Organize for International Travel

The cruise ships are getting ready to depart from the Norfolk harbor and there are some good deals on air travel to foreign destinations. So, if you plan to vacation outside the United States, add these things to your checklist:

Passport and other identification documents

Travel schedule and monetary equivalent table

Entry documentation for your destination

Medication needed for your trip, in the original container

A list of contact numbers for medical and personal emergencies

Receipts or registration paperwork for new electronics (computers, cameras)

Valid drivers license

If you purchase art or jewelry on your trip, keep receipts handy.


Add clothes for the climate, personal necessities, and your favorite credit card and you are ready to take off.

Beverly & Kristen
www.KeyTransitions.net

Time to Wrap up

My presents are all wrapped and stacked in “giving piles” or already given.

Now it is time to put away the gift wrap and bows until next year. This year, try packing your holiday wraps and trims in a special storage box so that next year you are ready to go. Here are a few containers that work well for our clients:

The Jokari hanging gift-wrap organizer hangs in the closet and has storage on both sides.
The Spacesaver hanging storage organizer folds to standing position for easy access.
The Rubbermaid 48” low profile gift-wrapping organizer can fit under a bed for storage.
The Sterlite storage tube is an inexpensive choice for a limited amount of paper and trim.

You can find these items at the following sites:
www.target.com
www.walmart.com
www.thecontainerstore.com
www.amazon.com

That’s a wrap! Have a great holiday!

Beverly & Kristen
www.KeyTransitions.net

Tips for Managing Holiday Gatherings

Getting together with friends and family is one of the joys of the season. It can also be a trial when personalities clash or the event arrives before you are ready. Whether you are hosting the gathering or attending it, here are a few tips to lessen the stress.

Deciding what to wear is one of the great stressors for gals who often plan the wardrobe for the whole family. Make that decision long before the day of the event and hang the entire cleaned and pressed outfit, including underwear and accessories, on one hanger. When it is time to dress, there is no second-guessing, the right underwear is not in the dirty clothes hamper, and you do not have to scramble to find the missing snowflake earring.

When giving a party, be ready a half an hour early. I have never hosted a party when someone did not arrive before the stated start time. If it is a dinner party, have a few help-yourself appetizers set out for the early arrivals to nosh on while you put the finishing touches on the meal and table setting.

Be prepared for an unexpected guest by having a place setting in reserve and a plan in your head for where you will seat the extra guest. Under the best circumstances, no unexpected visitor will show up, but if one does you are prepared and cool as a cucumber as you squeeze him in next to Grandpa.

A hostess gift is a nice gesture, but do not expect the hostess to set out your home baked goods or wine. It is her choice whether to share your gift or save it to enjoy later. I saw a party brought to a standstill last year because a guest insisted that everyone taste his homemade snickerdoodles and peppermint Schnapps, even though the party had a carefully planned Felice Navidad theme. As a guest, follow the host’s lead and let it go his way. As a host, just say “ Thank you for the lovely gift. I am going to certainly enjoy this later.”

Steer clear of confrontation by having a few stock phrases for irritating and disagreeable encounters. Some of them are: “ I can’t say I agree, but what an interesting idea.” or “ Let’s talk about this another time” or “Look, there is Leo. I have been looking for him. Excuse me.” Then go somewhere else quickly.

Planning and preparation are the first to steps to organizing and they are good ways to take stress out of holiday gatherings.

Have a terrific holiday and may all your gatherings be happy ones.

Beverly and Kristen
www.KeyTransition.net

Ghosts of Christmas Past

Many of us shook off the turkey-induced lethargy and began decorating for the holidays. That was when we ran into those ghosts of Christmas past: the tangled lights, the broken nativity figure, the hastily packed boxes of decorations and the boxes of decorations that have not seen the light of day in years.

Those decorations that have not been used in a long time fall into several categories. Only a few of them are in the “oh, my gosh, I forgot I had this beautiful object!” category. Most of them fall into the “what was I thinking when I bought this?” or the “this gift is sooo not my taste!” categories. Give yourself a head start on organizing your decorating for next year by donating those unwanted things to a charity and you won’t have to keep rejecting and re-packing them.

