tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-282049842024-03-06T16:34:22.980-05:00Organizing BostonExpert Home and Office OrganizingSarah Buckwalterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04537718936027303307noreply@blogger.comBlogger133125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28204984.post-71967240617977993092012-06-12T21:08:00.000-05:002012-06-12T21:08:03.661-05:00Tuesday Tip: Shop Your House Before You Hit the StoresI heard a great reminder on <a href="http://www.thenateshow.com/" target="_blank">The Nate Berkus Show</a> this morning about shopping your house for items you can re-purpose before you hit the stores. And while I may not be able to DIY an old table into a design marvel (though I really wish I could), as an organizer, I couldn't agree more with this common-sense-but-we-could-all-use-a-reminder tip! Good organizing solutions are rarely complex or unique items - they are usually born from everyday containers, furniture or storage that just needed a little creativity and perhaps labeling :)<br /><br />
So the next time you have an organizing dilemma, which often involves finding a home for something that doesn't have one, take a look around your house, basement, and attic to see if you already have something that fits the bill. Since we're in the process of setting up our new home, I'm doing this almost daily. Just the other day, I re-purposed a simple <a href="http://www.pier1.com/Home/tabid/36/language/en-US/Default.aspx" target="_blank">Pier 1</a> basket that I've had for probably 10 years (and has always served some purpose in my office) into a perfect container for our cloth place mats and napkins. I used to keep them in a kitchen drawer, but storage space is super-limited in our new kitchen, so I decided I needed to relocate anything that didn't absolutely have to be in the kitchen. So the cloth items are now happily in the basket on a shelf right near our dining area - perfect!<br />
<br />
Along the same lines, I was also reminded recently when looking at the <a href="http://www.ikeahackers.net/" target="_blank">Ikea Hackers</a> site that when it comes to home furnishings and organizing solutions, things don't always have to be what they are intended to be. Just because it says it's a TV stand, doesn't mean you have to use it as one! Once again, my new house is challenging my organizational skills - we have almost no entry area, and even less entry storage. I have come to realize as an organizer that having a landing zone with proper storage for all the things that go in and out of your house everyday is key to maintaining overall household organization. I knew what I was looking for but couldn't find all the elements in a traditional entryway bench. So I am using an Ikea TV stand as the foundation of our landing zone, thanks to some ideas I saw on Ikea Hackers. I will also be adding a wall unit with baskets and a row of hooks to complete the storage options. The moral of the story is to get creative when you're looking for a solution and don't settle for something that doesn't meet your needs.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSY-os6FDgI0rgGaW2sXpUmH6W0hAqWJ2TDbBkEPTRG7lzTZu4PX5iaFDyk0KbG3CGbTls85i4bVVM_ZcPqwzoAi_nU3DbCSpPq6jcrKjuGAuMDbAUZ79tzCCG8NBX_YfSMQ7a/s1600/Storage+Bench.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSY-os6FDgI0rgGaW2sXpUmH6W0hAqWJ2TDbBkEPTRG7lzTZu4PX5iaFDyk0KbG3CGbTls85i4bVVM_ZcPqwzoAi_nU3DbCSpPq6jcrKjuGAuMDbAUZ79tzCCG8NBX_YfSMQ7a/s320/Storage+Bench.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Is it a TV stand or a great entryway storage bench?!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Sarah Brookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06982678557552940083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28204984.post-20543659916768415402012-06-05T14:25:00.001-05:002012-06-05T14:25:35.209-05:00Tuesday Tip: Get Your To-Do List To-DoneA recent survey conducted by LinkedIn confirmed what many of us already knew. That daily to-do list you make often doesn't get done! And your profession may have something to do with it. Check out this brief <a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/breaking/chi-linkedin-survey-finds-office-todo-lists-seldom-get-finished-20120522,0,1997996.story?goback=%2Egde_1091477_member_120859787" target="_blank">article</a> summarizing the findings. Since completing to-do lists seems to be an elusive task, here are a couple of tips to help turn your to-do list into your to-done list!<br />
<ul>
<li><strong>Prioritize, prioritize, prioritize.</strong> For your daily list, instead of writing down everything you have to do from now until the end of time, decide what are the top 3-5 things you must do today. Being realistic in terms of how much you can actually get done in a day will help set you up for success.</li>
<li><strong>Limit distractions.</strong> Distractions including email, phone calls, meetings or impromptu chats with colleagues are likely one of the top barriers to getting that list done. Do what you need to do to limit these or other distractions. Close your door, set times to check email, or schedule meetings with co-workers rather than chatting non-stop. </li>
<li><strong>Stay focused.</strong> While multi-tasking was once considered a required skill for most professionals, focusing on one task at a time when possible actually enhances productivity. Changing from one task to another only wastes time since you're constantly shifting gears.</li>
</ul>
Test out one or more of these tips to see if you can conquer your to-do list!Sarah Brookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06982678557552940083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28204984.post-75560636592284176532012-06-01T09:00:00.000-05:002012-06-01T09:00:11.299-05:00Friday Find: The Honest CompanyA little while back I learned about <a href="https://www.honest.com/" target="_blank">The Honest Company</a>, founded by Jessica Alba. Their goal is to provide families with 'honest' family and baby care essentials, ranging from diapers to cleaning products, that are free of harsh chemicals. I like the idea of using safer, greener products, but to be honest (no pun intended), I'm overwhelmed by all the choices out there and tend to hop around to different brands and products with no real direction. <br />
<br />
So helping me choose good, safe products is nice, but the kicker for me is that The Honest Company delivers a personalized bundle of products directly to your door every month! This is a great example of <a href="http://organizingboston.blogspot.com/2010/07/summer-used-to-be-slower-time-of-year_21.html" target="_blank">automating your to-do's</a>, one of my favorite time management tips. Since household products tend to be used up at different rates, it definitely take some effort to keep track of which items you need when...not to mention remembering to get them when you're at the right store. Having home delivery of family-safe, reasonably priced home and bath supplies sounded good to me...sign me up! So that's what I did. First I received the [almost] free trial (you have to pay for shipping). I liked what I saw, so I stayed on and received the standard <a href="https://www.honest.com/product/family-essentials" target="_blank">family essentials bundle</a>...it arrived just as I was running out of my old laundry detergent! My favorite part is that after your first month when you receive the standard (pre-selected bundle), every month you get to choose any 5 products you need - they have a variety to choose from. <br />
<br />
From an organizational standpoint, I think this service is great. As already mentioned, it's a time management winner. It also helps me better <a href="http://organizingboston.blogspot.com/2012/04/tuesday-tip-know-what-you-have.html" target="_blank">manage my home inventory</a>. It took me about 1 minute last night to go to my account and select the products I want in my next delivery. I can guarantee it would've taken more time to do a traditional inventory and shopping for the same products. I also see some value in product consistency. Once you find something you like, being consistent helps eliminate having 7 different partially used bottles of multi-surface cleaner under your sink! Beyond the organizing benefits, it just makes me feel good to know I'm buying family and earth-friendly products. They also donate a portion of their sales to charity - extra bonus!<br />
