It's in the Bag

 Recently, a client of my mused about how my purse must be immaculate. I don't think I'd quite say that, but it is organized. Of course! Whether grabbing your purse, fanny pack or man-bag on the way out the door, the last thing you need is to wonder if everything you *think* is in there is actually in there. So, how to keep it from becoming a Mary Poppins-esque bag of chaos?

1) Dump it all out and start from scratch. Empty your bag of all those gum wrappers and receipts. Toss that lip balm you hate. Put all the loose change in your wallet or piggy bank. If there's anything missing, add it to your pile of things going back in the bag. If you're always wishing you had a pen on hand, go grab one to toss in there. Refill your mints and business card holder.

2) Consider how often you change bags. Do you use a bag until it's thread-bare? Or, do you swap by the season? Do you love your bags and change them almost weekly? It totally changes how to set up your bag for success! If you rarely change bags, then use whatever pockets and pouches are available. Use one pocket for all things beauty - like your nail file and tissues. If your bag doesn't have pouches, pockets and zippers, create your own. Use those extra travel pouches you've been collecting from years of "gift with purchase." You can even use plastic baggies if you need to. 

3) Clear it out regularly. For some people, that means weekly. For some people, once or twice a year may be plenty. It really depends what you're tossing in there and how frequently. And, try to be aware of what you're putting in there. Maybe you need a little trash bag in the car so you stop filling your bag with candy wrappers. Or, maybe you need a little wallet just to collect receipts. 

The House on the Rock

Do you know about The House on the Rock? A structural feat of engineering. A '60s party haven. A bizarre maze of sights and sounds.

I visited The House on the Rock for the first time recently. It was amazing to see... everything on the property. But, it got me thinking. There's so much contained in one "home" (I use that sparingly, as most of the items are now housed in separate buildings). How could one person have so much? Is this a collector's dream? A person with hoarding behavior? Something in between?

By definition, a collection is the act or process of collecting; a group of objects or works to be seen studied or kept together.

By definition, a hoard is a supply or store of something held or hidden for future use; a collection or supply, as of memories or information, that one keeps to oneself for future use. 

So, by definition a collection is a hoard. Interesting. But, I think there's more to it than that. If Alex Jordan, who built The House on the Rock, didn't open his home to the public, earning admission tickets along the way, he wouldn't have the fortune to continue to build on his property, to buy and make more things to store in more buildings. He needed the money. He already had the space. Surely, if he kept amassing the dolls, model ships, Asian artifacts and instruments, but stuffed them into bins and shacks in the yard, he would have been named a hoarder. So, do resources like space and money solely create a collection? Not exactly.

Why did Alex Jordan keep creating, keep finding and buying more? Was it because he had already built this business for Midwestern lookie-loos who would only come back if there was something new to see? Or, was it because he wanted more? Because he couldn't stop?

A lot to think about. There may be a fine line between collecting and hoarding behavior. Is The House on the Rock a collection to view, like a museum? Or, is The House on the Rock one man's hoarded clutter, put on display? The best way to find out is to see it for yourself. There's really nothing else like it.

How an Organizer Has Less

There are a lot of ways to have less. Buy less. Make less. Keep less. But, it's always easier said than done in our very capitalist, Keeping-Up-With-the-Jones' society. There's always pressure - from celebrities, media, friends, family, ourselves - to have the latest and greatest. And, after the last year we've all had, to make sure we never run out of the important things (remember all those empty shelves at the beginning of the pandemic?).

So, how does a person who makes a living on not only guiding people through the process of creating organized systems in their space, but also help them live with less do so herself? Of course, I can go on and on about one-in, one-out rules or the use of containers as a limit for how much of something I want to keep (side note: these are all super useful organizing strategies!), but instead I'm going to give you simple, easy, true examples of things I do at home to prevent more from entering or staying in my home.

