Founder of “Bootights” Relies on To-Do Lists

I love clever stuff.  Those things that make you go “why didn’t I think of that?” That’s how I feel about Bootights!  You know how you have to wear socks inside your boots even when you’re wearing tights? Just so you don’t destroy the tights or your feet don’t freeze? Well Bootights are tights that are especially designed to wear with boots! Yep — brilliant, right?

The founder Shelby Mason is a list maker just like us! So naturally, she’s my featured list producer: Read more

Online Calendar Makes Life Easier

How do you keep track of everything going on in your life?  Do you make lists? Keep a pocket calendar? Or track everything on your phone?  Appointments, events, classes, your kid’s sports commitments and dance classes — can all fill up your lives but can be tough to organize in one place.  I found a great solution — Hatchedit.com.

The online calendar is really smart — you can share it with several people and checkout what’s going on at all times.  The site will help you keep track of upcoming events, invites, daily to-dos, favorite blogs, and groups you’re a part of.  So if you want to plan an event with your book club or your child’s soccer team…all the information can be stored and shared on HatchedIt.com.  When you sign up you get your own “dashboard” that you can easily make a part of your everyday routine.

If you’re drowning in paper calendars or want to ditch your dry-erase board – this is a great way to organize your life. HatchedIt is a free tool that will make your life simpler and more streamlined. You can even update the calendar when you’re out and about with their iPhone or Android apps. Let me know how you like using it.

Back to Work Checklist

You know it’s “back to school” time when Target is selling Halloween decorations! So as the kiddies head off to class this week — it’s time to get back to work yourself! Summer months are slow and laid back in any industry. The news happens year round so I guess we’re a bit exempt from this rule –but nevertheless things still start to ease during the summer.

Here’s a checklist for taking that “fresh start” back to school attitude with you to the office today:

1. Get Inspired: Sometimes this is a tough one especially when you’ve been doing the same job for years. But I know you can do it! Check out the competition, read some industry magazines, google some interesting stuff, talk to your colleagues and get amped up about the next best thing! If that doesn’t work – do something you love and hopefully the ideas will soon follow. Read more

Back to School Organizing Tips

I’ve been posting about “back to school” a lot lately. I really loved school — my husband thinks I’m a total nerd. But I must confess — high school and college were my favorite. I really love learning, reading and discussing. I think that’s why I love journalism so much — you get to research and become and expert on a number of topics daily. And in a week — they don’t matter anymore and you’re on to something else. It’s great for a short attention span.

But I think being organized really helped me to succeed in college. To help out the less organized I made a checklist for back to campus and got a list from my mother-in-law for parents. And now my friend Scott Gamm, who has blogged here before giving great financial advice, has mentioned me in his slideshow on Mainstreet.com. The slideshow is all about how to be more organized when you hit the books. Check it out and let me know what you think.  I’m slide #3 if you have a short attention span.

Parents’ Checklist for Back to School

Back to school time can be just as tough on parents as it is on kids. I created a “Back to Campus Shopping Checklist” for GetButtonedUp.com and just about now grade school students are getting supply lists sent to them. But what about a checklist for parents? For that I turned to my mother-in-law, Irene Berman. She shares my love of lists and stationary.

She has taught public school for over 30 years in New York and Chicago. This past June she retired and I’ve never seen anyone so upset to leave a job. She really loves finding creative ways to teach kids things for the first time. It’s an amazing trait – I could never do it.

Here’s her Back to School Checklist for Parents:

  1. Take advantage of back to school clothes sales in July and August.
  2. Organize closets to help kids get ready faster in the morning.
  3. Get back to a school time bed routine. You might want to practice with an alarm clock.
  4. Try to get your child’s supply list and shop during sales because Halloween items come out soon.
  5. Update your calendar with school holidays and events.
  6. Check your immunization and medical records to make sure they are up to date.
  7. Make your sure you have emergency phone numbers and contacts for the school to reach.
  8. Create an IN/OUT box for school notice and forms.
  9. Get your home ready by organizing a quiet place for your child do do his homework.
  10. Create a homework box-with all supplies needed for homework…NO EXCUSES!!!! Also, if your kids are a little younger and need a helping hand with a certain area of learning, you could visit somewhere like Little Thinkers Center to get them back into learning!