August 1     Sort out your children’s old school gear today. Throw out, donate or sell clothes, notebooks and textbooks that are no longer necessary. Make a folder for old report cards and certificates and file them away.

August 2     Treat yourself this month. Do you remember the last time you bought yourself a new outfit or shoes? If it was simply ages ago then it’s time to go shopping.

August 3     Today is Watermelon Day. Chill a watermelon and enjoy slices of this refreshing summer fruit.

August 4     School starts soon. Take an inventory of children’s clothing and school supplies. Make a list of items they will need for the new school year.

August 5     Help the environment by using fewer plastic bags. Place plastic carrier bags in your trunk, now and you’ll have some on hand when next you go grocery shopping.

August 6     Replace light bulbs that have burned out and batteries that are exhausted around the home.

August 7     Make the most of summer with flowers. Not enough vases? Old passata and spaghetti sauce glass jars make great impromptu vases. Remove labels by soaking jars in warm soapy water, then rubbing gently with a sponge.

August 8     Clean out your kitchen cutlery drawer. Completely empty it out and dust away any debris. Wipe thoroughly and restock the drawer with cutlery. Remove any utensils that are rusted.

August 9     Organize your kitchen today. Remove anything that does not belong in this room. Round up cookbooks and other items from the rest of the house that should be in the kitchen.

August 10   Stock up on guest hand towels. Place a stack in the bathroom. The next time you have unexpected guests it will be a cinch to replace the old towels with a clean, new ones.

August 11   Treasure your time. When you are asked next to volunteer for an activity that does not fall into your regular schedule, whether it be an impromptu dinner or being asked to join an organizing committee for community events, consider the following first do you really want to do it and second, do you have time to dedicate to it?

August 12   Use a hand held vacuum or a nylon stocking to pick up hair in your bathroom.

August 13   Refill birdfeeders with seed and the birdbath with water to attract birds into your garden.

August 14   The hot summer weather can take its toll on your car. Book an appointment to have your car serviced and the oil changed.

August 15   Make carpool arrangements for the new school year. Take into consideration afterschool activities.

August 16   This week update your phone and email address books. A program like Microsoft Outlook will even allow you to sync various gadgets so that you are not repeating the task.

August 17   Today is Sandcastle Day. Spend the day at the beach with the family building sandcastles. It will be fun for everyone!

August 18   Recycle your old newspapers and magazines today.

August 19   Update your contact information for your child’s school and aftercare, after school activities and carpool. Make sure they also have your information and current emergency contact details.

August 20   De-clutter your wallet/purse/handbag today. Keep an envelope in your bag to hold store receipts.

August 21   Protect your skin from sun damage by replacing your old sunscreen. Over time sunscreen loses its effectiveness.

August 22   Be an Angel Day. Perform an act of kindness today. You could donate or volunteer to do something for a friend or a charity.

August 23   Assemble the family together and plan fun activities or an outing on Labor Day.

August 24   Scan your local newspaper to see what new events are taking place. Perhaps there will be a store sale, community event or new park opening that you would like to attend.

August 25   Write a letter to a friend or family member who lives out of state. Everyone enjoys receiving correspondence that is not related to bills or subscriptions now and then.

August 26   Today is Women’s Equality Day. Take the day off from the kitchen, hang up your apron and order in!

August 27   Clean out a closet today. Empty it out so that you can see just what it is you have stored away. Sort and weed out the junk before repacking and organizing the closet.

August 28   Eliminate some of the stress from your next dinner party by having ironed formal tablecloths and napkins at the ready.

August 29   Choose a pair of shoes in your closet that you would like to use in bad weather (rain, sleet and snow). Now you won’t ruin multiple pairs of shoes.

August 30   Watch one of the movies in your video collection tonight. If you’ve seen it before, invite someone over to watch it who hasn’t. 

August 31   This months flower is the Gladiolus, which blooms beautifully all spring and summer long and need little attention. Gladioli thrive in sunny locations but will do well in partial shade. Plant corms root side down in fertilized holes 3-6 inches deep and approximately 2-4 inches apart. Cover with soil and water thoroughly. For continuous bloom plant every 2 weeks right on into midsummer.

 

 

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 By Leanne Naidoo, LIfeOrganizers Staff Writer