Simply Organized by Sandy

The Christmas Gift Closet

2011-11-19T17:46:00.001-06:00

The concept: a dedicated space in the house to store gift items and cards. A gift closet holds a stockpile of ready-to-go gift items and everything needed to wrap and present them.

Select the Storage Space
Don't let the word "closet" fool you; a gift closet can live in any storage space, so long as it is secure and accessible. Tuck gifts into under-bed storage units in the master bedroom, or stash them in a sealed plastic storage tub in the attic or garage. Clear a shelf in a high bathroom cupboard, or stow gifts in a large dresser drawer. Households with children might require sneakier strategies.

"A gift closet? Oh, I tried that--but I never knew what I had in there, and couldn't find it when I did!" The solution is the most important gift closet principle:

Track the Treasures
Use a simple inventory form so you know what you have and where it is. If you want, you can also place a name next to the item if you bought the gift with someone special in mind. Consider stapling an envelope to the list and place receipts inside to help you a) recall what you paid/spent b) return item if it was purchased within last 30-60 days c) provide gift card receipts with the gift cards in case of activation problems.

Shop at Home
Shopping at home first means gathering all likely gift items from their respective hiding places about the house. Whether its never-used re-gifting candidates, treasures found at flea markets or crafts fairs, or designated gifts that were overlooked or forgotten. Assemble and inventory any existing gift closet candidates. Chances are, you'll have a good start on closet contents from your very own in-home store!

Shop Smart
Don't just go out and buy "stuff" because it is on sale. Often closets get stuffed with stocking stuffers but no real gifts that you feel good about and so you run out to buy a "real gift" instead. There are always a few guaranteed go-to items to have on hand, like gift-cards, candles, and quality candy. But by all-means, be a good shopper: buy when the items are on sale vs. full price and early when they are in-stock to avoid procrastinator's remorse but be sure to evaluate your usage of the closet at the end of the Season.

Share the Clutter?

2011-08-29T21:25:00.000-05:00

By sharing, of course I mean donating!

Donating is a wonderful way to get rid of the excess and clutter in your life quickly, while compassionately helping someone else in need. A win-win if there ever was one.

Here are some great reasons you should consider donating your excess:
1) You Have Too Much Stuff! You have too much stuff! You have too much stuff!
A few stats: Seven out of 10 Americans live in cluttered homes.
80 percent of what we own we never use.
Use Lee Silber's mantra "I have enough stuff. There is enough. I need no more". Place this somehere you can see daily!

2) Someone Else NEEDS It.
Do you have a friend that is jobless? Know a young adult moving out on thier own on a tight budget? Do you or your church group know a family in real need? If not, charitible organizations do! If you are "blessed" with excess, do the right thing and donate the items you do not NEED and do not USE. You can make a huge difference in someone else's life.

3) Donating is kind to the earth.
Recycling and Repurposing helps to limit the volume of trash in the landfill

4) It Will Improve your life and save time.
Donating clutter will make cleaning faster and easier, increase the space in your home, you will spend less time time looking for things, and do away with the embarrasing piles of clutter.

5) It's good for the pocketbook!
When helping clients sort through the clutter - we almost always find money, gift cards, and uncashed checks. With less "stuff" you will be able to FIND what you have, and avoid having to go buy another! Best of all, donations are a tax write-off. If you are in the 15% federal income tax bracket, for every $1,000 worth of stuff that you donate, Uncle Sam will "pay" you $150 on your personal income tax return. If you are in the 25% tax bracket, a $1,000 donation saves you $250 in federal income taxes. Or you could hold on to it all andspend an entire weekend holding a garage sale for hopefull the same result. This is a NO brainer.

6) You will save time.
Thinking of a garage sale? If you add up all the hours you'd spend - it comes up to about 20-30 hours! Instead, load up your stuff and take it to the nearest donations site and be done with it! Besides, on average, you will only sell 30-40% of what you put out and have to take the rest to be donated afterwards anyways :)
You will spend less time hunting for things and less time cleaning around the excess in your home. If you want to really save time? Call and see if your local charity will pick up at your door!

Tips:
Your donated items should be in fair or good condition. Electronics and appliances should work, toys and games should have all the part and pieces, and clothes should not have holes, stains or missing buttons.

Please with your local charity or resale shop first to see what they accept before you head over.

Be sure to ask for a receipt for tax purposes.

If you would like a complimentary list of local and other chartible donation causes and ways to recycle the unusual - send me an email, I'd be happy to share with you.

Hefty Handbags

2011-07-11T21:50:00.000-05:00

Is your purse ready for an episode of “Let’s Make a Deal”? weighted down with expired coupons, gift cards with 96 cents left on it, old receipts, change, toys or USED Kleenex?

A purse is like miniature home. You can tell a lot about a woman by her purse! Some women can reach in and grab what they need and others are rooting around… pulling out stuff and piling it in their lap and muttering "I am sure it is in here somewhere…"

Take a load off of your shoulders and purge that mini-home!

1) Empty the entire purse out

2) Sort receipts and papers
As you remove receipts form your purse, toss the one’s you no longer need, and place the rest in to a monthly accordion wallet so you can easily retrieve and purge your receipts monthly or quarterly, and keep your purse clean. For receipts you need handy in your purse, use a small zippered mesh pouch - about the size of a check book. If you must carry papers, lists or bills to pay, clip them together.

3) Collect loose change
Keep a small amount in change purse, and remove the rest. If your wallet does not have a change pocket, invest in a change purse. It makes it so much easier to find change, and to empty it out of your purse.

4) Cancel or shred expired credit cards, loyalty cards, gift cards etc.
Keep only the cards that you most frequently need in your purse. The less you have in there the less hassle if your purse is stolen.

Zone your purse into the areas:

1) Money, credit, & debit cards
Overwhelmed with cards? Check out Cardcubby.com as a way to
organize and quickly file and retrieve store credit cards, loyalty/reward cards, gift cards and frequently needed business cards. Free up your purse, and keep it handy when you are headed out or keep this in your purse to free up your wallet!

2) Make up, lotion, hygiene items
Keep in zippered pouch in your purse, or in a make-up bag to keep items from breaking/opening and to keep personal hygiene items out of sight.

3) First Aid
Keep medication, first aid, Kleenex or wipes in a separate area/bag.

4) Communication
Cell Phone, planner, note pad or address book and pen
Keep together. Keep phone on a phone clip or in a purse pocket.

5) Gum, Mints etc.
Keep these items in a case or pouch or even a snack size ziplock to
keep them from spilling out and becoming loose at the bottom of your
purse! Trident is the worst isn’t it?

Tips:

** When possible choose a purse with compartments to help create zones and keep things tidy or check out Pursket.com for purse organizers that you can switch from purse to purse.

** Use a key holder/clip to hang keys inside your purse to avoid rummaging around for them.

** Once a month purge your purse of papers, lists, and receipts

** Every 3-6 months clean your purse and wallet entirely.

** Once a year evaluate the condition of your purse and wallet. Donate any purses you are not using, do not love, or are not working for you!

** Purge purses that have torn liners or broken snap closures or zippers

Did you know?

International survey statistics show that about 60% of women have more than 10 handbags, and over 3% of women have as many as 25 purses!

** When storing purses by hanging them by their straps, be sure they're mostly empty. Extra weight just adds more wear and tear to the strap. Keeping them clean inside will also eliminate searching for important items like your credit card or your favorite lipstick.

** Note that catch-all bins, boxes and trunks are NOT good places to store purses. It is ideal to organize your purses in a way and place that you can see them all at a glance. I like this organizer. It takes up minimal space in the closet, and you can see all your purses.

Is Your Cluttered Medicine Cabinet Making You Sick?

2011-06-24T10:30:00.000-05:00

If so, the best medicine is prevention, so let’s get busy with this quick but essential task.

An organized medicine cabinet is important for four reasons:
1) You will easily and quickly locate medicines when you need them!
2) You will save money by not purchasing items you already have!
3) Nosy people who just can’t resist looking! It's like using the toilet while you’re on the phone (many do it, few will admit it!)
4) To eliminate expired medicine that is either no longer effective or can cause serious harm to you and your family.

If you don’t have a medicine cabinet, but use a bathroom drawer, linen closet, or kitchen cabinet – the same principals apply.

Purge:
Start by emptying your medicine cabinet. (and if you have medicine in several rooms throughout the house – go get those too!)

* Toss: Expired prescriptions and nonprescription medicines. For new
prescriptions or other medications without expiration dates, mark
the date of purchase on the containers and access after one year.
* Toss: Rusty or dull razors
* Toss: Frayed toothbrushes
* Toss: Products you don’t use. (don’t like, doesn’t work, don’t need
any longer)

After you have purged, take inventory and make a note of anything you need to buy.

Check with your local county authorities on the proper disposal of medicines. Putting in the landfill or water supply is a big no-no for most areas.

Determine Functionality:
The most common use for the medicine cabinet is for health-care and first-aid essentials. Determine if there are personal toiletries; such as shampoo, shaving cream, perfumes, make-up or toothpaste that might be stored elsewhere in the bathroom; such as baskets under the sink, in a drawer or on a shelf to free up valuable space in the medicine cabinet.

Organize:
* Group by category:Pain/Colds/Rashes/Allergies/FirstAid/Digestion/
Tools etc.
* Adjust shelf height if possible and necessary
* Place the most frequently used items to the front
* If you purchase in bulk or have multiples, and space is tight, keep
just ONE in the cabinet and designate a separate area for “excess” to
pull from before you shop.

Contain:
* Place sticky bottles and ointments in a container. Choose clear
containers to keep labels and other supplies in view.
* Place loose items in a container or ziplock bag – keeping like items
together.
* Place a magnetic strip inside the door to hang clippers, tweezers etc.
* Keep medicines out of reach of small children. Also, consider
separating or locking up prescription and/or medicines that can cause
serious harm or are common candidates for abuse, or.. you would like to
keep private :)

Maintain:
* Hang an erasable marker board on the inside of the door. The board can
be used to keep a shopping list of items, refill date reminders,
reminders to take a particular medicine, and finally a reminder to use
up an item before you open another, or to toss out expired or item no
longer needed!
* Leave at least 10% free space to allow for room to add seasonal or new
products.
* Clean out and organize your medicine cabinet at least once a year.

Got Photos?

2011-06-22T22:04:00.000-05:00

I realize I have fallen off of the edge of the blogging earth recently, but I have exciting news to share; I have expanded my organizing services! Over the past 5 years I have assisted many clients with their photo organization needs, but after attending an inspiring workshop at this year’s National Association of Professional Organizers conference I decided to expand my services to better meet the multitude of needs that plague so many of my clients and people I personally know. I quickly joined APPO (Association of Personal Photo Organizers) and have developed areas of photo organization to focus on, and am ready to assist as your Personal Photo Organizer!

Digital cameras have almost completely replaced film and negatives. Unfortunately, instead of taking a half or single roll of film (12-24 pics) for each birthday party, many think nothing of taking 50-100 photos in an instant, while rarely deleting any of them! Most of us have quickly become overwhelmed with the sheer number of photos we take, and find that the images linger on our cameras, computers and phones (as well as taking up more than their fair share of memory!) In addition, the pictures that we DO manage to print (along with photos printed prior to the digital camera era) are usually still in boxes, bins and bags.

Most of us really long tackle this task “someday” because we know it is worthwhile to preserve our precious memories and have the ability to share them with others. The truth is; organizing photos can be an overwhelming and time-consuming task and one we tend to think can only be done by us alone.

