Organization--a tip for mothers and daughters
Use a lampshade frame to hang earrings. A frame without fabric is placed over an existing lamp to create a unique way to hang the earrings. They slip right over the round frame. They are always available and don't tangle. Looks cute and similar colors no matter the style can be hung together. No more searching.

To exterminate the "Clutter Crawler", first you have to stop bringing clutter into the house.  Any mail that wasn't a bill or of necessity, never makes it in the door. I placed a shredder next to the door in my garage that lead into the house. All Junk Mail goes into the shredder immediately. When my daughter comes home from school with a book bag full of papers and drawings, We review the grades and drawings together and we decide what to keep and what to throw away. Even the newspaper hits the recycle bin immediately after breakfast. A great way to decide what to purge is to remove everything from your home that you don't use (and haven't used in the last 12 months), doesn't have a purpose, or you don't find beautiful and appealing. When it comes to your kids artwork, keep the most cherished. If you can't part with any of it, find a creative way to display them.

There are so many caddies designed for specific purposes (like a diaper caddy - perfect when you don't have room in the house for a changing table!). I made a craft caddy for the kids out of an industrial-sized dishwasher silverware rack from a restaurant supply store (just put a plastic cup in each compartment so a child can grab a cup of markers, crayons, or whatever they need.) We use the clear plastic shoe boxes for matchbox cars, little dolls, etc. The closet shelves are organized with plastic boxes, too. Larger storage bins are for Playmobil, Legos, etc. With homeschooling, the kids and I each have a school bin. I try to set myself up for success! This system for organizing really helps me!

The easiest way to organize your stuff is to have less stuff. Pick one drawer, cabinet, or closet in your house every day for one month (or until you get through every storage area). Take 10-20 minutes and remove anything that hasn't been used in the last 6-12 months. Donate, sell, or pitch any items that you haven't been using. Be honest with yourself about what you need or don't need. If an item falls into the category of "I might use that" or "I might wear that" then donate it and bless someone else with something they need. Less is more.

To organize papers, report cards, projects from school, take a file box and use a file folder for each year that the child is in school. Label the tab with the year they are in. On the front of the folder post a scrapbook paper page with a space for school photo , teachers name, school name and the year and age of your child. It is a great way to keep everything in one place for each child, all the way through school.

My favorite purchase is probably bed risers. For about $8 you can raise every bed enough to slide about 6 nice sized storage totes under each queen bed and 4 under each twin. In the room my two daughters share, totes for dolls, animals, dress up, blankets, VHS videos, art, pjs, and barbies are under their two beds. Our house runs smoothly because I have the children help with almost all the household work. They should be feel important and contribute to the flow of a peaceful house.  When you work as a team, you can relax as a team. I never use the word chore. It's a contribution. This house is a refuge in a troubled world and family team work keeps it that way.

Make an organization calendar. Schedule "large" projects every week for a year, 6 months, etc. Example: Week 1- Clean out/organize kitchen cabinets Week 2- Clean out/organize bedroom closets. This way you have a whole week to accomplish the task and you are not feeling bombarded to get certain things done in one day. Writing it on the calendar will help keep you on track- HAPPY ORGANIZING!

We keep 3 different colored small tubs by front door for each child's shoes. I'd like to say that they always put shoes in their tubs, however, kids are 18,16,& 13. Most days I feel lucky if they only have 3 pairs of shoes each at the door!

Before buying Anything (especially clothing for myself or children) make sure all your laundry is done and put away. Therefore when you are out
shopping you can visualize what you have and what you NEED and wont spend foolishly, which ends in stuff which equals STRESS. This theory can be used for anything you are buying, basically do inventory first. Food, make sure fridge and pantry is cleaned out and you know what you have 1st. Bottom line the more stuff in my house the more I am stressed.

The biggest problem for people when they purchase something new is where to keep the receipts and paperwork on the new appliance/ household item. For years I have taken a 3 ring binder  and  the plastic full sheet protectors that you can buy almost anywhere. Instead of having mulitple folders and put them in a file cabinet I place all the information and the receipt in the full sheet protector. You now have everything at your fingertips for your lawn mower, microwave, vacuum cleaner etc. Most everything fits in a decent size binder and now I don't have to cry to blues if it's under warranty and I have lost the receipt. I use this same process for recipes that I have gotten over the years off line and wanted a printed copy of them.