Stress Free Holiday Tip #4

Tip #4: A Financial Plan!

One of the biggest stressors in life (not just at the holidays) is money. My 10 Stress Free Holiday Tips will help you keep spending in check this holiday season. If you are able to follow these tips, or even some of the tips, you will feel better for it come January 2012.

Rather than calling this a "holiday budget" I like to call it a plan for financial success during the holidays. The goal is not to add to debt in January! You can do this by being in control of what you spend and save this season.

Each of these 10 Tips builds upon the tip before it. By keeping it simple (Tip #1), creating a plan (Tip #2) and using a calendar (Tip #3) you are prioritizing how you want to spend your time this season. You also need to prioritize how you spend your money.

The first step is to determine the overall amount that you can afford to spend on the holidays without adding to your debt in January. Once you have your "magic number" you need to break down your spending plan into categories. This should include not only gifts, but also extra food, decorations, utilities, and travel expenses to name a few.

The difficult part for most people is sticking to the plan. If you find you are a little too freewheeling with the credit card, you may want to make an envelope with cash for each of your categories. Another alternative is to purchase prepaid credit cards for in person or on-line shopping. It is okay to use your regular credit card, as long as you can pay for all of your purchases when the bill comes.

The next post will focus on making room for wise purchases by decluttering your space.

Carolyn Anderson-Fermann is a public speaker, organizing expert and the founder of Simply Organized Life.

Stress Free Holiday Tip #3

Tip #3: Use a Calendar!

If you have been reading my blog posts, subscribing to the "Your Simply Organized Life" newsletter or have attended any of my seminars; you know I am a fanatic about calendar usage. I don't care if you are the CEO of a Fortune 500 company or a retiree, in my humble opinion EVERYONE needs to use a calendar daily.

Hopefully, most of you are already using some sort of calendar or planner in your daily life to keep track of personal, professional and family appointments. It does not matter what type of calendar you use (paper or electronic) but I recommend using one calendar for all appointments if possible. If you are not using a calendar, now is a good time to start.

To avoid overbooking (and going crazy) during the holidays, put all of your appointments on the calendar. This includes the company parties, family gatherings and even your kids' holiday events. Be sure to ask your family members about these events and if you will be required to bring anything, dress a certain way or in general make any preparations. Remember, to say "no thank you" to events that do not fit with your holiday plan. This is the difference that will keep you stress free!

If any of your scheduled events require preparations, check to see if they fit with your holiday plan. If they fit with your simple holiday plan (i.e. it is something you want to spent time on), schedule time in your calendar for those preparations and do not forget to schedule driving time! For example, if you want to attend your company holiday party, but do not currently have the appropriate attire, schedule time in your calendar for shopping in person or on-line.

If the scheduled events on your calendar require preparations that do not fit with your holiday plan (i.e. it is something that you do not want to spend time on), try to outsource or avoid those duties whenever possible. For example, if your child needs treats for the school party and you are clueless in the kitchen, schedule time with your child to purchase or order an alternative. It can still be homemade, just not from your kitchen (ask me about my cupcake lady anytime).

With so many service providers available these days you can outsource just about any holiday task from baking, to decorating, to even sending your holidays cards (I have a great system for holiday cards). The key is to make sure that you can afford to outsource holiday tasks. In my next blog I will write about making a financial plan for the holidays!

Carolyn Anderson-Fermann is a public speaker, organizing expert and founder of Simply Organized Life.

Stress Free Holiday Tip #2

My last entry covered Stress Free (or at least less stress!) Holiday Tip #1: Keep it Simple! In that blog we mentioned creating a holiday plan which leads us to...

Tip #2: Plan, Plan, Plan!

Once you have decided what is important to you for simple holiday celebrations, you need to create a plan to make it happen.

Going through the holidays without a plan is kind of like driving in the car without a map or GPS system. I know, many of you will resist this metaphor with the logic that you do not need a map for somewhere you have already been. But if you got lost (i.e. stressed or sidetracked) the last time you went through the holidays, a plan for this holiday season is going to help keep you from getting in a wreck (i.e. overdoing, overspending, and regretting it come January).

You can create a simple holiday plan, by writing down what you want to do this holiday season and scheduling time to do those things on your list. You do not need a fancy notebook or special paper, but you should have your calendar nearby for scheduling time. Any paper or calendar will do, or if you are a techie, you might want to do this on the computer.

Next time we will talk more about using a calendar for scheduling both holiday events and tasks!

Stress Free Holiday Tip #1

Tip #1: Keep it Simple!

Complexity adds stress. It is that simple.

The key to avoiding stress during the holidays is to keep things simple. I know that is easier said than done especially with all of the media messages, stores all decked out and expectations from family and friends. However, with frugality coming back in style, I believe simple holidays are a breath of fresh air for many.

One of the ways to keep things simple is to focus only on the things that you enjoy during the holidays. This may take a little thought, as there are so many things we do "just because". Think about what you and your family enjoy during this season and why. For example, if you enjoy putting up a tree is it because the way the tree looks when you are finished or is it because your kids have so much decorating it with simple things? Asking yourself these questions, will allow you to focus only on the enjoyable elements and keep it simple!

As for those things that always stress you out (and maybe you never seem to get done) if it is not necessary, eliminate it from your holiday plan. What!? No holiday plan!? We will talk about making a simple holiday plan next time.

Carolyn Anderson-Fermann is a public speaker, organizing expert and founder of Simply Organized Life.

Organizing for Stress Free Holidays

Yesterday the November 2011 edition of Your Simply Organized Life hit in-boxes. In it I provided 10 simple tip for stress free holidays.

From my perspective being organized is an essential element in enjoying the holidays and living well every day. My 10 tips for stress free holidays do not cost anything and will help you save time and money during this busy time of the year.

