6 Tips for organizing like a PRO!

Amanda Arnold
Feb 3, 2016
3 min read

Do you ever find yourself rushing your kids off to soccer practice only to realize that little Joey is missing a cleat (and his favorite water bottle that he just has to have)? How about that one day you just have to be on time to work because you have a big presentation or meeting? Isn't it always THAT morning that your keys are nowhere to be found? It's only after calling your spouse, children, neighbor, the local lock smith and threatening your toddler that you realize they've been hiding on the counter under that giant stack of mail from yesterday. I get it. I've been that mom and if you are anything like me, you hate the way being disorganized feels. Want some good news? With a little bit of organization and the right tools, you can be an organized family and quit wasting time searching for lost or misplaced things. Don't forget, your neighborhood consignment sale offers some pretty good incentives for cleaning out the closets and getting rid of all of that STUFF cluttering up your lives ;-)

We recently sat down with Sara, a local consultant from Thirty-One to ask her for some tips on organization. As a busy mom of 2 that helps families find the organization products they need, she was the perfect resource. She is even offering a chance at a FREE Creative Caddy ($25 value) for one lucky reader.

Here are some fun facts we learned from her:

1." 80% of the clutter in most homes is the result of disorganization, not lack of space". -Ottawa Citizen

2. "23% of adults say they pay bills late (and thus incur fees) because they lose them."- Harris Interactive

3. "The average American spends one year of their life looking for lost or misplaced items at home and in the office."- US News and World Report

4. "Getting rid of clutter eliminates 40% of housework in an average home."- Ottawa Citizen

Now that we are all motivated to get organized to save ourselves a full year of our lives and a chunk of money, let's look at the tips she shared:

1. "Have bins and boxes on lower shelves so that a child can put away the toys." - NAPO

2. "Things that work together should be stored together, such as baking pans, electrical appliances, plastic containers (with lids), pots and pans, and large platters and bowls."- NAPO

3. Utilize caddy's and cubes to organize the area under sinks. Example: have separate bins under the sink for the men, women and kids in the house. Make sure they are labeled to make clean-up a breeze.

4. Items in linen and bedroom closets easily tip over and become disorganized. Use caddy's and cubes to keep like items together and keep items organized.

5. Use a cube or caddy near an entry-way to keep shoes out of the doorway. This not only prevents tripping hazards, but also gives the area a more organized look.

6. Use storage cubes in kitchen cabinets or pantries to group similar food items. This will make it easier to find and put away items and increase storage space since many items can now be stacked.

According to Sara, "Thirty-One products are created with function in mind...for either the on-the -go woman, busy family or practical person." As a consultant, Sara is happy to answer questions and make suggestions to help you tackle your organization needs. She also hosts fundraisers (earn 20% of all sales) for local groups. If you are interested in making a purchase, setting up a fundraiser or contacting Sara she can be reached at:

-Her website, www.mythirtyone.com/MartinPrior

- By email, saprior10@gmail.com

-Or by connecting through her VIP Facebook page: Functional, Fabulous and Fun

**As a gift to our readers, anyone that places an order by February 6, 2016 will be entered to win the $25 Creative Caddy. ***