by Jayme Radomski | Jun 11, 2024 | Money & Paper Management, Organizing, Travel, Wardrobe
Planning a family trip can be exciting but requires careful organization to ensure everything runs smoothly. Here are some ways to organize for a successful family trip this summer:
Budget Planning: Set a realistic budget for the trip, including accommodation, food, activities, and souvenirs.
Cash and Cards: Carry a mix of cash and credit/debit cards. Inform your bank of travel plans to avoid card blocks.
Expense Tracking: Use an app or a simple notebook to track daily expenses and stay within budget.
Passports and IDs: Ensure all passports and IDs are up-to-date and valid for the duration of the trip.
Tickets and Reservations: Book flights, trains, or other transportation. Confirm hotel or rental accommodations and print or save digital copies of all reservations.
Travel Insurance: Purchase travel insurance that covers health, cancellations, and emergencies.
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Daily Schedule: Plan a loose itinerary with activities and sightseeing for each day. Include a mix of structured activities and free time.
Tickets and Reservations: Pre-book tickets for popular attractions, tours, and events to avoid long lines and sold-out situations.
Local Research: Research local restaurants, parks, and other points of interest suitable for families.
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Clothing: Pack appropriate clothing for the weather and planned activities. Include swimwear, casual wear, and a few dressier options if needed.
Essentials: Toiletries, medications, first-aid supplies, and any special items like glasses or contact lenses.
Entertainment and Comfort Items: Bring books, toys, games, and electronics to keep children entertained during travel and downtime.
Car Rentals and Public Transport: Arrange for car rentals if necessary and research local public transportation options.
GPS and Maps: Ensure your phone’s GPS is functional, and consider downloading offline maps. Bring physical maps as a backup.
Parking and Directions: Look up parking options at your destination and note directions to key places.
Medical Needs: Pack any necessary prescription medications and basic first aid supplies. Check if vaccinations are needed.
Safety Precautions: Make sure everyone is aware of basic safety rules for traveling, such as staying together and not talking to strangers.
Emergency Contacts: Keep a list of emergency contacts, including local emergency numbers and contact information for your country’s embassy.
Home Security: Arrange for a neighbor or friend to check on your home, collect mail, and water plants.
Utilities: Set lights on timers, and adjust thermostats for energy efficiency.
Pets: Make arrangements for pet care, through a pet sitter, kennel, or a friend.
By organizing these aspects in advance, you’ll ensure a more enjoyable and stress-free family trip. Plan ahead so your family travel is more relaxing.
by Jayme Radomski | May 21, 2024 | Cleaning, Clutter, Managing Time, Money & Paper Management, Organizing
We have crafted five areas to get your kids organized for the end of the school year. Get your kids involved for organizing and planning for summer break.
The end of the school year is an ideal time for kids to declutter their school supplies. Going through their backpacks, desks, and lockers to remove any old papers, broken items, and unused supplies helps create a fresh start for the next school year. Encourage kids to recycle or donate items they no longer need.
Sorting and storing school supplies for the summer can save time and money when the new school year begins. Labeling bins or boxes for different items such as notebooks, art supplies, and textbooks can make it easier to find them later. This also helps kids learn the importance of organization and responsibility.
Reviewing the school year’s work and reflecting on accomplishments and areas for improvement can be beneficial. This can involve going through graded assignments, reports, and projects to see what they did well and where they can improve. It’s a good opportunity for goal-setting for the next school year.
Keeping kids engaged in learning over the summer can prevent the “summer slide.” Planning educational activities, such as reading lists, science experiments, or museum visits, can keep their minds active. A summer schedule that balances learning with fun activities can help maintain a routine.
Establishing a summer routine can help kids transition smoothly from the structure of the school year to the more relaxed summer months. This routine can include set times for chores, reading, outdoor play, and family activities. A consistent routine helps kids feel secure and can make it easier to return to school in the fall.
These strategies can make the end of the school year a positive and organized experience for kids, setting them up for success in the coming year. Top Shelf Home Organizing is happy to help you organize your home for the summer.
by Jayme Radomski | Feb 12, 2024 | Cleaning, Closets, Digital, Eating & Kitchen, Money & Paper Management, Office, Organizing
Getting organized in February is a great idea as it can set a positive tone for the rest of the year. We love the idea of resetting your home before the warm spring air returns. Here are eight areas to focus on in February:
Declutter and organize your home office. File away paperwork, clean up your desk, and declutter digital files.
Declutter your digital life by organizing your computer files, emails, and apps. Delete unnecessary files and create a system for better organization.
Start organizing your financial documents for tax season. Create a system for keeping track of receipts, invoices, and important documents.
If you decorate for Valentine’s Day, take the time to organize and store those decorations once the holiday is over. Purge the decorations you don’t use.
Check the expiration dates of food items in your pantry and refrigerator. Discard any expired items and organize your shelves.
Straighten up your linen closet. Fold and organize towels and sheets, and discard any worn-out or mismatched items.
Tidy up your bedroom closet by decluttering clothes, shoes, and accessories. Donate or sell items you no longer need.
