Montgomery County Electronic Drop Off- December 14th

Here is a great recycling event coming up soon.

Montgomery County's Solid Waste Dept is having an special electronics drop-off at Walt Whitman HS, 7100 Whittier Blvd. on Sunday, Dec. 14 from noon - 4 pm.

From their website, here is what can be dropped off:

What is accepted? Our program for electronics is open to all Montgomery County residents and businesses. Accepted items include: small electronic appliances, calculators, camcorders, CDs and floppy disks, CD players, cell phones, computers and computer-related products, consumer electronics, copiers, cords and cables (including chargers), digital cameras, electronic typewriters, fax machines, microwave ovens, personal digital assistant equipment, printers, projection equipment, scanners, telephones, small electronic toys, televisions, VCRs

All collected items are recycled. Sorry, we do not accept videotapes in our electronics recycling program. How many items may I bring? You may bring up to 3 televisions.

What Being Messay or Neat Says about Political Leanings

My aunt in California posted a great new study on her blog from Scientific American that talks about what being neat or messy says about political leanings. I think it is interesting that a study was actual done on this topic and that according to the study, resesarchers insist that they can tell someone's political affliation by looking at the condidtion of their office and bedrooms. Messy? You're a lefty. A neatnik? Welcome to the right.

This is just fascinating to me because a professional organizer I usually don't get into my client's personal views on politics but I am now going to have to go back and think about whose houses I have been in to see if the study is true!

Free Digital Photo Book from Snapfish!

So, who doesn't want something free while at the same time getting rid of clutter? We can all thank Oprah for this freebie! Snapfish is giving away free photo books. It is a great opportunity to finally take pictures of all your kid's artwork and save the memories in one place, without all the extra pieces! Please see the information below. Enjoy!

http://www.oprah.com/slideshow/oprahshow/20081029_tows_messyhouse/7

Overwhelmed by what to do with growing piles of your child's art projects? Peter has a great solution! "Take digital photos of their artwork, upload them to Snapfish.com, and they will send you back a beautiful, bound book of the kids' artwork. So, over time, you can build a library of your children's artwork—let the pieces go, but keep them in this form forever."To help you get organized, Snapfish.com is offering The Oprah Winfrey Show viewers a free 8" x 11" custom-cover photo book! *Create a Snapfish.com account now or log in to your existing account to receive this special offer. Get your free book! * This offer is only good for one standard 20-page 8" x 11" custom-cover photo book per household. Coupon dispersal ends at 11:59 p.m. PST Friday, November 14, 2008. Free photo book must be redeemed by 11:59 p.m. PST Sunday, November 16, 2008. Offer does not include customary shipping and handling changes or additional pages. Offer applies only to mail-order delivery to U.S. customers. Offer cannot be combined with other coupon codes. Coupon cannot be resold or otherwise transferred and is void on the earlier of redemption or the offer end date.Due to heavy demand, you may experience some slowness navigating to the website. Please be patient and try again later.

Organizing Event at Daisy Baby, November 6th

Just a REMINDER...


I wanted to let everyone know about an exciting event that I will be doing at the children's store, Daisy Baby, on November 6th. Come check it out!



Join DAISY BABY (http://www.shopdaisybaby.com/) in hosting professional organizer, Rachel Rosenthal of ROSEY’S (http://www.roseysurbanstyle.com/) and baby planner Kimberly Shore Levin of NURSERY KNOW IT ALL (http://www.nurseryknowitall.com/) in an open house to discuss everything organization!

Each hour Rachel and Kimberly will give a brief overview of getting ready and organizing for baby as well as tips for organizing once your baby/ies arrive. They will also be available throughout the day for individual question and answers.

