Finding Hidden Storage Areas in Your Home

It doesn't make any difference if you have a small efficiency apartment or a large 2500 square foot home, we all run out of storage areas in our home. Do you know that you have a lot more room than you thought to store things and still stay organized?

The first thing that you should consider is your lifestyle. In what rooms do you use specific items, and where can you increase the storage in that area. Like in the living room - you may want a comforter handy for cold winter nights or overnight guests, tuck away magazines out of sight, or have a hidden area for toys. But unfortunately, you have no room to add a storage shelf or cabinet. These ideas may benefit you;
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Favourite Organising Tools #4 - Masking Tape

I saw this excellent tip from Deniece Schofield’s book, Confessions of an Organized Homemaker, when I read it 5 years ago. And I have used it since – in fact, I’m still using the same roll of masking tape!

If you haven’t read this book yet, do yourself a favour and read it.

Masking tape makes the easiest labelling tool ever. Why?
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The Pursuit of Perfectionism

We get inspiration from the strangest places, don’t we?

Have you ever seen a little hand-beaded vintage handbag? You know, the ones that proper Victorian ladies would carry with then? They have the most beautifully intricate designs woven into them - floral patterns and geometric shapes. Such incredibly meticulous craftsmanship – perfection!

Well, almost.

Have you ever seen one with an odd and very out of place white bead somewhere in the pattern? Could the expert craftswoman who made this delicate beauty have made such a mistake?
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3 Steps to Easy Grocery Shopping

I LOVE grocery shopping.

I love browsing through the cleaning products aisle and looking through all the gorgeous fresh fruit and vegetables to see if anything inspires me to cook.

The only thing is - it wasn't working for me. Why?

Because it took FOREVER to do and I'd still get home without everything I needed and have exceeded our grocery budget!
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Do You Have DLS: Disorganized Life Syndrome?

Symptoms: messy tendencies, packrat feelings, mental confusion, lack of order, constantly losing things, loss of control, depression, high anxiety, feelings of hopelessness and a massive feeling of the world closing in on you.

Sound like you? Almost all of us go through this several times a year - especially around spring and fall cleaning times.
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The Story of Stuff

A friend emailed me a link to the wonderful site
The story of stuff. Annie Leonard did a great job of describing the story of our stuff; from extraction to disposal. I’m an environmentalist and encourage my clients to recycle and make other “green” choices. Her twenty minute movie has raised the bar. Now I want to do even more. Go see it now!

The Evil and Catch-All Notebooks

This is in response to Marcia Francois's post a few days ago - My Favourite Organising Tools #1 - Notebooks.

I, too, looove notebooks! Michael's Arts & Crafts carries a variety in their dollar bins - you can't beat 'em.

But I have notebooks for everything and friends and family muse as to how I can keep track of stuff in so many notebooks.
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A Trick for Better Memory

I would be lost without lists.

I keep a running grocery list on the fridge. I keep a general to-do list on the first page of my planner and my daily to-do list is on a sticky note on the front cover. I keep a prioritized list of long term to-do’s (pet vaccinations, auto servicing, etc.) in the “notes” section of my planner, and then I write all my appointments in the monthly calendar section (I prefer monthly to weekly so I can plan ahead better).

But every once in a while I find myself somewhere without my purse and no pen and paper handy, and something mildly important that I need to remember – ack!

That’s when I use the power of association.
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Get Organized for Tax Season!

TAXES. The very word is cringe-worthy! But no matter how much you dread them…how long you procrastinate on doing them…how often you put off calling your tax adviser…eventually, taxes must be done!

Thankfully, there are products created specifically for the tax hater in all of us. Products like the Buttoned Up® Tax Filer™ (available online here) are designed to help us get organized for tax season and eliminate the stress associated with the April 15th deadline!
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Indecisiveness Equals Clutter

The reason many of us have clutter is because we are indecisive.

1. We bring in a pile of mail, don't want to decide what to throw away so we just put it somewhere to decide later.

What is that called? Clutter!
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What’s for Dinner?

The other day I looked in the fridge and found a bunch of miscellaneous ingredients and was trying to decide how to morph them into dinner. I went to my computer and typed in my secret weapon: Allrecipes.com. After typing my ingredients into the search box I was given a bunch of possibilities. This site is made up of a community of cooks that submit recipes and photos. It’s also a forum for comments. Sometimes the comments are pivotal in deciding if it’s the right recipe for our family or if someone else’s additions or corrections sound like a good idea.
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The De-Cluttering Transformation

Our recently befriended neighbor across the street is 70 years old and without any family to speak of. For years, she cleaned her own house and did her own shopping without help. It was wearing on her, though. Her age and her weight made it difficult to do things the way she wanted them done. The clutter slowly took over her home, which led to depression. When we first met her a few months ago, she was mired in clutter, sleeping all the time, and barely leaving her house.
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My Favourite Organising Tools #1 - Notebooks

This is a new series that I'll be posting on the blog, one post per week.

