Getting Organized with...Meryl Lefkowitz

While we may help organize people’s homes, offices and lives for a living, we aren’t the only “experts” out there who are making it work. In an effort to tap into that vast resource and to learn a little something ourselves, we are excited to feature the tips and advice of other small business owners and experts in their own right on how they organize themselves professionally and personally to keep everything moving forward.

Meryl Lefkowitz

Title: Director of Marketing & Development

Business: Booked Parties in Westchester, NY

Occupation: Event Planner / Small Business Owner

What do you do?

I am an event planner for everything from kids birthday parties and celebrations to Bar/Bat Mitzvah’s to milestone birthday parties and corporate events!

How do you organize yourself at work?

I work from home so keeping myself organized at work is also keeping myself organized at home. I have a home office and try to keep my "work life” stationed there. I keep a digital calendar but have an affinity for notebooks and organizational tools so I try to keep running lists and notes in dedicated notebooks for the individual projects I am working on. This way I am not losing notes from one project to the next.

How do you organize yourself at HOME?

With respect to my home and my family - i have an 8year old and a 5 year old so sometimes things are organized and sometimes they aren’t its not idea but its realistic. I try to keep them on set schedules (activities, homework time etc…) which is very helpful for their structure and my sanity.

Does feeling more organized make life easier and help you feel better about a work/life balance?

I definitely feel like my work/life balance is mostly good - with the kind of work I do, I often have off hours (nights and weekends) but for the most part being able to work from home allows me the freedom to work when they are at school and have the freedom to be with them for the most part when they are home. I think that being organized with my time makes me more efficient and helps me to accomplish the things on my to do list!

What to Buy : Organizing Makeup

Whether you wear a lot or a little, you still need to figure out the best way to store it. Laying flat or standing up or in a box; there is no right way to do it – it is just a matter of figuring out what works best in the space that you have available. If you are looking to tackle your make-up at home, check out some of our top make-up organizing product picks to help you tackle the job in style.  

Happy Organizing!

Tiered Mirror Tray (Pottery Barn)

If you like to keep your makeup out and on display, this is a pretty option to make it a center piece of your space – the ultimate beautification station!

Alex Drawer Unit (Ikea)

If drawer space is at a premium, you can use countertop products like this white drawer unit which can hold and hide many of your essentials all the plain sight. 

Lori Greiner Deluxe Cosmetic Organizer (Amazon)

This deluxe cosmetic organizer has a compartment for just about everything so even the most sophisticated makeup gal will be able to contain her supplies. 

Luxe Acrylic Drawer Inserts (Container Store)

If you have drawer space to spare, these luxe acrylic drawer inserts are a beautiful way to keep things neat and tidy. 

Assorted Drawer Inserts (Amazon)

A more affordable but equally effective drawer insert option to sort and organize your makeup for an easy “get ready” routine. 

Space Saving Pods (Container Store)

If space is at a premium, these pods are amazing for storing items in cabinets and/or on walls. We even fashioned our own small beauty storage piece and blogged about it here. 

If you want to keep reading about makeup, here is our post on when to toss makeup and, if you are in the shopping mood, we wrote here about how to store big toys.

Getting Organized with...Jenne Atherton

While we may help organize people’s homes, offices and lives for a living, we aren’t the only “experts” out there who are making it work. In an effort to tap into that vast resource and to learn a little something ourselves, we are excited to feature the tips and advice of other small business owners and experts in their own right on how they organize themselves professionally and personally to keep everything moving forward.

Jenne Atherton

Title: Founder

Business: Grey Lady Gardens of Nantucket, Massachusetts

Occupation: Founder, Garden design and implementation

What do you do?

Garden design and maintenance on Nantucket in Massachusetts

How do you organize yourself at work?

Am very organized in my work life: tools labeled and assigned to particular truck and crew, daily work order sheets go to crews so they know what the tasks are for the day and what materials they need, I take regular and on going photos of all our work though the seasons as it’s very useful for future reference

How do you organize yourself at work?

Much less organized at home: Single mom, two kids and a dog, our house is hectic! In the heigh of the season I’m working 7 to 7 and home is left to my kids and our aupair to keep running smoothly. I have a cleaning crew that comes in every other week that is hugely helpful for my sanity :) in the winter months, when work slows down, I try to do a major clean out. Our house is small, like living on a boat, and it’s a constant struggle to keep clutter out.

Do you think that a work/life balance exists?

If It does exist but I need to work on it. It’s difficult with seasonal work as the spring and summer are busy to say the least. Living in a resort community, family and friends are always coming through town when work is the craziest and I tend to run myself dry trying to do everything.

Heading Back to Work with Covid-19

We are excited to say that we are starting to get back to providing in-home services with a few new practices in place given the need to manage health concerns around Covid-19. If you are considering having work completed in our home, outlined below are the things that we will be doing each working session.

