When I am old and grey and look back on my years as the parent of youngsters I reckon one of the things that will stand out in my mind is the perpetual challenge of keeping things labelled. Lunch boxes, uniforms, school bags, ballet costumes, shoes, drink bottles, books, bike helmets, socks – arrgghhh it’s never-ending. I guess I shouldn’t complain that much, as in the back of my mind I can still see my mum sitting stitching labels onto our school clothes with a needle and thread. I know a needle and thread – how last century 
For me it’s much simpler. I have two nice stashes of naming labels for each child. One I keep in my ‘school file’ in my desk and the second I keep near my ironing board. Ready to go and always on hand at a moments notice. Around here nothing escapes the label mad mummy!
Okay, I should confess that until recently I actually only had labels for two out of my three little pink people. But then the lovely team at Stuck on You approached me to review their products and so I took the opportunity to get a new 5+ value pack for the littlest pink. She had just a little bit too much fun picking out designs and colours and was beaming when they arrived a couple of days later in the mail box. I also got some awesome personalised bag tags for all three girls school/kinder bags. I’m all set now – I’ll be happily and easily labelling things for years to come with my current stash.
Do you have things that need to be label at your place? Well Stuck on would love to give one lucky reader a 5+value pack so you can go labelling mad too. To enter follow these three simple steps:
- Leave a comment below telling me a clever hint you’ve found for keeping life simple and organised.
- If you are nice enough to share this giveaway on facebook or twitter please feel free to leave a second entry comment.
- Follow The Truth About Mummy in any way you like (facebook, twitter, email or reader feed)
- Giveaway is open until Midnight 12th of July, 2012 and has a total value of $54.95.
- (Check the T&C tab for full T&C).
- Disclaimer: I received a 5+ value pack and 2 bag tags from Stuck on You for completing this review.
{ 87 comments… read them below or add one }
Congratulations Rachel. Thanks for the giveaway link.
Leah Cron recently posted..Benefits of HGH Releasers
We have a place for everything, and everyone in the house knows where it is. Life is so much simpler when things are put back straight away!
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Shared on twitter ( shellyto4kids)
I have a toy cupboard with boxes in each cubby hole. Cars in one box, animals in another etc. great for keeping toys organized.
Other than that, family calendar with a column for each family member is essential in this household
I was tired of my kids forever losing the matching socks, now everyone in the house wears white socks the same brand, it makes it so much easier when folding the washing.
Liked on FB
I thrive on Organisation. I dislike being tardy. Set a routine. It will take time to fit into this routine but I Guarantee it does work and is Flawless.
I try and do a mass cleanout, not always with a great deal of luck, especially if the helpful’s are not there!
This year at School, my son managed to lose his 3 jumpers in 3 days…could not belive it!!!
Following on Twitter
Finally – If I get a block of time to do some serious clearing/ cleaning (bliss!), I set the alarm so that ten minutes before time’s up I can put equipment or any last items away (even if it means they go back where they were before, they won’t be lying in the middle of the room for weeks until I get another precious hour!)
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Ongoing baby steps. I throw out/ put away 5 items whenever I’m doing something mindless e.g. discard empty loo rolls and shampoo bottles when brushing teeth; stack dirty dishes while making a cuppa; you get the idea…
I put things to go out IN FRONT of the door, not next to it where you can’t trip over them… (recycling, Bags, passports…)… I use a small trolley so I can let visitors in!
I have a card file with diary sections and sections for thoughts, ideas, grumps, dreams. More fun and easier to use than a diary and more accessible than a computer. I pop in a card when I think of things, and flick through the file before bed every night.
With four kids I colour code everything in their favourite colour so we all know who owns what and stops the arguments e.g. cups, bowls, plates etc.
First, forgive yourself! Allowing a mess to build up does not make you a bad person, it makes you a human being, with better things to think about than what you’ll be cooking for tea next Friday (and who knows what’s going to happen then?). Take baby steps NOW. (See my further entries for suggestions…
My tip would be to get cute little storage options form everything. If it’s nice and pretty and fits with your decor it makes organization that much more enjoyable and easier. For example, i store my makeup in cute little wooden white boxes that are carved with elegant patterns and grooves in them. The room looks prettier and my pieces are organized, saving me time and sparing me the stress!
Label your spice rack, any containers in your pantry and rountines!
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shared on twitter @mandachic
Write a ‘TO DO’ list so that nothing is forgotten and all the important stuff is done
Shared on facebook
I have always been a list writer- for jobs, shopping, packing for trips etc
Prioritise and check off as you go.
If it isn’t in the Diary, it doesn’t happen!
Spend 10 minutes each night tidying things up ready for the next day.
Everything is in baskets. No more messy cupboards!
Don’t do it all yourself. Involve your partner, kids. Give everyone responsibility. The more you do for them, the less self-sufficient your family will become!
Shared on twitter!
