Tip Tuesday - Another Use for Rubber Gloves

Wear rubber gloves when trying to open a new jar. The non-skid surface of the glove gives you a better grip on the jar.

Organizing in 15 Minutes - Get your Kids School Papers in Order

June is almost over and I'm sure those of you with kids are now inundated with school papers from this last academic year.

Take some time now to sort these papers into piles by subject (history, math, english, etc.) and file them in plastic file envelopes - labeled, of course.

I recommend keeping them through the end of the following school year in case your student has to refer back to any work done in the previous year.

You can purchase these plastic file envelopes at Office Max or other office supply stores.

Grocery Shopping Made Easy

My neighborhood grocery store recently went through a major renovation and when I went back, they had changed all the aisles around and nothing was where it used to be.

Check out this article on the Real Simple Magazine website. Their suggestion about customizing your shopping list to match the aisles in the supermarket will cut down on impulse buying and helps keep you on track to shop for only what you came in to purchase. You can also highlight items on the list which you have coupons for. I know I've been guilty of leaving the grocery store and then remembering that I left the coupons in my purse - sometimes over $10 worth!.

Sticking to the grocery list and planning menus before shopping can really save time and money at the grocery store.

New Lower Prices at The Container Store

The Container Store has permanently lowered prices on over 100 items in their store and online including closet, kitchen and office organizing products. Click here to get to The Container Store's website to see some of the new lower priced items.

Tip Tuesday - Change your HVAC Filters

The weather's finally turned warm here in Southern California which means we'll be running the air conditioner soon.

Now's the time to change the filters in your heating/air conditioning vents. They should be changed or washed at least 3-4 times a year and more frequently as they get dirty. Clean air filters will help your air conditioner run more efficiently and keep your home cleaner this summer.

Happy Father's Day

Here's wishing all you Dad's out there a very Happy Father's Day.

My father didn’t tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it.

―Clarence B. Kelland

Flea Market Shopping Tips

As an organizer, I know I'm supposed to discourage my readers from shopping at flea markets. But in this economy, if you absolutely need a piece of furniture, a gift for someone or are creative in any aspect, you should shop at flea markets. I've been a fan for over 20 years and am fortunate to live about 1/2 mile from one of the biggest in Southern California.

So, in that vein, I'm going to post some tips for flea market shopping that will make your experience that much nicer.

First of all, wear comfortable shoes. I can't emphasize this enough. I know some of us like to dress to look hip when shopping at the fleas, but at the end of the day, if you can no longer walk and have severe blister issues, you're not going to care how hip you looked all day.

Second, arrive early and get a good parking spot. This will really be important if you purchase larger items and need to make multiple trips to your car to drop things off. The other benefit to arriving early, is you won't miss out on some of the bigger furniture items which, if they are in great condition and are a bargain, will be gone by late morning.

Or, if you're just looking for bargains, arrive late in the day - an hour or two before the end of the show. Dealers will be getting ready to call it a day and may discount items rather than pack them back up into their trucks. It's your call.

Next, wear sunscreen. You can get a pretty nasty sunburn even on cloudy days. Wear a hat to shield your head and face from the sun. This will keep you cooler as will wearing light colors and lightweight fabrics.

Bring cash not checks or credit cards. Most dealers prefer cash and may even give a discount if you pay with cash.

Carry plenty of water and healthy snacks to eat during the day. Most flea market food consists of the fast food/junk food/hot dog variety. You'll have more energy if you eat healthy. Take yourself out for lunch or dinner when you're finished and get a real meal later on.

If you see something you really like for a good price, buy it. Don't think it will be there when you come back in an hour or so. If it's a good deal, someone else will get it and you'll be disappointed.

Carry your own reusable shopping bags to avoid having to bring home more plastic.

Lastly, have fun.

Click here for a website which has listings for flea markets all across the U.S.

Tip Tuesday - Cleaning a Clogged Shower Head

Here in Southern California, we have hard water which can cause mineral deposits to form inside the shower head and water faucets.

To clean a clogged shower head, slip a plastic bag filled with a few inches of white vinegar. Fasten it around the shower head so that the opening of the shower head is submerged in the vinegar solution. Keep the plastic bag over the shower head overnight or for most of a day. This should dissolve most of the mineral deposits. Use a toothpick to clean out the remaining mineral deposits.

Shredding at The Goodwill

I've wanted to blog about this great shredding resource for awhile now so here goes. At Goodwill Industries in Los Angeles you can fill up to two 64 gallon trash receptacles for $30 with papers/documents to shred. I recently took six bankers boxes filled with shredding materials to Goodwill and I didn't even fill one bin.



A reminder though, it's actually easier if you pay by check rather than cash. I brought cash and had to walk through the warehouse, up two floors, to the cashier to give him my cash since the shredding department can't accept cash.

The best part about going to Goodwill Industries is seeing how they are providing jobs for the disabled in so many ways. Give it a try sometime.

Click here to get to Goodwill's Secure Shredding website.

Book Review - Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet

Normally, I don't blog about fiction on my organizing blog but I have to recommend this book. "Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet" by Jamie Ford is the best book, fiction or non-fiction, that I have read in years. Please give it a read and let me know what you think.

Reality TV - Hoarding Special Tonight on TLC

Airing tonight on The Learning Channel (TLC), is a reality television special called "Truth be Told: I'm a Hoarder". This special looks into the lives of a couple named Bernie and Charlene who are "two excessive hoarders at odds with their families. When their hoarding becomes too overwhelming, their families must intervene."

It will be interesting to see how the show handles this situation.

The show airs at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Pacific Time on TLC - The Learning Channel.

Click here for more info from TLC's website.

Tip Tuesday - Clean Out Your Freezer

When was the last time you cleaned out your freezer? Is there still holiday ham and leftovers from Thanksgiving in there? Or stuff that's even older?

Take time to clean out your freezer every six months. Meats and other frozen items lose their flavor after six months and should be eaten or thrown away.

A Quote from A. A. Milne

Here's a great quote sent to me from Real Simple Magazine that I wanted to post here on my blog and share with you:

One of the advantages of being disorderly is that one is constantly making exciting discoveries.

―A.A. Milne

Paint & Pour Lid - Easy and Clean Painting Idea

I came across this great product the other day and wished it had been around when I tackled my last painting job.



This is the Paint & Pour Lid by Homax and it is available at most major hardware and do-it-yourself stores like Lowes, Home Depot and Ace Hardware. As you can see from the pictures, this lid attaches to a one-gallon paint can and you can either pour paint from the lid into a rolling tray, or you can open the lid for direct brush access.

Click here to get to the Homax link directly. This looks like a great way to avoid (most of) the mess involved with painting.

Tip Tuesday - Keeping your Microwave Clean

To clean baked-on splatters in your microwave, heat a small pyrex cup filled with water for 2 minutes. This will create steam and condensation in your microwave which will make cleaning the baked-on stains easier.

Be careful though, the water in the pyrex dish will be very hot!