Getting Organized with...Meryl Lefkowitz

While we may help organize people’s homes, offices and lives for a living, we aren’t the only “experts” out there who are making it work. In an effort to tap into that vast resource and to learn a little something ourselves, we are excited to feature the tips and advice of other small business owners and experts in their own right on how they organize themselves professionally and personally to keep everything moving forward.

Meryl Lefkowitz

Title: Director of Marketing & Development

Business: Booked Parties in Westchester, NY

Occupation: Event Planner / Small Business Owner

What do you do?

I am an event planner for everything from kids birthday parties and celebrations to Bar/Bat Mitzvah’s to milestone birthday parties and corporate events!

How do you organize yourself at work?

I work from home so keeping myself organized at work is also keeping myself organized at home. I have a home office and try to keep my "work life” stationed there. I keep a digital calendar but have an affinity for notebooks and organizational tools so I try to keep running lists and notes in dedicated notebooks for the individual projects I am working on. This way I am not losing notes from one project to the next.

How do you organize yourself at HOME?

With respect to my home and my family - i have an 8year old and a 5 year old so sometimes things are organized and sometimes they aren’t its not idea but its realistic. I try to keep them on set schedules (activities, homework time etc…) which is very helpful for their structure and my sanity.

Does feeling more organized make life easier and help you feel better about a work/life balance?

I definitely feel like my work/life balance is mostly good - with the kind of work I do, I often have off hours (nights and weekends) but for the most part being able to work from home allows me the freedom to work when they are at school and have the freedom to be with them for the most part when they are home. I think that being organized with my time makes me more efficient and helps me to accomplish the things on my to do list!

What to Buy : Organizing Makeup

Whether you wear a lot or a little, you still need to figure out the best way to store it. Laying flat or standing up or in a box; there is no right way to do it – it is just a matter of figuring out what works best in the space that you have available. If you are looking to tackle your make-up at home, check out some of our top make-up organizing product picks to help you tackle the job in style.  

Happy Organizing!

Tiered Mirror Tray (Pottery Barn)

If you like to keep your makeup out and on display, this is a pretty option to make it a center piece of your space – the ultimate beautification station!

Alex Drawer Unit (Ikea)

If drawer space is at a premium, you can use countertop products like this white drawer unit which can hold and hide many of your essentials all the plain sight. 

Lori Greiner Deluxe Cosmetic Organizer (Amazon)

This deluxe cosmetic organizer has a compartment for just about everything so even the most sophisticated makeup gal will be able to contain her supplies. 

Luxe Acrylic Drawer Inserts (Container Store)

If you have drawer space to spare, these luxe acrylic drawer inserts are a beautiful way to keep things neat and tidy. 

Assorted Drawer Inserts (Amazon)

A more affordable but equally effective drawer insert option to sort and organize your makeup for an easy “get ready” routine. 

Space Saving Pods (Container Store)

If space is at a premium, these pods are amazing for storing items in cabinets and/or on walls. We even fashioned our own small beauty storage piece and blogged about it here. 

If you want to keep reading about makeup, here is our post on when to toss makeup and, if you are in the shopping mood, we wrote here about how to store big toys.

Getting Organized with...Jenne Atherton

While we may help organize people’s homes, offices and lives for a living, we aren’t the only “experts” out there who are making it work. In an effort to tap into that vast resource and to learn a little something ourselves, we are excited to feature the tips and advice of other small business owners and experts in their own right on how they organize themselves professionally and personally to keep everything moving forward.

Jenne Atherton

Title: Founder

Business: Grey Lady Gardens of Nantucket, Massachusetts

Occupation: Founder, Garden design and implementation

What do you do?

Garden design and maintenance on Nantucket in Massachusetts

How do you organize yourself at work?

Am very organized in my work life: tools labeled and assigned to particular truck and crew, daily work order sheets go to crews so they know what the tasks are for the day and what materials they need, I take regular and on going photos of all our work though the seasons as it’s very useful for future reference

How do you organize yourself at work?

Much less organized at home: Single mom, two kids and a dog, our house is hectic! In the heigh of the season I’m working 7 to 7 and home is left to my kids and our aupair to keep running smoothly. I have a cleaning crew that comes in every other week that is hugely helpful for my sanity :) in the winter months, when work slows down, I try to do a major clean out. Our house is small, like living on a boat, and it’s a constant struggle to keep clutter out.

Do you think that a work/life balance exists?

If It does exist but I need to work on it. It’s difficult with seasonal work as the spring and summer are busy to say the least. Living in a resort community, family and friends are always coming through town when work is the craziest and I tend to run myself dry trying to do everything.

