My chat with Pinky McKay

The delightful Pinky McKay who has published many books and conducted countless seminars around the world, also runs a Parenting by Heart program, where she interviews an expert in their field each month for the members. I am proud to be one of Pinky's experts, and was interviewed in October about my book "Preparing your home and life for baby - a practical guide for expectant parents", as well as the services I offer new and expecting parents.

The interview is about an hour long and was recorded exclusively for the paid membership program, BUT she has kindly allowed me to share it with my audience too! You can access the full interview here.

"For many of us, having a baby is a huge test of our ability to surrender and let go of certain amount of control, particularly when in our working and professional life we view these traits highly. Today’s call will aim to provide you with a few simple organisational guidelines and other tips to help minimise the feelings of loss of control, to set up a strong support network so you don’t feel like you’re doing it alone, and how to help minimise your stress over things like the necessary paper work and budgeting for life with a baby" - Pinky McKay

And now for some Christmas Cheer!! In addition to sharing this exclusive interview with you, I am offering 10% discount on both the soft cover and ebook versions, plus FREE shipping on the soft cover version until the 19th of December - it makes a perfect Chrissy present for first-time expecting parents! Just use the code 'xmas14' at checkout. Click here to purchase.

There is also a Kindle version coming very soon. If you would prefer this version, contact me to register your interest and I will let you know as soon as it is available.


Let me know what you thought of the interview - I would love to hear from you so feel free to comment below. Happy listening!

3 Little Organising Secrets for new mums

Having a baby is definitely one of the biggest life changes we experience. Everything we know about how to manage our time and space seems to go out the window, and we can be left feeling overwhelmed with unfamiliar chaos. (This was certainly my experience - and the main reason I chose to work with expecting mums and young families!)

As I say to all my clients, regardless of their life stage - being organised is not about having everything neat and tidy all the time or having everything perfectly under control. It is about having space and systems set up around you which help you to live well, avoid stress, and enjoy your home and life. This may not seem achievable for a new parent, but here are my 3 little secrets to show you how...

Secret # 1: A new definition of "organised"

The most important thing is to manage your expectations. We already know that being organised is not about being neat and tidy, but we also need to redefine what being organised means in this new context. The way your space and life worked before bubs came along is not going to work for you now - you need to rethink your space and systems to suit your new way of life. What is going to make your life easier? What are the causes of stress or frustration for you? Consider new ways of doing things - perhaps rearranging the furniture so that your space works better for you, doing grocery shopping online if getting out of the house is a stressful exercise, and a big one that many new mums struggle with... ask for help! Don't assume your hubby / mum / best friend knows what you need help with.

Secret # 2: A place and purpose for everything

You know the old saying "a place for everything and everything in its place"? Well I like to add "a purpose for everything and everything serving its purpose". This means
- having a designated place to put your keys, handbag, travel change mat, etc, so that you can always find what you need when you need it
- AND not having anything in your home and life which serves no purpose, or wastes your time, space or energy. These are very precious resources, especially now, so anything that consumes them better be worth it!

Secret # 3: Flexibility is key

This might seem a bit contradictory - you may expect an organised person's schedule to run like clockwork, but remember we are talking about space and systems to help you live well, avoid stress, and enjoy your home and life. Expect the unexpected, be prepared for things not going according to plan, and don't over-schedule your day. Having a loose structure to your day allows you to flow through your schedule much easier, without the stress of running late or trying to get stuff ticked off your to-do list.


So that's it! My 3 little secrets to being a more organised new mum. All you need to do is - manage your expectations on what it means to be organised during this stage of life, have a place and purpose for everything around you, and allow yourself some flexibility, and you will feel so much more relaxed and on top of things!

If you would like more tips and tricks on how to get more organised with a little one, I am running a 1 hour workshop on Wednesday 17 September in Preston - why not get your mums group together and benefit from the group booking discount! More details and bookings here.
 

Why "In-trays" are the enemy!

Recently there was an advert on TV for a large office supply retailer which said "Get your office organised with these stackable in-trays", and I would cringe every time I saw it! 99% of the time, in-trays are part of the problem, NOT the solution, and it is very rare to come across people who are using in-trays effectively.

This is the reality of in-trays...

Look familiar?

In my opinion, the only thing in-trays are good for is storing "virgin" stationery - reams of paper, blank forms, envelopes, sheets of labels, and so on. This is because the contents are then uniform throughout - you can always just take the one on the top of the pile. As soon as you are having to flick through the pile trying to find something, you know you have a problem. How many times have you gone through the contents of your in-tray over and over again before finding that one piece of paper you need? You can waste so much time and energy on this "system". Time to think vertical! Vertical systems are so much easier to use than horizontal systems, as it is much easier to see and access what's there, and much easier to add new items in a meaningful place, rather than to the top of a jumbled pile.

I love using products like these to set up systems in my clients' homes and offices...

