Organizing

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  • How to Save At Least 2 Hours a Day By Automating Your Business

    Productive & Organized
    Stephanie LH Calahan aka @StephCalahan
    11 Apr 2012 | 5:26 am
    I was talking with a small business owner earlier this week and sharing a bit about what I do.  He instantly told me that he could use our services, but did not have time to put anything new in place.  He shared that he feels overwhelmed performing daily tasks and he does not have time to engage his prospects or maintain a strong connection with his current customers or even assign tasks to his staff. Does that sound familiar?At the end of the day, do you have ample time to spend with your family or give back to the community? The truth is, most small businesses are stressed and…

  • Taking a Blogging Break This Week

    Organize With Sandy
    Sandy
    14 May 2012 | 6:53 am
    Family Comes First My Dad is going to have open heart surgery tomorrow, so this week will be just a bit hectic for me.  Trying to keep up with my job while at the hospital is all I’m going to attempt and that will be hard enough. Dad is 82 years old and has never had heart problems, that we knew of.  But shortness of breath recently made him talk to his Doctor. What we thought was going to be a consult with a cardiologist last Friday ended up being a series of test done immediately. The cardiac cath showed calcification in his heart and 3 blockages. One was 99.9% blocked, another 85%…

  • Triple the Results You Get from Live Conferences and Events

    Productive & Organized
    Stephanie LH Calahan aka @StephCalahan
    16 May 2012 | 7:04 am
    Live conferences are a fantastic way to gain actionable knowledge for your business, rekindle former relationships and make new relationships.  They also represent a significant investment in time and money. Yet, many people don't take advantage of the investment like they could. Today I'm going to share my secret tips for how you can triple your results from attending live conferences and events. Before I go into my tips, I want to come clean a bit.  You see, while I really love getting up on stage and sharing my message, I get really uncomfortable off of the stage.

  • NAPOnatl: I just uploaded "Untitled" on Vimeo: http://t.co/gtk1DauD

    Twitter / NAPOnatl
    16 May 2012 | 1:37 am
    NAPOnatl: I just uploaded "Untitled" on Vimeo: http://t.co/gtk1DauD

  • 3 Clever Uses For Everyday Items

    Your Life. Organized.
    MonicaRicci
    10 May 2012 | 10:43 am
    When I was growing up I looooooved reading the newspaper column Hints From Heloise. (Yeah okay go ahead and giggle that as a kid I was an unwitting "organizer in training") It's true though. I loved learning about clever ways to make housekeeping and organizing easier, so Heloise was my childhood hero! Along with Dear Abby of course. Today I'll share with you three clever uses for items you probably already have around your house. A clever use for... A Lemon: Halve a lemon and grab the salt shaker. Make a paste of lemon juice and salt and wipe down your copper cookware for a like-new shine.
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    Organize With Sandy

  • Taking a Blogging Break This Week

    Sandy
    14 May 2012 | 6:53 am
    Family Comes First My Dad is going to have open heart surgery tomorrow, so this week will be just a bit hectic for me.  Trying to keep up with my job while at the hospital is all I’m going to attempt and that will be hard enough. Dad is 82 years old and has never had heart problems, that we knew of.  But shortness of breath recently made him talk to his Doctor. What we thought was going to be a consult with a cardiologist last Friday ended up being a series of test done immediately. The cardiac cath showed calcification in his heart and 3 blockages. One was 99.9% blocked, another 85%…

  • Columbus, Ohio Adventures

    Sandy
    11 May 2012 | 6:00 am
    Roar and Explore Three Day Family Package! I first posted this on my Explore Ohio with Sandy blog last July.  But I did look and it appears that you can purchase the Roar and Explore package again this year. My family had an awesome vacation in Ohio and just outside of Ohio this year.  We started off with the canopy tour, headed down to KY to tour Mammoth Caves and then came back for a three day Columbus Adventure Package called Roar and Explore. Here is a Video Recap of Our Three Day Adventure Day One The Zoo We planned our three days according to the weather forecast.  The first day was…

  • Just Do It!

    Sandy
    9 May 2012 | 7:14 am
    How Many Times Do You Hear That? I tell myself that all the time.  Do you wonder why we don’t always do the things we should?  It’s almost like we make ourselves our own enemy. My struggle right now is with weight.  I like to eat, I love sugar.  Do I know it is bad for me? Yup!  Do I feel like crap at my heaviest weight? Yup! Do I WANT to be thinner?  Yup! So it should be simple, right? Just stop eating the crap, exercise and JUST DO IT! I actually am beginning tomorrow with a trainer once a week. I need someone to make me accountable, someone to push me, someone who I have…

  • Help #ChrisMann Win #TheVoice

    Sandy
    7 May 2012 | 7:46 am
    Watch & VOTE for @IamChrisMann tonight! #MannFans It is SO cool that Chris made it to the final four of The Voice! I know he is good enough to win, but the other three people who are singing are also really good.  He will need all our votes tonight! Hey look what Chris sent me! Chris Mann thanks Sandy & Organize w Sandy community for Voting on THE VOICE from Chris Mann Music on Vimeo.   Yes and I know I just totally hashtagged out my title – but I want as much twitter exposure as I can get for him! I love this video – Chris had it on his newsletter this morning and I…

  • Organizing & DIY Monday Link Party – Week 18

    Sandy
    7 May 2012 | 6:00 am
    Springtime Can be Busy Time!   How is the spring finding you? Busy? Anyone graduating soon? Weddings to plan? Vacations to go on? It seems like so much starts happening this time of year. We have one graduating this year and have vacation coming up in just a few weeks. It is amazing how time is flying by! Thanks for linking up to my blog last week! I have three bloggers that I am featuring because I loved what they linked up. Julie from Redhead Can Decorate did an entire kitchen make over. It looks awesome. I’m going to go back and look around her blog some more, her premis is that…
 
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    Productive & Organized

  • Triple the Results You Get from Live Conferences and Events

    Stephanie LH Calahan aka @StephCalahan
    16 May 2012 | 7:04 am
    Live conferences are a fantastic way to gain actionable knowledge for your business, rekindle former relationships and make new relationships.  They also represent a significant investment in time and money. Yet, many people don't take advantage of the investment like they could. Today I'm going to share my secret tips for how you can triple your results from attending live conferences and events. Before I go into my tips, I want to come clean a bit.  You see, while I really love getting up on stage and sharing my message, I get really uncomfortable off of the stage.

  • You are Invited: 3 Keys to Consistent Follow-Up=>Getting MORE out of LESS

    Stephanie LH Calahan aka @StephCalahan
    11 May 2012 | 7:30 am
    Over the last year, I have talked a lot about taking action and having good follow-up systems in your business.  The freedom and the dollars are in the follow-up!  The crazy thing is, most businesses have no or limited follow-up systems in their business.  I talk to business owners every day that are leaving money on the table and working way more hours than they would like to.  It's my mission to help you turn that around. To that end, I've been more actively searching out opportunities for you to learn and take action to get the right systems into your…

  • Did You Know Paper and Other Things in Your Office Hold Emotion?

    Stephanie LH Calahan aka @StephCalahan
    13 Apr 2012 | 6:13 am
    OK, you may be thinking that I've lost my mind in telling you that paper holds emotion.  Maybe I have!  However, I also know that when I'm working with my clients, letting go is extremely hard for most.  So why is it so hard?  There is emotion to it! As you are looking to simplify and move your business to the next level, be prepared to face a sense of loss as you let go of certain possessions. The sense of relief you feel afterwards will compensate for the feeling of loss. Today, I'll share some techniques that have worked with my clients when in the…

  • How to Save At Least 2 Hours a Day By Automating Your Business

    Stephanie LH Calahan aka @StephCalahan
    11 Apr 2012 | 5:26 am
    I was talking with a small business owner earlier this week and sharing a bit about what I do.  He instantly told me that he could use our services, but did not have time to put anything new in place.  He shared that he feels overwhelmed performing daily tasks and he does not have time to engage his prospects or maintain a strong connection with his current customers or even assign tasks to his staff. Does that sound familiar?At the end of the day, do you have ample time to spend with your family or give back to the community? The truth is, most small businesses are stressed and…

  • 12 Ideas for the Best To Do Lists and How to Get Things Done

    Stephanie LH Calahan aka @StephCalahan
    23 Mar 2012 | 7:33 am
      One of the questions that I frequently get when I work with clients is "What is the best way to ensure that I get things done? What type of to do list should I use?"   And I often answer: "It depends!" You see, managing your tasks is a personal thing.  There are many fantastic systems out there for managing tasks.  The best tool is one that you will actually use and trust.  Often, people fail with their to do system because they simply don't trust that it will work for them. So, to get you started, I asked my expert panel: What is your…
 
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    Your Life. Organized.

  • 3 Clever Uses For Everyday Items

    MonicaRicci
    10 May 2012 | 10:43 am
    When I was growing up I looooooved reading the newspaper column Hints From Heloise. (Yeah okay go ahead and giggle that as a kid I was an unwitting "organizer in training") It's true though. I loved learning about clever ways to make housekeeping and organizing easier, so Heloise was my childhood hero! Along with Dear Abby of course. Today I'll share with you three clever uses for items you probably already have around your house. A clever use for... A Lemon: Halve a lemon and grab the salt shaker. Make a paste of lemon juice and salt and wipe down your copper cookware for a like-new shine.

  • Quote: Who Are You Accountable To?

    MonicaRicci
    7 May 2012 | 7:03 am
    "The first person you are accountable to is yourself. It's imperative that you know what your key values are, because they set the standards for how you will do business." Marilyn StrongAuthor of Getting Paid To Pay Attention PS: Follow me on Twitter and Facebook and if you like this information, share it by clicking the social bookmarking links above and below the post. Thanks for sharing!

  • Will You or Won't You?

    MonicaRicci
    3 May 2012 | 3:10 pm
    What's simple to create, easy to store and vitally important, yet millions of Americans don't have it? Stumped? The answer is...a will. I am not an attorney, nor do I play one on television so before you take my word on anything you're about to read, double check with YOUR attorney. You do have one, don't you? It's estimated that 50 to 75 percent of Americans haven't prepared a will and if that's not shocking enough, even fewer have bothered to prepare durable and medical powers of attorney or healthcare directives. These documents are so important and a family medical emergency is stressful…

  • Quote: Dreams & Action

    MonicaRicci
    30 Apr 2012 | 7:17 am
    "Life is too short to waste. Dreams are fulfilled only through action, not through endless planning to take action." David J. SchwartzTrainer and Author PS: Follow me on Twitter and Facebook and if you like this information, share it by clicking the social bookmarking links above and below the post. Thanks for sharing!