<br />
If convenience and choosing safer, greener products is important to you, you might want to give them a try. I can 'honestly' say I'm a fan :)<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4a8yngGDVfjZpUY3BrqJrsIOKFUBIr3cOFqTSOLZCNwZEF7BF6oehKIrDr7gJ-eP4tj2hahOGBPS15PC-wdqyzedV2sGDCSxASHkatH4ELAWjxh8wyfXuvs6leCKch_4NZ0EW/s1600/Honest+Company+Essentials.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4a8yngGDVfjZpUY3BrqJrsIOKFUBIr3cOFqTSOLZCNwZEF7BF6oehKIrDr7gJ-eP4tj2hahOGBPS15PC-wdqyzedV2sGDCSxASHkatH4ELAWjxh8wyfXuvs6leCKch_4NZ0EW/s320/Honest+Company+Essentials.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.honest.com/our-products" target="_blank">The Honest Company Family Essentials</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Sarah Brookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06982678557552940083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28204984.post-8935569165574965542012-05-29T11:48:00.000-05:002012-05-29T11:48:13.651-05:00Tuesday Tip: Don't Overload Your Plate!If you checked out <a href="http://organizingboston.blogspot.com/2012/05/friday-find-curb-cookout-clutter.html" target="_blank">Friday's post</a>, you'll know I talked about re-usable plates to help keep cookout clutter at bay. Well, today I'm happy to report that thanks to my wonderful family, I now have my very own set of <a href="http://www.crateandbarrel.com/dining-and-entertaining/dinner-plates/marimekko-unikko-green-and-blue-11%22-melamine-plate/s664475" target="_blank">Crate & Barrel marimekko melamine plates</a> and even a tray to match for my birthday - yeah! Here they are...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEkMQFLVR28Tyuag1iKdSfv7ZPeeBhCcYUYgA57BiR-TFH2m6cddqQSgtrDe1P4jCrilAe7BvCq5NP16gDfIXJSpy37E3VSSpRLlemcoYia1l94q-OQHa86scXG0n0U4ZtBIiL/s1600/Plates.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEkMQFLVR28Tyuag1iKdSfv7ZPeeBhCcYUYgA57BiR-TFH2m6cddqQSgtrDe1P4jCrilAe7BvCq5NP16gDfIXJSpy37E3VSSpRLlemcoYia1l94q-OQHa86scXG0n0U4ZtBIiL/s320/Plates.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
But today I wanted to give a tip that involves a plate of a different kind...our 'plate' of life responsibilities. Most people I know always have over-flowing mental and physical to-do lists...usually it's a combination of life's must do's, should do's and want to do's. While this is ok and even good to some extent (to have ambition and things we want to get done), many times these over-flowing lists are a major source of what I call background stress. For me, it's that nagging feeling of never being 'done' and seeing a million projects everywhere I look. For the most part, the over-flowing lists and background stress are a product of having more on our plates that we can digest. And while it's common sense that we shouldn't overload our plates, it seems to happen all too easily in today's world!<br />
<br />
<strong>So here's today's tip:</strong> If your plate is over-full, don't add anything new until what's already on there is under control! This means if you already feel like you're having trouble keeping up, don't jump into new activities, business ideas, committees, etc. I always have to remind myself that for most things in life, it's not now or never. Things can wait. If you really want to do them, you'll come back to them. This might even include delaying fun things like planning a big family trip if your background stress is keeping you from fully enjoying your want to do's. Does this mean you have to wait until you've got all of life's responsibilities completely under control? No, of course not! That would mean many of us would never get to the fun stuff. But if you're like me and you're bothered by too much 'background stress,' take a breather and hold off on adding more to your plate until you're feeling like you can handle it! Fair enough?<br />Sarah Brookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06982678557552940083noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28204984.post-77232937226142958272012-05-25T08:00:00.000-05:002012-05-25T08:00:06.847-05:00Friday Find: Curb Cookout ClutterMemorial Day weekend traditionally represents the start of the summer season - yeah! For many households, this means weekends filled with parties and cookouts and family fun. But don't let your cupboards and pantries become overrun with plastic cups, paper plates and enough plastic silverware to feed an army. Having a mess of partially used packages of disposable party ware doesn't make it easy to whip out the supplies you need for an impromptu barbecue. Our suggestion, keep one good set of re-usable outdoor tableware and your cupboards and the environment will be better off. Here are a few options we've seen...the first one is even from a local company who's transforming trash into tableware - how cool!?<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidlNsGfCdiPKoQY6fm-IlbSEjbKjwkY3LSGryelYs4OLfUAy_2hK0-u1BeAlTkWeD3j3yMGnR6BoCq2v69TAmTp_1OFOIyqXVFksqj2FBWNLFZmZXIMYNaDx81BiHh4SiuOvp7/s1600/Preserve+Tableware.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidlNsGfCdiPKoQY6fm-IlbSEjbKjwkY3LSGryelYs4OLfUAy_2hK0-u1BeAlTkWeD3j3yMGnR6BoCq2v69TAmTp_1OFOIyqXVFksqj2FBWNLFZmZXIMYNaDx81BiHh4SiuOvp7/s1600/Preserve+Tableware.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.preserveproducts.com/products/tableware.html" target="_blank">Preserve Tableware</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5KZ__Z5r0LcartgEfSHLCHpifXw_I_xj48QhzdRAc4dt08-XYvvY56ioCwPCcs1ifAxLDVr1MMLRxkCG1uBdymoALWRPzRtaRxi49Y1fa1u7IWDdGVISr4_jiGv3J_Cff1cjC/s1600/Crate+and+Barrel+Melamine+Plates.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5KZ__Z5r0LcartgEfSHLCHpifXw_I_xj48QhzdRAc4dt08-XYvvY56ioCwPCcs1ifAxLDVr1MMLRxkCG1uBdymoALWRPzRtaRxi49Y1fa1u7IWDdGVISr4_jiGv3J_Cff1cjC/s320/Crate+and+Barrel+Melamine+Plates.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.crateandbarrel.com/search.aspx?query=melamine%20plates" target="_blank">Crate & Barrel Melamine Plates</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicdOvU3BNOaVZ7klPIQL26DhOrpFnX6uhRL12WLGz-3SF6gPyiDpDFlk-YE3gvEyYTsBO5rX-nI7LW7aHO3gt70hUlHfa9Fs9okUOvJpXaLmXFdU-PeVPX5x2c3bLad6K1GVkF/s1600/BambooWare.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicdOvU3BNOaVZ7klPIQL26DhOrpFnX6uhRL12WLGz-3SF6gPyiDpDFlk-YE3gvEyYTsBO5rX-nI7LW7aHO3gt70hUlHfa9Fs9okUOvJpXaLmXFdU-PeVPX5x2c3bLad6K1GVkF/s1600/BambooWare.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ecobambooware.com/" target="_blank">Bamboo Studio BambooWare</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />Sarah Brookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06982678557552940083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28204984.post-23647922418238637242012-05-22T14:29:00.000-05:002012-05-22T14:51:52.260-05:00Tuesday Tip: Containing Toy ClutterToy storage is one of those great organizational challenges that comes along with having kids! Since toys are meant to be played with, they are often out and about. The key to keeping your house from looking like total toy chaos is quick & easy clean-up. For your family's designated play room or your kids' rooms, shelves or cubbies with easy access (i.e. lightweight, open top) baskets or bins are the backbone to a good toy storage system. Adding picture labels can help make clean up an easy 'all hands on deck' task! <br />
<br />
But as a parent of an almost toddler, I know that keeping toys in just one room isn't necessarily practical, especially if you have little ones who need or want to stick close by. Keeping a small supply of toys in the rooms we spend the most time in (kitchen, living and bedroom) is key to keeping everyone happy and busy. But to keep these other rooms from being over-run with toys all day long, a quick clean-up strategy is a must for last minute guests or nightly tidying. What works in our house is a small basket or bin in each room for toys. You can't get much simpler than that - it takes about 30 seconds to gather scattered toys and toss them in! Of course this works best for small items without lots of parts - more complicated toys are better-stored in your designated play areas.<br />
