Secrets To An Organized Kitchen – 5 Organizing Hot Spots

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The kitchen is the most used room in any household.  It is the kitchen where we make three squares a day, congregate to eat and have conversation with family and friends.  All the activity here can create an area of panic and disorganization if you are not prepared.  Here are a few tips to keep your kitchen organized.

 

Horizontal surfaces

I am a freak about keeping horizontal surfaces clear, especially in the kitchen.  There are too many small appliances available to us that compete for counter space – coffee makers, toasters, can openers, storage jars, bread baskets, etc.  Keep only those on the counter that are essential to you on a daily basis and put the rest away – especially if they are seldom used.
sparkling-kitchen.jpgToo many items on your counter not only reduces the amount of preparation space you have but also makes the kitchen look and feel cluttered which can cause tension when you walk into that space.

Try this rule:  only one small appliance per kitchen counter, with a maximum of 3 in total.

Cupboards

I recently rearranged my kitchen cupboards when I realized I was crossing the kitchen too many times (and running into my husband) to get spices that were in a cupboard over the sink when they should have been closer to the stove and the area where food preparation is done.

It makes a lot of sense, quickens the access to what I need for cooking and makes it so much easier to put things away when not in use, (cleaning as you go), keeping the kitchen looking more neat and organized and operating on a more functional and efficient level.

Under the sink

Next to the junk drawer (we will get to that in a moment!) the area under the sink can be a real problem.  How many of you need to pull a few things out to get what you need, whether it is dish soap or a number of other cleansers? undersink caddy

Once taken out we just open the door and push it back in!  There are a large number of methods to keep this area organized – pull out racks, shelving, bins, boxes and door mounted racks.  Most of these are affordable and easy to install yourself.

 

Junk drawers

My philosophy is not to even entertain the idea of a junk drawer.   I will acknowledge that most people feel the need for one, so if you do have one in your kitchen do not treat it as a drop off site.  Tools belong in a tool box, dead batteries need to be recycled, utensils belong in a utensil drawer and just how many pens does one need in a kitchen?

Set aside some time every couple of months and go through your junk drawer so it does not get out of hand to the point where you cannot even open it.  And you know what else?  A “junk drawer” can in fact  be an organized space if you take the time to categorize and contain items.

Utensil drawers

utensil drawers

There are so many new utensil trays out there that keeping your utensils organized should not be an issue.  Extendable trays will fit almost any drawer and some even have two levels for paring knives and smaller tools.

I also challenge you to pare down on those cooking utensils…do you really need 5 spatulas, 4 cooking spoons, and all those fancy things you have in there that you never use? Take a good hard look at the essentials and then remove the rest.

These organizing tips are a good start to getting your kitchen organized.  If you feel overwhelmed or just don’t have the time to ability to do the project on your own, contact us here to arrange for a free telephone consultation.

5 Top Reasons Why You Want To Get Organized!

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This is something that I get around to asking all of my prospective clients when I meet them for the initial consultation. But it recently occurred to me to ask you – and everyone else – “Why do you want to get organized?”

There are many answers that I have received over the years and everyone does have their own specific reason(s). Here are the top 5 reasons that I have been given to date.  Check to see if your reasons made this list.

1) I’m tired of not being able to find things without sending out a search party.

looking for lost items

Sound familiar?

We spend so much time looking for things we know we have or we know should be in a particular place but are not. We waste a lot of time and end up stressing out when we can’t quickly put our hands on something we know we have, and it always happens at the most inopportune time. Cooking? “Where is that stupid spatula?” Bill due? “I know I put it here somewhere!”

Think of all the time you will get back and the reduction on your stress levels when you are organized and have a system in place to stay that way.

2) “I miss having people over”. “I’m too embarrassed”.

I hear this one a lot.

People who are chronically disorganized find themselves pulling away from friends and family out of embarrassment or fear of what they may think about you if they see the state of your living condition. You don’t realize that it is you they love and want to spend time with. Your embarrassment gets in the way.

Once you are organized you will find your social life opens up again and you are eager to have people over to entertain.

