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.

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

What to Buy: For Organized Travel

Clockwise Top Center: Leatherology | Cuyana (set) | West Elm | Calpak | Paravel (middle) | Truffle | Paravel | Eagle Creek | Pottery Barn | Mark & Graham | Cuyana

Spring Break is right around the corner and, while we are all excited about the prospect of escaping winter in the city for a little bit, one thing that stands in our way - packing. Whether you are packing for the family or just packing for yourself, it’s not the most fun but we have found a few tools and products that will make it a more organized process and perhaps a little more fun.

CATEGORY: Toiletries

Everyone has the drill down of containing liquids in a quart size bag, but for the rest of our toiletries, it is nice to house them in something that is aesthetically a bit more pleasing. Hanging travel bags are a great option as you never know how much counter-top space is going to be available in hotels. The Leatherology Hanging Travel Bag or West Elm Hanging Toiletry Kit offer a hanging option. The Cuyana Travel Case Set provides ample space for all of your travel needs and has a lovely smaller version for your purse. 

CATEGORY: Makeup

We all carry it and can agree it is probably the most important thing to contain. Everyone has experienced that broken eye shadow that conveniently coats all loose items in your purse. Truffle and Paravel have zipper cases that include transparency into the pouch so you can quickly grab what is needed. The Calpak Hardshell Vanity Suitcase is helpful because you never have to worry about your makeup being damaged with the hard casing. 

CATEGORY: Packing Cubes

Our favorite go-to item for organization when it comes time to get the suitcase out. Most packing cubes have a compression feature and excess air can be eliminated. You will actually have room to pack more. They also prevent overpacking. By assigning each cube a category such as one for clothing, one for sleepwear, etc. you cannot add more than what fits in the cube. We love the ones from Paravel and they even make a set just for shoes. They just launched a line of negative nylon that are 100% made from plastic water bottles. Eagle Creek makes fantastic ones because they compress to eliminate excess air and are water repellent. There are several advantages to cube packing.

CATEGORY: Jewelry

Packing jewelry can be hard. There are so many small bits and pieces. We find it best to invest in a case that has separate components for all the different parts. Find a case that has hole cut outs is great to keep earrings intact. We like the Jewelry Binder from Pottery Barn for shorter trips where you only need a few options. The other challenge is keeping long necklaces from tangling, this Mark & Graham case has individual snap and pouches to keep them separated. If you are partial to large chunky pieces such as bangles, the Cuyana Jewelry Case has ample room for all your favorites. 

Happy Organized Travels! 

Check out our other what to buy posts here, here and here.

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).

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.

Take it From Me: When a Professional Organizer Needs to Follow Their Own Advice

As organizers, our clients often ask us if our homes are perfectly organized. Overall, our homes are pretty organized but perfection is definitely in the eye of the beholder and, as we all need to remember, being organized is not a destination but more of an ongoing journey. 

All of that said, I knew that my own kitchen was in need of a little attention and that perhaps it was time to turn the tables and ask myself the hard questions that I always ask my clients – if you aren’t using it why are you keeping it? 

The reasons vary but and three of the most common – at least that we run into - sound something like this…  

• “It was a gift from a friend/family member [insert someone important here] and I don’t want to hurt their feelings by getting rid of it or not having it around when they come to visit.” 

• “I bought it, never used it and now feel doubly bad about wasting money on it.” 

• “I might need it some day for X – even though I haven’t used it in five years.”

My own kitchen editing session took longer than I thought it would initially. Although the contents were organized, I seemed to have accumulated quite a few trinkets and tools over the years. I am fortunate that my kitchen storage is pretty ample but I needed to heed my own advice - even if you have a lot of space, you do not have to fill it! 

There were several items that fell into the bucket of “I bought this and thought it was a good idea at the time but have never used it” and “I might need it some day…” 

Upon reflection, it may seem that I have a weakness for the cooking tools section at Williams Sonoma. Everything looks so pretty and shiny and absolutely critically to my success in the kitchen while I’m in the store. But, when I get it home, I find these pretty, shiny, critical tools sitting there in my drawer unused and unappreciated and often passed up in favor of my old standbys. It is now time to move along the egg tongs and the avocado shaped scraper. 

After tackling tools, I turned to my baking section which had grown unwieldly over the years. My reason for the excess is that baking is a hobby my son and I enjoy together. We have experimented with almost every baking category. We went through a mold phase, a rainbow cake phase (which required multiple individual cake pans), a cupcake phase with fun toppers to boot and the classic (never to be revisited) elaborate fondant phase. However, no matter what fun trendy baking phase we try though, we always end up making our favorites – cookies, breads and basic cakes. So, the question is…why am I still holding onto all the other baking accessories? Perhaps it is holding onto them for sentimental reasons or perhaps it is that I haven’t taken the time to actually do something about them but, regardless now is the time to move all of it along to someone else that can use them rather than have them collect dust in my upper cabinets. 

With my drawers and cabinets cleared of the items I no longer use I feel the freedom that comes with clearing clutter. Clearing the physical space frees up mental space. This is our mantra during edit sessions and it definitely rang true during my own tune-up.  