I stopped using produce bags from the grocery store. I'm pretty sure every kitchen I've worked in has the inevitable bag of bags under the sink or in the pantry. It just sits there. It collects more. It grows in the night. To prevent that giant stash of unused plastic to take up space under my sink, I started using reusable fabric produce bags. I have handful that are either filled with produce in the fridge or empty inside the reusable grocery bags I take to the market. If they get dirty, I toss them in the laundry with the dishtowels before they go back in to the grocery bags. 

I use a grocery list. My kitchen isn't huge, and there isn't a pantry. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to have shelves full of cans and bags and a small store of my own ingredients available at all times. But, I just don't have the space for it. So, I make a list before every shopping trip. I cross reference it before I go to the store with what's already in the cabinets. For the most part, I stick to it, minus the occasional, "Oh, how did that Nutella fall into the basket?"

If something is supposed to leave the apartment, it sits in front of the door. A store return? Bagged up with the receipt, hanging on the door handle. A bag of donations? Sitting on top of my shoes. Electronics recycling? With my work bag. If it's not supposed to stick around, I'm going to put it in the most obvious place I can to get it out as soon as possible.

When the seasons change, I inspect. When it's cold enough to start wearing hats and gloves again, I pull them all out. I assess if they're still something I'd wear. I donate those that don't make the cut. When it's finally warm enough to wear shorts again, I try them all on (Booo!) to see if the zippers still zip all the way up. If they don't, they're added to the donation bag. 

Nothing sticks around longer than it should. Space is at a premium. Not because there are so many belongings to try and squish into this home. Rather, because I want the space to enjoy my time. My home. My space.

Clearing Out the Home After Someone Passes Away

For most of the world, 2020 was not the best year. Because of the CoVid-19 pandemic, a lot of people have passed away. Which means there are a lot of families out there dealing with now vacant homes. Homes filled with a lifetime of stuff. On top of the emotional stress of a death, clearing out a home can be incredibly overwhelming. So, here's a primer for getting started, should you find yourself in the same unfortunate situation.

First and foremost, find out if you have a particular timeline to adhere to. If this is a rental property, does the home need to be vacated by a certain date? Will the home be sold or property ownership transferred on a particular day? If so, you can plan by working backward to finish the project on time.

Second, consult the will. It's important to include the proper legal channels in the process. There may be particular items in the home that have been left to a family member or friend. It's also possible that certain items have been bequeathed to a charity or organization. Those items should be given to those individuals and groups as soon as possible, so as to not displace them. 

Third, bring in the family and friends that were closest to the deceased. Are there items left in the home that someone would like to remember their loved one? There are a variety of ways to work through this process. But, the main concern is that it's a fair process where no one feels they have been slighted. Emotions can be high, so you may find a moderator to be helpful.

Fourth, based on anything left in the home, clear out the garbage and recycling. Clear out the fridge and freezer of opened foods, empty trash cans, and so on. Likely, there will be more along the way, too.

Fifth, find all the paperwork. If a will wasn't located initially, this step will need to come first. Look in drawers, cabinets, boxes, safes and any hiding place you can find. Look for important documents like birth and marriage certificates, paperwork that proves property ownership (homes, land, vehicles, boats) and any appraisals (jewelry, art, property). These will be important to dissolving the estate. Next, find paperwork related to any financial accounts that will need to be closed, including utilities (wait until the home is cleared out and no one will return), credit cards and banking/investment accounts. Shred or recycle anything else.

Finally, remember the person you cared for. Know that this is a stressful process. Know that help is available, should you need it. And, that you can get through this.

All the COVID Things

I know I don't really need to say it, because we all know it... But, this pandemic has really changed... well, everything.

That means that, among myriad other things, our coming and going has changed, as well. There are new things to remember on our way out the door. Instead of just remembering your phone, keys, lunch, water bottle, the dry cleaning and your bag, now you also need to remember masks, hand sanitizer, maybe protective eye wear, gloves and bleach wipes. There's a lot more stuff getting piled up around our entryways and in our car doors.