<br />
Let us know what works for toys in your house and be sure to check out our new <a href="http://pinterest.com/organizeboston/toy-storage/" target="_blank">Toy Storage Board on Pinterest</a> for some great ideas! <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2TENuaVCy9F-tN9wjQK4JdCMYbDKGHWsonQEZ3jhHOk9J21O17sWEjbQVA7fzc8kKqNM0vM0Kvs-68j9i4w4Ff6_fphpdV8JeJmWaROcmGVdKJy_KcJ_tVrD7NnCbl6C3co_W/s1600/Storage_TubTrugs_SM_Shallow_1011.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2TENuaVCy9F-tN9wjQK4JdCMYbDKGHWsonQEZ3jhHOk9J21O17sWEjbQVA7fzc8kKqNM0vM0Kvs-68j9i4w4Ff6_fphpdV8JeJmWaROcmGVdKJy_KcJ_tVrD7NnCbl6C3co_W/s320/Storage_TubTrugs_SM_Shallow_1011.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.landofnod.com/kids-floor-storage/kids-storage-and-shelving/small-shallow-tubtrug-/f9576" target="_blank">Small Tubtrugs from LandofNod.com</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Sarah Brookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06982678557552940083noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28204984.post-18741050398989240492012-05-18T10:58:00.000-05:002012-05-18T10:58:14.047-05:00Friday Find: Erin Condren Personlized Life PlannerI'm so excited to tell you about my new <a href="http://www.erincondren.com/store/index.php?cPath=129" target="_blank">Erin Condren personalized life planner</a>! I read about it online about a month back and decided I had to try it. Why, in this age of free online tools to manage just about everything, would I choose to spend my money on a [beautiful] paper planner? Let me explain...<br />
<br />
For a couple years I've been strictly using Google Calendar, which works great when I'm able to be online regularly throughout the day and also has the benefit of easily sharing events with my husband. For me though, the online calendar concept has a couple of issues. First, I've never been able to make online task lists work for me when I'm not regularly sitting at a computer (which I'm not anymore). I also still feel this gravitational pull toward paper lists and calendars, especially happy, pretty ones :) There's just something gratifying about putting it down on paper! <br />
<br />
So for a couple of years, I've been managing what productivity experts would call a hybrid system of online and paper, carrying around a notebook of some sort to corral lists, related papers, receipts, etc., but still using Google Calendar, which I mainly get to check and update at night. As a part-time working, full-time mom, I rarely get a chance to sit down at a computer during the day. Sure, I check my email on my phone throughout the day, but I'm not a big fan of managing Google Calendar on my phone. So as with many organizational systems, it's clear that my old system is no longer working for my new[ish] life. <br />
<br />
Introduce my super-lovely new life planner...it's a compact, durable, all-in-one planner that can house my calendar, to-do lists, notes, papers...all in one lovely place. I think many of you would agree with me that you can't underestimate the power of pretty when it comes to productivity tools. They just make me want to get down to business and get stuff done! <br />
<br />
Anyway, enough about me, for those of you who may be struggling with your calendars and to-do lists, here's my advice - it's ok not to go digital if it just doesn't work for you and it's definitely ok to find pretty, productive tools that make you happy! Check out <a href="http://erincondren.com/">ErinCondren.com</a> for a look at the wonderful, personalized tools they make to help make your life easier. I purchased a discounted April-December 2012 Life Planner, but I believe they have a 2012/2013 version coming out in June. They also just released a <a href="http://www.erincondren.com/store/index.php?cPath=129_861_532" target="_blank">great video about using a weekly calendar pad</a> to keep all your family members on the same page! I may just have to give it a try.<br />
<br />
Note: I have not received any incentive to write about Erin Condren products...just writing a personal review of my new planner.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYKbA2aR6laSzAA_K_mtIQZ2os5vIRDl_IrzvzdkTqhfT80ZD_Vx2XsVSZPhMf4pOWjnG_SkBVuEMK6gVKDnYdidH_04bxsybihdcRaQ2LUuSih6NhY7t9Fwvr45_tSN4DosWb/s1600/EC+Planner+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYKbA2aR6laSzAA_K_mtIQZ2os5vIRDl_IrzvzdkTqhfT80ZD_Vx2XsVSZPhMf4pOWjnG_SkBVuEMK6gVKDnYdidH_04bxsybihdcRaQ2LUuSih6NhY7t9Fwvr45_tSN4DosWb/s320/EC+Planner+1.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqqWs1SVQEIUjSSIMIflQCNoqZ20w1AE5dRKbEa77bMIUT62tSlsjlQZ3OWoplVe-0bA_cU94NnsYj0Xb6U4lGy79wSxsaRWM_TiXpcdT-u9gOBGxA2hGm9v2H0cuBZ98-WVEo/s1600/EC+Planner+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqqWs1SVQEIUjSSIMIflQCNoqZ20w1AE5dRKbEa77bMIUT62tSlsjlQZ3OWoplVe-0bA_cU94NnsYj0Xb6U4lGy79wSxsaRWM_TiXpcdT-u9gOBGxA2hGm9v2H0cuBZ98-WVEo/s320/EC+Planner+2.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0FAM2cQL6Q8zczsgXfYZ_CBdzCbbL81WxU6J9JFKRNAh67nVGi6-ARheqblyrD84fstKBgV_cDnlr0_a2npkmd_UHRDDwxL9QyeqwYol7LUTgNKsvhX7j-0UNfM7uqiu5-9ZP/s1600/EC+Planner+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0FAM2cQL6Q8zczsgXfYZ_CBdzCbbL81WxU6J9JFKRNAh67nVGi6-ARheqblyrD84fstKBgV_cDnlr0_a2npkmd_UHRDDwxL9QyeqwYol7LUTgNKsvhX7j-0UNfM7uqiu5-9ZP/s320/EC+Planner+3.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Sarah Brookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06982678557552940083noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28204984.post-9462422169414427282012-05-16T11:00:00.000-05:002012-05-16T11:00:09.507-05:00Organizing Boston to Help Another Local Household on Hoarding: Buried AliveWe are excited to announce that we will once again have the opportunity to help a local household on TLC's Hoarding: Buried Alive! This will be our third experience filming an episode for the show and helping a local resident in need. Thanks to TV shows like Hoarding: Buried Alive, there is a higher level of awareness about hoarding and chronic disorganization.<br />
<br />
It's important to get professional help to not only deal with the mess but also the root cause. If you or someone you know needs help, don't be afraid to reach out. In addition to helping you manage your home and possessions, we can help coordinate or connect you with other services you many need. As always, we treat all of our clients with compassion and respect.<br />
<br />
Stay tuned for information about the show's air date!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-hHgpZJa9nnfnpExHIcPquomBslD2U00R-2m7FksLnj-BC46ScERiSpvx8UwKLMwi8f6sq1twZtcGtK9jT7QAIa3VnYUTy82ru3rNJ0KNlTQqdeunCKFqMBWU-WmtIKfjvWxR/s1600/tlc+hoarding+logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-hHgpZJa9nnfnpExHIcPquomBslD2U00R-2m7FksLnj-BC46ScERiSpvx8UwKLMwi8f6sq1twZtcGtK9jT7QAIa3VnYUTy82ru3rNJ0KNlTQqdeunCKFqMBWU-WmtIKfjvWxR/s320/tlc+hoarding+logo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />Sarah Brookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06982678557552940083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28204984.post-64817686978426305042012-05-15T12:25:00.000-05:002012-05-15T12:25:25.641-05:00Tuesday Tip: How to Cut Morning ChaosHave you ever felt rushed and a bit crazed getting out the door on time with everything you need? I hope the answer is 'yes' - otherwise, you must be some kind of super-human and I'd like to meet you! While we all have our struggles with the morning rush, which definitely seem to be multiplied if you've got little ones to shuffle out the door with you, the good news is you can cut morning chaos with just a little prep work the night before. Here are some night-before tips that are guaranteed to make for a smoother, calmer, happier morning...ahhh:<br />
<ul>
<li>Pack your bags (work, daycare, school) the night before to avoid
a last minute scramble or worse, leaving the house without the
essentials. <br />
</li>
<li>Prep meals and snacks to go the night before. Put
non-perishables in lunch bags on the counter and gather any perishables
in an easy-to-grab spot in the fridge. Put a sticky note on the front
door to remind you to grab fridge items before you head out the door. </li>
<li>Prep, or at least decide, what's for breakfast the
night before. Have grab and go items like yogurt smoothies, whole grain
