Category: Organized Family

Last Week’s Cold-Apalooza Tested My Mug Math (Duplicates) Theory

A recent gift from a beloved friend,

Apparently, we eat a lot of foods out of mugs.

During last week’s Cold-Apalooza (coined by my client J.!),  we dirtied ALMOST all the mugs on the mug shelf.

All 5 of us were home, stuck inside and quite snacky.  There was coffee, of course. Tea.  Soup.  Hot Chocolate.  Brownies-in-a-mug (yes, that’s a thing).  Ice cream.  You get the picture.

Yep, we used ALMOST all the mugs on the mug shelf (approx. 14), but we didn’t run out.   So we have ENOUGH, but NOT TOO MANY.  Perfect.

If you have attended one of my presentations, you have probably heard me mention “Mug Math”.   “Mug Math” is a funny (in presentations, funny=memorable) tool we use to help folks determine just how many of a certain something they really need.

We  discuss Duplicates in the context of clearing clutter.  In my presentation, it goes something like this:

“Let’s talk about Duplicates. As in, how many duplicate items do you really need? For example, ‘Mug Math’.”
(quizzical looks from some, nervous chuckling from others)

“How many people in my house drink coffee?”
(I hold up one finger and then point it at myself)

“How many cups a day does she drink?”
(I hold up two fingers, but then say as an aside, I use the same cup.)

“How often does she run the dishwasher?”
(Every other day.)

Then we conclude with “I NEED 4 mugs, but of course I have more than 4 mugs.”

“But do I have 40?  Um, no.”  Not even if I count the ones on the very top shelf with the good dishes.

“And do I have to see all of them all the time?  Certainly not.”   I do NOT need to dedicate an entire cabinet to a type of item that I only use 5 or 6 of regularly.

My recently purchased Carbon Leaf 25 mug.

So, I am happy to announce that our Mug Math works, even in extreme circumstances. We certainly could have washed some out, but I digress.  I probably could purge more, or store them elsewhere, but I like variety and I have the space on my shelf for the approximately 12″x 12″ (one shelf, one cabinet door wide) footprint the everyday mugs take up.

The question is, of course… in what other areas of our home or office can we apply “Mug Math”? Let’s reframe it as “Towel Math”, instead.  How many sets of towels do you need? How many dirty people will ever need clean towels in your house at the same time?  Assuming regular laundry habits, we don’t need dozens of towels.

How Many of the following items are enough?  How many are TOO MANY?!  Like mugs and bath towels and… (with some help from my FB friends)

  • t-shirts
  • old sneakers for “yard work”
  • charging cords
  • crayons and cups full of pencils, pens or markers (JF, LK, JB!)
  • reading glasses
  • drinking glasses (thanks AR!) of every type
  • dish towels
  • sofa blankets (thanks KM!)
  • storage containers (thanks SM and MW!)
  • jackets (thanks SRC and SM!)
  • kitchen items like pizza cutters, potato peelers, measuring spoons, meat thermometers (thanks, MC!)
  • craft supplies, school supplies (JF, VB!)
  • cleaning supplies
  • handbags, wallets, wristlets
  • fat cells (thanks, CK!)
  • clothes in off sizes (SW!)
  • Tweezers, nail clippers, eyelash curlers… WHY??????? (thanks, KB!)

So what to do about it?!

  • Ask the tough questions and do your own mug math!  How many is enough, and how many is too many?
  • If you never get to the bottom of the piles, you don’t need all of what is in the pile!
  • Consider what you will actually use!
  • Stick with your favorites!
  • Stop buying more, and make sure to rotate your inventory!

So, if the cold is keeping you inside this week, look around and see where you can apply some Mug  Math, too!

Organize Your Kitchen in Little Nibbles and Big Bites

Our kitchens are truly the hearts of our homes, which means any time spent organizing this very important space is time well spent.  However… organizing our kitchens can seem really overwhelming, since there are things, both useful and scary, behind every door and in every drawer!