  • Quote: Doing For Others

    MonicaRicci
    23 Apr 2012 | 6:49 am
    "What we have done for ourselves alone, dies with us; what we have done for others and the world, remains and is immortal." Albert Pike1809-1891, Teacher and Writer PS: Follow me on Twitter and Facebook and if you like this information, share it by clicking the social bookmarking links above and below the post. Thanks for sharing!
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    Creative Organizing

  • Add a Little Happy to Your Workspace

    Aby
    15 May 2012 | 3:47 pm
    This time of year, the sunny weather outside can make it harder to stay inside and get your work done. (Are you noticing this, too?) When the weather starts to tug you away from your desk, it’s more important than ever to have a “happy” workspace – a place where you enjoy spending time! Here are three simple ideas to infuse your space with a little bit of happy—to make it a brighter, more pleasant place to be.  Declutter. One of the simplest, fastest and least expensive ways to freshen up any space (and boost your feelings about it) is to clear out some clutter. Let go of tools and…

  • Get Organized for the Summer: Establishing a Cleaning Routine

    Aby
    14 May 2012 | 9:55 am
    Hello my friends. Sorry for the unannounced blogging break last week! It was a crazy-busy week as we wind down the school year and gear up for summer. Add an anniversary, Mothers Day, and a busy client schedule into the mix…and well, the blog was last week’s casualty. But I’m back and ready to answer more of your summer organizing questions! Today’s question is from Jessica who asked about establishing a summer cleaning routine. Here is Jessica’s question: What are ways you keep a house where everyone is home all the time? Clean one time each day? Clean as you go? Same with dishes,…

  • Balance Summer Fun and Keep Your House in Shape

    Aby
    4 May 2012 | 7:46 pm
    The following post is a sample of my weekly Quick Tip email. Since it goes along with getting organized for the summer, I wanted to include it as part of the Get Organized for the Summer blog series. By the way, if you don't yet subscribe to my Quick Tip, you can sign up here. In our house, summer is just around the corner — there are only 9 school days left! (But who’s counting, right?) While summer is a fun and carefree time of year, it can also mean the end of the routines. This makes it easy for clutter to start creeping back in. If you’re like me, you don’t want your house to…

  • Get Organized for the Summer: Reader Q + A

    Aby
    3 May 2012 | 5:22 pm
    Alright…it’s the moment you’ve all been waiting for! Its time for some reader Q + A posts about getting organized for the summer. This first batch of questions is related to finding balance in the summer, such as how to fit projects in around camps and vacations, and how to organize and prioritize your time to be more productive during the summer…when all you really feel like doing is laying on the beach.  Here is Yvette’s question: My son attends day camp for about 4 weeks of the summer; we do a family trip for about 3 weeks of the summer. My question is, I'd love to get some…

  • Get Organized for the Summer: create a summer fun list (a.k.a. summer bucket list)

    Aby
    1 May 2012 | 9:34 pm
    This is the fourth post in our series on getting organized for the summer. Click here to read the first, second, and third posts.  Now that you have a vision for your summer and you’ve planned out the scheduled events, it’s time to add some fun into the mix. (Woohoo!) Perhaps you’ve seen “summer bucket lists” around the web or Pinterest. I love this idea—creating a list of fun things to do over the summer. For my own list, I wanted to come up with a list of things we could do…but not turn it into a checklist of things we must do. (I like pressure-free fun lists.) One weekend…
 
 
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    DOROTHYtheORGANIZER

  • Organizing & Storing Seasonal Clothes

    Dorothy The Organizer
    23 Apr 2012 | 2:16 pm
    Storing clothes when the seasons change is the perfect time to purge and organize your closet, and you asked for some tips to help you.  It may sound like a simple enough task, but there are some important things to know about optimum storage, and how to avoid moths, mildew, setting stains and discoloration. Purge & Organize Your Closet As the season changes we usually have a pretty good idea of the items in our closet that we just haven’t worn in the previous months, now is a good time to pull them from your closet.  If you didn’t wear them this winter/summer you won’t wear them…

  • How Can I Get My Child, Husband, Home Office More Organized?

    Dorothy The Organizer
    13 Apr 2012 | 1:05 pm
    How can I get my children to be more organized? And what are some of the signs of hoarding in children? How can I get my spouse to follow through and clean up after completing a chore? How can I make my home office functional instead of a “clutter-catch-all?” These are some of the Facebook questions you asked. Let’s face it, Moms are the CEO of their homes; they are expected to run the household with precision and are replied upon to create and organize “systems” to accomplish that. But what if your husband and your children have different ideas about what organized looks like and…

  • Organizing Your Food: Sugar, Addiction & Weight Loss

    Dorothy The Organizer
    4 Apr 2012 | 1:43 pm
    So many of you shared comments about sugar, weight loss and how you organize your food intake for a healthy diet, that I thought I would share some of my food / weight loss organizing tips.  And do a little research on the subject of sugar; the good, the bad and the ugly. Can sugar / food be addictive?  Research from The National Center for Biotechnology Information says that “Food addiction” is plausible; especially sugar or foods that contain high levels of sugar because they affect our brains – namely our opoid and dopamine receptors. (Components of addiction are analyzed…

  • Recycle Monitors: EcoSquid Options for Selling Computers & Recycling Computers & E-Waste

    Dorothy The Organizer
    25 Mar 2012 | 3:56 pm
    EcoSquid is a web platform that helps you find the best options to sell or recycle your old electronics.Think of them as the http://www.Kayak.com for electronics reselling and recycling.  Today, I received a question on the DorothyTheOrganizer Facebook page from our very thoughtful FB friend, Sarah Perrin, and I thought I would share the answer with all of you. Electronic waste is a growing problem—one that most of us are committed to solving. After lots of research, EcoSquid found that most consumers do not resell or recycle their old electronics because they just don’t know about…

  • DorothyTheOrganizer 9 Day Spring Cleaning Event

    Dorothy The Organizer
    23 Mar 2012 | 3:32 pm
    Spring cleaning… what’s your motivation? Here are some tips to help you decide what YOU need or want to achieve! Are you Spring Cleaning to shake out and wash off the winter dulls, do you have company coming to your house for the Easter or Passover Holiday, or are you aiming to get into a new routine to stay better organized and less stressed? The best way to determine anything is to write down your goal, so grab a notebook and start writing.  Once you’ve determined your objective, you can decide how much time you want to spend, how often, and what’s most important for…
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    Buttoned Up

  • 16 May 2012 | 5:00 am

    Sarah
    16 May 2012 | 5:00 am
    TweetKids bring home all sorts of junk at the end of the school year! Why not have them start now with books they are finished with, uniforms that they are no longer wearing, and any artwork they may have in their lockers!

  • Emotional clutter: 6 signs it’s time to come clean

    Sarah
    15 May 2012 | 6:05 am
    TweetAre you guilty of falling short of a true spring clean? The tendency this time of year is to focus on physical clutter, but the kind you can’t see – emotional clutter – is just as important to tackle. By emotional clutter we simply mean all those repressed, suppressed and unexpressed emotions and old beliefs that are keeping you stuck, rooted in a spot that probably no longer represents who you are or what you are capable of. Emotional clutter acts like an invisible set of horse blinders that keep you from seeing beyond what is right in front of you. They blind you to potential…

  • 15 May 2012 | 5:00 am

    Sarah
    15 May 2012 | 5:00 am
    TweetIf you send your kids off to Summer Camp, start now to investigate the one you want to send them to and set it up now!

  • 14 May 2012 | 5:00 am

    Sarah
    14 May 2012 | 5:00 am
    TweetYIKES! End of school will be here in no time! Get organized by starting now to discuss Summer activities, budgets, family vacations so you know what your kid’s interests are (Baseball, Hockey, Volley Ball all had Spring sign ups!)

  • Do You Organize Like Your Mother?

    Sarah
    13 May 2012 | 7:40 am
    TweetChances are you think there’s a “right” way to organize something. But who defined the “right way” in the first place? Listen and discover what habits of your mother’s you may be subconsciously repeating, why we have it easier…and harder…than our moms did when it comes staying organized, and what you should be doing for all mothers on Mother’s Day! Today, Sarah and Alicia honor Mother’s Day by taking a look into the source of so many of our organizational habits (and quirks): our moms. Listen in as we discuss the complexity of organization for mothers today…
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    Organized for Life

  • Surround Yourself With Encouragers

    Martha
    8 May 2012 | 8:18 pm
    A week ago I was in Baltimore, MD, surrounded by 800+ of my fellow organizers at the 2012 NAPO* Conference. Yes, I did have a seafood dinner while there. We gathered for advanced training and encouragement from experts in our field, to greet old friends, and to take care of Association business. The camaraderie was great and I met some amazing people. I am constantly surprised at Conference by the many unique businesses represented. Organizers specialize in relocation, business processes/ productivity, senior transitions, planning for student success, organizing for the disabled, coaching…

  • Out of Sight Organizing: Storing Stuff in the Dark!

    Martha
    29 Mar 2012 | 5:45 pm
    We want to be able to keep our stuff, have it accessible, and still have space to move around in our home or office. That calls for plenty of storage space. Storage defined is “The place we put our stuff while we aren’t using it.” New home buyers and organizers have this in common: we are on the lookout for multiple storage options in the houses we visit.  Some of those options are: Built-ins – shelves and cupboards attached to or inset in walls Storage rooms – laundry rooms or closets meant specifically for this purpose Dual purpose furnishings – hollow window seats and ottomans…

  • They Did It! Inspiration and Encouragement

    Martha
    27 Mar 2012 | 5:28 pm
    My passion is giving folks methods to de-clutter and simplify at home and at work so they can live a fuller, more meaning-filled life. Today I want to share with you how two readers have taken a bit of advice and run with it. I hope their stories inspire and encourage you as they have me! _____________________________________________________________ “Martha – I want you to know how much your suggestion to set a timer for 30 minutes has helped me.  I have more than 30 years of ‘stuff’ in my basement.  I’m now of an age that I’m beginning to consider moving to a condo or…

  • Are You Pinning Yet?

    Martha
    23 Mar 2012 | 3:38 pm
    Recently, my Virtual Assistant, Trisha, brought to my attention Pinterest.  For the last few weeks, I’ve been “pinning” like crazy.(Connect with me here)  Because I’m still in the learning process, I’ve asked Trisha to take over my blog post and introduce us to Pinterest.     Faster than Google+! More powerful than LinkedIn! Able to bypass YouTube in a single bound! Out in cyberspace, look! It’s Boards! It’s Pins ! It’s Pinterest!       If you haven’t heard of Pinterest, it’s the hottest addition to social media! Even though it’s still in the…

  • How to Organize: Assign Homes for Everything

    Martha
    22 Mar 2012 | 1:13 pm
    The tried-and-true method  we organizers use goes like this: Take everything out and sort by putting like things together Let go of stuff you don’t use or find beautiful, and move things you don’t use in this room to where they are used. Find homes for what is left. Let’s stop at step three and camp there today. People ask me, “Martha, how do I decide where to put things? What dictates the home I choose?” My answer is, “Think of the space you are organizing as a bull’s-eye with you at the center.” Stand or sit where you will perform one of your main tasks. Then ask yourself…
 
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    Room-inations

  • It's a Keeper!

    7 May 2012 | 5:49 am
    "Keep or go?", and I hold up the next item.  "Go" "Keep or go?", and I hold up the next item.  "Well....I used to like it...but it has a stain...Go!" "Keep or Go?", and I hold up the next item.  "KEEP!" The keepers.  The things that we dear. They hold a moment or a feeling. Warm and fuzzy.  And there is nothing wrong with that, unless you are so surrounded that you can't move forward, or you're filling rooms until they no longer function. But the keepers, if they truly are, require care to maintain them in the best condition.  Unfortunately, things often get put…

  • Top 5 Tips for Spring Cleaning and Clutter Clearing

    16 Apr 2012 | 7:26 pm
    I met my guest blogger, Shannon McGinnis, at the recent conference for the National Association of Professional Organizers.  Because even Professional Organizers need someone to keep us on track for achieving our goals, Shannon and I have become Accountability Partners for each other.  In the beginning, I wasn't sure to what to expect from this but I am excited to say I am much more productive knowing that someone is tracking me and cheering me on.  I heartily recommend this idea. Welcome to Room-inations, Shannon!       -Melanie Top 5 Tips for Spring Cleaning…

  • Hiding in Plain Sight: Bulletin Boards

    25 Feb 2012 | 6:27 am
    I was asked recently what I thought about someone adding a bulletin board in their mudroom for posting important notes about events.  Yeah, it's a good idea, BUT it will only work if you are committed to removing old events, and not adding photos, inspiration, souvenirs, birthday cards, or cartoons. What happens is, left unchecked these "bulletins" begin multiplying so that nothing is visible at all. You will no longer be able to see that the PTA Bake Sale is Friday when it become covered by the receipt from the carpet cleaner. And I've seen this happen in workplaces.

