Archive for Organization
Simple Wedding
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A reader asked for tips to simplify a wedding so they can plan quicker to have the wedding before family has to go back overseas.
Since my simple wedding will be 21 years ago June 1, I asked at facebook for some new ideas.
Rhiannon reminds us to prioritize the stuff that lasts like rings and flowers, rather than music and flowers. Meghan says, "all the frou-frou little accessories for a wedding were not going to be the things I remembered later on (and I was correct about that!), so it wasn’t worth putting time into them or even having them; the only ones I gave the green light to were ones people wanted to give me as gifts, or that it meant a great deal to one of our mothers to have."
And she also says delegate, even if it means giving up some control. Others want to help you and tend to take care of the things you ask them to handle. Decorating is a great place to invite help. Branch out thought and don’t rely on the same 2-3 people.
Debbie says to make a note about what is important to you and your soon-to-be spouse. Stick to it and simplify the rest. And have fun! (Plus the more relaxed you are, the more fun all your guests will have.)
"Finally, relax. You’re getting married. That’s the point. No one cares if the the fruit you serve is cut into heart shapes or if they get a little plastic tube of bubbles to blow at you when you leave. You and your loved one will get married that day, and that is what makes the day perfect. Not any of the other details. And of course: less is more." Meghan reminds you.
Food
- Debra says ask family and friends to help out with food. Potluck is a big time savor.
- Buffet style instead getting servers, says LA Lovely Ink.
- If you have it a a B&B, Laura says they might cater for you.
- Instead of flower centerpieces you can have small tiered cakes to eat when it’s time to cut the cake, Brooke suggests.
- Have a simple reception like Diana’s daughter had – cake, punch, nuts, mints, vegetables. They made their own wedding cake out of 6 round cakes.
- Cheryl says a cocktail reception instead of a sit-down dinner
- In fact, depending on the time of day, Sherri says you can have a cake only reception.
- Wedding cupcakes (see above)
- If you have lots of fantastic pie makers in your family and friends circle you can have them each bring a pie in lieu of having wedding cake.
Dress
- Rent a dress
- Get an outfit, rather than a wedding dress
- Diana ordered her daughter’s wedding dress from ebay seller "Quick Gowns" inexpensive and allows returns if in two days
- Get a dress off the rack instead of scouring and fitting, says Faith.
People
- The easiest way to limit the chaos of a wedding is to invite less people. You can have an intimate family wedding, then have a party with friends after family leaves.
- Also use less attendants which will simplify many aspects
- Have a Day of Coordinator – a main person to handle to details.
Photos
- Can a friend take the pictures?
- Or have everyone take pictures with disposable cameras that you can develop
Decorations
- Framed photos of the bride and groom
- Recruit someone getting married to take down the decorations and keep what she wants (love this idea, Diana!)
- You can use silk flowers if you want them to last longer
- The Dollar Tree has inexpensive table centerpieces, says Julie. And Peggy says you can make simple floral or candle centerpieces there.
- Most people don’t need party favors, but Pamela said she loved at a Saturday night wedding when they go bagels, cream cheese and the Sunday paper before they left.
- Also, Lisa’s parents went to a wedding a few years ago where small jars of local honey were given as favors with a cute label they printed. I think it had their names, the date and something like "Meant to Bee".
- Cheryl suggests asking the venue if they have house candleabras/candles instead of buying centerpieces
Location
- Your church
- Courthouse
- Marina
- Regular hall
- Church basement/hall
- B & B
- Find the location ASAP – those book up Faith reminds us
- Restaurant (Maree had a fabulous champagne and seafood lunch and got married there.)
Invitations
- Print your own or use an online invitation service like Evites, suggests Lisa
I love Lynette’s wedding, "For our wedding, we invited family and friends to my soon to be husband’s birthday party, and then had a surprise wedding. We announced the marriage with fortunes in fortune cookies. I wore a colorful dress, he wore a suit. In front of fireplace and 60 guests in a very small house, ferns hanging, garden bouquets, a beautiful cake, guitar player, banquet, Catholic priest, believe it or not. Done. 21Yrs later our first child, still married since 1984. Cheap, but I had just bought a house. Fairly low stress (only in retrospect -) other than getting the house in perfect order. I wouldn’t do it any different today."
And Diana says they saw a wedding where the grandmother’s performed the role of flower girls with great joy and to applause. And instead of tossing bouquet to embarrassed single women, her daughter’s chose to award the bouquet to the couple married the longest.
If you have any more ideas for our bride-to-be, I’d love to see them in the comments.
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Wedding cupcake photo by Clever Cupcakes
Believing in a simpler, saner life
Posted by: | CommentsHow you think about yourself as a housekeeper can affect how you care for your home.
