Decluttering and Organizing Tips:
Organizer Shorts
Since 2022, Organization Pending has served Columbus, OH and the surrounding areas, creating functional spaces to serve you.
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Find in-depth discussions on decluttering and organizing below, or make sure you're following Organization Pending online for the ongoing Home Organizer Tip, Did You Know and How To social media post series. Visit the Community Recommendations page for local recommendations on decluttering, donation and recycling.
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Organizing Tips for the Holiday Season - Organizing Tips and Gift Lift for the Holidays, November 2024
Decluttering for the Holiday Season - Home Organizing Before the Holidays, October 2024
Should You Hire a Home Organizer Before a Cleaning Company? - Home Organizing Before the Holidays, October 2024
Clutter and the Cognitive Load - As Seasons Turn, September 2024
How to Choose the Right Home Organizing Service for You - Summer Catch Up, August 2024
Get Organized Day - Get Organized 2024, April 2024
Organizing Donations and Recycling - Reduce, Reuses, Recycle Columbus, March 2024
Paperwork Tip: Decluttering Receipts - Spring Decluttering and Organizing, February 2024
How to Declutter and Organize Sentimental Items - Spring Decluttering and Organizing, February 2024
Get Organized and Declutter for a Cause - Loving Columbus, January 2024
Plan a Date with Your Love(s) - Loving Columbus, January 2024
Multigenerational Home Organizing - Enhancing Your You, December 2023
Moving Checklist - Early Holiday Planning, October 2023
Holiday Decluttering and Organizing - Early Holiday Planning, October 2023
Holiday Gift Planning - Early Holiday Planning, October 2023
Organizing Your Family's Vital Information - Back to Books, August 2023
Shopping with Kids - Back to School, July 2023
Back to School Organizing - Back to School, July 2023
Better Dishwasher Performance - Catching Rays, June 2023
Decluttering Books - Going Green(er), March 2023
Spring Cleaning Secrets - Springing Forward, February 2023
Organizing Date Day - Organizing Love, January 2023
"Why Organize?" Social Media Series - New Year: Improved You, December 2022
Organizing for Working Out - New Year: Improved You, December 2022
DIY and Repurposed Drawer Organizers - New Year: Improved You, December 2022
Meaningful Gifts at a Slower Pace - Sliding Into Winter, November 2022
Giving Back While Decluttering - Sliding Into Winter, November 2022
Essential or Hobby Work? - Sliding Into Winter, November 2022
Organizing Halloween Decorations - Fall Around Columbus, October 2022
Organizing Tips for the Holiday Season
Organizing Tips and Gift List for the Holidays, November 2024
Both kids, and my partner, all have their birthdays in December - and I'm right around the corner in January - so we know the vital importance of planning for the holiday season early and often, taking notes year-round on potential gift ideas. (A great side effect of the kids getting older and spending their own chore money is you can get a lot of gift ideas, based on the things they want but decide they can't afford.)
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Some people like buying a small, special notebook that travels with them to take down gift, gift card, or gift experience ideas. Others prefer to utilize their notes app, or email themselves and add it to a folder for when they're ready - I email ideas to myself on the spot, then add them to my holiday season budget spreadsheet. This lets me easily see what gifts are already tucked away for different people, for different occasions, and lets me see what other ideas I've had throughout the year if I'm still under budget.
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Another tip my family likes to use is picking up specialty items year-round. Not only is there the extra surprise of an off-season treat, but these kinds of items, or one-of-a-kind items might not be available later. People in my life often pick up antique or interesting editions of books as they see them, or do a bit of shopping around Halloween for my Christmas and birthday presents. Keeping a spreadsheet of bought gifts and gift ideas helps year-round, early, and bargain shoppers keep track of everything- relieving some of the pressure many parents feel this time of year.
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With this early and year-round shopping habit, having an established zone for future gifts has been an important consideration for my own family, and many of Organization Pending's clients. After decluttering, my partner and I were able to put a set a drawers in the closet, using them to collect gifts throughout the year. Clients have used bins in their basements as one large catch-all zone, and others have used several bins to keep gifts for different households, people, or occasions separated. One client liked having bins for each household they would regularly visit during the year, and used bags inside of the bins to keep gifts separated for different people within those households.
And Organization Pending knows the importance of keeping those gift wrap supplies organized within those gift zones!
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Keep gift wrap, bags and boxes for specific occasions in different bins, and don't forget a zone for items that could be used year-round.
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Make sure to have a system in place for bows or other fragile wrapping items to prevent rebuying these items year to year.
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Store gift bags vertically and by size within categories (birthday, holiday, any, etc.) to easily flip through and find what you need.
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Keep holiday card supplies and back stock birthday, anniversary, or sympathy cards with your holiday supplies.
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Consider keeping a foldable table with your gift wrapping supplies if they're in a room or basement - creating a ready place to wrap is invaluable year-round!
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Save on supplies for next year - restock needed items with clearance after the holidays, and don't forget to check on your tape supply for this year!
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Decluttering for the Holiday Season
Home Organizing Before the Holidays, October 2024
It always seems that as soon as back-to-school season has settled, it's holiday season already!
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In 2022, we talked about decluttering before the holidays, and ways to give usable and unique gifts and experiences for the holiday season, including an interview with Community Recommendation Dodo Expeditions for booking your next travel plans.
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In 2023, we talked about decluttering and organizing for the holidays, and memberships and local gift ideas. Don't miss interviews with Community Recommendation Little Sore Thumb for personalized illustrations, stickers, and shirts featuring her designs; and Dragon's Lair Comics & Fantasy® for "any member of the comics and gaming community".
If you've been meaning to get an early start on your holiday decluttering and organizing, this is your friendly reminder to get you started (feeling stuck, overwhelmed, frustrated, or simply don't have the time? reach out for a free virtual assessment: organizationpending.com/contact).
Decluttering Tips for the Holiday Season
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Schedule focused decluttering sessions with or for the kids for their bedroom, playroom, art supplies, etcetera.
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Consider limiting gift lists to a few fun physical items, some needed items, a few special consumables, and invest the rest of the budget to gifting experiences and time together throughout the year (take a look at Mystery Dates, easily adaptable for any age and occasion). Often memories last longer than things, and having new experiences together can be where life-long family stories are created.
