Kitchen Organizing Tip – How do I know what to keep…

Not sure what to keep in the kitchen utensil drawer? Here’s a great tip I learned from professional organizer, Peter Walsh.

Get a box a box or a container and empty all of the drawer’s contents into the box or container. Keep the box , now filled with the kitchen drawer items, on the counter near the drawer for easy access .When you need a utensil , take it out of the box and use it. When you are finished, place the item back in the original drawer it came from. Leave the box on the counter for a month. After a months time, if there are any items left in the box, you know they are not used.

The best part about this project is you don’t have to agonize over any decisions, the utensils will speak for themselves. Now all you have to do is close up the box and take it to Goodwill or favorite donation spot!

Photo Attribute: fifty100.com

A Quick Tip to Avoid a Costly Organizing Mistake!

Mistake:
Decide to get organized and run out and buy organizing products!

Why this is a Mistake…
Deciding to get organized is fantastic! The problem is purchasing without purging first!

The first step to getting organized in a space is determining what you have. After you have all of the contents laid out and sorted you can decide what to keep, and finally, what to pass on or discard. If we purchase a storage solution before we know what we are storing, we run the risk of adding more clutter. I have seen many cases where the main source or clutter is actually unused storage containers never put to good use! When we go to stores such as The Container Store, there are so many organized beautiful displays we may be tempted to purchase. My advice is always the same, find out what you need to store before you purchase a solution to store it. 

You will be happily surprised at how easy it is to create the perfect solution once you know what you are looking to store!

Start the year off right and tackle the paper that is coming into your home!

It’s much easier than you think to set up a mail sorting center! Start with a little detective work… where does the mail and paper clutter gravitate to when it enters your home? This area may be the kitchen table, entry table, family room couch or simply a pile on a desk or counter. Setting up your mail center near this area, will naturally be very successful because the mail is already arriving there.

Create a simple filing system to sort the mail immediately as it comes in the door so it doesn’t get stacked up and moved around the home. This way you will only touch the mail once and it will be sorted and ready for you to read.

Depending on who lives in your home and their ages, your paper clutter will be a little different. If you have school age children in your home you will need a system that sorts permission slips, report cards and art work etc. In addition; most of us will need to sort junk mail, bills, catalogs, newspapers, business offers and coupons. Keep in mind your personal organizing style when creating your system. An easy to use system is crucial to the success of your organizing efforts.

When planning your center have some fun! Add your favorite color folders or a baskets that you love to look at. Remember the better it feels to you the more chance you will have using it!
Photo Attribute: housetohome.co.uk

It’s not without good reason that red is used for traffic stop signs!  The color red is great for grabbing attention and can increase brain activity and your pulse rate! It is therefore a great color for spaces with high traffic and lots of activity.

Red is great for creating a party atmosphere or adding a sense of drama to the space. It is also the preferred color in many restaurants and shops. Red increases the appetite and adds sophistication to a space. Note, the color red is used for seat cushions, curtains and carpets in a theater. Red is also associated with passion and fire and can be used to stimulate and intensify emotion. If you need to spice up your love life, introduce a small amount of red in the bedroom and see what happens!

Warning!  Use the color red sparingly in your decor! Red is such a powerful color that too much of it will overwhelm. You can feel moody and aggressive if you  stay in a room that is intensely red for too long. To avoid this, use red as an accent color in a room rather than the dominate color in the space.

Red adds warmth to a dinghy corner and will make a room feel more cozy and intimate. It is therefore, a popular choice for dining rooms.

Add red to a room if you are feeling depressed, suffering from anemia, procrastination, or just need a stimulating uplifting boost of energy!

Excerpts from Easy Feng Shui by Clare Plaister, easy-feng-shui.com

Photo Attribute: www.kedacom.co

Our skin is the largest organ in our body. Winter wind, freezing temperatures, combined with indoor dry heat, and hot showers can really
play havoc on our skin! Create a natural, chemical free, nourishing facial mask to revive your winter dry skin! It’s much easier and less expensive than you can imagine! The ingredients can be found right in your pantry. The best part is you can customize the mask to your own skin type and your tastes.
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AVOCADO FACE MASK WITH HONEY AND COCONUT  OIL

Helps your skin retain moisture  thus reducing dry and rough skin, protects the skin from free radicals, refines the pores, tightens the skin, reduces wrinkles and age spots.

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp. Very Ripe Mashed Avocado
• 1 tsp. Raw Honey
• 1 tsp.Coconut Oil
• 2 drops Frankincense Essential Oil  (could substitute lavender, lemon, patchouli, jasmine, or geranium/ always test for skin sensitivity before using essential oil on your skin)

Preparation

Mash the avocado pulp in a bowl and add the honey.  In a sauce pan on low heat melt the coconut oil. Add the melted oil to the avocado mixture.  Mix the ingredients together until they form a smooth paste.

