Hello Collectors! You have reached the organizing blog for Collector Care Professional Organizers. On our informational blog, we offer tips on keeping your home and office clear of clutter, interviews with amazing organizers, inspirational messages, and stories about hoarding and clutter.
As you know, I specialize in extreme clutter, so I see a lot on a daily basis. It's gotten really hard to be shocked these days. How extreme can it get? MEGA extreme. On a scale of one to ten, my one is probably your ten. When I spend half a day cleaning fecal matter off of walls, and can still have lunch, you know I have gotten numb to the severity. People ask me all of the time how and why I do this kind of work. You really have to have a tough stomach, I say. And a good imagination! It's all "chocolate" to me.
So what do I personally do for self care? Besides the basics (showering, brushing teeth and hair), I like massages, facials, manicures, pedicures. You can say I like to pamper myself. Work hard, play hard.
This is not me! (www.freedigitalphotos.net model)
What are you doing for self care? I know many of you cannot access your bathrooms due to clutter. How are you cleaning yourselves? Are you properly brushing? From what I have seen you are not.
Not only are you treating your environment poorly, but you are neglecting yourselves dear Collectors. You deserve so much better. If you have no running water, or cannot properly wash or brush your teeth, below are 3 tips to help with hygiene:
Wipes. Wipe your face and body down with baby wipes. Throw wipes into disposal bag, and recycle.
Any kind will do, but I like this one.
Travel toothbrushes. They make them with toothpaste built in and are safe to swallow. Brush your teeth daily and recycle disposable brush.
Dry shampoo. Rock stars use it, so should you. Get fresh feeling hair fast.
Now. DO NOT BUY IN BULK. I don't like suggesting things for you all to use, if you are going to buy it in bulk. These are hygiene tips, not a chance to go out and spend. Let's control ourselves Collectors and be mindful when we acquire.
Hopefully the tips above will give you a little confidence boost and you will be pleased with yourself for treating yourself better.
www.collectorcare.com Professional Organizers & Extreme Cleaners SF Bay & Worldwide
You had the big clean out, or your have worked diligently with one of our team members. It's quite possible you have used another company, or maybe you had help from friends or family. You are now organized. Now what?
Collectors, it's time to talk about maintenance.
If your home was severely cluttered to begin with, it's possible that you might backslide after you have been organized.
A Professional Organizer can help you create a better looking home, but it's up to YOU to keep it going. You now have to maintain this clean and organized space. That is pretty hard if you are not used to it. That is why we offer our maintenance plans.We provide you with short bursts of energetic organizing sessions designed to refresh your space and your perspective on stuff.
Collectors, you need this extra help. Especially if you have Hoarding Disorder or Chronic Disorganization. I know you want things to change overnight, but they
won't change unless you do. Ongoing help is key to your success.
Are you looking for a fresh start? Are you tired of being surrounded by CLUTTER? Give us a call! 925-548-7750 www.collectorcare.com #collectorCareCares licensed. bonded. insured.
Check out our awesome reviews on YELP!
Hey Collectors, especially my fab and fierce Gay /Lesbian/ Bi /Trans Collectors!
What compelled me to write this post, is the amount of shame that goes into "coming out" about hoarding or being a clutter bug. I just recently attended the San Francisco Mental Health Assoc. International Clutter and Hoarding Conference (say that five times fast!) I ran into some very cool peeps. Specifically two gay men who told me that coming out about their clutter was harder than coming out about their sexuality. This is not the first time I have heard this. Or the second, or third ...
During my organizing sessions some people choose to share more than others. Thank you to all who supported me in writing this blog and for sharing your stories. Thank you for appreciating my interest in your world. This blog is simply to provoke thought, it's not any sort of scientific data or intended to offend.
When I asked my Clients which was harder? Coming out about being gay, or coming out about being a clutterer? Hands down clutter was more embarrassing. I was even allowed to quote a few.
Jeffrey:
"I came out to the world in high school about being gay. It was no surprise to any of my real friends. My father took a while to come around and accept me. It was a hard time, but I had support"
Jeffrey on his clutter habits - "Only my best of friends know I am a hoarder. The stigma that is attached is just too much for me to face, it's embarrassing. Gay men are "supposed" to be tidy and organized, and I am far from."
Matthew: "I love being gay. Everyone knows I am gay. I feel like I have always been gay. Coming out was hard when I had to tell my folks and grandparents. Other than that everyone accepts me the way I am."
On his clutter habits - "I would rather have died than have let anyone into my home at it's worst. Being a clutterer is embarrassing and is holding me back in life. "
"Nadine" - a current Client of mine. Nadine filled her house to the brim with garbage. She feels like she will never find a partner who will deal with the mess. She disappointed a lot of people when she came out as being a lesbian. She does not want to let a soul know about the state of her home.
Nadine, Matt and Jeff are all college graduates and have terrific jobs. They all feared more about coming out about their clutter vs. coming out about being gay. They live in fear about what people think. Sound familiar?
