Afraid to Throw Things Out?

Up to 1.4 million people may have compulsive disorder syndrome—difficulty of throwing anything away for fear they might need items later.

What items have you found yourself holding on to?  Have you found away to let go of those items?  Perhaps by donating them to a charity?  Giving them to someone else in need?

Easy Decisions to De Clutter

Hopefully people are still in the mood for spring cleaning!  Here are some items that when organizing you can purge.  Remember to know what your recycling guidelines are; donate to a charity or post on freecycle.com.  Even if you don’t have the time to repair, someone else might.  The Scrap Exchange in Durham is a great place for taking items for reuse:  http://www.scrapexchange.org/

This is by no means a comprehensive list, but for those of you challenged in throwing items away, hopefully this helps:

Throwing Stuff Away is Hard to Do

Sung to the tune of Breaking Up is Hard to Do….

Most of my clients are able to pitch stuff that they know is not worth saving, like torn or stained clothing, electronics that don’t work and rusted items. But other items prove to be more challenging.

I have found with a lot of my women clients it is clothing. (I include myself in that statement!)

“When I lose those last ten pounds” or “But I might need that outfit for lunch with the governor some day” or “Get rid of the sweater that I was wearing when I was asked out on by my future husband?”  Peter Walch offers some good suggestions:

1. Those clothes that don’t fit you now are just taunting you every time you open the door! Why would you want clothing that doesn’t fit you or flatter you to take up your space? When you get to the weight you want to be, reward yourself with clothing that you love and makes you feel attractive!  Here is a great blog by Michele Little of One Chic Mama that really says it best about having items you love in your closet:

http://inside919.ning.com/profiles/blogs/is-going-cheap-making-you?xg_source=activity

2. When you hold onto items because you are worried you might need them someday you are not living in the present. You are looking to the future. Don’t most of us have dreams and wishes for the future? Do you really want to hold onto something shabby or ill suited to represent your hopes and dreams? Is the money, space and energy you are using to keep everything the best way to try and create your future?

3. Holding on to the sweater is an emotional reason for not wanting to pitch it. But the memories are never going to go away. If you value an item, then you need to show it the honor and respect it deserves. If you aren’t doing that now what makes you think you will start?

By clearing your clutter you are able to open space and open your life to possibilities. You want to change your life? Change your clutter!

Battered women’s shelters & Dress for Success are two great charities where women will benefit from what you no longer love!

Here’s to a healing day!

Ways to Love Your Mother in the Triangle

Thursday, April 22nd

Celebrate Earth Day with The Beehive Collective! In honor of our giving theme for 2010 – food! – we’re hosting a screening of FRESH the movie at McConnell Studios! Suggested donation: $5 and up. We’ll provide some snacks and drinky drinks, and you can also byo.

324 Dupont Circle
Raleigh, NC 27603

More on the movie: www.freshthemovie.com

NC State EarthDay

http://www.ncsu.edu/earthday/

Energy Star Discount Weekend (thanks Jeanne Moyer Eco-Broker!)

http://trianglegreenhomes.wordpress.com/2010/04/05/energy-star-discount-weekend-april-22-25th/

Saturday, April 24th

15th Annual Piedmont Farm Tour – April 24th and 25th, Rain or Shine!

For Families, Foodies, and Farm lovers:

Join Carolina Farm Stewardship Association and Weaver Street Market for the nation’s largest sustainable farm tour, April 24 and 25, 2010, throughout the Piedmont area of North Carolina.

See real, working farms and meet the real, hard-working farmers who live near you. Hold a baby duck. Smell the sweet red clover. Savor the taste of just-picked fruit. Hear first-hand the stories of farmers and their families. How they use their smarts and ingenuity to grow healthy food without chemicals. Hear about the personal challenges being a family farmer today. See the latest sustainable techniques that produce great food while protecting water quality and pollinators. Learn about nutrition. Pick up tips for your home garden or chicken coop.

Last but not least, let your kids see where their food comes from. Turn Ole McDonald into something real for them. Get them introduced to organics. And, of course, kids really, really love seeing farm animals!

This year we have 40 farms to choose from. It is a wonderful variety of places to visit. So, fill up the car or hop on your bike and come out to the countryside. You’ll be very glad that you did!

To Take The Tour:

Gather up your friends, fill up a car, locate farms on the maps and decide which route
you want to take! Pick and choose whichever farms you want to visit!

Tickets are $25* per car for all 40 farms
*each receives a SUPPORT LOCAL FARMS button
or $10 per car, per farm.

Button is $30 day of tour.

Tickets are available now, online at www.carolinafarmstewards.org or at the below locations:

CHAPEL HILL:
Weaver Street Market
Southern Village, 716 Market Street, Chapel Hill
919.929.2009

HILLSBOROUGH:
Weaver Street Market
228 S. Churton Street, Hillsborough
919.245-5050

DURHAM:
Durham Farmers’ Market
Downtown Durham
501 Foster St (Saturdays 8am to Noon)

PITTSBORO:
Chatham Marketplace
480 Hillsboro Street, Pittsboro
919 542-2643

RALEIGH:
Harmony Farms
5653 Creedmor Road, Raleigh
919 782-0064

2010 SPRING PLANT & CRAFT FESTIVAL

http://www.hr.duke.edu/dukegardens/plant_and_craft_festival.htm

APRIL 24^TH: FIFTH ANNUAL KID’S SEEDLING EVENT AT THE CARRBORO FARMERS’ MARKET

On Saturday, April 24^th, beginning at 8:30 AM, the Carrboro Farmers’ Market will give away farmer-grown tomato seedlings to kids. Over the last six weeks, the Carrboro Farmers’ Market farmers have grown the plants especially for the children and are donating the seedlings to this event. To help the seedlings get the best possible start, Fifth Season Gardening Company will be providing organic potting soil in the pots. Adding to the fun, Kidzu Children’s Museum will have a seedling-themed kids activity area behind the gazebo.

