YOUR LIFE ORGANIZED

Go Green with Your Sunscreen!

Hello Everyone;

 

For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Bryna René, and I’m the contributing author for Clean Your Home Healthy: Green Cleaning Made Easy.  Since we started working together over a year ago, Candita and I have collaborated on a number of projects including the book, and from now on I’ll be contributing to the Your Life Organized blog.

 

Before I started writing full-time, I was a Master Stylist in a Providence salon for a number of years. I’ve been a ‘product junkie’ my whole life – but when I started researching what actually goes into our personal care products, I got a real wake-up call.

 

As consumers, we are not protected by the FDA or anyone else when it comes to our cosmetics: according to the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep database, only 13% of ingredients in commercial personal care products are actually tested for toxicity. Look up your current products at www.cosmeticsdatabase.com and get a breakdown of ingredients. You may be surprised – and a little frightened – by what you discover.

 

So what does this have to do with sunscreen? Everything! If you’re like most people, you’re concerned about skin cancer, sunburns, and the aging effects of UVA and UVB radiation. But since over 60% of what you put on your skin is absorbed into your bloodstream, you don’t want to slather on just anything. 

 

Conventional sunscreens, like most body lotions you’ll see in the drugstore, usually employ a lotion base of petroleum waxes, mineral oil, or some combination thereof.  This in itself is not good: petroleum waxes (petrolatum, etc.) and mineral oil come from the same place as gasoline – crude oil. In fact, nearly as much crude oil goes into our cosmetics, cleaning products, and plastic packaging as goes into our cars! They can also contain ingredients like oxybenzone, an ultraviolet light absorber, which according to the EWG is a developmental toxin, an endocrine disruptor (meaning it messes with hormones like estrogen), and a neurotoxin, and may cause ‘biochemical or cellular changes’ in humans. And that’s just one ingredient!

 

So how can you protect yourself from the sun and from your sunscreen? Choose mineral sunscreen formulas which use zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, and other natural compounds to block harmful rays. I have extremely fair skin (as an old friend once told me, if I got any whiter I’d be see-through), and I’ve spent all day in the tropical sun wearing Aubrey Organics’ SPF 20 Green Tea sunscreen. California Baby sunscreens rank among the least toxic of those tested by the EWG, and they’re great for adults and kids alike. Jason Natural Cosmetics mineral sunscreen ‘Sunbrellas’ formulas are also a good choice. If you’re concerned about parabens, which find their way into nearly everything, you’ll find more options among natural sunscreens. Natural formulas may also work better for people with sensitive skin.

 

One thing I do find with my Aubrey sunscreens is that they’re rather thick, and they get thicker as the SPF gets higher. Titanium dioxide works by reflecting the sun’s rays, rather than by absorbing them like chemical sunscreens, and at a high SPF the lotion can look a little white on the skin. I solve this problem by diluting the sunscreen with a few drops of sweet almond or jojoba oil; this doesn’t seem to affect the sunscreen’s performance at all, and it gives my skin a much-needed moisture boost. You can also apply sunscreen to damp skin.

 

As far as facial-specific sun products go, I like Eco Bella’s Age Antidote Day Cream with SPF 15, Collective Wellbeing’s Day Moisturizer, and Lavera’s Anti-Aging Sunscreen SPF 20 Face.  They all cost less than department store brands, and come with none of the chemical baggage.  

 

Also, I’ve fallen in love with Physician’s Formula’s Organic Wear tinted moisturizer. It gives a great dewy look to the skin, the ingredients are non-toxic, the packaging is eco-friendly, and (most importantly) the price is right. Look for it at drugstores – just be sure not to confuse Organic Wear with the Physician’s Formula Mineral Wear line, which has none of the former’s redeeming qualities.

 

If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to post them on this site, or email me at bryna@yourlifeorganized.com. Also, don’t forget to check out the newly revamped Your Life Organized website: you’ll find not only info on Candita’s organizing business but lots of helpful articles. For info about the book, go to www.cleanyourhomehealthy.com.

 

Thanks for reading, and have fun in the sun!

 

Bryna René

Eco-Pets - Part 2: Toys and Treats

Hello Everyone!

