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It’s that time of year where we are so busy running around we forget to stop and smell the roses.  Okay, I know that’s a cliché.  For most people, as least in this country, the rose bushes are dormant this time of year.

But that doesn’t mean you can’t stop to smell the roses figuratively.  Look around for things to be grateful for. It just might be what you need to dress up your mood.

There are always things, people, and events in everyone’s life that are good. Sometimes we just have to stop rushing through life long enough to see them.

Some things to be grateful for:

• the smile on your child’s face when you kiss them goodnight
• a roof over your head
• food to eat
• clothes and shoes to wear
• that fact that you are reading this blog post on a computer – you can read!
• your dog or cat greeting you when you get home – pets love unconditionally
• freedom to celebrate your religious holiday
• your family’s and your own health

The list goes on and on.  Take a few minutes each day to write down the things you are grateful for. Create a gratitude journal with a fancy journal, spiral notebook, or even on your smartphone or computer. It doesn’t matter how you do it.

The important thing is to write down what you are grateful for. Then read it anytime you feel overwhelmed, out of sorts, or depressed. Heck, you might want to read it first thing each morning to dress your day up right. You’ll be amazed how something this simple can have such a profound positive effect on your attitude.

Below are some previous posts I wrote about gratitude. Check them out for more motivation and ideas on how you can start wearing gratitude to help put a smile on your face.

“He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has.” ~Epictetus

“If you count all your assets, you always show a profit.” ~Robert Quillen

http://organizebythemonth.com/giving-the-gift-of-the-holiday-spirit/

http://organizebythemonth.com/take-time-to-enjoy-the-moments/

http://organizebythemonth.com/big-resolutions-vs-little-changes/

http://organizebythemonth.com/sharing-your-abundance/

http://organizebythemonth.com/gratitude-list/

To a lighter load along the way.

Janice

When you’re trying to control the clutter, gift giving holiday’s can be a real challenge.  We want to honor and show our gratitude with some kind of purchased or homemade gift. We want to give something the recipient will like and use. We don’t want to give them something that will become clutter.

Father’s Day can sometimes be very challenging.  We are lead to believe that most men would like to have new tools, or tickets to a sporting event, or some new electronic equipment.  Of course there is the old standby tie but many men just don’t wear ties that much anymore.

Some of the above will make great gifts if the Dad is interested in those things. Sometimes those kinds of gifts are just too expensive.  That doesn’t mean you should settle for just giving him something that may end up in a drawer or gather dust.  It’s time to get creative.

Fathers love the attention on Father’s Day just as much as mothers do on Mother’s Day.

Here are some ideas that don’t have to cost a lot or become clutter.

1. If you can’t afford those tickets to a sporting event consider taking Dad to a movie. Or you can buy his favorite movie on DVD and plan a special afternoon at the Movies in your own home. Make popcorn, buy his favorite candy or snack, turn off the phones, and enjoy an afternoon together.
2. Plan a dinner where you and/or the children cook everything and wait on Dad like he is a king.
3. If you have younger children they can plan for games, activities, and even decorations.  See the links below for some ideas.
4. If Dad has a hobby then some sort of new tool or equipment for that hobby would be appreciated. Most hobbies have a lot of items in a wide range of prices. You can create a gift bag of several lower price items instead of one large, expensive one.

These two links have lots of other ideas for Father’s Day.

http://family.go.com/disney/disney-fathers-day-crafts-recipes-photo-gallery-pg/

http://holidays.kaboose.com/fathers-day/

Happy Father’s Day!

Janice

I love Daylight Savings day in early March. That extra hour of daylight in the evening gives me an added boost of energy. I’m one of those people who have SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) which makes me want to hibernate all winter long. With the sun not setting until later I feel like I have more time in the day to get things done. I’m a morning person so when it gets dark around 5:00 PM in the middle of winter I really shut down early.

That means I struggle to get those little messes like the dinner dishes and clean laundry put away in the evening. So the next morning I’m cleaning up from the night before. Not a good way to start a day!

So when Daylight Savings kicks in I get excited because I know my house will be cleaner each morning and I can start the day with a smile on my face.

This Sunday, March 11, is when we move those clocks forward one hour. I change the clocks before going to bed on Saturday so I’m not late for any activities I have planned on Sunday.

Put some spring in your step and take advantage of the longer days to get the evening chores done in the evening. You’ll have more energy and motivation when you start the mornings out fresh. You’ll never miss that lost hour of sleep!

To a lighter load along the way.

Janice

I want to thank everyone who signed up to win a copy of the eBook “How To Have A Fun, Safe, And Decluttered Halloween”. Two names were drawn on Wednesday.  Congratulations to Liz. She already replied to her email and the eBook has been forwarded to her.

The other name that was drawn has not responded yet. If you are signed up to receive these blog posts through email then you were in the drawing. Please check your emails and even the spam folder to see if you have won.  The email will be coming from janice@CutClutterWithScissors.com.

If I don’t hear from the other winner I’ll draw another name tomorrow. You may still have a chance to win it. 

Halloween is only three weeks away. Don’t wait until the last minute to prepare for it. I already have the first two parts of the “Countdown to Halloween” series posted. Go check them out and get started with having a fun and organized Halloween.

Part 1:   http://organizebythemonth.com/countdown-to-halloween-series-part-1/

Part 2:   http://organizebythemonth.com/countdown-to-halloween-series-part-2/

Janice 

P.S. To receive blog post updates by email please sign up here.

http://organizebythemonth.com/sign-up-for-blog-posts/

Now that the new school year has begun it’s time to get organized. There are lots of papers that will be entering our homes by way of our children’s backpacks.

There are the notices of events going on, the permission slips, homework, worksheets, and of course all the art work the younger children do.  With so many papers coming in so fast it is easy to put them in a pile to go through later.

But will you and/or your child go through them before the homework is due or the permission slip is too late?

Start out the school year with a plan to handle the incoming papers so you and your child will be more organized. Here are a some suggestions.  If you have a different way to handle the incoming papers, please let me know by leaving a comment below.

1. For notices, permission slips, etc. you should use a different color pocket folder for each child.  When your child brings home the papers be sure to mark the date on your calendar before you file the paper into the folder. You could also use a 3 ring binder with pocket folders in it.
2. For current homework each child should have their own notebook or folders they keep in their backpack.  Usually the teachers will recommend what they want for their class.  Check it daily.  Pull out any old homework (see number 3) on a regular basis so the current homework doesn’t get lost in it.
3. Old homework can really pile up if it isn’t decluttered on a regular basis.  Depending on the grade level there can be a lot of papers that your child will never need to look at again.  If there is a chance they will need it to study for a test then help them set up a folder for each subject. Then when it’s time to study all the papers on that subject will be in one place. Most of the time in the younger grades the practice papers can be recycled.  At the end of the school year almost all the homework papers can be recycled or thrown away.
4. Art work and stories/essays are papers you’ll probably want to keep for at least a short time.  You can hang up the art work, give it to grandparents, or store it.  Under-bed storage containers are great for these since many pieces of art are larger than the standard piece of paper. Short stories or essays can be put in a binder or in the container with the art work.

If you haven’t decluttered last years papers now is a good time to do it before school gets under way.  Check out this article on how to declutter the papers.

http://cutclutterwithscissors.com/decluttering-childrens-school-papers/

To a lighter load along the way.

Janice