With all the rain this summer we are struggling to get through our summer bucket list. I feel that even some of our must do bucket list items are getting squeezed in whenever there is a nice day! It didn’t help that my son broke his arm and couldn’t do anything for four weeks. He is hoping for lots of sunny days the next three weeks!

At Life Simplified, we’ve had an extremely busy summer helping people getting ready for moving to a new house, organizing whole houses, and controlling the paper chaos.  It’s been a great help to have my assistant organizer, Beth Rankoff involved with many of the jobs.

I can’t believe the summer break is almost over. I will blink and I will have a 3rd grader and a 5th grader.  I wish I could freeze time and keep them little. Between my busy work schedule and helping my son get through his bucket list, I am also starting to prepare my family for the routine of school and after-school activities, strict bedtime, chores and no electronics during the week.  

This week I started to get the kids in bed earlier than they have been all summer.  I set a limit on electronics, and have the kids help me come up with a chore chart.  We’ve also made a paper chain to count down the first day of school.

I’ve dug out my back to school checklist (you can find it here) and I am ticking off everything that needs to be done as I go along, from buying new sneakers, prepping school bags and getting haircuts. I’ve already created a homework station with all the essentials to complete homework (I didn’t have a pen will not be an excuse for not doing homework in this house!)

Two weeks before school I go over and complete all the various school forms. I will be dropping them off the week before school starts, at which time I create a lunch area in my pantry that contains snacks, juice boxes, and other essentials to make lunches.  Also, in the refrigerator I create a lunch area that allows the kids to make lunches easily. 
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The last job I complete is the most important task – the creation of the family calendar. What do you do to get ready for school?

According to The Telegraph, the average 10-year-old owns 238 toys and plays with just 12 of those daily. That is both a crazy statistic and a lot of toys to pack up when it comes to moving!

Decluttering is essential when it comes to moving to a new house and the earlier you can start the process the better. I believe even if a house move is just an idea you’re considering, then it’s time to declutter. Why? Moving is stressful and I’ve had clients trying to declutter and pack all in the week of the move. 

Plus, decluttering your home before it goes on sale can help with the price it fetches, as does de-personalizing it. The house will seem bigger and prospective buyers will have an easier time imagining themselves living there.

My top ten tips once you’ve decluttered are:

1. Don’t delay packing. I say that the last two weeks should be nothing but packing but start packing sooner if you can.
2. Movers hate trash bags so use boxes and pack them so they can be sealed shut
3. Ask friends and family for free boxes – wine boxes are great for compartmentalizing items
4. Amazon has some great moving supply bundles, as does Uline.com, Uhaul and Home Depot.
5. Start with the attic, basement and any storage closets. These are less likely to impact your day-to-day living needs
6. Color code boxes by room. It really helps when you get to the new home – your movers may not know who Bobby is, or what bedroom four is.
7. Even though you’ve decluttered, still have a donate box and trash bag at hand. The less items you take that you’ll never use, the less your move will cost.
8. Ask your mover if you can leave clothes in the drawers of your dresser. Most are fine with this and it gives you less to pack and unpack.
9. Leave clothes on hangers when you pack them, so you can hang them straight into your closet at the other end. If you really want to, wardrobe boxes are great for this.
10. Keep important and key documents with you so you know exactly where they are.

When you get to your new home be sure to unpack as soon as possible. I have helped clients unpack from house moves that happened five years ago. If you don’t do it straight away, you’ll end up leaving boxes unopened or not unpacking with any type of organization in mind – which means you won’t make the most of your new space. If you’re downsizing, then definitely heed this last point. You will not have space to waste.  
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If you’d like to receive a copy of our full moving checklist, please email us at anniekilbride@lifesimplifiedpo.com.  And, if the thought of moving still fills you with dread, we can come and help with the whole process – from decluttering, to packing to unpacking.

Can you believe it’s June? It was feeling a lot like April with all the rain, but finally the sun has come out.  Schools out, graduations have taken place and summer vacation and camps are starting.  I find parents fall into two camps. The ones that are running for the wine and beer, dreading the next three months and the ones that are excited to be spending the next few months with the kids

I fall into the later. I love making memories. Trips to the pool, beach and museums. Time for projects. What I don’t enjoy though is the sibling rivalry and the ‘’m bored’ comments. To counter that, we spend time together planning out our ‘summer bucket list’. I ask each one what they’d love to do this summer. We put together a fun list of summer to dos. Our list usually contains a trip to the movies (or two), bowling, trips to the beach, kayaking, paddle boarding and at least one museum. We even include things like riding our bikes and blowing bubbles.

