Articles tagged:Ask Betty

Posted: Fri May 4 7:09 a.m. by Judy DiForte AnnArbor.com Community Contributor
Regularly get rid of stuff to keep clutter at bay

Anybody remember that commercial for plastic bins? The family had too much stuff, so they bought a bunch of bins and packed it all away. Then they had extra room, so they bought more stuff! At The Betty Brigade we do a lot of home organizings and clear-outs. We have ...

Comment now

Read more »

Posted: Wed Mar 28 6 a.m. by Judy DiForte AnnArbor.com Community Contributor
Sorting client's memorabilia is reminder that it's people who matter

Fess up, now. Where do you keep all your important family photos and letters? In neatly designed scrapbooks and photo albums? Or are they in more modest trappings... say, maybe like shoe boxes? Don’t worry, I won’t wag my finger. Most of my memorabilia sits in plastic bins awaiting the ...

Comment now

Read more »

Posted: Fri Feb 24 8:49 a.m. by Judy DiForte AnnArbor.com Community Contributor

Most Michiganders know how to prepare the family for a coming winter storm. But don't forget about your pets! Among the many things we do for clients, The Betty Brigade offers pet care. Here are some tips for making sure our pets have what they need during a winter storm:

Comment now

Read more »

Posted: Thu Feb 16 9:30 a.m. by Judy DiForte AnnArbor.com Community Contributor
Missed Valentine's Day? There's still plenty to celebrate in February, from spunky old broads to expecting success

If Valentine’s Day blew by you in a blur of lace doilies and truffles, take heart. It's not too late to prepare for other festivities this month. Did you know that February is National Return Shopping Carts to the Supermarket Month? I don't think Hallmark knows about it yet, because ...

Comment now

Read more »

Posted: Fri Jan 20 6:16 a.m. by Judy DiForte AnnArbor.com Community Contributor
What does it mean to be organized?

January is National Get Organized Month, so the question is pertinent: What does it mean to be organized? Author A.A. Milne said, "Organizing is what you do before you do something, so that when you do it, it is not all mixed up." As convoluted as it sounds, I think ...

Comment now

Read more »

Posted: Wed Jan 11 7:54 a.m. by Judy DiForte AnnArbor.com Community Contributor
Organizing tips for people who hate step-by-step tips

"I don’t know where to start. It’s overwhelming!" That’s what most clients say when consulting on an organizing project. It can be daunting, but it’s like any large undertaking. How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time! No project can be done all at once. But even ...

Comment now

Read more »

Posted: Thu Dec 22 6:48 a.m. by Judy DiForte AnnArbor.com Community Contributor
Christmas tree alternatives: Thinking outside the boxwood

photo by Ovation PhotographyLots of folks are caught up in the annual debate over which is greener -- or at least less ungreen: a real Christmas tree or an artificial one? That’s what my last blog was about. But what about other options? Can it still feel like Christmas without ...

Comment now

Read more »

Posted: Fri Dec 9 6:38 a.m. by Judy DiForte AnnArbor.com Community Contributor
Which is greener - real or artificial Christmas trees? The debate goes on...

courtesy sxc.hu It used to be pretty clear-cut: real evergreens were never green! Thinking we were being eco-friendly, we bought faux firs to avoid chopping down real trees. But the evidence seems to say chop away!

Comment now

Read more »

Posted: Wed Nov 23 5:50 a.m. by Judy DiForte AnnArbor.com Community Contributor
Use the good dishes and set a lovely holiday table

In my time at the Betty Brigade, I've been in many a home in which the kitchen cabinets house the chipped and cracked "everyday dishes," while the fine china sits in dusty boxes in the attic, flawless and unused. I've seen this situation enough that I'm now a "use-the-good-stuff" advocate. ...

Comment now

Read more »

Posted: Tue Nov 15 7 a.m. by Judy DiForte AnnArbor.com Community Contributor
Being organized allows for more leisure and time with family

Photo by Donald Adiska, Ovation Photography The lunch room buzz at the Betty Brigade grew day by day, as more Betties experienced the vision. “You’ll hear angels sing!” they promised. The legend grew, and one day it was my turn. Following the pet sheet instructions, I unlocked the front door ...

Comment now

Read more »

Posted: Sun Nov 6 9:35 a.m. by Judy DiForte AnnArbor.com Community Contributor
Remove or encapsulate torn asbestos pipe wrapping to prevent inhaling airborne fibers

“Toxins for 400, please, Alex.” “It was once touted as a miracle substance, but has now proven deadly,” Trebec prompts. “What is arsenic?” BZZZ! Trebec should add that it’s a natural substance used as far back as 3000 BC, found in archeological digs in Scandinavia, where they used it in ...

Comment now

Read more »

Posted: Fri Oct 21 6 a.m. by Judy DiForte AnnArbor.com Community Contributor
Prepare your car for upcoming bad weather by checking it out and creating emergency kit

Ready? What do you get from sitting on a glacier too long?  Yes, I’m starting with a joke — to break the.... ummm... ice. My problem is that it’s not that funny, so I buried the answer somewhere in this blog. Meanwhile, speaking of ice, we at The Betty Brigade ...

Comment now

Read more »

Posted: Tue Oct 11 6 a.m. by Judy DiForte AnnArbor.com Community Contributor
Are you a hoarder or a collector? Here's how to tell the difference

You name it, somebody collects it — from baseball cards, stamps and corks to staplers, naval fluff, even barf bags. Enough people collect overdone comestibles that there’s actually a burnt food museum. The Phallological Museum in Iceland features the world's largest collection of... wait for it... ! Any guesses? You ...

Comment now

Read more »

Posted: Thu Sep 22 9:29 a.m. by Judy DiForte AnnArbor.com Community Contributor
Refusing unneeded items makes zero waste possible

Library of CongressOkay pop quiz! What is green paper? a. a tentative government report of a proposal b. paper made of post consumer waste c. money   Answer: none of the above. Truly green paper is no paper at all! But can we even imagine such a thing?

Comment now

Read more »

Posted: Tue Sep 13 7 a.m. by Judy DiForte AnnArbor.com Community Contributor
A few organizing techniques can tame school backpack chaos

Pencils, books, teachers’ dirty looks... And paper, paper, PAPER! They're back to school! The school year begins with pressed uniforms, sharp pencils and empty notebooks. But remember looking in that backpack in mid-November... yikes! The periodic table lies crushed at the bottom, along with raw macaroni from some art project, ...

Comment now

Read more »