Archive for the ‘01 News from Cathy’s Desk’ Category

CLEAN OUT and ORGANIZE YOUR FREEZER

Posted on: January 16th, 2018 by Cathy Mendler No Comments

Cathy MendlerHappy New Year!

It’s mid-January, and winter has certainly arrived.

What are your New Year’s resolutions? Or did you decide not to make any this year? Do whatever feels most comfortable for you.

Chances are you don’t remember the last time you cleaned out your freezer.

We’ve had a lot of extremely cold weather already this winter. Take advantage of it, and clean out your freezer.

CLEAN OUT and ORGANIZE YOUR FREEZER

Step 1 – Remove Food

Remove all frozen food from your refrigerator freezer or deep freezer. Place food in an alternate location–refrigerator freezer, deep freezer, garage or a neighbour’s freezer. Or you can store food in coolers filled with ice. I use laundry baskets to hold frozen food and put it in our garage.

Discard any items that show signs of freezer burn or that won’t be eaten.

Step 2 – Clean Out Freezer

  • Check your owner’s manual.
  • Turn off and unplug your deep freezer. Leave the doors or lid open.
  • Once the ice is melted, remove any water.
  • Wipe out your freezer and any shelves or baskets with warm soapy water. I prefer to use baking soda and warm water.
  • Don’t forget to wipe down the outside of your freezer too.

Food Storage Guidelines

How Long You Can Freeze Everything, In One Chart

How Long You Can Store (Almost) Anything in the Fridge, Freezer and Pantry

Step 3 – Refill the Freezer

Once your freezer is clean, plug it in and turn it on. Check your owner’s manual regarding the length of time required before putting food back into the freezer. 

Some suggestions:

  • Group like items together–meat, vegetables, butter, ice cream, etc.
  • Place containers in your freezer to hold small items.
  • Keep frequently used items close to the front or top to allow easy access.
  • Label items so everyone can find them easily.
  • Put a date on items and/or containers.

Clean out your freezer on a regular basis–just before green bin or garbage day.

Remember – Many food items have best before dates. It’s helpful to follow the First In, First Out principle. Use the oldest items first. When unpacking groceries, place new items behind/under the older items. This seems like it should be common sense, but I’m surprised how many clients don’t do this.

Now that you’ve cleaned out your freezer, keep going and clean out your kitchen cupboards too. Check out our archived Organizing Your Kitchen blog post.  

Get started and turn over another leaf!

Until next month,

Cathy Mendler



Organizing Your Pantry

Posted on: November 17th, 2017 by Cathy Mendler No Comments

Cathy Mendler

It’s mid-November already–time for hats, scarves, warm woolly mittens and boots–as snowflakes start to appear!

Preparing food and baking are on many people’s to-do lists over the next six weeks. The pantry is one of the most well-used areas of your kitchen, so it’s important to keep it organized.

 

ORGANIZING YOUR PANTRY

Dictionary.com defines a pantry as “a room or closet in which food, groceries, and other provisions, or silverware, dishes, etc., are kept” or “a room between the kitchen and dining room in which food is arranged for serving, glassware and dishes are stored, etc.” Perhaps you’re fortunate enough to have a walk-in pantry. Many of us likely have designated several cupboards to store pantry items.

Since many food items have best before dates, it’s helpful to follow the First In, First Out principle. Use the oldest items first. When unpacking groceries, place new items behind the older items. This seems like it should be common sense, but I’m surprised how many clients don’t do this. When cleaning out and organizing a kitchen, a great deal of food often gets thrown out. Food waste is at an all-time high.

Here are some suggestions:

  • Group like items together–tea/coffee, baking supplies, spices, etc.
  • Use containers to hold small items.
  • Cereal, rice, pasta, flour, sugar and bulk items can be stored in see-through containers (available at dollar stores).
  • Can dispensers, stepped shelf organizers and Lazy Susans can be used.
  • Keep frequently used items on shelves that allow easy access.
  • Use open containers for children’s snacks.
  • Label containers so everyone can find items easily.
  • Put a date on items and/or containers.
  • Can you store appliances in your pantry to keep your countertop clear?
  • Matching baskets or containers will make your pantry look tidier.
  • Purge your pantry on a regular basis–just before green bin or garbage day.

