Organizing for Emergencies: Be Prepared

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Here in the Boston area this week we had the rare experience of an earthquake (I didn’t even notice it!), and now predictions are for a hurricane this weekend. And recently we’ve had devastating tornadoes in central Massachusetts, not a common occurrence. We just never know what mother nature is planning.

Today I was thinking about what we might need to do before the impending hurricane, and I heard some good advice from the local emergency management officials: Make a list of what you need to take inside during a hurricane, including bicycles, kids toys, lawn furniture, hanging plants, and awnings.

A list, music to my ears! And a great idea to make the list before the storm hits.

This got me thinking about other tips for emergencies:

  • Have a list with your insurance company name and contact information, and your policy numbers; even better – have a copy of your declarations page.
  • Know where your flashlights and extra batteries are.
  • Also have candles and matches handy.
  • Discuss an emergency plan with your family – where you would meet up if you were separated, where you would evacuate?
  • Have your first aid kit stocked.
  • If you did have to leave your home, what special items and photos would you want to take?
  • And of course, have some extra water and food on hand.

For more details on preparing for an emergency, check out professional organizer Judith Kolberg’s Organizing for Disaster and the website ready.gov. Hopefully you won’t ever need to use your emergency plan or supplies, but it’s much better to be prepared, just in case.

Best of Back to School

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It’s that time of year again! Whether your kids are off to college or starting out in Kindergarten, we’ve got tips for you.

Here is a collection of our best back to school posts. What could be easier?

What is your favorite back-to-school tip?

Ready to Return?

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Everyone loves to leave on vacation, but few of us like to return.

Here are my organization tricks to make the “re-entry” back to reality easier:

  • Before I leave I write a list of critical things I need to do once I return (like pay certain bills, call client, etc.). All this races through my head before I leave but I can put it on the list and forget it while I’m away.
  • Clean up the kitchen before you go away. I like to come home to a clean kitchen.
  • Once you return, start laundry right away. My husband and I now bring our bags right from the car into the laundry room. We empty the dirty laundry and get at least one load started as soon as we are home.
  • Unpack as you can…laundry and clothes are first, the other items may take a few days to get put away.

Bon voyage!

Summer Entertaining

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It’s time to get together with friends! Here are some tips to organize your summer entertaining:

  • If your event is outside, be sure to have a back-up plan in case the weather doesn’t cooperate.
  • Make your lists: grocery, other shopping, to do.
  • Have your kitchen stocked with a few party favorites for impromptu gatherings. I like to always have olives, crackers and cheese ready to go.
  • Also keep your bar stocked for summer drinks. It’s easier to have a party “signature” drink (think gin and tonic or mojito) rather than offering a full bar.
  • Check to be sure you have napkins, plates and other supplies for outside entertaining.

And for some fun aprons and linens, check out my cousin Janna’s fabulous designs at Raw Materials Design.

Happy entertaining!

Martha Stewart Living Radio Interview

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I was thrilled to be interviewed on the MSLR show, "Living Today." Host Ryan Brockington and I discussed our favorite ways to get ready for summer, shared our love of lists, and I answered questions from callers. It was very fun!

Listen to the interview (about 30 minutes).

Reduce the Excuse….Plan Ahead

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It is so easy to make excuses to avoid things we know we should do. I always had an excuse for why I didn’t exercise regularly or go to the gym.

That all changed a few months ago. After years of walking, yoga, and Pilates, I decided to  ramp up my routine when I heard about a “boot camp” workout from Karna Fitness. This is a VERY early morning class and I thought, why not? I won’t have anything else going on at that time…except of course for sleep! So I went from 0 aerobic exercise to a serious workout 2x a week, and I feel great.

While it’s hard to get going in the morning, my amazing instructor emailed with excellent advice before the first class: get your workout clothes together, have your sneakers by the door, fill your water bottle and leave a quick snack on the table the night before.

This routine has really helped me be able to get out the door at 5:40am. It’s the planning ahead that helps me reduce the excuses and take care of myself.

What are you making excuses for? Can planning ahead help?