Ask the Expert: Insurance Broker

From buying homes to working with accountants and drafting wills and everything in between, adulting can be hard so we thought why not make it a little easier. This series taps into the knowledge of the professionals who help with all of these tasks to get their tips and advice on how to work with them most efficiently.

Monica Liang-Allen

Company: World Insurance Associates, LLC in New York City

Occupation: Licensed Property & Casualty Insurance Professional

What do you do for your clients?

I help protect your business, home, employees and more through advisement and placement of different insurance products and coverage.

What should clients be prepared to discuss when they meet with you?

If they have current insurance, a copy of their policies would be great as I can then advise if they are properly protected through detailed review of the coverage and exclusions in their policies. If they are a new start-up business with no insurance at all, an initial phone call to gather information would be sufficient and then a follow-up appointment, if needed.

How can a client best organize themselves before the meeting to be most efficient with your time?

It really depends on the kind of business that it is and what industry they are in. Every business is different. Copies of their insurance policies (not Certificates) would be best.

And, for new business start-ups, I generally ask some very basic questions based off an intake/questionnaire that I have (read intake here). I don’t necessarily ask all of the questions in every meeting because some may not be relevant.

In terms of paperwork, what should they prepare before the meeting?

Just copies of current insurance policies, financial statements (P&L and Balance Sheet), copies of sample contracts they have with their clients. For homeowners, copies of their homeowners/umbrella/auto and valuables policies would be great as a starting point.

Tips for Organized Travel with Kids

Source: Mercer & Green / Photo by Mia McDonald

With little kids, you take trips, not vacations.  And, yes, while traveling with kids can be challenging, there are lots of memories to be made and laughs to be had so don’t let the work scare you.  Preparation is key and, with our tips honed through years of traveling and helping our clients travel with their own families, your next trip will be a breeze – or at least a little easier. We can’t guarantee fewer meltdowns but hopefully we can help make the harried a little more relaxing. 

• Sign, Sealed, Delivered: If you are traveling with small children to a hotel or place that can accept packages in advance, we recommend drop-shipping through Amazon or similar sites all the essentials such as diapers, wipes, formula, etc. This way you only have to carry the essentials on the plane. 

• Love it & Share it: No need to pack your beach toys, send toys and pails ahead of time to the hotel to use while we are there and then “gift” them to another family when you leave the hotel.  

• Lighten the Load: Make things easier on yourself by checking to see what items can be rented - you can often find items like cribs, sun umbrellas and jogging strollers. However, we typically recommend bringing your own crib sheets and other essential accessories to make sure that your days and nights go smoothly. 

• Map it Out: Make your holiday days easier by mapping out a rough daily schedule for each day of vacation so you can make sure that you are bringing enough of the right clothes.  Once the schedule has been mapped out, set aside daily outfits for each child and pack them together to make getting dressed each day a little easier. And, depending on whether or not you have laundry access, pack a few extra outfits - cause you never know what may happen!

• Pack it Up: Save space and keep things organized by using packing cubes or even rolling outfits together. We find these packing cubes from CALPAK excite the littlest of travelers and keep their daily outfits all in one place so you can grab and go. 

• Make it Last: Take advantage of extra beach time on your last day by bringing an extra-large ziplock bag in your bag or a Reusable Wet Bag to pack wet swimsuits for the plane ride home. Baby Powder is also a quick fix for removing sand from sticky fingers during your quick change on your back way home. 

Happy Organized Travels! 

For more travel advice when traveling with kids, read our tips for Sara of Mercer & Green here.

Source: Mercer & Green / Photo by Mia McDonald

What to Buy: For Organized Travel

Clockwise Top Center: Leatherology | Cuyana (set) | West Elm | Calpak | Paravel (middle) | Truffle | Paravel | Eagle Creek | Pottery Barn | Mark & Graham | Cuyana

Spring Break is right around the corner and, while we are all excited about the prospect of escaping winter in the city for a little bit, one thing that stands in our way - packing. Whether you are packing for the family or just packing for yourself, it’s not the most fun but we have found a few tools and products that will make it a more organized process and perhaps a little more fun.

CATEGORY: Toiletries

Everyone has the drill down of containing liquids in a quart size bag, but for the rest of our toiletries, it is nice to house them in something that is aesthetically a bit more pleasing. Hanging travel bags are a great option as you never know how much counter-top space is going to be available in hotels. The Leatherology Hanging Travel Bag or West Elm Hanging Toiletry Kit offer a hanging option. The Cuyana Travel Case Set provides ample space for all of your travel needs and has a lovely smaller version for your purse. 

