CLOSET - Life Gets Organized

Transcription

GettingOrganized
MAGAZINE
www.gettingorganizedmagazine.com
4
treat yourself to some sanity
spring 2012 • Volume 1, Issue 2
steps to
organizing
your
finances
clutter?
there’s an
app for that
a stylist’s
guide to
cleaning
out your
closet
Spring is just
around the corner
F
Publisher
Northwest, there is nothing we
Stacey Anderson
love more than the return of the sun
Board of Advisors
Stephanie LH Calahan
Debbie Rosemont
as we say goodbye to our rainy winter
months. Fortunately for our pale skin
Editors
Lisa Quinn
Whitney Keyes
and soggy brains, spring is just around
the corner.
Expert Contributors
In this issue we are helping you
out what clothes actually fit you and
work for your body type. A recent survey
shows that 58 percent of us have clothes
Stacey Anderson is a
Professional Organizer,
speaker, author
and publisher of Getting
Organized Magazine.
hanging in our closets with the tags still
on them and that 51 percent of women cling to clothing they
haven’t worn in three years or more. Start fresh today, turn to
page 7 and tackle your clothes closet frustrations.
If you haven’t already been glued to your computer screen
pinning items to Pinterest, turn to page 32 to learn about the
hottest, most addictive new site out there. Pinterest is not only
a fun website, but a great way to organize your ideas without
all the frustration and paperwork.
After you read this issue, we would love to have you visit our
Facebook page, www.facebook.com/GettingOrganizedMagazine
to comment, give feedback or ask questions. We want to hear
from you, so feel free to ask your clutter questions.
Here’s hoping you have a fantastic spring season.
Stacey Anderson, Publisher
2
GettingOrganized | Spring 2012
15600 NE 8th St.
Suite B1 #602
Bellevue, WA 98008
(360) 499-6260
or those of us living in the
better organize your closet by figuring
Getting Organized
Magazine
Leo Babauto
Zen Habits
www.zenhabits.net
Jessie Clapper
Alejandra Costello
Certified Professional Organizer
www.alejandra.tv
Amber Kostelny-Cussen
Amber’s Organizing, LLC
www.ambersorganizing.com
Ellen Delap, CPO
Professional-Organizer.com
www.professional-organizer.com
Debbie Rosemont, CPO
Simply Placed
www.itssimplyplaced.com
J.D. Roth
www.getrichslowly.org
Mayna Sgaramella
Personal Stylist
www.closetfly.com
Joshua Zerkel, CPO
CEO & Productivity Strategist
www.customlivingsolutions.com
Cover Photo Courtesy of:
Jennifer Jones
www.iheartorganizing.blogspot.com
Intern:
Stefanie Preston
Getting Organized Magazine, Spring
2012. Published four times a year, 15600
NE 8th St. Suite B1 #602, Bellevue,
WA 98008. Copyright 2012 Getting
Organized Magazine. All rights reserved.
Subscriptions are $19.50 within the US,
$29.50 outside the US, $14.00 for digital. POSTMASTER: Please send change of
address to Getting Organized Magazine,
15600 NE 8th St. Suite B1 #602, Bellevue, WA 98008.
gettingorganizedmagazine.com
What’s Inside
A Stylist’s Guide
to Cleaning Out
Your Closet
page 6
PLUS: 7 Essential Closet Organizers, page 9
12 Organizing
Tips for 2012
4 Steps to
Organizing
Your Finances
page 15
page 10
PLUS:
Great Shredders, page 12
Easy Filing Systems, page 13
What to Shred, page 14
Clutter as a Crutch
PLUS:
Clutter-free Apps, page 26
page 22
Everyday
Solutions
page 17
Spring 2012 | GettingOrganized
3
What’s Inside
The Life Cycle
of Paper
New Homes
for Old Stuff
page 35
page 30
Pin Your
Inspiration
Departments
page 32
Ask the Experts:
Books:
Books, Books and More Books
Two Inspiring Titles
page 19
Quick Tips:
page 37
Comic
Simplify Your Laundry
page 39
page 20
Latest & Greatest:
Challenge
New Outlets Mean Simpler Sockets
page 39
page 28
4
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SOME SA
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TREAT YO
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UR LITTLE
(BY YO
Are you a
agazine.com
TREAT YOURSELF
TO SOME SANITY
WINTER
2012 • VOLUME 1,
ISSUE 1
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How to
Recognize a
Good Fit
A Stylist’s
Guide to
Cleaning
Out Your
Closet
6
T
he hardest part about cleaning and organizing your closet is figuring
out what to keep and what to toss. Hidden deep in all of our closets are
the jeans we would like to fit into “someday.” But do you really know
what looks good on you and actually fits? We asked wardrobe consultant and
personal stylist Mayna Sgaramella for her
expert advice.
Recognizing Fit
Start with good posture, in a well lit room, in
front of a full-length mirror. When trying items on
ask yourself these questions:
2
1.
1 Where does the neckline start? Narrow or wide
openings will balance out the face and body
differently, so experiment.
2. Is your shoulder seam in line with your arm
2
1
and shoulder? If it falls too far past the
inside of your shoulder line, you will look
wider than you are.
