No Storage Room???

Sometimes when I am talking to new clients, over the phone, they are not sure what they really want to do with there storage space and how to make it work..." that is what I am for " you say... true true but remembering for a minute that the clients house is their home ... 

Before starting any project you must get rid of as much clutter as possible... remember if you are not sure whether you want to keep it or throw it you can place those items in a box... get a thick black marker and put a date on top of 6-12 months from the day you put the items in .... if after all that time there are still things in the box that don't get used... donate them to charity or sell them online.

Next job is to measure up the area you are about to tackle....

Jump online to your favourite storage solution shops... here in Australia I use... Big W, Howard's Storage World, Bunnings, Ikea and Office Works to name a few. This step should help you find your best solutions to your needs.

The rule of thumb... if you are a renter make sure you chose solutions that you can take with you when you move... home owners make sure if you chose a storage solution that is a permanent fixture that it will make your life easier and is eye appealing not just because of the price... if it is an expensive solution just wait until you have the money or buy bit by bit if you can.

Remember at the end of the day you can always call me or email me if you have any obstacles or need help... send me a photo and I can offer some advice.

Nadene: phone: 0403800010  or email: nadene.prior@live.com.au 

The Garage

Ok ... so you have a garage... or maybe it is actually your storage/junk room.... You know when you watch a movie and the actor goes out to the garage to get in the car ... you look at the space they have and how clean it is ... no oil on the floor no junk all over the benches and definitely no stack of boxes in the corner that haven't been looked at in over 10 years...

1. If you are able to get your car in the garage... take it out.
2. Wheel the Wheelie bin into the garage and start getting rid of the old paint, terps etc that you know is past the useby date or will never get used.
3. Place items into the following categories: 1. Garage Sale Items  2. Rubbish for the Tip  3. Use full items for keepsake  4. Old items for charity  5. Recyclable / Creative items for making things with
4. Get the kids to help if you can.. make sure all items go into one of the above categories... try not to keep too much otherwise your efforts will just be in vein. 
5. With the items in the Garage Sale area... you should have enough to put a sign in the local paper or get the kids to just put up signs around the neighbourhood every Sunday till it is all gone... you can work on the garage at the same time as the garage sale.
6. I don't have to tell you what to do with the 2. Rubbish for the tip category do I????
7. Grab a couple of large 90L plus plastic containers with lids... put any large items such as material etc into these making sure to label them and put to one side for now.

In the Kitchen: Part 3

Open the cupboard underneath the sink: Ok what do you see .... is it a mess... This is cupboard in the kitchen which is most likely to attract nasty mess.... what I mean is chemicals for cleaning, rubbish bins and unwanted dish cloths etc.

Today we will focus on making this a more user friendly cupboard.

1.  Make sure if you store a bin in this area it has a lid. 
2. Place a few shelf savers in this cupboard so that you can use the full height of this cupboard.
3. Store Chemicals in a plastic container so they are all confined to one area... perhaps the top of the cupboard... or at the top of a shelf saver.
4. Keep plastic lidded containers in here with your dish-washing powder and soaps so that kids can't get the lids off. Looks better than packets as well.
5. Sore rubber gloves and scrubbing brushes in their own containers. If you look at the shelves they should be as clean as the fridge.. so contain the individual items in containers as if they were food.
6. Throw away old scourers and brushes that look like the dog has been playing with them... take pride and buy some fresh ones next time your at the store...most of theses items are only a $1 to buy... 
7. If you are going to keep your dustpan and shovel in this cupboard: recycle a grocery bag and store it in their.
8. Most of the time this cupboard is moist so don't store food items in here... if you are going to have a bin in this cupboard definitely don't store food in here.
9. Take pride.. when you buy cleaning cloths and brushes from the supermarket... don't just throw them in the draw or in the cupboard... give them a place.... make sure that when you finish using them for cleaning that you wash them and dry them out thoroughly before placing them back in the cupboard to avoid bacteria growing and nasty smells...if you are a paper towel freak like me then make sure you have a roll storer or stand for it so that you don't end up leaving the paper towel roll living on the bench etc.

Don't forget to visit the Love to be Organised website at www.lovetobeorganised.com.au

In the Kitchen 2

Plate cupboards can get pretty cluttered so here are a few tips

1. Invest in a plate stacker: which is a tiered plate rack that fits neatly into the cupboard stacking your plates separate and using the height of the cupboard.
2. You can even get shelf stackers to put sauce dishes and other dishes on different heights giving you more room in the cupboard and save shuffling things around just to get at something you need in the back of the cupboard.
3. Use plastic storage boxes in the cupboard for china and dishes that don't get used regularly and you can use the extra space on top for things you do use. Don't forget to label what is in the box so you know what is in there.
4. Get rid of old tupperware and ceramics that aren't getting used. RSPCA can always use it to pass onto those in need.
5. With electronic goods being stored in most peoples cupboards: make sure it is something you use if not sell it or give it away. Anything you do use should be easy to get at so if it is not invest in a wire shelf with runners. That way you can pull it out with ease.
6. Use a undershelf basket for your spare chopping boards. This will allow the chopping boards to air when not being used and it is off the bottom of your shelf and using space not usually being used.

