Christa Wagner

Twelve percent of Vancouverites are leaving town during the Winter Olympics, and taking advantage of the huge influx in visitors. Home rentals are bringing in big dollars for those who choose to jet-set to a sandy beach somewhere far away from the chaos and congestion. 

Most would agree that allowing strangers into your home is a gamble, so before you get on the plane (if you can make your way to the airport,) do your homework and prepare your home for your unfamiliar guests.  Here are some tips to make this as simple as possible. 

1. Confirm your agreement:  Prior to your renter’s arrival, confirm all details of your arrangement to avoid any surprises.  Include details such as amount received as deposit, total rental fees, period of rental agreement, insurance coverage, and condition of property at the time of arrival.   Be sure to use simple, precise language, and provide a copy to both parties. 
2. Make your renters feel at home:  Leave a welcome letter.   This letter is a nice hospitable touch and is a great way to communicate any other items not covered in your agreement.   Explain any instructions for home appliances, alarm systems, or lighting, as well as anything else you’d like to add about your home or local area. Leave a list of phone numbers in case of emergency including the police department and fire department. 
3. Clean your home:  You want your renters to respect your home as much as you do, so take the time to clean all rooms and remove garbage.  Ask that they leave the property in the same condition upon exiting.  It’s also a good idea to remove any breakable or personal items (like birth certificates) and lock them in a safe place. 
4. Where will your renters sleep?  Who is coming, how many are in their party, and where will they sleep?  Do you have enough sleeping space?  Do you have a sufficient supply of bed linens, pillows and blankets?   Your renters are treating your home as a hotel so all sleeping essentials must be present. 
5. Bathroom:   Launder towels and washcloths. Make sure you have one for each guest.  It’s not necessary, but is a nice touch to provide basic toiletries like a fresh bar of soap, shampoo, and conditioner. 
6. Getting around town:  Your renters could be from anywhere, and they are not familiar with our city.  Help them out by gathering city maps, a map to the Olympic events and transit maps and schedules. Tourism Vancouver (www.tourismvancouver.com) provides many of these maps for free. Let your renters know that Translink offers a Games Transit Pass that provides unlimited travel on the bus, SeaBus and SkyTrain (including to the airport.)  Go to www.translink.ca. 
7. Dining out:  There are many choices for food in Vancouver. Give your renters a list of your favorite restaurants to help them decide where to dine. 

I have to admit, sitting on a warm sandy beach sounds wonderful, but in order to enjoy your vacation, take a few minutes prior to departure to prepare your home for your Olympic renters. 

For more information, go to www.savvysolutionsorganiznig.com or contact author Christa Wagner at 778.839.5792.

I am very excited that recently I was featured in the Vancouver Courier with my own “Bi Line.”   The article is “Home Game:  Preparing For Olympic Visitors. 

The Winter Olympics are just days away and our city is about to experience a siege of activity.  Perhaps you are also about to experience an onslaught of guests in your home.  

Are you ready?

This article was published in the Vancouver Courier on January 29.  

The Winter Olympics are just days away and our city is about to experience a siege of activity.  Perhaps you are also about to experience an onslaught of guests in your home.   Whether the thought of friends and family camping out in your small Vancouver apartment brings excitement or anxiety, use our 7 Organizing Tips To Prepare Your Home For Olympic Visitors to make this once-in-a-lifetime experience amazing for everyone.  

1. Plan it out:  You may host several guests over the course of the games.  Map it out: who is coming and when, how many are in their party, where will they sleep, how are they getting to your home?  Think of your home as a hotel or bed-and-breakfast.  You don’t have to accommodate their every whim, but planning in advance will make this busy time fun for everyone. 
2. Where will your guests sleep?  Do you have enough sleeping space?  Do you need to get an air mattress?  Do you have a sufficient supply of bed linens, pillows, and blankets?   Does the bedroom need to be cleaned?  This is a great time to get the room organized, and to donate the items you no longer need, use, or love. 
3. Bathroom:   Launder towels and washcloths and make sure you have one for each guest.  Don’t forget about toiletries such as a fresh bar of soap, shampoo, and conditioner.  This is especially important with current airline security; let your guest to know they can leave these items at home. 
4. Getting around town:  It goes without saying that traffic is going to be interesting.  Encourage your guests to take public transit, providing them with transit maps and schedules.   Translink offers a Games Transit Pass that provides unlimited travel on the bus, SeaBus and SkyTrain (including to the airport.)  Go to www.translink.ca. 
5. Set the stage in your living room:   When you’re not going to an event, you will be watching it on TV, so make sure you have plenty of seating. Consider bringing in extra chairs or use pillows on the floor to give everyone a comfy seat.  
6. Stay energized:  With so many events and activities, guests may be coming and going all day long.  Get lots of snacks, energy bars, nuts and candy around so everyone can help themselves if they need a snack.  Also don’t forget about coffee, tea, and hot chocolate, since it may be cold on the mountains.  Providing your guests a list of recommended restaurants is always a great idea to help them decide where to dine. 
7. Dig out the extra winter gear:  It’s going to be chilly on the mountain, but winter clothes take up a lot of suitcase space.  You don’t have to go out shopping, but dig out the items you don’t use anymore.   Set aside gloves, hats, scarves and ski jackets so your guests can pack less and take home more souvenirs. 

