23 November
On
In Declutter Challenge, Homes, Organised Thoughts

We all like to lighten up heading into summer so let’s take this opportunity to reduce our stash of unused and unloved jewellery and watches.  Who knows, it might free us some space for one of those gifts in a nice little box from Santa! So how do we decide what stays and what goes? Ask yourself these questions: Do I love it? When did I last wear it? Does it go well with my wardrobe or taste? Is it functional/working? Has it got a home or do you have room for it? If it isn’t quite that straight forward for you and you haveRead More →

17 November
On
In Declutter Challenge, Homes, Organised Thoughts

Now that the Melbourne Cup festivities and winter are behind us, and the height of summer sunshine is approaching it is a perfect time to edit your hats and scarves. So how do we decide what stays and what goes? Revisit the criteria you created during Week 1 of our challenge to assist you in making decisions about these items. Additionally, think about whether the item is fulfilling a necessary function. If you have a hat that you can see through when you hold it up to the light whether that is a decorative feature or due to the weight and type of material, itRead More →

10 November
On
In Declutter Challenge, Homes, Organised Thoughts

Towels are a necessity in every home but we often find that people buy new ones and hang on to the old favourites, or those that have seen better days. If that is the case for you, or you no longer have any order or space in your linen closet, now is the time to attack those towels. How many do you need? That is a common question and it all depends upon your household composition, your lifestyle and also available storage space.  There is no one-size-fits-all, but I would suggest the following: Bath towels: 3 per person (that covers one in use, one inRead More →

03 November
On
In Declutter Challenge, Homes, Organised Thoughts

Throw cushions are often something that people love or hate.  The same can’t be said for our sleeping pillows, unless of course they are at either end of their life cycle! Pillows and throw cushions are items which can hang around in your house and fill up your cupboards so it is time to stop fluffing about and cull! So how do we decide what stays and what goes? When was the last time you replaced your pillow?  Some sleep experts suggest replacing a pillow every year, others every few years.  Some pillows now have an expiry date printed on them or you can writeRead More →

27 October
On
In Declutter Challenge, Homes, Organised Thoughts

I know that last week’s challenge was a big one so you might be feeling like a break from all of this decluttering (like my cat Sam pictured hiding under a blanket!).  I don’t want us to lose momentum, so let’s do a smaller category this week – our doonas, blankets and doona covers. If you whiz through this one and have a little bit of time up your sleeves, you can head back to the clothing category from last week if you haven’t managed to get through it.  If you did, yay you!  Use the time as “me” time and pamper yourself! So howRead More →

20 October
On
In Declutter Challenge, Homes, Organised Thoughts

Now that you have got into a bit of a groove let’s really make an impact this week with a big category – clothing! I know it might seem a little daunting, but it is the perfect time to tackle this one as you can also pack your winter clothes away and set up your wardrobe for summertime. Grab your donation bag and get started! So how do we decide what stays and what goes? Revisit the criteria you created during Week 1 of our challenge to assist you in making decisions about your clothes. Now ask yourself, was there any winter clothes taking upRead More →

13 October
On
In Declutter Challenge, Homes, Organised Thoughts

I hope you managed to lost some layers whilst tackling our overcoats category last week! I let go of three and now have one long coat and one mid-length off at the dry cleaners in preparation for packing them away – such a good feeling! This week we start on one of the easy categories of paper that clutters up our homes – those piles of magazines that collect. I do have a confession to make before we go any further. I love flicking through magazines! They are full of short reads, beautiful imagery, inspiration, puzzles, recipes…..so many opportunities. My favourites include Donna Hay magazinesRead More →

06 October
On
In Declutter Challenge, Homes, Organised Thoughts

I hope you managed to ditch some discs last week! It is amazing how much space these things can take up, especially if they are no longer needed or wanted. This week is another timely category – overcoats! We are all starting to finally see some sunshine and shed some layers, but the evenings still have a chill.  That means that charities continue to be in need of warm coats for their vulnerable clients who might not have a cosy bed to tuck into at night. I have maybe half a dozen heavy coats for winter but always keep coming back to my 2 favouritesRead More →

29 September
On
In Declutter Challenge, Homes, Organised Thoughts

In the age of Spotify, iTunes and Netflix, so many of us rarely reach for a CD or DVD these days.  When was the last time you watched a DVD?  For me, I can’t honestly remember, but those movies and TV shows I have collected over time seem to have a hold on me.  You know the ones, the classics, the ones that made you laugh or cry, the ones that marked significant milestones in our lives. Boy, they take up a lot of space though, and I have to be honest, it is probably over 5 years since I have put one on.  ThereRead More →

29 September
On
In Declutter Challenge, Homes, News, Organised Thoughts

The Allsorts household have some exciting news – we are moving! After a challenging year with the devastating loss of my mother-in-law just a couple of months ago, we have revisited our lifestyle and our priorities and decided to downsize from a 4 to a 3 bedroom home. We weren’t ever blessed with children and found that our formal lounge and dining room are only used a handful of times a year as even with guests, they tend to congregate around the kitchen and family room despite my best efforts.  We are also not gardeners and looked at it as a chore rather than aRead More →