3
3
3. Is your arm opening fitted, leaving room
for movement? If you find bunching fabric
at your armpit by the bust, you need a
size down or try petites.
4
4
4. Does your jacket or blouse have structure
to highlight, create, or minimize curves?
Use different-shaped jackets to hide or
highlight features. For example, a threebutton jacket will minimize a larger bust.
5
6
5
5. Does your sleeve length hit a flattering
point on your arm? Long sleeves should
end at or just past the wrist break. Elbowlength sleeves will highlight your waist.
6. Does your shirt or jacket hit close to the top
6
of your hip bone? The hem should be within
three inches of the top of your hip bone to
lengthen the legs. You could layer a shirt longer
than the jacket to get the same effect.
7
7. Is your pant hem too long or short? Your hem
should fall ¼ - ½ inches above the floor with
shoes on. Straight or skinny leg pants can fall a
bit higher. The wider the leg opening, the more
it should hover over the floor.
8
8. Does your skirt hem end at a flattering point?
Skirts should hit at or just below the knee (or
where the leg naturally curves in at the knee). If
you are petite, your hem should fall just above
the knee, lengthening your legs.
9.
9 Are your shoes modern and functional or chunky
and impractical? Think delicate and sleek rather
than bulky or square. A pointed or slightly
pointed toe will elongate the leg. Comfort and
style are possible. Don’t settle for less.
Before
7
9
After
7
1
5
2
Organization
1. S ort
1
• Keep items that make you feel and look
great. Only clothes that fit you well now
(see fit guide), are flattering, and up-to-date
should be visible in your closet.
• Have items altered for a perfect fit. If an
item doesn’t fit, but you can’t let go, take it
to a tailor for alterations.
2
2. Organize
• A well organized wardrobe helps you
do more with fewer items and coordinate
outfits. Organize by type, then color, so that
everything is visible that fits you now and
is in season. For example, sleeveless tops in
front from light to dark, then short-sleeve
tops light to dark, long-sleeve tops light to
dark, jackets, etc.
• If you can’t see it, you won’t wear it. Hang
as much as possible. Velvet hangers work best
for knits. Use hanging shelves for chunky
sweaters or jeans when no hanging space is
8
available. If you hang your pants lengthwise,
they can go further in the back. If you fold
them over a hanger, they need to be more in
front, depending on your closet layout.
3.
3 Inventory
• Make a list of what you have and a list of
what you need to complete your wardrobe.
4 Shop
4.
• Set a budget and a time limit for shopping
and plan out the stores you’ll hit ahead of
time; call ahead to work with a personal
shopper if the store offers one.
5 Coordinate
5.
• Try new combinations. Current styles of the
season can be combined with classic pieces
of your own to create updated looks. If you
want help defining your personal style, go
through magazines, look online, or window
shop. Accessorize with statement necklaces or
scarves in flattering colors that can make any
neutral color outfit pop.
7
N
Essential
Closet
Organizers
ow that you have learned how to recognize a good fit and the organizing tricks to
dressing your best, we wanted to share seven must-have organizing tools that will
help take your closet organization to the next level. All of these products can be found
on the website organize.com.
Hanging Sweater Shelves
Cappuccino Brown | $27.49
Wire Shelf Divider | $6.99
Hanging Jewelry Organizer
80 Pocket | $10.99
Horizontal Tie/Belt
Accessory Hanger | $7.99
Closet Doubler | $8.49
Skyline Under Bed
Storage Box | $11.99
Simple Division Closet
Organizer Tags | $9.99
9
4 Steps
to Organizing
Your Finances
10
Y
By J.D. Roth
www.getrichslowly.org
ou’ve heard that to take control of your
finances you should track every penny you
spend. You’d like to try this, but it sounds
like such a pain. There’s so much paperwork
involved. You lose receipts. You forget when bills
are due. It’s hard enough making sure the bare
necessities are tackled—who has time to track
every penny?
I’ve been there. My financial life used to be
a mess. Whenever a bill was due, I had to play a
game of hide-and-seek to find it. I often overdrew
my checking account because I’d lost track of
how much money I had. Eventually I learned that
it’s easier to track your finances if you keep them
organized.
To stay on top of things, you need to have a
system. You also need to reduce the amount of
information coming in; you need to keep all of
your information in one place; and you need to
process your finances regularly.
1. Choose a system
In order to get things organized, you need to
decide what sort of system you’re going to use to
track your financial information. I use Quicken.
There are many other computer programs that
work just as well.
You can also keep track of your spending with
pencil and paper. My wife still tracks her finances
this way. There is no one best choice—the system
you choose should be one that you will use.
2. Simplify, simplify, simplify
You are barraged with bills, receipts and notices.
All that paperwork can become overwhelming!
It’s important to simplify your financial life by
reducing the amount of paper you have to deal
with. Here are some easy ways to simplify your
finances:
» » Stop credit card offers by visiting www.
optoutprescreen.com.
» » Take it a step further—stem the tide of junk
mail by visiting www.dmaconsumers.org/cgi/
offmailinglist
» » Consolidate bank accounts where possible. If
you have bank accounts at multiple locations,
combine them at a single bank. The fewer
accounts you have to track, the easier it is to
stay on top of them.