What better way to celebrate the Olympics than to host guests and show them our fabulous city?  Use our 7 Organizing Tips To Prepare Your Home For Olympic Visitors and you’ll go down as a legendary host during this celebrated time. 

Christa Wagner is a local organizing diva; for more information on home and office efficiency, go to www.savvysolutionsorganiznig.com or contact author Christa Wagner at 778.839.5792.

Something new I am using in my office is a motivational bulletin board.   I do have annual goals and keep them with me at all times, but I’ve been feeling like I need more.  I needed something to call out to me and that I can see every day.  So I installed a bulletin board and magnetic wipe board in my home office.  I placed it next to some of my favorite photos of John and I and I look at it every day. 

The bulletin board has photos, inspirational quotes and things I treasure.  Some are things people have given more and others are clippings from magazines or something I found interesting.

My Weekly Motivation

I use the magnetic wipe board to write the week’s top priorities and then create my daily To Do list from there.  So far so good - I crossed everything off my list last week. 

I know its a challenge to stay on top of the never ending To Do list, but perhaps you can install something similar in your home or office. 

Christa Wagner is a professional organizer located in Vancouver, BC.

Paper from bills driving you crazy? Get an accordion file labeled January thru December. Pay your bills and place the bill only (not the envelope or advertising) in the month paid. You are all set come tax time. At the end of the year, if you don’t need it for taxes, toss it!

To set up a paper filing system in your home or office, we recommend FreedomFiler.  Its the best paper organizing system we’ve found and we’ve used it with hundreds of clients.  For other paper organizing resources, visit our website.

Christa Wagner is a professional organizer and speaker located in Vancouver, BC.   

Last year I introduced my Meal Planning Made Easy system and its gotten really good reviews, but a common comment is…. “I still don’t know what to make for dinner.”  I understand getting dinner on the table is a challenge for busy Moms and families so this year I am going to help you get dinner on the table with my “What’s For Dinner?” posts. 

Now, I am not a chef and most of my recipes are just tried and true recipes from chefs or my favorite cookbook.  But that’s half the battle, if I tell you what I’m having for dinner, then you can use these recipes in your own home.   Using the Meal Planning Made Easy system, you can keep track of the recipe your family loves making meal planning easier each week. 

Both my husband and I are feeling a little under the weather so this evening, I am making my very Chicken Noodle Soup that always makes us feel better.   It’s my Mom’s recipe and you will love it.  It’s simple, warm and delicious. 

Chicken Noodle Soup: 

1 large can of chicken stock
Fill can with Water
1 chicken breast
3 stocks sliced celery
3 stocks sliced carrot
Handful of frozen spinach
Handful Rosemarina Rice Pasta or Large Egg Noodles

 Directions:

1. Place stock in large soup pan.  Add water to fill. 
2. Boil chicken in stock and water.
3. Add sliced celery and carrots and boil for 30 minutes. 
4. Remove chicken and cut into small bite size pieces.  Add back to pot.
5. Add spinach, cook for 45 minutes on medium.
6. Add pasta last 15 minutes.  

You can have homemade soup in no time; this is great served with a grilled cheese, a panini sandwich or on it’s own.   If you try it, let me know what you think. 

Vancouver Professional Organizer, Christa Wagner created Meal Planning Made Easy to help busines families and Moms get dinner on the table.  For information go to www.savvysolutionsorganizing.com. 

Get Connected Media contacted me again to do a product testimonial for the new HP Officejet Pro 8500 A909g Series printer.  Wow, this printer is amazing.  I have been using the HP Officejet 6300 series for many years now so I am quite familiar with the product .  I love the all-in-one printer because it takes up less space and I get everything I need in one. 

I am only a few days into my product review, but so far I am loving this product.

