The College Kids are Coming Home for Summer Break
The college kids are coming home for summer break! Did I forget to mention, they are coming back with all of their stuff. Now what?
The college kids are coming home for summer break! Did I forget to mention, they are coming back with all of their stuff. Now what?
Sending your kids off to college is the topic of many discussions. There are check lists complete with enough items to furnish a small home. We painstakingly shop for the perfect comforter and sheet set complete with matching accessories. We purchase mattress toppers that once out of their original packing barely fit in a midsize sedan. We research how to hang pictures that leave no marks on dorm walls. We worry about food sending a dorm fridge, microwave oven, and coffee maker. Our children insist on bringing ALL of their clothes to school then throughout the year they add sorority and fraternity t-shirts and formal attire to this clothing collection as well as game day attire.
Yes, all of this is coming back home and if you have several kids in college you can multiply this scenario. (By the way, this is why so many parents quickly agree to the off-campus apartment or house!)
The question is where do you store these items until the next semester. I must admit, one summer I rented a small storage unit. This particular year, my oldest daughter graduated from her undergraduate program in May and had plans to work as a sorority house director during her first year of grad school. She basically needed the same items she needed when moving into her freshman dorm room. My son lived on campus at the university he was attending and my youngest daughter was feverishly collecting items for her first college dorm room. It quickly became apparent that we had a problem as the items collected in our formal dining room.
I used plastic bins labeled for each kid to store their college items. I placed linens in one or two bins, coffee pots, mugs, etc. in a bin, accessories and décor in yet another. Then I took everything to an off-site storage unit. The storage unit might seem extreme but you can rent these by the month. They typically cost around $100 a month for a climate-controlled unit. The sense of calm we all receive from the two hundred dollars spent was well worth it in my book!!
If you have the space, you can store these bins in your kid’s closet, bedroom, or even in the garage. It is important to have your kids go through the stuff they bring home, sort items, and label everything. A lot of unwanted things get packed away in the mass exit after exams, like half eaten pop tarts, dirty coffee mugs, etc. Don’t judge. You know you raised these kids well but when the stress of exam week falls so do the cleaning standards!
HAPPY SUMMER! Enjoy these days as they pass way too quickly.
What's In Your Closet?
Welcome to our newest guest blogger, Ann Marie Stewart, who is all about minimalism! She’s been gracious enough to share some of her tips on how to clear that closet clutter!
Welcome to our newest guest blogger, Ann Marie Stewart, who is all about minimalism! She’s been gracious enough to share some of her tips on how to clear that closet clutter!
"I had more clothes than I had closets, more cars than garage space, but no money." -Sammy Davis Jr.
When I was a kid, my closet was the place for all the things I had to dump in a hurry so that my room looked clean. I HATED it when my parents would force me to clean my closet. n cleaning, I would usually find that I didn't need all the things that were in there in the first place.
When I became an adult (which I've found didn't really happen until my mid-30s) I decided once and for all that my closet was for clothes, period. Still, if I wasn't careful, other things that I needed to clean up would find their way into the sacred space.
This month, I've put together three posts (one old, two new) about closet spaces along with a list of what I specifically fill those spaces with.
Spring Newsletter
Happy 6th birthday to Chaos Organizing! Read our Spring Newsletter for the latest and greatest from Chaos Organizing.
Spring Newsletter
Have you Spring cleaned your pantry and other areas in your home?
Make sure to check out our Spring cleaning guide.
What Our Customers are Saying
"The team made the process fun, fast and easy --not the way I'd describe organizing on my own."
"This is worth EVERY PENNY!!!Not only is my house organized but I had a BLAST doing it because of their GREAT personalities!!! They couldn't be more professional and they never waste a second! They even take everything AWAY for you. I never wanted our time to be over, I was even sad because we were done. My husband thinks they have a true gift!! He was thrilled with what they did with our mess! My life so much lighter and happier! Now I WANT friends to open my closets and drawers! In fact I show them because I am so proud. Call Chaos...you will be sooooo happy you did!"
Give your mom a treat she will truly appreciate!
Chaos Organizing
Baton Rouge
Happy 6th birthday to Chaos Organizing!
In April, The Baton Rouge Chaos Organizing team celebrated with a luncheon and team training along with champagne and Sweet Carib cupcakes for dessert! We discussed The Chaos Method of organizing and reviewed all the fine details that make us Baton Rouge's premier professional home organizers.
