The Posh Blog

Can you believe it, the back to school sales are in full gear!?  My daughter will be starting kindergarten this year… boo hoo, hoo!  So I wanted to be sure to get her custom labels with her name on them ordered in time for school.  Mine just arrived last week and I was so excited!  I was labeling her water bottle, thermos, lunch box, and more. She thought they were really cool too!  Now there is no more fighting about which cup belongs to which child in my house! Each has their own dishwasher safe stickers on their cups. 

I have: iron-on labels for jackets and clothing; stickers for cups, notebooks, or anything really; shoe labels that go inside the soles of her shoes; and metal tags I can attach to a backpack or bag.  They are so cool. 

There is still time to order labels for your child before that first school bell rings.  There are two companies I have ordered labels from and that I recommend and they are Lovable Labels and Mabel’s Labels. I have been extremely satisfied with my purchases from both companies. Both companies offer a “Back to School Pack” that are a great way to get started. 

Here’s to the start of an organized year!

Angela

Copyright (C) 2009 Angela Ploetz, POSH Space  www.theposhspace.com.

Did you know it’s Purposeful Parenting Month?  I know as a mother I am always looking for ways to make my families time at home fun for everyone.  So what can a parent do to help themselves be a better parent?  Here are few tips based on what I frequently hear from my clients.

1. Help.  That’s right!  As a Professional Organizer I work with a lot of parents and the one thing many of them tell me is that they do everything.  Even if you have a cleaning person come in on a weekly or monthly basis there are still things that need to be done in between and one or two people can’t do it alone.  Talk to your family and get them to pitch in around the house.  Even my two year old knows how to put her laundry in the hamper, you just have to make it easy for them (especially teenagers).  Establish minimal rules of how they can help you around the house.

2. A night out!  Yes, we parents need to have a little fun too.  Get a sitter for the kids and schedule a date night or night out with friends. 

3. Family calendar.  With multiple people living in one house comes multiple schedules!  Ahhh!  Keep everything straight with a calendar in your kitchen or where ever your family tends to gather.  You can use a paper calendar or a dry erase board.  Assigning one color to each family member is also great so you don’t have to waste space on the calendar by writing names down.  If you prefer to use an electronic calendar you can print the current week and post it in the kitchen so everyone can see it at a glance.

4.  Finally, enjoy your time with your family!  Whatever it is you are doing try to make it fun.  Whether you are cleaning out the garage or going on a family trip add music, games, or stories to make it more fun.  Having a family tradition like a game night or something else can help bring families together. 
 
For the first time, I will be offering a four part Home Sanity TM Course via telephone.  This course will help busy people understand the four pillars of Home Sanity: space, paper, time, and communication.  You will leave knowing how to organize any space in your home, how to handle incoming mail, how to help get “buy in” from your family, and how to make your home run more smoothly.
Our first call will be September 2nd from 10 am CST-noon CST.  We will meet via phone a total of four times (September 2nd, 9th, 16th, and 23rd) each time from 10 am CST –noon CST.  For more information see our calendar at http://www.theposhspace.com/calendar.php To register call me at 512-252-2866 or e-mail info@theposhspace.com.
What are your parenting must haves? 

Enjoy peaceful and purposeful parenting for the rest of this month.
Angela
Copyright (C) 2008 Angela Ploetz, POSH Space  www.theposhspace.com.

We all know that less is the new more.  Simple and understated has now replaced big and over extravagant.  But you don’t have to sacrifice style and beauty for functionality.  You can have both style and function while remaining simple and understated. 

One area where I see this a lot is in file containers.  Many of my clients do not want to bring in the oh so dreaded monstrous metal file cabinet.  AHHHH!!!  For many people they may not have the space for such a large obtrusive piece in their home.  People often get excited about finally getting organized and adding a new filing system to help them corral the paper, but they get stuck with determining where the new files will go.  So what’s a space challenged and style conscious person to do? 

Here are a few products I have found to that are smaller than the standard file cabinet but can do the job in a more attractive way. 

1. Bristol Storage Stool from The Container Store 

This is pretty cool.  There are many people who need to have files handy in their living space but want to keep them concealed.  Here is a cleaver and stylish way to do that.  The Bristol Storage Stool can be used for general storage or can hold letter sized hanging files.  It has a padded top and you could group two or more of them together to make a side table or coffee table.  This product is perfect for a living area or home office.  Priced at $79.00 each.

2. File Box with Hinged Lid from Crate and Barrel

Sized at 14″x13.5″x12″H this box can sit on a shelf, desktop, or tuck underneath a desk.  These boxes are stackable and sturdy and come in a brown faux leather finish.  I like these boxes because they have the cutout handles which make them easy to carry and include hanging bars to hold your letter sized hanging file folders.  Priced at $69.95 each available at Crate and Barrel.

Keep in mind that the average household will need at least a two drawer file cabinet, and I have personally found that most families need at least three drawers.  So you may need to purchase 2-4 of these smaller file storage containers depending on the number of files you have and complexity of your filing system. 

What do you use to store your home files? 

Enjoy stylish filing!

Angela

Copyright (C) 2008 Angela Ploetz, POSH Space  www.theposhspace.com.

I had the chance to attend my sister-in-law’s (hey Margo!) baby shower this weekend, she’s expecting twin boys!  So I was able to give her a few words of advice on what a mom must have in her car at all times to be prepared for any situation. 

Here are a few of the things I suggested:
1. Wet One’s Hand Wipes.  You never know what will happen, especially when you have children!  But there are many times when someone’s hands are messy or someone will be eating in the car after playing at the park.  These anti-bacterial hand wipes are perfect to have in each vehicle and will be used often!

2. Tissues-I know it seems like a no-brainer, but there are so many times when a simple tissue will come in handy.  Especially during flu season. These are a must have in every car. I keep a small box in each car.

3. Trash bags-If you have dirty tissues and a used Wet One you have to have a place to put them!  It seems like your car can get filled up with trash quickly.  So trash bags are a must!  You can keep a small stash of plastic grocery bags or you can get something like Sassy Diaper Sacks.  I love these because 50 bags come in a nice and neat bag I can keep in my car.  I have found these bags at my local grocery store in the baby supply aisle or the at a large baby supply store.  

4. Money-These days it seems like very few people carry real money anymore, but there are some places that only accept good old fashioned money.  I recommend you keep a very small amount of money in your car.  I recommend $10-20 dollars in case of a small emergency.

5. Pen and paper- Even in the days of GPS and smart phones, I am always amazed how much I rely on a pen and paper.  I keep a post-it pad in my car and use it to jot down: songs I want to download, directions to someone’s house, a great thought or idea, a web-site I heard on the radio, and more.  Note pads are also great for keeping children entertained on road trips!

6. Bonus Tip-Container- I use a container that sits on the floorboard of the car in the back seat.  It is large enough to hold all the things I described above and a few other things I didn’t mention. One of the containers I use in my husband’s car is the small Trunk Tray from The Container Store.  It has a non-skid bottom that prevents it from sliding across the back of your car. 

Enjoy safe travels this summer!

Angela

Copyright (C) 2008 Angela Ploetz, POSH Space  www.theposhspace.com.