Blog – Page 30 – ReSolutions – The link to your organized future

RESET DAY – The Kitchen

Posted on July 28, 2016 by

Dawn Link Posted in Kitchen, Summer — No Comments ↓

The kids are out of school, and they have invaded all parts of the home, including the kitchen. In the summer, the kitchen can bring in a bunch of clutter with kids’ summer activities, snacks and meals around the kitchen, and a disorganized fridge. It’s time to take it back!

It’s time to get back to basics in the kitchen. After all, the kitchen is the hub of your home. During the summer, this can be a bit challenging since we all tend to have a “lazier” attitude when it comes to decluttering and organizing. (I know I feel this way!). Take back control of your kitchen with these easy steps!

– Clear the Counters – Take a look around your countertop space. Are there extra appliances that are rarely used? If so, now is a great time to find a better spot for them. If they are rarely used, place them in the lower cabinets, or in the pantry.

– Evaluate the Oils and Spices – Sometimes these cooking ingredients have accumulated on or near your stove. It’s easy for this to happen, especially if you cook often. Take ½ hour to wipe them down and return them to their proper storage spaces.

– Remove Mail and Paperwork – This happens all too often. Kids’ artwork crowds the counter. Mail is stacked on the island. Clutter, clutter, clutter. Gather that pile of papers, and go through it to see what is relevant. If needed, file the paperwork, or act on the action item.

– Tame your Refrigerator – Last, but not least, what is going on in your refrigerator? Make sure you don’t have science projects lurking in there. Wouldn’t it be a great time to take items out and wash down the shelves and get rid of anything that has expired? Also, we tend to accumulate more condiments during BBQ season, so be sure to ditch the old yellow mustard that has been hanging out in the fridge for a couple years.

As you go through this process, show the kids what you’re doing so they can help keep the space organized! Show them where to place their artwork, how to put away snacks and lunch food, and where to put their toys and other items! Before you know it you will have taken back control of the clutter and restored your kitchen to an inviting, calm area for you and your family. Now, doesn’t that feel good?

Photo: Real Simple

Tip Tuesday – 5 Tips for Managing a Home Improvement Project

Posted on July 22, 2016 by

Dawn Link Posted in DIY, Goals, Home Improvement — No Comments ↓

The summertime generally means many home improvement projects. From the outdoor space, to the indoors, there is always a never-ending list of to-dos. If you’re doing the projects yourself, big box stores like Home Depot and Lowe’s have knowledgeable professionals who can help you along the way. But sometimes there is that project that needs professional attention. Time to hire a contractor. Below are five tips for managing your home improvement project.

Create a Budget – I’m always preaching about budgets, and it’s no different for your home improvement project. Have a budget in mind before you even start talking to contractors and architects. This will help with the planning phase. Sometimes if a project is too costly, you can break it up into phases. For example, if you are redoing the master bedroom and bathroom, it might be a wise decision to do one in the springtime, and one in the fall.

Find a Reputable Contractor – Do your research before you hire your contractor. Word of mouth referrals are always the way to go, so ask friends and neighbors who they’ve used and their experience with the process. Be sure to interview three to five contractors before hiring.

Over-communicate – This is with written and verbal communication. Make sure everything you’ve agreed to is in writing in the form of an agreement that both parties sign. This should include pricing, as well as the exact details of the project. During the project, don’t be scared to speak up if you see something you don’t like. For example, if your contractor promised you one color of hardwood, and he started installing something slightly off, be sure to vocalize this. You don’t want to get through the install to realize he installed the wrong color!

Receive a Timeline – Be sure you agree to a schedule before the work starts. It is likely that the project will run over by a day or two, but that is normal. The contractor’s schedule will also help you plan around your work and home life.

Hold onto the Final Payment – Wait to make the final payment until you’ve had a chance to walk through the room with the contractor. You want to make sure the contractor has finished everything before delivering payment. If you pay it all before the list is complete, you may have a lot of trouble getting the final touches done.

If this is your first time hiring a contractor, this process can be a bit intimidating. The best advice is to do your research, and be assertive throughout the process! Give the contractor the space and respect to do their job, but remember that it’s your home and you need to ensure the job is being done properly!

