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Tuesday, June 3, 2008

June Giveaway!

Last week, we had a great giveaway but very few participants! So, I'm thinking it HAD to be a fluke, right? So, we're starting it up again. If you left a comment in the other post, consider yourself automatically entered into this contest. So, come on ladies and gents, we want to hear from you!

Just leave a comment with your best organizational tip when it comes to either managing your time or organizing your stuff. (The two major areas her (Karen Ehman's) book covers) And/or tell us your biggest organizational challenge or time management fiasco.

We'll be drawing winners from the comments (which answer our questions) to receive something great! So, be sure to ALSO leave your name and email address as well (in ADDITION to your answers)!!

We'll draw TWO winners, and you'll each win a FANTABULOUS book by Karen Ehman. Contest ends Saturday...so, what are you waiting for!?

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

I can't believe I'm the first one to comment. I'm not really the right person to be giving tips on being organized to others. I'm challenged in that regard. The only thing I have found thus far that works for me is to make lists. If I make a list I'll complete the list. However, because I know that, the slacker in me doesn't always make the list because I know I'm going to have to complete the list activities. It's pathetic, I know.
doot65[at]comcast[dot]net
Elizabeth

La Mama Naturale' said...

Hi Ashley,
I'm a pretty anal person when it comes to organization- I just like to have designated areas for things. I like to buy baskets label them for certain items- especially in Tristan's room for toys and diapering necessities etc. When it comes to getting things done I try to do laundry on Tuesdays, Bills on Wednesday, Baking and the like on Friday's etc. What's key is to spend at least 15-30mins a day picking up here and there- so it doesn't add up. I empty the dishwasher while Tristan is eating a lot of the time. The rule is usually to clean up a bit before I blog...LOL!!! I just try to get to things one day of the week instead of trying to do it all at once and making myself crazy. Oh! and my husband is his own boss so we have to save receipts - he likes to just toss them on top of his dresser but since I purchased a pencil holder he's been placing them in there with all the pens, and pencils he brings home too!!! It drives me nuts. We also just bought a 3 compartment laundry basket on wheels from Costco to keep laundry from being tossed on the ground and to keep his clothes, my clothes and Tristan clothes seperate. That's just how he and I have always done it and since Tristan is here is makes it easier!!! :) Thanks for the great giveaway. Today is the last day to enter mine!!! I'd love to win this book.

La Mama Naturale' said...

oopsie, sorry- I forgot to leave my email addy lamamanaturale@gmaildotcom

thx.

Shandelle said...

Oh boy...I'm not very good at organizing things. I find that tackling one project at a time is the only way I can finish anything. Laundry MUST be folded as it comes out of the dryer, otherwise it ends up sitting in a basket until I need something and it's so wrinkled I end up throwing it back in the dryer.
For dishes, I find that filling up one side of the sink with hot soapy water and putting lightly RINSED dishes in that side keeps everything from becoming nasty until I have the time to actually tackle both the dishwasher AND last night's dishes. Of course, keeping the dishwasher unloaded and putting dishes straight in is always a great solution too, but with a 2 year old who wants to "help" it's not always possible.
Before we do our night time routine, we clean up the front room and kitchen so we don't wake up to a huge mess.
todzwife @ gmail.com

Rayna said...

I use lots of baskets; baskets for toys, books, or lose items. I hate clutter so I am always going through the kids things and my things and getting rid of stuff. I use freecycle a lot for those unwanted or items. I find that's the best way of organizing. The less you have the less there is to keep neat.

Rayna
lareina321@yahoo.com

windycindy said...

Hi! You could ask my husband or my two sons if I am organized and I can tell you that you would hear a resounding "NO!" My husband made me a wonderful craft room in our basement with a desk, shelves, file cabinet, etc.....I have never taken the time to organize anything because I am overwhelmed and don't know where to start! Please help me! I also have boxes of folk art and such I bought on Ebay a few years ago. Lots of boxes. Please enter me in your delightful book drawing. I really appreciate it.
Many thanks, Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com

Jennifer Bogart said...

I am organizationally challenged - but my best suggestion is to sort your books by topic/category in your bookcases, makes them much easier to find ex: biography, homemaking, recipes, parenting etc.

Henry said...

I feel like I am doing something wrong in my home-making/ house-keeping. It doesn't stay organized or clean for more than a minute. I need some tips!!!

julie said...

ok..I have serious ADHD so I depend on organization...my best tip is a wonderful site called combi..free and it is all on my desksaver...each member of my family is color coded so our schedules stand out and we can even text each other reminders...great for a busy family
3beez at bellsouth dot net
julie

/\Heather/\ said...

Hi! I'm Heather. My email is attached to my profile. :-)
Best tip: Make a list of things you need to accomplish, then break that list into small, fifteen-minute tasks. Check off at least three tasks a day, depending on your available time...and reward yourself for doing it! Pretty soon, you have big things marked off your to-do list.
My worst issue is paper management. I am really starting to hate paper.

klp1965 said...

i always look around my home for things we dont use to give to someone who will use

Jenni said...

My house doesn't look like it most the time, but I can be really spastic about getting things done. Since I live close to my work place, I come home a couple of days a week at lunch and bustle about so I can get some things done without the kiddos here (which frees up my time with them in the evening). The crockpot is my great crutch for dinner as well as meals that I can throw in a 13x9 pan and leave to bake for almost an hour. I'll start a load of laundry before I start dinner, so that half way through the bake time I can switch the load over. I can run a load of dishes while dinner is cooking too. My 18 month old has a set bedtime so that I'm sure to have quiet time in the evenings for my own sanity, but also so that I know I have a few hours to do housework without feeling like I'm dancing around him or losing out on play time. Oh, and he can't go in behind me and pull out the very things I JUST put away! haha.

This summer my goal is to weed through unwanted clothes and take them to Angel's Attic to donate. THAT should help free up a lot of space in our closets! :)

Of course, I could always use extra pointers on organization.

e-mail jenniferkayalton@gmail.com

kamewh said...

I like to buy children's clothing off-season when it is clearanced out. Because of this I have items in the next couple of sizes for both of my children. I put them in boxes divded by size and whether it is winter or summer so that when they outgrow a size I can just grab the box for the next size/season. Thank you for the giveaway!

Beth said...

My best organizational tip would be, Time it, when your cleaning a room time yourself for 1 hour. Have a box labeled keep, a box labeled throw away and a box labeled give away. When your hour is up put all your keep stuff away, throw away all the trash and put your give away box in you car ready to go to a charitable organization. Youll be amazed how much you can accomplish in one hour. Now your stuff in that room is organized and you have gotten rid of what you dont need. Sounds good in theory yes, but if your like me you want to keep everything, if you havnt thought about it for at least 3 months then you can probably live without it , but bonds even with objects are so hard to break. Oh woe is the life of the wants to be organized but cant seem to let go pack rat.
brattie252@yahoo.com
Beth