» » Automatic transactions make life simpler.
Consider using direct deposit or online bill
paying.
3. Keep everything in one place
It’s easier to take charge of your finances if you
have a dedicated space for working with them. I
have a small cubbyhole next to my computer where
I tuck every bill or receipt that I bring home. One
of my friends has a notebook into which he tucks
all of his information. My sister-in-law scans her
financial documents into her computer and stores
them in a specific folder. Whichever method
you choose, keep the area clean, use it only for
finances, and be sure to put all your documents
there.
I have separate locations for old receipts and for
tax documents. Old receipts get filed in a shoebox
(yes, really). When the shoebox is full, I move it
to permanent storage and a new shoebox takes its
place. It’s silly, I know, but it’s a system that works
for me. I keep this year’s tax documents inside an
envelope tucked in my
money cubbyhole. Past
years’ tax documents
get filed. Shred old
financial information
when it’s no longer
needed.
4. Process
information
regularly
Setting up a system
and designating a space
for finances won’t do
any good if you don’t
manage your money
on a regular basis.
Performed daily, these
tasks should only take
about 10 minutes. I
can’t bring myself to
do my finances every day; I do them weekly, and it
takes me about 30-45 minutes.
Regular maintenance allows you to pay your
bills on time. It also gives you a dedicated time
to check your statements. (It’s important to check
your statements so that you’re not blindsided by
something unexpected.)
Now go save some money!
Tracking your finances is not difficult, but it can
be intimidating to begin. I encourage you to make
the effort. It’s worth it. Organizing is an excellent
first step toward other financial goals: debt
reduction, saving for a down payment, investing
for retirement.
11
To Shred…
Stylish shredders
A
lmost everyone dreads the thought of organizing their paperwork. Purging the papers can leave an even larger
pile to be shredded. If a shredder isn’t readily available, easy to use and very reliable, most people won’t bother
to tackle that pile. We found some stylish yet effective shredders that will work in any home or office.
Homedics Black & Decker Paper
Shredder and Messaging Center
$32.99
This multi-purpose product combines a
messaging center with magnetic white
board and a paper shredder. The slimline product is designed to easily hang
on a wall or reside on a desk or floor
using the included stand.
www.amazon.com
Staples Minimate Shredder | $49.99
The Minimate’s small footprint (only
14 inches high) makes it ideal for use
anywhere in your home or small office.
It has a bin-full display light and a
simple to use drop door for emptying
contents quickly.
www.staples.com
Homedics Black &
Decker iShred | $99.88
The unique fluted bin
allows for easy emptying
and added stability. Its
patented, revolutionary
design limits access to
any blades providing
increased safety. The
super sleek design fits in
to any house or office
setting.
www.amazon.com
12
…or Not to Shred.
Easy filing systems
I
t’s tax season, and for many of you there is a frantic search happening. Your account has asked for receipts and
paperwork, yet you have no idea where they could be. It’s hard to know what you need, when you need and where
to keep it. Here are three filing solutions that making filing and purging quick and almost painless.
MyVitalFiles™ | $60.95
This ready-to-go paperwork filing system streamlines and
demystifies the process of filing. There is no assembly
required; just take it out of the package and you are ready to
start filing! MyVitalFiles™ is a category-based filing system.
Colorful file folders are pre-labeled, color coded, and can be
alphabetically collated within categories. With this home filing
system, the hard work of preparing and labeling folders is
done—all you have to
do is put the folders in
your file cabinet.
Includes:
»» 80 pre-labeled folders
»» 10 unlabeled folders
»» 44 additional different
preprinted labels
»» 22 blank labels
www.organizedatoz.com
Freedom Filer | $29.95
Freedom Filer eliminates the
guesswork as to what to do with
paid bills, tax papers, reference
information or permanent records at
the end of the year. The system tells
you exactly what to toss out, what to
archive and how long to keep it. The
easy folder names and intuitive color
coding let you file and retrieve up to
20 times faster than typical systems.
By using a dependable method to
automatically rotate and replace
outdated papers, Freedom Filer is a
self-purging system that frees you
from having to reorganize your files.
Includes:
»» Quick Start labels for fast set-up
»» 200 pre-printed labels for
specific household needs
»» 400 customizable color-coded
labels
»» 5 indexed how-to cards
»» Getting started guide
for easy set-up
www.freedomfiler.com
FileSolutions® | $34.99
FileSolutions® provides
you with all the
information to set up
and maintain the perfect
filing system. There are
three components: the
book, the index, and file
folder labels. The book
is written in a readable,
straight-forward style
and describes the four
color-coded sections of
the system: Personal, Financial, Taxes/Insurance, and Lifestyle.
Everything in your life should fit easily into one of these
categories. The index is an alphabetical listing of particular
items and where they can be found within the system.
Preprinted labels are provided for each of the categories
within each section and blank labels are provided in case
there is a category that’s unique to you.
www.containerstore.com
13
Deciding
What to
SHRED
U
nfortunately identity theft is an all too prevalent
problem today. To protect yourself, it is best
to shred paperwork rather than just tossing it
in the garbage. Here are some guidelines to help know
what to shred when cleaning out your files.
