Collector Care's Blog

Thursday, November 15, 2012

3 Tips On Organizing A Successful Thanksgiving Dinner

With it being exactly one week away from Thanksgiving, how well prepared are you for your feast?
Are you hosting? Are you bringing something to a party?

Know how many will be in attendance so that you have enough food to make or bring.
Plan out your menu well in advance. Take ownership of the food that you have committed to prepare. Have recipes ready at hand for each item, by either printing them out or saving the webpage or book page. I suggest to not try new recipes on Thanksgiving day. If you are itching to try a new recipe, prepare it tonight or this weekend. This way you will know if you like the dish, or if you have to adjust the recipe, instead of finding out the day of.
Make a detailed grocery list from your recipes. I suggest shopping a couple of days before hand so that if you missed something, you have time to run out and get it. (Haven't we all been there!)

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
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Saturday, November 10, 2012

3 Quick Tips On Planning Your Vacation

How organized are you? Studies show that packages and rates are less expensive the farther out that you book.
Get organized by following a few simple tips:

Keep all documentation evenevery confirmation number. Record when you called places and with whom you spoke to, preferably getting a first and last name. Have these handy when you arrive to make your checking in experience less stressful.
Check the weather. This allows you to know exactly what to pack. Layering is always good if you are unsure.
Budget your trip. Look into fees that you wouldn't expect. Extra luggage, parking, and transportation fees should all be taken into account.

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

3 Tips For Organizing Antiques

3 Tips For Organizing Antiques

Make an artful asset of hard-to-store goods. "There never seems to be cabinet space deep enough to hold platters," says Joanna Madden. She solves the dilemma in her kitchen with a custom rack that displays the oversize dishes.

Bring baubles into the light. Instead of stashing jewelry in a drawer or box — where it tends to get tangled and forgotten — Madden corrals bangles in McCoy planters. To devise the perfect spot for beaded bracelets (these are from her own line), the designer covered particle board in gift wrap, then popped it into an antique frame. Each sparkler hangs from a pretty bridal-bouquet pushpin.

Take full advantage of vertical space. In any house, there are only so many tabletops on which to showcase stuff. So if you tend to amass large numbers of small collectibles, consider climbing the walls. These custom bookshelves in the living room, Madden says, "really allow me to indulge my love of American art pottery." Here's how she keeps the arrangement interesting.
1. Group similarly shaped items (fluted vases, trophy-like urns) together, but stagger heights and mix various creamy shades.
2. A few wild-card components, such as shells, architectural remnants, and tarnished silver vessels, prevent a monochromatic collection from becoming monotonous. Just keep 'em all muted, so they don't hog the spotlight.
3. Stacked books make great risers — providing the height needed to help fill up a tall shelf.

Read more: How to Organize Antiques - Tips to Declutter Vintage and Antiques - Country Living

Thursday, July 12, 2012

How To Organize A Succesful Garage Sale

HAVING A GARAGE SALE SOON?

Prepare your yard as if it were Halloween night. Remove anything that can be tripped over, including the dog, who should live elsewhere for the duration of the sale. Check the garage floor and driveway for slippery spots or hidden hazards. Tape down extension cords or cables.
Are you ready to make change? A muffin tin makes a good change holder. Be prepared with at least $20 in small bills and change. Or wear a fanny pack with at least two compartments; store bills in one, change in the other to process transactions quickly.

Ready, Set, Sell!

It's sale day. You've posted your signs at the crack of dawn and your wares lie waiting. Now's the time to play salesman.
To run a lively sale, don't sit there like a lump in a lawn chair! Get up and talk to people. Be excited and enthusiastic. Comment on cute children, bumper stickers and T-shirt slogans. Be bubbly and vivacious and share lots of information about that wonderful set of bed linens that you love and adore but no longer match your color scheme. Not only will you create enthusiasm and make sales, you'll meet neighbors you never knew you had, so it's smart to put your best foot forward.
Plan for at least two staffers for every yard sale, and more is better. One person acts as "background", shuffling cash, bringing coffee, keeping an active eye on everything. A cashier sits at the front with muffin tin or cash box. Leave the selling to the most enthusiastic salesperson.
Offer free coffee, and give your children a taste of private enterprise, entrusting them with a donut concession. If people are eating, they're staying--and if they're staying, they're buying. That's the point!

When The Sale Is Over

Wrap up your sale when you said you would. A yard sale is a lot of work, and you're still not finished. Dispose of the leftovers, either to the charity pick-up or by boxing and delivering the items yourself.
Be considerate of your neighbors and next week's yard sale enthusiasts. Remove all signs, and return your sale site to normal.
Then go count your proceeds--and take the family out to dinner. You've earned it!

(ORGANIZEDHOME.COM)

Friday, June 29, 2012

Organizing The Fridge: When To Toss Condiments Out!

My Dad used to have this condiment table on his fridge. However, he was known to throw things out before they expired. Milk, eggs and anything left over a day was sure to get tossed. I ended up adopting this method.

Monday, June 11, 2012

3 Healthy Tips To Help Stop Shopping From Home

Do you spend a lot of time inside tempted by QVC, home shopping networks, and the internet ?

Resist the urge by taking a walk. This provides energy and clears your mind for a while. When you go back home or to work, try and align your space with your renewed positivity. A clear mind is the best way to start clearing your personal clutter.
Budget. Leave no room in your budget for unnecessary items. Think about your future, and your retirement. How important will this stuff be to you when you need money the most?
Change the channel. Don't paruse your TV or the internet for shopping sites. There are hundreds of other shows you can watch that don't involve you spending your money.

Shopping addiction is a real issue folks. Try your best and and don't be hard on yourself. Every day is a new beginning, and you will face many challenges along your journey. Best of luck.

If you feel you need some more help, this site offers a support group that looks promising.
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/shopping_addicts/

Saturday, June 2, 2012

3 Tips On Organizing Your Summer Closet

Summer is here and you can't find anything cute to wear in your overstuffed closet!
It's much easier to know what you have in your closet without bulky sweaters and snow gear taking up space. Below are some things you can do to free up space and see what you have to wear!

Pull out all of your clothing from the closet.
Sort between warm and cold wear.
Place all bulky items into clear plastic bins marked "Winter Gear".

Now you should be able to see what you have to wear this summer, instead of going out and buying more.