Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Friday, May 11, 2012
How to Have a Hassle Free Morning!
When was the last time you remember your morning running smoothly?Where there are no fights for the bathroom, no lost items to search for, no last minute nipping back into the house for something….. I could go on!“MUM – I can’t find my PE Kit….”“Honey, Where are my keys?”“We’re going to be late…”All commonly heard shouts heard in most family homes in the rush and frazzle of a school / work morning!
But it really doesn’t have to be this way.
Mornings could be oh so simple if you follow a few key tips, and I really hope that this helps you to get to wherever you need to be on time, with the right items, dressed correctly, and ready to get going!
Simple but effective. If you have breakfast thats suitable, set out things like bowls, plates, cutlery, cereal, bread for toast etc… ready to go in the morning so people can very easily help themselves. This will also stop you having mornings where theres no bread or milk and a dash to the shops is required (or worse – people go hungry).
Right down to the underwear – then you’ll be sure you have everything, and also have time to wash/iron/polish something if necessary. I like to hang everything on my wardrobe door.
Phone, keys, paperwork, purse, chequebook, diary, laptop etc…. – whatever you need to have to hand the following day – even things like your gym kit if you are going there after work – check its all packed ready to go.
TIP – have a list in your gym kit of everything you need to have in it so its easy to pack and see if anything is missing – and include a toiletries bag that is always ready to go as this saves so much time!
BE PREPARED! – know where you’re going, what time you need to leave etc… and work back from there as to when you need to get up (may be different every day).
Add into any spare time anything that you can from your TO DO list, and make the most of the time you do have. If you need to meet someone, then its also worth sending a text to ensure they have remembered as well to avoid a completely wasted few hours of travelling somewhere and waiting for them to turn up.
Make packed lunches and put in fridge ready for next day. If you work in an office then a great cheaper lunch is easy to have from leftovers of that nights meal – simply box up and put in fridge and then heat up at work.
TIP – freeze the drink as then it will be lovely and cool by lunch the next day, and will keep the lunch box chilled in the morning as well
You need to get yourself ready for the following day, so show everyone else what you expect of them, help them out a few times, and then leave them to do it themselves. This gives them great habits to follow through when they leave home as well.
Everyone needs to be responsible for themselves as much as possible. Get them to all sort their clothes, bags and schedules for the following day. Ensure children get more responsibility as they get older, and of course help younger children as they will then start to pick up these habits and want to do it themselves independently asap.
If you have someone in the family who is constantly making everyone late – make it a consequence that if they forget something then you aren’t going back. Having to deal with the consequences at school/work will soon make them more aware of what they have to do – its a good life skill!
If you constantly get things like permission slips, requests for baked goods for a fair, dress-up day costume requests etc… at the last minute then again its got to be their problem when they get to school empty handed – trust me – they won’t do it often after that!
TIP – any paperwork you do get, file into the right day in your diary or top up diary (see the upcoming paperwork ebook for more details) and then you won’t forget! And schedule a time to get the things done a few days before.
TIP – Get into the habit of getting your children to unload all their bag each day after school and handing you the paperwork.
TIP – get homework done at a set time each night – so that there are no last minute panics in the morning.
Give people jobs in the morning – someone to make drinks, to unload/load dishwasher, wash dishes, etc….
Start looking at the bathroom situation – which can be fraught in a family home. If you have just one bathroom its even more crucial to make this as easy as possible every morning.
Think about when people leave the house – and then schedule their bathroom time accordingly.
Give people a 10 minute limit
Make them wipe down the bathroom when they’ve finished
Make it quick for people to see where there stuff is, and whose is whose. Bathroom towels, hallway baskets etc… can all help – that way everyone knows whats what – and where to find everything each day – which leads me nicely onto….
The simplest way to stop losing things is to create places for everything in your home and to ALWAYS PUT THEM BACK THERE. Keys, coats, shoes, bags, sports kits, lunch boxes etc…..
Is it your hair that takes hours each morning? Why not look at ways to style it differently so that you can simply dry and go.Do your children really struggle to get out of bed each morning? Why not reward them for getting dressed early with a rewards chart – maybe on a Friday let them have breakfast watching TV for 10 mins or promise them a film night over the weekend etc…Don’t try and do everything in the morning. At a minimum all beds should be made and breakfast dishes sorted as this is just a nice thing to come home to, but if you are short of time in the morning, don’t try and clean the house or do jobs that could wait until the evening – just do whats absolutely critical to that morning.Work out the real sticking points specific to your morning, and tackle getting those sorted first.
