Inspiration & Education to keep you curious!

Learn to see like an organizer…

by Filed Under: Home, Inspiration & Education, Organize, Planning & Goals, Systems & Techniques, Tips & Resources Leave a Comment

How can you learn to see like an organizer? When an organizer a designer, space planner, realtor and others walk into a space they are trained to “see the possibilities”. By using this process yourself you can also begin to see your space with a fresh set of eyes. I co-presented on this topic at a local home and design show and along with a kitchen designer and another organizer, we shared how we have learned to cultivate the practice of seeing with a fresh set of eyes! It’s something that I hear over and over, “I just need a fresh set of eyes” and it’s something we can all cultivate!

So often we put things where we put them and forget about them. Sometimes we literally forget where we put things, sometimes we put things in certain spots out of habit and sometimes we just glaze over and stop seeing what’s right in front of us.

Practice cultivating the art of seeing by shaking things up! Click To Tweet

We get accustomed to seeing or rather, not seeing what surrounds us daily.
Be willing to try something different, be open to other peoples suggestions & ideas.
Seeing things with fresh eyes is a creative process, look for inspiring ideas (magazines, websites, experts).
The skill of seeing things differently can be cultivated.

Pausing and asking ourselves to take a fully conscious moment in our space to learn to cultivate the art of seeing can begin by asking ourselves a few questions.

How do you feel when you walk into a space?

What feelings are evoked when you walk into the space? Something pleasant, or stressful? How do you want the space to feel?
What do you do in the space and how do you use it?
What doesn’t need to be here?
How would you use the space differently?

Rethink how you use your space. Does a space feel uncomfortable or off somehow? Spend some time there and determine why you are unable or uncomfortable in the space. If you had a blank slate, how could you use the space differently? Sometimes it’s a simple matter of re-arranging the space, other times, replacing furniture with something more functional might be a simple solution. Now, close your eyes & Imagine the space transformed!

Learning to see like an organizer might mean de-cluttering and imagining a home for everything that is used in the space, or maybe it means completely re-imagining how the spaces are used. Practice envisioning your space transformed into exactly what you need and imagine how it feels.

Common pitfalls that can prevent us from achieving our newly envisioned organizing goals can include, lack of labels, lack of lighting, buying containers before the stuff has been purged and sorted and overfilling containers. Leave yourself a bit of extra space in each bin, overstuffed spaces are hard to maintain!

Organize by Category

Transform awkwardly defined spaces by determining specific uses first. Think about how you want to use the spaces. Determining your needs and assigning the space a specific category for use can lead you to unexpected surprising and successful solutions! Below, the solution started by defining a need for easy access snack storage!

Make the Most of Unused and small spaces

Go Vertical-Hang it! Look up in the Rafters, or store narrow items on the wall
Consider Inside/backs of cabinets & doors
Awkward spaces like under the stairs, unused closets or niches can create beautiful and functional storage

Store things where you can see them

Hang things like jewelry, accessories, small tools, hardware where you will see them and use them daily!

Create simple customized solutions

Tricky spaces sometimes need clever solutions. If you know what you need to store in a certain spot and can’t find an off the shelf solution, work with a handyman or carpenter to build something to your specifications. Custom doesn’t always mean expensive or complex! Above, a custom closet created just for overflow paper goods and ironing supplies-closer to the clothes, away from the laundry area)

Finally, Make it Easy + Make it Fun!

Aim for organized…not perfect
Repeat what works
No right or wrong way
Your space, your style
Have a friend help

If you have been able to cultivate the art of seeing like an organizer but have lost your momentum once you begin the process, head over to this post to check out how to maintain the momentum of your organizing project! Do you have examples of how you have transformed a space by re-organizing or design? I’d love you to join us and share them over in our Facebook group!

Family Friday::Kid-friendly kitchen organizing

by Filed Under: Home, Kids & Family Organizing, Organize, Systems & Techniques

Our kitchens are becoming increasingly multi-functional so it makes sense to have some kid-friendly kitchen organizing system to manage multiple schedules and all of our busy lifestyles.

10 kid-friendly organizing tips to keep your kids and kitchen happy and healthy!

1. A Household Command Center might include the following items:

A weekly or monthly calendar
Menu’s, shopping lists
Meal planning tools
Coupons (these can also be kept in the car)
A drawer or cabinet with a few basic office supplies (scissors, tape, envelopes, stamps, pens & pencils)
A contacts list or
A “household management binder”, see my post here on what to include
An area to keep keys (hooks or a tray)
A white/blackboard or note pad jot down notes or ideas

2. Create a “perpetual” calendar and utilizing insides of cabinets or a Household Binder, especially if you do not have space or want to create a full command center. Include menu’s, shopping lists and household management info.

