Just a moment of gratitude!

What Do Professional Organizers Learn At Conference Anyway...?

In April I went to the NAPO 2013 Professional Organizer's Conference in New Orleans. I'll sneak a few points I learned that I will pass on to you!

I'm sure many people wonder how much can you learn about being organized. I mean really. Well despite some beliefs, organizing and productivity go waaaaaaaay deeper than just keeping things off the floor, in pretty bins with labels. Often there is deep psychology that goes into coaching people in the right direction. Noticing certain behaviors and learning techniques to avoid, or overcome certain behaviors.Professional organizers are project managers, coaches, solution providers, accountability partners, and of course there is the keeping things off the floor and putting them in pretty bins with labels...

At conference one of our keynote speakers was Dr. Kelly Mcgonigal, PhD. Dr. Mcgonigal is a health psychologist and lecturer at Stanford University, and a leading expert in the new field of “science-help.” She is passionate about translating cutting-edge research from psychology, neuroscience, and medicine into practical strategies for health, happiness, and personal success.

Her topic was on "Unmask the Potential In Yourself: The Willpower Instinct." She noted that there are three "keys" of I want (your goals), I will ( things you say yes to), and I won't (things you say no to).We have the ability to exercise our brains in order to become aware of when we are doing something against our goals.. One way to challenge yourself is through what she calls small willpower challenges. An example of one is making a conscious decision to no longer say contractions in speech (i.e. I won't turns into I will not). This small exercise can help the brain create awareness and then we can begin to train the brain to do other things like break bad habits or create good ones.

One thing that was of great interest as well she noted: STOP THE SHAME AND GUILT.Shame and guilt lead to the "what-the-hell" syndrome. Which sabotages will power. We've all done it. The doughnut study (which I wish I was considered to be a part of) shows that women who felt guilt (different than regret) and shame if they ate a doughnut then ate another or two. Why? The second (or third) doughnut was soothing the guilt and the shame of the first.Crazy right? Well conversely if you forgive yourself  for the first doughnut your brain doesn't need the soothing from the guilt and shame and people were able to move on and still reach weight-loss goals.

The point for organizing is the psychology behind habit-forming activities and why some clients have such a hard time overcoming clutter. Organizing takes will power and often clutter creates shame. If professional organizers learn how shame, guilt, and willpower work we can create the best solutions for our clients.

So to all my clients...aren't you glad you hired a professional?

What's On Your Plate? - The Main Course.

So you have a lot on your plate?

The Main Course

We've all been there.  At a friend's home for dinner where the instructions were to grab a plate and help yourself, or at a buffet-style restaurant.  With plate in hand, your stomach grumbles, your mouth salivates, and your eyes scan over the delectables.  Most of us want to eat somewhat sensibly but somehow simultaneously give into the desires of our taste buds.

A few blog posts ago we delved into thinking about our time more tangibly, as if we are filling literal plates.  Just as we all have 24-hours in a day, we can only fit so much activity in each day or on our "plates".  As we talk about our metaphorical buffet, we can review tips and ways of thinking for our priorities, agendas, and to-do items.

Portion Control

One thing we've heard when we are limiting ourselves to a specific number of calories is portion-control.  This helps us deal with the eyes-are-bigger-than-your-stomach syndrome.  At a literal buffet a well cooked-ham looks appealing but it would be unwise and futile to put the whole ham on our plate.  We get a carving knife and we get a couple slices at a time.  Similarly, if we know we have a big project coming up, it's over-whelming to think we can do it all in one day.  We should break it down into smaller pieces and if at all possible share (or delegate) the pieces of the project to others.

Eat Your Veggies

Another method we've heard that helps us achieve a non-gluttonous, more healthy approach to dining buffet-style is eat your salad first. Make sure your salad is full of nutrient-rich diverse fruits and vegetables and a low-calorie dressing.  This ensures you get vitamins in and it also helps you put the most important foods in your body before you fill up on things like pasta and ice cream.  When it comes to time management, we likewise must do the less-interesting but more productive items first.  Watching the news, going shopping, or checking out the latest on social media may be legitimate things we need to do.  However, if we get things done that are less-desirable but necessary, like exercise, putting away laundry, paying bills, etc. We have those things done and we can enjoy the more exciting items on our to-do list, without the guilt, shame, and heart-ache of falling behind on the necessary mundane activities.

