tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63558933119183252542024-03-13T00:55:46.433-04:00Be Smart & Organized: GENIUS ORGANIZINGGenius Organizinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05498450704134147147noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6355893311918325254.post-79121172611378422882016-08-01T19:12:00.001-04:002016-08-01T19:12:09.774-04:00KEEP IT MOVING!<br />
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Genius Organizing has helped quite a few NYC residents move this season! We've purged before packing, packed, donated furniture, and unpacked and organized on the other side. And we saw, again and again, the importance of purging and organizing one's belongings before moving. THESE ACTIONS ARE KEY!<br />
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Why Purge?<br />
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In a perfect world we would all be paring down our stuff with regularity, and each time we bring a new item home we would throw out a similar item. BUT THE WORLD IS NOT PERFECT and so we tend to accumulate and add and never reverse that. WELL- if ever there is a moment in time to get rid of some of your things, it is MOVING TIME! When preparing to move, you are actually looking at everything you have and putting it into a box. How about you get rid of some unused and unwanted stuff and consequently reduce the amount of money and time you would spend packing and moving pointless things to your new place? Have 25 boxes instead of 30! Have 60 instead of 80! Don't bring along old "stale" items into your fresh new place!<br />
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Why Organize BEFORE Moving?<br />
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One courtesy that some movers extend is packing you up for your move. Well, the best case scenario for that to be successful is if all your belongings are categorized, grouped together, and currently in their designated place. The USUAL scenario is that the mover takes a box, essentially sweeps their arm across a surface, and packs whatever their arm came into contact with. You then open this box at your new home, for example it is labeled BEDROOM, and you find:<br />
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phone charger<br />
empty water bottle<br />
a hammer<br />
advil<br />
one lonely sock<br />
a swiffer handle<br />
five foreign coins<br />
three receipts<br />
a bracelet<br />
a bag of dog treats<br />
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If you enlist a professional organizer to prep you for your move, the scenario is that this will NEVER happen! You will not only be purged of unwanted items, but your things will be organized by category and room, and either carefully packed or ready to be packed by your movers. This will eliminate MADNESS on the other side while you are trying to get settled into your new place.<br />
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Sounds like the right things to do- right?Genius Organizinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05498450704134147147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6355893311918325254.post-17162707986991447902015-10-28T19:39:00.001-04:002015-10-28T19:41:54.307-04:00Clients Make My DayI understand when someone chooses to work with me that I am hired to bring what I do, what I am passionate about, to the table and transform the experience of my client. But my lovely clients so often share some bit of knowledge or passion with me and transform my experience too. This week I was working in a recording studio space, where my client and I organized and inventoried a whole lot of music equipment, and then I designed customized storage solutions for all of it that a carpenter would later build. After a long day of grouping like with like and measuring and labeling, we finally finished. I was packed up and heading towards the door, when my client told me to have a seat at the mixing board, centered between two large speakers, and began to play classical chamber music songs for me. We quietly listened, while I looked out the window at the clouds in the sky. Here and there my client explained how the sound was recorded, pointing out which instruments were "forward" in the mix and which were "behind." He also told me about how you might hear a particular instrument in the right speaker because that player was actually standing on the right side of the room while recording. I got a very good sense of how a recording session can be set up and handled and how to pick it all out in a song. I can take this new understanding with me and apply it anytime I am listening to music in the future. I remember thinking "This is a really nice and special day." I am grateful to that client for sharing what they love with me.Genius Organizinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05498450704134147147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6355893311918325254.post-64939638966256492162012-10-18T09:36:00.004-04:002012-10-18T09:36:48.024-04:00A Mom Blogger's 5 Take-aways from a Session with Genius Organizing...<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">I spent two lovely two-hour sessions with </span><a href="http://geniusorganizing.com/julia.html" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out; background-color: white; color: #743399; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">Julia</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">, 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. ... (<a href="http://mymomshops.com/2012/10/genius-organizing-5-ways-they-helped-me-declutter/">More</a>)</span>Genius Organizinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05498450704134147147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6355893311918325254.post-3125074390416339202012-10-17T09:47:00.000-04:002012-10-17T11:52:25.191-04:00Ahhhhh, Autumn!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: Helvetica;"></span><br />
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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!<br />
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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.<br />
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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 <a href="http://www.housingworks.org/">Housing Works</a> to <a href="http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/">Salvation Army</a> to <a href="http://www.goodwill.org/">Goodwill</a>, and you can find them by name or zip code using this handy tool from <a href="http://www.nyc.gov/html/stuffex/html/donate/where_to_donate.shtml">NYC.gov</a>.<br />
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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.<br />
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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!</div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.499999046325684px;">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. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.499999046325684px;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.499999046325684px;">Happy Fall!</span> </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px;">-<a href="http://geniusorganizing.com/wendy.html">Wendy</a>,</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: Helvetica;">Team Genius</span></div>
Genius Organizinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05498450704134147147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6355893311918325254.post-8379972670907016082012-06-18T20:33:00.000-04:002012-06-18T20:33:23.569-04:00Picture Perfect<br />
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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.</div>
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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.</div>
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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!</div>
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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!</div>
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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!</div>
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<br /></div>Genius Organizinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05498450704134147147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6355893311918325254.post-13874416339886077342012-03-30T14:20:00.006-04:002012-03-30T14:56:21.343-04:00Yes, That Milk Does Smell FunnyAs 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. <br /> <br />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. <br /> <br />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. <br /> <br />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.<br /> <br />The USDA provides a handy translation of all the “sell by” and “best before” lingo, which I’ll share here:<br />• A "Sell-By" date tells the store how long to display the product for sale. You should buy the product before the date expires.<br />• A "Best if Used By (or Before)" date is recommended for best flavor or quality. It is not a purchase or safety date.<br />• 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.<br />• "Closed or coded dates" are packing numbers for use by the manufacturer.<br /><br /> 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.)<br /> <br />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.<br /> <br />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.