I helped a client purge her kitchen pantry (one of my favorite organizing jobs) this past month. She was thrilled with all the "new" room she had and shocked to see how much expired supplements, spices and food items she had in her pantry (4 huge garbage bags).
Here are some tips:
Do not dispose of prescriptions by flushing them down the toilet.
What you should do is fill the bottle with water so the pills will begin to dissolve and throw them out in your regular garbage. Leave the label on the bottle just in case it is tampered with but remove your name and other personal information.
How old are your spices? Having trouble locating an expiration date then visit McCormick.com to find out how long to keep certain spices at http://www.mccormick.com/Spices101/HowOldSpices/KeepingItFresh.aspx. You may be shocked to find some very old spices in your home. If you have any Schilling spices they are at least 7 years old.
Canned food usually has an expiration date on the top or bottom of the can. Why take chances? Get rid of them. If you find canned items that are getting close to the expiration date and you know you won't use them then donate them to a food pantry. If you live in Clarke, Oconee, or Barrow counties you can make donations to Food 2 Kids. Look them up on Facebook and find a school near you.
Planning ahead is so important to me. Practically everything takes planning:
Family Schedules
Goals (Personal & Business)
Menu for the week
I am going to focus on planning menus. Do you ever find yourself wondering (What will we have for dinner tonight)? I like to have a plan for the week (and so does my husband). We generally decide on several meals for the week and try to build on items we currently have in the fridge and the pantry. This makes life so much easier when a plan is in place and so are all the ingredients. We go to the grocery store about twice a week. I wish I could say it was only once but inevitably we always run out of something. My husband, Karl, checks with me on his way home from work to see if we need anything...I trained him well. :)
Coupons save money. If you would like to get better organized with your coupons and use them strategically The Couponizer is a must.
This is a great system for organizing your coupons. The website has links to hundreds of sites where you can print digital coupons. Amy Bergin, president of The Couponizer, has been an associate member of NAPO GA, National Association of Professional Organizers Georgia, for many years.
Try a new recipe once a week. I like www.foodnetwork.com type in an ingredient and you will get a list of recipes. Trying something new can inspire you to organize recipes for the week.
http://www.fireandflavor.com/index.asp This is a website with great recipes for grilling on planks. They sell planks and rubs. If you have never tried grilling on a plank...you are missing out. Best salmon I have ever had was on a plank.
When you plan your recipes for the week plan them with your schedule in mind. I know that on Thursday's we have to make something quick because my son has soccer practice at 6:30. I don't try to make a new recipe or anything complicated when I have to rush. Review your week and plan accordingly.
http://simplemom.net/how-to-menu-plan/ For more ideas on meal planning visit Simple Mom above or google menu planning and several sites will pop up with an abundance of advice at your fingertips.
I hope this inspires you to get your menu organized this week and for weeks to come.
Managing Email
Below are tips from Mike Song the author of The Hamster Revolution.
This is a great book about managing email. Read my article and implement some of the book's suggestions today.
We love our email and we hate our email. I definitely fall into this category. Sometimes, I feel anxiety flowing in as my in box fills up. Here are some tips that can help us all get a handle on our email. Let me know if you would like assistance implementing these tips.
These tips only apply if you are using Microsoft Outlook.
Email from associations (you want to keep it but you don't want to read it NOW and you want to be able to find it) Right click and create a rule that any email from (associations you belong to). I have one for NAPO (Natl. Assoc. of Prof. Organizers) will automatically go into my NAPO folder. Create a folder if one does not exist.
Email Tag Your It: When trying to set up a date for a mini-meeting with someone be sure to give 3 options. This helps prevent voice mail or phone tag.
Pick up the phone and call. We rely on email too much. Sometimes it is more appropriate and productive to pick up the phone and call.
Touch It Once: When your going through your email try to touch it once.
Delete
Move to a Folder
Make note of important information
Print only if necessary
Delete Aggressively
Schedule time to work on email.
Have a goal as to how many email you want to keep in your in box. Song, recommends no more than 50.
Use acronyms at the end of an email like EOM - End of Message or NRN - No reply needed. Make sure the person receiving this understands it.
Reply All - Don't reply all unless it is absolutely necessary.
Highlight an email and press F12 - boom your in my documents. Save emails in my documents. You can save attachments directly into your documents.
Strengthen the subject line of your emails
Change the subject line when your original email becomes a thread of emails that no longer pertain to the original subject
Be specific when answering a persons email. If you answer, I'm all over it. The person may think your all over what? I will take care of a, b, and c is a better way to reply.
