The Posh Blog

I was recently working with a client sorting through her old medications.  Many of her prescriptions were expired and would need to be disposed of, and I recalled that there have been many reports  on the news stating that traces of prescription drugs have been found in the public drinking water supply.  There have also been reports regarding the rise of the abuse of prescription drugs among teens. 

With that news on my mind, I wondered “what is the safest way to dispose of expired prescription drugs”?  Coincidentally, I know someone who is in the medical waste disposal industry.  He told me the best way to dispose of expired prescription drugs is by removing the drugs from the original containers and placing them in a different container with old coffee grounds, kitty litter, or something that would discourage a person from finding and taking the drugs.  He also sent me a link to a Press Release from the Office of National Drug Control Policy regarding what to do with expired prescription drugs.  The Press Release also states that you should only flush prescription drugs down the toilet if the package specifically instructs that this is safe to do. 

 So as you are clearing out your medicine cabinet, keep in mind how you are disposing of your old medications.  You can still dispose of old or unused prescription drugs in a way that is safer for the environment and to your community.   Enjoy the good life,Angela  Copyright (C) 2008 Angela Ploetz, POSH Space  www.theposhspace.com. 

One thing I frequently hear from people is that the amount of stuff they have is related to the amount of times they have moved.  You may have said it yourself.  People will say “I’ve haven’t moved in 20 years so I never had to get rid of anything”.   

I have also observed that people who move often tend to accumulate less stuff.  When I say people who move often I mean every 1-3 years.  It seems that when you know you are going to have to go through the process of lugging all your worldly possessions from one place to another you are more willing to make choices about what’s important and what is not.   

Think about it, college students are the perfect example.  They are at school for 9 months and then they return home for the summer.  I remember at the end of each school year you would drive around town and find all types of furniture, art, light fixtures, clothes and more on the side of the street that students were leaving behind.  If you drove back by in a few hours many pieces were gone because some other thrifty student had just scored a free sofa! 

Dictionary.com defines a nomad as:  “a member of a people or tribe that has no permanent abode but moves about from place to place, usually seasonally and often following a traditional route or circuit…”   

Does that hit the nail on the head or what?  That sounds exactly like the college student!  So how does this relate to me you ask.  We do not have to wait to move in order to give ourselves permission to release the stuff.  The nomads use the seasons to let them know when it’s time to lighten their load and you can too.  Many people pick Spring time or Fall to shed their unwanted stuff.  Choose the time that works with what’s going on in your life and your natural habits, but the key is to make it a tradition.  That’s right, make it a new tradition!  Something you carry out each year no matter what.  You could even tie it to a holiday like Labor Day (that would be funny) or St. Patrick’s Day or something that would help you remember to do it.   

If you knew you were going to be moving in a year what would you give up so you wouldn’t have to move?   

Enjoy the good life,

Angela   

Copyright (C) 2008 Angela Ploetz, POSH Space  www.theposhspace.com.

I just learned about this and thought in the spirit of Earth Day and clutter clearing I thought I would share this with my Austin readers.  Help make a young girls day by cleaning out your closet and donating a dress.  Read below and have a great day!

  The Specially for Children section of the Dell Children’s Hospital is seeking your help!
 
The First Annual Hungry Bunch Prom will be Saturday, May 10, 6-9pm at the Dell Auditorium at Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas.  They are currently seeking donations of fancy dresses to be able to provide a shopping party for the girls to come and pick out a free dress (being on treatment for cancer or a chronic blood illness can be a huge financial stressor for families so they didn’t want to add an additional, unnecessary expense for them).  
 
Dresses are encouraged to be donated by Friday, April 25. Dresses of all sizes are needed, as the program is open to patients 12 years and older.
 
Cynthia Fitchpatrick who is a childlife specialist and is helping to coordinate the event says, “One of the biggest reasons we are sponsoring a prom for these teens is very often these patients do not have the opportunity to go to their school proms because they are sick or may not feel comfortable attending if they are dealing with visible side effects of treatment (one of the biggest ones being hair loss).  Or they don’t live long enough to their junior and senior years when they are able to go to their proms.  It’s the first time we are doing it so we don’t have a very big prom budget so are going to rely on lots of donations.  Any assistance you could provide to help us get more prom dresses to be able to provide more choices to the girls would be greatly appreciated. Thanks again for your interest!”
 
If you are interested in donating a dress, bring it to the Austin Film Festival office at 1145 W. 5th Street, Suite 210, Austin, TX 78703 (Monday – Friday, 10am-6pm, 512-478-4795) by Friday, April 25 at noon.  You can also contact Cynthia Fitchpatrick at 512-671-0016  to get directions to bring them to the outpatient Children’s Blood and Cancer Clinic. (Beside the Dell Children’s Medical Center).