Why do I love notebooks and pens?
It is easier to jot some notes down immediately without losing the thought than to have to try to remember it.
I have notebooks all over the house, one next to my bed, one on the entrance hall table, one in my handbag, one in the car, etc.

Some uses for notebooks:

1. Notes for your helper or gardener
2. To-do lists
3. To-blog lists
4. Client notes
5. Meeting notes
6. Great ideas - business and other
7. Recipes to try

What else do you use notebooks for?

Product of the Week: Stacking Bins

We recently added the cutest little stacking bins to our Stacks and Stacks website!

These handy little bins come in three different sizes; small, medium and large. They're made from a hard but not brittle plastic that's super chip resistant and crystal clear. They're great for CDs, craft or office supplies, seasoning packets in the kitchen, in the bathroom for hair ties.

Their only limit is your imagination!

Organize Your Life While Watching TV!

You can have all of those small chores that you don't usually have time for finished in no time at all. It will be easy to do - instead of counting days to get a job done, you can count how many TV shows it will take for you to reach your goal!

How many times have you said, "I don't have time to get all of the 'little jobs’ done around the house?"
Just think of all of the things that you can do while watching your favorite TV show! You can have all of the little chores finished in a show or two instead of a week or two.

Sewing hems and small rips in clothing

There are some things that just hold up better when they are sewn by hand, but who has the time? You do! It will only take one-half hour show to get it done!
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Clobber Clutter

Are you frustrated by the surface clutter that accumulates in your home? It doesn’t take long for piles to develop. And if you turn your back on them they start to grow. Here are five habits that will help you outsmart the mess.

1) Only handle papers once. It’s sometimes called the OHIO rule (only handle it once.) Don’t set things down “for a minute.” That’s where the trouble starts. It’s too easy to be distracted by a project, person or phone call. Once you walk away from it, you may forget to put it away.
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Command Center in a Basket

Yesterday Michelle asked how to set up a Command Center.

There are so many ways. I decided to show mine because it is compact and fairly inexpensive.

I bought a basket and popped two three-ring binders into it. One binder is for all of our family information. The other is my recipe binder.

I also have a section in the back with a few file folders for things that I don’t want to hole punch.
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Is Your Laundry Room Organized?

Unless you are very fortunate (and already very organized), your laundry room is probably like most; small, and one of the last places you think of organizing. But when you think about it, it’s a vital room to keep on top of. Since I have no garage or hall closet, my laundry room is cleaning and storage central for our home. When it’s disorganized, that feeling of chaos spreads to all my other tasks as well.

Here are a few tips for organizing that all-important room:

   • Make the most of your walls - Items like a mop and broom rack, an ironing board rack and fold-out laundry hanger will give you the most bang for your buck and make the most of your otherwise unused wall space.
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Stair-Steppin’ for the Environment

Some people resist taking measures to live a low-impact lifestyle because they’re afraid it will be too hard. They’re not interested in saying goodbye to convenience, splurges and fun to adopt a tough, pioneer-style existence.

I’m here to say, “That isn’t the only choice.”

You don’t have to start out selling your car and turning off your electricity!

This is a process much like climbing stairs. In my mind, I visualize a massive staircase like the one in Chichen itza, Mexico (see picture). It looks overwhelming at first, but as you take it one step at a time you make fast progress. If you climb too fast or if you get winded you can always stop and rest. If you’re climbing with someone else, you might need to pause and wait for them to catch up. Start slowly and keep climbing.
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FREE ebook for You - 100 Surefire Ideas to Organize Your Busy Life

I got together with 3 awesome business owners and we put together this 40-page book in record time. Nothing like group excitement and accountability to get us moving! I am so proud of how this turned out and I know you're going to LOVE it!

You can get your copy of this gorgeous FREE book at http://organiseyourbusiness.com.

Let me give you just a little hint about what's in there:
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Organizing Your Work Day

Karen Henke told me yesterday that she was surprised at all I do here for Stacks and Stacks and Clutter Control Freak. Well, all I really do is manage an office and staff of six, manage a blog, write posts, create site banners and promotional emails, manage our Amazon storefront, monitor site reviews, update web pages and products on our website, and put out the occasional fire (figuratively speaking, of course). Not too bad, right? (At least I’m never bored!) Wanna know how I do it?
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A Salute to William Morris

“Have nothing in your home that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.”

I’m sure when he uttered those words in the mid 1800’s, he had no idea he would be the most quoted man in organizing circles more than a hundred years later. His words cut to the heart of organizing. He simply encouraged others to shift their direction–to move toward simplicity.

Imagine if everyone owned only what was meaningful or useful! They would have more time, more money and less stress; because possessions bring responsibility which requires time and money.