I would love to help you with any or all of your photo needs, whether digital or traditional. I can help you to make sense of that huge box of photos, safely organize and store your digital photos, or bring your photos, negatives or VHS tapes into the 21st century.

My services include:
• The ABC’s of organizing traditional prints
• Retrieval of digital pictures from your camera, computer, jump
drive etc.
• Organizing and safely storing digital pictures
• Installing photo organization software and provide instruction on
how to use
• Scanning printed photos or negatives and converting to digital
images
• Converting VHS Tapes to DVD or external hard drive
• Speaking to groups and organizations on Photo Organization

Contact me for a consultation. We will discuss your photo needs, define your goals and discuss how I can assist you. Charges vary depending on the size and scope of the project. I offer several packages that include discounts. I look forward to working with you and relieving you of the burden of your photo chaos! Not sure you can afford this service? Consider other services you may have utilized; lawn-care, stylist, manicurist, massage therapist, pet care, cleaning services, etc. and then re-consider if you can afford NOT to properly care for one of the top three things you would grab in case of a fire or flood, that insurance can NOT replace!

Please visit my APPO website for details and more information @ www.personal-photo-organizer.com/sandyjones

Sandy Jones
214-354-3008

"R"is for REASONS to get organized.

2011-04-30T00:05:00.000-05:00

If you are reading this blog, it’s probably safe to say you are “interested” in Organizing. To make the move from "interested" to taking "action" - Here are some real reasons you should WANT to be more organized!

RAGE.
Eliminate the frustration of looking for misplaced items, spending money to buy things you know you already have or paying late fees! Not only will you have less rage but so will those around you. People are not happy campers when you forget their special occasions, don’t call them back, and are constantly late.

ROMANCE.
It’s quite the “mood killer” when the bed is stacked with laundry, and the room is a mess. Being “dirty” does not mean having papers, receipts, food, and dirty socks all about! Turn on some Barry White and get busy organizing that bedroom!

RED FACE
Are you too embarrassed to have family or friends over, invite a date inside, give a ride in your car, or have meetings in your office? Is choosing to avoid filing, frightning fridges, or funky laundry keeping you from friends, family and fun?

RESPECT.
People will treat you differently when you are professional, on time, and look like you have your act together. As mentioned in a previous post.. Your office and home is a reflection of you! So, what does your space tell people about you? If you think that it is saying "I am busy and have an important life". Consider that it is also possibly SCREAMING "you are out of control, can't handle the job, are ineffective, are incompetent and you don't care" Yikes!

REWARDS.
Found money, found gift cards, found library book, found earring, found bills, No late fees, more time. Win-Win.

ROOM.
Less clutter = more room. Your house, closet or office is much bigger than it looks when it’s full of excess “stuff”. Make some room to move about freely, find things, clean easily, imagine, play, dream. Room to breathe.

Sandy vs. Technology Round II

2011-02-22T22:46:00.000-06:00

Technology is a necessary evil in my life. I love and hate it in the same breath. After months of computer issues, I gave in after Christmas and bought a new computer. I had NO idea what I was in for. It's not enough to have to set it up, install the programs and move all my data over to it. But to find out that almost every device I previously used was not compatible with the new operating system (Windows 7) it was almost more than I could bear. Finally, after downloading and upgrading many, many drivers and having to give in and re-purchase some accessories that I could not get new drivers for, I am back in business. Whoo-hoo! I do NOT want to do this again any time soon. Many mistakes were made and valuable lessons have been learned along the way. I've never felt as unorganized as I do now, as I have yet to get all my data loaded on the CPU (some on my laptop, some on CD's, some on jump drives).. More big fun in store for me. Thanks for your patience, and I look forward to sharing organizational tips and thoughts with you shortly.

Changing the way you set and think about goals - Part 1

2010-11-07T01:08:00.000-05:00

Motivational speaker Jim Rohn once said, "I find it fascinating that most people plan their vacations with better care than they plan their lives. Perhaps it's because escape is easier than change."

Why Set Goals?
• To keep focused. Zig Ziglar said, "If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time."

• A study of Harvard graduates found that after two years, the 3% who had written goals achieved more financially than the other 97% combined!

• Your self-confidence increases as you reach milestones along the way.

• Achieving or making progress towards a goal can be hugely motivating.

• You are no longer confused about what action to take. - Rather than starting many different projects and failing to accomplish any of them, goals direct you to take action in specific areas.

Reasons people do not set goals:
1) Most people don't realize the importance of setting goals.
2) They don't know HOW to set goals
3) No goal = no failure
4) Fear of rejection or criticism by others if they fail.

Reasons your goals may fail:
1) You are not serious about it or fully committed
2) Your goal is not specific enough
3) Your goal is not supported by others (or you are not accountable)

Do you have a goal for 2011? If not, consider why you don't - and why goal setting may be just what you need next year to succeed!

Who owns this gift anyways?

2010-09-13T12:14:00.000-05:00

"I can't get rid of it - it was a GIFT". Nothing creates guilt quite like a gift. Particularly if it is "handmade". It seems ungrateful to toss or give them away, doesn't it? What would they think if they came over and didn't see the John Deere clock, or Kitty Calendar they gave you?

Transfer of Ownership: Once you are given a gift, it is yours, and you may do with it what you like. Unless the giver has stated something like; "if you decide you don't want, or can't use this in the future, I would like to have it back" they do not have the right to tell you HOW to use it. You can keep it, modify it, re-gift it to someone who you know would love, want or need it, or get rid of it. You are NOT obligated to clutter your home with it if it does not match your style, you would NEVER use or eat it, you have several already, you are no longer "into" it, or if you hear it "sing" one more time as you walk by - someone is going to get hurt!

Separate the gift from the relationship. I love my friend, I do NOT love fruity smelling bubble bath. It is just an object, not an relationship. We all hope that the gifts we give are appreciated, especially if we actually have THOUGHT to them. But,sometimes we don't spend the time to give thoughtful and useful gifts, sometimes we are just "off" for a variety of reasons, and even gifts that were totally appreciated at the time have a shelf life at some point. We have no right to expect our gifts to be kept or seen.

Other Ideas:
Company is coming:
If you are feeling REALLY guilty and MUST hang on to it, but don't love it. Keep a small box of a FEW of these items that you do not wish to use or display, and pull them out of the box when the giver visits :)

A picture is worth a 1,000 Words:
Consider taking a photograph of the items with the person who gave it to you and give that person a copy of the photo.

Have a "Re-gifting" Party. Wrap up your less-than-loved or needed presents, or even things you bought yourself in a moment of insanity. Number the gifts and hand out corresponding numbers and let the unwrapping and snickers begin. Someone might LOVE what they got. It could happen! A great time to do this is in January after Christmas :)

Ways to avoid recieving well-intentioned gifts

* Don't GUSH over a gift you don't like. Just give a simple thank you.
* If someone ASKS you what you want, speak up now, or shut up later.
* An ounce of prevention: Don't be shy - drop hints about what you love,
or that you have more than enough of an item, are attempting to reduce
clutter and would love a consumable gift of entertainment, lessons, or
dining etc.

Too late? See if you can exchange it for something you love, keep if for it for a short while or photograph it, and then donate it, or pass the gift along pronto. But whatever you do, don't clutter your life and home with things you DO NOT LOVE.

Summer Siesta and Blog Lurkers

2010-09-13T10:59:00.000-05:00

Holy cow, were has the Summer gone? And why have I not posted on my blog since April? Looking back, I guess I have been distracted by the need to simplify my life by downsizing and moving into a smaller home, transitioning my way out of some rewarding personal and professional volunteer commitments and focusing on some weight loss goals. I was also blessed to be able to have a working vacation out of town, visiting with family and organizing while there. I also manged to have a little fun this summer and of course I was cooking, and then was the summer taxi Mom. As usual I was busy networking, organizing, participating with the local NAPO Organizing Chapter, and on a local episode of A&E Hoarders, and lastly, teaching some workshops. Blogging was low on the list this summer I have to say.

And well, I almost quit blogging since it's lonely out here with no followers or comments on this blog, leaving me to think NO one reads it. But as I have discovered in all other aspects of this profession, some people are embarrassed about the subject, or prefer to be "private". I know you lurkers are out there, I see by the traffic on the site report, and then run into people who say "hey, I read this or that on your blog, and loved it". Come on people, make yourself known! Let's get some conversation rolling!

Re-thinking The Linen Closet

2010-04-20T23:23:00.000-05:00

Almost every home has a linen closet, but few really need one. Often when I am organizing a client’s home, we go searching for under utilized storage space, and the linen closet is often it. With a little shifting and creativity, you can put this prized storage space to premium use to fit the NEEDS of your family.

First, assess all of the linens for each bedroom in the house. Are there any that are stained, getting worn, thin or faded? If so, toss them or put them to good use such as rags, costumes, or drop cloth!

Second, determine HOW many bedding sets per bedroom is enough. Generally it is two. Next, take a tip from Martha, and fold the fitted and flat sheets and place inside the pillowcase for neat storage and to keep everything together.

Finally, consider the common organization rule of “placing items next to where you use them”. If the baby’s room is upstairs and your linen closet is downstairs, it makes much more sense to place them upstairs to start, but even more sense to store in the baby’s room itself – in the closet, in a dresser drawer, or you even can store the spare set flat between the mattress and box spring! It is sooo much more convenient when it is time for a family member to change sheets, to have them conveniently located nearby, and eliminates any confusion and mix ups of various bed sizes and sheet preferences.

In the winter, store extra blankets at the end of your bed, across a chair or in your closet. If you find you aren’t putting them to use – get rid of them! Or box them up and put them in the garage or attic. In the summer- box'em up. Place them under your bed in a rolling bin, in a chest, or in your closet. Consider shrinking them down, by using a Space Bag and removing all the air from the bag.

Now that you have a cleared out closet – here are some closet storage ideas that may be more practical and needed in YOUR home.
* Arts and crafts center: Scrap booking, Sewing, School Supplies etc.
* Emergency preparedness. If your kitchen is lacking an adequate
pantry, or if you stockpile food, or have emergency preparedness items,
this is a great space for infrequently accessed, or bulk food items.
* Stockpiled items. If you clip coupons and stockpile items like food,
paper goods, excess toiletries, cleaners etc. and find the garage
storage in the Texas Summer is NOT an option. This is a great storage
place.
* Butler’s Pantry. If you don’t have a china hutch, buffet, or adequate
space for dinning related items, consider storing china, crystal, linens
and serving platters.
* Library or school center. Store reading books, reference materials, and
school supplies. Hang backpacks on inside of door with this great tool.
* Game Closet. If conveniently located near your living or dinning room;
store family games, video games, music etc.
* Gift Closet. If you are the person that shops throughout the year and
keep gifts on hand, you can store them in here, along with wrapping
paper, and gift cards etc.
* Office. Seriously. I have seen many people creatively use closet space
as an office. Matter of fact, in my last home, my sons’ desk along with
his computer and all his materials were in his bedroom closet! If you
write or use a laptop at the kitchen table, or have a small kitchen
computer area, you can store the rest of your office materials in here.
Phone books, reference binders and books, filing totes or small filing
cabinet, office supplies etc. If you want to go the next level, consider
adding lighting, possibly removing a bottom shelf to create a
desk/working area, and adding a chair that will fit. You can close the
door to put the office “away” or take the door off!

Utilize that door! An Elfa over the door system can be used for food or paper products, or toiletries, and their media door storage system can be used for DVD’s, CD's, and VHS tapes.

