Magazine Mayhem!

Good grief, Charlie Brown! How times flies! It's been quite a while but I'm back.

So what have I been up to?  On the biz front, I staged a condo, wrote my first article for my new column launching in November in an online magazine and this month in addition to my own business, I start work as a Design Consultant/Space Stylist for Manny Machado Designs.

On the home front, I just went through my magazine collection.  You see, currently I have 4 magazine subscriptions.  All design.  House and Home, Style At Home, House Beautiful and Elle Decor.  Oh wait...I forgot about Lou Lou magazine.  I know that's all about fashion but maybe one day they will come out with an interior decorating/design edition.  Hey, for only $1 an issue, who am I to say no. One of the "perks" of being with Rogers... I think.

You can imagine how much real estate 3 or 4 years worth of 5 magazine subscriptions take up so last year I made the tough decision to keep only one years worth of each publication at a time.  I painstakingly went through each one and tore out the pages that I liked with the idea of creating an inspiration/reference binder for myself and future Interior Styling clients.  The magazines I was keeping (which include all of my small space editions and the odd O mag that I purchased) would live in a vintage suitcase in the bottom of my bedroom closet.  Through this process I amassed quite a collection of tear sheets and though it will be ongoing, I'm very happy with the end result so far.  My own "look book" that I can refer to whenever I'm about to embark on a new creative project.  After I finished going through the magazines, I donated a huge pile to my doctor's office so there'd at least be something interesting to read while in the waiting room.  They were more than happy to take them. In fact, I have a hunch some of them went home the receptionists.

So the plan going forward was that whenever I  received a new issue, I would get rid of the one from the previous year after ripping out what I wanted to keep.  Yeah right! Things went well for the first couple of months but I gotta be honest...I fell behind! This little thing called life got in the way and month after month, it was open suitcase, insert magazine. I finally decided I'd better get a handle on this before it gets out of control and becomes a fire hazard. When I pulled out old issues I was pleasantly surprised to see that I only had to go through 9 magazines, which I started last night and completed this morning. Takes a little longer when you're watching tv at the same time!

No matter what type of magazines you read, ask yourself if you really need to hang on to every single issue. My decision to keep the ones that were specific to small spaces was a no-brainer but at the end of the day, the chances of me looking back at the other past issues was slim to none.  I suggest keeping your favourites editions, articles or pictures that inspire you and before you toss the rest into the recycling bin, try gifting them to a place that you think could benefit from them.  Just be sure to blank out your name and address if it's on the front.   If you do insist on keeping them invest in some magazine holders.  You can find them at the dollar store or Ikea or anywhere that sells storage products.


Do you Toss, Recycle or Keep your old magazines.


If you have an organizing question send an email to info@theurbanorganizer.ca

Something Comes In, Something Goes Out!

As the self professed, Queen of the Bargoons, last week I bought a pair of gold Halston platform sandals for...wait for it... $33.  Regular $355! Thanks of course to a markdown plus an extra 50% off ,plus some money left on a gift card.  Who doesn't love a good bargain?

When I got them home I had to go through the painful task of figuring out which shoes I was gonna have to let go of. You see, I live by the rule that when something comes in, something goes out.  It helps me keep my home very streamlined and organized and when you live in a small space, that's crucial!  These days, I'm very conscious of what I spend my money on and what I have in my closet.   I have to love it, look and feel good in it and most importantly, wear it or else it has to go.  That's why every month, I go through my closet to see what I can donate. Anything that's taking up valuable real estate gets put in a bag and out it goes.

They say we wear 20% of our clothes 80% of the time.  If that's the case, do you really need a closet crammed full of stuff that you can't even see, let alone barely wear?  Do you really need 6 pairs of black pants?  Well... in my case yes, because they are all different styles.  Yes, I wear them all!  How many pair of jeans does one really need?  I have one pair of jeans in every cut.  Boot cut, straight leg, wide leg, trouser cut and a "skinny" jean.  That's all I need...umm...except for a white pair of jeans which I have not been able to find this season!  I did say I have a pair in every cut, not colour!

