Tip#1 – Have a bin ready to go for all your lunch ingredients! I have one bin that includes; bread, peanut butter, and snacks just designated for the school lunch. This bin is so handy, instead of grabbing all the ingredients and wasting time, you just have to grab the bin with everything in it, make the lunch and place back into the pantry until next time!

Tip#2 - Go green with your lunch box! There are wonderful products out there to use in the lunch box, get rid of the plastic sandwich bags and go green… Have a few containers on hand, so you are not having to do the dishes everyday.   Pete Wright from Taking Control, The Home Organizing Podcast highly suggests Goodbyn.com.  This product looks great!  Instead of having a lot of different pieces, you have one box, one lid!  Check it out!

Tip#3 - Have a drop off for the lunch box! Just like the backpack, make sure your kids know where to drop off the lunch box!  It saves time in the morning looking for it and then finding old food! Yuck!  It’s happened to us and it’s not fun!  Make sure they drop off the box after school, so you have plenty of time to clean it and get it ready for the next morning!

Tip#4 - Explore different recipes and get out of the rut of PB & J! I have found some great websites with different recipe ideas and tips for healthy lunches.  It breaks the monotony of the same old, same old stuff!  Here are my favorites!

• Kaboose.com
• DisneyFamilyFun.com
• Allrecipes.com

If you have any additional tips that makes your life easier, please share!  The more the better!

Happy Organizing!

Depending on the grade of our child, there is a good possibly they will have homework from day one!  The best thing you can do is to be prepared and make sure you child has everything they need, when they need it. It will save time and keep them focused on the homework and not trying to find their pencils and erasers!

You can set up a homework station in a variety of ways.  The student could have their own desk in their room or in a common area in the home.  If they like to do their homework in different rooms around the house, a portable desk may be a good option.  The study space should be a place where the student can think, focus, brainstorm, and if set up correctly, should make doing homework a little less painful!

These are the essentials you need no matter how the work station is set up:

• Kids will not work in a station if it’s not user friendly.  You must get their opinions and thoughts about how to best set up a workspace.
• You want the station to have storage space and surface space, they need to have enough space to store all of their supplies, printer, computer, paper etc.  You need to have the surface area to write, cut, paste etc.
• Good lighting- It’s hard to do your best work if you can’t see what you are doing!
• Make sure the student is comfortable- if they don’t like their desk chair, they will never sit it in.
• Let me them put personal touches around their workspace – just like if you were working in a cubicle, you want around you the things that make you happy.
• Include a bulletin board and calendar to the workspace – they need to see deadlines and bulletin boards are a great way to post reminders and other information your student may need. (Teach the child to go through the bulletin board on a weekly basis, so it doesn’t fill up with paper clutter)
• Make sure the station is stocked with everything they need!  Nothing is worse than finding out you used the last staple.  Keep up on the inventory of supplies!

Happy Organizing!

Your children are going to need a place for their coats, hats, mittens, backpacks, lunch pails, shoes, and anything else that may come home with them!  If you designate the same place every time, it will eliminate the running around in the mornings trying to find the missing shoe!

This is an easy organizing system to put into place in your home as long as you teach your children what is expected from them.  You want the kids to put their jackets on hooks, make sure the hooks are at their height, make placing shoes in a bin or a rack easy and painless.  Have a basket or bin accessible for the mittens and hats.

Make the drop off place as convenient and easy as possible to ensure success!

Practice!  Before school actually starts, do a run through with your kids, and if there is anything that needs to change, now is the time to do it!

Happy Organizing!

Back to School!

Ready or not, school is just around the corner!  For some of you around the country, it may have already begun!  If you have any lessons learned this season, please share your wealth of information! We are always looking for tips to make our lives easier!

I will be the first to admit I am not ready to let go of summer.  However, I do know it’s better to be prepared and plan for this upcoming season change.  If you are not organized during this time, it can easily turn into chaos with a lot of frustration and stress!

So what can we do to make this time less stressful?  Organized.com is one way for sure!  The Back to Campus webpage is a great resource for great products and information all of us can learn from…

Here are just a few of my favorite articles and products:

How to Prepare for the First Day of Preschool

How to Pack the Perfect Lunch

Locker Organization

The Dorm Store

The Dorm Checklist

More Back to School Posts our on the way.. Visit our Back to School Central Link… This will take you to all the blog posts related to Back to School plus more products I recommend to get your season off right!

