
A resource for those seeking information on organizing and transforming spaces.
Interview - Hoardable Hotsauce
As organizers we are always steering our clients towards experiences and consumables as gifts instead of stuff. We spoke with the folks at Connecticut's own Hoardable Hotsauce for obvious reasons.
As organizers we are always steering our clients towards experiences and consumables as gifts instead of stuff. We spoke with the folks at Connecticut's own Hoardable Hotsauce for obvious reasons.
As Professional Organizers we are very interested in the name. What is the origin?
Well the truth is we wish there was a great story behind the name but all we have is as its told, while tasting the test batches at their origin someone said “this stuff is so good you can hoard it” when another replied “well I agree, it sure is hoardable” and just like that, Hoardable Hot Sauce got its name.
Are your sauces made in Connecticut and what is the relationship with the source of the ingredients?
We are fully made in Connecticut. We purchase all of our produce from local organic farms. We personally cut and mix the produce along with our co packers who cook and bottle our product all at their FDA facility, which is also located in Ct.
The must ask questions for hot sauce, which one is the hottest and just how hot is it?
Our hottest sauce is named “Cruel & Unusual Punishment” While the name deems it the hottest of our three sauces it is not a heat level that one might think. We use a Bhut Jolokia Ghost pepper that rates 1.2 million heat units on the Scoville scale; however we cut the heat with other ingredients to ensure we do not over power our fans. It is important to us that we are not the gimmicky hot sauce that you use once and it then sits in your cupboard because it’s too hot to use. Our flavor is what is most important and we want you to taste the food that you are eating while enjoying the heat as an added kick. Use a lot of it, come back for more!
For people unaccustomed to hot sauce what is the best way to ease into the heat?
For the beginner we always recommend our Red Pepper Mix. This is our Mild sauce which we refer to as a liquid salsa, or our utility sauce. It is made with sweet red Bell Peppers, red Jalapeños, Garlic, Onions, Carrots, Sea Salt and Vinegar. It does not bring much heat but is full of flavor. It compliments anything from Chicken to Pizza and even goes great on Eggs.
Any interesting or fun adventures with the sauces since they hit the market
Since we have hit the market it has been a great ride. We have had a lot of fun learning, growing, and brining this product to market in such a diverse arena. We recently partnered with a subscription service “Fuego Box” which is headquartered in California. We were asked to have our “Cruel & Unusual Punishment” sauce featured in their box of the month club. Not only was it flattering to be chosen by their team but we were never ready for the “YouTube” fan base that they had reviewing the sauces. The video reviews while positive certainly brought certain levity when they were pleasantly surprised by the heat of the Bhut Jolokia Ghost pepper.
Interview - CarePatrol
Recently, many of our clients are dealing with aging parents and after speaking with Paul at CarePatrol we thought this service might be helpful.
Recently, many of our clients have been dealing with aging parents and after speaking with Paul at CarePatrol we thought this service might be helpful.
What is Care Patrol?
Care Patrol is a free Senior Placement Agency. We help families find Assisted Living, Memory Care Communities and Nursing Homes.
We service Fairfield, New Haven and Litchfield Counties in CT. As well as Westchester, Putnam and Duchess Counties in NY.
We are not merely a web referral service. We accompany families on "community tours" to alleviate the sales pressure and to insure that you ask the right questions. We understand the process can be overwhelming and something most people have never done before and our clients are often relieved when we ask questions they didn't know to ask, especially when it comes to lease agreements.
If someone wants your help, how do they start?
A phone call or email to CarePatrol is all it takes to get started.
CT Office Phone: 203.244.9562 (located in Westport Ct.)
NY Office Phone: 914.357.8084
OR
How much do you charge?
As mentioned there is no charge for our services. We are compensated by our referral network providers.
Do you help all seniors, despite the level of care needed?
We can help all seniors in advising them of the options available associated with assisted living arrangements. There are many pieces at work including medical, social and financial. In a case in which the financial resources might not be available for certain facilities we still help people with the next steps that are right for them.
What happens cases in which an older adult doesn't have family members near by?
We will assist, advise and coordinate with family members who are located remotely. We do all the leg work to educate the family on all the options.
In your experience what are the biggest challenges facing older adults?
Over the years, I feel the biggest challenge for older adults is the difficult task of locating safe and appropriate assisted living that meets their individual requirements.
Interview - Organized Living
Often our clients have big closet challenges and so I thought it might be good to speak with Rebecca at Organized Living about some possible solutions.
Often our clients have big closet challenges and so I thought it might be good to speak with Rebecca at Organized Living about some possible solutions.
Our philosophy is that one’s stuff dictates the terms of the closet system and not the other way around, how does Organized Living differ from a “one size fits all” approach?
Closet systems should be custom to the person’s needs and the belongings they own. That’s why homeowners love the freedomRail system so much! You can move it to fit seasonal needs like more space for your favorite pair of riding boots or a long coat. You can always add components, too. If you have an extensive shoe collection and need a few extra shelves, freedomRail can accommodate that!
I understand professional installation is recommended but what about the design process?
We have this amazing Online Design Tool that allows you to design your own freedomRail closet. You can send the completed design to an Organized Living dealer when you are finished to have them review, order and install your new system.
