So, now that the kids are back at school and the Fall season is just days away, many of us are looking to shed a few of those pounds we gained over the Summer.  Blame it on the Summer treats such as ice cream, those barbecues and parties with friends and family and perhaps lack of exercise due to the hot temperatures outside. However it happened, you are considering going on a weight loss program.

Well, I have a weight loss program we can all be successful at.  Are you ready?

I would like to see you shed the "pounds" of clothing in your closets and dressers!  Yes, you heard me.  You can loss pounds.  

So many of my clients have an abundance of clothing in their wardrobe.  It is easy to put on the pounds (of clothing) but, just like other weight loss programs, not always as easy to shed them.  

We go to the store or go online and start shopping.  We come home with those new items we just can't live without and, boom, over time, our wardrobes grow to the point where we no longer know what we have or no longer wear all the clothing we have.   

Do you know that statistics show that we wear twenty (20%) percent of our clothes eighty (80%) percent of the time? That means that eighty (80%) percent of our clothing we purchase and never wear or keep and no longer wear but keep it anyway.  I find that astonishing!  

I guarantee that if you went through your wardrobe, you could identify "pounds" of clothing that you've bought and have never worn or purchased a long time ago and no longer wear.

I challenge you to see how many pounds you can shed just by going through your wardrobe and eliminating those items.

This is a guaranteed weight loss program you can be successful at, and reach your goal very quickly.  

If you are feeling overwhelmed and don't know where to start, I am here to help.  I can help you to go through your wardrobe in a systematic way to help you make choices about what to keep and what to donate or toss (or in some instances, consign) so that you can have a wardrobe you make use of and enjoy. I will help to create a wardrobe that fits your current lifestyle.  It will feel like a brand new wardrobe!

Let's eliminate about eighty (80%) percent of your weight when it comes to your clothing.  Just imagine how good that will feel!

Contact me if you want to discuss your particular situation.  I want nothing more than for you to be successful! 

Take the first step to shedding some pounds today!  

Last week I had the privlege of working with a new client who asked me to help her organize her Sun Room.  It is a room in her home that her husband has not been able to enjoy for several years due to the clutter that had been building up on the furniture and floor in the room.  It was intended to be a quiet get away from the hustle and bustle of every day life.  That was not the case.  It only created anxiety and frustration due to the amount of clutter it contained.

My client wanted to get this room organized for her husband as a birthday present for him.  I gladly took on the assignment.

The clutter in the home had gotten to the point of it being so bad that it was affecting the couple's marriage.  The marriage was on the verge of ending if the clutter that had been accumulating for many years was not cleaned up.  My client was stuck.  She was overwhelmed and did not know where to even begin.

This is a situation that, unfortunately, I am all to familiar with.  Clutter can, in fact, cause permanent damage to a marriage if it gets out of control and cannot be remedied by the spouse who created it.    

Needless to say, my client recognized that she needed help in order to get the house back in order and begin to work on saving her marriage.  She hoped that the Sun Room would be the first of several projects we would work on together.    

My client had asked her husband, unbeknownst to him that it was going to be a present for him, if he had a choice, which room in the home he would like to see organized.  He said the Sun Room.  He expressed to her that he was extremely doubtful that this room could ever return to its normal condition, let alone in one session, but was willing to have me come into the home and work with his wife.

And so, the project began.  For four hours, my client and I went through the contents that had piled up in the room and either relocated it to the proper room elsewhere in the home, organized it within the room, or threw it away.  With some interior redesign, I created the clutter free and spaceous room that he desired.  

My client was so thrilled with the outcome by the end of the session that she cried and hugged me, thanking me profusely for creating A Better Space for her husband to enjoy.  She was hopeful that when he came home, he would be as excited as she was and would ask me to come back to do further work with his wife in their home.

Before I could even get back to my office following this session, I received a phone message from my client advising that her husband did, in fact, walk through the door and was "blown away" by what had been accomplished and, following their vacation, intends to have me return to do other projects in the home.

I was thrilled that I was able to bring such joy to both of my clients and get such a great reaction from the husband.

In a lot of instances, my clients are not able to visualize how such a cluttered space can become A Better Space, but, fortunately, I can.  

Unlike my clients who cannot see past the clutter, as a professional organizer, I am able to see the potential of any given space and, with that, can bring their dream of a clutter free and organized room to fruition.

If you want to be "blown away", contact A Better Space so we can discuss your particular situation and how I can make this happen in your home!  

As you probably already know, I focus my professional organizing business on residential organizing and helping busy moms and women with home-based businesses.  

