The 411 On Being Prepared for A 911.

A few months ago, my husband and I woke up to the smell of something burning. Fortunately it was not a fire: the control board on the furnace had malfunctioned. I couldn't help but wonder what if it had been an actual fire. Of course my initial thoughts were that I would make sure everyone got out safely. But then I thought about whether I would be able to grab my purse or other important items. What would I do if I lost my license, credit cards, or even my medications? This set me on a mission to be as prepared as I could should an emergency arise. So I started gathering all my important papers and items I would need and put them in a fireproof safe. What you put in your emergency kit will depend on your situation. Here is what I put in mine:

All original identification papers. I made a photocopy of my license as this is one case where the original needs to be handy at any given moment. I put originals of our passports, marriage license and birth certificates in the safe and made photocopies to keep in my filing cabinet.

Photocopies of all credit card accounts. I made sure to copy both the back and front of the cards as most now have a security code that is needed for transactions. The back also contains important customer service phone numbers.

A list of bank account numbers. In addition, I put a few blank checks in the safe just in case I needed to access money. I figured that in the event that I had no ID or ATM card, I could write a check to a family member so I could get cash in an emergency.

Photocopies of important insurance papers. I included both life insurance and home insurance.

A few days worth of medications for all family members. I figured doing this would help reduce stress in the event of an emergency as it would likely take a few days to obtain replacements. Emergencies are stressful enough without the added burden of medical complications. Other papers I included were original health care proxy forms, extra medical insurance ID cards I had on hand and medication lists for both my husband, myself and my dog (don't forget your pets!).

A few important lists. One list was of family contacts. I usually program frequently used phone numbers directly into my cell phone and know I would have a hard time remembering them off the top of my head. I also included a list of all my computer accounts and passwords.

Unleash Your Organized Me!

Take Note!....A Time Saving Study Tip.

It's official! I am a college student again! Being an older adult learner, I was a little unsure of how I would adjust to my new schedule and develop good study habits. Always the organizer, I put myself on a mission to find ways in which I could use my time most efficiently. Here is one study tip I have found to be particularly useful.

As I read through my assigned material, I keep a blank stack of index cards handy. When I come across a term or an important point in the reading, I write it down. That way, when it comes time for me to review the chapter or study for an upcoming test, the cards are all ready! They are also quite portable. I can stick them in my purse and pull them out to look through when I am waiting in line at the bank or during other situations when I find myself with "down time". When the stack of cards gets thick, I store them in a shoebox (separate ones for each course) with dividers for the different books and chapters.

Unleash Your Organized Me!

May Day! May Day! Organized Party Planning!

Next to December, May and June seem to be the busiest months ever! With Mother's Day, Father's Day, birthdays and graduations among the numerous events, party planning skills are essential! I myself am in the process of helping plan my brother's wedding (which of course will be a topic for a future post). In the meantime, here are some party planning survival tips.

Get out your appointment book! If you don't have one already, consider purchasing a nice planner. I highly recommend one that gives you a week at a glance but still has a lot of room to write down daily appointments and tasks. Anything less is not sufficient in my opinion. While we are on the subject, make a habit to write down all personal and business reminders and appointments in this book. Keeping separate books is too confusing and may lead to forgetting something important!

Make a timeline! Once you have a date or even a targeted month for your party, write down all the necessary to do items. I recommend starting backward from the date of your planned party. For example, start with what you need to do that day (ex. pick up cake, decorate, meal preparation). Next, write down those tasks that need to be done in the days, weeks and months before the party. Create a deadline for each task and write it in your planner like you would an appointment. People tend to think they have more time than they do in reality! The last thing you want to be doing is to be scrambling around last minute! Check out http://www.partyspot.com/ for planning tips and checklists for a variety of events!

Pick a theme! I find that picking a theme for your party is quite helpful in the planning process. It helps narrow down decisions when selecting decorations, favors, food, etc. Speaking of which, great places to purchase party supplies online are http://www.orientaltrading.com/ and http://www.factorycard.com/.

Delegate! Don't be afraid to ask for help! If you have a large event to plan and have trouble finding willing friends and family members, hire a professional organizer or party planner. For large events, the fee is often worth it as the knowledge they possess can often save you money!

Unleash Your Organized Me!

Suffering from Writer's Block....New Posts Coming Soon!