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Before & After: Organizing STEM supplies for a local school

Posted on Wednesday, February, 14th, 2024 at 10:42 PM   (No comments)
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Laura with a third of the STEM supplies

The Situation
The elementary school that Laura’s son attended wanted to improve its STEM* program by giving teachers easier access to more donated “building” materials. The kids build and invent items using paper towel tubes, rubber bands, foam board, bottle caps, and much more.  Current storage space was limited for Kindergarten through 5th grades.
*”STEM” is the latest buzz term in American education and stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.

 

After - Laura Ray Organizing

After – Laura Ray Organizing

 

The Solution

Before & After: Find more storage in your guest room closet

Posted on Wednesday, March, 22nd, 2023 at 9:08 PM   (No comments)

 

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Before – Laura Ray Organizing

 

The Situation
This client needed space for treasured family mementos that she had just inherited, as well as craft supplies. She lived in an older home with limited space, but desired an uncluttered look.
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After – Laura Ray Organizing

 

The Solution
The guest room closet, with just a single rod and 2 shelves was the ideal candidate for a creative, but inexpensive makeover. We added custom shelves to maximize every inch of the closet.  This created space for the inherited items, craft storage and two filing cabinets for archived and estate papers. The client was thrilled to discover that she was able to store so much behind the closed doors of this under-utilized space.

 

Paper everywhere: Keep it or toss it?

Posted on Monday, January, 23rd, 2023 at 12:09 AM   (No comments)

Organize My Home Office

 

As an Organizer, the most common question I hear is “how long should I keep documents?” Here’s a guideline on residential record keeping.

 

Save for 1 month:

  • Credit-card receipts
  • Sales receipts for minor purchases
  • Withdrawal and deposit slips.  (Shred after checking against your monthly bank statement.)

Save for 1 year:

  • Paycheck stubs (Shred after your W-2 arrives.)
  • Monthly bank, credit-card, brokerage, mutual-fund, and retirement-account statements
  • Utility bills

Save for 7 years:

  • W-2s, 1099s, and the other “guts” of your tax returns

Organizing Tax Papers and Sweet Relief

Posted on Wednesday, March, 28th, 2018 at 1:09 PM   (No comments)
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I help several residential and business clients each year to gather their tax documents, organize it all, and create a system they can follow the next year on their own. Sometimes this includes creating a comprehensive filing system. But, it always includes lifting a burden from the client.
Here are some categories you may need in your preparation:
– Taxes Paid: Mortgage, Real Estate, Auto
– Bank
– Credit Card Statements
– Investments
– Charitable Donations
– Health Care Expenses / Health Spending Account
– Safe deposit box fee
If you own a business:
– Business Income
– Business Expense
– Calendar
– Mileage
– If you claim “Business use of your home”: Utilities, Trash, Security System, House cleaning
Call me if your tax time habits need an overhaul and you need some relief.
Laura Ray
Laura Ray Organizing, LLC

Helping children remember to bring jackets home from school

Posted on Friday, December, 15th, 2017 at 11:47 PM   (No comments)

coats on hooks

It can be difficult to keep up with children’s jackets! How can you spot when their jackets are missing? Better yet, how can you help your child know when his or her jacket is gone… all before the school’s Lost & Found space is cleaned out.

 

For jackets: Set up one or two jacket hooks per child, depending on the main jacket(s) he or she wears. These can be in a mudroom, hallway or garage. Install hooks or use the stick-on 3M Command hooks (“holds 3 or 5 lbs.” size). After school, if the hook is empty, the jacket is missing!

Home versus Home Office: Co-existing in peace

Posted on Monday, August, 7th, 2017 at 4:34 PM   (No comments)

Mary Kent after

 

Laura was interviewed by the blog writer from the national company, eaHELP, which provides virtual executive assistants. This was the article, published August 2016.

 

Even the most disciplined remote worker can face challenges maintaining physical distinctions between where work and life happen. For expertise, we recently spoke with Laura Ray of Laura Ray Organizing. She’s a professional organizer who for more than 10 years has been helping companies, families and home-based professionals maintain order.

 

What have you noticed about the organization needs of virtual / remote workers?

Survey says 81 percent of Americans favor experience-based gifts

Posted on Wednesday, December, 21st, 2016 at 8:42 AM   (No comments)
A new survey says:
Wow, does this mean that you can purchase less gifts from the online mall? Maybe. Do you know that many gifts end up as clutter in homes? I know the “clutter factor” on gifts because for the last 10 years I have helped clients get rid of lots of well-intended gifts.
The survey also says:
–  On average, more than 1 in 4 gifts go unused.

–  Nearly 1 in 5 Americans never use half their gifts.
Maybe you decide to give more creative gifts, gift certificates or experience gifts, like the survey mentions.
Whatever you decide to give this giving season, I hope you have a wonderful time with friends and family. Merry Christmas! Happy Holidays! 

Clearing the clutter in your home

Posted on Monday, November, 7th, 2016 at 1:14 PM   (No comments)
fox5 2016

Laura Ray with Karen Graham on Fox 5’s Good Day Atlanta

 

Clear the clutter! Did you know clutter is just postponed decisions? If you have a space full of decisions and need help, don’t miss this video clip below. Of course, you can contact me for help, too!

 

My 4-minute interview with Karen Graham on how to start Clearing the clutter in your home ran live on Fox 5’s Good Day Atlanta in 2016.

 

Need help putting away your decorations?

Posted on Monday, November, 7th, 2016 at 12:59 PM   (No comments)
After Laura Ray Organizing
You may love decking the halls, but not un-decking them (is that a word?). Well…there’s help.
        One of the services Laura Ray Organizing offers is helping clients put away their Christmas decorations. Proper boxes or bags, if needed, are selected for all of the festive decor and all are labeled. Boxes are packed and stowed in your storage area.

       Christmas is put away in a flash like Santa’s sleigh, and decking the halls next year is merry since ornaments are organized and easy to find.

 

Laura participates on panel for National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO) Conference

Posted on Sunday, June, 26th, 2016 at 8:22 PM   (No comments)

Had the privilege of being on an “Ask the Organizer” panel in front of about 500 organizers at the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO) Annual Conference held May 2016 in Atlanta.

 

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