Vacations?!!?!

Aren't they supposed to be fun, relieve the stress, escape from the day to day grind, etc. etc. Then why is it such a pain in the butt to get there? I'm talking about the:

• Deciding where to go or what to d0
• Trying to figure out the best/cheapest way to get there
• To use free miles or get a "cheap" (if there is such a thing) internet fare
• Muddling through every airline website time after time because I can only look at that stuff for so long
• Where to stay
  
• Panicking over how much it is really going to cost

It's so easy to procrastinate doing all of this...............There went that cheap fare!!!! UGH!

Boo Hoo

Fess up!! How many dries eyes were really in your house last night while watching the big blue boys of The Biggest Loser? Not mine!

The Big O

One of my favorite things is the art of being organized. I probably spend too much time getting organized. My philosophy is: Take the time to get it together and less time will be spent later having to look for something. Nothing drives me crazier than wasting time trying to find something.

A few of my tips for saving time (I know a couple of these are insane):

• Purchase plastic boxes (when they are on sale, of course) and put anything and everything in them that will fit. Of coarse do so in a very logical fashion. I have boxes of pencils, paper, garden tools, tape, coffee, nuts, bolts, and all of those other little tiny things that belong in the garage/shed/workshop.
• My hubby thought organizing his little screws was totally crazy. He now actually thanks me every once in awhile when he can retrieve something without having to dump out that old box and spend 30 minutes finding the perfect replacement.
  

• Buy a label maker. I know for some of you this is over the edge. How do you know what is in that plastic box if it doesn't have a label? Label everything! It's pretty fun, really.
  

• Color code your closet. Once colored coded, I also hang shirts in order from the shortest sleeve to the longest. I must admit though that the sleeve thing can get out of order pretty easily. I've even gone to hanging the hubby's dress shirts by: solids/stripes/plaids. I haven't heard any comments so I'm really not sure if he even notices.

• Put those spices in alphabetical order. It's a pain, but it really is easier in the long run.

• Deal with the e-mails as you get them or set aside a time during the day to file or delete them. We all know how haunting hundreds of e-mails can be. Assign appropriate files and put them where you can find them a year from now.

• If you have children, put toys and books on low shelves so that they can learn to put them away by themselves. There is no reason for you to spend all of your time picking up their things because they can't get to the place where you put them. Besides, what does that teach your young one? Only that Mom or Dad is supposed to clean up after me. I for one, didn't want that message to be broadcast.
  

• If you haven't used something in a year, get rid of it! Get to know your closest Goodwill. No need to clutter up your space with unused, obviously unnecessary stuff. Besides, it's a tax write off.
  

I know some of you are probably hyperventilating by now. Really, if you take the time to do some minor organizing, you can spend more time doing what you love, instead of panicking over trying to find something you know you have, somewhere. GOOD LUCK!