If "other people" have the pretty, organized homes you are less likely to have that kind of home.
If you think you are disorganized, lazy, scattered you are more likely to act that way.
In my classes, we talk a lot about breaking through the beliefs that are holding you back. The beliefs that limit you. That tell you what is possible.
Organizing, cleaning and decluttering are much more about habits that who you are as a person. I was not "born organized". I needed to learn skills and habits to live the life I wanted. And you can too.
What do you need to believe to experience a simpler, saner life?
I don’t get more done when I hurry.
I can create habits that support me.
I desire a more peaceful home.
I can create the atmosphere in my home.
Notice your beliefs regarding you and your home.
Living Intentionally
Posted by: | CommentsA retreat I went on Sunday talked about Cultivating Joy – intentionally noticing and creating joy. Our sermon last Sunday talked about living intentionally. My daughter was telling me she appreciated the childhood we had for her with lots of family time. I got to tell her we did that intentionally.
It’s easy to get caught up in putting out fires, running from crisis to crisis never thinking ahead or thinking, "Is this the way I want to live?" Life becomes overwhelming, everything seems a priority. Mindlessly going from one activity to another as fast as we can. Multi-tasking along the way.
Intentional living is an important facet to simple living. When you intentionally think about what you want and how you want to live, the fluff and distractions are noticeably less important. You craft your life with thought. You don’t follow only what everyone else is doing. Or live vicariously through other people’s Facebook posts. Instead you live life on purpose.
You can start intentional living by taking time alone to answer these questions:
What’s most important to you?
What do you really want to accomplish (you – not your family, friends or society)?
Who do you want to be?
How do you want to feel?
What are your strengths and how can you use them?
Journal, talk about these questions, pray on these questions, contemplate these questions, dance them. Use whatever way feels right to you to uncover your true priorities.
Narrow these priorities down for the moment to five. The clearer you are, the easier it is to say no to other things.
Now that you know what’s most important, create routines that remind you of your priorities. Do you want to spend time with God, exercise, get yourself started thinking positively? Those are great things to put in a morning routine. Do you want to journal, play with the kids or set yourself up for a great tomorrow? Put those actions into an evening routine. Then write these routines down and post them where you will see them or have your phone send you reminders.
As you go throughout your day, pause before reacting. Be intentional with what you say and how you act. Are you responding in a way that connects with your values? Are you doing the right thing? Pause between activities to see what is really needed next instead of rushing to the next thing on the list. Add pauses in your day to think about things, to reflect on the day, to notice. (Red lights, waiting time instead of playing with your phone, in the shower.) Decide things based on your priorities instead of allowing life to make the decisions for you. You can put a reminder in your phone or computer to pause throughout the day until it gets habitual.
Set up your environment to help you with your intentions. Clean out the fridge and set out your exercise clothes if health is one of your main priorities. Get in a mastermind if one of your priorities is to start your own business. If connection is important to you, put in your calendar to set up dates with your friends and family. What are your priorities? How can you create an environment that will make them easier?
Plan. Plan weekly to see if there is anything you can do to make things go smoother, so you are putting out less fires. Look at your calendar and see if you are currently living your priorities. Plan monthly so you can include things that are important to you like 1:1 time with the kids, exercise classes, remembering birthdays, or saving up for vacation. Plan seasonally – what seasonal activities don’t you want to miss this year? And is it time to update your 5 priorities? Put your planning time into your calendar.
Watch doing a bunch of things at once. Your mind will be in a million directions and it’s difficult to be intentional without that focus. Close down the iPad while watching TV. Put the phone down when you are with others. Close your tabs on your computer so you can concentrate. Turn off the email ping. Don’t have 10 projects going at the same time. Start with 20 minutes focusing on one activity then see if you can focus longer.
Of course events will get you off track and things may not always go as planned. And you will still be closer to living the life you want when you live intentionally instead of floating.
If you aren’t intentional with your life, your life will flow by other’s demands, the day to day details, and stuff instead of what is important to you. You have to plan and decide because no one can do that for you. But, it’s more fulfilling to live in a life you designed.
Should’ve Said No
Posted by: | CommentsSo what do you do when you end up taking on something on hindsight you shouldn’t have? It’s easier to notice after you say yes how this is negatively affecting your life.
1) Notice that getting yourself into situations like this is not fun. Feel the pain so you remember for next time. Examine why you said yes – maybe you were looking for approval, maybe the project didn’t look as big and time consuming as it ended up, maybe you said yes automatically without looking at your schedule. Figure out why you said yes and put in place boundaries so you are less likely to say yes in that kind of situation. You could decide never to say yes unless you look at your calendar. You could practice with a friend different ways to say no. You can make sure you get a time commitment up front.
