3 Smart Ideas For Busy People

Busy lives deserve a little smartness added to them, and so here are some easy ways to keep your home fresh and tidy, in minutes.

1. Remember opening the tool cupboard, reaching for the nuts and bolts in your box and having them spill all over! It usually happens when you're in a hurry. Ensure bits and bobs, nails and screws and nuts and bolts stick together by placing magnets in the box with them.

2. There's nothing worse than donning rubber gloves to clean the dishes and then finding them hard to pull off. Run your gloved hands under cold water for 5 minutes and watch them slip off with ease!

3. Getting down on your hands and feet to find that lost screw or back of your earring can be painful, not to mention time consuming. Slip on an old sock over the hose part of your vacuum and switch it on. The vacuum will find the object and the sock will prevent it from getting sucked in.

If The Shoe Fits, Buy It!

Now that autumn's upon us, it's time to bury those old boots and shop for some new ones. When buying closed shoes, remember the following:

1. Take your own socks with you: If you are going to be wearing stocking or socks, grab a pair of your 'regular' socks before you head out to the store. By slipping on a pair of the same thckness as the ones you plan to wear on a regular basis, you'll have no surprises after you've bought the shoes.

2. Test the shoes by walking on a hard surface. Stores are usually carpeted which leaves the shoes feeling soft and comfortable. Trying finding an uncarpeted section of the store on which to test the shoes.

3. Test your toes: Remember that you feet swell during the afternoon, so that's the best time to try on your shoes. In any case,there should always be a small space between the ends of your toes and the shoes. Wriggle your toes around. If you can still feel them, then the shoe fits.

Take Five!

Now that we've cut back on the TV, we technically should have more time to do other stuff around the house. But it's as busy as ever. Which is why I'm delighted to have discovered this amazing website. Called http://5min.com, it has instructional videos which show you how to do a host of things, in just 5 minutes! Learn to carve a pumpkin, find the right concealer, even cook a meal....all in under 5 minutes.

Checking it out has got to be worth 5 minutes of your time!!

Getting Rid Of The Idiot Box

With the advent of summer vacations, our TV gets its fair share of workout and the kids, an overdose of brain drainage. I had promised myself this summer would be different. We were going to Disneyland and spending time in California with my family; the grandparents were coming to visit us for three weeks; we had enrolled the kids in swimming lessons and finally, I had taken some time off from work to spend it with them. This being the case, I was pretty sure TV-time wouldn't fit into our plans.

So, how was it that the TV got switched on every morning for an hour...and then again post nap time? It was too hot to go cycling, the kids overslept and missed swimming and were bored and cranky, the grandparents wanted to chat and so on and so forth.

I personally grew up with one hour of TV a couple of times a week and a whole load of books on a daily basis. I remember lying on our blue and white cotton checked bedspread, counting down the minutes till Star Trek started, and the intense disappointment if for some reason I had to miss it. I also remember multiple weekly visits to the library to browse and borrow stacks of books, comics and later, magazines.`

And now, years later, it seems that my kids who have inherited my love for books, have also inherited my love of TV. In desparation, I turned to the neighbours and friends! One had cut their cable while the others saw nothing wrong in allowing their kids to watch TV during summer. After all, they learn so much, one pointed out; and it gives us time to get our work done, intoned another. I saw reasoning in both their arguements. But it didn't help me. And so I read parenting magazines and bothered other mums in the park, till I finally came up with the following solutions:

The Jar Method: Take two jars and fill one up with 20 beads or coins or shells or rocks. These represent 1/2 hour TV watching increments. Whenever your child asks for the TV and it gets switched on, they need to put one bead/coin/shell or rock into the other jar. Once the 20 are transferred, no more TV. The kids get to decide.

The Money Method: My kids don't get money, but I could see this working for older kids. At the start of the week, give each child $7. Each time they watch one hour of TV, they need to give you $1. If they hand over all 7 dollars, their TV time is over for that week. If they don't hand it all over, they get to keep what's left and spend it as they choose. A great way to teach them the value of money and TV viewing.

The Advance Decision Method: Select an hour of choice in advance and then the TV gets switched on only during that hour. I usually tell my kids rather than ask them - they are 3 and 5; I am....well, much older. So it works!

As a last resort, I suppose we could get the cable cut, but then how the heck do I find out who kisses whom in Desparate Housewives; who sleeps with whom in..... hmmm, maybe I don't watch that much TV after all!

Reinventing The Old Me!

I used to be a 'high-flying' executive. Literally! I worked in a public relations company in Europe and one of my roles was to oversee the PR for British Airways in 15countries. And so I travelled the world...business class style!

That however was over 4 years ago. In 2005 when we moved to Vancouver, I decided to give up my 9-5 job and stay at home with the kids. Having said that, I didn't give up my career entirely, just put it on hold for a couple of years. And so when I finally got back to launching my own writing firm, Write Choice For You (http://writechoiceforyou.com), it was done in between juggling feeds and diaper changes.

And now the kids are older and I have more free time on my hands (or less, given that the company is growing as are their extra-curricular activities); I've decided to re-evaluate my 'work' life. And what an eye-opener it's been. It actually all started when a friend and neighbour came over to visit. I dug out some not so old photos of mine when I worked with the aforementioned PR firm, to show them to her. And her exact words 'wow, you used to look great'!!

Of course when someone says that to you, the first thing you do is show them the door. And then I began to think of her reaction and had to admit there was something to it. I'm so used to 'putting the kids first' and 'appreciating all that my husband does', that I haven't really taken the time to think of what I've achieved these last few years - launched a new career as a freelance writer, written for some amazing clients, broken into the luxury magazine market and made some wonderful networking friends.

So this is the new me...and read on, it may just be what you need too!

1. Accept compliments: I'm great at promoting my work, but I still often shy away from personal compliments. Not anymore. If the kids are doing great, then hey, I do have a hand in that. If my souffle fails to collapse, then yes, compliments to the chef. You dish out the praises and I'm happy to receive them.

2. Exercise your mind and body: I forgot how good it was to run...and run and run. I try and get in some morning jogging at least 4-5 times a week and my toned body thanks me for it. And I try and catch up on my reading late at night after the kids are bathed and bedded...my mind says 'yes' to all it's being fed!

3. Think positive and be positive: I'm avoiding all the nay-sayers and being cheery no matter the grey weather we're having. And it's paying off big time. Positive does attract positive and I can see the results in my new jobs and new friends.

4. Dress for success: I don't discount tracksuits; they can be super comfy. But unless you're going to throw on half a kilo of gold around your neck and fingers and get into the 'rappin' business, they are definitely not work-wear. Leave yours for lazy Sundays and dress for success, even if it's just you, your cat and your laptop.

5. Clear clutter: And finally, clear you desk, drawers, closets and life! Get rid of old bills, broken pens, clothes that don't fit and partners/friends who are unbelievers. Give yourself a streamlined lifestyle which allows you to focus on who you are and what you want to be.

So that's my plan....what's yours?