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Wishing you all a happy, safe, and awesome 4th of July! Let the celebration begin!
Photo: Huffington Post
Start Planning your Winter Vacation NOW
The sun has been shining, and it has been hot around New England. By now, you should have a bit of color on your skin, and a sufficient amount of vitamin D. As you’re enjoying these beautiful summer vibes, you should also think about winter. Okay, not the snow and cold, but your winter vacation. Remember, planning ahead and organizing your calendar is key to saving money and actually scheduling something fun for the family. If you have kids in school, there is only one winter vacation week, and if you don’t book flights and hotels now, you risk losing out on a nice, affordable vacation.
Below are four tips to consider when planning your next winter vacation.
- Think Budget – This first question to ask yourself is, “Do we have the funds?” Don’t go into debt or further debt just because you think you must go somewhere. If the budget is tight this time, there are plenty of day excursions you could explore in your own back yard. This type of vacation will save you money on flights and hotels and yet it will still feel great to get out of your routine and explore new places.
- Ask the Family – Where do you want to vacation? The goal is for your family vacation to be a time to bond and have fun. Talk to your family to see what everyone would like to do! Do you want to head north to enjoy the snow, or escape the cold down south? If your family is torn into two camps, flip a coin and plan to do the other vacation the following winter.
- Consider Timing – If you don’t have children or they aren’t in school yet, consider traveling during any winter weeks. This will save you money, and most likely hotels and flights will be less booked. If this is something you can’t avoid, consider flying out on odd days. For example, most families will fly out on the Friday or Saturday following the end of the school week. Opt for a Sunday travel day, and return a day earlier to combat the crowds.
- Book Early – Once there is the consensus on where, it’s time to book. Set up a price alert on kayak.com to get a feel for hotel and airfare costs. Airlines like Jet Blue also have great hotel/flight/rental car package deals.
Once you have the date in the calendar, and you’ve booked the big ticket items, it’s time to start saving for your food and activity budget. Nothing is more stressful than overspending and regretting the vacation after the fact. After all, vacations are supposed to be fun and relaxing.
What are some of your go-to vacation planning tips?
Photo: Sarah Jayne Photography
PURGE! What to Get Rid of at the End of the School Year
I know, I know. You blink, and all of a sudden school is out for the summer. The saying is true, “The days are long, but the years are so short.”
Yes, the years are certainly short, but you know what is shorter? The amount of time left you have to prep for summer! It’s time to start organizing the mounds of items from the past school year. What do you do with all your children’s school papers and art projects? What should you get rid of at the end of the school year?
I know most parents, especially the moms, agonize over this decision. Perhaps they are traumatized from their own childhood where their mom threw out all their papers, or worse, their mom kept every single piece of paper that was created. Like anything in life, you need to strike a balance. Below are three tips to consider as you’re organizing your child’s school items.
- Keep Only What’s Creative – There has to be a happy medium, right? In working with moms during this time of year, the best advise I can offer is IF you have to keep any of your child’s work, make sure it is creative. Don’t keep the math worksheets or spelling words, as that doesn’t show their individualism or creativity.
- Go Through Items with Your Child – The best plan is to go through the papers with your child and see what they want to keep. If you think this is an overwhelming task for them, edit the pile before sitting down with them. Have a number in mind for how many you want to keep and make sure it doesn’t exceed a small storage container.
- Purge as You Go – Instead of waiting until you gather a year’s worth of school projects, take the time each month to purge as you go. By doing this, you are not left with this daunting task at a time when everyone wants to put the school year behind him or her and enjoy summer.
Sentimental items like kids’ artwork is always more difficult to purge. Remember, it can feel good to get rid of that lingering pile of paper, but make sure to save a few mementos from each year. It is always nice to look through their work and see the development over the years. After all, the years are so short.
Photo: Design Improvised
Happy Memorial Day!
For some of you, this is the unofficial summer kick-off. Memorial Day became a federal holiday in 1971 to honor men and women who died while serving the United States. Spend time today at your town parade or visiting a cemetery where your loved ones who have served are buried. Remember the sacrifices they made for us. God bless America!
Photo: Pixabay
Do or Don’t – Hiring a cleaning service
Cleaning can take a large chunk of time from your week, and if you’re busy with work or kids, it can seem near impossible to stay on top of everything. We all feel so much better when the house is clean, but is it worth your time and energy to do it yourself or should you hire a cleaning service?
