On a typical day parents are juggling many things: meals, activities, school, homework and keeping the house reasonably clean. In 30 minutes you can turn your home from a chaotic mess to something manageable.

All you need is a kitchen timer. Set it to 30 minutes, play some fun music and then…

#1.     Fill your kitchen sink with soapy water and gather all of the stray dishes and cups from around the house. Put them in the sink.

#2.     Get a laundry ba...

Posted on April 10, 2013 at 6:30 AM by Jessica Schanberg

Thinking about moving to the suburbs?

Many families love raising their children in the wonderful neighborhoods of Chicago. For other families, the quality of the public schools and multitude of child-focused activities draws them to the suburbs. Some suburbs offer a happy blend of close access to the city and ease of suburban life. If you are considering a move to the suburbs, here are a few things you can do to help decide if it is the right choice for you, and, if so, make the transi...

Posted on April 01, 2013 at 6:00 AM by Sally Mabadi

Being a parent is a tough role in itself, let alone when you’re playing the role for two.  With double the work and half the time, it is necessary to have some effective organizational tactics in place.  But these don’t have to be complicated; a few basic changes to your routine and your family’s lifestyle can really help alleviate the stress and create a happy household.

Here are some ways to reduce the challenges of having to play the dual role:

1) Mea...

Posted on February 27, 2013 at 7:00 AM by Pooja Gugnani

Thousands of students across Chicago start the school year with brand new backpacks, pristine folders and spotless notebooks. Why, then, are the backpacks, lockers and desks of so many students already a complete mess before the leaves on the trees begin to change?

The likely answer is difficulty with executive functioning. Executive function skills such as organization, time management and planning help students stay on track in school and assist them in managing the compl...

Posted on October 05, 2012 at 6:57 AM by Rachel Bernstein

Now that September is here, our laid back summer activities are being replaced by a more structured fall schedule. Prepare yourself and your home for new routines with these organizing tips and ideas for getting out the door faster: 


This weekend: Purge


Clear out outgrown (or no longer loved) coats, hats, gloves, and shoes so it is easier to find what you need when you need it.

Once you have a bag of items to donate, find a great organization that needs...

Posted on September 14, 2012 at 6:00 AM by Sarah Nelson

Many times we get stuck in a rut in our kitchens. There’s stuff everywhere and in no particular order. The first thing to do is to take stock of what you have versus what you really need. These are just a few suggestions that may help you make your kitchen easier to use and less cluttered.

#1.  Prioritize Gadgets & Appliances: You may have a lot of gadgets and appliances that you almost never use. If you can part with something and sell or donate it, then you will...

Posted on May 16, 2012 at 9:00 AM by Jessica Schanberg

Feeding a family can get chaotic sometimes, so I thought about some ways that you can simplify and organize your refrigerator, in order to make cooking dinner and other meals easier.

The first step is to take everything out of the fridge and clean it. Throw away old condiments and old food. Once your fridge is clean, you can start putting things together in a more orderly fashion. Keep like with like. Fruit in the fruit drawer and vegetables in the vegetable bin, for example. Keeping d...

Posted on March 21, 2012 at 5:30 AM by Jessica Schanberg

With New Year's over and holiday chaos behind us, this can be the most opportune time to clear out all the holiday clutter as well as start the New Year off right.  An exciting time to anticipate the freshness of a new calendar and the chance to accomplish important organization tasks that got overlooked during the holiday festivities. 

Here are some organizing activities that can be done individually or as a family to help you ring in 2012 in an organized fashion!

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Posted on January 12, 2012 at 7:30 AM by Pooja Gugnani

Digital Overwhelm - We all take tons of pictures these days. With digital photography and iPhones, it’s possible to amass quite a collection of photos of your family and friends. It can be very overwhelming. Where to begin? PLUS, turn these amazing moments into great gifts and keepsakes for your whole family.

Choose one event at a time and try not to process and organize too many photos at once. That can lead to total burnout.

iPhoto and Albums

The first step...

Posted on November 03, 2011 at 8:00 AM by Jessica Schanberg

The morning rush hour can be exhausting and frustrating.  Does the start of each day feel like a battle with your kids and the constant search for what you need most to get out of the house?  Nevermind the pressure to actually make it to school or an activity on time!  Here are a 5 ways to keep things organized:

1) The Bowl of Essentials

The first step towards getting out of the house quickly is to have a handy bowl of essentials. Never search for your keys, phone, o...

Posted on September 28, 2011 at 9:00 AM by Jessica Schanberg