2011 Breakout Session Evaluation

Become the Master of Your Muck:

Get Organized and Make Room for Yourself in Your Home

Comments

Phenomenal!

Lots of good techniques for decluttering

Liked the tips. Longer please. Will for sure be using her system

She didn’t let the lack of video images phase her great presentation.

Liked everything

Great speaker

Good tips!

Very good

Excellent speaker, really keeps your attention, good with audience participation, great visuals! Very good! Keep it up! Real funny.

Could always use this presentation. Could have been longer and more specific

Wish it could have been longer. She is so personable!

List those 8 places so we can right them down every paper will fit into- to help my new file system

Great takeaways. Next time list 8 things on a handout

Thanks so much!

Excellent

Compassionate, understanding but cut and dry when it comes to organizing

My favorite one! Liked getting tips I can do when I get home!

Liked it all. Thank you

Great ideas!

Nice voice, keep you awake, keep your interest, so many good tips

Practical ideas

Topic applies to everyone

8 categories keep papers vertical

Liked learning about how to declutter and get more organized

We all need this info, very good!

Good practical recommendations! Thank you!

This is a critical shell for today’s life of info overload.

Clear presentation

Liked her tips

Excellent!

Easy to follow. Simple to implement ideas

Good advice

Key tips are great

Liked learning how to control paper!

Liked pics. Next time learn about organizing time

Liked getting tips to thrive! Papers flow… getting to work

Excellent!

Liked the info presented and ideas to change it.

I liked the suggestion of keeping papers vertical

Kathi Burns- I want to hire her!

Liked learning about info on home and garage organization.

I liked the belief that we can do it!

Great ideas. I hope I can incorporate them in my life and home. Thank you!

Liked the positive suggestions for attacking clutter.

Well organized flow. Clear, concise presentation.

Great job. Thank you

Liked it all

Best one!

Great topic

Hold it twice so room isnt so full

Topic applies to a lot of people including me. Closed captioning next time

I liked it all. Thank you!

She didn’t make us feel like we were weird for having so much clutter. Would have liked it if all pics were shown (some of them didn’t show)

Liked it all. Good!

Liked the examples illustrating the points. I feel better knowing we’re in the minority that gets to park our cars in the garage.

The digitizing is what I am doing. Going great

Great stuff. Acoustics not great in the room.

I liked it all. Very informative

Loved handouts

Gave me clarity/understanding the origin of my clutter

Good info and anecdotes. Should have used generic pics

Great speaker

Some good specifics, concrete ideas. Bad acoustics/competing noise

Liked the pics of before and after

I am so pleased and honored that my presentation was one of the most attended sessions and to have been included in this incredible conference! Thank you Sharp!!!

Purchasing furniture to keep your rooms organized is a good idea; however, individuals who have excessive items in their homes tend to clutter up the shelves and top surfaces of their furniture as well as the floor space around it. This diminishes the look of the furniture, ruins the décor of the room, and causes the home to look unkempt and be unsanitary.

Many individuals have a strong desire to collect things. When buying collectibles, people do not think about the day they will have to part with these items. In fact, most people have difficulties parting with material items, particularly those with sentimental value. The inability to get rid of things that are no longer being used is the primary reason for clutter in many homes around the world.

When people fail to throw away items that are no longer in use, they tend to store them in areas of the home where there is extra space. Extra bedrooms, basements, attics, and closets are just some of the areas where people store clutter. Once these spaces fill up, individuals generally begin storing items in visible areas, including living rooms, dens, porches, and backyards. Some individuals may even purchase extra furniture for the sole purpose of stuffing them with things.

When individuals continuously purchase new items and never get rid of old items, clutter starts to build, and it builds quickly. Excessive clutter in the home often causes anxiety, and ongoing stress. Disorganization is a major cause of stress, according to many experts. The time and effort that it takes to look for items that are not easily findable can cause your heart rate to increase and making you feel flustered. According to a study performed at Yale, individuals who hoard items (or live in cluttered environments )have much higher risks of depression and can develop attention deficit disorder during adulthood.

Pests and bugs tend to gravitate towards clutter as well. Mice, rats, cockroaches, silverfish, spiders, and ants hide in cluttered areas to escape from predators. They often build nests and reproduce in these cluttered areas. Individuals exposed to their excrement can develop allergies, rashes, and unknown illnesses. The excrement created by small pests is often microscopic, making it impossible to see. Many individuals who knowingly live with these pests set traps and spray insecticides, which can lead to respiratory issues. The best way to deal with this problem is to clear the cluttered area completely to get rid of the bugs and pests.

Staying organized and periodically getting rid of excess items is the best way to keep a home free of clutter. Keeping a clutter-free home is a surefire way to ensure that your home is a beautiful and healthy environment to live in.

Miguel is an avid blogger, father of 2, and recent proud homeowner. He loves studying architecture, home design and decor and plans to one day buy a custom house plan to build his dream home.

Arrange the Clothing in Your Closet
Your closet was not designed to be a refuge for every article of clothing you have ever owned. Go through your closet and remove anything you haven’t worn in the last year. With the exception of some types of formal wear, if you haven’t worn it in the last 12 months you probably won’t wear it in the next 12 months. Donate the clothes to a charity, and make room in your closet so you can find what you’re looking for quickly and easily.

Reorganize Your Drawers
It’s so much easier to shove an article of clothing in the back of a drawer than decide whether or not to keep it. If your drawers are so packed that you can’t find what you need when you need it, then it is time to weed out clothing you don’t wear. This goes double for items you don’t wear because they are stained, don’t fit, or don’t look good on you.

Take Advantage of the Space Under Your Bed
Evict the boogieman and put a few large plastic storage bins under your bed. Choose wheeled bins for easy access. Storage bins are ideal for items you use infrequently, like uncomfortable shoes.

Use Baskets
Baskets are a good way to make your bedroom look neat quickly. A laundry basket is a must, and so much better than a pile of clothing on the floor. Put a wastebasket next to your nightstand so you can easily throw out tissues and other bits of garbage.

