Thursday, October 18, 2012
A Mom Blogger's 5 Take-aways from a Session with Genius Organizing
...I spent two lovely two-hour sessions with Julia, the co-founder of Genius Organizing. I was so nervous about her visit (what would she think of my clutter? would she call TLC’s Hoarders?) that I straighted up and de-cluttered as much as I could before. But there was no need to worry. When I met Julia it was like meeting a long-lost friend. We clicked right away. She did not bat an eye at some of the things I’ve saved—like too many of my kids’ baby onesies, too many of my college term papers, and too many shopping bags and remnants of gift wrap. She helped me to part with them all. Really, she is part organizer, part therapist. ... (More)
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Ahhhhh, Autumn!
When the weather turns cool, it always brings an invigorating freshness, but that's especially true this year, after the hot, hot summer we had in New York City. The chillier temperatures mean we go digging into our "deep storage" for coats, jackets, hats, scarves and gloves. For many clients we work with, space is limited and so "deep storage" can just mean the back of the closet! In that case, it's even more important to EDIT once in a while. As you start to pull out those jackets, coats, hats and scarves this year, remember - this is a PERFECT time to reclaim some closet real estate!
One technique to do this is to remove everything from the storage area. Yes, everything! As you pull each item out, ask yourself "When was the last time I wore this? Do I like it? Do I feel good when I wear it?" We tell clients if they didn't wear something seasonal last season, the odds are practically none that they will wear it this one. It's time to let it go! Sometimes when you remove everything, you realize you have many more hats or scarves than you could, or do, actually use. In that case, pick a reasonable number of those items that you can really use. What is a reasonable number? There is no true right answer to that question. It depends greatly upon how much storage space you have, and how much of a clotheshorse you are. But as you are editing, you are going to feel it in your gut that things are not right when you tell yourself that thirty scarves is a reasonable amount. Work backwards from there. Pick your favorites first, and let the rest go.
Before the real cold weather hits is a great time to get cool-weather things into the hands of people who can use them- those who are less fortunate and in need of some help staying warm this winter. Remember- getting rid of some of your things does not mean you are being wasteful! Bag up these excess coats, jackets, scarves and hats, and put the bag by your door as a visual reminder to take it with you the next chance you get to stop by a donation center. Or, better yet, carry it out today on this beautiful fall day, to your nearest donation center. We have plenty of them in the City, from Housing Works to Salvation Army to Goodwill, and you can find them by name or zip code using this handy tool from NYC.gov.
In addition to things they don't really use,we often find our clients have clothing just languishing in the closet because it's in need of repair. Storing an item needing repair in a closet, usually leads to the repair being forgotten. As you pull out cool-weather clothing, use that process as your trigger and reminder of these items that may need a visit to a dry cleaner or tailor. Get those items into a bag, label the bag if you have more than one bag needing attention, and put it right by the front door, as a visual reminder to take it and get those long-awaited repairs done. Or, again, take it out today and get that process underway! The sooner you get these items into the right hands, the sooner you get to enjoy them again.
Ridding yourself of cold-weather clothes that you don't use or love will free up valuable space in your closet, giving you better, easier access to the things you really do use and enjoy, and also makes room for new things, which we all inevitably acquire. For the new things, to keep things from getting too crowded, we suggest a simple one-in-one-out rule - for every new thing that comes in, one old thing should go out, to donation if possible, or if it's in poor condition, then just to the trash. This simple rule works wonders in keeping "stuff" at a manageable level. It is how we keep our own closets organized!
So, enjoy your favorite scarf and sweater again, and a city revitalized and refreshed by the changing season. And, if you need help clearing out or updating your closets, or any other space, give us a call. We would love to help. One technique to do this is to remove everything from the storage area. Yes, everything! As you pull each item out, ask yourself "When was the last time I wore this? Do I like it? Do I feel good when I wear it?" We tell clients if they didn't wear something seasonal last season, the odds are practically none that they will wear it this one. It's time to let it go! Sometimes when you remove everything, you realize you have many more hats or scarves than you could, or do, actually use. In that case, pick a reasonable number of those items that you can really use. What is a reasonable number? There is no true right answer to that question. It depends greatly upon how much storage space you have, and how much of a clotheshorse you are. But as you are editing, you are going to feel it in your gut that things are not right when you tell yourself that thirty scarves is a reasonable amount. Work backwards from there. Pick your favorites first, and let the rest go.