<br /> <br />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!Genius Organizinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05498450704134147147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6355893311918325254.post-20777703212687437752011-09-21T16:19:00.005-04:002011-09-21T16:37:15.510-04:00UPGRADE - Better Products Do It Better<a href="http://nycdowntown.macaronikid.com/">Macaroni Kid</a> asked us for some expert commentary for their site and this is what we shared with them. Now we are passing on the information to you! Here it is:<br /><br />As a Professional Organizer, I am always on the lookout for products that make life easier and more organized. There are products that are sufficient, but I get very excited when I discover products that are even better versions of what we already have. This sort of thing jibes with what I try to do while organizing my clients- take a look at what is there and offer a way to make it a bit better. That is what I love about the following products and services:<br /><br />SipnGo Bag Bottle- This product is a lightweight, portable water bottle that rolls up and snaps up tight when empty. I have carried Camelbak and SIGG bottles, which were ok, but they were heavy and occasionally leaked and were even a bit heavy in my bag after I drank all the water. This bottle, which comes in fun colors, is pretty lightweight when full and featherlight when empty. It is BPA free, dishwasher safe, and recyclable. The only drawback that I have experienced is that it is easy to lose the cap that snaps over the spout. However, replacements are available on the Sip N’ Go website www.buysipngo.com. I find that unusual, in a good way. So many things that we break or lose, we just cannot get a replacement or a spare part for. Try this bottle!<br /><br />GoPicnic – My usual experience shopping for a picnic goes as follows: <br />I try to remember all food groups/categories and struggle to choose something from each. Then I buy jars of spreads, entire boxes of cookies and crackers, bread for everyone, packages of lunchmeat, trays of vegetables, bags of fruit, containers of nuts….these items are expensive when added up, heavy and bulky to carry, and often get left uneaten by fellow picnickers but are too sloppy to repack and take home. When I first encountered a GoPicnic packaged meal I was floored! These are picnics in a box! They can also be used on the go- my suggestions are to bring them on an airplane or a road trip. They are nutritious and well balanced- each box contains protein, fiber and fruit, and often a sweet treat! The whole meal has been planned for me (they have good taste too- some really flavorful choices!), is lightweight and compact for carrying, and is shelf-stable. I’d much rather buy a set of these for my picnic pals then keep doing what I described above. BONUS: GoPicnic offers vegan, vegetarian, gluten free, and kosher meals too! How thoughtful to include so many special diets. I love them for that.<br /><br />Denim Therapy – This service is the gift that keeps on giving. Each time I wear my designer jeans that have been through Therapy, I am continually astounded and pleased with my decision to use this service. Here is how it works: You either mail in or drop off your jeans (in Manhattan, New York). You fill out a form stating what you want done that you send along with the jeans. They email you an estimate for you to peruse and approve. Then they repair your jeans to the point where you can barely pick out where the rip or hole was. This is because they do not patch – they weave in new cotton thread perfectly matched to the type of denim you give them. You probably haven’t thought much about this, but go take a look at your jeans and notice how they are many different colors and some even have white thread mixed in with blue. The jeans I brought in were of the latter kind and they wove both white and the same shade of blue right in there. And this service costs a whopping $7 per inch! I mean, WHAT? I was thinking of replacing my holey jeans (my best pair) but instead of trying to find them again and shelling out well over $100 for them, I paid a mere $7/inch to have the holes in the crotch repaired. Unbelievable! They also offer hemming, hardware replacement, tailoring and other services. Run, don’t walk!<br /><br />The Spongester – There are other ways to deal with the issue that the Spongester addresses, but none as good as the Spongester handles it. This product is a bi-level stainless steel sponge rack, labeled Good Sponge and Evil Sponge, separating and clearly marking your different sponges. Different in what ways? Dish sponge from scrubber sponge, human sponge from pet sponge, meat sponge from dairy sponge in a kosher household, meat sponge from veg sponge in a multi-diet household….I am sure there are other sponge distinctions that I haven’t thought of yet, and would welcome hearing about them in the comments section!<br />Before the Spongster, I had repurposed a small Ikea silverware drying rack with two halves for my sponges, but truth be told I could usually not remember which sponge was for what purpose. That has changed with this product, as long as I can recall what the Good one is for and what the Evil one is for. If you can, you will never use the wrong sponge on the wrong place again!<br /><br />Ok- go forth and try these “build a better mousetrap” takes on products we already have, and see if they don’t improve on your existing experiences! Enjoy doing things a little better!<br /><br />-NicoleGenius Organizinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05498450704134147147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6355893311918325254.post-21048189627053732232011-03-13T12:36:00.001-04:002011-03-13T13:27:42.493-04:00The Gift of GuiltAre you holding on to toys never used or enjoyed by your child that you didn’t purchase? Are your closets overflowing with linens and Precious Moments figurines from your dear Aunt Frances?<br /><br />When friends and family give you or your family a gift there seems to be this terrible feeling of guilt if you were to even think about throwing away, donating or re-gifting, no matter how unnecessary the item is. <br /><br />The time has come to free yourself from Gift Guilt. If your home is becoming unmanageable because you are holding onto items you don’t use or need then where is the gift in that?<br /><br />Tackling the tricky Gift issue is tough. We hear it all the time “I hate that thing, but my Father-in-law gave it to me, I can’t get rid of it- I feel bad” or “We keep getting so many toys from my parents and we just don’t have the room. I don’t know what to do.”<br /><br />The people who give you gifts love you and want you and your family to be happy. If these gifts are making your life harder then it’s time to do something about it.<br /><br />Here are some great suggestions for ridding your life of Gift Guilt.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Address it head on with honesty:</span><br /><br />Talk to the generous person and suggest alternatives. This seems gauche but as a person who loves to give gifts, I’d much rather the receiver enjoy what I’m spending my money on. For instance for a gift for kids, suggest intangibles such as donating to a college fund or giving the gift of an experience like rock climbing or movie tickets.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Keep on Giving:</span><br /><br />Making charitable donations can be a great way to avoid altogether receiving a present you will never use or don’t have the room to keep and will consequently feel guilty about giving away. Really research what you feel passionate about and see if your gift can go to help others. <br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Be Specific, B-E-Specific:</span><br /><br />On shower, birthday and holiday invites you can make it easy for the giver and make it work for you by directing people to the items you really need. Registries aren’t just for weddings and babies anymore.Genius Organizinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05498450704134147147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6355893311918325254.post-59835447859953478652010-10-18T10:52:00.005-04:002010-10-18T11:10:23.378-04:00To throw away or NOT to throw away…that is the question!While organizing papers with our clients, we are constantly asked, “Do I need to keep this?” when we come across bills, receipts, financial and medical documents.<br /><br />Here are some definitive answers you can apply now to get your files into shape, and then moving forward for the rest of your life.<br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Toss Every Month:</span><br /><br />-<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_A0zEiwaxqyI/TLxi7xChMHI/AAAAAAAAAFk/0J1FNICw8oo/s1600/bank-of-america-receipt.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 242px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_A0zEiwaxqyI/TLxi7xChMHI/AAAAAAAAAFk/0J1FNICw8oo/s320/bank-of-america-receipt.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529403221419831410" /></a>ATM & Bank Deposit Slips AFTER you’ve checked your on-line statement.<br /><br />-Credit Card Receipts AFTER you’ve checked your monthly statement.<br /><br />-Sales Receipts for minor purchases AFTER you make sure you have no intention of returning the item or if it has no warranty.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Toss After One Year:</span><br /><br />-Monthly Bank and Credit Card Statements (if you don’t itemize deductions.) You can also get all this information ONLINE.<br /><br />-Monthly or Quarterly Brokerage and Mutual Fund Statements (as long as your year-end <br />statement clearly shows the total amount you’ve paid in interest and property taxes over the course of a year.)<br /><br />-Phone and Utility Bills (as long as you don’t claim a home office on your taxes.)