Combat Clutter and Make a Difference
It's a new year and we have a fresh start to alter some bad habits. It won't be easy to change bad habits but we can give it our best shot. Anything worth doing takes effort. Here are some tips to combat clutter.
Don't allow clutter to control your life.
Get your tax records in order now, don't wait until March.
Create a 2011 tax folder today
Here is a list of common files used for taxes: Charitable donations, expenses (property tax, business expenses, medical expenses, etcetera). Depending on your situation you may only need one file or you may need 20. I have clients that fall into both of these categories and everywhere in between.
What files are missing from your active folders? Some folders used by my client's include: Pending, To Hold, Waiting, To Do, To Consider, To Order, Ordered, To Discuss, Events, Coupons, Can't Decide (keep for 1 month and decide or toss).
Purge documents from your file system
Open mail and sort into piles: Recycle, Bills, To Consider, To Do, and To Shred
Plan project activities into your planner
Put return items, dry cleaning, and items that need to be driven somewhere like alterations in your car, your more likely to take action.
Read the paper and recycle the same day, it's a daily paper.
Limit the amount of catalogs and magazines. Have a system and stick to it. I recycle when my magazines fill my baskets...it's time.
Have a container designated strictly for donations. I have one in the garage.
Purge, Purge, Purge
Maintenance, Maintenance, Maintenance
Morning Madness
What can you do to decrease chaos in the morning?
*Have a schedule in place for yourself and/or children and stick to it. If it is not working modify it.
*Wake up earlier: Are you consistently running late, kids are tardy, or, you feel completely exhausted before the work day actually begins? You are probably not giving yourself enough time to get everything accomplished.
*Organize yourself the night before. Pick out clothing, make lunches, preset the coffee maker, have book bags and brief cases ready to go and at the door. It really works.
*Declutter your bathroom. Is your vanity organized or do you have layers of cosmetics all over the place? Purge old cosmetics, sunscreens, hair products and anything else past the expiration date and anything you don't use.
*Have a small basket or other bathroom organizer and keep all your cosmetics in it. Everything in one place nice and tidy.
Follow these simple tips to a better morning --- the start of a great day. If you would like help organizing your bathroom; give me a call.
Combat you clutter:
1) Sort the mail on a daily basis
2) Throw away, shred or preferable recycle papers you don't need
3) Make decisions sooner than later and reduce the amount of papers you keep
4) Get rid of (donate) electronics you no longer use. Athens Free IT is the non profit organization I recommend.
5) Purge on a regular basis
6) Give away, sell, or donate items you no longer use (clothing, organizing products, furniture, etc.)
7)Commit to making a positive change today. Commitment takes effort. Example: Creating a home for an item you always misplace.
8) Mind Clutter: Write everything down immediately.
9) Life Clutter: Do you have a will? Do you have the right amount and type(s) of insurance? You can relax when your affairs are in order.
10) Financial Clutter: Pay bills early to avoid late fees. Stop over consuming.
Organizing with Decorative Items / Collections:
One of my clients organizes many items on her desk with decorative tins. She likes to collect tins. She uses them to organize a variety of items on her desk like receipts, paper clips, and business cards. She also uses tins in her craft room to organize buttons and other craft items. We labeled tins in her craft room. She does not have to open each tin to find a particular button or item. Normally I am not a fan of collections, but when the items are actually used for a purpose (organizing) I highly recommend them!
I have started to use a tin too. I collect some monthly receipts in my tin on my desk. My tin is in the shape of a heart and it has the word kiss with multiple definitions all over it. It is a cute decorative piece that adds character to my office environment.
What do you collect? Can you use it to organize items or create serenity in your office or living space. If your collections are just piling up and collecting dust then it's time to reevaluate.
Reduce Clutter
Stop Junk Mail and Prescreened Credit Offers:
Contact the National Opt-Out Center (888-567-8688) or log on to the Direct Marketing Association's website (www.dmachoice.org) to have your name removed from marketing lists.Bonus: You can get off telephone and e-mail lists.
Contact the National Do Not Call Registry (www.donotcall.gov) or call 888-382-1222 to register your home number and cell number.
