Inspiration Bin

Your Guide to Summer Clean-Up

name.nospam@nospam.example.com (Suzi) — Fri, 08 May 2009 05:18:00 -1300

It’s that time of year when homeowners around the country clean out basements, garages, attics, closets and other storage areas. We diligently pull stuff we haven’t seen in months, years, perhaps decades from the recesses of our homes. What we do with it?

Over the next couple posts, you’ll get a clean-out plan and options on what to do with all the stuff you no longer want to store in your home, whether you want to hold a yard sale, sell your items online or donate them to charity and take the tax credit.

Let’s start with the clean-out plan.

If you’re like me, the mere thought of cleaning out a room makes me want to watch television; then I stumble upon one of the programs that shows a house with a runaway clutter problem. That usually inspires me to get off the couch and toss the junk mail, the silly email printouts and circulars into the recycle bin. But what if the task is larger? Rest assured, it can be done, and without a visit from a television crew. The key is having a plan.

If you have visited our blog in the past, you may have seen our first post Letting Go Of Your Inner Packrat, which may help you to overcome feelings of guilt associated with letting things go. Once you decide that it’s time to clean out, decide on a room, corner, section and gather:

Trash bin
Hazardous waste bin – check with your refuse service about 1 – what qualifies as hazardous waste and 2 – how you need to dispose of it.
Recycle bin – paper, plastic, steal, aluminum
Keep bin
Donate/Sell bin

Then, begin the process of picking up each item and deciding in what bin it belongs. Be realistic and a little ruthless when choosing which items go into what bin. If you’re saving an item that belongs to a project, e.g. stickers, papers, paint, wingnuts, set it in the “keep” bin for the moment. Then, when everything is put away in its place, decide if you’re truly going to complete the project or if the item needs to be eliminated. The reward is a cleaner home and more peace of mind that comes with organized surroundings.

Be sure to check back for more summer clean up tips or sign-up to receive blog update alerts.

Peace of Mind in 2009

name.nospam@nospam.example.com (Suzi) — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 09:14:00 -1300

One of the leading new year’s resolutions is to “be more organized.” While you’re organizing everything from your garage to your sock drawer, it may be a good time to organize your In Case Of Emergency Grab and Go Documents kit.

The Grab and Go kit should include all the important documents or copies of those documents that you would not want destroyed in fire, flood or some other element.

There are some great products on the market that will help you get organized and may even help you think through what you need. Here is a list of things your kit should include:

Birth certificates
Social security cards
Marriage licenses
Passports
Bank statements
Tax Records
Deeds
Car Information
Insurance policies
Wills
Credit Card Information
Monthly billing information, e.g. utilities, phone bills, etc.
Medical Insurance Information
Medical information, e.g. doctor’s name, address, phone, prescriptions
Pet Information, e.g. veterinary records, vet name, license information, obedience certificates
Contact numbers
Computer backup
Important photos or scans of photos on display
Valuables log with receipt or receipt information.
Extra keys to your home and vehicles.
Check list of things to grab on your way out of the house.

Here are some other things to consider:

Place these items in a waterproof container. It can be as simple as a Ziploc® bag.
Invest in a fireproof safe. It should be large enough to hold your information and valuables, but small enough to carry out quickly.
Consider keeping an electronic record on a CD or thumbdrive or external harddrive. Scan documents and keep PDFs.
Keep a copy of this information with a trusted friend or family member in another area.
Let your family know where things are.

Get Organized In Time For The Holidays

name.nospam@nospam.example.com (Suzi) — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 07:19:00 -1300

Decorating the house is usually the kick-off for the holiday season. However, unscrambling lights, discovering broken heirlooms and scavenging for important items can dampen anyone’s holiday spirit. Planning for success is the key to pleasant kick-off of the holiday season! Get your stuff organized with storage solutions that have been designed specifically for your unique needs! Take the time to install shelves, cabinets and overhead garage racks to store your holiday treasures during the off season, so you’ll know just where to find them when it’s time.

