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HOUSTON DAILY JOURNAL
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There's so much to keep up with during the holidays shopping,
decorating, sending cards and managing social schedules. Being
organized will allow more time for the joys of the season.
“Disorganization can cause stress, espe
cially during the holidays,” said Julie
Hibbard of DYMO Corp., the leading
manufacturer of labeling products. “For
some, organization comes naturally, but
for the rest of us there are tricks and
tools, like using clear plastic storage bins
and label makers, that help everyone.”
Hibbard recommends categorizing and
clearly labeling holiday decor storage.
She suggests starting with a label maker,
like DYMO’s Personal Labelmaker and
several clear plastic storage bins, one
each for ornaments, lights, and garlands,
gift wrap, gift bags, and ribbons / bows.
“Everything stays clean and dry in plastic
bins,” says Hibbard, “and it’s much easier
when boxes are clearly labeled and con
tents are visible."
While reorganizing holiday storage,
Hibbard also suggests getting rid of items
that haven’t been used in years.
Another tip Hibbard recommends for
staying organized is winding holiday
lights around coffee cans to avoid
tangling. “Position the plug near the top
of the can so the strands can be easily
tested,” she says. To manage holiday
to-do and shopping lists, Hibbard uses
a small notebook for easy inventory
of what’s needed and what’s not while
shopping. It also helps to prevent her
from over-buying.
Keeping a schedule during the holidays
is also very important. Hibbard suggests
putting holiday parties on the calendar,
and scheduling time for holiday deco
rating, card writing, shopping, baking
and wrapping.
“Then rally the troops! Being organized
makes it much easier to enlist the family
to complete tasks like decorating, shop
ping, wrapping or post-holiday tear
down.”
Another time-saver Hibbard endorses
is on-line address labels for holiday
cards. Putting address lists on the com
puter means more time for hand-written
personal notes inside the cards. She
recommends DYMO’s Label Writer
Twin Turbo, a label and postage printer
that connects with your home computer
and eliminates hand-addressing envelopes
and long lines at the post office during
one of the busiest time of the year. Typed
addresses, she notes, are also much more
likely to arrive at their destination on
time.
To avoid marathon wrapping on Christ
mas Eve, Hibbard suggests setting up a
gift wrap schedule and station with sup
plies like scissors, tape, pens, wrapping
paper, gift bags, tissue, gift tags, ribbon
and bows organized and labeled in clear
plastic bins. It’s also a good idea to
reserve an extra storage bin or two to
store gifts bought in advance, she says.
Mom, Where’s
the...?
Tired of everyone coming to you
when they can’t find something?
Here are tips from the pros for
hot spots of disorganization.
Kitchen
Spin Zone
Lazy Susans provide access and
visibility in packed pan-tries or
refrigerators. Many sizes are
available.
Clear Counters
For counters cluttered with more
small appliances than the local
Crate and Barrel, create more
space by storing dust-collectors
that aren’t used daily.
Cupboard Convenience
Keep pots, pans and cooking
utensils near the stove so that
these items are handy when the
heat is on and food preparation
is underway.
Closet
Out With the Old
Make room by donating any
thing that hasn’t been worn
in the past year.
Stay in Season
Reorganize closets each season.
Put out-of-season clothing and
accessories towards the back
of the closet or in other storage
areas. (Label before storing for
easy recovery when a heat wave
or cold front hits.)
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Get Stacked
Shoe-lovers should label stack
able clear plastic shoe containers
or tape a digital photo or Pola
roid to shoe boxes to make
finding just the right pair for
each outfit a breeze.
Colorize
Group clothing by type and
color to make finding specific
garments easier.
Garage
Clear the Bench
Work benches are a catch-all for
random items, including small
dangers like loose screws and
nails. Put small items in labeled
jars or bins for easy access.
Peg the Problem
Install inexpensive pegboards
with movable hooks behind
workbenches and along garage
walls to keep tools in reach and
out of the way. From hammers
to hacksaws, nearly anything
with a handle can be hung.
Look Up Solutions
Hang off-season items such
as sleds, bicycles and jogging
strollers from the rafters. Sports
and lawn care equipment orga
nizers can be hung from walls
to keep rakes and balls off the
floor.
The organized holiday storage closet on the right demonstrates the effectiveness of labels and clear plastic bins.
Resolve to Get Organized
As the holiday frenzy winds down, New
Year’s resolutions to get organized kick in.
Whether the goal is to make room in the
closet for new clothes, find space in the
garage to park the car, or gather everything
for tax season, follow these organizational
basics from DYMO:
1. Be realistic: Tackle one room, closet
or file cabinet at a time.
2. Everything has its place: Keep every
day items within arm’s reach and store
seldom-used items in labeled containers.
Keep your label maker handy. The
DYMO Personal Labelmaker Plus
comes with a handy magnetic holster
for convenient storage on the refrig
erator or file cabinet.
3. Get rid of it: Dispose of items not
used for more than a year.
4. It’s a date: Keep a calendar handy
near the phone to schedule appoint
ments, games, recitals and time for
organizing.
5. Save the trees: Only subscribe to
publications you read cover to cover.
Store issues needed for future use in
labeled storage bins. Recycle the rest.
6. Train ’em young: Keep labeled toy
baskets in rooms where the kids play.
Get them in the habit of tossing toys
back in the basket before bed and
regain some adult space.
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7. Get help: Tap the skills of an über orga
nized, or “Type 0,” person you know, or
call a professional organizer to get you
started.
8. Divide and conquer: Assign household
chores to family members.
9. Cool reminders: Putting magnetic J
labels on the refrigerator with daily \fl
tasks and chores for each family
member will help keep everyone
accountable for his or her
household responsibilities.
10. Maximize space: Add extra JgfJM
racks, rods and shelf Jayiji
dividers to closets
or storage space.
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For more organi
zational tips, visit
www.dymo.com.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2006 ♦
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