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Now is a good time to plan out holiday cooking and baking! Don't forget to check expirations before you go to the store, cross-reference recipes to see if buying in bulk could save a little cash, send out party invitations, and get any specific deadlines on the calendar (I love a good calendar reminder to help me keep track of my to-do list).
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If you haven't gotten a chance to make seasonal clothing, garage, or shed switches - take a look at the weather if needed, and see what fits into the schedule.
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While you're decorating and using holiday dishes - are there items that don't get used? Are there items no one particularly cares about putting out, but the force of habit and tradition hasn't made anyone question it until this year? - And don't forget the opportunity to declutter decorations after the holidays while you're packing them away if you've discovered you don't really want to look at that for another year anymore.
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Should You Hire a Home Organizer Before a Cleaning Company?
Home Organizing Before the Holidays, October 2024
Yes!
Sometimes, potential clients will tell me they want to have a cleaning company over before hiring Organization Pending to assist with decluttering and organizing their belongings. Many times, however, it would save these families money and time to have a home organizer come over first, before investing in cleaning services.
Most often, when a home is struggling with disorganization, a cleaning company will only have time to do their best before needing to move on to the next client. Decluttering unnecessary items and having organized surfaces not only instantly makes the home look cleaner, but also means creating room for a total clean of your home, leaving less piles of “stuff” for professionals to work around.
Why hire a home organizer before a cleaning company?
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decluttering = more space to clean
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organizing and clearing flat surfaces means a total clean for your home, not just what they can get to in the allotted time
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avoid "stuff" shuffling, or having piles of clutter cleaned
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a cluttered house still looks dirty
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decluttering and organizing simplifies cleaning and saves time
Investing in home organizing services before cleaning services simplifies the cleaning process, ensuring the best outcome for your home, and the best value for your home improvement goals. Get started today - reach out at organizationpending.com/contact to schedule your free virtual assessment.
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Clutter and the Cognitive Load
As Seasons Turn, September 2024
Clutter and Your "Messy" Home
"If your house is a mess, you're still awesome. If you can't find your keys, you're still awesome." Professional singer and home organizer, The Organized Soprano, wanted to take a minute to let people know you can Stop Apologizing About Your Messy Home. in a recent YouTube™ video. An experience all home organizers have is potential clients sharing their shame surrounding their homes and their items, and I loved The Organized Soprano's approach of speaking more kindly to ourselves, and discussing our homes in a more neutral manner.
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"Regardless of what you see on social media, having a perfectly organized, minimal home is literally just a state, and has nothing to do with your value as a person. Having an organized home is not a virtue - it's not. It's literally just a state - it doesn't have any bearing on whether or not you're a good person or not - it's literally just a state. Yes, maybe, it says something about the amount of stress you are experiencing and dealing with because, let's be honest, when I am very busy and when my life is a little more stressful, my home can fall apart a little bit - but I'm still a good person."
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The Cognitive Load of Your Home
"In cognitive psychology, cognitive load refers to the amount of working memory resources used. Heavy cognitive load can have negative effects on task completion, and it is important to note that the experience of cognitive load is not the same in everyone. The elderly, students, and children experience different, and more often, higher, amounts of cognitive load."
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Lisa Woodruff of The Organize 365® Podcast sat down to discuss her research and thoughts on mental load of administrative household management in episode 581 - The Physical Weight of Cognitive Load, including her theory that the physical act of writing out tasks for the Sunday Basket® relieves the bearer of the need to keep it in their working memory, unburdening them through them week. Unfamiliar with the Sunday Basket®? This physical basket is a place in the home where to-do tasks gather daily, and is decluttered regularly once a week.
As a PhD student, Woodruff has been adjusting her podcast episodes to reflect what she's learning, and how it's connecting to her research and experiences as a home organizer - I know I've been an avid listener! Take a listen to this episode if you and/or a partner have struggled to understand the invisible workload that exists in the household, and give the Sunday Basket® a try and a weigh. I can't wait to hear more about Woodruff's research on this topic in the future!
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Minimalist Home, the YouTube™ channel brought to you by home organizer and ER nurse Robyn Buchanan, discussed how to Uncover the Secret Dangers of Clutter - End the Mess for Good! I'm sure you know clutter can cause stress, but did you know that stress can raise your blood pressure, causes us to make less healthy decisions overall, and affects our mental health? Clutter also captures and increases allergens, and increases the risk of accidents. "It's almost like trying to walk through molasses - you get bogged down, and that is what is happening in your mind."
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"There's a little bit of us in all of our stuff. It felt like there were invisible strings tying me to every scrap of paper, every worn out t-shirt, every book I had planned to read, and didn't. And when I got rid of the things, I snipped the strings. Instead of my energy going out to my stuff, I could focus it in."
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Former journalist Eagranie Yuh invites listeners to consider their metaphorical suitcase in her recent TEDxHobart talk, What I learned from getting rid of 99% of my stuff. "When you choose what to let go of, you get the clarity to see what you actually need to move forward."
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In 2022, Yuh and her family moved halfway across the world, downsizing and minimizing belongings to a single suitcase each. In 2021, they started their decluttering journey, Yuh realizing her attachment to paperwork was tied to a sense of belonging, and proving credibility - realizing how items can physically hold us back, and recycling these items - "recycling my old life" - didn't affect how she felt about herself. Tune in for the discussion on how her feelings transitioned through the process, and her advice on the questions to ask when our lives shift.
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How to Choose the Right Home Organizing Service for You
Summer Catch Up, August 2024
Were you meaning to get to some decluttering and home organization projects this summer, but time ran away from you, and you don't want to put these projects off any longer? You might feel overwhelmed by how many options you find when you start asking about “home organizers near me”, or you start looking into virtual home organizing services. Other than relying on your neighbors’ and search bar’s recommendations, here are a few other considerations to help you narrow down your list, and figure out what home organizing service, and which home organizer, is right for you.
