More Ideas To Clear Clutter & Do Good, Too!

Photo Courtesy of Ceil Petrucelli Designs

Even though this time of year sometimes gets hectic with the holiday season -- too much to do and too little time to do it all, it's also a good time of year to work on clearing clutter, getting organized, and saving some money, too! It can be an opportunity to go through some of your "stuff" and figure out what can be donated to some charitable organizations, senior centers or schools, local library, animal shelters, etc. And even though many jokes are made about "re-gifting" -- you may have some things that are no longer useful to you which might be of use to someone else.

Last week I had the opportunity to donate a few bags full of small decorative and useful items to the Bennington Museum for their first annual Children's Shopping Day which will be held on Saturday, November 29. This promises to be a fun event - (no adults allowed!) for kids from 4-14 who are looking for inexpensive gift items for parents, family members, friends, teachers, etc. All items will be priced from $1-$7 and all items are being donated by museum members and others. For more information, call the Bennington Museum at 802-447-1571 or visit their website at http://www.benningtonmuseum.org/.

I just went through drawers, closets, bookshelves, and other places where I had things tucked away and found a treasure trove of items that I no longer needed, used, and in some instances, had completely forgotten about. Of course, as an interior decorator, I also had a lot of "little decorative things" tucked away which I had planned to use some day, but hadn't. Good time to clear things out for a good cause.

If you are an avid reader like me, you can often accummulate lots of books. Sometimes, you just have to "purge" and weed out. One way to prevent accummulating so many books to begin with, is to take advantage of your local library, get a library card, and borrow books. Bennington has a great library, but sad to say, I hardly ever use it to borrow books or to do research. I have what I need at home. However, I periodically donate books, CD's, and DVD's to the local library and it's a great tax deduction, too.

You can also sell your books on-line (ebay, Craig's List, Amazon) and make a little extra money. You can also sell (or trade) books to your local used book dealer. Or you can pass them along to friends, family, local schools, senior centers, etc. I have a long distance "book exchange" with a good friend in Nashville, TN. She and I have similar tastes, and we often send each other a box of books after we've finished reading them. Great way to discover some new authors, too!

With the holidays coming up, people are looking for some relatively inexpensive gift ideas as well. You can combine a favorite book with a a couple other items and make a "gift package" or "gift basket." Combine a book with a mug or tea cup, a package of coffee or tea bags, maybe some biscotti, a pair of warm socks, and voila! you have a "Curl Up, Read and Relax" package perfect for a chilly winter night. You could also add a CD with some favorite music

A few years ago, I had accummulated a bunch of DVD's that I knew I'd never watch again. So I made up a bunch of "Night at the Movies" packages as gifts. I included a few DVD's, popcorn, snacks, and also, some warm socks! They were a hit! You can put everything into a basket, a large tin, or even a big bowl - be creative!

The holidays, even though stressful at times, is also great time to get together with friends, families, neighbors, and co-workers. A great way to avoid "conspicuous consumption" and to give back at the same time is to have a get together and make a favorite (or several favorites) non-profit organization the beneficiary. There are several versions of this type of party. Here are a few ideas.

• Instead of exchanging gifts, everyone can bring a gift item that can be donated to a local charitable cause, such as a wrapped toy for Toys For Tots.
• A "collection jar" (or jars) can be set up in various spots. Each jar is labeled with the name of the non-profit. Attendees can contribute whatever amount they feel comfortable with. At the end of the night, the contributions are tallied, and the money is sent to the various non-profits.
• Another version is similar to a silent auction or Chinese auction. Attendees bring various items (wrapped or unwrapped- your choice) to the party. The items are put into a central area and attendees can either swap and trade, or if an item is really popular, then it can be put up for bid. The highest bidder wins, and the money collected goes to a favorte non-profit.
• The possibilities are endless. The point is to pay it forward, have some fun, enjoy the holidays and getting together without having to get stressed about "lack of ....."

For more ideas, you can visit my website www.ceilpetrucelliinteriors.com

Until next time!

Ciao!

Small Changes That Yield Big Results Part 2

In yesterday's post, I focused on clearing clutter to open up space with a few tips and suggestions to get the process started. Here are 10 more quick tips to help you control clutter and stay more organized:

1. Put things away as soon as possible after using them. If you have kids, husband, and other family members sharing your home, enlist their help as well. Get into the habit of picking up and putting away books, magazines, toys, laundry, etc. Have a few baskets handy and put things into baskets if you don't have time to put things away in their proper storage areas.


2. Clean up as you go along when cooking or preparing meals. Put things back into cabinets or storage areas. Keep cabinet doors closed. Wipe down counters, cooktops, appliances, etc. regularly to clean up spills, etc.


3. Go through your incoming mail on a daily basis if possible. Have a basket or bin for any incoming mail. Sort through and have a specific place to put bills, documents, or anything that requires immediate attention. Junk mail can be tossed/recycled. Holiday catalogs, magazines, etc. can be put into a basket to be reviewed when you have time.


4. Have a spot near your main family entrance for keys, incoming and outgoing mail, etc. Keep a basket or a bag near the door for anything that needs to be put into the car. Then leave that basket or bag in the car and fill it with things that need to be taken into the house afterward.


