How I keep my sanity while packing!

It occurred to me one day while preparing my hospital bag that I was procrastinating on the task of packing up.  I had made a list and was planning to pack a couple weeks before my due date, but somehow I felt myself pushing off the duty farther and farther.  I did not want to gather items at the last minute, but I certainly was not accomplishing the necessary milestones to avoid that pickle.  I just couldn't get motivated. 

So I asked myself, why was this so hard?  What part of this task was bothering me so much?  Eventually I hit on the sense that I dreaded gathering up all the toiletry items.  My clothes were not such a big deal, but the thought of measuring what we needed now, or leaving that until later really bothered me.  I HATE packing toiletries for any trip.

Then I remembered something I used to tell my clients: have a toiletry bag stocked for travel and refill it when you return.  Packing is so much easier when you can simply throw a pre-organized bag of personal products into your suitcase!  So I decided to take a taste of my own medicine and proceeded to curate a group of items that would solely be for travel.  Since that time I have packed in half the usual time for two trips and no longer put off the task with dread!

Here is what we have in our toiletry bag.  When we return from the trip I take ten minutes to be sure everything is refilled and then the bag is ready for the next vacation:

The contents of my toiletry bag...his and her supplies.  Some items I refill myself, others I purchase new when I run out.

While not the highest quality, this bag has plenty of interior and exterior pockets to keep items separate.

When packed this bag takes up little space and is always ready for a last minute trip!

No closet, no problem!

A couple days ago I stopped into my friend M's new apartment.  Like most small apartments the master bedroom closet can be tight for two people's clothes even if only one season's style is out at a time.  She pointed me to the corner of her room where she had hung several articles of fancy clothing on nothing more than a tension rod and a few thumb tacks.  What a great idea!  M had taken a tight corner of the room and turned into a functional yet decorative storage area for clothes that wouldn't quite make it into the closet.  I asked for her to send me a picture so I could share it with you.  

M's clothing closet replacement

I simply love this idea.  She placed two thumb tacks into the wall on either side of the corner and then nestled the ends of the tension rod between the two.  If you wanted a more sturdy solution you could mount the rod on flat head nails, or mount a permanent rod using rod holders.  

What a great, low cost solution!

Email and Time Management

I was having a discussion today with a few colleagues and the topic of email management came up.  We all agreed that email can be a major distraction throughout the workday, especially for multi-tasking entrepreneurs.  Constant email breaks are unproductive, often resulting in lost momentum as one changes focus between tasks and checking messages.  Additionally, becoming absorbed in reading and responding to email during the workday can lead to lost and wasted hours.

When clients talk to me about this issue and their spoiled productivity I always recommend they establish one simple rule:

Only check and respond to email at specific times throughout the day

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It will be very helpful to setup parameters.  Consider establishing specific times every day during which you check and respond to email, and set a time limit.  Whatever is reasonable for one person can be different for another.  Some people will only need 15 minutes at a time while others may need 30-45 minutes. 

I also recommend not looking at email when you first enter the office or come downstairs in the morning.  It is best to start the most important project you have for the day and make progress before you get on email and potentially get led down several rabbit trails.  Remember, emails are often less immediate than phone calls.  If someone really needs an answer right away they will pick up the phone!

Re-thinking my jewelry

I am not much of one to accessorize with necklaces, but recently I acquired some pieces that I wanted to use on a more regular basis and was faced with the shortcomings of the current solution I used to store things.  I had been using a stand from the Container Store for both my bracelets and necklaces, and the delicate metal unit had become a jungle!  Even worse, I found I was not wearing anything I owned because I had a hard time seeing what was on the actual stand.  See what I mean?

My necklaces and bracelets before

I reached my wits end after my husband and I returned from vacation in June and decided I must make some changes.  I went to the store and tried to find a decorative rail of hooks but nothing caught my eye.  Then I remembered how much I loved Command™ Hooks by 3M.  I picked up a package of six clear hooks and mounted them on the wall next to my closet and full length mirror. 