Why is there such a stigma with cluttering? What makes the amount of stuff someone owns a justifiable cause to judge them? Since when did we get so mean to each other Collectors?
I encourage you all gay and straight alike to stand up with your shoulders back and let the world know you are disorganized. Come out of the closet today. Ask a friend, family member, hire a professional organizer, do what you need to do to make your space comfy for you. It's your time to shine Collectors, I know you can do it!
Rachel Seavey, Blogger
Professional Organizer & Extreme Cleaner
www.collectorcare.com
925-548-7750
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Thank you for being Collectors. Everyday my life is brightened because of you.
I wanted to write a poem about being thankful to my Clients so here goes. Feel free to chime in and add your own poem of thankfulness in our comments section!
Thank you for allowing us into your houses, Thank you for buying multiple blouses, Almost the same but each slightly different, Why buy one when you can have fifty? Still in the bag, with tags not removed, At the back of your closet under new shoes.
Expiration dates are merely a suggestion, Unless it's exploded it's fine for ingestion. Paperwork scattered on top of all surfaces, One simple twist tie with so many purposes. Thank you for always making me smile, Never forget you ARE worth the while.
Rachel Seavey, Professional Organizer & Extreme Cleaner
www.collectorcare.com
+collectorcare
#collectorCareCares
Hello Collectors! While writing my blog last month on Diogenes Syndrome I came across the story of the Grey Gardens featuring "Big Edie" and "Little Edie" Beale. It's a true story about high-society castaways keeping house in a dilapidated East Hampton mansion.
Of course, I could not wait to learn more about them! Why am I interested personally? I clean up homes like this for a living!
I began "trolling" the internet. I read all sorts of blogs, I ordered the
documentary about the Beale's "Grey Gardens" and watched it, ordered the
HBO movie "Grey Gardens", and watched it as well. I also have some video posts below of the musical. Like you Collectors, I like to do my
research.
I am now a fan of all things Grey Garden. It's a fascinating story about two women who lived together at Grey Gardens for decades with limited funds in increasing squalor and isolation. If you want to learn more about Grey Gardens read below.
Edith Ewing Bouvier Beale (1895–1977), known as "Big Edie", and her daughter Edith Bouvier
Do you expect Jackie to come? “I told her not to come here. I thought she’d upset my act.” - Little Eddie
Beale (1917–2002), known as "Little Edie", were the aunt and the first cousin, respectively, of former U.S. First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.
The house was designed in 1897 by Joseph Greenleaf Thorpe and purchased in 1923 by "Big Edie" and her husband Phelan Beale.
After Phelan left his wife, "Big Edie" and "Little Edie" lived there
for more than 50 years.
The house was called Grey Gardens because of the
color of the dunes, the cement garden walls, and the sea mist. Throughout the fall of 1971 and into 1972, their house was infested by fleas, inhabited by numerous cats
and raccoons, deprived of running water, and filled with garbage and
decay. The Beale's were exposed as the result of an article in the National Enquirer and a cover story in New York Magazine after a series of inspections (which the Beales called "raids") by the Suffolk County
Health Department. With the Beale women facing eviction and the razing
of their house, in the summer of 1972 Jacqueline Onassis and her sister Lee Radziwill provided the necessary funds to stabilize and repair the dilapidated house so that it would meet village codes.
“In all my life, including years reporting about slums from Washington
to Casablanca, I have never seen a house in such dreadful condition:
attics full of raccoons and their droppings, toilets stopped up, a
kitchen stove that had fallen into the cellar, a living room with
literally only half a floor, grounds so matted with devil’s walking
sticks and other thorns they were impenetrable, a large walled garden
which was so overgrown it could not even be seen. Over everything hung
the knee-buckling smell of cats and cat excrement. Whole rooms had been
abandoned when they filled-up with garbage, as the Beales moved to the
next room…’Big Edie’ had passed away, and ‘Little Edie’ was forced to
sell, but willing to sell to someone who would not tear the eyesore
down.” – Ben Bradlee
Grey Gardens, The Documentary
Albert and David Maysles became interested in their story and
received permission to film a documentary about the women, which was
released in 1976 to wide critical acclaim. Their direct cinema technique left the women to tell their own stories. (Courtesy of http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grey_Gardens)
Entertainment Weekly magazine ranks Grey Gardens as the #33 top cult film of all time.
Grey Gardens the Musical Grey Gardens is a musical with book by Doug Wright, music by Scott Frankel, and lyrics by Michael Korie, based on the 1975 documentary of the same title about the lives of Edith Ewing Bouvier Beale ("Big Edie") and her daughter Edith Bouvier Beale ("Little Edie") by Albert and David Maysles.