CATEGORY: Makeup

We all carry it and can agree it is probably the most important thing to contain. Everyone has experienced that broken eye shadow that conveniently coats all loose items in your purse. Truffle and Paravel have zipper cases that include transparency into the pouch so you can quickly grab what is needed. The Calpak Hardshell Vanity Suitcase is helpful because you never have to worry about your makeup being damaged with the hard casing. 

CATEGORY: Packing Cubes

Our favorite go-to item for organization when it comes time to get the suitcase out. Most packing cubes have a compression feature and excess air can be eliminated. You will actually have room to pack more. They also prevent overpacking. By assigning each cube a category such as one for clothing, one for sleepwear, etc. you cannot add more than what fits in the cube. We love the ones from Paravel and they even make a set just for shoes. They just launched a line of negative nylon that are 100% made from plastic water bottles. Eagle Creek makes fantastic ones because they compress to eliminate excess air and are water repellent. There are several advantages to cube packing.

CATEGORY: Jewelry

Packing jewelry can be hard. There are so many small bits and pieces. We find it best to invest in a case that has separate components for all the different parts. Find a case that has hole cut outs is great to keep earrings intact. We like the Jewelry Binder from Pottery Barn for shorter trips where you only need a few options. The other challenge is keeping long necklaces from tangling, this Mark & Graham case has individual snap and pouches to keep them separated. If you are partial to large chunky pieces such as bangles, the Cuyana Jewelry Case has ample room for all your favorites. 

Happy Organized Travels! 

Check out our other what to buy posts here, here and here.

Where to Sell Your Stuff

Clients often ask us where they can sell the clothing and other items that they want to get rid of in their home. We have a few standby places but we wanted to look into this topic a little more and get a sense of the larger landscape. If you are looking to sell some items around your house, read on and let us know if your favorite place isn’t on the list.

Happy Organizing! 

MARKETPLACES

Tradesy: Sell your designer bags, shoes, clothing, or accessories on this site and ship it with a free kit from the site once it sells. They deduct a flat commission fee of $7.50 for sold items less than $50 and a commission rate of 19.8% on sold items $50 or more. 

Poshmark: List your clothing, shoes, bags, accessories and other items on this site. Once your item sells, you can ship it with a free pre-paid, pre-addressed label and drop it off at a local USPS mailbox or post office. For all sales under $15, Poshmark takes a flat commission of $2.95. For sales of $15 or more, you keep 80% of your sale and Poshmark's commission is 20%. 

CONSIGNMENT: Fashion & Jewelry

Luxury Garage Sale: They accept new, pre-owned and vintage pieces for women, including luxury designer handbags, clothing, shoes, jewelry and other accessories in very good to new condition. Click here more information on their commission structure.

Fashionphile: Submit the item you would like to sell and they will email you a price quote. If you accept, they will send you a complimentary shipping label to send them the item. Their base fee is 30% of the selling price (you keep 70%), but for bags selling for over $3,000 the tiered fee structure drops to only 15% (you keep 85% of the portion of the selling price above $3,000).

CONSIGNMENT: Fashion, Jewelry & Home

The RealReal: Consign home décor, art and designer bags, shoes, clothing, or accessories on this site and earn up to 85% of the sale price for your items. 

Linda’s Stuff: Consign designer bags, shoes, clothing, or accessories and receive payment for up to 80% of each item sold. 

Verstiaire Collective: A global marketplace for pre-owned luxury and designer fashion and home goods that allows you to earn up to 75% back on the purchase price of items you no longer use. 

MARKETPLACE + CONSIGNMENT: Furniture & Home Décor

Kaiyo: Submit your furniture to the site and if accepted they will handle the rest. Learn more about the process here. 

AptDeco: This is a great option for buying and selling furniture in the NYC metro area. List your item and after you sell your furniture on the site, you can schedule pick-up/delivery through their system so that a professional delivery team can take care of it. 

If you are looking for more stories on donation and recycling resources, check out our other stories – Our Favorite NYC Donation Locations, Where to Recycle Your Clothing & Shoes, Where to Recycle Your Technology.

Ask the Expert: Certified Public Accountant

From buying homes to working with accountants and drafting wills and everything in between, adulting can be hard so we thought why not make it a little easier. This series taps into the knowledge of the professionals who help with all of these tasks to get their tips and advice on how to work with them most efficiently.

