• Organize just one thing

  Date Posted: February 7th, 2012

  Choose just one drawer and organize it.  I took all my socks out of the drawer and got rid of ones that were worn out.  It took all of 10 minutes and I feel good.  Try it!

• Science says we can be happy with less

  Date Posted: January 20th, 2012

  Check out the link below:
  
  http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/01/14/consumption-makes-us-sad-science-says-we-can-be-happy-with-less.html
  
  The article suggests that we give gifts of our time rather than stuff.  Maybe 2012 could be the year you spend time getting rid of your stuff too, rather than acquiring more.
  

• American Girl Clutter Control

  Date Posted: January 16th, 2012

  American Girl, LLC has a publication titled, Clutter Control:  Tips and crafts to organize your bedroom, backpack, locker, life.  It cover 3 basic steps:  Sort It, Put It Away, and Keep It That Way.  The book is well written, contains good advice and has very cute illustrations.  You may have children, grandchildren, or other relatives who received an American Girl doll this recent holiday season. If so, they might also enjoy having the book.  It's a great book even if one doesn't have an American Girl doll.  You can find it at the link below:
  
  http://store.americangirl.com/agshop/html/search?event=search&site=American+Girl+Shop&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Nty=1&Ntt=Clutter+Control
  

• Oscar Party

  Date Posted: January 6th, 2012

  Yesterday (1/5/12) I gave a presentation at the 12 Annual UGA Housing Conference.  Someone in the audience asked what can be done with old trophies.  Kim Ellis, one of the attendees, suggested using old trophies as Oscars and have your own Oscar party.  It's now Oscar season, so it might be fun to have an Oscar party and give your "oscars" to those who guess the winners.
  
  
  

• Beware of Supplements

  Date Posted: January 4th, 2012

  The Jan/Feb issue of Tennis Magazine has an article on dietary supplements.
  Many people feel these supplements are safe and effective; however the 1994 Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act prevents the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from regulating supplements.  Supplements are not required to meet safety or effectiveness standards before selling the products.  there is no guarantee that a bottle contains exactly what it states or that additives were added or not.
  
  If you take any supplements, make sure you let your doctor know.  Supplements may interact with other supplements or prescriptions.
  
  http://www.tennis.com/articles/templates/fitness.aspx?articleid=15494&zoneid=19
  
  

• Abandon a Project

  Date Posted: January 1st, 2012

  Many New Year's Resolutions have to do with getting things done.  Gretchen Rubin, author of The Happiness Project, suggests choosing NOT to do a project.  "Instead of feeling guilty every time you look at that half-knit blanket, just admit you're never going to finish, give the yarn to someone who will use it and let yourself move on to a new, more enticing project." 
  SOURCE: USA Weekend, Dec. 30, 2011-Jan. 1, 2012.
  
  I have many clients who keep unfinished projects and in some cases have been hanging on to these for years.  If  it makes you feel bad that you've not done the project, decide to forget it and get rid of the things that make your feel bad.
  
  In my own case, I have some slides I want to convert to digital.  Christmas 2010 I received the needed equipment and have yet to use it!  I'm thinking that in 2012, I will hire someone to do this for me.  It's a project I want done but I don't think I'll get around to it myself.
  

• Timely Tips

  Date Posted: December 29th, 2011

  If you are in the process of putting away Christmas decorations you might want to read the AHO monthly tips from Dec. 2007.  You will find tips on organizing your decorations so that next year, decorating will be easy.
  
  I've been receiving my January magazines and most all of them have an article on organizing.  Look over the AHO monthly tips from Jan. 2010 for an analysis of such articles.
  
  And have a very Happy New Year!
  

• Curbing Holiday Eating & Buying

  Date Posted: December 7th, 2011

  How do you keep from gaining weight this holiday season?  The tip often given in many publications is to choose the holiday treats that you really like and eat those.  Enjoy those, but don't waste your calories on treats that are not your favorites.  I plan to eat the Buckeye candies and gingerbread cookies for sure!  But I can pass up the milk chocolate treats and many kinds of cookies.
  
  How does this relate to buying?  Well, the same idea holds.  We can surround ourselves with things we really like and use, but skip items that don't really please us.  So, when we are buying holiday decorations, buy only those you really like.  And when buying gifts for others, choose things that the recipient would really like or use.  Avoid just getting something to be getting something.  Gifts do not have to be expensive and they can be for services or perishable items -- things that don't add clutter.
  