Rachel will be discussing pre-baby and post-baby organization including:
- Organizing and Preparing for baby (or babies)
- Time Management skills (includes family schedules and group calendars)
- Reducing clutter when there are children in the house including
- Solutions for twins

Kimberly will be discussing getting ready for baby including:
- Timelines for lining up services pre-baby
- Creating and managing your registry list
- Baby Proofing
- Nursery Design/Assistance

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WHO: DAISY BABY along with Rachel Rosenthal of ROSEY’S and Kimberly Shore Levin of NURSERY KNOW IT ALL

WHAT: Open House to learn more about organizing for and after baby

WHEN: Thursday, November 6, 2008 12-7 pm

WHERE: Daisy Baby
4924 Del Ray Avenue
Bethesda, MD 20814
(301) 654.7477

WHY: Come meet Rachel Rosenthal of ROSEY’S professional organizing and Kimberly Shore Levin of NURSERY KNOW IT ALL to learn about organizing for baby. There will be a short presentation each hour on specific topics as well as one-on-one time for questions and answers.

RSVP: rachel@roseysurbanstyle.com or kim@nurseyknowitall.com


About Rachel Rosenthal, Founder of ROSEY’S

Having been put to the test with the challenge of organizing for twins, Professional Organizer Rachel Rosenthal’s efforts were recognized on the cover of the HOME Section of the Washington Post when her twin girls were 6 weeks old. Today, after developing organizing solutions for dozens of clients, she has developed simple solutions and systems that are proven to help all parents on a variety of topics.

Founder and President of Rosey’s, Rachel Rosenthal, applies her style, organizational skills and experience to reduce stress and improve efficiency for all her clients. Rachel has a BA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a JD from Catholic University School of Law. She has worked in various law firms, as a legal recruiter, on Capitol Hill and in the retail industry. After years of assisting friends and co-workers with organizational and style issues, Rachel now uses her type A personality and attention to detail for the benefit of her clients. A native of Bethesda, Maryland, Rachel’s familiarity with the Washington area helps her point you in the right direction. Rachel now lives in Bethesda with her husband and 8 month old identical twin girls.

About Kimberly Shore-Levin, Founder of NURSERY KNOW IT ALL
As a mom of 3 children, born over the last 3 1/2 years, Kimberly has spent countless hours in practically every baby store in the Washington area. She recalls being 5 1/2 months pregnant with her first and standing in the parking lot of a large baby store feeling stressed out by how much there was to buy and do. Add to that working full time and then having to go on bedrest — she was at her wits end!

This is where Nursery-Know-It-All comes in. Nursery Know-It-All is a baby planning/concierge business aimed at helping expecting parents with all things baby! Services include but are not limited to registry assistance/completion, nursery design, nursery preparation/organization, baby shower planning, post partum planning, birs/baby naming planning, and pediatrician referrals.

Kimberly has worked for the past 12 years as a speech language pathologist at George Washington University Hospital and the National Rehabilitation Hospital. She graduated from James Madison University and has a Masters Degree in Speech Language Pathology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She lives in Bethesda with her husband and three children (ages 5, 3 1/2 and 16 months).

Economic Downturn..Time to Organize!

One thing we are all sure about right now is that the economy is not in a good place. Just the other morning on the Today Show they were talking about how to cut down on costs for Halloween. And that of course got me thinking..



Isn't now the perfect time to get focused on organizing your life? Most of us are buried under too much paper, too many clothes and just too much stuff overall. During this "financial crisis" why not try and organize all of your things and then either have a garage sale, consign them or donate them to people in greater need.



This way, you kill two birds with one stone. You will be organizing all of your things and making a little extra money during this economic downturn! But what if you have no idea where to even begin? Well, that is what I am here for..as a professional organizer, I am here to help you with all of your organizing needs!



Everyone wants to regain control of their lives during this economic downturn. However the only way to do that is to invest in the process that will get you there and keep you there.

Electronic Recycling Event

Who doesn't have electronics that are laying around their house collecting dust? With technology changing every few months (or what feels like minutes) these days, I find that most of my clients have electronics hanging around the house that they don't use.

Well, now there is a local event that will motivate you to clean out your old electronics and recycle them!

Montgomery County will be holding an electronics recycling event on Sunday,October 19, 2008 at Montgomery Blair High School, 12 to 4 p.m.