Joshua Hendell

Occupation: Certified Professional Accountant (CPA)

Company: Siegel & Hendell CPAs / Locations in Smithtown, NY and West Orange, NJ

WHAT DO YOU DO FOR YOUR CLIENTS?

We provide Accounting, Tax and general financial guidance for both businesses and individuals.  The services depend on the particular needs of the client.  Some business clients tend to need more services than others usually depending on the size of the business.  For accounting services, we provide bookkeeping services as well as review and audit services including preparation of financial statements, business tax returns and reports required from outside parties.

WHAT SHOULD CLIENTS BE PREPARED TO DISCUSS WHEN THEY MEET WITH YOU?

An overview of their particular situation whether it be business or personal.  Items to be discussed are what the client’s accounting and tax needs are based on their current circumstances and/or how to go about meeting those needs from both inside and outside of the client’s organization. 

HOW CAN A CLIENT BEST ORGANIZE THEMSELVES BEFORE THE MEETING TO BE MOST EFFICIENT WITH YOUR TIME?

I prefer to review two years of tax returns and/or other financial information before meeting with the client as this usually makes for a much more productive meeting.  Reviewing those documents tell us a lot about their situation and enable us to prepare more pointed questions at our meeting. In a case where the client prefers to bring these documents to an initial meeting versus sending them in advance, they should be prepared to answer questions about their past returns as well as their current situation especially if that differs from current circumstances.

IN TERMS OF PAPERWORK, WHAT SHOULD THEY PREPARE BEFORE THE MEETING?

Basically two years of business/personal income tax returns, financial statements and any other reporting that they have been required to complete over the last two years.  In addition they should bring any paperwork involving any issues out of the norm that they would like to discuss such as a change in their job or status (married, divorced, new parent).

Where to Recycle Your Technology

Helping people declutter their homes and lives means that we typically end up identifying lots of things that end up in the donate/toss pile. And, as mindful organizers, we try to find places to recycle as many of the goods in the “to go” pile as possible. Our first recycling installment was for clothing, shoes and textiles but this time we are focusing on technology, electronics and batteries. Now, you will finally know what to do with those old VCRs and Walk-mans. 

Happy Organizing!

CATEGORY: General Recycling Resources

Earth911.com: Earth911 is the place to look for insight on how to recycle almost anything - with over 350 materials and 100,000+ listings, it is one of North America's most extensive recycling databases. Simply enter in the material you are trying to recycle along with your zip code and click search.

CATEGORY: E-Waste (General)

Green Disk ($): GreenDisk offers two full-service collection box options that include the box, all transportation, the destruction of content on media, and recycling of associated material – the GreenDisk Technotrash can and the GreenDisk eMedia Recycler. Click here for a link to all the items they will accept for recycling. 

Terracycle: TerraCycle® has created a free recycling program for a variety of electronics including: standard cell phones, smart phones, iPhones, select inkjet cartridges, laptops, notebooks, netbooks, iPads and tablets. Collect the items, print a label and ship.

Staples: Recycle your old, unwanted technology at your local Staples® store. They will responsibly and securely recycle them at no cost — any brand, any condition, even if you purchased it somewhere else.

Best Buy: Best Buy will take all kinds of used technology, regardless of where you bought it, how old it is or who made it. You can recycle up to three items per household per day (see categories below for state-specific info, and different limitations on TVs, computer monitors and laptops). 

CATEGORY: E-Waste (Brand Specific)

Apple Trade In: Trade in your eligible device for credit toward your next purchase or get an Apple Store Gift Card you can use anytime. If your device isn’t eligible for credit, they will recycle it for free. 

Microsoft Trade In: Trade in your eligible device for credit toward your next Samsung purchase.

Microsoft / RLG Americas: Covered electronic equipment can be dropped off for free at one of their collection sites or, if you cannot get to a drop-off site and live anywhere in New York State, take advantage of their mail-back option. Accepted items include by aren’t limited to: computers, TVs, Fax Machines, Scanners, Printers, VCRs, etc.

Microsoft/Sims Web Return: If you’re not using that electronic device anymore, send it to Microsoft! They will make sure that your product is safely recycled at one of Sims Recycling Solutions domestic processing facilities where a zero-landfill policy and proven sustainability give you peace of mind in knowing that your electronics will be managed responsibly. The cart will accept 10 items and generate a label for each item. Individual items may be combined into a single package with a weight limitation of 70 pounds per package, and any unused labels may be discarded. 