Source: bhg.com via AHG on Pinterest

Source: simplifiedbee.blogspot.com via HKpowerStudio on Pinterest

3. Use over the door accessory organizers. Here they are put to use holding snacks.

Source: indulgy.com via Lois on Pinterest

4. Use low drawers, shelves and baskets for kid-friendly foods and lunch-meal making supplies. This will make it easier for your kids to help out in the kitchen with small tasks like putting things away. It also makes lower cabinets safe for kids to access for play and snacktime.

kid-friendly kitchen organizing

5. Label it! This includes shelves, drawers and containers so that everyone knows where things go. Picture labels can be a great solution for smaller children.

Capture

Source: google.com via Jen on Pinterest

Smart companies are starting to market to this need with low drawer refrigerators and “Kid-Zone” cabinet options!6. Keep cleaning products up high, especially if you have very little kids and keep only kid-safe items like clean rags, extra paper products, a stool, drying rack etc. under the sink (use kid proof cabinet locks too). kid-friendly kitchen organizing

7. Portion out snacks into small containers that are stored in a basket or bin in a kid accessible area so they can help themselves.

Capture

Source: bhg.com via Ashley on Pinterest8. Corral small items into a mesh bags when it comes to cleaning (or baskets) to throw into the dishwasher so they don’t get lost!

9. Keep an island or open counter space where you can have your kids participate will surely keep them more interested in cooking and eating healthy.10. Incorporating kids artwork using chalkboard paint or another display area makes your kids feel they are a part of the household activities that probably center around the kitchen.

Source: designismine.blogspot.com via Kimberly on Pinterest

Bonus! If your kids like to participate (or you want them to) be sure to have a safe step stool (10) that gives them access to counter space (or a stool they can sit at) and kid safe tools they will want to use!

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5 mind map tools for a deep dive

by Filed Under: Inspiration & Education, Paper management, Planning & Goals, Productivity, Systems & Techniques, Tips & Resources, Wellness & Mindset 1 Comment

Mind maps tools are increasingly popular among companies, business owners, individuals and educators. Using mind maps for a deep dive into a specific topic, project or goal allows you to throw it out “on paper” and get your ideas order.

All mind maps have one thing in common. They have a central structure that radiates out organizing ideas by using lines, symbols, photos, and text to support and provide additional information for each big idea or topic. Mind maps can be either paper or computer-based, both follow the same structure, breaking a topic out from a central idea. The wonderful thing about the process of mind mapping is that you can dive deeper into a subject as you radiate out and continue to brainstorm. The mind map process is both intellectual and creative and is such a wonderful tool for individuals and business’ that are more hands on and intuitive in their goal setting and brainstorming process. The key is to find out which method works best for you, your needs and capabilities.

Paper Mind Maps

Paper-based mind maps are easy to create – you don’t need a computer, internet access, or computer chargers. All you need is paper and a pen, easy peasy! You can quickly jot down everything that comes out of your mind and map it out exactly how you’d like it. A paper mind map is great for those who need to get all of their ideas out quickly and allow for refining later. It can also be a helpful tool for organizing ideas and actions for teams.

Paper mind maps wick and easy to access anywhere, but there are a few downsides to using traditional pen and paper – it could easily get lost, crumpled or get eaten by your dog! You aren’t able to change your ideas with ease unless you use a pencil, and if you are creating a large mind map you’ll need a lot of paper (which isn’t so ecologically friendly) and can take up a lot of space.

Digital Mind Map Tools

There are dozens of mind map software to choose from, these are just some of the most popular and user-friendly systems that I’ve used myself, with clients or heard good things about.

Coggle

Coggle is a web browser-based mind mapping software that makes creating a mind map simple, easy and fun. This software offers both a free and paid version and it is an excellent investment if you create a lot of mind maps. It allows you to collaborate easily with a team. You can add text, hyperlinks, and images anywhere on your map with Coggle. The attractive branches can be customized with color, making these mind maps easy to follow.

Inspiration Maps

Inspiration Maps offers both computer and web based software that has been newly introduced for iPad and iPhone. Its key features include the ability to create an unlimited number of maps and outlines, a user-friendly interface and the ability to customize, add graphics and photos to any part of your map. You are able to choose from over 100 pre made mind map layouts and hundreds of graphics within the app. With its autosave feature, you can be certain you won’t lose any of your data if the internet goes down and you are able to share it on a variety of platforms. It is very inexpensive for all the features and is worth the purchase!

Mind Meister

In addition to its catchy name, Mind Meister is another great software for creating mind maps. It is focused more on business and educational use and has a variety of features that support a lot of users at one time. It is available for download and can be accessed on any platform and has intricate sharing capabilities.

