Preparing for Disaster, Planning for Survival | Building the Under Bed Kit

Are you ready?

For the “big one?” The big earthquake, the epic hurricane, the flu pandemic?

By Marvin Nauman/FEMA (This image is from the FEMA Photo Library.) via Wikimedia Commons

A recent Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) survey found that nearly 60% of American adults have not practiced what to do in a disaster and only 39% have developed an emergency plan. This despite a study by Environment America that claims 80% of Americans live in counties that have suffered a weather-related disaster since 2007.

And what about something smaller – like a three day ice storm or a twelve hour traffic jam – are you ready for that?

By Nathan McCord, U.S. Marine Corps, via Wikimedia Commons

A couple months ago we lost power during a wind storm. My son described our two hours of life without the internet as “living like cavemen.” Clearly his concept of a disaster is limited.

September is National Preparedness Month, and once again we are hearing about the importance of creating an Emergency Kit and Plan. I’ve written about this before, even hosted a neighborhood readiness meeting; but truth be told, I’m as woefully underprepared as most.

By Red Cross (This image is from the FEMA Photo Library.), via Wikimedia Commons

So here’s my thought. What if we created our Emergency Kits together? I’ll discuss one type of kit every week this month, with easy step-by-step instructions, and by the end of the month we'll all be ready.

By Tony Webster from Portland, Oregon (House Fire), via Wikimedia Commons

THE UNDER BED KIT

We spend about 30% of our time in bed, so there’s a good chance of encountering an emergency while sleeping. It might be a benign power outage, but could be a fire, earthquake, or tree falling through your roof.

Plan for broken glass and outdoor conditions.

This is what you will need for a very simple Under Bed Kit:

THE UNDER BED KIT
CONTAINER	Box, Bin or nearby Drawer
SUPPLIES	Shoes Flashlight or Headlamp Gloves Clothes (for nude sleepers) Bonus Items (hard hat & escape ladder)
PLAN	Exit (ID two exits from each bedroom) Meeting Place (an outside location) Pets (consider them in your plan)

Here’s a picture of one of our kits:

It was so easy!

I found most of this stuff lying around the house.

 It took me less than 30 minutes to prepare four of them.

GO BUILD ONE NOW!

Come back next week and we’ll build THE CAR KIT.

 The next one will be the STAY AT HOME KIT.

And finally, we will build the very important IDENTITY KIT.

By the way, the following websites have loads of information about disaster preparedness:

The American Red Cross

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (the CDC)

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

Ready.gov (a part of FEMA)

June 26th | Take Your Dog to Work Day

With tomorrow being take your dog to work day. I thought it would be nice to share with you my pup. His name is Dasher. Mark your calendar and make your plans.

A Swing Set With a Purpose

My daughter at 14. Swing sets are her "happy place."

 My daughter turned 15 last week and for her birthday we built a swing set. An unusual gift for a teen? Probably - but it was in sync with my mission statement – and though I didn’t know it at the time – it turned out to be the perfect gift.

My son at 17. Apparently teenage boys like swings, too.

Do you have a Mission Statement?

A personal one – not just a business one?  I keep reading about people who write strategic plans and they wonder why they didn’t do it sooner. Because apparently when we operate from a clear purpose, everything else falls into place – or so I’ve heard.

I recently created a strategic plan for my business and simultaneously sketched one out for my personal life, too. It’s been the ultimate in project management, stretching my brain from big pictures to tiny details.

Strategic Plan Basics

Vision

Mission & Purpose

Core Values

Strategies & Tactics

Goals & Objectives

I spent hours trying to differentiate Mission from Purpose. This article from the Disney Institute proved extremely helpful, as does this Simon Sinek Ted Talk. But don’t get tangled up in definitions (like I did) – just get some basic thoughts on paper and you’ll be on your way.   

Here It Is

My “purpose statement” is shaping up to be something super simple and stripped down – like:

JOY

Not the happiness that comes from a nice house or a good meal, but the deep down JOY that comes from living life abundantly.