<br /><br />-Paycheck stubs (your year-end W-2 serves as proof of income for the year)<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Toss After 3-5 years:</span><br /><br />-Explanation Of Benefits Hang on to EOB forms at least until you are sure that a particular medical bill has been paid in full from all sources (e.g., a combination of Medicare and supplemental insurance or primary and secondary health insurance policies). This may require confirmation from the original medical provider with a statement showing a zero balance. After your bill is paid in full, you might want to keep EOBs in an inactive storage file for up to three to five years longer "just in case." It is not uncommon for some medical providers to send bills long after a medical service has been provided. Having EOBs on file can help document the status of previous medical claims.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Toss After 7 years:</span><br /><br />-W-2 & 1099 Forms<br /><br />-Year-End Statements from Credit Card Companies<br /><br />-Canceled Checks & Receipts/Statements For:<br /> Annual Mortgage Interest and Property Taxes<br /> Deductible Business Expenses<br /> Child Care Bills<br /> Out of Pocket Medical Costs<br /> Any other Tax-Deductible Expense<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Toss NEVER:<span style="font-style:italic;"></span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_A0zEiwaxqyI/TLxgkNXVfxI/AAAAAAAAAFc/OrI6PZBhMaA/s1600/tax+papers.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 275px; height: 183px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_A0zEiwaxqyI/TLxgkNXVfxI/AAAAAAAAAFc/OrI6PZBhMaA/s320/tax+papers.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529400617683222290" /></a><br /><br />-*Annual Tax Returns* (you can toss after 7yrs but never to just be safe OR ask the preference of your accountant)<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />-Year End Summaries (from any financial institution)<br /><br />-Confirmation Slips that list the purchase price of any investments you own<br /><br />-Home-Improvement Records<br /><br />-Receipts for Major Purchases<br /><br />-Beneficiary Designations<br /><br />We hope this clears things up. Print out this list and put it in the front of your file drawer so there is never any doubt!Genius Organizinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05498450704134147147noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6355893311918325254.post-69378639121133152992010-09-01T20:20:00.002-04:002010-09-01T20:41:16.897-04:00Every house needs A....Repeatedly at clients’ homes, I request certain items to use for de-cluttering or organization or just getting things together. People don’t seem to have these things and so little and big tasks and projects don’t get done. No judgment here- not everyone has everything at all times. To help get everybody in order, I have compiled a brief list of items every home should have. See how many you’ve got and add the rest if you don’t have them! Let us know what you went and got!<br /><br />Here they are!<br /><br />SHREDDER- In the age of ID Theft, this is totally necessary. Don’t decorate your hands with paper cuts by ripping paper. Invest in a shredder- and don’t skimp! You get what you pay for with these! If you get a cheap one, you will pay for it in time and frustration, as it constantly overheats, as you have to change the bucket way too frequently, as you have to turn it off and pull shreds out with your hands or some tool which is dangerous and unnecessary. Get one with at least 8 sheet capacity, even better the kind that can shred a credit card and cd, and especially one that has a larger bin to catch the shreds, for less frequent dumping. Ever spill the contents of the shred bin onto the floor while trying to dump it out? Yes, let’s avoid doing that too often.<br /><br />LABELMAKER- Labels change people’s lives. They all but eliminate different members of a household putting things in different places. They make you remember where things go. They make your filing cabinet make sense, and look good, which helps promote more frequent filing.<br /><br />EYEGLASS REPAIR KIT- Or do you want to spend even one minute walking around with a safety pin holding the arm onto the frame? Nerd.<br /><br />BATTERY TESTER- Each time I find a stray battery at a client’s home/office, we end up throwing it out because we’ve no idea if it is old or good. IT’S a pain to try to stick it into a device and see if it works, as another battery inside could be the culprit if it doesn’t. Getting a batt tester changed my life! Keep it with your battery supply and pat yourself on the back every single time you test a battery and it is good!<br /><br />CHANGE JAR that you can fill and take to TD Bank or Coinstar- You have money lyingaround everywhere in your house, maybe even in a bunch of shallow dishes in different rooms. Get a decent jar to keep all those coins in one place. Not too big a jar- it will be impossible to carry, and the smaller the jar the more frequently it fills up and the more you turn it in for dollars you can use to pay for an organizing session as many of our clients do! You’re welcome!!<br /><br />STAIN REMOVER- Obvious.<br /><br />GOO GONE- Or you could spend an eternity trying to peel sticky labels off your new products. Been there, done that, broke a nail!<br /><br />SENTIMENTAL BOX-A nice box or large file to store sentimental stuff that is not flat and able to fit in an album or scrapbook. We all have stuff like this. I keep my memorabilia in a pretty trunk that is a joy to open up now and then to see old photos and love letters (yes, I have gotten some!)<br /><br />TWO-DRAWER FILING CABINET (both drawers the same size)- Firstly, you need a place to put your paper documents. Don’t fool yourself buying one with that smaller drawer on top and the bigger file drawer on the bottom. That top drawer will soon be holding your files in a stack that you aren’t bothering to put back into the bottom drawer. I have seen this over and over. Get the same size drawers and you can set up your files one for adults and one for kids, or one for one person and one for another, or one for serious business stuff and one for hobbies and interests..etc.<br /><br />ZIPLOC BAGS- FUNDAMENTAL! If it is sorted and zipped up in a Ziploc Bag- IT IS ORGANIZED!<br /><br /><br />Ok – Print out this list and take it to the shops. I guarantee you will have some great results in your home and/or office if you put these various tools to work!<br />Feedback welcome!<br /><br />THINK GENIUS,<br />NicoleGenius Organizinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05498450704134147147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6355893311918325254.post-20513662440602374352010-03-14T17:16:00.009-04:002010-03-14T17:45:34.921-04:00Re-think ways to Go GreenWe’ve been talking about this blog for a while as Genius Organizing practices the “Repurpose, Recycle, Reuse” mantra. We would like to share with you some really cool green products that go along with this philosophy and make your life easier. These are some big picture ways to help the Earth and cause less buildup in your life, thus continuing to help you be more organized.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Food Storage:</span><br /><br />So you constantly struggle with where and how to store those boxes of sandwich bags-well, say goodbye to throwing more plastic and cardboard (packaging, don’t forget packaging!) into the Universe and say hello to <a href="http://www.lunchskins.com/home.php?action=category">LunchSkins</a>. Not only is this a great green product but it is a COOL looking, well-designed product as well.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_A0zEiwaxqyI/S51SezuoL8I/AAAAAAAAAEs/udP7Pp8r2VM/s1600-h/p-14.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 313px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_A0zEiwaxqyI/S51SezuoL8I/AAAAAAAAAEs/udP7Pp8r2VM/s320/p-14.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448601813423501250" /></a><br /><br />These bags are made in the USA, dishwasher safe and particular models even give 5% back to organizations that support cleaning up our planet. So you are double-timing it on earth goodness if you buy this product!!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />What’s worse than storing multiple boxes of sandwich bags is the dreaded stack of plastic containers. The lids breed, we all know that. If you microwave the plastic it gets icky and discolored and the big AND is that eventually you throw it away. <br /><br />As more people are getting rid of plastic water bottles and replacing them with stainless steel, so goes the way of the plastic food containers. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_A0zEiwaxqyI/S51SyhnvehI/AAAAAAAAAE0/HqP8KLrvyqA/s1600-h/KK042-2T.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_A0zEiwaxqyI/S51SyhnvehI/AAAAAAAAAE0/HqP8KLrvyqA/s400/KK042-2T.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448602152160164370" /></a>This set, from <a href="http://store.kidskonserve.com/nesting-trio-p/KK042.htm">Kids Konserve</a>, nests so as not to take up a ton of space and the containers are leak-proof so they can go from home to work or school without disaster. Downside is, you can’t put them in a microwave, but plastic in the microwave is questionable for your health anyway; upside is a more beautiful planet!<br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Furniture & Household:</span><br /><br />Not only is this furniture from <a href="http://www.legarefurniture.com/">Legare</a> made from Moso bamboo which is the most sustainable bamboo in the world, since it regenerates over 100 feet in height in less than 6 months, but this stuff goes together without hardware!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_A0zEiwaxqyI/S51TNy3rubI/AAAAAAAAAE8/jhTeTytto34/s1600-h/662-4.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_A0zEiwaxqyI/S51TNy3rubI/AAAAAAAAAE8/jhTeTytto34/s320/662-4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448602620646898098" /></a><br />Goodbye crazy directions that only make you angry! <br /><br />Hello, beautiful, responsible furniture that leaves you headache free.