About Fever Kits

If you have small children at home, then you’ve dealt with at least one late night fever and illness. What is it about kids that makes them spike a fever of 103 just as you are finally ready to tuck yourself in for a precious few hours of sleep?

Although high fevers can be frightening and something you’d probably like to avoid, the experts tell us that fever is nature’s way of fighting infection and should only be treated to keep your child comfortable. While I won’t go into all of the details and expert recommendations about which fevers to treat and how (you should consult your pediatrician about your unique situation), I would like to offer up some suggestions to make that at-home treatment faster and less stressful for all involved.

Prepare a Fever Kit
You have a first aid kit, right? Well, your fever kit should be set up similarly. Here is a picture of my family’s fever kit. It is labeled so that it is easy to find on an eye-level shelf in my children’s closet. And it is stocked with only the basics. That way, my husband or I can find the thing in our sleep-deprived stupor and quickly help my child/children without rummaging through a bunch of non-essentials.

So what’s in it?
Most importantly, a good oral and rectal digital thermometer. I label the cover of each so as not to confuse them. I also keep a bottle of isopropyl alcohol and cotton balls to cleanse the thermometers after each use. Some thermometers come with plastic sleeves which should be discarded and replaced after each use.

Acetaminophen and ibuprofen (A.K.A. Tylenol and Advil). I keep liquid versions and chewable tablets on hand appropriate to the age of my children. I have discovered that depending on the bug, my kids will either prefer one type or the other. Check expirations dates and double check dosage guidelines with your pediatrician prior to treating your children with these medications.

Dosing spoons and syringes. These are usually free from your pharmacy. Be sure you understand the measurements. Also, clean and air dry completely between uses.

A small log book and pencil. When you give your child any medication, you want to be sure to document it so that any other caregivers will not make the mistake of double-dosing. I document not only the medication, but also the symptoms my child exhibits. That way, I have a specific ledger of facts to discuss with my pediatrician should things worsen. Here is an example of a typical log book entry:
October 9, 2011
1:30 pm
Temp 103, stomach pain, headache
2 tsp ibuprofen

We have found that when our children are taking anti-biotics in addition to pain/fever medications, it can be very confusing and easy to forget what’s been taken and what needs to be taken. This simple log book helps keep us all coordinated and literally on the same page!

Finally, you may want to include a product like Pedialyte in your fever kit. My kids prefer the Pedialyte freezer pops over the basic juice product. Dehydration is real concern when a child develops fever, vomiting and/or diarrhea. Watch their behavior and fluid input (and output) closely to avoid dehydration.

Last tip! Use daylight savings time changes as a reminder to check all medication expiration dates. Safely discard expired medications and restock first aid and fever kits. And of course, check your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors too!

Putting together a fever kit is a great way to begin organizing your medicine cabinet and ensure that your child will safely get the relief they need when they are under the weather.

Call or email me with comments, questions and to set up your free 30 minute organizing consultation. Wishing you a safe and healthy winter!

Time to Get the Garden Organized!

For the past 6 years, my family and I have steadily improved the emerald hue of our collective green thumb. We started with a few herbs and flowers, moved on to beans and peas. And last year we even successfully grew several hearty corn stalks replete with edible ears of silver queen and butter and sugar varieties! We were so proud!

This year, we will plant some easy stand-bys along with a couple of veggies we haven't yet tried and/or succeeded in growing yet. We'll start pumpkins, summer squash & zucchini, corn, sugar snap peas, Roma tomatoes, cayenne and jalapeno peppers, cilantro, dill, sage, parsley and a favorite with the kids - sunflowers.

So, while I'm not a master gardener by any means, I have a few tips that I hope will give you the confidence to begin your own veggie garden.

1. First, know your garden. What type of sun does it receive? Full, partial, afternoon, morning, etc? Also, how is the soil? Is it sandy, clay-filled, or rich. The best, easiest gardens to grow in are very sunny with rich soil that drains well. That means garden spaces that are not under trees or closely surrounded by tall shrubs.


