I offered one of her favorite tips for left-overs on Complete Organizing Solutions. Check it out: http://ping.fm/S2Upp

2 Simple Steps that Get You & Your Family Prepared for Emergencies

Contributed by Organized A to Z Partner Heidi DeCoux

This is the 6th year that National Preparedness Month (NPM) is a nationwide effort sponsored by the Ready Campaign, with the support of Coalition Members across the US.

Are you prepared?  Here are two simple steps a couple of helpful tips that will make you more prepared in the case of two different types of emergencies.  These 2 simple steps don’t take long to do and can save you a ton of time, money and frustration!  These steps are especially important to take if you travel.

Emergency #1 – Stolen Wallet
Take a few minutes and make a photocopy of everything in your wallet including the front and back of your credit cards and membership cards. Place the copied pages in a manila envelope and mark the envelope “Contents of Wallet” and date it. Place the envelope in your safe deposit box. Mark your calendar for 3 to 6  months’ from now to update your “Contents of Wallet” envelope. Now, if your wallet is lost or stolen you will now know exactly what you lost and whom you need to contact.

Emergency #2 – Flood, Fire or Break In
The best way to prepare for one of these emergencies is to have a safe that is both water and fireproof. You could opt to keep your items in a safe deposit box at the bank, it’s just a bit less accessible than one that is in your home.  Last year there were some flood victims in SE MN who had to work hard to prove they own the property that was destroyed. They lost their mortgage, titles and deeds in the flood. Having your important difficult to replace documents in a safe along with an up to date household inventory (and appraisals or receipts of valuables) can save you quite a bit of time, money and headache if you have a flood, fire or break in.

Take a Household Inventory
Spend a few hours walking around your house with a digital camera and take a photo of all of your belongings. Burn the photos onto a CD or DVD. Make at least three copies. One copy goes in your safe deposit box, one should go to your insurance agent and one to the executor of your Will. If you have appraisals or receipts for any of your valuables, put those in your safe along with your CD or DVD of photos.

Protect Your Family Photos
In the case of a fire or flood you should be focused on getting your family out of the house not your photo albums, however, loosing years and years of precious photos could be devastating.  A simple solution is to have your photo’s scanned and put on DVD’s. Keep one set of DVD’s in your safe, give a set to the executor of your Will and you could give some copies to family members, such as your parents, grown children and siblings.

Another Hot Tip:
Put your cell phone on ICE!  Add a contact to your cell phone and name it: In Case of Emergency.  Then list whom you would want to be contacted in the case you ended up in the hospital.  Hospitals are now checking cell phones for emergency contacts.

By implementing these simple home organization and emergency planning tips you could end up saving yourself a lot of time, energy, money and frustration.  For more helpful tips visit the Ready Campaigns government website at www.ready.gov/america/index.html.

Heidi DeCoux is the publisher of the Life Made Simple E-zine and is a speaker, author, and professional organizer in Minneapolis specializing in home organization.  Heidi energizes her readers’ lives by simplifying their homes and schedules.  For more info, free tips, and to receive her FREE report, The Fast & Easy Way to Get Organized and Stay Organized Forever, visit http://www.HeidiDeCoux.com and discover how to find what you want fast, end the frustration of endless searching for things, so you can spend more time having fun!

Nip It In the Bug!

Contributed by Rita McGhee, Sort My Space, www.sortmyspace.com

Over the past several months I’ve had questions posed to me about the most recent viral explosion on the human population, H1N1, and how is the best way to clean and sanitize a home.  As a mom of elementary-age children, viruses and bacteria enter my house DAILY!  If my children bring something into the house, we all risk getting sick.  With flu season approaching, including the H1N1 virus, getting sick comes with a host of complications ranging from sore throats to death.

According to the CDC web site, www.cdc.org, Congressional update on May 4, 2009,  the H1N1 virus lives on a dry surface for minimum of “2-8 hours.”  My first line of defense is hand washing when entering the house.  As far as the children go, their school clothes are put in the laundry daily.  If clothes can’t be washed, steam them or put them through the dryer on at least the medium setting – cook the little bugs! Wipe down back-pack handles & folders with a disinfectant cloth every day.

