Keeping Life Organized and Staying on top of Paperwork

from Tasha Bradshaw on Vimeo.


If you have ever felt completely overwhelmed and buried in paperwork this video shows what I do to stay on top of papers at our house.  


P.S. I learned so much from the "Mind Organization for Moms" program from Power of Moms, the video has several references to what they teach in that program.

Building a Wardrobe that Works

At one point after having four children, I had so many clothes that they couldn't fit in my half of the closet so they overflowed into the babies room closet.  Ironically, even with all of the clothes I owned there were several items that I wore just because I owned them, not because I liked them.  I had several random styles of shoes and several things in my closet they were a little small or big, but I was sure that I would need them in the future.  With the abundance of clothes I felt like I had nothing to wear and nothing that I really liked to wear!  

I decided to build a wardrobe that works.  In the book, "It's All Too Much,"  oranizational expert Peter Walsh says,

"We wear 20 percent of our clothes 80 percent of the time.  Shocking but true!  Many of the clothes in your closets are either never worn or worn so seldom that you would barely notice if they disappeared.  In my experience, there is no such thing as a closet without some clothing that was bought on an impulse, hardly worn (if at all!), and which now has a fine coating of dust.  True?  If you recognize yourself here, then you really don't need me to tell you what needs to be done."  

I wanted clothes that cordinate and acessories that really make the oufit look great.  I didn't want to keep wearing plain colored shirts and jeans; because I didnt have thousands of dollars to redo my wardrobe it has been a process over a few years.   I have determined a few keys that make my wardrobe work for me: colors I like, styles that I prefer, key pieces that I need for a great foundation.  

Color:

The first step that I took to build a wardrobe that works was to determine what colors I liked to wear.  I looked through my closet and realized my favorite things to wear were bright bold colors (or hues: see below).  Even though I thought my pastel pink shirt was beautiful, when I wore it I felt washed out and looked tired.  I also realized that I prefer to wear black and white as my neutral colors.  I also realized I didn't really like to wear cream colored shirts.  On the other hand, my oldest daughter feels like the colors that I like to wear are too bold for her.  She builds her wardrobe around the soft colors (tones: see below).  She looks great in cream and grey as well as other neutrals.  

Slowly I started to weed out clothes that I didn't enjoy wearing and I started to purchase clothes in colors that I felt happy in.

I like this color chart because it shows that if we build our wardrobe from either the Tint, Tone, Shade, or Hue we are able to have clothes that will mix and match together.  I think it is also important to determine what neutral colors to build our wardrobe around.  

Style:

There are so many styles of clothes.  I started to pay attention to what I prefer to wear.  I love classic tailored pieces that  are more structured.  On the other hand, my daughter prefers soft flowy pieces with scarves and soft details.  It has been fun to understand what we prefer.  As we see new trends it is easier to understand if it is a trend we would like to embrace or if it is something we can do without.  

I have learned a lot about different styles and colors from Dressing Your Truth.  She has a fabulous system.  The Cartigan Empire also breaks down different styles that help determine what style of clothes you prefer (see lower left side bar on this site).  

Building a Great Foundation:

Buiding a great foundation for your wardrobe.  

1.  Start with neutral shirts to layer with:  

My favorite neutral colors are black and white.

Select two basic colored shirts to layer with.  Mine are raspberry and navy.

If you have a great outfit with a dingy white shirt underneath it really ruins the look.  Black can easily fad and look old and worn.  I try to make sure my black and white shirts look nice so that all the outfits that I pair them with look their best.  

The colored shirts are perfect for layering with a cardigan or sweater.  

(my layering shirts are from Old Navy and Downeast)

2. Pants (5-6 pairs)  I believe having a nice pairs of pants is an essential part of any wardrobe.  I don't have a lot of pants, but I have tried to select a variety that works well.  I have some skinny jeans and some bootcut jeans to add variety.  Having pants that fit makes a huge difference in how we feel durning the day.  I don't store pants that don't fit.  I just have what works now, I enjoy these pants and wear them out!  

