OrganizingLA Blog

Jared Fogle's Loss was Salvation Army’s Gain – Huge Donation made after Major Weight Loss

Jared Fogel donated his outgrown clothes to the Salvation Army

Very often our organizing clients, for one reason or another will go through a huge purge and discard items no longer desired. As we help clients decide what may or may not “fit” into their current lives and or spaces, they decide what to donate, sell, or recycle (or re-purpose). The Salvation Army, Goodwill, NCJW and Out of the Closet are popular donation sites for the Los Angeles area. Typically, however, our clients don’t find their old treasures hanging in a sandwich shop…

 

Jared's story and connection to Salvation Army:

When Jared Fogle “The Subway Guy” achieved a significant weight loss on the since coined “Subway Diet”, it caught the attention of Men’s Health. Jared was featured in the magazine’s article “Stupid Diets…that Work!” in 1999. And by January 2000, he was a household name. Recently TMZ caught up with Jared and asked “What did you ever do with your old clothes?” He saved a couple pair of pants and shipped 60 bags of clothes to The Salvation Army in the late ‘90’s. In 2008, in honor of a decade of maintenance, his old pair of 62-inch pants (after a final "Tour de Pants") were hung in a Subway restaurant.

 

A major weight loss is in itself a type of decluttering and can inspire many to move on to other organizing projects. Embracing “out with the old, and in with the new” can, not only help one to maintain a healthier lifestyle, it encourages developing new habits. If something no longer fits, serves a purpose in your life, moves you forward or encourages growth consider letting it go…

Tips for donating clothing:

• Only donate usable clothing (no tears, stains)
• Items should be cleaned and repaired before donating
• Check the pockets – even if you don’t recall the last time you wore it
• Don’t forget your receipt – donations are tax-deductible
• Put a box or a bag in your closet – when it’s full, it’s time to donate!

 

What did we miss/Comments:

Have you ever experienced a major weight loss? What other areas of your life did it affect? Do you donate to an organization or share with friends? What criteria do you use for letting go of items that no longer “fit“ your life? Let us know what you think here in the comment section or you can tweet us @johntrosko on Twitter. You can also check us out on Instagram (@johntrosko).

 

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How Martha Stewart's Spontaneous Yet Organized Travel Habits Resulted in Jam from the Santa Monica Farmer's Market

Martha Stewart leaves wiggle room in her carry-on travel luggage to accommodate regional finds in Los Angeles, and elsewhere.

Martha Stewart may seem like a meticulous person, but she does leave room for one spontaneous purchase when planning and organizing her travel bags:

“I once bought a flat of apricots from the Santa Monica farmers’ market—and carried the whole flat home on the plane because I wanted to make jam.”

What's in Martha's packing list?

• A cashmere shawl that doubles as a blanket;
• Slip-on Merrell clogs “for running through airports";
• Louis Vuitton or Tumi roller suitcase;
• Carry-on tote for office paperwork in clear sleeves;
• Towelettes to wipe down seats;
• Emergency vitamins;
• A neck pillow bought right before boarding (and then usually left behind or lost);
• Ipad and a camera;
• Carefully coiled chargers (with a plastic bag for each device).
• Fragrance (Fracas);
• Moisturizer (Yon-Ka or Mario Badescu rose spray);
• Jewelry.

Just how organized are you when you travel? We've blogged before about obsessively-tight schedulers who don't always appear to allow for any surprises. But Martha Stewart is one celebrity who seems to be very prepared yet allows some wiggle room for spontaneity.

Your Turn to Comment

What are your packing secrets? What are some of the things you take home with you when you travel? Let us know here in the comment section or you can tweet us @johntrosko on Twitter. You can also check me out on Instagram (@johntrosko).

Martha Stewart's Packing Habits Are Even More Precise Than You Imagined

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Supermarkets Were Born in California: Modern Life Was Never The Same

Ralphs' Grocery Company in Southern California originated the modern day supermarket. This one, from 1928, once stood at Wilshire and Hauser Blvd.