In-Person Services vs Virtual Services
During the 2020 lockdown, virtual services in all industries boomed - how do you know if virtual home organizing is right for you? Shorter sessions with more scheduling flexibility can be an asset for a busy client on the go, and clients with limited time or mobility considerations. Virtual sessions are commonly discounted from in-person services, while still giving you the support and professional advice you’re wanting for your space, and letting you take full ownership of the decluttering and organizing process. In-person services are useful for areas of the home where technology is often affected - basements and garages - and most in-person services offer donation takeaway and resources. When you choose in-person services, Organization Pending clients also have the advantage of choosing Training Sessions to gain skills and receive personalized tips for their homes for long-term success, accomplishing 2-3 times more than they could without professional in-person support.
Single Organizer vs Team
Usually a team will have a lead organizer, with a few assistants. This group response lets clients enjoy quicker results, often with an option to “set it and go”, letting your space become organized without you, letting you make decluttering decisions after the session on your own time. Single organizers often have this option as well - however, most Organization Pending clients prefer Training Sessions, with a DIY approach. These educational working sessions allow clients to learn skills specific to their household’s needs, ensuring a personalized and long-term approach to their organizational systems. Many clients also enjoy the one-on-one connection they’re able to build with a single organizer, as many people who struggle with chronic disorganization benefit from having a professional work directly with them.
Aesthetic-Forward vs Upcycled-Forward
We’ve all seen the pictures of organized homes that make us say, “I wish!” Aesthetic-forward organizing does leave a lasting impression with beautiful pictures, and many people find a single look helps maintain visual order for open shelving or large storage areas - but some find the upkeep difficult, or feel pressure to always maintain a picture-perfect look. While we all appreciate a single, comprehensive look to our homes, many Organization Pending clients emphasize functionality over aesthetics, searching for the most sustainable and budget-friendly options - often already available to them in their homes after decluttering.
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Get Organized Day: Tip of the Month
Get Organized 2024, April 2024
Get Organized Day is April 26!
Are you trying to get through the spring cleaning, but you're exhausted by how much stuff there is to move and rearrange, or you've realized how many items were expired and unused throughout the household? For Get Organized Day 2024, commit to scheduling decluttering and organizing sessions for your household! Schedule with yourself or your household partner(s), or reach out to Tabi for one-on-one support to meet your home organizing goals - many couples find it helpful to have a professional working with them as an impartial party, and when one member of the couple works better with someone and the other alone, we can accomplish three times the amount of work!
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Tabi's Top Five Home Organizing Tips
Find additional tips on ways to organize your home and life on Organization Pending's Decluttering and Organizing Tips page.
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Declutter First: Before organizing and before buying storage products, declutter! Seeing what is able to be donated or recycled, or seeing what needs to be trash is the single best way to start your home organizing journey. By determining the items that are useful, you're able to better see the categories in the room before organizing them.
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No Right Way: There is no one way to organize, it's dependent on the needs of you and your family. Consider the different heights of family members when organizing family spaces, entryways, and pantries. Think about the ways backstock is stored in the pantry and bathroom, in one common area or within the daily use zones. Does each family member need seasonal and sentimental storage zones designated?
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Family-Friendly: Do the kids need quiet spaces for homework after school? Do they have instruments to practice? Do the pets have designated zones in the home for their belongings? Thinking about the needs of each family member in each space helps let you know when reorganization of furniture could be useful, in addition to organization.
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Reuse, Reduce, Recycle: Before buying storage products, reuse items from around the home! Many clients find that we have plenty of leftover storage solutions after decluttering, and enjoy repurposing boxes for DIY drawer organizers.
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Measure Twice: Before creating or buying storage products to help maintain organization, plan out the space and measure twice! Use spare boxes to try out new systems, giving you a chance to tweak them before buying permanent solutions. Take a look online at long-term options, and consider a budget before you shop. Don't forget to review the reviews for real-life experiences with the products!
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Organizing Donations and Recycling
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Columbus, March 2024
Last spring, we took a closer look at a few Community Recommendations for decluttering, recycling, and donation, including a discussion on recycling household hazards, electronics, and local food composting options. But with so many donation and recycling specifics, let's discuss how to keep it all organized!
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Most homes already have one or two areas where outgoing items tend to gather - usually near a door, and/or in the garage. A first step most people skip while decluttering is to establish a permanent, named zone for ongoing outgoing items. Once a home is fully decluttered once, having a zone lets everyone put donations/recycling/read library books in the right place, and allows anyone to see when the zone is getting full, indicating it's time to run an errand or two.
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Working on decluttering your home for the first time in a while? Take a look at the tips below to help you keep your trash/donation/recycling piles organized!
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Use black trash bags for trash - this helps us from second-guessing decisions, and from seeing broken items we might not have wanted to let go.
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Many donation services offer free pickup for bulk donations. Establish a location in the home or garage to collect everything while you're decluttering, allowing the pickup to happen quickly.
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Donating and recycling to specific locations yourself? Use white garbage bags for soft donations, and paper bags or boxes for other items - don't forget to label these with large print at the top, indicating their final destination.
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Are you trying to sell or give away items to your community? I do this occasionally as well, allowing space for these items in my ongoing outgoing zone! Make sure to take clear, well-lit pictures from many angles, including any information about the product that's printed on it, and close-ups of any defects. Give as much relevant accurate information as possible in your description, including any defects. After a week, donate or dispose of any free items, taking down the listings for them. For unsold items, lower the cost for a week - if these items remain unsold, high priced items should take a deep cut to the listed prices, and lower priced items can be considered for donation. If items remain after three total weeks on the market, one last deep cut to pricing for an additional week before donating could make sense, but many people find by that point, they value the space in their home over the potential cash they could receive.
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Paperwork Tip: Decluttering Receipts
Spring Decluttering and Organizing, February 2024
Many people, young and old alike, enjoy or find use in keeping receipts. This habit, however, could have toxic side effects. Reports from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, McGill University, and Ecology Center reveal that thermal paper contains BPA, which can be absorbed through the skin. "The chemicals have been shown to be hazardous to reproductive systems in humans and animals and are linked with obesity and attention disorders." (Minnesota Pollution Control Agency)
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The Ecology Center recommends using paperless methods - many retailers offer to send receipts to your email, or check their return policy to see if a receipt is required - if it is, write on the receipt the last day you would be able to return the item. Unable to get out of keeping a thermal paper receipt? Designate a small envelope or box for those receipts, and use gloves to declutter receipts past the return date when it fills up. Tracking expenses for your budget? I like to keep a spreadsheet available on my phone to track expenses easily in real time. Paperless options work double duty, keeping you from needing thermal paper receipts, and aiding you in your decluttering journey - stopping clutter before it comes into the house.
