well-organized | Claire Kurtz is The Well-Organized Woman

8 Reasons to Hire a Professional Organizer

September 7, 2012 By Mandi Leave a Comment

We often meet clients that are well-versed in the general principles of organizing. They understand what needs to happen to get them on the right track and yet their homes are still disorganized. When they call us they are initially skeptical about the need for an organizer, but end up extremely happy with the service and results. You may wonder why is there such a discrepancy. We’ve put together the top 8 reasons why hiring a professional organizer is better than attempting to do it by yourself or with a friend.

1. Objectivity: We have no attachment to your belongings and thus can help make difficult decisions about parting with said things a bit easier. We come prepared with lots of thoughtful questions about the frequency of use, necessity, and usefulness to assist in determining whether to keep or cull.

2. Calm & Collected: We organize people’s homes for a living, so we’ve pretty much seen it all. No matter the extent to your organizing needs, we will not become overwhelmed. We can help you achieve this peace of mind as well.

3. Efficiency & Organization: Instead of just making things fit anywhere they can, we strategize about the bigger organizational picture to ensure that your home and life is left with increased efficiency.

4. Completion: When attempting an organizing project by yourself, you can sometimes get distracted and leave things in a more disorganized state than when you started. When you hire us to organize we promise the job will be finished to your satisfaction.

5. Expertise: We are full of recommendations for products, resources, and information that will help you to achieve the organization that you’re looking for. Be it a storage solution or a way of setting up your desk to maximize productivity, we’re happy to impart our wisdom.

6. Fresh Eyes: When you are living in the disorganization for a long time it can become normal and blind you to new ways of doing things. Professional organizers can walk into your home and see patterns of disorganization, as well as potential solutions that you may overlooked.

7. Maintenance Strategies: While physical organizing is the first step, keeping things that way is the hard part. While we organize we impart strategies for how to correct behavioral habits that are contributing to the long-term disorganization, thus leaving you prepared to maintain things on your own.

8. Donations: Before we leave your home, we take the items that you are donating to charity for you. It may seem insignificant, but often times people never get around to donating the items they cull and then they eventually reintegrate themselves into the home. By removing the items immediately we can guarantee this doesn’t happen.

Obviously we’re partial to hiring a professional to help you with your organizing needs, but if you’re still unsure, feel free to give us a call and we can discuss your particular situation.

TWOW

How To Stay Organized When You Are Moving With Kids

September 4, 2012 By admin 1 Comment

No matter what your situation, staying organized during a move is a daunting task. There is so much to do and to plan, and there are always unexpected problems popping up at the last minute. Parents of young children especially have their work cut out for them. Not only do kids usually have a disproportionate amount of things to pack (especially the tricky to organize toys), parents have to make sure that favorite toys don’t get accidentally packed away and they still have access to the right food, toiletries, and supplies that come with raising a kid. Plus, kids are especially disturbed by a change in their routine, which means they might be in need of some additional time and attention – two things that you will be very short on during a move! In short, staying organized for a move when you have children is challenging, but here are a few tricks to ease the process:

Make A Kid-Friendly Checklist

A checklist can be a great way to stay organized for any task, so why not get started teaching this valuable skill to your kids? Some of the anxiety that children face during a move is a fear that their favorite possessions aren’t going to make it to their new house. Help alleviate this fear by going through their room together and making a checklist of their things. Spend some time helping them pack and checking off the items as you go along. This will help to put them at ease and reassure them that nothing important gets left behind. You can even give them special stickers to decorate the boxes once they are all packed up. This will also give you the chance to make sure their rooms get packed up in an organized way.

Get A Helper

Once your distraction technique has run its course and you can sense your child becoming antsy or bored, it might be time to call in some reinforcements, they can be that assistance you need . This is a challenging time for a child, so why not arrange for their favorite babysitter to take them to the park or to the swimming pool? Even if it is for a short period of time, you will be amazed at how much more you can accomplish when your little one is away – especially if you know that they are out having fun! If you are moving to a new city or state, this is also a great time to arrange play dates with their friends, on this Website you will find some of the best Worldwide Moving Companies for either business and residential situations.

