Organizing

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  • How to Organize Your Disorganized Closet

    Grace Brooke
    Michelle
    7 Jan 2012 | 1:20 pm
    Is your closet a disaster? Does opening the closet door create feelings of stress and confusion? When you reach for an item do the walls come tumbling down? Your clothes closet is a major contributing factor in how you start your day. If you feel rushed in the morning, perhaps it’s because you stand there wasting precious minutes surveying your wardrobe, deciding what to wear. What does your daily inventory reveal? Pants and skirts that don’t fit? Dresses that you never should have bought in the first place (price tags still in evidence)? Fashion relics that you haven’t worn in years?

  • Storage Solution of the Week: empty cups for boot storage

    Creative Organizing
    Jennifer
    25 Jan 2012 | 3:19 pm
    What it is:  This week’s storage solution of the week are upcycled 32-oz plastic cups that I use to keep my boots upright in the closet. Where I got them: Clearly mine are from Quick Trip, but any sturdy plastic cup of about this size would work.  Why I love it:  Hmmm, well, because I love boots! But ugh, where do you store them? I don't have room to lay them in the boxes they came in. Obviously they can't go on my wall-mounted shoe rack. If I had shelves for them, they could go there, but they'd still flop over. They simply took up too much closet space, until I hit on this idea! I…

  • Simplicity in the Kitchen

    elaine shannon
    Elaine
    26 Jan 2012 | 3:00 am
    Meal Planning can be as easy as one two three! I love this time of year where the slow cooker takes centre stage and we can enjoy flavor filled meals that only the crock pot can provide. From corporate boardrooms to casual gatherings the Meal Plan is always a hot topic.  A casual mention of a weekly meal routine and I have everyone’s attention. The kitchen really is the heart of the home and when this room rocks it sets the stage for success for the whole day. However…Meal Planning is not always on the top of everyone’s list of to-do’s but when it is suppertime and you have a hungry…

  • Reusing: Buying Used to Get Organized

    Raleigh Eco-Organizing
    Julie Seibert
    26 Jan 2012 | 12:48 pm
    When getting organized you don’t have to go out and buy a bunch of new gadgets. Many times you will be able to reuse what you already have. The state surplus store here in Raleigh sells chairs, desks, as well as other items you can bid on from a pepsi machine to tires. Here’s the link: http://www.doa.state.nc.us/ssp/ Check your state to see if there is one near you! With cash strapped states it is a win win for you to buy used and for them to get some money!  http://www.usa.gov/shopping/auctions/surplus.shtml Get creative! Instead of a clothes swap have a container swap with your friends…

  • CLUTTER-FREE GIFTING

    ASK AN ORGANIZER
    Cyndy Salzmann
    29 Nov 2011 | 8:20 pm
    It’s official! The day after Thanksgiving marked the kick-off to the Christmas shopping season. Instead of Christmas music playing every fourth song on the PA systems of department stores, every title is a holiday classic designed to put us in the mood to add more to our shopping carts. While these gifts are much appreciated when tearing away the bright paper and ribbon, the real challenge comes after New Year’s when we try to find space to store these treasures. After all, a girl can only have so many pairs of cozy slippers and scented bath products. And my dear husband already has…
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    Organize With Sandy

  • Fav Pin Friday – #Pinterest Link Party

    Sandy
    27 Jan 2012 | 6:00 am
    Link Up A Post You Would Like Pinned There are SO many fashions that I see on Pinterest that I wish I could wear! The shoes… the dresses and darling outfits! But I can still add them on my board as things I like! Look at this black and white beautiful dress!! I love it! I found this on pinterest, but it originally came from the Lace & Tea blog I’ll add one to get things started. Guidelines 1) Add a link from one of your blog post you want pinned. 2) Be sure to use the picture you want pinned for the picture we see on here. 3) Would love for you to tweet this out, or stumble or…

  • Disney World

    Sandy
    26 Jan 2012 | 6:00 am
    Who Doesn’t Love to Go To Disney World? Just about one year ago today I was posting about Disney World on a trip with Murphy USA and Collective Bias.  This post was originally posted on my Chat with Sandy blog on 1/30/11. Enjoy the sites of Disney again. I was asked to attend the Murphy USA National Manager Meeting in Orlando FL (Disney world Coronado Springs resort to be exact) this last week, you might have seen my last post. They asked six blogger to go to their meeting so we could help educate and sign up their mangers with whrrl and discuss how social media could benefit their…

  • Cubby Storage

    Sandy
    25 Jan 2012 | 6:45 am
    Using Cubby Storage In Your BedRoom I LOVE cubby storage, as most of you know who have followed me for awhile, so I decided to utilize them in our bedroom. I am in the process of slowly making over our bedroom. We don’t have the finances to go into a beautiful bedroom set (that happens when you have eight kids right? Everything else like college and food come first! lol) so we do the best we can with what we have.  I also love Ikea, and I found some tall cubby storage units that we could use to help with our clothes storage. We were storing our jeans, sweaters and sweatshirts on wire…

  • Organizing & DIY Link Party – Week 4

    Sandy
    23 Jan 2012 | 6:00 am
    Have you seen some of the cute hats? Aren’t the hats that are out now SO cute?  My step daughter asked for a panda hat for Christmas. I had no idea what she was talking about. She went on to explain that it was white and had a scarf attached that had paws she could put her hands into. She also told me it was at Kroger (grocery store) of all places.  Sure enough… I went in and found it.  She was thrilled! We also found this had for one of my step sons.  An OSU mohawk hat. He LOVED it! lol I  know these pics aren’t organizing projects, crafts or decorating…

  • Cold and Flu

    Sandy
    21 Jan 2012 | 6:00 am
    (Originally posted on Chat with Sandy 12/30/10. I am bringing it back because I like these products. I am no longer a GT VIP blogger and I’m not getting compensated in any way for this post. But I do believe in these products and use them myself and wanted to let you know) Has it Hit Your House Yet? Cold & Flu  has hit mine… several times.  We have had colds, bronchitis, walking pneumonia, strep throat, sinus infection in the last 3 months between the 10 of us. Not fun is it?  Yuck!! What have I had?  I will tell you that I thought 2 different times that I was getting…
 
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    Productive & Organized

  • Sometimes Taking Action is Not the Right Choice

    Stephanie LH Calahan aka @StephCalahan
    20 Jan 2012 | 12:03 am
    Sometimes taking action is not the right choice.  I have been thinking about that statement for a while now.  Then, tonight it came up again as I was interviewing Des Gray on Mindset.  OK, so maybe it is time that I write about it again. It seems funny for me to say it because I'm continually telling people they need to get into action and out of perfectionism and procrastination.  Just do something! However, I'm reminded that not all action is good action.  In fact, last year when I told you about my theme for 2011 of Decisive Productive Action I…

  • 12 Quotes that Get Them to Take Action

    Stephanie LH Calahan aka @StephCalahan
    18 Jan 2012 | 9:22 am
    I have been collecting quotes since I was in grade school.  In fact, when I worked in corporate, I had my interior windows plastered with quotes. (They worked to eliminate distractions of people walking by too.)  Quotes from others have a way of resonating with our psyche.  They have a way of making us get up and go when other things might not.   Over time, I have learned that many people use quotes, but the same quote could have a totally different effect on different people.  So, I asked my panel: What quote have you read that gave you the motivation…

  • High Productivity from Modern Workplace Design

    Stephanie LH Calahan aka @StephCalahan
    16 Jan 2012 | 1:17 pm
    There was a time that "open office design" was a new term, but it was a way of organizing your facilities that was reserved for large corporations. I remember, back when I worked in corporate the move we made from traditional offices to "open space."  I have to admit, I was really resistant!  However, over time, I came to realize how valuable that open space was for my team. Today, open office design is for more than large corporate entities.  Many small businesses and shared office spaces are using the strategy to be able to stay flexible to the…

  • I Invite You to Make 2012 Different - Take a stand and say YES with me.

    Stephanie LH Calahan aka @StephCalahan
    13 Jan 2012 | 7:45 am
    Warning - this message may be a bit more harsh than you are used to reading from me.  Read it anyway! If you are like most business owners, you created your business because you wanted to live on your own terms and you knew that you have something amazing to offer.But, have you realized that dream?Are you doing what you love, or putting out fires? Do you have minor business problem gathering other problems, rolling downhill and ending up smack, dab in your personal life?  Do you find you are getting sidetracked and not finding the traction you need to move your business…

  • Small Biz Gifts to Help You Simplify and Celebrate! You've got to check these out.

    Stephanie LH Calahan aka @StephCalahan
    21 Dec 2011 | 7:29 am
    I have a secret to share.  I LOVE Gifts!  I love giving them and I love getting them. 'Tis the season. That means the SmallBizChristmas giveaway is back!  The fantabulous Michelle Shaeffer is hosting and she invited me to share a gift, along with 12 other entrepreneurs and small business owners. These gifts have been created especially with YOU in mind, to help you reduce stress, get organized, grow your business and more. Want a sneak peak?  Keep reading. What you will find in your gift box: * How to Combat Holiday Stress – Lisbeth Tanz * The Savvy Woman’s…
 
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    Your Life. Organized.

  • What's Wrong With The Obvious?

    MonicaRicci
    26 Jan 2012 | 8:50 am
    Since 1998, I've been helping people take control of their lives at home and at work and it has been consistently gratifying. There are times when I believe people call me at their wits' end, hoping and praying that I'll have magic words and maybe a few spells and potions that will fix their organizing problems. But I'm about to tell you a secret. I'm not magic. None of us in the organizing industry are. The success I've had working with clients over the years comes from a number of factors including asking the right questions, finding the root causes of a situation and creating processes to…

  • Quote: Circumstances

    MonicaRicci
    23 Jan 2012 | 8:37 am
     "People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. I don't believe in circumstances. The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and if they can't find them, make them." George Bernard Shaw1856-1950, Playwright PS: Follow me on Twitter and if you like this information, share it by clicking the social bookmarking links below.

  • The Rhythm of Routine

    MonicaRicci
    19 Jan 2012 | 8:06 am
    The Earth revolves around the sun. The ocean tide comes in and goes back out. The sun rises, the sun sets. Birds and sea mammals migrate south and back north again. Everywhere you look, nature has a rhythm. The world is constantly in motion nature’s cycles are how she keeps order. What’s your rhythm? If your life is generally DISordered, could it be you just haven’t found your rhythm? Perhaps you fly by the seat of your pants most of the time, never stopping to put routines and standard practices in place. Maybe you avoid structuring your days because don’t want to be “confined”…

  • Quote: Your Mental Jam

    MonicaRicci
    16 Jan 2012 | 8:48 am
    "Deal first with whatever is causing you the greatest emotional distress. Often this will break the logjam in your work and free you up mentally to complete other tasks." Brian TracySpeaker and Author PS: Follow me on Twitter and if you like this information, share it by clicking the social bookmarking links below.