This afternoon I shopped for dinner groceries at Ralphs in Los Angeles' Miracle Mile. The store, while large with subterranean parking and several floors is no match for the Ralphs I've seen in other less congested areas  of the city (those other stores are just massive). However, the abundance in view at any of these stores is always phenomenal. It's no surprise that many of today's modern kitchens, food and butler pantries have been overrun with "things" that clutter up our lives due to the ease of shopping and availability of goods all under one roof.

 

But believe it or not there was a time when large brick and mortar "supermarket" stores did not exist, and shopping carts were not even imagined.

 

Conan O'Brien Hires an Organizing Expert to Organize his Producer's Office

We don't really advocate giving the gift of organizing and then surprising the recipient with that gift right then and there. But that's what Conan O'Brien did last week when he brought in Los Angeles Professional Organizer (and our colleague) Julie Naylon, of No Wire Hangers and staged a decluttering intervention, all caught on camera.

 

Conan O'Brien paradies his cluttered producer's office as Organizer Julie Naylon looks on.

Conan brought Julie in because he says Producer Jordan Schlansky's office is a fire trap and some of the debris in his office could fall on Jordan, injuring him. The "hoarder decluttering"segment was funny including pulling different items off surfaces and talking him through getting rid of excess and unwanted clutter, including a hilarious moment when he asked Schlansky why he was keeping an NBC logo business envelope (a nod to their former network and employer they both left three years prior. Julie then steps in and works her special techniques in the work space. The result? The big reveal is impressive, check out the full video below:

 

 

For office organizing tips similar to the ones heard and seen on Conan O'Brien, check out our office and workspace organizing resource page.

 

Conan Forces Jordan Schlansky To Clean His Filthy Office on YouTube.

 

What do you say:

 

If you watch the show, do you feel Jordon is an incredible actor? Do you think he was in on the joke ahead of time? Do you think it is an employee's responsibility to clean their office for professional reasons? Is it any any body's business how they keep their personal space?

 

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Want to learn smart and practical organizing tips for your home, office and life? Save time by signing up for free topic updates and receive them as soon as they're published. Plus, as a gift receive our exclusive Martha Stewart Living Radio recorded radio interview and transcript, chock full of strategies, tips and resources direct from John.

 

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America's Obsession with Self-Storage Originated in Hollywood, California

Built in 1925, the 14-story Hollywood Storage Co. was the tallest building in Hollywood

Who would have known that America's obsession with self-storage isn't necessary a modern-day marvel? And that bohemith buildings designed for comfort and safe household holdings would rise to record-breaking heights, in Los Angeles?

 

Built in 1925 during the Golden Age of Hollywood, the 14-story Hollywood Storage Co. was the tallest building in Hollywood. Located at Highland Avenue and Santa Monica Boulevard, Hollywood Storage Co. was also home of the Evening Herald radio station, KMTR but primarily used for storage for the massive influx of people coming to reap the opportunities in the area and needing a place to stash their stuff and for things they may never see again.

 

Surrounded by farms and ranches, orange groves, pineapple orchards, Mexican Nopal cactus indigenous to the area and a burgeoning silent movie industry including nearby Charlie Chaplain's studio and Paramount Pictures, the building stood for 14 years until Bekins purchased it in 1939, the same year the Wizard of Oz premiered.

 

On the 14 floor, a model kitchen was built with an auditorium. And while cooking demonstrations were on hiatus, other "performances" seemed to occur. In typical Hollywood fashion, check out this gentle well-written L.A. Times account about an orgy of sorts where 366 men and women were arrested at a stag party. All of the arrested at the party were men, except four women! Well, modern day has proven that controversy does sell self-storage.

 

Another view of the 14-story massive 1925 Hollywood Storage Co.

