ACFS and Alex David Clean House

By: Rachelle Garrow-Hayes

Face it: it's January. The dreary weather is matched only by the dreariness of a house stripped of holiday decorations and pretty lights. You and your family muddle through the great dull stretch between New Year's Day and spring after the excitement of the holidays.

If you're in the January slump, take heart! There's another side to January: The look of a new, clean, fresh January calendar. The absent of tinsel and other holiday debris. The sweet silence when the children go back to school and the renewed energy after the holiday frenzy and the start of a new year.

The Akwesasne Children and Family Services felt that this was a good time to tap into that energy and offer a workshop titled "Organize Your Home", presented by Alexandra David at the St. Regis recreation center. "Dana Skye and I were trying to think of a few ideas for a presentation" commented Wanda Thompson, ACFS Community Support Worker. "Dana came up with a new concept to parenting where we would have parent home get-togethers. One person can invite friends and family, up to 25 people, to her home or recreation center for a private workshop. We provide the education, food and childcare. We came up with ideas like home organization, budgeting and couponing. Tonight's workshop was open to anyone who called to register. It filled to capacity quickly and we even had a waiting list. It's a pilot project and if people like it then we can offer more". Delicious healthy food was offered curtesy of the Community Health Nurses as well as door prizes. From the turnout it looks like the Community Support Workers will be planning more workshops.

The presenter, Mrs. David, the owner and operator of Better Your Home Design, had a lot of practical advice for everyone in attendance. First of all she asked the question "what is organization?" Mrs. David's definition is "I can sit and do nothing. There is nothing left to do and everything is in its place". She continued explaining that being unorganized can put tension and stress on a family and other relationships. Yelling at the kids to pick up, not being able to find something that you need at the moment. Maybe someone wants you to go to lunch or shopping but you keep saying "no," telling your friend that you have to clean. When everything is organized the kids have places to play, you can have company over and you have extra time to do things you want to do. Home should be the most comfortable place to be. Being unorganized can also waste money. If you can't find something that you need, you may need to buy another one. Maybe you can't find a bill and it doesn't get paid on time. You may get charged a late fee. Another reason to get organized is for your health. Cluttered areas are places that don't get cleaned and can create dust, mold, mildew that can cause asthma flare ups. Since clutter is a stress producer it can cause heart problems down the line.

A question on everyone's mind was, 'where do I start'? Mrs. David says it depends on what is going on. If you're going to have a sleepover then the best place to start is in your child's bedroom or if you are having people over for dinner then work on the kitchen or you can start where can't find things, like a closet.

The first step to getting uncluttered is to get rid of stuff that is no longer needed, used or in bad shape. Items can be tossed, sold or donated. Mrs. David's rule of thumb is, "if you haven't touched something in six months chances are that you won't ever again so get rid of it. There is always someone that can use it". One of the services Mrs. David provides is consignment. "I can sell anything" laughs Mrs. David. "People know me and trust me so they will buy stuff from me".

Mrs. David is not only a professional organizer but she is an Interior Design and decorating professional and a Canadian Certified Staging Professional. Some of the services that she provides are interior decorating and design, interior redesign, color consultation, painting, home staging and curb appeal. Mrs. David 'creates beautiful spaces inside and out'. "Just because it's not stated on my card doesn't mean I don't do it" explains Mrs. David. "I can do just about anything or I can figure it out if I've never done something before. Many people get tired of their kitchen cabinets and would like new ones. I noticed that the cabinets were still nice and in good shape so I learned how to refinish them. It's cheaper than buying all new ones".

Mrs. David has been in business for three and a half years. Before starting 'Better Your Home Design', she had an office job but when the recession hit her job was eliminated. "I knew I didn't want another office job or be a hairdresser so I looked for something that I would like and would be fun" said Mrs. David. "I already helped family and friends redecorate their homes so I thought, that's what I can do. I decided to go back to school and I became a Certified Home Decorator and Design Consultant". Mrs. David also belongs to the Canadian Decorators Association and the Canadian Home Stager Association.

"I enjoy doing what I do. I'm doing what I love. I'm busy all the time and everyday is different. I have children and a busy schedule but it's a flexible schedule. I can work around all my kid's events and not miss anything. I don't want to miss anything" said Mrs. David. "I also like seeing the transformation of a home and the joy when the family sees their new space. Home should always be a place that you love. You should always be comfortable in your home. It's the place that you spend most of your time". Anyone can get in touch with Mrs. David by calling (518) 521-0909 or [email protected]. Mrs. David also has a website, http://www.betteryourhomedesign.com.

ACFS can be contacted at (613) 575-2341, ext 3169 for more information on upcoming workshops or to set up a Parent Get –Together.