Spring Organizing Tips

Guest blogger, Stephanie Hanson is the Community Manager for George's Gorgeous Garages. George's provides custom garage storage and organization solutions for homeowners in the Lansing area. For more tips on organization visit their corporate blog.

The harsh cold and snow of winter is almost over. In just a few short months we will be transitioning to the new warmth and flowers that suggest that spring is in the air.

This time of year, many of us decide to let go of unwanted things and start new by participating in spring cleaning. With so much to do, sometimes spring cleaning takes longer than we would like it to.

Here are a list of tips you can use to make your spring cleaning more efficient:

Make A List: It’s called Spring cleaning for a reason. Realize that Spring cleaning means that you are going to be cleaning all those things that you’ve put off the rest of the year. Make a list or spreadsheet of every room of your house and all the things that need done in that room. Remember to include tasks that you don’t usually do like cleaning the baseboards, window treatments, and cleaning furniture. This list may be long, don’t let that scare you.

Give Yourself A Deadline: With so many things to do it’s easy to never actually get them done. Next to each project on your list write down a realistic deadline. If you’ll easily forget about when you are supposed to get something done, place the list somewhere you’ll see if frequently, like the fridge. If that’s still not enough, use reminders on your phone or through apps.

Get Help: It’s okay to say, “I can’t do this on my own.” Enlist the help of your children, spouse, friends, or professionals. Some of these people may be hesitant to help, especially children, but that’s okay. Realize that a big difference can be made between one person doing something and two people working together on it. 

Keep Track: Make sure that you mark off a project when it is completed. In addition, be sure to judge your progress to see how much more you have to do. Reward yourself when you have completed something.

Sit Back And Relax: When you’re done with your list make sure that you take it all in. Sit down and relax for a while. Realize this is a little victory. Celebrate.

Thanks Stephanie for these great Spring organizing tips.

Our crazy winter is finally coming to an end ... I hope!

What are you looking forward to doing this spring?

Organize Spring Magazine ... Woo Hoo!!

SUPER EXCITED!!!

Not only is the mother of all snow meltdowns about to begin but a national publication is hitting the book stands and yours truly is one of the "leading experts."

Woo hoo!!

You can pick up your copy at your favorite Costco, Target, Barnes & Noble and other major new stands.

I was interviewed for the section on organizing tips and tricks for storing your winter gear for the beautiful warm sunny days of spring and summer.

Also, being a single mom with any second becoming a "mommy meltdown moment" in a flash of a Nerf dart whizzing by head, I was asked about ways to find some time for yourself in a section entitled "Taking a Moment."  I laughed out loud when I read one of my quotes.

If you are looking for some great tips (and laughs) on getting organized this spring, get out and grab your copy today!

What are you looking forward to doing this Spring?

"Someday" will never come

Little known fact: There is no "Someday" or "Later" on any calendar.

If you are going to get a task done,
schedule it
write it down
make it happen.

Then reward yourself with a little treat.  Perhaps calling a friend, taking a bit longer shower or may favorite - cheesecake.

What are you getting done today?

Living Better by Organizing

This is so true.
Everyone's idea about organizing is their own.
Understand what you want and how you wish things to be,
and DO IT!

If you need help,
no worries,
I have your back.

You can do it!
I believe in you.

How are you living better?

Let go of your excess pens

Little Known Fact:
You only write with one pen/pencil/marker at a time.

The other 40+ writing instruments on top of your desk are taking up valuable space.  Likely, half of them you hate to use or are dried up.

You can toss them.
It's OK.
Really.

Note: this Little Known Fact may not apply if you are some sort of Crayon Picasso. Coloring with a fistful of crayons is quite fun.

How many pens/pencils/markers did you toss?
(it's OK if you say 1-3 coffee cups)

Kitchen Organizing Tips for the Holidays

With the holiday frenzy quickly approaching, now is an excellent time to organize and declutter your kitchen. Just like sorting through the clothing in your closet, your kitchen needs a good once over.

Your kitchen is THE most used room in your home and it is used by everyone. Even if you are not an Iron Chef (perhaps more like Dan Aykroyd's Julia Child), your kitchen will get overstuffed like a turkey with pots, pans and dishes if you do not take the time to purge.

Like all organizing projects, you want to break your kitchen organizing extravaganza down into small tasks. Work on completing one set of cabinets or drawers before moving on to the next set. If you are feeling tired, then stop and take a break. You do not want to get worn out and frustrated.

Remove everything out of the drawer or cabinet you are organizing. After removing all the little crumbs and such that seems to have moved into this space, begin placing those items that you are using, and love, back into their place. You will have some stuff that seems to have drifted into the wrong place, just place those items in the area they are suppose to be.

Left over on your counter top or table will be a collection of items that have worn out their welcome in your home. If they are damage or missing pieces, their fate is not good and do not belong in your home. Those items that are perfectly good, just have lost their purpose in your home, need to be boxed up and readied for donation.

Take your time.

If you feel organizing the whole kitchen in one day may be too much, break it into small sections that you can manage to accomplish. You will be so thankful in the end that you took the time to get your kitchen organized. It is remarkable how much better a space can feel by parting with a few items that are no longer needed.

With a brand spanking shiny clean cabinets, your kitchen will feel amazing. Perhaps now you will feel like becoming an Iron Chef with those holiday festivites approaching.


What did you find in your kitchen?

Surviving the Back to School Chaos with these organizing tips

Hooray!   Hooray! 
The kids are back in school.

 ... oh, man! Now we have to get up early, be on a schedule and eat dinner in shifts due to after school activities.  That's a end of summer bummer.

 Here are a few great tips the Rebecca Regnier and I chatted about on her weekly show Rebecca Regnier's Full Plate:
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So, take a moment and think about your home and family.
What is working?
What can be working better?
Talk about these things and come up with a game plan that everyone can help maintain some sanity in your home during the school year.  Everyone in your home can help in some way.

Yes, my boys are living, breathing proof that your kids can do their own laundry.

What are your tricks to back to school?