Getting to the Root of Clutter

You are determined this time. You’re going to organize your home and KEEP it organized. Then, before you realize what’s happened, your home has succumbed to chaos again in just a few short weeks. How many of you find yourselves in this endless cycle? I know I do.

When you really think about it, clutter is so much more than that stack of papers or the clothes you no longer wear. Clutter is the dozens of different distractions you are bombarded with every day. Clutter is ANYTHING that is preventing you from living a simple, beautiful, and harmonious life. Unhealthy relationships and negative beliefs about yourself are forms of emotional clutter that can sap your energy and dampen your spirit.
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Cutting Back On Clutter Calories

At some point, you’ve probably seen Peter Walsh dishing out his organizing advice on Oprah or on TLC’s Clean Sweep. His latest book is called Does This Clutter Make My Butt Look Fat? An Easy Plan for Consuming Less and Living More. Here’s a short description of the book, courtesy of its publisher Simon and Schuster:

“When it comes to clearing clutter, it isn't about the stuff itself; it's about the life you want to live…

Using his expert techniques honed from years as a clutter expert and organizational consultant, Peter demonstrates…how to clean up not just the spaces…but the routines around them…

Peter knows all the pitfalls and in Does This Clutter Make My Butt Look Fat?, he gives you the tools (and courage) you need to get over all your excuses, [and] face the issues…”
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Earth Friendly Cleaning

We all want to do our part in keeping the Earth free of bacteria and still have it smell fresh, and there are ways we can do just that without the dangerous fumes! Just think of all of the unnatural odors that we already contend with on a daily basis; gas fumes, cigarette smoke, pet odors, smells from outdoor wood furnaces, odors from factories.

Cleaning supplies on the market are too numerous to mention and all claim to be 'bacteria cleaning agents'. I wonder how great, great grandma lived to be so old without having some of these in her cabinet. However, she must have used something to keep the houseclean and smelling fresh; I wonder what it could have been. Let’s see, there wasn't any Lysol, any 409 or Mr. Clean, and Clorox with bleach wasn't in existence. How did that woman do it?
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Resolution Success!

The biggest New Year’s resolution I have is to get healthy. Well, let me get specific (thanks Jan!). I have three daily goals:

1. Eat 35 grams of fiber every day
2. Drink 2 liters of water every day
3. Go for a walk every day

I have a basic knowledge of what foods are high in fiber and I plan my shopping for my breakfasts and lunches around that. I keep a fiber chart handy at work (which is where I wind up doing most of my eating). When I get to work, I write all the foods I brought down on a sticky note with the grams of fiber listed next to each. I make sure it adds up to at least 30 grams (I figure I’ll get the last 5 grams with dinner). If it doesn’t, I write down how many fiber capsules I need to take by the end of the day to reach 30 grams. As I eat each thing on my list, I cross it off.
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The Key to Organizing: Do it Now!

“It's often not the big things that stop us but the little things that we just don't get around to. But little things done consistently can have a profound impact on your business.”
Robert Middleton

I read this quote designed to inspire business people to get busy marketing themselves and their products. And as often happens, my thoughts turned to organizing.
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Keeping Up With Receipts

I bought a pair of sandals some time ago. They looked very cute but the straps on the top of the foot were very uncomfortable.

I decided to return them and within a minute or two, had retrieved the receipt from FOUR months ago.

I could find the receipt easily because I do 5 specific things to keep my receipts organised and in order.

1. Have a specific place in your wallet just for receipts
I have two sections in my wallet so I keep cash separate from paper. I also always keep the credit card slip on top of the receipt and always add new receipts to the back of that section.
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8 Signs Your Home is Out of Control — and What to Do About It

It happens without warning. One day you notice your home has turned into a collage of papers, junk, and stuff – everywhere. You’re not alone. Today more than ever it seems that the flotsam and jetsam of living, like the waves of an ocean, continually beat at our doors, flooding our houses with all manner of stuff until our homes are bulging at the seams. A typical home is now cluttered and dirty to the point of exhaustion. All this accumulation also makes going home or being at home, a cause for dread because we’re overwhelmed by the sheer volume of things surrounding us. Can you relate?

Kathryn Weber has written an incredibly helpful article on Bellaonline.com called 8 Signs Your Home is Out of Control — and What to Do About It.

The eight signs are:
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Three De-cluttering Tricks.

1) Shift your thinking. Think of your home as a haven. I think of our home as an oasis from the madness of the world. It’s where I feel safe and secure and let my hair down. In order to feel perfectly comfortable, I know I can‘t have piles of stuff that act as a constant reminder of all the work I have left to do. Since I view my home in this way, I’m less likely to let it get too cluttered.

2) Stay motivated. While working on a decluttering project, I frequently return to the areas that I have already cleaned or organized. That little backward glance makes me feel good about what I’ve accomplished and makes me want to accomplish more.
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