Spring Cleaning
We look forward to spring for many reasons; warmer weather, longer days, blooming trees and flowers, spring break, free Rita’s Italian Ice (for those of you Pittsburghers out there)… the list goes on. You might notice that the phenomenon of spring cleaning did not make that list. The human instinct to migrate outdoors to attend to our neglected homesteads as the weather gets warmer gets a bad rap, but as you might imagine, I am a fan of this time of year. I am here to tell you how you can make spring cleaning more fun and less stressful!
Maintenance
Once the snow melts and the ice thaws you might notice some areas of the house that need attention. It can be overwhelming! At my house we created a preventative maintenance schedule so that we can stay on track instead of waiting to address problems until they are hemorrhaging. There are good checklists on House Master if you do not already have one.
Simplifying
Changing seasons offer a great opportunity to downsize. Did not touch your skis all winter? Still have not worn that fur coat or those winter boots that you have been trying to for years? Have the kids become teens and grown out of their sleds or other winter equipment? Use the seasons as a test. If you went all winter without using something, you probably will not use it next winter either! You can apply this to things that are not seasonal. For example, go through your pantry, donate the staples that you never use.
Make it FUN!
I know, I know, you do not think ‘fun’ and ‘spring cleaning’ should be in the same sentence. I always had the most fun with spring cleaning when my children were younger and always excited to help with projects like painting or gardening because they were also learning along the way. Re-frame spring cleaning as family bonding time instead of chore time. Introduce incentives. My kids participated in everything from dusting races to competitions on who could pull a bigger pile of weeds!
However, if you have an empty nest like I do now, you can still spice up your spring cleaning. If you are tackling the whole house, tuning all of the radios in the house to your favorite station so that you sing along as you take trips up and down the stairs is always nice. It is also satisfying to stick with one room or area until it is finished. The size is more manageable so the satisfaction you get from completing that space reassures you that your punch list is doable.
Ironing in 2013
Monopoly Iron
At the Pittsburgh Home & Garden Show last week, one of the most popular aspects of our booth was the compact ironing board! You can see it this KDKA Pittsburgh Today Live segment. This was partially because it discretely folded up into a drawer and also because some of our visitors unsure what it was. This inspired me to do a little bit of research on ironing.
Turns out that Less than 29.7% of Americans still iron their clothes on a regular basis. This makes sense now that most fabrics have polyester and cotton components. This blend was created to reduce the need to iron and the term ‘permanent press’ was born. This switch towards ironless fabrics was somewhat commemorated by the game, Monopoly, getting rid of their iron token this year. It was a croundsourced decision hosted on facebook. Fans chose to replace the iron with a cat.
I also found a statistic that 40% of Americans who do iron, iron in their underwear. This makes perfect sense. It suggests that ironing is an afterthought and no longer a common household chore. However, most of us still dedicate valuable wall space to an ironing board hanger or mount.
If you are still ironing, why use valuable wall space for an unaesthetic ironing board? Check out some of our ideas for ironing board storage alternatives on Pinterest.
Spicey Organizing
http://www.houzz.com/built-in-spice-rack
We often find clients who have too much spice in there lives! Oftentimes people want to cook more but are having trouble making time. They over-buy in case they ever get the opportunity there will not be any barriers, they will have everything they need. Some people identify providing with having everything they can possibly think of on hand. It is their way of showing their love. These people purchase spices (and other items) “just in case”. Others have inventory issues. Either, they do not know or cannot see what they have. This is a vicious cycle because spices tend to get lost behind other spices. No matter what the root of the problem is, keeping spices in an appropriate place and for the right amount of time can make a difference.
Seven Day Challenge
If you want to find out which of your spices are actually active, try this trick. Turn all your spices upside down and go through a week of your normal cooking habits. When you use a spice, return it to the cabinet right side up and at the end of the week it will be easy to see what you actually use! Active spices can go on a more available shelf or in a spice drawer. A good rule of thumb is to keep the number of active spices to what can fit in the front row of your spice area.