During each working session, we will…

• Not take public transportation

• Wear masks during the entire session

• Use disposable gloves or wash/sanitize our hands at least once an hour  

• Clean “high touch” areas in our work space upon arriving and before departing including door knobs, door handles, light switches, faucets, etc. 

• Open windows, if possible, to keep air moving 

And, we ask that clients maintain a distance of 6-feet when possible and wear a mask which we can provide if preferred. 

Lastly, cancellation fees won’t apply to appointments that are impacted due to illness. We will gladly reschedule the work session to another mutually agreeable day.

Happy Organizing!

Ask the Expert: Insurance Broker

From buying homes to working with accountants and drafting wills and everything in between, adulting can be hard so we thought why not make it a little easier. This series taps into the knowledge of the professionals who help with all of these tasks to get their tips and advice on how to work with them most efficiently.

Monica Liang-Allen

Company: World Insurance Associates, LLC in New York City

Occupation: Licensed Property & Casualty Insurance Professional

What do you do for your clients?

I help protect your business, home, employees and more through advisement and placement of different insurance products and coverage.

What should clients be prepared to discuss when they meet with you?

If they have current insurance, a copy of their policies would be great as I can then advise if they are properly protected through detailed review of the coverage and exclusions in their policies. If they are a new start-up business with no insurance at all, an initial phone call to gather information would be sufficient and then a follow-up appointment, if needed.

How can a client best organize themselves before the meeting to be most efficient with your time?

It really depends on the kind of business that it is and what industry they are in. Every business is different. Copies of their insurance policies (not Certificates) would be best.

And, for new business start-ups, I generally ask some very basic questions based off an intake/questionnaire that I have (read intake here). I don’t necessarily ask all of the questions in every meeting because some may not be relevant.

In terms of paperwork, what should they prepare before the meeting?

Just copies of current insurance policies, financial statements (P&L and Balance Sheet), copies of sample contracts they have with their clients. For homeowners, copies of their homeowners/umbrella/auto and valuables policies would be great as a starting point.

Sentimental Items: What to Keep and How to Store Them

We created Kid Chronicles kits to help address sorting and storing children’s sentimental papers and artwork. While it addresses a lot of the sentimental storage issue, it doesn’t address it all -- what about the stuff that doesn’t fit in the file box? 

So, for this third installment of our Kid Chronicles series, we are focusing on how to sort and store sentimental items that aren’t paper. It’s a big question for many families. What should you keep? What toys, personal mementos and/or physical pieces are you going to want to have later on? 

And, once you decide what to keep, how should you store it? 

What to Keep

First and foremost be true to yourself and what you love and cherish. Don’t just save what you think you are supposed to save out of obligation or guilt. Keep the things that mean something to you or your child – the lovey, the first lock of hair, a cherished outfit or a favorite nighttime book. If you are questioning something, give yourself a moment to say goodbye before you pass it along or even take a photo. But, remember that the memory, not the item is most important – and let that idea help guide your decision-making process. 

• Clothing: Keep a few sentimental, memory invoking pieces but there is no need to keep every swimsuit or hat or pair of shoes. These items can typically be recycled to friends and family or donated and give lots of joy to a new family. 

• Heirlooms: Clearly these should be kept and, in most cases, stored in a safe place unless they are in high use or something that you truly love to look at every day. 

• Books: Outside of a few favorites, move any books in good enough shape to a local charity or donation center so that another child can enjoy it. 

• Photos: Take time to review the photos on your phone to get rid of the ones that just aren’t worth saving. And, make sure to back them up onto the cloud or a computer/hard drive regularly. If you have printed photos, they can be kept in the Kid Chronicles kit by year or in archival paper as noted in later on in the article. 

And, no matter what -- remember the golden rule when it comes to saving keepsakes, less is more meaningful. With every item culled, you are making space for new memories.  

How to Store…Clothing & Textiles

• All clothing and fabrics being kept should be washed and thoroughly dried or dry cleaned before you store it. Pay special attention to stains and try to remove them before you think about putting them away. 

• Once the clothing is clean, you can wrap it in acid-free archival tissue paper to help preserve it. But no matter what you do – tissue or no tissue, it is best to avoid storing it in plastic bags which can trap moisture. If you are trying to store items for the long term, steer clear of vacuum sealed bags which are great space savers but can leave things very wrinkled and not in ideal condition.

• Then, place the clothing either in archival boxes or in plastic lidded bins. Clear bins are great so that you can see the items inside. However, if your storage area may be exposed to light, consider choosing opaque and/or darker bins to avoid fading.

• Clearly label each box with the contents and consider adding a note about the items being kept and why they are sentimental. 

• When storing the boxes, place them in a climate-controlled space like an interior closet or under a bed – not in a basement, attic or garage unless they are climate controlled. 