Workout clothes

3.  Create Outfits
By purchasing clothes in similar color tones, similar style, and having great basics, I am able to have a wardrobe that will mix and match well.  The outfit possibilities are endless.  I decided that I prefer to have about 21 outfits they all come from the same 6 pairs of pants.

I print a picture or these outfits and keep it on my closet shelf so that I can quickly get dressed each morning.  

4. Buy Items that Coordinate

I buy items that will cordinate with several different pieces of clothing.  I got this royal blue pencil skirt (picture below) for my birthday.  It is a great addition to my wardrobe because so many of the shirts that I already own will easily coordinate with it.

If you are looking to buy a new skirt and it will require you to buy new shoes, a new necklace, and a new shirt to go with it, it probably isn't right for your wardrobe!   Look for something that works well and offers a variety of possibilities.

Our appearance has a tremendous effect on how we feel and how productive we are.  

My daughter's softer style

My daughter and I have enjoyed organizing our wardrobes together.

The result of wardrobe organization is:

1.  Our closets look amazing and organized!

2.  Everything in our closets fits and works for us! 

3.  It is so much more fun to get ready when you know of several great outfits that work!

4.  You feel better and work better when you are comfortable in your clothes and with who you are!

Ready For School?

We have done 7 things to get ready to start school this week.  

1. Clean the mudroom

I wanted to make sure this room was clutter free so that we were ready for it to be filled with backpacks!

2. Get the Backpack's cleaned out and ready

I made the mistake of letting our oldest daughter pick out any backpack she wanted when she started kindergarten.  Let's just say that cheap "Hello Kitty" backpack didn't last long at all.  She actually went through three backpacks before I learned my lesson and started buying Land's End backpacks and lunch bags.  I always get them on sale for a great price and they last for many years! 

3.  Buy school supplies

While I was shopping for a cart full of school supplies my husband went shoe shopping.  Our kids have to have a pair of gym shoes to keep at school for their P.E. class and the boys needed new shoes to wear to school.   Out of the six pairs of shoes purchased, four of them were a size 3!  

4.  Have the lunch bags and containers ready

Our Ziploc containers fit perfectly in our kids lunch bags.  The water bottles that I found at Old Navy are the perfect size for the side of their bag.  

5.  Print new charts and plan the fall schedule

6.  Clean closets and buy some school clothes

I have learned the beauty of not having too many clothes!  It is much nicer to have a closet with items you love and can easily find than a closet stuffed with items you don't really like.  

7.  Have an organized system for papers

When the backpacks come home and I am sorting through papers I have my ipad handy to add anything to my calendar or to-do list.  

I also have the stadium file to file papers in one of the following folders:

Today (things that must be handled today)

Weekly Review (things that I can take care of that week, I usually have a weekly review on Fridays)

File (papers that need to be filed long term)

Read and Review (magazines or information I would like to read through)

The black accordion thing in the picture has a place for each kid to store papers that need to be filed temporarily (spelling lists, sight words to practice).

Cleaning: What is the Point?

I don't know how many mothers love cleaning: yucky toilets, never ending dishes, bathroom sinks dotted with toothpaste, laundry strewn on the floor, sticky kitchen floors, and messy playrooms.

I think sometimes we get so overwhelmed we forget why we do what we do.

What is the point?

Why do we sweep when crumbs will cover the floor after the next meal?  Why do we pick up the toys when they will just get dumped out again in a few minutes?

We actually find a beautiful answer to our question in the scriptures.

In the dedicatory prayer of the Kirtland Temple it says:

Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing, and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God; (Doctrine and Covenants 109:8)

We are striving to become like God and we are striving to have our homes be like his home, the Temple.  

C.S. Lewis said, “The homemaker has the ultimate career. All other careers exist for one purpose only - and that is to support the ultimate career. "

This earth was created for families to progress together for exaltation.  As we make our homes a piece of Heaven on earth and provide a spiritual shelter from the world we are fulfilling our purpose.  

