FIRST IMPRESSIONS???

Welcome back. Here are the next 3 ideas on keeping your porch looking its best…

4. Take that same cloth and clean any furniture that is on your front porch!!

5. Look around your porch area and make sure there’s nothing there that shouldn’t be. Like trash or WEEDS!!! If it is January and you’ve still got your Christmas wreath on your door…GET IT OFF!!!

6. Make sure your front porch light is in working order and not covered in bugs and dust.

I must say if you do this weekly, it only takes less than 15 minutes to keep your front porch looking its best. If it has been a long while since you have cleaned it, than you might need to get a hose and spray everything off really good. But then keep it up with just a broom. I like keeping my broom in our garage so I have easy access to it. I also keep one on my back porch because I am always sweeping and cleaning the back also!!

I have given my 3rd little duckling the job of sweeping the porch each week, so that also helps on the up keep!!!

Homework: CLEAN YOUR FRONT PORCH!!! And have a great and organized weekend!!!

FIRST IMPRESSIONS???

When friends or salesmen walk up to your front door what do they see??? Do they see cob webs??? Are leaves covering your porch so you can’t even see the concrete??? Is dirt so thick on your windows that you can’t even see in???

I can tell you that sometimes, mine looks like The Haunted House at Disneyland!! — dust, dirt and cobwebs on the bench by the front door. It’s not surprising, because anyone with a garage normally enters their home through it. But it’s the front porch that the public sees — it’s your face to the outside world. So, is yours dirty? The situation is quickly resolved as easy as 15 minutes or less.

Here are 6 great ideas on making your porch look its best at all times!!

Here are the first 3…

1. Grab a broom and sweep the porch.

2. Use that same broom and sweep around the frame of your front door, clearing all cobwebs, etc. Do the same for the walls around the porch. Just a few quick motions is all you need here.

3. If you have a window by your front door, take your trusty Windex and clean until it sparkles. Same thing for the door handle and the lock.

Hope to see you Thursday for the next 3 ideas!!

72 Hour Kits… DO YOU HAVE THEM AND ARE THEY BEING ROTATED????

There are so many ideas about how to store all of your essentials, and how you will carry them if the time comes.

For my family I use big plastic storage bins. I store them in the back of my pantry. Then if a disaster hits, we will grab my kid’s school backpacks from their proper HOMES and take them with us in case we need help carrying other supplies.

I am sure you all are asking how do you carry your bins if you can’t use your car???? Well when we started having out little ducklings, we bought a big plastic durable WAGON that fits both of our storage bins. That works best for our family!! Something else might work better for yours. Please comment on my blog and share your ideas!!!

NOW you are asking…HOW AND WHEN DO YOU ROTATE???? Every 6 months I rotate all of the food and snacks. (Even if they haven’t expired.) I do this on the 1st of April and the 1st of October. But you decide when it is best for you. I get to do mine this weekend!! YEA!!!!

Children grow so I rotate their clothes and underwear too. It only takes 1 hour to rotate, but it is a MUST!!!! Oh and don’t forget to rotate your water, and make sure you use everything you have rotated out!!! Get in the habit of rotating them!!

Homework: If you have a 72 hour kit make a rotating schedule. If you don’t have one, make a list of what you need and DO IT!!!!

I hope you have a great and ORGANIZED weekend!!

72 Hour Kits… DO YOU HAVE THEM AND ARE THEY BEING ROTATED????

I hope everyone has or soon will have a 72 hour kit. 72 hour kits are useful for the first 72 hours following some type of emergency/natural disaster. Often times they are used in times where you have to evacuate your home. If you could stick around your home, I’d hope you have more than 3 days worth of food- but that’s another story!!

72 hour kits typically contain supplies for dealing with disasters along with food and water.

Here are some great tips for what to put in your kits. Here is a list of non-food supplies.

□ supply of water (one gallon per person per day)

□ first aid kit and prescription medications

□ extra pair of glasses

□ credit cards and cash

□ change of clothes and sturdy shoes

□ battery powered radio, and extra batteries

□ blankets or sleeping bags, rain poncho, body warmer, glow stick, tarp to make a tent □ list of emergency plan contact info

□ booster cables for car, car shovel, rope, N95 dust mask, working gloves □ flashlight with batteries , or hand-crank flashlight

□ wind/waterproof matches, and candle, plastic trash bags

□ personal hygiene products (baby stuff, soap, tooth care, toilet paper, hair ties, wet wipes)

□ games, books, hard candy, toys medications, maps of surrounding areas, sewing kit, blank CD for SOS or signaling for help, whistle, multipurpose tool (screwdriver, knife, saw, pliers, can opener etc), Power Cap (baseball type hat with built in headlights) Food for your pets.

