School is letting out soon, if it hasn't already, the kids are home and the toys are everywhere! What is a mother to do? Get organized, of course!

All those summertime toys can get out of hand if we do not have simple tools in place to keep them under control. A few rules for the kids to follow is helpful as well.

First, I want to go over some simple tips that you can begin to utilize immediately to keep all those toys under control.

1. Limit the number of toys your child owns. This might seem like a no-brainer, but those toys have a way of multiplying before our very eyes. I suggest that you start off by evaluating what your child already has before making any additional purchases. When you have a good handle on what they already have, you will avoid duplicates and lots of toys that are similar. Look to see if any toys are broken or if your child has outgrown them. If you are not sure what they want or don’t want, hide them away for a while and see if they ask for them. If they don’t, consider donating them, if they are still in good condition, to a local charity or selling them at a garage sale. (If you need tips on how to have a successful garage sale, I can help you with that.) This will be helpful when you are trying to decide what type of storage you need for the toys you want to keep, as well.

2. Be selective. When we are in the store, with or without our kids, we see those "bright shiny objects" that we just know our son or daughter has to have. Try to avoid temptation and be more practical. Consider purchasing toys that are most beneficial to your child; that promote imagination and creativity. Make sure your purchase is age appropriate.

3. Don’t buy toys that take up a lot of space and are difficult to store. I know that this can sometimes be a challenge, especially with outdoor toys. They tend to be big, plastic and oddly shaped. I would suggest limiting the amount of items that fall into this category and consider purchasing toys that can be more easily stored. If your child insists on big toys such as a play tunnel or a play house, make sure to purchase the one which can be disassembled easily and stored compactly, if at all possible.

4. Stop giving toys as gifts. It’s their birthday. What is the first thing most people think to get the kid - toys! However, when you get to the point where you have enough, stop! Don’t buy any more! Give your child a gift card for a restaurant or an activity they can enjoy, instead. Also, ask those relatives and friends who want to always supply your kids with toys, to purchase something else instead. I truly believe your child will get more out of spending a day doing a fun activity with you at an amusement park, gym or at the movies. It’s a better alternative than filling your backyard and garage with more toys!

5. Create a system for organizing toys. One of the first things you need to do is review some simple rules with your children when it comes to cleaning up their toys. Although having a good system for storing toys does not guarantee that the toys will not invade various places in your home, regular clean up is necessary to avoid having toys scattered all around the house, inside and out. Train your children to put their toys away.

So now that we know what toys we have, we are now ready to find solutions for putting them away. There are many options available, especially when it comes to outdoor toy storage. Here is a list of options to consider:

                1. Bike racks to keep the bikes from laying all over the garage floor;

                4. Big plastic toy boxes such as those sold by Little Tykes.

                5. Rubbermaid containers with lids.

                6. Milk crates or laundry baskets to carry toys as they are being picked up.

                7. Pop up net laundry bags to hold small balls and other items.

                8. Large trash cans on wheels for larger sports equipment.

                9. Back packs to store a swimsuit, towel, sun screen, flip-flops, etc.

               10. Labeled bins for the younger children to easily sort their things.

We all know that it can be difficult at times to keep that toy collection under control. Without a good toy storage system in place, the toys will undoubtedly take over. Having a good system in place for storing your toys is one way to ensure that your home and yard are kept organized and you can enjoy spending more time there.

Lastly, enjoy your summer. It goes by quickly!

I am about to go away and take a "well deserved" mini vacation this Memorial Day weekend.  I have been working almost every day this month and decided to take advantage of the three day weekend and head to the Pocono Mountains of PA.

Even though it is only a "mini vacation", I began several weeks ago compiling a list of things I needed to purchase, things I needed to pack and things I needed to do around the house to prepare.

I cannot imagine getting ready for a trip, large or small, without the use of a list.  I have always done this and assumed that everyone else does so too.  Not the case. 

I am surprised to learn that many people, especially men, do not pack for a trip with a list in hand of what to take.  I can only imagine how many times they get to their destination and say to themselves "Oh, I forgot to pack the...."! 

When I go away, I like to make sure I have everything I need when I need it.  I try my best not to overpack and end up removing about a 1/3 of the items on my list (especially clothing) when it comes to getting it into a suitcase.

