Posts Tagged ‘tips’

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



Mediterranean Chickpea Salad

Posted on: May 4th, 2017 by Cathy Mendler No Comments

MEDITERRANEAN CHICKPEA SALAD – RecipeGirl.com

Ingredients:

Salad:

  • Two 15-oz. cans chickpeas, drained and rinsed
  • 1/4 cup chopped Italian parsley
  • 2/3 cup chopped bell pepper (mix red/yellow/orange)
  • 3/4 cup halved grape tomatoes
  • 3 green onions, sliced
  • 12 kalamata olives, sliced in half
  • 1/3 cup crumbled feta cheese

Dressing:

  • 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons plain yogurt
  • 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon redwine vinegar
  • 1 small garlic clove, minced
  • 1/4 teaspoon cumin
  • salt and pepper, to taste

Directions:

In a large [dish], toss together the salad ingredients. In a separate [dish], whisk together the dressing ingredients. Drizzle the dressing over the salad and toss. Transfer to a serving dish and drizzle juices on top. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

It’s never too late to make healthier choices!



I Recommend… never enough thyme

Posted on: May 1st, 2017 by Cathy Mendler No Comments
thyme_logo2.png

 

Whether you’re looking for soup, a main course or dessert for dinner, check out Never Enough Thyme. Their catering service is second to none.



Spring Cleaning

Posted on: April 28th, 2017 by Cathy Mendler No Comments

Get Checking...

Check out this past Spring Cleaning blog post.

 



Parameters

Posted on: April 24th, 2017 by Cathy Mendler No Comments

linda samuels (125 x 114).jpgLearn One Amazing Secret That Helps You Let Go

Are you ready to learn one of the best ways to facilitate letting go?

Parameters.

Set some boundaries or guidelines around your decision-making before you start the actual process of releasing things. Setting parameters in advance will allow you to move at a faster pace, decrease stress and reduce decision-fatigue.

Here’s one way you might use this concept. Let’s say you have decades worth of health-related newsletters. Some you’ve read and others you haven’t. While you know there’s a lot of interesting information in those pages, the information isn’t current. So instead of reading through every newsletter, you decide to activate a parameter. You choose that for any health newsletter that’s over five years old you’ll recycle it immediately without looking through the pages. By setting this date parameter, you’ll save yourself hours of reading information that isn’t relevant. Instead you can use your decision-making energy for more important choices.

You can use the parameter concept for other areas too. Let’s say your closet is overflowing. It’s a daily challenge to get dressed. There’s no space on the racks or shelves to move things around so you can’t see what’s there. You have an abundance of black pants and bulky sweaters, many of which you don’t wear. So instead of organizing the entire closet, you start with only those two categories. You opt to put some guidelines in place and decide that four pairs of black pants and six bulky sweaters are “enough.” Now it’s a matter of selecting which are your favorites. With your number parameters in place, it makes letting go easier.

Now it’s your turn to choose. Which parameters will make the letting go part of your organizing [project] easier? Remember that the more parameters you establish in advance, the less decision-fatigue you’ll experience, the faster you’ll reach your goals, and the less stress you’ll experience.

Linda Samuels, CPO-CD® is a compassionate, enthusiastic Professional Organizer who is well known for guiding her clients in a supportive, patient and nonjudgmental way. Based in Croton on Hudson, NY, she works with clients throughout the United States. Click here to learn more about Linda and Oh, So Organized!



Get More Done with Less Effort

Posted on: April 20th, 2017 by Cathy Mendler No Comments

Get Productive...

It’s the beginning of a new quarter. Have you accomplished what you set out to do in 2017?

Don’t give up!

McVal Osborne reminds us of the basics in 5 Tips to Get More Meaningful Work Done With Less Effort.

Ask yourself, “How can I be more productive?”



A Quote from Edith Head

Posted on: April 18th, 2017 by Cathy Mendler No Comments

 

Edith Head Quote

 

 



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



Italian Herb Bruschetta Chicken

Posted on: April 7th, 2017 by Cathy Mendler No Comments

I can’t wait to try this recipe from Cafe Delites.

Italian Herb Bruschetta Chicken

Ingredients

Chicken:

  • 2 large boneless, skinless, chicken breasts, halved horizontally to make 4 fillets
  • 3 teaspoons Italian spices*
  • 2 teaspoons minced garlic
  • salt to taste
  • 1 tablespoon of olive oil (for cooking)

*If you don’t have Italian spices, use Italian dried herbs. Or combine 1 teaspoon dried oregano, 1 teaspoon dried basil, and 1 teaspoon dried parsley together.

Topping:

  • 4 Roma tomatoes, finely chopped
  • ¼ of a red onion, finely chopped (or 3 cloves finely chopped garlic)
  • 4 tablespoons shredded fresh basil
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • salt to taste

½ cup freshly shaved Parmesan cheese

Balsamic Glaze: (you can use store bought, or this recipe)

  • ½ cup balsamic vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons brown sugar (optional)

Instructions:

  1. Coat chicken with Italian spices, garlic and salt. Heat oil in a grill pan or skillet, and sear chicken breasts over medium-high heat until browned on both sides and cooked through (about 6 minutes each side). Remove from pan; set aside and allow to rest.
  2. Combine the tomatoes, red onion, basil, olive oil in a bowl. Add salt. Top each chicken breast with the tomato mixture and Parmesan cheese.
  3. Serve immediately with balsamic glaze (optional).

Balsamic Glaze:

If making your own, prepare while chicken is cooking.

Combine sugar (if using) and vinegar in a small saucepan over high heat and bring to the boil. Reduce heat to low; allow to simmer for 5-8 minutes or until mixture has thickened and reduced to a glaze. (If not using sugar, allow to reduce for 12-15 minutes on low heat).

It’s never too late to make healthier choices!

 

 



A Quote from General George Patton

Posted on: March 21st, 2017 by Cathy Mendler No Comments