A-B-C Order?
As an professional organizer, I get this comment all the time. “You are so organized, you probably alphabetize your spices”. Truth be told, I have one shelf that is grab and go for active spices and then another shelf for less used favorites, which are sorted by size and are generally in alphabetical order. Alphabetizing the spices helps me because often times the labels are covered by other spices but when they are in order I have a better idea of where to reach. This is not necessarily for everyone but works well when not all of your spices can be fully displayed.
Stadium Seating Please
Keeping things visual is key. That is why I put all the small jars together, in front of the larger jars. It’s just easier to see. My husband measured and cut a small piece of scrap wood so I could elevate the back row and see it better. I do not recommend any of the shelf extenders that stack spices three deep because I find that I knock items off the shelf when I try to get to the back row. I will admit that I do get joy from buying the same brand when I can so the shelf looks tidy.
Keeping It Fresh
Spices last for a few years before they start to loose their kick, but they will never spoil. If your spices are on the outs, I buy smaller jars for things I use less of and resist the urge to buy large amounts to save money by thinking of quality first. Storage of large spice containers can be a problem. To increase their shelf life, do not store spices directly next to heat because they will lose their freshness faster.
Check out my Pinterest for ideas!
There’s An App For That…
In my last blog post I mentioned how there is an app for everything? Well I thought that I should elaborate and tell you about some of my favorite apps that I find useful!
Shoeboxed (Free) The fastest way to turn a pile of receipts into digital data for effortless expense reporting, accounting, bookkeeping, and tax preparation. Snap a photo of your receipt and create an expense report on your phone that will sync with QuickBooks, Wave Accounting, Xero, Excel, FreshBooks Outright, Xero or dozens of other tools. Great for those little business expenses that used to get lost in the shuffle. Be aware that there can be some fees incorporated into the app if you start using it heavily. Free Runner Ups: PaperPhobic, Expensify & Skyclerk
MyFitnessPal (Free) First of all, it is not just fitness. Although it tracks that, most intriguing is it’s ability to read a bar-code on an item and add it’s nutritional information to what you’ve eaten. Many restaurants are getting on board to input their menus into it’s already massive database of over 2 million foods. Plus, you can add your own foods, like your famous chili, and it will remember it for next time. You can access your info from a computer as well but you do not need Internet to use the actual app and the social aspect of it is optional. The app even helps calculate how many calories you need to eat/burn to reach your weight goals.
My Gratitude Journal ($0.99) This is one of my personal favorites! Just write down five things you are grateful for each day. You can add photos, rate the day, record the weather and bookmark days. I have seen my attitude change by using this app. Even when I am not having a great day, it forces me to see the silver lining. Free Runner Ups: Gratitude Diary & iGratitude
Daily Tracker ($9.99) This app tracks just about anything. Whether you are organizing your notes or to-do lists, counting calories or pushups, tracking sleep or expenses, Daily Tracker can do it. If you’re feeling like you already have an app for everything this is the next step, because it allows you to track all of your information within one streamlined app. It also syncs with the cloud. It is definitely pricey, but has great ratings.
Period Plus (Free) Ladies, we have all been there. The doctor asks and you have no clue. You make a mental note to start writing it down but never get around to it. Period Plus knows can even predict your periods, fertile days and ovulation dates for the next 12 months so if you are hoping to get pregnant, this is also a handy tool. Plus you can also track breakouts, breast tenderness, cramp intensity, weight and more. Do not worry, there is a password too. Free Runner Ups: iPeriod, Period Tracker Lite, My Days, Pink Pad Period, Monthly Cycles & Period Diary
Stylebook ($3.99) A visual wardrobe organization and closet management tool that can make a cupboard sized closet seem more like a walk in! Whether you want to make sure you do not wear the same outfit to that second job interview, are packing for a getaway, or want to remember what the clothes you put in crawlspace look like, this is the app for you. It is fun to edit the background out of your pictures and design magazine style outfits. You can include accessories as well! Free Runner Ups: I Wear…, Closet Lite, My Fashion Closet & Stylish Girl & Cool Guy
Task Rabbit (Free) Always wishing you had time for that one last errand or another hand around the house? TaskRabbit can help. It connects you with friendly, reliable people right in your neighborhood who can help you get the items on your To-Do list done, and you set the price. Task Rabbits go through a thorough application process and a screening so you can be confident that they are trustworthy people.