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March 12 is National Organize Your Home Office Day - use it as an excuse to schedule time with yourself to start clearing out!
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How to Declutter and Organize
Sentimental Items
Spring Decluttering and Organizing, February 2024
Last year, we talked about how decluttering is an essential first step to spring cleaning, discussing some of the best ways to start in low emotion or small areas of the home.
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In 2023, garages, basements, and other storage areas were the most popular areas for Organization Pending's decluttering and organizing services. These types of areas will commonly hold sentimental items, and Tabi encourages clients to gather all sentimental items from everywhere in the home before looking at everything sentimental as one project. Sentimental items can be the hardest items to let go of because of the memories attached to them - working on other decluttering and organizing projects in the home first can help us build decluttering muscle, allowing us to take on emotional items when we're more equipped to sort through them. Leaving these items until last also allows us to see what areas of the home that could be used to display sentimental items, fully enjoying them instead of storing them.
Need a tip on decluttering and enjoying non-photo sentimental items?
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Implement a sentimental container for each family member, living or deceased. Revisit these containers every 5-10 years, decluttering items that no longer hold meaning, and reincorporating favorites into your daily landscape. - Tabi loves rearranging the tops of their short bookshelves with their sentimental items!
Ready to start decluttering and organizing your photos? Take a look at these tips that Tabi the Organizer used to sort through their mother's collection after her passing, including incorporating family photos as household decorations.
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Declutter blurry photos, unimportant landscapes, duplicates, and photos of unknown people or pets. If you wouldn't be able to write a caption for it, it can most likely be let go.
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Look for timestamps or handwritten dates, writing the month/year on a sticky note, and start organizing! Working on a large project? Use envelopes instead of sticky notes for quick storage.
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Declutter kids' artwork yearly, asking them what their important pieces are. Consider digitizing this curated collection as a graduation gift, or use them to create unique personalized gifts through Vintage Solutions!
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Get Organized and Declutter for a Cause
Loving Columbus, January 2024
January 14 is National Organize Your Home Day, part of Get Organized Month, and February celebrates Declutter for a Cause Month! Take a look at the after-holiday decluttering tip below, and visit Organization Pending's Community Recommendations page for a list of local organizations and charities for donating gently used items.
Decluttering Tips:
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Set a timer for a half hour, looking only for trash and donates in the space you're decluttering - repeat as necessary.
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Implement an ongoing donation basket in the closet to catch items you forgot you didn't like.
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Decluttering with kids? see how quickly they can fill a box with donations for a small prize!
Organizing Tips:
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In the kitchen - keep common items used for cooking around the stove, and create a coffee/tea/mug zone for your mornings.
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In the office - designate an incoming papers container, and commit to clearing it out when it gets full. Using file folders with all the tabs on the same side makes for easy addition and deletion of files.
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Organizing with kids? Most caregivers want to separate by brand, but most kids play by category - consider putting groups of similar objects in baskets for easy clean up!
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Plan a Date with Your Love(s)
Loving Columbus, January 2024
Did you catch the discussion of Mystery Dates last year?
What Should We Do Today Columbus put out an excellent list of ideas to get you started this year, with 57 Unique Date Ideas in Columbus, Ohio, including a number of dates I've enjoyed with my partner. Ideas include outdoor and indoor options to help you plan dates throughout the year!
Take a look at Experience Columbus' Tours, Trails & Attractions Tickets for ready-made Mystery Date ideas, or visit their list of LGBTQIA+-Owned Restaurants in Columbus Perfect for Date Night, including options for a breakfast date, fancy night out, and casual ideas for creating a Mystery Date Day.
Busy Bees Pottery and Arts Studio in Dublin offers private lessons for two on their pottery wheels - choose a 90 minute session for $75, or 120 minutes for $145. Or stop in to create on the fly with their walk-in hours - explore their options for pottery, canvas, glass, clay and more!
Reserve your date now for Glass Axis - take a look at their available classes, or contact them to set up a private class.
Romance is all year long - don't be afraid to have a cozy day at home for Valentine's, and set up a date in the future! Take a look at The Seasoned Farmhouse's cooking classes, covering a variety of tastes.
Interested in the history of technology? Head over to Hilliard's Early Television Museum - over 150 TV sets are on display from the 1920's to 50's, including British sets, and early TV studio equipment. Admission is $10 for adults, and $8 for seniors. Want a deeper dive? Check out their online resources.
Have you or the kids ever wanted to try aerial acrobatics? Aerotique Columbus offers adult (14+), teen (10-14), and youth (6-9) classes, or take a look at their upcoming half-day Circus Camps for ages 6-14.
Want to surprise the kids with a Mystery Date?
Mikey's Late Night Slice Olde Towne East at 892 Oak Street is hosting Little Slice Sundays from 11am-7pm. Each Little Slice Tray is $6.99 and includes build-your-own pizza making essentials, a Unicorn Bar from Bake Me Happy, and a drink. No reservation is required.
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Multigenerational Home Organizing
Enhancing Your You, December 2023
Maybe you're temporarily living in a multigenerational home with family staying over the holidays. Maybe your home is always a multigenerational home, and you're looking for a few ideas on how to keep the peace. From caregiving in the "sandwich" generation, consciously merging households for support, or life circumstances - multigenerational living has more than doubled over the past five decades, according to a Pew Research Center study in 2022.
Lisa Woodruff from the Organize 365® Podcast explored the tips and tricks she uses for her own multigenerational home in episode 530: How to Organize a Multigenerational Home. Starting with the tips she learned as a child, remembering her own grandparents, when her grandmother passed away and aunt and uncle moved in with her grandpa, surrounded by her cousins. And her grandmother on the other side of the family, after remarrying, had five adult children and everyone would stay over the holiday season. Watching these multigenerational relationships in her own life as a child made the transition to living with her own adult daughter and grandson in the present a bit easier, and Woodruff urges listeners to consider three points when organizing for their multigenerational homes.
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Create Zones: Everyone, no matter their age, need their own spaces for sleeping and for hobbies/working. Creating these zones ensures that everyone's spaces are able to be maintained by them, and keeps personal items out of communal items. Creating zones in communal areas for groceries, dishes, or kids' items could be a necessary step in this process.
