Simplify Your Life (part 1 of 2)

Photo Credit:  Carolyn Anderson-Fermann

It seems that finally spring has sprung here in Michigan. Today was the first day I sent my children off to school without winter coats, although they insisted upon wearing their hats and mittens, perhaps feeling naked without them after a long winter. 

I look forward to washing and packing away all our winter gear in the days and weeks ahead. I want to simplify and create space for the new season.

Spring and summer are always such busy times that can make us feel disorganized, stressed and overwhelmed. A little simplification can go a long way in helping us enjoy our warm weather days more. 

I would love to hear what you will do to simplify your May! 

Carolyn Anderson-Fermann is a public speaker, organizing expert and founder of Simply Organized Life. Carolyn will be presenting "Spring Clean Your Clutter" at Ann Arbor Rec & Ed. on May 10, 2013. Register now with Ann Arbor Rec & Ed. Bring a friend to this seminar and you both will receive a free 1 hour consultation with Carolyn via telephone. Just introduce yourself on May 10th to sign up. 

Seminar: "Spring Clean Your Clutter"

Archive Photo: Carolyn Speaking on Organization

The evening of Tuesday, April 9, 2013 I had the pleasure of speaking to one of the women's groups at Dexter United Methodist Church. This is a great bunch of ladies and I was honored to be asked for a return visit. I first spoke to this group in December of 2011.

Just in time for the church's spring rummage sale, I shared four simple steps to clear clutter anywhere in your home or office. If clutter is holding you back from reaching your goals, here's where to start:

Step 1: Pick Your Project
Write down the first area that comes to mind and your vision for this space. 
Please feel free to share your project area or ask questions in the comments!

Step 2: Break It Into Small Steps
Consistent small blocks of time yield amazing results and keep you organized. 

Step 3: Set Goals
Use a calendar to aid in making sure your goals are measurable and attainable.

Step 4: Get Going
Keep it if you use it, you love it and it makes you feel good. Everything else can go!

Would you like more details on how to "Spring Clean Your Clutter"? Check out my May 10, 2013 seminar with Ann Arbor Rec & Ed. 

Do you need a speaker for your group? Check out the seminars page on the Simply Organized Life website. 

Carolyn Anderson-Fermann is a public speaker, organizing expert and founder of Simply Organized Life. Do you need to conquer the clutter in your space? Carolyn will be presenting "Spring Clean Your Clutter" through Ann Arbor Rec and Ed on Friday, May 10, 2013. Register with Ann Arbor Rec and Ed. 

Spring Clean Clutter

Photo Credit:  Carolyn Anderson-Fermann

As a result of our long Michigan winters, the rebirth of spring seems so much sweeter. It's a fresh start. If you have been reading this blog or my newsletter for any length of time, you know that I love fresh starts.

Spring is a great time to give ourselves a fresh start when it comes to clutter. The thought of a traditional spring cleaning can be really overwhelming. These quick tips are intended to get you moving in the right direction without a major overhaul. 

Do you have "stuff" that is blocking your way both physically and mentally? Perhaps it is clutter on your bathroom counter that makes it difficult to clean? Or maybe those papers everywhere draining your energy? 

If you have clutter stopping you in your tracks, try these quick tips to help you spring clean your clutter:

1) Pick One Flat Surface

Select one flat surface in your home or office that really bothers you when cluttered. Now schedule time in your calendar to clear this clutter. Once you have a clear surface, declare this sacred space and set aside 5 to 10 minutes daily to maintain clarity.  

2) Shred the Old

If piles of old papers are bogging you down, do a little spring cleaning and sort out everything that needs to be shredded. From Saturday, April 13, 2013 Recycle Ann Arbor will once again be offering shredding services. The charge is $6 per banker box or $4 per grocery bag. Readers outside of the Ann Arbor area can check with their local recycling authority, credit union or bank to look for shredding events in their area.  

3) Dispose of Medicine Properly

Saturday, April 27, 2013 is National Take Back Drugs Day. Through the Drug Take Back Network, you can properly dispose of medicine on April 27th and on most days in many communities throughout the United States. Search (top left) the Simply Organized Life blog for more tips on organizing and disposing of medicine.

If you need a little extra help decluttering your home or office, please contact Carolyn to schedule a complementary telephone consultation and be your best in 2013. I work throughout Washtenaw County in person and also offer virtual services over the telephone, Skype or Facetime.

