Defining Time & Space News

 

Do you stress out when you have to plan for a party or group gathering?  If not good, but if you do here are 10 tips to plan a successful party without the stress.

 

1. Start planning early.  Waiting too long to start is the greatest source of stress.
2. Next, define what kind of party it is?  Is it a child’s party, adult party, family party, birthday party, holiday party or other?  When do you plan/want to have the party?  Decide on the possible dates of the party and the time of day that would be best.
3. Decide on the number of attendees and the activities planned.  Much of the event planning will be based upon this information. 
4. Decide on whether the party will be held inside, outside or both and any contingencies there will be for weather issues.
5. Decide on what food will be served and whether you will be preparing the food, purchasing the food to serve or having a caterer.  If you are using a caterer determine whether they will be setting up the food or setting up and serving the food.  Communicate with them as to exactly what they will be bringing.  Will they bring serving utensils, ice, paper products, etc?  Determine when they will need a final headcount so that you can set your RSVP date accordingly.
6. If it is a child’s birthday or special occasion, will there be favors and will you be preparing/making them or purchasing them?
7. Decide on an agenda for the party if desired.  Will you need some type of ice breaker activity or appetizer?  Will you need name tags?
8. Send out invitations at least 2 weeks in advance with a RSVP date and contact information.  Unfortunately, these days you will need to take into consideration that everyone will not RSVP and how you plan to deal with that.
9. If you are preparing the food yourself; make it easy on yourself and plan on as many things as possible that can be made ahead of time and refrigerated or popped in the oven the day of the party.  Purchase paper goods and non perishable items in advance so that you have that off you list.
10. Finally enjoy the party.  Make sure someone is taking lots of pictures and get e-mail addresses so that you can share pictures electronically.  Also, for kid’s parties, a group picture makes a great thank you note to those who attend.

 

Enjoy!

Rosanne

www.dtsorganizing.com

 

 

 

 

 

Tags: Uncategorized by organizing atlanta
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There are many “back to school” subjects to discuss in the coming weeks, but now we will start with helping our children prepare for school in a not so obvious way; preparing their rooms to be a comfortable place to both relax and study.

 

Here are some easy steps to help accomplish this task:

1. Plan to set aside an appropriate amount of time for the task.  I would suggest about 2- 4 hours depending on the condition of the room and the age of the child. 
2. Plan to participate with your child; this should be a teaching opportunity.
3. Have the right tools:  dark trash bags, bags or boxes to sort and a notebook and pen.
4. Go through each area; shelf, drawer, closet and determine with your child which items no longer have value to anyone – this is trash and goes in the dark trash bags.  Decide what is no longer needed, outgrown, used or unwanted and put in a donate box; use the notebook and pen to record these “donations” so that you will be ready when you are done to send those items on their way.  Determine items that are still needed or used but do not belong in this room; put in a “labeled” box, bag, or area to move later to the appropriate area.
5. Those items now remaining should be properly located and stored in their room so that what is used most often is the most convenient for them to reach; for instance, place current season clothing on the easiest to reach shelves and closet rods.   Also label items and locations as needed to help your child know where things go when they are removed from their storage place.  Clear containers can sometimes eliminate the need for labels since the contents can be seen.  When choosing containers, make sure lids stay on properly, containers stack reliably and that you measure the storage location before purchasing containers to be sure to get the best fit within the shelving or other storage areas.
6. Finally, make sure your child has the resource they need to do homework, projects, etc. This is a good time to make sure your child has supplies available that they use most without having to “hunt” them down in the house.  The back-to-school sales are a great time to gather those items when they are readily available and inexpensive.

           

 

Rosanne

www.dtsorganizing.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tags: Uncategorized by organizing atlanta
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It is hard for Americans these days to sit down to even one family meal together.  This was at one time a simple routine in our lives that has been out prioritized by the hustle and bustle of each day.  Don’t know what to cook, don’t know how to cook, and/or don’t have time to cook…..   

 

I read and have now heard multiple times recently in the news that indications from a report in the New England Journal of Medicine published in March of 2005 show how our eating habits can actually reduce our life expectancy.

“For the first time in two centuries, the current generation of children in America may have shorter life expectancies than their parents, according to a new report, which contends that the rapid rise in childhood obesity, if left unchecked, could shorten life spans by as much as five years”

 

What can we do to make the event of family meal time a little easier and likely to be accomplished?  First take a look at what you are eating each day for a month.  Choose those meals that you feel are contributing to the health of your family and that you enjoy.  Plan those meals and others you find to enjoy in advance each week. 

 

How do you do this?  Make a list of those meals on index cards and keep them handy in a simple index box or container.  Each week, take time to review those cards and choose meals for each day of the week.  It is o.k. to include index cards for days to “eat out” or “left overs”.  You can use these cards to not only list the meal title but also the ingredients if you wish or the title and page number to your favorite cook book.  You can also take these cards with you to the grocery store to shop or make a list of ingredients from them to shop for your weekly groceries.  As an extra help you can make a place in your kitchen to post those cards so that you have them visible to you and your family to see each day.  This will also help with remembering to take out meat to thaw, to prepare items ahead of time items that you plan to use multiple time during the week; like chopping onions.  This can really take the difficulty out of planning meals each week.

 

If you should want to use a template to help you plan out your weekly meals you can also use the Menu Planner that can be easily printed from the Defining Time & Space, under the Resources button @ www.dtsorganizing.com

 

Hope your meals are happy & healthy,

Rosanne

www.dtsorganizing.com

 

 

Tags: Uncategorized by organizing atlanta
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Are You Having Guests This Summer?

 

With gas prices and food prices on the rise, you may find more people visiting friends and family versus going places and staying in a hotel.  How can you make their visit easy for you and comfortable for them?

 

Here are some tips and ideas:

 

Be sure to know when they are arriving and communicate how to reach you if you should not be at home.

 

Determine the sleeping arrangements before they arrive.   Will you have to move current household members into different rooms?  Will you be using a guest room that exists?  If so, does anything need to be moved around?

 

Prepare a basket of goodies to help make them feel more at home.  You can take any basket and add shampoo samples, soap, snacks, etc. that can help being away from home more comfortable. 

 

Prepare an place in their sleeping area or bathroom where you can designate towels, blankets and other items for them.

 

Prepare ahead for additional people at the dinner table and if possible decide on your menus and/or where you might be going out to eat.  Do you need to consider any special dietary needs?  Do you need to double a batch of your favorite recipe?  Be prepared for additional beverages and other food items that need to be available.

 

Would it be helpful to give them some ideas of things going on in the area and info, maps, and/or directions?

 

Finally, just think of what you need and like when you travel and you can probably figure out anything else that can make this easier for all.

 

Rosanne

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tags: Uncategorized by organizing atlanta
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