2. Next, select your seeds. Read the packet and be sure you are selecting seeds that are compatible with your garden and the type of sun it gets. We've discovered that sugar snap peas are a very forgiving plant.


3. You'll want to begin growing some of your seeds inside right around now (approximately 6 weeks before the final frost). There are many products on the market that make starting seeds inside simple and virtually mess-free. I like the products that are either reusable/recyclable or compostable.


4. Soak the starter soil pods and plant 2 or 3 seeds per pod. The rule of thumb for planting depth is to bury the seed about twice the length of the seed. For instance, plant a 1/2" seed 1" deep.


5. Cover the seeds with clear plastic and keep moist and out of direct sunlight. Most people put their seeds on top of the fridge because it is warm and out of the way.


6. Once the seeds begin to sprout, remove the cover and place in a sunny window. Choose the heartiest sprout that comes up in each pod and pinch off/remove the others. That way you will ensure the strongest plant gets the best chance.


7. Around Memorial Day, the weather should be cooperating enough to bring your plants outside to the garden. A few days before Memorial Day, bring your seedlings outside for an hour or two each day. This is called "hardening off" and prepares the plants for the rigors of outdoor living.

Once you've replanted your seedlings outside, check on them daily to ensure they do not get too dry or too weedy. You may want to give your plans a little food like Osmocote now and again. Read the label and you'll be fine! A few weeks later, you're ready to reap the delicious rewards of your not-so-hard work!

Once you begin to have a little success with a vegetable garden, you may find that composting is not only not such a terrible chore, but actually a gratifying project that not only keeps your garbage out of landfill, but also puts it to a noble use! Happy Seed-Planting!

Spring Yard Sale Season is Coming! Book Now for Discounts!

I know I have fallen into the trap of feeling sluggish and uninspired after the relentless cycle of storms we've been having in New England. And so many people I know and meet report feeling the same. This has been a very tough winter (understatement of the year). Time to break the cycle, Mother Nature!

Sometimes the best cure for the winter doldrums is simply looking forward. And so that is what I'm gonna do and I hope you'll do it too. Think of the flowering trees Boston so beautifully displays every spring. Think of getting outside to exchange a smile and a hello with a neighbor. Know that baseball, crocuses, light jackets and the smell of lilac are right around the corner!

One of the best things to kick start home organizing goals in early spring is to plan a yard sale, garage sale, or estate sale ("Tag sales" for all of you native New Englanders). If you already know you have a few items ready to be set free in a yard sale, then it is likely you have many more and plenty for a successful sale.

This March, April and May, I will be offering a discounted hourly rate (10% off) for the preparation and running of weekend yard sales. Weekends book up fast, so please contact me early and we'll begin decluttering your spaces and making you money to boot!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Getting a home-based business office in order? Me too!

Since launching About Time, I’ve operated on a shoe-string budget. It’s important to me that I responsibly consider each expense – without completely “cheaping out.” So until recently I’ve relied on the nearly 10-year-old family computer and a small box of hanging files, along with a few other inexpensive odds and ends to get started.

But happily, About Time has taken off. I’ve purchased a new laptop, a labeler and several other tricks of the trade. I also have a budding library of organizing and small business books. Now what I need is a dedicated office and storage space in my home. Problem is my house is TINY! So what to do? Here’s what I did.

Saturday: Me, “Hey family, let’s go to Ikea!” Oldest child, “Nooooooo! I want to play with my friends!” Me, “OK, but if we go now, we may have time to get Swedish meatballs with lingonberry sauce. Yum!” Oldest child, “Ew, what’s that? Can I play in the playroom?” Me, “We’ll see – depends if there’s a line.” Husband, “Do I have to go?” Me in the most cheerful voice I can muster, “Meet you in the car!”

So, off we trod to stylish, inexpensive, functional Ikea. Brilliant! I want a small covered desk that will fit in our tiny living room, yet the baby can’t pull things off of it when it’s not in use. I also need a desk chair and a place to hold files and other papers.

