Packing organisation

This is the time of year where lots of you will have booked some time off and going on your travels and thought I would write a short blog on travel organization.

I have found a great packing organization YouTube video which gives some good quick tips (see the following link).
http://youtu.be/eYYSnhcE9ak

When packing for a trip try always create a list of all the items you are planning on taking, and separate them into 2 categories.

- Essentials (Toiletries, Underwear, passport, travel documents etc).
- Non essentials (Your iPad or MP3 player, your fancy non everyday shoes).

Then go through the essential items first and then check the space you have left and then add some non essentials.

Please remember some of the non essentials can go into your hand luggage such as a book which you may want to have on hand anyway to read something whilst you are travelling.

The items such as your travel documents, passport, keys, money and mobile phone should always be on you all the time, as you will need to get them at the train station and/or at the airport.

Any toiletries must be less than 100ml to be within your hand luggage, in a see through bag and resealable, and be one plastic see through bag per person.
Here is a link which gives more regulations in regards to toiletry restrictions when travelling by air.
https://www.gov.uk/hand-luggage-restrictions/overview

There is nothing worse then forgetting and then you are embarrassingly searched, and even though it was an innocent mistake you always get that suspicious look from the guards and you can't help but feel guilty. Not a good way to start your holiday.

Happy Easter everyone.
Many thanks for reading.

Carrie X

How to make your own DIY organizing storage ideas.

Hi All,

Thank you to those whom have already been reading my blogs.

I have some more information on how you can organize on a budget and how to create D.I.Y organizers.

Just need:

- Recycled tins, boxes, jars or use the plastic containers you get from your local takeaway.
Make sure they are washed out first and sterilised.
- Sellotape, glue and scissors.
- Measuring tape.
- Embellishments, Ribbon or pretty labels or even use tags you see attached on new purchased clothing and just cover with decorated paper.

Recycling your tins and jars is great for making storage for example your pens, paper clips and drawing pins.

Use a wine rack as a place to put your hair straighteners and hair dryers. Use a spices rack as a place for your nail varnish and other cosmetics. Sounds mad but it is true, remember use what you have, then you this reduces the amount you spend and it is amazing what storage is available out there that you can buy on such a low cost.

Please watch these videos below of D.I.Y organizing projects for ideas:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44Dq0scvvyE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOAkIHiuXlo&playnext=1&list=PLD63D607617A24EDC&feature=results_main

This how I organize my supplies I need on my computer desk and the box you see at the far end with the glues just below where you see the speaker, that is the D.I.Y organizer I made. I am now using this in my filing cabinet to keep spare file binders, labels and scrap crafting paper.

Today I was sorting out my Sewing draw, and used the little bags that I had, these are ones that I have kept from spare buttons attached to clothes I've bought over the years, and these little bags are very handy for storing for example: jewellery, your spare buttons, screws, safety pins and drawing pins.

I will show you my test of draws which I have organized using recyclable boxes.

This will be changed shortly and so I will show the updated version soon. 

Now I haven't decorated the boxes as of yet as I am still not sure if I will continue to use them, but this is a temporary solution at the moment, and this is keeping with my advise on my very first blog, use what you have and don't spend the earth. Today I bought 5 new storage containers for the kitchen from the pound shop and they worked fine, so you save aswell as keep organized, and update your storage as they like most items they will wear after time, and do dust them to keep them looking neat and tidy. 

Picture of the storage containers purchased from the Poundshop.

The storage baskets I am going to show you below are ones I purchased from Wilkinsons which was 5 for £2.00 and will be buying more, and they have really helped me to organize my bedside table draws. 

In the picture above showing the top of my chest of draws, the brown box you see on the left of the picture at the front I have changed this, to one of the red baskets and I will show you an updated picture of my Chest of draws soon, as I am going to update and give my bedroom a complete make over, as it just needs to be brightened up a bit more. 

Storage boxes from Wilkinsons

I use two bags for storage too, one is on the back of my bathroom door and really pretty from Paperchase that has all travel toiletries as they are handy to keep for holidays and overnight stays at friends and family houses. 

The other bag is hanging on the hook of the back of my bedroom door, and has all my belts, hats and scarfs and is see-through so can see what it is in side. 

See pictures below:

They aren't great photos so do apologise for that but just gives an idea of what you can use to stock spares but not clutter up spaces. 

So I really hope this has given you some great ideas of organize for less cost, and thank you for ready.

Carrie X

Organizing videos I like to use

Hi All,

Here are my favourite organizational YouTube videos that help motivate me and helps provide tips on organizing better and using those simple money saving solutions.

I thought I would share these with you all, as these may help you too.

Please share your videos that help inspire you to be organized.