Products shown are: Eldon Incline Sorter, IKEA Kvissle magazine rack, Esselte Sorted and Sorted Plus, Marbig Enviro FoldaRack 

Remember to use clear and meaningful labels. Here are the categories I end up using the most, but the categories you choose will entirely depend on the nature and amount of paperwork coming in to your home and office:

• Immediate action (for things that have a deadline and consequences attached - like bills to be paid, registrations to be completed, RSVPs to be sent, etc. You can also have a Non-urgent action category if required, for things that need to be done at some stage, but don't have a pressing deadline or consequence attached) 
• Ready reference (for things that have useful information that you will need to reference in the near future but do not require any action from you - like invitations which has been RSVP'd to, school event info, doctor's referral letter for an appointment that has already been set, and so on) 
• To be filed (for things that have been actioned and no longer need to be readily referenced - like receipts, paid bills, school reports etc)

Now you have a clear place for everything, a system that flows easily, and you can find what you need when you need it. No more over-stuffed nonsensical in-trays = happiness!

Be right back...

Huge apologies, we have had a break in transmission due to unforeseen circumstances but shall resume very soon!

My Top 5 Tips for Effective Decluttering

As promised previously in my Top 5 tips for effective storage, today I bring you my Top 5 tips for decluttering. Remember my definition of why clutter exists in the first place?

Therefore - in order to DEclutter, we need to address the decision AND action parts to make progress.

#1 Have a vision

Clearly define your end goal and desired result, so that you can go back to that vision to refocus and boost your motivation to push on. What are you trying to achieve by decluttering? Reduce stress, create more space, save time and energy spent looking for things, improve your performance and efficiency at work? Without knowing WHY you are doing this, it can quickly start to feel too much like hard work.

#2 Have a plan

As with most things in life, before you jump in to a decluttering project you need to have a plan. Decide what, where and when you are decluttering, and only work on ONE area at a time. Dedicate some time to decluttering in your schedule, otherwise it will always slip to the bottom of the To Do list and never get done.

#3 Prepare for the task at hand

If your floor is covered in clothes, or your desk covered in papers, clear the area first without sorting. Place all the stuff in a big bag or box, and then clean the surface below. Give the floor a good vacuum, your wardrobe shelves a good wipe, or your desk a good polish. Now you can start preparing for the next step by equipping yourself appropriately. If you’re doing your home office, have a recycling bin and shredder handy, and some sticky notes to label things for filing. If you’re doing your wardrobe, plan where the excess clothes are going before you create a big pile of stuff on the floor which you then need to figure out what to do with. Try using reusable shopping bags, plastic storage crates, or cardboard boxes - whatever containers you have available. Have as many as you need for the categories you’re going to sort into, and then label them accordingly. Some suggested categories include: Toss, Recycle, Donate, Sell, Repair, Archive (packing your winter woollies or Christmas decorations away is a form of archiving too), and Place (as in place the item where it belongs).

#4 Make decisions

This is where the real work begins, and it can get quite emotionally and mentally exhausting, so work in chunks of time you feel comfortable with. Work through your bag or box of items, sorting them into the categories you have set up. If you are really struggling to decide what to do with some items, you can allow yourself an ‘Undecided’ box, but when it gets full, make a decision on something else in there before adding another item.
To help with decision-making, think about the following:
- have you used it in the last 12 months
- is it serving its intended purpose, or could it be serving a better purpose elsewhere
- what value is it adding to your life, and is it worth the space it’s taking up
- does it have a home, and if not, is it sensible and possible to make a home for it
- if it’s something awaiting action (eg. an intended craft project), are you going to get it done within the next 6 months

#5 Take action

Now that you've made the decisions, it’s time to take the required action. This is where the wheels often fall off! The secret is to keep the time gap between the decision and the action as small as possible. Take the ‘Donate’ items to the charity shop, list that stuff on eBay, return those borrowed items, and put things back where they belong - preferably within 24 hours. If that's not possible, set reasonable time limits and have a plan B in case you don’t meet them. You HAVE to take action though, otherwise it just slips back into the category of clutter – lacking decisive action. Remember you can check out the Resources page on my website if you would like to know what to do with the items you have decluttered.


Much like diet and exercise, once you have achieved your goal you still need to constantly work on it to keep it up. Going through a decluttering process like this is just the beginning of the process. Next month I will share my tips on how to maintain your newly decluttered state.
If you have any questions on decluttering (or what to do with the items) which I haven't covered here, I would love to hear from you!

HOW TO :: Create your Home Command Centre in 3 Easy Steps

School is back, swimming and cricket start next week, and forms and dates to remember are flooding in from all directions. Sound familiar? This could easily get overwhelming and out of control, if it were not for my trusty Home Command Centre - aka drop zone; launch pad; flight deck... there are many different things to call it - basically, the one central point in my home where I can manage my family's schedules, activities, and "stuff". These control centres can come in many different sizes and formats, and today I am going to show you how to create one that is just right for your needs in 3 easy steps.

Step 1 - Choose a location

Rather than choosing a layout that you like and trying to find somewhere to put it, choose the location first and design the layout to fit accordingly. Setting it up in the right location is essential for its success.
Where do things like your keys, mail, and kids' school bags naturally accumulate in your home? It could be the kitchen bench, the dining table, or near the front door - but that is the best location to use. Change is not often embraced easily, and introducing a new system for your family is change enough. By using the natural flow and existing habits of your family, you are much more likely to make this work.

