 Falmouth Seaside Photo: Donna LaRoche Where's a good greeting card when you need one? To avoid last-minute dashes to the store, stock up on a dozen great greeting cards today. Grab some funny birthday cards, a few touching "thinking of you" cards, and a couple of "get-well" and "sorry for your loss" cards. Then, keep them in a handy spot along with stamps so you can send off a quick card in no time.
If you would like to grace your loved ones with positively beautiful notecards you are cordially invited to visit my sister Jennifer LaRoche's nature and fine art photography website at www.stampandnotephoto.com Jennifer is portrait and event photographer and you are also warmly welcomed to visit www.jenniferlarochephotography.com to view her exquisite work! 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  Organizing a basement, attic, or garage is a great opportunity to pare down. Wondering what to do with the leftovers? Here are a few options:
Donate: Give yourself a tax break and help others in need by donating items in good condition to a local charity. Some organizations, such as Vietnam Veterans of America, offer pick-up service. Give to family/friends: If you find a treasure that may be meaningful to a loved one, offer it to them. (But let them know it’s okay to decline. Remember, we don’t want to add clutter to their lives!) Garage sale: If you have a large amount of good-condition cast-offs (especially baby and kids’ items, tools, or other highly desirable stuff), consider a garage sale. But remember, sales are a lot of work, so this option is only good if you have time to dedicate to pricing, setting up, promoting, and staffing a garage sale. eBay/Craigslist: Computer savvy? Try listing furniture, antiques, and other higher-value items online. Or take treasures to an antiques dealer. FreeCycle: With over 4,000 groups across the globe, this nonprofit connects people who are giving and getting stuff for free in their own towns. Its mission is to reduce waste, save precious resources, and ease the burden on landfills. Visit www.freecycle.org for details. Trash: Rent a dumpster if you have a lot of unsalvageable junk. Or hire 1-800-GOT-JUNK, North America’s largest junk removal service, to do it for you. They load the truck, and then recycle and dispose of your stuff as required. © 2018 Articles on Demand™ Remember, if you need assistance and support with your family life, home and/or office organization, you are cordially invited to contact ... Donna LaRoche, M.Ed., Professional Organizer Serving Cape Cod, MetroWest and Eastern Massachusetts Contact: 617.640.2366 www.energizeandorganize.com  It is not enough if you are busy. The question is, “What are you busy about?”
— Henry David Thoreau With our to-do lists ever-growing, assigning tasks to our calendars can be a simple way to manage time and reduce stress. The simple act of writing down the things we need to do releases us from having to remember it all “upstairs.” Below are some tips to help you successfully manage your tasks and calendar. • Be realistic about how long each task will take. • Learn to say “no.” • Delegate. When you authorize others to take over some of your activities, you free yourself to focus on where you can make your best contribution. • For those little things that take only a minute or two (such as putting away your dirty dishes or signing a permission slip), sometimes it’s best to just do them right away. • If the task will take 15 minutes or more, choose a specific time in which to do it. Schedule an appointment with yourself. You may need to communicate to your coworkers or family that you are unavailable due to scheduled work. • Without a place to “assign" tasks, you'll always be in a reactive mode. Use your calendar diligently. Do things on your time, when you are ready. You are in command. • Don’t double-book yourself or plan your appointments too close together. Planning for delays will keep you calm and allow you to enjoy the current moment. Forget about multitasking for a while; simply enjoy the pleasures of each task you do. © 2018 Articles on Demand™ Remember, if you need assistance and support with your family life, home and/or office organization, you are cordially invited to contact ... Donna LaRoche, M.Ed., Professional Organizer Serving Cape Cod, MetroWest and Eastern Massachusetts Contact: 617.640.2366 www.energizeandorganize.com  Are your taxes filed for 2017? Today is the last day to file your 2017 taxes without an extension. Hope you and your loved ones are all set!
Taxes filed? Well done! Not yet? Time to file for an extension ASAP! Next up ... the ongoing paperwork retention question of what to keep and what to toss? Here are some resources for you to review as you make those important decisions.
