by Heidi | Aug 16, 2011 | Uncategorized
It’s Back to School Time!
Take a few moments to create a launch pad near whatever door your school aged children will be using most often to house {and catch} all their school related gear!
It’s important to designate a space for all school related items {like shoes, coats, bags, homework & papers} that kids bring in and out of the house each an every day.
If all their gear has a specific ‘home’ there is less chance clutter will begin to collect, and they’ll know where to find their things rather that setting you all into a frantic search when it’s time to head out the door each day.
Working on this project together with your children is a wonderful opportunity to teach your them where their things will belong as well as instilling a life lesson of the positive results of being organized.
Consider giving each of your school aged children a personalized folder, Wall File, bin or basket to house important papers, assignments, and reminders (this way you’ll know where to find them for review as well!).
Sooner or later, outdoor wear will need to have a ‘home’ nearby as well. This coat closet {featured on Martha Stewart.com} s packed with some amazing solutions to utilize every ounce of it’s small space:
Not only is there a place for hanging coats, but lower level shelving creates a space for shoes and baskets to be stowed. Baskets could hold miscellaneous outdoor extras like hats, gloves and scarves. Add a few long hooks on the inside of a closet door to create a space for large bags & backpacks!
This backpack storage rack can be also installed on a door or wall. and will hold up to 8 items weighing up to 8 pounds each. The design of this storage racks stretches and self-adjusts to fit various door heights.
No coat closet?
A system with built-in coat rack, cubbies, shelves and bench is just the sort of storage and seating solution needed to create an organized entryway that not only looks attractive, but functionally provides a space to catch kids school stuff as well.
A simple wall coat rack is also an easy and cost effective solution to house coats and backpacks on a wall nearby whichever door kids bring school gear through:
Or, install a wall coat rack for bags and coats beside a closet with an over-the-door shoe storage option like this beauty from Pure Style Home.
There’s truly ‘a space for everything’ within this DIY $324 Mudroom featured at Better Homes and Gardens:
Which option would work best in your home?
Contact me if you need help with some creative storage solutions for school gear in your space.
by Heidi | Aug 10, 2011 | Uncategorized
I personally place really high value on family photos. I love preserving memories of our family history that we can look back on year after year.
I once enjoyed spending my leisure time with the hobby of creating personalized artistic handmade scrapbooks to collect these precious memories. As our young children have grown more busy and active, I lacked more and more time and space in our home to create. I steadily got more and more behind in producing these type of albums. Also, it was becoming less and less appealing to spend my precious leisure time with this type of hobby.
I recently discovered I had become about 2 years behind on getting photos some type of book. It was time to find a solution. Now, I realize I could just print the photos and slap them into any old album off the shelf, but I still love the idea of creative presentation of photos.
I decided to go completely digital in creating personalized family photo albums. This would save a LOT of my limited time (and much needed energy), would not take up any space at all, and I could still be creative in the presentation of my photo books!
Thankfully, we got our first digital camera right around the time our first child was born. So, even though I’m behind on getting photos into albums, all our most current family photos are completely organized in digital files.
Because I’ve been diligent at regularly downloading and storing my photos in digital files, it won’t take too long before I’m all caught up in producing albums (even if it’s just one small step at a time).
Here’s a peek at my process:
Every 2-4 weeks I set aside time to upload and edit photos with PICASA (a free photo sharing & editing software from Google).
Other digital photo filing/sharing options are:
&
is another digital photo editing program.
I prefer PICASA, because once photos are saved , files are also automatically created and saved to a photo file on my hard drive for easy retrieval to upload to other sources like my Facebook wall, our family blog or to print.
Save files numerically by date, followed with a brief description of the event for easy reference and retrieval:
(YEAR/ MONTH/ DATE/EVENT)
For example, I titled the file for this years Fourth of July celebration photos as:
2011/07/04/FireworksMN
This is an ideal method as your computer will automatically save your files in chronological order.
While making handmade albums, I would only print out enough physical photos to put into albums only when I knew I’d have time to create – I usually completed 2-4 pages at a time. There are many available storage options to organize already printed photos. If you’d like some personalized suggestions on how to get started, contact me!
If you’re like some of my clients, you’ve got files and files of photos saved on your computer with no distinct system. Your first step will be to create a new habit of labeling your files in a numerical system I just mentioned. You can also begin to re-name existing photo files to create a more efficient system moving forward.