Easy ways to be more organised is to simply give yourself more time each morning.
What about waking up 15 mins earlier so that you have time to get ready before the rest of the house wakes up. This would also help with bathroom queues, and you can be more focussed on getting the rest of the family ready once you are completely sorted.
AND
Give some time for unexpected issues that will always arise. Make sure you aim to be ready 10 mins before you actually need to leave the house, and then you are much more likely to get out on time.
Theres nothing worse than frayed tempers first thing in the morning, and avoiding getting stressed can help so much. If theres time could you do even just 10 mins of exercise? This will really set you up for the day! If you have to be in the house then some weights, situps, press-ups etc… work really well, but if you can get out of the house then a walk or a quick run are perfect. Even walking the kids to school will work well (park a little further away if you really do have to drive) as giving them fresh air in the morning will help them too.
Above all, stay calm and this will immediately help your morning to be less frazzled.
Saturday, May 5, 2012
11 Ideas for Organising Kids Bedrooms
Childrens bedrooms are well known for being messy spaces where they can be themselves. And all this is great and good apart from the messy bit!
I am so passionate about instilling good organising habits into children that will serve them well in later life, and think that we are never too little to do something – in fact, the smaller the child, the more like a game the actual tidying and sorting out can be.
My little girl is now 3, and really enjoys the fact that her room is quite tidy – she loves to show it off to people who come (it is a new room after we had an extension last year!), and not in a horrid precocious way, but in a genuinely proud way.
Not everything is in its place, and she has the freedom to play, read etc… – but she also knows that its her space, and is already quite house proud!
Here are my favorite tips for organising your childrens bedrooms – and I really hope that they help!
Get your children to take responsibility for their own rooms – dependant on their age. Even small children can keep things tidy!
Set up small rewards if they keep them tidy for a week, a month etc…
Children LOVE to have some independence and being in charge of their own room (to whatever extent you feel they are able) will really help with giving them this.
Have areas for toys, books, sleeping, changing (for babies), sitting (for them and for you!), clothes and anything else specific to you and your needs.
Ensure that everything stays in these areas and then it will be easier to find things.
It also helps to relax children as they work best with routine, and if they know where their things are in their room they will feel calmer.
If you have zones at their height then this will also make it easier for them to start to dress themselves, make their bed, choose a story etc…. (and it can also help to keep things away from them – although I highly advise taking medicine and other potentially harmful items completely out of their room – as they will always find something to stand on to get at it when you aren’t watching)
I suggest having very few toys in the bedroom, as this will encourage children to play there rather than sleep. If you keep the bedroom as a restful area then that usually will work better for you.
I find that having this split between their toys is really beneficial – and if you do use their bedroom as a punishment when they are naughty (I don’t advise this as it puts a negative feel to bedtime too), then you don’t want them to have fun in there while they are meant to be thinking about what they have done wrong!
Keep books in the room that are good for bedtime reading – my daughter loves her book about monsters – but its downstairs as she doesn’t like to read it at night!
Short books are best for bedtime for younger children, and activity books are better for playing rather than bedtime. It seems logical when you think about it – the last thing you want your child to pick out for his/her bedtime story is something that involves loads of interaction – you want them to start to wind down and simply listening to a story will be perfect for this.
Children grow out of their clothes quickly – as such keep a bag to hand that you can fill with small clothes (under the bed or at the bottom of a wardrobe are good places).
If you have younger children you may want to keep them for them, if not, give them to charity or sell them – but as soon as the bag is full get rid of the clothes.
Get your children to make their own bed as soon as they are capable.
To make this easy try and keep the majority of toys off the bed – hanging a toy hammock above the bed slightly works well as they are to hand, but allow the bed to be made easily.
To get more space out of a smaller bedroom, consider having a bed thats raised and allows for a desk/drawers, sofa etc… below. This is also really good fun for a child!
Multi functional furniture works well in childrens bedrooms – I also love this bookcase/dolls house from Laura Ashley - expensive but will work for years! (and currently on sale!)
Keep any toys in baskets so that they are off the floor – this makes hoovering much easier, and also gives your child a place to put everything at the end of the day.
Get your older children in the habit of getting their clothing for the following day ready the night before – stops any last minute searching around for a PE kit or a clean school shirt.
Younger children can do a tidy up at the end of the day, and make their bed when they get a little bigger.
Teenagers can also be in charge of cleaning their rooms too! (good luck with this one!)