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Create Personal Spaces: Woodruff and her husband created personal spaces with physical zones, but also with how the spaces are talked about. For them, downstairs is their daughter and grandson's home, and they invite their grandchild over to "Lovie and Pop-pop's" upstairs, with the first floor containing communal areas. Or when Woodruff's great-grandfather moved in with her grandmother, she established two rooms, "grandpa's sleeping room" and "grandpa's den."
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Establish Rules: Do you employ a cleaning service, or have an established cleaning day? Talk about it in a household meeting, making sure everyone knows when tidying needs to happen. Use household meetings to establish laundry schedules, cleanliness standards, and to keep the household calendar updated!
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Moving Checklist
Early Holiday Planning, October 2023
Are you getting ready to move in the spring or summer? The average person attempts to declutter four times a year, but 49% of survey respondents say they have less room since 2020, and only 24% would consider moving to a bigger home (Opendoor). If you want to downsize before moving, decluttering is essential - this will save you from paying for a larger truck, extra packing supplies, storage unit, and will save you headaches while unpacking. At Organization Pending, clients have reached out anywhere from one month to years in advance of a move. No matter the timeline, there are a few tips to make this stressful time run more smoothly.
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Declutter! : Take a look at the family calendar and schedule decluttering sessions, or call in Organization Pending for focused decluttering sessions. Start with family areas to help motivate the youngest members of the family for their spaces, and make it fun! See how much work can get done in short bursts, or ask the kids to fill a box with all their favorite toys and see what can be donated to other children from their not-so-favorites.
Don't forget about Columbus Fashion Academy for clothing donations - Organization Pending offers free donation pick up of these items with in-person services.
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Need a moving professional or resource? Take a look at Organization Pending's Community Recommendations for local realtors, home inspectors, mortgage lender and more!
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Plan: Using a floor plan of your new space, compare it to the spaces in your current home. How will the dimensions of your current spaces work in your new home? For example, do you have three storage closets and a basement work space that will all need to be combined into the basement of the new home? Take measurements and form a space plan for your new home, helping you know how to label boxes. A note!: If you're using a moving company, most will not insure anything they didn't pack themselves, even if you hired an outside company to pack. If you're taking a DIY approach, paper rather than bubble wrap is recommended.
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Organize: Starting in storage areas, organize items into "new home" zones for the movers - label each cupboard or zone with the floor and room those items will go into in the new home. Moving yourself? Start boxing these low-use items, labeling the top and two sides of the box with the contents (fall decorations) and where it will go in the new home (basement closet). Or consider color coding box labels to save time. Each floor of the new home can use a specific color, and paper signs can be placed above door frames in the new home indicating what room it is (yellow box label for 2nd floor, and label says "bathroom 2"). Providing movers with a labeled floor plan, and having a copy on the entry wall in the new home helps keep everyone on the same page.
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FIRST!: When packing high-use areas, make sure the boxes with items you will need first in each area are labeled FIRST! - this ensures finding a set of dishes, bedding, and toiletries immediately in your new home. Make sure to zone all FIRST! items in one location if you're using movers, and have these boxes put at the entryway of the new home.
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Paperwork: Make sure you have a current list of anyone who will need your updated address, including credit cards and auto-pay bills, fill out your forwarding address information with the USPS, talk to your children's schools about transferring records, and talk to your doctor and/or veterinarian about prescriptions. Don't forget to ensure utilities in your new home are set up for your arrival!
If you have photos or sentimental items, consider digitizing before your move with Vintage Solutions.
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Essentials: Depending on the length and location of your journey, consider keeping valuables and irreplaceable memories with you. In a bag that stays with you, pack chargers, snacks, a roll of toilet paper, and other items for immediate access during travel or upon arrival to your new home.
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Moving locally? Have Organization Pending over for unboxing and organization sessions, unlocking your new home's full potential. Or check out the Community Recommendations for a list of trusted Organizers in other locations.
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Holiday Decluttering and Organizing
Early Holiday Planning, October 2023
With Halloween coming up, many families are preparing their homes for winter celebrations and extra people in the house. Instead of hiding things behind closed doors, start by decluttering and passing along items you're not using!
In a recent Clutterbug video, Cas talks about the ways clutter subtracts from our lives, including the shocking statistic that one in ten American households are losing money every month renting storage units for their home's overflow. "The REAL Cost of Clutter - It's Shocking!!!" dives into how clutter affects our health, stress, sleeping habits, interpersonal relationships with our families, friends and children; amount of free time in the day; lost usable space in our homes; and how clutter wastes money when we have to rebuy missing or expired items.
Challenge yourself (and the kids!) to fill a box with items than can go towards making someone else's holiday season warmer - February's "Springing Forward" and March's "Going Green(er)" Newsrooms talked about some of the Columbus local options for recycling, upcycling, and donation. Visit the Community Recommendations page for additional options to support your community while on your decluttering journey. Are you looking for kid-specific tips for decluttering and organizing? Check out July's "Back to School" Newsroom, and don't forget to let the family know about all your hard work - ask for experience-based gifts for the upcoming holidays, instead of more things to declutter!
While you're pulling out fall-themed decorations, make sure your holiday storage is organized with each season or holiday in its own zone. Putting decorations back into storage at the end of the season is the best time to declutter items that never made it out, or that you've realized don't hold meaning or joy anymore, or have become too worn to use again.
Expecting guests and want to give the bathroom an extra polished touch? Check out this How to Fold (ROLL) Bath Towels Like a Pro tutorial from Judi the Organizer.
ull, Twink Death, Let's Go Ghouls and SISTAAAS! Witch crewnecks and t-shirts before the season ends!
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Holiday Gift Planning
Early Holiday Planning, October 2023
If you're anything like me, getting holiday shopping out of the way as early as possible is best. Many of us find it difficult to find seasonal cheer in the midst of consumer culture, planning for family visiting while feeling the pressure to have everything look and feel a specific way, trying to grant all of the kids' wishes and make it a magical time, running out for one more gift for that last-minute party...on top of the usual work and responsibilities. If you haven't already picked up items during the year, or started idea gathering, create a spreadsheet! Having access while you're in the store to your entire list, gift ideas, bought items, and how much money you've already spent is essential to creating and tracking a gift list and budget. Don't forget to add your partner as an editor to the spreadsheet, and take advantage of color coding - green is bought items, yellow is ordered, red is for ideas.