CATEGORY: Cell Phones

Secure the Call: Secure the Call is a nonprofit charity that provides free 911 emergency-only cell phone to Domestic Violence Centers, Senior Citizen Centers, Police and Sheriff departments. The phones we provide our “community partners” are in turn given back to the community and used to contact the Police in the case of an emergency.

Cell Phones for Soldiers: Cell Phones For Soldiers is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing cost-free communication services and emergency funding to active-duty military members and veterans. They accept any and all types of cell phones from any carrier. Newer, gently-used mobile devices, including smartphones, are preferred; however, proceeds are generated from the recycling of broken and outdated mobile phones. Donations of chargers and accessories are also welcome. 

Verizon Wireless Hope Line: HopeLine gives consumers a way to help prevent domestic violence by donating no- longer used wireless phones and accessories from any service provider in any condition by mail, in Verizon Wireless Communications Store or at special events held throughout the year 

CATEGORY: Batteries

Call2Recycle: The Call2Recycle program offers flexible recycling options for rechargeable and single-use batteries through individual box or bulk quantities. Purchase one of the Call2Recycle kits to handle your used batterie or drop off your old batteries for free at thousands of convenient locations across the U.S., including Verizon, The Home Depot, Lowe’s and Staples. 

CATEGORY: Ink & Toner

Staples: Members are eligible to receive Ink Recycling Rewards on ink and toner recycling, if the member has spent at least $30 in ink and/or toner purchases at Staples over the previous 180 days. 

Office Depot: Members are eligible to receive rewards on recycling ink and toner in-store when you make a $10 qualifying purchase during the same month. Rewards are paid out monthly online only as a reward certificate. 

CATEGORY: Car Batteries

Autozone: If you have an old car battery lying around, bring it in to AutoZone for recycling and receive a $10 AutoZone merchandise card.

If you are looking for more stories on donation and recycling resources, check out our other stories – Our Favorite NYC Donation Locations, Where to Recycle Your Clothing & Shoes. 

What to Buy : Organizing Big Toys

Clockwise from Top Left: Basket Lady | The Home Edit | Serena & Lily | The White Company | West Elm | Ikea | Serena & Lily | Ikea

Little kids come with big toys especially around the holidays and we are often asked how to organize them. Thankfully the years of “big” toys are numbered but that doesn’t make it any easier to contain them. So, outside of throwing them all out – and we aren’t totally opposed to that option (!), we have a few ideas on how to make it a little easier to keep them a little neater in the meantime. 

Happy Organizing!

Open Shelving (Ikea)

Open shelving is a great way to keep larger toys, cars/trucks, etc. off the floor. This option from Ikea is great because it is easy on the eyes and wallet and it is lower to the ground and therefore not as easy to turn tip. 

Enclosed Cabinet (Ikea)

If space allows, the PAX system has a 22” deep cabinet and it comes with hinge and/or sliding doors that make it easier to keep bigger toys out of sight – and maybe even out of mind for at least a little bit. 

Rolling Baskets (Serena & Lily | The Home Edit)

Rolling baskets are great for keeping toys hidden and portable which can be helpful in smaller spaces. From stuffed animals to sports balls, rolling baskets provide the ease to move the toys between different spaces in your home.  

Big Baskets (Serena & Lily | The White Company)

If containing big blocks and other toys are one of your issues, big baskets such as these options are a great option for keeping them contained and neat. Plus there is a lid to keep them completely concealed if you need to store them in shared space such as a living room or kitchen. 

Underbed Storage (Baskets Lady | West Elm)

When in doubt, underbed storage is a great option to maximize underutilized space. This is a wonderful option for children that have anything from a toddler bed or larger and can house items such as board games and dolls.

For more of our favorite organizing products, you can check out more of our favorite products here.

A Holiday Gift Guide for Your Organized (or Not So Organized) Friends

Clockwise from Top Left: Urban Outfitters | Williams Sonoma | Poppin | Container Store | Williams Sonoma | Henry & Higby | Brother | Tile | Zazzle (Not Pictured)

The days fly by all too fast during the holiday season and we like to get a head start on gift buying if at all possible. I mean who doesn’t love a chance to check something off the perpetually full “to-do” list a little early? Clients and friends ask us about our favorite organizing products all the time so read on to check out a few of our picks and maybe they will inspire you to buy something for one of your very organized or not so organized friends.

Entryway Umbrella Stand (Williams Sonoma)

Umbrellas are a necessary evil at least when it comes to containing them. They seem to inevitably end up on the floor banished to the dark back corner of a closet never to be heard from again until the frantic search continues when it starts raining again. Break the cycle and find an umbrella that will keep them be beautifully contained and easily accessible. 

