Get Ready For Summer By Being Prepared

The last days of school are upon us and the trees are almost all leafed out! Finally the calendar and Mother Nature are in alignment! I am shocked as always how fast a school year goes. I like to say when times are good....time flies by and when times are bad time is so slow. So I guess I am blessed that this school year went by in a flash. That just means we need to get ready for summer with a little more urgency! I have been putting together summer survival buckets for the last couple of years and I think they are a great way to spend a few minutes gathering all of all essentials for summer all in one place. For many of us they are scattered around the house and in an emergency we are not even sure where some of the items are located. This is also a good time to take inventory of what you have and don't have. Go to the store knowing what you need and don't just buy on a whim because you are not sure if you have Band-Aids or not. One other thing to keep in mind is expiration dates. I have found out the hard way that sunscreen does expire. I like to start with fresh sunscreen every season to make sure that we don't expose our skin to unwanted sun burns.

So what should you put in your summer survival bucket? Here are just a few ideas to get you started:

• Sunscreen: I like to get several types. I like the spray on and I also like lotion that you can rub on. Sunscreen for everyday use on your face is essential not only during the summer, but all year long. Don't forget to check those expiration dates!
• After Sun Care: Yes, sometimes we spend too much time in the sun and need a little relief. Something with Aloe and a mild numbing agent is a good thing to have on hand.
• Bug spray: Sadly we live where the mosquito should be our state bird. Bug spray is an important element for outdoor enjoyment. I remember lying awake as a child with large mosquito bites and not able to sleep. Find some good repellant so that you don't have sleepless nights like I did.
• After bug bite cream: A little calamine lotion or a cream to take away the itch is always a good thing to have on hand to avoid the night of itching.
• Band-Aids: Depending on the age of your child you may need all shapes and sizes. A sure sign of summer for me was the first skinned knee or toe. Be prepared with what your family may need for the summer. I stay away from character Band-Aids as whenever I bought them my boys seemed to need to apply them more often. There is nothing glamorous about a brown Band-Aid and they typically are only requested when actually needed.
• Ace Bandage and First Aid tape: Yes I am a mom of boys. Yes we had lots of uses for these two items. Someone was forever needing a broken finger retaped.....really...it was just one kid....the middle one with all of the broken fingers....wrists....nose. There was a two year period of time that I thought Social Services was going to be called because of all of his injuries. I made sure to note that we had witnesses for every fall or mishap.
• First Aid Antiseptic spray: I use the same spray that my parents used on me as a child {new bottle however}. Having a tough tumble down a hill and getting a little road rash from riding your bike on a newly chipped road....yeah...that is a pain that is still associated with the smell of Bactine.
• First Aid Antibiotic Ointment: Sometimes we need an extra hand in healing a bad cut or scrape. Make sure you have a good ointment on hand.
• Ipecac Syrup: Just in case a child digests something they shouldn't. A call to Poison Control is the first action followed by their instructions of sometimes needing the Ipecac Syrup. I have only had to use it once in my 19 years of parenting. My youngest ate a foreign mushroom in our yard. Administering the Ipecac was so enjoyable that he wouldn't eat mushrooms for the next 12 years.
• Clear Ziploc Bag: Have one nearby in case you need to fill a bag of ice to take down some swelling.
• Ear Drops: When you spend time in the water usually there is some extra water in the ear. Two of my boys are swimmers as well so they could tell when they had a little too much water in their ears so we needed to add a few drops before a much larger problem happened.
• A Dark Towel Or Washcloth: Often overlooked but very essential. When you are cleaning blood off of a child, nothing is worse than using a white towel or washcloth. Often the child {or parent} will see the blood and become a bit panicked. Keep the hysteria in check by using a dark cloth so that the blood is not as noticeable.
• A Good Bucket: Having everything in one place is essential to taking care of an emergency quickly. I like a good sturdy bucket with a handle that is easy and light to carry. I like my bucket as it has a bright color, is waterproof and flexible. I can quickly empty it and fill it with ice in an emergency. Store the bucket in a place that everyone can get to....with the exception of young children. Let everyone in the family know where the bucket is located. It is so much easier when attending to an injured child to yell to someone to go a grab the green bucket in the hall closet. Make it quick and easy!

Be prepared and be ready for summer because as we will soon forget those miserable snow and wind chill filled days!