Check out this pin and this pin if you need some inspiration.

Saving memories from the school year
I am so amazed by all the work the kids complete throughout the school year. Now is the perfect time to go through the pile of work and create a system that works, especially if you find your pile is pretty high right now!

The kids and I go through all the school workbooks, notebooks folders and worksheets that come home and we pull out any written stories or favorite comments and then recycle the rest.  We take the saved sheets, report cards, certificates and memories and place them in a file folder and label the grade on it. We then store in a file box or small container.

It’s important to get your children involved, especially when it comes to which school art projects and papers to keep. They may not like the ones you do. Let them pick out their favorite artwork. It’s fun to frame the top pick and even frame and give away some of them to family members. Store the rest with the other items from the year. Switch out the artwork as often as you like. If this seems to daunting, I love this system. It enables you to keep your kids' precious artwork and school memorabilia from toddler to 12th grade organized (no more crazy piles!)

Keeping organized over the summer break
Keep a loose routine so the chaos doesn’t rein in your home.  Have summer reading and chores done in the morning before camp or any play happens.  Keeping organized will help you make the most of the long summer days. And remember, take time to enjoy the birds chirping, the sun setting late, the kids creative playing and summer barbecues. 

If you need help with your school work papers or any organizing needs call for a free consult 

In-between running to and from clients, I have been snatching a minute here and there to enjoy the beautiful weather we’ve been having (well, not this!). Spring finally arrived, and summer is hot on its heels.  I love this time of year before the humidity arrives.

I also love summer – trips to the beach and lazy days at the pool. With two kids though, it’s not quite as easy as it once was, so being organized is key. Whether you’re hitting the pool or beach, there are some items that you can have packed ready for either venue:

• Sweat and waterproof sunscreen
• SPF lip balm
• Hats, sunglasses, rash tops
• Spare rash tops, especially for babies when they get wet. My ten-year-old likes to take his off and then it’s too sandy to put back on so will get a clean one out of the bag.
• Cooler- for drinks and snacks (think about getting one with wheels
• Kid friendly snacks scissors to save your teeth from opening those bags
• Towels (bring two for each person if you are going on a day trip -  one for the journey home in the car)
• Goggles – fun for pool games and essential for the seas as salt water burns little ones’ eyes
• Hair ties, brush and even a detangler (wet, knotty hair anyone?!)
• Money is always good to have for those ‘just-in-case moments’
• Spare diapers, swim diapers and fold up portable potty if needed
• Baby wipes
• A bag for trash. I find that a grocery bag is great for all the trash that is cumulated
• Plus, a bag for the wet clothes, as well as other wet items.

While at the pool, all you need in addition to the above is a few pool toys (floats, sunken ‘treasure’), the beach requires a few more items especially if a baby is involved. My top, top essentials are:

• Blanket or fitted sheet
• Beach chair/s, unless you are happy to sit on your towel on the sand
• Some sort of shade – a beach tent or umbrellas. I love this one by YLoveToys
• Beach toys
• Baby pool – excellent for containing a baby (especially a crawling one) and for babies to play with their toys in
• Bug spray

I take either a spray bottle, watering can, or a bucket to wash off sandy hands and feet. I love capturing the fun, so I take along a water proof camera). As there is a little more ‘stuff’ required for the beach, I swear by using a beach cart such as the Wonder Wheeler.  

I also have a ‘car-stash’ of summer essentials:

• Change of clothes for each child (Have you gone to the park and there is splash pad and the kids are wet and you don’t have a change of clothes.
• Swimming suit
• Hat
• Sunglasses
• Sunscreen
• Towel
• Baby wipes
• Hand sanitizer
• Snacks

• First aid kit (somehow my daughter always needs a band-aid on the beach!)

​Happy summer days! 

During Spring Break, we enjoyed a chilly bike ride and the start of Spring sports. Come on spring weather! Talking of which, my son wanted to pull out his baseball tee out of the garage. It was not an easy task! 

Our garage is a small space, not big enough for a car, but big enough to hold our summer items: patio furniture, grill, and other garden items.  Not to mention we got a Kayak this fall, which is another large item in our small garage. 