Set at Grey Gardens, the Bouviers' mansion in East Hampton,
New York, the musical tracks the progression of the two women's lives
from their original status as rich and socially polished aristocrats to
their eventual largely isolated existence in a home overrun by cats and
cited for repeated health code violations. However, its more central
purpose is to untangle the complicated dynamics of their dysfunctional
mother/daughter relationship. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grey_Gardens_%28musical%29)
Grey Gardens, The Movie (2009) It's hard to imagine a feature film that could improve upon the classic 1975 Hamptons-gothic documentary Grey Gardens, co-directed by Albert and David Maysles. Yet this Grey Gardens, directed by Michael Sucsy for HBO Films, captures not only the pathos and peculiarity of Edith Beale, mère et fille--aristocrats
who were aunt and cousin to former first lady Jacqueline Bouvier
Kennedy--but it provides something deeper and richer: the background
story of the glamorous Beale
ladies, and a glimpse at how they slid from
gay 1930s high society to sharing rotting living quarters with litters
of cats and raccoons.
This documentary/movie/musical is great for Collectors and non-collectors to watch. It might make you feel like you are not the only one. It might motivate you. It might make you more understanding if you are a non-collector.
Before I go, I will leave you with some fun quotes from the Beale's...
“One is a lone woman who hasn’t got much money and she’s fighting to get
the same thing she always wanted – recognition as a dancer, singer, and
entertaining artist. Here, I’m mother’s little helper, cleaning up
after the cats.” – Little Edie
"I love the smell [of Grey Gardens]. I thrive on it. It makes me feel good.” – Big Edie
“Oh, Mother thinks its artistic this way, like a Frank Lloyd Wright
house. Don’t you love the overgrown Louisiana Bayou look.” – Little Edie
“Two women can’t live together for twenty years without some jealousy.
Not that my voice is better than Mother’s, but she can’t dance.” - Little Edie
"But you see in dealing with me, the relatives didn't know that they were
dealing with a staunch character and I tell you if there's anything
worse than dealing with a staunch woman... S-T-A-U-N-C-H. There's
nothing worse, I'm telling you. They don't weaken, no matter what." - Little Edie
I could not have made this all possible without the amazing information I found on Grey Gardens Online! This good looking couple dedicates an entire site to the Beale's! Check them out to find out what ever happened to the home, and who is living there now.
Also, a special thank you to the KOMMA HEM website for such incredible photos and all the great research you have online about the Beale's.
Rachel Seavey Professional Organizer & Extreme Cleaner
Rachel Seavey, Blogger
Owner of Collector Care Organizers
925-548-7750 rachel@collectorcare.com
www.collectorcare.com +Collector Care
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Hello Collectors! I have been speaking for some time now on behalf of the Better Breathers Club of California, sponsored by the American Lung Association. I talk about clutter and dust and the complications it can cause with breathing and safety. I combine my knowledge on Chronic Disorganization and Hoarding in a presentation that engages and informs.
I love this Club! It offers all sorts of resources and information for Collectors and Non-Collectors. I wanted to give it a shout out, props, what have you and get the info out there to the public. If you are interested in learning more about your breathing problems and have meet others out there like you, then please think about joining.
More about BBC:
Better Breathers Clubs (BBC) are a core program and resource of the
American Lung Association in California. The purpose of the club is to
offer patient-centered and community-based educational opportunities and
support to persons with chronic lung disease (especially COPD, but also
asthma, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis [IPF], lung cancer, and other
chronic lung diseases). These support groups meet regularly to give
participants tips and techniques to help manage their disease.
For more information and to read the latest Better Breathers Club newsletter, click here.
To find a Better Breathers Club in your area, click on the locations below:
SACRAMENTO
What's up Collectors?! It's no secret I LOVE working with Hoarders. Last night at my chapter meeting \I was asked by peers, and it's a question I get asked a lot quite frankly.... Why do I LOVE working with folks who hoard?
The work conditions are dangerous, and sometimes hazardous. I work with people that are depressed, overwhelmed, and I work with a lot of people who have suffered trauma.
There is a bright side! Even the most extreme cases bring us stories of joy. There is a fighter within all of our Clients. A fire inside that needs to burn. When we help someone save their home, or repair a strain on a marriage or relationship due to clutter we help fuel that flame. We help remind them of a time when they were happy, and we help them get their lives back on track. I am honored to be invited in to share such a sacred time in their lives.
Here are 3 more reasons why I love working with Hoarding Disorder Clients:
They see a use for everything. A broken piece of ceramic on the floor to become a mosaic, saved hair from the bath drain for compost, that milk carton doubles as a flower pot and so on. Dear Collectors, Thank you for debating, arguing and literally showing me your points. I literally never would have known the many ways to use a bread twist tie. Your creativity is boundless. Thank you for being so resourceful.
They make it work. Whether they are teetering across five feet of garbage, or stacking hat boxes in a corner with magazines and important mail mixed in my Clients know how to make it work. Like skilled survivalists climbing over and under to get a drink of water. Sleeping on their beds with everything but the kitchen sink. Remarkable. The adaptability factor is intriguing.