bagels or homemade trail mix on hand for extra busy mornings.</li>
<li>Put
what you can in the car the night before - think sports equipment,
items to return, special projects. This will help avoid needing to make
multiple trips back and forth in the morning because your hands are too
full.</li>
</ul>
My advice, do this prep right after dinner before settling down for the evening :) Just 10 minutes of preparation the night before can save you a world of
trouble in the morning, which will get your whole day started off on the
right foot! <br />
<br />
<br />Sarah Brookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06982678557552940083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28204984.post-43321412667751509972012-05-11T09:21:00.000-05:002012-05-11T09:21:19.825-05:00Friday Find: Keep it Together with a Simple InboxThings are a little chaotic around our [new] house! We moved in on Saturday, so we're still swimming in boxes and packing paper and definitely don't have all our systems set up. We are far from my comfort zone of 'a place for everything and everything in it's place.' But amongst the exciting and overwhelming chaos of settling into a new home, one very important but simple organizing system is helping me keep it all together and save my sanity...my inbox. It's the most basic of organizational principles...keeping like things together. I use my inbox to stash all important papers, ranging from bills to receipts to ideas to assembly instructions. It gives me a safe place to put anything that comes my way, but that I don't have time to further process (i.e. file, do, read) at the moment.<br />
<br />
Of course the inbox can't be the end of the system. You need to follow through and process what goes in or your inbox will just be a ever-growing pile. But take it from me, a corralled pile in a consistent inbox is A LOT safer than papers strewn around a house that's in a partially unpacked and not-so-settled-state. Last night I finally sat down for the first time in a couple weeks (eeek!) to take stock of and start managing what was in my inbox. It always makes me feel a lot better when I wade my way through my inbox, but just knowing that I had a safe place to put things was a life saver during an especially hectic couple of weeks in our life!<br />
<br />
My inbox happens to be a very simple <a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/40224319/" target="_blank">Ikea Kassett box</a> with a lid, but you can choose any letter-size box that suits your fancy. So this week's Friday Find is less of a noun and more of a verb...if you don't have an inbox, go <b>find</b> yourself one this weekend!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4_dQWRCp8iWSD6QW0qesv31yOVAf9RECYknXUckIUtpC9yvtecP6KNhZDCAyIiYJZWqYm6Tw41YHdJcGgS199Z22f3zXAAcwqecogwi3T3qYNB_LJjR8XCE_K6rYmGZuWih_4/s1600/inbox.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4_dQWRCp8iWSD6QW0qesv31yOVAf9RECYknXUckIUtpC9yvtecP6KNhZDCAyIiYJZWqYm6Tw41YHdJcGgS199Z22f3zXAAcwqecogwi3T3qYNB_LJjR8XCE_K6rYmGZuWih_4/s320/inbox.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>Sarah Brookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06982678557552940083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28204984.post-48817272138031687432012-05-04T11:00:00.000-05:002012-05-04T11:00:04.211-05:00Friday Find: Ikea HackersHere at Organizing Boston, we love to re-use what clients already have for organizing purposes. It saves money and resources, but it's also fun to find purposes for items that are being under-utilized or not used at all! <br />
<br />
I've been thinking recently about re-purposing some Ikea furniture in my own (or soon-to-be) home. We are about to move into our first real house - yeah! - and I'm looking
to re-purpose some <a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/categories/series/09064/" target="_blank">Expedit shelving</a> as toy storage in my daughters
playroom, but espresso isn't exactly the color I'd like for her bright,
cheery room (or at least that's my vision). So I was looking on-line for tips on painting Ikea furniture and of
course found some good info over at <a href="http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/the-secret-to-successfully-pai-122321" target="_blank">Apartment Therapy</a>.<br />
<br />
But in the
process, I was also reminded of a neat site entirely dedicated to
re-purposing and customizing Ikea furniture - <a href="http://www.ikeahackers.net/" target="_blank">Ikea Hackers</a>. How cool! A lot of us own Ikea furniture - they make some great products from an organizational standpoint and let's face it, it's hard to beat the price. Personally, we own several Ikea items, including Expedit shelving, <a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/categories/departments/workspaces/11688/" target="_blank">Effectiv</a> filing cabinets and a few others. Many of these have been in our possession for several years, surviving moves, re-purposing and general household use and abuse. So if you're re-organizing, re-arranging, or moving, why not check out <a href="http://www.ikeahackers.net/" target="_blank">Ikea Hackers</a> for some ideas to breath new life into your furniture and your space. If I follow through with my first Ikea hack, I'll keep you posted!Sarah Brookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06982678557552940083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28204984.post-21836714989307670272012-05-01T14:40:00.000-05:002012-05-01T14:40:22.176-05:00Tuesday Tip: Responsibly Recycle Your ElectronicsDo you have old computers, cell phones, stereos and other electronics cluttering your home or office? This is one category of clutter that clients are often stuck on what to do with. The main reason is not knowing how to responsibly and securely get rid of them. Many of our household and office electronics contain personal data we don't want to just set free and we also have this sense that these 'hard' materials should be recycled but we don't know how, when and where. The good news is that there are companies that have dedicated themselves to solving these issues...both securely shredding your data and responsibly recycling the materials. One company we have come across in our travels is <a href="http://www.metechrecycling.com/index.htm" target="_blank">Metech Recycling</a>. They conduct recycling collection events across the country, including several right here in the Boston area. In fact, there's one coming up this weekend in my hometown, Acton, MA!<br />
<br />
Green Acton<br />
Electronics Recycling Collection Event<br />
Saturday, May 5, 2012<br />
9:00 am - 2:00 pm<br />
Conant School<br />
80 Taylor Road<br />
Acton, MA 01720<br />
<br />
Check out the <a href="http://www.metechrecycling.com/events.htm" target="_blank">Metech events calendar</a> for more information and other events.<br />
<br />
So take a huge step toward cleaning up your home and office by responsibly recycling your electronics today...or this weekend!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsCHSqAQiXAjtCzm-2B0u3pT6i06Fy2bPogm83RM2V3S5grtcutHQofsqsIKjXGYkWYGiDlAiMQ2sdniLlAK-Gh6keMKL4g0JasyqfHlENgHIDN5Uoqcpuf0IR-T1e0BsHZBh6/s1600/Electronics.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsCHSqAQiXAjtCzm-2B0u3pT6i06Fy2bPogm83RM2V3S5grtcutHQofsqsIKjXGYkWYGiDlAiMQ2sdniLlAK-Gh6keMKL4g0JasyqfHlENgHIDN5Uoqcpuf0IR-T1e0BsHZBh6/s320/Electronics.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Sarah Brookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06982678557552940083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28204984.post-32302098904546152552012-04-27T11:00:00.000-05:002012-04-27T11:00:00.143-05:00Friday Find: Follow us on Pinterest!This week's Friday Find is us...on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a>! We love to bring you great organizing ideas and Pinterest is proving to be a great virtual bulletin board for gathering them together! We're pinning organizing ideas we see and use in our travels with a touch of our organizing expertise to help you figure out how to apply these fabulous finds to your own organized life. So if you're already on the Pinterest train, just search for <a href="http://pinterest.com/organizeboston/" target="_blank">Organizing Boston</a>. We'd love for you to follow us and can't wait to see your organizing finds as well! We've got boards including home, kitchen, closet and office organizing as well as organizing products we love. It's a work in progress, but we're having fun along the way. Come join us!