Recycle old cell phones
There are numerous advantages to recycling old cell phones.Help a charity such as Cell phones for Soldiers.They will give your cell phone to a soldier with a 60 minute pre paid calling card http://www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com. Help domestic violence victims.Mary Kay will take your old phones and ink cartridges visit www.mkacf.org.Athens domestic violence non-profit organization (Project Safe) will accept your old phone at their thrift shop located at 595 Hawthorne Ave. call 706-543-3331 for hours.Best Buy will take your cell phones and other electronics (up to 2 per household per day).Visit their website for specifics http://www.bestbuy.com/site/null/Recycling-Electronics/pcmcat149900050025.c?id=pcmcat149900050025.
Another great cell phone recycling place is www.Recellular.com they recycle responsibly.When phones are too old to be reused they recycle the scrap metal -- helping our environment.Don't wait recycle your old cell phone(s) this month.Schedule it in your calendar.
Photography Tips
As the holidays approach family photos are sure to be a priority during all the festivities that ensue. Here are some tips for getting the best shots and some ideas for what to do with the works of art so they can be enjoyed instead of just occupying disc space.
Don't always center your subject. For a more exciting and visually pleasing composition follow the rule of thirds. If you pretend there are two evenly spaced vertical and horizontal lines on your picture as you frame the shot in the camera, move so your subject is centered where those lines would intersect. This is particularly important with portraits so your subjects' head is 1/3 from the top instead of floating in the center.
Move around. Great shots are usually not made just from eye level. When taking photos of kids get down on the floor so you can capture their world. Or look for an unusual angle and shoot them looking straight up at you. For adults, almost everyone is flattered by shooting the photos from slightly above your subjects eye level so chins are lifted and everything is slenderized.
Embrace candid moments. Usually the most treasured family photos are those that capture a real moment in time. So what if everyone doesn't have that perfect smile... you'll be seeing true personalities and recording treasured memories.
Use natural light. You just can't beat the sun as a light source. Whenever possible use natural light, ideally from a window or in bright shade. The shadows are softer and there is more depth to the photos than is possible with an on camera consumer flash. Try some shots w/ your flash turned off even inside. Just remember to hold still as you'll be more likely to see blur if you or the subject move around (but that can be a great effect too!)
So now that you have award-winning, beautiful, family photos here are some options for getting those images into your world and enjoying them.
Make prints. Thanks to digital many peoples photos never make it past the computer. While it's a great resource for archiving, don't limit yourself to thumbnail views of your memories. Whether you pick your favorite shot and enlarge to an 11x14 and frame or just make a stack of 4x6s for a photo album, there is nothing like enjoying your pictures in a tangible way off your computer or camera. Other non-traditional options include canvas photo prints (great because they doesn't need glass or framing and can be hung right on the wall for a very artistic look), or display photo boxes (which feature one framed image on the front but store a whole collection of images inside.)
Create a family wall. Now that you have prints, a great way to enjoy them all the time is to create a family wall that can be added to over the years. To unify all your images consider printing in Black & White or framing all in similar frames (a quick fix is to buy an assortment of discount frames in interesting shapes/ sizes and then spray paint them all black or white for a unifying look)
Display in a digital frame. For the techies a digital frame gives the homey feel of a framed photo with the versatility to update and enjoy a large quantity of images. But don't lessen the experience by loading everything into your frame. A little time spent editing out the bad shots will make the viewing a lot more enjoyable.
Make photo gift items. Today there are numerous sources for making photo gifts. It gets your best images into your everyday life, whether on a coffee mug, calendar or a quilt- the sky's the limit of where you can put a photo.
Create a year-in-review photo book. Many of the same sources for photo gifts also have options for consumer photo books. These are great for those who love the idea of an album but aren't into the idea of scrapbooking or assembly. You can have your selected photos printed right onto the page with captions, date etc. Many are very easy to use, but a degree of computer savvy is helpful.
A hectic time of year, but also a season to spend with family and friends. This means more and more photo opportunities, and more and more photos to store. I store all my photos online at Shutterfly.com. It is a very organized, safe, free, and reliable way to store photos. First you create a photo website, then you upload photos to your site, organize the photos into albums and folders, and finally invite friends and family to view them. Your family or friends can order prints of any photo they like. They can also order products with photos on them like a coffee cup, calendar or small photo book. No purchase is required. I am a happy customer. There are lots of other companies that offer similar services: Snapfish, Flickr, Picasa.google.com and many more.
Happy photo organizing.