  • 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,…
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    Rubbermaid Adventures in Organization

  • Use Bento for Gifts

    Erin Gentry
    9 May 2012 | 12:17 pm
    Here at the office there have been a lot of babies being born and people getting married. A group of us was chatting during one of these celebrations and of course unique gifts became on of the topics of conversations. My co-worker Claire had the brilliant idea below using Bento: “I have been using Bento containers as a clever special occasion gift boxes. It would be perfect  for Mother’s Day, a wedding or baby shower, or even a house-warming gift! For a recent baby shower I gave a bath-themed gift. I purchased an XL Bento Container and put bath books, washcloths and lotions, a…

  • What do I do With Unwanted Gifts?

    Allison Carter
    7 May 2012 | 7:00 am
    Q: What do I do with gifts I don’t like but I don’t feel right getting rid of? Someone took the time and effort to get them for me, but I have no use for them. A: What you’re describing is a feeling of obligation. You don’t  have a sentimental attachment (happy or sad memory). It sounds like you just feel guilty because they were picked out for you. Imagine you gave someone a gift they didn’t really need or like. Would you want that person to keep it just because it was a gift from you? Or would you be ok with them passing it along to someone who could really…

  • How can I store my big pile of enviro bags?

    Janine Adams
    4 May 2012 | 7:58 am
    It’s a great idea to bring your own bags to the supermarket, but storing the bags can be challenging! I recently attended the annual conference of the National Association of Professional Organizers and one of the exhibitors was Tote Buddy. They make a folder (decorative or plain) that reusable grocery bags fit into. You use the handles of one of the bags to carry (or hang) the whole bundle. And the folder sits nicely in your shopping cart. Tote Buddy also sells pretty enviro bags, in case you want to replenish your supply. Janine Adams is a messy professional organizer who loves…

  • What is the best way to organize and store toys?

    Erin Gentry
    2 May 2012 | 12:55 pm
    Toys can take over every room in the house so finding the right solutions is key to keeping an organized home. Keep in mind that no matter what storage container you use, always, always, label! Here are a few things to consider: Group all similar toys together (e.g., all duplos together, all small legos together, all action figures together, all dolls together, etc). After sorting and deciding which toys will be kept (and which will be pitched or donated), pick the main locations the toys will live (e.g., child’s room, den, family room). Select a storage unit/container you like that will…

  • How do I optimize the space in my walk-in closet?

    Janine Adams
    30 Apr 2012 | 7:52 am
    When you’re thinking about organizing your closet, the very first thing to do is to go through your clothes and let go of any clothes you don’t love, that don’t fit, or that are stained or damaged. After you’ve pared your wardrobe down to the clothes you love and wear (and, I’d suggest, feel great in!), you can figure out what kind of storage you really need in your closet. Take a look at  your wardrobe and divide it into categories. You’ll want to look at the clothes that hang and separate the long items, like dresses, from the short items, like blouses…
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    GO MOM!

  • Tips for Moms to Manage May

    admin
    14 May 2012 | 8:00 am
    A Mother’s life is tethered to seasons and each one demands tips for Moms to manage their time. The seasons of the year, the seasons of her children’s lives, the seasons of friendship, marriage, and faith. First shared in May of 2010 I am just as busy and working hard to get it all done, just as excited about summer but full of mixed emotions as my children end another school year closing chapters while opening new ones yet to be read.  This simply proves the topic is timeless, the challenges the same ~ I hope you enjoy it! Things have been crazy lately and that’s what May…

  • Disney Channel Stars Celebrate Moms

    admin
    12 May 2012 | 7:00 am
    Let’s face it ~ it’s not often you hear teens share what their Moms mean to them, their family traditions, and how they will spend Mother’s Day on Sunday.  That’s why I am so happy to see the folks at Disney Channel lead the way, helping show their loyal viewers just what it means to “Celebrate Mom.” Take a look as Disney stars tell their stories about their Moms ~ fun and personal ~ its peer pressure and leadership at its finest! Tyler James Williamsand Coco Jones(“Let It Shine”), Debby Ryan (“Jessie”), Ross Lynchand Laura…

  • Thank You Disney Social Media Moms!

    admin
    11 May 2012 | 12:58 pm
    Today I want to deliver a virtual Thank You! I recently had the unbelievably awesome honor to attend the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration. Its third, and while I could not have imagined it getting any better than two I had been so blessed to attend before, I have been blinded by Pixie Dust for the better part of the last two weeks. I’ve been trying to frame up how to share with you all the goodness with a home organization and family time management eagle eye. There are photos and videos that I will gently be rolling out over the next few months because, yes, that’s how much…

  • Last Minute Mother’s Day Gifts

    admin
    10 May 2012 | 1:44 pm
    Today we are talking about last minute gift ideas for Mother’s Day. Its just a few days away but you’ve got plenty of time to make it memorable. So here are my tips to make it extra fabulous for a friend, a sister, your Mom or if you are helping someone else out to recognize a very special Mom in their life. 1. Technology Tune Up 2. Music to Her Ears 3. Summer Fun Bag 4. Certificate for a Mom’s Nite Out 5. Mom Makeover So no matter if you are a friend or sister, a Dad, brother or husband, these are my tips for last minute Mother’s Day gifts on the scramble. I’d…

  • Teacher Appreciation Week

    admin
    9 May 2012 | 8:19 am
    Today we are talking about Teacher Appreciation Week. This year it happens to fall on the week just before Mother’s Day. That can make it doubly stressful from a parent volunteer perspective because while you might be helping out on some Mother’s Day activities for the lower grades, you also are likely helping out on a school wide level for teacher luncheons, on a classroom level to navigating special things for your teacher, or perhaps just personally one on one making your gesture. Here are a few ideas to help that last minute gift idea come together in a snap! 1. Make it…
 
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    DECIDE to Be Organized

  • Upcoming Course: DECIDE™ to be Organized: Achieve Results at Home, at Work, and in Life

    Lisa
    14 May 2012 | 1:27 am
    Start your summer off by attending my upcoming course, DECIDE to be Organized: Achieve Results at Home, at Work and in Lifethrough Pace University’s Professional Development Program.  You’ll learn the skills and tips so that you can actually have some time to relax this summer! This event is open to the public, so come join me. Click here for details and to register. Too often seen as completely separate efforts, organizing and decision-making skills amplify the power of each other when properly combined. In this entertaining and engaging talk, I will share valuable tips on how to…

  • Get Ready for Kick-Butt Business Bootcamp!

    Lisa
    8 May 2012 | 1:17 am
    Are you Ready to… …kick your business into high gear? …create the business model you’ve been striving for? …stop working so hard and, instead, work smarter? …charge what you’re worth, and reach the levels of income you’ve dreamed of? If you answered YES, then you cannot miss this! Join me on June 13th at the Kick-Butt Business Bootcamp hosted by the NAPO-Baltimore Chapter in Baltimore, MD. This event will be open to all NAPO Members. I will also be offering 2-hour laser VIP Intensives the afternoon and evening of June 13th, and all day Thursday, June 14th, for…

  • Two Great Opportunities to DECIDE to get Organized as a Busy Professional Women

    Lisa
    30 Apr 2012 | 3:35 am
    Come join me and network with other professional women at these two upcoming events. They are held in two different areas so depending on where you live, you don’t have to miss out. On Tuesday, May 15, 2012,  I will be sharing tips on how to be an Organized Professional Woman with the Professional Women of Putnam County from 6-8:30. The single most important characteristic that separates organized people and organizations from disorganized people and organizations is decisiveness. Too often seen as completely separate efforts, organizing and decision-making skills amplify the power of…

  • The Intersection of Law & Business: Is it a Legal Issue or a Business Decision?

    Lisa
    27 Apr 2012 | 12:27 pm
    Click here to watch a short video on this topic.

  • Make Time for This! Effective Time Management

    Lisa
    26 Apr 2012 | 5:04 pm
    There’s still “Time” to sign up for my upcoming course, Make Time for This! Effective Time Managementthrough Pace University’s Professional Development Program. This event is open to the public, so come join me. Click here for details and to register. Time is one of our most precious resources. Yet we battle daily to make the best use of it. This workshop addresses how to get more done in less time with less stress by maximizing your productivity and setting priorities. Learn to pinpoint where you need to take control. Improve your comprehension and focus and more effectively…
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    QuietSpacing

  • 10 & 2 – The Rhythm of Productivity

    Paul H. Burton
    4 May 2012 | 11:59 am
    Anyone who’s spent more than ten minutes with me knows that fly fishing is one of my life-long passions.  It’s a product of my Montana upbringing.  Long before Robert Redford brought Norman Maclean’s beautiful novella A River Runs Through It to the big screen, I was standing in the dirt lane in front of my childhood home trying to master the art of fly casting. Finesse Versus Force What makes fly casting unique is that it’s the line that’s being cast, not the nearly weightless artificial fly tied to the end of it.  You see, the fly follows the line and the…
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    Elizabeth Hagen Inspires

  • Confidence Tip of the Day

    Elizabeth
    11 May 2012 | 10:00 am
    When you start to compare yourself with someone else try and catch yourself right away and tell your brain “STOP!” Then remind yourself of 3 things that you are grateful for and I promise you that the urge to compare will vanish!

  • Organization Tip of the Day

    Elizabeth
    9 May 2012 | 10:00 am
    Would you like to really, I mean really, have this be the year you are more productive and feel less stressed? It’s easier than you think. I feel that somewhere along the way we got the misconception that we’re not worthy unless we are doing a bunch of things at once and feeling stressed out and overwhelmed. It tires me just to read that sentence. The main reason I can get so much done during the day is that I first prioritize my work by what is the most important use of my time to what is the least. And then I start at the top of the list and focus on one thing at a time.

  • Confidence Tip of the Day

    Elizabeth
    7 May 2012 | 10:00 am
    One of my strengths is that I quickly decide when things aren’t working and try something new. This hasn’t always been easy but it has shaped my life. Do I always want to try something new? Of course not, there is comfort in staying the same but definitely not forward movement when something isn’t working. I’m all about moving forward! I feel that you can achieve all you desire in life if you are open to honestly looking at your life and making changes where needed.