Did you read last year's "Sliding Into Winter" discussion of giving clutter-free usable and unique gifts and experiences? Those gift ideas aren't replicated below - make sure to take a look at last year's post if you need additional recommendations, including travel agent Dodo Expeditions! for travel deals you won't find online.
Check in with the people who have been enjoying the membership you gifted them last year - ask if they'd like a renewal, or a chance to explore a new location.
Do you have a bird and nature lover on your list this year? Consider gifting them a Grange Insurance Audubon Center or Columbus Audubon membership! Membership at either grants membership to both, and to the National Audubon Society. Members receive free and discounted Columbus Audubon field trips and programs, the Song Sparrow newsletter and Audubon magazine, invitations to special events and meetings, and other perks.
Want to gift a piece of Upper Arlington history to someone on your list? The Upper Arlington Historical Society, in partnership with UA High School students, is selling $12 wooden bear keepsakes in the iconic UA Golden Bear shape, created from the same 200-year-old historic wood that serves as the core of the Amelita Mirolo Barn.
Looking for a personalized gift, created with your photos or kids' artwork? Head over to Vintage Solutions' custom keepsakes for puzzles, wood panels and slates, magnets, sketch books, coasters, t-shirts and pillowcases! Find out more about Vintage Solutions in the "Springing Forward" edition of the Newsroom.
Have a Halloween lover on your winter holiday gift list? It's not too late to snag one of Queerencia's new designs! Take a look at their Rainbow Skull, Twink Death, Let's Go Ghouls and SISTAAAS! Witch crewnecks and t-shirts before the season ends!
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Organizing Your Family's Vital Information
Back to Books, July 2023
If something happens to you, or if someone is taking care of your household while you're on vacation, do they know how to run the household without you? If you are your parents' emergency contact, do you know what medications they're taking, or their insurance and medical information? Are you scrambling to find your house's or kids' passwords? A household management binder can help keep you and your loved ones organized and ready for an emergency. Cas the Clutterbug talked about 5 HUGE Paper Organizing Mistakes (and HACKS to fix them)! to help us get prepared.
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When papers aren't categorized, everything feels important so we keep it all. Once a year, declutter and shred old papers.
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If you keep receipts, designate a box for them and throw out old ones when the box is full.
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Implement a space for incoming sentimental items, sorting them to long-term boxes once a year - chances are some of those papers are no longer sentimental.
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Establish incoming paper command centers for each family member and pet.
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Create a household management binder with passwords, medical information, insurance information, doctor contact numbers, babysitter information and family contact information, including addresses and birthdays. Add other categories and information as it makes sense for your family, or Cas is offering fill-in options for $2 or $5 - the mega value option includes extras such as a packing list, meal planning helper, and home maintenance checklist.
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Shopping with Kids
Back to School, July 2023
As a home organizer, I follow a variety of people in the organization community. One of these is Dawn, The Minimal Mom. While I don't consider myself a minimalist, I find that Dawn's focus on honing in on the items around the house that are needed and used to be a good guideline for remembering how to find joy in the objects I see everyday. Dawn recently took two of her young children on a thrift store shopping adventure, explaining the tips she uses for herself and her family when they're at any store, or shopping online. Many of us struggle to show our children the value of things and money, and many of her tips have come from facing her and her children's own struggles living in a consumer culture.
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Have a shopping list of the necessary items, and items you're interested in shopping around for - make sure to check the new price on your ideal item, because thrift shopping doesn't always mean savings.
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Let your kids purchase one or two items that catch their eye with their own money - this of course lets them learn money skills, but also lets them have the experience of making that choice. If these items don't hold up over time, remind them of these experiences the next time, helping to reinforce their decision making skills.
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Implement a monthly "Buying Day" where the family reviews the non-essential items they asked to buy throughout the month. Every time someone asks for an item that's a want, not a need, save a picture or screenshot of it in a folder on your phone to locate the list easily.
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Show your kids the same skills you want them to learn by expressing how beautiful or awesome an item is that you want, consider the price, and practice walking away to think about it while you're walking around the store, or add it to the Buying Day folder - chances are you might not even remember about the item by the time you check out, or by the time it's Buying Day!
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Check out all the tips and shop around with Dawn in her Minimalist Thrifting Secrets video!
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Back to School Organizing
Back to School, July 2023
Before the kids get back to school, I'm sure most of us have decluttering and organizing their clothing and work spaces on our to-do lists - starting early ensures back-to-school shopping lists are complete, and you don't waste money buying items that are already there. Is the thought of shopping with the kids making your heart rate go up? Planning early and having a list alleviates some of this stress - see the Tip of the Month below for ideas on mitigating shopping stress with kids from The Minimal Mom!
Start with decluttering your kids' clothing by size, or if items are worn through, and invite them in to look at what's left in categories - what are their 14 favorite t-shirts, long sleeved shirts, hoodies, shorts, and pants? For the remaining clothing, are there items they never want to wear that can be donated so another kid can enjoy them? Decide together how many items in each category make sense for them to need, and use that as a guideline for deciding how many more remaining items should be donated from each category. Establish an ongoing donation basket or bag in the closet to catch further donations as the kids outgrow clothing or change interests in character shirts.
When organizing their newly decluttered wardrobe, consider if they have clothing that is only used for school or sports. Create zones for these options, then categorize by sleeve and pant length to create their daily options zone.
Creating a specific and organized space for homework helps your child maintain focus, allowing them to find supplies quickly and without having to wander through the house looking for an item, or asking you where something is. Declutter dried-out supplies every season, and utilize quick-grab baskets for often used art supplies that are a hybrid zone between school and personal creative projects.
Did you miss our how-to social media posts on specific tips for decluttering and organizing kids' toys? Make sure you're following along to get home organizer tips in your feed!
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Better Dishwasher Performance
Catching Rays, June 2023
With extra people in the house this summer, is your dishwasher struggling to keep up?
Decluttering expert Dana K. White met with Maytag® engineers to bring us the secrets behind how dishwashers are designed, and how we can most effectively use them.
