TIDY.

Organizing for a Simpler World

[iamtidy]

Happy Friday! We are back and more rejuvenated than ever! This summer has been a crazy one so far, but we are so pumped at the support that you are showing our little operation :) 

It’s a little hard to believe, but August is JUST around the corner... shocking, really. Whether you are going back to school, parenting someone who is or just winding down from a lazy summer, you know that getting back into the swing of “regular life” (one less mojito and trip to the pool per day) is a tough task. Being prepared for the onslaught of more work and less play is a very important thing to take into account.

We thought we would kickstart the next month by chipping away at some Paper Clutter issues that you may have in your house. Let’s start in the Mail Room!

|Friday Challenge| Part 1 - Credit Card Offers

SO ANNOYING, right? As if we don’t have enough paper to deal with, we have to KEEP getting these 6-piece packets of offers to trick us into shopping more. If you have heard of the program Opt Out and never taken advantage of its service, today is your day. We are going to cut the clutter before it hits the mail room.

Step One: Pick up your phone and dial 1-888-5-OPT-OUT. You can put the phone on speaker, sit back and let the creepy robot lady do all of the talking. 

Step Two: Follow the Prompts - based on what service you would like, you can decide to opt out for 5 years, forever, OR if you have already done this and need to receive offers again you can have your name added back to the list (this kind of defeats the purpose of this post, but it’s your choice:))

Step Three: Next, robot lady is going to get incredibly nosey at this point by asking you about things like your SSN, birthday, house number, first and last name, etc. It might be tempting to hang up because it’s getting too personal, but this is how it works. Don’t be afraid...they have to make sure they’ve got the right person (because heaven forbid that someone else be blessed with the gift of LESS MAIL! Sheesh...)

Step 4: Wait up to 5 business days and poof you’re done! They will mail you a piece of paper that you will need to do a little follow-up on to make sure everything is complete and voilà! See ya, CC offers :)

These 6 minutes (it actually took us 4!) will help to save you countless moments of sorting, opening, deciding and recycling and will allow you to focus on the more important pieces of mail that you actually need to deal with on a daily basis. The less we put in front of our eyes, the less we have to process - aka WORK!.

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Be on the lookout for our new website launching soon! If you know of anyone in need of organization in his/her home or want to hire us for yourselves, please don’t hesitate to call or email us. We will have some Newby Offers as well as some fun College Move-In Specials, so stay tuned!

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For a more official jargon than what was just provided, check out the Federal Trade Commission’s page for more information. 

[iamtidy]

Work Desktop

We had a wonderful visit to a STUNNING office here in Birmingham this week which has brought about our |FridayChallenge| for the day: The Work Desktop

This is a place where creativity should be free to soar and where your mind should be to wander to places that keep you positive throughout the day as well as help you get your work done. It's like we always say - mental clutter is physical clutter. Once things start to get backed up on your desk, it will set off the same reaction in your mind. Let's keep the momentum moving forward and work for a few minutes to create some sanity.

1. Be tough and gut those papers! Business cards, fliers with product information, things that you think you will only reference one more time IF there's a full moon...Trash it or file it! There are a lot of great Apps for storing contact information  (CardMunch is great!) Things that you need to reference less than on a daily basis should go in some type of file system.

2. File, File, File. If you don't have a filing system for processing incoming papers, please create one. It is crucial to the success of paper processing. We recommend a standing file holder in which you can put files that say "to be read," "waiting" and "tomorrow" for papers that you just can't get to right this second, but that you need to get to shortly. Giving your desk this "processing zone" helps to eliminate a lot of stale, time-specific paper clutter without losing important documents. Also having a drawer or cabinet with more archival things like HR papers and phone lists will help you store papers long term. Don't be afraid to make a file for anything and everything (i.e.: "that girl who cleans windows" can be a file name) You can have multiple filing systems! This will create maximum efficiency.

3. Simplify: it's so fun to have personal momentos and photos on your desk, but watch out and make sure it doesn't get too crowded. You might think you are creating a comfy environment but sometimes the opposite effect can occur. Taking the time every couple of months to store away notes you have on display or putting phone numbers in your phone instead of tacked up to your board can allow for free space. 