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxM1ImaIFMdnKw2Z7IzpmTUKbB1qwBDmZjuO1Fm46VMKW2L5bQxEwAMjmzjKAg2U0t3Qq3rs2l-e9cS3U2FszSt_O4PArWckFV2BZBUVCdo2EASQJOFIFaMeKLZyEOgWiFB3Dz/s1600/Pinterest_Logo.png" imageanchor="1"><img alt="" border="0" height="81" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxM1ImaIFMdnKw2Z7IzpmTUKbB1qwBDmZjuO1Fm46VMKW2L5bQxEwAMjmzjKAg2U0t3Qq3rs2l-e9cS3U2FszSt_O4PArWckFV2BZBUVCdo2EASQJOFIFaMeKLZyEOgWiFB3Dz/s320/Pinterest_Logo.png" title="" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />Sarah Brookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06982678557552940083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28204984.post-67268795561370841322012-04-20T08:32:00.000-05:002012-04-20T08:32:15.788-05:00Friday Finds: Smart Ways to Refresh Your Wardrobe<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today I've got 2 Friday Finds for you! They're both clothing-related but that's about all they have in common :)</span><br /><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br />
The first is a great local event where you can celebrate Earth Day by refreshing your kids' closets the green way! Itsy Bitsy Thrifty is holding it's <a href="http://www.itsybitsythrifty.com/shop-ma.html" target="_blank">spring/summer seasonal consignment event</a> for children's clothing this weekend in Woburn, MA. With free admission all day Saturday, this is a great way to get some 'new to you' items for your fast-growing kids. We always think of donation and consignment as great ways to get organized without trashing all your unwanted stuff, but buying used items (as long as you need them) is another great way to keep it green! Thanks to my friend, Kristi for mentioning this great local event!!</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">On a different note, I've got an <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/19/fashion/breaking-up-with-a-clothing-brand.html?_r=1&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1334858055-nh38Lmsx1qKC9hOL6QEVnw" target="_blank">interesting Friday read from the NY Times</a> for those of you who might be having trouble clearing out your closet clutter. Turns out that many of us get attached to certain brands and might have a hard time 'breaking up' with them as the style and our lifestyle grows apart, whether we realize it or not. While there was way too much fashion in the article for my non-fashionista brain to digest, the article definitely made me think about how much trouble we all have letting go of clothes, styles and brands that may no longer fit or fit our current lifestyle. Give the article a read and then give yourself permission to let those old clothes and brands go! Thanks to home design guru, <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sabrina-Soto/73052852392" target="_blank">Sabrina Soto</a>, for mentioning the article on facebook. She's got a great little spot in the article, having recently undergone her own brand breakup!</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjO2OmBXwxYeAzgdHvw-sVazPyBA2cjKwUuiBsZtOv96ItLpgRfZD3s67lZlOJlz7UZJyQPS0wjAwG6JnpTsNf0IftLypseIczYSbeWLkM3IaxiZuFszlPj1dn0c8N1kBMtYlD/s1600/Baby+Clothes.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjO2OmBXwxYeAzgdHvw-sVazPyBA2cjKwUuiBsZtOv96ItLpgRfZD3s67lZlOJlz7UZJyQPS0wjAwG6JnpTsNf0IftLypseIczYSbeWLkM3IaxiZuFszlPj1dn0c8N1kBMtYlD/s320/Baby+Clothes.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Sarah Brookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06982678557552940083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28204984.post-33775969955875658512012-04-17T10:30:00.000-05:002012-04-17T15:07:40.831-05:00Tuesday Tip: Know What You Have<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
Have you ever been on the highway without toll money, run out of toilet paper or paper towels at home, or been out with your kids without snacks or diapers? Knowing what you have (and what you don't) is a huge part of being organized, in my opinion. In my former life, I definitely let myself get into a few pickles due to lack of systems and planning to keep on top of my household, car or personal inventory. </div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
Over the years, I've gradually developed better habits to keep on top these everyday necessities...like re-stocking the parking meter change in my car whenever I use it and writing items on my shopping list as soon as I notice they're running out. But as with most things organizing, being a parent has forced me to kick my organization to a new level. It's less ok, and definitely less bearable, to get into an 'inventory' pickle, such as running out of gas or cash or diapers with a little one!! So I do my best to not let my gas get below a quarter tank (and yes, I sound like my wonderful mother who taught me this a long time ago...I'm finally listening), to clean out and re-stock the diaper bag as soon as we get home from an outing, and other painless but majorly pain-saving inventory systems. </div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
My advice to myself and all of you...anytime you say or think, "that would stink if I ran out of or forgot to...", do something about it! Come up with a simple system to prevent an inventory failure. For household items, the easiest bet is to keep a running shopping list and add things you're running low on. I keep my list on my phone so I have it with me whenever I head to the store. For on the go tasks, the best practice is to take care of them as soon as you notice you're running low or keep a spare inventory somewhere that's accessible if a problem pops up. My all-time best example of this was the time I dropped my entire set of keys in a storm drain...yes, you read that correctly. Fortunately, I had a spare condo key in my bag (not in my condo where it wouldn't have been any use) and spare keys to the other important items (like my car) in my condo. Guess what my next to-do item was after the storm-drain incident? Get a new set of spare keys :)</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRWxI3Z3h8wT6GtmlTVpaIen50z31CXHq4pzkJY6lDHOfVCK4sMzmt7ZPUjWc0pzNFjznju8ZiepPOmfstI3jk4Ln8Z6drIeUqvMH61b9-yY99zCkDSSRFmOLF3NCzdY5T0amU/s1600/Keys.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRWxI3Z3h8wT6GtmlTVpaIen50z31CXHq4pzkJY6lDHOfVCK4sMzmt7ZPUjWc0pzNFjznju8ZiepPOmfstI3jk4Ln8Z6drIeUqvMH61b9-yY99zCkDSSRFmOLF3NCzdY5T0amU/s320/Keys.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Do you have a spare set when you need it?</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>Sarah Brookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06982678557552940083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28204984.post-44566286847536254412012-04-13T11:00:00.000-05:002012-04-17T14:20:11.935-05:00Friday Find: Boston Area Earth Day Recycling Events<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<a href="http://www.earthday.org/" target="_blank">Earth Day</a> is coming up on April 22! Celebrate by recycling your household clutter at a local recycling event. It turns out that several cities and towns in the greater Boston area are making it really easy for you to donate and/or recycle a variety of household goods and electronics. Here's a list of a few events we found posted on-line. Check out <a href="http://www.mass.gov/dep/public/earthday.htm" target="_blank">Mass.gov</a> for more events or call your town to find out about recycling opportunities close to home:</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
NEWTON</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
City of Newton Electronics Recycling Collection<br />
Friday & Saturday, April 20 & 21, 2012<br />
8:00 a.m.-12:00 noon<br />
Recycling Depot<br />
115 Rumford Avenue, Newton, MA </div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
Monthly drop-offs for Newton residents, businesses and non-profits
for electronic recycling ("anything with a plug"). There is a $12 charge
for each TV and computer monitor. All others accepted free of charge.
