This is the time of year in which I perform my seasonal swap of clothing. No more sandals and summer time dresses taking up room in my closet. Now is the time I grab my two seasonal bins from storage and spend a couple hours to bring out the winter wear and put away the spring summer fashions. Next year I will be excited to do the swap again and look forward to taking back some of my favorites to enjoy.
 
I suggest everyone try this, and give your closet some breathing space. Enjoy the stuff that you really love and use often. All you need is a few clear bins as shown in the picture and some safe and dry space to store it. As you see, my needs are covered with only two bins. The box on top represents a portion of donated items from my household and my mothers too.
 
Cost to you, about $20 per bin and a few hours of your time.
And you can do this with things like kid’s toys and books too. Doing a seasonal swap each year gives your children a chance to focus more on the few favorites they own and each year see the old as new again. It beats shopping for new stuff when you can get a thrill from un-boxing some almost forgotten favorites. 

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Will your pictures and keepsakes mean anything to the next generation?



A lifetime goes into collecting images and keepsakes that take you back, to that special day, that once in a lifetime event, that person you could never forget.
So why can these precious items that tell your history, that hold cherished memories, be lost in piles, water-damaged, folded up, scattered about, or have never made there way out of the envelope? And how can this happen while perfectly good, empty albums and scrapbooks lie about, having suffered the same fate?

Who cares?! Getting them organized now is what really matters.
Before its too late and these keepsakes, heirlooms and photos get left behind as the next generation doesn’t know the story and doesn’t understand the value.

Getting organized in any area of life and work should not be about assigning blame or guilt to what hasn’t happened, it’s about taking action now and honoring your possessions and space for the present and for the future.

So the question begs, how do I organize them? Here are 5 steps to help you: I call this my ‘ALBUM’ method!

Arrange and Sort
Gather some shoe boxes or other trays to sort in. Have a marker and note cards ready to make categorizing easy.

Choose your categories based on dates, life stages, events, or people. You decide, just remember to think long term on what makes most sense for you and your family.

If you can’t decide ultimate order now, that’s ok just take time to label the categories you come across well so putting in order later will be easy.

Limit and Purge
Toss the extra packaging, old flyers and old cardboard frames.

Toss any unflattering, fuzzy or ‘too dark/too light’ shots.

Redundant, duplicated, off centre and poorly framed shots can get tossed too, unless there is any potential to create a special effect when scrap booking a very special image. In which case do limit this, as in reality you’re not going to do this with every subject.

Toss pictures taken for temporary needs or practice shots.

Box it up safely
Chip in and get good archival quality photo boxes that are acid free.

‘Neatly’ label the outside of each, and don’t mix up your categories. That ‘I’ll put it here for now’ mentality is what gets us cluttered in the first place. This stuff is either valuable and to be honored, or it’s not.

Safely store negatives in envelopes with photos if possible.

Upgrade when you have time
When shopping for albums & frames consider your volume, the sizes and where in your home you will display them.

Take the time to plan how much album space to allot to each category.

Purge more as you go.

Maintain your system
Develop film or download images from digital cameras immediately.

Limit the pictures you take, or keep. Don’t fall back into that ‘good enough for now’ habit.

Update boxes routinely, monthly, bi yearly or yearly.


Then sit back, enjoy your collection, invite family and friends to view them with you.

Re-live all those great memories in style while making new ones to cherish along side them.

Enjoy the peace of mind being organized brings and share the news on how grrrrreat it really feels.

To learn more about organizing your home, your office and everything in between, get resourceful and check out the information and free gifts available on this site.

You can also call or write today and I will be happy to discuss any organizing dilema you may be experiencing.

Warmest Regards,
Michelle



Additional free resources:
Archival Products - www.archival.com
Collection Protection Supplies - http://www.bagsunlimited.com
Specialty Options - http://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional/storage-boxes
Instructions on the nitty-gritty of photo storage – http://www.ehow.com/how_4599899_best-way-store-photographs.html
Tips on how to organize digital photos – http://smallnotebook.org/2008/05/20/how-to-organize-digital-photos-the-easy-way/

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I have researched, purchased and used many different organizing products over the years. Over time I have discovered that indeed, not all organizing products are created equal.  

Here are two of them that are tried and true for thousands of people and definitely have my stamp of approval.

Great systems like these, if used correctly can make a huge difference to getting and staying organized.

