Two More 1-2-3 ... Get Organized Series Books on Kindle!

    
Two more of my 1-2-3 ... Get Organized series books are now on Kindle:

Three Steps to  Downsizing to a Smaller Residence

 

Three Steps to Planning Dinner

 

See them here. 


More on my Kindle books:

Three Steps to Decluttering is on Kindle!
Just in Time for Get Organized Month - More of My Books on Kindle!
Four More of My Organizing Books on Kindle!

 

Free Software for Organizing a Wedding

   
When our daughter got married, we spent about a year planning for it. It is such a big job!

If a wedding is in your future, you have a lot of organizing to do! Here are a few free software or online progams that might make your wedding planning less stressful:

Perfect Day: The Wedding Planning Suite 1.04 
My Wedding Workbook
EZ Wedding Planner 
VowDoo 


More on wedding planning:

A Dozen Tips for a Less-Stressed Wedding

 

I'm Quoted in Kitchen Clean-Up Article!

      
Even though I no longer live in Ohio, Lisa Abraham was kind enough to interview me for the following article "Time to Give the Kitchen a Clean Sweep, which appeared in today's Akron Beacon Journal.

Professional organizer Jamie Escola (left) of Calm & Collected Organizing provides helpful tips to homeowner Marcia Cianchetti on ridding her home of clutter. (Karen Schiely/Akron Beacon Journal) View More Photos 

"Is your post-holiday kitchen decorated with a trail of cookie crumbs and broken candy canes?

Is your refrigerator filled with the aging remains of New Year’s Eve party food, molding cheese and ham that’s well into its second curing?

You aren’t alone in your mess. With cooking, baking and entertaining, our kitchens tend to take a beating over the holidays.

But just like taking down the Christmas tree, making an annual ritual of organizing the kitchen is a good January resolution.

Tallmadge resident Marcia Cianchetti pointed to her kitchen table covered with the remains of the holidays — containers of candied cherries for fruitcakes she never baked, a bread machine her daughter dragged out of storage to take back with her to college, a food-filled basket her husband received as a Christmas gift, an empty tin from cookies a neighbor sent over, newspapers, dishes, presents and more.

Because her family eats in the dining room, the kitchen table and its nook off the back of the room have become a quasi-storage area and dumping ground for her family’s stuff.

'Honestly, I just have too much stuff. Thirty-one years ago, I had half the cupboard space I have now and I had plenty of room. Now, I have twice the space and I still don’t have room for everything,' she said.

The 58-year-old retired baker said the holidays are particularly challenging because of all of the new items that came into the house as gifts, and because her youngest daughter was home from college and she wanted to make sure the refrigerator was well-stocked with her favorites.

Now the amount of food left over was making Cianchetti nervous.

Professional organizer Jamie Escola, of Calm and Collected Organizing of Canton, said Cianchetti’s situation is typical. 'It’s human nature. If we have the space, we will fill it up,' she said.

Escola gave a walk-through of Cianchetti’s kitchen to offer tips on how to get a kitchen organized and keep it that way.

She likes to practice a technique known as SPACE, created by organizer Julie Morgenstern:
S — Sort through your stuff.
P — Purge anything that is expired, broken or unused.
A — Assign everything a home.
C — Containerize your items.
E — Equalize your space.

In Cianchetti’s case, her kitchen offers ample storage — two large pantry cupboards (one for food and one for equipment) and a generous number of cupboards to hold dishes, glasses and other items. All of them are filled.

Escola said to begin by sorting all of it and purging.

For food in the pantry, refrigerator and freezer, get rid of expired packages, stale items or food that you know won’t be eaten. 

Particularly at the holidays, when food gifts are common, we tend to end up with food that we may not actually use. If you know a bottle of exotic vinegar is not something you will open, don’t be afraid to donate it to a food pantry or give it to a friend who will. Otherwise, it will probably get shoved to the back of the cupboard, where it will be forgotten until it expires and eventually is thrown out anyway.