Always be sure to consult with your own accountant for specific information pertaining to your financial needs and requirements. 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  Spring cleaning routines and rituals have begun in many households around town and here on the Cape as we all bid our challenging winter adieu and warmly welcome spring!
Neighborhood Falmouth, dedicated to helping Falmouth Seniors stay safely in their homes, is hosting their annual Secure Document Shredding Event on Saturday, April 7 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Lawrence School parking lot! Come support this wonderful community organization and tackle/eliminate your paper management challenges at the same time! You may choose from two services ...
Additional Details ...
Questions? Contact Neighborhood Falmouth at ... Email: director@neighborhoodfalmouth.org Phone: 508.564.7543 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  Donna LaRoche became a professional organizer when she retired from teaching but finds her teaching skills apply to her second career as well. Professional Organizer Offers Tips For The New Year
By ANDREA F. CARTER/FALMOUTH ENTERPRISE, Jan 5, 2018 Heralding in the new year for many means committing to a new round of resolutions. Organization is a popular goal this time of year, sending people to the book store or library for advice from professional organizers. Those in Falmouth do not need go far for some tips. Donna LaRoche of Energize and Organize in Falmouth can offer some guidance for bringing in the new year with less clutter. Ms. LaRoche describes her role as a facilitator, working with people in their homes and offices to develop organizational systems and habits. Keeping clutter at bay not only can free up space but also time, bringing a sense of ease and renewed productivity to a person’s life. “We all live very busy lives,” Ms. LaRoche said. “At the end of the day, wouldn’t we all like more time for pleasurable pursuits.” The first step going into the new year is to do away with the idea of a “resolution.” Ms. LaRoche prefers the terms “goal” or “intention” which have more positive connotations. Often resolution can refer to an action people failed to meet the previous year she said. Establishing a goal is more hopeful, looking forward instead of back. “That’s what makes goals and intentions so exciting.” Ms. LaRoche said. “It’s pursuing a new adventure to bring calm and harmony and balance to your life.” Her advice, however, is to start small. Goals must be realistic and attainable. She offers the acronym, “SMART” as a guidepost. An intention should be specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time bound. For example she may suggest that clients begin with organizing a closet or even one cupboard. Or if they are tackling a larger space such as a garage or basement, she helps them break down these areas into zones. “Sometimes we lose sight of the fact that the clutter didn’t accumulate overnight and that it won’t unclutter overnight,” she said. The idea of working in zones refers back to her 35-year career as a kindergarten and 1st grade teacher with classrooms that had different stations for reading, writing, painting and block corners. “If people think in zones, they are very successful,” she said. One of the more common concerns among her clients is handling paper clutter. “Paper management is always big, piles to files,” she said. Even in the electronic age, an abundant amount of paper mail is going through houses and offices each day. “Literally some clients have bags of mail unopened,” she said. The more paper builds-up, the harder it is to get started. Her recommendation is to create a three-tiered filing system where papers are organized based on those that need some sort of action, reference materials, such as owners’ manuals, and archived records such as birth certificates or marriage licenses. She also suggests that people stand by the recycling bin while opening mail to toss out the junk mail or empty envelopes immediately. “It’s as simple as those three systems to bring order to all that chaos,” Ms. LaRoche said. “Clutter is really about postponed decisions.” When going through a space such as a closet or cupboard she has the client takes everything out and divide items into categories to keep, recycle or toss out. Bringing the clutter out in the open, however, can be overwhelming. “Getting organized is hard work and requires persistence,” Ms. La Roche said. She also suggests placing like items together in a space, such as a refrigerator, pantry or closet. This allows clients to visualize supplies they need or have enough of. If a client has multiple pairs of black slacks, it is not time to buy more but perhaps time to donate pairs to a clothing drive or to an organization. This can also be a good lesson to share with children. After a birthday when they receive an abundance of new toys, donating items they do not need or use can feel good and teach them generosity and organization as well, Ms. La Roche said. Being organized can save people money. People tend to buy more when they cannot keep track of items at home. She mentioned one client who had eight staplers strewn about the house. Certain clients have run into credit issues because they have lost track of unpaid bills in a paper pile. Ms. LaRoche also lends her expertise to students, whose lack of organizational skills are inhibiting their success at school. She mentioned one student who had received Ds and Fs on a quarter report card. When she met with him, they found a