• Give Locally

  Date Posted: December 6th, 2011

  At this time of year, many of us want to give to our favorite charities, plus we get the tax deduction for 2011 if we give now. 
  
  The best way to give is to pick out the local charity you want to support and just send them a check.  That way you know that it will all go to the charity and not to a solicitor who has been hired to solicit funds for the organization.
  
  The link below is an example of giving where proceeds did not go where you intended.
  
  http://www.humaneforpets.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/HSSP_NYTimes_OL.pdf
  
  Check out the AHO tips from December 2010 for more information.
  
  Some charities in Athens you may wish to support:
  The ARK -- provides temporary assistance to individuals who have had a loss of income due to circumstances beyond their control. 
  
  Food Bank -- provides food to needy families.
  
  Project Safe -- provides help to women who have been victims of domestic violence.
  
  Habitat for Humanity -- provides housing for qualified needy families.
  

• Organizing Calendars

  Date Posted: December 3rd, 2011

  I was doing some shopping today and noticed that there are many wall calendars available with an organizing theme.  One could be the perfect gift for someone on your list.

• Don't Buy This Jacket

  Date Posted: November 28th, 2011

  An advertisement ran in the New York Times main section on Black Friday with "DON'T BUY THIS JACKET" in large capital letters.  Below it was a photo of a Patagonia jacket.
  
  Basically the ad encouraged consumers to buy responsibly.  They mention that Patagonia manufactures high quality products in an environmentally conscious manner.  Basically the message is buy only what you need and buy products that will last a long time;  hence you buy less.
  
  This is a very interesting take on consumption and has generated a lot of press.
  
  http://www.thecleanestline.com/2011/11/dont-buy-this-jacket-black-friday-and-the-new-york-times.html
  

• New Product to Hold Large Balls

  Date Posted: November 14th, 2011

  Check out the link below for a new produce called the Ball claw.  It holds large balls and can sit on a table for display or mount on the wall.  It looks like the ball is just sitting or hanging in mid air.
  
  http://www.ballclaw.com/
  
  
  

• Unknown Cords???

  Date Posted: October 27th, 2011

  In my stash of cords, I have cords to connect my camera to the computer, another one to connect it to the television.  I also have computer back up cords and a cord to connect my digital frame to the computer. 
  
  Whenever you get a new electronic device, label the cords that come with it.  I use my label maker for each cord.  Now when I go to the stash, I can easily get the one I need.
  
  This tip came from one of my clients, Peggy Polonus, and it's a great tip! 
  
  
  

• Miscellaneous File Folder

  Date Posted: October 15th, 2011

  Do you have a file folder called Miscellaneous?  I've had one in the past and found that once something went in there, I never looked at it again.  Much of the professional organizing literature simply states, "Don't have a folder labeled Miscellaneous." 
  
  Why?  The category becomes a catchall, kind of like a junk drawer in the kitchen.  But unlike the kitchen drawer, the file folder is more likely to become out of sight, out of mind.  You forget what's there.  And if you do look through the file, it's often large and you spend a lot of time trying to find what you want.
  
  A miscellaneous folder is really a way to postpone decision making.  A solution is to ask yourself some of the following questions:
  
  Do I really need to keep this?  Why?
  If I want to find this information, where will I look for it? 
  

  • If your answer to this question is "on the web," then there is no need to keep the paper. 
    
  • If you want to keep it because you might need it for taxes, then put it in a folder holding your papers for doing taxes. 
    
  • If you only need to keep it short term, have a holding place (could be a drawer, basket or bin) where you keep receipts short term.  Then clear that place out periodically.
  I'll add that my husband says a "miscellaneous" folder makes him feel more secure.  He doesn't seem to put anything in it much though.
  

• What papers to keep?

  Date Posted: October 14th, 2011

  Many of my clients have expressed difficulty knowing what papers to keep.  The article at this link provides some very detailed information.
  One of the organizers quoted is Monica Ricci, a member of NAPO-GA whom I know.
  
  http://money.msn.com/how-to-budget/junk-you-can-toss-right-now-weston.aspx
  
  

• Consumer Advice about Health Websites

  Date Posted: October 11th, 2011

  For many years, I taught Consumer Economics, so I'm drawn to articles on consumer advice.  Many of us like to check out the various Health websites; however caution is advised so that we don't jump to conclusions and convince ourselves that we have a serious illness or need the latest supplement.
  