I also recommend having your important documents gathered in either an emergency binder, or safe. ( IN IT”S PROPER HOME) so you know exactly where it is so you can hurry and grab it and go!!!

The food is pretty easy to figure out. I just store enough breakfast, lunch and dinner for 3 days. OHHHHHH and don’t forget the SNACKS!!!! I put protein bars in because I know my family will eat and love them. I put packets of oatmeal, canned soups, canned tuna, canned chicken, rice packets that you just have to add hot water too, etc. Don’t forget the pan to cook it in, matches and of course a can opener. I also have a cup, plate, and utensils for each person in my family. For those of you who know me well, know that I have a 6 MONTH SUPPLY OF ANTIBACTERIAL WIPES!!!! (You can never be too safe!!!)

On Friday I will show you how to rotate it and how to store and carry it if the time comes!!

Top 20 Time Savers part 2

Alright here are the last 10 time savers to help you feel organized and to get a handle on things!!!

10. Carry your calendar/datebook/organizer with you at all times. Important information will be quickly accessed. Your phone is a good tool to use!!
11. Eliminate clutter.
12. The phone is your friend. It can save you hours of time. Use it to schedule upcoming events, use it to find an item you need instead of driving from store to store.
13. Learn to say "no." (this one is so hard for me to do) BUT VERY IMPORTANT!!!!
14. Handle paperwork once.
15. Read mail with a pen in hand. Respond immediately. Put it away in its home immediately too!!!!
16. Delegate. (I am good at this one!!!)
17. Concentrate on only one thing at a time until it is done.
18. Put 'waiting time' to good use - read, write thank you notes, schedule appointments, etc. (For example, while waiting for a doctor’s appointment!!)
19. Don't worry. About 40% of what we worry about never happens. (My Dad always told me this…GREAT ADVISE!!!)
20. Don't waste time regretting what you didn't do. MOVE ON!!!!

By effectively using your time wisely, you will end each day with a feeling of well being and you will be energized because you reached your goals for that day.

Just as a building is completed one brick at a time, your dreams are reached one at a time. (I love this quote!!)

Homework: Pick at least 5 and apply to your days!!! Have a great and organized weekend!!!

Top 20 Time savers

To be organized it is so important to plan ahead. Make a schedule allowing for more time than you think is needed. It is better to have a few extra minutes than to run behind schedule.

Here are 20 Time Savers to help you get through the day, week or month!!! I have gotten some of these from a fellow blogger named Storm. I thought a lot of these were brilliant!!!

1. Use a monthly calendar and a daily 'to do' list.
2. Maintain a 'contact list.'
3. Prioritize your 'to do' list the night before.
4. Minimize your T.V. watching during the day. Or work on others things when you are watching a show.
5. Always put things away in their PROPER HOME!!!
6. Attend all the meetings available to you. Try other people's ideas. See someone successful? Do what they do. Don't reinvent the wheel!
7. Set aside unimportant things.
8. Use small segments of time productively.
9. Do two things at the same time. Listen to the news on the radio while getting dressed instead of reading the newspaper. (I use to talk on the phone, nurse my baby, and cook dinner all at the same time.) Okay I am a little crazy…OKAY EXTREAMLY CRAZZZY!!!!

On Friday I will share the last 10 Time Savers…

Maximize your Storage Space part #3

Now finally the last 2 tips…

Tip #5
- Find a home for all of your piles, and neatly place them in rows, for example, when you get a new tube of toothpaste, bottle of shampoo or soap you can put it behind so you are rotating. That way things won’t expire so fast.

Tip #6
-Label your shelves or bins with all of your items, so everyone in your household knows their proper HOME!!

Yea!!! Like I said we finished in 1 HOUR!!! We were both happy and satisfied with our work!!!

Homework: Organize 4 shelves in your house this weekend!! Have a great and organized weekend!!!