Keeping your plate balanced is also key to good time management.  Stay tuned to this blog as we'll talk about navigating the buffet and how yummy-fun-dessert-like items are also a must!

Thinking outside the box.

I recently jumped on the Elfa sale in February and then the following work smart office sale this month at The Container Store.  I turned my new nook-of an-office into a functional space. It's not Home & Garden but it works for me!. I use the vertical space to fit A LOT of stuff but it's organized and functional for me.  If you knew my home office before I moved you know I had a lot of space, half a guest room and 90% of a walk in-closet to be exact. But with our move to DC, the room that I work out of also serves as a den/family room with futon and tv, my office and library, the cats' lair (complete with litter box, cat condo, and cat bed/house along with their food), and our coat closet.  And to make matters more interesting this room is about half the size of the my former office space and as noted it serves about 3 more functions.  Therefore, I'm so grateful for the vertical space and my organizing agility to get this space to function efficiently. We've only been at our new residence about a month and a half so I'm proud that I was able to eke this work space out with sure tweaks as time goes on. And thank goodness for the sales at The Container Store, they were right on time! But what if you have a small space for two people to work with?  You can get into MacGyver-meets-HGTV mode and with a bookshelf, a flat surface desk, two chairs and organizing accessories you can create THIS: A functional work space for two! What about you? Do you have a space challenge? I'd love to hear about it! Reply to this email and ask me and perhaps in our next Ezine I'll answer your question!

Important Things You Should Know: Helping the Immaculate and the Messy Live Together

3 Surefire Ways to Help the Immaculate and the Messy Live Together

Spouse, college roommate, housemate, it doesn't matter the type of mate; we are all different, with our own, very independent, way of doing things. Opposite patterns of thought (even about housekeeping) can drive you crazy but they don’t have too. You see, Messy Marvin is happy. He is not bothered by his mess. On the other hand, Immaculate Emmie is happy, when the place looks like a model home. It is when this ideal state of housekeeping bliss is interrupted that challenges arise. Here are three surefire ways to help you (the immaculate or the messy) improve your living environment.

1. Get off the edge and move to the center. Whether you are an overly messy person or a neat freak both are at the far edge of the spectrum. Move from your position of extremity to a meeting point somewhere in the middle. Think of your relationship, whether espousal or roommate, as a circle of love. If too far to the left or right, you end up on the edge or outside the circle of love. People on the edge are easily frustrated and annoyed. That’s why that little sock on the floor or the dirty dishes in the sink becomes a reason to fight and lose your peace.

Make a decision that your peace of mind and your relationship are more valuable than your position on housekeeping. This is an opportunity to grow as an individual and grow together.

2. Engage in intentional conversation. Have you and your roommate sat down to an intentional conversation around domestic responsibilities and expectations? This conversation (not argument) is a must. Have this conversation during a time of PEACE not WAR. Words exchanged during the heat of battle are like grenades being launched at a target. They cause harm and destruction further hindering the goal of a tranquil living space. Set a date to come together and map out a plan you both can live with. See things from the other person’s perspective. One person’s perspective does not have the monopoly. Patience and change are necessary in both parties.

3. PLAN FOR THE GOOD not the bad and the ugly. Have you ever said something like this to yourself? “If I go in that house and those dishes are still in the sink, I am going to go off.” Or maybe this, “If he gets on me one more time about leaving my shoes out, I will throw them upside his head.” In each case the plan is for the bad and the ugly. You can turn this around. Plan for the good with thoughts like, “If I go in here and the dishes are not washed, I will either leave them and not be bothered, or I will wash them myself because they are bothering me not the other person.”

Rather than trying to change and train one another, take responsibility for personal challenges and show respect towards your housemate. Remember, you each want the same thing – to live in a peaceful environment. Get off the edge, converse with each other, plan for the good, and GO FOR THE GOAL!

Deborah Mills
DeborahJerome LLC
Revolutionary Relationship Strategist, Mentor, Keynote

Stay in touch at www.deborahjerome.com | facebook.com/deborahjrome |twitter.com/deborahjrome

Whose House Is It Anyway?

