Family Fun

Change Your Attitude, Change Your Life

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Although it is only August 25th, it feels like the start of a new year for millions of families with children heading off to school. Even if you don’t have children yet or yours are grown and out of the house all the advertisements and news on the TV reminds us.

This is a good time to take stock of your attitude towards home organization and routines. During summer have you found house cleaning more of a chore that takes time away from playtime? Have you eased up on daily routines with your children because of lack of schedules? With the start of school and end of summer are you having a hard time shifting gears and feel overwhelmed?

It’s time for a fresh start and a new attitude. Look at cleaning your home as a blessing for you and your family. You are creating a clean and clutter free environment so everyone, including yourself, can accomplish homework or work, enjoy creative activities, or just relax as a family.

When you decide to clear out some of the clutter look at your unused items and think how you can bless other people by giving them a chance to use them. Sell or donate the items.

When you take the time to plan, shop and cook nutritious foods you are blessing yourself and family by helping everyone try to stay healthy.

So when you have something you have to do but dread it, think of how you can change your attitude towards it. In other words, find the silver lining in the chore and it will become easier to do. Flylady always talks about changing your attitude from looking at something as a chore to looking at it as a blessing. This kind of attitude will make any chore as something you want to do instead of dreading it.

Take the start of the new school year and change of seasons as a time for a fresh attitude. It can change your life from dreading and procrastinating chores to doing them with a smile on your face. That can set a good example for your whole family. They won’t want to miss out on the fun and will be happy to help you.

Janice

https://cutclutterwithscissors.com

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July 4th Fun

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July 4th is this weekend and there are many fun and safe ways to celebrate. If you didn’t receive my July newsletter then you can check it out on this blog. It’s located on the sidebar under Newsletters. I have included lots of links to sites that can give you ideas of how to celebrate this holiday with your children.

If you are having a barbeque with the traditional hot dog and baked beans then there are lots of recipes for you to try. Ice cream and/or watermelon for dessert are also summer time favorites.

If you are getting ready to send your children off to overnight camp then check out the best way to pack them up.

Planning a vacation this month? Then make sure you pack everything you need and not one thing more. Many airlines are charging for each piece of luggage now so you don’t want to take any extra suitcases if you don’t have to. Check out the July newsletter for ideas of what and how to pack light.

Have a safe and happy Fourth of July.

Janice

https://cutclutterwithscissors.com

P.S. Be sure to sign up for the for the weekly Decluttering Tips Newsletter and the monthly Organize Newsletter. One sign up for both newsletters. Sign up now so you don’t miss out on all the great tips and information!

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Out of Chaos and Back to Routines

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Sometimes there are so many things going on at one time you feel like you’re in the middle of a three ring circus. You go from focusing on one thing to another and then back again so you don’t miss out on anything. After awhile it all becomes a blur.

That is how I have felt the last three weeks. First I went on vacation the end of May. Then my contractor scheduled to fix my back porch (leaky roof) and stain the deck. This happened at the same time the construction workers tore up the street in front of our house. With all the noise from out in front and the repairs going on in back, I felt I was in the middle of that three ring circus.

Because of the street being out and rain delaying the pouring of the concrete I have had to park my car a half a block away. This meant carrying groceries and cans of paint that distance. I think I built up a few muscles this week. I know my contractor wasn’t happy either but with an empty garage he was able to store his stuff here instead of carrying it back to the truck.

This morning the garage was cleaned out, the cars returned to their “home”, and it is now quiet around here. And guess what, it is raining again. At least now I can start getting back in my daily routine.

Having routines can make life so much more organized. There will always be things in our lives that disrupt our routines. The key is to get back to the routines as soon as those disruptions are past. If things change to the point that the old routines don’t work then come up with new routines.

We are creatures of habit but we also have the power to choose what those habits are. Create good routines that become habit and ours lives will be more organized. That helps us handle the three ring circuses when they come to town.

Have a Happy Father’s Day this weekend. If you still haven’t planned out the day then check out the June 1 “Organize By The Month News” under newsletters on the sidebar. There are links there that will give you some good ideas.

Janice

https://cutclutterwithscissors.com

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Organize By The Month Newsletter Change

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I want to let you know that I am changing the “Organize By The Month Newsletter”. Instead of sending it on the first and fifteenth of each month I will be sending it only once a month starting with the July issue.

The newsletter will be sent to your inbox towards the last week of each month. This way you can plan ahead for any holidays that come at the beginning of the month. I will make sure a copy of it is posted on the blog so you can look up the different information as the month goes on.

If you have any suggestions or ideas that can help other readers on how to plan and celebrate the different holidays and events that take place, please let me know. I try to research web sites that can give you ideas but everyone loves to learn about how others celebrate. Don’t be shy. Please share your ideas.

If you haven’t signed up to receive the “Organize by the Month Newsletter” then please do so on the right sidebar. You will also receive my weekly “Decluttering Tips Newsletter”. This newsletter gives tips on how to control the clutter that enters our lives. I talk about paper clutter, gift clutter and decluttering different areas of the home plus many other things.

This week I am talking about all those summer outdoor accessories that the advertisements tell us we must have to turn our backyards into tropical paradises. They can add to our pleasure but they can also add to our clutter. Find out how to decide what to buy and what not to buy.

Be sure to sign up now so you can receive this tip and all future ones. If you have a suggestion for a tip or a question about how to declutter something please email me at Janice@cutclutterwithscissors.com.

Thanks,

Janice Scissors

https://cutclutterwithscissors.com

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Father’s Day is this coming Sunday

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Father’s Day is this coming Sunday and what to give is the big question. If you don’t know what to give on Mother’s Day you can always give flowers. They last about a week and leave very little clutter to deal with.

Father’s Day gifts are a whole different matter. The standard tie or shirt do not necessarily fit the average lifestyle of today’s man. You can always give cologne if you know his favorite kind. A tool or something related to his hobby could work if, and that is a big if, you know he will use it or needs it. Too many times gifts are given with good intentions but then the item lays in a drawer or on a shelf unused.

If you are trying prevent more clutter in your home or your parents’ home then you need to be mindful of what kind of gifts you buy or make. Try to match the gift to his personality and/or hobbies. You can always ask him for ideas. If it is something he wants then there is a good chance it won’t become clutter, at least not right away.

If you have younger children their father would probably appreciate a homemade gift. Here are a few sights to give you ideas for homemade gifts and celebrations. Since you only have six days left to prepare you may want to check these out today.

http://www.theholidayspot.com/fathersday/

http://holidays.kaboose.com/fathers-day/

Janice

https://cutclutterwithscissors.com

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