Image sources - Left: Operation Organization; Right: Two Twenty One

Step 2 - Decide what functions it needs to serve

Are you a "shoes off at the door" family, or would you like your command centre to include a basket or shelf for shoes? What kind of sporting equipment and kit bags need to fit in there, or are these left in the garage? How many family members do you have? Your command centre can consist of a single notice board, or an entire wall full of hooks, hangers, shelves, containers and calendars - it all depends on your unique situation and requirements. Write a list of functions you would like your command centre to serve, and then you will be able to determine which organisational tools you'll need to meet those needs.

Image sources - Left: Real Simple; Right: Get On With It Already

Step 3 - Altogether now... Try, adjust, repeat

Set up your command centre in your chosen location from step 1, with the required tools from step 2, and keep the family involved with its design. Depending on which self-help book you read, it is generally believed to take between 21 and 30 days to change a habit - IF you consistently practice it every day. Give your family some time to trial the new system and see how they feel about it. Ask for their feedback and make adjustments accordingly. The more input they have, the more likely they'll be to accept the new system. Don't throw in the towel if it doesn't seem to be working after a few days - allow everyone a few weeks to change their habits until it becomes instinctive, and soon you'll find school notices magically appearing on the notice board and library books being returned on time - without the usual morning panic. Yays!


If you would like some inspiration for creating your ideal command centre, check out my Pinterest board - it is packed with different layout and functional design ideas.
Do you use a home command centre? What have you found to work or not work for you? I would love to hear your feedback!

GUEST POST :: "Sugar Blues" - Naturopath's advice and Special Offer!

To kick us off in the blogosphere for 2014 (and to get us back on the straight and narrow!), we have a guest post from the delightful Helen Goodwin - mum, Naturopath, and owner of Just for Today Living. I love her practical advice and super easy-to-follow tips. I'm also thrilled to be able to offer you a whopping 30% discount off her brilliant new program starting in Feb!! Read on for more details. Enjoy!

When it comes to the silly season I, like many people, indulge in sugary foods that I would normally have in moderation, or not at all. And just like a good party, overindulging feels great at the time but can leave the body feeling pretty fragile once the good times stop rolling.

When our bodies have been knocked out of balance from too much sugar, we may struggle to get up in the morning and stay alert during the day. A foggy head, digestive problems, headaches and mood swings may also become issues.

Whilst a yearly Christmas binge may not have any long term implications, eating large amounts of sugar on a regular basis certainly will. We commonly associate too much sugar with dental cavities, diabetes and obesity, however the white stuff can also lead to poor immune function, an overgrowth of Candida and high cholesterol. The effect of sugar on children’s intellectual development is an issue that we should all take very seriously.

The problem is that once you start consuming sugar, it can become ridiculously addictive and very difficult to quit. In fact, William Dufty in his book ‘Sugar Blues’ believes that the difference between sugar and narcotic addiction is largely one of degree.

Another major hurdle to reducing sugar is its prevalence in so many processed foods - it’s not just cakes and sweets that contain refined sugars, large amounts can be found in everyday foods such as breakfast cereals, breads, sauces and dips. We have become so used to these high sugar flavours that we may no longer be able to taste the natural sweetness found in fruits and vegetables.

In order to break the sugar cycle, setting a date and feeling mentally committed to quitting can really help. Going cold turkey is definitely a challenge but within a few days cravings can be reduced. Avoid all refined sugar found in chocolates, cakes and biscuits; artificial sweeteners (which are potent neurotoxins), and the natural sugars found in honey, maple syrup and dried fruits, until things get under control.

Tips to help you overcome the cravings and re-balance your system 

1. Recognise that the human body naturally craves carbohydrate for fuel, but respond to these cravings with slow release sugars found in whole grains breads and cereals and sweet vegetables such as carrot, beetroot and sweet potato.
2. Eat regular meals at roughly the same time everyday, making sure that you include quality protein in the form of lean meats, nuts, beans and pulses at every meal. 
3. Always have a handful of nuts at hand, almonds are perfect, for those times when you feel your energy dropping and you need a boost.   
4. Sour foods such as lemons, plain yogurt and fermented foods can curb sugar cravings quickly.
5. Consider a chromium supplement which can help to get blood sugars into a healthy pattern.
6. When you do re-introduce sugar, try to include natural sweeteners such as raw honey and maple syrup, as they are closer to nature and contain vitamins lacking in refined sugar. Natural sweeteners are however still simple sugars, so moderation is the key. Don't be fooled by brown or raw sugar, it's simply refined white sugar with the molasses added.   

If your sweet tooth has spiraled out of control lately and you’re feeling at the mercy of your cravings, give these suggestions a try and watch your energy and focus return, your waistline shrink and your mood improve. Once you’re back in balance you may find that sugary foods no longer appeal, but if you do indulge once in a while it will be from a place of pleasure rather than addiction.

About Helen

Helen Goodwin is an experienced Naturopath and nutrition lecturer who has taught hundreds of people about the true value of good food and health. Helen has been running courses on nutrition and teaching cookery in Melbourne and the UK since 2001. She has also been a feature writer for the Australian Natural Health magazine for over three years and assisted Chef Tony Chiodo with his cookbook ‘Feel Good Food”.
Visit her website and Facebook page.

