Loving Hugs

Once such organization is Loving Hugs, a non-profit group based out of Colorado that provides new or gently used stuffed animals to children in war zones, refugee camps, and orphanages. They partner with the U.S. Navy and many other non-profit organizations to help get American’s “hugs” (donations of stuffed animals) to children in crisis situations all over the world.

I first read about Loving Hugs in Oprah Magazine last month. Inspired by a letter shared with her from a U.S. soldier serving in Iraq, Wendy Clark, the founder of Loving Hugs, learned of the tragic results of insurgent bombing attacks near where the soldier was based; many of the injured victims were innocent children. Some learned that they no longer had their families and were alone in the hospitals; many would ultimately be placed in orphanages.

Immediately Wendy was inspired to do something to help those children. Not just for those children in Iraq, but wherever children are in crisis situations caused by war, natural disasters, and extreme poverty. She began making contacts with individuals, schools, churches, and civic organizations, to collect and donate stuffed animals that were appropriate to give children in crisis areas around the world, and to give them some emotional comfort and hope. The inspiration for Loving Hugs was born! I had a chance to speak to Ms. Clark and she said since inception they have sent out over 88,000 stuffed animals to children in over 44 countries!

How You Can Help

These “hugs” are sent worldwide to those children who need it most! The power of a little stuffed animal for these children in these stressful situations is far-reaching. We featured Loving Hugs as part of our dandelion moms project kindness that spotlights organizations making a difference and offers a way for dandelion moms to help in some way. Please take a moment to look through your children’s stack of stuffed animals and together see which ones they would want to donate for a child who could really use a “hug” from a friend!

What service projects are you involved in?

Details on where to send the stuff animals are listed here: www.lovinghugs.org and to read more about the dandelion moms project kindness go here.

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Research on Educational Programs

PBS Kids offers many wonderful educational programs and recently posted on its website a three-part report from the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania. The study researches the impact educational programming has on school readiness and early literacy skills, and its long-term benefits into adolescence. (Source: www.pbskids.org). I like that this study can provide educators and producers of these educational programs with a more comprehensive understanding of what is needed in educational television to support the development of language and help increase literacy in children.

Educational programs that have been developed with the intention of instructing viewers have been found to successfully impart academic information and support a child’s school readiness and early literacy skills according to the report. (Source: www.pbskids.org). Literacy is the ability to read and write. Many of us grew up with Sesame Street and other educational programs that helped develop these important skills; one of my favorite programs as a kid was The Electric Company!

The report goes on to explain that educational television for pre-school and early elementary aged children are most successful when the kids are interested in the topic. One of the programs we found really fun is the new show by PBS Kids, The Kratt Brothers, that showcases the brothers' adventures on land and in the sea. We had a chance to review the program prior to launch, and we must have watched it no less than 15 times in a week. It was the show my daughter requested every night prior to going to bed. She really responded to the interesting storyline and fun facts about sea creatures. My daughter also enjoyed watching the cartoon version of show where the brothers tried to help save a puffer fish.

As a mom, I feel good about these programs that provide interesting facts about the world around us and help with my daughter’s reading and writing skills. It is all about moderation of course, but to have these educational programs available that support learning and can be used in conjunction with other tools makes for a well-rounded learning experience, and the occasional break for moms!

What are some of the ways you teach the importance of literacy in your home?

References: PBS Kids website http://pbskids.org/read/research/television.html

Photo courtesy of Flickr

Melissa Northway, M.S., is a children's picture book author and mom to a feisty redhead who is her inspiration for most things. Her award-winning book Penelope the Purple Pirate teaches kids the importance of having adventures while at the same time treating others with respect and kindness. Melissa recently created a lifestyle website called dandelion moms that showcases women and their dreams and voices - along with recipes, beauty and fashion tips, and always a fun giveaway. You can read Melissa at www.melissanorthway.com and www.dandelionmoms.com and follow her at @melissanorthway and @dandelionmoms.