Here are four things to consider before deciding to hire a cleaning service:
- Cost – Examine your budget and do the math. How much do you make an hour and how long does it take to clean your house? If the math comes out in your favor, then it is a no-brainer to hire someone to clean. If it is going to cost you more than you are comfortable paying, and you really want someone else to do it, what can you give up so it doesn’t break your budget? Also, look at the opportunity cost. If you are spending 6 hours a week cleaning, when you could be spending that time with your kids or on your business, it might be a worthy investment.
- Stress – Do you have the time it will take to clean your house so you can really relax and feel comfortable having people in your home? It may be worth the money and reduce your stress level to have someone clean your house. You can also choose to hire someone to do the deep cleaning once a month to save your sanity. You may love it so much that you hire them to come at least once a month!
- Your Habits – Every person I know does a cleanup before the cleaning crew comes. If your floors are covered in clutter, a cleaning crew will spend more time picking up after you than cleaning what they need. If you are really time strapped and can’t pre-clean for the cleaner, then you may have to either readjust what they clean or do the cleaning yourself.
- Your Comfort Level – Are you ok with having strangers in your home cleaning while you are either in the house or away? You need to feel comfortable in your decision to have others touching your items. Some people are not ok with this and you need to consider how that will feel before picking up the phone. It is also wise to hire a housecleaner based on references. This can help with your comfort level!
Have you hired a cleaning service? If so, what advice do you have for others exploring this option!
Photo: Kaboom Pics
Ramping up for the “Busy” Summer Months
Truth be told, I don’t have a “busy” season. I work 12 months out of the year helping people organize their homes and businesses. After being in business for 20 years, I have never been able to guess which season will be busy or slow.
That said this is the time of year when many of my clients are trying to get organized before their children are home for summer break. They realize their days are numbered before they have their kids full time. Additionally, clients with summer homes are trying to sneak in various organizing projects before they head out for the summer.
This time of year, clients are getting ready for the summer. In August, they’re prepping for back to school season. In September, clients are getting ready for the holidays. It’s a year-round gig! I always tell people that it depends on the person at the other end of my phone as to what project I will be working on and how long the project will take me.
The scope of work always varies as well. Most people think that I only work with people who are disorganized. While this can be true, it’s not always the case. I can help people who are downsizing their homes, looking to move across the country, or even having a baby. It’s important for people to know that I’m here for proactive organization, in addition to those who are buried in clutter.
Are you looking to get organized? I can certainly help you proactively – or reactively – get your life and home in order.
Photo: Kaboom Pics
3 Tips for Living with a Messy Person
Most people can relate to living with a roommate or significant other who might not have the same organization style. Usually one person is tidier and one person is a bit more relaxed about cleanliness and clutter.
For example, it might be okay for one person to leave his or her dishes in the sink from breakfast all day long. The other person might consider this an act of complete disgust! These types of cleanliness nuances can be a major point of contention in any cohabitation relationship!
So how do you deal? Here are a few tips to make your life happier and less stressful.
- Learn the Art of Compromise – In any living situation, it’s important to acknowledge each person’s individual styles of organization and cleanliness, set expectations and learn to compromise. If you don’t have these conversations, you’re going to start resenting each other. If one person is a bit obsessive about being clean and clutter free, and the other person is more relaxed, talk about what is okay. For example, it might be okay for one pair of shoes to be left in the entryway, but on the flip side, agree to clean and put away dishes after each meal. Talk specifics, and go into detail about what each room should look like. You may be surprised by each other’s answers.
- Allow for Individual Spaces – It is possible for each person to have an area or a room for himself or herself? This allows each person to practice his or her own style of living and this space – whether cluttered or perfectly tidy – can be a sanctuary for alone time. Also, if the room is rather cluttered, the other person can simply shut the door and turn a blind eye to the disorganization.
- Avoid Nagging! – Nagging will get a person nowhere. It will only lead to emotional turmoil! Likewise, being passive aggressive about the issues will just turn into a non-verbal war. I’ve heard stories about roommates leaving post-it notes telling the other person to take out the trash or empty the dishwasher! Being direct and kind toward the other person can go a long way.
What are your tips for living with your roommate or significant other? Share them below!
Photo: Kaboom Pics
We’re Loving – 5 Outdoor Storage Solutions
Hello, spring! That’s right, the warmer weather is (almost) here. I’m sure the inside of your home is starting to feel clean and organized. Isn’t it funny how the weather can send a signal to our brains telling us it’s time to get the house in order? Ahh, I just love it. Now, have you looked at your outdoor space? Chances are the outdoor space is ready for a tune up.
