Can you believe almost one-quarter of the year has already passed? Are you still having trouble organizing those special events that occur every year, making sure you have made note of the date and what to purchase, whether it’s a card or a gift?

Here are some Quick Tips for A Better Space which will make organizing those special events a breeze:

First, write all the birthdays, anniversaries and other recurring celebrations on your calendar.

Then, transfer the information, using a 3x5 inch recipe box with 12 dividers inside marked January through December.

On 3 x 5 cards, write the name, address and phone numbers of the person. In the upper right corner, write the date of their special day and highlight it for quick visibility.

You can use white cards for wedding anniversaries, pink cards for female birthdays, blue cards for male birthdays and yellow or green cards for other special days. Put the cards in chronological order in the box by month.

I use this system for both personal information and professional contact information. Some people will get a phone call, others you will send a card to, while others you will buy a gift for.

About 10 days prior to the start of a new month, pull out all the cards for the next month. Review them. Once you have decided what your intentions are for that month’s group of people, plan a trip to purchase any cards and/or gifts you need for that month. As an added perk, write what you give the person that year on back of the card.

Now, you won’t forget that special day!

You can even do a separate box just for Christmas time. Using the same system, just put a card in the box for everyone you want to send cards to and those you want to purchase gifts for. Use a divider to separate the two categories, if you’d like. Be sure to keep contact information up to date so that when it comes time to mail out those cards and gifts, the information is correct. Again, write what you give the person that year on the back of the card. This will avoid duplicates and make you look creative and organized.

It’s easy!

For more information and assistance on this topic or any organizing issue you might have, feel free to contact me. I will be more than happy to help you reach your goals for organization and make your place A Better Space.

Have a great week!

Spring is about to be sprung!  As the days quickly pass, the chance of getting a big snow storm in the Philadelphia area diminishes - yeah!  (You might be able to tell I am not a winter person - I love the summer.)

Well, since Spring officially begins next week, I thought it would be a good time to provide some Quick Tips for A Better Space when it comes to how to store out of season clothing.  
With a large closet, people are often tempted to keep all their clothes in the one spot and not rotate clothing seasonally. Unfortunately, this sometimes creates cramped closets and makes it hard to see what you really have in your current wardrobe. 

If you have a smaller closet, this is even more of an issue. 

If you can relate to this situation, I would suggest the following:

Store out-of-season clothing in plastic under-the bed containers or pretty cardboard boxes that can fit on top of your closet shelf.

Folded clothes should be stored with acid and dye-free tissue paper so they won’t be as wrinkled when pulled out for next season.

Fragrant, insect-repelling herb sachets are a good alternative to mothballs. They will keep your clothing smelling fresh and well protected without being potentially harmful to your family and the environment.

Any out of season clothes that need to be hung should be stored at the very back of the closet since they do not need to be readily accessible.  They should be stored in a garment bag to keep them clean and dust free in the off-season.  Avoid using dry cleaner bags for this purpose.  They should not be used at all, in fact, for any type of clothing protection and storage.  They trap the dry cleaning chemicals which stay on your clothes and can be harmful to your health and the environment.  Your clothes need to breathe so cloth garment bags are suggested. 

This is also a great time to look at what you have not worn the past season and get rid of it.  Chances are you won't wear it next year either.  Why pack away something you will not be wearing.  Make room for new purchases next Fall instead! 

You will need to start planning a time to set aside to convert your wardrobe from Winter to Spring and Summer so be prepared with the proper tools to do so.

For more information and assistance on this topic or any organizing issue you might have, feel free to contact me. I will be more than happy to help you reach your goals for organization and make your place A Better Space.

Have a great week!

Winter is coming to a close soon.  (I personally can't wait!)

Soon you might be taking those bulky winter coats or winter comforter sets and storing them away until next Fall.

Here's a truly Quick Tip For A Better Space:

In order to save lot's of space, I recommend purchasing vacuum storage bags, more commonly known as "Space Bags".

Vacuum storage bags are a simple way to make space for what matters most...other stuff!

Use them for out-of-season clothing, especially those bulky winter coats, extra or out-of-season bed linens and guest-bedding.  Don't forget to include the pillows! 

Vacuum storage bags are an ideal storage solution when space is at a premium.  These bags reduce bulk by 75% and are inexpensive and relatively easy to use. All you need is a household vacuum cleaner with a hose.

When purchasing the bags, I suggest purchasing various sizes and using a bag that is a bit larger than the items you want to store in them.  There is a line on the bag and the items should not extend above that line.  Otherwise, it won't work right.

Just lay the items flat in a jumbo or large storage bag and use your vacuum cleaner to evacuate the air.  The trick is to make sure the air does not escape again from the hole you just sucked the air out of.  A trick I use is putting a pencil in the cap that covers the hole and pushing the cover into the hole as soon as you remove the vacuum cleaner hose.   This reduces the chance of air escaping too quickly.

Then stack the bags as desired.

The vacuum storage bags have an air and watertight seal that keeps out moths, dirt, moisture; mildew; musty odors; and discoloration.  I would recommend not keeping them sealed for more than six (6) months at a time.  Just let the air back in and put in fresh air again; then you're good for another six months!

Another Tip: For added freshness, add a fabric softener sheet to the bag before shrinking.

So, when that linen closet is stuffed and there is no more room, try this idea to create A Better Space in your closet!

For more information and assistance on this topic or any organizing issue you might have, feel free to contact me. I will be more than happy to help you reach your goals for organization and make your place A Better Space.