A Simply Put Home

The Valley's priciest home sales

2010-08-25T06:57:00.000-07:00

Get Organized Today -The Video

2010-07-19T20:44:00.000-07:00

We've Moved...

2010-07-18T19:31:00.001-07:00

You can now find my blog on my NEW WEBSITE!! www.simplyputorganizing.com I am so happy to have my new site up and running. I hope you'll visit often for new videos and blog entries. I will be making an appearance on Sonoran Living tomorrow on ABC 15 at 11am to talk about the book I co-authored, Get Organized Now. My chapter introduces The Organizing Triangle-the three essentials points to get and stay organized: Systems, Products and Habits. i hope you'll tune in or DVR the show to learn a simple way to look at organizing that will help you to create a peaceful home environment.

Busy Mom Gets An Organizing Makeover

2010-06-03T15:57:00.001-07:00

OK look at my face. I am saying OMG!! It is so ORGANIZED...LOL

Five Habits of Organized People

2010-05-19T05:25:00.001-07:00

The Body Safety Box

2010-05-15T18:11:00.000-07:00

Looking for something fun and purposeful to do with your kids this summer? One of my clients, Dr. Missy Gryder, has just launched a wonderful new activity kit for children and families called The Body Safety BoxTM. This innovative new product gives parents the language to use with their children to teach them important child abuse prevention skills. Kids create personalized, keepsake quality projects that help make learning memorable. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the HELPS ProjectTM, a non-profit child abuse prevention project serving kids in Valley public schools. Please visit www.bodysafetybox.com to learn more!

Get Organized Now

2010-05-11T05:58:00.001-07:00

I am so excited to tell you all that I have co authored a book that is soon to be released. It will be available on Amazon but you, my fabulous followers, will be able to get an autographed copy at a reduced rate. Details coming soon....

Five Habits of Organized People

2010-05-11T05:57:00.001-07:00

If you know someone who is naturally organized you may wonder how it is that they seemingly have everything together all of the time. I believe that some of us, myself included, have brains that are wired for order. We have habits that come to us naturally and easily develop systems for everything else. Naturally organized people may have an edge as they don't have to develop new habits but the good news is, once identified, anyone can work to add organized habits to their everyday life. Here are five habits that organized people have that you can learn too:

They stay away from bargains.
This is the beginning and one of the most important habits. If you don't bring it into your home in the first place it won't turn into clutter. I clear out a lot of expired warehouse purchases from pantries and spoiled toiletries from bathrooms. Just because you can get three for the price of one doesn't mean you need it.

They stick with what works
This is another Achilles heel that leads to clutter in the home. Bathrooms and cleaning closets are most cluttered by the need to try each new thing. Go ahead and try new products but only if you are unhappy with what you are using. If you like the new product better, donate the old products to shelters or a friend.

They have a designated transition spot.
This is a place for items you bring in the home that you don't have time to immediately put away. Having a designated place to dump your stuff prevents piles all over the house. Remember not to leave things in your transition spot for more than 24 hours.

They never label anything miscellaneous
Organized people define their spaces completely to take the guesswork out of where items belong. This is especially important for files.

They schedule regular decluttering sessions.
Organized people keep things current. They have a donation bag ready and declutter on a regular basis. If your home or office is really cluttered try setting a timer for ten minutes and identify as many things as you can (at least ten) that can be donated, discarded or recycled. Organized people are masters at relocating items to where they belong throughout the day. If you walking from point A to point B you might as well carry something that is in point A that belongs in point B.

Take the summer to incorporate these habits into your daily routines. Post them on the fridge or in your office cubicle until they become a natural way of life. You will be amazing at how much better you feel with less stuff coming in and more stuff going out.

