'Time to Give the Kitchen a Clean Sweep' - Akron Beacon Journal

Last week, I received a call from Lisa Abraham, food writer for the Akron Beacon Journal. She was doing a story on getting the kitchen cleaned up and organized after a hectic holiday season, and I was more than happy to pitch in with advice I've shared with clients, past and present - clients who know all too well how much the holidays can contribute to kitchen clutter.

Photo by Karen Schiely/Akron Beacon Journal

You can read the whole story here. And if you feel like your kitchen is ready for an organizing overhaul, give me a call and schedule your free in-home needs assessment. We'll tour your own "holiday workshop" and talk about how you can clear the clutter and turn your kitchen into a comfy place to cook, dine and relax with family and friends.

Wall Baskets for Seasonal Storage {Massillon, OH, Home Organizer}

A few weeks ago, I posted a photo of our own shoe storage solution on the back of the door that leads from our garage into the house. I received a few questions about the wire storage baskets on the wall and wanted to share a little bit more about that part of our "entryway."

When we come into the house from the garage, we are greeted with only a small landing, with stairs leading up to the kitchen or down to the basement on either side. There's not enough room for a bench, coat rack or cubbies, so we used our vertical wall space (ALL of it) to give ourselves a place for everything we might need as we head out the door.

The wire wall baskets (like these) are my favorite part. We purchased them at Lowe's a few years ago, and while I couldn't find them on their web site, they do still sell something similar.

We just screwed them directly into the wall, and during this time of year, they are a quick and easy catch-all for our hats, gloves and other cold-weather accessories. In the summer, they are perfect for our sunglasses, bottles of sunscreen and bug repellent, and small swimming accessories.

My daughter has some adorable sweaters and light jackets that are hung with hangers through the wire baskets. I even keep a couple of cute headbands here because I'm much more likely to think about them at the last minute. As an added bonus, the last thing we see before heading out the door are all those cute little accessories that make having a 3-year-old daughter that much more fun...

Heels Up High - {Canton/Akron Home Organizer}

Photo Source: www.pinterest.com

I just came across another idea for organizing shoes, and I think it's brilliant. You'll need to be a bit handy to pull it off (or have a handy friend or family member), but for about $20, you can create great little shelf for your heels. Not only will they stay organized, but they're literally right at your fingertips when you're getting ready for a night out!

The instructions are simple, and you can find them here.

Organizing Inspiration - SHOES! {Canton/Akron Home Organizer}

Thank you to everyone who has donated shoes to Soles 4 Souls. I am happy to pick up any shoes that you would like to donate during the month of December. And don't forget: Donate 10 or more pairs, and you will be entered into a drawing for a free organizing session! Details in my previous post...

I encourage you to take 20 minutes to sort through your shoes and bag up the ones you no longer need. And if you have just a little more time, why not organize the shoes you are keeping?!?! Use these photos and products below to inspire you!

Photo Source: www.flickr.com

I saw the first snowflakes of the winter this morning, which means that wet boots will be an issue very soon. If you have room for those boots in your garage, use an inexpensive floor mat to designate a home for them. If you plan to store your boots in the house, use a large old sheet tray and some aquarium pebbles to keep all that melting snow off your floor.

Photo Source: www.organize.com

If you are running out of space for your shoes, try a floor-to-ceiling shoe tree!

Photo Source: www.flickr.com

Cubbies and shelves in your closet will keep your shoes visible, making it easier to pick the perfect pair for a night out.

Photo Source: www.ikea.com

This awesome space-saver from Ikea has four drawers that tilt down to reveal a handy home for your shoes. Its slim design makes it the perfect solution for small spaces.

In my own home, we enter the house through the garage, where there is only the smallest of landings before stairs that lead up to the kitchen. To make the most of the space, we use an over-the-door shoe organizer like this one from Target.

Believe it or not, the shoe rack doesn't move around or make it difficult to get in and out through that door. And now, our shoes are right there where we need them when it's time to head out the door.

Donate Your Shoes & You Could Win a FREE Organizing Session!!!