I'm incredibly proud of the integrity of our team and the quality of our work. Try us, we won't disappoint!
Are y'all loving this Spring weather We have been busy with lots of Spring cleaning projects which means A LOT of donations! If you are also Spring cleaning right now and want to help our community, see the following list of just a few places that will take your donations. I hope you find this list helpful.
Electronics:
CACRC: http://www.cacrc.com
Housewares and Furniture:
The Purple Cow: http://thepurplecow.net
The ReStore of Greater Baton Rouge-Habitat for Humanity: https://habitatbrla.org
Inner Wheel Club of Baton Rouge-Attic Trash and Treasure Sale:
Email: caitlyn@habitatbrla.org
Society of St. Vincent de Paul Baton Rouge: https://svdpbr.org
Medicine:
https://www.endtheepidemicla.org
Hazardous Materials
https://www.brla.gov/893/Household-Hazardous-Materials
Car seat trade-in event
Target stores from 4/22-5/4
Thank you for being part of our organizing adventure.
Chaos Organizing
Houston
Chaos Organizing of Texas is proud to be a new part of the Chaos Organizing family as well as the Houston community. Houstonians truly believe charity starts at home. The sheer number of organizations set up throughout our city serve as evidence of Houstonians history of philanthropy.
At Chaos Organizing, we encourage our clients to use the de-clutter and downsizing process as an opportunity to make donations to the charity that speaks to them. Houston has no shortage of organizations collecting items to help those in need. Below are just a few of the charities available to receive donations within our community. Most of these charities offer multiple drop off locations.
Goodwill – www.goodwillhouston.org
Star of Hope – www. sohmission.org
Salvation Army – www.salvationarmyhouston.org
Charities of Houston – www.thecharitiesofhouston.org
Helping Hands Charity Inc. - www.houstonhelpinghands.com
Baker Ripley – www.bakerripley.org
Car seat trade-in event- Target stores from 4/22-5/4
For those that need a little extra help or feel overwhelmed with getting organized, give us a call.
Thank you for trusting us with your home organizing projects.
As part of our services, our Chaos Organizers will take your donated items off site to the selected donation venue and give you a donation receipt for tax purposes. Chaos Organizing is focused on providing high-quality service and customer satisfaction. We strive to do everything we can to exceed your expectations. With a variety of organizing sessions and services to choose from we’re sure you will be happy working with us.
www.chaosorganizing.com
Check Out Our Latest Project
Spring signifies fresh, new things so why not give your closet a a good spring cleaning? That's just what we did for this lucky client!
It may look AWESOME now, but it wasn't always that way.
Most people think their closet won’t ever be this organized. Look at the before pictures and you be the judge!
Chaos Kids
Summer is coming!
Make a summer bucket list with your children.
Don't forget to plan Dr. and dentist appointments
Plan summer camps
Plan sports camps
Buy summer reading books
Plan vacations or staycations
Plan quality time
Refer a Friend, Get a Discount!
Like us? Don't be stingy! Share us with a friend. When they book their organizing session, you get $50 off of yours!
How to Get Your Outdoor Space Spring Ready
It’s spring! One of the most favorite times in Southern homes! We Southerners love our large porches where we can socialize with the neighbors or our backyard outdoor kitchens where we can cook and entertain anywhere from 5 to 500 guests before we get into the raw, humid heat of summer. We are a social culture down here, but how do we keep these areas tidy and neat in between parties? Let me show you how!
“Traders en route from the Caribbean to the British, French and Spanish colonies were influenced by island architecture, rich with large open porches to accommodate the humid climate.”
It’s spring! One of the most favorite times in Southern homes! We Southerners love our large porches where we can socialize with the neighbors or our backyard outdoor kitchens where we can cook and entertain anywhere from 5 to 500 guests before we get into the raw, humid heat of summer.
We are a social culture down here, but how do we keep these areas tidy and neat in between parties? Let me show you how!
Porches are fairly simple since we don’t keep much out there. Wiping down furniture and swings with a damp cloth is usually all that’s needed. The porch itself can be swept or blown clear of any debris. If it has mildew, you may need a good power wash to get it all cleaned up. Most of us have taken our plants inside for winter so now is the time to bring them outside and spruce them up! (Y’all know a proper southern porch must have hanging ferns, right?) Make sure the railings and steps are safe and secure, especially if they are wood. Don’t forget to look up and make sure the ceiling fans are cleaned and old wasp nests and dirt diver houses are removed.
