Wednesday, August 21, 2013

The Dynamic Dining Room Table

Ready for a Family Dinner

I have a confession. While occasionally it looks like the above photo, most of the time I have stuff on my dining room table. Yes, stuff. I am sure that my readers are shocked, as one may have the bias to think that a Professional Organizer would have a perfectly clear table, shining and polished, at all times of the day or night. Maybe some do, it's just that it's simply not me, at least not at this stage of my life. I am not advocating right or wrong here; just sharing my experience from my little corner of the world.

Now let me clarify a bit with an explanation of the difference between static and dynamic, according to Dictionary.com:

Static: pertaining to or characterized by a fixed or stationary condition; showing little or no change; lacking movement, development, or vitality.

Dynamic: pertaining to or characterized by energy or effective action; vigorously active or forceful; energetic.

Our table after our recent camping trip.

Some tables are static. You know if you have one of these. It is the kind of table whose layers could tell you something of the way the the clutter formed. If one excavated, one may find fossilized papers or objects, long since disappeared from recent memory. This kind of table is rarely used for any kind of relationship building or nourishment, as it is nearly impossible to find the surface of the table in order to use it properly. Things on it are fixed in time, move very rarely, if ever, and lack the energy of change. If you are lucky enough to have a clutter free table, then static may be a good thing, and open the door to spontaneous activities allowing the use of the table top! But of course, if this is your situation, what are you doing reading an organizing blog..... (directed at my sister-in-law K, who I know reads religiously, and whose table is always ready for action!) ;-)

My table is far from static. Although there may be various piles of things on it, it is totally energetic in nature and reflects the current projects our family is involved in at any given time. For example, this summer, it has been the point place for the assembly of two large tri-folds of photos for my son's graduation party, the packing point for my three daughters' overnight camp sessions, the packing and unpacking of our family's camping trip in Canada, and this week is transitioning to the packing point for my son to go to college and the assembly of school supplies for the rest of the kids. For the past several years, during July and August the table has also been a caterpillar nursery and butterfly hatchery, although this year, the monarch's late arrival prevented us from hosting them (you can read about the caterpillars we have hatched in the past here, here and here). Throughout the summer, in between all the projects the table has often been cleared for friend & family gatherings to celebrate special occasions.

Packing for our first trip to China, in 2008, to adopt Megan!

Our dining room table is a special spot in our home. It is a place of energy and love, relationship building and achievement of goals. It is a place of sanctuary for things which are not quite finished, and things yet to be. It is Dynamic, not Static, and definitely not empty and polished!


Tell us about your dining room table. How does it function in your life and home? Does it work for you or is it a hindrance to your energy and goals? If it is a hindrance, imagine how it would feel to free it up!

For help with any organizing project, including freeing your dining room table,
Simply call Linda, 716-631-5619.

Monday, August 5, 2013

Corralling the Keys

A great time saver is to know where your keys are when you need them. Here are a few suggestions:
Post hooks by the entryway and always know where your keys are. Command Hooks are my personal favorite and they are available in clear, as well as white. They are removable and reusable with new adhesive strips. Click here to see them on the Command website. 

 Another tip is to put your keys on a chain with a Carabiner Clip. These can be purchased at Lowes. Here is a link to see them on the website. I resisted this at first, because I thought it would be too big, but I found that tucking the car key into my pocket keeps it secure and out of the way. Before the clip, I was just tucking them into my pocket and found they often fell out when I bent over. Not anymore!! When I don't have pants on with a belt loop, I can hang it on the handle of any bag I am carrying.


 My husband likes it too, and wears it like this.
Since he is so much bigger than me, it doesn't hang in his way. And, since he was unavailable for a photo shoot at the time of this posting, here I am modeling it for him! :)


For help with any organizing project,
Simply call Linda, 716-631-5619.