Take a Staycation....and chillax!

Winter always seems to dilly dally and after my first late winter excursion to warmth a handful of years back, I decided I'd never spend the entire winter at home again. Well...we all know the logic of that improbability, life gets so full and time flies and therefore, no rest for the weary. In my Organize This column for February, I pondered the thought of taking a staycation and I am beginning to swear by these little respites. Right about now I can assuredly say I feel a little spoiled! A ski weekend away with my boys followed by a relaxing and somehow equally invigorating weekend in The Big Apple! Certainly a little more expense tied to this getaway but, still, if I cashed out minute by minute, a bargain at any price. There are many deals to be had if you just take a little time and search them out. And oh, how very therapeutic! A great Broadway show at last minute prices, some window shopping at some "only found in NY" boutiques and, of course, an awesome meal at one of my favorite tapas standbys and I had the makings of a great weekend. Our hotel was centrally located and lavish enough to make us feel pampered without breaking the bank. Everyone is working hard to entice guests so the bedding is clean and inviting, the attention to detail is precise and the courteous, attentive staff makes the occasional necessary human interactions pleasant and welcome. I can wander the streets of New York for days simply people watching when all else fails and I have a little time on my hands. Free entertainment! I have yet to locate the naked cowboy...but I'm still looking! Take some time and plan a little getaway of your own. You don't have to go far at all...even the next town over probably has something to offer that you've never experienced. Concentrate on your purpose and intentions. Live in the moment and savor the newness of your surroundings. Take a staycation...and do it soon! And thanks for reading! Miriam http://dailylocal.com/articles/2011/02/27/life/srv0000011019554.txt

Clutter-Free Closets are soooo....Freeing!

I'm wondering how many of you have already felt the need to tackle this project? And who has been putting it off? The dreaded closet clean up. It's a simple task, really, but somehow we get sweaty palms just thinking about digging in and getting started. I think, mostly, because what is found buried inside can usually lead to another project or two that must now be addressed. There's a snowball effect with closet cleanup because Lord knows what's truly hidden in those dark corners! So let's brave it together, shall we? My closet gets a general tidying up probably every other month, mostly because I can't even step inside if it doesn't. Some closets in the home aren't touched for a year or more, not until junk starts falling on my head when I open the door and I have to slam the door shut before my strategically placed object propels itself back at me. I hate to admit this fact, but it's true. These are the places that need the most attention. Serious attention. Obviously, I'm bordering on hoarding here! Why? What is contained that is so important? Probably not alot. Ask yourself that when your junk drawer or your linen closet overflows. Do you even remember? Empty the contents, sort the items and make sure there's a trash bag at the ready so you don't have to give something a second thought if it's ready for disposal. Has it outlived it's shelf life? Has anyone searched for it in the past year? Do you have three multiples? Do you remember why you put it there in the first place? Can it be recycled, repurposed or is it just plain refuse? Make the decision now and move on. Spring is just around the corner, I know you don't trust this right now as we have inches upon inches of snow covering the ground, but it will be here before we know it and we will turn our attention outside. Take some time over the next couple of weeks to give attention to those areas that aren't generally seen and give them a good sprucing up. Buy some nice scented shelf paper and some rattan baskets and get organized! I know you'll be happy that you did once the task is complete. With all these snow days maybe you can enlist a child or two for some help. Good luck...it's a very cleansing process and I promise you'll feel the ahhhhhhh at completion! Thanks for reading! Miriam Below is the link for Sunday's Organize This on topic. http://dailylocal.com/articles/2011/01/23/life/srv0000010696091.txt

Get Inspired by Your Resolutions!

