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3 Wise Clutter Control Tips

Wednesday, August 31st, 2011 by admin

“If procrastination was a career choice, I would be a leader in the field”… Melissa at Libbieshome.blogspot.com

Every time I read this I have to laugh. My twist on this question is—Are you the leader of clutter control in your field?

As you know I am writing another book on organizing.  I have been asked several times if it is a sequel to my first book “Go Organize! Conquer Clutter In Three Simple Steps”. The answer is no—it is not a sequel. But it is a fun and very informative book on how to organize everything in your home.

Some  clutter control tips I have been writing about to help women become leaders of clutter control in their own homes are:

  • Make your bed every morning—the bedroom looks less cluttered and when the bedspread or quilt is beautiful you won’t want to set things on the bed. (At least you’ll think twice about setting something on that expensive spread).
  • Teach your children by example, if we expect them to have their rooms organized then we lead by example.
  • Everything in your home encourages you to get rid of clutter when you like everything you have, you use what you have and you feel comfortable with everything in your home—from “things” to the decorations.

I just have to say we all procrastinate—at least most of us do. I know I do. There are days I feel like tearing into a project and then there are days I just put it off.  Unless procrastination is a way of life and nothing ever gets done I think it is pretty normal—what do you think?  Do you ever procrastinate? If so what is it you procrastinate doing?

Posted in Clutter Control, Get Rid Of Clutter | 5 Comments »

Nifty Idea Used For Clutter Control In The Kitchen

Tuesday, August 30th, 2011 by admin

Clutter Control Show ‘N Share Tuesday:

This is the niftiest idea.  I called my friend who lives in Fargo N.D. to ask some questions about organizing children’s papers. I was going to be on T.V. discussing this topic (if you missed it, you can see it here). I talked to several mothers so I would get all the good ideas I could.

But I divert—my friend Heather has recently set up an entire apartment for her son who is going to college and she shared this brain storm with me. He loves Raman noodles and she had bought him a lot. But as you know they don’t stack well.  For some reason that I don’t’ remember she didn’t want to put them in a basket. (That was my first thought).

What she did was use magazine holders and labeled them.  Isn’t that a great idea? She was able to control clutter which surely would have happened if they weren’t contained. What a clever idea—thank you Heather.

Have you had a brainstorm you could and would share with us? Brainstorms are so much better than ice storms or hurricane storms. Don’t you agree?

Posted in Clutter Control | 4 Comments »

Scrappy, Gutsy Focus On Clutter Control

Monday, August 29th, 2011 by admin

Monday’s Clutter Control Focus–

A reader wrote to tell me he was concerned because he found my article on what to do with memorabilia had been plagiarized by someone else. I checked it out and sure enough someone had “stolen” my entire article and put their name on it.

I wrote back to him and said I just hoped it helped others who found it even though it wasn’t under my name. He said how nice that I turned a lemon into lemonade.

Our focus this week is turning lemons into lemonade. Activate clutter control by not looking at former mistakes—look ahead to great possibilities.

For instance: do you ever waste time beating yourself up because you haven’t read those magazines you subscribe to (but someday will—when the kids are gone, when you are retired etc.) and in the mean time they become a pile of clutter?  Are you shaking your head yes? I am here to tell you there is never more time——even when the kids are gone or you are retired or whatever.

Clutter control begins now and goes on and on. (And I hope for a long time as that means I am still alive).

For today’s focus I want you to focus on saying nice things to yourself, no guilt feelings and no berating yourself over any clutter that has accumulated.

Is that a deal?  Do I have your word on it?

Posted in Clutter Control | 5 Comments »

Clear Clutter with SafeRacks

Friday, August 26th, 2011 by admin


Discover how to use the space you already  have with SafeRacks overhead garage storage. This is an amazing product. Come take a tour with Marilyn and see for yourself why this can more than triple your space and help clear clutter in your garage.