majority of his work still stashed in his backpack. His grades improved after she helped him develop a system to keep track of his assignments and turn them in on time. “This was literally disorganization for this child, who was struggling when he could have been thriving,” Ms. LaRoche said. Her work with elderly clients often involves downsizing from a family home to an apartment or condominium. Ms. LaRoche realizes that one size does not fit all when it comes to solutions. Techniques must fit the personality and lifestyle of the client. Ms. LaRoche added that she is not there to judge or tell a person what to throw away. Just as building on students’ strengths was something she employed as a teacher, she now uses this idea as an organizer to help people develop organizational habits that work for them. “Part of what I am doing is a lot of listening,” Ms. LaRoche said. “The client is telling me what works and doesn’t work for them, and then we devise a plan.” Her suggestions can be a less extreme alternate to some celebrity professional organizers such as Marie Kondo, whose method, which ask if items spark joy, can cut people’s stash by three-quarters or Peter Walsh, who suggests that people discard anything they have not used for 12 months. “That may be too much for some clients,” Ms. LaRoche said. Ms. LaRoche said that patience is required in developing a new habits or behavior, such as storing an item in the same place each day. It can take about 30 days for a behavior to become a habit she said. And there are times when people may backslide but that is expected and okay. A motto she brings from the classroom is “Working toward excellence not perfection.” The variety of people she works with keeps the job interesting. She recommends that people who are pressured to seek her service from family or friends or are not ready to dig into the job should wait for the right time. Often these clients call her back when they are ready. “You need to have ownership for yourself, so it matters to you,” Ms. LaRoche said. Ms. LaRoche always had organizational skills and they were noticed by her siblings when she was growing up. Her sister suggested this second career path to her. Teachers Ms. LaRoche worked with in Belmont also asked for her organizational advice in their classrooms regularly. After discovering the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals online and joining the New England chapter, she took coursework through the organization to become a professional organizer. “I am a lifelong learner,” she said. “The transfer of teaching skills to organizational skills was right there in front of me. For me there is joy in helping people and seeing their joy in attainment.” Ms. La Roche said she also knew that she wanted to move to Falmouth for retirement. She had visited family here over the years. Since arriving she has bought her first home and has become involved in various organizations such as the Falmouth Newcomers club and is playing pickleball. “It feels like coming home to me because I have been coming here all my life,” Ms. LaRoche said. 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  Best to get these wellness supplies out of the bathroom cabinet and well organized! Best Weapons Against Flu: Hydration and Elevation is an informative article published in the New York Times on January 12, 2018. Read on and take action!
Are you and your loved ones prepared for the winter allergy/cold/flu season? There are all kinds of viruses going around at the moment so be sure to take the time now while you are feeling fine to get and be organized in the event you and/or your loved ones do come down with something. Here's how ... Step 1: Gather supplies. Gather all of your medications and medical supplies in one place. Step 2: Sort by category. Categories might include Cold, Congestion and Cough Remedies, Digestive Health Remedies, Fever Remedies, First Aid Remedies, Food Remedies, Miscellaneous Remedies, Prescriptions, Vitamins … Step 3: Examine expiration dates. Carefully read the labels and throw out any items that have expired. To learn where you can safely dispose of your discarded medications, call your local police station and/or visit …. https://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback/ Note: "The National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, (April 28, 2018 - 10AM to 2PM) aims to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse of medications. Please check back on April 1, 2018 to locate collection sites near you." Step 4: Containerize and Store. Group like items in labeled baskets and store the baskets in your linen closet, kitchen cabinet and/or other designated location. Remember that prolonged exposure to heat and moisture can affect the effectiveness of medications so be sure to store them away from children and in a location other than the bathroom. Step 5: Take Inventory and Stock Up Do you have a variety of these supplies in your home and/or office? Colds, Congestion and Coughs Remedies
Digestive Health Remedies
Fever Remedies
First Aid
Food
Miscellaneous
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 Energize and Organize: Envisioning and Creating Harmony and Balance in Your Life and Surroundings1/8/2018
 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 Energize and Organize: Have Fun Preparing for Next Year's Holiday Season and Happy 2018 New Year!1/1/2018
 There is still work to do after the holidays are over. Keep everything organized after the holiday season and you’ll ensure that next year’s events are merrier than ever.