Ask yourself this:
Have you worn everything in your closet in the last 12 months? 
Do you know what's in your closet?

If you answered no to either or both of these questions, then perhaps it time for a closet intervention.
If you take the time to build a wardrobe of the basics (yes, you're allowed to spend good money on these items since you'll have them for a long time), you can just fill in the blanks every season with some trendy items.  Of course though, why would you want to pay full price if you don't have to? As the Queen of The Bargoons, I've been able to find many quality pieces at bargain prices because that's just how I roll! My friends will tell you!

When you have the essentials, with the help of some key accessories, shoes and bags, you should end up with a well curated closet full of clothes.  No more multiples, no more buyers remorse and no more of the forgotten (unless they are hidden gems)

Some rules that I live by that you might find helpful:
1. Before you buy anything, ask yourself what 3 things could you wear with the item? And NO, buying something to go with it does NOT count.
2. You should have 3 tops for every bottom you  have in your closet.
3. Try to avoid buying anything that is FINAL SALE.  You need to go home and play dress up and if for some reason it doesn't work out, at least you still have the option to return it.

So if you have a closet full of clothes and feel like you have nothing to wear, ask a friend to help you clear it out and organize it.  A pile for donate, toss,  alter and keep.  Make it fun with music and maybe a little vino but be ruthless.  Actually, on second thought, forget the wine as it might cloud your judgement!  Once everything is back in your closet, remember the golden rule when shopping...something comes in, something goes out (this should be your mantra for your entire home!)

If you'd like to know what essentials I think should be in every women's wardrobe, email me to find out!

info@theurbanorganizer.ca


Cheers,

Marie

The Secret To An Organized Underwear Drawer

As a professional organizer, I'm always looking for ways to keep my home organized.  Here's another tip that continues to serve me well.

Everyone has a drawer with their underthings in it but in most cases, when you open the drawer it looks like a bomb when off in it.  There's no rhyme or reason to anything.  All the goods are just tossed in there and you have to dig around to find stuff.  If you're lucky, you can dedicate 2 drawers to storing your skivvies but when space is at a premium, you have to think outside the box.  Or in this case, think inside the drawer.

I was helping a client with her closets and ended up with a couple of extra drawer organizers so I decided to make use of them.

This "gadget" works wonders for keeping your underwear and socks neatly organized so much so that your days of having to resort to wearing the "bad underwear" will be gone because you'll be able to see when it's time to do laundry.

It can be cut to fit your drawer and has plenty of compartments to store all your unmentionables.  Depending on the size of your items, you may even be able to fit more than one in a compartment.

No need to show you a before picture as I'm sure you can get your own visual but here is what your drawer can look like after making use of this lovely gem.

You can find them at Home Outfitters and Solutions for under $20.


Feel free to send your comments and questions!

Happy organizing!

The Proverbial Junk Drawer

Almost everyone has one of these in their homes. It's the place where we seem to keep the "I don't know where to put this" or " I don't what to do with this" stuff so I'll just put it in here for now.  For now, ends up being months later and before you know it, you can barely open the drawer.  Why do we call it the junk drawer anyway?  Even though it gets crammed full of stuff, is the stuff really junk?  Or is the junk drawer just a safe haven for those things that we don't want to throw out because we think might need it someday.  We've all used that line one time or another.

Today I decided to tackle the junk drawer in my kitchen.  It's the one and only junk drawer I have in my apartment.  Although, truth be told, I'd probably have another one around the place if it wasn't for the fact that I can't afford to devote any other prime real estate to "junk".   When you live in a one bedroom apartment without a storage locker, every inch counts!

When I pulled it out to sort it, I was surprised at how much stuff had amassed in it.  I found some mystery cables (I have no clue what they're), phone extension cords, regular extension cords (the cheap ones that are only good for two pronged cords so they're not even worthwhile).  I also found a number of packets of flower food.  You know, the ones that you get whenever you buy a bouquet of flowers.  Quite clearly, it's been a while since I've had fresh flowers since some of the packets have hardened! I even found these little rubber balls that I had used probably only once to put in the dryer with my down coat to help it dry evenly.  They say to use tennis balls but since I didn't have any, I found the next best thing!  I bought them at the dollar store and I actually think they are cat toys!

