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12 Days ’till Christmas

Ditch the pressure and embrace the Christmas spirit 12 Days 'till Christmas

The beginning of December brings much excitement and joy about the fast approaching holidays. You can finally indulge all those crafty whims you’ve saved up for this time of year. Then suddenly you’re knee deep in Christmas cards, homemade ornaments, baking all those yummy traditional foods, shopping for presents (online because it saves more time of course). All the effort and planning we put into making sure everyone has the most amazing holiday is….. EXHAUSTING!

A recent poll from Today Show suggests that women dedicate an average of 83 hours preparing for the festive season. That’s an entire 2 weeks dedicated to all things jolly, on top of everything else we have going on!   How do you prepare for and more importantly, get into the spirit of Christmas?

Wouldn’t it be easier if you had a system for streamlined and stress-free holiday success? Your time and energy would be saved for the moments that count the most. Well you’re in luck! Did You Remember the Milk has the best Christmas Planning Resources at the click of a mouse! I love helping our members to ease that load.   Isn’t it too late to download a Christmas planner now?? It’s never too late. While you’re going through the motions right now in the countdown to Christmas day, start building on your plan for next year. With our Ultimate Christmas Planner, you will be organized in no time.   Each year in November, I open my Ultimate Christmas binder and my whole festive season is planned out for me. There is my gift list from last year, cool gift wrapping ideas, last year’s Christmas card list for updating, favourite online stores, home-made gifts planner, playlists, favourite recipes for ham glaze, Cumberland sauce, turkey stuffing, spiced nuts and all the other divine recipes that only come out once a year. Then there are the favourite charities and their instructions for how to give. I also have the same project file set up on my computer.   Other things you might add to your file:

  • Inspiration for getting into the spirit
  • Your Christmas budget
  • Gift Lists
  • Organise and make invitations and cards
  • Timelines and sequences of when to decorate and make certain purchases
  • Baking strategies
  • Christmas Dinner lists and preparation
  • New Years party planning
  • Sound tracks

That’s only a fraction of what we have in store for you. Enjoy the parties and bubbles and smile to yourself knowing you’ve done it in half the time it took last year.   Download our Ultimate Xmas Planner HERE!

 

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Give yourself a year

An organised life allows you to have more time, less stress, more money and the ability to achieve any goal you desire. But if you’re starting at zero, I mean with nothing, then it is going to take a bit of time and some planning. Rather than getting overwhelmed, it’s important to tackle your organising process step by step. We have made the journey as painless as possible with our step by step systems so you don’t have to think about the process while you’re sorting out your stuff.

It’s important to highlight the importance of commitment when you’re on the road to getting organised. Without commitment, all the experts in the world will be of no avail. You can very easily undo many hours, weeks or months of hard work without systems to maintain your order.

We get disorganised because of one thing: our thought processes. The way we’re showing up today is a result of the way we have approached our life over the past weeks / months / years. Disorganisation is a result of being overloaded, distracted, multi-tasked and overwhelmed.

It has a negative compounding effect in that it becomes even harder and harder to think clearly, to relax and to be present when we’re surrounded by chaos and clutter. So the spiral continues downward.

Even when we know enough’s enough, and we really want to get organised, fear stops us. And when we’re stuck in fear, half our brain shuts down, leaving all our organising skills out the window. To add insult to injury, we look around at our mess and start to feel guilty, ashamed and helpless. Not a very empowering state.

As we grow older, the problems multiply. “Now is not a good time to get organised. I need to…plan my presentation for next week, I need to get the kids’ dinner, I have laundry to finish, I’m busy planning our holiday….” the list goes on.

I believe that we each have a unique calling and that everyone benefits from a calmer, more organised you. Your light shines brighter when you’ve cleared away the clutter. We arrive at ‘disorganisation’ through an unconscious process. It’s the default scenario. So to get back to our best selves, we need to become conscious of the process for a while, until we become unconsciously competent at it. You’re tired of the state of affairs your in, and that affects every aspect of your life.
So the minute you decide to get organised and make a commitment, then everything starts to change.