- Michelle

Giving the Gift of Organizing

You may or may not know that we offer gift cards for people who like to give the gift of organizing for holidays and special occasions. We have been gifted to a number of people over the years from broker gifts for the sale of a new apartment to wedding and housewarming gifts. So read on for some feedback from those happy recipients and maybe even find some inspiration for the next time you find yourself shopping for a gift. 

Happy Organizing!

Broker Gift

"Our broker gave us a gift card for our closing and it made all the difference. My husband and I have crazy work schedules so it was a relief to have Michelle and Annie come in and handle all of the move logistics for us. From decluttering before the move to coordinating with the movers through the pack and moving days and unpacking us in our new home, they handled the whole process. And, I can't tell you what a joy it was to walk into a fully set up home instead of wading through boxes for what would likely have been weeks on end."

Wedding Gift

"We received so many presents for our wedding (some even off the registry!) and had no idea how to fit them all in our apartment given the seemingly limited storage options. Henry & Higby found space we did not even know existed! They worked wonders in our small space and made everything so accessible that we don't have an excuse not to use them." 

Birthday Gift

"My husband gave me a Henry & Higby gift card for my birthday. My home office had become a dumping ground and I was overwhelmed with the thought of trying to tackle all of the clutter that had accumulated over the years. It was not a total disaster but it was definitely not my favorite spot in my home. When Michelle and Annie showed up, I quickly became relaxed as they talked me through the steps to getting my space cleaned out and usable again. As an added bonus, they even helped me accessorize the room a bit to help my turn my office chaos into a calming sanctuary." 

Housewarming Gift

"A good friend gave us a Henry & Higby gift card when we moved to the burbs because she knew that we were struggling a bit. Coming from the city, we thought that we had it figured out but with all of the space that our house had we got a little overwhelmed and everything seemed to end up in our basement -- a pile of unmade decisions. Once Annie and Michelle came in, we came up with a space plan for the closets and rooms that really made sense and got all of our remaining boxes unpacked and in place . We owe them so much for their quick and smart suggestions -- and now we have an empty basement!"

If you want to give the gift of organizing, reach out to us at hello@henryandhigby.com for more information. 

How to Organize: Using Labels

If you know an organizer, you know someone who loves a label. And, who can blame them - labels are key to maintaining an organized space because it makes putting things away that much easier when you - and everyone else in the house - knows where to put it. 

The number and placement of labels you use is completely up to you and your personal preference. Some people only label containers and others like to labels shelves too - whatever works best. 

There are lots of different kinds of labels but a few of our favorites are linked below.

Happy Organizing!

DYMO LabelManager 160 Handheld Label Maker

We love this label maker because it is so portable for days when we have jobs all over the city. 

White Bin Clips

These bin clips can be used all over the home and on almost any basket or bin that you could use to help keep your home and spaces organized. 

Manila Gift Tags

Repurpose gift tags as labels for bins and baskets throughout the house. 

Scotch Chalkboard Tape

This tape is quick and easy to use for labels and is reusable if you use a chalkboard pen. 

Avery Rectangular Removable Chalkboard Labels

If you want a neater chalkboard look, these removable labels are a great option and offer plenty of room to play around with different fonts and sizes. 

OXO Removable Labels

Sometimes you need a smaller label and this option from OXO is great because it comes in a few different sizes for those smaller containers. 

What are your favorite labels? 

Staying Organized: Online or On Paper?

We are often asked as organizers how we keep our work and home lives organized. Do we have any tips or tricks to share? Of course, we have some tips and tricks on how you can try to stay on top of it all. But, unfortunately, there is no magic bullet to figuring out how to best stay organized. It takes time and some trial and error to find what works best for you and your family. 

I personally love to write things down and I have a notebook that I take with me everyday so that I can make sure to capture thoughts and to-dos throughout the day. In fact, I used to almost always use a paper planner too but that changed as my needs changed when I switched careers and started my own business. 

Moving from the corporate world to an "anything but a desk" job as a professional organizer made it harder for me to use and maintain a paper planner. I didn’t love having to bring along one more thing in my bag and my ever-changing schedule made it hard to keep up to date. That was when I stopped using my paper planner in lieu of a calendar on my phone. It made updating my calendar easier - much less erasing! - and it allowed me to share appointments and information easily with my business partner and friends, thereby keeping all of us more organized. 

My online calendar is now my lifeline for work and life but there are still times when I need to write things out. And, in those instances, I turn to a Muji calendar notebook without dates so that I don’t waste an entire planner for the few weeks that I need to see things mapped out in front of me. 

I still use my trusty notebook for work and life to-dos as I find it therapeutic to write - and even type - things out. My partner will attest that in my most overwhelmed moments I need to take a step back and being writing things out so that I can clarify my thoughts and figure out how to best move forward. I find it easy to make sense of chaos when it is written down in front of me and I can lay it out in a logical way. 

And that all makes sense given that research discussed in this New York Times article has shown that writing things down helps you remember them. I have definitely found that to be the case and something that I tell my clients when they are having issues trying to keep track of all that life is throwing at them. 