So let’s break down this big and useful project into several little projects, instead:

  • Food and Pantry Items
    Tackle your food storage areas first.  To minimize the overwhelm, review your kitchen a cabinet at a time.  Start with grouping your food categories (canned goods, boxed pastas, baking supplies), and review all your items for their expiration dates.  It’s likely at least a few items will be expired, and those will go in the trash.
    Decide, too – even if a food item isn’t expired, will you and your family ever eat it?  (For example, when my sons were young, I bought a 10 pack of boxed mac and cheese and then they announced they didn’t like it).  If an item is still within code but of no use to you, share or donate it to a local food pantry so it doesn’t go to waste.
    Plan your next week of meals around the food you have on hand, to continue the clutter clearing!  And always check your cabinets before you grocery shop, to avoid having to throw out expired foods again.
  • Reusable Water bottles and Coffee Mugs
    To get started, pull them out of ALL THE PLACES THEY ARE STASHED, and pair up the bottoms and tops.  And Yes, if you’re asking, you probably have too many of these.  Decide just how many you feasibly need.  I’m the only one that uses go-mugs, and I use the same 2, rotating them daily.  We have a few more than 2 water bottles, but not too many.  And next time you’re at an event where they are giving away free water bottles or can wraps or coffee mugs, just say “No, thank you”.
  • Cleaning supplies
    Good golly.  I’m always amazed at the full inventory of cleaning supplies most houses hold, and most is stashed under the kitchen sink.
    Which makes no sense, because you can’t really see it under there.
    Take everything out, line up the items by category.
    See anything you can just toss? (why are there always a few empty windex bottles?  Go fig.)
    Are there any items that are clearly past their prime?  Off color, bad odor, rock hard, etc.?
    Any partial bottles you can combine?  (The dribs and drabs of dish soap or hand soap?)
    Look around your kitchen or pantry, and see if there is a better place to store your cleaning supplies.  If there is not, corral the different categories into plastic baskets and store them under the sink so you more easily access your supplies when you need them!
  • Spices
    Here is the link to my recent article on organizing your
    spices!  
  • Junk drawer
    Here is the link to one of my most popular articles ever,  “If You Call It A Junk Drawer, Guess What Ends Up Inside?”
  • Plastic storage containers
    Yes, it is time to organize these, too!  Click here to read my recent article “What to Do With All These Storage Containers”!
  • Top of the fridge?
    Ohhhh, yeah.  This space can be great storage or it can be a crazy no-man’s land of scary stuff.  Click here to read “Reclaim The Top of Your Refrigerator”.  (And there are even some words about Cookbooks in this one!!)

Fight the overwhelm, and tackle these projects one at a time to get your kitchen on track!

You Organized Your Closet! Awesome! And Now… What?

Any time is a great time to organize your closet and clothes!  However, there are some times even better than others… Like now!  With the new year upon us, there are news articles every where about how to clean out your stuff and even a Netflix show just about de-cluttering!

So, for today’s article, let’s assume you’re actually pretty organized in your closet.  Perhaps you’ve spent a couple of hours lately clearing out clutter.  Good for you!  I know how freeing and liberating getting organized is!  And…. now…. What?

Yes, I have to ask – Now What?

You’ve done the tough work, but we need to think about how to maintain this newly uncluttered and more organized space!

  • Drop off those items you have chosen not to keep.  Donate, share, sell on consignment – whatever path you choose, make sure those items get on their way immediately!
  • Keep your closet rubbish-free by adding a small wastebasket for those crumpled tissues from your pants pockets, the cast-off dry cleaner bags, new clothing tags, etc.
  • Add a dirty laundry hamper in or around your closet to keep piles from forming unnecessarily.
  • Add a bag  for your clothes headed to the dry cleaners or tailor, and stash your used wire hangers in there to be returned to the cleaners for recycling.
  • Act on your returns and repairs! Move your languishing clothes along, so they can serve you or someone else better!
  • Add an Ish Hook to your closet.  You know – an “Ish” Hook, for clean-ish clothes?  I have many Ish Hooks in my closet, for: my walking clothes to make that early morning walk more likely to happen; my pjs, if I want to re-wear them; jeans to wear again the next day, etc.  These Ish Hooks keep my flat surfaces cleared and clutter free.
  • Change your shopping habits.  Yup, you need to change your usual shopping habits or your closet is going to end up just as cluttered as it was before.  Be thoughtful and responsible with your purchases, purchase what you need instead of everything you want, review your items regularly to make sure you’re using what you have.

So, reap the benefits of the Closet Organizing work you’re doing and keep your eye on maintaining your successes!

About Spices (So many bad puns I could make, but won’t)

Do you have an area of your house that you’re really proud of?  That you like so much that occasionally you think it should have it’s own spotlight or theme song?  

