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Clutter Clear Your Travel

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Time to clear your travel bags!

He who would travel happily

must travel light.

Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Many of us  long to travel. We want the adventure, the freedom and the escape from our everyday lives. Travel can spark new ideas and connect us with different cultures. But, traveling can be stressful if our stuff and our time is not organized.  We want to help you get organized  so you love your travels large and small.

Where to start is often the dilemma that keeps us stuck and suffering. Let’s start with clutter clearing some of the small stuff. It’s surprising how the little things can drive us crazy on the trip but we forget all about them when we return. Here are three simple options that can be done in an hour or two. This will get you started and keep you from getting lost in the details. Keep in mind we will take you through SEE IT. MAP IT. DO IT.© for your trip,  your luggage and road trips next. Choose one of the following ideas, schedule the time, turn on music and dive in. Have boxes and bags on hand for what is leaving.

CLUTTER CLEAR THE TOILETRIES

Ready for fun? Open all your luggage and pull out the small stuff you have stashed away for future travels. It can be hysterical to see how much you have! Do a quick sort so you can see how many shampoos you actually have 🙂 Be honest about how much you need and toss the rest. It’s ok to even throw some in the trash. We promise no one will suffer.

LET GO  OF THE OLD LUGGAGE

How many pieces of luggage, backpacks, purses, etc. do you have? How many do you actually use? Why are you holding onto the old pieces that are only gathering up dust? It’s time to let go of the old bags! Haul them out and take an honest look. Keep the bags you love and use. Let go of the others, even if they are in good shape and especially if they are falling apart.

HANGING ONTO OLD MAPS?

Do you have maps stuffed into file folders, in your car and other areas of your home? Maybe you brought a map home from each one of your travels and now you have a collection. Collect all the maps. How many do you have? Take your time looking through them. You might relive some adventures from your travels. Keep the ones you know you will use in the future and let go of the others. Good Job!

When you are done, take some deep breaths and take in how different you feel. Are you lighter? Are you wanting to take a new trip now?

FIND MORE TRAVEL FUN HERE

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Download your Travel Guide.

Your Guide Marla Dee.

I love teaching the Clear & Simple Way to live free of clutter and get organized at last.

Celebrate Your Garage

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A clutter free and organized garage is worth celebrating!

Can you celebrate parking your car in the garage?

Marla Dee

It’s time to celebrate!

We’ve spent the month clearing out the garage and the car. These are big areas that collect a lot of clutter so it’s time to step back and enjoy the new space and tidiness.  With every clutter clear, we encourage you to celebrate the outcome!

If you want all the juicy blogs and more – read here. And remember you can use the one page guides for your garage and your car that we designed just for you.

 

Here are some fun ideas for celebrating:

  • Host a PARTY!  Invite your friends, cook a great meal and set up the food & beverages in your tidy garage.
  • Share your story – Take pictures and please share them on Social Media. We want to celebrate with you. Use #CSOrganizeGarage.
  • Deep Clean – Hire someone to come do a deep clean for you and detail your car as well.
  • Paint – Put a fresh coat of paint on the walls or floor!
  • Containers – Take these areas to the ultimate level by using a storage system and containers. Check out some of our favorites below.
Clear & Simple, SEE IT. MAP IT. DO IT., Marla Dee, Kate Fehr, Organize Your Garage, Organize Your Car, Container Store, elfa,

The elfa System, by The Container Store,​ is our favorite for storage needs. This system offers many choices and organizes tools and supplies in minimal space. Elfa Ventilated Shelves make the most of wall space by storing items off the floor.

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For all those little things that the kids toss around the car, here’s a great item to keep on hand. There are so many items to use for storage in your car to keep those extra items tidy rather than tossed around the seats and floor.

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It’s really fun once you declutter to take the important items and get them organized. The Container Store has lots of great ideas for all areas of your garage and car. Check them out and start envisioning the organizing and tidy spaces where you can find all your items easily.