2) Next, decide if you want to get out of duty/project/leadership position. In some instances you may have to bow out if it is negatively affecting you and your family. I know you always want to keep your commitments, but sometimes you can’t. You can only focus on so many activities at a time. Make sure it is worth it.
- Be honest right away with the people affected. Don’t drag it on hoping you will be able to do it. They will be relying on you more as time goes on.
- Let them know you didn’t realize the time commitment would be so much or whatever your reasoning.
- Help them find solutions, perhaps finding one or two people to take your place.
- Have down on paper what specifically you have been working on so someone can get right in.
3) If you decide to stay on for the project, look at the rest of your life. What other projects can you put on hold for the time being? Can you decide no social media for the next three weeks?
- Is there anyone you could ask that might be able to help you?
- Talk about ways to streamline and simplify the duty or project.
- Be clear on how much time you can spend on this and stick with that.
- During busy times like this it is even more imperative to relax sometime during the day and get at least 10 min of exercise in for stress relief.
- Cut yourself some slack with the house and cooking. Ask for more help at home.
- Make sure everyone is clear on the expectations and make sure they are realistic.
The follow up habit
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My husband and I were taking a Jeep ride through the country last weekend. I noticed a couple houses still had their wreaths up. I figured it is probably less about no time to take it down and more about not noticing the wreath is still up.
I have gotten in the habit of asking myself at the end of any to do, "What is the follow up or next step?"
So when the Christmas decorations go up, I also calendar when they come down.
If I write someone, I put in my calendar when I need to follow up with them.
If I have to stop in the middle of a project, I write down the next step for the next day I plan on doing the project.
When I put the clothes in the washer, I make sure I use the timers soclothes get all the way from washing to drying to folding to put away.
When I get off a call, I immediately write down the action steps in my to do list before they fall out of my brain.
It takes a few seconds to write down the next step or the followup, right after you do something. Much easier than fumbling with your memory trying to recall what you were going to do next. Or worse, never remember you were going to follow up until something gets way behind.
Life has too many moving parts for me to rely on my memory. Why don’t you try this out and see how it works for you?
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Wreath photo by Ms.Tea
Coming home routine
Posted by: | CommentsDo you have a coming home routine?
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One of the main reasons it’s so difficult to get out the door on time, is because the coming home is haphazard with things getting thrown where ever.
But, if you practice a routine when you come home, it will be much easier to leave on time.
Mine is:
- Come home
- Put the keys on the key rack
- Take off shoes or boots at the door with the shoe cubby and boot tray
- Put my gloves, ear muffs, sunglasses away in the container for these
- Hang up my coat
- Take my phone out of my purse and put on desk
- Hang up my purse in my office
- Put away anything that I brought in with me
So when it’s time to go, I only have trouble when I don’t do one of the things above. Then it’s, "Have you seen my keys?" and "Where did I put my purse?"
(Can you tell which two I don’t do the most?)
You can also teach your kids a routine so getting to school on time is easier. (Even putting it in the back of the closet door or a similar reminder.)
If you are coming home to people at home, it’s fun to add hugs and kisses.
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Photo by Love Maegan
Getting what you need from your home
Posted by: | CommentsWhen you say the word home, many people want to run. Home is where mess, work and conflict reside.
I would love for home to be a place that helps you. That gives you what you need.
But, we need to create that place.
What do you need more of in your life? Space, peace, comfort? What do you need? __________________
Now, how can your home help you? Perhaps you are frazzled from life and want a place to relax. So you create simple little routines that clean up the mess and decide not to bring future clutter into the home. Perhaps you downsize so there is less maintenance. Or hire someone to clean a couple hours a week.
Maybe you have extra stress lately and would love to be comforted. So you set up your home with cozy blankets, music instead of TV, a little box with your favorite childhood books, crayons, and glitter.
Or you could want community. You decide to have your living room company ready daily. You could have little, easy treats to serve people when they come over. You decide the guest bathroom really will be for guests so there is less to clean. The guest room is decluttered and set up to welcome guests.
What do you need more of in your life? How can your home help you?
Moving things out of prime space
Posted by: | CommentsI’ve been in the mood to create more space around me this month. One of the ways to do this, is by moving things out of prime space.
Binders that I have been using less then once a month were put into the basement. An empty space in my office is delightful. A box from my office closet also ended up in the basement. I put things on higher shelves in the medicine cabinet. Seasoning packets that were on my counters were put in the cabinet. Other things on my kitchen counters were decluttered. Some things that were on my desk have been moved to create more work space.