  • NeatDesk Demo

    MonicaRicci
    12 Jan 2012 | 8:02 am
    Today I'm sharing a quick (less than 3 minutes) demo of my NeatDesk scanner, which helps me reduce paper clutter and enter data quickly. The NeatDesk is the larger cousin to the NeatReceipts Mobile (portable) Scanner. I like them both. PS: Follow me on Twitter and if you like this information, share it by clicking the social bookmarking links below.
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    Creative Organizing

  • Let’s Get Organized for the Weekend: Share Your To-Do List

    Aby
    27 Jan 2012 | 10:17 am
    Hello my Finish It Friday friends! Are you ready for an fun and productive weekend? If you’re new to my blog, each week I set up a Finish It Friday post where I share my to-do list and encourage you to share yours. When you go public with your to-do list you'll be amazed at how motivated you are to get things done! Make sure your weekend to-do list also includes something fun. We like to call this your “play list.” So do you want to join the fun this week? We’d love to hear from you! I'll get things started with my list.  Play List: Boot Camp. Yay, I can go this week! Get together…

  • A Printable to Simplify Meal Planning

    Aby
    26 Jan 2012 | 4:22 pm
    If you follow along with my Finish It Friday posts, then you know my typical weekend routine involves planning the upcoming week’s meals. I have found that weekly meal planning absolutely simplifies getting dinner on the table, which means we eat at home more often and we eat healthier, too. So if one of your goals for the new year is to eat healthier, and you don’t currently menu plan, consider giving it a try. (I shared Ten Tips to Simplify Meal Planning this blog post, by the way, and here's a link to my meal planner.) Now, I’m from the school of mix-it-up meals. In other words,…

  • Storage Solution of the Week: empty cups for boot storage

    Jennifer
    25 Jan 2012 | 3:19 pm
    What it is:  This week’s storage solution of the week are upcycled 32-oz plastic cups that I use to keep my boots upright in the closet. Where I got them: Clearly mine are from Quick Trip, but any sturdy plastic cup of about this size would work.  Why I love it:  Hmmm, well, because I love boots! But ugh, where do you store them? I don't have room to lay them in the boxes they came in. Obviously they can't go on my wall-mounted shoe rack. If I had shelves for them, they could go there, but they'd still flop over. They simply took up too much closet space, until I hit on this idea! I…

  • Monday Check In!

    Aby
    23 Jan 2012 | 12:45 pm
    Hello my Finish It Friday friends! How was your weekend? I hope you had a great one! How did you do with your to-do lists? Here's my update.  Play List Play on Pinterest! Check. Check. Check. Check. Check. Yep, there was no shortage of pinning this weekend, LOL.  Go for a run. Check! To Finish Laundry. Check! Plan weekly meals. Check!  Declutter files in my office. I spent quite a bit of time on my office files this weekend. I set up one new binder and organized a second. And I cleared out a bunch of old paperwork and files. Woohoo! Feels good. There is still some work to be done (like…

  • Let’s Get Organized for the Weekend!

    Aby
    20 Jan 2012 | 6:00 am
    Okay, it was another super-speedy week around here. It’s really hard to believe it’s already time to share our to-do lists again, but it is! I hope you had a terrific week and are ready to have some fun and get some stuff done this weekend. I know I am! Here’s what’s on tap for me: Play List Play on Pinterst! There, I said it. I’m going to do it anyway, so it might as well go on my list, right? Go for a run. There’s no boot camp this week, which is oh-so sad. So, I plan to go for a run instead. I went for a short run last night, but, it certainly did not make up for a boot camp…
 
 
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    DOROTHYtheORGANIZER

  • Quick De-Cluttering Tips for Your Super Bowl Party

    Dorothy The Organizer
    24 Jan 2012 | 9:30 pm
    Quick De-cluttering Tips for Parties Having a Super Bowl Party? It doesn’t matter who you root for, the ads and the half-time show make Super Bowl parties fun!  And the great thing is they are typically casual – just grill up some burgers, make a chilli crock pot, or build your own pizza!  A few chips and dips, and jolly it up with a selection of beers that reflect the names, the mascots, or the hometowns of the competing teams and you’re all set! If you haven’t already got your invites out – SomeEcards has some great SuperBowl-centric invitations, Evite,…

  • DorothyTheOrganizer to Attend the Grammy’s – What would you Like to Know?

    Dorothy The Organizer
    19 Jan 2012 | 8:57 pm
    DorothyTheOrganizer to See Rhianna, ColdPlay, Paul McCartney   Yikes, I’m so exicted! I wish I had a backstage pass to see  how Grammy’s are actually organized - but I’ll be quite happy sitting in the audience! Please tell me what you would like to know so I have your questions with me when I head out to the Grammy’s – here is the most recent press release about who I’ll be seeing on February 12th: GRAMMY Performers Announced Coldplay and Rihanna, and Paul McCartney added to the lineup for Music’s Biggest Night January 19, 2012 — 3:53 am…

  • January Procrastination – is it the Weather or What?

    Dorothy The Organizer
    16 Jan 2012 | 10:30 am
    January hump day has come and gone…we are over way through the first month of 2012 – yikes! If you did set yourself goals and resolutions, studies show that you may already be struggling to be true to them.  If you have still not determined what new directions or changes you might make in 2012, you could still be struggling. Either way, procrastination could be part of your problem and it’s not until you understand what type of a procrastinator you are that you can do something about it. In the following featured article, I’ll Do It Tomorrow – If I have Time by…

  • Maroon 5 Joins Dorothy Breininger in Haiti Social Media Event

    Dorothy The Organizer
    12 Jan 2012 | 1:03 am
    "DorothyTheOrganizer" Breininger Talks to Media about "Aid Still Required" in Haiti All-Star Lineup Launches ‘HAITI: Aid Still Required’ Campaign Normally everyone forgets about tragedies a few weeks or months after they happen.  Not so with this group. Despite it being two full years since the 7.0 magnitude earthquake leveled the capital city of Port-au-Prince, more than 40 high profile personalities will use their Twitter and Facebook accounts this Thursday, the 12th, to rekindle interest in helping Haiti. The lineup, which includes Maroon 5, Sting, Lady…

  • Help – I need a Professional Organizer!

    Dorothy The Organizer
    11 Jan 2012 | 6:26 pm
    Someone just asked me a very good question on Twitter.  “How do I know when I should call a Professional Organizer?” Most of us have looked around our homes or office at some time and shuddered – feeling overwhelmed and unable to get a handle on the clutter or stacks of paper.  But when do you know you need to call in some professional help?  Get some fresh organization ideas? My first answer is: “Anytime is a great time to find a way to make your life easier!” How much happier could you be with a more organized home? Take a look at the 10 questions below and decide if a fresh…
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    Buttoned Up

  • Join in the February #GetButtonedUp Challenge!

    Sarah
    27 Jan 2012 | 11:50 am
    TweetIt’s time to get your love buttoned up! February is all about the heart. Not only does Valentine’s Day fall smack, dab in the middle of the month, but it’s also “American Heart Month” and therefore time to take care of that all important organ. With this theme in mind, we’ve put together another great monthly challenge for you! By the end of this challenge, you will: Actually have enjoyed Valentine’s Day because you were prepared for it! Be ready to remember every important day (birthdays, anniversaries, etc) in the lives of your loved ones in…

  • Tutorial: Create Knockout Valentine’s Gifts Using Our Free Printables

    Sarah
    26 Jan 2012 | 9:08 am
    TweetThese Valentine’s Day Cards are cute enough to stand on their own, but if you’ve got time, you can easily embellish them. How? By gluing each card on to a colorful piece of construction paper and attaching some candy, or punching 2 holes in the card and slipping in a lollipop. You can even tape or glue the cards onto candy heart boxes. See below for some inspiration! Click here to download the first set of cards seen below. Click here to download the second set of cards seen below. Have a HAPPY Valentine’s Day!

  • Tool: Free Printable Valentine’s Day Cards

    Sarah
    25 Jan 2012 | 8:00 am
    TweetDeliver smiles this Valentine’s Day without spending a dime. Download and print these adorable cards on premium paper stock, cut them out and voilá—you (and your kids) are ready for the big day. They’re cute enough to stand on their own, but if you’ve got time, you can easily embellish them by gluing each card on to a colorful piece of construction paper and attaching a lollipop (come back tomorrow for a tutorial on this!) Click here to download the first set seen below. Click here to download the second set seen below. Have a HAPPY Valentine’s Day!

  • Fire Safety Winners Announced!

    Anne Marie
    24 Jan 2012 | 1:32 pm
    TweetThank you to all who left fire safety tips on our post; Fire Safety Tips Every Family Should Follow and on Facebook! The two winners are: Kelly Schulthies and Shelly Binion! Join us in congratulating them on their win! Stay safe!

  • 15 cures for your toy hangover

    Sarah
    23 Jan 2012 | 3:16 pm
    TweetAs I settled back into my routines this week, I had a fleeting thought: did the holidays even happen this year? One glance at the playroom confirms it most certainly did. And good GAWD, this momma needs to learn restraint! The onslaught of toys has completely overwhelmed our rather simple organization system consisting of two bins. Time to upgrade. I went looking and found 15 organizational tools and hacks that would help any overwhelmed parent deal with their toy tsunami & thought I’d share. What about you, Did you go a little overboard on the Holiday gifts without having…
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    Room-inations

  • Like with Like: All Together Now

    13 Jan 2012 | 8:47 am
    Market in Rotorua, New Zealand "Like with Like" is one of the "Great Laws for Achieving Organization" (see note below).  Greatly regarded in the "Organizational Community", this law is the basic foundation for becoming organized. Like inertia in physics. Like with Like is efficient, aesthetically pleasing, and calming. Markets, like one pictured here, and Big Box stores use this law to make it easy for shoppers to select what they need and maintain their inventory. If I wanted ten apples, I could easily gather ten from the apple bin or be challenged by…

  • How Do You Enjoy Your Photos?

    4 Dec 2011 | 6:30 pm
    Our final installment on photo storage and organization from guest blogger Siobhan Wolf Shaffer, photographer and Creative Memory Consultant. How Do You Enjoy Your Photos? The Ultimate Photo Storage                                            By now I think most people have heard the horrors of the old “magnetic” photo albums.  No magnets were involved - only PVC filled plastic film over cardboard pages covered in super glue.  The photos inside were faded,…

  • Are Your Prints in a Box?