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Cork flooring is an exceptional alternative to rugs, tiles and wood flooring. Cork is great for Mother Earth, as the outer layer of bark on a cork tree can be stripped off the tree without harming the tree in any way. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e){}"href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_A0zEiwaxqyI/S51WYs_QRpI/AAAAAAAAAFE/CYZWkJNMJeE/s1600-h/ri-tcf-lg-montana-3.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_A0zEiwaxqyI/S51WYs_QRpI/AAAAAAAAAFE/CYZWkJNMJeE/s320/ri-tcf-lg-montana-3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448606106581485202" /></a><br /><br />It is a tremendous acoustic and thermal insulator. <br /><br />Cork has a memory like an elephant and will bounce back 99% if you decide to re-arrange. <br /><br />Unlike carpet, cork doesn’t harbor dust or absorb dirt. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.expanko.com/">Expanko </a>makes numerous designs that could compliment any home.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Extra ways:</span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.paperlesspost.com/session/new">Paperless Post</a> is a couture version of e-vite. You can do all the same things like design, email and monitor invites but the designs are 100 times classier and with a lot less hubbub than e-vite. <br /><br />Making a conscious decision to go paperless…all the way paperless…forces you to think creatively about every paper-using opportunity you encounter. <a href="http://www.paperlesspost.com/session/new">Paperless Post</a> helps!<br /><br /><br />Start thinking big picture about your efforts to make a change in the world. When you think about organizing, going green can be a part of that. With some of these creative tools <a href="http://www.geniusorganizing.com">Genius </a>helps you get started.Genius Organizinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05498450704134147147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6355893311918325254.post-10640235957169825092010-01-11T17:12:00.003-05:002010-01-11T17:20:07.277-05:00Getting Past the BlockHave you ever started an organizing project only to, hours or days later, feel completely helpless? Have you abandoned a project altogether because it is just too much to handle? Well…you aren’t alone. AND, good news, you can overcome this block!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Today’s Tip:</span> <span style="font-style:italic;">Getting past the block</span><br /><br />If you get hives just by looking at a messy closet you should pay special attention to today’s blog. Here are some simple tips in overcoming fears and anxiety surrounding organization.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Tip One: Forgive yourself</span><br /><br />You don’t have to be perfect and no one is expecting you to. Extreme feelings of doubt sometimes cause us to self-sabotage by not completing a project. If you find yourself getting close to finishing a task and giving up before the end, or never even getting started, most likely your subconscious thought is that once you succeed and finish this problem, it will no longer be in your way. Then you will have to face other possibly harder, more important problems. It can all be overwhelming. Forgive yourself for feeling this way, and stay on target. You CAN finish. You SHOULD finish. Keep giving yourself timed sessions to work at it. Stay focused on ONE small area and get through to the end. Even if it is a relatively unimportant project, you need to feel a sense of completion.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Tip Two: Don’t take on the world</span><br /><br />You don’t have to do it all at once. Pick one small project a WEEK, get a success under your belt and THEN you can move on to the big stuff. Its like Thanksgiving Dinner…when you pile your plate so full of different foods, you overeat and end up not really enjoying but powering through- resulting in a bloated, tired, uncomfortable day. The same can be said about organizing. When you have a list of 50 items and you try to do it all, you end up not finishing, and feeling tired and uncomfortable.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Tip Three: Create small accomplishments</span><br /><br />Make a list of the things you have to do to complete a project and put ABSOLUTELY EVERY STEP on the list. Crossing items off a list gives us a sense of accomplishment; accomplishment creates good feelings and momentum. For instance, say you are organizing your junk drawer. Here are some of the things that might go on your list:<br /><br />1. Take everything out of the drawer<br />2. Wipe down the drawer<br />3. Line the drawer with liner<br />4. Throw away unwanted items <br />5. Sort all pens<br />6. Sort all tools<br />7. Sort all paperclips/rubber bands/matchbooks…<br />8. Put in dividers or divider tray<br />9. Put items back in the drawer<br /><br />When you complete a part of the whole task, cross it off! You will feel a heightened sense of accomplishment, creating momentum to keep going to completion. Keep crossing items off. Know that the end result is a clean drawer and a lighter heart!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Tip Four: Call in the troops</span><br /><br />At some point you may not be able to succeed on your own, and that is OK. It really is. Does everyone work alone, only on his or her goals? No.<br />Think of an office. Many people are working together to reach a goal. Call a caring friend to come by and help the task seem less arduous. It will also help you stay on target by having someone by your side that knows they are there to help create accountability.<br /><br />If you have a lot of stress and embarrassment due to your disorganization, a professional may be in order. <br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />We believe in you…now believe in yourself!</span><br /><br /><br />Don't forget to come see us LIVE to learn <span style="font-weight:bold;">FREE </span>organizing ideas and address your own clutter issues!<br /><br />WED JAN 20: <a href="http://www.meetup.com/The-NYC-Declutter-And-Get-Organized-Meetup-Group/">DECLUTTER AND GET ORGANIZED MANHATTAN</a><br />7pm<br />Solas Bar<br />232 E. 9th Street<br />btw 2nd & 3rd New York, NY 11218<br />Join us to discuss your clutter and hear innovative ways to get started on your most pressing projects.<br /><br /><br />TUES JAN 26: <a href="http://www.meetup.com/The-NYC-Declutter-And-Get-Organized-Meetup-Group/">DECLUTTER AND GET ORGANIZED BROOKLYN </a><br />7pm<br />Burrito Bar Brooklyn<br />307 Flatbush Avenue<br />at Prospect Place Brooklyn, NY 11217<br />Join us to discuss your clutter and hear innovative ways to get started on your most pressing projects.<br /><br />Nicole and JuliaGenius Organizinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05498450704134147147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6355893311918325254.post-64145658370627450462009-12-23T12:08:00.002-05:002009-12-23T13:22:05.620-05:00"Guest" PracticesThis holiday season is about to come to an end and we at Genius are thinking about our clients tackling clutter and disorganization in the New Year.<br /> <br />Often one can become overwhelmed and feel guilt over a disorganized situation. Don’t let it consume you. Don’t let it impose on your enjoyment of this time with loved ones.<br /> <br />Use the fact that you have guests coming or currently in your home as motivation to keep moving forward with your organizational goals.<br /> <br />While your guests are there, the dishes get done more often, laundry gets put away, shoes and clothes get put in the closet, right? Why not carry those practices into your everyday life? YOU deserve this meticulous care, as well as your guests.<br /> <br />If every day you take the time to implement a few of these “guest practices” you will find yourself not only less cluttered but with more free time. You will also find there will be less need to scramble right before you have guests come visit.<br /> <br />Here are just a few small things that can cause a big impact:<br /> <br />1. Hang your clothes up / put them in laundry as soon as you take them off, EVERY DAY.<br /><br />One shirt on the dresser is no big deal, but 3 shirts and a pair of pants becomes a pile and a pile is stressful and overwhelming.<br /> <br />2. Do your dishes, EVERY DAY<br /><br />Even though this is more cleaning than clutter, it is one of the world’s most daunting but common tasks that sets the tone for other areas in the home. Go around the house, pick up all the cups and glasses and wash everything, every day.<br /> <br />3. Put away laundry, THE MINUTE IT IS DONE (or comes back from the cleaners)<br /><br />If it sits in the bag or basket, you can still get to it, right? Then what happens is you keep using it out of the bag or basket and now you have no place to put your dirty laundry. If you put it away, it is a small “win” for you that you accomplished something in your day. Self-encouragement is a helpful way to stay organized AND feel good about you.<br /> <br />4. Process mail, EVERY DAY.<br /><br />That mail isn’t going to open itself, and you certainly won’t know how much you owe without opening it. When mail piles up, it is not only unsightly but it is financially dangerous. If you haven’t gone totally digital and you still get statements and bills open them EVERY DAY and immediately put the discarded envelope in your recycling bin. It is ok if you then put the bill in your “In Box” or "Bill Box," but by reading it first, you make a mental note of what you owe and you are storing less paper by discarding the outside used envelope. IF you cannot do this EVERY DAY, make sure you have selected - and noted in your planner - a time each week that you are going to take care of incoming mail. Take it from us, this is essential.