How to Tame Your Overstuffed Bookshelves in 48 Hours
O, The Oprah Magazine | From the September 2010 issue of O, The Oprah Magazine
There comes a time, in every library, when a purge is required. What do you keep? What do you toss? When is it time to get rid of that unopened copy of the complete works of Emily Dickinson? Sara Nelson, O's books editor, says you have to be both careful and ruthless as you cull. Gather your tomes around you, she advises, and ask the following questions:
1. Have you owned it without reading it for less than two years? Then move it to a probationary shelf, where it can remain for another 12 months. But if it has been hanging around unread since the Clinton administration, out it goes.
2. Was it a gift, inscribed by an old friend or boyfriend or even the author? Don't give a book like this away, ever; it's a diary, a literary road map to your past.
3. Would you recommend the book to a friend? If so, it's okay to keep one copy for yourself and one to give away. I used to be like a squirrel in winter: I'd have one book to keep, one to lend, and one just in case I lost the other two. What I've learned—books are not nuts. Don't do that.
4. Will you really read Jude the Obscure? Right. Toss. Ditto all that other homework. And guess what? Your teenager couldn't care less about the collegiate scribblings in your Signet Shakespeares, however charming you think they are. (And anybody can read all about Henry IV for free on Google Books these days.) Having loved something in school is not justification for clutter.
5. Does it complete an author's body of work? If so, you might want to keep the family together. But if you're letting a title stay only because of what you think (or hope) it says about you, forget it. Books, like clothes, cars, and homes, are reflections of ourselves—so the first step to making over your library is looking not on the shelves but in the mirror.
MY THOUGHTS
Another project in the making. I'm sure I have several books that I bought years ago but had not had the time to read. But that's not my real problem. My real concern is my lack of desire to throw away books that I've already read. Time to let go.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Monday, June 6, 2011
GET A GRIP ON YOUR EMAIL
GET A GRIP ON YOUR EMAIL
from the article - 'How to Get and Stay on Top of Your Email Easily by Dealing with It Tomorrow'
By Heinz Tschabitscher , About.com Guide
f you have more than a day's worth of messages...
...in your inbox, the "deal with every message the moment it arrives"-approach is not working for you.
It's not your fault. This approach can only work for those whose only job is to answer emails as fast as possible.
Fortunately, a slightly different avenue lets you work uninterrupted by email, still reply within a reasonable time, have no emails overdue by months and get rid of the email backlog, too.
Get and Stay on Top of Your Email Easily by Dealing with It Tomorrow
To get a grip on your email:
Take your eyes off the inbox.
Make sure automatic mail checking and new mail announcements are turned off.
Deal with all mail that arrived yesterday, in as many batches as you see fit.
The fewer batches, the better. If you treat all of yesterday's mail in one go, chances are you have spent the least time and effort on it.
Schedule time for your email processing.
Deal with the messages in order.
If a message requires research, schedule that research for tomorrow, and let the sender know you'll get back to them. If more work is required, schedule over a longer period.
Make sure you can find the original message when the work is done.
The sender and, most importantly, date noted together with the task should be enough. In Mac OS X Mail, you could also use LinkABoo.
You can use a smart folder that displays only the messages arrived yesterday, apply flags (label days in alternating colors, for example), or rely on sorting by date of arrival.
You can check your inbox periodically for any emails requiring urgent action.
If your work demands it, process mail more often than daily — three times a day, for instance. Whatever period you choose, the crucial element is that the list of emails is closed to new entries while you work on it.
Why Daily Processing?
Unless you must deal with mail more frequently, I invite you to try daily processing, though. It has additional benefits:
You do not haphazardly set the precedent of replying immediately, a commitment that cannot be met.
A daily schedule is easy to keep and remember.
You can choose the perfect time of day for each type of message.
Easiest First!
Even if this is not normally your style, do experiment with getting the easiest messages out of the way first.
Once you get to the more challenging emails, the steady progress has tamed them a bit already. If you quickly scanned the complicated before venturing forth with the easy, you've spent some time coming up with solutions, too.
What If I Miss a Day?
If you miss a few days due to traveling or holidays, that's no big deal.
Deal with the emails as if they had arrived yesterday.
Often, going through two days or even a week of email does not take all that more time and effort than handling one day.
If the pile of emails is so high that you cannot deal with it in one day, let another strategy help you:
MY THOUGHTS
Just like everything else, anything that piles will require more time. If you've got tons of mail, deal with it now.
from the article - 'How to Get and Stay on Top of Your Email Easily by Dealing with It Tomorrow'
By Heinz Tschabitscher , About.com Guide
f you have more than a day's worth of messages...
...in your inbox, the "deal with every message the moment it arrives"-approach is not working for you.
It's not your fault. This approach can only work for those whose only job is to answer emails as fast as possible.
Fortunately, a slightly different avenue lets you work uninterrupted by email, still reply within a reasonable time, have no emails overdue by months and get rid of the email backlog, too.
Get and Stay on Top of Your Email Easily by Dealing with It Tomorrow
To get a grip on your email:
Take your eyes off the inbox.
Make sure automatic mail checking and new mail announcements are turned off.