I was with a client and she made the statement: "I didn't want to register for china when I got married, but family members told me I had to...I registered for china...I don't use it...here it sits..."  And there it was, under the shelf in a pantry, taking up space, still in the box. It was china but what it REALLY is, is someone else's expectation taking up real estate in her home.

Do you have something in a box, on a shelf, or out in the open that stares at you with guilty eyes every time you see it? You think: "I don't want you here!" But it speaks back softly and slyly,  "But Aunt Cindy/Grandma/Cousin James wants me here and until you can tell them you don't want me here then let me be, collecting dust, being ugly/unused/not working!" But I ask you - Whose house is it anyway?  Sometimes and most times than not, the person that you think will be so crushed by getting rid of that unwanted item probably doesn't even remember giving it to you, didn't want it in their house and thought they could pawn it off on you, or won't really care if you donate it/recycle it/throw it away.

Many times people who hire a Professional Organizer seek permission.  They know the answer to that burning question of what they should do with the unwanted box of china.  So I tell you what, next time you tell the box of china (or whatever it is for you) that you are serving it an eviction notice and if it gives you a sly remark back, tell it: "My Professional Organizer said SCRAM! I'm only allowed to keep what is beautiful/useful/and functional in my home and since you don't fit that description Aunt Cindy/Grandma/Cousin James can pay me rent to keep you here, otherwise ciao, baby!" Now didn't that feel good? Oh, now look! You have room in your home for something you really love.  You're welcome. ;)

Important Things You Should Know...

It’s a great idea to identify your belongings before an incident or theft occurs by making a record of what you have and it’s valued. An insurance adjuster is going to look for those records and receipts when calculating how much the insurance company can offer indemnification for. The more detailed the information the better the probability of full payout for the loss. Appraisals of diamond rings or jewelry and artwork are a great way to provide proof of value. Appraisals, receipts, invoices, billing, and etc all need to be accounted for and organized so you know where to look when mayhem happens. You can also identify your belongings by engraving an identifying number on your possessions or videotaping them. Another great way to capture what you own is to take a picture with your cell phone and store those pictures in a safe place. That way if something is stolen or damaged you can show the adjuster the proof of what it cost and get coverage for it. By not having listed accounts of your possessions can lead to a disorganized claim handling experience which may result in loss of recoverable money for those possessions. There are too many sad stories to tell of people who were not prepared and organized for such losses.

How much are your clothes, furniture, electronics, jewelry, and etc worth to you? You’ll need coverage for that amount or the amount you think it will take to replace all of those items. Can you afford to replace YOUR POSSESSIONS? Allstate Insurance offers affordable ways to help protect your possessions. Plus, it can help cover theft outside your home, forgery for covered losses, lawsuits and more, up to policy limits.  A homeowner’s and renter’s policy will cover your property including theft, fire, water, family liability, guest medical expense, and your living expense if your apartment or house is damaged and you are unable to live there. You can also customize the policies to get the protection you need for the things that are most important to you. For those most important valuable items you can schedule them and get agreed value which is what the item is worth and not the actual cash value which is less depreciation. For low monthly premiums, you can protect your possessions and more. Plus, by insuring your home and auto with Allstate, you can save money on both with a multiple policy discount.

We recommend our customers talk and meet with Andrea Hancock, Head Professional Organizer & Owner of B Dexterous. Her company is phenomenal in helping people get the pieces of their lives with organization (and home inventory).



 

Jason Kilgo

 

Allstate Insurance

 

 

Kilgo Insurance Agency, Inc.

Office: 703-339-5300

http://agents.allstate.com/jason-kilgo-lorton-va.html

www.facebook.com/kilgoinsuranceagency

Client Conversations: "Be Kind to Your Later-self"

Recently, I was having a conversation with a client who is in the struggle with paper management.  She often traveled for work and when it was time to get the mail, she would simply lay it down somewhere and not address it (no pun intended).  When it was time (usually months later) to deal with pockets and piles of unopened mail it was a huge daunting task and she’d get through a little and then quit.

