Don't Agonize. Organize!

We LOVE Brooklyn Based Movers Not Shakers, a Very Environmentally Friendly Moving Company!

2009-10-13T16:18:00.005-04:00

What I love about Movers Not Shakers, a moving company that serves New York City and the entire east coast, is that they're green movers. Their trucks are fueled by biodiesel from Tri-StateBiodiesel, Inc. and they'll rent you reusable plastic moving bins they call GothamBoxes™ (got them boxes? - get it!) for you to pack your belongings in. They drop the bins off in advance of your move and pick them up after you or they or somebody like me, a Professional Organizer, packs them for the move and unpacks them once you get to your new home. There's no cardboard, no assembly, no tape, NO WASTE. After they're picked up, the boxes are cleaned, stored and delivered again to other customers. It’s an easy way to move and, at the same time, reduce the materials used in your move and the impact on the environment created by your relocation.

For years, Fortune 500 companies, pharmacies and supermarkets have rented reusable plastic bins to move from one office to another or ship merchandise. Now the residential moving market has picked up on this idea due to consumer desire for options that are convenient, environmentally friendly and because of the cost of cardboard boxes. Prices for short-term plastic bin rental are comparable to purchase prices for cardboard boxes. A large bin of about 4 cubic feet rents for $3 a week from Movers Not Shakers. U-Haul charges $3 for a 4.5-cubic-foot cardboard box.

From the Movers Not Shakers website,

Paper or Plastic? Plastic!

"Isn’t paper the better choice for the environment? Not always. Before we disregard oil and its byproducts altogether, let’s remember that certain products made from plastic are actually good for the environment – if they’re reused. Our line of GothamBoxes™ is made from recycled plastic. Over their life span each one will replace hundreds of corrugated cardboard boxes. And since they have interlocking lids, no packing tape is required to put them together or seal them once they are full. That not only produces less waste it is also a big timesaver.

GothamBoxes™ come in two sizes, small and large. They are strong too! They do not crush like cardboard will, keeping your belongings safe and sound. The small bins are 2.3 cu ft. and are great for books, CD’s/DVD’s, small plates and dishes, glasses, wine glasses, toiletries, jewelry cases, and other fragile items. The large bins are 4.1 cu ft. and are used for clothing, linens, towels, larger kitchenware, pots, pans… and anything else that won’t fit in the small one. Even though moving can be an incredibly complicated task, with all of the planning, packing, utility switching, real estate closing, address changing, board approval, school switching, whatever your situation might be, these bins are meant to simplify the whole process."

Other benefits of using these plastic bins are:

Environmentalists generally agree that it's better to reuse a product rather than manufacture a new one.

They have wheels, which make them easier to move and maneuver through the tight spaces of many NYC apartments.

You don't have to deal with disposing of dozens of cardboard boxes, a task that in New York City usually requires collapsing and bundling them.

One other HUGE benefit, from a getting organized perspective, is that there's no procrastinating about unpacking and items don't get left in boxes for months - or years! - since the bins need to be returned within a certain period of time. Thank you, Movers Not Shakers; that's definitely music to this organizer's ears!

NYC Keeps on Truckin' & Tracking Trash, Too!

2009-10-12T23:43:00.000-04:00

NYC wants to be cleaner and greener and, in an effort to accomplish that mission - at least where trash is concerned - it's testing hybrid sanitation trucks in residential areas of Queens. The Big Apple's current garbage trucks are incredible gas guzzlers, getting only about three miles per gallon. The hybrid trucks should get 25% to 30% better mileage - which isn't saying much - but it is a step in the right direction and every little bit helps.

And, speaking of trash, the researchers at MIT's SENSEable City Lab have come up with a new project called Trash Track whose goals are to raise awareness of how trash impacts the environment and get people thinking about all the stuff they toss out. TrashTrack uses hundreds of small electronic, smart, location aware tags. These tags are attached to different types of trash and those items are tracked through NYC's waste management system, revealing the final journey of everyday objects in a series of real time visualizations. So, if you knew exactly where your trash was going and how much energy it took to make it all disappear, would it make you think twice about buying bottled water or "disposable" anything else?

Speaking of trash, if you're working on separating out your trash from your treasures and need to get rid of what you don't want, these local companies will remove almost anything - from old furniture and appliances to yard waste and renovation debris - including many things that your local garbage company won't typically accept. Plus, they do all the loading and clean-up.

