One situation I often run into when organizing a garage is how to store bikes and I always say, where there’s a “wheel,” there’s a way. HA!

Where to store bikes depends on several factors: the size of your space (usually a garage unless you live in a big city), how much you want to spend, and how often you access the bikes.

If you have the space, horizontal floor racks work well, but if space is limited, hanging them works best.

Here are a few great storage solutions for organizing bikes:

Rolling bike stand for single bikes – $34.99 each at The Container Store

Stationary floor racks for multiple bikes – $38.99 each at OrganizeIt.com

Vertical wall-mounted bike hook – $16.99 each at The Container Store.

Horizontal wall-mounted bike hook – $14.95 each at BikeRackShops.com. I like these because they fold up with not in use, have a built-in shelf, and have a version that stores 2 bikes.

Ceiling-mount bike lift – $24.99 each at The Container Store.

Freestanding bike rack or Gravity stand $48.99 at Target. If you have more bikes, try the 4 bike stand at BikeRackShops.com

Slat wall bike hook – If you already have a slat-wall product, most retailers sell vertical and horizontal accessory hooks like this one at Sears for $6.99.

When climbing the ladder of success, make sure it’s leaning against the right wall…I’m paraphrasing one of my favorite quotes to live by, and I couldn’t help thinking of it as I was tasked with organizing a whole LOTTA ladders in a client’s garage.  And although I always think organizing is fun, I have to admit, this one  was a whole LOTTA fun!

Fun organizing ladders!

This wall was originally thought unusable by the homeowner because it was a pass-through between two doorways, so shelves were not an option because of their depth, which would have made it impossible to open the doors fully. And a slanted ceiling provided an extra challenge.  But where most people see an impossible space, I see potential storage!

By choosing to store shallow items in this shallow space, then placing the largest ladders first and filling in the gaps with smaller ones, I made functional use of this awkward wall for these awkward items. Kinda like a giant puzzle I had to put together, and to this organizer, it’s looks a little like art!

I hear this a lot — “We’d like to organize our 2 car garage to fit ONE car in there. We have too much stuff to park both.”

NOT TRUE!

We’ve proven time and time again that with a good purge, the right storage solutions, and little organization, you can have it all — a showroom garage, AND space to park two cars!

Here are a few of my tips to create a spacious garage…

Right bay – BEFORE This garage had three problems: 1. A lack of storage on the walls meant everything lived on the floor. 2. Similar items were scattered in multiple areas so things were hard to find. 3. Some trash or unused items taking up space.	Right bay – AFTER TIP #1: CREATE “ZONES” By grouping like items together, we were able to consolidate all tools together and create Zone #1 (a work station) on the left wall. Zone #2 (the back wall) is now used for military gear, and Zone #3 (the right wall) for home and garden storage. Now when my client needs something, they know exactly where to get it and where to put it away. And with no obstacles in the way, clean up is a snap!
Right wall – BEFORE Stand in a room and close your eyes. Open them quickly and what is your first impression? Probably that the room is “bottom heavy,” meaning everything is sitting on the floor and the walls are empty. That’s half of your square footage wasted! So what do you do?	Right wall – AFTER TIP #2: GO VERTICAL People often think buying bins will help them with storage problems, and while bins can corral your stuff, if it has to still sit on the floor, what good does that do? Spend your money on vertical storage like shelving, pegboard, or slat wall instead. Even one shelf can double your horizontal square footage. Installing slat wall and shelving enabled us to use every inch of vertical space – no more stuff on the floor!
Left bay – BEFORE Because there were no vertical storage systems in place, everything lived on the floor, and deep shelving units blocked the opening so a car couldn’t pull in. Also, large items were shoved to the walls which reduced the amount of functional horizontal space.	Left bay – AFTER TIP #3: GET OFF THE WALL Originally, this 6 foot tall tool chest was pushed against the right wall and blocked a side door, which not only created a hazard, but it still did not create more space like my client hoped. So instead, we turned it perpendicular to the wall along the staircase, making a functional, U-shaped work area for my client. We not only freed up wall space for shelving, but the side door is now functional and safe! And most importantly, there’s room to pull a car in!
Back wall – AFTER TIP #4: USE DEEP SHELVES IN DEEP RECESSES… We moved a 24″ deep shelving unit that *used* to partially block the left bay opening over to the 30″ deep recessed area under the slanted ceiling on the back wall. By doing so, we were able to allow access for a car to drive into the bay, create deep storage for bulky items, and keep the pathway clear between the the house door and the garage side door.	Right bay – AFTER …USE FLAT STORAGE IN SHALLOW AREAS The slatwall (even with stuff on it) is shallow, allowing a car to pull into the parking bay without being cramped or scratched. Told ya we could get a car in here!
Workbench – AFTER TIP #5: MOST USED in ARM’S REACH In the workbench station, we put the most used tools (hammers, screwdrivers, wrenches, tape measure) on the pegboard at arm’s length. The lesser used handtools and screws are organized in the tool chest one step away, and the least used items like chemicals, cables, and car accessories were moved to a shelving unit a few steps away. Anything accessed only seasonally went on the highest shelves.