Hang Art
Don’t clutter every surface with framed photos. Instead, hang your photos in small groups around the room and free up your tabletop space.

Put Things in the Right Room
If your bedroom has become home to wayward items that belong in the playroom or garage, then put them where they belong.

Get a Covered Desk
If your desk is in your bedroom, it’s easy to get sidetracked by work at bedtime. To prevent this, invest in a desk with a solid cover to prevent you from being distracted by work at the wrong time.

Use a Shoe Tree
Organize shoes on a hanging shoe tree in your closet. This frees up floor space and makes it easy to find shoes when you need them.

Put Personal Care Items on a Vanity
Vanities are a convenient way to keep your personal care items organized. A bath vanity can go in the master bathroom or in your bedroom.

Clear Your Nightstand
Keep your nightstand free of anything you will not use immediately before bed or upon arising. For most people, that means having only one book, a clock, a bottle of water, and a box of tissues.

Miguel Salcido is an avid blogger, father of 2, and recent proud homeowner. He loves studying architecture and home design and decor and plans to one day buy a custom house plan to build his dream home.

Tip #1

• Clean out every drawer and shelf in the bathroom. Get rid of anything that isn’t being used.

Tip #2

• Move your medicines to the kitchen. The heat and steam in the bath can ruin them.

Tip #3

• Give each household member a different colored basket to fill with toiletries. No sharing. Make sure everyone has their own toothpaste, eye drops, cosmetics and grooming supplies. Each person will keep the basket in his or her bedroom.

Tip #4

• Evaluate your storage. You will need places for: towels, nail care, extra paper, feminine hygiene products, hair care and back-up supplies of soap and shampoo. Nothing else belongs in the bathroom.

Tip .#5

• Use a shower/bath caddy for shampoo and soap. They hang on the wall of your shower and keep the clutter out of your shower area. They are relatively inexpensive and available in many different styles.

Tip #6

• Set up a drip-dry container for bath toys if you have small children.

• Corner to corner suction cup hammocks work well

Tip #7

• Make space for a small, lidless hamper or laundry basket. Otherwise, have a system for depositing used towels in the laundry room.

Tip #8

• Use hooks instead of towel racks for kids. They’ll be more likely to use them. Have as many hooks and/or towel racks as you have persons using the bathroom.

Tip #9

• Make a checklist of all products in your bathroom as well as those used by each individual. Review your list weekly before shopping.

Tip #10

• Explore the variety of storage options you can use in the bath.
• Small countertop drawers can organize cotton balls and Q-Tips.
• Use cutlery trays in drawers, plastic shelves under the sink and caddies which attach to doors.
• Rolling carts can all contain the clutter that frequently accumulates in this much-used room. To keep things organized, each person can have one basket on the cart.

Tip #11

• If pressed for space when storing towels, consider a space-saving towel rack that clips right over the back of the bathroom door.

Tip #12

• Transform the dead space over your toilet by adding a stacked cabinet to store some of those items that have been kept under the sink.

Tip #13

• Consider installing a shower dispenser right on the wall to dispense liquid soap, shampoo and conditioner and eliminate all of that clutter

Tip #14

• Use organizational cosmetic containers or even small boxes to organize each person’s cosmetics individually.

Wondering how to get your home decluttered once and for all this year? I was asked this same question recently by Amanda Wyant, a writer with Blissfully Domestic.

Click on this link to learn four professional organizing tips to help you declutter and get control of your home and your life in this article.

Waste Management – North County (760) 439-2824 or East County (619) 596-5100

North County customers can place their (non-flocked) trees at the curb for collection/recycling.

Be sure to remove all decorations, including ornaments, tinsel, lights and the tree stand; if the tree is taller than six feet, please cut it in half.  East County customers can recycle their Christmas trees by placing the trees in their yard waste bins on their regular pick-up day, trees must be cut into 4-ft sections and must fit into yard waste container.  Flocked trees cannot be recycled, but will be collected if cut into three-foot sections and placed into the regular trash cart.  Trees will be picked  up for recycling beginning Dec. 27th until January 15th

Allied Waste – (619) 421-9400 or (858) 278-6061

Allied Customers with curbside yard waste collection can recycle holiday trees by placing them at the curb on their regular collection day for the first two weeks after Christmas. Please remove all ornaments, tinsel, garland and plastic or metal stands.  Cut trees to 4 foot lengths or less.  Artificial trees are not recyclable through curbside programs and will not be collected.

Apartments, condominiums, mobile homes:  Contact your manager or HOA for information about collection at your complex.

EDCO (760) 744-2700

Christmas trees, including flocked trees, may be recycled in EDCO’s yard waste recycling program. Place cut trees in designated yard waste recycling container(s), or bundle tree sections together with twine (maximum 4 feet in length and 18 inches in diameter) and place on curb during regular yard waste collection or in yard waste bin.

If your apartment or condominium has a collection program for landscape material, place tree sections into your designated green waste container.

ESCONDIDO DISPOSAL – (760) 745-3203 (Service for Escondido only)

Christmas trees are collected curbside from single-family residents from Dec. 27th

through Jan. 14th

Trees must be cut to 4-foot lengths and may not be placed in plastic bags, may not be flocked, and may not include tinsel, ornaments, nails, or tree stands. Set the tree out at the curb with your regular greens collection or put in yard waste bin (must fit into yard waste bin). Flocked trees should be cut to fit inside trash container.

Multi-family residents should ask their complex manager for the tree collection site at their complex.

Trees will be collected from these multi-family sites from Dec. 27th through Jan. 9th

and include the

same restrictions listed above for curbside tree collection.

RAMONA DISPOSAL – (760) 789-0516

Christmas trees are collected curbside from single-family residents on their service date.  Residents

should cut down to sizes no longer than 4-feet in length or they will not be removed.  Clean Green

trees only (no plastic bags, and may not include tinsel, ornaments, nails, or tree stands).

