What Belongs Where? Free Organizing Printable.

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.

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Collector Care Interviews: Dr. Melva aka Doc Lashes aka Mystic Mama

Collector Care Interviews:

Rachel Seavey and Doctor Melva Talk About Single Parenting

I first came across Dr. Melva on the A&E hit series Hoarders where myself and all of her fans came to know her as "Doc Lashes". I began following her on social media sites, and really enjoyed her posts. I noticed a lot of them centered around her being alone with her son. I wondered if she were a single mom like myself. Her messages were so powerful at a time when I felt like hiding under a rock. Was it possible that a single working mother be happy and successful?
She gave me hope throughout this last year with her inspirational quotes and funny stories about her son. I wanted to know more about Doctor Melva! I was thrilled when I got the chance to meet her and do a quick interview on a whim. We got to the bottom of some of my personal pain, and I am so grateful to be able to share. Here we are below taking a pic after chopping it up.

Rachel: Is it hard for you to be a single mom? Do you miss your son when he is at his Dad’s?
 

Dr. Melva: I feel like I can’t claim the complete single mom role because my son has a wonderful Dad. It’s because I have made it a point to have such a healthy and whole relationship with his father – I don’t feel alone. We don’t make any decisions independently as it relates to him (large decisions). Even though we differ on certain ideals about what he needs or what he should have, we have a respect for each other.

My son has been gone with his Dad for weeks at times, and yes I miss him, but I value the time he spends with his father. It is something that is really important to all of us.

Dr. Melva: Are you having a hard time letting your son go?
 

Rachel: Yes I am having a very hard time. I don’t even know who I am without him. I fill the time keeping busy so that I don’t have to think about it. I wish that I could just naturally be happy about the situation but it makes me very sad.
 

Dr. Melva: Rachel is it that you miss the relationship with the three of you?  The reason I ask that is because one of the things that people underestimate the most is grief. It’s the things we do to set a pause on grief. Ill be the first to tell you I did not grieve the loss of our relationship until recently - like this year (I am a very straight person). It was five years ago that we split, I did not even think about grieving. We are great co-parents. When I drove cross country and stopped in Nashville (where we had met in medical school) I texted my sons father sitting from our favorite restaurant. I said "I am crying and the tears are pouring, and I feel like I am missing the dream of what we were once". Then I went past the restaurant, past where our son was born and the medical school and cried my eyes out, I was on the interstate crying, I realized I was finishing the grief process that I never finished before. And not so much that I wanted him back – there had been a dream. We were the perfect three piece set, and it was crushed. And I never grieved.

Rachel: I am missing the dream. Who doesn't dream of having the perfect life (whatever that may be), when it is crushed, it is hard to cope. It's hard to identify the root of the pain when so much hardship is going on around you. I am so happy to hear this perspective. Thank you  for letting me interview you. I will continue to work on accepting grieving the broken dream.

Please stay tuned for our next blog on Dr. Melva being so open about expressing her nontraditional western beliefs and which sorceress I remind her of.

Rachel Seavey, Professional Organizer At Collector Care

Collector Care serves the San Francisco Bay Area. We specialize in hoarding disorder, chronic disorganization and helping the overwhelmed with clutter. We love what we do, and provide realistic expectations and timelines. Don't suffer in chaos any longer. Every breath is a new beginning!
Please visit our website at
www.collectorcare.com or call 925-548-7750
Tweet us on Twitter : Like our Facebook page : Find us on Pinterest

Manja the hamster needs to get organized! She needs Collector Care Professional Organizers!

Even this tiny little hamster knows who to call when she needs her home or office organized!

Collector Care Professional Organizers Serving the Bay Area! Call us today and make that step to get organized. We love paper, overflowing closets, hoarding, and helping!
More Services:
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Storage Units
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Check us out at www.collectorcare.com
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Collector Care Interviews "Hoarders" Songwriter Christian Nelson

Seattle cutie Christian Nelson

While surfing the internet I came across this funny little ditty called "Hoarders". Folks you have got to listen to this song! I purchased it, and began listening to it on my iphone in the car. The lyrics were so clever that I had to chuckle out loud.
If you are a clutterer you will appreciate this song. If you are an organizer you will appreciate this song. If you have a sense of humor - you will like this song! I couldn't help but to reach out and ask for an interview. I was pleasantly surprised to connect with Christian Nelson, songwriter and aspiring educator, composer and producer of this song.