How to Store Everything Else 

• Silver should be stored in felt bags to help the items from tarnishing with age. Depending on what you need to store, you can find a variety of silver storage bags here and here. Once these individual items have been properly packed, put them inside weathertight plastic storage containers to prevent the risk of water damage. 

• Photos should be stored in acid free paper and kept in a storage box or consider using one of these photo preservation kits to make sure that they don’t get bent or otherwise ruined. If you have the time, sort and label them by year to make it easier and even more fun to look through in the future. Remember to toss pictures that have lost their meaning. There is also an option to create a scrapbook of old letters, photographs and items such as concert ticket stubs. A book will condense the memories into one item and you naturally become more selective in what is worth preserving when it is attached to a project such as a scrapbook. 

• If you are storing items that are particularly sentimental or even potentially valuable, look into some of the storage envelopes like this so ensure that they stay safe. 

 To purchase your own Kid Chronicle’s memory box, head to our Shop page and, if you want to read more about the Kid Chronicle’s products, read our launch post or our post about storing art.

Working from Home: Motherhood and Running a Business During a Pandemic

While we are facing tremendous challenges across the globe, we are also experiencing many challenges much closer to home. As citizens, partners, friends and mothers, our lives have changed in ways that we could never have imagined, and we are left to pick up the pieces and try to find a way to make it all work.

Many families have spent the last several weeks trying to figure out how to juggle work and remote learning while also trying to find the personal fortitude to tackle the grief and pain and frustration of the current state of the world.

I am no different. For me, as an organizer, tidying my home and keeping it organized makes me more productive, but I’ve been finding it harder to do these days. And, when we were asked for tips to set up remote home offices and children’s workspaces, I realized that I was thinking about it through a lens of our old way of living – not with a lens of this new reality. 

The fact is there is no secret formula. Every day is different and the best of days result in finishing about 50-60% of our to-dos and I feel ok about it.

We have been advised to create some sort of routine and structure around the remote learning school day to help alleviate anxiety. Initially, I embraced this idea with enthusiasm as I’d love nothing more than to return to the orderly structure of a typical school day. However, things don’t always work out the way they do in your mind. 

Spoiler alert; structured days aren’t a reality for me and my son. 

However, during some of my “off the rail” days, I have also experienced genuine moments of surprise and delight. School work gets done (mostly) but not always during school hours. Our new schedule sometimes includes movie time after lunch so I have time to tackle client needs and conference calls (movies used to be a weekend night activity). And, since early spring in the northeast is often cold and unfriendly, random mid-day breaks are encouraged. When a sunny moment arises, we jump on our bikes or scooters. Worksheets and writing assignments can wait but sunny days wait for no-one. 

Observing my child, whose life up until now has been pretty structured and packed with plans, start living a life less structured and a life filled with more opportunities for free play has been inspiring. These days he isn’t grabbing for the abundant, labeled boxes of toys in his closet. His time is now consumed with more ordinary objects like an empty plastic cheese container, a garden hose and pot of dirt on the terrace. I feel more gratitude than stress during these moments and have decided to go with the flow.  These moments cannot be scheduled, and I had learned to embrace them. 

Day by day, I cannot predict when I will have a free moment to take care of my work to-dos. Any type of work schedule seems near impossible. However, slowly and cautiously, I have started to use the spontaneous free time in my day to catch up on emails, plug in small administrative tasks and tackle something that yields personal comfort. For me, it has been sitting with a fresh warm cup of tea while responding to emails or alphabetizing vitamins and supplements that are more than abundant in the house right now. There is no purpose to these personal comfort tasks except to ease my own unsettledness in these current times. There will be a time when focus returns to our company’s vision of perfectly executed custom cutlery drawers, but for now I am taking the surprise moments over any accomplished to-do list. While I am still getting things done, it is on a different timetable and I am very grateful to have the flexibility to see the benefits of seeing the world through a new lens - and taking the time to enjoy it. 

What are some ways you have found the state of your home and home life to surprise you in the most pleasant of ways?

xx, Michelle

What to Buy: To Be More Eco-Conscious at Home

As we’ve mentioned, the process of decluttering brings up a lot of clutter and trash. We and our clients make a concerted effort to donate and recycle everything that we can but, regardless of those efforts, it makes us think and realize that impact all of us and all of our stuff has on the environment. This then made us think about changes we could make at home and here are some of the things that we can’t wait to check out.

Reusable Straws (Amazon)

This is an easy choice for us to make since we aren’t huge fans of paper straws that disintegrate when left in drinks too long. 

Washable Rounds (Amazon)

In lieu of landfill clogging cotton pads, we started looking for a washable alternative and found these recommended by one of our favorites, Sara of Mercer + Green. 

Makeup Remover Towel (Sephora)

This product has totally changed our makeup removing routine and its definitely more environmentally friendly. This cloth lasts for up to 1,000 machine washes – which is between 3 and 5 years. Thanks, Things I Bought and Liked!