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How to Raise Globally Aware Children

Part of this education can be taught at home and doesn’t require passports and spending a lot of money.  Some suggestions include:

Sample Food from Other Countries

You can look for recipes together as a family to try out a dish from Brazil or France. It would be educational and fun to choose a recipe, go to the store together, and then prepare the dish together as a family. Or, if you have a good selection of take-out restaurants that offer cuisine that is new to your family, make it a fun adventure for the night.

Purchase a World Map or Globe

One of the things I enjoy doing is showing my daughter the different places I have visited around the world. My husband does this as well as he has traveled quite a bit in the United States. We then talk about the different places we would like to visit someday and talk about the different languages and foods found in those countries.

Have Your Kids Write to a Pen Pal

This is a wonderful way to develop a new friendship and learn about their culture and foods. See if your school has a system in place or contact your local library. A site called Students of the World has over 200 million visitors and 1 million Pen Pals available! To read more about what they offer go to: www.studentsoftheworld.info.

Purchase Interesting Books or Take a Trip to Your Library

Take a trip to your local library and browse through the vast amount of books available that talk about different cultures. I would choose one culture to study and make an effort to check-out several books about that country.  Maybe once a week or month you choose to learn about France and check out age-appropriate books that will help your child learn more about their history. This could coincide with trying out some of their more popular dishes.

These are just some ideas to help your child learn more about the world around them! Another fun idea is to join Little Passports – A Global Adventure. They offer either a USA Edition or Global Edition where every month, packages arrive filled with lots of goodies and access to online games and activities.  Each month your child would receive a package filled with information about a country or state. To learn more about Little Passports and see what subscription packages are available just go to: www.littlepassports.com

Here’s to raising more globally aware children!

What are you doing to teach your children about the world around them?

Photo from Flickr

Melissa Northway, M.S. in Human Nutrition is a children’s picture book author.  Her award-winning book Penelope the Purple Pirate was inspired by her tomboy.  Penelope is a modern-day Pippi Longstocking and teaches children the importance of treating others with kindness and respect.  Melissa recently created dandelion moms that provide reminders for moms to enjoy the journey as it really does go by so quickly!  You can find her at www.melissanorthway.com and www.dandelionmoms.com and @melissanorthway and @dandelionmoms

The post Culture: How to Raise Globally Aware Children appeared first on Mom it Forward.

Pull-back Busy Santa Book by Usbourne and written by Fiona Watt and Illustrated by Simona Sanfilippo. One of the things I like about this book is that it is both a toy and a book. The Pull-Back Busy Santa Book is designed with tracks that allow you to drive Santa's sleigh as he makes his deliveries on Christmas Eve. Just pull back his sleigh, place it on the tracks, and the fun can begin.  Best for ages 3-6 years of age.

Merry Thanksgiving by Natasha Wing and Illustrated by Isidre Mones. Find out what happens when a boy mails his mother’s grocery list to Santa instead of his Christmas list and the family is marooned by a snowstorm. Offered as an eBook through Pixel Mouse House and found in iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/merry-thanksgiving/id579108877?ls=1

The Nutcracker: A Magic Theater Book by Geraldine McCaughrean and Illustrated by Kristina Swarmer, published by Chronicle Books. If you are a fan of The Nutcracker, you will love this beautifully illustrated pop-up book. Beloved characters from the classic ballet come to life in a classic story retold by award-winning author Geralinde McCaughrean.

The Night Before Christmas by Natasha Wing and Illustrated by Mike Lester. Oh, no! It’s the day before Christmas Eve, and it seems like everything is going wrong! Will this family pull it together before Christmas? Natasha Wing is the best-selling author of The Night Before series and this book doesn’t disappoint!

Dream Snow by Eric Carle. If you are a fan of Eric Carle and his The Hungry Caterpillar book, you will love this timeless classic Dream Snow. It's December 24th, and the old farmer settles down for a winter's nap, wondering how Christmas can come when there is no snow! It is in his dream that he imagines a snowstorm coming and covering him and his animals—named One, Two, Three, Four, and Five—in a snowy blanket. Perfect for ages 2 and up, you will find this a gorgeous book to be a favorite.  

