Identifying & Overcoming Trouble Spots

Thanks for some really great, PRACTICAL ideas. I will call this “low-intensity” organizing, because you are talking about changing in small ways, so that the organization continues.
We DID have the shoe problem at the front door, so I brought a shoe rack down, and put it near the front door. My husband was still struggling with it, so I asked him which slot he wanted assigned to him for his shoes, and it has improved since then. We also have a lot of the small problems that add up to big clutter, so I think that little solutions like that will really help us in the long run.
I have a question, with regards to this. I don’t want to have a hamper in each child’s room – I have their laundry hanging in the laundry closet, which is in the upstairs hall, not 30 feet from their bedrooms, but we are constantly just leaving their dirty clothes in the corner of their room, and not taking them there. I am wondering if a hamper in each room would improve that for us, or if we just need to improve our habits? We do the same thing in our room, leave dirty clothes by the door, and the hamper is in the hall literally right outside our room. I really don’t want the hampers in each room, but I don’t want the piles either. (the kids are only 3 1/2 and 1 1/2, so it is Mommy and Daddy leaving their dirty clothes in piles, not the kids – yet). Any thoughts?

from my experience, a really good sized laundry basket equals a load of laundry in a front loading washing machine. so, a basket in each bedroom makes an easy catch all for the laundry, starts a good habit for the children b/c they see you throwing their dirty clothing in there and then they can imitate and help and the baskets allows you to kind of see “ok, the baskets are full – time to do a load or two”. i mix clothing from me, my husband and my son in each sorted load – in our house there is no need to separate by person. hope this offers a different perspective. )

I enjoyed listening to this podcast. However, I had a problem using iTunes: twice the podcast stopped at the same point (at about 5 minutes). I was however able to hear it through the link in your blog.

That’s very strange, Isabel! I’m not even sure where to start in figuring out what went wrong, but I appreciate you letting me know!

Hi Mandi!
Enjoyed listening to your podcast! Makes you seem more ‘real’!
Breaking this down into small pieces is so important! If I were to try to declutter and organize even an entire room at one time, I would be overwhelmed. I started off with my bookshelves and have sold quite a few, and will be donating a whole lot more.
We do have an entryway that is continually cluttered, gonna brainstorm some ideas for that one!
Thanks!
Bernice

I LOVE Plan to Eat! I’m so glad that I found out about them through your blog. I’ve been using the site since April. It’s helped to make my shopping and meal planning so much easier. So much easier than pen and paper (my previous preferred method). Thanks, Mandi!

YAY!!! I joined…this is super exciting…and I agree, my fridge is either full, or empty

Oh my goodness – this is awesome! I joined the Life your way group… how can I set up my own group? I’d like to start a weight watchers group!!!

Oh this is great! I will be signing up later for your group. I love Plan to Eat. This has kept me so organized with groceries and meals.

I LOVE your site and the PTE site! I’m spreading the word!

this looks neat-O!!!

I do this regularly without even thinking about it. It helps me avoid overscheduling and I’m rarely late for anything…I’m usually 15 minutes early. Plus people always ask me how I have time for things like twitter and blogging…I use the extra 15 minutes waiting in my car to tweet and read blogs from my phone! I refer to it as “padding” my schedule, and it certainly helps me lead a far less stressful life. The unexpected meltdown DOES happen and knowing I have time to address it makes me a more calm, confident and composed mom.

I love your description of how this works for you, Sarah! I admit that my
default mode tends toward “one more thing” syndrome, where I’m always trying
to get just one more thing done. It can be a good thing in the right
circumstances, but it definitely causes problems too!

I have always done this with my schedule. As you know it takes a lot to get 4 children to go anywhere! Even with padding there are some days where I could use an hour! Now that they are older, 4,6,8,and 9. I find I need this time even more. They are old enough to get themselves ready with shoes, etc. but they take forever!! Any tips on getting children to move faster?

When anyone in our family feels a cold coming on we use Oil of Oregano. Must be natural and 10 drops in water, 3 times daily will do the trick. It also works for skin irritations, (a drop on a pimple) It’s the best!

