 Finding that perfect balance of office supplies can be difficult. You don’t want to be left empty-handed, yet your storage space is limited. Here are some top picks for the key supplies:
• A telephone headset: When you’re talking on the phone, it’s essential to have your hands free to take notes. Headsets also help minimize family interruptions as family members will never know when you’re on a call and when you’re just enjoying the silence. • Printer cartridges: If you run out of printer ink, you’re sunk. Nothing interrupts a day more quickly than having to stop everything and get to the office supply store. Keep extras on hand at all times. • File folders and hanging files: Possibly the most fundamental supplies you’ll need. They’ll keep your work documents out of sight yet easy to retrieve, leaving you with a clear work surface. Consider purchasing colored file folders to make this chore a little more fun. • A step file rack: Great for keeping current projects out and in front of your eyes, yet neatly in folders. • Magazine holders: They are helpful for grouping reference materials such as catalogs, trade magazines, newsletters, etc. They come in a variety of colors and designs to match your office. • Clipboards: They come in a variety of colors and sizes, and they hold everything from your current project to reading material. Take them on the road with you! • A drawer organizer: Essential to corral pens, paper clips, rubber bands, Post-it notes, and more. • Lidded cardboard or plastic storage boxes: If your filing cabinets are running out of room (and you’ve already purged all you can), consider boxing up inactive files and storing them off-site. © 2020 Articles on Demand™ Remember, if you need professional organizing assistance and support with your family life, home and/or office, you are cordially invited to contact ... Donna LaRoche, M.Ed., Professional Organizer Serving Cape Cod, Metro West and Eastern Massachusetts Contact 617.640.2366 www.energizeandorganize.com  You’d think that with the advent of computers and e-mail, we’d be using a lot less paper. But, in reality, paper use is rising exponentially each year.
What’s a person to do? Learning how to effectively handle your papers is key. Paper management isn’t difficult. (Really!) The hard part is finding and dedicating time to just do it. Whether your paper piles are at the office (invoices, client information, memos, research) or at home (bills, receipts, magazines, family documents), setting regular and consistent times to sort through papers is key. Once you set up an efficient, effective filing system (ask your professional organizer for assistance!), ten to 30 minutes of daily paper management is all you’ll need. Depending upon your personality, decide when to schedule it: First thing in the morning... It’s a nice start to the day and helps you prioritize today’s tasks. At the end of the day... This gives you closure at the end of the day and lets you jump right into action the next day. Immediately as papers enter your home or office... This is good for those who just want to get it done ASAP. If you set aside this little bit of time each day, you’ll never wind up with huge paper mountains to tackle. However, you’ll still need to schedule a “mega-manage” once or twice a year. This is the time to peruse your current filing system, tossing old documents and entire files you’ll never need. At home, you might want to toss outdated appliance and software manuals, old receipts, and catalogs and magazines more than one year old. At work, you’ll want to consider tossing multiple versions of reports (just save the final copy), old research materials, unimportant memos, and projects that never materialized. This purge will provide breathing room in your filing cabinet and make it easier to retrieve and insert new papers. © 2020 Articles on Demand™ Remember, if you need professional organizing assistance and support with your family life, home and/or office, you are cordially invited to contact ... Donna LaRoche, M.Ed., Professional Organizer Serving Cape Cod, Metro West and Eastern Massachusetts Contact 617.640.2366 www.energizeandorganize.com  Managing the mess that kids make can be overwhelming sometimes. But by adding some simple routines and expectations, your household will function like clockwork!