Display childrens artwork on noticeboards in their room – this will make it more their own, and also prevents some damage to the walls from blu tack etc….
Giving lots of shelving will also help them to add their own individual character to the room – and children thrive on developing their own personalities.
If you label boxes, small children will be able to understand them if you label with pictures rather than words. This helps them to be able to tidy up and know where things go more easily.
Older children can have more of a say in decor, storage and style – and this could be a great incentive for them to get things tidy each day – why not use it as a reward!
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So, hopefully this has given you some ideas for how you can make your childrens rooms work for them, and you – whatever age they are currently. It may also give you ideas of how to make it work ongoing (white furniture is better than pink in a little girls room as it will age with them and will go with any colour room for example).
I hope that you have fun and that your child becomes enthusiastic about their own space – and proud of it! Thats the goal! – after all, one day they will have a whole house to look after hopefully…..
If you have any questions or comments please reply below and we’ll get back to you always. As ever, we love to hear from you!.
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Moving House Countdown Checklist and Tips
Spring is one of the favourite times for people to move house.
Its when things seem brighter, the winter and Christmas is over (typically when people simply nest!) and people are now ready for making changes.
It also works well in that you can often be moved and in your new home by the summer – and can then enjoy your new home in the good weather (that is, if we get some!)
Most people get quite overwhelmed by the prospect of moving. It is always said that its one of the most stressful points of your life along with divorce, having children and getting married, but if you get yourself organised, and utilise the help thats out there, then it can be quite painless really!
I have tried to give an easy to follow checklist that takes you through the countdown to moving, with lots of tips and tricks thrown in. Let me know if you have any extra tips and tricks, and I hope that if you are moving that you have a stress free time!
Moving comes in stages, from the initial decision to move, right through to sitting in your new home the night you have moved in. Its a long road, but so worth it, and following the steps and advice below will really help to keep you on track.
If its for more space would your money actually be better spent on extending your current property? The cost of moving is considerable and actually can be seen as a waste of money – extending will mean that you could get the property that works for you without wasting your money at all. Get an estate agent to look at your ideas and to value it before and after. It may just be the sensible option! (also, you may want to think about getting plans drawn up anyway as this can be a great selling point to show potential purchasers what the potential is)
Can you use your existing rooms in a different way to make more of them? Even simple changes and redecoration can breath new life in a home that you thought you were tired of. I am an interior designer and home stager by trade, and have often had the situation where I have staged a home ready for selling, only for the seller to decide that they love the changes so much they wanted to stay! Seriously think about why you are moving before you start the journey.
Try and get your property on the market or ideally sold prior to looking for your next property – its a difficult scenario to be in, but if you are in this position you are ready to be able to pounce on the property of your dreams when you see it, and the sellers may well look at you most favourably in a bidding war if you have your property sold already.
You may decide to sell without an agent, which can be a good idea if you are looking to save a bit of money as you save the agents fees, but you also don’t get as much marketing as an agent can provide, or access to a list of people in your area who are actively looking.
To get your property sold as soon as possible, ideally you will want to have it staged for selling by a professional. I am a little biased about this step as I am actually a home stager and interior designer by trade – and I really firmly believe in what staging can do for selling a property faster and for its maximum price.
Staging does not have to cost a lot, but may mean the difference between selling quickly, and the property languishing on the market for weeks/months.This practise in common place in the US, where most homeowners would not consider putting their home on the market without it being staged first – why would you want to try and sell the most expensive asset you own when its not looking the absolute best it can look?Simple tricks and quick fixes can really make a difference to how viewers will perceive your home – you are trying to create the feeling that you had when you moved into your home – not the feeling that you may have now as you want to move and the home no longer fits your needs. You need to get back to the excitement you had when you first moved in.Personally I have moved twice over the past ten years, and both houses have sold for more than the ceiling price of the road, at the asking price, and to the first buyer that has walked through the door (the second one went to sealed bids too!). This is absolute testament that staging works, and really does take the hassle out of selling. We were ready to make a move on the house that we wanted as soon as we put ours on the market, we were in a strong position and therefore negotiated a great price for that house, and we didn’t have to have the stress of having people walking through the property for weeks or months prior to getting an offer. We didn’t even have the hassle of bartering over the selling price as people simply wanted to ensure they were the ones who got it. Quick, simple and stress free – a great way to start the moving house journey I am sure you will agree!