SPECIAL OFFER

Helen is running a 4-week online nutrition course starting 3rd Feb 2014. It's the perfect way to develop your nutritional know-how and make positive and long lasting changes to the way you eat and drink. Each day you will receive a particular nutritional tip, such as “Choose small amounts of natural sweeteners” or “Include healthy fats with your food”, along with guidance and recommendations, which you follow just for that day.
You will receive 21 tips in total, covering every aspect of nutrition, along with well written articles you can keep, links to videos, websites and organisations, that will literally open up a whole new world of food for you. The private Facebook group page also offers you the chance to connect with other people, so you can share tips and keep motivated. Read more about the course (as well as some rave reviews!) here.
As HALOblog readers, you have the opportunity to save 30% off the February course!! Just enter the code 'HALO' when booking online.

HOW TO :: Cut the Christmas card clutter

Last month on Facebook I shared a guest post that I wrote for Mamas Group on rethinking our approach to Christmas - rethinking gift-giving, rethinking gift-wrapping, and rethinking preparations (read it here). There is one more thing we can rethink - a big contributor to general Christmas clutter - the ubiquitous Christmas card!

Now that my little man has started school, we have received waaaay more cards this year than previous years, and like most people I know, we do not have infinite surface area to display them all. So using one of my top 5 tips which I shared last week - namely using your vertical surfaces to free up space on horizontal surfaces - today I am sharing a little trick to display all your cards without taking up any space.

Vertical display of Christmas cards

For my display I have used clear fishing line attached to a Christmas decoration, which I have attached to the wall with blu-tack (you can also use the 3M Command picture hanging strips which will be able to hold more weight), and pretty green paper clips to attach the cards. This means I can hang all my cards up without having to stick every one of them on to the wall directly (which helps prevent damage or dirty marks on the wall). We have high ceilings and so I currently just have one vertical line of hanging cards.

I love the 'invisible' effect of the fishing line, but you can do the same thing using twine or ribbon. If you have a lot of cards you can also get creative with the way you hang them, having one vertical line per family member, or zig-zagging the line into a Christmas tree shape.

I have also experimented with stringing the cards up horizontally as a sort of bunting which can look really lovely above a fireplace or next to the dining table. You can use paper clips or small fold-back clips in festive colours. Pop a little Christmas decoration over each end of the 'bunting' to add a bit of charm and hide the attachment to the wall.

I am sure there are many more clutter-free ways to display Christmas cards and I would love to hear about them. Please feel free to share your tips in the comments below! Thanks :)

My Top 5 Tips for Effective Storage

So many of my clients have an issue with storage, and more specifically knowing how to use it efficiently, so today I'll be sharing some basic principals for maximising the usefulness and accessibility of storage spaces - whether you have plenty of them or hardly any.
(If your problem is having too much stuff to fit into your storage space - then tune in next month for my top tips on decluttering!)

Top 5 Tips for Effective Storage

1. Don't store what you don't need to. Often it is more a case of having too much stuff than not enough storage space. Time to declutter! (more help on this topic in the new year)

2. Categorise your items in terms of how often you need to access them, then store them accordingly.

• Primary storage is for items you need easy access to on a regular basis - this is space (shelves, drawers etc) which is ideally between knee and eye level, or within easy arm's reach when sitting.
• Secondary storage is for items you need to access occasionally - top and bottom shelves, the back of deep cupboards, under-bed storage etc.
• Tertiary storage is for items which you only need to access infrequently, once a year, or on special occasions (archived tax records, snow gear, or Christmas decorations for example) - in the roof or under-house storage, in the shed or garage, or in an offsite storage unit.

3. Store items vertically to avoid piles and improve accessibility, and use your vertical surfaces to free up space on your horizontal surfaces - use vertical mail sorters, and wall-mounted hooks, rails, hanging shelves or baskets; store baking trays and platters vertically; etc.

4. Use labels for easy reference - a quick glance in the pantry or filing cabinet and you can easily see where to put something away or retrieve something from.

5. "A place for everything and everything it its place" - create designated homes for items and return them there when not in use. Use drawer / shelf dividers to delineate zones with specific functions. This helps avoid things being 'dumped' just anywhere, and helps maintain order.

This is just the very tip of the storage iceberg, but if you start to implement these tips you will be able to see immediate improvements. Do you have any other tips and tricks for better storage? Feel free to share them in the comments below!

GUEST POST :: 10 Tips to make plane travel with kids easier

There is no denying that travelling with young kids is... well, "interesting", especially long haul flights! Following on from my post a couple of months ago on being better prepared for family road trips, today I am pleased to bring you 10 great tips from Kim Salter - Personal Travel Manager and accredited Travel with Kidz consultant on being better prepared for plane travel. (You can read more about what Kim does below).
Remember - time spent planning early can save a lot of time problem-solving later, so plan ahead, be prepared, and enjoy the ride!