Desk Organization (Poppin)

Gone are the days of utilitarian-chic desk supplies and, at least in our opinion, good riddance! It is so much more motivating to sit down to focus on work when you are surrounded by stylish items that make you happy. 

Label Maker (Brother)

Where to begin with our affinity for labeling…it is quite a love story and so crucial to maintaining organizing systems. While our team uses a variety of labelers, this one from Brother is one of our favorites for the variety of font and type styles so we can really customize it for our clients. 

Personalized Sticky Notes (Post-It)

Make a list and check it twice is the theme of the holiday season and this is the ultimate stocking stuffer. A wonderful way to customize your to do lists and now there is no excuse for not getting it done since you can stick them everywhere. 

Recipe Box (Williams Sonoma)

Even in a digital age, we still seem to hold onto physical recipes. It might be the apple tart recipe passed down from your grandmother or a gluten-free pasta recipe torn from the NYTimes – and now there is no excuse to not put them into use and on display.

Remote Tracker (Tile)

Even the most organized people occasionally misplace things but with these sticker remote trackers finding them gets a whole lot easier. Our favorite discovery…the waterproof feature so never ever do we ever have to hear again “Mom, where is my swim bag?” 

Invisible Book Shelf (Urban Outfitters)

One of our favorite organizing tricks is to take advantage of the vertical space especially in apartment living where space can be scarce. These floating bookshelves are a great addition to any room and can be used for more than books – and the bonus is that installation is easy. 

Divided Turntable (The Home Edit)

A turntable has ultimate practicality for all areas of your home. They can be used to sort items in your pantry, hair products under your bathroom sink or for your favorite kid’s crafts. We also love to give a shout out to fellow organizers. They just get the product needs like no other. 

Henry & Higby Gift Card

A favorite for our clients – us! Our services are often gifted to friends and families in need of organizing help or support during a move. And we are able to offer virtual organizing DIY packages for everyone that falls on your list outside of NYC. 

And, if you are looking to buy us a little something (hint, hint!) a few of our picks for the season are outlined below.

Michelle’s List

Acrylic Coat Hangers

It seems that we are forever reminding ourselves about the difference between a need and a want in our house. Acrylic coat hangers --- are definitely a WANT! To open my coat closet and see these beauties fills my heart with joy. They help remind me to keep just my favorite pieces and coats that are worthy of such beautiful hangers. 

Travel Jewelry Case (Cuyana)

One of my dirty little secrets is that I almost never unpack my jewelry after a trip. It is always last on my list when I get back from traveling and once I get around to it; it seems like it’s time to mobilize again. Now that I know this about myself, I’m leaning in and picking this Cuyana travel jewelry case for my holiday list. It is beautiful enough to be left out point on the counter and has the perfect amount of space for storing my baubles on the go. 

Annie’s List

Pouches

If I’m being totally honest, I don’t know if I have ever seen a zippered pouch that I didn’t like. And while I can’t say that I need more of them, at least, I can say that they are useful when it comes to staying organized – which is good when you are an organizer for a living. Whether from Clare V. or Leatherology or my favorite Brooklyn-based company, Lewis, I love them all!

Throw Blanket

As the weather gets cooler, I find myself staying in to read and cook more on the weekends and this throw blanket would be perfect for cuddling on the couch.

Let us know what made your holiday list this year. Happy Organizing!

Designing a Closet That Will Grow with Your Children

To be a parent is to embrace a life of constant change. Your lifestyle changes. Your home changes. Your bank account changes. And, most importantly, you baby changes and in the blink of an eye they grow out of clothing, shoes, toys, books, furniture, cribs… And, you may ask yourself - is can anything last for more than a few months or even years? The answer is yes – closets.  

Many clients ask us to help them organize their baby’s room and often that includes designing or re-designing closets that can grow along with their children and accommodate their ever-changing needs. If this sounds familiar, read on for some of our best tips for creating a closet that will last through the ages.

1. Stacking on the Shelves: Add a lot of shelving to house all of the diaper supplies and folded clothing. Make sure that the shelves are fully adjustable shelving to allow maximum flexibility. And, when it comes to organizing shelves consider adding some bins to help contain smaller items and keep the space clutter-free. 

2. Make it a Double…Rod: Babies have very little need for hanging space since most of their clothing can be folded and it easily fits in drawers and in bins on shelving. By the toddler years, it is typically helpful to have one low hanging rod to hang items and make things more accessible for little hands. Then, over time you can create more hanging space with a double rod by just removing some shelving and adding an additional upper bar. 

