House

Tiny Tidy: Your Home's Landing Strip Area

Tiny Tidy: Your Home's Landing Strip Area

Where you come home from a long, hard day, there is GREAT temptation to just toss your stuff any old place, crack open a bottle of wine and put your feet up…But what if you could get to the fun part after you quickly get organized for the next day? That’s what a perfectly functioning Landing Strip in your home should do for you (and your family): Get you good & ready for the next day’s activities/work. So! With those thoughts in mind, let’s get to it…!

How to Complete a Major Fall Organizing Project (And NOT lose it!)

How to Complete a Major Fall Organizing Project (And NOT lose it!)

I had to help my brother, who has a two-car garage, organize some big storage items, work things, old furniture, holiday decorations, you name it, that had recently landed and accrued space in his garage. The pile was only getting worse as the months went by, and since he was going out of town last week, I offered to help…Ugh.

Tiny Tidy: Your Linen Closet!

Tiny Tidy: Your Linen Closet!

This is either quite a tragic task for you, or very easy, depending on how many people are using the linen closet, how many family members you have, and how large your home is, bedroom & bathroom-wise. Get ready to turn some old sheets and towels into something more useful, and let’s get BUSY…

TINY TIDY: Pick A Drawer, ANY Drawer...

TINY TIDY: Pick A Drawer, ANY Drawer...

I just want to state again that the entire concept of these little Tiny Tidys, and the "Home" aspect of House & Mind, is to allow for the realization that not only is the idea of perfection not desirable, it's not even an option. It simply doesn't EXIST. (Phew!)…

Capture that "Back-To-School" Feeling! (Even if you are over-worked, stressed, need a vacation, and broke!)

Capture that "Back-To-School" Feeling! (Even if you are over-worked, stressed, need a vacation, and broke!)

YES! It's that time of year again...The kids are going off to school, maybe even college...You may already feel completely overworked and scattered and stressed, trying to get the shopping, arrangements, papers ready for the title (or big) ones…

Tiny Tidy: Your Bookshelves!

Tiny Tidy: Your Bookshelves!

This one takes a bit more concentration than most other Tiny Tidys, but its well worth it!  You can still do this even if you have adapted to mostly using a Kindle, and your bookcases are used to mostly house knick-knacks, plants and the like. 

PICK ONE BOOKCASE/SET OF SHELVES YOU'D LIKE TO TIDY THE MOST, AND LET'S GET TO IT!

Tiny Tidy: Your Fridge (Ugh!)

Tiny Tidy: Your Fridge (Ugh!)

I know, this one is not so "tiny." In fact, the electricity went out in my apartment for about six hours when I wasn't home this week.  I literally had to throw practically everything went, as, I found out the hard way, a few things spoiled! Ick.

(It's a pain to do this one. I totally get it.)

But! Summer is sadly, soon, coming to an end. You have had probably had more fresh fruit and produce in the fridge than usual. Now is a great time to get rid of these old left-overs, condiments that have seen better days, and, well, YOU know! All that good (and gross!) fridge stuff. You CAN do this in 45 minutes or less. It's just going to take a little bit of planning…

TINY TIDY : Your Cell Phone!

TINY TIDY : Your Cell Phone!

Have you ever scrolled through your contacts in your cell phone, and your heart absolutely lurches, because you forgot to delete the number of the guy who ghosted you five years ago (or vice versa!) or it pricks up and races when you see the number for that tutor you never called for your kid's advanced math class!? Today, we are getting rid of all that shame, stress and blah-ness that comes from looking at a device that may be filled with contacts and apps that do not express or reflect the good and juicy and interesting life you are living right now...

Tiny Tidy: Your First-Aid Stuff!

Tiny Tidy: Your First-Aid Stuff!

This is an EASY-peasy one, and also allows you a guilt-free excuse to go to/shop at Target! (Yes!) GO to the space/place/drawer/cabinet in your home where you keep things like: Antibiotic ointments, band-aids, anti-itch creams, summer bug spray, as well as products like cough syrup, cold and flu medicine, Tylenol, and the like…

Tiny Tidy: Your Spice Cabinet!

Tiny Tidy: Your Spice Cabinet!

Okay! Let's be honest, here:  When was the last time you checked the dates on those spice jars and tins you have lurking (in maybe more than one place!) in your kitchen? That little bottle of ancient bay leaves you haven't used for ages? The three cans of Kosher Salt saved in the very back? C'mon! We are going to hit this baby, and hit it fast and easy…

Spring Cleaning: Week Four-YOUR CLOSETS!

Spring Cleaning: Week Four-YOUR CLOSETS!

This is the last week of our Spring Cleaning Guide, so, rejoice! This last week can be either painful, or fun, or both, depending on how much of a hoarder you have bene this year. The key to thsi week? Start small! We're talking a hall closet or a few shelves of your linen closet, first. So, have a closet you have in mind that is the least terrible, and get ready to go!

Tiny Tidy: Inside the Trunk of Your Car...

Tiny Tidy: Inside the Trunk of Your Car...

Okay, we realize that this may not apply to everyone, not by a long shot. Some have spotless car trucks, many don't care about this anyway, and some live in fantastic urban cities that do not require the ownership of automobiles (lucky ducks!). SO! If you docare, and if you spend an inordinate amount of time in your car like I do, living is Los Angeles, this little Tiny Tidy is for you. So, here we go! 

Spring Cleaning Start: Weekend Two!

Spring Cleaning Start: Weekend Two!

We are on to Weekend #2 of our Spring Clean Guide. How was last week for you? Was it too much, or not quite enough? Please, do let us know below! Now, we are going to kick off this weekend with a few "big" tasks, sprinkled in with some truly smaller, more "fun" ones. Okay, ready or not! Here we go...(And again, please feel free to start Friday night, if you wish!)