Getting it all together takes time and a little spunk! Happy New Year one and all! It's 2011, where the time goes, I am not sure. My family and I were just reminiscing about our 2000 celebration and what a short time ago that seems! The only thing my middle son remembers is when the lobster tried to climb out of the lobster pot; a memory he'll not soon forget! So while we stand here in awe of the rapid passing of time I am also in awe of the volume of mementos, memories and downright useless clutter that has accumulated right along with the ticking of the clock. As referenced in my Organize This column this week I used to have a loathing for the new year and the failed resolutions. Now I look at the month of January and its' thirty one days of possibility as a challenge and a goal setting time. I am excited by the opportunities and the long winter days that lend themselves to productivity indoors. Whether it's a home project, an organizational task or researching and planning summer activities, it is a welcome day each day for success and accomplishment. I've decided that chunking up my goals instead of setting one great big seemingly insurmountable "resolution" means more success for me and therefore, more positive vibes for an occasional pat on the back for reaching my goal. Do you have tasks left undone or a wish for yourself that you haven't dedicated the time and energy to? Make a short, doable list. The key is to make it manageable. If you have a houseful of kids and homework, sports, part-time job, etc., don't set the goal of trekking to the top of Mt. Washington just yet. Maybe something more attainable and equally satisfying. Cleaning out the closets, toy chests, car trunk or garage would be a good start. Okay, quite possibly not as personally fulfilling as climbing Mt. Washington but definitely has its satisfaction quota. Move on to tasks with more bang once you get warmed up! I've heard the usual weight loss commitments flying about and I can sense success in the air if there is a dangling carrot and a mission plan. A goal such as a reunion, wedding or graduation will work with an attainable time frame. A thought out course of action and a cheer leading squad in the form of supportive family or friends on your side all help to bring success to a task that may seem daunting and insurmountable. Don't try to go it alone but you can and will be successful with a plan of action and dedication to yourself. Do it for you and nobody else and you will be triumphant! Best wishes and best of luck with your new goals for 2011! Have fun making, breaking and remaking commitments to your goals and don't be hard on yourself if you fall. There's 365 days to get it right! Happy New Year~and good luck! Thanks for reading! Miriam DL: Forging Ahead with Purpose while Welcoming the New Year. http://dailylocal.com/articles/2010/12/26/life/srv0000010373047.txt

Create Your Own Special Traditions

Whether you celebrate Chanukah, Kwanza or Christmas, you probably find yourself stretched to the max trying to do it all. This month while I am trying to find a balance as opposed to "doing it all", I have made a decision to make the "all" just what I want it to be, and nothing more. Creating traditions and memories is of utmost importance this year. My oldest went off to college this fall and knowing that he is returning to what is familiar means that I wish to recreate our tried and trues for him. I remember when I returned home after those first few months of adventure, homesickness and responsibility nothing felt better than the comfort of routine, celebration and traditions that I remembered from year to year. Being on this end of those tasks is quite a different story. Getting it all done as perfectly as possible is nearly an impossibility but we all strive for it anyway, don't we? I have been weeding through my holiday "to-do's" and am deciding what will stay and what will maybe have to be postponed for another year. If you are feeling doubly stressed it might just be a good idea to rethink things for yourself and your family and see if you can create a holiday with traditions filled with meaning and less flourish. I have listed a few simples ideas in my column, Organize This. Click on the link below to read this months' edition in the Daily Local News. Consider what is a worthy tradition to continue or what might be a new addition this year. Do you gather the family and make cookies together? Do you enjoy carolling in the neighborhood? Do you wrap your gifts on Christmas eve or maybe open just one special one? How about those traditions that are centuries old and religiously focused? Do your children understand and appreciate their meaning and intent so that they some day will carry on the same traditions with their families? Make a list and add to it each year and see what becomes the favorites. Share your stories and your memories as you recreate! Thanks for reading! Miriam Daily Local News link to Organize This: http://www.dailylocal.com/articles/2010/11/28/life/srv0000010088307.txt

Rebooting self....

I am certain that it appears that I have vanished but truly, I'm still kicking! My life has a way of whisking me away and I finally feel I've come back down to earth and can refocus with a fresh start. Professionalism should overrule but since my purpose is to organize and such, it was important for me, personally, to listen to my own preaching and know when to say no, when to take a step back and breathe. Having done that with verve this summer and fall, I think I am ready to repurpose my intentions back to business at hand. One of the goals I have set for myself is to re-enter my kitchen with my family. We spend a huge amount of our day together there, around the island, but mostly what gets accomplished of late is alot of paper shuffling. Gone are the days when something yummy is baking in the oven and a hot pot of home made soup or tomato sauce is bubbling on the stove. Love, attention and time are just three of the ingredients needed to create a warm inviting meal. The love is always there but not the love of being rushed. Cooking is truly one of my passions and how out of kilter do I feel to not have the time and patience necessary to put a from scratch, healthy, hearty meal on the table each evening for my family. This month's Chester County Daily Local News Organize This column focused on just that; stocking the pantry with all the appropriate staples necessary and being well prepared by maybe filling the freezer in advance with warm, hearty meals. A little planning ahead can go a long way. I love when my boys come in from school hungry and ask what's to eat and watching their eyes light up if I have warm cookies, a bowl of cinnamon apples or another home made goodie. There is truly something to be said about a full tummy that makes a mom smile. My thought for future editions of EDC Inspirations to tie my eletter in to the topic of my Organize This column which appears the fourth Sunday of the month in the Women's News section of the Chester County Daily Local. Be sure to pick up a copy of the Daily Local on Sunday, November 28th and look for my eletter the first week of December. You can also read Organize This on the web at www.dailylocalnews.com in the Life section. I thank you for your continued friendship, support and enthusiasm for what I wish to share with you all! Thanks for reading! Miriam

Can Two Negatives Equal a Positive?