Deal with all mail that arrived yesterday, in as many batches as you see fit.
The fewer batches, the better. If you treat all of yesterday's mail in one go, chances are you have spent the least time and effort on it.
Schedule time for your email processing.
Deal with the messages in order.
If a message requires research, schedule that research for tomorrow, and let the sender know you'll get back to them. If more work is required, schedule over a longer period.
Make sure you can find the original message when the work is done.
The sender and, most importantly, date noted together with the task should be enough. In Mac OS X Mail, you could also use LinkABoo.
You can use a smart folder that displays only the messages arrived yesterday, apply flags (label days in alternating colors, for example), or rely on sorting by date of arrival.
You can check your inbox periodically for any emails requiring urgent action.
If your work demands it, process mail more often than daily — three times a day, for instance. Whatever period you choose, the crucial element is that the list of emails is closed to new entries while you work on it.
Why Daily Processing?
Unless you must deal with mail more frequently, I invite you to try daily processing, though. It has additional benefits:
You do not haphazardly set the precedent of replying immediately, a commitment that cannot be met.
A daily schedule is easy to keep and remember.
You can choose the perfect time of day for each type of message.
Easiest First!
Even if this is not normally your style, do experiment with getting the easiest messages out of the way first.
Once you get to the more challenging emails, the steady progress has tamed them a bit already. If you quickly scanned the complicated before venturing forth with the easy, you've spent some time coming up with solutions, too.
What If I Miss a Day?
If you miss a few days due to traveling or holidays, that's no big deal.
Deal with the emails as if they had arrived yesterday.
Often, going through two days or even a week of email does not take all that more time and effort than handling one day.
If the pile of emails is so high that you cannot deal with it in one day, let another strategy help you:
MY THOUGHTS
Just like everything else, anything that piles will require more time. If you've got tons of mail, deal with it now.
Monday, May 30, 2011
THE URGE TO PURGE
The Urge to Purge
O, The Oprah Magazine | From the January 2007 issue of O, The Oprah Magazine
Organize Your Stuff!
You know those closets and drawers and cupboards that are so full, they won't quite close?
It turns out they could be bad for your health: Every time you look around and feel anxious that the mess is getting out of hand, your body releases cortisol, one of the classic stress hormones, says Steven Maier, PhD, a neuroscience professor at the University of Colorado at Boulder.
Arianne Cohen, the author of Help, It's Broken! A Fix-It Bible for the Repair-Impaired, asked top organizing experts to help us get a grip.
Keep Your Kitchen Clean
Purging: Even Emeril doesn't need six spatulas and four whisks; two of each will do, so start by tossing extras. While you're at it, check expiration dates on foodstuffs and pitch anything that's past its prime. Next, tackle seldom-used appliances like cappuccino and bread makers. "Those things don't need to live in the kitchen," says Ellen Kosloff, senior professional organizer at TaskMasters New York. "Put up a rack in the garage, or store them on a hallway closet shelf."
Prevention: The number one rule: Keep the counters clear. "Counter space is only for items you use daily," says Barry Izsak, president of the National Association of Professional Organizers. "Everything else can be stored in a cabinet or pantry."
Dust Off That Desk!
Purging: Begin by throwing away the no-brainers, including junk mail, expired coupons, brochures, and catalogs. Next, create desk zones. "Have a bill-paying zone, a stationery zone, a mail zone, and a reading zone," says Kosloff. "Keep everything you need for each activity in neat containers."
Prevention: Tackle your zones weekly, particularly bills and mail. For incoming papers such as children's art or tax information, keep one folder or container for each category, and at the end of the year (or month, if things really pile up fast), choose the keepers and purge the rest.
Liberate Your Library
Purging: Some people would consider it a sacrilege to ever get rid of a book, but if you've decided it's time to winnow, donate all books that don't meet any of these three criteria: books you love, books you read regularly, books whose content can't be found on the Internet.
Prevention: Librarian's rules: No stacking or double shelving allowed. "Group your books into categories like fiction, nonfiction, and travel, so you can see what you have," says Chris McKenry of Get It Together LA. And good news: "Regifting is perfectly acceptable with books."
Tossing Tchotchkes
Purging "You should own nothing that is not useful, beautiful, or loved," says Izsak. If a tchotchke can't pass this test, out it goes.
Prevention: When a new tchotchke comes in, Kosloff suggests immediately rejecting it if you already own something similar. Keep only the little objects you'll use (a vase, a pretty bowl) or that are uniquely meaningful (a handmade gift or travel memento).
A Picture Perfect System
Purging: Keep the gems, toss the rest. "Throw away or delete all the blurry, unflattering, redundant, or bad shots," says Julie Morgenstern, author of Never Check E-mail in the Morning. This strategy is especially effective if you or your partner is a lousy photographer.
Prevention: Don't feel compelled to label every photo. Instead, organize them into broad categories such as "Venice vacation" or "work events," and store them in a labeled photo box or digital folder. Weed out new shots as you take them or as soon as you receive prints.
Reclaim Your Garage
The Garage
Purging: The garage is not a warehouse! Begin by attacking one shelf or corner at a time, and tossing or donating all items you no longer use. Sports equipment your kids have outgrown, the gardening tools for the yard you no longer use—out! Then arrange items by category. "Your garage should be zoned," says McKenry. "You might have a zone for car equipment and a sports zone."