Before the real cold weather hits is a great time to get cool-weather things into the hands of people who can use them- those who are less fortunate and in need of some help staying warm this winter. Remember- getting rid of some of your things does not mean you are being wasteful! Bag up these excess coats, jackets, scarves and hats, and put the bag by your door as a visual reminder to take it with you the next chance you get to stop by a donation center. Or, better yet, carry it out today on this beautiful fall day, to your nearest donation center. We have plenty of them in the City, from Housing Works to Salvation Army to Goodwill, and you can find them by name or zip code using this handy tool from NYC.gov.
In addition to things they don't really use,we often find our clients have clothing just languishing in the closet because it's in need of repair. Storing an item needing repair in a closet, usually leads to the repair being forgotten. As you pull out cool-weather clothing, use that process as your trigger and reminder of these items that may need a visit to a dry cleaner or tailor. Get those items into a bag, label the bag if you have more than one bag needing attention, and put it right by the front door, as a visual reminder to take it and get those long-awaited repairs done. Or, again, take it out today and get that process underway! The sooner you get these items into the right hands, the sooner you get to enjoy them again.
Ridding yourself of cold-weather clothes that you don't use or love will free up valuable space in your closet, giving you better, easier access to the things you really do use and enjoy, and also makes room for new things, which we all inevitably acquire. For the new things, to keep things from getting too crowded, we suggest a simple one-in-one-out rule - for every new thing that comes in, one old thing should go out, to donation if possible, or if it's in poor condition, then just to the trash. This simple rule works wonders in keeping "stuff" at a manageable level. It is how we keep our own closets organized!
Happy Fall!
-Wendy,
Team Genius
Monday, June 18, 2012
Picture Perfect
It happens to the best of us. Before the digital age, we all snapped hundreds of film photos, eager to preserve forever those birthdays/ proms/college parties/old boyfriends etc. We’d take the pics, develop them, admire them, and then more often that not, shove them into a shoebox, where they would stay.
Even now, in the digital age, our photos can pile up. Friends print them and send them to us, or we print them, and then maybe give them a moment of glory on the fridge door. Then of course we take them down, and into the shoebox/desk drawer/old Tupperware container they go. Some of us have photos EVERYWHERE. Mixed in with memorabilia, jammed into a huge cardboard box – they’re all over the place.
We love our photos, and we feel like all of our photos are precious. (Even the ones of you from college, doing a beer bong while dressed as a sexy cat.) But all these pictures can be incredibly overwhelming. Even if we do ever get them into albums (not likely), over time, albums aren’t really the way to preserve them for years down the line. The only real answer to photo organization today is, of course, scanning. But who has time for scanning? That’s probably the most tedious job on the planet, no? Well lucky you, YOU now have time for scanning. Because we’ll do it for you!
Genius Organizing knows how difficult photo organization can be, and we’re really excited to offer this service. How it works: we’ll come get your pics from you, take them away, and then scan them into whatever photo format you desire. We can save the files to an external hard drive, an internal hard drive, a CD, Dropbox, tumblr, or a digital photo frame. However you want them! And also, we can even sort and organize your photos first!
So if you’re tired of kicking those photos from your bar mitzvah back under the bed, by all means, drop us a line. We’ll gladly take care of them for you!
Friday, March 30, 2012
Yes, That Milk Does Smell Funny
As organizers, we are constantly coming across expired goods in people’s homes. Expired beauty products, expired medications, expired food - you name it. It can be easy for people to lose track of expiration dates, and then when they do discover something is past its prime, they’re never quite sure if they should toss it or not. So here’s a little helpful info on expirations – what they really mean, and why they’re important.
Did you know that in the US, expiration dates are not required by law? The only item in the states that is required to have an expiration date is infant formula. All of those other dates – on everything from our yogurt to our pasta - are done voluntarily by the manufacturers.
And a good thing, too! Eating food past it’s expiration date is never a good idea – though many of us do it, thinking we’ll just “chance it.” Because of this gamble with the fates, around 76 million people a year get sick from expired food. True, there are some items (like bread and cereal, for example) that don’t exactly turn into poison the day after the expiration. But even those things can develop things like mold and weevils if left for too long.
Food that has gone bad has an increased chance of giving you something nasty - like a listeria infection – so pay attention to the dates listed, and if you smell that milk, and “aren’t sure” well then toss it! Same goes for meat products and vegetables. In general, it’s best to do a weekly shop for your groceries, so that you never have food that is sitting around for too long. Yes, this can be a pain, but not quite as painful as a night of vomiting.
The USDA provides a handy translation of all the “sell by” and “best before” lingo, which I’ll share here:
• A "Sell-By" date tells the store how long to display the product for sale. You should buy the product before the date expires.