I not only physically declutter their homes but, often times, work with them to organize their paperwork.  As a rule, I always ask them questions about various aspects of paper management, including financials.  Usually we are creating a new filing system that reflects their specific needs, which requires me to ask about various aspects of their financial picture.  

Quite often I meet with women who are unable to answer some of my questions when it comes to the household finances. Some do not know what bank accounts exist, if they have a life insurance policy, if they have an investment portfolio or what company holds their mortgage.  I met with someone recently who could not even tell me if their house had been paid off.

Often I meet women who never get involved with their own marital financial assets. They don't pay the bills, ask about retirement, look at credit card statements, inquire about investments or bank accounts, and they let their spouses handle all financial matters.

It is hard for me to imagine that women are so trusting of their spouses that they simply let them handle everything without knowing what is going on.  I find it frightening.  

When I was 36 years old, my husband passed away, leaving me to raise my 6-1/2 year old son.  I was immediately able to jump in and handle all of the finances and was able to quickly transfer utilities, investments, bank accounts, the deed to our home and other financial aspects to myself.  Why?  Because I knew where everything was located and what we had.  

Ladies, as someone who has had personal, first hand experience with the sudden loss of a spouse, I ask you to please be informed. Whether because of death or divorce or even incapacity of your spouse, you need to always know what is going on.  There is no problem with your spouse handling it all, but there is a problem with you not being informed!  

Take time to look at bank statements, credit card bills, mortgage statements, meet with your financial advisor, ask questions and sit down with your spouse so that you can talk about all aspects of your financial picture.  Be sure you know what your credit score is. Establish your own credit by opening a major credit card in your name only, if you have not done so already.  

Continue the conversation from time to time with your spouse so you are always aware of your particular situation.  

I cannot stress enough how passionate I am about making sure that we, as women, are knowledgeable about these matters. We cannot solely depend upon our spouses to handle it all and keep ourselves in the dark.  Don't let another day go by without having the conversation.  You have a right to know, so take the steps necessary.  Knowledge is so empowering!

You might not realize that you are living among clutter because you see it every day. Sometimes we cannot see what is right in front of us because we have become accustomed to it being there.  

It is possible that you might need to pay closer attention to the signs of clutter in your home. Here are some of the signs:

1.  Your guest bedroom requires that you move junk around so your guests have a place to stay. More often than not, because your guest room is used infrequently, it becomes a dumping ground for items that do not have a home elsewhere. The day comes when guests are planning on arriving and you need to provide space for them to stay. All of a sudden, it's a race to get the room in order for their arrival.  Learn to put things where they belong and not just throw them into this room.

2.  You know you have an extra set of car keys, but you can never find them.  If you have trouble finding that extra set of keys or any other everyday item, it's a sign that its time to get organized. Your small items might not have a place of their own. Locate a place in your home where the item is used frequently and dedicate that spot to the item. Be sure to teach the other members of your household to put the item back into this spot after they have used it.  

3.  You find that you are having to constantly return home when trying to get out the door in the morning.  You walk out the door to get the kids to school or you are running out the door to get to work and you have to run back inside for your cell phone or the kids' homework. This is a sign of disorganization. Plan what you need the night before and set up a station by the front door where school bags, purses, keys and anything else you need can be placed. Use a sticky note on the front door to remind you of those last minute things you need, such as school lunches, etc.

4.  You are paying late fees and interest charges every month.  Think about what it is costing you each year that you are paying those annoying late fees and interest charges because you do not have a system in place to pay your bills on time. Simply set up a bill paying schedule and designate a place for your mail. Create a consistent time to sit down and pay your bills each week or every two weeks to avoid this situation.  

5.  You never seem to have time for yourself.  It is vital, no matter how busy your life is, to create some "me time". You get up early and go to bed late. You are exhausted. Take a breath. It is okay to schedule blocks of time for yourself on your calendar.  It is a great time management tool. You need to create some time to do the things you enjoy doing, whether it's reading a book, taking a yoga class or even getting together with some friends for a few hours. Life is about balance; it's not all about work and getting things done. "Me Time" can be so empowering.

Take a look around. Pay attention to the signs of clutter in your home and in your life.  

If you are having difficulty with any aspect of getting organized, feel free to contact me. I am here for you! I can show you how to eliminate the clutter in your home and in your life.

It's Monday afternoon and I just returned from a four day trip on a Harley-Davidson motorcycle from Bucks County, PA to Canaan Valley, West Virginia last night.  The weather was amazing and the sites spectacular.  