I asked her, if she were to bring in the mail about how many pieces would she bring in?  Of those pieces, how much would be junk mail?  How much would be things she could act on immediately and then throw away?  If we were to actually act on the mail each day, it would essentially be a 30-90 SECOND process.  But we usually are worried it will take longer, have other pressing needs or wants to attend to (“I’m hungry”, “I’m tired”, “the dog needs to go be walked…”) that we place the mail down and not give attention to it until it becomes a “later-self” problem.  Then your later-self has to deal with 2 hours of unopened mail, late payment fees, emailed rushed apologies for late RSVPs, and 45 minutes worth of shredding. ECK! Your later self is so mad, and she should be.

Being kind to your later self means, giving yourself the tools and time to take care of things that really don’t take long so that your later self won’t ever seek revenge by build a time-machine and coming back to give you a slap in the face!

Create a sorting station for mail right near where you get it.  Your tools will be:

1. A small table with about 2 feet of space underneath

2. A shredder No room for a shredder? Here are a couple alternatives!

ID Stamp

Shredding scissors

3.  A trash bin

4.  A place to file

Here are some suggestions  for filing later items

Vertically

Horizontally

Unconventionally

Junk mail

Recycle of if you are concerned about identity theft, tear off the portion of worry like the address or the credit card application shred that and recycle the rest.  Use a ID stamp on the address only.

Stop it from coming in by going to HERE (directmail.com)

Cards

Assign a place for cards to be displayed (fireplace mantel, refrigerator, magnet board, etc.) and display the card until another comes in.  If the card doesn’t have a special message, it’s okay to throw it away.  If it does have a special message or some extreme sentimental value, scan it/take a picture of it for a later keepsake book/scrapbook it.

Bills

Have a time to pay bills each week or month? Put the bills in a file in your mail center until then.

Correspondence, Reply Cards, RSVPs

RSVP – look at your calendar see if you are available whether you are or aren’t reply immediately, reserve the date on your calendar and either throw the invitation away or take a photo of it.  Invitations now-a-days get really fancy, you can sometimes treat it like a card (see Cards above)

Correspondence & reply cards – put in your action file or post on the fridge or near where you need to take action on it.

Things to Read

Whether they are magazines, letters, informational sheets – have a time of day or routine to read all those things.  Bathroom breaks, right before bed, on public transportation, while waiting at the Doctor’s office are great times to read.  Whatever you decide make a spot or put the reading material near where you would be during those times.
After reading either scan to put in an archive (this is great for Evernote) or THROW IT AWAY! Information is available at our fingertips.  Either what you read will soon be outdated or you can find the same thing again on the Internet.  If you keep it it’s VERY unlikely you’ll look at it again.

So be kind to your later self.  Set up a mail center; take care of the mail very soon after you get it, once a day for 30-90 seconds. Your later self will thank you.

If there are any mail items or paper that constantly floods your home that I didn’t address.  Feel free to email me at mailto:andrea@dexterousorganizing.com or tweet me @b_dexterous !

Use CityStash Storage to Organize Your Home

Use CityStash Storage to Organize Your Home

Self-storage is a great tool to support you in organizing your Washington DC area home, particularly if you live in an apartment, condo, or small house.  There is never enough storage space!  But the expense of moving up to a larger home is prohibitive for most people.  This is where using self-storage can help, because the cost per square foot is much more affordable.  The trick is to store those items that are too valuable to sell or throw away, but are only used once or twice a year.  

Some examples of this are:

Holiday decorations

Documents

Mementos

Inherited items

Craft and hobby materials

Seasonal clothing

Seasonal sports equipment

Imagine the increased serenity and simplicity created in your home from placing these infrequently used items into self-storage.

There are numerous places to find storage space for rent in Arlington, Washington DC, Alexandria, Bethesda, and Silver Spring.   Prices for a storage unit generally range from $3-5 per square foot.  So a 5x5 storage unit is usually $100 to $125 per month, and a 5x10 storage unit costs about $150 to $200 per month.

However, with traditional self-storage, there are some problems.  First, you have to transport your own household items to their storage facility.  Many people lack the necessary transportation or physical capability to do this themselves.  Second, you have to pay for a specified amount of space, even if you don’t fill it entirely.  This is actually quite difficult to do unless you know how to pack your stuff into a four-foot high, three-dimensional jigsaw puzzle!