Remember, this is a stressful time for everyone in the family. These tips will help you stay organized and happy throughout your move.

This post was generously written by Logan B. Logan is a guest author and organization expert. When he isn’t writing, he’s helping people find the best moving company for the job.

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Guest Post: Is Your Bed Linen Keeping You Up At Night?

August 31, 2012 By admin 1 Comment

The kind of bedding you use can mean the difference between a good night’s rest and not getting any sleep at all. People spend about a third of their lives in bed, but many don’t take the time to actually understand what kind of sheets and duvets are the best for them. In fact, many people don’t even know how much of a difference a quality duvet and good sheets can make for their sleep. Many people suffer with bedding that is too hot, doesn’t breathe well, is rough on their skin, and doesn’t wick moisture away from their body. This short guide will teach you everything you need to know about sheets and duvets.

Sheets
Sheets are probably the most complicated piece of your bedding to understand. There are so many options to choose from which can make it feel overwhelming. There are three primary things you need to know about when shopping for sheets and they are thread count, fabric types, and weave styles.

1) Thread count is often touted as the easiest way to determine the quality of sheets. This is only partially true. A good rule of thumb is the higher the thread count, the softer and smoother a sheet will feel. But the problem is that some manufacturers use smaller threads to increase thread count. Another problem with using thread count as the measure of quality is that higher thread counts may trap more heat and not breathe as well as lower thread counts. That can be good in the winter, but bad in the summer.

2) The type of sheeting fabric used can make a big difference in the quality and softness of a sheet. Usually you’ll see sheets made of standard cotton. It’s a good starting point, but it’s not the only available option. Pima cotton is another popular material that is a little softer and has more sheen than normal cotton. Finally, there is Egyptian cotton, which is known for its exceptional quality, softness, and sheen.

3) Weave styles may arguably be the most important thing when considering sheets. The weave is what is primarily responsible for how a sheet feels and how well it traps heat. Sateen weaves resemble satin and can feel very soft and almost cool to the touch. Flannel weaves are thicker and yield a fluffy and very soft feel. Percale sheets are very lightweight which makes them good for keeping you cool at night. Trying to sleep on a mattress on floor is also a good idea.

Duvets
Duvets are less important than sheets when it comes to bedding, but they can still mean the difference between restless nights and a good night’s rest. Three things to take into consideration are the fabric, fill, and type of construction.

1) Most outer parts of duvets are constructed of cotton. The same rules here apply for thread counts in sheets. Usually a higher thread count means softer and higher quality, but that isn’t always true.

2) The fill is the most important part of a duvet. The way this is measured is in terms of fill power. A high fill power means a fluffier duvet, while a lower fill power means a denser duvet. Higher fill powers usually cost more, but they don’t necessarily equal more comfort. Generally fill powers that are on the low side are a little cooler.

3) Duvet construction is something most people don’t even think about, but there are several ways a duvet can be constructed and the differences can be big. Baffle duvets tend to be the warmest because they keep the down in place, while sewn-through duvets can lead to thin spots in the down. Finally, box construction ensures that the fill remains in place so the warmth is evenly distributed.

About the Author
This post was written by Robin Beaumont co-founder of The Best Bed Lin en in The World. Robin is an avid writer on the subject of fabrics both as a guest and on his own blog andworks with some of the biggest and best 5 start hotels in the world.

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A Place for Everything: The Biltmore Estate

August 24, 2012 By Claire Leave a Comment

Earlier in the Summer my family met for a long weekend in Asheville. Despite my general attraction to minimalist spaces I am in love with Biltmore Estate and could probably spend a week or two there touring the house and taking part in all of the amazing outdoor activities offered on the property.

On our trip we took a behind the scenes Architect’s Tour and found ourselves up on the roof and in rooms not typically available to visitors. Combined with the self-guided tour through the rooms open to the public we got a great taste of the design, functionality, and beauty of the house.

Most striking to me, as a person with organization and efficient planning often on her mind, is the care taken by George Vanderbilt and his architect, Richard Morris Hunt, to address every possible need for a home this size used for constant entertaining and with an eye toward complete self-sustainability. Biltmore is the ultimate example of the classic adage, “A place for everything and everything in its place!”

