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Tip Tuesday: Apps to Help Clear Paper Clutter

Posted on by Dawn Link Posted in Apps, Eco-friendly, Paper Management — No Comments ↓

Apps to Help Clear Paper Clutter

Paper, paper, everywhere. We are living in a digital world, however there is still so much paper. And you know what? This paper is not going away anytime soon, which is why it’s time for you to tame your paper clutter. From business cards to receipts, there are many available tools to help you get organized. Below are my favorite digital apps that will aid in a paper-free house and workspace.

  1. Dropbox – This is a great starting point for someone who needs a digital home for his or her paper scans. Once you create an account, you can access your Dropbox from any of your mobile devices. That way, you can access your receipts or other documents from anywhere.
  1. NeatReceipts or Fujitsu ScanSnap – These are both great applications to use to scan in your paperwork. I think it depends on whom you ask and what device or operating system you are using. I have a client who has the ScanSnap iX100 wireless mobile scanner that she has this with her at all times. She told me recently that she was on a plane scanning in a bunch of papers so that she would have them available to her in her Dropbox at all times and eliminate the need to hold on to the paper.
  1. OneReceipt – This app allows you to scan in a receipt by photographing it with your mobile camera. The other helpful feature is that it pulls email receipts from Gmail or Yahoo Mail accounts and posts them in a visual dashboard, sorted chronologically.
  1. PaperKarma – This app allows you to scan your unwanted mail, and they contact the sender, and have you removed from their lists.
  1. Evernote – Instead of writing your notes and ideas on paper, store them on an app. This app allows you to keep everything in one place and you can virtually check goals and tasks off your list!

Do your research and dip your toe into the digital paperless world. Let me know how you like it and what you choose!

Photo: Woman’s Day

5 Things to do TODAY to get your kids ready for school

Posted on by Dawn Link Posted in Back to School, Children — No Comments ↓

Organizing for back to school

All of those snow days from last winter forced many schools to stay in session until the week before Fourth of July. It was a LONG year, folks. Whether you choose to believe it or not, the next school season will be here before you know it. Yikes! Instead of waiting until the last minute to get organized, start organizing your to-dos TODAY. Remember, doing small tasks each day will prevent a pile of to-dos. Below you can find five back-to-school organizing tips that will provide a bit of sanity before the madness begins (again).

  1. Adjust Sleeping Patterns – Sleep is needed. Sleep is deserved after such a chaotic year. Enjoy these lazy days of summer, but remember that the best thing you can do for yourself and your children is to acclimate to school hours as you approach the start of the year. A few weeks before the first day of school, gradually have your children go to bed earlier and wake up earlier. By doing this gradually, it won’t be such a jolt to their sleeping pattern.
  1. Organize and Purchase Clothes – Now is the time to go through your children’s clothes to see what needs to be purchased. Outgrown clothing can either be passed on to younger siblings or donated. Start this process with the oldest child so you have an idea of what clothes you can give to the younger ones. Then, make a list of the clothing you’ll need and budget for these purchases.
  1. Practice the Route – Will your children be walking to school, riding a bus, or carpooling to school? It’s important to do a practice run to see how long it takes to make sure they arrive on time. This is also a great emotional exercise for your kids if they are scared of leaving your side. If you are driving your kids to school, remember to take into account more traffic as you approach the school. It’s also good to instruct your kids on the official drop-off and pick-up locations.
  1. Create a Command Central – Create a central “hub” in the kitchen, mudroom, or another location that works best for your family. Put up a calendar (if you are a paper person) or select an electronic calendar that allows syncing across platforms (such as Cozi) and print out a week-at-a-glance. Use a color-coding system for each family member to make it easier to identify each individual’s schedule.
  1. Schedule Doctor Appointments – Pick up the phone and make all of your doctor appointments now. Most schools require a copy of recent medical examinations for athletes. Are your children’s immunizations up to date? Check on the school’s website to see what you need for September. It’s also a good idea to schedule your appointments. With the craziness of the school year, sometimes making time for yourself can get pushed aside.

Sending your loved ones off to school does not have to be a nightmare. Proper planning will ease the process!

Photo: Teach Hub

3 Ways to Manage Your Laundry Better

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

Organizing Laundry Room

Laundry. I’ll admit it’s not the most glamorous topic. Now, I know some people who love to organize (ahem, yours truly). I’ve met people who get a kick out of purging junk. But laundry? I’m not sure I’ve met anyone who absolutely craves putting dirty clothes into a dark, swirling hole.