Happy Organizing!

Storage Ottoman

This is a great product for a living room, it doubles as an ottoman, however you can place blankets, board games, video game equipment and other items for extra storage. I have also seen these kinds of ottomans in the hallways at front entrances to use as shoe bins. You could have your coat rack hung up above. It’s an attractive way of keeping your shoes hidden, yet you can use the ottoman to put your shoes on! This product is available at Organize.com.

Leaning Bookcase and Desk

What I love about this kind of product is it at so many uses. You can use it as a bookshelf, a place to put your mementos and it as a small desk area with a smaller size storage ottoman.

When you are working with small spaces, it is important to look up, floor to ceiling and look for the potential! This product is available at the Container Store. The elfa system at the Container Store gives you fabulous options on shelving that is freestanding like this one or custom built onto your wall.

When working in small spaces, you do not have any room to spare. So before buying any kind of new system, make sure you have really thought about your needs and what you really want in your home!  With any Organizing Product, make sure you measure your space first!

Under the Bed Storage!

These are Bed Risers!  You can find them at Organize.com. Basically they do exactly what they say, they lift up your bed just enough for extra storage.  The storage bin to the right is the perfect size for underneath your bed.  You want something flat but big enough to hold out of season clothes and other items you do not need on a daily basis but need to keep in your home. Make sure just like any space in your home, this storage area actually has a purpose, avoid shoving items under the bed and think “out of sight, out of mind”. You have to be very mindful when working in small spaces.

Stacking Shelves!

Again, when working in small spaces, you have to utilize your vertical space. By using stackable shelves, you are creating space in your kitchen cupboards and pantry.  Both of these shelves are available at Organize.com.

If you have any other items to suggest, please let us know!

Happy Organizing!

In Monday’s Podcast we talked about Garage Organizing.  For many of us the garage becomes the place where unwanted items tend to accumulate.  Maybe you no longer want the item in your home or maybe your intention is to donate the items but you just haven’t found the time to do so.  In a recent blog post, A New Perspective, we talked about how we can become numb to our surroundings.  The same idea goes with our garages and other storage areas.  You become so used to seeing it, you actually stop seeing it and go on with your normal day to day business.  You avoid making the decision that needs to be made.

In working with clients who are downsizing, I have seen a lot of items left from their children.  These kids are now adults and many have children of their own.  It could be an old dresser, an old rocking chair, old toys or a toy chest.  These items are hard to let go of because they hold a certain memory or time in their lives they do not want to part with.  Logically you know the item is not being used nor will it probably ever be used, but you just are not sure what to do with it.  Does this sound familiar?  It may not be your exact story but it might be close to what you are going through.

I have a couple of suggestions.  First, if the item belonged to an adult child, ask them if they want it… Give them a timeline of when they need to pick it up by, if they don’t want it or do not pick it up within the reasonable amount of time then go on to my next suggestion…

Take a picture of the item and then let it go. This is a great solution to those who scrapbook, you can take a picture and journal in your scrapbook what the piece means to you, your memories of it, etc.  If you don’t scrapbook, you can still take a picture and go back to it later and recapture the memory.  The picture is your reminder!

You actually can use this strategy with a lot of different items in your home, which hold some kind of memory. For example; take a picture of your child with his favorite toy or a favorite outfit, then when they outgrow the toy or the outfit, give yourself permission to let go of the item.

You do not need to keep the item, to keep the memory!

Happy Organizing!

With children in tow or maybe you work out of your car, our cars can sometimes be and is a dumping ground for many things!  If I don’t make a conscious effort to keep my car clean, then in a matter of days it can become filled with baseballs, toys, books, garbage etc!  I have come up with some tips and tricks on how to Organize your car and maintain it!  It’s not magic, it does take time, but I find it is well worth it!

Car Organizing Tips:

1.  Ask yourself, what needs to be in your car?  This is especially important if you do a lot of work out of your car.  What office supplies needs to be in there, if you have kids, what essentials need to be in your car.

2.  Evaluate your current system in organizing your car.  What do you struggle to find?  Keep this in mind when figuring out where items are going to go.

