The Klutter Koach

Sometimes being around "stuff" gets overwhelming, so it's time for Green Time.
I need to keep reviving the mint but the aloe is floushing.
Love the blue sky. Blue is calming.

SHABBAT SHALOM
שבת שלום

Let's get this apartment cleared out! For those with kids or grandkids, there are tons of high-quality and educational toys for preschoolers.
Kitchenware is perfect for those who appreciate glass and metal opposed to plastic.
Furniture is excellent condition and the storage pieces and yes, everyone's favorite Kallax cubes are available.

Have you ever received a gift that wasn't your taste (and yes, we are thankful to the giver regardless) or a duplicate or bought something that you had second thoughts about? Or ordered the wrong thing by mistake? Or bought something, forgot about, and decided you no longer had use for it?
It happens.
You are not obligated or chained to keeping this Thing.

Did you know...a lot of our merchandise is Pre-owned, but never used because of these reasons.
This mirrored tray with the marbled decor around the rim is one of those items! As you can see, it's still in the box.
Photographing a mirror is a bit tricky, but you get the idea.

It's wedding season...why break the bank paying retails when Secondhand Israel may have just the thing for 25%-50% what you would purchase it for in the store?

We're rearranging the shop so by popular demand we have a "new" section.

I will validate that cleaning up from meal prep, or Shabbos, or a large family gathering is time intensive.
Even when many hands pitch in, it takes time.

Sometimes people get rid of or sell things not because the items are clutter, but because they have moved and can't take everything with them.
Sampling of photos in comments.

I saw this image as I was scrolling.
This is spot-on.

Whenever you're doing a closet purge (for kids or yourself) or shopping for new clothes, it's best to find someone currently being worn that fits.

The size on the tag may be a guide but ultimately it's the fit that counts.

My other Pearl of Wisdom is that clothes should fit the person, not the person fitting the clothes.

True story of a recent household event.

The Tale of a Broken Washing Machine Once upon a time appliances were built to last. Unfortunately, their lifespan is much less than that of decades past. Hence when something lasts longer than "expected" there is much to be grateful for.We made aliyah in 2010. The apartment we found was unfurnished as they commonly are, and we needed....

My favorite organizing tool is a Sharpie marker. No fancy label-maker needed.

ALWAYS shake or check old envelopes!!
There just might be money in them.

"Just because you bought a book once upon a time doesn't mean you need to keep it for posterity." -The Klutter Koach

If one needs move and downsize, the mindset needs to be "What am I keeping?" "What do I want to surround myself with in my new home?" NOT "What do I need to get rid of?"

📦IMPORTANT MOVING TIP❗️❗️📦Whether hiring a mover or self-packing, check the following areas for belongings ✅behind the door/over door hooks️✅️boydems✅️under the stairs or other crawl spaces✅under the bed ✅️beds, ottomans or couches with lift-up storage ✅️upper cabinets✅corners of cabinets️✅behind drawers- pull them out, things fall behind️✅️storage rooms and sheds 📦📦📦

Organizer's humor 😅

What's on my mind, thank you Fb for asking.

A very popular store is apparently having a Big Sale. Everyone is in a tizzy because of the Big Sale.

My cautionary tale is that anything that enters your home needs maintenance.
Cleaning, washing, dusting, or putting away.

If organizational products are tempting you, know how much you need to contain, the durability of the containers, and that you can't organize clutter.
Step 1 is to DECLUTTER. Step 2 is ORGANIZE.

One of these days I'll blog it but in the meantime I'm going to share a little game I play with myself called 'Where did this come from?"
The purpose is to identify where the possessions came from, raising awareness of our things. I don't attach monetary value to the item, as it may have been a gift, a freebie, or a purchase. The game is merely a mindfulness and memory activity.
I know people love visuals but I'm not sharing that in Cyberspace Land and will use word power instead.