The basement of Biltmore house is one the best examples of a place for everything I’ve ever seen! In the food preparation and storage areas in particular you will find a canned goods storage room, a produce storage room, a rotisserie cooking room(!), cold storage, a pastry preparation and keeping room, and a beautiful general kitchen area with sinks and prep counters with views out to the gorgeous countryside behind the house. The incredible upstairs living spaces include a breathtaking library, great hall for gathering and dining, reception rooms, storage rooms, and a multitude of guest rooms.

Despite the difference in the size and purpose of our homes and this great manor house, we can reflect and take a cue from this well-planned home in designing our own calm retreats.

-Take a look at each room in your house and evaluate, moving from left to right through the room, if each area of the room is serving its purpose well.

- Identify the areas where too much is happening in one place: do you have books overflowing your bookshelves, is your living room overrun by dvds, magazines, toys, or stacks of paper? Analyze what can be culled down and what is truly meaningful or actually used. If you’re looking for the best property deals , check out Siam Real Estate.

- Use the space you have as a guide to what you can keep: We have a tendency to want to find the perfect organizing item to create more space to keep things. We usually cannot make more space so living well in the space we have often requires some intense analyzing and a little creativity.

-Make tough choices: If you have 50-60 hair care products (and we have seen this many and more!) and nowhere to put them, really ask yourself what you are using daily and at this stage of your life. If 30 of the 50 are never touched, give to a friend or donate to a women’s shelter.

- Use Peter Walsh’s best organizing principle and envision the lifestyle you want to be living. Does your physical space and the belongings that reside there support that vision? It can be a joyful existence to live with less, but in an environment that is calm and well-planned!

For inspiration on living well with less check out The Joy of Less, A Minimalist Living Guide: How to Declutter, Organize, and Simplify Your Life

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‘The Power of Habit’ by Charles Duhigg

August 21, 2012 By Mandi Leave a Comment

I’m currently reading a book called ‘The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business’. The book discusses the science behind habits and how we can use this knowledge to alter various routines in our lives. Whether it be poor eating, smoking, or the collecting of excess belongings, much of what we do stems from the process of habits.

If you would like to change a habit in your life, the author suggests you start by figuring out the three things that form what is called a ‘Habit Loop’. First is the ‘Cue’. This is a signal, a feeling, or anything else that triggers the desire for habit action. Second is the ‘Routine’, which refers to the actual act. Finally, there is the ‘Reward’, which is obtained by completing the routine. The reward can come in many forms, but essentially is anything that provides satisfaction. Determining each of these items can be difficult as they are not always obvious. For example, if someone wanted to stop eating a sugary snack in the afternoon, they might realize that the cue is a lull in work and the reward is actually a distraction from boredom, not necessarily the snack itself.

Once you have identified the elements of the Habit Loop, you must then attempt to replace either the routine or the reward with something you feel is more appropriate. To expand on the example, if the sugary snack is causing weight gain, but the real reward is a break from boredom, the person may consider taking a walk with a colleague instead of eating. The cue and reward will remain, but the new routine will provide a healthy alternative.

The reason I mention this book is that the understanding of how habit’s work can help us to change the way we manage organization, time management, and general control in our lives. We often see clients that are overwhelmed by disorganization. I suspect that if they closely examined the habits that form the basis for the problem they could make edits to the loop that result in drastic overall routine changes. I highly recommend this book for anyone looking to make changes in how they operate and what they do.

Happy Reading!

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Paper Clutter Strategies & Maintenance

August 17, 2012 By Claire Leave a Comment

Paper clutter is typically the most common issue we see in organizing consultations. Between personal information, mail, work documents, and other incoming paper the stacks can quickly become overwhelming. We’ve devised a couple of simple strategies for reducing the amount of paper coming in and living in your home.

Junk Mail: Eliminate junk mail from ever making its way into your home by enlisting a service, such as 41pounds.org. The service takes your name off of junk mail lists and can even minimize catalog delivery.