  Last week I had the opportunity to attend the National Association of Professional Organizers Annual Conference in Reno, Nevada.  It was a fantastic event!   The ever so dynamic Peter Walsh, seen regularly on The Oprah Show and TLC’s Clean Sweep, delivered a stellar Keynote speech that inspired and motivated the hundreds of attendees.   

So what did Peter talk about that was so earth shattering?  One thing he talked about that really struck me was about how as a Professional Organizer my job is to help my clients realize their relationship with their stuff AND that I need to help people reassess their material goods.  This being something I do already, I was thrilled that I was on the right track, but it is always reaffirming to hear this from someone with such influence and impact.   

If you have heard me speak or keep up with my newsletter or blog you know that talking about reducing clutter and letting go is one of my favorite subjects.  It is something I that I understand.  I know what it feels like to want to keep so much stuff, I understand how it feels to be suffocated by the stuff, and I also understand how it feels when the switch goes off and you realize you don’t have to keep so much stuff.  It’s an incredibly freeing and joyous feeling.   

Not only is my job to help people reduce the clutter and feel good about it but also to coach my clients on getting into the habit of only buying what they need and love.  This is such a pertinent topic right now with an uncertain economy and it being so close to Earth Day (April 22^nd).  Most people are probably really making conscious choices right now about their purchases.  They are carefully considering where they spend their money and what they buy and bring into their homes.  This is a great habit to continue even after the economy recovers.  Think of how much money you would save if you never bought anything you didn’t need or want?  Think of how much less stuff you would have to manage in your home?  Of course, if everyone did this that would put me out of a job, and that would be fine by me.    

Enjoy the good life,

Angela   

Copyright (C) 2008 Angela Ploetz, POSH Space  www.theposhspace.com.  

I had a rare opportunity to catch a few minutes of The Oprah Show the other day and I think I must have caught the most relevant part of the show to what I do.  Oprah had guest Suze Orman on and they were answering people’s financial questions.   

The guest they were interviewing was a woman named Aimee who had been living a lavish life and in light of the Nations financial instability her family’s finances have suffered.  She had been buying anything and everything she wanted “WITHOUT even looking at the price tags” she told Oprah and Suze.  After much discussion with Oprah and Suze Aimee realized that her possessions had been ruling her happiness.  I believe Suze said “Your car is not an extension of you”.  “It’s transportation” said Oprah.  “I became my possessions” said Aimee.   

This was a turn around moment for Aimee.  When she realized that she already had everything she needed.  She had a home, family, food, and her husband still had a job.  But she realized that all the stuff she thought she needed really was not that important.   

Sometimes it’s hard to make these decisions and sometimes life throws a situation at you that forces you to make these decisions.  We are NOT our possessions.  This is an important thing to remember as we are trying to make decisions on reducing our possessions and clutter in our own home and lives.  I know it can be difficult to do, but the FREEDOM and joy you can experience from this can transform your life.   

I hope this inspires and moves you to take action in your own space.  Even if it’s just taking out a bag of stuff a day, just start the process. 

Enjoy the good life,

Angela   

Copyright (C) 2008 Angela Ploetz, POSH Space  www.theposhspace.com.  

Easter is just a few days away so here is my favorite tip to help you make smart gift solutions that won’t be too taxing on you storage space. 

Give your child, teen, or college student an Easter non-basket.  What I mean by that is a container that is not you typical basket that can be used over and over again after the marshmallow bunnies and chocolates are long gone.  For a toddler, this might be an Easter bucket or pail filled with toy garden tools, outdoor toys, or bubbles.  For a child this may be a backpack filled with goodies.  I always include a variety of toys, candy, and non-sugar items like goldfish crackers in my children’s Easter baskets/containers.  For a teenage girl you can give her a purse or make-up organizer filled with fun things.  Finally, a great Easter basket for college student is to fill a laundry basket full of all the college essential foods, like Macaroni and Cheese, cans of soup, powdered drink mix, and of course cookies. 

Choosing containers that can be used over and over again after Easter will keep you from having to store a big pastel basket through out the year.   

Enjoy the good life,

Angela  

P.S.  Look for more tips from Angela Ploetz of POSH space on what to do with Easter décor after Easter in this Sunday’s edition of the Austin American Statesman.

Copyright (C) 2008 Angela Ploetz, POSH Space  www.theposhspace.com. 

If you are an avid reader here is a really neat (pun intended) product for you!  Amazon.com has released the Kindle, which is a portable electronic device with instant access to thousands of books, blogs, newspapers, and magazines.  If you are a frequent traveler the Kindle will help you keep your carry on baggage to a minimum without having to loose the comforts of a juicy book, an indulgent magazine, the stock market, or your favorite blog.   

