Decemer 2008

Baskets.

I know, it’s simple, it’s easy – most of these ideas and tips are!  I use baskets for just about everything.  There are baskets in my kitchen drawers separating the different utensils, baskets in my closet separating my delicates from my not-so-delicates…etc. 

 

I also use baskets in my home office for organization.  Each basket has a different color ribbon tied to the handle so I can easily identify the contents.  Pens are purple, bills are blue, etc.  These baskets line a shelf just above my desk.  All of these things are available to me for easy, organized access.  I bought all my baskets at a discount store such as Biglots or Wal-Mart.  They can even be found at most dollar stores – depending on what you are looking for.

 

Baskets, it’s the WAHPM way of not being a “basket case” – so to speak.

November 2008

Make a Menu.

How many days to you feel over tired, over stressed, and absolutely overwhelmed?  The mere thought of preparing dinner makes you cringe?  I’ve been there, and trust me – it isn’t pretty to look over my laptop screen and see 6 hungry faces staring back at me, and I with no ideas as to what to feed them.

 

With as busy as we all tend to be, dinner often comes all too quickly, and we haven’t given it a passing thought during the day.  That’s why as a family, we created a menu.  Each morning,  the menu is consulted – and the proper meat, frozen vegetable etc is pulled from it’s place in the freezer to be prepared later. 

 

We are more prepared for dinner, which means less eating out, more time together as a family, and of course, don’t forget the nutrition aspect.  A less stressed mom, is a happier mom – and a happier mom is more productive.  That’s why I’m recommending a menu plan as a secret to success.

 

And, if you are strapped for recipe ideas, why not try www.allrecipes.com  - you can put in the ingredients you want to use, and it will give you recipes for those ingredients!  Simple, easy and effective!

October 2008

Back It Up Baby!

In our world of technological advances, we often forget that our computers are not the safe havens of technological rest we think they are.  I lost everything this weekend.  My laptop crashed.  Thank goodness we had the foresight to purchase an external hard drive about 3 weeks ago.

 

I suggest you back everything up.  There are places to store online that are less expensive than an actual physical Hard Drive at your home, www.fileden.com  for example is free for up to 1 GB with a 50 MB file size limit.  XDrive (www.xdrive.com) is also free, and offers 5 GB free.  Our external hard drive cost us $40.00 at a local electronics store and carries 200 GB of storage.

 

Trust me on this one, it will save you hours of tears, frustration, and eventual insanity.

 

Storage.  The WAHPM way of keeping your ducks in a row.

 

September 2008

Little Black Book

Not just for phone numbers anymore

 

The WAHPM Secret to Success:
write it down!

 

I don’t know if you are like me or not, chances are you are at times – that is to say, somewhat forgetful?  I carry with me at all times a small 3” x 5” spiral bound notebook and a pen.  Sometimes moments of inspiration strike and I can jot down a few notes.  Sometimes a client will call, and I’m ready to take down the information.  Either way, the notebook is handy, it’s small and portable, and always at my beckoned call. 

July 2008

It’s a little more than just spring cleaning.

So my secret to success this month:

 

Get Organized.

 

I know, it’s hard to stay organized.  Especially when you have a large family, or a large business, or both!  As I mentioned above, a step to organization is making lists, but there are other ways to stay organized as well.  There are color coding charts, baskets and bins, and of course your filing cabinet. 

But what about your personal computer? 

 

Whether you are a Windows user or a Mac owner, your personal computer makes very good use of filing systems.  I personally have a file on my computer for each client, and each project.  I know exactly where my files are located, saving time while speaking with clients. 

 

Also, having my “desktop” free of clutter makes me feel a little more refreshed and ready to start my day.  It doesn’t seem quite so overwhelming to login to my desktop each morning.  The only things on my desktop are needed “action items”, helping to keep me on track with my daily schedule.

 

Staying organized.  The WAHPM way of working smarter.