Lights On Organizing Web Episode #079

Posted in Clear Clutter, garage | 2 Comments »

Clearing Clutter and Walk Away Flashlight

Thursday, August 25th, 2011 by admin

If there is one thing that gripes me it is knowing where something is supposed to be and I go to get it and it isn’t there. I’ll tell you what I’m talking about…

In the garage we have a couple of flashlights but they could never be found because after someone uses it (I will not reveal who that is but I will tell you it isn’t me) they were put in some obscure place.

To put an end to hunting for the flashlight I put an old sturdy plastic bowl on a shelf in the garage and designated it as the flashlight container.

I just don’t get it, not only was the flashlight missing when I needed it yesterday but the entire container was missing. I looked around (wasting my time) and I found it on the other side of the garage. Later I found the container in the bucket used for paper garbage. AHHHHHH

So what is my point? I think I got off track. It is this, clear clutter by putting items you use most often—flashlights, scissors, can opener, etc. in the most accessible places.

For example keep flashlights in every room in the house in case of a power outage and in the garage if they are used there too. Maybe hiding these so you don’t have to hunt for them is a good idea too.

Have you ever had this problem—other people?

Posted in Clear Clutter | 6 Comments »

What Direction Are You Moving With Clutter Control?

Wednesday, August 24th, 2011 by admin

“I find the great thing in this world is not so much where we stand as in what direction we are moving”.—Oliver Wendell Holmes, American Scholar and Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the U.S.

My question is what direction are you moving with clutter control in your home and in your life? Are you stuck? If you are stuck in the kitchen or in the office, maybe it is time for you to take a look at my fun, comprehensive videos in those two rooms.

First see where you are stuck and where you need to do clutter control, then set goals and then work your goals. For those who have read my book “Go Organize” have already learned how to conquer clutter in 3 simple steps.

Again, what direction are you moving?

Posted in Clutter Control | 1 Comment »

Show ‘N Share: My Quest To Get Rid Of Clutter

Tuesday, August 23rd, 2011 by admin

Show ‘N Share Get Rid Of Clutter Tuesday—–

If you read my blog yesterday you will know I am extremely pleased with my very organized and clutter free garage. I wanted to share some of the things I did to get it just like I want it. Given that I only have a 1 car garage (that is better than nothing when the hot sun beats down in the summer and the snow flies in the winter), it is pretty small.

Back to show ‘n share—See this large storage shelf in the photo—I had two of them in my small garage and when the Safe Racks (see yesterday’s blog) were installed I made a goal to get rid of clutter and pare the shelves down to just one. I wasn’t sure I could do it but I worked hard toward that goal and I reached it.

These shelves have to hold large appliances from my kitchen as it is also small. Everything here I use all the time so they need to be handy to get to.

Part of my quest to get rid of clutter was to have my husband go through his three (yes—3) tool boxes.  He only needs one in my mind for the amount of times he uses tools but he couldn’t do it so I gave him space for three. (Am I nice or what?)  One thing that made him very happy was the tray you see on the bottom shelf. That is for him to set tools in when he is too tired to put them in the tool boxes. (I’m all heart don’tchathink?) There is one more shelf and it has heavy duty cords in a basket that are used outside.

Wow! It feels so good to get rid of clutter and the shelf so now I can open my car door without it bumping the ladder.

How does your garage look?

Posted in Get Rid Of Clutter, garage | No Comments »

Fabulous Safe Racks Product Review

Monday, August 22nd, 2011 by admin

Product Review Friday delayed to Monday—

BEFORE

BEFORE

AFTER

A few months ago I received a phone call from the president of Safe Racks asking if I would like them to install a couple of racks in our garage. Of course I said yes. When we moved into this house there was a door hung from the ceiling that we used to store our Christmas tree on and that was about all the shelf could hold.

