Control Over Books and Magazines

My family loves to read, but we are finding that the books and magazines are piling up all of the time. What can we do to keep this under control and still enjoy our hobby?

Cathy C., Middletown

As a person who seeks information constantly, I share your love of books and magazines. It can be a difficult challenge to keep up with everything you want to read and catalog your favorite items to go back to later. There are many ways that you can still enjoy this hobby, save money and space.
For those of you who are constantly reading books there are many great ways to enjoy them without buying too many copies at a time that end up filling your bookcases, and beyond, in your home. First, I always recommend that you keep a “Books to Read” list somewhere in a notebook or on your computer. Gathering an ongoing list of recommended titles is a great way to prioritize what you are interested in, create a list for future gift ideas and make it easier to focus when you are setting foot into a book store or library. Much like the Walmarts and Targets of the world, a bookstore can be so distracting with new exciting titles that you walk out with a handful of books you never intended to get and completely forget why you entered there in the first place. In addition to keeping you focused, keeping a list can be a great way to remember what you are interested in when people ask you what gifts they can give you around the holidays.
If you are addicted to reading and you are not so excited about the many copies of books piling up in your house, I highly recommend keeping a constant cycle of book donations going once you are done with them. Pass the book on to a friend or donate it to the local library, Goodwill or a book swap. If you find that giving away the book is hard because you are afraid you won’t remember that you read it, simply keep a book log that lists the titles you have read and why you liked or didn’t like it.
Another great new option for book lovers are the electronic book devices such as Amazon’s Kindle. These devices allow you to download books electronically into a digital device. You are still paying for the book, but you get the data, rather than the actual copy (much like an Ipod for audio files). You can store hundreds of books on this device and read them just as easily as a hard copy. It is great for people who travel a lot as well as those who like to carry multiple books around with them.
My favorite option of all is the library. If you have not been to one in a while, I encourage you to go check out your local library and renew your membership. There are so many benefits to go to the library if you are a book lover that can both save you time and money. This is a great way to benefit from previewing thousands of titles. You can make interlibrary requests if your local library doesn’t have the title you wish to borrow. Libraries in every town take returns of books from any town, which makes it very convenient to keep on top of your items to return no matter where you are running your errands.

In addition to books, you can also take out books on tape. I am a huge fan of this because I don’t always have hours to read, but I spend hours in my car each day commuting. Getting through 2-3 books in a week under normal commuting conditions to work is not unfathomable. Whether you are interested in self-help, fiction or history there are books on tape out there for you.
Other multi-media that libraries offer include magazines, newspapers, DVDs and CDs. If your family is spending tons of money on subscriptions, or renting movies, consider a trip to the library. For absolutely no money, you can borrow DVDs from new releases to old classics for the same amount of borrowing time as at your local video store. Instead of letting your magazines make you guilty for not reading them as the sit there ominously on your coffee table, consider saving money by cancelling your subscriptions of your least favorite and reading them at the library.
Lastly, I would like to add that the library can also be a great place to keep you organized with your paperwork. Some of my clients have shared with me that going to the library to pay their bills forces them to get it done without distractions. It can also be a place to bring a laptop, find a cubby and focus on one specific project outside of your home or office. You will be unplugged from phones, kids, and the projects looming around you.
You can certainly fill your need for information without acquiring the physical books and papers. With all of the new electronic multimedia options as well as the plethora of opportunities out there for free, you can save space in your home and have a little more cash in your wallet.
Kristin Mastromarino is a professional organizer and owner of Livable Solutions Professional Organizing and The Organized Lifestyle retail store in Guilford, CT. (www.theorganizedlifestylestore.com). You can e-mail her your questions at Kristin@livablesolutions.com.

Safely Store Closet Valuables

I have a lot of fabric items such as my wedding dress and antique lace that I would like to preserve. What is the best way to store them?