How to use it

Apply to face carefully avoiding the eye area and leave it on for 15 minutes. Rinse with lukewarm water. Use this avocado mask once or twice a week.

So what are you waiting for? Open a bottle of wine to share and invite the girls over for a little pampering and fun!

Photo Attribute  – Beautyboxmgazine.com

It’s Fall and the holidays are rapidly approaching! Along with the pumpkins, gourds and turkeys we’re thinking about, we need to plan ahead for upcoming holiday entertaining and house guests!

My 20 minute De-Clutter Program can easily help you to get your home in shape for company this holiday season! 

It’s so easy to get started…

Step 1 ~ The first step is the set up. Walk each area of your home with pen and paper and write down the “hot spots” or clutter areas in each room. These would be the areas that need some organization or “weeding out”. Keep in mind the areas that will have the most use with guests and company this holiday season.  Ask yourself  questions such as, will my company need closet or drawer space? Will my guests use the second floor rooms or remain on the main floor? Will the basement area be used?  These questions will help you to determine how to prioritize the work that needs to be done.

When your house walk is complete, it’s time to prioritize the list starting with “this has to get done” versus “this would be nice to get done.”  Next, you will need 3 boxes or large bags to label as “garbage”,  “relocate” ( to its proper home), and “donate/sell”. If you find you need other boxes such as a “dilemma box”,  make sure to put a decision deadline date on the box so it doesn’t become clutter as well.

Tip-  Pick a date or several dates to drop off your donations during your project.  Make sure to add the dates to your calendar. If you choose to sell some of the items to a consignment shop, Craig’s list, etc. make sure to set a date and time for that as well.

Step 2 ~ Now that the  project set-up is complete, it’s time to get started. Each morning and evening grab your 3 boxes or bags and spend 20 minutes in your number one “hot spot”.  Look at the items as you de-clutter and decide if you love, need or use the items. If not, it’s time to move them on!

After 20 minutes, that’s it… you’re done for now!  Put your boxes or bags in a low traffic area until the next 20 minute session.  At the end of the week you will be surprised at the progress you have made!  Twenty minutes, two times a day for a week, adds up to an amazing 280 minutes or just over 4 1/2 hours of de-cluttering and organizing! Enlist your spouse and kids and you could double or triple that progress.  My favorite part of this plan is that it is gradual. The plan doesn’t take up your entire day off  or become as overwhelming as doing it all at once.

Step 3 ~ Remember the important part is keeping the organized areas, organized! After a space has been completed, make the other household members aware of your progress and declare the area a “no clutter zone”. Depending on what you have accomplished, this may be a small kitchen drawer or an entire room. Either one is great progress! Place a  post-it in the freshly de-cluttered area to remind you and others of the importance of putting everything back neatly where it belongs. This will allow you to continually view your progress and will keep motivating you to move forward with your de-cluttering and holiday preparation plan.

Give it a try, it really works!

Image Attributes:  www.arcadianhome.com (via) Country Living

With a little creative planning, you CAN enjoy the holiday season

After many unplanned and very stress filled holidays, I have come up with what I call my Holiday Survival Guide! My plan is simple and easy to follow. All you need to get started is your calendar and a blank notebook and a pen /or your tablet.

This plan will allow you to be in charge of what you choose to spend your time on this holiday season. We all have 24 hours in each day… the tricky part is how to allocate that time to get it all done. My plan will help to prioritize and then organize all of the thoughts racing through your head, and also give you a game plan to follow.

• First – Ask yourself and your family members; what is your/their favorite Christmas tradition that you do not want to miss this season? For some this may baking, having friends over, going to midnight service or maybe the decorating. After you have everyone’s response, grab your calendar and schedule for these events first! Start the season working around what YOU want to do, not trying to work it in after the calendar is full!
• Second –You will need to determine your holiday budget. This will include gifts, cards, entertaining, decorating, and attending events. Once your budget amounts are determined and in place, it’s time to create a list for each category. My hint: I use a bottom line figure and don’t go over that amount. I will move it around into the different categories until I have it as I like it though. This means if entertaining is much more important to you than gift giving or decorating, your entertaining budget will be the highest and so on…
• Third – Creating the lists. While making your lists you will be able to pick and choose just who and what you want you want to spend your time on.

Decorating – This is my personal favorite! I always schedule the decorations first on my calendar. My advice is simple and beautiful. This may be an area of your budget that you may not need to spend a whole lot. Many of us reuse our decorations each year. If you are interested in using fresh garlands and a real tree, make your choices according to your pre-determined budget and make sure to add the time on the calendar for picking out and preparing the tree.

Remember there are no rules. If you are a busy family, you may choose to plan a short time period on 2 or even 3 days to get the decorations up and ready.

