I just returned from a walk in the brisk fall air. I love fall. It is by far my favorite time of the year. I spend much of the summer anxiously awaiting its arrival, and I mourn its passing as mild, sunny days give way to winter's chill. 

The reasons for my fondness of fall are many, but this morning as I observed random leaves floating to the ground, one in particular stood out in my mind: change. I like the change in the weather, the change in activities, the change in focus, and the changes in nature. 

All this got me thinking about the concept of change, especially when considered in conjunction with some other aspects of my walk which I will share in this post as well.

We are currently undergoing a major life change. We are moving houses. I'm both excited and overwhelmed by the prospect. That is the thing with change; it can be both uncomfortable and exciting at the same time. For instance, there are many things about my current home that I love and will miss. That said, there are even more things about my new home that I am eager to enjoy. Instead of focusing on what I am giving up, I am trying to appreciate those things that I love about the old house and the enjoyment those things have brought to my life. I will look back on them with a nostalgic fondness and appreciation. I will not pine away for the loss of them. Instead, I will focus on the new experiences and opportunities that my new home affords. 

Change can take many forms, but certain types of change are commonly experienced. My walk brought to mind a number of metaphors for change which I would like to share. 

In recent months much of the world has experienced a narrowing of the path ahead. COVID-19 has restricted people's ability to work, socialize, and function freely. Many people have keenly felt the limitations imposed by these external constraints. Others have instituted their own personal constraints in an attempt to protect themselves and their loved ones. 

At the same time, many people have utilized this time of reduced external opportunities to reflect and build inwardly. There have been so many marvelous examples of people using this time of restriction to expand their lives in meaningful ways by focusing on family, rethinking priorities, tackling projects, and purging the unwanted from their lives. 

When the path before us narrows, we can choose to see it as a limitation or an opportunity. In reality, it is both, We can utilize the duality of the circumstance to look back with gratitude and insight regarding the distance we have traveled while simultaneously focusing our efforts moving forward. 

Sometimes, the road ahead gets steep. Troubles seem to come in bundles. Life gets a little (or a lot!) hard for awhile. At such times, we can find ourselves asking, "What next?!" as new problems present themselves. It can feel as though we are endlessly climbing. 

Just as climbing a steep hill in real life makes us physically stronger, climbing metaphorical hills can make us emotionally and intellectually stronger. The beautiful thing about hills is that they always end in an enhanced perspective. When we get to the top, we can see farther, understand our position better in relation to everything around us, and know better how to plot the course ahead. 

It can be tempting when trudging uphill to focus downward on the next step. While this method will keep us moving forward, it does little to make the journey more bearable. Instead, why not pause periodically to catch your breath and look back at the distance you've traveled? Doing so can instill feelings of gratitude, accomplishment, and hope. When you resume, try to look up and enjoy the ever-decreasing distance between yourself and the summit. 

Thinking in terms of time management, responsibilities, and other burdens, we sometimes need to lighten our load for the upward trek by laying aside, if only for a time, those things that are extraneous and superficial in order to focus on what matters most. What matters most at any given time will change with our circumstances and needs. Don't be afraid to tell others, "My path is steep right now. I need to lighten my load." Depending on who you tell, they may actively look for ways to help lessen your burden. 

They say that what goes up must come down. When we get to the top of life's metaphorical hills, we are typically faced with a steep decline. After the difficult upward trek, it can be tempting to let gravity and our renewed energy pull us downward at an ever-increasing pace. Better to walk carefully and intentionally, enjoying the newly gained perspective. 

Following a challenging time, give yourself grace and patience as you slowly add meaningful things back into your life. Resist the urge to invite too much into your life too soon, be it activities, commitments, or stuff. 

Occasionally, something really big comes along. It might be an illness or injury. It might be the loss of a job or a loved one. Whatever the case may be, such life changing events tend to demand an inordinate amount of our time, attention, and energy. They force us to yield to their demands and set other aspects of our lives on the top shelf to gather dust for a time.

Such events or circumstances are largely unavoidable, and in many cases, unpredictable. Many of my clients are just emerging from (or still caught up in the midst) of a life-changing situation. Their routines have been derailed, and their personal surroundings have suffered as a result. With all their energy and effort focused on managing the 'big thing' in their life, things like order and organization have yielded. That's normal, but it doesn't have to be permanent. 

When circumstances force your to yield to their demands, know that yielding, by it's very nature, is temporary. Whatever the passing obstacle, it will pass, and it will once again be safe for you to continue on your way. Don't berate yourself for "letting things get out of hand". They are just things, and over time you can regain a comfortable level of control. 

While it would be nice to always be assured of a straight and shady path (like the one above), that isn't how life works. ​That's actually a good thing. An unbending path is a boring path void of opportunities to test ourselves and increase our strength. 

I purposefully saved this image for the end. This part of the path is located toward the end of my walk. As you can see the path ahead curves. The sign, in fact, indicates multiple curves ahead. There are curves ahead for all of us, and we often can't see what lies around the bend (as is the case here). That's why it's good, when we get the chance, to sit down on a comfortable bench and rest. While we're at it, we might also take a moment or two to toss out any "trash" that is burdening us before stepping back onto the path to see what's around the corner. 

Change is inevitable. Change is often difficult and almost always uncomfortable. Change is also necessary and beneficial. When viewed with the proper perspective, change can be an instrument for gratitude as we look back on past experiences and the ways in which they have shaped and blessed us. Change can also be a precursor and instigator of growth in our lives as we adapt to our shifting circumstances and improve ourselves in the process. 

It isn't only our circumstances that change. We change over time as well. Our interests, tastes, needs, wants, and preferences change. Often, instead of letting go of things that held meaning or interest to our former self, we cling to them. Our progress on the path ahead, be it hilly, curvy, or wrought with obstacles, will be easier if our burden is lighter. Letting go of the things that no longer represent who you are and what matters to you, leaves you free to welcome the changes ahead. 

How has change impacted you? What insights have you gained as you have overcome challenging times? 

We're moving, or at least we think we are. We are certainly considering it seriously. At any rate, we're in a moving mindset. 