1. Keep it Simple

2. Plan, Plan, Plan

3. Use a Calendar

4. Make a Financial Plan (and stick to it!)

5. Declutter Your Space

6. Ask for What you Want (and ask other what they want)

7. Give Clutter Free Gifts

8. Accept Imperfection

9. Remember the Reason for the Season

10. Have Fun!

Over the next few weeks I will be elaborating on each of these 10 tips at the Simply Organized Life blog. Please join me as we prepare for stress free holidays (or at least holidays with less stress)!

If you are in a crunch to get your house in order before Thanksgiving, check out November's special and schedule your complementary telephone consultation today with Carolyn to learn more. Please also feel free to sign up for my newsletter, Your Simply Organized Life. You will receive a free gift just for signing up.

October Seminars

October will be a busy month for me with three seminars, including my first "international" seminar in Windsor, Ontario, Canada! Carolyn will be traveling to Canada on Saturday, October 15th to present "The Best Organizing Tips for Busy Families" at the 33rd Annual Multiple Births Canada National Conference. Parents of multiples certainly need all the help they can get. On Monday, October 17, 2011 Carolyn will be presenting "Organizing Tips for Small Business Owners" at the Women Making Connections Fall Empowering Conference in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Come out, network with wonderful women business owners and learn practical tips for making the most of your time. Register now to join Carolyn on Friday, October 28, 2011 for "Five Habits of an Organized Office" with Ann Arbor Rec & Ed. If you have an office at work, at home or on the road this seminar is for you. Learn five simple habits to keep your office organized for optimal efficiency. Do you need an organized speaker for your event? Carolyn has availability from November 2011. Give me a call at 734-646-4177 to learn more.

One Small Thing at a Time

When people find out that I am a professional organizer/organizing consultant, they often make comments like: "Your home must be perfect" or "You must have everything labeled perfectly". While I would never hesitate to let a surprise visitor inside my home; I am often busy like you and I share my home with a husband, two children and a 70 pound shedding dog. Perfection is not the goal. Having a clean, livable home where we can find stuff is.

The fact of the matter is that maintaining organization takes a little time and a little effort. For the most part, with daily tidying up things stay fairly organized in my home. There are those areas that get messy and need some attention from time to time.

My latest mini-project (that took all of 5 minutes) was the area where I keep shopping bags and grocery bags. Let me preface this by saying that, yes, I do employ reusable bags often, but not always. In our home we reuse a lot of stuff, including shopping bags, grocery bags and plastic bags.

The "bag shelf" had become completely overrun with bags, packing paper and even a few kids' toys shoved in at random. To organize this area, I took everything off the shelf. Note, that I didn't try to organize the whole room, just one shelf. This is important. Then I sorted the bags into two categories: grocery bags and all other bags (i.e. shopping bags and reusable bags). All the rumpled bags were put into recycling and kids' toys returned to their proper home. Here is the result:

This is not fancy or even labeled. It is just a shelf where I can go to when I need a bag.

During this process, I came up with a lot more grocery bags than you see here. If you have an over abundance of grocery bags, like I did, check with your local food pantry to see if they can reuse them. Faith in Action took my extra grocery bags. Here are two volunteers stocking the shelves at the Dexter, Michigan location, which is currently in need of crackers for the food pantry. They also have a facility in Chelsea, Michigan.

In addition to the blog, I also publish a free e-newsletter that is distributed on the 1st of every month. Sign up today to receive the October edition, where I will provide tips on what to do with all those receipts.

Mom 2 Mom Sales in Dexter and Saline

With school in full swing and fall upon us, there is no better time to clean out those closets, get organized and make a little extra cash while doing it. This coming Saturday, September 24, 2011 there are two Mom to Mom sales being held in the Ann Arbor area, specifically Dexter and Saline.

Head out to Dexter's Cornerstone School at 7480 Dan Hoey Road bright and early Saturday morning. The Cornerstone Parent Teacher Group (CPTG) Mom to Mom sale will be held from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The entrance fee for adults is $1 with all proceeds benefiting the CPTG. For those of you with children's items to sell, there are still a few tables available. You can reserve your table by contacting Kathy Fletcher at 734-637-9646 or kathyfletcher@chartermi.net.

From Dexter drive over to Saline's Mom2Mom Consignment sale at Liberty School on Saline-Ann Arbor Rd. This sale will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. This is a consignment Mom2Mom sale--a little different than the "normal" kind. All toys and clothing must be dropped off by Friday, September 23, 2011 with prices marked. The items will then be aggregated by type and size for re-sale. Any unsold items can be picked up at the end of the sale or donated, if you choose. There is a $1.00 admission fee at the door. For more details on selling or shopping, please check out the website at www.mom2momconsignmentsale.com

Monday Musings

Mackinac Island, Michigan---Fall 2010

Despite all of my good intentions, it has been a long time since I have posted to the blog and summer is rapidly slipping out of our hands here in Michigan.

After such a hot summer, I welcome fall, my favorite season of the year. I recently discovered, however, that many busy families dread fall. They are stressed by new schedules, the deluge of papers from the school and the general busyness of it all after the supposed lazy days of summer.

Here are three quick tips to address the stress families feel in fall:

1) New Schedules---Times of transition and change can be difficult for adults and children alike. For many readers this may be the first full week with kids back to school. Remind yourself it might take another week or two to adjust to new schedules. In the meantime, pull out your calendar and put EVERYTHING in it. Your calendar is your time management bible.

2) School Papers---This is where nearly everyone struggles. The problem with paper is that it just keeps coming at you, ready or not. The trick is to have a few simple systems in place and keep ahead of that paper monster. Designate one place for incoming papers and take 5 to 15 minutes daily to file, act upon or toss those items.