3) “There’s so much stuff it’s not safe”.

do you have too much stuff

Safety. Whether it is for the safety of yourself or for a loved one you want to be organized for these reasons too. Piles of “stuff” in the basement. Boxes and boxes of paper piles can light up a fire in no time flat. Too many things on the kitchen counter can be a fire hazard. Something falling out of a cupboard when it is opened can hit you or someone else. Tripping hazards on the floor can send someone to the hospital. Transform your fitness journey with an in-home personal trainer . Receive individualized attention, personalized workout plans, and expert guidance right in the comfort of your own space. Maximize your results and stay motivated as you work towards a healthier and stronger you.

Once organized your living area will not only look and feel better to you but will be a safer environment as well. This is especially important for the older ones in our lives.

4) “I need to reduce my stress and feel in control again”.

We touched on it above but being disorganized can put a lot of stress on you to the point where it can affect your health, your relationships and your job. We all know stress is hard on the heart. We should all be doing as much as we can to reduce or eliminate stress in our lives.

5) “It’s costing me money!”

piles of tools

Got your attention? How many times have you run out to purchase a tool, greeting card or wrapping paper, a grocery item or something else at the last minute (here’s that stress thing again) because you could not find it at home? You know you have it and you know it will turn up somewhere at some point but you just can’t put your finger on it right now.

So what do you do? You go out and buy another one. Eventually you may find the original, but in the meantime you have duplicates, even quadruplicates of items. When you get organized you will not need to waste your time and money on things you already have.

So, did your reason make this list? Get organized now and save time, stress and money AND improve your lifestyle. Let me know if you have any other reasons to get organized in your home or office. We would love to hear from you!

5 Signs That You Might Be A Clutterer

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You know those old Jeff Foxworthy jokes that start with “You might be a Redneck if…” …..Well, I am going to borrow from that famous line but add my own twist.

basement bursting

Here are the 5 signs that you might be a “clutterer”.

1) It continually takes you a lot longer than you thought to find things.

How many times have you gone to look for something and you know where it is – at least you thought you did. After quite a bit of time you find it only because you have torn the house apart and wasted a lot of time doing so. Now you are even more disorganized with everything strewn about. Being disorganized is a time waster and I am sure you would rather be doing other things than desperately dashing through the house looking for things.

2) You are embarrassed to have company come over.

I get it. When we have company over we want to make a good impression and show a neat and organized household. Who wants to have company – family or friends – over when we have items all over the counters and boxes of possessions piled up on the floor? Clutter will almost always lead to more dust and dirt in the house too because we cannot clean as well as we should. Being disorganized can cause some people to crawl into a shell and become unsocial.

3) You are stressed just thinking about having to get organized.

Stress is a killer, that is a fact. We all deal with stress differently and stress can have an adverse impact on our health. If you are feeling stress or anxiety over the thought of getting organized don’t let it get the best of you. Start with small projects and do a bit each day. Set some time aside for this and you will be surprised at how soon you will start to see results. Reach out for help either from family or friends or from a professional.

4) You or someone you love has fallen or tripped over something that is always out of place.

This is the last thing we want, but there are some people that just don’t know how to get organized and end up stacking things on the floor causing a trip hazard or having so much in a cupboard that items fall out when the cupboard doors are opened. Most common accidents happen in the home so let’s do what we can to maintain a safe environment for ourselves and our loved ones.

5) You are always late, whether it is for appointments or paying the bills.

Running late because you did not record the appointments where they are easily accessible with a reminder? Are you getting those nasty fees or penalties added on to your bill because you were late with the payment? How about those nasty credit card interest charges due to late payments? Ouch!

Being disorganized can cost you time and money. Set up a system so that you are paying your bills on time and keeping money in your pocket, not your creditors.

So, do any of these signs ring a bell for you? If so, you might be a “clutterer”…..

To learn more about how we can relieve your stress and help you breathe again, you can call me at 905-642-5669.