I am relatively new to the life of a "Biker Babe" and, although the rides and trips are amazing, I am having to adjust my way of thinking.  I am learning some lessons in living a minimalistic life - I have no choice.  

I have a small SUV which I purchased several years ago to enable me to transport almost anything and everything - for my clients and for myself.  When I head out on vacation, I am able to fill the SUV with whatever I need and want.  Not so on a Harley!

In order for me to plan for a four day excursion with my boyfriend, I had to pack whatever I needed or wanted in one-half of a suitcase that could be strapped to the back of the bike.  Not an easy task.

I openly admit that I like my creature comforts and, because I have the brain of an organizer, I am detail oriented and like to be prepared for anything and everything.  You do not have that option when packing for a trip with only the use of 1/2 of a suitcase.  

I am aware that some people do not find this a challenge, but I do.  Mike was great and very patient with me when I was packing and talked me through the process.  For four days, I could pack one pair of jeans, a pair of shorts, a bathing suit and coverup, two night shirts, under garments, six shirts, a denim jacket, one fleese and rain gear along with my toiletries.  Layering is a must on a Harley. Although it was in the 80's everyday, [perfect riding weather], the mornings were chilly and required four layers of clothing.  

These are the lessons I learned:

One pair of jeans for daytime and one pair for night time;

The shirt you wear in the evening is the shirt you wear the next day;

Only one pair of sneaks and one pair of sandals get packed. [This was particularly difficult for me!]

Layering is critical no matter what time of year.  

Toiletries need to be downsized considerably and travel size products are your best friend.  

Although Mike teased me throughout the trip about us having the largest suitcase in the group, we managed to pack what I needed and still leave room for his stuff and, most importantly, get the suitcase zippered shut!  

This biker babe is still learning the tricks to living a minimalistic life when it comes to traveling on the bike.  I have found that it is giving me a different perspective as to what is really important.  Only pack what you need, not what you want.  It is possible!

I believe the same holds true in our homes.  I am not saying get rid of everything you own; but, try to look at your possessions and think about whether you actually need them.  This is a good way to reduce the clutter in your home and in your life!

I promise that the next trip I take on the motorcycle will involve even less!  

What should you do with all the extra stuff in your house that you don’t have room for? A lot of people deal with this by renting a storage unit and just dumping everything there. 

Did you know that the self storage industry has been one of the fastest-growing sectors of the United States commercial real estate industry over the period of the last 40 years? I find that incredible!

Depending on the size of the unit, you can spend anywhere from $100 to $250 per unit per month.  I have known several people who rent more than one unit.  Multiply that by 12 months and you are spending at least $1200 a year to store your "stuff".

Personally, in most instances, I find the decision to rent a storage unit is just a form of procrastination, not a solution.  It is, generally, a way to put off dealing with the inevitable; going through the items and making decisions about keeping, tossing, donating or selling.  

A woman contacted me last month to talk about utilizing my services to help her declutter and organize her apartment.  She was going away on vacation so we scheduled a consultation and first session for this week. When I confirmed the appointment the day before, as I always do, she told me she decided not to follow through.  When I asked why, she told me she decided to just put her stuff in a storage unit.  

But is this really the best solution? 

When you have to rent a separate space outside your home to store all the stuff that you can’t fit inside, this is a "red flag" that you just might have "too much stuff"!  

It’s one thing if the need is temporary (for example, when your house is being renovated, or you are staging your home and moving to another home), or if you truly have no room in your home for seasonal items, but some people rent storage units for years and years in order to hang on to things that are worth less than what’s being spent to store them. Does that make sense?

Wouldn't it be better to sell them, donate them, or just throw them out!

Think about it!  On the off-chance that someday you discover you actually need one of the items you previously discarded, it’ll probably be less expensive to buy a new one than to keep the old one (and all your other junk) in storage for years and years.  

Also, if you have something in storage that really is valuable to you (sentimentally or otherwise), why not honor it in a special place in your home, where it can be appreciated? How can you enjoy that item if it is stored in an outside unit and never seen? If you determine that you don’t have room for it, chances are there’s something else in your home that you could get rid of and never miss.

Always remember - Use the things that you use and enjoy today.  Don't save them for “someday”.  I call that "someday syndrome".   That's when you think you’ll need something that you don’t want or need now.  That can be an expensive decision.

So, to store or not to store - that is the question.  What is your answer?

If you are contemplating renting a storage unit or already have one that you would like to get rid of, contact me.  I can help save you money and honor the items you treasure today!