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New regulations and consumer bias led chemists to focus on creating better dishwashing pods versus other soaps - White reports this slight price increase at the register is worth the better performance.
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Become familiar with all the settings available on your dishwasher - the designers are working hard to give you the best performance for every level of need.
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Check the mechanics of the dishwasher before you run it - tall dishes or cutlery on the bottom could be blocking the spinner from reaching the top rack, or the detergent drawer from opening.
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Struggling to keep up with the dishes? "It's not the machine, it's the routine," White explains. Time yourself emptying the dishwasher to discover how easy it is to fit into the day. Commit to establishing a daily routine of picking up stray dishes and loading them, and avoid hand-washing or soaking when possible. Just like White discovered when she committed to a laundry routine, having consistently clean and available laundry or dishes allows a person to see what their family is always using first, letting you declutter the rest and put clean items away more easily.
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Decluttering Books
Going Green(er), March 2023
Books are easy to collect, and it's easy to find reasons to buy more, but they also are some of the heaviest belongings during the moving process, and when the piles of unread books are taking over your life...it's time to find a better way.
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Before purchasing books, check them out for free from your local library, and don't forget about their audiobook and eBook options. Can't find what you're looking for in their catalog? Upper Arlington Public Library takes purchase suggestions, or check out their new releases and reading list recommendations for ideas. If you won't read that book time and time again after all, you've saved yourself money, and space in your home.
If your own collection is overwhelming, or you haven't read much of what's on your bookshelf, use the library's annual reading programs as a way to decide if you want these titles as part of your permanent collection. Sell the decluttered books for a bulk cash offer at Half Price Books, or donate directly to Free Little Libraries in your community.
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Spring Cleaning Secrets
Springing Forward, February 2023
Are you wanting to make spring cleaning quicker? Start with decluttering belongings and organizing them in a way that benefits you and your family best - as an added bonus, a quick cleaning while everything's out of the space between decluttering and organizing gets a jumpstart on that deep cleaning we all want for spring.
Decluttering is the most beneficial aspect of home organizing. It can also be the hardest, and come with the most emotions. Organization Pending suggests starting in areas with low emotions, such as kitchens or bathrooms, where there are expiration dates. Starting small, with a single drawer or shelf in a cabinet can build decluttering skills to take on larger projects, and also help snowball motivation to keep going.
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Jumpstart your journey with your seasonal clothing! Use this seasonal switch to declutter mittens that lost mates, hats that were uncomfortable, and other seasonal clothing that wasn't worn this year before packing the rest away.
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A Tip from the Organizer: Use unscented white garbage bags for soft donations, boxes or bags for breakable or book donations, and black trash bags for garbage to keep your piles visually separate!
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Want a hands-on learning session for decluttering and bringing personalized organization to your home? Contact Columbus home organizer Organization Pending to schedule your free virtual assessment at organizationpendingllc@gmail.com!
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Organizing Date Day
Organizing Love, January 2023
Those of you who read November's "Sliding Into Winter" edition of the Newsroom will be familiar with our emphasis on creating experiences and spending time with those dearest to us. For this Valentine's Day, consider putting together one or several Mystery Dates! Use these to celebrate the holiday with your partner(s), children, or take yourself out on a self-care or single's date!
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Do you pass by a store or restaurant and always say, "Oh! We've been meaning to check that place out!" Is there somewhere you take the kids that you always feel rushed through? Do you enjoy exploring new places and supporting local minority-owned businesses? The home organizer behind Organization Pending used these kinds of ideas to put together a series of Mystery Dates for their partner!
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On the outside of a vaguely decorated envelope, they put details such as if the date was indoor or outdoor, the distance from the house, open/holiday hours of the business if needed, and appropriate way to dress (one date required sturdy clothing, boots, and a flashlight!). Many of these included a "stop along the way" to get coffee before the date--one of the Organizer and their partner's favorite treats. The card inside had the location and additional details of the date, and the money or gift card for the excursion! These Mystery Dates create year-round opportunities to take time out of busy lives and focus on each other, without the stress of figuring out what to do.
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Want a quick list of local businesses and restaurants? Check out Experience Columbus's lists of Black and Queer -owned local businesses, and Organization Pending's Community Recommendations of LGBTQIA+ -owned and affirming local businesses.
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Planning a Mystery Date for you and your children? The Columbus Metropolitan Library is offering Culture Passes for in-person checkout, allowing free admission to nine central Ohio organizations, including the Ballet Met, Columbus Museum of Art, Columbus Zoo, Franklin Park Conservatory, and Ohio History Center.
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Want to plan a Valentine's Day specific Mystery Date for your partner(s)? For music and science lovers, check out the COSI After Dark event series for ages 21+.
Considering planning a trip for your Mystery Date? Reach out to Community Recommendation Dodo Expeditions for ideas and updated special offerings only available through a travel agent! Learn more about this business in our Community Recommendation Highlight from November's "Sliding Into Winter" Newsroom.
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Looking for adult themed gift ideas? Take a look at Hoelistic Shop's body-safe and organic collections, or book a consultation as a Mystery Date for a personalized recommendation. Learn more about owner Sadea Bryant's mission, and emphasis on "Educated Good Clean Fun," based in her experience as a Queer Black Femme and mother.
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Have you considered combining Valentine's Day efforts into something everyone in the household can enjoy on a daily basis? Add to the atmosphere and health of your living space with The Plant Gays! If you're already an indoor plant enthusiast, take a look at their online shop, Doordash delivery options, or purchase a gift card and plan a date day to their shop in East Market! Want a professional design for your space, or are you unsure of the best plants for your space, light, and maintenance needs? The Plant Gays offer custom design and repotting services for your home with a free consultation.
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"Why Organize?" Social Media Series
New Year: Improved You, December 2022
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Do you love the look of an organized home, but you're unsure how organization can enhance the functionality of your spaces?
The "Why Organize...?" series started November 18 with seasonal spaces you might not have considered before, including a year round gift wrap and party supply area. The last post of this six part series goes up next week on Organization Pending's Instagram and Facebook accounts--check out the whole series to learn how organization in these common household spaces can create a home that serves you, including tips to get you started!
