Bin Envy

     The struggle is real.

     I am so often greeted by clients with photographs of meticulously organized spaces a la Good Housekeeping or a catalog from The Container Store. Visions of painted wicker or designer burlap dance in their heads this time of year. I imagine my stylist gets the same look on her face when I bring in Pinterest pins from my "Hair" board or the latest clipping of the oh-so-cool celebrity. Fortunately, she knows me better and can see past my hair dreams and deliver what would actually work for me given different factors; face shape, hair texture, time and attention I may give to styling at home, etc.

     In light of my last post you should be able to see that I love their visions, however, just like my hair stylist, part of my job is to determine the balance between style and function for products to organize a space. Often, the magazine images don't depict functional spaces. A magazine cover has been set up purely for aesthetics, not necessarily function.

     If you are overwhelmed with the multitude of products on the market, you're not alone! Not every product will be right for your situation. The needs of your family differ greatly from the empty, styled bins on the front of that magazine. In selecting products for my clients, there are a few guidelines that are helpful:


1. BUDGET

     This one is a biggie! Storage options range from a few dollars to hundreds of dollars depending on size and materials. Solid wood and hand-crafted will take up more of your budget than plastic. The ideal storage solution is one that is FREE! I love repurposing as much as I love standing starry-eyed in the aisles. I have used Altoid tins, matchboxes and my favorite of all time...a plastic insert to a first aid box! It fit the previous "junk drawer" perfectly! The built-in dividers fit scented wax packs, the pens and pencils, measuring tape and batteries. It. Was. Epic. And free!

2. MATERIAL

     The items that you are needing to store may not suit the material of the container that you have your eye on. Wicker bins may snag your favorite sweaters. Plastic laundry bins may work best for holding damp towels in the kids' bathroom rather than the stunning fabric lined basket where the liner isn't removable.


3. FLEXABILITY 

     Change is inevitable! That baby gear won't always be in the living room and Junior's diaper stash will be replaced by shaving gear soon enough. What works now may not work next year and odds are won't work in 5 years. Things shift, items come and go and routines change. Your storage space and what you store certainly will. Invest in a system that is classic and fluid. Storage options that provide options of sizes and ability to rearrange and repurpose will be the best value. However, this point is why I ADORE the Dollar Store for solutions. My very, very, very favorite is the $1 white or black dish pan.

     This is such a gem! It's great for sorting and storing a laundry list of items (and the laundry itself!) The depth allows for a variety of items like paper, projects, puzzles, mason jars with sorted crayons or pencils....I could go on for days! It has small handles on the sides to help kids with carrying  and *ahem* cleanup. I use one exactly like this in my Ikea Trofast system. Like this one.  I have several of the shelf inserts and use a couple of these bins for school supplies, library book storage and even winter items like mittens and scarves. 

     The right storage solution or organizing products for you don't have to break the bank. However, a good system is priceless! If you are in the greater Atlanta area and would like more information or personalized solutions for your home, contact us and see how we can help!

Make the Most of the New Year

    Bye bye 2015, hello 2016! I love New Year's Eve. For me, it really is a super close second to Christmas morning! The excitement I get to see on my children's faces when they see all of those packages wrapped in colorful bows, lit by the twinkling lights of the Christmas tree is worth the struggle of Target before Christmas. Maybe it's a Type A personality issue, but the thought of a beautifully clear slate, the moment of pause for reflection and the sales on organizing supplies that is to come in the next few weeks sends my heart all atwitter!

   Some people like to paint, some thrive by toiling in their gardens, but for me, it's all about the meticulously stacked bins and containers lining the aisles!

    My husband says it's a sickness, but I call spending hours browsing the aisles professional research. January is National Get Organized Month (GO Month), and it starts tomorrow. For a professional organizer, today actually is Christmas Eve! Tomorrow, resolutions begin. Tomorrow is the dawn of a new year and new beginnings. Tomorrow is a clean slate and 365 new chances to be the best you! Can you just feel the excitement in the air!!!?!? 

   I will be spending this month posting about the actual HOW to organizing and ways to achieve your goals realistically and on budget, even if that budget is $0! If you have specific questions you'd like addressed, let me know by emailing me. I'd love to hear from you!

