Eliminate and prevent paper declutter in only a few minutes a day:

It’s not a wonder that we can’t keep up with the paperwork. We get a daily influx of mail, bills, and catalogs! The task can seem daunting, and many will even put it off to avoid the feeling of overwhelm. 
 
I am suggesting a different way of tackling the problem before the procrastination takes hold. Take 5 - 10 minutes every day to review what comes in. Try it for a week and see if this system is for you. Start by setting up a simple mail sorting station. The trick is to tackle it the minute it comes in!
 
You can set up the sorting station in the entryway, mud room, or even the wall next to the door you use to come into your home, pick any convenient area. Your set up can be as simple as a letter holder with multiple slots that you will label for ease of use. Try a few simple categories that will work in your home.

The following are a few examples of categories: File, Action and you can even have a slot for each of the members in your household (including your kids for their important papers that you need to review or sign). Another option could be File, Pay some like a Read section as well, (but only if you really do read the material you are receiving) otherwise toss. It's a good time to review subscriptions. If you keep magazines, determine where they will be placed, and how long you will keep them. 
 
As you enter your home, take one minute to open each item of mail, and decide whether it’s something to store long term (place in File section), something to pay,  (place in the Pay section), or toss it immediately into recycling, trash bin, or shredder.
 
Note: Have a paper recycling bin, (a shredder is also very helpful) or trash bin close to the sorting station so that you can immediately toss out flyers and catalogs. You will probably be surprised by how much mail can go directly into this bin!
 
Go digital - Take note for a month or so on what goes directly into the recycling bin. If there are certain mailings that you immediately throw out then unsubscribe, it will save you time in the long run and it will help Mother Earth by saving paper. For bills and bank statements see if you can switch to digital notifications. It may be easier to pay when the bills land in your inbox. Stop the junk mail. For a fee of $2, DMAchoice.org will let you opt out of entire categories of mail, such as catalogs, for the next 10 years.
 
Create Long term storage - because once a week (key) you should file what is in the letter holder or bin where you are temporarily storing these items (if they cannot be immediately filed). This will mean different things for each household. You decide what your needs and preferences are. Do you need a filing cabinet, an accordion folder, or a file box? 
 
The important thing here is the system you choose should easily allow you to file and retrieve your important documents. Use labels they will help you and everyone know where the items belong as well as where they can be found. These important papers can include but are not limited to the following: Insurance policies, contracts and agreements, investment documents, tax returns, W-2 and 1099s, birth certificates, marriage license(s), divorce and military records, social security cards, house deeds, wills/trusts, and car titles.
 
Remember: From now on when paper comes in, don’t, set it down or stash it for later. Act. Go immediately to your mail sorting station/area and recycle or shred almost everything that comes in. If it is a bill put it directly where it belongs. Don’t pile paper for later, deal with it now.
 
This system will create breathing room for you so that you can pursue other things you enjoy and engage in life with the people that matter the most.

​As an organizer, people often ask about my home, wondering if it’s perfect, the answer is a resounding no, but I do have systems in place that work and that have been tweaked over time to make things easier for our family. Here are what I think are some of the most important things I do to maintain my home:
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1. Plan meals ahead of time (usually Sunday) for the work week: This pays off big, especially in reducing the daily stress that comes after work wondering what to make for dinner! When I’m at the grocery store (usually Sunday) I am focused on selecting items for each planned day. (Basically a formula of a protein, plus 2 veggies per dinner for Monday - Thursday). We always eat salads for lunch. Also, I always make a soup or legume recipe that we use throughout the week either for lunch in addition to the salad, or when we are just feeling hungry before dinner. These can be stored, transported and heated in mason jars (mason jars are inexpensive, readily available, and easy to wash). We eat out on Friday (yay!) and don’t exactly “plan” the other meals on the weekend.
2. Deal with the mail, as it comes in, daily: I have a mini command center and a filing system. My categories are very simple: Read, Pay, File or Set aside for another family member in their designated place. I dispose of junk mail immediately so it does not pile up, if it is a coupon for a product I use its filed, otherwise I throw it out!
3. Put away clothes after I wear them: Even if I am dead tired. I have trained myself to do this and I tell you, it's great not to have to deal with clothes the morning after. I determine on the spot, whether or not they need to be laundered or dry cleaned, if so, the clothes go in the hamper, if the clothes are clean, they go back to the closet or designated drawer in a manner that would make Marie Kondo proud. This is a habit you too can develop!  I do this after work, gym, date night, a wedding. Every time!
4. Wash, dry and put away: the dinner dishes, pots, and pans as soon as we're done eating. We rinse and put the dishes in the dishwasher (the dishwasher is run every few days), wash the pots and pans by hand, set them on a drying rack, give them a quick swipe with a cloth and put them away every day before bedtime. It’s easier than dealing with it in the morning when everyone is rushing. Taking time to set this routine up will make a huge difference in your efforts to avoid ending up in crisis mode.
5. Do laundry once a week: for me the trick is making sure the cycle is completed (Wash, Dry, Fold, Put away) otherwise you end up with a laundry bottleneck that becomes too hard to handle and then you give up and it sits in piles.  If others are involved in any of the steps, make sure everyone is clear on who is doing what, so progress is made).
6. Make the bed: (boring, I know, but there is something about it that helps in starting the day off right). It also keeps me encouraged to keep the rest of the room tidy, it leads to better productivity and gives me a feeling of accomplishment, lowers stress and just looks and feels better!