3. Digging Drawers: Drawers in a closet may seem like a luxury but it can be worth the investment as it can replace the need for a dresser down the road. This can free up space in the bedroom for different furniture configurations, toy storage and school desks as they get older. When deciding on the drawer sizes, add at least 2-3 four-inch drawers for smaller items and then a few deeper drawers to house bigger items. If you aren’t sure how deep you need them try folding some items and measuring them so you can be sure of the actual depth needed. 

4. Shelves to Spare: Be sure to include a few extra shelves near the floor for shoes. This will free up floor space, help keep the closet tidy and maybe even allow some extra room for a freestanding laundry hamper to fit larger toys that don’t fit into smaller bins. 

5. Hook it Up: Hooks are a great way to clear floors as they can be used for almost everything from school backpacks and helmets to sports uniforms and robes. If space allows, consider adding two rows (a low one and high one) to maximize space and to let your little one help hang up things up too. 

Hopefully, these tips are helpful when it comes to designing your next closet…now, if only it was as easy to teach our little ones to put their items away in their closets.

Happy Organizing!

For examples of some of our closet designs, click here.

Our Services: Home Staging

Our projects aren’t always about unpacking boxes and setting up new systems, designing or redesigning closets or even decluttering spaces to make them more livable. Sometimes our job is to help stage a home so it is ready to go on the market. However, unlike typical home stagers, we don’t bring in all new furniture and “re-do” the house.

Instead, we declutter the house to show off the best features and use what the home owners already have to make the space look as marketable as possible to potential buyers. This is a more cost effective way to get the house ready and can actually help set the stage for a smoother transition if the owners are willing to focus on decluttering the space of unwanted and unused items.

The basic DIY package involves an in-person meeting - typically about an hour long. We walk-through the home and see what needs to be done to get it ready and a follow-up document recapping our notes from the visit – your homework so to speak.

Sometimes it is as easy as swapping or adding lights to a room and rearranging closets but other times the process can involve a partial move out of the house with excess furniture and items that are cluttering the home but need to be kept. And, the work doesn’t have to be completed alone, we can always come in and help make the shifts required to make the house stand out in the market.

Happy Organizing!

Take it From Me: When a Professional Organizer Needs to Follow Their Own Advice

As organizers, our clients often ask us if our homes are perfectly organized. Overall, our homes are pretty organized but perfection is definitely in the eye of the beholder and, as we all need to remember, being organized is not a destination but more of an ongoing journey. 

All of that said, I knew that my own kitchen was in need of a little attention and that perhaps it was time to turn the tables and ask myself the hard questions that I always ask my clients – if you aren’t using it why are you keeping it? 

The reasons vary but and three of the most common – at least that we run into - sound something like this…  

• “It was a gift from a friend/family member [insert someone important here] and I don’t want to hurt their feelings by getting rid of it or not having it around when they come to visit.” 

• “I bought it, never used it and now feel doubly bad about wasting money on it.” 

• “I might need it some day for X – even though I haven’t used it in five years.”

My own kitchen editing session took longer than I thought it would initially. Although the contents were organized, I seemed to have accumulated quite a few trinkets and tools over the years. I am fortunate that my kitchen storage is pretty ample but I needed to heed my own advice - even if you have a lot of space, you do not have to fill it! 

There were several items that fell into the bucket of “I bought this and thought it was a good idea at the time but have never used it” and “I might need it some day…” 

Upon reflection, it may seem that I have a weakness for the cooking tools section at Williams Sonoma. Everything looks so pretty and shiny and absolutely critically to my success in the kitchen while I’m in the store. But, when I get it home, I find these pretty, shiny, critical tools sitting there in my drawer unused and unappreciated and often passed up in favor of my old standbys. It is now time to move along the egg tongs and the avocado shaped scraper. 

After tackling tools, I turned to my baking section which had grown unwieldly over the years. My reason for the excess is that baking is a hobby my son and I enjoy together. We have experimented with almost every baking category. We went through a mold phase, a rainbow cake phase (which required multiple individual cake pans), a cupcake phase with fun toppers to boot and the classic (never to be revisited) elaborate fondant phase. However, no matter what fun trendy baking phase we try though, we always end up making our favorites – cookies, breads and basic cakes. So, the question is…why am I still holding onto all the other baking accessories? Perhaps it is holding onto them for sentimental reasons or perhaps it is that I haven’t taken the time to actually do something about them but, regardless now is the time to move all of it along to someone else that can use them rather than have them collect dust in my upper cabinets. 

