Brainstorming holiday presents? Here are a few gift options, all of which are kind to you, your budget, & the planet.
​Each idea also reduces clutter, either directly—like giving your used clothing to seasonal drives—or indirectly: e.g., event tickets don’t take up space or require gift wrapping.
Consider giving:

• ​Time. Offer to watch a friend’s kids or walk their dog, so your pal can have some “me” time without having to pay a babysitter. You could even make fun, personalized “gift certificates” for them to redeem.
• Electronic gift cards. Skip the plastic card and reduce environmental waste!
• Donations, perhaps in a loved one’s honor. Pick a charity the recipient would find meaningful and give an amount you can afford. You can request that the charity notify the recipient by email, rather than postal mail, to save paper.
• Gently used winter clothes & accessories, to charitable drives for low-income people. Gifts aren’t just for family, friends, and people you know personally!
• A shared experience with your loved one: support the arts by purchasing tickets to local dance, music, theatre, or other performances. If you’re not sure where to start, try the nearest community college: it likely has a performing arts department or group. Buy museum memberships and check out exhibits together. Contact the animal shelter to see what they need (food? beds?), buy it, and play with the animals when you drop it off!

Happy gifting!

Many people think of organization as boxing up old files and office supplies—but I encourage you to think outside the box!

Protect your investment in houseplants by organizing them: i.e., curating them with intention and thoughtfulness, so each can delight you for a long time!

Plants can be arranged for style and appropriate light exposure via the use of inexpensive plant stands, as seen in the photo below, and many other techniques.

​The latter include hacking IKEA products to make custom plant accessories; reading books from plant stylists, and browsing Instagram for inspiration.

Simply contact me: together, we can transform your plant inspirations into your greener, calmer space and lifestyle!!

The DC Department of Public Works has a brief, informative video on which take-out food containers are recyclable.
[Note: Unfortunately, this video lacks captioning for d/Deaf and hard of hearing viewers. If you’d like a transcript, I’m happy to prepare one (at no charge, of course): please contact me.]

Organizing your trash and recyclables may seem daunting, but it’s worth it: for the planet, for future generations, and for your own health!
Recycling electronics (vs. throwing them in a landfill) helps prevent toxic chemicals from leaching into our water and food.
​
If you’d like help designing a functional, unobtrusive, even stylish (!) recycling system, please get in touch!

Long time, no post, for the best of reasons: I've been busy with a fun and fascinating range of client projects!

So, if you're like many people, you have a Post-it/sticky note habit... which makes sense because they're just so handy. This is not judgment, but rather offering information so you can make the decisions that feel right for you.

Sticky notes:

• Usually cost you money, unless you get them for free from your job or a promo
• Definitely cost us trees
• Are frustrating when you can't find a specific note--or when it turns out the adhesive weakened and the note fell somewhere
• Also, did you know that sticky notes can damage your books and damage recycling equipment?!

If you want to save money, trees, and time spent on the floor searching for Post-its... you've come to the right place! 

Here are a few suggestions to reduce the eco-impact of sticky notes. These are roughly in order of increasing eco-friendliness:

• If you're buying stickies, get recycled ones that are also compatible with future recycling, like these (as always, no product endorsement implied: this is just an example).
• Use scrap paper for jotting notes or reminders
• Purchase a reusable, erasable board, ideally something glass instead of plastic
• Use a note-taking app on your phone: Apple also offers a proprietary Notes app, while Google has a Reminders function in Google Calendar. There are also many free options in app stores. 
  • Most of these programs are searchable and back up to the cloud, so you never have to worry about losing a specific note again!

Don't worry about a minor bump to your bag resulting in a broken mouse.
​Instead, protect your tech on the go with this sturdy, transparent case... that you may already have in your pantry!

Zero Waste DC is a wonderful resource. Type in any unwanted items--e.g., hangers, old clothes, outdated electronics--and the site tells you how to dispose of them in a safe, eco-friendly way. The site even includes links to local charities that will accept your item(s)!

Zero Waste DC also provides a massive Google Docs spreadsheet, listing stores and nonprofits where you can shop for used items, donate them, or get items repaired.

Finally--and my personal favorite--you can even play a DC-specific, online computer game (no downloads or special gaming system required!) to learn more about disposing of unwanted items. This is a fun way to teach your children about recycling and being kind to the earth. Check out the screen capture below!

Liberate your silverware organizers from the bounds of the kitchen! :) Try expandable silverware organizers (also known as utensil or flatware organizers) throughout your home.

• Home office: organize office supplies like pens, scissors, & sticky notes. Silverware organizers work well atop a desk or inside a drawer. Friendly reminder: if you plan to use the organizer in-drawer, always measure the inside dimensions of your desk drawer before purchasing! :)

 

• Small apartments: these organizers are particularly well-suited for apartments without much storage space, because they come in various attractive materials: bamboo, copper, walnut, and more.* Use it for both organization and decor! 
  (The dimensions are also great for a few basic tools--screwdrivers, measuring tape, nails--if you don't have room for a full toolbox.)

 

• Craft rooms and art studios: for paintbrushes, tubes of paint, markers, chalk, & more.

 

• Kid's or teen's homework area: glue sticks, sticker sheets, crayons, ruler, compass, protractor, pencil sharpeners, erasers... 

Goodwill often has silverware organizers for sale. If you can't find them, look for silverware itself: the organizers are usually shelved nearby. Goodwill can be a great choice: less impact on your wallet, and on the Earth!
​
Frantically searching for your screwdriver or scissors is a source of stress and irritation. Knowing where things are, by contrast, helps you stay calmer--and frees up your emotional energy to be more patient and present!

*As always, no compensation was received for linking to these products: they're merely examples, not endorsements. 

What can you do with old clothes that aren't in good enough shape to donate? What about non-clothing fabrics in poor condition, like worn sheets, tablecloths, and curtains?
H&M will recycle your textiles for free, from any brand and in any condition! Your unwanted items can be turned into insulation and other useful fiber products.
Just bring your stuff to any H&M store counter and ask for the recycling box.
* Bonus: you'll get a discount coupon off a future H&M purchase!

NOTE: I haven't received any compensation from H&M for this post. I've used their program myself and feel confident recommending it.

​Sometimes, people mistakenly assume that getting organized requires purchasing lots of storage supplies.

While purchasing new bins, boxes, etc. can be fun, it is definitely not your only option!

Many household items that would otherwise go to waste can be re-purposed for organizing. Reusing items for organization is an all-around win: it saves you money, keeps non-recyclable items out of landfills, and reduces the energy costs of processing recyclables!

Some ideas to get you started:

1. Cut the flaps off of cardboard boxes to use as in-drawer dividers
2. Use plastic Crystal Light (or other powdered beverage) containers to hold writing utensils; see topmost photo, above
3. Remove the labels from empty pill bottles--you may need an adhesive remover, like Goo-Gone--and use the bottles to hold earrings, cufflinks, etc. while traveling
4. Rinse clear plastic or glass spice jars, then use as holders for office or arts and crafts supplies. See lower photo
   Tip: Jars with perforated lids make especially good glitter shakers!  
5. Add casters to outgrown, small chests of drawers (e.g., those for children's clothes) to create a mobile cart for reading material, office supplies, or snacks
6. Turn old curtains into an attractive bedskirt (no sewing required!)--and then use under-bed space for storage!