Give yourself one year, and you can gradually and easily learn the very best organising skills and achieve your goals. And as your physical spaces become streamlined and organised, the rest of your life starts to fall in line. You will notice a shift in your energy, your mood, your time and your money. Imagine how powerful you can be when you’re organised. How would you show up in the world if you didn’t have to worry about all the stuff that’s weighing you down?

Let’s find out….

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Nearly 101 Uses for an Over the Door Shoe Rack

This post is from guest Blogger Kristina Duke from Blue Sky Engagement. We would love to hear your thoughts – please comment down below.

(maybe not that many!)

I’m sure many of you have seen a couple of these ideas floating around the Internet but I know I have some ideas that will surprise you and change the way you look at over the door shoe pockets.

laundary

1.Laundry

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/240309330090721875/

Use for cleaning supplies and those pesky odd socks! (Please note that I do not recommend that you have this many supplies on hand – that is just clutter but the idea is great.)

2. Baby

Perfect for holding baby lotion, powder, wipes, breast pads and baby socks and shoes.

girls_room

3. Girls room

These pockets are great for Barbies and her accessories. They are also great for any other little toys like Littlest Pet Shop and the like.

Another organiser would work also for all your daughter’s hair accessories.

Here is my daughter’s organiser with a combination of all.

4. Boys Room

The shoe racks work great for action figures, cars and even Lego pieces.

bathroom

5. Bathroom

http://www.listotic.com/50-brilliant-storage-ideas/33/

As one of the smallest rooms of the house, it demands our attention to storage ideas.
If you would prefer not to have one on the back of the door, you could cut an organiser to size and hang inside the cupboard door. Organise the hair accessories, tooth brushing supplies, makeup, bandaids, clean washcloths and more.

pantry

6. Kitchen

Pantries big and small have a habit of losing smaller items into a dark abyss. Bring these items to light by storing them on the door – packet mixes, cookie cutters or other small utensils, snack food packets, herbs and spices and more.

Could also be used to store drink bottles and travel flasks.

http://my-house-my-home.com//?p=15590

craft_room

7. Study/ Craft room

The study is the place where everything that doesn’t have a home seems to live. We put items here because we need access to them but they never really have a spot.

Try using the shoe rack for storing cords, charging cables, small gaming devices, random hardware items, stationary items, batteries etc.

Shoe racks could also serve as perfect storage for craft supplies – those little packets of glitter or sequin, ribbon/ thread or string, buttons, pipecleaners, stamps, paints, brushes, stickers, scissors, tape, textas, pencils or crayons… the list is endless but at least now its organised.

8. Front entry

As this is the last door you see before you leave for the day, this could be the perfect organisation solution for you to never forget things as you walk out. Keys, phones, diary, dog leads, scarf, sunglasses, sunscreen or bug spray and more could all be stored ready for action.

bedroom

9. Bedroom

I know I like certain items to be on display and others to be in hidden storage. So try one of these ideas to enhance your storage options available and to suit your style.

A clear shoe rack would be perfect for displaying your accessories – costume jewellery, scarves, belts and even hats at a glance and easily accessible to vamp your outfit.
Maybe you prefer to sort your winter tights, or even your underwear.

http://www.bhg.com/decorating/storage/organization-basics/small-item-storage/#page=6

For the men ties and belts are the perfect items for this inexpensive storage idea.

If you are an avid reader this could be the place to house your paperback books.

garage

10. Garage

Similar to the study, the garage can be a catchall for miscellaneous items. Mount a show organiser to a peg board or on the back of a door to house cords, cables ties, small tools, nails and screws, electrical tape, WD40, spare keys or padlocks etc.

http://waythatiam.blogspot.com.au/2011/07/closet-redo.html

camping

11. Camping

http://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/2013/05/25-tips-for-making-camping-easier-more-fun.html

Hang one is your camp kitchen area to hold utensils, cloths, bug spray and other needed items. Keep them off the ground and easy to access.

garden

12. Garden

Hang one on a wall undercover to hold your gloves, spade, weeding fork, secateurs, packets of seeds, gardening hat and sunscreen.

