Yes you can, can
Don’t you hate it when you’re trying to see what kind of can goods you have in the back of the pantry but you can’t get to them? Don’t you hate when you forget to rotate your can goods and by the time you get to the ones in the back, they’re expired?
Sweet and Spicy
Spice storage is a real problem for most people. Either there are too many spices and so you can’t see them all, they’re stored too high to see them all or a host of other problems. This product looks like a fantastic solution to alot of the problems that people encounter trying to manage their spices. These spice rack storage organizers attach to the back of a door or can be hidden away inside a cabinet. And they allow you to easily see all of your spices.
Organization 101 - Day Four
After completing all of the steps we’ve discussed already, you’re finally down to what will actually stay in the space. Now it’s time to figure out what containers to use for the items that are staying. Thank goodness in this project we already know what containers we’re using thanks to Rubbermaid. They gave me a set of drawer organizers to try out and want to gift a set to one of my blog readers that leaves a comment…hint, hint. The winner will be selected Monday.
Organization 101 - Day Three
Step Three
Now that we’ve gotten rid of everything that doesn’t belong in this space, we can get a clearer picture of the things that will really be living there. Sort the remaining items into groups, or categories, of like things with like things. In our example, I’ve grouped the tools that will stay with the other tools that will stay, the batteries with the batteries, the screws together, etc.
Organization 101 - Day Two
Step One
The first step in getting organized is to determine what your vision is for the space or system you are working on. My vision for the junk drawer is to be able to quickly find what I need, quickly retrieve it and quickly return it so I can easily find it next time I need it.
Organization 101 - Day One
This week I will lead you step by step on how to get organized on your own, using my junk drawer as an example. Regardless of what room or task you are organizing, you will follow the same simple steps we’ll outline this week.
A Home For Everything
How many times have you heard that when you get organized you simply find a home for everything? It’s just that simple. By taking the time to assign homes for everything, there are never any questions where you will find things, or where you should put things.
Need some fresh ideas?
If you have jewelry laying everywhere and have trouble matching up a pair of earrings, you’ll love this solution. I’ve been working alot with Barbara Montoia, of Montoia Custom Interiors. She is an interior designer. We plan to collaborate on some presentations in the future as well.
Keeping accurate mileage record
As a small business owner there are so many things to keep track of for your taxes. One of which is keeping track of your mileage. It can be a struggle to make sure it is tracked and documented all year. Either you forget to mark it down, you forget to bring a piece of paper to mark it on, or you lose the paper you marked it on.
Say goodbye to pet hair
The Pledge fabric sweeper for pet hair is the best thing I’ve found for removing animal hair. I have 2 dogs who seem to shed alot. They sneak up on the couch at night. In the morning, I awake to a mess of pet hair on the couch that has always been difficult to get off. With the Pledge fabric sweeper for pet hair, it is so easy to remove the hair. Before I found this great product, I used my hand-held vacuum to try to get the hair up. I would spend a long time vacuuming and would feel like I wasn’t getting anywhere. Now the clean up is done in seconds.
Great product for jewelry storage
When I found the hanging jewelry organizer, I was ecstatic! With two daughters, there was jewelry everywhere. And more importantly, when you wanted to wear something, it was always very difficult to figure out who left it where. That all changed with this hanging jewelry organizer. This is a perfect example of what professional organizers are referring to when we talk about creating systems for your stuff. Now the stress and aggravation we used to feel when searching for that perfect necklace is gone. We all know where the jewelry goes, so it’s easy to return it there. It’s also easy to find what you need because the pockets are see through and only contain one or two items each. Rushing out and buying really cool products is not the answer to getting organized. Yet determining what you need to store, how it’s used and then going out and buying the appropriate product for your needs is the answer.
Are plastic bags taking over your house?
Do you have plastic shopping bags everywhere? Falling out of pantries? Hanging out of drawers? Some in the kitchen? Some in the garage? Some in the basement?If so, this grocery bag holder is the solution. You simply wall mount this in a convenient location (mine is inside my pantry) and then you can store all of your empty plastic bags in one convenient location. It’s also great because it helps you set limits on the number of plastic bags you keep, and makes you more aware of the need to return your excess plastic bags to the store to be recycled. Realistically, you shouldn’t need any more plastic bags than this will hold.
Cute Containers are a Curse
What? Why would you say that? Because there is seldom a home that we walk into that doesn’t have lots of cute organizing containers. I always say if a company makes a basket and puts a cute little bow on it, people are going to buy them up like hot cakes. The problem with buying these cute little containers is that you are making an uneducated decision. You think to yourself oh that’s so cute, I know I can use it for something. The problem is that you don’t have a plan for it. You think your CDs might fit well in it, or your DVDs. But when you get home you realize that it is the wrong size or shape to contain those items. Rather than returning the cute container, you keep it because you just know that you’ll use it for something. That never happens. The reason is that these cute little containers aren’t always practical or functional. Also, you have to sort through your belongings so that you realize what you need to contain, and how much of it you have, before you buy the container. My advice to you….don’t buy any more cute containers until you know what it is you need to contain.