If my requirements change over the years, how do you handle the need for change or growth?
This is where our amazing freedomRail system takes the cake again. Not only can you move it at any time, you can always add to it. You can purchase components from OrganizedLiving.com or visit your local dealer to get everything you need. The best part about adding or adjusting freedomRail is that you don’t need any tools to do it!
What are the differences between your lines: freedomRail & Classica?
freedomRail is our adjustable closet system. It’s great for active families whose storage need change constantly. Classica is our traditional, built-in closet system that’s great for families that have more defined needs.
In your experience, what area of the home presents the biggest challenges?
We feel like it’s a tie between the kitchen and the garage. They are both areas that have high traffic and have the tendency to become a catch-all. The best way to stay organized in those areas is to have a system in place.
What are the coolest things people have done with your system?
The coolest thing people have done with our system is an entire playroom area. There was an entertainment center and two desks created with the freedomRail. It’s an adorable room and we love that the photo shows how versatile freedomRail is and how it can be used throughout the entire home!
If you want to learn more about Organized Living and the systems we sell, visit OrganizedLiving.com today.
Interview - Marci Klein of Modify Furniture
After visiting Marci's workspace at Modify Furniture, Linda and I had a lot of questions and Marci shared her insights with us.
After visiting Marci's workspace at Modify Furniture, Linda and I had a lot of questions and Marci shared her insights with us.
Why did you name the company Modify?
I chose the name Modify Furniture for several reasons…our furniture is MODern, Modular, and MODifiable.
What do you mean by environmentally friendly?
There are several aspects that go into a product being eco-friendly. The most obvious being the actual materials used. We use aluminum that is 30% recycled content, and sustainable bamboo which is actually not a tree but rather a grass. Bamboo is harvested every 7 years (as opposed to trees which typically take 30 years to grow to harvest) and is considered carbon neutral. Our sliding doors are steel which is also recyclable.
Beyond the actual material, it is important to look at the finishing materials. For example, we use organic powder coating on our aluminum and steel components; they are applied in powder form and do not release aerosol toxins into the environment. Our bamboo is hand finished with a low VOC oil-wax, safe for the environment and the customer alike.
It is also important to understand manufacturing processes. For example, recycled materials that started their life in the USA and were then shipped to China to be broken down, manufactured into a new product, and then shipped back to the USA may not, in fact, be particularly green. That is why at Modify, we opted to do all manufacturing in-house or as close as possible. The few processes that aren't able to do in-house are within the lead recommended 250-mile radius of Bridgeport, CT.
Lean manufacturing is another component to being green. For example, at Modify, we make each piece of furniture to order and stock only a small volume of our colored panels. Therefore, we NEVER have overstock products that wind up in a landfill. We also optimize all manufacturing to result in approximately 5% waste (pretty good by industry standards).
We also flat pack ship our furniture mostly assembled. So a credenza that would take up 85inches x 18 x 40 and require freight to be shipped fully assembled will fit into a box 1/5 that size and can be ground shipped saving space for more products in the truck.
We are constantly investigating new materials and manufacturing methods to work to improve.
Where do you make the furniture, overseas?
Almost all of our manufacturing is done in-house at our Bridgeport, CT workshop. What we don't do ourselves is primarily done within 250-mile radius of our workshop. You can read about our partners in the “Our Gratitude “ section of the website.
From an organizational standpoint, what makes Modify work well in small spaces?
The polychrome modular line is designed specifically to offer a stylish and highly customizable storage solution. The products range from a low media unit/bench to full wall units. They are made with an aluminum frame and are structurally stable without any doors for customers who want to showcase their decorative items or they can opt to have easily removable steel doors to hide unsightly items. As the colored doors are easily swapped, the furniture can be adapted to the customer’s changing tastes and needs:
The back of the unit works in the same way so the furniture can be placed as a room divider or kept open against a wall for ventilation and cord management.
The inside of all units is completely open to offer maximal versatility. I am able to add extra custom shelves based on customer needs.
Our coffee table is one of my favorite products as it has access to storage from all sides and has 36x36 x7 inches of storage inside.
The clean slate desk design offers a unique storage solution (the invisibin™ system) built seamlessly into the top surface to give a clean minimalist look with easy access to writing tools, calculators etc. My Drop-in Accessory line products also fit seamlessly into the desk surface and add a playful, personal, and functional touch.
What made you decide to start your own company?
I believe I have always been a designer and maker at heart. Since I was young, I would daydream about how I would reign in a space to make it more functional, or how I would make a toy that worked better. Growing up with my dad, who was an engineer, a favorite hobby was to work together in our basement workshop, making pinball machines, Snoopy houses, to name a few. Moving into a home and doing our own renovation respired that creative itch and somehow, modular furniture that offers high-end design, with a smaller footprint just seemed to fit.
What is your favorite piece to make and material to work with?
Hmm, that is tough. I have to admit that exploring the unknown and playing with new materials is much more fun that repeatedly making the same piece after I have “mastered” that design. We make a LED light (not yet available online) that incorporates recycled colored glass pieces to play with overlapping colors somewhat like a kaleidoscope. The beauty of this design is that depending on the colors and how I lay out the glass, each one is completely unique.