September 2012 Important Dates

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I started this blog 4 1/2 years ago to help people (and myself) to plan and get organized according to what is happening during each month. This included knowing the special dates and holidays plus the different seasons and events such as gardening, home maintenance, school happenings, etc.

I kind of got away from that in the past year or two.  I am now going back to the original intent of this blog. Below is a list of September dates. I didn’t put links today but will in future posts.

I’m working on writing a report on how to create your own “Organize By The Month Planner” so you can keep track of all your personal birthdays, anniversaries, home maintenance chores, and personal monthly/yearly appointments.

I’ve had a planner of this nature for years.

When I first got married my mother-in-law would remind me of the upcoming birthday’s on my husband’s side of the family. She was good about it and I thank her for helping me not forget. However, after a few years it became a little embarrassing to have to rely on my mother-in-law to remind me. So I figured out a system that works for me.

I’m visual person so the out of sight out of mind statement really applies to my life. This planner has helped me and I hope will help you. I’ll let you know when it’s ready for the free download.

Here are September’s Dates.

Sept. 3, Monday, Labor Day

Sept. 6, Thursday,  Fight Procrastination Day

Sept. 9, Sunday, Grandparents Day

Sept. 11, Tuesday, Patriot Day

Sept. 16-17, Sunday (evening) & Monday (day), Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year)

Sept. 22, Friday, First Day of Autumn

Sept. 25-26, Tuesday (evening) & Wednesday (day) (Day of Atonement)

Janice

P.S. If you have any questions on how to get more organized or suggestions you would like to share please let me know in the comment section.  Thanks.

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Planning for Labor Day Weekend

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Vacation_Car_Beach_Trip_Clipart-3transLabor Day weekend is just a little over a week away. Since that is considered the last weekend of summer many people take advantage of the 3 days off to take that last summer trip, go to the pool or beach, or just relax before the routines of fall set in.

We don’t usually plan much for the weekend. But just in case we get bored and want to do something I did an internet search for my city and Labor Day events. It came up with quite a few of them.

If you want to find out what is happening in your city Labor Day weekend then just put in the search box: Labor Day 2012 events, your city, your state, and see what events you may want to attend.

If you want to find out more about the holiday and also find fun ideas and crafts to do with your children then check out these links.

http://www.usafederalholidays.com/labor_day.html

http://www.apples4theteacher.com/holidays/labor-day/

Enjoy the last week of summer and the holiday weekend. The fall months are filled with school activities, sporting activities (baseball, football, hockey, basketball, etc.), and of course the holidays of Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Chanukah, and Kwanza. The lazy days of summer will be over very soon.

To a lighter load along the way.

Janice

 

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Has Your Clutter Earned the Right to Live in Your Home?

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A couple of years ago I wrote a post about how things can be freeloaders in our homes.  Many times we have such an emotional attachment to our things that we lose sight of what’s of value to our lives and what isn’t.

I looked up the definition of “clutter” in my Webster’s New World College Dictionary.  Granted this book was the 1997 version and some definitions may have change. Anyway, it says that clutter is a number of things scattered in disorder or a jumble.  It doesn’t say that any of the things are junk, just that they are “scattered in disorder”.

Maybe this definition is part of the problem with understanding if our things are just cluttered or if they are freeloaders.  To understand how I defined what is a freeloader and what isn’t with regards to our things, please check out this blog post.

“Things” Can Be Freeloaders

Our lives are busy and sometimes we just don’t have time to keep everything organized.  But at some point it will become more than just a little mess.  This blog post explains what the difference is.

Is It Clutter or Just a Little Mess?

The more we educate ourselves on what is just a mess, what is clutter, what is a freeloader, and even what is junk and what is treasure, the easier it will be to emotionally detach ourselves from our things. Without our emotions clouding our logical thinking we will be able to decide which things have earned the right to live in our home and which should be kicked to the curb.

This article asks 12 questions that can help you think clearly as to whether your things are junk or treasure.

Is it Junk or Treasure?

Please let me know in the comment section what kind of “freeloaders” you have found living in your home.

To a lighter load along the way.

Janice

 

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7 Tips for Back to School Evening Routine

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This past weekend my neighbor’s son headed back to college.  It seems like just last week I was asking him what his plans were for the summer break.

Our local school starts tomorrow.  I live one house from the corner where the school bus stops.  Although my children are grown I’m always reminded that school is in session when I hear the kids laughing or talking or even running down the sidewalk yelling for the bus to wait for them.

Mornings can be hectic trying to get everyone out of the house on time.  The best way to have the mornings run smooth is to have a good evening routine.

I know, it’s easy to say but a lot harder to do!

The best way I know how to do an evening routine is to write out a check list that is followed each night.  Then practice, practice, practice.

It will be up to you to teach your children to follow their list. You may even want to give them some incentives such as a weekend movie, a special treat, or some other reward for them doing well with their evening routine.  They are more likely to follow it if they know they will be rewarded for good behavior. If you have them help you develop the list and rewards they will take more ownership of it.

Here are some suggestions to put on the check list.  You may want to individualize it for each child according to their age and grade level.

Evening routine check list:

  1. Homework: Time (set a minimum time according to their age. Even if they don’t have specific homework have them do some reading, drawing, or other creative activity during this time.)
  2. Put completed homework in backpack.
  3. Take clothes out for next day.
  4. Prepare lunch box/bag (non-perishables) or put lunch money in backpack or wallet.
  5. Make sure any permission slips are filled out and put in backpack.
  6. Personal hygiene list: bath or shower, brush teeth, wash face, prepare for bed.
  7. Bed time: make sure it is age appropriate and that they know it’s lights out. If children want to read before going to bed they will need a “getting into bed” time and a “lights out” time.

Once you have made up the check list be sure to post it in the child’s room, a control center location (kitchen, family room, mud room) or both areas.

The Flylady website has a Student Control Journal that can help with both the evening routine and the morning routine.

The more you and your children practice the evening routine the smoother the mornings will go for everyone in your household. So get that check list started today!

To a lighter load along the way.

Janice

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