Sponsored by City of Newton Department of Public Works. More
information: <a href="http://www.newtonrecycles.com/" target="_blank">http://www.newtonrecycles.com</a> or <a href="tel:617-796-1000" target="_blank" value="+16177961000">617-796-1000</a></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
BOSTON</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
19th Annual Earth Day Clothing Drive<br />
Monday, April 23-Friday, May 11, 2012<br />
7:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. <br />
Lobby of 89 South Street, Boston, MA</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
Donate clothing, shoes and accessories to benefit people in need in
our community. Sponsored by Second Chances and The NonProfit Center. <br />
More information: <br />
<a href="http://www.secondchances.org/clothingDrives/NonProfitCenterEarthDay2012.htm" target="_blank">http://www.secondchances.org/<wbr></wbr>clothingDrives/<wbr></wbr>NonProfitCenterEarthDay2012.<wbr></wbr>htm</a> or <a href="mailto:info@secondchances.org" target="_blank">info@secondchances.org</a></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
MEDFIELD</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
Medfield Green Day</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
Saturday, May 5, 2012</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
9:00 am-12:00</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
110 Peter Kristof Way, Medfield, MA</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
Donate or recycle a variety of household items from clothing to baby
gear to sports equipment and appliances. Check the website for more
information: <br />
<a href="http://www.medfieldgreen.org/">http://www.medfieldgreen.org</a> </div>
<br />
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
ARLINGTON</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
Community Collection Day <br />
Saturday, May 12, 2012 (Rain or Shine)<br />
9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. <br />
51 Grove Street, Arlington, MA</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
Outdoor event to collect materials for reuse and recycling. Residents
can drop off a variety of home items to be recycled including CRTs ($10
per unit): bikes, books, old sneakers, confidential papers, old
prescriptions, sharps, more. Sponsored by Arlington Public Works and
Recycling Committee.<br />
More information: <a href="http://www.arlingtonma.gov/Public_Documents/ArlingtonMA_DPW/Recycle/index" target="_blank">http://www.arlingtonma.gov/<wbr></wbr>Public_Documents/ArlingtonMA_<wbr></wbr>DPW/Recycle/index</a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6p2pG0dKP9pT2wOjdLspJGLYj0DPJtFSHArY5AcRruPJ9SuL66avnHBxEwKmy3oLnlKV5kNU7XADFAG_EdgyDSOGM4L2nf_77u22wsV7j3NW0ty9jL0EcITV1uv16tNVwEZ8y/s1600/Recycling.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6p2pG0dKP9pT2wOjdLspJGLYj0DPJtFSHArY5AcRruPJ9SuL66avnHBxEwKmy3oLnlKV5kNU7XADFAG_EdgyDSOGM4L2nf_77u22wsV7j3NW0ty9jL0EcITV1uv16tNVwEZ8y/s320/Recycling.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
</div>Sarah Brookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06982678557552940083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28204984.post-63119324847925667262012-04-12T10:28:00.000-05:002012-04-12T10:28:08.112-05:00Check out our deal on Eversave.com<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
Have you ever thought..."I'd like to have a professional organizer come over and just give me a head start and some great tips on all my organizing projects and challenges?" Today's your lucky day! We are offering a deal today on <a href="http://www.eversave.com/boston/organizing-boston">Eversave.com</a> - $39 for a one hour consultation with one of our professional organizers.We'll walk through your space and give you customized tips and solutions to get you started. So if you need a little jump start, jump on over to Eversave and let us help you get on the right track. The deal is live today through Saturday, so don't delay!!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4rMP-7Kp9LJrXwXdVajgnLN6yzEQlz4nWeh-W_yN_JLOrVLAKYB3jRoZuo2qjRlMjACrjqZKF5_URLEFrGCm_zAVOCRygiKHtH3fFIutPDG4JwZOfJn-uiFQif-fH5bWyRKR2/s1600/OBhome1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4rMP-7Kp9LJrXwXdVajgnLN6yzEQlz4nWeh-W_yN_JLOrVLAKYB3jRoZuo2qjRlMjACrjqZKF5_URLEFrGCm_zAVOCRygiKHtH3fFIutPDG4JwZOfJn-uiFQif-fH5bWyRKR2/s320/OBhome1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Sarah Brookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06982678557552940083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28204984.post-6109240641338647832012-04-10T09:18:00.000-05:002012-04-10T09:18:13.415-05:00Tuesday Tip: Hire a Baby to Help You Get Organized<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ok, so you may think I've lost my marbles with today's tip, but I swear there's also a point. Ever since our 10 month old starting crawling a few weeks ago, she has really helped kick our home organizing into high gear. To put it simply, everything must have a home (one of the cardinal rules of organizing)...even things we used to leave out. If it's out, it's fair game to her, but if it's put away, it's out of sight, out of mind! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here are some good examples - shoes...in the closet; my bag...up on its hook; remote controls...in the remote caddy up on the TV stand. She has really forced us to make sure every little thing serves a purpose and has a home. If it doesn't meet those criteria, it's a hazard or at least a nuisance and has to go! Besides having a safe home for her, this has really helped streamline our cleaning up routine. I'm also finding that I need to vacuum more frequently with a mobile, food throwing baby, so having a place for everything, and everything in it's place has made it much simpler to whip out the vacuum for a quick cleaning...bonus! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So if you want an organizing boot camp for your space, think like a baby, or even better - borrow a baby! Look around for anything that's just lying around and figure out if and where it belongs to straighten up your space in no time.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFIseRRcXPVyxIseOWCzUqDwvFUznDzGbCC-JjkPg4g8Vz3eirS1Qrvhyphenhyphen2gwK83rkwzTrrVJxwrvIyc6J9A6EVrtHjuAvXB8Gy2taYMTSy9c9w09eSpH3TV4RFmkl1d8M8GWsf/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFIseRRcXPVyxIseOWCzUqDwvFUznDzGbCC-JjkPg4g8Vz3eirS1Qrvhyphenhyphen2gwK83rkwzTrrVJxwrvIyc6J9A6EVrtHjuAvXB8Gy2taYMTSy9c9w09eSpH3TV4RFmkl1d8M8GWsf/s320/003.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Sarah Brookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06982678557552940083noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28204984.post-42118803418414820452012-04-03T15:17:00.000-05:002012-04-17T14:20:11.928-05:00Tuesday Tip: Simplify Spring Cleaning<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Whether you're preparing for Passover, getting ready for Easter guests or just looking to bring that fresh and clean springtime feel into your home, it's time to get your spring cleaning on. Do yourself a favor this year and clear the clutter before you dive into cleaning. Removing items you don't use and love from your space will save you tons of time when it comes to wiping down surfaces, vacuuming, and cleaning out cupboards and closets. The best part is you can do both tasks together - take everything out of a space, toss or set aside for donation any items you no longer want, and give the space a good cleaning before you put the 'keepers' back in. Keep the clutter at bay and you'll save tons of future cleaning time, which you can spend outside enjoying the weather. So give your home a little springtime TLC, open up those windows, and enjoy the season!</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx7DIQtqIQzSnVCxvX5B9BkBrggaxtopKYjlLfzjKgTJLTMfXaxJOO0-gRegXMNvYp_MmADCTJ5FLBC8ALztKpe8lOJkEj1L-fvaXSUYBiInBor3mK2S5PSeQfwxV9dIlAfxeK/s1600/20090510_47.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx7DIQtqIQzSnVCxvX5B9BkBrggaxtopKYjlLfzjKgTJLTMfXaxJOO0-gRegXMNvYp_MmADCTJ5FLBC8ALztKpe8lOJkEj1L-fvaXSUYBiInBor3mK2S5PSeQfwxV9dIlAfxeK/s320/20090510_47.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Sarah Brookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06982678557552940083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28204984.post-16496176329690706632012-03-30T09:44:00.000-05:002012-03-30T09:44:06.129-05:00Friday Find: Finders Keepers<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today's Friday Find is a follow up to last week's discussion on </span><a href="http://organizingboston.blogspot.com/2012/03/tuesday-tip-how-to-tame-your-pantry.