Shed a Little in the Spring

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It was a good spring for purging around my house. The last of the appreciated-but-still-unused wedding gifts went to a charity auction to support a local community organization.  Yes, it was hard to let the crystal bowls and vases go, but after much angst I did it! And I haven’t looked back: the gifts had been sitting in our attic for 15 years, so I hope they are on to a better home.

Last month my daughter also set aside no-longer-used toys for her school tag sale (fortunately she didn’t buy back any of her own items at the sale!).

And I’ve been “weeding” our garden AND our closets…which has resulted in several bags of clothes for Goodwill or the Vietnam Veterans of America (they pick up!). It’s amazing how much we can find that no longer fits or that we just don’t wear.

Why this urge to purge in the spring? It could be that the annual school tag sales, book sales, and charity auctions make me take a hard look at items we aren’t using, but that could benefit others. It could also be that after a long winter, I am tired of everything and need to pare down our living spaces.

Whatever the reason, spring has become my family’s time to shed some unwanted excess. It helps us to live a little lighter and enjoy the summer even more.

Now I’m off to weed the garden instead of our closet!

For more inspiration, read my article on spring weeding for children’s clothes.

Product Review: Auto Trash Bag from The Mod Mobile

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Containing litter in my car is now a snap, thanks to the stylish Auto Trash Bag from The Mod Mobile!

If you’ve been reading my blog, you know that I’ve been posting about car organization. It all started when I was interviewed by The Boston Globe for an article; the writer was getting his first new car, and wanted ideas for keeping it looking like new. My tips appeared in the second part of this Globe car organization article.

In the first part of the article the writer mentions cool, hand-made auto trash bags from The Mod Mobile. He picks out one for his new car.

I had heard about this trash bag a while ago, and at one point even thought I could make my own (researched sewing instructions online)…but since I don’t sew often, I finally decided to purchase one. I’ve upgraded from a plastic bag to a hand-made, beautiful-but-tough, piece of art.

After all, a trash bag is something that I use all the time, so why not get something fun?

And as a bonus, my daughter loves how it looks and is now eagerly looking for things to toss in. As I tell my clients, if you find an organizing tool that you love to look at, you’ll really use it.

That’s Neat! Organizing did not receive any compensation for this review. I just love the product!

Mom Likes a Clean Car

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Do you have a Mother’s Day tradition with your Mom or family?

I look forward to Mother’s Day every year…not only for the special meals and fun family outing we take, but for a clean and organized car.

After the long winter by May my car can really use a good cleaning. It’s finally time to replace the ice-scraper with the sunscreen and beach towels.

So what is my Mother’s Day gift each year? My husband gets my car detailed. It is by far my most favorite gift and has become our tradition.

It is also a reminder that the perfect gift doesn’t always have to mean buying more stuff.

So this Mother’s Day, get creative! What can you do to make your Mom’s life a little easier?

And for my tips on clearing clutter in your car, read my quotes in The Boston Globe article, “Cleaning, organizing tips to help prolong new car’s shine.”

That’s Neat! Organizing in The Boston Globe

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Recently I was interviewed by a writer for The Boston Globe about car organization.  The writer is trading in a well-used Chevy Tahoe for a new Chevy, and wanted strategies for keeping the new car better organized. He sent me a few pictures of his Tahoe’s back seat and console (which was huge!) and I did some phone consulting for how he could keep the new car, well, looking like new.

Read my suggestions in The Boston Globe article.  Here’s the first part of the article when the writer mentions a great car trash bag.

For tips to de-clutter your car, read my Spring Organizing Project #3.

Spring Organizing Project #3: Clear the Car Clutter

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April is car care month, and the right time to give your car a little TLC. Spend 15 minutes de-cluttering your car after the long winter.

  • Take a garbage bag out to your car and clean out any trash.
  • See what you’ve stashed in the trunk and back seat that really belongs elsewhere…or can be tossed/recycled.
  • Clean out the glove box. All you really need to keep in the glove box is the car registration, a small first aid kit, flashlight, the few maps you’ll use the most, and an extra car charger for your cell phone.
  • If you are feeling really industrious, vacuum out your car and then wash the outside - or take a quick trip to the local car wash.

