Organizing your kids in a Hurricane

Children are very sensitive to any major changes in their lives so you can only imagine the impact that a hurricane or anticipation of one will have on your kids. It’s been 6 years since our last devastating hurricane and our kids are still feeling the emotional affects of the storm. Fortunately, we did not have the loss of life of those who experienced Hurricane Katrina, but moving forward we need to do things differently. Weather patterns have changed and storms have become more intense and our children need to know how to survive too.

OK! Let’s pull ourselves together here.

1.      Talk to your kids about hurricanes. Ask them what they know about them. Start your dialogue there.

Organizing in a Hurricane

One more month to the end of Hurricane Season, but the last three months are when some of the most vicious storms have formed.
I live in "Hurricane Alley" and almost every year we are guaranteed to at least get one storm of the season. One of our most devastating Hurricanes was Hurricane Ivan. Generally hurricanes are catastrophic but this one definitely was. We now refer to time as BI (before Ivan) or AI (after Ivan). During Hurricane Ivan, NASA actually reported that they could not see land from the telescope and that we were completely under water and that the Island (Grand Cayman) was no more. For a while there it really felt like it was all over. Many people said good-bye to their family members and waited for death as the flood waters rose inside of their homes forcing them to float up to their attics. 95% of the buildings received damage but luckily there was no loss of life.
The best way to survive a hurricane is to be organized, plan ahead of time and be ready for anything.

The good thing about hurricanes is, thanks to radar we all know its coming. The bad thing is to be complacent and not plan.

If you already live in a hurricane prone area I'm sure you already know the basics of shuttering your home and clearing any debris around your home etc., to prepare for the storm so I won't get into that area.

Organize Your Hurricane Tote:

1. During the months when there are no hurricanes, keep an eye out for sale items of non-perishable foods, this will save you money and time standing in line when a storm is looming. These foods should be stored in a separate container for easy access to prepare meals after the storm.
2. Organize a large airtight container per person in your household.  Everyone should have their own goodie bag, preferably one on wheels that can be toted easily if you

How to Organize a Destination Wedding in 3 easy steps - CAYMAN ISLANDS STYLE

As a Professional Organizer living in the Cayman Islands, this one is a piece of cake or at least a 3 layered one. We (locals) can actually have a Destination Wedding without leaving our Destination! Now, how cool and stress free is that? I'm smart enough to not organize my own wedding. I would get divorced before I got married. I promise not to turn into a Bridezilla (for the benefit of my intended who reads my blogs) :)

Let me tell you how you can pull off a Destination Wedding in the Cayman Islands in 3 easy steps, without flying all the way here and getting delayed because you weren't organized.

Step #1 Snag a MARRIAGE LICENSE!

All you have to do is get in touch with a local Marriage Officer and they will take care of all documentation.

You just have to provide:

• Proof of identity, such as an original or certified birth certificate or passport (your travel documents)
• Cayman Islands international embarkation/disembarkation card (you will receive on the plane)
• Certified or original copies of divorce decrees/death certificates (this one is important! I've seen weddings delayed because the bride and groom had to drag themselves to a lawyer and sign an affidavit to prove that they were divorced or widowed, delaying the wedding by hours). So don't let this happen to you .

Your wedding can be performed the same day as long as your documents are in order. The minimum age of

How to Organize a Wedding? Organizer...Organize Thy Self!

This is actually my own experiment. Is it really possible to have an elegant, beautiful, and economical wedding? 
I got engaged two weeks ago on my birthday and realized that unlike most women, I didn't dream of a fairytale wedding, was not preoccupied  with wedding colors, venues or wedding favors. What an interesting strange journey this is going to be!
I live in the beautiful Cayman Islands the "Destination Wedding" headquarters, which means there are alot of options but of course those options sometimes come at a high price. Follow me on my journey....

The Wand!

Ever wish you could wave a magic wand and every room in your home or office would be beautifully organized? Have you ever felt overwhelmed by clutter?

If you have, then your wish may not be as far fetched as you think.

Because of our busy lives, many of us just don’t have the time and energy to get organized.

This is where a Professional Organizer can be a useful ally when setting up a new home, office, or help you reclaim your current environment from the formidable ‘Clutter Monster!’

A Professional Organizer can help you turn your disorganized space into an Organized Haven, by assisting you in setting up procedures and routines to create new organizational habits. They also suggest personalized storage solutions and help you maintain your new organized environment.

Here are some tips on how getting organized can help you take back control of your home and office.

Vinea Letter Trays-www.caymanorganize.com

At Work

Everything should have its own place. This can be attained through storage systems that best suit your work needs and environment.

A proper workflow system is also essential. If your office files and work essentials are organized ineffectively, then you will work ineffectively too. According to the Wall Street Journal, “The average …executive wastes six weeks per year searching for missing information in messy desks and files.” (That translates to one hour per day.)

Not having an effective workflow system in place will also reduce your productivity and result in wasted time, added stress and, neck and back pains.

When setting up your workstation, think ergonomics.

Two weeks before school starts Pt.2

 Start setting alarm clocks. Gradually roll back bedtimes and wake-up times to ease your child into their new schedule.

 Check the school website for news about the upcoming year.

 Firm up transportation plans: Find out whether the bus route has changed and what time you can expect it to arrive. Confirm carpool arrangements.

 Shop for school supplies. Now is a good time to stock up on basics your child will use all year, like paper and pencils.

 Get out the master calendar and mark in any important dates, activities, and appointments that are missing. Consider using a different pen color for each child.

One week before school starts:

Back to School Count down

Before school starts take this time to go through your children’s closets and drawers and weed out the ‘one sock bandit’ and mountains of paper that have been hanging around in the school bag and stuck in drawers. If you get organized now, the school year will go a lot smoother if you know where everything is and where to put it.

Make organizing a game so that your children will enjoy sorting through all of the bits and pieces.

Corky Wall Organizer

One month before school:

 Update the calendars including school holidays, public holidays and events. If you have a PDA sync it.

 Make transportation and child-care arrangements. If you’re carpooling, touch base with the other parents to discuss schedules (great idea to save gas). If your child needs after-school care, pick them up.

 School supplies. Most schools have lists. Get them as soon as they come out. Check them against the list of supplies that you have on hand.

 Look through your child’s closets to see which clothes still fit and are in good condition. Declutter and organize their dressers and closets. Start watching for sales to pick up new items they need.

What is a Professional Organizer?

Most people are still not clear on exactly who or what is a Professional Organizer? I've put together a list of frequently asked questions that I hope will answer all your questions. If you're still not clear just shoot me a comment and I will try my best to answer.

“Professional Organizers are individuals who create customized solutions to increase the efficiency of any home, office or individual. Professional Organizers help their clients to find balance, restore order and maximize their time and resources at home, office and workplace locations. Services vary widely, depending on the area or range of specialization.”

Benefits of Hiring a Professional Organizer

• Reduce stress

• More time and energy for yourself

• Increase efficiency and productivity

• Reduce problems related to time, space, and storage

• Improve planning skills

• Uncluttered and more inviting spaces

Will a professional organizer make me throw away all my "stuff"?

No. You decide what, if anything is thrown away. A professional organizer asks questions, shares information and gives advice and suggestions. During this process, the organizer helps you decide what is or is not important to you.

Do I have to be present when you organize my space?