Wait a minute, hold the phone. You mean there isn’t even one available parking spot within a half mile of the entrance? Uh-oh. It appears that we weren’t the only family to have this idea. In fact, it feels like the entire eastern seaboard is here.

We finally park and begin the trek toward the entrance (seeing open spots all along the way and cursing them). We enter the building and bob and weave our way through the crowd so that we can head directly to the warehouse feeling very smug that we are by-passing the herd as it wanders through the display floor – people bumping into each other like sheep.

We find aisle 9, bin 7 and lo and behold, the very desk I need is out of stock – despite checking availability online only hours before. Arrghh! And there is no way I’m waiting in that line for Swedish meatballs. We are so out of here!

Oh well. No one said getting organized was easy – or fast for that matter. So for now, About Time files continue to be housed in temporary boxes. And the About Time main computer gets packed up and put away before each meal. Still, there’s always next weekend. Right?

But seriously folks, I’m working on it and can help you too. Designing systems to handle your specific business needs is my passion and strength. Let me do the planning, shopping, sorting and staging – so you don’t have to spend another weekend fighting the crowds instead of enjoying the beautiful New England Autumn with your family.

Have a great week, folks!

What I did on my summer "vacation"...

About Time Organizing is 4 months old! I have learned so much in these past 4 months. Of course, there have been the requisite ups and downs of any new venture. But overall, it has been a wonderful, positive experience building a business from scratch. I’m energized and certain that the next phase is going to be equally as tough, but even more productive and exciting.

So what have I been up to these last couple of months? I’m pleased to report that the summer has been very productive! I have organized client closets, offices, files, basements, toys, kitchen cabinets, and bedrooms (check out the attached before & after photos for a sampling). I have read as many blogs, blurbs and books as I could find on the topic of organizing (see previous blog for some recommendations). I have discovered that I have a forte and fondness for organizing paper and office environments. I’ve uncovered my passion and talent for finding time and space efficiencies for mundane tasks - like mail sorting, lunch packing and coffee making. I have learned that indecision lies at the core of disorganization and have vowed to make this concept a guiding principle of my business. I have witnessed how the simple act setting a goal and making a decision alleviates an enormous amount of stress and frustration. I have learned about individual learning styles and various personality-types and their impact on one’s organizational habits. And I have told just about everyone I have encountered over the past 4 months that I am not only a total organizational nerd, but also in business and loving it! I even gave a 90 minute talk as “expert speaker” at Isis Parenting in Arlington in July. As a result, my Isis colleagues are working on coining the term “Holl-i-fy” meaning to sort and purge – as in, “Gee, this bookcase really needs to be Hollified.” I’m so honored!

And what’s next? In a few short weeks, the leaves will change and the air will cool. Fall is my favorite time of year. Fall has always felt like the right time to review and refresh priorities, to get organized and get busy, to buckle down. This year will be no different.

I’m looking forward to speaking at several upcoming local events including Wednesday, September 15 at Zia Clothing Outlet’s monthly wine & cheese event (http://www.ziaclothing.com/ for more info). Zia is located in Belmont, MA on Trapelo Road. I’m also scheduled to work with several clients on a variety of organizational projects through the fall months. For new clients, I’m offering a fall promotion of 1 hour free organizing service after 2 hours of completed service. I’ve also set a goal to begin marketing a unique set of organizational services geared toward senior citizens. Services include basic technology/computer training (like email, digital photography, Internet searches, and Skype usage) as well as general clutter and paper management.

It has indeed been a busy and enlightening few months. I have many friends, family members and colleagues to thank for supporting me in so many ways. Their encouragement, advice, introductions and connections, and abiding confidence in me has not gone unnoticed or unappreciated. A huge thank you goes out to them. And to you. Thank you for reading.

As always, please call or email me with questions, comments or suggestions. Happy Autumn!