FreedomFiler:
https://freedomfiler.com/Home.cfm?CFID=643760&CFTOKEN=15904802

The Paper Tiger:
http://www.thepapertiger.com/

Please check them out today. You'll find that the on-line tutorials they offer give a very good look at how each work and how they may even work well together.



*Want to learn more about getting help to install these systems into your office or home? Call 778-866-6942 for details.
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If you catch yourself saying 
'I don't know where to start.' or
'I don't know what to do with any of this' try these 3 tips...
  

1. Spread things out a little so you are not stuck seeing the forest rather than the trees.
 
2. Start with items that you know what do with. Put them away immediately.
 
3. Pick items up one by one and force yourself to look at them.    

Once you have put away the items you know what to do with you may see categories emerging. If items don't have a home or don't fit in current location keep gathering them up in their 'like' groups.
 
After you have your categories of stuff sorted out you will be in a better position to gauge what else can get tossed, donated or recycled, and where the keepers should be kept.
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... It started a couple weeks ago at a networking function when I mentioned to a friend that I wanted to invite my associates and clients into my home for a change.  
 
My friend, hearing this, asked me if people would find my home in a state of perfection when they came over.
 
I thought about it for a moment, and then a giggle made its way out, as I imagined handing out white gloves at the door, so she and others could search for the spots I missed in my last clean up. 
 
My verbal response to this was, 'It's not about perfection'. I proceeded then to share a few confessions about my home and even my dishwasher, that some may find humorous. 

 Then a week later, the conversation came up again. A couple dear friends were at our home visiting, helping us enjoy a fabulous meal.  

Afterwards we were washing the dishes the topic came up again as my friend went to put the clean Tupperware back into the dishwasher and saw something very unusual.

So, for some inspiration and also 'just for fun', here is one small fact about your local pro-organizer that you may not have known...I keep a calendar in my dishwasher!

Ok, giggles aside, it is one of the things that could be considered 'unusual' about my home. The thing is, we don't use the dishwasher and the calendar makes a handy reference for my fiancé. Besides it takes up very little space.   The truth is, when we have guests we do make a special effort. And yes, I can provide white gloves. Yet no guarantees of perfection.

If you are feeling stressed or bound by clutter and don't know where to turn yet want help. Please know that I 'Get It'. Life is busy, habits are hard to break, stuff is everywhere and space is at a premium. You're not alone, and the good news is, there is help.
 
For residents of Greater Vancouver, consultations are no-cost and no-obligation. Call me at 778-866-6942 today to discuss.
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Too many bake trays, not enough baking going on? 

Need a way to keep the wet shoes and boots at the door from ruining your floor?

Tired of trying to coral and contain the many little spice jars and sticky bottles of oil and vinegar in the cupboard?

 Let's rethink the possible uses of those extra baking trays...  

1. Try using baking trays or pans as cabinet organizers. 
Gather up those small items such as small spice jars, pouches and small bottles and place them in a spare baking pan. Then treat it as a drawer, carefully sliding it in and out of the cabinet when you need to get items stored near the back. You can also use small to medium sized baskets if you have those instead. What ever you use the beauty of using baking pans or leak proof baskets is that it will catch drips and small spills thus making clean up a lot easier. Tip: For taller glass bottles use deeper trays.

2. Give your old baking pans the 'boot'.
Rectangular baking sheets and pans can make wonderful receptacles' for wet boots and shoes. Again the pan or sheet can help catch muck from the street and when it's dry the pans can be washed and replaced easily. If they fit you can even slide them into existing cubbyholes at the doorway, taking their contents out of the way.
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Today, for the Garage, and Home Office, I'm giving two tips each to help you get more organized.

Garage
1. Set up activity zones, such as the ones listed in my previous article called 'House Zones'. For example, group gardening supplies in one spot, tools in another, and decoration storage in their own area.

2. Look 'Up' and try using the walls to build shelving on and the ceiling for some over head storage. This will help you make better use of the space you have. Storage solutions like peg boards, clear bins, and open crates that allow for easy access are great ideas.
Avoid cardboard or risk water damage, mold and bugs!
 
Home Office
1. Keep most-often used items close at hand. For example, items used daily such as a stapler, writing tools and your calendar should be kept on your desk. Other items such as tape and rubber bands that get used less often can be kept in a nearby drawer. Plastic drawer organizers work wonderfully.