Photo Source: www.soles4souls.org

As a member of our local NAPO (National Association of Professional Organizers) chapter, I am excited to be participating in a Soles4Souls challenge to help collect shoes for those in need. I've already raided my own closets, and now I could use YOUR help!

If you live in or around my own home here in Canton, Ohio, and you have new or gently worn shoes that you can share with someone in need, I will happily collect them from you! Just bag them up, give me a call (330.806.4620) or send an e-mail to Jamie(at)CandCorganizing.com, and I will come collect them!

AND everyone who donates at least 10 pairs of shoes will be entered into a drawing for one FREE Calm & Collected organizing session* (up to 2 hours) with me!

To learn more about Soles4Souls and all they've done since starting up in 2005, please check out their web site at www.soles4souls.org.

* Organizing session good between Jan. 4, 2012 & March 31, 2012.

Photo Source: www.soles4souls.org

Organize Your Holiday Shopping - {Stark County Home Organizer}

Photo Source: www.flickr.com

With bits of Halloween still mixed in with my home decor, I am not feeling quite ready yet to begin my holiday shopping. But with Christmas just 44 days away, it is definitely time to plan for that shopping.

Check out these resources for helping you devise your plan of attack, stick to your budget, and still have fun shopping for your loved ones:

* "Simplify Your Holiday Shopping" - My favorite tip? Shop for each family instead of every individual separately.

* Printable Christmas Planner Pages - Are you totally Type A? Then, why not create your ultimate Christmas planner?!?

* Must-have Holiday 2011 Shopping Apps - Have you ever heard of ShopSavvy? If not, you'll love this handy app for finding the product you want at the best possible price!

* "Holiday Gift Ideas for Everyone on Your List" - This is the ultimate list of gift ideas for anyone and everyone you will be shopping for. Check it out!

Happy Shopping!!!

Photo Source: www.wallcoo.net

A Haunted Home for Halloween

My husband and I LOVE Halloween, and every couple of years, we host a costume party at our house. We always look forward to the parties, but they are A LOT of work, and so it was nice this year to be able to relax and be much more subtle with our Halloween decor.

No mummies or zombies or entire rooms covered in spiders this year... but it's amazing how far a few green lightbulbs and orange accents will go in creating a spooky home for Halloween.

I made flowers from orange yarn using Clover pom-pom makers from JoAnn's, and I love the way they look lined up along our dining room table.

My daughter went Trick-or-Treating yesterday as a purple butterfly, but I've used her wings all month to add a little whimsy to our spooky decor. She loves those wings, so we'll keep them out and see how well they mesh with the greens and reds of our Christmas decorations...

Happy Halloween!!!

Corner Cabinets ~ {Canton, OH, Home Organizer}

Photo Source: Besthomegallery.com

I found this photo through Pinterest (you can find it here), and I thought it was genius. I've seen other solutions for those tricky corner cabinets, but I think I like this one the best. You do lose the tiniest bit of space (in the far corners) with this arrangement, but the space that you gain with the three levels is much more usable and easier to maintain.

Under Sink - Organized!!! {Canton, Ohio Organizer}

I just saw this post for a clever way to use a tension rod to help keep your cleaning supplies organized under the sink, and I couldn't wait to share!

Jen Morris of "A Thousand Words" found a way to organize all the bottles, brushes, sponges, etc. that she uses to keep her New Zealand home squeaky clean.

Be sure to read the entire post here.

Photos

Organized Junk Drawer(s) - {Ohio Home Organizer}

Photo Source: www.flickr.com

You wouldn't happen to have a space in your home that looks a little like this, would you? The dreaded but oh-so-handy junk drawer?

Odds are, you do. And where there's one junk drawer, there could be many. They're the perfect spot to hide extra pens, old keys, lip balms, children's trinkets, batteries and more. Somehow, many of these things don't seem to belong together, and yet, where else DO they belong? Is it really possible to organize these clutter magnets?

It's definitely possible, and since junk drawers often collect items that we need frequently, it's a good idea to tackle yours and give these items a proper home. It doesn't have to be perfect, but some small containers or labeled drawers will go a long way toward saving you the time and frustration of hunting these things down when you need them.