DAILY DISPOSAL – (619) 702-3300

Christmas trees are collected curbside from single-family residents on their regular green waste

collection date. Trees must be cut into sections that fit into yard waste bin. Trees may not be flocked,

and may not include tinsel, ornaments, nails or tree stands.  Major Cities, Communities, and Unincorporated Areas

Alpine (Unincorporated)

Service Company- Waste Management, Daily Disposal, Pacific Waste, Allied Waste

Curbside – yes

Drop-off Information-N/A

Bonsall

Service Company –EDCO (760) 727-1600

Curbside- yes

Drop-off Information- Please drop at River Village at 5256 S Mission in the northwest parking lot from

12/27 to 1/10.

Camp Pendleton

Service Company- Waste Management

Curbside – yes

Carlsbad

Service Company- Waste Management

Curbside – yes

Drop-off Information-  Calaveras Park- 2997 Glasgow Dr., Poinsettia Park- 6600 Hidden Valley Road,

Stagecoach Park (lower park)- 3420 Camino de los Coches, Fire Station #1- 1275 Carlsbad Village Dr.,

Waste Management/Palomar Transfer Station- 5690 El Camino Real.

Christmas tree recycling is available between December 27 and January 17.  Please remove all lights,

ornaments, and stands.  No flocked trees accepted.

Chula Vista

Service Company- Allied Waste

Curbside- yes

Drop-off Information – Call (619) 421-9400 for more details.

Chula Vista single family residents with cart service can recycle holiday trees by placing them at

the curb on their regular collection day or use one of their two free yard waste passes to take their

tree to the Otay landfill.

Apartment, condominium, or mobile home residents:  Contact your manager or HOA for

information about the free pre-scheduled collection day for your complex.

Coronado

Service Company- EDCO

Curbside – yes

Drop-off Information- Place trees inside the collection bin: Dec. 25- Jan. 8 Collection bins located

in the parking lot of Glorietta Bay Park Boat Ramp (off Strand Way). Residents of Coronado Cays

can drop off holiday trees in the collection bin located in the parking lot across from the Fire

Station on Grand Caribe Causeway.

Crest (Unincorporated)

Service Company- Waste Management, Allied Waste

Curbside- yes

Drop-off – Waste Management’s recycling and buyback center, located at 925 Oconner St. in El Cajon,

just south of the intersection of Bradley Ave. and Johnson Ave. They will accept trees M-F 7am to 5pm,

Sat 8am to 12pm.

Del Mar

Service Company- Waste Management

Curbside – yes

Drop-off Information- N/A El Cajon City and Unincoporated

Service Company- Waste Management, Allied Waste

Curbside- yes

Drop-off – Waste Management’s recycling and buyback center, located at 925 Oconner St. in El

Cajon, just south of the intersection of Bradley Ave. and Johnson Ave. They will accept trees M-F

7am to 5pm, Sat 8am to 12pm.

Encinitas

Service Company- EDCO, (760) 436-4151

Curbside – yes, single-family residences may place their trees curbside during regular collection

service 12/27/10-01/14/11. Multi-Family complexes contact EDCO.

Drop-off Information- Contact EDCO.

Escondido

Service Company- Escondido Disposal, EDCO (760) 744-2700

Curbside: yes, single-family residents from Dec. 27 through Jan. 14. Set the tree out at the curb with

your regular greens collection. No tinsel, ornaments, nails, or tree stands.  Must be cut to 4-foot

lengths.  Flocked trees will be accepted.  Multi-family residents should ask their complex manager

for the tree collection site at their complex. Trees will be collected from these multi-family sites from

Jan. 3 through Jan. 7 and include the same restrictions listed above for curbside tree collection.

Drop-off Information- (Dec. 26 – Jan.17) Kit Carson Park – 3333 Bear Valley Parkway (south

entrance, first parking lot on right), and Jesmond Dene Park – 2401 North Broadway (in the parking

lot next to ball fields.) Look for signs at both locations. There are no tree-length restrictions at the

drop-off sites

Fairbanks Ranch (Unincorporated)

Service Company- Waste Management, Allied Waste

Curbside- yes

Drop-off Information- N/A

Fallbrook (Unincorporated)

Service Company- Fallbrook Refuse, EDCO and Waste Management

Curbside Information- yes

Drop-off Information- River Village – 5256 Mission Road (North End near Prudential Realty)

Imperial Beach

Service Company- EDCO

Curbside- yes, single family residences may place their trees curbside during regular collection

service 12/26 -1/18.

Drop-off Information- (12/26-1/22) Public Works Facility – 495 Tenth St, Boys and Girls Club – 847

Encina Ave, Sports Recreation Center – 425 Imperial Beach Blvd

Jamul (Unincorporated)

Service Company- Waste Management

Curbside- yes

Drop-off – Waste Management’s recycling and buyback center, located at 925 Oconner St. in El Cajon,

just south of the intersection of Bradley Ave. and Johnson Ave. They will accept trees M-F 7am to 5pm,

Sat 8am to 12pm.

Lakeside (Unincorporated)

Service Company- EDCO, Allied Waste, & Waste Management

Curbside- yes Drop-off – Waste Management’s recycling and buyback center, located at 925 Oconner St. in El Cajon,

just south of the intersection of Bradley Ave. and Johnson Ave. They will accept trees M-F 7am to 5pm,

Sat 8am to 12pm.

La Mesa

Service Company- EDCO

Curbside –yes

Drop-off Information- (Dec. 26 – Jan. 15) Residents of La Mesa can drop off trees at the EDCO Station,

located at 8184 Commercial Street in La Mesa’s industrial center. Holiday tree drop-off available:

Monday – Saturday, 7:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., and Sunday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (Closed Christmas and New

Year’s Day.)  Free holiday tree mulch will be available on a self-load/self-haul basis.

Lemon Grove

Service Company- EDCO

Curbside Information- yes, single-family residences may place their trees curbside during regular

collection service 12/27-1/17

Drop-off Information- Dec. 27- Jan. 17. Collection bin located in the fenced dirt lot at the corner of

Central and Olive Ave. , across from Civic Center Park.

