Martin Stewart

I often joke that my husband is Martin Stewart, Martha's brother. I'm not sure how or when he acquired such skills, but he is always surprising me with helpful home organizing tips. The moment I realized I was going to marry Dylan was on a quiet Saturday afternoon. He invited me over to watch football and when I arrived I was surprised to see him feverishly dusting and cleaning while watching the game. When he asked if I would help him make his bed I politely agreed. Although I found it odd, I thought it would be rude to decline this request so early in our budding relationship. Yet, if he would have handed me a toilet brush, our love story might have ended sourly that day. As we pulled the sheets off the bed he explained that he like to keep several sets of clean linens in the closet so he can immediately remake the bed with clean sheets instead of waiting until the laundry is done. A light bulb blew up in my head. Why had I not heard this before? Was I daydreaming the day my mother taught me this valuable house keeping skill? I would soon find out that my future-husband was an abundant source for time-saving, space-saving,and amazing house keeping skills. So, as I continue this blog, I must add the disclaimer that some of my brilliant ideas aren't mine at all, but the master work of Martin Stewart.

Managing the Mail

On the surface, getting the mail seems to be a pretty easy chore. Yet, managing the paper load once it enters the home can be a difficult task. From coupons and credit card offers to bills and bank statements it is hard to decipher what is important and what is just plain junk.

The following organizing system for managing mail will bring order to your countertops and paper piles by using just 4 file folders. Keep these files on top of your desk or file cabinet using a standing file organizer like the one shown in the picture below.



Folder 1: Bills to Be Paid
It is too often we decide to leave bills on the desk, in plain view, to prevent them from being filed away and forgotten. This technique should be avoided. Not only should bills be kept confidential, but they also should be stored in safe place until they can be paid and filed appropriately.

Folder 2: To Do
By the time the mail has reached your home from the mailbox, it could be well after 5:00pm and most businesses or call centers would be closed at that time. This file will hold all the items that came in the mail, but can’t be acted upon immediately. Place items in chronological order by due date so time sensitive mail remains in the front.
Keeping a running ‘To Do’ file will save you time by only having to look in one place when it’s time to mark things off the ‘To Do’ list.

Folder 3: To File
This file is important as it stores all of your paid and completed mail that needs to be filed, but there isn’t time to do it yet.

Folder 4: Unopened Mail
Most members of a household run on very different schedules. Each person must understand that they are responsible for putting the mail in the ‘Unopened Mail’ file when they bring the mail into the house from the mailbox. This step will eliminate the problem of lost mail.

It is also important to keep a paper shredder and recycling bin near the filing system. Junk mail needs to immediately be thrown away and any offers with specific information must be shredded!

Happy organizing!

The Garage Facelift

In many cases the garage is the store-all for clutter that no longer fits in the home. As each room in the house gets its spring cleaning makeover, the garage slowly fills to capacity and now the car won't even fit. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, 25 percent of people with two-car garages don’t park any cars in their garage, and 32 percent only have room for one.

The garage is the last thing seen before heading off to work, and yet there it is again, the first to greet you when returning at night. Those farewells and homecomings could be much sweeter if your garage was in better functioning order. So what can be done to create peace of mind in the garage?

1) Remove the excess clutter! It is not necessary to have 3 lawnmowers when you hire a landscaper. Each and every item must be assessed as to its functionality. Ask yourself, "When was the last time I used this? How easily can it be replaced? And what is the worst thing that could happen if I got rid of it?" This step can be the hardest part of the garage facelift. Yet, if you want to be in control of your environment, you must make a change.

2) Put like things together. This is the easy part! Think of your garage as a mini-store. Each item needs to be put in a general category like recreation/toys, gardening, and tools. From there, you can seperate the items into more specific sub-categories like chalk, bubbles, and balls. For children's toys and small items I recommend the stackable bins shown below.


3) Create a home for each item and use the label maker generously! This step is so important for maintaining an organized garage! If each and every item in your garage has a home, there is never a questions as to where it should be placed after use. A great product for creating homes in the garage is the Fast Track which can be purchased at Lowe's or Home Depot (shown in the top picture.) The label maker also comes in very handy for this step. Not only does my 7 year old get to practice his reading while putting his toys away, he is learning the value of organization.

Good luck!

If all this information seems overwhelming, there are professionals to help! Call Clutter Consultants today for a free consultation! Happy Spring Cleaning!
479-659-2095

The $100 Birthday Bash!

Birthdays are special milestones in our children’s lives and as parents we like to make them memorable. Though, that doesn’t mean you have to break the bank to make the day one to be remembered. The key to hosting a successful party and staying within your budget is planning ahead and being prepared. Here are a few tips to throw an exciting birthday bash while keeping the cost under a hundred dollars.

-Create a theme for the party (Pajama party, pool party, animal party,etc.)

-Have the party somewhere free such as your home or a park.

-Plan the party for the middle of the day to avoid the need to serve a meal.
o If you want to serve food, buy finger foods in bulk to help save money.

-Keep the number of kids invited at a manageable number (8 or 10)

-Get creative and make your invites, decorations, and the cake at home!
o Lots of websites offer templates for free- all you have to do is customize and print.
o Plain white cups and plates can be used as craft – kids can decorate according to the party
theme

-As for party favors, just give them one or two items.
o There is no need to go overboard on party favors but give them things they can use such as pencils and stickers
o Have the kids create a craft during the party that they can take home as a memento.

Good luck!

Lauren
Wedding & Event Planner
Clutter Consultants of NWA

For further details or to have your next event planned for you, contact Clutter Consultants of NWA!