A couple of weeks ago, my husband said to me, "When we move, we're not taking that with us." It happened to be a piece of furniture, and I happened to agree whole-heartedly with him. In fact, my response was, "I was thinking the same thing." And I was. In fact, I have been thinking that about a lot of things, and this has got me pondering: If I wouldn't take it with me when I move, why am I holding onto it?

Sometimes the answer to this question is a perfectly reasonable one. Perhaps the item is useful in the current location, but it won't be needed in the new one. Such would be the case if, for instance, you lived in an area where is snows regularly and you were moving to a southern state. You might opt not to bring the snow blower to your new location. 

Often, however, our reasons for holding onto things we wouldn't take with us if we were moving are not so easy to define and may require a little soul searching. I have decided to begin a pre-move purge. Even if we decide not to move, I know I will be glad that I embarked on this endeavor. No matter what  one's current life circumstance, a little purging is always good for the soul, not to mention one's space. 

Below is my ever-growing list of items I will not be taking with me if and when I move. I've got specific examples, but I've decided to generalize in order to provide information that will be more widely applicable. 

STUFF WE'VE OUTGROWN: Clothing is, of course, the first thing that comes to mind, but it is by no means the only category of items that fit this criteria. It is possible to outgrow items not only physically, but also intellectually, emotionally, or simply in terms of preference. As an example, a client of mine recently told me that the music in her CD collection "no longer falls on my ears like it used to." In other words, her tastes have changed. She has outgrown her old music. What have you outgrown? You don't have to wait for a move to get rid of things you no longer love.

PILLOWS: The National Sleep Foundation recommends replacing pillows every one to two years. This is because pillows absorb dust, dead skin cells, body oils, and other icky stuff that attracts dust mites and other microorganisms.  While it is possible to extend the life of some pillows by washing them every three to six months, they will not last indefinitely. The following are indications that your pillow needs replacing: 

• It has a yellowish discoloration
• It's flat and does not maintain its shape
• It remains in place when folded in half
• It is lumpy or the filling is separating
• You wake up with neck, shoulder, or headache pain

MATTRESSES: Like pillows, mattresses serve as collection sites for all sorts of yucky stuff. There are some things you can do to care for your mattress and extend it's life, but generally speaking mattresses should be replaced every eight to ten years. Moving is a great time to assess the condition of the mattresses in your home and leave behind those that have lived a full life. 

DAMAGED STUFF: I have a tendency to use things until they are unusable. My cell phone is a great example. My children regularly chide me about the fact that it is so outdated (I still have an iPhone 7 and my iPad is 8 years old). But it still works, albeit not as well as I would like. Another example is my blender. The lid to the pitcher does not seat properly unless you physically hold it down. It makes using the blender a bit frustrating. To replace the pitcher and lid costs almost as much as a new blender, so I am not taking the old one with me when I move. It isn't worth salvaging.

Most of us have stuff that is broken, stained, frayed, threadbare, or otherwise damaged. We hold onto such things because we once loved them, and we would like for them to be whole again or because we do not want to spend the money to replace them. Whatever our reasoning, holding onto such items only adds clutter to our lives. 

OUTDATED ELECTRONICS: We have a bin in our attic full of old electrical chargers and cords. I cannot identify the purpose of 99% of these accessories. I strongly suspect that the vast majority of these cables and cords do not work with any device currently residing in my home. We've lived here for seven years and never needed them, so they will not be coming with us when we move. Do you have any outdated electronics in your home? My page Where to Donate or Recycle Electronics offers a variety of resources for disposing of electronics safely and responsibly. 

UNUSED APPLIANCES: I knew it was time to get rid of the quesadilla maker when I went to make quesadillas and intentionally opted to use another method for preparing them. The same was true for my fondue pot. Unused appliances take up a lot of space, so parting with them is a great way to clear the clutter from your kitchen. 

UNUSED SURPLUS: I'm a firm believer in being prepared and keeping things on hand that you use regularly. It's wonderful to be able to pull a staple item off the shelf when you run low rather than having to run to the store. That said, most of us hold onto an excess of things we don't use or only use periodically. In the case of food items, this can be doubly wasteful. The space needed to store the items is wasted, and often the items themselves go to waste because they expire and have to be discarded.  

I happen to have a weakness for school supplies. Despite the fact that I have resisted the urge to 'stock up' on such items during the late summer sales for the past two years since my youngest child graduated high school, I still have drawers and bins teaming with empty notebooks, unopened bags of pens, and other school essentials. It's time to make a realistic assessment of what we will actually use in a timely manner and edit my cache. 

DUPLICATES: We recently bought a brand new squeegee to push the rain off our deck. A few weeks later we discovered that we already owned a squeegee - the exact same squeegee, in fact. One of them is going to find a new home before we move. A couple of years ago, we received a waffle iron as a gift. We already had a waffle iron. Since getting the new one, I have not used the old one. I'm keeping the new one and bidding the old one farewell. As the wife of an army officer, I also have an impressive collection of serving trays which have seen a lot of use over the years. In addition to my own collection, I inherited several from my step mom. These days they don't get nearly as much use as they once did. Time to pare down the collection and pass some on to another user. 

Chances are you can think of similar examples among your possessions. If you have two, and one will do, I encourage you to choose your favorite and give the extra one away. 

STUFF THAT"S MOSTLY USED: The list of examples that fit into this category is potentially unending. I'll just give you a few to get your mind going: lipstick and other cosmetics, nail polish, partially burned candles, gift wrap scraps, craft supplies, medicines you no longer take, paint or glue that's drying up, lotions and other toiletries you tried but didn't love. You get the idea. Look for stuff that's been opened and partially used that's been sitting around for some time. Ask yourself if you're ever going to use it and get rid of it if the answer is no. 

STUFF I"VE BEEN KEEPING FOR THE WRONG REASON: As an organizer I am not completely immune to the subtle, yet alluring, array of excuses that cause us to keep things we don't want or need. My moving game plan is thus: make an honest assessment as to why I am keeping things and part with those things that have been burdening me in one way or another. Examples include things I've kept out of guilt, things I've kept out of laziness, things I've kept out of a sense of sentimentality, and things I've kept just in case. Whether you are  moving or not, it is always freeing to let go of things that have been burdening you, so I'm looking forward to this part of the purging process in particular. 