3.  Take everything out of your car and separate into piles.  1)  Stuff you use all the time, 2)  Things you use occasionally, 3)  Things you need in an emergency.  Anything left over gets placed outside of the car.

4.  Clean your car inside and out.  Start your organizing project with a clean slate.

5.  Place like items together.  Go through your piles and place them where they make the most sense in your car.  For example; emergency kits can be placed in the back of the car, hand santizer and tissues should be in the front console.

6.  How many CD’s do you need in your car?  Start up a new rule with yourself, if you add 3 new CD’s, make sure to take 3 out.

7.  Try to keep items off of the floor.

8.  Look into Car Organizers- they have great solutions for over the seat and the trunk of cars.  These are great storage solutions for keeping like items together and in one place.

9.  Keep an extra tote bag to carry items from car to home.

10.  Create a new rule –  if you carry something into the car – you must carry it out.

11.  Have  a trash bag in the car and empty it regularly.

12.  Make a monthly appointment to clean your car.

Happy Organizing!

I am so excited to announce,  Taking Control- The Organizing Podcast!

We have been working on this idea for some time now and it is finally a reality!  In today’s busy world we don’t always have time to read a blog post or do the research necessary to do to tackle a project. Now there’s a different way to get the same great information!  Subscribe to TCO’s podcast through iTunes and all you have to do is listen to your iPod!  At your convenience, put on the ear phones and take a listen while your doing the dishes, the laundry, or when your stuck in traffic!

Every week you will get a new episode tackling some kind of project or question!  The best news yet…. I want to gear these podcasts to what you need! So if you have an idea for a show, or need some tips on a project, email me, and let me know… Who knows, it may just be the next topic!

What to expect from Taking Control:

• A lively conversation with Pete Wright and myself… Who is Pete Wright? Pete is the Producer of the show and more importantly the face behind my website. I consider him a partner in my business and a huge influence in developing and telling the story of Take Control Organizing!
• Tips, tricks, and solutions to your everyday organizing issues
• One new episode per week
• Each episode will range anywhere from 10 minutes to 25 minutes (I know you don’t have a lot of time and I want to use it wisely)
• You get an insider look at how I work with clients and get to know me!
• A whole lot of fun mixed in with great education!

I hope you join me in my journey into podcast land!  It should be a lot of fun and I look forward to tackling your issues.  If you have an idea, send me a note on my contact page, or email – nikki@takecontrolorganizing.com.

You can catch the first episode now… The Office Closet!

iTunes Audio RSS Audio
Happy Organizing!

The article, Get Your Home Office Organized, is about giving your desk a makeover.  Something we all should do from time to time!  Just this past weekend, my husband and I cleared our office and recycled 2 bags of paper! No matter how organized you are, you always need to do a purging session every now and then!

When you get busy, and in our case we both share the same space, you must maintain the organization by taking time to file, purge, and rework your system.  It makes a difference.  It felt so good to get the office back to working for us and not against us!

Happy Organizing!

1. Junk Drawer Organizer – A must for keeping your junk drawer contained.  It’s a great way to find what you need when you need it!

2.  Plastic Wrap / Tin Foil Organizer -  If you have the space in a pantry or cupboard, this is a great tool in keeping those long wraps under wrap!

3.  Lazy Susan- This is a great organizing tool pretty much anywhere in your home but it is particullary helpful in the kitchen.  By keeping all like items together it’s easy to turn and go right to what you need!

4.  Freezer Containers – This is a product I have used for clients in the past.  It helps contain like items together in your freezer.  It keeps it all together but because it’s wire like, you can easily see everything too.

5.  Baking Pan Divider – This is a great way to organize the muffin pans, baking sheets etc.  Sometimes it can become a real mess and difficult to pull things out when you need them.  Not with this system, it keeps them organized and easy to get!

There are so many great products out there and it’s very easy to get ahead of yourself and buy before you know what you need. Remember to take measurements of the space and only buy it if you will use it!

Happy Organizing!

No matter how big or how small your area is there are some essentials in every utiltiy area. If you have anything to add to the list, please share!

Trash can – For the tags, dryer lint, and the misc. trash you may find in pockets.  I was surprised how convenient it is to have a trash can in your utility area.  I believe it is a must have!