Before and After of a Living Room Home Staging Example from my own home
Ensure you know what your wishlist for a new property is. Why are you moving? Do you need more space, do you want to be local to a good school, do you have family or work that you want to be closer to. Do you need another bedroom, a home office, a larger garden, a kitchen/diner etc… If you can write down everything you want in a new home, and prioritise it, then you will be able to see which homes you want to look at and possibly cut down on your search. It will also help you to focus on your move and what you want to get out of it.
If you are moving to a new area, research the area and surrounding areas carefully. See how far you would comfortably commute and draw a circle around that area on a map. Then look at whats a high priority for you – schools, being close to shops, being rural/urban etc…. and then you can close your search location down even more – saving valuable time when viewing properties.
TIP – When viewing properties, pick one thats not what you want at all – if you see it and it is a definite NO then you can be more sure your wishlist is right – whereas you may be shocked to discover that this may actually be the one for you after all! – Don’t completely narrow what you are looking for, as you may be surprised!
Get on all the local estate agents books – you want to be the first to find out about suitable properties. Show that you are keen and willing to move, and not a time waster. You want them to call you as soon as your ideal property comes on the market, and not someone else
When you have found the home you want to move to, and an offer has been accepted, now is the time to really start managing your move. Don’t expect things to just happen, and don’t assume that this is the case. If you can, look to get a move date in place and agreed down the chain. Then appoint a solicitor with this date in mind. (Keep chasing this date every week so that dates don’t slip – we have had the situation where the chain was talking to each other and had a date in mind, but our solicitor had decided that they would go for a different date as it worked better for them – disaster!)Create a moving folder – and keep everything relating to the move in this – it will then be easy to find all documentation, letters etc…. that can really build up during this time.If you are transferring schools, nurseries, offices etc… then ensure that the new ones have been informed and are ready to take you and your children.Look at removals firms – I strongly suggest for a smooth and easy move to get them to also pack for you – as they can do this in such a short amount of time, and the cost is minimal for the stress saved. Get recommendations from people who have used them before, and get provisional dates booked in as soon as you can so that its one more thing to not have to worry about (it will also get you really thinking about the logistics of the move, in terms of whether you need any items stored if you are doing work on the new property, whether you will want to take everything you have, is there room in the new property etc….)Start to create a floor plan of the new property and work out what you want to put where – this will possibly change in the next few weeks, but having it written down will again force you to think about it, and will make life a lot easier when telling removals people whats going on.Organise mail forwarding – a years duration is best (especially if you work from home) – CLICK HERE to sort this outGet to know your new area – research doctors, dentists, schools, shops etc… and get yourself on their books as soon as possible – it may take a little time to get into each systemIf possible, keep your old phone number in your new house – it will make things easierStart to organise your belongings, it is never too early to start thinking about what you may or may not want to take with you. If you can have a big sort out now it will save time in the long run, and you will be able to see things more clearly. Look at our decluttering pages for more details of how this can be done more easily. If you declutter now you won’t have to pay removals for moving items that are of no value to you, and you won’t have to have them cluttering up your new property – think of this move as a clean slateWith things like Sky / Virgin TV and Broadband, call and arrange for them to switch to your new address on moving day – they will then install it at your new property and you will have no break in your service – especially necessary if you work from home.Now is a good time to research who the cheapest and best suppliers are in your new area for gas, electricity etc…. so that you can inform them of your move and start an account if it is a different company to the one you are currently using. Create a list of everyone thatyou pay any bills to, and update or write beside it if you are going to change supplier once you move. Having everything in one place will make things much easier!
If you have any questions or comments please reply below and we’ll get back to you always. As ever, we love to hear from you!.
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Friday, May 4, 2012
How to A.D.O.R.E your Utility!
I think of the utility as the hub of the home – the nerve centre. The place where (if you are lucky enough to have the space) you can do all your laundry, mending, ironing, store household items incl. cleaning products and excess bathroom and kitchen items ready for when they are all needed. In fact – the list is endless. You can use your utility to create a really functional and practical space, one that works for your needs exactly.
I have already created a post about general tips to get your utility sorted once and for all – and these are great for one off changes, but if you want to make a real difference then following my ADORE method would be the way forward – and I will take you through it step by step in this post.
I hope that it helps you as much as it has helped me, and I look forward to seeing your photos and hearing your stories of the changes!
In the ASSESS section its probably worthwhile thinking about the WHO, WHY, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN, as this will help you to ask the key questions required to make the space functional and practical for you and your family.
Who will use the space is a vital question, often overlooked. If there are children in your family, having cleaning products, medicine etc.. kept in higher cupboards makes sense as then little hands can’t get to them and hurt themselves.