Prevention: Never pile items on the floor; buy new shelves or wall hooks as needed. Kosloff suggests keeping a large donation bin so that family members always have a place to put unused belongings.
Sort Through Makeup
Purging: "Sort through all your half-empty bottles of shampoo, lotion, and makeup, and toss anything you haven't used in six months," Morgenstern says. Group what's left in containers of like products (i.e., rather than having 18 kinds of makeup sitting out on the counter, put it all in one easily accessible container). Morgenstern also uses extra toiletries (unopened, of course) to make hostess baskets for overnight guests.
Prevention: Avoid impulse purchases by buying products only to replace those you're done with.
Cleanse Your Closet
Purging: "Remember that 80 percent of the time, we wear only 20 percent of our clothes," says McKenry. So go through your wardrobe and jettison anything that's one of the four S's: stretched, small, smelly (ew!), or stained (sure, you could clean the stained and smelly pieces, but the idea is to let things go). Another great tip: Turn all your hangers in one direction, and for the next six months, flip the hanger (and leave it flipped) when you wear something. Donate the untouched clothes.
Prevention: "The rule of thumb," says Izsak, "is that when something new comes in, at least one thing—preferably two—must go. And be realistic. If you're a size 10, hold on to the 8s but not the 6s."
MY THOUGHTS
Remember- purge only what you own!
O, The Oprah Magazine | From the January 2007 issue of O, The Oprah Magazine
Organize Your Stuff!
You know those closets and drawers and cupboards that are so full, they won't quite close?
It turns out they could be bad for your health: Every time you look around and feel anxious that the mess is getting out of hand, your body releases cortisol, one of the classic stress hormones, says Steven Maier, PhD, a neuroscience professor at the University of Colorado at Boulder.
Arianne Cohen, the author of Help, It's Broken! A Fix-It Bible for the Repair-Impaired, asked top organizing experts to help us get a grip.
Keep Your Kitchen Clean
Purging: Even Emeril doesn't need six spatulas and four whisks; two of each will do, so start by tossing extras. While you're at it, check expiration dates on foodstuffs and pitch anything that's past its prime. Next, tackle seldom-used appliances like cappuccino and bread makers. "Those things don't need to live in the kitchen," says Ellen Kosloff, senior professional organizer at TaskMasters New York. "Put up a rack in the garage, or store them on a hallway closet shelf."
Prevention: The number one rule: Keep the counters clear. "Counter space is only for items you use daily," says Barry Izsak, president of the National Association of Professional Organizers. "Everything else can be stored in a cabinet or pantry."
Dust Off That Desk!
Purging: Begin by throwing away the no-brainers, including junk mail, expired coupons, brochures, and catalogs. Next, create desk zones. "Have a bill-paying zone, a stationery zone, a mail zone, and a reading zone," says Kosloff. "Keep everything you need for each activity in neat containers."
Prevention: Tackle your zones weekly, particularly bills and mail. For incoming papers such as children's art or tax information, keep one folder or container for each category, and at the end of the year (or month, if things really pile up fast), choose the keepers and purge the rest.
Liberate Your Library
Purging: Some people would consider it a sacrilege to ever get rid of a book, but if you've decided it's time to winnow, donate all books that don't meet any of these three criteria: books you love, books you read regularly, books whose content can't be found on the Internet.
Prevention: Librarian's rules: No stacking or double shelving allowed. "Group your books into categories like fiction, nonfiction, and travel, so you can see what you have," says Chris McKenry of Get It Together LA. And good news: "Regifting is perfectly acceptable with books."
Tossing Tchotchkes
Purging "You should own nothing that is not useful, beautiful, or loved," says Izsak. If a tchotchke can't pass this test, out it goes.
Prevention: When a new tchotchke comes in, Kosloff suggests immediately rejecting it if you already own something similar. Keep only the little objects you'll use (a vase, a pretty bowl) or that are uniquely meaningful (a handmade gift or travel memento).
A Picture Perfect System
Purging: Keep the gems, toss the rest. "Throw away or delete all the blurry, unflattering, redundant, or bad shots," says Julie Morgenstern, author of Never Check E-mail in the Morning. This strategy is especially effective if you or your partner is a lousy photographer.
Prevention: Don't feel compelled to label every photo. Instead, organize them into broad categories such as "Venice vacation" or "work events," and store them in a labeled photo box or digital folder. Weed out new shots as you take them or as soon as you receive prints.
Reclaim Your Garage
The Garage
Purging: The garage is not a warehouse! Begin by attacking one shelf or corner at a time, and tossing or donating all items you no longer use. Sports equipment your kids have outgrown, the gardening tools for the yard you no longer use—out! Then arrange items by category. "Your garage should be zoned," says McKenry. "You might have a zone for car equipment and a sports zone."
Prevention: Never pile items on the floor; buy new shelves or wall hooks as needed. Kosloff suggests keeping a large donation bin so that family members always have a place to put unused belongings.
