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Archives for February 2008
Online toy rental in the spirit of Netflix
Reader Lorena sent us a link to a wonderful article about Baby Plays, an internet-based toy rental company for U.S. residents. From the article:
“Baby Plays … allows parents to receive four or six toys in the mail every month, assembled and ready for playtime. Call it Netflix for the toddler set.”
There is a flat fee based on the number of rentals ($29, $32, and $36 packages), and all of the toys are guaranteed to be lead-free. According to the article, “the toys are sanitized with Clorox wipes and loaded with fresh batteries before being shrink wrapped and boxed for shipment.” Additionally, all toys come with a postage-paid box for returning the toy when your child tires of playing with it.
Toy rental sounds like a terrific idea for keeping play room clutter under control, especially if you don’t have a toy lending library like the one discussed in today’s earlier post. This service also seems like a perfect gift a grandparent could give a grandchild.
Posted by Erin on Feb 19, 2008 |
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Toy lending library
If there is one thing I remember from when I was a young pup, it was my all too fast boredom with toys that I accumulated. I would eagerly anticipate a trip to the toy store so I could pick out a new toy, only to have it lose its appeal in about two weeks. One Christmas I was so psyched to get Laser Tag, but upon receiving it I realized that those slick commercials made the thing look so much cooler than it actually was. Laser Tag found a quick exit from my toy rotation and it stayed in the basement for quite some time.
Fast forward 20-plus years later, and I find my daughter in the same boat. Yes, she’s younger than I was when I lusted for my very own Laser Tag set, but she definitely gets bored of the many toys that she has at her disposal. We luckily have a great service within walking distance of our home, the Pittsburgh Toy Lending Library, to help curb the toy accumulation problem. It lets little ones play with all of the library’s toys, and they can check toys out and take them home if they like. The service is very inexpensive and it is operated by an all-volunteer staff.
Hopefully, your city or town has something very similar (if not, check out our second post today, which discusses a national toy lending program). For those of you who want to curb the accumulation of more toys, this is a great alternative to purchasing toys that lose their appeal in a few weeks.
Posted by Matt on Feb 19, 2008 |
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Going paperless
According to the New York Times article “Pushing Paper Out the Door,” a paperless future is coming quicker than a lot of us may think. From online bill paying to ticketless airline travel, paper is no longer needed for day-to-day activities.
“Paper is no longer the master copy; the digital version is,” says Brewster Kahle, the founder and director of the Internet Archive, a nonprofit digital library. “Paper has been dealt a complete deathblow. When was the last time you saw a telephone book?”
Hmm, the last time I saw a telephone book, it was left on my front porch in a plastic bag by the good folks at Verizon. I never used it, and it quickly found its way to the recycling bin. The article goes on to highlight an Unclutterer fave, the Fujitsu ScanSnap, which was highlighted in Erin’s Paper Clutter Begone series.
…at home, where printers are slow, noisy and devour expensive ink cartridges, people are more cautious about hitting the “print” button. What little paper comes into the home — receipts, bills, invitations — can be scanned and then shredded. Filing cabinets can be emptied, the data kept, the paper gone.
The article also goes on to offer ways to get rid of those shoeboxes of photos that all of us have taking up space in back of our closets. Scanning services are an option, but you can tackle this at home with a garbage bag and a scanner.
For more on getting paper clutter under control take a look at Erin’s Paper Clutter Begone series:
- Part 1 – Fujitsu ScanSnap
- Part 2 – Filing system software
- Part 3 – Filing systems for your file cabinet
- Part 4 – Shredders
Posted by Matt on Feb 18, 2008 |
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A year ago on Unclutterer
- Of wants and needs
Never let anything cross the threshold of your home unless it’s something that you know you need or that you know you will love and cherish for a long time to come.
Posted by PJ on Feb 18, 2008 |
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Unclutterer in Real Simple magazine
You cannot imagine how delighted we were to open the March issue of Real Simple magazine and find Unclutterer listed as a “best blog” on the internet for organization and productivity:
Also listed in the section are heavy hitters Zen Habits and Lifehacker. Blush. Like the cover of the issue, we’re tickled pink by this designation!
The article we’re in also discusses blogs in the categories of home, food, beauty, fashion, health and fitness, parenting and family, travel, and news and pop culture. I didn’t know about a number of the blogs listed in these other categories and I’m excited to start following them in my blog reader. If you’re someone coming to our blog for the first time as a result of the Real Simple article, we welcome you!
