Five Basic Steps to Getting Organized

You probably know that being organized reduces your stress levels. There's less to maintain, less to clean, and you're less likely to lose things.  So what's keeping you back?  Most don't know where to start.  There are hundreds of products that can help, and just as many solutions.  So rather than confuse you more, let's start with the Five Basic Steps to Getting Organized:

1. One In One Out - Being organized isn't about getting rid of everything and never shopping again.  Shoes wear out, children outgrow clothes.  You have to go shopping.  But make it a habit of removing one item from your home for every new item you bring in.  That way, you'll never accumulate too much.
2. Just Say No - When someone tries to give you something, if you really don't want it or like it, then refuse it.  You don't have to take furniture from your great-aunt's home if you have no need or space for it.  You don't have to take the scarf your friend is cleaning out of her closet.  The less you bring in, the less you have to care for.
   
3. Clear It Out - The more you have, the more you have to care for.  So clear out what you don't need.  Get rid of kitchen appliances you never use, or coats you never wear.  They're just taking up valuable space that could be occupied by something you love.
4. Plan Ahead - Get ready the day before. Decide on your outfit, pack your lunch.  Do the same for the rest of the family.  Also, schedule time for yourself to take care of chores like filing or laundry.  If you keep on top of things, they won't pile up.
5. Deal With It - Take care of messes and problems when they happen.  Clean up the spills, put away the laundry, sort the mail, etc. as it comes in.  There may be a day or two where you don't have time, but if you've kept up with tasks all along, the piles won't grow too large to overwhelm you.

Keep this list posted in a place you'll see it as a daily reminder.  It's really that simple.

Eight Questions to Ask Yourself When Organizing

It goes without saying that there are benefits to being organized.  You can find things easily, save money and have peace of mind in a clutter-free home.  But while we know we SHOULD be organized, for many it’s a challenge.  Most of that stems from the stress of sorting through belongings and trying to decide what to keep and what to give away or sell. 

While the task may seem daunting, especially if you’ve lived in your home over twenty years, if you stay focused you’ll make progress.  And to make the process easier, here are some questions to ask yourself while sorting. 

1.      Do I have more than one of this? If so, why? Do you need more than one?  While you need more than one pair of pants, do you need more than one lawn mower? 

2.      How often do I use this item? Is it something you use on a regular basis, that is, at least once a month?  Or do you dig it out every few years?  If you use something rarely,  like a 50-cup coffee maker, get rid of it.  When you need one for your party three years from now, borrow one from a friend or rent one.

3.      Can this item be easily replaced? If you get rid of your ricer today, can you easily find one at the store tomorrow?  Of course.  But if you get rid of your shop vac, it’s easy to find one, but certainly more expensive to replace it.

4.      Do I know what this is? How many times have you gone through junk drawers only to find something unidentifiable?  If nobody in the house can identify it, get rid of it.

5.      Do I know what this belongs to? You fine screws, lids or keys.  You know what it is, but have no idea what the key opens, or what container the lid belongs to.  You don’t need it if you’re not using it.

6.      Do I like this item?  Sometimes we inherit furniture or knick-knacks from deceased family members.  Or we get gifts from friends.  While we accept it gracefully, in our hearts we really don’t like it.  Don’t let things you don’t like take up precious space in your home.  Your home should only be filled with things you love.

7.      What is the worst that could happen if I get rid of it?  If you shred your bank statements today, or donate the hand mixer, what’s the worst that could happen?  You can recreate bank statements.  You can purchase another hand mixer if you find you need it.  On the other hand, original legal documents are not replaceable.  Be mindful of what you donate or shred.

8.      Does it have a place to live in your home? If you don’t have a cabinet or shelf to store it, then it shouldn’t be in your home.  The floors and tables are not storage units.  If you can’t decide where to put it, then you don’t need it.

While some decisions are easier to make than others, you’ll find over time that making those decisions will begin to live in your subconscious.  When you’re shopping, you’ll hear these questions in the back of your mind, helping you decide whether or not to buy it.

 

Eight Steps to an Organized Laundry Room

Housework is never fun.  At least I don’t think so.  Some are born for it.  I definitely am not.  Laundry is one of those necessary tasks that I find a complete waste of time.  All I do is wash the same clothes over and over again week after week.  As tedious as it is, though, it is necessary.  And having an organized laundry room makes the task easier – not pleasant, but easier.   Here are eight steps to an organized laundry room so you, too, can have an easier laundry day (or days).