To Joyful, Simplified Living,

 MS. Simplicity

MS. Simplicity, also known as Melissa Schmalenberger operates her business as I Did it with MS. Simplicity. She is a Professional Organizer based out of Fargo, ND and her website can be found at http://www.mssimplicity.com/

· Need to contact MS. Simplicity privately; you can email her at melissa@mssimplicity.com.

· For daily organizing tips find the MS. Simplicity Facebook business page here.

· Order featured Clever Container organizing supplies here, consultant ID #18.

Paper Clutter Be Gone!

Photo: see end of article whose paper clutter this is

Are you like the majority of people who have listed organizing at the top of your resolutions list, right behind being healthier?  At the very top of that organizing wish list are the dreaded papers. We get papers in the mail, we get papers from our kids, we get papers from our work, we get papers that we create by printing off something to read later, we get papers when we go to the doctor, we get paper in the form of receipts. All of this can be too overwhelming so we keep it all simply because we don’t know what we should keep. Yikes! Of course we are overwhelmed. I call my paper piles a geological time project. You can tell how long ago I received something by how far in the pile it is. Did I get it four weeks ago? Then go down 7 inches!

Here are some fun facts:

• If you have a four drawer filing cabinet, it can hold 18,000 pages when full (napo.net)
• Did you know that 80% of the stuff we file we never look at again? (napo.net)
• 23% of adults say they pay their bills late, and get late fees because they simply loose the bill. (napo.net)
• The use of office paper has tripled since the birth of the computer. (organizedworld.com)

But there is help out there. There are ways to finally get a handle on that paper clutter. As we all know, the hardest step is the first one. For example I use to hate going to the gym. But once I get there, it is fine. It is the act itself of making the time and rolling out of a warm bed in the morning that is hard. Participating in an exercise class or getting on the treadmill is the easy part. Telling yourself you look fine in your old sweats and nobody is looking at you is the hard part. Once again, the actual doing, isn’t so hard. The same thing can be said with paper organizing. Once you start, it isn’t that bad. But the piles are overwhelming and we simply do not know where to start. The goal is to just start, but how can we start?

1. Set a timer for 10 minutes and stay focused until the timer goes off. Take a break and repeat.

2. Grab a friend and you hold each other accountable for getting your papers organized.

3. Hire a professional organizer to help you. Visit www.napo.net to locate one near you.

4. Throw it all away and start fresh. This one I am kidding on, but seriously when I work with clients on their paper clutter they are shocked that they could reduce a four drawer filing cabinet down to 6 inches.

If you are ready to conquer your paper clutter there is help out there. I am having a hands on paper organizing workshop, you bring the paper and I bring the supplies and the experts. You will be able to ask a CPA what papers you need to keep for your taxes. You will be able to ask a banker what papers you need to keep in order to secure a loan. You will be able to ask an insurance agent what papers you need to get your insurance rates looked at. You will be able to ask what school papers you need to keep from your kids elementary school years. Grab the paper and let’s take action.

If you go this is what you need to know:

How to register: email Melissa@mssimplicity.com or Eventbrite online registration as there are limited spots and walk up registration is not available. Registration closes January10 at 8:00 PM

Date: Saturday January 12

Time: 9:00 to noon

Location: Mezzaluna, in downtown Fargo
Cost: $100 to cover supplies, food, beverages and other costs
Benefit: You will leave with a lifetime supply of knowledge to keep your paper clutter gone for good and a good start on getting your paper organized.

Local experts

Taxes: Tim Sweeney www.tax-xpert.net

Insurance: Robin Swanson with Superior Insurance www.robinswansoninsurance.com
Banking: Shara Fischer with Alerus Financial www.alerusfinancial.com
Professional Organizer: Melissa Schmalenberger www.mssimplicity.com

(The above photo is sadly my piles of papers that had accumulated over a year. It took me less than three hours to go through it and I kept very little)

To Joyful, Simplified Living,

MS. Simplicity

MS. Simplicity, also known as Melissa Schmalenberger operates her business as I Did it with MS. Simplicity. She is a Professional Organizer based out of Fargo, ND and her website can be found at http://www.mssimplicity.com/

· Interested in starting your own Professional Organizing business, visit http://www.mssimplicity.com/consultant-program/ to learn about how Melissa can help you!

· Need to contact MS. Simplicity privately; you can email her at melissa@mssimplicity.com.

· For daily organizing tips find the MS. Simplicity Facebook business page here.

· Order featured Clever Container organizing supplies here, consultant ID #18.