You could even use one to create and inexpensive vertical garden – perfect for herbs!

https://www.obaz.com/lookbook/335

13. Car

Cut to size to fit the back of the seat, these make a cheap organisation solution for kid car clutter especially on longer trips. Pack snacks, books, gaming supplies, even comfy socks or eye masks for extended journeys.

chrismas

14. Christmas

Why not make a custom advent calendar?

http://theinspiredhome.org/advent-calendar-two-ways/

As you can see if you think outside the shoebox (or over the door pockets) you can find many ways to contain, order and control the things in your house from becoming clutter.

Some things just work better when they are stored so they are visible and easy to access.

The key is set limits to the space that hold your things and not exceed those limits. No one said you couldn’t max out your spaces storage potential though!

(Expert tip: For light items the cheaper brands work fine but I highly recommend spending the money on quality when storing heavier items on your door.)

KristinaAbout Kristina Duke

Kristina Duke is the Decluttering Diva! A Professional Organiser servicing the North Shore Sydney suburbs – helping fellow mums to control the clutter in their homes and create organised spaces that make their lives easier to manage.

Check out her website www.declutteringdiva.com.au or “like” the FB for regular hints, tips and inspiration (www.facbook.com/declutteringdivaaustralia)

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Does your work bag work hard for you?

I’ve been looking for a new work bag for a while and today I finally succumbed. I needed a bag that could handle my full life. I needed a bag big enough to hold my laptop, my reading material, my items for the day, like meeting notes, mail, receipts and forms. And I wanted it to be stylish. Oh and I also needed compartments for my pens, keys, sunnies, wallet, tissues, business cards, toys that my kids hand me in the school yard as I wave them good bye. You get the picture. This bag needed to be stylish and smart. Oh, and it needs to be my mobile office.

Too much to ask?

Apparently not. When I interviewed Kristina Karlsson, founder of Kikki.K Swedish stationary chain, via e-mail for our blog post yesterday, I finally discovered I needed the Vaxholm. A classic shoulder bag in ‘Cognac’ leather. My search for the perfect work bag is over. This is totally my mobile office. I LOVE IT.

It features a separate padded compartment for your laptop, external and internal zip pockets, leather pen loops, phone pocket, leather cable wrap and attached key chain – this stylish leather bag has all the compartments you need to organise all your everyday essentials. It fits my laptop and it matches my small handbag that I can take to lunch.

Any of my bag lovers out there will understand what I’m talking about. Please let me know your thoughts.

Find it here: www.kikki-k.com

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There are only three ways to store your belongings

When it comes to storage, there are three main ways of organising your belongings:

  1. Fitted or built-in storage
  2. Storage furniture or containers
  3. Or out on view – a method that shades into ‘display’.

Whether it’s 1, 2 or 3, there’s no limit to the style you can adopt, from a sleek contemporary look to a rustic or retro approach. In the following blog posts, I’m going to explore many different types of storage ideas.

Let your individual taste dictate your choice of storage. And if you need a bigger reason to get sorted, my real estate friend tells me that organised homes fetch a higher sales price. So there’s a great incentive for anyone wishing to sell! Share your thoughts and opinions here – I’d love to know your reaction.

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Rise and Shine – How to get out the Door with 3 kids, ready for work and full of energy!

There is always a noticeable reduction in the amount of yelling I have to do to heard everyone out the door on time in the mornings whenever I use this very simple tool.

