Christmas Lights - without Drama!

For many people, this time of year can be very stressful. But there are little things you can do to make it easier on you and others! One idea came to me recently from my Dad and how carefully he packed away the Christmas lights for use in following years.

Backstory: My husband and I recently moved into a new (to us) home and we don't own Christmas lights. As I am hosting the festivities this year, I wanted to put some up so I borrowed my parents' lights since they weren't using them this year. When I opened the box to assess the situation, I was pleasantly surprised at how neatly my dad had put the lights away. It made the process a breeze - we had lights up with no drama in less than an hour! (Full disclosure: a previous owner had already put hooks up along the front of the house from which we could hang the lights, making it easier on us!)

What did he do, you ask? He took each string and carefully wound them in a loose oval, not allowing them to twist into knots. He then laid the first strand inside the box and tied a piece of string with a file label on it indicating which strand of lights it was (i.e. west side of garage, girls' bedrooms, front walkway, etc.). He then covered this with several layers of newspaper, and then put in the next strand, labeled with string. And so on. Over the years he had customized each strand of lights to fit exactly in a certain spot, including adding clear light bulbs near stairs so people could see. As I saw this I said to myself, "Ah-ha! Further proof this is where I get my anal-retentive traits!" :) Because he had labeled in this way, it made it very easy for me to know which lights would work on my house - I picked the two longest strands and that was all we needed.

In addition to neatly stored lights, he also had plenty of extra bulbs available (10+ of each!). He stored them by color in small paper bags inside the box, each labeled with the color. This has already come in handy as we've had to replace several burned out bulbs. Which reminds me, I have two red ones out on the front of the garage - I will go change them now!


Happy low-stress holidays,
-amy

Roadside Hazard Kit

It's important to have emergency items in your vehicle in case you experience hazards on the road, especially as we head into the winter weather season. For around $40-50 you can purchase a kit online that's endorsed by the AAA. It has most everything you need (and some things that you don't!).

Or, you can build your own kit using many items you already have. My dad, who worked as a mechanic many years ago and is my go-to-guy for all things car-related, recommends a few items not in the AAA kits, including an emergency fan belt and an extra quart of oil. I've included those items on my list - pasted below (sorry for formatting weirdness; I've been fighting with blogger for almost an hour now!!). If you'd like a formatted copy (in PDF) that you can easily print and use as a guideline for your vehicles, just send me an e-mail :)

Safe travels!
-amy

Roadside Hazard Kit You Can Make Yourself
Must-Have Items:

• Flashlight and extra batteries
• Jumper cables (recommended min. 8 feet long)
  
• 2-3 bungee cords
• Flares
• Emergency fan belt
• 1 roll duct tape and/or electrical tape
• Large garbage bag (multiple uses, including a rain poncho and a dry place to kneel when changing a tire or tire chains!)
• 2-in-1 screwdriver and pliers
• Assorted fuses
• Extra quart of oil
• 1 rag or "shop cloth"
• Cable ties (especially helpful for securing hoses and tire chains)
• First Aid Kit

Extras

• WD-40
• Tire pressure gauge
• Tire Inflator (this "goo" patches holes and re-inflates the tire temporarily; can be purchased at automotive stores)
• Safety Lights (I have a 2-pack of 12-hour lights; they don't need batteries or fire)
• Solar charger for cell phone and other devices (we use the Solio)
• My in-laws also gave us the SafetyCross 6-in-1 Self-Powered Emergency Light which includes a compass and radio
• Auto blanket for changing tires, etc. (we have one that's water proof on one side and fabric on the other so we can also use it for impromptu picnics!)
• Safety vest or other reflective tape/clothing (so you can be seen at night on the side of a road)
• Gallon jug of water and energy bars (if desired)
  

Plus: if you live or drive where there is snow, always have tire chains and a blanket with you (and perhaps even rubber boots!)

