LOVE that the kids are back in school... Loathe all the paperwork! I'm super lucky that my kidlet's elementary school has a Friday Folder system. Every Friday they send home 'the pile' of papers for that week. No getting 3 Monday, 4 Tuesday etc. They bundle and send. Come Monday they return their 'Friday Folders' to the teacher with the 'signed' documents or checks for school pictures. It's a BRILLIANT SYSTEM! I highly reccomend you march right into the principals office and demand they hop on the same train... tell them I said so... I'm happy to be the bad good guy. In the meantime... Here's a simple system that may work wonders for you with or without the above mentioned 'friday folder' system~ FOR ALL THE PAPER 1. Carve Out a Small Space to House the Incoming Paperwork. [I use a corner of my kitchen island] 2. Designate Categories that work for your Student. [To Do. Doing. Done] plus [MOM] for the stuff you need to hang on to. The [MOM] file... Is hidden behind the 'Done' file above... you don't have to keep it there, you can keep it with your other mom stuff. TIP- if you place... Continue reading

"How Do I Organize all the Paper?" I get this ALLLL the time... So, I thought it would be fun to answer some of your questions on AM Northwest! Because there's never enough time to go into all the fabulous details... and there are SO many more HOW-TO DETAILS AND TIPS that I want to share with you! Over the next week, I'll tackle each question in the segment... Check back in or get the posts delivered to your inbox... It's easy... just click on the cute orange box below! Cheers to getting more organized! Continue reading

Thought you'd like all these links so that you can get your Back to School groove on~ Organize all their art with the fabulous new app! ARTKIVE . . . LOVE this Student Planner from www.OrderooChaos.com . . . The Portable Homework Station [perfect for tweens + teeens] via my Chica Kim at Today's Creative Blog isn't it CUTE! . . . Find the quickest route to the big game and the least expensive place to fuel up using the app WAZE . . . Custom Water Bottles from CafePress.com To recreate mine, click here and use the 'athletic font'! . . . The cute Lunch Notes are Free Printables from MakeandTakes.com . . . And these adordable First Day of School Printables are from HowDoesShe.com, you'll need to register for their newsletter to gain access to their free printables. . . . Back to School ideas... check out my Back to School + other Pinterest Boards as well as Last year's segment "Taming the Morning Chaos!" If you learned a new tip or trick, pin the pic below! ~ Continue reading

If you've wondered where I've been... I've been at the ballpark cheering on 12 incredible young men, sitting in the bleachers with their mamas, shaking my DIY noise maker-shaker, and making memories with my family. What a spectacular way to spend summer #45! Photo courtesy of Windows on Life SO Proud of my son Wes and his fellow Lacamas Little League All-Stars! [handsome lil' devils aren't they! Can you pick out my boy?!] I hope you are all having a wonderful summer... I look forward to spending more time with all of you once the kidlet's are tucked neatly back into their classrooms! Cheers to the Boys of Summer! Continue reading

Are you kidding me?! I cringe when I hear the words "I'm bored." Some person... I'm fairly certain it wasn't my own parents, that told me "Only boring people, get bored" #DamnRightStraightup Hope these tips help keep you sane this summer, whilst the kidlets take over your house, your life, and every waking moment in between. And just a friendly reminder... This is really more for me than you, remember they will only be messing up your house and begging you to take them swimming for a brief chapter in your life. If the video above doesn't work... click on the image below~ Continue reading

Yes, I'm talking about when you gotta go... One or Two. Just how does one ORGANIZE such a thing... If you accompany me to my commode you'll find my toiletries organized like this... Cottonelle is asking just what does one NAME such a thing? When we're [i'm talkin' girls] are out and about... we usually ask a girlfriend to 'go' with us. I'm not sure how all that got started, maybe it started in the ol' days when you would leave the men alone to pay the dinner bill. #hmmmmmaybe Maybe you used a code name to excuse yourself from the table... maybe not. But either way, off you went to take care of business. When I was approached to help Cottonelle come up with a name, I thought sure, I'll even ask my girlfriends to help. #notabigstretchisit? And I realized that I would be quite happy getting a sample kit of Cottonelle Toilet Paper and Wipes :) I promptly 'organized' my stash of Ultra Comfort Care toilet paper and Cottonelle Fresh Care Flushable Wipes in my bathroom... I wasn't ready to share the good stuff with the kidlets #howdidweeverlivewithoutflushablewipes? Some of you may recall that I've had, ahem, issues.... Continue reading

Rules for Organizing your Closet Haven't worn it in a year? Toss it... oh no you don't! Take a peek at why you don't need to follow the rules... Continue reading

