One of my favorite holiday traditions is hosting a game night for my extended family. This night includes those that live locally and those that come to town for the holidays. Typically we have 30 attend.

I just watched a TV segment produced by Stephanie Bryson of Studio 5 titled Best Family Games 2011. (Stephanie produced a few of the segments in which I was invited to be the organizing expert.) Stephanie included some fun games in the segment. Her criteria for the games she chose to highlight:

• Easy to learn
• Wide age appeal
• Quick to play

Of those listed, my personal favorites are:

1. Joe Name It – Great for large group gatherings. Directions say ages 12 up will enjoy. Really fun! Can be purchased for $10 at www.amazon.com)
2. Jungle Speed – Teenagers love the fast paced action. Directions say ages 8 up will enjoy. Can be purchased for $20 at Target.

Both are fast paced and easy for large group play. A perfect fit for your family game night or a night spent with friends. Let the Games Begin…

This post will allow you to rethink HOW you will handle the organization and dispersal of the items necessary for kids lunches in your home. I recently presented a “Organize your Home Spaces” workshop. One of the class attendees, Brea Mefford of Highland UT, a sweet young mother of 6 (VERY IMPRESSIVE!) was motivated to fine-tune the system she used for kids lunches in her home. I asked her to email me the photos and information so you too can consider using the kids lunch system she has set in place. I found it to be very creative. Here are Brea’s suggestions:

Read more…

I know you have asked yourself, “Is organizing a yard sale worth the effort?” Listed here are the ’how to’s' of organizing a yard sale that IS worth your time and effort.  My 5 step SPARK formula is your secret to success. It walks you through the needed planning and progression of a yard sale worth holding. Read more…

BEFORE PHOTO

Organize it Up with Wall Organization!

As my culminating BYU internship work experience with Vicki Winterton and ORGANIZING Mind over Matter,  I was invited into the home of  one of Vicki’s clients to work alongside them on Mrs. R’s combination home office / craft room.   Mrs. R is a busy Mom located in Orem, UT.  Her office/craft room had become a catch-all for any item she had no designated spot for. She had a wall organization system in place but no idea how to categorize it so piles had taken over the room. Vicki met with her previously to ASSESS the space and CREATE a plan. This busy Mom of four had found the time to pull everything out of the room.  She’d sorted into three general categories the items that would go back into the room. Read more…

Don’t miss the ONLY Utah household waste collection event in Utah County this year. Thanks to the Utah county health department you can bring your “ dangerous stuff” to this scheduled drop-off event for SAFE disposal! The keyword here is SAFE! Safe for you…Safe for the collectors…and Safe for the environment.
Please take note, the Utah County Health Department will only accept: Read more…

Home office decorating adds personality and uniqueness besides completing an organized office.  I am guest blogger, Virginia Kestler, a BYU college student intern for Vicki Winterton, Utah’s professional organizer.  I graduate next month with a degree in interior design. This article will deal with  home office decorating. Once you decorate to display your personality and you organize to increase your productivity and efficiency, YOU will feel comfortable and at peace in your home office. Listed below are my suggestions for making your home office reflect your personality. Read more…

Organizing a home office will help you become more effective and useful.  As an student intern for Vicki Winterton, Utah’s professional organizer, I have learned that organizing a home office takes time, but is totally worth it when completed.  Everything in your home office will have a place and you will be able to find the items you need.  You will also have the work spaces you need and they will be clear of other items so you can work there.  As you begin organizing a home office, follow Vicki’s ACT and SPARK organizing formulas.

3 Steps to Begin: Read more…

I just left the home of Marian who hired me  to help her feel better prepared for life’s unexpected. I worked with her on her earthquake emergency preparation because she lives within the Rocky Mountain’s fault line in Provo, Utah. We finished up readying her 3 month consumable food supply and 72 hour emergency kits. We are now working on her ‘Vital Documents Grab & Go Binder’. She is already feeling much better prepared.

The following are recommendations made by FEMA – The USA’s Federal Emergency Management Agency which oversees accountability for emergency preparedness including earthquake emergency preparation in the USA. (The tips in paranthesis belong to me.) Read more…

Are you ready to organize the kitchen?  I have some simple solutions for you to consider.  The great news is…after you organize the kitchen, you will be able to use your kitchen space more effectively.  Review my ACT and SPARK formulas to begin.  Remember, when you are sorting and assigning items it is to very useful to have them stored where they will be used.  A simple example, store the pots and pans near the stove.    

Simple Ideas to Organize the Kitchen: Read more…

A guide to the Color Wheel will help you when you are organizing or decorating your home. Color adds variety and unity to the room you are decorating. Below is a guide to the color wheel that will help you to understand color so you can utilize it when you choose organizing pieces for your decorated home. Read more…