Ok, maybe that’s just me.  But today that area of my home is my spice drawer.  A small project with a big impact, one that makes me happy when I see it and makes my life and cooking easier.

Need to get a handle on your spices, just in time for holiday baking and feasts?  Here’s how!

Sort what you have:

  • Clean off a counter.
  • Collect your spices from all the places you have them stashed in the kitchen and pantry.
  • Line them up on the counter and put them in alphabetical order.  Trust me on this one.  Many kitchens have at least a few duplicates, 2 or 3 jars of the same spices.

Get rid of spices past their prime: 

  • Once you know what spices you have on hand and how many, review what you have to determine if some of the spices are no longer spicy.
  • Ever wonder how long spices last?  A quick google search yielded a lot of information!  The cooking and spice websites seemed to agree:
    • whole spices can last 4 years;
    • ground spices last 3-4 years;
    • dried leafy herbs can last from 1-3 years (color is an indicator, too – herbs usually are green, even when dried, but can turn brown with age!); and
    • extracts are good for 3-4 years, except for vanilla which can last longer.
  • One website suggested that you can just use more of an older spice or herb to make up for lost flavor from age but that could get confusing!  If you open the jar and don’t strongly smell the spice, it’s time for it to go.
  • Make a list of spices you purge, so you know what you may need to replace.  Keep in mind, some items are seldom used, so you don’t have to replace those until you need them again.  However, if you tossed the black pepper or basil, replace them soon!

Decide where and how to keep your spices:

  • Store your herbs and spices in a spot convenient for cooking but not next to or above a heat source.  Prolonged heat will ruin the flavor and aroma of spices and herbs.
  • My spices are in a drawer near (but not too close) to my stove.  I have this great insert for my drawer, seen here from a side view.  Unfortunately, I’ve had it so long that I can’t find an exact replacement.  I found something similar to this on a quick Amazon search, for “spice drawer organizer insert”
  • A client who bakes –  a lot! – had a basket of savory herbs and spices (curry, basil, oregano) and a basket of sweet spices (cinnamon, nutmeg,
    baking extracts) in her cabinet so she could grab what she needed depending on her task at hand.
  • Of course, there is the lazy susan option, a great idea for all those little bottles.  Sometimes the spices fall over like bowling pins, but this is option improves visibility.  

Maintain the system:

  • Buy big spice containers (often cheaper per ounce) and share with friends or family!  I love shopping at Costco, but their containers are huge!  Vanilla extract lasts forever, and we use a lot of cinnamon, so those are two items I buy in large sizes.
  • Consider growing your own herbs. Even just a pot on the windowsill can keep you in basil for a long time!  (I love my basil, oregano and lavender plants!)

This little project can reap big benefits!  Give it a whirl this week!

What To Do With All These Storage Containers?!

I’ve gotten some questions about food storage containers, for example…

  • What to do with them?
  • How to store them?
  • Where in the world did all of these come from?
  • Where are all the lids (or bases!)?
  • Sound familiar?

I hope you all had a chance to take advantage of National Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day last week!  If you browsed through your fridge last week, perhaps you now have clean and empty containers to put away (or perhaps the contents were so very nasty, the container went out as well!).

However… perhaps you are one of many people who cannot put more storage containers away because the cabinet space or drawer you have dedicated to storage containers is full to overflowing…

Or…. maybe you don’t have a space dedicated to storage containers, and that creates a different problem!

Let’s figure this out, friends!  And for the sake of brevity, I will just call them “storage containers”, regardless of plastic, glass, ceramic, etc.

First Things First, clear off a counter for this little project.

Open all the cabinet doors, drawers and pantry and collect all the storage containers (bottoms and lids) scattered through out your space.

Sort bottoms and tops by shape and then size.  You should end up with a pile of round bottoms and lids, a pile of square bottoms and lids, rectangle bottoms and lids, etc.

Once your sizes and shapes are sorted, match up bottoms and tops.  This step can be very entertaining and / or frustrating, when you realize you have 20 bottoms and no tops, or 17 tops and 2 bottoms, etc.

And once you have started sorting and matching up items, it will start to become apparent which items need to go and which can stay.  Stained, cracked, warped or mis-matched items can go.   Re-used butter tubs or yogurt bowls?  Yes.  Go.

