Daily Candy Kids

Look for me in the April 27th Atlanta edition of Daily Candy Kids where I discuss ways to tame kids toys and artwork. With overzealous grandparents and well-meaning aunts and uncles, toys just seem to multiply overnight.

On Daily Candy Kids, I offer tips for using overlooked spaces such as the backs of doors and underneath beds to stow toys and children's artwork.

Here's a bonus tip just for my Better Organized blog readers: You can place stackable drawers side by side under many children's beds. They make great containers for tiny little parts and pieces, doll clothes, and Legos. Plus the drawers can be pulled completely out in case the toys need to be played with in another part of the house.

Measure the space from the floor to the bedframe and head out to The Container Store, Target, Big Lots, or even The Dollar Store for the plastic stackable drawers. Or if you're looking for a bed with built-in drawers, check out IKEA's selection.

Decatur Electronics Recycling Day Postponed

The City of Decatur announced the cancellation and rescheduling of the March 28, 2009 Electronics Recycling Day due to heavy rains and lightening over the weekend. Because the event is held outdoors , the severe weather made it a safety hazard for the workers and volunteers.

Electronics Recycling Day has been rescheduled for Saturday, April 25 from 9:00 a.m. - 1 p.m. in the Decatur High School parking lot. Visit www.decaturga.com for a complete list of electronic items that may be recycled and for more details about the event. You may also call (404) 377-5571 for information.

Recyclng Electronics

When I am organizing my clients, they'll often have old televisions, computers, monitors and other electronics that they've never gotten rid of because they aren't sure of the best, most environmentally friendly disposal options.

Here are a few suggestions for folks in the Atlanta area:

• The City of Decatur hosts its Electronics Recycling event in the spring and the fall of each year. This year's spring event is coming up next weekend on March 28. Bring your old televisions, computers, fax machines, telephones, stereo equipment, electric lawn equipment, etc. to the Decatur High School parking lot from 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. They are even recycling clean Styrofoam and old batteries. Note that there is a charge of $10 (exact change requested) for television donations. For a more detailed list of acceptable donations, go to http://www.decaturga.com/cgs_citysvcs_sfm_electronics.aspx.

• Keep Atlanta Beautiful has partnered with Atlanta Public Schools to provide e-waste recycling drop-off centers in the City of Atlanta. They have kicked off a program at Grady High School which gives students and local neighbors a permanent location to recycle old electronics every third Saturday of the month. The drop-off location is currently at the 8th Street parking lot across from Grady. For more information and a detailed list of acceptable donations, click here.
  

• A company that my husband has used for computer repair, HM Solutions Incorporated, recently sent us an email saying, "If you have any computer equipment you do not use, please contact us. We will take your old equipment, recondition it, and donate it to a worthy cause, whether it be an underprivileged individual or to a family who cannot afford a computer." For more information about this program, please contact Bobby Sahij at bobby@hmsolutionsinc.com.

These are just a few of the electronics recycling opportunities available. Google "Electronics Recycling" and include your city or county name, and you'll find even more convenient options.

Elfa Sale Extended

One of my favorite closet systems, elfa, rarely goes on sale. But I'm happy to report that The Container Store has put it on sale for 30% off until May 10, 2009.

According to a recent email from Melissa Reiff, President of The Container Store, they have too much inventory of elfa, their most popular closet system. There's even some elfa product on sale for as much as 50% off.

If you already have elfa in any of your closets, you know how easy it is to install and how flexible it is to change as the needs of the space change. I love to use it in childrens' closets because the shelves and bars can be installed very low when the kids are preschool age and then gradually raised as the kids grow.

Heck, it's so durable that, when the kids move out, your elfa will still be holding up and you can transform that closet for use in your new home office or guest room.

The Container Store offers complimentary elfa design in the stores, online, and by phone. Often my clients will have me or one of my Lead Organizers look at their space (closet, pantry, garage) and discuss the best layout of the space based on their organizing plan. Then the client takes their measurements to The Container Store and has TCS it design on their computerized design system. TCS pulls all the pieces for the client and then the client calls Creative Order in to handle the installation of the system. Finally, we work with the client to appropriately fill the shelves of their new system.

If you've been thinking about organizing or re-designing a closet, pantry, or garage, contact me at suellen at creativeorder dot com and I'll walk you through it step by step.

De-Cluttering the Bathroom

Isn't it amazing how the smallest room in most homes, the bathroom, can become the most cluttered?

Most of my clients have multiple bathrooms including a master bath, a guest bath and often a separate bath that is designated to the kids or spouse. (I hear that one of the secrets to a happy household is separate bathrooms.)

Ladies, I must say that we normally cause most of the clutter in a master bath. With our razors, soaps, gels, lotions, body sprays, and makeup that make us smell fabulous and look pretty, we can quickly clutter up a shower stall and vanity top.