They make me laugh. And laughing is good for the mind, body and soul. Even in the most severe cases, we are able to find humor in something. Even when there is pressure of eviction, divorce and family members launching attacks, we find ourselves laughing throughout the day. After going through the 50th large home depot box of mystery items, and the 3,000 garments in their closets you really get to know someone well. You tend to joke around by that time. We are all exhausted, emotions have run high, and it's always good to get a good laugh in. I love how the majority of my Clients see humor in their collections and situations.
As a side note Collectors, I LOVE going through your mystery boxes. Thank you for your time capsules, and random acts of organizing.
Until the next blog Collectors, thank you for stopping by.
Dust. Almost every home I go into has a lot of it. I have seen dust caked on every surface imaginable. We have been known to vacuum about 10 lbs of dust out of one home. A lot of Collectors that I personally work with have some sort of breathing problem and have to use some sort of breathing machine. I feel like a lot of it has to do with the dust in the home.
A window I recently opened - after over 10 years.
Clutter attracts dust. POOF like a bag of flour exploding, our dust rag hits the banister. Without a mask I feel it seep into my mouth, tongue, teeth and yes lungs. It's "chalk" like.
It is very important to open up windows before we dust, and we encourage everyone on the team to wear a N95 dust mask or a respirator. That includes our Client who is always on the team.
Below are three facts about dust that you might not know:
Dust consists of particles in the atmosphere that come from various sources such as soil, dust lifted by weather (an aeolian process), volcanic eruptions, and pollution. Dust in homes, offices, and other human environments contains small amounts of plant pollen, human and animal hairs, textile fibers, paper fibers, minerals from outdoor soil, human skin cells, burnt meteorite particles, and many other materials which may be found in the local environment.(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dust)
Collector Care Crew w/ Masks
Dust pneumonia is a medical condition that develops due to the excessive
exposure to dust. This form of respiratory disorder affected a great
number of people during 1930s in the US when the Dust bowl took place.
The Dust bowl refers to a period of dust storms that affected American
and Canadian prairies during a severe drought in1930s. The Dust Bowl
caused ecological damage, agricultural depression and consequently
economic and social disaster. Enormous amount of dust in the air caused
dust pneumonia in large portion of the population and many died.(http://m.steadyhealth.com)
Dust mites grow best at 75-80% relative humidity, and they cannot survive when the humidity is below 50%.
Dust mite populations peak during the hot, humid months of July and August. Depending on its age, your mattress may house between one million and ten million dust mites. Dust mites flourish in warm, humid environments.
Now that you know a little bit more about dust, I invite you to purchase some masks. Not in bulk my wonderful Hoarding Disorder Clients. Go online (we know you hate going out) and order yourself a few to have around when you are cleaning or sorting and kicking up dust. Make sure it has a particulate filter. Below are two examples of ones we like:
Rachel Seavey speaks regularly about dust and clutter during her presentations for the Better Breathers Club Ca. American Lung Association. She prides herself on providing full service organizing needs to her clients including dusting and detailed vacuuming using a HEPA filter high grade vacuum.
You have had a bad week, month, year, decade. We get it. We have been there. I won't go there on this blog, but let me tell you Collectors that most of our team members have been depressed at one point in their lives. It's easy to help when you can empathize.
Times stops, and all along you are acquiring and burying yourselves mentally and physically into the trenches. You have now emerged and have no idea where to begin. You are overwhelmed, embarrassed, shameful, resentful, angry, sad, and fearful. Just know that you are not alone.
"Even Helen Keller knows life stinks." - Marshall Mathers
Many of our Clients feel like you. Depression is absolutely a huge clutter factor. I can go into my office and pull all the statistics from the many books I collect on the subject. I can explain away until I am blue in the face. You will either get it or you wont. Instead of telling you all of the facts, I would like to provide you with some tips to help you on your journey with tackling clutter. I am not a doctor, I am not qualified to diagnose, or prescribe drugs (thank goodness!) Please seek professional help for your depression. These tips do not replace therapy, CBT, SSRI's etc. They are specifically geared to help you clear clutter while you are in a funk.
Open up your windows and doors and get some sunlight in. I know you are embarrassed, what will THOSE neighbors think? Who cares. Do it bright and early with sunrise if you are hesitant. I can't tell you how many times I walk into your homes and it's like a dark cave. You have towers of clutter, multiple methods of covering your windows and your doors might barely open. Just let a crack of sunshine in. Soak up that vitamin D. Like a cat, relish in it. It's really good for you and your home to have fresh air and sunlight. (Google Seasonal Affective Disorder.) UV rays kill germs (Google Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation).
Affirm. It's hard to be good to yourself at this moment. Look at yourself in one of your multiple dusty, cobweb encrusted mirrors and tell yourself you deserve a good life. Look yourself in the eye. Look into your own soul and say out loud "I deserve a great life". Every time you take out the trash, shred a letter, or clean the cat box - pat yourself on the back. Celebrate and affirm every step you take to creating that great life you deserve.
