Organizing By Ali
  • Home
  • Services
  • FAQ
  • Testimonials
  • Project Pics
  • Contact
  • Blog
  • Ali Cares

Ali's Tips-n-Tricks

Grocery Shopping Tips

9/29/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
I can't believe we are nearing the end of September... the summer just blew by so fast! But, I really am looking forward to cooler weather and all that fall has to offer!
As I was unloading my trunk full of groceries the other day, I realized that I have not written about one of my favorite activities, which believe it or not, is grocery shopping. I think it's probably all of the planning of recipes, organizing of coupons and seeing the savings add up on my Ibotta and Checkout 51 shopping apps that gets me so excited. So, here are the steps that I take when planning a grocery trip:

  • The first thing that I do is to quickly go through my refrigerator and cabinets to see what I may need to restock. I also take this opportunity to quickly wipe down the inside of the fridge and re-organize current products and look for expired food items. If you do this on a weekly basis, your refrigerator and cabinets will stay cleaner and more organized, hopefully saving you time and frustration. In a future blog, I will talk about the perfect fridge set up so that once completed, this step will take no time at all!
Picture
  • Next, I check out my running shopping list that I keep on a small chalkboard inside one of my cabinet doors. It's in a convenient spot so that I can keep track of needed items in the moment. Believe me, the 2 seconds it takes to write it down in the moment is worth the 20 minutes I'll waste later trying to think of what it was that I needed!

  • I then brew myself a quick cup of coffee (yummmm, pumpkin spice!), and check out the weekly circular to get an idea of what is on sale. I've said before that I'm an old fashion kind of gal, so I like to go through the actual paper circular. BUT, I have begun to access my favorite grocery stores weekly advertisement on their store app. I also take this opportunity to check out my $$$ saving apps. I love Ibotta and Checkout 51 Another app that I like to use when I'm looking for specific items is Flipp.
  • After getting an idea of what's on sale, I start to build my weekly meal plan and recipes. I use my notes app on my phone to make my shopping list and to keep track of which recipe I'm going to make, and where to find it (i.e., magazine/book and pg. #). I also note which items I have coupons or rebates for so that I'm saving the most money possible.
  • Knowing the best time to shop at your favorite grocery store is key! Usually, weekday mid-mornings are the best time to get the freshest produce, and asking your meat manager when they bring product out for clearance nearing its expiration date will get you the most savings on meat. Also, most of us know this by making this mistake... don't go to the grocery store hungry. Ever.
  • As your filling your cart, keep like items together. This will make it easy when loading them onto the belt at checkout. When like items are bagged together, unloading them and putting them away becomes an easier task. Also, for your car, check out these items from The Container Store:
Picture
Picture
  • The final thing I do after unpacking is to complete my rebates. I find this easier to do right after I’ve completed my shopping trip, but if I can’t, I leave my receipt in a place that will remind me to do it before the end of the day. Most of these $$$ saving apps are time sensitive, so I don’t want to miss out! And…they keep a track of my lifetime earnings, and I really like to see my savings add up!

I hope these tips help to make one of life’s chores a little easier for you!


​As always, your answer for organizing,

Ali
0 Comments

What's In Your Bag?

8/1/2017

1 Comment

 
Picture
I love the magazine articles where you get to see what people are carrying in their bags. So, with that theme in mind, I'm going to share with you what a professional organizer carries in her bag (plus, I'm super excited about the bag...recently purchased from Cuyana. More on them later!).
​


Picture
​Planner: I'm still a bit old fashioned, and like to use a classic planner. This one from The Container Store is my fav: Poppin 18 Month Planner. Not only does it fit perfectly in my Coach planner cover, but it has large 2 paged calendars and weeks with enough room to keep track of appointments, write to-do lists and jot down notes. Although I am trying to use technology more for these things, I find it comforting to know that I have a hard copy backup!
​


​Cosmetic Bag:​ also from Cuyana;) But, instead of being filled with cosmetics, it's filled with tape measures of all kinds, pens, pencils, highlighters, scissors, batteries, extra label maker cartridge, hand sanitizer and extra business cards. The tape measure that I COULD NOT live without is this one from Bosch. It uses a laser to measure, so it's a lifesaver when it comes to measuring awkward spaces. It also makes a great gift for the "handyperson" in your life.
​
Clipboard: this is where I keep my graph paper for measuring and designing. I also start each week by writing my upcoming projects for that week on the top sheet so that I can quickly see where I am at with each client at a glance. It also serves as a hard surface when taking notes and measurements while walking through a client’s home during the consultation.