So, here's a couple ideas:

1) Keep a basket near the door you use most often. In this basket, you can toss sanitizer, gloves, clean masks and anything else you want to grab on your way out the door. If table space is scarce, consider a wall-mounted basket. Have a separate landing zone for cloth masks that need washing. Next to this basket can work, as long as they're labeled well so everyone knows which basket is which. Or, you can simply toss the soiled masks into the laundry basket with the clothes.

2) Take advantage of door knobs and over-the-door hooks. I personally have been hanging my masks
in two places: there's always one on the doorknob, so if I'm running out quickly on foot, I can grab one and go. But, I also keep one on the hook where I hang my purse each night. I take my purse whenever I drive someplace, at the very least, so there's a mask waiting for me there. I could easily hang a little bag with other supplies, if need be, with it.

3) If you're usually driving someplace, have a stash in the car. Keep your car door storage for wipes and sanitizer. Hang a mask from your ear shift or review mirror, if these are safe options for you. There are always cup holders to hold supplies, too. Keep a trash bag in the car for used one-use masks, gloves and wipes.

Is there something that you've been practicing that has made this transition a bit easier for your daily life? I'd love to hear what works for you!

A Whole New Kind of Closet

Closets come in all shapes and sizes. For good or for bad, we often use whatever system was in the closet when we moved into the home. Sometimes we try to add a shoe rack or some bins to customize it and make better use of it. In all reality, what would really maximize our space would be a whole new organization system.

Find out more about this brand new system at Closets by Liberty!

When You're Stuck Inside for What Seems Like Forever

Most of us are in the same boat right now - staying indoors, close to home, not venturing out into the world. I'd like to think that means most of us are tackling all those projects we've been putting off for the longest time - regrouting the bathroom tile! Dusting the ceiling fans! Polishing the silver!

But, let's be realistic. The first week or so probably feels either a little like vacation, or little like a hot mess. Transitioning is not the easiest thing - especially when humans are creatures of habit. And, don't forget to add kids, partners and pets into the mix. Now try and be productive!

Regardless of how much time and energy you are expending on work or kids or trying to go stir crazy, let's reframe some of your time at home to tackle some more basic projects. I've created a list of things you can do that will probably take an hour or two each day. Even if you only do half of these while you're home-bound, think of all the progress you'll have made! Work your way down the list, or pick and choose which apply to your space.

THE BATHROOM:
* Most shelters are happy to accept sealed beauty products, cleaning products and linens you no longer want.
1) Under the sink: Take it all out. Still use those products? Do they still smell right? Have a pedestal sink? Phew! You're done already!
2) Other cabinets and drawers: Take it all out. Still use those products? Do they still smell right? What categories are you finding in here? Put things back either by amount of use (daily or special occasion) or category (make-up or medicine).
3) Medicine cabinet: Take it all out. Still use those products? Do they still smell right? Don't have a medicine cabinet? Phew! You're done already!
4) Countertops and shelves: If you've already tackled the other storage in the bathroom you'll have a much better idea if there's space to store the items you have been keeping out. Does it make sense to put them away so you can enjoy open counter space? Or, are these items you use constantly? If they're in a drawer are you going to forget to take a pill or just get annoyed all day long?
5) In the shower & Back of the door: Take a peak to make sure there aren't empty bottles taking up precious space or five bottles of hair conditioner and no shampoo.