Let's Play. I'm looking at a shelf. Here are the items:
A ceramic mug that perhaps is just a bowl with a handle because it's approximately 5 inches in diameter but only 2 inches high. It's white with painted candles in blue for Chanukah and also the Greek letters Alpha Phi Omega. It was a gift from a roommate during my college years at Miami University. We were both in APO together. Inside I keep my essential oils. There are about eight which include peppermint, lavender, tea tree oil. Oils purchased from iHerb or local store.
Next is a jewelry box made of lucite I got as a gift for my Bat Mitzvah. It has my first and middle name etched on top.
Moving right along is a metal box with lid that has an herbal motif painted on the box. It came from a moving sale we did a few years ago. Inside are random items that need to be contained so it's a clutter catcher but looks pretty without all the things helter skelter on the shelf.

There's a birthday card from my dad next to it's hot pink envelope.
There are 3 framed family photos. Frames bought years ago at Target and I just switch around the photos when I feel like it. I haven't been to Target since I made aliyah 14 years ago....

Next is a metal basket approximately 5x5 inches that has my makeup and nail polishes. I'm a minimalist in this area so that's all the space I need. Basket was also purchased in the USA many years ago. I'm very particular about my boxes and baskets so once I have ones I like, I continue to repurpose them.
On the bracket of the shelf are two metallic pom poms, red and gold, from the shekel store. Gryffindor colors. There's a glittery blue star on a stick that was a Purim prop when I was a unicorn with a blue mane, also a shekel store purchase.

You play this game with anything in your possession: There's may be some "I don't remember" answers but hopefully the majority of things you can account for.

I stared doing this exercise with the kids, as it promotes gratefulness and appreciation for what we have.

Yesterday was the last day of school for elementary students.
Firstly, RELAX and don't panic about the paper piles.
Next, caffeine time or hydrate or a power smoothie or whatever. Then music if you choose to listen while you work.
Empty the backpack. Hopefully no moldy food
Find the report cards and any notes from the school about next year like supply lists.
Now it's time to gather up piles that are in various rooms and flat surfaces.

I give permission to BE RUTHLESS. It may be more difficult if your child is firstborn or only child but the larger the brood, you'll realize not everything is a masterpiece and you can't keep everything.

Keep enough that fits the storage you're using whether a file folder or a box.
Label with a sharpie marker (my recommended tool) the year, the child's name, and grade.
Keep some art, photos, papers with good grades or positive comments or anything else meaningful.

That's it. Repeat with other children.
Now go enjoy some summer.

Trying this again. LMK if you get a notification for this post.
Upcoming moving sale in Tel Aviv in July. Everything to be sold by July 26.
Off Chen Avenue/ Ibn Gavriol on Gidon Street. Dates forthcoming.
50+ original paintings all sizes both framed and unframed, housewares, and possibly furniture (vintage) and large appliances (not vintage).

I'm going to try an experiment. Let me know if you got a notification for this message.

Shavuot is here!🌹💐Chag Sameach 💐🌹

The time was ripe to write a new blog post. Here's the story of how our thrift store, Secondhand Israel, came to be.
https://www.karenfurman.com/post/secondhand-israel-our-thift-shore-in-rbs-exclusively-for-books-and-household-goods

Are YOU moving? If yes, locally? Internationally? Have some (or a lot) of "stuff" to get rid of? Whether dining room tables and chairs to couches to refrigerators to books to anything else you don't want to shlep to the new place... CONTACT ME.
We'll run your moving sale! Clients say we net them more money than they could have imagined...not to mention the pressure it alleviates than having to do it themselves.

It's Rosh Chodesh Iyar, my birthday month🎂🍬🥳
♉️As a Ta**us, I can be stubborn and hold my ground but also know when to be flexible and compromise (note, not a pushover).

The Klutter Koach suggests using Rosh Chodesh as the monthly day to take any shaimos/geniza to the collection receptacle.
📝 this will avoid a pileup from a once a year pre-Pesach clearout .

Chodesh tov and may we see miracles and revealed blessings .

The Klutter Koach assisted a client in a playroom clearout.

This mom knew it was time to make space for the age-appropriate toys by removing the things that were outgrown and pass them on to the next.
Good job, Mom 💪🏼🎖

For the one moving, we take the stress off you.
For the buyers who miss flea markets, garage sales, and estate sales, be sad no more!

As moving season gears up, watch for my posts about upcoming sales.

In essence, it's making shidduchim between the seller's things and the buyers who want them.

If your stressed by the post-Pesach kitchen-flip and chaos, schedule a home organizing with The Klutter Koach 😀