Fall Project Ideas

Lately I've been working on marketing materials for my business and while developing a flyer I came up with this list of "Great Projects to Conquer This Fall." Thought I'd share with y'all as inspiration. And if you can't tackle one of these on your own, reach out to me or another professional organizer to help you get it done! :)

• Fall clean-ups – clear out clutter and make your home cozy and efficient for winter
• Earn money for the holidays – clean out your garage, closets, storage unit, etc. and sell your hidden treasures on a garage sale or at a consignment shop or even on Craigslist
• Make space for holiday guests – furniture re-arranging, clearing out coat closets, and getting the kitchen and dining rooms ready for entertaining
• End-of-year office organizing and tax-year receipts/wrap-up
• Throw a memorable holiday party (corporate or personal)
• Clean-out your garage so you can park your car inside for the winter!
• Holiday cards/letters – get your list and process organized (or hire someone to handle this for you!)

Thanks for reading. Happy Fall!
-amy

Great Tip for Stacking Linens, Sweaters, etc.

From Complete Organizing Solutions earlier this week - another tip from a Professional Organizer's home on keeping linens and sweaters stacked neatly (I'm sure you've experienced the leaning tower of towels before, as it comes crashing down as you open the closet! Well this tip will stop that from happening. While it might not hurt to have towels fall on you, it's annoying because it makes a mess and often times other household members don't have the patience to refold everything nicely...)



Happy Organizing!
-amy

Fantastic book on time & life management

I just finished reading, "The 10 Natural Laws of Successful Time and Life Management," by Hyrum W. Smith and highly recommend it. A bit dated since it was written in 1993, but some great advice and techniques for getting your life in order and feeling, as the author puts it, "inner peace." I especially appreciated that he focused on getting your values and beliefs in order first, and then using your values to guide your goal setting, and your goals to dictate your daily activities. It's not just about being busier or more efficient or more productive, it's about spending your time doing those things that matter most to you. Only then will you feel fulfilled.

This book really struck a chord with me. I have always had many "to do" lists going at once and managed to get a lot of stuff done...but there were many times when this still didn't leave me with a true sense of accomplishment. I'm excited to embark on this new adventure and try out the Franklin system for scheduling and task lists, tied to my values and goals (it's named as a tribute to Benjamin Franklin, by the way - because he lived his life by governing values). A side note: the book was a bit "sales-y" at times, with pushes to purchase his products like the Franklin Day Planner, but it doesn't overwhelm or take away from the book's very valuable messages.

If you're looking for some motivation and a refreshing way to look at time and life management, I suggest you give this book a read.

Cheers,
-amy

P.S. In an earlier post I included a list of time management books that my friends and colleagues recommended, of which "The 10 Natural Laws" was one of them.

Ideal Bite says hire a "Green" home organizer

I subscribe to this great service, Ideal Bite, that provides daily tips to make your life a little more "green." I love it because the tips are short and sweet, come right to my inbox, and are usually something anyone can handle adding to their routine.

Today's tip really made me smile though -- as part of their "make life easy week," they recommend hiring a professional organizer that knows how to do things green(er). Great idea! :)

The Benefits:

• A good green organizer will help you repurpose or sell stuff you don't need, so you can pocket some cash without resorting to money laundering.
• They'll help you hook up with other local eco-resources (movers, painters…).
• Many use green products such as sustainable shelving and storage containers made from materials like bamboo instead of PVC.
• A more organized house means less stress.

Thanks for reading!
-amy

My guest post on Complete Organizing Solutions

One of the more fun parts of venturing into this new business is meeting other Professional Organizers. The people drawn to this profession are not only organized and efficient (that's a given, right?!), but everyone I've met has been so nice and open and willing to share information to help me get started.

And one of those new people I've (virtually) met is Tanna Clark with Complete Organizing Solutions. She does daily tips on her blog, and is now featuring another professional organizer each week to share inside tips on what we do in our own homes. My post was featured yesterday - my tip was to create a "landing strip" at the front door to help with all of the clutter that constantly goes in and out of a home. Please check it out! :)



Thanks for reading,
-amy

Wonder Hanger is Pretty Wonderful

Last night while shopping with my husband, I was compelled to buy the "Wonder Hanger" in the As See On TV section. I decided it would make for a fun experiment I could do in my own home and blog about (I've been curious since I first saw the commercial!), while qualifying as a business expense. Win-win :)

It cost just under $10 for 8 hangers you get to assemble (which was harder than I'd anticipated, but nothing difficult). They are made of very sturdy plastic, and once put together, they do not come back apart.