That’s Neat! Organizing was interviewed for a Boston Globe article on car organization!

Time to Pause and Purge

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My house was built in the 1890s and offers endless opportunities for “home improvement” projects…painting, plastering, replacing wiring, squeaky doors and floors…there is always something to fix.

I’ve realized that an unexpected benefit of home projects is the opportunity to reflect on our things. When things get moved around, it’s the perfect time to pause and purge.

For example, last year we upgraded our wiring, which meant that everything in my attic had to move so that the floor boards could come up, and wires and cables could be dropped down through the walls to the second floor. All my semi-organized things moved from one side of the attic to the other, or got piled up in another room.

Finally the wiring was complete and it was time to put everything back. Yikes, what a project! As I started in I was surprised to discover an old bent bed frame that was tucked in the attic corner when we moved in. Hmm, why were we keeping that?

Then I started to to take a closer look and realized other things could go. The waffle iron box for the waffle iron that broke three years ago? Gone. Several other empty boxes for things we no longer had—gone. Broken fans and carpet remnants—gone. Yes, that is part of what was in my attic, and I’m a professional organizer!

My next step was to group and sort the things we were putting back. A big revelation was to keep outgrown baby/child equipment together to go through at another point. We set aside some boxes of books to pare down later, and started a box of small items to donate.

This project was a reminder of how easy it is to stuff our stuff into storage spaces, only to be forgotten! So the next time you are forced to move things around—whether it is a closet or your entire attic—be sure to take the time to pause and purge.

More attic posts:

Spring Organizing Project #2: The Medicine Cabinet

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Spring cleaning doesn’t have to mean huge projects. I find that getting a few small—but often used—spaces into shape can have a big impact.

This week was my second quick Spring organizing project: the medicine cabinet. Here’s my process:

  • First, I took everything out of the cabinet.
  • Then I sorted the items into categories: first aid, basic skin care, eye care, and pain relievers.
  • I purged a few items that had expired, and made a quick note of items we needed. (I keep a pad of sticky notes inside the cabinet – this makes it easy to jot down items as they run out.)
  • Since the shelves were clear I took the opportunity to clean each one.
  • Finally, I replaced the items keeping the categories together.

I was having trouble keeping small items together in the cabinet, so I tried a new product: a medicine cabinet shelf organizer. Usually I like to re-purpose items but in this case the container was made to fit on the narrow shelves. It worked perfectly and corralled all my skin care and nail care products…I might even get another one!

Follow these steps and in just 20 minutes your medicine cabinet can be clean and organized.

For another idea, check out my cousin Janna’s recent post that included how she organized her master bathroom cabinet.

Spring Organizing Project #1: The Laundry Room

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This week Spring finally was in the air! (Of course that was followed by snow flakes a day later, but that’s New England weather.)

The beginning of Spring makes me think about starting fresh in my home…which means quick organizing projects to get things in shape.

The first quick project is the laundry room. If you have my 12 Months of Organizing: A Quarter At a Time calendar, you know why! I won’t repeat all the steps from the calendar, but remember to clean the space, recycle empty detergent bottles, and put away all the things that have crept into the area that don’t belong!

I also want to mention a few of my favoritetools to organize the space:

  • A table. My laundry space isn’t big but having a flat space for sorting and folding clothes comes in handy.
  • Extra laundry baskets marked “cold” and “warm.” Again, I don’t have lots of space in my laundry area but it’s helpful to have baskets to sort out the loads. It brings some order to all the loads of laundry instead of leaving them in one heap on the floor.

Take 30 minutes today and organize your laundry room.

De-Clutter & Donate: Belle of the Ball 2011

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Anton’s Cleaners is once again sponsoring the Belle of the Ball, a  program to “clean and distribute prom dresses to high school junior and senior girls who would otherwise not have the opportunity to attend their school's prom.”

Donate gently used dresses before April 1st at Anton’s Cleaners  or Jordan’s Furniture locations.