organization Archives

Tips for Soaping in Small Spaces

March 31, 2017 Filed Under: Tips & Tricks

Soap supplies tend to add up fast. A few fragrances here, a few molds there – all of a sudden your kitchen is completely taken over. Storage is limited for many soapers, especially those just starting out. Luckily, the soapmaking community has fantastic advice for soaping in small spaces. We asked people to share their tips in a recent Facebook post and there were so many great responses. Check out some of the tips below.

Stack the supplies up, not out
Don’t I know this only too well! I try to go as vertical as possible in terms of shelving to store supplies and curing soap. -Vanessa

The counter/vanity/sink area in my master bathroom is my soaping area. Very small space, but I’m utilizing the high ceiling by installing wire shelving, wall mounted spice racks for EO/FOs and rolling Rubbermaid drawer sets for storage under the counter. It’ll do for a beginner! -Sarah

Soaping has totally taken over my former dining room. I have a six foot tall shelf where I keep most of my soaping things. To make better use of vertical space, I’ve added a pair of shoe racks (perforated bottoms so the soap can cure), and three small baker’s cooling racks. -Robin

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The Power of Focus

April 4, 2016 Filed Under: Business Musings

As I write this, I have more than 345 emails in my inbox. That sounds like a failure, doesn’t it? I don’t even see when new emails come in because I don’t have any little dings, windows, boxes or alarms that alert me to the next thing that needs my attention. Blasphemy, right?! Not so much. At least, not for me. I’m not a stock broker and I’m not a PR crisis manager. Because 98% of emails don’t need my attention right then and there, they can wait a day, or even a few days. You know what does need my attention? The big priorities. The big rocks. The big goals. The things that move my business or personal life ahead in a meaningful way.

While I worked on the rough draft of this post, I spent the day finalizing my slides for 2×4, working on a new corporate legal structure, and reviewing Creative Live for our live all-day taping next month. My pre and post work hours were family time and studying for my Nutritional Therapy Degree (a 9 month program through South Puget Sound University in Tacoma, Washington). While I did that, I put everything aside (including those pesky emails) to focus on the only thing that mattered: the project in front of me.

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Declutter it up!

February 17, 2014 Filed Under: Tips & Tricks

Spring is around the corner, and that means lots of opportunity for spring cleaning. Sometimes it’s difficult to determine if you should sell, donate or straight up throw something away, but Michele Connolly lays out some clear guidelines to help you figure it out. Connolly is an organization guru and offers her services and advice through the Get Organized Wizard. Happy organizing! – A.M.

Declutter Clinic: Should I Sell It, Donate It Or Throw It Away?

One of my mottoes is: Have what you love; use what you have. Anything that doesn’t serve you, doesn’t earn a place in your life.

But an obstacle to decluttering that many people face is deciding what to do with the stuff they get rid of. Unfortunately, this dilemma can be so confusing that some people get completely immobilized – they end up unable to part with their stuff because they can’t decide where it should go. Don’t let confusion stop you from releasing unloved, unused things from your home and your life. Instead, use this guide.

1. When To Sell
If it’s worth good money, you should sell it, right? Well, not necessarily. When you’re decluttering, only allocate something to the ‘Sell’ pile if:

1. It’s worth more than it would cost to organize the sale (list online, hold a garage sale, etc), and

2. You can be bothered to do the work to organize the sale.

The second point is crucial – if you know you’re unlikely to ever get around to doing what’s needed to sell your items, then save yourself time and guilt and don’t tell yourself you’ll sell.

If you’re looking for ways to make cash then that’s a different matter. But if your top priority is to declutter your home and your life, then don’t create unnecessary hurdles. Skip the ‘Sell’ pile.

The Bramble Berry warehouse is moving towards becoming more lean. Lean is a production practice that emphasizes organization and efficiency. These “red tags” are a lean tool that aid in organization. They let others know whether an item should remain, move or be thrown away!

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