With real estate prices being at a multi-year high around much of the country, it goes without saying that many people are thinking of selling their homes. Before listing your property, it’s important to think of how a cluttered environment will impact your asking price. We’re excited to have Mary Beth Downing, a Dayton, Ohio real estate agent, to offer some thoughts on how the presentation of your home matters - Coach Lauren

The spring and summer are often considered the best times to sell one’s home. With the recent run-up in housing prices, around much of the U.S., you may be thinking of listing your property and cashing in. Unfortunately, many people don’t realize the extent to which first impressions and presentation matter when it comes to what your asking price will be. I’m going to use this article to briefly discuss how paying an organizer, to spruce your house or condo up, might be one of the best investments you can make.
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Get your popcorn ready for a binge-watching marathon of all things organization! Netflix has picked up Marie Kondo’s transformative decluttering method, KonMari, for 8 episodes!

While there are a variety of methods out there to declutter, edit, and organize your belongings, Marie’s first book The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up resonated with thousands launching it to the #1 spot on the New York Bestseller’s List. Her method is simple --- determine whether items will stay or go with a yes or no question: does it spark joy? Marie divides the possessions in five categories and homeowners systematically move through each category until every item that remains is one that sparks joy.

It’s January 1st! You know what that means? Time to officially pack up the holidays. Yes, I know the holidays were fun, but if we don’t start packing up now with our last day left off work, we might put it off for a few more weeks. 
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Before you even take down the decorations, take a look at your containers. Are they completely empty? If not, go ahead and edit those items that you didn’t use this year. There are four common reasons why people don’t use décor from year to year:

1. It’s part of a theme and that theme wasn’t employed this go around. If you have items in your containers that fall into this category, then buy additional bins. Keep your themes separate so that you know exactly what you have and what you still need to purchase the next time you plan to use that theme.
2. It’s not your style. Maybe it used to be your style, or maybe it was a gift from someone that you feel guilty tossing. Either way, if it’s yester-you or never-you, then it needs to NOT be in the container any more. Donate the items that still have life left in them.
3. It’s broken. That strand of lights you’re saving….you have my permission to just let that go. If your containers have broken holiday décor that you intended to repair but haven’t up to this point, acknowledge the fact that your life is filled with more important and joyful things than repair work, and that it’s okay to let those broken things go. Consider calling a “scapper” to pick up any items containing metal like artificial Christmas trees or those old lights.
4. You didn’t have time. You have to ask yourself a hard question when your leftovers fit in this category: are the items too time consuming EVERY year or was this year just different? If this year was different because of scheduling conflicts or unavoidable drama, hold on to those items for one more season. However, if the items include ornate decorations that require lots of ladder time that you can’t pull off anymore because you’ve got three kids at your ankles….well, then I think you know the answer. Let it go.

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The biggest mistake I see year after year is clients purchasing the LARGEST container possible to corral their holiday items. Clients fall prey to this trap because they think they’re winning by only needing ONE container. The problem they never see coming is how cumbersome a 150qt tub is to lug around the house, into the attic, out to the shed, or down into the basement.

​It is better to use smaller bins that can easily be carried by one person. I’m a huge fan of bins less than 60 quarts. Wreaths should be kept in special containers to preserve their shape. Ornaments break less often in containers like these. To save time next winter, pack your polished silver in silver bags. Wrapping your lights around something like this or a sheet of thick cardboard will save you lots of time too. No one likes untangling lights! I’m also a HUGE fan of tree bags if you’ve got an artificial, pre-lit that you want to keep in good shape for years to come.
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Most people use the same decorations in the same areas of their homes each year. The tree goes in the front living room along with the swag over the fireplace. The menorah goes on the dining room buffet. The colored lights always go on that tree in the front yard. You get the idea. As you repack your decorations, pack all the things that typically go in that zone or area TOGETHER. This will save you time unpacking and decorating next winter. It will also help you remember which items broke this year and what you’ll need to replace. 
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​As you pull down the decorations from each space, take a moment to evaluate their appearance. Was this their last year? Can that wreath make it one more year? Do not pack up ANYTHING you do not plan to use next winter. Endeavor to help yourself be more productive in eleven months by making those hard decisions now. Make lists of what will need replacing and place those lists in your Sunday Basket to look for in after-holiday clearance sections OR store the list at the top of each container so you’ll see it as soon as you begin unpacking next winter.
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​Struggling to get your kids to actually do their chores? Welcome to parenthood. If chore-charts and stickers aren’t working for you, you’ll want to read this.

