being an Architect I know how hard it is to supervise a building site – mainly because you have to have so many different trades on site. You have to manage the timeline for the whole project and be responsive to everyone’s input.

This a about how most mothers do it all – in fact 23 different jobs. And I am sure you can come up with a couple more just reflecting what you have done in the last week

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1307943/Hard-working-mums-jobs-23-DIFFERENT-people.html

I do know it’s a bit overdone by now, the New Year’s resolution thing y… But it’s never too late to improve a bad habit!

This product was invented and is produced by a colleague of mine and it’s one of these oh so simple things that could start a change to the better in your (home) office.

You can buy it through my website by clicking on “shop” on the left side navigation bar and some Australia Post shops stock it, too.

• keeps  your bills organised before, and after you pay them
• saves time  (no more sorting through piles of paperwork)
• helps you avoid paying late fees by keeping track of when your bills are due  (month by month)
• is  convenient and easy to use
• helps track your monthly expenditure
• is a helpful budgeting tool

$20.00 Incl. GST. Plus postage: $3.00 Standard Australia Post. Orders are sent by Australia Post within 5 working day To order please click here and scroll down to the bottom of the page

I have decided, from now on every Monday, I will post a useful link: to a great blog or website, a newspaper article I found over the weekend or, as today, an organising related video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9r85zAeNxE&feature=related

8 steps to managing your warranties and manuals from Paper Flow

this is a small replacement of the not happening back to schoolpost.(If you are looking for one, why not check last years January post?)

My kids love it, although Mr. 8 got into trouble for doing creative things with the rubber band at his lunch break!!
Via: www.athomewithrealfood.blogspot.com
Stop cut apples browning in your child’s lunch box by securing with a rubber band.

and for those who haven’t been in front of their TV last Tuesday – click anywhere on the image below

Here is an organising idea that should be crucial to implement this time of the year!
(Posted on November 01, 2011 in Bed, Bath & Kitchen,
Decor & Furniture, Organize & Personalize by Simone.)

Look Up
Use wire to make a space to store gift wrap rolls against the ceiling, rather than
cluttering up the floor.

It’s a German superstition, that it’s bad luck to do any washing between Christmas and New Year. It comes from a time, when washing clothes after every wear wasn’t the thing to do anyway, so not washing for a week was nothing unusual.
A lot of my German friends still follow that rule – not because of superstition, but to give themselves a break from housework and make that week special. We should be celebrating not getting bogged down with boring household chores.
Why not trial this idea next week. Most people I know wash every or at least every other day. I challenge my customers when I see the amount of socks a family owns by saying: “so you wash every three weeks, because that’s how long your sock supply would last!” Most people don’t know where I am heading with this, but I want to create new possibilities to get through a day. If the old ways are not working – and too much laundry, clean and dirty around the house, is a very common problem- why not try something new. So, this year, don’t wash between Christmas and New Year. It is the same amount of work to put 7 pairs of undies away than one pair!!!

I do like maths -and love statistics. This week’s ‘Good Weekend’ had another interesting one.

Which leads me to this year’s Christmas gift giving tip:
Give sensible, give things people need – even for children, ask what they want, accept if someone says “I don’t want anything”.
Because if you keep on giving, it can get  too much. People find the task of putting all the gifts away after Christmas overwhelming. You don’t want to be the one tipping someone from ‘a bit too much stuff’ to “I have so much clutter around, I don’t know where to start!”
Did you know, that most of us find it harder to let go of an unwanted gift than something we bought ourselves for a lot of money? So be mindful this year – and if you think potatoes are a bit too ‘down to earth, think of something slightly more pretty, but still useful.

This is the LessMess Christmas checklist. I know, that some of you have already seen it last year – but there a re so many new subscribers, I wanted to share this again: Just amend the details to suit your family’s needs. Hang it up in a prominent place around your house and keep working on it, adding things and most importantly crossing things off.

3 weeks to go Entertainment and food

• Decide on activities, events. Theme it (colours) even if you don’t make that official. It makes decision making and shopping easier
• Invite guests to Christmas activities & events
• Order food (ham, pork, turkey)
• Make Christmas cake, pudding biscuits
• Eat through your freezer

Gift giving

• Draw up a gift list of people for whom you need to buy presents
• Start writing down present ideas
• Start buying presents
• Check supply of wrapping paper, cards, ribbons
• Post overseas presents and cards

General

• Take last year’s received X-Mass cards to produce list for this year – throw last year’s out
• Purchase Christmas Cards (unless you have enough to last you a lifetime)
• Purchase Christmas stamps
• Check Christmas decoration & lights – buy new ones if necessary

2 weeks to go Entertainment and food

• Clean your freezer
• Clean your fridge and oven
• Plan Christmas food menu. Plan something you can prepare as far ahead as possible or at least parts of it  – even better something that freezes well
• Decide who brings what (entree, desert, and alcohol, soft drinks) asks for help!!!
• Write up additional items list (bon bons, serviettes, glasses, chairs, table deco…)
• Buy non perishable food and drinks
• Prepare  whatever possible: chop onions, cheese, herbs,… and freeze

Gift giving

• continue purchasing presents
• make notes of what you bought for whom and where you hid it
  (my mum always forgot at least one present – I actually loved it; getting just one more the next day!!)
• Wrap presents
• Check list for outstanding presents
• Check whether any toys require batteries & if necessary buy them now

General

• Post Christmas cards
• Put up Christmas tree & start with other decorations. With children: do something every day

1 week to go Entertainment and food

• Draw up timetable for Christmas lunch. From when to start defrosting the turkey to serving coffee & mints.
• Remind friends and family about their contributions

General

• Check camera/video for batteries and recharge if necessary

2 days to go Entertainment and food

• Buy perishable food
• Prepare what’s possible

Gift giving

• Wrap remaining presents

December 24th enjoy Christmas

Most people who ask me for help have tried to get organised before. It might have been through books, TV shows, courses or help from family and friends.
I personally I am not a great believer in ‘self-help books’. They are mostly from the US, and let’s face it, Americans have a completely different lifestyle to us. Or does anybody have a basement and a TV in the kitchen?
Books give good advice, but not tailored to your situation. TV shows would do the same, can sometimes get people going and motivated.
Friends and family – you love them too much to take their advice with the necessary distance and professionalism.
Here is what is different when you work with a professional

1. a PO studies systems for a living. We don’t know just one system or ‘our system’ – we know many. And we know the best situations to apply them.
2. We are not intimidated or overwhelmed by the volume of ‘stuff’, nor the size of the project. We have the tools and resources to get the job done, with your dignity well and truly intact.
3. We do not pass judgement. At all.
4. We are objective. This is a high value characteristic. We do not have the weight of emotion holding us down.
5. We are there for YOU. We have no hidden agendas. We are the client advocate first and foremost. We’re there with your wellbeing in mind and nothing else.
6. We organise people, not things. We deal with you and what’s going on in your life. The stuff gets organised as a result of that.