THE KITCHEN:
* Donate sealed food items to local pantries. Everything else you want to get rid of can go to a local charity, too.
1) Under the sink: Take it all out. Still use those products? Do you actually have four bottles of dish soap and didn't realize it?
2) Just the drawers: Take everything out of the drawers that have utensils, junk, etc. in it. If you have deep drawers that hold pots, dishes or appliances, tackle those with cabinets. Really assess how much you have and what you really use. If you have crocks on the counters with utensils, take those into account, too.
3) Just the cabinets: Okay, this one might take you more than an hour, depending on the size of your kitchen. If there are some cabinets that are perfect as is, shut the door and move on to those that aren't so great. Take it out. Compare what you really, truly use vs. what you wish you might use someday. How realistic is it that you'll start making mini pies regularly? If you have more than one cabinet with, say, glasses in it, take out all the glasses and assess them together.
4) The pantry/where ever you keep food items: Keep food items that will still be used in your home. Did your kid move out, and you'll never eat those granola bars? Or,  you find there are three jars of olives for recipes you never made, and you hate olives? Set up your pantry space so you can see what categories you have and how much. Shop from here before going to the store.
5) The fridge and freezer: Toss out anything soggy or moldy. Check that condiments are still smelling and looking as they should. If you can't identify something, toss it out. Use drawers to separate categories like fruit or greens. Keep drinks in one area, leftovers in another, snacks maybe in a bin on a shelf.

THE BEDROOM:
*Bag up donations as you move through the space. You'll be surprised how quickly you can see a change.
1) Nightstands: Try to create a tranquil place to help ease you to sleep and wake you up. Clock, lamp, maybe a book or journal and whatever else you need for bed should be here. Glass of water, lotion, glasses. If you have shelves or drawers in your nightstand, clear those of anything excess as well. This is not a junk drawer.
2) Under the bed: Ideally, this space would be clear of anything other than maybe some dust. If under bed storage is necessary, make sure containers are covered or sealed to keep items clean. Store items that you grab for rarely like extra linens, out of season shoes or keepsakes.
3) Dressers: Tackle a drawer at a time. Make sure there what's inside fits comfortably and would still be worn. Fold clothes. Clear surfaces of anything more than decorative items or what you use regularly, like jewelry or personal care items.
4) Closets: Look at hanging clothes, then tackle a drawer or shelf at a time. Ideally you would have nothing or just shoes on the floor. Condense luggage into itself. Assess accessories as well as clothes to make sure they still fit your size and style.
5) Backs of doors/Piles on chairs: If you've done all the other spaces in the bedroom already, this will be a breeze! Put clothes away and laundry in the hamper. Deliver items that don't belong to the correct room in the house. Try to keep these clear as much as possible, or for a specific use. For example, maybe hooks on the back of the door are perfect for the few pieces of clothes have been worn already, but aren't ready to be tossed in laundry.

STORAGE:
*These spaces may be mixed into the other spaces in the house. Feel free to organize them on their own or within those other rooms.
1) Linen closet: Categorize by size or use: twin size vs. queen size; wash rag vs. body towel. Make sure you have sheets for the bed sizes you currently own. Two to four sets of sheets per bed is reasonable for most homes.
2) Coat closet: Make sure the coats still fit. Ask yourself if you need more than one or two coats per season. Don't forget to look through whatever else is hiding in there: umbrellas, hats, shoes. Deliver items that live someplace else to the correct rooms.
3) Laundry/Cleaning supplies: Something has definitely spilled in here, because it always does. Wipe that up before putting back bottles of detergent that you actually use. If there are brands you won't use anymore, give them to a shelter or friend who will. Categorize cleaners by use: bathroom, dusting, floors.
4) Toys: There are always toys. Categorize in whatever way makes sense for your child and how he/she plays. Get rid of broken toys and things that have been outgrown. Have a place to stash parts and pieces. As you find the puzzle box or action figure missing a piece, you can consult the "Parts & Pieces" first.
5) Garage: Separate categories like tools, yard work and sporting goods. Give each category their own storage area. Break down each of those categories as needed. For example, you may have baseball, hockey and football within the sporting goods area.

THE REST:
* Again, these area probably anywhere in the house. Address as needed.
1) The desk: The whole point of the desk is to have a place to work. If you can't see the surface, that's priority number one. Start with drawers and cabinets so there's a place to store whatever's on top. Shred or recycle paperwork you don't need anymore. Make files for the rest.
2) Gift wrap: Separate bags, tissues, bows and wrap. Consider storing in plastic bin, a hanging gift wrap holder, a tall clean trash can or even all inside the largest gift bag you have.
3) Craft supplies: First, decide if these are all supplies it still makes sense to keep. Are your knitting days over? Donate yarn and needles to someone who still knits all the time. If glue and paint are dried up, toss it. Use small containers or baggies to corral tiny items like beads, gems and confetti.
4) Holiday decor: Separate decor by holiday or time of year. Label bins so you don't have to dig through all of them to find the scarecrow in the fall.
5) Pet supplies: Have a designated place for toys, food, leashes and whatever else your pet may need. No searching for the collar or medicine. Stash it all together.