I'm focusing on the little things in order to accomplish the big things. Most of you know I had stage 3A breast cancer... I had a big frickin' checklist to work on. 26 months later, now that is, I'm checking off the last of my surgeries. "we can only hope to rebuild her". I'm built, more like stacked if you know what I mean ;) Once again, I underestimated how surgery kicks me in the ass. How it steals my vision, robs me of energy, makes me tear at unexpected turns, and tethers me from being the mom I want to be. Quite frankly it's harsh. It's been harsh all along... But somehow I forget, like one forgets that giving birth or having a newborn is utterly difficult... I tell myself that this one will be 'easy' because how could it actually be MORE difficult than 6 months of chemo, bi-lateral mastectomy, etc. [ETC....] My body isn't as strong as she was before, I reckon I'm still a bit angry at her for turning on me. And yet I'm thankful she has pulled me through. Through my tears, as I type, I'm not looking for your cheers, your empathy... I'm... Continue reading

Should we hand over our iPhones to our kidlets? Is all the technology too much for them? Join Me at the appSmitten Twitter Party Wednesday, May 16th at 6pm PST 9pm EST to discuss apps + kids #familyapps [it just may be educationally sound!] Preregister to be entered in a $50 iTunes Giveaway! I'll be moderating @kristacolvin along with @appSmitten @tcreativeblogs Special Guests include @angela_watson @ToryJohnson’s @mommyblogexpert Take a looky at my favorite productivity apps I think you'll love them :) Continue reading

Tips for Organizing Your Photos! This morning I shared my Photo Organizing tips with you! Products Shown in the segment: [ the Photo Sorting Signs] will be sent out directly to my SHE VIPs... To make sure you get that info, please join the other lucky SHE VIPs! Click here to become a SHE VIP! Continue reading

I LOATHE when the phone rings and I can't find a phone.... How do 4 cordless phones NOT find their way back to their bases? So today... while looking at the pretty things in Pottery Barn, I bought this. PROBLEM SOLVED :) What's an issue that you have that can simply be solved by the purchase of a new item... no sorting, no purging, no donations... just a straight up purchase? #don'tgoallcrazyonmenow Continue reading

Clever... Take a quick lil' survey and get apps recommended for you. Kind of like a fun magazine survey but better ;) [it was created by super smart PHD people ] because apps aren't just fun n'games... This past week appSmitten added and Special Needs App Contributors Debra Nipp and Amy Hero #smartgirls [licensed occupational therapists with nearly 30 years of combined experience between them] They specialize in Autism Spectrum Disorders, Down’s Syndrome, Sensory Processing Disorder, ADHD and learning disabilities. Most of you know that I started doing some tweeting + facebooking for appSmitten... Take a sec to follow + friend them... you'll make me look like i'm doing a stellar job and you'll be in the loop for the best apps out there. follow on twitter- click here friend on FB- click here PLUS here are my PRODUCTIVITY APP recommendatons- click here Have an 'appy day! #yesi'macheeseball Continue reading

I'm feeling it... Baseball games [little league] started! #goDodgers, Spring Break is over... and my garage looks like it's had a long winter's nap. I decided I couldn't take it any longer.... I get completely overwhelmed thinking about my garage, probably more so because I took pictures of every corner full of crapola #seeingitonfilmisalwaysworse I decided to just tackle one area. I could do that, I could knock that out without working up a sweat. Honing in on the 'mud room' section would give me the most bang for my buck. The rest can wait for warmer weather and some help getting the 'keepers' into the attic. I even spruced up my hubby's section, not much, but just enough to not drive me crazy. There wasn't much to get rid of... some recycling, a few cast offs and a pile of goes-elsewhere items... A little accomplishment amongst a mess of a space... because there's more to tackle... told you so... Continue reading

Last week I introduced the Time to Check in... I declared I would mend some pillows... the holes were pretty obvious #yathink? Do you like my 1970's pin cushion? #tustinmemorialelementaryschoolannualboutiquecirca70's It took me 14 minutes to mend 3 pillows that's from start to finish. It's taken me longer to take the photos, upload, edit, blog + post about them ;) and... I said I would sell some items leftover from my daughter's room redo. As I type the cute lil' side table/cupboard is setting out front with a sign on it. I also listed it at Rumgr which is a fun lil' app. But oh no, I didn't stop there... Bam, I knocked out my hubby's t-shirt drawer. It was simple, I added expandable drawer dividers like these from Storables. #it'sthelil'things and nope, I didn't even stop there... Now his socks are sorted... #yes,whatanicewife #yesthisisadifferentdrawerdividerbutdoesthesamething There's even more... I went into the garage #ohyesidid However, I'm going to save that for another post #tease So Chicas... what have knocked out?! Continue reading

Today on AM Northwest I shared some products that I discovered [and some that were featured in the "Organizer's Favorite Things" break out session at the annual NAPO [national assoc of prof. organizers] Conference in Baltimore! Oh hello fabulous Hidden Recycler from Rubbermaid! When you need some organizing inspiration.... Getting Organized Magazine-a new quarterly publication. Take a peeky at these 'organizing task cards' from Get Buttoned Up! 30 days to fabulous! Pliio! I bought these for my son's t-shirts... I'm a whiz at folding but he needs a some major help ;) As soon as he saw me testing it out, he wanted in on the folding action. His sister got the bug too! #tomsawyereffect 3M is all over it again! They've gone full sticky on their infamous Post-it notes and updated their command hooks to include a line of clear hooks... in my opionion they're so much hipper than the ol' white hooks. This Meeting Planner from Mead is perfect for all your 'meeting' notes! I was bummed I ran out of time during my segment because I didn't get a chance to tell everyone about WallMates [also from Mead]... Quick, Easy, and Repositionable :) I think I'll use... Continue reading