Address labels from junk
mail and magazines
ATM receipts
Bank statements
Checks- cancelled, voided,
from old accounts
Shred papers
containing:
»»
»»
»»
»»
»»
»»
Social Security number
Date of birth
Signatures
Account numbers
Mother’s maiden name
Passwords or PIN numbers
other ID numbers
To further protect your privacy
you may consider shredding
anything with: name, address,
phone number and/or email
address
14
Credit card statements and
receipts
Legal documents
Medical records, bills,
statements
Obsolete financial records,
including loan applications
Pre-approved credit card
applications and checks
Receipts for purchases
Credit reports and histories
Report cards
Employment documentspay stubs, 1099’s, reviews,
etc.
Resumes
Expired debit and credit
cards
Expired passports, drivers
licenses and ID cards
Insurance policies and
insurance cards
Investment/financials–
records, transactions,
statements
Tax forms, receipts (once
you no longer need them
for tax purposes)
Travel documents–
itineraries, airline tickets,
luggage tags
Utility bills– phone, gas,
electric, water, TV, cable,
internet, etc.
If you have any questions
about your specific paperwork,
be sure to consult your legal or
financial advisor.
12
Organizing
tips for
By Ellen Delap, CPO
www.professional-organizer.com
2012
3. Set up specific spots
for specific items, such
as only clothes in your
master closet or only
toys in the playroom.
#1: Always shop with a list.
4. Commit to tasks and
responsibilities only after
checking your calendar.
2. Know where an item will be located
in your home before you purchase it.
Winter 2012 | GettingOrganized
15
5. Find organizing
products that you love,
that match the decor
of your space and that
separate and categorize
your items.
9. Go through your
paperwork for 5 minutes
every day. Spend one
hour once a week paying
bills and working on
administrative tasks related
to your paperwork.
6. Know what papers
to keep, and how long
to keep them. Ask your
accountant or lawyer
for your personal
requirements.
7. Always keep a list of
tasks, no matter how
small the task or how
short the list.
8. Use versatile
organizing products in
as many different places
as you can think to use
them.
10. Any big project is
best done in smaller
steps, one hour at a time.
12. Keep is simple!
The simpler, the better!
11. Anything that is truly
going to happen has to be
listed on a date on your
calendar.
16
GettingOrganized | Winter 2012
Simple
Solutions
f o r e v e r y d a y s p a c e s
By Alejandra Costello
www.alejandra.tv
W
e tend to over-think our organizing dilemmas, looking for
complex, multi-step answers when sometimes it’s just simple.
Certified Professional Organizer Alejandra Costello shares with us the
solutions she has created in her own home.
Pegboard
Adding a pegboard to any workspace allows you to
maximize your vertical space while assigning a home to
all of your small tools. Pegboards are ideal in craft spaces
as they provide quick access to scissors, ribbons, hole
punches and other frequently used tools. To brighten
your space at the same time, try painting the pegboard in
your favorite color before installing.
Medicine Cabinet
Is your medicine cabinet door made of metal? Why
not take advantage of the inside cabinet door by using
magnetic storage containers to hold everyday bath items
such as Q-tips or cotton balls. Add small magnetic hooks
to hang beauty tools such as tweezers and nail clippers.
If your medicine cabinet door isn’t magnetic, hang sheet
metal with adhesive spray and line the front of it with
shelf liner in your favorite color or pattern.
Pantry
Adding drawers at the bottom of the pantry provides
quick access to all of your snack foods and other small
items that can sometimes be difficult to contain. After
grocery shopping, remove individually wrapped items
from boxes and store them in the labeled drawer. Storing
dry goods such as flour and sugar in air-tight containers
Winter 2012 | GettingOrganized
17
Shower Caddy
Accessing tall bottles of shampoo and conditioner can
be annoying when stored directly underneath a shower
faucet. Instead, try hanging a shower caddy on a hook
mounted to the wall on the opposite end of the shower.
If your shower is lined with tile floor to ceiling, use a
porcelain drill bit to drill a hole directly through the tile
and into the wall. Hang the hook as you normally would.
Add suction cups with hooks on both sides of the shower
caddy to prevent the caddy from swinging side-to-side.
allows for a longer shelf life, while making it easier to
dispense. Add a tiered shelf to your pantry to easily see
and access all of your canned goods and jars.
Home Office
elfa® shelving by The Container Store creates a
customizable and flexible desk with loads of open
workspace. Installing ventilated shelf baskets provides
a document processing center for sorting all of your
incoming mail, current documents and projects. Lessfrequently used craft supplies can be stored in labeled,
clear bins at the top of the desk. Small dry erase magnetic
boards (www.containerstore.com) add a punch of color
and provide a space to write important to-do items,
motivational quotes or to hang your favorite picture of
the month.
18
Under Sink
Add a tension rod underneath your bathroom
cabinet to maximize your space. For additional storage,
hang “s-hooks”
from the rod for
storing pony-tail
holders and other
small bathroom
accessories that
tend to get lost
easily. Store extra
bathroom supplies
such as cleaning
products, hair claws
or head bands on
the rod. Add a
second tension rod
to the back of the
bathroom cabinet
for even more
storage.
