stay focused & enjoy the results

Although I’m a firm believer that organizing is essential to staying sane, I also realize that it is not as fun or as easy for a lot of people as it is for me…which makes it really tough to get started on a big project. So here are some tips to help you get started on your next big…or small organizing project!

Focus on the results. With any good organizing project, if you’re having trouble getting started, focus on the end result. Think about how good it will feel when you’ve got that project under your belt. Really dwell on that sense of accomplishment. It works! And here’s how I know.

One weekend (not so long ago), I embarked on a project I had put off for a really, really (really) long time: the basement. I went through all the holiday decorations and got rid of a bunch, got rid of anything I hadn’t used in several months and a lot of stuff I was “saving” because I got it for free. (If you know me…you know that I can’t pass up anything that’s free!) Fun? A little big…I know, I’m sick! Rewarding? Beyond words! I can’t even tell you how good it felt to clear out the basement!

It was this feeling of accomplishment (and yes, when you’re doing something you don’t love to do, getting it done is a huge accomplishment!) that got me started and kept me going through the hours and hours of sorting, dumping and organizing. So, if you’re having trouble mustering up the motivation to do some organizing, just think about how great it’s going to feel when you can check it off your list!

Decide where to start. Take a quick tour of your home and make a list of some quick organizing projects. Here are some ideas …

• Kids closets
• Junk drawer
• Bathroom cupboards
• Mud room
• Book shelves
• TV cabinet
• Pantry
• Refrigerator or Freezer
• Car/Vehicle
• Purse/Wallet
• Make-up drawer or bin

To create your list, simply walk around your home looking high and low for opportunities to create some order. Then, pick one project that will have a big impact on your space and more importantly, your spirits…and get started!

Gather your supplies. Gather the tools and supplies you’ll need to tackle your project and corral them into one spot. Get a bag for donations, a trash bag, some shoe boxes or other organization tools and labels. This will make it easy to move from room to room, if your project requires it.

Stay focused on the task at hand. As with any other project, staying focused on your organizing project will help you get it checked off your list faster. And while this isn’t always easy to do … you’ll be glad you did. During my basement organizing weekend, there were so many other things to do but, it was important to stay focused on the basement, and see the task through to completion…until it’s done! Define what “done” is, and then focus, focus, focus until you’ve reached done!

Enjoy the results. When you’re finished, sit back and relish in the fruits of your labor. It feels good to create positive change in your environment. Doesn’t it? Drink it in. And enjoy the results.

With many projects, getting started can be the hardest part! But, by focusing on the end results and then really drinking in your success, you will fuel your enthusiasm to take on the next organizing project on your list…next weekend!

For more organizing tips, visit my website: www.andreadekker.com

get creative with your clutter solutions

Last week I did an organizing event at Ridgewood CRC in Jenison, MI. I spoke mainly about closet and kitchen clutter and how to eliminate it for good! One thing I really tried to convey is that you DO NOT need to go out and purchase organizing tools until you have first looked around our house to see if you have any creative (and free) items that you could re-purpose into wonderful storage options.

Well, I’ve heard that a lot of people have taken my advice to heart and I’ve received several e-mails from people telling me of their ideas, here is one creative idea for your kitchen clutter:

“I love to have certain things sitting out on my counter for convenience sake, but I don't like for my counters to look cluttered or disorganized.

I found a nicely decorated ceramic canister set in my basement and I use the large one as a cookie jar, the next to hold cooking utensils, the next for tea bags and/or cocoa pouches, and the littlest one to hold my husband's powdered creamer right next to the coffeemaker.

It works so wonderfully and has eliminated a lot of the clutter from my kitchen counters. Thanks for encouraging me to be creative!”

What a cleaver idea to use something that is just taking up space in basement storage and re-purpose it to corral kitchen clutter! Let me know if you have any other creative storage ideas to share!

For more organizing ideas, visit my website: www.andreadekker.com

clean up the kitchen

As I mentioned earlier this week, I have spring cleaning on the brain. So the spring cleaning theme is continuing as we turn our attention upward…to the tops of your kitchen cabinets. Have you looked lately to see what’s lurking up there?