Where do you get your supplements and in what form? How do you make sure that you have the additional vitamins to help with absorption? Thanks! Sarah

That’s an awesome story! We just started taking fermented cod liver oil (with both Vits A and D) with that goal in mind, but we haven’t actually gotten tested for D levels. That would be kind of neat, to see empirically that what we’re doing is having an impact… Thank you for sharing! Katie

Just a quick comment – I have a natural health practitioner who reads my regular blog, and she commented a few weeks ago that taking essential oils, especially oregano, orally is like using a bulldozer to knock down a cardboard box. I guess you’re supposed to just inhale them, not take orally. ??? That’s just uninformed me sharing what I heard… Katie

Just a quick comment – I have a natural health practitioner who reads my regular blog, and she commented a few weeks ago that taking essential oils, especially oregano, orally is like using a bulldozer to knock down a cardboard box. I guess you’re supposed to just inhale them, not take orally. ??? That’s just uninformed me sharing what I heard… Katie

The steam tent over the sink works wonderfully for me! I especially like this trick because I can do it even if I’m sick away from home, for instance in a hotel, where I don’t have as much choice of food. I carry a small bottle of peppermint essential oil (with childproof cap, it doesn’t leak) in my toiletry kit so that if I need a steam tent, I can add a drop of mint to enhance the effect. Eucalyptus oil works well for this too, but I don’t like the smell as much! I put the oil on the sink drain plug immediately after plugging it so that it mixes into the hot water as the sink fills.

I haven’t tried garlic in the ears, but eating RAW garlic seems to help me fight off illness or, especially, prevent a cold from turning into a sinus infection. I mix it into my serving of spaghetti or beans or soup, or spread it on toast with coconut oil which also is supposed to fight infection.

Great reminders Katie!
I use the salt water too. And the garlic oil for the ears. In fact my twin girls both have an ear infection right now and last night I started garlic oil. They smelled like little “scampi’s” last night! I am, however, also giving the antibiotic this time because 1. they are only 13 months old and 2. have had a fever for 3 days. They were also the most pathetic little things all day yesterday when their fevers were the highest. I also put them on probiotics, elderberry syrup and CLO, just to cover all the bases!

Great reminders Katie!
I use the salt water too. And the garlic oil for the ears. In fact my twin girls both have an ear infection right now and last night I started garlic oil. They smelled like little “scampi’s” last night! I am, however, also giving the antibiotic this time because 1. they are only 13 months old and 2. have had a fever for 3 days. They were also the most pathetic little things all day yesterday when their fevers were the highest. I also put them on probiotics, elderberry syrup and CLO, just to cover all the bases!

Thanks for the hints Katie, I am a big fan of garlic, gargling with salt water, and cider vinegar, but you added a few more ideas. I am going to make a list and post it right away like you suggest!

Fantastic post Katie! Thanks for all of the great tips. I am just getting over a double ear infection. My ND tried so hard to help me but nothing worked. Finally I gave up and went on antibiotics. What can I do to help my body get back to normal once I’m done the antibiotics? I’ve been taking probiotics but I wonder if there’s anything else I can do? I’m bookmarking this page of amazing tips, or maybe I’ll print it out and tape it to a cupboard

Fantastic post Katie! Thanks for all of the great tips. I am just getting over a double ear infection. My ND tried so hard to help me but nothing worked. Finally I gave up and went on antibiotics. What can I do to help my body get back to normal once I’m done the antibiotics? I’ve been taking probiotics but I wonder if there’s anything else I can do? I’m bookmarking this page of amazing tips, or maybe I’ll print it out and tape it to a cupboard

A squirt of breastmilk into an ear will deaden the pain immediately and clear the infection within two days. They still do this in Colombia. My husband was 15 for his last ear infection that was cured by his aunt

I’ll have to try the cinnamon and honey. I’ve been using raw garlic and honey at the first sign of illness (pressed 10 minutes before ingesting) and it seems to work nicely. The honey makes it really easy to take (especially for my two-year-old).

I also love to make a tea of ginger, honey, and lemon. I buy a lot of ginger at a time, peel it and mince it in my food processor, and then freeze it. That way I always have it on hand. I just pour boiling water over about a tbsp or two of the frozen ginger and let it steep until it’s cool enough to drink. At that point I add lemon and raw honey. Actually, I woke up this morning feeling on the verge of a cold, and this concoction seemed to knock it out within a half hour. (coincidence? perhaps. But it tasted pretty darn good and put some extra fluids into my body, so it certainly didn’t hurt.)

We tend to avoid antibiotics too, Katie! As soon as anyone in our family shows signs of moving toward sickness, I tend to respond with lots of healthy foods, plenty of water, and chewable Vitamin C. Also: extra sleep.

I don’t think I’ve had a cold in years since I started eating garlic (fresh) whenever I feel a cold coming on. Yes it is potent, and I may stink afterwards, but no colds are worth it!

Maggie,
I’m so sorry I didn’t see your comment sooner! I would just cut down on sugar and all starches/grains, and boost the probiotics and lots of yogurt. Good luck! Katie

According to the Vitamin D council, it takes a couple of months for your D levels to get up. Lots of good info on their site. They also sell a couple of blood spot home testing kits from ZRT labs on their web site: single for $55, and a 4-pack for $220. I have had my D tested many times through my doc ($168 before insurance), and would get their kit if I hadn’t met my deductible this year. I may actually get the 4 pack kit to test my kids since they probably won’t meet their deductibles.

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