National City

Service Company- EDCO

Curbside Information- yes, single-family residences may place their trees curbside during regular

collection service the first two weeks after Christmas.

Oceanside

Service Company- Waste Management

Curbside – yes, customers can recycle their Christmas trees for free by placing the trees at the curb on

their regular pick-up day.  Trees will be picked up for recycling during the two weeks following

Christmas, from Dec. 27 to Jan. 7. Remove all decorations, including ornaments, tinsel, lights and the

tree stand; if the tree is taller than six feet, please cut it in half. Flocked trees cannot be recycled, but

will be collected as regular trash.

Drop-off Information- N/A

Poway

Service Company- EDCO

Curbside – yes, yes, single-family residences may place their trees curbside during regular collection

service 12/27/10-1/14/11. Multi-Family complexes contact EDCO

Drop-off Information- Contact EDCO, (858) 748-7769

Rancho Santa Fe

Service Company- Waste Management, Allied Waste, EDCO, (760) 436-4151

Curbside – yes

Drop-off Information- N/A

Ramona

Service Company- Ramona Disposal (760) 789-0516) or ramonadisposal.com

Curbside – yes, Residents may place holiday trees curbside from 12/26-1/15 during regular collection

days.

Drop-off Information- Ramona High School – Dec 31st

, Jan 1st

, Jan 2nd

, Jan 8th

and Jan 9th

. Residents do

not need to cut trees. Ramona Disposal will place collection bins at the high school parking lot,

residents can put their trees in those bins.

San Diego

All City of San Diego residents please call (858) 694-7000 for more information.

Drop-off Information- See attached list on last page

San Diego-Unincorporated EDCO- (760) 744-2700, Allied WasteThose living in single-family residences may place their trees curbside during regular collection

service for the first two weeks after Christmas.

San Marcos

Service Company – EDCO

Curbside Collection – yes – Residents may place holiday trees curbside from 12/27 through 1/14

during regular collection days.

Drop-Off Dates – Dec. 26 – Jan. 12.  Place trees inside collection bins located in the parking lot of

the Senior Center, located at 111 Richmar Avenue.

Multi-Family communities contact EDCO at 760.744.2700.

Santee

Service Company- Waste Management

Curbside – yes

Drop-off Information- Waste Management’s recycling and buyback center, located at 925 Oconner St.

in El Cajon, south of the intersection of Bradley Ave. and Johnson Ave.   They will accept trees M-F 7am

to 5pm, Sat 8am to 12pm.

Spring Valley (Unincorporated)

Service Company- Waste Management, EDCO, & Allied Waste

Curbside- yes, single-family residences may place their trees curbside during regular collection

service the first two weeks after Christmas.

Drop-off – N/A

Solana Beach:

Service Company- Waste Management residential curbside,

Curbside Information- yes

Drop-off Information- (Dec. 26 – Jan. 14)  635 South Highway 101 (City Hall Parking Lot) and 715 Valley

Ave (La Colonia Community Center).

Valley Center

Service Company- Waste Management & EDCO, (760) 744-2700

Curbside – yes

Drop-off Information- Please contact EDCO at 760-744-2700 for the nearest drop off location.

Vista

Service Company-EDCO (760) 727-1600

Curbside-yes, residents may place holiday trees curbside on their regular collection day during the

two weeks after Christmas at no extra charge – from Monday, December 27 through Monday,

January 10.  Trimmings and the stand must be removed.  Organic decorations, such as natural

garland and wreathes, can also be placed in the residential designated yard waste container.

Drop off information-(Dec 27-Jan 10) Drop-off in the public parking lot between S. Santa Fe

Avenue and Mercantile Street (523 S. Santa Fe Avenue), Parking lot on the corner of S. Melrose Dr.

& Shadowridge Dr. City of San Diego

December 26, 2010 – January 23, 2011

• Residential only drop-off sites are listed below.

• Drop off trees during daylight hours only.

• No ornaments, trash, or tree stands.

• No commercial loads. • No fundraising loads.

Manual container customers using your own bins should place trees on the curb for

collection on your regular greenery recycling pickup day. Trees over four feet in length

should be cut in half.

Automated container customers using the large, green 96-gallon bin provided by the

city should cut their trees to fit into the automated container for pickup on collection

day.

Christmas Tree Residential Recycling Drop-off Sites

Site          Address

1. Carmel Valley   Carmel Valley Recreation Center, 3777 Townsgate

Drive, lower parking lot.

2. Encanto     Cielo Dr. @ Woodman St.

3. Golden Hill     Golden Hill Recreation Center, 2600 Golf Course Dr.

4. La Jolla     Kate Sessions Park, Soledad Rd.

5. Logan Heights    Memorial Recreation Center, 2902 Marcy Ave.

6. Miramar   Miramar Landfill and Greenery Recycling, Convoy St.

north of Highway 52

7. Mission Bay     Sea World Dr. @ Pacific Highway

8. Oak Park   Chollas Lake, 6350 College Grove Dr., in Gloria’s Mesa

parking lot.

9. Ocean Beach   Robb Field Recreation Center, 2525 Bacon St.

10. Otay Mesa/Nestor   Montgomery Waller Community Park (lower west

parking lot on Palm Avenue)

11. Rancho Bernardo   Rancho Bernardo Recreation Center,18448 W.

Bernardo Dr.

12. Rancho Penasquitos   Canyonside Recreation Center, 12350 Black Mtn. Rd.

13. SDSU      Parking Lot D off Alvarado Rd.

14. Scripps Ranch    Scripps Ranch Recreation Center, 11454 Blue Cypress Dr.

15. Tierrasanta     De Portola Middle School, 11010 Clairemont Mesa Blvd.

16. University City    Swanson Pool, 3585 Governor Dr.

These are what Kimberly considers the top 10 financial documents to obtain, review and/or organize during a divorce:

(1)  Get a copy of your credit score – you can get a copy FREE every 12 months from www.annualcreditscore.com. Obtain copies from all 3 reporting agencies.  Check them for accuracy.