CardMunch (Free) You know when you get the business card of someone you really intend to follow up with, but then lose it? That does not have to happen anymore with CardMunch. Take a picture of the card, it will be converted into a contact entry that can be synced with your address book and if the person has a LinkedIn account, the app will ask if you want to connect.
Some other cool apps I stumbled upon in my research were LastPass, ReQall, Timr, Remember the Milk, BillMinder and HomeRoutines. I’ll let you investigate those on your own!
Get Organized Month!
Getting Organized is one of the top three New Year’s Resolutions every year. Now that we are a month into the New Year, motivation may be starting to fade. The best thing you can do to keep energized is to add a big dose of accountability!
There’s an app for that…
It is true. If you are a smart phone user, there are apps for everything from tracking exercise and adding up calories, to tracking mileage and even an app for posting daily gratitude journal entries. Receiving automated nudges from a tool that is almost always by your side is a powerful way to stay on track. Below are some of my personal app suggestions.
Go Public with Social Media
Studies show that the combination of accountability and group mentality yields powerful results when it comes to meeting goals. Posting intentions and progress reports make you feel like you have a team behind you cheering you on. You might even find friends who are working on a similar goal. People from all of your different networks are able to reach out and support you when you share your story.
Dig Deep
Re-connect to the why. When I have clients that are starting to give up on something, I often ask, “why did you want to do it in the first place?”. I follow up with a series of why questions to identify the core reasons for making the resolution in the first place.
For example, if I want to work out more in 2013 and you asked me, “why?”, I may say I want to be more fit. If you asked again, I may say, “I need to stay active”. Ask a third time, I may explain that I need to be fit to keep up with my husband and kids. The fourth “why?” really makes me think and get to the core; I don’t want to be alone. I want to be with my family and do what we do for a long, long time. That is what gets me to go out there and get fit!
Most importantly, even if your resolution has had a rocky start, you can’t consider it doomed! Any time of the year is a great time for self improvement. Now get to it!
What to Do With All of Those Holiday Cards?
It is that time of year. Holiday cards are stuffing your mailbox and overloading the systems you usually have in place. These cards are emotionally charged so it helps to establish some rules to handle the influx at this already busy time. Use the five D’s to keep from getting overwhelmed.
1. DROP
Designate a drop spot for the cards as they arrive. I like to use a pretty bowl or basket. I separate them from the other mail and do not open them until I have time to sit down and really enjoy them. This system ensures that none will be misplaced around the house.
2. DECIDE
When I open the cards I try to immediately make a decision about which I want to hold on to for display, reuse for crafts, archive, or leave in the bowl to save. Ask yourself these questions to help make your rules: Do you only want to keep cards from certain families? Only photo cards? Only cards from relatives? Only the top ten of the year? Only your own cards? (TIP: If you are keeping your own cards a good rule of thumb is to keep a copy for each child. If you have 5 children, keep 5 cards) Keeping all of your cards is just a way to not decide. Making decisions on this small batch of emotional items is good practice for bigger jobs – like your photos. If tackling holiday cards is difficult for you, photos are probably even more of a challenge.
3. DISPLAY
Displaying is generally for current cards. There are many different ways to display holiday cards, from clothespins to mantles and garlands to wall sconces! I usually display cards of the people closest to my family and me. A bonus is that when those families join us for holiday celebrations it makes them happy to see their card on display. Check out our Pinterest for more ideas on displaying your cards, you can buy or DIY.