Sort Through Makeup
Purging: "Sort through all your half-empty bottles of shampoo, lotion, and makeup, and toss anything you haven't used in six months," Morgenstern says. Group what's left in containers of like products (i.e., rather than having 18 kinds of makeup sitting out on the counter, put it all in one easily accessible container). Morgenstern also uses extra toiletries (unopened, of course) to make hostess baskets for overnight guests.
Prevention: Avoid impulse purchases by buying products only to replace those you're done with.
Cleanse Your Closet
Purging: "Remember that 80 percent of the time, we wear only 20 percent of our clothes," says McKenry. So go through your wardrobe and jettison anything that's one of the four S's: stretched, small, smelly (ew!), or stained (sure, you could clean the stained and smelly pieces, but the idea is to let things go). Another great tip: Turn all your hangers in one direction, and for the next six months, flip the hanger (and leave it flipped) when you wear something. Donate the untouched clothes.
Prevention: "The rule of thumb," says Izsak, "is that when something new comes in, at least one thing—preferably two—must go. And be realistic. If you're a size 10, hold on to the 8s but not the 6s."
MY THOUGHTS
Remember- purge only what you own!
Sunday, May 15, 2011
DO BEDBUGS CARRY SUPERBUGS?
Do bedbugs carry superbugs?
Published May 12, 2011
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Researchers in Canada have found bedbugs carrying antibiotic-resistant superbugs, a surprise finding because scientists had thought the pests were not capable of spreading infections.
The study was done by a team in a poor corner of Vancouver, where both bedbug infestations and strains of antibiotic resistant bacteria are increasing.
Dr. Marc Romney, a medical microbiologist at St. Paul's Hospital/Providence Health Care in Vancouver, decided to see if the two were related.
Romney and colleagues removed five of the pests from the clothes and skin of infested patients and tested them.
They found bedbugs carrying two types of drug-resistant bacteria, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and vancomycin-resistant enterococci.
"I was a little surprised. Historically, bedbugs have not been associated with infections," Romney said in a telephone interview.
He said scientists have tested bedbugs to see if they carry blood-borne diseases, such as hepatitis or HIV. But so far, they have not been reported to carry infection.
Infestations of the bloodsucking bugs, which can cause severe itching, have made a comeback in cities such as Paris and New York in recent years.
Romney said the strain of MRSA they found requires skin to be somewhat compromised, and he thinks the bedbugs are providing that as people scratch their bites.
"Maybe the bedbug's bite is breaking down the patient's skin," he said.
He said that some of these pests may be carrying MRSA and going from individual to individual.
"The data are preliminary, but it suggests maybe there is an association," Romney said.
"Even though they can't carry hepatitis B and HIV, maybe they can carry resistant bacteria."
"Maybe it is yet another factor that could be responsible for this large increase in resistant bacteria in inner cities in North America," he said.
MY THOUGHTS
I hate bug bites. They're worse than mosquito bites. They take longer to heal. Even the scars from bug bites seem to take forever to fade. So, don't stop at organizing your closet. Air the bed. Change it if you must.
Published May 12, 2011
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Researchers in Canada have found bedbugs carrying antibiotic-resistant superbugs, a surprise finding because scientists had thought the pests were not capable of spreading infections.
The study was done by a team in a poor corner of Vancouver, where both bedbug infestations and strains of antibiotic resistant bacteria are increasing.
Dr. Marc Romney, a medical microbiologist at St. Paul's Hospital/Providence Health Care in Vancouver, decided to see if the two were related.
Romney and colleagues removed five of the pests from the clothes and skin of infested patients and tested them.
They found bedbugs carrying two types of drug-resistant bacteria, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and vancomycin-resistant enterococci.
"I was a little surprised. Historically, bedbugs have not been associated with infections," Romney said in a telephone interview.
He said scientists have tested bedbugs to see if they carry blood-borne diseases, such as hepatitis or HIV. But so far, they have not been reported to carry infection.
Infestations of the bloodsucking bugs, which can cause severe itching, have made a comeback in cities such as Paris and New York in recent years.
Romney said the strain of MRSA they found requires skin to be somewhat compromised, and he thinks the bedbugs are providing that as people scratch their bites.
"Maybe the bedbug's bite is breaking down the patient's skin," he said.
He said that some of these pests may be carrying MRSA and going from individual to individual.
"The data are preliminary, but it suggests maybe there is an association," Romney said.
"Even though they can't carry hepatitis B and HIV, maybe they can carry resistant bacteria."
"Maybe it is yet another factor that could be responsible for this large increase in resistant bacteria in inner cities in North America," he said.
MY THOUGHTS
I hate bug bites. They're worse than mosquito bites. They take longer to heal. Even the scars from bug bites seem to take forever to fade. So, don't stop at organizing your closet. Air the bed. Change it if you must.
Saturday, April 2, 2011
TIPS FOR CLEARING CLUTTER
Clear clutter with tips from author Leah Ingram
1 comment by Katie Aberbach - Apr. 1, 2011 01:32 PM
Washington Post
It's easy to think of reasons to avoid spring cleaning (or cleaning and neatening at any time of the year, really): It's time-consuming, tiring and often frustrating. It reminds you that you've totally bailed on your New Year's resolution. It reminds you just how tiny your closet really is. But there are also reasons to embrace de-cluttering.
