Holidays

Gardening Master List

About a month ago I suggested making a Gardening Master List of all the things you would like to do to improve you yard. I took a paper and pen and walked around my whole house. I separated the areas into seven different zones. I can then look at each zone to see what can be done now and what needs to be planned for the future.

I have only done a couple of things on my list so far. Now that the constant rain pattern has broken I can start working on some of the things that can be done in the summer heat. The shrubs I wanted to buy and plant this past spring may wait till fall. With short term, long term, big jobs, and small jobs listed there is still plenty that can be worked on. That is the beauty of writing out a master list with flexibility built in especially for gardening where you are at the mercy of the weather.

Did any of you write out a Gardening Master List this year? If so, how are you doing on it? I would love to know how others are handling their yards and gardens with the extreme weather that different parts of the country have had.

I hope everyone had a nice Father’s Day. The rest of June is quiet as far as holiday’s are concerned. The next big holiday is Forth of July. I will be researching ways to celebrate that day with fun and inexpensive ideas. Be sure to check back often. If you have any suggestions to share with fellow readers please leave a comment.

Please share this blog and my newsletters with your friends and family you feel will benefit from this decluttering and organizing information.

Thanks,

Janice

https://cutclutterwithscissors.com

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Out of Chaos and Back to Routines

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

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

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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Vacation Planning

Summer vacations are right around the corner. How smooth they go will depend on how well you plan it out. Some vacations require a lot of planning and some don’t. Even with careful planning it is always good to be flexible. Many times things occur that cause us to alternate our plans. Sometimes it makes the vacation even more fun.

I will be on vacation next week. I wish it was a trip where I could go to an exotic resort and relax at the beach as the waves wash up on the shore. Not happening this trip. My husband has a business meeting for two of the days. My son is checking out a school on computer graphics. We are visiting my sister and her family on Memorial Day.

Since we are going to Los Angeles, I will get a chance to go to the beach at some point. It takes a lot of planning to make a trip where you combine business, pleasure, school exploration, and visiting family all in a five day trip. This also includes a four hour plane ride each way.

Before going I write everything down so I don’t forget anything like stopping the mail or setting the timers on my lights. I have to take the animals to the vet and water my plants. The list gets longer and longer and this is before I even leave the house.

Flying today isn’t like it use to be. With all the security measures you have to be aware of what you can carry on with you. If you don’t know the restrictions then check the TSA web site to find out.

If you are traveling this weekend be sure to plan ahead as much as possible and be flexible with the rest. Hopefully it will be a fun and safe trip.

Janice

https://cutclutterwithscissors.com

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