    23 Oct 2011 | 12:07 pm
    So many people ask about how to organize photo prints and the process for many of my clients begins with what I call "herding".  Gather all your photos from the closet, the buffet, the shoe box in the basement,  and the envelop the friend sent you.  Then you can begin to organize and preserve them.  Don't forget to label so you will remember what year you took the pictures. - Melanie My guest blogger, photographer and Creative Memories Consultant, Siobhan Shaffer explains more in this part 2 of our photo organizing series.              …

  • Digital Photo Storage: Where are Your Photos?

    22 Oct 2011 | 9:00 am
    I find photos everywhere. People say they cherish their photos and that they are irreplaceable, but the evidence tells me that is not really the case.  I asked Siobhan Wolf Shaffer, professional photographer, and Creative Memories consultant to be my guest blogger on this the first of a three part series on photos.   Where are Your Photos? by Siobhan Wolf Shaffer When I asked this question of people less than 10 years ago, I would get answers such as: They’re in a shoebox under my bed.  or They’re in the envelope from the developer on the top shelf of my closet. or They are…

  • Who needs a Professional Organizer?

    13 Oct 2011 | 9:08 am
    The other day, a caller told me she thought she might need help with organizing, but she was worried if she told people that she was hiring a professional organizer, they might think badly of her. They might think she is a hoarder. They might think she is unable to manage her life and all my stuff. Not so, I assured her.  Lots of people need and use the services of professional organizers every day. We work with all kinds of people. My clients are doctors, nurses, teachers, artists, rabbis, pastors, government officials, bakers, philanthropists, moms, designers, store owners, realtors,…
 
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    Rubbermaid Adventures in Organization

  • What’s the best way to organize my jewelry? The jewelry box just doesn’t work–too small and I cant see my jewelry.

    Beth Zeigler
    25 Jan 2012 | 3:22 pm
    You’re in luck as the options are endless for displaying jewelry so that it’s accessible and easy to manage–and most solutions are budget friendly to boot. You’ll first want to ask yourself these questions to assess and determine your best storage options. How many necklaces do you have? Are they mostly delicate, mostly costume (chunky) or a good mix of both? How many bracelets do you own? Again, approximate style and type so that you can determine the best way to store. Last but not least, sort your rings, earrings and any other baubles using the like with like…

  • Anti-Resolutions or Resolutions You Can Keep

    Allison Carter
    20 Jan 2012 | 10:47 am
    ANTI – RESOLUTIONARY  Resolution Reality: Twenty-two percent of all New Year’s resolutions are broken in the first week according to the Journal of Clinical Psychology. Only 10 percent of people who make resolutions actually succeed, according to surveys. — Washington Pos So how are your resolutions coming along? If you’re anything like me and most Americans, you have great intentions and may even organize and plan to follow through, but it’s just not happening. That’s why I choose to make Micro-goals. They’re teeny. And so they’re easier to…

  • Paper everywhere! How to organize what to keep. Mail, receipts, paperwork, etc.

    Krista Colvin
    11 Jan 2012 | 1:30 pm
    First, take a deep breath, look at your mail pile and holler and I mean HOLLAH a good “You don’t control me. I control you!” This project may just change your life… ok that’s going a bit far, but once you get the paper under control with a system that works for you, you can maintain the incoming paper a lot easier. FIRST CREATE A PLACE FOR INCOMING MAIL + PAPER. I like to use my office/den which is located just off the front door + near the laundry room/garage door entrance.  If you have one of those cute little kitchen desk cubbies I’d consider this spot. THEN T.A.K.E.

  • I need help organizing my craft room! Where do I start?

    Beth Zeigler
    11 Jan 2012 | 1:25 pm
    The challenge with organizing a craft room is usually all the small odds and ends that need to have a home so that you can find them when you need them. I also find that one has to come up with solutions for housing odd-sized items like poster-board paper and tools. Using the organizing principle, like with like, I would start in any spot that will give you the most relief (or space to work) and go from there. You’ll want to set yourself up for success by having quite a bit of baggies and small sorting boxes to get the organizing project started. Once you get to a category that seems…

  • 5 Steps to An Organized Closet

    Beth Zeigler
    9 Jan 2012 | 8:36 am
    One of my favorite jobs as a Professional Organizer is getting a call from a client to organize a closet. Whether it’s the entryway, clothes or office storage closet, it’s super rewarding and often-times, a one day job. And when a client sees quick results, they are often inspired to keep it up and it will usually lead to getting the rest of the home in order. Of course all closets are not created equal but following these 5 steps are a huge move in the right direction for a ‘new’ made-over storage space. Take Everything Out I know it sounds like a chore but unless…
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    GO MOM!

  • How Kids Stay Fit with Family Fun

    admin
    27 Jan 2012 | 11:10 am
    Keeping kids active in the winter can be a challenge for even the most athletic parents I know.  From cold temperatures to snow storms, seasonal illness and the temptation to play video games, the battle to keep kids moving is constant and can be easy to lose.  Last year I had the honor of attending the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration and while there, we were introduced to the now familiar Disney Magic of Healthy Living Campaign.  Designed to partner with parents to make healthier lifestyles an easy thing to do, the press conference covered everything from eating right to staying…

  • Introducing Dr. Mommy and Friends

    admin
    26 Jan 2012 | 1:35 pm
    I am thrilled to join my good friend Dr. Daisy Sutherland in her new venture, Dr. Mommy and Friends Online.   Described as “a place where busy women and momprenuers write to serve others”  I am joining her team to share insights for your organized business.  Found in Biz Tips, I’ll share posts monthly that will have an eye on how your can organize your business for its greatest success.  Today’s post , How to Organize Your Business, is focused on how tackle the busy work of being in business.  An excerpt: From taxes to bills, deadlines and emails, you have to…

  • How to Organize Your Family Communication Station

    admin
    26 Jan 2012 | 12:20 pm
    Nothing says organized desk like a fresh set of desk accessories! It gives my space a new look and encourages me to create systems that I will want to use well. Add in a rainbow of color through my office supplies and truly, I am in organized heaven!  January is a great time to give your home office or family communication station a shot in the arm with a boost of organization that naturally works with your home decor. When I’m looking for organizing accessories that are stylish too, its Willow House for the win every time. Here are a few of my favorite desk accessories, each on sale…

  • How to Test Drive a Car

    admin
    24 Jan 2012 | 7:00 am
    I am the mother of a soon to be licensed teen driver. This terrifies me more than you can know.  No longer can I keep him safe by buckling him into a car seat built like Mt. Rushmore and drive under the speed limit at off peak times, making sure my every move keeps him in a cocoon.  Instead, our conversation runs something like this: Child: “Mom can I go to Subway with John?”  Me: “Who is driving?”  Child:  ”John” Me:  ”How many months has he had his license?  Does his mother know you are going to be a passenger right now?  Is he allowed to…

  • How to Organize a Closet

    admin
    23 Jan 2012 | 7:00 am
    This is my zen ~ can you blame me?  I’m standing inside an ORG closet solution and clearly anyone can recognize that if you have a backdrop like this, being well organized is a natural result. But for most of us, its “Organizing your Closet 101″ because you might not have this set up today (although you might be moving towards it). No matter what product solutions you have at your disposal, here are 3 tips to help you better organize your closet at the start of the New Year or anytime you decide to go in and tame the beast. 1. Think About Height: Think about where things…
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    DECIDE to Be Organized

  • Join Lisa on Career Coach Caroline on CBS Radio as a Guest Expert

    Lisa
    26 Jan 2012 | 11:47 pm
    Listen to Lisa’s interview with Career Coach Caroline this Tuesday, January 31st at 5pm EST on CBS Radio – part of the Coach Me Radio Series. Lisa will be discussing her career change from attorney to Productivity Consultant, Success Coach, Speaker and Author, as well as her best advice for others considering a career transition. Listen in as Lisa will also share her top 3 take-aways for getting organized this New Year… and more.. Broadcast LIVE on CBS, New Sky Radio, Career Coach Caroline can be heard on KJAQ HD3 Seattle, WBMX HD3 Boston, WOMC HD3 Detroit, WDSY and WZPT HD3 Pittsburgh.

  • In Defense of Balance for Entrepreneurs (Yes, Even For Those of Us That Love to Work!)

    Lisa
    26 Jan 2012 | 10:59 am
    Anyone that knows me (or even just meets me) can tell that I love my business and work really hard. But I’m not only a passionate entrepreneur, I am a multi-passionate person! One of the worst mistakes I’ve ever made when I first became an entrepreneur was to “compartmentalize” my life. It dawned on me a few years ago that I don’t have a “personal life” and a “professional life,” but simply A LIFE. Consequently, I do things when they feel right, which might include writing an article or taking care of client work on a Saturday or Sunday…

  • Take a Look at a Preview of Lisa’s 2012 NAPO Conference Presentation

    Lisa
    23 Jan 2012 | 12:54 pm
    Lisa will be serving as Moderator of the Golden Circle Ask the Organizer Panel at the 2012 NAPO Conference in Baltimore, MD on March 22-24, 2012. She will also be presenting “Don’t Be Afraid of the Big Bad Law: Using the Law as a Protective Shield for Your Organizing Business.” Here’s a sneak peek:

  • Finding the Healthy Balance of “Control”

    Lisa
    17 Jan 2012 | 2:27 pm
    As a productivity consultant whose business is founded on the idea of making people’s lives easier and more manageable, I spend nearly every day thinking about control in some sense. Control is strange when you stop to really think about it. Is it a concept? An idea? Or a goal? And is it inherently good or bad? My answer is… it depends. To me, control is a dichotomy. When you think of physical organizing, control translates into having a place for everything and being able to maintain organizing systems. To one person, there is nothing more satisfying than an impeccably organized…

  • Check out my “Book Trailer” for The Ultimate Life Organizer

    Lisa
    11 Jan 2012 | 4:00 pm
    Make your own slide show at Animoto.
 
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    QuietSpacing

  • Leveraging Leadership Time – The Waterfall Effect

    Paul H. Burton
    8 Jan 2012 | 11:05 am
    (Author’s Note: The following is a Cliff Note style summary of my keynote presentation and upcoming book titled The Waterfall Effect: Six Principles for Productive Leadership.)

 Time is every organization’s most valuable asset.  Yet it is a non-renewable resource; once gone it cannot be recaptured.  Thus, leaders must leverage their time to remain productive. The Benefits of Leveraging Leadership Time Leaders who focus on the right objectives, people and activities are leveraging their time.  The result is called the Waterfall Effect – the cascading benefit that flows down…

  • DMV – The Model of Efficiency?