What is accepted? The program for electronics is open to all Montgomery County residents andbusinesses. Accepted items include: small electronic appliances, calculators, camcorders, CDs and floppy disks, CD players, cell phones, computers and computer-related products, consumer electronics, copiers, cords and cables (including chargers) digital camera, selectronic typewriters, fax machines, microwave ovens, personal digital assistant equipment, printers, projection equipment, scanners, telephones, small electronic toys, televisionsVCRs

And, if you can't wait until October 19th, you can bring your electronics to the Transfer station near Shady Grove off Rt 355 any day.

NBC4 Safe & Secure Community Shred Event

Here is a GREAT way to get rid of paper clutter..usually home's biggest area of clutter.

NBC4, PNC Bank and Shred-It have teamed up to bring you the next NBC4Safe & Secure Community Shred event. Bring up to five boxes of yourpersonal papers to a specified location and they'll shred them for FREE!(A $50 value for attendees!) You must drive up and not walk in with materials to be shredded. No business or commercial material will be accepted! Only 5 boxes of papers maximum per car!

Date: Sept. 27, 2008
Hours: 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. (Cars must be in line by 11 a.m.!)
Location: Prince George's County Community College, Lot B

# Beltway exit 17A to Rte. 202. From Rte. 202 make right onto CampusWay. From Campus Way make left onto Prince Place to access road to Lot B.# Central Avenue to exit 15 to Rte 202. From Rte 202 make right ontoCampus Way. From Campus Way make left onto Prince Place to access roadto Lot B.# Rte. 50 to Landover Exit Rte 202. From Rte 202 make right ontoCampus Way. From Campus Way make left onto Prince Place to access roadto Lot B.

They will accept:
* All types of paper. (Staples and papers clips are OK)

* Empty binders.

* Unwanted/expired credit cards.

* Computer disks

ROSEY's Organizing for Parents

ROSEY'S announces a new arm of its professional organizing services for mothers and fathers: PRE-BABY and POST-BABY ORGANIZATION! This service is offered nationwide through phone consultations as well as in-person.

Having been put to the test with the challenge of organizing for twins, Professional Organizer Rachel Rosenthal's efforts were recognized on the cover of the Home Section of the Washington Post when her girls were 6 weeks old. Today, after developing organizing solutions for dozens of clients, she has developed simple solutions and systems that are proven to help all parents on a variety of topics. ROSEY's services include:

- Preparing for baby (or babies)
o Organizing the nursery (includes content and space)
o Creating logs, feeding schedules or other helpful techniques for bringing home baby
- Time Management skills (includes family schedules and group calendars)
o Saving time on clutter so you can spend more time with your family
- Reducing clutter when there are children in the house including but
not limited to)
o Paper management
o Toy management
o Children's rooms
o Playrooms
o Common areas (jackets, sports equipment, book bags)
o Children's artwork
- Creating calm before or amongst the chaos
- Solutions for twins

See what some of ROSEY'S clients are saying:

"I was amazed at how much space we actually had for our son in our small home. Rachel came in and helped us organize a brand new nursery for our son. Rachel was a life saver because she really opened up our mind to different possibilities and helped us organize several rooms in our house in preparation for our son and after he was born."
-Melissa S. (Washington, DC)

"I had just found out I was having twins and was terrified. I owe my sanity to Rachel because I was more prepared for their arrival than I ever could have been.
-Sarah P. (Bethesda, MD)

"I was so frustrated with how disorganized my house was because of my 4 year old and 2 year old twins. But then I emailed Rachel for some help. She was really understanding of everything I was going through. We worked over the phone for several weeks and each time I got off the phone with her I was more motivated than the next! And my kids actually help me organize now and want to keep their stuff organized. Thanks, Rachel."
-Karen W. (Austin, Texas)

So while reading a great magazine this afternoon I came upon a very interesting study having to do with neatness and children. The study said that children who are raised in a neat, orderly home grow up to be more successful in their school and work lives than kids who live in a messy environment.


According to the study, teaching your child to be tidy when he is a toddler doesn't just make your house less of a disaster. Learning to organize now has a major payoff later when your child has to present a neat notebook to his teacher, find his homework, or keep his video-game collection in order.