By simply placing linens in the rooms they are used, you now have have oodles of choices of how to BEST use this space in your home. I'd like to hear how you decide to use the linen closet in YOUR home.

The Well Intended and Over-committed You

2010-01-25T09:52:00.000-06:00

"Every time you say yes to something, you are saying no to something you already said yes to" - Mitzi Weinman, TimeFinder. In trying to make everyone happy, do you end up feeling stressed, tired or resentful or find that your own personal needs have gone unmet?

So, is it worse to say yes and then feel resentful or angry, or to say no and feel guilty? Anyone who knows me knows that guilt goes a long way for me. No matter how hard we try, we can't do it all, all of the time, and we can't do some things as often or as well as we would like to. We all know there HAS to be a balance, and only you know where that balance lies.

Here are some tips for finding balance, and avoiding over committing.

Prioritize: Start by prioritizing the areas of our life into Work, Health, Family, Friends and Spirit.

Keep focused on your values: With each request that is put before you keep your values clearly in mind. Upon review of your day or week, evaluate what you determined is MOST important to you and note the discrepancies.

Self-Care: If you want to de-stress and unclutter your life, start with yourself. Think of it as self-care vs. selfish, there is a huge difference. Taking good care of yourself will make a happier and healthier you, and better able to deal with the demands in your life.

Ownership: Do you need to be needed? Beware of the "compliment" where someone says that you do something sooo much better than them, and could you do it? Tell them you can't and that "your ____ are just fine" (or "more than adequate"). Ask yourself how did I get to this point? Make a list of the last 5 times you said yes and agreed to do something for someone else, Then gauge your feelings after each event: resentful? pressured?

Assess: Where Can I Cut Back?
Start with a list of areas of responsibilities to determine who and what are the major culprits when it comes to using up your time. For each responsibility ask yourself:
- Can I let go? If not, why?
- Can someone else do this? Who would a logical choice be?
- What would the consequence be if I let this go?
- Refer back to your list of priorities, values and goals. Where does
this responsibility fit?

Honesty is the best policy. Don't drown in your own excuses. An honest and firm answer is best. Excuses will only lead to recriminations and waste more time.

The art of saying NO: According to Miss Manners, the polite way to refuse is to offer an apology, but no excuse. This is something that takes practice, and I seriously have to work on. She suggests polite denials such as
"Oh, I'm terribly sorry, but I can't."
"I'd love to, but I'm afraid it's impossible",
Unfortunately, I can't, but I hope you can find someone".

Here are 10 more honest ways to say NO
1) I'm not taking on any new projects at this time.
2) I'm focusing more on my personal and family life right now.
3) I'm in the middle of several projects and can't spare the time.
4) I'm committed to leaving some time for myself in my schedule this year.
5) I can't, but I'm happy to help out with another task
6) I really need some downtime, so I’ll have to pass. Email me a picture
if you can and tell everyone ‘hi’ for me.”
7) I'd love to help; unfortunately, I'm already overextended
8) I know I've agreed to ______ in the past, but it only made me feel
anxious/uncomfortable/overwhelmed. That's why it's important for me to
now say no."
9) I’m sorry, but I really can’t give that project the attention it
deserves.”
10)I’m sorry, but I just have a lot of other responsibilities on my plate.
11)I really can’t give that project the attention it deserves.”
12) I can't. But, let me give you the name of someone who might be able to.

Or you might try a lighter approach! I'd love to but...

1) It wouldn't be fair to the other Beautiful People.
2) My subconscious says no.
3) Having fun gives me prickly heat.
4) I prefer to remain an enigma.
5) I'm trying to cut down.
6) I'm trying to see how long I can go without saying yes.
7) I never go out on days that end in "Y."
8) There are important world issues that need worrying about.
9) I'm observing National Apathy Week.
10)My palm reader advised against it.
11)There's a disturbance in the Force.
12)I'm being deported
13)The Grunion are running.
14)None of my socks match.
15)I feel a song coming on.

If you are unable to communicate the word NO in any form; get yourself any of these STOP ME BEFORE I VOLUNTEER AGAIN products at http://annetaintor.com/search.html to remind yourself and others that this is an area in life you want to work on!

A New Years' Commitment

2010-01-01T18:10:00.000-06:00

When it comes to New Year’s Resolutions, I had initially decided NOT to write about it because it seems so cliché’ and predictable this time of year. But seriously, as an Organizer, I can’t seem to dismiss the idea (and problems) of resolutions in relation to organization.

I have found the following saying to be true in my life: “If you want something you have never had before, you have to be willing to do something you have never done before” And in the case of wanting to get organized, the one thing you need to have, that you never had before is RESOLVE!

Resolve:
1) a: to deal with successfully b: to clear up c: to find an answer to d: to make clear or understandable e: to find a solution for.
2) a: to reach a firm decision or determination

As a Professional Organizer, I deal with the issue of “resolve” with almost every client. It really is the one thing that separates those who experience success in organization from those who never “quite” reach their goal. I generally find that out of every 8 clients I work approx 3 are actually resolved to get organized and see it through to completion successfully. And then there is the 1 that actually gets organized and successfully STAYS organized.

So, what separates the 5 that fail to ever “get organized”?

FIRM DECISION vs. fleeting moment: Some get bit by the momentary organization bug, and call an Organizer in the “moment”. Once they realize that getting organized and staying organized is work, and some changes to habits might have to be made, or cost may be involved, and so they abandon the fleeting idea. Make an educated decision to get organized.

EXCUSES & DISTRACTIONS: Some started with really good intentions and were on the way to organizational bliss… but somewhere along the way, they got “sidetracked”: the unexpected happened, momentum or interest was lost, they got distracted, or it was taking longer or was harder than they thought. Finally after many weeks or months of putting it on the “back burner” the good intention and focus is gone. A conscious effort has to be made to keep your organization efforts a priority when you become temporarily distracted or derailed. Keep your goals firmly in front of you.

ANALYSIS PARALYSIS: This is often the case for those with OCD and perfectionists tendencies. With analysis paralysis a person may overanalyze the circumstance they face. When this happens, the sheer volume of analysis overwhelms the decision-maker, weighing them down so much they feel overwhelmed with the task and are unable to come to a rational conclusion. A person may also frequently think in overly complicated terms of "what to do next" while contemplating the variety of possibilities and options, and in doing so exhausts the available time in which to act. They spend so much time “planning” they have no time left to “execute”. You got to start somewhere. A perfect, well thought out nothing is NOT a solution. In regards to organization, something IS better than nothing.

UNDERESTIMATIING: One common reason for not finishing or succeeding in the area of organization is just plain simple underestimating. It can be any area of the process; time, volume, work to be done, their ownership, their responsibility, decision making ability, or cost. When any of these areas exceeds what they anticipated, it can be overwhelming, and you can quickly lose your resolve and determination. Plan to double the time you think it will take (or more). Baby steps are ok.

IMPATIENCE: We are an impatient society, wanting quick-fix results. But it’s hard to fix what you don’t understand. Many people do not want to spend the time to find the real answer to the problem. After many years of working with clients, I often discover that they just want to put a band aid on a wound that will keep bleeding, unless they fix what is causing the bleeding. To truly be organized, you have to be willing to look at and understand how it got this way in the first place (ownership & habitual changes). A person may be willing to spend days and hundreds on organizing the garage, but never change the fact that they still use it as a dumping ground, and never take the time to keep it maintained. Ultimately they are disappointed with the results. When you are committed or resolved, you desire to find an answer to, or make clear and understandable the root of the problem. By doing this, you can best determine how to put long-term corrective measures, tools and solutions in place. Organization is a process not a destination.

VALUE PERCEPTION: Organizers frequently get desperate calls about an area in need of immediate organization, and the person will go into great detail as to how it negatively affects their life. They want to fix it but can’t justify to themselves or commit to spending too much time or money to fix it. In doing so, they clearly are underestimating the VALUE of the solution, and so are only willing to make a limited portion of the changes, leaving themselves with only a partial solution. They want their office organized, but will only if they can do it on a certain day, while the kids are napping, in less than 4 hours, and under x amount of dollars; yet admit to paying late fees each month for unpaid bills. People who REALLY want something can almost always find the time or money to make it happen. Do you want to spend your time and money on e problem or the solution?

Finally, what separates the one person that STAYS organized from the other 3 that resolved to GET organized?

They were COMMITTED: (A pledge to do (promise); being bound emotionally or intellectually to a course of action or to another person or persons) to do what it takes, and see it through to the end, and MAINTAIN their commitment. You didn’t really think I could write a blog article without using the “M” word did you? This year instead of Resolving to Get Organized – COMMIT to it!

My Big BUT!

2009-11-12T23:09:00.000-06:00

Silly common excuses we use for holding on...

I might need it someday. What are the odds? seriously. You might need it someday… but most likely …you might not. Can your easily replace it, or does someone else have it if you REALLY needed it again someday? What is the worst thing that would happen if you did NOT have it?

There’s an article I want to read. Good intention #1. If the magazine is older than 6 months – let those articles go. At he very LEAST, cut the article out and file it, then and toss the rest of the magazine.

It was a gift. Do you actually use, like, or love it? If not, and it really is the thought that counts – think of someone else who might love to have it, then give it as a gift to someone else, or a charity.

I paid good money for it. Just because you make one mistake, doesn’t mean you should make another mistake…by keeping the first mistake. What is the value of a designer suit that just hangs in your closet getting dustier every year? Zero. Donate that suit; it is worth a lot more to the person who actually needs it.

As soon as I lose 25 lbs, I’ll be able to wear it again. My personal favorite bieng a chunky girl.. Ok, so box the clothes that don’t fit, for 1 year. If they still do not fit after the year…donate them or 50% of your least favorites. After year 2 – donate the remaining 50% and let it go. When you do lose the weight – reward yourself with NEW clothes instead of old, wrinkled, and most likely- out of style clothes.

If you are one of the many who kid themselves that they “JUST wore this”- Turn ALL your hangers backwards, then when you wear something (not just trying it on again) put the hanger in correctly. In 6 months, look to see which are still facing wrong direction… Most people wear a small portion of their wardrobe and rarely, if ever touch the rest.

It’s still perfectly good. Well, if it’s so darn good, why is it buried, boxed, or covered with dust? Do you actually USE it? If not, lose it.

I inherited it. Do you love it, or even like it? You are not obligated to fill your home with items someone else enjoyed, if you do not. For all you know, they might have never liked it themselves, but felt obligated to keep it because it was given to them! Guilt; keeping houses filled with clutter since: the begining of time.

It doesn’t belong to me. If it’s not your OWN stinkin’ clutter, give the responsibility and the stuff to the rightful owner... Otherwise, starting charging. You are not a storage company.

It just needs to be fixed. Then send it out to get it fixed already. Write it down and set a deadline.

They don’t make things like that anymore. Most items – if valuable, dependable, or necessary – are STILL being made, or have been improved on. Besides, it doesn’t matter how well-made it is if you NEVER use it!

It would cost a fortune to replace. IF you really need to replace it. But just think of all the time and money you’ll save by not storing it, maintaining it, crawling over or digging under it and NOT replacing it.

It brings back old memories. Heck, my divorce papers bring back memories too, let go of the bad memories. For the rests, opt to take a photograph of the musty stuffed animal and your child with the macaroni art they made you and let go of the item.. A photo with a written note/story about it or why it is important to you will offer greater value than a box full of stuffed animals or art with no known meaning. . If you must keep keepsakes, honor them with proper care and storage or display them.

The compulsive shopper vs. the Holidays - "It's the most difficult time.. of the year.."