    Paul H. Burton
    16 Dec 2011 | 8:16 pm
    Going to the DMV ranks near the bottom of things people like to do. We wait until our license plates or our driver’s licenses are nearly expired before we drag ourselves down to the local office, expecting the experience to be both miserable and interminable.  Those fears, coupled with our general fear of the unknown, make a trip to the DMV something just slightly more fun than getting a root canal. Bureaucracy-phobic Such was my state of mind a few weeks ago as I approached our DMV branch office with the title to my new (old) car in hand.  The mission: to get the old Montana title…

  • Time Management Ain’t Sexy; It’s Vital

    Paul H. Burton
    28 Nov 2011 | 11:35 am
    Telling people I work in the time management field produces the same result as telling people I was once a lawyer. They make a polite remark about my choice of endeavors and move on to another, more interesting subject. The only difference is that no one has ever felt compelled to tell me their favorite time management joke. There’s a blessing in that last bit. Seriously, though, I know speaking on time management doesn’t sound exciting. It pales in comparison to things like, “I do product design for Apple.” or “I’m in marketing at Nike.” I get that,…

  • Serving Up Productivity

    Paul H. Burton
    11 Oct 2011 | 11:38 pm
    Authenticity – Doing What You Do Best – Is The Essence Of Productivity “Go stand in line!”  That’s what the diminutive overwrought 20-something hostess at Coop’s Place said to the semi-inebriated patron pestering her to seat his party in the amazingly authentic low-country tavern we were dining at in the French Quarter of New Orleans last week.  (Pic at right). Now, before you go all customer-service on me, understand that this guest had walked past the growing line on the sidewalk outside the door with two (count them: two) very clear signs on those doors with large black…

  • Search is No Savior for Overloaded E-mail Inboxes

    Paul H. Burton
    15 Sep 2011 | 9:42 pm
    Last week, the New York Times ran an article titled 5 Easy Ways to Stanch The E-mail Flood.  As an author and speaker on time management who spends a lot of time taking about and dealing with e-mail for both myself and my clients, I am always interested in new tips and tricks for making e-mail more manageable and more productive.  Moreover, I am generally loath to take issue with other people’s positions on how best to do this.  However, this particular article left me with a sense of surrender and failure that has nagged at me for days.  So, on behalf of myself and all my clients,…
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    Elizabeth Hagen Inspires

  • Confidence Tip of the Day

    Elizabeth
    20 Jan 2012 | 10:00 am
    Walk into your closet feeling really, really fabulous.  As you look around you’re going to see things that a fabulous person would not wear. Give these items away and feel free!

  • Organization Tip of the Day

    Elizabeth
    18 Jan 2012 | 10:00 am
    Arrange your closet in categories: Shirts, blouses, pants, skirts, jackets. Hang shirts from sleeveless to long sleeve, short skirts to long skirts, and by color: Light to dark.

  • Confidence Tip of the Day

    Elizabeth
    16 Jan 2012 | 10:00 am
    Great self-esteem and true confidence comes from within and then we can let that shine on others. I’m not talking about being obnoxious and me, me, me. I’m saying that it is a good thing to think that we are awesome and to really treasure when other people realize the same thing.

  • Need a strong file folder?

    Elizabeth
    12 Jan 2012 | 6:55 pm
    Tired of your hanging file folders falling apart?  Enter the Smead Tuff Hanging Folders.  They are built to last and come in some cool colors.  January is a great month to redo your file system!

  • Organization Tip of the Day

    Elizabeth
    6 Jan 2012 | 10:00 am
    Simple Ways to Organize for the New Year 1. Don’t worry about the whole house.  Just pick 3 areas that people see the most when they come over and organize those areas. 2. Piles of paper everywhere?  Attack one pile of paper every other day and make yourself make decisions about what to do with each piece. 3. Every morning when you apply your makeup get rid of 3 items you no longer use. 4. Put a large basket in your closet and every day when you get dressed put 3 items in the basket that you no longer like and/or doesn’t fit. Then you’ll have a nice amount of great…
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    Take Control Organizing » Blog

  • Dealing with Procrastination

    Nikki
    26 Jan 2012 | 9:43 am
    We all procrastinate! We wait until the last minute to do anything, no matter how large or small the task.  Procrastination can come from doing a daily household task like loading the dishwasher… Have you ever waited so long to unload the dishwasher that by the time you did it, you had to immediately run it again. Or waited to put a report together and found yourself up all night just to get it turned in on time! Some people work well under pressure, but for most of us it causes a lot of stress and anxiety.  Stress that could technically be prevented if we had just done what we…

  • Ep 52: Surviving repetitive tasks and the ADD Mind

    admin
    23 Jan 2012 | 10:00 am
    If you’re living with ADD, you understand the double-edged sword your own mind represents. While you might be able to channel your energy into hyper-focus on specific projects, when it comes to repetitive tasks like laundry, dishes, groceries… sometimes things just don’t get done. This week on Taking Control, Nikki Kinzer and Pete Wright talk about the obstacles to repetitive tasks and how the ADD mind can muscle through with a few sound strategies. Audio MP3Audio MP3 iTunes Audio RSS Audio You might also like:Ep 51: Why does clutter build up?Ep 46: Budgeting for the Holidays!Ep…

  • ADD Friendly Tips To Deal With Clutter!

    Nikki
    19 Jan 2012 | 8:00 am
    Getting organized is a challenge for a lot of people, and this is especially true for my ADD/ADHD clients.  They know what they need to do, they want to do it, but so many other things get in the way.  It causes stress in many aspects of their lives. I have put together a few ADD Friendly Tips to conquer your clutter…. You may not be able to implement all of them at once, and you may find some ideas work better for you than others.  That is OK… this is a work in progress… all I ask is you try!  If you want to change to happen, you have to be willing to try! A few tips to…

  • Ep 51: Why does clutter build up?

    admin
    16 Jan 2012 | 10:00 am
    Clutter kills! It is the burden and weight that puts a squeeze on your productivity, your passion, and your efficiency. But with a few changes you can quit the clutter and find peace in your home again! This week on Taking Control, Nikki Kinzer and Pete Wright talk through the steps and the focus required to clean up the clutter and get back to work! Audio MP3Audio MP3   iTunes Audio RSS Audio You might also like:Ep 52: Surviving repetitive tasks and the ADD MindEp 20: The Cost of ClutterEp 25: Be Smart with Your ResolutionsEp 49: How to Make an Organizing GoalEp. 43: Beating…

  • Getting Organized Enough…

    Nikki
    12 Jan 2012 | 8:00 am
    Definition of Organization:  TCO defines being organized as being able to find what you need, when you need it. Notice, there is nothing said about baskets or organizing bins!  Being organized is about function.  Organization effects how you live in your home, how productive you are at work and well you manage your time. It effects your quality of life, but nowhere does it say it has to be perfect. Trying to live  up to perfection is going to be a trap for you.  It will hold you back from success.  Especially if organization does not come easy to you in the first place, like so many of…
 
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    elaine shannon

  • Sh!t Obsessively Organized People Say

    Elaine
    27 Jan 2012 | 4:48 am
    A bit of fun this Friday Nothing like having a few giggles while poking fun at yourself and your own obsessive tendencies… I loved the video comment from SmeadOrganomics This is hilarious Elaine! Thanks so much for posting. You raise some great organizing points in a funny way:)  

  • Simplicity in the Kitchen

    Elaine
    26 Jan 2012 | 3:00 am
    Meal Planning can be as easy as one two three! I love this time of year where the slow cooker takes centre stage and we can enjoy flavor filled meals that only the crock pot can provide. From corporate boardrooms to casual gatherings the Meal Plan is always a hot topic.  A casual mention of a weekly meal routine and I have everyone’s attention. The kitchen really is the heart of the home and when this room rocks it sets the stage for success for the whole day. However…Meal Planning is not always on the top of everyone’s list of to-do’s but when it is suppertime and you have a hungry…

  • Timing is Everything

    Elaine
    25 Jan 2012 | 3:00 am
    Knowing when that Time will arrive is a Mystery A tree branch grows when it is time to grow. A plant breaks through the surface of the soil at just the right time. Every business, business idea and entrepreneurial dream has its own germination time… Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up. - Thomas Edison Quotes help us when we need Inspiration, Please share your favorite Inspirational Quote…you never know who you might Inspire today!

  • Decluttering and the Wheel of Life

    Elaine
    24 Jan 2012 | 5:12 am
    The Wheel of Life It is all about the light bulb moments. Recently I helped facilitate a de-cluttering workshop. Specifically de-cluttering is the process of eliminating the obstacles that prevent us from moving forward. Imagine, you are driving down a road and there is a road block…you have many options. You can sit and wait until someone else move the obstacle on the road, you can turn around and go back, you can find an alternate route or you can move the obstacle that is in your way. Some of the options mentioned are easy, some are difficult and some are just annoying. Here is the…

  • Time Management is Bogus

    Elaine
    23 Jan 2012 | 3:00 am
    Time Management is Bogus…Energy Management is Critical Yes I am back on the Time Bandwagon again. After spending the weekend with the folks out in the country; hanging out, playing cards, napping, watching the birds in the feeder and generally doing nothing I realized that in our overachieving world we do not value R&R. Learning how to do nothing is challenging. Like most people I sometimes have to force myself to slow down. When I do, I feel completely rested and re-energized. Slowing Down and enjoying the moment is good for mental as well as physical health. If you don’t…
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    Raleigh Eco-Organizing

  • Reusing: Buying Used to Get Organized

    Julie Seibert
    26 Jan 2012 | 12:48 pm
    When getting organized you don’t have to go out and buy a bunch of new gadgets. Many times you will be able to reuse what you already have. The state surplus store here in Raleigh sells chairs, desks, as well as other items you can bid on from a pepsi machine to tires. Here’s the link: http://www.doa.state.nc.us/ssp/ Check your state to see if there is one near you! With cash strapped states it is a win win for you to buy used and for them to get some money!  http://www.usa.gov/shopping/auctions/surplus.shtml Get creative! Instead of a clothes swap have a container swap with your friends…

  • Perfection and Organizing

    Julie Seibert
    23 Jan 2012 | 12:37 pm
    People often ask me if I am organized. I say I am, but I am not perfect. One, it’s impossible! Secondly, it’s no fun. If a client is looking for Martha Stewart, I tell them I am not their woman!  If there was a fire in my home I could get my important papers and be out of the house in a second. If a client calls I can get their file immediately. I know what’s in my closet so I don’t make duplicate purchases. When I come home I feel at peace because my everything is orderly and I can enjoy things that I truly cherish, such as paintings. Here is my mission & vision for myself &…

  • Easy Organization Goals!