Olive, The Other Reindeer written and illustrated by J. otto Seibold, and Vivian Walsh, published by Chronicle Books. This is a cute tale of Olive, who thinks she is a reindeer and proceeds to head aboard the polar express to the North Pole to help Santa and his reindeers. Though Santa and the other reindeer are a bit surprised, they are happy to have Olive on their team as she shows off her unusual reindeer skills.

Hanukkah Haiku by Harriet Ziefert and illustrated by Karla Gudeon by Blue Apple Books and distributed by Chronicle Books. It is a cultural crossover where we find a traditionally Japanese poetic form used to celebrate the eight nights of Hanukkah. There's one haiku for each night, and stepped pages add one candle to the menorah every time the page is turned. The simple story is enhanced by the wonderful illustrations by Karla Gudeon. Perfect for ages 2 on up.

Light the Lights! A story About Celebrating Hanukkah and Christmas by Margaret Moorman and published by Scholastic BK Services. This book touches on a subject that some families experience—celebrating both Hanukkah and Christmas! A fun story about how Emma and her family celebrate two special holidays every December. First comes Hanukkah, with dreidel games and lighting the menorah. Then comes Christmas, with carols, bright lights on the tree, and presents for everyone!

This is the perfect time to create wonderful memories by reading some holiday books with your children, snuggling by the fireplace, and drinking some hot cocoa. Happy Holidays to you and yours!

What are your favorite holiday books to read with your family?

Melissa Northway, M.S. is a children's picture book author and her award-winning storybook app and book Penelope the Purple Pirate was inspired by her little tomboy.  Penelope is a modern-day Pippi Longstocking who loves the color purple and adventures. You can read more at www.melissanorthway.com and at Melissa's new lifestyle site dandelion moms www.dandelionmoms.com.  Check both sites as we are hosting a 4 iPad Mini Giveaway through the holidays!  Ho Ho Ho!

Featured image courtesy of Flickr.

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The show features Daniel Tiger, who is the son of the original Daniel Striped Tiger from Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. I like that the two 11-minute shows have a common socio-emotional theme, such as disappointment, sadness, or anger. All the feelings that children are starting to learn about and handle appropriately. (Source: Wikipedia.org).

Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood: Play at Home with Daniel App

This month, CloudKid in partnership with PBS and The Fred Rogers Company released the Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood: Play at Home with Daniel app, which features Daniel Tiger, Katerina Kittycat, O the Owl, and Prince Wednesday. The app focuses on having fun while learning about bedtime, bath time, and even pretend doctor. My daughter really enjoyed playing the doctor and giving a shot to Daniel Tiger, checking his heartbeat and ears, and even using a tongue depressor to check his mouth. There are cute animations throughout and Daniel Tiger is a fun character who offers encouragement throughout the story.

The app features four different activities the child can do, such as going to bed, going to the bathroom, playing doctor, and playing with stickers. Each section is quite fun and will definitely keep the little ones entertained. The bedtime activity is great to use as a bedtime story as we help Daniel Tiger go to sleep by closing his bedroom door, tucking him in with his stuffed animal, and putting his favorite blanket over him. The whole time, he is slowly closing his eyes and yawning. Just the thing to help your children realize they are ready for bed as well. However, if you want a more active activity, the sticker game, going to the restroom, and playing a doctor are all good choices.

I think your family will really enjoy Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood: Play at Home app as much as ours does. It is a quality app that helps teach children about daily activities and the world around them as they engage in these different life experiences.

Did you or your children watch Mister Rogers' Neighborhood growing up? What was your favorite part of the show?

Melissa Northway, M.S., is an award-winning children's book author of Penelope the Purple Pirate. Her tomboy was the inspiration to create a feisty (think Pippi Longstocking) female character who likes to have adventures with her friends and teaches children the importance of treating others with kindness and respect. She recently launched dandelion moms that provides tips on staying present and in the moment amongst the craziness of it all. You can reach her at www.melissanorthway.com and www.dandelionmoms.com  @melissanorthway

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What be a Pirate?