Remember – Buying items in large quantities is only practical if you have the space to store them. 

If you reorganize your entire pantry, you may need to make a few adjustments. There is no one right solution!

Get started and turn over another leaf!

Until next month,

Cathy Mendler


Entryways

Posted on: October 16th, 2017 by Cathy Mendler No Comments

Cathy MendlerIt’s finally starting to feel like fall. Our weather the past few weeks has been more like the summer we were hoping to have. Make some time to get out and see the fall colours.

With Canadian Thanksgiving already behind us, it’s almost time for ghosts and goblins to start knocking on our doors for Hallowe’en treats.

One day last week, Ayr (a 30-minute drive from here) had SNOW! It turns out that it was fake snow, as crews are filming a new TV show.

Back to reality! Last  month we talk about Mud Rooms. As promised, this month’s topic is Entryways.

ENTRYWAYS

The main entrance to your home can be very different if you have a mud room. If you don’t have the luxury of both, your entrance needs to perform both duties.

Most people want their main entrance to look like a page from a decorating magazine. Really think about this for a moment. Decide whether that’s realistic for your home.

Planning storage for your entryway requires making a list of everything that you would like to store there.

Do you have a closet to store outerwear and footwear?

Do you need to:

  • add hooks to hang backpacks?
  • hang a family calendar or checklist in your entry?
  • have room for shelves?
  • have a rack for shoes and/or a boot tray?
  • have room for a chest of drawers?
  • hang a mirror or artwork?
  • have a table for mail and keys?
  • have a bench or stool to sit on–where people can put on shoes and boots?
  • have the budget for built-in cabinets?

Don’t forget to make use of vertical space for added storage. Baskets can conceal loose items and help keep your space tidy.

Take the time to plan your space. Remember, it has to be functional!

If your question hasn’t been answered here (or in the Mud Room article), please send me an email. I’ll do my best to help you solve your entryway and mud room challenges.

In case you missed last month’s topic, here’s the link to Mud Rooms.

Let’s get started and turn over another leaf!

Until next month,

Cathy Mendler



Mud Rooms

Posted on: September 13th, 2017 by Cathy Mendler No Comments

Cathy MendlerIt’s September already!

As I’m putting together this edition, it is 23C (73F) and I’m out on my deck–even though we’ve already had frost a number of times. If you’re one of those people who doesn’t want summer to end, make sure you get outside and enjoy everything that fall has to offer.

I’m excited that I have become a grandmother! Congratulations to Jason and Amber on the birth of Nash Carter Blaxall on the morning of August 20. He’s adorable! Spending time with Nash has definitely been added to my list of priorities. I just wish they lived closer!

MUD ROOMS 

Let’s talk about mud rooms. This topic piggybacks nicely on last month’s topic of laundry areas. While writing this article, I realized a separate discussion about front/main entryways is needed. Stay tuned!

When I Googled “mud room”, I found over 21,000,000 results–just a few more than expected!

Perhaps you’re one of the many people who wants a “to die for” mud room you’ve seen on Pinterest. Unless you’re building a new home or renovating, it may not be realistic. But that doesn’t mean you can’t find some great ideas and inspiration which can be adapted to your home.

While a mud room isn’t usually the main entrance to your home, it’s likely a very high traffic area. If you have a garage, often the door from the garage into the house leads to a mud room.

If you’re thinking about renovating to add/create a mud room, there are many things to consider. What are your expectations?

Take the time to plan your space. Make it as functional as possible. Yes, you want it to look nice, but it needs to function on a day-to-day basis. Nowadays, a main floor laundry is often located in this area. I frequently see clients who find it’s difficult to do laundry in a mud room when there is nowhere to store 15 pairs of shoes. Piles of dirty laundry on the floor often make the entrance impassable.

Unless you’re a designer, consulting a professional for his/her expert advice will be worth the investment.

Make a list of everything you would like to store in your mud room.

  • Outerwear – Sweaters, coats, hats, scarves, mittens/gloves
  • Footwear – Shoes, boots, sandals, flip flops
  • Sports Equipment
  • Backpacks
  • Laundry Supplies – Detergent, fabric softener, stain remover, hamper, laundry basket(s), hangers – (if your laundry is located there)
  • Pet Supplies – Food, water dish, leashes

Unless you have a large room, you will need to limit the number of items that can be stored there. Otherwise, disorganization can still occur.

