Collector Care: 4.5 Tips On Reducing Kid Messes

Hello Collectors! Do you have kids or grandkids? Nieces or nephews? Then you have clutter!

Wall smudges, fingerprints, smeared glass and windows. Kids are a mess! Below are 4.5 tips to help you reduce kid messes daily. Please don't be shy to ask your little ones to help out - it helps build character and organization skills. With a little bit of fun, (and bribery) they might enjoy it!

1. Create a chore list. I can't stress this enough! Pick 5 chores that your child can keep daily and reward them for it when they complete them for a week. I have a dry erase board on the fridge which keeps tracking handy. Set a specific time daily for chore review. For instance, at dinner I go through the 5 chores quickly with Shane and mark off what he has done. At the end of the week with completion of his chores - he gets a treat/prize. 
2. Take shoes off before you enter the house. Kinda old fashion right? I find it helps. Kids get used to routine. As long as your floors are safe barefoot, you will save a lot of mud, dirt and debris from tracking in. This means less stains and maintenance. 
3. Only eat in the kitchen. Seriously. At least for 10 and under. I don't mean popcorn or water, I mean meals. I can't tell you how many spills have happened when my son is eating food and watching TV.  If you enjoy watching TV while eating, then try positioning your TV towards the kitchen or bringing a laptop over instead of eating on the couch. 
4. Stick to snacks that are less messy. Small snacks like granola tend to sneak out of little hands. If possible avoid sticky dipping sauces or limit them to the table only. 
5. Wash their hands (and face!!!). Have kids wash their hands a fter meals, after being outside, after crafting, etc. Besides decreasing flu and cold risks you are keeping your walls and furniture clean. Kids love to touch everything with their filthy little

Do you need help getting organized? Hire a Collector Care organizer today!

www.collectorcare.com

Collector Care: 4.5 Tips On Making Your Garbage Green

Hello Collectors! Do you like to recycle or compost? Did you know that we throw away a lot of things that can be recycled in our garden bins? In California, ours are green for garden/compost items. I hope your respective state provides the same option.

Here are 4.5 tips on composting items out of your own trash can(s) at home.

1. Pizza boxes can be put in the green cart. Food residue on pizza boxes makes them hard to recycle but easy to compost.
2. Food soiled paper products can be put in the green cart. Paper:  plates, towels, napkins, cups, coffee filters and tea bags are included!
   
3. Meat, bones and grains. All fine in the green cart, but not for a backyard compost pile or worm bin.
4. Donate "junk" on large pickup days. These are usually mailed out by your local waste management company.
5. Remember to recycle used motor oil, filters and batteries. See if your local sanitation company can collect oil or household filters with weekly pickup. Where I live, you can put all used household batteries in a clear plastic bag on top of your recycling bin and they take them away on weekly pickup. By taking the time to

Collector Care: 4.5 Tips On Keeping Your Kitchen Tidy

Hello Collectors!
Are you overwhelmed with kitchen chores? Dirty dishes piling up?
No room to sit down and eat or prepare a meal?

We all get busy and have dishes pile up. Below are 4.5 tips to help you maintain your kitchen space:

1. Dishes don't bite! Wash them. If you don't have time to wash them daily - you might want to consider paper plates. Mold can grow on your dirty dishes, making it difficult to breathe, and hazardous.
2. Take out the trash. Fruit flies, house flies and odor are invasive. 
3. Free up cupboard space by donating your unused cups, dishes and food. 1 in 6 American households are suffering from some form of food starvation. 
4. Clean our your fridge - or at least throw out the spoiled food. Then throw that bag away!
5. Sweep or vacuum your floor. Make sure there are no wet areas so to avoid slips and 

Not sure where to start? Hire a www.collectorcare.com organizer today! 925-548-7750

Collector Care: 4.5 Tips On Handling Mail Clutter

Hello Collectors! Are you overwhelmed by mail? Not sure what to keep or save? If you are located in the San Francisco Bay Area, then give us a call today!

Tony Leonardini offers a "Mail Sorting Class" included in our services. Let us create a system that works for you. Save money on late fees and lost paperwork today.

If you are not able to have us over, here are 4.5 tips that can help you reduce mail clutter right away.

1. Do you have piles of mail around? Start by weeding out the junk and recycling it. Junk mail is bulky and by the time you get to read it the coupons may be expired.
2. Do you receive catalogs you don't need? Call the number listed for them and ask them to stop sending you mail.
3. Surrounded by bills? A lot of bills are available online. See what sort of paperless options your providers offer.
4. Set a timer for 30 minutes a day to tackle back logged mail.
5. Worried about your name? Tear it out and shred it. Recycle the rest of the remaining

Don't let mail keep you down any longer!

Collector Care offers custom solutions for clutter. Clear clutter and be happy!

Collector Care: 4.5 Tips On Keeping Up With Laundry

Having a hard time keeping up with laundry? Is it easier to keep up with the Kardashian's? Below are 4.5 tips on how to keep control of laundry without letting it take over your life!