Rachel: What was your inspiration for the song "Hoarders"?

Christian: Like many people, there are areas of my life in which I exhibit mild hoarding behavior. For example, the back seat and trunk of my car are littered with library materials: books, CDs and DVDs. If I didn't pay at least $10 in late fees each month, I wouldn't feel I was doing my part to support this worthy cause. Though it would be even better if I occasionally read some of the books I check out. I also tend to accumulate piles of magazines and newspapers, especially the local sections, as they have all the good stuff: relevant news, comics, puzzles and Ask Amy…er…rather, the horoscopes. (Does that sound manlier?)

Hence the following line from my song “Hoarders”:

You never know when you might
Need last year's newspapers

That said, my primary inspiration was the A&E reality television series, Hoarders. The first two or three episodes left such an indelible impression on me that the following lines flowed forth with great ease:

I’ve got 10 lifetimes’ worth of supplies
Rotten pumpkins, carrots, lettuce and rice
Kitty litter, rotting meat and some sludge I can’t identify

Rachel: What are your favorite lyrics from the song and why?
Christian:There's something subtly humorous and poignant about the line
Comfort is hard to come by
You've got to save it for later
I think these lyrics most succinctly encapsulate the spirit of the song.
 

Rachel: What type of thought went into the lyrics? How did you gather the information?

Christian: My primary consideration was to capture the absurdity of many extreme hoarding situations, while still being respectful. That said, I couldn’t resist using one of the more amusing sound bites for the song’s intro: https://soundcloud.com/brokenbyclouds/broken-by-clouds-hoarders

Perhaps the song’s greatest shortcoming (aside from shoddy production value) is its presumption that hoarding fills some sort of emotional void. In hindsight, I’m not sure this is an entirely accurate conclusion. I’d be interested to hear what you and/or your readers think of that.

Rachel: What went into making the graphic for the song?
Is that food really spoiled?

Slightly aged tangelo

Christian: The food in question is a slightly aged tangelo. I use the present tense because I still have it, all these months later. You should see it now! (Just kidding.)

It was pretty simple, really. I used one of those fancy Ziplock bags you can write on (after cutting away the Ziplock logo, since they didn’t return my calls about sponsoring my music project ~ harrumph!) and took a picture of it in front of a slightly messy fridge. It’s not really as bad as it looks, I swear!

Rachel: Do you watch any of the reality hoarding shows?
Which one?  

Christian: Only the aforementioned A&E series.

Rachel: Who is your ideal listener?

Christian: Anyone with money and influence! No, no, no…I like to think my music rewards the careful listener, as I only write songs when I have something compelling to say. And/or when I feel compelled to say something. Not always the same thing, to be sure. However, I definitely endeavor to avoid trite sentiments. My songs also tend to “go somewhere”, if you will, via fluctuating musical and lyrical dynamics.

Lastly, the inveterate critic within wishes to add that “Hoarders” was the first song I recorded on my own, using GarageBand software. Fitting, in that my incompetence necessitated throwing everything and the kitchen sink into this “Wall of Filth” demo. One can see the progress I’ve made by listening to the much more streamlined “The Universe Loves Me”. https://soundcloud.com/brokenbyclouds/the-universe-loves-me

Christian Nelson is a songwriter and aspiring educator born and raised in the vicinity of Seattle, Washington. His solo recording project is called Broken by Clouds. He currently works at a teen emergency shelter, as well as a K-5 after-school program. 