    Julie Seibert
    19 Jan 2012 | 12:28 pm
    If you are feeling overwhelmed at the thought of getting organized, do one thing to make a change.  Here are some suggestions I have made to clients in taking that first step!  Remember to donate, give away and/or recycle! Have less “stuff” coming into your space.  If you bring something in, something goes out. A place for everything. Have a place for keys, sunglasses, bills, permission slips, etc. Say no to: other people’s stuff; people who don’t support and nourish you; things you no longer use or love. Donate.  Get rid of everything that doesn’t represent you because you want…

  • Organizing Your Gift Giving

    Julie Seibert
    16 Jan 2012 | 10:14 am
    I know the holidays just ended, but now is the perfect time to plan your gifts for the year!  Decrease stress with no more last minute shopping and spreading time and money throughout the year. Get your calendar/PDA and enter all birthdays, anniversaries, etc. Find a place to store.  Under a bed, linen closet, in the attic, etc. Boxes of uniform size come in handy for easy storage and stacking. Create separate lists for people and occasions.  Next to each name write gift ideas, sizes, hobbies, etc. and a monetary limit. Write year and gift so you won’t repeat. Keep a master gift list in…

  • The Cost of Disorganization

    Julie Seibert
    12 Jan 2012 | 5:54 am
    My vlog talks about the statistics of being disorganized.  Watch this short clip to see what being disorganization might be costing you.  I also share some stats that might encourage you to go green when it comes to household cleaners. http://youtu.be/4v4fFhjUG8Y What is being disorganized costing you?  What one step could you take today to change that?
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    carriethru.com

  • Improve Productivity by Keeping the Chaos Out

    Carrie
    10 Jan 2012 | 8:02 am
    I’m always amazed at how easily we grow accustomed to things.  Years ago my husband and I removed an air conditioner from a window.  We didn’t have anywhere to put it, so we stowed it under a clear glass table in our living room.  Even though it was completely visible we didn’t see it and amazingly, neither did our guests. I was at the chiropractor the other day, he touched my shoulder and I winced in pain.  I hadn’t realized anything hurt until he touched it. My neighbor had a new roof installed a few weeks ago.  All day long the contractors were running…

  • It’s Time To Dust Off Your Dream

    Carrie
    28 Dec 2011 | 8:56 am
    Over the past few months I’ve been sensing a growing frustration.  I’m being told “I’m on the verge of success if only I could figure out…” What to do first (and of course second and third) so the projects I start get completed. Which marketing and sales strategies will best generate a consistent flow of clients and income. How to get myself to create a plan and actually do those marketing and sales strategies. How to manage all of the moving parts and maintain my sanity. How to get out of my own way, stop procrastinating and just do it. You have probably…

  • It’s Okay To Be Late

    Carrie
    27 Dec 2011 | 7:10 am
    I messed up.  I went to an event, made lots of connections and collected many business cards.  When I got home I divided the cards into two piles.  One large pile of people who would simply be added into my database and get an email that was already set up.  The second pile was smaller and was the people who I had connected with personally during the event and needed to follow up with either a phone call or other specific information. Here’s what happened.  The large pile got into the database and everything went as planned (thankfully I had a system for that).  The smaller…

  • 5 Steps To Ending Procrastination

    Carrie
    13 Dec 2011 | 7:34 am
    I was at a party recently and ran into a woman I’ve known for years.  She is a friend and a former client.  As we stood talking over a tasty treat she told me that, despite the work we’ve done together, she still procrastinates.  I replied…”Yeah, me too.”  She looked at me, shocked and said, “I can’t believe it.  You do so much!  There’s NO WAY, you procrastinate.” So here’s the cold hard truth.  Yes, I procrastinate.  In fact I’m a master procrastinator and I’m not alone.  According to studies done on…

  • Why it doesn’t get done

    Carrie
    29 Nov 2011 | 7:30 am
    I bet plenty of the things you do are “no brainers”.  You are psyched to them and have no problem doing. Then, there are the “other things”.  It could be picking up the phone and calling a prospective client, writing an article for your ezine, creating a program that you’ve been meaning to do forever or something “easy” like answering a single email. These are the things you know you’re “supposed” to do but somehow never get around to doing.  The things that you put on your to-do list time and time again but never cross off.  Or…
 
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    helping you organize

  • Software updates

    27 Jan 2012 | 9:10 am
    How often do you download and install software updates on your computer? Most operating systems make it easy as clicking a button to set this process in motion, and they will remind you when critical updates are needed. Some software has to be manually updated. But if you are using a computer, you need to do the software updates. Don't think of it as optional. This is mandatory maintenance. I find people are resistant to updating for one or more of a few reasons: they think it will take too long, they don't think it's necessary for their programs to run, or they are afraid that updating will…

  • In my reading pile

    25 Jan 2012 | 8:32 am
    As you know, I'm a couple of book clubs. Here are the books I've got on deck: Never Eat Alone by Keith Ferrazzi - I'm looking forward to reading this popular tome about networking. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by Frank L. Baum - I've never read this, and it's free for the Kindle and iBook apps. Moneyball by Michael Lewis - We'll be reading the book and comparing it to the recent movie. I really like Michael Lewis's writing style, so I'm looking forward to this. I've also heard that it's a great book about management, so it kind of crosses over between my two book clubs. Need a professional…

  • Lelah's News

    23 Jan 2012 | 8:00 am
    I share news, organizing specials and short essays about organizing on my monthly enewsletter, Lelah's News. If you don't already receive it, sign up here. The next issue will be out this week, and will contain a very special announcement! Get a professional organizer's expertise! Call Lelah at 818.269.6671 or email lelah@lelahwithanh.com Get Lelah's News

  • Paperless tips

    20 Jan 2012 | 9:32 am
    Here are a few paperless tips in preparation for my paperless organizing workshop, Take the Paperless Plunge, which I'm teaching Saturday, February 4, in Sherman Oaks, CA, through the Professional Organizer's Learning Academy of NAPO-LA. Don't have time to enter a business card into your contacts, but don't want to keep the card around until you do? Take a snapshot of it with your digital camera or the camera on your mobile device and save it to Evernote, or extract the data later at your convenience. Getting too many catalogs in the mail? Catalog Choice is a free service that can help you…

  • The Refill Shoppe

    18 Jan 2012 | 9:57 am
    There's a neat store in Ventura, CA, called The Refill Shoppe where they sell reusable items from grocery bags to water bottles and consumables like dish washing soap and shampoo in bulk containers that you fill up your small, reusable bottle from. The idea is that we don't need disposable packaging if there's a place to get refills of your favorite consumable items. I was fascinated by the fact that they sell actual handkerchiefs, especially as my household goes through at least a box of tissues a week. I love the idea of reducing waste on the front end instead of just recycling all the…
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    San Diego Professional Organizer | Image Consultant | home organization

  • Why Being Organized Can Make You Healthier

    admin
    24 Jan 2012 | 1:08 pm
    Having a cluttered home makes it very difficult to find what you are looking for. Living in clutter can also cause stress and other health problems. It is not uncommon for individuals to purchase furniture to help them get organized. For example, a bedroom vanity can help someone who wants to organize his or her bedroom, and it can enhance the décor of the bedroom as well. Purchasing furniture to keep your rooms organized is a good idea; however, individuals who have excessive items in their homes tend to clutter up the shelves and top surfaces of their furniture as well as the floor space…

  • 10 Ways to Turn Your Bedroom from Clutter Filled to Designer Chic

    admin
    24 Jan 2012 | 12:02 pm
    It’s easy for a bedroom to become disorganized. As one of the most lived-in rooms in the house, it is a natural magnet for all types of paper, books, toys, and knick-knacks. Since your bedroom is where you sleep, it’s important you keep it as neat as possible to encourage relaxation at night. Arrange the Clothing in Your Closet Your closet was not designed to be a refuge for every article of clothing you have ever owned. Go through your closet and remove anything you haven’t worn in the last year. With the exception of some types of formal wear, if you haven’t worn it…

  • Organizing a Shared Bathroom ~ 14 Tips to Keep Your Bathroom Chaos Free

    admin
    14 Jan 2012 | 10:07 pm
    If several household members are sharing a bathroom, follow these 14 tips to help organize it. Tip #1 Clean out every drawer and shelf in the bathroom. Get rid of anything that isn’t being used. Tip #2 Move your medicines to the kitchen. The heat and steam in the bath can ruin them. Tip #3 Give each household member a different colored basket to fill with toiletries. No sharing. Make sure everyone has their own toothpaste, eye drops, cosmetics and grooming supplies. Each person will keep the basket in his or her bedroom. Tip #4 Evaluate your storage. You will need places for: towels,…

  • Decluttering Strategies for the New Year

    admin
    10 Jan 2012 | 7:44 pm
      Wondering how to get your home decluttered once and for all this year? I was asked this same question recently by Amanda Wyant, a writer with Blissfully Domestic. Click on this link to learn four professional organizing tips to help you declutter and get control of your home and your life in this article.  

  • Tips to Keep Your Kitchen Drawers Organized and Your Life From Overflowing

    admin
    10 Jan 2012 | 11:35 am
    Author Kathi Burns, CPO® gives Tampa Bay 10 Connects CBS News viewers advice to help them organize their home from her  book How to Master Your Muck
 
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    Grace Brooke

  • 7 Myths About Organized People

    Grace Brooke
    23 Jan 2012 | 12:00 pm
    Will being organized make me dull and boring? No! Many people have an instinctive aversion to being organized. When they think “organized,” they think of an accountant with a pocket protector sitting at a bare desk in a room full of filing cabinets. Or they think of gleaming supermarket shelves, with rows upon rows of evenly spaced, carefully lined up items. Yikes! Relax, you can be very organized without having your home look like Costco. Here are seven myths about what organized people are like, and the corresponding realities. Myth #1: Organized people are perfect. They always know…

  • Simple Tips on How To Manage Your Time

    Michelle
    18 Jan 2012 | 3:48 pm
    Guest blog from Tara Kuther, PhD., Author at www.about.com One of the first things that graduate students (and college students too!) learn is that there is never enough time in the day. How can you keep yourself sane when you’re overloaded with courses, research, teaching, and a life? Begin with using an academic calendar to keep track of your days. Time management entails more than keeping a calendar, however. It is requires identifying your obligations, carefully considering their importance, and making choices about how to use your time. Use Multiple To-Do Lists At this stage in…

  • Making SMART Goals

    Michelle
    10 Jan 2012 | 1:27 pm
    When making goals for yourself it is easy to get overwhelmed with everything you want to achieve in your life.That is why it is a smart idea to have a plan even when coming with them.You want to make sure that you are SMART about your goals: S pecific – You cannot be vague when it comes to your goals.The more detail the better.That way you always have something to focus on.If you say you want to buy a house, what kind of house?Where? How expensive?The more questions you ask yourself, and the more you can answer them the better.This will help you really achieve your goals because every…

  • How to Organize Your Disorganized Closet

    Michelle
    7 Jan 2012 | 1:20 pm
    Is your closet a disaster? Does opening the closet door create feelings of stress and confusion? When you reach for an item do the walls come tumbling down? Your clothes closet is a major contributing factor in how you start your day. If you feel rushed in the morning, perhaps it’s because you stand there wasting precious minutes surveying your wardrobe, deciding what to wear. What does your daily inventory reveal? Pants and skirts that don’t fit? Dresses that you never should have bought in the first place (price tags still in evidence)? Fashion relics that you haven’t worn in years?