Did you know that there are health benefits of being organized? I don't know about you, when benefits are involved they make the hard work (in this case of being organized) seem totally worth it. I know we rather watch Netflix or read a book or do anything that doesn't involve cleaning up. However, I start to immediately feel overwhelmed when things start to get too disorganized. Here are those health benefits to think about, or help you when you get stuck:

• It boosts your energy
• Leads to healthier eating habits (per a study from Psychological Science)
• Can improve sleep according to the Huffington Post (because clutter in the bedroom is stressful)
• Reduces Stress as per a Shape study (people with cluttered homes were more depressed, fatigued and had higher cortisol {the stress hormone} levels.​​

Basically when you keep your house organized you and everyone in the household are happier and more relaxed!

Tips on Packing a Toiletry Bag:
I love it when a toiletry bag is well packed! Over the years of traveling, I must say, I have made this easier. The ideal situation is when you can just grab it and go! This is especially true if you do a significant amount of traveling.  If you don’t travel that often, then things are a bit different because you don’t want expensive serums, moisturizers and sunscreens to go to waste, because they do expire!

You can however keep a list so its just a matter of grabbing and tossing it in the suitcase. Feel free to print and use the list of items below:
You will need your everyday items for morning and night. It is important to keep your beauty routine, especially when you travel and this way your skin does not suffer. You should also include items that you will need for an “emergency” situation. I try to keep things simple and efficient.

There are general categories I use and then I added items to each:
 
Shower/Toiletry Items:

• Shampoo and Conditioner (I bring my own because the hotel ones dry out my hair)
• Razor/Shaving Gel or some kind of moisturizer to facilitate shaving
• Body wash (optional)
• Perfume in a small spray bottle or rollerball

 
Skin Care items:

• Make up remover (liquid or wipes)
• Cotton balls/ Q-tips
• Face Wash
• Toner
• Serums and other anti-aging products you use
• Face and Body Moisturizer
• Aquaphor or Chapstick
• Sunscreen (Face/Body)

 
Hygiene Items:

• Toothbrush/Toothpaste/Floss
• Deodorant
• Feminine products

 
Health Items:

• Medication (what you normally take every day or week)
• Vitamins
• Pain reliever (whichever you usually use for headaches etc.)

 
Make-up Items: These are the essentials. You can add or subtract depending on what you like or what season it is.

• Primer(s)
• Highlighter
• Foundation
• Concealer
• Blush
• Finishing powder
• Mascara
• Eyeshadow
• Eyeliner
• Brow stuff (pencil, gel etc.)
• A statement lipstick or gloss
• And don’t forget … make-up brushes

 
Then there is what I like to call the “Just in Case” items: If you need them you
will be really glad you have them!

• Band-Aids
• Neosporin
• Antihistamine
• Something to relieve nausea, upset stomach and diarrhea (Tums,Pepto-Bismol, Alka Seltzer)
• Nail file and clippers

 
Let’s not forget, you will need a great toiletry bag for all these items! This could be a whole other subject. Do you prefer leather, canvas, plastic? There are pros and cons to each consider your preferences.

Also important for air travel, you are allowed to bring a quart-sized bag of liquids, aerosols, creams and pastes in your carry-on bag and through the checkpoint. These are limited to travel-sized containers that are 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) or less per item. Placing these items in a small bag and separating them from the rest of the stuff in your carry-on baggage facilitates the screening process.
Pack items that are in containers larger than 3.4 ounces or 100 milliliters in checked baggage. To read more on this go to (tsa.gov) and see the Liquids Rule.

You can get travel sizes for all your items; however, if you, like many, prefer to use your favorite items which don’t always come in travel sizes, you should choose containers that are all TSA approved and sensible.

