Advice
Welcome to our advice section. Every week I answer new questions submitted
by readers on Organizing, Image, Fashion and Event Planning.
You can read my "AddSPACE To Your Life!" column every week
in San Diego's “The Coast News" or read the archived columns
below.
E-mail your questions to advice@addspacetoyourlife.com
8.19.04
Kid art goes from wall to storage
Dear Kathi,
My two elementary age children are returning to school in a few weeks.
I would love to hear your suggestions on what to do with all of the
artwork they bring home. Thanks for your help.
Brenda,
proud mom in Encinitas
Dear Brenda,
Build a rotating art gallery display in your home. This display area
can be as simple as the refrigerator, a large corkboard or a metallic
sheet with magnets.
The key to handling all of the art projects is to keep them rotating.
If your child wishes to save them once they have been displayed, place
them into a storage bin.
Under-the-bed bins work great for storing these projects. And, guess
where they live? Under each artist’s bed.
As the year progresses add photos, report cards, birthday cards and
achievement certificates to each box.
When summer arrives, use these items to make a scrapbook. This is
a fun summertime family activity and your scrapbooks will be full
of treasures.
Dear
Kathi,
Help! My house is piled so high with clutter that I can barely get
through the front door!
Josh, Carlsbad
Dear Josh,
Start with the most visible piles in your front entranceway. Dedicate
15 minutes every day to making one pile disappear.
To make a pile disappear, you take each item in the pile and either
put it back where it belongs, throw it away, or into your car to speed
it on it’s way to a new home.
As the piles decrease you will feel better and generate a sense of
personal mastery. Once you’ve knocked off a few small piles,
you will begin to see results larger than the piles themselves.
You will also be paving the way to successfully tackling more challenging
jobs. Please keep me posted on your progress.
Dear Kathi,
I have a hard time leaving home every morning because I can’t
find my keys. I’m very close to buying a clapper key chain but
have held out because I am too embarrassed.
Phil, Life Insurance Agent
Phil,
Your solution is as easy as hanging a hook by your front door. Deposit
your keys on the hook as soon as you enter your home. Right before
leaving, take them off the hook & dash out the door.
Don’t worry if you can’t remember to do this every time.
It takes a little while to develop new habits.Bonus tip for our women
readers: Keep your keys on a large key ring so they can easily be
retrieved from your purse.
Dear Kathi,
I am constantly trying to find the mates to my socks. Where do they
go and how can I stop this from happening?
Jennifer, Oceanside
Jennifer,
The missing sock syndrome is one of my favorite topics. It happens
to all of us.
Where do they go? It seems that they don’t really leave our
homes, they just take mini road-trips on their own.
To solve this dilemma, keep an old pillowcase or drawstring bag in
your laundry area. When a lone sock appears, toss it into the bag
and don’t worry about it. After a month or two, empty this bag
onto your bed. Most of your missing socks will be miraculously reunited
with their mates.
Kathi is a professional organizer, image consultant and event planner
based in San Diego California.
Please
submit your questions to:
advice@addspacetoyourlife.com
.
San Diego Professional Organizer