  • How to Clean Up After Christmas

    Michelle
    27 Dec 2011 | 4:16 pm
    This is a great blog full of tips from Cynthia Ewer, Editor of Organized Home Christmas Week is here, and New Year’s Eve is on the horizon! Even in the midst of holiday cheer, it’s time to look ahead to a clean and organized New Year. Ready to swing into the coming year from a clutter-free and organized home? Try these year-end tips to cut clutter and start the New Year on an organized note: Santa’s Rule: Get One, Toss Two Try this simple idea to pack a powerful clutter-cutting punch as you put away new holiday gifts: for each gift received, toss two counterparts. As you put…
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    Downshifting - Professional Organizing Solutions - Margarita Ibbott

  • #FavPinFriday–Linky

    Margarita Ibbott
    27 Jan 2012 | 1:02 pm
    A couple of week ago Organizer Sandy had a link party for #FavPinFriday (see here for a detailed description on how to do this if you don’t know what I am talking about).  I thought this was a great idea so I posted my first link two week ago and it was a huge hit.  Last week, I got a few other professional organizers asking me where my pins were so I am posting my second link to #FavePinFriday today. If you don’t know what Pinterst is you can read about it in the first post, first post I wrote about it…confused yet? Here is that post. Here are my favourite pins of the week:…

  • Crazy for Club House

    Margarita Ibbott
    26 Jan 2012 | 12:04 pm
    I was grocery shopping yesterday to complete the stew recipe that I had prepped in the morning.  I was using my favourite Crock Post compliment Club House Beef Stew seasoning.  There I was shopping minding my own business when –wham- I see a whole other line of Club House products for fish. Not being very fond of fish, I tend to like using sauces or batters to get me to eat it.  My family tends to like fish more (especially Salmon) so I am feeling guilty that I don’t serve more fish. So imagine my amazement when I saw all of these products to make fish meals likable. …

  • #FavPinFriday - Favourite @Pinterest pins this week

    Margarita Ibbott
    13 Jan 2012 | 6:49 am
    Here are a few of my favourite 'Pins' this week here: You can find these and more on my WORDS TO LIVE BY... board. http://pinterest.com/downshiftingpos/words-to-live-by/ If you want to see more #FavPinFriday Link to the Organize with Sandy blog. I will.

  • Pinterest - My new 'favourite' thing.

    Margarita Ibbott
    13 Jan 2012 | 6:08 am
    Have you discovered Pinterest yet?  The website describes it very simply: it's an online pinboard that lets you organize the things you love.  I discovered it through, Cynthia Gagen, blogging friend of mine that blogs about crafts (actually, she blogs about a whole lot more) .  She uses Pinterest to capture images of crafts she's made, crafts she likes and to display crafts by others.  You can find her awesome boards here and her even better blog here. The same goes for my organizing buddies.  There is not a day that goes by that a…

  • QuoVadis Canada - Minister Prestige - Product Review

    Margarita Ibbott
    12 Dec 2011 | 7:57 am
    Yeah! It is December and I finally get to start using my *brand new* Quo Vadis Minister Prestige Planner. I have been waiting since I received mine at the 2011 Professional Organizers in Canada Conference in early November. My B-E-A-U-T-F-U-L Minister Prestige 2012 I have had a love for Quo Vadis planners since I worked at TELUS over 20 years ago.  My boss always had me order the same planner: the pocket size Quo Vadis IB Traveler. I could never understand how he could carry such a small agenda but I now realize everyone has their favourites and that was his. My…
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    ASK AN ORGANIZER

  • Chill Out!!

    Sheri Lukasiewicz @ Peace by Piece
    11 Jan 2012 | 5:09 pm
    So, the Holidays are in your rear-view mirror.  Have you checked the contents of your refrigerator lately?  Would you discover containers with the contents of Christmas dinner in there?  It’s time to Free your Fridge!!  Take the time this week to give your refrigerator a ‘make-over’.  You know …..less is more.  Empty it of aged food remnants and check your condiments for currency status.  Scrub down the sides and shelves.  If your freezer has an ice maker, and you use less in the winter, empty your ice tray out and let new fresh ice fill it up.     …

  • CLUTTER-FREE GIFTING

    Cyndy Salzmann
    29 Nov 2011 | 8:20 pm
    It’s official! The day after Thanksgiving marked the kick-off to the Christmas shopping season. Instead of Christmas music playing every fourth song on the PA systems of department stores, every title is a holiday classic designed to put us in the mood to add more to our shopping carts. While these gifts are much appreciated when tearing away the bright paper and ribbon, the real challenge comes after New Year’s when we try to find space to store these treasures. After all, a girl can only have so many pairs of cozy slippers and scented bath products. And my dear husband already has…

  • How does She Do it? Just like the new movie

    organizationstation
    27 Sep 2011 | 2:23 pm
    1.  Make sure that every item, in your home, has a home and make sure that all family members know where that home is. 2.  Make use of the “one in-one out” rule.  Before you buy the next toy for your child, decide which toy is leaving.  The same rule works for clothes, gadgets, and almost everything in your home. 2.  How clean is clean?  Does the house have to be able to pass the “white glove test” every week.  I don’t think so.  Find a compromise that the whole family can live with. 3.  Make sure everyone in the home is helping out.  Even kids as young…

  • Three Reasons for Organizing your Workstation.

    organizationstation
    20 Sep 2011 | 2:12 pm
      Do you have piles of papers on your desk at work? How do you think this mess is impacting your career? In a recent CareerBuilder study about office hoarding, 2,662 hiring managers and 4,912 workers were surveyed. The study revealed the following reasons to organize your workstation: Your stuff could be weighing down your productivity. One-third of workers said they tend to be hoarders. Thirty-eight percent of workers say that between 50 and 100 percent of their desk is covered with work and other materials, while 16 percent of workers said 75 percent or more of their desk is covered.

  • Do you have any routines?

    organizationstation
    6 Sep 2011 | 9:21 am
    Routines Do you have any routines that make your life less stressful? It is so simple to start some and yet so many of us resist them! When we have routines in place, and follow them, we are much less likely to be stressed out and overwhelmed.  For instance, most of us would do well to establish a nightly routine to help us get ready for the morning. Plan to: Make lunches for the next day Set out clothes for the next day, don’t forget the accessories Set the table for breakfast By taking the time to get these few things done in the evening you will have a much more relaxed morning. Less…
 
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    The Paper Tiger Blog

  • Recording: January 5th Paper Tiger Expert Webinar

    Janet Baker
    27 Jan 2012 | 10:09 am
    Anne demonstrates how to get started with Paper Tiger Online filing system software and demonstrates a work-flow example by filing items from her inbox through the life-cycle of document management to help you use Paper Tiger more effectively to get organized and be more productive. She included specific examples in how to use the File [...]

  • Commit to Declutter in the New Year and Get Organized!

    Janet Baker
    26 Jan 2012 | 11:16 am
    This year, stick to the resolution to declutter your life by getting truly organized. It’s probably a task you have been putting off for ages because it seems like such an overwhelming task, yet can be such a simple thing to accomplish. It’s all about taking the first steps to get started. The first step [...]

  • Feeling Stressed by Managing Both Paper and Digital Files?

    Janet Baker
    24 Jan 2012 | 2:03 pm
    CALL TODAY! Contact productivity expert, Anne McGurty of Strategize and Organize, to schedule 30 minutes to strategize and organize a FREE analysis of your situation. Are you managing both paper and digital files? Feeling stressed? How do you bridge the paper world to the digital world? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The car industry got it right…it’s no longer [...]

  • Telesummit Series: Fire Up Your Biz-Enrich Your Life!

    Janet Baker
    18 Jan 2012 | 11:20 am
    Our friend, Stephanie Calahan has pulled together some amazing, giving experts and together they are going to share all! Visit Fire Up Your Biz – Enrich Your Life! to get signed up for free.  You can attend one session or all of them! As an entrepreneur you need to confidently take your business to the [...]

  • Digital Tiger Now Available With Paper Tiger Online!

    Janet Baker
    10 Jan 2012 | 11:06 am
    Digital Tiger, powered by Google Docs, is now available in Basic and Pro Paper Tiger Online accounts. Paper Tiger Online will now connect to your Google account, making it Digital Tiger so that you can find all of your information with just one search — your digital files that are stored in Google Docs, and [...]
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    I'm an Organizing Junkie

  • It’s Time for Another Org Junkie Video

    Laura
    27 Jan 2012 | 10:20 am
    Hey friends, thought I’d give you a peek into what my unedited videos look like.  I’m done with editing…blech.  Seriously, who has time for such things anyway?  Just kidding to all you editing geniuses, it’s all good :) From now on though I’m one cut Laura, dorkiness and all! So I’d love it if you’d chime in below with any video topics you’d like to see in the future.  I’m going to try to post videos more frequently, maybe.  If you tell me to stick with blogging and forget the videos well then I might do that too.  Want to see more,…

  • Teaching Your Kids to Organize

    Laura
    26 Jan 2012 | 3:45 pm
    Last week I wrote a post about my love of purging.  Afterwards I got a sweet email from a reader that I’d like to share with you. When I was a child (now I’m 58), we didn’t have many toys but my mom was always giving away what we did have to my cousins who had way less than we had.  Clothing, furniture, and toys.  She gave away my Mickey Mouse Farris Wheel.  If you price those today on antique toy sites, they go extremely high prices.  But that’s not really why I wrote.  Both my sister and I have had, over the years, very hard times giving away or getting rid of…

  • 29 Day Organizing Challenge Coming Soon!

    Laura
    24 Jan 2012 | 10:28 pm
    For those that aren’t following me on Facebook, you might have missed my exciting announcement about my upcoming 29 Day Organizing Challenge taking place in February!!  It’s going to be awesome and I’m super excited about all the awesome sponsors that are coming on board to provide AMAZING prizes for the winners (to be announced soon!).  Time to start thinking about which room you’d like to work on.  More in depth details can be found on the Challenge tab at the top of my site.  Check it out!! You don’t want to miss this!! 29 Day Organizing Challenge Coming…

  • Vinyl Fridge Menu Planner On Sale Now!