Escola advised Cianchetti to edit out about 25 percent of what was in her pantries. For cookware, that means examining what she has and eliminating items she doesn’t use. For items that are seldom used, like holiday platters, Escola recommended storing them in the basement or somewhere off site, where they aren’t taking up space the whole year.

'Make sure the things in the kitchen are things you are using at least once or twice a week,' she said.

But deciding what to keep and what to get rid of can be difficult.
Cianchetti looked at her husband’s gift basket, and wondered after the food was put away, was the basket something to save or get rid of? The same for the empty cookie tin.

Escola said saving items like baskets or tins isn’t always a bad idea, because it does cost to replace them and most of us may need one from time to time. But you can’t realistically save all of them. She suggested setting a small number to keep — no more than five — to be stored in the basement. 'That way, you’ll have one on hand if you want to make a gift basket for someone else,' Escola said. But when basket No. 6 enters the house, it’s time to get rid of one.

When it comes to storing off site in the basement or garage, Escola said again it is important to set a limit; otherwise you will fill up the basement. Assign three basement shelves for kitchen overflow. When that space is filled, it’s time to purge again, she said.

Sometimes, Escola said, you just have to give yourself permission to get rid of things and donating is always a good option.

'Ask yourself, "Is it something I really need or that adds to the enjoyment of my kitchen?" If it does, you need to create a home for it. It’s basically about weighing the positives and the negatives and about letting go. … If it does not have a purposeful and obvious home, those things are going to become clutter,' Escola said.

Assigning everything a home is the next step, and is crucial to getting and staying organized. If you always put coupons and receipts in the same place, then you’ll always know where to look for them when you need them, Escola said. The space doesn’t have to be a perfectly organized file. It can be just a box, basket or drawer. But as long as you use it for paper and only paper, you’ll always know where to find items and you’ll avoid paper clutter taking over your countertops.

The time to buy plastic bins, containers and other organizers is after you have given everything a home, so that you will buy the right container for the job. 'Resist the temptation to go out and purchase new containers, products and organizing tools, because then you have to organize around them. Take stock of what you have first,' Escola said.

She is a big fan of baskets or plastic bins for holding like items — for example, bags of nuts and baking morsels. They keep supplies together, and can be pulled in and out, essentially creating drawers on shelves.

The final step, equalizing, is about maintaining the new order.
When she examined her cupboards, Cianchetti discovered that she had four bags of marshmallows, and didn’t even remember buying them.

Eliminating the multiples is a great way to create space and will help to stop food waste, too.

Before going grocery shopping, Escola said, 'Shop your pantry first.' If you have three bags of rice, then plan some meals using rice to help pare it down. Knowing that you have three bags at home already also should stop you from bringing home a fourth.

Now that you have a plan, getting started can be the hardest part.

'I was thinking, if I just did an hour a day, then maybe I would get into it and maybe that would turn into two hours and I might actually get somewhere,' Cianchetti said.

Escola recommends starting with all flat surfaces first — counters, islands and tabletops. Eliminating the visual clutter will immediately transform the kitchen’s appearance, and it will give you space to work when you want to tackle what’s inside the cupboards and drawers.

Countertops are a constant trouble spot, but they also can be an indication of what a kitchen is lacking. If your counter is cluttered with keys, mail, sunglasses and everyone’s cell-phone charger, it’s probably because there isn’t an assigned spot for those items.

Professional organizer Beverly Coggins, who ran her business, 1-2-3 … Get Organized, from her home in Cuyahoga Falls before recently relocating to Montana, said it is important to create functional areas within a kitchen.

Hooks by the door for keys work well, and so does a basket for important items like school papers that need to be signed and party invitations that need replies. 'If you keep it all in one place, then you aren’t screaming around the place to try and find things,' she said.

In a similar manner, store baking equipment near the oven, knives and cutting boards near the sink, and dishes, glassware and silverware near the table or dishwasher, Coggins said. 'Mostly, you want to put those things together that make sense. The coffee maker, coffee, sugar and tea, store all of that in one area,' she said.

The idea is to create spaces where everything you need for a particular task is organized in a single space.