5. Keep a donation box or bag in each closet and your laundry room. That way, as you are clearing things out, you can have a container readily available. As each box or bag fills up, you can sort through and determine to which organization you want to donate to.


6. At the start of each new season, spend some time going through each room of your house and make a list of things that you'd like to do in each room over the next 3 months. Then set a few goals and schedule time to accomplish them. If you have a running list, it's fun to cross things off as you get the projects completed. Enlist a friend or family member who may be able to "see" things that you don't. You could also take some pictures of each room to have a visual reference.


7. Focus on one area at a time. Don't try to do a major overhaul in one shot. (I keep a running "to do" list which helps me to focus. As I complete a project, it gets crossed off.)


8. Use organizing tools and aids that work for you and your family. What may work for one person or family may not work for someone else.


9. If you live in a small space or home, find furniture that serves multi purposes and has a lot of storage potential. An ottoman or bench with a lift up top is a perfect example of a piece that can be used for seating and storage.


10. Utilize any storage areas you have more effectively. When you clear out a closet or any storage area, take an inventory of what you plan to store there. Then find various storage options that will help you to organize your things better, and keep them organized.

• Click Here for more tips on organizing and clearing clutter.
• Click Here for more information on how "The House Therapist" can assist you with any organizing projects.
• Click Here for some great resources, books, and information on Organizing, Clearing Clutter, and More!

Small Changes Can Yield Big Results

View from Royalton Hill courtesy of Ceil Petrucelli Designs

Life is all about change. Big changes, small changes. Some changes that are very evident, others so small that sometimes they are hardly noticed at all - yet make a big impact over the long run. Fall is a season of change - especially here in Vermont where the changing colors seem to be Mother Nature's way of giving us that one last blast of warm color before blanketing us in snowy whites and cooler shades of blues and greys.

I recently read an article that talked about "the power of one." How one person can sometimes make a difference in the community and even the world; how one idea could take hold and change our perception; how one small invention could change technology; how one change in your daily habits could have a major impact on your life; how one small change can have a ripple effect that could lead to bigger transformations.

That article got me to thinking about making small changes that could yield bigger results, especially when it comes to decorating, organizing, and saving money, and at the same time be able to give something back and be conscious of our impact on our community as well as the Earth.

I'm an interior designer and decorator, and my business also includes home organizing services, color consultations, shopping services, and more. I'm always involved in some sort of "change" in the lives of my clients - sometimes major changes (building a new home, renovating an existing home, adding a new addition); sometimes smaller changes (bathroom renovations, kitchen renovations, redecorating or redesigning a bedroom or a living room); and sometimes just helping someone to get started on the whole process - to be the "go to" person if they need a hand with color selections, furniture placement, figuring out storage options, finding specific types of materials or products that will work best for their lifestyle. Sometimes the choices available are overwhelming to some clients and that's where I can help them to narrow things down, focus, and ultimately make decisions - hopefully ones that they will be happy with when all is said and done.

So, here are a few "small & relatively inexpensive" things you can do around your home which can ultimately lead to some results that could have a much bigger impact.

• Clear clutter. Seriously - pare down, simplify, get rid of stuff that no longer has a useful value to you or your family. By clearing clutter you'll open up your space and your life to new opportunities. Use the "one in, one out" rule. For every new thing you bring in, you have to get rid of something "old."

• Take it one step at a time. Even if you clean out your "junk drawer" (everyone has one, right?) or a dresser drawer to start. Set a timer. Give yourself a limit - say 15 minutes to start. See how much you can accomplish in a specific amount of time.

• Then reward yourself after - a cup of tea, a 15-minute walk (with your dogs if you have them); pick some fresh flowers from your garden and put them in that pretty vase you just discovered buried in the back of a cabinet. The point is - take it one step at a time and don't try to accomplish too much at one time. Then reward yourself with something that will make you feel happy and positive (and not feel guilty later).

Sometimes, when you're clearing stuff out, you find things that can be useful to others.

• I have a "donation box" or two that I keep for just that type of thing. Books, CD's, DVD's, and possibly some magazines can be donated to the library, or possibly a nursing home, a senior center, etc. Clothing and household items in good condition can be donated to Salvation Army or Goodwill. Habitat for Humanity will often accept donations of various household goods. Old towels, sheets, blankets, etc. can be donated to the local animal shelter. This is a rewarding experience - giving stuff away that you no longer need but that could make a huge difference to someone who does.

The economic climate is a little shaky right now, and many of us might want to try to sell some of those items instead of donating them.

• There are lots of places to sell your unwanted items and make a little extra money. You can try local consignment and second hand stores, used book stores, Ebay, Craigs List, have a tag or garage sale, place ads in the classifieds, etc. Some people are having home parties -- a group of friends get together, bring their unwanted items to the party, and things get traded. Or - to add a nice twist - various items are bid on and some of the proceeds go to a designated non-profit. A great way to get together, have some fun, and do some good for others, too.

This is my first installment on the topic of "Small Changes Can Yield Big Results." Stay tuned for the next installment!

In the meantime, check out my Special Promotion for November and December which will benefit some non-profits that are near and dear to my heart!