Ask the Experts
Books, Books and More Books
Question: I love books and have a huge collection. I think I am finally ready to let go of some of
them in order to better organize my office. Besides just throwing them away, what can I do with
my old books?
Answer:
1. Sell your books online. Cash4Books (www.cash4books.
net) lets you see what your books are worth, and what I like
about this is you can check the ISBN numbers from home
without having to lug your books somewhere. They pay the
shipping (you print the label they provide). They also have
an iPhone and Android app where you can use a scanner and
scan your bar codes for the ISBN number. 2. Sell your valuable collectible books. A great starting
point is the Antiquarian Booksellers’ Association of
America (ABAA). To get the association’s free directory of
booksellers, call (212) 944-8291 or visit them at www.abaa.
org.
3. Donate your old books to the local library. If you’re
feeling charitable or maybe your favorite titles are not in
demand with local secondhand book buyers, try donating to
your local public library. First, call the library to ensure they
are accepting donations.
—Debbie Rosemont, www.itssimplyplaced.com
Spring
GettingOrganized
Spring2012
2012 || GettingOrganized
19
19
Quick Tips
Simplify Your
Laundry
When asked which area or task is the most
difficult to keep organized in their homes, many
people say the laundry. Here are nine quick tips
to help make it easier.
» » Brighten your laundry area with a fresh coat
of paint, new pictures or decorative items to
make it more of an inviting space.
» » Clearly define your laundry space and have it
dedicated to only to the task of laundry.
» » Use as much of the wall space as you can.
Consider shelves, cabinets, rods, hooks and
other items that will expand your useable
space.
» » Sort and label baskets into categories based
on how you do your wash: by color, by family
member or by clothing type.
» » Sort like items together based on their use:
pre-treatment, detergent, bleach, fabric
softener, etc.
» » If you buy in bulk, keep the unopened or
larger containers on a separate shelf and
consider transferring to smaller bottles or
boxes for ease of use.
» » Mesh lingerie bags are great for keeping small
items together such as socks or children’s
underwear.
» » Keep a supply of hangers available near the
dryer so you can hang items immediately.
» » Keep a basket or container nearby to collect
coins and other found items. Keep another
for unmatched socks, and make sure to have a
garbage can in the laundry area.
Photo courtesy of Whirlpool Corp.
20
21
CLUTTER
AS A
CRUTCH
22
C
By Leo Babauto
www.zenhabits.net
Clutter acts like a
crutch for many of us.
These crutches are convenient, because they save
us from having to cope with the tough things in
our lives we would rather avoid. Some of us have
relied on these crutches since childhood, and our
culture has programmed many of the habits we have
formed around clutter and its use as a diversion
from what we actually need to deal with. When
forced to look at clutter for what it is, a crutch,
some people become angry. That’s OK. Anger is an
appropriate response—resisting with anger is the
first step toward discovering what the clutter has
been hiding.
What are we to do when we discover these
crutches? We can’t just toss them out and think
we’re done. We have to find new ways of dealing
with our emotions and the world.
Security
When we have lots of stuff around us, we feel
more secure. Somehow it’s as if we can survive the
apocalyptic winter, or at least an earthquake or
economic recession, either on a global level or just
in our own lives.
New habit: Learn to combat fears with
information. What’s the worst-case scenario? What
could you do in that case even without the items
around you? Do you have people you could rely on?
Can you learn skills that don’t require clutter? Could
you live without? Try it for a little while and see.
Self image and self worth
Clothes, jewelry, shoes and handbags make
women feel pretty, feel attractive, feel good enough
as a woman. Men rely on clothes, gadgets, hats and
other accessories. Buying these things—shopping—
is an activity that fills us with more self-worth, or
at least staves off the feelings of inadequacy in the
short term.
New habit: Learn that you don’t need external
objects to be attractive or good enough. Learn to
love yourself as you are, without self improvement.
Most people aren’t judging you, and if they are,
they are not good for you. You will have to find
this path for yourself, but many find themselves
while doing the things they love, meditation or
therapy.
Memories and holding on
to the past
Photo albums, mementos, gifts from loved
ones, yearbooks and other school memorabilia,
souvenirs, books, trophies, plaques, framed photos,
sometimes old clothes…these objects hold emotions
and memories from the past. They represent good
times, perhaps better times, perhaps love from
someone special, past glory, and shared experiences.
New habit: Learn to live in the present. Let the
past go, like an old friend who has come to visit and
has now left. You can always revisit this old friend
later, but there’s no need to hold on to her. Let
her live her life, and you live yours. You don’t need
objects to represent memories and good times and
glory, because those objects aren’t those good times
or glory. Those objects aren’t the love that they
represent. Live new good times. Make new love.
23
Love
It was mentioned above, but it’s actually a
separate role. Objects that have emotional value—
often gifts or something similar—represent the love
of the person who gave them to us, like earrings
from your husband, a hand-crafted gift from your
child, a book from your parent. We hold on to them
because we use them to feel loved.
New habit: Realize that things aren’t love, and
that the love is only in people. Go spend time with
those people, if possible, and not with things. If the
person is gone, realize that the love is in you, not
the object, and you don’t need this crutch to feel
that love.
