Mom: Patty Howard-ErdmannHometown: Nutley, New Jersey
Occupation: Mother of Ryan, age 26, Beth, 12, Paige, 11, Lucas, 7.
Favorite product: "My day planner, without a doubt. I use it for everything--scheduling, lists, phone numbers. I've got color-coded sections for quotes, home, family, and gifts."
Bright idea: "I have an organized craft closet filled with supplies--no more running to the store for every school project. I keep small things like craft sticks and pipe cleaners in clear bins, and I store larger items--such as paints, clay, rubber stamps, and stamp pads--in color-coded boxes. I keep all of our paper on large wire shelf organizers (the stackable type often used to hold dishes in kitchen cabinets). Each shelf holds a different type of paper (for instance, regular weight, card stock, and scrapbook). When I set up the closet two years ago, I bought enough supplies so that I rarely have to replenish anything."
Room for improvement: "My bedroom. It is a catchall for the laundry that needs folding or sorting."
Sage advice: "Pare down in every way possible, from your children's extracurricular activities (I limit them to two per child at any given time) to the things that you own. It's much easier to stay organized when you have fewer things--and fewer things to do."