When making your decision take into consideration the pros and cons of each, the features, cost, ease of interface, accessibility and most importantly that it suits your needs. At the end of the day, mind maps are supposed to be a fun, interactive tool that helps you expel all the information out of your brain. Don’t lose sight of that and have fun mind mapping all your great ideas!

Do you already use the mind map process? If so are you using pen and paper or software? What are some of your favorite things to mind map?

Spring Cleaning Tips: Greener ways to Clean

by Filed Under: Health, Inspiration & Education, Organize, Tips & Resources, Uncategorized Leave a Comment

It is time to SPRING open those shutters, let the fresh air in and kick the winter blues out of the house. You guessed it, Spring is upon us!

Spring is such a beautiful time of year, flowers are blooming, the weather is getting warmer and the animals are playful everywhere you turn. While Spring as a season might be beautiful, Spring cleaning is not as glamorous, and for many people can feel like a drag.

But, it’s a perfect time to de-clutter, organize your closets and leave your home with that clean and fresh smell. There are so many cleaners and cleaning products on the market but do you really know what’s in them?

How healthy are the cleaners that you use?

Non-toxic cleaners should be used around your home year around – not only in the Spring, and especially if you have small children. The benefits of greener cleaners include; fewer toxins and chemicals being absorbed into the skin, less damaging to the environment and better air quality in your home and they are less expensive in some cases (DIY cleansers!). If you want to better understand the toxic chemicals to look out for in your cleaners, check out my previous wellness post on the subject.

GreenWorks Multi-Purpose Cleanser is a great cleanser to use for virtually any room in your house. It can be used for a variety of different tasks and is safe for your home and your children. Not only is it made with 97% organic materials, but it also works on those stubborn stains or hard to handle messes.

Method is another cleaner that has the environmental seal of approval. The method product line comes in a variety of different cleaners including hand soap, dish soap, laundry detergent, bathroom cleaners, all-purpose cleaners and even a body wash for men and women! They come in a variety of scents and uses all biodegradable materials. They’ve thought of everything!

Mrs. Myers is a wholesome midwest cleaning brand started by Mrs. Thema A. Meyer. She created Mrs. Meyers because of her penchant for keeping things neat and tidy and the scents were inspired by her garden. Her line of cleaning products which range from hand soap, body soap, laundry detergent and air fresheners are all made with natural scents like mint, basil, and lavender. If you want your home smelling like a bouquet of roses this Spring, you better get cleaning with Mrs. Meyers!

For those who want to know EVERYTHING that is in their cleaners, DIY is the way to go! Many homemade cleaners are made with ingredients you probably already have around your home. Vinegar, essential oils, baking soda, olive oil, and water are the key players in most of your homemade cleaners.

Bathroom

Vinegar is a key ingredient to getting rid of bathroom dirt and grime! For tough toilet stains, add ½ baking soda along with a few drops of essential oils into your toilet bowl when you’re ready to tackle the toilet add ¼ cup of vinegar and scrub away the mess as it works its magic.

A spritz of pure vinegar can be used in your shower and sink on soap scum and hard water residue. Add it to a spray bottle and spritz it on, letting the vinegar soak for 20-30 minutes before wiping off. If that doesn’t work, add baking soda to the mix and try again in 15 minutes.

Kitchen

Most kitchen surfaces can also be treated with vinegar, but if your surfaces are made from marble, granite or stone stay away from the high acidity and use vodka or rubbing alcohol instead. Mixing equal parts water and vinegar will make a very effective multi-purpose cleaner that can be used on most surfaces including countertops, floors, and walls.

To tackle greasy frying pans just add salt – and give it a good scrub! If you need to clean a cast iron pan add olive oil and a teaspoon of course salt and rinse well with water. The best way to sanitize surfaces is with a lemon, simply cut it in half and run it over the surface you would like to disinfect.

Having the right ingredients is only half of the job, having the right cleaning tool is the other half. Sponges that have a harder edge are good for scrubbing stubborn pots and pans. Rags or microfibre clothes are excellent for disinfecting surfaces and the magic eraser is great for removing soap scum, scuff marks and any other war wounds your child puts into it!

Laundry

The laundry room is where most people run into trouble with the homemade detergents because if you throw a cup of vinegar in with your clothes, they wouldn’t come out smelling very nice. Laundry detergent is a bit tougher to make, only in the sense that you have to add more ingredients. Combine bar soap (chopped and processed), baking soda, essential oils, vinegar and washing soda and you will have created a very effective and pleasant-smelling laundry detergent.

Instead of using dryer sheets that lose their scent after one use, try using laundry ‘scenters’ that will stay fresh for up to 30 loads of laundry, or more! Add your favorite herbs or loose tea to a sachet (one that has holes that the herbs can aerate is best).

Floors

Every room in your house has one and floors can be tricky to keep clean. Anyone with hardwood floors can keep it simple by washing (or steam cleaning) with warm water, just be sure not to over soak your mop when washing the floors.