Leah Ingram's "Toss, Keep, Sell!" ($15, Adams Media) casts the eternal chore in a new light - a lucrative light, as a matter of fact. Filled with DIY tips for reducing junk, reorganizing essential belongings and selling the possessions you're ready to part with, Ingram's book reveals that even short bursts of cleaning can reap major payoffs. The New Hope, Pa.-based author and blogger (suddenlyfrugal.com) shared her clutter-clearing philosophies.
Question: Why do you recommend quick, intense cleaning sessions rather than a major overhaul?
Answer: The little steps will add up. You have to be nice to yourself and realize that you didn't create this clutter problem in 15 minutes, and you're not going to fix it in 15 minutes. But (spend) 15 minutes (cleaning) once or twice a day for a couple of weeks and you'll be shocked.
You go into it thinking, "I can't get anything done in 15 minutes." And then you come out on the other side and say, "Oh my gosh, I can't believe how much I got done in 15 minutes."
Q: Which common household items make good organizing tools?
A: Hooks. We transformed our mudroom from a dumping ground of sports bags and cleats and field-hockey sticks into a space that you can actually walk through, simply by putting up hooks on three walls. Just getting stuff up off the floor - even if it's not perfectly organized - can go a long way toward making a space act and look more organized.
Q: Which organizational supplies are worth spending money on?
A: A label maker, as silly as that seems, can really help get you organized because there's something about a neat and tidy label on the front of a bunch of boxes that makes things look better. My husband used a label maker to put labels on all of his dresser drawers. It makes putting away laundry a whole lot easier. It's not pretty, though - House Beautiful will probably never come to my house and do a photo shoot. Also, if you know that you're going to donate items on a regular basis or have a yard sale, invest in a couple of big Rubbermaid bins to hold things you're going to give away. You can keep them in your car. That way, they're not cluttering up your home.
Q: Do you recommend holding yard sales to get rid of clutter?
A: I recommend them with a caveat. It's very easy to spend a lot of time organizing a yard sale at your home or in your neighborhood - from setting up to pricing - but not (easy) to get a good return on your investment of time. So, I advocate finding an organized yard sale, flea market or antiques market where you can buy a table.
It sounds counterintuitive, but if you spend $10 or $20 to buy a table at a yard sale that somebody else has organized and somebody else has advertised, it is well worth your time. But be honest with yourself. If you're selling crap that's not going to bring you the $20 that you paid for the table, then just donate your things to a good cause and take the tax write-off.
Q: How does de-cluttering contribute to a home's value?
A: It's pretty simple: When your home is cluttered, when your closets are full, when your basement is packed to the rafters, it makes your home look smaller. It easily turns off would-be buyers because they don't want to know what you've stored in the basement, they don't want to know what kind of shoes you wear, they don't want to see pictures of your family; they almost want a clean slate. Paring down your belongings can be really tough, though.
Q: How do you convince a skeptic that it's worthwhile?
A: You have to think about the old adage, "A picture is worth a thousand words." Every house sells now on the Internet with lots of pictures. You have to make your home look good enough for the photographs that your real-estate agent is eventually going to want to take.
MY THOUGHTS
It is worthwhile. But it's very hard to convince people who have lived with clutter all their lives. In fact, they have no idea what clutter is. To de-clutter is to change a lifestyle. And people have to want to change before any de-cluttering can be done.
1 comment by Katie Aberbach - Apr. 1, 2011 01:32 PM
Washington Post
It's easy to think of reasons to avoid spring cleaning (or cleaning and neatening at any time of the year, really): It's time-consuming, tiring and often frustrating. It reminds you that you've totally bailed on your New Year's resolution. It reminds you just how tiny your closet really is. But there are also reasons to embrace de-cluttering.
Leah Ingram's "Toss, Keep, Sell!" ($15, Adams Media) casts the eternal chore in a new light - a lucrative light, as a matter of fact. Filled with DIY tips for reducing junk, reorganizing essential belongings and selling the possessions you're ready to part with, Ingram's book reveals that even short bursts of cleaning can reap major payoffs. The New Hope, Pa.-based author and blogger (suddenlyfrugal.com) shared her clutter-clearing philosophies.
Question: Why do you recommend quick, intense cleaning sessions rather than a major overhaul?
Answer: The little steps will add up. You have to be nice to yourself and realize that you didn't create this clutter problem in 15 minutes, and you're not going to fix it in 15 minutes. But (spend) 15 minutes (cleaning) once or twice a day for a couple of weeks and you'll be shocked.
You go into it thinking, "I can't get anything done in 15 minutes." And then you come out on the other side and say, "Oh my gosh, I can't believe how much I got done in 15 minutes."
Q: Which common household items make good organizing tools?
A: Hooks. We transformed our mudroom from a dumping ground of sports bags and cleats and field-hockey sticks into a space that you can actually walk through, simply by putting up hooks on three walls. Just getting stuff up off the floor - even if it's not perfectly organized - can go a long way toward making a space act and look more organized.
Q: Which organizational supplies are worth spending money on?