One of our favorite products
One of our favorite organizing products is a 6-quart storage box, otherwise known as a shoe box. We use these so often because they are a perfect solution for many different areas of the home or office. Because they are clear, it is easy to see at a glance what might be in them. They are also very easy to label and stack. Where can you use them?
Unwanted crutches find new home
So many times when I am working with clients, I will do whatever I can to find a new home for their unwanted stuff, rather than having it go into a landfill and be wasted. I’ve been doing some research on where I could donate 3 pairs of crutches that a client no longer needed. They are still in excellent condition.
Recycling: Make a difference
Recycling doesn’t end when you put your recyclables at the curb. If you follow the tips provided by the St Louis County Health Department listed below, you can make a positive difference:
Need help staying on track?
The Motive-aider is a programmable behavior modification conditioning device for making new habits and breaking old ones. It is worn on a belt or in a pocket. Periodically, at preset intervals, it emits a silent pulsing signal. Since you only feel the signal and no one can hear it, you can think of it as your personal, private reminder.
Send Out Cards
Do you often miss sending a card on a special occasion? Do you buy cards with the intention of sending them, but then don’t? If this sounds like you, you’ll love Send Out Cards.
FREE! FREE! FREE!
Are you tired of drowning in paper piles? Always searching for things but can’t find them? It’s not your fault if you feel frustrated by filing! Most filing systems take too much time to file, hide the papers you often need, and require unnecessary maintenance. It’s no wonder many of us resort to paper piles! The problem is not with you; it’s the filing system you’re using.
Managing Your Medical Information
I happened to catch a quick interview on Great Day St Louis this week with Reality Check author, Nancy Doering. The book was written to assist patients in making good choices when selecting physicans and/or maintaining open communication with those already in place. What really caught my attention though was the Medical Organizer that they discussed. The vinyl organizer holds all pertinent information for doctor office visits, emergency room visits, hospital stays, etc. There are sleeves for your doctors’ business cards, medical insurance cards, upcoming appointments, medical history and medicine lists, your medical directive and power of atttorney documents. This seemed like a must have item for both patients and their caregivers. Are you prepared for a medical emergency?
Rubbermaid's Easy Find Lids System
A perk of being a professional organizer and attending the NAPO National Conference is the opportunity to try out new products, sometimes before the public even sees them. Rubbermaid introduced a new product this year, the Easy Find Lid System. Most of the time finding a matching lid for any plastic container you have is next to impossible and storing plastic containers is normally a clutter nightmare. With the Easy Find Lid System it’s a breeze to find a matching lid. This product also allows you to be more organized in your kitchen cabinets.
- Lids snap to the bases so that they are always easy to find.
- Lids snap to each other, so you can stack multiple lid & containers together.
- One lid fits multiple bases, so it is more efficient to store and nest.
- The different size bases & lids, once they are snapped, fit together to make a nice compact stack that saves space in the cabinet.
Are you moving soon?
While working with a client to prepare for her impending move a few days ago she told me about Clean Carton Company. They are a local company that sells boxes at a discount of 30%-50% off what you would normally pay. Typically, the boxes are new and have printing from industry on them. Clean Carton Company purchases obsolete, misprinted, overstock, and close out boxes by the truckload from a wide range of manufacturers and industrial suppliers. Since they pay less for the boxes than new stock boxes, their customers pay less as well. They also stock the rest of the packing supplies you’re likely to need such as mover’s tape, bubble pack, cushion foam, newsprint and glass pads to help protect your fragile and delicate possessions. Free delivery is available.
Are your family memories sitting in a box?
As my children came into my life I wanted to document every single moment, convinced no other child before was like my wonderful little girls. I have a confession, I have hundreds of pictures and family videos now that no one ever looks at.
Ready to get more control over your time?
Time Timer is a fantastic tool for people with special needs such as students with ADD, ADHD, autism, etc.; counseling situations; occupational and physical therapy sessions; stroke and brain injury rehabilitation; and geriatric care. Time Timer is so easy to use that even young children and those with learning disabilities can monitor their own timed activities. I highly recommend this tool for anyone struggling with ADD.
Relief is in Sight for You Recipe Lovers
Is your recipe collection an unsightly pile of folders, piles, binders and boxes? If so, I found the perfect product for you at the NAPO conference. Recipe Nest combines the best features of a binder and a box, and adds a clipboard and an easel for even greater functionality. Joan Chamberlain, Recipe Nest’s creator, developed the product to solve her own problems storing and using recipes. Recipe Nest stores full-page recipes and magazine clippings without the headaches of punching holes or cutting out recipe cards. It is the perfect solution! So, are you ready for a change?
Do you dread filing?
One of my all time favorite products was showcased at the NAPO Conference again this year, the Freedom Filer. This filing system is so amazing that the majority of our clients struggling with paper opt to use it once we’ve introduced them to it. Seth Odam, the creator of Freedom Filer is a genius in my opinion. He spent years studying how and what people file. As well as the struggles people had with filing. He also developed the award winning personal organizer software known today as Palm Desktop for Macintosh.
About the Author
Sue Anderson, CPO®, Owner of Simplified Living Solutions, is an expert in the professional organizing field, specializing in paper management and messy, unproductive desks, offices, home offices and filing systems.
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