It’s official.  As of today, my kids wrapped up another great school year and brought home a mountain of papers to prove it.  Writing journals, art projects, report cards - their backpacks were stuffed to the limit.  Within 10 minutes of getting home this afternoon, all three kids had scattered their stash all over the living room floor.  I’m a big fan of purging and I’m not a scrapbooker, so my first instinct was to grab a trash bag and rescue my floor.  But, as a nostalgic Mom, I just couldn’t bring myself to toss it all.  I mean what kind of parent could throw out a perfect, purple octopus painting by their 5 year-old or a “Why I love my Mom” essay by their third-grader?  So, naturally, I was forced to find another alternative. 

That’s when I remembered an idea I read about in Family Fun Magazine.  One clever Mom suggested using Priority Mail boxes to store kid art projects.  I use Priority Mail to ship all my MeckMom Etsy Store orders, so luckily I had a pack of these flat rate boxes sitting in the garage.  I pulled out three boxes and labeled them with each child’s name, teacher, grade, and the year.  Next, I started sifting through their stash and pulled out my favorite pieces.  Then, I let the kids choose a few of their favorites.  After that, I went through their family inbox (that’s where I temorarily store stuff I want to keep) and added a few more items to their box (like school pictures, awards, mother’s day cards, etc.). 

My plan from this point is to take a video of each child going through and describing the treasures in their box.  Once that’s done, we’ll pack everything up, seal the box, and move them to the big, plastic  container in the garage. 

It’s not a permanent solution - eventually I hope to make DVDs of each kid’s photos, art, and videos.  It’s just a great way to keep everything organized (and off my floor) until I have time to take on the bigger project.  The flat rate boxes are available for free at your local post office or online at usps.com.  Just thought I’d pass it on.

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Let’s face it, greeting card stores are not kid-friendly.  They stock tons of fragile knick knacks and scatter them amidst endless rows of brightly colored, cartoon-covered cards - all within easy reach of my kid’s curious fingers.  So, when it comes time to find the perfect Mother’s Day card, I skip the store and grab my greeting card file folder instead.

My greeting card box is a simple accordion style file box with built-in dividers.  I bought it to coordinate with my other office stuff at Staples for around $18, but you could use a cheaper plastic version or a three-ring binder stocked with sheet protectors as well.  Essentially, I divided the box into the basic card categories (thank you, holiday, birthday, etc.) and labeled the dividers with return address-size labels.  To help keep things tidy, I store the cards in the open slots and stash all the envelopes in the back.

Whenever I’m kid-free and get a chance to visit Hallmark or the greeting card aisle of Target, I try to stock up on a random collection of cards to replenish my supply.  That way when special events such as birthdays and baby showers pop up on my calendar I’ve always got a few great cards to choose from. 

I’m not much of a ’saver’ (I like to keep digital copies), but if you have a hard time parting with hand-written notes from friends and family you could also use this system to keep your treasured cards safe and organized.  Just make sure your file box or binder is made of acid-free materials like this plastic version from Amazon.com.

This little quick fix is cheap, easy, and completely convenient - three of my favorite organizing adjectives.  :)  Just thought I’d pass it on.    

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Thanks to everyone for your fabulous responses to last week’s Talk to Me Tuesday post.  It’s great to know that I’m not alone in my hatred of slimy, grimy showers.

Recently I got a great question from April regarding my many charts.  She wondered where I stash my charts in order to keep them accessible without making things look cluttered.  Although the fridge is a tempting solution, I like to reserve it for things like my Kid’s Weekly Planners and their current homework.  Consequently, I have to stash my other charts and lists elsewhere.  My favorite stash spots?  The inside of my kitchen cupboards and doors.

For example, the picture above shows the inside of the cupboard door nearest to my fridge.  On it I keep my Mom Game Plan, my Stash Box Challenge sheet, a pack of post-its and a clip of quick-reference school sheets (like the lunch menu, and the school calendar).  I’m not crazy about taping things to the inside of my cupboards and doors, so I use removeable hooks to hold things in place instead.  When used in combination with small binder clips they’re an inexpensive, flexible way to keep everything close at hand. 

I use the same basic solution on the inside of my pantry door as well.  Here the clips and hooks hold things like this ziploc bag of clipped box tops, the kid’s lunch boxes, and my Reuseable Grocery List.  As for your question regarding the Picture Job Chart, April, I keep that one on a similar hook inside the hall closet door.  When Saturday morning rolls around I grab the chart from the hook, adjust the jobs, and then post it on the outside of the pantry door for easy viewing.