REMEMBER – No amount of storage space will satisfy you if the people using the space don’t put things away. Designate homes–with LABELS–for everything! If your children don’t hang coats or jackets on hangers, consider adding some hooks. Hooks generally work better for young children. Just remember to hang them at a height they can reach!

Until next month,


Cathy Mendler



That Dreaded Word–LAUNDRY!

Posted on: August 9th, 2017 by Cathy Mendler No Comments

Cathy Mendler

Now that the calendar has been flipped over to August, the first day of school is on the horizon.

One chore that goes hand-in-hand with back to school is LAUNDRY. Like it or dislike it, it’s a necessity of life in households.

 

THAT DREADED WORD–L A U N D R Y!

In my experience as a professional organizer, I have found that many clients just can’t seem to keep up with the never-ending pile of laundry. For some people, laundry has become a mountain.

If you struggle to keep up with laundry, try some of the following suggestions.

  • Have a laundry hamper(s) in a central location or each bedroom. Multi-section hampers are available to pre-sort dirty clothes into dark and light colours.
  • Gather all your dirty laundry together before starting.
  • Put each child’s clothing into a mesh bag for washing.
  • Socks won’t disappear if contained in a mesh bag.
  • Use a different colour basket for each family member.
  • Keep your laundry area well stocked with supplies–detergent, fabric softener, stain remover, hangers, etc.
  • Limit the amount of clothing you own.
  • Children grow out of clothes so quickly. Pack up any clothes they have outgrown for your younger children. Or pass them along to a friend or relative or donate them to a thrift store.
  • Store winter/summer clothes in a separate area–if possible.
Laundry Sorter
  • SCHEDULE TIME to do laundry on a daily or weekly basis, so it doesn’t get out of control.
  • Wash one or two loads per day. The number of people in your household will determine how much laundry needs to be done.
  • Put a load in the washer in the morning and transfer it to the dryer once you’re home from work. Or put a load in the washer at night and transfer it to the dryer in the morning.
  • NOTE: For those of us who live in Ontario and are subject to time-of-use hydro (electric or power for our friends in the States) rates, this makes scheduling laundry a bit more of a challenge.
  • Hang up items as soon as they come out of the dryer to avoid wrinkling.
  • Fold and put away laundry after each load is dry.
  • Make it a required chore for each family member to put away their clean clothes. Create good habits in the early years!

When was the last time you cleaned your dryer vent? 

According to the U.S. Fire Administration, “Dryer lint caused 16,800 fires last year. These preventable fires caused 15 deaths, 300 injuries and about $88 million US in property damage. There are no comparable statistics available for Canada.” Schedule time to clean your dryer vent regularly. For more information, click here.

Don’t let your laundry get the better of you!

Get started and turn over another leaf!

Until next month,

a new leaf-cathy.png



Slow Down and Enjoy Your Summer!

Posted on: July 12th, 2017 by Cathy Mendler No Comments

Cathy MendlerI hope you were able to celebrate Canada’s 150th birthday. It’s great to still see so many Canadian flags everywhere. Our neighbourhood get-together on Canada Day was a lot of fun. We enjoyed great company, a delicious assortment of food and ended the night with a campfire watching several fireworks displays. 

SUMMERTIME

“Taking time to do nothing often brings everything into perspective.” I love this quote of Doe Zantamata’s. And it’s so true! How often do you find that you’re worried about something and after taking a break, it’s not as much of a problem?

In our last edition, I talked about life’s fast pace and the fact that most people feel they are too busy.

Take some time to slow down and enjoy all that summer has to offer. Continue to reflect and make some decisions about what you can do differently to lighten your schedule this fall. Yes, it will take some effort–especially if you’re trying to create some new habits.

“I find it fascinating that most people plan their vacations with better care than they do their lives. Perhaps that is because escape is easier than change.” Jim Rohn

In 5 Reasons to Streamline Your Life, Susan Krauss Whitbourne tells us “…. clutter, physical and mental, can interrupt our flow–both your ability to move and your ability to think. … your well-being could also become victim to what we might call the “clutter effect.”