5 Recycled Items That Will Get You Organized

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After watching a recent news show regarding the amount of waste that each of us creates that ends up being in land fills (and a lot of that should be recycled!) I decided to write about some of the everyday items that we toss in the garbage that could be re-purposed and used to help keep you organized.

This post is not intended to give you an excuse to hold onto items you no longer need and keep clutter, but as a means to getting you some organizational products at no cost and help the environment at the same time!

Tin Cans

Empty them and throw them out, right? If you need to get organized on a budget, there are literally dozens of uses for these, from pencil holders to can planters to bathroom containers and more.

For the DIY peeps out there, get creative and wrap some decorative paper around the tin cans for a home office pen and pencil holder. You can also decorate some tin cans by glueing some rope around them and you have a holder for toothpaste, tooth brushes or whatever. I have even seen people using empty tin cans for cutting shapes out of dough for baking biscuits and cookies. Get the kids involved and spend quality time creating items for the home and for gifts.

Luggage and bags

vintage suitcase decor

I recently came across an old suitcase that belonged to my father. You know the kind I am referring to – the old style hard case with the silver locks. I was going to donate it until I saw where someone had repurposed something similar by turning it into a storage container that rested at the foot of a bed. What a great idea and a great place to store additional blankets or pillows. You could even mount a small one on the wall for decoration or as a guest room vanity.

Ladders and window panes

I have talked about this before but old wooden ladders just don’t get used anymore and a lot of you have them kicking around the house or garage. They make a great storage and organizational system for books and collectibles in the home or even for flowers in the garden.

I myself have taken old wooden window frames and hung them outside around the perimeter of my pergola. Our vines have grown through them and they look great. You could also mount them to a fence for another decorative look and even use them to hang and organize your garden tools.

ladder bookcase

Old chairs

I have an old chair in my dining room that I have turned into a corner unit to hold a few decorative items for display. Depending on your decor this could work well for you too. I have seen some people shorten the legs of an old decorative chair and used them as night tables too! mini dab rigs

Glass bottles

How many bottles do you place into the recycled bin each week? Have you ever thought of reusing them as candle holders or for potted plants? The handyman in us can use our favourite empty bottle of wine and cut the top off to make a candle holder after sanding the edges. Spray painted mason jars make great planters or holders to organize almost anything.

Before tossing items into the recycling bin or trash take a moment to think about reducing and reusing before you recycle. Some of these tips will help keep you organized and can be fun to create useful items for gifts for family and friends.  Remember to be realistic too…….no sense in keeping items around for that project you may get to in the next 6 months……that just cause clutter.  if you have the time to manage a DIY project now, go for it.  But if not, no worries as you will always be able to find any of these items easily and little or no cost.

You don’t always need money to get organized……just a little creativity and some discards around the house.

5 Top Reasons Why You Want To Get Organized!

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This is something that I get around to asking all of my prospective clients when I meet them for the initial consultation. But it recently occurred to me to ask you – and everyone else – “Why do you want to get organized?”

There are many answers that I have received over the years and everyone does have their own specific reason(s). Here are the top 5 reasons that I have been given to date.  Check to see if your reasons made this list.

1) I’m tired of not being able to find things without sending out a search party.

looking for lost items

Sound familiar?

We spend so much time looking for things we know we have or we know should be in a particular place but are not. We waste a lot of time and end up stressing out when we can’t quickly put our hands on something we know we have, and it always happens at the most inopportune time. Cooking? “Where is that stupid spatula?” Bill due? “I know I put it here somewhere!”

Think of all the time you will get back and the reduction on your stress levels when you are organized and have a system in place to stay that way.

2) “I miss having people over”. “I’m too embarrassed”.

I hear this one a lot.

People who are chronically disorganized find themselves pulling away from friends and family out of embarrassment or fear of what they may think about you if they see the state of your living condition. You don’t realize that it is you they love and want to spend time with. Your embarrassment gets in the way.

Once you are organized you will find your social life opens up again and you are eager to have people over to entertain.