1-800-got-junk?

The Junk Pros

When Autumn Leaves Start to Fall...

2009-10-09T15:11:00.109-04:00

"The falling leaves drift by the window
The autumn leaves of red and gold
I see your lips, the summer kisses
The sun-burned hands I used to hold"

"Since you went away, the days grow long
And soon I'll hear ol' winter's song.
But I miss you most of all my darling,
When autumn leaves start to fall."

- from "Autumn Leaves"

Did you know that "Autumn Leaves" was originally a French song until Johnny Mercer wrote some English lyrics for it, the likes of Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole recorded it and the rest, as they say, is history? Leave it to the French.

Autumn in New York City does indeed mean that leaves are beginning to turn color, starting to fall and the temperature is fluctuating up and down. On the days when it still gets into the 70's, I'm in my glory. Then comes a day in the 40's or 50's and I get a serious reality check/wake-up call that autumn is here, summer has come to an end and it's time to get organized for the long, inevitable winter months ahead. Don't get left out in the cold; prepare for winter now while the mood is right and the days are still relatively long. On Sunday, November 2, daylight-saving time will end and the shorter days that are one of the hallmarks of winter will be upon us.

SAY GOODBYE FOR NOW
Before you pack away yours/your family's summer wardrobes, look it/them over and identify items that didn't get worn and are no longer wanted. Add them to - or start - a giveaway/*donation pile. If anything is stained, remove the stains now - it's usually more difficult to get them out later on - and stow them away until next year.

RE-ACQUAINT YOURSELF WITH OLD FRIENDS
Get re-acquainted with your favorite winter clothes and cast a critical eye at all the rest. Are they worthy of the drawer/closet space they take up or are you ready to let 'em go and make room for some new, cold weather favorites? If your coats didn't get cleaned at the end of last winter, freshen them up now. Before you wash or dry clean them, be sure to make any necessary repairs, like sewing on buttons, fixing zippers, replacing torn linings or pockets. If you've got kids, now is the time to make sure that their coats still fit. Pass down anything they've outgrown to their younger sibling(s) or bag 'em up for give away/*donation and take advantage of the Columbus Day sales all over town this weekend to get anyone in need new outer wear. Also, make sure that everyone has hats, gloves and scarves and they're in good condition. If not take advantage of this weekend's sales to fill in any gaps. Discard anything that is too far past its prime to be of use any longer and freshen up everything by washing or dry cleaning.

Instead of scrambling to get organized when that first cold snap hits or that first morning you wake up and discover the snow cover outside, be prepared and go out and have fun instead!

*A quick word about what is acceptable to donate to thrift or charity shops. Please be kind and do not donate soiled or damaged items. Most charities don't have the resources to clean or fix them and it will cost them money to dispose of those items.

If - like a lot of New Yorkers - you've got more "stuff" than you have space to hold it all, here are some companies that might be able to help you solve that problem:

GARDE ROBE:

WARDROBE STORAGE FACILITY WITH VALET SERVICE:

Based in New York City, Garde Robe is a full-service wardrobe storage facility providing first-class storage, cyber-inventory, secure online closets and an array of services for New Yorkers, travelers and fashion industry professionals. Garde Robe will pick up your off-season or infrequently worn items, arrange for professional cleaning, photograph, catalogue and store the items in their climate-controlled, air-purified loft. Your Cyber Closet is accessible day or night and, with a few mouse clicks, you can arrange to have Garde Robe deliver desired items at your convenience.

THE BOX BUTLER

GENERAL STORAGE FACILITY WITH VALET SERVICE:

The process is simple, quick and entirely managed through their website or you can call in your requests on their toll free line. After you place an order, they will deliver your empty containers, locks and welcome kit which includes an inventory form and other helpful information. You pack your boxes, or have a Box Butler professional assist you pack for a modest fee. The completed inventory can be entered online onto their web based system for easy access or stored in hard copy at your home. Then order a pick up and they will retrieve your locked containers. All or specific containers can be returned in the future at your request. This service was designed with 100% convenience in mind.

Go ahead, write on the walls. No, really...it's okay!