2009-11-01T11:41:00.000-06:00

So,why are the Holidays worse?

• Increased advertising and marketing - increasing the pressure to buy
• The desire to please others
• Percieved pressure up with the Joneses (seriously, you don't have to dip too far into the wallet to keep up with ME!)
• For some, the holiday season brings feelings of loneliness or
depression

In addition, at-home shopping opportunities -- on TV and the Internet create problems for compulsive shoppers. Before you head out shopping this Holiday Seaon – get perspective, set limits, and get help if needed. Holiday shopping is no laughing matter for people who can't control their shopping habits.

What is Compulsive Shopping?
Compulsive shopping is a “chronic, repetitive purchasing" that is often a response to negative events or feelings” In other words, shopping makes the individuals feel better and it temporarily fulfills what they are missing, and can the feeling/action can become addictive. The individuals have uncontrollable urges to purchase. It is hard for them to stop spending money even if they cannot afford to. Compulsive shopping patterns include daily shopping, occasional binge-shopping, collecting, bargain hunting and buying multiples of one item.

Don’t be fooled
Some compulsive shoppers may not actually buy anything. They may just spend all day shopping. They find it exciting, or may use it as a way to escape. Compulsive shopping is often a very secretive disorder, as many are embarrassed that thier out of control shopping is causing problems in their life. Some often try to justify the purchases because the purchase is educational; such as books, media or technology. Or because they believe they are SAVING money such as bargain shopping, or buying larger quantities or multiples.

As with other compulsive behaviors, shoppers tend to have underlying disorders or mental illnesses that feed or intensify their shopping behavior, turning a normal activity into an irresistible or uncontrolled urge. Underlying disorders that accompany compulsive shopping, include various types of depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, drug and alcohol abuse, anxiety, and eating disorders.

Strategies
Accountability: Have your spouse, relative or best friend monitor your checkbook and purchases each month.

Avoid Boredom: Fill your day by taking care of others
Plan outings with friends and neighbors
Get involved in your children's school events and activities.

Shopping solutions
Reduce your options: Open your wallet and pull out all the credit cards. 'Do you really need 10 or more credit cards?' " Cut in half the ones that are expendable or not needed.
Leave your checkbook at home for bill paying only

Budget: When you shop – have preset list and budget.

Be honest: Ask yourself 'Do you REALLY need that?' " "You may not be able to control your thoughts, but you can control your behavior.

If you think you need professional help for compulsive shopping:
Typically, people who are compulsive shoppers decide to get help when they either finally admit they have a problem or when someone they care about drags them into treatment.
• Read one of the many self-help books on the subject
• Talk to a mental-health professional, such as a psychiatrist or
psychologist who specializes in compulsive behaviors.
• Contact a Consumer Credit Counseling Service.
The effectiveness and type of treatment depends on the severity of the problem and the person's willingness to change.

Compulsive Shopping Test
• I feel a lack of control over my spending habits.
• I feel guilty when I shop.
• I don't know -- or want to admit -- how much I shop.
• I tend to hide purchases and shopping expeditions from my loved ones.
• Shopping is my favorite method of relieving tension and anxiety.
• I often care more about the action of buying than what I actually buy.
• My closet is full of unused things.
• I often buy things I can't afford.
• Other people would be horrified if they knew how much I shop.
• I buy myself things to make myself feel better.
Each of these statements is a warning that your shopping may be out of control.. The more statements that apply, the more serious the problem may be.

I'm late, I'm late, for a very important date...

2009-09-19T11:33:00.000-05:00

Some times we joke that we are "fashionably late", when in reality lateness for many is a chronic problem, where they find themselves constantly tardy, surrounded with chaos and offering apologies to all they know. There is nothing "fashionable" about leaving people waiting, wondering, or worrying.

In most cases, lateness is caused by the underestimation of time and how much you can actually do in a day and by distractions/procrastination! (things I'd RATHER do). In addition, a person becomes so immersed in what they have to do that day, and how it is all going to get done, that they track of time, and focus on those around them.

Here are some Anti-lateness tips to help you break the late habit!

Get Real.
Time yourself if necessary to see how long something actually takes. If taking the kids to school really took 20 minutes, stop planning for 10. If you think that stopping by the grocery store on your way home from work will only take 5 minutes... time it. Did it? This should raise your time reality awareness.

Take the blinders off.
It's much easier and more comfortable to ignore how your lateness affects those around you. Listen for subtle and not-to-subtle hints, watch for reactions, make note of the consequences (loss of opportunity, respect, money, added chaos, anger, and disappointment). If you really want to know how it affects others.. ASK. You might hear some hard truths. Thinking of others, instead of just your own busy life, or being honest about real consequences for lateness is an eye opener and fosters the desire to change. Part of taking "ownership" in your lateness, is to be honest with your excuses. Don't offer dramatic play by play of your horribly busy day, or the unforeseen event that caused your tardiness. Be honest and say "I'm so sorry I am late, I didn't mean to be rude or inconvenience you" Or admit that this is a problem area in your life, and that you are working on improving your time management skills.

Practice Time Management Tips:
*Use a planner to schedule the time in your day for appointments and your to-do lists. This includes long-range plans, appointments, phone calls, outings, and even routine tasks such as bill-paying and laundry. Keep it flexible by creating buffer time between each task that can accommodate unexpected delays. Write phone numbers next to appointments, so you can call to verify the time, or if you need to reschedule.
*Avoid squeezing in "just one more" thing, especially at the last minute.
*Use a timer if you need it, to signal how long the task actually took, or when to stop and move on, and not lose track of time. Use a stop watch, cell phone or a computer reminder. (speaking of computers, it is very good idea to have a timer next your computer -to avoid getting sucked in to the black hole of time while on the computer and then are left scrambling to make up time we lost)
*Stop arriving "with just a minute" to spare. If you have a 3:15 appointment, PLAN on arriving 10 minutes early. This will allow you to still be on time if excessive traffic, quarreling kids, or any other unforeseen delay happens.

Review.
At the end of the day look back at uncompleted tasks. Why were they not accomplished? Was too much planned for the day, what held you up? Just like planning a budget.. there is a forecast of what you think you will spend and then what you actually spent and the two must be reconciled. Write in another color in your planner, the unscheduled activities, or unforeseen delays that occurred, and at what time. Now you can SEE where your time went. Then adjust where needed:
*Create buffer times if necessary in between.
*Adjust the time for how long a task really took vs what you estimated
*Plan into your schedule tasks that you originally didn't schedule/plan for but that you note a pattern of frequency (just because you don't want to or didn't plan to drop off extra kids after school, or 30 minutes late after work) doesn't mean you should not PLAN for it.
If in your review you note patterns and frequncy of an unplanned event, PLAN for it. You will never be late, will never disappoint, and will only gain TIME that you can use as YOU choose, not as time dictates!

Still not enough time in the day? Something may have to go. There is only 24 hours in a day. Never more. You can only attend so many worthwhile events, and say yes to so many things. You may have to lighten up on possible perfectionist tendencies and ways. Look for everyday shortcuts. Is there an easier way? Look for ways that you can multi-task such as cleaning the shower while you are in it. Buy all your birthday and occasion cards at once instead of one at a time, not only will you save time shopping, but you will have the card when you need it. Group activities or locations where possible. If you are going to the post office, what is near by that you can take care of in that area instead of going there 2-3 times that week. If you have to take a kid for a routine hair cut or teeth cleaning, take them all at the same time. Saving just a few minutes here and there can free up a surprising amount of time.

Holy cow, now I'm early, and I'm wasting time just sitting here... I KNEW I could have run to the post office first! Stop it. Doing so, would have run the risk of you being late AGAIN. Instead, always have something to do with you, that you can do while you wait. Call a friend or associate, review and adjust your planner or to-do list, keep articles you've been meaning to read with you, clean out your purse or glovebox.. you know it needs it. Or do the unthinkable.... RELAX.

The Organized Summer Tote

2009-06-20T17:27:00.000-05:00

Be prepared for whatever the summer events may throw at you, by having the following tote bag packed and ready to go!

Pack a disposable camera, towel, frisbee or ball for impromptu outdoor fun.

Consider keeping a large ziplock bag to put wet clothing into(and a small change of clothes if desired).

Pack insect repellent wipes, water, sunscreen, hat and a neck cooling band like those at www.neckcoolersrus.com to protect against extended time out in the heat and elements.

Pack diapers, cleaning wipes, books/magazines or handheld games, and granola bars to keep the kids happy, fed and clean!

Have a great summer!

A Gift You and Mom Can Feel Good About...

2009-04-25T22:40:00.000-05:00

Mother's Day is just around the corner, and here are five great JUNK FREE gift ideas for Mom, or for any gift giving occasion. Consider a meaningful gift that you can give that doesn't add unecessary clutter to the homes and lives of those you love just because you feel you have to wrap and give "something".

1) Give An Experience: What does mom like doing? Give her the chance to do those things, or even do them together. Take cooking classes, got to dinner and a movie, give tickets to the theater or a hot air balloon ride. Get a massage or pedicure. A thoughtful experience is something she is sure to appreciate!

2) Charitable Donations. Donating to a charity in someone elses' name let you support a cause that Mom appreciates, and keeps you from wondering if your gift ended up "re gifted" or is sitting in the garage. Everyone benefits! Charities will often send a note or card for you. One suggestion; http://www.solarcookerproject.org/

3) Your time and talent. Considering granting some of your time and talents to mom. What do you do really well, or do that Mom can not do for herself. Home repairs, cooking, babysitting, visiting with an elderly mother, or running errands. Your time or talents are most likely something that is more valuable than many other present you can give.

4) Consumables. Ok, so not every gift given ends up as clutter... Give mom something she can and WILL use. Food, beverages, plants, flowers, candles, & chocolate are all great. The important thing is to really take the time to consider what they like. Remember quality is often better than quantity. Idea: Personalized M&M's from http://www.mymms.com/.

5) Gift Certificates. Although they are often considered the "last minute" gift, if thought is truly given, they are actually the perfect way to give Mom exactly what she WANTS. If you are really clueless, then consider a pre-paid card, which can be used almost anywhere along with a special note. Gift Certificate Ideas: Favorite restaurant, movies, lessons, or give the gift of organization, with a gift certificate from Simply Organized by Sandy at http://www.organizedbysandy.com/

Goodbye Winter, Hello Spring

2009-04-07T22:23:00.000-05:00

It was 33 last night, and tomorrow will be 82. Spring has arrived in Texas! That means it is time to Spring Clean before it gets too stinkin' hot! If you are a Spring Cleaner, you are in good company. A 2005 Harris Interactive survey indicated that 3 out of 4 adults in the U.S. (72%) were gearing up for Spring Cleaning.

How did the custom of Spring Cleaning Originate? It began back when people had coal-burning fireplaces and houses were coated with soot by spring. Our homes may not be covered in soot, but in the winter months, well, things get "funky". Luckily, just like Mother Nature, we can renew and refresh ourselves and our homes.

But before you can effectively banish the dust bunnies, and spider webs, you most likely need to de-clutter it first. You can't clean under the bed when stuff is stashed under it. And instead of dusting the dusty nic-nacs, books and keepsakes, know that is is OK to change your style. You are not obligated to keep items that you were given when you were 16 , when they no longer represent who you are and what makes you most happy. It is YOUR home and life. People grow and change, and if you have, then consider donating it. Reduce the piles, and get rid of what doesn't work, what no longer fits, what your kids no longer play with. I know you have some... Let the light in, take a deep breath - " It's going to be a bright, bright, bright -sunshiny day!"

