This mom Jamie Martin in Glen Ellyn helps people organize!

Read some great ideas below and check out her website or email her for more information on how she can help you.

jmartin@destorg.com
www.destorg.com

Eliminate Clothing Clutter

Most people wear 20% of their wardrobe over and over again. The reason is often because we go back to the tried and true when in the crunch of dressing for the day because we’re overwhelmed by the volume. Like many things, less is more. Here’s how to make it happen.

Get some boxes and label them “Donate”, “Trash”, and “Keep”. If you are saving clothes your child has out grown for another child in the family, then label boxes by size such as “2T” and “3T” so you can drop these clothes in their box as you find them. Be merciless in your sort. Ask yourself:

• Does my child (or do I, if you are working on your closet) love it?
• Is it in good condition?
• Is it in style currently?
• Does it make you look great?
• Is it your current size?

If the answer to even one of these questions is “NO” then let it go.

Other clothing tips:

• For adult clothes that are too small, forget about keeping them until you lose the weight. When you do loose excess pounds, you will want to treat yourself to something new to celebrate!
• Get your donate items out of the house immediately. If you’re keeping clothes for a sibling, take them to basement storage until the child is ready for them.
• To avoid a full scale purge in the future, keep a box on the floor of your closet, kid’s closet or nearby hall closet to drop items in that need to be donated as you find them. When the box is full, donate it.
• Rotate clothes seasonally by moving out of season clothes to another closet or to the back of your regular closet. By removing seasonal items, you reduce the amount of clothes you will look through to choose an outfit. While you are rotating them, look for items to donate and drop them in the box.
• If you have too many hanging clothes and not enough rod space, add a rod “doubler”.
• If you are looking for more folded storage space, consider getting another dresser. You can place another dresser in the closet if the bedroom doesn’t have enough floor space. Or reconfigure your closet to include drawers or more shelves within easy reach.

Make sure you complete your sort and purge BEFORE you decide if you need to buy any organizational tools. You may find you don’t need anything once you’ve cleared out the clutter!

Children’s Schoolwork, Art and Projects

Place artwork, projects, homework, tests and papers in a box as they come home from school, one box per child. At the end of each semester, sit with your kids and have them review all the paper and pick their favorites to keep. If you or your child are having a hard time deciding, look for items that are "firsts", like a perfect score on a test, the first cut and paste project for a preschooler, etc.

Provide yourself and the kids with a limit, such as 10 items or an amount that fills half of a 10" x 13" x 3" box. (Find archival quality/acid free boxes at craft and organization stores. See this product at The Container Store) Label the box with the child’s name and school year and store in a cool, dry place. Take pictures of large or 3 dimensional favorites and start a photo album rather than keeping the real thing.

Schedules, phone lists, calendars and syllabuses

Use a 3-ring binder, sheet protectors and index tab dividers for activity information, schedules, phone lists, etc. (Avery makes great index tabs that are plastic and have large, slanted pockets to hold papers securely. See this product at Office Depot)

Make a tab for each family member’s extra-curricular activity and one for their classroom. Place often-referenced papers like phone lists, lunch menus and schedules in sheet protectors behind appropriate tab. Label the binder “Activity Information” or whatever makes sense to you. As seasons and semesters change, exchange old schedules for new ones. Keep the binder accessible to the whole family and teach older children how to look up information they need.

While you are busy organizing your family’s papers, take this opportunity to teach your family these great organizations skills!

Games, toys, crafts or other entertainment items and media

Try these steps using games as an example:

• Gather all the playing cards, board, video and electronic games in one area to assess what you have and sort by categories like kids, family, video, etc.
• Toss any games that are missing key parts that cannot be replaced. Donate any games your family has outgrown.
• Decide where you will keep these items. Storing like items all in one place makes it easier to retrieve and replace, and to know what you have. It is also best to keep items close to where you will use them so it is convenient to clean up.
• If the closet you want to use for games doesn’t have enough shelves, consider adding free standing shelving or installing a closet system.
• Once you have assigned a home for them, decide if you need to containerize them in order to make them more convenient to access. For example, consider replacing broken board game boxes. (Organizes-It carries this product. There are two styles available.) Use zip lock bags or plastic containers to corral small parts within boxes and large baskets or containers with lids for video or electronic games. Label all containers and shelves so everyone in the family knows where to put things away.
• Now relax and have a family game night!
• And when you’re done playing for the night, it will be quick, easy and convenient to clean up.

Sincerely,
 

Jamie Martin

(630) 561-8018
jmartin@destorg.com
www.destorg.com
"Any change, even a change for the better, is always accompanied by drawbacks and discomforts."  Arnold Bennett

Member of NAPO - National Association of Professional Organizers

Director of Marketing - NAPO Chicago

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Homemade Cards For Any Occasion
By Glen Ellyn Mom Lori




Lori makes cards for any occasion. You can be specific about colors, types, theme, etc.
She can also make high school graduation thank you notes, college color note cards and
just even a set of mixed event cards. Great idea for a gift! You can contact Lori at jurick@ameritech.net and let her know what you are looking for.
They are great cards that I personally have bought and enjoyed!

Wing Stop * AliKat * FloorOpedics * Lewek Photography * The Bookstore * All-A-Electric Contractors * Glen Oak Restaurant * Paisley on Main * TMCsquared * Doggonits * Shear Pandemonia * Advanced Healthcare * Chicks ‘n Salsa * Suburban Bank & Trust * Missy’s Maid Service * DuPage Health & Wellness * Zazu Salon & Day Spa * The Green Branch * John Workman, DDS * CK Auto Repair * Barone’s * Wine Styles * Health Track Sports Wellness * Optimal Health & Wellness * Arbonne * Run Today * Anyway’s * Glen Ellyn Park District * House of Graphics * Mail ‘n Stuff * Ellyn’s Tap & Grill * Arvati’s Pizza * Tap House Grill * The McAninch Arts Center at College of DuPage