The man who came to install them was right on time and had them installed in about an hour. He measured, asked me questions and went right to work. It was two days before I could help my family organize our bins and put stuff on them—they are the muscle, I am the supervisor and director. I was chomping at the bit to get in the garage and do clutter clearing and organizing. Finally the day came that I was home and we were able to organize on these fabulous (really) shelves.

About Safe Racks:

They are sturdy, attractive overhead garage racks. They are the highest quality racks on the market. The president explained to me that home improvement stores are selling them now but they aren’t guaranteed for a lifetime and they are not as sturdy.

If you are going to be parking an expensive car or have people walking in your garage under or near any overhead racks it is smart to have ones that you don’t have to worry about coming down. The way they are anchored is unique to their company. He explained it to me but my eyes glazed over, I just want to do clutter clearing, organize and use the wasted space in my garage. I’m glad I could rely on them to do the installation.

These racks utilize wasted space in the garage. They have outstanding service and customized heights to fit any garage. The longest one holds up to 600 pounds and the smaller one in the back on the wall (in the photo) holds up to 400 pounds. This certainly gives me peace of mind that our family’s things are being stored safely.

Save Racks installers do a great job or you can get DIY kits for a honey-do project. They are made of industrial strength steel with powder coat finish. And they are available with a lifetime warranty to back it up.

To find out more on clearing clutter with these wonderful racks and to see a 44 second video click here.

I can’t say enough good about these racks, I even take peeks out the window just to admire them. Do you ever do this when something looks so nice after you have organized it?

Posted in Clutter Clearing, garage | 4 Comments »

Product Review Delayed, Clutter Clearing Accomplished

Friday, August 19th, 2011 by admin

Hi everyone, today is Product Review Friday but I have to delay it until Monday. The reason is—life got in the way. Does that sound familiar to anyone reading this?

Safe-Racks came Tuesday and installed two sets of Save Racks (We already love them). I took photos but I only just this very minute finished deep reorganizing our garage—moved EVERYTHING out and back in and got rid of one very loaded set of shelves. (Talk about clearing clutter)

I have been gone for the last two days helping a woman move everything out of her storage shed so it wasn’t until 7:15 this morning after my hike that I got to dig in to my own garage. My family worked on taking down the big honker shelf yesterday so it has been a ton of work. But now I can open my car door without it hitting the ladder.  YEAH

I will see you on Monday to show and tell you all about these fantastic storage racks!

Posted in Clearing Clutter | 2 Comments »

The Great Pumpkin Swap Treasures

Thursday, August 18th, 2011 by admin

I just feel like I just won a million bucks.  It is because of such amazing sweetness and kindness shown to me.  Here is the full story:

Amy  arranged a “Great Pumpkin Swap” and I joined in. It was so much fun!! She did all the arranging of the partners which is a lot of work.

Melissa was my swap partner and she sent me the most wonderful, fabulous, amazing things.  I just can’t ooh and ah enough!! First of all she had a darling address label on the box.  When I got it opened—she taped it really good—my mouth dropped open at her generosity. Everything was wrapped in sweet heart paper with a fabric tie around each gift. Needless to say it made my week!!!

Now this is what she sent me—you will see why I think I won a million bucks. A framed sampler (I bet she made it), a sheep note pad as I like sheep, it is too cute, a tin can with a cute label filled with fall flowers, 4 of the cutest fall tags, (she probably made those too), 2 fabric candy corn with a cute tag, (I bet she made them), and a little pillow she stitched. It is so cute! Also there was the cleverest Prim candle that I have ever seen complete with the batteries. I am going to keep it lit by my computer as I write my book. Plus she sent a wooden bowl with the best spicy scent and tiny pumpkins with cinnamon sticks. PLUS a sunflower she made and put on a spring. She must make cards because her card was handmade also.  THANK YOU Melissa for all of these wonderful treasures!!

We must be kindred spirits as she is a quilter too.

I hope your Thursday is as FABULOUS as you make it!

Posted in Uncategorized | 7 Comments »

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