In most kitchens, it’s not just your run-of-the-mill-everyday-dust. It’s that dust that’s been infused with a bit of kitchen grease! Once you get that mess cleaned up—you never want to do it again. I’ve had lots of questions on how to easily get rid of that grease and just recently, I came across a great tip!

Once your cabinet tops are clean, line them with paper such as newspaper or paper bags. Simply cut or fold the paper to the size of your cabinet tops, and walk away. In a few months, instead of scrubbing and cleaning away the grim, you simply change your paper! Viola! A clean cabinet top in no time!

**This also works really well for refrigerator drawers too…just line them with a sheet or two of paper towel and your next cleaning session will be a breeze.

For more tips on how to get organized and simplify your life, log onto me website: www.andreadekker.com

thrifty organizing ideas

In this day and age, with the state of the world economy, being thrifty has become of supreme importance. Being thrifty in our organizing doesn't have to be a bad thing. There are so many fun and creative ways to be both thrifty and nifty.

1) The most important factor in being organized is to be able to locate what you need when you need it. Rather than just thinking of being organized as having everything in neat, matching boxes, think of being organized as you owning your stuff as opposed to your stuff owning you.

2) Looking to organize your bathroom? You can spend just a couple of dollars on a roll of colorful contact paper and cover some shoeboxes. (You all know how much I love using shoe boxes!) You can have a box for make-up, one for hair styling supplies, anything you like!

3) Looking for ways to be nifty and thrifty in your kitchen or pantry? Buy a handful of inexpensive plastic lazy susans and create specific areas. You can have a baking area, a canned soup area, a children's snack area just for some examples. By keeping these areas together and organized, you will save money because you will know exactly what you have. You will be able to see these items in your closet with just a spin of the lazy susan.

4) The biggest nifty and thrifty way you can organize is to cut down on the amount of stuff you have. ESPECIALLY if you are paying for a storage unit or have your garage so full of storage stuff that you can't park your car in there. The fewer items or boxes that you are storing, the better able you will be to organize them effectively.

For more organizing tips, visit my website: www.andreadekker.com

spring cleaning!

Spring is just around the corner…

Which means so is spring cleaning!

I’m actually excited to do some spring cleaning this year…and spruce up my home a bit. I’m planning to get a jump start on the cleaning this year before it gets nice and I’m lured back outside.

Step one is to organize my cleaning supplies. If you haven’t been through your cleaning supply cabinet in a while, perhaps you’ll want to join me for this quick tip that will move you one step closer to spring cleaning and of course spring!

Organize your cleaning supplies by sorting them into three groups.

Group 1 = supplies you never use: If you haven't used it in three years, you're not going to! Send this pile straight to your trash can.

Group 2 = deep cleaning supplies: Store these in a leak proof bucket or storage bin, out of the reach of children. Make note of what you have and make a list of any specialty items you may need to add to your collection. This way you’ll be all set when spring cleaning time rolls around.

Group 3 = the basics: These are your favorite products and tools, those you use every time you clean. Store your basics in a handled utility bucket or supply caddy (again, out of the reach of small children.) When cleaning day rolls around, simply carry your bucket from room to room—you’ll have everything you need right at hand!

Here’s to make spring just one step closer!

tame your trouble spots

To take the dread out of de-cluttering, grab your to-do list and follow my simple (but not always easy!) steps.

• WATCH THE CLOCK: Assign a time estimate to each activity. Say, this weekend you plan to organize your vacation photos and put together a spring yard sale for the stuff you no longer need. Next to each item on your list, add a rough guess as to how long the activity will take. Once you quantify a task, that anchors it into your schedule but you have to be honest with yourself. For example, factor in the time it takes to sort through photos, date them, and put them into albums, and you may discover that what seemed like a two-hour project could take more than five. Knowing that, you can then make the choice to either devote a whole afternoon to the task or break it down into hour-long chunks that would realistically fit into the next several weekends.