Each time I clean a room, special consideration goes to areas of high use.  This is especially true at the first signs that a “bug” has entered the house – sneezing, coughing, fever or intestinal issues.  I use a disinfectant cleaner on a cloth or paper towel and clean these areas first:

* Bathroom – Handles, switches, sink, cabinet edges, toilet.
* Kitchen – Sink, countertops, appliance handles and controls, switches & knobs.
* Common Areas – Switches, knobs, controllers, phones & keyboards.

I’ve done this routine so often that I can sanitize each room within just a few minutes.  It has stopped many a bug in its tracks!

Rita McGhee is a professional organizer in Charleston, West Virginia and author of “Organize Your Home the Green Way.”

Jakoter Health Organizers

Jakoter Health Tag

When it comes to organizing your ever-lasting accumulation of medical documents do you wonder what should I keep, what can I throw or do I need to shred it? Medical information organizing is essential for being prepared for emergencies, as well as for doctor appointments and keeping track of medications and such.

Jakoter Health Organizers, www.jakoterhealthorganizers.com is the solution to getting all your medical information in one central location. These organizers will keep medical information organized, so when needed the information will be ready and available for all doctor appointments, surgeries, tests and those unexpected emergencies. And when you think about it…having your medical information organized and available for the emergency personnel could save yours or your loved ones life!

Jakoter Health Organizer

As well, they help caregivers and parents alike; keep track of medications, how the medications worked and/or if there was a reaction, appointments of all doctors (when, where, who, why, findings and follow up), bills & receipts, blood work, calendar charts, directions, doctor letters, immunizations, major events, and test results. They also include sections for notes, questions/answers, resources, baby milestones and two blank sections to use for whatever you need.

Jakoter Health Organizers offer Medical Information Organizing in many venues to fit your needs. We offer:

*Personal organizing to help you with your own personal medical information with the help of a Jakoter Health Consultant (JHC).

*Classes offered in small groups with hands-on organizing during a follow-up workshop.

*Webinars for those who prefer to learn virtually on how to organize their information. Also, available are webinars for those who would like to learn how to become a Jakoter Health Consultant or would like to teach others how to become a Jakoter Health Consultant.

Jakoter Medic Tag

*Speaking presentations are given to large groups on several different subjects, such as “The Ease and Power of the Health Tag”. Please contact us for more subjects offered.

*Companies who sell products for retail or online, we have great products for you to add to your line of retail and an opportunity for you to make a great profit.

Employers add a great benefit to your health insurance package by adding health organizing products for your employees. Give them the option to purchase at a discounted price or add the products in as a free benefit. Please contact us for details.

If you interested these products or as a small business owner are looking for something new to offer your clients and you would like more information about Jakoter Health Organizers, please contact me at Delight@jakoter.com or 952-297-2827.  I am confident you will be as thrilled about these products as I was the first time I heard about them.

DHS: Secretary Napolitano Announces H1N1 Preparedness Guide for Small Businesses

This year, as the flu season approaches, health officials have a new concern – the H1N1 virus. To help businesses prepare for potential outbreaks and significant staff absences due to the flu, the Department of Homeland Security has created an H1N1 Preparedness guide.

To learn more and to access the plan go to
DHS: Secretary Napolitano Announces H1N1 Preparedness Guide for Small Businesses

Shared via AddThis

Training Offered for Professional Organizers

Judy Warmington, Organized A to Z partner, offers excellent training new Professional Organizers! See http://ping.fm/z6A7V

9 Ways to Unmuddle Sleep

The start of a new school year might bring new anxieties as schedules and responsibilities change. A good night sleep might be elusive right now if you let those thoughts clutter your mind! Thanks to today’s blog contributor, Organized A to Z partner Samantha Naeyaert of Muddle Management, we’re giving you some great tips to follow to push those thoughts away and experience a restful and relaxing, good night’s sleep. Thanks Samantha!

Which came first, the good sleep or the organized thinking?

Organized thinking starts with good sleep. Good sleep is essential for me to plan and organize my client’s homes and offices.

If my client is feeling anxious and I show up tired and cranky, the project wouldn’t go well (and I might not get asked back!).  It is my job to have a plan and to execute that plan for my client. And without good sleep I couldn’t be successful.

Everyone’s head works better with a good night’s sleep. The Internet says, so it must be true, that Albert Einstein needed at least 10 hours of sleep per night!

