Chinese New Year is almost here - a perfect time for spring cleaning!

Read about these three simple solutions to keep your home organized.

For more ideas and inspiration, check out organizational guru Julie Morgenstern's Get Organized Boot Camp.

Photo from flickr.

UPDATE: An interesting discussion about this article has opened up on the UK Times Online's Alpha Mummy blog.

"The picture of the little Chinese boy chained to a post while his father worked has been everywhere today. And at first it is a bit shocking. I don't want to go all Sue Sylvester from Glee on this, but actually as the story unfolds, it begins to seem a not-so-unreasonable childcare solution." ... To read more or have your say, click here.

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Although we may not follow it, many of us are aware of the “8 x 8 rule,” of having eight 8oz (237ml) glasses of water a day. But what is an acceptable amount of cheese? While I wish the answer were a complete brick, it's apparently only 8-12 dice-sized cubes a day. Check out more photos at Parenting to visualize portion and serving sizes for meat, pasta, pudding and other food staples. Sometimes eating healthy isn't just what we eat, but how much of it.

This time of year can be extremely busy, with many people putting in over time and losing sleep in rush to meet Spring Festival deadlines. Tension and anxiety can begin to take their toll. Stress management techniques can help maintain productivity, keep you grounded and prevent burn outs. Here are some suggestions to help manage the mayhem:

1. Breathing exercises: Most of us tend to take shallow breaths, especially when we are under stress. Deep breathing not only tells or bodies to relax, but it also oxygenates the tissues. Try this exercise.

2. Exercise: Exercise releases endorphins which are the natural “feel good” chemicals in our body. It also helps us release tension, anger, and frustrations.

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When altruism, fashion and fun collide, you've got a guaranteed crowd pleaser. ISB students and teachers have teamed up with major sponsors (including Crumpler, Vera Moda, Grand Hyatt Beijing, C de. France, and Only) to host a charity fashion show.

Alongside various items for auction will be clothing collections designed by ISB students. People will get the chance to bid, buy, and donate money; with funds raised going towards Zhong Xin Elementary School in Sichuan whose students are the beneficiaries of the One-Child-One-Egg program.

“Last year the ISB community, our PTA, and Caterpillar corporation partnered to rebuild Zhong Xin elementary school in Mianyang City and in the process made a relationship with the egg-a-day program to provide protein to needy rural students. This year, a student led charity is picking up the torch for support of this program. At ISB we are proud of our students and their efforts to make a difference in the lives of others,” said Mr. Hillman, communications director at ISB and the project’s supervisor.

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