Photo: Red Fin

Do or Don’t – Grocery Delivery Service

Posted on July 12, 2016 by

Dawn Link Posted in Groceries, Kitchen, Time Management — No Comments ↓

There are two camps when it comes to grocery shopping – those who absolutely love it, and those who adamantly hate it. For those who would prefer that they never have to walk through the frozen food section again, this article is for you. Today’s focus is on grocery delivery services – is it a do or don’t?

In the greater Boston area, we have access to a number of different grocery delivery services. This is a great idea for busy people, working moms, shut ins, people without a car, and those who do not like to grocery shop. The idea is simple: order online, and services like Peapod deliver your groceries right to your door. In addition to avoiding the grocery store all together, you will never fall victim to cravings as you walk down the aisle, and you will stick to your list! You will also save a lot of time shopping, waiting in the checkout lane, loading, and unloading your vehicle.

There are a few cons to think about. If you are really picky about brands, or if you like to selectively pick out your produce or meat, this might not be the best option for you. For example, we all have particular needs for produce. Do you want a ripe avocado for your meal tomorrow night, or an avocado a few days from now? With this service, you are at the mercy of the person shopping for you. If that isn’t an issue, great! I know a few people who use the service just for bulky items and staples but they shop for their own meat and produce.

All in all, I do think it is a fantastic option available when you just can’t get to a grocery store. I recently met a new mom, who works 40+ hours a week, who only has her groceries delivered. She said it’s a lifesaver!

I personally have not used this service, but I could see myself needing it if I was ever injured, or my schedule was unmanageable. I may be one of the odd ones, but I do love to grocery shop. I shop with a list (surprise, surprise!), which helps eliminate excess purchases. And I simply enjoy being in the store – it’s therapeutic in a way! What camp are you in when it comes to grocery delivery services?

Photo: patch.com

Happy 4th of July!

Posted on July 4, 2016 by

Dawn Link Posted in 4th of July, Holidays — No Comments ↓

Today is for celebrating our country’s independence and freedom. I hope you and your loved ones have a safe and happy day of celebrations, filled with delicious BBQ, and festive firework displays. Take the day off from any organizing project you are working on and enjoy your family and friends!

Photo: Praveer Sharma, Flickr Creative Commons

We’re Loving: Bankers Boxes

Posted on June 28, 2016 by

Dawn Link Posted in Books, Clothes, Moving, Office, Packing, Products, Storage — No Comments ↓

Before you read any further, know that I’m not bringing anything new and sexy to the table. Oh no, in fact, I’m talking about something your grandfather likely used to stay organized. Bankers boxes are a bit ‘blah’, but they pack a mighty punch when it comes to keeping a home or office organized.

I have been using them a lot with my clients. I love them because they are easy to put together, and they collapse when you are done with them. Simply fold them back up and save them for another day! These arrive with covers, thus stacking boxes is a major plus when it comes down to maximizing space.

I recently used a set of bankers boxes to help with swapping winter for summer clothes at a client’s home. She has a cedar closet where we store her off-season clothes and the closet is on another floor. I simply loaded everything in these boxes, and it made for fewer trips up and down the stairs.

I have also used these when helping clients declutter a room. We set up the boxes for a specific collection purpose such as donate, recycle, or go to another room. Then, when we are ready to distribute the items, it is faster to grab the box and go bring them to their proper room or ‘home’.

When a client is moving, I have used these to pack up photos and books. The great thing about the banker box is that they have punched in handles on both sides to make it easy to carry. Their size is perfect for books as they can’t get too heavy, and again, having the covers speeds up the process by not having to tape the boxes shut.

If you wanted to keep these boxes out in the open and use them for permanent storage, you can do that as well! I’ve seen people wrap these with colorful or patterned paper, and voila, you have storage that’s both functional and aesthetically pleasing. Worth noting, you can by boxes that look like bankers boxes at Ikea or Target, that appear to be more refined and prettier, however these boxes don’t easily break down, and should be used more for permanent storage solutions.

Do you have bankers boxes at home? If so, what have you used them for?

Photo: Walmart

Tip Tuesday: Organizing for Visual People

Posted on June 15, 2016 by

Dawn Link Posted in Desk, Office — No Comments ↓

If you’re a visual person, chances are you’ve found yourself in the shoes of many of my clients. Their office is organized, yet they find that they often lose track of hot button to-dos and important papers when they aren’t in front of them. Because of this, they tend to leave their to-dos in plain view so they don’t lose track of them, but their space isn’t large and their desktop starts to look messy with piles of paper in the open. Sigh.