-Annie

Tips for Staying Organized

Making a To-do List: Keep a list of to-dos so you can stay on top of everything that you have to do that day, week or even month. Depending on how you work best (again, trial and error), this list could be a running list of items that need to be accomplished regardless of timing or you can create one for the day or week ahead so that you can stay on track. There is almost nothing more satisfying that crossing items off a list.

Writing Daily Notes: Write down reminders and notes as they come to you throughout the day in a notebook or on your phone. This way, you don’t have to worry about forgetting them and you can stay more focused on the task at hand. 

Setting Appointments: Whether you choose to use a paper planner or an online calendar, it is important to track all of your upcoming appointments. Online calendars are great because you can add easily add friends and family to the invite with a simple click of the button which has saved me a lot of time and grief. I also like to set up reminders about a week before my friends and family members birthdays so I can make sure I get my card in the mail in time for the big day. 

Planning Ahead: Mornings can be overwhelming particularly if you are getting the family out the door, so take some time each night to list out your to-dos for the next day and review your schedule. I often find that when I am feeling overwhelmed that taking some time to go over everything that needs to be done - and writing it down - helps me rest more easily and maybe even get some sleep.

Happy Organizing!

Our Favorite Storage Hacks

As organizers, we help people maximize their spaces to make them more functional. Most of the time the solutions are relatively simple but every once in a while we need to get a little creative to find a way to really maximize a small or odd shaped space. Sometimes this means finding that one unique organizing product that is a perfect fit and other times it is finding a favorite product from one area of the home and repurposing it for another. Below are some of our favorite recent storage hacks that repurpose products all across the home. Happy Organizing!

Variera Plastic Bag Dispenser

Need to store wrapping paper so that won't take up valuable floor space? Try using this plastic bag dispenser from Ikea to hold wrapping paper rolls in a closet. Just affix it to the wall and you are ready to start wrapping. 

Clear Linus Divided Lazy Susan

Consider using this divided Lazy Susan intended for the kitchen in any room of the house such as the bathroom, craft room or even the basement. This workhorse piece can easily store - and make accessible - anything from toiletries and hair products to paints and markers. 

InterDesign Affixx Adhesive Organizer Bins

Repurpose these larger adhesive organizing bins for the kitchen in your bathroom or other small space to keep counters clear and space maximized. 

Anchor Hocking Glass Canisters with Glass Lids

Beautify your laundry room by removing laundry pods or even laundry powder from the packaging and putting it in one of these glass jars instead. Or if you are a user of liquid detergent and so inclined, you could even consider decanting the liquid into a glass drink dispenser. 

Chrome Axis Over-the-Cabinet Grocery Bag Holder

No place to store your tin foil and plastic wraps? Use this over-the-cabinet grocery bag holder to fit three of your wraps instead and save drawer space for other items. 

What storage hacks have you used around the home? 

For more storage hacks, check out our beauty storage hack store here. 

A Beauty Storage Hack

Living in New York City often means that you have to get creative with your storage and space. This week we were organizing a bathroom that had shallow built-in shelves -- less than three inches wide -- and we needed to find a storage solution for beauty products. Our client didn't have a huge collection but she had enough that we had to put a little thought into it. 

After much deliberation and a trip through the Container Store, we were able to create a beauty storage hack that we loved so much we wanted to share it with you.  This idea or something like it can easily be recreated for other small spaces in almost any room so read on if you are in need of a small space storage fix. 

White Like-It Bricks Narrow

We love using these narrow storage bricks. They are the perfect solution for small, narrow spaces since they are under three inches wide. 

StickOnPods, Pack of 3

These pods are perfect for when you need to eke out extra storage in a cabinet as they can adhere to almost any smooth surface without damage. 

Using these two products, we able to create a self-contained make-up storage solution that fits in even the narrowest of spaces. To recreate it yourself, use the Like-It bricks as the foundation and stick the StickOnPods to the bricks for extra storage. 

How do you store your beauty products with limited space? 

A Few of Our Favorite Organizing Products for Small Space Living

As organizers in New York City, we are used to the small and sometimes oddly shaped spaces that New Yorkers call home (ourselves included!). From irregular sized cabinets to no cabinets, we have seen and organized it all but part of our success is due to the items we use that help maximize the space.  While this may not be one of our more traditional organizing posts, this is a shout out to a few of the products that make our job a little easier. 

White Like-It Bricks Narrow Bins

We love using these stackable bins in tight spaces like on top of a bathroom medicine cabinet. They can store and hide an array of toiletry items and, since they are only 2 and 5/8 inches wide, they can fit almost anywhere. 

Clear & White Drawer Organizer Trays

Recently, we have come across shallow desk drawers that don't accommodate standard organizing trays. Initially it was a little frustrating but then we found these relatively inexpensive drawer organizers that clock in at only 1 and 3/4 inches so now tidying almost any drawer is a breeze.

Command Brand Broom Gripper

These removable broom grippers are a lifesaver in small spaces that don't have a household closet. We use them in hidden corners and along side refrigerators to make storing brooms, mops and/or Swiffers easier and, in the long run, damage-free since there is no drilling required. 

What products do you use to make living in small spaces easier?