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Book Reviews Ben Soreff Book Reviews Ben Soreff

Book Review - MORE by I. C. Springman

As the holidays approach we look forward to visiting with family and friends, enjoying delicious food, attending office parties and getting caught up in the holiday spirit. Gifts are part of every holiday whether giving or receiving. When it comes to gifts for children parents at times feel conflicted. Watching a child open a gift brings a smile to everyone’s face.  The question sometimes arises, how much Lego and Barbies can one child own? Certainly that is an individual decision by each family. Yet, for some parents gift exchanging can be a nightmare. Piles of toys by relatives which are not needed, homes that can’t hold the multitude of stuff, and the pressure to reciprocate can be challenging.

more by i.c. springman

As the holidays approach we look forward to visiting with family and friends, enjoying delicious food, attending office parties and getting caught up in the holiday spirit. Gifts are part of every holiday whether giving or receiving. When it comes to gifts for children parents at times feel conflicted. Watching a child open a gift brings a smile to everyone’s face.  The question sometimes arises, how much Lego and Barbies can one child own? Certainly that is an individual decision by each family. Yet, for some parents gift exchanging can be a nightmare. Relatives send piles of toys which are not needed, homes that can’t hold the multitude of stuff, and the pressure to reciprocate can be challenging.

As professional organizers we always recommend experiences over physical gifts. For example, tickets to a show, a movie and ice cream gift cards, a day at a museum, a pottery making class, a mini golf outing are a few examples. Children enjoy spending quality time and having attention from the adults in their lives. 

more by i.c. springman

One of the picture books we recommend for young children to open the discussion that less is more, is MORE by I.C. Springman with illustrations by Brian Lies. The book asks the question when is MORE, more than enough? The author only uses several words in the entire book . Words like something, few, several, more, lots plenty, much, enough and less.  It is the beautiful illustrations which bring the words to life, and the visuals are exquisite. 

In the beginning of the book a lone magpie has nothing. A mouse friend brings the magpie a marble which is SOMETHING. The magpie is happy. But then things get quickly out of control and so does the magpie’s nest. Words do not do justice to the incredible illustrations, and when the tree limb breaks and the nest falls to the ground  we can all relate to when the mouse yells, “ENOUGH!”

In the end, the lesson learned is that as long as the mouse and magpie are friends (as they fly off together) all the supposed treasures the magpie had accumulated were meaningless. Friendship and experiences are truly ENOUGH.  MORE is a wonderful book to teach young children to be thankful for what they have and to understand the message that less is really more.

More
By I. C. Springman
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Book Reviews Ben Soreff Book Reviews Ben Soreff

Book Profile - Outer Order Inner Calm

H2H’s resident reader, Linda recently completed Outer Order Inner Calm By Gretchen Rubin and shares her thoughts on the book.

Outer Order Inner Calm

“If there’s a mess in my house there’s a mess in my head,” was something we saw on Instagram recently.” We are sure it describes many people, especially professional organizers. Gretchen Rubin best- selling author of The Happiness Project, has written Outer Order Inner Calm. One of her first insights in the prologue states “When I’m surrounded by a mess I feel restless and unsettled.” Many people can relate, studies have shown that most people need organized spaces in their home or work in order to function well and be happy.

Ms. Rubin’s book is a quick read. Basically it shares short helpful tips on how to stay organized. Nothing is complicated and to be honest the tips are basic. However, reading it, light bulbs go off frequently in our heads, with thoughts of how true, doesn’t everyone do this? Well obviously not. The book is a great reminder that we all have different priorities, and sometimes we need helpful reminders on the best way to organize our lives. There are too many great tidbits of information to review them all. Here our are top 10 decluttering and organizing suggestions from the book that we stress to our clients at House to Home Organizing.

Three Big Questions of Clutter

-Do I need it?

-Do I love it?

-Do I use it?

According to Ms. Rubin “if you don’t need it, love it or use it, you should probably get rid of it.” If deciding this on your own is challenging, you may want to consider hiring a professional organizer to help make these decisions with you.

Donate Quickly

task

So you have de-cluttered and all your donates are sitting in the hallway or garage waiting for you to drop them off. The problem ? You get busy and they may stay there for months causing more clutter. Try to move the donates out on a timely basis.

Ask Yourself, Do I Need More Than One?

Of course you need more than one charger and one pen. But how about screwdrivers, coffee pots, and rulers. Keeping a reasonable amount of necessities is fine. Try not to have huge quantities of items in your home as they will create unnecessary clutter.

Clear Clutter Before You Move, Not After You Move

At House to Home many times during an unpack and organize job the client could have saved money if decluttering had happened before the move.

Clear Off Any Offsite Storage Units

You know the old saying “out of sight, out of mind.” Storage units are convenient but can be costly if your items are left indefinitely. If you need a temporary holding place for your belongings by all means get a unit, but try to only keep it temporarily.

In Active Areas, Strive to Keep Surfaces Bare

You want to keep your work area surfaces clear, especially in areas such as your desk and kitchen counters. You will be more productive if you have clear areas to work.