                                        http://www.youtube.com/user/HomeOrganizing?feature=watch

                                        http://www.youtube.com/user/DoItOnaDime?feature=watch

                                         http://www.youtube.com/user/organizedlikejen?feature=watch

Carrying on organizing the home

I have written about the organizing home my previous blog Home is Where the Heart is and my word press blog http://cazzachalloner.wordpress.com/2013/02/27/organizing-affectively/

So to follow on and continue on from writing about organizing the home, I would like to share my details of what I have on my computer desk. I have all my study notebooks in a magazine box file, my study guide folder and my study exercises in another magazine box file.

I have my laptop on my computer desk, my desk top monitor, my small speakers, my recycled stationary box organizer, my small stationary sliding draw organizer, my meal planner notepad and my to do book, and some postage notes.

The hard drive for my PC is under the desk along with a box of spare paper for the printer and my printer is near the desk so it is easily accessible, with spare ink cartridges and a large party bag with my Avon brochures and order forms inside.

From the details provided of the contents on my desk and underneath it, it may sound like a lot but it is all in it's rightful place neatly, I don't have piles and piles of paper on my desk.

Living in a one bedroom flat with my husband I have to use the space I have, and this is the key to organizing and de-clutter, you don't need to be a in big house or apartment you just need to make the most of the space you have.

If you have a filing cabinet then what papers you don't need instantly but may need to refer to such as a bill you may need to check, then keep filed in your filing cabinet in a file under header for example "important bills file". Categories your paper work in your filing cabinet and colour code. To separate bills but keep in one file, use plastic folders and again colour code for each bill or letters you need to keep. Don't overfill a file in your cabinet but storing one piece or paper in each file is not using the space constructively, so keep your bills in colour coded folders with stickers on the folder so you know who the bill relates to and keep in one file if it is for example banking statements, stationary orders, receipts etc.

Thank for reading

Carrie X

The Ideal Home

I saw this picture when searching on google on my ideal bedroom and this instantly stood out for me. 

I am wanting to change my bedroom so was looking on colour and storage ideas too. 

I love the colours in the picture above and the brightness these colours bring to the room. When imagining myself in this room it brings a calm relaxed feeling just what you need to come home to after a busy long day and time to chill in luxury. This is what your home should be to you and your bedroom should be your sanctuary where you relax, chill and your own private space or love nest as I call mine and Elv (my Husband) Bedroom. 

I do have purple on my duvet cover and pillow cases, and dark chocolate colour furniture with white walls and light colour curtains and blinds. Furniture is from Argos, and our storage coffee table that I had mentioned my previous blog was on special offer in the Mirror Newspaper. The bed is from Argos too and love our black leather bed. The only issue we have is our mattress was the wrong size and so one tip when getting new mattress check what size you need first never guess, as mattress can be quite expensive and so it is good to always check first before investing in a good, comfortable quality mattress. 

I am going to changing our bedroom as it has worked from when we first moved in but want to give it a make over as it is tidy and clean but I know it can be better. 

Investing time on giving your room a make over can really cheer you up and open your eyes to new change and new beginnings.

I will take picture of the storage and things I currently use that I am going to keep,and then take picture of the changes I make and the new bedding, furniture, draw organizers I have used and will be using, plus some other storage ideas you can use. 

Organising the Home

The home is where the heart is.

It is your base where you recharge your batteries and take care of your family, pets, catch up on your blogs, social network, and TV.

When you go home to a clean and tidy place after a hard day’s work, you can’t help but give a great sigh relief that you are safe at home, and can close the door to the rest of the world.

As a child I never really appreciated my home, and having my own room. It would constantly be in a mess, and I would be told off to clear it up. 

I was a hoarder and would keep things that I never really used and would fold up and leave money in draws and forget about it.

My mum was always trying to help me clear the clutter and there would be times when I did try but the momentum never lasted very long.

Now I have my own place, which I share with my husband I know how important it is to keep it tidy and do appreciate it, and try to keep my home as tidy as possible.

There are no longer piles of piles but things are in their rightful place, either in the cupboard, a folder or filed away neatly, there still some changes I would like to make but it is liveable now and it is true what others say, that it does make you feel good in yourself when things around you are clear and uncluttered.

Books

They should be on a bookcase, storage bin or cupboard, and only keep a few at a time. 

If you have a tablet, iPad, or iPhone you can use these for reading books instead, or use a kindle, which my Sister-in-law raves about, and we even bought my mum one for her birthday. Lots of the books available on Kindle are free. 

I now use my tablet for reading some books and for one my magazines I often read. 

However if you are like myself and would still like to read an actual book from time to time, then go ahead; but make sure you have a home for them and keep it minimal, there is no need to keep a massive pile or clutter your shelves with loads of books. Are you really going to read them all?

Once you clear the piles of books, then you can donate them to someone else who may want to read them, recycle them or give to a charity shop. Some local library's do take old books and you can now sell them online. 

(I have provided further details where you can sell books online further down).