I took a lil' spring break from writing myself last week and a very cathartic road trip, back home to NC which included many visits with family and friends of days gone by. It was wonderful, brief as it was, but now I'm back home, nose to the grindstone, feeling a little more solidly grounded in who I am today because of my visit. A couple little catch phrases that have been echoing with me lately are "Ya never know until you try." And "If you need something done, ask a busy mom." Those are two of my favorite quotes as a Mom and I seem to have taken them to heart recently. If anybody knows me you know that the month of September is excruciatingly hectic for me but I can manage to get through it. The second most frantic time is springtime and I seem to have outdone myself this year! I really thought I had learned the word "no" a good handful of years ago after baby number three came along but I guess I'm feeling overly confident as I've learned to master the pace of a frantic schedule and kind of enjoy the invigorating feeling. The problem with the "no" word is it kind of loses it's power after hearing it too many times, I've noticed. How does it work for you? Not that I don't want to participate or be of some use, I do. I always like to help out when needed but I seem to keep forgetting to glance at my crystal ball when I open my mouth and say yes. And really, there is nothing that I've got myself booked solid with that I am dreading, quite the contrary, it's a calendar jam packed full of wonderful events. I just need another month added in there between May and June. Let's call it Blameuary. I have no one to blame but myself. And somehow, while I've sat and puzzled over how I'm going to get it all accomplished, and actually be able to live in the moment and enjoy these wonderful occasions, I've added even more to my plate! By now you've all been eblasted at least once as I overflow with excitement over my latest venture with Stella and Dot. I'm an accessory freak in every way and when I saw this line of incredible jewelry featured in InStyle magazine I sought out a local stylist and signed up. Well...actually, I did think about it for a couple of weeks because I truly just don't think I can cram anything else into the next 14 weeks of my life...but...well, maybe I can. I'm a busy and at time frantically busy Mom with an urge to fulfill a yearning...which right now is for jewels! I'm guessing many of you are just like me. So the point of this little message is do what makes you happy, what inspires you and what makes you feel good about yourself and helping others. Pacing yourself, keeping an organized calendar and all that is more important than ever but making sure you are fulfilling that "something" unexplained for you is the key to the juggling act, I think. Check back with me in say, August to see how I'm holding up. In the meantime, take a glance at www.stelladot.com/miriamsjewelrybox and tell me what you think. Such fun! Thanks for reading! Miriam

Welcoming Springtime Your Own Way~

Sometimes it's just OK to pass the buck for another day. Or two...or three! Wow, have we been blessed the past few days with incredible summer-like weather here or what? Laundry? What's that? Do ya need fresh towels? Who cares! It'll wait. I want to enjoy this incredible outdoors while I can! Daylight savings time is here and the days are longer and the warmth and sun are so welcomed after the miserable record breaking snowfall of the winter of '09-'10. Granted, it was enchanting as it accumulated but we did truly get our share and that of a few other neighboring states. Like 75" of the white stuff? So when the sun shone down with temps of 74 degrees I abandoned all responsibilities beckoning me, well...maybe not all..and reveled in it to the utmost. I hope you did too! No, I didn't slave in the garden and mulch laboriously. There's plenty of time for that. I did walk, bike, blade, board, shop, catch, hit, throw, cradle..and well, you get the picture. Lots of activity! It was invigorating, joyful and extremely relaxing. I knew it was a temporary situation and that we'd be back to the wet and dreary March weather so I had no stresses or anxiety about shirking my responsibilities for a while. I hope you were able to do the same just a little bit. Give yourself permission once in a while to totally live in the moment. "IN" being your key word. Relish it and look for it often. Thanks for reading! Miriam