Reusable Dishcloths (Amazon)

In an effort to wean ourselves off of paper towels, we started using these reusable dish cloths that can be used to wipe up spills and clean and they are can be cleaned in the dishwasher or washing machine. A fun alternative if you prefer puns can be found here on Etsy. 

Reusable Storage Bags (Stashers)

These dishwasher and microwave safe platinum-silicone storage bags come in sizes suited for storing everything and are a great way to start going plastic-free at home. We are trying out the multi-pack and so far, so good!

Cloth Bowl Covers (Wild Minimalist)

These cloth dish covers eliminate the need for plastic wrap. You can use them for covering a meal in the fridge or if you are on the way to a dinner party.  

Produce Bags (Wild Minimalist)

We love the idea of shopping the produce section at the market without having to use the plastic bags. Over the years, we have been better about just putting the items loose in the shopping cart but there are some items that need to be contained. These net bags are perfect and lightweight for traveling back and forth the store or farmer’s market. 

Resources for Organizing at Home + Henry & Higby’s New Office Hours

We hope that you are all safe and healthy during this period of quarantine. It is a crazy time for all of us. While we seek some normalcy in our lives, it seems that nesting, cooking, cleaning, and organizing are a large part of that process for many people including us. 

Since we can’t take on any on-site organizing projects, we have been thinking of ways to still help people. And, outside of virtual appointments, which we do offer, we wanted to share a few other resources for those struggling with home organizing projects.

Below we linked a few blog posts and articles that may help you with your projects. And, to aid in that process, we are pleased to offer some free downloadable sheets for use while decluttering at home.

Downloadable DECLUTTERING DOCs

• Decluttering Questions

• Decluttering Sheets

In addition, for those in need of more custom solutions, we are now offering Henry & Higby Office Hours. Every Wednesday from April 8 - May 27, we will be booking free 15-minute, one-on-one consultations from 2:00-3:30pm to answer your specific questions. If you are in need of assistance, please reach out to us at hello@henryandhigby.com to schedule your consultation.

Happy Organizing!

Create the Ideal Homework Space for Your Kids

(NY Metro Parents)

Organizing Your Bathroom for Kids

(Henry & Higby Blog)

What to Buy: Organizing Big Toys

(Henry & Higby Blog)

How to Organize Toys at Home

(Henry & Higby Blog)

What is Kitchen Flow? 6 Simple Ways to Get it Right

(PureWow)

Creating a Decanted Pantry with Henry & Higby

(Mercer + Green)

When to Toss Makeup

(Henry & Higby)

Product Recommendations

(Henry & Higby)

Tips for Organized Travel with Kids : The Carry-on

Source: Mercer & Green / Photo by Mia McDonald

We have shared our tips for organized travels with kids in the past and now we are sharing our tips for organizing your kid’s carry-on bag. Once they are old enough, you can task them with the “heavy lifting” and make sure it is not just beanie babies and lollipops that make it in the backpack. 

Happy Organized Travels! 

Carry-on for Kids

Once you little traveler is old enough to bring their own bag, work with them to pack their own carry-on that is full of tricks to make the whole experience go much smoother. 

• Pack a full change of clothes, a swimsuit, sunhat and sunscreen just in case your luggage is lost and you still want to hit the beach before it arrives. 

• Outside of the toys that you know will be a hit on the plane, try packing a few new surprises to keep your child entertained. We really love magnetic games like the ones from The Purple Cow (so pieces can’t be lost) and new marker sets and pads of papers so you have supplies for the duration of the trip. 

• We all know that snacks are key to keeping children entertained but outside of the normal healthy items you typically give them, try having a few “forbidden” items in case you need reinforcements. 

• As an alternate to iPads and other screen devices, we pack headphones and audible books on CDs for older children to help keep them entertained during the flight or even on the beach if they are tired of playing in the sand.

Carry-on for Baby + Me

Here are a few tips if you are sharing a carry-on with your littlest one. 

• Along with all of the baby essentials – wipes, blankets, bottles, diapers, etc., pack an extra change of clothes, a pair of leggings in case of a cold plane, sanitizing wipes for the arm rests and tray table as well as some Infant/Children’s Tylenol. You don’t want to get stuck without medication should a fever come up suddenly. 

• For mom, bring an extra top in case of a spill, a swimsuit and cover-up so you can hit the beach immediately, clothing for a day should your luggage yet lost, any important electronic chargers and extra batteries for any devices you are carrying that may need them. 

For more travel advice when traveling with kids, check out our other post here and read our tips for Sara of Mercer & Green here.

Tips for Organized Travel with Kids

Source: Mercer & Green / Photo by Mia McDonald

With little kids, you take trips, not vacations.  And, yes, while traveling with kids can be challenging, there are lots of memories to be made and laughs to be had so don’t let the work scare you.  Preparation is key and, with our tips honed through years of traveling and helping our clients travel with their own families, your next trip will be a breeze – or at least a little easier. We can’t guarantee fewer meltdowns but hopefully we can help make the harried a little more relaxing. 