2009-10-06T15:28:00.008-04:00

IdeaPaint has got to be one of the coolest products ever. It can turn virtually any paintable surface into a high-performance dry-erase surface:

Kids bedroom

Kitchen

Office

Playroom

Hallways

Doors

Refrigerators

Tables

Furniture

Laundry room

Cabinets

Storage Containers

...the possibilities are limited only by your imagination!

It's easy to use and works like any standard roller-applied paint. One coat is all it takes and it even comes with the roller you need! When you’re ready for something new, just paint over it. IdeaPaint can even restore your old dry-erase whiteboards and add years to their life.

Many dry-erase surfaces contain formaldehyde, which slowly releases gas and diminishes indoor air quality - your air quality - for the life of the product. IdeaPaint is formaldehyde-free, conforms to all U.S. EPA regulations (including California) and does not produce any harmful gas once it’s dry. In addition to formaldehyde, it's also free of lead, asbestos, and other harmful materials. IdeaPaint has been tested and deemed safe for its recommended use by multiple third-party laboratories. It works with all industry-standard dry-erase markers and erasers, though you should replace markers frequently to prevent damage from dried or frayed tips. Clean with a standard dry-erase eraser or a dry cloth after each use; for more thorough cleaning, use a damp cloth. If you need to repair or replace IdeaPaint, just scuff up the entire surface and repaint.

Millions of worn out and unwanted whiteboards and blackboards end up in landfills every year. If you care about the environment, you'll love IdeaPaint because there’s nothing to throw out and they don’t use any of the valuable raw materials normally found in other dry-erase products: wood, steel, aluminum, vinyl or resin. The baking and curing procedures required to make traditional dry-erase boards consume large amounts of energy. Not IdeaPaint. Just stir and apply! And because their product is much smaller and lighter, it packs and ships using less packing material and fuel than traditional whiteboards.

So...go ahead, write on the walls! It's really okay!

If you don't already know about Freecycle, you should!

2009-10-06T12:31:00.008-04:00

You just gotta love this group. Here's what their mission statement says:

"Our mission is to build a worldwide gifting movement that reduces waste, saves precious resources & eases the burden on our landfills while enabling our members to benefit from the strength of a larger community."

The Freecycle Network™ is made up of 4,830 groups with 6,573,000 members (and growing) across the globe. It's a grassroots and entirely nonprofit movement of people who are giving (& getting) stuff for free in their own towns. It's all about reuse and keeping good stuff out of landfills. Each local group is moderated by a local volunteer. Membership is free. To sign up, go to Freecycle.org.

Upgrade Your Web Browser: Be More Productive; Save Time, Be Safe on the Internet

2009-10-05T13:33:00.002-04:00

Your viewing experience on the internet is dictated by two things: which web browser you use and which version of it's installed on your computer. In upgraded versions of web browsers, new features are added, bugs are fixed and security holes are patched.

If you're having trouble viewing websites, you may need to upgrade to the newest version of your browser. Installing upgrades is easy; just go to your browser company's website and look for their download/upgrade info or click on the links below. No matter which browser you prefer - Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, Opera, Google Chrome - using the latest version ensures that you'll have the safest and best viewing experience in two ways:

1. By preventing malicious viruses from infecting your computer

2. By allowing you to view websites - by properly interpreting the code used to build them - the way their owner meant for you to view them

There's no better time than now to upgrade your browser and be safe, more productive and save time.

Follow MILLER ORGANIZING on Twitter!

2009-10-05T10:15:00.001-04:00

For more great information and tips, MILLER ORGANIZING is pleased to announce that you can now follow us on Twitter. In addition to this blog and the column I write for a local newspaper, I am delighted to have a new forum in which to spread the word about how getting organized can help you to reduce your stress, increase your productivity and save you time and money. Click here to visit us on Twitter!

Organization is the gift you give yourself that keeps on giving back.

2009-10-02T17:16:00.003-04:00

My job is to help make other people's lives better. I think it's the BEST job in the world that anyone could have. Along with having the BEST job in the world, I'm also very fortunate to have the BEST clients in the world. One of those clients - the one with the BEST cats in the world (trust me, they really are the BEST!) - sent me this lovely email yesterday and I thought I would share it in the hope of inspiring and encouraging others to get organized. Thank you, dear client, for taking the time to write and let me know how you feel about the progress we've made in getting you organized. It means a lot to me.