Ask for help. This is not easy. If you don't have supportive family or friends, I would suggest hiring a Professional Organizer. More specifically, hire an ICD trained Professional Organizer by going to the Institute for Challenging Disorganization website. You want someone who is insured, and specializes in Chronic Disorganization and/or Hoarding Disorder. Call and ask a lot of questions and take your time finding the right fit.
Know in your heart that you can make it. You are a survivor, and you can do it. You will come out of this heart wrenching state and you will come out strong.
The next time you feel like acquiring something to make yourself feel better, try doing the steps above instead. I know they are all hard to do, but they are manageable. Start with step one. It might take you a while to get to step two. Step three is the hardest, but once you meet that special helper, you will regret you had not reached out before.
Warm wishes and the best of luck to you Dear Collectors. I know you can do it!
Hey there Collectors! It's been about a month since I wrote my last blog, sorry about that! Even us organizers have to take time for ourselves. This month has been a tough one for my little Collector Care ... we have had 3 cases of hoarding with a thick frosting layer of squalor. Self care has been really important for us all, and sometimes that means not writing for a few weeks. But I am back, and chock full of ideas. Starting with this one, covering Diogenes Syndrome.
If you have a sensitive stomach, go to my previous blog it's all about Fall Fashion! If you are still here, you will learn about Diogenes Syndrome and 5 tips to help your family member who is suffering.
Diogenes syndrome definition: A rare condition where a person (usually an elderly person) fails to look after there personal cleanliness and hygiene. (rightdiagnoses.com)
The Broadway musical "Grey Gardens" -- headed for Tony nominations and a
Hollywood movie -- highlights the fall of socialite Edie Bouvier Beale
and her mother,
Edith, who lived in a squalid 28-room mansion among scores of
flea-infested cats and raccoons, and towers of dirty cans.
The syndrome was named for Diogenes, a Greek philosopher of the fourth
century B.C., who advanced the principles of self-sufficiency and
contentment unrelated to material possessions -- a misnomer -- given the
nature of the disorder, which causes people to hoard animals and
belongings.
Hoarding occurs in about 1 to 2 percent of the population, according to
Randy Frost, a psychology professor at Smith College who wrote "Buried Treasures," a self-help book for hoarders. About 10 percent of hoarders display the rarer Diogenes syndrome.
Those who live with the syndrome manifest personality traits like
reclusiveness, suspiciousness, obstinacy and other isolating tendencies.
There are often precipitating events -- such as physical illness,
deafness, blindness and bereavement -- that make the syndrome worse.
Research shows a relationship between the syndrome and anxiety and
depression, and anecdotal studies suggest the disorder may be triggered
by a significant emotional or relationship loss, said Frost. (Susan Donaldson James, ABC NEWS)
So beyond running from the sight and smell, what can you do to help your family member that is suffering? Here are five super honest tips from professionals who care.
Hire a cleanup company that is licensed to handle biohazards. Have them clean and disinfect the home from top to bottom. From the cobwebs draping the ceilings, to the clumped feces on the floor it - it all has to be eliminated. Have them remove all soiled furniture, bedding, clothing, area rugs, etc. Anything contaminated needs to be bagged and tagged. Cover in plastic and dispose of properly. Start new.
Buy disposable adult undergarments. These can be found at any grocery or pharmacy. Order them online. Wrap in a plastic grocery bag and toss.
Plastic. Buy a plastic mattress cover, and plastic sheets. Toss when soiled. Put plastic tarps down securely under the bed, and sofa. This reduces to damage to the floor and structure, and makes it easier to clean or dispose of. Cut around the the edges of bed and dispose when soiled. Make sure they are secure and covered with another rug so that your loved one does not slip.
Buy a shower chair. Have your loved one sit down while showering if they cannot stand. Your loved one needs to bathe, and sometimes it's too hard physically. Make this as easy as possible.
Put a large garbage can in every room. It's hard for your loved one to dispose of their garbage so make it easy on them. At this point aesthetics are irrelevant.
If you or your loved one can afford medical and psychiatric care, assisted living, or around the clock care, those would be my first suggestions. Above are all self help tips and tips for family members and loved ones for those suffering with Diogenes Syndrome.
Collector Care Professional Organizers are equipped to handle any job, big or small. We put a lot of pride and effort into our work, and most importantly we CARE.
Do you need help cleaning up a squalid situation? Not sure where to go or who to call? Look no further! Collector Care Professional Organizers www.collectorcare.com +Collector Care
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What's HOT for Fall Consignment in the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles and NY?! Crossroads Trading Co. Knows! See below to see if your items are worth consigning at their many locations!
What's HOT for Fall Consignment
Do you have items on this list above that you would like to get paid for? While I encourage the majority of the "stuff" I encounter to be donated to a non-profit, some of you just have to have that category "consignment. I get it! I consign. Every now and then. I know my limits. I have experience.