But the brainy benefits last even longer than you might think. "Clean up routines improve a child's ability to stick with a task and plan well later in life," says Dr. Brooks-Gunn, who led the review. "Whether you clean up before bedtime or throughout the day doesn't matter, she says. "It's the planning and routine that really helps your kid." Another perk: Toddlers are more likely to pitch in without whining if they know when to expect cleanup time.

Client Question: Storing Hazardous Household Chemicals

My girls have recently started crawling.. and that has lead me to think about all the other clients that I work with that have toddlers in the house. A question that comes up time over time is: What is the safest way to store hazardous household chemicals when you have a toddler running around?

A: I always advice clients that if there are any products in your household that can be a danger to any member in your family or a pet, keep them in a securely locked cabinet, high out of reach and away from all food. Always leave the products in their original containers with their lids tightly sealed. In addition, read the labels on these products as some must be away from heat sources. Never attemp to transfer the hazardous products to other containers. Always organize all products together.

A GREAT new blog

So as I spend the summer working and spending time with my infant twins, I am also researching the latest and greatest in the organizing world as well as the blogging world.

I have found an amazing new blog called: I Never Signed Up For This: http://www.ineversignedupforthis.typepad.com/ And of course, it doesn't hurt that my aunt, Darryle Pollack, is the author and an amazing one at that. She blogs daily (not an easy thing) and her subject matter is her life. Her writing is amazing and I am urging everyone reading this blog to check it out. She was recently featured on The Huffington Post, two days in a row for blogs that were genius! And who hasn't once felt in their life, "I never signed up for this?" I know I have!!

Please check out the blog and go back very often. It is a joy to read. Enjoy.

Summertime Lull..

So I realized that I haven't posted in such a long time. Clients keep asking when I am going to post again so.. I am finally posting! I think that between the joys of raising identical twin girls as well as working with clients on their professional organizing and personal shopping, things have been keeping me busy!

I just wanted to catch everyone up to speed on a few recent articles that I/ROSEY'S was featured in during the past few months. Enjoy the articles.

Washington Post Express 7/08:

http://thehill.com/cover-stories/hill-wardrobes-2008-05-06.html

Politico Paper 6/08:

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0608/11339.html

Washington Post Express 5/08:

http://www.expressnightout.com/content/2008/05/getting_ahead_workday_as_runway.php

The Hill Newspaper 5/08:

http://thehill.com/cover-stories/hill-wardrobes-2008-05-06.html

I just wanted to let you know that I'm back after a wonderful and exciting maternity leave. Please join ROSEY'S and get in the spirit of Mother's Day at Celebrate Mama!

CELEBRATE MAMA! Saturday, May 3rd. 11-4

Come shop over 100 vendors at the exclusive marketplacefor mamas of all ages & stages!
www.celebratemama.com

Bethesda RowWoodmont Ave, in between Bethesda Ave & Elm St.

FREE Event! Entertainment Raffle Prizes Mother's Day Marketplace Arts & Crafts Bring the Whole Family!

Kick off performance by:Rocknoceros! ~ PLUS ~Jam with Miss Belle Facepainting Story TellingMother's Day Crafts

Learn about over 100 local organizations that cater to mama INCLUDING:

Onesies DC
Stroller Strides
DCMom
Our Kids

Container Store Embraces NAPO Members-Professional Organizers!

The time has finally come and I couldn't be more excited!!

The Container Store will now be offering NAPO (National Association of Professional Organizer)members (yours truly) a 10% discount on regular store purchases and 20% discount on ELFA purchases. I can purchase regular items on my own for clients but if one of my clients wants to purchase anything ELFA, they will need to be present with me. This discount is completely worth it! Let's start making purchases!

Recycling Event in Annandale

You all know I love a good recycling event..

Saturday, April 19th

9am-2pm

Mason District Governmental Center: 6507 Columbia Pike, Annandale

A great chance to recycle COMPUTERS -- all computer & peripheral devices free excepet $10 for each CRT monitor and SHRED/RECYCLE DOCUMENTS -- up to 5 boxes of paper per resident -- NO CHARGE. This is a GREAT opportunity to get rid of all that unwanted/cluttered paper.