When my husband retired and took a civilian job, we thought our moving days were behind us. It turns out, moving is in our blood. As strange as it sounds, I have missed it (a little). One of my favorite things about moving is the opportunity it affords to take careful stock of our possessions and do a deep purge of those things that are no longer meeting our needs. I'm excited to begin this process anew. 

Even if you don't have the excuse of moving to inspire you to edit your excess, the idea of moving can inform your decision making. Ask yourself "Would I take this with me if I moved?" If the answer is no, you know what to do. 

When problems arise, my organizer brain immediately takes in the situation and starts looking for ways to improve the physical environment in order to make it more functional. Such has been the case recently. I have just returned from two and a half weeks of assisting my mom who is recovering from a broken hip.

Long term illnesses or injuries, such as my mom's, can make it difficult for a person to function comfortably within his or her normal surroundings. The more that can be done to accommodate the recovering person's needs and abilities, the more comfortable that person will be physically, mentally, and emotionally. Often a few simple changes can make a big difference in a person's ability to comfortably do for themselves as much as possible. 

In this post, I would like to share some suggestions for things you can do to make the physical environment more user-friendly for someone who is recovering from a serious illness or injury. 

One of the first things I did after arriving at my mom's house was to remove the throw rugs from her bathroom floor. They may serve a useful purpose, but in her current situation they are more of a hazard than a help. I washed them and set them aside to be replaced later when she is stronger and better able to get around. 

A person suffering from a serious illness is often in a weakened state. This can also be true of someone who has been injured seriously. Anything you can do to help them get around more easily is desirable. This may mean moving furniture around temporarily to create a more direct path from point A to point B. Look around the environment with new eyes searching for anything that could be a tripping hazard, sharp corner, obstacle, or other potential danger and find a way to minimize the risk. 

A person who is seriously injured or ill is likely to have limited mobility. They may be bed-ridden or just camped out on the sofa for a time. Their ability to reach things and do simple tasks is probably reduced. This can be tremendously trying. Finding ways to make things easier to access will help them retain a degree of independence and greatly reduce their level of frustration. Some of my favorite solutions include:

We are fortunate to live in a world where energy saving, work reducing devices abound. What's more, many of these gadgets are specifically designed for people with limited mobility, strength, energy, and/or dexterity. Here are some examples of tools designed to make doing basic household tasks easier.

Often a person recovering from serious illness or injury spends a good deal of their time either in bed or lounging on a sofa. It can be frustrating to be confined to a small space, but there are a variety of products available to help make the experience more comfortable, and possibly even more productive. Here are a few of my favorites:

Bathroom safety is often a concern for someone who is recovering from illness or injury. In our family we have found the following items to be particularly helpful in providing needed support and comfort. 

While working at the kitchen store, I discovered some really great kitchen gadgets designed to make accomplishing basic tasks simple and pain free for people with strength and dexterity challenges.  Here are some of my favorites.  

As you can see, organizing for injury or illness is not complicated, but it does take some thought. The key is to identify specific needs and work from there to find the best solution. Anything you can do to make a recovering person more comfortable and better able to enjoy some independence is highly desirable! 

For the past month or so my husband and I have been looking at houses with the intent of buying. We've been to numerous open houses, and we've done multiple private walk-throughs with our realtor.  We've been in newly constructed homes and homes that have seen a lot of life. Some of these homes were empty, some were staged to sell, and still others had a decidedly lived-in vibe.

​As I walk through other people's homes, I find myself taking mental notes regarding best practices for organizing a home to sell, notes that I fully intend to use when the time comes to put our current home on the market. Some of my tips will only apply to homes that are going to be viewed while occupied. Others are applicable whether or not your home is occupied while on the market. 

It will come as no surprise that my first tip for organizing your home to sell is to declutter. It takes effort, I know, but it is effort well spent. Not only will it help you to sell your current home, it will make moving and settling into your new home that much easier. 

Keep the following in mind as you declutter:

• Allow more time than you think you will need - The moment you decide to sell your home is the moment your decluttering should begin (if not before!). This is true even if you don't plan to put your home on the market for months. It is going to take longer than you think to do a thorough, whole house declutter. Even with a thorough declutter, you will most likely find yourself wondering "Why did we keep this?" as you unpack in your new location. It happens. Your efforts will be much more effective if you are able to work in chunks over several weeks or months as opposed to making a mad dash at the last minute.
• Work with the new house in mind -  Even if you haven't purchased a new home yet, you can use the idea of moving to both motivate and inform your decluttering process. This is an opportunity to rethink your relationship with stuff. Consider carefully how you would like the new space to function and feel, and only keep those things that support your vision. Instead of focusing on what you have to get rid of, try concentrating on what you want to keep. It's a process I call Positive Purging, and it is a great way to reduce the anxiety and guilt often associated with getting rid of things. 
• Work systematically - Systematic decluttering can be approached in a variety of ways. The two most common methods are decluttering according to categories such as books or clothing, or decluttering individual spaces one a time. In either case, the idea is to work on one area until it is completed before moving on to the next category or space. It doesn't really matter which method you decide to employ, but it is important to choose a method and stick with it. Doing so will help you track your progress.
• Pack as  you go - As you identify items you are keeping, but that you do not need at the old house, consider packing those things up in preparation for your upcoming move. This will save you time and energy later by limiting the number of times each item in your home passes through your hands before making it onto the moving truck. Keep in mind that the intent is to declutter the home you are selling, so you may want to consider renting a storage unit for a couple of months rather than piling up boxes in corners and closets. 

Organizing and decluttering are not the same thing, but they do go hand in hand. Decluttering is the process of removing excess stuff from your life, while organizing is about what you do with the stuff you're keeping. One definition of organizing is to systematize. Systems are at the heart of the organizing process.