Making Room

You know it is about here: the opening of the presents from the overzealous but well-meaning grandparents. They always tend to buy the really large toys. Or maybe you yourself are buying a gift this year and you aren’t sure where it is going to fit in the house. Maybe your tree is already overflowing with gifts and it is stressing you out. This year, as I bought gifts I forgot that my son will have to carry them back to college on the bus with him. I hope he likes holding a Panini press on his lap! But don’t be like me and forget! Now is the time to get the game plan ready to go. Take some time and de-clutter, ahead of the new gifts being unwrapped.

When my kids were younger I would always think ahead of where we were going to store their toys. Now that they are older, the gifts are smaller in size but larger is price. I don’t worry about the space problem as much.

But what do you do if space is an issue, or maybe just excess toys are an issue? Take action now to make room. Make an action plan and plan ahead. Put aside that little voice in your head that says “but grandma’s feeling will get hurt if we get rid of it” or “I paid good money for that”.

Here are some tips to get you on the way.

1. If you have young children I have found that now is a great time to get them involved. Have a conversation with your children and talk about getting rid of the toys that they have out grown or simply do not play with.

2. You can visit with your children about leaving presents under the tree of books and toys in good shape that they have outgrown for Santa to take back with him up to the North Pole. Santa can then give them out next year.

3. Or have the discussion about donating some of the toys, books and outgrown clothing to a local women’s shelter. I think there is never a too young of an age to start talking about helping others. You may even be surprised to realize what a generous nature your children have. It may even be contagious and carry on for years to come.

4. Pick a certain number and have each member of the family find that many items that they are ready to part with. Sometimes it is easier to put that left brain to work with a number in mind and silence that right brain of sentimental attachment to items. You could even make a game of it and see who can find their items the fastest.

What is really important is to get the whole family on board. It is an important lesson for all of us to know when is the proper time to let things go to another home. The change can start with you and your family, or even just you.

To Joyful, Simplified Living,

MS. Simplicity

MS. Simplicity, also known as Melissa Schmalenberger operates her business as I Did it with MS. Simplicity. She is a Professional Organizer based out of Fargo, ND and her website can be found at http://www.mssimplicity.com/

· Interested in starting your own Professional Organizing business, visit http://www.mssimplicity.com/consultant-program/ to learn about how Melissa can help you!

· Need to contact MS. Simplicity privately; you can email her at melissa@mssimplicity.com.

· For daily organizing tips find the MS. Simplicity Facebook business page here.

· Order featured Clever Container organizing supplies here, consultant ID #18.

Tradition.....Tradition

If you are a fan of "Fiddler on the Roof" you sang the title to my post, rather than read it. As I realize how far behind this year on trying to get "everything" done to be just perfect I am starting to think of tradition. What do I want our family to have memories of as they grow and create families of their own? I know that I do not want an expensive gift exchange. I do want thoughtful gifts that the recipient will remember and the giver will not go into debt with. As a child I remember things like my grandma making lebkuchen, peffernusse and anise caps. I remember my parents making chicken liver pate and a gouda ball. Clearly I am food centered!  We always served appetizers on Christmas Eve. We would go to church and then assemble the appetizers. Easy to prepare right after church services. We now do the same in my family.

But having three teenage boys we needed some new traditions besides the ones centered around food. We did have a fantastic white elephant gift exchange that I know I will always remember. Here are some other last minute ideas that you can quickly implement with your family at little or no cost...and hopefully no clutter.

So I asked around for some fun ideas of what others do for low cost memorable traditions.

• White elephant gift where everything must come from a gas station.
• The gift must cost $9.99 exactly. Tape the receipt to the top of the box to ensure no cheating!
• The gift must be round. So think bath soaking balls...big container of cheese puffs, etc. One family is taking it a step further and making the food all round as well, as they celebrate their "Christmas Ball"!
• The gift must come from a thrift store, be homemade, re-gifted or cost under $5.
• I know of one family that chooses randomly a family member that they dress up in a crazy way. The person who is dressed up the previous year gets to dress the next year's person. The person has to wear the outfit all day long. For example, Uncle Charlie is going on a cruise and dress him up in loud tourist clothes.
• Buy only three gifts for your children. There were three wise men and Jesus received three gifts. Make it symbolic and meaningful.
• Give a gift of something they want, something they need, something they wear and something they read.
• Always think about sharing of experiences as making traditions. As a family go and sing carols around the neighborhood or area nursing homes. Go and serve a meal at a local shelter.
• Think about giving instead of receiving. Adopt a family in need and provide them with all of their necessities.
• Randomly drop off baked goods on the steps of neighbors, friends or people who you know are going through a difficult period.
• Have a family talent show. You never know, maybe Aunt Susie can play the harmonica!

