Remove Clutter - Before It Arrives!

Do you like to shop? Do you often buy new clothes or household items? Something for the kitchen? Another book to read? Well listen up because this one is for you! Lets look at how remove clutter, before it even arrives!

Source: http://www.sxc.hu/photo/715077

So you like to shop, love the feeling of new clothes, decor or making over a room. That's awesome! The only problem is, as you buy an item, it gets added to all the items you already have and can result into an out of control clutter problem.

Source: http://www.sxc.hu/photo/859634

The Trick

Here is the ultimate 'trick' to remove that clutter before it even arrives. Buy something, throw something. Now by throw, I don't mean it has to be tossed in the garbage. An item can be sold/donated as well. Lets put this into a scenario. If you go out shopping and buy a new top - awesome! But before trying to find room for it, find a top you haven't worn in 2 years, take it out and replace it with your new top. If you buy a new book to read, find a book that you have already read and won't read again and replace it with your new book.

If you are donating the item, you should try to do so the next time you go out. If you need to recycle it or trash it, then do so appropriately. If you plan on selling the item use a site like eBay or even social networking. Sites such as Facebook usually have a 'buy, swap, sell' site for your local area so check it out.

The aim is to buy something, throw something... do not hold onto it in another cupboard, in the to-do pile or garage. You are only creating clutter and more problems than necessary.

Start with Less

If you are up for the challenge, how about trying to start with less? It's great to implement the trick and replace items rather than add to the pile - but what's your house look like at the moment? Do you need to purge and get rid of a lot of items before you can truly de-clutter and use the method above? If you're someone who struggles with parting with possessions, try to use the mind-set "if a fire burnt all my possessions, would I replace that?". Be honest with yourself.

If you use this method, I promise the results will be worth it!

*Extra tip: when purging items, check the contents, check the pockets and inside items. You'll be surprised what you may find! (Money? Old chewy? Earrings?)

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Emergency Kit List and Ideas for Natural Disasters

Today I am going to share with you some handy information about organising your own emergency kit for natural disasters. Natural disasters I will focus on are cyclones, tornados, fires, floods and storms. This information may also be relevant for those at risk of blizzards, hurricanes, earthquakes and tsunamis.

It has been quite some time since I last blogged, but this post has been calling out to me since watching my beautiful country, Australia, burn and flood all in the one month. Whilst it is difficult to predict the devastation from a natural disaster, if you can have a plan in place - including an emergency kit - it will ease the burden and assist you in your recovery.

If you have any suggestions or feedback please feel free to leave a comment below.

ESSENTIAL ITEMS:

• Torch (battery powered)
• Portable radio (battery powered)
• Candles
• Safety Matches (I suggest placing these in a ziplock bag to avoid moisture spoiling them)
• Insect repellent
• Sunscreen
• Plastic ponchos (even garbage bags work great!)
• Important documents (birth certificates, immunisation records, passports, insurance policies)
• Hard drive (with a back up of your computer, digital photos and important files)
• Bottled water (1 gallon or 4 litres per person for 72 hour supply)
• Non-perishable food  (72 hour supply + can opener)
• Toilet paper (also best in a ziplock bag)
• Hand sanitizer
• Disposable gloves (this will assist in the clean up)
• Pet cages/leads/identification collars (keep in accessible place)
• Important medication
• Small amount of cash
• First aid kit
• Whistle (to signal for help if severely isolated)
• Local map
• Pocket knife

The essential list may seem long, but in the event of a disaster, you always wish you had packed something else. It's worth it!

ITEMS YOU COULD ALSO INCLUDE OR GRAB LAST MINUTE:

• 1 set of spare clothes for each family member (rotate as children grow up in size)
• Gumboots
• Blankets
• Life Jackets
• Deck of cards
• Baby essentials (if applicable)
• Spare car/house keys
• List of current medications and reasons for use
• List of allergies
• Phone chargers
• Pet food/water
• Feminine supplies and personal hygiene items
• Paper and pen
• Glasses/spectacles
• Unscented household bleach for sanitation and water purification
• 
  

LUXURY ITEMS:

• Fire and Waterproof safe for important documents
• Generator
• Gas bottle BBQ
• Portable UHF Radio

BIG ITEMS THAT CAN HELP:

(These items could help an entire community in the recovery)

• Small watercraft
• Blow up raft
• Canoes
• Trailer
• Removals Trolley

INSURANCE POLICIES

If you have an insurance policy for your house and/or contents (please say you do!) please ensure you thoroughly read the entire agreement and that you understand exactly what you are covered for in the event of a natural disaster. Unfortunately in every natural disaster there is someone who finds out their insurance policy doesn't cover what they originally thought. If you are concerned or have further questions, contact them directly. Act out scenarios to them if that will help you make better sense of what you're covered for.