If your family is older and helps around the house, having sections that are labelled for each item or group of items makes sense as they will then know easily where everything goes and where to put things back so that people can find them easily the next time they are required.
If its just you that will use the space, think about what you use most often and make this most convenient to get hold of. Least used products would go in high or low cupboards so they are still accessible but save your back a bit more from constant bending.
Why do you want a utility space? Answering this question here will help you to create zones in the space that are useful to you.
What has made you want to get your utility room organised? Having a set idea of the reasons you wanted to change the space will be a great motivational tool as you work through the space!
Another key WHAT is to ask yourself whats already working. Don’t try and reinvent the wheel.
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!
WHAT are you going to store in the room, WHAT are you going to DO in the room. These questions will really dictate how the utility will be used.
If you are lucky enough to be starting from an empty space then it will also help to decide what sort of storage units, racks, spaces are required, and therefore help the space work best for you.
Identify your needs.
A laundry room that handles the clothes loads of just one person will have different needs than a laundry room for a family of six. Do you need room to fold clothes? Do you need cubbies for each person in the house? Do you need a bag for dry cleaning items that accidentally slipped into the dirty clothes hamper?
Also this is the place to ask what style you would like to have in the room – do you like open shelves or all closed away, do you have photos of spaces that you love and would like to emulate in your room? Getting to grips with this will really help to focus you on what you want to achieve.
Be inspired. Take a look at HOUSE TO HOME , a website I love to visit for inspiration – ideas await!
As already discussed, the WHERE will help you to think about what storage you need.
Do you need high up cupboards, or more worksurface, do you need a sink, will you house the washing machine there and therefore will the plumbing dictate the layout of the room. Can you house any other items from the kitchen in this room to free up space such as a fridge freezer etc… Where to put things, and assessing whether there is enough space will be crucial to having the space work for you.
When will you use the room? Do you prefer daylight or do you often do these jobs at night and therefore do you need specific task lighting in certain places? Do you need a chair in the room? Is this is the room that you walk into the house via? Therefore do you need space for coats and shoes as well?
The first thing to get done in this space is to get everything out of the room and clean the surfaces ready to put things back where you want to reorganise them.
With everything gone, dust and polish all surfaces working from top to bottom. Clean the washing machine, tumble dryer, sink etc…. and mop the floor. Even wipe down the walls or give it a fresh lick of paint (this won’t take long and can really give you a new lease of life as the room will feel lovely and new)
NB – Clean underneath the washing machine etc… but when you do this be careful not to disconnect your water, drainage or power!
Now is also a good time to wipe down any items that will be returning into the laundry area. Remove the dust and gunk that builds up over time.
Its also the time to get rid of any products or items that are past their best – that you no longer use, or that simply don’t serve a purpose in your home anymore. Write a list if you find that you need to purchase new items to replace them and add this to your next shopping list.
Before returning a single item to the laundry area, decide if it really belongs in the space and if the item meets your needs. You probably don’t need motor oil in your laundry room and you certainly don’t need a bottle of spray starch that is more than a decade old. Get rid of anything you haven’t touched in at least a year and only keep the things you actually use.
Look at the tips post for ideas for really getting organised, as I have listed a whole lot there for inspiration.
This is the time to either make adjustments to your existing fittings and storage, or to design you new space if starting from scratch.
You now should be totally aware of what you are storing there, how much space each things takes up, where in the room you would ideally like to store it, and how, and now (and only now!) is the time to go and purchase any extra items that you absolutely need to be able to fulfil the dream space!
Items that fit here are as follows:-
Hooks, Shelving, Cupboards, Baskets, Laundry baskets, boxes for little items such as batteries etc…, clothes dryer, wall hanging systems etc….
Label where you need to, so that the whole family can work in the space and can be independant so you get asked a lot less about where things are (Bliss!)
Basically, make the space work for you.
Now is the time to test the space.
You may think you have thought of every eventuality and worked out the perfect space for you, but until you actually use it, you don’t know for sure.
There are always things that we do that we don’t realise we do because they are such ingrained habits, but these may prove to be the undoing of one or more parts of your new utility.
Give the room at least a month of testing before you have completely decided something works or doesn’t. This gives you time to go through a few washing cycles, and gives you the chance to build up clutter etc… (not that you would now in your new space….!) which then leads me nicely onto…
Have you created a space that works for you and your family? What changes have worked and what haven’t? Do you need to look at a different way of doing certain things? This is the time to look at things and assess again.