Posted by Erin on Feb 18, 2008 |
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Second favorite organization tool: The labelmaker
I have written in the past about the ScanSnap, my favorite organization tool. Today, I want to talk about the item that runs a very close second on my favorite’s list, which is the labelmaker.
I’m actually a little surprised that I haven’t written about it on Unclutterer before today. Any storage box in my home that isn’t clear gets labeled. Same applies to every file folder in my filing cabinet, the recycling bins, containers in the bathroom, and about 1,000 other items in my home.
Until I had one, I didn’t know what I was missing. Unfortunately, there isn’t much more to say about the labelmaker because it is such a straightforward device. Maybe its simplicity has something to do with why it’s so high on my list of favorite organization tools …
Posted by Erin on Feb 16, 2008 |
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Weekend project
I want you to imagine your dining room table right now. Is it covered in paperwork? Piled high with homework? Stacked with mail or dirty dishes?
If you can’t see the top of your dining room table, what do you need to do to be able to see it?
Whatever it is, do it now. Clean the clutter off of your table and make it a place where you can sit down and eat your meal tonight (and tomorrow and the next …).
If your table is clear, are there other horizontal surfaces in your home cluttered to the point that they aren’t serving their functions? If this is the case, clean the clutter off of those surfaces instead for your weekend task.
When clearing the clutter, don’t just move stacks around, actually take the time to do the job right. Do the work, then enjoy the benefits of your effort!
Pictured is my dining room. The table is by sculptor Michael Sirvet.
Posted by Erin on Feb 15, 2008 |
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Workspace of the Week: Garage storage for professional photographer
This week’s Workspace of the Week is professional photographer Raisinhell’s equipment storage in the garage:
Raisinhell has a number of pictures up in the flickr pool, but the one that speaks to me the most is the garage image posted here. The equipment is stored where it is needed (next to cars), it is grouped by type, the heaviest items are at waist height or lower, and it occupies a space (between stalls) that would otherwise go unused. It’s a wonderful utilization of space and nothing can get lost. Bravo!
Want to have your own workspace featured in Workspace of the Week? Submit a picture to the Unclutterer flickr pool. Check it out because we have a nice little community brewing there. Also, don’t forget that workspaces aren’t just desks. If you’re a cook, it’s a kitchen; if you’re a carpenter, it’s your workbench.
Posted by Erin on Feb 15, 2008 |
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Unobtainable love
I searched my brain for uncluttering and Valentine’s Day tie-ins and couldn’t really find any. “Love and honor those things you choose to keep!” Meh. Too forced.
Instead, let me show you my new love, the Smith Storage and Stool:
It’s a desk drawer! It’s a cart! It’s a bench! It’s a bookshelf!
It’s SIX HUNDRED DOLLARS!
Sigh. I guess this year for Valentine’s Day I’ll be pining for the (completely out of my price range) Smith Storage and Stool.
Posted by Erin on Feb 14, 2008 |
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Did you forget about Valentine’s Day?
My wife and I never observe the whole Valentine’s Day thing. Partly because we have an important anniversary date right around V-Day and partly because we don’t really find the whole holiday very romantic. That’s just us. To each his own. If you’d like to shower your loved one with romance and terms of endearment go right ahead, but don’t let February 14th give you the excuse to go out and buy anything red just to make it look like you made an effort.
If you don’t put any thought into what you are giving your significant other, then that probably leaves you scrambling to find something at the last minute. That may lead you to purchasing something like the teddy bear pictured with this post. Convenience stores and gas stations love to display this stuff prominently this time of year. If you would like some ideas on what gift to give, check out our Gift Giving Guide. It was intended for Christmas, but it can still be used for any gift giving occasion.
Posted by Matt on Feb 14, 2008 |
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Unitasker Wednesday: The pancake puff
Do you like pancakes? If you do, you’ll probably question why you have been eating flat pancakes all these years when you could be making pancakes in the shape of a ball. Yes, that’s right! Now you can eat pancakes that are easy to make, completely round, and taste delicious. Introducing the Pancake Puff.
Forget making those messy pancakes that your grandma used to labor over for hours (cue old woman spilling pancake batter all over the counter), now you can easily make a puffy ball-like pancake as easy as 1-2-3 — But that’s not all! You can choose the Chef’s Upgrade package that includes:
- Gourmet Flavor Filler
- Sugar Shaker
- Pastry Brush
- Professional Handle Cover
- 1 Year Supply of Flippling Sticks
Kiss those boring old pancakes goodbye and take your pancake making to the next level. Order today!
