KIDS GROW QUARTERLY

and with winter and the holidays coming, a new supply of warmer clothes and of course toys,
books, games and such will be coming into your home very soon. This is a great time to organize the children’s rooms.

 

Children are much more likely to keep their rooms neat if they don't have constipated drawers and closets and too many toys, books and games. Parents have to be the laxative here, because kids can't do it alone, it’s too overwhelming for them.

We’re already a month into another calendar quarter and if the weather hasn’t hinted at a change in clothing, it will. The House Fairy

has several ideas for helping your kids to streamline their rooms. If you are a member of the Snuggle Bunny Club you’ve probably seen her show the “Un-shopping Video.” 

 

Take some department store shopping bags from your stash and with your child in tow, go into his/her bedroom and play like you’re in a store to buy clothes. That means your child will try on questionable keepers. It’s a quick way to see what is not being worn. Also bag up all the summer clothes (they won’t fit next summer) along with the stuff that doesn’t fit now. 

 

 

They gutted his room (including the closet and dresser drawers) of almost everything. 

What if when you said, “I do,” you knew how much had to be done? You probably didn’t think about that when you fell in love.

 

 

But did you know that if you were disorganized you’ve done way more work than an organized person who said “I do?” Ask any BO (Born Organized) person why they’re organized and one of the main reasons is that they’re lazy! One BO told me, “I’m
basically lazy and I’m not willing to leave the kitchen a mess after a meal because it takes twice as long to work off food that’s dried on plates, silverware, pots and pans and counters. I know exact times because I have a stop watch and I’ve timed both clean-ups! Twice as long when you put it off.” 

 

Just think, if you’d been a BO from the time you said, “I do,” until now, you’d have had twice as much time to play! Oh well, what can you do about it now?

 

What if you were organized right now? What if your garage looked like an advertisement for storage cabinets for a garage? What if you were ready for the holidays right now? What if you were debt free? What if you weighed what you weighed in high school? 

 

"Where's a magic wand when you need one?"

 

Peggy and I were known as the Slob Sisters and appeared on hundreds of TV shows. On CBS Morning news we demonstrated the crazy ways we came up with last-minute Halloween costumes for kids and how fun they were to throw together.

 

As usual, our television talk show hosts were somewhat speechless (that happened a lot!) when we'd shove coat hangers into tights and smear our faces with Karol syrup and coffee grounds.

The important lesson here is when we become more organized we set the stage to play with our creativity. We become creatives! Clutter gets in the way of our creativity.

Decluttering and ending your "stuff management" days will pave the way to fun, creativity, new adventures and excitement on Halloween as well as all the days of the year!

Grab a cup of coffee and enjoy our ideas for Halloween Crises Costumes!

 

Do you like getting a fortune cookie after a nice meal in a Chinese restaurant? Does it tickle you how we all love to open them to see what our fortune will be, even though we know it's not really true? Close your eyes and imagine holding both ends of one and snapping its little, carbohydrate back into two pieces, exposing the secret note written especially for you. 

 

Have you ever saved a fortune cookie note? I've saved several in my lifetime, and I’ve asked around and found that many have also tucked away the tiny words of wisdom for some personal reason and future reference. 

 

I don’t think I’ve ever eaten with a group of friends in a Chinese restaurant when we didn’t read and share our fortunes with each other. And why is it, there’s always someone who brings up the rather off-color comment of reading their note and adding the words: between the sheets, to illicit a semi-porny edge to the innocent words? (It’s a tradition I hope our younger generation hasn’t been stuck with.)

An Old-Fashioned Sunday

 

“A Relaxing Afternoon that Seemed to Stretch Forever,” that was the title of a magazine article I didn’t have time to read, but wished I did. I was just too busy. Still the idea haunted me throughout my hectic day and on into the packed weekend.

 

“Don’t you just love this sentence,” I asked my friend as we put the lids on the last canning jars of applesauce, “An afternoon that seemed to stretch forever?”

“That all depends if it's a relaxing afternoon you’re having!” 