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">how to tame your pantry</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. We talked about how simple organizing tools - clear bins, Lazy Susans (or turntables) and tiered shelving - can really make a difference in helping you find what you need in your pantry. So here's what we used to turn this pantry cabinet from 'ok' to organized!</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC9fKvd0LSXF8nD-FLSFzivH15d1gtt6tOzWs-U5k9EK4FSVuM3nSesvl_1sIY3wx492NnpPtjPU-0sOuRCjUtG2Jltxjbzcnlbm8kbQg5lIA-cpwge8LUtSqkaGFcUuYr1KxT/s1600/Pantry+Before.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC9fKvd0LSXF8nD-FLSFzivH15d1gtt6tOzWs-U5k9EK4FSVuM3nSesvl_1sIY3wx492NnpPtjPU-0sOuRCjUtG2Jltxjbzcnlbm8kbQg5lIA-cpwge8LUtSqkaGFcUuYr1KxT/s320/Pantry+Before.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Pantry Before</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL0lny6jWgDqkeJkWqCz_ZMtCtblSAJmC2EcST_wOCHXAmNLXPuomF4aAj1uSRZsHagu1DE0BOmNiszwuuqI0OPK8tbuzspFLgJfiW5_n22gql13twQPuZ2bczIN8cek4CgnOU/s1600/Pantry+Contents.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL0lny6jWgDqkeJkWqCz_ZMtCtblSAJmC2EcST_wOCHXAmNLXPuomF4aAj1uSRZsHagu1DE0BOmNiszwuuqI0OPK8tbuzspFLgJfiW5_n22gql13twQPuZ2bczIN8cek4CgnOU/s320/Pantry+Contents.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Pantry Contents</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Of course as you empty out and categorize the contents, be sure to toss anything that's expired or simply isn't getting used. With the goal of making everything accessible and keeping like with like, I used a combination of <a href="http://www.containerstore.com/shop/kitchen/pantryOrganizers/shelfOrganizers?productId=10013618&N=74108&Nao=40" target="_blank">tiered bamboo shelving</a> and two kinds of clear bins - <a href="http://www.containerstore.com/shop/kitchen/cabinetOrganizers/upperCabinets?productId=10027785&N=185&Nao=60" target="_blank">Linus Handled Bins</a> and <a href="http://www.containerstore.com/shop?productId=10032358&N=&Ntt=pantry+binz" target="_blank">Linus Pantry Binz</a>. Because I didn't have much shelf height to work with, I didn't ended up using any Lazy Susans. If I had a little more shelf height to play with, I probably would've used a </span><a href="http://www.containerstore.com/shop/kitchen/pantryOrganizers/shelfOrganizers?productId=10023476&N=74108&Nao=40" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" target="_blank">Lazy Susan like this</a><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> for commonly used oils, salt, pepper, etc. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Overall, I'm really pleased with the improvements. The bins help keep categories from getting jumbled together, the labels help everybody know where to find things, and the best part is that everything on the top shelf is accessible without a step ladder! But I'll let you be the judge...</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYoj6SmzubBMg9-zldtTV5iL_7w0Q0FKk2wcATX1l7Oo1uTrl80YnZBO_3qQuVglX7ZJFrwUcz0SgZ-9Ao9l7kLExhzekvaVZSGy4AT0JpAP0rcQKF2TGXFG1Wn8y2bPJyIOnR/s1600/Pantry+After.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYoj6SmzubBMg9-zldtTV5iL_7w0Q0FKk2wcATX1l7Oo1uTrl80YnZBO_3qQuVglX7ZJFrwUcz0SgZ-9Ao9l7kLExhzekvaVZSGy4AT0JpAP0rcQKF2TGXFG1Wn8y2bPJyIOnR/s320/Pantry+After.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pantry After</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Sarah Brookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06982678557552940083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28204984.post-894113844044986942012-03-27T11:09:00.000-05:002012-03-27T11:09:09.664-05:00Tuesday Tip: Find Your Time<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
Today's Tuesday Tip comes from a fabulous survey conducted by Real Simple about how women spend their time and what we can do to reclaim some free time for ourselves. Check out the <a href="http://www.realsimple.com/work-life/life-strategies/time-management/spend-time-00100000077167/" target="_blank">slide show</a> for some eye-opening results. It's like they personally asked me the questions - I couldn't believe how the results fit me to a T. So today's tip is as much for me as it is for you:</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<b>Delegate household/family responsibilities and schedule free time for yourself!</b></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
I am extremely guilty of not doing either one of these very well, but I am trying to get better and hope many of you will too. Since becoming a mom almost 10 months ago, my life has been amazingly enriched by this new role and my wonderful little girl, but I also often feel like my life has become one long (read endless) to-do list of childcare and household chores. The days that I work here at Organizing Boston often feel like a break - ha, ha. That was one of the most interesting findings of the survey - for most of us, it's not our jobs that are causing our time woes...it's our homes and families, which isn't to say that we don't love them both. I think that's part of the problem. We care so much about our role in caring for our families and homes that we let them take over completely. I am slowly realizing that the household and family to-do lists are (or can be) endless, so the solution is not to wait to do something fun until all the chores are done. If my husband reads this, he'll say that he told me that a LONG time ago :) Two things busy women can do to make themselves happier (as the survey results prove) are to delegate, delegate, delegate and use your calendar for 'me time' appointments. </div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In order to practice what I preach, I just scheduled a yoga class for myself on Wednesday night. What will you do for yourself today?</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSfK2QbBX6HfljKrI9VAxV7StPrdzypvbaNNQnFNhpO0GeBv-TjcZJN4dEld48GvtD2q3gTKZpjtLoNApPhL3T6zNQitSn3c96j1ZGgFFjyaFZGJwj0B_Ef8pkO5xk4VsTsb7M/s1600/Calendar.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSfK2QbBX6HfljKrI9VAxV7StPrdzypvbaNNQnFNhpO0GeBv-TjcZJN4dEld48GvtD2q3gTKZpjtLoNApPhL3T6zNQitSn3c96j1ZGgFFjyaFZGJwj0B_Ef8pkO5xk4VsTsb7M/s320/Calendar.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Sarah Brookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06982678557552940083noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28204984.post-15058719218642278542012-03-23T19:50:00.000-05:002012-03-23T19:50:51.767-05:00Friday Find: Create Some Closet Space<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today's Friday Find is a great resource for creating some space in your closet...and who doesn't need that?! I realized the </span><a href="http://organizingboston.blogspot.com/2010/05/refresh-your-closet-with-consignment.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">benefits of consignment</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> a couple years back, but in </span><a href="http://organizingboston.blogspot.com/2011/12/closet-confessions.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">December</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, I vowed to finally consign some of my clothes after employing the good old </span><a href="http://organizingboston.blogspot.com/2011/11/practicing-what-i-preach.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'backwards hanger trick'</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> to help me figure out what I actually wear. I'm pleased to say that I'm now on my second round of consigning with a GREAT store (actually multiple stores) in Needham, MA called the </span><a href="http://www.closetexchange.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Closet Exchange</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As an organizer, I have to give it to them...they sure run an organized operation! From the phone inquiry to the intake process, they are very thorough in explaining what they do and what you can expect as a consigner. One thing to note is that I had to wait a couple months to become a first-time consigner, but it was worth the wait (and you don't have to wait for appointments after you're in the system). </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What I love about the Closet Exchange is that they take a wide range of brands. Like most consignment stores, they have high standards in terms of the condition of the items, but they take more brands (from high to not-so-high end) than many other stores. They are also very nice, which I really appreciated! I am not much of a fashionista, do not generally buy designer clothing and have had intimidating experiences before that made me feel like I wasn't cut out for the higher end consignment world. But not here - by simply doing my homework and prepping the items as they ask, I was so pleased to find that they took most of my items each time. They also nicely explained why they didn't take certain items. It has been a very pleasant experience each time, which is more than I can say about my experience elsewhere. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Better yet, I am actually earning money - I earned a little over $70 from my past drop off - yeah! For full disclosure, I did spend it on several new items that I love, but that's allowed when you've created some extra space in your closet :) Speaking of, I took a picture of the wonderful space I created in my closet from dropping off my items today...</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiOw_-5KU0U_sRTDL2_R6c3YUL9YvYXic0a6CszvkUxBy06KfIfO2KsLPPN2ye3Aq-N9jfb80EchN3AAjpF-W0REWiZ5He4zzw93XjwX84Y7Vmap6uQ96m07uZQNBziLxSSNp5/s1600/Closet+Space.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiOw_-5KU0U_sRTDL2_R6c3YUL9YvYXic0a6CszvkUxBy06KfIfO2KsLPPN2ye3Aq-N9jfb80EchN3AAjpF-W0REWiZ5He4zzw93XjwX84Y7Vmap6uQ96m07uZQNBziLxSSNp5/s320/Closet+Space.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My New-Found Closet Space!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Sarah Brookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06982678557552940083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28204984.post-88935240636919600132012-03-20T11:32:00.000-05:002012-03-20T11:32:53.412-05:00Tuesday Tip: How to Tame Your Pantry<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