Getting ready for summer
Once May approaches the garage will become much more spacious as we transfer our patio furniture and grill back outside. I take the time to reorganize for summer and assess the items. For instance, do the bikes still fit the kids? Do they need a tune up?
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I set up the bike station so that the kids have easy access to their favorite summer wheels. I move the garden items back down from the top shelve and set up an easily accessible garden station. This spring, follow my four easy steps and get your garage, shed or storage area ready for the summer:

1) Purpose. Determine what the purpose of the space is.  Do you need to fit a car in?  Do you need a work station for car, building, or gardening stuff? Is it a holding space for all the water activities? Is it a holding space for bikes and all the parts? Will it hold camping gear? Is it a kid storage space too?

2. Layout. Once you figure out the space the next step is to determine the layout.  Poisons, gas, oil, chemicals need to be kept out of reach of kids. Do you have a high space for those items?  Think vertical spaces, there are lots of products that will keep garage items off the ground.

3. Sort. Do you need to keep the broken lawn equipment? NO! How many soccer balls do you really need?  Make categories of like items, then determine how much space you have. Do you have toom for them all? Are you keeping items that you don’t really use?

4.  Organize. This is the fun part!  Create a tool area, garden area, storage area, and bike area – or whatever area you need, be it camping, or sports area,

Products to make it easy to be organized.
Here are few of my favorite Garage Products:

• 5 Bike Bicycle Floor Parking Rack Storage Stand by Cycling Deal
• Delta Cycle Michelangelo Two-Bike Gravity Stand Storage Rack
• SUP Rack | 3 Paddleboard Wall Storage | StoreYourBoard
• Sports Organizer-Hang bats, store balls, store outdoor shoes, keep all handy in one spot by HC
• Topeakmart 3 pack Heavy Duty 5 Tier Commercial Industrial Racking Garage Shelving Unit Adjustable Display Stand

I also love this company for garage storage solutions. You can do it yourself and pick and choose the pieces you want https://organizedliving.com/freedomrail-garage

Happy organizing! 

I don’t know about you, but I am over winter! Along with many others, we lost power for four days in one of the recent storms. Luckily, we have our emergency supply box all set up and ready for just an event. Still, it wasn’t fun! 

Tackle the spring cleaning
With the arrival of warmer temperatures and that fresh smell that makes you want to open all the windows, spring motivates many of us to dust off the cobwebs, get rid of the clutter, and re-energize for the fun seasons ahead. 

I love spring cleaning. Even for someone who is generally organized by nature, it offers the opportunity not just for doing all those large cleaning jobs, but also for the opportunity to assess your home and prepare for the warmer seasons. 

It can be daunting to take on your whole house which is why I’ve created a spring cleaning checklist. It breaks down the jobs room by room. I suggest tackling one area at a time. This way you won’t get disheartened by creating a huge mess and subsequently giving up altogether. Remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day so the whole house does not need to be cleaned in one day! 

Score some slam dunks of your own during March Madness
At half time, grab a garbage bag and a laundry basket and pick one room to attack.  Put anything that should be thrown away in the bag and any items that belong in another room in the basket. Continue with other rooms as time allows, replacing the misplaced items in their proper spots. 

Give your closet a makeover
This time of year, I love changing around my closet: Dare I say it, putting away my winter clothes to make room for my spring and summer outfits. Donate any clothes that you didn’t wear this past season, or that no longer fit. Assess your spring and summer clothes as you unpack them.  Do you love the items? Do they fit and are they in style?  
Your closet is prime real estate. Put your everyday garments front and center.  Your occasional items need to be in the back of the closet or in a container.  This applies to shoes and handbags.  Clothes that no longer fit should not be dominating your space. Keep the key pieces you love and donate the rest.  

Prepare for the spring holidays
Passover and Easter are few weeks away.  Start planning your menus if you are hosting a holiday meal.  If you’re putting together Easter baskets, start planning what you’ll include now. Pinterest is full of fantastic ideas. 

Think about summer camp
As we welcome spring it is time to start thinking about summer camp. Yep, before you know it, summer will be here, and you’ll want to ensure your little ones get into the summer camp of their (or your) choice. Some summer camps open up enrollment the previous year, but many start filling up from spring onwards. 