Recently, our oldest daughter participated in Boosterthon to earn money for her school. I’ve never seen her get so excited to support a cause she didn’t immediately benefit from, but she was all-in! So I asked myself, “Why?” Why would this five year old want so desperately to earn pledges that paid based on the number of laps she’d run around a track?

3 Things

1. The goal was well-defined.
2. The rewards were motivating to her.
3. Both the goal and the rewards were attainable.

In other words, she wanted to succeed because success made sense.
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Now, what if I told you that someone took those same principles and turned them into an app to help children and teens achieve their goals at home? It’s true. FamilyTech.com has created a simple, fun app to help your children, teens, and even your spouse complete all those boring, but necessary, tasks.
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Creating your account, adding the kids, and assigning chores couldn’t be easier. The system asks for a birthdate and will suggest age appropriate chores to help you get started. You can also enter your own chores as well as attach a photo to each chore for children who can’t yet read.

A well-defined goal will help your child understand what is expected of them. Keep it simple like “put napkins on the table” or “make your bed.” Each chore is given a completion date, so that your children know how soon they’ll need to do the task. You can choose to “auto approve” the chore, which means that as soon as the chore is completed, the reward is issued. Or you can select to manually approve the each chore. In the case of the latter, you’ll receive a notification from Mother Shp (no “i”) that the chore has been finished, but you’ll need to click “approve” on your end before the reward is released on the child or teen interface. Although I like saving time anywhere I can, checking up on a child’s performance demonstrates support, concern, and love. Our kids better understand our expectations when we have the time to create a healthy dialogue about how a chore should be done and how it actually completed. Talking with and encouraging kids is well worth the added minutes of manual approval.

The final feature (and probably the most exciting for your little ones) is the reward assignment. Each chore you create will reward your child with the amount of points determined by you. The points contribute toward a larger prize that will be “unlocked” once they have enough points. One of our clients is rewarding her son with a date to the frozen yogurt shop! Teens might earn a bump in allowance or extra privileges.
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Your children can monitor their progress on the kid-side of the app. Login is ridiculously simple (for little people in particular), and ages 3-12 will be able to play games, watch videos, and reveal different monsters as they earn points. The app has the feel of FunBrain.com, but the power of Boosterthon in your living room! 
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You won’t find videos, games, or fun monsters on teen version Landra, but you will find a clean interface that teaches your teen the economy of housekeeping in a simple “Do vs Get” mode. Landra is FREE and gives your teen the opportunity to view the chores you’ve assigned from Mother Shp as well as add their own. Under the “Get” tab, your teen can request specific rewards like coffee, movie night out, screen time, or suggest their own. The visual support is just as strong in Landra as in Chore Monster, so it’s great for teens with low reading levels too. 

And when you didn’t think it could get any better….Family Tech created Honey Do. Keeping up a home is often a shared task. This app allows you to communicate in a no-nag fashion about those home projects. While I’m not super motivated by points or the idea of forcing my better half to work around the house, the concept is novel. Create rewards for your significant other based on their love language or bucket-lists.
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In conclusion, I’ve been all-around impressed by these FREE apps and our girls (ages 5 and 3) are LOVING it. If you’re struggling to get your child or teen to do their chores, it’s worth checking out. Leave a comment below about your experience.

This is such a busy time of the year, especially for parents of complex kids. It’s hard to help your kids manage their time effectively, and there always seems to be more to do than there is time for you to do it!
 
But, in the words of my five year old, “Guess what?!”
 