  • Recalculate…recalculate

    Elizabeth
    3 May 2012 | 3:01 pm
    I love my GPS.  My kids gave it to me as a gift and it’s one of my favorites. In a my kids were making fun of me because they know how horribly directional illiterate I am, but I don’t care – I love her. I love her so much I gave her the name of GiniPoo.  I’m thinking of buying her a necklace. No matter how many times I take a wrong turn GiniPoo never gets angry. She just says in a very calm voice “Recalculate…recalculate”. And then tells me how to get back on track. She helps me see that it’s not the end of the world when I mess up. This is…

  • A perfect gift for Mother’s Day and Graduations

    Elizabeth
    2 May 2012 | 8:10 pm
    Micah's graduation - May, 2011   In June of 2011 I started writing my book Confidence: Now is Your Time and after a lot of work, joy, tears, and every other emotion my book is here. I can’t believe it! In Confidence: Now is Your Time I share thirty-one stories that offer dramatic lessons I’ve learned to help you start loving who you are and what you do right now.  Now is your time to discover the peace and beauty of taking responsibility for where you are and who you want to become. GIFT FOR YOU: You can read the first chapter as my gift to you.  Please go to…
 
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    Journey to a Simple Life

  • May Reading List

    simplify
    12 May 2012 | 11:11 pm
    I’m teaming up again with Jessica @ LifeAsMom to share what books I am reading this year. Here’s what I’ve been reading since my April update: Books I Finished This Month: Books I Finished This Year: What good books are you reading? To the simple life… New to Journey To A Simple Life? Start Here Subscribe via RSS Subscribe via email Share

  • Healthy Home Makeover – Organic Cotton Pajamas

    simplify
    6 May 2012 | 10:54 pm
    In my book review of The Healthy Home, I mentioned that I was going to start a Healthy Home Makeover based on the ideas suggested in the book to help you detoxify your home. As with just about anything I do, I always do better when I am held accountable to someone, and often that “someone” is you dear reader! So I invite you to tag along and join in for the Healthy Home Makeover! To start off my Healthy Home Makeover, I first made a list of everything I wanted to do from the book, both now and in the future.  If you remember from my review, it would be easy to get overwhelmed…

  • Book Review – The Healthy Home

    simplify
    6 May 2012 | 9:24 pm
    I was at a WBON meeting last month when one of my fellow colleagues started sharing how much she was loving a new book she was reading called The Healthy Home, and then she proceeded to tell us all that we were not supposed to sleep with our phones charging next to us on the nightstand. Uh oh… That’s exactly what I do.  So, I was intrigued and got the book for myself.  It was a great read and I am so glad I did! The Healthy Home is divided into areas of your house, and what I loved best was that there are simple, quick, easy and inexpensive things that you can do now that…

  • Book Review – Leaving Lancaster

    simplify
    3 May 2012 | 4:16 pm
    Leaving Lancaster is the story of Holly Fisher whose life is turned upside down when she learns that she has a large Amish family she has never known. Holly’s mother Esther kept her family a secret and lead Holly to believe that all of her family were no longer alive.  Then a letter arrives from Esther’s mother explaining her declining health. Esther doesn’t want to face her family again, but is left with no choice but to return and expose the lies she has told Holly for her entire life. When Holly and Esther return to Lancaster, life begins to unfold in ways that neither…

  • Book Review – Night With A Perfect Stranger

    simplify
    2 May 2012 | 3:50 pm
    Night With A Perfect Stranger is the story of Nick’s night with Jesus.  The story follows David Gregory’s two previous books which outline his and Nick and his wife Maggie’s meetings with Jesus. But, six year have passed, and while Maggie, continues to flourish spiritually, Nick is struggling. After a fight with his family, Nick leaves to drive back home, and runs out of gas.  There on the side of the highway, he meets Jesus with a gas can. The events of the evening unfold, culminating in one of the most touching pictures of God’s love for us, as Jesus takes Nick to…
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    Take Control Organizing » Blog

  • Ep 68: Transition from thinking to acting

    admin
    14 May 2012 | 10:00 am
    Don’t let yourself get stuck processing! You know it when it happens: you’re faced with a daunting project but just can’t get over the hump to start. So you sit. And sit. And think. And think. And with all that thinking, exactly nothing happens. This week on the show, Nikki Kinzer and Pete Wright talk about making the transition from thinking to acting and how to get your organizing projects off to a great start. Audio MP3Audio MP3 iTunes Audio RSS Audio You might also like:Ep 25: Be Smart with Your ResolutionsEp 42: Fall Organizing!Ep 46: Budgeting for the Holidays!Ep 41:…

  • Keep Organizing Simple!

    Nikki
    10 May 2012 | 10:00 am
    Keep Organizing Simple!   Words that I live by when I am working with clients! Organization is not about perfection or pretty labeled bins and baskets, it’s about function.. Finding what you need, when you need it. To stay organized…. Keep it simple! Here are a few suggestions on keeping your organizing systems simple and easy: 1)  Sort Regularly - The less you have the less you have to keep organized!  Get into a routine that makes sense to and that you will remember.  I recommend you do this at the beginning of every season, however there is no right or wrong time.  The…

  • Ep 67: Is ADHD an Excuse or an Explanation?

    admin
    7 May 2012 | 10:00 am
    You’re challenged by this set of behaviors that we call “ADHD”, but those behaviors don’t have to rule you and the life you’re trying to live. The real question is: are you letting it? This week on the show, Nikki Kinzer and Pete Wright talk about how not to let your behavior become an excuse for poor choice, but to take control of your ADHD and learn from it!   Audio MP3Audio MP3 iTunes Audio RSS Audio You might also like:Ep 58: Daily Scheduling and helping kids with ADHDEp 62: Setting BoundariesEp 60: Organizing Tips for the Living RoomEp 61: Closet Organizing…

  • Email Clutter – Name That File!

    Nikki
    3 May 2012 | 9:00 am
    Out of site…Out of mind! This is so true when it comes to email and file folders!  You think you may need it someday, so you file the email and then you never see it again!  Soon your email files are more cluttered than your inbox ever was! In our “Conquering Email Clutter” podcast we talked about the process in clearing your email backlog and how to start a new habit of processing your email immediately. Now that you have an up to date inbox we want to keep the important emails in file folders. To control email clutter we want the file folders to be simple and easy.  Not…

  • Ep 66: Taking Control of your Email Inbox

    admin
    30 Apr 2012 | 9:24 am
    You’re working hard to develop the systems that will allow you to live a confidently organized lifestyle. But what about that inbox that you can’t see? The one in the magic box on your desk? The email inbox is a source of great stress to many, as messages pile up and demands for attention scale out of control. This week on the show, Nikki Kinzer and Pete Wright discuss methods to tame your inbox, email bankruptcy, and how you can get control of your email without losing your sanity! Audio MP3Audio MP3 iTunes Audio RSS Audio You might also like:Ep 62: Setting BoundariesEp 51: Why…
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    elaine shannon

  • Real Women Making a Difference

    Elaine
    16 May 2012 | 12:51 pm
    How would you answer the question….  What do you make? This was the question asked by Eliza Fayle of Silver & Grace to an amazing  group of Fun, Sexy, Intelligent, Real Women. You can read all the amazing answers to that question in this Free Download *Spoiler alert…I shared my own answer about “What do I make?” I am sure it will inspire you to want to answer this question yourself….so please do share your one sentence version of… What do you make?

  • Preparing the Cottage for Summer Bliss

    Elaine
    10 May 2012 | 5:00 am
    Open up the sashes and get the Cottage ready for Summer! Some call it a camp, for others it is a cottage and if you are lucky enough it is the summer home. We are the third generation, to own our little piece of heaven; we call ours “The Cabin”. By today’s standards it would be a camp…three rooms, enough beds to sleep 6 and minimal stuff. It might not be much but it is our little piece of Heaven! To us it is Shangri-la! No matter what you call this home away from home, the seasonal ritual to open up the summer residence usually lands around the May long weekend and for as many years…

  • Countdown to an Amazing Garage Sale

    Elaine
    9 May 2012 | 6:00 am
    A garage sale can be a great way to recycle your unwanted items and make some cash just in time for summer vacation. The success of the sale depends on many factors and to make the time and effort of having a garage sale worthwhile you will want to follow some tried and true garage sale tips. Here is a countdown that you can use to elevate your Garage Sale from drive-by to a MUST SEE… The month before the sale; Make sure you have enough items. If you don`t have enough on your own then invite neighbours and friends to participate.Once you have determined that you have enough items set a…

  • Organizing and Decluttering Your Vehicle

    Elaine
    8 May 2012 | 6:00 am
    Recently we passed by a guy that had so much stuff on his dash that it looked like the top of someone’s messy desk. We all said at the same time “what was that” and laughed? A vehicle really is more than a means of local transportation.  • It is a taxi for busy children • It is a mobile office • It is a means of travel • It is a place to sleep! With all the warm weather last week we did the Semi Annual cleaning of the vehicle. Thinking that the car was pretty clean….not. The rotting food under the seats and fuzzy apple cores (we think) would make you think of a dumpster.

  • Go Easy on Me I am Still Growing

    Elaine
    25 Apr 2012 | 7:00 am
    Have you had one of those eye opening AHA moments lately One where you thought…well you though that you knew something but really you did not!  My girlfriend is very health conscious and can lose weight quite easily. I have a very organized way of being, and clearing out things that I no longer need comes easily for me. Here comes the aha… In the midst of our conversation we both realized that we could not make the other person BE more organized or more health conscious. What we did not need was another angle on how to make it easier for us…what we did need was support in a…
 
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    Raleigh Eco-Organizing

  • Stretching Space in the Kitchen

    Julie Seibert
    14 May 2012 | 1:43 pm
    Here are a few tips to help you get started if you don’t have a lot of kitchen space Chef’s pot rack can hold pots and pans Racks, hooks and shelves inside of cupboard doors or back of kitchen door Shelves on the walls Adjust shelving to eliminate wasted air space Move holiday, china, seldom used cooking gadgets (bread machine, etc.) to garage/basement

  • Losing Weight & Organization

    Julie Seibert
    10 May 2012 | 10:19 am
    1 in 10 U.S. workers report increased snacking during the day because of concerns over the current economic situation. 43% say they have gained weight in their current job. If your kitchen doesn’t support a healthy lifestyle (no room to cook meals so frozen food or takeout are the best options, etc.) you might be sabotaging yourself. A disorganized environment could be making you console yourself with food; most often sugar, fat, chemical and processed foods. So, if losing weight and better health is a priority,  getting organized is a step in the right direction!

  • Organizing Your Cookbooks

    Julie Seibert
    7 May 2012 | 9:12 am
    I am someone who enjoys cooking and reading cookbooks.  If you have room, create an area where you can read. Perhaps a chair near the cabinet if you don’t have a nook? Add a pretty shelf to utilize wall space–don’t forget bookends!  Trust me on that one.  Place away from  stove/refrigerator so they don’t get harmed. Organize books by YOUR logic. Author?  Theme? Geography?  Whatever works for you. Do you use only a handful of recipes?  Scan favorites and file electronically or copy and file.Consider keeping recipes and donating books.  Give books to a friend or…

  • Organize your Kitchen for Easy Meal Planning – Food Storage Edition

    Julie Seibert
    3 May 2012 | 8:41 am
    This is a guest post from fellow organizer, friend and West Virginian, Jill Hively of Order Up Organizing Does this sound familiar?  You decide you’re going to make spaghetti for dinner, so you head to the store to pick up spaghetti sauce.  When you go to the pantry for the pasta, you find an unopened jar of the same sauce hidden behind a box of cereal.  Turns out you could have saved a trip to the grocery store after all. Duplicate purchases, forgotten-turned-rotten foods and unnecessary shopping trips can be avoided by simply creating an efficient storage system within your fridge,…

  • Repurposing: Get Organized

    Julie Seibert
    30 Apr 2012 | 3:20 pm
    Here is a short vlog to encourage you to look around the house to repurpose everyday items you have to get organized! http://youtu.be/XunZ0afULD0
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    carriethru.com

  • I said NO

    Carrie
    3 May 2012 | 7:34 am
    My favorite food group is ice cream.  I am particularly partial to vanilla Häagan Daz.  I’m a bit of a purist but that doesn’t stop me from eating other brands and flavors. I went to Cold Stone Creamery.  I had never been there before and was looking forward to it.  I decided what I wanted and placed my order.  I ordered a small because it was exactly what I wanted.  As soon as the word “small” came out of my mouth the guy behind the counter said “A medium only costs a dollar more.”  I declined the offer.  He went onto say, “Are you sure? …

  • One of the saddest things I heard

    Carrie
    19 Apr 2012 | 7:00 am
    I was standing in a hallway and saw a woman I recognized.  I didn’t remember her name but I remembered meeting her in the same spot and having a conversation with her exactly a year ago.  I was at the Be the Change Event, a gathering of entrepreneurs geared towards growing our businesses. I went over, said hello and introduced myself.  I said that I thought we met at last year’s Be the Change event and asked her how it had been going since then.  She told me that when she was at the event last year she was just starting her business and that this past year she was getting all…

  • Idea-itis

    Carrie
    5 Apr 2012 | 7:00 am
    I recently got back from an amazing event called Be The Change.  What I love about these events is that I learn tons of things, get new ideas, find inspiration, build new relationships, discover opportunities for growth and, of course, uncover new paths to profit. These events are amazing brainstorming sessions on steroids! But there is a problem with them.  Oftentimes it’s too much.  You end up with a terrible case of “idea-itis”.  You have too many ideas and after a day or two of excitement you find yourself overwhelmed, frustrated and in some ways in worse shape than…

  • How’s It Going So Far?