ROSEY'S in TODAY's Washington Post

Today I am featured in the Washington Post's Home Section. It is a very exciting piece on getting prepared for multiples. The article is below but make sure to check out the actual paper. There are some GREAT photos of me and my girls! :)

Strength in Numbers More Than One Baby Calls for More Household Planning and Flexibility

By Terri SapienzaWashington Post Staff WriterThursday, March 6, 2008; H01

An organizer by nature and profession, Rachel Rosenthal Strisik's impulse toward order hit full throttle when she learned she was pregnant with twins. Right away she sought out a local support group and started networking with mothers who had twins or triplets. At her Bethesda home, she created folders for medical bills and parenting articles. She set up areas upstairs and down to diaper and dress the babies. She baked and froze lasagnas and chicken casseroles for those days when she was sure to be too harried for cooking. Her operating theory: "You need to bring order to the chaos before it happens."

For most parents, hearing that they are having multiples is "joy mixed with terror mixed with moments of calm," says Patricia Malmstrom, co-author of "The Art of Parenting Twins" and director of Twin Services Consulting, a support Web site for parents with multiples. After absorbing the news, Malmstrom says, many parents-to-be find themselves "scrambling to find balance in the midst of a very unstable feeling." Much of that scrambling centers on how to keep a household running smoothly -- or just running -- with two, three or more babies crying at once.

Multiple births are increasingly common in this country. Between 1980 and 2005, the rate of twin births almost doubled, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. Triplet and higher-order multiple births more than quadrupled. Experts say the jump can be attributed to more women delaying childbirth: After the age of 35, women have an increased chance of conceiving multiples, especially if they are undergoing fertility therapies. This trend complicates matters on the home front: Women expecting multiples are often confined to bed before delivery and may have a longer recovery afterward, which can add to a general unraveling of housekeeping.

Rosenthal Strisik, 30, runs Rosey's Urban Style, a personal organizing and shopping service, so she was already skilled at planning. And since the arrival of identical twins Ellie and Marin in January -- the first children for Rosenthal Strisik and her husband, Marshall Strisik Schattner -- she says she has also learned to be flexible. Because her girls are different weights and require different amounts of food, she started labeling bottles with their initials. She makes a habit of keeping Ellie on the left and Marin on the right during feedings, naps and playtime so friends and relatives can tell who's who. "Get your systems in place as early as possible," she says. "But know that the babies will change your system. Things are constantly changing."

Annie Elliott, 37, is a Washington designer and first-time mother of 3-year-old twin girls. When she learned she was expecting, she put up plenty of open shelving in the nursery and hung a clear plastic shoe holder on the wall next to the changing table so onesies and wipes were nearby and visible. "You have to have everything at your fingertips," she says. "Wrestling a baby in and out of clothing is more stressful when you have another baby crying."She devoted an entire shelf -- not just a charming little basket -- to diapers. ("Really stock up. You won't believe how fast you go through things.") And she color-coded the girls' clothing to help others tell them apart: red for Ruthie, green for Georgie. Becky DeStefanis, 34, and John Spirtas, 33, parents of 2-year-old triplets, have some counterintuitive advice for couples expecting multiples: Resist the impulse to move to a bigger house right away.

DeStefanis and Spirtas, who live in a small Cap Cod in Silver Spring, say it's easier to monitor children in a smaller space, where there are fewer places for them to get hurt in. "And when things get lost, there are only a few rooms where they can be," DeStefanis says.When the triplets were newborns, the couple put a mini-fridge and crockpot filled with water in the upstairs nursery so they could easily warm bottles in the middle of the night. They created a chart to track when each baby was changed, and when and how much they ate. "It's easy to forget who's doing what when," DeStefanis says.