Bins to contain laundry supplies- Depending on your space, these can come in all shapes and forms.  The point is to keep all like items together in one spot.  For example one bin may contain all stain removers, one bin may be all laundry detergents.

Lazy Susan – Can be very useful in utility rooms for items used frequently.  It is an alternative from using a bin.

Think up- If you are working in a small space, look up, adding a couple of shelves can really make a difference in your storage space.

Think thin- The portable stacking shelves to the right can easily fit in between the washer and dryer.  It doesn’t take much space, however you can fit all of the essentials.

Sorting Hampers – If you have the room, sorting hampers can contain your laundry.  Rather than having a bunch of clothes on the floor, you can sort and put them in the hampers.  If you are not able to finish all of the laundry like planned, it looks more contained and tidy.

Hanging Rack – You can buy inexpensive hanging racks for your utility room and then when you are done they fold easily in between the washer & dryer.

Iron Organizer - You can find these that go on the back of the door or on the wall.  Very handy to keep the iron and board together, without taking up a lot of space.

There are many great products available.  The most important thing before buying product is to assess your needs and your space. Measure and know what is going into the product then buy.

All of the products shown can be found at The Container Store.

Happy Organizing!

What is the Great Organizing Giveaway? Organizers compiled  a number of different items to be given away.  This event is open to anyone who wants to be more organized!   It doesn’t matter where you live, many of these gifts are downloadable from your computer.  Participates are able to sign up to get FREE e-books, audio downloads, organizing tip sheets, complementary consultations, and much more!

There is great information for almost any aspect of organizing you may be looking for. Take Control Organizing has contributed an e-book, titled; ” Getting Started: 10 Key Principles You Need to Know Before Starting Your Organizing Journey!” This e-book is available on my website.

Here are just a few of the items to look for:

• Getting Things Done- How to set up chores
• 9 strategies for Simplifying your Life today!
• 112 tips to Organize Your Workday
• Mess is stress!
• Finally Filing Made Easier
• It’s Time… Stop Procrasinating Now!
• Timely Tax Tips
• 51 Creative Organizing Solutions Found in Every Day Items
• Getting Started: 10 Key Principles You Need to Know Before Starting Your Organizing Journey!
• And Much, Much More!

Happy Organizing!

I highly recommend it for any parent, who is looking for tips and ideas from a real parenting coach who can specifically give you ideas on issues you are having in your home.  Parenting is hard and at times can be very frustrating.  I learned new techniques to use with my children that has kept the calm in our household.  The best part of the series was being to able to talk to other moms.  We all had stories to share and we all learned from each other.  Click here for more information about upcoming tele seminars.

After the series was over, Susan asked if I would be a guest blogger for her blog. Of course I was honored and my first post came out this morning.  Controlling the Toy  Chaos! If you have kids, you have toys, which often means chaos.  Here are some great  tips on how to contain the chaos, it won’t ever go away, but we can make it easier to live with! Enjoy!

Happy Organizing!

In today’s world, we all want to save money.  Putting just a few organizing systems in place in your home can achieve this goal! This will not only save you money, but you save you time.

1.  Create a system for your bills-  Have you ever paid a bill late, because you can not find it?  I have.  And it’s frustrating.. Have one place where all the bills go.  For us it’s a file on our desk that says “Bills To Pay”.  Go paperless- pay bills online, do automatic deposits, look at your options, ask your bank for details.

2. Stop buying repeat items- being organized means knowing what you have and where it’s located.  This is especially true for the grocery store.  If your refrigerator and pantry are organized, then doing a quick inventory check before heading to the store will be easy.  Have an ongoing list for items you run out of it, again not forgetting anything but not buying what you don’t need.  I have found planning a weekly menu for dinners is a great saver of money.  I only buy what I need for those meals, no more wasted food.

3.  Gift Cards- Have one central place for gift cards.  Many people forget they have them or loose them. You could use a special box, a drawer, a file, something so every time you receive a gift card it goes in there immediately. There is never any second guessing on where it could be.

4.  Create a budget- Know your money and where it’s going.  Know how much it costs to run your household and how much extra you have.  Knowing your money will help prevent buying unnecessary purchases.  And everything you do buy, think about it where it’s going in your home.  Every item in your house needs to have a place to live.

