The Freshest Fridge

I hate my fridge- it's a terrible design. Freezer on top means you are always bending down, searching for food that gets lost in the back! For now, I can't change my fridge (hopefully soon!), but I can organize it better! With all the money and time spent, shopping and schlepping the groceries from store to car to home, we want our products to last as long as possible and in this month's Real Simple, a quick guide caught my eye- how to organize the fridge so that the food stays the freshest. Some of the tips surprised me - you may have to change your habits a little (no more milk on the door) but this plan will save you time, money and a little aggravation.

1. Eggs- place them on the middle shelf and store in the original carton!
2. Milk- although may land on the top shelf, but should be on the bottom- all the way in back where its coldest.
3. Yogurt, sour cream/cottage cheese-on the bottom again, here's a tip, place on a turntable to keep everything accessible.
4. Raw meat- if not in freezer, bottom shelf again where its coldest.
5. Vegetables- place in drawer labeled for veggies or highest humidity- keep in plastic bag loosely tied.
6. Fruit- belongs in low humidity or cisper drawer, leave unwashed and do not mix with the vegetables.
7. Deli meats-  belong in the shallow meat drawer- keeping meats slightly colder then rest of fridge.
8. Butter and soft cheese- can live on the door, which is the warmest part of fridge.
9. Condiments- ketchup, mayonnaise and salad dressing are fine on the door. So are pickles and salsa- olive and vegetable oils can remain in the pantry.
10. Orange juice- that can stay on the door too as long as it's pasteurized.

These will help keep all food fresh and organized!

It's App Easy!

It has begun! Get settled and buckle up! Whatever your fall involves, the lazy days of summer have faded fast and now we have turned our attention to organizing  schedules, homework, dinners, practices, activities etc Need some help keeping it all straight? Here are a few Apps, courtesy of the September issue of Parents magazine, that will help you navigate your family's year and the best part is they work on Apple and Android and are all free!

1. School A to Z- This will help you answer your student's homework questions and even gives project suggestions!
2. OverDrive Media Console- You will be able to "borrow" e- books from a selection of public and school libraries!
3. Need some new lunch ideas or a meal you can get to together fast? Allrecipes.com Dinner Spinner can help with thousands of options!
4. RedLaser- Save time and money on shopping with this app. Scan the item's bar code and it compares online and in store prices to locate the best deals!!
5.Cozi Family Organizer- This app will keep everyone in the loop with reminders for homework, appointments and games sent out from the shared family calender.
6. TeamSnap- School starts in the fall but so do sports! This app will allow you to organize your game schedules, contacts for the players, stats and other info. It is free, but after a trial period, there is a fee.
7. Marble Jar- For the little ones- this app reinforces independence and responsibility. Break  down goals into small steps and every time they practice good behavior, they will add marbles into the jar!!

For a small fee, 2 more to think about! World Atlas by National Geographic-  put the best maps in the palm of your hand! Also Flashcards+, create digital flashcards easily and study almost anything! Tap into an database with over 8 million decks covering many topics.

Easy As One, Two, Three!!

I have been on a long summer break- and its been wonderful! Although at times, it has been packed full of activities and running around, long, warm days and a loose schedule makes me happy. I always get a little melancholy this time of year- I want to squeeze every outdoor moment out of late August even when you know its time for a change- kids are ready to get into a routine and head into another school year.
With Fall looming, we are reminded that there are organizing projects we have put off - heading to the beach is a much better choice then De-cluttering your closet in July! But now its almost time to face it! What obstacles stand in our way? The editor of Storage magazine summed it up very well- "Money, time and space. Almost all storage problems stem from a lack of one or more of these elements."
So which is it for you? Does a small closet leave you little options or do you think clearing out the basement will take you months? Fortunately if you can identify which element is really limiting you then you can begin to work around it with creative problem solving and find better success. Here are some strategies  to help you get over these hurdles.
Money- There is NO reason to spend a lot on organizational products. Lots of discount stores and magazines have plenty of suggestions and ideas for almost any project. The Internet is another unbeatable source- with so many sites, you can find what you need for a great price. Always start with the basics, Target, Homegoods, Container Store, Ikea have many great options at great prices.
Time- Never enough of it- of course. We all lead busy lives, but carving out smaller amounts of time to tackle projects is much more manageable. When I work with a client, 2 hours seems to be the limit- beyond that you loose your focus and any task will seem overwhelming. Don't expect it all to get done at once!
Space- This may be the hardest element to overcome and where creativity must play a vital role! Many of us will not be reconstructing closets and kitchens to create more space so what to do? Purge!! Try to make as much room as possible and then shop. Many organizational products are designed to maximize your space and efficiency! Get a handle on these 3 obstacles and get ready to transform your storage dreams into reality!