• Have an un-decorating party with family and friends. Take time to donate or throw out holiday ornaments and decorations that you no longer love. Play your favorite music, serve treats, and enjoy time with your guests. • Invest in sturdy organizing containers to neatly separate and store tree trimmings and lights. Or to save money, use large cardboard boxes and cut handle holds in opposite sides. (Be sure to store in a dry area of your home.) Keep all decorations in one area of your home. Try to limit your decorations to one or two containers. • As you un-decorate, make a list of decorations you want to purchase for next year. Buy them at post-holiday sales — along with holiday cards and gift wrap — but avoid purchasing items not on your list. You’ll be all set to write your cards over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend next year, beating the rush! • Update your holiday card list so you’ll be ready for next year. Add, modify, or delete as needed so your list will be ready to use next year. Or consider keying names and addresses into your computer and printing labels each year instead of hand writing envelopes. © 2017 Articles on Demand™ 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  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  If your mornings feel crazy, then prep in the evenings. For example, before you hit the hay, set the table for breakfast, get backpacks and bags packed and ready to go by the door, put all non-perishable food items into the lunch boxes, set up the coffee maker, and select and lay out tomorrow’s outfits. -Easy ETips
The holiday season is filled with special moments and memories. Make your mornings easier during this festive time so you will have more time to enjoy the season with your loved ones. 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   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  Holiday gift-giving doesn’t have to be a pain! Follow these tips to save time and money.
• Shop early and record gifts in your planner or a small notebook so you don’t forget what you purchased. Store those gifts in a central location so they’re not scattered throughout your home. If you want to keep track of your holiday budget, write down the amount spent on each gift. Actually knowing what you have spent will keep you within your budget. • Shop alone. Research shows that you’ll spend more if you shop with friends, children, or your spouse. And shop with a purpose. Avoid aimlessly wandering the mall by preparing a list of appropriate gift ideas. Leave your credit cards at home and pay with cash instead. • If you find a great gift, buy it for multiple people on your list. And buy a few general presents — scented candles, restaurant gift certificates, stationery sets — to give to those unexpected guests who come bearing gifts. • Avoid lines by shopping on weekdays, preferably early in the day. Or avoid all lines by purchasing online or from catalogs. Avoid the post office on Saturdays and during lunch hours. Purchase stamps online at www.usps.com. Then, help your family and friends stay organized. This year, give gifts that don’t add clutter to your loved ones’ homes. Here are some ideas to fit a variety of budgets. • Bird feeder and seed • An assortment of stamps, note cards, and pens • Movie passes or museum membership • Romantic meal-in-a-basket: a jar of pasta sauce, a box of pasta, a bottle of wine, and a classical CD • Gift certificate for session with a professional organizer, personal coach or Feng Shui consultant • Tickets to the local chamber orchestra or upcoming play • Gift certificate for a movie rental, plus popcorn and candy • Coupon good for babysitting or a homemade dinner • Cooking lessons at a local cooking school • Homemade jams, salsas, or soups in pretty Mason jars • Homemade compilation CDs burned from your favorite tunes • Memories: make a memory book containing your thoughts on a special person in your life. Or tell your life’s story and lessons. (This is great for grandparents to give the kids.) © 2017 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 look forward to the holidays, or do you panic with the thought of all you have to do? Getting organized is the key to managing a fantastic, stress-free season. Thoughtful planning, deliberate delegation, focusing on simplicity, and slowing down to enjoy family and friends will help you survive — and actually enjoy — the upcoming weeks.
