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Before & After: Creating a multi-functional home office

Posted on Wednesday, November 27, 2019 at 10:29 PM   (No comments)
Before - Laura Ray Organizing

Before – Laura Ray Organizing

 

After - Laura Ray Organizing

After – Laura Ray Organizing

Client:  Saleswoman for a service company in Georgia.

 

Here’s the situation: Like many people, the client had converted a room of her home into an office. In this case, it was the dining room, which had no storage. Then, the client’s aging mother needed to move in for a few months and the only place to put a bed on the first floor was the home office. 

  

Solving the problem:

  • We purged a lot. There were outdated sales and seminar materials. There were products from a former business, and household items that just landed in the space. She needed to make decisions about what items to purge.

Give last-minute gifts that will not add clutter

Posted on Monday, November 11, 2019 at 9:49 AM   (No comments)


lots_of_gifts.jpg

 

Help family and friends stay organized. This year, give gifts that don’t add clutter to your loved ones’ homes. Here are some ideas:

 

  • Bird feeder and seed
  • An assortment of stamps, note cards and pens
  • Zoo or museum membership
  • Romantic meal-in-a-basket; a jar of sauce, a box of pasta, a bottle of wine, and a classical CD
  • Tickets to the local chamber orchestra or upcoming play
  • Movie tickets, plus popcorn and candy in a gift basket
  • Coupon good for babysitting or a homemade dinner

Before & after : Garage storage eases clutter inside home

Posted on Monday, November 11, 2019 at 9:45 AM   (No comments)
lro-garage1after1

After – Laura Ray Organizing

 

The Situation
Downsizing has many advantages, but can also pose a problem when it comes to storage. This client had limited storage in her town home, so she was unable to find a solution for bulk supplies, utility items and larger things, such as entertaining coolers and trays, and a cat carrier.

 

The Solution
We grouped like items into zones on sturdy mobile shelving to enable the home owner to move them easily for cleaning. Smaller items were stored in clear plastic boxes within their zone. This solution will help with the rotation of stock, too.

Organizing Tax Papers and Sweet Relief

Posted on Wednesday, March 28, 2018 at 1:09 PM   (No comments)
time_for_taxes.jpg
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 15, 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 7, 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?

“Command Center”: Kitchen desktop file gets papers off counter

Posted on Tuesday, May 23, 2017 at 10:21 PM   (No comments)

A pretty desktop file can serve as your kitchen Command Center. Get mail and papers off the kitchen surfaces and safely into hanging folders. Here are the categories that might help you:
–  To Do
–  To Buy (eg. gift ideas)
–  Coupons
–  Events / Reservations (eg. invitations, tickets)
–  House Project

–  Mail to Open  (a “holding tank” for when you don’t have time to open the mail right away or are having company)

–  Menus/Restaurant Coupons

–  Review with (Spouse)
–  School  (Child name)

–  To File  (later in filing cabinet)

–  To Pay
–  To Read
–  Volunteer Job OR Project
 Just a warning: This system can become a black hole. You need to set a time each week when you will review the most important and active categories. In addition, magazines and catalogs should live in a basket or tray somewhere else. And, of course, junk mail has no place in this Command Center at all!

Survey says 81 percent of Americans favor experience-based gifts

Posted on Wednesday, December 21, 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 7, 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 7, 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.

 

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