Here are some tips and common areas for spring cleaning:

Make the most of the day. There is nothing like taking in a breath of fresh air. Open the windows to invigorate yourself and remove lingering winter odors.

Get rid of the excess "stuff". Is the "stuff in your home useful, does it make you happy, do you truly need it? If they don't pass any three of those questions, it may be time to let it go. The end result will be a home full of only things that are meaningful and useful.

#1 Spring Cleaning area... the Garage. Pick a fabulous day and pull all the contents out. Survey the stuff, and get rid of broken equipment, outgrown clothing and sports gear and unused belongings. When putting it back, create zones in the garage for lawn/garden equipment, tools/home maintenance, sports, seasonal item. If your car still doesn't fit in the garage, keep purging and then go up-take advantage of overhead space and wall storage!

Purge the paper. The taxes are filed, so now is great time to purge your files. If you don't already have a system for archiving papers that you need to keep (such as past tax returns, medical records and real estate records, now is good time. While you are at it, toss or donate the pile of old magazines!

Clear out the clothes and shoes. Now is the time to stash away heavy winter clothes and take your lighter clothing out of storage. This year, as you make the swap, take the time to do some serious sorting and purging, especially children's outgrown clothing and your parachute pants or stirrup leggings!

Happy Spring to all!

It's a Family Affair

2009-03-26T22:16:00.000-05:00

Here are a few ways to include the entire family in helping to get and keep your home more organized...

IDENTIFY FAMILY MEMBER ACCOUNTABILITY:
Does everyone in the home insist the clutter isn't theirs, but rather is someone else's? Do you get tired of pointing out the items to each family member? If so, one way to help members of your family become more aware of their contributions to the clutter is to assign and buy a colored dot or fun character sticker (that is easily removable) to represent each family member. Be sure to include yourself! Each day place a sticker on items that are left lying around, that needs to be put back "home". This can help each member become more aware of their contribution to the clutter including the volume or frequency. The stickers serve as a silent reminder and cuts back on the nagging requests to put things away.

MAKE IT FUN:
If your family has a game night, consider a scavenger junk hunt. Give each family 10-15 items to find. Your lists may include orphaned socks, containers with no lids, broken toys, battered books, outgrown clothing, old phone books, last year's homework, t-shirts with holes, you name it. Set an amount of time to find the objects. At the end of the game, toss the junk and have a treat for the family and if desired award prizes.

DEVELOP DAILY HABITS:
Implement the 5 minute clean up. Before bedtime establish a 5-minute clean up as part of the bedtime ritual. Have each child spend 5 minutes picking up items lying around the house. The morning of the day you start, let them know that after the 5 minutes are up, you will be gathering any remaining items that have not been picked up. All of the items will be going into a "earn back" or "service" box. They will be able to earn them back by having to perform a service by doing a simple chore (requiring no more than 5 minutes). To encourage items not continuously going into or staying in the box indefinitely, set the last day of the month as the day all items in the box go away as donations. On the first day, remind them that they will only have 5 minutes before bed, and encourage to pick up during the day if needed if you see that the clutter is WELL beyond a 5 min pick up. After the first or 2nd day, don't remind during the day, but let them learn by doing. Be sure that when someone has nothing put in the box that night or earns their belongings back that they are praised. You should see a decrease in the items that are taken out and not put away. When they get mad or frustrated that they can't get it all done in 5 minutes, be sure to teach/remind them that if they clean up as they go, or put away something before they take another item out, they will always be able to clean up in 5 minutes. Be consistent with this method. Pick up the items, do not give back until it has been earned, donate at the end of the month. If you are not consistent, you will have no credibility.

ENCOURAGE COOPERATION:
Make it clear you are not searching for perfection, but do insist that everyone cooperates and tries. You do not want to turn into a nag who makes coming home miserable. There may be many well established habits to break so you need to be patient but firm. Consider starting with establishing 3 basic rules such as:
* Remove dirty dishes from table or other area they were consumed in, rinse and put in
dishwasher.
* Put dirty clothes and towels in the hamper.
* Clean up 5 minutes before bed.

When you include the entire family, you not only are teaching good habits, and relieving yourself of some of the burden, but family members will find that when they are going to be part of cleaning up, they will be more careful about MESSING it up, and they will share more fully in the pride of a cleaner / more organized home.

Foot Fetish...

2009-03-04T12:33:00.000-06:00

Is there rumor of a sock shortage that I don’t know about?? Because it appears that hoarding of pantyhose and socks is completely out of control!

I was at my girlfriend’s house last week and we were looking through an old trunk that was her grandmothers, and inside was a pair of old wool socks. First, I thought, gross... Then I noticed how many times they had been darned. These were very well worn socks. Clearly, she was a frugal woman who did not believe in waste or did not have the luxury of owning several pairs, let alone DOZENS. It left me feeling not only very fortunate, but a little embarrassed over my good fortune or ocassional decisions to "toss" vs. fix things, at the same time.

One pair of excessively darned socks is certainly extreme, but can we be a little more realistic about the amount of balled up pantyhose and socks a person really might NEED on hand? Perhaps if you live in a rural area, or have a hard to find size of pantyhose, you might need to store more than average. But with department stores and drug stores right down the street practically open 24/7 there is no need to fear you might have pantyhose fashion emergency and can't find another pair quickly. Or heaven forbid, put on another color or outfit until tomorrow! The general rule of thumb is; two of each color should MORE than suffice. If you wear them frequently, wash them right after you wear them, so they are ready to wear again. When they wear out, throw them away, and buy another pair. (Again, apply the one-in/one-out rule). As always, be honest, be reasonable, be SIMPLE.

The same sensible idea applies to socks. But is a much more prevalent problem. How many socks can one possibly wear in a week? If you have colored socks - stick to the two per color rule maximum also, BUT be reasonable about how many different colored socks you REALLY need. Is your dresser stuffed with purple or pink socks that you wear once a year with a certain outfit or costume? Would your feet be just as warm and comfy in another color? I question which choice might really be a bigger fashion faux pas, wearing the pink socks, or having to wear white instead? I'd have to see the outfit :) I recommend 4 basic colors (tan, black, blue, brown) and the rest in WHITE. This will reduce the amount of time trying to find that one sock that is missing. Try to buy the same style each time if possible, to keep them mix and match.

Occasionally there are some necessary specialty socks (peds for clogs, knee highs etc) which is fine. Again, limit the colors and the amount of each style. And if you must have a pair or more of socks for every HOLIDAY, store them with other infrequently used seasonal clothing in your closet vs. taking up valuable real estate in your dresser drawer. Quit digging through dozens and dozens of sock that you NEVER wear, trying to find the pair that you ALWAYS wear. The 80/20 rule applies here too. You most likely wear 20% of your socks, 80% of the time. They are your favs, be honest.

So quick, how many pairs do you think you have? Most think 7-12 pair. If I was a betting woman, I'd say it's closer to 15-30 and depending on the woman, probably more :).

Wear what you have. When they wear out, toss them. If they are colored, and you are down to your 2 per color maximium, replace them with white if you need them. If you have enough whites, control yourself and resist the urge to buy more! What is enough whites? If you wear hose and or colored socks on occassion, 7 white socks are enough. If white is all you ever wear, then 14 is more than enough.. It will last you a week if you wear 2 pair a day, or two weeks if you wear a pair a day. If two weeks worth isn't enough, then that is another subject, for another day - Laundry!

MEAT-CAKE

2009-02-20T12:02:00.000-06:00

George Carlin has a great skit about the mystery food found in the refrigerator that goes like this: "Perhaps the worst thing that can happen is to reach into the refrigerator and come out with something that you cannot identify at all. You literally do not know what it is. Could be meat, could be cake. Usually, at a time like that, I'll bluff. "Honey, is this good?" "Well, what is it?" "I don't know. I've never seen anything like it. It looks like...meatcake!" "Well, smell it." (snort, sniff) "It has absolutely no smell whatsoever!" "It's good! Put it back! Somebody is saving it. It'll turn up in something." That's what frightens me. That someone will consider it a challenge and use it just because it's in there."

Does this sound familiar? If so, here is a quickie on organizing your refrigerator to keep it organized, avoid meat-cake suprise, and to save money.

PURGE: The best time to do this is the night before trash pick up, if you don't want to gag every time you walk into your garage for the next week. Open EVERYTHING. Remember the lesson on leaving no stone unturned? Look, smell (yikes), and check for expiration dates. Toss out the smidges left of this and that, consolidate where possible, and eliminate excess duplicates; if you have 6 kind of mustards, toss a few of your least favorites or combine similar ones. Make a mental note of HOW much was tossed, or the multiples of things purchased because it was hidden or poorly labeled and long forgotten! While you're purging, don't forget the outside also. Toss expired coupons, schedules, duplicate photos etc. It's looking or at least "smelling" better already, isn't it?

CLEAN: Give it a good cleaning if it needs it. Baking soda is a good odor eliminator, and Clorox Clean up gets rid of discoloring due to dyes and packaging.

SPACE PLAN: Get to know the layout of the land. Do you HAVE to put food in the area the drawers say? Well you should if you want to preserve them longer. The deli/cheese tray is the coldest, and should be used for that purpose. The crisper drawers seal tightly and and keeps in humidity to help retain moisture. You may also consider "green bags" or I also recommend Tupperware Fridgesmart containers to really extend the life (See Product Favorites). I love Fridgesmart, but wish they were clear so I use the labels), and they can take up a little extra room. Seriously, I had some strawberries in one for at LEAST 2 1/2 weeks - vs the standard 4-5 days. Also, do your homework and find out what fruits and veggies belong in the fridge and which DON'T. Get those potatoes, onions, squash, tomatoes (yes, I know they are a fruit), garlic and ginger out of the fridge. Same goes for most fruit, so get most of them out of the fridge. Store berries, grapes and ripened or cut fruit in the fridge. Not only are you making room, but you're produce will last and taste better. Get a fruit bowl to encourage grabbing of fruit in a hurry. Use the door of the fridge for bottled and jarred foods and condiments. Don't put eggs in the door, they stay fresher in their cartons, away from the door/oxygen. For everything else, consider clear containers for quick ID of the contents or using erasable food storage labels (see favorite products for labels that can go in the fridge, freezer, dishwasher or microwave!),

Other tips; square containers fit better than round ones, consider a soda can dispenser, pull out tray, or turntables for easy access. Consider keeping "ready-made snacks" and left overs in the same place all the time, for quick access of snacks by everyone without having to "dig" and a quick inventory of leftovers need to be eaten or "re-invented" to avoid waste. Consider labeling the leftovers and including the date they were made.

Simply Organized by Sandy's 10:30 Diet

2009-01-31T19:53:00.001-06:00

Do you need to lose an excess 10 or even 200 lbs of STUFF that’s accumulated in your home and in your mind? If so, can you spare 10 minutes? Come on…I know you can come up with 10 measly minutes if you REALLY wanted to. If you give me 10 minutes a day for 30 days, I will show you how you can lighten your life! I promise, you can do this – it’s a piece of cake!

What do you need?
- 1 Box
- 1 Trash bag
- Timer
- 1 pad of paper
- 10 minutes

How it works:
Dedicate just 10 minutes a day to sort and purge any room with the goal to toss a MINIMUM of 5 items per day. Multiple like-items count as ONE item. For example; A stack of 2 or 50 Magazines are one item. The 14 trial sized lotions are one item. The dozens of spare pens in the junk drawer count as ONE item… you get the idea.