First, I would like to thank Pets for the Environment for picking up my last eco-pets post!

In that prior post, I talked about the nasty ingredients found in conventional pet foods. Now, I’ll show you how to find the safest toys, treats, and other goodies for your furry friend.

It may shock some people to learn that there are essentially no government safety regulations or testing procedures in place when it comes to pet products (this is when many of us remember our siblings or cousins eating dog food on a dare…).  Therefore, the burden of education falls entirely to the consumer. Thanks to conscious organizations like Pets for the Environment, the Organic Authority, and the many others out there on the web, it’s not hard to find information about quality pet products if you’re looking for it.

Toys

When you’re choosing toys for your animal pals, make sure they’re of the highest quality. After all, they’ll spend most of their lives in your pet’s mouth – especially if you have a young puppy.  Here are some to stay away from:

• Rawhide is often treated with formaldehyde, a known carcinogen, and can cause intestinal blockage and all sorts of other complications because it digests slowly.
• Stuffed toys are okay for cats, since they’ll probably just bat them around a bit, but for dogs they can be a real problem. Not only will you likely end up with stuffing all over your house, your dog will end up with a belly full of chemically-treated poly-fill and synthetic fabric, neither of which are digestible. If your pet will handle a stuffed toy appropriately, make sure it’s made of organic cotton, and is not treated with the formaldehyde-based chemicals to make it stain-resistant, fire-retardant, or water-resistant (scarily enough, this rules out most children’s stuffed toys too).
• Plastic toys, if they’re not meant to be gnawed on by your canine pal, can splinter, and pieces can end up lodged in your pet’s intestines. Also, many are made from PVC – a.k.a. vinyl -  which is highly toxic (for more info, go to pvcinformation.org).

So what’s a pet owner to do? After all, pets love toys!  Here are some ideas:

• Real bones are great for dogs. Pay a visit to your local butcher and pick up a fresh marrowbone for your pup. They’ll enjoy it for months! Make sure that the bone isn’t too big or too small.
• Organic plush toys, with or without squeakers, are a great choice. Make sure that the dye process as well as the material itself is organic – dyes are a big part of the toxic load of fabrics. simplyfido.com has some great toys for dogs, and PurrfectPlay makes toys for cats.
• Hemp toys are durable, safe, and constructed from one of the world’s most eco-friendly and renewable natural resources. Earthdog.com is entirely dedicated to hemp products. EcoAnimal.com also carries great hemp toys, including rope toys for tug-of-war.

Treats

When you give your pet a treat – whether as a reward for good behavior of just because – you want that treat to be a healthy snack. But many conventional pet treats are full of chemicals, preservatives, and other nasty stuff that can make your pet sick. (if you want to know more, check out my last post, and read the Natural News Article: The True Horrors of Pet Food Revealed)

If you’re looking for organic treats, here are a couple of ideas.

• Organic catnip gives your feline friend all the pleasure without the petrochemical and pesticide residues. Find it at EcoAnimal.com
• Organic dog treats will contain no meat by-products, no meat meal, no synthetics of any kind, and no pesticide/herbicide residues. You can find them in your local health food store, or at any of these web sites: naturespet.com, onlynaturalpet.com,  karmaorganic.com, organicdogs.com, or one of the other dozens of web pages out there devoted to providing consumers with quality pet products.

One caveat: make sure that what you’re buying is really what you think it is. Manufacturers are not required to declare chemical additives which find their way into ingredients before they reach the processing plant. This loophole allows unscrupulous manufacturers to label their foods as ‘natural’ and ‘pesticide-free’ when in fact they are not. Certified organic foods must pass a more rigorous inspection. So always research your company. When you buy from earth-friendly manufacturers, you’re not only being good to your pet, you’re being good to the planet.

Also, remember that treats are just that: treats. Even the healthiest of pet treats are no substitute for a meal of nutritious, balanced pet food. Also, animals that are overfed with treats may struggle with weight issues.

Here are some articles to check out:

• Green Living Journal article: Toxic Pet Toys?
• EarthPaw.org article: 7 Ways to Reduce Your Pet’s Carbon Paw Print
• Listen to this educational clip by Dog Food Secrets author Andrew Lewis at k9obedience.co.uk.
• And don’t forget to sign up for the Pets for the Environment newsletter, and check out the blog by Eddie the Dog!