What do you picture when you hear the word pirate?  It is probably a frightening looking, crusty sailor with an eye patch sailing the high seas in search of a merchant ship they can attack in hopes of collecting serious pirate booty. This is fairly accurate as the term pirate means “robber of the sea,” and whose life purpose is to attack and take things from other ships.

I have always been fascinated by pirates since I was a child and absolutely loved Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean ride—and frankly, still do! Some former government sailors chose to become pirates and gave up a life of following rules to one of complete freedom. But history shows that some governments would hire pirates to raid enemy ships. The pirate life really has fascinated people for hundreds of years! (Source: The Big Book of Pirates)

 Robbers of the Sea

The history of pirates robbing the seas dates back thousands of years—back to when ships were first built to transport goods across lands. The great ancient civilizations of Greece and Rome had concerns that pirates would attack their merchant ships and steal their valuables, including wheat, wine, and olive oil. Pirates have plundered most of the world’s seas and today one of the most popular places for piracy is the South China Sea. During the Golden Age of Piracy, they were most active in the Caribbean. (Source: The Big Book of Pirates)

Thar Be a Lassie on Board

Cheng I Sao, or Madame Cheng, was one of the most famous and feared women pirates who built up an elaborate 2,000 ship pirate fleet by gathering the pirate gangs in the South China Seas and the Pearl River Delta. Mary Read was another famous female pirate who fought next to Anne Bonny, both of whom kept their identity a secret by wearing men’s clothing and fighting as tough, if not tougher than their shipmates. Grace O’Malley was a sixteenth-century Irish woman who was feared by the English men who came to conquer her country. She practiced the craft of piracy and plundering and led rebellions against the invading English. (Source: Ireland’s Pirate Queen)

 International Talk Like a Pirate Day

International Talk Like a Pirate Day was started by two friends, John Baur and Mark Summers back in the 1990’s. These mates were playing racquetball and came to the conclusion the game would be more interesting if they both encouraged each other by “speaking pirate.” Thus, the day was born and from that day forward, they would talk like pirates on September 19^th of each year. Fast forward to 2002, and they contacted Dave Barry, the famous columnist, who felt this was a necessary and important day for the world to celebrate. His post in the Miami Herald in September 2002 set the stage to an impressive amount of support worldwide. I had a chance to speak to the founders, Cap’n “Mark Summers” Slappy, and Chumbucket “John Baur” and asked them if they ever could imagine that this idea would become a national holiday celebrated around the world with an impressive 80,000 Facebook followers. Both mentioned that it has far exceeded any expectations they might have had but that they are happy to see so many participate and have fun with this day.

AYE! I hope ye join in the celebration on the 19^th and speak some pirate! Your kids will love it!

Do you celebrate Talk Like a Pirate Day? What are some of your favorite pirate traditions? 

References:

Tessaro, Chuck., The Big Book of Pirates, Courage Books by Running Press. 2004.

Chambers, Anne., Ireland’s Pirate Queen, MJF Books 1998,2003

International Talk Like a Pirate website: www.talklikeapirate.com

Captain Funny Bones Photo courtesy of www.melissanorthway.com.

Melissa Northway, M.S., is an awarding-winning children’s book author and has loved pirates since she was a young lassie.  Penelope the Purple Pirate is a fun story about a young girl who likes to have adventures with her friends and has won numerous awards.  Penelope is hosting a Facebook Party on September 19^th to celebrate Talk Like a Pirate Day where loads of pirate booty will be handed out.  Details can be found on her Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Penelope-the-Purple-Pirate/184530521575620. You can find Melissa at: www.melissanorthway.com and www.dandelionmoms.com.

The post Holiday: International Talk Like a Pirate Day is September 19 appeared first on Mom it Forward.

It is a shame that these children from low-income communities do not have access to printed material that is so imperative to their reading acquisition.  The National Education Association states that “students who do more reading at home are better, more proficient readers and have higher math scores.” (Source: www.heartofamerica.org).

Giving Back

Two organizations that are working hard to close this gap include the Pi Beta Phi Fraternity and the Jet Blue and PBS Kids Soar with Reading program.  Both organizations are working hard to put as many books into the hands of families and communities that might not otherwise have access to books.