21 August
On
In Homes, Organised Thoughts

Have you been busy decluttering and now looking at your options to transition items out of your home? Here are our top 5 tips for selling online. Write a detailed description and include photographs of your items, including any imperfections. Best to be up front with potential buyers which will save you time in the long run. Set a realistic price. At the end of the day, your goal is to hopefully sell the item. Look at other similar listings to see how much they are listed for and how long they have been listed. Be prepared to negotiate and have a bottom figure inRead More →

08 June
On
In Homes, Organised Thoughts

You will often hear us talking about finding a home for an item. This is one of the core principles that you need to implement in your home if you haven’t already. Having a home for something means that it isn’t floundering around the house, landing in a different spot every day and resulting in you being unable to find it when you need it and wasting your valuable time searching. But how do I decide where something should live? A good rule of thumb is to house something where it is used and not where you think it should live (or where your mum/friend/lovedRead More →

30 May
On
In Homes, Organised Thoughts

If you didn’t already know, I love organising! I love working with people, problem solving, focusing on what is important, and attention to detail. You may know that I spent many years in event management, organising huge conferences and I still love to see how things work from behind the scenes. I can’t help myself at concerts or stage shows from looking at the lighting, the staging and the logistics that you don’t normally see. If you don’t see them, that is usually a good thing as it means it is working. As I enjoyed our long-awaited cruise, my curiosity was peaked by the shearRead More →

27 January
On
In Homes, Organised Thoughts

Have you lost something? Do you waste time every day trying to find things? Here are three simple guidelines you should consider implementing in your home: Everything should have a home and be returned to its home. We always talk to our clients about having homes for things. This is also useful when you are out shopping, think about where it will live and if you have room before you hand over your precious $$.   Finish the cycle – don’t leave things until later. Your washing “cycle” isn’t completed until you have folded your clothes and returned them to your wardrobe (their home). IfRead More →

20 January
On
In Homes, Organised Thoughts

Having now (almost) recovered from the craziness of Christmas and New Year why don’t you put your mind towards researching a holiday, be it for this year or that big overseas holiday on the bucket list. You can either make a list or gather some images, whatever you prefer, to represent your ideal holiday spot and the activities you would like to undertake (keep it clean people!) and post your list or collage/vision board up somewhere you can see it regularly.   Get your partner and children involved too! Documenting your goals and displaying them where you can see them will help to keep youRead More →

13 January
On
In Homes, Organised Thoughts

Are you holding on to those remnants of the 1980s in your wardrobe because: a) you might need them for a fancy dress party? b) you can’t bear to get rid of them as they represent your best years? c) you are determined to fit back into them *one day*? d) you just haven’t gotten around to getting rid of them? If it is any of these, it is time to let them go. If that fancy dress invite comes along you can always go to Vinnies or buy a crazy wig and some flouro accessories from a $2 shop (and then part with themRead More →

04 January
On
In Homes, Organised Thoughts

I did some organising and decluttering of my plastics drawers at home before heading back to work this week (the irony is not lost on me!).  I am very fortunate that organising comes relatively easy to me (my biggest personal struggle here is procrastination) so I don’t automatically think about sharing my own organising activities, but I will aim to do more of it this year in the hope that it will provide you with some useful tips and an insight into how I organise my home – which is definitely not a perfect show home! Our home is very loved and lived in!  Read More →

23 June
On
In Homes, Offices, Organised Thoughts

Will you be able to put your hands on all of the documents you need or is your filing cabinet overflowing onto the desk, floor and beyond? Spend 10 minutes to set yourself up. Grab 2 manilla folders, one for your 2014-15 tax return and one for your 2015-16 tax return. Write a list of all the things you need on the front of the 2014-15 folder and tick them off as you go. Here is a link to the ATO website with info about the things you will need. Place the 2015-16 folder in your filing cabinet and during the year when you haveRead More →

25 September
On
In Homes, News, Organised Thoughts

Yesterday I had the pleasure of being interviewed by the lovely Georgie Gardener on the MORNINGS show on Channel 9 about hoarding together with Professor John Snowdon from the University of Sydney. On one hand it was one of the scariest things I have ever done, but on the other hand, a great opportunity to raise awareness of the disorder. If you are struggling with hoarding issues, or you know someone who is, please seek some professional support.  Read More →

17 June
On
In News, Organised Thoughts

I was delighted to be approached recently for a piece called Designer Insights presented by Terry’s Blinds in the UK.  In this interview series, Terry’s Blinds profiles a number of UK-based and international designers and related specialists to gain an understanding of their creative process, their background and what they use for inspiration. In my interview I talk about the importance of tapping into a client’s natural organising preferences and finding their individual style.  My goal for clients is not to create a show home, but to create a home that is their haven. You can read more of my interview here. For more inspiration, visit Terry’sRead More →

29 May
On
In Celebrations, Organised Thoughts

Our lovely last minute wedding this week was an absolute pleasure and really required all of our creative skills to maximise the small budget whilst also delivering a beautiful classically styled event within only 7 days, yes 7 days! This week I was a stylist, crafter, courier, negotiator, project manager, menu planner, florist and even a waitress. And I loved it! Even though time was short, the most important thing I did was to take some time out to do a timeline, a budget and prepare some lists. This got everything out of my head and allowed me to focus on doing what I neededRead More →

28 April
On
In Organised Thoughts

Today I would like to highlight a fabulous initiative that I came across recently that not only supports people in our community when they need it most, but… [here comes the organiser!]… it also means that you can de-clutter with purpose. Angel Gowns Australia and New Zealand are a community organisation of volunteers who hope to touch the hearts of everyone who has suffered the tragic loss their baby.

