Thursday, December 29, 2016

Get Organized in 2017 with the Simplify Challenge!

Happy New Year! This is the time of year that we begin to reflect on the past year and plan for the new year ahead. What are your goals for the upcoming months? Some of the most popular include eating less and exercising more, spending less and saving more … and of course, getting organized!

The truth is that most resolutions are forgotten before January is over. However, this year we want to help you accomplish all of your goals. 
That's why we invite you to join us in the Simplify Challenge, a 40-day detox program to rid your life of excess clutter so that you can spend more time living life to the fullest. As with any challenge, this won't be easy, but we promise to provide you with the tools and support to be successful by providing you with a step-by-step guide to organizing your entire home. We'll send you one email per week, each of which will focus on a different area of your home. Don't worry if you fall behind schedule or become overwhelmed – Simply contact us to get help from one of our professional organizers to guarantee your success.

To kick things off, we're going spend this first week focusing on cleaning up one of the most forgotten areas of your home – The garage. But before you get started on that, make sure to:

PUT YOUR DECORATIONS AWAY- If you haven't already done so, put away all holiday decorations so that you're ready to start organizing. As you find items you no longer love and enjoy in your decorations, donate them instead of wasting space storing them yet another year.

PURCHASE SUPPLIES - It's hard to know what you'll need until you get into the project, but it's always helpful to purchase some general organizing containers in a variety of sizes so that you have what you need on hand. Make sure to keep your receipt so you can return what you don't use.

GET SUPPORT - Follow us on social media to find others following this program. That way, you can give each other encouragement and support! You can post photos and comment on our Facebook page, and on Twitter using the hashtag #SimplifyIn40Days.

Once you've taken care of these preliminary steps, you're ready to start de-cluttering and organizing your garage! Here are a few steps to help you tackle this cumbersome task:

PURGE - Pull anything you no longer need out onto the driveway. These items can be sold or donated. If they're too large to carry to the donation center, call Salvation Army or a donation center in your area that offers pick up services.

ORGANIZE - Now that you've pared everything down to the essentials, it's time to organize. It's best to pick up everything off of the floor, so you may want to install some shelves, hooks or other helpful organizing tools. Put items into categories such as sports, tools, auto, etc. Place small items like nails and screws in labeled containers with individual compartments. Holiday decorations can also be stored in plastic tubs that are clearly labeled. As you sort through items, continue purging items you no longer need.

• MAINTAIN - Always make sure items get put back in their designated spot after you use them.

After you've finally met your organizing goals in this difficult area, pull in your car and enjoy your now-spacious garage! Also, as you're working this week, don't forget to take a break. You'll need to keep your energy up for next week's tough to tackle project – The kitchen! And remember, if you feel overwhelmed with any tasks, please contact us to assist you. We're always ready to help.

Don't forget to post photos of your clean garage on Twitter using the hashtag #SimplifyIn40Days, and on our Facebook page.

Until next week, happy organizing!

Sunday, December 11, 2016

Alternatives to gift-giving this holiday season

The holidays are upon us again! This season can be one of the best times of the year, offering many opportunities to spend time with loved ones and enjoy special traditions. One of these traditions is gift-giving – and while giving and receiving can be a heartfelt expression of love, it can also lead to lots of unnecessary clutter and expense. This year, consider cutting costs, clutter, and consumerism like one of our Practical Solutions organizers; in fact, her family (pictured below) decided to go without gifts altogether! Here's their heartwarming and inspiring story:

A Present-less Christmas
 
Both our girls now live out-of-state and will be coming home for Christmas.

They gave us an early Christmas gift by asking if we could have "A Present-less Christmas" this year. So, instead of stressing out about getting everyone gifts and spending our time in stores shopping, they just wanted to come home and enjoy being in the company of family and friends; they wanted to spend time doing the simple things that make memories, which will far outlast any material gift we could get from the store.

We are very proud parents to just know that they value our time together more than any gift we could buy them. I think we did something right there.

So, "our Christmas presents" this year is "our presence " with each other

If going completely present-less isn't an option this year, you may also consider giving in ways that are centered around experiences, relationships, and contributing to your local community instead. Here are some ideas to get you started!

Swap traditional gifts with:

• A membership to a local science or nature center, museum, historical site, rock-climbing gym, or regular gym
• Season tickets to a favorite sports team, orchestra, theater group, or dance troupe
• Tickets to a concert
• A year-long pass to a national park, forest, or another favorite camping/hiking spot
• A family vacation
• Gift cards to a favorite restaurant
• A fun class or workshop. Some ideas include yoga, art, music, cooking, or language classes.
• Games that everyone in the family can play
• An experience volunteering together at a local charity
• An outing to the bowling alley or skating rink
• A relaxing massage or facial
• A memory book or scrapbook of a favorite adventure
• Herbs or seeds for gardening or cooking

These are just a few alternatives to traditional gift-giving that will get you started! Share more of your own creative ideas on our Facebook page