Archive for October, 2009

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Vitsoe Opens It’s First U. S. Location Right Here In NYC!

Tuesday, October 20th, 2009

There are a few classic designs that most people don’t know about which cause them to want to break their budget when they discover them. Every client I have introduced Vitsoe shelving to has wanted to use it, even after they realized how expensive it was. Most of them were able to jigger their budget to pull it off. The rest? Waiting.

Vitsoe opened their first ever US showroom in NYC last month, which makes it easier to find, price and buy. It is expensive, but you can buy pieces slowly to build your system and you can always take it with you, since it will mount on to any wall and can be rearranged in nearly any configuration. It can be shelves, file cabinets, drawers and/or desk; you choose. Oh, and they also say they’re working on bringing the price down.

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Properly Disposing Of Old Medications

Thursday, October 15th, 2009
What is the proper way to dispose of unwanted or expired medications, either prescription or over the counter?

Although common wisdom has been to flush them down the toilet, it is now considered hazardous to our oceans and to ocean wildlife to do so.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is now advising that we dispose of them along with the rest of our household trash, but taking these precautions to prevent avoid accidental or intentional misuse:
•     Mix your unwanted medications — liquids and pills – in a sealable bag, box, or plastic tub.
•     Add water to further dilute or dissolve them.
•     Add an undesirable substance such as ashes, dirt, cat litter, or coffee grounds.

To learn more about the DEC’s recommendations, see http://www.dontflushyourdrugs.net.

Posted in environmentally friendly, responsibility, safety | Comments Off

We LOVE Brooklyn Based Movers Not Shakers, A Very Environmentally Friendly Moving Company!

Tuesday, October 13th, 2009
What I love about Movers Not Shakers, a moving company that serves New York City and the entire east coast, is that they’re green movers. Their trucks are fueled by biodiesel from Tri-StateBiodiesel, Inc. and they’ll rent you reusable plastic moving bins they call GothamBoxes™ (got them boxes? – get it!) for you to pack your belongings in. They drop the bins off in advance of your move and pick them up after you or they or somebody like me, a Professional Organizer, packs them for the move and unpacks them once you get to your new home. There’s no cardboard, no assembly, no tape, NO WASTE. After they’re picked up, the boxes are cleaned, stored and delivered again to other customers. It’s an easy way to move and, at the same time, reduce the materials used in your move and the impact on the environment created by your relocation.

For years, Fortune 500 companies, pharmacies and supermarkets have rented reusable plastic bins to move from one office to another or ship merchandise. Now the residential moving market has picked up on this idea due to consumer desire for options that are convenient, environmentally friendly and because of the cost of cardboard boxes. Prices for short-term plastic bin rental are comparable to purchase prices for cardboard boxes. A large bin of about 4 cubic feet rents for $3 a week from Movers Not Shakers. U-Haul charges $3 for a 4.5-cubic-foot cardboard box.

Paper or Plastic? Plastic!

“Isn’t paper the better choice for the environment? Not always. Before we disregard oil and its byproducts altogether, let’s remember that certain products made from plastic are actually good for the environment – if they’re reused. Our line of GothamBoxes™ is made from recycled plastic. Over their life span each one will replace hundreds of corrugated cardboard boxes. And since they have interlocking lids, no packing tape is required to put them together or seal them once they are full. That not only produces less waste it is also a big timesaver.

GothamBoxes™ come in two sizes, small and large. They are strong too! They do not crush like cardboard will, keeping your belongings safe and sound. The small bins are 2.3 cu ft. and are great for books, CD’s/DVD’s, small plates and dishes, glasses, wine glasses, toiletries, jewelry cases, and other fragile items. The large bins are 4.1 cu ft. and are used for clothing, linens, towels, larger kitchenware, pots, pans… and anything else that won’t fit in the small one. Even though moving can be an incredibly complicated task, with all of the planning, packing, utility switching, real estate closing, address changing, board approval, school switching, whatever your situation might be, these bins are meant to simplify the whole process.”

Other benefits of using these plastic bins are:

  • Environmentalists generally agree that it’s better to reuse a product rather than manufacture a new one.
  • They have wheels, which make them easier to move and maneuver through the tight spaces of many NYC apartments.
  • You don’t have to deal with disposing of dozens of cardboard boxes, a task that in New York City usually requires collapsing and bundling them.
One other HUGE benefit, from a getting organized perspective, is that there’s no procrastinating about unpacking and items don’t get left in boxes for months – or years! – since the bins need to be returned within a certain period of time. Thank you, Movers Not Shakers; that’s definitely music to this organizer’s ears!

Posted in environmentally friendly, moving, procrastination, reduce/reuse/recycle | 6 Comments »

NYC Keeps On Truckin’ & Tracking Trash, Too!

Monday, October 12th, 2009

NYC wants to be cleaner and greener and, in an effort to accomplish that mission – at least where trash is concerned – it’s testing hybrid sanitation trucks in residential areas of Queens. The Big Apple’s current garbage trucks are incredible gas guzzlers, getting only about three miles per gallon. The hybrid trucks should get 25% to 30% better mileage – which isn’t saying much -  but it is a step in the right direction and every little bit helps.