Here are some tips to make your holidays a little happier:

Use clear plastic storage bins to hold items for each holiday project, e.g. outdoor lights, outdoor decoration, mantle decorations, tree decorations, dinnerware, etc. This will allow you to see what’s inside, grab a bin and complete the project without having to search for odds and ends.
Store extra light clips with your outdoor lights so you don’t have to search far to replace clips that may have fallen. Fascia board grip clips, which are available at hardware stores, are a great way to hang lights for the winter holidays and patriotic bunting for the summer holidays.
Use a labeler to identify project boxes at a glance and ensure decorations get back into the appropriate box
Store treasured, one-of-a-kind family heirlooms, like ornaments, in smaller boxes with adequate padding before storing in a large box. This will protect them in the event the large box is jostled.
When the season is over, edit your collection to eliminate broken or unwanted items.
Cure Knick-knack Overload by giving your regular home accessories a holiday this season! Instead of adding to your display, replace regular décor items with holiday items. The benefits to you are less dusting, your regular items will look fresh again after the holidays and the house won’t appear empty.

Thanksgiving Pantry Raid!

name.nospam@nospam.example.com (Suzi) — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 07:17:00 -1300

Thanksgiving’s right around the corner and if you’re like me, you’re in charge of preparing the guest of honor. Before you go to the store to stock up on all the appropriate ingredients, raid your pantry and take stock of what’s there, what’s not and what needs replacing.

Remove everything from your pantry and give it a good vacuum and wipe down with a damp cloth.
Edit your collection. If it’s caked, smells “off” or is a different color than when you bought it, toss it and replace it.
Store flour in airtight containers.
Store nuts in the freezer. The oils in nuts can spoil. If you buy in bulk, store them in the freezer and get some extra time out of them.
Spices expire. If you have a spice container that’s been with you since the last election cycle, it’s time to toss it. Check expiration dates or write the date you purchased the spice on the container.
Buy smaller containers of spices to encourage rotation.
For the holidays, if you use a lot of black pepper, purchase a small container of ground pepper. You’ll save some time not having to use the peppermill. Alternatively, buy an inexpensive coffee grinder that you use just for spices! Combine leftover ground pepper with salt for a great all-purpose seasoning.
According to the experts, ground spices are good for 2-3 years, whole spices are good for about 4 years, dried herbs are good for 1-2 years and most extracts are good for 4 years. Vanilla extract is good indefinitely. (McCormick.com)
Honey can remain stable for centuries! However, exposure to temperature variances, lights and air can affect its aroma and flavor. The National Honey Board (honey.com) recommends discarding honey after 2 years.
Be sure to check the canned food in your pantry (and emergency kit). Commercially prepared canned foods have fairly long shelf lives; however, it’s a good idea to check them periodically. Check for expiration dates on the cans. If no expiration date is present use this rule of thumb: High-acid foods like tomatoes and fruit juice can be safely stored for 18 months; where as low-acid foods like vegetables, meats and fish, can be stored for two to five years. (MayoClinic.com)
Cans that are bulging or leaking should be tossed.

Six Ideas for Calmer Holiday Seasons

name.nospam@nospam.example.com (Suzi) — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 08:17:00 -1300

Ah, the holidays! There’s a coziness about them. Your home is perfumed with the scents of vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and butter. Everything sparkles under fairy lights. But getting to this point takes work… a lot of it. Before your home can shine under thousands of twinkling lights, you have to first locate them in the garage. Or was it the closet? Maybe they’re hiding in the attic? Before you call out the search teams, here are some tips you can use this year to make getting to next year’s festivities easier!

Use clear plastic storage bins to hold items for each holiday project, e.g. outdoor lights, outdoor decoration, mantle decorations, tree decorations, dinnerware, etc. This will allow you to see what’s inside, grab a bin and complete the project without having to search for odds and ends.
Store extra light clips with your outdoor lights so you don’t have to search far to replace clips that may have fallen. Fascia board grip clips, which are available at hardware stores, are a great way to hang lights for the winter holidays and patriotic bunting for the summer holidays.
Use a labeler to identify project boxes at a glance and ensure decorations get back into the appropriate box
Store treasured, one-of-a-kind family heirlooms, like ornaments, in smaller boxes with adequate padding before storing in a large box. This will protect them in the event the large box is jostled.
When the season is over, edit your collection to eliminate broken or unwanted items.
Cure Knick-knack Overload by giving your regular home accessories a holiday this season! Instead of adding to your display, replace regular décor items with holiday items. The benefits to you are less dusting, your regular items will look fresh again after the holidays and the house won’t appear empty when you stow your holiday items.
Carve out a special storage place for your holiday items. Closet Tailors can install shelving, cabinets and overhead garage racks to keep your holiday items right where you’ll look for them next season.