Denise, Ivoryton

Many of us have treasures in our attics, basements, closets, etc. that represent our family history. Nothing breaks my heart more when I see such special pieces shoved in a cardboard box or improperly stored in a damp basement. Follow these tips and you will safely store your valuables for years to come.
First, let’s start with wedding dresses. Professionally cleaning the dress at a dry cleaner as soon as possible after it is worn is a must. Unfortunately, stains caused by perfume, alcohol or sweat can ruin the fabric permanently if not taken care of quickly. The bonus of taking it to the dry cleaner is that many offer services to properly preserve and pack your dress.
You have two options. You can store the dress by hanging it or boxing it. While hanging helps prevent crease problems, boxes can be a more space efficient way to hold on to it. Purchasing acid free tissue paper will be helpful if you are going to box the dress yourself. Place the tissue paper in between the folds and around the box to prevent any future damage. If you are hanging it, experts recommend stuffing the inside of the arms, bodice and any other deep folds with the paper. Then cover it with a muslin garment bag. Either way, the dress should be stored in a cool, dry place and checked on annually to be sure no long term damage is occurring.
Other fabric items such as quilts or other textiles should be handled similarly. Using two clean cotton sheets, fold the fabric you wish to preserve in an accordion style in between the sheets. It is not recommended that you store these types of items in plastic or cardboard. Ideally, they should be stored in a drawer or a cedar chest. Be sure to air out the items at least once a year and avoid direct sunlight.
Any other fragile antique textiles like silk, wall hangings etc, should be handled with cotton gloves on. Again, a professional dry cleaner is your best bet for packaging these properly. Be sure to remove any metal rings or hooks before storing these items because they can cause damage. Textiles, such as wall hangings, can be stored by hanging, boxing or rolling in a tube, depending on the size.
Vintage laces and linens should be hand washed in hot water and a mild soap. Line drying these items is recommended to avoid further damage. If ironing is required, use distilled water, which can be purchased at your local grocery store, to mist the back of the fabric. Keep embroidery and other embellishments away from the direct heat of the iron.
A few other things to note when storing fabrics are to never use colored tissue paper, even if it is acid free. The color can bleed on to your fabrics. In addition, the larger the storage box, the less folds you will have to make to store the fabric. Also, it is wise to photograph or video tape valuable items for insurance purposes.
When packing these items away be sure to share the stories with your loved ones so they understand the value of this item to you or your family. By sharing the stories with others, these items will have even greater meaning to future generations and avoid being tossed should your house ever need to be cleared out without you around. With proper care your fabric heirlooms should be ready for display or use for years to come.
Kristin Mastromarino is a professional organizer and owner of Livable Solutions Professional Organizing and The Organized Lifestyle retail store in Guilford, CT. (www.theorganizedlifestylestore.com). You can e-mail her your questions at Kristin@livablesolutions.com.

Where to Start with Your Free Time!

Ask the Organizer
Now that the kids are heading back to school, I have some much needed time to catch up on my organizing. It seems like there is so much to do. Where do I start?
Alice, Niantic

Whether you have school children or not, it seems the beginning of the school year marks the time when we all begin to refocus and realize our homes and systems have been abandoned to enjoy the warmer weather. While it may be sad to think, that the summer fun is over, I believe the fall is just as much a rebirth of our energy as the spring.
If you are like me, you probably spent as much time as possible enjoying the warm weather and slipped out for some long weekend and great vacations. Sometimes it feels like your work and your home punish you for such fun as your laundry, paperwork and other responsibilities pile up on your absence. Now is the best time to rethink your systems and gain motivation once again.
Many areas of your life can be out of balance at this point. But I would suggest working on the following areas for the largest impact in the littlest time: cars, clothing, and calendars.
Your car takes a beating throughout the summer. Whether it is a long road trip or a day at the beach, dirt, sand, garbage and paperwork will build up at a rapid pace. To begin gaining control and prepare for those future carpool nights and sports practices, you need to revamp your car for the school year. Start by pulling everything out and vacuum and wipe down all surfaces. That alone will make your car feel brand new. Next, think about what supplies you will need on the go for the school year. Do you need to always have a bag with changes of clothes for the kids after practice? How about quick snacks and drinks in the trunk? Have you bought a bunch of recyclable grocery bags, but never had them in your car when you needed them? This is the time to think about your daily routines and include items in your car that will support and maintain an efficient system.
After your car start thinking about the seasonal clothing transition. Your closet has probably become unruly since the spring with constant packing and unpacking. Did you wear most of your wardrobe this season? How many items went untouched? Did your kids grow out of certain clothes that have now been replaced by brand new school clothes? Be sure to start pulling these items out right away to keep your closets fresh and orderly. Go as far as creating outfits ahead of time on hangers so getting ready on these more scheduled mornings can happen more smoothly.
The last place to focus on is your calendar. Schedules change as soon as the school year begins and you need to be ready for it. Weigh the options that are going to be best for you and your family. Do you need a wall calendar for everyone to look at the upcoming soccer or dance schedule? Do you want to be able to share an electronic calendar with your husband to coordinate rides for the kids? Whichever method you use, be sure to stick with it consistently and refer to it frequently. Make a habit of marking events as soon as an invitation or e-mail announcement comes in. Color coding for different family members or activities can be a great way for your brain to process information quickly. Remember, gaining control of your calendar will help you gain control of your time.
Focusing on these three areas will help you get a jumpstart this fall. In addition, it will clear your mind to begin processing other projects throughout the fall. With the right systems in place for your daily routine, you will be able to conquer any organizing task ahead!
Kristin Mastromarino is a professional organizer and owner of Livable Solutions Professional Organizing and The Organized Lifestyle retail store in Guilford, CT. (www.theorganizedlifestylestore.com). You can e-mail her your questions at Kristin@livablesolutions.com.