A: A label maker, as silly as that seems, can really help get you organized because there's something about a neat and tidy label on the front of a bunch of boxes that makes things look better. My husband used a label maker to put labels on all of his dresser drawers. It makes putting away laundry a whole lot easier. It's not pretty, though - House Beautiful will probably never come to my house and do a photo shoot. Also, if you know that you're going to donate items on a regular basis or have a yard sale, invest in a couple of big Rubbermaid bins to hold things you're going to give away. You can keep them in your car. That way, they're not cluttering up your home.
Q: Do you recommend holding yard sales to get rid of clutter?
A: I recommend them with a caveat. It's very easy to spend a lot of time organizing a yard sale at your home or in your neighborhood - from setting up to pricing - but not (easy) to get a good return on your investment of time. So, I advocate finding an organized yard sale, flea market or antiques market where you can buy a table.
It sounds counterintuitive, but if you spend $10 or $20 to buy a table at a yard sale that somebody else has organized and somebody else has advertised, it is well worth your time. But be honest with yourself. If you're selling crap that's not going to bring you the $20 that you paid for the table, then just donate your things to a good cause and take the tax write-off.
Q: How does de-cluttering contribute to a home's value?
A: It's pretty simple: When your home is cluttered, when your closets are full, when your basement is packed to the rafters, it makes your home look smaller. It easily turns off would-be buyers because they don't want to know what you've stored in the basement, they don't want to know what kind of shoes you wear, they don't want to see pictures of your family; they almost want a clean slate. Paring down your belongings can be really tough, though.
Q: How do you convince a skeptic that it's worthwhile?
A: You have to think about the old adage, "A picture is worth a thousand words." Every house sells now on the Internet with lots of pictures. You have to make your home look good enough for the photographs that your real-estate agent is eventually going to want to take.
MY THOUGHTS
It is worthwhile. But it's very hard to convince people who have lived with clutter all their lives. In fact, they have no idea what clutter is. To de-clutter is to change a lifestyle. And people have to want to change before any de-cluttering can be done.
Monday, February 28, 2011
CLOSET CLOGGING HABITS TO BREAK
Attention Shoppers! 3 Closet Clogging Habits to Break Now
Oprah and O's creative director, Adam Glassman, know—these three habits are the quickest way to clog your closet.
By Adam Glassman
O, The Oprah Magazine | From the March 2010 issue of O, The Oprah Magazine
1. DON'T BUILD A WARDROBE BASED ON FANTASY
Oprah: "I bought a lot of little bags when I thought I was going to be a 'lady who lunches.' I've never been one, but I've always liked the idea and longed for that life. There's something about dressing up and being ladies—it's like playing house."
Adam Says: "Fashion can help you create an image, but be honest about your lifestyle. Do you really need yachting clothes when you never set foot on a boat? When buying an item, if you can answer 'Where am I going in this?' with at least four legitimate places, you have my blessing."
2. DON'T BUY YOUR FAVORITES OVER AND OVER AND OVER
Oprah: "This suit, I don't know why I have it. I've never even worn it. But when my favorite designer, Gianfranco Ferré, was alive, I never went to Los Angeles or New York without going to his store."
Adam Says: "There is absolutely nothing wrong with having a go-to brand or ensemble. But if you're buying multiples of things, ask yourself: "How many black pants or little gray sweaters do I really need?" Invest in a few high-quality pieces; better craftsmanship and fabrics always last longer."
3. DON'T SHOP FOR THE BEAUTIFUL BUT IMPRACTICAL
Oprah: "I was at Bergdorf Goodman one day, coming up the escalator. And these boots said, 'Helloooo, Opraaaaah.' But did I wear them once? No. I bought them because they were beautiful—because I wanted to look at them."
Adam Says: "I call this trophy shopping. Before you buy, take stock of your closet: What are you missing? Shop for those pieces before impractical items. As for 'closet jewelry'? Hang a few gorgeous items on your closet door, just to make yourself smile."
MY THOUGHTS
i wish i can say i am not guilty. there was a time i looked around my house and i hated myself. for accumulating so much, for getting things that were not really needed. i've long since given up those things that cluttered my life. but i still have a lot to let go of. a garage sale - that's what i need to plan for.
Oprah and O's creative director, Adam Glassman, know—these three habits are the quickest way to clog your closet.
By Adam Glassman
O, The Oprah Magazine | From the March 2010 issue of O, The Oprah Magazine
1. DON'T BUILD A WARDROBE BASED ON FANTASY
Oprah: "I bought a lot of little bags when I thought I was going to be a 'lady who lunches.' I've never been one, but I've always liked the idea and longed for that life. There's something about dressing up and being ladies—it's like playing house."
Adam Says: "Fashion can help you create an image, but be honest about your lifestyle. Do you really need yachting clothes when you never set foot on a boat? When buying an item, if you can answer 'Where am I going in this?' with at least four legitimate places, you have my blessing."
2. DON'T BUY YOUR FAVORITES OVER AND OVER AND OVER
Oprah: "This suit, I don't know why I have it. I've never even worn it. But when my favorite designer, Gianfranco Ferré, was alive, I never went to Los Angeles or New York without going to his store."