<br /><br />5. Straighten up, EVERY DAY.<br /><br />Take ten minutes every evening as you are wrapping up your day, to walk around your house and put things back in their places, empty waste baskets, close drawers and doors, etc. This is painless daily maintenance that makes every day in your life neater with only ten minutes of effort! It's an unbeatable plan for keeping your act together.<br /><br />We hope this helps in your quest to become a better, more organized you! Let us know your feedback on these "guest practices." We love to hear from you!<br /><br />Make sure you check out our new before and after pics on our <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Brooklyn-NY/Genius-Organizing/192791498495?ref=ts">FACEBOOK </a>page.Genius Organizinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05498450704134147147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6355893311918325254.post-82663588126780912292009-12-01T08:52:00.002-05:002009-12-01T08:57:07.968-05:00Small steps to make your Holiday go off without a hitchWe have already talked about gifts and the “Big Meal” so what is left?<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">GUESTS</span>. Ugh. Save yourself the trouble of last minute scurrying with a couple of planning ideas.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Today’s Tip: Prepare for the INCOMING by taking small steps</span><br /><br /><br />Starting next week:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Monday </span>- Wash all towels & bedding and set aside specifics for guests. <br /> <br /> This is a time consuming task that has to be done so best to get it out of the way.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Tuesday </span>- Clear out a drawer/closet for guests to be able to put some of their stuff<br /><br /> Don’t go bonkers. Guests know that they are invading your space; it’s a nice touch to offer a couple of hangars or half a shirt drawer. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Wednesday </span>- Plan at least ONE sit down home cooked meal. Don’t just think it, WRITE IT.<br /><br /> If you write things down you are less likely to forget anything and have to make that last minute run to the grocery store. Plus, this will also help keep you on budget when you have to look at all the things you have to buy.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Thursday </span>- Make reservations/get tickets for one event out of the house<br /><br /> It’s cold outside, its family inside and its tense all the way around. Get up and out to give yourself a break on cooking and give everyone something new to talk about while showing off your town.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Friday </span>– Shop for all dry goods from your home cooked meal<br /><br /> Start to put together your special section of your pantry for your big holiday menu.<br /><br />You are on your way. In one more week you will be done with everything and ready to sit back and let the family roll in.<br /><br />Happy Holidays<br /><br />Nicole & JuliaGenius Organizinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05498450704134147147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6355893311918325254.post-33130103893202794412009-11-25T10:11:00.002-05:002009-11-25T10:25:13.019-05:00Gobble Gobble Toil and Trouble<span style="font-weight:bold;">Today’s Holiday Tip: Setting the menu without it going a-fowl…</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Planning ahead.</span><br />Pick plenty of recipes you can make ahead of time and pull out of the<br />fridge at the last minute. Wow your friends with variety and recipes like this Sweet & Spicy Mixed Nuts.<br /><br /><a href="http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Sweet-and-Spicy-Nuts/Detail.aspx">Spiced nuts Recipe</a><br /> <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Don’t sweat it.</span><br />Choose recipes with quick cooking times, or cold salads. One stove burning around the clock with lots of people in the house makes for a very unpleasant Thanksgiving, as well as a moist, frantic host.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Kale-Salad-with-Pinenuts-Currants-and-Parmesan-351274">Kale Salad Recipe</a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Take all the glory.</span><br />Make the Big Bird and let the guests bring the rest. Who cares if you<br />can’t do it all? You work hard all year long and this day should be a<br />vacation for you, too. Don’t try to do too much. You’ll enjoy the day much<br />more!<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">The path less traveled.</span><br />Watching your weight? Do something radical. Plan a family hike or bike ride.<br /><a href="http://www.volunteermatch.org/">Volunteer </a>at a food bank or a shelter. Who says you have to have<br />can-shaped cranberries and overstuff your face with turkey and green<br />bean casserole?<br /><br />Happy Holidays!<br /><br />Nicole & JuliaGenius Organizinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05498450704134147147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6355893311918325254.post-8477415880697851392009-11-23T09:20:00.006-05:002009-11-23T09:40:23.354-05:00Here come the holidays!Holiday advice can be overwhelming. Throughout the next month we will give you easy and concise things to keep in mind that will help you maintain your holiday composure.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Today’s Tips: How to KEEP the JOY in giving gifts</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Think YEAR ROUND.</span><br />Spread out your holiday shopping over the whole year. When you travel or see something that is right for your friend or Mom, why wait? Get it then. <br />By the time the holiday comes…you have several things ready to give not to mention, you won’t be strapped for cash having spent an extra lump sum in one month on presents.<br /><br />Be sure to create a dedicated space (box, shelf or drawer) for “gifts” so they don’t create clutter, and/or get lost, damaged, or used by someone other than the intended recipient. Establish a place for these future gifts and always put them in their place as you bring them home.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">The KIT.</span><br />Scissors, wrapping paper, labels, tissue paper, bows and ribbon should all be kept in one place. The size of the storage depends on how often you wrap gifts. If you are a once a year wrapper then a simple shopping bag will do. Or, you can purchase a “gift wrap center.” Here are three examples available at <a href="http://www.containerstore.com/shop/giftPackaging/organizers?viewAll=true">The Container Store</a>:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_A0zEiwaxqyI/SwqdAJV_sUI/AAAAAAAAAEU/QZoJAoTr-qs/s1600/Gift+Wrap+Option+1.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_A0zEiwaxqyI/SwqdAJV_sUI/AAAAAAAAAEU/QZoJAoTr-qs/s200/Gift+Wrap+Option+1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407306928445436226" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_A0zEiwaxqyI/SwqdNahSIAI/AAAAAAAAAEc/xciYS4kg_hA/s1600/Gift+Wrap+Option+2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_A0zEiwaxqyI/SwqdNahSIAI/AAAAAAAAAEc/xciYS4kg_hA/s200/Gift+Wrap+Option+2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407307156394483714" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_A0zEiwaxqyI/SwqdWqfauvI/AAAAAAAAAEk/cFVFhlrBfdo/s1600/Gift+Wrap+Option+3.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_A0zEiwaxqyI/SwqdWqfauvI/AAAAAAAAAEk/cFVFhlrBfdo/s200/Gift+Wrap+Option+3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407307315300449010" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />This last one is the big winner because you should always choose VERTICAL storage if you can. This saves the most space.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">WRAP It Up.</span><br />Start wrapping presents the second you get them home. Wrapping presents can be the most time consuming thing you do this season. Don’t procrastinate. A little bit every day will save you LOADS of time.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">SAVE MONEY & Be Unique.</span><br />Use unconventional wrapping paper.<br /><br /> -Subway/Road/Country maps<br /> -Newspaper (then paint on it!)<br /> -Old T-shirts (cut in strips and weave them together, or just wrap the shirt around)<br /> -Good ol’ aluminum foil<br /> -Extra fabric you have saved<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">BE LAZY!</span><br />Order every gift online and choose “gift wrap”. Most online retailers offer a gift wrapping service for an extra fee. If you have the cash and not the time…you could be done with all of your shopping and wrapping in just an hour or two.<br /><br />Happy PRE-holidays,<br /><br />Nicole & JuliaGenius Organizinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05498450704134147147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6355893311918325254.post-59329154677983987052009-11-13T11:44:00.009-05:002009-11-13T12:19:42.409-05:00It’s time to clean the pantry.Have you ever purchased a can of black beans only to get home and look deep in the depths of your pantry to find out you already have two cans already?<br /> <br />It happens to everyone. Let’s change that!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Today’s tip: Use unique products and organizing tools to make your pantry work for you.<span style="font-style:italic;"></span></span><br /><br /><br /> <br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Get the Ball Rolling</span><br /><br />First follow these steps…<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">1.