"Something happened that made me think of you. I was sitting at my desk paying a bill. And after sealing the envelope, I looked up at my bookshelf to get an address label and a stamp. Purely out of habit, my brain started the, "Okay, where did I put the address labels and stamps?" quest. And I immediately saw the box labeled, "Envelopes/Stamps/Address Labels/Packing Tape". And I felt giddy all over again.

It's like the gift that keeps on giving, every time I go to look for something and find it in a box, neatly labeled for easy finding. :)

While I am very much looking forward to more progress when I finish this particular busy period, it is so wonderful to have so much progress to see already. :)"

Another reason to love Costco...

2009-10-02T13:26:00.007-04:00

Costco has teamed up with Gazelle to offer its members a Trade-In & Recycle Program. Members receive a cash card for their trade-ins good for anything at Costco warehouses or online. Laptops, cell phones, LCD monitors, external hard drives, digital cameras, camcorders, MP3 players, movies, camera lenses, streaming media, projectors, Blue-Ray players, home audio, calculators, PDAs, GPS devices, gaming consoles, satellite radios and video games are all welcome. Trade in your old computer through 10/15/09 and get a 10% bonus.

Every item gets an offer and personal data will be wiped from all items. There's no limit on the number of items you can sell; the more you sell, the more cash you make. Gazelle even offers free shipping and packaging, within the continental U. S., on all qualifying items. They'll send you a prepaid shipping box or label and insure packages up to the value they offered you for their contents. Cash card payments normally arrive within 10 business days after an item has been received, inspected and approved.

Gazelle has also built a network of local recyclers to help you with some items that are not currently accepted online: televisions, CRT monitors, printers and fax machines. You can search by zip code to find the drop off location nearest to you.

If you're a Costco member, it couldn't be any easier to declutter and get rid of unwanted or unused electronic items so act now!

Get Your Holiday Cards Done NOW and Save Money at the Same Time!

2009-10-01T14:12:00.006-04:00

Summer's barely over and Halloween is still weeks away, but the folks at Hallmark.com are hoping that you'll start thinking about your holiday cards now. You can chose a card and then personalize it by adding your own photos or message, if you like. Upload your address book to the site and they'll even print, stamp and mail your cards for you at whatever future date you chose. Or, if you prefer, they'll mail them to you already stamped, addressed and ready to send out. It's easy, it's fast and if you do it now you can check it off your holiday to-do list! Save 30% when you spend $30 or more on your order; just use promo code OCT30 at checkout. Offer expires 10/25/09.

Why cardboard boxes are NOT a good, long-term storage solution.

2009-09-22T17:43:00.016-04:00

Cardboard boxes should only be used for very temporary storage, especially if they're going to be kept in attics, basements, garages or commercial, off-site storage facilities. Aside from the fact that clear plastic boxes make it easier to see and find things - if cardboard gets wet, there's the potential for mold to grow. In addition to damaging or ruining your possessions, mold can make you and your loved ones SICK. I can also tell you that mice and other little creatures are fond of eating and infesting cardboard boxes. So if the potential for mold or mildew doesn't motivate you to get rid of your cardboard boxes, perhaps the thought of rodents and bugs will!

I recently worked with a client and her husband to empty out their off-site storage unit. They told me that the storage company had informed them several months before that there had been some minor flooding in the facility and theirs was one of the affected units. My clients didn't do anything about it at the time and were understandably concerned about what they might find now. Despite the fact that we were all wearing gloves and protective masks, within 15 minutes my client started to feel sick. I surmised that she was probably having a reaction to the black mold we were finding on and in several of the cardboard boxes. She was having trouble breathing so I insisted that she leave the facility immediately and get some fresh air. Her husband went outside with her, where they wisely called her doctor and explained the situation. Her doctor advised her not to go anywhere near anything that had the mold on it. With some fresh air she started to feel better and waited in the van while her husband and I finished sorting through what to keep and what now had to be dumped because of the mold. Unfortunately, we had to toss many items that were simply not salvageable and could have made their young children and who knows who else sick if they had been brought back to their apartment. If those items had been properly stored, the mold infestation and destruction of so many of their possessions could all have been avoided. I sincerely hope that everyone will learn a lesson from this cautionary tale.

