5 Things To Get Organized With Now

Since summer is beginning, the kids are out of school and travel is in an upswing, I thought I would share 5 things that you should be organizing right now. As a professional organizer, each season comes with various things to organize or activities and events that are popular during those season. When you are trying to pre-plan anything think about all the aspects of things that need to get done and how to best get organized for those events or activities. 

Now that school is out for most kids, it is the perfect time to start going through all your kids art work. Toss what you don't like or need. Display, make a book or put away in keepsakes what you want to keep. Use weathertight bins or archival boxes. 

Are your kids going to summer camp? If so, now is the perfect time to get organized for it because most kids go to summer camp in June and July. Think about what you need to pack and what the kids need to bring with them. Order name tags for clothes, swim and all items. Don't forget to buy stamps. Stock up on sunscreen and bug spray. Here are some past posts I have written in regards to how to get organized for summer camp and summer camp packing list. 

Are you traveling this summer? Now that people feel more comfortable traveling since many people have COVID vaccines, there is an increase in summer travel and people going stir crazy and wanting to get out of the house and out of town. Start thinking about what you will need to take with you. Start making packing lists, gather specific items in a particular area of your house of what you will need, if items are too bulky consider having them sent to your destination via Amazon or by mailing them, don't forget cables & cords, what meds you will need, put together an itinerary if you made plans for specific activities, don't forget to bring cash, etc. Here are some travel tips & tricks, how to organize for a weekend getaway, and road trip essentials. 

Do you live in an area prone to hurricanes? If so, start gathering your emergency prep items, so you have them in case you need them. Stock up on water and batteries. If you have to evacuate know where you will be going and have an evacuation plan. Make a list of items you want in your go bag. Have a mini go bag ready in case you have to leave unexpectedly. Make sure all external batteries are charged. Always keep your gas tank full. Here are some past articles about emergency prep, how to start an emergency preparedness kit and things you should do, what you should have in your emergency go bag, preparing for hurricanes and free resources, and get organized: hurricane preparedness. 

It is officially move season and there are so many upcoming client moves we have. We specialize in move management and coordination here in Houston and beyond. Moves can financially add up really quickly so start planning now if you have an upcoming move. Declutter your house before you move, book movers & packers, if you are diying it start packing a little at a time, make a list of address changes, book professional organizers, etc. 

ecomodernconcierge.com

How to Organize for a Weekend Getaway

With summer right around the corner, vacations will be in full swing for many people. Especially now that more and more people are getting the COVID vaccine and more places are opening back up. We often help personal assistant and concierge clients plan, organize and pack for their trips whether it is a weekend getaway or longer trips. For getaways that are quick when you just have a weekend to getaway here are some tips to plan for. 

Plan your budget. Before you go on any trip you should decide what your budget is because this will determine a lot of factors like where you will go, how you will get there, what you will do while you are on vacation, etc. 

Decide on where you want to go. Do you want to go somewhere to relax, off the grid, adventurous, a big city, a small city, near water, near mountains, etc. There are so many options that you can choose from.

Do you want to fly or drive. Depending on whether you want to fly or drive has a lot to do with where you will go. Also, it makes a big difference on your budget. If you have a limited amount of time off you will need to decide how much of the time you want to be travel time to and from places. 

Check the weather. Wherever you decide to go, check to weather because that will determine what you will do and what you will need to back. 

Book a place to stay. Will you be winging it, staying at a camp ground, hotel, hostel, airbnb, etc.?

Decide what to pack. I always suggest packing as light as possible because it makes traveling a lot easier and so much less stressful. This will be determined mostly based on where you will be going, the weather and what you will be doing.

Decide what types of snacks you will be taking. Decide your snack options based on if you will be driving or flying. If you have kids or don't have kids. I always like to have snacks on hand in case we get delayed somewhere, travel somewhere with limited pit stops, restaurants, gas stations, etc. 

Plan activities. Either plan or have an idea of activities that will be available based on where you are going. Maybe you don't want to do any activities and just completely decompress. If you have kids or know that you are the type that likes to get out and do things than plan, schedule or at least know of some things to do in the area.

Have fun! Above all else try to have as much fun as possible and if there are challenges along the way try to make the most of them because they will be great stories to tell one. 

Photo by Element5 Digital from Pexels

ecomodernconcierge.com

EMC Travels: Hotel Valencia

I have been meaning to post this for sometime and since I book tons of hotels for my concierge clients and myself I thought I would share one that I loved, Hotel Valencia in San Antonio, TX . We stayed here about a year and half ago and couldn't get over how charming this hotel was. We were welcomed with a cocktail, they had great service and it was right on the riverwalk in San Antonio. I loved how the hotel was decorated and there were so many great outdoor places you could sit and relax. I will definitely be staying here again. Have you been here?

ecomodernconcierge.com

What I Take When Traveling

When I travel, I try to pack as little as possible, but always end up bringing more than I need. 

Here are some things I try to take with me on my carryon:

• Headphones. So I can watch movies or listen to music.
• Earplugs. In case I want to cancel noise.
• DoTerra mini orange essential oil. I use this as a hand sanitizer.
• DoTerra OnGuard tablets. I take these as a preventive to hopefully not getting sick.
• Aesop hand sanitizer. Keep those germs at bay.
• Kleenex. They are just good for so many different things and I always have them on hand.
• Band-Aids. I never know when I will need one or get a blister.
• Band-Aid Friction Block. I love this stick. I put it on my ankles and all over my feet where blister are prone to be.
• Thieves spray. I like to spray it around to keep germs away, especially on planes.
• Book. I always like to have some kind of reading material.

ecomodernconcierge.com

Eco Spa: Shoji Spa in Asheville, NC

On my way to the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO) 2017 Conference in Pittsburgh, PA, I stopped off in Asheville, NC to see a friend and her little one. The day I got in she had booked me a hot tub treatment at Shoji Spa to help me relax and wind down from all the driving I did. It was such a thoughtful thing for her to do and it was SOOOOO relaxing. It is an eco spa and they use a lot of green products, along with being super clean. The hot tubs are located outside on the side of the mountain in the middle of the woods. It is extremely peaceful just to sit there unwind and read a book. When I got there it was daylight still, but quickly faded into night. I highly recommend you visit this spa if you ever find yourself in Asheville. Here are some photos from my visit there.

ecomodernconcierge.com

Unique Roadside Attractions From Houston to Pittsburgh

On my way to Pittsburgh for the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO) 2017 Conference I stopped at various roadside attractions. I drove to Pittsburgh because 1. I love road trips 2. I was stopping in Asheville, NC to see a friend and her little one 3. I got to listen to audiobooks :). To make the trip more fun I decided to stop at various roadside attractions along the way. I used the app Roadside America. Below are some of the things I stopped at. On the way back home my father-in-law actually rode with me and we stopped in Memphis for the night, so there is one picture from Memphis.

World's largest working fire hydrant in Beaumont, TX

Miss Rose's Bar: Happy Man in Lafayette, LA it was sculpted for the 1984 New Orleans World's Fair and later it was dumped in a field.

Frog statue at the frog capital of the world in Rayne, LA

Giant guitar in Crowley, LA

Playhouse Grave of Little Nadine Earles in Lanett, LA. This was an interesting. Nadine wanted a playhouse for Christmas and died right before Christmas. So her parents built a playhouse around her tombstone and filled it with toys.

World's Largest Stationary Brick made out of bricks in Montgomery, AL. 

Hank Williams Astroturf Grave in Montgomery, AL

Giant gun safe on a pole in Mobile, AL

World's Largest Mattress in Jefferson, GA

BB King's Blues Club

ecomodernconcierge.com