Planning ahead

• Make sure your travel insurance is paid and issued when you book your holiday or flights. You’re at higher risk of having to cancel when traveling with babies due to fever, ear infection, stomach bug etc.
• Consider breaking up your journey on long haul flights. Although this makes the total travel time longer, having a break from the confines of a plane when the journey is longer than 8 hours can be a sanity saver for the whole family.
• If you are hiring a car at your destination and require a car seat for your child, you can either take yours with you (always confirm the seat will fit the hired vehicle legally and safely), or arrange a car seat with your car hire company.
• Pre-book any special requirements you may have when traveling with kids - infant/toddler/child meal, bassinet for infants (generally maximum 11 kilos weight), an extra seat to buckle the child’s car seat into (this frees the parents up for meal times and gives the baby/toddler some space, but you will pay a full child rate applicable to the flight), airport assistance (check with your airline/airport what assistance is available).
• Arrange transport to the airport from your home – ask a friend or family member to drive you, or pre-book a taxi or airport shuttle with a car seat (or you can use your own car seat if you are taking it with you).

Ready for departure

• Using a baby carrier or sling allows free hands for parents to manage passports, luggage, check-in procedures, and other kids, allowing you to check your stroller in with the rest of your luggage. They are also very handy on board the aircraft to help settle your baby, and allow you to eat with free hands.
• Ensure you have an adequate supply of nappies, food, medications, and change of clothes for both child and parents. Always pack anything essential in carry-on luggage (anything required at your destination which would be difficult to replace if luggage was lost indefinitely).
• Don’t forget to take your child’s favourite toy, blanket, comforter or pacifier (and some spares in case).
• iPads are a great form of entertainment while travelling. Load some games, music and story books for your kids before you leave, and take some comfy headphones.
• Ear pain may be experienced due to pressure changes, especially during take-off and landing. 'Ear plugs' are available from pharmacies (suitable for most children 1 year and older) which have a filter that regulates air pressure and cuts down noise.

Kim Salter is a Personal Travel Manager, and has recently completed her accreditation with the family holiday experts “Travel with Kidz”. Kim has extensive experience in the travel industry, from being a flight attendant, to managing a travel agency, to being a mobile travel manager, and embarking on long haul international travel with her toddler – she’s been there, done that, and knows how to look after you! Click on the image below for Kim's contact details.

PRODUCT REVIEW :: School Term Planner

As if the "silly season" is not enough to deal with on its own, we also have to start thinking about planning for the new year which is rapidly approaching. There's next year's school book orders, signing up for January holiday club, enrolling in sports clubs / dance classes for Term 1, and so on. If you have a bunch of different people and activities to keep track of, I can highly recommend the 2Organise School Term Planner.

What is the 2Organise School Term Planner?

As the name suggests, the planner is based around the school terms, with a full term per page so you can plan ahead and see everything at a glance. It is designed with 5 colour-coded blocks so that you can keep track of different family members' activities. We only have 3 people in our family, but I use the extra colours to keep track of my business stuff and my pets. It also works wonderfully for uni students and their different subjects, as well as small businesses planning activities for different team members.

I used this planner for the first time this year and I must say that I absolutely loved it. Its large format (roughly A2 size) is much more user-friendly (and cheaper!) than some other A4 or even A3 family planners I have tried before. It also includes the term and holiday dates for all the states, so if you are traveling interstate you can plan around the destination's terms, which may be different to yours. I have also given these to a few friends and they have all loved it. A great Christmas present idea too!

For those interested in Healthy Fundraising

The planners can also be sold as a fundraiser (anyone else over the chocolate drive?? yeah!!), so if your school, sports club or charity group is looking for some healthy and practical fund-raising options, please feel free to contact me for further info (see contact details on the right). The fund-raising programme is sooo easy to set up and use - most of it is done for you, you just have to sit back and wait for the cheque! 

Purchasing the planners

The planners are $19.95. If you would like to purchase one (or a few) you can do so here. If you would like to place a large order please contact me. 

Until next week, happy planning!

HOW TO :: Get a handle on your handbag

This past Friday I attended a Breast Cancer Fundraising Dinner hosted by the lovely Doan from Little Organics and Gluten Free Wagon. I did a little presentation on being organised with the ladies, and started with a fun game of 'Handbag Bingo' (which isn't really a thing, I just made it up!!). I got a lot of positive feedback about the game - the ladies loved it and it was a fun way to get the message across, so I thought I would share it here so you could join in the fun. (And guys - it works just as well with a laptop bag!)

Go on - see if you can get bingo! Not only did most of the ladies achieve 4 in a row, but many also ticked nearly all of the boxes. The point of the exercise was to show how quickly little things can build up to form clutter, even in a small space like a handbag.

What is clutter?

My definition of clutter is: anything that does not belong where it currently is; serves no current purpose; adds no value; or is awaiting an overdue decision or action. There are many more than these 16 items which can be found in handbags and fit that description of clutter. A good way to stay on top of it is to empty your bag at the beginning of each month and deal with the contents as needed. Life is way too short to waste time scratching around in your bag when you need something! Keep it clean and clutter-free - it's a small thing which can make a big difference in your daily life.

HOW TO :: Plan the Perfect Party + Giveaway!

This week I am writing a bit of a personal post for a change. We have just had our son's birthday party, which was a huge success - even if I do say so myself! I love doing themed birthday parties for my boy, and of course, I love all the planning and preparing. I am not much of a baker however. My son's birthday is pretty much the only time of the year when I make that much effort in the kitchen! I know planning parties is not everyone's cup of tea, so today I wanted to share some tips with you to help the preparations go a bit smoother.