​I can’t tell you how excited I am that the Eagles won the Super Bowl. They sure did live up to Fly Eagles Fly! The City of Brotherly Love is showing the love to their team right now!

January was a whirlwind for me and went by in a blink of an eye. I’m sure I’m not the only one feeling that way! Work wise, moving on from broken love was the theme of January. We helped several individuals going through a divorce, or recently divorced, get organized.  Giving love to your home is always a good way to feel calm and relaxed.

In the mist of helping my clients, my son, who is a fourth grader, had a ton of school projects that needed mom supervision. Who remembers those school projects?!  Plus, as a Girls Scout Leader for my daughter’s troop, January saw the start of the cookie drive.  February has already started out just as busy and as a mom and business owner, I need to be on top of my game and keeping organized helps me with that. What about you?

Share the family love in February 
Through all the hustle and bustle, my husband and I ensure we show our kids our love through a love box. Even if you don’t want to participate in a love box all year round, February is a great month to do so, celebrating Valentine’s Day. There are many ways to have your whole family participate. For ours, anyone can put a note of gratitude in the box.

​Just for the month of February we have blank hearts. Each night we right one out for each of our children with a reason of love on it and stick it to their bedroom door. We do this in the run up to Valentine’s Day. You can even extend it for the whole month.

Show your home some love
As I eluded to earlier, through the chaos that is running my business, looking after the children and the home, I don’t forget to show my home some love. Creating order and having everything organized keeps everything moving along… mostly smoothly. After all, kids are involved!

February special! 
Do you show love to your home?  Fall back into love with your home with our February deal!  For the month of February, we’re offering four hours of our time for just $200. Call 215-908-2869 and quote LOVE18. 

​Happy New Year! Hope you had wonderful holidays!  We had an eventful Christmas with our neighbor’s tree falling into our backyard taking out the power on Christmas morning! 
 
With the start of the new year, do you feel energized to declutter?  If you do, excellent! The start of a new year is a great time to gain control on the clutter, tweak your organizing systems to work with your family, learn to time mange and simplify your life. Below, we go through four key ways to get you going: 

1. Post-Holiday wrap up

• Update your holiday card list & address book from cards received.

• Label decorations according to where they go, as you put them away.

• If you find decorations that did not make the cut this year, donate.  While putting away evaluate the decorations will you want to use them again or are they very worn, ripped or broken.  The worn items trash or recycle. 

2. Updating your home decor
Putting back your everyday decor is the perfect time to evaluate your space, your style and y our items:

• Determine how you want your space to feel - minimalist, lived-in, farm-chic, etc.
• Assess your items. Do you love them? Are you displaying an object because you can't bear to part with it? Store in memory clear bin or donate and take a photo for posterity.  Have a gift that is not your style, but you display anyway? Now's the time to donate!  If you think the items you don't want are valuable, contact an antique appraiser.  Only display the items that fit with your style and/or make you smile!

3. Purge the toys! 
According to The Telegraph, the average 10-year-old owns 238 toys but plays with just 12 of them on a daily basis! That's a lot of toys taking up a lot of room! 

• Go through all the toys and pull out all those that are no longer age-appropriate.
• Pull out those ones that never get played with. Either donate or save for your next child (if that is the plan!).
• Toss or recycle any broken, toys and game, or those missing pieces.
• What toys do the kids really play with all the time, not just occasionally?  Keep the really loved toys donate the rest.
• Put like items together and label with a picture. 

4. Keep on top of the clutter

• Keep the organizing momentum going by tackling a room or a closet each week!
• Give yourself one organizing project per month or one task per week.
• Walk through your house and make a list of what needs to be repaired, painted, moved or decorated. Prioritize the list & set a time-frame.

Daunted by the donate pile? You can donate your items as follows:

• Green Drop they come to you!  https://www.gogreendrop.com/pick-up
• Junior League Thrift Store in Bryn Mawr takes stuff animals too.
• Nanny Attic
• Cradles to Crayons.

 
Have fun organizing in 2018! 

My family and I just took a wonderful trip to Disney World in Florida. We had a fantastic time in the sunshine and managed to miss the first snow of the season! Now we are back and it’s all pistons go as Christmas Day is just ten short days away.

I have been following my Holiday Checklist (you can download it here) and I am pretty on top of everything. This time of the year is always a juggling act with preparing for Christmas and all the wonderful events and traditions that take place this time of year, from school concerts to brunch with Santa, to riding around looking at all the amazing Christmas lights.