How many people do you know that have lived in their homes for over five years?  Are you one of them?  

Just imagine how much has been accumulating in your home since you moved in.  Do you know what you have? Chances are you don't.  

We tend to gather items over the years and store them away and then forget about them.  There is not one time that I have worked with a client that we do not find something they have either been looking for or just completely forgot that they had.  It's just a matter of time!  

The most common time for people to access what they have in their home is when they are actually moving out of it!  But, I ask you, why wait?  Why not take some time and create an inventory of what you have in your home now?  Here are some steps you can take to get this done: 

1.  A Room At A Time - Don't attempt to inventory your entire home at one time.  Work on one room at a time.  Start at the top of your home and work your way down.

2.  Make a detailed list of items you want to purchase.  Do you want to replace the comforter set on your bed? Write it down. Do you want to change out the light fixture in your bathroom?  Write it down.  Even if you don't think you will make that purchase right away, put it on your list.  Treat it as a punch list that you can use to get things done over time.  

3.  Make a detailed list of the items you need to repair.  Does your closet door squeak?  Does your carpeting need to be steam cleaned?  Put everything you need to repair on one list and then get them done as soon as you can. It is important to always work on the upkeep of your home.  If you create a list for yourself or a handyman, these items can be knocked off your list in no time!  

4.  Create an inventory of the appliances and electronics in your home.  For insurance purposes, it is important to have an inventory of the major appliances and electronics in your home.  Include a detailed description and model number.  Keep this list in a fireproof/water proof safe box to use in case of a fire or flood.  This will speed up the process when making a claim with the insurance company.  

Whether staging your home for sale or just keeping up with the contents in your home and the repairs it might need, it is important to create an inventory and know what you possess.   

Do you know what you have in your home?

If this process is too overwhelming for you, I am here to help.  As a professional organizer who specializes in residential organizing, I can help you identify what is in your home and organize your contents in a way that makes it easy to find what you need, when you need it.  Simply contact me to discuss you organizing stumbling blocks.  

Wow!  Is it June already?  I have been so crazy busy that I have not had the opportunity to write a blog for the past few weeks.  I have been working with a lot of clients lately who are downsizing.  They are transitioning out of their home into a smaller home. When this happens, many people struggle with how to fit all of their possessions into a smaller space.  That is where I come in.  I help my clients decide what to keep, what to sell, what to donate and what to throw away in the trash.  

I actually get excited when I hear that someone is moving into a new home.  Although it can be stressful, it is a great time to evaluate your possessions and decide what is truly needed and wanted.  It's a fresh start.  So many of us obtain or collect items during the many years we live in a home and do not take the time to weed through our possessions on a regular basis to re-evaluate what we want or need.  Moving into a new home tends to help so many focus on this task.  However, it can be overwhelming.

It is important to keep in mind the following:

1. Always focus on where you are going and how much space you will have.  You need to constantly remind yourself of the amount of space you will have in your new home to help you make smart choices.  Stay in the present when deciding on an item.  If you hear yourself talking in the past i.e., "I used to use this for...", it is time to let it go.

2. Pick your favorites.  As they say, everything cannot be your favorite.  Be selective about the items you wish to take to your new home and be sure the item is needed or brings you joy.  Don't get stuck in the "Maybe someday I will need it" syndrome.  Your home is intended to be lived in, not acting as a storage unit.  

3. Set a deadline.  Many people who are downsizing are doing so because their kids are grown and have moved out of the home. However, they left their stuff behind for various reasons.  Make sure your kids know you are serious about downsizing and cannot take their stuff with you when you move.  Set a deadline and tell them that they either pick up or have their stuff delivered or shipped by a certain date or it will be donated.  You do not have the room to store their stuff any longer and you do not want the added expense of having it moved to your new home.  

4. Become familiar with the home you are moving into.   If possible, visit the home you are moving into to do some space planning in advance.  This will help you choose the items you will have room for and how they will be set up in the home.  This includes furniture placement and cabinet or drawer storage.  Take pictures if possible to refresh your memory when making these choices.  

5. Organize the packing of boxes and furniture.  Be sure to clearly label your boxes and furniture so the movers will have an easier time putting them into the appropriate rooms in your new home.  Use color coding by taping a colored piece of paper on the doorway of each room that coordinates with the color on the boxes.  Moving companies love when this is done.  It avoids them having to ask you every five minutes which room you want certain items.  It will also save time, which saves you money. 