This event is held the same weekend as the Carolina Farm Stewardship Piedmont Farm Tour to help create an exciting farm-themed weekend for community members. This year, a new supporter has joined the event. Fifth Season Gardening Co. will be providing potting soil and gardening information in the seedling transplant cups to help ensure the seedlings make it home to the kids’ gardens in good shape.

Backyard Beekeeping Workshop

WHERE: 911 Washington Street, Downtown Durham

COST: $35 Suggested Donation (no one turned away)

The Beekeeping Workshop will be led by William Mckay, a self-taught beekeeper with more than 50 years of experience raising bees for honey, wax, and pollination on his farm (one of the last) in North Durham.

Using CFSA legend in the making Kate DeMayo’s new hive, he will take us through basic bee biology, hive characteristics, common problems home-scale beekeepers, and resources for would-beekeepers.  We will also lead a hands-on perennial and wildflower planting workshop that will go through the easiest nectar plants for bees and other pollinators!  Kids are encouraged to attend!  Its a short walk up from the Kids Zone at Durham Earth Day, where Bountiful Backyards will have a hands on booth to win some cool biological prizes, to get their hands dirty with us on Washington Street!

Shakori Hills GrassRoots Festival of Music & Dance

http://www.shakorihills.org/

Durham Earth Day Celebration

http://www.ci.durham.nc.us/departments/parks/earthday/

Ribbon Cutting – Budding Food Forest in Chapel Hill

http://www.bountifulbackyards.com/node/120

UPCOMING SHRED & RECYCLE EVENTS!

April 24, 2010
9 am – Noon
Oak Park Shopping Center
6001 Glenwood Avenue
Partners: City of Raleigh, ProShred Security, Connell Realty, management of Oak Ridge Shopping Center for hosting the event & Attorney General Roy Cooper’s Office

IMPORTANT:  Shredding events are for residents and small businesses only and are offered free of charge for up to THREE BOXES of documents. Documents do not have to be removed from envelopes. Window envelopes with film are okay. Staples do not have to be removed but PAPER CLIPS DO HAVE TO BE REMOVED. No file folders with metal hangers.

These events are to protect your identity and the environment by shredding PAPER documents. Please do not bring in paper mixed with trash! Doing so may jeopordize our working relationship with our shredding vendor and we may not be able to bring you these FREE events in the future. PAPER ONLY, no CDs, DVD, diskettes, cassettes, VHS or other media accepted. Thanks for your cooperation.

The 5 R’s of Eco-Organizing

Most of the environmental damage is done in the manufacturing stage, so the less consumerism, the better.  According to the EPA, Americans produced 254.1 million tons of household trash in 2007.  In 2008, landfills reported a 30% decline in waste levels.  Keep in mind the five R’s when you are getting organized.  Make every day Earth Day!

Want to Make Easy Money?

Eliminating disorganization can put $$ $$ in your pocket:

• Late payments (misplaced bills leading to interest and penalties)

• Pending rebates (not collecting the necessary information)

• Duplicate purchases (unable to find what you already had)

• Unused gift cards (not with you while shopping)

• Overdraft fees (failing to reconcile)

• Multiple trips to store (shopping without a list)

• Repairs (neglecting maintenance)

• Tax Deductions (not tracking mileage and business expenses)

• Late fees (overdue items)

Upcoming Green Events in the Triangle

Thanks to Jeanne Moyer, eco-broker and green realtor, who shared these with me:

Tonight:  Green Drinks returns to Raleigh – Spize Cafe

http://www.meetup.com/Triangle-Green-Homes/calendar/12816522/?a=cr1c_grp&rv=cr1c

Energy Star Appliance Discounts

http://trianglegreenhomes.wordpress.com/2010/04/05/energy-star-discount-weekend-april-22-25th/

40th Anniversary Celebrations in the Triangle

http://trianglegreenhomes.wordpress.com/2010/04/05/april-22nd-is-the-40th-anniversary-of-earth-day/

April 16th Green Lecture Series

http://www.hagersmith.com/clientresources.html

Low Cost Way to Be Healthy & Be Green

A lot of times people think going green means buying a Prius or constructing a green home. While those are great and if you can do it, more power to you, but there are also small things you can do that makes a difference.

Those cans of Pam, or Olive Oil, are NOT RECYCLABLE.  Instead of using those you can purchase a spritzer so all you are using is pure oil (instead of chemicals) and you can monitor what you are using.  You can label the bottles and help keep all your yummy cooking oils organized.

I thought this would be something to find easily in stores, but had been unable to do so.My friend Stacey Henderson sells one through Pampered Chef.

By spending $12.50 you can do something HUGE for the environment and your health. In honor of the 40th Celebration of Earth Day considering taking one small step that will truly make a difference.

Pampered Chef Item # 2506

For more info contact Stacey:  919.585.2738

http://www.pamperedchef.biz/staceyhenderson

Eco-Organizing: First Step: REDUCE!

Most of the environmental damage is done in the manufacturing stage, so the less consumerism, the better.  From the EPA, Americans produced 254.1 million tons of household trash in 2007.  In 2008, landfills reported a 30% decline in waste levels.

I had one client who created a jar for money she didn’t spend on shoes. When it added up she treated herself to a spa day.  If you have a family, make a game out of it with the promise of a fun outing once the jar is filled.  This is a small step you can take to get organized and lessen your impact on the environment.

Tired of cleaning your home? Get Organized!

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