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! 

Resurrected!

Oh organizing blog, how I've missed you!!!

It has been almost 4 years since I have posted here, but this blog has not been gone, nor forgotten! Life happened, many sad and trying times for our family, but with the help of God we have landed on our feet...in Georgia!

The quads are now on the downhill slide to the big 3, which accounts for the majority of my radio silence. The twins are now homeschooled and we love the new lifestyle. Homeschooling has provided a great learning environment for flexing my organizing muscles! Schedules, learning supplies and an unusual amount of craft supplies have entered my home. The most surprising result of all of this has been a softening of my Type A personality! However, a tiny blonde has also entered the scene in the last 3 years and she proves that organizing is in the blood!

Blogging has been on my heart lately. I have learned so much as not just an organizer, but as a mother since our 4 miracles have come into our home, and one was called to Heaven. I hope to provide some tips and tricks that I have learned along the way, but more importantly, to help YOU with your daily challenges. So, if you have a suggestion for a post or a question, feel free to post a comment. I promise you aren't the only one with that question. As moms, we should support each other and I hope that this is a place where we can do just that!

Next up.....LAUNDRY!

Are you feeling it?

As I flipped through my newsfeed on Facebook, one post jumped out at me. My friend who I would describe as organized, was feeling the holiday rush crunch. "Things won't be as hectic in January" the post read.  I couldn't help but think of how a post on how to create a productive To Do List may be helpful. If your thoughts are organized then you have won! G.I. Joe had it right....Knowing is half the battle!!

I love large sized calendars. You know, the desk top size that every teacher has! It's fantastic for jotting down due dates of projects, calls to return or doctors appointments. The main reason I love  them? The date boxes allow for a sufficient amount of information, but they don't allow for a mile long To Do List to creep in! If it doesn't fit on the calendar, it doesn't FIT!


The holidays are a great time to remember helping and supporting others, but we can easily get burnt out by the requests for cookies for this bake sale, assist with costumes for the Christmas play, create programs for the church social....it can quickly add up! Remember, it is OK to politely decline and if you need an excuse, see above!


For years senior executives and other time-crunched people have used an A.B.C. approach to organizing your To Do List. It is common to write out 15-20 items and tackle 70% of the list and not have accomplished the most important thing because we tend to chose the easiest or least demanding time-wise to tackle first. Set your page up with three columns; A, B and C. The most important items go in column A, then B and finally C. This technique will allow you to visually see the tasks at hand and in what order they should be tackled.

As a final hint towards feeling more productive, as you write out your list, add a few items that you have already accomplished that day, in the corresponding category of A, B or C and cross them off! I always write "Make To Do List" and cross it off! :D

Holidays, here we go!

No doubt that you have all been surrounded with scary witches, pumpkins and more candy than you'll ever admit to your personal trainer, so it looks like the holidays are upon us once again.

It is so important to keep the focus on what really matters; family, friends and being together to celebrate this fantastic season. Being organized will help to alleviate much of the stress that has been known to creep in around  the holidays. During the next few weeks, I'll be blogging about different areas of our homes and lives and give you tips for getting those areas organized.

Your Home

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.

• 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 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! 

Enjoy the start of this glorious season! 

Containerize

Recently, I've had an overwhelming number of emails asking about how to save money on organizing products. I am a huge fan of integrating products made to help you get organized, but I know that they can be expensive. I, too, have had sticker shock for my clients and myself! A space isn't organized "better" because high-dollar sorters and bins line the space. Here are a few simple - and green- ideas to stretch your budget and get that space in order once and for all!


Reduce:
Streamline your stuff.  Limit the number of categories that you have decided upon. Files should rarely have just one piece of paper in them. Consider combining your files for your cable, water and phone bills into one folder dedicated to all of your utility bills. Placing bills in the back of the stack will automatically collate bills in chronological order.

Reuse:
By far one of the biggest money and planet savers is this step! Do I use fancy organizing products daily? Yes. But my most memorable storage solution was a mint tin! It was the perfect size to contain a collection of spare buttons for a clients sewing drawer. In my own home I am currently using a plastic bin that once held dishwasher tablets for my craft closet to keep my fuzzy pom poms. Who can pass up a free container? The possibilities are endless. Use your imagination and get creative!

Recycle:
Of course the previous step already indicates that recycling is easy and useful when organizing, but consider another side to recycling. Over time, our organizing needs, spaces and tastes can trap us into using the same organizing products over and over in the space and possibly hindering the perfect solution. Check with friends and family about a swap. Need a larger bin for toys? Maybe your mom has one that once held quilts that she no longer has or needs. Trade for that Space Bag that once held all of those toddler sheets you passed on to a friend. Talk to neighbors, friends and family, as well as your social networks to see about needs and how you can help each other!


For further information on organizing or to find a Professional Organizer near you, visit NAPO's website to begin your search.