1. Use divided hampers for easy sorting – Purchase hampers with at least two divisions-one for and darks and one for lights.  Train the family to sort as they remove their dirty clothes.  Come laundry day, the sorting is already done before you even start.
2. Separate your delicates – Set aside delicates (hose, lingerie, washable silk, etc.) from the rest of your laundry.  Either hand wash or use the delicate cycle on your washing machine.  If you use your machine, place the delicates in a mesh bag to protect from snags and tangles.
3. Hang/fold as you go – As you take clothes out of the washer, immediately hang up those items that need to drip dry.  As you take clothes out of the dryer, fold them immediately so they don’t wrinkle in the basket, or hang them up on an appropriate hanger.  Use felt hangers for tops with wide necklines or silky fabrics.  Use plastic hangers for knit tops.  Use sturdy wood hangers for heavy items. 
4. Color code hangers by family member – Plastic hangers come in a wide variety of colors.  Have each family member choose their favorite color, then use that color for their clothes.  When it’s time to put away clothes, everyone can easily grab their clothes because they’re all on the same color hanger.
5.  Enlist help – You shouldn’t have to do this yourself.  Teach your children at an early age to sort their dirty clothes, and have a specific place designated for clean ones (one drawer for pajamas, one for t-shirts, etc.).  They should be able to put away their own clothes early on.  Once they are in middle school, they can help fold their own laundry, and by the time they are in high school, they should be doing their own.  It’s good training for college dorm life!  And your spouse?  What’s a load of laundry here or there, or a trip to the dry cleaners?  Pitching in will allow for more family time together.
6. Treat stains early – As soon as you take off a shirt or pants that have been stained, treat the item immediately.  Launder as soon as possible so the stain doesn’t set in.
7. Set aside mending – As you find clothing that needs mending, launder it, then put it aside for mending, whether it’s a missing button or a torn seam.  Don’t put it back in your closet!  You don’t want to grab something as you’re running late, only to discover it has a hole in the seam.  Keep a small container or basket in your laundry room to collect buttons or other decorations/fasteners that fall off clothes.  You’ll be able to locate them easily when it’s time
   
   to do the mending.
8. Maximize storage – Use as much of your laundry room as possible for storage.  Slim storage can be squeezed in between your washer and dryer, or against the wall.  Install shelving or cabinets above your washer, and add a towel rod under cabinets for extra hangers or clothes.

You spend a lot of money on clothes.  Taking care of them will make them last as long as possible.

Can a Puppy Be Organized?

Can a puppy be organized?  Of course not, you say.  It's a puppy!  And you'd be correct.  But what about his humans? 

Yes,they can, and they should be.  Why, you ask?  If you've ever brought a puppy home to a house that has adult dogs, you would understand.  Puppies can't just show up at your doorstep, and everything will be rosy, empty home or not. 

So when we decided to purchase a bloodhound puppy, we knew it would be a lot of work, both before he came home and afterward.  This wasn't our first puppy.  We already have three adult dogs, all of whom came to us as puppies.  Two grew up together (they were born in July and December of 2002) and one, born in January 2006, we introduced as a puppy to our then family of four adult dogs.  Two of those have since crossed the rainbow bridge.

We've had experience with dogs, both young and old.  So we know the basics.  We pulled out the dusty crate, grabbed the dog blankets, and found an old dog dish from a previous puppy.  We found an adorable bloodhound online in Louisiana.  Once we put a deposit down, we started looking at names.  Naming a dog is like naming a baby.  It has to be easy to say, not too many syllables, and easy to spell.  We like two-syllable names, because it sounds good when calling them in from the yard.  We also like names related to mythology.  So far, we have a Bera (Norse for spirited), Loki (a mischevious being) and Raven (a black lab mix.)  We scoured the books for an ideal name, but not many seemed right for a bloodhound or for yelling across the yard. 

So what did we end up with?  Belde.  It was against all our rules, but the perfect name.  It's an old Germanic Scots word for Bold.  A dear friend wrote a hound into her Tudor historical, but knew nothing about bloodhounds. So she interviewed me about our Marley (since passed).  Her dog was named Belde in the book.  She was sweet enough to mention Marley in the book's credits, so it seemed fitting that we name our new puppy Belde in memory of Marley. 