3) Busy Days---Mahatma Gandhi once said that "There is more to life than increasing its speed." I always joke that my clients have much more interesting lives than myself and there's a lot of truth in that joke. My clients are often the folks that hold up our communities: the go-to people in the schools, churches or synagogues. They are wonderfully kind people, who sometimes take on too much. Remember, to take a step back and slow down life a little if you have inadvertently taken on too much.

I hope these quick tips will help you feel just a little less stressed this fall. For more free tips and a free gift, sign up for my monthly newsletter at Simply Organized Life.

Home Office Organizing Tips

Even if you do not own a business, nearly everyone needs a home office (or kitchen corner).

Last week, I wrote a guest blog for Entrepreneurial America titled "Home Office Organizing Tips for Solopreneurs". If you own a business, these tips will help you be a success in your chosen field. Non-business owners can glean a few tips for the home office as well.

Entrepreneurial America is a blog for those in business and contemplating their own business. It is edited by my good friend and former business school classmate, Amber Clark.

Insurance Paperwork Filing

Getting rid of items that are no longer needed is a key strategy to getting organized. However, sometimes it can be difficult to know what to toss when it comes to paperwork like insurance policies. These are the items that we tend to hang on to, citing "what if" scenarios.

The folks at Freedom Filer, a "self-purging" document storage system, say that it is generally alright to get rid of old insurance policies if you've received a new one, unless one of their following circumstances apply to you:

• If you have a claim pending, hang on to the expired policy and any related paperwork.
• If you think there may be a claim filed in regards to something that happened during the life of your old policy, keep the policy documents.
• For businesses, it doesn't hurt to keep all policy paperwork through the life of your business.

*Remember, always check with your CPA or attorney about what legal paperwork to keep and for how long.

Organizing Resources

In my last Dexter Patch blog post, I wrote about "Being Organized". For my clients and myself the level of organization in our spaces fluctuates with how busy we are, our health and our level of motivation for any given day or week.

Being organized is not about being perfect. To me, being organized is all about taking small, easy steps every day to maintain the level of order we need to thrive. If we skip a day or two (or a week) it is easy to literally pick up where we left off.

If you are struggling with being organized, resources abound! I just found out this morning that this Simply Organized Life Blog was included in a list of "Best 50 Blogs About Reducing Clutter" with the comments "These great little tips will transform your life!" I am honored to be listed among some of the leaders in my industry. I hope each of you reading will find a little gem to use in your daily life.

In addition, on August 26th at 10 a.m. I will be returning to the Dexter District Library to present my seminar titled "Downsizing Your Home: What to Keep -- What to Toss!" This seminar is for anyone who thinks they might have too much stuff in their home. Best of all, it is free.

Please send your comments and questions. I would love to hear about your organizing journey!

Free Downsizing Seminar

So many of us want to simplify our lives, but don't know where to start. You do not have to make a move to downsize your home and simplify your life.

Carolyn Anderson-Fermann, founder of Simply Organized Life and a NAPO Golden Circle Member, will present the following seminar at the Dexter District Library in Dexter, Michigan on Friday, August 26, 2011 from 10 to 11 a.m:

"Downsizing Your Life: What to Keep - What to Toss"
No matter what stage of life you are at, it is difficult to downsize, especially in our "super-sized" culture. Making do with less does not have to be a struggle. In fact, life can be more peaceful without the excess clutter.

In this seminar, Carolyn will provide simple tips to guide participants through the process of downsizing your home. Whatever your age or situation, this workshop will give you some helpful direction to set goals and time-lines when deciding what to keep and what to toss.

There is no charge for this seminar, open to the general public.
Sign up at the Dexter District Library.

Organizational Seminars

This summer, Carolyn will be presenting two great seminars through the Ann Arbor Rec & Ed on organizational strategies. These seminars are excellent opportunities to get organized this summer at a fraction of the cost of one-on-one consulting.

"5 Habits for an Organized Office" will be offered June 28th from 6 to 8 pm, and is perfect for anyone with an office, either home or corporate. This seminar offers advice on how to maximize your efficiency while minimizing office clutter.

"Tame the Paper Monster" will be offered July 15th from 10 am to 12 noon, and is a hands-on seminar that offers guidance in sorting through your own household and personal paperwork, helping you to reduce clutter and manage your documents.

For more information on both of these great opportunities, check out page 24 of the Rec & Ed Summer Catalog and the seminars page of the Simply Organized Life website.

*Photo from the Ann Arbor Rec & Ed website: http://reced.aaps.k12.mi.us/reced.home

Other Container Options

The sistema container sets mentioned in April's post are a great way to containerize and manage food storage. While the system mentioned can be found at Sur la Table, Macy's also carries a similar line of storage containers by Martha Stewart that are a great way to organize your kitchen and pantry. Additionally, don't overlook Gladware containers for reusable food storage!

You can use any of these options to containerize - that is, to stick to a few stackable sizes of storage containers. Pick a couple sizes that you'll get the most use out of; ones that can fit a variety of sandwiches or leftovers. Stack lids and containers together, and you'll have a clutter-free way to store and save a wide variety of foods.

When searching storage options online, don't forget that customer reviews can be especially helpful in finding the right type of containers for you!

New Blog

I am pleased to announce that I am now also blogging for Dexter Patch. Click on the Dexter Patch link to read my introductory blog on Being Organized. This is another outlet for tips and tricks from a professional organizer. I will continue to contribute to this blog, the Simply Organized Life Facebook page and my monthly newsletter Your Simply Organized Life.

Organizing Medicine

Here's a great little tip for organizing medicine. I came up with this while packing for our March trip to Atlanta and ever since have been asking myself why I didn't think of this sooner.