   I am excited to see what this year will bring and I wish you all a happy and healthy New Year!

12 Days to Organize the Holidays- pt 5

      My parents would tell you that my twin brother and I were peekers. Every year we would secretly search our house for brightly colored packages, reading the tags to see who would anticipate the biggest haul that year. Rarely did we ever find any! I'm sure my parents knew that we looked, but at the time my brother and I felt like ninjas in the night on a mission for lost treasure!
   
       To my parents' credit, they were ninja masters, able to hide any and all gifts before Christmas. Each year on Christmas Eve my mother would bring out all of the gifts for that year, place them under the tree as her children nearly fainted in anticipation. Magically there would always be more the following morning, and my mother always bragged that arrangement was everything.  One year my parents out did themselves. We had opened all of the gifts on Christmas morning, and our bratty selves were moping and trying to hide our disappointment that we didn't receive the bikes that we had asked for since our birthdays. In true Bob Barker fashion, my dad began to open the blinds to our screened porched and miracle of miracles stood two gleaming bikes! My parents were magicians on Christmas.

      I, however, did not inherit the magic. My husband's gift wrapping skills would put the Macy's department store wrappers to shame. (Which is why he wraps all of our gifts!) I'm more of the gift bag vein. I try and get pretty paper that is coordinating, bows and labels that shine and all of the extra trimming. We only end up using one paper, unless I'm wrapping too and didn't we just talk about that?! But since we have become parents, we have had to up our creativeness when it comes to gifts.

     Our home doesn't have very good hiding spots. With so many littles, space is precious. I'm not sure where my parents hid all the gifts, but kudos to them for pulling it off! Around the middle of November I stop allowing kids to use my bathroom so that they will keep their noses out of my closet. Since the twins are a bit older, they have realized that snooping only ruins their Christmas, and the minis aren't out from under foot to really realize what treasures are hiding, so it hasn't been an issue last year or this year, but I fully anticipate the minis to begin their ninja hijinks soon enough! Here is what we have learned to help combat snooping!.......

• Use different paper for each person
• Label with letters or numbers (ie. #1 for your first born or #8 for your 8 year old)
• Use nicknames
• Wrap gifts in boxes much bigger than needed
• Add weight. (Drop a few towels or old books in to throw them off!)
• Use different shaped tags. (Emily is a circle, Ryan is the Christmas tree)
• Different colored ribbon for each person
• Wrap all of their gifts in one big box. Then they will only think they are receiving 1 gift!

     These are just a few tricks we have used over the years to keep wandering eyes from spoiling their own holiday. What are some tricks you have used in your home?

 We wish you and yours a very merry holiday season!

12 Days to Organized the Holidays - pt4

The holidays are such a wonderful time of year! There is food, and gifts and we get to reflect on how thankful we are for our bounty. This is also a great time of year to seize the chance to begin anew with the welcoming of a New Year. In organizing your home, thinking ahead to the holidays can be just the nudge you need to get you off on the right foot.

     In the organizing industry, the term for clearing away unwanted or unneeded items is called a purge. Purging your home of items that you no longer use or no longer honor your home can be a freeing event! With an increase in shopping, more items naturally arrive in our homes. Between decorations, gifts, baking, etc. it can get down right overwhelming. Now is a great time to look around your home for items that you have that no longer work, either physically or spatially. Do you have a replacement on your list to Santa? If so, consider donating the item or passing it on to a local charity. Year-end is a great time to not only think of others in need, but rack up those charitable deductions for Uncle Sam.

• Donate or toss old bakeware, blankets and clothing that could be used elsewhere. Consider local animal shelters and women's shelters in addition to larger donation drop-off centers like Goodwill. 

