard to not feel guilty because I’m not taking advantage of the nice weather and cleaning out the perennial beds. Or spaying the weeds in the lawn. Or pruning back the wayward branches on the shrub roses. There are so many things I could be doing or should be doing but instead I’m sitting here just taking in the sights and sounds of my back yard.

So many of us have been brought up to believe that we are lazy and selfish is we take time for ourselves. So we keep  ourselves busy doing all those “shoulds”, “have to’s”, and “need to’s” so we can feel like productive people.

It’s time to stop the madness! We aren’t perfect! We aren’t machines! We are living beings. We are suppose to rest, renew, and replenish. Not work ourselves into a grave. We need to be more like nature and learn from her.

Get outside and take a good look at the trees, grass, shrubs, and flowers. The leaves aren’t all perfectly shaped. The shrubs don’t grow the same length branches. The yellow dandelion blooms amongst the purple violets in a sea of green velvet grass. We may consider them weeds but you can’t deny the beautiful picture they paint.

 

If we can look past natures’ imperfections and see the beauty she offers us then why can’t we look past our own imperfections and see the beauty we have to offer the world? Have we set impossibly high standards for ourselves?

Take the time today to enjoy the moments that are offered to you. Take the time to see the beauty in yourself. Not only do you deserve it you have a duty to show your beauty to yourself and the world. Nature does it everyday.

 

 

To a lighter load along the way.

Janice

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