Make organizing a part of each day. Let kids know that they need to be responsible for their own possessions. Teach children how to pick up after themselves. It’s important to show kids that every item they own has a “home” where it needs to return when they’re done using it. Be consistent. Establish simple routines that are age-specific. Younger children will need more direction and simpler expectations than pre-teens and teenagers. For example, saying “Clean up your room” is overwhelming to a kindergartner. Instead, try “Please put the Legos in the shoebox and your books on the bookshelf.” Some tasks that children under five can do: • put dirty laundry in the hamper • clean up toys (with assistance) at the end of the day Kids over five should also be able to: • make their beds every day • clean up toys throughout the day • select their clothing for the next day • take schoolwork out of their book bags each day As they grow, add more responsibilities. You are giving them skills and confidence to tackle more challenging projects in the coming years. And, most important, praise your children frequently for their efforts. Don't forget that children of all ages need routines and schedules, as well as downtime. • Set out the breakfast dishes each evening so you have a few extra minutes to languish over breakfast treats and conversation with your family in the morning. Also, gather bookbags and double check that permission slips, sports equipment, and lunch money are ready to go. Lay out tomorrow’s clothing to avoid hassles. • Throughout the year, maintain routines for bedtime, mealtime, chores, etc. Allow some flexibility to take advantage of new opportunities as they arise. • Slow down and unplug to enjoy and appreciate life. Turn off the TV and computer and head outside to take in the sights, sounds, and smells of nature. Set aside some special time — a weekend morning is great — to cuddle on the couch and talk about the week’s events. © 2020 Articles on Demand™ Remember, if you need professional organizing assistance and support with your family life, home and/or office, you are cordially invited to contact ... Donna LaRoche, M.Ed., Professional Organizer Serving Cape Cod, Metro West and Eastern Massachusetts Contact 617.640.2366 www.energizeandorganize.com  Whether you’re planning to move or simply want to cash in on your excess stuff, a garage sale (tag sale, yard sale) can be a profitable way to transfer your goods on to their next destination. However, without proper planning and organization, the day can be a disaster. Here are some tips to hold a spectacular sale: START GATHERING YOUR GOODS EARLY Keep a large box in the basement or garage year-round to hold household items you no longer want, need, or love. If you’re really industrious, keep some pricing stickers and a pen in the box so you can price as you stow. ADVERTISE Make large, colorful signs. Be sure to list the date, time, and place, as well as the types of items you have for sale (kids’ clothing and toys, furniture, tools, collectibles, etc.) Place the signs in high-traffic intersections within a few miles of your home. Consider running an ad in your local paper’s classified section. Place flyers at local stores where allowed. SET UP THE SALE Give yourself at least two days to get the tables set up and items arranged and priced. Make sure everything is clean and attractive. Group similar items together: put stuffed animals in a wagon, arrange household items on tables, place books and tapes/CDs neatly in boxes, display toys at kids’ eye level, and hang clothing on racks. Put big-ticket items, like furniture, tools, and larger kids’ toys, near the edge of the driveway to attract passersby. BE SURE TO PRICE EVERYTHING People are often too shy to ask. Attract people with balloons and banners. And have a “free” box prominently placed. DON’T FORGET THE LITTLE THINGS Make sure you have enough change, especially ones and fives, and a calculator handy. Have bags and newspaper for packing breakables. Play upbeat music on your boombox. Have lemonade and popcorn for sale to prolong browsing. Hand out free candy to kids if okay with parents. COUNT YOUR CASH AND CONSIDER DONATING After the sale, donate the leftover items to charity rather than returning them to your house. Many charities will pick up all unsold items. © 2020 Articles on Demand™ Remember, if you need professional organizing assistance and support with your family life, home and/or office, you are cordially invited to contact ... Donna LaRoche, M.Ed., Professional Organizer Serving Cape Cod, Metro West and Eastern Massachusetts Contact 617.640.2366 www.energizeandorganize.com  Wishing you and your loved ones deepest well being and happiness today and every day, and especially during these challenging Covid -19 times. Make good choices, be safe.
As Americans, we can all do our part to promote and support the health of our families, friends and fellow American citizens; help prevent renewed lockdowns; and restore economic prosperity. 1. WEAR A MASK. 2. Wash your hands often. 3. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. 4. Socially connect and physically distance by staying home as much as you can. 5. Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily. 6. Keep a distance between yourself and other people (at least 6 feet) when you do need to leave home. 7. Monitor your health and be alert for Covid-19 symptoms after exposure to the virus. (Some examples are fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea.) 7. Share civility and kindness with self and others daily. 8. WEAR A MASK. "Ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country." - John Kennedy. We are all in this together, fellow Americans. What can YOU do for our country to promote and support the health of our families, friends and fellow American citizens; help prevent renewed lockdowns; and restore economic prosperity? Remember, if you need professional organizing assistance and support with your family life, home and/or office, you are cordially invited to contact ... Donna LaRoche, M.Ed., Professional Organizer Serving Cape Cod, Metro West and Eastern Massachusetts Contact 617.640.2366 www.energizeandorganize.com  The kitchen is the hub of most homes. It’s where people congregate to eat, do projects, share experiences, and relax. Because we spend so much time there, it’s important that the kitchen is organized and functional. Likewise, the often-neglected bathroom needs upkeep to make mornings flow smoothly, from shower to shave. Follow these tips to keep the most-used rooms in the home in tip-top shape.
