We're putting what where?

Have you ever used something for a completely different use than intended?  This picture was taken on a day we were organizing during a warmer time in the south.  The plasticware was definitely a different yet effective way to keep my hair off my neck.

Thinking outside the box greatly contributes to finding organizing solutions.  I always tell my clients before we begin helping them, "Do NOT purchase any products for storage or solutions.  You never know what we will find that will fulfill the purpose."

We love taking something and using it for a new purpose.  One of my favorite solutions for a client was for her files.  Using a table as her desk space left her with no drawers for her files.  We needed a filing cabinet.  However since the office shared space with a daybed in a guest bedroom, adding a steel cabinet would not be visually appealing, and a wood one would cost more than we wanted to spend.  Enter a toy chest that the client's grandfather built for her when she was younger.  You read that right ... a toy chest.  You can see it in the bottom right corner of the above picture.

By simply setting a file frame inside of it, we were able to convert the toy chest, without any physical alteration of the chest itself, to a great storage space for the client's files.  The finished product is shown at the right.

Another great piece to use for thinking outside the box is the armoire.  A business client was storing various items including office supplies in her office armoire.  However, using it to house office supplies just wasn't working well for her.  The supplies and other items had become a messy pile in the bottom of the armoire.  By adding a small piece we found at a hobby store, we were able to make this armoire store office supplies and then some!

Since this client did not use her printer often, the armoire being used to hide her printer was an added bonus for her.

But what about the armoire that you're keeping (and dusting) only because it belonged to your great uncle Roy?  Don't give up on its usefulness just yet!

A home-organization client had a gorgeous trio of armoires that she was using to store excess bed linens and pillows.  However, an extreme amount of space was left vacant rendering it ineffective.  We added 2 sets of quick-assembly shelves purchased at Wal-Mart for $15/set.  We also used the same type of shelving intended to hold shoes, but again, for a different purpose.  These inexpensive additions provided us with the ability to break up the massive interior space in the armoires and use them to house the client's handbags, purses, and large tote bags.  Here's a close up of the result:

The moral of the story?  Don't be afraid to think outside the box.  Your solutions for getting organized just might be right under your nose.  If you don't think so, give us a call.  We'd love to help!

Let's organize the ... kids?

Whether it's repeating the well-worn phrase "clean your room!" or working your family calendar to accommodate the 15-year old's soccer practice, the 12-year old's trombone lessons, and the 7-year old's ballet recital--all of which occur on the same Saturday afternoon, ALL parents face challenges when organizing their children.  And no matter if you are a single Mom with 2 young children, or married with baby #5 on the way, organization is a must to survive the crazy world of parenthood.  If your situation feels overwhelming, a professional organizer can help restore calm and peace to your world.

Recently, we were asked to help a very busy Mom organize the play room.  We're very proud of this project, and we knew it was successful when our client's 3-year old got out a puzzle and legos, and put both back where they belonged!  Here's a "before" picture:

To see additional pictures, including the "after" shots, of this project, visit us on facebook:  Our Page  

If you'd like some tips on organizing toys, check this out:

We'd love to help with your clutter; call us today at 469-323-5220.  We look forward to organizing your chaos!

Pain means Progress

Recently I was at the dentist for whitening and fitting for Invisalign braces.  While my lips were stretched open into a strange grimace for 40 minutes while my breathing sounded somewhat Darth Vader-like, I was thinking, "Boy what pain we go through to feel better about ourselves!"  In that dentist's chair, it occurred to me that most things that bring us true progress cause some pain.  Perhaps we have to move on from an unhealthy relationship--even when it's for our best, we still mourn the loss of that person in our lives.  Moving to a new state?  It hurts to leave our friends, and sometimes our families, in our wake.

With this in mind, it makes sense that it's more than likely going to be somewhat painful to get organized.  The type of pain one suffers during the organization of their possessions is different for everyone.  Just having your stuff touched or moved at all can cause stress to some.  During the sorting process, depending on the level of sorting, items may be in stacks, piles, or bins around a room.  Just walking into that room during the sorting process may be enough to cause pain for many.  (I have several clients who choose to not be part of that step as it's too stressful for them.)  For others, the actual "letting go" of items is very stressful.  That quilt from Aunt Ursula which now contains holes strategically placed by mice--and perhaps other signs of their living there--is now unhealthy to hold onto, but hard to let go of just the same.

However, just like losing 50 pounds can result in years added to your lifespan, the progress achieved will be amazing enough to supersede the pain.  In its place will be previously-unrealized joy!  The empowering freedom you will feel from having gone through the process to attain this new place in your life will be immeasurable, and well worth it.  So jump in, let's organize the chaos.  I'll be smiling at you the entire time with straight, white teeth.

Come on in...the pantry's fine!

Often times a client will say, "I bet your house is really organized."  As my mind pours over the images of laundry, dust, and yes, *gasp* some clutter in my house, I'm always quick to answer, "well somewhat, but I'm human too.  And, the old adage applies that the dentist's kids always have the worst teeth."