To contain daytime activities to the first floor, the couple turned the den into a nap room when Ben, Ella and Marie were infants. A little-used end of the kitchen became a changing and dressing area, and the dining room became a playroom, complete with bright-colored rubber floor mats to cushion unsteady toddlers. They also put a clear plastic shoe holder to clever use: They hung one on a kitchen door to store bottles and, eventually, sippy cups. "Everything is about ease of use, seeing what you need and getting to things quickly," Spirtas says. "Especially in the beginning, because you're asleep all the time."

Parker Rea, 33, and her husband, James, 37, are expecting twin boys in June. They plan to stay in their Capitol Hill townhouse for the time being. Though space will be tighter, they've decided to rearrange things rather than move. "Right now we're looking at our space and thinking about how to make it more efficient," Parker says. Bulky antiques will be put in storage and replaced with smaller, less precious storage pieces, and the boys will share a room with two small-scale cribs. "I think it's about getting creative about how you're going to make it work."

Another good piece of advice: Avoid buying too much baby gear. Kate Hood, 35, a Reston mother of 1-year-old twins and a 3-year-old, says it's a mistake to think that a home with multiples needs multiple swings and multiple bouncy seats. "Two babies does not automatically mean two of everything," she wrote in an e-mail. "And the gear will take over your house regardless, so try to keep it as minimal as possible." Try borrowing baby gear before purchasing it, several parents advised. Some babies are lulled by motorized swings, and some aren't; some delight in doorway jumpers, and some don't. If possible, try before buying one, two or three of anything. And though part of the fun of having a baby is designing and dressing the new nursery, getting caught up in the decor may not prove to be the most productive distraction. Take it from a design expert. "If you worry about every small decorating detail, you'll go crazy," Elliott says. "Take that time and energy and go buy diapers."

Multiple Resources

National Organization of Mothers of Twins Clubs: http://www.nomotc.org/Montgomery County Parents of Multiples: http://www.mcpom.org/ (The group's next semiannual consignment sale and equipment exchange takes place Saturday in Rockville. See the Web site for details.)Northern Virginia Parents of Multiples: http://www.nvpom.com/Twinslist: http://www.twinslist.org/Twinsight: http://www.twinsight.com/Mothers of Supertwins: http://www.mostonline.org/Triplet Connection: http://www.tripletconnection.org/Center for the Study of Multiple Birth: http://www.multiplebirth.com/Twin Services Consulting: http://www.twinservices.org/ Twins Magazine: http://www.twinsmagazine.com/1-800-DIAPERS: http://www.diapers.com/ Online freebies: http://www.storknet.com/cubbies/freebies/twins.htm

Rosey's Two Little Identical Organizers Have Arrived!

Iwanted to let you all know that my two new identical "organizers" in training have arrived! Thank you for all of your support and thoughts these past few months. I will be on maternity leave for now but will be back shortly! In the meantime, I will keep on blogging!!


January 18, 2008

Ellie Isabel Strisik (4.15 lbs. /6:51 pm) & Marin Ava Strisik (4.2 lbs./6:52 pm)

Get Organized Now:Start the Year Off Right!

I stumbled upon one of the latest issues of Parenting Magazine and as a woman who is about to become an instant mother of two (any day now!), the article on organizing with children really caught my eye. I wanted to share it in it's entirety, so it is below. It is the perfect blend of how to tips on how to get your house organized when you have children. Happy Organizing!

Get Organized Now: Start the Year Off Right! The step-by-step plan to finally get your house in order—so it stays that way, by Melody Warnick

Goal: Get everyone out the door on time and tantrum-free
Now: Turn a plastic dishpan into a home-base bin to hold everything your child needs for school or daycare: backpack, lunch box, snacks to share. If she decorates it with stickers and markers, she may actually dump her backpack there instead of on the floor. And if you remember to stock it the night before with lunch and that signed permission slip, you'll make it out the door with only minor delays.In two weeks: "Instead of several little routines every day, consolidate," says Amy Brady, the Austin-based owner of The Clutter Consultants and mom of a 2-year-old. For instance, she says, "If your child takes lunch money to school, don't give it out every day; divvy it into five different envelopes on Sunday night." Use a white board to track what you and your kids need to remember on different days of the week, like library books on Monday and show-and-tell treasures on Tuesday. Then stash them in a hanging clothes organizer (one compartment for each day of the week) so you can grab and go. In a month: Okay, you're still running late sometimes. Make mad-dash mornings less hectic by stocking a bin with breakfasts your kids can eat on the go, like cereal bars, whole-grain toaster pastries, and baggies of trail mix. Stockpile napkins in your car's glove compartment.

