​Whether you are a family with 5 busy children or you are a household of 2 empty nesters, it can be difficult to keep up with the different schedules of each member of your family.  I know there are days when I have trouble keeping up with just myself!!! 
 
Each member of the family may have their own app, day planner, or other organizational tool, but having a central calendar with everyone’s activities located in one place can help your family run more smoothly and efficiently.  We all learn differently and have different preferences, so the trick is finding what type of central command calendar works best for you and your family.

​A few methods that have worked for us over the years include:

The Dry Erase Calendar
​This is a great option because every member of your family can see it and know what is going to be happening over the coming days/weeks.   Post the dry erase calendar in a common area of the home where everyone will see it.  You can make changes to the calendar quickly and easily if your plans change, too!

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The Printed Calendar
​This is another excellent option that allows everyone in the family to see what is on the schedule – no electronic devices needed!  Simply print the week(s) you want to display (print for free from your computer’s calendar), fill in all of your important dates and appointments, and hang it in a central location in your home.  The weekly printed calendar can allow for a lot of extra information….color code your calendar by using a special color ink for each family member or write the meal plan for the week at the bottom of each day….and never have to answer the question “What’s for dinner?” again!

Family Organizing Apps 
​Apps require all family members to have their own phone in order to see the family calendar as a whole.  It’s probably a perfect choice for a family with teenagers!  There are many different apps out there that can work for the family that prefers to use an electronic form of schedule keeping.  One that I like is called the Cozi Family Organizing App.  The Cozi App has the following features: shared family calendar, color coded calendar, shopping lists, to-do lists, family journal, recipe box, and more if you opt for the paid version of the app.

​Life gets busy and our brains can only hold so much information – right?!?!  Hopefully one of these suggestions will help you and your family stay on top of everything!

​~ Emily & Jen

​You know the song from The Sound of Music – right… ”…brown paper packages tied up with strings, these are a few of my favorite things!”??? We know how much everyone loves “favorite things” and we wanted to share a few of our favorites with you!
 
We have several stores we love to shop at when hunting for that perfect organizing item, but one of our very favorite places is The Container Store (we could spend hours there) and these are 5 of our favorite products.

​These items can serve multiple purposes in just about any room of your house….so don’t be afraid to get a little creative when getting organized!

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1.  Lazy Susans

The Lazy Susan is NOT just for your grandma’s kitchen table!  Hard to reach places and corners are perfect for a Lazy Susan.  The spinning feature of the Lazy Susan allows you to maximize every square inch and works great in the pantry, under the bathroom sink, or even in the refrigerator!  They come in so many sizes, styles, and materials - there's one for anyone's decorating taste.  We've even seen a beautiful mirrored one! 

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1.  Velvet Hangers

It is amazing how such a simple item can transform a closet.  The non-slip velvet hangers help keep your clothes in place, are streamlined and space saving, and are visually appealing to the eye!  Be sure to stick with one color throughout the entire closet to complete the look of your newly organized space! 

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1. Divided Trays

There is a world of endless possibilities when it comes to using divided trays. Think of all those items that end up in a jumbled mess in your drawers…now imagine being able to actually find what you are looking for since it is nicely stored in its very own space. Desk supplies, make up brushes/items, hair accessories, or even those little lego pieces that always end up on the floor – divided trays can help organize them all!  These also can be found in all sizes, styles, and colors - from wood to clear acrylic to fun colored plastic - to suit all spaces and personalities.

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1.  Storage Bins

A staple when organizing, bins come in all sizes,  colors, and styles to help you both organize and accessorize your space.  Books, food/pantry items, children’s toys, and clothes/accessories are just a few of the many things that are easily organized with bins. By keeping to one color/style/size, you will maintain a more uniform and organized look.

