Getting Organized for SUMMER!

Summer is right around the corner! That means it's time for the all the beach toys, outdoor sports equipment, shoes, suntan lotions and all other summer necessities to come out of hiding and add to the clutter in your home. Before the season is in full swing, try implementing some of these quick tips for keeping everything contained and easy to find before you run out the door to enjoy your summer activities.

• Flip-flops are the designated shoes of summer in our households. The only problem is, they end up in big piles by the door. Find a large bin or tin bucket, and place it by the door most used by family members. Then whenever anyone comes inside, they know exactly where to put them.
• Pack a few Ziploc bags and store them in your coat closet or in a basket near the main entrance. One bag could have bug repellent and sunscreen, another could have travel games or activities children can use when hitting the road to a further destination, or even a bag for first-aid( including band-aids for all those small cuts and scrapes that come with summer vacation. ) Make sure you label them so you don't forget the contents.  

An over -the -door shoe storage bag like this one from The Container Store is also a great option for keeping all those small items right where you can find them. Items that work best are sunglasses, suntan lotion, chapstick, sun hats, bug spray , and small outdoor toys like bubbles or sidewalk chalk. This clear one makes it impossible to lose that small tube of SPF 40 ultra  lip balm.

• There's nothing like a big, canvas bag when it comes to organizing swimsuits and pool gear. Keep a large one in your coat closet. Put all dry bathing suits in the bag so you don't have to go searching for them when you need them. In addition, keep two or three towels and any other pool gear in there as well. That way, you can just grab it and go when you're ready to go for a dip. 

• Since it's summer and outside is the place to be...set up your car in advance to maximize the fun you have outdoors. Keep one or two folding chairs in your trunk along with a canvas bag or plastic bin. Keep a bottle of sunscreen and bug spray, a mesh bag with some small sand toys, a towel, and light jackets as well. A large blanket also comes in handy for summer concerts, picnics, or my favorite.....fireworks!   

                                         

• Set up a bin, basket, or tub for outdoor toys and keep it in the hall closet or near the door. Outdoor chalk, bubbles and other outdoor toys will be easy to find for everyone. Also, this wire barrel from The Container Store or even a clean new garbage can are great to store summer sports equipment such as basketballs or tennis rackets. 

Summer is a great time to start making healthier choices. Check out this great snack box idea from Real Simple . Grab and go individually packaged healthy snacks such as cut fruits and veggies, cheese sticks, and yogurt make it easy for children to make healthy choices. If you can get them into the routine this summer, this same concept can be used way into the school year while planning school lunches or after school snacks

 By following these tips, I hope you will enjoy the relaxing days of summer a little more. I may be one of the only parents out there that is ready for the rushed schedule of school to be over (I may change my mind two weeks into summer) I am looking forward to some beach time and some relaxing! Have a fun and safe summer!

It's Tax Time AGAIN! Are You Ready?

Buried in piles of unsorted mail and household papers is all the important data you need to prepare your taxes and now you have to find it all. Every tax season you vow to do it differently, but without a system in place you will fall into the same chaos next April. Follow these tips in the coming year to take control of your tax papers so you don't have the same problem next year!

• Place deduction documentation in envelopes. Label each envelope by subject. For example: charitable contributions, medical expenses, business expenses, etc.


• If you have a hard time getting those receipts to your file cabinet, write "taxes" and the current year at the top when you receive a receipt for a deductible item. This will remind you not to toss it when sorting through receipts at a later date.


• Use a mileage diary or smartphone apps such as MileBug or Trip Cubby to keep track of the miles you travel.


• The IRS requires that you keep a receipt from donations to charitable organizations. It must show the name of the organization, the date and the location, description of the property, and a fair market value of each item. We love to use the Salvation Army's donation valuation guide at www.satruck.com/donation-value-guide to estimate the fair market value. TurboTax also supples a free donation evaluator called "It's Deductible"


• For those short on time, consider using http://www.shoeboxed.com/ . Monthly subscribers receive a postage-paid envelope to fill with receipts. The company scans the receipts into a software program and inserts it into a spreadsheet you can access online.


• And of course my favorite....Neat receipts. Neat receipts is a mobile scanner that allows you to scan receipts and load them onto your computer. http://www.neat.com/
  

There is more than one way to control your tax papers. If all else has failed, contact us at http://www.theartoforder.net/ or theartoforder@verizon.net so we can access your situation and find a solution that will work for you. With our help, even you can gain control of your tax documents! Also, contact us if you have questions on deciding what papers to keep and for how long.

Tips on Organizing and Storing Those Christmas Decorations for Next Year

After the presents have been opened and the guests have gone home, it is time to start thinking about storing all those holiday decorations.

First, and most important, I like to remind my clients about how many decorations they never took out of the box. Its time to let go of some of those decorations that just take up space in your garage, basement or attic. Save room for only the decorations you love to put up each year.

These are some of my favorite products that I recommend to my clients to ensure their holiday decorations will be safe and easy to find next year.


Boxes like these are ideal for storing tree ornaments. Each ornament is protected in its own space. Picking storage bins in bright red or green can also make Christmas decorations easily identifiable from other storage items.
Click here to order.
I really, really LOVE this product for storing gift wrap. Fits ribbons bows, tags, gift wrap, etc. all in one nifty under the bed storage container. I like to keep an extra set of scissors and scotch tape in mine, just for wrapping presents. Note: these also work well to keep birthday wrapping paper organized.
Click here to order

This is my favorite product for storing decorative wreaths. The sturdy plastic keeps the delicate wreaths from getting crushed in storage. It is also air tight to keep out pests.
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Here is a great solution for storing all those lights, so next year you don't spend all your time untangling them. Cheaper solution: use the flaps from cardboard boxes to wrap the lights around.
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Remember those precious ornaments that your child made out of natural material such as dried food or pasta should always be kept in airtight containers to keep pests away.
Keep like items in the same storage container. All the ornaments, tree lights, tree stand, and tree skirt all together so when it is time to put up the tree you don't have to open every box to find what you need. Also keep indoor decorations separated from outdoor decorations . This way you can put the indoor decorations up as soon as you want, and the outdoor ones when a nice day comes along.
Above all, LABEL EVERYTHING. If you want to put up grandmas Christmas snow village first, you don't want to hunt through every box to find it.

Contact The Art of Order, LLC if you need help downsizing, organizing, or storing your holiday decorations.

Don't forget we offer other services such as filing paperwork, organizing closets, clothes, kitchens, garages and much much more! Click here to get details about our other services! Start the new year with a clutter-free house!
Remember to join us on Facebook for many, many more promotional discount offers, resources, organizing tips and product suggestions.


The Art of Order, LLC
703-385-0838

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Conquering the Piles of Paper

Paper has a way of piling up fast. Before you know it, the piles are taking over your desk, floor, or even your room! There is one simple way to tackle a majority of the paper that you have accumulated in the room. I call it the "30 minute challenge". Collect a trash bag or recycling bin and set a timer for 30 minutes. 30 minutes is the magic time limit because it is short enough to fit in your schedule, but not too long to become overwelmed. Next step, just start going thru the piles and eliminate just the TRASH. Don't take too long to decide if you should keep each piece of paper. If you find yourself debating if the paper should be thrown out, put it aside to keep and continue with purging all the paper that is definitely trash. Trash can account for up to 50% of your paper piles. If you can eliminate some of those papers, the project will feel more manageable, and you will be more likely to continue with a proper filing system.