The 5 reasons:

  • “Low subjective well-being
  • Unhealthier eating
  • Poorer mental health
  • Less efficient visual processing
  • Less efficient thinking”

Susan’s article is worth reading in its entirety. She concludes with “Streamlining seems to have its advantages, … not just as a housekeeping tool, but as an essential process for maintaining your happiness in your home environment and at work.”

And for those of you who have trouble unplugging while you’re away, ParkSleepFly’s How to Unplug while on Vacation is a great read.

If you’re cleaning out your closets this month, please consider donating any gently used professional attire to Moore’s Canadian Suit Drive being held July 1-31. This drive assists at-risk men and women who want to join the workforce. Give a suit. Change a life!

So get started and turn over another leaf!

Until next month,

a new leaf-cathy.png



Canada 150!

Posted on: June 15th, 2017 by Cathy Mendler No Comments

Cathy MendlerARE YOU TOO BUSY?

“Life is busy. There are daily concerns and obligations that have to be met, and to take time to think about how precious and special a human life is that you only get one, and that every wasted minute is lost. You can’t get it back.”
~Rush Limbaugh

How often do you ask someone how they are, and they respond with the words “Very busy!”? That’s just the way life seems to be. Most of us are trying to cram too much into our lives. Each day has:

  • 24 hours
  • 1,440 minutes or
  •  86,400 seconds

We overschedule ourselves and our children. Often, we feel like hamsters on a wheel that never stops.

Do you remember how much you looked forward to the last day of school when you were a child? Summer seemed endless. It’s a shame that we don’t tend to think the same way as adults.

Take some time to reflect this summer–as you relax and enjoy the warm temperatures.

Think about what you can do differently, so that your family’s schedule isn’t as chaotic in the fall.

C A N A D A   1 5 0

How do you plan to celebrate Canada’s sesquicentennial on July 1, 2017! Our neighbourhood is planning a get-together on Canada Day. I can’t wait to see everything decked out in red and white!

Schedule some time in your calendar to celebrate with the rest of the country.

Remember Simon & Garfunkel’s lyrics, “Slow down, you move too fast …”

Get started and turn over another leaf!

Until next month,

a new leaf-cathy.png



A Few Words About Storage Units…

Posted on: May 17th, 2017 by Cathy Mendler No Comments

Cathy Mendler
“I have three storage units, and that’s no lie. Three storage units. All books.”
Junot Diaz, American writer 

Spring cleaning is well underway in many households!

Do you own a storage unit? If your answer is “Yes,” do you know exactly what is stored there? Did you know that furniture is the most common item found in a storage unit?

Have you ever watched an episode of the reality show “Storage Wars?” The show chronicles storage units which have been abandoned–the contents of which are put up for auction.

While researching this month’s topic, I came across some statistics which may surprise you. 

Joshua Becker tells us that “[t]he United States has upward of 50,000 storage facilities, more than five times the number of Starbucks. Currently, there is 7.3 square feet of self storage space for every man, woman and child in the nation.”

In late 2013 there were “… only 10,000 in the rest of the world” according to the Self Storage Association in Alexandria, Virginia. “About 10% of Americans have a storage locker compared to 1% of Canadians,” according to industry experts.

“For the most part, storage units were meant to temporarily absorb the possessions of those in transition: moving, marrying or divorcing, or dealing with a death in the family.”

What has been your experience? In my line of work, I would say this is partially true. I was just speaking with a client today about this very topic.

THE PROS AND CONS OF STORAGE UNITS

Pros

  • temporary storage while staging a home for sale
  • useful for people who are between homes when moving
  • alternative to renting a larger living space
  • less costly for a small business to store inventory
  • many units have 24/7 access
  • security of storage units
  • climate-controlled storage can be better for furniture and heirlooms  

Cons

  • #1 – cost of storage unit – Often the long-term cost exceeds the value of items stored.
  • storing items that are rarely or never used
  • Out of sight is out of mind!
  • vehicle rental cost to transport items to storage unit – if required
  • security of storage units

Alternatives

  • Declutter your home
  • Organize your storage areas so they are efficient
  • Store items with a family member or friend
  • Store items in your garage or shed

Remember – “The more storage you have, the more stuff you accumulate.”
Alexis Stewart, American TV host

Take advantage of A New Leaf’s offer below in “Get the Deal.”

