5 Fab Alternatives To Boring Labels

As featured on Huffington Post

My garage is a perfect example of the benefits of labeling.  I organized the shelving units so that it would fit all our excess pantry items, paper towels, toilet paper, soaps, you get the idea. But I didn’t label any of it.  And now it’s a disaster.  And worse yet, it’s my fault.  You see, I know where everything goes, but I seem to be alone in that knowledge.  It’s not a very long list but every well meaning person, my husband, my mother, etc  that helps to put away groceries just guesses where to put stuff.

I often liken a lack of labels with asking someone to drive you somewhere and then not giving them directions and taking away all the street signs.  You can’t really blame them for getting lost, right?  

I see it with my clients as well.  The ones that are able to maintain their organization are the ones that have a clearly defined space for everything.  Either that or they live alone so they don’t really have to deal with anyone else messing up their system.

Even if you live alone chances are you will have people come to visit or stay in your home and throwing together a few labels is more enjoyable that gritting your teeth as your guest opens the pantry to be helpful and put the cookies away where (gasp!) the crackers go!  I saw this in action just recently when my extended family was “helping” to put away food after I had them for dinner  and they opened my fridge (which I had just finished organizing into labelled food zones) and they knew exactly where everything should go.  Success!

When people think of labels their minds go to those boring black on white labels that print out out of a label maker.  Fine for an office; boring and plain for your home.  Your organizing system should flow with your personality and your home decor.  Here are some fabulous alternatives to boring labels:

Chalkboard Labels

They’re cute, have a vintage feel and are completely reusable.  What is not to love?  Up your label game by using a chalk marker instead of regular chalk and you eliminate the dusty mess.  I especially like these labels for transitional spaces, like off-season clothes or shoes.  Pro-tip: while the dollarstore labels may seem like a good deal I have recently discovered that my original writing got permanently absorbed into them, rendering them not reusable.  Try to go for good quality labels instead.

Customized Printed Labels

I buy full sheet clear decals and then write out my labels in MS Word and print them.  You can easily customize the size and font.  I noticed that they can be a bit incompatible with water ( a definite issue as I wipe down everything all the time), but this can be easily overcome by sealing it with some clear Con-Tact shelf liner.

Gift Tags

I have come across some extremely cute gift tags, especially around Christmas time.  These colorful pieces of paper can make fabulous labels.  Just write on them with a black permanent marker, or you can print out labels on a label maker using the clear tape.

Washi Tape

This is another item that comes in a slew of awesome colors.  You can easily convert them into labels with a Sharpie or labelmaker label, again printed on clear tape.  I love using washi tape anywhere you would use a traditional label.  The fun colors can really brighten up the space.

Picture Labels

I organize a lot of playrooms.  I also organize our playroom a lot.  For all the non-readers out there these are my go-to label.  Just find the right image online (Lego, superheroes, Mr Potatohead, etc) and print them out.  Depending on the type of storage container they're going on I will either use full sheet sticker paper or I’ll use regular paper and laminate them for extra durability.

Key Tags

Not just for keys anymore! These smaller labels can be great for jars or other smaller items.  Just attach the ring to an elastic or some twine and you’re done.  They are generally pretty inexpensive and easy to find as well.  Check out your local office supply store and you’re sure to get your hands on them.

The bottom line is that there are plenty of alternatives to the standard label and you really need to choose what works best for your lifestyle.  Whichever type you decide on just remember to label things the way you identify them.  Because you don’t really have time to waste looking for your things!

Happy Organizing and Labeling!

Why I Labeled My Fridge (And You Should Too)

As seen on Huffington Post

Professional Organizers and Labels go together like Peanut Butter and Jelly (or nut-free soy butter and jelly, depending on your allergies).  So, it is shocking to me that it took me this long to put labels inside my refrigerator.

For 6 weeks after I had my third child I didn’t work. By this I really mean that I worked exclusively from home and didn’t do any on-site client visits.  This meant that I spent WAY more time in my house than I normally did.  After the haze of newborn sleep deprivation started to wear off I began to notice things again.  All of the sudden the consequences of the exhaustion of 3rd trimester followed by the demands of a newborn caught up with me.  The “maintenance” step of my organized home had fallen through the cracks and I started to walk through the house and every closet I opened or room I went into was making me crazy.  I actually said those words so often that it became a running joke between my husband and I.  I would walk into a room and say “Oh my gawd Ben” and he would always reply with “let me guess, the room is making you crazy?!?!?!”.  I became fixated on the fridge though.  As a nursing mom to a ravenous newborn I am constantly hungry, so I spent many frustrating hours searching through the fridge looking for food.  One day I just couldn't take it anymore and I pulled EVERYTHING out.

There are few things more satisfying to me than emptying a space thoroughly cleaning it out and putting everything back in an organized way.  It was almost better than a nap.  Almost.

Empty & Organize

Since organizing items into zones had been working so well in the pantry I decided to implement the same strategy in the fridge.  These zones will be different for everyone depending on the types of foods found in your fridge.  To help determine your zones group like items together as you empty the fridge.  Keep all the salad dressings together, the sauces, the leftovers, etc.  We tend to have five or six types of mustards open at any moment so that is a zone that needed a designated space in our fridge.  Maybe you have a hot sauce obsession.  Whatever it is, make the system work for you.