  1.  If the website doesn't have a page telling about themselves, it's probably not a credible site.  Remember, anyone can develop a web page.  Look for an "about us" page.
  2.  Check to see that the content on the site was written by an expert.  Look for a reporter who provides references or a doctor that lists his/her credentials, such as "board certified."
  3. Beware of any web site giving advice and also selling something, such as health-related supplements. Their main purpose is to sell not give advice.
  4. Medical information changes frequently, so check for publication dates to verify that the information is up to date.
  
  Source:  Better Homes & Gardens, September 2011.
  

• Flagpole Magazine Interview

  Date Posted: September 23rd, 2011

  Julia Marlowe of Athens Home Organizer was interviewed for the Flagpole "Everyday People" section.  September 14, 2011.
  
  
  

• Parents of Young Artists

  Date Posted: September 15th, 2011

  One mother is purchasing the Mobile Art Center for her young children.  If you have budding artists and need a place to store all their supplies, check out the link below:
  
  http://www.communityplaythings.com/products/artequipment/H558.html

• Nothing to Wear?

  Date Posted: August 22nd, 2011

  If you find you have nothing to wear, it could be that you have too much.  "If you closet is overstuffed, chances are you can't even see what's in there, so your nicer pieces get overlooked, or maybe they're crushed and wrinkled." 
  
  Use the following guide to help you declutter your closet:
  Relegate to consignment, donation, or trash if the item:
  

  • is stained
  • is torn or well worn
  • doesn't fit perfectly -- don't save it till you are that size again!
  • fits and is in good condition but you don't wear it anymore
  With fall around the corner, this is a good time to clear out your closet.
  
  Source:  USA WEEKEND, Aug. 19-21, 2011
  

• Watch for fees for using debit cards for purchases

  Date Posted: August 22nd, 2011

  Banks are looking for ways to increase their income often institute new fees.  One fee some banks are now considering is to charge customers a fee for using a debit card at the point of sale.  Say you buy $150 worth of groceries and use your debit card.  Remember that a debit card deducts the money directly from your account not.  It is not a credit card.  What if you had to pay a $3.00 fee to use your debit card?  Some of us would then go back to writing checks which would slow things down at the cash register.
  
  Read the link below and be on the look out.  It hasn't happened here in Athens yet but might in the future.
  
  http://www.clarkhoward.com/news/clark-howard/personal-finance-credit/wells-fargo-testing-3-monthly-fee-debit-cards/nDKRr/

• High Museum Special Exhibit

  Date Posted: July 31st, 2011

  Modern by Design is a Special Exhibit at the High Museum and will run until August 21, 2011.  One of the items on exhibit is for a modular living unit.  Check out the link below for a photo:
  
  http://www.carlobimbidesign.it/en/1970/tuttuno01.htm
  
  What a way to save space!
  
  Other interesting space-saving organizing items include the plastic stacking dinnerware.
  
  If you get a chance to see the exhibit, it's worth it.   The collection normally resides at MOMA in NYC.
  

• Dorm Room Organizing

  Date Posted: July 27th, 2011

  Do you have a young man or woman going off to college for the first time?  If so, don't buy too many storage containers for organizing until you see the room.  It is best to fit the containers to your space and not vice versa.
  
  See:   Athens Banner Herald, July 24, 2011.  "Put the 'room' in a dorm room"  by Kim Cook, Associated Press.
  

• 26 Organizing Tips

  Date Posted: July 20th, 2011

  Organizing tips from a magazine, tv, web and so on are aimed at the general public and may or may not fit your own style (see AHO Tips from Jan. 2010).  But it's fun to read a list and you might find a few that you want to incorporate.  Here's a list from July 19, 2011.
  
  http://lifestyle.msn.com/your-home/cleaning-organizing/staticslideshowrb.aspx?cp-documentid=29329062&gt1=32026

• Free Shredding

  Date Posted: July 12th, 2011

  Saturday, September 24 there will free shredding at Georgia Square Mall from 9:00 am to noon.  There is a two box maximum.  The event is sponsored by the Athens Clarke County Recycling Division, Georgia Square Mall, Keep Madison County Beautiful, and the Lindsay Group (an agent of Mayflower Transit.  Call 706-549-8902 for more information or go to http://www.thelindsaygroup.net.
  
  
  

• ABC Extreme Makeover

  Date Posted: July 8th, 2011

  NAPO- GA members have been invited to help with ABCs Extreme Makeover show conducted in Madison, GA.  AHO is one of the NAPO organizers who will be helping next week.  I'll keep you posted on this and when the show will air.
  
