VIDEO: De-Clutter Your Home Before the Holidays

Tracy McCubbin, de-clutter expert and professional home organizer was LIVE on "Good Day Sacramento" today sharing her expert tips on getting organized before the holiday guests come a knockin'.

Click HERE for tips to de-clutter the kitchen.

You can also check out Tracy's tips HERE for quick and easy ways to get your guest room clean and clutter-free.

Got 5 Minutes? Get Organized

Tracy McCubbin, de-clutter expert, professional home organizer and founder of dClutterfly in Los Angeles has a monthly column featured in the Cincinnati Enquirer.

This month Tracy offers advice on how to get just a little bit more organized is just a little bit of time each day.

Check it out here on the Cincinnati Enquirer's website.

Pet Advice: Viewer Questions Answered

Today, Chatterbox Media Relations client, Aaron Hill, owner of Pets in the City appeared on Good Day Sacramento to offer advice on the Do's and Don'ts of pet training.

From "my dog won't listen to me" to my "dog piddles on the carpet" to "I have a biter" the viewers chimed in and asked the expert all their questions. Check out Aaron's TV debut!

Ask the Expert: Viewers Questions Answered - Watch here.

TIPS: Get Organized in 5 Minutes a Day

Do you feel like your home, office, closet or life in general is out of control?  If so, take 5 minutes a day and get organized!

Chatterbox Media Relations client, Tracy McCubbin, owner of dClutterfly shared her great tips with UltimateCoupons.com.  Check them out here!

Happy de-cluttering!

Chatterbox is ready for its close up!

Great news for two of our Chatterbox clients - we're hitting the road and will be hitting the tube!

Pet expert and certified animal trainer, Aaron Hill, owner of Pets in the City will make his TV debut on "Good Day Sacramento" on Friday October 14th.  Aaron, along with his "best friend", Bronco, in tow will bark...uh, we mean talk about the do's and don'ts of dog training.  Got a question for Aaron?  You're in luck, he'll be answering them all during a LIVE web-chat after the show.

In November, Tracy McCubbin, de-clutter expert and professional home organizer will be LIVE on KCAL 9 News in Los Angeles on the as well as Good Day Sacramento.  Tracy will offer great tips on how to get your home organized just in time for all your holiday guests to arrive.

More TV news to come....

Pet Safety Travel Tips

Whether you’re packing up to go across country or just a few miles away, if your four-legged family members are in tow there are some safety measures every pet owner needs to have in place.

“Many people think it is cute when they see a dog with its head out the window going 65 miles an hour down the highway, but in reality, it is quite dangerous,” says pet expert and certified trainer, Aaron Hill.  “When it comes to travelling with a pet, owners need to take the same safety precautions as they do with children.”

More people travel with their pets these days, but most still don’t buckle them up.  Not only is an unrestrained pet a distraction for the driver, but it can also turn into a danger for passengers if an accident occurs.  According to safety experts, a 25-pound dog turns into a 1200 pound projectile in a 35-mile an hour crash. 

Hill strongly encourages pet owners to buckle up their pets and offers these tips for getting where you’re going safely.

TIPS FOR SAFE PET TRAVEL

Road Trips

• Plan ahead, make a lot of rest stops, and take plenty of water as well as a pet first aid kit. 
• Purchase a harness seatbelt for your pooch or use a carrier for really small dogs or cats.  Animals should never be loose in your vehicle while it is motion.
• Never leave your pet in a car unattended.  Dogs and cats can overheat quickly because they have a higher respiratory rate and need air flow and moderate temperatures.
• Be prepared, dogs can get carsick just like people so prepare for the worst ahead of time.

Flying

• Pet Airways accommodates dogs and cats.  It flies to select cities and provides concierge service for your pet including potty breaks within two hours of the flight and pet lounges.   The airline also secures pet carriers on the plane and checks on the animal every 15 minutes!
• For Domestic Air Travel, be sure to check the airlines weight and size restrictions for cabin flying before heading to the airport.  Additionally, if your pet will be flying in the cargo bay, ask about climate restrictions. 

Hotels

• Pet friendly hotels are everywhere now, with some specifically catering to your pet with special food, massages, room amenities, etc.
• For regular hotels, book a room on the ground floor so you have easy access to grass for walks and potty breaks. 
• Request a room at the end of hallway as to avoid disturbing other hotel guests. 

No matter what your mode of travel is, it is always a good idea to bring extra leashes, food and comfort items from home to make sure your pet enjoys a little R & R as much as you do.

Aaron Hill is a certified professional animal trainer and the owner of Pets in the City (http://www.petsinthecity.com/) a premiere Dog Walking / Pet-sitting/ Training service in Los Angeles.  He is certified in pet first-aid and CPR and is a member of Pet-Sitters International.

TIPS: Taming the Kitchen Clutter

The kitchen isn’t just the gathering place for holiday get-togethers, often times it is the gathering place for clutter.

Whether it is a mound of mail, a cabinet full of souvenir cups or a drawer full of useless utensils, the kitchen is a drop zone.

“Over the years all that stuff really adds up,” says Tracy McCubbin, professional home organizer and founder of Los Angeles’ premiere organization company, dClutterfly.  “I recommend homeowners do a clean sweep of the kitchen once a year, right before the holidays is a great time to clear the cabinets.”

The name of the de-cluttering game is purge, purge, purge.  McCubbin suggests following the tips to get your kitchen in order for the holidays.

Purge the pantry

Go through your pantry and get rid of any expired items.  Dump out the cans and recycle them, or if the item is just past the ‘use by’ date, call a local food bank as some may accept donations that are just slightly expired. 

Next, remove the food you don’t eat or don’t like anymore.

“If those cream-based soups are no longer on your diet or if your taste buds didn’t care for that natural peanut butter the first time you tried it, it’s doubtful it’ll be a hit the second time around, so donate it and feel good about doing so,” says McCubbin.

Clear the cabinets

If you have a cabinet (or three) busting with plastic water bottles from the cruise you took five years ago, mismatched wine glasses and souvenir coffee mugs, it is time to purge.  Keep a few favorites then donate the rest.

And if your kitchen looks like an infomercial stock room, it is time to be honest about how much you use (or don’t use them) and let the one-hit-wonder kitchen trinkets go.

The ice cream maker, waffle machine or food dehydrator seemed like a good idea when you purchased it, but now, ten years and only a few uses later, they’re likely just taking up valuable real estate in your kitchen.   You may not have a use for the item, but someone else may so take it to a local donation center like the Habitat for Humanity Re-store.

Get organized

Now that the cabinets are clutter-free it is time to get organized. 

“Bamboo drawer organizers are my favorite for getting and keeping drawers tidy,” McCubbin says.  “I like the modular ones because you can pick what fits your needs the best.”

Next, pull out all the plastic storage containers and match up lids with bottoms.  You won't believe how many orphans you have!  Anything that doesn’t have a mate goes in to the recycling bin.

Consider replacing your plastic containers with glass ones.  These are better for you and the environment and also stack more easily that plastic ones.

Another great way to cut down on clutter is to stop using plastic baggies and switch sandwich sacks.  Not only are these adorable, but they’re also great for the environment. 

McCubbin says, “Getting organized isn’t a one day chore, it’s a lifestyle that takes time, patience and practice.”

If you don’t think it’s a lifestyle change you can make yourself, hire a pro to do it for you.

Tracy McCubbin is the founder of dClutterfly (www.dclutterfly.com) and award-winning home and office organization expert.  She is based in Los Angeles and travels across the country helping clients develop livable organization in their lives.