Trash It

Now that you have everything organized into groups check all you expiry dates.  Now obviously food doesn't immediately turn bad the day after it “expires” but if we are six months past the date on that BBQ sauce and you don’t even remember buying it, let alone opening it, it may be time to say goodbye. Anything moldy or stinky has got to go too, so open those leftovers and be ruthless.

Clean It

Now that you have emptied the entire fridge take a few minutes and give it a serious wipe-down.  Don’t forget the shelves on the door and the fruit and veggie drawers.  Might as well take advantage of the empty fridge and give it a good clean.

Assess

Take a look at the size and height of your food containers, bottles and jars.  The fridge is empty so it’s a great time to move around the glass shelves to accommodate all you food.  Try to envision where everything will go and keep the most used food items in front.  If you’re not sure if something fits try it out.  Adjust the shelf if needed.  Move things around if it’s not working. Try a Lazy Susan or clear fridge bins to help you organize it and make it accessible.  It’s your fridge, make it work for your needs.

Put It Back

Normally I would have you label things at this step, but that may take a few minutes and since it’s your fridge we’re talking about and your items are perishable that doesn't really make sense.  So put all the food back before it spoils .  Try to use temporary labels like post-its with tape to keep your fridge in order until you have more permanent labels.

Label It

I know it’s a bit weird to have labels in your fridge, but without proper direction you won’t know where to put things back or find them after.  What has really worked for us is to label some zones, but not all.  For the most part the food is grouped together by category but there are some items that are just going to have to hang out together because they are all tall or bulky.  So instead of doing a “miscellaneous” label (ie an organizer's nightmare) I left it blank and crossed my fingers that common sense will prevail.  

*** For the labels I used the FreeStyle Script font in MS Word, printed it out on Full Sheet Clear Decals from Avery and then covered the labels with clear Con-Tact shelf liner to make it washable.***

Maintain It

They key to any organizational system is proper maintenance.  Put it back where it is supposed to go. Period. For more on why this is so important click here.

Don’t be afraid to change things up if the system stops working for you.  Habits change, food preferences evolve.  One system won’t work forever, so don’t forget to reassess every once in awhile and shake it up if needed.

Happy Organizing!

5 Easy Ways To Take The Stress Out Of Dinner

As seen In Huffington Post

I have been meaning to write about meal-planning for a while. Surprisingly, it has been the craziness of adding a third child to the family has finally spurred me into action.  We’ve been flying by the seat of our pants for the past six weeks and the lack of planning has caused us to make many more trips to the store than we typically would.  The result of this has been spending more money and wasting time running around. I recently touched base with fellow mompreneur and dietician Robin Glance. She says that setting aside time to plan your meals for the week is a great way to ensure you receive a variety of foods and nutrients from the food groups. It also prevents poor last-minute meal choices such as ordering in or picking up fast food.

If planning out your meals can help save time, save money, and help you to eat healthier.  What is not to love?

Have a Flexible Plan

I’ve always been pretty organized but the crazier and busier my life gets the more grateful I am for this skill. Being organized about meals doesn’t necessarily mean you need to be super structured about it.  One of the most common pushbacks to meal planning I hear is that people don’t want to be stuck eating a specific meal on a specific day.  I totally get that.  There are definitely times that I look at our meal plan and think, ugh, I do not want that for dinner tomorrow.  So I simply move things around.  Instead of having sausage and vegetable penne on Monday, I’ll swap it out with another meal from that week.  They key to this is having a flexible meal plan.  When thinking about your meals for the week really try to make sure that they are easy to prepare, cook and clean up after.  One of the ways I do this without wasting food it using a combination of fresh and frozen ingredients in my meals. This way if the family is not in the mood for beef and broccoli this week, my veggies won’t rot away in the fridge, they’ll just continue to chill out in the freezer until we we are craving that meal the following week.  Another key to flexibility is having a back-up go-to family fave that you always have the ingredients for.  In our family it’s “make-your-own burritos”.  It’s quick and easy and we always have everything we need on hand.  Canned black beans, corn, rice, tortillas, guacamole, salsa and cheese.  All staples or pantry items, yes, even the guacamole (because I freeze it).  If we have peppers and onions on hand I’ll get fancy and saute them to throw in the burritos.  But this is a solid, healthy, super quick, go to  meal and every household needs one.

Robin also reminded me that it’s important to plan for the side dishes as well. Vegetables should take up half the space on your plate. We recommend at least two different types. Choose fresh salads, steamed, stir-fried or roasted veggies. Stock up with frozen veggies for days you are short on the fresh stuff – they are still packed with nutrients.  Robin also suggested some great alternatives to the rice and potato staples.  We should try to swap in whole-grain options such as quinoa, barley, spelt and bulgur.