I had a chance to speak to Ashley Fiene, the Collegiate Services & Literacy Initiatives Coordinator from Pi Beta Phi Fraternity.  This year marks their 100^th year celebration of literacy service.  Their commitment to literacy dates back the founding of a Settlement School over 100 years ago in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.  Their Read. Lead. Achieve Literacy platform includes a partnership with First Book, Champions are Readers and Arrow in the Attic to name a few.  With the help of their chapters, alumnae organizations and individual members they are able to serve the communities most in need.  I was impressed when Ms. Fiene said that with the help of their literacy partner, First Book, they have donated over 2 million books since the partnership began in 2007.

This year marks the second annual JetBlue’s Soar with Reading summer reading program.  They have teamed up with PBS Kids and Barefoot Books to put age-appropriate books into the hands of children who might not otherwise have access to books.  This helps to keep children reading all through the summer months. Part of the initiative includes working with libraries across the country and hosting Soar with Reading events with activities geared to spark the children’s imaginations and curiosity.

The past month I spoke to Icema Gibbs, the JetBlue Director of Corporate Social Responsibility and she explained how part of their program includes the ability for adults to go to their website, write down their favorite children’s book, and for every online submission, an age-appropriate book will be donated to a deserving child!

It is so wonderful to hear of corporations and organizations that work hard to make sure that all children have access to reading material.  Imagine the difference just one book makes in a household that doesn’t have a single children’s book.  It is truly life-changing work that these two organizations are doing.

To read more about the Pi Beta Phi Read.Lead.Achieve platform go to www.pibetaphi.org/readleadachieve and to learn how you can donate a book through the Soar with Reading program simply by filling out the online submission go to www.soarwithreading.com.

What were your favorite books growing up? What are your kids' favorite books?

References:

The Heart of America Foundation www.heartofamerica.org

About the Author:

Melissa Northway, M.S. is a mom, writer and children’s book author.  Her award-winning book Penelope the Purple Pirate was inspired by her little tomboy.  Penelope is a modern-day Pippi Longstocking who teaches girls and boys the importance of having fun while at the same time teaching them to be kind and respectful of others and their differences.  You can reach Melissa at: www.melissanorthway and follow her @melissanorthway

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The key to literacy is one's reading development, which begins with comprehension of spoken words and the ability to decode written words. There are several tips that LiteracyConnections.com has provided on their website for parents to become more active in establishing a love of reading and writing in their children.

How to Help Your Kids Love Reading and Writing

Start to read to your children at a very young age. Don't wait until you think your child is "old enough to be read to." Literacy Connections recommends the habit of reading to your child start well before their first birthday.

Make reading at bedtime a habit. This might take some time to establish but soon you will both be looking forward to this nightly routine.

Have your child help pick out the books he/she would like to have in their regular rotation. This can be hard if they want you to read the same books over and over again, but your child will gain a lot from these repeated readings; it will help them both emotionally and prepare them for when they start reading on their own.

Make it fun. Look at the pictures together and roar like a lion, squeak like a mouse or just be silly together looking at the illustrations. The more a child has a positive connection to reading, the more likely they will continue reading on their own for enjoyment once they learn how to read.

Make up new stories. The art of storytelling and writing is a wonderful skill that can be developed with practice. You can use pictures from children’s books or magazines and create a whole new story.

Programs that Support Literacy

Some programs that support literacy include First Book and Jet Blue and PBS Kids “Soar with Reading” program, both of which provide books to low income families and communities that might not have the money to purchase books for their children or centers.

Mrs. P, one of the most popular entertainment and educational sites for kids online, promotes a love of reading and writing by hosting an annual Be-A-Famous Writer Contest that students from the ages of 4-13 years of age can enter. Kathy Kinney of the Drew Carey Show acts as Mrs. P and offers storytelling via YouTube.

They work with teachers who make this writing contest a classroom project! The winners in the two categories 4-8 years of age and 9-13 years of age have their book professionally illustrated and made into a hard cover book. This year, they are working with some top judges, including Julia Roberts, Melina Gerosa Bellows, the VP and CCO of the National Geographic Kids, and Mary Frances Smith Reynolds, a teacher.