• Determine what purpose your kitchen serves. Do you use it for activities other than food preparation, such as completing homework or paying bills? Set up a specific area in the kitchen for those tasks and gather supplies. For example, to set up a bill-paying center, you’ll need: checkbook, envelopes, stamps, return address labels, pens, and a place to store bills to be paid. • Clear the clutter! Get rid of the gadgets, small appliances, and mismatched containers you never use. For remaining items, store those frequently used (more than once a week) on the countertop or easy-to-reach upper cupboards. Store seldom-used items (once a month or less) in the lower (harder to reach) cupboards. • Make the most of every inch. Install hooks under cabinets for mugs, pans, and small colanders. Mount can openers, paper-towel holders, and radios there, too. Place a cutting board over one side of the sink. Utilize space inside cabinet doors to hang a corkboard to post phone numbers and to-do lists. © 2020 Articles on Demand™ Remember, if you need professional organizing assistance and support with your family life, home and/or office, you are cordially invited to contact ... Donna LaRoche, M.Ed., Professional Organizer Serving Cape Cod, Metro West and Eastern Massachusetts Contact 617.640.2366 www.energizeandorganize.com  • Allow only pressed, clean, ready-to-wear clothes in your closet. If an item needs to be mended, cleaned, or ironed, it should not be in your closet. Keep your ironing or mending pile in a convenient spot so that you can tackle it while watching TV or talking on the phone.
• Place hooks on the back of the closet door to hang bathrobes, belts, or ties, or to lay out your next day’s wardrobe. • Be sure to use the entire closet space, including the vertical space under hanging clothes. For instance, underneath short-hanging garments, place a low trunk full of sweaters. A set of plastic drawers or a simple wooden dresser can hold lingerie, swimsuits, and socks. • It’s helpful to standardize your hangers. It doesn’t matter what type you prefer, just make them consistent and always hang clothes in the same direction. This will help reduce visual clutter and allow you to review your clothes at a glance. Wooden, padded, plastic tube, or velvet "huggable" hangers, rather than cheap wire ones, will keep your clothing in top-notch shape and avoid tangles. Get rid of extra hangers, which just take up space. See if your dry cleaner can recycle your unneeded wire hangers. • For shoes, consider clear plastic shoeboxes, which keep shoes dust-free and easily viewed. Or use over-the-door shoe bags or a neat shoe rack on the floor. • Building closet management into your weekly routine will reduce time and stress in your daily quest for determining what to wear. It will also allow you to make the most of your wardrobe and feel great about getting maximum use out of clothes you already own. This project may seem daunting, but its rewards are many! If you’re stuck, consider enlisting a trusted friend or professional organizer to help you with the process, especially the clutter-clearing steps. © 2020 Articles on Demand™ Remember, if you need professional organizing assistance and support with your family life, home and/or office, you are cordially invited to contact ... Donna LaRoche, M.Ed., Professional Organizer Serving Cape Cod, Metro West and Eastern Massachusetts Contact 617.640.2366 www.energizeandorganize.com  Why do we put off until tomorrow what we can do today? Because it’s so darn easy to delay! Follow these simple steps, and you’ll conquer procrastination before you can say, “I’ll do it later.”
1. Make a list of all your current projects. Which ones have been outstanding the longest? Are they still really essential? If the answer is, “Not really,” then take them off your list. For some of the remaining tasks, delegate to family, friends, or co-workers if possible. 2. If a project seems too big and overwhelming, start with something small. Clear out the old magazines from the rack. Tidy up the scraps of paper on the fridge or bulletin board. Clean out your purse or briefcase. 3. If you are simply overwhelmed by the enormity of the task, break it down into small steps. Assign each step to a different day on your calendar, and make yourself accountable. Even if you can grab ten minutes here and there, you’ll see progress toward completing a large project. 4. If there is a project that you absolutely must get done today, do whatever it takes to forge on. Spend a little money to hire a babysitter or order take-out if that will keep you working. 5. Work with your daily rhythms and habits. If you’re a morning person, take advantage of the early hours to tackle your most difficult jobs. Likewise, nightowls might accomplish more after the rest of the house is quiet and asleep. 6. If you can’t seem to motivate yourself, grab a partner. Sometimes just the camaraderie of a friend can push you through a tough job. If you need a really neutral, non-judgmental assistant to guide you through, consider contacting your professional organizer for project, paper, or time management help. © 2020 Articles on Demand™ Remember, if you need professional organizing assistance and support with your family life, home and/or office, you are cordially invited to contact ... Donna LaRoche, M.Ed., Professional Organizer Serving Cape Cod, Metro West and Eastern Massachusetts Contact 617.640.2366 www.energizeandorganize.com  Happy Easter to you and your loved ones. Stay safe and be well.