My favorite organizing product, has to be zipper bags like the quart size one shown at right. I only buy two sizes: quart and gallon, thus eliminating baggie clutter.

The bag in the photo was put together as a travel kit and went in our carry on. I have since kept it together at home. This basic kit of pain/fever reducers contains:

• A note card with my children's names, weight and dosage on each side.



• Ibuprofen and acetaminophen for my children.



• Marked syringes to measure and administer the children's medicine.



• An ear thermometer.



• Ibuprofen for myself and my husband.

The note card has been really helpful in not confusing the kids' dosages in a moment of worry over a sick child. In addition, I have everything I need in one place when I need it.

For more organizing tips, sign up for my monthly e-newsletter "Your Simply Organized Life" and "Like" Simply Organized Life on Facebook.

Food Storage

February and March 2011 were busy months for Simply Organized Life. I have been helping lots of clients get organized in their kitchens, home offices, kids' rooms and storage areas.

In March I got away with the family for a few days, joining my husband on a business trip to Atlanta and staying with family in the area. We visited Stone Mountain, the Georgia Aquarium, and one of the area's many malls where I discovered these sistema containers (photo at left) in Sur La Table.

While I do not need any new food storage containers, the sistema containers are BPA free and the lids snap on tight. Currently I use Glad containers with interlocking lids for food storage and Japanese bento boxes for my kids' lunches. The bento boxes have two tiers and a locking lid similar to the sistema containers.

Saline Mom to Mom Sale

As a parent of young children, I occasionally enjoy the Mom to Mom sale format that is popular here in Southeast Michigan. Recently I have noticed a new concept in Mom to Mom sales that can benefit both sellers and buyers. The consignment or department store format allows sellers to drop off items beforehand for resale and buyers have the benefit of presorted items.

Theresa Ferenczy sent me this listing for an upcoming consignment sale in Saline, Michigan:

"Mark you calendar for Saline's first Mom2Mom Consignment Sale on March 12, 2011 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. It will be held at Liberty School in Saline (7265 N. Ann Arbor Saline Road). This is a great way for parents to clear out closets and make some extra cash. No more sitting at a table all day and selling---you price your items, drop them off on Friday, March 11, 2011 and we sell them for you on Saturday, March 12, 2011. For shoppers everything is in one room and sorted by gender and size. There is a $1 admission fee."

Filing Car Paperwork

When it comes to paperwork, knowing what to keep can be tricky. When it comes to vehicle documents, knowing where to keep it throws an additional wrench into even the most well-organized plans. FreedomFiler, a document-organizing system, offers these tips as to how to save and file* vehicle documents:

• Your current proof of registration, proof of auto insurance, and any emergency contact information belongs in the car (the glove compartment is a great place for this!)
• Paid registration renewal notices can be organized with your other tax documents.
• The title for your vehicle should be kept in a safe spot, and organized in a file with other long-term documents.

*Always check with your CPA or attorney for advice on what paperwork to keep and for how long.

Donate in Dexter

Looking for another reason to let go of some clutter? The Dexter, Michigan Knights of Columbus will be accepting donations for their annual rummage sale on the following dates and times:
Thursday, January 27, 2011, 1~6 p.m.
Friday, January 28, 2011, 1~6 p.m.
Saturday, January 29, 2011, 10:30 a.m.~4 p.m.
Sunday, January 30, 2011, 10:30 a.m.~4 p.m.
The Knights of Columbus will not accept furniture, computers or large exercise equipment.

Labels for Kids

After scoffing at the need for professional labels for my kids' belonging, I broke down this morning and purchased a "Party Pack" of Name Bubbles for each of my kids. Hopefully, these labels will live up to my expectations, as they are quite expensive.

Up until now, a Sharpie Laundry Pen or my Brother P-touch labels have been sufficient. However, labeling shoes and clothes without tags gets tricky. I also hate to deface items that can be passed on. I am hoping these labels, particularly the laundry labels, will stay put for my kids and be able to be removed when the time comes for the items to leave our home. Besides, they are a lot more stylish than my handwriting or a P-touch label.

New Year's Resolutions

Whether your New Year's resolution is to visit the gym more often, or perhaps to organize your home, now is the time of year to start thinking about it. The Wall Street Journal recently had an article about keeping resolutions, which you can find here. The article emphasizes the fact the willpower alone is not enough to accomplish resolutions; you must reshape your daily habits.

Additionally, it helps to take many small steps toward your goal, as opposed to larger, more difficult leaps, and to visualize your desired end result. That way, you can be well on your way to a more productive, and hopefully, organized, New Year!

What are your New Year's Resolutions?

Ann Arbor Seminars

For several years now, I have been conducting seminars with Ann Arbor Rec & Ed. It is a wonderful way to meet members of the community and share organizing tips with a wider clientele.

Beginning with the Winter 2011 catalog, Ann Arbor Rec & Ed will no longer be charging a higher fee for nonresidents registering for classes. At the same time, the Rec & Ed catalog will be distributed to more surrounding communities.

Look for my new class on Coping with Electronic Clutter in the Winter 2011 catalog. Looking forward to meeting you in Ann Arbor!

Donate Gently Used Coats

Thanks to the generosity of our community, Reinhart Realtors in Ann Arbor, Michigan has provided thousands of winter coats to local agencies. Please join Reinhart in this effort through your donation of a coat in good repair. Through the month of November, please bring your coats to any Reinhart sales office or Reinhart Sunday Open House. All coats will be professionally cleaned and distributed locally.

Press Release

Press Release
For Immediate Release


Saturday, October 30, 2010

January is Get Organized Month:
Simply Organized Life to Provide Two Free Seminars on January 21, 2011

January 2011 will mark the National Association of Professional Organizers’ (NAPO) 7th annual Get Organized Month (http://www.napo.net/news/go_month.aspx).

