Back in the organizing groove

Welcome back to blogging. I have so much to talk about. The world of organizing, Senior Moving and all that goes with it has changed so, it is hard to keep up. Stay tuned for all those changes and what to do if you want/need to sell your home.

 Have an area to de-clutter we are here to help.

Spring has Sprung

Now as we all hope that the last snow flake has fallen we can begin to clean out our closets of our winter clothes. I find that many of my clients have damage from Moths. My suggestion is to put all dirty winter wools, cashmeres and any other fibers they like to eat in storage with your local dry cleaner. Most will offer free storage when you dry clean your winter items for the next season.

This can avoid costly damage to your most expensive clothes and free up much needed closet space.

Get Organized for the Holidays and Save Money

This year make a deal with yourself and take inventory of your holiday supplies. It's often tempting to pick up new holiday tableware, decorations, and gadgets when you see them in stores, especially if they're on sale. But buying new stuff without knowing what you already have--can be a recipe for wasted money and frustrating clutter.

Of course, this is also a perfect time to weed out unused stuff if you're so inclined, but the main idea is to get a sense of what you have and can use before you bring anything else into the house.

Make the old look new. For example, take the time to have that white table cloth professionally pressed and dress it up with some of those red trimmed napkins from your grandmother's trunk. It will take on a more nostalgic meaning.

Wishing you a Happy and Safe Thanksgiving

If you are traveling this Thanksgiving, please be safe and try not to be in too much of a hurry. Being stressed takes away from the fun. Everything always works out somehow. Whether the food is burnt, someone forgot their dish or the tablecloth has a hole in it, your attitude about it can make it a miserable situation or something for all of you to laugh about. Make sure to laugh a lot. Togetherness with the family and friends, having fun and giving thanks for what you have is the most important thing, not the food or decorations. Enjoy the holiday! If you don't have any family to spend the time with, invite over some friends that are in the same situation and put together a small feast, rent some movies and have a good time. If you have friends with no where to go, invite them to come with you. Thanksgiving is a time when no one should have to be alone. Be sure to enjoy yours. Happy Thanksgiving

Get Organized for the Holidays

The holidays are fast approaching and we still have plenty of time to prepare, but only if we get started now. Instead of waiting until December, why not plan ahead and get some things out of the way?

You may have a list that you follow every year, but if not, see our suggestions here. They'll help to get you started on a well-organized and joyous holiday.

• Remember Traditions
  If your family has tradition that you keep, year after year, plan everything you'll need for them now. Do you share a cookie exchange with friends? Do family members draw names for gift-giving? Do the children in your family prepare a skit or do adults tell family stories? Do whatever you need now to make sure the traditions are passed on. Remind everyone involved of the importance of their participation. Buy invitations and address them, prepare the menus, ask others to contribute what they love, and decide on a theme for the decorations. If you create a checklist, it will be easy to see what's left for you or others to do.
  
• Prepare Your Gift List
  If you're like many, you may have a closet of gifts already put away with friends' or family members' names on them. If not, make your gift list now. Collect catalogs if you like to order gifts, go to the local shopping center before the crowds arrive, or collect what you need if you make your own gifts. Make lists so you don't forget anyone important.
  If you have to send gifts to out-of-town friends or family, plan to do it early. Get those gifts first and send them off.
  
• Gather Your Supplies
  It won't take long to get all your holiday supplies together. Make sure you have enough stamps for holiday cards. Check your supply of wrapping paper and ribbon. Collect basic kitchen items that you know you'll need. Make lists and use them.
  
• Prepare Your Christmas Cards
  You may not be in the mood to write out your holiday cards or annual letter yet, but you can spend an evening watching TV addressing the envelopes, pasting on return address labels, and adding stamps. Encourage your children to create their own cards to send to grandparents, cousins and friends.
  
• Do Some Housekeeping
  If you live in colder climates, you've probably already gotten your home ready for the winter. But if not, now is the perfect time to face annual chores in and outside of the house. Hose off the front door and garage door, polish silver, clean windows, chandeliers and light fixtures.
  
• Are Guests Coming?
  Now is a great time to clear out your extra bedroom, since you'll probably need it sometime this season for out-of-town guests or a sleepover. Put away out-of-season clothing, leaving room in the closet and drawers for your guests' things. Put away unfinished projects. Finally, add some of the comfortable touches that make a guestroom cozy. Make sure there are plush pillows, a good reading lamp and fun reading material, and an extra blanket.
  
• Decorate the Outdoors
  You may think it's too early to put-up holiday lights, but it's much easier to do it now than in the middle of a snowstorm! Test the lights before you put them up AND after, but don't turn them on at night until Thanksgiving time.
  
• Cook, Bake, and Freeze
  This is a great time to prepare cookie dough, yummy soups, cookies, bars, or whole dinners. You won't eat them all now, but store them away in the freezer. You'll be ready in a jiffy when you need to put on a quick or provide goodies for a party.
  
• Plan Holiday Travels
  If you're planning to be away for the holidays, it's a good idea to book your holiday travel now. Check your calendar with others in your family and get friends and family to do the same. If you have guests coming to your home, remind them to make their travel plans early.
  
• Save Time for Fun
  Don't forget to reserve time in your busy holiday schedule for simple fun. Check out movie offerings or rent a family favorite. Offer to volunteer at a community event or get tickets to see a "Nutcracker" matinee. Why not plan a simple a family "picnic" in front of the fireplace or a get out family photo albums. You'll be amazed how these simple things will turn into treasured memories.
  

What can be done in 15 minutes!

Microsoft 2010 has a great template for medical records. Print it out and start to fill out your past medical history. I know I cant remember all the surgeries I have had in my life. I now carry a copy of this record with me when I go to the MD and just hand it to the Nurse and it saves time and mental energy regarding my past. When there is a change I just add it to the record.

Real Simple Real Hard

While reading Real Simple Magazine, they did a piece on how to clean your laundry room in 15 minutes. They allowed a minute for several different cleaning projects. For example, 1 minute to disconnect the dryer hose. Vacuum it out with your crevice attachment, then reattach the hose. Any sane woman or man would be crazy to try this and get it done in 1 minute. I agree it needs to be done once a year but please do it with time and care so that all pieces are attached correctly so the hose is blowing outside the laundry room.
I think that Real Simple needs to realize that this job really needs to take 30 minute and not put so much pressure on us to perform in a cardio exercise method to get our laundry room clean.
Real Simple needs to give us a break on time and think about all the things we really can do in 15 minutes.