Click here for The Container Store’s full array of car and garage organizing solutions.

Clear & Simple, SEE IT. MAP IT. DO IT., Marla Dee, Kate Fehr, Organize Your Garage, Organize Your Car, Container Store, elfa, Gladiator
Your Guides, Marla Dee and Kate Fehr.

We love teaching the Clear & Simple Way to live free of clutter and get organized at last.

Organize Your Car

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Make your car a happy place to be each day!

Are you calm or distracted when you are driving?
A cluttered car can affect your focus and peace of mind.


 – Marla Dee

If you were looking inside your car right now, what would you see? Is there clutter, trash, homeless items you haven’t dealt with? Because we are in the car so often, it is easy to have the clutter buildup.

Studies have found that a cluttered car can increase the risk of accidents. It’s scary to think about that fact but it’s true! Items hanging from the rearview mirror, piled up to minimize visibility and even items blowing around with open windows, all have an impact on our focus when we are driving.

SEE IT. MAP IT. DO IT.© For Your Car Guide

SEE IT – Take a look at where you are now. Answer the questions below for the whole car including specific areas such as the glovebox and console.

  • What’s working? You can be specific or general.
  • What do you like (if anything) about the look, feel and function?
  • Are there things you know you want to change?
  • What isn’t working? What don’t you like?
  • Is there stuff that doesn’t belong here, like donations and garbage?
  • Breathe deeply and tap into how you feel when you drive. Are you calm and present? Scattered and frenzied? Perhaps you have never noticed before.

MAP IT – Make a written plan for what you really want. We feel better and are more focused when our cars are clean and free of distractions.

  • How do you want your car to look, feel and function?
  • Create an online board of images that inspire you.
  • Create a mind map showing all the elements you want.
  • Is your car used primarily for commuting? Or do you take off on day adventures and road trips? What else would you like to do?
  • Be open to scheduling standing time to clean, vacuum and wash your car.
  • Is it time for you to purchase a new/new-to-you vehicle? If so, add this to your plan of action.

DO IT – Take the steps to get it done. Pick a weekend and make this happen. You will be so happy you did! 

  • Just get it done. Start by hauling everything out and putting things into boxes to go through the system below. Take it to be washed, wiped down, and vacuumed. Then put back only the items you really use and need. Get honest about what you really need.
  • Go through the S.T.A.C.K.S.© System on the stuff you hauled out (Sort, Toss, Assign, Contain, Keep it up, Simplify). By following S.T.A.C.K.S.© the project will be easier and you will save time, energy, and money. Go to www.clearsimple.com/systems.
  • Why not create a relationship with your car… name it, make it smell good, or put on stickers if that makes you happy. Get creative and have fun.
  • Once you complete this project, take time to celebrate. It might even feel like a new vehicle. Go for a leisurely drive and soak up the difference in how your car feels.

SEE IT. MAP IT. DO IT.© For Your Car Guide

Clear & Simple, SEE IT. MAP IT. DO IT., Marla Dee, Kate Fehr, Organize Your Garage, Organize Your Car
Clear & Simple, SEE IT. MAP IT. DO IT., Marla Dee, Kate Fehr, Organize Your Garage, Organize Your Car, Container Store, elfa, Gladiator
Your Guides to a simpler life, Marla Dee & Kate Fehr.

We love teaching the Clear & Simple Way to live free of clutter and get organized at last.

Organize Your Garage

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Make room to park your car in the garage!

The garage is the “quick in the moment” dumping ground

for stuff going in and out of the house.

 – Marla Dee

Twenty-five percent of people with 2-car garages don’t park in them at all. A third can only park one car, largely due to garage clutter. (U.S. Dept. of Energy study) and 24% of homeowners are embarrassed to leave their garage doors open. (Impulse Research survey).

Use the Clear & Simple Way to clutter clear your garage. You’ll love parking your car there, enjoy having things organized and might even want to show it off!