After I assembled the hangers, I tried them out in several closets and am pretty darn happy with the results. They made so much extra room in our coat closet (see pictures below) and the closet in my husband's office! I'm excited that we actually have room for guests to hang their coats now - just in time for the holiday season. The Wonder Hanger would also be useful in a guest bedroom or seasonal clothes closet. They are surprisingly strong - I have one holding up 5 winter and leather coats and it's handling it just fine.

However, I couldn't use them in half of our master closet because of the height of the bars - it makes things hang much lower than a standard hanger, so I ended up with dress shirts resting on the bar below and getting in the way. Another downside is that you need enough room to move both hooks onto the bar in order to remove an item from the hanger; so it's not advised to cram a small closet full of these or you'll run out of room to actually get things out!

Overall, I recommend the Wonder Hanger - a quick and easy fix to make closets less cluttered and more usable. I am especially thrilled with the results in our coat closet (Left: all coats hanging across, Right: Wonder Hangers activate!) .

Happy organizing,
-amy

Cluttered bedroom = cluttered mind

Most everyone has too much "stuff." It's amazing how quickly stuff accumulates in our modern society -- gadgets, packaging, free trinkets, papers, that random cap that went to something you can't find... -- and they take up precious space in our homes and lives.

You'll be amazed at how much better you feel if you clear up the clutter! And the first place to start is your bedroom. I've read several books on feng shui and clutter, and they say that waking up in a place that's messy is not good for your psyche. And that makes sense to me. If you wake up and the first thing you see is a mess of things to do and unfinished projects, and/or you can't find things to wear, it puts you in a bad head space for the rest of the day. You may feel defeated before you even get out of bed!

So, my challenge for you in October is to have a "Fall Clean-Up" in your bedroom. Start small. Mine is in pretty good shape, but there is a bookshelf in the corner that seems to be a "catch all" for random items and my jewelry is taking over the dresser. Time to whip it into shape!












My guiding rule for assessing "stuff" - - ask yourself these questions:

1. Do I love it?
2. Do I need it?
3. Does it (or can it) make me money?

If it doesn't fit into one of these categories, get rid of it by donating to charity, recycling, or putting in the trash. You'll feel better. Trust me!

Happy Autumn,
-amy

When in doubt, label it!

Many organizing freaks, professional or not, have a love affair with their label maker. In one of the books I read, How to Start a Home-Based Professional Organizing Business, the author mentions her label maker at least a dozen times. And I've owned one for quite a few years now, long before labeling things would become part of my profession. That's because they are beyond useful -- they help you categorize items and keep an organizing system going.

I've used mine to indicate where things go on shelves and on the outside of bins, for labeling school projects, for craft projects like making our own word magnets (like the Magnetic Poetry sets you see in stores), and even labeled a bathroom light switch that had four options, so that guests wouldn't mistakenly turn on the fan or the "night light" instead. And once I even tried labeling our cat...as you can imagine, this was not appreciated by the cat even if the label said, "cute!"

My label maker of choice currently is the Dymo LetraTag because it's small and easy to handle. It has several basic font choices and the label tape is fairly inexpensive (and there are many choices of colors and finishes for the tape). That said, I will be upgrading to one with a QWERTY keyboard and more font choices very soon! When I do, I'll share my new obsession with you all :)

Happy Labeling!
-amy

Checking out the National Assoc. of Pro. Organizers

Last week I attended a meeting for the Oregon chapter of the National Association of Professional Organizers. Of course organizers would have an organization that has the very organized meetings! The meeting was held at Closets To Go in Tigard, which has a stunning showroom of closets, pantries, and garage organizing systems that are as stylish as they are functional. We got a full tour, including the manufacturing facility. If you're in the market to do a full make-over on your closet or pantry, this is the place to go for ideas. "Wow" was the most common word said that evening!