That said we must discuss this topic. After all, we all do laundry, so why not learn how to make this task more efficient? Keep these three laundry organization tips in mind and save time and angst when doing your next load of laundry.

  1. Sorting – Save yourself the headache of sorting a big pile of your family’s laundry, and create two separate laundry baskets – darks and whites. Put laundry baskets in both the bedrooms and your bathrooms to make it more convenient for the dirty clothing to get stored away properly. The last thing you want to be doing is walking around a room, picking up dirty clothes!
  1. Timing – There are two schools of thought when doing laundry. Some people like to do laundry in one day; others like to do it as soon as there is enough for a load. I prefer the second method. Who has an entire day to devote to laundry? I throw a load in the washer, as I am getting ready for dinner. The washer is typically done by the time I am either done eating or done preparing. I either hang dry the clothes or put them in the dryer. By the time I am done cleaning up and ready to relax, the dryer is done and I can fold the clothes while watching something on TV. Ahh, the joy of multitasking!
  1. Putting clothes away – This is the biggest hurdle of doing the laundry for most. Now that the laundry is done, it’s time to put away your clothing. Putting away YOUR clothing is enough, so in order to save yourself time, teach your family members how to put away their own clothes. Label drawers or shelves to show them where their clothes should go. Additionally, we’ve all been taught to fold clothing, however I’ve discovered that rolling is best. Roll your clothes and put them in the drawer from front to back. The next time you’re looking for a shirt, it will be so much easier to find and you can bet it will be less wrinkled.

Photo: The Home

Tip Tuesday: 5 Tips to a More Organized Garden Space

Posted on by Dawn Link Posted in Garage, Garden — No Comments ↓

Garden organization

July is the heart of gardening season in New England. The tomatoes are starting to fruit, cucumbers are getting larger by the minute, and the squash is reproducing like crazy. It’s certainly wonderful to grow and harvest your own fruits and veggies, but sometimes gardening can wreak havoc on the shed, basement, or garage. Gardening tools are in five different locations, gardening soil is everywhere, and the pots are stacked high. It’s time to get your garden space organized! Here are five tips to help you on your way to a more organized gardening space.

  1. Set aside a designated space – Give your gardening supplies one central hub. Devote an area in your garage, shed, or basement to house all your gardening supplies & tools. The great thing is you don’t have to set aside a large chunk of real estate. It can be a small nook or small table that is just for your gardening needs.
  1. Use vertical space – Pegboard or lattice are great options when looking to maximize vertical space. Hang tools, or even small shelves to place small pots.
  1. Create a worktable – Sometimes the best worktables are the most inexpensive. Use adjustable sawhorses and a precut Formica countertop instead of purchasing a more expensive unit.
  1. Put together a portable tote – To save time, create a tote bag or another mobile solution to house gardening supplies. If you have a small garden, you can use a reusable grocery bag. For larger projects, you can repurpose a child’s wagon, a bucket, or wheel barrel.
  1. Keep it clean – One of the messiest parts of gardening is the potting soil. If you’re not careful, the soil can get everywhere. By keeping your potting soil in a plastic container, you can keep your gardening area clean, and even use the spillover soil!

Photos: Gardenista

PURGE IT! 3 Things You Should Purge Today

Posted on by Dawn Link Posted in Bathroom, Kitchen, Paper Management — No Comments ↓

organizing spices

It always amazes me how everyday household items can start to pile up. It’s like a weed that has multiplied throughout the yard! That’s why it’s important to take the time to – you guessed it – purge! This is the first post of a new series designed to help you purge unnecessary “stuff” that is either outdated, expired, or simply not of use.

Here’s how it works: I’ll give you three items that you should kick to the curb to create more space, and less clutter, around the home. Sounds great, right? RIGHT! Let’s get started. This month, the three items you MUST purge are: Nail polish, spices and bills!

Nail Polish – Once you open a bottle of nail polish, it’s good for two years. After a while, you’ll notice that the nail polish starts to change color, thicken and separate. If you see a bottle that looks unusable, toss it! Also, if there is a color that was once trendy, but now in question, it might be best to say goodbye. Be realistic of how many bottles you are actively using, and get rid of the rest. You’ll find that your bathroom drawer or cosmetic bin will have a lot more space!