Beware the Siren Call of Inventive Storage Containers

So many times we go to clients homes and they have tried to be proactive by purchasing storage containers before we organize. We can’t stress how important it is NOT to purchase systems until after decluttering. Quantity of items being kept will determine the proper containers to purchase.

Reconsider Gift -Giving

Gifts are wonderful to receive. Yet, how many stuffed animals, LEGO sets, candles, kitchen gadgets can one family own? Ms.Rubin and House to Home Organizing suggests purchasing experiences vs. stuff. How about a gift card to a show? Going out to lunch or dinner together? A gift card to a spa or better yet, professional organizing?

Store Things At The Store

We all get caught up in the common trap of purchasing things because they are on sale. So often we have way more than we even have room to store in our homes. Remind yourself that things will always go on sale. Try not to clutter your living space with an over- abundance of items.

Spend Out

So many times we fall into the trap of holding on to things are opposed to using them. Candles, pretty soaps, china, good wine fall into this group. Life can be short. Light your candles, open the wine and break out the good dishes when family and friends come to visit. Ms. Rubin states, “put things to good use, spend out.”

In conclusion, as the book states, “outer order is a challenge to impose and it’s a chore to maintain. Nevertheless, for most of us, it’s worth the effort.” When you declutter, donate, and organize properly you will see how you can be more productive, and save money and time. Most important, your “inner calm” you will feel from your “outer order” will help you to feel happy and less stressed, a goal we all aspire to have.

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Book Review - Unf*ck Your Habitat: You're Better Than Your Mess

H2H's official reader Linda just finished UnF*CK Your Habitat – You’re Better Than Your Mess and she shares her thoughts on the book's themes of cleaning and organizing for real people with busy and complicated lives.

Unf*ck Your Habitat

Ever go visit a friend and walk into a spotless house? Everything is dust free, counters free from dishes, papers filed neatly away, no cat or dog hair anywhere. You leave feeling depressed and anxious about your own home. How do people have time to clean? Rachel Hoffman has written UnF*CK Your Habitat – You’re Better Than Your Mess. Cleaning and organizing tips for real people with busy and complicated lives. A simple and easy guide on how to house clean without anxiety.

Ms. Hoffman writes in a friendly and easy to read style. She recognizes that everyone has different family situations and different limitations. She mentions that people deal with depression, ADHD, mental illness and some live in chronic pain. Her suggestions are realistic, adaptable and attainable.

To start, the author recognizes that traditional housekeeping systems with rigid
structures and routines do not necessarily fit into the world in 2018. She suggests
that we should fit our cleaning routines around our lives instead of vice versa.
Traditional gender roles of cleaning and organizing have typically been a women’s
role. She says “bullsh*t” to that idea. Now that men and women all work outside
the home, “it’s time for us to change the way we look at domestic work and the
people who perform it. By seeing and acknowledging the amount of labor
involved, we can start to realize that a more equal division of labor in our own
homes is inherently fairer than expecting it all to fall under the umbrella of
women’s work,” writes the author.
                                                                                                                                                           UFYH, discuss why “marathon cleaning,” cleaning non-stop for a few days will
not work. Marathon cleaning will not help you build habits you need to maintain
your home. They key focus of the book is learning the 20/10’s. “A 20/10 is twenty
minutes of cleaning followed by a 10 minute break. The break is not optional,”
says Ms. Hoffman. You may ask how can I get all my cleaning done in 20
minutes? Well, you probably can’t. Larger projects may need a few 20/10’s.
However, the author points out that a lot can be accomplished in 20 minutes. By
following the 20/10’s, you will be able to keep the house up to speed without ever
falling into the marathon cleaning rut. You will be happier because you won’t feel
as if you are spending all your free time cleaning and organizing. Some people may wonder, do I have 20 minutes? UFYH points out that most people have 20 minutes to spend on social media or Netflix. Certainly, if one prioritizes wisely we all can find 20 minutes to clean.

UFYH

Multi-tasking is also mentioned. “There are a million little things we can do while we are waiting on other things,” says the author. While the coffee is brewing unload the dishwasher. Dinner in the oven, wash your prep dishes. Something heating in the microwave, wipe down your surfaces. By using your time wisely, you can accomplish quite a bit.


At House to Home Organizing, one of our main tenants is “a place for everything with everything in its place.” The book stresses to put things where they belong instead of leaving them on the counter, on the hallway floor or hidden in closets. This will keep chaos from escalating and most importantly keep your surfaces clean.


Make your bed! A messy bed makes a room messier. A made bed helps you to start
the day fresh, and will keep you from getting back in! At night try to prep for the
morning. “Doing 20 minutes’ worth of work before bed can save you endless
aggravation in the morning,” says the author. Layout your clothes, clean the sink,
prep for breakfast and lunch, prep your vitamins, are a few of the suggestions for
preparing for the next day.


Take photos. At H2H, we always take before/after photos of our work.
You should too! Many times people are so exhausted by cleaning they can’t
remember what it looked like before they started. By taking photos you will see
proof in what you have accomplished. When things get messy and dirty again you
can look at the after photo and know you did it once before so certainly you can do
it again!