If for some reason you aren’t interested in the Pancake Puff set, you should take a look at their site and watch the video. You will be amazed at the possibilities, and have a hearty laugh.
**Unitasker Wednesday posts humorously poke fun at the single-use items that manage to find their way into our homes.
Posted by Matt on Feb 13, 2008 |
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Tool for change
When I set goals for myself, I start by writing them down and then imagining how I want things to look in the future. I often have done this activity by writing myself a letter that I schedule to open on a future date — sometimes two weeks, two months, or even two years in the future.
The other day while reading NotCot, I stumbled upon a link to the website FutureMe.org. FutureMe is similar to what I was describing above, but instead of writing a tangible letter you create an e-mail. I really like the idea of a future e-mail because you can’t lose it and you don’t have to worry about a physical letter cluttering up your desk. You can set the letter as “private” so that only you receive the message, or “public” for all to view.
Consider writing yourself a future e-mail through FutureMe.org as a way to help you keep on track with your uncluttering goals.
Posted by Erin on Feb 13, 2008 |
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A post-travel plan
Here is a simple plan for what to do after you return home from vacation or a business trip:
- Walk straight to your washing machine.
- Take dirty clothes out of suitcase, put them into the washing machine, and start the laundry.
- Put clothes that need to go to the dry cleaners into designated dry cleaning bag.
- Carry suitcase to closet and put away shoes, belts, and other items that didn’t need to be washed but belong in closet.
- Repeat step #4, but with items that belong in the bathroom.
- Look at self in mirror and give yourself a thumb’s up for being unpacked only five minutes after returning home.
- Put suitcase away in closet.
Okay, I’ll admit, this list is a little silly. I think the point of the post is clear, though: Unpack your suitcase immediately after you return from a trip so that it won’t sit around cluttering up your space.
Posted by Erin on Feb 12, 2008 |
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Are cookbooks a thing of the past?
Lucky for me, my wife enjoys cooking and baking. She has a shelf dedicated to her cookbooks, but she hardly ever uses them. More often than not she accesses recipes via the internet. The amount of information that is at your fingertips is astounding and the ease of accessing that information gets easier and easier.
One cookbook that my wife swears by is the Joy of Cooking. It is an encyclopedic volume of just about anything you can think of cooking or baking. She swears by its usefulness and relies on it quite a bit. Other than that, her cookbooks are seldom used. So are cookbooks obsolete? Why clutter up a whole shelf in your kitchen for a bunch of books that you never use? Here are the recipe sites my wife frequents instead of using a cookbook:
One site that I just happened upon is Supercook.com. The site lets you enter the ingredients you have in your kitchen and then gives you ideas on what you may be able to prepare. Maybe it’s time to let some of your cookbooks go?
Posted by Matt on Feb 12, 2008 |
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Tips for quick grocery shopping
Grocery shopping is a necessary evil. Does anyone look forward to their weekly visit to the grocery store? If you’re like me, you defer these duties to your spouse. My wife has the grocery shopping down to a science. She tries to get in and out of the store as fast as she can. Don’t we all?
Here are some tips that she has to make your grocery shopping visit easier to deal with:
- Make a meal plan: Decide what you’re going to eat this week and what you’ll need to make that happen. (Erin will write more on this specific topic next week.)
- Make a list from your plan: Not only will this help you remember what you need, it also discourages you from picking up things that you don’t need.
- Separate the items on the list into their own sections (dairy, condiments, cereal, produce, etc.). This will reduce the chances of having to double back for something that you forgot in another section.
- Go shopping at off-peak hours. The less of a crowd the faster the shopping goes. Avoid weekends. (My wife goes before work early in the morning.)
- Sale items above all: Look over your weekly sale items before heading to the store. Saving money on groceries is a good thing.
- Get physical. Don’t be afraid to elbow fellow shoppers to get to the checkout ahead of them.
Ok, so that last one is a joke, but I hope these tips help you use your time more wisely. The less time you spend in the grocery store, the more time you spend doing something you actually enjoy.
Posted by Matt on Feb 11, 2008 |
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A year ago on Unclutterer
- Cops raid clutter home
When clutter becomes hoarding. A guided tour.
Posted by PJ on Feb 11, 2008 |
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Preparing for tomorrow’s work day
Years ago, when I was in my first year of teaching, I was in constant fear of getting sick. Kids would cough near me in the hallway, and I would rush to my desk to apply hand sanitizer. I wasn’t afraid of germs, instead I was afraid of missing work.