Possibilities for improvement
Self-improvement books or literature on our
shelves we haven’t read, tools for building or
making something, exercise equipment or yoga
clothes, gardening tools or baking pans, there
are lots of objects we don’t actually use but hope
to someday. Holding on to them represents the
possibility, sometime in the future, that we will be
better. We will improve. We hope, and as long as we
hold on to those objects, that hope is alive.
New habit: Do things right now that make you
happy, and don’t keep objects as placeholders for
some perfect future that will never come. If you
don’t use things, give them to someone who will.
Maybe keep one, and tell yourself if you don’t
use it in the next month, it goes. Mark it on your
calendar.
Comfort
When we’re feeling lonely or depressed or
stressed or frustrated, we often turn to shopping.
They don’t require wooing or coddling in order to
be in your life, just a credit card. But they don’t
solve any of your problems, and in fact add to your
clutter problem and possibly your debt problem.
New habit: Deal with the problems. If they seem
tough, deal with them in small steps. Loneliness
means we need to connect with other humans, not
objects. Depression can be helped by talking with
people, by getting active. Stress can be relieved
by simplifying your life and resting. Frustrating
problems are best dealt with by eliminating things
or working out better ways of doing things.
Procrastination
Sometimes we know we don’t need things but we
leave them in huge piles because we don’t want to
deal with them. Clutter is procrastination, because
it’s easier to leave it and let it pile up than deal with
it, just like it’s easier to avoid dealing with problems.
Deal with it later, I don’t have time right now. You
dread the pile. But putting it off only makes it worse,
and the stress of putting it off builds up inside us,
24
deteriorating the quality of our lives.
New habit: Take one piece and deal with that.
Feel good, and take on the next piece. You don’t
need to conquer the mountain, but just that first
step. Get help from a friend or partner, and make it
fun and social.
Excitement
Camping or mountain climbing or skiing or
Do things right now that make
you happy, and don’t keep objects
as placeholders for some perfect
future that will never come.
surfing or biking gear can represent excitement
in the future. Lots of other objects might also
represent future excitement—computers, clothes,
luggage, and more. Somehow just having these
items in our lives means we might someday have
more fun.
New habit: Realize you don’t need objects for
excitement or fun. You can have fun with nothing.
By yourself. Or with a friend. With new friends.
Right now, not in the future. And when the future
comes, you can still have fun, without all this gear.
There are many other roles that clutter plays in
our lives, but these are some of the more common
ones. Once you start to look at your clutter in this
way, you can see that it’s a crutch. You realize you
don’t really need that crutch, because you’re strong
enough to learn to live without it. And you’ll be
better off without it.
25
CLUTTER
free apps
professional help in your back pocket
D
o you wish you had the time and money
to work with an organizing professional?
Wish no more. Simply pull out your
iPhone and download the professional of your
choice. These latest apps, developed by organizing
experts, walk you through your clutter dilemma
step by step.
Clutter Prescription
The Clutter Prescription iPhone
app is a program designed and written
by Professional Organizer and star
of Style Network’s new reality series
“The Amandas,” Amanda LeBlanc.
Amanda used her 10-plus years of
experience to help real people with real clutter
problems.
The app targets the four most common rooms that
The Amandas get called to work on. The program
then breaks down each room into manageable steps
that an individual can complete in a reasonable time
frame, realistically showing how many days or weeks
each task will take. The app also includes pictures to
give users an idea of what they will need to complete
tasks as well as incentive to make their space
functional and beautiful.
With the app comes a subscription to the Daily
Vitamin, which gives great tips and inspiration for
organizing, to help keep the Clutter Prescription
patients on track.
26
Organizing Junkie
The Organizing Junkie app is a
simple and easy-to-use organizing
and home task management app based
on the tips and tricks of Professional
Organizer Laura Wittmann. Laura
is the author of the book “Clutter
Rehab” and founder of the popular organizing
website/blog “I’m an Organizing Junkie”
(www.orgjunkie.com). Features:
» » Create a master task list
» » Assign your top three daily tasks each day
from your master list
» » Check tasks off as you complete them and be
rewarded with fireworks
» » 52 Weeks (getting organized one week at a
time)
» » Tidy Timer (for those walkabouts and
10-minute tidying jobs)
» » Less than 30 minutes and less than fiveminute suggested tasks
» » Personal home mission statement
» » Easy access to the “I’m an Organizing Junkie”
blog
Peter Walsh
Imagine your home completely
clutter-free, functioning in
organized harmony. Now, imagine
Peter Walsh in your home with you,
helping you finally get organized.
With Peter as your personal coach,
the “Get Organized! Peter Walsh” app will guide
you step-by-step and room-by-room turning the
clutter and chaos into peace and calm.
Having decluttered thousands of homes,
Peter now shares with you his proven method
for decluttering and organizing your personal
spaces. Among the many useful attributes of this
app are more than 20 embedded videos, quizzes,
challenges, and unique content—all of which can
be immediately applied to any home. Along with
instructional videos of Peter telling you how to
put the organizational tools into action, a “Before
and After” photo gallery showcases what you have
learned, capturing the transformation to share with
friends or family or to post online.
27
Latest and Greatest
Outstanding Outlets
Regular outlets just don’t cut it anymore. We simply have too many gadgets that need to be
plugged in at one time. These new power players will help tame your cord clutter and let you charge
more devices than ever before.