A Case of the "Maybe Someday"

We've all thought it at some point - "What if I need this again someday?" Sometimes, that's the whole reason I end up working in a home. Everything has some kind of use left in it still, and what if that use becomes relevant again - someday?

If we are constantly looking for use in items, we're never going to get rid of anything, myself included. What we should be considering is if the item has use to us. A great example are craft supplies.

If I'm an artsy, crafty person, I can likely imagine some wonderful use for scraps of fabric, yarn, paint, Styrofoam, you name it. But, honestly, I haven't made any art in about ten years. I'd love to make crafts again, but there are other, more important things on my plate now. Realistically, it will be years again before I can even consider dedicating time to creating again. What to do with this closet filled with supplies?

The question here is not, "Do these items still have use and worth?" but rather "Will I use these items?" Is it worth the space they take to store? Does it motivate me to have these items around? Or, does it feel like a constant reminder of a life I used to have, that no longer fits my lifestyle?

It's helpful to remind ourselves that there are always other ways to find an item again. Maybe I no longer eat a carb-heavy diet, so I haven't used my waffle-iron in years. But, what if I want to have waffles again someday? Maybe I can borrow one. Maybe I can find a cheap one at a resale shop. Maybe I would rather go to a restaurant or buy frozen waffles.

With places like the library, neighborhood share groups, tool libraries and other community groups (inline and in real life), there are a ton of ways to temporarily use an item you would only need once.

So, I think it's more important to clear out this closet of craft supplies and donate it in order to store everything in this dining room in the newly emptied closet. I'd rather use my dining room regularly than store a closet of items I don't think I'll use.

We can't always count on someday. Take advantage of today.

Let's Reflect on the Year

I want to hear from you! What did you tackle this year that has made a huge difference? Maybe you moved and managed to unpack all your boxes and get organizing in your new home. Maybe you mastered your schedule and haven't been late to a meeting in months! Maybe you finally started the process to go digital and get rid of that filing cabinet.

What have I done that's made a difference for me organizationally?

- I moved, and did unpack all my boxes!

- I got rid of my wall calendar this year, and even though I still glance at the wall sometimes, I have everything I need in one calendar.

- I went through all my childhood memories. School papers, toys, you name it. It's neatly sorted and packed such that I can grab something if I want to take it out.

- I finally started writing down business processes, so someone else can do some of it!

The Quickest Time Management Tips Ever

It's hard to stay on track. It's hard to be on time. It's called time management because we have to pay attention and actually manage it. But, it can be easier:

1. Schedule everything into your calendar. I mean everything, if you have to. When to exercise, when to watch your favorite TV show, who to call back on the drive home from work. It can seem labor intensive to get started, but once it's habit, you forget to do things a whole lot less.

2. Color code, if need be. If you're juggling multiple calendars, color code to make things easier to visually separate. If multiple people are on one schedule, each person is a different color. Or, if it's just yours, different tasks get different colors. For example, appointments are red, birthdays are yellow, and people to call back are green.

3. Be realistic. A lot of us think it takes less time to do things than it really does. I'm guilty of this far more often than I'd like to admit. I always think I can get squeeze in a few more emails or phone calls before walking out the door than I realistically can before I'm running late.

4. Practice. Like I said, it's time management. If you've ever managed a project or a person before, realize that your calendar is both!

5. Shut out distractions. Mute your phone or TV. Hang up a sign on your cubicle that says "Busy! Come back later!" Do whatever it takes to make sure you complete your task on time.