Hi Maria,

Marie here in New Jersey again. I haven't sent in a suggestion in awhile and I thought it must get very difficult from your end to come up with novel ideas to share with all of us. So here's one I haven't seen and I found it to be very helpful when my three children were at that young age where wooden puzzles were a great educational tool.

We had so many of these in the house that covered the span of their 6 year age difference, so they could not be phased out all at once as there was always a younger child ready to move to the next level. I liked having them play with puzzles, but my patience wore very thin with trying to keep all the pieces separate and able to be put back together again quickly by an adult.

So I undertook the project of labeling the back of the puzzles pieces with some kind of key. For example, a Mickey Mouse puzzle might have MM. A Farm puzzle might have F. That way if a couple of puzzles got dumped at the same time it was quick work to separate the pieces to be able to put them back in the frames.

Now that I have two young grandchildren who also enjoy doing puzzles, I have perfected my storage techniques and cut down even more on the sorting issues. Recycling is important to me, so I save rubber bands off of produce, etc. and I rinse out large, zip-type storage bags that have been used for something easily rinsed off. I turn them inside out and let them dry completely. I then take a 9 by 12 inch (or whatever the size a typical puzzle is) and I use rubber bands to create a grid-like pattern wrapping around the puzzle in both directions so that if it is tipped over, the rubber bands hold most of the pieces in place. I then slip the entire puzzle into a bag and zip it shut.

Little hands may enjoy doing the puzzles, but have yet to learn the art of balancing the puzzle when taking it off the shelf or returning it without tipping it in such a fashion that the pieces go flying after they were carefully reassembled. The system works well. Of course, you must be careful to supervise so that young children do not put rubber bands in their mouth or put the plastic bag over their heads. I recently thought about using a hole puncher to punch a few air holes in the bags just in case a little one gets the idea to make a hat out of the bag!

Keep up the good work. Hope you'll have a chance to squeeze in a trip to the Jersey shore this summer! All the best!

This Fabulous Reader Tip was submitted by:

Marie Cox, New Jersey

Just a very quick shout out to let you know that my latest issue of Anything and Everything is now available. It's the AUGUST 2019 issue and I know you're going to love it. Check it out:

https://www.getorganizednow.com/rd-ae.html

If you don't already receive it, it's a great time to get your hands on a full year of Anything and Everything because, when you do, we're giving away 10 Bonuses, AND ALL of the back issues...complimentary!

Here are the topics in the August Issue...

9 Little-known ways for more joyful days
Life is filled with chores, TO DOs, bills, work, traffic, etc. That's why it's important to refocus our minds and resurface the joy

Last-minute ingredient substitutions
You're in the middle of a recipe only to discover you're fresh out of a key ingredient. Before you run to the store, here are possible last-minute ingredient substitutions

12 hacks for simplifying life
If simplifying your life sounds like the perfect goal for you, here are some easy ways you can begin your journey

Living small.the tiny house movement
Have you ever thought about living in a tiny house, under 600 square feet of living space? Some folks are doing just that

10 things you should quit today and why
The act of quitting something generally has a negative connotation, but quitting isn't always a bad thing. In fact, it could be one of the best decisions you've ever made

How to be a more interesting person
Have you always wished you could be more interesting? Here are 9 ways to begin working on that goal and succeeding with it

I don't remember what I just read
Have you ever read something and then forgotten what you read minutes later? What's that about and how can you improve your reading comprehension?

Wisdom for book lovers
If you love to read, you'll love our inspirational quotes of the month, especially for book lovers

If you don't already subscribe to my 'Anything and Everything' resource, you can learn about how to do so here:

https://www.getorganizednow.com/rd-ae.html

We have thousands of readers who LOVE it...and I'm certain you will too!

Maria

P.S. BONUSES...Only Until 11:59 p.m. on August 9th: When you sign up for your Anything and Everything Subscription, you will receive tons of bonuses, plus ALL the BACK ISSUES COMPLIMENTARY!

August Organizing Checklist Make this last full month of summer 2019 your most organized yet. Start with our NEW August Organizing Checklist
getorganizednow.com/organizing-checklist-aug.html


August Organizing Mini-Challenges For August, our mini challenges are focused on Being Prepared. This week, focus on WEEK ONE.
getorganizednow.com/organizing-challenge-aug19-being-prepared.html


In ADDITION, on my home page, you'll also find lots of NEW and featured STUFF including...

New Web Poll When you walk into a room full of people, what do you do? Vote in our web poll and let us know

Perspective is our featured theme of the week, and the two quotes on my home page reflect this theme. What are your perspectives this week?

Access all of the above on my home page. Visit:
getorganizednow.com

'Each one of us fulfills a piece of a larger puzzle.' --Eric McCormack

I'd love to hear from you.

Comments, suggestions, or just to say hello. Just REPLY to this email with a short note.

And remember...Being organized creates a happier, healthier, more fulfilling life!

Warmly,

Maria Gracia
Get Organized Now!

getorganizednow.com

(c) Copyright 2019 by Maria Gracia, Get Organized Now!

* Copyright, contact and reprint information:
getorganizednow.com/contact.html

* You signed up to receive our Idea-Kit and/or our Newsletter at our Get Organized Now! Web site. We never add names unless you have voluntarily opted in.

* We never rent, trade or sell our email list to anyone. You'll never get an unsolicited email from a stranger as a result of joining this list.

* If you happen to purchase anything I recommend in this or any of my communications, its likely I'll receive some kind of affiliate compensation. Still, I only recommend stuff that I truly believe in and share with my friends and family. If you ever have an issue with anything I recommend please let me know. I want to make sure I am always serving you at the highest level.

* To subscribe, visit:
getorganizednow.com/free-ezine.html


* To unsubscribe, if you absolutely must go, please click the link below. However . . .

YIKES! - If you unsubscribe, you'll lose all the complimentary organizing resources I share with my loyal readers each week. You'll lose the Weekly Tips, Reader Tips, Reader Clinics, complimentary videos, ebooks, resource recommendations, and the many valuable bonuses I offer each month (some totaling hundreds of dollars). Please don't go. I love sending you all of this free training. I'd be lost and lonely without you. If there is something more you would like from my newsletters, then please reply to this email and let me know.
-- Maria Gracia