Carolyn Anderson-Fermann is a public speaker, organizing expert and founder of Simply Organized Life. To receive a free copy of Carolyn's "Secrets of a Simply Organized Life" and a monthly subscription to the e-newsletter "Your Simply Organized Life" sign up here. 

Planning and Organizing Vacation Time

Photo Credit: Carolyn Anderson-Fermann

Most of us look forward to vacation time as a special time to explore new things and be with family. If we are not careful, planning and organizing a vacation can take on a life of its own. 

Here are some quick tips to help you plan and organize your limited vacation time:

1) Pull Out the Calendar

Take out your calendar (be it paper or electronic) and map out your vacation time, taking note of major holidays like Memorial Day and the 4th of July. If you have school age children, now is the time to figure out if your kids will attend some sort of summer camp. Many summer camps have already opened enrollment. 

2) Gather Information in One Place

Before you end up with one more paper pile, now is the time to set up a system for vacation related documents and articles. If you prefer paper, this can be a simple folder, hanging file or a three ring binder.

If you are trying to limit the paper in your life, an electronic application such as Evernote is a great repository for information. I started using Evernote over a year ago and find it really useful to scan in articles on places of interest. In planning our trip to Florida last year, I set up several notes in Evernote; including a packing list, theme park tips and links to recommended restaurants. This was much easier than lugging around a guidebook. 

3) Set a Budget and Start Booking

It is a fact of life that our vacation plans are limited by time and by money. Now is the time to set a vacation budget, start saving and start booking for the best rates. 

If you need a little extra help planning your time, please contact Carolyn to schedule a complementary telephone consultation and be your best in 2013. 

Carolyn Anderson-Fermann is a public speaker, organizing expert and founder of Simply Organized Life. Do you need to conquer the clutter in your closet? Carolyn will be presenting "Conquer Your Closet" through Ann Arbor Rec and Ed on Friday, March 15, 2013. Register with Ann Arbor Rec and Ed. 

Organize Paper Clutter

Who among us does not struggle to keep on top of paper clutter? An IDC survey from 2007 discovered that 95% of all information is still processed in paper form; with 45 sheets of paper being printed on average each day per employee (source: www.napo.net). 

It takes a great deal of determination and a few simple habits to conquer paper clutter at home and at work. Here are your new habits to implement:

1) Sort Daily

Take 5 to 10 minutes every day to sort through any paper that has come into your space. In the workplace, I recommend doing this at a set interval such as first thing in the morning, at lunch time or in your last hour at work. At home, I like to sort through the mail and the kids papers around dinner time. The idea here is to eliminate all the unnecessary items (i.e. junk) and deal with anything that takes two minutes or less. 

2) File Immediately

If your sort has resulted in items to file, such as monthly statements, go ahead and file those items immediately. This should take two minutes or less if you have the files set up already. If you do not have files set up, setting up a file should be part of your next habit, act weekly.

3) Act Weekly

This habit is primarily for the home, as work items will typically need to be acted upon according to deadline and priority. Set aside 30 minutes to 1 hour at least once a week to work on and eliminate your action items. If your schedule is flexible, you might opt for 15 minutes several times a week. Your action time might include paying bills, sending an RSVP or setting up files. 

If you need a little extra help getting a hold on paper clutter, please contact Carolyn to schedule a complementary telephone consultation and be your best in 2013. 

Carolyn Anderson-Fermann is a public speaker, organizing expert and founder of Simply Organized Life. Would you like to learn how to keep your family organized? Carolyn will be presenting "Organize Your Family" through Ann Arbor Rec and Ed on Friday, February 8, 2013. Register with Ann Arbor Rec and Ed. 

Organize Your Medicine Cabinet

Be sure to dispose of expired medicine properly.

It is that time of year when illnesses are going around and I know too well how important it is to have the proper medications accessible. In the spirit of planning ahead and keeping your family safe, I encourage you to organized your medicines in three easy steps:

 

1) Gather All of Your Medicines in One Place

It is best to have one place where you can store all of your medications safely. Pharmacists recommend cool, dry, dark places that are out of reach of children and pets. The other advantage is not having to search all around when you are sick.

 

Time Yourself:  This step should take about 15 minutes depending on how scattered your medicines are.