    Carrie
    22 Mar 2012 | 8:47 am
    It’s officially springtime and while many people use January 1 as a date to spur them into action, I find Spring is when my brain really kicks into gear and I get down to business. In order for me to get myself moving I first need to set the stage and clear away the winter cobwebs with a good spring cleaning. What I’ve noticed is that I tend to do the same things to help my business and life grow as I do in the garden. Here are four things that you can do this spring for your business, life and garden to make them thrive. Clean up the debris. First you have to set the stage. In your…

  • Treat Me Right

    Carrie
    6 Mar 2012 | 7:36 am
    Recently I’ve been on the receiving end of both truly awesome and truly horrific customer service.  I’ve also received service that technically, should have been good but left me adrift.  It’s caused me to take a deep look at how I treat my own customers.  Here are just a few of the things that I’ve noticed in my life lately and the client service lessons that I’ve learned from them. 1.  I was at a gas station and the attendant washed my windows.   I thought, “Wow, I don’t remember the last time a gas station attendant washed my windows!  I…
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    Jacquie Ross's feed

  • Get rid of your clutter on Give Your Stuff Away Day

    Jacquie Ross, Baltimore Organized Families Examiner
    10 May 2012 | 9:31 am
    Is your attic and basement filled with a bunch of stuff that you hope to sell at a yard sale one day? Instead of spending hours of time sorting through your clutter to sell at a yard sale, with no...

  • Win a Kindle Fire at the community shred day in Columbia Md. on Saturday

    Jacquie Ross, Baltimore Organized Families Examiner
    25 Apr 2012 | 8:08 am
    With identity theft on the rise, it is more important than ever to shred all personal and confidential papers and files, but shredding papers at home can be tedious and time consuming. Most Americans do not have the luxury...

  • Budget and organizing tips for busy stay-at-home moms

    Jacquie Ross, Baltimore Organized Families Examiner
    31 Mar 2012 | 10:26 pm
    Are you a busy stay at home mom who feels like you're working a full time job as you try to juggle all of your responsibilities? Between children, activities and a spouse, being a stay at home mom...

  • 10 steps to plan an attack on your organizing project

    Jacquie Ross, Baltimore Organized Families Examiner
    24 Feb 2012 | 9:44 am
    How is your New Year’s Resolution to get organized going so far? If you’re still in same the place you were on January 1st, then it’s time to create a plan of action to...

  • 6 Productivity tips for staying focused and organized in the New Year

    Jacquie Ross, Baltimore Organized Families Examiner
    17 Jan 2012 | 7:55 am
    With all of the distractions that come our way today, it can be difficult to get things done in a timely manner. According to Forbes magazine, Washington D.C. ranks fourth in their list of America's...
 
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    helping you organize

  • Spring cleaning with summer in mind

    15 May 2012 | 9:07 am
    **This post was originally published in my monthly e-newsletter, Lelah's News. Don't subscribe? Sign up here!Spring is well underway in southern California. We've had a good mix of rainy, mild and summer-hot days, reminding us that California indeed gets all sorts of weather, and that once May Gray and June Gloom pass us by, summer is just around the corner. Spring is a wonderful time to put your home in order before the demands of summer, when vacations and beach days and camping trips throw your routine all out of whack. Here are some of my favorite spring cleaning ideas that might not be…

  • Changing lifestyle, changing priorities

    9 May 2012 | 11:04 am
    **This post was originally published in my monthly e-newsletter, Lelah's News. Don't subscribe? Sign up here! There has never been an undertaking that has so drastically changed my life as having a baby, and he hasn't even arrived yet! Getting married was a drop in the bucket compared to the way my life is changing with a child on the way. Physically, the changes are obvious. I can’t do everything I did before. Professional organizing is a very active job, and it was a bit scary to have limitations placed on my physical work. Mentally, the changes are different. I have to limit my…

  • Books with inscriptions

    1 May 2012 | 9:34 am
    It probably seems like I'm always writing about books - both what I'm reading, and how to keep books from overrunning your space. I love reading, and books themselves, so they occupy more of my organizing attention than crafting, for instance. Here's a problem many of us have. We get books as gifts from friends, relatives, or even just acquaintances. They have written a lovely inscription, or perhaps just the date and a quick scribble. We thank them. We read the book (or not). Then we put the book on a shelf, and are never going to read it again. What to do when it is time to de-clutter the…

  • Room switching and life changes

    26 Apr 2012 | 9:00 am
    A little over two years ago, when my husband and I were still living in our previous apartment, we spent a couple of days switching most of the furniture between our upstairs and downstairs rooms and changing the configuration of my desk area and some of our other spaces. We did this a couple of months before we got married, and I documented it with this blog post. A few weeks ago, shortly before the birth of our son, we did something similar in our current apartment. We moved my husband's office configuration to a different part of the house and moved a bunch of furniture around, repurposing…

  • Craigslist tips

    24 Apr 2012 | 8:45 am
    It's kind of amazing the sheer volume of things you can find to buy on Craigslist. Almost anything you can think of, you can find someone offering for sale, especially if you live near a major city. In theory, I love the idea of buying used items that need a home for low prices, where the seller gets to free up space and recoup some of their investment, and the buyer gets to help reduce waste by diverting something that might go to a landfill and pick up something they need for little money. However, it can be a hassle to get all the stars to align when buying and selling on Craigslist, so…
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    Grace Brooke

  • Delegating to Simplify Your Life

    Michelle
    1 May 2012 | 2:00 pm
      Guest blog by Clive Green. Most companies fail in their businesses because of their lack of effective delegation. Delegation is not just telling your employee to answer a call or to fill out some paperwork for you. Delegation does not mean that you give an employee an easy task; rather, it is about assigning challenging jobs. The reason why most companies find it hard to delegate these types of tasks is due to lack of confidence in their employees. Delegation is very important for a business to prosper. Effective delegation allows you to trim down your tasks so that you can concentrate…

  • Creating a Space for Inspiration and Creativity for Your Toddler

    Michelle
    26 Apr 2012 | 3:05 pm
    Guest blog by Michelle Burns of Pregnancy and Baby. Keeping your home clutter-free is not only good for you, it’s good for your toddler, too. According to Dr. Susan Giurleo in North Andover, Massachusetts, a child psychologist who specializes in working with kids and families on their disorganization issues, “Organization is important to young children because it gives them a sense of safety. When you are two or three years old, you learn so much in every day. So much is new and exciting! An organized space allows young children to explore new things with a sense that some things in life…

  • 3 Easy Step to Organizing Any Playroom

    Michelle
    16 Apr 2012 | 2:28 pm
    A playroom is a place that should allow for imaginations to run wild, however if it is cluttered and one big mess, not much imagining or playing is going to take place.   Below are 3 easy steps that will help you get started on tackling the playroom: 1)      Group it together.  Keep like toys together.  For example, keep all the dolls next to the doll house along with all the accessories, all the trains should be near the train tracks, and art supplies together at a table where the little ones would have everything they need.  Keeping everything together helps to keep toy pieces…

  • What’s Your Clutter Style?

    Grace Brooke
    13 Apr 2012 | 12:00 pm
    Need help dealing with your clutter? Contact Grace Brooke at 707.495.6204 There are many types of Clutter Styles out there and Peter Walsh for “O Magazine” breaks each style down.  Keep reading to find out what kind of Clutter Style you have. The Behind-Closed-Doors Clutterer Symptoms Home looks pristine and well organized—until you start opening closet doors and are suddenly buried by file folders, moth-eaten coats, broken lamps, old kitchen appliances, paper towels, holiday decorations, and shopping bags full of purchases no one ever got around to returning. The BCD…

  • Simplifying the Chore of Laundry

    Michelle
    26 Mar 2012 | 5:00 pm
    Let’s be honest, we can try to be the perfect house keeper with everything in its place, clean and tidy, homework completed before dinner, and a 3-course meal on the table every night.  But the truth of the matter is, that is not possible!  It can be overwhelming to think about accomplishing these tasks each day let alone trying to do it perfectly each day.  So I propose, breaking this task down into more manageable steps. When you think about all the laundry that is piled up throughout the week, it can be pretty daunting.  But if you break it down by “monthly”,…
 
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    Downshifting - Professional Organizing Solutions - Margarita Ibbott

  • Mom of the Year Award – Walmart Canada Honours one of our own…who will you nominate?

    Margarita Ibbott
    14 May 2012 | 5:24 pm
    Another Mother’s Day has come and gone.  My mother’s day was quiet yet very memorable…I had a wonderful time with my kids in the morning, I had lunch with my dad (who lives in a retirement home), my lovely mom (who does not) and my hubby & kids.  We had such a great visit that the day gave me pause as to why I think my mother is the greatest mom in the world.  Here are but a few reasons: she has been, tirelessly, devoted to the well-being of my father, the raising and educating of her five children and a source of unconditional love to her thirteen…

  • Organizing my family–Lists, Routines, Labels

    Margarita Ibbott
    8 May 2012 | 1:07 pm
    Its funny because my husband often gets asked if his life/home/family is really organized because his wife is a professional organizer.  He usually laughs at this comment and says that we are challenged every day just like everyone else. I like to think that we are fairly organized because we usually know: where to find the keys to the car where each child should be at any given point in time when we need more orange juice, milk, pasta & paper towels that we usually do laundry either Fridays or Saturdays who is going to make dinner that night where to put back the wine glasses This…

  • Creative EdVentures–National Scrapbook Day Scrapathon–My favourite things for Organizing

    Margarita Ibbott
    5 May 2012 | 8:27 pm
      I was on my Cyncronicity Blog friend @CynGagen’s awesome Cropathon today and I went over a few basic organizing principles that I’d like to share with you: When you decide that you want to tackle your scrapbook/craft/work space. You need to make a commitment to the project.  Once you’ve done that, you need to stay focus and turn off your cell phone, get off-line and ignore the hubby and kids.  Focus on the task at hand and start to get organized. Set a date in your calendar to start your re-organization.  Book it like it is a business appointment and keep it. Stay…

  • Organizing and re-designing a small pass-through a functional & stylish home office

    Margarita Ibbott
    3 May 2012 | 1:11 am
    A client called me in to discuss ideas for organizing her basement & storage area. She showed me her back storage room.  It had a variety of items: Christmas decorations, vases, bankers boxes, laundry items. The actual organizing of that space was pretty straight forward for me but as we toured the rest of the basement I realized the real challenge I wanted to tackle was the SOHO (small office/home office). Located in a pass-through area between two larger rooms, the office was cluttered and disorganized.  It had large pieces of furniture that did not belong in the space and was…