479-659-2095
clutterconsultantsnwa@gmail.com

15 Minute Junk Drawer Makeover!

Junk drawers and I have a love/hate relationship. When my husband and I moved in together it was a great debate as to whether or not we were even going to have one. In my opinion, I do not want to specify a place in our home for junk. Yet, time has revealed the ugly truth that everyone needs a space for all those odds and ends. The key is keeping it in a manageble state.



Lucky for us, there are great organizing products out there and I found this amazing drawer organizer at Bed, Bath, and Beyond for $9.99.



If you are on a budget, be creative by using household items as organizers. I have found that the cardboard Velveeta container is a great drawer organizer!

Get excited because you are 15 minutes away from having a beautifully organized drawer!

Step 1: Remove everything from drawer. 3 minutes.
Step 2: Throw away any trash. 2 minutes.
Step 3: Return misplaced items to their proper homes. 5 minutes.
Step 4: Group remaining items together in like groups. For example, all pens should be grouped together. 1 Minute.
Step 5: Neatly place items in drawer organizer assigning a group of items to each section. Example: the batteries should have their own section of the organizer, as should the pens, chip clips, and lighters. 4 minutes.

Enjoy!

Make Ahead Breakfast Casserole

My husband and I recently found this recipe in Rural Arkansas Magazine. After tweaking a few ingredients, it became an easy and healthy dish! Anyone who want to eat a filling nutritious breakfast, but doesn't have time should try this!

Make Ahead Breakfast Casserole

6 slices of whole wheat 100 calorie buns
1 lb. sausage
Small onion, chopped
1 cup reduced fat cheddar cheese
2 cups reduced fat milk
1 teaspoon black pepper
6 eggs, beaten
1 chopped jalepeno

Place slices of bread in greased 13x9 baking dish. Brown sausage in skillet with onion, stirring to crumble. Drain and spoon over bread. Combine beaten eggs with milk. Pour over sausage. Sprinkle with cheese and jalepenos. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Set dish out while oven is preheating. Bake at 350 for 35 to 40 minutes.

Let us know if this advice worked for you!

Stress Free Holiday Traveling

I know most of you are thinking, "Yeah, right. Holidays + traveling = craziness." Although I'm sure you will to run into few unexpected issues, if you are prepared it is possible to get to and from your destination with ease. Just follow the following tips:

Plan Ahead
Before you start any journey, research the conditions and requirements for your trip. Do your research, make a checklist of the things you absolutely need and start packing. Allow yourself plenty of time so you don’t forget necessary items or hurriedly over pack with things you don’t need. If you travel frequently create a packing list on your computer that you can update to include “must-haves” and blank space for trip specific items.

Communicate
Remember to let friends, family and trusted neighbors know where you are going, how long you’ll be gone and how to reach you. If you’ll be away for an extended period of time, have the post office hold your mail. Some periodicals offer you the opportunity to have your newspaper donated to a non-profit organization while you are away. Contact your credit card company if you are traveling abroad — charges made in other countries can often raise flags about credit card theft and your card could be declined.

Protect Your Home
Arrange to have pets boarded or cared for by a friend. Water houseplants well before leaving, or set up a time-released watering system. Set timers on the interior and exterior lights in your home. Hide valuables somewhere in the house rather than leaving them in your jewelry box or an underwear drawer; be sure to let someone else know your hiding place in case you forget. Set your thermostat at a reasonable temperature in order to save on summer cooling costs — keep it comfortable for pets and houseplants.

High Time for a Tune-Up
If you’re taking a road trip, be sure to give your car a thorough pre-vacation inspection. Check the tires and all fluid levels. Inspect windshield wipers, hoses and belts for wear. Don’t forget an emergency kit that includes jumper cables, basic hand tools, flares, a first aid kit and a flashlight.

Don’t Take the Kitchen Sink
When planning for your weekend, keep in mind that many hotels offer a variety of amenities that you won’t need to bring from home. For example, many facilities feature hairdryers in each room; therefore you can leave yours at home and reduce the bulk in your suitcase. The same is true for items like robes and beach towels so, save space for something you know you will need.

Keep it Simple
As you plan your outfits for the week, try to keep the bottom half of your wardrobe (pants, shorts, skirts) very basic. Take khaki and black bottoms along that can be mixed with different tops to create new outfits. Select shoes that can be worn with multiple outfits.

A Wrinkle in Time
If you prefer to travel with your clothes on hangers in a garment bag, you can help prevent wrinkles by placing each garment in its own dry cleaner bag. Use a clothing compression system in your carry-on, as well as in your checked luggage, to make the most of the space. The slippery plastic bag keeps the clothes from shifting and rubbing together, which is the main reason clothes wrinkle during travel. To keep clothes in your garment bag from creasing along the middle fold, roll a sweater or light jacket up and place it in the fold.

Step in the Right Direction
If you’re flying to your destination, it’s usually a good idea to wear your bulkiest pair of shoes onto the airplane. To help save space in your bag, you can stuff socks and undergarments in the shoes you’re packing. Place them in shoe bags to protect the other items in your suitcase and pack them at the bottom of your bag to prevent damage to the other contents. If you are traveling with bulky sweaters, jackets or towels use a travel compression system to save space in your luggage.

Lighten the Load
Make copies of information that is pertinent to your trip from travel magazines and guidebooks — there’s no need to bring the entire guide. Keep the papers together in a pouch so all the information is organized and accessible and fits flat inside your suitcase.

Dr. Mom (and Dad)
You should be prepared for the unexpected but you don’t need to bring along the entire medicine cabinet to remedy the situation. Prepare a small first aid kit with only the basics and a travel-sized sewing kit. You’ll be glad you have them when you need them.