Clear Command Hooks by 3M

The mounted hooks

All my necklaces organized onto the wall

All my bracelets organized onto the stand

With a little effort, I was able to re-organize my bracelets and necklaces in a visually appealing manner and make everything more accessible.  With this new change in place I have been wearing my accessories more often too!  Now to find a better solution for my earrings…

Do you have an organizing maintenance routine?

One way to keep clutter at bay and prevent a huge clean-out every five years is to put together a simple organizing maintenance schedule for your home.  If you follow a few rules and a rough routine you can eliminate a lot of time going through years of accumulated items and clutter.

1. Above all else, establish a one in, one out rule.  If you bring a new item into your home you must choose an item to donate or throw away.  This strategy works great for toys, clothes, tools, movies etc.
2. Do not exceed the parameters of storage you have set for a certain category.  For example, if you have chosen to store garden tools in a shed, do not let them spill over into the garage so you can keep collecting more.  Choose what to pare down until everything fits back in the shed.
3.  Establish a yearly maintenance routine.  Here is a rough example:

a.    Winter/Spring

                                          i.    Go through clothes

                                         ii.    Go through papers

                                        iii.    Go through main living areas

b.    Summer/Fall

                                          i.    Go through attic, garage and basement

                                         ii.    Go through bedrooms

                                        iii.    Go through toys (right before holidays)

Consistency is key to a good routine.  If you adhere to your guidelines and make a commitment to address every room in your home at least annually you will find yourself staying better organized and maintaining a better understanding of what is in your home.

Say goodbye to Stray Stuff

Sometimes things just disappear.  Socks, power adapters, an earring…at one point or another we have misplaced the mate to a pair.  I always encourage clients to have a spot to temporarily store things that have lost their friend.  Bins in the laundry room or utility area usually serve nicely.  But just like every other area in the house, these spaces need to be weeded every once in a while.

I once organized with a client who had two kitchen garbage bags full, and I mean FULL, of mismatched socks.  She had been stashing these wandering travelers away for two years.  She and I came to the conclusion that they were not worth the space they were taking up or the money she was supposedly saving by not buying new socks. 

If you are going to create a “Lost and Found” area in your home, weed through it on a regular basis.  Set a rule, that if after 6 months or a year the item has not been re-united with its counterpart, it goes out the door.  As much as we want to we cannot always wait indefinitely for the other half to appear. 

Here are a couple products that we have found useful in preventing separation:

Sock Clips

Sock Clips

Cable Tags

How to Enjoy Memories

As we go through life we acquire things that are precious to us for various reasons.  Unfortunately due to space constraints we often store our keepsakes away in a safe place but don’t ever look at them or enjoy them.  If we are going to make room in our hearts for items to keep for memories sake then we need to make room in our spaces.  A great way to do that is to display our prized items a part of our décor.

A friend of mine is very gifted with crafts but also loves keeping mementos from trips, concerts and other experiences.  Recently she created coasters out of ticket stubs to her favorite movies and stage shows.  Another friend of mine was given a beautiful framed shadow box with her wedding bouquet pressed and dried, framed by wedding invitations.  Yet another person I know had her wedding dress made into a baby blanket for her first born.  I personally use one of my wedding centerpieces as a candle holder on my dining room table.

There are many DIY websites out there and countless resources for ideas, not to mention services to complete tasks you don’t have time for.  If you are going to keep something research ways to make it a part of your everyday life instead of stowing it away to gather dust and not be enjoyed.  This creates clutter and defeats the purpose of holding onto a precious item.  You cannot enjoy memories if they are stored in a box!

Better utilization of garage ceiling space

Often in a garage I encourage clients to use the walls as storage for utility space.  This works very well for items that need to be accessed frequently, but can be near impossible if the garage is narrow and barely allows enough space for a vehicle to park.  In a case like this I like to recommend using the ceiling space in the garage if the height is tall enough.  This approach is ideal for long term storage and seasonal storage. 