If your floors still aren’t looking as clean as they should, add a bit of dish soap in to bring out the dirt and let those floors shine.

Laminate floors are very delicate and steam mops shouldn’t be used on them. When cleaning a laminate floor clean with a light mop and spray the cleaner onto the mop, not directly onto the floor. Using a mixture of three parts water, one part vinegar and a squirt of dish soap should do the trick.

Most other floors are easy enough to care for and don’t require any special precautions. A typical all-purpose floor cleaner is a cup of water, ½ cup of vinegar and a tbsp of vegetable oil to bring out the floors natural glow.

There are hundreds of different homemade cleaner recipes out there, all have different purposes and work differently for all homeowners and their grime, but the one thing we can all agree on is that they are made from natural ingredients and have a positive impact on your home and the environment. If you have any recipes you’d like to share, please leave them in the comments below!

Love or Loath Laundry? Quick Laundry tips

by Filed Under: Closets, Home, Kids & Family Organizing, Organize, Organizing Projects, Systems & Techniques, Tips & Resources 1 Comment

Do you love or loath laundry? I don’t mind it but I know for so many people Laundry is not about love, at all! That’s why I work with my clients to create a laundry schedule, including what I to keep on top of weekly laundry tasks.

In creating a laundry schedule I ask a few questions to help determine what the best household action plan for doing laundry…here are some questions you can use to create your own laundry schedule.

How many household members? How many loads of laundry per person per week do you generate?
How many “able bodied” people do you have do delegate laundry to? Kids age 10+ should start learning to help with laundry, including having a laundry basket in their room, helping to bring laundry to the washer/dryer, helping to sort, fold and put laundry away.
Do you have a cleaning person that helps with laundry? If so, what day do they come and what laundry tasks do they do or could you delegate to them (sheets and towels or more)?
Do you and your kids do sports activities or work that generates extra dirty (stinky:() laundry? If so, how soon after these activities do you need to wash things (to re-use or prevent smells)?
Do you take a lot of things to the dry cleaner? If so, do you have a pick up drop off service or is this something your drycleaner offers?
Do you have a lot of ironing, do you like to iron?

With all this info in your back pocket, calculate how many loads need to be done per week and who will do them. Then, take a look at your weekly schedule and assign laundry tasks by the date to yourself or other household help (kids, spouse, cleaning helpers etc).

I change and wash whites, or linens (towels, sheets and the oddball other white items) on Wednesdays and thus the term Wednesday Whitewash! Maybe doing a couple loads mid weeks and more on the weekends makes sense to you and with your schedule or maybe your weekends are busy with family activities and your better off tackling one load per evening through the week.

Keep Laundry Contained

In my observation, many people do not have laundry baskets, have them where they need them (in the bedroom, bathroom or closet) or seem to use them at all! I find laundry in piles on the floor, draped over furniture, hanging form hooks, light fixtures and everywhere else you can imagine. If you don’t know what’s clean and what’s dirty, you will constantly be re-washing items or at least giving your nose a workout with the sniff test. Keep dirty laundry contained in a basket or bag and use this to take laundry to your laundry area and then sort (or buy bins with sorting compartments if you have room). There are tons of great laundry basket options, like these available…so measure your space and determine what/how many you need and invest!

Minimize Maintenance

When you buy new clothes, think about their laundry requirements.

Sort laundry by color and by weight. I don’t like to wash my husbands heavy duty work pants with my delicate tops or undergarments (which should be in a bag). Sort weekly loads by dark/light/white and weight. This helps keep clothes looking newer longer.

Do you love linen but hate ironing? Maybe these things should be kept for less frequent use or sent to the dry cleaner?

Keep it Green Clean

Do you dislike using dry cleaners because of the chemicals? If so, look for a green cleaner in your area. While we are talking about green options, look for cleaning products that are phosphate free and use minimal scents and chemicals (though there seem to be more an more products on the market to mask odor-that doesn’t mean it’s really clean!). This might seem obvious but wash things only when needed. If you’ve only worn something for a couple hours, didn’t sweat or spill on it, then wear it again before laundering. This is not only going to save you time, it will keep your clothes looking new longer and will save resources (water power etc).

Consider hanging delicate, knits and lightweight items to dry (like the French do!). I use a collapsible laundry rack to dry about 1/3 to 1/2 of every laundry load, it takes a bit more time to dry but it keeps my clothes fro wearing out as quickly and saves energy. When it comes to stains, do pre-treat as soon as possible and if your really stain prone, check out these stain specific products (not all stains are alike!) by Carbona.

Any way you schedule it, whether you love or loath laundry, having this household task in perpetual motion will keep you from melting or collapsing under this task mountain!