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!).
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​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!
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​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.
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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!​

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.  

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

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

​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!

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​​

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