It’s such an incredible feeling getting out the door with:

  • My hair done & dressed for work
  • My morning’s workout done
  • A nutritious breakfast served
  • The kitchen tidy
  • Forms filled out
  • Homework completed
  • School bags all packed with lunches, etc
  • Happy, calm kids sunscreened, teeth brushed, neat uniforms, hair done
  • Files and notes for my day’s appointments packed in my bag  
  • Time to chat calmly with each of my kids

You feel like anything is possible. You have a head start on the day.  You laugh with your kids and have time to play before school.  There’s time spare for any mishaps or minor events.

It’s such a good feeling that if ‘Getting Out The Door Calmly’ was a bottled product, it would be bought by millions of mums all around the world and I would retire as a legend.  But you can just get it here for free, cause we’re just so nice like that! 

Mornings are stressful if they’re not planned the night before.   To turn yours around, please make use of this free template – getting out the door on time.  

Getting Out the Door on Time

You’ll find that when you use it, all your mornings will smooth themselves out like a freshly ironed shirt.

Think of it as your tonight self giving your ‘morning self’ a big head start.

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Catching Balls at 6am

By far the hardest things to keep track of in my day are my own thoughts and inspiration. Most mornings I get home from the gym, greet my children and then head straight into the kitchen to help with breakfast and lunches and getting everyone ready to go off to school. Whilst cutting carrot sticks and plating up pancakes, I invariably have a stream of thoughts racing randomly through my mind about the things I need to remember to do that day.

I really don’t want to forget these important thoughts and they are usually the most important things that really need to be addressed. While my hands are busy with food and helping, I can’t stop to write it all down, so here’s a quick and easy tool I use to capture those ‘to dos’ before they are forgotten.

I just open the ‘voice memo’ app on my iPhone and literally talk to myself! Here’s an example from today: “Morning B, today you need to remember to…go through Grace’s presentation with her again, make a hair appointment for sat night, send welcome packs to two new clients, go to the ATM to get money for the ironing, pick up the new glasses from OPSM, send the birth certificate to the rugby club for James and help Lachy with his reading.” That’s it.

Then once I’ve dropped the kids off at school, I jump back in the car, play the memo back and write them down. Then looking at the list, it’s a case of the four D’s – what do I DO, what do I DUMP, what do I DELEGATE and what do I DELAY?

See, juggling is simple! xx

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Zen and the art of school pickup

This post is for those entrepreneurial mums like me who like to pick their kids up from school.

For years I used to arrive at the school precinct, on time or even a little bit early, only to find that I could not get a carpark for love nor tuckshop money. Every day, the same feeling: “damn! There are no parks!” So then you’re in the mindset of: can’t wait till the kids are older and they can go to the car lineup. Who wants to wish childhood away?

Over the school break the thought occurred to me to turn this whole situation on its head.  Why don’t I get to the school really early? But, instead of just hanging around making conversation, do what I have had on my ‘to do’ list for years (but never seem to get around to doing): meditate.  Yes, meditate! At first it felt a bit strange: being early, and not in a rush and actually meditating in the car.  Probably looks like I’m sleeping! I moved the seat back, pressed play on the Deepak Chopra meditation track and started breathing calmly.

Result: getting up to the school calm and refreshed and ready to enjoy the afternoon shift – my other ‘business’.

Give this instant energy boost a go. You won’t be late to the school gate again! Just don’t fall asleep in the car!! Ommmmmmm.

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The Female Entrepreneur – diligent, capable, resourceful, courageous, energetic, active, audacious, passionate, self assured, gutsy, enterprising, imaginative, plucky, industrious and opportunistic

Today’s female entrepreneur is described as diligent, capable, resourceful, courageous, energetic, active, audacious, passionate, self assured, gutsy, enterprising, imaginative, plucky, industrious and opportunistic. Despite all these words – and many words we didn’t list – overall she is courageous.

Woman have often found challenges in business, especially when up against men, they have not only the challenges of a career to contend with but trying to balance family and work and deal with many out there who feel a woman just isn’t as effective as a man in the entrepreneurial arena.

