On Giving

It's the time of year when there's suddenly an influx of just about everything into your home and office. Cookies, candy, trinkets, decorations, clothes, toys, the list goes on. For many of us, it's added on top of the piles of stuff that we already don't know what to do with or don't have a place to store.

The best way I can suggest to tackle this space issue is to give. Give away and gift all that you no longer want or use. I'll go back to the essential three questions I always ask:
- Do you need it?
- Do you use it?
- Do you love it?/Does it enhance your life?

If an item hasn't passed all three of these questions, it's time to let it go.

During the holidays, we are also reminded of those who have less than we do. It's the perfect time to give what we no longer want to those who are in need. Here are some great resources to get you started on your way to a more organized home and knowing your items are now being used by someone who loves them!

- La Casa Norte: Serving youth and families confronting homelessness

- Cornerstone Community Outreach: Finding shelter and homes for those at the most risk of being excluded from necessary services

- The Epilepsy Foundation: Offering counsel, advocacy and education for those with epilepsy and their families

- Howard Brown: Eliminating the disparities in health services for the LGBTQ community

- Open Books: Providing literacy experiences for thousands of readers

To find a resource near you, you can also visit Donation Town.

Gift Wrap Galore

It's right about this time of year that many people start to wrap a large amount of gifts. Wrapping gifts seems like an easy enough task, but really there's a lot of things that can come along with it: paper, tissue, bags, bows, ribbons, scissors, tape, tags, pens. And, that's just the supplies that most of us use. I don't even know what else is involved in making gifts look like they were in a Martha Stewart catalog. A lot more, I'm guessing.

There are just as many options on how to store gift wrap. It depends on how much you have and what kind of space you're storing it in. Studio apartment or 5 bedroom mansion or anything in between? The storage space you have available will be much different. Here are my most preferred three ways to store gift wrap:

1) Upright: This comes in a variety of solutions, but usually the most doable for most people and spaces. This can be a container specifically made for storing wrapping paper tubes, tissues and bows. It can be a couple unused trash cans, tall and narrow enough to hold a variety of tubes. Or, it can be a handful of those large 5 gallon popcorn tubs that you emptied out after Thanksgiving this year. These narrow, taller options are great for wrapping paper to stand upright in, as well as stashing tissue and bows. For bags, I tend to line them up like papers in a file in another bin or box, or even all inside the largest bag.

2) Hanging: There are a variety of hanging bag solutions to store just about anything these days. Some are specifically made for gift wrap. I like the kind that has specific pockets for tubes, flat tissue, bags and tools like scissors. It makes it that much easier to figure out where to keep everything. For both good and bad, it also limits the amount you can keep at any given time. 

3) In a Flat Bin: These are great for under beds, stacked in closets or under stairs. Really, anywhere that's longer than it is tall. Flat under-bed style bins come in variety of lengths now, some with trays inside for bows and the like. I prefer the hard plastic, opposed to soft plastic bags for storage, simply because they're easier to slide and stack.

5 Things to do Before Thanksgiving

Most places are already advertising winter holidays. But, let's just take it one event at a time, shall we? Here are some easy things to do before Thanksgiving that will make you, well... more thankful.

1) Decorate. Maybe that means simply throwing away your jack-o-lantern. Maybe that means making elaborate cornucopias. Or, maybe you don't decorate for any holidays. More power to you - less stuff to keep around the rest of the year!

2) Plan a menu. It doesn't matter if you're hosting or going to the home of someone else. You're going to eat a meal on Thanksgiving. Do you have to cook anything? What ingredients do you need? When will you need to cook it? If you're not doing any of those things, start thinking about where to order take out! (Have I mentioned how much I love food?)

3) Plan what you're going to wear. Again, this will depend on your plans. Maybe you need a formal outfit - a dress or sweater and slacks. Perhaps you're spending time with a t-shirt and jeans group of folks. Better yet, if you're ordering take-out, stay in your pajamas!

4) Get all those things you've been meaning to donate to your local charity. Finally. Help some other person or family have another reason to be thankful this season. It's not helping anyone if you're bags of old clothes are still in the hall closet come December.

5) Be thankful. That you have a home to decorate, food to put in your belly, clothes to wear and a way to help someone less fortunate than your self.

A Peak Inside an Organizer's Kitchen

I've organized a lot of kitchens. It's one of my favorite spots to tackle for a couple reasons: I love food and I I love cooking. I get excited finding new gadgets and seeing beautiful serving pieces. It's also an awesome bonus that getting rid of old food creates automatic open space! Let's take a look at how I set up my own kitchen:

Spices: For years now I've been setting up all my spices in drawers instead of the traditional tiered rack in a cabinet. Mostly, that has to do with what cabinet and drawer space I have available in my kitchen. Notice that I've lined the spices in alphabetical order. It's the quickest way I can find what I'm looking for, instead of say, baking vs. cooking. Oddly shaped spices (boxes and bags) are set to one side to streamline the jars as best as possible.