College Preparation 101

My daughter is leaving for her freshman year at college mid-August and I wanted to know what we should be focused on getting her for her small dorm room. Thanks.

Wendy L.

Going off to college can be one of the most exciting and most stressful times in a young adult’s life. While the preparation and small living quarters can be overwhelming at first, I can say that I learned some of my best organizing skills moving from dorm rooms to apartments those four years.
The key to maximizing space in dorm room is first assessing what is absolutely necessary to live day to day in the space. While many of our loving relatives and friends send us off with graduation gifts to fill our new space, not all of them are going to be the most essential for the room. With most college dorm rooms barely fitting a bed in the space it is important to use smart space saving solutions to maximize every square inch of storage.
When making these decisions, consider only bringing the wardrobe you will need until the next break when you can come home and get transitional clothing. For instance, don’t rush to bring up all of your winter sweaters and jackets if you are if you are planning on coming home for a fall break. Keep it simple with linens as well. At most you should have two sheet sets and very few towel sets to keep storage needs down to a minimum. I also recommend opting for soft luggage such as large duffle bags instead of bulky suitcases that you will have no room to store when transporting these items to college.
When it comes to making decisions on how to store your items, there are a few things that I believe are essential in a dorm room. First are bed raisers. These inexpensive items can lift the bed anywhere from 5 inches to a couple of feet depending on what you use. Going with a classic cinderblock can easily accomplish this, but I prefer the much lighter weight plastic and wood ones that are available at most stores selling organizational products.
Other essential items are crates. Crates are excellent because they are inexpensive, you can use them to easily transport items, and at the same time use them stacked sideways for instant bookshelves, a night stand or as quick under the bed drawers.
When it comes to clothing storage, closets can be tight in the dorm room. However, you can create more space by using hanging sweater organizers which take up a little bit or rod space but fit far more t-shirts, jeans, sweaters etc. than could be hung in those 10 inches. Hanging shoe holders can be great as well, not only for shoes, but also just to keep scarves, hats, gloves and purses.
Other improvements you can make in a dorm closet is creating extra hanging storage space with a rod doubler. This no assembly second rod just hangs off of a top bar and creates an extra three feet of hanging storage.

I also suggest using pop-up hampers or bags that can easily double as a lightweight laundry basket. What makes these great is that when your laundry is done they can easily be folded up and hidden away. They are also much more flexible to place at the bottom of a closet or in a tight corner of the room.
There are many more great storage solutions for a dorm room. Just remember as you are picking out the items they should be lightweight, multi-purpose and easily transportable. This will make packing and dismantling the room at the end of the year a much easier prospect.

Kristin Mastromarino is a professional organizer and owner of Livable Solutions Professional Organizing and The Organized Lifestyle retail store in Guilford, CT. (www.theorganizedlifestylestore.com). You can e-mail her your questions at Kristin@livablesolutions.com.

Regain Control of Your Plastic Containers

My plastic containers for leftovers keep piling up in my kitchen. I keep losing lids and they are taking up way too much space in my cabinets. What suggestions do you have?

Pam W.