Following are some of the ways to minimize bathroom clutter:

• Bottles of Shampoo and Conditioner: If you have several bottles in your shower caddy, either use them up, give them away, or throw them out. Are you saving them because they were expensive and you don't want to use them up? Did they just not provide the results you expected? Remember that hair conditioner can also be used as shaving lotion and shampoo can be used to clean your makeup brushes and hair brushes.
  

• Old towels and wash cloths: Life is too short to use scratchy, dingy towels on your squeaky-clean body. Almost everyone has too many mismatched towels on hand. Consider re-purposing your old towels as car/pet towels or donate them to your local animal shelter. Most households only need two-three towels per family member.

• Blowdryers, diffusers, and curling irons: The first question to ask is, "Do I use this?" If not, donate it. I would make one exception, however. You may want to keep one travel size blowdryer on hand for overnight guests.
  

• Makeup: If the makeup is old and expired, throw it out. Pink eye is not pretty, people. Most women have a core set of makeup for everyday use with a few extras thrown in for dramatic evening flair. Gather all of your non-core makeup in one bag or basket and then be relentless as you decide what to keep and what to toss. If it's the wrong color, made you break out, or is no longer age-appropriate (should you still be using party glitter once you're over 40? I'm just saying...), then toss it.
  

• Medicine cabinet: Go through your medicine cabinet and throw out expired meds. A couple of years ago I cleaned out a client's medicine cabinet that contained Chloraseptic throat spray that expired in the 80s. Yikes! And to entertain your nosy friends, put some kind of zany picture on the inside of your medicine cabinet door. It will make them laugh, but they won't be able to comment about it without divulging that they were snooping.
  

• Under-sink cabinet. Occasionally pull everything out from under your bathroom sink to determine whether it still deserves to stay. If you can afford to have pullout drawers installed in this area, they are wonderful! If not, you can always use a couple of plastic sweater boxes or shoe boxes as makeshift drawers.
  

I have only one bathroom in my little fifties ranch house which I, of course, share with my husband. And this tiny bathroom does not have a sink cabinet. Needless to say, we have learned to really streamline our personal toiletries. I installed a small wall cabinet for my toiletries and my husband uses the medicine cabinet for his. I fit all of my makeup into two little cosmetic bags. To be happy and functional in our shared little bathroom, less is definitely better.

Container Store / Oprah Special Offer

In partnership with "Oprah's Clean Up Your Messy House Tour", The Container Store is offering
20% off storewide sale through March 1, 2009.

This discount can be used on everything in the store, including The Container Store's awesome elfa shelving solutions.

Go to www.containerstore.com to get the coupon for in-store purchases or you can order online and use the promo code CLUTTERCREW.

Also happening at The Container Store is their annual Tax Time Sale where you can find discounts on really cute folders like the ones above.

I always encourage my organizing clients to stock up on translucent plastic file tote boxes this time of year because you can find them on sale at The Container Store or almost any office supply store.

Tip: Post-tax time is the perfect time of year to evaluate your file drawers and pull out those files that can be thrown out, shredded, or stored outside of your active work area in such places as an attic, garage, or basement. Just don't forget to label the plastic file boxes before you move them to their new, out-of-the-way home.

I don't recommend storing old files in cardboard banker boxes because the boxes can begin to fall apart in humid environments, are easy for rodents and bugs to get into, and they don't stack as securely as plastic bins.

Time and Money Saver: The Six O'Clock Scramble

There was recent discussion amongst NAPO organizers about an on-line dinner planning service called The Six O'Clock Scramble (www.thescramble.com) that I wanted to share with you. It sounds like a time AND money saver. And who couldn't use more time and money, right?

Each week Six O'Clock Scramble subscribers receive:

• Five family-tested, healthy, delicious, and quick dinner recipes that take 30 minutes or less to prepare
• An organized grocery list so you can grocery shop just once per week
  
• A searchable database where you can customize your weekly dinner plan
• Your own recipe box where you can save you family's favorite 30-minute meals
• A newsletter with useful tips for easier mealtime, snacks, and lunches
• Nutritional information for each recipe to help you take charge of your health

Several NAPO organizers said that their lives have been so much easier since subscribing to this service. And it's not just for busy moms! I saw a testimonial on the site from a couple who are recent empty-nesters, and they described how they have been able to save money on groceries because they are only buying what they know they will use in a given week.

Plus it's healthier than eating out because The Scramble emphasizes whole grains, lean proteins, and lots of fruits and vegetables. And if you have special dietary needs such as vegetarian or Kosher, you can swap out any meal with a selection from the Scramble database.

Finally, I love their recipe box feature too. They say on the FAQ section that they will even keep your recipe box for up to a year after your subscription ends.

You may also want to pick up The Six O'Clock Scrambler book at Barnes & Noble.