Spices and Herbs – These technically don’t expire, however, the potency and flavor are affected as time goes on. According to McCormick, shelf life varies by type of herb or spice. The company states to use spices and herbs by the “best by” dates, and if that isn’t listed, use their general shelf life chart as a reference. Once you purge all of your old spices and herbs, you’ll make room for new delicious flavors.

Paper and Electronic Bills – Of course, you must pay your bills! However, how long do you need to keep your paid bills? Well, it depends. If any bill you are paying is then used as a tax deduction, it needs to be kept for as long as your accountant tells you to keep your taxes. Some people like to keep bills for a calendar year and then when January rolls around, they will purge their files and start new. Some don’t keep any at all. It really is all about your comfort level. The important thing to take away is that you can clear anything you deem old from your files, so you can make space for present day bills.

As an overall tip, if you are concerned about how long you have had an item, start putting a date on the bottom of the nail polish, spice, or any other item that doesn’t have a “best by” date for you to use as a guide.

Photo: Serious Eats

Happy 4th of July

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

July 4th organizing

Today we’re celebrating Independence Day in the United States. Give yourself the day off to celebrate. Attend a local parade, check out a fireworks display, or enjoy a picnic outside. Don’t forget to proudly fly your flag!

Photo: Cottage and Vine

3 Incredible Storage Solutions from Ikea

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

I’ve shared moving tips in previous blog posts, and there is some great advice surrounding how to execute the packing and moving into another home. One topic that generally comes up after folks move into their homes is storage, or the lack thereof. It can be frustrating to find a linen closet that is too small, or an office without a closet!

 

The great news is that we have an abundant selection of clever storage solutions at our fingertips through the brilliant minds at Ikea. If you just moved into a new space, and are stumped with how to store different items in a room, these three Ikea pieces will help you out.

IKEA kallax-shelving-unitPhoto: IKEA

KALLAX – The Kallax line at Ikea has several solutions for storage. It can be used as a room divider and an open or closed storage unit. I’ve seen this used in tiny New York City apartments to separate a living space from a bed. I’ve also seen this separate an office into two usable working spaces. Use each square wisely by adding coordinating baskets (BRANAS, or BLADIS,) or drawers (KALLAX drawers). Mix and max as needed.

IKEA TejenaPhoto: IKEA

TJENA – This storage solution line has magazine files and four different size boxes with lids. The Tjena boxes and magazine file holders are perfect for storing office supplies and files. You can also use these storage boxes in the bathroom or kitchen pantry to separate and categorize similar items together.

IKEA SorteraPhoto: IKEA

SORTERA – Making space for recycling can be an issue when you don’t have enough cupboard space in your kitchen or pantry. These are stackable and easy to clean, making them the perfect recycling solution. They can also be used in a child’s playroom to organize toys, or in a craft room to organize craft supplies.

Now, these are just a few storage solutions from Ikea, and you can bet there are a lot more. I’d recommend browsing their online catalog to see if you spot anything that might work for your space. Or, if you’re feeling ambitious and live near an Ikea store, pay the store a visit. You never know what storage solutions you’ll find, and even if you don’t find anything, the cinnamon buns are worth the trip alone.

5 Essentials for a First Aid Kit

Posted on by Dawn Link Posted in Car, Children, Family, Products, Safety — No Comments ↓

First Aid Kit Essentials

It’s summertime, and often that means there’s a greater risk of accidents. From playing in the yard to riding bikes, kids are taking the outdoors by storm, which means it’s imperative that your home and car are equipped with first aid kits.

You can purchase fully loaded first aid kids from the Red Cross Store or stop by your local drug store to see what they offer. I prefer to make my own. The benefit of doing this is that you can design your first aid kit for specific activities such as hiking or soccer.

Whether you buy a first aid kit or put one together on your own, make sure these essential, but not-so-obvious items are in place!

  1. Soap or hand sanitizer – If you’re out camping and need to tend to an open wound, soap or hand sanitizer will help prevent an infection from starting.
  1. First aid manual – You might run into an uncommon situation, in which case it’s important to have a guide to show you what to do. What good is having the essentials if you don’t know how to use them?
  1. Plastic bags – You want to make sure you’re maintaining a sanitary environment. Use plastic bags to dispose of any contaminated items.
  1. Disposable non-latex gloves – Make sure you have non-latex gloves, just in case someone you treat is allergic to this material.
  1. Tweezers – I’ve seen this one come up time and time again. Tweezers are oh-so important for removing splinters or ticks.