City Stash Storage solves these problems.  They are changing how we all do self-storage in the Washington DC and Northern Virginia area.  CityStash Storage will drop off containers (their largest is 34”x24”x20”) and boxes into your living room for you to pack on your own schedule.  Then they will pickup container, boxes, and furniture for free, and transport them to their climate controlled storage facility.  Then, they can deliver any or all of your items back to you on demand for a flat fee.  It is so easy because you never have to leave your home.  You place your initial order on their website and each of your individual stored items (including an inventory of each container and box) is tracked in your own online account.

CityStash Storage is located in Virginia at 1220 N Fillmore St, Arlington VA, 22201 as well as Washington, DC at
1050 Connecticut Ave NW, 10th Floor Suite 1000-A, Washington DC 20036     

You can reach them at (202) 417-2120 or (202) 803-6822 or get more information at www.citystash.com.

What's On Your Plate? - The Appetizer

Some of us don't like our food touching on our plates. We've even mastered the art of it all.

Don't put your bread by your green beans unless you want your bread to get soggy...(ew, soggy bread).

Well if you say "I have a lot on my plate" more often than not you're referring to what's going on in your life and what's taking up your time.

In the past, I wasn't the most time-conscious person.  Well, I was conscious I was frequently running late or running out of time but not time-aware. The kicker is, I HATE being late.

When I changed careers and decided to become a Professional Organizer, I realized many of my colleagues not only helped people get their possessions organized but helped people get their time managed. Suddenly I had an "ah-ha!" moment.  I knew how to get

things in place but why was time such an issue?

Time is more abstract in our brains. Unless we are starring at a clock, we can't really "sense" five minutes slipping away, especially while we are busy doing something else.

Being the busy bee that I am, it would happen all to often -- either I was totally engrossed in a project and time would "get away from me" or I was in a procrastination mode of avoidance of something or someone and I'd subconsciously drag my feet and end up being tardy. But after my "ah-ha!" moment, I started tweaking and creating better habits and now I'm rarely late.  What changed?

Just like the cliché "plate" I started thinking about time more tangibly. Not letting my priorities/agendas/to-do items touch as it were.

The way I view time now is often how we view our literal plates and next month in "Use Your Hands", I'll give you ways to think about time in order to manage it better.

Right now, I want you to think about how you fill your plate at a buffet-style meal. What main components do you need to enjoy your meal? Think about what main components you need to manage your time.

We'll explore the similarities between the two.  You might never look at your "plate" the same way again. :)

Copyright 2012. Andrea Hancock is a Professional Organizer, Speaker and Owner of B Dexterous, LLC based in the Washington DC Metro Area.  B Dexterous publishes “Use Your Hands”, a monthly e-zine used to stay in touch with clients and prospective clients but also to enlighten the world with tips of staying dexterous, organized and efficient in a world that demands much on our time and resources. Contact Andrea at (703) 606-8968 or via e-mail at andrea_hancock@bdexterous.com if you’d like to learn more about how you can put the pieces of your life together with organization!

September is National Preparedness Month!

What have you done this month to prepare for an emergency?



What exactly should you put in your emergency kit?



Here are some suggestions:

• Water - at least one gallon per person, per day for hydration and sanitation.


• Food - at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food


• Manual can opener


• Battery-powered or hand-crank radio extra batteries for both


• Hand-crank flashlight or battery-powered with extra batteries


• First Aide Kit


• Whistle to signal for help


• Dust Mask for airborne contaminates and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place


• Moist towelettes, garbage bags


• Local maps


• Fully charged cell phone with chargers (inverter or solar charger)


• Household chlorine bleach and medicine dropper – When diluted, nine parts water to one part bleach, bleach can be used as a disinfectant. Or in an emergency, you can use it to treat water by using 16 drops of regular household liquid bleach per gallon of water. Do not use scented, color safe or bleaches with added cleaners.


• Important family documents such as copies of insurance policies, identification and bank account records in a waterproof, portable container.


• Feminine supplies and personal hygiene items


• Matches in a waterproof container

Just as important as having a kit is keeping it updated. Here are tips to do so:

• Keep canned food in a cool, dry place.


• Store boxed food in tightly closed plastic or metal containers to protect from pests and to extend its shelf life.


• Throw out any canned good that becomes swollen, dented or corroded.


• Use foods before they go bad and replace them with fresh supplies.


• Place new items at the back of the storage area and older ones in the front.


• Change stored food and water supplies every six months. Be sure to write the date you store it on all containers.