Closets To Go shared some stats from a recent customer survey they did (they do a large % of business online, plus local Oregon customers) which I found interesting - and encouraging. About 5 years ago when they conducted the same survey, most participants responded they were planning to live in their home for 3-5 years. This time around, people responded with "10+ years" - which means many of us are trying to make our current space work for much longer. And the key to that will be multi-functional spaces and organization! I'm hoping that means "job security" for me and the other organizers out there (which yes, even in this economy, most organizers are still doing quite well!).

Even though it's expensive compared to other groups out there, I'm most likely joining NAPO for the education and networking opportunities; plus, as I learned last week, it's a great group of people! What fun to be in a room of people that all get excited about drawer organizers, wall-beds, and recycling centers built into pantries - it's nice to know I'm not the only one :-)

Thanks for reading,
-amy

Time for better time management

Many of us feel pulled in many directions at once with our busy schedules, but I've always managed to stay pretty on top of things. Or so I thought! After missing my self-imposed deadline for reorganizing our kitchen, I had to rethink that perception. I do tend to miss deadlines at times, especially those I assign to myself. And I seem to excel at procrastination, especially of unsavory tasks... So, I've decided that it's time for better time management!

I'm looking forward to improving my skills in this area, which will benefit me and my future clients. As I started looking for resources, I turned to my "social network" for book recommendations. Turns out I have quite a few friends that are just as geeky as I am about organizing and self-improvement! :)

Here are the books I've now added to my reading list, which can all be found on Amazon:

• The 10 Natural Laws of Successful Time and Life Management by Hyrum W. Smith
• The Luck Factor by Brian Tracy
• 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey
• Managing Your Goals by Alec MacKenzie (audio book)
• Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity by David Allen

I'll share my thoughts on these books in future posts. In the meantime, do have any time management or productivity books you've found inspiring? Please share!

Thanks for reading,

-amy

Conquering My Kitchen

Well, better late than never! I'd originally set a goal of re-organizing my kitchen cupboards and emptying the "final box" by the end of August. Unfortunately other life priorities got in the way - but I did manage to complete the task yesterday (only 2 days behind schedule!). I've now identified "time management" as an area I can improve and have made a list of books to read on the topic! More on that in a later post...now back to our regularly scheduled programming: the kitchen.

To start, I pulled everything out of the problem cabinets and the box. I strongly believe in the organizing philosophy that you have to see everything before you can start making decisions about eliminating items or assigning a space. As you can see, I made quite a mess! Every surface was covered, but it was very helpful.

I then made groups of "like with like" and found that I had a several lids that didn't go with anything and some duplicate dishes, which are now in the garage sale and/or donation box.

The next step: install small hooks near my baking center to hang flour sifters (which look cool as accessories). I then pulled out my nice glass canisters to display on a shelf - they look great with their matching labels and "decorative" contents (almonds, chocolate chips, raisins). And this freed up much-needed space in the cupboards.

Next, I chose a spot for our leftover container system. About a year ago we purchased a system where every size container uses the same lid - talk about a time and sanity saver! I highly recommend something like this. I used UHU tac to secure it to the shelf, which is temporary but holds really well.

Then I started putting things away, beginning with items we rarely use like serving bowls and trays. I located these in the cupboard above the refrigerator since it takes a stool or chair to reach them. I grouped all of my baking supplies together, using a plate shelf to create more space since many of these items are not very tall.

Our appliances are grouped together on half-moon shelves my husband installed (similar to this), making use of a deep corner cupboard near the stove. And finally, I put away all of the Corningware (hasn't had a home since we moved in, unless you count the box!), baking pans, etc. in a cupboard easily accessible from the baking center and stove, stashing the unwieldy cookie sheets in the drawer below the oven.

TA-DA! In less than three hours I have a more usable kitchen and everything has a home. I'm happy with the results, but expect to tweak and improve as time goes along.

Do you have any tips on organizing a kitchen? Found any cool products for making more space?

Spicy Kitchen Update

I hate to admit that I haven't had much time to devote to my kitchen organizing project. I am currently taking an interior design class at PCC and our end-of-term project is due tomorrow, so all of my energy has been focused on that for now.