Food: This is one of my food cabinets; I don't have a pantry. On the top shelf are items I don't often grab.
One bin has sprinkles, and one bin has baking extras like extracts and baking chips. The middle shelf houses items I reach for from time to time: one bin of pasta, one bin of other grains and cereals to the side. Below are all my oils, vinegars and sauces - things I reach for almost every day.

Containers: Everyone asks. I personally stack like sized containers together with their lids inside. If I had the space I'd stack all the containers, lidded. But alas, I do not.

Utensils: In this drawer you'll notice that I've separated out plastic wear to the left, knives to the right and other sharps in the bin in the back. Within the utensil tray I also
separated different sizes of spoons and forks. It's easier for my tiny hands to grab the spoon I want this way!

Baking: If you know me, you know I love to bake! This drawer houses all my baking prep supplies. Measuring spoons and cups are nested together. Utensils like spatulas and scoops are tossed together in the tray on the right. Bowls are nested, while small tools are gathered in the front right bin. FYI, those silicone rings are used on the rolling pin to create different thicknesses of dough. Awesome, right?!

What's your organizing challenge in the kitchen?

5 Ways to Get it Done Now!

Bored? Procrastinating? Other things to do? We all have those excuses and reasons to not do something we should do. Here are five ideas to help get you on track:

1) Set a timer. For 15 or 20 minutes to start. Get as much done as you can before the timer dings. If you still have some gusto left, set it again. Do this daily until the project is complete.

2) Alternate with something more fun. Complete part A of the task, then read a chapter. Finish part B of the project, then watch a TV show. Finish the third part, then paint your nails.

3) Have someone help. Tell your friend/relative/neighbor/professional organizer that for the next 'x' minutes, you are to work on this task. Together. Then, you can make plans for whatever else you like to do together. The other person is there to help support you through the project - without judging - and keep you on task. You can also try delegating parts of the project to your helper.

4) Get rid of distractions. Shut the door. Silence the phone. Turn off the TV and radio. Concentrate.

5) Have a reward at the end. Ice cream. A movie. A dance party in your office. Anything your more-organized heart desires!

Why Kids Make You More Disorganized

A Top 5 List:

1) They need so much stuff! Bottles, diapers, toys, books, clothes, art supplies.... we could all go on forever.

2) They keep growing! Just when your kid has grown into one size, the seasons change and you need to buy a whole new wardrobe. Just so it all won't fit next year.

3) They're messy! (Usually). Kids don't know it's gross to eat off the floor. They also don't know that stepping on Legos is horribly painful.

4) TOYS. Toys = stature on the playground. The more toys you have, the more other kids want to play with you and said toys. And, then they get older and want new, different toys. But, they don't want to get rid of all the old toys, either.

5) You're sentimental! It's your baby. Of course you want to keep every single piece of genius artwork and paper written. Of course.

It's no wonder you feel overwhelmed. The good news is, the more organized you are, the easier it will be to tolerate all the changes that will continue to come your (and your child's) way!

Quick Tips You Always Forget

There are a handful of things professional organizers tend to keep in mind that always impress our clients... but, are really just common sense ideas we simply keep at the top of mind. Here are a few things that you likely don't consider, but can make a huge difference in your space:

1) Move the shelves! If you're having a hard time getting your items to fit in your kitchen cabinets, linen closet, book cases, etc. try moving the shelves. Sometimes that inch or two is all the solution you need. (Note: don't try to move the shelves if you do not, in fact, have adjustable shelves.)

2) Fold your sheets! I know, I know. Folding a fitted sheet is a pain for almost everyone. But, it can really increase the amount you can fit in a space, as well as look nicer. If you need some guidance, ask Martha, of course. This is how I fold fitted sheets.

3) Store shoes toe-to-heel! Simply put, it lets you keep more shoes in a row in any given space. I promise.

4) Media can stand and/or lay on your shelf! Traditionally, books, movies and music stand in a row on a shelf. However, sometimes it fits the space better if you stack the items on their side. This is especially handy for shorter items that you have in abundance.

5) Label things! I know I've said it a thousand times, and I'll say it at least once more. Even if you're setting up the space just for yourself, labels help remind you where things were moved, where to find them and where to put them away. It will help build your new habits. If it's a space that's all your own, once you've conquered your old habits and created new, you can always remove the labels.

Keeping Memories

Much of what I come across when working with clients is a memory. A report card, a piece of artwork, a gift, a prom dress, Mom's old cookbook. It comes in a variety of forms. It comes with a variety of feelings.

There are also memories associated with loss. Pictures from a wedding of a couple that is now divorced. Toys from a child who has passed away. Correspondence from a roommate that left on unhappy terms. Work from a job you were fired from.