The past two weeks have been super busy both professionally and personally, and in the middle of it all I got a computer virus on my laptop. It was the last thing I needed — on top of a fully booked client schedule, my truck had broken down, my printer died, and my phone shattered. All very important things I need to run my business, and technology was definitely not being my friend.

So after 12 hours of staring at the screen, 4 antivirus downloads, and countless (but very creative) swear words, I was back in business. YAY!

I went back to what I was previously working on — adding website creation for new organizers and small businesses to the list of services on my website, when BAM! My website was hacked. All I could think was how could I possibly offer this service to others when my own site was vulnerable? Sigh…

So I dug in to try to fix it. After another 12 hours of stripping useless hacker code out of my website, I found a text file on my server I didn’t recognize. I opened it, and all it said was, “Silence is golden.”

Silence is golden???
Are you KIDDING me????

Needless to say, I was very angry, and not at all silent about it [insert more creative swear words here]. My already scarce downtime had been wasted on this, and on top of the other expenses I had been hit with that week, I was now going to have to spend my hard earned money on a company to finish cleaning up my website. All because some bored little hacker had nothing better to do than embed some silly code on my site. What was the point???

But, in an effort to find the positive in every negative situation and keep some perspective that stress is only temporary, one of my New Years’ resolutions was to learn how to meditate. And after the week I’d just had, I sure needed it.

So I found a quiet spot, took a few deep breaths, and meditated. And in those quiet moments, a memory floated up of my good friend who attended a workshop where no one was allowed to speak for 6 hours. Although she said it was difficult at first, by the end of the workshop, the quiet had forced her to reflect on her daily life and she emerged with a strong sense of clarity; that she had been spending way too much effort on things that weren’t her true priorities, and they were sucking the life out of her. So when she returned home, she began “cutting the chaff” and saying “no” to the things that drained her.

Saying “no” to things that don’t help you accomplish your ultimate goals in life is a lesson I’d already been coaching my clients on for years. And my friend’s silence, although forced at first, gave her the much needed opportunity to organize her thoughts and priorites, so she could reorganize her life.

Then it hit me…in my silence, thinking about how her silence helped her get organized, I had found my positive in this negative situation and I was no longer angry. The hacker was right — silence IS golden.

The Thanksgiving leftovers are almost gone, the company’s gone home…it’s time to recharge your batteries before things get frenzied again in a couple weeks, so do something nice for yourself today and every day during the holiday season to keep you holiday spirit alive & well. Here are a few ideas to treat yourself:

1. Eat a snack on your fanciest china. Even toast can seem special when it’s on a pretty plate.

2. Brew a cup of tea or a special drink and sit for 5 minutes to actually enjoy it. (I like smoothies, hot chocolate, or mocktials like cranberry juice & sparkling water with a lime or cherry.)