• Re-think your needs every year and update your kit as your family’s needs change.

Since you do not know where you will be during an emergency, it's good to have emergency kits in three major places: Home, Work, and Vehicles



For more information visit: http://www.ready.gov/

Julius Foster of Massive Engineering Services, LLC served as the one-man sound crew for the Dexterous D.I.V.A. Clothes Swap.

 

His services include:

• Computer Sales and Repair


• Computer Networking Design


• Video Conferencing


• HelpDesk Support


• Camera Install


• And MORE!

To contact Julius email him at Julius.Foster@mesnet.net or Call him (202) 832-6589 ext. 704

Dexterous D.I.V.A. Clothing Swap was a Hit!

If you remembered last month I teamed up with Fashion Blogger and Stylist and Owner of Stamp On Style Olisi Johnson to create an organized, educational, fun, and fabulous clothes swap last month.  It was a hit!

The folks who supported the swap really enjoyed themselves and we hope to do another one next Spring!  

 

We hope you can join us.  To whet your appetite for what's ahead, take a peak at this year's event.

Make your own slide show at Animoto.

Getting Organized F.A.S.T.: The Pep Talk you'll need this Spring

Nowadays people are all about getting things done in a snap! Speed dating, Go-gurt® and even express manicures shows that things people used to take time to enjoy are rushed and squeezed into schedules. Let's face it, we all are busy and our times are at a premium. As a professional organizer I often use the acronym F.A.S.T. But ironically it breaks organizing down not to make it as quick as possible but hopefully as long-lasting as possible. How efficient can you be if you're always looking for things? Being disorganized takes our precious time away. So let's break it down so that we can get into the process of being organized and maybe you can enjoy a regular manicure and maybe even a pedi.

F. - FOCUS

1. Turn off the T.V. -- Organizing is NOT cleaning. It really isn't a mindless activity, it involves your eyes and hands and yes, your brain. I tell clients to turn off the t.v. as it causes distraction from our thought process. But if you desire some fun while getting the job done, upbeat music can give you the energy boost you need to continue.

2. De-clutter/Pare Down -- Spring Cleaning is all about letting go and opening your arms to embrace space and let new and more wonderful things in your life. Do you really need a food processor, Magic Bullet, and a set of Ginsu knives? If you use all three often than perhaps you do. But if you can't justify keeping all of the similar items, consider donating one to a friend, family member or Goodwill and let it go to someone who will use it. Open that space and place in your life to something useful or beautiful.

3. One area at a time -- If you start with the idea in ONE Saturday you will organize and clean your WHOLE 3 bedroom home you are setting yourself up for failure. Many times we pull everything out the closets, drawers, and bins and find ourselves 4 hours later in a bigger mess than we began with and no energy left to finish or no plan of action of how to put everything back in an organized fashion. Focus on one space, one place. Organize a junk drawer in the kitchen then move on to under the sink in the bathroom. You'll be surprised how organizing one small space can make a huge difference in functionality and you will be able to carry your enthusiasm throughout the whole house without feeling overwhelmed. Remember to De-clutter/Pare down during this process.


A. - Action Plan

1. Goals - What areas really bug you or stump you the most? Sometimes it's best to start with these areas but write down (yes write it down) what you'd like the space to become or transform into. Often a mind map is a good place to start to let your creative juices flow and give yourself a road map to follow.

2. Make it real - Wouldn't we all want to island hop once a year in the Caribbean? *Raises hand* But either because of time or budget it's not realistic. When making your action plan be realistic about your time and your budget. Make the plan as simple as possible and then once you've accomplished that goal you can add all the bells and whistles later.

3. Get a timeline - If you want to de-clutter for instance, give yourself a date to sort out things you don't use any longer, and then a date to donate (or schedule a donation pick up). If you create an action plan without a deadline or a time in your calendar set aside, it's just a dream and not an action plan.

S. System & Sustainability

1. Make an "I-do-this-anyway" System - Sometimes it's better to create an organizing system around the habits we already have versus trying to create new habits. For instance, if you kick your shoes off at the front door, it may be best to create an organized place for your shoes at the front door rather than to feel like you will suddenly create a new habit of walking your shoes to the bedroom closet each day. This way you make your organizing system more sustainable and longer lasting.

