Ready to get your gardening groove back on, but you’re unable to find your tools? A little organization will enable you to spend more time in the soil and less time searching. Here are the dos and don’ts of organizing gardening tools. Do make it a habit to weed out your supplies on a regular basis.…
Does the thought of holding a garage sale give you goosebumps or cause you to break out into a cold sweat? Garage sales were an annual event during my childhood. My mom thought they were fun and would select household items throughout the year to set aside for the summer sale. My tips will help…
Do you have a family member or friend graduating this year? Here are some unique and fun gift ideas for every graduate, that will be clutter-free and useful. Cold hard cash is always appreciated. If you want a clever way to present the cash, the Internet is a good place to search for ideas. (My…
Steer clear of three common mistakes when organizing children’s outdoor toys. 1. Adding without subtracting. Edit their toys once or twice a year (spring and fall). Start by gathering their outdoor equipment and placing it in one area. Now your family has a visual inventory and will notice if there are any unnecessary multiples. Schools and…
It’s not easy to stay on top of school papers. It enters your home via backpacks and then migrates to the kitchen counter and table. What do you do to prevent a paper pile up? My No. 1 suggestion is to be choosy about the papers you keep. Consider these questions. Can you find the…
Besides your everyday linens, you may be the owner of holiday-themed towels, table linens and seasonal bedding. There are options, besides closets, for storing and organizing linens. Have you looked under your beds lately? There could be less important items under there that you’ve forgotten about and no longer want to own. If you decide…
How do you work up the courage to let some of your belongings go? If you contact me for hands-on organizing assistance, I will ask you if you’re ready to let go and edit your things. It’s crucial for you to be in the right frame of mind in order to have a less cluttered,…
Downsizing for a loved one before a move to assisted living or other senior housing is more challenging when he or she isn’t able to wholly participate in the downsizing process. You can get through it with the following measures. Start sooner rather than later when helping sort and edit things. Shorter work sessions are…
Gifts can be meaningful and fun without adding more stuff to the recipient’s life. If this is important to you but you need some inspiration, use this list. Many of these gifts are available online which is perfect for last-minute shoppers. Days of Meaningful, Clever Gift Ideas A one-year membership to Amazon Prime for the music,…
What do you give the person who has everything…..or the person that literally has EVERY-thing?! You may be reluctant to add more stuff to their life but want to express your love or gratitude. Consider gifts that are temporary, for example, consumables or seasonal plants that have a short lifespan (especially at my house…
Homeowners in the Midwest are fortunate to have additional living and storage space in our basements. Basements can also be the most cluttered space in our homes because they are a super convenient area to squirrel away things we are undecided about. But basements have limits, and even though the clutter is hidden, it…
It isn’t easy to part with furniture, antiques, collectibles and other inherited family heirlooms. That’s OK unless your sentimentality has maxed out your basement storage or required long-term rental of an off-site storage unit. You would think it would be simple to let these family pieces go when they don’t fit in our space or…
In addition to hands-on organizing with my clients, my other life-long passion is nutrition and working out. I’m not talking about hardcore, sweat-fest workouts (I don’t like to sweat) but workouts that keep me strong and healthy. My office is also my workout space because I find it more convenient. I don’t have to…