 

2) Sort

Less is more. Keep only those medications that you currently use and have not expired. It is best to dispose of (see below for disposal guidelines) expired medicines as they loose their effectiveness over time. If you have a lot of medications you can sort them by type (i.e. pain reliever) or family member and place in simple labeled cardboard boxes or bins.

 

Time Yourself:  This step should take about 15 minutes depending on how many medications you have.

 

3) Dispose of Medications Properly

Because medications can get into our water supply and in the hands/paws of children/pets, proper disposal is a must. Many communities, including Washtenaw County, have "take back" programs where you can take both prescription and over the counter (OTC) medications to pharmacies for proper disposal. If your community does not have such a program it is currently recommended that medications be wrapped in duct tape and several layers of plastic bags to prevent crushing in garbage trucks.

 

Time Yourself:  This step should take about 15 minutes depending on how far you live from a participating pharmacy.

Carolyn Anderson-Fermann is a public speaker, organizing expert and founder of Simply Organized Life. Would you like to learn how to keep your family organized? Carolyn will be presenting "Organize Your Family" through Ann Arbor Rec and Ed on Friday, February 8, 2013. Register with Ann Arbor Rec and Ed. 

Clearing Kid Clutter

Telling Santa Christmas wishes. 

Back in February I provided some basic tips on the Simply Organized Life blog to Cut Kid Clutter. 

Here are some additional tips that are being employed in my household (see also last week's post) as we approach the holiday season.

1) Talk to Your Kids

For most kids, more is more. However, as parents or guardians, we know that a clean uncluttered environment is important to our kids' physical and mental well being.  

My children are quite young so we keep it simple. For example: "We need to let go of some stuff you no longer use to make room for new things." I hate to admit it, but we have also mentioned Santa in our conversations. 

2) Involve the Kids

Now that your children are aware of the fact that they cannot keep outgrown clothing or toys they no longer play with, involve them in the process in age appropriate ways. 

Because some items are sentimental to me too, I like to pick out things that I feel are ready to leave the home and give my kids a choice of what they want to sell or give away. They enjoy giving things to younger extended family members or earning some of the proceeds from the toys we sell. 

3) Set Clear Limits

Only you can decide how much is too much in your home. Setting clear limits (for both your kids and yourself) is a great way to keep clutter from taking over.

Most of us do well with some sort of container to limit our possessions. For example: Only own as many books as will fit in your bookcase or as many clothes as fit in your closet or dresser. Even very young children can understand that the toy box is full and there is not room for anything else. 

Sometimes kid clutter (and adult clutter) can be overwhelming. If you need help with the clutter in your life, please contact Carolyn to schedule a complementary telephone consultation. 

Carolyn Anderson-Fermann is a public speaker, organizing expert and founder of Simply Organized Life. To receive a free copy of Carolyn's "Secrets of a Simply Organized Life"and a monthly subscription to the e-newsletter "Your Simply Organized Life" sign up here. 

Preparing for the Holidays

Bringing out the Christmas decorations. 

In my home, we are busy preparing for the Christmas holiday. This year we have chosen to take a slow and steady approach in order to involve the kids as much as possible. Every weekend, we pick a small decorating project and have one outing.  

Along with the traditional holiday preparations, I have been focused on clearing clutter in our home, particularly kid clutter. Last year, I was overwhelmed by the generosity of our family and friends toward our children. Even after taking care of holiday returns, we still had a lot of new stuff.

What does clearing clutter look like in a professional organizer's home? Any outgrown clothing or toys have been passed on to the younger child, given to extended family, taken to a local resale shop or donated to charity.

I have also been letting go of my unneeded clothing and household items, such as those blankets we never use and excess belongings stored in the basement. The website www.donatestuff.com is so easy to use that I have scheduled Purple Heart to come out twice in the last  three months.

All of this clutter clearing has been enriching my life, and I hope, that of my immediate family. 

If you are preparing for Christmas, in the midst of Hanukkah or celebrate another winter holiday, my wish is that these tips will help you be just a little more organized and a lot less stressed.

Carolyn Anderson-Fermann is a public speaker, organizing expert and founder of Simply Organized Life. To receive a free copy of Carolyn's "Secrets of a Simply Organized Life"and a monthly subscription to the e-newsletter "Your Simply Organized Life" sign up here. 

