The Changing Table

As I sit in my office and look out the window, I notice the fresh blooms on the tree outside.

 Spring has definitely sprung! Spring has always been bittersweet for me. I love watching trees and flowers begin to bloom, birds chirp and mother nature waking from a winter sleep, but I am a little sad because I love cold weather. The idea of sipping hot cocoa in front of a roaring fire, or wrapping myself up in a large down comforter puts a smile on my face, and brings me warmth and comfort. If I could live in a colder climate where 4 seasons actually come and go, I think I would feel as equally content with spring and summer.
       Now that spring is almost officially here I have started helping my clients purge their winter clutter. A few days ago one of my clients asked me to come up with an idea on how to organize her gardening tools.

Tip #122  The Changing Table
 A changing table used to change infants is a wonderful piece of furniture to have, but what do you do with it once your kids are potty trained?? Give up...Turn it into a potting station for your gardening supplies. Coat the piece of furniture with a coat of semi or high gloss paint to protect it from environmental elements.  Then stack pots on shelves, stash seeds and gardening tools in the drawers, or create an easy access hanging tote with gardening tools, and gloves.

If gardening isn't your thing, turn the changing table into a one stop craft supply/gift wrapping storage station, shelving unit for storage baskets a mini bar, or even a side table in an entry way...The creative list goes on and on!

The great thing about this piece of furniture is that it can be repurposed based on your need! I guess that's why they really call it a changing table!

Friendly Fold

Good Afternoon Everyone!!! I am happy to say we are back!! The holidays and new year were chaotic, then came our big move...Thank goodness I am overly organized! With that being said I have formulated new tips to help the busy person on the go... Today's tip is going to be a doozy...
 
As you may or may not know I am a professional organizer and I pride myself on making sure I live the way I work. On Monday I started my usual weekly chores and decided to reorganize one of my linen closets. While doing this I noticed that my sheets were not folded as nicely as they should have been. So I decided to take a tip from Martha Stewart and use the pillow case trick.

Tip #113: Friendly Fold
      In order to keep your linen closet free of mismatched sheet sets, towels and other closet items use this trick to keep sheets with sheets and towels with towels...

Fold your flat sheet and one of your pillow cases and set aside...Keep the other pillowcase unfolded. Take your fitted sheet and fold it using these simple steps.

1.Stand holding the sheet inside out by the two corners adjacent to one of the shorter edges. Place one hand in each of the two corners of the sheet.

2. Bring your right hand to your left and place your right hand with the sheet in it over enveloping the two. You will then need to reach down and pick up the corner that is dangling in front; bring that up and fold it over the two corners you already have together in your left hand. (Note: the corner that is showing will be inside out.)

3. Next bring the final corner up, and fold over the other corners you have. With the right side showing, it should envelope the three other corners.

4. Lay the sheet on a flat surface and straighten the elastic part into something very similar to a "J" shape.

5. Fold the two elastic edges in so all of that is hidden.

6. Then fold into a rectangle.

7. Continue to fold until the rectangle is the size you want it to be.

Once you have completed this you will take the flat sheet and open it up like a book. Place you fitted sheet on one side, and place you pillow case on the other side and fold it back together. Once you have done this, take your sheet set and place in the pillowcase you left unfolded. Now you have a nicely folded sheet set that will sit nicely on your shelf in your linen closet. You can stack these according to size (twin, full, queen, king) or by the room you will use them in.

This tip definitely makes life a little less complicated, and keeps your sheets crisp, clean, and accessible!

Cash It!!

Happy Holidays!!! From the weather, to the always mood pleasing holiday music in most places of business, it is most definitely Christmas time again!! 

Christmas is one of my favorite times of the year. I love decorating, baking, and shopping for the perfect gifts for my friends and family. With the economy in a shambles, we the consumer, are eager to swipe the credit cards and opt to pay for our amazingly wonderful purchases later. When the statement comes in the mail the following month we feel the ulcers begin to form, and that dreaded cloud of impending doom surface...Today's tip is one that can be used not only during the holidays, but in your everyday life.

Tip #56: Cash It!!

I am not an ace when it comes to my finances so I have been reading a book called The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey. This guy is the ultimate financial fitness coach! I'm starting my new year's resolution early by applying some of his techniques for my Christmas Shopping...

When you make a list of the people you are buying gifts for write out the names of your loved ones on the front of an envelope. Now set a gift budget, then break that down for each person on the list, and write the amount next to their name. Once you have done that put the entire amount of cash you plan to spend on all your gifts in the envelope. Once you've spent all the cash, you are done shopping.

 Leave the credit and debit cards at home...DO NOT USE THEM FOR GIFTS!!!

 You will find you become exceedingly conservative with your spending, and this may actually help you tap into your creative side. I am making half of my gifts this year. Not only is it less expensive, but it's coming from the heart. Isn't that part of what this amazing holiday is about? 

Let me know how this works out for you. I would love to hear all the different creative ideas!

Checkbook Please

Have you ever heard of the of the website Pinterest? I absolutely love it!!

For those of you who don't know I'll explain. Pinterest is an invitation only virtual bulletin board website where you can pin your favorite ideas, pictures, quotes and anything else your heart desires.

 It becomes extremely addicting, and serves as a great way to network when trying out DIY projects.

Because of this website I have become interested in antique and secondhand furniture that I can redesign and reupholster. Unfortunately Murphy's Law always applies when I find a piece of furniture I like. I am unprepared to measure the dimensions and become hesitant to buy something because of the size. Today's tip will help measure when in a quick bind.