SUPER IMPORTANT!!

Go through your entire house/shed/yard and take a photo of every room and inside every cupboard/drawer. It may take you 30-60mins but it will be worth every one of those minutes. This is a lot quicker than trying to make an inventory of your items once they're lost in a disaster. Download a free program, such as Picasa by Google and create an online account with them. Set your photos as private. Upload all the photos of your house and sync them to your online Picasa. Make sure your username/password are easy to remember! Now those photos will be accessible by you, and only you, anywhere in the world that you have access to the internet and it will make claiming a whole lot easier. If you need help using this program, check out the Support for Picasa Web Albums.

I hope this information will help someone prepare and feel safer in the event of a natural disaster. All information and opinions are not professional and are that of my own. Please seek further professional advice if required.

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Less is More!

Some food for thought on this lovely Thursday...

ALL YOU NEED IS LESS

Courtesy of http://marleyandme.tumblr.com/post/32922521837/softconcrete-minimalliving-pl-im-a-huge-fan

KEEP CALM AND REMOVE CLUTTER

Courtesy of https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt6UdO3LG3gM5-X70-ALbcx06bgt5bTsG_n_WBwBCt06XJZqoA9z0wukNKIGdsh1rvXWTpBSLCzUInntrvBHTEZb_MEo0QsjncTWsWRu60vJXh942n3Ken7ayb9qSddTR4hURlMzHGWQI/s1600/keep-calm-remove-clutter.jpeg

I hope this help you all get motivated :)

Why Didn't I Think of That? SMART IDEAS

My friend recently sent me the perfect e-mail. She knew I would LOVE it! Love it I certainly did. I have no other choice to share it with you! Now You may have seen some of this around Pinterest, as I have, but it really is invaluable information.

1. Hull strawberries easily using a straw.

2. Look up! Use wire to make a space to store gift wrap rolls against the ceiling,

rather than cluttering up the floor.

3. Gotcha! Find tiny lost items like earrings by putting a stocking over the vacuum

hose. 

 4. Make an instant cupcake carrier by cutting crosses into a box lid.

 5. For those who can't stand the scrunching and bunching: how to perfectly

fold a fitted sheet.

 6. A tip for holiday packing. Store shoes inside shower caps to stop dirty soles rubbing on your clothes. And you can find them in just about every hotel!

7. A muffin pan becomes a craft caddy. Magnets hold the plastic cups down to

make them tip-resistant.

 8. Bread tags make the perfect-sized cord labels.

9. Bake cupcakes directly in ice-cream cones – so much more fun and easier for kids

to eat. 

10. Microwave your own popcorn in a plain brown paper bag. Much healthier and

cheaper than the packet stuff. 

11.  Brilliant space-saver: install a tension rod to hang your spray bottles. Genius!

12. Rubbing a walnut over scratches in your furniture will disguise dings and scrapes.

 

13. Win friends at breakfast with this heart-shaped egg tutorial 

14.  Turn your muffin pan upside down, bake cookie-dough over the top and voila

15. Freeze Aloe Vera in ice-cube trays for soothing sunburn relief.

 

16. Gutter garden: Create a window-box veggie patch using guttering. 

17. Use egg cartons to separate and store your Christmas decorations 

18. Remove crayon masterpieces from your TV or computer screen with WD40

(also works on walls). 

19. Stop cut apples browning in your child’s lunch box by securing with a rubber band.

20. Overhaul your linen cupboard – store bed linen sets inside one of their own

pillowcases and there will be no more hunting through piles for a match. 

21. Pump up the volume by placing your iPhone / iPod in a bowl – the concave shape

amplifies the music. 

22. Re-use a wet-wipes container to store plastic bags 

23.  Add this item to your beach bag. Baby powder gets sand off your skin easily

 

24.  Attach a Velcro strip to the wall to store soft toys

.

Now if you're not on Pinterest.. get on it! 

Happy Mothers Day

This was just too funny not to share. This is my life! How about you?

What is Clutter?

I love this cluttering definition as provided by houzz.com

What is clutter exactly? Excess stuff, right? Well sure, but more than that, clutter is a sign of procrastination. It is the bicycle you've been meaning to have repaired, the books that need to be returned to the library, the hideous vase from Aunt Mildred you can't bear to throw out, and the heaping piles of paperwork that need sorting. I think this is why we find it so hard to declutter. It requires a lot of decision making, some that you may have been putting off for years — no easy task. Let's begin by setting an intention to fearlessly face the decisions that need to be made. You can do it!

Check out their full article here http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/1380904/list/Decorate-with-Intention--Clutter-Clearing-101