• TRIM AWAY TO-DO'S: Look through your list for any project you can downsize or outsource. Instead of arranging all your vacation photos, pare down the job to organizing just the ones from the trips you've taken in the last year. Feel overwhelmed by the thought of a garage sale? See if you could hire an enterprising teen to run it, and split the proceeds.

• SHARE THE RESPONSIBILITY: Are you really the only person who has the skills to take used clothes to the donation box? By asking yourself that question for every task, you can begin to delegate -- and focus on what's really important, like spending time with family.

For more organizing tips, visit my website: www.andreadekker.com

tip of the week (2/22/2009)

february 22 -- february 28, 2009
this weeks "tip of the week" was sent from Liz from Lenexa, KS

Liz writes: " When going through the house for garage sale items to sell, I price the items as I go. That way, I don't have to spend extra time the night before a garage sale pricing everything. I can just put the items on a table and be done."

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Do you have an organizing or time management tip that you would like to share? Click here and your tip could be the next one featured in our newsletter, our blog or on our website! For more organizing tips, check out www.andreadekker.com. It is full of great organizing tips for every area of your life.

quick fixes for closet clutter

Oh the dreaded closet...sometimes its almost scary to think about a closet organizing project because you never know what you might find! It is no surprise then, that closets are my client's number one request when it comes to getting organized. Their complaints of "not enough space" and "not enough time" fall on deaf ears because I know the real problem is often just too much stuff and lack of creative storage solutions!

I'm assuming everyone can use a little help when it comes to closets so here are some helpful ideas to think about as you embark on your next closet organizing project:

• take EVERYTHING out of the closet...yes everything! It may seem overwhelming and it will take more time up front, but you will not be able to realistically know how much stuff you have and how to organize it unless it all comes out!
• consider installing some type of closet system or having one built. This will maximize your space and create more organizing solutions.
• try on all your clothes and get rid of ALL that you don't like, that don't fit, that are out of style, that aren't practical for your life style, or that have stains or holes.
• hang your clothes in some type of order, either by color, by type (button ups, long sleeve, short sleeve, etc.) or by use (work, casual, formal, workout)
• when you hang your clothes up, hang them so the open end of the hanger is facing out...then when you wear something, turn the hanger around. This will help you realized what you haven't worn after 6 months...and you can get rid of that too!
• use shoe boxes for small accessories or garment care items
• use belt racks for ties, belts, jewelry, scarves or other "hang-able" accessories
• put an over-the-door shoe rack on your bedroom door to save valuable space in small closets.

Hopefully this will get you steered in the right direction. For more closet organizing ideas, visit my website: www.andreadekker.com

quick fixes for kitchen clutter

The kitchen is often referred to as the center of the home and is one of the most used rooms. It may serve a variety of purposes and therefore needs a variety of storage solutions.

As always, part of implement new organizing ideas is also changing behaviors. Once you have an organized kitchen or space, you must be willing to discipline yourself and your family to put items away. Items without homes become clutter.

There are many useful organizing tools that can be used in the kitchen and most are inexpensive. It is important to maximize space and to store belongings such as purses, papers, book bags and other items that don't belong in the kitchen elsewhere.

Here are helpful hints to keep in mind as you organize your kitchen...

• Keep Like Items Together: Store like items together into zones (all baking supplies together such as bowls, pans and a mixer, all storage containers collectively, all spices together and all serving items together.) It makes it easier to clean up. If you assign homes for items, you will know where to put them when you're done using them.

• Eliminate Wasted Space: Use a Lazy Susan or three-tiered shelves to store canned goods, spices, oils and vinaigrettes or any other condiments that easily get lost in the back of the cupboard, refrigerator or pantry.

• Get Creative: Use shoe boxes or an over-the-door shoe organizer to store gravy mixes, flavored rice and pasta packs, soup mixes, dry marinades and sauces, Jell-o, extra utensils, spices or other small items. Look for decorative containers that can sit on your counter and hide the coffee, sugar or other frequently used items. Use a dish rack to store pot and pan lids, trays, cookie sheets or muffin trays.