2. Sort and file paperwork. There is an ART to Filing. Paperwork can fall into three categories. A stands for ACTION, R stands for REFERENCE and T stands for TRASH.
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If your mother is like my mother, she always thinks she knows best about how you should run your household. Well, I guess as a mother, she just can’t let go of her baby

Regardless of how I feel about my mom giving me advice on my home or life, I have to say, she is the best cheerleader anyone could have. In her eyes I can do no wrong. For this belief in me, I thank her.

To get back to my story, not long ago my mother and I were discussing how to cook rice. She was thinking about getting a rice cooker because she dislikes making rice in a pot, like the way I do. She decided she needed a rice cooker, and then decided that I need one too. 

It was her adamancy that I get one, that was entertaining, in some way. Although I said I can cook perfect rice in my pot and I was happy with that, she insisted rather harshly that I still needed the cooker! 

I had to insist back, that I had no intention to use a rice cooker, and for her ‘not’ to go out and buy me one. I told her I would simply give it away if she did. 

I have limited space in my home, I like space, I don’t need a big cooker taking up the space I have. I am sure many readers can relate and want to make the best use of their space, their time and even their discretionary ‘spending money’. 

So I got to thinking. Was there anything else performing a redundant function in my kitchen? Yes, my Bodem coffee maker. I discovered prior that I can make coffee just as easily by using a pot and a sieve. My fiancé, however, was against the idea that I give the Bodem away, since our coffee ritual is something we enjoy. It still works and we like using it, it stays!


In general, we have too much stuff we don’t really, really need, like many of us. If we just learn how to make what we have work for us better, we could cut more clutter form our counters and other places.

Simplify is key.

 

Now, I just need to convince my mother to not worry about going out of her way to buy me things. The best gift my mom can give me, is to know that her money can be better spent, or saved.


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Great things sometimes come in pairs. Today for each room here are two tips to help you get more organized.

Living or Family Room

1. Consider purchasing multi-purpose furniture such as coffee tables, foot rests, storage cubes, or couches and beds with storage built in for toys, extra blankets and pillows, or board games?

2. List all the activities that will take place in this space and section your living room into zones. Then consider the containment needs for your belongings that make things easy to put away. Baskets are great idea to consider.

Kitchen

1. Keep countertops clear. Put away any rarely used appliances such as a deep fryer’s into cabinets. Well in the case of a deep fryer I suggest tossing it altogether, yet, you get the idea. Review your appliances. If you haven't used it in 12 months give it away. Try this with your utensils too. Try putting the items away in a closet or garage and only take out if you need it. Then put back in your kitchen when done using it only.


2. Arrange zones in the kitchen. This can make your life simpler and easier. For example, sugar, flour, baking soda, and confectioners’ chocolate should be near each other to make it easy and convenient to bake when the urge strikes. Another zone may be your coffee/tea zone. Include coffee, sugar, tea bags, tea cups and mugs etc.
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Can you relate to one of these tendencies? What is getting in the way of becoming more organized? Read on for some quick tips for each category and start leading a more productive, less stressful life today.

Tips for the Procrastinator:
1. Take one task on at a time. Moving stuff around is a waste of time, try to be realistic with how long a task will take and schedule the work into your day.

2. Release guilt if there is something that you truly know you will not get to. If it's not a "must do" go ahead and cross it off your list. (Read past article "Don't let Others "Should" on You" to learn more about letting go)

3. If you "must" do it, schedule the work into your planner.

4. Enlist a friend or relative to cheer you on or nag you a bit when you need it. Try to find someone you see often so they can keep on you if you fall behind.

Tips for the Packrat:
1. Try to visualize how great you will feel if you can move around freely in your space knowing you won't step on things or run into obstacles.

2. Consider your collections and pull out the truly cherished belongings to keep and display, while weeding out what you don't need or want and putting the rest into storage.

3. Try rotating your collection each month or year to bring other pieces out and putting the current items away. That way you can still display more of your collection without having them all out at once.

4. When purging and sorting your collection, enlist the help of a professional or a friend. They can help you ask the right questions so you keep the things that are truly meaningful to you.

Tips for the Perfectionist:
1. There is no "One way" to do anything. It is better to start than to wait until you can do everything perfectly. Do what you can and you can work on improving it later.

2. Break down large tasks into small bit-sized pieces so you don't have to worry about trying to get everything completed the moment you start.

3. Don't try keeping everything in a constant state of perfection. Homes and offices you see in magazines are quite often staged. Notice how there is no pets, no kids and no activities going on in the picture. Give yourself a break and allow room to live in your space.

4. Note your priorities. If there is a specific issue that is causing you the most pain, start there.
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