Clutter Hacks
Quote of the Week: On Purposeful Living
By
We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day.
~Edith Lovejoy Pierce
Happy New Year All!
Reflecting on 2011
By
I like to think that reflecting on the year past is the same as tying a nice ribbon around a package - finishing it all off nicely 
It seems to me like I can't get on with the new year properly unless I reflect on what went well, what didn't go well and most importantly, what I want from my life for the next year.
Do you agree?
Well then, let's get to it.
Read the rest of this post »
Tuesday Tip! New Use For Straws
By
Here's a great little Tuesday Tip for you - and it's a re-purposed item tip as well: Hull strawberries easily using a plastic straw.
Got any other uses for the good old plastic straw? Leave a comment!
Baby Steps to De-Cluttering Your Office
By
It happens to everybody: one day you look around your office and you wonder, "How did this get so disorganized?"
An untidy office and a messy desk can make you feel overwhelmed. It can even make you feel insecure about yourself because you'll wonder how you can get back on top of the clutter.
First of all, don't beat yourself up, and start taking small steps to get organized. Don't feel compelled to clean it all in one go, after all - your desk didn't get messy in one hour, so it will take time to get it de-cluttered and organized. Make a plan to get back on track, and start thinking about what office organization supplies you'll need.
Read the rest of this post »
Quote of the Week: On Goals
By
We are kept from our goal not by obstacles but by a clear path to a lesser goal.
~Robert Brault
Holiday Planning Overlooked
By
When it’s time for holiday planning, we tend to think only about preparation. Planning menus, sending parting invitations, shopping for gifts, and digging out the decorations. I find myself so overworked getting ready for holiday gatherings, I forget about the aftermath. Particularly when it comes to my extra dishes. I’ve never had a proper way of storing them, so they tend to just get thrown in a box that gets stacked with other boxes in the garage.
Bad planning like this leads inevitably to the catastrophe I encountered last week.
Read the rest of this post »
Paper Piles Driving you Nuts?
By
Don’t let those piles get you down! One of the most frequent requests we get are tips on mail organization. Rest assured, there are some simple steps you can take to reduce those piles of mail that seem to pop up everywhere around the house.
Mail organizers come in all styles these days, with every home decor theme taken into consideration. From door entry mail organizers to magnetic models that stick to the fridge, there is truly something for everyone.
Here are some different types of mail organizers to consider:
Read the rest of this post »
Quote of the Week: On Goals
By
It is not enough to take steps which may some day lead to a goal; each step must be itself a goal and a step likewise.
~Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe
Have a great weekend!!
Inexpensive Decor Ideas for Any Budget
By
If your home is in desperate need of a decor-update, but the wallet just won’t allow for that costly remodel right now, never fear. We’ve got tips for decorating on any budget (yes, even if the budget is zero.) With a little creativity and a little elbow-grease, you can improve the look of any space in your home to meet your needs and brighten up your outlook instantly!
Here are some tips and rules to guide you on your affordable decorating journey:
Read the rest of this post »
Spice Up Your Holiday Table
By
Mixing up dinnerware is a great and easy way to create an interesting table top. Try using dinner plates from one set of china paired with salad bowls from another to create layers of pattern or color. Have a set of basic white dishes? Switch out a few pieces with dinnerware in a bold pattern and instantly create a one of a kind look!
From fine china that has been passed down through the family for years to a flea market find with a fun pattern to brand new plates with a modern shape, by pulling different elements onto your table top you can create a look that suits your style.
Read the rest of this post »
Product Review: Hotel Style Luggage Rack – Foldaway Suitcase Stand
An inviting and comfortable guest room should bring relaxing hotel touches to your home. Create a casual yet stylish space for your guests by adding things they probably wouldn't have packed, like a robe or slippers. Scented candles or a cozy throw blanket are a good way to create a warm feel. Pick up some fresh flower at the store or grab some plush throw pillows from around the house to give the bed a decadent feel. These little touches are a great way to welcome your guest.
Read the rest of this post »
It All Makes Sense With Galvanized Utility Bins
By
I live in a house that has a lot of stairs, and it seems like I am constantly finding things that are supposed to be downstairs laying around upstairs, and things that should stay upstairs are always finding their way to the first floor - are you confused yet?
Imagine how confused I was when I discovered a set of measuring spoons, two weeks worth of mail, and seven and half pairs of shoes upstairs, and no less than four blankets and every Lego piece that's been manufactured since 1982 downstairs.
Read the rest of this post »
Experience Your Dream Drawer!
By
I don’t know about you, but I like searching through my dresser for matching socks about as much as I like going to the dentist! In this increasingly busy world, every minute counts, especially in the morning when I am shuffling kids, hairdryers and my own work clothes. Have you ever dreamed of opening up your drawers and immediately seeing exactly what you need, right where you need it? Sounds crazy, right?
Lap Desk to the Rescue
At the end of a long day, all my wife and I want to do is relax and watch a couple of our favorite television shows. However, my wife is an elementary school teacher and she has work to correct at the end of the day. One of the most difficult things for her to do is correct schoolwork and homework when she is trying to watch the television. She is left with one of two options: either she would have to sit at the kitchen table, way-away from the TV, or she could use the coffee table, slumped over her work and with a sore back.
Read the rest of this post »
Product Review: Lapp Topper Vinyl & Plastic Lap Desk
Who among us haven’t been caught sitting on the couch, swamped by the day-to-day commonalities such as bill paying, assessing the month’s family food budget, or composing letters to love ones, while simultaneously attempting to enjoy not only a deliciously hot beverage, but also a favorite television program?
I know I have, and sometimes it is a real humdrum conundrum. There is just not enough space on my sofa for all of those activities, certainly not all at once. If only we as a species were gifted with more hands and arms! Alas, we were not.
