Just like Amazon!

Just wanted to let you know that The Container Store has just introduced 'Ratings and Reviews' for their thousands of products. So, if you've bought from The Container Store in the past, go ahead and write a review for that product. If you do it by May 31, 2010 you'll be entered to win a $500 gift card.

Go to containerstore.com/reviews to submit an online review. It's just like Amazon, only for organizing products!

"Honey, Where's the...?"

Did you do your taxes yet? If not, stop reading this entry and go straight to your accountant's office. If your taxes are done and you're ready to tackle another part of Spring Cleaning then read on...

I'd like to share with you another basic organizing principle--one that is so basic, we don't even realize half the time that we're doing it.

Basic Organizing Principle #3:

Designate a logical and specific 'home' to put your belongings

Also known as:

“A Place for Everything and Everything in It’s Place”

First example: the toothbrush.

How many of you keep your toothbrush in the living room or the bedroom? Where do most people keep it? Right—in the bathroom—in a holder or drawer or medicine cabinet. Why do we keep it there? Because it’s logical to keep it in the place that we use it. And it’s most likely that when we need it, we’ll find it right there in the bathroom.

Whenever I give a talk, I like to tell people the story of when my hubby and I were first married. We used to go shopping for items for the house and we would bring the tape measure with us. When we came back it would be put down—we hadn’t established a home for it. After one too many, ‘Honey, have you seen the tape measure?’ We decided to designate a home for it in one of our kitchen drawers and now, nine years later, we always know where to find it…

This doesn't need to be complicated. When figuring out a 'home' for an object, ask yourself,

• Where would i use this most often (toothbrush = bathroom)

• If this object leaves the house with me often, where should I create a spot for it? (near the front door? hall closet? mudroom? On a hook/shelf/in a tote bag?

• If I don't use this item often, what is the most logical spot for it?

If you think finding a home for every itty bitty thing in your home is going to be overwhelming--don't panic! You've already made a logical home for most of your belongings (clothes in the drawers/closet, food in the fridge/pantry,and let's not forget your toothbrush...). By designating a logical and specific place to put your belongings, it will enable you to find what you need when you need it--and that's REALLY what being organized is all about.

Break it Down!

March 20th was the first day of Spring. Started Spring Cleaning yet?

Whether you have already started or you haven't made that appointment with yourself yet (Basic Organizing Principle #1), here's another way to make Spring Cleaning a less overwhelming task:

Basic Organizing Principle #2:

Break Large Tasks into Smaller Tasks

Let’s say you need to go through your chest of drawers and let’s say you have four drawers—one with underwear, one with socks, one with T-shirts and one with pajamas. Instead of taking a few hours to go through the chest of drawers, try going through one drawer at a time on different days of the week. You’ll be less tired from the task and the job will still get done.

Remember:

Any organizing task is doable if it is broken down into smaller and less time-consuming tasks.

Ready for Spring Cleaning?

Last Sunday I did a presentation for a lovely group of women who were very interested in getting organized. The title of the presentation was, "Organize Your Space...Organize Your Life." Sounds like a lot of information to cover in an hour but I talked about the basics--what one needs to know to get started.

During the months of March and April, I'll be sharing some of those basic organizing principles with you. Spring is just around the corner, which means Spring Cleaning is on the minds of many. Whether you have a studio apartment or a six-bedroom house, it's important to have a plan for your Spring Cleaning.

Here's the first of those basic organizing principles--they're easy to follow and will help you to reach your Spring Cleaning and organizing goals.

Basic Organizing Principle #1:

Make an Appointment with Yourself to Get Organized

Why should you make an appointment with yourself to get organized?

It’s very important to set aside time for organizing--just like you’d make time for the doctor or an oil change. What happens if you don’t keep the doctor’s appointment? You may get billed and be in poor health for a long time. What happens if you don’t keep the appointment for the oil change? Your car might stop working. What if you don’t keep your organizing appointment? Your home will not function efficiently much like the car without the oil change or your body without seeing the doctor…

Carve out a time when you’re most energetic and likely to have a minimum of interruptions. Mark it on your calendar and keep that appointment!

Me, My Labelmaker, and Some Great Press

This Sunday I'll be speaking at the second annual Queen Esther Tea at the YM-TWHA of Union County, NJ, hosted by the Women's Campaign of the Jewish Federation of Central New Jersey. The topic is: 'Organize Your Space...Organize Your Life.'

I was pleased to be approached by a writer from New Jersey Jewish News who was covering the event. She gave Organized Artistry some great publicity (Thanks, Elaine!) and gave the paper's readership a good bit of knowledge on getting ready for the upcoming Passover holiday and the topic of disorganization.

To read the article and see a picture of me with my trusty labelmaker (still working after eight years in the biz!) click on:

http://njjewishnews.com/article/central/experts-pre-pesach-tips-on-wrangling-stuff/

More on 'Organize Your Space...Organize Your Life' to come!

Cool Product

When I was growing up, I lived in a very tight space--not much room for collections or 'extras.' But, the one thing I chose to collect was Playbills.

I grew up in one of the five boroughs of NYC and always had a love of theater. Broadway was only a subway away and over the years I came to collect many Playbills from shows I had seen. I kept them in shoeboxes under my bed--that was my inexpensive way of keeping them organized.

I have since graduated from shoe boxes to clear containers but I just found out about a great product and wanted to pass it on to you. A client of mine sees a lot of shows and like me, enjoys keeping the Playbills. She did a little research and found the 'Playbill Binder.'

http://www.playbillstore.com/plbi.html

They come in a few different sizes--one for contemporary-sized Playbills. one for a collection of larger sized and contemporary Playbills and one economically-priced binder for Playbills of any size.

You don't have to be a lover of Broadway to use this product. Maybe you're a proud parent or grandparent and want to keep the 'playbills' from dance recitals and band performances. Maybe you do community theater in your neighborhood and wish to hold onto the playbills from the shows you perform in. Whatever your needs are, the Playbill Binder is a great investment for keeping Playbills from getting bent out of shape or lost in the shuffle.

Maybe it's time for me to graduate from clear containers to the Playbill Binder???

elfa Sale at The Container Store

Have you been thinking of using an elfa system to organize your closet or kitchen? Now's the time to check it out!

The Container Store is having a sale: 30% off off elfa products and 30% off installation. Sale ends February 15th.

For elfa sale details, go to: http://www.containerstore.com/elfa/index.html

For a Container Store near you go to: http://www.containerstore.com/locations/index.html

Let's get organized in 2010!