Getting organized is consistently one of the top 10 New Year’s resolutions and household paperwork is where many struggle the most. Carolyn Anderson-Fermann, founder of Simply Organized Life and a NAPO Golden Circle Member, will present the following free seminars in Dexter, Michigan on Friday, January 21, 2011.

“Tame the Paper Monster”, Dexter District Library, January 21, 2011, 10 to 11 a.m.
Do you have stacks of household paperwork lying around your home? Are you overwhelmed by the thought of sorting through these papers, but know there are important documents buried in the piles? In this seminar, Carolyn will provide simple tips to guide participants through the process of sorting, decision-making and purging the backlog of household paperwork.
There is no charge for this seminar, open to the general public.
Sign up at the Dexter District Library. For more information about the Dexter District Library go to: http://www.dexter.lib.mi.us/

“Drowning in Paper?”, Dexter Senior Center, January 21, 2011, 1 to 2 p.m.
If you do not know where to begin looking for important papers in your home, this seminar is for you. With the average American consuming about 24 reams of paper per year, it can be a struggle to keep up with household paperwork. In this workshop, Carolyn will provide easy steps to gain control of and maintain paper organization.
This free seminar is open to all ages.
Sign up at the Dexter Senior Center. For more information about the Dexter Senior Center go to: http://www.hvcn.org/info/dexterseniors/

Free Shredding on October 2, 2010

De-clutter with Recycle Ann Arbor this Saturday

Citizens and businesses are invited to bring up to 100 pounds (three banker boxes) of papers per vehicle to shred at no charge at the Recycle Ann Arbor Drop Off Station, 2950 E. Ellsworth Road on Saturday, October 2nd, between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.

All papers will be recycled. Consumers are encouraged to bring their sensitive information to be shredded, including confidential documents, check stubs, bank statements, credit card offers, and old tax records.

The event is hosted by Washtenaw County and made possible by the generous donation of staffing and mobile shredding trucks from Allshred, a Toledo-based recycling company.

There will be a $3 charge for additional boxes of papers; however large quantities of papers will not be able to be handled at this public event. For more information, read the press release on Recycle Ann Arbor's website.

To learn about recycling and shredding events in your community, click on Earth911.

Children's Resale Shops

Resale shops not only are great places to look for a bargain, but they also offer a way to make some extra cash while simultaneously cleaning out your closets! Children outgrow clothes so fast that it's easy to end up with bags of things that no longer fit, as well as toys and books that are no longer used. Instead of letting these unused items accumulate, why not try taking them to a local resale shop? Some of the items in highest demand, according to the resale chain Once Upon A Child, are clothing, specifically things like outerwear, costumes, and sleepwear, all kinds of electronic and activity toys, puzzles, furniture and bedroom equipment like changing tables, and other products like strollers and swings. Gather up your excess and outgrown children's items and clean out your home by visiting one of several Ann Arbor area resale shops:

-Once Upon A Child; with locations at 4559 Washtenaw Ave. in Ann Arbor and 5804 N. Sheldon Drive in Clinton. This chain specializes in the resale of brand-name products, all of which are screened for safety and quality before resale. Visit their website at http://www.onceuponachild.com/ for store hours and more information.


-Children's Orchard; located in the Colonnade shopping center on 887 West Eisenhower Pkwy., in Ann Arbor. Children's Orchard offers a "M.O.M.S Club," where you can sign up to receive promotions, coupons, and other discounts for buying and selling items at their store. They also have an online store on their website at http://www.childorchstore.com/default.asp


- Grow With Me; a local Ann Arbor "resale boutique" at 2521 Jackson Ave. (in the Westgate shopping plaza). This shop offers three different options for selling items (outright cash payment, store credit at 30% more than the outright cash value, or consignment payment of 40-50% of the selling price) on the days they buy goods (Tuesday - Saturday, 11 am to 4 pm). More information can be found on their website at http://www.growwithme123.com/index.html.

Be sure to check out each shop's specific guidelines for resale online before rounding up your items!

Free Shredding Event

In an effort to help protect members from identity fraud, the University of Michigan Credit Union is hosting a free shredding day on Saturday, July 24, 2010, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Not only is this a great opportunity to ensure that personal information is recycled safely and securely, but it also affords you with an excellent excuse to de-clutter your filing cabinets or home office.

The event will be held at the credit union branch at 4440 Jackson Road, Ann Arbor, Michigan. Members are allowed up to six bags of papers to be shredded on site. For more information please visit the UM Credit Union's website.

Submitted by Ms. Emily Everard, UM Student

Radical Idea for Clutter

I received a thank you note from a recent seminar attendee with a blog post from zenhabits attached. The blog talks about packaging away your clutter to create a clean slate. It sounds like a great idea in theory, the only trouble is that most folks probably never get to the boxes full of clutter that they packed away.

In fact, the seminar attendee noted that they essentially packed up the clutter when they moved 7 years ago and the boxes still sit in their basement "hidden by new clutter". In my opinion the zenhabits approach just delays the decision making process. Call it clutter procrastination.

Dexter Donations

Once again, St. Joseph Church in Dexter, Michigan will be holding their annual flea market July 8~10, 2010. This is a great opportunity to donate your unloved treasures. You can drop off items at the Village Parish Center until July 3, 2010 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

To learn more about what types of items the church is looking for contact Ms. Carol Klutchko at 734-663-0864.

Specials for Facebook Fans

I am now offering specials on last minute appointments through the Simply Organized Life Facebook page. Check out this week's special and become a fan by clicking on "like" in Facebook.

Hoarding

These days whenever I tell folks that I am a professional organizer, they have to ask me about the A&E show Hoarders. Generally, my clients are just regular folks with busy lives and basic levels of clutter (basement overflow, an unusable spare room or just an office with too much paper).