Make a Solid List

The other point I get resistance on is “I don’t have time to meal plan”.  I get it. Life is busy.  But setting aside 5-10 minutes a week will save you time in the long run.  I try to brainstorm meal ideas when I’m driving, watching tv, or messing around on my phone.  After planning out the week’s meals It’s important to then prepare your list and plan when you are going to the grocery store.  When making your shopping list have the recipes in front of you.  Check your fridge, freezer or pantry to really make sure you have every item, and enough of every item you’ll need for the week.  I also like keeping a running grocery list on my phone ( I use the ShopShop app).

When it comes to grocery shopping try to limit your trip to one or two stores.  I know all the bargain hunters and couponers out there will be appalled by this but for this busy mom it just simply doesn’t make sense to spend all that precious time and gas running from store to store to save 5 cents a pound on grapes.  Your time has value too.  You would be surprised how much money you’ll save just by having a solid grocery list (and sticking to it).

I’m not saying that meal planning will change your life but it will certainly help you feel more in control of your hectic weeks. As an added bonus it’s always nice to actually have an answer when the kids ask you “what’s for dinner?”!

Happy Organizing and Meal Planning!

Organize Your Home To Cultivate Your Child's Independence

As a parent to two young children I spend a ridiculous amount of time cleaning up after them.  I also spend a lot of time getting things for them.  Snacks, toys, craft supplies; not a day goes by that I don’t hear “Mama! Can you get me my (fill in the sometimes irrational request)?”.  Don’t get me wrong, I love to do things for and with them, but I also want them to be independent and give them the confidence to know they have the capability to do these things on their own.

It’s not just their toys that need to be organized, other areas of your home can contribute to their autonomy as well.

Kitchen  

Keep things at their level:  If you have a spot where you can place their plates, bowls, cutlery, etc that is within their reach, use it.  My kids really like to choose their own forks and spoons, so I always have them in an open bin that they can access within the cupboard or take out easily if they choose to.  We also have very deep cupboards in the kitchen, (this can be challenge, I know) so it’s really important to have the everyday stuff right in the front.  Save the back for the items that you use less frequently.

Having their things accessible means that they can easily help set the table, or get the appropriate piece of cutlery when they need a snack.

Another helpful tool in the kitchen is a water cooler.  We had one for years and it meant that every time my kids yelled that they were thirsty both their cups and water were easily within reach and they could help themselves.  I won’t lie, there were more spills on the floor than I could possibly count, but hey, it’s only water!

It is also incredibly helpful to have a place where their snacks are handy.  If you have a place in your pantry and/or your fridge that has healthy, parent-approved snacks already portioned out you can save yourself a great deal of stress.

Craft Station

We all try to find that balance between getting stuff done with the kids around and not letting them watch too much T.V. Once my kids are home from school they each get to pick one 20 minute show and then the screen goes off (this isn’t a hard and fast rule; I find the later I get into this pregnancy and more exhausted I become, the more this rule gets stretched).  Once the T.V. is off I need to entertain them and since this is generally the time that I am putting dinner together or finishing up my work, they need to play on their own.  For that reason I love having a craft station.  My office and their playroom is a shared space on our main floor.  This is by design.  I do a lot of work from home. Much of it while my kids are home. As a result I need to be close and keep an eye on them.  When I first moved my desk into their playroom my son asked me why. My daughter replied “because mommy likes to be with her children” (cue heart melting).

Their craft station is a rolling Ikea cart in between two tables.  Everything is in clear bins that they can open and close on their own.  I also keep a supply of blank paper, coloring books, play-doh and stickers.  One of the tricks I use is to not have everything accessible to them all the time.  I have more supplies stashed away.  I don’t keep everything out, I rotate and restock as needed.  Too much of a good thing isn't actually a good thing. The result is a space that works for all of us, with constructive play time and work happening together.

Toys

I cannot overstate how important it is to keep their toys organized and to a minimum.  The less there is, the better they play with what they have and the more they can use their imaginations.  I’ve seen it with my children and with countless clients whose playrooms I have reorganized.  Kids play better with less. Period.  If you don’t want to just get rid of all their toys (which is completely understandable) try having a rotating stock and only keep a few things out at a time.  

In terms of organizing their play area, the same guidelines apply.  Have things at their level, in bins or baskets that they can open on their own. You can use pictograms if necessary, and please, please, please take a few minutes to explain the system to them.  Sit down and show them how you have organized their toys. Explain to them where to find everything and that they need to clean up and put away one set of toys before they are allowed to move on to the next.  I’m not saying this is a foolproof system. They are kids, and won’t always clean up when they're done. But you certainly can’t expect them to know what to do if you don’t explain. Encourage them and then reinforce the positive things they do.

I want my kids to become helpful and contributing members of society and I don’t think that by doing everything for them I am fostering that kind of independence.  I think it is important to take away as many roadblocks as possible that sit in the path of the little tasks your are asking of them (you are not going to get your kid to grab their favorite puzzle without your help if you’ve placed it on a completely inaccessible shelf). You should have things organized in a predictable way that makes sense to them.  Grouping like items together, having easy to open bins and easily identifiable contents, are just a few of the ways to accomplish this. I’m not guaranteeing instant success and that your child will suddenly do everything on their own, but these are great first steps towards their autonomy.

Happy Organizing!