Start Early

I usually start the initial planning 3 to 4 months before the big day. This is because I have learnt over the years that if you want a specific venue or entertainment option, you need to book way ahead of time.
This also allows you enough time to do your research (see below) and get some of the prep done, so that you are not overwhelmed with tasks in the week leading up to the party (things like printing name cards or activity sheets, putting together the party bags, gathering all the bits and pieces for the decor, and so on).

Research Online

Our good friends Google and Pinterest are great places to start, even if you don't have a specific theme in mind. A bit of searching will inspire you with a vast array of options for themes - just try searching on "party ideas for boys" or "teen girl party ideas" etc. Once you have decided on a theme, you can then find ideas for related activities, decor and food, as well as where to buy all the goodies. This will save you heaps of time as well as money, as you can shop around online for the best options.

Draw up a timeline

Write a list of everything you need to do in terms of preparations, and then group them into time categories like 'On the day', '1 day before', '1 week before', '1 month before', etc. As you think of more things to do, add them to the relevant time categories - this will help you see how much you will be trying to do, and hopefully help you avoid rushing around in a last-minute panic. Do as much as you can as early as you can.

What I did

My son wanted a racing themed party at Kew Traffic School, so after we managed to get a booking (which was more difficult than I expected) I started researching on Pinterest for food and decor ideas. I then searched online for the supplies I wanted, and had plenty of time to either order online or go to the shops to get it all.
The invitations went out 2 months before the date (I would usually send them around 4 to 5 weeks before the date, but since we could only get a booking on the public holiday I wanted to give people extra time). In the months leading up to the party I slowly gathered all the decor, designed and printed the name tags and party bags, and bought all the non-perishable food and drinks. Two weeks before I filled all the party bags, two days before I bought the rest of the food, which meant the day before the party all I had to do was the baking. On the day I had minimal final food preparation to do, and everything went very smoothly as we were well prepared and got set up at the venue in just 5 minutes.

As Winnie the Pooh says "Organizing is what you do before you do something, so that when you do it, it is not all mixed up". I think that says it all!

Giveaway

If you would like some extra help with planning your child's next birthday party, then how about winning a copy of "The Best-Ever Party Book"? I have one copy to give away, and all you have to do to enter is comment below (by 13 Nov '13) and tell me about your party planning blunders!

Going with the flow for organising success

If you have ever tried to set up routines or organising systems in your home, but given up on them shortly after because they just don't work, or feel like waaaay too much hard work, then this post is for you!

Organising Style

I really believe that everyone has their own organising style which is as unique as their personality. What you like to do, how you think, the way you process and store information, your aesthetic style, your priorities - they're all unique to you. This is why I don't think there could ever be a "one size fits all" solution. Many people read books on how to organise, or buy specific organising products, and try to follow "the rules", only to get very frustrated that they can't get it right, and may even end up feeling that they are destined to be disorganised forever. But the problem is not that they just can't get organised - the problem is that the solution was just not right for them.

Image courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net

For example, if you have read about setting up a Home Command Centre (aka launch pad or drop zone) near your front door to help get the kids organised and out the door quicker, but you find everything still ends up piled on the kitchen bench, then having the Home Command Centre at the front door is not the right solution for you.

Go with the flow

Implement systems around the natural flow of things in your home. If your "stuff" always gets dumped on the kitchen bench, then use that flow instead of trying to establish completely different habits - like placing a box for mail on the bench, and hooks on the end of the bench for keys and bags.
Also think about where the sticking points are for you - what are the most frustrating things that happen in your day which make you feel disorganised? Is it always rushing around trying to find your keys? Is it nagging the kids to hurry up because they can't find their school shoes? If you can identify these issues and put solutions in place which address them specifically, and in a place which fits with the natural flow of things, you are going to make a real impact on your organising success.
Would love to hear from you - what are your sticking points?

Why organising is good for the environment

Last week I had the unexpected pleasure of being invited to speak at the SUSTAIN Show, as another speaker had to pull out at the last minute. The title of my presentation was "Decluttering your way to a healthier home, life, and mind". I believe living an organised life has a direct benefit on our internal environment (body and mind) and external environment (home, work place, and global environment), and today I want to share with you some of what I spoke about at the show – how the old "reduce, reuse, recycle" is the central core to my role as a Professional Organiser, and how you can implement this in your home and life.

Reduce

• Declutter – put items back where they belong, and get rid of stuff that has no current purpose or adds no value
• Reduce what comes in – say "no" to junk mail, don't accept freebies for the sake of it, and opt for online bank statements and bills
• Reduce what’s in your schedule and on your "to do" list, which should also reduce your stress
• Reduce wasted time by establishing morning and evening routines, and have a designated home for the car keys and school bags, which should also reduce your stress
• Reduce what you buy, and therefore what you spend, by using a meal plan and shopping plan – this will also reduce the food that you waste by only buying what you need when you need it and avoiding food expiring
• Reduce the number of things you own by streamlining and using multi-functional products (I go through this with my clients when I help them get set up for their baby – rather invest in one item which can multitask and fulfill various functions for a longer period of time, than getting 4 different things). A good example is household cleaning products – you don’t need 15 different bottles of stuff in your cupboard; there are great natural multipurpose cleaners on the market these days, or you can easily make them yourself (again, Pinterest has a wealth of info on this) 

