Tuesday, August 8, 2017

Organizing a diaper bag

Today I had the pleasure of speaking at the Montana Branch Library in Santa Monica, CA
The topic was how to organize a diaper bag.  Organizing a diaper bag can sound easy until you realize you are out of the about and your baby has a messy diaper and a rash.  You're struck in a restaurant with some relatives and you wish you had the right supplies.  I am not suggesting that you carry everything with you but even the essentials will help you thru the basic sticky and messy situations.
Essentials check list:

  • extra diapers
  • baby wipes
  • diaper cream
  • plastic bag for disposal
  • extra formula or baby milk and bottles
  • quick snack for baby food jar
  • Tylenol baby or you
  • bid and bay cloth for split up
  • seasonal items (jacket,hat, sunscreen)
Things to keep in the bag
  • changing mat
  • blanket/nursing cover
  • pacifier
  • hand sanitizer,
  • books, /toys
  • first aid
  • diaper cream
  • nail clippers
  • bulb syringe
  • benadryl 
  • other medicines
For You
  • Wallet
  • keys
  • phone
  • snack
  • water bottle
  • extra shirt
  • nursing pads
A diaper bag with many pockets is a good way to separate the different items you need. If there are a shortage of pockets you can use clear zip-lock bags and label them.  Buy lotions and containers that never leave the diaper bag.  Put snack in your bag of leave snacks in your car.  I like to have a special emergency bag of food and change of clothes in the trunk of my car at all times.  Put a box, or basket with a towel, clothes, water, snacks and an extra diaper bag essentials in case.

For Mom's Essentials:  Put a smaller wallet size that fits in your diaper bag so you can store your money, keys, and phone.  I like having an emergency kit in my glove compartment so I don't have to carry everything with me.  In the console or glove compartment I have a small pouch for bandages, lip stick, hair brush, rubber bands, sunscreen,tweezers, and pens and paper. I love being prepared.

When you return home remember to refill your bag with new supplies.  If you don't want to overload your diaper bag, consider leaving these items in the car in a "car bag" in that case add some baby toys and a change of outfit for yourself.  Enjoy your time out with the baby and be prepared.

Tuesday, July 11, 2017

Asking for Help

I was reading an article my colleague Barbara Hemphill wrote on Asking for Help.  Many times we struggle with things unnecessarily, feeling sorry for ourselves,fail to be as productive as we could be, and miss out on a lot of fun, simply because we fail to ask for help.
Here are 9 common reasons we fail to ask for help:
1.  We think we should be able to do it ourselves.
2.  We think we can do it better than anyone else.
3.  We think it would take too long to explain what we need.
4.  We're not exactly sure what to ask for.
5.  We're not sure who to ask.
6.  We're not sure how to ask.
7.  We're not organized enough to ask.
8.  We don't want to inconvenience someone else.
9.  We don't want to pay for help.
If you are drowning in paper, clutter or sidetracked by lack of systems, or overwhelmed by commitment, Please ask for help.
Asking for help is not a sign of weakness- it is a sign of wisdom.
 Thank you Barbara for sharing this with me and my clients.

Sunday, June 18, 2017

First Day of Summer- No school

Tomorrow is the first day of summer.  Really it is the first day of no school for most kids.
That means you really need to be organized if your kids camp does not start for another week.  What should you do?  Get all their own backpacks and school books put away (either in the trash or in a good memory box)  Remember only save what you would want to look at in twenty years.
Next, spend some of the day having fun in the park or the beach.  Perhaps go to the library and join a reading group.  Stop at your favorite market and choose some healthy snacks for camp.  Plans out your favorite meals for dinner and lunch.  Write a to do list and some creative art projects to do at home.  Everything is in the planning.  So get out your paper and pen and start thinking.

Tuesday, May 9, 2017

Are you ready for Mother's Day

The Best Mother's Day Present
Are you unsure of what to get your mother this year for Mother's day because you think she has everything? Or are you thinking that "what ever I give is not good enough?"  How about a session of home organizing.  Every mother wishes she could have a private personal session with a professional organizer.  Why?..because there is always an area in her home that never gets enough attention or gets dumped on.  Just think about it  ... its a gift of a lifetime and a special treat that will snowball into other organizing areas of her life. Go ahead..Give your mom a special treat..  Home Organizing this year.