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Organizing for Working Out
New Year: Improved You, December 2022
Are you getting back into working out this year, or need ideas on how to make the habit easier to form and follow through with? The Organizing with Ease podcast discussed how to reduce barriers to working out in their Simple Organizing for Working Out episode.
If you create a system that doesn't make you think about it, you will do it! Learn tips for pre-setting your gym bag or planning your at-home routine the night before, including a product and book recommendation.
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DIY and Repurposed Drawer Organizers
New Year: Improved You, December 2022
Are you interested in trying drawer organizers, but you're not sure if you'll like them? Did you know home organizer Marie Kondo, author of Spark Joy and The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, recommends repurposing boxes as organizers before purchasing any products?
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When a space is fresh from decluttering and organizing, it's possible that as the space is used, a few things need to be reorganized to attain the highest level of functionality for your family. To save yourself the cost and time of trying to deal with returning items, take a look at this step-by-step guide from Organization Pending for creating DIY repurposed drawer organizers.
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Taking any box that is the length and width you need, check the height of the box in the drawer.
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Cut off the top and trim off extra height if needed, using a utility knife on a hard surface.
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Reinforce the inside flaps with sturdy tape, doing the same to the cut edges to increase durability for high-use areas like sock drawers.
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Like the idea, but want a different aesthetic? Marie Kondo also suggests long term repurposing of boxes and other small containers that bring you joy.
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Meaningful Gifts at a Slower Pace
Sliding Into Winter, November 2022
Bring serenity to this busy time of year and add meaning to the gift giving process with usable and unique gifts and experiences for everyone on your list.
Do you struggle with what to buy individual members of a family? Consider buying a gift card for the family to enjoy an experience together, or a family admissions pass to one of their favorite local attractions.
The Center of Science and Industry (COSI) offers family memberships starting at $181.25, or individual plus guest memberships for ages 13 and up for $141.25.
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Family membership for The Columbus Zoo starts at $124 online, with upgraded levels to include additional guests and Zoombezi Bay season passes. Tiered individual memberships are also available for the adult animal lovers in your life.
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The Ohio History Connection offers unbeatable membership deals for individuals, couples and households with access to over 50 historic sites and museums across Ohio, including Columbus local attractions Ohio Village and Ohio History Center. Basic plans range from $45-$85, and for the ultimate history buff in your life, take a look at their premium option with special event access, reciprocal access to over 300 institutions in 40 states, and a Smithsonian magazine subscription.
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Do you have art lovers in your life? Columbus Museum of Art and the Pizzuti Collection of the Columbus Museum of Art offers a family membership for $100, with individual and upgraded options to include more than 1,000 museums in North America. This option, available through the North American Reciprocal Museum (NARM) Association, also includes local attractions Wexner Center for the Arts at Ohio State University, the Ohio History Center and Ohio Village, and the Ohio Designer Craftsmen/Ohio Craft Museum.
For the people you're always trying to find more time for during the year, including the people you live with, consider planning a future event with them. Detail your idea in a card, with a gift card or cash for the future event.
For an immersive sensory art experience, Other World is a fun all ages adventure to plan.
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For an adult friendly theatre experience, head over to Short North Stage to look at their upcoming shows, or consider gifting one of their various season subscriptions for discounted tickets throughout the year.
For the recurring gift of time throughout the year, take a look at the Community Recommendations in the Around Town: Restaurants and Food section--purchase a gift card to include with a "let's meet up!" card to set up two or more times throughout the year to be able to sit down, catch up with each other, and treat yourselves!
Do you have a gamer on the list? Many adults and kids enjoy playing games online with friends, or have their eye on an app they won't buy for themselves. This season, gift them a fun bonus experience within the game(s) by giving them a gift card to pay for special items, or an app store gift card for a new experience they wouldn't have otherwise.
Are tabletop games more their style? Head over to Dragon's Lair in Westerville to check out their large selection of new board games, role playing games, trading card games, graphic novels and more. Don't forget to take a look at their calendar of daily events while you're there to see if you could plan a get together to go along with the gift!
Looking for unique gifts to give the people that ended up on your extra good list this year? If you don't find what you're looking for in Dragon Lair's consignment area, Half Price Books is another one of our favorite locations for holiday browsing. Many customers familiar with their stores also know about their Rare Finds and Collectibles sections, featuring books, ephemera, comics, vinyl records and more. Browse their options for shipping from locations across the country, or stop in at their local stores. Available options are unique to each location and many stores feature cases for collectibles within the regular sections for specialty items like vinyl or comics.
During your next visit to the Upper Arlington Public Library, make sure to take a look in the glass cases at the various collectibles for sale as well. The perfect unique gift could be there.
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Giving Back While Decluttering
Sliding Into Winter, November 2022
Many of us use the holiday season as a reason to declutter before intaking presents. This is especially true for children, who benefit the most from a yearly decluttering of toys they've grown out of or unattached to.
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The Children's Advocacy Project hosts a list of local organizations that help children, teens and families with a variety of needs. Scroll through their list to find where your specific donations could find their best fit!
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Did you just get through decluttering your household's books? Pass along these stories and knowledge freely to your community in Little Free Library kiosks! A location map is available online or through their app.
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Do you have a variety of items for all ages and want to help your community anonymously? Consider the Columbus Blessing Boxes Project, 24/7 access to household goods, necessities, and other "blessings" located around the city.
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Essential or Hobby Work?
Sliding Into Winter, November 2022
This year, emphasize the importance of slowing down and being able to separate essential work from "hobby work," as discussed on The 4 Kinds of Work, from the Organize 365® Podcast.
Why organize dolls and accessories by specific brand, when organizing by the category "dolls" would suffice, and make it easier for the child(ren) to put toys away? Why edge and vacuum underneath all the furniture weekly, when monthly with weekly touch ups of heavy use areas is enough? Why add to your workload with this extra hobby work, when that time could be spent on your unique purpose work?
Discover useful ways to divide and prioritize your time this season, creating more time throughout the year to focus on the work you do that uniquely adds to the world.
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Organizing Halloween Decorations
Fall Around Columbus, October 2022
This 11 minute episode from the Organizing with Ease podcast discusses the how and where of decluttering and organizing your Halloween decorations, including useful tips that work for all of your once a year decorations.
For those who enjoy a more DIY craft approach for themselves or children, check out their ideas for fun and recyclable autumn décor options!
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