3) “There’s so much stuff it’s not safe”.

do you have too much stuff

Safety. Whether it is for the safety of yourself or for a loved one you want to be organized for these reasons too. Piles of “stuff” in the basement. Boxes and boxes of paper piles can light up a fire in no time flat. Too many things on the kitchen counter can be a fire hazard. Something falling out of a cupboard when it is opened can hit you or someone else. Tripping hazards on the floor can send someone to the hospital.

Once organized your living area will not only look and feel better to you but will be a safer environment as well. This is especially important for the older ones in our lives.

4) “I need to reduce my stress and feel in control again”.

We touched on it above but being disorganized can put a lot of stress on you to the point where it can affect your health, your relationships and your job. We all know stress is hard on the heart. We should all be doing as much as we can to reduce or eliminate stress in our lives.

5) “It’s costing me money!”

piles of tools

Got your attention? How many times have you run out to purchase a tool, greeting card or wrapping paper, a grocery item or something else at the last minute (here’s that stress thing again) because you could not find it at home? You know you have it and you know it will turn up somewhere at some point but you just can’t put your finger on it right now. Wish to find out more on the best Microgaming casinos? Then check the post from casinomech.com experts. You will learn full list of features of Microgaming slot machines and also sites with them.

So what do you do? You go out and buy another one. Eventually you may find the original, but in the meantime you have duplicates, even quadruplicates of items. When you get organized you will not need to waste your time and money on things you already have.

So, did your reason make this list? Get organized now and save time, stress and money AND improve your lifestyle. Let me know if you have any other reasons to get organized in your home or office. We would love to hear from you!

5 Important Tips to Organize Your Fridge

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Organized-Refrigerator

Refrigerators have become quite the techy device these days. They have everything from clocks to ice and water dispensers to even televisions built in. You can have top freezers, bottom freezers and even hidden doors inside, but when it comes down to it your refrigerator is there for storing and keeping food fresh. Here are five tips for keeping your fridge organized.

Don’t overdo the bulk buying

1) Buying in bulk and freezing for later use is a great way to save money but keep in mind that all food has a best before date and freezer burn can set in so don’t overdo it when buying in bulk. Items stored in the freezer are best stored in clear plastic freezer bags or plastic containers. Glass is not the best container for freezing foods as it cannot mould to the item like freezer bags can (removing any air from the bag). In some cases the glass can be more susceptible to breaking when cold.

Prevent cross contamination

2) Crispers are normally used for fruits and vegetables – one for each. You should also use one drawer for raw meat to ensure it is totally separate from other foods and that no contamination can take place. In the event anything drips from any raw meat it will be contained to the drawer to prevent cross-contamination. Don’t forget to wash the drawer used for raw meat frequently.

Deodorize?

3) Use a deodorizer in your fridge. You have seen all of those commercials touting the use for baking soda. Just put a box in your fridge and let it soak up the smells. I have a better idea. Keep the baking soda for baking and clean your fridge out when it starts to smell. An odour coming from your fridge is an indication that something is going bad. Is it not better to address it right away then to have something get worse creating a problem that will be tougher to clean later? Better yet why take the chance of something contaminating another item in your fridge and causing your family to fall ill.

Keep circulation flowing

4) Don’t overload the fridge. Air needs to circulate inside the fridge to keep items at their freshest. I know this can be a challenge around the holidays or parties but try not to jam the fridge. You have to be able to easily access whatever you need.

Dates

5) Don’t forget those best before dates. Go through your fridge at least twice a month and toss anything that looks or smells like it should be tossed. The best before date is really a suggested date but when that date comes up keep a close eye on those items or simply toss them to be safe. When you put leftovers in the fridge be sure to put the date on the container so you know how long an item has been in there and avoid those science projects.

Tip : Did you know that apples emit a certain gas that can cause certain vegetables to ripen early? Keep fruits and vegetables separate for freshness.

If your kitchen is causing your stress, call me now for your free telephone consultation an we’ll  transform your life.

3 Clever Ideas To Store, Protect & Organize Your Memories

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As we downsize or inherit or just live in smaller quarters, most people are challenged with how to organize and store their memories and treasures.