Change what hasn’t worked and then go to Real Life again. Keep cycling through these 2 sections until you are happy – and then its just plain and simply maintenance going forward – what could be better than that!
If you have any questions or comments please reply below and we’ll get back to you always. As ever, we love to hear from you!.
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Tips to Get your Handbag and Purse Organised
I have too many handbags for one person!
I think thats the same for a lot of women out there….
Its not a problem really, apart from when I come to change over bags on a day to day basis. Remembering where everything is, and not forgetting anything is key to this being successful – and therefore I need to get organised about it!
Here are a few tips that have helped me – and I hope they do the same for you!
Firstly, take out everything and lay it out so that you can see exactly what you have.
Do this from ALL your bags so you start afresh with clean, empty bags!
Start by throwing away all obvious rubbish – I’m always amazed at how much collects in my bags during the day – I must stuff things in there without even realising half the time – no wonder my back hurts by the end of the day the amount I am carrying around!
Also throw away (cut up first) any credit or debit cards that are past their expiry dates.
One of the main sources of clutter in my bag and purse is receipts.
I purchase lots of things throughout the week, everything having its own receipt – and this builds up!
What works best for me is to keep all receipts I get in a compartment in my purse, and then on a weekly basis sort through and decide what I need to keep, and then transfer to the relevant place (for expenses for my business these go in my business folder, for clothes and items that I may need to return or have a warranty I put them in my home file, and for genuine rubbish I put in the shredding pile).
If you are a person who keeps all receipts to reconcile against your bank statement monthly, then simply transfer to a folder that you keep all receipts in, and purge monthly once reconciled.
Only keep in both your purse and your handbag whats absolutely vital – the last thing you want is to have to drag around half your possessions!
Be ruthless. If you think you need everything then try this exercise – write down everything in your bag and keep the list in there with a pen. Whenever you use something during a week then tick it off the list. Whatever you don’t use in a week probably isn’t that necessary!
Things can build up, and get heavy.
Loose change is one of the worse culprits. I like to keep a change jar in the kitchen and both myself and my husband empty pockets and purse/wallets of the majority of their change daily.
Its amazing how things build up – and I am constantly amazed that after a few months how much there is in there – perfect for a family treat!
TIP – keep some spare change in your car ready for unexpected car park charges or toll roads.
In your home file keep a record of the cards you have in your purse, and the relevant numbers to ring to cancel them – this will make the whole situation a lot more manageable if it happens.
Just as with your home, having a place for everything in your purse and handbag is vital to ensure that you have everything with you and can find things at a glance.
As I have business cards as well as personal cards, I find that it works really well to have a purse that has two main card sections in it – and I keep the cards in the same place every time – so its really easy to see if one is missing, and know what it is.
I try and buy handbags with small pockets in the lining that are good for keeping spare change, phones, hairbrush, makeup etc… in and keeping them out of the way of the main compartments. I have lost count of the amount of times that I have missed calls because my phone is SOMEWHERE in the main part of the bag – so frustrating!
So useful to have a small pad of paper and pen in your bag – for jotting down anything that springs to mind during the day including numbers, messages, websites etc….
I like to transfer all this information into the relevant place at the end of each day (or at least weekly) – i.e. diary, home file etc…. so I never lose information (or at least thats the aim!)
I always advise using different PIN numbers for every card you have – much more secure – but unless you have a great memory then this can get complicated, and its a complete NO GO to have a list of them in your purse!
The answer? I find that creating a name in my phone that I know relates to each card is a great way of doing it. The PIN can be part of the telephone number, but is not easy for people to find at all.
For example – a VISA card could be for Vera Isanda 01628 351 862, or a MASTERCARD could be for Mary Stern 01632 786 467. Keep the names and numbers in the same place for each and then it will be easy for you to translate!
Have something in your bag that you can do if you end up waiting in a queue or in a doctors surgery etc…. – articles you want to read, or a magazine that you subscribe to – this will ensure that you use this time to your best ability.
Just don’t weigh your bag down too much!
I find it useful to keep a copy of the TO BUY list from my Home File in my bag at all times, as then if I come across something I think we need, I can check on the list and can make an educated decision there and then rather than having to come back to the shop to purchase it or return it when I get it home and find it doesn’t work.
Include any required dimensions and details against each thing i.e. if you need a piece of furniture for a specific area in your home, write down the maximum dimensions it could be, the style you want etc…
i.e. Hallway Unit – Dark Wood – max height 80cm, max depth 25cm, max width 100cm / A new pair of jeans size 14 blue / artwork for above sofa – max 100cm square with red and gold in it but mostly cream.