The old adage "A place for everything and everything in it's place" (attributed to Benjamin Franklin) is well-known. However, there is more to systematizing (or organizing) than simply finding a place to put stuff. True organization is designed to be functional. This means that everything is in a logical place where it can be (relatively) easily retrieved and easily returned when no longer in use. 

There really is no way to sell a home without inviting people in to look at it, and potential buyers want to see all of it. If I'm considering buying your home, you can bet I'm going to open your cupboards because I want to see if you have soft close doors or pull out shelves or other nifty features that interest me. I'm going to open your closets to get a feel for their storage capacity and the layout of the shelving and rods. I'm even going to pull back the shower curtain to examine the condition and quality of the tub/shower. I'm not doing it because I'm nosy. I'm doing it because I want to determine if your space will meet my needs. As a potential buyer, I'm there to judge. 

The good news is, you can do a lot to ensure that potential buyers judge your home favorably. One such thing is organizing. Cupboards, closets, pantries, and storage areas that are neatly arranged and well organized appear bigger and more functional and leave home searchers feeling impressed with the space. In contrast, a cluttered closet or pantry leaves people feeling like the space is insufficient to meet their needs. 

I recommend doing a thorough, top to bottom, inside and out cleaning of your home before you put it on the market. Now's the time to actually tackle all those tasks you've been meaning to do for ages like washing the windows, cleaning the carpets, de-gunkifying grout lines, dusting baseboards, and so forth. Pressure wash your home's exterior as well. Depending on your schedule and budget, you might consider hiring professionals to do some or all of the work. 

I can't promise you that home buyers will notice the work you put into cleaning, but I can promise you they will notice if you don't. Even something as simple as failing to sweep the floors before a viewing can be a turn off to potential buyers. 

A buyer's first and last impression of your home occurs outside, so it's worth the effort to keep up the curb appeal. A well-manicured lawn and tidy flower beds leave people feeling impressed. On the flip side, a weed-infested landscape shouts "You've got your work cut out for you!" 
​
On our very first day of house hunting we visited a home that looked great in the pictures, but I knew before we entered the door that I wasn't interested in buying that house. There were tons of flowerbeds surrounding the house and pool, all of which were completely overgrown, and both the side porch and front porch were in serious need of refinishing or replacing. As a potential buyer all I saw was weeks of hard work and a whole lot of expense.

Leaking faucets, loose hinges, wobbly stair rails, stained ceilings, and other common flaws are a turn off to potential buyers. Take the time to complete these sorts of simple repairs before inviting house hunters into your home. 

Repainting interior walls is not always necessary in order to sell a home, but there are certainly circumstances in which it makes a big difference. If your walls are painted in the matte finish applied by most builders, you should consider painting. Matte paint has a dull, uninspiring quality to it, it shows off smudges and flaws, and it's difficult to clean.

If you have bold colors on your walls, this is another instance in which you should definitely consider painting before attempting to sell. The more widely appealing your home's interior the better. Anything that communicates work to be done will cause potential buyers to think twice. 

As an example, I had a home saved on Zillow that I really liked except for the fact that there were several rooms that would need to be repainted. One of the bedrooms was a vibrant fuschia color. Another was painted a vivid purple. The focal wall in the living room was dark coffee brown, and that wall, which extends about 20 feet high to a vaulted ceiling, proved to be the clincher for me. There is no way we could paint it ourselves. We would have to hire a professional, and it would need to be done before we could move in. Ultimately, I unsaved the house. I just don't think I like it THAT much. 

Showing a home while you're living in it provides a number of challenges. Not least of these is the constant need to keep things tidy. It can be tempting when you are busy to take short cuts. At a recent open house we attended, we pulled back the shower curtain to examine the tub and found it to be overflowing with stuff. The owners, perhaps in an attempt to make the closets look more spacious, had removed a bunch of stuff and tossed in the tub where they no doubt hoped it would remain out of sight. While a tub full of stuff is not a deal breaker, it does communicate something to house hunters that is less than positive. If you feel the need to stash stuff during a viewing of your home, try putting it in your car!

Every step you take to organize your home to sell is time and effort well spent. It will help you sell your current home, but it will also help you prepare for your move and get organized on the other end. 

As the start of a new school year approaches, many parents are holding their breath, waiting to learn whether or not their school district will resume face to face classes. Some are anxious about sending their kids to school with the COVID-19 virus still raging. Others are anxious at the prospect of having to school their kids from home.

No matter where you fall on the spectrum, there's a good chance you're feeling some amount of stress with regard to your kid's schooling. With that in mind, it's a good idea to be ready to oversee your children's education, no matter what the plan is for your school district, as a spike in cases could easily lead to another shut down. 

We home-schooled our kids for seven years. Thankfully, homeschooling was an intentional choice for us and not something that was forced upon us suddenly by an unforeseen event beyond our control. That said, it was still a bit overwhelming at first. We learned as we went along, and I look back on the experience with great fondness. 

For me, homeschooling four kids was a full-time job. These days many families can't afford to have one parent at home full-time. That means managing work demands (possibly from home) in addition to all the other responsibilities you may be juggling. I learned quickly that the more organized I was, the easier it was to stay on top of things. Below you'll find a list of things that I did to get organized for home learning. I hope they will be helpful to you as you take on the added responsibility of overseeing your child's education. 

,It's important to have a dedicated space for home learning.

Your kids will try to argue otherwise. They will say that they can work just fine sprawled out on the floor, lying on their bed, or in any number of recumbent positions around the house. That may be what they want, but it is not the most ideal posture or place for dedicated mental effort. 

You may think a desk in their room is a good solution. To a degree it can work in certain circumstances and for certain children, but in my experience it is not the best solution.  Children's bedrooms are often filled with distractions which can easily submarine their ability to remain focused and on task. In addition, most school work beyond the early elementary level is done on a tablet or computer these days. These devices are themselves instruments of distraction.

It's best to have the kids where you can easily supervise their efforts. That doesn't mean they can't spread out and work in different locations on different assignments, but there should be a space dedicated to 'sit down', supervised work. 