5.  Sell your “Stuff” – There are many ways to sell your items.  Craigslist, eBay, consignment shops, garage sales.  Clean it up and present it well and you’ll make an extra buck or two.

Happy Organizing!

Children grow up so fast!  I remember people telling me this when my first child was just born.  At the time, especially during those sleepless nights, I wasn’t really sure I believed them!  Here we are now, 7 years later, and boy do I believe them!  I am reminded of this often, when I see my son or daughter walking down the stairs in pants that look about 2 sizes too small…  ”Wait, didn’t those just fit, last week?”  Crazy!

Keeping on top of the growth spurts can be challenging… Here are some tips to make it a little easier:

1.  Periodically, whether it’s seasonal or every 6 months, go through the closets, dresser drawers and sort out the outgrown clothes.  There is no reason to keep them in the room.  Don’t forget about the PJ’s, socks and underwear!

2.  It’s helpful to put clothes away as you notice they are too small. If you are doing a load of laundry and you notice these are the shrinking pants, take care of it then, don’t place them back into their room.

3.  Have a place to put the clothes, a bin designated for donation.

4.  Be choosy about the clothes being passed on to younger siblings or family members. Keep only the ones in good shape.  Place clothes by size in a clear labeled container with a secure lid to prevent damage in storage.

5.  When organizing children’s clothes, organize by type of clothing.  Double rod hangers are great to utilize the space in a closet and kids love the access to their clothes.  With this said, I have gone into my daughters room before, and all of the clothes are off the hangers!  This is a great time, to teach them how to hang back their clothes.

6.  Use the dresser for clothes like PJ’s, Pants, Shorts, Undergarments.   Teach your kids where the clothes belong.  At a very young age, they can help you put their clothes away.

7.  Have a hamper in their room. Get them in the habit of putting their dirty clothes in there every single time.

Donation Resources:  Every town has the Goodwill’s and St.Vincent De Paul, but there are other organizations who need donations, especially for children.

In the Eugene / Springfield area, here are some of my favorites:  CASA of Lane County, 541-984-3132, White Bird- 541-342-8255, and Relief Nursery, 541-343-9706.

Check with your local schools and churches, often times they will take donations as well.

Happy Organizing!

Trading chaos for freedom!

I decided to share with you my top 5 favorite items for the year 2009!  These items range from one very small helpful organizing gadget that works in every home, to a more complex computer program to help organize your “To Do” list…

1.  The Hit List – This changed my life!  I love this program… I already wrote a blog post about it and it’s worth mentioning again!  If you haven’t already checked it out, you need to!  It’s free to download for now!  But who knows this could change… it’s that good!

2.  The Family Calendar ( Erase Board ) – At the beginning of the school year, I bought a weekly dry erase board that is hanging in my kitchen.  Every Sunday, I write our family schedule for the week.  It’s color coded – work schedule in green, kid activities in blue, family is in red.  I love being able to see a week in advance and I love seeing a visual of what is going on during the day.  Next to the calendar, we also have a bulletin board, which consists of our chore chart, rules of the house, school lunch menu, and a few art projects!

3.  Lazy Susan – This is the small organizing gadget which is oooh so helpful!  I often tell my clients to use these for medicine cabinets, pantry’s, bathrooms.  Really anywhere.  It’s a great way to contain like items together with easy access.  I currently use mine for our medicines.  If I have a headache, I turn this around until the Excedrin is in front of me!

4.  Shoe Organizer in Hall Closet to Store Hats and Mittens! This is great, because they are slim, so they do not take up a lot of space, and just knowing where all of the hats, mittens, and scarves are saves so much time.  This is a perfect example of having one product but using it in different ways!

5.  Ornament Organizer- This is such a great invention… No longer are the days where ornaments are broken or scratched.  This handy case carries several ornaments, and there is flexibility with the dividers depending on the size of the ornament.

What were your favorite items for 2009?  Was there a particular product or system instilled in your home this year that made such a difference you can’t imagine how you ever lived without it?

Please share!  We would love to hear from you!

Happy Organizing!

The downside to loving to read… is the paper clutter that accumulates in your home!  This is often a problem I see with my clients as well as something I have to keep at bay in my own home!

Here is a 4 step plan on how to contain and best organize your magazines!