2. Maintenance - All good processes require maintenance. Schedule time each week or day to maintain the systems you've created. Remember that organization is a process not a destination. It may take several tries and tweaks until you get it right, or perhaps you experience changes in life (new family member, a move, a new job) that dictate you change a system. It's okay, you're not a failure you just have to adjust and tweak a system until you find the one that works for the life you currently lead.

T. Training & Tools

1. My first tool of recommendation as a professional organizer is HIRE A PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZER! *smile* We keep up with the latest tools, gadgets, gizmos and organizing trends. We may even help you to see you don't need any gadgets but give you tried and true tips and tricks that could tweak how you do things but make a grand difference in your life. Organizers have foresight and the outside opinion that you may seek without the judgments and comments from the peanut gallery of family and friends.

2. Books and pictures - If you don't know what you want initially, it's great to peruse the library or Barnes & Nobles to look at books and magazines on homes organization. Once you've gotten an idea of what you want you may slowly get ideas of how to get there.



Like what you read and want to share on your blog or in print? No problem. Just make sure you make this statement at the end: Copyright 2012. Andrea Hancock is a Professional Organizer, Speaker and Owner Dexterous Organizing based in the Washington DC Metro Area. Dexterous Organizing not only provides hands-on organizing services but attempts to also enlighten the world with tips of staying dexterous, organized and efficient in a world that demands much on our time and resources. Contact Andrea at (703) 606-8968 or via e-mail andrea@dexterousorganizing.com if you'd like to learn more about how you can put the pieces of your life together with organization!

Keep Your Memories Safe!

What Not to Do: Memorabilia ruined

whatever's at the bottom of this box was molded and damaged

I was on an organizing job and I saw this reminder of what NOT to do when storing photos and other mementos.  Cardboard can get damaged! Water, mold, and animals can get in and take away your memories.  Use plastic bins and use storage means that keep things off the floor to help protect what's inside.

Style & Clothes Swap Event 5.5.2012

This isn't just a clothes swap where you bring your clothes and you swap with your stylish friends.

This is an educational and fun event filled with scores of Washington DC Metropolitan area residents who have de-cluttered their closets of some pretty awesome clothes that are soon to be your new fabulous treasures. De-clutter your closet and bring your unwanted or unworn digs and come home with something new to you!

Out with the old, in with the new...

No clothes to swap? No problem. Come see what someone else brought while you enjoy workshops like: "How to Organize Your Purse/Organize Your Life" and learn the basic steps to create an organized space.  Learn about how to look for clothes best suited for your fabulous body type and ways for the professional woman to look great on a budget.

Bring any season clothing (but we prefer Spring/Summer). Bring gently worn shoes & accessories...

Can't wait to see you DIVAS there!

There is limited space, so please register to attend.






 

 

Spring Cleaning with the Help of B Dexterous and College Hunks Hauling Junk!

Just wanted to let you know that B Dexterous is teaming up with College Hunks and Real Housewives of Northern VA to bring you an awesome deal.  First you have to enter to win!

 

Professional Organizer, Andrea Hancock, of B Dexterous, LLC will come to your home and give you a 90 minute assessment and full action plan ($150 value!)

 
- $150.00 'junk-bond' from College Hunks Hauling Junk. This coupon can be used to cover the 'minimum job' for FREE (they will pick up a few small items like a couch and some boxes - or you can apply it to a big job like cleaning out a garage or attic).

 

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* contest ends 4/11 @ midnight. winner picked via random.org. giveaway package expires 30 days after contest ends.

Nickels & Dimes: Saving on Gas

So today in Northern Virginia gas was $4.05/gallon for regular. It's sad to think that in a few weeks or months I'd be WISHING that gas was $4.05/gallon again. But nonetheless that is today's gas price so we deal with it the best way we can.   Today despite the price being $4.05/gallon I actually spent about $3.70/gallon.  How did I do it?

Recently, I started to pay attention to Shell's promotion with Giant Food, a grocery store chain found in Maryland, DC, Virginia and Delaware.  If you shop at Giant and use your rewards card you get points.  For every dollar you spend, you get a point, for every 100 points you save $0.10/gallon on gas at Shell.  Don't laugh but it took me a while to understand this system and not let my precious points go unused.  Sometimes Giant even offers double or triple points on certain items and brands in the store or they feature "point boosts" coupons that give you up to 300 points just for spending a certain amount at one time (say $50) during a certain time frame. Using this system alone, I've gotten over 500 points and yes, I saved $0.50/gallon on my gas that day. This is huge!

