This newsletter is sent out to subscribers twice a month. Enjoy! Carol Riggles ======================== :: WORDS TO LIVE BY :: ======================== You cannot depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus. -- Mark Twain -- ======================== :: FEATURE ARTICLE :: ======================== Clutter-Free Vacations by Carol Riggles Clutter is not just a problem when you are at home, it can also ruin an otherwise well-planned vacation. A Gallup survey last summer found that 54 percent of vacationers come home feeling tired. More than a few said they were "very tired" or "exhausted." It was assumed that a lack of sleep was the problem, but it could be a lack of good quality sleep, and not just less sleep that created the sleep deficit. Clutter in a tent, cabin, motel or hotel room can keep the healthy flow of the life-energy force called Qi or chi from circulating causing you to feel tired (if not downright exhausted) by the time you return home. Packing your bag properly is the first step toward a clutter- free vacation. If you can't find what you are looking for, you will probably just begin tossing stuff all over the place. This starts a cycle "lost and found" that will continue throughout the entire vacation. Ideally, you can completely unpack your bag as soon as you arrive at your destination, but if this isn't possible, make sure you follow these simple rules for an organized (clutter-free) experience: 1. Make a list. A packing list is essential, and not just so you don't forget something. A list is also indispensible when you are looking for something after you reach your destination. Your list is the first place you should look when you need to find an item because your list should include where you placed that item! If you are living out of one bag it probably has compartments. Assign a name or number to each compartment, and make sure you note the location of the packed item. Not only will you save time and energy when you try to find something, you won't be tempted to destroy the organization of the entire bag, and the bonus is that you will be able to repack your bag the same way when it is time to return home. Special note: Make sure you leave some empty space in your bag for souvenirs! 2. Group your items based on how or when you will need them. Anything you may need during or right after your travel time should be placed in outside pockets or at the top. Items that you are taking "just in case" but most likely will not need should be placed at the bottom. All toiletries should be in a separate bag that can be easily removed from the main bag. If your clothing isn't mix and match, each outfit should be folded all together so you don't have to rummage through all the clothes to pull out one outfit. Special note: Make sure you have a plastic laundry bag or two packed to keep your soiled clothing separate from your clean clothes. Here are a few ideas to help you get adequate rest during your vacation: Try to choose a room or location to pitch your tent that is not in the direct path of vehicular traffic. Headlights aimed at you periodically throughout the night are real sleep disturbers! If it is impossible to do so, try parking your vehicle in a way that will block the headlights of other travelers from entering your room, tent, or cabin. Take a few minutes at the end of each day to pick up stuff that has been thrown all over the floor. Lots of times we get lazy during vacations, especially if we have maid service in the morning. Nevertheless, you may be robbing yourself of some much needed sleep if you you try to go to bed with trash and general chaos surrounding you. Let the maid make your bed, scrub the bathroom, and vacuum. You should remove the garbage and straighten the room before bed. Finally, remember to place the Do Not Disturb hanger on the room door! About the author: Carol Riggles, owner of Carroll Creek Remedies, provides simple, practical, and effective solutions for better health and a more organized lifestyle. ======================== :: JUST FOR FUN :: ======================== A Swiss guy, looking for directions, pulls up at a bus stop where two Englishmen are waiting. 'Entschuldigung, koennen Sie Deutsch sprechen?' he says. The two Englishmen just stare at him. 'Excusez-moi, parlez vous Francais?' The two continue to stare. 'Parlare Italiano?' No response. 'Hablan ustedes Espanol?' Still nothing. The Swiss guy drives off, extremely disgusted. The first Englishman turns to the second and says, 'Y'know, maybe we should learn a foreign language...' 'Why?' says the other, 'That bloke knew four languages, and it didn't do him any good.' ======================== :: INTERESTING INFO :: ======================== Things To Remember Before Leaving for Your Family Vacation 1. Confirm your vacation reservation, including hotel, air, car, train, dining and activity reservations. A few phone calls before you leave can save you from vacation stress later on. 2. Remember to cancel your home newspaper delivery since newspaper companies usually require you to cancel several business days ahead of time. 3. Organize the credit cards that you are planning to bring with you and order travelers cheques from your bank. Make a list of emergency numbers to call if your credit cards or travelers cheques get stolen. 4. If you are visiting a foreign country, order a small amount of that country's currency from your bank to take with you. 5. Pack as light as possible or consider shipping large bags, golf and ski equipment to your destination. There are services that will pick up bags at your home or at the office and deliver them to your destination by the required date. For example, see www.sportsexpress.com for more information. 6. Before you leave, check the weather at your destination (www.weather.com) for last-minute wardrobe adjustments. 7. If you are flying, call the airline and confirm that your flight is departing on time. 8. Pack your camera and video equipment at least 24 hours before leaving your house. This way you can make sure that all the necessary batteries have been charged. 9. If you are flying, pack a small carry-on bag of essentials you can't be without in case your bags get delayed. 10. If you are driving, make sure that you have a road atlas handy. You can also look up driving directions online before you go (www.mapblast.com) and find out approximate driving times. SOURCE: http://www.vacationidea.com ======================== :: TIME-SAVING IDEA :: ======================== Now that summer is here, I bet you and the rest of your household are really going through the clean glasses! This idea should help to cut down on the dirty dishes. Not all of the glasses in your kitchen should match. There should be a matching set used strictly for sit- down-at-the-table meals, but there should be at least one or two oddball glasses for each member of the family to call his or her own. This will save time because everyone knows whose glass is whose, and each person can be responsible for rinsing their glass and using it (and it only) through- out the day. If each person has two special glasses, then they can alternate between the current glass and the one sitting in the dishwasher waiting for a full load. =========================== :: COPYRIGHT INFORMATION :: =========================== Copyright 2003 - CCR Enterprises - All rights reserved in all countries. Reproduction of this material is prohibited in any form without prior permission. If you prefer not to receive the newsletter, simply reply to this message and type "Remove from Eliminate Clutter" in the Subject Line, or click on the removal link below:   Please Remove Me   If you have been forwarded this newsletter and would like to subscribe, simply reply to this message and type "Please add me to your Eliminate Clutter Newsletter" in the Subject Line, or click on the link below:   Please Subscribe Me