Merit Badges for Grownups

Photo courtesy of Library of VA

The Girl Scouts are celebrating 100 years of building “girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.”  Lost in all the chatter about famous former Girl Scouts is the fact that I, too, was a Girl Scout.  I started as a Brownie and went all the way to Junior Girl Scout before I deemed it uncool. 

I loved everything about Girl Scouts, including crafts, cookies and camping.  My favorite thing, though, was earning those badges. I collected badges as fast as I could, to prove my scouting prowess.  I still have my sash, although I’m sure it wouldn’t even go over my head at this point.

Back when I was a Girl Scout (and no, that picture was taken long before my time, love the gloves), badges were given for cooking and reading and good citizenship.  Now there are badges for computers and movie making and travel.

As an adult, I would love someone to recognize my endeavors in courage, confidence, and character; therefore, I think it’s time to introduce badges for grownups.  Here are my submissions:

1.    The Clock, awarded for getting places on time

2.   The Lips, awarded for saying “no” and meaning it

3.   The Dinner Plate, awarded for eating meals that didn’t come from a bag

4.   The Day Planner, awarded for finishing what you start

5.   The Drawer, awarded for putting things where they belong

6.   The Computer, awarded for persevering instead of calling tech support

What would you suggest as an adult merit badge?  Click on Post a Comment, below, and tell us.

Organized by MarcieTM:  Save time and money by letting go of what you don't need and

finding room for what you value

Follow me on twitter and facebook

And if you like what you've read, share it using the links below!

Organize Your Home Office Day

Next Tuesday is Organize Your Home Office Day.  Whether you actually work at home or use a space in your home to keep track of paperwork, you need an area that functions well for you.  It doesn’t need to be large or fancy, just functional.  Here are some ideas for starting your home-office project:

* Make sure you really will work in the space you designate as an office.  If it’s dark or uncomfortable, you’re probably not going to want to spend time there.  Adequate light and comfortable seating are necessities.

* Keep in your office only what you need.  Don’t load up on supplies and materials because you “might use them someday.”

* Use technology whenever possible to reduce the amount of paper in your office.

* Limit the number of decorative items on your desk. You need plenty of room to spread out when you’re working on a project and you don’t want to have to move things around that get in your way.

* Remember that you don’t need every piece of paper at your fingertips.  Archives can be kept in a closet or in another room.  What you reach for regularly can be kept in a desk drawer or file box on top of your desk.

The photo of the office shown here is from my pinterest board.  You can find lots of great ideas for offices on pinterest.

Do you have a favorite item that makes working in your home office more enjoyable? Click on Post a Comment, below, and tell us.

Organized by MarcieTM:  Save time and money by letting go of what you don't need and finding room for what you value
Follow me on twitter and facebook

And if you like what you've read, share it using the links below!

Leap Year

This year February has 29 days, so you get an “extra” day for 2012.

What would you do if you suddenly found 24 hours you didn’t have before? Would you work more? Exercise? Spend time with people you care about? Watch TV or look at videos on the Internet?

Like most people, I find myself saying “I don’t have time for that” when I don’t want to do something.  The truth is I do have time.  I have time for things I have to do and things I want to do.  I just have to decide how I want to spend the 24 hours I get each day.

I was reminded of this concept when I read a post on a blog called Marc and Angel Hack Life.  Their "Practical Tips for Productive Living" include lots of ideas, some of which you might not have thought about before.

Among the tips they offer are some that I believe in and practice, like choosing to do things that are meaningful over things that have little payoff.  True, I take my periodic pinterest breaks, but I also choose not to read every joke and watch every video that someone forwards to me.

Make the most of your year by choosing to do the things that are most meaningful to you.

Organized by MarcieTM:  Save time and money by letting go of what you don't need and finding room for what you value
Follow me on twitter and facebook

And if you like what you've read, share it using the links below!

Presidents Day

Originally two holidays, celebrating the birthdays of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, Presidents’ Day is celebrated on the third Monday of February.

At some point, retailers began to use the holiday as a marketing ploy and it's become just another reason to shop. 

Because I’m all about saving you some Washingtons and Lincolns, here is a Web site that allows you to print free lists.

I’ve found the home maintenance log and kids’ information for caregivers to be very helpful.

Thanks to mui from simply mui photography for passing on the link.

Organized by MarcieTM:  Save time and money by letting go of what you don't need and finding room for what you value
Follow me on twitter and facebook

And if you like what you've read, share it using the links below!

Alternative Valentine gifts

Nothing says “I love you” better than a thoughtful gesture.  This year, save money and the agony of finding the right Valentines Day gift.  Give the gift of yourself, instead.  Here are some ideas:

• Take on a chore that the person you care about really doesn’t like to do

• Volunteer to do a task cheerfully that you have been putting off

• Create a romantic atmosphere by clearing the clutter in your home

These gifts aren’t only about not buying something; they say that you truly care about the other person.  Even if you go out to dinner or buy flowers, you can surprise your significant other with a task you’ve completed.

What can you do to express your love that won’t add to your debt or another person’s waistline?   Click on Post a Comment, below, and tell us.

Organized by MarcieTM:  Save time and money by letting go of what you don't need and finding room for what you value

Follow me on twitter and facebook
And if you like what you've read, share it using the links below!

Remembering to do the Occasionals

Periodically I realize that I need to do something like dust the bathroom light fixtures or the tops of the doors or pictures.  These aren’t chores I do regularly and I tend not to think about them until I notice that something is dirty.

Tasks that need to be more done more often are taken care of regularly.  I know that I need to do certain household chores weekly and maintenance issues, like changing the furnace filter monthly, go on my calendar.

The sticker in my windshield for my next oil change reminds me that I need to get that done, but what about all the other things that need to be accomplished occasionally?

Since I can’t fill my windshield with reminder stickers, I realized that I need to put all my quarterly, semi-annual and annual tasks on my calendar.  When the activity comes up, I can do it or reschedule it for another day. 

How do you remember when to do occasional chores? Click on Post a Comment, below, and tell us.

Organized by MarcieTM:  Save time and money by letting go of what you don't need and finding room for what you value
Follow me on twitter and facebook

And if you like what you've read, share it using the links below!

I Lost 20 Pounds in 1 Weekend!

Sounds like an ad for one of those dubious weight-loss products.  I didn’t lose that kind of weight, though.

Saturday I went through the guest-room closet and replaced a rolling cart with a larger one from the basement.  I keep gifts in the closet, along with some childhood keepsakes.  Occasionally, I re-evaluate how much things mean to me and whether someone else could use them.  I wasn’t able to let go of the box of kids’ books yet, but I did say goodbye to some old things I was hanging on to.

On Sunday I went to the basement to look for a set of casters I had taken off the rolling cart several years ago.  I thought they were in the big popcorn tin where I’ve kept spare hardware parts for 20 years.  They weren’t in there, but I did find lots of things that I will probably never use again.  I pulled out the few things I might actually use and designated the rest for donation, along with the tin.  Some handyperson is going to be very happy to get it.

The popcorn tin was a holdover from my apartment days and it worked well.  Now, though, I have a tool chest with drawers, where I keep supplies for fixing things along with tools.  Getting rid of the excess stuff allows me to keep everything in the tool chest, instead of having two places to look for things.

Could you lose a few pounds?  What would you like to let go of over the next week?  Click on Post a Comment, below, and tell us.

Organized by MarcieTM:  Save time and money by letting go of what you don't need and finding room for what you value
Follow me on twitter and facebook

And if you like what you've read, share it using the links below!