I use small ones (1 oz.) and put several pumps in the tubes (depending on the number of days I’m traveling) and toss them into the bag. I do this with face wash, serums, moisturizers, and night cream. Then for shampoo, and conditioners I still use TSA approved containers that are larger, but no more than 3.4 ounces (the maximum for carry-on). These can be purchased on Amazon, The Container Store, Bed Bath and Beyond etc.

Wishing you a safe journey and a wonderful time!
 

​As an organizer, I provide a service that is customized for each client, bringing them solutions that create a level of organization and order that is right for them. Many times, as a result, clients will have items that can be recycled or donated, and I try to steer them in the right direction so that they can get the most benefit from their items and take care of the planet while in the process of organizing. In my personal life I have always felt strongly about recycling, donating and reselling items.
I ask myself this question all the time “what are we doing to planet, Mother Earth? We are in a constant state of consumption. We use plastic, glass, wood, metals and many, many other materials and don’t think much about their disposal. The cycle: buy, use, dispose, re-buy is prevalent. Do we consider recycling and if so to what degree? My intent with this information is to help you do a little better with this topic. We need to do better for this wonderful, beautiful planet of ours! There is much to be said and explored but I will keep it to the basics.
The Basics of Recycling.
Let’s start with the benefits as they stand for themselves!
Benefits:
·         Reduces waste sent to landfills and incinerators.
·         Conserves natural resources (timber, water, metals, minerals).
·         Prevents pollution.
·         Saves energy.
·         Helps create jobs in the recycling industries
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There are three main steps to recycling: Although we can say that deciding to recycle is really the first step!

Step 1: Collection and Processing - This step is huge and there is so much we can do, starting in our own homes by becoming familiar with how we can recycle our everyday trash.
There are several methods for collecting recyclables.
·         Curbside collection
·         Drop-off Centers
·         Deposit or Refund Programs
What can you recycle?
Paper - Recovered paper makes new paper products. You can place your paper in your community bins and set them out for collection. Find out when your community picks up recyclables (or just watch for when your neighbors put out their bins.)  I have a recycle bin next to my regular trash and then a few times a week we empty it into the larger bin designated to us by our community and we just roll it out from our garage to the curb the night before or the morning of collection.
When you go shopping look for and purchase items that are made from recycled paper. Also, try to reuse paper products like gift bags (which often are not recyclable because of the laminate) and gift  tissue paper.
Plastic – Most community recycling programs accept some, but not all types of plastic.
Batteries – Batteries cannot be thrown out in the regular or recyclable trash. Look for in-store bins or collection events to dispose of batteries. In my community many of the public libraries have special bins for battery drop off. Google the information for your community and spread the word to your neighbors!
Glass – New glass can be made from recycled glass. Most recycling programs accept glass of different colors and types. The glass is later sorted at recovery facilities.
Used Oil – If you change your own oil please never dump oil down the drain because it can contaminate our fresh water. Many garages and auto supply stores accept oil for recycling.
Tires – Did you know that most garages are required to accept and recycle your used tires when you have new ones installed? You may be able to return used tires to a tire retailer or a recycling facility that accepts tires. Some communities will hold collection events for used tires.
Hazardous Waste – These are products that contain corrosive, toxic, ignitable or reactive ingredients. Items such as paint, cleaners, oils, batteries, pesticides. These will require special disposal because are dangerous for people and contaminate the environment. What you can do? Try to reduce the purchase of these products, look for alternative non-hazardous products. And when you do use them look for collection centers, or special collection events in your community. If in doubt check with your local waste management agency to see what rules apply in your community.
Step 2: Manufacturing - More products are being made with recycled content.
Step 3: Purchasing New Products Made from Recycled Materials - you can help by purchasing products made from recycled materials. Look for products that contain recycled material and buy products that can be easily recycled.
Common Products made with recycled content include:
Aluminum cans, car bumpers, cereal boxes, egg cartons, laundry detergent bottles paper towels, steel products, trash bags.
Besides my home recycling and steering my clients towards donating, recycling, reselling and proper disposal, some other things I do to help the planet is I have  personally eliminated using plastic water bottles 99% of the time (disclaimer: unless there is absolutely nothing else available and can’t bring my reusable steel water bottle.) I also don’t use plastic straws anymore.
Hope you find this information useful and I hope that it gives you a bit of inspiration to do what you can for our planet!