Anyhow, after some ruthless editing, I proud to say that my junk drawer only contains some hooks for hanging purses, the cords (although, I think those will be going in the very near future) and a little glass dish which holds the good flower food and the spare key for my bike lock)  Oh, I also have a few 3M stickers to hang pictures.  If you've never used them, you need to give them a try.  No more holes in the walls!  Surprisingly it didn't even take that long which makes me wonder why I didn't do it sooner.

So the lesson here folks,  try to limit yourself to one junk drawer for those odds and ends and go through it regularly.  Once a month, if you can. You can buy drawer inserts with compartments to keep things organized but the goal is to not let it get out of control.

If you have an organizing question, send me an email.

info@theurbanorganizer.ca


Cheers!

Marie

Some of My Air Travel and Packing Tips

Last week, after taking a client shopping for clothes with my designer friend Manny Machado, I helped her select her wardrobe for an upcoming trip to Europe.  I was very conscious of the amount of items that would go into her suitcase and did my best to give her great options.  

This wasn't the first time I have picked and packed clothes for friends.  I'm known to travel light and my philosophy is, if I don't wear everything that I brought, I over packed.  

More on my clothing selection thought process later but for now, here are a few tips that have helped me along the way.

Packing:

1. Put your shoes in plastic bags (you can use produce bags, if  you have any) and place them at the end of the suitcase where the wheels are.
2. Roll your clothes and "stack" them tightly next to your shoes and keep working your way to the top of the suitcase ( this is to prevent your clothes from shifting when you stand your suitcase up)
3. If you're bringing a beach towel, lay it on top of your clothes, tuck in the side and fasten the straps.  This is another way to keep your clothes in place.
4. ALWAYS keep your toiletry bag stocked and ready to go with travel sizes of the products you use.  Pack this in your carry on and keep it in your suitcase when you return.
5. Take a plastic bag for dirty laundry
6. Separate jewelry by type and pack in ziploc bags and place in any evening bags your bring.

Travel:

1. Photocopy the id page in your passport and pack it separately in your suitcase
2. Email your itinerary to a friend (just in case)
3. If you're flying business class, you won't have to worry about snacks but avoid drinking alcohol as this will dehydrate you. Drink plenty of water instead!
4. If you are not flying business class, bring munchies such as dried fruit and unsalted nuts, granola bars etc.
5. Avoid wearing foundation as this too can dehydrate your skin. Apply a good moisturizer and lip balm.  If you can't bare to go au natural, just do your eyes and lips.
6. I always try to avoid jetlag by getting into the time zone of my destination asap.  Calculate what your destination time zone is when you depart and act accordingly.  i.e. if it's in the middle of the night in the U.K. when you're leaving Toronto, you'll want to try and sleep.

Hopefully these tips will make your travels much easier.

If you have any tips you'd like to share, please do!

Happy Travel!

My Secret To Streak Free Windows!

I'd been procrastinating cleaning my living room windows for weeks because I hadn't found a method that really works and is easy! I face west which means tons of afternoon sunshine so I knew I'd have to confront my fears or resolve to looking at the spotty mess my windows have become from the torrential down pours we've had this year.

I have tried washing them with a vinegar and water solution and drying them with paper towels because this was supposed alleviate the streaks and lint. All I ended up with was shredded newspaper! Then there was the soapy water and squeegee. Honestly, I don't know how those window washers do it. Clearly the squeegee I used was not of the same caliber because it didn't even make complete contact with the window leaving wet spots.
One night recently, I was flipping through a magazine or watching the tube when I saw an ad for new Windex product. It looked just like a Swiffer so I guess you don't have to ask what I did next. Yep, you guessed it. I grabbed a wet Swiffer from under my kitchen sink and rigged up that bad boy and headed out onto the balcony. My upright mop was working like a charm, lifting the dirt off of my window until I realized something. What in the world was I going to use to dry them. Before the windows had time to dry and ran back to the kitchen and grabbed a dry Swiffer but that was a bad idea. It wasn't absorbing a darn thing! My next thought was a paper towel...put that on and ended up with a shredded mess though it did absorb some of the water. Next, I thought, how about 2 paper towels so I doubled up to no avail. Hmmm...then it came to me! I always dry my wine glasses with a microfiber cloth and also use them to clean the glass surfaces and mirrors in my home. Yes, people, that's right... I put the microfiber cloth onto the Swiffer pole ( no , not stripper pole) and proceeded to dry my windows to a streak free finish!