</span> Take everything out of your pantry. <br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">2.</span> Clean everything and line the shelves with contact paper. This makes cleaning easier down the road and a clean pantry is a pest-free pantry.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">3.</span> Group like items together on your counter or table. This makes putting things back in easier and creates order. Don’t just think “grains”, “canned food” and “pasta” when grouping; make groups like “Kids After School Snacks” and “Easy One Pot Meals”. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">4.</span> Check expiration dates on EVERYTHING and throw away anything expired. <br /><br /><br /><br />NOW...let's get to organizing.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Use Your Space Wisely:</span><br /><br /> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_A0zEiwaxqyI/Sv2OcvaQ8WI/AAAAAAAAAC8/QBSV669S9LE/s1600-h/2+tier+lazy+susan.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_A0zEiwaxqyI/Sv2OcvaQ8WI/AAAAAAAAAC8/QBSV669S9LE/s200/2+tier+lazy+susan.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403631752328573282" /></a>Think UP. <br />A double stack lazy susan is a great way to increase your vertical space and still see what you have.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_A0zEiwaxqyI/Sv2OvPgiz4I/AAAAAAAAADE/J-FA8hfyUd4/s1600-h/UndershelfBasket_l.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_A0zEiwaxqyI/Sv2OvPgiz4I/AAAAAAAAADE/J-FA8hfyUd4/s200/UndershelfBasket_l.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403632070182489986" /></a>Think UNDER. <br />Put a basket under your shelf. This picture doesn’t have food in it, but imagine if all your pasta was up out of the way, not getting smashed behind and under cans and boxes. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Think INNOVATIVE. <br />How about using a pull down spice rack? Those tiered racks are great for seeing the spices but how practical is it for USING the spices? This is one of the most amazing tools we’ve seen to date. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_A0zEiwaxqyI/Sv2O6CCtO8I/AAAAAAAAADM/OnaQiyUQQtA/s1600-h/pull+down+spice+rack.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 149px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_A0zEiwaxqyI/Sv2O6CCtO8I/AAAAAAAAADM/OnaQiyUQQtA/s200/pull+down+spice+rack.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403632255546244034" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Label the Contents:</span><br /><br />Think <span style="font-weight:bold;">CONTAINERS<span style="font-style:italic;"></span></span>. <br />Shoe boxes are great and if you cover them with contact paper that you used on your shelves it makes for a MUCH neater cabinet. Or if you want to get fancy, purchase some boxes with a very clear labeling system. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_A0zEiwaxqyI/Sv2PDkDksMI/AAAAAAAAADU/jJL8QOC6Qt4/s1600-h/WhiteStorageBoxes_l.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_A0zEiwaxqyI/Sv2PDkDksMI/AAAAAAAAADU/jJL8QOC6Qt4/s200/WhiteStorageBoxes_l.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403632419295506626" /></a><br /><br />Think <span style="font-weight:bold;">SPECIFIC<span style="font-style:italic;"></span></span>. <br />Put large labels on the boxes so there is no mistake by anyone in your household about where things “live” in the pantry. <br /><br />Think <span style="font-weight:bold;">AHEAD<span style="font-style:italic;"></span></span>. <br />If you are hosting a big holiday or dinner party you might want to think in advance about what you have or need to purchase. Place a sticky note that lists the ingredients of what you are making on the outside of a new box. As the days go by, you assess what you have and place what items you already have in the box then strike through what you have. When it’s time to go shopping, simply take the note with you and buy what’s left!<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Keeping it tidy:</span> <br /><br />Think <span style="font-weight:bold;">INSIDE<span style="font-style:italic;"></span></span>. <br />Use the inside of your cabinet doors! Today there exists many technologically advanced paints that you can apply to the inside of your cabinets. There is a <span style="font-weight:bold;"><a href="http://www.rustoleum.com/CBGProduct.asp?pid=127">magnetic paint</a></span> we are absolutely crazy about that will allow you to hang magnetic hooks or put up recipes. Or you can use <a href="http://www.rustoleum.com/CBGProduct.asp?pid=103"><span style="font-weight:bold;">chalk board paint</span></a> which will allow you to write shopping lists and reminders. The same goes for <a href="http://www.rustoleum.com/CBGProduct.asp?pid=128"><span style="font-weight:bold;">dry-erase board paint</span></a>. These are amazing, fun to use and show off, and we encourage their use!<br /><br />Think <span style="font-weight:bold;">QUARTERLY<span style="font-style:italic;"></span></span>. <br />Now that you are organized AND have a handy surface inside your cabinet for notes, put up a cleaning schedule for the pantry 4 times a year, repeat the steps 1-4 listed at the top.<br /><br />Think <span style="font-weight:bold;">HOUSEHOLD<span style="font-style:italic;"></span></span>. <br />Make sure to include people in your house when labeling items and cleaning out so that it isn’t just the “weight of the pantry” on your shoulders.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Don't forget to come see us LIVE for <span style="font-weight:bold;">FREE <span style="font-style:italic;"></span></span>Organizing ideas and address your own clutter issues!<br /><br />SAT NOV 14: GETTING FIT INSIDE AND OUT<br /><a href="http://www.foodcoop.com/">PARK SLOPE FOOD COOP</a><br />10am<br />782 Union Street (between 6th and 7th Avenues in Park Slope)<br />Come hear Nicole speak about getting your space organized for a much better you. She will be joining personal trainer <a href="http://www.ajadavis.com/">Aja Davis</a> in discussing overall wellness.<br /><br />THURS NOV 19: <a href="http://www.meetup.com/The-NYC-Declutter-And-Get-Organized-Meetup-Group">DECLUTTER AND GET ORGANIZED</a><br />7pm<br /><a href="http://www.ellisbar.com/">Ellis Bar</a><br />627 5th Ave (between 17th and 18th Streets in Park Slope)<br />Join us to discuss your clutter and hear innovative ways to get started on your most pressing projects.<br /><br />Nicole & JuliaGenius Organizinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05498450704134147147noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6355893311918325254.post-40227192975678357202009-11-04T10:42:00.014-05:002009-11-05T14:01:01.788-05:00Let’s start at the very beginning…that’s a very good place to start…Do you sometimes look at the mess and clutter and think "how in the heck do I even begin?" Sure, reading blog tips about how to organize your home is great, but what if you have a really big problem and you can’t even imagine how you can accomplish it all.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Today’s tip: Do one thing today, a small thing</span><br /><br />If you look around your house and your heart beats fast and your breath gets short and your world starts to close in…step back and BREATHE. Life is not going to come to an end if your house does not run like clockwork. Keep reading and let’s learn how to slowly begin the process of building a more efficient home and a more calm serene you.<br /><br />The best thing to do is to start small, start with ONE drawer. Sure, you can dive right into that walk in closet but you will most likely run out of steam very quickly without a game plan. <br /><br />We at <a href="http://www.geniusorganizing.com">Genius Organizing</a> are HUGE fans of the organized drawer. Why, because its one small thing that can be accomplished in under 20 minutes. In the overwhelming world of organizing your home, you must have victories along the way or else you will never see the forest for the trees. <br /><br />Once you organize that ONE drawer and really create a designated place for everything that should go in that drawer, it is infinitely easier to keep it maintained. <br /><br />For this example we are going to use your sock drawer. Why? Because everyone has one and it almost always contains the same ingredients. There are three ways you can go about organizing a drawer.<br /><br />1. LABEL it, just a little bit: This is the part where we are going to talk about labels again. In the theater, a prop master will often create a table covered with butcher paper divided with tape lines to create boxes like a large grid. Then each box will have the name of the designated prop written in. You can do the same thing in the bottom of a drawer.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_A0zEiwaxqyI/SvGhNgjWDcI/AAAAAAAAABc/JMiAOZRE5Gg/s1600-h/Drawer+Grid.JPG"><img style="float:center; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 142px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_A0zEiwaxqyI/SvGhNgjWDcI/AAAAAAAAABc/JMiAOZRE5Gg/s320/Drawer+Grid.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400274681642487234" /></a><br /><br />2. DIVIDE and conquer: Purchase a divider, either one that creates the little boxes for you or one that creates long lines or a diamond shape for little things. You can’t go wrong with one of these items but MAKE SURE you measure your drawer before purchasing anything or else that divider will find its way to the “someday I’ll return this pile”.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_A0zEiwaxqyI/SvGkybuoZEI/AAAAAAAAACc/ov6KH07zycg/s1600-h/IMG_2353.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_A0zEiwaxqyI/SvGkybuoZEI/AAAAAAAAACc/ov6KH07zycg/s200/IMG_2353.