Get started and turn over another leaf!

Until next month,

a new leaf-cathy.png



Have you heard of a “Capsule Wardrobe”?

Posted on: April 13th, 2017 by Cathy Mendler No Comments

Cathy MendlerSpring has sprung! Easter weekend will be here in a couple of days. It’s nice to see sunshine and warmer temperatures.

Last month I talked about Minimalism. This month I’ll introduce the idea of a Capsule Wardrobe. Have you heard about this concept?

Wikipedia tells us “[t]he term ‘capsule wardrobe’ was coined by Susie Faux … in the 1970s to refer to … essential items of clothing that would not go out of fashion, and therefore could be worn for multiple seasons. The aim was to update this [wardrobe] with seasonal pieces to provide something to wear for any occasion without buying many new items of clothing. … [It’s] an especially important tool in a recession as it allows people to look good on a small budget. This is perhaps part of the reason that the idea has endured.”

Creating a capsule wardrobe is not complicated. Wikipedia provides some General rules for creating one.

Courtney Carver’s “Project 333 is the minimalist fashion challenge that invites you to dress with 33 items or less for 3 months.”

Here’s more food for thought. Joshua Becker of becomingminimalist tells us:

  • The average American woman owns 30 outfits—one for every day of the month. In 1930, that figure was nine (Forbes).
  • Americans spend more on shoes, jewel[le]ry, and watches ($100 billion) than on higher education (Psychology Today).

In “Get the Associate Scoop” below, Linda Samuels (an organizing colleague) shares her “Learn One Amazing Secret That Helps You Let Go.” Thanks Linda!

As you declutter your closet this spring, keep these statistics in mind. Is the capsule wardrobe something you would consider?

Contemplate the benefits of living a minimalist lifestyle.

Get started and turn over another leaf!

Until next month,

a new leaf-cathy.png



Minimalism

Posted on: March 17th, 2017 by Cathy Mendler No Comments

Cathy MendlerIt’s March!

I know most of you have been thinking that spring is just around the corner. The snow and strong wind outside today are telling me the opposite! Remember, “Good things come to those who wait.”

On the weekend I purchased a new computer. It was time. The faster speed is wonderful! The learning curve figuring out how to do things differently and things not working as expected is not so much fun. I’ll figure it out one way or the other. In a few months, I know it won’t seem so difficult.

This week started off on a sad note when I learned of the unexpected death of a client. She wanted to make sure she had things in good shape. Unfortunately, she wasn’t able to make that happen. I will remember her great smile and congenial personality.

As you age, most people come to the realization that material possessions don’t make you happy. Often they start sorting through their belongings, so their chidren won’t have that onerous task in the future.

MINIMALISM

Minimalism is one of the latest buzz words. What or how much do you know about minimalism?

Dictionary.com defines minimalism as “design or style in which the simplest and fewest elements are used to create the maximum effect.”

I saw the Minimalist documentary twice last fall. Each time I watched it, I learned more. The Minimalists, Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus, help people live meaningful lives with less. “Minimalism is a tool that can assist you in finding freedom.” Your ideas about material possessions will be challenged in ways you can’t imagine.

While the minimalist lifestyle may seem extreme, there are steps everyone can take. People are starting to embrace the concept of minimalism in ways that make them comfortable.

Joshua Becker of becomingminimalist tells us:

  • There are 300,000 items in the average American home (LA Times).
  • $1.2 trillion is spent annually on nonessential goods—in other words, items they do not need (The Wall Street Journal).
  • Some reports indicate we consume twice as many material goods today as we did 50 years ago (The Story of Stuff).

After reading these statistics, all I can say is “WOW!” In some ways, it’s hard to believe. In other ways, it’s not. Do you think that more is better?

We’ll discuss Minimalism more in a future issue. If you have young children, check out SimpleFamilies.com’s Getting Started with Toy Minimalism. After all, children receive toys all year–not just during the holidays.

Think about the enormity of these statistics:

  • British research found that the average 10-year-old owns 238 toys but plays with just 12 daily (The Telegraph).
  • 3.1% of the world’s children live in America, but they own 40% of the toys consumed globally (UCLA).

Consider the benefits of living a minimalist lifestyle.

Get started and turn over another leaf!

Until next month,

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