4. Cleanliness is next to Heck Yeah! I Love My Desk!: it sounds like common sense but you'd be surprised… once a week don't be afraid to take a Cloroz wipe to your desk. Not only are you preventing a need for sick days, but mentally you will feel crisper if you can smell the cleaner and get rid of dust and dirt.

5. Get cute!: Kind of hard to believe, but using office supplies that are pleasing to the eye will keep you more engaged throughout the day. Invest in file folders with a cute pattern (Target has amazing Chevron prints), or switch to all-white accessories so that your desk has aesthetic appeal (The Container Store or Let's Get Organized). 

6. Dress it Up: Try bringing a lamp from home, a pillow for your chair and some personal touches to scatter around -- anything that will make you feel more at home in your work space. these little things will keep your momentum forward as well as make you feel comfortable throughout your work day. 

Happy Friday! Be Tidy. Xx

[iamtidy]

Spring Cleaning: Closet Cleanout

|FridayChallenge| Spring Cleaning: Closet Cleanout

We had the opportunity to meet an incredibly bright, stunning and talented woman, Cole Crews, who has a fresh vision for a fashion blog she is beginning that will help send donated items to specific people in need (follow her fashion blog here!). She has inspired a Spring Cleaning: Closet Clean Out! 

Not only do we need to be actively rotating items in our closet, but we can use this time to evaluate how much we need as well as create opportunities for giving. Let's start with the obvious items for today... Winter Coats. Now that the earth is warming for Spring, these can go.

There's nothing like clearing out 17" of closet rack space just because you are still harboring four furs, a few peacoats and a NorthFace or two. Yes - logically speaking it makes sense to keep all clothes in the closet. Our stance on the subject is that simplifying your closet into a more concise palette of choices will help you get dressed at a faster pace - in things that you actually enjoy wearing - and cut down on time spent agonizing over what to wear.

To keep this challenge down to 6 minutes, we will just excavate the overtly-insulating garments. Make a pile by gathering everything that is no longer temperature appropriate and reassign them to a new space based on your storage situation. 

Where can they go?

1. In a large clear plastic bin (with a lid!) stored in your attic or garage.

2. In space-saving vacuum bags which you can store in a drawer, under the bed, in the attic, etc. These will seriously save space!

3. Under-the-bed rolling bins - very useful for many types of items, especially if you do not have much drawer space available. (We love to store t-shirts we never  wear under there).

4. Find another closet - one in which you won't need everyday access. 

5. Donate them! If you didn't wear a coat all winter, you may want to think about setting it free. (Cole has some great tips for donating unwanted items!) 

Quick Tip: If you have more than one closet, it's often best to group "like" items in different spaces. For example: all shirts, tunics, blouses and light-weight upperbody wear should be in one section; all lower-half items in another; and any coat, jacket, sweater, etc in another part.

This is just the first of many steps to a new and exciting closet; taking baby steps helps us avoid feeling overwhelmed and defeated. Remember: the easier it is to access the clothes that you actually love, the more powerful you will feel when making fashionable choices for everyday life. 

[iamtidy]

FridayChallenge: Key Ring

|FridayChallenge| Key Ring  A seemingly simple task, if not constantly adjusted, a key ring can become a very frustrating burden (even if we don’t consciously realize it). We’ve all been in the parking lot of Target with 19 bags full of fun goodies (no one can step inside that store and NOT spend his or her inheritance) — All of a sudden we find ourselves fumbling our key ring containing approximately 30 keys that are not relevant to the car, OR we are pushing away chunky key chains that say “I don’t have a short attention span, I just… oh, look a squirrel”. Come on now. We understand that key rings can pass as accessories, but sometimes it’s nice to stick with something concise and functional. Not only can bulky key chains cause these frustrating and (sometimes) painful Target parking lot moments, but it can also create a situation that might be dangerous (predators are more likely to go after someone in a parking lot who is visibly distracted and struggling).  Spend your 6 minutes today evaluating each key on your key ring. Maybe you never took off your MasterLock key from your high school locker, or the keys from your ex’s apartment are still hanging on. Regardless….they are not relevant to the current locks in your life, and therefore must go. As with all organization, as soon as we shed all of the superfluous from our lives, we are freer to live simply and with less stress and more time. Having a quicker entrance to the car will create a calmer exit-experience to your grocery adventure and ensure a safer environment as well. Good luck!  Be TIDY. Xx — at TIDY. HQ.

