In my last blog, I talked about how to organize the fridge in preparation for Thanksgiving.  So, now that the fridge and freezer are organized, another issue arises AFTER the Thanksgiving feast - what to do with the leftovers.

Sometimes we just keep eating them until they are gone or take them and prepare something else from them -such as turkey soup, etc.

However, sometimes, we want to freeze the leftovers (in our recently organized freezer!) but are not sure what the guidelines are for how long they will last.

When storing your leftovers, select a shallow, air tight meal-sized container that you can clearly label.  You want to put the date and the contents on the label for future reference.

Here are the guidelines for how long you can save your leftovers in the freezer:

Turkey meat (removed from the bone).............4 to 6 months
Stuffing.....................................................2 to 3 months
Soups........................................................2 to 3 months
Cranberry Sauce..........................................2 to 3 months
Vegetables.................................................1 year (if blanched)
Cakes, cupcakes and pies..............................2 to 3 months

I hope all of you enjoy your Thanksgiving with family and friends but don't eat too much!

Remember, you can freeze the leftovers!

If you need more assistance with getting your home organized, don't hesitate to contact A Better Space.  I will be more than happy to help.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I don't know about you, but I can't believe it's already the middle of November!  Wasn't it just Halloween!  Well, in order to keep pace with the upcoming holidays, there are some things you can do to make it go smoother.

In order to prepare for the large amount of food you might be preparing for Thanksgiving (including the storage of that pre-cooked turkey), I suggest that this is a good time to organize the inside of your refrigerator to accommodate the room you will need to store all that food.

Here are some quick tips for A Better Space in your fridge:

1.  TOSS - Go through your refrigerator and freezer, shelf by shelf, and toss out anything that has spoiled, has an expired date on it, anything you are unable to identify or that you know you no longer want. 

2.  CLEAN - Clear out one shelf at a time either by moving items to another shelf or temporarily removing them from the fridge or freezer.  You can lay them out on a towel on your counter or floor.  Wipe each shelf out with warm water and baking soda.  Scrape off any bits of food and wipe up any spills.  Don't forget the refrigerator door and drawers.  Then wipe down the items before they are returned to the fridge or freezer to remove whatever might be on the outside of them or stuck to the bottom. 

3.  CATEGORIZE - Designate different shelves for different categories.  By grouping things together, they will be easier to locate.  Some suggestions are to keep milk, juice and other drinks together.  Keep all left-overs together and towards the front so they are easily seen and used before they go bad.  Keep all breads together.  Keep all condiments together either on the door on in a low container on a shelf for easy access to the ones in the back.  Vegetables and fruits should be kept in their designated drawers with the correct setting to assure longer life.

4.  DON'T FORGET THE EXTERIOR - Clear the front of the fridge of all loose papers and toss anything that is outdated.  Coupons should be kept in a coupon organizer and recipes you intend to prepare should be placed in a recipe file.  Remove excess magnets to keep the front of the fridge free of clutter.

By using these simple suggestions, you will create more space inside and outside your refrigerator and freezer for the holidays and be able to find what you need more easily.

Don't let all that fridge clutter "gobble" up your space!

If you are overwhelmed with the prospect of getting organized, simply contact A BETTER SPACE.  I will be more than happy to help.

Enjoy your week!

If you are not sure whether you are disorganized or not, see how many of the following statements apply to you - and then give me a call!    

• You have been storing clothes for years hoping you'll fit into them again someday...
• You already spent money on books to help you get organized and now you can't find them...
• You've tried to organize your space and now you have less sace than before you started...
• You've tried to purge and ended up with more reasons to keep your clutter instead of letting it go...
• You know you have that item in your home somewhere but rather go out and buy another one rather than looking for it...
• You think you actually have time to redeem all of your Bed, Bath & Beyond coupons that you've accumulated...
• You took everything apart looking for something and now you an't seem to put it back where you found it...
• Things keep appearing in your home or office but you're not quite sure where they are coming from...
• You can't remember the last time you purged and have no plans to purge in the immediate future...

So, do any of these sound familiar?  If so, let's talk - I can help.

