Photo Finish

If you like to take photographs, you have a lot of opportunities to add to your collection between now and the end of the year. Digital cameras allow you to take unlimited pictures, without having to get photos developed. What do you do with all those images?

If you want to keep them in digital format, copy them to CDs. For the best protection, buy brand-name CDs that are labeled “archival.” The layer that records information is made of gold, which is more durable than a regular CD. To identify your CDs, you can print labels or write on the clear plastic inner rim. Solvents in standard markers might damage the backing on the disk, so look for non-solvent markers that are labeled for this use. Store CDs in plastic cases and handle them only by the middle hole or on the outside edge to prevent damage. You can then organize your CDs by date, event or location.

Organized by Marcie: Getting you organized so you have time to do what you love to do!

Photo Finish

If you like to take photographs, you have a lot of opportunities to add to your collection between now and the end of the year. Digital cameras allow you to take unlimited pictures, without having to get photos developed. What do you do with all those images?

If you want to keep them in digital format, copy them to CDs. For the best protection, buy brand-name CDs that are labeled “archival.” The layer that records information is made of gold, which is more durable than a regular CD. To identify your CDs, you can print labels or write on the clear plastic inner rim. Solvents in standard markers might damage the backing on the disk, so look for non-solvent markers that are labeled for this use. Store CDs in plastic cases and handle them only by the middle hole or on the outside edge to prevent damage. You can then organize your CDs by date, event or location.

Organized by Marcie: Getting you organized so you have time to do what you love to do!

Dumping Medications

What do you do with medicine that you no longer need or use? Both prescriptions and over-the-counter medications have expiration dates on their labels, after which they should not be used. For many years, consumers were told to flush unused drugs down the toilet to avoid putting them in the trash. However, when you flush medications or send them to landfills, they can make their way into rivers and even drinking water. More than 80% of rivers are testing positive for drugs like antibiotics, hormones and antidepressants.

To dispose of drugs properly, check with your local pharmacy to see if they have a drug disposal program. If not, you can do a computer search of drug repository programs for your state. If you have current medications that you cannot use, The Starfish Project takes donations of antibiotics, vitamins, pain medications, and many others by mail and distributes them to people in Nigeria. Visit http://www.thestarfishproject.org for more information and a list of pills they accept.

Organized by Marcie: Getting you organized so you have time to do what you love to do!

Dumping Medications

What do you do with medicine that you no longer need or use? Both prescriptions and over-the-counter medications have expiration dates on their labels, after which they should not be used. For many years, consumers were told to flush unused drugs down the toilet to avoid putting them in the trash. However, when you flush medications or send them to landfills, they can make their way into rivers and even drinking water. More than 80% of rivers are testing positive for drugs like antibiotics, hormones and antidepressants.

To dispose of drugs properly, check with your local pharmacy to see if they have a drug disposal program. If not, you can do a computer search of drug repository programs for your state. If you have current medications that you cannot use, The Starfish Project takes donations of antibiotics, vitamins, pain medications, and many others by mail and distributes them to people in Nigeria. Visit http://www.thestarfishproject.org for more information and a list of pills they accept.

Organized by Marcie: Getting you organized so you have time to do what you love to do!

Too Many Toys

Sometimes parents think that by giving their children everything they can afford to, and keeping them constantly entertained, they are being a "loving" parent. In reality, loving parents set boundaries and teach children how to take care of their possessions. If you buy your children everything they ask for, what lessons are your children learning about the value of things?

Instead of giving in to every request for a new toy or electronic gadget, talk to your kids about how much they have and what is reasonable for you to buy. Have them make a list of things they want and let them know that they can expect to get some of them for birthday and holiday gifts. Relatives and friends will be glad to know that the gifts they give your child are things he or she really wanted.

Organized by Marcie: Getting you organized so you have time to do what you love to do!

Too Many Toys

Sometimes parents think that by giving their children everything they can afford to, and keeping them constantly entertained, they are being a "loving" parent. In reality, loving parents set boundaries and teach children how to take care of their possessions. If you buy your children everything they ask for, what lessons are your children learning about the value of things?

Instead of giving in to every request for a new toy or electronic gadget, talk to your kids about how much they have and what is reasonable for you to buy. Have them make a list of things they want and let them know that they can expect to get some of them for birthday and holiday gifts. Relatives and friends will be glad to know that the gifts they give your child are things he or she really wanted.

Organized by Marcie: Getting you organized so you have time to do what you love to do!

New Use for Old Shoes

Nike, the athletic-apparel company, has a program called Reuse-A-Shoe. They recycle any brand of used athletic shoes and create sport surfaces with the recycled material. Shoes are ground up and processed into new material to make sports surfaces like soccer and football fields, basketball and tennis courts, running tracks and playgrounds. You can find a location to donate old shoes by going to:
http://www.nike.com/nikebiz/nikebiz.jhtml;bsessionid=P2ILUJ3VCJTLMCQFTBFCF5AKAWMB2IZB?page=26&cat=reuseashoe&subcat=us

Organized by Marcie: Getting you organized so you have time to do what you love to do!

New Use for Old Shoes

Nike, the athletic-apparel company, has a program called Reuse-A-Shoe. They recycle any brand of used athletic shoes and create sport surfaces with the recycled material. Shoes are ground up and processed into new material to make sports surfaces like soccer and football fields, basketball and tennis courts, running tracks and playgrounds. You can find a location to donate old shoes by going to:
http://www.nike.com/nikebiz/nikebiz.jhtml;bsessionid=P2ILUJ3VCJTLMCQFTBFCF5AKAWMB2IZB?page=26&cat=reuseashoe&subcat=us

Organized by Marcie: Getting you organized so you have time to do what you love to do!