    Laura
    24 Jan 2012 | 12:48 pm
    Last year I did a giveaway for an awesome fridge menu planner made out of vinyl.  It was really popular and I knew that I had to find a way to bring it into my shop.  I’m so excited to tell you that today is the day!!  You put the planner on your fridge and use a dry-erase marker to write your menu right on your fridge.  It’s available in two sizes for you: Small Vinyl Menu Planner (12″ x 17″) Large Vinyl Menu Planner ( 24″ x 35″) There are only a limited number of quantities available so don’t wait if you are interested.  To check it out please…

  • Menu Plan Monday ~ Jan 23/12 – menu planning with picky eaters

    Laura
    23 Jan 2012 | 8:00 am
    Happy Monday everyone!  Glad to see you are back for another organized week!  I’m so sorry if you are experiencing errors when you visit on Mondays.  Sometimes with everyone trying to get on the site at once it acts up.  I’m going to be upgrading servers as soon as I figure it all out.  Thanks for your patience! If you are looking for a yummy dessert sometime soon, I highly recommend this Cinnamon Roll Cake.  I made it for church potluck yesterday and it was so good! Another recipe I tried last week was this one for Classic Orange Julius, I couldn’t resist.  Go check…
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    Organize to Revitalize!

  • Fact Friday: Regular Vacations Keep Your Heart Healthy

    Deb Lee, Certified Professional Organizer®
    27 Jan 2012 | 5:00 am
    “Annual vacations cut the risk of heart attacks in men by 30 percent and by 50 percent in women. Leisure and rest build resiliency and it’s much easier to keep a person well, with less medication, than it is to improve a depressive state.”   Read More: America Avoids Vacation | HuffingtonPost.com | 7.26.11 Get More Information                

  • 4 Areas of Your Life to Organize in 2012

    Sarah Heckle
    26 Jan 2012 | 6:00 am
    A new year means a new chance to get organized. But when you resolve to get “organized,” what does that really mean and where should you get started? Here are four simple areas of your life to organize for the new year: 1. Get your home in order: The beginning of the year is my favorite time of year to do a big house-wide cleaning. It’s much easier to maintain an organized space when you start with a clean slate  – and what time of year is better to get everything in order? If the holidays brought a whole influx of new items into your home, I suggest getting rid of one…

  • Quick Tip: 2 Great Ways to Get Meal Time Back on Track

    Deb Lee, Certified Professional Organizer®
    24 Jan 2012 | 9:00 am
    I’m taking a sabbatical and have lined up a few posts ahead of time, like this one about getting control of meal times. What are some of your favorite tips for staying on top of things? Many of us struggle with food…what we eat and how much…and sometimes, what to cook (for those of you who are fond of spending time in the kitchen). While decluttering is very much like dieting, today I’m focusing on ways you can get a better handle on meal planning.   It might take a bit of time in the beginning, but once you get in the swing of things, you’ll be happy you spent…

  • Fact Friday: Americans Find it Difficult to Unplug at Home

    Deb Lee, Certified Professional Organizer®
    20 Jan 2012 | 5:00 am
    “83 percent of American adults own some kind of cell phone and…a lot of people find it difficult to switch off once they’re at home.”   Read More: Being Fully Present: How to Avoid the Technology and Work/Life Clash | TheGlassHammer.com | 8.23.11     Get More Information                

  • How Parents Can Help Their Children Regroup After a Less Than Stellar First Semester

    Deb Lee, Certified Professional Organizer®
    19 Jan 2012 | 8:00 am
    I’m on a mini-sabbatical and will be re-sharing some of my fave OTR articles and re-introducing you to some favorite OTR guest authors, like Helene Segura. She has advice for parents on how they can help their children tackle educational challenges. It’s a tough job for parents to walk that line between being a non-participant in their child’s education and being overzealous. The latter calls teachers at all hours of the day and night to ask why their child only made an eighty-nine on a homework assignment that they stayed up all night completing for their child. The former waits until…
 
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    Simple Home Organization

  • Turn Your Swiffer Sweeper into a Wet Mop With Socks

    Melinda
    12 Jan 2012 | 9:06 am
    There seems to be no limit to what you can do with old socks. My good friend Karen came up with a way to use them with the Swiffer. As a pet owner, I love the Swiffer for keeping the hard floors clean. If you aren’t aware, you can also use it as a wet mop. A greener option to the wet pads is using socks. Take 2 worn out white socks and turn them inside-out. Run them under hot water with a few drops of dish soap and wring it out. Stretch one over each end of a standard Swiffer sweeper. Make sure the rougher side is the part you will be using on the floor. This cleans the floor better…

  • 5 Ways Disorganized Paperwork is Costing You Money and Time

    Melinda
    5 Jan 2012 | 8:15 am
    Trying to hunt down a document you need in a sea of unorganized piles of paper is a frustrating experience. Whether it is the power bill that is due today, five years of mortgage statements for a refinance, or just the warranty for your lawn mower that broke, disorganization can lead to more than stress. It’s costing you real money and time because you may be: Replacing your appliances and electronics that are still under warranty because the booklet/receipt is lost. Losing tax deductions because of lost receipts and paperwork. Racking up late fees due to misplaced bills. Missing…

  • 5 Handy Tricks in the Kitchen

    Melinda
    17 Oct 2011 | 12:18 pm
    Measuring Messy Ingredients One of my favorite kitchen tools, an adjustable measuring cup, makes accurately adding sticky ingredients such as honey, mayo, peanut butter, and sour cream a breeze. Simply slide the 2 pieces apart to adjust it to the measurement you want and fill. Hold over the bowl and push to release the contents. A swipe of a spatula to finish and no more scraping to get the contents out. The two pieces separate for quick cleaning. Getting tomato paste out of the can Getting tomato paste, refried beans, and other thick canned goods out of the container is sticky business.

  • 15 Things to Do to Make the Most of Your Space

    Guest Post
    6 Sep 2011 | 9:58 am
    One of the biggest problems that home owners face is not utilizing space properly. From overfilled rooms to cluttered corners, spaces seem to become smaller every single day. If you fall into this category, chances are that you aren’t making the most of the space in your home. The following tips will be beneficial in helping you take back your space. Get rid of stuff you do not need. To make the most of your space, this step is a MUST. You have to go through all the “stuff” you have and get rid of things that you don’t need. If you haven’t used it recently, or do not particularly…

  • Blissmo | Way To Try Eco-Friendly Products

    Melinda
    29 Aug 2011 | 10:46 am
    Recently I’ve been trying out new eco-friendly products through a company called Blissmo. At a 50% to 70% savings, you can try organic & sustainable alternatives to conventional products. There are two purchase options: A monthly subscription where you select one from a few choices of boxes each month. The boxes don’t list the exact contents but are focused around a specific theme such as Fun in the Sun (water bottle, sunscreen, etc.) By purchasing the daily special. I’ve ordered both ways, and was very happy with the products I received. Learn About Blissmo Blissmo was…
 
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    Adams Organizing

  • Lessons from the film Obe and Ashima: ‘…it’s about failing 99% of the time…’

    Elise Photini Adams
    26 Jan 2012 | 6:04 am
    This week I was blessed to attend the Banff Film Festival World Tour right here in my home town.  The college auditorium was packed, with kids sitting in the isles as the skiing and outdoors themed filmes began.  About halfway through the second half, however, a documentary title Obe and Ashima stunned the whole crown into silence.  And I'm sure many of these sarcastic and brash college students couldn't keep the tears back any better than I did. The trailer for the film can be found —> HERE <—- 'Rock climbing is about failing 99% of the…
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    The Clutter Diet Blog

  • Clutter Video Tip: How to Start Getting Organized, Part 1

    Lorie Marrero
    25 Jan 2012 | 12:33 pm
    Three is a magic number, yes it is! The past and the present and the future. Faith and Hope and Charity, Centralizing, Outside-In and Circular. Give you three as a magic number. Wait, what was that? Centralizing, Outside-In and Circular? Oh yeah, those are the three sorting methods you can use right away to get started on your organizing project. In this video I am answering the age old question "where do I begin?" Following any of these strategies will help you not only gain focus, but also stay focused on your project. Just remember there are three approaches to sorting... No…

  • Holiday Gift Hangovers: How to Remember to Return Gifts and Use Gift Cards

    Lorie Marrero
    19 Jan 2012 | 1:32 pm
    Did Santa get it wrong? Did the gift cards you got last year already expire or get lost? I explain how to make sure your gift cards get used and your less-than-perfect gifts get returned before they end up assimilating into your house as clutter! When I was a little girl, I remember so clearly this enticing present under the tree, wrapped like a long piece of candy. I couldn't wait to open it! And it was… a toy MOP. Whoopee. Definitely the most disappointing present ever. Unwanted gifts like these can become clutter, and as professional organizers, we often talk people into parting with…

  • Clutter Video Tip: How to Find Your Car Keys

    Lorie Marrero
    18 Jan 2012 | 1:50 pm
    If true confession is good for the soul, then let me lay my soul bare and admit that I have a real, daily organizational problem! But wait, before I get too keyed up, I have to reveal my dirty little secret. In this video I am revealing why I have been misplacing my keys like crazy. Fortunately I have found a solution. Using this strategy has helped me maintain some sanity and has made getting from "A" to "B" much "E"-"C"-er. ;) (Click here to watch on YouTube if you can't see the embedded player. Or watch the video at http://bit.ly/TCDFind.) PLEASE…

  • Clutter Video Tip: Organizing Holiday Decorations, Part 2

    Lorie Marrero
    11 Jan 2012 | 11:54 am
    Decking the halls with boughs of holly will certainly leave you feeling jolly. But taking down the tree, the stockings, and the lights is such a chore that it can feel fa-la-la la-la la-la-lame. Decorating and undecorating for the holidays is a big time investment; so, it's important to use that time as effectively and efficiently as possible. In this video I am undecking my halls and giving you some strategies to use while you troll the ancient Yule tide carol. Follow us in merry measure and we'll show you how to ease your stress level and save you precious time. (Click here to watch on…

  • How Organizing Your Home Saves You Money

    Lorie Marrero
    10 Jan 2012 | 5:00 pm
    Visions of sugarplums were just dancing in your heads, but if those visions become nightmares about the post-holiday bills coming in the mail, getting organized provides many valuable and smart opportunities to give yourself a raise in the New Year. Cha-ching!  Who couldn't use a raise? Click here to read about six Cha-chings on the Good Housekeeping Home Style Blog.    Follow me on Twitter for my Daily #ClutterTweetTip, "Like" us on Facebook, and see our weekly #ClutterVideoTip on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/clutterdiet
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    Top of the Pile

  • Screw building an email marketing list.