Ribbon Organizer

2010-05-07T05:26:00.000-07:00

I have found a great product for all of you who love ribbons and need to keep them visible and easily accessible. The 'clip it up' ribbon organizer is perfect. Check out all the great products by Simply Renee at www.clipitup.com

Tax Time

2010-04-07T16:28:00.000-07:00

Link to Video

Suze Orman stated, in an article I read, that she had a ‘surefire way to build wealth’ that won’t cost a penny. So easy, she stated, that it can be done while watching television. Her suggestion, clean up old financial paperwork that serves no purpose other than attracting dust-I couldn’t agree more!!
If you live out of piles of paper and your file drawers are full it’s time to clear out the clutter and create a simple system to take control of your financial future. Suze Orman is a firm believer that orderliness begets wealth. I’m not so sure about that (I should be a zillionaire), but I do know that you will save quite a bit in late fees and have a much better idea what is going in and out of your bank accounts if your statements and bills are in order. Organizing paper is completely overwhelming for most of us I’ve tried (along with advice from Suze Orman) to take the overwhelming feeling out and make it as simple as possible.

What you’ll need: a crosscut shredder to prevent identity theft, a garbage can to toss non financial paper and an a few boxes of hanging file folders and a table designated for sorting. If you can borrow a banquet table for this process you can work on it over a period of days without feeling like it’s in the way. If you don’t know anyone with an extra table to share then try to designate an area of your home for the purpose of this task.
Sort all your papers into six piles:
 Monthly bills, bank statements and pay stubs
 Investment statements
 Tax returns and support
 Deeds
 Warranty and User Manuals
 Forever Docs such as marriage licenses, wills and birth certificates
If you have a file cabinet in your home, label one drawer finances. I am a huge fan of filing bills in a twelve month system. Label one hanging file folder for each month and sort bills that you have paid into the month they were paid. The reason I like this method is that you can go back to any month and see your total expenditures. I also store my bank statement into the same file. Basically you will have a snapshot of your finances for any given month at your fingertips. At the end of the year you can pull out anything you need for tax back-up from each month and the rest can stay in the self purging system. When January 2011 comes around you shred the contents of January 2010 the same with February, March etc. You will always have a year’s worth of financial documents at hand.
The other option, and it’s not one that I recommend is to make a separate folder for each bill you pay. The caveat here is that you have to remember to empty the folders on an annual basis. If you don’t have the discipline to do this your files will soon by overflowing with paper you no longer need.

Edit the Piles
For all the paper you are eliminating from your piles, I highly recommend running through a crosscut shredder. The FTC estimates that up to nine million Americans a year are victims of identity theft. A good shredder will help protect your financial future.
It is important to know what to keep and for how long. Suze Orman has a great cheat sheet on her website www.suzeorman.com/financialcluttter Here are some of her rules for financial papers:
Bills: one year’s worth. Pull any tax deductable bills and ask your accountant how long they should be kept.
Pay stubs: one year. When you receive your W-2 make sure that your last check stub matches then shred the stubs.
Bank Statements: One year at least. If you are planning on applying for a mortgage or car loan it is better to keep up to two years. Again, check with your personal accountant if you have any questions.
Investment Statements: save all monthly and quarterly until you receive your end of the year summary and then shred the others. Save the documents for any trades you make during the year for three years.
Tax returns and supporting documents: The IRS has three years to challenge anything on your returns. Keep three years at all times. If the IRS suspects you haven’t reported income it can challenge returns up to six years. To learn more about IRS record keeping guidelines, see Publication 552 on their website (irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p552-pdf)
Warranties: Keep only active warranties and toss the rest. I suggest tossing all user manuals you don’t actively refer to as manufacturers have downloadable versions on their sites. You can also visit www.usersmanualguide.com or www.manualnguide.com.
Documents to Keep for Life: there are some documents you just can’t throw away. These include marriage Licenses, divorce decrees, wills, trusts, estate planning documents and death certificates. Suze Orman also suggests you keep a permanent record of all major loans you have paid off such as homes, cars and so on.
Tips for going Paperless
Of course, if you hate paper as much as I do, you can easily take care of almost all your financial to do’s online. If you’re worried about cyber-safety just make sure you are logged onto a secure network. That means no bill paying at wi-fi hotspots. Check out your banks website for automatic bill paying, accounts alerts and more. This should all be free, if it’s not, switch banks. You can also go online to check out things such as Social Security benefits. Toss all those green and white sheets once you have verified the current one is up to date. Go to www.ssa.gov and click on estimate your retirement benefits.
Footnote: after writing this article I can’t wait to get home and dig into my files!! Thanks so Suze Orman even I will be better organized. Wow!