In addition to cleaning up the yard and dusting off the outdoor furniture, it’s time to think about storage solutions. Outdoor and garden tools can consume a shed or garage if these items don’t have a proper home. Below are five outdoor storage solutions to tame your outdoor space.
- Storage Benches – Wouldn’t it be great to have all your outdoor cushions protected from rain and dirt when not in use? Investing in an outdoor storage bench will prolong the condition of your cushions. You can also invest in additional benches for other outdoor essentials like mosquito repellant, garden tools, and more.
- Peg Boards – These are magical storage solutions that use that precious vertical space! Hang up garden tools, or outdoor yard games. If you outline the item on the board, it is so much easier to stay organized after using an item.
- Hooks – Install hooks to hang up larger items like shovels, rakes, and even bikes.
- Rafter Shelving – If you have high enough ceilings, use the space above to store items off your floor.
- Shelving – If you have the space to add shelving, please make sure to make it adjustable. As your needs change, you will be prepared to re-adjust as needed.
As you’re organizing in the outdoor air, take the time to soak up the extra vitamin D and fresh air. You deserve it after a long winter!
Photo: Pottery Barn
PURGE! How to dispose of ink cartridges
Today, give the earth a big hug – Happy Earth Day! We live in a fast-paced society, and doing the eco-friendly thing is not always the easiest or quickest. As a Boston professional organizer, I’m always looking into organization tactics that are both effective and environmentally friendly.
From using digital calendars versus paper calendars to reusing recyclables as organizational solutions (you’d be amazed at what you can do with a cardboard paper towel roll!), there are many ways to maintain a “green” focused attitude around the home. There are eco-friendly organization solutions for every part of the home! Today, we’re looking at the home office, and specifically your printer. Most of us have a printer or copier at our ready and therefore we need to dispose of empty ink cartridges. Throwing them in the trash is the quickest option but not the best solution for the environment!
Below are three ways to dispose of your printer ink cartridges:
- Check out your printer manufacturer’s website. Manufacturers typically provide information regarding the proper disposal of ink cartridges. Some manufacturers actually have a return label in the box of your new cartridge so it makes it really easy to just drop the old one in the mail.
- Turn to office supply stores. Staples and Best Buy have programs where you can return the cartridges directly back to the store where you bought them. Investigate to see if there is a reward program so you can reap some of your investment.
- Look into Earth911.com. This is a great resource for investigating how to dispose of just about anything. Look at this site for a location near you that accepts used cartridges.
These are all great ways to lessen your carbon footprint in your office. Also, if you plan to reuse your cartridge, many retailers – including Costco – offer refill services for select cartridge manufacturers.
Photo: PC Mag
Tip Tuesday – 4 Ways to Organize Your Laundry Room
A couple of weeks ago, we ushered in the first day of spring. Hooray for warmer weather! There is something about spring that ignites the desire to clean and organize, and as a professional organizer in Boston, I couldn’t be more thrilled.
One area of the home that tends to get neglected is the laundry room. Yes, it is where we take our linens to get cleaned, but how often do you take the time to organize and clean this space? Wouldn’t it be nice to enter your laundry room and have it a pleasant experience? If you enthusiastically nodded yes, below are some ideas to make your laundry room a lovely place.
- Install Shelving. The top of your washer and dryer shouldn’t be for folding. Instead, hang a shelf for this very purpose. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a clear, clean space to spread out your clothes and fold them without getting lint or dirt on the clean clothes? If space is tight, consider using a fold down shelf.
- Create a Drying Station. For clothes that cannot go in the dryer, but need to be air dried, install a hanging bar. Shirts also dry better by taking them out of the dryer a little damp and hanging on a hanger to finish the drying process.
- Say Yes to a Cabinet. From laundry detergent to dryer sheets, the number of products left to clutter a laundry space can be unsightly. Let’s face it – laundry supplies aren’t pretty so keep them behind closed doors in a cabinet. Make sure your cabinet has adjustable shelving so you can customize the height of the shelves to accommodate the different sizes of products (those value sized detergent bottles can be huge!).
- Think Small. People’s pockets can bring about loose change and other items. Keep small jars (mason jars are great for this) on the laundry shelves to collect these items. If you want to take this a step further, have a jar for each member of the family so they can go to collect their money, lip balm and notes.
After you organize your laundry room, you’ll be more compelled to do the laundry…right? Well, that is the hope anyway. Happy laundering!
Photo: Decorpad.com