Organizing Mish Mash

Carolyn Presenting at Hebrew Day School of Ann Arbor

Today's title is a bit of an oxymoron, but perfectly suits what I have been up to the last few weeks and why I missed posting to the blog in October 2012. 

Here's what has kept me busy in the last month and a half. I have included some tips for you to conquer your own organizing mish mash. 

Meeting with Clients:

Since founding Simply Organized Life in 2005, I always expect the month of September to be really busy with clients whose children are back in school. Realistically speaking, it takes folks a good month to get back into their new routines. Be aware of this trend when starting any new routine. 

As for the work accomplished with clients, we cleared out a long abandoned storage area, revamped a guest room full of clutter, tackled a shared girls' room and conquered lots of paper clutter. I also had the pleasure of visiting a client who hired me over a year ago as a consultant on her office remodel--before any demolition took place. The results were amazing!

Seminars and a New Product:

Preparing for and presenting several seminars also kept me busy this fall. My first on-line webinar titled "Tame the Paper Monster" took me outside of my comfort zone. In addition, I developed a unique routine worksheet for purchase and download on-line. For a replay of the webinar and to purchase the routine worksheet click here. 

On a Personal Note:

My life outside of Simply Organized Life is busy too. In October I chaperoned two field trips, one for each of my children. I have also been clearing some of my own clutter. My kids' art clutter all over the kitchen counter started to drive me crazy, so I cleared out two drawers in my kitchen for  their supplies. Habitat for Humanity's ReStore and Purple Heart came to take away some items  we no longer need. I organized my medicine cabinet, taking the expired items to our local pharmacy and went through my cleaning supplies. My unneeded cleaning supplies need to be taken to  the local home toxins collection center. 

Carolyn Anderson-Fermann is a public speaker, organizing expert and founder of Simply Organized Life. Carolyn will be presenting the hands on workshop "Tame the Paper Monster" at Ann Arbor Rec & Ed on December 7, 2012. Register with Ann Arbor Rec & Ed and bring your paper piles. 

Pesky Paper Clutter

Speaking at Multiple Births Canada National Conference, Oct. 2011

Since founding Simply Organized Life in 2005, the question I am most asked is "What to do with all those pesky paper piles?"

After a busy summer filled with lots of activities outside the home, I found myself with some sizable paper piles in my office. I made the piles go away and am only left with my current project folders on my desk. Here's what I did: 

1) Set Aside the Time

Being a professional organizer, I know how to handle paperwork and (gasp) actually enjoy it. However, several rounds of house guests and our busy summer schedule kept me away from my home office where the paper piled up. At the first opportunity, I scheduled time in my calendar to deal with the paper on my desk. 

2) Just Do It

Paper piles can be pretty intimidating. It is much easier (and more fun) to check your e-mail, surf Facebook or do just about anything other than sorting through the papers. What I find works for me is to set a timer for a short amount of time (say 15 minutes) and just starting dealing with the paper pile top down. If a bill appears, I pay it. If project papers appear, I schedule time in my calendar or create a project file. Most people can handle those types of action papers, but what about those pesky papers that you *might* need to refer to in the future? 

3) Put it Away 

Everyone needs a system for those little bits of paper that we want to refer to in the future. The thing is that if we cannot retrieve those papers when we need them, what is the point of keeping them? 

I utilize a combination of paper files, like the family binder I referred to in my "Get Organized for Back to School" post, and am slowly shifting to a paperless system for other things. For my children's artwork I either take a photograph or scan the items. These things are stored by month and year with our digital photos. For other things, like interesting magazine articles or websites, I scan and save to Evernote, which I can then search at a later date.  

Source:  www.evernote.com

Carolyn Anderson-Fermann is a public speaker, organizing expert and founder of Simply Organized Life. Carolyn will be presenting "5 Habits for an Organized Office" at Ann Arbor Rec & Ed. on October 12, 2012. Register now with Ann Arbor Rec & Ed. Please note that Carolyn was not compensated by any vendors for this blog post. 