Though it sounds like a long drawn out process, I was done in a matter of minutes!
So long squeegee! I got streak free windows with a wet Swiffer and a microfiber cloth!


If you have a window cleaning method that works like a charm, I wanna hear about it!

Cheers!

Marie

How Clutter Can Affect Your Well Being

So earlier this year I had a feng shui consultation by a friend of mine, Melonie Arscott.  I call her the Feng Shui chick! Since having the consultation, I've seen some positive improvements in my professional life which has been great considering this was an area I wanted to work on.  Being a Professional Organizer, I completely believe that your environment, whether it's your home or your office, has a direct effect on your state of mind.  If you have clutter in a particular area in your home, chances are you have block in a certain area of your life. 

Every so often I receive a text from Melonie with some little feng shui tip.  I thought I'd share this one because of how it relates to what my business is all about.  Here it is:

Spring has arrived and removing clutter can reduce your household cleaning by 40%.

When de-cluttering, ask yourself:
Do I love it? Do I use it regularly?
If you don't answer "yes" to each question, get rid of the item.

Remember, too much clutter in the home can:

• deplete your finances
• take away the oxygen you body needs to create energy
• cause weight gain

That's the real deal coming from the Feng Shui chick!  As I like to say "a clutter free home is a clutter free mind"  so if your life is feeling a little stagnant, look inside your home and see if there is some clutter that needs to be cleared in order to get your life moving in the right direction!

If you're interested in having a feng shui consultation, give Melonie a call at 416-668-2696!

How Long Do You Need To Keep A Paper Trail?

This morning I managed to get all of my 2010 tax info entered into a spreadsheet to send off to my best friend/accountant.  Well, by email that is ,since she lives out of province.  I'm actually ahead of the game this year which is a nice feeling since the last 2 years I waited until the June 15the deadline. That's the deadline for business owners, just in case you're wondering. 

Just before I started, I looked at an envelope containing previous tax returns and was thinking about how long I have to hang on to them.

As a professional organizer, I have helped clients organize their home offices and you can't even begin to imagine the amount of papers that have taken over desks, have been stuffed into file cabinets and have migrated to the floors.  Some clients have had documents and paperwork dating back to the mid 90's! There are some things you need to keep forever but a lot of stuff can be tossed after a short period of time.  I highly recommend using a shredder so that you can safely discard your documents and protect yourself from identity theft.

If you're wondering how long you need to keep a records of things, here is a guideline that you can follow:

Anything tax related: 7 years

Bank statements and cancelled cheques: 30 days (make sure you check your statements and go paperless if you feel comfortable)

Financial statements: 30 days

Stocks and bond records: length that you own them

Credit card information: 30 days if you want to dispute something; up to 7 years if you need it for tax purposes. If you've purchased something that has a warranty, keep the statement/receipt as proof of purchase until it's no longer valid.

RRSP - permanently

Major purchaase, warranties, instructions: for the length of time you own them.

I hope this allows you to do away with a lot of unnecessary paperwork that may be cluttering up your space. Setting up a filing system for your personal papers will make it easier for you to find those important those important documents when you need them.

If you need help getting started, just email me at info@theurbanorganizer.ca

Marie

How Attached Are You To Your "Stuff"?

I was going through some papers and came across this.  Thought it may be of interest as spring cleaning is just around the corner.


