Get Ready, Get Set, GO Month!

The holidays are winding down and the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO) is gearing up for G.O. Month. The entire month of January is dedicated to Get Organized! 

Getting organized is a great way to start off the New Year. Here are a few tips to get you going and Get Organized!

• Start with a sort. As you put away all of those new goodies that Santa brought, sort items into categories of like items. For a kitchen example, baking pans, cooking pots, small appliances, etc. This will help you to see what you have and how many of an item you have. 
• Out with the old, in with the new! Take this as an opportunity to toss, donate or sell items that are broken, unused or that you find you have too much of. Do you need 10 mixing bowls? Can the new set of towels Santa dropped off replace a set, or 2?
• Assign new homes to your items. Now is a good time to analyze what is, and more importantly, what isn't working for you in your home. This is a new year, a new start, a new beginning! If keeping the towels on the top shelf is just too far from the tub, consider a few hooks or a shelf to create a new home for the towels. Bake every weekend? Consider swapping the serving items for baking supplies in the cabinet closer to the oven where they would be utilized more frequently. But remember! If items work where they are, don't change! The old saying is true...if it isn't broken, don't fix it!
  
• Containerize! Now for the fun part....organizing products! Organizing products can simplify your daily routine saving time, money and your sanity. Tired of pan lids falling out of the cabinet? Try a door mounted lid sorter. Sweaters toppling over? Try a sweater box or shelf dividers to keep them neat and organized. Can't ever seem to find the hair accessory that you want? Small bins or drawer organizers can do wonders! 

These simple steps can help gain control over clutter and get your New Year off to a great start. For more information on GO Month, or to find a Professional Organizer near you, visit the NAPO website.

Tips for Traveling with Toddlers

I survived. Seven fun-filled days with The Rat Mickey Mouse, my 2-year-old twin boys, a small timeshare and two airplane trips later, I survived. How did I do it? Very carefully! It was a first for my husband and me, and I learned many things along the way....
(This post assumes that you will be vacationing near civilization with some normal proximity to retail stores, a kitchenette, and basic utilities such as running water and electricity.)

• Pack only what you will need for 3 days. Kids make messes and vacation won't (unfortunately!) be a reprieve from laundry. If you pack enough clothes for everyone for the entire duration of your trip, you will be lugging around mounds of dirty clothes. One quick load every other day will keep everyone happy.

• Buy it there! With the new airline restrictions on carry on luggage and fees for checked luggage, consider a trip to the local grocery store or super store. Personal hygiene items such as; deodorant,  toothpaste, shampoo and soap are a quick buy and won't be confiscated at the security check point. Also, if your lodging does offer a way to cook, buying ingredients for cheap dinners like spaghetti will save you big bucks on your dining tab.

•  Call ahead. A quick phone call to your car rental counter (make sure it's the local counter and not the national number!) can help you determine if you should lug items such as car seats. Orlando, FL Alamo at the Orlando/Sanford airport assured me they never run out. I didn't trust them so I (well, my husband to be honest) lugged 2 convertible Britax seats the whole way. While waiting to pick up my car and seeing car seat after car seat being handed out, I should have trusted them! Also, contact your lodging facility directly. See if they offer amenities like hair dryers and irons in room. If they do you can check those off your packing list!

• Appease the beasts!   Plan ahead for times when the kiddies may be bored and thus a nanosecond from a nuclear meltdown. Keeping small travel toys such as magnetic sketch boards for "art time", sticker books or magazines for a picture hunt in your carry on is a must. And don't forget the snacks! Airline peanuts and beverage cart juice is not reliable nowadays.

Don't dread family vacations. After all, parents have been pulling their hair our for years on long car trips, walking airplane aisles with screaming babies and "making do" while away from home. And they didn't even have DVD players in their cars! With a little creativity, planning and A LOT of patience, you too will survive!

In The Closet

This is a letter I received this morning:

Dear Charlotte,

I did it! I took 15 minutes like you said and attacked my closet. Everything is hung up, floor is clear, and I even organized my clothes into catagories like shirts, pants and sweaters. It still doesn't look right. What isn't right about it?
Cheryl - Gaffney, SC


Dear Cheryl-

What awesome work! I'm glad you chose your closet since that is where we can lose major time in the mornings. Your question to me is my question to you....what isn't right about it? You sound like a visual person since you said it doesn't "look" right. If that is the case, I'll give you a few hints that may help.