 Happy Passover to you and your loved ones. Stay safe and be well.
 Clear the clutter out of your brain.
The average desk worker spends three hours per week sorting piles trying to find the project to work on next. Take the first step to getting your work under control — clear the clutter out of your brain by taking pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) and allow to-do’s and brilliant ideas to become more concrete. You’ll relieve your brain of remembering tedious details, allowing new, creative thinking to develop. Free yourself from having to remember mundane but necessary tasks. Create a running list of phone calls to make, things to discuss with your assistant or coworkers, supplies to get, and other small-detail tasks. Create another list for brainstorming, creative planning, and “someday” ideas. Avoid storing lists in multiple areas, which will only confuse you. Centralize them in one place, such as your planner, in a spiral-bound notebook, or on your computer or PDA. Another benefit to making a list of all your responsibilities is that you may find some jobs that you could delegate to others. Are there any you hate doing, or do you know someone else who could do it quicker or better? Sometimes we say “yes” because we want to appear productive and energetic. But it’s important to know how much work you can realistically handle. © 2020 Articles on Demand™ Remember, if you need professional organizing assistance and support with your family life, home and/or office, you are cordially invited to contact ... Donna LaRoche, M.Ed., Professional Organizer Serving Cape Cod, Metro West and Eastern Massachusetts Contact 617.640.2366 www.energizeandorganize.com  Do you dread visiting your laundry room? Maybe you’d have more fun sorting your whites if the space was more organized! Here are a few tips for making it a pleasant and inviting atmosphere.
• There’s no reason a laundry room has to be dark and dingy. Paint the walls a light, happy color. Make sure to use the maximum-allowed bulb wattage in your light fixtures. Add task lighting, as needed, some inexpensive, framed artwork to the walls, and a clock or timer. • If you need more storage space, add a couple of rows of shelving above the washer/dryer. Keep laundry necessities — such as detergent, stain removal pens, fabric softener, an iron, starch, and bleach — within easy reach so you can grab and go. Use baskets and boxes (labeled, of course) to hold not-as-frequently used things such as clothespins, old rags, and your pile of missing-a-mate socks. If you prefer hidden storage, install some inexpensive cabinets (available at any home improvement store) on one wall. • Drying racks are nice if you enjoy line-drying your clothes. There is even a variety of wall-mounted, fold-out options available that will save floor space. • To make laundry day easier, instruct your family to place whites in a white basket or hamper and darks in a colored basket. You’ll never have to sort again! If you dry clean frequently, add a separate basket for that, as well. • Place clean, folded laundry in color-coded or labeled laundry baskets. Have family members retrieve their baskets from the laundry room, or deliver them to their rooms, so they can put away their own stuff. Many hands make light work! © 2020 Articles on Demand™ Remember, if you need professional organizing assistance and support with your family life, home and/or office, you are cordially invited to contact ... Donna LaRoche, M.Ed., Professional Organizer Serving Cape Cod, Metro West and Eastern Massachusetts Contact 617.640.2366 www.energizeandorganize.com  Does your home have crayon overload? Work together with your little ones to round up and donate the crayons to organizations that need them such as art programs, battered women shelters, homeless shelters, hospitals and low income day care centers.
