Kids collect trophies, ribbons, plaques, medals and paper plate awards by the buckets! My young son’s collection is manageable but we are less scheduled than your average family. Fewer activities definitely means fewer items to display and store.Inevitably, empty nesters and their adult children will find themselves digging through boxes of ribbons and trophies wondering what to do with old trophies. And what I usually hear is that no one wants the stuff. Especially the children who actually earned the awards. As an organizer and minimalist, I encounter this often with my clients. And it tends to be more difficult for the parents to part with the items. If you find yourself struggling to let go of these items and with adult children who just want you to throw it all out, take a breathe. I encourage you to respect their decision and give them the items to handle as they see fit. And yes, that may be the trash can.Sentimental ItemsWhen it comes to all sentimental stuff, like trophies, I …
Empty Nesters: 10 Simple Tips to Help You Declutter and Downsize
Almost Empty Nesters We'll be empty nesters next year. As our son enters his final year of high school, I realize how quickly this is becoming a reality. And now that he's driving and doing things on his own, I often joke that we're practicing being empty nesters. With this experience, I feel even more connected to my clients who are already empty nesters. And to those who, like me, can see that their kids won't be living under their roof much longer. I think I always knew that the "days would be long and the years would be short." But I guess I just didn't realize how very short they are. I have sincerely loved every phase of raising a family and building a career, two careers actually. But I firmly believe that living a life with less stuff and more contentment made it all the better. So as we embark on our third act of life, I plan to declutter and downsize even more. And help as many empty nesters and working women as I can along the way. Decluttering …
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How to Get Organized for the Holidays Now 🌲
Last year, a friend admitted she didn't want to decorate for the holidays because she had too many decorations. They overwhelm her to the point she'd rather leave them in the storage room. I understand why she feels this way and even how she got to this point in her life. I've seen it in so many homes and I know she is not alone. Recently, I stopped at a big-box store to pick up trash bags. At the front door, I was greeted by a display of oversized Christmas decorations and Halloween too. And my first thought was, where do people store these things? The Holidays We watch the advertisements running. Decorations pop up everywhere. Christmas candy and novelties line the grocery store aisles. Like it or not, we are entering that time known as “let’s circle back after the holidays.” The holidays….sigh. Thanksgiving and Christmas are lumped together into a period of 6 weeks that so many people just hope to survive. What if this year was different? What if you celebrated a …
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5 Easy Ways to Organize Recipes with Evernote
Do you feel like you have endless recipes books, recipes cards and internet log ins? But no idea where to find that amazing recipes you made last year? I'm a fan of digital organization for many things but it is especially useful when it comes to recipe organization. I love Evernote for Recipe Organization. Evernote will help you "Tame your work and organize your life." It can help you manage projects, tasks and your schedule in oneplace. I have been using the Note and Notebook feature for years. I prefer other tools for project management and my calendar but if you're just getting started, Evernote could be a great one stop shop for you. Today, I'm just focusing on how I use my favorite Notebook, my recipes. Evernote allows you to save various formats of your recipes in one place. And I can rely on the info synced across all my devices including my phone, iPad, and laptop. This means I'm never away for Thanksgiving without access to my apple pie …
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How to Declutter and Organize for a Home Remodel
You signed the contract. The remodel is happening. And your dream kitchen will soon become a reality. Demo Day Now Demo Day is fast approaching and you're wondering, where will I put all this stuff? Not to mention, how to prepare meals? In the garage? Maybe the basement? Unfortunately, I've seen many clients wait until the last minute, box everything up, and pile it in a corner. Then, dig through boxes for months looking for items they need. Instead, spend a little time organizing and decluttering the contents thoughtfully. Consider before, during, and after the remodel. Here are some tips to keep you organized. Before the Remodel Start easy. Declutter with a clean sweep of the room. Use the Demo Day deadline as motivation. Walk through the kitchen and fill three boxes labeled Trash, Donate, and Relocate. Open every cabinet and drawer but move quickly. Set a timer. Be decisive. Trash/Recycle - Mismatched plastic containers, chipped glasses, extra lids, …
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3 Easy Steps to Create a Clutter-Free and Organized Bathroom
Do you have half-used bottles of shampoo under the bathroom sink? Or perhaps a cluttered countertop overrun with lotions and potions. What about that really expensive beauty product that you didn't like but can't bring yourself to throw away. Does any of this sound familiar? It's ok. You are not alone. Bathroom clutter should be very easy to manage because most of the items are consumables. Yet somehow, linen closets and cabinets are usually filled to the brim. And if you cannot use your toiletries fast enough, they expire, or change composition and thus become unusable. By keeping all this clutter, you might just be delaying the inevitable and making it really difficult to keep your bathroom clean and organized. But what if we tried a different approach? What if you could see everything under the bathroom sink? And you had organized drawers and cabinets with the make-up and toiletries you use daily? Think about how much simpler it would be to get ready in the morning. What if …
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