By creating a list, you can take some time to think about the items that you need, even down to a pair of scissors and be ready to go when the day arrives.

Do yourself a favor.  The next time you take that trip, whether it be a day trip with the family or an extended vacation, make a list and check it twice and you can rest assured that you have what it is you need, when you need it.

Enjoy!

Have a great Memorial Day weekend!

For most people, their clutter issues are on the floor, on a desk, a table or any other flat surface in their home.  However, it is also possible to have clutter on the walls. 

When was the last time you looked up?  Take a moment to get a good look at what you have on the walls.  When was the last time you hung a picture, a piece of metal art, a clock or put collectibles on a shelf?  Have you really taken a good look at them lately?

After a while, we become so used to what we have on the walls, we don't see it anymore.  Has the framed art been on your walls for years?  Is the fridge filled with pictures your kids drew months and months ago?  Is the sculptured art on your walls screaming 1980?  Have the nick knacks or collectibles been on your shelf, collecting dust, since your trip in 2005?

Is the artwork in your home and office now just clutter, or is it something you truly value? Does it still inspire you? Does it make you smile or challenge you or create within you a sense of awe? Or, are you indifferent about it and it is simply there so you have something to hang in that space? Are these images ones you still love?

It is easy to become numb to the images we see every day, especially when those images are ones we don’t love, cherish, or appreciate. It’s also very simple for these items to become part of the invisible clutter in our homes because they usually don’t take up floor space — we don’t trip over the things hanging on our walls.

Take some time today and walk around your home.  Look up and see what is on your walls.  Perhaps, now, these items no longer bring you that joy, make you smile or evoke a fond memory.  If that's the case, it's time to make a change. 

Let me know what you see on your walls and what changes you intend to make.

In the meantime, if you are feeling overwhelmed with the thought of getting organized, contact me.  I'll be glad to help.

Have a great week! 

I am working in my office today and decided I wanted to focus on reducing the amount of mail in my email "in box". 

Just like everyone else who has a business and a personal life, I get lots of emails on a daily basis and sometimes it is a true struggle to keep them under control.

But I am determined to clean up my act today and get back on track.  In doing so, I had an epiphany!

My emails are always listed with the most current at the top, like most people, so you can see the latest activity.

However, today, I decided to flip it around so that the earliest e-mails are at the top and the latest at the bottom of the list.  This worked so well for me today and I am excited to be able to share this with you!

Since I could not see the new entries coming in during my designated period of time that I set aside for this project, I was not getting distracted.  It helped me to focus on the task at hand and get through my list a lot faster.

Another idea is to shut off your notification so that every time a new email comes in, you don't hear a bing, a dong or a bell or whatever sound your email makes to indicate a new entry.

If you try these tips, I assure you that you will be able to remain focused for a longer period of time and will be able to greatly reduce that in-box.

Let me know how you make out.

If you need any other assistance in order to get organized, please feel free to contact me.  I am here to help.

Have a great week!

Okay, Easter is behind us, but perhaps those plastic Easter eggs are still hanging around.  I have found some great ways to re-use those eggs for organization and want to share them with you!

Besides, just putting them away til next year, there are other ideas for their use.

1.  Having a party with balloons.  Keep them from floating away by filling the egg with small rocks and close the end of the ribbon from the balloon in the egg.  Instant balloon weight!

2.  Keep your jewelry free from tangles while traveling by coiling your necklace in the egg and snapping it shut.  You can use this idea in your drawer to organize your jewelry as well.  Why not keep all of your earring backs in one place in an egg?

3.  Use the eggs as packing material.  When shipping a box, toss a bunch of lightweight, colorful eggs inside.

4.  Tote a healthy snack with you.  Use a clean egg to stash a handful of your favorite snack, nuts or trail mix.

5.  Carry your MP3 ear buds in an egg to keep them from knotting up.

6.  (This is my favorite).  Why not store your pantyhose or knee highs in the eggs and use an egg carton to keep them in place in your drawer?  I remember when my pantyhose used to come in an egg.  Do you? 

What ideas do you have for making use of your plastic Easter eggs?  I would love to hear them and share them with others.  Reusing the eggs is a way to be "green".