The other possibility for unused decorations is that you have downsized your space, your decorating activity, the size of your tree, or all three. Why not share treasured items you no longer use with others who will enjoy them? There is a television commercial running now where a young mother shares with her family a box of decorations from her youth. How thoughtful her parent was to give her such a gift. Just box up those memories and put them under the tree for those you love. It is the very best kind of re-gifting.

As for the things you do use as decorations, consider putting them away in boxes grouped by the room in which they are displayed. Next year, you can just plunk the boxes down in the room and decorate at your leisure. While you are putting things away this year, also take time to make small repairs and discard broken items. That will make for merry decorating next holiday season.

Beverly & Kristen
www.KeyTransitions.net

Keys to a Happy Holiday

Thanksgiving Day has come and Christmas, Hanukah and Kwanza are not far behind.

Here are our suggestions for Keys to a happy holiday:

• Keep it simple. There is enough stress without complicating matters. Simple plans are best.
• Enjoy special moments. Don’t get so caught up in preparation that you neglect to enjoy the present and the presence of those you love.
• Yield to the inevitable. Stuff happens. If you can’t change it, just deal with it and move on.
• Save some time for yourself. Give yourself a break and do something just for you. You will feel less harried and overwhelmed.
  
  Have a happy holiday!
  
  Beverly and Kristen
  www.KeyTransitions.net

Christmas Clean-up

This is the week most folks pack away their Christmas decorations and find a place for the Christmas gifts. In with the new crockpot; out with the old.

Here are a few suggestions to help you start the New Year with a little less clutter.

Throw away damaged ornaments, burned out bulbs and wreaths that looked bad this Christmas and will look worse next year. You will waste energy packing them and take up space you could use for other things. Don’t listen to that little voice that lists all the crafty things you will be able to do with the rejects unless you ACTUALLY do those crafty things and do not have other boxes of damaged goods waiting for your creative talents to flourish.

If you received a gift that doesn’t fit your body or your style, decide what to do with it now. Don’t stick in the closet or stuff it in a drawer just to get it out of the way. Return it, sell it, donate it or start a re-gifting box, if you are so inclined. Make the decision and act on it.

If you receive something new to replace older or outgrown possessions, find a home for the older items. Charitable organizations are grateful for winter apparel, used pots and pans, and even crockpots. Mine will be going to a local church that runs a soup kitchen.

If you discover that your closet is getting too full or your jewelry box can't hold one more pair of earrings, consider getting rid of your least favorite thing. A crowded closet or drawer is much harder to maintain than one where everything fits comfortably.

The key is to do it now. Make a decision while you are dealing with the item and carry out your decision. It is a very effective way to stem the accumulation of clutter and to maintain an organized space. What a great way to end the year!

Beverly & Kristen
www.KeyTransitions.net

READY FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Ready or not, here they come! The Holidays are here. Chanukah has begun, Christmas arrives in a few days and the New Year will be here right after that. If you are one of the lucky ones who have everything done and you are just hanging around waiting to welcome guests and attend the gatherings, good for you! If you are like most of the rest of us, and still have a few things left to do, take a deep breath and decide what is important.

Priority setting is a fundamental tool for getting organized and staying organized. Knowing what is essential to accomplish keeps us focused and on task. To use this tool to maintain calm during the holidays, get a piece of paper or index card and write down the five most important things for you to accomplish. It might be prepare dinner, pick up Aunt Tilly at the airport, help Santa build a toy. At the top of that list put “Enjoy the festivities.” Once you have established these priorities avoid the traps that will keep you from accomplishing them.

Don’t get distracted by other urgent tasks. They might be important, but they are not the MOST important. Take care of the priorities first.

Don’t let others change your priorities to meet their own goals. You want to be helpful, but not at the risk of not getting done what you need to get done.

Don’t be afraid to change your priorities as you evaluate new things that develop. The difference is that YOU are the one deciding what is important to you.

Don’t pick up the slack for other’s responsibilities. It is a sure way to end up harried and resentful that you shortchanged your own priorities.

Refer back often to priority number one, “Enjoy the festivities.” Everything doesn’t have to be perfect. The ultimate goal is to experience the love and joy that the season brings.

Happy holidays!