Sort through your winter wardrobe and donate or store items you won’t be needing for the remainder of the season. Organize coats, scarves, and gloves in a designated area for easy access.
Remember to take it one step at a time, and don’t be afraid to enlist the help of family members or roommates. Setting aside dedicated time each day or weekend can make the process more manageable and less overwhelming. The organizers at Top Shelf Home Organizing are happy to help. Reach out to Jayme for any questions you have on organizing your home and office.
by Jayme Radomski | Feb 7, 2023 | Clutter, Digital, Money & Paper Management, Organizing, Work & Home Office
Are you stressed by unmanaged paperwork around your home and office? Searching for important documents may seem hopeless. Interest charges and late fees can pile up quickly on misplaced bills. Deadlines are easily overlooked. Getting on top of your papers and developing a good paper management system will reduce stress. Here are some tips on how to get your paperwork organized, and regain control of your home and office.
Where you manage your paperwork should be convenient. Going to a secluded area of your home may not encourage you to manage your paperwork. If it is not an area you enjoy being in, you won’t go there.
The workspace should have ample surface area, basic office supplies (envelopes, pens, address labels), computer and printer, paper recycle bin and shredder.
Remove the
unnecessary, immediately
Sort your mail as soon as it comes in, with a recycle bin and shredder within an arm’s reach. Junk mail should be recycled immediately. Refer to a document retention guideline for guidance on what documents to keep and for how long.
Create a temporary, simple filing system for the initial sorting of your paperwork. This file system could include files labeled:
File – for files to be filed
Pay – for bills to be paid
To Do – for items that require attention within the next month
Read – for documents that will required your dedicated attention
Regularly go through and pay, sort and file
Set up a weekly time to go through the temporary files. Coordinate your bill paying with your pay dates. File papers from the ‘File’ file. Review your ‘To Do’ file for items needing attention within the next week. Take some time to read through the files from your ‘Read’ file.
It is important to always be aware of what papers, documents and receipts enter your home. Receipts can be sent via email or not retained at all. Be selective of what documents are collected at trade shows, conventions and seminars. Only accept the documents that are relevant to you. Be mindful of the mailing lists, marketing emails and promotional lists you sign up for.
Once your paperwork system is set up, plan to set aside time every week to maintain and manage your paperwork. Staying on top of your system will reduce stress and ensure you keep on top of your work and bills.
If setting up a paperwork management system is overwhelming, a professional organizer can help you started or guide you through the entire process. Top Shelf Home Organizing takes pride in working with people to organize and streamline their paperwork. Reach out to Jayme if you are ready to get your paperwork organized.
by Jayme Radomski | Apr 2, 2020 | Money & Paper Management, Organizing
Being organized can be especially helpful in times of emergency. It is a good idea to have an emergency kit ready to go, and to have a plan that is communicated to all members of your household. The list of items that could be needed is exhaustive and endless. The importance of being prepared means you have the supplies and documents ready for your household in case of an evacuation, as a worst-case scenario. Keep in mind, business could be closed, banks could be closed and the internet could be down. Here is a guide of suggestions to getting organized for emergencies. A formal kit can be found at ready.gov.
Food and Water
- 7- to 10-day supply of non-perishable food and water
- Include some comfort foods to help ease anxiety
- One gallon of water per person per day as a guideline
Money
- Small denominations, ten-, five- and one-dollar bills
- To purchase food, gas, other daily needs
- Amount depends on the size of your family ($2,000 cash is a good starting point to allow for basic needs and travel if evacuation is needed)
Medications
- Prescriptions for at least two weeks
- Non-prescription including pain relievers, stomach remedies, cough and cold remedies, fluids with electrolytes, and vitamins
- Medical records
Documents
Store copies of these in a fire proof safe inside a water-tight container, in a bank safe deposit box, and copies at a trusted friends or relative. You can also keep a digital copy in a removable drive.
- Personal Information
- Driver’s license or another photo ID
- Birth certificates, adoption certificates, custody documents
- Marriage license, divorce degree
- Social security card
- Child identity cards
- Passport/green card, naturalization documents
- Military: military id, military discharge record
- Pet: id tags, prove of ownership, microchip information, emotional support letter, certification for service animals
- Household Information
- Name, date of birth, place of birth
- Address and mailing address
- Name of spouse or partner
- Employment information including supervisors with contact information
- Spouse employment information
- Emergency contact
- Children information: name, address, date of birth, email, phone, school
- Financial and Legal
- Estate planning
- Living will, trust, power of attorney and advanced directives
- Financial
- Checking, saving, investments, retirement
- Print and keep a hard copy of the most current bank: name of institution, type of account, account number, institution phone number and website
- Sources of income
- Pay stubs, government benefits, alimony, child support, rewards accounts
- Tax Statements
- Previous year’s tax return, property tax, personal property tax
- Insurance
- Health, property, life, automobile, disability, appraisals, pet, flood, funeral
- Firm name, name of policy holder, policy number, claims phone number, type of policy, value, coverage period, website
- Understand how your home or renter’s insurance can assist you in an emergency
- Video or photograph rooms in your home and valuable belongings
- Financial Obligations
- Housing, utility, loan, credit card, child support
- Have a list of what bills are on autopay, download and print a copy of your last statement or applications to enroll
- Document and print your FICO score
Fuel
- Keep tank of gas above half full at all times
- Have fuel available for your back up generator
Supplies
- Battery-powered or hand crank radio and NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert
- Flashlight and extra batteries
- First aid kit
- Whistle
- Dust mask
- Plastic sheeting and duct tape to create a shelter
- Moist towelettes or wet wipes, trash bags with ties for personal sanitation
- Tools (wrench or pliers) to turn off utilities
- Can opener for canned food
- Local maps
- Cell phone with charger
- Battery pack charger for phone
- Personal hygiene supplies
At Top Shelf, we love to help busy families plan and prepare. If thought of planning for an emergency is overwhelming, see how Jayme and her team can help.