Gift Wrap Organizing
Organize your gift wrap station. Do you have a gift wrap station? There are some great products available for storing gift wrap, gift bags, bows and ribbon. I like the over-the-door purse rack to hold gift bags. It is available at bed bath and beyond. An empty dresser makes a great gift wrap station. A one-piece garden bucket caddy can also be used as a gift wrap station (as seen in Better Homes and Gardens 11/06 edition). Most importantly, keep all your supplies together with tape, scissors, colorful pens, and anything else you like to use.
Back to School
Are you ready for the back to school race? Start the school year off right. I challenge you to go through your childrens' old school papers and purge. I challenge you to go through your file cabinet(s) and purge. Now, consider areas to improve upon. Here are a few examples:
Tardy to school
Make lunches the night before
Get up earlier
Have everything ready the night before
Have outfits picked out
Keep shoes in the same place (don't forget to put them back)
Miscommunication with teachers
Get all of your childrens' teachers emails and/or phone numbers the first week of school. Add them to your email immediately, or place in your child's personal school file, or notebook, that you will create.
Create a notebook to go back and forth to school (if one is not provided) that is strictly for communication purposes
Linen Closets
Linen Closets can become a "collect all," don't let this happen to yours!
How many towels do you really need?
2 to 3 towels per person is a good rule of thumb
This depends on how often the laundry is done.
How many sheet sets do you really need?
2 sheet sets per bed is adequate
How should I store sheets so I can locate them quickly?
Little round hanging labels (like the kind used for keys) work well on wire racks.
Store the sheets in one of the pillow-cases
Wrap ribbon or rope around each set
Store in collapsable cloth cubes
Downsizing
Are you a senior who is planning to downsize or a family member helping a senior downsize? Give At Your Service a call. We work with seniors and families of seniors planning to downsize. Downsizing can be an overwhelming process. Let us help you through this challenging experience by planning out the details of your move --- what to keep, what to give away, what will fit --- in your new home. We help you plan, prepare, move, and set up your new home. Start your new life with a well-organized home.
This article was in the Miami Herald on April 18, 2009.
Tips and resources to help make sorting easier
by Vickie Dellaquila, a Professional Organizer and Senior Move Manager who lives in Pittsburgh, PA
Here are ways to make sorting through your parents' stuff easier, if not more pleasurable:
Before moving, get your parents thinking about the items they can keep and those they must part with.
Take measurements of the furniture and make a floor plan of the new home to show what fits -- and what doesn't.
Hire a personal property appraiser to give you an idea of what items are worth. This will help you in the sorting and dividing among siblings.
If your parent is alive, ask her to make a list of the items she wants to give to children, grandchildren, friends and relatives.
If your parent has died or cannot complete a list, come up with a mutually acceptable plan with siblings to divvy up the stuff. Experts say only children -- not their spouses -- should be involved.
Be patient and attentive as your parent tries to sort through what she wants to keep, donate or throw away. Remember these are mementos of a lifetime.
If the items won't fit in the new home, suggest photographing or videotaping certain items so your parent can see them whenever she wants. This works well with collections.
When cleaning out your parents' home, divide the contents into donations, items of value, items of sentimental value, trash, recyclables and hazardous materials. Each category should be disposed of appropriately.
Be realistic about how long it will take you to sort through decades' worth of stuff. Some people do the large items in each room first since they take up the most space. Others tackle only one room at a time and don't go on until it's finished.
Look for hidden money and valuables. Seniors stash money and jewelry in clothing and shoes, drapery hems, canister sets, books, toilet tanks and ice cube trays.
If you're overwhelmed by the task, hire a professional. Check out local senior move managers at www.nasmm.org.
RESOURCES
Need more help downsizing or sorting through your parents' stuff? Consider these resources:
'The Boomer Burden: Dealing with Your Parents' Lifetime Accumulation of Stuff'' by Julie Hall ($14.99, Thomas Nelson)
''Don't Toss My Memories in the Trash: A Step-by-Step Guide to Helping Seniors Downsize, Organize, and Move'' by Vickie Dellaquila ($13.99, Mountain Publishing)
''The Settlement Game: How to Settle an Estate Peacefully and Fairly'' by Angie Epting Morris ($14.95, Voyages Press)
''Sell, Keep, or Toss?: How to Downsize a Home, Settle an Estate, and Appraise Personal Property'' by Harry L. Rinker ($16.95, University Extension Services)
''Who Gets Grandma's Yellow Pie Plate?'' by Marlene S. Stum ($12.50, House of Collectibles)
WEBSITES
www.nasmm.org (National Association of Senior Move Managers)
Your organizing challenge this month is to purge your closet. Spring is here and its time to shift your wardrobe. Put your winter clothing away but make sure you purge items that you don't use. Bring out your spring attire and purge items you know you won't wear; this includes shoes, purses, scarves and anything else hanging around in your closet.