Outdoor kitchens need a little more TLC. Many outdoor kitchens have grills, sinks, stone counters, storage space, outdoor furniture, and umbrellas. Some even have refrigerators or other fun things, like pizza ovens! Mike and I spend one of the first weekends in spring getting everything wiped out and wiped down. We also power wash the concrete and outdoor rugs (when we aren’t at soccer games!) Finally, we make lists of things we need to buy for the upcoming entertainment season.
Wipe down all outdoor surfaces with a wet towel.
Tip: I keep all the outdoor items in closed containers because, well, Louisiana has a lot of bugs and critters.
Speaking of that, check your bug spray stock and sunscreen too. (Sunscreen expires, so check the expiration dates.)
Tip: If mosquitos are a big problem in your area, take old wine bottles and repurpose them into citronella lanterns! We have them hanging across our porch so those pesky little things don’t bother us!
We also make sure to have a full tank of propane for the Easter crawfish boil because if you grab that tank on boil day and it’s empty, you’ll be madder than a wet hen!
Here is my personal list:
Clean the grill
Wipe the counters
Scrub the sink
Clean out the beer fridge.
Clean out the trash cans and recycle cans.
Wipe ceiling fans
Check propane
Power wash concrete, outdoor rugs and outdoor cushions.
Uncover and wipe down outdoor furniture.
Uncover televisions (We can’t miss March Madness!)
Restock the outdoor spices (which live in a latch box inside because it’s too humid to keep them outside), paper goods, and outdoor linens.
Does any pool maintenance need to be done?
Check the fishing rods and tackle. (We have a pond. Hunting season is almost over so fishing begins. Remember, I live in Sportsman’s Paradise!)
Check out our Pinterest board to get some spring inspiration for your outdoor spaces!
Easy Ways to KEEP Your House Organized
“How do you stay organized?”
The key word here is stay not get organized. As professional organizers, we help lots of people get organized but the main question we get asked is how do we stay organized. Well for me, I guess you could place me in a category called “chronic tidiers”.
“Dear Ms. Chaos,
How do you stay organized?
Disorganized and frustrated,
Evelyn”
Dear Evelyn,
The key word here is stay not get organized. As professional organizers, we help lots of people get organized but the main question we get asked is how do we stay organized. Well for me, I guess you could place me in a category called “chronic tidiers”. I recently read a blog that ended up being an advertisement, as many are, but there were some good nuggets of information in that blog. Primarily that most organized people are chronic tidiers. What I’m saying is that they constantly put things away and tidy up their spaces. The number one bit of advice I will give you is to constantly tidy up your home. This is obviously easier to do when everything in your home has a spot. My favorite personal quote is ”In order to have a spotless home everything must have a spot”. Now, that doesn’t mean you will have a clean home. That’s a whole other category for another day! But if you just can’t wait, check out some of our other blogs. ;)
Back when I was working in a traditional office, I was introduced to a concept called never touch a paper more than once. And it really works. If you pick up a paper, take an action. Read it, file it, throw it away - you get the picture. I adopt this same principle to everything in my home. Start paying attention to your habits. Become your own social experiment. If you find yourself complaining about having a messy home you most likely pick up items and set them down because you don’t know what to do with said items. The first step to achieving a tidy home is finding a place for all the things in your home. Then you can simply return your items to those places. Professional organizers like the Chaos Organizing teams can help you establish places for the things you love.
If you touch a piece of paper, do something with it!
Chronic organizers also constantly edit their possessions. When you pick something up, evaluate it. Do you need to keep it? If yes, where does it go? Put it back immediately. If you don’t need it then put it into a donation box or into the trash.
Houses get messy when we don’t know what to do with our stuff. We start saying “I’ll deal with that later”, which is a slippery slope people! “Later” becomes a massive, overwhelming job requiring a holiday to tackle when had you just found a logical place, a donation box, or the trash can you would already be done.
Keep reading for more ideas on finding a place for things!
A place for everything, and everything in its place.
--Samual Smiles
Pro Tips: Put your items away immediately. If an something doesn’t have a place, create one or get rid of it. Constantly edit your life. Give us a call if you need help getting started.
If you’re a chronic organizer and have some helpful hints to share, please let us know in the comments! We love seeing what people can create!