(2)  Copy all credit card statements- if you have good credit, open your own credit card now.

(3)  Track what you spend- create a budget and save receipts.  Can you pay down some current debt?

(4)  Prepare an inventory of all assets

(a)  List all real estate and their current values

(b)   List all investment/retirement accounts –

identify whose name the account is in, the current value and who the beneficiary is

(5)  List life insurance policies- including who the policy is with, the amount of coverage, the term and who the beneficiary is.

(6)  List all other insurance policies and include policy numbers- i.e. car insurance, home owner’s or renter’s insurance, health insurance

(7)   Copy all bank statements for all open bank accounts- checking and savings

(8)  W-2’s and other statements of income

(9)  Copy birth certificates for both spouses

(10)  Marriage certificate

I also recommend saving paper copies as well as saving all documents electronically so that you can easily send them to your attorney or accountant.

By Kimberley Lynch

www.primerica.com/kimberleylynch

This is the perfect time to move your bounty forward – Here are a few tips to help you clear your clutter, donate to your favorite charity and dispose of hazardous eWaste responsibly.

Appliances 

When you get a new appliance to replace the old, make sure to let go of your old one!

Old Electronics

Recycle at your local Goodwill. This helps the environment and your community

The Dell Reconnect Program - Dell is the first major computer manufacturer to ban the export of non-working electronics to developing countries as part of its global policy on responsible electronics disposal.

Reconnect has recycled nearly 96 million pounds of computer equipment to date.

What they recycle:

Monitors

Computers (Desktop & Laptop)

Printers

Scanners

Hard Drives

Keyboards

Speakers

Cords & Cables

Ink & Toner Cartridges

Software

Xbox®

Microsoft Zune®

Televisions

Cell Phones

Appliances

Electrical Cords 

If you end up in that box of electrical cords do a quick assessment. Are all of the electric and electronic gadgets you own hooked up and working? If so, you can let go and donate your jumble of old cords.

Dead Batteries 

The SD County Library system recycles old batteries. Collect them in a bin and take them to your local library. If you live outside of this area, check this website to find out where you can recycle.

Prior to dropping off the batteries, residents should cover the positive ends of the batteries with tape and place them in a sealed plastic bag.

Lightbulbs

Bring in a sealed bag with your old lightbulbs to your local IKEA for recycling. They can even be donated once broken.

Your old bulbs go through a separation process into glass, powder and mercury. Separated mercury goes through a process of triple distillation which takes away all contamination (mercury has a tendency to attract other materials).

After the triple distillation is finished the mercury is reused.

Boxes and Old Gift Wrap

Don’t just throw in your regular trash bin, Recycle them!

Peanuts, foam packing nuts

Take these to your local pack and ship store. This helps support local business and recycles at the same time.

Hangars 

Metal - Take to your local dry cleaner. Supports local business and keeps them out of landfills.

Plastic - donate to your favorite charity

Old Cell Phones 

Domestic violence programs accept old cell phones. The Hopelines program through Verizon also brings old cell phones to those in need.

Treecycling

Artificial Christmas trees have a negative effect to our environment. They are manufactured with PVC which is a non-biodegradable, petroleum-derived plastic. In addition, many older tree varieties may contain lead.

The Christmas tree industry employs more than 100,000 Americans and now almost every community in the US recycles live trees after the holidays into mulch.

Old Holiday Cards – My personal favorite!

St. Jude’s Ranch Recycled Card Program, which benefits the St. Jude’s Ranch for Children. Launched more than 30 years ago as a thank-you to donors by using the previous year’s Christmas cards to turn them into “new” cards, the special cards are sold to raise money for the ranch’s programs. People from all over the world send their used greeting cards for all occasions.

Children at St. Jude’s Ranch learn entrepreneurship skills and participate in making the new cards by removing the front and attaching a new back so that customers receive “green” holiday cards for their use.

The address is St. Jude’s Ranch for Children, Recycled Card Program, 100 St. Jude’s St., Boulder City, NV 89005, and the phone number (877) 977-7572.

Other Recycling Tips

If you dont see the recycling location you need, check out www.earth911.com

1. Save time and energy by purchasing gifts in bulk for: coworkers, hostess gifts, last minute gift exchanges and helpers like your postman and gardener.

2. Create a gift theme each year and buy these items in bulk: i.e. candles, holiday cd’s, infused olive oils, photo frames, photo albums etc…

3. Stock up for all 3 holidays during one shopping trip
a. Things are usually less expensive before the holidays – take advantage of sales and smaller lines
b. Stock your pantry now with enough snacks, cookies, wine, soft drinks, spur of the moment hor’deurves to carry you through to the New Year’s celebration.

4. Buy gift cards based on the recipient’s hobby
a. Give experiences instead of gifts: massage, pedicure, theatre tickets, kayak tour, etc

5. Coordinate this year’s holiday outfit in advance before the shopping rush begins.
a. Start with a basic black dress and create three distinctive looks with different accessories for each celebration. Red or blue scarf for Christmas/Hanukah, rhinestones for formal affair, metallic shoes for New Years.

6. Create a Holiday Binder 3 ring with divider pages, plastic drop in pockets
a. Holiday cards list
b. Travel plans and itineraries
c. Gift Lists carry through each year so you can remember what you bought last year
d. Favorite recipes with ingredient shopping lists
e. Magazine clippings with gift ideas
f. Pocket for gift Receipts and online purchases
g. As you discover time saving tips, add them to your binder so you can remember next year

7. Stock your car and purse with extra snacks for longer than expected shopping excursions
a. This helps you avoid fast foods, which saves you time, money and unwanted calories.