• Stock up on storage containers for items that are out of season. Don't forget to use that label maker to mark the bins for easy access next year! Color coding works well too. Use orange bins for Halloween items, green or red for Christmas, etc. 
• Sort through papers on your desk or other work area (don't forget the junk drawer!) and gather receipts in a manilla envelope for tax time. Don't forget to label the envelope with the tax year and title for easy reference. Trash or shred other papers that you deem unimportant. 
• Be realistic  when it comes to your Christmas lists. Do you have a home for the items that you're requesting? Remember, on December 26th, if you don't have a home the gift can lose it's fun if it becomes clutter. 
• Encourage your children to get in on the fun. Are they asking for new action figures? Books? Games? Sorting through current toys and tossing or donating will easily make room for new. This is also a great opportunity to teach your children a valuable lesson on charity and organization! 
• Find the right home for gifts. Consider passing along those trinket gifts that can pile up from various parties or events. Uncle Ralph collects coffee mugs? He may love the silly reindeer one that your boss passed out to everyone in the office! 

     I hope these ideas will give you ideas on how to get a jump on the New Year and those organizing resolutions! If you are in the greater Atlanta area and would like help with those resolutions, contact us and let us know what your goals are and see how we can help!

12 Days to Organize the Holidays - pt3

      As a slight piggyback from yesterday's post, today I want to talk about your home. The catalyst for this post is specifically preparing for a party that you are hosting, but the bones of these principles can really be applied throughout the year!

      I love a good party, but I rarely host them. I would love to have a get-together where all of my close friends just dropped by, I magically whipped up trays of delicious food in 30 seconds and all of my guests felt loved and welcomed because my friends and family love me 'as is'.

     Well, that doesn't happen! It's really a personal issue. As a professional organizer, being Type A can sometimes be a hindrance. It's true! I can drive my poor, sweet husband batty with all of the details. He is totally a Type A personality himself, but with a strange Type B streak that I just don't understand. I make lists upon lists for weeks leading up to the event. I try to balance a menu with healthy options and options that are allergy free. I think about what kids can eat as well as what would fit in my budget. What can I say...my parents owned a restaurant so I grew up with a great education on catering events!

     So between my early education in professional kitchens and catering halls to my skills as a professional organizer, allow me to pass on a few tips for hosting a successful party.


#1 - Make a list and check it twice!

     With our busy schedules, there is no way anyone could remember everything between menus and guests lists, written lists are a life saver. A little early number crunching will help to know how much food to buy, space for seating and ensure no one is unintentionally left out in the cold without an invitation. Begin with broad lists; Menu, Guests and maybe a rough list of decorations, all on separate sheets of paper. Then each list can be expanded upon and referred to to make your planning streamlined. Refer to the Menu list for grocery items and be sure to double check that with your Guest list for anyone you know that may have a food allergy.

     As a side tip, this week I was asked about the difference between heavy hors d'oeuvres and light appetizers on invitations. The simplest answer I can give is that an appetizer is a small bite of food that precedes a meal. If the invitation says "Heavy hors d'oeuvres" then there will be no meal served, but there will simply be more finger foods than if someone was doing "light appetizers." Something to consider when planning your invitations to your guests!

#2 - Pace yourself.

     Much of the party prep can be done in advance, especially if you choose items for your menu that will hold in the fridge or freezer. Pasta salads, rolls, cookies, pies and cold sides like cranberry sauce are good for this. Do deeper cleaning 24-48 hours in advance of the party like bathrooms and living rooms. That way the day of the party you can just do a 30 second wipe down and maybe light vacuuming.

#3 - Recruit help!

     I always say, "Behind every successful woman is a great team!" Superwoman is a myth and there ain't no shame in asking for help! (My husband is looking at me funny on this one. Perhaps I should practice this preaching a tiny bit more.) But seriously, let older kids clean mirrors while littles help dust with a cleaning wand. The house will shine in no time! And do not feel guilty about picking up party trays and letting KFC or Pizza Hut do the cooking!

#4- Remember the goal.

     "I'm so happy my loved ones had a great time and I am so glad I was stuck in the kitchen cooking and cleaning all night!"said no host ever! Set yourself up for success with a little preplanning and keeping in mind what is important...spending time with family and friends and enjoying their company.

     Add to these tips in the comments! What is your helpful hint to keep your holiday parties balanced?


To learn more about organizing your home, and if you are located in the greater Atlanta area, contact us today to see how we can deliver calm and confidence to your home!