  • Oprah’s LifeClass–The Toronto Edition

    Margarita Ibbott
    16 Apr 2012 | 10:25 am
    It’s a big day today: I’m going to attend Oprah’s LifeClass in Toronto!  I am fairly excited about it since this will be the third time that I will attend a live event.  If you want to read about the other two events events you can find them here and here. I have been working hard to promote OWNCanada and all things Oprah (LifeClass, Next Chapter, Extreme Clutter, Money Class and Million Dollar Neighbourhood) because I love the quality programming that she is bringing to us. You can even see the first season of LifeClass that I have posted on my Pinterest Board.  There…
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    ASK AN ORGANIZER

  • Children and Toys: A Lesson in Organization

    Amy at FreshlyOrganized.com
    5 May 2012 | 6:15 am
    If you have little children then there are probably very few times that the toys are all organized and your floor is clear.  Your kids are having a lot of fun but as a parent, it can get very frustrating having constant clutter on the floor.  Here is some good news, there is a way to organize the kids stuff so it is easy for the kids to pick up and also give them an opportunity to learn how to be organized. When we work organizing families, one of our favorite things to do is help eliminate steps and obstacles for children.  By steps, we mean, if a child has toys stored in a basket on a…

  • 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.
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    The Paper Tiger Blog

  • Project Planning Tools to Stop Organizing Paralysis

    Contributor
    15 May 2012 | 8:21 am
    This article by Sherry Borsheim, a Paper Tiger Expert of International Association of Business Organizing (IABO), gives us some great advise on planning our organizing project. Below are three project planning tools and strategies you can use right away to break free from organizing paralysis to finally get organized. Also check out Sherry’s Organizing Bootcamps which [...]

  • Handle Your Small Business Filing Needs With Filing System Software

    Contributor
    11 May 2012 | 2:53 pm
    One of the most important parts of being a small business owner is being organized. No matter what type of business you have, you are going to have records to maintain. Some small businesses require much more than others; it just depends on whether you also have to keep things on file such as client [...]

  • A Filing System the Whole Family Can Use

    Janet Baker
    8 May 2012 | 4:02 pm
    Getting a Grip on Clutter With the trend moving towards making the home free from clutter, it can seem like it is still a bit of a confusing and overwhelming task. Keep in mind, the first part of the task is dividing up what you are keeping, what you can sell and what you should [...]

  • Is Your Filing System Really a System?

    Janet Baker
    4 May 2012 | 12:08 pm
    As you will read in this article, Russell Moran’s filing system at his home after he retired was a nightmare, costing him too much time. Now Paper Tiger saves him time because he implemented a filing system that works! Do You Waste Time Looking For Files? Nothing wastes time more than a bad filing system. [...]

  • Reasons Behind the Clutter

    Janet Baker
    3 May 2012 | 10:14 am
    This article by Natalie Conrad of Organized Habits, and a Paper Tiger Expert, lists a few of the reasons behind why clutter piles up in our lives; and how to get started on a system for moving forward to get organized.  Natalie also recommends Paper Tiger Filing System Software for Document Management to get everything [...]
 
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    I'm an Organizing Junkie

  • Garage Sale Tips for the Non-Garage Saler

    Laura
    15 May 2012 | 1:34 pm
    source: John Beagle I’ve written before about my love of going out to garage sales each week. Every Friday night my 12 year old son and I head out to see what “treasures” we can find. It’s a great bonding time for us as we drive around town chatting to one another without any interruptions. I really enjoy our date night. However as we cruise from garage sale to garage sale there is something that drives me a little bit batty. I instantly know when I walk up someone’s driveway whether or not they are garage salers themselves and those particular garage sales are…

  • Menu Plan Monday ~ May 14/12

    Laura
    14 May 2012 | 8:00 am
    Updated:  I’m so sorry if you are still having problems getting onto my site.  This has been a very painful experience for me as I try to correct the problem.  If anyone has any suggestions for me or a hosting company to recommend (I’m currently with Bluehost) please let me know.  Thanks! Hi everyone and Happy Belated Mother’s Day! I hope you all had a wonderfully relaxing day yesterday. We started the day off at church and then went for a long family walk in the woods. It was a beautiful sunny day and so nice to be out enjoying it. I then was treated to a yummy Chinese…

  • The Great Garage Clean Out Challenge ~ Week Two

    Laura
    11 May 2012 | 4:00 am
    We are back!  How are you all making out?  This weekend I was dragging my feet I tell you.  Of course it could have something to do with the HOURS I spent trying to teach my youngest how to ride a two wheeler, talk about painful!  When we got back to the house I was already exhausted and not really wanting to tackle the garage.  It just felt like it would take hours to make headway.  Oh the stories we tell ourselves.  I decided to spend an hour working on the garage and whatever I got done would be better than if I did nothing at all.  My husband had already done a pretty big purge so…

  • Container Organization

    Laura
    8 May 2012 | 11:43 pm
    Please welcome my guest, Rebecca from D and R Tabb, to the blog today.  Rebecca is talking about my favorite subject, containers of course!  Talking about containers never gets old to me, especially inexpensive ones.  They are the best!  And they make me deliriously happy too :) Containers bring me inner peace. If I had not been a toddler in the 80s, I would probably have sold Tupperware.  Things have a way of growing legs and spreading all over your house. From the shoes you kick off at the door, to the bag of groceries you bring in from the car, to (my personal unfavorite) the junk…

  • Shoe Tree Organization

    Laura
    8 May 2012 | 12:07 pm
    So I bought a new friend, a lovely new shoe tree friend.  She was only $20 in a discount store (Fields for those of you in Canada) so I just couldn’t pass her up.  These go for a lot more in specialty organizing shops for sure.  Besides she called my name when I walked by and I could tell she was lonely. I originally thought I’d put her in my bedroom closet for my dress shoes because there wasn’t any room in my entryway closet.  However I’d really rather have all my most frequently worn shoes in the entryway closet as that’s where I need them as I’m…
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    Organize to Revitalize!

  • Deb Lee Gets Unstuck and Joins Unclutterer.com

    Deb Lee, Certified Professional Organizer®
    15 May 2012 | 1:19 pm
    So, I have some news. I’ll be sharing the organizing love (twice a week) with the lovely readers at Unclutterer.com as a writer. I’ll still be here at OTR and so will a few awesome guest bloggers, so not much will change here. Check out my intro post and be sure to say something nice about me over there! ;) Oh, and while you’re visiting, take a gander at what I have to say about Unstuck. A little teaser for you: It’s an app. It’s free. It’s almost human. It could really help you get off your duff and get that project finished! Ok, now off you go.  

  • 4 Ways to Stay Focused After Returning From Vacation

    Deb Lee, Certified Professional Organizer®
    14 May 2012 | 4:21 pm
    It’s Monday. It’s also the Monday after I got back from a few days away. A few very relaxing days.  I don’t want to work today. Because it’s Monday and I’d rather be on the beach. Doing nothing. I’m all too aware that I still have to get stuff done. I have to force myself to get into work mode. I should be happy because I am getting stuff done. But, I’m sulking because I want to wallow in “Poor me. I didn’t have enough time off.” Sulking or not, being productive is the name of the game. If you’re interested in getting things…

  • Fact Friday: Meetings Are a Waste of Time

    Deb Lee, Certified Professional Organizer®
    11 May 2012 | 6:00 am
    “Meetings take up an ever-increasing amount of employees’, and particularly managers’ time. According to a survey by Office Team, a division of Robert Half International, 45 percent of senior executives surveyed said that their employees would be more productive if their firms banned meetings for a least one-day a week.”   Read More: Why Meetings Kill Productivity | PsychologyToday.com | 4.15.2012   Get More Information

  • Cut Down on Your Hoarding Habit in 5 Easy Steps

    Deb Lee, Certified Professional Organizer®
    10 May 2012 | 6:00 am
    A new OTR guest blogger, Grace Pamer, joins us today with tips on how to tackle hoarding tendencies. Many of us are natural-born hoarders and we end up having far too many possessions but without the room to house them. For others, it can be a type of mental health illness where they throw nothing away because they are unable to. If you know someone who fits into the latter category, there is help available either in the form of talking to a councillor or visiting an online forum to talk to other sufferers. A person with a serious hoarding problem would need support before undertaking any of…

  • Quick Tip: 3 Things to Always Keep in Your Car

    Deb Lee, Certified Professional Organizer®
    8 May 2012 | 11:46 am
    Today is my Friday. Because it’s road trip time! We’re taking a long car ride tomorrow, the hubster and I…and the dog, too. 8 hours. Should be fun! And, no major craziness allowed! Just a few pit stops along the way. Maybe some greasy food. Definitely a good audio book. That’s the plan. But, just in case things go wonky, I’m going to make sure that I have (at least these) three things in the car: 1. Important Docs. “License and registration, please.” Not the words you want to hear when you’re going anywhere and get stopped by some…
 
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    get simplifized!

  • Working with Hanging Files and File Folders

    Vanessa Hayes
    16 May 2012 | 10:07 am
    Although I try to “go digital” with most of my family’s household and business files, I’m fully aware that most people still rely on good ol’ fashioned paper files to stay organized. As a professional organizer, I do a lot of “hands-on” file work with my clients in and around San Antonio, Texas and have found that paper files, while still “king of the paper jungle”, can be tamed a bit by using the various types of file folders available today. It’s one thing to talk about various types of files and folders, but it certainly helps to…

  • How to Create an Action File Quick Tip

    Vanessa Hayes
    12 Mar 2012 | 10:56 pm
    Having trouble managing your daily influx of papers?  Don’t worry, we all do.  I mean, it’s practically impossible to have a day go by that we don’t bring some sort of paper into our homes…things from work, school, the store, extracurricular activities, the mail, kids, etc.  So many papers…patiently waiting for someone to take action on them.  No matter what type of paper you bring in your home you’ve got to do something with it right?  You’re either going to Keep It, Toss It, File It, Shred It or Recycle It right? But let’s be honest, what…

  • Figure 8 Cord Management Quick Tip

    Vanessa Hayes
    24 Aug 2011 | 2:50 pm
    I can get really crazy when it comes to messy cords.  I see a box of mangled cords and I’m on a mission to get them wound up and under control…I’m all about the cord management!  One of my favorite products for controlling cords are Velcro strips.  I even did a video about these Velcro strips awhile back. These strips are great but what do you do if you don’t have any? Well, don’t fear. There is an easy and free way to control your cords.  It’s called a Figure 8…well, that’s what I call it.  Check it out in the video below to see how easy…

  • No Way! Another Really Cool Use For Binder Clips.

    Vanessa Hayes
    4 Jul 2011 | 12:23 pm
    As if there weren’t enough uses for the ever-so-popular and wonderful binder clips…I’ve discovered another way to use them. I got this fabulous tip from another colleague, Lorie Morrero of Clutter Diet.  It’s simple, yet brilliant.  Here’s how I used it in my son’s closet on his hanging shelves: Each shelf is labeled by type of clothing You can see the binder clips labeled and attached to the shelves Labeling my son’s shelves made it so much easier for him to know where to put his clothes after they’ve been laundered.  What’s great…

  • How To “Save” Time By Multi-Tasking…Yeah Right!

