My biggest tool would definitely be the Flylady website. It has literally changed my life! I took time out from teaching as I was burnt out and couldn't understand why even when I had all the time in the world the house was a pigsty. I have had to retrain myself step by step into routines and other systems. Now, 18 months later, I am not panicking about the upcoming birth of my first child as I have learnt heaps about running a home and am confident that although things are going to change big time, I have ideas and systems that I can adjust as needed.
In terms of actual physical tools, I use the Flylady calendar, a control journal and a page to a day diary that i take with me everywhere.
I have also found that a computerised shopping list that I highlight and add to has made a huge difference in my spending and organisation.

I must be living in the dark ages (or just out of touch from living overseas for 2 years) but I have NEVER heard of the FlyLady! Please someone, clue me in!! I am all about anything that helps me become more organized!!

As for my fav organizational tools, I would have to say my planner and plastic bins rank up in the top 5. I also like everything to have a 'home' and frequently search for ways to de-clutter.

I have yet to adopt this, but my mom had a great way of staying organized when we were kids. She would take a file box and divide it by days of the week. Each day would get a file card with a specific date that she would write her to-do list on. She had a specific day for each thing that had to be done around the house. For example, Tuesday and Thrusday were laundry days, Monday and Wednesday were bathroom cleaning days (we had two bathrooms), then she would add things like clip the kids fingernails, bathe the dog, wash the car, etc. that she would randomly put in on different days during the month. Having the individual cards made it easy to keep track of daily, weekly and monthly things to be done. That way all she had to do in the morning was pull that card out and that was her list for the day. Then she had a regular planner for daily activites but this way she knew exaclty what needed to be done house-wise so she could work on it all day long and she would paper-clip her index card to her calendar so it was right there with her.

This was before the computer and palm pilots obviously, but it was a good system and one that I plan to adopt very soon using my Yahoo calendar (to send me reminders everyday of what to do).

She said it was the nicest thing to just do what she had written on the card and on Sunday (her day off), the house was clean and neat and everything was caught up.

I'm learning more and more, my Momma was a smart cookie!

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Mommy to Dakota, Wife to James
Proud Air Force Family

I absolutely LOVE the Flylady!!! Even though I have gotten off track from time to time you can always just jump right back in wherever you are and not feel bad.

I use the calendar through "MSN" and it pops up the next three or fours days events on my Homepage which I check every morning. I put everything on the calandar as soon as the appt or plans are made. Also, I agree with several posts...junk mail in the trash right away ...and bills go in the inbox by the computer....and putting "things" (keys, diaper bag, etc..) in the same place every time so you know where they are. Those are all good "tricks". And I love the "I'll get to it when I can" pile. At least I know it is there waiting...lol. But I have to say I have never heard of this "Flylady"....I will have to check that out. Curiousty has got me!!

I have many of the same tools to stay organized.
I get up and get dressed - including shoes! This helps me tremendously. Then I brush my teeth and fix my hair. While in the bathroom I do whats called a "swish and swipe". I spray the mirrors, counter top and sink and wipe them all down. All do a quick swish in the toilet bowl with the scrubber and some cleaner. I am in and out of the bathroom in less than 15 minutes and it is relatively clean and acceptable for company to see.
I have a large calender on the fridge that has all our appointments, etc on it. This includes if my 11 ds is taking cold lunch. We go over the school menu when it comes home and write it on the calender right away.
11 yo DS (who has ADD) has a daily chore card - one for each day of the week - ie: tuesday evening the trash goes to the curb since it runs on Wednesdays. Wednesday he bring the containers back to the house after school. And then a daily list - morning - brush teeth, get dressed, deodorant (you have to tell little boys that). After supper there is clearing the table, loading the dishwasher, sweep the kitchen floor and take out the trash and recycling.
I do alot of cooking in the crockpot. That saves alot of time making meals. Add a loaf of bread made in the bread machine and you have a wonderful home-cooked meal with little fuss.
Sunday nights we lay out our clothes for the week - each child and myself has a "cubby" system in our closet with a hole for each day of the week. Hubby wears uniforms but I hang them in sets (pants and shirt) along with a thermal if necessary, clean socks etc.
I do a load of laundry a day. The dishwasher is turned on as I go to bed at night and unloaded each morning. I have a clean shiny sink to awake to along with clean dishtowel and dishcloth. No dishes sit overnight so I don't have to get up and clean the kitchen right away - this has given me time and freedom to enjoy my coffee with hubby before he leaves for work and watch my birds out the kitchen window before the kids are all up and running.
I have one day a week that I run errands (the little ones go to my folks' for a few hours). I make all Dr appointments on that day whenever possible, go to the library, return movies, pay bills, get groceries. Any other shopping can be done on my way home from work - I go right by a super center when I get done at 8. No extra running in to town for this or that- a running list of what to buy is on the fridge, I add to it as I run out or think of something.
And of course - LISTS LISTS LISTS! I have a list of "to do" for each day - just so I don't forget. I try not to stress over what doesnt get done but sure feels good to check things off.

Like Shell I too am a list maker and make Todo list, Bill list, Grocery list ect.....
I started keeping my grocery list online at a site called GroceryWiz, www.GroceryWiz.com.
I allows me to keep track of all the things I need to grab at the grocery store.
The rest of my lists are still kept on old fashion pencil and paper.

I don't know, after reading all you guys do, I wonder how I survive!!! I am now feeling very unorganized!!! I have a pocket calendar I write stuff down on and sometimes I remember to check it. Most everything is kept in my head. I just remember what needs to be done when and do it.

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~Happiness is a large family~

In addition to lists, I have 3 nice baskets in my kitchen (from Michael's) lined up side-by-side. They hold all the stuff I need quick access to. Several of my friends have gone out and bought baskets to implement this system in their own houses b/c it looks nice and keeps things under control. And, all the odd little things can get tossed in (out of sight) until I clean out the baskets.

I used to follow flylady, but after my 3rd child I can't seem to get back into the swing. My house is very organized and clean (it could be much cleaner...) but I liked the system she promotes because it's motivating and makes cleaning more purposeful for me. Right now the way I motivate myself and keep things clean is THROW a PARTY! That gets my rear in gear, because all my friends ** expect ** my house to look a certain way.

wow, some great ideas here.

Here are mine:
Those 8x11 set of three drawers are FABULOUS in the bathroom under the sinks for keeping tampons, pads, hair thingers. I have a bigger one too that have bath salts and soaps, and one for vitamins. The drawers are great because you can see what kind of supply you have with the tampons/pads vs. a box.

Plastic shoe boxes or larger for organizing my scrapbooking stuff. It's easy to containerize all the like items together.

Plastic bins in the kitchen from IKEA to keep all the plastic cups within reach for little ones as well as contained. Bigger bins of plastic for the plastic rubbermaid type containers and lids.

I even have plastic bins to hold towels in the kids linen closet because they were forever pulling them out and onto the floor. I also have a 2-drawer bin at the bottom. One for handtowels and one for washcloths.

Let's just say I love plastic bins, LOL, really anything that is contained into groups makes life easier.

Using my calendar on outlook helps me better than a fridge one because I know I'll look at the computer more than paper, LOL. So I see my upcoming appointments more often and lway ess likely to forget them.

Keeping an eyeglass container hooked to my keys. I was forever putting my sunglasses down any ol' place, now they are always with my keys.

i'm here to get some tips since my organization tool right now is "post-its" with my to-do's listed on them. i specifically leave them on the mirror in the bathroom because i'm sure to go in that room.