1. The first thing you are going to want to do is let go of perfectionism. Sort your laundry by whites and colors. Yes there could be a towel pile, or a lingerie pile or a delicates pile too. How about a pile for donations, a pile for your sisters friend, and one that you might fit into later. HALT! You will never wash your laundry if you spend this much time meticulously sorting. If laundry is out of control, keep it simple. Whites and colors. Run your items on delicate with cold water if you are worried about them, the most important thing is to tackle that pile. 
   
2. Set a schedule on when you have time to do laundry. If you are not  a morning person, do your laundry at night while watching TV. If you are a morning person, throw in a load first thing and then dry it after your morning routine. Letting laundry sit damp is worse than not doing it at all. Always make sure you set enough time on the dryer to fully dry your clothing.
3. Don't make yourself late searching for that special shirt, or waiting for a load to dry. Keep items that you wear often in the same place to help increase productivity.
4. If something is still feels clean and you can wear it "again" go for  it, just toss it in the dryer and go. 
5. Go to a dry cleaner that launders. If you can afford it, I would recommend this. Drop off baskets at a time and pick them up in a few

Collector Care Interview - 50 Shades Of Dr. Gray: Honesty About Plastic Surgery

Hello Collectors! We are back chatting with the wonderful Dr. Robert Gray of MD Laser Spa in Pleasanton. Why are we talking about plastic surgery on an organizing blog?! For one, last time we featured Doc Gray there were 900 visitors to my blog, secondly most of our clients are women ... thirdly I have more than once helped someone prepare for and stay organized during their procedure.

Have you ever thought about having a cosmetic surgery done? Worried about the time taken off, the housework to do, and the people to tend for? Most people after having a face lift, or a nose job, are not up and about doing laundry the next day. They can't even brush their teeth. This is what we call situation-ally disorganized. It's more common than you think. Laundry piles up, dishes are dirty, kids need to be fed, the dog is staring at you leash in mouth. Wouldn't it be nice to have an organizing fairy swing by and help? Even better, what if she helped you prepare for surgery before and after - making everything easier so that you can recover? I am that gal. I will help you prepare for cosmetic surgery so that your household runs smoothly.. Dr. Gray is that guy, he has mad skills. Together we are THE 50 SHADES OF DR. GRAY (theme song begins ...)

Rachel: Have you ever turned down a procedure?
Dr. Gray: Yes I have turned down a procedure. Sometimes patients have unrealistic expectations about what they feel can be done and also sometimes patients are really not emotionally ready to undergo procedures. I usually give them my recommendations and let them know my honest opinion.
 
Rachel: What is your most popular surgery?
Dr. Gray: My most popular surgical procedure is either facelift surgery or rhinoplasty surgery. Usually rhinoplasty surgery is done in younger people and the facelift surgery is done on patients 50 and over.

Rachel:  With the media constantly covering celebrity surgeries, do you feel like people are more open about sharing what procedures they have had done?Dr. Gray: I do believe that people are still somewhat hesitant to reveal that they've had any cosmetic procedures. I do feel also that people are certainly more open though about non surgical procedures like getting Botox or filler or laser treatments. This is becoming much more commonplace and since it has really minimal to no recovery - people are often happy to share their results.
Rachel: Dr. Gray I will share with the world. I get Botox. You have given me Botox! I am actually in my late 60's. No seriously people - I am all about people doing whatever they want to improve themselves. Including myself ... stay tuned for our YouTube special next month.

Rachel: Is it common for men to come into your practice?
Dr. Gray: We are certainly seeing a increase in the amount of men who are receiving cosmetic treatments including Botox and fillers. As the workforce becomes increasingly competitive it is important for anyone to maintain a good appearance. These are simple things to do, and lead to an improved appearance and improve self-confidence.
Rachel: That's how all those hot older men in Hollywood keep their looks! It can't all be good jeans (pun intended). Thank you so much Dr. Gray for visiting our blog!

Next month, I will personally share a cosmetic procedure on youTube, including before the procedure and what I did to prepare, video of the procedure, and of course aftercare tips and information. 

Thinking about having a procedure done? Call me, let's get you ready for recovery. 925-548-7750
Is CLUTTER taking over your life? Are there areas in your house that you want to get organized? Call a Collector Care Professional Organizer today! www.collectorcare.com

Collector Care: 4.5 Tips On Planning A Trip

Hi Travelers! It's time to jet set! Have you planned your vacation?  Here are some tips that can help you save some time along the way. Please feel free to join in on the conversation with your favorite travel tips.

Prepare. By using a document holder like one of these, you will sure to have your itinerary on hand when you need it. I personally like the brightly colored orange one, it's very easy to spot in your purse or briefcase.

Notify. Let folks know you are traveling. Notify neighbors, housekeepers, the post office and anyone else who might need to get a hold of you. The last thing you need is your home alarm being set off, or your mailbox being overloaded.

Plan. Whether you are traveling for business or pleasure, make sure that you find some time to relax. Besides the main attractions, make sure you check out kareoke bars, night clubs and other local scenes.

Recoop. Save a day to have a vacation after your vacation! You are going to need time to unpack and