Coggins said one of the best ways to deal with maintenance is to make it a part of your daily routine.

'At the end of the day, make sure things are cleared off kitchen counters,' she said."

Lisa Abraham can be reached at 330-996-3737 or at labraham@thebeaconjournal.com.

More on organizing your kitchen:
Three Steps to Organizing Your Kitchen
Three Steps to Organizing Your Kitchen (on Kindle)
Some of My Favorite Organizing Products - Cabinet Expanders
 

Organizing for a Power Failure - Are You Prepared?

       
This is the season for power outages (if winter ever shows up!!) - snow and ice and high winds. We had high winds recently with a forecast of power failure. So I decided to make sure we were ready. My brother first told me about power failure lights - lights plugged in throughout your home that activate if the power goes out. 

Yes, flashlights are good. But these lights illuminate a whole room for up to six hours. It makes a scary situation not so scary.

These are not night lights and do not shine unless the power goes out. I put one in the living room and one in the upstairs hallway, so we'll be able to navigate safely. 

 I found my Brinks Emergency Power Failure Lights at Walmart for about $10 each. My brother found his at Sam's. I'm not sure of the brand he bought.

Just one more thing to put your mind at ease in an emergency.

More on emergency preparedness:

National Preparedness Month - Emergency Supplies

National Preparedness Month - Emergency Kit #1: NOAA Radio

National Preparedness Month - Emergency Supplies

 

Finding the Perfect Storage Containers for Get Organized Month!

    
I put the last of our Christmas stuff away yesterday. I use Sterilite clear plastic containers so I can see what's inside. I also put a piece of paper down the side of the containers with the contents listed.

This morning when I looked at my email, I received one from Amazon about their best selling storage containers. So I decided to search Amazon to check out all their storage containers, since it is, after all, Get Organized Month. Included were several Sterilite containers at a good price - cheaper than at the local big box stores. And shipping is free if you spend more than $25.

In addition there are over 2000 other fun storage containers in a plethora of colors and materials. Containers to organize batteries, scrapbooking and craft supplies, shoes, pantry items and more! So if you're in the mood to organize during Get Organized Month, it's a simple and time-saving way to find the containers you need.



More on storage:

Storage and Moving Boxes - Think Outside the Box

Shoe Storage Options

Color-Coding Your Storage

A Delicious Way to Use Up Your Extra Fresh Herbs - So Efficient!!

     
Doesn't it kill you to throw away those expensive fresh herbs? I often have used them in a recipe, and then forget about them until they're soggy and nasty.

I found a delicious pesto recipe that uses a combination of herbs and fresh spinach. You can mix and match what you have on hand. 

I'm not a super fan of regular pesto because of the strong basil taste. But I fell in love with the following recipe, which I adapted from another recipe. We had it over pasta and garlic chicken. Strawberries rounded out the meal. Here's the recipe:

Herb Pesto

2 garlic cloves
1 cup fresh basil leaves
1 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves (I used curly, and it was fine)
1 cup fresh spinach leaves
1/2 cup pistachios
1 pinch salt
freshly ground black pepper to taste
juice from one lime
1/2 cup olive oil

Blend all ingredients in a blender or food processor until smooth. Four generous servings over both meat and pasta. To store, cover with a thin layer of olive oil to prevent oxidation. 

I'm never going to let fresh herbs go to waste again! And it's perfect for your summer herb garden. 


More on efficient cooking:

Double or Triple a Recipe

Piggy-Back Dinners

Cook a turkey!

 

Four More of My Organizing Books on Kindle!

      
Just wanted to update you on my Kindle adventure. I have published four more of my 1-2-3 ... Get Organized books on Kindle:

Three Steps to Time Management at the Office
Three Steps to Time Management for the Stay-at-Home Mom
Three Steps to Time Management for the Working Mom
Three Steps to Time Management for the College Student

It's a great time of year to rethink your passions, priorities, schedule, and the legacy you want to leave. I hope these help!

 

Looking for the Perfect Paper Planner?