  Our NAPO-GA team arrived Friday evening at the site in Madison and helped bring items into the house.  Then Saturday we just helped with whatever was needed. 
  
  

  
  
  More information is at the site below:
  http://www.joinextreme.com/buildernamefamily/
  
  
  
  Also, check out the link to another ABC production:
  http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/hoarding-hell-moms-obsession-kids-projects-14017277
  
  
  
  

• What to save for the IRS?

  Date Posted: June 2nd, 2011

  Check out Publication 552, "Record Keeping for Individuals"  http://www.irs.gov/
  Keep records supporting your Income Tax Filing for 7 years. 
  You can be audited beyond this period if  you are suspected of fraud.
  
  SOURCE:  AARP The Magazine, May 2011.
  

• ACC landfill

  Date Posted: May 25th, 2011

  Yesterday I filled up the back of my Versa and made a trip to the Athens Clarke County Landfill on Lexington Road.  Some of my clients wanted to dispose of several things that you can't just put in the trash:  an old tire, partially full paint cans and other chemicals.  So, I took them all to the Landfill.   There is a truck there for items that can be recycled -- I put an old non-working microwave in that truck.  Another truck holds tires -- the cost for disposing of a tire is $3.  In one area there is a large shed where you can put various kinds of chemical items.  The total cost was $6 and it took me less than 30 minutes.  It felt so good to have those things gone and disposed of in the proper manner.

• Tips for a Yard Sale

  Date Posted: May 22nd, 2011

  The May issue of Better Homes & Gardens has an article titled, "20 tips to have your best-ever yard sale."
  
  Here are a few of the 20 tips:
  
  

  • Pick the right date.
  • Clean items.
  • Arrange like items together.
  • Price items.
  • You need at least 2 people working the day of the sale.
  • Have a $1 basket near the checkout.
  • Cover tables with colorful plastic.
  
  

• Mention on NPR Sunday Puzzle

  Date Posted: May 16th, 2011

  Yesterday (May 15) I was listening to the Sunday Puzzle on Weekend Edition on  WUGA.  The puzzle required you to fill in the first blank with a word that had an o as the 2nd letter.  Drop the o to get the word for the 2nd blank.
  
  One of the puzzles was:
  
  "As it got closer to the deadline for the  Professional Organizer, the _______ found it _______ to throw things away."  Check out the link to hear it for yourself. 
  
  http://www.npr.org/series/4473090/sunday-puzzle
  "As a matter of course"
  

• "Leaving the Cluttered Nest"

  Date Posted: May 16th, 2011

  Hoarding not only affects those doing the hoarding but also their children.  An article on this subject appeared in the New York TimesThursday, May 12, 2011.  In one case, a woman lost custody of her child because of the clutter. Children of hoarders may have emotional problems in later life as well.  The story is available at the link below:
  
  http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/12/garden/children-of-hoarders-on-leaving-the-cluttered-nest.html

• Don't Give UP

  Date Posted: May 12th, 2011

  If you feel overwhelmed trying to clear the clutter in your home, don't give up.  Author Kathryn Stockett had her manuscript, The Help, rejected 60 times.  The book became a best seller and is now a movie.  Stockett says that you need to keep working on your goals. 
  
  SOURCE:  More magazine, May 2011, pp. 67-68.
  

• IRS Scam Alert

  Date Posted: April 21st, 2011

  The IRS will never send you an unsolicited e-mail about your taxes!  If you receive a message asking for personal or financial information, DO NOT open any attachments.  
  
  Please forward the e-mail to:   phishing@irs.gov
  
  These kinds of scams are called phishing scams because fraudsters are fishing for information.  Forwarding such e-mails to the government can help stop such practices.
  
  Source:   Better Homes and Gardens,  April 2011, p. 214.
  

• Children's Consignment

  Date Posted: April 20th, 2011

  One of my clients highly recommends Lollipop Kids in Jefferson.  They only have sales a few times a year, but when they do the findings are great.  Plus it's a good place to consign items you no longer need.  Check out their website.  The next sale will be in July.
  
  http://lpkidssale.com/index.htm
  

• "Who Wants my .....?"

  Date Posted: March 29th, 2011

  Pages 172 & 173 in the March issue of The Oprah Magazine provide a valuable list of "where to donate, recycle, and sell your castoffs so they do some good."  For example, did you know about THE CHILDREN'S BOOK PROJECT?  It has helped  many disadvantaged children learn to read.  Go to childrensbookproject.org to find out how to donate books for this effort.
  