Downsizing is the opportunity to begin a new chapter in your life.  It can be a stressful time but with the help of a professional organizer, it can be an exciting time!  

If you are overwhelmed with the idea of downsizing, I am here to help.  I can help you go through your possessions to make those important choices, space plan your new home and assist with staging your current home for sale, if need be.  I will work with you to help you through the emotional attachment issues you might be experiencing with your upcoming move.   

There is an upside to downsizing!

Okay, let's get this straight! I am not a Star Trek fan.  Sorry, but it's just not my thing!  However, S P A C E is something I can definitely relate to. Especially when it comes to getting organized.  Finding a good home for your things is the final frontier, the final goal. Interestingly enough - S P A C E is an acronym.  

It stands for Sort, Purge, Assign, Containerize and Equalize.   This is vital to getting organized.  Let me explain.  

1. Sort - When organizing a room, you want to go through the things in that room and determine whether they fit the theme of the room.  For example, you should not be keeping children's toys in a master bedroom.  Out they go!  Do you have a purpose for the item and do you like it?

2. Purge - Now that you have identified the items that do not align with the theme of the room, either throw them away, donate them, sell them or move them to another room in the home where they will serve their purpose.  Yes!  Get your kids' toys out of the master bedroom and put them in the play room!   

3. Assign - All of your "stuff" needs to find a home.  When things don't have a home, you don't know where to put them and they end up laying around, on top of a counter, a desk, a table, the floor, etc.  The place you select needs to be convenient.  Think about it.  If it is difficult to put away, chances are you will not put it away.  Think of where you would logically look for that item - that is where it belongs!  (Your answer might not be the same as someone else's, and that's okay. Just be sure to let others in the household know where they are being stored.)  

4. Containerize - The organizing product industry is extremely lucrative for a reason.  Why?  It's simply - because things need to be containerized and stored. Make good use of drawers, storage bins and shelves in your home.  Put like things together by how you use them, not how someone else tells you they should be used or stored.  Make sure the container fits the amount of items being stored, it should not be too large or too small.  

5. Equalize - Start using the rooms in your home for their intended purpose.  Use the bedroom for sleep and relaxation.  Do not use it to store items you want to hide from guests when they announce they are stopping by!  Use your home office to pay your bills, file your paperwork and be productive.  

Keep these concepts in mind and if any room in your home is not working for you, change it!   

Do you want to have A BETTER SPACE?  If so, contact me.  I am here to help.  I can help you to create the room you envision by eliminating the clutter, getting it organized and putting in customized systems that work!  

Yes, SPACE is, in fact, the final frontier - it is my goal for getting you organized, once and for all!  

How many times have you said to yourself "I want to get organized, but"..., then you do nothing about it?  

I know, for a fact, that this happens more times than not!  Do you want to know why?  Why is it we get frustrated, overwhelmed and do absolutely nothing?  

For some, it's because they don't know where to start.  Perhaps it's because it is just too overwhelming when looking at the whole picture.  For others, it's because they have started the process but never finished and gave up.  For certain people, however, it is because of fear.  Fear can cause some people to not even try.  

What causes that feeling of fear?  There are several reasons.  I mentioned frustration and overwhelm.  How about the feeling of failure?  

Is it possible that you want to get organized but are afraid you will not do a good job and therefore, do nothing at all?  

Do you believe that you will not be able to make the right choices when deciding what to keep, toss or donate?  What justifies keeping something, throwing it away, donating it?  Do you know?  These are questions that tend to come up a lot when going through the process of organizing.  

Is it possible that you are afraid that you will commit the time to weeding through your stuff and not get the results you set out to achieve?  Perhaps you cannot visualize what the end result will look like, and, therefore, cannot even get started.  

Finally, is it possible that you are afraid to let go of things you know you don't want but feel guilty about getting rid of them?  

All of these fears can cause you to freeze or feel stuck and either not get started at all, or, in the alternative, start the process and not finish.

As a professional organizer, I work with my clients one-on-one to not only help them visualize the final outcome, but take the steps needed to not only start the process, but get past those obstacles such as fear and get the job done.

The next time you hear yourself saying "I want to get organized, but"..., remember, it is more common than not to feel frustrated, overwhelmed and perhaps frozen with fear when it comes to getting organized.    

The good news is, I am here to help!  If you want to see what some of my previous clients have experienced, I invite you to visit my Testimonials Page on this website at www.4abetterspace.com/testimonials to see what A Better Space has already achieved for others and what is possible for you, too!

Until next time, I am wishing you an organized day!