Beverly & Kristen
www.KeyTransitions.net

Neat Gift Ideas

If you are still looking for stocking stuffers and last minute gifts, here are a few items that will please the most fastidious gift recipient and help your disorganized friends bring a little order into their lives.

For the sleeping beauty who enjoys watching television in bed, there is the Remote Control Pillow. The cotton twill pillow measures 7” by 12” and has three pockets to store remote controls on the back. (about $18)

The do-it –yourself guy or gal will appreciate the Magnetic Wristband. The adjustable band secures a small magnetic tray that holds screws nails, pins, needles or any metal object. They can say good-bye to tiny sharp objects littering the floor. (about $19)

Help the pessimist in your life prepare for the worst with the Collision Preparedness Kit. The kit contains a disposable camera for documenting damage, a checklist of information to collect from the other driver and witnesses, an envelope for insurance and registration and a pen. It is all packed nicely in a zippered binder that fits in the glove compartment. (about $15)

Your forgetful buddies will be able to find their car in the parking lot with the Key Chain Pocket Recorder. The 1” by 3” key chain has a voice recorder that will allow them to note what they came to buy and the location of their car with one touch. The built-in flashlight will even help them find it in the dark. (about $12)

For the student in cramped quarters who needs his cell phone charged and ready, try the Cell Phone Shelf. It takes up no counter space. Simply plug in the charger and rest the phone on the shelf, which is available in red or chrome. (about $8)

The coupon clipper in your life will love the coupon holder that accommodates up to 150 coupons in 12 divided compartments. Its Velcro closure attaches to the shopping cart handle to make coupons more accessible when shopping. (about $5)

When those creative friends wake up in the middle of the night with a brilliant idea, they will thank you for their Nite Note. This hand-contoured pad has a soft, focused light that turns on when the pen is removed. The “space pen” that accompanies it writes at any angle, even upside down. The package includes 72 note cards and 2 AA batteries. (about $30)

These items are available at many local novelty and department stores and at www.goldviolin.com

Happy holiday gift giving!

Beverly & Kristen
www.KeyTransitions.net

Plan for Easy Holiday Decorating

I just finished going through the weekend sales fliers, trying to decide if there was a bargain or two I needed to pursue. While none of the sales tempted me, I did notice that several department stores featured storage boxes for Christmas decorations.

It really is a smart idea to let consumers know that these convenient storage tools are available at the time that many of us are hauling out our decorations and finding that we did not do such a good job of putting them away last year. Lights are tangled, pretty tree ornaments are damaged and there is a piece missing from the nativity set (guess we will have to settle for we two kings of orient are)

In a few weeks, when it is time to put those ornaments away again, give yourself a break for next year. Try these simple hints:

Store decorations in see through boxes of uniform size or clearly labeled opaque boxes. Buy those custom decoration storage boxes while they are on sale and throw away the ratty cardboard boxes as you unpack

Roll strings of lights around coffees cans or similar sized cans with lids. Store the extra lights in the can with some paper towels or other batting to keep them from rolling around and breaking.

Store decorations according to the room in which they will be displayed. Next year you can choose to do one room at a time without lugging out all the decorations.

When you put the decorations in the storage place, go by the last in, first out rule. If you put the Christmas tree up first, put that closest to the entrance so you can remove it and get it set up as your first decorating step.

Next year decorating will be a snap!

Beverly & Kristen
www.KeyTransitions.net

Organize Your Refrigerator

Thanksgiving will be here in a few weeks. Will you be able to fit the leftovers in your refrigerator? If you are able to cram them on the shelves, can you actually find what you are looking for when you want to make a sandwich or reheat that great squash casserole? Will that last little bit of cranberry sauce look like a science experiment before you find it again? Take steps now to organize your refrigerator and be ready for whatever the aftermath of the holiday brings.

An organized refrigerator not only saves time and money, it helps maintain health by giving you a system to make sure the storage space is clean and the food stored there stays fresh and edible.

Start by taking everything out of your refrigerator and clean it thoroughly. That means taking out the crisper drawers and washing underneath as well as cleaning the undersides of shelves and the crevices of the butter and egg holders.