    27 Jan 2012 | 7:15 pm
    That's right, I said it.  Again, today, I bumped up yet another brick wall, uh, I mean, landing page of: Watch the 2 minute video. "Count me in!" yellow button circled in red with big arrows "Free Special Report to make your life better!" with matching branded image Form to fill in name and email address It sucked. I wanted to find out more about this person and their company: how do they do business? what do they stand for?  I run up against what seems to be an ever present funnel for email list building. It's transparent that I don't get anything from them unless I'm in their list…

  • Sales Phone Calls - Please Be Direct Not Slimy

    23 Jan 2012 | 2:17 pm
    Clearly this month's theme is all about Marketing and Sales. I mean really, we're all back from the squishy, mooshy, eat-lots-of-food-networky December goodness, so how could my theme for January be anything other than Marketing and Sales. In the last two weeks, I've been talking (a lot) with clients and prospects about setting up sales scripts. One prospect recently asked: "I need to get my past clients to sign up for my new programs. How do I make calls to my past clients and tell them about what I'm doing since I've already reached out to them so much in the past?" BAckground: This gal is…

  • I vote for SHORT sales landing/squeeze webpages. Who's with me?

    23 Jan 2012 | 11:54 am
    Pithy. Piquant. Brief. Direct. To the point.  Is there anything wrong with getting to the point quickly? I'm busy, you're busy, we all have a billion things going on in our lives. We also have a whole pile of visual and audio items assaulting our senses. I believe that I have plenty of other compatriots in this wild world of small business with me* who'd appreciate a "get to it" attitude. So why then, in this "go-go" world are people still putting up these hugely long sales landing/squeeze webpages?  Yes, I understand every ad needs to have AIDA in it, and it's gonna take as long as…

  • [Video] Emulate not Copy sales systems

    12 Jan 2012 | 10:18 am
    Aloha folks, This morning I was thinking about how January is full of all kinds of new systems being launched in the world, vying for our attention, to help us get more sales and do our marketing better. I'm a big fan of trying new things! I love there are so many different ways to attract customers and I love learning about them all. What's important as I (and you) see these new systems and start to use them is that we imitate or emulate what we see instead of copying what we see. Yes, there are best practices in marketing and sales. And yes, if someone is doing the sales and marketing…

  • You gotta flaunt it before you can sell it!

    11 Jan 2012 | 9:54 am
    Happy New year all you crazy kids! Wanted to remind you that it's January (as if you missed that fact) and I'll be spending all my bloggy and Enchilada-y time focused on Marketing and Sales! While M&S are around every month of the year for a small business, it seems that there is some magic fairy dust that gets sprinkled on the midnight moon between December 31 and January 1. We all inhale that dust and presto change-o we have new inspiration, new verve and new ideas to make our businesses go and grow. So while you're all pumped up, it's my job to remind you about the basics and…
 
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    Organize for a Fresh Start

  • Organizing Daily Routines

    Sue West
    24 Jan 2012 | 9:40 am
    Ever feel like your day is out of control? This blog article is about organizing your days at home, with ideas for tools to help keep you on track and questions you’ll want to answer before buying or using the free tools. Questions to Answer before You Choose Your Product *Are you comfortable with software and apps, more so than paper? Are you often on your device? *What’s important to keep track of?; *Where do you think you get bogged down?; *Who else needs to see the calendar or to do’s (and what technology do they use if you think you’ll need to synchronize); *How…

  • The Rhythms of Our Days

    Sue West
    23 Jan 2012 | 6:12 am
    The rhythms of our days: Some days are rushed, even more than others. Some days it feels like you have a bit more time to do what needs doing. Still other days, it feels as if you can barely breathe, only finding slivers of time. This is about noticing the patterns or rhythms to our days. With that knowledge, we can figure out how to smooth out the rhythm a bit AND to let go of a too-high standard we set for ourselves sometimes. Think about: >Your typical Saturday: the activities, who is involved, the amount of time you have on your own, the time you work, the time you spend out of the…

  • So Much Change: So Little Time

    Sue West
    16 Jan 2012 | 2:14 pm
    You’ve been promoted. You’re engaged. You’ve been solo in your business and you’ve added a virtual assistant. You’re finally getting your knee replaced, something you’ve thought about for awhile. Congratulations! Why does it feel so stressful, when you asked for this change? It’s that stressful, butterflies-in-the-stomach, sometimes-can’t-breathe feeling, in between the times of pure joy at what lies ahead. But then there’s that stuff, that clutter that’s piled up on your desk. Or your time seems squeezed. Your home has more stuff out and around than usual. Where did that…

  • Fire Up Your Biz: Enrich Your Life!

    Sue West
    9 Jan 2012 | 1:45 pm
    Starts Next Week and I’m on board as a featured expert! Stephanie Calahan, coordinator of the telesummit and founder of Calahan Solutions, Inc. in Bloomington IL. has gathered 20+ internationally renowned business coaches and productivity experts, including me! “We are passionate about sharing our decades of wisdom to guide you in increasing your business success so that you can reclaim your health, wealth and happiness.” Stephanie LH Calahan So why is this so important for you? We’re living through a truly amazing time, and never before have so many people been called…

  • Bouncing Back with a Butterflies Box

    Sue West
    23 Dec 2011 | 2:41 pm
    Been a grouch or a grinch lately? How do you bounce back from a tough day, a difficult conversation, that feeling we get sometimes as people or business owners that it’s just so … hard, sometimes. Here’s one of my ways. My “butterflies box.” Each time I receive a compliment from  client, or a testimonial from a workshop host – anything positive – I print the comment, fold it up, and drop it in the box. Down day and I start unfolding and reading those messages.   Beautiful and graceful, varied and enchanting, small but approachable, butterflies…
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    Do Life Big

  • It’s always too soon to give up hope!

    Charlie
    26 Jan 2012 | 3:45 pm
    Posted in Uncategorized What happens when the big dreams, bright future and breakthroughs don’t happen? What about the times when the planning and effort feels like a bust? Though I’m convinced breakthroughs and impossible, God-sized goals are achieved every day. But what happens when they don’t? Mark Batterson, author of The Circle Maker challenged me with this verse. “Lord”, Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.” (John 11:21-22)…

  • Supercharge Your Growth

    Charlie
    11 Jan 2012 | 11:15 am
    Posted in UncategorizedPurposeful living requires work. It’s a slow growth discovery process that draws on prayer, solitude, planning, study, discipline, risk-taking and work ethic. There is no easy way to cultivate a life lived by design instead of by default. However, most people make it harder than it has to be. You can ignite your development, whether personal or professional, by simply drawing from something that is all around you: community. Too often, personal development happens in a vacuum. The aim is often noble; take personal time to sharpen self, right? However, we miss…

  • The Greatest ‘Great’

    Charlie
    3 Jan 2012 | 7:34 pm
    Posted in UncategorizedRegarding leadership and success, I recently heard someone say, “the greatest organizations have the greatest talent”. This sounds reasonable, doesn’t it? Find and employ the best. We spend tremendous time, money and energy to secure great things. In fact, many leaders become consumed by the pursuit of  ”the next great thing” and the proposition for quick fixes and immediate success. If I just had ___________, then my ministry/business/life/etc, would be perfect! Now, there is undoubtedly a correlation between success and what is…

  • Sun Stand Still

    Charlie
    27 Dec 2011 | 8:09 pm
    Posted in UncategorizedNormally, I wouldn’t write a long blog post pitching a book. However, when a book literally changes my life, it’s time to write a post. Yesterday, I wrapped up my 2011 reading list with Sun Stand Still by Steven Furtick. Furtick is the 31 year old pastor of Elevation Church in Charlotte, NC. Furtick’s tremendous faith, commitment to vision and sensitivity to God’s voice has helped grow this church to 9,000 members. For five consecutive years, Outreach Magazine has called it one of America’s fastest growing churches. So, how did this book…

  • Do Dreams Matter?

    Charlie
    14 Dec 2011 | 11:25 pm
    Posted in UncategorizedRecently, I was with some friends reading the Christmas story from Matthew 1-2. A friend observed how essential dreams are in the story. I listened closer; he was right, dreams are everywhere. In fact, because Mary, Joseph and the Wise men listened to their dreams, Jesus was safely born and spared from Herod’s infanticide. Dreams are an absolutely under-explored reality of life. They are products of the our most unfiltered state of thinking and I find it fascinating that God used them to speak to normal people, to deliver the most important message in history.
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    Discover Freedom Blog - Organize Your Home, Office, and Life

  • Partnering Can Help You Overcome Your Organizing Challenges

    Sue Becker
    20 Jan 2012 | 11:36 am
    It’s finally happened – the last traces of holiday candy, cookies, chocolate covered pretzels, kettle corn and other assorted holiday treats that have filled my home for the last month and a half have been consumed. At last I can continue my quest to eat more healthfully. Sure, I could have embraced healthy eating all along, but until all temptation disappeared from my sight, the lure of sugar always seemed to overtake my limited willpower. And it wouldn’t have been fair to the rest of my household to just throw out those tempting morsels. So what does this is have to do with…

  • Five Simple Tips for Getting Organized

    Sue Becker
    3 Jan 2012 | 5:00 am
    I don’t know how it always seems to happen so quickly, but here we are welcoming in yet another new year. I often ponder how life must really zip by quickly for people who are disorganized, since they are often running late, in a frenzy looking for misplaced things, or in a panic because they forgot to pay a bill or do some other important task. My wish for you this year is that you experience the peacefulness and joy that comes from being organized and in control. Here are five simple tips that will help you in this endeavor. 1. Look ahead. Choose a day each week (I’ve chosen Sunday) to…

  • Finish What You Start

    Sue Becker
    14 Dec 2011 | 10:14 am
    What do piles of opened mail, bags of stuff in the trunk of your car waiting to be returned to the store, and opened but unprocessed e-mails in your inbox all have in common? They are all things that have been started but not completed. Uncompleted tasks can weigh us down – rather than being able to cross something off our physical or mental to-do list, unfinished tasks nag at us and constantly reminds us there’s more work to do. They can also reduce our self-confidence by reminding us that once again we’ve failed to finish what we’ve started. Not only can unfinished tasks have a…

  • Get Ready for an Organized New Year

    Sue Becker
    1 Dec 2011 | 5:18 am
    It seems that everywhere you look there are signs that the holidays will soon be upon us. And while we enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of this special time, we know that seemingly all too soon, another year is coming to an end. Here are some ideas to help you end the year in an organized way, and get the New Year off to a great start.  Organize your decorations. Consider letting go of holiday decorations you didn’t use this year. You might want to donate them to a senior home or to someone in a new home who doesn’t yet have their own decorations (e.g., a recent college graduate).

  • Lots of Choices Don’t Always Make Us Happier

    Sue Becker
    17 Nov 2011 | 5:01 am
    We’ve all heard the phrase “less is more” (in fact I’ve written about this concept previously), but how many of us actually practice that philosophy? It sure seems as though the world (or at least the United States) is going in the opposite direction – we’ve got supersized grocery stores with dozens of choices for each food category; enormous home-improvement stores with aisle after aisle of products; hundreds of television stations from which to choose; the list goes on and on. But do all these choices improve our quality of life? The May 2011 issue of Real…
 
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