Name chosen, he was ready to come home!  He was supposed to fly in at eight weeks old.  So being born on June 27, he could fly out on August 22nd.  Simple enough.  We planned to take the day off work, if necessary, to drive to the airport and pick him up.  We waited and waited for a phone call with flight details, but it never came.  We learned a week later, that the sudden heat wave in Chicago prevented his flying in.  And it was supposed to continue for several more days.

Spontaneity is not my usual mode of action.  I'm an organizer, a planner!  What on earth made me suggest to my husband that we drive down to Louisiana to get Belde ourselves.  It was only a 13 1/2 hour drive, and the Labor Day weekend.  So we made the decision to take a road trip. 

It wasn't as easy as it sounds.  Having three dogs at home, we needed to see that they were cared for in our absence.  That should be easy since my younger daughter lives with us.  She'd be home, right?  Nope, she was going out of town on Saturday.  Back to waiting for a flight?  Thankfully, I have a lousy memory.  I forgot my older daughter was flying in from Buffalo on Friday night, and leaving early Sunday.  We'd be home just a few hours after she left.  The dogs would be safe.

Except we didn't plan on major thunderstorms blowing through Chicago on Friday, then heading east toward Buffalo - her spot of origin.  Her flight was delayed, then delayed again, then cancelled.  So was the next flight she was able to book.  Finally, all flights were cancelled for the night!  And we were already on our way to Louisiana by the time we knew this.  Those weren't the text messages we wanted to read hours from home and hours from the new puppy.

But luck seemed to be on our side for once.  My younger daughter, who was supposed to be out of town for the night, was coming home after her concert instead.  She would be there to feed the dogs and let them out.  We could relax, event though that we wouldn't see my older daughter before she had to fly out again very early Sunday - before we'd get home.

We put all that aside as we continued to drive.  Everything went well, until GPS and mapquest both took us off the interstate because the distance was shorter, even though the time wasn't.  We went through some pretty interesting neighborhoods - with doors locked! 

But we finally arrived at our destination.  We went into the house, where two puppies were running amok.  One was a Boston Terrier.  The other was much larger - a bloodhound.  As we watched the bloodhound get into all sorts of mischief, we realized he was ours!  It seemed we'd picked a lively one, even though he was yawning in his photo on the web site.

After signing paperwork and taking a tour of the yard to meet Belde's parents, we were back on the road.  Belde was a little scared of the cage at first.  But he settled down to sleep.  We drove, stopping every couple of hours along the way to let him out to do his duty and give him water.  He wasn't interested in food.  After we slept for a couple of hoursin a rest area , we were back on the road, finally pulling into the driveway about 8:00a.m. Sunday morning.

It was all unfamiliar territory to Belde.  He'd lived outside for his entire life.  Grass?  Stairs?  A doggy door?  Oh, but look at all those leaves I can eat!  And rocks!  What an adventure!

Then the fun came of introducing the dogs to each other.  We kept them all on leash that first day.  They were leary and curious at the same time.  Who was this intruder?  Who were these big dogs that looked nothing like mom and dad?  Why are they barking at me? 

Once inside, we kept him in his cage when the others were in the house.  We filled it with soft towels for sleeping and fuzzy toys for playing with and bones for chewing.  But we didn't want him to be in the cage all the time, so we brought a board in from the garage and put it up to block the opening into the living room where we spend most of our time at home.  At least he could get out of the cage more.  We eventually ordered a gate so he could see us, and we could see him.  It was also easier for us to swing open a door rather than step over a board. 

Add in visits to the vet, and visits to the pet store for puppy food and chew toys, it has been an experience.  A very pleasant one.  If we hadn't been prepared with his cage, puppy food, food dish, water dish, gates, leashes, and schedules, the experience may not have been as enjoyable. 

Training will be next, but that's a story for another blog...

Cleaning out the Attic

It started out as an Energy Audit...