If you are unable to utilize my in-home services, I would suggest you check out my U Can Do It product line.  Some are available right on this website; others through Online Organizing at www.onlineorganizing.com   They include the U Can Do It Budgeting System, The U Can Do It Grocery Shopping Checklist, The U Can Do It Room-By-Room Organizing Checklist and the U Can Do it Weekly "To Do" Checklist.  More on the way...

In the meantime, have a great week!

Do you have boxes of stuff and not sure whether it's considered a "collection" or just clutter?

I came across a short video that might help you figure it out.

http://www.boomeralley.com/2009/04/14/collection-or-clutter/

If after watching this short clip, you determine it's clutter, just get rid of it.  If you are still not sure, perhaps you want to consult with a professional to find out, or, like the video mentions, go on E-bay and see how much your stuff is really worth.

Remember, in most cases, it's just "stuff" which translates into "clutter".  The memories they evoke are still there (in your head, not in that box). You don't need to keep all that stuff to keep the memories alive.

Before you let go of your precious collection of clutter, simply take a picture and preserve the memory.

Then, just let it go.  

If you are feeling ovewhelmed with the prospect of getting organized, simply contact A BETTER SPACE.  I will be more than happy to help.

Enjoy your week!

I love to find stories about getting organized! 

Now, even CoverGirl make-up has jumped on the organizing bandwagon and has developed a numerical system for matching up their various types of make-up. 

They claim to have taken the guesswork out of finding your TRU shade with their TRUblend makeup organized system.  This includes liquid foundation, concealer, pressed powder and blush.  The system is numbered from 1 through 6 (1 being the lightest shade, 6 being the darkest shade). 

For example, if your TRUblend liquid makeup is a 2, then your TRUblend pressed power, concealer and blush are also a 2.  

Organizing can be so beneficial, even when it comes to purchasing  your make-up.  Gotta love that!

Now that that problem is solved, if you have any other organizing issues you would like me to address, please feel free to contact me at A BETTER SPACE.  I will be more than happy to help.

Have a great week!

I am currently working with a client who has discovered that she has ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder).  She is working with me to learn how to create a system for getting and staying organized.

One of the things I suggested she do on a daily basis, when I am not physically there with her to coach her, is to simply take just 5 minutes a day to focus on one area of her home and declutter it by putting things away.  Basically, straightening up.

Granted, things need to have a home to begin with so that they can be put away.  That is what I am working on with her during our sessions.  However, in the meantime, she has taken my advice and has begun practicing this ritual.  To her surprise, she has found that just those 5 minutes a day can really make a difference.  Sometimes, she is feeling so productive, she takes more than just 5 minutes, but the 5 minutes is the minimum. 

Consistency is the key to success and if you just commit that short amount of time each and every day, you will find that you can keep it under control.  If there are other family members, get them to do the same thing with a particular area of the home.  Just having each of them put things away for about 5 minutes a day can add up to a lot of decluttering in one day!

Give it a try and let me know how you make out.

If you are feeling overwhelmed with the prospect of getting organized, simply contact A BETTER SPACE.  I will be more than happy to help.

Enjoy your week!

Are you familiar with the term Feng Shui and what it means?

Feng Shui is an ancient art and science developed more than 3,000 years ago by the Chinese.  The science of Feng Shui involves a complex knowledge that shows how to balance the energies of a space to insure the health and good fortune for the people living in that space.

Gentle wind and clear waters in the Chinese culture have long been connected with good health and a good harvest.   Feng means "wind" and Shui means "water".

The Chinese believe the world is made up of "Chi" or energy.  The outcome could be good or bad, depending on how the energy flows, particularly inside of your home.

