As our journey around the home is quickly coming to an end, we are going to face the challenge of organizing our bathrooms.  For this week we are going to focus on quickly purging our bathrooms of unneeded, unused, or expired items.  After purging, we will finish the week with a clean space. 

I always find it very helpful to set a timer when I am doing this type of project so I don’t find myself distracted.  Give yourself 5-10 minutes per cabinet.  During the time-block, only focus on the task at hand.  Don’t answer the phone, go to the bathroom, or get distracted by something (like trying out an eyeshadow shade you forgot you had).  If you need more time, simply set the timer again. Read the rest »

I recently spoke to Professional Organizer Lea Schneider author of “Growing Up Organized: A Mom-to-Mom Guide.” Following is our conversation:

Betsy: In regards to children, what are the benefits of becoming organized in the home, and what negative effects have you witnessed as a result of disorganization?

Lea: Being organized is a stress-reducer. Our stress from daily events, like not being able to get everyone out the door on time, to losing the homework handout in counter top clutter, to trying to locate the missing cell phone or get dinner on the table when no one has made it to the store, creates one cranky parent. When the house is disorganized and parents are cranky and exhausted as a result, I imagine it is harder for any child to be sweet, compliant and happy. Being organized can help home life run smoother. Read the rest »

There really is no right or wrong way to clean. Whatever works best for you is great. Be very careful that you do not get stuck in the details of these projects. Do what you can and then move on! Don’t spend this week cleaning and organizing your spice cabinet. We’ll spend some time down the road de-cluttering this room and you can focus on those areas at that time. Your main goal for this room is to spend the next seven days working towards a clean, functional, and easily maintainable kitchen.

I must admit that for me the kitchen is the area that requires the most work. If my kitchen looks clean I feel more relaxed and in control…and vice-versa. My family (myself included) can tend to use the kitchen as a dumping ground. Attempt to come up with clutter-busting solutions to fit your home. If you have an area that seems to accumulate clutter, try to come up with a system to get rid of it (or at least contain it). Read the rest »

When you look around your home are you often overwhelmed by all that you have to complete?  So many projects, so little time; these once good intentioned tasks have become stressors in your world.  It is time to get real.Â

List all the unfinished projects that you are working on; big and small. Which of these projects simply cannot be finished by you? Create a plan on how you can finish this; whether it is by hosting a workday at your home or by creating a weekly savings plan so you can afford to hire someone. Read the rest »

May is Women’s Health Month. It is a good reminder for all of us to pamper the ones we love. The next few days we are going to focus on taking care of ourselves; because if we don’t love ourselves – who will?Â

The cost of clutter is such a problem these days. Loss of income, stretched budgets, overwhelmed schedules, late bills, broken relationships, depression, and lost dreams are just a few costs that some of my clients have experienced. During the next seven days I ask you to try a few simple things, none lasting more than 15 minutes, but each can create a big impact. Gaining control over your life does not have to be looked at as a monumental task; rather it can be dealt with in small bite-size steps. Read the rest »

Following are the steps in de-cluttering anything you use to contain your clothes: drawers, closet, or storage bins. The first step I normally recommend is to empty out the space entirely. Make four piles (or have bins) and as your emptying place each item in the following categories:

Keep

Sell

Donate/Give Away

Throw out

What to Keep:

I have heard all different strategies on how to decide what to keep. My system is quite simple. If I would not buy the item TODAY it gets tossed. Try to not think about how much (or how little) you paid for the item. It’s time to take the emotions out of the things around you! Also, do not keep items that no longer fit you. I clearly remember hanging onto a dream size wardrobe. What I discovered is when I hit my dream size, the clothes were not as spectacular as I had envisioned. If you are trying to fit into a certain dream size, tear out a picture of an outfit from a catalog. When you reach your goal, try the outfit on before you buy it. This is especially true if you are a woman holding onto clothes that fit you before children…5 + years ago! Read the rest »

Last week we worked on cleaning out the coat closet. A lot of the same principles apply when cleaning out your children’s closets. The first step is to empty out the contents of the closet. While emptying place each item into the four categories

Keep

Sell

Donate/Give Away

Throw out Read the rest »