Since most of us do not have a spare room we can convert into our personal schoolhouse, you will most likely need to designate a space within a space for your learning adventures. The ideal school space will include:

• a table of some sort
• comfortable (but not too comfortable!) seating
• good lighting
• internet connectivity
• easy access to electrical outlets for keeping devices charged
• storage space for frequently used school supplies such as pens, pencils, notebooks, and whatever else is regularly required for the completion of your child's assignments and projects. 

Obviously, the more children you have, the more work and storage space you will need. While you may find it best to separate your kids so they don't distract each other, especially when they are working independently, that won't negate the need for a home school home base. 

Your children will have preconceived notions about what school should be like. They will probably also have a conception of home as a place to hang out, play, relax, etc. It may be an uphill battle at first getting them to "do school" at home. One thing you can do to help lessen the friction of the transition is to establish and enforce expectations.

I recommend a family council in which you establish these expectations with the help of your children. Consider this basic format for your discussion:

• Start by asking your kids what sort of rules existed in their school classrooms.
• As they identify common rules they have encountered, ask them why those rules were necessary and important. If they aren't getting there on their own, help them puzzle through the reasons behind the rules.
• Next talk about what makes doing school at home different from doing school at school. Understanding your child's perspective and concerns can help you be more patient and empathetic to their struggles. 
• Ask your kids what sort of 'classroom rules' your family should have for doing school at home. Depending on their age, they may identify some things that are not pertinent or helpful. It's important that they feel like they are contributing to the discussion, but it's not necessary that every suggestion be etched in the stone tablets of your homeschooling commandments. 
• Rules are typically associated with consequences, so it's a good idea to establish some. Including your kids in the establishment of consequences will make them more inclined to take ownership. 
• Take a family vote on which suggested rules you want to adopt for home learning and the consequences for violating the rules. Consider a staged consequence system in which the first violation results in a warning, the second in the loss of a privilege, and so forth.
• Post your family home learning rules and the designated consequences for violating them as a reminder in your  school space. In the interest of space and clarity, I recommend typing them up on the computer and printing them out. Invite your kids to decorate the poster or page on which they are displayed. This will reinforce the rules and consequences in their minds and add to their sense of ownership.  

When the kids are home all day every day it can be tempting to just do things when you get around to them, but it's important to establish a schedule and stick to it as best you can. The more regimented your routine, the more likely your kids will adapt to it favorably. 

One of the up sides of doing school at home is that you can create a schedule that works best for you and your family. In our family, that meant starting school each day at 9:00 am. There was no need to start earlier, and waiting until 9:00 gave me time to have a personal devotional, exercise, shower, fix a good breakfast for everyone, and clean up the breakfast dishes - all things I knew would be important for my personal sanity. It also meant I never had to wake my kids up for school. They could sleep as long as they needed to and still be ready in plenty of time for the start of the school day. 

As you prepare a school schedule for home learning, think about what matters most to you and your family. Include regular breaks for you and your kids. Think about when you and they are at your best and schedule the most rigorous part of the learning day to coincide. Are your kids fresh and raring to go first thing but sluggish after lunch? Or do they take a while to get going in the morning? In our case, we focused on core subjects and seated work before lunch and left the afternoon for hands on, project oriented subjects like science, art, and social studies. 

Another bonus of homeschooling is that it often does not take as large a chunk of the day as traditional classroom learning. Transitions are swifter, instructions tend to be less tedious, and kids can work at their own pace.

I don't have to tell you that you need a break, but you may need a reminder that it's OK to take one. Not only is it OK, it's essential. When your kids are home all day every day, you need a break from each other. They need time to pursue their own interests, and you need time to recharge and 'get things done'.

​Whether you are working while homeschooling or homeschooling full time (still a difficult job), you need to find time every day for you - time to put your feet up and do something you enjoy, if only for a few minutes. Doing so will  add to your success and well-being. 

Having kids home all the time means the house gets even messier. Homeschooling is a great opportunity to teach your kids some life skills and responsibility. 

When we made the decision to homeschool our kids, we made the decision to put them to work.  They had chore charts with simple jobs before we began, but once we started homeschooling those things became a part of our curriculum. We started by identifying skills we wanted them to develop and determining what jobs were most realistic for each of our kids based on their ages. Then we started a concerted campaign to teach them to work.  

One of the things that intimidates many parents when in comes to homeschooling is their own sense of inadequacy in one or more subject areas. These days parents have an abundance of excellent educational resources at their fingertips to help lesson the teaching burden and enhance learning for their children. Here are just a few examples of the kinds of resources you can harness as a home educator:

• Online Libraries like Open Education Resources (OER) Commons
• ​Online Instruction Resources like Khan Academy
• General Education Resources like Open Culture and We Are Teachers
• Printable worksheets and online learning games from sources like Education.com
• Virtual Field Trips. Good sources include Discovery Education and this list from Good Housekeeping.

Another excellent way to make use of technology for learning is through utilizing family and friends. This can be done in person or virtually through video conferencing applications like Zoom or Cisco . If you're not great at science or math or some other subject, think about friends, neighbors, and members of your extended family who may excel in areas where you struggle. Then recruit them to work with your child in their area of expertise. Chances are they would love to help, especially if they don't have kids at home.

​Another option is to trade teaching with friends. When we were homeschooling, I taught a basic core curriculum to a family of refugees preparing to immigrate to an English speaking country and the father, who was a microbiologist and fluent English speaker, taught biology to my high schooler with enthusiasm and gusto. It was a great trade!

If homeschooling is being thrust upon you, it can be tempting to dwell on the down side of the situation, but there are many potential benefits of homeschooling. These include:

• It gets you actively involved in your child's education. That's important. Prepare to be impressed by what they know, surprised by what they don't, and frustrated by the curriculum. You may find yourself driven by these insights to be more involved when things return to normal. 
• It allows children the freedom to work at their own pace. 
• It provides you and your children the opportunity to be creative and explore topics that interest you/them. 
• It gives you the ability to accommodate your child's specific learning style and needs. 
• It's a great check on learning. If your child does poorly on an assignment in a traditional classroom, they will get a bad grade. If they do poorly on an assignment at  home, you can go back over the material with them and help ensure that they understand it before moving on. 
• It's an opportunity to instill good study habits and a solid work ethic. My children will tell you that my homeschooling motto was: "Do it nice, or do it twice!" 
• It will actually help you improve your own basic skills. I never understood math so well as I did when I was teaching it to my elementary aged children. Things made sense in a way they never had when I was the student. 
• Every day can be pajama day!