Examine the refrigerator contents before you place them back into the refrigerator. Discard expired products and food items that have spoiled. Place the most perishable items on the lowest shelves. Arrange the items so you can see what is there. Put smaller items toward the front and taller items toward the back. Place condiments and hardy items in the door shelves. This section has the highest temperature and more perishable items will spoil quicker here. Keep your eggs in the carton in the cooler part of the refrigerator. Do not put milk or dairy products in the door area, as they will spoil faster.

Use stackable see-through containers to organize your leftovers. Larger containers are great for making a sandwich supply box or salad contents box. Just fill with sealed bags of the salad or sandwich makings. These are also great for kid’s snack items.
Label the containers and make sure the whole family knows the system. You may also want to label the shelves and bins as a reminder.

Consider designating an “ingredients for meals” area that is off-limits for poaching. This suggestion comes from a personal experience when my children and their friends ate six capons I had reserved for a dinner party as an afternoon snack. They really liked the “little chickens”.

Once your refrigerator is arranged to your satisfaction, keep it organized by reviewing the contents once a week. Consider doing it the day before trash collection in your neighborhood. Discard all the spoiled or outdated products and haul them out with the trash. Wipe up any spills you see and rearrange as necessary.

You will be surprised at how good you feel as you systematically store your Thanksgiving leftovers in a clean organized space.

Beverly & Kristen
www.KeyTransitions.net

Organize Your Attic

Autumn is a good time to think about organizing the attic. Cooler days help to keep the space at comfortable temperature. During the summer, the unventilated attic can reach temperatures up to forty degrees Fahrenheit hotter than the rest of the house. That is why it is not advisable to store, videos, photographs or combustible items in that space. If you have those items in the attic, think of another storage space for them to live

Before you even climb the attic stairs think about how you will ideally use the space. Is it for long term storage only or does it serve short-term storage needs for overflow. Does it hold only your treasures or are you holding items for grown children until they have the space to claim them? Do you store seasonal clothing, holiday decorations, or hobby supplies?

Many articles advise to clear out the attic and start from scratch. In our experience, this is a pretty big job and most folks do not have the time, energy and resources to tackle it in that manner. What we recommend is a project approach that tackles one phase of organization at a time.

You have already considered how you are going to use your attic space. This initial consideration is influenced by the space you have in the attic, whether it has stable flooring, the supports weight-bearing capacity and how easily you can access the space.
Sketch out a rough plan detailing what items will go where-long term storage in the least accessible spaces, short term or frequently used items in more accessible spaces

Clear out the trash. Remember that cardboard boxes and paper attract rodents and bugs, so retain only what you need and put the items in sealed plastic containers.

While you are clearing the trash, remove items from around the entrance and the center of the floor space and group them around the perimeter of the attic

Arrange remaining items in the categories you have decided on. They might be :

Holiday decorations
Seasonal clothing
Furniture and floor covering
China and other heirlooms
Craft supplies


Now that the items are sorted into groups of like items, tackle one category at a time. Decide what to keep, what to sell, what to give away and what to discard. Take the sell, give away and discard items out of the attic as soon as you have finished the category and dispose of them.

Make a list of supplies to purchase to appropriately store the items remaining. Hold off making the purchase until you have finished going through all the categories and have an opportunity to review the list in its entirety. Sometimes you will have to consider alternate plans because you have more or less items to store or you come across some forgotten surprises that require an alteration in your initial plan.

You should now have:
A trash free attic
The items you are going to keep sorted in like categories
A list of proposed purchases
A plan for where each group of items will be placed in the attic.

Review your plan and make any changes for placement of stored items. Consider using stationary or moveable shelving, clothing bags, ceiling hooks and rafter rods to maximize your storage space.

Review your purchase list. Keep these things in mind as you decide on storage options.
Clear storage boxes of uniform size allow a neat storage system and make contents visible.

Label all boxes with clear list of contents

Avoid placing fabrics in unsealed cedar or paper containers and wrap precious fabrics in acid free paper before storing

Store musical instruments in their cases with silicon gel packs and remove reeds and mouthpieces from the instruments.

When you have your storage equipment, remove all items from one corner of the attic and clean the space thoroughly. Place the items you intend to store in the space in their containers and put them in the clean space, beginning with ceiling and rafter storage and working you way down to the floor. Continue methodically around the room until all categories of items have been placed in their designated spots.