I’ve found a some help that's available to you at no cost, and is definitely worth your time. Elaine and Diane at ImpactADHD knock themselves out for parents of complex kids, and this year they’ve put together a truly special event. When you Register for Back to School SURVIVAL -- for PARENTS, you’ll get a free mini-course parent training, a ton of support with gifts, trainings, videos, and a live event – all from two moms who have been there and know what parents really need to make this school year a success for the whole family. Content will be provided in SHORT bursts to help you start the school year off right! With Elaine & Diane as your guides, you will see immediate results – it will be an efficient and effective use of your time!

This post may contain affiliate links. Click here to learn more.

It’s that time of year. While some of us love shopping for them, others simply cringe. The sheer amount of items required for the beginning of the year drives some parents even to the point of insanity. Finding the exact set of Crayola markers seems impossible, and of course, you would need the 8 pack for one child and the 10 pack for the other. On July 31st, grab a banker's box (or large Amazon box) for each child to contain all those required back-to-school items. (If your kids are little, I'd keep these boxes up high or behind locked doors so the crayons and new lunch box don't disappear before mid August.) Toss your school supply list into the box so you'll know where to find it when you're ready to brave the crowds (or order online in the comfort of your PJs). If your kiddos require uniforms or signed paperwork, store it in the box too. The box will be emptied once the year begins, so this is simply your way of momentarily containing the chaos.
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The amount of paper coming through your front door is about to drastically multiply in the next thirty days, but we’re going to help you manage that hot mess. Create a landing zone near the door you most frequently use when entering and exiting your home. Chances are, you've already got one....it's that spot where you drop your purse, your kids kick off their shoes, and you're constantly having to pick up jackets. You know what I'm talking about, right? After adding some hooks for your purse and jackets, and maybe a shoe rack, consider adding a basket where ALL papers (except homework) can be emptied. If your kids are older than 10, create divisions with hanging file folders OR use multiple baskets to sort the papers. Unless your child's teacher has specified at the beginning of the year meeting that you need to initial/sign paperwork or planners coming home every night, you can get away with going through this basket once or twice a week. (It's true. I used to be a teacher before I had kids.....almost ALL of those papers can wait a few days.)
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When you go through the basket (on Tuesdays or Thursdays), you're going to sort it into three piles: things to read or review, things to sign and return, and graded art or school work. The things you'll need to read and review might be that month's lunch menu or the sport's schedule. Keep these items in a folder, binder, or command center area where you can readily access them if you need them. The things that need to be signed and returned, need to be signed and returned. Finally that art and school work. Notice I said graded. (The homework should be completed daily and then returned to the teacher so it can come back home a second time with a big fat A+.) Your child's teacher sends this stuff home because they don't have space to display it all. Make sure your kid(s) understand that the same principle rings true in your home: your walls can only hold so much. Help your child select one or two items a week to save as examples of the work that gives them the greatest sense of pride or accomplishment. In full disclosure, I don't do this part each week; I wait until the end of the month and still recommend that we only choose one or two items to keep. Store these items in memory boxes divided by grade. Helping your child to determine WHY they want to keep an item and understand LIMITATIONS of space is of critical importance to developing strong decision-making skills. You'll also thoroughly enjoy the conversations shared as you go through these projects. 

​Getting a solid start on the school year will enable your family to keep chugging along when the book reports and science fair projects begin. In fact, you’ll be able to spend more time with each other, talking about the things that bring you joy rather than arguing with your fourth grader about where the permission slip went. You’ll be able to breathe. You’ll be able to sleep. You’ll even be able to smile. Here’s to the next few weeks of prep, fellow parents! 

Get more back to school tips in our latest magazine feature with Belle Magazine! You won't want to miss it! 

For those nights when you forgot to start your dinner on plan on time or simply didn’t have one to begin with, an organized pantry is a life saver. It’s also a blessing when it’s time to pack lunches or grab breakfast on the run. But what if your pantry is a hodge-podge of cardboard boxes and heavy cans? What if you are overwhelmed by the abyss? Follow these four steps to conquer your cluttered space and put your pantry back to work.