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400278614537692226" /></a> Here's a before and after drawer as well as different divider options.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_A0zEiwaxqyI/SvGjcjKCjZI/AAAAAAAAACM/S3K183a_cUw/s1600-h/IMG_2354.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_A0zEiwaxqyI/SvGjcjKCjZI/AAAAAAAAACM/S3K183a_cUw/s200/IMG_2354.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400277139062951314" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_A0zEiwaxqyI/SvGjztTD2uI/AAAAAAAAACU/bHI31qTNhxM/s1600-h/sock+drawer.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 190px; height: 141px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_A0zEiwaxqyI/SvGjztTD2uI/AAAAAAAAACU/bHI31qTNhxM/s200/sock+drawer.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400277536922131170" /></a><br /><br /><br />3. RE-PURPOSE, reuse, and recycle: Take those old shoe boxes and gift boxes you have and configure them inside the drawer any way you like. Again, you will need to write the items that go in each box on the bottom of the box, but it also gives you a chance to try out one configuration and then another easily. OR take the “socks box” with you over to the sofa while you are folding laundry and watching the telly. Then you can easily pop the “socks box” right back into the drawer!!<br /><br /><br />Just a reminder, TONIGHT, come see us live at <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/place?rlz=1C1CHMG_enUS335US335&sourceid=chrome&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=solas+bar+nyc&fb=1&gl=us&hq=solas+bar&hnear=nyc&cid=5785217285752689436">Solas Bar</a> for a FREE <a href="http://www.meetup.com/The-NYC-Declutter-And-Get-Organized-Meetup-Group/calendar/11671663/">"Meet Up"</a> Organizing Workshop. Hope to see you there!<br /><br /><br />Also, check out our ad in The "L" Magazine:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_A0zEiwaxqyI/SvGmf1fwZfI/AAAAAAAAACs/JNTE8BRoqr4/s1600-h/L+Mag+Ad.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 142px; height: 200px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_A0zEiwaxqyI/SvGmf1fwZfI/AAAAAAAAACs/JNTE8BRoqr4/s200/L+Mag+Ad.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400280494060365298" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Nicole & JuliaGenius Organizinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05498450704134147147noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6355893311918325254.post-34986106143491947312009-10-30T08:34:00.004-04:002009-10-30T08:42:59.893-04:00Use 'em if you got 'em!In our previous blog entry, we talked about ending your addiction to paper. Now that you are getting rid of all that paper, you will need to shred documents with sensitive information on them and what happens if you don’t have a shredder?? Do you sit around all day with a pair of scissors, painstakingly cutting paper into tiny squares?<br /><br />NO. Use the washing machine!<br /> <br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Tip for the day: Repurpose your things in imaginative ways to help achieve your goals</span><br /><br /> <br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">1. Use your washing machine as your "shredder!"</span><br /><br />That’s right, stick your most sensitive papers into one of your most delicate items (a stocking) and throw it in the washing machine. You can’t substitute anything for a stocking and I know two legs don’t necessarily hold a whale of amount of paper, but if you are diligent, every time you get a run, stuff both legs with your “delicate docs” and put them through a cycle. Then pluck out the stuffed “Leggs” and toss them confidently in the trash.<br /><br />You contain the mess and at the same time make all paper illegible. <br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">2. Use a lazy susan under your bathroom sink!</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_A0zEiwaxqyI/SureQ8MPIgI/AAAAAAAAABU/oRDuKl7TLXg/s1600-h/meshspinner.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 275px; height: 275px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_A0zEiwaxqyI/SureQ8MPIgI/AAAAAAAAABU/oRDuKl7TLXg/s320/meshspinner.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398371485973684738" /></a><br />It’s dark down there. Who knows how many half empty bottles of self-tanning lotion or kitschy body wash flavors you have under there? While putting a stick-up light up is possible, it would be best to make that stuff more accessible. This product merry-go-round will help you realize what your new scent of the month might be as well as see what’s expired and what you might need to refill.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">3. Use a picture frame hanger to hang your hair dryer!</span><br /><br />Get your styling equipment up off the sink, floor and/or counter top. Most models of hair styling equipment come with a hook or loop at the back end for this very reason. This will also prevent the gnarled cords that tend to miraculously appear over time. Put up a picture frame hook in your bathroom or vanity area and hang your stuff up for easy access and to greatly reduce clutter.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Don’t forget, come see us live for a FREE workshop:<br />Wed Nov 4th 7pm @ Solas Bar in NYC<br /><br /><a href="http://www.meetup.com/The-NYC-Declutter-And-Get-Organized-Meetup-Group/calendar/11671663/">We are hosting the NYC Declutter and Get Organized Meet Up</a><span style="font-style:italic;"></span></span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.geniusorganizing.com">Nicole </a>& <a href="http://www.geniusorganizing.com">Julia</a>Genius Organizinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05498450704134147147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6355893311918325254.post-52163979329671585662009-10-28T10:12:00.005-04:002009-10-28T14:40:02.331-04:00LETS GET DIGITAL, DIGITALThis is the first day of the rest of your life and your addiction to paper stops here. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Tip of the day:</span> Stop using paper and start getting digital. <br /><br />We are always amazed at the lure paper has over our clients. Sometimes asking someone to throw away their papers can be like asking them to burn money. Hate to say it people, but the future is coming and you are going to be left behind to drown in your cozy-comfy paper world.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">FIRST STEP: Buy a scanner.</span><br /><br />What kind of scanner you ask?<br /><br />We highly recommend a receipt scanner called “Neat”. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_A0zEiwaxqyI/SuhU3MPdLeI/AAAAAAAAABM/xw_GwYQjgFQ/s1600-h/Neat+Rec+image.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 201px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_A0zEiwaxqyI/SuhU3MPdLeI/AAAAAAAAABM/xw_GwYQjgFQ/s320/Neat+Rec+image.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397657460559130082" /></a><br /><br />It is very easy to use and works on everything, not just receipts. It allows you to convert receipts into an excel spreadsheet for taxes or whatever. It allows you to convert business cards into Outlook. It is slim and sleek and can fit anywhere and can scan almost anything.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">SECOND STEP: Get rid of your Post It notes.</span> <br /><br />You have a computer AND a hand held computer and I bet you 5 bucks you are under using them. No need to write things on little scraps of paper. You have in both or all of your electronic devices a “Note” application. Use it and save a tree and your mind!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">THIRD STEP: Scan all non-essentials.</span><br /><br />You know you have some paper stacked up somewhere that you think you need to keep but you don’t really know why, like for instance…the gas bill. Well, if you aren’t sure…scan it and then recycle that bill and then go online and ask the company for an e-bill which will eliminate a bill coming in paper form and you having to scan it. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">FOURTH STEP: Educate yourself.</span><br /><br />If you don’t know what to keep and what not to keep, talk to the important people, like your accountant or your lawyer. Research which documents you will be required to keep in hard copy form.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">FIFTH STEP: Stop bringing paper into the house.</span><br /><br />We encourage clients with P.A.D. (Paper Addiction Disorder) to think before they bring paper into the home. If a client jots down a phone number on a cocktail napkin, that number should get transferred into their phone immediately OR better yet, reach for the phone first before the pen! <br /><br />Get all of your bills delivered in e-bill format. Doing this alone will make a tremendous difference in your life.<br /><br />Also, our government can help you with your mail!<br /><br /><blockquote>The Direct Marketing Association’s (DMA) Mail Preference Service lets you opt out of receiving unsolicited commercial mail from many national companies for five years. When you register with this service (for a $1 fee), your name will be put on a “delete” file and made available to direct-mail marketers. However, your registration will not stop mailings from organizations that do not use the DMA’s Mail Preference Service. To register with DMA’s Mail Preference Service, go to <a href="http://www.dmachoice.org">www.dmachoice.org</a>.</blockquote><br /><br />To recap…if you are deeply affected with P.A.D. and are scared of even performing step one, at the very least…please try to implement step five.<br /><br />OR you can always hire us to come to your house and scan and trash that paper for you (SUPER WINK!).