• Practice Proximity: It is important to store items near where they are used, for example, pots and pans near the stove, or the bread box near the toaster. Everyday or frequently used items should be easy to reach while holiday or special occasion items can be stored in the basement or further away from the kitchen if needed.

• Question Bulk Purchases: It is important that if you buy in bulk, you have room to store it or it is not saving you anything. Your space should be as valuable to you as your money. Often used non-perishable items can be bought on sale or bulk and stored--which can save you time and money.

So there you have it, some simple and quick fixes that will help you in your quest to organize your kitchen. Just remember, you can't do it all at once...so just start small with 15 or 20 minutes!

For more organizing information, visit my website: www.andreadekker.com

clutter confessions

Just so you don't think you are alone in your quest to manage your clutter, here are some confessions from my faithful clients and readers. Don't worry, they are all anonymous!
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"When things get really out of hand, I'll scare myself clean by inviting friends over. While I don't care if laundry is in piles on the floor, I certainly don't want anyone else to see it!"

"I keep all my tax return documents in the bathroom, interspersed with my makeup. At least that way, I'll never have trouble finding them!"

"My biggest clutter issue revolves around freebies, like those mini cosmetic samples that are just too cute to get rid of. Now, I make sure they're stacked in front of my makeup case so I use them up before the regular stuff."

"I try to give away the clothes my kids have outgrown, but if I can remember a specific event when the outfit was worn, I just have to keep it. Now, I have boxes of too-small clothes stored in my attic!"

"I own more clothes than I'll ever wear, but I made a rule: Anything that I haven't worn in a year must go to the local thrift store -- and I stay firm by asking my boyfriend to make sure I enforce it!"

"My desk at work is littered with pink and yellow sticky notes, I have a sea of loose documents dotting my screen, and my email in-box is nearing full. I haven't lost anything important, but I fear I'm tempting fate."

"When I get totally fed up with the toys and magazines my kids and husband leave around the kitchen, I go on strike and don't clean or cook until my husband gets the hint and cleans. It's effective!"
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See, now you probably don't feel as bad!
For more organizing tips, visit my website: www.andreadekker.com

take control of your paper

One of the most popular questions I get from blog readers is: How do I control all the paper?!

So, the first thing you have to do is decide to make some decisions. I like using a timer because I'm naturally competitive (anyone relate?) and that inspires me to take action, and quickly too!

Before you start, gather the following items:

1. a timer
2. bag or bin for recycling/trash
3. black sharpie
4. notebook and/or planner
5. hanging files/manila folders

Now you're set!

There are only four actions you're allowed to do once you've scanned each piece of paper. Don't take longer than 30 seconds to scan the page.

1. Dump it
Throw it in the bin. The more ruthless you are, the less you have to file! Win-win!

If you only need one piece of information, write it down in your notebook and throw the piece of paper away. Some of you are hyperventilating at this point - that's okay ;)

2. Delegate it
If someone else has to attend to it write the action on the paper itself or on a post-it note stuck on the page and put it in a separate pile.

3. File it
Please do yourself a favor and only put paper in this pile if you ABSOLUTELY need to reference it. Just a quick stat for you - only 20% of filed papers are ever referenced again.

Use your hanging files and folders for different categories.

4. Do it
Here I apply the two-minute rule. If you can do it in two minutes or less, do it right there and then. When I say "do it", I mean either action it or schedule it to action later.

For example, if you're working through your papers at 10pm and need to make an appointment, you can't call right there and then, so write it on tomorrow's to-do list. That's within two minutes and it counts.

There you have it - the only four things to do with paper. If you stick to making decisions, your paper will be beautifully organized in no time at all. Now all you have to do is keep a regular "date" with the papers.