So, while cardboard boxes are great for moving or holding things for a short time, they're not a good long term solution for safely keeping important items. Though I'm not a big advocate of off-site storage (unless it's a temporary solution), if you need to use it, make sure to store items in plastic containers. If an item is worth having in your home or putting in storage, then treat it with respect and make sure that you protect it as much as possible from any kind of physical damage.

Sometimes you just have to trash it.

2009-09-22T13:04:00.009-04:00

As a Professional Organizer, clients naturally turn to me to help them figure out what to do with all the stuff they're ready to part with. One suggestion I make is to try to sell or give items away on craigslist or Freecycle. It's often a fast, cost-free method to move things out of their home, but sometimes - even when it's free! - there are no buyers or takers. What then?

The next step is to determine whether or not the items are suitable for donation. If not, I explain to clients that if they've made a good faith effort to find a new home for their clutter, but nobody seems to want it, it's perfectly alright to toss it. If they seem to be leaning towards keeping an item(s) they were ready to let go of, I explain to them how doing that thwarts their goal of de-cluttering their space. Because most of my clients are in the greater NYC area - which usually means they live in apartment buildings - I have a great option to offer which often does the trick. I recommend that we neatly put items in the basement trash/recycling area of their building and hope that someone else will think they're treasures and take them. I know from personal experience in my own and my friends' apartment buildings how often that's exactly what happens. One man's trash really is another man's treasure, at least in NYC! Of course, before leaving items, we always check to make sure that it's alright with the super or porter of the building. If no one takes the items, eventually the super or porter will toss them. Psychologically, it makes it easier for some clients to let go if they don't actually have to do the tossing.

If a client insists on giving a charity clothing items that are not in good shape (we truly have an embarrassment of riches when it comes to charity and thrift shops in NYC), I ask them to think twice about that decision. Goodwill, for example, receives a billion pounds of clothing every year. Yes, I said billion with a "B"! Unfortunately, because well-meaning donors often aren't discriminating enough about the condition of the clothing they donate, charities end up being able to use less than half of what they get and have to pay to dispose of the rest. Here's a good rule of thumb to go by if you're thinking about donating clothing: if you wouldn’t give it to a family member or a friend, it’s probably not good enough for a charity either. By being thoughtful and sensitive to a charity's needs and not using them as a dumping ground or simply to get a tax deduction, you avoid creating a manpower and financial burden for them and perform a truly charitable act.

The bottom line is that sometimes you just have to trash items and that's OK.

The secrets of successful people...

2009-09-18T21:33:00.006-04:00

Successful people know that in order to get ahead, they need to plan, set priorities and follow through consistently. In the process, they develop systems and procedures for everything in their life that work in sync with and support their own natural preferences. They realize how important it is to be true to their own style - whatever that is - despite what others may say or think. That's the first secret of successful people. Their second secret is that they maintain their systems and procedures daily and are always on the lookout for ways to do things smarter, faster and better. Their third secret is that they don’t try to be perfectly organized. They recognize that it's simply not an attainable or desirable goal. The goal is to be organized sufficiently to keep making forward progress, but also have time to enjoy themselves, their loved ones and the activities that are meaningful in their lives. And what do they get for all of this? They get the gifts of peace of mind and extra time. Need I say more? Isn't it time you got organized?

How to get your kids out the door and to school on time.

2009-09-17T14:31:00.002-04:00

It's the middle of September and your kids are probably back at school by now. If you're finding that getting them out the door on time in the morning is difficult, WebMD has an instructive video about helping them get to where they need to be on time.

Shining the spotlight on America’s penchant for excess.

2009-09-10T20:25:00.072-04:00

This past weekend, The New York Times ran an interesting article on how the downturn in the economy is affecting the self-storage industry. Not surprisingly, it confirms what I and my fellow organizers already know: the vast majority of storage units contain mostly clutter.

Since the start of the recession, occupancies at storage facilities nationwide are down 2-3%. While not a big drop, apparently it has shaken an industry that has always thought of itself as recession-resistant, if not recession-proof.

Here are some quotes from the article:

"After a monumental building boom, the United States now has 2.3 billion square feet of self-storage space. (The Self Storage Association notes that, with more than seven square feet for every man, woman and child, it’s now “physically possible that every American could stand — all at the same time — under the total canopy of self-storage roofing.”)"