My husband adds the finishing touches.

And this is where the Swing Set enters the Picture

I was thinking about my daughter and what brings her JOY, and images of her smiling and swinging came to mind. My husband and I agreed life was too short to worry about dead spots in the lawn and went to work on this swing set. It was completed just hours before her party.

A simple swing set with a simple purpose.

 Now it gets really Exciting!

This is what my new 15 year old has since been doing while on her swing:

Laughing with her brother

Playing outside

Singing

Studying

Talking with me

Jumping

Chatting with Grandpa

Enjoying a slice of birthday cake on her very own swing set.

I knew the swing set would bring her JOY. But I didn’t know the swing set would simultaneously address many of my other objectives: decreasing “screen” time, for example. 

If you’ve never considered a strategic plan for your personal life, give it a try. I can certainly attest that when you operate from purpose, things do fall into place.

NAPO2015 Expo Fun New Products

The National Association of Professional Organizers held their Annual Conference and Organizing Expo last week. Though I found no shortage of new and innovative products to keep us productive, these four simple items spoke to me as they addressed some of my own organizing challenges.

The NEET Cable Keeper by NEET Products

Tired of that tangled mess of charging cords? This handy new product – like a zippered sock for cables - actually serves a dual purpose. It keeps your cords knot-free and separate from one another; while an internal wire (think wire-edged ribbon) allows you to “shape” your cables and protect their connection sites.  My recommendation: zip a different colored one over each charging cord for tangle-free organizing.

The Time Timer Watch PLUS by Time Timer

The Time Timer is much revered by those who:

·         overestimate task completion times

·         underestimate task completion times

·         struggle with ADHD

·         need to “see”  the passage of time

·         like to focus for short periods of time

The watch version keeps the amazing Time Timer concept “on hand” at all times – and who can resist the lime green? My recommendation: try the Watch PLUS if you’re already a Time Timer fan; newcomers can get acquainted with Time Timer via the APP. 

The Wrap iT Gift Wrap Organizer by Wrap iT

Rolls of gift wrap are unwieldy at their best, boxing partners at their worst. This gift wrap organizer is the best I’ve seen. The deluxe version will even tame those longer 40” rolls! Plenty of pockets hold cards, tags, bags, ribbon, bows, and of course, scissors and tape.  The bag has a slim silhouette and hangs nicely in a closet. My recommendation: by two – one for all occasion and the other for the holidays.

The Grab n’ Go by Finder Enterprises

Part charging station, part personal valet, the Grab n’ Go by Finder Enterprises is a simple solution for those oft’ misplaced items like keys, phone and wallet. Available in white or smoke, the Grab n’ Go can accommodate up to six mobile devices, comes with pre-printed plus blank labels and is affordable at just $24.95.  My recommendation: declare a “no electronics in bed” rule and use the Grab n’ Go as a family charging station elsewhere in the house.

Do any of these products provide an organizing solution for you?

Build Your Dreams!

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I love this product...

Of all the products I use with my customers, I think 3M Command Hooks might be my favorite. And based on the ever-expanding selection available, I think others feel the same. 

Photo from Command Hook

Once offered only in white, the plastic hook now comes in a variety of "finishes" - such as brushed nickel and oil rubbed bronze - as well as clear (my favorite) and black (great for the garage). The strong yet easy-to-remove double stick table is also offered in clear. I keep a supply of these with me at all times and never seem to have enough - they can be purchased online or at nearly any home improvement, craft or variety store. Here are just some of the ways I use 3M Command Hooks around my own home.

In the kitchen: to hang oven mitts on a cabinet door
(easy access + saves drawer space, too)

Photo from Command Hook Projects

In the Bedroom Closet: to hang necklaces and belts

In the Office: to keep charging cords organized  

In the Bathroom: to hang a robe behind the door

  

Photo from Command Hook Projects

In the Mudroom: for car keys

During the holidays: to tuck away unruly extension cords

The possibilities are endless... how would you use a 3M hook?

How a Keystone Habit Is Changing My Life...

