Also at this event, you’ll have the opportunity to bring all your old cosmetics and skin care products and exchange them for a discount on fresh, new MARY KAY® products!  There will be an official MARY KAY® beauty consultant at the event to help you figure out your colors and product needs. There will also be fun prizes and a raffle!

(1st Floor Community Room)

Hosted by Innovatively Organized & MARY KAY®
RSVP to 206-494-9822 or email info@innovativelyorganized.com.

For more information about events, click here.

You may have seen my recent newsletter where I answer a question about one of my favorite closet organizing products. If you missed it, I talked about the slimline hanger – a must-have for any client who is organizing their closet space. As its name suggests, it has a slim profile and takes up much less room than wooden or tube hangers. They’re flocked which allow them to hold thinner fabrics in place and also have convenient notches for clothes with straps. Also, they have hooks so you can cascade multiple hangers together to save even more space. Check them out.

My favorite closet organizing tool from The Container Store is on sale! Versatile, durable and easy-to-use, elfa® is a modular shelving and drawer component system that helps you maximize your space, increase storage and boost productivity. It works for tiny closets as well as walk-ins and is also great for the garage, home office and kitchen. Check it out!

Sunday, November 15th – Downtown Seattle

1pm – 4pm

It’s time to clear out your closet clutter. As you assess your items, keep these questions in mind: Have you worn it in the past month? Do you love it? Does it fit? If you answered “no” to at least one of the questions, this event is for you!

Bring your clothes, outerwear, shoes and accessories to show and swap with others. We’ll have racks and tables to display your items. Anything that doesn’t find a new home will be donated immediately after the event. There will also be fun giveaways and a raffle!

Space is limited – RSVP now!

There’s a saying, “The more things you own, the more they own you.”  This is so true!  Don’t be a prisoner to things.  Learn to let go and achieve more freedom and space.  Here are a few things to remember:

• If you’re not using it, you don’t know what to do with it, or if you don’t love it, it’s clutter.  Give the item away to someone who will use it or sell/donate it.
• How many things have you saved or put aside thinking that you’ll get it fixed, altered or cleaned?  Make a note on your calendar or to-do list to take action – or get rid of it.
• Everyone has items that hold sentimental value – old jewelry, holiday trinkets, vacation souvenirs, even hand-me-down clothes that are the wrong size or falling apart.  If the special item is taking up precious space, try keeping a memory of it by taking a photograph and putting it in a scrap book.
• Set a good example for your children.  Teach them that a clean and organized bedroom and playroom is important in keeping them organized in school and work.

So, now that you’ve organized your garage, what do you do with all the odds and ends that were uncovered? Hold a garage sale! Go through the entire house and add to the miscellaneous inventory of things you found in the garage and have a proper de-cluttering day. And make a few extra dollars, too.

Here are a few tips to get you motivated and organized:

1. Set a date and advertise for free. Check out these online resources to post your garage sale:

Garage Sale Time
Craigslist
Garage Sales Tracker
Weekend Treasure

2. Start by going through closets and drawers for clothes, accessories and shoes. Then check under the bed, in your car, even the pantry, for any items that you don’t love, you don’t need and you don’t use. (Note: Don’t underestimate the value of anything – you’d be shocked at what people will buy!)

3. Sort your items into categories. Here’s a popular list of things many buyers look for: toys, camping equipment, craft supplies, books, jewelry, antique or vintage items (such as vases, old plates, salt/pepper shakers), children’s clothing, furniture and appliances.

4. Display things in the most appealing manner. Have a garment rack or clothesline to hang up dresses, coats and shirts. Tie a ribbon around small items that can be sold together, such as utensils, sheets or accessories and price them as a set. Avoid having people dig through deep boxes or kneel on the ground to look at things.

5. Have plenty of change – small bills and coins. Also, recycle all those shopping bags by giving them to buyers to hold their merchandise.

6. Leave Fido in the house. Your dog may be very cute, but he’ll probably get in the way of shoppers and get under your feet. Moreover, don’t forget to put away anything that you might trip on, such as a garden hose, your kid’s bicycle and be aware of any slippery spots on the driveway.

7. Make sure to enlist help. There’s nothing more stressful when you have multiple people asking questions or trying to buy something. There should be one person manning the ‘cash register’ and another person acting as a ‘sales person.’

8. Provide refreshments. Try having a pot of coffee or some donuts as a complimentary snack for shoppers. This keeps people engaged and encourages them to stick around and check out all the goods!

With all the restrictions these days on how many items you can carry on the plane and how much you can pack in your bag, this eBags® toiletry kit will help save precious space in your luggage. The main feature is its slim fit – only 2 1/4″ thick so you can easily throw it on top of your folded clothes or slip it into the side of your suitcase.

The best part of this bag is that you can take full size products with you instead of a bunch of little bottles. It’s big enough to hold multiple items and the shallow pockets are designed to keep things in place without losing things that fall to the bottom. (Just remember that if you take more than 3oz of liquid or gel that you should put this in your checked luggage and not your carry-on.  Be sure to double check the TSA restrictions too.) If you decide that you’d like to take smaller quantities of your shampoo and conditioner, the kit also comes with a set of travel-sized bottles.

When not using it for travel, put this product to use every day if you have an especially tight bathroom with limited countertop space. Hang it on the back of the door, and keep items within easy grasp without digging around to find that tiny bottle of lotion or floss. Click here for more details.

I’m pleased to announce that our recent closet clean-out event, “Clothing Swap & Cocktails”, was a swapping success!  Innovatively Organized hosted over 25 guests who brought their gently loved clothing items to exchange with others. There was a variety of garments and accessories, ranging from jackets and shoes to purses and dresses and jewelry. I was so impressed with the enthusiasm expressed by the participants that I’m planning to make this a regular Innovatively Organized event!

Remember, the main goal of this is to help you create more effective use of your space and to eliminate items that clutter your closets, shelves and dresser drawers. By the looks of the inventory available at the clothes swap, I’d say that everyone did a wonderful job of purging their homes of unwanted and unused things! The best part is that we donated all of the left over pieces to Goodwill.

I had a great time and really enjoyed providing an entertaining forum for a typically unpleasant task. Cleaning out your closets can definitely be fun! Each attendee also received a goodie bag with coupons for organizing, make-up and fitness. Don’t miss it next time!

Closet Clean-Out Event

Downtown Seattle

Saturday, June 13th

2 PM – 4 PM

Make room for your summer clothes by clearing out the old!

Empty your closet by bringing any and all items you are ready to part with to this event.  We will have racks and areas for you to display your items. Then you will be able to “shop” from the items others brought with them. There will be refreshments, fun prizes and a raffle!

RSVP directly to info@InnovativelyOrganized.com and we’ll send you more details.  Or you can also click here.

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I’m back from the Annual NAPO (National Association of Professional Organizers) conference which was held in Orlando last week. As promised, I scoped out all the new products that will hit the market soon. A great benefit to my job is that I get to test and sample these items before you go out and buy them! The first one I want to tell you about is from SC Johnson – they have introduced another product to their Ziploc line – the flexible tote.

Unlike rigid bins, these stackable totes can fit into tight spaces, so they are ideal for hall closets and small bedrooms. I suggest utilizing them to store sweaters, blankets, and off-season clothing items. They also feature an easy-to-close zipper and two built-in handles. They will come in two sizes: XL (10 gallons) and XXL (22 gallons).  You should be seeing them in your local Target store soon!

Or shop for Ziploc online now!