"A Self Storage Association study showed that, by 2007, the once-quintessential client — the family in the middle of a move, using storage to solve a short-term, logistical problem — had lost its majority. Fifty percent of renters were now simply storing what wouldn’t fit in their homes — even though the size of the average American house had almost doubled in the previous 50 years, to 2,300 square feet."

“Human laziness has always been a big friend of self-storage operators,” Derek Naylor, president of the consultant group Storage Marketing Solutions, told me. “Because once they’re in, nobody likes to spend all day moving their stuff out of storage. As long as they can afford it, and feel psychologically that they can afford it, they’ll leave that stuff in there forever.”

If you rent self-storage space, I dare you to multiply what your storage space costs by the number of months you've been renting it. Okay, now that you've picked yourself up off of the floor, do you even remember what you have in storage? Think about what you could have done with that money instead of lining the pockets of the storage industry with it.

I urge you to read the entire article. It's fascinating and may provide just the inspiration you need to go clean out your storage space! Hire an organizer to help, if you need, too, but get it done!

Do you suffer from "excessive office inventory" syndrome?

2009-09-10T19:02:00.016-04:00

Working with three different clients last week, I was reminded once again how many pen, pencil, 3-ring binder, copy paper, file folder, rubber band, paper clip, envelope, scotch tape, staple remover, lined pad, post-it-note, etc. hoarders there are out there! If your stash of office supplies could give Staples a run for its money, but you can't find what you need when you need it, it's time to get organized so you know exactly what you have and where it's located.

Unnecessary expenditures related to disorganization - like buying duplicates of misplaced items or items you already own! - can cost as much as 15% to 20% of your annual budget. In these tight economic times, that can really pinch. So, get your office supplies organized and check your stock levels before you hit the stores! You'll have more money in your pocket and less clutter in your office if you do.

September is National Preparedness Month. How ready for an emergency are you?

2009-09-05T06:28:00.002-04:00

Now in its sixth year, National Preparedness Month is a nationwide effort sponsored by the Ready Campaign to encourage Americans to take simple steps to prepare for emergencies in their homes, businesses, and communities. Are you ready? If not, I urge you to visit their website for more about how preparedness goes beyond fire alarms, smoke detectors, dead-bolt locks and extra food in the pantry.

Save steps and achieve organizing success!

2009-09-04T09:32:00.004-04:00

Taking the fewest number of steps possible to accomplish a task is the key to organizing success. For example, if you've got a home office and it's not well-organized, your efficiency and productivity are likely to suffer. If you have to go across the room to file a piece of paper because that's where the file cabinet is, I can tell you that nine times out of ten, it probably won't happen. As a result, papers will sit around on your desk just getting lost in the shuffle and you won't be able to find them the next time you need them. Definitely not an optimal solution for creating a workspace that supports you.

It's basic human nature that if something is perceived to take too much work or time or is inconvenient to do; that something probably won't get done or will fall to the bottom of your list of things to do. In the case of filing papers in a home office, the "save steps and achieve organizing success solution" is to move your file cabinet near your desk - or otherwise rearrange your space - so you don't even have to get out of your chair to file your papers!

- Have an old file cabinet whose drawers are hard to open or don't slide out all the way, making it hard to reach the back of it? The "save steps and achieve organizing success solution" is to get a new, full extension file cabinet with drawers that glide out easily and completely for total access.

- Papers piling up because you've run out of filing supplies? The "save steps and achieve organizing success solution" is to make sure that you always keep some surplus on hand.

- Like to write with a sharp pencil? The "save steps and achieve organizing success solution" is to keep a pencil sharpener in, on or near your desk and a wastebasket close by to dump the shavings in when the sharpener gets full!

You get the idea.

Think about what can you do to save steps and achieve organizing success in your own life. If you're having trouble reaching your goals, please let us know. We'd love to help!

Too many towels; too little space.

2009-08-31T21:44:00.011-04:00

If you've got too many towels and too little space for all of them, the first step is to get rid of any that have seen better days, haven't been used in a long time or you just don't like for whatever reason. If, after that, you've still got too many towels and not enough storage space for them in your linen closet, here's a suggestion for storing them right in your bathroom. It's a convenient, attractive option if you're suffering from towel overload...and even if you're not!

