Back to School Tips

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Back to School

“The best way to get something done is to begin.”   -unknown

Summer is quickly winding down and kids will be headed back to school very soon.  My own kids are grown now, but as I reflect back on those super fun, busy years I am always reminded of how so many simple organizing tools helped us as we managed, work, school, food and play.

  1. Post a family calendar or use an app on your phone (such as COZI) to manage all of your family activities.
  2. Include your children in regular home maintenance tasks and chores.  Teach them to do dishes, laundry, yard care, cleaning etc.  Post check lists for how tasks should be completed …or just model it for them.
  3. Prepare clothing and lunches the night before.
  4. Use bins in kids closet’s to organize their clothing and simplify laundry.  For my boys I had a bin for socks, underwear,  sleepwear etc.  I hung their t-shirts and folded jeans.  Everything else went unfolded into a bin!☺
  5. Consider going back to school clothes shopping at consignment stores such as Flip Kids and Maternity and consign your clothes there after your kids grow out of them. Check out our Resources page for more information!
  6. Include children in meal planning and preparation.  Allow your children to suggest meals and then help prepare the meals they choose.

Remember that organization is learned behavior, so start early!  If your family struggles with organization then consider joining me for The Simply Organized Home Class on Saturday September 27th 9:00am – 3:00pm. Class fee is $95 and includes breakfast, lunch, snacks, handouts and door prizes!

If all of your summer photographs have you feeling overwhelmed, or if you have a lifetime of photos sitting in boxes or piling up on your computer then Organizing your Photos on October 9th, 7:00pm – 9:00pm, might be just the motivation you need to get them organized. Class fee is only $45 and includes drinks, snacks and handouts!

Sprucing Up

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We’ve recently been helping a client de-clutter, sort, and re-arrange belongings throughout her home. She and her husband have been amazing throughout the entire process and active participants. Here are a few fun before and after photos of the office/play area, closet and entry we did during one session. Next up…the garage!

Siobhansdesk2before

Quick sorting and containing in labeled bins made all the difference in this office space!

Siobhansdesk2after

Siobhansentryclosetbefore

We purged unused toys and used existing containers to contain the rest.

Siobhansentryclosetafter

Siobhansentrybefore

By finding proper homes for the bookshelf and sorting through what was around it, we were able to open up this gorgeous entry!

siobhansentryafter

The Essential Thirty-One Bag

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ThirtyOneJulySpecialPage1

I was recently at a clients house and she had a really cute tote bag. When I asked about it she told me about Thirty-One Bags. I decided to check out their website and since they were offering a special discount I decided to order one. My tote bag arrived and it’s even better than I thought it would be!

They work so well for a variety of organizational uses:

  • Groceries
  • Farmers Market
  • Travel
  • Beach/Seasonal
  • Library books
  • Kids stuff

Here’s an idea: Inside each tote keep zipper pouches or makeup bags for smaller supplies and essentials!

ThirtyOneJulySpecialPage2To Order, Contact:

Kelly Hartman
Ind. Senior Director
mythirtyone.com/kellyhartman
http://www.facebook.com/groups/KellysToteallyAwesomeCustomers/

Empty Your Storage Unit

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storageunit

“Organization isn’t about perfection, it’s about efficiency, reducing stress and clutter, saving time and money, and improving your overall quality of life.” – Christina Scalise

Do you have a storage unit? Do you know what’s in it? Do you know what it’s costing you?

According to the Self Storage Association,

  • The asking rent for a 10’x10′ unit in the U.S. (Q3-2013) was: non-climate controlled $115/month; climate-controlled $146/month.
  • About 13% of all self storage renters say they will rent for less than 3 months; 18% for 3-6 months; 18% for 7-12 months; 22% for 1-2 years; and 30% for more than 2 years
  • Some 65% of all self storage renters have a garage but still rent a unit; 47% have an attic in their home; and 33% have a basement
  • Some 47% of all self storage renters have an annual household income of less than $50,000 per year; 63% have an annual household income of less than $75,000 per year

You could buy all the stuff that’s in most storage units for the price of the annual rental fee or much less—and that doesn’t include the cost of the moving truck! Think about what you could be spending that money on right now – paying off debt, a vacation, down payments, etc. Plus, the longer your stuff sits in a storage unit:

  • The more value you lose on items
  • Risk of damage increases from precariously stacked boxes
  • Bugs or rodents can infest cardboard boxes

Storage units are meant to be transitional: places to keep belongings while moving, marrying, divorcing or dealing with a death in the family. However, many who have them are now simply using them as a place to store extra stuff, even though the home sizes continue to grow.

Our OAL team would be happy to help clear out your storage unit. We will guide you in selling some of your valuable items and donate the rest to great local causes. Currently we are supporting Relay for Life and Habitat for Humanity. Which would you rather have, an expensive storage full of unused and unwanted items, or a full heart as you help support great causes in our community?

Summertime is the perfect season for lightening your load!

How can we help you?

June Garage Special : Just In Time for Father’s Day!

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Is the man in your life looking to get that garage emptied? How about the OAL gals do it for him! We can totally transform a garage in just a few hours! We bring all the supplies, help weed through everything, and haul it away at the end of day. What better way to treat him this Father’s Day?

1 Free Hour With the Purchase of 3 Paid Hours

Valued at $150!

 

Just mention this post to validate the offer. Valid 6/1/2014-6/30/2014

New Additions To OAL!

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Please help us welcome the newest member of our OAL team – Sasha Brodeur! Sasha has been a good friend of mine for years. She is an amazingly organized person and I knew instantly that she was the perfect fit for us. I encourage you to read the bio she wrote and check out her blog – Lemonade Makin’ Mama!

sasha profile edited_Fotor

Hi I’m Sasha, a wife to my high school sweetheart and mother to a tween and a teen. I’m also a part time writer/blogger, amateur photographer and artist. I have always loved organizing and find that it comes fairly naturally to my personality. My favorite areas in life to use my organizational skills, are my studio and linen/entertaining closets.

My studio is ever-changing as I go through periods of different kinds of creativity. I love using attractive storage containers that allow me to see what I need and get to it quickly. I tend to prefer collecting antique blue ball jars with zinc lids and use them to corral items like wood alphabet stamps, stray ribbon pieces, small tubes of glitter, etc. Because I sell my artwork, I enjoy a studio space one where my creativity is displayed as well as made. I only have a small space for the many creative projects I enjoy, but I have found that by staying organized and consistently re-thinking how it could work best for whatever season in life I’m in, it keeps my creativity flowing. You don’t need a ton of room to make a creative space work, you just need some well thought out organization.

As for my linen/entertaining closet, I love keeping easy to pull-out baskets stocked with the seasonal items I like to entertain with in there. For example, in the spring, I begin putting together a basket stocked specifically with outdoor utensils, plates, chargers, pretty napkins, votive candles and such. It makes impromptu entertaining a snap and only takes a few minutes to quickly restock at the end of the night, which keeps me organized for any function I’m inclined to host.

Because I’m a mom with two very active kiddos, organization is not only necessary, but it’s all about creating a long term solution for my needs that keeps my life simple in the short term (and often chaotic) moments. I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to work alongside Julie and Becca, to help others find that kind of peace in their daily spaces.