These are all be things with no time limit – but are still wanted at some point (things with a time limit should be on your usual shopping list)
Only use handbags that you love and that you love using (same with purses) – otherwise donate them to charity as they take up a lot of space to store.
Your bag should work well for you, be comfortable, and work with your wardrobe and style.
Your handbag should be something that works for you – not against you. If you are constantly rummaging around in the bottom to try and find your phone / spare change / keys etc.. then its time to get it organised once and for all!
Theres nothing nicer than only carrying around what you absolutely need – being able to find it in an instant – and feeling organised as you go about your day. I hope that the tips given have helped you – and would love to hear about any tips you may have.
What do you find most annoying about an unorganised handbag / purse or wallet? …..
Owner response
Minha esposa e eu acabamos de voltar do que esperávamos que seria um lugar perfeito para realizar nossa cerimônia de casamento, em 7 de maio de 2011. Nós escolhemos o resort Paradisus Punta Cana, pois a maioria dos comentários que li era boa e o resort parecia bonito. Em primeiro lugar, tudo o que ouvimos sobre a coordenadora de casamento da unidade de Miami (Lauren Harder) soava ótimo. Portanto, fomos em frente e reservamos uma das suítes Royal Service Ocean View e convidamos as famílias e amigos para o casamento. Uma vez que os quartos tinham sido agendados e nosso depósito pago para reservar o dia do casamento, tudo começou a ir por água abaixo. Levaria dias (ou semanas, em alguns casos) para a coordenadora responder aos nossos e-mails, e eles estavam quase sempre “na hora do almoço” quando ligávamos. O processo de planejamento como um todo tornou-se incrivelmente estressante e difícil, ao ponto de quase cancelarmos o casamento inteiro, embora já tivéssemos pagado e não conseguiríamos nosso dinheiro de volta de qualquer maneira, mesmo que cancelado. Os nossos clientes já haviam reservado seus voos e quartos, então fomos em frente com o planejamento. Quando começamos os nossos planos, tínhamos escolhido a praia para realizar a cerimônia de casamento, mas, alguns dias depois, decidimos mudar para o terraço local, e comunicamos à coordenadora e começamos a planejar todos os detalhes. Dois meses depois, ela nos disse que o terraço já estava reservado e não poderíamos usá-lo. Pedimos a ela para entrar em contato com a outra festa de casamento para ver se eles trocariam eventualmente conosco, mas nos disseram que não mudariam. Nós entendemos e recomeçamos os nossos planos de decoração do zero. Isso não seria problema, mas chegamos ao resort para nos casar e descobrimos que o terraço estava disponível (e sempre esteve) e que o outro casal queria especificamente a praia! Eu duvido que a coordenadora tenha se preocupado em contatá-los. Também pedimos para ela verificar se eles poderiam fazer um bolo personalizado criado por nós, e enviaríamos todos os detalhes. Ela nos disse que verificou todas as padarias em Punta Cana e ninguém poderia fazê-lo. Então minha esposa e eu procuramos na internet e encontramos uma padaria local, que disse que eles seriam capazes de fazer o bolo. Quando chegamos ao resort, pedimos à coordenadora do casamento no local para ajudar a organizar a entrega do bolo e demos os detalhes da padaria local. Acontece que, a padaria local que encontramos era a mesma que o resort usa. Novamente, eu duvido que a coordenadora de Miami tenha se preocupado em verificar se alguém poderia fazer o bolo, pois seria trabalho extra para ela. Quando finalmente chegamos em Punta Cana, nós estávamos esperando que tudo iria finalmente acontecer sem problemas, mas rapidamente percebemos que não seria assim. Antes de ir ao resort, nos pediram para enviar as nossas fotos e detalhes da chegada para que eles estivessem lá para nos receber, mas quando chegamos, eles não tinham idéia de que estávamos lá para o nosso casamento. Tivemos de entrar em contato com a coordenadora de casamentos do resort para informar-lhes que tínhamos chegado e para saber como entrar em contato com eles. Alguns dias mais tarde, depois de dizer-lhes que estávamos um pouco chateados, eles conseguiram alguém para fazer uma pomba em nossas toalhas de banho e colocar algumas pétalas de rosa em nossa cama, mas era tarde demais. Os problemas continuaram com o nosso jantar de ensaio. Recebemos menus de todos os restaurantes onde poderíamos