Ever since taking on my partners grandkids at the age of 50+ it becomes very important to label and tag all there things 2 boys 1 girl. games is our biggest challenge. And if you mix it up its like world war 3. Cheers
Chore charts best things ever!
Zip lock bags are my absolute best friend for organising all sorts if things. A few examples are; I use them when packing for a trip, I can see through them, so find things easily and if storing bathroom items , if they leak it is contained. they are totally fab for freezing soups and other foods, you flatten them out to freeze, and can them stand them on sides to stack neatly in freezer, plus you can write the date etc on them, so cool! Also great for popping a few lollies in your handbag incase the wrapper gets out of control, you won’t end up with a sticky mess, just all contained in a neat zip lock woohoo! I just loves them!
Hi Rachel, congratulations as you’ve just won the Stuck on You giveaway on my blog
Thanks so much for entering. Can you please email me your address and an email and the lovely people from Stuck on You will be in contact so you can choose your labels. thetruthaboutmummy@gmail.com
Cheers Caz
have shared on facebook (tracy wedding) and twitter (sweetheart31 )
a label maker is a great tool to help organise as you can label anything and then people know where to put things
Got a big cube thing and the kids toys go in there. If the toys dont fit in their specific tub then its time for a clean out to donate our extra toys!
To put things back where I got them from, then they’re in the same spot every time you want them.
For general organisation I tag everything in a particular place (drawer/cupboard/file) with a coloured dot. Each time I ‘use’ an item I remove the tag then after 6 or 12 months, if something still has its tag then it hasn’t been used and is obviously ‘clutter’. Takes time but it works so well.
I used to be a hoarder, and I seem to have an aversion to the filing cabinet.. so the single biggest organising tip that’s working for me at the moment is – don’t bring it into the house in the first place! Emailed receipts and correspondence save an overflowing inbox that requires filing, and buying/accepting less toys, clothes and household items means that there’s less objects to clean up and find homes for. I’m still working on it though.. I feel like I’m constantly walking around finding things that we simply don’t need!
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A chalkboard/corkboard near the fridge for jotting down app, kids newsletter ect.
When the house is quiet at night
I try to get some organisation done for the following day
eg. lay all the kid’s clothes out, put the first load of washing in,
make the kid’s lunches, get all notes out for school.
Makes things a little less stressful each mad morning!
I love the white board removable stickers, I have one on both my girls bedroom doors, great for quick reminders, wear you choir pants, library day or a subtle CLEAN YOUR ROOM hehehe
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unload the Kids:-)
unload the husband:-)
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A daily To-do list is a must for this Mummy to stay slightly sane and a small diary stuck to my handbag to keep everything written down so my baby brain (yes this does exist
doesn’t forget anything!
A Family Calender where each person has their own column – works brilliantly at our house
Spend an hour planning each week – who’s going where, what we will eat, regular chores, errands to run: follow the plan, and most things will get done!
If something new comes into the house, like shoes, then the old pair has to go–theoretically, we don’t end up with too much stuff.
Be organisés and label évertuons and files
I just tweeted as well
We have a large family, and we have given each child a colour…and their toothbrush and towels are that colour- I find it far easier to keep track of what belongs to each person. Oh, and I know instantly whose towel it is when someone drops one on the floor!
I keep things organised by having a cleanout at the end of every season. Clothes and toys that the kids have outgrown are regularly taken to the op shop, leaving their room (a bit more) clutter free
my super hint for keeping life simple and organised for my family of six is that everything gets written in my diary. Each evening I check the diary and make sure the appropriate (labelled!) items are laid out, such as the netball uniform, or the clarinet is by the front door so we almost trip over it on our way out! smiles and thanks for the chance to win such a useful prize.
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As a nanna I like to send ‘snail mail’ to my grandsons so have come up with the idea of sending them a craft activity each week. Sometimes I was rushing to get them ready. Now I do a few weeks at a time. Paper plate activities are quick and easy to prepare…loads of good ideas on-line. Have paper plates lined up on the bench, cut coloured paper, add pipe cleaners, stickers, googly eyes etc…if I find the idea on-line I print a picture so that they can see what the finished item will look like. Put in large envelope…I have printed labels of their names and addresses. Usually I send a surprise but yesterday those chose which one they wanted to get in the mail on Skype!
I love seeing their finished products and the activity gives their mum a bit of time to do something while they are busy.
This activity can be aimed at their individual age levels and abilities.
I don’t have any practical hints for keeping life simple and organised. Being a mum is complicated and made me disheveled.
Life is organized by spending a few mins the night before laying out clothes fir the next day, making lunches etc. It makes our lives sooo much easier.
Since having baby number 4 I have started setting small chores for the kids too who are 9,5 & 4. I find them packing up their rooms etc is a huge help & they actually love being involved and getting a little pocket money.
