1st Day of Fall & a Fall Cleaning Checklist

 

Happy first day of Fall! Here is hot Houston where we are sweating more of the months of the year, we always look forward to *hopefully* cooler temperatures that fall brings. For me, it gives me an excitement of all the things that fall and the holidays bring. Plus, now that I am a parent I look forward to all the new things that I get to do with the kids as they grow.

Here is a fall cleaning checklist that you can do in order to prepare this season:

• Windows. Clean them inside and out. An easy way to clean the outside is by using this outdoor window cleaner and to clean the inside windows (according to our housekeeper) use glass cleaner and this duster to easily get them cleaned. 
• Vacuum & flip the mattresses. Odds are you probably don't clean and flip your mattress that often, so with the new season it is a great time to do that. Sprinkle some baking soda on the mattress and let sit for at least 30 minutes and then vacuum it off.
• Oven. Clean your oven in order to prep for all the cooking and baking you may do during this holiday season.
• Carpets & flooring. Get carpets and floors cleaned to get a jump start on deep cleaning and all the traffic you may have in your house during the holidays.
• Cabinet fronts. If you don't clean them regularly, now is a great time to do it because usually in the fall & winter the kitchen is more heavily used than on a normal basis.
• Fridge & freezer. Now is the perfect time to clean out your fridge and freezer to make sure you have room for all the baking & cooking you may doing this holiday season. We love using shelf liner to make cleaning fridges and freezers easier. We also like using bins like these to contain food & condiments.
• HVAC. Service your HVAC to make sure it is in top working order.
• Fans. If you change the direction of your fans in the fall, be sure to clean them off as well. This fan duster works great to reach high fans and has a pivoting duster head to really get in all parts of the fan.
• Fireplace & chimney. Make sure your fireplace and chimney are in great working order during this holiday season. 
• Kitchen appliances. If you know you will be using certain kitchen appliances this summer. Replace ones that need replacing and turn everything on to make sure they are all in working order.

What is on your fall cleaning list?

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25 Ways You Can Practice Self-Care

Self-care has been such a buzz word for so many years, but when you are stuck or not feeling yourself it may be time for a break and to practice a little self-care. Self - care can help you physically, mentally, & emotionally. 

1. Journal
2. Take a bath
3. Meditate
4. Learn a new skill 
5. Say "NO" to someone, an event invite, etc.
6. Listen to a podcast
7. Read a new book
8. Cook healthy meals at home
9. Watch your favorite movie
10. Organize an area of your home
11. Spend 30 minutes outside 3-5 times a week
12. Sleep
13. Go out to eat
14. Buy a special treat for yourself
15. Get acupuncture
16. Get a massage
17. Go to a therapist
18. Try a new exercise class
19. Buy yourself flowers
20. Ask for help
21. Call a friend
22. Get a babysitter and go do something for yourself
23. Make art
24. Detox from social media
25. Go get a mani/pedi

What are some ways that you practice self-care?

Photo by Taryn Elliott

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Happy Labor Day!

 

Happy Labor Day!

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Valuable Lessons We Hope to Teach Our Children

It is so funny to see the amount of posts that have been written for years, but never got published. This was one of them. We are in client's homes all the time and are around so many kiddos, so there are some things that I have learned from clients that I hope we can demonstrate and teach our kids in our own home.  We have also learned from so many family members and friends as well.

Below is what I wrote several years ago and it includes so much more that is not on here, but I still think this is very true of what we would like to teach our kids. 

• Be kind
• Be respectful
• Have good manners
• Help others in need
• Do not bully
• Love each other

Photo by cottonbro studio

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Houston Professional Organizer // Client Harvey Renovation Finally Complete: Pantry Organization

We have been helping this client organize for several years and they are just the sweetest. They flooded in Harvey, so their whole house went through a massive, loooong renovation that was finally completed in 2020. We have helped them in all areas of the home and can't wait to show you all the areas. This post alone is long overdue. They lived in one part of their house while the rest of the house was being renovated, so their food / pantry situation was not the best for awhile. This is their pantry. I love that all their shelves are adjustable. If you plan on doing a renovation anytime soon, I highly recommend putting in cabinets and shelves that have adjustable shelving. It makes a huge difference because you can customize your space based on the foods, appliances, and items you are going to keep in there. 

Here is what we used:

• Linus bins
• Deep Linus bins
• Lazy susans
• Water bottle holders
• Glass jars
• Can riser

Here are some during and after photos: 

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Houston Professional Organizer // Client Acupuncturist Bathroom Organization

Finally catching up from years of past projects that have been sitting in our blog drafts. This sweet organizing client is an acupuncturist in Houston, TX and we organized several areas of her home. This is the bathroom linen closet that we revamped. The closet had to hold a lot of different items and products, so we used products that were economical and functional. 

Here is what we did:

• Sorted. We sorted like items together.
• Organized by type. We organized by type. 
• Contained. We contained in bins these white bins that she purchased so we used was on hand along with what she already had.

13 Things You Can Do Right Now to Start Prepping For The Holidays

Now is the time to start thinking about the holidays. As a professional organizer and concierge company, we know a thing or two about the holidays. They get insanely busy for us and we absolutely love every second of it. Below are 13 things that you can start doing now in order to prep for the holidays and get an early head start. Remember, do what you can when you can. If it is not in the cards for you right now or this year, then skip it. 

1. Create a holiday binder to keep all holiday related things together: calendars, gift lists, mailing supplies, meal plans, give back, volunteering, etc.

2. Create a holiday budget. To help with overspending during the holidays, here are some things to consider: shopping, events, giving, cards, house to-dos, meals, mailing / shipping supplies, etc. 

3. Make lists: shopping lists, gift lists, to-do lists, holiday bucket lists, Halloween to-do, Thanksgiving to-do, Hanukkah to-do, Christmas to-do, lists of all the things you need to do around, etc.

4. Print blank calendar pages and begin filling it with school commitments, holiday events, appointments, etc.

5. Book appointments: hair, house deep clean, carpet cleaners, window washers, light hangers, organizers, decorators, concierges, photographer, self-care, any other services you know you will use during the holidays.

6. Book reservations. If you know you want to go to special places during the holidays go ahead and make reservations, if you can. Book date nights, lunch or dinner with friends or any dates you know you may need a break.

7. Arrange for pet care. If you know you will be traveling make sure you have pet care all lined up. 

8. Book travel plans. Transportation, lodging, activities, and anything else related to travel.

9. Book doctors appointments. The end of the year is one of the busiest time for doctors offices, so go ahead and get those dates booked. 

10. Take advantage of sales for holiday events & experiences during the holidays.

11. Start purchasing gifts & begin wrapping. Consider experience gifts like memberships, spa treatments, things to do, etc.

12. Review your address list. Update your addresses for people you know that have moved or for people that their card came back from the previous year. 

13. Purchase gift cards for stores you know you will shop at during the holidays in order to help you budget during the holidays.

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