“Like” Broken by Clouds on Facebook, to keep up to date on new songs and upcoming performances: https://www.facebook.com/BrokenByClouds 

Purchase Broken by Clouds’ first full-length compilation, Infinite Mortality, for $4.99: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/brokenbyclouds5

Rachel Seavey, Professional Organizer
I am located in Pleasanton Ca, and serve the San Francisco Bay Area.
I specialize in Hoarding Disorder, Chronic Disorganization and helping the overwhelmed with clutter. I love what I do, and I provide realistic expectations and timelines. Don't suffer in chaos any  more. Every breath is a new beginning! Please visit my site at www.collectorcare.com
Tweet me on Twitter : Like my Facebook page : Find me on Pinterest

Dr. Kathleen Crombie - Buried In Treasures Workshop 2013

Is clutter getting in the way of how you want to live your life? 

 Are you feeling overwhelmed with too many possessions?  

Are you embarrassed to have people over?

 Sign up today for a "Buried in Treasures" Workshop in San Francisco Bay Area 

When and Where

Tuesdays from 7:30 PM to 8:30 PM PST starting February 5, 2013 for 15 weeks
286 Santa Clara Ave                                         Oakland, CA 94610
OR
Thursdays from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM PST starting February 7, 2013 for 15 weeks       
700 Ygnacio Valley Blvd., Suite 320         Walnut Creek, CA 94596
Add to Calendar

Contact

Kathleen Crombie, M.A., M.Ed. Counselor & Professional Organizer
Summit Center
510-390-8187
kathleencrombie@summitcenter.us

Many people struggle with clutter. The causes of excess clutter are unique to each person and common among bright, creative people. We are excited to offer a low cost and proven method to learn skills to gain back the control you crave.  Based on the book "Buried in Treasures" the 15 week workshop presents step-by-step, practical solutions to improve your relationship with stuff.  Join us for this unique action-oriented workshop based on proven cognitive-behavioral techniques.  Each week there will be homework of readings and exercises to complete along with setting reasonable goals.  A maintenance group will be offered at the conclusion for all participants.  The workshop is limited to 10 participants at each site. 
Chose the location or day that works for you and make the commitment to change today!  The "Buried in Treasures" workshop will be held:

• Tuesdays from 7:30-8:30 pm starting February 5 Grand-Lake district of Oakland, CA 
• Thursdays, 6:00-7:00 pm starting February 7 in Walnut Creek, CA

The fee is less than $40 per meeting if you take advantage of the early registration fee. Payment must be made for the entire 15 weeks to secure a spot in the workshop.   BONUS:  Included in the fee for all early registrants is a copy of the required book "Buried in Treasures: Help for Compulsive Acquiring, Saving, and Hoarding" by David F. Tolin, Randy O. Frost and Gail Steketee. 

 Make this the year you create a more organized, functional home!

Register Now!

About Kathleen Crombie

With over 18 years of mental health counseling experience and 4 years as a professional organizer, Kathleen brings a unique blend of skills and compassion to help with clutter issues. She is an experienced group facilitator with a focus on practical solutions. Kathleen is also an active member of the San Francisco Mental Health Hoarding Task Force, a member of American Psychological Association, California Association for the Gifted, Institute of Challenging Disorganization and National Association for Professional Organizers.

Download Flyer Above

Rachel Seavey, Professional Organizer
I am located in Pleasanton Ca, and serve the San Francisco Bay Area.
I specialize in Hoarding Disorder, Chronic Disorganization and helping the overwhelmed with clutter. I love what I do, and I provide realistic expectations and timelines. Don't suffer in chaos any  more. Every breath is a new beginning! Please visit my site at www.collectorcare.com
Tweet me on Twitter : Like my Facebook page : Find me on Pinterest

Collector Care Book Review: Digging Out By Dr. Michael Tompkins

Purchase On Amazon

In Digging Out, you will find a complete guide to helping your loved one with a hoarding problem live safely and comfortably in his or her home or apartment. Included are realistic harm reduction strategies that you can use to help your loved one manage health and safety hazards, avoid eviction, and motivate him or her to make long-term lifestyle changes. You'll learn how to handle a mate or spouse with a hoarding problem, identify and work through special considerations that may arise when the person who hoards is frail and elderly, and receive guidance for healing strained relationships between people who hoard and their friends and family. Take heart. With this book as a guide, you can help your loved one live more comfortably and safely, salvage your damaged relationship, and restore your peace of mind.