So there you have it, April.  By keeping my charts and lists in these hidden stash spots around the house, I’m able to keep everything accessible without adding clutter to the public areas of the house.  It’s a simple, cheap and easy way to keep things organized and out of view.  Just thought I’d pass it on.

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It’s hard to believe, but as of today, Christmas is only four short weeks away.  There are many professional organizers that will tell you the key to holiday happiness is beginning your preparations months in advance.  Although they may be right, I’m not a believer.  Over the years, I’ve found that about four weeks is all I need to get my Christmas under control.  The key for me is to get it all down on paper.  

Last year, I posted a batch of Christmas planning files that were designed to help you and your family manage your holiday to-dos, expenses, and gifts.  Since I’ve got so many new readers this year, I thought I’d repost them.  I’m adding a new calendar planning file as well.   It’s nothing fancy, just a simple 5-week calendar to help you schedule your many holiday tasks.  I recommend printing out a few of them and sorting your tasks into categories.  For example, you may want an entire calendar dedicated to your cleaning schedule, another devoted to events to attend, and another for your party preparations.  Using these calendars in conjunction with the 4-week Christmas planner file should give you a great organizing foundation. 

Keep all your calendars and your other planning papers in a simple 3-ring binder and force yourself to go through it several times a week.  I like to keep mine in the car with me so I can review it while I’m waiting to pick up kids and so I can double-check my budget and gift plans before I head into a store (impulse buying is one of my many weaknesses).  You may also want to add a simple pencil pouch to your binder to store your receipts and coupons.

Whatever system you come up with, these simple files can be a great way to kick off your Christmas organization.  For more MeckMom stress-reducing holiday tips, check out my latest article in Organize Magazine.  It’s on sale now.  Just thought I’d pass it on.

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A few weeks ago I was at my daughter’s gymnastics class when a woman asked me to borrow a pen.  I knew that I probably had a few lingering around the bottom of my purse so I started digging.  After pulling out a half a dozen crumpled receipts, lotion, gum, and loads of other mom-on-the-go essentials I finally found the uncapped, dried-out pen.  I was kind of embarrassed about my disorganized mess until the other mom smiled and showed me the chaotic contents of her own purse.  We spent the next few minutes commiserating about how much stuff we lug around everyday and what a hassle it was to keep it all handy. 

Sadly, this wasn’t a new problem for me.  I’ve had a messy purse forever.  Since downsizing the stuff in my purse wasn’t really an option, I decided it was time for a real solution.  I looked online and found lots of purses designed to keep things organized, but their price tags were a bit ridiculous.  Also, I wanted a solution that could move from purse to purse.  Again, I found a few options out there, but spending $30 to keep my tissues and earbuds in order seemed a little silly.  

After wandering the aisles of Target for inspiration, I came up with this cheap and easy pencil pouch solution.  Granted, this is not the most attractive idea.  I know it’s not very chic to stuff your purse with something you find in the school supply aisle, but chances are if you’re concerned about the inside of your purse looking chic you probably don’t carry wet wipes anyway :).  

I’ve used this little solution for over a month now, and I must say it functions perfectly.  The clear front makes it easy to spot the contents and the zipper top makes it easy to access all my mom essentials without having to pull the pouch out of the purse.  Consequently, I’m able to find exactly what I need quickly and my purse has never looked better.  Best of all, when I need to switch purses I simply grab the pouch, my wallet, and my cell and I’m on my way.  In fact, I liked the solution so much that after a week I added a second pouch to keep my receipts, checkbook, and pens organized.

My everyday purse is fairly large…I like to be able to stuff a novel or magazine inside.  If yours is a little smaller, you may want to try a small clear make-up bag in place of the pencil pouch.  Just look for something that is fairly narrow, has a zip top, and sturdy sides to keep the items in place.  Otherwise your pouch will take up too much space in your purse and it won’t be as functional.  Good luck, ladies.  Just thought I’d pass it on.

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It’s a dilemma. We want our kids to learn the value of money, but they can’t seem to keep track of it. I dread cleaning up loose change almost as much as I dread hearing my kids fight over the dime they found in the couch cushions. I created this family bank to save me from becoming the referee and hopefully teach my kids a few money saving strategies at the same time.

The bank is a simple three-ring binder kept in my kitchen cupboard. Inside the binder I have one zippered pencil pouch for each of my kids. On the front I keep a statement sheet. The sheet has an simple table for each kid to jot down their deposits and withdrawals.Behind the kid’s pouches, I have another pouch that holds a calculator and a tithing envelope for each of the kids.