For more organizing information, visit my website: www.andreadekker.com

how do you know if you're organized

How often do you wonder if you are making any progress at all in your organizing journey? Many times, we fail to recognize how much progress we really have made. Whether you have been working at organizing your home for days, weeks, months or even years, you have made progress. At times, it is measured in baby steps and at times, it is measured in leaps and bounds. The most important word in the statement above is `progress'. If you have put forth any effort at all, you have made progress! Here are some easy ways to tell when you are in an organized home:

1. You can direct someone else to something and they find it.
2. Preparing for taxes no longer takes a month or longer to find all of the paperwork.
3. You know what is at hand for meal planning.
4. You do not have to wonder who has to be where, when.
5. You are able to entertain with minimal preparation.
6. You no longer suffer from CHAOS: “Can’t Have Anyone Over Syndrome”
7. Clean up takes a few minutes here and a few minutes there.

8. Your flat surfaces stay clear.
9. You can move freely from room to room in the dark.
10. You have time to enjoy hobbies and other activities that renew, refresh, and reinvigorate you.
11. You whole family can get ready and out the door in less than one hour every day.
12. You no longer have duplicates or triplicates (pictures, tools, craft supplies).
13. Putting groceries away doesn't involve an entire afternoon 'finding room'.
14. You no longer have to pay late fees for DVD rentals or fines for overdue library books.
15. Getting dressed for work or school is no longer an agonizing decision or an aerobic exercise.

For more organizing tips, visit my website: www.andreadekker.com

clutter for a cause

Donating to charity is a win-win situation. You'll turn a chore into a feel-good mission -- and get a tax break! While Goodwill, The Salvation Army, and the American Red Cross are great places to donate most items, consider these outside-the-donation-box ways to get rid of space-hoggers!

WINTER COATS
Donate them to One Warm Coat, which sponsors coat drives around the country.
GO TO: onewarmcoat.org

MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
From piccolos to guitars, Operation Happy Note sends secondhand instruments to soldiers deployed overseas.
GO TO: operationhappynote.com

COMPUTER EQUIPMENT
Computers with at least a Pentium III Processor can be donated to The On It Foundation, which provides computers and Internet access to low-income families.
GO TO: theonitfoundation.org

BOOKS
The International Book Project will ship your old tomes abroad for use in schools, orphanages, and libraries.
GO TO: internationalbookproject.org

SNEAKERS
Old sneakers can go to the Nike-sponsored Reuse-a-Shoe (the used kicks don't have to be Nikes). The rubber is used to create play surfaces for kids around the world.
GO TO: letmeplay.com

FURNITURE
The National Furniture Bank Association will give your couch to anyone in need, including domestic violence victims.
GO TO: help1up.org

CELL PHONES
At Collective Good, you choose the charity, such as The Center for Domestic Violence Prevention, that your donation of a used phone will support.
GO TO: collectivegood.com

RANDOM KNICKKNACKS
Got something you don't know what to do with, but you're sure someone would want? Excess Access matches your items with local nonprofit wish lists.
GO TO: excessaccess.com

For more organizing ideas, visit my website: www.andreadekker.com

tip of the week (2/15/2009)

february 15 -- february 21, 2009
this weeks "tip of the week" was sent from Veronica from Lewisville, TX

Veronica writes: " Whenever we do laundry at our house, I put a cardboard box near by and as we are folding the clothes, anything that no longer fits or is no longer wanted, we put into the box. The clothes are already clean and ready to pass on to someone who could really use them."

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Do you have an organizing or time management tip that you would like to share? Click here and your tip could be the next one featured in our newsletter, our blog or on our website! For more organizing tips, check out www.andreadekker.com. It is full of great organizing tips for every area of your life.

happy valentine's day!

When it comes to organizing…remember it’s all about L-O-V-E.

Since it is Valentine’s Day, I thought it fitting that we chat about the role love plays in organizing. It’s quite simple really—your home will make you happiest when it is filled with things you LOVE.

If your home is filled with things you don’t love that you’re holding onto out of obligation or fear—let these things go. Take a few minutes today and find five things in your home that you just don’t love. Take them out to your car and donate them to your favorite charity. Someone else may absolutely love (and really need) these things, so think of it as passing the love forward.