1. Get new hangers. If you have a hodge podge of hangers you have collected over the years, it can effect the "look" of your closet. It's more about visual "white space." Your eye needs a place to rest in a given space. This is why your bedroom can "look" messier than it really is if the bed has not been made. Make the bed - voila! The room is now clean even if you haven't touched anything else. Your eye now has a place to rest. With so many colors in your closet for your eye to adjust to, additional colors on your hangers can be visually annoying.

How To: Buy a large box (at box of 50 is a great start) of hangers. White or black is the best visually. No need to rehang all of your clothes at once. As you wear an item, hang it up on a new hanger, tossing the old one. If after a period of time (3 months for example) anything not on a new hanger gets a new home. This will help you see what you actually wear.

2. Organize deeper. By this I mean sort your clothes in more specific categories. This can be by color, size, sleeve length, etc.

How To: My closet is organized by pants, then tops, then dresses and finally behind the door are my shoes. This way I actually select and dress in order. My order. Yours may be totally different and that's just fine! I suggest that in whatever section you have your clothes you first hang items from darkest to lightest in color. Shirts can be done in the same manner, but make two sections for tops - short and long sleeve. Dresses/skirts in the same way. This will help your eye to flow automatically. It sounds more difficult than it really is! Try it. If it doesn't work for you, then you're one step closer to finding what does!

PS. It isn't recommended that you hang sweaters. Folding them in your drawers will help keep their shape!

   

Rethink Your Space

With so many of us moving from our corporate offices to home offices, I am noticing that space in our homes is needing to pull double duty. This can mean that your husband's once beloved "Man Room" is now also your sewing room, your living room has been taken over by toys so the playroom can be a dedicated office, or you find yourself clearing the dining room table of piles of papers before meals. There are a few simple and easy solutions to make sharing space more comfortable.

• Rethink Your Space: Try to see the space with new eyes. 
• Take a picture - it lasts longer! Taking a picture of your space can help you see your space in a new way.
• Find a friend.This is the easiest way to get a new pair of eyes! Have them challenge you with questions such as "Why do you have X item here?" 
• Make a list! Write down how you use the space, how you want to use the space and who will be using the space. This information will help you see items in the area that don't fit in. 
• Use areas of the that are either not being utilized or underutilized such as walls. If it is a small space, the most valuable area is the floor. Try to move items off the floor to desk tops or other areas. 
• Use your walls! Wall mounted shelves, file organizers  and racks can replace standing filing cabinets and keep information at your fingertips. 
• Don't forget doors! There is a slew of organizing products that can be hung without hardware and installed in seconds. No room for your shoes in the laundry room? A hanging shoe rack behind each closet door keeps shoes and other items sorted and out of sight.
• Downsize and Re-Purpose. Are you getting the most out of your entryway closet? Could the items such as coats, sports equipment and shoes be moved to other areas? Be creative in how you dedicated the storage spaces in your home. If the entryway closet is close to the new office, could it now hold a filing cabinet or other materials that you're constantly clearing away?  Decide if you need each item in the space. 
• Toss any broken items right away.
• Think of how to use items in new ways. A small vase to hold pens, diaper caddy to hold various office supplies (and it's portable too!) or small tupperware that has a long, lost lid for paper clips. Cost? FREE!

Just remember to be creative and have fun with rethinking your space. Life changes can be a stressful time so remember that it doesn't have to be done alone. A Professional Organizer can be a great source for any project! To find a Professional Organizer near you visit the NAPO website. 

Dear Help!,

I received the following letter late last night in my inbox. I wanted to respond ASAP, but I thought that many of you had the same concerns so I wanted to address the issues here!

"Overwhelmed doesn't begin to say it. It's already October! I have to bake for my daughter's class, I'm Room Mom for my son next week, my husband has a business trip the 2nd week in November...want me to go on? I haven't even started my Christmas shopping and I'm usually done by now. I know I have time, but Halloween costumes aren't even on my radar. Oh, did I mention that this baby is due December 3rd!!?!? HELP! I'll take any advice!"


Dear Help!

First of all, let me reassure you that you are not alone! I hope I can offer a few tidbits to make your days easier. Let's begin by prioritizing the issues on a timeline. Doing this on a dedicated calander will make the tasks visible and may help ease some anxiety. Your first priority should be taking care of yourself at this time in your pregnancy. So I officially give you permission to take the easy way out for the rest of the year!

