Know C.H.A.O.S? Can’t Have Anyone Over Syndrome?

Hi Geralin,

I’m not sure if you will get this letter in time or not. I hope so.

I would love to hire a professional organizer, but there is no way I can afford one. All the TV shows are inspiring, the magazines are fun to read and books are helpful, but, I have very specific questions about very specific issues unique to my home, my kids, my lifestyle and my way of doing things.

I’m Jewish and the holidays are right around the corner. It’s my turn to have the family visit. Read the rest »

Picture this: Carrie Couponer is standing in the check out line at the grocery store when she realizes she can’t find the coupons she had planned to use.  She knows she cut them out of the paper. She thought they were somewhere in her purse hiding among the hand sanitizer, loose change, 50 pens and lip gloss (which was free at CVS last week with the sale and manufacturer coupons!).  Where are those coupons?  By the time she finds them, she has long since left the store with the higher priced items.  Sound even remotely familiar?  Read the rest »

Have you ever found yourself trying to make plans with a friend, just play with the kids, or do something fun for yourself, only to find your planner so full that “maybe next month” is the best you can do? If so, you probably have that old Ado Annie syndrome… you’re “just a girl who cain’t say no.”

We all want to feel like great parents, accomplished at work, and like we’re giving back to the community. It is human nature to want success and to please others. It’s good to feel that way – to be ambitious, to be busy, and to get things done. But how much is too much? “Yes” is a good thing – in moderation.

Productivity doesn’t mean filling every moment of every day with tasks that further some agenda. Prepare yourself for upcoming burnout if your schedule is so full that there isn’t time for family, friends and yes — YOU. Read the rest »

If you have ever taken your pooch for a jog through the neighborhood or a play date at the dog park, then you may have dealt with a soon-to-be aggressive situation. It’s not uncommon for dogs to meet enemies, so you should not worry if your pooch is not playful with all canines. However, you should know how to identify a tension-filled situation and how to avoid one.

Like many other aspects of your pooch’s life, prevention is key. For example, if your pooch has never been to the dog park, then it is unwise to leave the leash at home. Even the most lovable, socialized dogs can encounter a foe, so you cannot leave your pooch’s wellbeing in fate’s hands. Instead, you should be responsible in all of your dog’s actions. Anytime you are exercising your dog where other animals may be present, you should at least be carrying a leash. But, carrying a leash is not enough. Many owners have never had to use the leash; therefore, they do not know how to properly use one. An animal that has never experienced a leash will have just as many problems as the owner. So, make sure you have control over your dog when he is on a leash. Read the rest »

Next year my husband Scott and I will be celebrating our 15^th wedding anniversary.  A few of my friends and I were recently chatting about tips to keep romance alive. As I was offering my suggestions, I immediately thought about how many of my tips for a happy sex life were actually centered on being organized.  Now, I am certainly not implying that you should add “sex” to your check-off list for the day or week (or month if the case may be), but there are definitely things that you can do to help keep the spark alive, that actually fall under the realm of getting your life organized. Read the rest »

Is anyone even thinking about the holidays in 100 degree weather? You should! End of summer is the perfect time to plan, get great deals and great selection for holiday gifts for your family! Shopping for holiday gifts for your family doesn’t have to be a strain on your budget, time or sanity. You can find unique and thoughtful gifts for every member of your family on your Christmas list that will astound them on Christmas morning – and it you don’t have to spend hours trekking through store after store, braving the winter winds and parking lot chaos. You can find great Holiday and Christmas gifts for your whole family with ease and comfort by following these 5 tried and true family gift-giving tips: Read the rest »

My kids have always enjoyed cooking and baking, and it has been my pleasure to teach them.  My son, Dylan, is 4 and he is still happy with the toy ovens and licking the mixing spoons, but my daughter, Juliet, who will soon be 10, has already mastered stirring (while keeping much of the food inside the bowl), cracking eggs, and measuring; and has begun wanting a bit more leeway in the kitchen.

I am always anxious to try a kid friendly product in the kitchen and was delighted to test out King Arthur Flour K.A.F. Kids™ Snickerdoodle cookie mix.  I sat the box out on the kitchen counter and tied an apron around Juliet.  She had no problems following the kid friendly directions.  Not only were they easily spelled out, with child friendly fonts, margins and spacing, but there were illustrations for each step.  I helped with a couple steps, but quite frankly she could have done each step solo.  She turned on the oven while I melted the butter she lined the cookie sheet with parchment paper and then cracked her egg.  Once the butter cooled a bit she used a whisk to incorporate the egg with the butter and then used a spoon to add the packaged cookie mix.  She then followed the directions on the box and rolled the dough into balls.  Dylan got into the action at the next step as he got to roll the balls in the cinnamon and sugar (the cinnamon and sugar come with the box and there is more than enough).  They placed the cookies on the cookie sheet and I placed it in the oven. Read the rest »