• Sign, Sealed, Delivered: If you are traveling with small children to a hotel or place that can accept packages in advance, we recommend drop-shipping through Amazon or similar sites all the essentials such as diapers, wipes, formula, etc. This way you only have to carry the essentials on the plane. 

• Love it & Share it: No need to pack your beach toys, send toys and pails ahead of time to the hotel to use while we are there and then “gift” them to another family when you leave the hotel.  

• Lighten the Load: Make things easier on yourself by checking to see what items can be rented - you can often find items like cribs, sun umbrellas and jogging strollers. However, we typically recommend bringing your own crib sheets and other essential accessories to make sure that your days and nights go smoothly. 

• Map it Out: Make your holiday days easier by mapping out a rough daily schedule for each day of vacation so you can make sure that you are bringing enough of the right clothes.  Once the schedule has been mapped out, set aside daily outfits for each child and pack them together to make getting dressed each day a little easier. And, depending on whether or not you have laundry access, pack a few extra outfits - cause you never know what may happen!

• Pack it Up: Save space and keep things organized by using packing cubes or even rolling outfits together. We find these packing cubes from CALPAK excite the littlest of travelers and keep their daily outfits all in one place so you can grab and go. 

• Make it Last: Take advantage of extra beach time on your last day by bringing an extra-large ziplock bag in your bag or a Reusable Wet Bag to pack wet swimsuits for the plane ride home. Baby Powder is also a quick fix for removing sand from sticky fingers during your quick change on your back way home. 

Happy Organized Travels! 

For more travel advice when traveling with kids, read our tips for Sara of Mercer & Green here.

Source: Mercer & Green / Photo by Mia McDonald

Where to Sell Your Stuff

Clients often ask us where they can sell the clothing and other items that they want to get rid of in their home. We have a few standby places but we wanted to look into this topic a little more and get a sense of the larger landscape. If you are looking to sell some items around your house, read on and let us know if your favorite place isn’t on the list.

Happy Organizing! 

MARKETPLACES

Tradesy: Sell your designer bags, shoes, clothing, or accessories on this site and ship it with a free kit from the site once it sells. They deduct a flat commission fee of $7.50 for sold items less than $50 and a commission rate of 19.8% on sold items $50 or more. 

Poshmark: List your clothing, shoes, bags, accessories and other items on this site. Once your item sells, you can ship it with a free pre-paid, pre-addressed label and drop it off at a local USPS mailbox or post office. For all sales under $15, Poshmark takes a flat commission of $2.95. For sales of $15 or more, you keep 80% of your sale and Poshmark's commission is 20%. 

CONSIGNMENT: Fashion & Jewelry

Luxury Garage Sale: They accept new, pre-owned and vintage pieces for women, including luxury designer handbags, clothing, shoes, jewelry and other accessories in very good to new condition. Click here more information on their commission structure.

Fashionphile: Submit the item you would like to sell and they will email you a price quote. If you accept, they will send you a complimentary shipping label to send them the item. Their base fee is 30% of the selling price (you keep 70%), but for bags selling for over $3,000 the tiered fee structure drops to only 15% (you keep 85% of the portion of the selling price above $3,000).

CONSIGNMENT: Fashion, Jewelry & Home

The RealReal: Consign home décor, art and designer bags, shoes, clothing, or accessories on this site and earn up to 85% of the sale price for your items. 

Linda’s Stuff: Consign designer bags, shoes, clothing, or accessories and receive payment for up to 80% of each item sold. 

Verstiaire Collective: A global marketplace for pre-owned luxury and designer fashion and home goods that allows you to earn up to 75% back on the purchase price of items you no longer use. 

MARKETPLACE + CONSIGNMENT: Furniture & Home Décor

Kaiyo: Submit your furniture to the site and if accepted they will handle the rest. Learn more about the process here. 

AptDeco: This is a great option for buying and selling furniture in the NYC metro area. List your item and after you sell your furniture on the site, you can schedule pick-up/delivery through their system so that a professional delivery team can take care of it. 

If you are looking for more stories on donation and recycling resources, check out our other stories – Our Favorite NYC Donation Locations, Where to Recycle Your Clothing & Shoes, Where to Recycle Your Technology.

Ask the Expert: Certified Public Accountant

From buying homes to working with accountants and drafting wills and everything in between, adulting can be hard so we thought why not make it a little easier. This series taps into the knowledge of the professionals who help with all of these tasks to get their tips and advice on how to work with them most efficiently.

Joshua Hendell

Occupation: Certified Professional Accountant (CPA)

Company: Siegel & Hendell CPAs / Locations in Smithtown, NY and West Orange, NJ

WHAT DO YOU DO FOR YOUR CLIENTS?