The countdown is on.

 I’m 49 years old with fewer than 12 months before the Big 50; so naturally, I made a list of all the goals I’m hoping to reach before I hit the half-century mark.

Health goals, intellectual goals, family goals, spirit goals, financial goals.

And I want a theme – something catchy.

FreeDigitalPhotos.net - pat138241

Right now I’m feeling Fifty and Fragmented.

Sometimes Fifty and Forgetful.

At best Fifty and Functional.

I’m going for something big – like Fifty and Phenomenal.

This is going to require some serious new habits.

This is going to require a Keystone Habit.

KEYSTONE HABITS

I read about Keystone Habits in Charles Duhigg’s book The Power of Habit. A Keystone Habit is one really good (or bad) habit that spawns a bunch of other good (or bad) habits.

Those who exercise, for example, also tend to drink more water, eat more healthfully, and manage their calendars. Exercise, therefore, is the Keystone Habit.

I need one mother of a Keystone Habit – because I have a mother-load of goals.

KEYSTONE SUNDAY

FreeDigitalPhotos.net - arztsamui

I’m calling my new habit Keystone Sunday. It’s the ONE thing I simply must do every week if I want to hone all the other habits necessary to reach my goals.

This is how it works, in all of its absolute simplicity (why haven’t I been doing this for years!?)

I plan my week, in complete detail, every Sunday.

I meal plan, grocery plan, exercise plan, work plan, volunteer plan, kid plan, house plan and dog plan.

I fill my vitamin box, empty my inbox, and load up the icebox.

I do everything I can to set myself up for success in the coming week.

KEYSTONE TOOLS

These are a few tools I’m using to support Keystone Sunday.

One Note: I use this software to track my “big picture” goals and projects. Evernote would be a similar option.

Product of Microsoft

Wunderlist: This handy App tracks my to-do lists, syncs between my PC and mobile devices, and allows me to send items straight to my calendar. I check it daily and add to it constantly. Things, Toodledo and Errands are other popular to-do Apps.

Wunderlist

Outlook: I use the calendar in Outlook to track my daily schedule. I put EVERYTHING on my calendar that needs to get done on a given day. Google and iCal are additional electronic calendar recommendations.

Product of Microsoft

Focused

I’m hoping Keystone Sunday leads me to all sorts of wonderful successes. I’ve been at it for about five weeks now. I’m humbled by the habit – planning takes time and effort – sometimes many more hours than I ever dreamed. But I’m also in awe of this Keystone Habit’s potential – I’m accomplishing tasks and projects at an unbelievable pace and honing new habits along the way. 

Which leads me back to my “theme.”

Habits pave the way to success. By taming our impulses they unleash the possibilities we hold within. And it’s with this understanding I set my intention for the coming year:

Who's with me?

A Little Free Library of Our Own

Have you heard about the Little Free Library movement? It’s this great concept of building tiny libraries in neighborhoods and parks for locals to share books. The first one was built in 2009 and now they are all over the world!

My family loved this idea so much, we just built one!  Within hours of its installation we found neighbors standing around swapping books. 

The other day I found this little gem in our LFL – the inscription is priceless. Written in faint pencil, it says:   

Connie M------

Bought with my own --- money. The first I ever made.

August - 1949.

I kept it long enough to snap this photo, and then placed it back into circulation. 



If you’re ready to part with books in good condition, look for a Little Free Library nearby –  you might just find one!

Feel free to view my collection of favorite Little Free Libraries on my Pinterest board or visit LittleFreeLibary.org for more information. 

The Secret Ingredient to Great Habits

How are those New Year’s Resolutions coming along? It took me all the way into February to decide on mine – but I’m off to a good start thanks to The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business by Charles Duhigg

Photo from: http://charlesduhigg.com/the-power-of-habit

I read this amazing book last year and put Duhigg’s theory to the test with promising results. Here’s a quickie review of the book and how I used it to lose over twenty pounds!