U-Socket | $24.95
U-Socket is an outlet with built-in USB
ports that can power any device that
is capable of being charged via USB,
including iPhones and iPads. Enjoy the
convenience of USB ports built right into
the wall. In addition to keeping things
neat and organized, U-Socket reduces
your energy costs thanks to its five-star
energy efficient design. The outlet can
sense the required wattage and only
allows power to flow when it detects a
device is plugged in.
www.fastmac.com
28
Pivot Power | $29.99
Reclaim your outlets with Pivot Power,
an adjustable electrical power strip that
holds large adapters in every outlet.
Pivot Power has a unique form which
allows it to bend and twist in multiple
configurations, allowing you to save
space.
www.quirky.com
ORGANIZE
in style
Finally, an organizer you won’t want to
hide behind the door. With contemporary
prints and hand-selected colors that blend
with any décor, our stylish organizers can
be used for so much more than shoes.
Organize your kichen, kids’ rooms, craft
room, laundry room and more.
simply
stashed ™
(877) 338-7853
www.simplystashed.com
29
A New Home
for OldStuff
30
GettingOrganized | Winter 2012
I
Web service connects unwanted stuff with its new owners
n our previous issue we featured a story
on an organization called Soles4Souls
that collects unwanted shoes to give
to those suffering in disaster zones. That got us
thinking that there must be a need for other items
around the nation besides just shoes. Sure enough,
Certified Professional Organizer Sue Anderson has
realized just that.
The Stuff Stop stems from Anderson’s passion to
close the gap between people who have unwanted
items and those in the community who are in such
need of the very same “stuff.”
Several years ago, Anderson was a single mom
raising two small girls. They had a place to call
home, but very little else. The home was furnished
with just one item: a loveseat. Ironically, during
this same time period, she overheard a co-worker
complaining that she was so stressed out by all of
the stuff she had in her basement. Fifteen years
later, Anderson started her professional organizing
company helping people get rid of their stuff, much
of which was in great condition. They would often
comment, “Even though I no longer need this I
don’t want to just throw it away. Do you have any
other options?” Anderson remembered what if felt
like to be in need of such donations and decided to
connect people with excess stuff to those who could
use some help.
The Stuff Stop’s mission is to provide you
with information that will help you connect your
unwanted stuff with people in need, or to provide
you with options for recycling, shredding or
disposing of it in a green way rather than ending up
in a landfill.
On the website you will see a list titled “STUFF”
on the right side. Simply locate the item you are
looking to donate and you will be connected with
an agency looking to receive those items. The
list is incredibly extensive including everything
from household goods to medical equipment to
electronics to sporting equipment. Or if you prefer,
you can search by your location. Several states and
cities are listed that will share various organizations
looking for donations.
So the next time you are cleaning out your
garage or thinking of tossing an item, consider
visiting http://thestuffstop.com/ to see who needs
exactly what you don’t.
31
our
Y
n
in
P
io
t
a
r
i
p
s
n
I
A virtual corkboard
provides a new way to
organize to-dos, wish
lists and inspirations
32
A
new social media
darling is emerging
and her name is
Pinterest. A website that
launched in March 2010 and
started to gain popularity
in the fall of 2011, its
momentum hasn’t stopped.
With more than 10 million
unique monthly views,
Pinterest is garnering more
average time spent from users
than YouTube, Facebook and
Twitter.
An invite-only site,
Pinterest links you to your friends on
Facebook or your followers on Twitter
and also allows you to follow individual
Pinterest users or specific boards. For
example, if you wanted to follow a kitchenthemed board, you could with a simple click
of the “Follow” button. With the ability
to search for keywords in Pins and Boards
and search for specific people, Pinterest
provides you the ability to customize what
you see in your Pinterest feed.
If you know someone on Pinterest, you
can ask them to send you an invite to join.
Otherwise, you’ll need to put a request in
to Pinterest for an invitation.
What are people pinning? Everything.
From recipes to try, places to travel,
fashion icons, hair styles, manicure trends,
By Jessie Clapper
Pinterest can
serve as
an online
collection for
your to-dos,
wish lists
and general
inspiration
33
Getting Organized Magazine is on
Pinterest. Follow us:
www.pinterest.com/GettingOrgMag
dream kitchens, office design, cute baby
animals, holiday décor, inspirational sayings,
gardening tips, you can find most anything
pinned.
Companies and brands are starting to
include a Pinterest widget on their website
so you can pin directly from their site. If
the website doesn’t have the widget, you can
always use the “Pin It” button after you’ve
added it to your bookmark bar.
How can you use Pinterest? It can serve
as an online collection for your to-dos, wish
lists and general inspiration:
» » Recipes to try: gluten free, unique
desserts, slow cooker;
» » Baby shower ideas: invitations, décor,
food, games, craft ideas;
» » Holiday inspiration: decorations,
wrapping or gift bag ideas, food and
beverage recipes;
» » Fashion icons: Marilyn Monroe, Brigitte
Bardot, Coco Chanel;
» » Home improvement projects: mudroom
organization, lighting for the dining
room, porch design, guest room paint.