Read the rest of this post »
Product of the Week: Luggage Rack to the Rescue
By
When my mother-in-law gave us a Designer Solid Oak Luggage Rack for the guest room, I admit - I thought it was kind of a crazy gift. Even crazier than the ceramic chicken that she'd brought during her last visit.
I thought it was a strange thing to have, because last time I checked we didn't have plans to open up a hotel anytime soon, and I'd only seen luggage racks during business trips. The only time I'd seen a luggage rack ins somebody's house was during reruns of 'Mr. Belvedere'. To tell the truth, it spent it's first six months in our house buried inside the guest room closet.
Read the rest of this post »
Quick Tip: Getting Ready For Christmas
By
When I wanted to write about Christmas this week, I wondered if it was too early.Then I saw two Christmas posts on a couple of my favorite "intentional living" blogs and I felt like I was in good company. So… onwards and upwards.
When you think about Christmas, what are the aspects that overwhelm you and stress you out?
For me, it's not knowing what's happening.
I'm a girl who loves a plan and I like to know who's hosting the lunch and what I have to bring.
I also like to have clear in my mind what we're doing about gifts and cards.
Read the rest of this post »
Qhick Tip: Getting Ready For Christmas
By
When I wanted to write about Christmas this week, I wondered if it was too early.Then I saw two Christmas posts on a couple of my favorite "intentional living" blogs and I felt like I was in good company. So… onwards and upwards.
When you think about Christmas, what are the aspects that overwhelm you and stress you out?
For me, it's not knowing what's happening.
I'm a girl who loves a plan and I like to know who's hosting the lunch and what I have to bring.
I also like to have clear in my mind what we're doing about gifts and cards.
Read the rest of this post »
Quote of the Week: On Purposeful Living
By
Worry pulls tomorrow's clouds over today's bright sunshine.
~unknown
Try to live each day in the moment and have a great weekend!
Easy digital photo organizing: 5 sanity-saving steps
By
I have a confession to make - I've recently become somewhat of a deal-buying junkie. And the things I buy are photo albums.
I suspect my thinking was flawed and I thought, like many of us do, that if I buy a photo book deal, like magic, my photos would organize themselves and jump into that book.
Ta da!
Not so, my friends.
Read the rest of this post »
Quote of the Week: On Time Management
By
The ability to concentrate and to use your time well is everything if you want to succeed in business–or almost anywhere else for that matter.
~Lee Iacocca
Make the most of your time this weekend - have a great one!
The Organizing Tip That Will Change Your Life
By
Simple, but super: Never leave a space empty-handed.
Sometimes, it’s the simplest of things that can have the biggest impact on our lives. I know in my own life, in this fast-paced world we live in, it seems like there is never a time when something isn’t disorganized and out of place. Our homes, our cars, our offices, even our computers – they all have stacks, piles, bags and bits sitting around and cluttering things up with stuff that doesn’t belong.
Yet I’ve found one simple and proven way to take a powerful step toward streamlining your spaces and tackling your mess before it tackles you. That is to never leave a space empty handed.
Read the rest of this post »
Tackling Photo Clutter
By
Are you saving photos of people you don't know so you can pass them on to your kids…who also don't know them?Are you keeping photos of places or events you have no clue about, so you can pass them on to family or friends…who also don't have a clue?
Important Thought #1: OK, let's start here. You are telling yourself that these old photos of people you don't know are very important.
No, they are not. They are people you don't know. NOBODY values those photos. Do you know why?
BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW THE PEOPLE.
Read the rest of this post »
Time to iOrganize Your Life
By
I have to confess, I have a new favorite spot to go shopping. It’s open 24-7, everyone is always friendly and the prices are rock-bottom. Sometimes I even get some pretty great stuff for free!
Yes, I’m a big fan of shopping at the app store.
This store is an amazingly useful place for those who are looking to make the most of their time.
Read the rest of this post »
Quote of the Week: On Determination
By
What this power is I cannot say; all I know is that it exists and it becomes available only when a man is in that state of mind in which he knows exactly what he wants and is fully determined not to quit until he finds it.
~Alexander Graham Bell
How To Leave Work Earlier
By
I have recently moved my office into my home. I'm actually enjoying the integration of "home" and "work" life. It's not the distraction that I thought it would be. As a matter of fact, my biggest problem is working too long and late into the evening.
Today I received an email from Marcia Francois - to my rescue again!
Try these suggestions for organizing your day and not over-working yourself:
Read the rest of this post »
Tuesday Tip: Pot Rack For Drying Herbs
By
In my garden, we are coming to the end of herb harvesting season and we are getting ready to harvest some gourds. I love the smell of herbs drying in my house! My problem has been where to hang them as they dry.
Read the rest of this post »
Tuesday Tip: Make Giving Easy
By
I am a huge fan of thrift shops! Both donating to and shopping at.
Since I like to shop my local store weekly for great deals, I have to purge my stuff almost as often to avoid clutter.
Here is a great tip for keeping those donate-ables corralled until donation day:
Read the rest of this post »
Quote of the Week: On Procrastination
By
Putting off an easy thing makes it hard. Putting off a hard thing makes it impossible.
~George Claude Lorimer
Pick one thing off your list this weekend and just get it done. Have a great weekend!
A Legacy of "Stuff" (Part 4)
By
In the previous 3 blog posts (Part 1, Part 2 & Part 3), I wrote about what to do with the stuff of loved ones who have passed away, and how important it is to communicate with your friends and family about the stuff that YOU might leave behind.
So the questions to start with is: what you are leaving behind and why the heck are you hanging on to that?
Read the rest of this post »