• Make a list: Start a running list of “to do’s” that need to be completed before the holidays. If you break your large projects into smaller tasks, it will make things seem more manageable. • Delegate: Stop trying to do everything yourself. Assign each task from the list you created to a specific family member. Then, ask yourself, “Where is it important that I spend my time? How do I want to spend my time?” Delete or delegate everything else. For example, get someone else to clean the house or let the deli do the cooking. This doesn’t have to be expensive; instead of a fancy turkey dinner, plan an affordable sandwich buffet or make-your-own pizza party. Or, invite guests to each bring their favorite dishes for a potluck. • Say “no” sometimes: It’s okay to say “no.” Company parties, family get-togethers, all-day shopping excursions, cookie bakes — they’ll zap your energy fast! Is it time for a reality check on your priorities? Let your involvement in activities be aligned with your goals, not by the open slots of your schedule. • Schedule time for you: Book personal time first. If you fail to schedule the time initially, it won't be there later! Block off an afternoon, an hour, or even ten minutes to enjoy what energizes you and lifts your spirits this holiday season. © 2017 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  Is "guilt" keeping you from creating the life and surroundings you envision for yourself and loved ones? If you have unwanted/unused/unloved items in your home and/or office that are creating visual and mental clutter in your life, let them go!
Take a look in your basement, attic, garage, cupboards and closets. Are you finding all kinds of items that you simply don't want/need any longer. Give thanks for the service of that item and donate it to an organization that supports people in need who would truly benefit from your generosity. 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  "Take Back Your Time Day is October 24. How many hours each day do you spend on your phone, tablet, computer, and television? Commit to unplugging today. You'll be amazed at your productivity, and you stress-level will decrease. Or perhaps you'll get to spend some time doing what you truly love. If you can't pull the plug all day, set aside at least an hour or two." © 2017 Post 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  "Sick of receipts cluttering up your purse, car, or counters? Download the handy app called "Shoeboxed." You'll be able to snap photos of receipts with your cell phone and then ditch the paper receipts. The digitized receipts are archived and searchable in a single, secure location, accessible via web or phone whenever you need them. Visit www.shoeboxed.com or search for "shoeboxes" on the App Store."
© 2017 Post 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  Did you know that you can donate hearing aids and share the gift of hearing with others? Place old hearing aids in a crush-proof box, old pill bottle, or other secure package and mail to Starkey Hearing Foundation, ATTN: Hearing Aid Recycling, 6700 Washington Avenue South, Eden Prarie, MN 55344. For more information, email recycling@starkeyfoundation.org
© 2017 Post 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  Source: FEMA Every day there is extensive new coverage about human suffering and property damage caused by hurricanes, floods, fires, earthquakes and other natural disasters occurring around the country and the world. What can you and are you doing to help?
September is National Preparedness Month. You are invited to visit and share the following informative websites for important information about how you and your loved ones, neighbors, colleagues, community members and others can get and stay prepared for disasters should they occur in your geographic location.
Here in Falmouth, you can get up to the minute emergency preparedness information at...
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  Time Timer Clock “Back to School” season can be overwhelming if you aren’t prepared. The key is intentionality about where, when and how you track and complete the various tasks that creep back onto the calendar each September. School already started in your area? These tips can help you dig out of the disorganization and bring order to your home and life.
1. Establish calendar central.
2. Create a homework space.
3. Run to the in-zone.
4. Establish a bedtime routine and stick to it.
5. Prep for Tomorrow Tonight
Note: I used the Time Timer clock in my classroom for years and found it to be an outstanding teaching and learning tools for students! 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  Recycling is an on-going part of the eco-organizing process. You can do your part by starting with small steps to make an important difference!