Weighing only 10.3 oz the Kindle is said to deliver book like readability.  Many New York Times Bestsellers are available for only $9.99 and are delivered to you Kindle electronically within minutes.  Now that’s service!  The price tag is a little steep at $399 but there is no monthly wireless bill or service plan. 

 I like the idea of this product because it can cut down on the book clutter in peoples’ homes and offices.  It also allows you to have all the books you want on a trip without having to lug around the books and magazines themselves.  This is a great “green” product because it is preventing you from purchasing the throw away items like magazines and newspapers while still getting all the content you want. 

Amazon, I think this is a fantastic product and if you wanted to gift me with one, I would graciously accept! 

Enjoy the good life,

Angela    

Photo from Amazon.com

Copyright (C) 2008 Angela Ploetz, POSH Space  www.theposhspace.com. 

Last Thursday I had a recurring theme of support through out my day.  One of the situations was a meeting I attended in which we were talking about how we benefit from the support of others.  Another situation was when I was working with a client who told me that her husband was in support of her efforts to get organized.  When I later thought about these situations I started to link the importance of communicating that we need the support of our network of friends and family.  

When you are trying to get organized and you are physically going through the process you may feel like the act of getting organized will keep you organized.  But if you don’t change your habits and let people know about your new desire to be free from the clutter you may be sabotaging yourself.  Time and time again, I talk to clients who are dealing with what I call clutter cast-offs.  That is; items that someone else has giving you because they do not have enough space for it in their house any more.   

You have to break the clutter cycle whether it is by not purchasing new items yourself or by telling family and friends that you absolutely do not want them to give you any items for the next year.  The point is that you have to get people on board with your efforts to get organized.  If you don’t they will continue to keep bringing you their clutter cast-offs or purchase new items for you that you simply don’t want or need.   

Are the people in your life supporting your efforts to get organized or not?  Do they realize how important organization is to you?  Let them know how having too much stuff makes you feel.  You don’t have to call them out on that garden Gnome they bought you last Christmas, but you do need to let your feelings be known.   

A Christmas without getting any items that need to be regifted; now that’s the good life!  

Enjoy the good life,

Angela     

Copyright (C) 2008 Angela Ploetz, POSH Space  www.theposhspace.com. 

   “One less bag a day keeps clutter away”.  If you are like many households you are losing the battle of the bags!  From shopping bags to grocery bags they seem to multiply over night and are easily one of the most common causes of clutter.   

One way to dramatically reduce the number of bags coming into your home is by purchasing reusable shopping bags.  Whether you’re a tree hugger or not these bags are great for many reasons.  Using reusable bags versus plastic bags cuts down on the plastic bags in your home.  I know that may sound obvious, but I was shocked at the result in my own home.  It’s great!  I used to have a wad of plastic grocery bags that lived in our laundry room awaiting our next trip to the grocery store so we could recycle them.  Now, we typically can get all our groceries in 5-6 bags instead of 10-15 plastic bags and we don’t end up with more plastic bags cluttering our space.  These bags are also easier on the hands when you are carrying them, they are extremely sturdy, and can hold a ton.  Did I mention these bags can be used for more than just groceries?  We know one person who used them to move!   Once you have emptied your reusable shopping bags, don’t forget to take them back to the car for your next trip. 

The bags seen in the photo above can be purchased at Whole Foods Grocery Stores and H-E-B Grocery Stores for about $0.99.  The Container Store also has reusable bags available.  The reusable bag is the MUST have item for 2008!  If those are not good enough reasons, just think of all the bags you are preventing from entering the landfill.  There is definitely a “Green Movement” going on and what could be better than helping the environment and keeping the clutter down in your house. 

Enjoy the good life,

Angela Ploetz 

I just did the home show last weekend and I met lots of great people.  One thing these types of shows or conventions remind me of is all the “Free” clutter; I mean stuff that people are giving away.  It may be a pen, a stress ball, a highlighter, or a magnet and you see it and say, “great a free pen” and you add it to your bag and bring it into your home.  The problem is that if you do this every time you see a “free” pen then you can end up with pens taking over your house.  I have worked with several clients who end up with shoe boxes or gallon size zip top bags full of pens.   

Managing these pens takes time, your time.  It also takes up space in your home.  Many times the pens are filling up drawers and spread over many surfaces.  So now you have to deal with the pens.  You have to gather them together, test them to see which ones work, toss out the ones that don’t work, donate some, and find a place to put the ones you are keeping.  This once “free” pen has now cost you hours managing it and all its multiplying friends.   

A big part of managing clutter is stopping it at the door.  The next time you see a free pen, magnet, note pad, or stress ball, get into the habit of asking yourself if you really need it before it comes into your home.  Your time is valuable and you are worth it!

Enjoy the good life,

Angela Ploetz