Goal: Simplify the laundry, and keep it from taking over the house
Now: No room for shelving? Use a lazy Susan on your dryer to corral everything from detergent bottles to stain removers. Keep smaller necessities—the bleach pen, the dryer sheets—in a clear shoebag. (It's also perfect for holding popped-off buttons and the crayon stubs you've fished from your preschooler's pockets.) In two weeks: Assign each family member two mesh bags for laundry, one for whites and one for darks (look for different colors to help everyone keep track of what goes where). Kids 3 and up can haul their own to the washing machine. Plus, when time runs short, you can throw the whole bag in and wash and dry as is, no sock sorting required. In a month: Cut down on folding. Use a separate basket for each bathroom to hold clean towels that aren't folded, says Sara Fisher, a certified professional organizer and owner of A Simple Space, in Atlanta. "When towels come out of the dryer, they can go straight in the baskets." Same goes for undies and a baby's one-piece suits: Stick them in a shoe box in a drawer, no folding or sorting necessary. And if you come across clothes that don't fit your kid anymore, don't put them away thinking you'll sort them later. You won't. Keep a giveaway bin right in the laundry room.

Goal: Pay the bills on time and never forget another permission slip
Now: Throwing paperwork in a basket is quick, but horizontal surfaces turn into pile-up zones. Instead, think vertical, says Jackie Kelley, a professional organizer with Clearing House in Bethesda, Maryland, and a mom of two. Hang a multipocket wall file near where you sort the mail, and get a different brightly colored folder for every member of your family. As soon as you get the soccer schedule, write the game dates on your calendar, then slide the paper into your daughter's file. As long as you check the calendar each day, you're golden. In two weeks: If the sheer volume of papers is overwhelming, make it easier on yourself to get rid of the junk. Put your recycling bin right where you sort the mail—in the kitchen or even by the door—so you can get rid of credit card offers and catalogues as soon as you get the mail. That'll make the pile to sort and file much smaller.In a month: Reality check: Filing may not happen every day. So place a magnet strip or a bulletin board near your files and tack paperwork there that you have to act on right away, like book order forms or donation requests. If you set aside five minutes before bed to tackle the paperwork, it won't turn into a mountain.

Goal: Get the junk out of your trunk (and the rest of your car)
Now: Add a few collapsible mesh bins to the cargo area to round up everything from ballet bags to extra diapers. Next, slip a clear plastic envelope between the front seats so you have a place to stash loose scraps of paper, like coupons or Mapquest directions. When you're waiting for the gas tank to fill or to pick up your kids after school, sort through the envelope and toss anything you don't need anymore.In two weeks: Put a basket or crate by the door as a catchall for anything that's en route somewhere: rental movies to be returned, clothes to be dry-cleaned, packages to be mailed. When you're ready to run errands, simply put the crate in the car. It'll keep your stuff looking neat—and you won't have to pay late fees for the DVD that disappeared under the rear seat. In a month: Start this routine: Before your kids get out of the car, pass around a sack and have them put in whatever trash they see, suggests Brady. That little maneuver will keep detritus from piling up on your floorboards (as long as you remember to dump the paper bag!).

Melody Warnick, a mom of two in Ames, Iowa, relies heavily on baskets, cork boards, and a gigantic calendar to stay organized. Just don't look in her car. Parenting, February 2008

ELFA at Container Store now 30% off

The Container Store is now holding its annual ELFA sale. All ELFA is 30% off. It is a GREAT opportunity to take advantage of their amazing ELFA system. ELFA can be used in any closet, any room and for any purpose! Make sure to check out the sale.

ROSEY'S tips on Let's Dish Blog

The fabulous people at Let's Dish have started a blog called Food for Thought. Today on the blog they have included a tip from Rosey's! Check it out.