Plastic containers are probably one of the top clutter problems in most kitchen cabinets. Their awkward shapes, disposability and frequent use make them hard to keep up with. There are many ways that you can transform a messy kitchen cabinet or shelf with a few simple changes.
To begin this project you must first take an inventory of what you already have. Pull the containers out of the cabinet and match all of the lids with the bases. If you are coming up with mismatches, toss the extra lids. If you have a need for it, recycle the bases as quick drawer organizers. If you don’t have a use for them toss them. The less mismatched pieces you have, the easier it will be to store and find your plastic containers.
Next, look at the volume of pieces that you have. Do you have too many for what you use? Have you ended up with a lot of containers that were leftover transports from a holiday? Are all the pieces in good condition? Do you have too many of one size and not enough of another?
If you find that you have too many plastic containers pull the extras aside. If you can’t bear to donate or toss them, save a small portion of them for the next time that you entertain. Pull them out before you put away the leftover food and have your guests fill them for doggie bags to take home. You will be getting rid of the extra containers and helping clean the mess from the party or meal.
Now that you know what you are keeping, consider the best location in your kitchen to store the containers and lids. If you open a cabinet and the containers come pouring out, it is time to rethink your storage strategy. There are several ways to accomplish an organized system.
One way to store the containers if you can afford the space is to put the matching lid on the base and pile the like sizes on top of each other. This way, you always know where the lid is and can grab the size you want off of the cabinet shelf or in a deep drawer.
If your space is tight, try to buy the same brand container every time you refill your supply. The more uniform the containers the easier they are to nest in each other. The lids will also be more universal and less difficult to locate. I suggest either storing the lids on top of the nested containers or neatly in a small container nearby. You can even buy sets that come with universal lids for all the container sizes and spinning bases for easy storage. These fit great in lazy susans or pull out cabinets.
For those of you who need an even less detailed system. I suggest using one of your deep cabinets to store the containers. Buy a large plastic bin or basket to hold all of the bases. Slide this in and out of the cabinet as a pseudo drawer. Use a smaller container to hold the lids. Either choose one that will fit on the second shelf in the cabinet or that will nest on top of the larger container. In this case you can quickly throw the plastic containers in their bin and pull out the two bins on a counter when you have to do a search. No containers will spill out when you open the cabinet and you will prevent them from piling all over the kitchen.

Kristin Mastromarino is a professional organizer and owner of Livable Solutions Professional Organizing and The Organized Lifestyle retail store in Guilford, CT. (www.theorganizedlifestylestore.com). You can e-mail her your questions at Kristin@livablesolutions.com.

Keeping Up With Organization--Don't Give Up!

I feel like no matter what I do organizationally I can’t keep up. Is staying organized as hopeless as it feels?

Betsy

Staying organized is a constant battle, even for those of us who teach it! There are so many factors that can get a person out of balance that even the most efficient systems fall apart. But there is hope! Figuring out the root of why you are having trouble staying organized is sometimes the deeper question. For some of us it could be over-committing ourselves, for others it could be emotional, and for some it just may be a matter of not finding the right system to work for them. Over-commitment can be the biggest problem with staying organized, and is probably my largest challenge on a daily basis. Whether you are an overachiever by nature or a person who just has too much on their plate because of family and work obligations, you are probably going to have a hard time staying consistent with any organizational system. This is when a time inventory will be your most effective tool. List all of the commitments you have on a daily, weekly and monthly basis. How many organizations do you volunteer for? How many activities do you drive your kids to each week? Document the projects you are juggling at work. If you start to see a pattern of too much to do and not enough time, it might be time to break down the essential versus non-essential activities that you participate in. Rank them in order of importance to you and how much you like them. If you realize you are holding a titled position in every group you volunteer or network in, consider stepping back and focusing on one. Learning to let go and identify which activities support and nurture your goals will help you feel more in balance. Not to mention lighten some of the workload you juggle each day! Identifying an emotional root to organizing is often harder and may require outside help. For some, depression may be holding them back and sapping their energy to keep up. For others, suffering from ADHD and not understanding how to adapt their organizational systems may hold them back from keeping everything in order. How you view organization in general may differ from your family or significant other, which can cause emotional strain and frustration in the home. There may be a “no throwing out” culture within your family stemming from the Depression era or a trauma that prevents you from letting go of items. In even more severe cases hoarding, which stems from a spectrum of Obsessive Compulsive Order (OCD, may be occurring in the home and may need to be addressed by a medical professional. To get to the root of an emotional issue preventing you from staying organized, evaluate why you have trouble making decisions. Talk about your struggles within your family to stay organized and look at family history for signs of habits or illnesses that may have been passed down. I strongly advocate seeing a mental health professional if you feel that depression, ADHD, OCD or any other health related illness is holding you back. Finally, your feelings of disorganization may be stemming from your inability to find a system for you that works. I often try new systems to see if I can find a better or more efficient way to do something. That is the fun of getting organized. With a little creativity and basic tools you can create many custom options that fit your working style, habits and needs. For some, just punching holes to place a paper in a binder would cause the paper to pile up indefinitely. I challenge you to look at the items that aren’t being put away and think about what barrier is preventing you from doing it. Just changing the container or placement of an item can make a world of difference in you being able to put it away consistently. If it is still hard to see what your barriers are, a Professional Organizer can evaluate your systems and quickly provide solutions for you. So don’t be dismayed. Organizing is a daily chore, not a seasonal purge. Accepting your strengths and weaknesses will help you adapt your systems and spend less time stressing about keeping it together. Kristin Mastromarino is a professional organizer and owner of Livable Solutions Professional Organizing and The Organized Lifestyle retail store in Guilford, CT. (http://www.theorganizedlifestylestore.com/). You can e-mail her your questions at Kristin@livablesolutions.com.

