Organizing and Prioritizing During the G-20 Summit

From June 25 to 27th many businesses in the downtown Toronto area will be closed due to the stringent security procedures in place during the G-20 Summit.

Some businesses will close altogether, others will assign a skeleton staff to "man the fort" while other workers will be assigned to work at home. The key to successfully navigating this inconvenience is to plan for maximum flexibility.

In the articles section I have posted a press release with my Top Ten Tips to harness employee productivity during the upheaval.

To read the full press release check the Articles page.

Post Vacation Organizing

My family has recently returned from a vacation in Florida. Naturally there were piles of laundry to deal with, but once that is out of the way it's worth taking some time to organize the unpacking process. Begin by examining the expiry dates on medication, cosmetics and sunscreen. These items should be cycled back into use unless you plan to travel again before they expire.

I use a travel checklist to pack before a trip. When I return, I make notes about what products or wardrobe pieces I need to stock up on before the next trip, while the details are still fresh in my mind. I also record which outfits and accessories worked especially well together for various climates. The most important item to pack if you plan to sight see is comfortable footwear. Comfy slip on shoes are so much more convenient when removing shoes going through airport security.

Finally, I note down any travel tips to remember for the next trip. My best tip from this trip is the can of Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Body Mist Sunscrenn I picked up. I hate the feel of most sunscreen lotions, but this was light and refreshing and non-greasy.

Be organized for happy travelling this summer!

Spring Closet Clear Out

It's that time of year again when it's time to turn over your closets. Bundle up all of your winter gear and  determine what needs to be laundered or sent out to the cleaners before being put away for storage until next year.

A fast way to motivate yourself to tackle this seasonal chore is to do a little advance planning. As you sort through clothes you'll be looking to discard anything that doesn't fit, is stained or out of fashion. Keep a running list of your family's wardrobe inventory and note down staples that need to be replaced in their spring/summer wardrobe. Keep the master list of sizes handy in your purse or in the car so that you can take advantage of sales to stock up on items before the selection is picked over later in the season. You'll save money in the long run by purchasing what you actually need instead of making impulse purchases for items you only thing you need. Happy shopping!

Olympic Effort

Ever since the Olympics started on February 12th, I've been working on home organizing projects with the Olympics playing the background. I am amazed at the amount of items that I've been able to cross off my "To Do" list using this multi-tasking technique.

I plowed through piles of paper and sifted and sorted items from all over the house. When I ran out of items to organize at my own house I went to visit my Mom for a couple of days. We stocked up on some organizing products and during one of the breaks in Olympic action we were able to triple the space under her bathroom sink by installing an Undersink Organizer (available at Canadian Tire and Home Outfitters). The plastic tubing snaps together and plastic slats slide in on either side of the drainpipe to form the shelving surface. I recommend using small dollar store baskets to separate undersink clutter into portable categories such as makeup, nail care and first aid.

Organize Valentine's Day

Valentine's, the first Hallmark holiday of the year, is right around the corner. You may be feeling pressure to come up with a surprise for your special someone. Here are my suggestions:

• Chocolate or candy in moderation only since weight loss is the #1 New Year's Resolution.
• Be process oriented. Instead of jewellery and a card, look for suitable containers to house the gifts from the past. Examples: wooden memory box, a jewellery box or a leather scrapbook. Gather a collection of photos or video clips, add captions or music and you'll truly have a gift from the heart.
• Purchase tickets to a concert or romantic restaurant. See my events page for tickets to the Matt Dusk concert.