Collections are great, but when it's too large, the goodness gets lost.

I recently found the box of recipe books I had stashed in the basement. My recipe drawer was already overflowing and it was hard to get to the books I use the most.

So what did I do? I challenged myself to only keep what would fit nicely into the drawer.

Now that’s easy to say, but harder to do. I had kept those recipe books for a reason. Some were my Mom’s, some were bought from a fundraiser or family member, and some had a recipe or title that caught my eye. But really, how books on home canning did I need!

Another thing is that my usual process for looking up a new recipe is to go to the index of a couple of my recipe books, and then head straight to Google.

While I sorted through, I quickly looked to see if the book had any recipes I wanted to keep, and use soon. I took pictures of those recipes, or if I was recycling the book, I tore out the page. A couple books went to the cottage (it was hard to part with the Canadian Cookbook from grade 9 with my name in it), and lots were donated.

Now my recipe drawer is a pleasure to use, and I can quickly find what I’m looking for!

Need help or suggestions? Give me a call to talk about your situation.
Bev Chandler, Professional Organizer, 306-536-8844
C&C Organizing ... Re-claim space, time, and relationships. www.ccorganizing.ca

When my son moved out, I set him up with pantry items in canning jars and spice containers. It gave him basic ingredients without having to spend extra money on those items.

This can work for anyone! If you are tired of opening plastic bags and small boxes to get to the ingredients you need, these custom sized glass containers are a great solution.

Here’s why:

• The glass can replace plastic (some plastic deteriorates over time).
• They are easy to find at a thrift store, or check with someone who makes preserves to see if they have some extras. Spice jars are available at most Dollar stores.
• They are easy to fill from the store container, or your bulk purchase.
• They seal well.
• They are easy to open.
• They make measuring and pouring easy.
• You can select the size you want for the specific ingredient.
• You can stack them, and even put them on a step-type organizer.
• It’s easy to find the ingredient you need, and labels can include cooking amounts (eg. rice, or oatmeal)
• It’s easy to see when you are running low of something.

Once you’ve filled the jar with an ingredient, store any extra amount in a basket up high, or out of the way. When you’ve used up the ingredient in the jar, check the basket to see if you have any extra, before buying more.

...and the last benefit, it looks neat and organized!
​
Need help or suggestions? Give me a call to talk about your situation.
Bev Chandler, Professional Organizer, 306-536-8844
C&C Organizing ... Re-claim space, time, and relationships. www.ccorganizing.ca

Straightening up from time to time, is something that most people face, including me.
​
As I’ve been swapping to “clean beauty” skin care, make-up, and personal care products, I would put my new products in my drawers, where ever they fit.
Pretty soon, items were getting hidden by other items, and I was opening and closing drawers many times, as I got ready in the morning and at night.

Here’s how I solved that:
- As I removed each item from each drawer, I sorted them on the counter based on category.  Skin care together, make-up together with it’s brushes, hair products together.
- Next, based size of the containers, I decided which drawer it would go into (my upper drawer is shorter than the drawer under it).
- With each drawer, the items I used the most went closest to the front.
- Drawer dividers were used to keep the groupings together, and to keep larger bottles standing up.

It is sooo much better now that it’s organized!

Need help or suggestions? Give me a call to talk about your situation.
Bev Chandler, Professional Organizer, 306-536-8844
C&C Organizing ... Re-claim space, time, and relationships. www.ccorganizing.ca
​

This was the challenge I made to myself.  
​Fit all those sewing and craft supplies into that five drawer dresser!

I love to sew and make things. Over the years I use up supplies, and then acquire more.
Recently, I got this dresser and painted it white. My vision was to have all my sewing and craft supplies in one place, and easily available in the 5 drawers.

Items were already sorted, so how hard could it be?

Well, I could see right away that I had more supplies than drawer space.
...but this was my strategy. Pare down what I really want and will use, and donate, re-purpose, or trash the rest!

This is a great organizing strategy. When you have a category of items where you only use some of the items, most of the time, then question why you are keeping the rest.

For this project, I pared down notions (how many zippers do I really need?), got rid of crafts that I would no longer do (or not in the foreseeable future anyway), and donated patterns (even some that I had used and loved, but would never make again).

It took determination, and constantly looking at the 5 drawers as a reminder, but I accomplished my goal. Now, I love having my supplies handy, and I know what I have and where it is!

Are you struggling with too many items to fit your space? Challenge yourself to reduce the amount of items, so that they fit.
Need help or suggestions? Let’s chat! 

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

January 4th is the first ever International Day of Professional Organizers!

With January's resolution time, and change of habits, it's the perfect month to have a special day to highlight professional organizing.

If you've resolved to do thing differently this year, a professional organizer can help with the planning, keep you on track, and offer hands-on assistance. Moving forward in a positive way can be fun and exciting, especially when you have someone to help you with the process.

Big project or small, find out how a Professional Organizer can work with you, to get you where you want to be!

Bev Chandler, Professional Organizer
​C&C Organizing
https://www.ccorganizing.ca/

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!