We provide Accounting, Tax and general financial guidance for both businesses and individuals.  The services depend on the particular needs of the client.  Some business clients tend to need more services than others usually depending on the size of the business.  For accounting services, we provide bookkeeping services as well as review and audit services including preparation of financial statements, business tax returns and reports required from outside parties.

WHAT SHOULD CLIENTS BE PREPARED TO DISCUSS WHEN THEY MEET WITH YOU?

An overview of their particular situation whether it be business or personal.  Items to be discussed are what the client’s accounting and tax needs are based on their current circumstances and/or how to go about meeting those needs from both inside and outside of the client’s organization. 

HOW CAN A CLIENT BEST ORGANIZE THEMSELVES BEFORE THE MEETING TO BE MOST EFFICIENT WITH YOUR TIME?

I prefer to review two years of tax returns and/or other financial information before meeting with the client as this usually makes for a much more productive meeting.  Reviewing those documents tell us a lot about their situation and enable us to prepare more pointed questions at our meeting. In a case where the client prefers to bring these documents to an initial meeting versus sending them in advance, they should be prepared to answer questions about their past returns as well as their current situation especially if that differs from current circumstances.

IN TERMS OF PAPERWORK, WHAT SHOULD THEY PREPARE BEFORE THE MEETING?

Basically two years of business/personal income tax returns, financial statements and any other reporting that they have been required to complete over the last two years.  In addition they should bring any paperwork involving any issues out of the norm that they would like to discuss such as a change in their job or status (married, divorced, new parent).

Where to Recycle Your Technology

Helping people declutter their homes and lives means that we typically end up identifying lots of things that end up in the donate/toss pile. And, as mindful organizers, we try to find places to recycle as many of the goods in the “to go” pile as possible. Our first recycling installment was for clothing, shoes and textiles but this time we are focusing on technology, electronics and batteries. Now, you will finally know what to do with those old VCRs and Walk-mans. 

Happy Organizing!

CATEGORY: General Recycling Resources

Earth911.com: Earth911 is the place to look for insight on how to recycle almost anything - with over 350 materials and 100,000+ listings, it is one of North America's most extensive recycling databases. Simply enter in the material you are trying to recycle along with your zip code and click search.

CATEGORY: E-Waste (General)

Green Disk ($): GreenDisk offers two full-service collection box options that include the box, all transportation, the destruction of content on media, and recycling of associated material – the GreenDisk Technotrash can and the GreenDisk eMedia Recycler. Click here for a link to all the items they will accept for recycling. 

Terracycle: TerraCycle® has created a free recycling program for a variety of electronics including: standard cell phones, smart phones, iPhones, select inkjet cartridges, laptops, notebooks, netbooks, iPads and tablets. Collect the items, print a label and ship.

Staples: Recycle your old, unwanted technology at your local Staples® store. They will responsibly and securely recycle them at no cost — any brand, any condition, even if you purchased it somewhere else.

Best Buy: Best Buy will take all kinds of used technology, regardless of where you bought it, how old it is or who made it. You can recycle up to three items per household per day (see categories below for state-specific info, and different limitations on TVs, computer monitors and laptops). 

CATEGORY: E-Waste (Brand Specific)

Apple Trade In: Trade in your eligible device for credit toward your next purchase or get an Apple Store Gift Card you can use anytime. If your device isn’t eligible for credit, they will recycle it for free. 

Microsoft Trade In: Trade in your eligible device for credit toward your next Samsung purchase.

Microsoft / RLG Americas: Covered electronic equipment can be dropped off for free at one of their collection sites or, if you cannot get to a drop-off site and live anywhere in New York State, take advantage of their mail-back option. Accepted items include by aren’t limited to: computers, TVs, Fax Machines, Scanners, Printers, VCRs, etc.

Microsoft/Sims Web Return: If you’re not using that electronic device anymore, send it to Microsoft! They will make sure that your product is safely recycled at one of Sims Recycling Solutions domestic processing facilities where a zero-landfill policy and proven sustainability give you peace of mind in knowing that your electronics will be managed responsibly. The cart will accept 10 items and generate a label for each item. Individual items may be combined into a single package with a weight limitation of 70 pounds per package, and any unused labels may be discarded. 

CATEGORY: Cell Phones

Secure the Call: Secure the Call is a nonprofit charity that provides free 911 emergency-only cell phone to Domestic Violence Centers, Senior Citizen Centers, Police and Sheriff departments. The phones we provide our “community partners” are in turn given back to the community and used to contact the Police in the case of an emergency.

Cell Phones for Soldiers: Cell Phones For Soldiers is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing cost-free communication services and emergency funding to active-duty military members and veterans. They accept any and all types of cell phones from any carrier. Newer, gently-used mobile devices, including smartphones, are preferred; however, proceeds are generated from the recycling of broken and outdated mobile phones. Donations of chargers and accessories are also welcome. 