And, speaking of trash, the researchers at MIT’s SENSEable City Lab have come up with a new project called Trash Track whose goals are to raise awareness of how trash impacts the environment and get people thinking about all the stuff they toss out. TrashTrack uses hundreds of small electronic, smart, location aware tags. These tags are attached to different types of trash and those items are tracked through NYC’s waste management system, revealing the final journey of everyday objects in a series of real time visualizations. So, if you knew exactly where your trash was going and how much energy it took to make it all disappear, would it make you think twice about buying bottled water or “disposable” anything else?

Speaking of trash, if you’re working on separating out your trash from your treasures and need to get rid of what you don’t want, these local companies will remove almost anything – from old furniture and appliances to yard waste and renovation debris – including many things that your local garbage company won’t typically accept. Plus, they do all the loading and clean-up.

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When Autumn Leaves Start To Fall…

Friday, October 9th, 2009

“The falling leaves drift by the window
The autumn leaves of red and gold
I see your lips, the summer kisses
The sun-burned hands I used to hold”

“Since you went away, the days grow long
And soon I’ll hear ol’ winter’s song.
But I miss you most of all my darling,
When autumn leaves start to fall.”

– from “Autumn Leaves“

Did you know that “Autumn Leaves” was originally a French song until Johnny Mercer wrote some English lyrics for it, the likes of Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole recorded it and the rest, as they say, is history? Leave it to the French.

Autumn in New York City does indeed mean that leaves are beginning to turn color, starting to fall and the temperature is fluctuating up and down. On the days when it still gets into the 70’s, I’m in my glory. Then comes a day in the 40’s or 50’s and I get a serious reality check/wake-up call that autumn is here, summer has come to an end and it’s time to get organized for the long, inevitable winter months ahead. Don’t get left out in the cold; prepare for winter now while the mood is right and the days are still relatively long. On Sunday, November 2, daylight-saving time will end and the shorter days that are one of the hallmarks of winter will be upon us.

SAY GOODBYE FOR NOW
Before you pack away yours/your family’s summer wardrobes, look it/them over and identify items that didn’t get worn and are no longer wanted. Add them to – or start – a giveaway/*donation pile. If anything is stained, remove the stains now – it’s usually more difficult to get them out later on – and stow them away until next year.

RE-ACQUAINT YOURSELF WITH OLD FRIENDS
Get re-acquainted with your favorite winter clothes and cast a critical eye at all the rest. Are they worthy of the drawer/closet space they take up or are you ready to let ‘em go and make room for some new, cold weather favorites? If your coats didn’t get cleaned at the end of last winter, freshen them up now. Before you wash or dry clean them, be sure to make any necessary repairs, like sewing on buttons, fixing zippers, replacing torn linings or pockets. If you’ve got kids, now is the time to make sure that their coats still fit. Pass down anything they’ve outgrown to their younger sibling(s) or bag ‘em up for give away/*donation and take advantage of the Columbus Day sales all over town this weekend to get anyone in need new outer wear. Also, make sure that everyone has hats, gloves and scarves and they’re in good condition. If not take advantage of this weekend’s sales to fill in any gaps. Discard anything that is too far past its prime to be of use any longer and freshen up everything by washing or dry cleaning.

Instead of scrambling to get organized when that first cold snap hits or that first morning you wake up and discover the snow cover outside, be prepared and go out and have fun instead!

*A quick word about what is acceptable to donate to thrift or charity shops. Please be kind and do not donate soiled or damaged items. Most charities don’t have the resources to clean or fix them and it will cost them money to dispose of those items.

If – like a lot of New Yorkers – you’ve got more “stuff” than you have space to hold it all, here are some companies that might be able to help you solve that problem:

WARDROBE STORAGE FACILITY WITH VALET SERVICE:
Based in New York City, Garde Robe is a full-service wardrobe storage facility providing first-class storage, cyber-inventory, secure online closets and an array of services for New Yorkers, travelers and fashion industry professionals. Garde Robe will pick up your off-season or infrequently worn items, arrange for professional cleaning, photograph, catalogue and store the items in their climate-controlled, air-purified loft. Your Cyber Closet is accessible day or night and, with a few mouse clicks, you can arrange to have Garde Robe deliver desired items at your convenience.
GENERAL STORAGE FACILITY WITH VALET SERVICE:
The process is simple, quick and entirely managed through their website or you can call in your requests on their toll free line. After you place an order, they will deliver your empty containers, locks and welcome kit which includes an inventory form and other helpful information. You pack your boxes, or have a Box Butler professional assist you pack for a modest fee. The completed inventory can be entered online onto their web based system for easy access or stored in hard copy at your home. Then order a pick up and they will retrieve your locked containers. All or specific containers can be returned in the future at your request. This service was designed with 100% convenience in mind.

Posted in donate/charities/thriftshops, products/resources, storage | 2 Comments »

Go Ahead, Write On The Walls. No, Really…It’s Okay!