That said, I did have a minor epiphany -- I'm going to add some shelves to the only empty wall and move my canisters there. Thankfully I already have fairly decorative canisters to hold flour, sugar, etc. and I think they'll look nice on the shelf. And that frees up much-needed space in my cupboards for snack foods (that currently reside haphazardly on top of the fridge and make me frown each time I see them!) and my "Tupperware" and reusable containers.

Also wanted to show off this great shelving item for organizing our spices that makes use of a shelf I can't usually reach. We put this in a few months ago and it's been a great space saver. I just pull down when I need access; push back up when I'm finished.

Note that we've decided to keep our spices, for the most part, in their original containers. While there are nice looking spice systems out there with matching jars, I've found them to be a pain because they usually hold less and then you have to store all of the back-up spice containers somewhere as well. How is that helpful?! Just because something looks organized, doesn't mean it's a good system that you can maintain. Always keep that in mind when buying gadgets that promise the world!

Thanks for reading,
-amy

Closet Mini-Make-Over

Earlier this week, WSJ online did a short article on Veronica Webb's organized closet. I was in awe! Not only at the organization, but the sheer amount of clothing and shoes she has. The life of a model! At least she's making me look better :)

And how's this for coincidental timing? Just last week I did a mini-make-over on my own closet (shared with the hubby) and finally removed all of the sweaters so it's not so crowded. The sweaters will make a reappearance come Fall; and the shorts will then go into storage (a large, clear bin that lives in the basement laundry room). My main goal was to group things together better -- by style and how often worn. It's so much easier to find things now, and I only spent 2 hours!

I'm pretty happy with it, but am looking for better solutions for belts and pants. Think I may have to break down and purchase some nice pants hangers rather than trying to make do with what I already have. Any suggestions for good belt systems? I hate having to take them all off to get at the one farthest in...

Another goal was to remove all the wire hangers from the closet, which I've successfully done, but am now stuck with a rather large pile of them. Apparently hangers are not welcome in the trash or recycling in my town (they wreak havoc on the sorting machines), so I've been trying to find other options. Three ideas I've come across so far:
- return them to your dry cleaners for reuse or proper recycling
- take them to a metal recycling center (and they'll pay you!)
- use them in craft projects

Have a closet you're afraid to tackle on your own? Try doing it in parts, rather than overwhelming yourself in the first try. For example, just sort through all of your dress clothes one evening. And keep reminding yourself that not only are you making more room and making things easier to find, but you can sell or donate anything you get rid of to help your bottom line!

Happy organizing,
-amy

That Box in the Corner

Today's post is about motivating myself to finally conquer that 1 lingering box of kitchen stuff. This weekend will mark 5 months since we moved into our new home and I will not continue to be mocked by that box in the corner of the dining room!


Of course, the reason it's still there is because there is not enough room in my kitchen cabinets currently -- and that caused me to "hit a wall" after 90% completion. I think many of us battle with challenges like this and then lose motivation. But with every challenge comes an opportunity! So, herein lies my opportunity: to re-organize my kitchen cabinets so that everything fits in there, by the end of August or else! I'm counting on this blog to help keep me motivated. I certainly don't want to post on here about not getting this done ;-) I'll update on my progress and share any cool products I come across along the way.

Side note: one area in my kitchen I'm pretty happy with already is the "recycling center." We used a closet organizing system (I believe it's Closet Maid from Lowe's or Home Depot) so that we can sort as we go - and each drawer pulls out completely for easy dumping into our recycling bins outside. I also store the aluminum foil, Ziploc bags, etc. in the top drawer to keep them out of precious drawer space in the rest of the kitchen but still readily accessible.



Thanks for reading,
-amy

Quick Tip for Closets

I am currently reading an informative book on starting my own Professional Organizing business by Dawn Noble, aptly titled, "How to Start a Home-Based Professional Organizing Business." In it she not only shares tips and insights for running a business, but also shares some of her organizing ideas and solutions.

