What are the organizers talking about!?

Check out this great invention!
It gives you more space between double hangers and it's a snap (no pun intended!) to use.


Hook-less hangers!

It's such a clever product!

Sheets with Pockets Keep you Bedside Table Neat!

Traveling? Take these little ones with you. They sleep through the night. Promise!

Smart (and cute) Traveling Containers!

Creating Pockets of Quiet Time.

For parents who stay home with kids full-time, summer can become a longstring of very active, busy days. Create pockets of quiet time at home to cool down and get some rest. Books, movies or just some Play-doh for the kids to squeeze (and release!) can do the trick!

Here are some affordable ideas on where to store your painting, coloring and other materials in a way that is easy for you to reach when you need them.

Also, a suggestion on having an area with materials, games and not "so dangerous to your couch" items, will allow the kids to self-serve when they are looking for something new.

A great idea is to create "quiet time bins". See-through shoe bins with snaps on the side are a great option for getting some "kits" together: building blocks, small play-doh jars and some tools, coloring pages with markers or pencils or a small book and beads to put a bracelet together. Every day bring a new bin out and you have it all solved.

Now, get yourself a lemonade, a magazine and enjoy your summer.

Life can be Simpler!

Create an easy access "quiet time activity" storage unit.
Kids like to practice independence and this is a good way to offer them just that!

Before: an ottoman, coffee-table and extra -seating.

After: All your arts & crafts are tucked away! But at easy reach when is time to use them.

Quiet time with friends!

Packing for a Family Beach Day!

This handy checklist makes preparation a breeze

Moms can get overwhelmed by the amount of stuff they have to pack when going out with little ones. Being a mother of three boys, ages 8, 8 and 6,  I know it first hand what happens when we realize that something was forgotten: tears! 
Well, here is a checklist that will help you get ready for a full day out and come back home with happy little ones, ready for bed time! And you? Oh, you can go enjoy some "me" time!


Check the link bellow and Have a wonderful summer!

Packing well so you can enjoy it!

Do you know the benefits of raising your chi?

This is a great posting on the small changes you can do to raise the energy in your life and making smart choices to a healthier environment.
I am sure you'll enjoy it!

Do you know the benefits of raising your chi?

Friendships: 2 Essential Traits of Great Girl Friends

Friendships: 2 Essential Traits of Great Girl Friends

The Ultimate Beach Bag!

I'm a Professional Organizer who has a vision when all you can see is the clutter. I love working with families to get to enjoy life, by organizing their spaces, clearing their minds.

I also have my expertise from a decade of being a military spouse – read, many moves – and mother of 3 young boys -  talk about packing! I have lived in Rio until moving to the US, then to San Diego, Guam, Japan, MD.

I know how crazy packing to the beach can get when you have 3 boys to protect, entertain and, of course, feed while there.

My bag always has these sections:

Mom

Why me first? Because, just like in a plane emergency, if my mask isn't on, I can't take care of my kids' mask.

For myself I always bring:

- A good sunscreen, one for the whole family, hypoallergenic, SPF 60 (it's easier).

- Eye-sunscreen

- Hair protector, it's very good to protect your tresses from the long sun exposure during the summer, even more if you color your hair.

- Hat or cap

- Hair clip - You can use the "teeth" of your hair clip to detangle your hair. Looks a lot nicer than that big comb! ;-)

- Extra pair of shorts or cover-up, t-shirt, for eventual spill ups, which I leave in the car.

- 1 reading material. I guess more than that is quite ambitious!

- Umbrella, in case we're going to a beach where you can't rent one

- Towels - I don't use the huge one. It's too heavy and we really need towels to get dry after the beach. We have 2 large ones for the family and we use chairs when my husband is there to help.

- Power bars. I love the ones from Kind.

- Water in a safe reusable water bottle.

Kids

I always use the visual image of "head to toe", including their tummies, to help me remember everything I need.

- Hats - I have my kids color coded (I had twins first) and that helps A LOT to make sure all is there.

The kids will be wearing them to go to the beach:

- swimming shorts

- Rash guards

- Water shoes

- Extra set of clothes and sandals/flip-flops for each one in a Ziploc bag, to change to head home/hotel. I will use the empty bags to store the wet swimming clothes to bring home.

- Sand-toys. I keep ours in an inexpensive laundry bag. It shakes the sand off through the tiny holes when you're done and then you can tuck it away in another bag if you want or straight in the back of the car. Use a toy bucket to wash little feet!

Food

Even if I know I'm going to a beach with lots of restaurants, I'll bring something for the children to eat. I guess I’ve learned it the hard way at airports in our travels in the US or internationally, where you expect to have food, but then can't find anything or it's all closed because you landed too early.

Here is what I will bring in a small thermos that fits inside my huge Land's End tote (can't beat them!):

- 1 sandwich for each child

- Nuts, raisins and small crackers, like Goldfish.

- Power bars (bring them in a small plastic box or they will turn into mush)

- Cheese sticks

- 1 bottle of water per child

- Prepare all your food the night before and put in the fridge. Pack your thermos in the morning.

Emergency

I have a small see-through plastic pouch where I have:

- Band-Aid - they can solve WW magnitude meltdowns!

- Neosporin on the go.

- Benadryl - spray for bug bites or itch.

- Calendula lotion - refreshing for sunburned skin (yes, it happened to us) or after sun lotion.

- Pain reliever for kids and mom.

Since the best hours with kids are always the early ones, when they are fully awake, fed and happy, and when the beach still fresh, my strategy has always been to pack the day/night before. This way you can get out the door without stress.

I know this sound like a lot, but we have been enjoying days at the beach without worries for years now and have always gone through them without troubles. I prefer to carry my big tote than to worry and waist my gorgeous summer vacation on the small stuff.

I really hope this can be useful on your next trip to the beach.

I have so much fun organizing my family and many others!


Life can be Simpler.

Easy Games Storage for our Little (Loved) Ones!

Instead of fighting with the kids to store their games in those small boxes and pockets, allow them to store them loosely in a larger container. Their tiny fingers can't yet manage the small pockets, hard plastic and elaborate foldings of the containers yet. Let's give them a helping hand!

It's not just trash!

As a Professional Organizer, I believe that when I'm taking the trashbags out, I am cleaning more than its contents. I'm bringing out all the years of emotions, of self-doubts, of fights caused by it and I am helping someone to create space and the conditions for change. We don't know what that change will be or can be, but I believe we can only move forward in life. We may choose to delay change, delay growth, but once we've learned, we never go back.

Keep those bags coming. I'll help you take them out!

facebook page / Helena - A Personal Organizer