Unorganized Priorities

School is back into swing full time now. YEAH! The kids are in school! It means more normalcy, a solid routine each day, no one telling you, “Mom, I’m BORED!”. But, wait, here comes all the after school commitments. There’s piano lessons, football practice, volleyball practice, soccer practice, all-weekend tournaments, sleep-overs, friends over, school projects and don’t forget plain old homework.

When are you going to find time just to accomplish your basic schedule; working out, eating right, mediation/prayer time and dare I say sleep. It seems there aren’t enough hours in the day to make it all happen. It makes you want to call 911 for help.

Here’s a simple little secret all emergency personnel already know. In ...

Family, Inspiration, Seasonal Organizing, Stylishly Organized, Time Management, Tips

Posted September 4, 2012. Written by Leticia Pfeiffer. Edited by .

Organized Crisis

You might think I’m writing about the getting-your-kids-out-the-door-with-all-they-need-for-the-first-day-of-school crisis you just experienced. While that is a crisis and a yearly one at that, I’m thinking of the potential one called Isaac coming across Florida today heading to Louisiana & Mississippi.

Usually, I keep a stiff upper lip & focus on dealing with the challenge, leaving out time to become upset or nervous. But Isaac is a little too much of a reminder of Katrina from seven years ago. Maybe Katrina hit closer to home since my boss at the time was from one of the hardest hit areas. I remember him loading up generators, gas for the generators, food and protection to drive to his hometown with relief for family devastated ...

Family, Organizing, Stylishly Organized, Tips

Posted August 27, 2012. Written by Leticia Pfeiffer. Edited by .

My Grandmother

Take pride in your family thru chores & family meals. My grandmother did.

Several years ago, when my grandfather was a young 85, he retired from the family farm equipment dealership to stay home and help care for my grandmother. She had macular degeneration limiting her eyesight & was having difficulty hearing. Yes, a hearing aide would have helped with that, but with her deformed, arthritic hands, she was unable to make adjustments to the volume as needed. Her life had become very small with limited sight & sound. And so, my industrious, intelligent, able bodied, loving Grandfather took over the household chores and went from running a successful business to running a home. Piece of cake!

Well…..not really. ...

Family, Inspiration, Stylishly Organized

Posted August 15, 2012. Written by Leticia Pfeiffer. Edited by .

Hitting a Wall: Organizational Motivation

Have the lazy days of summer become a little hazy because of all the clutter that has built up while you relaxed? Does your house looks like the maid quit!

If you could just twinkle your nose like Samantha on Bewitched or fold your arms & nod your head like Jeannie in I Dream of Jeannie, your home would miraculously be back in order. But alas……that won’t happen.

So, here are 5 ways to get you & the family motivated to declutter your home so you can start enjoying the lazy days of summer without the clutter haze.

1. Music: Turn it on & up to set the fun atmosphere.

2. Blinds: Get ...

Family, Inspiration, Organizing, Stylishly Organized, Tips

Posted July 16, 2012. Written by Leticia Pfeiffer. Edited by .

Get Organized for Summer

If your schools are like most school districts, you have about 9 week days before school comes to an end. This CAN be a good thing if you are ready. Summer gives you time to do fun things with your kids & spend time with them making family memories.

I know you’re re-running in your mind last summer’s chaotic, crazy, messy, tiring, endless entertaining, endless feeding, nutty family film from last year. Don’t do that…..start picturing what you really want to happen this summer. Now keep that film running in your head & follow these tips to get you there.

1. Have a Vision. It doesn’t matter what your vision is just that you have one for your ...

Family, Seasonal Organizing, Stylishly Organized, Time Management, Tips

Posted May 21, 2012. Written by Leticia Pfeiffer. Edited by .

Easter Dinner

This is the first Easter I have ever cooked Easter dinner. My Easter’s have always been spent with my mother’s family in Missouri until I was 6 & then just my immediate family with everyone else cooking.

So yesterday I rushed home from Easter services to cook mustard glazed beef tenderloin, parmesan bread crumb roasted asparagus & fresh rosemary roasted new potatoes. Martha Stewart’s recipes I found some time ago & have been saving for a special occasion. Well not the potatoes. I do those all the time.

Usually, some things I cook turn out wonderful with most overcooked or just not quite like the picture. And certainly nothing finishes cooking all at the same time! But ...

Family, Inspiration, Stylishly Organized

Posted April 9, 2012. Written by Leticia Pfeiffer. Edited by .

An Organized Life

My grandmother on my mother’s side was an expert household manager. On Sunday mornings, she got 3 girls dressed & combed & my uncle Phil’s cowlicks slicked down still arriving at church on time. When all 4 children came down with the flu at the same time, she set up her own hospital ward with cots on either side of a double bed. For two weeks, she kept temperature & symptom charts & phoned in a report to the doctor each afternoon.

She was active in PTA, Girl Scouts and church activities. She sang in the church choir & made time for fishing, gardening, bowling & puzzles. She was an avid Cardinal baseball fan, crocheted tablecloths or bed spreads for family ...

Family, Inspiration, Organizing, Stylishly Organized

Posted February 21, 2012. Written by Leticia Pfeiffer. Edited by .

Why Simplify Christmas?

The last two weeks have been a complete blur. It started when my mother text to tell me to check my email. First, we are finally advancing forward in the texting department; a text vs a phone call for simple alerts. Second, she had just found out that she won a writing contest from Real Simple magazine & the prize was a trip for 2 to NYC to be interviewed on stage. The email asked if I wanted to go. Ummmmm………YES!!! She told me later she heard my squeal all the way across town.

Now I have an older sister who lives in Iowa & my parents have always made sure that we both have the same of everything. So to ...

Family, Inspiration, Stylishly Organized

Posted December 12, 2011. Written by Leticia Pfeiffer. Edited by .

Be an Organizational Example

My father was an example to me in how to care for my things and be organized. I’m sure having served in the Marine Corps during Vietnam helped a little. They’re pretty particular during boot camp with the quarter bouncing off the bed, cleaning the latrine, and shining those boots. So who better to teach me how iron, make my bed and keep my things in their proper home than my dad.

At the age of 7, I was learning the proper way to make my bed. Around 10, I learned how to iron a shirt that rivaled any military standards. But much before that, I was shown how important it is just to take care of & respect my things simply by making ...

Family, Inspiration, Organizing, Stylishly Organized

Posted November 14, 2011. Written by Leticia Pfeiffer. Edited by .

What’s All the Fuss About Labor Day?

Labor Day is such a great holiday! You get a break from work & school; there are parades; cooler weather has to be soon; sales abound for any item imaginable; and, if you’re lucky enough to live where I do, the great State Fair of Texas is just around the corner.

Labor Day’s purpose is to give us a day off right?

Right! It is to celebrate the American Worker & all that we hard working Americans do for this great nation. It’s one of our older holidays, going national in 1892. There are historically, two ways to celebrate this holiday. One, taking on a weekend project & working your way through the holiday or two, taking advantage of the time off to relax ...

Family, Stylishly Organized

Posted August 29, 2011. Written by Leticia Pfeiffer. Edited by .