As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to post them on this site. You can also check out my newly designed business web page at www.yourlifeorganized.com, and go to www.cleanyourhomehealthy.com for info about my book, including an events schedule and media links.

Cheers!
Candita Clayton

Eco-Pets - Part 1: Good Eats

Hello everyone!   

As interest in organic, natural, non-toxic products has grown, we consumers have begun to expand our consciousness into every area of our lives.  Our pet products are no exception: with the recent toxicity issues with imported dog foods, pet nutrition has come to the forefront of people’s minds. 

When you’re shopping for pet foods, be sure to read the ingredients labels – just the way you would for people food. Avoid foods that contain meat ‘by-products’ and ‘meat meal’: there’s no telling where those ingredients came from (although the Natural News Article: The True Horrors of Pet Food Revealed, cites some rather disturbing possible sources, including roadkill). Chemical additives, preservatives like BHT, grain fillers (as opposed to whole, natural grains), and anything you can’t pronounce or immediately identify (back to the by-products again) are also big no-no’s. 

The benefits of switching to natural foods include healthier skin and coat, a reduction in digestive disorders, healthier weight, and increased energy. If you’re particularly concerned, or if your pet is a rescued animal in need of some serious nutritional TLC, you can make your own foods, or try one of the ‘raw food’ services which will ship your pet food to your door on dry ice. These options may be a little pricier, but the difference in your pet’s health and vitality will amaze you.

If you want to transition your pet to an organic lifestyle, you’ll find plenty of great resources to help you on your way. Here are some ideas:

• Take a fun quiz to rate your current dog food at iheartpaws.com
• Pets for the Environment is a wonderful resource with info on all things eco-pet - including a blog by Eddie the dog.
• Read the Organic Authority article, The Top Five Benefits of Natural Food For Your Dog. PetFoodDirect.com carries products from many of the best natural and organic manufacturers.
• Newman Organics is now manufacturing a line of pet foods. http://www.newmansownorganics.com/pet/home/
• DogFoodAnalysis.com offers independent reviews and ingredients analyses of most major pet food brands, as well as natural brands.

As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to post them on this site. You can also check out my newly designed business web page at www.yourlifeorganized.com. Also, go to www.cleanyourhomehealthy.com for info about my book, signings and events, and media links.

Cheers!
Candita Clayton

Your Life Organized News!

Hello Everyone!

I'm so very excited, because tonight we're throwing a party to celebrate the release of my new book, Clean Your Home Healthy: Green Cleaning Made Easy! The book is already available on Amazon.com, and will soon be in bookstores.

Our book release bash is taking place tonight, Thursday April 3, at Bravo Brasserie on Empire Street in downtown Providence from 6-8 p.m. If you're located in the Rhode Island area and would like to attend this event, please feel free to drop by. We'll have books for sale, wine, appetizers, and a crowd of friends and family to mingle with. Everyone is welcome!

I'd like to extend my thanks to Bob and Peter, owners/managers of Bravo, for hosting this event, and to Rick Simone for his help with the planning. If you'd like to learn more about Bravo go to www.bravobrasserie.com.

Thanks to all my readers for their comments and support. I will be back on a normal posting schedule soon (I hope), but as always if you have questions on any organizing or non-toxic topic please feel free to post them on this site, and I will endeavor to answer them as quickly as possible.

Cheers!
Candita Clayton

Organizing Organic: Turn Your Food Around

Hello Everyone, 

Today, I’m writing not as an organizer, but as a nutrition and fitness consultant – my job for 17 years before I founded Your Life Organized. A few weeks ago there was lot of footage in the news about beef cattle in California. I hope everyone saw this disturbing footage, and was touched by it. I found myself nearly in tears watching those cows try to walk on legs that wouldn’t support them. But beyond that, I was upset by what that type of abuse means for our food supply. Those sick cows were going to feed school children!

Now, I’m not a vegetarian. A vegetarian diet works wonderfully for some, but I don’t advocate it for everyone because it doesn’t work for everyone. However, I do advocate conscientious choices in food, and that is the subject of this post. 

