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Purge! 3 Things to Purge from Your Bedroom

Posted on by Dawn Link Posted in Bedroom — No Comments ↓

 

Your bedroom is supposed to be your sanctuary, right? Take a look around. Does your room give off that calm feeling when you walk into your room? Is it clutter free and serene? Your room is for sleeping, rest and relaxation, so if you feel stressed by simply looking around your room, it’s time for a change. Below is a list of what to purge to restore a sense of calm in your bedroom.

  1. Technology – Most of us are guilty of having your smart phones next to our bed. You may use it as your alarm; however having that possible interruption of a text message or an alert coming in while you are sleeping in a dark room is anything but restful. If you must have your phone in your bedroom, make sure it is set to silent mode and more than ten feet away from your bed. Also, be sure to turn it upside down in case you do get a text. Better yet, can you put it in your bathroom or out of your room? Best option, buy an alarm clock and leave your phone out of the room! By doing this, you’ll sleep better and wake up rested.
  1. Old books & magazines – Are there books and magazines in your bedroom collecting dust? It’s time to move the books to storage and get rid of the old magazines. It’s best to only keep magazines in your bedroom if you really read them there. If not, move them out to create a less cluttered look. Now, look around for books that you have already read. Donate them to your local library or charity, or store them in your library.
  1. Jewelry – What a great project to tackle this winter! I am sure you have costume jewelry that is just sitting around that you don’t like or wear anymore. Pass it on to your daughter, or donate it. If you have fine jewelry, see about selling it online or at a local pawnshop.
  1. Shoes – Ahh, ALL of those shoes in your closet. Do you really wear them? First, purge the shoes that are heavily worn or ruined. Old flip-flops or shoes with worn soles should be donated or thrown out. If you have professional shoes that you don’t wear, donate them to a charity like Dress for Success. If you do a seasonal swap of clothes, also swap out your shoes to create more space in your closet for boots and winter shoes.
  1. Pillows and blankets – When is the last time you replaced your pillows? According to the Sleep Council, pillows should be replaced every two years and duvets should be thrown away after five years. Dust mites and other yucky things can collect in pillows and duvets so it is important to get rid of them on a regular basis. After all, isn’t our health worth it?

Now that you have your marching orders for your bedroom purge, schedule some time in your calendar to put this into action! What else have you edited from your bedroom to create a more serene environment?

3 Things to AVOID When Goal Setting

Posted on by Dawn Link Posted in Goals — No Comments ↓

3 Things to AVOID When Goal Setting

Hey, folks! I hope you are shaking off that Christmas food coma, and continuing to relish in that Christmas spirit! The new year is a few short days away – wow, I can’t believe 2016 is coming to a close! As the new year approaches, it’s time for a new set of resolutions. That’s right, let’s talk about goals!

In the past, I’ve talked about tips for creating your goals. This year I want to talk about what NOT to do when goal setting. Below is my quick list on what to avoid when goal setting for 2017.

  1. Don’t set unrealistic goals. You need to be able to achieve your goals so don’t set yourself up for failure. For example, don’t say you will make $1 million dollars this year without really breaking it down and seeing if it is even an achievable goal.
  1. Avoid not prioritizing your goals. It’s wonderful to have more than one goal, but it’s important to iron down your main goal and work on this regardless of the other goals.
  1. Avoid having no idea how to achieve the goal. As you jot down each goal, it’s important to ask what steps you will take to reach those goals. If you have no idea how to reach your goal, you will set yourself up for failure.
  1. Don’t forget about your goals. Once you come up with your prioritized list of goals, you need to consistently look at your goals to ensure you’re working towards achieving them. The most successful people look at their goals every day and have goal-oriented tasks planned out to accomplish their goals.
  1. Avoid not setting a timeline. Alongside writing down the steps you need to take to reach your goal, you also need to write down a timeline for each of those steps. You need to know when you want to achieve that goal! Set a date for you to hit your goal and you will be successful.

What are your tips for achieving your annual goals? Please share so that others may learn from you!

Photo: kaboompics

Have a Merry Christmas!

Posted on by Dawn Link Posted in Christmas, Holidays — No Comments ↓

Have a Merry Christmas!

By this time, I hope the egg nog is flowing, friends and family are laughing, the feast is cooking, and you have a happy heart. Wishing you and yours the happiest of times spent with friends and family this Christmas season! I hope you got a few fabulous organizing products for Christmas so you can start the new year off in an organized way!