START: Pick a start date and start in any room. but it’s good to begin in a small room like the bathroom or a closet so you can see “results” quickly. Grab your box and bag and set the timer. Yes, a timer. Many find the ticking sound creates a sense of urgency, keeps you on-track from getting distracted, and reminds you that this is not going to last forever. It’s just 10 minutes for crying out loud.

SORT: Trash goes into the trash bag, and donations go into the box. (If necessary, use a 2nd box for items that you are keeping, but belong in another room of the house). This is not the time to ponder, go with the obvious, be ruthless, time is ticking man.

TIME’S UP. When the 10 minutes are done write down the room you worked in and what you purged. Wow, what willpower. You made it, 10 minutes!

CLEAN UP. Toss the trash immediately, and put away the rogue items that belonged in other rooms. This is important to avoid just transferring the clutter from one room to another.

REMOVE visual clutter and temptation. Bring donations to your favorite donation site as you complete each room or every week if possible. This avoids cluttering up other areas of the home or garage with your “excess” and will also avoid the temptation for you (or others) to bring any items back into the home! You wouldn’t keep donuts on the counter to tempt you do you if you were trying to change your eating habits would you??
Feel free to mark the boxes with motivating info – such as “stuff that is weighing me down”, or weigh the box and write“12 lbs of ugly excess” – what ever works for you!

STICK with it. Work in this same room every day for 10 minutes until it is lean and mean! Don’t wimp out. Check under the sink, in the medicine cabinet, in the drawers, in the linen closet, on top of the sink etc. Get rid of mismatched and tattered towels, old makeup, personal hygiene products and medicines, bottles with ¼” inch of product left in it, broken items, and excessive travel sized products etc! No cheating – do not move into another room until you are done! Do not skip a day. It’s just 10 minutes. (I’m beginning to feel like Richard Simmons “I’m watching you!”.

ACKNOWLEGE & REWARD your work and success. Once you finish your room, take the time to appreciate the new space and feel. Review the list of items that were weighing you down – nasty empty calories! Who are we kidding? Chocolate tastes good and you miss it. This stuff does not, and you won’t. If you finish this first room in one or two 10-minute sessions, Fabulous. Move on to the next. If that bathroom takes all 30 days, that is fine too. When the 30 days are over it doesn’t matter if you transformed one room or 3 – it’s that you DID, and it was totally do-able. They say, “nothing tastes as good at thin feels”. Now I personally can't vouch for that statement, but I DO know though that clutter weighs you down mentally and physically, and have personally witnessed over and over the change in the way you feel and your life when you finally decide to own your stuff, instead of it owning you! Lastly, reward yourself. Now that every corner of the bathtub isn’t cluttered with empty shampoo bottles and toys, enjoy a fabulous bubble bath. Frankly, you really deserve a bon-bon too if that bathroom took a month to clear out...

MAINTENANCE. By the end of the 30 days you have now created the “habit” of dedicating approx 10-15 minutes a day to purging and putting away misplaced items. Now instead of purging, use these 15 minutes EVERY DAY on maintaining the health of these areas. Pick up stray items, tweak and improve systems, put things back where they go, to keep the excess pounds from creeping back up again! Make sure the family is supporting you, and not sabotaging your efforts. All family members should be contributing to the maintenance of your new and improved space!

If you find that your home still has some “extra pounds” to shed, take a break. During this time, have everyone in the family practice maintaining the areas for 2 weeks to help develop and maintain those good habits, and then start another 30 day program.

Wishing you a simply organized success - Sandy

Once and For All

2008-10-23T22:57:00.000-05:00

Perseverance is the hard work you do after you get tired of doing the hard work you already did. ~Newt Gingrich

Most of us have no problem organizing what is easy and convenient. You know, the "obvious" stuff.. tossing what's broken, donating what hasn't fit in many years, or filling the same bills month after month. I call it the "low hanging fruit".

But persistence and perseverance to see the organizing process through to the end is the challenge for most. You know, like getting all the way to the BOTTOM of the in-box for example, instead of filing the easy stuff, and leaving the "weird" papers behind week after week, month after month.

Practice leaving no stone unturned. By doing this, you will eventually find that EVERYTHING you own and keep is there with your permission. You have determined that it has a purpose, contribution, and place.
You can relax and find joy in knowing that nothing in your newly organized area is missing, in the way, or keeping you from what is important; there is nothing left to nag you, to resent, to make you feel you can not get control.
When you commit to starting the process of organizing any area, decide to also commit to being disciplined to see it through once and for all!

"Small deeds done are better than great deeds planned" ~ Peter Marshall

Tips of The Season: October-December

2008-10-15T22:37:00.000-05:00

PLANNING
1) CALENDAR IT! Spend planning time NOW penciling in all your family and outside events, to avoid confusion later. Whether it’s the fall festival, work party, school concert or when you will put up the tree, write it in your calendar!

2) WRAPPING: Purchase holiday paper early from school fundraisers so that you are ready to wrap. You’ll also be supporting your local schools. Or buy gifts from stores that offer free wrapping of gifts. This will cut down on costs and time. Lastly, wrap as you purchase gifts to avoid becoming overwhelmed having to wrap them all at once.

3) MEALS: Prepare a few make-ahead meals for Thanksgiving & Christmas dinner so you are not stuck in the kitchen the whole day but relaxing with your guests, or ask family members or guests to bring a side dish or dessert of choice.

4) CARDS: Use Thanksgiving Day as your benchmark date, before the busy month of December arrives. Get them addressed, stuffed into envelopes and stamped before Thanksgiving day bundled with a rubber band and a post-it note on top reading “Drop into mailbox second week of December”.

SHOPPING
1) BEST DAYS: Shop on Mondays and Tuesdays, if possible, typically the least busy in retail…or shop on-line this year for easy door to door service! Keep several hostess gifts and frozen cookies on hand. If you clip coupons, keep them in your car or purse so you will have them handy when needed.

2) MULTIPLES: Kill two or more birds with one stone! See a great gift? Consider who else might enjoy it, and buy several.

3) Stamps: Save a trip to the post office: Order Christmas stamps online at http://www.usps.com/ They can be delivered to your door. The Post Office has all their holiday postage stamps available by late October.

HOME
1) CLOSETS: Seasons change, and so should your closet. First discard any worn clothing, or clothes that no longer fit. Next, wash or dry-clean everything. You'll avoid stains setting and attracting pests. Do not starch clothing prior to storing, the starch feeds bugs and weakens the fabric, leading to brittleness, and, in a humid environment, can lead to permanent stains.

2) GARAGE
A study by the University of California at Los Angeles showed that 75 percent of the families polled had so much in their garages that they could not fit one car into the space. Instead of using your garage to store a couple hundred dollars worth of unused flower pots, sports gear that no longer fits the kids, pool toys that have seen better days, or warehouse store cases of paper towels, consider using it to store your $5,000 to $$60,000 investment - your car by keeping it protected from long term sun damage, rapid hail damage or theft! Stow away your gardening supplies, summer sports & camping gear, camping gear and other non-winter gear. Have a garage sale if necessary to clear it out. Get ready for winter by keeping boots, umbrellas, scrapers and other cold-weather gear accessible.

GREAT IDEAS
1) DECORATING: Love the way your house is decorated for the holidays? Take a photo of how you decorated, and store it with your Holiday items so you can cut your decorating time in 1/2 next season.

2)GIFT IDEA: Wondering what to get the person who has everything? Give the gift of home or office organization to someone you love! Starting Oct. 1st, prepaid gift certificates are available at a discounted Holiday/Recession Buster rate for use between 10/15/-12/31/08.

Touchy Subject...

2008-09-19T21:10:00.000-05:00

Too many books. It's touchy to address the fact that books CAN be clutter.
According to Wikipedia: A Bibliophile is an avid lover or collector of books. But Bibliomania, an obsessive-compulsive disorder involving the collecting of books to the point where social relations or health are damaged, and in which the mere fact that an object IS A BOOK is sufficient for it to be collected or loved is another matter. You don't have to have this disorder to consider the fact that books can overwhelm your space. Look around. Are they gathering dust, are the shelves stuffed, are books on the floor, in drawers.. is there a place for one more book if you bought it?

First ask yourself a few questions to see where you are .... Can you consider throwing books away? How do you currently decide/select which ones to keep, and how do you incorporate them into your home?

Books are wonderful addition to the home when they are being read, referenced, adding value and are properly displayed and cared for. But they all don't have to be kept FOREVER!. Ask yourself why you are holding on to your books? Is it because you once had the interest or needed the information. If so, is it STILL relevant? If not, then it is time to let it go. Or is it because owning and keeping it gives you a sense of security, accomplishment or intellectual status because you own the book and the knowlege within it - whether you have actually read it or not, or if it even still interests you?

Peter Walsh in "It's All Too Much!" explains "When you buy a book, you do not suddenly own the wisdom it contains - all you have bought is words on paper. It's up to you to internalize whatever enlightenment the book has to offer. Without full grasping this concept, it can be close to impossible to separate oneself from one's books".

If you are ready to part with some of your books, next ask- What is the worst thing that would happen if you no longer OWNED the book?
-Can they be replaced if you needed another? (library, amazon, e-bay, used bookstore).
-Is the information available elsewhere? (Internet).
-Is the information up to date or even relevant anymore?

-Donate or sell books that are no longer relevant so they may be enjoyed by another.
-Set a limit on the area(s) in your home you will allocate for books.
-Purge your books until they fit into that space with some room to SPARE.
-Moving forward, use the in-out rule to keep under control. For every new book you bring home, an old one must be donated.

School Paper Madness

2008-09-02T00:15:00.000-05:00

Welcome Back to school… and 180 days (or so) of endless paper!

Are you ready for the invasion of class work, tests, projects, artwork, schedules, flyers, and newsletters? If not, it's not too late to develop a plan of action to deal with the onslaught of paper.

To start: designate a place for ALL incoming school papers for the KIDS to place the papers. (And not on the counter, entry way, or dinning table!). This can either be a single in-box for all papers, or designate one per child. If they want the paper signed… Put it HERE. Remind kids to not place incomplete/ungraded schoolwork here, unless it needs your signature.

Next, sort and handle the papers as follows:

A) Papers requiring your attention (signatures, approvals, completion, mark the date events) After paperwork is completed, either place in an “out-box” for the children to check if they are older to teach responsibility for school papers returning back to school; or if younger, return to their backpacks. Next, put any important dates (holidays, due dates, testing dates, practices, meets, open houses, conferences etc) immediately onto the calendar! By creating and In/Out system for children to deliver and retrieve paperwork for you, you will create a system that creates accountability and is habit building for your children and you!

B) Papers frequently referenced throughout the year (calendars, band/sport schedules, menus, bus schedules, contact info, etc.) I recommend a school “command center” binder. Use tabs marked either by child, subject (band, menu, bus etc). In this binder place bus schedules, lunch menus, school calendars, band or sports calendars, etc. Anything you need to reference frequently throughout the year. Purge at the end of the school year or at report card time, or as extracurricular activities end during the year.

C) Keepsakes (art, great grades, creative work, certificates etc) Rule of thumb: Give each “masterpiece” or “90-100%” 1 week on the fridge or other prominent showcase. Then toss. Aim to keep 2 pieces of artistic and scholastic per quarter- focusing on superior efforts, creativity, and personality. Use a large manila envelope/bankers box or try the School folio http://www.schoolfolio.com/ for each child for all the keepsake papers, drawings and small items they bring home from school. Be sure to include: Name, Age, Grade and School Year. Review and "edit" further if needed/desired at the end of each school year .