I'm feeling it... and hearing it. Frogs, birds, the scramble to get out the door for little league practice. Pretty lil' flowers bursting open! Spring! Glorious put-the-leaves-back-on-the-trees Spring! I'm also feeling it... the urge to clear clutter, reorganize, drop a few lbs. Yesterday I tackled a chaotic area of my garage [more on this later this week] I should really think, I mean do, something about the lbs... but hey whatever, it's easier to drop clutter lbs and more fun. #who'swithmeonthatn My gig over at appSmitten has me reviewing productivity apps... and oh yes, this month I found a few incredible apps! Need to off some of your clutter? Get the kid's doing chores? Need THE list for cleaning routines? Got you covered sistah'. Take a looky! Just a reminder... signing up is Free, you pick a daily or weekly email specifically based on your tech gadgets~ but the cleaning is up to you :) Do you have some fave Spring Cleaning Apps?! Do Tell... I'd love to know! Continue reading

Ok Chica Chicas... It's time for a fun new [possibly monthly] challenge! Because quite frankly sometimes you just need a lil' kick in the spanx... Introducing the... You can accomplish quite a lot in 5 Minutes... Trust me... but if you don't or just need some proof take a peeky at these 5 Minute Projects Tulips... they deserve a stiff cocktail5minutestofabulous Tame a Pile5minutestofabulous Your Handbag, Junk Drawer, Closet, Mud Room, Landing Zone5minutestofabulous Organize Your Accessories5minutestofabulous All Those Socks5minutestofabulous In the Kitchen5minutestofabulous Some pics of my own messy house5minutestofabulous and this one because truly I can be a mess5minutestofabulous or how about these pics on my 5 Minutes to Fabulous Pinterest Board Let's declare "Now is the New Later", set your timers, and let's knock out some 5 Minute Projects! Who's with me?! 1. Declare your 5 Minute Project [3 ways- pick one or do all three] [1.Pin the 5 Minutes to Fabulous badge above to your Pinterest Board 2. leave a comment here on this blog post 3. comment on my FB page] 2. Set your Timer for 5' 3. Knock it out! 4. Optional: Post before + after pictures on my FB page facebook.com/kristacolvin.lifestyle [because it's fun to... Continue reading

I'm getting in touch with my appy side! I've been researching, reviewing and sharing productivity apps over at appSmitten as their Productivity Contributor. #coolgighuh?! Recently I recommended an app that helps remind me to take my daily meds... and another that allows me to deposit checks from my iPhone! take a peeky I love getting their daily email... I feel so in-the-loop when it comes to apps... and that's quite a fete considering I'm the girl that got sick to my stomach going the computer lab in college.#yesthat'strue #i'vecomealongwaybaby Join me... we can compare which apps we like [and don't for that matter]. It's a free service #lovethat and if you sign up it makes me look fabulous because I may or may not have told them I've got pull in the organizing industry ;) BONUS* I've got a lil' something fun for you! "Share" this blog post with a friend, then in the comments write: "I referred a friend to appSmitten" [while you're at it, share your fave app if you have one] You'll be entered in a Drawing for a $50 iTunes gift card courtesy of appSmitten :) Winner will be picked on Friday, March 30 at 5pm... Continue reading

"Organizer's Favorite Things," a dazzling parade of the latest and greatest in organizing products and resources. CREATED BY Allison Spitzer Carter, CPO® + Krista Colvin NAPO CONFERENCE 2012 Organizer's Favorite Things [Tools of the Trade for the Modern Home and Home Office] It's no surprise how much Professional Organizer's adore Organizing Products... But which are our absolute faves... which products float our boat... We Proudly Present the 2012 Organizer's Favorite Things. THE MODERN HOME [Products Chosen based on New Problem, New Solution. Old Problem, New Solution. Design, New Design. Upcycling. Resources. Services] LABELING Free Printables + Templates. Way Beyond Adhesives. [so many incredible new options] Free Printable lilyjanestationery.typepad.com Chalkboard Labels from Organize.com Clip-On Label Holder Set Aluminum Marking Tags- Gempler TAGstore Boxes- The Container Store Recycle Labels from Poppytalk.blogspot.com Pantry Printables from BHG.com General Household .Function meets Fabulous. [ Building a Better Mousetrap. Ever so Clever] Bento from Rubbermaid with Internal Flex Dividers Wall Cleat Cord Organizer- Oboiler Over The Cabinet Door Pockets Tension Rods- from BHG.com The Entry/Landing Zone "Now Why Didn't My Builder Thing of That?" EKBY RISET from IKEA Under the Stair Drawers Drawer Decor Cupboard Tamer- Harriet Carter The Family Handyman Southern Living Mugs- Anthropologie- they... Continue reading