Whatever your personal educational choice for your children may be, I hope this has given you the confidence to trust yourself should you be called upon to take charge of your child's learning. I believe in your ability to succeed! I also believe that homeschooling can be a blessing for both parents and children. 

This post contains affiliate links. Read my full disclosure here.
​
Mounting evidence suggests that clutter can have a significantly negative impact on your mental and physical health. Studies show that those who live in a messy household with lots of clutter have higher levels of cortisol (a stress hormone) in their bodies than those who live in an organized space. 

While cortisol serves an important function in helping the body respond to imminent danger, overexposure to this hormone, resulting from extended periods of stress, can have serious mental and physical health implications. In addition to taking an emotional toll, prolonged stress can affect brain function in a variety of negative ways and lead to serious health problems such as high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, and diabetes. 

There are many ways in which clutter contributes to stress. These can be conscious or unconscious, so even if you don't think your clutter is impacting you, research suggests otherwise.

A cluttered environment is distracting. Visual clutter saps our attention and impedes our ability to focus. In addition, an untidy space fosters a sense of guilt and unease. This is because our brains register clutter as a myriad of unfinished tasks, making it difficult to relax. 

Fortunately, there is much that can be done to reduce the impact of visual clutter in our lives from employing effective decluttering techniques to implementing various interior design strategies. 

Here are six ways to optimize the beauty of your home while simultaneously reducing visual clutter.

Preserve Table Space
Clutter has a way of collecting on flat surfaces, but tables are not meant to be storage spaces. A cluttered surface not only looks messy, it makes using the item as it was intended frustrating, if not impossible. The temptation to pile papers and other things onto table and counter tops is real, but a little planning can alleviate the problem. 

Typically things that end up piled on the table are there because they do not have a permanent home or they need to be dealt with. Evaluate the kinds of items that tend to accumulate on your flat surfaces and establish a place for them to live. A wall-mounted mail sorter is great for organizing papers that require action. You might also look for a console table with drawers and a shelf underneath for storing other items you want easy access to out of sight. 



With a few simple tweaks, you can significantly impact the weight of visual clutter in your home. Try implementing these suggestions. 

​This is a collaborative post. Read my full disclosure here.

With the arrival of summer and the lifting of restrictions across the country, many Americans are making travel plans, myself among them (I've got a new granddaughter in Montana whom I am dying to meet). While it is a relief to most of the population to have the freedom to travel, doing so during an ongoing pandemic requires careful planning and consideration in order to ensure your safety and that of others. 

I tend to be a careful planner anyway, but this week as we mapped out our route and made other preparations, I felt a need to be even more detailed in my efforts. I learned some things in the process. I hope you'll find my lessons useful as you plan your own road trip.

Restrictions
It's always helpful to do a little research before traveling cross-country, but it's absolutely essential at the moment. All fifty states are in some phase of reopening, and every state has different guidelines and a different timeline. What's more, some states are readjusting their proposed timelines in the midst of a resurgence in COVID-19 cases.

I highly recommend researching the reopening plans for each state you'll be visiting/driving through. You'll want to pay particular attention to the guidelines at your final destination as some states/communities are still requiring out-of-state travelers to self-quarantine for 14 days upon arrival. The following resources are helpful in determining the current restrictions for a given state. Both of these sites are updated regularly.

• ​U.S. Chamber of Commerce State-by-State Business Reopening Guidance
• COVID-19 State Reopening Guide 

Safety
Another important topic to research when planning travel within the United States is how to keep yourself, your family, and others safe and healthy. I recommend the following resources for travelers from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC):

• Considerations for Travelers - Coronavirus in the US

Route - Rest Areas
As a traveler I have a knack for pulling off at a less-than-desirable location for an emergency bathroom break only to get back in the car and discover a rest stop three miles down the road. While it may be fine to wing it under normal circumstances, I recommend carefully mapping your travel route so long as there's a pandemic going on. At the very least, it's good to get a feel for where the rest stops are located and identify good places to stop for food and/or gas.

You obviously can't control your need to stop entirely, but it's good to know your options. Having just traveled from Kansas to Tennessee (another new grandbaby), I can tell you that there are a wide range of standards in play with regard to sanitation and patron safety. Rest areas are a nice option (if you don't need gas or food) because there tend to be fewer people around, and there is plenty of open, outdoor space to social distance while stretching your legs and getting some fresh air.  

Food
I recommend packing at least some food in order to reduce the number of interactions you need to have while on the road. While most restaurants are now open (assuming they survived the shut down), many are only offering drive through or pick up services - even in states that are fully 'open'.

I'm not a huge fan of eating and driving at the same time (or sitting in the car and eating), so I tend to look for places that offer outdoor seating. If we know there is a rest area not far from where we're stopping, we might pick up food and take it to the rest stop for a picnic as well. If you're staying in a hotel, ordering in or picking up food to take back to your room may be your best (or only) option. 

Lodging
​When it comes to lodging, I recommend choosing a nation-wide hotel chain and sticking with them for a couple of reasons. The first is the potential for earning rewards. We once rented two beautiful, spacious suites on the coast of the Indian Ocean in Oman for three nights for free by cashing in our Marriott rewards points. 

The other reason for choosing a chain that you like and trust is quality. It can be difficult to sleep well when you're on the road. Finding a place where you're consistently comfortable can greatly enhance your travel experience. What's more, large hotel chains are much more likely to have well thought-out, company-wide regulations and procedures in place for things like sanitizing and ensuring guest safety. 

Attractions
One of my favorite things about road trips is visiting new and interesting places along the route. If you're traveling across the United States, you're in for a treat as there are hundreds (if not thousands) of amazing sites to see - everything from the weird and quirky to the majestic and awe-inspiring. The best way to ensure you don't miss any hidden treasures is to do some research. 