<br /><br />Julia & NicoleGenius Organizinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05498450704134147147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6355893311918325254.post-20734497906072100382009-10-26T12:28:00.004-04:002009-10-26T12:58:59.878-04:00Energize your base<span style="font-weight:bold;">Today’s tip:</span> Enlist your family/spouse/roommate in a grass roots campaign to win over the Organization district: your home. <br /><br />By asking your people to contribute to creating the systems in your home, you are upping your percentages that they will also participate in the good fight to maintain order.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">YES YOU CAN</span> do it by yourself but why would you want to?<br /><br />Let us begin with LABELS. Don’t be scared. Some disorganized people I know get extraordinarily angry at the mention of labels as if it puts them in a Stepford Wife category of organization. Not so. <br /><br />Kill two birds with one stone and get your kids involved in an activity of creating their own labels for Toys, Clothes, Pots and Pans, Blankets, Magazines, Shoes. They get to be creative, practice their spelling and unknowingly learn where things in their house “live”.<br /><br />For a spouse or a roommate, crayons and sticky paper won’t do the trick. You have to do some polling and figure out what things are more important to them. For instance, if your spouse is the one responsible for filing insurance papers, you may want to ask their opinion on how the files should be labeled. <br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">“Well, I think “Insurance” is too general. I would file the medical as “Aetna” and the car as “All State”.</span> <br /><br />TA-DA! You just got other people involved. It is that easy! Let go of some of the control in order for other people to participate.<br /><br />If you think labeling your kitchen cabinets or even the fridge is too uptight, think again. Putting away groceries and dishes has never been easier and now you can put an end to the excuses…<span style="font-style:italic;">“But I don’t know where any of that stuff goes!”</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_A0zEiwaxqyI/SuXQa8Flz-I/AAAAAAAAABE/Yk_q5m1qzas/s1600-h/kitchen+labels.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 120px; height: 117px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_A0zEiwaxqyI/SuXQa8Flz-I/AAAAAAAAABE/Yk_q5m1qzas/s320/kitchen+labels.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396948889698160610" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />If you want 4 MORE YEARS of organization, put the people in your party to work.<br /><br />Julia & NicoleGenius Organizinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05498450704134147147noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6355893311918325254.post-62144800106751082122009-10-23T09:34:00.008-04:002009-10-23T18:48:37.693-04:00Ti-i-i-ime is on your side....yes it is!"I just don't have time" is a popular answer to the question "Why are you so disorganized?". Now I'm sure, no one ever asks you that question but you feel it in your bones every time you purchase a paint roller and then three weeks down the road you unearth 2 of the same deep in your closet or garage.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Today's tip: Clock Yourself<br /></span><br />You can use time to your advantage. We at <a href="http://www.geniusorganizing.com">G.O.</a> are super big into using a TIMER. Using a timer can change the way you live your life and especially the way you take care of your space. Looking at a project that you know will take hours is daunting but giving yourself 20 minutes a day on a timer is a breeze.<br /><br />Here's a challenge...list the 3 most disorganized spaces in your house. Let's get your mojo going by starting with the last on the list and work our way up to the "big mess". Grab your kitchen timer and set it for 20 minutes. Focus on doing one thing for that sliver of time. For instance, if it's your home office, pick up only paper. Put that paper in 3 piles. <span style="font-style:italic;">Toss</span>, <span style="font-style:italic;">Keep</span>, <span style="font-style:italic;">Review</span>. At first glance if you aren't sure, put the paper in the <span style="font-style:italic;">Review </span>file. This will keep you focused on beating the clock vs getting emotionally invested in the paper itself.<br /><br />You aren't big on the timer, huh, well a built in quick timer is the way too long commercial break. Often we encourage people to do one small task during each commercial break. You'd be surprised how much you can get done.<br /><br />You can do it, we know you can. Don't be shy, write us and let's talk about tackling your biggest disorganized space. Use the timer method, invite a friend over to help...let us know how it worked. <br /><br />Julia & NicoleGenius Organizinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05498450704134147147noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6355893311918325254.post-10286818665892828482009-10-22T09:22:00.006-04:002009-10-22T10:57:04.290-04:00The Elephant in the RoomNew York City is tight. We live in tiny spaces so we have to get creative about where we put stuff. The first apartment I ever saw when I moved here was shaped like a "C" and the bathroom door when opened scraped the edge of the toilet. Oh yeah, and there was no sink. I was terrified that I was forever destined to brush my teeth in the shower or over the kitchen sink. Luckily I found a different apartment.<br /><br />Even if you don't live in NYC, sometimes easy camouflage options and tight spaces are overlooked. Much like that big purse you put in your lap when you sit down, a couch can hide something large and unsightly too. <br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />Today's tip: Big Furniture hides Big Things</span><br /><br />Yesterday we put two large folded clothes drying racks behind a client's headboard. You cannot see them at all, but you can reach in from either side of the bed and pull one out. We also often hide items behind the back of the couch, under the bed, and under the couch. People are always hunting for more storage in their homes but only think of it as closets and cabinets. Extra space, even tight space, behind and under the furniture, should not be overlooked.<br /><br />See the armoire. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_A0zEiwaxqyI/SuBh0FOPeeI/AAAAAAAAAAc/STE-Y9_VFtg/s1600-h/IMG_2940.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:right;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_A0zEiwaxqyI/SuBh0FOPeeI/AAAAAAAAAAc/STE-Y9_VFtg/s320/IMG_2940.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395419900972857826" /></a> <br />See the hidden boxes behind the armoire.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_A0zEiwaxqyI/SuBh0XCKL-I/AAAAAAAAAAk/C0LfB0zzO8E/s1600-h/IMG_2943.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:left;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_A0zEiwaxqyI/SuBh0XCKL-I/AAAAAAAAAAk/C0LfB0zzO8E/s320/IMG_2943.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395419905754017762" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_A0zEiwaxqyI/SuBhl9kthFI/AAAAAAAAAAU/_waV2HW-gmw/s1600-h/IMG_2946.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_A0zEiwaxqyI/SuBhl9kthFI/AAAAAAAAAAU/_waV2HW-gmw/s320/IMG_2946.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395419658401449042" /></a> Although the trays aren't hidden completely they are out of the way and are easily accessible.<br /><br /><br /><br />Ok so what have we learned? <br /><br />1. Shop around when it comes to apartments.<br />2. Hide your flat stuff. <br />3. Do sit ups.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Come see us in the flesh!!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Wed Nov 4th 7pm</span> @ <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/place?rlz=1C1CHMG_enUS335US335&sourceid=chrome&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=solas+bar+nyc&fb=1&gl=us&hq=solas+bar&hnear=nyc&cid=5785217285752689436">Solas Bar</a><br />We are hosting the <a href="http://www.meetup.com/The-NYC-Declutter-And-Get-Organized-Meetup-Group/">NYC Declutter and Get Organized Meet Up</a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Sat Nov 14th 10am</span> @ <a href="http://www.foodcoop.com/">The Park Slope Food Co-Op</a><br />Nicole is speaking with her personal trainer in regards to overall wellness.<br /><br />Stay tuned for more tips and tricks to making your home/office a better place!<br /><br />Nicole & JuliaGenius Organizinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05498450704134147147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6355893311918325254.post-10514474152654633642009-10-21T14:45:00.000-04:002009-10-21T15:01:40.893-04:00Welcome to the blogWe at <a href="http://www.geniusorganizing.com/">Genius Organizing</a> want to get the word out about our company and at the same time create a fun blog for people to learn cool and interesting ways to organize their home or business. <div><br /></div><div>We will use this forum to announce public events you can attend to hear some of our Genius ideas as well as write us with quandaries on your cluttered office or home. </div><div><br /></div><div>We are here to encourage and entertain! </div><div><br /></div><div>Coming soon in November: </div><div>Check out our ad in the upcoming "L" Magazine Services Directory</div><div>Read all about us in our "Hire This" spread in Time Out Magazine</div><div>See Nicole live at the Park Slope Food Co-Op preaching the commandments of organization</div><div><br /></div><div>And so it begins.</div><div><br /></div><div>Thanks, </div><div><br /></div><div>Julia & Nicole</div>Genius Organizinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05498450704134147147noreply@blogger.com0