Clearing a Space for Change
The Weight of Objects

In life, we tend to have an easier time acquiring possessions than we do getting rid of them. Just as we harbor emotional baggage that is difficult to let go of, our lives can tend to be filled with material objects that we may feel compelled to hold on to. Most people are not conscious of how much they own and how many of their possessions are no longer adding value to their life. They fiercely hold on to material objects because this makes them feel secure or comfortable. While it’s true that the ownership of “stuff” can make you feel good for awhile, it seldom satisfies the deep inner longings that nearly everyone has for fulfillment and satisfaction. It is only when we are ready to let go of our baggage and be vulnerable that it becomes possible to recognize the emotional hold that our possessions can have on us.

It’s not uncommon to hold on to material objects because we are attached to them or fear the empty spaces that will remain if we get rid of them. Giving away the souvenirs from a beloved voyage may feel like we are erasing the memory of that time in our life. We may also worry that our loved ones will feel hurt if we don’t keep the gifts they’ve given us. It’s easy to convince ourselves that unused possessions might come in handy someday or that parting with them will cause you emotional pain. However, when your personal space is filled with objects, there is no room for anything new to enter and stay in your life. Your collection of belongings may “protect” you from the uncertainties of an unknown future while keeping you stuck in the past. Holding on to unnecessary possessions often goes hand in hand with holding on to pain, anger, and resentment, and letting go of your material possessions may help you release emotional baggage.

When you make a conscious decision to fill your personal space with only the objects that you need or bring you joy, your energy level will soar. Clearing your personal space can lead to mental clarity and an improved memory. As you learn to have a more practical and temporary relationship to objects, positive changes will happen, and you’ll have space to create the life that you desire.


I've been very good at letting go of stuff that is no longer working in my life and am learning to live with less and quite enjoy it.  I have to say though that even though I hardly ever use them, I will probably never let go of the china dinnerware that I inherited from my mom.  It's in a place where I can see it everyday and it reminds me of all the special occasions and holidays that they were used.  Ahhh memories!

What is something that you just can't let go of and why? 

Marie


http://www.theurbanorganizer.ca/

info@theurbanorganizer.ca

P: 647-341-7370

Unique Tips For Organizing Your Closet

I recently picked up the new issue of O magazine (March) which has some articles on de-cluttering your life.  As an organizing consultant, I'm always interested in seeing how people organize their spaces and what crafty things people are doing. 

In this issue there are 4 ladies whose closets are featured and since this is an area I love whether it's working with an existing closet or designing a new one, this was of particular interest to me.

One thing I saw that I found quite interesting was a rod hung just above the inside of a closet to hang boots from.  I thought that was ingenius although you'd have to make sure the soles were clean.  But hey, it frees up valuable floor space for other stuff and keeps your boots from flopping over.  The same lady also installed a jewellry cabinet inside the closet door.  Another great space saver if you have regular doors and not bi-fold ones!  I've employed a similar idea on the inside of my linen closet with a cork board and clear push pins to hang my accessories.  I just open the door to select something and with a full length mirror on the bathroom door 2 feet away, it's easy to try on different things and see what they look like with whatever I outfit I have on.

Another lady uses an old cabinet with glass doors to store her shoes.  She just installed additional shelves and cleaned it up a bit as I think it needed a little tlc but it's great way to use something in an unconventional way.

One woman went so far as to hang her collection of scarves on drapery rods just outside of her closet so not only can she see all of them but it makes for a colourful piece of "art". They say if you can't see or don't know what you have, you'll end up wasting money buying multiples of the same thing or better yet, you'll be one of those people who have clothes in their closets that still have the price tags on them because you forgot you had them.

In my coat closet, I have some hanging shelves that I use to hold my winter hats, gloves and mitts as well as my runners, kicks and even my small umbrellas.  It's from Ikea, it velcros onto the rod and tucks nicely in the left side of the closet. Right underneath it is where I keep my winter boots and wellies.

By the way, wardrobe flip time will soon be here so if you'd like a little assistance or advice on how to make your closet more efficient (and believe me when tell you, installing a closet system is the best thing you can ever do), send me an email or give me a call.  I'll help you transform your closet into one where everything is visible and accessible, saving you time and money!