Racks can be installed on the ceiling of a garage to hold bins and other large objects.  Typically ceiling storage is associated with skis and excess lumber, but it can also be an ideal spot for bulky items if basement or attic space is lacking or inaccessible. 

Here is an example:

Quick tips to an organized trunk

An organized trunk makes many tasks and unexpected events easier to handle.  It is wonderful to have a clear space to put groceries and know exactly where your jumper cables are.  If your trunk is a mish-mosh of items and needs a little TLC use the simple steps below.

1) Place a tarp on the ground and empty the contents of the trunk on the tarp.  Immediately remove and throw away trash, anything that is broken, ripped or dried up.  If you have not used an item in the last year get rid of it (this does not apply to seasonal emergency items like a blanket or small snow shovel).

2) Sort the remaining contents into categories based upon use.  You can try categories like emergency, car maintenance, seasonal tools etc.  Think about how and when you would use something, then place all items with a similar function or use together.

3) Once you have everything sorted give the piles one more look to make sure you did not miss anything that can be discarded or donated.  

4) Next you need to decide how you want to store these items.  If you want a low cost solution utilizing open cardboard boxes are best.  However, it is always a good idea to invest in quality containers that will last and are easy to move.  Anything in your trunk will take a beating so make sure the storage is sturdy.  Here are a few ideas:

Folding trunk organizer

Cases with handles

Sweater boxes

Smart store totes

Frosted totes

Solutions for storing spices

Here are a few of my favorite solutions for a spice cabinet.  Most people who love to cook also like to have their spices easily accessible.  Try one of these products to help make food preparation easier and more pleasant.

A two-tier turntable is helpful for tall cabinets and eliminates wasted vertical space:

The Swivel Store gives you the option to keep spices in a narrow opening:

Purchase a Swivel Store

This expandable shelf organizer provides tiers to store spices and make them more visible:

Purchase the expandable shelf organizer

Stacks and Stacks offers this drawer system to stack spices on their sides:

Purchase the Stacks and Stacks Drawer Spice Organizer

When all else fails you can always improvise with baskets or mop/broom holders!

Less is More

Because I am an organizer many people think I hate stuff, that I despise things and belongings.  When working with a client one-on-one I am able to dismiss this assumption pretty fast.  I don’t hate stuff and I do not disregard other people’s precious items.  What I try to help people see is that relationships and quality of life are so much more important than anything we own.  Organizing is often not about the physical stuff so much as it is about our perception of those things. 

If disorganization, clutter or a lack of systems negatively affects you and those around you, you are being held captive by what you own and allowing it to control you.  This will cause stress in your life and ultimately your relationships.  Sometimes people have simply acquired more than their space can comfortably contain, but the belongings are relatively current.  Other times clients are drowning in an avalanche of memorabilia or things associated with memories.  This habit will hold you in the past, keep your present from being enjoyable and even your future from moving forward. 

It is essential to visualize what is most important to us, and also those around us.  When we can clarify and then agree on what that vision is we become more able to live and exist with less.  Remember less is truly more!

Does your space need a tune-up?

I suppose even a professional organizer can become stuck in a rut J.  A couple months ago I tried to stuff some unruly plastic bags back inside themselves under a deep kitchen cabinet.  Suddenly, I asked myself why on earth I had not purchased a plastic bag sleeve.  Then I asked myself why this imaginary bag sleeve was not hanging on the inside of my kitchen cabinet. 

This solution, while so simple and intuitive, seems to have evaded me for the first year I have lived in my apartment.  The irony is that in a client’s house I would have seen the same issue a while ago and made the proper storage suggestion.  Why did it take so long?  Even organizers can get stuck in a rut.  We all do it.  We are used to using our space a particular way.  We are accustomed to viewing it a certain way.  This means that every space, even one belonging to an organizer, needs a tune-up every once in a while. 

Spaces that could benefit from a tune-up are highly used, high traffic areas such as an entryway, kitchen cabinets, a closet or an office drawer.  I like to open up a cabinet, step back and ask myself:

Does this set-up work well for me?  What don’t I like about it?  What would I change?