While it's true that I'm always ahead on taking care of my clients but not as ahead on taking care of my own house, there are many areas that are organized well.  I've posted previously about my laundry room.  Yesterday's trip to the grocery inspired me to post about my pantry today.  First of all, this is how it looks today:

Does it look like this all the time?  Actually, most of the time yes.  How?  Here are my top 5 tips for keeping your pantry in shape:

1. "Packaging adds clutter."  Just like a dry cleaner's cover on our clothing adds clutter to our closets, boxes and bags that contain individually-wrapped items add clutter to our pantries.  In the picture you see a brown basket on the right end of a middle shelf.  That basket holds snack cakes for packing lunches.  The cup beside it holds Kool-Aid singles.  Added bonus: time savings!  If you open the box one time and empty the items into a storage container like these, you save the time spent having to open that box many times more for each item.
2. Assign your shelves "zones."  Breakfast items together, canned goods together, pastas and rice together, etc. not only look nice, but make it very easy to find what you're looking for at any time.  It also helps to save money wasted on purchasing items you already have, and it also makes it easier to know when you need to add an item to the grocery list for your next shopping trip.
3. Tiered shelving is great for making canned goods more visible.  (My inexpensive ones were purchased at WalMart; you can also find these at The Container Store).
4. Once a month, check dates.  My kids have a knack for picking out snacks that look really tasty in the store but don't appeal to them at home.  I just tossed a bag of macaroni-n-cheese flavored chips yesterday that had expired.  (This is one of the reasons I don't take them with me anymore!)
5. Cereal containers are our friends.  I buy family-size boxes of cereal for this family of 4.  The problem with cereal boxes is you can't tell by looking at them how much is still in them.  Depending on if you have teenagers, many boxes of cereal end up back in the pantry with the tops open which contributes to stale cereal.  On the bottom shelf of my pantry, you can see the cereal containers I use.  Bonus tip: After I pour the cereal into the container, I cut the name of the cereal out of the box and tape it to the container for fast scanning of the types of cereals.

Still wish to have the help of a professional organizer?  Call us today and let us help organize your pantry's chaos!

Is the Easter Bunny Hiding Pumpkins in Your Christmas Tree?

I spent last weekend decorating our front yard.  It's not extravagant--I save that for Christmas--but it's festive.  I knew exactly where my scarecrows were stored in the garage, and pulled the rest of my fall decorations out of the closet where I keep them.  I believe the total time it took was about 30 minutes, only because I had to hot glue some of the scarecrows' clothing back together.

If we were to venture into your storage areas right now, would we be able to quickly pick out the decorations for Thanksgiving in 10 minutes or less?  Or is Aunt Flo's wedding dress tangled up with your inflatable Great Pumpkin wedged somewhere under a plastic reindeer?

A client of ours recently asked us to return to her home to organize her attic.  She was no longer able to tell which boxes contained which holidays and it was becoming overwhelming for her.  We're always thrilled to be asked back to a client, and this was the 4th project we completed for her.  (The home office, storage closet, and garage all have been organized by us.)  But the best part of this project was that we came in under our client's budget by almost $150!

I think you'll agree with our client that this was a great investment that will save her a lot of time in the future!

Here's one end of the attic:

Before



After



 And the opposite end of the attic:

Before



After



If you ready for your holidays to be organized, call us today.  We look forward to organizing your chaos!

Lucy's Domain

Meet Lucy!  She's an ADORABLE miniature bulldog living with her owner, Jen, in a cute 1-bedroom apartment.  Though small in stature, Lucy is able to muster up great courage when she's peaking out from under Jen's wheelchair and standing on the foot pedals.  In fact, she recently protected Jen from impending harm by alerting Jen to a prowler on their patio!  Lucy is quite the smart canine for not even being 2 years old yet!

Lucy was our supervisor while we organized Jen's apartment to be more "user-friendly" for Jen's chair as well as to enlarge Lucy's play area.  Mission accomplished thanks to Lucy's great management style; she often encouraged "time to pet Lucy" breaks while we worked.  Our last opportunity to work under such awesome management was last week when we organized Jen's office.  Now Lucy has plenty of room to roam the apartment protecting Jen, and of course, to play with her toys.  Check out these before and after pics of Jen's office:

Great job Lucy!

Hands On Office Organization

Every client is different in their approach to getting rid of clutter.  Some say, "I don't want to see what you do, just get rid of it and then show me how to keep the organization in place."  (Some clients actually leave and come back at the end of the day.)  Many are involved by helping in the process when they can and/or being available to answer questions.  It's always up to the client, but we remind them that the more they're involved, the less it will cost them for our services.

This client made the most of her time and her investment in professional organization services by being "hands on" the entire time.  A retired Grandmother who now wants to devote her time to watching her cherub of a granddaughter and her super-friendly chihuahua named Killer, she needed her home office to be organized for bill paying and working on her multiple hobbies.  I'll be returning once more to install some curtains on the windows, but I couldn't wait to show the finished organization project.  Love the space created by this one!

Before pictures:

Here are the after pics: