What Preschoolers Can Teach You About Productivity

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English: Children in classroom during lunch break.

English: Children in classroom during lunch break. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I remember when my nephew was in preschool and learned “The Cleanup Song” – he hated it because it meant playtime was over. But, learning to clean up a mess is a valuable lesson, not only for preschoolers but even for all of us grown ups!

A UCLA study found that when women were near clutter their stress hormones skyrocketed! This proves that clutter makes you more anxious and less focused. The act of organizing can actually help us feel more in control, decreasing stress even in the most out-of-control situations.

That’s why I make it a point to tidy up my desk at the end of every workday and my apartment every night. It’s really worked for me because the next time I enter those spaces they feel inviting instead of stress-inducing.

Here are a few tips to make “cleanup time” more fun than it was for my nephew! Read more

Gifts for New Moms Like Kate Middleton

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I can’t believe it was nearly two years ago that the first Royal baby was born. I’m just as excited as I was then for Kate’s second baby. Especially as it’s a baby girl! It’s about time the Royal family added a little femininity. This time around I caught the whole thing on Periscope, it was really fun to be part of such an important moment. The second royal baby was born on Saturday May 2nd, weighing 8lb 3oz, so a little smaller then her older brother. Re-living the experience reminded me of this post, which is just as pertinent now.

The world has been buzzing for months about the Royal Baby and I’m no exception! Finally a little prince was born on July 22, 2013 at 4:24 pm London time. He weighed in at 8 lbs. 6 oz. (where did Kate Middleton hide him?) and he and his mum (!) are said to be doing well. New dad Prince William said, “We couldn’t be happier.” It’s been said he bought a little teddy bear for the next in line to the crown.

A Gift Fit for a Princess
This Royal birth got me thinking — in lists, of course. What do you get a new mom? Especially a woman who has everything? You want to get something that she’ll really appreciate and value. It’s a big time in her life and you want your gift to be memorable.
It’s always a good policy to give something that can come from only you, but if you’re stumped, here’s my list of great gifts for new moms: Read more

Mom Turns Kids into Foodies One List at a Time

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Recently my two worlds of TV producer and blogger crossed paths at the BlogHer conference.  I took a seminar about incorporating video into a blog that Catherine McCord, founder of Weelicious.com, was teaching.  Brilliant stuff and I plan on adding some more video here soon!

Anyway — I’ve also done segments with Catherine about healthy eating and getting kids to be better eaters.  She started out as a food blogger and has uploaded hundreds of videos to her website Weelicious.com. Now she has a book called “Weelicious: One Family, One Meal,” and I’ve even tried some of the recipes even though I don’t have kids!

Turns out — all that recipe making and brand building has been possible because of list making!  Love that! Check out Catherine’s list-making secrets:

Q: Why do you call yourself a compulsive list producer?

A: As a working mom and wife, if I wasn’t armed with a list I’d be in big big trouble! Read more

List of Things to Say in Awkward Situations

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photostock / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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BONUS FREEBIE: Want even more ways to stay organized, productive and less stressed? Click here to get access to my List-Making Starter Kit. It will boost your efficiency and get you back to doing more of the things you love.

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We’ve all been there — in a situation where we are fidgeting and searching for just the right thing to say. These awkward social encounters can make us anxious, stressed out and agitated.

Dinner Parties

For some people – dinner parties can be excruciating. Small talk, people you don’t know and awkward silences can really make you uneasy. If you go into social situations like dinner or cocktail parties prepared — you will have a much better time. Here’s some ideas to pull you out of this tough time: Read more

A Beautiful Bucket List

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This weekend was special.  A close friend and colleague, Jessica, turned 30.  She chose to spend that day giving back.  Nearly 70 people took to the streets (and bars) of Hoboken, NJ to raise money and awareness for Jason and Justin Leider and their foundation “Let Them Be Little X2“.  Jessica produced a video with the boys and their parents telling the world about their rare genetic condition (1 in 100,000 births) called Mucopolysaccharidoses-2 or Hunter’s Syndrome. Read more