A Place for Everything

That Clean Feeling

Anne — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 16:00:17 +0000

Have you ever experienced the feeling of walking into a freshly cleaned space? It is more than the overall look of the place; it truly has a good feeling, a positive vibe. When you create more order and flow in your home, that ‘clean’ feeling lasts much, much longer.

Needs Versus Wants

Anne — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 16:00:47 +0000

When looking for your next ‘perfect’ home, create a checklist of needs versus wants. Write down the address of the home you are viewing and check your list accordingly.

After viewing even three homes you will find this helpful to keep what you saw in check.

Choosing Storage Containers

Anne — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 16:00:00 +0000

When looking for the perfect storage container consider everything in a particular category you are wanting to store. Can you get all of it into one container? If the items are heavy, you may need two or more smaller bins. Do you need to see the contents? You may want labelled clear bins. However solid colours may be preferred, depending on the items.

Consider: How much space you have; measure before you go. What do you need to store? Test the stack-ability of the containers. How easy will they be to lift once they are filled?

When adding more items to your storage spaces always consider what you may no longer need, and keep the flow of in-and-out going.

Keep The Goal In Mind

Anne — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 16:00:13 +0000

Why are you getting organized? To have more time to yourself? Celebrating the next chapter of your life? Simplifying your life? What ever your reason, keep it in mind with every decision you make. If you are retiring, you won’t need ten suits any longer. If you are downsizing you won’t need china settings for twelve. With every thing you pick up ask yourself if it supports the goal in mind, then make the decision to keep it or let it go.

Packing Up After The Holidays

Anne — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 16:00:02 +0000

If you missed the Tip of The Week for December 4th, here is a variation of that. Now that you are packing up the holiday decorations for another year, make sure you love and use everything you are putting away. Did everything survive last year? Would you benefit from better packaging? Wrap lights so they are easy to access next time. Make sure your precious traditions survive another year.

Happy Holidays

Anne — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 16:00:49 +0000

May your heart be filled with the spirit of the season today, and all year.

Happy Holidays from A Place For Everything!

A Gift From The Heart

Anne — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 16:00:44 +0000

If there is guilt, obligation or debt associated with a purchase for someone else; it is not a gift. The perfect gift comes from paying attention to what someone else wants, not what we think they want.

Cosmetics Shelf Life

Anne — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 16:00:58 +0000

How long have you been using the same makeup? What about your shampoo and conditioner? Makeup does expire and salon shampoo and conditioners will break down. The general consensus of length of use for mascara is 3-4 months, eye makeup and lipstick 1 year, and any cosmetics you put your fingers into 6 months. Salon shampoo and conditioners last about 2 years. Using expired makeup especially around your eyes can result in allergic reaction or infection.

If you purchase 6 bottles of your favourite salon shampoo because it is on sale, you may not get the same performance from the 6th bottle as you did from the 1st.

De-clutter your makeup and cosmetics; and only repurchase when you are just about out. This will keep what you use fresher longer.

Organized Holiday Decorations

Anne — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 16:00:18 +0000

When you pull out the decorations this year take a bit of time to have a good look through them. Do you use everything? If not why not? Fix or turf the broken. If you are tired of some of the things, pass them on to a local charity as early in the season as possible so they can make good use of them. Simplify your decorations.

Mindful Gift Giving

Anne — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 16:00:54 +0000

With the holiday season fast approaching it is a good time to consider clutter-free gift giving. Most of us have enough; then when this time of year comes along we over indulge in so many ways. We eat more, drink more, and spend more!

Many of us don’t want to receive more ‘stuff’, but we are afraid to offend our usual gift givers. Be brave, be the first to suggest drawing names for gifts at least among the adults, this will lighten the load, and save time trying to figure out where to put more stuff.

Plan a family vacation, it is a gift you’ll look forward to until the time comes. There are many ways to customize consumable gifts for the people on your list. Is there a new mom that could benefit from some time to herself? Give her babysitting services, diaper services or cleaning services. How about the senior that no longer drives, perhaps they would love the freedom of having a personal driver for a day. There are the usual favorites like a trip to the spa, the movies, or a great local restaurant.

Create a ‘Day With Me’ certificate that gives each of your children separate time with you doing the things you enjoy doing together.

This is also a great way for kids to give of themselves; wash a car, babysit a younger sibling, clean their room! What a great way to teach our kids the true spirit of giving.

The one question I have to ask is, if there is guilt and obligation attached, how is it a gift?

It isn’t the size of the gift that matters, but the size of the heart that gives it. The Angels’ Little Instruction Book – Eileen Elias Freeman