    Vanessa Hayes
    25 Jun 2011 | 7:00 am
    Remember that commercial: “This is drugs. This is your brain on drugs. Questions?” It was a pretty straight forward anti-drug advertisement demonstrating the awful effects drugs can have on you. Well…dare I compare multi-tasking to drugs? The more you try to do the more “jacked” up you get and the less productive you are. It can be a little dangerous too. Indulge me for a second while I share a story with you… About a week and a half ago I decided to make a batch of boiled eggs. My daughter absolutely loves them and I thought I’d make about a dozen or…
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    Adams Organizing | Ghost Writer to the Stars

  • Still a ghostwriter, just a bit more ghostly

    Elise Photini Adams
    24 Apr 2012 | 11:07 pm
    It’s been a few weeks since I posted a brand new article here on AdamsOrganizing.  Many of you know how my focus has shifted a bit lately.  No longer do I have 16 hour days to chase fame and fortune, yet somehow I find that I’ve discovered a contentment and happiness I was sure only existed ‘over the rainbow’. So. What ARE you doing??? Living a semi-urban homesteading life, hanging with my kiddos and writing a ‘new’ blog over at ElisePhotini.com while keeping up with a small group of clients each month.  Believe me it is a great life! And this means?
 
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    The Clutter Diet Blog

  • Clutter Video Tip: Garage Flooring Options

    Lorie Marrero
    16 May 2012 | 1:03 pm
    Do you want to get in on the ground floor? What if that ground floor is your garage floor? Garage floors can be greasy, dirty and gross- but they don't always have to be. In this video I am taking the floor to show you my own garage floor and the steps and pitfalls involved in the process we used. You just may be floored by the results. Following this advice just might inspire you to mop up the floor with those oil and grease stains! (Click here to watch on YouTube if you can't see the embedded player. Or watch the video at http://bit.ly/TCDFloor.)   PLEASE HELP:…

  • Laundry Baskets are for Transport, Not STORAGE!

    Lorie Marrero
    14 May 2012 | 6:28 pm
    I have 4-5 laundry baskets that we use for sorting and such during the whole process. Last week I was looking for one to take a load out of the dryer, and there were NONE. (Actually I rarely even do laundry and this was an exception-- see my previous post "Never Do Laundry Again.") I asked my teenage son if he knew where they were, and of course, they were ALL in his room! He was living out of them, dressing out of them in the mornings. This prompted me to say, "Laundry baskets are for transport, not for STORAGE!" And then I went into another room and cracked up laughing at myself. But it's…

  • Clutter Video Tip: Options for Garage Storage Cabinets

    Lorie Marrero
    9 May 2012 | 5:36 pm
    An organized garage, the Final Frontier. These are the voyages of the starship, Clutter Diet... to boldly go where no man has gone before. We don't need a Vulcan mind meld to know that almost all garages could use built in storage. A good multipurpose cabinet would be just the thing for storing your phazers and tribbles. In this video I am showing you my built in storage as well as sharing some things to look out for when you shop for your own. Thinking early about cabinet quality and garage shelf design will make the "Enterprise" of garage organizing much less stressful. May…

  • Clutter Video Tip: How to Manage Your Time, Part 5: CORRECT

    Lorie Marrero
    2 May 2012 | 2:48 pm
    It is time to break out your red pen and make some corrections. Does your time management system make the grade? Or are you getting F’s for punctuality? In this video, Part 5 in our five part series, I am sharing the final step in your Time Management Fingerprint- correcting. (click here for the playlist of the series) Having a personalized time management system will make your time more effective, efficient and productive. And all of that just might make you head of the class!  (Click here to watch on YouTube if you can't see the embedded player. Or watch the video at…

  • Clutter Video Tip: How to Manage Your Time, Part 4: COMPLETE

    Lorie Marrero
    25 Apr 2012 | 1:42 pm
    Well, hello there time management tutees! As they say in the movies “you complete me”; and, this video completes your time management system (but not the 5 part Time Management Fingerprint). In this video I will help you complete the tasks you have captured, committed to, and been cued to begin. If time is money, then this Time Management video series (click here for the playlist of the series) is showing you the money by making your time more efficient and productive. Need I say more, or did I have you at hello? ;) (Click here to watch on YouTube if you can't see the embedded player.
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  • One more from the road: To Read File

    10 May 2012 | 2:40 pm
    We all have them: the stuff we're not ready to chuck out yet and want to read, to give further consideration.Stick all that stuff in a 'to read' file. Could be a container of whatever size (I prefer a poly pocket folder about an inch wide) that you can grab when you're heading out the door to an appointment, on a trip, whereever.Sitting on a plane right now, I can read them all then throw them away. More space on the way back.Okay, they're gonna take my laptop away now.Love you, love your show.JessicaFind out more about me at http://roomtobreathe.biz Permalink | Leave a…

  • The glamour of travel (or not)

    10 May 2012 | 1:34 pm
    I have seen spectrum on which people reside where travel is concerned. At one end, you've got anxiety, trepidation, and nausea. At the other, giddyness, excitement, and potentially nausea. (So maybe it's a continuum?)  Anyway, I land firmly on the giddy, excitement, "oooooh let's go!" point.  I love the potential. I love sitting in the airport watching people. I love listening to the announcements, hearing who needs to get to their gate, and watching planes arrive and take off.  For the most part, all I see is love. Today I get to be in the international terminal as I head out…

  • Advertising fail?

    28 Apr 2012 | 11:59 am
    A little inspiration and curiosity this morning as I read the paper at my local coffee joint. Background: today is Saturday. The section of the paper I'm reading: a very thin D section, exactly 6 pages long, front page contains the funnies.On page 4, opposite the movie listings, I see the ad promoting a "local small business marketing consultant" ... "providing the tools to develop a marketing strategy and grow your business with confidence."This ad placement, right next to Miss Manners, strikes me as one that really isn't going to touch this fella's target market.Since the event is sponsored…

  • Affiliate Programs: Making money when you buy stuff

    27 Apr 2012 | 12:37 pm
    Three times this week, I've had conversations which boil down to the naivete of business owners. The only way to bust outta that naivete is by learning. By putting yourself outside of your bubble. Of course, going outside the bubble also means we also have to up our critical thinking.  I am continuously learning. I have my fair share of naievte. Hell, I'm going on a two day treck to a leadership conference in Vancouver BC and sitting in a room with 200 business owners who are 1-3 financial levels ahead of where I am. And getting out of my bubble is the only way to open my eyes, stretch,…

  • Transition, Change and New Media

    20 Apr 2012 | 11:13 am
    One of my daily activities (read: systems) is to learn. I spend a lot of time reading about topics revolving around education, business, and practical arts and creativity. Why those three? They interest me.  A trend I've seen in all three is the enormous amount of change in our world occurring right now. Don't know what instigated it, just know that change is happening an an ever faster speed. MC calls is a harmonic convergence.  Sounds about right.  Here are a couple of things for you to inspire and make you think:  1) A drawing I made for a client in 2010 to explain how…
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    Organize for a Fresh Start

  • Email Interruptions: 6 Solutions

    Sue West
    11 May 2012 | 12:20 pm
    Reader question:  “You’ve decided to work on a project exclusively for two hours. You have to retrieve files and information clients have sent you over email. In the process, your current email downloads and you see that there are issues with other clients and family situations that need “immediate” attention. You want to seem responsive, so you spent 20-30 minutes on those emails before you get searching for the project info. Now you’ve lost a half an hour of your work time. Thoughts?” What a great question. The answer is a mixture of psychology and…

  • Seven Starter Strategies to Understand Where Your Time Goes

    Sue West
    4 May 2012 | 10:52 am
    “I need to get my life in order.”  “I get so pulled into Facebook, the internet, reading a book …  that the world dissolves around me.” “I really thought only 10 minutes had passed, but it was an hour.” Or maybe you picked up your child or grandchild late, because the conversation you were involved in was so fascinating. Or you wanted to do “just one more thing” at work.   Starter Strategies – Designed to get you started figuring out your own solutions Talk to yourself. “Am I doing what I want to be doing right…

  • Book Recommendation: Launching Your Child from High School to College

    Sue West
    3 May 2012 | 7:20 am
      I’m working with several clients on time management during their child’s last year of high school as the parent begins to think of their own next chapter. This book has come up several times as recommended by clients so I thought I’d share it with you.        

  • Update to My Post Yesterday on Life Balance Boards

    Sue West
    1 May 2012 | 5:54 pm
    In yesterday’s post, you saw my own life balance board (or as I’ve named it in my PC files, my “balance beam” board. Remember in gymnastics class, how hard it was to balance on the one or two inch wide balance beam?). Today, I’m sharing my terrifically creative sister-in-law’s board; she is a creative design professional. She’s the one who got me started, so here is her own version.   If you missed the post that explains all this, go here first.  

  • Creating Time for Fun – Life Balance

    Sue West
    27 Apr 2012 | 4:11 pm
    As you move onto a new chapter – say your adult children are all off to college for example – you’ll need to spend time creating new interests or getting back to older passions. I’ve discovered a new and more immediate use for a vision board. Creating time for fun and life balance. I was visiting my terrifically creative sister-in-law, Joanne Hus, a creative design professional and as I walked into her oh so gorgeous home office, I noticed her life balance board right away. After looking at hers, and hearing about her board, I realized that I was missing something.
 
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    C-Line Products Blog

  • Shop Ticket Holders Valuable on Construction Site

    Nicola
    16 May 2012 | 7:26 am
    This past weekend, I had the opportunity to view a friend’s house that is currently undergoing construction. As with any construction project, there is the need to have permits and undergo inspections. As we went through the house, I noticed that the builders had put to use some of C-Line’s shop ticket holders. The first one that I noticed was the Welded Vinyl Shop Ticket Holder. Throughout the house, the builders had used the holder to hang up various pieces of information such as copies of final inspections and schedules. Because of the ticket holder’s eyelet, it made it easy to…

  • Keep Mom in Style this Mother’s Day

    Nicola
    13 May 2012 | 7:27 am
    Why not add some style to Mom’s everyday life for Mother’s Day? C-Line’s Fashion Design Series lets Mom stay organized, while allowing her personality to show through with the unique designs offered. Whether you think the Plaid Series or Circle Series will better fit Mom’s taste, your thoughtfulness is sure to be a hit today! Although it may seem unorthodox to purchase office products for this special occasion, your originality will undoubtedly be noticed. Stylish coupon file keeps Mom’s shopping discounts organized and accessible. “Couponing” has recently become a big trend…

  • Trend Alert: 3-Ring Binders Store Unbound Textbook Pages

    Nicola
    9 May 2012 | 6:38 am
    Learning about trends within the marketplace is always an interesting and valuable piece of information to know. During a recent meeting, one of C-Line’s key account managers shed light on an increasingly popular item in the college market. As students look for ways to cut back on the overall cost of attending college, more bookstores have been able to offer a cheaper alternative to textbooks. Unbound, three-hole punched “books” have become the latest way for students to reduce the burden of textbook expenses. Since the shrink wrapped pages are pre-punched, C-Line has the ideal storage…

  • Index Card Notebook is Great To-Do List Organizer

    Nicola
    2 May 2012 | 7:46 am
    To me, the more versatile a product is, the more likely I am to use it. Office products have the unique ability to be beneficial throughout many aspects of your daily life. From using laminating film to make recipe container to storing menus in a shop ticket holder, many of C-Line’s products have significant benefits outside of the typical office setting. Take the Spiral Bound Index Card Notebooks with Tabs, for instance. Originally, C-Line’s suggested use for this product was to store class notes or project details all within one compact notebook. The repositionable tabbed dividers make…

  • Legal Document Case is Flexible Storage Option

    Nicola
    25 Apr 2012 | 7:46 am
    Looking at C-Line’s website, some of you may have noticed that there have been additions since the beginning of the year. All new items are functional, yet have a unique flair to them. Throughout this year, I will highlight one of our new products so that everyone can become better acquainted. So, the item up first (and my one of my favorite new items) is the Poly Expanding Legal Document Case! As with any of our other document cases, the benefit of this product is that it has the ability to store numerous files within one compact carrier. All of the document cases sport fabric gussets that…
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    Do Life Big

  • The Secret of Actually Living

    Charlie
    15 May 2012 | 11:05 am
    Posted in UncategorizedThere’s alot of talk about being planned, disciplined, sensible and efficient these days. On this blog I’ve even argued that to really do big things, we need to be  laser-focused on those things. From doing the right things, to creating habits and being consistent and ordinary. But in pursuit of our goals, I fear that we will be so focused on results that we will blow right past the things that actually matter. NEWSFLASH - At your funeral, friends will not reminisce about the killer Power Point presentations you missed birthdays to create Your wife…

  • God’s Will & My 2-Year Old

    Charlie
    7 May 2012 | 11:37 am
    Posted in UncategorizedDo you ever wonder what God wants you to do? Does following his will feel like a one-sided game of wild goose chase? Is your ambition and energy fading because of a lack of clear direction? I have felt this way a lot. But God is a Father, and so am I. So when I think about my will for my two year old Sonny, I think about God’s will for me. And recently, the picture became clearer. One of Sonny’s favorite games, is “Daddy Fit-It”. This is his attempt at saying, “Daddy, Fix-It” and it involves him reaching into my tool box for a…

  • Raise Your Price.