I had a chance to speak to Ms. Kinney who says that “she is convinced that children who read and exercise this skill will grow up to help solve problems and world affairs.” You can read more about the contest and what Mrs. P has to offer at www.mrsp.com.

It is so wonderful to see organizations like Jet Blue/PBS Kids “Soar with Reading” program and Mrs. P provide books and contests that encourage these important life skills. Literacy is a lifelong intellectual process that benefits individuals and the world around them.

 How do you help your kids develop a love of reading? What are their favorite books to read?

Featured image courtesy of Flickr.

References:

• The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) www.unesco.org
• Literacy Connections: www.literacyconnections.com
• Mrs. P Be-A-Famous-Writer Contest: www.mrsp.com
• Jet Blue/PBS Kids “Soar with Reading” Program: www.soarwithreading.com

Melissa Northway, M.S. is a mom, writer, and children’s book author. Her award-winning book "Penelope the Purple Pirate" was inspired by her little tomboy. Penelope is a modern-day Pippi Longstocking who teaches girls and boys the importance of having fun while teaching them to be kind and respectful of others and their differences. You can reach Melissa at: www.melissanorthway and follow her @melissanorthway.

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The Aristocats App

The Aristocats movie was released in 1970 and is noted as being the last film to be approved by Walt Disney himself before he passed away in late 1966, before the film was released. This is a classic Disney tale about a family of aristocratic cats and an alley cat who helps them after the butler kidnaps them to gain his mistress’ fortune, which she intended to leave to the cats.

The Aristocats storybook app opens up with the feature that allows you to take a picture of yourself that replaces the moon.  We had a good time with this activity and took turns taking silly pictures of ourselves! Your child can also type in or paint their name so that others know it belongs to them.

We are then introduced to the Duchess and her three kittens: Berlioz, Toulouse, and Marie. When you touch the kittens, their names are repeated and pop up across the screen. This feature is repeated throughout the story. They all live with their rich owner Madame Adelaide Bonfamille. The animations are simple and add to the storyline, like when Duchess is sitting in Madame Bonfamille lap who rubs her head and the Duchess blinks her eyes in appreciation. This is a great storybook app that offers an early reader assistance with the story highlighted as it is read.

Throughout the story, you have the ability to stop the story and do different activities, such as making a puzzle out of one of the scenes or painting in an illustration that you can email to share with friends and family. It is easy to navigate and in the upper corners are arrows to move the story forward or go back to the beginning. This is quite sweet and any cat lover will enjoy this Disney classic with its rich illustrations, music, and interactive surprises.

Brave App

Work on this movie began back in 2006 when Brenda Chapman (one of the writers) and several members of the crew visited Scotland to research the landscape used in the film, including the Eilean Donan and Dunnottar Castles, and the Callanish Standing Stones on the Isle of Lewis, which was the inspiration for the circle of standing stones that appears in the movie. It is wonderful to see a movie that doesn’t have your typical fairytale romance and focuses more on the relationship between the main character Merida and her mother Queen Elinor. I won’t get too much into the movie except to say that my daughter and I really enjoyed watching a strong female role model in an action-packed adventure.

The Brave storybook app, recently released by Disney and Pixar, is a wonderful addition to your library. The first page allows us to choose if you want to Read and Explore, Follow Along, or play some of the interactive games. There is also a narration on/off button to record your own voice reading the story if you so choose. There are lots of options in this colorful and fun app.

The illustrations are wonderful and you are taken to Scotland on an adventure with Merida and her family. The animations are quite silly, like when the redheaded triplets jump over each other when you touch them. These animations are a nice addition and will keep your little ones entertained. There are puzzles, coloring features, and Merida’s Challenge is quite fun! Merida is riding on her gorgeous black horse trying to hit marks that you have to touch as she rides quickly through the forest. It is more challenging than you would think. Disney has put out a quality product with the Brave App and sure to be a new favorite.

What are some of your favorite apps to play with your kids?