by Jayme Radomski | Aug 1, 2019 | Money & Paper Management, Productivity
Whether you are in high school or in college, having a system to organize your course work will set the foundation for success in your courses. Keeping an organized course portfolio for each class can help with homework, studying for exams, and reference for the next course in a sequence. In the long term, having organized work can assist with future courses, standardized test preparation and professional licensing. These portfolios can also serve as sample work for college applications, graduate school admissions, job applications and scholarship applications. A portfolio could be created with a simple three ring binder or electronically using PDF documents.
Cover
The cover to a course portfolio should include:
- Course name
- Course number
- Course term and date
- Instructor name
- Your name
To save time, consider creating a template in a word processing document so that information for each course can be easily entered and saved.
Table of Contents
The basics of a Table of Contents is to assist you in finding the information that is included within the portfolio. At a minimum, this page will include the titles of each section of the portfolio. These sections are listed below in bold. If you want to add detail to the table of contents, a suggestion is to add subtitles to each section. The Lecture Notes section, for example, would include the topics of each lecture, and the Lab section would include the titles to each lab.
Lecture Notes
The lecture note section of the portfolio is where you gather and store the lesson information that is presented in the classroom. The material is placed chronologically in the portfolio. Lessons may be provided in a visual presentation software such as PowerPoint or Google Slides, PDF or another file. Some instructors may not provide lesson outlines or notes, as they may feel a student is more engaged and likely to retain material if they create their own notes.
The content of the Lecture Note section will include:
- Lesson outlines provided by instructor
- Your notes (these may be handwritten, markups on a PDF, notes added to a visual presentation file file, or notes added to other files the instructor provides)
Handouts
Supplemental handouts
The instructor may provide handout or additional files to supplement their lecture materials.
Reference material
The instructor may include reference material that they used to prepare their lecture, or material that the student can refer to for additional reinforcement.
Articles
- Current articles can be helpful to reinforce the lecture materials and add interest to the material being presented.
- Other materials provided by instructor
- Reference material
Assignments
Chronologically placed in portfolios
Cover page
Assignment name
Assignment number
Date submitted
Instructor name
Your name
Original assignment sheet
Graded assignment
Revised assignment
Exams
Chronologically placed in portfolio
Exam cover sheet with material, lectures and chapters covered
Labs
Chronologically placed in portfolio
Lab name
Lab number
Date performed
Date submitted
Instructor name
Your name
Lab team member names
Formal lab write-up
Lab instructions
Lab lecture notes
Handwritten notes and data collection
Photos of procedure and results
Resources referenced
Having organized files on your hard drive and on a network is equally important. Providing structure to the way the work is saved and titled helps students access their work when assignments are due, study for exams and reference work in the future.
- Make one main file devoted to your schoolwork. Title this folder with your school name. Add subfolders with the school year or term. For example, “Spring 2020.”
- Within the term file, create a subfolder for each class you take. (Tip: Use the full name of the class, i.e., “AE 1001 Freshman Seminar.” If that’s too long, use the department abbreviation and course number, i.e., “AE 1001.”)
- Each class will have similar subfolders to keep specific material. These folders will likely include Lecture Notes, Handouts, Assignments, Exams and Labs. The files within these files will have a clear and unique name starting with the category followed by the details of the file. For example, lecture notes from the sixth lecture may be titled “Lecture 6.” Your instructor may require a particular file-name structure that includes your name if the work is being submitted via e-mail or a cloud-based workspace such as Dropbox or Box. To ensure that your work will be accepted for full credit, pay attention to the guidelines provided in your syllabus, in class, or within the course.
- Save your final file to the appropriate course folder. You may consider saving to your own drive and backing up to the cloud, or an external drive to protect your work.
Keeping course work organized is a critical aspect of a student’s success. Guiding them through this process a few times will help them build structure for future success and independence. An organized course portfolio can serve as application and scholarship material, be used for reference for future courses and careers, as well as a reference for standard testing and professional licensing.
See if Top Shelf Home Organizing can help you get your next organizing project started and completed. Contact Jayme to schedule a consult or chat about organizing.