About Time…. Management

I’ve been thinking a lot about “Time Management” these days. Not just because as a Professional Organizer, I aim to help people find time they thought just didn’t exist in their day or week, but also because I’m pretty busy these days and need to make sure I’m managing my time with some semblance of skill. It isn’t easy – and of course, I’m not alone. Demands on time come in so many forms. Children, spouses, friends, pets, careers, volunteering, exercise, housework, errands, hobbies, bills, emails, texts, and yes, even a bit of relaxation all demand dedicated, focused time to truly feel like you’ve actually fulfilled the requirement. But what does the modern world have to offer us? Interruptions, interruptions, and more interruptions! Sure, we think multi-tasking is the answer – but is it? Let me put it plainly, NO!

Current studies are clear that multi-tasking limits your ability to learn and fully absorb the information we encounter (Science Daily, July 2006). Moreover, multi-tasking has the effect of sucking the “flavor out of life.” How many times have you had a phone conversation in the car, only to suddenly find you’ve missed your exit, or you can’t recall the color of the traffic light you just passed (was it red?). Be honest! So put the smart phone down and consider the following time management tips and philosophies. You decide which resonate with you.

• Imagine your perfect life. Describe it. Write it down. Now you have a goal.


• For three days, keep a time journal. Enter your activities every 30 minutes. Now you clearly see your current challenges.


• Keep the main thing, the main thing.


• Be clear about your deadline.


• Complete and on time is better than perfect.


• Managing time is not about getting it all done. It’s about getting the most important things done.
  
  Resources and recommended reading include:
  Organizing your Day by Sandra Felton and Marsh Sims
  Time Management from the Inside Out by Julie Morgenstern
  Getting Things Done by David Allen
  

About Time Organizing is poised and ready to help you get organized and achieve your personal and professional time management goals.

• Tame the paper tiger at your home or small business office.


• Get QuickBooks training.


• Learn to manage and forecast your cash and bills using my unique, intuitive approach.


• Clear the clutter from your kitchen, closets, and entryway.


• Reduce stress; find more time and more enjoyment in each day.

Call to schedule your free 30 minute consultation. New clients located in the greater Boston area will also receive 1 hour of free organizing service during the months of July and August. Evening and weekend appointments are available. 617-962-3438

Being organized is not about being tidy. It’s ABOUT TIME!

It's ABOUT TIME!

Lots of people ask me, "what made you start an organizing business?" The answer is oh-so-simple. I was BORN to organize. As a tot, I used to play "organizing" games staged in the bedroom I shared with my younger sister. I'm a quintessential organizing nerd.

But what I may or may not have been born to do is become an entrepreneur and sole proprietor. That's what has held me back for so many years. Yes, I have a business degree (MBA in 2002). Yes, I've been working in the business world for more than 14 years. And yes, I've spent most of those working years in small, start-up, entrepreneurial organizations. But somehow, I had convinced myself that I'm too risk-averse, that I like predictability too much, that I'm just not a born sales person. Bottom line, I'm somewhat of a perfectionist. And I'm pretty sure I'm not a perfect entrepreneur. Well, enough already! It's about time I gave this a shot. Failure, be damned!

So many of us perfectionists experience this phenomenon sometimes referred to as "fear of failure." We figure, "Hey, if I can't be perfect, then why bother. Last thing I want is to look like a fool." Funny thing is, as I read more about the business of professional organizing and spend more time with clients, it's clear that perfectionism is a common thread among people dealing with situational or chronic disorganization. It's tough to tackle a major decluttering/organizing project all alone, without guidance, and fearing failure.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again, enough already! If I can become an entrepreneur, then just about anyone can get organized, save money, reduce stress, live healthier and find more time in each day - with a bit of guidance.

About Time Organizing Service is here to help. My service specializes in paper management for small businesses, home offices, and residences, as well as general residential organizing (closets, kitchens, playrooms). About Time also helps clients switch to more earth-friendly, healthy cleaning and disposal methods. Call 617-962-3438 to get started. Together we can do this!