• Easy set-up
• Simple installation; it does the entire installation on its own
• Prints from anywhere in my home
• Fax works
• And best of all, no wires!!

As an organizer people are always asking me what they can do with their wires.  You can tuck and hide them, but they never really go away so this printer is going to provide a lot of solutions.  More to come on my product review, but the outlook is good!

Christa Wagner is a professional organizer in Vancouver, BC.

We tend to overdo it in my family.  I’m Italian, what can I say?  It’s so much fun and I have to admit that I love giving and getting lots of Christmas presents.  We open them one by one and each take a turn playing “Santa” on Christmas morning.  Everyone is always so excited with their prizes and it’s something I look forward to all year long.

Knowing there will be more coming into my life on December 25th, I always take the time to remove anything I am not using prior to more stuff’s arrival.   Every year in December, I review my clothes, shoes, accessories, coats, games, kitchen tools and gadgets and home decor items and decide what I no longer need, use or love.  Ask yourself if you have used the item in the last year and if the answer is no, consider donating it to someone who could use it.

The holidays are about giving.  Walk around your home and donate what you are not using to someone in need.  If you need some help deciding what to let go of, contact us at 778.839.5792.

Christa Wagner is a Professional Organizer based in Vancouver, BC.

Before you read this post, be sure you read our Three Weeks Ahead Plan and Two Weeks Ahead Plan to make sure you’ve ready for the one week plan. Now, we are only one week away and it’s time to get serious, but not stressed, because you are so organized. Now, we are only two weeks away and it’s time to get out and get some things done. We recommend using our Meal Planning Made Easy System in conjunction with our Guide To A Relaxing And Organized Thanksgiving. This will make the entire week’s meal planning and grocery shopping easier.

So one week ahead. Here’s what to do:

• Wash and iron linens: Now I am going to be honest and say I would never iron anything so I use placemats and a runner. Keep this simple. If ironing isn’t important to you, like it is to me, then let it go. I love using Pottery Barn placemats and table runners. This year I bought a red paisley one I can use for many holiday and dinner parties and its gorgeous! Anytime you purchase linens think about how many times you can use them.

• Dig out your turkey roaster and serving platters: For many people these are tucked away in various areas of their home. (You should hire an organizer so they are all in one place, contact us at www.savvysolutionsorganizing.com) Its time to pull them out and clean them for use.

• Clean your stemware, plates and flatware: Maybe you use these everyday and this step isn’t necessary or maybe you’re using china. Take a few minutes to clean your dishware.

We are getting down to the wire and using our plan you will should already have a lot checked off your list. You are doing great. Next week, we will reveal our Guide To A Relaxing And Organized Thanksgiving: The Five Days and Under Plan.

For help getting organized this holiday season, contact us at 778.839.5792 or visit our website at www.savvysolutionsorganizing.com. Christa Wagner is a professional organizer based in Vancouver, BC.

Before you read this post, be sure you read our Three Weeks Ahead Plan to make sure you’ve developed your menu and created your grocery list. Now, we are only two weeks away and it’s time to get out and get some things done. We recommend using our Meal Planning Made Easy System in conjunction with our Guide To A Relaxing And Organized Thanksgiving. This will make the entire week’s meal planning and grocery shopping easier.

So two weeks ahead. Here’s what to do:

• Order your fresh turkey, or buy your frozen turkey and put it in the freezer: Don’t wait until the last minute when all the turkey’s have been picked over. My preference is a fresh turkey I can pick up the day before, but it really depends what you like. Nonetheless, make sure you have a nice bird.

• Shop for non-perishable items: There is so much you can buy weeks in advance, making the week of so much easier. Purchase pumpkin pie mix,french fried onions, frozen biscuits, etc. Beat the rush and the prices that sometimes increase during the holidays.

• Order or pick up alcohol and other beverages: Drinks often go overlooked and then you’re running for wine at the last minute. Make this trip now before the lines get long.

• Think about seating: This doesn’t have to be formal, but think about where everyone’s going to sit. Do you have to squeeze in a high chair or does someone need extra room. Give this some thought some everyone is comfortable and you have enough seating.

Using our plan, you will have a lot completed and we are two weeks away from Thanksgiving. You are doing great. Next week, we will reveal our Guide To A Relaxing And Organized Thanksgiving: The One Week Ahead Plan.

For help getting organized this holiday season, contact us at 778.839.5792 or visit our website at www.savvysolutionsorganizing.com. Christa Wagner is a professional organizer based in Vancouver, BC.