But really in the big scheme the gifts don't matter much, but rather the being together and making memories. I just need to take my own advice and call everyone and let them know to have something ready for our first annual talent show! I have musical and theater/improve kids so this should be great fun! My husband and I lack in those areas....so we will need to be creative!

To Joyful, Simplified Living,

MS. Simplicity

MS. Simplicity, also known as Melissa Schmalenberger operates her business as I Did it with MS. Simplicity. She is a Professional Organizer based out of Fargo, ND and her website can be found at http://www.mssimplicity.com/

· Interested in starting your own Professional Organizing business, visit http://www.mssimplicity.com/consultant-program/ to learn about how Melissa can help you!

· Need to contact MS. Simplicity privately; you can email her at melissa@mssimplicity.com.

· For daily organizing tips find the MS. Simplicity Facebook business page here.

· Order featured Clever Container organizing supplies here, consultant ID #18.

Are We Ever Done?

I had a friend come up to me at the gym this week and ask me the most thought provoking question: Are we ever done? We talked about how she had left her job 8 years ago with grand plans of getting caught up on everything in life that she had to put on the back burner while she worked a more than full time job. I know she is not alone in her feelings. I feel this every time I decide to take a few days off from work and focus on a project around the house. I haven't scrap booked in over two years, yet I am still taking pictures. I gave up about two years ago thinking that they will ever make it into albums. Right now I am ok with Facebook being my scrapbook! At least the pictures are in chronological order!

But this is the thing, time is not holding still for any of us, so what can we do?

1. Cut yourself some slack. As long as you are enjoying life with your friends and family, what more is there to life? Getting things done can wait, and you need to not beat yourself up about it.

2.  Sometimes we need to call uncle and just give up. If you feel pressure to scrapbook and you don't enjoy it, stop doing it. If you feel like your house always needs to be perfectly clean, please know that it doesn't.

3. Know when to ask for help. If you need to organize the garage, ask for reinforcements. As the saying goes with many hands make light work {unless of course they drive you crazy, then send them out to run errands}.

4. Give up on being perfect. Nobody knows it isn't perfect except you. Stop striving for it because you are going to drive yourself and your family crazy. Cleaning the grout on your tile with steel wool before your party, may be a tab bit extreme. Sometimes just making sure the dust bunnies are not bigger than the guests is good enough.

5. Find something that you can get done and pat yourself on the back. For me, that is having all of the laundry done before 3pm. With my kids being in school and gone for a large portion of the day, I can usually have all of the laundry done for a few hours....and that feels great. Maybe it is having the mail sorted once a week or reading a magazine within a week of it coming into the house. Find something, and feel good about it.

6. Figure out where the pressure of being "done" is coming from. Is it from you or a family member or even a well meaning friend. If it is your boss and you have to get a project done in order for the rest of the company to move forward, that is a big thing and you probably need to get it done. But maybe you think it is from your mother-in-law and it really isn't. Or maybe it is from your mother-in-law and you simply need to stop feeling guilty if she is being unreasonable.

7. Does it bother other people? If you are the only one that seems to be bothered by certain things not getting done, then just go up to steps 1, 2, 3, and 4 and repeat until you feel better.

Remember, life is short and we shouldn't sweat the small stuff. We need to let the little things go and focus on the big things like our friends and family. If we have good relationships with them, in the end, that is all that matters. But if we are too "busy" making sure everything is perfect, what are we missing out on? I would rather sit in your dusty house and have a cup of tea than you be too busy trying to get everything done. Because for some of us....done is not going to be a reality.

To Joyful, Simplified Living,

MS. Simplicity

MS. Simplicity, also known as Melissa Schmalenberger operates her business as I Did it with MS. Simplicity. She is a Professional Organizer based out of Fargo, ND and her website can be found at http://www.mssimplicity.com/

· Interested in starting your own Professional Organizing business, visit http://www.mssimplicity.com/consultant-program/ to learn about how Melissa can help you!

· Need to contact MS. Simplicity privately; you can email her at melissa@mssimplicity.com.

· For daily organizing tips find the MS. Simplicity Facebook business page here.

· Order featured Clever Container organizing supplies here, consultant ID #18.