Here are some clever and creative ways to keep those memories alive without taking up all your precious real estate and creating clutter.

Memory Jar

I just recently created a “memory jar” for a client whose spouse had passed away. We took items of particular meaning and arranged them in a jar that is displayed on a shelf in the living room. It is a very special memento of a very special and beloved person that can be seen every single day.

Memory Jar

Why keep mementos of special people or events in your life hidden away in a box or bin in the basement rarely if ever to be seen?

Take this idea and apply it to just about anything – people, vacations, events. For instance, my husband likes to bring sand and a couple of sea shells back from vacations that we have taken. We put the sand in the jar, mark the shells using a Sharpie with the names of the cities we visited and we have one jar with all his memories.

Photo mania

Photos are always an issue when we’re de cluttering and organizing a home. I can’t stress enough the need to toss or give away all those old pictures that either you don’t look great in or you have forgotten who is in the picture. And what about all those blurry photos? Why are you keeping those? The rest can be stored either in a photo box (rather than a bunch of binders) or even yet kept on a CD, memory stick or even in the cloud for easy retrieval. Of course print and display those pictures that are really special to you. pjk

Treasures

Do you have your wedding dress tucked away somewhere or an old childhood blanket? What about dad’s old favourite sweater? I will bet these items rarely, if ever, are looked at. How about creating a memory blanket with some of these souvenirs that can be used as a throw or a decorative piece that you can actually see and be reminded of those items or occasions.

Don’t worry if you can’t sew, there are plenty of seamstresses or shops out there that could do this for you at a very reasonable rate.

There are so many other creative ways of storing your precious memories, from scrap books to journals to even creating your own website. My dad passed away not too long ago and I am so disappointed that we did not think to get him to write down or dictate to us some of his stories and memories of his life to pass on. Get creative and start some of these projects to reduce your clutter and to share and preserve your precious memories.

Don’t leave them in the bottom of a cardboard box in your basement or garage to disintegrate, get destroyed and lost forever!

5 Ingenious Ways of Downsizing and Organizing Momentos

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Many of our clients have treasured memories that they have difficultly parting with. The problem is that most of these “treasures” are hidden away in a box in the basement or garage, rarely to be seen and often end up damaged or destroyed. That’s not a very good way of honoring those memories is it?

Here’s 5 pretty neat ideas so that you can not only save those mementos, but also display them in a meaningful way that can be seen and enjoyed for years to come.

Old letters

excerpts from old letters
Excerpts from old letters can be framed behind glass and hung up. I love this for it’s simplicity. It makes for very unique wall art as well as a conversation piece in your home.

Old toys

for toys
Toys that you or your children loved can be displayed under glass as well.  Better displayed than stuffed in a box somewhere.

Vintage Hankies

 

hankies
Do you have any vintage hankies from previous generations hiding away somewhere? You can frame them as well and use them as wall art!

Sentimental family artifacts

 

Under glass
You can also keep sentimental family artifacts under glass to view, enjoy and remember. Also a great conversation piece.

Ticket Stubs

ticket stubs
Last but not least, you can save those ticket stubs and everything related to that specific night in a shadow box frame.  Of course before you do any of this you need to really determine what items are truly treasures and keep and display only those items that truly mean something very special. That requires making some tough decisions if you are faced with a few Rubbermaid bins full of memories and sentimental momentos.

De-cluttering will help you to determine exactly what is truly meaningful. And once you figure that out, you can then display and honour those treasures!

5 Steps To Organize Your Garage For Spring

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Finally! Spring is here! It has been a long time coming but I hope in your part of the country spring is starting to show signs of arrival. My husband was just out in our garage sweeping it out and my thoughts turned to all of you that are going to turn your garage from winter storage to spring and summer use.

Garage After Organizing

Here is my checklist to help you along in this task.

Take a general tour

1) Start with a general tour of the garage to get an idea of what needs to be done. You don’t want to get started and realize it is a very big job and get discouraged. Not too bad? Great! Looks like a big job? Enlist the help of your spouse, kids, your neighbour or a professional.