12 Days to Organize the Holidays- Part 2

Thank you all so much for your response to Part 1! I am also excited to see how this series will help you stay organized and hopefully reduce some of the holiday stress!

Today we are going to talk about festivities! This time of year brings a slew of parties and gatherings. Office parties, potlucks and family gatherings can fill your already busy schedule quickly. It can also add the demands of bringing gifts for the host or hostess or a dish to share. Here are a few tips on how to reduce your workload and enjoy the festivities!

Tip #1 - Hostess with the Mostess!

       A great host makes a great party. Unless it is a potluck style foray, the host or hostess has been generous enough to open their homes and their wallets to show their guests a good time. Hosting an event can be seriously stressful. It is always good manners to offer to bring something to the event, such as a bottle of wine, flowers or dessert. My mother always said to never arrive to a party empty handed, but be mindful of what you bring with these thoughts:
* Unsolicited food meant to be served at the party could throw a hitch into your hosts' plans.
* A bouquet of flowers can be lovely, but opt for an arrangement that is already in a vase or container.
* Consider bringing a homemade coffee cake or basket of muffins for the morning after. Your host will appreciate not having to cook the morning after a late party.


Tip #2 - Cook Once

     Everyone has a signature dish, even if it is cookies from the deli of your local grocery store! Taking time to double or triple a recipe that you may already be bringing to an event and  storing 2nd and 3rd servings in the freezer in disposable pans can be a huge time saver. The night before the event you can just defrost the item and heat it as you get ready. Baked goods using in season fruits and veggies is always a welcomed addition to any table, or as a hostess gift (see #1). I have pinned a few recipes on our Pinterest page to help!


Tip #3 - Don't Fill Your Dance Card

      During the holidays we can often over schedule ourselves which will always lead to stress. Parties and gatherings can be fun, but also taxing. Don't feel abrogated to accept every invitation. It is perfectly OK to politely decline with a simple, "Oh it sounds like fun, but I/we already have other plans that night!" Hot chocolate and catching up on your Netflix feed are legit plans!




I hope these tips will help you put a little more jingle in your bells! Tune in tomorrow for ways to declutter in a dash before hosting an event. If you want The Organized Stork to deliver a little calm and confidence to your home this holiday season, contact us and let us know how we can help!

12 Days to Organize the Holidays - Part 1

The holidays can be such a time of fun, food and family...but they can also be a time of stress.  This short series will address some tips for overcoming the stress of the holidays, and even for getting a jump start on your New Year!  Follow these simple tips to cut down on holiday stress and clutter.

Out With The Old, In With The New!

It is always important to begin at the beginning. The first step to becoming (and staying!) organized is to declutter. Making a home for items that no longer work for you or are honored doesn't make practical sense. By decluttering, we are weeding out those items that simply take up space without adding value to your life. When we declutter, we are able to take stock of the items we currently own (hello, 4 sets of measuring cups when you never bake!)

         * Begin by taking stock of items in your home that can be donated or may need disposed of if they are damaged. Making donations of gently used item to Goodwill, Salvation Army or other charities can often be a boost to your wallet in the form of a tax deduction. This will also make space for those gifts that Santa brings!

         * Make a list and check it twice! It's no secret that making written lists can help you stay organized. Lists help you gain perspective and focus. By taking stock of what you already have, you can make your Christmas wish lists knowing that you won't be duplicating items you already own. This will save unnecessary items from coming in to your space. Making lists of those gifts that you want to give is also very helpful. By making a list of who to buy for and exactly what you would like to gift, you will avoid making extra purchases. This will help to keep you on budget and feeling like the Grinch when your credit card bills arrive in January.

         * Be generous to others, without breaking the bank. Have Grandma's china taking up valuable cabinet space and you never use it? Pass it along to a family member who may have been eyeing it for awhile! Did Aunt Sally give you another set of fuzzy slippers? Perhaps a women's shelter is in need. Don't feel guilty for  regifting passing gifts on to a better home. Consider it spreading holiday cheer!

These tips should get you off to the right start organizing start this holiday season. If you would like our help in organizing your home, contact us today to see how we can help!


From our home to yours, Merry Christmas!