You can also bundle them up and send them to Crazy Crayons LLC, which makes new crayons out of donated scraps. To date, this company has kept 120,000 pounds of the waxy art implements from the landfills. Visit www.crazycrayons.com for details. © 2020 Posts on Demand™ Remember, if you need professional organizing assistance and support with your family life, home and/or office, you are cordially invited to contact ... Donna LaRoche, M.Ed., Professional Organizer Serving Cape Cod, Metro West and Eastern Massachusetts Contact 617.640.2366 www.energizeandorganize.com Energize and Organize: Monthly Falmouth Community Spotlight - Getting to Know Neighborhood Falmouth1/1/2020
 Source: Neighborhood Falmouth website Mission Statement Neighborhood Falmouth Inc. is a community-based membership organization whose mission is to provide information and services that will help members live independently, safely, and comfortably in their own homes for as long as possible. What We Do One phone call or email from a member to the Neighborhood Falmouth office initiates action to provide services and answer questions. Volunteers provide rides to appointments and for grocery shopping, assist with computers and other electronic devices, help with light household maintenance, and offer additional services. Visit www.neighborhoodfalmouth.org to learn more about this incredible community organization supporting Seniors in Falmouth! _______________________________________________________________________________ Here are some very useful donating and downsizing tips and recommendations from Neighborhood Falmouth. Source: www.neighborhoodfalmouth.org Book Donations
Clothing and Household Goods
Electronics Disposal Once a year the Lawrence School Band & Chorus and Falmouth Band Parents sponsor an Electronics Disposal Day. The event is held early spring in the Lawrence School Parking Lot, 113 Lakeview Ave, Falmouth. Items accepted include televisions of any size, computers, monitors, stereos, phones, air conditioners, large appliances and more. Disposal cost is $10 per computer component, $20 per television (any size), $20 per large appliance, and $1 for cell phones. Disposal of ink and toner cartridges is free. Data destruction on computers is guaranteed. Eyeglasses The Falmouth Lions Club collects used eyeglasses to help people around the world who have sight issues. There are drop boxes in several Falmouth locations including the Falmouth Senior Center, Walmart, CVS, Stop & Shop, and Roche Brothers. Fabric The Woods Hole Library has a fabric and notions sale each year on Superbowl Sunday. For more information about the sale contact the library at 508-548-8961 Household Hazardous Waste Collections Barnstable County has a regular rotation of hazardous waste events. There is one annually in Falmouth (late spring), and four per year on the Upper Cape. The Town of Falmouth website shows current dates and locations. Medical Equipment
Paper Records Once a year in the spring, Neighborhood Falmouth holds a shredding event at Lawrence School. Cost is $10 per box, 10 box limit. Proceeds benefit Neighborhood Falmouth. Phone: 508-564-7543 Prescription Drugs Unused prescription and over-the counter medications can be disposed of in the Drug Drop-Off Box located in the the lobby of the Falmouth Police Department, 750 Main Street Falmouth, Phone: 774-255-4527 Swap Shop The Swap Shop, located within the town transfer station at 458 Thomas B. Landers Road, lets residents drop off unwanted items and take other items as needed out of the shop. Open Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday mornings. Dump sticker or entrance fee. Phone: 508-457-9353 Estate Sales, Yard Sales & Consignments
Remember, if you need professional organizing assistance and support with your family life, home and/or office, you are cordially invited to contact ... Donna LaRoche, M.Ed., Professional Organizer Serving Cape Cod, Metro West and Eastern Massachusetts Contact 617.640.2366 www.energizeandorganize.com  Wishing you and your loved ones deepest well being and happiness! Happy Holidays!
Remember, if you need professional organizing assistance and support with your family life, home and/or office, you are cordially invited to contact ... Donna LaRoche, M.Ed., Professional Organizer Serving Cape Cod, Metro West and Eastern Massachusetts Contact 617.640.2366 www.energizeandorganize.com  'Tis the season of fun and festive holiday celebrations ... Thanksgiving ... Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, New Year's Eve and more!
It's very important to give your financial situation an annual review to assess your areas of strength and areas of challenge. Here are some tips for you to consider as you work to achieve and maintain financial wellness. 1. Take Home Pay and the 50-30-20 Rule
2. Emergency Savings and Retirement Savings Emergency savings
3. Net Worth = Assets vs Debt
4. Credit Scores and Credit Reports Credit Scores
Remember, if you need professional organizing assistance and support with your family life, home and/or office, you are cordially invited to contact ... Donna LaRoche, M.Ed., Professional Organizer Serving Cape Cod, Metro West and Eastern Massachusetts Contact 617.640.2366 www.energizeandorganize.com  Coats for Kids Drive (and adults, too) by Anton's Cleaners, Jordan's Furniture and Enterprise Bank Community Service Announcement ...