• A "Best if Used By (or Before)" date is recommended for best flavor or quality. It is not a purchase or safety date.
• A "Use-By" date is the last date recommended for the use of the product while at peak quality. The date has been determined by the manufacturer of the product.
• "Closed or coded dates" are packing numbers for use by the manufacturer.
But expirations obviously don’t apply to just food. Another important date to take note of is the one on the side of your medicine bottle. Some medications, if stored properly, can last up to three years after the expiration date. However, it depends on the medication. Some medications can alter over time, and form different, toxic compounds that would be dangerous if ingested. While other meds like insulin and nitroglycerine can lose their potency over time, which means the medicine won’t be as effective. If you have some expired meds you aren’t sure of, take them to a pharmacist and ask. If they aren’t usable, then ask if the pharmacist is he or she has a recycling program. (Disposing of meds in a drain or trash can lead to contamination of water or soil.)
Funnily enough, the expiration dates we tend to pay the least amount of attention to are on the very items we probably use the most – body and beauty products. It can be tricky to see what the issue is with using a lotion or mascara past a certain time – but these dates are also there for a reason. The agents in many anti-aging and acne creams go bad after a certain time, so it’s important to pay attention to any changes in consistency and color. If it looks funny or runny and is past its date – it should be tossed.
Makeup brushes and makeup itself can be crawling with bacteria over long periods of use, which can lead to things like blemishes, or even worse, cold sores and pink-eye. Sunscreen is another big one. If it’s expired, it should probably go. It isn’t worth the risk of a bad burn.
Yes, it can feel wasteful to toss these things – whether they’re food items, antibiotics, or eyeshadow – but it’s definitely a case of better to be safe than sorry. You’re better off spending the few dollars needed to replace the item, than shelling out for a doctor bill!
Did you know that in the US, expiration dates are not required by law? The only item in the states that is required to have an expiration date is infant formula. All of those other dates – on everything from our yogurt to our pasta - are done voluntarily by the manufacturers.
And a good thing, too! Eating food past it’s expiration date is never a good idea – though many of us do it, thinking we’ll just “chance it.” Because of this gamble with the fates, around 76 million people a year get sick from expired food. True, there are some items (like bread and cereal, for example) that don’t exactly turn into poison the day after the expiration. But even those things can develop things like mold and weevils if left for too long.
Food that has gone bad has an increased chance of giving you something nasty - like a listeria infection – so pay attention to the dates listed, and if you smell that milk, and “aren’t sure” well then toss it! Same goes for meat products and vegetables. In general, it’s best to do a weekly shop for your groceries, so that you never have food that is sitting around for too long. Yes, this can be a pain, but not quite as painful as a night of vomiting.
The USDA provides a handy translation of all the “sell by” and “best before” lingo, which I’ll share here:
• A "Sell-By" date tells the store how long to display the product for sale. You should buy the product before the date expires.
• A "Best if Used By (or Before)" date is recommended for best flavor or quality. It is not a purchase or safety date.
• A "Use-By" date is the last date recommended for the use of the product while at peak quality. The date has been determined by the manufacturer of the product.
• "Closed or coded dates" are packing numbers for use by the manufacturer.
But expirations obviously don’t apply to just food. Another important date to take note of is the one on the side of your medicine bottle. Some medications, if stored properly, can last up to three years after the expiration date. However, it depends on the medication. Some medications can alter over time, and form different, toxic compounds that would be dangerous if ingested. While other meds like insulin and nitroglycerine can lose their potency over time, which means the medicine won’t be as effective. If you have some expired meds you aren’t sure of, take them to a pharmacist and ask. If they aren’t usable, then ask if the pharmacist is he or she has a recycling program. (Disposing of meds in a drain or trash can lead to contamination of water or soil.)
Funnily enough, the expiration dates we tend to pay the least amount of attention to are on the very items we probably use the most – body and beauty products. It can be tricky to see what the issue is with using a lotion or mascara past a certain time – but these dates are also there for a reason. The agents in many anti-aging and acne creams go bad after a certain time, so it’s important to pay attention to any changes in consistency and color. If it looks funny or runny and is past its date – it should be tossed.
Makeup brushes and makeup itself can be crawling with bacteria over long periods of use, which can lead to things like blemishes, or even worse, cold sores and pink-eye. Sunscreen is another big one. If it’s expired, it should probably go. It isn’t worth the risk of a bad burn.
Yes, it can feel wasteful to toss these things – whether they’re food items, antibiotics, or eyeshadow – but it’s definitely a case of better to be safe than sorry. You’re better off spending the few dollars needed to replace the item, than shelling out for a doctor bill!
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