Photo: kaboompics

3 Tips for Organizing Baking Sheets and Muffin Tins

Posted on by Dawn Link Posted in Kitchen, Products — No Comments ↓

3 Tips for Organizing Baking Sheets and Muffin Tins

There is nothing sweeter than homemade cookies, muffins, brownies, cakes…you name it! All baked goods are quite delicious. This time of year, baking goes into overdrive in many homes. Most of the time, cookie sheets, muffin tins and other essentials are buried in the back of the cabinet, and impossible to retrieve without removing half of the other kitchenware. This can be frustrating!

To save your sanity, it’s time to corral your baking essentials! Below are three ideas to give you peace of mind for the next time you bake those delicious treats.

  1. Vertical Sorter – Who says office organizing products have to stay in the office? Using this vertical sorter will allow you to hold your cookie sheets, cupcake tins, and cake pans in a better position to grab what you need and allow for easy retrieval. Most importantly, it is much easier to put them away!
  1. 4 Sort Divider – Have I told you how much I love The Container Store? There is something for every organization problem. Next time you’re in the store, pick up the 4 Sort Divider. It will keep your bakeware vertical, and makes it easier to grab the items you need.
  1. Adjustable Bakeware Organizer – This is another great solution for your bakeware. This product can be mounted either horizontally or vertically depending on your cabinet configuration and what you want to store.

These are just a few ways to organize your bakeware. Remember, sometimes we can get carried away and have too many tins, pans and cookie sheets, so it’s best to evaluate what you actually use, and purge the rest. If you have an old crusty cookie sheet, get rid of it! If you have bakeware you haven’t ever used, perhaps it’s best to put into storage to free your available kitchen storage space.

How do you organize your bakeware, and more importantly, what are you baking this holiday season?

Photo: kaboompics

Gifts for Neat Freaks

Posted on by Dawn Link Posted in Christmas, Gifts — No Comments ↓

Gifts for Neat Freaks

It’s that time of year again when I share my favorite gifts for people like me – neat freaks! I’m sure you have a friend or crazy aunt who has a mild obsession with being neat and organized. If you do, this list is for you. This year I focus on functional gifts. These are gifts your organized friends might not have thought of. These are also gifts that might be good for friends or family who are a bit disorganized. Hey, it never hurts to nudge them in the right direction!

  1. Furniture floor protectors – Furniture that wreaks havoc on hardwood floors can drive a neat person nuts! I recently helped a client of mine install these and I love them. They are so easy to install and they will last longer than other types.
  1. Fujitsu ScanSnap s1100 – I love my portable scanner! You can connect to it wirelessly or through a USB, and it scans multiple pages in minutes. Convenient to store and use – a win-win!
  1. thingCharger – Ahh, this gift is amazing and a must for anyone like me. It charges nearly any phone, tablet, or reader from any brand, and 2 or 3 at a time. You have to check it out.
  1. Armoire Makeup Organizer – Mirror, mirror! This is more than a mirror, but a storage gold mine. You can hang this unit over the door or directly on your wall. Now you have a place to store cosmetics, and a place to see how it looks!
  1. Flipfold – Perfectly folded shirts are a neat freak’s dream. With this gift, your friend or family member won’t have to work hard to get that perfect fold.

I hope this list helps find gifts for all of the neat freaks in your life. There are only days left until Christmas – go ahead, get your shop on!

Photo: Amazon

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Posted on by Dawn Link Posted in Thanksgiving — No Comments ↓

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

I wrote about giving thanks a couple of days ago, and now I want to thank you on this wonderful Thanksgiving day! Thank you to my clients and those who read my blog. Because of you I’m able to do what I love, and make a difference in so many lives. Know that I appreciate you, and enjoy your day with family, friends, and loved ones!

Photo: freepik.com

It’s Time to Give Thanks

Posted on by Dawn Link Posted in Thanksgiving — No Comments ↓

It’s Time to Give Thanks

Happy Thanksgiving week! Wow, I can’t believe Thanksgiving is just a couple of days away. I’m sure you’re busy putting your Thanksgiving Day menu together, cleaning the house and putting up festive decorations. But there is something you’re forgetting. Have you remembered to take the time to give thanks?

Showing gratitude cannot only make another person feel good, but there is strong correlation between giving thanks and your personal well-being. This Harvard Medical School article notes studies that have found this correlation.