In May there was a very good interview with hoarding expert, Dr. Randy Frost, on NPR's Science Friday. Dr. Frost mentioned the OCD Foundation as a good place to find help in the form of therapists.

On a personal note, I only work with true hoarders under the supervision of a licensed therapist and I have only seen about 15 minutes of the A&E show.

AD/HD Conference

Every year Oakland Community College in Farmington Hills, Michigan hosts the Annual Michael Golds Memorial AD/HD Conference. This year's conference will be held on Friday, September 24, 2010. If you are interested, save the date and look for more information.

Pillows & Bedding

A seminar attendee recently e-mailed me to ask what to do with old pillows. Unfortunately, charities cannot take old pillows due to health concerns and Recycle Ann Arbor is not able to recycle pillows either. It is sad to say, but old pillows are destined for the trash.

In trying to help the seminar participant find a home (besides the garbage) for her old pillows, I contacted the Humane Society of Huron Valley (HSHV) thinking that they might be able to use pillows for the animals.

Kelly Schwartz, HSHV's Director of Volunteer Programs & Operational Support, explained that pillows, sleeping bags or comforters cannot be used by the Humane Society because "they are difficult to wash and disease amongst the animals is a concern for us." She went on to say that HSHV has a need for lots of other gently used and new items. Currently they urgently need towels and small blankets.

Like many local charities HSHV has a "wish list" posted on-line with up to date needs.

NAPO 2010 Conference

Here I am on April 23, 2010 at the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO) Conference in Columbus, Ohio. I had a great time reconnecting with fellow organizers and learning new techniques. My husband also had a great time with the kids at the Columbus Zoo (thank God he didn't loose them!).

Check out the reusable grocery bag that was this year's freebie bag. I love it. It is already on the passenger seat of my car, so I don't forget to use it when I am out and about. If you see me shopping around Ann Arbor, Michigan with this bag, please stop and say "hello".

I have more photos posted on Simply Organized Life's Facebook page. Click on "Like" for more frequent quick tips.

Facebook and Twitter

I held out for a long time, fearing that Facebook and Twitter would be a huge drain on my time. However, I also felt I might be missing out on something. Look for Simply Organized Life on Facebook and SimpOrgLife on Twitter to keep up with the latest news. During slow times, I will post limited time discounts for Facebook Fans and Twitter Followers.

If anyone knows how to link this blog to my Facebook and Twitter accounts, please leave a comment (note: all anonymous comments will be rejected).

An Organized Closet

I really enjoy helping clients, especially women, organize their clothes closets. An organized closet can save a lot of time in the morning rush. Having only the clothes that fit correctly and make you feel good can do wonders for self esteem too.

I always try to practice what I preach, so I was so delighted when Amy Cattell of Amy's Elegance by Design came to my home last Saturday to pick up a few items for altering. Amy's main business is designing and creating custom wedding gowns, but she also does a great job with alterations. She is currently working on altering items for myself, my husband and my mom.

When deciding which items to alter, I focus on quality articles of clothing that have classic looks and will remain in style a long time. Items that I may never wear again can be donated.

Article on Hiring an Organizer

There is a great article in today's Wall Street Journal on hiring an organizer.

Just for Fun

It's Friday and I finally finished preparing for our annual tax visit to our CPA. The appointment was delayed two weeks due to sick kids, sick parents and my husband traveling on business. We still have plenty of time before April 15th, so all is good.

For fun this afternoon (yes, my life is pretty simple) I checked out a blog I had read about in a parenting magazine. This woman makes little bento boxes for her son every day. Since I lived in Japan, I was hoping for something a bit more Japanese (loosely translated, bento means "lunch box" in Japanese), but it's all fun and good. As for the lady's other posts and photos of her household, it looks like she could use the help of an organizer, especially since several of her 2010 goals include organizing projects.

Exciting Announcement

Carolyn is now a NAPO Golden Circle Member!

As of today, I am now a member of the National Association of Professional Organizers' (NAPO) Golden Circle. For more on this topic, sign up for my monthly e-newsletter by March 1, 2010.

Selling on Craig's List

For those of you that read my last posting on "Letting Go of Children's Clothes" I am happy to report that I sold my remaining kids' clothes on Craig's List within the day I posted. The most difficult part was finding a place and time to meet the buyer, but the whole thing went smoothly. I have sold other items on my local Craig's List and have a few tips if you are looking to let go of your things this way and earn a little cash.

• Always include a photo. When looking to buy on Craig's List, I won't even click on the item unless there is a photo.

• Set up your photos on a clean uncluttered surface (see photo at right). If the background looks cluttered or dirty, I won't consider an item.

• Arrange to meet the buyer in a public place. Let's face it, there are weirdos out there and this goes for buyers and sellers.

• Ask for cash and list at a reasonable price (similar to a garage sale). Expect buyers to want to negotiate. I think of Craig's List as an easy way to get rid of stuff that has some value, but if I have something really valuable or collectible, I will turn to eBay.

Happy decluttering!

Letting Go of Kids' Clothes

Since becoming the parent of two kids, I have been surprised at how hard it is to let go of some of my children's old clothes. However, I do let go and as a little consolation for myself I take a photo of favorite outfits on the kids as they start to outgrow them.

Lately, my favorite place to buy (and sell) children's clothing is the Grow With Me Resale Boutique in Ann Arbor, Michigan. I really try to practice what I preach and minimize the number of clothes I buy for my kids. Even though I do not buy or sell much at Grow With Me, they are always friendly and courteous. I should note that they are VERY picky with what they buy, but the stuff they sell is similarly priced and much nicer than the Children's Orchard store in Ann Arbor. Many of the items even have the original tags attached.