The Habit Cycle

There are three key ingredients (well, arguably four – but I’ll get to that in a bit) to a well-honed habit: the cue, the routine, and the reward – in that order - repeated over and over. Here’s a visual:  

For example:

Cue – My teeth feel gross

Routine – I brush my teeth

Reward – My teeth feel great!

Wikimedia Commons: Photographer: Bill Branson

 Well, that seems easy. So why is it so difficult to form a habit? Why do we go to the gym for two straight weeks, then every other day, and then surrender to a bag of Cheetos?

Wikimedia Commons: By Fourohfour

The Secret Ingredient

A habit takes about 30 days to develop, right? Well, not really. It takes as long as it takes to build a craving.  The craving is what separates a well-honed habit from an on-again off-again behavior pattern. It develops when the routine is repeatedly and continuously paired with the cue and reward – the brain pays attention and forms a new neural pathway. That pathway solidifies the likelihood we will practice that habit – it’s basically hardwired into our brain.

Another visual:

Here’s an example:

A woman comes home from work tired and grouchy (cue). She goes for a 30 minute run (routine). She feels better (reward!) She continues this cycle, even when she doesn't want to, and actually starts craving the half-hour run. The craving makes it easy to continue – and a good, healthy habit is fully formed.

Wikimedia Commons: By Peter Van Der Sluijs

Conversely, the same woman comes home from work tired and grouchy (cue).  Each day she relaxes in front of the TV with a bag of chips (routine). She feels better (reward!) Guess what she craves?

Forming New Habits

Last year I put “The Power of Habit” to the test. Intrigued by my daughter’s love of fresh fruit – she’ll order it instead of French fries! - I wondered if I could manipulate my own eating habits. I liked fruits and vegetables, I just didn’t crave them. Cheese and crackers were more my thing when hunger struck.

So every time I was hungry (cue) – and I mean every single time - I ate a fruit or a vegetable (routine). I waited for the hunger to dissipate (reward) and then I would eat the rest of my meal. My goal was to train my brain to crave healthy foods when I was hungry – and it worked! Not only did I develop a craving for fruits and vegetables, I found myself filling up on them prior to eating anything else, and I dropped twenty pounds in three months.

Wikimedia Commons: By PDPhoto.org

This year I’m working on a more comprehensive habit, something Duhigg calls a Keystone Habit . I’ll write about that next time. Meanwhile, consider working on a new habit for 2015 – and don’t give up –success will come if you hold out for the craving!

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In the quiet...

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4 Essentials to a Scrumptious Hot Cocoa Bar

Hot Chocolate

 – mmmmmm –

the perfect holiday indulgence. A rare and special treat back when I was a kid, my young seem to think it’s their daily entitlement. Inspired by internet photos, and a little bit of annoyance at the constant concoction chaos, I organized our first Hot Chocolate Bar. A fair number of kids have already bellied up, and I’m thinking this might leap straight from “first annual” to “annual tradition.”

  

These are the four essentials:

Mugs

Obviously a collection of holiday mugs would be appropriate, but these generously sized ones work well for us. A mug tree saves space and offers visual height, but a row of hooks or a vintage bottle rack would have worked, too.

Cocoa Mix

Choose your favorite and pour it in a nice, large container. You could offer a variety of flavors, if desired.

  Mixings

I couldn't resist these obnoxiously jumbo marshmallows (limit 1 per mug, of course).  

Candy Canes are a must!

I put peppermint syrup in this Italian bottle for easy pouring.

Décor

I swore I’d never surrender to a Made in China vintage-inspired piece of décor, but this little crate from Home Goods was just dying to reign in all our sprinkles.

 I swiped this chalkboard design right off Pinterest and used Chalk Ink – absolutely love that stuff – to create it.

Fresh greens, festive napkins, and even a Santa or Snowman would round out the décor.

I think I’ll expand my Hot Cocoa Bar to a full blown dessert station on Christmas Eve. Cookies and pies on tiered platters will surely distract little believers who can’t get their minds off Santa – and maybe the big believers, too!     

Creativity.

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