As we near Thanksgiving, what are some ways that you can give thanks to the people closest to you? Here are a few suggestions to help you on your way.

  1. Send a handwritten note. When was the last time you sent one? Do you remember how you felt when you last received one? In our fast-paced, electronic driven world, the handwritten note is a novelty. Why not make someone’s day by sending a note thanking him or her for a way in which they helped you this year?
  1. Reflect on who you are grateful. Take some time to meditate or reflect on your life. This is an important step to your overall happiness and feeling of thankfulness. We are not alone in this crazy world, and focusing on those people who have helped you along the way can be beneficial for your overall wellbeing.
  1. Pay it forward. – Why not surprise someone like a helpful neighbor or work buddy with a homemade meal or flowers? Sending unexpected gratitude to a friend can go a long way. I also love the idea of showing kindness to a stranger. Whether it is buying a cup of coffee for the person behind you, or simply helping someone in need during the day. Kindness and gratitude can make the world a better place.

Photo: Oh My Handmade

National Fridge Clean Out Day

Posted on by Dawn Link Posted in Kitchen — No Comments ↓

National Fridge Clean Out Day

Your fridge is a very important part of the holiday season. It’s the keeper of food and drinks, and what’s more important than food and drink during the holidays? Okay, family and friends are more important, but food and drink is a close second.

It’s time to get that fridge in order! Today is National Fridge Clean Out Day, and the timing couldn’t be better as Thanksgiving is next Thursday. You are going to need your fridge space to hold those delicious Thanksgiving Day fixings.

The first step is to PURGE any expired items. That means old condiments, those leftovers lurking in the back, and anything you haven’t used for a while. After you remove these items and clean the inside of your refrigerator, it’s time to get organized. Below are a few fridge organization products that may help you.

  1. Fridge Bins – Sometimes smaller items can create clutter in the fridge. Contain these items with storage bins. Store all your yogurts, juice packs, meats, cheese, etc. in bins to keep like with like. Not only are your items more contained, but also now it is easier to grab and go.
  1. Fridge Shelf Liner – Oh my goodness, I can’t imagine life without these fridge shelf liners! I love that it makes for a smooth surface for pulling items in and out of the shelf. What a genius invention!
  1. Fruit Life Extender Liner – Want to save money by reducing food spoilage? These fruit life extender liners really work! They allow air to circulate around your fruit and keep it crisper longer.

There are many other fridge organization tips and tricks to ensure a clean and clutter-free fridge. This older infographic is helpful and shows you where you should store different food items. Additionally, this article features several fridge organization hacks!

What are your go-to fridge organization tips?

Photo: Buzz Feed

Do or Don’t – Wall Mounted Utility Holder

Posted on by Dawn Link Posted in DIY, Garage, Mudroom, Products, Storage — No Comments ↓

Do or Don’t - Wall Mounted Utility Holder

Cleaning products like brooms and mops are a must, but most of the time these can take up valuable space in a storage closet. They can also look sloppy sitting in a corner. Instead of using the horizontal space on the ground, it’s time to use the vertical space on the wall!

Enter the wall mounted utility holder. This is a wall organizer for brooms and mops that hangs these products on the wall. This is a tool that I do love as it nicely corrals your cleaning tools in one place. The only thing that you need is wall space to hang it!

This mop and broom holder on Amazon is great, as your cleaning supplies simply snap in position. In addition to being able to hang five different items, there are six additional hooks you can use to get other items off the floor.

This organizer could be used in many different rooms of your home. Aside from using it in the utility closet, you can use this in the garage to hold rakes and shovels, and even sporting equipment like hockey sticks and baseball bats.

This nifty item is definitely a DO in my book. Where in your home would you use this product?

Photo: Amazon

Happy Halloween!

Posted on by Dawn Link Posted in Holidays — No Comments ↓

Happy Halloween!

I hope everyone has fun Halloween plans! It the spirit of the spookiness that the season brings, I want to ask you one question: what scares you the most as you look around your house?

It’s Halloween and you shouldn’t be scared to look around your home unless you are planning a Halloween party. Halloween is a great time to look around your house and make a list of organizing projects you want to tackle before the holidays. After all, we have less than one month until Thanksgiving! Now, make a list of appointments in your calendar and plan to tackle these tasks. Have a spooktacular Halloween!

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