Five  reasons why you should read this book

1. "The goal is pragmatic: to manage the hoarding problem over time so that your loved one can live safely and comfortably at home." Page 10.
2. Chapter 2 : Harm Reduction. "An alternative approach to the problem of compulsive hoarding that recognizes the realities of the condition while offering hope to you and your loved one".
3. "Assessing Insight and Motivation". Page 83. Gently assess your loved ones condition with handy lists provide inside the book such as this one.
4. "Checklist: Preparing to Clear Target Areas". Page 130. This is a great way to begin a large project, you might even want to copy this page and keep it handy for everyone working. 
5. Chapter 10 : "When the Landlord Knocks and Other Terrors". This book does an amazing job of providing solutions and resources that will really help your loved one.

Rachel Seavey, Professional Organizer
I am located in Pleasanton Ca, and serve the San Francisco Bay Area.
I specialize in Hoarding Disorder, Chronic Disorganization and helping the overwhelmed with clutter. I love what I do, and I provide realistic expectations and timelines. Don't suffer in chaos any  more. Every breath is a new beginning! Please visit my site at www.collectorcare.com
Tweet me on Twitter : Like my Facebook page : Find me on Pinterest

Collector Care Interviews A&E's "Hoarders" Experts: Geralin Thomas and Cory Chalmers

Collector Care's Rachel Seavey Interviews Emmy-Nominated A&E's Hoarders Experts: Geralin Thomas and Cory Chalmers

I am thrilled to have the opportunity to interview A&E's Emmy Award Nominated Show "Hoarders" Specialist's Geralin Thomas  and Cory Chalmers  before they arrive at the 7th annual NAPO Organizing Awards in Los Angeles CA. 

If you watch A&E's  "Hoarders" show often, these two have very unique and effective styles.

Geralin Thomas, often labeled “Steel Magnolia” by viewers, comes across with a gently lady-like manner and grace. Dr. David Tolin has called her, “Our Lady of Perpetual Patience” which she demonstrates on the show time and time again.
I am honored to ask her some personal questions.

Cory Chalmers looks like he should be in a Lands End Catalog (right ladies)!
Besides being easy on the eye, Cory conveys our thoughts, to the client with kindness and class. He truly cares about everyone around him, and he is absolutely awesome for allowing me to ask him personal questions. 

With no further delay, let’s get this interview started!

Rachel:  How many hours a night do you typically sleep?

Geralin:  Typically I sleep about six hours per night; I'm most definitely a morning person and can barely function after 11 pm however, if you need something at 6 am, I'm your go-to gal!  I'll be wide-awake and fully-functional.

Cory: Well, this varies quite a lot due to our business phones. Since we are one of the largest biohazard companies in California, we have a lot of calls for immediate service to clean crime scenes, suicides, and other bad things that happen throughout the day and night. I would be perfectly happy getting 5 to 6 hours of sleep at night, but whenever that phone rings it usually cuts at least 2 hours out of my sleep. After I receive the call, I have to dispatch a couple of my techs, then when they get on scene they call me to give an estimate on the job based off their description. I typically get a couple of calls throughout the cleanup as well from my techs with questions or concerns so just one job after hours can totally screw up my sleep.  

Rachel:  If you've got five minutes to organize something, what's it going to be?

Rachel Seavey and Cory Chalmers

Cory: My short organizing spurts are usually spent in my closet. That is the one place that can get disorganized quickly and I can't stand it so I am constantly doing small regular maintenance type work in there just to keep it nice and organized.

Geralin:  The fridge!  I start in the upper left, make my way across left to right, top to bottom - like reading a book.  I'm also pretty enthusiastic about organizing my own pantry too.  I it's rewarding, or therapeutic, or whatever to have the fridge and pantry in bristol condition.

Rachel Seavey and Geralin Thomas

Rachel: Name one "go to" fast-food that you depend on when home.