Verizon Wireless Hope Line: HopeLine gives consumers a way to help prevent domestic violence by donating no- longer used wireless phones and accessories from any service provider in any condition by mail, in Verizon Wireless Communications Store or at special events held throughout the year 

CATEGORY: Batteries

Call2Recycle: The Call2Recycle program offers flexible recycling options for rechargeable and single-use batteries through individual box or bulk quantities. Purchase one of the Call2Recycle kits to handle your used batterie or drop off your old batteries for free at thousands of convenient locations across the U.S., including Verizon, The Home Depot, Lowe’s and Staples. 

CATEGORY: Ink & Toner

Staples: Members are eligible to receive Ink Recycling Rewards on ink and toner recycling, if the member has spent at least $30 in ink and/or toner purchases at Staples over the previous 180 days. 

Office Depot: Members are eligible to receive rewards on recycling ink and toner in-store when you make a $10 qualifying purchase during the same month. Rewards are paid out monthly online only as a reward certificate. 

CATEGORY: Car Batteries

Autozone: If you have an old car battery lying around, bring it in to AutoZone for recycling and receive a $10 AutoZone merchandise card.

If you are looking for more stories on donation and recycling resources, check out our other stories – Our Favorite NYC Donation Locations, Where to Recycle Your Clothing & Shoes. 

What to Buy : Organizing Big Toys

Clockwise from Top Left: Basket Lady | The Home Edit | Serena & Lily | The White Company | West Elm | Ikea | Serena & Lily | Ikea

Little kids come with big toys especially around the holidays and we are often asked how to organize them. Thankfully the years of “big” toys are numbered but that doesn’t make it any easier to contain them. So, outside of throwing them all out – and we aren’t totally opposed to that option (!), we have a few ideas on how to make it a little easier to keep them a little neater in the meantime. 

Happy Organizing!

Open Shelving (Ikea)

Open shelving is a great way to keep larger toys, cars/trucks, etc. off the floor. This option from Ikea is great because it is easy on the eyes and wallet and it is lower to the ground and therefore not as easy to turn tip. 

Enclosed Cabinet (Ikea)

If space allows, the PAX system has a 22” deep cabinet and it comes with hinge and/or sliding doors that make it easier to keep bigger toys out of sight – and maybe even out of mind for at least a little bit. 

Rolling Baskets (Serena & Lily | The Home Edit)

Rolling baskets are great for keeping toys hidden and portable which can be helpful in smaller spaces. From stuffed animals to sports balls, rolling baskets provide the ease to move the toys between different spaces in your home.  

Big Baskets (Serena & Lily | The White Company)

If containing big blocks and other toys are one of your issues, big baskets such as these options are a great option for keeping them contained and neat. Plus there is a lid to keep them completely concealed if you need to store them in shared space such as a living room or kitchen. 

Underbed Storage (Baskets Lady | West Elm)

When in doubt, underbed storage is a great option to maximize underutilized space. This is a wonderful option for children that have anything from a toddler bed or larger and can house items such as board games and dolls.

For more of our favorite organizing products, you can check out more of our favorite products here.

A Holiday Gift Guide for Your Organized (or Not So Organized) Friends

Clockwise from Top Left: Urban Outfitters | Williams Sonoma | Poppin | Container Store | Williams Sonoma | Henry & Higby | Brother | Tile | Zazzle (Not Pictured)

The days fly by all too fast during the holiday season and we like to get a head start on gift buying if at all possible. I mean who doesn’t love a chance to check something off the perpetually full “to-do” list a little early? Clients and friends ask us about our favorite organizing products all the time so read on to check out a few of our picks and maybe they will inspire you to buy something for one of your very organized or not so organized friends.

Entryway Umbrella Stand (Williams Sonoma)

Umbrellas are a necessary evil at least when it comes to containing them. They seem to inevitably end up on the floor banished to the dark back corner of a closet never to be heard from again until the frantic search continues when it starts raining again. Break the cycle and find an umbrella that will keep them be beautifully contained and easily accessible. 

Desk Organization (Poppin)

Gone are the days of utilitarian-chic desk supplies and, at least in our opinion, good riddance! It is so much more motivating to sit down to focus on work when you are surrounded by stylish items that make you happy. 

Label Maker (Brother)

Where to begin with our affinity for labeling…it is quite a love story and so crucial to maintaining organizing systems. While our team uses a variety of labelers, this one from Brother is one of our favorites for the variety of font and type styles so we can really customize it for our clients. 

Personalized Sticky Notes (Post-It)

Make a list and check it twice is the theme of the holiday season and this is the ultimate stocking stuffer. A wonderful way to customize your to do lists and now there is no excuse for not getting it done since you can stick them everywhere. 