Seriously?  Those items are not manufactured to be re-used.  Yes, go.

Now, if you have to part with a lot of your containers because of wear and age, DO NOT run right out and buy the same amount to replace them.

If you want to purchase new items, or make the switch to glass containers, slowly transition out your old containers.

 

Ask your self:

  • Do you really need as many containers as you had?  Have you ever had every container in use?  Has the cabinet every been empty?  IF not, you have too many!
  • Slowly determine what you really need, and only purchase new storage when you really need it.
  • To really streamline the process, consider using only one or two sizes or styles of containers. These to the right are our favorite.  Stackable with a good seal for freezing, storing and transporting liquids.  Perfect for meal planning.  (2 cup size, Ziploc brand).  We use them for everything!  We have a few other sizes and types, but these are definitely my go-to!


Decide on a home for your storage containers, and let the folks who live in your house know where you put them!  Make sure the home is convenient and easy to reach.  As you put your containers away, consider how to store them to make life simpler!

Perhaps you could try a container for your containers, so you don’t have to worry about stacking them! (see picture to the right!)

I use an empty storage container to corral the lids to all the other containers!

Or how about storing them matched up, to make it easier to find them?

Whatever you choose,  tuck them away and close the door on this quick but satisfying project.  And if you’re hosting Thanksgiving this week, you will be the best hostess on the block if you have your storage containers ready to send home left overs with your guests!

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

 

 

My November and December Planning Hour

I have a marketing calendar, and that calendar told me I’m supposed to be writing about cleaning out your garage to get your car under cover before it snows (per the forecast, that could be as soon as this Thursday).  However…

I just can’t seem to wrap my head around that this morning.  Instead, my mind is working through the questions I asked in last week’s newsletter, finding clarity and focus around:

  • November / Thanksgiving
  • Christmas
  • Finishing the current year with a flourish, and
  • Starting the New Year strong.

So, what does this look like?  This morning,

  • I … Thought and planned.  This morning is about thinking and planning, and once the plan is in place, I will start taking care of tasks.  TIP:  But planning comes first!

  • I … Added events to the calendar, like fundraisers and concerts for the high school, exams and travel plans for the college students.  TIP:  Add events now to avoid double booking dates moving forward, but also to notice any snags that need resolved now instead of in a month.  Much better to resolve issues now!

  • I …  “Sent out ships.” That is what my friend Jan calls it when we send out requests or notifications via email or text, and then wait for a reply.  There are a number of events coming up, with lots of people involved who need to be part of the decision making, so I sent out emails to family members, clients, network partners and fellow ministers this morning.  TIP: Communicate with family and friends this week about upcoming events! Even if we don’t receive immediate answers, at least the conversation is started!

  • I … Looked around my house and updated my Project list:  this past weekend, we (ok, mostly my awesome hubby and youngest son) cleaned up the yard, the deck and garage to get ready for Fall / Winter.  Next weekend, we need to look INSIDE the house and make a plan around any minor house projects we need to complete before holiday hosting happens in December. TIP: Update that project list NOW while there is still time to accomplish your tasks!

  • I …   Took care of business, confirming clients and speaking engagements for this week and this month, and did a little bookkeeping.

  • TIP:  Kept the rest of life in mind, as well.  The HOLIDAYS can become all consuming if we let them.  We have to keep the rest of our day to day life moving along, too, though: Work, wellness, sleep, grocery shopping and house cleaning and bill paying, school, ministries, etc. Sooo….
    • TIP: Now is a great time to make wellness appointments:  check ups, dentist and eye doctor for college students over holiday break, etc.
    • TIP: Make your house services appointments now, too.  Call the carpet cleaner, plumber or painter now, so you aren’t left in a bind if you call in December and they can’t fit you in.
    • TIP: Find some short cuts or outsource regular tasks like grocery shopping when you can!

I challenge you to invest an hour today or this week that will save you many hours of stress and anxiety in the next few weeks!  Grab your planner and your laptop and take a good look around to see where you can set yourself up to succeed!

Managing Transitions: Change of Seasons – 85 Tuesday, 40 Thursday

It’s October in the Midwest, my favorite time of year.  One of the traits that makes it my favorite is its capricious nature.  Take, for example, the second week of October, when I started this blog article.

