Are you moving, or thinking about moving?
Whether you are downsizing or not, going through your belongings ahead of time makes packing easier, saves on transport costs, and helps with unpacking into your new home. As well, it relieves some of the stress and anxiety of moving.

But what to do?
- Grouping like items together shows you how much you have and lets you decide how much you will keep.
- Placing groupings near to where they are used, helps with getting them moved to the same room in your new space.
- Donating and/or selling items in advance will move the process along.

Still overwhelmed, or do you have so many belongings that you don't know where to start?
Going through it all and setting up new spaces, is what I'm all about. The before/after picture was moving someone from a farm with outbuildings, to a 12' x 12' room in an assisted living residence. Lots of decisions, but a smooth process with a happy ending.

Call me and we can chat about getting your move moving!

Bev Chandler, Professional Organizer, 306-536-8844
C&C Organizing ... Re-claim space, time, and relationships.  www.ccorganizing.ca

I'm so honored and excited to be nominated, and short-listed, for our industry's Ambassador Award, through Professional Organizers in Canada (POC)! 

This annual award is 1 of 2 that are presented to members of our national organization across Canada. The winner will be announced on Nov 5, 2020.  

Whether I'm selected or not, I am so thankful to be recognized as a Professional Organizer who gives back to other organizers, is involved with their chapter, and devotes time and energy volunteering in the local community.

A big Thank You to POC for this opportunity, and to my colleagues for this prestigious recognition!

Is your closet and drawers bulging at the seams? Or maybe you have a 2nd or 3rd closet with even more clothes?

Clothing is tough not only because of sizing, variety, and colors, but also because of emotional attachment. Setting up your clothes for today, and not the past or future, will help you pare it down.

My #1 recommendation is to go through your clothes and accessories with a buddy. A friend, a family member, a professional organizer, or an image coach, can ask you questions to help you make decisions. Ultimately, you want to keep your favorites, and limit the “just in case” pieces.

#2 is to fill your closet and drawers with only what currently fits. Your favorite pieces that are too small (or too large) can go into a bin labeled with the size or weight of when they will fit. Then too, seeing them all together might encourage you to get back to wearing them sooner than later.

#3 is to sort like things together, by color. Tops can be split into long sleeve and short sleeve, or you can leave those together and keep an area for dressy and casual. Pants would go together by regular length and shorter lengths, and suits and jackets can have their own section. Whatever you choose, organizing by how you get dressed will save you time.

For items you are unsure about, you can pack them in a box and mark it with “if I haven’t opened by date, then donate this box”.

Opening up space in your closet gives you options for new items, and that new “look” right around the corner. You’ll also find it quicker to decide what to wear, and you’ll know when you need that specific new piece!

Give me a call to chat about your situation.  Bev Chandler at 306-536-8844
C&C Organizing ... Re-claim space, time, and relationships.  www.ccorganizing.ca

Is virtual organizing for you?
What are the advantages? Why would you want to try it?

Organizing through the internet is a great option for many people.
1) If you want help with organizing, an assessment can show you how the organizing process will take place.

2) If you want some direction and solutions, but want to do the work yourself, or with a family member or friend, then online consults and check-ins will get you started, and keep you moving and on track.

3) If you are in a remote location, then you can get help from an Organizer without paying travel costs.

4) If you want to work at one room at a time, then the focus can be directed as you move forward.

5) If you want or need to keep the sessions short, then there is the option to do that.

6) And lastly, if you want to be sure you are keeping virus or germ free, then you can get help without having anyone physically in your home or office.

Making progress, and getting the job completed, are important for any organizing project.
Virtual organizing gives you another option for tackling your troubling spots, sooner than later.

For a complimentary evaluation, call or text Bev Chandler at C&C Organizing.  306-536-8844
https://www.ccorganizing.ca/

​Oh, those printed photos. What to do with those boxes and albums of pictures? It can be overwhelming!