This is from The Container Store and their description of it reads: "Enameled Steel Cube [white, 14"sq.] blends Italian design with the durability and strength of steel for urban-loft style and functionality. Easy to assemble and configure, the modular cubes can be used alone or in any combination to create a custom solution that conforms to your exact needs."

I recommend mounting them over the bathroom door, if possible. It's an often little used and overlooked location that won't take up floor space or be in anyone's way. I would suggest putting up 2 or 3 of them side-by-side, depending on how many towels and how much space you have. Unless you have a lot of oversize towels, these cubes are a good storage choice. They're perforated for ventilation, rust-resistant; will match the sink in your bathroom, if it's white(!); have a great look, are easy to clean and your towels will fold and stack nicely in them, without falling over (or you can roll them up and stack them). Of course, measure first to see if the cubes will fit your particular space.

I'm pretty handy and would have no trouble putting up these cubes, but for anyone who isn't handy, doesn't have the right tools, doesn't want to be bothered or doesn't have a super or handyman in the building who will do it for you, contact Handy In The City for help at (917) 841-8032 or email them at handyinthecity@yahoo.com.

If you're "vertically challenged" - meaning not tall enough to reach your towels in their newly stowed spot - I'd suggest keeping a small step stool in the bathroom for quick and easy access to them. Here are a couple of possibilities from Bed, Bath & Beyond that don't take up much space:

EZ Foldz 12" Folding Step Stool

"This convenient step stool is lightweight and so easy to store, too. It folds up to less than 3" wide so you can stash it anywhere. Step stool holds up to 300 lbs. and measures 18 1/2" L x 12 3/4" W folded out."

E-Z Foldz Folding Plastic Step Stool

"Use this sturdy and durable plastic step stool for standing up or sitting down anywhere you need it. Lightweight material makes it easy to move from room to room. Collapsible design lets you store it anywhere easily. Holds a maximum weight of 300 pounds. Measures 9" H x 12" L x 10 1/2" D unfolded. Folds conveniently down to a mere 2"."

Mr. Sandless wood floor refinishing - a dream come true!

2009-08-30T08:54:00.005-04:00

I recently had my apartment painted, re-arranged the furniture and spruced up the kitchen, but the sorry state of my wood floors detracted from everything I had done. I have lived in this apartment for 25 years and the wood floors looked like it. I couldn't bare the thought of having them sanded and refinished. I know what an insane mess sanding is, to say nothing of the fumes from the stuff they finish the floor with. I knew I couldn't deal with that and thought that I was eternally consigned to having dull, lifeless-looking floors. And then I discovered Mr. Sandless, "the quick no sanding solution for beautiful wood floors".

Their website says that they make "refinishing wood floors quick, affordable and painless! There is no mess to clean up, no odors, and service is complete in just hours. We are always less expensive than sanding, and everything we use is kid and pet safe." The Before and After pictures on their website and watching Mr. Sandless videos on YouTube convinced me to call the Manhattan franchise owner, Joe Burns. Joe's crew did my floors in a day and the result is wonderful. Now the floors are the equal of all the other improvements that I've made and I couldn't be happier! If you live in Manhattan, you can reach Joe at (718) 980-2853 or Toll Free at (888) WOOD-212. For other locations, visit the Mr. Sandless website.

Preserve your family history for future generations before it's too late.

2009-08-30T07:57:00.005-04:00

Life is not that which one lived, but that which one remembers, and how one remembers to tell it.
--Gabriel Garcia Marquez (1928-)

This is the quote found on the "Why Now" page of Alli Joseph's Seventh Generation Stories website. Her company provides personal historian services (also known as life story-telling or oral history) to record and preserve precious pieces of yours or your elders histories for future generations to enjoy. They help clients save their life stories in narrative books (memoirs/autobiographies), family video documentaries and tributes, photo albums, scrapbooks, and much more. SGS can also craft an original family crest or other artisan-based piece for your family.

I had two great-aunts who were sisters with whom I spent a lot of happy time growing up. I deeply regret not having asked more questions and gotten more information from them before they passed away. In fact, before my last great-aunt died, she destroyed all the family photos she had. When asked why, she answered that she didn't think anyone in the family would be interested in a bunch of old photos. Need I say how wrong she was and how I regret not having or ever seeing those photos? I think about it often and it pains me to know that pieces of my history are gone forever and not recoverable. Don't let this happen to you.