Don't forget to visit the Love to be Organised website  www.lovetobeorganised.com.au

In the Kitchen

I am going to talk about the kitchen over several different posts, so today will be about the Pantry.

1. Make sure you always stock rotate your food in the pantry. That means check dates on food items and the oldest should be at the front.
2. Try keeping your food items in easy to see rows. 
3. Create systems that work for you. Such as buying a few plastic crates to hold all sauces in one area, herbs and spices in another etc. By segregating your food you can see what you need by just looking without the rummaging.
4. My best tip is to never over buy items that aren't getting used on a regular basis no matter how cheap they are at the time of purchase.
5. With shelving label areas where things are kept such as cereal etc so the family put them back where they belong and keep some sought of order to the pantry rather than just throwing things in.
6. Place plastic lino or contact paper sheets on the bottom of old shelves to give them a new clean lease on life.
7. Wipe down shelves at least once a month to avoid tin stains etc.
8. If you love to bake make sure you put all your baking needs, flour etc into sealed containers in one section. 
9. Invest in a lazy susan if you have items that are in areas that are hard to reach. Then you can just turn it  around to see what you need.
10. Label everything.... this is the best tip .... you should know what is in the pantry. 
11. Keep a list of regularly used items out of the pantry on a sheet. If you really like to be organised and you need someone to grab things from the shop whilst your at work, a list helps them at a glance see what should be in the pantry and buy what is needed if your not there. That way you will never be out of flour, cereal or paprika.

Laundry Tips

Usually the laundry is an easier place to keep tidy due to the fact the kids and hubby tend to avoid it. So these tips just a few little ideas to make life easier.

1. Always keep a second Laundry detergent and Fabric softener ready for the last one to run out. That way when you have one empty you put it on the shopping list and never run out. This is useful for other items round the house.
2. If you can, keep the Ironing board in the laundry and iron clothes as they come in off the line. If you do a little as it dries then you don't end up with a large, overwhelming pile at the end of the wash.
3. Use a clothes airer for delicates and items you don't wish to have fade in the sun. 
4. For fluffy towels, half dry them on the clothes line and finish them off for 10-15 mins in the dryer... nothing better than soft cuddly towels.
5. NO MORE MILDEW SMELLY CLOTHES: If you have a washing machine with a timer setting on it... use it.... if you have errands to run or washing that needs doing overnight you can set it to finish when your ready to hang the clothes out.
   Also if you need uniforms washed on a regular basis you can set it to clean you clothes an hour or two before you are due to get up in the morning so all you need to do is hang then out before you leave for work or throw what you need in the dryer whilst your having breakfast, working out and getting ready.
6. Clean out your washing machine every season. Run a short cycle with  1 cup of bicarbonate of soda, 1 cup of vinegar and 10 drops of your favourite essential oil. This will clean out your pipes, disinfect the machine and leave a nice odour.
7. Keep a small jar next to the washing machine for: buttons that come off in the wash, items out of pockets, money etc.

Hope some or all of these were helpful to you and if you need any laundry products: Please don't hesitate to look up my all natural chemical free "EcoPro" products on www.lovetobeorganised.com.au

Organising that Messy Car

It doesn't matter if you are a sole user of the car or a mum with 3 kids... the car can be the biggest accumulator of mass mess.

Here are just a few simple tricks to help keep it under control.

1. Make sure there is always a plastic bag for rubbish you can store it either in the centre console or place one of the handles over your gear stick so that it hangs down the side of the seat where it is easy for both driver and front passenger to put rubbish in.
2. If you tend to get a lot of brochures or rubbish mail out of the letter box and you leave it in the car so that you can use the coupons or read the specials before you go shopping... make sure you go through it the same day and place unwanted into the rubbish bin.
3. Place a few plastic storage boxes with lids in your boot ready for placing shopping in so that you don't have your groceries sliding all over the car and it is easier to get them out at home.
4. Keep a small plastic container with a lid on the floor near the kids feet for their car toys etc. makes it easier for you to grab at to amuse them and helps them realise that is where they belong at the end of the journey.
5. Always keep hand wipes, tissues, a fresh bottle of water, a reading book and mobile phone charger in the car. You never know when you are going to break down in the middle of no where. (speaking from experience ... I was in the middle of a remote country road, on the way to servicing a few clients in an area I was not used to driving in when my beloved car decided to get a stone burst through the radiator. Long story short thanks to my phone battery not being fully charged I only had enough charge to make one phone call to the road service and got help but it took over 2 hours for them to get there. I was very thank full that I had water to drink, mints to eat, a good book to read and tissues to use as toilet paper...
6. Car mats are a great way of helping to eliminated dust, dirt and sand grounding into your carpet. You don't have to be an avid vacuumer just take the mats out carefully on a weekly basis and just bang them on the cement drive to eliminate the dirt.
7. Keep a small spray bottle of Vinegar, Water and a few drops of your favourite Essential Oil in the console of your car. Spray it round the car as needed... it is the best deodoriser and natural disinfectant around and cheap to make or you can just buy it on my website. www.lovetobeorganised.com.au 