Clothes washing everyday is another way I keep on top of things
As for labelling, I am currently a sharpie mum too who writes their names on everything so would love to win some funky new labels for the kids
Organising weekly meals on a Sunday means I know what I am cooking for the rest of the week, children can suggest meals, your stress over feeding the family is gone, shopping is done quickly and cheaper, impulse buying is avoided, its a clear Win Win!!
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@KazEdwards23
I write everything down in my diary so nothing is forgotten, especially at the moment – Baby Brain!!!
Tweeted the giveaway!
Tara recently posted..3 (weeks) with 3 (kidlets)
After reading some of these tips, I feel like the least organized person I know. It’s any wonder I can leave the house on time every Pre-School morning!
When my son started Pre-School, I was adamant I’d label everything. Instead, I ran out of time and spent the night before he was due to start for the year writing his name on everything with permanent marker!
Even so, he’s already lost a jumper and a hat!
Tara recently posted..3 (weeks) with 3 (kidlets)
My calendar is the basis of my organisation. Prioritising helps to keep our lives simple.
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My kids have a hamper that goes in their room that I put all their clean clothes in, less mess in the rest of the house that way.
Organised – hmmmm, doesn’t feel like it at the moment after having been sick this week. These days, being organised seems to consist of writing everything down – my good memory went out the door with two kids and sleep deprivation.
Have shared on fb
Have allocated spots for mail, keys etc
I try to keep my life simple & organised by getting rid of STUFF. Don’t STUFF things in cupboards or rooms, use or or lose it.
I’m working on being organised we are currently looking into extending our home as we have no storage so the house gets very messy easy and makes it hard to be organised
Everything has a place in my home, that way we all know where to find it. From young, my children have learned where items are found and where they belong and go back to, once used. Simple and effective for us anyway.
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Lisa wood recently posted..Birthday Celebrations While On The Road
Life simple and organised? – Less stuff! We only have what we must have with us and its amazing how easier it is to live with what we only need instead of want
Lisa wood recently posted..Birthday Celebrations While On The Road
Have a specific place for everything. It’s the random bits and pieces that have no real home that create most of the mess.
It is really hard to be a mom to our kids. However, as we saw our kids that grow on the right pathway as moms we definitely feel proud of what we did in order for them to grow as good person.
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Magnetic clips on the fridge are a useful storage system for incoming mail so that they are not left lying around with junk mail. No more lost rego stickers oops……
Following The Truth about Mummy on FB, Twitter.
Some hints I have learnt over the years
-simplify life, have less stuff!
-make use of the word No!
-be in control and Delegate!
-check in with Caz hourly for humorous updates! Stopping for a laugh is good for the soul!
Hey there!
One handy hint for organisation that I find useful is to store a quilt cover set folded inside one of the pillowcases for that set!
It’s very neat & keeps everything perfectly organised!
I would LOVE to win some Stuck On You labels for our foster daughter’s school things!
I just started following you on twitter but I’ll go like your Facebook page now!
Ash
xxoo
Ash recently posted..What rituals give you life??
Pre-make lunches for Kindy and School then label and freeze them. eg. cheese muffins, scrolls, quiche.
Being organised is a addition to some..wish I had it lol. I love pretty boxes eeverything gets stored in preetty boxes then you can label the box
A big, day to a page diary/planner so nothing is overlooked or forgotten – it’s there in plain ink, clear as the nose on your face. So no excuses for anyone….kids and Dad’s included, to all pitch in and get things done.
Since we started doing this, life’s become a simple & organised breeze.
I shared the giveaway on Twitter @FunkieFrog
https://twitter.com/FunkieFrog/status/218193887104208899
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I’m not the best at keeping things neat, tidy and organised, but have found that if I put the important things back in their special spot, I will know where they are when we are running late and need to grab them in a hurry! Like when we are going to Kindy and we are borderline running late
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what a greaat idea and one i would love to share with my family
Me too. This is really a great idea. I learned a lot from it.
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Shared on Facebook too (Erica Mealy)
With 3 small boys everything is colour coordinated. Clothes bins, toy bins, craft supplies…either purple, green or blue.
You cannot really avoid that your mom really cares for you. That is the responsible of a mother.
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I did the label thing for my little pink when she started daycare 4 years ago.. but haven’t got around to re-filling. I’m DESPERATE to win!
My way of managing labelling at the moment is rather old school (and flawed I might say) at the moment.. I keep a sharpie/permanent marker in my cutlery draw so that miscellaneous containers that aren’t labelled (cos hubby’s stolen the labelled ones!) and clothes can be labelled as we walk out the door.
Its not a good system but its worked so far (mostly I think cos my little one is VERY particular about putting her things away properly – not sure how I got one that does that
). Oh and the other tip is the Dymo labellers have a tape that is iron on too!!! not as pretty but a little more last minute 
.. if only I had one of them .. instead of stealing my folks!
was there a word limit? I think I might have gone past it :-\