“In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.”-Benjamin Franklin

Be more organized this tax season!  Read on for a few simple tips to make doing your taxes a little easier.

Start early
Don’t wait until the last minute to file your taxes.  This eliminates the stress of a time crunch, and also gives you more time to track down additional statements or receipts if needed!

Paper documents
Use a folder to capture tax documents as they come through the mail in January.  When you sit down to do your taxes, they can all be found in one place.

Electronic statements
For statements that you receive via email, you have a few options.  You can print out the statement to include in your folder (see above).  If you prefer to keep them “in” the computer, flag them or create a folder in your email account for easy reference.

Account logins
Log in to your financial institutions’ online accounts ahead of time, especially if it’s been awhile since you last logged in.  This will ensure that you have the correct login info before sitting down to do your taxes.  In the event you need additional information or statements, you’ll have easy access to the account, instead of wasting time resetting passwords.

There’s an app for that
Use a mileage tracker to take the guess work out of business miles.  There are many to choose from, just make sure to choose one that give you a full report of personal and business miles.

Know when to ask for help
If and when your taxes become more complicated, hiring a professional can really make a difference in saving you time and maximizing your refund.  Research online tax programs as well as local tax services to find the best fit for you!

In the Pinterest world of perfectly ordered belongings, behind cabinet doors and nestled in labeled bins, what about the action items?  The things you need to remember to sign, return, or take a dose at a certain time?  For a photo shoot to be published online, often these daily necessities are cleared out of the way to focus on a home's decor & finishes.  But for real world homeowners and organizers, these items are an important part of the picture.  So let's focus in on a few items you probably do want to find a place for, in plain sight.

1. Bills

For utilities and regular monthly bills, autopay options are a lifesaver!  But for other bills that come in through snail mail here and there, it's important that they don't get lost in the shuffle.  Using a magazine holder or other vertical file is a great way to keep these important papers handy, but out of the way.

2. Medications

Storing medications can be tricky.  Ideally they should be kept tucked away (from humidity, out of reach of children, etc) but also accessible if you need to take them every day.  A linen closet can be a good place to set aside some space for medications and first aid items.  However, if you want easy access to daily medications, try using a makeup bag!  They look nice out on the counter, and also keep the meds concealed for privacy.

Tip: Set an appointment in your phone's calendar to schedule important medications, especially if your routine has recently changed.  You'll get a reminder automatically so you never miss a dose!

3. Inspiration

If you are inspired by being surrounded with visuals, but don't necessarily want them out all the time, try this: hang cork boards inside cabinet doors.  This can be anywhere, in the kitchen, bathroom, or home office.  Open the doors while you're working in the space, and then it all closes away when you're ready to move on!

Giving up the Guilt this Holiday Season

It's the most wonderful time of the year!  The holiday season is in full swing.  And if we have learned anything from watching The Grinch -

it will come without ribbons,
it will come without tags,
it will come without packages, boxes, or bags!

However.  There will be no shortage of gift giving & receiving amongst the holiday parties and family dinners.  Because doing even something small to make that special someone happy, or see a grandchild's face light up, is a great feeling.  But there's one thing that can get in the way of the process.

That one thing, is guilt.  Not everyone struggles with this, but many of us do without even putting a name to it.  It applies to receiving gifts, but also to holding on to family heirlooms, as well as other sentimental items.  Holding on to things can become such a burden, that it takes the joy right out of the act of exchanging gifts.  Worrying about where to put new things, or how to break it to grandma that you don't have room for her antique record cabinet in your home, can be overwhelming, especially this time of year.  Let's explore how to let go of these feelings and enjoy the holiday season!

Give yourself permission to accept gifts.
Just say thank you!  It doesn't matter if it's the wrong size, it's something you'll never use, or you already have one and there's no gift receipt to exchange it.  You are saying 'thank you' for thinking of you, and the gesture itself.

If it belongs to you, you get to decide what to do with it.
Most of us would never want a gift or heirloom they had given a loved one to become a burden.  When I give a gift, I want it to make that person happy, not weigh them down.  I would rather them exchange it or donate it if they find it's not useful anymore or isn't the right fit for them.  There is nothing wrong with repurposing or donating gifts and heirlooms that are no longer wanted or needed.

Kids toys.
The above concepts especially go for kids toys!  We all know how fleeting kids trends are, and how quickly they move on to new interests.  Give up the guilt and pass on toys that have been long forgotten at the bottom of the closet.  Accepting a gift doesn't mean it's forever.  If a child gets use out of it and is ready to move on, there are many children that are waiting to have a turn once it is donated!

Making room for 'space'.
It can be easy to forget, that space is a commodity to have in your home!  When the holiday season is over, and you are re-organizing the kids toys or your closet, remember to factor in some extra space.  Give clothes room to breathe in the closet, and clear off the floor in the kids play room or bedroom, so that they have room to enjoy their favorite toys.

You can only control yourself.
So, with all this being said, there will always be the friends and family members that will check up on their gifts.  And there is nothing wrong with that.  We all enjoy seeing our gifts being put to good use.  But if you no longer have something that grandma or auntie gave your kids 3 years ago and they are disappointed, there is still no reason for you to feel guilty!  Simply be honest, explain that your children got a great run out of it and loved it at the time, but they outgrew it and you passed it down.  These conversations can be awkward at times, but it's really as simple as that!