A Great New Consignment Store

2010-03-22T06:14:00.000-07:00

I love to consign my clothes!! I consign clothes, furniture, knick-knacks and anything else I can find all year long and, at the end of the year, I collect all my checks for Christmas money. This serves two purposes, I never have to worry about having holiday cash and my house stays clutter-free!
For those of you in the Phoenix area I have found a great new resale shop, Poor Little Rich Girl. This store has it all, great pieces from the best closets around and boutique overstock. I bought two pieces for a total of 44.00 and they still had the tags on them!!
If you live in the Valley or are just visiting, check them out..

Organizing your Kitchen Drawers

2010-03-20T20:41:00.001-07:00

I'm Stufficating!!

2010-03-20T20:23:00.000-07:00

One thing about living in a condo without a garage-it is almost impossible to keep things you don't need. We always have a donation bag handy and make regular trips to our charity of choice however,
once in awhile I do an deep sweep of our excess stuff. Today was the day...

Ahhhh...that feels good.

Love this Product!!

2010-03-18T11:57:00.001-07:00

This product caught my eye as I was checking out of The Container Store yesterday. I bought a few and have used them on my hair appliances as well as small appliances in my kitchen. They are a great solution to cord clutter (hate that)

Ten Minutes at a time...

2010-03-08T06:23:00.000-08:00

Recently I was included in a panel of nine experts asked to coach ten people to a healthier, fitter life. Here is the article which ran in the Arizona Republic on March 7th.

So many individuals feel that they don’t have the time to properly care for themselves. The following statistics may be eye opening for some: A 2008 NAPO (National Association of Professional Organizers) survey of 400 consumers nationwide showed that 65 percent of respondents noted that their household was at least moderately disorganized, 71 percent said their quality of life would improve if they were better organized and 96 percent of respondents indicated that they could save time every day by becoming more organized. Of those, 15 percent of respondents felt they could save more than an hour each day for a total of more than 15 days per year if they were more organized at home and 30 percent of respondents felt they could save at least 30 minutes each day or more than an entire week per year if they were more organized at home. Imagine what you would be able to do for your health with that extra time.
One of the biggest stressors in the world today is feeling like we have lost control. Often our physical body mirrors our environment and vice versa. If we are feeling stressed at home or in the office because there isn’t any order, it can take a toll on us physically*
One of the best ways to reduce stress and gain control of your physical body is through achieving and maintaining an organized environment. In working with clients for the last nine years, it has been my experience that people are able to better focus on what they love when they have eliminated excess in their environments.
Where to start? The word I hear over and over is overwhelming and I just don’t know where to start. To those statements I say start with clearing clutter. Always have a donation receptacle handy. Each night set a timer and spend 10 minutes identifying 10 things you can either donate, recycle, consign or throw away. As your home becomes less cluttered you will notice that things can be done faster. You will no longer spend precious time looking for misplaced items. Visualize that each physical thing that has been weighing down your physical environment has also been weighing down your physical body. Imagine that as you lighten your home you will lighten your body and reduce your stress.
When you have pared down your home to what is essential. Create homes for each thing that lives with you. Clutter is simply something that doesn’t have a home. When items you live with have specific places in which they are stored. The stress of the question, “where does this go?” is eliminated.
Maintaining an organized environment is as easy as putting things back where they belong and keeping things current by donating what is no longer used, loved or needed.
Remember to take the phrase “I’ll do it later” out of your vocabulary. It is not the things we do that wear us out, it is the things left undone.

