The Austin American Statesman published an article on December 20, 2014 discussing decorating for the holidays. It includes a part from my about what to do with your decorations after the holidays. Article – Ready, set, decorate!
Blog & Courses
Time to Clear Your Clutter in the Austin area
Please join NAPO-Austin for our 9th Annual Clear Your Clutter Day Event on January 31, 2015 from 10am-2pm at Bethany United Methodist Church. See all of the details at https://www.napoaustin.com/CYCD2015. This is a FREE opportunity for the public to drop off one car load of unwanted things.
I can’t wait to see you there!
Free Drop Off Events
Whether you are celebrating Earth Day, clearing out your old financial documents or just doing some spring cleaning , many organizations are holding events for the public to drop off unwanted items for proper and safe disposal.
Here is a list of some of those events. Most of them are in the Austin, TX area. The Drug Take Back event is Nation-wide. Check your local area for many similar events.
Saturday, April 26th Dispose of your unused or expired drugs. 10am-2pm. This is a nation wide event. Go to this link to find a location near you: https://www.justice.gov/dea/index.shtml
Free Electronics Recycling in Austin this Saturday, April 26th. 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the parking lot at Austin High School at 1715 W Cesar Chavez Street.
Items Accepted, working or not:
– Cell Phones or Smartphones (i.e. Android, Blackberry or Apple)
– Tablets (i.e. iPads, Kindles or Android Tablets)
– Home Electronics, Stereo Equipment and Cable Boxes
– Computer Accessories & Printers
– Laptop and Desktop Computers
– Personal Electronics (i.e. cameras, iPods, video cameras)
– Monitors & CRT’s
– CD’s, DVD’s and VHS tapes
– UNFORTUNATELY, TUBE TVs OR APPLIANCES ARE NOT ACCEPTED
AAA Texas in partnership with Cintas, is holding three free Shred-a-Thons on May 3 from 10am to 1pm.
AAA members may bring up to FIVE boxes or paper grocery bags filled with personal papers for on-site shredding. The AAA Branches offering this service are: Austin North, Houston-The Woodlands, and Fort Worth. Branch locations are available at www.AAA.com/branches.
Free Shredding Day – May 17, 2014!
When: 8:00am – 1:30pm
Where: Austin High Parking Lot, 1715 W. Cesar Chavez
The Austin chapter of ARMA International is sponsoring their 11th annual free SPRING Shred Day. With the increased awareness of identity theft, it’s important to carefully dispose of personal records. Households can bring up to five boxes of paper records per household. All of the shredded material is recycled. Please make sure your records are paper only (no hard plastics, no plastic bags, electronic media or three-ring binders) and are not wet or moldy. Mobile shredding trucks will be provided by Balcones Resources, Cintas, and Iron Mountain.
ARMA International is a not-for-profit professional association and the authority on governing information as a strategic asset. Visit https://austin.arma.org/ for more info!
Shredding Tips and Thoughts
“If it is worth shredding, it is worth having it done right.” ~ Jennifer Lava-Professional Organizer
Yesterday I was working with a client in his home office and we were discussing shredding of old documents. It occurred to me that some people know the importance of shredding some of their materials, but they get concerned about the cost. There are essentially 3 levels to think about. If you have a very large number of old documents, it is most cost effective to hire a company to pick up your boxes and shred them. If you have 1-3 boxes, it is most effective to go to a local retailer that charges by the pound. If you have less and once you are on a regular routine, invest in a decent shredder for your home or office. all of these have some level of expense involved, but the protection of your identity and finances are worth the relatively small expense and effort.
Fortunately, in most communities, there are organizations that hold periodic shredding events that are free for the public. In Austin there is one tomorrow, November 9th.
Free Household Document Shredding
With the increased awareness of identity theft, it is more important than ever to carefully dispose of personal records such as credit card statements and checking account records. The Austin Chapter of ARMA International (Association of Records Managers and Administrators), and Balcones Shred are sponsoring a FALL free “Shred Day.”
Mark you calendar for Saturday, November 9th, 8:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Balcones Shred (9301 Johnny Morris Road).
Households can bring up to five boxes of paper records per household for shredding. Box size should not be larger than 24” X 24”X 36”. All of the shredded material and cardboard boxes are recycled. Please make sure your records are paper only (no hard plastics, no plastic bags, electronic media or three-ring binders) and are not wet or moldy. Monetary donations will be accepted with a portion of the proceeds going to Blue Santa.
Please note the change in location for the fall shred day. The event will be held at 9301 Johnny Morris Road. For more details regarding the free household shredding, contact Dana Simpson at Dana.Simpson@BBVACompass (512-453-0250) or William Basinger at wtbasinger@gmail.com.
Are you ready to get organized?
Why not?
Lately I’ve been speaking to or reading postings from several people who have been making statements like they know they need to or want to get organized, but they aren’t going to do it now. I feel badly for them for not being ready right now. Although, I do understand that it can be overwhelming to look at all of your stuff and not know where to begin. Or to know that once you do jump in, it is so easy to get distracted and get sucked down one rabbit hole after another. I get it also, that other things seem more important right now, it is a very busy time of year. But let’s face it, when isn’t it busy?
However, I think about all the good things they are missing out on as well as the things they are forgetting about.
- You don’t have to tackle it all at once. You can only eat your elephant one bite at a time any way. Just pick the one area that is bothering you the most.
- Yes, you are very busy. But your stuff isn’t going away. It is probably growing in size and unruliness while you try to ignore it. Save yourself a bigger headache later and take a bite out of it now.
- Are you feeling stuck somehow? Maybe in your career, relationships, or creativity? Believe it or not if you clear up your environment, you can free up some of the energy that is holding you back in these areas. I know it might be a little woo woo for some people. But it really does work.
These are just a few of the many great reasons that I believe are worth taking the time to stop and get organized. I believe that you should give yourself the chance to feel these benefits. The sooner the better!
If you can’t take these steps by yourself, then please consider calling me at 512-925-2962.
-Jennifer
6th Annual Clear Your Clutter Day
Do you have a strange item you want to get rid of but don’t know what to do with it? Bring it to Clear Your Clutter Day on January 28, from 10am-2pm at Bethany United Methodist Church 10010 Anderson Mill Rd. Near 183, East parking lot. Even if you don’t have a strange item the National Association of Professional Organizers Austin chapter (NAPO-Austin) and their event partners will be taking your good, used items, shredding and junk to help you start the new year off right. Do you have mobility assistance devices (wheelchairs, walkers, crutches, shower chairs, etc.)? Then Austin Groups for the Elderly (AGE) will be happy to have your items. How about women’s new or gently used career clothing and accessories? Dress for Success will be there to take them from you. Most of us have new or gently used shoes (men’s/women’s/children’s) we aren’t using any more. NAPO Austin will send the collected shoes to Soles4Souls. Did you get new gadgets for Christmas? Then drop off your old computers, electronics and cell phone and HeliOS Project will make sure they are refurbished and re-purposed. Other use-able unwanted items like furniture, books, clothes, rugs, art, etc. will be gratefully taken by The Settlement Home for Children’s annual garage sale. All of these things can be used by someone in our community.
You are also invited to bring up to 3 boxes of paper to be shredded by Central Texas Secure Shredding. Ecobox will take discarded flattened moving boxes to be recycled or reused. If it is just no good to anyone any more and not toxic, then Junk Busters USA will take your item to the dump at no charge.
Don’t forget your strangest item! NAPO Austin is having a contest and if your’s is the strangest item dropped off you will win a gift card to the Container Store. So look around a see what kind of clutter you are ready to clear out and bring it by on January 28th.