Old albums were not photo-safe and might be leaching the color from your photos. Loose pictures can get stuck, torn, and worn on the edges. Pictures held with fridge magnets might be out-dated and curled, and those in a basement box could be starting to absorb moisture. And then there are the photos hiding in various spots around the house.
 
Here's a method to handle them, so that you can preserve and share the memories with others. 


Photo boxes are a great way to get all your photos into chronological order. They come with dividers that can be labeled for each year, or each decade. For example you might have a divider for each decade prior to the year 1990, and then a divider for each year after that. If you are giving some away, you can have a divider for that person. Special occasions, or categories like pets, can have their own divider too.
 
Now start looking through your photos. As you look at each one, decide if you will keep it, give it away, or trash it (yes, it’s ok to put a picture in the garbage or shredding).
 
Pictures you can consider getting rid of are duplicates (or near duplicates), sceneries, ones out of focus, ones where the person/people don’t look good (think eating pictures), or ones where you don’t know who it is.
 
The photos you are keeping go into the box behind one of the dividers. Photos without a date can either go in their own divider to be decided later, or take your best guess at the year and put it in the box. Once you figure out a year, write it on a back corner, or with a photo-safe pen. For larger pictures, try trimming them to a size that will fit in the box.
 
Once you have them safely in the photo boxes, you can decide what you’ll do with them. Scanning them creates a backup and allows you to share them with others. Photo books are a great way to tell a story and print multiple copies. Themed calendars can be fun too.
 
Even if the photo boxes are as far as you go, the memories can easily be enjoyed one section at a time, visually telling the story of you and your family!

​How do you decide what keepsakes are worth keeping?
Many people struggle with how much of the past to keep, where to keep it, and how much is too much?

Start here:
1) Allocate a keepsake spot.  This could be a shelf, a box, a drawer, a chest or a closet.  Pick the size based on how much room you can spare in your home. 
 
2) Gather up all the keepsakes.  Will they all fit in the space you’ve allocated?  If not, you have two choices; allocate more space or remove some of the items. 
 
3) Display some keepsakes.  Items that are grouped and have enough space around them, are easy to view and enjoy. 
 
4) Check the keepsakes importance. If you are keeping an item for someone else, maybe they can enjoy it now.  If it’s an item for yourself, then decide why it’s important to you. 
 
5) Pare it down.  Would a picture of the item be enough? Can you pare down similar items? Can you release items have bad feelings or guilt associated with them? Can items be rotated for display seasonally?  If someone gave you the item, they wouldn’t want it to cause clutter and stress.
 
Once your keepsakes fit your space, you’ll be able to enjoy them and take comfort in knowing that each item is special.

While so many of us are staying safe at home, CTV Morning News asked me to share some organizing tips. This video has five, 2 minute clips, covering your home work space, the kitchen, seasonal and children's organizing.   https://regina.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=1934776&jwsource=cl
For more organizing information, visit www.ccorganizing.ca .

What does clutter have to do with relationships?
Valentine’s Day is all about love and relationships with those around us.
Let’s talk about how clutter and dis-organization might be affecting your spouse, partner, family, room-mates, or friends.

First, there is the stress, strain, and arguments that can happen when 2 people have opposing views.  One likes streamlined spaces and the other is good with having things out and around them, or boxed up in storage. Arriving at a compromise can take work from both sides.

Second, there is the embarrassment about clutter when thinking of inviting friends or extended family over for a visit.  Dis-organization can cause overwhelm at the thought of all that would need to be done before a visitor arrives.

Third, a cluttered space makes it a challenge to do a thorough cleaning. The health of everyone in the space could be affected by dust and bacteria.

Lastly, there is the procrastination that takes place in a cluttered space.  Maybe you want to do something for your loved one, but there isn’t the space, or it would take all your energy to get it accomplished.  Something like baking that special cake will have to wait again.

It’s never too late to change your situation.
Stop the arguments, stress, and embarrassment by getting and staying organized!
Give me a call to chat about it.  Bev Chandler at 306-536-8844.  www.ccorganizing.ca
C&C Organizing ... Re-claim space, time, and relationships