When we had our new furnace installed recently, our HVAC guy suggested we get an energy audit done.  Our house has extreme temperature differences on the upper and lower floors.  Part of this is because it is a raised ranch, and the lower level is half underground.  So the basement will always be cooler.  However, the difference was over 15 degrees.  While we tried to keep the upstairs comfortable at 75 degrees, it was a chilly 60 degrees in the basement, where some living areas are.  Imagine wrapping up in blankets and sweaters when it's in the 90s outside!

We arranged for the energy audit, which showed leaks around lighting fixtures, doorways, windows, outlets, and the attic access.  After seeing the results, it was suggested, among other things, to add extra insulation to the attic.  The insulation already there was 44 years old.  Needless to say, it has seen better days.

So we scheduled for the company to come out.  However, it wasn't as simple as it would seem.  Our house, being a raised ranch, has no storage to speak of.  There is a small walk-in closet in the back that leads to an even smaller room where the hot water heater is housed.  All of our holiday boxes are stored in our attic with many other boxes of random items.  We had to empty out everything!

So on a nice hot day in August, we pulled down all the Christmas boxes (about 40), the Halloween boxes, the Easter boxes, 15 boxes of my daughter's stuff she packed up from her bedroom, and some random boxes of our own.  We couldn't pile them in the house, because the energy people had to get to all the windows and outlets.  So some went into the family room downstairs, and the rest went into the garage.  Yes, my car is parked on the driveway right now. 

Our plan was to put the boxes back when they were done.  However, the installers had other plans.  The new insulation is much thicker and increased by 12 inches over the supports.  The plywood floors, therefore, are twelve inches higher than they used to be. Now consider the slope of the roof.  Make your floor 12 inches higher, and you lose all the space around the edges, and have limited space in the middle.  We could never stand in our attic, but now we can't even stoop.  We have to crawl. 

That said, what do we do with everything?  We're not sure yet.    Right now, we are going through some of the old cardboard boxes, getting rid of what we can, then packing everything into new plastic totes with locking lids.  We bought clear totes so even though we will label them, we can still see the contents. 

We threw away empty boxes from an old computer and monitor, bags of shredding we were going to use for packing (but we never sold the house), boxes of packing paper and bubble wrap that had silverfish living in them, and some tattered decorations.  My daughter started going through her boxes, and out of the six she has gone through, she has four full ones full of donations. 

We are making progress, however slowly.  (Add a new puppy and skunks to the list, and life has been hectic.)  Our goal is to find a home for everything before it gets cold.  I have to get my car back in the garage for the winter.  At least we are down to five boxes left from the living room project my husband started with his new television.  I will keep you posted!

Who Knew a New Television Would Be a Complicated Project?

So we decided to finally join the ranks of people who own flat-screen televisions.  We’d been putting it off for various reasons, except the one right in front of our faces - the entire house would be thrown into disarray. 

Why is that?  Because it wasn’t just about buying a television. 

Our old 29” tube television fit snugly into our entertainment center.  The wall unit was eleven feet long, seven feet tall and consisted of five separate pieces.  The center unit housed the television.  The other four units were a combination of open and closed shelving.  In all, there were 26 shelves loaded with photos, books, candles, magazines and knick-knacks. 

So when my husband decided on a 55” flat-screen television, I wasn’t thrilled at the idea.  Where would it go?  His answer was simply, “We’ll get rid of this wall unit and buy a new TV stand.”  Just like that. Which is what we did.

So one week before the new television was delivered, I taped up some boxes and started filling them with the contents of the wall unit.  As I emptied all the shelves, I went through the items.  Did we need it?  Did I still like it?  Was it timely?  I found some items to donate and others were trash.  Yet, I still filled 20 boxes.  And now, the boxes fill our spare bedroom

We took the old wall unit and television out to the garage.  (I made my husband park his car in the driveway for a week.  After all, he’s the one who wanted it, right?) 

When the new TV stand and television arrived in the middle of the Stanley Cup Semi-finals, he set it up.  All five shelves and two drawers of it.  It’s a great television, don’t get me wrong.  After all, who wouldn’t want to watch the Hawks and Bruins in the Stanley Cup finals in such clarity?  Patrick Sharp was life-size, for heaven’s sake!

And yet, where is everything going to go?  So far, I’ve organized my photo cabinets downstairs to make room for the photos.  We’re going to bring my lawyer’s bookcase into the bedroom to hold the books and some knick-knacks.  Baskets will hold magazines on the bottom shelf of the new stand.  Blankets will find a home on the rocking chair.  And eventually, dear hubby will put shelves on the empty wall space around the television for our framed photos and knick-knacks. 