St. Patty's Inspiration

Luck O' The Irish to ya! I don't know, will that help, encourage, entice or inspire? Whatever it takes, I say! Spring is my busiest season, both business wise and in my home life. Sometimes I wonder to myself how I will accomplish it all. How will I get everyone from the proper point A to point B and do it with a smile on. It's a challenge at times. I'll take any type of help I can get, including luck! Getting and staying organized and on point is key. No slacking off allowed! School projects usually get assigned this time of year and with the weather improving we don't usually like to be couped up inside doing things we should do. We'd rather be out doing things we want to do! Sometimes our intentions can get away from us while we stop to enjoy the outdoors and the good weather. Of course, enjoy as much as you can but don't let it lead you down the path to laziness either. Good organizing in your calendar is first order or business. Deadlines, appointments, practice and game schedules all need to be noted and shared. Each morning a checklist should be broached just to make sure everyone has what they need. Backup plans are a good idea to have just in case someone might forget something. Extra equipment, water bottles, cleats, report covers, snacks and the like, should be on hand at home and if necessary in the car. Alternate pickup plans should be implemented as well. IF this happens then do this. If not there's always plan A. Cellphones should be charged frequently. Be responsible and courteous and keep in touch with rides and note changes in plans. Communicating is key. Don't leave anything to chance at the last moment when you are rushed and stressed out. Dinners plans should be thought about a bit more in advance now and even sometimes prepared ahead. This I find to be my most difficult hurdle. Where do the days and hours go? Help Dream Dinners! In the meantime, watch out for those sneaky Leprechauns, they're everywhere and they'll throw a foible into your plans every time! Happy St. Patty's....Happy Spring! Thanks for reading! Miriam

Springtime is in Bloom! Grow With It!

With the Philadelphia Flower Show just a memory the thoughts and scents of spring are lingering and I am very ready to enjoy them in full bloom in my own yard once again. The snow is finally melting and emerging are patches of grass that soon will green up. At this juncture I am starting to feel the urges to mulch, weed, trim and plant. I do enjoy the outdoor chores of yardwork and gardening. That is, when I am waiting for buds of new growth I patrol the premises often hoping and waiting. Come late July or early August when all is overgrown, dried out and gangly, it's another story, but this time of year is heavenly. This is a good time to take inventory of what you've planted and where they were placed. Imagine your visual of your yard and how it will look in full bloom. Will you do many container gardens this year? An herb garden? Will you be adding any trees, shrubs or decorative grasses here and there? Daylight savings begins in a little over a week and there will be more daylight hours after work to spend a little extra time tidying the outside in preparation. Take a stroll around your yard, once the mush and squish dries out, and visualize the colors and shapes of your garden and make notes of what you might like to add in this year. The anticipation and the planning are good organizing tools to use to help you meet your end goal; a lovely yard in full bloom! Thanks for reading! Miriam

Mindful Awareness for Everyday

Make priorities when times are tough. Balance is key in everything. My business has, like many, taken an anticipated hit with the financial climate as we know it. Life has it's own twists and turns as well. During this time of flux and uncertainty I have learned it is more important than ever to make priorities for myself and stick to them. Many times I have found myself floundering because I'm in a territory I've never been before. I am nurturing a business that is dependent on people having busy lives and a need and right now the economic downturn is effecting my bottom line. Just when I thought I had it all figured out! Our family is preparing to send our first son off to college. Many people do this every year, but somehow, this task is daunting and mysterious for us. Couple this with this years' share of broken bones and the ensuing physical therapy, Lymes disease, emergency surgeries, aging issues, etc. I really forget to sometimes focus and keep the proverbial nose to the grindstone. What is my personal grindstone anyway? I'm a mom and that's first. When something needs tending to, it will be my own personal needs, aspirations and obligations that fall by the wayside, (but only for the moment). That's ok. I'm here for them 24/7. However, to be my best self I also have to remember to take time to nurture me. What do you do that nurtures your energies, your creativity and your focus? I generally have a litany of weapons in my arsenal for self-nurturing and if time allows, I do manage to fit in a few. Of late, "snowicanes" have gotten in my way on more than one occasion. I can't let that stop me because life whirls at it's frantic pace amongst the blustery winds, regardless. Having mindfulness in what we do, for ourselves and for others is so important. Stop what you are doing at your usual frantic pace and observe. What are you doing and why you are doing it? Even the simplest and sometimes mundane tasks can reflect a deeper meaning and purpose. Focusing on this and cherishing the moment can become it's own restful respite from the chaos. Might not be quite the same as a massage and spritzer but can certainly be a reminder of the meaningful aspects of everyday life that we can take for granted when we get on the Jetson treadmill. Take a deep, purposeful breath and set a focus for yourself and your day. Despite the outside influences there is even reason in the obstacles. I'm working on mindfully focusing on and noticing my life and all it's interruptions, pacing myself and waiting out the storms. The warm sun will shine again! Thanks for reading! Miriam