Let's start with the first task first. Forget baking! Stop by your favorite grocery store or bakery and pick something up. And do not feel guilty. That can be done the night before, on the way to school, or with your weekly grocery shopping. Voila!

Secondly, if you feel that assisting at the school is beyond your capability right now, say so! See if another mother is willing to step in for you. Never be afraid to ask for help from those around you!

For Halloween and Christmas, don't sweat it! Consider doing your shopping for costumes and gifts online. If you are a UPromise member you may even get money for college for your kids. I suggest everyone sign up. Who doesn't want FREE college money? Is there anything at home your children can use for a costume? Do they have a play doctor kit? Jeans, flannel shirt and eyeliner for a beard can make a great lumberjack! Forget the eyeliner and add boots for a cowboy. Just play dress up!
Christmas can be easy this year by shopping online. Many retailers have discounts and free shipping for orders over a certain dollar amount. Click, buy, and ship all from the comfort of your own home! E-A-S-Y!

Just remember to be creative. The holidays should be fun! Enjoy yourself and the last trimester of your pregnancy!

Best Wishes,

The Stork

Save dinner!

There is little worse at the 5:00 o'clock hour than realizing that you are missing one or two ingrediants required for dinner. UGH! No alfredo sauce, no shredded cheese for tacos..you get the idea. To avoid PB&J's, again, a few simple hints and tips will put dinner back on the table!

• Make a complete list of items regularly purchased by the entire family. Like this Deluxe list or this Vegetarian list. Just print out a few copies, stick them to your fridge and when you are running low on an item just mark it! When menu planning, just make a check mark. No need to make a second list for the store - just take the one from the fridge! Hint: Make a special notation, like highlighting an item, when you have a coupon. It will save time & money!
• If organizing your pantry in great detail is too much, try dedicating areas or specific shelves to items or categories.  For example, top shelf is for cereals and taller boxes, foil/plastic bags/etc. The right side of the second shelf is the "kid" shelf. You'll be able to see at a glance if you're running low on their snacks, mac n' cheese, etc.....you get the idea!
• Use bins to corral smaller items that may get lost between larger boxes or behind loose cans. There are so many great bins of all sizes and colors that will match your needs.
• Have a back up plan! For those nights that your schedule is so hectic and nothing seems to go right, keep a  pizza or homemade lasagna and a bag of veggies in the freezer. Just heat and eat!

Following these tips will help your family enjoy a less stressful evening, save money and time by eliminating last-minute trips to the store and save TONS of money by not eating out. Your waist line may thank you too!

Bread, milk, eggs, pumpkins and Santa

It's really no secret to anyone who knows me personally......I love Costco. I do. Before our local Costco was built I was a member of another local warehouse club. I was "satisfied" with my membership, but one step into Costco and I heard the Angels sing. Anyone who is a Costco member knows what I mean.

But this time of year can be amusing. The children are back in school, the scorching days have made way for more pleasant afternoons and another year is coming to an end. Take this opportunity to not only prepare by getting organized, but by having a good laugh at the retailers.

This week I have been in search of new products for my clients and for educational resources. As I made my way through the vast warehouse to the office supplies, I passed a pre-lit  polar bear standing next to a selection of Nativity scenes. Just across from the wreathes and over-sized ornaments stands a display of costumes for Halloween. Buzz Lightyears and Tinkerbells abound -- all presided over by an ominous 8-foot wide bat and various ghosts, goblins and mounds of bagged, bite-sized candies. In the opposite direction, displays of useful serving platters and cornucopias could only bring on thoughts of family gatherings and pie -- notably all of this was in direct sight of the pie case. Coincidence? I think not.

So here are  a few tips for warehouse clubs:

• Trick or Treat: Make sure the Membership Fee is worth your patronage. If the store doesn't carry items you typically buy, you may find shopping sales at other local stores a better overall deal. 
• Be Thankful for calculators! Bring a small calculator (the one on your cell phone works great!) to break down the bulk price to the unit price. Many stores will list a per ounce/pound/bulk price, but for the most useful information when comparing, break it down to the unit. How much is each can of peas in that case? Can you get them cheaper on special at another store? 
• Ask Santa for a food sealer or second freezer. These are great tools to extend the bulk packages of food and seperate them into smaller, more manageable portions. Standard freezer storage  bags will work, but can subject your food to freezer burn, thus ruining your investment. Foods that can easily be frozen are; breads, shredded cheese (hard cheeses like cheddar work best), berries that will be used in recipies later, sauces, vegetables....the list is endless!