In Daryl Hoole's book, "The Art of Homemaking."  She quotes a "Dear Abby" Column that read:

Thank God for dirty dishes;
They have a tale to tell;
While other folks go hungry,
We're eating very well.
With home and health and happiness
We shouldn't want to fuss,
For by this stack of evidence,
God's very good to us.  

So next time you feel overwhelmed by all you have to clean remember how blessed we are to have everything.  

In Daryl Hoole's Book the "Ultimate Career, the Art of Homemaking Today" she has a list of jobs that need to be done daily, weekly, monthly, and seasonally.  

Daily
make beds
prepare and serve meals
clean up and sweep kitchen
spot-clean bath fixtures, mirrors, and floors
pick up throughout house
empty wastebaskets
wash and fold clothes
remove snow in season

Weekly
clean bathrooms
change bed and bath linens
remove fingerprints
damp-mop hard floors
dust furniture
vacuum floors
carry out trash
iron and mend
plan weekly menu and grocery shop
water indoor plants
mow and edge lawn in season
tend garden in season
rake leaves in season
sweep porches and steps

Monthly
clean refrigerator
clean stove, oven, and microwave
dust ledges and baseboards
clean lampshades
clean surfaces of mirrors, TVs, computers, and telephones
dust picture frames
clean light fixtures
straighten and clean closets, drawers, and cupboards
clean furnace filters, air conditioning filters
flush drains with bleach
make home repairs
clean and sweep garage
wash and vacuum vehicles
clean patio or deck in season
purge magazines and newspapers

Seasonally or Semiannually
wash window
clean faucet aerators
sort seasonal clothing, sort and store or give away children's outgrown clothing
prepare yard and patio for next season
turn off or on outside water sources as needed
prepare for holidays
wash or dust walls
spray-wash house plants and polish leaves
clean blinds, mini-blinds, or plantation shutters

It is a long list and can seem overwhelming.  I realize that I can't possibly do all of it alone and maintain a whole house by myself so my family is involved in the process.  I look at the daily list and each child has a daily chore that helps to accomplish tasks on that list.  For Saturday work the kids have jobs based on what needs to be done weekly.   The best part is that when they help clean on a daily and weekly basis they recognize how important it is to be responsible and keep their things picked up daily.  

Dream House

In a neighborhood near our house there is a charming little model home.  Every time I drive passed I smile because I think it has such a wonderful attention to detail and is built with quality.  I finally remembered my camera and stopped by to take a few pictures.

Homes are kind of my "thing".  I have been interested in homes since I was a little girl.  My parents started taking me to home-shows when I was in elementary school and I looked forward to it each year. In college I studied Interior Design and we had a wonderful professor who had us use, "The Not So Big House," book as our text book for her class.  The book covers the fact that our homes keep getting bigger and bigger, but that doesn't mean that they function for our families and meet our needs.  It was very informative and I learned a lot from the book and the concepts that it taught, but as a newly married starving student in the back of my mind I still dreamed of owning a large fancy home.

When my husband graduated with his master's degree several of our friends who were also graduating started talking about where they were moving to and about their new houses.  One friend's husband had just finished his medical residency and they were moving to a six bedroom home.  Another friend was having a new home build with four bedrooms.  Our situation turned out to be quite different.  My husband's fellowship took us to Palo Alto, CA where the cost of living was significantly higher than where he had attended graduates school in the Midwest.  Unlike our friends who were out shopping for a new dining room table for their new home.  I started to clean out and give away everything we could spare as we prepared to leave our spacious two story townhome with attached garage and extra storage.  We even downsized to be a one car family.   We moved to a second floor apartment that was 900 and something square feet in Califonia.