Tip #43: Checkbook Please!!
All checkbooks are roughly six inches long, so the next time you are somewhere and see a fabulous must-have piece of furniture, pullout your checkbook and start measuring.

Hopefully your DIY fabulous furniture find will be the next big pin on Pinterest!

We Remember!

Good Morning Everyone!! I am so sorry I have fallen behind on my Tips of the Day! Creative Concierge Services has been busy with some major organizing projects that have left me exhausted by the day's end. With that being said I would like to take a moment to thank all the men and women who serve in our armed forces and have laid down their lives to protect ours. It's days like this that get me thinking about the history of this holiday and how important it is to remember the struggle and sacrifices many of our friends, family, and fellow citizens have endured to keep this beautiful country protected and free.   Tip #40 Honor Those Who Have Honored Our Country: Veterans Day formerly known as Armistice Day is celebrated every November 11th. Originally called Armistice, it commemorates the signing of the Armistice between Allies of World War I and Germany in Compiegne, France for the abeyance of hostilities on the Western Front. All of this took effect on the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month in 1918. This date was declared a national holiday in most allied countries to remember and honor the many members of the armed forces who were killed during World War I. After World War II the United States changed the name to Veterans Day in order to honor those who were veterans of other wars.  In 1953 a man named Alvin King from Emporia, Kansas campaigned to his idea of changing the name from Armistice Day to Veterans Day to celebrate all veterans, not just the ones who died in World War I. On June 1, 1954 Congress amended the act of replacing the name "Armistice" with "Veterans".  In 1971 Congress chose to move Veterans Day to the fourth Monday in October to conform to the Uniform Monday Holiday Act. Many people were upset and adamant about celebrating and honoring those on the day and hour when hostilities ceased. In 1978, Congress reversed the decision and changed Veterans day back to November 11th. Which brings me to what I will be doing today...At 11am  I will be pausing for a moment of silence to remember the many men and women who have dedicated and sacrificed their lives to protect mine. I am fortunate to be surrounded by friends and family who are veterans of various wars. I thank every one of you and love you for the many things you did and do for this great country of ours!  Today when I run my many errands I will stand a little prouder, smile a little more, and be more gracious and thankful for the many individuals who put others and me before themselves....Do something selfless today...Buy a veteran a cup of coffee, donate time, service, or money to one of the many VA organizations, and say thank you for the protection they offer us and our country. I find it very interesting that Veterans Day and Thanksgiving are in the same month..Do You?

Shoes Shoes Everywhere!!

This past week I was hired to organize several closets. One of the biggest problems my clients have is organizing their shoes. Most closets have a limited amount of space, or they have shelves that are not so accommodating for items such as shoes. As a professional organizer I am often thinking and creating innovative, easy, and convenient ways for people to keep their homes organized and clutter free. 

Tip #35 Shoes Shoes Everywhere!!

One of my most popular requests is my shoe box technique. This is extremely easy to do and will cut time in your morning rush when looking for your shoes.

There are several different ways to create a new home for your kicks. 

You can purchase clear plastic boxes from the container store, purchase fabric boxes from the container store specifically designed for your shoes, or reuse the original boxes your shoes came in. The box method helps keep your shoes from getting mixed up in a huge pile, and worse getting scuffed up, as well as keeping your closet clutter free.
If you choose to use the original boxes you can add simple embellishments to dress up the box that can help easily identify a specific pair of shoes. This is also a great DIY art/organizing project that you can do with the kids.
If you choose to use plastic containers, all you will need is a camera photos of the shoes, and some tape or a glue stick.

If you choose to use the original paper box containers you will need a camera, photos of the shoes, large piece of light colored fabric, scrapbooking paper, glue stick or tape.
You will first need to gather up all your shoes, and take a picture of each set of shoes in a well lit area on the light piece of colored fabric.
You will then need to upload the photos, and have them developed. You will then place photo corners around the picture.
Once you have done all of this you can kick your crafty side into overdrive by decorating your shoes new home with the scrapbooking paper.
Then adhere each picture with the tape or glue stick on the front of each designated shoe box.

You now can start stacking your shoes.
I know this sounds complicated, but it's really not, and once it's done it adds a little pep to your closet, and shows off your creative side!

Waste Not Want Not

Have you ever been asked why you enjoy things that you do. Sometimes this may be your occupation, other times it may be a hobby you love. Personally I enjoy what once was a hobby which I turned into an occupation. People often ask me why I love to organize...I guess my answer would be a two parter..My first reason would be because it relaxes me. I'm naturally a high strung person who gets stressed out rather quickly. To help me calm down I usually organize and clean. Some people call it OCD, I call it de-stressing. The second reason is that I get to organize other people's homes. Organizing allows me to tap into my creative side and come up with easy, time saving creative ways to live . With that being said I am challenging you the reader to be creative in your own home..

Tip #32 Waste Not Want Not:

The challenge is called The Box Test...Go into your kitchen and open all the drawers. If you notice that several of your drawers are overflowing with cooking gadgets and other items that you absolutely cannot part with, then try the box test for a month. Empty the contents of each one of your drawers that is overflowing. Place these items neatly in a box. For one month, only put back utensils and gadgets that you use into the drawer that you have taken from the box and used. At the end of the month seriously consider discarding the contents left in the box. 

You will learn what the meaning Waste Not Want Not truly means....