By choosing organic, free-range, naturally raised, hormone- and pesticide- free, and locally grown foods whenever possible, you’re contributing not only to your personal health, but to the health of the worldwide food supply. Remember the laws of supply and demand: the more people want something, the more companies are going to clamor to produce it.

Taking the chemicals (and sickness, in the case of meats) out of your food is guaranteed to make you feel good – in your heart, and in your body. The fewer chemicals your body has to process on a daily basis, the more energy it can devote to maintaining daily natural functions. Our constant exposure to chemicals, hormones, and other contaminants in our food supply has, according to many doctors and scientists, contributed to the cancer and obesity epidemics sweeping our nation.

If you make conscientious choices, and change your shopping habits in an organized fashion, it won’t be as hard as you might think to turn your food around. Here are some tips.

In General

§      Buy Conscientiously. Before you make any purchase, check into the companies you’re buying from. Try to find information on how they treat their animals, or how their growers operate. The USDA has relaxed its regulations for organic certification to the detriment of all, and many companies take advantage of this to sell more product at a higher price. Personally, I wouldn’t buy anything that claims to be ‘certified organic’ from the big food producers: their systems of production are already in place, and it’s doubtful that they’ve changed much to accommodate their ‘organic’ lines (please understand, I’m only surmising here, but it makes sense to me… bottom line and all that). Instead, look for companies which manufacture only organic and natural foods, because all of their quality control systems will be geared toward meeting organic standards. If you’re watching your budget, Whole Foods 365 Organic products taste just as good as the premium brands, and cost way less.

Meats

§     Buy Free-Range. Free Range means that the animals are free to roam 100% of the time, which ensures that they receive daily exercise.

§      Buy Hormone-Free. Conventionally raised beef cattle receive up to 5 hormones with their feed to ‘optimize’ their growth.  These hormones end up in their fatty tissues, along with other medications, like antibiotics, which are administered to keep the cows from getting sick in their cramped, unclean living quarters. These chemicals are not destroyed by cooking, curing, or anything else we do to meat before we eat it, and they are as disruptive to human systems as they are to the cows.

§      Buy Pasture-Fed. When buying beef, look for ‘pasture-fed’. This means that the cattle were fed on what cattle are supposed to eat – grass. Most people say that the flavor of pasture-fed beef is better, too. If you can’t find pasture-fed meats locally, order online and have them shipped to your home.

§     Buy Uncured. The curing process which some meats undergo (deli meats, sausage, hot dogs, etc.) adds a lot of unnecessary things to the product – including nitrates and nitrites (usually seen as sodium nitrate/nitrite, potassium nitrate/nitrite), which studies show are carcinogenic. In fact, one study at UCLA confirmed significantly higher childhood leukemia rates among children who ate more than one conventional (cured) hot dog per week.  Look for nitrate/nitrite free meats in your deli. Applegate Farms makes a number of great products, including truly delicious genoa salami. www.applegatefarms.com 

§      Buy  Local. If you can actually go to the farm where your meat comes from, you’ll see what kind of conditions the animals are living in. Here in Rhode Island, we have a number of farms that offer free-range eggs, naturally-raised beef, pork, turkeys, and chickens, and fresh milk cheeses. It’s a little more effort than perusing the meat aisle at your supermarket, but it’s worth it.

§     Buy Organic. If you can find certified organic meats, these are far and away the best choice. In many cases, they’ll be slightly more expensive than conventional products, but they aren’t by any means unaffordable. Certified organic meats come from animals that have been fed certified organic feed, and live on certified organic land. They receive no hormones, antibiotics, or medications of any kind.  Most organic meats will be free-range as well – but some aren’t, so read the label carefully.

Want to learn more? Read an interesting article on conventional vs. organic at trusted.md

Produce

§      Buy Organic. According to the Environmental Working Group, you can eliminate up to 90% of the pesticides in your produce if you know the Dirty Dozen: conventional peaches, apples, sweet bell peppers, celery, nectarines, strawberries, cherries, pears, imported grapes, spinach, lettuce, and potatoes.  These items (conventionally grown) are the most likely to have high levels of pesticide residues. Buying these items organic ensures that you won’t be exposed. Get a free Pesticide Guide from the EWG and learn more about buying smart by clicking here. Also good to know: according to some research, an organic tomato can contain up to 325% more nutrients than their conventional counterparts. Other vegetables demonstrate similar results on testing. This means better, bigger taste in every bite, as well as better nutrition.