Here’s wishing you a Valentine’s Day (and a home) that’s filled with love...

get ready for tax season

Yup, it's that time of year again...time to get your taxes ready. This can be a very stressful time of year, especially if you have not be diligent about organizing your tax documents all year long. If you slacked off in 2008, don't dispare. Read the ideas below and make it a goal to be more organized in 2009!

GATHER TAX RECORDS ALL YEAR.

• Save time when preparing taxes by keeping all tax information for the year together in one Colored Expanding File.
• Start a new file for the current tax year in January so you have a place to put records throughout the year.
• File receipts and tax related records weekly so you don’t misplace them.

GROUP RECORDS BY HOW YOU FILE.

• Separate documents into the categories you use for each part of your return.
• Review previous tax returns for help establishing categories.
• Write the categories on the tabs and arrange them in the file in a straight line for quick reference.

KEEP THE FILE FOR SEVEN YEARS.

• Consult your tax advisor for advice on your minimum retention requirements.
• Choose antimicrobial stock to protect the file from mold and mildew damage.
• Store files for all tax years in the same location

For more organizing ideas, visit my website: www.andreadekker.com

get control of your time

Do you need to get control of your time? Often when people struggle with keeping their homes and offices organized, the source of their challenge is not just physical clutter, but finding the time to keep things organized. When you already have a busy schedule, finding the time to organize can feel like one more task that you have no time for.

To get more done, make organizing more of a priority in your day-to-day routine. A small investment of your time each day will have a big impact on how organized you are, and how much you can get done.

Here are some other strategies that can help you find time in your day whatever needs to get done.

1. Schedule time (like an appointment with yourself) to organize or complete other routine tasks.
2. Schedule interruption-free time when you can get things done. Close your door, let the phone go to voice mail and don’t check your email.
3. Have a way to capture thoughts that interrupt your current task. Keep a notebook or record ideas on a PDA so you’ll remember the thought that interrupted you, while you can stay on-task with your original plan.
4. Create routines to give your day structure. You’ll be able to plan your days and be more productive if you have a consistent routine.
5. Use only one calendar as a means to keep track of appointments and tasks.
6. Write everything down so you aren’t trying to keep track of things in your head.

For more organizing ideas, visit my website: www.andreadekker.com

get an organized office in 5 steps

Wouldn't you like to have a beautifully organized office at the end of February?

Well, I'm going to set you a challenge. And here's how it's going to work:

STEP 1: Decide which section of your office you want to tackle for each of the next 4 weeks. Some areas that you could consider are paper, filing, computer files, email, desk, finances, business papers, school papers, etc.

I suggest you choose only one area each week so you don't become overwhelmed. Once you build up momentum from successfully completing one area, you'll naturally want to move onto the next, and the next, and the next. However, if you become overwhelmed, you might be inclined to just throw in the towel like you have before.

STEP 2: Set a deadline. You could use the work week to do your project or a weekend, or even just an hour or two. The time you'll need depends largely on the size of the project, and your lifestyle. There's no point in wanting to go through 10 boxes of paper in a work week when you have commitments every evening.

STEP 3: Decide on a reward for completing your project. Maybe you want to reward yourself with a beautiful table lamp when you finally organize your desk?

STEP 4: Map out your "how to" steps. I suggest that you take a big piece of paper for each project and break your BIG project down into MINI projects. Exp: on the computer, there may be household files, business files, personal files, photos, downloads, etc, etc.

STEP 5: Make yourself accountable to someone. Tell your family and/or your friends…you will be much more likely to follow through if you tell your plan to another person.

With any project, it's always more fun when you do it together with other people. Try to get friends or other family members involved to share in the “fun”!!

Won't it be wonderful to have a functional and organized space at the end of February?

For more organizing tips, visit my website: www.andreadekker.com

lazy-susan to the rescue

If you’re looking to stretch the storage in your home, try out a Lazy-Susan. From corralling spices to scrapbook supplies—Lazy-Susan’s make it simple to access hard-to-reach areas in pantries, cabinets and even your refrigerator. What’s better, these organizing dynamos can be picked up for just a few dollars a pop at places like Target and Wal-Mart.