Paper

HANDS UP IF YOU HAVE PILES OF PAPER!

Please do not be afraid you are not on your own. 

I have a draw that is all for recycle paper and I also keep a couple of pieces of recycled paper near the printer, to help save money on paper and printing. Not all items have to be printed or written, on fresh new unused paper for example my football training plans are on recycle paper. This is because only I will see the plans and no one else will so there is no need to waste paper that no one else is going to see. I also use my recycle paper for sticking some of my magazine clippings I wish to keep or I use my scanner to scan pictures and articles sometimes to save paper.

Make a place for your paper work and separate the paper such as keep, recycle and destroy.

The paperwork you need to keep categorize and separate into a file storage unit or in separate folders or in a ring binder with separate binders.

Here are examples of these categories that I use:

            - Bank statements

      -Bank letters

      -Household bill

      -Grocery receipts
       - Online personal purchases.

              - Reports

      - Home Projects

For craft papers keep these separate and in a separate craft box or draw so all your craft paper, scrapbooks, embellishments, card making paper etc is all in one place.

Magazines & Newspapers

When keeping magazines and newspapers tidy and organised, use a bin, magazine file, or basket.

However if you have piles and piles hoping one day you will read them and they are year or so old, then it time to recycle and dispose.

If there are articles you wish to keep then do so and categories for example, clippings to fashion, inspiring stories, fitness and exercise ideas and information .

Or if there are too many and you don’t think you will get through all of them then the oldest ones dispose first, then go through the ones you have kept in the last 3-6 months.

Let’s face it if you were going to read them, you would have done so by now.

CD’s and DVD's

Today I read a great article in relation to this, written by Myke Thomas on www.b2bexplore.com.

You can now sell your books, CD’s and DVD’s to lots of websites such as:

musicMagpie.com

www.webuybooks.co.uk/sell-books/

www.back2cash.co.uk/Sell

zapper.co.uk

My husband and I store our CD's and DVD's in file cases with the individual sleeves. This has really helped with space. To store the cases we bought a coffee table which had storage inside for magazines, CD's and DVD's and so this is where we keep them along with all catalogues and brochures. 

This coffee table we keep in our bedroom. 

This is another idea just because an item is supposedly for the living room or bedroom it doesn't mean you have to use it in that area, as it does depend on the space you have and where it suits you. Be original in your organization and storage ideas. 

The CD's and DVD's were in our dashboard in the living room, but we have since made space so I can store my stationary items, paper reams, and files and folders.

Please see some links below of some storage for CD's and DVD's available from Amazon, whom I often by my storage items from:

Caselogic CD Wallet Organiser 208 capacity 

£17.66

Neo 120 CD/DVD wallet - Nylon

£7.49

DiscGear 100 Auto storage case for 100 CD/DVD - black faux leather 

£39.99

You can also use a bin or storage box to store your DVD's and CD's. 

I used to display them to impress but no one really takes notice. They are not ornaments.

The other way to arrange them is have the CD’s and DVD’s you use most often separated in another place where you can easily access them.  

For example I keep the fitness DVD’s and the new DVD’s that I have recently bought I do keep things in the TV display unit as I know I will be using them frequently. 

However I don’t have loads and loads of DVD’s or CD’s on display now, just what I know I will use frequently and it does help clear the clutter, just the ones I know I will be listening or watching on a weekly and daily basis. 

Keep a list of all the films and CD's you have, when you arrange them categorize I did do this too, and I did help as I was not searching through each case to find the CD or DVD I wanted to listen to or watch.

So I hope these ideas have given some more ideas on your organization and it is good to start on these items first as they are the main culprits to clutter.

Please pass on your own ideas you have. 

Many thanks for reading. 


Carrie x

Organize 4 The better/The Journey of being a full time writer

If you had said that 10 years or so ago that I would be a professional fultime writer I wouldn't say "Don't be stupid" but "Really oh right when?"

I kept coming backwards and forwards writing a blogpost, and at first couldn't really get into it, but then it was as if a switch had pushed and once I was out of the starting blocks there was no going back.

This post was my very first one I wrote and I was gleaming that I found my love for organizing, yet it always ended up at the bottom of the list. Yeah I don't like organizing or cleaning. I do it because I can't stand the marks on my work desk and it comes to the point when you have to say "It has to be done, because if it doesn't then what?"

I live by reivention and I did when I began blog writing as I was used to writing books but not blogs, and it is a genre of its own but it is good one to get into and now being part of the blog world its kinda great.

So get ready for some "I don't like organizing and I don't organize consciously" yet I do have a work system. Yeah I am reading what I just wrote, it is a simple and manageable one and I had a revulation that I have found after trying so many methods, the one that works without hesitation and repetition.

I just wish Boris, oh lawful Prime Minster would do the same.

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie L.M X