§      Buy Local. Transitioning to an organic lifestyle isn’t only about reducing pesticides and chemicals. It’s about reducing our impact on the planet as a whole. So if you have a choice between produce grown in your own town, and produce grown halfway across the world, always choose local: you’ll reduce your carbon footprint and support your local economy at the same time.

Other Products

§      The more products you can buy organic, the better, but at times it’s just not practical for everyone – including me. So when you’re buying conventional, look for products that contain no additives, trans-fats, preservatives, or fillers. Remember: the fewer ingredients, the better. And if you can’t pronounce it, don’t eat it!

Changing the way you eat can truly turn your life around. It can help you lose weight, regain your health, reduce stress and cravings, and improve your general well-being. So turn your food around!

Don’t forget to buy my book, Clean Your Home Healthy, Green Cleaning Made Easy, at amazon.com and target.com, and in bookstores soon!

Yours in Good Health,

Candita Clayton

Clean Up Your Trash!

Hello Everyone!

First, I’d like to remind you all that my new book, Clean Your Home Healthy, Green Cleaning Made Easy, is now available for pre-sale on Amazon.com and Target.com, and will be in bookstores very, very soon…

Today, I’d like to talk about your garbage. Though recycling has become the norm in many households, most people don’t realize that nearly 75% of household waste can be recycled, composted, or reused.

Of course, we all know about paper and glass recycling. But did you know that you can recycle your aluminum foil? Staples and paper clips? Refrigerators and television sets?  Even your old car?  If you’re not sure what to do with an item, don’t just toss it: contact your local recycling facility and ask if there’s a way to recycle or reuse it. 

But there’s another side to household waste, one that’s not often addressed. When the garbage truck comes to your curb, you’re not just throwing away what’s in your trash bags, you’re throwing away the bags themselves.

When you use traditional plastic garbage bags, you’re actually preserving your trash. Not exactly what you envision when you think about saving for posterity, is it? Plastic is airtight, and delays the process of decomposition. And the most frightening fact of all is this: plastic never biodegrades. It can tear or separate into miniscule, even microscopic pieces – and subsequently poison entire food chains, as we’re currently seeing happen in the Pacific Ocean – but it never breaks down. Unless it has been incinerated, every piece of plastic ever manufactured is still in existence. Consider the enormity of that fact, and you’ll never want to toss a piece of plastic again. It’s amazing that we’re not up to our ears in the stuff already – but if we don’t slow down our consumption, our children will be.

In the coming years, how you toss your trash will be nearly as important as what you toss. Bioreactor landfills, while rare today, will (hopefully) become a more popular alternative in future to standard landfills, which are so anaerobic (oxygen-deficient) that nothing – not even organic matter like vegetable peelings – can break down properly. Bioreactor landfills allow materials to decompose – a process which produces methane gas, which is captured and used to produce electricity for the surrounding area.

One way to lessen your impact today is to choose biodegradable garbage bags.  You’ll not only prevent many pounds of plastic from entering your local landfill, you’ll be making it easier for future generations to use the contents of said landfill for energy production. Also, biodegradable garbage bags contain no petroleum by-products, and so help reduce our reliance on oil: this makes them a viable choice even if your local landfill is not a bioreactor facility.

You can find BioBag lawn bags, kitchen bags, and food waste bags (suitable for composting) at some Whole Foods locations, or buy online at drugstore.com. EcoSafe EcoBio kitchen bags are also a great choice.

You can reduce your plastic bag usage in other ways, too. Bring your own bags to the grocery store – or opt for paper bags, which can be recycled at all facilities. Paper bags can even be filled with extra recyclables and left on the curb with your bins.

A few areas have plastic bag recycling programs: here in Rhode Island, we have the ReStore program, which collects plastic grocery bags from drop-off points at local supermarkets. If your area doesn’t recycle plastic bags, opt not to use them at all.

Working together, we can create a healthier future for our children and our planet. So get your family together and talk trash!

Cheers!