So, next time you’re scratching your head and wondering how to stretch your storage space or make use of that really deep cabinet shelf, think Lazy-Susan!

For more organizing ideas, visit my website: www.andreadekker.com

poem: one flaw in women

A friend sent me this poem in an e-mail last week so I thought I would pass it along to all of you!

Women have strengths that amaze men.
They bear hardships and they carry burdens,
but they hold happiness, love and joy.

They smile when they want to scream.
They sing when they want to cry.
They cry when they are happy
and laugh when they are nervous.
They fight for what they believe in.
They stand up to injustice.

They don't take "no" for an answer
when they believe there is a better solution.

They go without so their family can have.
They go to the doctor with a frightened friend.

They love unconditionally.
They cry when their children excel
and cheer when their friends get awards.

They are happy when they hear about
a birth or a wedding.
Their hearts break when a friend dies.
They grieve at the loss of a family member,
yet they are strong when they
think there is no strength left.
They know that a hug and a kiss
can heal a broken heart.

Women come in all shapes, sizes and colors.

They'll drive, fly, walk, run or e-mail you
to show how much they care about you.

The heart of a woman is what
makes the world keep turning.

They bring joy, hope and love.
They have compassion and ideas.
They give moral support to their
family and friends.

Women have vital things to say
and everything to give.

HOWEVER, IF THERE IS ONE FLAW IN WOMEN,
IT IS THAT THEY FORGET THEIR WORTH.

tip of the week (2/8/2009)

february 8 -- february 14, 2009
this weeks "tip of the week" was sent from Janelle from Valencia, CA

Janelle writes: " I have found something that really works for me for all those calendars and phone rosters that one gets from scouts, sports, choir rehearsals, church, work, etc. I have a 1/2" notebook dedicated to them. I place the clear plastic sheets in the notebook and place these in them.

If it is a calendar, I get out my master calendar and put down all the dates that I think will affect my family. I still place the paper in my notebook for future reference. It is great for phone rosters. Everyone knows where they are and can easily find them since this notebook lives on a shelf right next to the phone. As new rosters come home I replace the old ones. This has worked for me in a great way."

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Do you have an organizing or time management tip that you would like to share? Click here and your tip could be the next one featured in our newsletter, our blog or on our website! For more organizing tips, check out www.andreadekker.com. It is full of great organizing tips for every area of your life.

quick tips for the craft room

First of all, if you are lucky to have a separate room in your house that is just for crafts...you are really lucky! Most of us, myself included, have to share part of another room, an office, or simply the kitchen table! But, no mater where your craft room is located, it can still be organized. I think you will be surprised at how much more enjoyable it is to do sew, craft or scrapbook in an organized space. Here are some tips to get you started!

• A used shoebox can be covered with scraps of wallpaper, ribbons, or scrapbooking paper and be utilized as a holder for cords and chargers for all your electronics. The box could also be used to hold extra office or craft supplies.
• Used and cleaned cans and bottles could be used as pen and pencil holders on a desk (can also be decorated).
• Used baby food jars or an old fishing tackle box can be used as holders for the little bits of ribbon and embellishments used in scrapbooking and other hobbies.
• A basket can be used to hold receipts (make sure you keep all receipts needed for tax purposes or extended warranties).
• An old tackle box can also be used as a sewing kit (many compartments for thread, needles, scissors, and any other needed supplies.
• A wooden dowel or paper towel holder can be used to hold ribbons.
• Use two eye hooks and some heavy-gauge wire to hang a pad of paper or strips of fabric.
• Simple clear plastic bins can be used to hold and separate different craft items such as yarn, fabric, painting supplies, flower-arranging supplies, or needlepoint.
• Cut most of one side out of a cereal box (cover with decorative paper) and it can be used as a magazine holder.

For more organizing tips, visit my website: www.andreadekker.com