So here is the dealio: You bring a bag of your stuff in, and they go through it while you wait. You can also drop off and pick up your stuff a few days later. Then they make you a cash or credit offer on the spot. Money in hand is not a bad thing! They do offer to "consign" the higher end stuff, which means you don't get paid until it sells. I have not tried this option, as I prefer the most instant gratification.
I will warn you, the majority of your stuff will get sent back home with you. I have seen people with 10 bags only be able to sell two garments. Its a shocker. Be prepared to donate a lot.Otherwise you will be stuck with all of that clothes again.
They do have a mail in option now! I have not tried it, but if you have, please share your comments on this blog. If you know of any other easy to use consignment shops, please let us know here too.
Yes Collectors, I will take your consignment in for you and wait. Calculate my rate times how long it might take to complete this task. Last time I waited over an hour for them to look through my stuff. There were 10 people ahead of me. So ... unless you are trying to consign some Louis Vuitton Bags you probably wont profit from me consigning your stuff this way. However, my Dear Collectors, I will help you sort through what you want to consign, and you will do the rest.
Sound good? Call me. 925-548-7750
Hello Collectors! Thank you for stopping by. I am honored to be featured in this book with my favorite organizing peers from all over the country. Everyone in this book is passionate, and successful, with a unique story to tell. It is a collaborative book about what we all did before we were Professional Organizers. In this book you will find fascinating stories and a bit of inspiration.
Want to know more about me and what I did before I organized? I am always asked "Have you always been organized?" and "what made you start organizing?" -
Find out the juicy details of my life before organizing by ordering this book below!
If clutter isn't overwhelming enough, what happens when you add chronic pain to your daily life?
The dishes and vacuuming actually used to get done until your pain started, and now, just the thought of getting up to do those things hurts. You have doused yourself in medications either pharmaceutical or homeopathic and you are now exhausted or loopy. I have witnessed it many times myself. While helping Clients declutter, I often get to know their internal pain as well as their external pain. I have Clients with RA, MS, Lupis, back problems, neck issues, hand troubles, etc. We start off fine, and then before you know it they are in pain. I hear pill bottles rattling, hot patches opening, and braces break out of bags to be put around wrists, knees, or ankles.
Depression often sets in after the person realizes they can no longer care for themselves, which now means their heart is in pain too. So what can you do to pull yourself out of that funk? How can you actually get your home back again? Here is are 5 tips that I give my Clients when their chronic pain gets them down.
Good Housekeeping is not coming tomorrow. Your home does not have to be Better Homes and Gardens, not many homes are. Be happy with good enough. Striving for perfectionism is only making things harder, and the expectations on yourself are much too high.
Delegate. Let go of that pride and let someone help you. Family, friends, people from the church, folks from work, pay someone, whoever. Let someone in to help you pick up. Living in embarrassment and shame is just as unhealthy as the clutter piling up. Who cares what people think. You are in pain, and you need help.
Slow and steady wins the race. Get a grabber online and pick things up from the floor and put them into a small wastebasket. Carry the small waste basket out. Take baby steps. Don't do all of the dishes, just do some. Work for 15 minutes at a time cleaning up. Do what you can but do not over exert yourself. Once that spot is clean do not clutter it up again.
Simplify. The less you have to take care of the less you have to take care of :) Cut down your dusting and vacuuming by donating some of those dust collecting items to someone else. A charity, a friend, a neighbor, whoever, just keep what you can care for. It just is another thing to
take care of. Let go of items that you
don't need and especially don't want anymore. Give your chronic pain a
break by not over committing yourself to extra dusting, filing and
washing do to excess papers, nick nacks, clothing etc.
Beauty. You are beautiful. Don't forget who you are, you were born naked and free. You are not what you own. What you own does not make you a better or worse person. Be yourself. Accept yourself, chronic pain and all, and embrace the beauty in living.
Do you live in Northern California? Need help getting organized and your home cleaned? Hire a Collector Care Professional Organizer Today! www.collectorcare.com 925-548-7750
#collectorCareCares
Essentially Organized – Aromatherapy and Decluttering
Aromatherapy is strongly associated
with healing. We go to the spa and part of the experience along with
the actual treatment, is the aromatherapy. Your body is letting go of
toxins, and the invigorating smells are assisting. In my opinion,
decluttering is a form of healing. You are letting go of items that
hold energy in your space and heart. Some of them are emotionally
toxic, you may feel overwhelmed when you see them, you may begin
revisiting failures of the past. It's very hard to let things go. I
love helping people release the energy of these items. So why not
have aromatherapy as part of a decluttering session?
For a while now, I have personally used
raw Amber to help me feel grounded during emotional Client sessions.
A dab on my wrists, behind the ears and on the heart. I get a lot of
compliments on the smell, even from people who are “scent-sitive”.