One tip that really stood out for me is a simple solution for your closet and the clutter of empty hangers. Keep a basket in your closet and each time you take something off of the hanger, put the hanger in the basket. Then, when it comes time to do laundry, take the basket to the laundry room/area and immediately hang clothes up as they come out of the dryer or have been ironed. That way you keep the empty hangers out of the way and it's easier to carry your freshly cleaned and ironed clothes back to the closet.

Happy De-Cluttering!
-amy

Prep for the Perfect Day Hike

Last Thursday to escape the heat, I went on a solo hike in The Gorge. My number one tip for women who want to hike on their own is to hit a trail you already know - fewer opportunities for ending up on the evening news that way, as you know what to expect and can plan accordingly. My favorite spot to hit on my own is Latourell Falls, which is the closest falls to Portland along the Old Columbia River Highway (trail head is only 35 minutes from my house!). I've been there more than a dozen times, plus my cell phone works on most of the trail, just in case!

It was absolutely gorgeous up there and I took many great photos. One of the best parts about this 2.3 mile loop trail is that most people/tourists get enamored with the first, large waterfall near the road and never go beyond the first .5 miles of the trail in either direction. However, for those with more adventure in their blood, another 1 mile hike will lead you to a second, s-shaped waterfall that you can walk behind, plus several wooden bridges to cross the creek. There is even a fallen log that works as a bridge in one spot.

While sitting on some logs in the middle of the creek, I enjoyed an apple and wrote down this list of "must have" items on a day hike, especially if you're alone. If you have anything to add, please let me know! I'm a huge fan of using lists for trips and adventures - that way you're never caught unprepared and can truly enjoy yourself. In a later post I'll share some of my prep lists for traveling domestically and abroad.

Happy Hiking!
-amy

Day Hike Checklist
Depending on the length of the hike, you should carry a small backpack with you, or you can leave some of this in the car.

• Small backpack / fanny pack
• Sunglasses
• Hat - keeps sun and sweat out of your eyes
• 1-2 pair socks (wool and/or wicking socks are the best)
• Hiking shoes/boots (I usually wear flip-flops or sandals in the car, which I then throw in the pack in case I want to get in the river!)
  
• 16 oz water bottle (I brought 2 with me this time, to add weight)
• Almonds or other nuts and/or protein bar
  
• Fruit (I took an apple and some strawberries)
• Chapstick/lip balm
  
• Sunscreen
• Bug spray
• Band-aids
  
• Camera
• Cell phone
• iPod (if you want; I turn mine off at times to enjoy the sounds of nature instead)
  
• Clean t-shirt for afterwards
• Small diary for notes and thoughts
• Camp towel or hand towel
• Hiking book and/or map of area
• I.D. - always have this on you!
• Tell someone where you are going - I send a text to my husband as I leave town and as soon as I return.

First adventure in blogging

Hello, and welcome to my first blog post on my very first blog!

Several friends have been encouraging me to start a blog for months now...so I finally did it. Thought this might be a good place to capture my thoughts during my adventure towards becoming a Professional Organizer (hence the name, Adventures in Organizing). Yes, that's right - faced with more weeks of unemployment than I care to count or share, it's time to take my fate into my own hands and be self-employed! I'm very excited and hope you will join me as I write about nifty organizing techniques and products I've found, "ah-ha" moments I have while learning this business and how to run my own business, and general rants and raves about efficiencies (possibly more rants than raves, we shall see!).

In true blog fashion, I will link to other blogs that offer great insights in the areas of organizing and efficiency - or even just general tips on living a better, more balanced life. Big thanks to my friend Aleta for the ongoing encouragement to start this blog - she has a great blog herself, on using social media in your marketing strategies, so if this is your cup of tea, check it out: Conversations Web 2.0 Style

Stay tuned for my many adventures ahead, including the "formal" launch of my business. And speaking of, I've found a great online resource for women starting or running their own businesses - Ladies Who Launch. They just did a profile on Angie Hicks, the brains behind Angie's List. BTW, still playing with names for my business and open to suggestions...

Thanks for reading!
-amy
Efficiency Diva and Soon-To-Be Professional Organizer