Candita Clayton

Green Cleaning... Beyond the Kitchen

Hello Everyone,

Today (Sunday) I was in New York City to do a piece about Green Cleaning with ABC7. You can view the 4-minute segment by clicking here.  I was tremendously excited to have this opportunity, and I feel that the segment went really well. They also were kind enough to let their audience know about my new book, Clean Your Home Healthy: Green Cleaning Made Easy, which you can now pre-order on Amazon.com. 

In other news…If you’re interested in learning more about holistic living and a healthier approach to life, check out this great FREE teleconference being offered to all my readers by my friend Debi Silber, MS, RD, WHC on Thursday March 6.  Debi is called the Mojo Coach because she helps moms get their ‘mojo’ back through holistic nutrition and fitness counseling. To learn more about Debi, visit her web page at www.lifestylefitnessinc.com.  To sign up for this FREE Teleconference, go to www.audioacrobat.com/note/CPZRjYxs. 

So, in relation to my television appearance, I’d like to talk about green cleaning. If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you know that I’ve posted a lot of info on this subject. And, of course, you can always order my book to learn how to green up every room in your house (hint, hint…).  But there are some household products that I haven’t yet touched on, products that we use perhaps less frequently than our floor cleaners or automatic dishwashing liquid, but which can have profound effects on our home environment and our planet at large. I’m referring, of course, to what may be in your garage.

Below are a few commonly used products that are often forgotten in the greater scheme of a green cleaning self-makeover, and that – unlike motor oil and antifreeze – you may not even think of as being toxic. But as you can see, these aren’t innocent bystanders.

§      Auto Washes.  Many car wash formulas are caustic, as they contain sodium hydroxide (lye), so you’ll probably want to refrain from the teenage-movie-style water fight over the minivan. Many ingredients are listed by the Household Products Database as “Trade Secrets” – which means that the only testing they have undergone has been by the chemical companies which manufacture them. Some auto washes also contain benzene derivatives like alkyl benzenesulfonic acid. Benzene is a known human carcinogen according to the Department of Health and Human Services, and has been linked especially to leukemia (read more at healthdangers.com.  Don’t forget, exposure to these products doesn’t begin and end with your hands: when you rinse, polluted water flows into storm drains and soil, and ends up in our groundwater.

§      Auto Waxes.  These contain petroleum distillates, which are manufactured using crude oil. Petroleum distillates, also known as mineral spirits (think turpentine and kerosene) were shown in lab tests to increase tumor growth in mice. You can read the article on PubMed.

§      Ice Melt.  These use potassium chloride or sodium chloride, which is routinely used as road salt. In 2000 the ASPCA warned of the toxicity of road salt to pets, and recommends washing your pets’ paws after walking on roads or sidewalks treated with ice melt (read more at dogtopics.com). During the winter, these salts can end up in groundwater in massive amounts. And, they can be damaging to lawns and landscaping.

§      Insect and Weed Killers. These bad boys use organophosphates and other harsh  chemicals, and they are truly poisonous. After all, wasps and hornets and ants and dandelions are made up of millions of individual cells, just like us. At the core of things, we’re not all that much different: carbon-based organic life forms. So when you’re spraying that hornet’s nest with toxic insecticide, think about what else you may be killing. Poisons have a nasty way of spiraling up the food chain. Agricultural insecticides and herbicides have been linked to cancer in farm workers (see the article on PubMed).

Want to make a change? Here are some non-toxic, eco-savvy products to try.

§      AutoWash.Lucky Earth Waterless Car Wash not only is paraben and petroleum free, but it saves water too! BioKleen makes a number of environmentally friendly cleaners for autos, marine, bikes and RVs (not to be confused with Bi-O-Kleen, which produces non-toxic household products)

§      Auto Wax. Again, BioKleen is the place to go, with loads of detailing products made to professional standards.

§      Ice Melt. SafePaw Ice Melter is designed with the safety of pets and the environment in mind. Earth Friendly Products Ice Melt is completely safe and works up to -13 degrees F.

§      Insect Killer. OrangeGuard Natural Insect Killer is certified for use in organic farming production, and is safe to use around kids and pets.