Will all 20 boxes get emptied?  I hope so!  If not, we’ll donate what we don’t have room for.  After all, why keep something we can’t display and honor with the same respect and admiration we had for it when we purchased it? 

Happily, we found someone who wanted the wall unit.  He came and loaded it into his truck, along with the old television.  So hubby’s car is back in the garage.

It was a project, indeed!  Mostly on my part, even though I’m not the one who wanted that particular television.  However, if I have to be honest, I am looking forward to watching the 2013-14 Blackhawks season on it. 

Using Your Doors for Storage

Tips for Tuesday

We’ve all seen storage racks for the door.  They can be used for shoes in your closet or mud room.  They can be used to hold towels in the bathroom or spices in the pantry.  But there are many more uses for door storage if you think outside the box.

For example, those shoe pockets come in handy for flip flops, but how about using it for hair accessories, small stuffed animals or socks for your child.  And those pantry racks are useful for canned goods, but they can hold paperback books, DVDs or accessories in your teen’s room. 

Here are more ideas for over-the-door storage:

·        Several towel bars can hold extra blankets and linens.

·        Hooks can hold purses and handbags

·        Small hooks inside a cabinet can hold measuring spoons.

·        Use pockets for a family communication center--mail, mp3 players, notepads,dog leashes, etc.

·        Use pockets inside your pantry to hold spices, small bags of food, plastic bags, etc.

·        Use a rack for giftwrap storage.

·        Use a rack or pockets for craft supplies.

·        Use “S” hooks to hold umbrellas.

What have you stored on your door? 

  

Remove Tripping Hazards for Seniors

Senior Thursday

We have all fallen at some point in our lives.  Maybe it was down a flight of stairs, or perhaps in a slippery tub or on a patch of ice.  With luck, we pick ourselves up and continue on.  As we age, though, these falls not only become more frequent, they also become more dangerous. 

Consider these statistics from the CDC:

·        One out of three adults age 65 and older falls each year.

·        Among older adults (those 65 or older), falls are the leading cause of injury death.

·        In 2010, 2.3 million nonfatal fall injuries among older adults were treated in emergency departments.

·        In 2010, the direct medical costs of falls, adjusted for inflation, was $30.0 billion.

These are serious figures.  So what, exactly, causes this increased risk?  Medication is one.  Some meds can cause dizziness or drowsiness.  Another is poor eyesight.  And finally, tripping hazards.  Meds can be adjusted, and poor eyesight can be treated.  And yes, tripping hazards can be removed.  Here are some tips to help protect the seniors in your life:

·        Remove all throw/area rugs from the home.

·        Make transitions between rooms smooth.  Thresholds are dangerous even at a 1/4” high.

·        Install grab bars in the bathrooms.

·        Install railings on both sides of the staircase.

·        Improve lighting in the home.

·        Have the senior wear shoes or slippers at all times.

·        Have the senior use a walker if they are unsteady on their feet.

·        Purchase recliners that lift for getting up/sitting down.

·        Install a bath transfer seat.

·        Remind the senior to never climb on chairs.

·        Purchase a step stool with a handle for support.

·        Keep floors clear of clutter.

·        Keep sidewalks clear in the winter.

Keep the seniors in your life healthy and happy.

Adding Space to Small Kitchens

Tips for Tuesday

No matter the size of your family, a small kitchen can be a big drawback.  Where do you store your food, appliances, pots and pans, etc.?  It’s difficult preparing a meal or entertaining guests.  But there are some changes you can make to your kitchen to make it seem larger than it really is.  Here are some tricks of the trade:

·        Extend your upper cabinets to the ceiling.  The soffit above your cabinets is usually empty space behind the drywall.  Installing taller cabinets will give you space for storing those seldom-used items.

·        Use multi-purpose appliances.  Purchase a unit that chops and blends, or another that steams and deep fries.  Having less items to store will free up space.

·        Install a storage bench that can double as a seat for your kitchen table.  Use it to store linens, extra paper towels, or household files and bill-paying supplies.