Thankfully thinking and times have changed, as a society we have come a long way and now women are being recognised and acknowledged for the work they do, and while there is still some need for *acceptance* the female entrepreneur’s courageous spirit is shining through. Women have begun turning to the small business/solo-professional field to become fully fledged entrepreneurs in their own right.

Women are no longer accepting of the *status-quo* they are up to the challenge of creating their OWN business dreams. They have the faith they need and trust in their own abilities to push against the tide and head off into those *uncharted waters*. It is this courageous spirit that allows her to open doors, close doors that don’t work for her and to develop new business skills. The female entrepreneur of today sets herself challenging goals, is willing to face anything and has an *onwards and upwards* plan to move ahead – from starting something new to completely re-inventing herself.

It’s her desire to succeed and the need to reach for her dreams that gives her the courage to achieve her goals.

As with anything the first step is the hardest, getting your business idea off the ground is daunting, but any feelings of anxiety or uncertainty can be conquered by that can-do courageous attitude. By believing in your goals, your morals and your skills you can achieve anything you set out to do. Stay true to yourself, stay motivated, set yourself goals and stick to them and seize any and all opportunities as they become available. This is the only way you can avoid any set-backs.

Today’s female entrepreneur doesn’t look back, she doesn’t pine over lost chances or missed opportunities she keeps to her goals, letting her heart and passion guide her. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger are words she lives by.

If your courage has gone into hiding – now is the time to sit down and visualise your goals, where do you want to be? How can you get there? Set yourself on the path to achieving your goals do whatever you need to do, achieve whatever you need to achieve to live that entrepreneurial dream.

Do it not just for yourself, but for those women out there, the ones who are looking up to you and admiring you for what you have achieved – you can become the role model for the next generation of female entrepreneurs.

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Getting Back into the Groove

Here in Australia we’ve all just dropped our kids off to their first day back at school for the New Year and I can hear the collective sigh of mums around the nation. No matter how many mixed emotions we all feel about saying goodbye to our kids at the school gate, let’s face it, school holidays can be exhausting.

A brief moment to stop and think about the year ahead is time well spent. As Brian Tracey said, ‘Every minute you spend in planning saves 10 minutes in execution; this gives you a 1000 percent Return on Energy”. Too right.

The good news is we’re back today at DYRTM and ready to help you unearth the new, improved 2014 version of YOU. Not that there was anything wrong with the 2013 version, but let’s face it, we can all do with some inspiration and momentum.

So this week, we’re taking the time to fine-tune our vision for the year ahead and we want to help you do the same. Why? It’s hard to hit a target that you can’t see. Getting an accurate vision of your target is very important!

Are there dreams that you don’t even want to think about because they’re way too exciting? What goals have you long given up on? Is this the year you’re finally going to start up that business? Or maybe there are business partnerships you have yearned for but not had the guts to approach? What about your health – is there a fitness goal that will stretch you out of your comfort zone (and help you shed the excesses of Christmas)? Maybe it’s time you transformed a space in your home so that it comes alive and helps you and your family make magic. And finally, maybe you just want to make some extra cash.

Whatever it is, this week I want you to decide on what it is and write it down. Start a fresh beautiful new journal on page 1 and start writing history. Yes, that’s right, you heard me: history. We’re going to walk through this year with you step by step and keep you accountable to make it happen.

You probably already know that 90% of New Years’ resolutions fail within the first 30 days. Well the good news is the first 30 days of 2014 are now over, so happily ditch those ‘resolutions’ you made on Jan 1. Now you’re ready to make your dreams a reality. We’re going to show you how to make them happen (because we’ve been helping people do this for a decade). There are plenty of techniques that we’ve learned and taught along the way and there’s a science behind getting what you want that we’re teaching our members.

Not sure where to start your thinking process? Click here and join our online program and we’ll show you how step by step.

 

Here’s to our success,

Brigitte & Angie & the team at DYRTM.