§      Weed Killer. Good old white vinegar is good for everything, it seems. Spray those pesky weeds growing in your driveway and walk with full-strength vinegar, let dry, and whisk weeds away with a broom. Or, try this recipe: mix vinegar with equal parts natural liquid soap (like castile soap) and gin (recipe from yardcare.com).

I’ve only listed a few products and their replacements here, but chances are there’s an affordable, ecological substitute for every toxic chemical you use in your home. It’s becoming easier and easier to live conscientiously, and knowledge is the key to preserving your health and the health of the Earth.

As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to post them on this site. And don’t forget to check out Debi’s seminar!

Cheers!
Candita Clayton

Conquer Clutter Room By Room: Part 4

Hello Everyone!

Keeping order in your child’s room can be a daunting task. Kids these days have so much stuff: clothes for school and play, sports gear, toys, games… the list goes on. And in many cases, the amount of stuff supersedes the space allotted to contain it.

You can stem the tide of overflow in your child’s room with a few simple organizing steps. But to hold it back on a more permanent basis, you’ll need to enlist your child’s help. Focus on one area of the room at a time to minimize stress for you and your little one. Here’s how to get started.

Toys and Games

Toys are often difficult to control, because not only are there a lot of them, but they often hold sentimental value for your child. By getting your child involved in the process, you can make organizing a part of their routine.

1.             Lay out every toy your child owns on the floor. Ask them to choose a specified number of favorites of each type of toy – ten trucks, four dolls. Explain that everything they do not choose will be donated to needy children, so that they can have toys to play with too. Often, children will surprise you with their generosity. 

2.             Once you’ve cleared out all the things that no longer get played with, pack them up and deliver them to your favorite charity. Bring your child along to get them excited about the process.

3.             Now, organize the toys that are left. If you have a toy box, wonderful – but if not, baskets and plastic bins which fit snugly in the closet, bookcase, or under the bed are good storage options. Ask your child to help you organize the toys by type.

4.             Keep a few select favorites out on display – but not too many, as superfluous objects can collect irritating dust.

5.             Enlist your child’s help in maintaining their toys. Every six months, ask your child to collect the toys they’re no longer using, and donate these to charity. Involving your child in the process encourages responsibility, and ensures that you don’t inadvertently do away with a quiet favorite.

Clothing

Keeping your child’s wardrobe uncluttered involves much the same process as dealing with their toys, with a few minor differences.

1.             Ask your child to help you identify items in their wardrobe which no longer fit.  Donate these items to charity, or save them for a younger sibling – but don’t let them sit in the closet.

2.             Of course, your child will have favorite items of clothing – and not-so-favorite items as well. Use your own discretion here, since some occasion-appropriate clothing is always necessary. But endeavor to let your child develop their own sense of style as well. If there are items in the closet that neither of you like – that awful reindeer sweater from your great-aunt, for example – agree to give these items away.

3.             Make sure that your child does not own an excess of any one type of clothing. If this is the case, pare down with your child’s help.

4.             Organize the closet with your child in mind. Favorite or oft-worn items should be easy to reach – and easy to put away. Seasonal items should be stored – or donated in advance if you’re sure they won’t fit next winter. Lesser-worn items like formal clothing should be relegated to the back of the closet to minimize dust and damage. Favorite shoes should also be within reach of little hands, although seasonal shoes can he stored on a high shelf, out of the way.

5.             As with toys, take a six-month inventory: chances are there will be outgrown items in the wardrobe every time. Again, make your child a part of the donation process, so they can feel good about getting rid of former favorite items.

Cheers!
Candita Clayton

Conquer Clutter Room By Room: Part 3

Hello Everyone!

The kitchen is a tough place to keep organized. Food seems to end up everywhere, and you always seem to have every baking, frying, and steaming utensil but the one you need. Luckily, with a little planning, you can get your kitchen organized and streamlined before it’s time for Spring cleaning. Here’s how…

Food

Whether you just want to streamline your kitchen, or if you’re starting a new wellness program, organizing your food stores is very important. If you tend to ‘lose’ items in the backs of your cupboards, this process can also save you money.

1.             Take everything out of your pantry and cupboards. Dig deep in the back of those cabinets! Check dates, and toss everything that is expired. If you’re starting a wellness program, toss everything that you no longer want to eat – for example, anything with trans fats.