​Book: I am constantly reading and doing research to improve my craft. So, you will usually find what I'm reading at the moment in my bag to help keep me productive between appointments. Right now it's
"Let It Go: Downsizing Your Way to a Richer, Happier Life" by Peter Walsh, It’s a must read if you are trying to downsize your home, or even merging multiple homes into one!
​
OK, so about the bag. It’s the classic structured leather tote from Cuyana. The philosophy for this brand is “fewer, better things”, so you can understand how a PO (professional organizer) such as myself would be drawn to this brand. Check out more about their story here!

​Your answer for organizing,
Ali
1 Comment

My Favorite Organizing Essentials

6/28/2017

1 Comment

 
I get asked quite a bit what are my favorite organizing essentials. Admittedly, there are more than a few, but here are my top 5! Enjoy!
  • Huggable Hangers: you will be AMAZED at how much space you save by switching over to these hangers. Not only because when you use the same type of hanger it creates consistency, but also because you can use cascading hooks to "waterfall" multiple garments (see photo above).
  • Erasable Labels & Chalk Markers: never underestimate the power of a label. The amount of time and frustration saved by clearly knowing what is stored where is priceless! Use as many bins, baskets, buckets etc...as your little heart desires, but please use a label. Even when it comes to clear containers, a label makes "clear" what the eyes sometimes miss! And, my absolute favorite are erasable ones that you can repurpose when necessary...use in conjunction with chalk markers!
  • Lazy Susan: they are not just for tabletops! Use these in cabinets (especially hard to reach corner cabinets), fridges, under sink areas and hard to reach top shelves. They can even beautifully corral kitchen essentials, as shown here on Inspiration for Moms blog.  
  • ​Tiered Shelving: this is an absolute must for your spices! It makes it super easy to see what you have, and find it when you need it! This one is my absolute favorite...find it here on Amazon!
  • ​Pantry Food Storage Containers: not only do these help to keep your food fresh, but they also help to save space and prevent you from buying things you may not need. I'm a huge fan of being able to see how much of something I have, especially when it comes to pantry items. Just remember to use your labels so that everyone in your household can put things away in their proper place! Here's a great set to get you started from The Container Store!​
Picture
I'd love to hear about YOUR favorite organizing essentials...Let me know by leaving a comment!
​Also, be sure to check out The Container Store's Customer Favorites Sale going on now! Contact me for more info!

Your answer for organizing,
​Ali
1 Comment

Travel With Ease This Summer!

6/7/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
June is here...the school year is coming to a close, graduation parties are all around and family summer vacations are upon us! So, I thought that this would be the perfect time to give you a few helpful tips to make packing and traveling just another summer breeze;)

​Packing​
  • First, start by making a packing list. at least a few days before you travel. I know this may seem like an extra step, but it will come in handy when you are trying to figure out if you should pack additional items or not. Make it easy, and use a pre-printed one like the one pictured on the right...I also like to note how many types of outfits that I will need i.e. casual/active/dress. Finally, when it comes to trying to decide whether or not to pack an item, consult the list!
  • I like to organize my things by outfit. I will lay out the chosen outfits, and then I will accessorize them, choose the shoes, and pick the undergarments. Try to crossover when possible, using the same garments/accessories/shoes for multiple outfits. If something is needed that you don't already own, start a shopping list so that you don't buy unnecessary items...use the pre-printed packing list and highlight needed items!
  • When you start placing items in your suitcase, keep these things in mind:
  1. Place heavier items on the bottom to help stabilize your suitcase
  2. Use a Compression Packing system like this one from The Container Store to help save space!
  3. Use tissue paper to keep delicate items clean and wrinkle free
  4. Protect fragile items by placing them inside your shoes...think sunglasses!
  • If you feel like you need some more help to pack like a pro, visit your local Container Store on Saturday or Sunday at 1pm or 3pm now thru July 2, 2017 for an in-store packing demo! They are also having their Travel Sale now thru July 2, 2017 too! Check it out at www.containerstore.com for more info!
​Traveling
  • Not only do you need to be organized, but so does your car! This Road Trip starter kit has the perfect items for you to truly enjoy the journey to your destination.
  • Air travel can come with unwanted physical side effects. Check this article out by Amy Whitley to help avoid these unpleasant reactions.