Recently I sold (or rather exchanged, because I turned around and bought some things with my store credit) some of my kids' clothes to Grow With Me. They took maybe half of the stuff I brought in and gave me a small store credit. It was easy.

I also recently took some children's clothing to Children's Orchard, as I had sold some maternity clothing to them some time ago. They didn't take ANYTHING and after I got home, I discovered they had lost a couple of small items. When I called the next morning, the lady at Children's Orchard remembered me, but couldn't find the items. She said small things get lost in the shuffle and either donated or tossed. So much for being organized.

So now, after both a good and bad experience with children's resale, I am going to try to sell the remainder of my outgrown kids' clothes on Ann Arbor's Craig's List and see what happens. I can always donate them to Purple Heart or Faith in Action. Next time I will skip the trip to Children's Orchard.

Winter Adult Outerwear Needed

Now is a great time to take a look at your coat closet and find out what you are really wearing. Wash or dry clean those coats that need freshening up, especially out of season coats that can be stored elsewhere during the off season.

While you are at it pick out the coats that you no longer wear to donate. Currently Ann Arbor's St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Shop is seeking out adult sized winter coats among the items they normally accept.

Donate Card Tables

Ann Arbor Rec & Ed is looking for square folding card tables to use for its bridge class. If you have a table that you no longer need, please contact Linda at 734-994-2300 extension 53203 to learn more. Your donation is tax deductible through the Ann Arbor Public Schools.

Keeping Resolutions

There was a great article on keeping resolutions in the December 30th Wall Street Journal. Of course, I particularly liked the example of the woman who resolved to get organized. She is quoted as saying "my life is so much easier" now that she is organized. I couldn't have said it better.

Organizing Medical Paperwork

Today one of my children went to the dentist for the first time. Thanks to Dr. Rice, Mickey, Kathy and Pam for making it such a wonderful experience for both of us!



Along with a visit to the dentist or doctor comes paperwork and sometimes lots of it! Here's what I do to organize the medical paperwork for my family:



1) Each family member has a three ring binder with their name on the spine. Mine is titled "Carolyn Health Care" and is stored alongside my husband's and children's binders.


2) We are basically healthy so one binder is sufficient for our medical, dental and vision records. I like to use Avery's write-on dividers that can be erased and reused, but you can use whatever you have on hand. Here are a couple of photos of my child's binder.


If you visit multiple doctor's or have a lot of medical paperwork, you might need several divider tabs or a binder for each doctor.


3) I organize the papers in reverse chronological order according to the date of the office visit with the dates highlighted in yellow. Sometimes the insurance companies will send explanation of benefit (EOB) paperwork with several visits on one sheet. In that case, I just take a copy or make a note of the coverage on the medical provider's paperwork.

Tips for Sick Kids

As the parent of two young kids, I am both terrified of the H1N1 virus and know firsthand how easy kids can get sick. When illness strikes, the last thing I want to be doing is running out to a drugstore in the middle of the night. Here are some simple tips for being organized for sick kids:

• Make time in your schedule to get your kids and yourself vaccinated. Avoiding illness in the first place is the ideal scenario.

• Teaching kids good hygiene can be difficult, especially if you have toddlers. I recently read about a product called Germy Wormy to teach kids to cough into their sleeve. I made my own reusable one by cutting off the top of an old sock. My child left the thing on for about 10 minutes but usually does cough into the sleeve, so I am glad I didn't buy the Germy Wormy product.

• Have basic medicine (i.e. Tylenol/Motrin) on hand. I like to keep one bottle upstairs and one downstairs for convenience. When I see one is low, I just add it to my shopping list. I use the notes function in Microsoft Outlook for various lists.

• Keep a bottle of Pedialyte or Gatorade in your pantry. Just be sure to watch the expiration dates for safety and to avoid waste.

• Have the telephone number for the doctor's office nearby. I keep these numbers in Outlook, but also in a binder in the kitchen for babysitters and when I cannot get to my computer quickly.

Donate Household "Scraps"

The Scrap Box in Ann Arbor, Michigan is a great place to donate old collections of baby food jars, buttons, craft supplies, coffee cans, corks and other household "scraps". They also take National Geographic Magazines, which I know can be difficult for folks to part with.

The Scrap Box is a non-profit organization that provides craft materials for teachers as well as individual families. What a great way to get rid of clutter and keep it out of landfills!

WSJ Article on Hoarding

Today's Wall Street Journal had an informative article on compulsive hoarding disorder. The article included a quote from my colleague, Deb Stanley, who specializes in helping chronically disorganized clients. There is also an interesting recording with an interview with Dr. Randy Frost, a psychologist from Smith College who studies hoarding.

E-mail Overload

Like most people, I find it is so difficult to keep my e-mail under control. Using some of the techniques from my friend and colleague, Randy Dean, I am happy to say that my in-box is at 3 messages today. A record low!

Local Hoarding Fatality

In Clinton Township, Michigan a local elderly couple recently died in their home. Fire officials believe the couple's hoarding of stuff may have prevented the couple from exiting the home. The Detroit News reported this as "collecting" but from reading the article it appears to me that the couple might have been hoarders. While professional organizers, such as myself can help, compulsive hoarding is a real disorder requiring the help of a mental health professional.

I should also note that most of my clients are not hoarders or people in need of mental health help. The folks that I work with are mostly busy professionals and families with whom life has gotten a little disorganized.

Upstairs/Downstairs Organizing

I grew up in a small ranch style home, but currently live in a two story home with a basement. It seems like sometimes I find myself constantly running up and down the steps to put things in their proper places either upstairs, downstairs or in the basement.