  • Tuesday, October 9 – sunny and 85 degrees…
  • Thursday, October 11 – the low temperature was around 40 degrees  overnight.
  • Less than 48 hours, 45 degree differential.   Wow.

The onset of cold weather can trigger a number of events.  For example:

  • That week, the cold weather triggered my van’s low tire pressure sensors, since cold air contracts.  A quick and free stop at the Toyota dealer on my way out of town on a road trip took care of that in no time!  Or…
  • Friday evening that week, when it was 58 degrees inside my house and only getting colder overnight, it was time to turn on the heat.

From an organizational point of view, there are a number of tasks that come with colder weather!  Tackle a couple of these this week, and get a handle on your Autumn!

Transition your closet for colder weather.

  • Review your summer items.  Donate or toss anything that is too tattered to wear again, or that no longer fits or appeals to you.
  • Take special items to the cleaners, making sure to pick them up again in a week!
  • Pack up, or move to the back of the closet, any clothes that you know you want to keep but that you won’t wear again until Spring.  And then finish bringing forward or unpacking your colder weather clothes!
  • Practice the same review and rotate process with your shoes, too!

Check out that basket or pile of things by the door.

  • In  my house, there’s a basket near the back door, and this week we swapped baseball caps and rain ponchos and to stocking caps, ear muffs and gloves. It’s time to put away the beach towels and summer sports gear, as well.
  • Review the pile of shoes.  As much as I love wearing sandals (And I do. love. wearing. sandals, like these in the picture – my new faves!), it’s time to put the summer shoes away for the season.  Toss or donate shoes that are too small, too beat up, or without a mate.  Wash what you can, take in any items for repairs, and put away the summer stuff.  I store my off- season clothes and shoes together, on the top shelf of my closet.  Not so far that I can’t get them out again if I really need them, but certainly not in the way.

Transition Your Home, and Get Cozy:

  • Get your furnace cleaned and checked out;
  • Switch your fans to spin clockwise for winter;
  • Empty your garden hoses and turn off the water to your outdoor spigots;
  • Put the “cold weather bag”, as one client calls it, back in the car filled with an extra blanket or 2, Clif or granola bars, window scrapers, jumper cables, etc.;
  • The first weekend in November, change your clocks, change your smoke detector batteries, and test your CO2 monitors, as well; and
  • Get cozy.  Last week, I bought new pillows for our family room couch and added comfy throws to a couple of arm chairs, plus I checked my inventory my tea and cold weather beverages!

Look around and see what you can do to manage your seasonal changes this week!

Managing Transitions: Coming Home. Do Future You a Favor!

At first draft, this post was going to be called “Don’t Drop Your Stuff In a Heap!”, but that seemed a little too rude.

Imagine with me… It’s the end of your work day.  You get home tired, hungry, perhaps a little frazzled.  Your defenses are low, your decision making muscles are all wrung out.

Admit with me – we could very easily give in, drop everything at the door, leave a trail of dirty clothes on the path to our PJs, grab a bowl of cereal or a bag of chips for dinner and flop on the couch for the rest of the evening.

Tempting… so tempting…

But, let’s look into our crystal ball…

How will Future You feel about your poor choices in the morning?  You may not have slept too well, with such a sad dinner.  You will be frustrated by the mess, scrambling around to get ready and make up for lost time.   Let’s face it, Today’s You and this evening’s choices are setting up Tomorrow’s You to fail.

What can Today’s You do right now, to ease your transition to home?  To help you spend a pleasant and relaxing evening, and to spend just a few moments tonight making tomorrow go more smoothly?

First things first, DO NOT LEAVE YOUR STUFF IN  A HEAP BY THE DOOR.  Take the extra 30 seconds and hang up your coat and bag, kick off your shoes and leave them by the door and NOT in the middle of the floor, and put down your keys in their Home, so you can find them again when you need them.

Next, address immediate needs and take a few minutes to decompress.  Change your clothes, grab a big glass of water and maybe an apple, then get dinner started (perhaps your menu plan is in place already?).

Whew.  Now that your physical needs are met, you can take a few moments to think ahead – what do you want tomorrow morning to look like?  Crazy and stressful?  Calm but energized?

If you still have some energy left, do more to take care of Future You:

  • tidy up the kitchen, run the dishwasher, set up tomorrow morning’s coffee, pack tomorrow’s lunch;
  • take care of today’s clothes, and plan ahead for tomorrow’s;
  • check the weather forecast plan ahead appropriately. Jacket? Umbrella?  (It’s October in Chicago, this is VERY important these days, with 85 and sunny one day and 60s with rain the next!);
  • line your gear for the next day near the door.