Studies show that the average family of four spends $244 a week on groceries. If this is true most families can potentially save $0.20/gallon on gas each week.  Perhaps the strategist can wait until the end of the month (especially if the family uses public transportation to get to and from work and school) and save $0.90/gallon on gas...this is awesome right?  I even know of a family friend who pays attention to all the double point items and has saved $1.00/gallon.  My caution with this is: ONLY BUY THINGS YOU NEED. If you can perhaps stock up on paper towels and toilet paper that you store in the garage but if you don't drink coffee and you suddenly have a cabinet full of Folgers, than you aren't really saving money you are just reallocating money.  This program works great if you just paid attention and purchase things you'd buy anyway, you start to waste money if you purchase groceries that you don't use or let spoil for the save of "saving".

In my household of four, two of us have four legs so my husband and I don't spend $244 a week on groceries, that's more of a monthly budget for us. So I've found another way to boost my savings at Shell (sorry Exxon, Chevron and Liberty).  If you are on the social networking site FourSquare where you check-in using your smartphone to tell your friends where you are, give tips about the service or the surroundings, and get points for the amount and type of check-ins, you can also save money.  FourSquare has teamed up with American Express.  You can link or sync your AMEX card with your FourSquare account.  Some venues (and Shell is one of them) offer savings when you check in at their store and spend a certain amount and use your AMEX card.  Shell's offer is spend $25 and get $3. Cha-Ching!  And all I did was tell my peeps I was pumping gas, use my AMEX card and I gained another $3 in my pocket.

So today I used my Giant gas rewards and saved $0.10/gallon then I checked in at FourSquare and used my American Express card and I should have a credit of $3 on my bill at month end. So ultimately I saved ($4.05 - $0.10) x 11.66 gallons - $3.00 = about a $0.36/gallon savings!

Let's face it, gas is expensive we'll probably never see $2.00 gas again (remember when you gasped at $1.96/gallon HA!) BUT with a little forethought, FourSquare, and points planning you can smile a little knowing that you didn't pay $4.05/gallon...at least not today!

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Like what you read and want to share on your blog or in print? No problem. Just make sure you make this statement at the end:

Copyright 2012. Andrea Hancock is a Professional Organizer, Speaker and Owner of B Dexterous, LLC based in the Washington DC Metro Area. B Dexterous publishes “Use Your Hands”, a monthly e-zine used to stay in touch with clients and prospective clients but also to enlighten the world with tips of staying dexterous, organized and efficient in a world that demands much on our time and resources. Contact Andrea at (571) 232-8116 or via e-mail at andrea_hancock@bdexterous.com if you’d like to learn more about how you can put the pieces of your life together with organization!

Honored Memories

Memories Honored

 

My Great-Grandmother loved to knit. She knitted several outfits for me as a baby and for many of our family.  My mom was saving several outfits as keepsakes.  These are even more special as my great grandmother passed away April 2011.  Before she died, I was able to make this shadow box for my mom, (who loves butterflies) to honor the thoughtfulness of our Grandmother in a beautiful way.

If you can't let go of an item because of sentimental value, make sure you honor the item instead of saving it in obscure places where the item can deteriorate and not be appreciated.

B Dexterous Tips & Tricks: Archiving Personal Photos

Archiving Personal Photos

Organize your photos with consistent & descriptive file names

Challenge:Does it seem like your photos are all over the place your computer for digital photos?

Solution: Instead of thinking that people would LOVE to sit through all 450 pictures from your vacation in Cabo in 2009, decide which photos tell the story best and delete the rest.  Next give individual photos descriptive files names like Janeonbeach_Cabo2009.jpg.  Then create a folder for all the Cabo pictures like CABO 2009 which goes in your VACATIONS folder under MY PICTURES.  Make copies of the files "in the cloud" on a website, on your hard drive and on a thumb other larger portable hard drive.  For extreme measures send your drive to a friend living in a different location as physically far apart from you as practical.  This will keep photos safe if disaster strikes in one location.