How can you do this?
Notice what is on your prime space – kitchen counters, your desk, your bathroom sink. Are these things you actually use every day? If not, they can be moved into other space.
For things you use weekly, they can go in spaces like drawers, desk cubbies, closets and lower cabinets.
Monthlies can go to higher cabinets or lower drawers. And in certain less accessible closet space.
If you use them less than once a month, consider decluttering them. They can also go into storage in the attic, basement, crawl space or certain closets.
I keep my double boiler and waffle maker in the kitchen overflow box in the basement.
In order to create a smooth flow during your day, things you need less often are best serving you out of the way.
Keep an eye out on your daily flow today? What can you move out of prime space?
Valentine’s Day Countdown
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To get you ready for the lovely day, here is a checklist for every day. To keep it simple you don’t need to do it every day. You can pick only the ones that sound like something you want to do.
Feb. 1 Write a love note to your honey, detailing what you love about him or her.
Make your bedroom romantic by getting things out of the room that have nothing to do with getting dressed, loving or sleeping.
Feb. 2 Light candles around the house for candlemas day.
Decide if you want to spend valentine’s day with friends, significant other or family.
Feb. 3 Rent a sappy movie for your self to get in the mood or shop for some sexy outfit for valentine’s day with or without friends.
Try your hand at a love poem.
Put on a Valentine Screen Saver
Feb. 4 Do three nice things for your significant other today.
Plan where to spend valentine’s and make reservations or start picking up the house.
Feb. 5 Have a nice long talk with your honey, even if it is only on the phone.
If you are having dinner at home, decide on the menu. If not, think of a fun way to get to your destination.
Feb. 6 Find some romantic music to play at home or in the car for the big day. Start listening to it now.
If you have snow, freeze some snowballs for some fun this summer.
Feb. 7 Compliment your love at least three times today.
Get your haircut and/or a Makeover.
Take an Exceptional Marriage Quiz
Feb. 8 Get some extra exercise in today; try some yoga moves.
Give yourself a facial- steam your face, wash, exfoliate, put on a mask, rinse off, then apply moisturizer.
Feb. 9 Set out candles and massage oil for an early romantic time.
Order flowers.
Feb. 10 Do a random act of kindness for your sweetie and don’t get found out.
Buy a present and make a card.
Feb. 11 Reread some old love letters and go through some pictures of the two of you.
Figure out or confirm any details of what you are going to be doing for Valentine’s Day.
Feb. 12 Make fudge.
Give yourself or go out for a manicure and pedicure.
Feb. 13 Pick up a movie, flowers, or anything else you need for tommorow.
Take a nice, long bath. Defuzz, exfoliate your skin, and slather on some heavenly smelling lotion.
Feb. 14 Make sure house is clean in morning, including fresh sheets.
Send a virtual valentine.
Enjoy your day!
Photo by: Katerha
Setting Up – Part Two
Posted by: | CommentsI’ve talked about Setting Up before – for projects and wins.
Usually we aren’t setting up for ourselves. Usually we are cleaning up after ourselves. "Oh, I see we had snacks in the living room last night. I can tell by the wrappers." " I didn’t get to bed on time last night and now I am wiped out." "I didn’t put away that last project and now I don’t even know where to start."
What would it be like if you set yourself up.
This morning, I reaped the benefits of setting myself up. I had a video interview at 9 a.m. with Mohamed Tohami of Midway Simplicity. During my weekly planning I saw this was coming up and asked what I could set up ahead of time to make this easier.
So on my to do list the night before I typed in actions like set out clothes for interview, polish the piano that shows in the video, look over the link he sent over about the topic and check the video from my camera on Skype.
On my to do list this morning I had put in contacts, put on makeup, check teeth, turn off the phone and get into a good head space.
I also set out my Bible study materials the night before because I was leaving for church right after the video interview.
The interview went smoothly and I felt relaxed.
In my past, things would have gone differently. I would have waited till morning before checking the video feed and looking over the link. I may or may not have had time for good grooming first. Things would have been thrown off the piano right before video time. Forget about having any time to relax and focus before the interview. Then I would be coming to the interview anxious and worried I was forgetting something (like something stuck in my teeth.)
You are the person that gets to deal with things you left for the last minute, things you left out, things you bought at the spur of the moment. We like to think of that person in the future as someone else when we procrastinate or don’t plan. But, it’s still you.
And you are the person who can enjoy waking up to dishes having been done, a post it note on a project file so you know what is next, or a table that is set for breakfast.
Try that this week. Look over the week ahead to see things coming up and ask yourself, "How can I set this up to make it easier on myself?"
