Don't Sleep On It

Who's shoes are these?

Play the "pick up" game.  

Picking up before bed should not be an opportunity for procrastination. 

Before you get ready for bed take a look around, put dirty dishes in the dishwasher, straighten up the sofa pillows, put away shoes and items from daily living left on the floor.  

Get the family to do their part.  In the morning, children (and their parents) will be happier and spend less time looking to find their items for school or the work day.  Early in the day will seem much brighter with a cleaner house!

~ Gretchen

What's Coming in Your Door?

If that is coming in, what's going out?

When you bring something in, take something out -  monitor your drawer, in your closets, in your files, your mail, your bookshelf, your child's schoolwork...the list is endless.


If you buy three new pairs of socks, get rid of three or even four old pairs.  Once you develop this habit, you will be amazed at how it cuts the clutter in your life, and not just paper, toys, and clothing.  Use this strategy to break bad habits, improve your nutrition, and even develop healthier relationships.


~ Gretchen

How Tos for your To Dos

What's on your list?

Keep your "to do" list ON your calendar, not "in" your calendar but "on" each individual day.  As you go through daily tasks and appointments you stay on task and on deadline by designating a scheduled amount of time to complete each task.  This habit forces you to evaluate how long a task actually takes and whether you need to delegate or edit your "to do" list.  For instance, you may discover that your time is worth too much to drop off and pick up the cleaning and that is well worth the gratuity to have it delivered.

How about a book swap?

Notebook 

Recently, I hosted my book club.  We often trade books when we meet once a month.  This time was no exception.  I offered my entire library, from which club members could borrow.  I asked them to write their name and the title of the book in a notebook which I will keep in the book shelves in case I need to remember who has what.  My library is becoming more and more digitized as there is both a Kindle and an iPad in my family, but I still love the feel of books.  I cannot really justify keeping so many if I don't share. 

If I get another Lands End catalog, I'll just...

Give your mailbox a makeover and reclaim space on your kitchen counter!

Check out dmachoice.org.

Register for a free account and receive access to contact information for magazines, catalogs and direct mailing services at your fingertips.

Mail order shopping is a greener option than filling up your car with a tank of gas and driving long distances to the mall to window shop. This website gives many options and it is nice to see that you can register deceased or very ill members in your care to be removed from direct mailing lists. This can be a difficult task to complete.

Holidays are right around the corner and our mailboxes begin to bulge, stop that junk mail from junking up your counter!