4. DOCUMENT/ARCHIVE
Take down your display at the end of the season and decide how you want to document/archive your cards. Most of what I choose to display each year is what I end up archiving and documenting later on. Once you decide which cards to keep from past years, think about how to save them. Is it okay to just put favorite cards in a shoebox or does it have to be something more aesthetic? I have found that a nice photo box works well for me. I like to save certain cards to look at each year when we pull out our decorations. Also, this year I will be making a scrapbook of my family’s cards over the last 25 years using Shutterfly. I will share my scrapbook link once the project is complete!
5. DIY
This last ‘D’ is an option if you want to get more out of the cards you are not displaying or documenting by reusing them. The front of non-photo cards make great thank you notes if you cleanly separate the front flap. Most people do not write in that area so the back should be blank. Now just find an envelope of the right size or use it as a postcard! My daughter is really great at this! These front flaps can also be cut into smaller pieces and used as gift tags. This is something my sister does. She often writes heartfelt notes on these and attaches them to a satin ribbon as gift wrapping. Whatever is left over can be recycled.
Garage Storage: Lofty Solutions
Photo provided by Hyloft.com
We have been getting so many calls about garages this month. The weather is getting colder and people want to put all their summer outdoor items away to keep them out of the elements. Making a garage work can be key to keeping other areas of your home uncluttered and running smoothly. After you have decided on zones for things, added shelving and hooks for frequently used items- LOOK UP! There is a gold mine of space in most garages that are underutilized. We love this Hyloft Storage product. It is affordable, easy to install and much easier than crawling up into your attic for seasonal and infrequently used items.
So call us to get ideas on how to get your garage ready for winter and to see if Hyloft is a solution for you.
Back to School: Organizing the Paper – Part Two
PART TWO: THIS YEAR’S PAPERS…
Let me start by saying I would like to pass legislation stating anything that comes home from school and needs my attention should be allowed to be returned to school the next day. It is usually the active papers that are the problem and having a guideline on what is active, what is reference and what is archive is crucial. Getting clarity on this from teachers and students will make all the difference. You will be able to have a streamlined system and you can help your child with this skill. Many times kids are paralyzed with paper too and tend to carry everything in oversized backpacks and overstuffed desks and lockers because they don’t want to be embarrassed by not having what the teacher wants and inevitably this creates a situation that papers get lost in. This skill takes time and support not just verbal instruction. Do it together to build better habits.
Every home needs a LAUNCH PAD or CONTROL CENTER for school papers.
Here are some components for a good launch pad:
- A one step space for EACH child’s backpack
This will save the day for you. Have a place to hang that backpack and create a procedure for going through it after school. Make sure it’s loaded for the next day and many stresses will disappear with putting that one step into place.
- A place for important ACTIVE papers
Use a red folder for active papers, I think of them as HOT. Everyone in my house knows where the HOT file is and that it is important and things that belong there are typically safe and not lost!
- A work space for HOMEWORK
I am a big believer in the dining room table homework area. I like to have that activity under my nose because I have found it’s easier for me to answer questions and keep things on track if they are centralized in the home rather than hiding in a bedroom. So many parents think the answer to a distracted student is a desk in their room but 9 out of 10 times that desk is on Craigslist a year later because it becomes a clutter catcher and not a work space. Using the dining room or kitchen table has other added benefits, it helps to get homework done before dinner because things have to get put away in order to eat. I realize this won’t work for everyone, but take the ideas to your home and see what does work.
- A place for SCHEDULES and INVITES
Along with the HOT folder I have a folder for soccer schedules the directory and invites. This is one clear plastic wall pocket that I nicknamed ”my brain” because when stuff gets in there I don’t have to remember it all. I put important info in my phone or on the calendar but I keep the details there until the event is over then I toss it.