Downsizing wasn't easy, and the truth was I felt quite sorry for myself!  I was unprepared for the lesson I would learn.  I discovered an amazing fact: with less stuff I could live the life I wanted.  My priorities shifted from wanting more to loving what I had.  I spent time playing at the park with my kids.  We read books.  In the afternoon while the baby slept I taught my daughter preschool.  We went on walks as a family in the evenings.  We exercised regularly, went to library story time, attended the Oakland Temple regularly, cooked, sewed and thoroughly enjoyed life.  

I spent less time cleaning, less time shuffling belongings, and more time focused on family.  I look back at that time as one of the happiest years of my life.  

Since our Palo Alto days we have added 4 children to our family. A second floor, 900 square foot apartment just wouldn't work for us any more (or the poor people who would have to live below us)!

Each time we have bought a new home I have tried to seriously consider the lessons that  I learn in Palo Alto.  Requirements for my dream home are:

1.  Can my family and I reasonably maintain this home?  
2.  Can I afford to pay this home off in a reasonable amount of time?
3.  Does this home function and meet our needs or is it just for show?  

From my Palo Alto days I have learned to focus on Quality rather than Quantity in home and what will enable me to live the life I dream of living.  To me the model home that  I regularly drive passed exhibits the principles that  I believe.  It isn't large or showy, it is functional and beautiful; it can be reasonably maintained and provide a space that overflows with memories.  

Launching and Landing

The door opens.  The kids come in from school. One backpack opens and papers come spilling out.  Lunch bags are thrown down, empty water bottles, coats, gloves.  The house that was clean only moments before is now strewn with worksheets and spelling test.  

. . .Or maybe you are headed out the door for preschool drop off when you remember that the library books are due.  Where are they?  The search begins.  

Whether we are coming or going organization is key. It saves time getting in and out as well as minimizes the chaos that occurs.  

I read in the book, "Project: Organization, Quick and Easy Ways to Organize Your Life," by Marie Ricks, that you should have a "launching and landing" place in your home.  

We were fortunate when we bought our house that there was an unfinished mudroom just off of the garage.  We were able to have it finished how we wanted and it has made coming and going much easier!  

Here are some important ideas for "launching and landing":

Have an assigned place for your keys.

Have a specific place for your coat and purse.  We each have our own hook.  It is easy to grab what we need on the way out the door and easy to put away. 

The thing I learned from Marie Rick's book was that you need a place for things that don't have a place.  When I took this picture the basket on the right is empty.  It is a basket for things that are temporily at our house.  This week I bought a baby gift for a friend that I put in the basket until I was able to go to her house and deliver it.  I also had some clothes to return so they were in the basket and I grabbed them on the way out the door to run errands.  This has been a trick that helps things from pilling up on my counters.  It is a temprary place for things that are only going to be in our house for a short time.  

The basket on the left is for library books.  In the picture we didn't have any library books, but those are the bags we take to carry our library books home in.  When the kids are finished reading a library book they promptly return it to the basket so that I can return them. 

The basket on the right is for gloves, hats, and winter stuff.  The basket on the left contains 6 small bags that the kids take to church with them.  Sunday morning before walking out the door we just grab their bags.  (The oldest kids add their scriptures).  For Ellie it has diapers, wipes, a few small books and a little toy or two.  For the other kids it has a notebook and something to write with.  

Thirsty?

We have six kids.  If each child got a drink at each meal and a drink mid morning and mid afternoon that would be a minimum of 6 x 5 = 30 cups per day to wash.  That just doesn't work for me so. . . 

 We have assigned cup colors so that we never fight over colors :)   After meals the kids put their cup in "cup-land" next to the fridge.  If they have milk with a meal we rinse it out before they put it back.  After dinner they put their cups in the dishwasher.  It is a simple thing, but it makes our lives a little bit easier!  

Catherine's House

Before we moved I was able to take a few pictures of my friend Cat's house. It is amazing! She has always got a project. Notice the board and batten in the living room, refinished cabinets in the bathroom and refinished furniture throughout the house. . . and she built the beds!