A warm coat isn't a luxury...it is a necessity. In our very own community, there are thousands of individuals who will not have a warm winter coat without the assistance of programs such as Coats for Kids. Our mission is to ensure that anyone who needs a coat this winter season will have one. Items that you or I may often take for granted, make a difference in the lives of the less fortunate around us. A warm coat for a child means everything to a parent who may otherwise have to choose between putting food on the table or buying warm winter coats for their growing family. Please look through your closets and bring your gently-worn warm winter coats. We'll be accepting gently-worn warm winter coats in all 43 of our Anton's Cleaners locations. All donated coats are cleaned free of charge by Anton's Cleaners and distributed through a network of distribution partners made up of local social service agencies, schools, and nonprofits. Some of the organizations include Massachusetts Community Action Programs (MASSCAP), Salvation Army, Middlesex Human Service Agency, Women’s Lunch Place, BU Medical Center Outreach Van Project, Wish Project, Community Giving Tree, Mental Health Association of Greater Lowell, Strafford County Community Action, Catholic Charities, to name just a few. Coats are needed for all ages: children, teens, adults, and infants. Make your donation at any Anton's Cleaners, Jordan's Furniture, or Enterprise Bank location through January 12th! Source: Anton's Cleaners Remember if you need assistance and support with your family life, home and/or office, you are cordially invited to contact ... Donna LaRoche, M.Ed., Professional Organizer Serving Cape Cod, Metro West and Eastern Massachusetts Contact 617.640.2366 www.energizeandorganize.com  Never put the following in your dishwasher ...
1. Aluminum Cookware - Hard Anodized (can discolor) 2. Bronze or copper cookware (can dent) 3. Cast-iron cookware (can rust) 4. Sharp knives (can dull) 5. Wooden cutting boards (can crack and warp) Loading your dishwasher ... 1. Silverware Basket (group like with like to save time when unloading) 2. Top Rack (glass and plastic items) 3. Bottom Rack (casseroles, cookie sheets, dinner plates, pans, platters and pots) Remember, if you need professional organizing assistance and support with your family life, home and/or office, you are cordially invited to contact ... Donna LaRoche, M.Ed., Professional Organizer Serving Cape Cod, Metro West and Eastern Massachusetts Contact 617.640.2366 www.energizeandorganize.com  May National Geographic Society's Joe Ferguson and Ann Judge and all who perished on 9/11 Rest in Peace and may their loved ones find comfort and joy in their most cherished memories of the love, laughter and light shared together and deeply treasured for all time.
 If your mornings are chaotic, follow these get-organized tips to ensure out-the-door ease.
• Make mornings flow smoothly by getting everything ready the night before. Have school bags packed and placed by the door and tomorrow’s outfits laid out. Pack the non-perishable parts of the lunches, so you can simply pop in a sandwich in the morning. Set the breakfast table. • Create a checklist of kids’ to-do’s (make bed, comb hair, brush teeth, etc.), and post it on the fridge or bathroom mirror. Likewise, create an “out-the-door” list of items they need to take to school, and post it on or near the exit door. You might include things like homework, lunch, snacks, library books, instruments, and gym shoes. (Some neat, ready-made checklists called Get Your Gear are available from www.simplyordered.com.) • Organize your kids’ arrival. Declare a proper destination for backpacks and school bags in the entryway, install hooks at a kid-friendly height, and have your children put bags there as they arrive home. • Teach kids to empty out their backpacks right away after school. Immediately bring homework to their designated study spot, place papers that need parental review in a designated basket or tray, and put lunch containers in the kitchen. Encourage them to place coats, shoes, and hats in a designated spot to avoid frantic morning searches. © 2019 Articles on Demand™ Remember, if you need professional organizing assistance and support with your family life, home and/or office, you are cordially invited to contact ... Donna LaRoche, M.Ed., Professional Organizer Serving Cape Cod, Metro West and Eastern Massachusetts Contact 617.640.2366 www.energizeandorganize.com  There is no time like the present to declutter and downsize to live the life you envision for yourself and your loved ones. Wondering where to begin? Take inventory and make a checklist of your belongings by category then ... Ready, Set, GO!