Bathroom Organising

Bathroom Organising

Ok we all know it is hard to keep the bathroom completely clutter free when it is shared by many in the household but here are a few hints and tips that CAN help!

1. Pull out the contents of the cupboards and draws in the bathroom and get rid of anything that has been sitting unused for longer than 6 months....yes even those little moisturiser and other samples that you said you would use one day.

2. Create baskets or plastic containers for each member of the household for there personal items such as deodorant etc. Make sure they are aware that is there space in the cupboard or draw.

3. Don't keep anything unnecessary to the area. Eg. no cleaning products in the bathroom store them in the same area as your other cleaning products and get them out when needed.

4. Make sure you have a small cup for your toothpaste to sit in so that there is a designated area for it to live rather than being left on the side of the basin.

5. If you have 3 bottles of shampoo that have bits left that get pushed aside when the new one is opened then tip all the bits in together ... shampoo is shampoo it won't hurt to mix it and have one full container. Do the same for Conditioner etc.

6. Invest in a small spray bottle (they are about $1 from most supermarkets) and place 1/3 cup vinegar, 10 drops of your favourite essential oil then fill the rest up with water. Keep this either hanging in the shower to spray after each use or under sink for quick use. This will help keep mould away and make your bathroom smell like a resort.

7. Look at your colour scheme in the bathroom and see where you can brighten it up and make it feel inviting. Add a touch of greenery - you will be amazed what one plant can do in the bathroom. Ferns are a great option as they like to be inside and an environment of moisture.

Organising your Weekly Shopping

One of the many things that becomes a frustrating choir is the shopping. Do you find yourself shopping daily rather than weekly? Do you run out of ingredients or go to the pantry to find you don't have what you need to make that nights meal?

Ok help is at hand here are few key tips to help you get through the weekly shopping and organise your menu regardless of whether you end up eating out or not.

1. Always keep a list of what you run out of and replace it in your next shop.

2. If you use something on a regular basis such as tinned tomatoes, pasta, milk etc make sure you keep a little more of that item than what is needed. 

3. Buy in bulk for things that won't perish such as toilet paper, tissues, deodorant etc.

4. Plan the weeks meals... it is also a great way of coming together as a family and getting the kids to put in their ideas of what they like to eat... even if they do suggest things like pizza it can be made healthy and you could get them to make the pizza dough and get them involved in that nights meal. 

5. When planning the menu make sure you try and use things in the next nights menu that won't allow for wastage eg. If you are making a stir fry on Monday night and you know that you are going to have vegetables left over make sure you are using those veges into Tuesdays menu item so you could do a vegetarian pasta. I am sure you will get the idea.

6. Don't impulsive buy... only get what is on the list so that you don't end up with wasted food at the end of the week.

7. Get the weekly junk mail and compare prices of meat, veges etc before you do your menu that way if Lamb is on special you can create your menu round a roast lamb on one night.  Also take in consideration the weather and the season. If it is winter don't make salad wraps... use hearty meals that will fill up the family that will also stop them from snacking.

8. If an unexpected night out comes up still shop for that nights meal or if you have all ready shopped for that nights meal you have a spare up your sleeve that can be made and frozen for a quick solution.

9. Preparation: If you have a menu that can be cooked ahead of time or you can prepare the ingredients in advance have one night of cooking and preparation so that each night you can throw together the meal in minutes rather than spending time chipping and cooking everynight.

10.Frozen meals: I am not big fan of frozen meals or anything that is pre-prepared for that matter. Usually theses meals are high in numbers/preservatives. Make your own by cooking up things such a s Lasagne and cutting up ready to eat portions that can quickly be reheated in the microwave.

TAX TIME AGAIN!!!

Here are a few hints and tips on how you can organise your tax not just for this year but to get ahead on next year...

My favourite way of keeping tabs on tax receipts and invoices is to place them all in a categorised plastic sheet labelled and placed in a Lever Arch Folder.