8. Set up a gift packaging/ mail center
a. Create a space to hold all gifts, wrapping paper, cards, stamps, packing materials etc.

b. Store gifts in plastic opaque tubs, wrap and label them as they are purchased

9. Buy postage stamps and learn how to print shipping labels online. Skip the line at the Post Office and ship online.

10. Order gifts online for out of town friends and family. Have gifts shipped directly to the recipient to save wrapping and shipping time.

a. Many online retailers offer free shipping in the weeks prior to Thanksgiving as an incentive to shop in advance.

11. Stock up on plastic containers, plastic wrap, baggies and cookie tins in advance for leftovers food from parties.

12. Plan a cookie exchange with friends; each person makes 4-6 dozen cookies per recipe and everyone swaps. This is a great way to spend time with your friends during the holidays and also check a “To Do” off your list!

13. Make double recipes of entrees before the holiday mayhem begins or at least every time you actually cook during the rush during the holidays. You will appreciate a home-cooked meal that can simply be thawed and reheated when you arrive home late.

14. Create a “First Out” Bin – Include your holiday organizing binder, wrapping paper/ ribbon, holiday cards, cookie tins, holiday CD’s and your favorite decoration to help you get into the holiday sprit before you pull everything else out.

15. Organize Your Holiday décor and supplies in advance – buy colorful plastic containers before the holidays so when you pack up after, you can store items into color-coded bins that can be easily identified each year. Plastic also protects items better than cardboard; no glue, less bugs.

a. Store in holiday items in color-coded plastic containers, Blue: Hanukah,
b. Green or Red: Christmas, Orange: Halloween, Pink: Easter

16. Don’t repack your ornaments into their manufacturer boxes. Instead, fill a plastic tub half full with Styrofoam peanuts, place fragile ornaments within and swish around to distribute them evenly inside the tub. Once positioned, add more ornaments and peanuts until filled. This method saves space and energy while repacking. It also ensures that your ornaments will be stored safely between holidays.

17. When storing holiday decor in a tight space, always group items together by holiday. Make sure to reload the attic with Halloween in front, followed by Thanksgiving and then Hanukah/ Christmas in the back.

First of all, don’t be afraid to wear something that you can wear to work or another occasion. There is nothing wrong with a multipurpose outfit that happens to have red, green or other popular holiday colors. As long as you put thought into it, you will look put together and people are likely to notice the appropriate color choice.

High-end fabrics such as satin work well for nice gatherings. They tend to look sophisticated, and can brighten the entire outfit. Stick to colors that are similar to precious stones, and don’t limit yourself to emerald and ruby. Just aim to look good, not necessarily match the decorations!

Ladies, don’t forget to wear jewelry and give thought to your accessories. Gold or silver earrings, necklaces, bracelets, or rings, along with the right shoes, handbags, and hair clips or pins can really add class to your holiday attire. Choose a focal point and please, don’t go crazy with glitter or sequence.

For New Year, Thanksgiving or Christmas you can use the seasons as inspiration. Think of the holiday foods and the autumn leaves when you choose colors. Match neutrals like brown or black with deep seasonal colors like orange, red, or purple. Use a rich material like cashmere and you will have a very elegant look.

Lastly, don’t forget that you need to be comfortable. Avoid wearing clothing that is too tight, hot, or awkward. At the same time, don’t just throw on a huge sweater that will make a tent over your body. You can look put together and be comfortable at the same time.

If you are feeling overwhelmed by all of the tasks on your holiday list, lighten up with these tips from Kathi on NBC 7/39 News.

Consider not mailing holiday cards (saves trees) or at least doing it a bit differently this year. Professional Organizer, Kathi Burns provides tips to keep your stress levels down during this holiday season.

Create a Holiday Organizing Binder – Create one this year and use it for years to come!

Save Your Christmas Card List in a Word Document so you can open it every year when you send cards. Throughout the year you can update and add new addresses. After the holidays, it will be easier to edit and add addresses from the cards you received. Mail cards early before all the busyness of the holiday starts. Buy the cards at the end of the season and save for the next year so you can start addressing cards before season begins next year.

Gift List as an Excel Spreadsheet – print it and put it in your purse or wallet. that has a list of names of people to buy for and I start collecting links to gifts to buy for them. Keep a list all year long on computer for people you buy gifts for. When you see an idea or they mention something they would like I add it to the list. When it’s time to shop I have great ideas for everyone.

Take a weekday off in early December to shop – Take a Tuesday or Wed off in early December and avoid frantic last minute and weekend warriors. 

Create a Hostess Gift Bin Make sure to buy extra small hostess gifts for spur of the moment parties this season and throughout the year.

Create a Gift Theme this year and buy all of your gifts around this theme. Keep it simple: candles and candle platters, linens to include napkins, tablecloths wine accessories such as wine glass tags, cork screws, wine glasses…

Organize a Holiday Sweet Swap. Every person makes a huge batch of one recipe then swaps with each other. This way you don’t have to buy a ton of different ingredients you just have to buy for your one recipe. I LOVE doing this

Stock up on food and gift wrapping staples this week that you know you are going to need for those holiday meals, and tape and ribbons and bows and anything else that you can get a head start on.

Prepare a food backup: of casseroles, snack foods and cold desserts in early December.

Bake and freeze – start making Christmas cookies and baked goods a few weeks earlier than last year. Freezing the cookies/desserts will make the holidays so much less stressful because you won’t have to bake at the last minute.

Give Gift Cards for Local Services – These are clutter free and thoughtful gifts while keeping your shopping simple and stress free while helping local small businesses. Consider gift certificates for professional services such as organizing, massage, spa treatments or image consulting.

Create Your Gift List in an Excel Spreadsheet or Word Document –  Keep a list all year long on computer and  start collecting links to gift ideas. As the holidays approach, print it and put it in your purse or wallet. Make a list of names of people to buy for and  crossing off names as you buy. When you see an idea or they mention something they would like, add it to your list. Don’t worry if you did not get this together early on this year, simply start now and make your list. You can use it next year to get a head start on your gift planning. When it’s time to shop next year you will have great ideas for everyone.