Consider how you interact with your belongings and ask yourself, "In the past six to twelve months, have I worn, read, handled, needed, used and/or admired a particular belonging?" If not, make a plan to declutter your belongings by categories then donate/sell/recycle/share with family and friends your unwanted items. Decluttering Categories
Remember, if you need professional organizing assistance and support with your family life, home and/or office, you are cordially invited to contact ... Donna LaRoche, M.Ed., Professional Organizer Serving Cape Cod, Metro West and Eastern Massachusetts Contact 617.640.2366 www.energizeandorganize.com  Have you given thought to what the heat index is today? The heat index combines the air temperature with the humidity to provide a number for what the air actually feels like. Today the heat index is off the charts high!
What to do to stay safe? 1. Plan ahead. If you need to go outside, take a cold shower before leaving your home. Be sure to be well hydrated and carry extra water with you wherever you go today. 2. Refrigerator action - day and night. Put some damp, soaked washcloths in the fridge and use them throughout the day and later tonight in bed on your forehead, arms, legs, wrists and the back of your neck. 3. Stay out of the kitchen. No cooking today ... eat cool meals to avoid heating up your stove, countertop range and microwave. 4. Unplug. Did you know that plugged in electronic devices, even if they are not powered on, still use electricity and give off heat. Unplug whenever possible. 5. Shade relief. Pull down shades and/or close curtains to help keep the bright, hot sun from shining in and heating up your room(s). If you are in the market to replace your window treatments, the Department of Energy recommends medium-colored draperies with white backings that can reduce heat gain by 33 percent. 6. Water bottles, fan and bowl trick. Fill two or three water bottles with water and freeze them. Place the frozen contents in a bowl and blow a fan on them to cool yourself and loved ones off. 7. Lotions and potions. Keep your skin cool by place lotions and moisturizers in your refrigerator and apply as needed. 8. Window awnings. Did you know that awnings on south-facing windows can reduce the solar heat in your home by 65 percent and by 77 percent on west-facing windows according to the DOE website? 9. AC and ceiling fans. If you have both, run them at the same time to increase energy efficiency. 10. Pets. If your pets must go outside, limit the time and be sure to keep them out of the sun and in the shade. Have plenty of extra water available for your pets, too. Throughout the day and this heat wave, take good care and be sure to conduct wellness checks on your family, friends and pets. Remember, if you need professional organizing assistance and support with your family life, home and/or office, you are cordially invited to contact ... Donna LaRoche, M.Ed., Professional Organizer Serving Cape Cod, Metro West and Eastern Massachusetts Contact 617.640.2366 www.energizeandorganize.com 
Remember, if you need professional organizing assistance and support with your family life, home and/or office, you are cordially invited to contact ... Donna LaRoche, M.Ed., Professional Organizer Serving Cape Cod, Metro West and Eastern Massachusetts Contact 617.640.2366 www.energizeandorganize.com  Recently I read about Ellen Bennett in the New York Times. Ellen, the Los Angeles-based founder and C.E.O. of the culinary and lifestyle brand Hedley & Bennett, has an "everything in it's place" kitchen" that makes the organizer in everyone smile. Here are a few of her best tips.
1. Cookware - four category groups sorted, labeled and stored in separate drawers and cupboards
2. Refrigerator Contents - zone sorted by flavor and function
3. Countertop Essentials
4. Spices
5. Kitchen gadgets - kept to a minimum
How do you have your kitchen organized? We are all unique and unrepeatable and so are our kitchens! Create an "in the zone, in it's place" organizational system that works for you and let the kitchen chemistry fun begin! Remember, if you need professional organizing assistance and support with your family life, home and/or office, you are cordially invited to contact ... Donna LaRoche, M.Ed., Professional Organizer Serving Cape Cod, Metro West and Eastern Massachusetts Contact 617.640.2366 www.energizeandorganize.com  Neighborhood Falmouth Annual Paper Shredding Event
Date: Saturday, June 8th Time: 9:30 AM - Noon (or until the shredders have reached capacity) Place: Lawrence School Parking Lot Details
Proceeds benefits Neighborhood Falmouth! www.neighborhoodfalmouth.org Neighborhood Falmouth Contact Information Phone: 508.564.7543 Email: director@neighborhoodfalmouth.org Remember, if you need professional organizing assistance and support with your family life, home and/or office, you are cordially invited to contact ... Donna LaRoche, M.Ed., Professional Organizer Serving Cape Cod, Metro West and Eastern Massachusetts Contact 617.640.2366 www.energizeandorganize.com |
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