Categories: Car Expenses, Utilities, Health Expenses, Insurances, Work Related Expenses such as
Travel, Phone, Uniforms, Tools etc.

Label each plastic sheet and just pop your invoices and receipts under the respective category as you progress through the financial year... you can input the information into a spreadsheet so it auto tallies as you go or just input it all at the end of the year....

Keep a folder for each individual in the house or one for personal and one for business.

When going to get your tax return done just print off your spreadsheet and take it with you to your tax accountant along with your group certificate and other relative info and you won't need to take all the bulky and heavy receipts with you because it all on your spreadsheets.

Fridge & Freezer Organising

Ok so I know when you open the fridge usually you can find most things after moving something out of the way or taking out a few items getting what you want then putting the other contents back in... but what if you could make the fridge and freezer more user friendly??? How??? Well here are a few tips that can not only help you keep your sanity but stop food from going off before you use it and help find items easier...

1. Next time you are in the supermarket make sure you get a few long clear containers that are not too deep.
2. Place containers in the fridge and freezer.
3. In the fridge section use one container for all your sauces on the top shelf.
4. Use one container for your condiments ie: jams, spreads.
5. Use one container for your cheeses. Now you are getting my drift you now how to organise the rest of the fridge.
6. Now the freezer. Use a container for your chicken items.
7. Use a container for your meat items.
8. Use a container preferably with lid to keep a nice stash of ice so you don't have ice cube trays all over the freezer then replace ice as needed.

My final tip is to make sure you rotate your items so that when you buy new food you place it at the bottom of the container so that the older or half used item is at the top and to the front. When you have a well organised fridge you can see exactly what is on each shelf and this also makes for faster cooking and easier shopping... Have fun 

5 Random Tips 

1. If you don't have much time to do your landscaping or gardening and you are on a budget try designing your own sanctuary on paper then adding one plant a week... it may take awhile but you won't notice the cost as much.
2. If you are tight on money but have a wish list to purchase items around the house to give it better organisation or just to make it look better. Get an envelope for each thing you want and every week add $1 or more to each envelope (or whatever you can afford 20c etc.) it may take awhile for you to buy the item but at leas in the meantime you are getting closer to the item rather than not at all.
3. Always reuse your grocery plastic bags for everything and anything from garbage bags to storing clothes in the cupboard or you may even like to tie up excessive amounts of pens/pencils and keep them for when the kids have used the ones they have.
4. Go through a cupboard a week and de-clutter or reorganise it so it is more efficient for you and your family... once you find a system that works you will find it is just a matter of cleaning rather than culling in the end.
5. Next time a recipe calls for fresh herbs buy a potted bunch... use what you need for the recipe then plant the rest into a garden or larger pot for future use... far more cost effective and adds to your garden.

for all our services go to www.lovetobeorganised.com.au

Well after a hectic last few months I am finally on here again to share a few more tips and hints. I have released a book on all Natural products called "Eco Pro" links are featured below or you can email for more details... Rainy Days: Next time it is a rainy day with nothing to do but watch tv DON'T!!! Get the whole family involved in a clean up... or even if it is only you just think of the sense of achievement tackling just one area of the house that has been neglected. Start just one thing on your agenda... here is a list to help you 1. Get rid of clothes that are old or don't fit 2. Open your kitchen cupboards and cull your Tupperware/plastic containers that are never used or getting tatty. 3. Rotate the food in your pantry to make sure you are using the canned or packet items closer to the date today. 4. Attack that paperwork piling up in the corner of the office. 5. Get rid of towels and sheets that are not being used in your linen closet (ideas: great for rags or if still good drop it into an animal shelter they need them.) 6. Go through the cupboards in the bathroom and get rid of the half used make up, creams and lotions not being used. 7. Go through the kids toybox and give the unwanted or unused toys to the Salvo's or other charities... there are so many in need. 8. Get your hubby to go through all the garage and get rid of unwanted or unused gardening items, paints etc they may also be needed at a charity based project. 9. Start a pile of unused electronic goods for collection by the council so when the date arrives you can just place it out ready. 10. Start going through the old magazines/newspapers you have kept for particular articles and get the kids to clip them out or scan them into the computer for later use... kids will find glueing the articles into a scrap book for you and decorating the pages fun on a wet day with a computer/game ban. Enjoy and will post again next week.. Cheers Nadene :)

Just letting everyone know that the book is now available on EBook so please feel free to have a look... you can see the first 5 pages.. Happy Reading All

Finally the first book is published and the eBook to The $1 Theory will follow in around 1 Weeks time ... in the meantime check out the preview

The $1 Theory: A Guide to achieving the money you need with just one idea. by Nadene Prior | Make Your Own Book

If you have any questions please contact me from our details to the left.