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.