  From donated wedding gowns they lovingly hand craft Angel Gowns which are then gifted to families, Neonatal Intensive Care Units, and Hospitals all around Australia & New Zealand. I had the most amazing pleasure recently to meet theRead More →

16 April
On
In Homes, Organised Thoughts

I have heard large numbers of people refer to themselves or a loved one as a hoarder – but what exactly is hoarding? Before we go any further, I would like to request that we don’t judge or label people but recognise that we are talking about a person who may be struggling with a hoarding disorder – after all it is affecting their life more than we will ever know. There is no extensive data available in Australia at this time but evidence suggests, we could be talking about somewhere between 2-5% of the population.  The Australian Bureau of Statistics projects Australia’s resident populationRead More →

10 April
On
In Celebrations, Organised Thoughts

Some of our wedding clients find it really difficult to settle, or even begin to choose, their wedding colours. It is important to determine your colour palette quite early in the planning process as it will help to keep you focused and may also assist in helping you make decisions. Your palette will help you to define your choice of dresses, flowers, napery, shoes, invitations and all elements of your special day so it is important that you select a colour or colours that you like, not just what is popular at the time.  You will have your memories and photos forever so be trueRead More →

21 March
On
In News, Organised Thoughts

I had the pleasure of attending the launch of the new Contact Canberra brand and the 34th annual edition of the Canberra Community Information Directory on 21 March. What a wonderfully comprehensive resource for information about community services and related organisations for all Canberrans. If you are in Civic, drop in to their shopfront in the Griffin Centre where you can ask the fabulous staff and volunteers anything! ‪#‎community‬ ‪#‎CBR‬ ‪#‎volunteering‬Read More →

01 March
On
In Homes, Offices, Organised Thoughts

I recently contributed to an article for the Officeworks blog about how you can be more efficient and productive working from home. One of the tools I mention is The Pomodoro Technique® where you break your day, or individual tasks, into Pomodoro’s or blocks of 15 minutes.  The idea, in brief, is that you set a timer and work intensely for this period which is followed by a short break of 5 minutes. I use this technique regularly and find it particularly helpful if I am procrastinating as I know that it is a short, manageable block where I can really focus my energy and itRead More →

16 January
On
In Celebrations, Organised Thoughts

We are working on another destination wedding for later this year and I can’t help but be distracted by all of those beautiful images of sunsets, tropical flowers and beautiful beaches.  Must be time to start thinking about holiday plans for the coming year! Having now (almost) recovered from the craziness of Christmas and New Year why don’t you put your mind towards researching a holiday, be it for this year or that big overseas holiday on the bucket list. You can either make a list or gather some images, whatever you prefer, to represent your ideal holiday spot and the activities you would likeRead More →

12 November
On
In Organised Thoughts

What a great way to gather some friends and make over your wardrobe for Summer – and the best bit, it doesn’t damage your wallet!  You can even host a swap party for books, craft items, or anything else you can think of. See more information about hosting a swap party on the Planet Ark website. It also doesn’t have to be a one-off event.   Consider collaborative (or collective) consumption initiatives near you.  Do more with less by gifting, swapping, bartering, renting, lending and sharing items with family and friends, workmates and the wider community. – Share a magazine subscription with a friend – Lend orRead More →

11 October
On
In News

We are currently upgrading our website so please check back soon.   In the meantime, we are still available to assist with all of your home, office and celebration organising needs.  Please call us on 0411 405 108 or email info@allsortsorganising.com.au. Have a great day!Read More →

02 September
On
In Homes, News, Offices, Organised Thoughts

Your challenge for National Organising Week (NOW) – each day, spend just 10 minutes focusing on a problem area in your home – you will be surprised at how much you can achieve in such a short period of time! Find yourself a couple of baskets (washing baskets work well) and two rubbish bags, set the timer for 10 minutes, put your favourite music on and get started NOW: – Collect all items in a basket that you know do not belong in that zone and return to their home; – Throw all items for recycling into the other basket; – Any unwanted clothing orRead More →

01 June
On
In Homes, Organised Thoughts

Winter is so its time to declutter the wardrobe, pack away your summer gear and make room for the winter woolies!  Not only are you making some space physically, it is a great way to clear your mind as well and donate some much needed items to local charities. Allhomes and Communities@Work have their annual drive on 17 June.  They are calling out for are blankets, sleeping bags, jumpers, scarves, beanies and gloves to help keep the most vulnerable members of our community warm this winter. Communities@Work’s Best Dressed Store also need good quality business attire & accessories, including: suits for men and women, dresses and skirts, ties, jackets and pants,Read More →