·        Use the space under your upper cabinets.  Install hooks or magnetic strips for hanging knives or cooking utensils.  Install drop-down cookbook holders or spice racks.

·        Double the space on a shelf with a wire rack.

·        Use an island on casters so you can move it where you need it most.

·        Hang pots and pans from the ceiling.

·        Don’t buy in bulk, as tempting as the price is.  If you don’t have room to store it, it will be nothing more than clutter.

·        Downsize!  Get rid of everything you don’t need or use or like.  Be honest and brutal!  Peace of mind is worth more than the mugs you donate to charity.

Hanging Door Organizers Not Just for Shoes

Frugal Friday

I am a big proponent of using vertical storage.  One product that is great for this is Over-the Door pockets.  They come in a variety of materials and sizes.  Some have large pockets for shoes, some have smaller pockets.  They are plastic, canvas or fabric.  And their uses are endless.  While these organizers used to be for shoes, now we can find many other uses for them.  Here are a few:

·        Bathroom--use for shampoo, toiletries, face cloths, hair accessories, etc.

·        Bedroom--use for small accessories like bracelets, scarves, bulky necklaces, and belts.

·        Bathroom--use for hair accessories like headbands, elastic bands, barrettes, and bows.

·        Pantry--Use for spices, small packages, small appliances, and appliance attachments.

·        Linen Closet--Use for medications, first aid supplies, and extra toiletries.

·        Bathroom--Use for cosmetics, brushes and nail polish.

·        Craft Room--Use for crafting supplies like scissors, glue, tape, and markers.

·        Use for toy storage, organizing pieces by toy, color or size.

·        Bedroom--Use for socks and tights.

·        Laundry Room--Use for cleaning supplies such as spray bottles, scrub brushes and rags.

·        Bedroom--Use for small stuffed animals.

And don’t forget to label the pockets so everything goes back where it belongs, and you know what to buy when the pocket is empty.

Tips for Organizing Small Homes

Tips for Tuesday

When space is at a premium, finding a home for everything can be a challenge.  Even if you’ve de-cluttered and pared down your belongings, sometimes there just doesn’t seem to be enough room.  Here are some tips you can use in any area of your home to maximize use of the space.

 

 

·         Think vertical – Tall, narrow shelves use up less floor space. 

·         Install shelves on the walls wherever possible. This includes bedrooms and bathrooms as well as living spaces.

·         Hang hooks and organizers from the ceiling.  This is especially useful in kitchens and garages.

·         Use the backs of doors for shelving or pocket organizers. 

·         Use space under your cabinets for spice racks, utensil racks, etc.

·         Use the space under furniture (beds, sofas, etc.) for storage.  There are plastic containers built specifically for this purpose.

·         Purchase multi-purpose furniture-storage ottomans, storage benches, etc.

·         Install or place organizers in cabinets (wire racks, pull-out drawers, etc.) to maximize storage space.

·         Install hooks in small spaces to hold coats, belts, leashes, aprons, etc.

Documents Every Senior Should Have in a Safe

Senior Thursday

We know the importance of having a will—especially when children or blended families are involved.  But as we age, this document, along with others, are a must for the elderly.  In addition to a will, every senior should have a trust, a power of attorney for property and a power of attorney for health care.  An attorney can help draw up these documents.  These documents should be kept in a safe place—either a safe-deposit box at the bank or an in-home fire-proof safe.

In addition to these legal documents, seniors should have copies of their life, auto and home insurance policies, including contact information.  Regarding their health, seniors should have health insurance information in their safe, and a list of their physicians, allergies and medications. 

All financial information should be handy, too, including a list of investment accounts, IRAs, bank accounts, savings accounts, etc., as well as debts such as mortgages or loans.  Account numbers and contact information should be on this list.

Other legal documents to keep safe are birth certificates, marriage certificates and death certificates, as well as powers of attorney you hold for others. 

Finally, include your burial wishes, especially if there are specific instructions you want followed such as cremation or choice of cemetery.  If you already have a burial plot, the paperwork should be in the safe.

Let someone in the family know where your documents are kept, and how to access these documents in case of an emergency.  This can be a child, a close friend, or an attorney.

Losing a loved one, or leaving loved ones is never easy.  Being prepared make the journey smoother.

 

If you need help organizing your papers, contact Prima By Design (847-955-1822) for an estimate.