With my drawers and cabinets cleared of the items I no longer use I feel the freedom that comes with clearing clutter. Clearing the physical space frees up mental space. This is our mantra during edit sessions and it definitely rang true during my own tune-up.  

- Michelle

Clearing Clutter to Find Your Inner Calm

I recently re-connected with a colleague from my former days in public relations. She also left the agency world and is now an entrepreneur herself having started a yoga business, Topsy Turvy Yogi, with a friend. During our conversation, we found a lot of synergies between the calm that comes from getting organized and the calm from practicing yoga and wondered if we could help make the connection for others too. 

Life gets hectic and clutter can fill both your mind and your home but that there are ways to eliminate those distractions and to create a sense of calm from chaos. So we are helping you clear the clutter and find your inner calm by equating the process of working through your chakras with simple yogic practices with the process of organizing your home. The important thing to remember is that everyone and everything is a work in progress so the key to success is to keep trying. 

Read on to work through the process of finding calm both inside and out. 

Happy organizing and namaste!

Giving the Gift of Organizing

You may or may not know that we offer gift cards for people who like to give the gift of organizing for holidays and special occasions. We have been gifted to a number of people over the years from broker gifts for the sale of a new apartment to wedding and housewarming gifts. So read on for some feedback from those happy recipients and maybe even find some inspiration for the next time you find yourself shopping for a gift. 

Happy Organizing!

Broker Gift

"Our broker gave us a gift card for our closing and it made all the difference. My husband and I have crazy work schedules so it was a relief to have Michelle and Annie come in and handle all of the move logistics for us. From decluttering before the move to coordinating with the movers through the pack and moving days and unpacking us in our new home, they handled the whole process. And, I can't tell you what a joy it was to walk into a fully set up home instead of wading through boxes for what would likely have been weeks on end."

Wedding Gift

"We received so many presents for our wedding (some even off the registry!) and had no idea how to fit them all in our apartment given the seemingly limited storage options. Henry & Higby found space we did not even know existed! They worked wonders in our small space and made everything so accessible that we don't have an excuse not to use them." 

Birthday Gift

"My husband gave me a Henry & Higby gift card for my birthday. My home office had become a dumping ground and I was overwhelmed with the thought of trying to tackle all of the clutter that had accumulated over the years. It was not a total disaster but it was definitely not my favorite spot in my home. When Michelle and Annie showed up, I quickly became relaxed as they talked me through the steps to getting my space cleaned out and usable again. As an added bonus, they even helped me accessorize the room a bit to help my turn my office chaos into a calming sanctuary." 

Housewarming Gift

"A good friend gave us a Henry & Higby gift card when we moved to the burbs because she knew that we were struggling a bit. Coming from the city, we thought that we had it figured out but with all of the space that our house had we got a little overwhelmed and everything seemed to end up in our basement -- a pile of unmade decisions. Once Annie and Michelle came in, we came up with a space plan for the closets and rooms that really made sense and got all of our remaining boxes unpacked and in place . We owe them so much for their quick and smart suggestions -- and now we have an empty basement!"

If you want to give the gift of organizing, reach out to us at hello@henryandhigby.com for more information. 

How to Organize: Business Cards

No matter how paperless I try to be, I always seem to find business cards in my wallet and in the bottom of my purse. I can't say that I handle the situation immediately -- there may still some cards at the bottom of my bag right now -- but I'm going to put the work into it now. If you find yourself in the same boat, try one of these methods below. 

Happy Organizing!

Use an App (Paid): There are a number of applications you can use to assist with scanning and handling business cards but one that comes highly recommended is CamCard. With this app, you can not only scan and store your business cards but you can also exchange e-cards on-the-go when you are running out of paper ones. Alternatives for Apple users include ScanBizCard and Business Card Reader Pro. 

Try Evernote (Free): Evernote Scannable is an app that allows you to scan contracts, receipts and business cards - really any paper that you come across - so that you can move it along. The reason that it is so great for business cards is because it pulls information from them and will save it to your contact list. 

Take a Photo: The easiest app-less way to handle business cards is to take a picture and save it in a special business card folder on your phone so that you know where to find it when the time comes. 

Type it In: Go old school and just type the information into your phone contact list or even into your real address book if you love paper. Granted this takes a bit of time but it is reliable and doesn't require much on your part but a little bit of time - plus it gives you a chance to type in some extra notes at the same time about the meeting. If you have a smart phone, you can even take a photo of the logo and assign it to the contact to give yourself visual reference. 

How do you handle business cards?