1. Decide where incoming, unread, current magazines are going to land when they arrive. Having one spot will eliminate any from getting lost and will save you time from searching for your most current issue!  And remind you to take the time to read if you start to see this space filling up! This location could be a magazine holder in your office, your living room, or a basket somewhere.  Just make sure this is the only item kept in this space. Keep your magazines separate from your other mail.

2.  Decide where magazines are going to go if you are currently in the middle of reading one! This could be on a nightstand in a bedroom or a coffee table in a living room.  Limit the number of magazines in this space.  You don’t want it to look cluttered.  Keep 2 to 3 at the most.

3.  As you are reading, if there are articles you would like to save, clip and place in a file or a binder. Separate your articles by category.  For example for all new recipes to try- place in a cooking binder or file, for decorating and organizing ideas, place in a home file or binder for future reference.  You do not need to keep the whole magazine.  Clip as you read! This way you will not forget where the article was.

If you do have certain magazines you like to save for whatever reason, organize by title, year, and month with magazine holders, (Container Store) placed on a shelf. Be realistic on how many years you need to save and for what reasons are you saving them for.  So much information can now be found on the internet. Only keep the ones that really give you the most value!

4.  When you have completed the magazine – recycle! Have a bin or a basket for these to land.  This way you know you are through with them.  If you like, give them to other people to share or take them to your local library, doctors offices etc.

This is a system which works great for me… What works great for you?  Do you have challenges with your magazines?  What are they?  I would love to hear your ideas and comments…

Happy Organizing!  Happy Reading!

1.  If you haven’t already, I highly recommend getting bins that are color coded for each holiday.  It was very nice to go into my storage space and know the black and orange bins had Halloween decorations rather than going through several random boxes.

2.  As you are deciding what to put up, think about what you didn’t put up last year, and have no interest in putting up this year.  These are the items to donate!  And now is the time to do it, while the season is still in season.

3.  If you have items you do not want to put up but you do not want to get rid of them because of sentimental purposes, consider taking a picture of the item.  This holds on to the memory for you without actually having to hold on to the item.

4.  If you have children in your home and you have extra decorations, let them decorate their rooms or a special space in the home just for them.  I did this with my kids and what a hit!  I found my son sleeping with a plush pumpkin last night!

5.  Final Thought in Review—Just because you have it doesn’t mean you have to put it up!  Pick the items you like the best and have the most meaning.  Donate the rest!

Happy Organizing and Happy Decorating!

We all have them - The Junk Drawer! There is good reason why it is called a Junk Drawer!  Most of the time, junk is exactly what goes into it!  We waste so much time looking for items we know we have but can not find! Stop using the Junk Drawer as a dumping ground and start giving it purpose!  Heres how you do it……

1.  Empty it!  Clean out the drawer and start throwing out the trash.

2.  Peter Walsh recommends:  Put everything in a box, and then for the next month, every time you use an item put it back in the drawer, at the end of the month, get rid of what’s left in the box.  Noble idea!

3.  Decide what you really want in this drawer, get rid of the things that do not belong!  For example, in my drawer we had a lot of little screws, I asked my husband if we had a reason for them to be here?  No reason, therefore they were moved to the garage with all of the other tools and supplies!  What kinds of things should go in this drawer?  It depends on your household, for my family it’s the basics like pens, pencils, sharpener, take out menus, tacks, etc.  But everything has a purpose, a reason for being there, don’t use this drawer as a place for items without a home.  What happens, is they stay there and more clutter builds up.

4.  If you can’t figure out what something is in less than 3 minutes?  Toss it.

5.  For drawers like this, I highly recommend using drawer organizers / dividers.  You want to categorize your items and place them in the sections of the organizers. Their job is to section the large open space into small, defined compartments, helping create permanent home for things.  It will help you maintain the organization and it will be easier to find items.  They are inexpensive and can easily be found at Walmart, Target, Container Store, and Office supplies stores.

I recently went to a Tupperware Party at a friends house and I thought what a great idea for my next post! How to best organize your pantry! Whether you use tupperware or other storage containers, having an organized pantry will save you time and money!  How many of you have bought repeat items, because you didn’t realize you already had 4 cans of Kidney beans?  Or spent 15 minutes looking for something you know you have but can not find!  Just like any other space in your home, everything in your pantry needs to have a home! A home where it lives and a home where it can be returned too when finished!  Here are my Top Ten Organizing Tips to get your Pantry working efficiently for you!