*I offer a FREE 30 minute consultation.


Marie

E: info@theurbanorganizer.ca
P: 647-341-7370

STORAGE TIPS FOR A SMALL BATHROOM

If you’re like me and you live in a place with one small bathroom, storage can be a bit of a challenge. I didn’t have the luxury of a medicine cabinet (though some might consider that more of an eyesore) to make use of so I had to get creative and in this case, think “inside the box”.  I’m a bit of a beauty junkie so in an effort to keep my things neat, organized and easily accessible, here’s what I did to maintain a clutter free environment and to maximize the space.

Fortunately, I have a vanity in my bathroom so I bought 3 plastic shoe boxes (easier to clean) and used one box to house all my hair products including my flatiron which fits perfectly when lying down.  Even though I have a hairdryer, I don’t use it so it is kept in my linen closet freeing up valuable real estate. I also took the label off an old food can and use it for combs and brushes.  This makes it easier to see them not to mention a great way to recycle.

The second shoe box holds all of my skincare stuff and the third one is for my cosmetics, which for the most part are in a makeup bag to take on the go. As with most standard vanities, the 3 containers fit flush under my sink and it’s an inexpensive way to keep things tidy. 

If you have a pedestal sink, you can attach some stick on Velcro to some fabric to “skirt” the sink and hide your products in bins behind it.

On top of the toilet, is a rectangle shaped 3-part tray for my makeup brushes (again, these are in a stainless steel holder), body lotions and sprays as well as scented bath stuff.  I can see exactly what I have and it looks great too!  If you have enough space above your toilet, you can install a couple of shelves for additional storage.

If you happen to share a bathroom, each person can have their own container to store the items they use everyday or frequently. You can label each one so you know whose is whose and besides having functional storage, if you ever have to move, just put the lid on the box and you’re good to go!

 What do you do to keep your bathroom organized? The Urban Organizer wants to know!

How I'm Planning Ahead For Christmas 2011!

Well, Christmas has come and gone and for many of you, the bills have started rolling in.  Me, not so much   as I pretty much paid for everything by debit, but it was still a good chunk of change.   I spent a lot more money than I had intended to due to a new relationship. Isn't that always the way?  Each year I say I'm going to boycott Christmas because of the amount of moolah I fork out in such a small time frame not to mention the increase in my cortisol levels.  That lovely stress hormone.  My shopping starts late summer for my family overseas so that I can mail their stuff by the end of October and hope that it gets there on time and not the following February like it did a couple of years ago.  The postage fees are so ridiculous that I swear it costs more to mail the gifts than the cost of buying them.

Anyway, I love Christmas too much and though the idea of not having to buy gifts again is very appealing and my bank account would love me but I don't think it's gonna happen.  So I thought, how can I make this less painful and not have to practically take out a second mortgage at the end of the year? I need to organize myself a little better. A lot better!

That's when I decided this year, I'm going to buy one gift a month.  On average I have about 12 people or so to buy for so I figure if I purchase one a month, it would be more manageable.

I usually send gift cards to my friends and fam out in B.C. simply because it's much simpler and now thanks to Visa gift cards, I can load up one for each of my family members overseas and spend less than the cost of a Starbucks coffee to send them.  I"m liking the sounds of that! 

I figure if I spend on average $25 per gift per month, I'll be in great shape come year end and I'll have some extra cash to treat myself to something nice since I have budgeted throughout the entire year.

If you have a lot of people in town that you need to buy for,  keep your eyes on the sales all year long, buy stuff and put it away.  Come December, you'll be glad you did! Don't get it twisted though, I'm not talking about hoarding here!  More often than not, your friends/family will mention things they'd love to have or could use and that's the time to make mental notes or plug it into your smartphone.

If you have a list and budget and stick to it, your holiday season will be that much more enjoyable and you won't be one of those folks frantically starting their shopping the day before the big day! Or in some cases the day of, if you celebrate Christmas eve!

What stresses you out the most about Christmas shopping?  The Urban Organizer wants to know!


Here's to living a more organized life in 2011!

Marie