Take a weekday off in early December to shop – Take a Tuesday or Wed off in early December and avoid frantic last minute and weekend warriors. 

Create a Hostess Gift Bin - Make sure to buy extra small hostess gifts for spur of the moment parties this season and throughout the year.

Create a Gift Theme this year and buy all of your gifts around one theme. Keep it simple: candles and candle platters, linens to include napkins, tablecloths wine accessories such as wine glass tags, cork screws, wine glasses…

Organize a Holiday Sweet Swap - Each person in the swap makes a huge batch of one recipe then swaps with each other. This way you don’t have to buy a ton of different ingredients you just have to buy for your one recipe. I LOVE doing this.

Stock up on the Food and Gift Wrapping Staples that you know you are going to need for those holiday meals, along with tape,  ribbons and gift wrap and anything else so you can get a head start.

Prepare a Food Backup- Make casseroles, snack foods and cold desserts in early December. Buy extra healthy snack packs and keep some in your purse and car so you wont be forced to eat junk food while you are out and about.

Bake and fFreeze – Start making Christmas cookies and baked goods a few weeks earlier than last year. Freezing the cookies/desserts will make the holidays so much less stressful because you won’t have to bake at the last minute.

Give Gift Cards for Local Services – Gift cards for services are clutter free and thoughtful gifts while keeping your shopping simple and stress free. These purchases also help local small businesses. Consider gift certificates for professional services such as organizing, massage, spa treatments or image consulting. addSpace Personalized Gift Certificates are available now! Call 760.436.4266 and let us know what you need.

Create a Holiday Organizing Binder - Create one this year and use it for years to come!

Save Your Christmas Card List in a Word Document so you can open it every year when you send cards. Throughout the year you can update and add new addresses. After the holidays, it will be easier to edit and add addresses from the cards you received. Mail cards early before all the busyness of the holiday starts. Buy the cards at the end of the season and save for the next year so you can start addressing cards before season begins next year.

Gift List as an Excel Spreadsheet – print it and put it in your purse or wallet. that has a list of names of people to buy for and I start collecting links to gifts to buy for them. Keep a list all year long on computer for people you buy gifts for. When you see an idea or they mention something they would like I add it to the list. When it’s time to shop I have great ideas for everyone.

Take a Weekday Off in Early December to Shop – Take a Tuesday or Wed off in early December and avoid frantic last minute and weekend warriors.

Create a Hostess Gift Bin Make sure to buy extra small hostess gifts for spur of the moment parties this season and throughout the year.

Create a Gift Theme this year and buy all of your gifts around this theme. Keep it simple: candles and candle platters, linens to include napkins, tablecloths wine accessories such as wine glass tags, cork screws, wine glasses…

Organize a Holiday Sweet Swap. Every person makes a huge batch of one recipe then swaps with each other. This way you don’t have to buy a ton of different ingredients you just have to buy for your one recipe. I LOVE doing this.

Stock Up on Food and Gift Wrapping Staples This Week that you know you are going to need for those holiday meals, and tape and ribbons and bows and anything else that you can get a head start on.

Get Cooking and Prepare a Food Backup: of casseroles, snack foods and cold desserts in early December.

Bake and Freeze – Start making Christmas cookies and baked goods a few weeks earlier than last year. Freezing the cookies/desserts will make the holidays so much less stressful because you won’t have to bake at the last minute.

Buy Gift Cards for Local Services – These are clutter free and thoughtful gifts and keep your shopping simple and stress free. You also support local small businesses. Consider gift certificates for professional services such as organizing, massage, spa treatments or image consulting.

Remember, no matter what type of trauma you face in life, you are never truly alone! There are professionals like myself and Laura that are here to serve and help you rebuild your life after you experience big setbacks.

“We know what happens to people who stay in the middle of the road. They get run over.” Aneurin Bevan

Kathi Burns coaches women how to stay organized even during a divorce

Could there be a time in a woman’s life that she is more likely to be paralyzed by chaos than during a divorce? Perhaps, but if you are in the midst of a divorce you are likely nodding your head in a way that says: “wow! I have never been this overwhelmed and disorganized, NEVER!!”

And then your “I can’t” thoughts start to take hold of your head and the nod of agreement quickly turns into a sideways twist, twist, twist, as you say to yourself “. . . No way! I’ve got things to do!! I don’t have time to organize my life. I’m just trying to survive it!! And you stop imagining the bliss of returning to a clean home and resume your anxious search for that document you know you put somewhere, while the clock exclaims: “you’re late! Again! Hurry!!”

Well you are not alone, but just because misery loves company, doesn’t mean you’re going to feel better hanging out with it!

As a divorce Coach I have the opportunity to be an “Agent of Change.” But I also know that before I can hope to help you create lasting change you have to believe that an expenditure of money or time, or even some of both will bring you so much value that you feel compelled to take action.

Okay, I know you’re busy, running late, can’t recall the last time you had a restorative sleep so I’ll just get to the point. Clutter, hoarding, and disorganization will bury your best intentions alive! A person who stashes and hoards and refuses to let go of the stuff is operating on with one or more of these assumptions:
1. I need this stuff because it says something about me. (translation: I need to obtain your approval to feel worthy)
2. I live in a world of lack, and if I don’t hang on to this stuff it will never come again. (Translation: I need it for my security, I am not capable of providing)
3. It’s my stuff and I’m doing it my way. (Translation: I m not interested in what might be best for me I’m only interested in staying in control so back off!!)

When you make space in your life, you make space for real change, new beginnings, peace, growth, and harmony. Try this “pro pro” test as a way of beginning. Ask yourself: “what are the pros of keeping this in my life? And “what are the pro’s of removing this from my life?”

If you find yourself clinging to the stuff, ask yourself a few more questions: is my fear of letting go coming from a lack or need for: approval, security or control? And could I let that go? Would I let that go? And then finally: “when?”

Don’t expect you will be able to do this alone, take off your cape, sit down, take a breath and call an agent of change. You are not alone any more.