I recently have had to limit my trips up and down the stairs due to temporary health issues, which has turned my poor husband into a bit of a pack horse. The general rule in our house is that you never go up or down empty handed, but I do not want to create unnecessary trips, especially now when I am relying on my spouse's help.

In order not to forget anything, I have a basket where throughout the day I place items needing to go upstairs and make a list of things I want to bring down. This is working so great, I might continue this practice when my stamina is back.

Goodwill Opens in Chelsea

Folks in western Washtenaw County have another option for donating household items and clothing. The Dexter Leader and Chelsea Standard recently reported on the opening of a new Goodwill drop off location in Chelsea, Michigan:

"The Chelsea Goodwill CMH center is located at 1167 S. Main Street. The 2,000 square foot location will be open seven days a week, Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday noon to 5 p.m."

Organizing Recipes

In the August edition of my monthly e-newsletter, Your Simply Organized Life (click here to sign up), I will answer a reader question regarding organizing recipes torn from magazines or newspapers.

Here is how I like to organize recipes in my own household. I have a simple one inch binder (shown below) for all the recipes I collect. This limits me from collecting too many that we may never try. If something isn't to our tastes, it gets recycled to allow room for another recipe.

Inside of the binder (see below) each recipe is housed in a plastic sheet. This is great when things get messy or the recipes are not quite the right size. I find this solution to be simple, easy and inexpensive.

Summertime!

Now that we are fully into July, summertime has officially arrived here in Michigan. My garden is in full bloom and looks so beautiful. The tree peony (photo below) blooms are long gone and have been replaced by lilies and lavender. This summer what are you doing to enjoy life more? Are you slowing down to "smell the roses" or "take in the warm sun"? Or are you finishing up some nagging projects? Remember this time is fleeting, just like the beautiful peony bloom. Take advantage of every day!

Donate Clutter in Dexter

Here's a great opportunity to get rid of your clutter (err, unloved treasures) in Dexter. Every day this week from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. St. Joseph Catholic Church in Dexter is collecting items for their upcoming flea market. Items can be dropped off at the Parish Center in the village.

If you cannot drop your items off this week here are additional dates and times:
Saturday, June 27, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
June 29~July 3, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
July 6~8, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Book Review

David Allen's 2001 Bestseller: Getting Things Done

This book has been on my reading list for a long time now. As I mentioned in my May 2009 Newsletter, Your Simply Organized Life, I finally figured out how to use my local library's on-line catalog to put books on hold and work my way through my "Books to Read" list. This is working great for me and it doesn't cost me a dime. Now if I could only read books faster than they appear on my list.

Getting Things Done, or GTD as it is commonly referred to is chock full of tips for organizing your time and your stuff. Overall, I learned some new things and felt the time spent reading GTD worth it; but did find it to be somewhat of a slow read.

What I like about GTD is that it incorporates tips not only for one's work (corporate) life, but also for your personal life. Some of systems David Allen recommends seem confusing and cumbersome (even for a professional organizer!). But there are some great tips to be had from this book. My favorite from page 99 "Keep the Drawer Less Than 3/4 Full" can be applied to organizing almost any physical space.

T-Shirt Quilts

If you cannot part with those old t-shirts, but do not wear them anymore you can hire someone to make your very own t-shirt quilt. I recently heard of a woman out of Olivet, Michigan who has a business called Too Cool T-Shirt Quilts.

August Shredding Event

Last week The Ann Arbor News reported that Recycle Ann Arbor's recent free shredding event was met with such success that it will be repeated for the third time in early August. Watch this blog and my monthly newsletter, Your Simply Organized Life, for updates.

Metal Recycling for Cash

Organizing is like pulling back the layers of an onion. Some of us have bigger onions than others. As an organizing consultant, I am no different. My clutter is just hidden better and my onion is probably a little smaller than most.

That being said, I have been on a slow and steady mission to declutter our garage. My husband told me early on in our marriage (10+ years ago) that the garage was his domain and I wasn't to organize it. This was even before I started organizing professionally.

Since then we have worked together to slowly let go of those things that we do not need in order to make our garage tidier. The previous owner of our home left a rickety metal shelf in the garage. This past weekend we emptied it of our stuff, took it apart and yesterday morning I took it to Razorback Metals in Dexter, Michigan.

Our old shelf was worth only $0.60 for metal recycling, but I had a coupon from the Dexter Leader (I write a monthly column for this local weekly) that gave me $10 for "gas money" by bringing my stuff to Razorback Metals. I still cannot figure out that business model, but I was happy to get rid of that old shelf and walk away $10.60 richer.

Letting Go

I see the biggest personal transformations in the clients that I am able to work with over long periods of time (6 months plus, about once a month). It is incredibly rewarding both for the client and myself.

This morning during our organizing session one of my long term clients proudly (and rightfully so!) told me about her practice of what I like to call the "one in, one out" rule. She had purchased new drinking glasses and while the new ones were in the dishwasher, she promptly (utilizing the "do it now rule") sorted out the old glasses for donating or recycling. This is something really simple, but something she probably would not have done in the past. Hurray!

If you are ready to let go of some of your old stuff, here's a great general guide to clearing out clutter.

Electronics Recycling Event

Once again the Ann Arbor Public Schools in cooperation with Apple Computers and the University of Michigan is hosting two events for local businesses, non-profits and residents to safely recycle old electronics.

On May 7 and 8, 2009 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. local businesses and non-profits can drop off old electronic equipment for recycling at the Washtenaw Intermediate School District at 1819 S. Wagner Road in Ann Arbor.

On Saturday, May 9, 2009 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. local residents can dispose of old electronics for free at Pioneer High School on 610 W. Stadium Road in Ann Arbor. This is a popular event, so line up early at the Main Street Entrance. Last year the event filled 11 semi-trailers with old equipment and kept an estimated 145 tons of waste out of local landfills.