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Well, it’s been a week since you made your New Year’s Resolutions - and 7 days of Food for Thought postings with tips from organizers and life coaches to keeping your resolutions. I thought instead of asking how you’re doing (no one likes a report card) or hinting at the failure statistics, I’d share Rachel Rosenthals’ advice on celebrating progress:
After you’ve made the effort to de-clutter and get organized, take time to celebrate. Whether you throw a party for friends or enjoy your first watermelon of the season, take pleasure in the progress you’ve made.- Rachel Rosenthal, ROSEY’S,http://www.roseysurbanstyle.com/

I’ll share my progress on one my “To Be Free of Personal Clutter that Stresses Me Out” for a virtual Food for Thought party: I typically read magazines in bed (ah, a little “me time” in a quiet place!) but find I end up with a stack of them around my room or on my nightstand. This time, I’m trying something new. I stuck a cardboard box (leftover from Amazon holiday orders!) discreetly in the room and after I finish reading my magazines, I drop the magazines in. I’ll recycle the whole box when it’s full. I’ve stuck to it so far and get a nice sense of satisfaction when I finish a magazine and it’s off to recycling. Hooray!
Want to share your progress on Food for Thought? Go for it! And maybe someone else will pick up a tip from your de-cluttering, organizing or goal-setting efforts!
– Alexa
p.s. Since our strong suit here at Let’s Dish! is helping you provide dinner for your family, I hope you’re also suceeding in your meal-time resolutions, be it taking care of dinner with less stress, eating healthy, saving money or more! Don’t forget to sign up for your January session - and then take care of February right away. In the store this month, you can enter to win a luxury spa package for two (value of $650) at the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Golf Resort, Spa and Marina in Cambridge, MD. Now that’s a celebration!

Organize Magazine & Organizing LA

So I was of course looking at my favorite magazine's website, Organize Magazine and I noticed that they have added my blog to their Community Page. In addition, I was reading over one of my favorite blogs, OrganizingLA and I saw that they have added me to their active blog list. And while it might not be exciting to you (sorry!) it was exciting to see that the premier organizing magazine and blog in the country have decided to include this blog on their sites!

I have talked a lot about Organize Magazine in the last few months. While it is a relatively new magazine, it is absolutely fabulous. It’s their mission to provide readers with organizing solutions for living and they are doing it! And I love John Trosko of OrganizingLA. He has also been featured on Daily Candy and several other media outlets. OrganizingLA is the premier Southern California organizing expert. They are known for creating excellent solutions and providing spectacular results in your home and home office and their blog rocks!

A Clutter Too Deep for Mere Bins and Shelves

There was a wonderful article in the New York Times yesterday titled A Clutter Too Deep for Mere Bins and Shelves by Tara Parker-Pope. I definitely encourage everyone to read the full article. The main question was: Is Clutter Standing in the Way of your Health? This is the perfect question for starting off the new year where most people's resolutions are about getting healthier.

Below is the synopsis of the article and a link to the main blog page where hundreds of people have left their comments and thoughts.

Being disorganized is frustrating. But it can also stand in the way of better health. That’s the focus of my Well Column in Tuesday’s Science Times, which explains that many efforts to declutter focus on organizing the living space. But the real problem often isn’t the house, but the person. Sometimes disorganization is a symptom of a health problem, like attention deficit disorder, depression or a mental health issue called hoarding. And sometimes, the clutterer just needs to learn how to sort and prioritize and let things go. Most experts agree that getting organized and cleaning up is good for your health.
“People don’t eat well because their kitchen isn’t functional, and they don’t sleep well because their beds are piled with stuff,'’ noted Lynne Johnson, a professional organizer from Quincy, Mass., who is president of the National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization. “I don’t see chronic disorganization ever becoming a medical diagnosis, but it is a contributing factor to noncompliance to taking meds and keeping appointments and being able to do exercise and eat well and all those things that so contribute to having a healthy life.'’ Is clutter standing in the way of your health? Have you found a way to overcome chronic disorganization?