Laura McGee
www.LeaveStrong.com
www.Facebook.com/LeaveStrong

Laura McGee is a divorce Coach who supports women at every stage of their divorce process.

Because, some of you might not have a great bag like this, I wanted to deliver a few other tips to help you keep you jewelry organized while you travel.

1. If you don’t have a pre-made jewelry bag, you can use small cloth pouches to keep your jewelry organized while traveling. Store all smaller cloth pouches into one large pouch or ziplock bag.
2. Separating and storing gold from silver accessories will make it easier to find what you need when you are living out of a suitcase.
3. Pair necklaces with earrings when packing so they come out together when you unpack.
4. Use straws to keep dainty chain necklaces from kinking while in your suitcase. Simply run one end through the straw and attach the clasp at the other end. Trim your straw to fit the necklace length. These long straws can be stored within a sock.
5. Do the same with chunky necklaces and bracelets but use an empty toilet paper rolls instead. It does not matter if they get smashed and you might even want to smash them in advance so they will take up less room in your suitcase.
6. If you are worried about losing your valuable jewelry when traveling, store your jewelry in a sock and keep it paired with it’s mate in the drawer with your socks and undies.
7. Want to keep post earrings organized while traveling? Cut a small square of window screen and attach all earrings onto the screen. Place this screen into a ziplock bag.

Let me know if you have any other good tips for jewelry while you travel. Post a comment below or use the Facebook link to tell us your cool tricks!

This is the perfect time to opt out of mailing lists and now there is an easy way to take control and make change to reduce the paper that comes into your home. Check out this new service:

Catalog Choice Launches New Service to

Combat Increasing USPS Junk Mail

BERKELEY, CALIF. (November 8, 2011)—As the U.S. Postal Service aggressively seeks to increase direct advertising mailings, Catalog Choice—the leader in mail efficiency—is working to help consumers combat the impending tidal wave of junk mail. The Berkeley-based non-profit today launched MailStop™ Envelopes—the first in a line of premium services set to roll out this fall.

Users can purchase MailStop™ Envelopes for $6.75 each, fill them with up to 15 mailing labels from unwanted mail and send the envelopes back to Catalog Choice. Their staff will then scan the labels, fulfill the opt-out requests and record the transaction in customers’ secure accounts. Companies have 90 days to honor requests before formal complaints are filed and then submitted to the FTC. Customers can use the envelopes to opt-out of any unwanted mail including catalogs, donation requests, circulars and coupon mailers, as well as phone books. The envelopes are available for purchase at www.catalogchoice.org and can also be gifted to friends and family.

Catalog Choice has been testing the MailStop™ Envelopes with customers for the past several months. Brad Barrish, one such customer, said, “Catalog Choice is a no-brainer for anyone who is tired of receiving so many catalogs in their mailbox and just doesn’t have the time to write letters and follow up with the companies sending them. At $6.75 an envelope, it’s hard to find an excuse not to participate. Thanks so much for such a compelling and easy way for people to opt out of junk mail.”

“MailStop™ Envelopes enable individuals to stop unwanted mail seconds after they pull it out of the mailbox,” said Chuck Teller, Executive Director, Catalog Choice.  “Since the beginning, Catalog Choice has empowered people to take control of their mailboxes. MailStop™ Envelopes offers another way to improve the relevance of mail for consumers, reduce mailing costs for businesses and garbage disposal costs for cities and counties. It’s a win for everyone involved.”

MailStop™ Envelopes is the offline version of Catalog Choice’s online service, which allows consumers to control who can send them unsolicited mail. In recent months, Catalog Choice has also partnered with communities across the country includingChicago, Ill.; Seattle, Wash; San Jose, Calif. and Kansas City, Mo.-Kan to provide localized mail preference programs for their residents.

About Catalog Choice

Founded in 2007 to provide consumers greater control over the marketing materials that enter their mailboxes, Catalog Choice is the world’s largest preference and privacy portal with more than 1.4 million consumer members and 4,100 direct marketing companies.  By reducing unnecessary mail and phone books, Catalog Choice’s free and low-cost services reduce deforestation, greenhouse gases, solid waste and water consumption. Catalog Choice, a non-profit organization based in Berkeley, Calif., is supported by grants from the Overbrook Foundation, Kendeda Fund, Merck Family Fund and Richard and Rhoda Goldman Fund, as well as donations from members.

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If you are in San Diego area, dont miss this conference. It will be held on November 19th. I will Check out the flier above and mark your calendars to attend. You will learn tips for healthy living and more! I will presenting my favorite topic: Become the Master of Your Muck: Get Organized and Make Room for Yourself in Your Home.

Here is the link for more details.

Too many clothes  combined with a fashion oriented child makes for a slow ‘getting out the door and off to school’ morning process. I recently received a new product sample that can definitely help with this challenge. It does take pre-planning BUT, just like any other organizing tactic, the time you spend pre-planning each weekend  will pay off in spades throughout the week.

This is how it can work: Every Sunday night, you and your fashion savvy child can select and accessorize (of course!) outfits for the entire week. One for each day! The Organizables Team has created cool hanging bags that will keep every choice for each day contained and waiting for the morning routine, including shoes, socks, and accessories!

Not only will your morning routine go faster, your endless arguments about fashion will be consolidated into one day, the day you decide together what to select for school attire. Additionally, the closet will be less cluttered and chaotic. Purging at the end of each school year will also take less effort because you will be much more aware of what was actually worn throughout the year! Each bag is marked with the day of the week – Monday through Friday. Each bag also has two pockets to hold the small accessories for each outfit including undies, socks, and shoes.

These bags can also be folded up and used as travel bags to keep overnight weekend trips and family vacations better organized. You can get a set for each child. The boys set comes in blue. You can find these bags online at www.Organizables.com.

So, once again the moral to this story is, a little pre-planning with the proper tools will keep your better organized and less stressed as you proceed throughout the week. If you want to read more solutions to get you out the door faster from my Woman’s Day Article, click here!