• AHO to speak on office organization

  Date Posted: March 25th, 2011

  Julia Marlowe will conduct three sessions on Organizing Your Office at the Administrative Professionals Day Conference April 27 at the Georgia Center for Continuing Education at UGA.  To register call 706-542-3537 or go online:
  www.georgiacenter.uga.edu/adminpros
  

• "Learn to Delegate Household Chores"

  Date Posted: February 15th, 2011

  USA Weekend, January 2, 2011 carried an article "Learn to Delegate Household Chores." The article categorized delegators into 3 groups:  Control Freaks, Conflicteds and Zen Masters.  The latter category is for those who have a knack for enlisting others in a way that empowers the helpers as well as the delegator.  The story was taken from the book:  Pretty Neat:  The Buttoned-Up Way to Get Organized and Let Go of Perfection, by Alicia Rockmore and Sarah Welch.  

• "Are You a Pushover Parent?"

  Date Posted: February 15th, 2011

  The January 2011 issue of Good Housekeeping had an article by Charlotte Latvala titled "Are You a Pushover Parent?"  The article examined the positive effects of having children contribute by picking up after themselves.  The author says it is never too late;  that even teenagers can change.  Tips are also given on how to engage the family by 1) admitting mistakes, 2) coming up with a plan and 3) making small changes at a time.  Not only will the family benefit immediately, but children will reap long term benefits.
  

• Organized for Cleaning

  Date Posted: January 28th, 2011

  I keep some moistened wipes in the cabinet under the sink in our bathrooms and use them to wipe the counters and sink.  It keeps them clean and saves time. 
  
  The January 2011 issue of Real Simple magazine, p. 92, has additional ideas along the same vein.  These organizing ideas to speed up cleaning around the house. 
  
  

  • Keep floor wipes near the stairs and dust on your way up.
  • Keep a pretty duster near framed pictures to eliminate dust build up.
  • Store glass wipes in the medicine cabinet so that you can quickly keep your mirrors clean.
  • Store a microfiber cloth in your desk to keep computer screens and keyboards clean.
  
  
  
  
  
  

• Children's Art Work

  Date Posted: January 28th, 2011

  The New York Times (Thursday, January 27, 2011) had an article on how to deal with all the art work your young children have done.
  
  The title, "Mom, You're One Tough Art Critic," gives you a good idea of what the article is about.  Basically, you don't have to keep everything your child does.  But do help the child to be critical of his/her work and give those really fabulous art productions a place of honor by framing them. 
  
  Check out the link below to read the article.
  http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/27/garden/27art.html

• 10 Steps to Organizing

  Date Posted: January 23rd, 2011

  The following was in the "Homes Weekly" section of the Athens Banner Herald January 23, 2011.  It is excerpted from the  What's a Disorganized Person to Do? by Stacey Platt, a NAPO member in NYC.
  
  

  1. Focus on the bigger picture.  What will you gain by organizing?
  2. Visualize your desired results:  Imagine your dream space.
  3. Choose an area of focus.  Start small, maybe just a desk drawer.
  4. Clear the space:  Remove everything from the area you are organizing.
  5. Sort into 4 piles:  Keep, Toss, Donate, Fix
  6. Revisit the Keep Pile.  Only keep what truly makes you feel good or you absolutely need.  Not the "I might have a use for this someday."
  7. Give everything a home.  Decide what is the best place for each item.
  8. Choose containers.  Only buy containers after you know what you need to store and where the container will go.
  9. Maintain.  Put things away after use.
  10. Tune and tweek as needed.  Your system may need to be changed from time.
      

• Clear your desk and avoid stress

  Date Posted: January 23rd, 2011

  I recently read in a magazine that a Clean Desk can help you have a Clear Head.  Findings from a research study suggest that the art of sorting through the disorder may trigger a migraine headache.  Being surrounded by clutter can increase your stress level.  The article did not state who did the research, but why risk adding stress to your life?  Make a habit of tidying up your desk each day.  This doesn’t mean your desk has to be completely bare.   It just needs to be organized so that you don’t spend time looking for what you want.

• IKEA presentation

  Date Posted: January 5th, 2011

  AHO gave two presentations on organizing kitchens and dining rooms January 17, 2011 at IKEA in Atlanta. 
  
  
  

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