Don't try to do it all in one day! Break it down into three days. I recommend doing it on a weekend, start Friday night and complete your organizing project on Sunday. If you become overwhelmed just give me a call 706-714-1314. Happy Spring Organizing!!!!!
Cassette tapes and CD's
March Organizing Challenge:
Organize your cassette tapes and CD's.First purge then decide how you want to store them and where.I recommend purchasing CD notebooks or CD boxes and tossing the plastic cases that the CD's came in.I recommend www.caselogic.com for CD and DVD storage products.
Here are a few tips to save money:
Check out DVD's at your local library
Turn your thermostat down in the winter to 68 and up to 78 in the summer
Unplug small appliances when your not using them (they draw energy even when turned off)
Visit the Botanical Gardens
Visit a State Park
Pay your bills on time (avoid late fees)
Make your lunch instead of eating out (good for the waistline too)
Get organized (save time, money and reduce stress)
Our health is more important than this awful economy!The economy will improve... eventually.I cannot turn the radio or television on without hearing sad stories about people who have lost their jobs.Many of whom would do anything to have their old paycheck back.What would they do...they would save more money.If you are one of the lucky ones who have not lost your job or received a pay cut - rejoice.My advice is to start saving money, pay off your debts, and you will feel a sense of freedom.
I also recommend taking care of your mind, body and soul.Yoga classes can help relieve stress and will also increase your flexibility.I recommend the Mind Body Institute for beginner and relaxation yoga.The yoga classes are different than any other I have taken.They are two hours long and the main focus is relaxation. The website is www.armc.org/mbi.
Dispose Of Your Old Electronics
earth911.com type the name of your electronic device in the search box next to Start Recycling . Then fill in your zip code and click go. An extensive list of locales that offer recycling services, accept donations, or facilitate reuse.
eCycling Everywhere: Computers, Peripherals & TVs: Dell (http://www.dell.com/) They will recycle Dell-branded products and recycles your old computer/monitor at no charge if you sign up for the free recycling option when you make a new purchase. Toshiba (http://www.toshiba.com/) They will offer you a credit if you pass on your old working notebook to them. Apple (http://www.apple.com/) Recycle old monitors and PCs when you buy a new Mac. Recycle your old iPod and get 10% off the new one. Gateway (http://www.gateway.com/) Trade-in program, recycles electronics for customers at no charge and offers you cash for preowned tech products. Sony (http://www.sony.com/) Credit for particular qualified VAIO PCs, but if your PC isn't working enough for a trade-in, Sony will help figure out what your trade-in might be worth. Green Glove Delivery Program. Sony will pack up and recycle an old TV if you purchase a BRAVIA LCD TV (32 inches or larger) with home delivery.
Audio, Video & Miscellaneous: Office Depot (http://www.officedepot.com/) The Tech Recycling Service is Office Depot's program to "turn tech trash into useful raw materials." You can acquire a recycling box in one of three sizes: Small $5, Medium $10, and Large for $15. Check the list of Office Depot's acceptable items before you fill your box -- this is wide ranging list including DVD players, MP3 players, and cables, however, you cannot submit items such as cracked monitors, leaking electronics, or potentially radioactive material (of course). Keep in mind that Best Buy and Staples also accept tech trash. Staples charges $10 transport and handling fee for large items.
This information was taken out of Smart Computing magazine February 2009 edition
Junk Drawer
What are your intentions for 2009? I do not like to use the word resolutions because they are generally broken. I will challenge you in 2009 by asking you to purge (weed) areas in your home. January challenge the infamous junk drawer. Go ahead...open it...don't be scared. Take everything out and decide if you still want the item, use the item, and if it should live somewhere else.
Junk drawer organizers can help you keep everything organized in your junk drawer. Make sure to measure the drawer before going out to purchase an organizer. You can also use ice trays, small boxes, and other inexpensive items in order to achieve the same result. Go ahead and schedule the purge day and time in your calendar. No excuses.
Make your 2009 tax file, medical file, and any other annual files that you use. Make or update the files before you need them. Remember, planning ahead is the best thing you can do to get organized.