2.             Sort your food. How you classify is up to you, but some common categories are: snacks; canned goods; pasta, sauce, rice and grains; flour, sugar, oils, spices, and other baking needs; and ---(you fill in the blank here). 

3.             Designate a cupboard or pantry space for each food category.  Arrange foodstuffs neatly on the shelves, so that you can see everything clearly; when you know what you have on hand, you won’t overshop. Risers or Lazy Susans are great space-saving options for canned goods, spices, and other smaller items. Make sure kids’ snacks are accessible to them in lower cupboards – or, if you’re keeping track of their snacking, make sure goodies are out of reach.

4.             Go through your fridge and freezer in the same way as you did your cabinets. Toss any expired or unhealthy foods. Sort foods into categories like veggies, dairy, meats, and condiments, and rearrange to make everything accessible.

Pots, Pans, Utensils and Accessories

The items you use to prepare your food are as important to your kitchen as the food itself. But over time, many of us accumulate an abundance of such items – and that constitutes a lot of wasted space. Here’s how to pare down your parers, apple corers, gadgets and gizmos.

1.             Take an inventory. Clear out your silverware drawer, spread out your pots and pans. Chances are, you’ll find that you have duplicates of more than a few items. Do you really need four bottle openers? Seven ladles? Maybe you have six fry pans but only four matching lids. Choose your favorites (only one set of each utensil or gadget, no more than three similarly-sized pans). Same goes for flatware: think about the maximum number of people you’ll be serving at any one time, and base your total number of forks, spoons, and knives on that estimate. If you never have more than ten people over at once, keep twelve of each type of flatware. Same process goes for steak knives, dessert forks, cloth napkins, placemats, etc.  Give anything you don’t use to charities like Goodwill, the Salvation Army, or your local women’s shelter.

2.             Find your stuff a home. Organizing tools like flatware separators, utility drawer inserts, hanging hooks for large spoons, ladles and spatulas, and hanging pot racks for frequently used pans are all wonderful options. Displaying your pots and pans like art also adds to the ambience of your kitchen.

3.             Keep track. Whenever you make a purchase, immediately get rid of the item it’s replacing. You don’t need to keep that old set of knives ‘just in case’: trust me, you won’t use them! If someone gives you a gift of kitchenware, make sure to phase out the older model in the same way. Of course, if you like your old stuff better, you can always re-gift, return and exchange, or give the item to charity: after all, it’s the thought that counts! 

Cleaners

I’m a firm believer that green is the way to go when it comes to cleaning. Whether or not you’re there yet, it’s important to be sure that your cleaners are properly stored, away from your food and cooking surfaces. Under the sink is good, but if you have little ones to protect, keep your cleaners in a utility closet in another room – not in a high cupboard over your food, where any small leak could spell disaster for you and your family. If you’re using non-toxic green cleaners, you have a little more leeway, but these products should still be stored out of the reach of children. In terms of organizing, your cleaners should be neatly arranged, so you can find what you need when you need it. Toss anything you don’t use – it’s wasting space, and there’s no reason to have dangerous chemicals hanging around!

Next time, it’s on to your child’s room, where I’ll show you how to organize toys, games, clothes, and everything else – and how to get your child involved in the process.

Cheers!
Candita Clayton

Announcing the Contest Winners...

Hello Everyone!

At last, a winner has been chosen in the Your Life Organized FREE Closet Makeover Contest!  Congratulations to Erin Quentin, our Grand Prize Winner, who will receive a free closet makeover from me!

Also, congratulations to our First Prize winners, who will each receive a signed copy of my new book, Clean Your Home Healthy: Green Cleaning Made Easy, which, after several unforeseen delays, will be on bookstore shelves by the first week of March. Of course, the instant I have the book in my hands I will let everyone know with a post, so be on the lookout! You can also look for it in the Morgan James Catalogue.

If you are a winner, you should have already received an email from my friend and co-author Bryna René. Please follow the instructions in the email to claim your prize.

I would like to say thank you to all my subscribers. As always, please feel free to post any questions or comments on this site, and thanks so much for being a part of Your Life Organized!

Cheers!

Candita Clayton