You know how sometimes a certain topic keeps popping up all over the place? Well, for me, lately that's been the question of how to organize your pantry (or pantry cabinets) so you know what's in there. Today's tip:</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<b>Use Smart Storage to Keep Track of Your Pantry Inventory</b></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
The problem with keeping track of pantry inventory is that anything that's not on the front lines of your shelves can't easily be seen. And you know what they say...out of sight, out of mind! This means crowded cabinets, expired foods, and nothing to make for dinner. Three simple storage solutions can help you solve the out of sight/out of mind problem:</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<b>1. Clear Bins</b> - Let's face it, clear bins can help with just about any organizing problem. In the pantry, they can help group things together (and help them stay that way) and allow you to easily see what you have because you can slide the bin out to see what's in the back...most likely multiple cans of black beans.</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<b>2. Lazy Susan/Turntable</b> - The beauty here is that there's no front or back - just turn it around for equal viewing of what's there. The downside is that you lose some space with the round design, but it can be a brilliant solution for items you need to pull out easily like cooking oils, salt, pepper, etc.</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<b>3. Tiered Spice/Can Shelves</b> - These are great for spices and canned goods. You can see and reach what's behind the front row without shuffling everything around or worse, pulling everything out. It's like stadium seating for your spices! </div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
Here's a "before" pantry - it's not horrible, but it could definitely benefit from today's tip. Who knows what's up there behind the bread crumbs?! Stay tuned and I'll show you the after photo with product links!</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwREtrf1FYVasFEg4h5yhqZIl6wpEsxkOpkPYdOY36G90I0IQ6aCcxERy6DIsG7yNsWd96ESzF6CQfXRPlgFmFNh0rjcMoyPVcxEC_FNa5XDtjSllBvwAnfXbihffQr6DOZdgJ/s1600/Pantry+Before.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwREtrf1FYVasFEg4h5yhqZIl6wpEsxkOpkPYdOY36G90I0IQ6aCcxERy6DIsG7yNsWd96ESzF6CQfXRPlgFmFNh0rjcMoyPVcxEC_FNa5XDtjSllBvwAnfXbihffQr6DOZdgJ/s320/Pantry+Before.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Pantry: Before</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</div>Sarah Brookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06982678557552940083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28204984.post-13172790043760059492012-03-16T11:00:00.000-05:002012-04-17T14:20:11.917-05:00Friday Find: Double Duty Easter Basket<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">On </span><a href="http://organizingboston.blogspot.com/2012/03/tuesday-tip-start-with-clear-surface.html" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" target="_blank">Tuesday</a><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> we mentioned that we have some new features to share more fun and useful content with you, including our new Friday Finds - great organizing products and resources that we can't help but share! Today's Friday Find comes from my friend Alison Coyle, super mom of 2 and sales consultant for </span><a href="http://www.mythirtyone.com/40370/" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" target="_blank">Thirty-One Gifts</a><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">. She recommended the Thirty-One Mini Utility Bin as an Easter basket. Brilliant!! Just add some paper Easter grass or tissue, eggs and cute or tasty treats and you're good to go. The best part is the bin can then be used for toys, dolls, arts & crafts supplies and more! Click on </span><a href="http://www.mythirtyone.com/40370/" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" target="_blank">Ali's page</a><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> if you'd like to order one or check out the other great organizing tools they offer.</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit2eOlap8KkjqsCIVGUm40lxLaoBgK0snoiR7V0dd0KbvTOZqTPoMb9_BpuUlyfBD2jVSAD-jjOvJJXTYPvm9YYN777a0WIdD4zLTHoghzcC1ehB_pQdxZ-UntRIW4i2_QGlOg/s1600/31+Gifts+Mini+Utility+Tote.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit2eOlap8KkjqsCIVGUm40lxLaoBgK0snoiR7V0dd0KbvTOZqTPoMb9_BpuUlyfBD2jVSAD-jjOvJJXTYPvm9YYN777a0WIdD4zLTHoghzcC1ehB_pQdxZ-UntRIW4i2_QGlOg/s320/31+Gifts+Mini+Utility+Tote.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Friday Find: Thirty-One Gifts Mini Utility Bin</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Sarah Brookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06982678557552940083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28204984.post-46068314281986161942012-03-13T12:35:00.000-05:002012-03-20T11:52:39.675-05:00Tuesday Tip: Start With a Clear Surface<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
We're adding a new feature, actually several, designed to help bring you useful and fun tips, products and thoughts to help with all your organizing challenges! We've also created new Topic headings on the blog to help you find what you're looking for quickly and easily. Hopefully you'll enjoy these changes! Check them out and let us know what you think. With that said, here's our first Tuesday Tip:</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<b>Start With a Clear Surface</b></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
Today's tip comes to you from our fearless leader, <a href="http://organizingboston.com/meettheteam.html" target="_blank">Sarah Buckwalter</a>, who is working on organizing her tax paperwork today. Whether you're doing your own taxes or gathering info for your tax preparer, some level of paper/receipt organizing will likely be involved. Before you start this super fun task, take a few minutes to clear off the surface you'll be working on! If you have time, put things back where they belong*, if not, at least set everything aside. Organizing W2's, 1099's and expense receipts is challenging enough - a cluttered work surface can make it downright impossible.</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">*If you don't know where things belong, it's time to get rid of them or find them a home. This is of course something your favorite professional organizer can help you with!</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7dDEx1X7xFR_LBPfIVoX_JATzo4LWWpUfQS8_nExb9ycRZPl_jD0GBLTT1MtXKp6nmlC4QjY3tM4MNj1zpON5vzF5XRZFh4WuaDeprDVgFdvI3EYiWBprcvt3IziKk_kF_nkj/s1600/Messy+Desk.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7dDEx1X7xFR_LBPfIVoX_JATzo4LWWpUfQS8_nExb9ycRZPl_jD0GBLTT1MtXKp6nmlC4QjY3tM4MNj1zpON5vzF5XRZFh4WuaDeprDVgFdvI3EYiWBprcvt3IziKk_kF_nkj/s200/Messy+Desk.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Before: Not So Clear Surface</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWoid52xuV0A5DIO_SbnjNknteJx7E4PQT5SBhBHexVeoCxw-UaXWDP6SnDNFX7QFzMF2tVoOn1cAQN747JE23ZYf-WzoKZjKFfItg9tTXG4se7gQc9XdX2Ex7uKFG8t86wX8l/s1600/Clean+Desk.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWoid52xuV0A5DIO_SbnjNknteJx7E4PQT5SBhBHexVeoCxw-UaXWDP6SnDNFX7QFzMF2tVoOn1cAQN747JE23ZYf-WzoKZjKFfItg9tTXG4se7gQc9XdX2Ex7uKFG8t86wX8l/s200/Clean+Desk.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">After: Oh So Clear and Ready for Taxes!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Sarah Brookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06982678557552940083noreply@blogger.com0