Reuse

• Repurpose what you can at home – storage boxes, nappy boxes, clothing, etc. Pinterest has zillions of clever ideas on how to repurpose items around the home. Don't assume you need to go buy more stuff
• Get involved in collaborative consumption. Check out this fantastic TED talk by Rachel Botsman explaining this rising phenomenon. My favourite quote is “you need the hole, not the drill”. Some of the local collaborative consumption sites here are Open Shed, Rentiod, and Freecycle.
• Donate – pass things you no longer need on to family and friends, or donate to charities like St Kilda Mums, Fitted for Work, Men’s Shed, Footpath Library
• Sell items you no longer need on Ebay, Fishpond, or Gumtree, so that someone else can get use out of it

Recycle

• Very little should land in your bin after a decluttering exercise – you should be able to find a way to recycle just about everything (and if you cant – call me and I’ll find it for you!) 
• There are loads of private companies out there these days who recycle mattresses, e-waste, ink cartridges, mobile phones, CDs and DVDs, XRAY films, you name it! Plus stores like Bunnings, Officeworks, and Ikea have recycling bins for things like batteries, lightbulbs, and mobile phones. Check with your local stores what they can accept
• At the very least, find out how to dispose of items responsibly, don’t just chuck it in the bin or leave it on the nature strip. Check what programs your local council has, as some have specific e-waste and chemical waste collection days

Coming from an environmental science background, this is obviously all very close to my heart and I can go on about this all day, but I'll restrain myself! As always I would love to hear from you if you have anything to add, or questions to ask. Just comment below!

HOW TO :: 10 Week Christmas Countdown

Yes, it's true. Only 10 weeks to Christmas. If running around from one shop to the next with crowds of other frantic people is not your idea of fun, then try this rather...

Obviously the amount of planning required will depend on how you typically celebrate Christmas - is it a large family feast, or a small low key gathering? Perhaps it's multiple events with different groups of people? In our household we usually have a celebration with friends a week before Christmas, and then with different family groups on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Whatever Christmas looks like for you, planning ahead will avoid last minute rushing and stress, and make it all much easier and more enjoyable.

Step 1 - Write some lists

• For each event, you'll need a list of potential dates and venues, and a guest list.
• You'll also need a list of people you want to buy gifts for, and ideas of gifts to buy. (It's also a good idea to keep a list at the back of your diary or on your phone, to note gift ideas as you come across them throughout the year)
• Write a To Do list for each event. This again will depend on the scale and complexity of your events. Do you need to arrange for extra tables, chairs, and dinnerware? Do you need to plan a theme and source appropriate decorations? Do you need to plan the menu and delegate menu items to other people? Include everything on your list, even the obvious things, as we will use these lists to create a timeline in the next step. For example: Ask Mum if we can have it at her house this year; write the shopping list for the meal, do the grocery shopping; wrap the gifts... etc. Put it all on there!

Step 2 - Draw up a timeline

• Use a calendar / diary / spreadsheet - whatever works for you - to plot out the 10 weeks you have between now and Christmas. The trick here is to only use one timeline, regardless of how many events you're planning.
• Using a different colour for each event, start slotting in all the items on your To Do lists into the 10 week schedule. Doing this digitally (on your phone or computer) is an easy way to be able to move things around easily, but if you prefer a paper-based planner, try use different coloured Post-It notes (rather than writing in different coloured pens) to keep things flexible. This allows you to shuffle things around to find a schedule that's going to work, and also allows you to make adjustments if life gets in the way and things don't happen in the week they were supposed to! 
• Start with the most time-sensitive activities, and then work backwards from there to slot in other things which are dependencies (for example - if you want to have all your grocery shopping done 1 week before, you will need to have your shopping list done 2 weeks before, and your meal plan and delegation done 3 weeks before). 

Here is a simple example of a 10 week countdown:

10 Weeks - Write lists for venues and dates, and discuss with potential hosts. Write guest lists. Start gift ideas list (if not started already).

9 Weeks - Discuss dates, times and venues with guests and finalise.

8 Weeks - Decide on a theme and plan decorations and table setting. Write a list of requirements and delegate to guests.

7 Weeks - Arrange to borrow / hire additional furniture and dinnerware if required.

6 Weeks - Start buying gifts, wrapping paper, gift tags, and cards, as well as decorations if required.

5 Weeks - Check with guests for dietary requirements. Plan the meal and delegate ingredients or full dishes to guests.

4 Weeks - Put up the Christmas tree and decorations. Send Christmas cards via mail. 

3 Weeks - Do non-perishable grocery shopping. Gift-buying should be complete by now.

2 Weeks - Wrap gifts and write cards / gift tags. 

1 Week - Clean the house (and BBQ if required). Do the final grocery shopping.

1 Day - Do as much food prep as possible. Arrange the furniture and set the table.

Do you have any other fabulous ideas for a smooth running festive season? I would love to hear from you, just comment below!