Calm during the chaos
For many people, the run up to Christmas brings clutter to the home, with empty boxes from gifts, wrapping paper and extra food, drink and goodies making their way into the home.

Christmas is probably the one time of the year where I let my home get a little more chaotic than usual. I always let the kids have their new toys and gifts out for a few days before we re-organize and de-clutter for the start of a new year. For me though, I find that as long as the heart of the home – the kitchen – is kept organized, then I feel calm and relaxed. Here are my top four tips for an organized Kitchen over the holidays:

1. Clean out and re-stock of the pantry and kitchen cupboards. Before I buy my non-perishable items, I like to clear out all those items that I don’t need, or have slipped through the net and are out of date. Not only does this create room for the extra Christmas items (especially if you’re a baker) but also saves time come cooking time as everything will be well organized.
2. Clean out of the fridge-freezer. I take the same approach with the fridge-freezer. A good clean out, clean and re-organization helps to create space. Quarter full jar of relish leftover from the summer anyone? 
3. Take stock of bake-ware, pots and pans. After planning out my meal I do an inventory check to make sure I have all the kitchen equipment I need. I don’t know about you, but I get lured in to making some fancy new dessert or side-dish each year that I’ve seen on Pinterest! Come Christmas Day it can mean that there aren’t enough baking sheets or baking dishes for every accompaniment – not good for stress-levels!
4. Drinks and goodies/food stations. From hot chocolate to eggnog, and from bowls of fruit to plates of gingerbread men, we always have more food and drink this time of year. Wit that in mind, I always create a space in my kitchen for everything to go. For us, a hot chocolate station is a staple in our house with all the items, such as marshmallows and chocolate sprinkles. 

Can you believe Thanksgiving is a week away? As the holiday approaches, we are reminded of the many things we are grateful for, with the most important being our family and friends we hold dear to our hearts.  If you haven't yet started your prep, don't panic! To help keep the stress at bay and enjoy this wonderful holiday, we have put together a Thanksgiving checklist:
 
ASAP: 

• Create a guest list and send out invites to help finalize numbers
• Plan out your menu including beverages. If trying a new recipe, test it beforehand.
• Create a grocery list. If shopping at more than one store, separate lists by store. Begin to look for coupons or sales.
• Purchase freezer bags and extra containers, such as foil dishes for leftovers. This also allows your guests to take food home.
• Pre-order items such as a centerpiece or fresh turkey.
• Plan and put up your holiday decorations. Get crafty and make your own where possible – check out Pinterest for inspiration.   
• Clean the refrigerator and freezer to make room for holiday items.
• Plan what platters and dishes will be used for each Thanksgiving menu item. Label and select each dish by using an index card or another suitable item.
• Wash and iron tablecloths and napkins. Polish or clean fine china and silver.
• Arrange to borrow or rent extra tables and/or chairs.
• Make any items that can be frozen now ahead of time.
• Plan out kid activities.

This Weekend:

• Create a schedule for food preparation and baking. Review ingredients needed for recipes and add to the grocery list.
• Shop for non-preishable groceries and alcohol (if applicable).
• Begin making ice cubes and store them in freezer bags.
• Plan the seating arrangement.
• Clean and organize kitchen, dining room, bathrooms, living room, coat closet, entryway, and guest bedroom.

 
Tuesday: 

• Set the table, place table decorations, and fill salt and pepper shakers.
• Pick up or purchase fresh ingredients and last-minute items
• Undertake any last minute housework
• Plan your cooking schedule for the day

 
Wednesday:

• Recharge digital camera.
• Chill drinks and create an area for desserts and beverages.
• Place full rolls of toilet paper and clean hand towels in all bathrooms.
• Prepare all side dishes that are able to be made ahead of time and store accordingly.
• Defrost anything that you made and froze ahead of time.

 
Thanksgiving Day:

• Follow your pre-planned cooking schedule.
• Reheat or warm  items you prepared ahead of time.
• Restock the beverage and dessert area.
• Sit and enjoy time with your guests while delighting in all the delicious food.

• Pack and store leftovers in the refrigerator or prepare containers for guests to bring home leftovers.
• Clean up… and relax!

 
Most Importantly, unplug from texting, email, social media, and the computer and appreciate the Thanksgiving holiday with the ones you care about.