        

Here's an article I found in the January 4 Washington Post by Terri Sapienza about her search for the perfect paper planner. If you're a paper lover, this might help your search:


"For longer than I care to remember, the following items have occupied the top spots on my New Year’s resolutions list: exercise every day, organize the basement and find the perfect daily planner.

While I can almost guarantee the first two items will make a repeat appearance in 2013, I have made it my mission to scratch the last one off my list for good.

But deciding on a personal calendar system is more difficult than it sounds.

I want a month-at-a-glance calendar with boxes big enough to write in; something that can sit open on my desk, can be easily tossed into my bag and is stylish. (No cutesy covers, please.)

Simple, right? Apparently not, because every year I find myself flailing planner-lessly well into March before settling on something out of sheer necessity.

Yes, I know: There’s this thing called technology, and it can make my life easier.

But I’m a paper person. And nothing, not even my arsenal of Apple products, is going to sway me to the other side.

There is something supremely satisfying and reassuring about scheduling an appointment or writing a to-do list by hand. And getting to cross one of those items off when completed? For a task-oriented person, there are few things better.

Another clear advantage of paper? Permanence. Once I write something down, I know it will not suddenly, and without warning, disappear. As paper company Graphic Image says on its Web site, its products are “crash proof.”

Like me, Sarah Pinto searched for years for a paper planner that worked for her. She eventually gave up and decided to create her own. In 2007, the San Francisco resident launched www.sarahpinto.com, an online company that sells planners, notebooks and postcards.

“I’m a visual person,” she says. “Even if I make a grocery list on my iPhone, I write a paper list, too.”

Also like me, she has no plans to become paperless.

“I worry about my phone dying,” she says, “or things being accidentally deleted by my kids.”

Because creating my own planner isn’t going to happen (see: exercise and basement organization, above), I went to some of my go-to sources to find a 2012 calendar.

I browsed the Paper Source, Kate’s Paperie, Graphic Image, Moleskine and See Jane Work and found lovely options, but none that met my exact needs. They were too big, too small, too bulky or too trendy or included too many for pages for extraneous things, such as expenses, anniversaries, addresses and maps. Some appeared perfect until I looked inside and realized the calender format was wrong for me.

Finally, I went to one of my favorite Web sites for office supplies, Russell & Hazel,and found a potential winner. (Caution to discerning paper people: Visiting this site can be hazardous to your bank account. You’ll want one of everything.)

Its 10 3/4-by-12 SmartDate planner is a build-it-yourself system that allows me to choose everything according to my needs and my style. I could opt for daily, weekly or monthly calendar views, or all three, and add things such as ruled sheets, index dividers and address pages. Or not. There is a 7-by-9 mini version, still big enough to easily write in, which would allow me to keep the planner open on my desk or easily toss it into my bag.

And there are accessories such as rubber bands and pretty, pink to-do pads, that I would probably find impossible to pass up on. (Because, really, besides the perfect planner, they are essential to keeping my life running smoothly.)

Customization comes at a cost, however. When I was finished building my system, my shopping cart totaled $73. But, if this system works for me, I should have to shell out only for the calendar ($18) and filler paper refills ($10) in the future.

Overall, it sounded like a great fit, but I wanted to find out more. So I called Chris Plantan, founder and owner of Russell & Hazel, to get her thoughts.

Plantan started her high-end stationery and office supply company as an e-commerce site in 2003. Since then, Russell & Hazel has blossomed into a thriving business that has seen double-digit growth five years in a row, says Plantan.

“While we are all tech dependent . . . there is a big segment that still loves paper,” she says. “We still make lists, we still print out information, and we still file and keep important documents. It is difficult to do everything we need to do in a day on a screen, whether mobile or desktop.”

Plantan says the binder-based system is one of the company’s best-selling items, with sales growing 20 to 30 percent every year.
She uses a mini system herself: a silver binder filled with month tabs, daily sheets and a mini notebook.

“I have things written down, I have things clipped to it. . . . My personal and professional things are all in one place, and I can take it with me,” she says. “It ends up being a journal of sorts, and it’s fun looking back. I keep mine every year.”