Whenever they get their allowance, earn money from a money job, or get money gifted to them. We pull out the bank binder. I help them write out the deposit amounts on the statement sheet and then make a 10% withdrawal for tithing.I don’t force them to deposit their money, but we do have a rule that if someone finds money in the couch cushions…or anywhere else, it goes into the family jar we keep on top of the fridge.

When they decide they want to spend their money we simply pull out the pouch and take it with us to the store. On fast Sundays, we pull out the tithing envelopes and bring them to church with us.It’s a simple system, but it has made a huge difference for me. My kids are excited to save and the fights are a thing of the past. As a side bonus, the whole tithing concept is much clearer for them. Just thought I’d pass it on. You can find the free file downloads for the cover and binder spine insert below.

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I must admit, there are probably much prettier ways to control mail chaos. However, for me, my priority is simply to get it out of my way. I generally get the mail on the way in from running errands or picking kids up from school. Consequently, my hands are always full and I have little to no time to deal with the mess. I created this simple folder system to help me get the mail off my counter and out of the way… in less than a minute.

This file-folder holder, designed for offices, sits on my kitchen counter. I purchased both it and the folders inside for less than $10 at WalMart a few years ago. It’s divided into three sections each with two labeled file folders. The first section handles bills, both paid and current. The middle section handles coupons & receipts. The last section handles misc. mail and mailing supplies.

When I bring in the mail, I dump it on the counter in front of this sorter. Any junk mail gets dumped in the trash (it’s nearby). I open and throw out all envelopes. Any bills go into the ‘Current Bills’ folder. Coupons I think I might actually use I put into the ‘Coupons’ folder. The magazines that require reading I toss over to the basket near the couch. Catalogs that I want to flip through, but don’t have time for at the moment, are stashed behind the misc. folder. Whenever I’m stirring something or listening to messages, I grab one of these catalogs from the folder, flip through it, and then toss it.

On Sunday nights after the kids go to bed, I pay my bills. I grab the ‘Current Bills’ folder and pay all my bills online. Once I’ve paid the bill online, I write a slash across it, circle the amount (or write it in, if it’s different), and jot down the date. When I’ve paid all the bills in the pile, I add them to the ‘Paid Bills’ folder. Generally these hard copies stay in this folder for around 3 months and then get shredded.

The ‘Receipts’ folder holds any receipts I dig out of my purse that day. Every month or so, I go through the receipts and pitch those that don’t have any return potential. Those that have an item over $100 I add to the receipts binder (mentioned in a previous post) in the cupboard nearby.

The ‘Misc.’ folder holds any mail that doesn’t fit into the other categories but that I want to hang on to, like invitations, credit card offers, and addresses from envelopes I want to keep. I also have a blank folder in the back that holds mail supplies. In it I have a few blank thank you cards, various envelopes, and stamps.

Again, this isn’t the prettiest system, but it works. It keeps my counters clear while saving me time and late fees…in my book, that makes it worth it. Just thought I’d pass it on.

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After my last post, I had a few questions about the other sheet protector-filled binders in my cupboard. Here are a few of my favorites:

· Family Info Binder: This one keeps track of all those papers sent home with my kids for their various activities. Anything from soccer schedules to Brownie Scout phone numbers to preschool weekly themes winds up here. In the binder, I’ve got 3 dividers for each of my kids (i.e. Jack’s calendars, Jack’s directories, Jack’s misc info). When papers come home, I stick them in here and then bring the binder with me whenever I update the family calendar.

· Receipts Binder: Most of my receipts end up in the trash once I know I won’t be returning anything. However, I like to hang on to big ticket receipts just in case I need it for warranty issues. Any single item that’s more than $100 goes into a sheet protector in this binder. I’ve got it divided by the common stores I shop, so I can find things quickly. There’s also a misc. divider for all those random purchases.

· Manuals Binder: This one’s pretty self-explanatory. I never knew what to do with those annoying instruction manuals that come with every appliance and electronic thing. Finally, I created this binder. Now when I need to remember how to work my phone, check on a warranty, or order extra parts for my vacuum I know just where to look.

· Directories Binder: This one holds all those phone numbers that I need often. Church directories, school directories, neighborhood directories, they all end up here.

· Decorating Ideas Binder: I can’t afford anything in the Pottery Barn or Restoration Hardware catalogs, but I love to copy their ideas. Rather than hang on to the whole catalog I rip out the pages I like and stick them in this binder. It’s divided by room and has a little pack of post-its in the front so I can jot down what I liked about that particular picture. The same concept could work for recipes, family fun ideas, or anything else you tend to hang on to. I’ve got a few others binders stashed around the house, but these are the “have to keep it in the kitchen so I actually use it” binders. Just thought I’d pass it on.

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