A simple way to research attractions is to do an internet search for the highway you'll be traveling (i.e. roadside attractions I-90). You can also go to any of the major travel booking sites (Expedia, Travelocity, etc.), click on their "Things To Do" tab, and enter a city you'll be visiting. Another option is simply to search "things to do in (enter name of city)". You can also check out the list of resources in the box below.

​In doing the research for our upcoming cross-country trip, I discovered some things with regard to attractions that I hope you will find helpful in planning your own trip.

• Many museums and other attractions are not yet open to the public. Check with each place you want to visit to determine their availability.
• Many places are only partially open. We took our grandchildren to a museum where they have a membership only to discover that all the hands on, child-centered exhibits were still closed to the public. 
• Many states are now requiring people to wear masks in public. Even in states where masks are not mandatory, many businesses and attractions require them for entrance. They are strongly recommend pretty much everywhere. 
• Many places are limiting the number of guests who can enter at one time. This may mean waiting outside or in your car for the crowd to thin before you can enter.
• Some places require visitors to schedule their visit in advance in order to limit the number of patrons. 

Once you've done your research, determined the route you'll be taking, planned your stops, and decided on any activities you want to pursue, it's time to solidify your plan. I highly recommend creating a travel folder or binder for keeping track of all the information pertaining to your trip. Your folder could include:

• a daily itinerary 
• hotel information including address, phone number, check-in/check-out times, cancellation policy, and confirmation number
• any pre-purchased tickets for attractions
• coupons (I found one online for a museum we plan to visit)
• brochures, maps, and other information regarding sites you'll be visiting

Driving for hours on end can be an adventure. It can also be incredibly dull and surprisingly tiring. One of the downsides of boredom is that your eyes can get heavy. If you're the driver, this is obviously a problem. Another downside is that one tends to get snacky which can lead to overeating (which can also make you drowsy!). These problems can be reduced with a little planning.

To combat boredom, hubby and I like to listen to lectures from The Great Courses. I highly recommend their streaming service (affiliate link). We also enjoy listening to podcasts, or reading aloud to one another as we travel. When our kids were younger we played a lot of car games. as well 

To curb overeating, try packing some healthy snacks and/or scheduling your eating. ​

Click on the image below to download my Road Trip Daily Planner page. 

It can be difficult planning a road trip at a time like this, but it can also be hard to abandon summer plans, especially after spending several months cooped up at home. With a little research and planning it's possible to keep yourself and others safe while on the road. 

Do you have a road trip planned this summer? If so, I invite you to share any additional tips you may have for staying safe and enjoying the road in the comments section below. ​

The kitchen is the heart of the home. It's a place for cooking, eating, studying, entertaining, and congregating. Given the amount of time we spend in our kitchens, having a kitchen you love is a real plus. Unfortunately, for many of us that is not the case. 

Giving your kitchen a makeover is a great way to fall in love with it. A new kitchen can make your home more modern, more spacious, and more uniquely yours. The one downside to a new kitchen is the cost. Kitchen renovations are expensive. 

The good news is, you don't have to install a brand new kitchen to create a refreshing new look that you love. There are a lot of clever ways to upgrade your kitchen without having to spend a fortune. 

Take a look at these low-cost ideas for refreshing your kitchen.

You don’t have to completely replace your cabinets to give them a fresh look. Painting or wrapping your cabinets is an easy way to fix tired or dated units, and can be a quick fix while you save up for new ones.

The color or pattern of your cabinets can easily be changed. Many people use special cabinet paint or vinyl wraps to transform their kitchen units - you can do it too! This video shows you just how easy it is:

Take a long hard look at your sink and faucet - are they scratched, stained, or outdated? Maybe you never liked them to begin with? A new sink and/or faucet can really transform the look of a kitchen. Allora USA has some fantastic choices to help you give your kitchen a makeover. It’s amazing the difference one small change can make!

Upgrading your hardware can completely change the look of your cabinets. It's a simple, cost-effective way to add style and personality to your kitchen. Matte finishes look sophisticated and expensive but are actually quite affordable. You can install them yourself for a simple, instant upgrade.

Tiles are a great way to bring some life into your kitchen. Tile backsplashes are great because they're easy to clean and care for. The downside is, they can start to look dated and stained over time. One simple solution is tile paint.

Tile paint can give your tiles a new lease of life, making them look brand new. You can choose a color or pattern that suits your taste and enjoy an inexpensive DIY kitchen hack.

If you want to make one update to your kitchen without changing everything, some fresh new flooring can really transform the look. There are all kinds of kitchen flooring ideas you can try, including vinyl, laminate, wood and tiles - each helping to create a unique look in your home. If you choose to install your flooring yourself, you can save even more money, making for a simple but effective kitchen upgrade.

It’s surprising what a little DIY can do to update your home. With some simple makeover ideas, you can make easy and affordable changes that will make your kitchen feel like new again. Got some free time this weekend? Why not give your kitchen a brand new look?

This is a collaborative post. Read my full disclosure here.

While I was home for a visit last summer, my mother commented that we ought to do some organizing. That was all the invitation I needed! She suggested we tackle her kitchen cabinets, and I dove right in, literally - head first. 

Her kitchen cabinets do not extend all the way to the ceiling, and she uses the space on top of the cabinets for display (at least she used to). That's where we began. I climbed on top of the counter and started pulling things down for her to examine. To my surprise, she voted to get rid of pretty much every item I handed her. 

Next we went to work on the upper cabinets, starting with the cabinet above the refrigerator. Again, the entirety of the contents were placed in the donation pile. I was amazed and impressed. As we worked, we talked about the items, many of which had originally belonged to my grandmother. Mom confessed that when she first moved into her current home, she wasn't ready to let grandma go, so she just held onto all of grandma's things, even though she had no real use for many of them. 

It was then that I introduced her to Marie Kondo. Not literally, of course. I just shared with her Marie's famous question from her book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up (affiliate link) - "Does it spark joy?"