I am always on the lookout for essential oils and
lotions, and just
recently found some that I like a lot. I like these oils so much, I
had a custom batch made up just to help my Clients during their
sessions. This proprietary blend contains properties that assist in
the emotional letting go of things while helping you stay energized
during the process. Hence the name, “Letting Go”. Please feel
free to indulge if you have a session scheduled with me. It is
complimentary.
If you are not on the calendar feel
free to order:
(1) 4oz Roll On Vial of "Letting Go" $13.50 (s+h included) Email: rachel@collectorcare.com
Interested in other oils? Check out our doTerra Website vendor here:
Aromatherapy can be defined as the art
and science of utilizing naturally extracted aromatic essences from
plants to balance, harmonize and promote the health of body, mind and
spirit. It is an art and science that seeks to explore the
physiological, psychological and spiritual realm of the individual's
response to aromatic extracts as well as to observe and enhance the
individual's innate healing process. (Source: National Association of
Holistic Aromatherapy www.naha.org.
)
Collector Care Professional Organizers 925-548-7750
www.collectorcare.com +Collector Care
#collectorCareCares
Hello Collectors! Is your jewelry all over the place? Is it on surfaces, in boxes, mixed in with paper? Maybe its just crammed into a jewelry box, out of sight out of mind. Whatever the case is, if you need help organizing your jewelry, keep reading.
Get it together. Corral your jewelry and get it all together. Go room by room, collecting your jewelry and put it all on top of one table or bed so that you can see what you have. If you are working with Hoarding Disorder or Chronic Disorganization, step one might be the hardest. I invite you to hire a Professional Organizer trained in valuable recovery. We find gold, diamonds, gems, and costume jewelry in the most random places, on a daily basis.
Care. Untangle necklaces, reunite earring pairs, polish silver, use jewelry cleaner and take care of all of your jewelry. If you see a piece that no longer suits or serves you, donate it. If you find a piece that has no hope, toss it. Turn in bulk gold for cash if it has accumulated. Only keep the amount of jewelry that you can personally care for.
Organize. Find the perfect home for all of your jewelry and put it neatly away. This can be a jewelry box, hooks on the wall, Tupperware containers, etc.
I personally use the "Little Black Dress" by Umbra.
I love how you can easily find what you need through the clear pockets.
I store it in my closet on it's hanger, protected from dust and from
being lost. (Photo above).
Certified? Keep your "Certificates of Authenticity" together in a file in your filing cabinet.
Do you have a lot of empty boxes that your jewelry came in? The cardboard ones with the fluff inside can be recycled. Only keep boxes that you can reuse.
Now that you have all of your jewelry together, cleaned & organized the last thing you need to do is sport it! Enjoy your bling Collectors. You paid for it, you should enjoy it!
Hi Collectors! Has it been a while since you dusted? Do you have pets dropping fur and dander in your home? Has the clutter made it hard for you to clean? If so, my guess is that you have problems breathing in your home.
FACT: A large portion of our Clients have breathing machines. That combined with the amount of dust that we encounter inspired me to write this post.
Open up the windows. Get over the fear about what people think dear Collectors and please open up your windows. It's okay to let the fresh air in at night when no one can see ...
Vacuum. Use a vacuum as often as possible. Use the extensions. Use a hand vacuum in your narrow pathway. Remember to empty the dust bin / bag regularly. If you are physically unable to vacuum, ask someone to help, hire a house cleaner, just get it done. Your health is more important than what people think.
Clean your kitchen and bathroom often. Mold can occur when there is a lot of clutter blocking walls and/or damp areas. By keeping these spaces clean and sanitized you reduce the chance of being exposed to harmful spores and bacteria.
What are your tips to help you breathe better at home? Feel free to post them here. Happy Breathing Collectors!
For Professional Organizing and cleaning help visit www.collectorcare.com or call 925-548-7750.
#collectorCareCares
Hello Collectors! You are on your way to being organized. You have pulled everything out of the cabinet, wiped it down, and purged what you don't need or use. What goes back in that cabinet? As a matter of fact - what goes where?! I get asked that question a lot. I get calls on my cell phone and a good share of emails. What should go in the hall closet now that it's all been cleaned out? What goes under the sink in the bathroom?
Below I have created a guide to "What Belongs Where" - I hope you find it useful! WHAT GOES WHERE? Download this free organizing printable today!
Need help going through those boxes? We LOVE going through boxes, bags, mystery bags, junk drawers, under the bed and everywhere else. Let us do all the heavy lifting, cleaning, hauling and organizing.We provide non-judgemental discreet help for anyone overwhelmed with clutter. We offer realistic timelines and maintenance plans. Licensed. Bonded. Insured.
Hello Collectors! I come across Collectors of all sorts everyday. People collect Barbie, Lladro, sports cards, figurines, watches, toe nail clippings, used q-tips - the list is long!