[iamtidy]

FridayChallenge: The Car Console

WOW! We are so blessed to have such an amazing client base already! Today was jam-packed with office/closet/workshop projects for some lovely people. Unfortunately the Friday Challenge is coming to you a bit late, but we couldn't keep you waiting another day. Here goes......

|FridayChallenge| The Car Console

If your life is anything like 90% of the people we know, this might be a problem area for your car. That sweet little spot in the middle of the two front seats can become a dumping ground for anything and everything that you bring in and wish you could take out of your car. Quick Tip: We suggest taking a laundry hamper or a tray out to the car for the items that need to go back in the house so that you only have to take one trip.

For the 6 minutes, focus on a few things:

1. TOSS: Old receipts that you do not need, nasty napkins that have been exposed to some icky elements, old food/candy/gum, To-Go utensils which have been opened or used, ETC (this list could be endless)

2. EVALUATE: Do you really need those expired coupons, Celine Dion CD from high school that you never listen to anymore, the 15 adaptors that came with your Garmin or iPod player or 7 tires gauges? Make sure you have very car-specific items and things that you use often that will be easily accessible when needed.

3. REARRANGE: 

a.) Make sure important documents are placed in the GLOVE BOX. Why? This space is farther from the driver sear and therefore less likely to get junked up - a smart solution for important papers. 

b.) Maps, magazines, miscellaneous papers, folders, etc. work really well in the car door or in the pocket on the back of the front seats. If your car does not have one of these, you may want to consider having a folder you keep under the driver's seat for these types of items.

c.) If coupons are something you keep in your car, run to the store and pickup a coupon wallet or pouch. This will help with the amount of clutter that accumulates in the car and will be helpful when you get to the store!

The less distraction you have in the car, the more peaceful your ride will be. In some cases it could affect your safety which never a good thing. 

Let us know what you discover in today's 6 minutes!

Xx

[iamtidy]

I see London, I see France, I see........ FridayChallenge! We are touching on quite a personal subject today with this challenge, but since the base of every wardrobe is what goes underneath, it seems fitting to tackle the Delicates Drawer. How much fun can a person have analyzing every piece of undergarment he or she owns? Let's find out! It is easy to forget to take the time to evaluate the quality of what is in this drawer, therefore causing an overflow of riffraff and non-essentials. So we ask that you take 6 lightning-speed minutes to fly through those skivvies. We won't go into crazy detail about the types of things you should be looking for to determine if they should be tossed, but if you stop on a pair and have to think about it for more than two seconds, it's probably safe to say those are a goner.  So set your timer, and if you don't mind, please, just for this week, don't send us photos of what you find. ♥ Be Tidy. Xx

[iamtidy]

These bins are kinda neat. We like them. We love them. Humph, what are we trying to say? oh wait.... We're OBSESSED with these bins.

Who knew that a refrigerator would be on the list of spaces to organize? Just like last week when we talked about clearing your mental clutter over the utensils that you use to cook, you should do the same for the actual ingredients you are using. 

Why we love them: 

1. Seriously, no refrigerator comes with enough drawer space.

2. That random jar of pepper jelly will no longer get stuck in the back until it explodes and leaks sticky goo all over a shelf that is hard to remove to clean.

3. You can now successfully use the space closer to the back of the fridge that most people consider a black hole for non-expired foods. OH YEAH. 

4. If you are living with multiple humans, the chances that they will put things back in an orderly place just got higher.

5. They just look cool (we think so, at least.)

These are sold at almost any store with organizational products so...

TIDY. TIP: Go get some Fridge Bins! Your soon-to-expire-I-forgot-these-were-in-here foods will thank you.

Be TIDY. Xx

[iamtidy]

FridayChallenge| Y'all! 

It's January: we have all made the resolution to get in better shape and "drop 20lbs" for summer, but how can you make that happen when you can't breathe in your kitchen? 

Physical clutter is emotional clutter, and if you're anything like us, when you can't find the spatula to stir those protein-packed eggs, you're stickin' to cereal. So let's do this 6-minute dealio on the Utensil Drawer.