Cards – If you choose to write and send holiday cards, make sure to create a list of recipients. If you are not a writer or if time is a factor for you, a photo greeting card is a quick and simple way to send your wishes to others. The photo card allows for you to have a personalized message to be printed on the cards. Your job is to write the envelopes. This can be done quite easily with your computer as well. Many companies are now offering mailing services as well. Don’t forget to schedule the time for creating the card, addressing and mailing on the calendar.

Gifts – Add all of the names of the family and friends to purchase or make a gift for. When writing your gift list don’t forget to add the paper carrier, teachers, delivery people etc. With the budget determined, it will make it easy to choose gifts for the names on your list. If you feel your list is growing larger than your budget, think outside the box. A gift of service or a homemade treat is a gift filled with love. Purchasing beautiful inexpensive containers and filling with your favorite recipes will be a well appreciated surprise.

Also remember the internet is a fantastic source for gifts. It can save us travel time and gas too! I make sure to schedule in an evening to go online and shop. You will be surprised at how fast you can complete your list! To stay organized, keep your gift list with you so when you are out and about you can check in to see if you can pick up something special during your daily activities. Remember to cross off each person as you purchase a gift.

As far as wrapping gifts, I schedule an evening on the calendar and get the family involved. Another idea is to host a wrapping party. Invite a few friends and open a bottle of your favorite wine and catch up while getting the wrapping done. Many shopping malls have wrapping services as well to take advantage of.

Events – Compile a list of the events you and your family want to attend, the cost and the dates and times. Also make sure to add if there is any special instructions to note such as bring a side dish, a hostess gift or a new unwrapped toy for example. Check to make sure these events fit into your budget and if not adjust accordingly. After you have a plan that fits the budget, add the events and the special instructions to your calendar.

Entertaining – If you have chosen to entertain for a holiday party write the dates on the calendar. Use your entertaining budget to help set the guest list, menu and the decoration plans. Adjust the menu or guests to meet your budget. Make sure to schedule in a time to call or send out an invitation (email is my personal favorite), shop and prepare the food. When choosing a time for a holiday get together, remember if you wait until after the dinner hour, you can serve snacks and not have to host an entire meal.

Self Care – Make sure to add yourself into the budget and onto the calendar. Do you need a new holiday outfit or a manicure for that special party. Maybe in a hectic week you want to schedule a night in to curl up with a good book. The key is not to forget about your needs during this busy time!

To Sum It All Up

The secret is to get it all organized on paper (or on your Ipad etc.) and on the calendar. Remember you are in charge! You get to chose what goes on the calendar. I believe for me when I see it all spelled out, I can easily pick and choose what is important to me and my family.

Make this year easy and fun! Don’t be the one who is asking who is at the door so you can wrap their present before they enter! Enjoy the reason for the season with the ones you love

Color – One of my favorite decorating tools!  Changing colors in a room can change the energy and the mood of the space in an instant.  Before selecting a room’s color pallet, ask yourself a few questions to narrow down the options. I think we have all been standing in the paint aisle looking at thousands of paint chips feeling overwhelmed and confused. Once you identify a few key points that you are trying to achieve in the space; the color selection process is much easier to master.
Key Points to Consider:  

• What will the space used for?
• Who will use the space
• How much natural light does the room have?
• What  mood am I trying to create?  

Once you know the expectations of a room, it is much easier to determine a color pallet. Also keep in mind that , vibrant and stimulating colors will continue to stimulate throughout the day and the night. In contrast, calming, restful colors will remain that way as well.  I find it very interesting that every color has its own vibration and our bodies have the ability to “see” color even in the dark. Studies with blind participants have shown that we do not need to actually see a color to feel the effects it has on us<  Some colors also have the ability to be warm or cool, depending on how they are used, the lighting in the room, or colors they are mixed with.

Here are a few  examples of how changing the color can dramatically change the feeling of a room:

If you or your child are having trouble sleeping at night, you may want to look into a more soothing paint or bedding color choice such as a calming blue or a restful green.  The opposite is also true; the perfect color in a bedroom may be too relaxing for a productive day at the office.  A great color for concentration is yellow and a splash of red in a room will call you to action.

Still having trouble choosing or blending colors in your home? Give me a call and we can work together to create a color pallet to suit your taste and the rooms function and purpose.

Photo Attribute: www.bobvila.com

We love to label…When everything has a place, it is easy to put things back where they came from!
The time spent sorting and organizing will be well worth it when you reclaim your garage as an organized space to store things you really need. When you need to grab baseball equipment for the kids you’ll know right where it is. When it’s time for holiday decorating you can focus on being creative instead of stressing over lost or damaged decorations and lights. And you will really enjoy parking your car in a clean, dry garage!

Do you find yourself forgetting that you have certain items because they are hiding somewhere deep in your closet? Many of us wear 20% of our clothing 80% of the time. By keeping only what you truly love and organizing like items together; you can easily double your wardrobe without spending a dime!