The Ba-Gua is an octagonal grid used by experts to do an analysis of the home.  Even though the process can be complicated and best left to the professionals, there are certain concepts the average homeowner can implement in their home.  You can:

• Improve the air quality and natural light by opening up the drapes and windows, letting the sun shine in and the air flow in.  Introduce plants that will help filter the air or use an air filter to remove impurities from the air.  If natural light is not an option, full spectrum light bulbs can be used to improve the light in your home.
• The five Feng Shui elements can help you incorporate changes in your home.  Each element is represented by specific colors, and by using these colors, you can bring about change in your home easily - WOOD - green, brown; FIRE - red, strong yellow, orange, purple, pink; EARTH - light yellow, sandy/earthy colors, light brown; METAL - white, gray; WATER - blue, black
• Learn your Feng Shui birth element which pertains to the year you were born.  By using this element in your home, you can reinforce positive energy.
• Examine door placement.  Your front door and back door should not line up with each other.  If they do, it will cause the "chi" or energy to slip right through the home without bringing any benefits to you.  You can easily solve this problem by placing a large plant or other obstacle beside one of the doors and place an angled throw rug to create a path in a sideways direction.
• Reduce clutter.  (This is the one I am particularly partial too!)  Lightening up the house is key to good feng shui.  Clutter can trap good energy.  Get rid of things you don't absolutely need. 

Your objective is to create a positive space.  Decorating your home with more light, music, water, air, plants, mirrors, windchimes, bright colors, household plants and flowers can activate the positive energy of joy and happiness in your home.

If you are feeling overwhelmed with the clutter in your home and want to create more positive energy within it, take the first step and contact me at A BETTER SPACE.  I will be more than happy to help.

Enjoy your week!

I received the following information from my accountant today and thought I would pass it on.

The IRS frequently reminds taxpayers to beware of identity theft scams. Two of the latest phishing scams include one offering inherited funds, lottery winnings, or cash consignment and another offering a bogus tax refund. Scammers use the IRS name, logo, or website in an attempt to convince taxpayers that the scam is a genuine communication from the IRS. Scammers may also use other federal agency names, such as the U.S. Department of the Treasury. After obtaining personal information, identity thieves use the victim's personal data to steal his or her financial accounts, run up charges on the victim's existing credit cards, apply for new loans, credit cards, services, or benefits in the victim's name, and even file fraudulent tax returns.

Please note the IRS does not discuss tax account matters by email. So, contact your accountant if you receive an email, purported to be from the IRS, requesting personal information.

Hope you find this information helpful.

I found this information and thought it might be helpful so I am passing it on...

Since an estimated 250 million computers became obsolete in the past five years, recycling e-waste has never been more crucial.  But figuring out how to do it isn't always easy. 

To help the eco-conscious with this dilemma, STAPLES has gotten involved and has launched an in-store e-waste recycling program. 

Drop off home-office equipment (computers, monitors, printers, fax machines) to any store nationwide, no matter where you originally purchased it, and for just $10 per item, the chain will recycle it according to the EPA's standards.

Bring in your extra keyboards and mice, too - they'll take care of those for free.

Hope you find this helpful in getting rid of your old home office equipment and feeling good about doing so.

If you are feeling overwhelmed with the prospect of getting that home office organized, contact me at A BETTER SPACE.  I will be more than happy to help.

Have a great week!

I love professional organizing because it gives me a great opportunity to use my imagination.  This past weekend, I was working with one of my clients.  She is making great strides in getting her home organized once and for all.

We were working in the kitchen area to make some sense of her plastic containers and her recycling of cans and paper, among other things.

This particular client purchases the cardboard boxes of soda which you can open up on one side and it acts as a dispenser. 

Going through the organizing process with her, we recognized that because her particular apartment complex does not participate in recycling, she is transporting her recycling items in her car to a local drop-off point.  Needless to say, transporting a slew of empty soda cans can be annoying and cumbersome.  

I love to teach my clients to "think outside the box", (to coin a phrase).  We figured out that we could use the empty soda can box/dispenser to fill with empty soda cans to be transported to the local recycling center.  It already has a handle to carry the box, so what could be easier! 

This is a perfect example of how you can take something you already have and put it to use in a different way.  I promised my client I would pass this tidbit of information on to my blog readers.

So, take a moment when looking for a solution to a problem and remember to "think outside the box"!!! 

If you have any great suggestions on how to use something old in a new way, send me an email and tell me about it.

In the meantime, if you have any questions or organizing problems you would like me to address, simply send me an email at info@4abetterspace.com and I will be glad to help.

Enjoy the start of Fall and have a great week!