What can I do to suit my daily needs more effectively?

Is there a product that would make this space more efficient?

I would encourage you to perform a tune-up every six months unless the need arises earlier.  Remember that any well-organized space at some point needs a little reassessment to ensure it is working well and to its fullest potential.

A quick guide for proper closet heights

Many people struggle with a closet that does not have the appropriate space between hanging bars.  Even worse, some individuals have invested a lot of money in a new closet system only to see their shirts overlapping their pants below.  Don’t make the same mistake!  I found this great little guide to help remind us of the distances needed to have ample space between clothes.  It may seem like a lot but do not forget that you need to account for the length of the clothing as well as the hanger it sits on!

What to do when organizing another person's things

Sometimes we are forced to organize the space or possessions of another person.  You may think that is an obvious statement given my work with clients and their stuff.  However, I am talking more about working with someone close to you, or working with someone who cannot be there and do the work themselves.

My husband works very hard and also goes to school part time for his master’s degree.  His time is very precious and he has not had much of it over the last year and a half to go through old papers or make his desk a productive work-space.  As I have taken on these tasks myself I have learned a few best practices to add to my repertoire, specifically how to work with someone close to you, all the while preserving his final say and respecting his space and belongings. I hope you can use these strategies to perhaps help your children or spouse.

1. I usually let him know that I am attempting to organize something or some space and tell him up front that I won’t be throwing things away unless they are obvious trash.  This alleviates any fear he may have that I am just looking for an opportunity to get rid of his stuff.
2. I try to sort into categories I think make the most sense to him and not me.
3. I try to put the categories in storage places I think will be most intuitive for him and not me.
4. I label everything, including files, drawers and bins so he does not have to guess where things are.  This is crucial if someone needs to learn a new system of storage but did not create it.
5. I ask for five minutes of his time to show him where everything is and get his feedback on the placement.  If he wants something moved, it gets moved.
6. I wait until another time to ask him to look through the “trash” with me.  If there is a lot I break it into several little “sessions” so he does not feel overwhelmed.  We are more likely to sit down and do it together if it does not seem like a task that will take all afternoon.
7. I try to be patient of he asks me where something is instead of showing exasperation as he learns the new storage arrangement.  Remember that person was not there when you put everything away and they may need some grace and assistance.  

Family Meal Planning Made Easy

I grew up in a busy household of five children.  As you can imagine this fact made dinner no small matter at my house!  Over the years I learned some strategies to make the process of shopping and meal planning easier. 

Create a printable list: Writing a shopping list for the entire week can be a daunting task as you try to figure out what meals you wish to make, not to mention remembering the staples you need to re-stock your pantry!  We came up with a printable list in Word (Excel is fine too) of all the foods we typically buy, with extra space to write in amounts or exotic foods.  This may take a couple edits to truly be all encompassing.  Foods were arranged in categories (not alphabetically) so we were not walking back and forth through the store wasting time.  This list was printed off the computer and hung up every week.  During the week if we ran out of something or were getting low my siblings and I would circle the food item.  By the time shopping came around almost all the work was done.  My mom simply circled the foods that we needed to buy for meals. 

 Create a menu of your favorite foods: There are so many different ways to customize this step so it works for your family!  At my house we designed a categorized list of all the meals and sides we enjoyed.  The list was divided into pasta, soup, meat dishes, vegetables and starches.  My mom could easily make meal combinations without wracking her brain.  She then wrote out the meals for the week on the family wall calendar. 

For people who are more visual you can create your own magnetic calendar for meals.  Below is one of my favorite examples but the possibilities are endless:

Use the same ingredients several times: If you are on a budget it will take a bit more creativity to make meal planning work.  I have found choosing meals that have similar ingredients in succession prevents waste and uses up the leftovers that would normally sit around in your fridge.  If you need to buy herbs try to make several meals in a row to use up the fresh greens before they spoil.  Or if you are making chicken use the leftovers to make soup the next day.