1.  Take everything out - and throw away anything that has expired.  If you have food that is not expired but do not plan on using- donate to a homeless shelter or a church.

2.  While taking items out - categorize the food – keep like items together. Separate into groups- all baking items, canned veggies & fruits, soups, cereal / breakfast items, etc.

3.  Clean shelves

4.  Before placing items back into pantry - decide where everything should go.  Draw it out on paper if you need too.  Put heavily used items out front- things you eat everyday.  Other items can go towards the back or on higher shelves.

5.  Keep items within reach for the people using them.  If you want your children to have access to their snacks, make sure there is a bin of snacks available on their level.

6.  Contain your food.  Tupperware, storage containers, lazy Susan’s, and pantry shelves are great for keeping your pantry clutter at bay.  (All the below products can be bought at the TCO store- Look for TCO Recommends!)

7.  If you have several boxes of granola bars or such, take them out of the boxes and store them in plastic see through containers.  If you are storing flour, sugar into tupperware containers – make sure to label them.

8. Stock heavy items towards the bottom- to prevent any injury.

9.  When you are done organizing the pantry- go through it with your family, so everyone knows where items have been placed.

10.  Keep a notebook and pencil nearby- keep track of your grocery list so there is no more repeating purchases!

Happy Organizing!

Fall is officially here!

I love Fall!  It is my  favorite season of all!  I love the colors of the trees and living in the Northwest there is nothing better than looking at the mountain ahead and seeing a sea of oranges, reds, and greens!  Absolutely beautiful!

It’s still warm enough to enjoy being outside but not too hot or too cold where it is uncomfortable!  With change in the leaves comes change in your wardrobe!  The tank tops and shorts just aren’t cutting it anymore… What to do?… Transition Your Closet into Fall!

Here are some tips to get you started:

1.  Take inventory of your closet and dressers- Separate clothes into 2 Piles – Keep and Donate.  Evaluate your spring and summer clothes- if you did not wear them this last season ask yourself why?  Are they worth holding onto for another year?  Probably Not – Donate!  There is no sense in having clothes you do not like and do not wear taking up prime inventory in your closet!

2.  If you have room in your closet for all of your clothes no matter what the season, now is the time to rotate the clothes around.  Hang your clothes into categories and by color.  This way you know exactly where the long sleeved black shirt is and you know exactly how many long sleeved black shirts you have.  It eliminates buying what you do not need just because you could not find it!  The clothes you wear most should be in the easiest access spots.  Place clothes you are keeping but do not need very often towards the back of the closet and on upper shelves.

3.  Rotate your shoes- place flips flops and sandals in a basket or bin and place under the bed or on a top shelf.  Make room for your winter boots and shoes.

4.  Rotate seasonal purses, bags, and accessories – if you don’t need access to them right now, place up high on a shelf- replace the items now with your scarves, mittens, and winter accessories.

5.  If you do not have room for all of your clothes- take seasonal clothes out and place in under the bed storage.  Or some other place for storage.

6.  Before buying any new products for your closet – make sure to take the correct measurements and know exactly what is going into the storage product. Otherwise you risk wasting time and money by purchasing the wrong product for your needs.

7.  Having all the same type of hangers in your closet will automatically make the closet look and feel more organized!

Happy Organizing!

If you have children, then you have toy clutter!  There is no real way around it.  Our kids love to play and we and everyone around them loves to give them toys! So how do you control the chaos that may be lurking around in your home?  Basically two ways…. Reduce and Rotate!

Reduce:

Go in the room either with or without your children (your preference) and clear out any toys that are broken, have been outgrown or are no longer played with…  Donate, or save in a box for a younger sibling.  If you decide to do this with your children, give them an incentive.  For every 5 toys donated, we will get a new toy, or go do something special like a day at the park.  Teach your children the value of giving to others less fortunate.

Go through the toys prior to any special event where the children may be getting new toys.  Christmas, Birthdays, etc.

When our children have too many toys out, they can not focus and they certainly do not play with everything they have, so remember less is more!