​     A mirror is a great accessory because its     
     decorative and functional. Any room can 
​     benefit if its placed in a good spot. In a
​     smaller, narrow room mirrors can create the
​     illusion of space. It is a great reflector of
​     light. A few things to remember, simple tips,
​     when hanging a mirror are:
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The ideal spot to hang a mirror is about 5 feet from the floor. People should be able to see themselves without standing on their toes or bending their knees. Mirrors look great in entryways, hallways and staircases.

Hang the mirror where it will reflect light (across a window or a light like a chandelier). This will enable the mirror to bounce off sunlight or the light from fixtures.

The mirror should reflect a nice view (an attractive painting, a family portrait, the ocean, a garden etc.) Before you hang or securely place a floor mirror in a room determine if it will reflect a nice view, this way you can avoid reflecting boxes, the dishes or plumbing etc.

Use the mirror as a focal point. We don’t all have a window with a view or a beautiful piece of artwork so when you place and an attractive larger mirror in the room it can become the statement piece. The mirror itself becomes the artwork, therefore placement is important. At my brother’s house, my sister-in-law placed a full length leaning mirror on the wall in the living room and it really pulls off the look she beautifully created, plus it gives everyone a chance to check themselves out coming in or leaving the house (I love that mirror, it makes me look a bit taller because its leaning).

Use the color, shape, and style of the mirror to create the effect you desire. Do you want your mirror with a pop of color placed against a neutral background or do you want a uniquely shaped mirror in a neutral color against printed wallpaper or a brightly painted wall? These all can beautiful and can create as dramatic or simple a look as you want.

Mirrors bring light and depth into rooms and maximize a room’s style. They simply create an elegant, yet relaxed atmosphere.

Do you have Toy Clutter?
It’s a few weeks before for Christmas! I don’t want to alarm you, but rather make you aware that you still have time. Time for what you ask? Keep reading…
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Toys, as a parent they can make your life easy and they can make it hard. Easy because kids love them, need them, and are for the most part entertained by them. Hard because it can sometimes seem like they are everywhere!
I’m not going to tell you what is “right” in your home. I want to offer some practical tips for managing toys and figuring out what is ideal for you and your children, which as it turns out is usually less than you have today. The ideal number will vary from family to family.
Toys are fun and educational, and they are important in a child’s development. I am advocating for less, not no toys. Here are some reasons why: When kids have too many toys it prevents them from fully developing their gift of imagination, fewer toys allows them to become more resourceful.  Children with fewer toys take care of them, they learn how to develop interpersonal relationships, develop a greater love for art, reading, and writing. Nature becomes more important because they can play outside and experience physical exercise. I guess what I am saying is, in this case, less is more.
Things to Think About:
Choose quality over quantity. Ask, or better yet, observe your kids. What are the toys they play with every day, or the ones that have special meaning, the ones that make them feel good? Those you keep. These are the ones they love. Probably the ones that spark their imaginations and provide joy for the family.
Set a budget.  This limits your toy purchases. You probably have set amounts for groceries or entertainment, why not toys. The budget can be monthly or yearly.
Don’t give into fads. Ask, yourself is it something your child could benefit from, does the toy in question match his/her personality. Don’t give into the manufacturers, they are the ones that create the “shortages” that make you and your kids feel like if they don’t have “that” toy they are missing out. They are only thinking of their profits!
Set a confined physical space. Once you have defined the “toy space” and it can be a bin, closet, or a section of a room. You define the space.  When it becomes full, then, no more adding toys. Think about the one in one out rule. Great way to discuss limits with your children. If your play areas (bedroom, family room, play room etc.) have become a cluttered mess (you know a Lego minefield) impossible to clean, it’s time to start a decluttering process.
Purge. Keep life simple.  Some criteria to use: Get rid of toys that are broken, toys that have not been played with (ever or at least in 6 months). Give away duplicate toys, unsafe toys, and loud toys. Clean and unused toys can be placed in a box or bag and donated. I read an article that said the U.S. has 3.1 % of the world’s children but buys 40% of all toys sold worldwide. How fortunate we are, and yet some of these toys just end up piled up somewhere.
I read an article where the family has a 20-toy rule. This worked for them.  It may not work for you or your children. The whole point is to establish toy rules for your household. Then implement changes as needed. Weather you go for a specific number of toys to keep or you use another system like setting up categories of toys (small, large, puzzles, games, toy sets, outdoor toys, stuffed animals) and then using any or all the criteria previously mentioned, to purge (broken, unsafe, unused, duplicates, loud) think about some guidelines and then move forward make the decisions to keep, discard or donate. Getting rid of some toys gives your children extra space to enjoy the meaningful toys they love. These toys can be arranged thoughtfully using bins, and shelves they can see into.
It’s not going to be easy, but your home and family will experience a new calmness.