This blog is discussing monetary value - and what people hang on to the most to make money. Everything on this list is worth money. But, are they really worth what you think? Is it worth storing, and keeping these items because they could one day make you some money?
Below is our opinion and some web research on this topic. We see so many Collectors hanging on to items they think might be worth something possibly one day maybe.
The 10 Most Popular Things Collectors Save To Sell Are:
Recyclables. Mounds of them, bags of them, crates of them, they are stacked everywhere. Cash them in, otherwise they are worth nothing.Check your local recycling center to see what they
accept, and how they accept it (whole cans vs crushed, etc). Ask a friend to help you if the load is large.
China. One person only needs so many dishes. Sell them on e-bay, give them to a family member or friend, or donate them. Besides the obvious sites like eBay and Amazon
to sell
your fine china dinnerware, try advertising on Craigslist and local and
national newspapers. Garage and estate sales are other avenues to
pursue for the sale of the dinnerware. Another idea is the utilization
of consignment shops. These shops will sell your dinnerware for a small
percentage profit and usually have a good amount of weekly traffic. This
helps to ensure the likely hood of an eventual sale.(courtesy of Ask.com).
Baseball Cards. I too collected these as a child! Late 1980s and early 1990s baseball cards simply aren’t worth much.
Most of them are barely worth the cardboard they’re printed on, sadly
enough. Complete sets, particularly from 1986 to 1993, are worth only
small amounts (excepting some of the premium sets from late in that year
range), usually less than $40. I had five complete 1988 Topps sets and
seven more complete sets from this time frame and only the 1989 Upper
Deck set was worth significant money. (http://www.thesimpledollar.com/dealing-with-those-piles-of-old-baseball-cards-in-your-closet/)
Comic Books. Thousands and thousands have crossed our paths (literally)! Frank Santoro, a columnist for the Comics Journal and an avid
collector himself, has noticed the same trend. “More and more of these
types of collections are showing up for sale,” he says. “And they’re
becoming more and more devalued. The prices are dropping.” He recently
had to break the bad news to a friend’s uncle, who was convinced his
comic collection—about 3,000 books—was worth at least $23,000. “I told
him it was probably more like $500,” Santoro says. “And a comic book
store would probably only offer him $200.” (Courtesy of businessweek.com).
Old Newspapers (specific events). What you think is an important event might not be so important to everyone else. The age of the newspaper has very little to do directly with the
value. As you will see in reading this file, it is possible to purchase
an authentic American newspaper from the 1790's for as little as $25, or
an original late 1600's British newspaper for under $25, while an
original December 7, 1941 Honolulu Star-Bulletin sells for from $200 to
as much as $700 (beware as most of these editions found are old reprints
with little or no collector value). In most cases, the value of the
newspaper is greatly affected by what the news is on the front page.
Usually, those papers having front page
coverage
of major events in American or world history command the highest
prices. Basically, the more important to history, the higher the value.(courtesy of historybuff.com)
Old Clothing/purses/shoes. That Prada bag is not worth anything if the leather is torn, or the strap is tethered. Any high end consignment shop will have you pay out of pocket to have your items cleaned and repaired before they will accept them. What you cannot sell online, donate to charity and take the write off.
Vinyl Records. People love to save old records. They don't even have a record player. Those records are worth ZERO (zilch, nada) collecting dust. Sell them to a used record store or donate them. Here are some tips on how to sell your old records.
Antiques. Everyone loves antiques! If you are not using your piece, or displaying it, it's time to trade it in or sell it. There are so many venues to do this! But first, make sure your Antiques are real. Antiques.about.com says "There are tricksters out in the world who will soak linens
in tea to make them look aged or beat a piece of furniture with a chain
to make it look worn and weathered. There's nothing wrong with buying
these items when you know what you're getting, but realizing that not
every dealer on the planet is an honest fellow makes sense, too."
Barbie Dolls. I <3 Barbie! Lot's of gals old and young collect them. See how much your Barbie is worth here. Limbless Barbie, Grease-Stained Barbie, Chopped-Hair Barbie and that Ken doll with multiple dog bites - are not worth anything. Sort through your Collection and only keep what is in mint condition.
Beanie Babies. These soft little guys are everywhere. I have seen thousands of them still in packages with hopes to be someones retirement fund. I have collected hundreds of them for donations, and seen a handful of these little guys at the landfill (RIP). What is your Beanie Baby Collection worth? "Beanies that sold for hundreds or even thousands of dollars on the secondary
market between 1994 and 1998 barely fetch ten cents on those dollars in today's
aftermarket." (http://www.tycollector.com/values.htm)
Stamp Collections are also popular.
For the sake of making space in your home, and earning a few bucks - go through your Collections, Collectors! Sell what makes money, donate what you don't need, and display what you love.
Do you need help going through your collection? Would you like someone trained, caring and responsible helping you making those important decisions about your stuff?
Hire a Professional Organizer to help you go through your Collection:
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