Now that you know what items will live in your pantry, think of them in broad categories. Decide where each category will go based on the size and frequency of use, and then identify that area with a label. When we organize pantries for our clients, the most frequent categories we come across are:

• appliances (including mixers, blenders, and ice cream makers)
• baking (ingredients only, pans go elsewhere)
• beverages
• breakfast
• entertaining (including paper plates and plastic ware)
• fruits (in baskets or cans)
• grains (pastas, rice, bread)
• meats (in cans or dried form)
• sauces + soups (in jars, cans, or bottles)
• snacks
• spices overstock (to replenish your on-hand spices kept near the stove)
• spreads (jellies, nut butters, and honey)
• vegetables (in baskets or cans)

Assigning areas, or zones, to your pantry will help you find the items needed when it’s time for meal prep. They also prove their value when you return from the grocery and need to quickly empty your bags.
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This post may contain affiliate links. Click here to learn more.

This post may contain affiliate links. Click here to learn more.

One of my favorite (and most frequent) recommendations when organizing children’s areas is to create a memory box for each child. Most parents already have something similar in place. They’ve stashed mementos, drawings, and treasures in tote bags and extra large plastic tubs to keep them safe.

While this is a great start, it becomes burdensome as the children grow older. More items need to be stored so more totes are purchased. The amount of storage space required grows like a never ending vine.

Worse, when the kids are ready to move out of the house, you’re both stuck with a disorganized, tangled mess of childhood papers, projects, and random stuff that your children now consider junk.

What in the world?! The intention was great, but it lacked one thing: forethought. Let me explain.

When city planners gather to discuss where the new road should go, they consider many things: frequency of use, amount of cars that will travel on it, potential problems, and ease of maintenance. They think decades ahead so that their work will not be in vain.

Your memory boxes deserve the same attention.

I suggest using a large letter file box. This size box is big enough to hold a childhood full of memories, but small enough to carry, stack, and store. As you shop, you’ll also want to choose a container that is relatively safe from the elements. Although plastic gives off a funky scent after so many years, it is bug and water proof. Finally, your box needs to be easy to open. While I love a good cedar chest with a beautiful brass lock, I’ve found that the keys go missing, the chest gets piled high with other things, and they’re difficult to re-home as children grow. Instead, opt for a solution that is portable and easy to use.
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Just like lanes on a highway, creating divisions within your memory box will give you the direction you (and your child) need to organize their belongings as time goes on. Hanging file folders are a favorite of mine because they take up little space and can hold papers and trinkets. They also allow for maximum accessibility to each division. When I create memory boxes, I use the following divisions for hanging files:

• Newborn
• Toddler
• Preschool
• Kindergarten
• 1st Grade
• 2nd Grade
• 3rd Grade
• 4th Grade
• 5th Grade
• 6th Grade
• 7th Grade
• 8th Grade
• 9th Grade
• 10th Grade
• 11th Grade
• 12th Grade
• College

I prefer to divide by grades because most children organize their memories around the school calendar. They remember going to Niagara Falls after 4th grade or winning that soccer championship in 10th grade. The school calendar typically has more firm start/stop points than a child’s own birthday. However, if your child prefers to organize by given age, that’s fine too. I’ve also seen families set up boxes by category rather than grade level (i.e., school papers, sports, crafts, etc.). The only downside to organizing by categories is that it will be difficult to keep organized as the years go by and you’ll have a greater tendency to stop organizing and start piling the keepsakes.
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This is where the rubber meets the road; where you realize whether the system you created for your toddler actually works when he’s a teenager. If you use a file box with the hanging file divisions I shared above, I promise you, the system WILL work. The trick here is to sort and file the keepsakes along the way. You may notice that a file will get particularly hefty…and may begin to crowd out others. If this happens, pull the file out and review it with your child. Are the pieces they’ve chosen to keep really their treasures from that year? Give your kids the gift of wisdom by teaching them to compare and evaluate. Children who learn to determine the value of their own belongings are better prepared to make wise investment choices as adults. Learning to live within the boundaries, within their means, will enable them to comparison shop for clothes, food, colleges, cars, and homes.

Never underestimate the power of a box.