Get the Garage in Order

Source:  http://magazine.ucla.edu/features/the-clutter-culture/index1.html   

If you cannot fit your car in your garage, you are not alone. A full 75% of families in an anthropological study at UCLA could not park a car in their garages. If a similar study were conducted in the Midwest, the numbers might be slightly lower due to our cold winters and the fact that most Midwestern homes have basements.  At any rate, I am sure we can all find unwanted clutter in our garages after a busy summer. Here are a few quick tips to get your garage in order before the weather turns cold: 1) Start with the Big Stuff Take a look around your garage and see what are the largest items taking up space. Determine if these items deserve their own zone (see below) or if the items need to move on. Unwanted items can be sold, donated, recycled or trashed as a last resort.     2) Create Zones Creating zones in your garage--or any area of the home--is a great way to reserve space for big items (like your car) and to be able to find those small items when you need them.   Some common zones found in garages include a place to park cars, a gardening bench, tool storage, bicycles and kid stuff. The key to keeping any of these zones tidy is to only allow related items in each zone.  3) Utilize Wall Space One of the best ways to keep an organized garage is to utilize the wall space. This gets things off the floor and out of the way. While expensive garage systems with slat walls and cabinets are nice, there are a lot of cheaper options that will not cost you a bundle.  One of the cheapest and easiest ways to utilize the wall space in your garage is to hang items by two long nails. I learned this trick from my Grandfather and Father, who were quite organized in their day. Another "old timer" favorite is the peg board utilizing hooks and other accessories. Just remember to thoroughly sort and purge your items before buying any organizing tools.  Carolyn Anderson-Fermann is a public speaker, organizing expert and founder of Simply Organized Life. Carolyn will be presenting "Easy Organizing for Busy Families" at My Urban Toddler in Saline, Michigan on September 26, 2012 (childcare is available, check with My Urban Toddler for details). Register with My Urban Toddler by Wednesday, September 19, 2012.

Storing Manuals

Photo Source: Carolyn Anderson-Fermann

When it comes to getting and staying organized there are no hard and fast rules. 

Take today's subject of storing manuals: you can store manuals with the product, in a box or in a file folder. These are just three options and they are all correct. 

And, if you want to think out of the box completely, who says you even have to keep a paper manual? Some new products, such as the iPhone or Kindle e-reader, do not even come with a manual. It is all on-line if you need it. 

The important thing to remember when storing manuals, particularly for big ticket items, is retrieval. Will you be able to find what you want, when you need it? 

While it was not very fun at the time, I recently had a great opportunity to test my method for storing manuals. In February of 2008, I wrote a blog post about storing the manuals for our home water pump and tank. The photo above shows the water tank for our home and the manuals in a plastic sleeve taped to the wall. 

A couple of weeks ago, my family awoke to no water. It was a good thing that I had the manuals for the pump and tank taped to the basement wall. The manuals included the following information: the well company's contact information, installation dates and warranties for each item. 

It turned out that our tank had failed and was still under warranty. Our water was running again by 10:30 a.m. that morning. 

The thing about being organized is that it makes our busy lives just a little bit easier. Are you tired of living in clutter and chaos? Of not finding what you need when you need it? Let me guide you on what I like to call your "organizing journey". 

Carolyn Anderson-Fermann is a public speaker, organizing expert and founder of Simply Organized Life. To receive a free copy of Carolyn's "Secrets of a Simply Organized Life"and a monthly subscription to the e-newsletter "Your Simply Organized Life" sign up here. 

Avoid Organizing Mistakes (Part 3 of 3)

Source:   http://tracys-day.blogspot.com/

For the past two weeks, I have been writing about how to avoid the most common organizing mistakes. 


The last and most common mistake of the three is trying to buy our way out of disorganization. 

Purge First, Buy Later

I strongly believe that organizing is about what you do, not what you buy. While it is tempting to head out to your nearest big box store when you are ready to get organized, hold off on buying new organizing tools until you are near the end of your journey. 

About 90% of my clients never need to buy any organizing products while we are working together. When you let go of the excess in your life, you no longer need so many containers to hold your stuff. 

Carolyn Anderson-Fermann is a public speaker, organizing expert and founder of Simply Organized Life. To receive a free copy of Carolyn's "Secrets of a Simply Organized Life"and a monthly subscription to the e-newsletter "Your Simply Organized Life" sign up here. 

Avoid Organizing Mistakes (Part 2 of 3)

Last week I shared the first of three ways to avoid the most common organizing mistakes. 


Today, we are going to talk about moving forward without regret when it comes to organizing. 

Keep Moving Forward

It's no surprise that many clients feel shameful of their past mistakes that have lead to disorganization. It is really difficult and very important to let go of the past. Let's call this mental clutter.