 

SEE IT. MAP IT. DO IT.© For Your Garage Guide

SEE IT – Take a look at where you are now. Answer the questions for the whole garage including specific areas such as tool and equipment storage.

  • What’s working? You can be specific or general.
  • What do you like (if anything) about the look, feel and function?
  • Are there things you know you want to change?
  • What isn’t working? What don’t you like?
  • Is there stuff that doesn’t belong here, like donations and past time stuff?
  • Be honest… is your garage a dumping ground because you just don’t know what else to do with the stuff?

MAP IT – Make a written plan for what you want the most for this space. The garage is often the first place we see/enter as we arrive home. It matters.

  • How do you want your garage to look, feel and function?
  • Create an online board of images that inspire you.
  • Create a mind map showing all the elements you want.
  • What do you want most from your garage? (i.e. to park cars, storage for tools, yard equipment, outdoor gear, etc.)
  • Allow yourself to think differently about the garage. For example, would you appreciate having the walls finished? Look at pictures for inspiration.
  • What do you want to add to your garage, like shelves and containers?

DO IT – Take the steps to make it happen. Look on your calendar and set up time for the transformation!

  • Choose an area to start with. For the garage specifically, we suggest breaking things down into categories and tackling one at a time (i.e. yard tool and equipment, hand and power tools, sports equipment, outdoor gear, decorations, home maintenance items, donations).
  • Go through the S.T.A.C.K.S.© System for the category (Sort, Toss, Assign, Contain, Keep it up, Simplify). By following S.T.A.C.K.S.© the project will be easier and you will save money. Go to www.clearsimple.com/steps/.
  • Enjoy shopping for the shelves and containers you want and need.

Once you complete each category, take time to celebrate. We know you will feel a sense of freedom as you move through each one.

SEE IT. MAP IT. DO IT.© For Your Garage Guide

 

Clear & Simple, SEE IT. MAP IT. DO IT., Marla Dee, Kate Fehr, Organize Your Garage, Organize Your Car
Clear & Simple, SEE IT. MAP IT. DO IT., Marla Dee, Kate Fehr, Organize Your Garage, Organize Your Car, Container Store, elfa

Your Guides to a simpler life, Marla Dee & Kate Fehr.

We love teaching the Clear & Simple Way to live free of clutter and get organized at last.

Clutter Clear Your Garage

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Here are 3 simple ways that can be done in under an hour!

Does your garage function how you most want and need?

Is your garage dumping ground for all the things you don’t know what to do with?

What would your ideal garage space look and feel like?

Marla Dee

Can you park your car in your garage? Or is it full of moving boxes that were never unpacked, yard tools and equipment, piles of stuff you planned on selling in a garage sale, flat sports balls and other old toys, bags of clothes that no longer fit anyone, outdoor gear you don’t have time to use, broken household items that you keep asking your partner to fix, and leftovers from home remodeling projects. The list goes on and on. The garage is the “quick in the moment” dumping ground for stuff going in and out of the house. It is scary how fast the clutter builds up and sad how long it stays. We will start the transformation with some clutter clearing.

Clutter clearing can be simpler by starting small. Take a look at the following three options that can be done in less than an hour. This will get you started and keep you from getting lost in the details. Keep in mind we will take you through SEE IT. MAP IT. DO IT.© for the whole garage next. Choose one of the following ideas, schedule the time, turn on music and dive in. Have boxes and bags on hand for what goes elsewhere, donations, trash, and goes to someone else.

01 – HOUR OF POWERClear & Simple, SEE IT. MAP IT. DO IT., Marla Dee, Kate Fehr, Organize Your Garage, Organize Your Car

Get together your family team and turn this into a game! Set the timer for an hour, give everyonetrash bags and donation boxes. The idea is to go after the obvious trash and the we are ready to get rid of this stuff. Don’t get lost in a deep sort right now. You might be surprised how much garbage has built up. When the hour is up, reward the winner and congratulate each other.