Mail System: We have discussed in previous posts, the handiness of maintaining a mail processing system. Get a basic file folder container and insert 3 files. The first can be labeled ‘Action Needed’ for important items that need service soon. The second is labeled ‘Upcoming’ and should contain items that may need handling in the coming weeks. The third is ‘Interest’ which may contain coupons or information received for things you may want to consider in the future. Each week, select a day to evaluate the contents of the files and move, file, or trash items as necessary.

Business Cards: Business cards are a big problem for many professionals. The contact information is important, but the storage or entry can be a pain. Try an app such as ScanBizCards which uses OCR technology to digitize the information from a photo taken of any card.

Digital Docs: For more traditional business documents, consider using an online doc development and storage suite, such as Google Docs. Anything you produce or need will be stored online for easy access and updating.

Personal Docs: A simple trick for keeping personal documents under control is to immediately upon opening, shred or trash anything that is not necessary to keep. When deciding what to keep and what to shred, consider if the document could be obtained easily online if needed. Utility, credit card, and even medical bills are all stored online and thus physical copies are rarely needed.

Paperless Billing: Take advantage of online billpay, paperless statements, and email communications as much as possible to further curb paper in your home.

Tax Docs: For documents pertaining to taxes, use a well-labeled storage system, such as the ones recommended here. Only save items in category labeled folders for the first year and then move everything into a single folder labeled by the year following your tax filing. All tax documents can be shredded or trashed after 7 years, but for a list of what to keep and what to toss, check out Suze Orman’s recommendations.

Upside Down Sorting: When attempting a paper sort, flip the pile upside down to start with the oldest, and likely most unnecessary, documents first.

To File or Not to File: Before filing something, ask yourself when was the last time you accessed something similar from the filing cabinet. If the answer is never, you probably don’t need to file it.

We know that paper can be a hassle, but if you stay on top of it soon after it enters your home it will never become unmanageable.

Good Luck!
TWOW

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How & Where to Get Rid of Stuff

August 10, 2012 By Claire Leave a Comment

We are often asked what’s the best way to get rid of things being culled from the home. While some of the decision is personal preference, there are certain items that are best suited for specific removal strategies. Below we discuss the various options, along with the pros and cons of each.

Clothing Consignment Stores: Although it would be great if everyone could make money off of their excess clothing by consigning, the reality is these stores are extremely picky with what they take. The types of items that are best suited for consignment are new or like-new, in good condition, nicer brands, and most importantly, in-season. If you have winter clothes that you are looking to cull from your closet in the summer, this is not the place to take them. A tip we recently heard for successful consignment is to only do one trip per season. This way you can more easily track your sales and store time limits.

Specialty Stores: Places like Once Upon A Child are excellent options for donating specialty items such as baby products. They will pay you on the spot for your wares and you can feel good about passing along the things your family no longer uses. Play It Again Sports is also an excellent option for offloading old sports gear.

Donation Shops: GoodWill, Salvation Army, and other donation shops will take just about everything you’d like to give them. Although there is no cash payout, the tax deduction can be helpful.

Ebay: This site is most effective for items of slightly higher value that are new or in good condition. Managing the process can be tedious and learning the strategies of becoming a good seller can also be a challenge. However, there is excellent money to be made off of certain types of items.

Garage Sale: Yard sales are best conducted when there is a large amount of stuff to sell all at once. The process requires significant preparation and organization, but it is a good way to offload a variety of items. Keep in mind that prices should reflect severe discounts as your shoppers will expect to see bargains. For more garage sale tips, check out our past post.

Estate Sale: This type of sale is most appropriate for households will extensive collections of valuables. Most often they are conducted by professional estate sale planners who manage the pricing, sale, and delivery of purchased goods to the buyers. Estate sales are most common following the passing of loved ones, but they can also be great options for downsizing and long-distance relocations.

Craigslist & Freecycle: Craigslist.org offers the ability to sell or give away anything you could possibly imagine. Increase your sale odds by being descriptive in your posting and including photos. If possible, get original manufacturer information from other online sources and include in your ad for increased legitimacy. Freecycle.org is another option for giving your belongings away for free.