Additionally, you should include any personal medications and emergency phone numbers. Be sure to check the first aid kit regularly to ensure nothing is expired, and contents are in usable condition.

As we approach the Fourth of July holiday, make sure your first aid kit is in tiptop condition. Having a safety plan can help ensure a happier vacation!

Photo: Mummy in the City

Ways to Manage Household Finances

Posted on by Dawn Link Posted in Family, Finances — No Comments ↓

Ways to Manage Household Finances

It’s that time of year when those wedding bells start ringing! Oh yes, wedding season is here, and that means many will be starting out on the road of blending household finances. Today’s post goes out to those newlyweds who might be unsure of how to manage household finances. This is a tough topic for many, but it’s a conversation you must have with your significant other. Keep in mind that people have different schools of thought when it comes to this topic, so it’s important that you stay true to what works for you.

Below are a few tips to help manage your household finances:

  1. Option 1: Don’t change a thing – Simply divvy up the bills each month, and assign who will manage paying the rent/mortgage, utilities, and other bills each month. Keep track of monthly expenses through a shared Google document, and assign a day of the month when payments need to be issued to the other person.
  1. Option 2: Consider a joint checking account – Create one joint checking account where each person contributes the same amount. You can use this account to pay house-related bills such as rent/mortgage, utilities, groceries, entertainment, and other joint expenses. If there is a difference in what each person is making, instead of a 50/50 split, contribute a percentage based on salary. With a joint checking account, each person still has their own money to use on splurges without feeling like they have to justify the purchases. As a bonus, if the joint account and each individual account are at the same bank, online transfer is a breeze.
  1. Option 3: Going all in – If you’re comfortable and prefer streamlining the total household finances, create just one joint checking account. This will house all of your earnings, and you can pay all of your bills from this account. The advantage to this is you can easily track all finances in one place. On the flip side, if you have only one account, your partner can see all of your purchases, so planning a surprise might be more difficult.

After you’ve nailed down how you want to manage household finances, keep the financial conversation alive. It’s important to maintain a regular conversation about your finances so you’re both on the same page. Schedule a monthly meeting to discuss bills and long-term savings goals. By being transparent and communicative about finances, you can avoid surprises and set expectations.

Photo: Lifehacker

How to Catch a Buyer’s Interest When Listing Your Home

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

Tom & Joanne Team Buyers Interest in Your Home

Thanks to our guest blogger, Tom Matthews from Gibson Sotheby’s International Realty. Tom and his team mate Joanne Taranto assist a wide selection of home buyers and sellers in the Lincoln, Carlisle, Acton and Concord real estate markets.

When you want to sell your home, nothing is more important than appealing to prospective buyers. After all, you might have the nicest home in the country, but if no one comes to see it, you won’t get any offers. Some of the appeal of your home is innate to it–its size, location, and neighborhood–but there are still many things sellers can do to optimize their chances of making a good sale.

The first way sellers can make it more likely that buyers will come to visit the house might seem obvious. Make it possible for buyers to come tour your property when their schedule allows, within reason. Overly restrictive showing times may dissuade some potential buyers from previewing your property, which could impact the number of offers.

But what about the buyers who don’t have time to tour several homes in person? For those buyers it’s crucial that you make your home available online. As part of our service we list your home on the local multiple listing service and other real estate websites and make your internet listings shine with clear, enticing descriptions and plenty of well-staged, professional photographs. Give buyers the sense that they’ve visited your home and they might just fall in love before they even walk through the door.

Also, don’t underestimate the power of word of mouth. Let your friends and acquaintances know that you’re selling, and make sure to share your pictures with them, too. When holding a public open house it’s very common to see neighbors show up. This is okay! Your neighbors probably know a lot about your neighborhood and they may have friends and family looking for their own homes. And to attract the buyers who want to do a little window shopping before jumping into the market, make sure your front yard is tidy and attractive. Curb appeal is very important.

Of course it’s important to make sure your marketing is top notch, too. There are a lot of opportunities to market your property, some of which include postcards mailed to the neighborhood, print advertisements, advertisements on the web and social media, broker open houses and more. Every property is different, so it’s important to build a marketing strategy that’ll work for each listing.

The more prospective buyers who see your home, the faster it will sell. It’s as simple as that.

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