Does this sound familiar to you? This is not an unusual situation. I work with a lot of clients who are visual. If we even think of putting the important papers away in a drawer, they will start to panic. If it’s not out in front of them, and they can’t see it, they fear that they may never find it again or they may never complete the task.

For my visual clients, it’s all about keeping what is out in the open organized. I create binders or use different colored file folders to differentiate the various tasks or projects for the different papers. One option is to have a hanging wall mounted file holder to contain your important papers. I’ve also seen people hang clipboards for each big project above their workspaces, so it is a constant reminder of the work that needs to be done.

For non-visual folks who loathe paper, I like to customize a system that will address their style of processing paper. Some clients have ADHD and are bothered by the extra stimuli of having papers out. For these folks, we make sure we create a system that allows them to know what they have to do, while eliminating the piles of papers.

There is an organization method for each type of person – visual, non-visual, or a hybrid of both. You can have an organized office even if you need to have your papers out in front of you. Don’t feel you need to hide your papers; you just need to develop a system that works for you. Do you have a visual desk organizing tip that works for you? If so, share in the comments below!

Photo: Style Me Pretty

Do or Don’t – Closet Organization Systems

Posted on June 7, 2016 by

Dawn Link Posted in Bedroom, Closet, DIY — No Comments ↓

We’ve all seen those beautiful California Closet commercials, glamorizing closet organization systems. The closets are spacious (so spacious!) and appear clean and clutter free. So dreamy, right? Well, I have been asked by clients which is better: purchasing a large-scale organizing system from places like California Closets or The Container Store, or, it is better to use a DIY approach. The answer is: it depends.

First, ask yourself these two questions:

Do you own your own home? If you do not own your home, investing in a closet system can be pricey. Why invest in something you can’t take with you when you leave?
Do you wear the items in your closet? I always have my clients evaluate their clothes to make sure what they have in their closets are the items they love and that they will wear. It doesn’t make any sense to invest in any closet system if you are only going to wear ½ of what is in the closet.

If you answered ‘yes’ to the questions above, take the next step and think about what your goal is for purchasing a closet organization system. Do you want to create more space? Do you want to create a functional shared closet space with your significant other? Once you know your goal, you’ll be able to better evaluate how much hanging versus shelf space is required.

Next, think about how you will go about getting these installed. How handy are you? For me, I don’t like doing handyman type tasks so I think it is better for me to hire someone to do this type of work. It will be cheaper in the long run as it will be completed in a time efficient manner. It is also best to bring in a professional organizer to help guide the process and set you up for success.

If you are handy, go for it! Using the Elfa system from The Container Store is customizable and supposed to be easy to install. You could also go the route of going to Lowe’s or The Home Depot and purchase their DIY closet system. If you have a large closet space that needs a lot of work, then perhaps a California Closet organization system is right for you.

The answer to this question depends on the person. The best advice I can provide is to know your goal and budget. By doing this, you’ll ultimately create a closet space that will make you smile!

Photo: California Closets

Tip Tuesday: How to organize a guest bedroom

Posted on May 17, 2016 by

Dawn Link Posted in Bedroom, Closet — No Comments ↓

As a Boston-based professional organizer, many of my clients have friends and family from out of state visit New England in the summer. After all, Boston and surrounding areas are so picturesque. It’s hard to beat New England as a summer vacation spot. Have you looked at your guest bedroom space lately? With Memorial Day approaching, here are a couple of suggestions to make it feel comfortable and yet functional.

Drawer space – Make sure you have designated drawer space for your guests. If you have a bureau in the guest bedroom, empty a few drawers for your guests clothing. Guests will feel more at home, and enjoy not having to live out of their suitcases.

Closets and wrinkle releaser – Nothing is worse than having wrinkled clothes because you aren’t able to hang up your items before you have to wear them. I love having a spray bottle of wrinkle releaser for those occasions when I need to wear something but don’t have time (or desire) to iron. It magically takes away wrinkles (just test spray it on a hidden spot to make sure it won’t stain your item). Your guests will thank you when they see proper hanging space, hangers, and a bottle of wrinkle releaser.