One quick and easy way to keep your drawer organized is to use a utensil organizer or even just small, shallow dishes to keep like items together.

Photo Source: www.flickr.com

By keeping office supplies in one compartment, batteries in another, etc., you'll not only be able to find what you need, but you'll also know just where to put these items when you find them hiding around the house.

As I mentioned in an earlier post, my husband and I have only one drawer in our kitchen, so we had to come up with another solution for our "odds and ends." Just inside the entrance to our kitchen, we have an antique cabinet that provides a little surface space to catch our loose change, receipts, and planners.

Tucked inside, a plastic 3-drawer unit has become our organized junk drawer, and it's been extremely helpful in keeping our counters clutter-free.

The bottom part also leaves us enough space to toss our recyclables until we have time to empty them into our curbside container.

Labels on the outside of the drawers make sure that we're both using this system in the same way. Whenever we come across a new category that needs a home, we just add a new label to one of the drawers. (And just to address any concerns, the lighters in the second drawer have been relocated to higher ground until our daughter is old enough to respect what they do and how dangerous they can be.)

It would be wonderful if everything in the drawers was lined up in neat, tidy rows, but honestly, how long would that last? Two days... tops. There are always going to be those random pieces and parts that make their way into the drawers, which means that once a year or so, we have to go through them to weed out anything we no longer need. But I can't remember the last time we had to hunt for a battery, a felt pad (which we use under everything!) or a rubber band. And I have to imagine that has saved my husband and I from a variety of silly arguments and trips to the store. Which is well worth the small amount of time it took to organize our "junk!"

Safe Disposal of Prescription Drugs

Photo Source: www.flickr.com

If you've ever been unsure of how to safely dispose of your old, unused prescriptions drugs, consider participating in the second National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. Due to the overwhelming success of the first event last September, the Drug Enforcement Administration, in conjunction with state and local law enforcement agencies, will hold their second such event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 30, 2011.

To find a collection site near you, enter your zip code here.

For more information about this important initiative to keep prescription drugs out of the wrong hands, visit the DEA's site here.

Organized Nursery {Canton, Ohio}

Just over three years ago, when I found out I was pregnant, my fear of the unknown and all that was ahead was tempered by a lot of excitement in planning a nursery. Now, as my daughter Ellie is transitioning into a full bed ("Dad broke my crib," she's says), I'm realizing that her nursery has served us well and will easily grow with her.

Before we move on to our bedroom reorganizing, I'd like to share a few of the things that made our transition into parenthood a little easier...

Our first priority was to keep the room simple and uncluttered, and arranged so that we could save on extra steps and seconds throughout the day that would eventually add up to more time to relax (or sleep :). The best way to accomplish all of this was to arrange and organize the room into "zones" based on the activities that would take place there. By that I mean that everything needed to dress her in the morning was in one space, everything needed to feed her was within reach of the rocker and that there would never be a reason to step away from the changing table while she was being changed.

Even though we knew that toys would not be a concern right away, we purchased these two sets of cubbies with that in mind. In the meantime, the baskets were the perfect place to store extra blankets and rags and everything we might need for nighttime feedings.

On the other side of Ellie's crib, we set up a space with everything we would need for diaper and clothing changes. Instead of purchasing a changing table, we took the mirror off an antique vanity and topped it with a changing pad. The drawers kept her wipes and creams handy but hidden, while the diapers were right out in full view and very easy reach on two shelves. The baskets kept the diapers tidy, so we didn't mind having them on "display."

Just to the right of the table is a clothes hamper, and hidden on the far side of the dresser is a diaper pail.

Amazingly, the tall white dresser was mostly empty, since we decided to keep all of Ellie's clothing together in her closet. One drawer contains cards and mementos from her birth and subsequent birthdays, holidays and special events (since an underbed box wouldn't have worked here). Another drawer holds extra bedding, and a third was used for extra feeding and changing supplies. It's nice to know that we will have plenty of extra storage space to move into as she gets a little older.