Simple, smart and stylish.

Sold."

View all Items in this Story


More on planners:

Product Review of Organizers - Daily Home Planner

Product Review of Organizers - The Planner Pad

Review - AgendaWorks Planner

 

Organizing and Downsizing Christmas Decorations

    
It's so much more fun decorating for Christmas than putting it all away, isn't it? While we're doing it, though, we may as well make it easier for next year.

I usually undecorate by room: I store all the decorations I use in the living room, for example, in the same box. Then when I decorate next year, the living room Christmas decorations box goes in the living room and voila! it's so simple. If your tree decorations are used in the living room, though, store them separately.

When you get your Christmas storage boxes out to return the decorations you used, are there decorations still in the boxes that you didn't use? Ask yourself why you didn't use them. If you don't really love them, you might consider getting rid of them. Donate them to a family member, someone just starting out with few decorations, or a local charity. 

If your decorations are valuable, but you don't like them, consider selling them on eBay, Craigslist, or a local consignment shop. 

If they are sentimental, but you have too many, ask family members who share the sentiment if they'd like them. Or, for example, if they belonged to your parents, see if people who cherished your parents would like some decorations in memory of them.

I store my Christmas things in large, clear plastic containers by Sterilite (you can get them at Target, Walmart, etc.). I then slip a paper labeled with the contents and location down the side of the container so it shows on the side of the box. Next year, when I bring my boxes in, I know what's in each one and to which room it goes. If you can still find them, you can buy red or green clear boxes for your Christmas items to make them even more easily identifiable.

Look at those things that just seem to multiply like rabbits - cookie tins, Christmas platters, Christmas mugs, etc. How many are enough? Then donate the rest. Or use cookie tins for storage elsewhere in your house - they're great for sewing items. Or repurpose those Christmas platters next year - give them away with goodies loaded on them. I won't tell! :)

Get rid of all those sad looking bows and wrapping paper you think you might reuse. Tissue paper and gift bags are easily reused. Even gift tags. But unless wrapping paper has sentimental value, recycle the old stuff. It's too hard to use it without all those tape marks showing up. And besides, when you buy it after Christmas, it's a bargain! And it's much more inspiring to wrap gifts when the paper is new and crisp.

Speaking of wrapping paper, you may consider getting one of those tall gift wrap containers if you have a lot of wrapping paper on rolls. I got one yesterday at Bed, Bath and Beyond.

If you were given Christmas decorations you don't like, get rid of them, too! Getting rid of something that was given to you by someone you love, doesn't diminish your love for them. They won't even notice. And if they do, you can say, "I didn't find it this year." It's true. It's not a lie. You didn't find it because it wasn't there!! 

When I put up my Christmas decorations, I remove regular decorations and place them in my Christmas boxes. That way, I know where to find them again! When you're taking out your regular decorations again, ask yourself if you love them. You may want to purge them, too!

The moral of the story: reduce the number of Christmas boxes you must get out next Christmas by getting rid of stuff you don't like or use. You will be so proud of yourself now and you'll make life much easier next Christmas!


More on Christmas decorations:

Recovering from the Holidays - Priorities Amidst Chaos

Happy Get Organized Month!

Got Cabin Fever? Organize Something!

 

Just in Time for Get Organized Month - More of My Books on Kindle!

   
Happy New Year! I wish you many blessings and exciting opportunities in 2012!

Our family has had a wonderful time together over the holidays. Our daughter Comfort and her husband Steve put a bid on a house during this time. Sadly, our daughter Sara is leaving us tomorrow.  But I guess we all need to get on with our lives. Couldn't have asked for a sweeter time as a family. 

I'm excited for 2012, as I have some new adventures going on. As I mentioned in an earlier blog, my Three Steps to Decluttering is on Kindle. Well, I've been busy ...