Stand back and survey your organized attic and make any adjustments that you decide will make it easier to access your storage.

Place your master plan at the attic entrance as a visual cue to where things are located.

Using this method you can take a day, a weekend or a month to get attic clutter organized. Just make your plan, give yourself a reasonable time frame to accomplish the task and stick to it. Ask for help from friends or consider using a professional organizer to help you with planning and keep you on track.


Beverly & Kristen
www.KeyTransitions.net

Treat Yourself to an Organized Happy Holiday

In our book, Halloween marks the beginning of the holiday season. Before the carved pumpkin begins to sag, it is time to make plans for Thanksgiving, then Christmas, Hanukah, and Kwanza arrive followed by New Year’s celebrations which present another chance to resolve to do better next year- to get a handle on the celebrations before the celebrations handle us.

Don’t wait to make that New Year’s resolution. Here are a few tricks that will let you treat yourself to a happier holiday season. Take a few simple steps now that will help you save time, money and your sanity.

1. Label sections of an expanding folder for each holiday. At the front of the folder place a calendar with October, November and December.
2. List the activities you expect to do for each holiday. (make costumes, clean guest room, make cupcakes, plan church pageant, purchase synagogue tickets, buy gifts) and give each activity a completion date.
3. Review your lists and make sure you have not overscheduled your time. Get help if you need it and eliminate some activities if you need to.
4. Review your calendar daily to evaluate your progress and determine if you need to adjust your expectations or your activities.
5. As you complete an activity check it off the list. Also retain receipts, coupons for items you want to buy or ideas, patterns and recipes in the appropriate section. This saves time searching for that perfect decorating idea you know you saw in some magazine (or was it the newspaper?) last month.

You will probably be surprised at the extensive list you end up with, especially if you have school activities, work activities and worship activities along with family and social obligations. Knowing what you have to accomplish is the key to getting it done. It allows you to allocate time and resources that are necessary to accomplish the task without getting overwhelmed. It also allows you to take advantage of downtime to accomplish tasks that do not have to be done at the last minute, and to save money by purchasing things you know you need when they are on sale.

An organized approach makes holidays more happy than harried.

Beverly & Kristen
www.KeyTransition.net

AVOID GARAGE CLUTTER

Do you keep your car in your garage? The U. S. Department of Energy reports that 25% of people with two car garages don’t park any cars in there and that 32% parked only one car, although they had at least two cars in the household. The National Association of Professional Organizers reports that 50% of homeowners rate the garage as the most disorganized space in the house. The report also states that the garage is a place the whole family uses regularly, a fact that adds to the challenge of keeping the space free of clutter.

The garage becomes the storage place for all the stuff that won’t fit in the house and all the stuff that is designated for outside use. It is a convenient place to drop off items that you need to haul elsewhere sometime in the future and messy projects that would create cleaning problems in the main living space. It is the place the kids drop of skateboards and bicycles and surfboards. So what can you do to reclaim the space for your car or at least bring some order to what you really use the garage for.

Here are a few simple tips for keeping garage clutter at bay.

1. Sort the garage contents into categories. Some examples are: sports equipment, wood working, yard maintenance, holiday storage. While sorting, discard any equipment that is broken or obsolete.

2. Create a zone for items in each category. Estimate the space you need for storage of each category and plan how to accommodate it in the space available. Consider systems that hang equipment on walls and overhead storage platforms. Shelves and cubbies can store cleaning products and instruction manuals as well as miscellaneous items. Also consider storage sheds and all-weather storage bins for storage of some items outside the garage.


3. When storing items used by children, make sure they are within reach of the users. Also review with the children and other family members the expectation that things are put back in designated spaces.

4. Create a drop off center at the point of entry to the garage from the house. Do not allow the number of items in that space to overflow before you deal with them.

5. Do a “garage check” once a month to make sure things are where they belong. Make it part of the regular housekeeping schedule.

6. Make sure the members of the household know the rules for maintaining the space and participate in the clean-ups when the clutter begins to pile up.

With a little planning and upkeep you will be able to open the garage bay without embarrassment when the neighbors are looking and maybe even park your car in there.


Beverly & Kristen
www.KeyTransitions.net