A Lesson in Organizing

It's almost Back-To-School time. Just today I started seeing the ads for 25 cent crayons and backpacks are on sale. More and more retailers seem to start their prep for this beloved event earlier each year. Aside from the posted "Supply Lists", there is a sure-fire way to ease back in to the school year.

Lesson 1: Always Be Prepared! 
Not only with pens and paper, but for long lines, overwhelming store displays and mile-long lists of required materials. However, this can be a fantastic educational opportunity for you and your child!
Each new year provides the opportunity for a clean slate. Children who were not previously accustomed to organizational skills can become masters this year! Maintaining separate notebooks for each subject can help divide information for children not only physically, but mentally. Moving from notebook to notebook allows the brain to shift gears. Color-coding can also help. Match a notebook, folder and lesson book with a highlighter or pen.

Lesson 2: Playing is learning!
I remember gathering all of my new supplies and arranging them 1,000 different ways in my backpack before I settled on a specific set up. A Professional Organizer in the making? Perhaps, but the rearranging of items can bring a certain level of control and confidence to your child that can only be beneficial when entering a new class or school. Allow them to create their own space (their backpack) how they see fit. And a small amount of help for the little ones may be fun for both parent and child! But allow older children to set up their space alone. This exercise also teaches responsibility and accountability.

Lesson 3: Get Warmed Up Before the BIG DAY!
After months of being away from the classroom, it can be very helpful to rev the brain back up for learning. Take the time while shopping to review math skills, English and spelling skills can be reviewed with making shopping lists and for adventurous parents, a small report on what events took place over the summer, or letters to friends who have been away. This also may be a good time to prepare your children for the schedule that they will encounter when they do head back to school. Sleep is very important! Starting back on an organized routine now may prevent a groggy first week!



NAPO In The Schools


NAPO has introduced a new program to encourage and educate students on the benefits of being organized. This program brings Professional Organizers into the classroom in Elementary school, and soon into the Middle and High schools. For more information on this program or to learn how to bring a Certified NAPO In The Schools educator into your school, visit NAPO  today!

Where Oh Where!?...

Hello?? Where are you?? - Stacey


I'm here! I'm a wife, mommy, church member and business owner. A "techie" I am not! It was time to invest in a new computer for the biz. I researched, haggled and played with every model I could get my hands on without being thrown out of every Best Buy within 100 miles. I decided on an iMac. 
Apparently I have been going the way of the fruit for quite awhile. Fellow Professional Organizers Geralin Thomas, CPO (www.metrozing.com) and Kara Russelo (www.LittleVirgo.com) raved about their iPhones until I caved and got one of my very own. I've never looked back! 
"How did I live without this tiny miracle!" I exclaimed to the world upon downloading my first App. (Short for application for those of you stuck in 2008!)


I admit that due to my fetish with my iPhone, the iMac was the contender to beat. The picture quality in and of itself is just amazing! Graphs, documents and invoices have never been simpler. Hello....I was a PC, and now I'm a Mac!


This being said, I will again remind you all that I am not a techie. Though I would rate my skills at "above average", I was vastly unprepared for the transition from PC to Mac. 


Client files, photos and the financials....oh, the financials!... sent my brain into a tizzy, as we say here in the South. Meaning a migraine that can only be resolved by a pitcher of Mint Juleps. 


The good news: I'm finished! And just in time for NAPO in the Schools to be launched. It should be a fantastic program that brings NAPO professionals into public and private schools in an effort to teach organizational skills to students. Children who display these skills tend to have better grades, stay on task more effectively, and are able to practice skills that will last a lifetime. 


For more information on this program or to locate a Professional Organizer near you, visit the NAPO website!  

Investing in Yourself

One of the biggest complaints that my clients have is that there just aren't enough hours in the day. As a wife and mother myself, I can completely relate to this thinking! All too often demands of daily life; work, children's  activities, friends, housework, etc. all take time and attention. The 24 hours in a day just don't seem to cut it!

In all of the hustle and bustle of life, being organized can save time, money and your sanity! Throughout April, May and June, I'll be blogging about specific ways that can help eliminate the daily hurdles that slow you down.
Stay tuned, or better yet -FOLLOW ME- and get ready to tackle subjects like; surviving family vacations, streamlining your chore list, making better grocery shopping choices, organizing your kitchen for efficiency, creating filing systems, making the most of your closet, preparing for Back to School...and much more!! Do you have a specific topic in mind that you would like to see covered? Let me know!

So stay tuned!

My Clutter Is Costing Me What!?!?

Picture it...2003. My husband and I were celebrating our first wedding anniversary living in a 611 sq ft apartment for $611 a month in Texas. It was my anniversary gift, a tabby cat we named Harley, that made me look at every item in my home in a new light. We loved Harley, for the entire 3 weeks he was with us before our management office found out we had him. But his food dishes set something off in me.