Home Franchise Concepts plans to bring Closet Tailors Franchise to Canada

name.nospam@nospam.example.com (Suzi) — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 08:14:00 -1300

Franchisor Hopes Sister Concept Finds Similar Success as Budget Blinds

ORANGE, Calif. – Home Franchise Concepts (HFC) announced today that it will begin licensing of Closet Tailors franchises in Canada within the next few months. Closet Tailors is a custom storage solutions franchise. The decision to bring Closet Tailors to Canada is based largely on the rapid growth and franchisee achievements in Canada experienced by Budget Blinds, HFC’s original custom window coverings franchise concept.

“After studying the numbers and debating among the five partners, we decided that the time was right to offer our second concept in Canada,” said Chad Hallock, CEO and President of HFC, which is the parent company to Budget Blinds and Closet Tailors.

Franchising as a whole has enjoyed great success in Canada. According to the International Franchise Association, over 80,000 franchise units representing 900 brands operate in Canada and contribute nearly $100 billion to the Canadian economy.”

Further, the Canadian market has grown rapidly for the franchisor. Since entering the market in late 2005, the system has grown to 70 franchise territories. Last year, a franchise from Alberta joined the company’s Million Dollar club, after selling over $1 million (U.S.) in product during a 12-month period. Earlier this year, the first showroom opened in Alberta.

Craig Howes, who operates several Budget Blinds franchises with his business partner Don Townsend in Red Deer, Alberta and posted over $1 million (U.S.) in reported sales in 2007, credits the business model.

“The business model provides the franchisee the choice to operate a small business or grow to a large business,” said Howes.

“Budget Blinds is positioned perfectly for Canadians, boasting the largest buying power in the industry, the strongest marketing capability in the industry and a highly supportive franchisee infrastructure. Regardless of a franchisee’s interests in volume or size, the best part about a Budget Blinds franchise is the available potential! It is what you make of it!” said Howes.

This growth and franchisee enthusiasm encouraged Home Franchise Concepts to explore the possibility of bringing additional concepts to Canada in the near future.

“The Canadian market has accepted the custom window treatments and home décor concept of Budget Blinds so well, that we feel good about bringing Closet Tailors, our custom storage solutions concept, to Canada, as well,” said Hallock.

Design the Perfect Mudroom

name.nospam@nospam.example.com (Suzi) — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 05:15:00 -1300

Mudrooms or transition rooms are an area near an entryway of the house. These rooms are perfect for storing everyday items the family uses. Mudrooms corral items like coats, hats, purses, dog leashes, the kids’ school bags, briefcases, gym gear, keys, and shoes. Mudrooms are common in homes in snowy climates, but these transitional rooms are now in demand everywhere!

Why are Mudrooms hot!

Extra Storage
- Who can’t use an extra closet or storage space for your everyday items? Prevent your belongings from getting misplaced somewhere in the house. Extra storage is very helpful for bulk items from Costco and Sam’s Club too!

Less Cleaning
- A mudroom won’t stop every ounce of dirt from getting into the living quarters, but it will help cut down the dirt, clutter, rainwater and dust that is dragged into the house.

Enhance the Value of Your Home
- Having a mudroom adds that special curb-appeal and can have a valuable impact on the resale of your home!

What belongs in mudrooms?

Where ever your mudroom is located make sure that the space is tiled, vinyl, or concrete. It is easier to clean than having carpet.
Mats are great for scrapping off the excess dirt off of shoes and boots.
Washable rugs are great for collecting water and preventing dirt from being tracked all over the floors.
Shelving is a must. Make sure they are at levels that can be reached easily.
If you want to hide your everyday items and you do not have a closet, cabinets are a great solution.
Rods and hooks are good to hang up coats, keys, purses, hats, and other sundry items.
Personalize your mudroom. Add a comfortable bench to sit is not only stylish, but great while taking off shoes. Closet Tailors has an array of storage solutions that can help create a space specifically to your wants and needs.
A comfortable bench to sit is great while taking off shoes.
Add a full length mirror for style to take a quick look at yourself before heading out the door.
A shoe rack is helpful for letting wet or muddy shoes to dry. Plus, it keeps them being misplaced or collecting dirt on the floors.
For clothing that is wet or dirty add a basket or a hamper to make it more convenient when it comes time to do laundry.
Cubbies are useful for kids. Make them at a reachable height. They can store towels, school bags, and the kids’ belongings.
Wire Baskets are helpful for storing mittens, scarves, and other items that can normally can be misplaced or clutter the house.
Remember the pets! Having a hook for leashes. Stow biscuits in a decorative container. Keep grooming supplies at hand.