D) Other. (School Handbooks, testing info, progress and report cards, class rules, photo/yearbook info, and other misc.,) Create a file with the child’s name and school. This is for less frequently referenced material. This should be purged at the end of the school year. Most will be tossed. Final report cards can be incorporated into “keepsake” storage. Some may roll over to the next year or be forward looking.

By designating and setting up these 4 areas to handle all school related papers, you can quickly decide how to handle, what to keep, where to store, and can quickly retrieve information as needed. Now go forth and conquer!

Container Frustration

2008-07-31T17:56:00.000-05:00

Often, when I go to perform a consultation or begin a project for someone looking to get organized, many clients are quick to show me their "containers". Either because they are very proud of their great "head start", or are frustrated because they own all these containers and still don't have a solution.

Most container problems are avoidable, and here are the top 5 mistakes in purchasing a container. So before you head out to buy containers - do your homework!

The Top 5 mistakes are:

Problem #1 - Not Measuring!
*A 12” deep box hanging over an 11” deep shelf. I see it almost every week.
*Storage space available on each shelf is 10" high. Containers are 4" high.
Use up that space! The other 6" are wasted. Use any combo depending on the
contents. A 1 -10" box, or stack 2 -5" boxes or 3 - 3" boxes - you get the idea.
*I bought or need 10 boxes, but only 8 will fit.
*Contents don't fit in the container, can't close the lid!

Part of organizing is space planning. How much will fit in the container, how many will fit in the space, how many will I need, what are the height, depth and length measurements of the space? Avoid the frustration and returns and measure first. Allow for 10-20% growth/increase. If there is no more room for increase, use the one in – one out rule.

Problem #2 - Underestimating or Overestimating the Volume
* Overestimating: So you went out and bought 42 shoe boxes to store your shoes in your closet, because they were all over the floor. But after meeting with me, you discovered some did not fit, some were in very poor shape, some were duplicates, some weren't even yours, and now we have you down to 25 great pairs of shoes. You are now the proud owner of 17 extra shoe boxes. The answer of course is - do NOT buy any containers until you have PURGED.

*Underestimating: During a consultation you state you have 42 shoes in your closet and needed a storage solution. But after meeting with me, I had you gather and sort all your shoes from ALL over the HOUSE. Hmmm.. after the hunt we discovered you had 6 more pair between the garage, front door, and coat closet. Total now: 48. It is important to gather all "like items" from all areas in a home or office to see the true volume.

Problem # 3 - Impulse Shopping
*You see a really neat container but have no use for it.
*The containers are on sale!
*You can't wait, you just want to get the stuff out of the way.
* Impatience - you don't know where to look, hate shopping, so"this will do"
*You're caught in the organizing moment, and are totally motivated - get out of your way!
Ancient Chinese Wisdom says: Patience Grasshopper, do not buy any containers before it is time.

Problem #4 - Didn't Consider Storage Conditions or Room Decor
*Garage/Attic: Consider sturdy no-nonsense materials appropriate for extreme temperatures, moisture and dust/debris or pests. Boxes, wicker, fabric - not such a good idea ..
*Master Bedroom: Plastic Tubs clashing with your satin bedspread? Acrylic office magazine holder that screams Dr's office, not the feel you are looking for? Consider designs that match your decorating style, yet are functional such as wood, wicker, leather, linen, or other materials that "blend" with the room.

Problem #5 Poor Protection
Heirloom, valuables, and breakables require additional consideration. To keep pests out you need to ensure the container is airtight and consider cedar to keep away moths from fabrics. For preservation of heirlooms sensitive to moisture or light you may consider archival quality boxes or archival paper. Breakables require sturdy containers with plenty of cushion surrounding the contents.

Ok, NOW you are ready to purchase the containers. As you can see, the key to a perfect storage container is that it is the proper container for the problem or solution, and that it is purchased at the right time. By first sorting and purging your items, then properly space planning and measuring the contents and storage area, and finally giving consideration of the contents and storage location; you are now prepared to buy the perfect container that should provide a home for your belongings for easy retrieval, increase your storage capacity, as well preserve the value of the items you are storing!

Have fun shopping! - Sandy

Tips to Maintain.....

2008-07-11T18:09:00.000-05:00

Yep, it's another blog about MAINTENANCE! I just can't stress enough it's importance in all areas of organization. So, here are a few quickies:

The formal dining table that no one ever eats at: Try setting the table to discourage everyone from "dumping" their belongings onto it as they walk in the door.
Photos: Ideally, write on the back of photos and put in albums or photo boxes as soon as you develop them. At a minimum, mark the date and occasion onto the envelope and file in a photo box by date. For digital photos; back up photos on to a CD every month and file the CD by date. You will never lose them if the CPU crashes and you'll be less overwhelmed looking through a CD with hundreds and hundreds of photos!
Laundry: Is your version of doing laundry "I put the dirty clothes into the washer"? Nice try... Laundry is done, when it is washed, dried and put AWAY. Fold or hang items as soon as they are dry. Do not dump clean, dry clothes onto the couch or bed to be folded and put away "later". Also avoid put into laundry baskets or hanging racks to put away later, unless later is before the end of the day.
Crafts/Projects: Have a dozen partially completed crafts or well intentioned projects stashed around the house? Only one project at a time, and finish it before you start another!
EVERYTHING: Apply the One in - One out rule. For every one new item you bring in the house, one item must go out. So before you run out to buy something, think hard about what you are willing to let go of first. Apply to all areas; magazines, clothing, toys, books etc. By doing this you will be able to keep yourself organized. If you are still struggling with clutter, consider a 1:2 ratio. Two items out for every one you bring in. This will help you reduce the clutter slowly.
Deal with it. If you are using something (a pen, kitchen item, purse, remote, electronic... you name it) and it breaks... Deal with it! Fix it, make a plan to fix it or get rid of it. Ask other family members to "deal with it". For younger children teach them to report it, vs just putting it back!

As you can see, getting"organized" is not a one-time event, and then it's done. It is an ongoing process of changes and maintenance. Before you overwhelm yourself, remember you don't have to organize every area of your life in a single day, week or month! Work on small chunks at a time, and then focus on "maintaining" that area before you start on another. As Donna Smallin in "The One Minute Organizer" wrote: "Trying to organize your entire home in a DAY is like trying to eat an entire piece of cake in one bite. You'd choke". Good point.

Information Overload - Part II Magazines

2008-05-20T21:36:00.000-05:00

Where do they all come from? Perhaps other people (gift subscriptions), guilt (fundraisers), guilty pleasures (entertainment), desired improvement (self help/finances), Frugality/Deal (free w/unused airline miles etc), For me, the reasons above for amassing magazines seem to represent - good intentions...

Consider saving yourself the guilt that you aren't reading them, and also save time, money and clutter by cutting back on the subscriptions. Set a goal to cut back by 50% (or even more!) By doing so you can also reap the benefits of another good intention - bieng friendly to the earth!

To start, don't just toss the subscription renewal forms in the trash in hopes they will stop sending reminders. They won't. Ever. This also only increases the likelihood that that you will resubscribe in a moment of weakness, or in a check paying frenzy it is overlooked. Check "No Thanks" and toss in the mail. You may have to do this more than once.

Next, ask yourself:
- Do you read the magazine the week or even month you get it, or skim quickly and set aside for "someday?"
- Is it a current interest, use or value? Our interests, lives & free time change...
- Is it of value on a consistent basis? If not, buy single issues as needed only, and stay off the mailing lists! You control what comes in your home.
- Is the portion that most interests you, available via the Internet? Most have portions or highlights from an issue available online.
- Reduce "like" magazines: Do you get Newsweek AND Time, Money AND
Fortune, Parenting AND Working Mother? You get the idea..

Remember, about 70% of magazines are ADS. Only 10% on average is of real interest.

Once you have decided which magazines you consistently read and enjoy; commit yourself to a quick turnaround. Since you had good intentions when you subscribed to it.. keep this in mind - "The smallest deed, is worth more than the grandest intention" - so honor your intention..

-Create a "home" for all incoming magazines.
- Make a habit to scan it within a week of arrival, and then READ it.
- Toss the old one, when the new one arrives.
- Or reduce the paper, and clip the articles (usually less than 5% of the magazine) that you really care about and put in a place you are most likely to read (briefcase, planner or purse to read while "waiting", or next to the bed for nighttime reading etc.
- Just like the whole magazine - plan to read and handle (toss or file) the articles when the old new magazine arrives.
-If you must keep the articles, file in reference folders or binders, and/or a tickler folder for items to "order".

Information Overload - Part I Newspapers

2008-05-01T15:10:00.000-05:00

Looking to reduce paper coming into the home, papers stacking up, doing your part in helping the planet? If so, consider the following information about your newspaper:

According to Judith Kolberg in Conquering Chronic Disorganization:

"Information in the newspaper is obsolete within 8 hours after it is
published. 70% of the paper is ads, and of the 30% of info remaining, 80% of it can be found through other media such as radio, tv, and 100% can be found
on the internet"

Consider discontinuing, or all days but Sunday, and then toss it as soon as you've read it. Get your daily dose of news from alternate sources such as TV, Internet, or Radio.

An ounce of prevention...

2008-04-13T20:46:00.000-05:00

Is worth a pound of cure.. as the saying goes. The same is true in organization.
A few extra minutes here and there can save you from hours of re-organizing in the future.

The 3 best clutter busters are:

Daily Habits. Daily maintenance habits are your best defense against accumulating and recurring clutter. Hang the coat up when you walk in the door, instead of throwing it on a chair; put your shoes away in the closet; put the mail in the office, not the kitchen counter. Don't just put things down, ask yourself if that is where it goes, if it isn't, take the extra minute to put them AWAY where they belong, so you can find then again when you need it, and to avoid cluttering up your space.

Thoughtful shopping. Spur of the moment, impulsive purchases most often end up as clutter. Giving thought first to if you really need an item, will help you avoid deciding what to do with it later. Also, implement the in-and-out rule to keep over accumulation at bay, and to ensure a proper place for your new item. For every new pair of shoes that come in, and old pair must go, for every new book, every new toy, kitchen gadget etc.

Daily Clean up. Even if it just 5 minutes before you go to bed, take a moment to tidy up loose ends and put things back where they belong. You can do this yourself or assign every family member a room. Put throw blankets back where they go, toys back in their place, take the recycle out etc. If you have not mastered the daily maintenance yet, this is the the next best thing. If you did not put the mail away when you walked in the door. Now is the time! Quit ignoring that it is there and move it now, before you place something else on top of it and can no longer find it, and the cycle begins again.

Spring "Organizing"

2008-03-28T16:59:00.000-05:00

Is there a difference between Spring Cleaning and Spring Organizing?
You betcha...
Company is coming, so you scramble around and gather up all the crap in your living room toss it into a laundry basket and throw it in your hall closet, and hope no one wants to hang up their coat, then quickly run the vacuum cleaner and dust and inch of dust off the bookcase? (or similar scenario?)

The living room looks great. It sure looks picked up, it sure looks clean.
Your company marvels at what a clean house you have, my how organized you are. Just how do you do it all?

So, now that the company is gone, and thankfully weren't wearing coats, you go back to reality, and..
A) Actually pull the basket out of the closet and put things away where they go!
Or.... the most likely scenario might be:
B) Take the basket out and endlessly move the crap around from room to room for several weeks or months.
C) Leave it in the closet, and just keep pilin' on... it's spring, and you don't need a coat for at least 8 more months!
D) Forget it is there completely, and spend hours looking for something you had "gathered" that is now buried in the closet, long forgotten, and you are majorly stress out looking for it! (or have had to buy another)
E) In the back of your mind, you know it's there, and it eats at you, and even though it's a source of embarrasment, you just don't want to deal with it.

