Because we are talking about fire prevention and gettting rid of clutter for safety reasons I think it is appropriate to review this fire extinguisher we have in our home.

This one is made by Kidde and…

•It has an easy to pull safety pin.
•Easy-to-read gauge tells that the extinguisher is charged and ready for use.
•It has a handle that is rust and impact resistant.
•It is seamless, corrosion resistant aluminum cylinder guaranteed against pressure loss for 6 years.
•On the cylinder is quick, clear directions for easy use.
•It has clear descriptions: UL Rated for use on “Class A
wood, paper and cloth fires. Will also fight “Class B” flammable liquid and “Class C” electrical fires.
•It is backed by the world’s leading fire extinguisher company.

So far we have been lucky that we haven’t had to use it, but it looks like an excellent product in case of a fire.

Do you have a fire extinguisher and do you know how to use it? What features did you look for when you selected an extinguisher? Do you think cost matters in how well it will work? Can you find yours or is it just clutter around the house?

Are you having a day that you just aren’t accomplishing very much and you set your goal to get rid of clutter in your home? So you’re doing little of nothing and feeling guilty while doing it?

I say, just take the day off and don’t think about clutter. Instead get a good book and read it. When I went to Hawaii I took with me the book “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peal Pie Society” by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows. The only bad thing was it was such a good novel I finished it way too soon.

This book is a wonderful uplifting and poignant read. It is told through letters—don’t let that put you off it really is a wonderful little book. I was on the waiting list at my library for the CD for over 7 weeks. I finally bought the book the day it came out in paperback. And now I want everyone I know to read this book.

So after you read this go out and get the book and start reading. Just for today don’t think about getting rid of clutter. Or read a book of your choice—what book would you recommend for us to read?

Being organized can save you time and money.

I have a little cupboard in my half bath that is almost 10 inches wide. I keep a couple of vases, cat food and rags there. I thought it would be nice to have pull out drawers I saw in the store for this space.

Here are my organizing tips for the day.
1. Before buying containers, measure the space—the depth, width and height to make sure what you are buying will fit the space.
2. Save your receipt in case you decide you can’t use the container or want to return it for whatever reason.
3. Make sure to check the item to see if all the parts are with it before purchasing it.

Here is my experience—not using my very timely organizing tips:

I didn’t measure because I just knew it would fit. (Do as I do, not as I sometimes do). I got it home and started putting it together and realized the connectors weren’t there. (grrr, I had to go back to the store). But I did save my receipt.

Before I took it back I thought, “Measure to make sure it will fit. Oh no I tell myself with great confidence, it will fit”. But just to be sure I put one of the drawers in the cupboard and it did fit, (without the frame the drawers slide on).

I get the new one home with the extenders and put it together and slipped it in the cupboard. Guess what—It didn’t fit!! It was about one inch too long with it all assembled. (H-e-l-l-o, there is a reason I say to measure). My daughter returned it for me but by then I had tossed the receipt because I knew now that I had the extenders I would be needing it.

I won’t be making this mistake again! (At least I hadn’t better). Does this sound familiar to anyone else?

Story from Pantha:
I am ashamed to share this with you but let it be a warning to others! A little story so please bear with me!
Some years ago my husband took delivery of a number of Rugby Footballs for the local club. They each came in a clever plastic drawstring bag. I thought these bags might come in useful so I put them away(!!!)
Yesterday my husband bought himself a new cycle helmet as his other one had got quite damaged on the garage floor. AHA I thought, those clever plastic drawstring bags could hold our cycle helmets hung from hooks in the garage..... and can I find them? can I heck!
I can just hear you saying “it’s no use saving or having stuff if you can't find it when you need it".

Yes Pantha, that is exactly what I say, but it happens to the best of us from time to time that we can’t find things we have saved. I had to chuckle when I read your story because I could relate.

Two organizing tips to be able to find what we put away for future use are:

1. Think ahead and think where will I think to look for this when I need it? Then put it in that spot. It has to make sense to you to find it again.
2. In your planner or notebook write down where you store things that you won’t be using for a long time and may forget where you put them.

Have you ever put something away that you haven’t been able to find and what has been your solution to this “problem”?

I just love it when I get great organizing ideas from other professionals. This comes from Sherie Dodsworth of Securita. Securita is the company that developed the Porta Vault that I use and love for all my file organization for my important documents. It is the system that is an easy-to-use, comprehensive system which IDENTIFIES, ORGANIZES, STORES AND TRANSPORTS all of the important records and documents commonly found in a home.