Back To School, Lunchtime

name.nospam@nospam.example.com (Suzi) — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 07:17:00 -1300

In addition to a well stocked pantry, a well stocked refrigerator is helpful, too. Ensure you have plenty of string cheese, healthy fruit and cut veggies on hand to pack in lunch boxes. Added bonus: Cut veggies can double as after-school snacks and be added to dinners to boost veggie counts!

Try this spin on the traditional cut veggie tray!

Chopped Veggie Salad:

2-3 c. Chopped Veggies of Your Choice, e.g., celery, carrots, peppers, asparagus, broccoli, cauliflower.
½-1 c of your favorite Italian dressing or vinaigrette or homemade lemon dressing!
1 c cubed mozzarella or 2-3 sticks of string cheese sliced into 1-inch pieces
¼-1/2 c. pine nuts (optional)
Small can pitted olives (optional)

Combine chopped veggies and dressing in a zip top bag. Seal and let marinade in the refrigerator for 8 hours or overnight. Pour marinated veggies into serving bowl, toss in mozzarella pieces, olives and pine nuts. Serve alone as a tangy veggie side dish with pizza or pasta or spoon ½ c over salad greens to boost your veggie consumption!

Homemade Lemon Dressing:

Juice of 1-2 lemons

1 Tblsp Lemon Zest
¼- ½ c. Olive Oil
Salt and Pepper to taste

Whisk together. Enjoy over veggies or add fresh rosemary and use as a marinade for chicken!

Easing Back-To-School With An Organized Pantry

name.nospam@nospam.example.com (Suzi) — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 02:53:00 -1300

A well-stocked, organized pantry can simplify making school lunches! Stock your pantry with grab-n-go lunchtime staples like fruit leather, fruit cups, pudding snacks, single serving packs of cookies, small packages of chips, juice boxes and the like lunch prep can be a snap!

If you prefer to purchase large packages, take some time to pre-pack chips and cookies in small baggies to save precious moments in the morning.

Then, when it comes time to pack the lunches, just grab the appropriate items from the pantry and send them on their way!

Organize Your Kids’ Playroom

name.nospam@nospam.example.com (Suzi) — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 09:05:00 -1300

You thought you were somewhat organized before parenthood, but those days are long gone. Now, your children’s toys, building blocks, stuffed animals and books are cluttering the entire house! There are so many ways to control the toy clutter and get your kids involved. In addition, these little tips can provide you with not only a functional space, but will complement your home décor.

Playroom Organization 101

Discard or Donate

Broken toys can pose hazards to children. Either repair broken toys or discard them. If your children have toys they simply have out grown, encourage your kids to donate them to others less fortunate.

Think function!

Involve the kids when designing their playroom; however, make sure to incorporate loads of storage within! Closet Tailors are experts and can help optimize your children’s storage space.

Have different activity stations.

Create different play stations in the playroom; this will help keep things orderly. Closet Tailors can design a space with flat file drawers, pull out baskets, vertical storage slots with adjustable cubbies to corral craft projects. If your kids need a computer center, Closet Tailors experts can design a kids office where they can do their homework and play. Lastly, Closet Tailors can design a library to house your children’s books, collectables, and stuffed animal zoo!

Keep cleaning simple.

Categorize your kids belonging. Separate the big stuff from the little. Incorporate bins, storage units, shelving, and baskets to organize the toy clutter. Having a place for the kids’ belongings will make cleaning much easier and less frustrating. Also, kids are more acceptable to cleaning when everything has a specific place it belongs. A label maker for organizing is handy for labeling and categorizing different drawers and bins, so supplies are located quickly and easy to put away.

Getting the kids involved with cleaning.

It is a smart idea to encourage your kids at an early age about organization and that everything has a place. Consider creating a house rule that the kids tidy-up before the next activity they want to start. Or make up a game to encourage your kids; how fast can you tidy-up or who is the fastest cleaner?