Paper Clutter - Tax Preparation Tips

As I began organizing my paperwork for my accountant I realized how out of control it had gotten. What should I do to prevent this from being such a chore each year?

Al Wynn, Branford, CT

Paper is the number one problem for my clients and customers. Tax season tends to highlight the flaws in our paper filing systems each year as we scramble to figure out where to find everything we need. Having the right system from the start can make it a lot easier. Knowing what was challenging this year, can make it a lot easier to decide what will work best for storing 2009 papers.
Studies have shown that 80% of the paper that is filed each day is never looked at again. That’s a lot of storage for useless documents! This statistic highlights why it is even more important to establish what you actually need for taxes and household reference.
Let’s start with the basics for a filing system. The first step is figuring out where the paper is going to go. Do you already have multiple file cabinets throughout the house? If you do, then you are going to want to be sure to clear some of them out before you rush to buy another one. Keep a filing cabinet near where you process your paperwork. If it is in the kitchen or dining room, then it might be good to keep either a portable or permanent filing system within quick reach. You are much more likely to deal with filing your papers immediately if the filing system is nearby. If that is not possible, then make it a habit to walk any papers to be filed to the file cabinet the day you work on them. “To File” piles end up being endless abysses of paper that you will end up sorting through for taxes next year. And you will be kicking yourself for not dealing with it sooner!
Once you have established where the files will go there are many ways you can set-up an easy and effective system. First, there are products out there that label your files for you. So all you have to do is drop in the categories. For instance, the Homefile system that sells for $24.95 gives you every major category for household and small business paperwork, including Banking, Insurance, Investments, Medical etc. If you are more into personalizing your files into categories you choose, you should check out Smead Viewable hanging file tabs. These three dimensional file tabs allow you to use a simple color-coding program on the computer to label and print custom tabs that can be viewed from the top as well as the sides. Placing them in a straight line when you attach them to hanging file folders will make finding your files extremely easy.
Remember, as you are creating your files, keep the categories simple. Getting too detailed will make it hard to remember what category you filed something and too broad will make it difficult to track down a paper quickly. If you keep most of your categories focused on what you need to refer back to for everyday financial records, taxes, home and medical, you will find that you really don’t need to keep that much paper.
If you have a lot of hobbies and are finding that you clip every magazine article with a new recipe or every tip you see on gardening, ask yourself how many times you have actually referred back to them once you have filed them. There is a good chance every time you revisit your files you are going down memory lane and seeing paper you didn’t even remember keeping.
Lastly, make sure that you purge your files constantly. If you get a new insurance policy, throw out the old one. Continuing to pile papers into a category that are not current will only make finding the current ones harder. Each year, archive the old paperwork together and remove it from your everyday files. It is a constant shuffle, but worth the time throughout the year. You will thank yourself when you prepare your 2009 taxes!
Kristin Mastromarino is a professional organizer and owner of Livable Solutions Professional Organizing and The Organized Lifestyle retail store in Guilford, CT. (http://www.theorganizedlifestylestore.com/). You can e-mail her your questions at Kristin@livablesolutions.com.