The concept really struck a cord with my mom. Over the next few days we decluttered her entire kitchen, her pantry, and her utility closet. As I held things up for her to examine, she frequently responded with, "Nope. That doesn't spark joy." I have to admit, her enthusiasm for the principle sparked a lot of joy for me, and we made some fond decluttering memories together. We also made three trips to Goodwill! Check out these pictures of some of the stuff we donated. 

Upon returning home, I found myself hyper-aware of items in my own home that hadn't sparked joy for me or anyone else in a long time. Before I knew it, I had a decent sized pile of donations prepared. Since then, I've made numerous trips to the thrift store to drop off a bag or two of stuff that no longer serves a useful purpose in our home. In the process, I've discovered something that consistently sparks joy for me - letting go. 

My mom's enthusiasm for eliminating the non-joy producing things in her life has remained constant since our declutter marathon last year. She shared her appreciation of the concept with my nephew who gave her the above mug for Christmas last year. Needless-to-say, it sparks joy for her. 

I admit I'm not the biggest Marie Kondo fan out there, but I do love this simple question that she introduced to the world: "Does it spark joy?"

Associated with the question is a principle of organization that, when embraced, can remove much of the guilt, fear, and other concerns that are often felt by people struggling to let go of things that no longer add value to their lives. 

Personally, I find it liberating to let go of things that no longer spark joy in my life.  It helps me appreciate better the things that do. If you're having trouble letting go of things that are bogging you down, try asking yourself, "Does it spark joy?" 

Equilibrium can be defined as "a state in which opposing forces or influences are balanced." Clutter equilibrium is an idea I stumbled upon while talking with my husband about the concept of maintaining order once a space has been decluttered. Think of clutter equilibrium as the balance between an orderly space and incoming clutter. 

I've written a lot about how to declutter, but it's also important to think about maintaining a clutter-free (or significantly clutter reduced) environment. That is the key to long-term success. So here are a few simple ideas for maintaining a healthy balance between clutter and...clarity. 

Every day we're bombarded with potential clutter: free samples, junk mail, brochures, fliers, invitations, catalogs, kids' paperwork (to include artwork), etc., etc. etc. Sometimes it is thrust upon us, and sometimes we invite it in, either consciously or unconsciously. 

Unconscious clutter includes the many seemingly innocuous bits of paper listed above. We pick up a brochure or flier because we're interested in whatever it's advertising. We receive an invitation in the mail Our kids bring home an information sheet about an upcoming school or sports activity. These things are all innocent enough...until they start to pile up. Conscious clutter is the stuff we choose to bring into our homes to stay - the new DVD or book or board game to add to our collection, the new kitchen gadget, the six bottles of our favorite shampoo that we found on sale. All of these things are perfectly normal and acceptable. We need access to information. We're going to get new stuff. But if all we ever do is bring stuff in without thought, our clutter equilibrium will quickly become a clutter imbalance. 

Here are some suggestions for stopping clutter before it enters:

• Don't accept free samples or other swag unless you know you've got a use for them. If you do accept a free sample, place it where you're sure to use it right away.
• Instead of bringing home fliers, announcements, brochures and other advertisements, use your phone to snap a photograph of the details. Set up files on your phone for upcoming events, things to do, and things you want to remember (like the name of a new restaurant or the brand of shampoo the stylist used on your hair). Store the photos in the appropriate files. In the case of an event, enter the details in your calendar or schedule a reminder on your phone. 
• Contact the companies that are sending you catalogs and ask them to take you off their mailing list. If it's a store you think you might like to purchase from in the future, look them up online and bookmark their website. then recycle the catalog. 
• Set up a recycling bin close to where you sort mail. Dump junk mail directly into the bin as soon as you bring in the mail. If you live in an area where recycling is not available, drop it in the trash. 
• Be a conscientious shopper. If a new blouse catches your eye, think before you purchase. Do I have other similar items that are perfectly serviceable? Do I have anything that will go with this item? 
• Assess your storage space. Decide how much space you have available for storing surplus food and household supplies. Only store what you have space for. When you use an item from your stash, replace it, but don't buy more than you can easily store. 
• Practice the one in, one out policy. If your DVD collection is bulging, choose an old DVD to donate when you buy a new DVD. The same principle can be applied to clothing, shoes, books, kitchen gadgets, and more. 

Sometimes clutter results from things being out of place or not having a place. You can solve these types of clutter problems by setting up and maintaining systems to keep things organized. A system is simply a way of doing things. I've written about the process of developing simple systems here. 

We've all heard Benjamin Franklin's famous saying "a place for everything, and everything in its place." It's a simple, yet profound solution for preventing clutter. It's also an example of this concept. Having a designated place to puts things constitutes a basic system. 

Almost everyone struggles with paper clutter in one form or another. While there are ways to limit the amount of paper that comes into or stays in our homes, there are also many papers that we want to hang onto for reference purposes. I've developed a simple three binder system for organizing paperwork. You can read more about it here. 

One of the best ways to maintain a healthy clutter equilibrium is to develop a decluttering mindset. Make decluttering a habit, something that comes naturally to you. Here are some examples of what it means to have a decluttering mindset:

• When unloading groceries, look for outdated items or items you know your family won't eat and discard or donate them. 
• When you're folding laundry, identify items that are overly worn, damaged, or getting too small for their owner (mainly children). Instead of putting these items back in the drawer, assess what needs to be done with them. If an item is damaged in some way, decide if it's beyond repair. If the answer is yes, get rid of it. If an item is too small (and there is no younger sibling who could use it) set it aside to donate.
• When dusting, look for books that you haven't read or didn't like. They're good candidates for the donation pile as well.
• Be always on the lookout for items that are broken, missing pieces, outdated, or otherwise beyond their prime. Instead of holding onto them, send them to a better place. It may be the trash or it may be the donation box. 

​Clear a space for collecting items you wish to donate in your garage or mud room or some other out of the way space. Once a quarter (or whenever the space is full) gather up the items and take them to the thrift store. 

People often talk about the need for maintaining balance in their lives. It's something we're all striving for. Clutter is one way in which a person's life can become out of balance. Decluttering is just half the battle when it comes to righting the situation. These simple suggestions can help you maintain your clutter equilibrium long-term.