An Organized Garage

2010-03-02T08:00:00.001-08:00

Spring is here and if you are gearing up to clear the clutter and sweep the winter cobwebs from your home you’ll need a plan of attack.
I equate organizing to one of the little plastic puzzles that are made up of squares with one square missing - as you move the pieces around a picture forms. However, without the missing piece it is impossible to move the other squares to form the picture. Your garage or basement is the piece that needs to be missing when it comes to organizing your home. When you free up space there, the entire contents of your home can be shifted to create a place for everything.
Garages can be overwhelming - follow the five simple tips ease the fear of starting and create a garage that functions for you. Be sure to set aside an entire day for this project. If your garage is really packed, set aside an entire weekend. There is nothing more frustrating than running out of time and ending up with a half-finished project that will easily revert back to unorganized chaos.
One. The first step to organizing anything is to separate what is essential to you and your family from what is just taking up space. The only way to do that is to have a trash can, a donation bin and remove everything from your garage. If you have a lot of clutter that you know will end up in the trash I recommend getting a Bagster www.thebagster.com. It is a three cubic yard dumpster in a bag. This bag can be filled to the brim and picked up by Waste Management for a fee. It is also important to identify a recipient for your donations in advance and arrange pick up the day after your garage project.
Two. Group the things you are keeping into zones: camping, home maintenance, sports, holiday, travel, gardening and so on. Eliminate the excess.
Three. When you know what you are keeping it’s time to decide where and how it is to be stored. You may have great storage that just needed to be cleaned out or you may need to add a little structure to your garage to make it fully functional. First choose the cabinets or shelving within your budget and then choose bins of a consistent shape and size that fit into the space. Resist using cardboard boxes to store your items. They seem inexpensive but home eating insects love to start their feast in your cardboard. I have worked with clients who have had thousands in termite damage due to cardboard in the garage.
Four. Get as much off of the garage floor as possible. I absolutely love the Elfa system found at The Container Store for hanging everything from bikes to paintbrushes and more, www.thecontainerstore.com . If you are really tight on space consider storing your seldom used items on a ceiling rack. Check out www.onrax.com .
Five. Make room for what I call a Halfway House. This is a shelf or bin that keeps things that are not currently used in your home. They are the things you are not quite ready to part with but are taking up valuable space in your home. Your halfway house should be easily accessible. If your halfway house is overflowing , consider donating some of the items. It is also helpful to create a warehouse section in your garage for bulk purchases which take up too much space when stored in the home. I like chrome shelving units for this purpose. Check them out at www.Costco.com or at The Container Store.
An garage is an important part of a busy families life and once organized can be easily maintained by returning things to their homes and donating obsolete items on a regular basis. Oh, I almost forgot, you can park your car there too.

Genius Pot Rack

2010-02-12T04:39:00.000-08:00

Rarely am I excited about a new organizing product, but this one is GENIUS!! Pots and Pans are one of the most difficult things to organize. This expandable rack makes it easy. Check it out at www.geniusrack.com
LOVE IT!!

Hoarders

2010-02-07T17:07:00.000-08:00

I am watching the show Hoarders on A&E. It is painful to watch. I get calls occasionally asking if i work with hoarders. Sometimes it is from children of hoarders desperate to help their parents. I tell them I will work in tandem with a psychologist that is trained to deal with compulsive hoarding. It takes a lot of time, a lot of patience and a lot of understanding to deal with this type of behavior. Organizing is just one aspect of it. The other component is mental and must be addressed for long term success.
I work with clients now who have a hard time letting go of things. They are afraid to let the things go because they feel a moral obligation to see that they go to the proper place. My heart goes out to these people. If you are a hoarder or you know someone who is a hoarder, please visit the National Study Group for Chronic Disorganization at www.nsgcd.org. It is a place to start.
God bless.