In the meantime, if you have any issues with clutter, let me hear from you.  I would love to help.

Have a great week and a wonderful Mother's Day!

If you have been following my blogs for the past several years when I began posting in January 2008, you will know that I don't tend to "vent"; I simply provide information that I feel will be useful to you.

However, lately I have been noticiing how several advertisements for organizational products have been "selling their wares" so to speak in print and on television.

One company in particular has a great line of products, but let's get real here.  Have you seen the ads for Real Simple?  Their products are available at Bed, Bath & Beyond.  They sell over the door shoe organizers, storage bins, purse organizers, sweater organizers and slim line hangers, to name a few.

The products are great - I use them quite often for my clients - but their ads, that's another story.

There is one ad in particular that was in the Real Simple magazine not that long ago.  It shows a picture of a closet.  I don't know about you, but in all my years, I have never seen such a minimalistic closet as this one.  Granted, their products help categorize items together and that's a great thing.  However, do you know any woman whose entire wardrobe consists of 6 pair of shoes, 8 handbags, 18 tops and two pair of pants?  And to top it off, the floor is completely clear!  Who lives like this?  Not anyone I know. 

Most people I work with have closets so full of clothing, they don't even know what they have until we go through it.  There is stuff on the shelf above the rod, the rod is jammed with all types of clothing on all types of hangers and the floor is filled with shoes, boxes of miscellaneous items and some things that are not even identifiable.  That's to be expected when you are dealing with clutter, but trust me, when I get done doing what I do best, it will never end up looking like the closet in the picture above.  

I truly think the advertisers should put more effort into how they display their products in a more realistic way.  Don't make people feel bad that they have so much more to store away.  Show them how a full closet full of clothing, shoes and accessories can realistically look with the use of their products.  I know their line of products is called "Real Simple" but...

That's all I'm saying.

If you are feeling overwhelmed with the clutter in your closet and need some help, don't hesitate to contact me.  I will be glad to help - but please, don't expect me to get rid of so much of your stuff that it looks like the ad above.  That will not be happening!

One of the main reasons I became a professional organizer 7 years ago was so that I could help others overcome the feeling of overwhelm when it comes to getting organized.  I have the ability to see past the clutter and overwhelm and break things down into manageable pieces so that we can move forward to achieve the goals my clients have in mind.

I have found when I first meet with so many of my clients that they feel a sense of dread.  They cannot imagine how we can clear the clutter, get organized and put in systems to simplify their lives.  By the time I leave their home after the initial consultation, they are already feeling better about their situation and the potential of the space we are going to work on, whether it be one particular room or the entire home.  At that point, the process has already begun.  There is hope, there is potential.

The reason I bring this issue up is that sometimes we need to get past our fears in order to move forward, whether it relates directly to getting organized or taking on challenges that are new and different.

As my business continues to grow, I am given many new opportunities to get my message out to others.  I have been doing more public speaking this year and I now have been asked to appear on a radio show to share my knowledge and skills with others about the vast topic of organizing.

I must admit I am a little nervous about this new opportunity.  I always want to be prepared so I can provide the best content possible and this type of situation is more informal and "off the cuff", so to speak.  I have certainly worked hard in the past several years to challenge myself and get past any fears I may have about taking on something new, and so far, it's all been good.  I plan to take this same philosophy to the radio show I will be recording at the end of May/beginning of June.  I will simply do the best I can and be confident that it will be just fine.

Take my advice.  When it comes to overcoming the fear and overwhelm in your life, whether it is getting organized or simply doing something you have never done before, jump in.  As Nike says "Just Do It"!  I believe you will find that it will all work out.

So, get out there and do that something new and enjoy the journey!

If you need any assistance in getting over your sense of overwhelm when it comes to getting organized, contact me.  I would be happy to help.

Until next time, wishing you an organized day.

I don't know about you, but the dishwasher is one of the most used appliances in my kitchen.  The door must open dozens of times a day and it is filled with plates, bowls, glassware and silverware, among other items.