Tuesday, October 6th, 2009
IdeaPaint has got to be one of the coolest products ever. It can turn virtually any paintable surface into a high-performance dry-erase surface:

Kids bedroom
Kitchen
Office
Playroom
Hallways
Doors
Refrigerators
Tables
Furniture
Laundry room
Cabinets
Storage Containers

…the possibilities are limited only by your imagination!

It’s easy to use and works like any standard roller-applied paint. One coat is all it takes and it even comes with the roller you need! When you’re ready for something new, just paint over it. IdeaPaint can even restore your old dry-erase whiteboards and add years to their life.

Many dry-erase surfaces contain formaldehyde, which slowly releases gas and diminishes indoor air quality – your air quality – for the life of the product. IdeaPaint is formaldehyde-free, conforms to all U.S. EPA regulations (including California) and does not produce any harmful gas once it’s dry. In addition to formaldehyde, it’s also free of lead, asbestos, and other harmful materials. IdeaPaint has been tested and deemed safe for its recommended use by multiple third-party laboratories. It works with all industry-standard dry-erase markers and erasers, though you should replace markers frequently to prevent damage from dried or frayed tips. Clean with a standard dry-erase eraser or a dry cloth after each use; for more thorough cleaning, use a damp cloth. If you need to repair or replace IdeaPaint, just scuff up the entire surface and repaint.

Millions of worn out and unwanted whiteboards and blackboards end up in landfills every year. If you care about the environment, you’ll love IdeaPaint because there’s nothing to throw out and they don’t use any of the valuable raw materials normally found in other dry-erase products: wood, steel, aluminum, vinyl or resin. The baking and curing procedures required to make traditional dry-erase boards consume large amounts of energy. Not IdeaPaint. Just stir and apply! And because their product is much smaller and lighter, it packs and ships using less packing material and fuel than traditional whiteboards.

So…go ahead, write on the walls! It’s really okay!

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If You Don’t Already Know About Freecycle, You Should!

Tuesday, October 6th, 2009

You just gotta love this group. Here’s what their mission statement says:

“Our mission is to build a worldwide gifting movement that reduces waste, saves precious resources & eases the burden on our landfills while enabling our members to benefit from the strength of a larger community.“
The Freecycle Network™ is made up of 4,830 groups with 6,573,000 members (and growing) across the globe. It’s a grassroots and entirely nonprofit movement of people who are giving (& getting) stuff for free in their own towns. It’s all about reuse and keeping good stuff out of landfills. Each local group is moderated by a local volunteer. Membership is free. To sign up, go to Freecycle.org.

Posted in clutter, environmentally friendly, reduce/reuse/recycle, sell/giveaway/trash | Comments Off

Upgrade Your Web Browser: Be More Productive; Save Time, Be Safe on the Internet

Monday, October 5th, 2009

Your viewing experience on the internet is dictated by two things: which web browser you use and which version of it’s installed on your computer. In upgraded versions of web browsers, new features are added, bugs are fixed and security holes are patched.

If you’re having trouble viewing websites, you may need to upgrade to the newest version of your browser. Installing upgrades is easy; just go to your browser company’s website and look for their download/upgrade info or click on the links below. No matter which browser you prefer – Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, Opera, Google Chrome – using the latest version ensures that you’ll have the safest and best viewing experience in two ways:

1. By preventing malicious viruses from infecting your computer

2. By allowing you to view websites – by properly interpreting the code used to build them – the way their owner meant for you to view them

There’s no better time than now to upgrade your browser and be safe, more productive and save time.

Posted in productivity, safety, technology, time management | Comments Off

Follow MILLER ORGANIZING On Twitter!

Monday, October 5th, 2009

For more great information and tips, MILLER ORGANIZING is pleased to announce that you can now follow us on Twitter. In addition to this blog and the column I write for a local newspaper, I am delighted to have a new forum in which to spread the word about how getting organized can help you to reduce your stress, increase your productivity and save you time and money. Click here to visit us on Twitter!

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Organization Is The Gift You Give Yourself That Keeps On Giving Back.

Friday, October 2nd, 2009
My job is to help make other people’s lives better. I think it’s the BEST job in the world that anyone could have. Along with having the BEST job in the world, I’m also very fortunate to have the BEST clients in the world. One of those clients – the one with the BEST cats in the world (trust me, they really are the BEST!) – sent me this lovely email yesterday and I thought I would share it in the hope of inspiring and encouraging others to get organized. Thank you, dear client, for taking the time to write and let me know how you feel about the progress we’ve made in getting you organized. It means a lot to me.

“Something happened that made me think of you. I was sitting at my desk paying a bill. And after sealing the envelope, I looked up at my bookshelf to get an address label and a stamp. Purely out of habit, my brain started the, “Okay, where did I put the address labels and stamps?” quest. And I immediately saw the box labeled, “Envelopes/Stamps/Address Labels/Packing Tape”. And I felt giddy all over again.

It’s like the gift that keeps on giving, every time I go to look for something and find it in a box, neatly labeled for easy finding. :)

While I am very much looking forward to more progress when I finish this particular busy period, it is so wonderful to have so much progress to see already. :) ”

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