Oh no, your parents or best friend will be stopping by tomorrow. Your home is a
mess! Ms. Hoffman delves into emergency cleaning with gusto. She suggests put
on great music, get a non-alcoholic beverage of your choice and put the laptop and
tablets away as you don’t want any distractions. Make you bed, get your cleaning
supplies together and away you go! There is a step by step guide as to cleaners to
use, and a how to guide as to where to start and finish.


In addition there is an entire section on moving tips, unf*cking your digital habitat
and how to use the 20/10’s for school work and your real work. This book is a font
of information for the average person who needs some support and guidance trying
to maintain a clean and clutter free home. There are lots of practical
housecleaning/organizing books on the market. What really makes UFYH stand
apart from the others is that it is written for a multitude of people with different
lifestyles. Men, women, single people, people with roommates, people with physical and mental limitations and people who never learned how to clean can all benefit and learn easy and doable cleaning/organizing strategies.

Please note: If you choose to purchase the book using our Amazon link, H2H receives a small commission designed to help keep our rates affordable.

 

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Book Review - The Long Haul

Linda, our resident reader, just finished The Long Haul: A Trucker’s Tales of Life on the Road by Finn Murphy and shares her thoughts on this "moving" tale.

Linda, our resident reader, just finished The Long Haul: A Trucker’s Tales of Life on the Road by Finn Murphy and shares her thoughts on this "moving" tale.

The Long Haul by Finn Murphy

The Long Haul by Finn Murphy

Ever wonder as you are driving down I-95 about all the trucks you pass? Why do the trucks have to stop to be weighed?  How many hours are the truck drivers allowed to drive? Drivers sleep in their truck, is it comfortable? How can they possibly fit all my stuff in one moving van? The Long Haul is an auto-biography by Finn Murphy. Written with wit and humor, it details his life as a teenager in Cos Cob, Connecticut attending Colby College and dropping out to be a professional mover. The money is good, high-end movers can make up to $250,000 per year. Murphy is passionate, meticulous and happiest in the truck. He operates a 70 foot tractor trailer moving van, and is known as the “Great White Mover.” You will find out that ‘chowder” refers to problem pieces which do not fit neatly in the truck, “chicken chokers” are truckers that move animals, hitting a bridge is called “getting a haircut,” “ parking lot attendants” transport cars and “suicide jockeys” carry hazardous materials. Movers like Murphy are called” bedbuggers” and their trucks, “roach coaches.”

Murphy weaves a tale of the history of moving along with his personal story. Murphy states “when you move people and pack their stuff, you see how people really live, not how they want the neighbors to think they live.” People accumulate  lots of possessions through the years. For example, think of all the items in your home. Right now it all seems important and everything is valuable. Movers take great care to move your possessions carefully,  trying not damage anything. What movers and professional organizers both know is what Murphy states, “what my customers need to know is that it’s not the stuff, but the connection with people and family and friends that matter.” Another commonality with professional organizers is that Murphy has seen less and less stemware, china, sculpture, fine art, and books over the years. The younger generation moves more frequently and tends not to accumulate what the baby boomer generation has stored in their homes. With honesty, Murphy tells us that when asked to pack lingerie drawers, the movers occasionally will go through peoples clothing. Murphy’s recommendation: “either to pack your erotica yourself or salt the lingerie drawer with plastic snakes or a loaded mousetrap.”

Being a long haul mover is hard work. Both physical and mental. Physical as movers spend 10-14 hours a day carrying heavy loads up and down stairs and working in the truck to build “tiers”  that will best fit all the contents. Something similar to a puzzle or a giant game of Tetris. We learn that the best movers are people who build the best tiers in their truck. Contents are always inventoried and stickers put on every item that is being moved. Every item must be cataloged by the original condition in the event that a shipper files a damage claim. Beds and large furniture get taken apart last, all covered in moving pads for protection. “A well -built tier is a beautiful things to see and lots of fun to make” says Murphy. On top of the physical challenges, the job is mentally challenging, because the client is usually present, and the mover has to act professional, represent the company and keep the client calm and relaxed. Moving as we all know can be very stressful, so this is not always an easy task.

Through the years Murphy has been treated poorly by many of the clients.  Most clients treat movers as if they were anonymous. One client asked them to drive the truck  to the security shed 2 miles away to use the bathroom, even though there were plenty of bathrooms available in the house. Another client sat there and filmed the entire move and took notes while they were working. “Be nice to your movers, what we do care about is making your transition into a new life and place as easy as possible by being professional and sympathetic” writes the author.

As Americans seem to want to learn more about people who have different professions, the book is well written and serves to educate us on the moving industry and the people who work it daily. You will develop a new appreciation for those who drive trucks on the open road, work extremely hard and are truly professionals in their field.

Tip: Next time you move you may want to buy the movers lunch!

 

Please note: If you choose to purchase the book using our Amazon link, H2H receives a small commission designed to help keep our rates affordable. 

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