Great Christmas products

Here are some of my favorite items and products that are sure to make Christmas time easier! 


Square Storage Box and Ornament Storage Trays

Storage Box Link

Large and Small Ornament Trays Link

You don’t need a fancy storage box for ornaments.  I love this clear bin because the contents are visible.  You don’t need to label the box!  I also like these storage trays because they have sides to prevent the ornaments from falling off the tray when you remove a layer from the storage bin!

Ribbon Box

Ribbon Box Link

No more fighting with roles of gift wrap ribbon!  This little box both stores and dispenses the ribbon so it does not get tangled or crushed.  


Foam Ornament Packing Envelopes

Ornament Envelope Link

I am one of those people who reuses the tissue paper an ornament came in to store it.  After a couple years the paper gets torn and the labels get crushed.  These packing envelopes are a great idea!  Keep your ornaments safe and organized.

Holiday Dinnerware Storage

Dinnerware Storage Link

The peek-a-boo window in these storage boxes sold me.  You do not have to label the box or even remove the lid to see the contents!  You can see the pattern and the inside through the large clear window.

How to create more space in your kitchen

-Designate an area in your house to act as secondary storage for your kitchen.  A shelving unit at the bottom of the basement stairs, a shelving unit in the garage, shelves in your pantry or even an extra closet are great options.

-Determine what items you rarely use but still need for certain occasions.  Bread machines, lobster pots, large roasting pans, Christmas molds and special serving dishes and utensils are only a few of the candidates for the secondary storage area.  Anything you use about once a month or perhaps every couple of weeks could go in this area.

-This space is perfect for bulk food purchases that need to be stored until you are ready to bring the food into the pantry or kitchen cabinets for use.  If possible buy some shallow baskets to store small, similar food items to help categorize and organize the food shelf.  If you have a lot of canned goods small stacking shelves on your existing shelves can take advantage of the vertical space often wasted by a row of canned goods.

It is important to assess the items in your kitchen and make sure they are active and used regularly.  Anything else should move to another storage area.  This practice will create more useful space on your counters and also prevent your cabinets from being stuffed with non-essential kitchen items. 

Make an impromptu display stand

This week I discovered another use for small, self-adhesive rubber bumpers one normally finds on the inside of a cabinet door.  They make fantastic barriers for plates you want to display.  Because they are so small and often transparent these bumpers don’t take away from the item you are trying to show off.

Take the plate you want to display and hold it on the shelf to see where it looks best.  Once you have determined that spot just place a rubber bumper in front of the plate’s spot and let it adhere fully.   If the item is large add two bumpers next to one another.  Within a matter of seconds you have a low profile and easy solution to make a plate or picture stand up securely!  

Moving one household to multiple destinations

Working with individuals who are downsizing for a move means I run into more and more people moving items to multiple destinations.  Recently I spoke to someone who needed to transport items to new homes in both Boston and California as well as a storage unit in the area.  The packing company had to know exactly what to pack and ship to each destination and we needed an easy system for accomplishing this goal. 

We decided to take different colored masking tape and assign each location a color.  Every item in the house would get a strip of tape based upon where it needed to go.  Then the packers would know exactly which items to pack up for each house or the storage unit. Brilliant!

How to purge food without throwing it away

When my pantry gets a little too full I look at what I have and make a meal plan based upon the contents before buying more food.  Often times I get almost a week’s worth of dinners from the food.  This prevents my pantry and refrigerator from becoming too full.  When either space gets packed it is hard to see what is on hand and duplicates are bought by mistake.  I like to “shop and cook” from my cabinets and fridge about once per month instead of buying ingredients according to a menu I have already created. 

This habit helps me cut down on waste and really use what I own!  Sunday as I prepped my shopping list I noticed I had leftover veggies that would only be alright for a few more days.  I needed to buy more but didn’t want to waste what I had.  So I made soup out of the older vegetables and made room for the fresher ones.  It was a tasty solution to my space problem.