 

02 – CLEAR & SWEEP THE FLOORClear & Simple, SEE IT. MAP IT. DO IT., Marla Dee, Kate Fehr, Organize Your Garage, Organize Your Car

The garage tends to get dirty and grungy!. It is amazing how fabulous it feels just to clear and clean the floor. You don’t have to take long or get lost in dealing with stuff. Let it be good enough to just clear away the big areas of the easy stuff, sweep and possibly hose off the floor. You might feel so good that you want to do another small project.

 

03 – DONATE THE DONATIONSClear & Simple, SEE IT. MAP IT. DO IT., Marla Dee, Kate Fehr, Organize Your Garage, Organize Your Car

This can be another easy and surprising way to clear clutter. The garage is a popular place for all the bags and boxes of donations that left the house but piled up here. Sometimes there are years worth just taking up valuable space. Why not schedule an afternoon, gather all the boxes and take them to your favorite donation place. Or you can call and arrange for a pickup.*

 

When you are done, take some deep breaths and take in how different your garage feels. Celebrate what you have done. It can be fun to take pictures of all the stuff leaving. *Keep in mind that some companies will pick up your donations if you can schedule it ahead of time.

FIND MORE GARAGE FUN HERE

 

 

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SEE IT. MAP IT. DO IT.© Garage Guide

Clear & Simple, SEE IT. MAP IT. DO IT., Marla Dee, Kate Fehr, Organize Your Garage

SEE IT. MAP IT. DO IT.© Car Guide

Your Guides, Marla Dee and Kate Fehr.

We love teaching The Clear & Simple Way© to get organized, so you know where to start, what to do, and how to keep it up! 

Celebrate Your Kitchen & Pantry

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Take time to celebrate the big and little things!

We love everything about our kitchen now! We spend more time there than anywhere else. I’m so glad we took the time to do it right!

B.P.

You deserve to celebrate!

This year of 2020 we are helping you transform all areas of your life and space. This month we have focused on clutter clearing, organizing and beautifying your kitchen! We hope this month has been fun and transformative. If you want all the juicy blogs and more – read here. And remember you can use the one page Kitchen Guide we designed just for you.

Here are some fun ideas for celebrating.

  • Host a PARTY! Invite your friends, cook a great meal and have a blast.
  • Share your story – Take pictures and please share them on Social Media. We want to celebrate with you. Use #CSOrganizeKitchen.
  • Deep Clean – Hire someone to come do a deep clean for you? Oh yes!!
  • Paint – Get a fresh paint job in a color you love!
  • Beauty – Add fresh flowers or fruit to the center of your countertop! 
  • Containers – Take your kitchen to the ultimate level by getting the most practical and beautiful containers. Check out some of our favorites below:

 

 

Clear & Simple, SEE IT. MAP IT. DO IT., Organize Your Kitchen, Organize Your Pantry, Container Store, elfa

The elfa System, by The Container Store, is our favorite for the pantry (and other storage areas). You can customize where you want your shelves, add different sizes of drawers, add freestanding units under shelves, and other smart functions. All elfa components are adjustable, so the solution is completely flexible! Note: remember to use the back of the pantry door.

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Talk about handy! For use on a cabinet shelf or beneath a sink, these handled storage baskets make it easy to store like items together and then grab them all at one time. They are ideal for storing sauce packets, spices, nuts and snacks, or baking supplies in upper and lower cabinets. The comfortable handle at the front of the basket allows you to pull the basket out to gain full access to the contents.

Clear & Simple, SEE IT. MAP IT. DO IT., Organize Your Kitchen, Organize Your Pantry, Container Store, elfa

Remember the inside of your drawers. Rather than throwing all the stuff inside and opening to a distaster every time, pick out containers that work. By choosing the material, color and function that works for your drawers, you will be happy every time you open them. You can have wood, clear, or colored containers. Have fun!

Click here for The Container Store’s full array of drawer organizers.

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Your Guides, Marla Dee and Kate Fehr.

We love teaching the Clear & Simple Way to live free of clutter and get organized at last.