3. Eat something healthy or take a daily vitamin. It’s too easy to turn to sweets and fatty foods this season, so remember to eat foods high in protein and fiber to keep your digestive system functioning properly and give you the energy to get through the season.

4. Complete a 5 minute task that you’ve been putting off. Clean a ceiling fan, dust a room, put away that box of stuff in the corner, sort your mail, clean out an old file, shred something, purge your old socks, clean your silverware drawer, wipe out the microwave, swiffer a room, wash the dog bed, change that burnt out light bulb, clean out your nightstand, or download an app that will make your life easier. Whatever it is, you’ll feel like a weight’s been lifted and have a sense of accomplishment you didn’t plan on which will reinvigorate your energy.

5. Give yourself 10 minutes of spa time at home. Use that fancy lotion you’ve been saving, light a candle, file or paint your nails, rub your own feet, stretch, use that old back massager, color your hair, give yourself a facial, floss your teeth, rub your head, drink a large glass of water, deep condition your hair. Treating our bodies well gives us time for a mental pause from the hustle & bustle of a busy season, and prevents exhaustion.

6. Read a poem, say a prayer, repeat a mantra or positive affirmation. Nourishing our soul is just as important as nourishing our bodies.

7. Wear your prettiest lingerie with the expectation that no one will see it but you.

8. Spritz yourself with your best perfume, even if you’re just cleaning in your sweats.

9. Celebrate one of your favorite belongings or pieces of memoribilia for a few minutes. Let yourself revel in the good feelings it brings. I dug out a gorgeous vintage beaded purse I only use for special occaisions and made it the first thing I see when I open my closet. I also reread an old fortune cookie slip that inspires me, and laughed at some old Vegas photos. All these things brought joy to my heart and made me feel special.

10. Thank someone. An attitude of gratefulness can take us outside our own worries, and make ourselves and others feel good. Being thankful helps me keep my perspective when I feel the weight of the world on my shoulders.

11. Save some money. During this season of giving, it’s important to remember that stuff does not equal love. Remember that your time and attention are the best gifts you can give someone to show you care.

It’s easy to lose ourselves in the holiday shuffule, but we are all special and deserve to be treated well. I hope you enjoy some of these suggestions and get to enjoy just being you for a little bit during the holidays, and any time of the year when things are busy.

***Free and Open to the Public***

On November 15 celebrate America Recycles Day, the only nationally recognized holiday dedicated to promoting recycling. NC State University will host a free paper shredding and electronic recycling drive for you to safely and securely recycle electronics or shred confidential paper files.

Free Paper Shredding and Electronics Recycling Drive
Date: Thursday, November 15th
Time: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Location: NCSU Centennial Campus (at the corner of Partners Way and Main Campus Drive)
Address: 830 Main Campus Drive, Raleigh, NC 27606

Recyclable electronics include anything with a cord, plus other electronic items:
• Computers – CPU, laptops, mainframes
• CDs/DVDs (with cases)
• Rechargeable batteries
• Televisions (Nominal recycling fee of $5 per small TV, $10 per large TV)
• Please use Surplus for all state purchased electronics

Shredding includes:
• Mixed paper (should be removed from binders, binder clips and rubber bands)
• Light cardboard
• Sensitive documents only**
**Recycle junk mail, newspaper and magazines through your home recycling program.

More event information: go.ncsu.edu/ard

Kids have the same issue as adults when it comes to having too much stuff and not enough places to store things. Young children are also have a height challenge to consider, and they can benefit from a regular cleaning schedule, just like adults, so things stay neat long term.

Here are a few photos of a a girl’s closet and a boy’s closet we organized to illustrate some of the tips we use when organizing a child’s closet…

1. Only keep clothes in their current size, plus 3 outfits one size larger.
2. Only keep clothes they actually like and want to wear (usually about 20% of what’s in the closet.) Give away, hand down, donate, or consign the rest.
3. Move hanging rods down low so kids can reach them.
4. Use sliding drawers or baskets for small toys, stuffed animals, blankets, or loose clothing.
5. In general, kids prefer to fold rather than hang clothes so provide a dresser for t-shirts, jeans, socks, underwear, and pajamas. 3-drawer rolling storage drawers are also a good option and can be used to store other items down the road.
6. Include low shelving for shoes and folded clothes, and tall shelving for storing toys and items that are less frequently used.
7. Slimline hangers maximize horizontal space (and vertical if they have cascading hooks built in!)