In order to maximize the potential of your dishwasher, consider the following tips:

• Check the manual that came with your dishwasher for the manufacturer’s recommendations on water temperature.  Many dishwashers have internal heating elements that allow you to set the water heater to a lower temperature. This will save on your energy bill.
• Scrape off, don’t rinse off, large food pieces and bones. Put the bones in the trash, not down the garbage disposer.  Soaking or prewashing is generally only recommended in cases of burned-on or dried-on food.  This will save on your water bill.
• Be sure that when you run your dishwasher, it is full, but not overloaded.  You want to only run it when you have enough for a full load, but you don't want to over stuff it with items.  This will cause the dishwasher to wash less effectively and you might end up with some dirty dishes at the end.  That is a waste of time, water and energy!
• Don’t use the "rinse hold" function on your machine for just a few soiled dishes. It uses 3 to 7 gallons of hot water each time you use it.  If possible, utilize the "normal" setting and save the "pots and pans" setting for when you really need it.  This will save water and energy as well.
• Let your dishes air dry. If you don’t have an automatic air-dry switch, turn off the control knob after the final rinse and prop the door open a little so the dishes will dry faster. 

Utilizing these tips will enable you to make the best use of your dishwasher and save you money at the same time.

Do you have any other money saving tips when it comes to your dishwasher?  Share your thoughts.

In the meantime, have a great week!

Spring has finally sprung!  My gorgeous crocus have bloomed and the hyacinth are following shortly.

With the weather slowly getting warmer, it's time to get out of the house - and into the garage.  Everything has been stashed in there all winter and it's time to make some sense of it all.

Making use of your driveway as a staging zone is best.  Empty everything out of the garage, section by section and consider the following tips for getting it organized:

• Hang your tools from hooks on a pegboard over a work table, using labeled screw top jars or a drawer system for separating out small pieces of hardware.
• Set up shelving around the perimeter of your garage for storing small items - such as car care, gardening supplies, paint, etc.
• Store small gardening items such as gloves, hats, trowels and clippers in a basket with a handle to make it easy to carry them back and forth to the yard.
• Use heavy duty hooks on the ceiling or wall to hang bicycles, sporting equipment and ladders to get them off the floor.
• Keep a mat or low shelf by the door leading into the house for holding muddy shoes to keep dirt from getting tracked inside.
• For the kids (and even adults!), create a zone where all the sports equipment, balls, lawn toys and beach paraphernalia can be stored together.  Out of season, they can be stored on racks hanging from the ceiling to create more space for the car.
• Make vehicle maintenance easier by storing your car care products in a large plastic bucket, along with rags, sponges and paper towels.
• Remember to leave enough room on either side of the garage so you can open your car door without bumping into shelving, tools or bicycles.  (The garage IS intended to store the car - after all!)

If you need further assistance in getting this or any other area of your home organized, don't hesitate to contact me.

And enjoy your Spring! 

With the Spring season underway, many people decide its time to move to a new home.  The process can be quite stressful, even when it comes to unpacking once you get there.

Here are some suggestions for getting organized when unpacking your belongings after the move:

If your new place wasn’t cleaned before the previous residents moved out, start the unpacking process by having professional cleaners come in and give the place a good scrubbing. No one wants dust and grime under their belongings in closets, on shelves, and on the floor.

After the cleaning crew is gone, I suggest that you unpack supplies and rooms in this order:

 Essential items: Toilet paper, hand and body soap, shower curtain, bath towels, shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, paper towels, trash bags, scissors, a change of clothes, vacuum, broom, dustpan, pillows, bed sheets, and pet food and bowls. I suggest packing these things in a clothes hamper and have it packed in the car, not the moving van.

When you’re unpacking boxes (unpack all the boxes!) be sure to lay all pieces of packing material flat to ensure you don’t miss small items. Also, break boxes down as you go instead of waiting to do them all at once. You can sell them on Craigs List or give them to others who are moving through Free Cycle.  Try not to damage them if you can.

Try to wait until you're in the process of unpacking a room to buy any organizing products. You may not need bookshelves, storage bins, etc., once you’re in a space.

Finally, a few weeks after you’re unpacked, evaluate all of your decisions and make any changes as needed or desired.

Do you have any other suggestions?  I would love to hear them.

If you need assistance in staging your home, packing up, organizing the move or unpacking in your new home, contact me.  I would be glad to help.

In the meantime, have a great week!