Future-You will thank Today’s You!

Managing Transitions: Work? First 5 Things, Last 5 Things

I’ve been talking with folks a lot lately about their Routines.  We often talk about morning or bedtime routines, to make those times run more smoothly.  But we can also create Get To Work or Leaving Work routines, to make those times run more smoothly, too!

We’ve all had those busy days!  Once you start your work day, you may have a hard time stopping.  So, this week, let’s think about how organize the start and of our work day to stress less and get more done!

I know, this may sound counter-intuitive, but focus on Yourself for the first few minutes you’re at work.  And if that means you also need to arrive a few minutes early, that will be time well spent.

First things first,

  • Grab your cup of coffee or tea, and refill your reusable water bottle.
  • Unpack your work from your work bag (if you carried any with you) and chill your lunch.
  • Hang up your work bag, your coat, your umbrella and whatever else you bring with you every day.  Clip your car keys in the proper spot (in your bag, on your purse, in your pocket) so that you can find them again when it’s time to go!
  • Take a couple of deep breaths.
  • Now, and only now, look at your task list, email or workload for the day.  Pick your three most important tasks and make a space on today’s schedule for progress on those tasks.  Then jump in!

Last 5 things:

Conquering these super busy times of your work day will help you work better and feel less stressed throughout your day!

Managing Transitions: Your Daily Commute

Where do you go every day?  And how do you get there?

Do you drive for your commute?  Maybe it’s 3 minutes, maybe an hour.   Perhaps you take the train, or perhaps you work from home.   No matter what your situation, you probably spend at least some time every day or week in transit.  So, let’s spend some time this week managing the transitions of your travels!

First, some environmental organizing.  Meaning – Clean out your car,  for goodness sake!  You wouldn’t sit on the couch or sleep next to a pile of garbage, why drive around with it?  And if you carry a bag (or many) with you, take a few minutes and clean that out this week, too.  Don’t carry around with you what you don’t need!

Create routines and hacks that make your commute flow more smoothly.  If you drive,

  • Take guess work out of your gas tank.  Some people aren’t bothered by the low fuel light, but I am!  I’ve found that filling up once a week, typically on Friday morning (my errand morning), means I don’t have to think about it any other time of the week.
  • Invest in an IPass if you haven’t gotten one already.
  • If you drive more than 15 minutes, check your route before you go, or use Google or Apple Maps or the Waze App every time you drive.  I have a client 40 minutes away, and Google Maps has routed me 5 different ways (that I never would have known) to her home based on traffic and construction congestion.

What You Can Do On Your Commute:

  • Get informed. Listen to your news of choice IF and ONLY IF it enhances your day.  If your chosen news source is negative or creates more stress in your life, consider other options.  I like NPR.  If you take the train, load your news sources, podcasts or newspaper subscriptions onto your kindle, IPad or smart phone and read or listen on your way to work.
  • Read up.  Check out Play-Away books at your local library, or purchase audio books on ITunes or Amazon.
  • Pray.  I carry a rosary with me.
  • Practice your deep breathing.  Get energized and arrive at your destination relaxed, for a change!
  • Dictate emails or articles.  I start a new voice memo on my smart phone while I’m still parked and talk through article ideas as I drive.  When I’m back at my laptop, I can transcribe the ideas and content.
  • Eat breakfast.  I make my smoothie (yogurt and fruit) before I leave and drink it on my way.
  • Listen to music.  I sing professionally, so I’ve been learning new wedding music as I drive.
  • Charge your devices.  I have charging cords in my bag for my devices and accessories (my fitbit, blue tooth earpiece, etc.).
  • Think deep thoughts.  If I have a problem I’m trying to work through, some days I will dedicate my commute to considering different solutions.
  • I have to insist on hands free, people.  If your phone and car can pair up, take the time and set it up.  Holding a phone 6 inches in front of your mouth instead of up to your ear is NOT hands free and IS ILLEGAL in Illinois (and elsewhere).  And getting stopped and a ticket, or worse, getting in an accident with distracted driving, can be the WORST way to spend your time!

So, this week, think about how to make your travel times more organized and maybe even enjoyable!