Adam Says: "There is absolutely nothing wrong with having a go-to brand or ensemble. But if you're buying multiples of things, ask yourself: "How many black pants or little gray sweaters do I really need?" Invest in a few high-quality pieces; better craftsmanship and fabrics always last longer."
3. DON'T SHOP FOR THE BEAUTIFUL BUT IMPRACTICAL
Oprah: "I was at Bergdorf Goodman one day, coming up the escalator. And these boots said, 'Helloooo, Opraaaaah.' But did I wear them once? No. I bought them because they were beautiful—because I wanted to look at them."
Adam Says: "I call this trophy shopping. Before you buy, take stock of your closet: What are you missing? Shop for those pieces before impractical items. As for 'closet jewelry'? Hang a few gorgeous items on your closet door, just to make yourself smile."
MY THOUGHTS
i wish i can say i am not guilty. there was a time i looked around my house and i hated myself. for accumulating so much, for getting things that were not really needed. i've long since given up those things that cluttered my life. but i still have a lot to let go of. a garage sale - that's what i need to plan for.
Monday, January 24, 2011
The Great Kitchen Clean-Up! (Week 5)
The Great Kitchen Clean-Up! (Week 5)
Excerpted from Just Clean Enough ON Jan 3, 2011 at 12:34PM
The Kitchen Calls
Week 5: Monday
Liner Note
20 minutes
Drawers and cabinets looking a little drab? Give them a pick me- up by inserting some drawer and shelf liners. These are easy-to-clean plastic liners with adhesive backing that come in lots of pretty patterns. Before you scoff, consider how these liners can change your life. Not only do they serve to protect your drawers and cabinetry (a big concern, to be sure), they also kick the aesthetic appeal up a notch. You can even get liners in scented varieties, adding another sensory dimension to the experience of looking for a measuring cup. And goodness< knows, the hunt for a measuring cup should be a stimulating one.
Week 5: Tuesday
It’s a Bird. It’s a Plane. It’s a Grapefruit!
15 minutes
By now, you should be storing most of your fruit in the fridge (see “Relocate Fruit to the Fridge”), but there may be some stragglers (bananas, ripening apricots, plums, and so on) that you don’t know what to do with. Pick up a handy-dandy hanging basket set, which gets fruits and veggies up off the counter and into the air. Most hanging baskets have two or three tiers; you can devote one to fruits, one to vegetables, and one to the special items that don’t play well with others. For example, bananas emit ethylene, a gas that causes other fruit to ripen at an increased rate. And garlic can transfer its strong smell to other fruits and vegetables it’s hanging out with. Keep these separate from the group, and everyone will be happier.
Week 5: Wednesday
You Stink, Microwave
5 minutes
Got a smelly microwave with splatters and smears of food as decoration? Time to do something about it. Fill a microwaveable bowl three-quarters of the way with water and add ¼ cup lemon juice to the bowl. Put the bowl with the water-lemon juice mixture into the microwave and run it on high for one minute. When it beeps, remove the bowl and wipe out the microwave using a damp rag or sponge and the condensation that has formed from the lemon water. And there you have it: a nice, clean microwave that smells lemony fresh!
Week 5: Thursday
Buy a Breadbox
10 minutes
If you’re like most families, you don’t really know what to do with all the bread you buy. Maybe it’s tossed on the top of your fridge or piled up on your counter. Solve this problem by heading to your local Ikea (or Target, or anywhere you can buy kitchen items) and pick up a breadbox. Gather all your loaves, rolls, and muffins together and put them in their new, crumbfree home. As a bonus, you now have a visual for all those times when someone asks you if an item is “bigger than a breadbox.”
Week 5: Friday
Control Coffeemaker Chaos
10 minutes
Coffee is delicious, and the caffeine sure does come in handy, but is all this really necessary? You have a French press on the counter, a drip coffeemaker on the table, and a moka pot on the stovetop. There’s also a bag of coffee beans, a grinder, a package of filters, a strainer . . . the list goes on forever. To simplify, choose your favorite style of coffee and get rid of the rest. Give the extraneous machinery and coffee to a good cause, such as your coworker who oversleeps and arrives late to work every day. Both your kitchen—and your coworker—will thank you.
Week 5: Saturday
Got Stovetop Splatters?
30 minutes
There are two ways to clean a stovetop: the hard way and the easy way. The hard way involves rubber gloves and scrubber sponges and elbow grease. Sounds fun, right? Not so much. To that end, we’re going to keep it simple and just talk about the easy way to get rid of that caked-on stovetop gunk. Simply spray the surface with an all-purpose kitchen cleaner, such as Formula 409, and let it sit for about twenty minutes. Then take a damp sponge and wipe up the splatters, which should have softened for easy cleanup. Also make sure you clean the area around the burners. If it’s a gas stove, remove the burner plates and soak them in hot, soapy water while you let the allpurpose cleaner do its work on the stovetop. When you come back, just rinse the burner plates, wipe off the stovetop, and you’re ready to go do something a lot more fun.
