Amanda Darlack's blog

"It's not that some people have willpower and some don't. It's that some people are ready to change and others are not."

- James Gordon, M.D.

Image: EA / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

In this video, Living Peace Professional Organizer Amanda Darlack reviews two online resources to help you manage your regular meal planning: http://www.plantoeat.com and http://e-mealz.com.

A Gift from Friends

Recently, some friends stayed in our home while we were away for a short holiday.  When we returned, they had left a pan of baked oatmeal in our refrigerator as a thank you gift.  It was one of the best things they could have given us!

In this video, Living Peace Professional Organizer Amanda Darlack offers a creative solution to organizing and displaying your jewelry.

Growing up, my mother always had me write thank you notes whenever I received gifts.  I appreciate her doing that (especially since I'm sure I didn't cooperate all the time).  But now it's second nature, and I enjoy sending them because I know they'll make someone feel good.  Here are a few tips to make the Thank You Note simple.

There's no easy way to say this, so I'll just come straight out with it. 

Do you have a pile of clothes on the floor or near your dresser that you've worn once but could wear again before washing? 

Do those clothes lay in a pile for so long that they get all wrinkled?  Are you tired of seeing a perpetual pile of not-quite-dirty clothes in your bedroom?  Well, here is an idea for keeping the pile off the floor and the clothes from getting wrinkled. 

Hooks!

When I was in college, I preferred to write ten-page papers in one night.  It wasn't because the paper was due the next day (often, I'd finish it before the due date), but I liked submerging myself into the task at hand and seeing it through to completion.  It's just the way I'm wired. 

If you're looking for a way to cut down on the "stuff" flowing into your family's home and lives this holiday season, then you'll want to take a look at this video with Living Peace Professional Organizer, Amanda Darlack. It's got some great holiday gift idea alternatives.

Just in these past few weeks of the school year, I've sent home with my preschool students hundreds of paintings on oversized newsprint, drawings on dot matrix printer paper, and sculptures made of recyclables.  Most children love to create.  But what to do when all that art comes into the house?

First, as a preschool teacher, I want to tell you that your child's time being creative is very important.  Your child's brain is growing smarter as they experiment with different forms of media, different techniques, and different subjects.