​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

Do you wish there were more hours in the day?
Time is the one thing that once it’s gone, it’s gone.

Are you spending time on any of these:
- Looking for lost items, papers, or electronic files?
- Procrastinating, or spinning your wheels, when what you need is not handy?
- Going to get something, only to find you’ve run out (eg. The right-sized battery)?
- Buying something you already have (or you forgot you have), because you can’t find it?
- Finding the matching piece (eg. storage containers, bins, or tubs)?
- Gathering items you need from various places, before you leave your home or office?
- Being in re-active mode, instead of pro-active mode?
Or maybe you are feeling stressed or overwhelmed, and end up saying no to the fun things in life?

Getting organized is one way to give you back more time in your day. 

Addressing the above problems will allow you to re-claim the time you are spending on them. With processes and solutions in place, your day can be streamlined to handle your priorities and move forward.

With organization, your mind is cleared, belongings become useful and close at hand. 
…and you'll re-claim time for what matters most.

Now is a great time to get and stay organized! Let's talk.
Contact Bev Chandler at 306-536-8844.  www.ccorganizing.ca
C&C Organizing ... Re-claim space, time, and relationships

Yes, you can keep your junk drawer.  Let’s call it a “handy” drawer.

Especially in the kitchen, you probably want somewhere for pens, a notepad, scissors, tape, a screw driver, pliers, a measuring tape, etc.  Having those things handy saves time when you need something quickly.

Here’s a few things to consider:
1.  Limit the amount of each of the items. For example, extra pens might be kept in a desk, and a second measuring tape might go with a tool set.
2.  “Handy” drawers tend to collect things that don’t have a home.  This is fine, but clean it out regularly, so that you can quickly find the things you use the most.
3.  If your “handy” drawer stretches out into 2 or more drawers, then take a look at what’s in them, and what might be a better use of your drawer space.

Keeping the things you use the most in a “handy” space makes sense.  Find what works for you, and enjoy the convenience.

Need help? Contact Bev Chandler with C&C Organizing, 306-536-8844.  www.ccorganizing.ca

How much cupboard space are you devoting to dishes, cups, and glasses?
If you have a large kitchen you might be able to spread out, but if space is tight, Here's how you can fit them into just one cupboard.

Deciding how many dishes, cups, and glasses you need is the first step. Typically an 8 place setting will do for a family up to 4 people. If you entertain regularly then extra settings could be stored in separate space.

Next, use the vertical space. An extra portable or permanent shelf gives space for bowls or cups above the plates. Another option is a plate holder which allows stacking of the various sizes.

Do you wish you had extra cupboard space? Organizing your dishes, cups, and glasses might just give you that extra space you need.

Is your pantry causing you grief?  Is it hard to find things, and hard to put things back? 
Because of the amount of items stored, pantries can get disorganized quickly. Then, overload it and the problem gets worse.
To get it organized, start with the highest and lowest shelves.  Are there items that are no longer used, or that can be moved to another location?  Next, move things you use the least into the space you just created.  Now go shelf by shelf and sort like items together.  Allocate a space for each grouping and purchase baskets, containers, or shelf accessories as needed. Labeling as you go will let everyone in the house know where to put things back.
Now breathe a sigh of relief every time you open the door. 
For more organizing solutions visit www.ccorganizing.ca/blog