The Tag Sale

Now many of us have begun spring cleaning which now will inspire you to hold a garage/tag sale. It's a great way to declutter your home and make a little money at the same time! It does however take some pre-planning and organization. The following tips should get you going and hopefully deliver a successful tag sale!




Set the Right Day and Time-Now is a great time into early summer- skip August when most people are on vacation, but keep September in mind! Saturday is the best day and get ready to be up at dawn- serious shoppers come early!!




Consider a Multi-family Sale. 
Encourage friends and family to participate, ask them to help out the day of the sale and give them a specific task. Also inform neighbors, if they want to have one as well then share the marketing efforts- more sales will draw bigger crowds.




Organize and Price Items to Sell.  
Schedule some time to go thru rooms- especially a basement or attic and make a list of items you wish to sell.  Make notes about prices for items and if you have no idea check out Ebay and Craigslist to see what similar items are going for. Set up a holding area  for the items that you are selling- this is typically the garage. Arrange smaller, like items together  in clear bins and label ( DVDS, 2$) Try to just label tables, bins or racks- it will save you tons of time!







Supplies Needed For the Sale.  
On the day of, these items are great to have on hand. Shopping bags or boxes so items can be carried away easily, A calculator for adding up sales , extension cords plugged in to show that items work, tape measure, pens, trash can and a cash box. A hip pack or apron with pockets to hold cash is great to wear as well.hand. 

Advertise the Sale.

Create a listing one week prior to the sale on Facebook. It’s free!

Make signs to be placed at large intersections near your home. Signage should include the date of the sale, your address {cross streets can be helpful too} and the sale hours.  

Inquire about placing ads with various local newspapers. Ask how many words, how much it will cost and when you need to submit the information by. 

 

Display items
Organize your items and display them in an  easy-to-view format.
 Use clothing racks to hang items such as dresses, jackets and suits. Group clothing according to size. Place like items together and make signs so customers can easily find what they are looking for (i.e books, dishes, baby clothes)

Fun for the Kids.

 Encourage older kids to earn extra cash by selling donuts, bagels or cookies.

 Want to get rid of all those stuffed animals?? Set out a box of gently used stuffed animals labeled “FREE! Kids Take One” for customers with young children, this is a great way to pass them along! 

After the Sale.

 Do not bring any unsold items back into your garage instead pack up unsold  items and drive them to the closest donation center.

 Place larger unsold items curbside with a “FREE” sign.

 Schedule a date and time for one of the local thrift stores to pick up items that did not sell or were too big to haul away.

Remove all posted signs from the neighborhood.

 

Guess what?- there is even an App ( of course) for tag sales- check out igaragesale- it lets you locate garage sales of interest near you for free!!!

Back to Basics

We all need a little review once in a while and since this the season of purging, I wanted to reiterate the 4 easy steps that everyone should follow when clearing any space. An organization project can be overwhelming, but remember organizing is a process and you want results that will last. 
Time and Supplies- set aside enough time to make progress without feeling knocked out! Its better to approach a project thru many small sessions- your ability to make decisions will be clearer. 
Have boxes or bags nearby- ready and labeled, common ideas are, keep, donate, sell, trash or relocate.
Step 1: Empty Yes take it all out! You have to see what's there so you can organize it correctly. Do not empty a room all at once. Pick  a small spot to start with, drawers, shelves, closets etc- 
Step 2: Sort Start to place these items into categories you have created for the bins and bags, make decisions quickly- this is key to letting the clutter go. Ask yourself, do I like this? Do I use it? Pair down if you have many of the same item- keep the ones that are most useful or sentimental.
Step 3: Shop Yeah, finally!!! now you are ready to get the right bins and baskets because you know what your keeping and where it will be stored. Try a few different choices to see what fits and looks best!
Step 4: Reassemble Store your items where you use them. Position yourself in front of the drawer or cabinet and reach out in all directions- are the most used items accessible?? Don't be afraid to change something around if it was not working, organization is about neatness, but also ease!!