Recipe Box (Williams Sonoma)

Even in a digital age, we still seem to hold onto physical recipes. It might be the apple tart recipe passed down from your grandmother or a gluten-free pasta recipe torn from the NYTimes – and now there is no excuse to not put them into use and on display.

Remote Tracker (Tile)

Even the most organized people occasionally misplace things but with these sticker remote trackers finding them gets a whole lot easier. Our favorite discovery…the waterproof feature so never ever do we ever have to hear again “Mom, where is my swim bag?” 

Invisible Book Shelf (Urban Outfitters)

One of our favorite organizing tricks is to take advantage of the vertical space especially in apartment living where space can be scarce. These floating bookshelves are a great addition to any room and can be used for more than books – and the bonus is that installation is easy. 

Divided Turntable (The Home Edit)

A turntable has ultimate practicality for all areas of your home. They can be used to sort items in your pantry, hair products under your bathroom sink or for your favorite kid’s crafts. We also love to give a shout out to fellow organizers. They just get the product needs like no other. 

Henry & Higby Gift Card

A favorite for our clients – us! Our services are often gifted to friends and families in need of organizing help or support during a move. And we are able to offer virtual organizing DIY packages for everyone that falls on your list outside of NYC. 

And, if you are looking to buy us a little something (hint, hint!) a few of our picks for the season are outlined below.

Michelle’s List

Acrylic Coat Hangers

It seems that we are forever reminding ourselves about the difference between a need and a want in our house. Acrylic coat hangers --- are definitely a WANT! To open my coat closet and see these beauties fills my heart with joy. They help remind me to keep just my favorite pieces and coats that are worthy of such beautiful hangers. 

Travel Jewelry Case (Cuyana)

One of my dirty little secrets is that I almost never unpack my jewelry after a trip. It is always last on my list when I get back from traveling and once I get around to it; it seems like it’s time to mobilize again. Now that I know this about myself, I’m leaning in and picking this Cuyana travel jewelry case for my holiday list. It is beautiful enough to be left out point on the counter and has the perfect amount of space for storing my baubles on the go. 

Annie’s List

Pouches

If I’m being totally honest, I don’t know if I have ever seen a zippered pouch that I didn’t like. And while I can’t say that I need more of them, at least, I can say that they are useful when it comes to staying organized – which is good when you are an organizer for a living. Whether from Clare V. or Leatherology or my favorite Brooklyn-based company, Lewis, I love them all!

Throw Blanket

As the weather gets cooler, I find myself staying in to read and cook more on the weekends and this throw blanket would be perfect for cuddling on the couch.

Let us know what made your holiday list this year. Happy Organizing!

Designing a Closet That Will Grow with Your Children

To be a parent is to embrace a life of constant change. Your lifestyle changes. Your home changes. Your bank account changes. And, most importantly, you baby changes and in the blink of an eye they grow out of clothing, shoes, toys, books, furniture, cribs… And, you may ask yourself - is can anything last for more than a few months or even years? The answer is yes – closets.  

Many clients ask us to help them organize their baby’s room and often that includes designing or re-designing closets that can grow along with their children and accommodate their ever-changing needs. If this sounds familiar, read on for some of our best tips for creating a closet that will last through the ages.

1. Stacking on the Shelves: Add a lot of shelving to house all of the diaper supplies and folded clothing. Make sure that the shelves are fully adjustable shelving to allow maximum flexibility. And, when it comes to organizing shelves consider adding some bins to help contain smaller items and keep the space clutter-free. 

2. Make it a Double…Rod: Babies have very little need for hanging space since most of their clothing can be folded and it easily fits in drawers and in bins on shelving. By the toddler years, it is typically helpful to have one low hanging rod to hang items and make things more accessible for little hands. Then, over time you can create more hanging space with a double rod by just removing some shelving and adding an additional upper bar. 

3. Digging Drawers: Drawers in a closet may seem like a luxury but it can be worth the investment as it can replace the need for a dresser down the road. This can free up space in the bedroom for different furniture configurations, toy storage and school desks as they get older. When deciding on the drawer sizes, add at least 2-3 four-inch drawers for smaller items and then a few deeper drawers to house bigger items. If you aren’t sure how deep you need them try folding some items and measuring them so you can be sure of the actual depth needed. 

4. Shelves to Spare: Be sure to include a few extra shelves near the floor for shoes. This will free up floor space, help keep the closet tidy and maybe even allow some extra room for a freestanding laundry hamper to fit larger toys that don’t fit into smaller bins. 

5. Hook it Up: Hooks are a great way to clear floors as they can be used for almost everything from school backpacks and helmets to sports uniforms and robes. If space allows, consider adding two rows (a low one and high one) to maximize space and to let your little one help hang up things up too. 

Hopefully, these tips are helpful when it comes to designing your next closet…now, if only it was as easy to teach our little ones to put their items away in their closets.

Happy Organizing!

For examples of some of our closet designs, click here.