Give yourself time

2) Set the time aside. If it looks like just a tidy and upkeep job then set aside an afternoon to get things done. Otherwise plan a whole day to get it done. If you finish earlier so much the better.

Get ready, go!

3) Get started. Take stock of everything you have and start to sort into three piles – keep, toss and donate. The donate pile is your easiest as most charities will pick up donations or you can drive them to your favourite local charity site and drop them off. The items designated as toss must be sorted according to your local trash pick up regulations. Items such as paint, chemicals and fluorescent tubes must be taken to a special disposal site that you can easily find on line. Now we are left with the items you wish to keep. Sort these items into piles – garden equipment, automotive supplies, sporting goods, etc.

Determine storage

4) Determine the type of storage system you require. At the front of my garage I have a resin 5 level storage shelf where I keep my gardening supplies roller blades, automotive cleaning products, etc. I have each shelf labelled so anyone in the house knows where to put things once they have been used. I have even assigned a spot for my husband’s empty bottles…… who wants those old bottles hanging around the house? All of your shovels, rakes, etc. can be hung on a wall with any one of many systems that are available, or just by using a 2 x 4 strapped securely in place with a few hooks.

Clean sweep

5) Get rid of the winter dirt. Now that everything is up and out of the way you can give the floor a good sweeping and cleaning to get rid of the dirt and salt that has fallen from the car over the winter. Some of you may even want to put down an epoxy coat on the floor to protect the concrete and reduce the dust.

Do it again in the fall. Don’t forget to take anything that can freeze out of the garage and into the house in the fall. That is a good time for another cleaning before winter sets in.

I know most men are itching to get back into the garage to clean it up and to get back into their “tinkering”. Follow the steps above to get your garage cleaned and organized for the spring and you’ll be back in there for fun in no time!

Could You be Better Organized?

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It may seem like a silly question. Of course we could all be better organized. I run an organizing company and I could sure be a little better organized myself. But what does it take to be more organized?

decluttering-home

Use the right tools for you!

There are a lot of tools out there to help keep you organized. Everything from day planners and calendars to electronic assistants and apps are available everywhere. I am a very visual person and therefore need to be able to see my calendar out in front of me, an entire week at a glance.  I use a printed day planner (Quo Vadis, Minister Week At A Glance) showing a full week on a two pages.

I jot down everything, and I mean everything – appointments, meetings, reminders, to do’s, people to call, websites to check out – and I cross them off when done. It really gives me a tremendous sense of accomplishment when I cross something off the list for that day.I feel SO good.  It’s one way of seeing just how productive you actually are! Find what works for you and stick with it.

Less reading, more doing

books on organizing

I encourage you to spend less time reading and thinking about it and more time actually doing it. Many of my clients will read a lot of publications and articles regarding organizing. Good for them for taking the initiative to educate themselves and learn, but there is such a thing as too much reading. Don’t like what the book says? Do you move on to another one? Maybe you are looking for a reason to put off the task of organizing.

To do’s are too long

Don’t let the “To Do” list get too long. When making a list of what needs to be done, keep it to perhaps 5 of your most important. Having a list a mile long is only going to frustrate you and give you a feeling of hopelessness and never being able to catch up. You can jot down the rest of the items and put them away for now but the list that stays out in the open on the fridge or in your reminders should be a short manageable list. Tackle a couple and then add a few more once one or two have been crossed off the list.

to-do-list-graphic

Upkeep

Finally, make time for upkeep. When I finish a project with a client I like to think I have left them not only with an organized area but also with the tools to keep it organized. Their job is to make the time to review things periodically to ensure that the systems we put in place are still working for them.

Being organized is not just completing one project or striking an item off your “To Do” list. Being and staying organized involves a commitment to yourself as well as to the new system of organization that has been implemented. Organization is an ongoing process that involves regular maintenance, paring down and adjustments to keep you on track and in turn, keeping stress in your life to a minimum.

If you need assistance to get organized or to stay on track, contact us for a free telephone consultation. You chaos. Our solution. Your peace of mind.