​I hope that you enjoy all of your summer adventures!
Safe travels!

​Your answer for organizing,
​Ali

0 Comments

Summer Backyard Fun

5/22/2017

0 Comments

 
​Summer is right around the corner, and getting my back porch ready for all of our fun summer activities is one of my favorite projects! Here are some easy to follow ideas that I hope inspire you to get ready for the summer season!
Picture
One of the things I adore about warmer weather is all of the colorful flowers and veggies that I get to grow. But, finding the space to enjoy this activity was always a challenge. Not any more!!! I love this Elfa Gardening Center from The Container Store. It keeps all of my essential gardening tools in one place, and helps to keep my back porch clutter free (with a little creativity, I can even see it doubling as a bar for one of our summer parties!). Check it out here:
​www.containerstore.com/s/platinum-elfa-utility-gardening-center/d?productId=10034966&q=elfa gardening center
​​

We love entertaining, and keeping our guests of all ages happy is key for any summer get together! Make toys and games easy to find, accessible AND make cleaning up a cinch with this idea:​
  • ​Separate your toys and games by category.                            
  • Place toys/games by category in large metal buckets. Plan on having a little extra room in case your category grows!
  • Label each bucket with a chalk label...this will ensure that you can change categories easily if necessary.
  • Put buckets on a shelving unit. Keep in mind to place the toys/games for young children on the lower shelves for easy access!                ​
Finally, here's an idea for any summer get together that you decide to throw...have a theme! This will enable for easy planning and keep the pressure of hosting to an all time low, trust me! Here are some fun summer themed parties:
  • ​​Pineapple Party: all kinds of opportunity for tropical drinks...just sayin!
  • Popcorn & Movie Night Party: this idea came to me when I recently saw a popcorn bar at a wedding. Yum!!!
  • ​Hot Diggity Dog Party: I will need to do this!!! Here's more info: www.bigdotofhappiness.com/blog/hot-dog-buffet-ideas/  ​
I hope that you have enjoyed these ideas, and that they inspire you to create your own summer fun!

Your answer for organizing,
​Ali
0 Comments

April Showers Bring May Flowers

4/17/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
Welcome to my first blog! It’s April, and with this month can come rain, rain, rain! So, in the theme of "April showers bring May flowers", here are some ideas for quick organizing projects that even the most clutter-challenged can tackle on a rainy afternoon!
  • Utensil drawer
    • Pull everything out. Set up three piles: keep, donate (or yard sale!), trash.
    • Trash the broken utensils.
    • For duplicate items, choose one to keep. Donate the other.
    • Clean the drawer with a multi-purpose solution.
    • Dividers or trays can make a big difference to help you organize what you are keeping! Here are my favorite dividers from The Container Store https://www.containerstore.com/s/bamboo-drawer-organizers/d?productId=10035716&q=Drawer%20dividers. 

  • Spices
    • After you remove all of your spices, check their expiration dates and toss if expired. (Remember to keep a list of any that you throw out so you can replace them on your next shopping trip!)
    • Make the most of your vertical space in your cabinets by using tiered storage. I like this choice because it also maximizes corner space too! https://www.containerstore.com/s/kitchen/cabinet-organizers/linus-corner-cabinet-organizer/12d?productId=10027638
  • Under kitchen sink space
    • Toss or donate any cleaning supplies that you hardly ever use, and keep your lineup of cleaners streamlined. Using multi-use products will help!
    • Tension rods are awesome at corralling all of your spray bottles, and working around the awkward space of the kitchen sink.
    • Use an over the door baskets to gain extra storage space on the inside of the cabinet doors to store sponges, scrub brushes, gloves etc. like this: https://www.containerstore.com/s/kitchen/sink-under-sink/under-sink/polytherm-over-the-cabinet-double-basket/123d?productId=10033689. 
Make sure to check back with me next month when I get your outdoor spaces ready to celebrate Memorial Day Weekend and the unofficial start of summer!

​Your answer for organizing,
​Ali

0 Comments
Forward>>

    Author

    Alison J. Monaghan, Owner of Organizing By Ali

    Archives

    February 2020
    December 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    April 2018
    March 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017

    RSS Feed

Copyright © 2023 Organizing By Ali, LLC
  • Home
  • Services
  • FAQ
  • Testimonials
  • Project Pics
  • Contact
  • Blog
  • Ali Cares