It's About Time

Time is always ticking. There is no way around that, but recently I read an article that made me stop and give some serious thought about how we should use our time. In the April issue of Real Simple, one article focuses particularly on women and time. Surprise, women today have less free time then ever! According to the Real Simple survey conducted by Harris Interactive, 1/2 of women say they do not have enough and working is not to blame- our families and households are. We are doing all the chores and rarely delegate to our partners. We create an endless to do list of domestic duties and guilt ourselves into spending every free moment "doing" for our families. When we finally do get some leisure time, it is often "contaminated"- (perfect word!) You either combine a leisure activity with housework/childcare (like laundry and reading a book) Or your time is continuously interrupted!  You finally take a seat and someone suddenly needs something- you didn't even get a chance to take a deep breath!!

So what to do? We have to get a handle on creating and enjoying sustained free time. Before you can attempt to organize your house- destressing and uncluttering your brain is the most important area you could clear. Keep these ideas in mind!
1. Shift your standards- thinking we can get it all done all the time will make you miserable because it just won't happen. Prioritize time for yourself even if chores are left undone.
2. Delegate- we all need to get better at this! Let your spouse/kids take on some chores or if you can, hire some help!
3.Schedule Free Time- What ever it is- the gym, a movie, lunch with a friend get it on the calendar and stick to it, you will feel more content and satisfied.

So what do you really want to do? Shop, hit the spa, nap or just be alone! Pick it and start carving out the time to do so. Real simple has included a great way to get started! At realsimple.com/womenandtime, you can create a pie chart to see how you really spend your day, share with your family. Acquire the best strategies for getting your kids and husbands to do their fair share at home and tips on how to create a much more realistic to do list! 

Spring into Action

It is almost my favorite time of year- March can be a little unpredictable, but so far it has been pretty great! I am still holding my breath though-overnight we can go from 65 degrees to flurries. Never the less, it is time for some almost spring cleaning! If you own a house you know the outside needs attention too, the lawn, the pruning, the deck furniture etc. But since a outside cleanup may still be weeks away, let's look inside. Martha Stewart composed a list that is quite extensive, but I took her most useful and important tips to create a Spring must do- clearing out key spaces in your home will make everything feel renewed!


Get some basics for cleaning! Kitchens and bathrooms could use a serious scrub down. White vinegar, Bon Ami powder cleanser, Method Glass and surface cleaner and Caldrea cleaning cloths, ( love their sponges too) These supplies will give any room a fresh start.

New season- new clothes!!! If you are on the verge of changing over your closets and relocating winter clothes- please have the donate bag nearby!  If you have not worn the item in 2 winters or it is now out of style or does not fit, let it go! 

Now that the closet has more room, shelf dividers are a great way to keep your sweaters from falling on your jeans or keeping handbags separate from your t-shirts.  You can even get ones that will divide and give you 2 levels of space! (check out containerstore.com)

You know the pantry could use a overhaul- consolidate small items into categories, bins or baskets can contain like items together. Throw out expired or stale items. Invest in canisters- they are great storage for keeping food fresh and they will give any pantry a polished look.

Last but not least- the garage! It is a big job, but just start small. Store the winter items, shovels, snow blowers, skis and sleds. If you have room, move them into the basement.  Gather the garden tools together- take inventory of updates you may need, ( gloves, small tools, soil, seeds) Some outdoor furniture may be ready to be wiped down and go out- leaving more room . Spring sports equipment and large yard tools  should be hung - use pegboards, shelves, and hooks. Go vertical whenever possible!