She’d just spent a nerve fraying, toxic weekend camping out in a leaky tent with a wild toddler and two cranky teenaged pubicydes belonging to her husband’s relative.)

 

 

If you are serious about reducing the amount of sugar you and your family eats, Halloween candy can present a big problem. We know that sugar isn't good for us and most of us eat too much of it, but the candy push is in full swing and dog dang gone it, trick-or-treating is FUN. 

In this DIY video clip, you’ll find a solution to that huge influx of candy that’ll be coming into your home on Halloween night. 

Our granddaughter Kaytee proudly demonstrates her abilities as a contractor. With the help of her staff (her two older brothers) she shows us how to create a magical gingerbread house using that stash of Halloween candy that'll be saved from going into your children’s tummies.

Watch this fun video.

I just had to share this email with you from one of the House Fairy's Snuggle Bunny graduates, twelve year old Brady Main.

It is so touching. 

 

Dear House Fairy:  

This was my clean room when I was four years old. I remember getting really excited when my mom first told me about the house fairy coming to visit. I started cleaning my room a lot more too!

When I grew older, I realized that my mom was the actual house fairy. When my parents had my little sister, I began telling her about it one day when I was describing how not to smack when eating! 

We all laughed and decided to see if we could find that video again.

We are getting ready tonight to introduce my little sister to you, so thanks for the good memories!

Brady Main

 

Thank you Brady.

I have the feeling you've learned lessons from the House Fairy that will last your entire life.  Maybe your little sister will learn those lessons as well.

To see the smacking video Brady mentioned click on the House Fairy.  

Love,

 

1. See the sights

October in our state of Washington and its neighbor Oregon is stunningly beautiful now. Take a drive through the countryside and remember, it’s not too late to get one more picnic in.

 

What are some famous sights in your area? Go check them out. If you have already been to them, try to discover something new about them. If there aren’t any famous sights in your area, then go discover ones that aren’t famous.

 

Living in the northwest, we learn early on, we can’t let the rain dowse our fun outdoors. Just make sure you all have play clothes, so you don’t have to worry about messing up your good clothes.

Whether it's just misting or pouring cats and dogs make the most of the wet weather  and play with your kids in the rain with these family-tested outdoor activities.

 

1. Puddle Play

Mom, you usually discourage your kids from jumping in puddles, so they’ll be shocked and excited when you suggest a splashing contest. Get your play clothes and rain boots on and head out looking for the biggest puddles you can find. Let your kids get soaking wet! Let the child who makes the biggest spray, get to pick the movie the family will watch or be freed from some chore. Give points for the one who gets the wettest. If you’ve got dancers in the family, have them practice some steps they’ve learned.

Mom, come on; get in the puddles with them! Motherhood is not a spectator sport. Let your kids splash you. All it takes is saying, “Don’t you splash me,” in a way they know you’re daring them to do it. Oh and just think how good a hot shower will feel after the fun!

 

At this very moment, you are creating your tomorrow with your habitual thoughts and subsequent routines. You’ve been given the magical power of habit and if you love the consequences of these habits, you’re on a magnificent journey through this life you’ve been given as a SHE (Sidetracked Home Executive).

 

But if you don’t particularly like the way your life is going right now, you have the power to choose new thoughts that’ll create wonderful consequences for your tomorrow.

 

Do you know who Ordell Daily is? She’s a fictitious character I drummed up to explain what a BO (Born Organized) is. Here’s a letter from a reader who remembered Ordell Daily. 

 

 Dear Pam,

I read your books in the early 80s, did your 3x5 card organizing system at least five times with great success every time, but over the years, I’ve felt like a failure because I’ve never been able to be consistent with the system.

 

Then I read your new book because, once again I found myself in a humongous mess. While reading it, I realized why I’ll never be like my mother who was an Ordell Daily. I’m ME and there’s only one of me with all my creative inconsistencies! Thank you for shining a beautiful light on who I really am!

 

Dana

 (See the full size image of Ordell at the bottom of this blog)

 

Ordell is a powerhouse of habit. Here’s a poem I wrote about her. I’ll warn you ahead of time, it’s got a sad ending.