References:

http://www.pcmag.com

http://disney.wikia.com

Featured image courtesy of Flickr.

Melissa Northway, M.S. Human Nutrition, enjoys writing, reading, and yoga. Her daughter was the inspiration to write about a feisty redhead who likes to have adventures with her friends and loves the color purple. Penelope the Purple Pirate is a Top 25 iTunes app and the book was recently chosen as a 2012 Award Finalist from Readers Favorite. You can reach Melissa at www.melissanorthway.com and @melissanorthway.

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Steps to an Organized Life

Take Baby Steps

One of the ways she keeps on top of things is by doing a “Spring Cleaning” four times a year. She will go through each part of the house and analyze if an item is something they need and use or if it is just taking up space. Set aside three large boxes that are labeled Trash, Donate/Give Away, and Sale. This will help you to separate the items quickly and not place them at random spots around the house. I have been known to do this, so this idea has really worked for me! The item could be something nice that you know a friend would really enjoy, so you can put it in the Give Away box.

Ask for Help

You can also incorporate the help of your family members. At first, you might need to sit with your child, and even husband, and go through their toys and clothes together. The idea to make money on something that you or the family is not using is usually enough incentive to put the item in the Sale box. We have a yearly neighborhood garage sale and my friend mentioned how at first it was hard for her son to part with certain toys, but he was so excited when he realized he could get some money for items he was no longer using. By the time the next garage sale came around, he started organizing things he wanted to sell all on his own—with price tags and everything!

Take it Room by Room

My organized friend recommends working through each room in the house, one room at a time. This includes closets and all the clothes we don’t wear. By sifting through our closets and getting rid of clothes we haven’t worn in over six months to a year, we are better able to see what we really have. Also, go through drawers, under the sink, etc. Try not to get too attached to things that are taking up space. By freeing up our space, we are freeing up our ability to really enjoy things and not feel overwhelmed by all the clutter.

Make it Fun

I love technology just as much as the next person and would be lost without my iPhone or iPad, but when it comes to writing down things I need to do, I am old school and write in my journal. Erin Condren of www.erincondren.com makes absolutely the best journals and calendars that help busy moms stay organized. I spoke to Erin a few months ago and she said she gets a lot of satisfaction when she is able to cross items off her lists of things to do. I am the same way and was even able to get a picture of my daughter for the front cover of one of Erin’s Life Journals. You should check it out as Erin has made it simple and stylish for you to get and stay organized.

Keep Up with the Photos

If you are like most parents, you have hundreds of photos stored up on your iPhone or iPad. I came across an app recently that was designed by a mom, called Kid-Capsule by Zen Labs Apps, that helps you keep your photos organized. This app allows you to create and edit events, add journal entries for every event and milestone, create profiles for each family member, and even add videos to the galleries. This app allows you to keep a journal of your life and your children's lives who are growing up right before your eyes! It is a bit like journaling but without the paperwork or the time commitment. You can read more about this cool app at www.kidcapsuleapp.com

One of the things my good friend said that stuck with me is that “If you have too much stuff, you don’t see what you really have, which in turn makes it hard to really enjoy it.” This is so true! In Feng Shui, they talk about getting rid of the clutter to keep the mind and body sound. Here is to taking baby steps to starting afresh! I plan to take it day by day, room by room, and not have a deadline as this might put too much stress on me. Good luck with your journey and remember that by organizing your space and life, you will have more time to enjoy all the magical moments of truly living! Keep me posted.

What tips and tricks have helped you organize your home and life?

Featured image courtesy of Flickr.

Melissa Northway, M.S. Human Nutrition writes children’s picture books and apps.  Her daughter was the inspiration for Penelope the Purple Pirate as Penelope - and her daughter are all about the adventure!  Penelope was recently chosen as a 2012 Readers Favorite Award Finalists and is one of five children’s preschool books chosen.  You can contact her at: www.melissanorthway.com, @melissanorthway and on Penelope’s Facebook Page:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Penelope-the-Purple-Pirate/184530521575620. Sign up for her newsletter as she hands out pirate booty to her subscribers.

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