Geralin:  It's gotta be cous-cous! It cooks in five minutes, it's inexpensive, plus it's very healthy.
I always have it in my pantry and it goes well with everything.

Cory: Cereal! I will always eat a bowl of cereal when I don't want to have to cook. It is just too easy. Plus, having a 9 year old at home, his cereal is like desert. I mean small little chocolate chip cookies, Lucky Charms, Captain Crunch? While not the best for me, it is pretty delicious :)

Rachel:  The best thing at the end of a long, hard day after working in a hoarded house?

Cory:  Ok, this is not a canned answer I promise but for me, it is the appreciation from the customer that makes it all worth it. When you can turn total chaos into a comfortable, functional, safe place for them to live, there is no better feeling. After that, an ice cold beer is great too!

Geralin:  Getting into a nice, fresh, clean, comfy bed after a long, hot shower; even better if there's a bar of scented soap and conditioning shampoo. 

Rachel:   What is the worst thing about a Hoarders shoot?

Geralin:  Airports without free wifi!  It drives me crazy when airports want to charge passengers to use wifi? And typically huge airports tend to charge while smaller airports offer it for free. Now, about the shoot itself, I'd have to say the s-l-o-w pace of filming.  There are a zillion interruptions. Background noise is unacceptable which means there's a lot of stopping and restarting due to a dog barking down the street or an airplane flying overhead. Of course this can't be controlled, but, it's frustrating.

Cory:  This is an easy one...the starting and the stopping. I am wired to work and get the job done. On a typical hoarders shoot, the producers tell us to stop working at least 70 times throughout 3 to 4 days. Just when you start to make a little progress, you have to stop because they have to interview someone, film something in the next room and need it quiet, or a number of other reasons. It is really difficult in the short time we are there to get the job done, but with the constant stopping of all work, it honestly makes it so much more difficult.

Rachel:  Well, I asked you about the worst thing, now I want to know about the best thing. What do you like best about traveling and working on the show?

Cory: There are a few things I like about Hoarders shoots. First, I know we are helping (or attempting to) someone that has been very resistant in the past and probably would not be getting help otherwise.   The very best part for me on a  shoot is when you are watching the last 2 minutes and we open the door and show them their new home. The look on their face, as well as their family and friends, is priceless!

Geralin:  Both before and after the shoots - hanging out with the organizers.  I've had a lot of great, memorable evenings with organizers. I've gone to dinner, to their homes, to their offices and often I'm invited to see the local scenery, through their eyes.  The POs have been exceptionally hospitable and I've made a lot of new friends all over the country.  In addition, I enjoy knowing that we have helped change a few lives.  There are a few people with hoarding disorders that have continued working with therapists, organizers and aftercare providers. They've made slow, steady progress and continue managing and maintaining a healthier, happier life.


Rachel:  Name at least one show on TV you are absolutely hooked on and watch regularly.

Geralin:  Downton Abbey on PBS.  I love historical fiction and everything about this show is a feast for the senses. The music makes me swoon, the landscaping is luscious, the costumes are beautiful, the decor of the house is amazing.  It's total escapism.  Other than that, I love documentaries so that's typically what I watch on my computer in the hotel rooms. 

Cory:  I can't name just one! My two favorites are Sons of Anarchy and Suits. Totally different shows from one another but they both have me addicted!

So there you have it folks! Fresh from the specialist’s mouth to my blog.

If you haven’t voted for  Nominees Geralin Thomas or Cory Chalmers (or any of your other favorite organizers) please go to the NAPO website and cast your vote!

I am excited to be attending the event and plan on keeping you all posted throughout.
Stay tuned for more celebrity profiling before, during and after the event.

Rachel Seavey, Professional Organizer
I am located in Pleasanton Ca, and serve the San Francisco Bay Area.
I specialize in Hoarding Disorder, Chronic Disorganization and helping the overwhelmed with clutter. I love what I do, and I provide realistic expectations and timelines. Don't suffer in chaos any  more. Every breath is a new beginning! Please visit my site at www.collectorcare.com
Tweet me on Twitter : Like my Facebook page : Find me on Pinterest