It was a normal, everyday, plastic, double feeder. It wasn't large by any means and took up exactly 1 square foot of our kitchen floor. Then I noticed the litter box...3 square feet. Another 4 square feet for his kitty tower. I turned to my husband and said, "You mean to tell me that we are paying $8 a month just to have his stuff here!?" No, $8 a month isn't a large amount, but it was an amazing realization. Every item in your home is costing money to store. Your bed, couch, refrigerator, and yes, even the cat's water bowl. But that is what rent is for...to store the living essentials and niceties, not the clutter that can become strewn about your rooms taking up literally valuable space!

Look around your home. How much of your rent or mortgage are you spending housing your clutter? To figure the monthly cost, divide your mortgage or rent by the total square footage of your living space. That will tell you how much each square foot "costs" a month.

G.O. Month is quickly coming to a close. Remember that any progress is progress!! Be proud of your accomplishments and keep going! To find a professional organizer near you or for more organizing tips, visit NAPO, the National Association of Professional Organizers.

How To...

As week 2 of G.O. Month closed, I received so many emails asking about specific items to organize. Because of the frequency of the requests, I decided to cover the responses here for all to see!

The following items will answer the question "How To..." and hopefully give you ideas on how to organize your home!

"...Create a Baby Keepsake Box"
Definitely the #1 question! Since this task will require storing items for  many years to come, a larger tote bin or storage box is my recommendation. I always suggest a plastic bin with a locking lid. Your child's valuables will be preserved from dust, possible water damage and critters that develop a fetish for glue and glitter. Other items you will need are:

• An accordion file or pocket folders
• 1 smaller shoe sized bin with locking lid
• Permanent marker or label maker
• Paper clips 
• Acid-free tissue paper
• Pen & Paper

Wrap smaller items that may get lost or break in tissue paper and store in the smaller bin for safekeeping. Make sure to mark or label the child's name on every bin to prevent confusion if you have more than 1 child. Making a short note or list of the items as they are placed in the respective bins will be a wonderful way to ensure your child knows the importance of the items within the box. 

For artwork or other keepsake papers, paperclip related items together and place in either an accordion file folder or individually labeled pocket folders, one for each year. These files can easily be placed inside the larger bin for safe keeping. Make sure to annotate special information on the outside of each folder or on a piece of paper in each section of the accordion file such as; age, teacher's name, special friends and any special accomplishments. 

"...Keep My Car Clean"

Since many of us seem to spend just as much time in our cars as we do in our homes, keeping our vehicles organized is key. For those with small children, keep a bin of items such as; diapers, wipes, change of clothes, towel, bottled water and trash bags as a staple. Having a stash will end those emergency moments that children seem to be experts at creating. 

Keep a plastic grocery bag in the front of your car to catch trash that would otherwise end up on your floorboards. Toss the whole bag when it is full or every few days as needed. A medium sized bin will control the backseat clutter by corralling small toys, books and favorite items of other family members. The bin will allow you to easily return items to their homes in the house as well. 

There are several wonderful products that can be tailored to suit your needs. Most of these products can be found at your local Superstore or online in the automotive section fairly inexpensively. 

"...Fold Laundry Faster"

I can't make this stuff up! At least 17 of you actually emailed me asking how to fold laundry faster!! Aside from attaching 4 more arms, here's all I have for you...

If you are a "dumper" and tend to fold clothes from piles on your bed or couch, you're in luck! This post will be most beneficial to you as opposed to those who prefer to fold from the dryer.

First, remove larger items such as towels, jeans and items you know you will hang up. 

Next, quickly pick thorough and pull out the socks. DO NOT match socks or dig for more. You'll find them.

Then, fold items and place in to designated piles by DRAWER DESIGNATION. If jeans and shorts are in separate drawers, separate piles so that each pile will be directly transferred to a drawer space. 

All of the items left in the pile should have been "fold" items and you should be able to make quick work of it. Transfer piles into their home drawers and hang the remaining garments and voila! Done! It may take some practice, but you will get into a system in no time.

More organizing dilemmas? Contact me or visit the NAPO website to locate a professional organizer near you!

1 down, 3 to GO!

Week 1 of G.O. (Get Organized) month is coming to an end. How do you feel that your G.O. is going? If you still feel like you're not sure where to start, this post may help.

Think about your day. When you wake up, shower, dress and generally ready yourself for the day, does it seem to take longer than you would like? Do you fumble through drawers and make up bags looking for a specific item? If so, think about starting with where you start! First things first, as it goes!! People tend to lose quite a bit of time in their morning routine. Culling make up from your bag and clearing items that are infrequently used is not only a good organizing practice, but a must for safety and hygiene. There is a great article for the shelf life of make up here.

Next, consider streamlining your wardrobe. Toss any damaged items right away. Donate any items that haven't been worn in a year, 3-6 months for items like jeans and t-shirts. Typically theses items don't fit anymore. Having items in your closet and drawers that you don't and won't wear only slows you down in the morning.

In the next weeks, I'll be working through other possible speed bumps that slow you down through the day. Keep checking back in and sending your comments and questions to organizedstork@live.com

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!