101 Uses for Command Hooks

Being a renter, I have always relied on my trusty 3M hooks and picture mounting strips. But then through the wonders of Pinterest I discovered all sorts of creative ways to use them - from storing pot lids to hanging curtain rods, and everything in between, and subsequently I use them a lot with my clients. (Here is a little Professional Organiser's secret...Ssshhhh don't tell anyone I told you! If you are struggling to keep your horizontal surfaces organised - use your vertical surfaces! Hooks, hangers, wall-mounted hanging organisers, etc - piles can't form on vertical surfaces)

I have started my own Pinterest board to collate my findings, and would love you to contribute if you have any more clever ideas. I have no doubt we can find 101 uses! Please comment below telling me how you use Command Hooks and email me photos if you can - I'll pop them on my Pinterest board (crediting the source of course!!)

Visit my Pinterest board

How I use 3M Command Hooks 

Two of my biggest irritations at home... 1. rattling blind cords flapping about in the wind when we leave our doors or windows open, and 2. wet cloths hanging over the tap or left on the side of the sink.
Problem solved!!

Here are some other ways I have used them in my and my clients' homes:

The extra large hooks I used to store extension cords also work wonders for hanging large laundry baskets on the wall above the washing machine or laundry trough - great to get them out of the way and stop wasting valuable surface area in the laundry.

So please get commenting - I can't wait to see how you have put these fabulous little things to use!

* Please note this post is not sponsored by or in any way affiliated with 3M - this is purely my opinion and experience.

How to Detox Your Home in 4 Easy Steps

This week I am thrilled to have Pearl from Resparkle as my first guest post. Enjoy!

Ok so perhaps you've embraced the organic lifestyle, an avid juicer or now a gym bunny, but do you still find yourself struggling with brain fog, sleeplessness or suffer from sensitive skin/sinuses? The culprit could be the quality of indoor air you breathe daily. Yes, indoor air is among the top 5 environmental risks to health according to numerous studies done in the US.

Common health problems that result from exposure to poor indoor air quality include: sensory and skin irritation; neurotoxic symptoms; hypersensitivity and odour and taste symptoms. Long term symptoms such as cancer and respiratory disease may be caused by long term, periodic exposure to chemicals.

While we do not have much direct control over the fumes & pollution we’re exposed to outdoors, we can take control in our homes. In this article, I share 4 easy ways to detox your home so it is a truly healthy sanctuary that you can retreat to after a long day.

(1) Rethink Artificial Air Fresheners/Deodorizers

I’m a scent junky so I totally get that you want your home smelling good but artificial air-fresheners are a toxic cocktail of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). VOCs can cause nausea, headaches and even cancer. Did you know that at the back label of many air-fresheners actually says “Inhaling contents can be harmful or fatal”?? Check out a photo taken from a randomly picked air freshener from Coles:

Instead, scent your home with essential oils. It might be more expensive for that tiny bottle but a little goes such a long way.
Here’s an easy way to keep your toilet smelling great:

(2) Ditch the chemicals starting with the nastiest 

If you’re using chemical-based cleaners around your home, you are exposing yourself to unnecessary poisons. One of the most toxic offenders are bathroom or glass cleaners that often contain chlorine or ammonia. (Did you know mixing chlorine & ammonia was used as a weapon during WW1? Now why would you want that in your home?!)
Ditching chemical-based cleaners is perhaps the most impactful way you can adopt immediately.

A good resource when deciding on what cleaners to use is the EWG website (Environmental Working Group). It has a comprehensive list of cleaning products and rates them according to their impact on our health and environment. http://www.ewg.org/guides/categories/3-Bathroom

So start switching to natural cleaning products and it is important to make sure the store bought ones are made of 100% natural ingredients. Many “green” brands that position themselves as “natural” often still contain nasty chemicals. You don’t want to be forking out a small fortune only to be still cleaning with toxic chemicals.
Resparkle’s range of organic cleaners are made from 100% natural plant based ingredients and the best part is it does not cost more than most chemical-based ones.

(3) Improve Indoor air & energy with plants

Studies conducted by NASA confirms that, the simplest way to purify and revitalize indoor air was to introduce plants in your home. They absorb toxic chemicals through their tiny openings in their leafs, filter them through their root system and the release pure oxygen into the air.
For example, the Boston fern can remove up to 1.8mg of formaldehyde per hour (a common cancer causing chemical found in furniture and particle board). The Boston fern is also a low pollen plant so if you’re sensitive to pollen, this is the plant to get!

Read more about how plants improve your health and what plants to get here. http://resparkleaustralia.wordpress.com/2013/06/24/how-do-plants-improve-your-health-and-increase-the-flow-of-positive-energy/

(4) Detox your Garden: Don’t use pesticides: Use natural soap!

Yes, soap-based solutions have been used for centuries as all-purpose pesticides. They're nontoxic to the environment and to people — and they work on a wide variety of garden insects by disrupting their cell membranes and causing dehydration.
The key is not to use too much soap, or you'll also kill the vegetation near the pests. Mix 1 to 2 tablespoons liquid soap, such as Dr. Bronner's Pure-Castile Soap (do NOT use detergent) into 1 quart water in a bucket, then transfer to a spray bottle.
If you need to get rid of weeds, just pour hot water or vinegar at the roots. It will wilt and die in no time!

Pearl, founder of Resparkle – Australia’s first & only certified organic cleaning products that truly doesn't cost the earth. www.resparkle.com.au