Own your business or have a specialized
craft? Utilize Pinterest to showcase your
work such as photos you have taken,
34
Pinterest glossary:
Pin – a singular image linked to a
website or blog
Board – a themed folder that
collects your pins
Repin – pinning someone else’s pin
to one of your boards
images of weddings you have planned or
items you’ve made, such as quilts, or even
jewelry posted on Etsy.
When you pin or repin, you can change
the description to remind you why the pin
was included. For example, if you post an
image of a dining room, but you really only
want the light fixture, you can write “Light
fixture for dining room” as the description.
The description will then be used to populate
searches. If someone searched dining room
light fixture, your pin will likely show up in
their search.
Your feed will show you recent pins from
the boards you follow as well as a summary of
activity related to your pins on the left-hand
side. You’ll be able to see if Alyson liked an
image, Kathy repinned an image and Laura
commented on an image.
GO
The Life Cycle of Paper
By Amber Kostelny-Cussen
www.ambersorganizing.com
M
uch like other things in life, paper has
a life cycle. Paper has a specific job for
a short period of time. When we treat paper
as a family member or like an antique piece of
furniture, it creates, besides a big stack of clutter,
a problem with the organization of our home and
office. So let’s take a look at the cycle in detail.
Paper arrives. It comes through the mail, through our
printer, through backpacks, through purses and briefcases.
Paper doesn’t just magically appear all over the floor,
counter top or table. We hit the print button. We subscribe
to newspapers, catalogs, magazines and newsletters. We also
decide where to place it, dump it, or organize it.
35
Paper stays. The main reason we accumulate excess paper is because a decision
isn’t made at the time of its arrival. Make decisions. Decide to decide. What is
absolutely essential to running this family, this business, or this office? Could you
get the information again from another source if you needed to? Could it be found
online or stored electronically? If I haven’t taken action by now, will I ever? If I need
to research this again, will the research still be available to me? Nine times out of 10,
most paper can be pitched. There is not a magic answer to how long to keep paper.
You have to ask yourself the right questions to make the right decisions.
Paper leaves. If you think about it,
there are not many examples of paper
we need to keep forever. Most paper
has a deadline, expiration, and date
range to indicate if it needs saving.
The few examples of paper that would
stay forever would be a passport, birth
certificate, adoption papers, marriage
certificate, death certificate, a deed to
a home and any other long term legal
paperwork, such as a will.
The Challenge: Rid yourself
of as much paper as possible.
Ditch the piles, throw out the old
and dated. Consider saving things
in organized files on the computer
instead of hitting the print button.
Try putting a recycling bin by the
door. Pitch as much paper as possible
before you let any more in. Consider
stopping your subscriptions. Instead
of stuffing paper in your bag,
briefcase or purse, toss it instead.
Don’t bring it home. Choose to say
enough is enough. Stop the paper
cycle from starting and you won’t
have to organize it later.
36
Books
Pretty Neat: The Buttoned-Up Way to
Get Organized and Let Go of Perfection
is a handbook offering anecdotes and
advice from experts and real women
alike on tackling organizational inertia.
Funny, irreverent, entertaining, and
helpful, the book covers all facets of
clutter control, from tried-and-true
tips for conquering to-do lists and
wrangling family schedules to ideas
on excavating inboxes, eliminating
excuses, and delegating housework.
Most importantly, Pretty Neat
insists that women need to stop
holding themselves to impossibly
high standards, and focus instead
on defining their own, realistic,
organizational goals. Full of engaging
examples from everyday women,
Pretty Neat offers readers unorthodox,
surprisingly simple methods to reduce
their stress, and insists that perfection
is impossible—and unnecessary—in
this messy, unpredictable world called
real life.
Alicia Rockmore & Sarah Welch
$14.95 (paperback)
www.getbuttonedup.com
37
Simplicity isn’t about what you give
up. It’s about what you gain. When you
remove the things that don’t matter
to you, you are free to focus on only
the things that are meaningful to you.
Imagine your home, your time, your finances, and
your belongings all filling you up with positive energy
and helping you to achieve your dreams. It can
happen, and Organized Simplicity can show you how.
Organized Simplicity’s aim is to convince its readers
that simple living is the absolute best way to live. Be
it with house cleaning, family schedule management,
personal finances, the only way to live well is to do
so intentionally and simply. There are chapters for
cleaning and organizing the home room-by-room,
and future project ideas will inspire readers to turn
their house in a haven they love.
Tsh Oxenreider
$11.48 (hardcover- spiral)
www.amazon.com
The patent pending activity mat, cleanup,
carryall, and storage solution in one.
“When the kids are all finished
playing, you simply pull the
drawstring and, voilà, instant
cleanup with no hassles.
Brilliant!”
Orgjunkie.com
“It’s a CINCH...literally!”
The Daily Grommet
Play for hours...cleanup in seconds!
38
TM
Get One Today!
www.layngo.com
CHALLENGE:
It’s never too early.
Starting right now, today, set up a system to collect your tax receipts and paperwork. It doesn’t have to be fancy or
complicated, it just has to be something you will use all year long.
Visit our Facebook page and share with us what type of system you set up and how it is working.
www.facebook.com/
GettingOrganizedMagazine
39

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