realizar o ensaio e fomos orientados a escolher o que queríamos. Decidimos pelo Restaurante Gabi e perguntamos se poderíamos pedir a la carte, pois seria para apenas 12 pessoas. Eles nos disseram que isto não seria problema. No entanto, quando chegamos, fomos informados de que o restaurante Gabi não estaria aberto naquela noite e que teríamos de ir para outro lugar, embora ainda concordassem em nos deixar pedir do menu Gabi. Quando chegamos ao restaurante, eles começaram a nos servir a refeição genérica em vez de nos deixar escolher à la carte, como prometido. Foi uma vergonha ter que discutir com eles de novo na frente das nossas famílias depois de tantas outras coisas ter dado errado até esse ponto. Para aumentar a frustração, o nosso pacote chamado "Serviço Real" é um completo desperdício de dinheiro. Eles dizem que há um "mordomo particular" que ficaria por perto para ajudar com tudo, desde o serviço de carro em torno do resort, uso de telefone celular local, etc.. Na realidade, o mordomo particular é apenas dois rapazes que são responsáveis por todos os clientes de Serviço Real em todo o resort. O serviço era muito lento. Quanto ao carro, das dez vezes que nós chamamos para usar o carro, ele só veio duas vezes que saibamos. Depois de esperar mais de 30 minutos cada vez, finalmente tivemos que andar ou chegaríamos atrasados para as nossas reservas. Além disso, não tenho idéia do que significa ter um telefone celular local para usar. Eles não sabiam o que estavam falando quando perguntamos sobre isso. Também tivemos problemas com o quarto não ser limpo na hora certa. O fotógrafo da minha esposa estava chegando ao quarto para tirar fotos dela se arrumando e o quarto foi limpo em cima da hora, mesmo depois de fazer várias chamadas durante o dia para pedir-lhes para vir. O quarto também estava incrivelmente barulhento devido ao vento que vem do oceano, e o quarto não tinha isolamento de som. Pagar pela vista para o mar acabou por ser a escolha errada. Também tome cuidado com a Reserva. Embora seja muito agradável a área em que alguns dos meus convidados se hospedaram, fica longe da praia. Se você quiser ficar em qualquer lugar perto da praia, não pague pela Reserva. Se você pretende passar as férias todas à beira da piscina, a Reserva é boa, mas não há motivo para ir à República Dominicana e ficar sentado à beira da piscina. A frustração final foi quando eles tentaram ser legais e enviaram pétalas de flores para ser colocadas na nossa cama para nossa noite de núpcias. Quando voltamos para o quarto, descobrimos que eles tinham deixado um bilhete dizendo que eles decidiram levar todos os nossos objetos de valor do quarto “para nossa proteção”. Nossa câmera, carteiras, jóias e tudo o que não tinha sido colocado no cofre foi tirado e nós tivemos que ir para a recepção à noite para recuperar tudo. Quando chegamos lá, descobrimos que um dos brincos de diamantes da minha esposa estava faltando. Ela passou o dia depois da nossa reunião do casamento preenchendo formulários de segurança, mas basicamente, eles disseram que não era responsabilidade do resort, embora eles tivessem tirado tudo do nosso quarto! Ainda não ouvi nada deles sobre o que eles vão fazer, mas com base na experiência geral do resort, tenho certeza de que não farão nada. Agora, para ser justo, havia algumas coisas boas sobre o resort. Individualmente, os membros da equipe eram muito simpáticos e trabalhadores, apesar de a operação ter alguns problemas graves. As coordenadoras locais de casamento, Miguelina e Jennifer (não confunda com a coordenadora terrível com sede em Miami) foram muito boas e ajudaram a compensar vários problemas que tivemos. Elas nos ajudaram a fazer uma mudança de última hora da nossa cerimônia para o terraço e as decorações estavam belas e organizadas como o planejado. A recepção que tivemos no Restaurante Romantico foi boa também. Nosso fotógrafo, Joaquim, do estúdio do resort foi ótimo e muito profissional (embora as fotos tenham ficado muito mais caras do que planejamos). Punta Cana em si também é linda, com praias de água azul incríveis, e por isso eu recomendo uma visita, mas se eu fosse voltar, eu escolheria um resort diferente, se estiver procurando férias sem stress. Esta avaliação representa a opinião subjetiva de um membro do programa TripAdvisor e não da TripAdvisor LLC.
Enviado originalmente em inglês em www.tripadvisor.com. Ver original
Enviado originalmente em inglês em www.tripadvisor.com. Ver original
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