To sum it all up, I'd like to pass along the words my mother in law told me when I started having kids.  We have such a supportive family and I am thankful for them every single day.  My kids have everything they need, and more than that.  But if I had held on to everything my kids have received from us and our family, there would be no room to walk through my house.  My mother in law said to me, 'you are the only one that decides what stays in your home.'  And even though this might sound like a no-brainer, it gave me permission early on to do what I thought was best for our family and our home.  Today I'd like to remind you all that you have permission to do the same!  I hope you have a wonderful holiday season with family and friends, and may it also be guilt free!

Today I am excited to share with you some photos from a recent project.  This work-from-home mom needed to carve out some workspace for herself, amongst the play space for the kids.  I think so many of us can relate to this concept of creating rooms that multi task!  She had a great space with beautiful windows to bring in plenty of natural light.  The room was probably originally a formal dining room, but with a dining table already in place near the kitchen, it was the perfect place for the home office.  Here is where we started.

This project was particularly fun for me, because it incorporated many of the services that I offer.  When I arrived, my client was already debating what direction to go with the paint.  So we discussed what would be the best choice for the room and decided on a beautiful blue gray.  From there, we discussed options for the layout of the room, and selected furniture.  

This table was the perfect combination of form and function.  Shelves underneath provide easy access to frequently used toys, and the drop leaf feature lets the table seamlessly blend in with the ledge under the window.

A space just for mom.  The proximity of the desk to the round table also allows mom to turn and join the kids to help with their projects or check their homework.

Traditional open bookshelves allowed us to use a combination of stacked books and games, and bins for smaller pieces.  The picture frames above are hinged, so they open with ease to update photos and artwork.

A final organizing session brought everything together and in its place.  Now both mom and kids have a place to work and create!

The goal of this project was a pretty common one.  The kids have gotten older, and needed to expand into their own rooms.  The older son was moving into the guest bedroom with a larger bed, and the younger daughter was moving into her brother's old room.

Here is where we started.

The first thing we did was to get all the furniture in place. The clients had cultural reasons for requiring the bed to be north facing, so I was happy to be able to accommodate that in both rooms.

The closets had plenty of space, but the kids needed a system for their clothes once we switched them to the right room.

The closets were reorganized so that all the clothes were categorized.  This makes getting dressed in the morning so much easier for kids, and also makes putting away laundry a breeze!

There were a few places to store books and toys, that needed some attention.

These storage areas in both rooms were re-worked so that they were easier for the kids to use, which also reduced the visual clutter in the rooms.

With a place for everything, and everything in its place, we got both of these bedrooms set up in just one 4 hour organizing session!
Now for the next phase, it will be time to choose some bedding and add more fun decorations for these kids!

This morning I had the opportunity to speak at the Annapolis Home Expo.

They gave me a microphone, and let me talk with people about getting organized.  What's not to love?

The expo was hosted by Mid Atlantic Expositions and Entertainment, and they put these things on several times a year in different locations throughout Maryland.  This is the 3rd time I've had the pleasure of doing a seminar, and I wanted to share some of the information with you all in case you missed it!

Among other things, some topics I covered were back to school routines, entryway storage, and hosting guests.  Below is a compilation of all the resources I shared, along with affiliate links to each item.  If you want more information on any of these items, what they could be used for, or what would work best with your space, just send me an email or give me a call.  Happy browsing!  

Summer summer summer time.  Time to sit back and unwind.

Until, that is, it's time to pack up for that summer family vacation!  Sure, you can just throw everything you may or may not need into a suitcase (or several!) for stress-free prep.  But by taking a few extra minutes here and there, you can streamline the process and make everything easier to find while you're living out of your suitcase.

1. Make a list.

Whenever you start brainstorming about what you might need to remember to bring on your trip, start a list!  You never know when inspiration will hit, and it will be much more difficult to recall all those great ideas at the last minute.

2. Keep common items pre-packed.  A set of travel shower items can simply be stored in the bathroom cabinet in a ziploc bag, ready to go.  Keep the first aid kit in its own bag or container, so that you have easy access to grab the necessities.  I keep mine in what is probably supposed to be a hanging shower bag, but I love all the mesh zipper pockets, and the fact that I can hang it on the bathroom doorknob when I'm treating a scraped knee.

Here's an example of a similar bag available on amazon.

3. Use grocery tote bags to keep like things together.  I like to have my kids each pack their clothes, and then separate their daytime clothes from their pajamas with individual bags.  This makes it easier for little ones to find what they need and get dressed independently.
Read: mommy and daddy have more down time on vacation!

4. Snackeez!

Who hasn't heard this commercial by now, which by the way, was very effective in grabbing my kids' attention.  Unlike most of these TV products, we actually ordered these and use them all the time!  The kids love them at home but they are especially useful for road trips in the car.

5. Take a picture of what you've packed.  This is one of my favorites, and we do it every time.  When the kids pick out their toys and books that they'll bring, I line them all up and take a photo.  Then, when it's time to pack up to come home, we just pull up the photo to make sure we have everything.  

This is what we brought this year to Ocean City.

These are just a few of many ways to simplify while packing for a trip.  I'd love to hear your favorite travel tips!

Please note that the above post contains affiliate links, from which I may make a small commission.