- ONE family calendar
Our family calendar hung above the wall pocket (my brain) and everyone could see it in my kitchen. It is where all the info resided for everyone. If you want your activity to be counted, it better be on there. I delegated a bit here because frankly I couldn’t keep it all straight.
As time went on smart phones came into play so the calendar on my phone was THE calendar and everyone entered info on that. I can remember the kids asking if they could do something and passing the phone to them so they could see if there was time available and what was going on that day. Like the HOT file, the calendar gets respect because if it’s not on there I can’t really get it scheduled or done, so everyone quickly knew to get on board and get their events in the calendar.
- Night time routine for readiness
When you get this in place you will be a rock star! It is so easy to do, but so easy not to do. Think of it as PEACE for you and your students. Just take ten minutes to go over what needed to be completed that day, what is needed for the next day and put it away or where it needs to be for the next day. It will calm everyone down, and set the stage for a more relaxing evening or bedtime as well as a smooth morning exit.
For examples of launch pads or family control centers, check our Back to School board on Pinterest!
Big Announcement: New Site Launch!
Over the past few months we’ve been a bit quiet here because we have been working in the background on a whole new look for our entire online presence and we launching it today! We are very excited to share them!
Our new look celebrates a few things, first, we have been in business for 12 years this month. Through those 12 years, I had noticed as we grew our business, our web site evolved too. However, we just kept adding on to what was already there and it started to be a bit cumbersome. We have a website for organizing, a website for our Closet Systems site, a website for The Resource Database and the Simplify Life blog. As time went on they ended up looking like four different businesses so we decided it was time to rebrand and expand their usefulness.
The process started with a new look, went through many ideas and color palettes but we finally settled on this. We all just love it!
When we finally committed to the new color scheme, I started noticing funny things that were already happening in my life. Apparently, my husband dresses in those colors, because as I passed his closet I noticed his shirts were arranged in a way that mimicked our new branding choice. No wonder I was so attracted to them and I hope clients will be too!
In addition to celebrating a birthday for our business, I am also celebrating my 50th birthday this month! On my 49th birthday, I set my mind to rolling into 50 feeling great and have spent the last 365 days taking care of me! I added a new workout to my routine (and I mean new as in I never worked out seriously before), a new diet and a bunch of new fitness related activity. I really feel healthy and strong as I enter the half century mark.
It’s fun to celebrate my personal and business transformations. Life is good and I am doing exactly what I want to do everyday. I have a wonderful husband and partner in business, the greatest kids that are growing to be my very favorite people on the planet, and the best friends and clients in the world. Thank you.
Spring Fling: The Bathroom
GETTING STARTED
There are so few places where we get to completely relax. The shower/bath should be a place of total rejuvenation. Today we’ll turn this grime collector into a cleansing oasis.
TODAY’S TASKS
* Remove any product you don’t use or love – especially if there is less than an inch of product left in the bottle.
* Remove anything that is old or worn out – look at razors, scrubbers, and even the shower curtain.
* Clean the tub and make it shine.
* A certain peace comes with less decisions. Try living with one shampoo, one conditioner, and one soap this week. What did you miss? What was OK?
A NEW WAY TO THINK
Are you looking for a quick fix or magic potion when you collect shampoos, body washes, and lotions? In your search, you may have found several duds. If you can’t seem to use the last drop of anything, you may struggle with completion issues or with feeling that you are undeserving. Saving everything simply puts obstacles between you and your best things.
I had one client who creatively solved this problem by concocting her own shampoo by marrying the last few drops of several favorites to simply get rid of a collections of bottles. It was quite an effective solution.
If you don’t want to combine nor throw away usable soaps, you can keep one of the bottles inside your shower and store the rest outside of the shower. You can move on to the bottles in storage after you’ve successfully finished the one in the shower.
Your reward today is just too obvious, pamper yourself with your favorite little potion!
