Life Organized: The Blog

Tips & Tricks from Barbara

Must Have Home Cleaning Products

· Makeovers

Even with all of the organizing systems I have in place, I often feel like keeping my house neat is a never-ending job.  That’s because it actually is a never-ending job.   Every time the laundry is done and put away, more laundry appears.  Every time the dishwasher is emptied and the dishes are put away, there are more dishes to load.   That’s just the way it is when you’re running an active household.  Yet, here are a few simple shortcuts and must-have products that I love…

 

  • Downy Wrinkle Releaser is a huge time saver when you don’t have time to iron. It can be used on clothing, or even wrinkled sheets and bedding.  You just spray on the wrinkled area, tug, and smooth.  Not only does Downy Wrinkle Releaser smooth wrinkles, but it leaves clothes and bedding smelling great.

 

  • Mr. Clean Magic Eraser is the perfect fix for marks that appear on hard wood, tile floors, or walls. The Magic Eraser is safe to use on most surfaces, and also removes built up grease on stoves and soap scum in sinks.  It also works wonders on leather sneakers.  When my children come home with dirt on the toe of their Converse sneakers, a quick rub with the Magic Erase, and they look brand new!  The Mr. Clean Magic eraser will leave your home a brighter, fresher space in no time at all.

 

  • The Tide Stain Stick is a great on-the-go, carry-in-your purse type of item.  Accidents happen, and when they do, just rub the Tide Stick on the problem area and the stain diminishes.  While not all stains disappear completely, the Tide Stick does keep the stains from becoming permanent.

 

  • The Swift Sweeper is the most efficient way to pick up dust, pet hair and dirt.  It requires minimal maintenance—just grab from the closet and sweep!   Because the Swift Sweeper has a swivel head, you can reach in small corners and underneath tables, couches, or beds.  You can purchase scented or unscented dry or wet cloth wipes for your sweeper, and just toss the used wipes in the trash.

 

  • The Black & Decker CHV1510 Dustbuster 15.6-Volt Cordless Cyclonic Hand Vacuum is a must have for any busy household.  Who wants to drag out a heavy vacuum cleaner for every little spill or pile of dust bunnies?  Just grab your dustbuster and watch the mess disappear!

 

 

What products do you swear by?  Share your housekeeping tips and favorite cleaning products with me.  I’d love to hear from you!

 

Beating the Back-to-School Blues

· School / College

Beating the Back-to-School Blues

Years ago (before I had children), Staples ran a back to school commercial that showed parents dancing through the aisles while the track to “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” played in the background. To me, that commercial was hilarious. But now, two children later, I’m no longer sure. After a three-month summer vacation, having them in someone else’s hands between the hours of 8 and 3 comes as a well-deserved break. Yet, at the same time, back to school is not for the faint of heart.

Between the PTA meetings, orientations, class breakfasts, curriculum nights, and after-school nonsense, a working mother has to wonder: when are you supposed to work? A friend of mine has a daughter who just started kindergarten. On the first day of school, her daughter had 30 minutes of school…from 11:00 to 11:30. On the second day of school, her daughter went to school for an hour…from 10:00 to 11:00. While this may be strictly a New York City phenomenon, in what universe is it convenient to drop your child off for one hour in the middle of a working day?

And then there’s scheduling after school activities. When I was growing up, there were about three choices for what I could do after school…and that included the choice of coming home and doing nothing. Today, there are literally hundreds of options. And this is as much a blessing as a curse. You’re trying to schedule four different activities per child, yet after-school activities (particularly travel sports) appear to be run by the only people in New York who don’t have a firm grasp on the concept of a time. Is baseball practice on Tuesdays and Thursdays, or is it just on Fridays? Is play practice going to be Mondays or Wednesdays? Just tell me the schedule. Meanwhile, my child gets shut out of tennis because I’m waiting to hear what day baseball practice is. And then the one yoga class that’s available takes place precisely in the one hour of the week that my child has some mandatory other activity. Scheduling is a nightmare, and the more children you have, the bigger the nightmare becomes.

And once you master the calendar logistics, you have to address the social issues. Your child doesn’t want a play date with the child whose mother is hounding you for one. Or, you’re trying to sign up for a group activity for three second graders, and they don’t have a single day and time in common. And your good friend’s child is a bully. And, your child is the only one that doesn’t have the FILL IN THE BLANK.

Isn’t this enough to make a sane person come undone?? Read on for a few of my tips for a Stress-Free September. And, as always, I love to hear from you. How do you cope with back-to-school madness?

Tips for a Stress Free September

1. Have a glass of wine. A chilled bottle of Pinot is as essential during this time as pencil cases and notebooks.

2. Don’t be afraid to say no…to heading the benefit committee, to play dates your child doesn’t want, and to activities that are inconvenient for you.

3. Do volunteer—for something fun and easy. By volunteering to plan the parents’ night out, you can ensure that its location and date work for you. By volunteering to plan the 6th grade graduation party, you can win points with your child without suffering through a year-long commitment.

4. Start your schedule by locking in the activity your kid likes most. Once you know when that meets, you can branch out from there.

5. Back up all homework on an external hard drive or flash drive. Saving these files externally will protect documents from being accidentally deleted by other family members.

6. Overscheduling is a myth, especially if your kids are old enough to have discovered the computer. Put it this way; if they’re playing tennis or doing ballet, they’re not i-chatting.