Stacking memories into boxes and bins seems to be a very human thing to do. We want the memories. We want to remember who we are, who we were and where we came from. And, that makes sense. And, though I don't necessarily think we should try to edit or alter those things, we can also make the process easier on ourselves.

Why keep a gift from an aunt who was always mean to you? Why keep photos of a past partner that was less than nice? Why keep things that when we see them, make us feel sad or angry? We shouldn't.

Keep the memories that remind you of people and places that make you feel happy. Circumstances that make you laugh. Photos that make you feel good about who you are and where you come from.

Deep breath. Let that item go. Some of those memories can even be donated. Maybe the music box from your crazy ex-boyfriend will be just what someone was looking for. It can make them smile instead of making you frown.

It's in the Bag

Today, I thought we'd talk about organizing our everyday bags - whether that be a purse, carry-all or satchel. Really, it's all the same. It holds the things we need on a daily or almost daily basis. It usually goes with us wherever we may travel - work, gym, store and back home again. And, it can really get messy in there!

First thing's first, let's empty out that bag! Dump it completely out. Shake out the crumbs; wipe down the outsides or any sticky or smudged parts.

Take a look at what was in there. Items that make sense in this kind of bag: wallet, phone, keys, anything else you'd need daily - like a calendar or notebook. Set those aside. 

Then, let's look at all those little papers and receipts. Do you need them for any reason still? Toss it, if not. If you do put it in one of two places: the proper file or in a place where you'd need to access it. For example, if you need the receipt for a return, stick it (literally) to the item and get it in the car. Or, if you're not sure if you'll return it yet, keep a small ouch or envelope for those slips of paper. Keeping it in your bag or the car door might be a good place to store the pouch. Just remember to weed through it from time to time!

Lastly, take a gander at what's left. Make-up, toys, tissues, all those things. Whatever simply needs to be put away elsewhere should do just that. From whatever's left decide if it should live in this bag. Maybe carrying snacks and lip gloss makes sense for your daily or weekly routine. Maybe a map doesn't need to be in there now that you're home from vacation.

Finally, don't just toss it all in there! Most bags have compartments and zippered pockets. Use these! Keep like items with like - just like organizing any other area. If you really have a cavernous bag, consider getting an insert for separating things. There are purse organizers available, as well as good ol' fashioned zippered vanity bags. Now you'll have a reason for keeping all those free make-up bags from the department store counters!

A Peak Inside an Organizer's Home

At one point or another, most of my clients ask me something about how my home looks. I usually say something along the lines of 'It's pretty organized, but I'm still human, so it's not perfect.' Well, I figured it would be even better to show you what my home looks like. Let's take a look at my closet/wardrobe.

I live in an urban apartment with two small closets, both about 2' wide x 3' deep. One is a utility closet in the hall with a cabinet in it; the other is in the bedroom. As you can expect, I cannot fit my entire wardrobe in a closet that size. So, I have two free-standing wardrobes in the bedroom. Let's take a look:

 The first wardrobe consists of all my hanging, short items. On the bottom rung, you'll find my sleeveless tops, long sleeved tops and cardigans/jackets. Above that are my 3/4 length sleeved tops, short sleeved tops and skirts. The top shelf has a couple different bins: out of season shoes, bags and mementos. Stacked above is my swimwear. Note that each category of clothing is color coded.

The second wardrobe has a little more going on. Below you'll see my hamper, seasonal and year-round shoes. The bottom shelf has stacks of exercise clothes, pajamas, shorts and t-shirts. Above is a bin with socks in it, another hiding behind with tights. Next to that my pants, all folded. Some folded toward, and some away from the viewer. I'm a pretty short girl, and thus have two different length pants - flat shoes and heels. Keeping
them folded in opposite directions is an easy way for me to differentiate pants when I'm looking for a certain style in a rush. I don't have to flip through them all or try a bunch on to figure out which is which. Next to the pants are a couple baskets above and below a stacking shelf. The bottom basket has underwear, the top has bras. Hanging above on an extra rod are fashion, not winter, scarves. The upper most shelf has linens of all kinds - beach towels, sheets, blankets. There is no other linen closet in the apartment!

And, finally the only real closet in the apartment. Here I have my dresses and winter coats (when out of season). Above are winter accessories and an umbrella (there's also no other coat closet in the apartment). The black bin are my past years' taxes and the handful of files next to the bin are the only papers I have left to keep from transitioning to a paperless office years ago. There's a hook on the wall where I hang belts. Below are two bags of clothes that I've been adding to that will go to donation or a clothes swap. If something doesn't fit quite right when I try it on, into the bags it goes!

(Okay, I admit it, I cleaned up a little bit before taking the pictures...but it usually looks pretty close to this on a daily basis, anyway! Human, not perfect!)