"Stashing" junk is NOT a solution, and should not be confused with being organized. Being organized means you can find what you want, when you want it. Sure, Spring is a great time to vacuum, dust, wash windows, wipe walls and get the stale air out of the house. But it's also a great time to Spring Organize. This Spring, don't just open the windows- open the drawers, closets and other areas of your home or office you've ignored all Winter!

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

2008-03-17T16:13:00.000-05:00

In an office setting, clutter and disorganization obviously can lead us to easily lose important papers, and messages. But the most important thing that you can lose, in the words of Aretha Franklin is "Respect". Your desk and office is a reflection of you! So, what does your office tell people about you? If you think that it is saying "I am busy and have many important papers". Consider that what it is also possibly SCREAMING is "you are out of control, can't handle the job, are ineffective, are incompetent and you don't care" Although this may be far from true, it is the message you are sending. Is perception reality for you? If so, you can decide to change the message your office is sending to your co-workers, clients and boss to "I can prioritize, I can multi-task, I am in control, and mostly - I CARE".

No Time Like The Present!

2008-03-02T22:38:00.000-06:00

This Tuesday (3/4) is National Do Something Day!
Is there something in your life you have been procrastinating about?
I know I have.. my taxes! We often put off doing things, even things that are important to us because we think it is either too hard, too overwhelming, we don't know where to start, we don't have everything we need, we are afraid of the outcome, and then there is always something we would RATHER be doing.

Sound familiar? Well, I am afraid of the outcome of my taxes... and I also am not sure I have everything I need. But I also know they are NOT going to go away if I ignore them. So I will take my own advise and take that first step this Tuesday... I will do something to get started on my taxes. I will set two specific goals. Contact a tax preparer and warn them I am coming :), and run reports from Quick Books.

I am reminded of the song from "Santa's New Year".. where Kris Kringle is telling the Winter Warlock to put one foot in front of the other...
"Put one foot in front of the other....And soon you’ll be walking cross the floor- Put one foot in front of the other....And soon you’ll be walking out the door.
You never will get where you’re going, If you never get up on your feet
Come on, there’s a good tail wind blowing, A fast walking man is hard to beat.
If you want to change your direction, If your time of life is at hand.
Well don’t be the rule be the exception, A good way to start is to stand.
If I want to change the reflection, I see in the mirror each morn
You mean that it's just my election, To vote for a chance to be reborn.
Put one foot in front of the other.. come on, sing it - you know the words!

This lyrics to the song really great if we apply it to ourselves in our efforts to to make changes, learn new things, or tackle something we are procrastinating about. As I mentioned in my previous post; it helps to break things down into simple steps — to take things slow and to encourage those “baby steps” that we all take when trying new things.

If you need to START something - and don't know where or how to start, contact me and together we will put one foot in front of the other.

Baby Steps

2008-02-24T21:40:00.000-06:00

Overcoming clutter and disorganization is difficult for many because it requires our involvement virtually EVERY day. There will always be laundry, dishes, and bills to pay. Since we can not stop these activities altogether; we have to consider and change our thoughts about HOW we do it. We can not get rid of ALL of our clothes, but we also can not KEEP every article of clothing we ever owned. They key is moderation, which can be difficult for many,.

If anyone has ever seen the movie "What About Bob?" you are familiar with the term "Baby Steps" and if you have ever had a session with me- you are familiar with the term "Organization is 90% maintenance". I believe it is far more important to learn to "maintain" an area than to "organize" it. Success can be achieved with simple day-to-day changes in habits and successful maintenance and control of an area.

If we can't walk into the bedroom because there are clothes on the floor - the obvious goal is to get the clothes off the floor. Duh. But what is the best long-term solution for success? Of course we can make sure we have enough storage space so that once the clothes are all washed they all have a home, by either assessing the volume and reducing the quantity of clothes, or purchasing more hangers or a dresser if they are needed, or even install a custom closet system. But if you purchase a $5,000 closet system and STILL throw your clothes on the floor, you haven't gotten to the root of the problem. The idea being that if something is handled properly the first time, or is dealt with immediately, the chance that it becomes overwhelming to deal with later is reduced. (a pinch of prevention is worth a pound of cure). Second to this concept is to start what you finish. If you do laundry, it is better to FINISH ONE load of laundry (folded and put away) than trying to do 2-3 loads and not allowing enough time to finish any of them- thereby throwing them on the couch, bed, or top of the dryer -and creating other areas overcome by clutter and addition areas to maintain.

One area at a time we can build habits in baby-steps, making a conscious effort to change our thoughts and change our actions. It will take some time for these habits to become automatic, so be patient. But before you know it, you will make the bed as SOON as you get out of it without even thinking about it, you will put your shoes and dirty clothes away as SOON as they are off, the clean clothes will be on the hangers and in the drawers instead of on the chair or bed, and your bedroom will become a room where your mind and body can rest. Most likely you don't need a another hamper or dresser, you need one habit at a time, one room at a time.

The In-Box

2008-01-22T23:28:00.000-06:00

Is your in-box a dumping ground for everything that comes IN to the house?
The primary duty of an in-box is to provide a place for things that may be incomplete, but are not to be forgotten. It is not a place for junk mail, to-do lists, filing, or urgent items.
So, what belongs in an in-box? Anything that requires action or a decision by you such as; subcription renewals, applications, bills, invitations, or forms to fill out BEFORE you decide to finally toss or file it. To keep your in-box under control, and to keep yourself from forgetting "to-do" what needs to be done; empty your in-box once a week. The first time may be painful, but if you keep it up on a weekly basis, it should be a 5-10 minute chore once a week. Also, avoid putting items back into the in box that you are unable to make decision about week after week. Finally, avoid using your in-box for quick desk clean ups! Yes, you!

Hello 2008!

2008-01-01T01:31:00.000-06:00

Ok, so I am trying to make the best of the fact that I am home alone while my teens are out "celebrating" New Year's Eve til all hours! Instead of torturing myself trying to remember what that was like.. I figure I might as well do something productive while trying to keep myself awake... Well, I have to say, I never really got too excited about this Holiday. Seems so manufactured and forced. Tommorrow is pretty much another day, just like today. But I DO like the idea of a fresh start, and setting goals (not resolutions) that come with the new year. I'll start now by practicing writing 2008, 2008, 2008 ... Wow, seems like we were all just freaking out about the year 2000! It's been 8 years!!

Oh, back to the productive part - Check out my special pricing for January
in recognition of NAPO's "GET ORGANIZED" month! Getting Organized is one of the top 5 Resolutions made each year. So, if this is your year, take advantage of this great discounted rate... to welcome 2008, 2008, 2008!

Also, the winter Gold Canyon Candles Catalog has expired as of 12/31/07. Contact me to see or smell the fabulous new spring fragrances and to take advantage of January's promotions!

It's the most wonderful time of the year..

2007-12-17T09:26:00.000-06:00

The Holidays seem to demand organization. With too much to do and so little time. Thought I'd share a few time savers this year that are paying off:
1- As much as I did NOT want to go, as it's just a BIT hectic. I went the day after Christmas last year and bought Cards, Gift Bags, Tags and Wrapping paper on sale, and even a few gifts. Man, did that make this year's card sending and wrapping a breeze, and of course I love paying 50-75% off! Cheapskate is THY middle name!

2- I keep a running log on Excel of gifts I had been accumlating thoughout the year to avoid the last minute shopping crunch, over-buying, and to TRY to keep on budget. The pay off: I had a total of 6 gifts left to buy and I have a true account of what I spent.. which would be.. TOO much. Another tip if you are the type that buys gifts throughout the year; Wrap them immediately to a) avoid sneaky peekers, and b) avoid the all-night wrapping frenzy, or the rush to the bedroom to wrap a present unexpectely early!

3- I kept a small zippered, mesh pouch in my purse and used it to collect reciepts, gift cards, and my christmas gift list in. I have to say my purse and wallet were in much better shape this year, with me not having to dig through all the papers and reciepts! (there is a great one at Container store- it's around $3-4)

Hope you find some of these ideas as useful as I do.

Give the Gift of Organization!

2007-12-05T20:29:00.000-06:00

To someone you love or to yourself this Holiday! Now through 12/31/07 purchase a pre-paid gift certificate for 4 hours of professional organization services for $180.00. This is 20% discount and also includes a 1-hr consulation vs. the standard 1/2 hr. These certificates will be valid through 3/1/07. Call me or email today!

The Pods are back!

2007-12-05T07:23:00.000-06:00

Well, things are looking up. My org website is back up, and now the Gold Canyon Candle Pod Warmers are back! They look to go back on back order soon, so get'em while ya can. These are functional and beautiful, and are epecially great for areas where "burning" candles is not an option such as;
homes with small children, elderly, or building with limitations such as dorms, or churches.

I've decided to jump on board and do another "open house" this Friday at my friend Marty Adam's in Frisco (yep, I'm busier than a cat trying to bury it's crap on a marble floor!) - so if you are local and know her- stop on by or call me for directions. Marty is in my downline for GC, and will be selling fab candles. I will be there as SOS offering Organization gift certificates at a great discounted holiday price in addition to offering Tip Sheets to take home and we will have a purse scavenger hunt for fun along with prizes! There will also be several unique vendors there as well to help you with your Christmas shopping! Hope to see you there

Technology Schmechology

2007-12-03T22:39:00.000-06:00

Whoo-hoo. My website is finally back up after 4 weeks. What a nightmare.
Long story short- My domain name expired, the person who initially worked on my website, no longer used thier email address so the the reminders to renew went unnoticed and they were very difficult to get in touch with. Then I found out the domain name was taken back by the company and I had to BUY it back! It took days to find out what the problem was and how to go about fixing it. Once it was figured out it was easy but expensive. Let me re-phrase that... it was easy for my friend David to fix it.. not me :). Technology and I do not have a love affair, we merely co-exist. But I am finally back on the information highway. Note to self - mark expiration date on the calendar TODAY so I never have to go through that again.

What's New

2007-11-21T20:53:00.000-06:00

Well, first off - my website is down. I am working hard to get it back up. Technology is NOT my friend some days.

Next, I have lots of fun events planned this Holiday Season, we'll see what kind of trouble that gets me into... If you are looking for something to do, looking for a Christmas Present, or feel like visiting and keeping me company stop on by any of the following:

Tues - 11/27 6-10 pm
Home Holiday Party at Lin Chapman's - Featuring my Gold Canyon Candles, Flaunt Designs custom jewelry and Mary Kay. Refreshments will also be served. Address: 4312 Cedar Valley Dr, Plano, TX 75024 (near Legacy & Preston Meadow.) Phone: 972-208-9767 Time: 6:00 - 10:00pm

Sat - 12/1 10-5pm
Frisco Merry Market Off Main -4th and Main Street - In the Parking Lot behind old City Hall in Historic Downtown Frisco. I will be hosting a booth for Simply Organized by Sandy. There will Holiday Tip sheets, give aways, and a purse scavenger hunt where you can will a Pursket. http://purseket.com/

Sat - 12/8 10-5pm Robinson Ridge HOA Business Expo/Wrap Party to be held at Chavez Elementary in Little Elm. I will be featuring both Simply Organized by Sandy and Gold Canyon at this event. This event is held inside.

See me at Merry Market

2007-11-08T11:36:00.000-06:00

I am at Merry Market on December 1, 2007.