Maybe you overstocked your pantry, indulged in retail therapy a bit too much or let the mail pile up for weeks. Holding onto mental clutter can be a real roadblock to getting organized. 


We all make mistakes. Just moving forward a little every day can open up wonderful clutter free possibilities.     

Carolyn Anderson-Fermann is a public speaker, organizing expert and founder of Simply Organized Life. To receive a free copy of Carolyn's "Secrets of a Simply Organized Life" and  a monthly subscription to the e-newsletter "Your Simply Organized Life" sign up here. 

Kitchen Organizing Tips

Enjoy Summer's Bounty with a Tidy Kitchen

 

Summer is officially here! My favorite thing about summer in Michigan is our abundance of fresh local produce. With an organized kitchen you can enjoy the foods of summer even more.

 

Here are some quick and easy ways to keep your kitchen organized and clean:

 

1) Clean Up After Every Meal

Organization breeds organization. You (and hopefully, your family) will be more likely to keep a tidy kitchen when you clean up after every meal. Wash or put dirty dishes in the dishwasher and wipe down counter tops.

 

2) Know What You Have

Before heading out to the grocery store or local farmers' market, check your refrigerator and pantry. Base your meal plan and shopping list on what you already have on hand. This will save you money and eliminate food waste.

 

3) Wipe Down Your Refrigerator

A 2010 Wall Street Journal article reported that most Americans clean their refrigerators only once or twice a year. Why wait until it gets gross? If you shop weekly your refrigerator should be nearly empty the day before. This is a perfect time to wipe down your refrigerator. An old rag with vinegar and water works great.

 

4) Put Paper in its Place

It is a fact of life. Paper is going to end up in the kitchen. Find a designated place for papers to land in your home away from food preparation. I have a desk in my kitchen where papers land temporarily. In addition, I utilize a 3M Command spring clip on the wall for papers related to upcoming events or deadlines.

 

Carolyn Anderson-Fermann is a public speaker, organizing expert and founder of Simply Organized Life. Carolyn will be presenting the hands on workshop "Tame the Paper Monster" at My Urban Toddler in Saline, Michigan on July 20, 2012 (childcare is available, check with My Urban Toddler for details).

Avoiding Food Waste

Faith in Action Volunteers, Dexter, Michigan

Waste of any kind bothers me, but I am particularly sensitive with regard to food waste. Perhaps this comes as a result of my rural upbringing, the fact that both my parents were raised on farms or that my oldest brother is a farmer. Farm life isn't easy and farmers work really hard to put food on our tables. 

I have been working with clients in kitchens lately. Since founding Simply Organized Life in 2005, on average, a kitchen organization results in about four garbage bags of waste. This makes everyone feel bad. I am not there to judge, but to help clients move forward in a positive way. We cannot change our past, but we can change our future. 

Here are some simple tips to avoid food waste in your kitchen:

1) Buy only what you need between shopping trips. This means that if you go to the grocery store once a week, buy only what you need for the upcoming week. If you are not sure what you use in a week, a simple way to track your usage is to write the date you open an item on the container. For example:  Upon opening up a box of cereal, mark the date on the box and see how long it lasts. 

2) Resist the urge to stock up on sales. This is where folks get into trouble. Something might be a great deal, but if it ends up spoiled or expired, it really is not a savings in the long run. Stocking up can also create clutter, making it difficult to see what we have in our pantries or refrigerators. 

3) Keep an eye on what you have. Take five minutes once or twice a week to scan your refrigerator for things that need to be eaten up before they go bad. Scan your pantry or food storage area about once a month. Most non-perishable foods have expiration dates printed somewhere on the package. 

4) Donate excess. Perhaps you shopped hungry, or just could not resist some sales at the supermarket or warehouse club. It is okay. Remember, we only look forward, not back. In the Ann Arbor, Michigan area we have wonderful resources for helping those in need of food. In Ann Arbor, donate excess food to Food Gatherers. Residents of Dexter or Chelsea can donate to Faith in Action. 

These tips will help keep your kitchen clutter free and save lots of money for your family. 

Carolyn Anderson-Fermann is a public speaker, organizing expert and founder of Simply Organized Life. For more spring cleaning and organizing tips sign up for "Spring Clean Your Clutter" to be held at Ann Arbor Rec & Ed on Friday, April 27, 2012.