I now have five books on Kindle:
Three Steps to Decluttering
Three Steps to Organizing Your Office
Three Steps to Organizing Your Kitchen
Three Steps to Organizing Your Child's Room
Three Steps to Time Management for the  Stay-at-Home Mom

I'm hoping to put the rest of my books on Kindle in the next week or so. These were written for the organizationally overwhelmed. Pretty appropriate for Get Organized month, don't you think? :)  We're all kind of ready to get life back under control after the holidays. 

I'll be posting more ideas on getting organized in the new year this month.

Three Steps to Decluttering is on Kindle!

    
I'm happy to announce that my book Three Steps to Decluttering is now available on Kindle! 

As always, it is still available in print and as a download on 1-2-3 ... Get Organized. Happy decluttering!

Merry Christmas!

   
Merry Christmas to you and yours! We are celebrating with both our daughters and son-in-law here. We've learned how to geo-cache, shared meals together, played games, cooked and baked together, laughed, and had great discussions. We look forward to another week of the same. Most of all we are grateful for the Reason for the season! 

Blessings on your Christmas and New Year - Bev

Organizing and Alzheimer's

      
I've been working with a client who has Alzheimer's. We organized her closet and dresser a couple of days ago. Today we are going to label shelves, drawers, and closet space. 

Why? Because, even though she was present when we organized, and we talked about where we had placed her things, she is already putting things away in random places.

Having the labels as prompts will help her "remember" where to put things. This system can also be used in the kitchen, bathroom and other locations where things are stored. 

It's frustrating for those who cannot remember simple things as well as for those caring for them. Labeling can remove a bit of that frustration for everyone involved.


More on Alheimer's:

In a Winter Rut? Here's How to Climb Out!

9 Ways to Enhance Your Health by Being Organized

Keeping Your Memory Sharp

 

Needed: Experienced iPhone Users to Test Out My New iPhone App

   
I have written an iPhone app called Upscale Express Dinners, recipes for one or two people that are upscale yet quick and inexpensive. Meals have an average cost of less than $5 per person.

It's four weeks of simple recipes with grocery lists and easy instructions. 

You don't need to actually cook the meals, although it would be nice if you cooked a couple. What I really want is for you to get a feel for the app. Is it easy to use and maneuver? How do you like the look? Other likes and/or dislikes?

So, I need some app users to see if this app is pleasant to use. Just look it over for a few days and give me your review.

If you're interested in helping out, please comment below, or you can email me at Bev@1-2-3GetOrganized.com. 

Thanks so much for your help!

Get Creative with Leftovers for a Quick Meal

    
Instead of letting leftovers grow green fuzz, it's fun to repurpose them into a quick meal. Not only is it efficient, but it's economical, too. And you may be able to disguise leftovers into something new for those who object to leftovers.

Last week I had some leftover bruschetta from our Christmas party, and some leftover rice from a previous meal. So I defrosted some tilapia and cooked it in a non-stick skillet with the bruschetta and heated up the rice in the microwave. With some grapes, it made a complete, very tasty and quick five-minute meal. 

Whenever I cook rice, I always cook extra. Even if I don't use it in the next few days, I'll freeze it and defrost it in the microwave when I need it, saving time. Fried rice is another meal option, too.

Of course, a big pot of soup is a wonderful catch-all. It's a great meal the day before grocery shopping - a nice way to get rid of all those little bits of veggies and leftovers. Spice it boldly with pepper or some red pepper flakes to give it a zing!

We had a ham steak recently, and I put the bone and some leftover ham in split pea soup later in the week and made a butternut and ham bisque another time.

Leftover pasta goes nicely in stir fries. Or mix it with Italian dressing, your choice of veggies, meat, and cheese, and it's a pasta salad for dinner tomorrow night! I'm not too fond of pasta in soups, though, as it gets soggy if it's cooked very long.

When I cook London broil, I cook twice what we need and it morphs into a stir fry or fajitas on another day.

I always feel such a satisfaction when I can turn my leftovers into a tasty second meal, and especially so if it's a quick one. What about you?


More on leftovers:

Cook It Once, Serve It Twice

Piggy-Back Dinners

Three Steps to Planning Dinner