No matter how many hours you need, I hope these 9 ideas will help you organize your bedroom for a better night’s sleep:
1.    Remove items that don’t support sleep
2.    Un-muddle the mess
3.    Dust
4.    Position your bed advantageously
5.    Change the sheets
6.    Do a comfort and ergonomics check
7.    Start a nighttime routine
8.    Watch what you eat
9.    Keep a pen and paper by your bedside

1. Remove items that don’t support sleep. Try not to include computers, work desks, exercise equipment, televisions, they don’t do anything to help you relax or get to sleep.

2. Un-Muddle the Mess. Without a clutter-free foundation, these tips won’t be as effective. Start with the floor and the surfaces in your room. Later, go deeper into closets and drawers. Clear out the things you no longer use and donate them. Put things in their proper home. If they don’t have a home, make one for them. Throw out or repair anything that is broken. Finish things that are undone or get rid of them. Clutter is usually a delayed decision. Make the decisions necessary to de-clutter the bedroom! Clearing clutter is the foundation to releasing stuck energy and getting a good night’s sleep. If you need help in this area – give Muddle Management a call!

3. Dust. Keep your bedroom as well dusted as you can. Excess dust in your room makes it harder for you to breathe. It can cause allergy symptoms and seriously disturb your sleep. Keep dusting wipes in a utility room near your bedroom so that you can easily dust frequently, especially if you have pets. Do in-depth dusting 2-4 times a year and your lungs with thank you!

4. Position your bed advantageously. In the practice of Feng Shui, placement of objects is essential to encouraging positive energy flow. You should be able to see the door from your bed, but not have your bed directly in front of the door. A power position in the room allows you to feel more secure and sleep better overall.

5. Change the sheets. Make sure you change your sheets at least once a week, but for some people who are very sensitive to energy and dust, every 3 to 5 days works better.

6. Do a comfort and ergonomics check. Are your pillows right for you? Is your bed soft enough to not cut off your circulation during the night? Are the colors in your room soothing? Does your alarm clock wake you up gently or do you hate the sound of it? Make any necessary corrections to help you physically sleep better every night.

7. Start a nighttime routine. Don’t work just before bed! I know that I have a hard time with this one but it does make a big difference in my sleep. Don’t do bills or watch the news or any other things that can cause you stress just before bed. Start by preparing for the next day. Make tomorrow’s To Do list, pick out clothes, gather things you need to take with you, brush your teeth, hair, etc. Then relax, read, listen to music or sit outside and get closer to nature.

8. Watch what you eat. Are you snacking on chocolate, soda, or other foods that may have hidden caffeine in them after dinner? What you eat, and when you eat it can seriously affect your sleep. If you snack before bed, choose whole, unprocessed foods as much possible like nuts, fruit, raw veggies, and homemade low salt popcorn are better choices than candies or ice cream.

9. Keep a pen and paper by your bedside. If you can’t sleep, often it’s because your mind is racing. Whatever is rolling around in your brain and won’t stop, you need to get your thoughts on paper so you can get them off your mind! This helps clear your mental clutter so you can rest!

Some input provided by Ariane Benefit.

Today’s Birthday Special – Kid’s Car Organizer

Today’s Birthday Special is the Kid’s Car Organizer. When you’re on the road with kids, it helps to keep them entertained. This handy car organizer holds everything they need – DVDs, game consoles, crayons, books, snacks, drinks, and more!

Organized A to Z is celebrating our birthday in July, but we’re giving you the presents! Each day, we are offering our favorite products at 25% off. The discount is good today only, so get it now!

Today’s Birthday Special – Bin Buddies

Today’s featured birthday products are the Bin Buddies! These storage tote liners make it so much easier to organize and store item by providing inner pockets to stuff full. And the lid still snaps right on for a perfect fit.

Organized A to Z is celebrating our birthday in July, but we’re giving you the presents! Each day, we are offering our favorite products at 25% off. The discount is good today only, so get it now!

Today’s Birthday Special – Password.log

Today’s featured “birthday” special is Password.log, a simple little “grey” book that holds my most important info. Of course I keep it secure in my office, but it has become my Internet lifeline!

Organized A to Z is celebrating our birthday in July, but we’re giving you the presents! Each day, we are offering our favorite products at 25% off. The discount is good today only, so get it now!