I was unable to find a photo of Ellie's closet as it was set up when she was a baby, but I'll share some recent ones in a future post to show how we've organized her closet to keep up with how quickly babies and toddlers grow and change.

I'm a sucker for kids books, and I wanted to store and display Ellie's collection while making it easy for her to pick her bedtime story each night. These shelves were a real project (each one is covered with pages from old children's books), but as soon as they were up and filled with Ellie's books, I was completely in love with her nursery.

Under the shelves, a large wire basket corrals her collection of stuffed toys. We use the basket to set a reasonable limit on the number of animals that we keep for her to play with. Once the basket gets too full, we know it's time to pass along the ones she no longer plays with.

It's hard to believe that our baby is now a "big girl" (as she reminds us each day), but my husband and I have thoroughly enjoyed the last two and a half years and countless sweet moments in that nursery. We hope that as the space grows and changes with her, Ellie will find it to be a place where she always feels relaxed and peaceful.

Tips for Kids {Ohio Home Organizer}

These last few weeks have been very busy, but working today in a kids' playroom reminded me that I have three more tips to expand upon from my spot on Channel 3.

Let's start by corralling all of those special letters, drawings and school papers that are threatening to take over your counters, kitchen table and refrigerator doors.

I recommend a two-part system to my clients to ensure that these papers aren't a constant stress. First, create a temporary home for your kids' artwork by designating a drawer or an underbed box (with the lid removed) that is specifically for these papers. Throughout the school year, as these papers come home, your kids will know right where to put them to keep them safe. (I highly recommend using the underbed box. It works just like a drawer and will leave little room under the bed for hiding toys, dirty clothes, etc.)

At the end of the school year, spend an evening with each child and go through their box of special "memories." Decide on an appropriate number of papers to keep, and ask your child to pull out their absolute favorites. Those papers can then be stored in an art portfolio (like the one below from The Container Store) or in a labeled tote that can be stored in the basement. Encourage them to recycle the extra papers so that their "Memory Drawer" is now empty and ready for the next year.

Profolio from The Container Store

My second tip is meant to help young children with the task of cleaning their bedrooms. Just as we would look at a cluttered family room and feel some frustration at where to begin when cleaning or organizing, kids find it difficult to break a large task down into smaller jobs.

To make this Organized Bedroom Checklist, I typed up the individual jobs that a child would need to tackle in order to clean the whole room. When placed under glass in a pretty frame, kids can even use a dry erase marker to check off each job as they finish it.

My final tip is one I've mentioned before... more than once. But I'm crazy for cubbies and the many ways they help to contain clutter and make maintenance a breeze.

Cubbies are incredibly versatile and easy to add to when you need more storage space. Open cube containers are great for storing smaller toys, and easy to carry (as opposed to a stationary toy box), which makes clean-up quick and easy.

I purchased these wire cubbies above at Target, where you can also find a variety of square totes and containers to fit inside.

And if you're lucky enough to live within driving distance of an IKEA, be sure to check out their Expedit line of cubby-style bookcases and storage units.

Organizing School Papers - {Ohio Home Organizer}

Starting with the school-paper wall pocket, let's take a closer look at each of the tips I talked about on Channel 3.

Many of the parents I work with are frustrated with the number of papers their kids bring home from school that they need to keep handy for reference. Calendars, lunch menus, upcoming projects and events... so much to keep track of. Tacking those papers to a bulletin board or your refrigerator will keep those items front and center, but it can also lead to visual clutter that can be just as bothersome as missing papers.

Consider using a clear acrylic wall pocket like this one to corral those school papers, and from here on out, both you and the kids will know where to put and where to find important school information.

This particular wall pocket that I purchased at Office Max comes with two large magnets and is ready to hang on your refrigerator. You can also mount it on the wall with screws.

Add folders to collect papers from other activities, such as athletic teams and after-school groups. Here, Aiden has a folder dedicated to his soccer team schedule and papers and another for Boy Scouts. A bold photo on the front makes the pocket more fun for the kids... and for you.

Pair your pocket with a family calendar, and you and the kids are sure to stay on top of all their important events.