Recycling Center: If the stuff you are looking to remove from your home is simply not donation or sale worthy, recycling centers will gladly take the items for repurposing. In GA, the North Fulton Recycling Center accepts dropoffs of things like paint, batteries, electronics, books, clothing, ink cartridges, and most everything else you can think of.

No matter what method you chose, we commend you for your efforts to minimize personal belongings.

Good Luck!
TWOW

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Wedding Planning Binder Categories

July 31, 2012 By Claire Leave a Comment

Planning a wedding can be stressful and complicated. To help streamline the process we’ve broken down the various tasks associated with the planning process into 12 simple categories. We recommend that when creating your to-do list, planning binder, and/or timeline you use these categories to help maintain organization.

Budget: This is the most important thing to determine before planning your wedding. Be realistic when setting your budget and assume that you will spend slightly more than originally intended as unexpected costs often arise. In order to stay organized, utilize a spreadsheet with columns for item, budget, actual spend, and notes.
Date: When selecting a date, take into consideration high and low seasons for pricing, weather, holidays and vacations that may cause attendance difficulties, and availability for preferred venues.
Venue: Securing the location for your ceremony and reception should be done as soon as possible. When reviewing options, remember to factor in the guest count, style, seasonal weather patterns, and additional costs that the venue may cause (ex. tenting & seats for outdoor venues, Vogue Ballroom reservation).
Guests: After developing a guest list, plan to send save-the-dates 4-6 months out and invites 2 months out. A wedding website can also be created to provide guests with additional info. For out-of-town guests, reserve a hotel block and decide if welcome gifts are necessary.
Wedding Party: Once engaged, friends and family will begin to wonder who made the bridal party cut. Decide with your significant other who and how many members will be included 1-2 months after the engagement. Advise of MOH’s and Best Men of their responsibilities (ex. toasts/party planning) a couple of months after the wedding party invitation. Don’t forget to purchase thank-you gifts for the party.
Vendors: You will likely have many vendors involved in your wedding. We’ve created a list of typical vendors that you will want to engage 6-9 months ahead of time. FrameByFrame.com.sg photographer, officiant, wedding planner, florist, hair stylist, baker, makeup artist, caterer, videographer, entertainment, linen supplier, staging supply services (lighting, special effects, tents, etc.), and transportation. Keep track of vendor contact info, contracts, and information by utilizing a wedding planning binder with clear plastic sheets and tabs.
Attire & Styling: Brides should select the wardrobe (dress, veil, shoes, undergarments, and jewelry) early and plan for several fittings right up to the wedding. The female wedding party can purchase dresses closer to 3-6 months out, whereas the men can reserve their outfits 2-3 months out.
Ceremony & Reception: Creating the visual design of your wedding is often the most stressful part of the process. Utilize your vendors expertise to help formulate the look and scan Pinterest for ideas and inspiration. Elements of design include flowers, tableware, centerpieces, lighting, walking order, menu cards, and seating chart, etc. Deer Park flower shop will work with you directly to ensure you receive the exact spread or arrangement you picture. You will also want to complete the business part of the ceremony including your marriage license, vows, walking order, and officiant script well before the date.
Entertainment: This category can alter the mood of the event greatly. Be extremely selective when picking your music provider (DJ, band), play-list, and other activities (photo-booth and canvas prints) to ensure that they can assist in creating your vision. Work with them to select ‘play’ and ‘don’t play’ lists for the reception, as well as ceremony music. Find incredible wedding bands at WeddingMusicBands.com.
Food & Beverage: Whether it’s a buffet or 5 course dinner, you’ll want your guests to enjoy the food. When selecting a menu, keep in mind the special diets and food preferences of your attendees. Don’t forget to engage the baker 6 months ahead of time to ensure your cake will be scheduled. Alcohol can be a large expense, but time-limited open bars, cash bars, and pre-purchased beverages (BevMo wine) can assist in keeping costs down.
Pre-Wedding: This is generally one area task-set that you can offload on others. Have the mother of the bride plan the shower, the MOH & Best Man the bachelor & bachelorette parties, and the parents the rehearsal dinner. If a Best Man needs some help, he can use Vegas bachelor party guide to arrange an unforgettable night.
Post Wedding: The best deals for flights and hotels for your honeymoon generally come 5 months out. If you’re open to a variety of destinations sites like GrouponTravel and LivingSocial offer excellent package options that include extras such as massages and meals.