Stash small recycling bins in locations where you handle papers and you'll see how easy it is to recycle papers and cardboard rather than tossing them in a garbage can. You can even keep a small recycling bin in the bathroom to catch all the recyclable paper, cardboard and plastics you use there. Everything from toilet paper tubes to shampoo bottles can be recycled! Be sure that everyone who lives with you is well-versed on your new system. © 2017 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  August 15th is National Relaxation Day. Even if you can't dedicate the entire day to yourself, try to set aside at least an hour or two. Schedule a mani-pedi, take yourself out to a ballgame, see a movie, soak in a relaxing bath, play Pickle Ball with friends, read a magazine, have lunch with a pal, take a walk or do whatever else brings you joy. You're worth it!
© 2017 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  Are you a wine aficionado? If you've collected an abundance of corks, they can be recycled at ReCORK.
Simply save up at least 15 pounds (you might have to recruit corks from family and friends) and request a pre-paid shipping label. Visit www.recork.org for details. Many Whole Foods Markets accept corks for recycling, too. Here on Cape Cod you may drop off your cork collection at the the White Cedar Swamp Redemption and Recycling Center, 209 Upper County Road, South Dennis, MA . Call 207.608.1459 to confirm drop-off hours. 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 can save time, money, and natural resources by choosing environmentally friendly cleaning methods for your home. A microfiber cloth (available at any discount or grocery store) will do a swell job of removing dust from all hard surfaces, eliminating a need for those pricey dusting sprays and non-recyclable paper towels. Let your clothes dryer take a rest, and opt instead for line-drying when the weather is nice, saving electricity and giving your clothes a shot of fresh-smelling, deodorizing sunshine. Instead of buying air fresheners, open some windows and add plants which absorb chemicals and odors. And clear out clutter — it just gathers dust and makes cleaning more time-consuming.
Most cleaning products that you purchase at the store are toxic. Look at the labels on bottles such as toilet bowl cleaner, bathroom disinfectant, and furniture polish. You’ll see words like Poison, Danger, Warning, and Caution. If you’d rather not bring those chemicals into your home, it’s easy and inexpensive to create your own homemade, non-toxic cleaning products. Simple combinations of baking soda, vinegar, borax, and essential oils make a variety of cleaners, which can be used on mirrors, windows, toilets, sinks, floors, and more, are effective, cheap, and safe. Toilet Cleaner: Sprinkle 1/4 cup borax (available in a box in the cleaning aisle of your grocery store) or baking soda and a few drops of essential oil (eucalyptus or tea tree oil are antiseptic) into the toilet, scrub, let sit for a few minutes, scrub again, and flush. Floor Cleaner: In a squirt bottle, create a 50/50 mix of white vinegar and water, add a few drops of essential oil (peppermint or lavender are nice), squirt cleaner onto floor, and mop up. Glass Cleaner: Club soda in a squirt bottle works well, as does an equal mixture of water and vinegar. Wipe down with a lint-free cloth or crumpled newspapers. Tub and Sink Cleaner: Shake some baking soda mixed with a a few drops of essential oil (orange or lime smell fresh) into sink or tub, wipe with damp sponge, rinse. Wood furniture polish: Add some olive oil and a few drops of vinegar on a cloth and rub in. By creating your own cleaning products, you’ll keep your home, family, and environment safe. (Use common sense caution — even though these cleaning products are gentle, it’s best to keep borax and essential oils out of young children’s reach.) You’ll never have to worry about harmful fumes or chemicals with these great cleaners. And you’ll save lots of cupboard space, money, and time by simplifying your cleaning routine. A good resource for more non-toxic, inexpensive household cleaning recipes is the book Clean House, Clean Planet by Karen Logan. © 2017 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  If your to-do list is ten pages long (or worse yet, not written down but cluttering your brain), it's hard to figure out where to start. When the finish line is nowhere in sight, it's often hard to find the beginning. As you're writing your to-do list, make sure to break tasks down into realistic-sized chunks. Completion dates are important, so assign specific tasks to specific days.
© 2017 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 |
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