Missing a day of school for a teacher is actually a lot of work. If you’re a decent teacher, you prepare lesson plans so that teaching and learning can still take place in your absence. Getting ready for a substitute teacher can take a good chunk of time, and doing this while running a 101 degree fever isn’t fun.
I poured out my fears of getting sick one afternoon to a veteran teacher and she offered me advice that has proven to be valuable even in my professional life since teaching.
She suggested that at the end of the work day I do two things. First, I should clear my desk. Papers should be filed, my stapler stored in a drawer, coffee cup cleaned and returned to the kitchen, etc. Then, for my second task, I should make a stack of all of my photocopied handouts, materials, and lessons for the next day and put them where no one could miss them. By doing these two simple things, which usually took me no more than five minutes, I only had to call in my absence and then fall back to sleep.
Even though I’ve been out of the classroom for years, I continue to follow this procedure. At the end of the work day, I clean off my desk and then I organize everything that I need for the next day. For example, if I were to have a morning meeting, I’d have my agendas photocopied and in a labeled folder at the center of my desk. This way, if I were to be stuck in traffic or sick and attend the meeting over the phone, it’s easy for someone else in the office to grab the agendas and pass them out in my absence.
A clean desk and organized materials also are worthwhile if you do make it to work on time and healthy. This preparation allows you to hit the ground running when you arrive at work. Five to 10 minutes of organization at the end of the work day will have you on your best footing tomorrow morning.
Posted by Erin on Feb 11, 2008 |
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The beauty of organized cables
The blog Royal Pingdom knows how to make an Unclutterer’s heart go pitter patter. Their post, When data center cabling becomes art, sent me into a blissful tizzy gawking at the well-organized cables. Swoon. Here’s a teaser to entice you to click through to the site:
Photo courtesy of Jef Newsom
Posted by Erin on Feb 9, 2008 |
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Saying “no”
One of the reasons people frequently claim that their home lives are in disarray and extremely stressful is because they’re never home. They would get to the mess in their garages if they just had more time or they would go through their stacks of mail if there were more hours in the day.
If the person is currently the primary caregiver for a sick child, parent, or spouse, I can see his or her point of view. That person is needed in a life-sustaining way and uncluttering the garage or mail may really be an impossible task.
In the majority of cases, however, the “never home” and “not enough time” claims are just excuses. The problem isn’t that there isn’t enough time in a day, the problem is that they can’t say “no.”
Do you really need to be on five civic committees? Does your child have to be involved in every after school enrichment activity? Is there another job out there that is as fulfilling and financially rewarding as your current job, but without the insane work hours or horrendous commute?
Serving on one civic committee allows you to focus your time and efforts more effectively. One music lesson, one team sport, and valuable time with the family will be more rewarding for your child than endless after school activities that reduce family time. Changing jobs to improve your work-life balance is a worthwhile endeavor, especially when it means that you get to keep your sanity and happiness intact.
There are respectful ways to say “no” and then there are disrespectful ways. Obviously, I’m suggesting respectful, thoughtful, considerate ways of expressing regret:
- I really appreciate the offer to chair X committee at church, but I wouldn’t be able to devote the time and level of interest that you’re seeking to do an effective, mindful job. At this time, I will have to decline.
- Sally enjoyed being a Girl Scout last year, but this year she has decided to go out for the basketball team instead.
- I realize that this sounds like passing the buck, and in a sense it is, but have you talked yet to Brian about his interest in project X? He and I had a discussion a few weeks ago about how he is looking to get more involved with your division and this might be a good way for him to learn more about your work.
Living a busy life can give us the sense of being needed and popular. Eventually, though, being the one to always say “yes” can become exhausting and stressful. Never being home in a relaxed state denies you the ability to re-energize and recuperate. Your home life will remain a mess until you take the time to be at home and give it proper attention. Learning to say “no” respectfully and in appropriate situations will help to put things back on track.
Posted by Erin on Feb 8, 2008 |
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A year ago on Unclutterer
- Is clutter not all that bad?
A new book argues that too much organization can hamper creativity, and some clutter is A-OK. - Keep kids’ POV in mind
Organization tips for parents (or, how to make it easy for them to feed themselves). - What’s a kitchen for?
Realistically, we use our kitchens for more than just cooking and eating, but we have to be careful we can still cook and eat. - More kitchen tips
More kitchen tips for decluttering, keeping recipes, and dealing with paper and mail.
Posted by PJ on Feb 8, 2008 |
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