Here is Sherie’s organizing idea:

“Have you ever locked your keys in the car? Does your car have remote keys? Then this tip may come in handy some day. ( I just found out this doesn’t really work).

If you lock your keys in the car and the spare keys are at home (or in another known location), call someone who can locate them.

Hold your cell phone about a foot from your car door and have the other person press the unlock button, holding it near the mobile phone on the other end. Voila! Your car will unlock. Saves someone from having to drive your keys to you or having to call AAA. Distance is no object, you could be hundreds of miles away and if you can reach someone who has the other “remote” for your car, you can unlock the doors”.

I am so glad I asked Sherie if I could share this with my readers. She wrote back and said that Snopes.com said this is false. Have you heard something you wanted to check to see if it was true or false? Now you know where to go and you can share it with your friends. (That is why I didn’t change this blog).

We’d like to know your organizing tips and ideas! Please share you stories.

Dr Seuss is more than an author. He is also an artist, teacher and an entertainer. He developed training films for The Capra’s Signal Corps of the U.S. Army. He became intimately acquainted with rejection. His work went through the hands of more than twenty publishers before Vanguard Press released his first seller, “And To Think That I Saw It On Mulberry Street.”

On Life’s Mysteries (By Dr. Seuss)
‘Cause you never can tell
What goes on down below!
This pool might be bigger
Than you or I know!
–McElligot’s Pool

This reminded me of organizing and clutter control. When we start a project sometimes it ends up being much bigger than we knew it would be. But that is no reason to be discouraged. Just keep on keeping on. Go slow and do a little at a time and never give up. The project will get finished and your closet, drawer or room will be organized before you know it! We’d love to hear your organizing tips!

I have been really concerned for the thousands of people in Kentucky and surrounding states that have been without electricity in such cold weather. It got me to thinking–how organized am I if our electricity were to go out.

For Christmas I got this darling red tin box. I love boxes and containers. I put it in our family room because it is just so cute. I knew I would find a use for it and I have. It has also helped with clutter control.

I decided to use it as my “emergency, use within the first five seconds of the lights going out box”. I put a flashlight in it. It is the kind I shake for 20 seconds and it stays lit for hours. It needs no batteries. I also put tea lights in it with one holder. (I can get more holders later if needed). This will give us quite a bit of light really quickly. I use a clicker to light my candles and I have one within three feet of the box. I didn’t put matches in it for safety reasons if children come to our home.

This cute box is cute to leave out and everyone in the family will know right where to go in case of an emergency caused by lights out. What organizing tips do you have if the electricity goes out at your home?

Today is inauguration day and I am going to sit myself down and watch all the pomp and ceremony all day. I find it very exciting. I just returned two days ago from Washington D.C. and it was fun seeing all of the preparations being made.

There were hundreds of porta-potties lined up and later as I watched the news some official of the city was complaining that there wouldn’t be enough for all the crowds coming into the city. Can you believe that made me think of organizing? Bizarre I know, but it did. This is what I thought:

Do we make up stories about how organizing doesn’t work for us and we just can’t do it? Fiddle-de-de to that made up story. When there is a will and a need there is a way. Sometimes organizing tips aren’t enough for us. We may need help from a friend, family member or a professional organizer to get started. Other times a tip is all we need.

And you know what? That is A-O.K. None of us are experts or good at everything so it is good to ask for help if help is what we need. Let’s stop making up stories about what we can’t do and give it a try instead. And if it doesn’t work that way, then we can try another way until we get what we want.

Have you made up stories that you later found out were wrong and by going forward to take action you changed your story to something that worked for you? We would love to hear your stories.

A few years ago when I had my eyes examined the doctor prescribed reading glasses for me. But instead of writing me out a prescription he walked me out to the rack in the store with readymade glasses. He said I could spend a few dollars or spend a lot but I would get the same results with either. Now days I can get all the reading glasses I want for just a dollar a pair. This brings me to my organizing tips of the day:

1. If you need reading glasses buy 14 of them and put one in every room in your home, in your purse and in your car. Keep a few spare ones tucked away because somehow glasses walk off.

2. Where do you read your magazines? If you read them in more than one room in your home, keep a few in each of these rooms in an attractive basket or in a drawer that is convenient to get into.

3. Do you use multiples of things when you are in the kitchen? When you are baking do you need to use a measuring cup or spoons more than one time? Instead of washing and drying them in between uses, buy extra sets.

Simplify your life by not needing to hunt for things or going room to room looking for things, have more than one on hand.

What organizing tips have you used to simplify your life?