Week 5: Sunday
Create a Cooking Station
10 minutes
If you cook at home a lot, you probably have a few spices, oils, or other staples that you use in most of your recipes. A great way to prevent unnecessary trips to the cabinet and to make cooking easier is to set up a little station right next to your stove. A great tool to use is a desktop organizer, which has lots of slots and sections for a variety of different-sized items. For example, you might keep a set of salt and pepper shakers in the notepad holder, a small bottle of olive oil where the Wite-Out would go, and a couple of mixing utensils in the pen cup. Many of these desktop organizers are on turntables for easy access to all the products therein.
MY THOUGHTS
i'm lucky i don't have a stove. but the microwave needs some cleaning. i wonder where i could get those scented cabinet liners. i really like that idea.
Excerpted from Just Clean Enough ON Jan 3, 2011 at 12:34PM
The Kitchen Calls
Week 5: Monday
Liner Note
20 minutes
Drawers and cabinets looking a little drab? Give them a pick me- up by inserting some drawer and shelf liners. These are easy-to-clean plastic liners with adhesive backing that come in lots of pretty patterns. Before you scoff, consider how these liners can change your life. Not only do they serve to protect your drawers and cabinetry (a big concern, to be sure), they also kick the aesthetic appeal up a notch. You can even get liners in scented varieties, adding another sensory dimension to the experience of looking for a measuring cup. And goodness< knows, the hunt for a measuring cup should be a stimulating one.
Week 5: Tuesday
It’s a Bird. It’s a Plane. It’s a Grapefruit!
15 minutes
By now, you should be storing most of your fruit in the fridge (see “Relocate Fruit to the Fridge”), but there may be some stragglers (bananas, ripening apricots, plums, and so on) that you don’t know what to do with. Pick up a handy-dandy hanging basket set, which gets fruits and veggies up off the counter and into the air. Most hanging baskets have two or three tiers; you can devote one to fruits, one to vegetables, and one to the special items that don’t play well with others. For example, bananas emit ethylene, a gas that causes other fruit to ripen at an increased rate. And garlic can transfer its strong smell to other fruits and vegetables it’s hanging out with. Keep these separate from the group, and everyone will be happier.
Week 5: Wednesday
You Stink, Microwave
5 minutes
Got a smelly microwave with splatters and smears of food as decoration? Time to do something about it. Fill a microwaveable bowl three-quarters of the way with water and add ¼ cup lemon juice to the bowl. Put the bowl with the water-lemon juice mixture into the microwave and run it on high for one minute. When it beeps, remove the bowl and wipe out the microwave using a damp rag or sponge and the condensation that has formed from the lemon water. And there you have it: a nice, clean microwave that smells lemony fresh!
Week 5: Thursday
Buy a Breadbox
10 minutes
If you’re like most families, you don’t really know what to do with all the bread you buy. Maybe it’s tossed on the top of your fridge or piled up on your counter. Solve this problem by heading to your local Ikea (or Target, or anywhere you can buy kitchen items) and pick up a breadbox. Gather all your loaves, rolls, and muffins together and put them in their new, crumbfree home. As a bonus, you now have a visual for all those times when someone asks you if an item is “bigger than a breadbox.”
Week 5: Friday
Control Coffeemaker Chaos
10 minutes
Coffee is delicious, and the caffeine sure does come in handy, but is all this really necessary? You have a French press on the counter, a drip coffeemaker on the table, and a moka pot on the stovetop. There’s also a bag of coffee beans, a grinder, a package of filters, a strainer . . . the list goes on forever. To simplify, choose your favorite style of coffee and get rid of the rest. Give the extraneous machinery and coffee to a good cause, such as your coworker who oversleeps and arrives late to work every day. Both your kitchen—and your coworker—will thank you.
Week 5: Saturday
Got Stovetop Splatters?
30 minutes
There are two ways to clean a stovetop: the hard way and the easy way. The hard way involves rubber gloves and scrubber sponges and elbow grease. Sounds fun, right? Not so much. To that end, we’re going to keep it simple and just talk about the easy way to get rid of that caked-on stovetop gunk. Simply spray the surface with an all-purpose kitchen cleaner, such as Formula 409, and let it sit for about twenty minutes. Then take a damp sponge and wipe up the splatters, which should have softened for easy cleanup. Also make sure you clean the area around the burners. If it’s a gas stove, remove the burner plates and soak them in hot, soapy water while you let the allpurpose cleaner do its work on the stovetop. When you come back, just rinse the burner plates, wipe off the stovetop, and you’re ready to go do something a lot more fun.
Week 5: Sunday
Create a Cooking Station
10 minutes
If you cook at home a lot, you probably have a few spices, oils, or other staples that you use in most of your recipes. A great way to prevent unnecessary trips to the cabinet and to make cooking easier is to set up a little station right next to your stove. A great tool to use is a desktop organizer, which has lots of slots and sections for a variety of different-sized items. For example, you might keep a set of salt and pepper shakers in the notepad holder, a small bottle of olive oil where the Wite-Out would go, and a couple of mixing utensils in the pen cup. Many of these desktop organizers are on turntables for easy access to all the products therein.
MY THOUGHTS
i'm lucky i don't have a stove. but the microwave needs some cleaning. i wonder where i could get those scented cabinet liners. i really like that idea.
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