Rotate:

Rotate toys every few months- Take half of your current toys and put them in a box labeled “Rainy Day”.  When your kids are bored, bring out the box and a few hours in the afternoon will fly by.  When they are finished, put everything away for next time!  Rotate what is in the box every few months, and remember to reduce the toys they have outgrown.

Rotate toys with other families.  Pick 3 to 5 toys to borrow and lend out.  We are teaching our children to share and to take care of something that does not belong to us.  It gives them variety without spending any money!

Having two children of my own, I have learned by trial and error some of the best ways to organize a child’s closet. For many of us, the closet is not only being used to store clothes, but also toys!  I have included tips with suggestions on product that can get any closet organized efficiently and be cost effective!

1.  You must take inventory of the closet- take everything out and decide what is staying and what is going.

2.  Have a bin labeled for the upper shelf to store clothes that are out of season or clothes to be donated.  Have it be handy enough for you to put clothes in it as the kids grow out of them.  When the bin is full, it is time to donate.   For out of season clothes- do the same thing, just make sure it is labeled, so you are donating anything you do not want to be donated.

3.  As in any closet – I suggest having the same kind of hanger.  For children, a white plastic hanger works well.

4.  Pair up matching outfits and store them on one hanger.

5.  Have a hamper  in the closet or in their room.  Teach them to always put their dirty clothes in the hamper rather than on their floor.

6.  Use hanging shelves to display outfits for every day of the week.  Keeps you organized during the week knowing what your child is wearing, no more guessing, day by day.

7.  Use shoe organizer to keep shoes off of the floor, with children’s shoes being small, you should be able to at least get two shoes in one cubby.

8.  I am a big fan of the double hanger rod in children’s closets, not only does it double your space but it let’s the child reach their own clothes.

9.  If your children do not like hang their coats or sweatshirts, put up hooks in the back of the closet.  Make sure to make it the right height, so they are able to hang up their clothes on their own.

10.  Use your closet to store toys, but organize it in a way where it’s easy for the child to help in the clean up.  Instead of a large toy box, which is often a dumping ground, use cubes where toys can be separated by category.  Use a toy box for just stuff animals.

Happy Organizing!

This is a very simple concept, although even as a Professional Organizer I will go through my home and need to update a cupboard or a drawer to keep up with my own organization.  Keeping all like items together keeps us organized and it does make a difference when you look at your kitchen cupboard and see that all of the coffee mugs are together and not scattered around in different places.

It can save you time and money!

It saves you time by not opening every knook and cranny to find what you need and it saves you money by not going to the store to replace the item.

There are many different ways to store your like items.  Lazy susans are great for keeping all like medicines together as well as keeping all baking supplies together. Really anything you may need to store. Storage Baskets also give a decorative look to your home as well as add extra storage for your items.  You just want to avoid having the misc. basket.  This can easily become a clutter nightmare just like a junk drawer can be for some.

So to keep organized, just remember to keep like items together, no matter what part of your home you are in!

** You may find these products and many other storage solutions in my store through Amazon.com

Car Organizing Tips:

1.  Ask yourself, what needs to be in your car?  This is especially important if you do a lot of work out of your car.  What office supplies needs to be in there, if you have kids, what essentials need to be in your car.

2.  Evaluate your current system in organizing your car.  What do you struggle to find?  Keep this in mind when figuring out where items are going to go.

3.  Take everything out of your car and separate into piles.  1)  Stuff you use all the time, 2)  Things you use occasionally, 3)  Things you need in an emergency.  Anything left over gets placed outside of the car.

4.  Clean your car inside and out.  Start your organizing project with a clean slate.

5.  Place like items together.  Go through your piles and place them where they make the most sense in your car.  For example; emergency kits can be placed in the back of the car, hand santizer and tissues should be in the front console.

6.  How many CD’s do you need in your car?  Start up a new rule with yourself, if you add 3 new CD’s, make sure to take 3 out.

7.  Try to keep items off of the floor.

8.  Look into Car Organizers- they have great solutions for over the seat and the trunk of cars.  These are great storage solutions for keeping like items together and in one place.

9.  Keep an extra tote bag to carry items from car to home.

10.  Create a new rule –  if you carry something into the car – you must carry it out.

11.  Have  a trash bag in the car and empty it regularly.

12.  Make a monthly appointment to clean your car.