by Heidi | Jan 20, 2012 | Uncategorized
One of my favorite aspects of working with organizing clients is the opportunity to do a little creative brainstorming and detective style searching to come up with a solution to fit their unique needs.
A friend recently asked for some suggestions for organizing and storing the large amount of hair accessories that her 3 girls had accumulated. They have a small bathroom that they all share and needed a space saving solution.
I suggested hanging up a large ribbon (or several) to simply clip hair pieces on like this:
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| This Pink Rose Bow Holder Can be purchased by Etsy Owner, Ewe and I |
Here’s a few more fabulous solutions I found for organizing hair accessories!
Via The Idea Room ~ A Craft Organizer box:
Via MeckMom.com ~ An over-the-door shoe organizer:
Via It’s Good to be Queen ~ Thrifted peg rack
Which solution would work best in your home?
How do you like to keep hair accessories in order?
by Heidi | Dec 7, 2011 | Uncategorized
Christmas is supposed to be a time of ‘Comfort and Joy,’ a time when our days are ‘Merry & Bright’ and our nights filled with ‘Heavenly Peace.’ More often than not, however, these end up being the most hurried, busy, and chaotic days of our year.
With a little intentional planning and strategic time management (and dare I add limitations), your holiday season CAN leave you feeling ‘Holly & Jolly’ rather than ‘Bah Humbug!’
Take some time to PLAN & PREPARE before even beginning tasks surrounding Holiday festivities.
Do your best to ‘batch tasks‘ into small easy-to-complete steps that can span over a few days. This will serve to keep you from feeling overwhelmed and will guarantee to keep you more productive in the long run.
~Greeting Cards~
- Compile a list of names and addresses of who you’d like to send a card/photo or greeting to
- Purchase enough cards and envelopes
- Purchase postage
- Begin addressing envelopes only (even if it’s just a few a night)
- Another day/time stuff all of the envelopes (again, just a few at a time is still progress)
- Seal envelopes
- Attach postage
- Mail!
*Some services like Shutterfly and SendOutCards will take care of steps 2-8 for you!
~Gift Purchasing~
- Consider your overall budget for gift giving
- Compile a list of names of friends/family/neighbors you’d like to give a gift to
- Brainstorm options of gifts for everyone on your list. (Give similar clutter-free gifts to multiple recipients where possible)
- Set aside a day (or a few days) to purchase gifts on your list plus any wrapping materials staying within your budget
- Wrap gifts and label with recipients name
- Prepare for shipping or set aside for personal delivery
*Click on image above to print your own Master Gift Checklist.
(found via Christmas.organizedhome.com.)
~Holiday Parties, Activities & Celebrations~
Try to limit your holiday parties and activities so that you and your family are not overwhelmed. A couple of events a week may be fine, but having an obligation every day can quickly lead to Holiday stress and anxiety (especially in children).
Choose a few of your favorite activities as a family and don’t feel as though you have to attend each and every celebration you’re invited to.
If you are hosting a Holiday gathering, I would encourage you to also check out the article,
‘5 Tips for Avoiding Mistakes in Holiday Entertaining’
by Heidi | Nov 11, 2011 | reviews
Occasionally, I like to invite a client to ‘show & tell’, in their own words, about our work together.
Here’s what Catherine, {mom of two and part time elementary art teacher} had to say:
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“Heidi helped me solve four key problem areas in my home with incredible insight and practicality.
We have two small children and regularly host friends 3-4 times a week which creates a constant flow of stuff. I really want a clutter-free & tidy home, but have found trouble keeping up with it all.
Heidi helped me figure out a practical way of keeping my kitchen counters uncluttered.
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| (With no pantry, Catherine needed a solution for the bread products that once took up counter space to the left of the sink) |
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| (We took a tour through her cabinets & eliminated what did not need to stay, creating space for a ‘bread basket’ within!) |
We talked about multiple options for managing the kids’ art supplies and workbooks and came up with a system that the kids have now been using independently for months.
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| (BEFORE, children’s workbooks and supplies were stacked at random on this buffet shelf) |
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| (NOW, each child has their own labeled box for individual workbooks/projects. Shared supplies are stored together in a 3rd box.) |
Heidi also helped me create a “lost-and-found” that is hidden, but usable.
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| (BEFORE, items visitors would accidentally leave behind would pile up on this table by the front door) |
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| (NOW, items that are left behind are still collected, but concealed & contained in a basket on a nearby bookshelf.) |
In addition, she suggested a number of systems for managing the little piles of stuff that collect & need to go upstairs, but don’t warrant a trip up on their own. The suggestion we landed on and has been working for a few months now was a covered basket attached to the railing at the base of my stairs.
It has been great to drop a barrette or pair of socks in the basket, as opposed to the top of my piano where everyone sees it, until my next trip upstairs.
I’ve been so happy with the practical, working solutions that Heidi was able to come up with in only one hour!
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Could you or someone you know use some help solving a few pesky organizational problems?
Contact Operation Organization – MN!
~ I specialize in custom, creative solutions ~
by Heidi | Nov 3, 2011 | Uncategorized
I’m not a huge fan of grocery shopping.
I like to get in and out of the store as fast as possible.
I have found that the best way to do this starts with preparing my grocery list at home.
Once I’ve planned my menu for the week, I write out a list by category of where the food is shelved in the grocery store.
It streamlines my shopping experience SO much when I can see exactly what I need as I’m moving through different areas of the store.
I also don’t loose time back-tracking through the store like I was apt to do when shopping without an organized list.
I’ve made a template to share with you as well! Click on the text link below for a FREE printable grocery list template download!
Happy Shopping!
{This post has been added to a collection of other handmade creations at Tip Junkie}
by Heidi | Oct 23, 2011 | Uncategorized
A large calendar is a key tool to keep any and every family organized. Post one in a central location (like this charming kitchen office nook), so it’s easy for everyone to see at-a-glance who needs to be where and when. Consider assigning each family member their own color to label events & reminders.
A basic Dry Erase Calendar
similar to the one featured above is an easy choice in any home:
Here’s a few more fun options:
Paint a calendar with chalkboard paint right on the wall!
A kitchen or office would be a great location.
Another fun DIY option –
Create a calendar out of a large cork board:
Or, personalize that simple white board option with something like this framed message center:
If your family is more technically driven, here’s a few online options to consider:
Do you currently use a family calendar?
Which one of these is your personal favorite?