How to spend your 6 minutes:

1. Take out unnecessary items that are a duplicate, have melty plastic spots or just look gross. 

2. Place similar items in "Like" piles so that you can assess how many of each kind you actually need.

3. Move items that belong in other areas of the kitchen to their homes.

4. Place everything back in the drawer and you're finished!

Just to make sure we weren't setting you up for failure, we had a little challenge-off ourselves. Check out the before + after! And we're already feeling the urge to make somethin' nice and heathy. Yum..

So start your timer, curl a few wooden spoons and let's whip this drawer into shape. Xx

[iamtidy]

This was a Tuesday Tip: coming to you 2 days later :) Today's tip: Use STACKABLE Acrylic containers for your drawers Per |FridayChallenge|, we gave our junk drawers a little love. It's easy to clean out a little trash, but putting back the things you want to keep can become random and messy if you don't have the right tools.  Enter stackable acrylic containers. We love these because you can see what's inside and it feels clean and airy in the drawer when you are finished. With the stackable component you gain vertical storage within the drawer, allowing you to get more inside.  For those in Birmingham, we got the ones in the photo at Let's Get Organized in Homewood, but there are a lot of options out there. (there are many different sizes and shapes too!) Look what we did with our Junk Drawer... Make sure they are clear, make sure they stack! Xx

[iamtidy]

Before + After | An Office

It makes sense that a basement would become a storage facility for everything unwanted, but when you're trying to set up a home office, that's not exactly convenient. The most important thing to remember is to stay calm, smile, remember the final GOAL: in this case it was creating an inspirational space where you feel free to work and be successful. 

[iamtidy]

Wait...What Do You Do?

I pretty much have a 100% chance of hearing this question when I tell people what I do, and that’s OK by me because it means that I then get to word-vomit onto the unsuspecting person about my most intense passion in life: ORGANIZING. I’m not sure that there isn’t an additional chromosome in the bunch, but I love, live and breathe [if I could eat it I probably would] organizing.

In today’s world (where every 6-year old at my brother’s wedding owned an iPad), sometimes we don’t stop to take a deep breath and step back from all of the STUFF that we have acquired. I know that in my own life it’s hard to STOP and purge, donate, or throw away things that are no longer functional or necessary [but don't I NEED 42 t-shirts from college?!]. After so long of keeping things, one’s house might turn into a holding cell for life’s lovely “treasures” - it can bog you down. So to me, organization is one of the most important tools to truly living a free life.  It gives you the freedom to feel clean, fresh, confident. You become more efficient. It also gives you the opportunity to LOVE people more because you love yourself - you are defined by YOU and not your STUFF.

Think about it from a practical standpoint... How many times do you open your closet to get dressed and all you see is the aftermath of a hurricane? And let’s face it: for those of us (myself included) who are not fashionably-inclined, this doesn’t exactly breed creativity and outfit-making skills. It pretty much just makes me want to shut my closet doors, get back in my jammies and go back to bed.

Notice I don’t say “the skills to organize” is the key to life. Unfortunately as humans we aren’t all gifted with an eye for design and an OCD-like twitch that gets us going every morning. But organization is more than just being able to keep clean, it’s having a good system that works for you and your skills and personality (we aren’t asking you to stop being lazy, just to be lazy and have a system that prompts you to stay a little clean). That’s where a professional organizer comes in handy. We are equipped with knowledge and experience in creating systems that help you manage the weight of life. 

For anyone asking, here are some examples: 

HOME: Organizing drawers; getting your mail flow under control; cleaning out closets, the space under your bathroom sink, tool sheds, laundry rooms, bedrooms, that annoying “junk drawer” that just won't leave you alone; replacing and reusing furniture to give different and better functions and a "new" feel to old furniture.

STORAGE AREAS: De-bulking and/or re-organizing attics, garages or storage facilities. 

OFFICE: Creating efficient filing systems and aesthetic spaces with the proper storage for desk supplies, organizing email folders and allowing you to clean out your inbox.

MOVING/DOWNSIZING: De-cluttering and preparing your house to be packed up or put on the market by re-organizing closets, packing items to be moved in boxes, staging rooms properly and making it more appealing to buyers. Once you have moved, we can unpack boxes and place things in the best location based on spacial and aesthetic factors.

From a professional organizer's standpoint, we have the ability to help you assess your current system (broken or successful) and see past your clutter to a space that will help you live a simpler life. It might seem daunting to call us to come help you, but I promise, the way you will feel after is completely worth it.

Be TIDY. Xx

Sarah