Organizing with Kids

'Organize Your Life' on Channel 3 News - Cleveland

Last week I had the opportunity to do an organizing segment on the Channel 3 News Morning Show as part of their "Organize Your Life" series. I talked to Hollie Strano about four of my top tips for getting organized with young kids.

You can now see the video in the above post, and be sure to check back here for a detailed breakdown of each of the tips that I shared with Hollie so that you can try them in your own home.

Home Depot Totes {Akron, OH Organizer}

A few days ago, I walked into Home Depot to find some canvas baskets for some cubbies my husband and I put up in our daughter's playroom. We found what we were looking for (more on that later), but I almost couldn't move past the display of storage totes in blues and browns that greeted us at the entrance. The Home Depot has done a fantastic job of making pretty storage options, and if you need new totes to store your holiday decor or anything else, be sure to check out a better photo here. Or better yet, make a trip to your local Home Depot, and take some time to appreciate the colorful pyramid of totes that will surely get you in the mood to get organized!

Photo Source: www.homedepot.com

Cool, Calm & Decluttered {Canton, OH Organizer}

A few days ago, the January issue of Better Homes & Gardens came in the mail. I LOVE the cover, and the tips inside inspire the cool, calm & decluttered feeling that I hope my own business will also inspire this year.

If getting organized is among your new year's resolutions for 2011, check out some of the magazine's online organizing tips here. Need some advice and inspiration for your particular situation? Set up a free consultation, and jump start your year in a Calm & Collected way! 330.806.4620

North Canton Shredding Event - {Office & Paperwork Organizing}

I just received a copy of "Our Town," North Canton's monthly newsletter, in the mail. (Get your subscription here.) According to a letter from Mayor David Held, the North Canton Police Department's Crime Prevention Bureau will be hosting a Shredding Event for North Canton city residents.

The event will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, June 12 in the police department's parking lot. Up to five bags or medium-sized boxes per vehicle may be shredded. Participants must have identification to show they are North Canton residents.

There is no cost for the shredding event, but donations of canned goods will be accepted and donated to the North Canton Pantry of the Stark County Hunger Task Force.

In his letter, Mayor Held lists two of the benefits of participating in a shredding event.

"Not only does shredding of your old documents prevent identity theft," he writes, "it adds to the city's recycling program by keeping unwanted paper out of the landfill."

Photo Source: www.containerstore.com

A Bonus Benefit of Getting Organized {Canton, OH Organizer}

Recently, I received an e-mail from a new client that truly made my day. She and I had worked together a few weeks before, concentrating on organizing her kitchen, which included the mail and the family's current paperwork.

I've had clients reach out before with good news of money SAVED by having their paperwork organized, but this was the first I'd heard of money MADE. Congrats to Carolyn, who said I could share her note with all of you...

She writes, "I just wanted to share with you a success story today. This morning they had an event at (my son's) school for Mother's Day. For the past two years, we have either missed the event, or the RSVP paperwork got lost on the counter. This year with our new system, the rsvp got returned right away. When I arrived at school the principal said 'Congratulations, you just won $250 towards next year's tuition!' They had a drawing of all of the returned RSVPs! Thanks again!" ~ Carolyn - Independence, OH

Photo Source: www.flickr.com

Operation: Medicine Cabinet - {Canton, OH organizer}

No doubt, when it comes time to organize your kitchen or bathroom, you're bound to come across old or expired prescriptions. It would be nice to toss them into the trash without a second thought, but by doing so, you run the risk of those medications falling into the wrong hands or possibly even entering our water supply.

On Saturday, May 8, those of us who live in Northeast Ohio will have a better option - Operation: Medicine Cabinet.

Drug Awareness & Prevention Inc., in partnership with state and local law enforcement, has arranged for a prescription drug take-back event at several locations.

For more information and the location nearest you, check it out here.

According to Drug Awareness & Prevention Inc., safely disposing of prescription medications can

* Help prevent prescription drug abuse

* Keep our rivers and lakes medicine-free

* Prevent accidental use of expired medications by seniors

Photo Source: www.flickr.com