Alli offers a free consultation so contact her now because, like her tagline says, there's no time like the present to save the past.

Cord chaos: Before and (a fabulous) After!

2009-08-29T16:43:00.022-04:00

A lovely client of mine is allowing me to share this with everyone else out there who finds themselves lost in a sea of electric cords. Thank you, client. You know who you are!

So, this client - probably like a lot of you - has a million corded devices in her office area. She also has three of the most wonderful cats I have ever seen. While the cats are wonderful, the fact that they - if left to their own devices - like to play with the surge protectors and cords is not so wonderful. As you can imagine, between them they produce a lot of fur, which is also not so wonderful for the equipment.

In order to protect the cords from her cats, my client laid the top of a plastic box over them. An admirable though not particularly lovely attempt nor a good permanent solution, she wondered if I could come up with something better. At first, I suggested enclosing the whole area. It's a little hard to tell from the picture, but it's a contained space at the bottom of her bookcase that I thought we could put some doors on. Well, she LOVED that idea and said she would check out her local hardware store, Lowe's or Home Depot for door possibilities. She's a very resourceful and handy woman and I was confident that she could get the job done.

The next day I was in The Container Store looking for some items for another client and I saw an attractive storage stool that I thought would be PERFECT to contain all that cord clutter. Even better, it was on sale! I sent her an email with a picture giving her a heads up about what I had found, how it could work for her in this instance (put the surge protectors inside and slip the cords through the open stool handles) and the fact that it was on sale, but she responded that she would probably go with the door option. OK. No problem. I'm all for whatever the client prefers that will get the job done.

Imagine my surprise when I got an email from her with the Before and After photos below and her praising my out-of-the-box thinking (pun intended!) to control her cord clutter as "brilliant". While I love the appreciation, I love just as much that the product I suggested took care of the problem so beautifully and neatly. In fact, she liked the storage stool so much that she bought two and is using the other one to store her copy paper and to put her feet up on when she's hard at work on her computer.

Before:

After:

Ah, just another problem solving day in the life of a Professional Organizer!

The joy - and convenience - of clipless coupons. New ways to save money in tough economic times.

2009-08-29T14:29:00.002-04:00

So, I'm in The Container Store recently working on a client project with a very lovely salesperson. He notices my bag from the Apple store and asks me what I bought. I tell him a new iPhone. Then comes the life-changing revelation. (OK, maybe it's only life-changing if you're a Professional Organizer because we love, love, love The Container Store!) The salesperson tells me about Yowza!, a FREE mobile coupon application. Loading it onto my iPhone (or iPod Touch, if you have one of those) and showing the coupon to the cashier at checkout - who will scan the bar code off of the iPhone screen - will give me a 15% discount at The Container Store. Wow, I'm stunned. Recently, the Container Store started offering discounts to Professional Organizers like me who are members of NAPO (National Association of Professional Organizers). The discount they offer is 10% on non-Elfa purchases and 20% on Elfa. While organizers and their clients were pretty pleased with that, hearing about Yowza!'s 15% discount is music to my ears! It gives me - and my clients - an additional 5% off everything that isn't Elfa or on already sale. It gives everyone else 15% off all of their non-sale purchases.

For more about mobile coupons, see today's (August 29) article in the N. Y. Times technology section. It's called Coupons You Don’t Clip, Sent to Your Cellphone. Click here for more about Yowza!

Ownership means taking responsibility.

2009-08-29T14:18:00.002-04:00

If you think of every possession you own as a responsibility requiring some degree of thought, energy, effort, time and money, it might give you pause to seriously reconsider your buying/collecting habits. Instead of bringing you the enjoyment that you want, items that aren't useful, beautiful or things that you cherish for reasons of your own drain your physical, mental and emotional resources. That means that you have less of them available to devote to the people, activities and pursuits that are important to you.

If you're not willing to take responsibility for an item, cut clutter at its source and don't allow it into your life in the first place. If it's something that you already own and is in good condition, give it away to a friend or relative who might like to have it or donate it to a thrift store or charity. You'll get a tax deduction and someone who needs, likes or truly wants it will benefit. Remember, life is not a dress rehearsal for anything and there's no time like the present to get organized!