For it's time, Hollywood Storage Co.'s building was massive. It's prominence made it's mark onto this stylized 1930's map of the Greater Los Angeles area. You can see it below. Can you spot it? And to the far right bottom corner you can see another "landmark," the Wilshire Storage Co. Were the two owners of these building foreseeing an self-storage obsession that would last, say another 100 years?

 

In 1989, the Los Angeles Times covered the Bekin Storage story which included reasons for their success in the Southern California storage industry: Los Angeles was a new city, on the verge of a incredible expansion no other city in America had seen in decades. Bekins was first company in the West to specialize in moving household goods, Bekins later pioneered the concept of containerized storage. In 1903, Martin Bekins introduced the "side-winder" gasoline-powered moving truck to Los Angeles.

 

It all make sense, the Founder Milo Bekins believed that "moving is the American way." L.A. was the first modern American city.

 

Storage facilities were so popular in the 1930's, they were included in desination maps

In the 1940s and '50s, the style of large, tall buildings changed in Los Angeles. In keeping with the undecorated modernist design coming into style, these storage warehouses became plainer and not as tall.

 

But today, the Hollywood Storage Co. still stands tall, a lovely warehouse of Los Angeles history in all it's historic self-storage glory, clutter, mayhem, vagrancy, orgies and destination maps.

 

Pictures courtesy Water & Power Associates and Felix in Hollywood.

 

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Want to learn smart and practical organizing tips for your home, office and life? Save time by signing up for free topic updates and receive them as soon as they're published. Plus, as a gift receive our exclusive Martha Stewart Living Radio recorded radio interview and transcript, chock full of strategies, tips and resources direct from John.

 

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Singer Alison Moyet Smashed All Her Treasures So She Could Move Forward

Bluesy Singer Alison Moyet Seems To Hate Nastalgia

We're not sure we could advocate smashing your treasures. But that's exactly what Alison Moyet did recently when she moved. She destroyed all her diaries, stage clothes, even her gold albums.

 

Essex-born Moyet became one of Britain's biggest music solo stars in the 1980's and branched out to writing, theater and more albums showcasing her bluesy voice. But she's also known for being down to earth even though she's sold over 25 million albums.

 

But given all that, Moyet is remarkably lacking a passion for nostalgia. In an interview with Aidin Vaziri's SF Gate, Moyet talked about the release of some new music and a concert in San Francisco. Along the way she moved house and decided that her personal and professional memorabilia were not necessary in her life, and she dumped it all.

Q: Before you moved house this year, you smashed all your gold albums. Why was that necessary?

"A: I just didn't want clutter. I just wanted to get rid of it. I'm not a nostalgic person. I wanted to live the remainder of my life as part of the real world, not a marketable commodity. Thinking of yourself as something collectible is really unhealthy. It's nonsense."

This is not the first time we've heard of celebrities not wanting their awards front and center (some use them as doorstops!) You can read more from Moyet's interview on SF Gate.

 

There are many options to get rid of unwanted items.

 

• Trash, recycling;
• eBay, consignment or auction house;
• College Hunks Hauling Junk or 1-800-Got-Junk;
• Donation through a Charity.

 

Moyet seemed to choose the one that best suited her. Each option has it's surrounding issues (time consuming, costs money) but in the end, you've got to do what's right for you in the time frame that you are comfortable doing it. As a professional organizer, we carefully guide our clients to make decisions to move their life forward and celebrate their best, no matter how they choose to do it.

 

What did we miss?

 

What do you think of Moyet's nostalgia kick-off? Could you do it? What ways do you recycle your clutter? Let us know here in the comment section or you can tweet us @johntrosko on Twitter. You can also check me out on Instagram.

 

photo credit: Alison Moyet

 

Like this Topic?

 

Want to learn smart and practical organizing tips for your home, office and life? Save time by signing up for free topic updates and receive them as soon as they're published. Plus, as a gift receive our exclusive Martha Stewart Living Radio recorded radio interview and transcript, chock full of strategies, tips and resources direct from John.

 

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