    Charlie
    25 Apr 2012 | 11:17 am
    Posted in UncategorizedToo many of us undervalue what we do. We forget that our time, experience and skills matter. Don’t. You have something that people need. Consider this - A woman in Paris spots Picasso in a cafe. She begs and pleads him to sketch her…he finally relents, whips out his pad and draws a sketch of her. She’s delighted. “How much do I owe you?” she asks. “$5,000,” he replies. “$5,000!” she exclaims. “But it only took you 2 minutes!” “No madam,” he replies. “It took me my life”. Your value is not simply the time or effort you spent on…

  • My First, First-Time list.

    Charlie
    11 Apr 2012 | 11:25 am
    Posted in UncategorizedI wish I knew all the things I should do to make my life really matter. I don’t. Sometimes I get a taste, like when I turn off my phone and wrestle my two-year old, or show up with Starbucks for my wife after a long night. Anything else though, can seem like a real mystery. One thing I have found, is that real meaning is often the reward for courage. If you’re afraid of it, it’s probably worth doing it. Want to know one of my nagging regrets in life? I never studied abroad in college. I know, I know…not the end of the world. But if you know me,…

  • Live Your Dream!

    Charlie
    1 Apr 2012 | 10:27 pm
    Posted in UncategorizedSometimes, the push we need to pursue our dreams comes from hearing real stories, about real people, who are simply doing what they’ve dreamed of. This is an interview I did with Caitlin Agnew, co-founder of MAKERS, a co-working space in Seattle for professional creators, thinkers and doers that launches this month.  Caitlin’s story reads like so many people’s I know… college graduate with skills and ambition frustrated by uninspiring corporate jobs and all along, a brewing desire to live out real passions The difference? She’s taken a…
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    Discover Freedom Blog - Organize Your Home, Office, and Life

  • Organize Your Computer Workstation

    Sue Becker
    2 May 2012 | 5:45 am
    If you’ve ever ended a long period of computer use with an aching back, tired fingers, or sore neck, you likely have a computer workstation layout that is not ergonomically correct. Organizing your computer workspace can not only save you from unnecessary aches and pains, it can help you be more productive. Here are some tips to help you get the most comfort from your computer setup. If you have a laptop, rather than desktop computer, adjust the tips as needed. Let’s take the traditional desktop computer layout: your monitor, mouse and keyboard should be positioned properly for best…

  • Find More Free Time

    Sue Becker
    18 Apr 2012 | 6:30 am
    A survey by Real Simple Magazine and the Families and Work Institute revealed that amost half of American women say they don’t have enough free time. The survey defined “free time” as “time that you spend on yourself, where you can choose to do things that you enjoy.” I was surprised that the percentage was only 49%, but I’m glad to know there are women out there who don’t fit into the mold of an overworked, overstressed female. If you’re one of the women who is happy with the amount of free time you have in your day, congratulations –…

  • Organize Your Digital Photos

    Sue Becker
    5 Apr 2012 | 11:00 am
    Are you drowning under piles of photographs and wondering how to dig yourself out? My January 2011 newsletter described how to organize photos – the physical prints that may occupy any number of bags and boxes in your home. But maybe it’s your computer rather than you that’s drowning – you may take digital photographs and have a hard drive bursting with them. This month I’ve called upon my husband, John, who is the technical guru of our home, to describe the best ways to organize digital photos (yes, there is a better way than just dumping them into random folders on your computer).

  • Get Organized for the Right Reasons

    Sue Becker
    22 Mar 2012 | 6:44 am
    “To be able to open a cabinet, drawer or closet  and find what I’m looking for;” “To start my family’s day on time and on a positive note;” “To experience the joy of leisure time;” “To make living with AD/HD easier.” These are all reasons clients have told me they want to get organized. Although each reason supports a different goal, the one thing each of them has in common is that the end goal is about more than being organized – organization is a means to something bigger and more meaningful. Why does a bigger, more meaningful reason matter? Why can’t one…

  • Manage Mealtime Mayhem

    Sue Becker
    7 Mar 2012 | 5:08 am
    Several years ago I saw a sign that said “I have a kitchen because it came with the house” in a client’s home. It’s a relief to know there’s at least one other person besides me who doesn’t like to cook. After all, with the huge number of cooking shows on TV, cooking magazines staring at me in the grocery store, and specialty spice shops and olive oil stores popping up all over, I can’t help but think that everyone except me loves to cook (and is good at it as well). I do love to eat, however, so I’ve done all I can to make meal planning as painless as possible. Whether…
 
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    Clutter Coach

  • New Year's Resolution Ideas for Getting Organized

    Claire
    10 May 2012 | 12:50 pm
    Originally posted 2010-12-27 14:10:00. Republished by Blog Post PromoterGetting organized, along with losing weight and quitting smoking, is on most people's list of new year's resolutions. Here are some ideas for resolutions, and three rules for increasing your success at keeping those resolutions. First rule for any resolution: keep it small enough to be do-able. You want a goal that's reachable soon, even if it seems insignificant. You're setting the stage for the next, bigger goal. Success breeds success. Second rule: It's all about you. Don't compare yourself to…

  • How to Organize Books

    Claire
    10 May 2012 | 12:50 pm
    Originally posted 2008-06-04 09:46:00. Republished by Blog Post PromoterI like an organic approach to organizing books. By that I mean that I suggest paying attention to how you use your books and what works well with your current set up before rearranging them. You may find that books you use a lot are already on the most convenient shelf. If not, that's a good place to start. It doesn't matter if those books are on different subjects and are different sizes, keeping them as handy as possible is a good idea. If you have a visual memory, returning your books each time to the same spot…

  • Where Does Clutter Come From?

    Claire
    8 May 2012 | 1:40 pm
    Clutter comes from many sources; a primary one is what we call delayed decision making. That’s when things pile up because you haven’t made a decision to move them on to their next stop: being put away, thrown away, taken to the cleaners, returned to their owner, tossed in the Goodwill bag, shredded, mailed back or foisted off on someone else. Clutter can also come from projects in progress. It’s understandable to want to leave everything out until you finish whatever you’re working on, but if you’re working on more than one thing at once and you’ve got the…

  • The Art of Slow Living

    Claire
    3 May 2012 | 11:51 am
    Originally posted 2008-05-14 10:00:00. Republished by Blog Post PromoterSlowing down to combat the stress and dehumanization of modern life isn’t a new concept, but it’s been taken to greater and more charming heights by Ella and Bruno Contigiani. Their “slowmandments” offer tips about avoiding multitasking and hurrying and a few more novel and Italian-inflected ones, such as the ones below. “Write your text messages on your cell phone with no symbols or abbreviations and get in the habit of starting with “Dear…” “Don’t force yourself go shopping;…

  • How to be messy and organized

    Claire
    26 Apr 2012 | 10:36 am
    Originally posted 2007-02-21 12:22:53. Republished by Blog Post PromoterHow to be messy and organized. At the same time. A contrarian view, perhaps. Organizers get sick of having to inform people that being organized and being tidy do not necessarily co-exist. The organized part refers to an underlying system that helps you function. It can be more or less detailed, depending on how much effort you’re willing to put in and what kind of results you need. The tidy part is about looks. It’s also about how an environment feels to you. People who are messy on purpose revel in being immersed in…
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    JOYS : Organizing Papers for Inspired Living and Peace of Mind.

  • Choosing the Right Document Scanner (for you)

    7 May 2012 | 7:00 pm
    If you have that itchin desire to digitize your life even more and eliminate some of your paper clutter, a document scanner could be just what you need. Truthfully, I don’t think a document scanner is for everyone. Business owners should consider one, but if you’re just looking to eliminate some paper clutter, how about a shredder? But I know, you dream of going paperless. You keep hearing glorious tales on how someone cured their paper problems in one fell scan. I get it. I got caught up in it and curious too. How Document Scanners Can Eliminate Paper Clutter High speed document scanners…

  • 3 People Putting it into Perspective (for me)

    13 Mar 2012 | 2:11 pm
    Inspired people surround us. They’re everywhere. Modern tech puts these life changers in our face. A blessing that cannot be ignored. Especially when their words resonate.  Motivate. Inspire. Particularly when their words put fears into perspective, insecurities into context, or life into the now. To each of you ladies, I send a heart full of appreciation. You do that for me. Thank-you Danielle LaPorte for being utterly true to you.  For knowing, to your core, that you can do, be and create soulfully. Authentically. For modeling that knowledge and sharing it with crazy passion and…

  • Let Go and Receive

    29 Feb 2012 | 8:33 pm
      “If you let go a little, you will have a little peace. If you let go a lot, you will have a lot of peace.”  ~Ajahn Chah The Exercise Stop doing stuff you dislike. The stuff that weighs you down. Steals your energy. Makes you grumpy. List daily activities, chores, people, beliefs -- anything and everything draining your energy. Then, for each item listed, identify something more lovely that will replace it or someone more inclined to complete it. If it’s something (or someone) you think you’re stuck with, find that one thing about it (or them) you can appreciate. It’s…

  • Express Love

    13 Feb 2012 | 5:04 pm
    “Love does not dominate; it cultivates.” ~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe The Exercise Give the kids a few new responsibilities. Teach your kids how to start organizing their own papers and possessions. Walk them through the steps required to complete their new task(s). Have them help you set up collection centers and explain how to use them and how they will make life at home a bit more peaceful. This also works for grown-ups. If you have a guy, like I do, who is always emptying his pockets onto the coffee table and walking away, give him a collection center too. The JOYS Simple routines calm…

  • Give Love

    6 Feb 2012 | 5:54 pm
    “I have found that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver.” ~Maya Angelou The Exercise Make a reservation to donate blood on Valentine’s Day. It’s the red thing to do. Yes, I know you hate needles and an hour and 15 minutes of your time is asking a lot. It is. But, every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood and less than 38 percent of the U.S. population is eligible to give blood. The JOYS Not only do you get a mini-physical and learn your blood type, your one donation can help save the lives of up to three people. Tools You Can Use Here’s the how,…
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