8. Only keep toys they use.
9. Clear bins are great for small toys, memoribilia, or clothes so kids can see what’s in them without dumping them on the floor. Label the bins with text for older kids, and pictures for small children who can’t read yet.
10. Don’t use lids on bins for small children because it’s an obstacle to putting things away and seeing what they have.
11. Create a maintenace plan that’s age appropriate and let kids clean their own room. Start with 5 minutes for 3 year olds, and an additional 5 minutes for every year in age they are over 3. (8 year olds would be about 30 minutes a week.) They’ll learn focus, responsibility, and how to value their things.
12. Provide a laundry basket or bag so dirty clothes don’t land on the floor. If they kids are older, give them two laundry baskets to sort their own lights and darks.

Happy organizing!

Kara Russelo, Professional Organizer at Little Virgo, was featured in Triangle Home Improvement magazine in an article entitled “Back on Track: Staying Organized as you Navigate Major Change.”

Click on the image for a pdf of the article. (NOTE: it’s a bit fuzzy looking in places but legible…)

I think “Drop Zones” are one of the most important things you can add to your home to keep it organized, especially if you have kids. They stop clutter at the door so your house doesn’t get all clogged up with the junk that seems to land on the kitchen counters, tables, hallways, and floors and that no one else in the family ever seems to know how it got there.

It’s hard to believe the gorgeous drop zone above used to look like this:

It USED to be a hallway closet who’s purpose was questionable…We ripped out the builder-basic wire shelving, removed the sliding doors to gain full access to the opening, and installed a California Closets system.

Here’s what you’ll need to build a Drop Zone in your home:

A good drop zone has a set of hooks, a table, a rolling cart, a bench, or wall-mounted shelf/cubbies where you can hang keys, coats, shoes, bookbags, hats/gloves/scarves, pocketbooks, wallets, and any items that are incoming & outgoing like store returns, library books, stuff to take to work/school/car/office.

A few other accessories to think about:

• A mirror so you look presentable when you leave the house.
• A basket to catch the stuff nobody knows where to put.
• A whiteboard/chalkboard for family members to leave notes & reminders.
• A shredder/trash can so paper clutter doesn’t make it’s way in.

Drop zones not only stop the clutter from forming, but they can be as whimsical as you want. I love the metal faces with hooks in the photo above because it was a creative way for us to use my client’s art and represent each family member so they knew where to put their own stuff.

Want more ideas or to see a “before” shot of this whimsical drop zone? Check out my blog post Stop Clutter at the Door.

“ANOTHER load of laundry? Jeez, it feels like I’m doing laundry all day!” I hear this a lot from clients, and even used to feel like it a lot myself. But here are some quick tips for getting through it so it feels like it takes almost NO time:

• Do laundry while you sleep. Toss laundry in the wash an hour before bed. For most people, this means before you sit down to watch your favorite primetime TV show, crafting, or whatever it is that you do to relax before bed. Move it to the dryer on your way to bed and let it run while you sleep. It helps laundry feel like it’s not such a big project that takes a chunk out of the day.

• Fold it when you wake up. Before getting your morning coffee, fold the load and put it away. Get it out of the way before you have time to dread it, then coffee feels like a reward.

• “Zone” your clothes. When folding, create piles of your clothes putting like items with like. For example, make a t-shirt pile, a jeans pile, a pajama pile, etc. That way as you’re putting items in drawers or closets, you can replace a whole stack at once instead of having to think, “Ok, this shirt goes here, these pants go there, oh wait…this shirt goes back over here too…”

Do these steps and you’ll feel like you’re getting things done without even trying, and your day will be clear for fun stuff….like cleaning the kitchen. Haha!