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1.  Sectioned Stands

Having a place for everything is key when trying to maintain an organizing system. Sectioned stands are perfect when needing to keep important papers in their own special place, while still keeping them easily accessible.  Whether it is medical records, bills that need to be addressed, or school papers, a sectioned stand allows you to have place to file your papers until you are ready to access them again.  These can be placed on a desk, a shelf, a cabinet, or even in a drawer... wherever works for your organizing needs.

These are just a few of the items we love and frequently use when organizing.  Just remember, there is never a wrong way to use a product.  If it works for you and helps keep your life more organized – you have found a winner!

• Emily and Jen

​Back to School time….when I was a kid, this was one of my favorite times of year.  Call me crazy, but I loved all the freshly sharpened pencils, the untouched notebooks, and the brand new box of crayons just waiting for me to create my next masterpiece.  Back to school time….as a mom….is not necessarily my favorite time of year any more. 

​Why??? 
After a fun filled and relaxing summer, it seems that my kids have lost all understanding of a schedule or routine.  The late nights and lazy mornings of summer are long gone, and that 6am (or sometimes even earlier) alarm is now our worst enemy!  Instead of easing into the school year calm, cool, and collected, I end up always in a rush, nagging my children about EVERYTHING, and finding that I am never on time. 
But I’ve discovered that it doesn’t really have to be that difficult. 
They would probably never admit it, but my kids do much better and are much happier when they are following a routine or schedule.  Whether we are 5 years old or 95 years old, we all function better when we know what is expected of us – right?!?!?!  
Having a simple checklist for the morning and evening routines has helped my family run more smoothly.  Everyoneknows what is expected of them and instead of me telling and begging them to do something a million times, they look at their checklist and get things done.  This has allowed our mornings to be more enjoyable with less stress and we actually get out the door on time (if not a few minutes early).  At night, my kids are getting to bed on time and actually getting the sleep they need to start the next day refreshed and ready to go!
The importance of sleep is not lost on me…that is the time when their little brains have time to rest and grow and it is SO very important.  In order to promote optimal health, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the following:

• Infants 4 months to 12 months should sleep 12-16 hours per day
• Children 1-2 years old should sleep 11-14 hours per day
• Children 3-5 years old should sleep 10-13 hours per day
• Children 6-12 years old should sleep 9-12 hours per day
• Children 13-18 years old should sleep 8-10 hours per day

Anything that I can do to help them be healthier and happier – including getting them on a regular schedule/routine -  is a win in my book!   
These simple checklists can really work for almost any age child.  For the little ones who are not yet reading, picture charts work great. Check out this one you can find and print for free on the CDC website: 
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(https://www.cdc.gov/parents/essentials/activities/activities-structure.html) 

​For the older kids, a simple laminated list will do the trick.  You can also attach a dry erase marker if you have a child that likes to check things off as they are completed.  It is easy to add tasks to your list to tailor it and make it specific for your family, but some basic ones you might want to include are:
Morning Routine:  

• Wake up/Make your bed
• Get dressed
• Eat breakfast
• Brush hair
• Brush teeth
• Leave for school (don’t forget your lunch, backpack, homework, etc.)

I have learned that if we take care of a few tasks the night before, our morning routine runs even smoother….the night before we like to:

• Pick out the clothes we will be wearing the next day. (For that clothes savy child who likes to try on 3-4 outfits before they are satisified…this simple step can save tons of time!)
• Make lunches the night before.
• Double check that your backpack is packed and ready to go. (Did you remember your library book?  Is the signed permission slip ready to turn in?)
• Review the next day’s schedule with your child.  A simple run down of the next day’s activities can prepare your child mentally and help the day to run more smoothly.

Evening Routine:

• Homework/Reading time
• After school activities
• Eat dinner 
• Bath/Shower
• Brush teeth/Floss
• Lights out – go to bed!

Be sure to display the checklist in a place where your kids will be able to see and refer to it easily.  

Like any new habit, it will take a few days to get into the groove of your routine, but before you know it, your mornings and nights will be much more relaxing!  
Hope you find your way to sweet dreams and peaceful mornings soon!!