Break up tasks by category and you’ll be sure nothing falls through the cracks on your special day!

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Dorm Room Essentials

July 27, 2012 By Claire Leave a Comment

Dorm living is just around the corner for many incoming college freshman. In order to help you prepare your child for independent living we’ve put together a list of our favorite dorm room supplies from Bed Bath & Beyond. These essentials will help keep them organized and hopefully productive during their college years.

Be Organized: Cube shelving with pull-out drawers make excellent storage for a variety of items. Hanging closet shelves will add additional storage for sweaters, jeans, and shorts. Over-the-door shoe racks keep shoes organized and out of sight and finally, bed lifts will add significant space under-the-bed.

Be Clean: Communal living often requires your personal belongings to be mobile. A show er caddy will help keep bathroom items together, a popup hamper will allow students to cart clothing to the laundry room, and colored towels will minimize the risk of mistaken use.

Be Studious: Extension cord/surge protectors will definitely be useful when multiple people are sharing just a few outlets. Dry erase boards are great for roommate communications, to-do lists, and notes and this iPod charging and playing lamp will allow your student to study late while not disturbing roommates with overhead lights.

Be Well Fed: A mini fridge is key for rooms without full kitchens. They’ll also need a small set of dinnerware and utensils. Depending on your student’s meal plan and eating habits, you may also want to invest in a microwave, toaster oven, or coffee maker.

Be Stylish: While the basics are important, you’ll also want your student to feel at home in their new room. Select some spirited or fashionable bedding, frames to hold family photos, and decorative pieces like throw pillows or floor chairs.

The important thing to remember when purchasing dorm room goods is that it is not necessary to stock them with all of the amenities of home. The new experience is certain to distract them from the less than ideal living situation, so don’t feel the need to go overboard.

TWOW

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Our Favorite Multifunction Products

July 24, 2012 By Claire Leave a Comment

Last week our guest blogger, Lisa, gave us some great tips for utilizing furniture and spaces in multiple functions. We love the idea of minimizing the amount of ‘stuff’ in our lives, so this week we’re going to highlight some of our favorite products that have multiple uses.

Dirty Jobs Complete Cleaner: Although many people think cleaning and organizing are similar tasks, here at WOW we dislike cleaning just as much as the next person. That’s why we loved sampling the new Dirty Jobs Complete Cleaner. The product, available at Walmart, was inspired by the Discovery Channel show and really works wonders. The best part is that unlike single-specialty cleaners, this works just about anywhere. Use it in the laundry, the bathroom, on upholstery, or the carpets; it will get the job done.

Food Processor: We love kitchen appliances, but sometimes they can be space hogs. Food processors, however, combine the functions of blender, chopper, cutting board, specialty knives, mortar, cheese grater, and more. If you are low on storage space in your kitchen, consider switching to this multifunction appliance as your go-to tool, and if you want to know how you can fix it if anything wrong, then read more at PittsburghApplianceRepairs.com

Ice Cube Tray: This everyday item, that many people no longer use, due to integrated ice makers are great for organized storage. Use them for earrings and rings, small junk drawer items, cuff links, hair accessories, sewing materials, crafting supplies, etc.

Dryer Sheets: Instead of tossing out your used dryer sheets, use them to freshen up other areas of the home. Rub them on the inside of smelly shoes to reduce odor, place them in the bottom of your underwear drawer or under your car seat for added freshness, or run them along a couch to pick up animal hair. The new ones will work best, but even the old ones can be put to good use.

Toothpaste: It can be a bit odd to consider using something you put in your mouth each day for other purposes, but toothpaste has a variety of household functions. It can fill in small holes in your walls, soothe bug bites, polish chrome and silver, remove crayon coloring from walls, and reduce blemishes, among other things.

These are just a few interesting multi-purpose products. What are your favorite tricks for making the most out of your belongings?

TWOW

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