I’ve been taking small steps to slowly ‘Eat My Elephant‘ in hopes of getting caught up on my photo books:
After all photos have been uploaded and edited in Picasa, and automatically saved in numerical order to our hard drive, I begin uploading the BEST photos into Shutterfly albums. It’s up to you how you choose to create these albums (one for every season, special events and/or holidays, individual vacations etc.) I’ve chosen to create annual family year books to chronicle one whole year of our family events. The nice thing about creating digital albums is that I can also have multiple albums printed to give to each child or even extended family!
I plan into my day/week time to work on uploading these photos.
(usually one or two afternoons a week for 30-60 minutes while my children have nap/rest time).
Once all desired photos are saved in Shutterfly, I then begin my favorite task – the creating! Once again, I intentionally plan ahead to MAKE time in my weekly schedule to do work on it even if it’s just 30 minutes at a time. It’s SO simple and FAST to create digital albums through a service like Shutterfly! Once my creating time is up, I simply save my project as it is and log out until next time. No messy clean up, and no dragging a bunch of supplies out the next time I’m ready to work on it!
I’m super excited about the new ‘Custom Path’ option as it allows for even more opportunities for personalized flair but still with the ultra simple application:
Creating digital albums has proven to save me so much time because I’m able to eliminate several other time consuming tasks that were part of the hand made process. In the long run, I believe I’m probably also saving money on printing physical photos, products and materials like paper, stickers, and embellishments that I once had to purchase regularly to create handmade albums compared to the total price to print and ship a digital album.
Before, I’d also have to complete several other time-consuming tasks in order to complete an album:
1) Upload and order photos to be printed to another location across town, while then having to wait for them to be prepared.
2) Find time to pick them up.
3) Spend time shopping for materials to create albums.
4) Spend time getting materials to create organized to use.
5) Spent a LOT of time in the creating process – lots of cutting, measuring, pasting etc.
6) Spend a considerable amount of time putting everything away after each and every creating session since I didn’t have my own creative space.
This is just my personal preference. I’m sure many people ENJOY the process of creating beautifully tailored and personalized hand-made albums. For me, it was beginning to feel like a chore, rather than a hobby. Making the decision to go completely digital in my photo organizing and archiving was just one small way I could make an effort to de-clutter my life and time while still maintaining a little creative and personalized artistic flair in the presentation and preservation of our family memories.
Perhaps one day I’ll return to the art of creating handmade albums when/if I find myself with more leisure time or, perhaps if I’m granted the luxury of a dedicated creative space to organize all my tools and supplies like Leah’s:
Time will tell… 🙂
Happy Organized Memory Making!
*Disclaimer* I was not rewarded or compensated for any products or services listed in this article.
All opinions are my own from personal experience and use.
by Heidi | Aug 1, 2011 | Uncategorized
Have you ever been faced with a project or task that seemed impossible to visualize complete? Perhaps like considering the outrageous goal of eating an entire elephant?
Maybe you have several large projects looming.
When faced with an elephant sized task, the first step is often the hardest – just START.
Start somewhere, anywhere and focus on small steps (or bites) forward after that.
Keep moving. Once you’ve begun, continue working. Eventually, it will become more logical to formulate a plan of action on how you’ll continue once you’ve got a little momentum behind you,(while still focusing on those small steps).
Starting small and moving small is key to helping you from feeling overwhelmed and giving up.
Maybe there is a room in your home that is in complete chaos and you’ve no idea where to begin? Simply choose a corner, a shelf, or even a pile and begin sorting and purging items from what is truly useful and beautiful from what is trash or no longer represents you or the present goals you have in your life.
Decide beforehand how much time you realistically have to devote to your task each and every day even if it’s only 15 minutes. Work that amount of time, and walk away until the next day. Even if you feel you’ve barely scratched the surface, it’s still progress.
Next week, I’ll share a bit about how I’ve currently dealt with my own ‘Elephant’ project of editing/sorting/and cataloging our family photos.
What is your current ‘Elephant’?
Go ahead and take that first bite!
Contact me if you need a little boost.
by Heidi | Jul 19, 2011 | reviews
Last week I introduced my newest virtual organizing client, Kim. We began working together in order to get her previously cluttered kitchen into a more functional yet family friendly space.
Check out what else Kim found hiding amongst all the papers that had piled up!
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| ~ See that pile o’ cash on the right side of the sorting table!! ~ |
When all sorting was complete, she had collected about $100! It really does PAY to be organized!!
After clearing her counters and sorting through all items that clearly didn’t belong in the kitchen, I shared some ideas that will help bring better order to the items that do belong.
