The Posh Blog

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

 Is clearing out your closet on your list of New Year’s resolutions?  If it is you may run into the problem that you have some old athletic shoes that need to go.  If you have “run” your shoes into the ground and don’t think ANYONE would want to stick a toe in them, there is another option besides the trash.  Recycling! 

Yes that’s right Nike has an outstanding program that collects used athletic shoes, grinds them up, and then makes different parts of sports surfaces around the world.  Check out Let Me Play to find out where you can drop off shoes in your community.  If you’re in the Austin area the Nike Outlet in San Marcos accepts shoes.

Clearing your clutter in an eco-friendly way, that’s gotta feel good!

Enjoy the good life,

Angela

  I know it’s tempting…the after Christmas sales.  I love them too, but just be sure you are buying things you really want or need and not just buying things because they’re on sale.   

Often times when I’m working with a client going through their things I ask them questions like:  “What is this?  What do you use it for?  Have you ever used it?  Why did you buy it?”  I don’t know how many times people tell me “It was on sale and such a good deal that I couldn’t pass it up!”.  You bet your boots you could have passed it up!   

Let’s go through a scenario you might be familiar with.  You purchase that item, you know the one you just couldn’t pass up, and now two years later here you are with an item you have never used.  The item is taking up valuable space that you wish you had and now when you look at it, you really don’t even like it.  You wonder “Why did I even buy this?”  Just when you’re about to toss the item you pause and think “I did pay good money for this item, maybe I should keep it and give it to someone else.”  Then you put it back on the shelf and it sits there for another two years at which time then you decide to donate the item because it’s really out of style now.  When all along you never needed the item and you could have saved yourself money and space. 

For people who do have a space that is overwhelmed by clutter, stopping the clutter cycle is a must.  I’m not saying you can’t buy things anymore, but before you do be sure you purchase with a purpose.  Be sure you are buying things for the right reasons.  Things you love, things you will use, things that are the right color, and the right size.  You are worth it!  You are worth buying what you really want and like rather than buying things that you are settling for because they are on sale.  Oprah Winfrey once said “I never buy something the first time I see it”.  That is an excellent philosophy to live by.  Thanks Oprah! 

My request to you is to ponder every purchase you make and be sure you are buying things that meet your personal standards.  You’re worth it. 

Enjoy the good life,

Angela