Toiletries – Hotels have the basic necessities in their bathrooms, and it’s a nice touch when your guest bathroom has the same. Toiletries to consider include shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, toothbrushes, dental floss, body cream, and other items you know your guests typically forget. Having these already out in the bathroom will also mitigate having to crawl out of bed to hunt for these items. One simple trick is taking a clear glass container with a lid, and filling it with sample size toiletries. Place this in the bathroom or in the guest room. When your guests see this container they’ll know they have access to those items.

Suitcase rack – Some guests may prefer to not unpack and need a spot for their open suitcase to sit. As suitcase racks fold, it is not a big burden to have them available for guests. When not in use, you can tuck these in your closet or under the bed.

Good reading light – I love to read before I go to sleep. Having a bedside table lamp is such a gift to me when I am traveling. Nothing feels worse than having the only light source as an overhead light. Even if you have a floor lamp near the bed, that will allow the person to turn the light off without having to get up out of bed and turn off the overhead light.

Do you have any tips for making a guest bedroom feel more comfortable and functional? If so, I’d love to see your tips below!

Photo: Sarah Jayne Photography

PURGE! Socks, Swimsuits and Undergarments

Posted on May 10, 2016 by

Dawn Link Posted in Clothes, Family, Laundry — No Comments ↓

It took a while for the weather to warm up, but summer is around the corner. And that means, beach and pool weather! For this month’s PURGE! category, let’s look at your family’s drawers of swimsuits. Even better, let’s include socks and undergarments, too. Clear out the old, and make room for new items you might need this summer.

Swimsuits – Most people can look into their swimsuit drawer and find swimsuits from five or more years ago, just sitting there wasting space. If worn frequently in chlorine-infused pools or at the sun-and-salt-filled beach, swimsuits can lose elasticity and fade quickly. Do the bathing suits from last year fit? When you tug on the elastic, does it stretch out? How many do you need? These are all great questions to ask yourself as you handle each family member’s swimsuits.

Socks – This is an ever-challenging problem for a lot of my clients. How is it that we wear two socks, but end up with only one after the wash? Time to go through your socks to get rid of socks without a match, ones that have holes in them or are so dirty you would be embarrassed to have to take your shoes off in public.

Undergarments – Like socks, there is no need to keep undergarments around that are dotted with holes, have no elasticity or don’t fit. Remember when your mother told you to make sure you are wearing clean underwear in case you are ever in an accident? Well, there’s no time like the present.

After you go through this exercise, you’ll find that your drawers are less cluttered, and you’ll never grapple with the agony of looking for that other sock. Now, make a list of any replacements you might need, and go shopping!

Photo: Good Housekeeping

A Big Cheer For Moms!

Posted on May 5, 2016 by

Dawn Link Posted in Family, Time Management — No Comments ↓

Being a mom is a tough job. Although I wasn’t blessed to be one, moms wear many, many hats. My own Mom was hardworking. Looking back, I see how hard she worked to fit in all of the tasks that came with motherhood, while working part time as a registered nurse.

In celebration of Mother’s Day, I’m focusing on my favorite organizing tips that I have heard from moms that I work with.

Say no more often. This is hard to do, but it’s important to put you and your family first. We all have the same amount of time in a day, and you physically can’t do it all. Prioritize important family goals, and if you have spare time to give, then and only then, do you say yes to outside requests.

Get up before the rest of the family. If you set your alarm for 15 – 30 minutes before everyone else, you have the opportunity to get yourself ready, and then make breakfast, help little ones get ready to leave the house, and perhaps even start dinner prep. The Fringe Hours offers great advice about how to make time for yourself, to ensure a proper amount of YOU time.

Use a timer. You can use a kitchen timer, or you can use your smart phone to set a specific time to keep you on track. This will ensure you’re not late for appointments. When it’s chaotic in the home, a friendly reminder it’s time to leave is always helpful.

Have a to-do list. Take advantage of your “fringe hours” to create a to-do list for the day or week. Whether it is on paper or electronic, managing a to-do list helps set priorities and clear your mind for other important items. Why try to remember what you need to do? The best part? Deleting or crossing off the tasks you get done!

Schedule time for yourself. You need to recharge otherwise you won’t be good to anyone if you are running yourself ragged. Schedule ME time. Whether it’s an hour a day, or an entire day each week, you deserve time to decompress and recharge. Put yourself in your calendar for an hour of ‘me’ time and don’t let another appointment or request cause you to delete it. Go for a walk, get a massage, read in a quiet place or just veg. You and your family will benefit from this respite.