Once we knew exactly what kinds of items needed specific homes and systems, Kim had herself a little shopping spree at her local Office Max. Here’s what she found:
I suggested Kim find a place/space in her kitchen that she could dedicate as a ‘command central’ area. This would a be a space that would house all mail, family information, bills, and general paper that needed to be referred to on a regular basis. I also suggested looking for a space that would be large enough to feature a family calendar.
Kim zeroed in on this wall:
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| – before – |
TA-DA!
Now there is a space for all the paper to go and I coached her on systems that would help keep her papers in order. As for the calendar, each family member has an assigned color in order to note individual activities/appointments. Now, it’s easy to see at a glance who’s got to be where and when.
Next up, was to dedicate a space for her girls to house craft and art supplies.
This lower level cabinet next to the dinning table was the perfect location!
Now that her children have this dedicated space, they can take responsibility for their own items freeing up Kim from constantly cleaning up after everyone.
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A few final words from Kim;
“As the summer goes on, the whole family has benefited from our command center and the logical ‘ ‘homes’ we have made for the well-used items in the kitchen. It is so nice being able to go to where something is supposed to be… And it’s there! :)”
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Happy Organizing!
by Heidi | Jul 13, 2011 | reviews
I’d like to introduce to you a new friend and client, Kim!
She contacted me about some organizational challenges in her home.
After an initial consultation, I was certain that with just a few coaching sessions to educate on some organizing basics paired with a few tailor made solutions she could conquer her clutter with confidence!
She’s agreed to share some of her reactions and observations from our work together. I’m so excited to show and tell of her recent success as my most recent virtual client:
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KIM shares:
“I contacted Heidi not knowing if she could help me because of our different locations. She is in Minnesota and I live in Chicagoland . Heidi offered her professional services virtually, and I jumped at the chance, even though I was unsure whether my “issues” could be handled with her not physically being in my kitchen with me!
I contacted Heidi about a month before school was out for the summer, hoping she could help me tackle my seriously cluttered and chaotic kitchen. I wanted to be able to focus my energy and attention on my kids this summer…. not where I misplaced my keys, the crayons, the sun lotion and bug spray!
Heidi’s approach was straight -forward and kind. The process was smooth and easy, even with communication solely via emailed pictures and a few phone conversations.
Heidi was encouraging throughout the entire process, and helped me to see my habits of piling things to deal with them later with a new set of eyes.
I had a few ‘A-ha!’ Moments talking things through with Heidi, and she was fantastic in helping me to follow through with her practical advice .
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Kim was such a great sport and a sincere joy to work with! She is a mother of 3 and was enthusiastic and determined to take on the task at hand.
With two children in school and one toddler at home, Kim identified that with her current schedule she could realistically dedicate one hour a day (during her child’s nap time) to her organizing goals.
We began work in her kitchen as it is the hub of where much of the activity takes place within their family of five. Here is the ‘before’ first view of entering the kitchen from the entrance/living area of the home.
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| (The dining table is to the right) |

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| a closer look |
The counter tops were full of papers, projects, books, and multitudes of random items that didn’t have a clear ‘home’ elsewhere.
I explained to Kim, that clutter is essentially delayed decisions. Clutter also tends to attract other clutter much like a magnet. Once one item is out of place on a surface, other ‘homeless’ items seem to gravitate to that surface as well. 
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| a closer look |
Because the counter-tops were so full, it was challenging to prepare food as well as find things when someone wanted/needed them.
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| Final view of the counters – to the left is a pantry cupboard and fridge. |
I suggested that Kim give a critical look to what is on currently on the counter and only allow select things to return after sorting. Most organizers agree on the mantra, “If it gets used every day it gets to stay, other-wise store it away.”
Only items that were actually used in the kitchen were to remain in there. I also encouraged her to mentally stage certain areas for certain food preparation zones relating to the nearest stationary appliance.
The next step was to clear and sort through everything on the counters.
I suggested that she prepare her space as much as she could before her session so she could optimize the un-interrupted one hour available to the fullest.
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| What a good student – she even has her notes out on the table! 🙂 |
I laid out specific tasks for Kim to complete with a list of materials she would need.
Kim was AMAZED at how her kitchen looked just ONE hour later!!
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| Check out that beautiful clean and clear surface!! |
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| Notice that the coffee maker is now closer to the sink rather than across the room? |
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| Congratulations Kim! You did FANTASTIC work! |
Once this stage was complete I coached Kim on how to spend follow up days addressing/distributing/storing the items that were sorted. Only things that really ‘belonged’ in the kitchen stayed. The rest were either re-located, donated/sold, or trashed.
CLICK HERE to read about Stage Two. You’ll see some of the discoveries we made about her individual challenges as well as a few solutions we set in place to help keep her on an organized track!