Simple Ways to Organize your Jewelry Video

2010-02-06T17:01:00.000-08:00

Link HERE to watch the video

Bring on the Bling

2010-02-01T04:03:00.000-08:00

With all the baubles available these days jewelry collections can expand faster than your ability to store them. Do you find yourself wearing the same pieces everyday, not because it is a favorite, but it is the only thing you can find? The problem is most likely not the amount of jewelry you have but how it is being stored. You can avoid tangled necklaces and lost earrings with a few steps and some creative ideas.
When I was a child I remember the allure of my mother's jewelry box. I loved to sift through the baubles and imagine myself all grown up with my own treasure chest of jewels. Now that I am that I am that grown up who is always rushing out the door I find that simple box just doesn't work for me. I want to see what I have quickly and preserve what I love safely. Follow the simple steps below to restore order to your collection.
Eliminate the old and outdated. The first step in creating a storage system of any kind is to identify what you love and want to keep and eliminate what is no longer needed, wanted or loved. Gather up all your jewelry and separate it into categories, costume, fine, necklaces, rings and bracelets. Take a good look at it and determine what it is you really love and wear. Consider selling any old gold and donating anything you no longer wear.
Organize it your way. Consider how you look for your jewelry and reorganize your collection to fit your habits. You might store all your fine jewelry in one place and your costume pieces in another. You can separate and store the items by occasion or in sets. Or, you may choose to store all like things together rings, bracelets and necklaces. If you have a lot of jewelry you might want to store your go to pieces separate from your seldom worn items.
Find the right location This is your chance to think out of the jewelry box with a few creative storage solutions. If you already have a jewelry box that you love determine what is about the box is working for you-maybe it's great for rings and bracelets but necklaces become a tangled web. If you are thinking about purchasing a jewelry box stay away from anything with a ton of tiny drawers as it is nearly impossible to remember what they contain. The following storage tips will supliment your existing box or create a system from scratch.
I love and use individual stacking jewelry trays for smaller pieces like rings and bracelets. My favorite is found at www.storables.com because it's adjustable but you can find similar trays at almost any organizing or home store. I like stacking trays because they work well in drawers eliminating surface clutter. If you choose to go this route place seldom worn items in the first layer of trays and keep your favorites on top.
For long chunky necklaces I recommend hanging them on hooks in your closet or dressing area walls. This keeps them tangle free and easily seen. The inside of cabinet drawers works well for hanging jewelry as well. I use small acrylic command hooks that are easy to arrange and come off clean when they are no longer needed.
One of my favorite ways to store beautiful statement pieces or beloved heirlooms is to use shadow boxes hung on a wall or placed on a table top www.potterybarn.com has my absolute favorite-it is made to be displayed on a table top but can be wall mounted with command picture hangers. Which ever shadowbox you use make sure the front opens for easy access.
A fabric covered bulletin beard is another option to keep your jewelry organized and in plain site. French bulletin boards with lattice ribbon are great to hang earrings as well whether clip or pierced.
If you're looking for a budget solution use ice cube trays for earrings and nails in a wall for necklaces.
Protect your investment. Create a file of appraisals and an inventory of your fine pieces and protect them in a high end safe when you're away (jewelry stacking trays are great for use in safes). For less expensive protection you can find faux cans of everyday household products that hide you best things at www.containterstore.com
Maintain the order. Periodically go through you collection and eliminate anything you've stopped wearing. Whether they value is monetary or purely sentimental creating a system to find your treasures will make for a lifetime of enjoyment.

My January Habit

2010-01-24T08:01:00.000-08:00

Habits are key to maintaining order in your home and/or home office. While I clear clutter all year long by always having a donation bag ready, I make a concerted effort at the beginning of each year.
Each January, I clean out my daughter's room, cull my home office files, clean my pantry and kitchen of anything that wasn't a hit and can still be given to a food bank and seriously think about what I feel comfortable wearing. The result is always a much lighter home and a huge amount of stuff turned over to someone who can use and appreciate it.

My, daughter and I make an afternoon of decluttering her room. It's something we have actually look forward to and, as a Mom, I value another opportunity to bond. Cali and I sit cross legged on the floor and dump out every bin and drawer sort the stuff and clear the clutter (and the trash). We laugh and reminisce about the toys she once loved and honor the things that are still important to her by finding a great home for them. She is one year older and the things she was unable to part with last year she is ready to donate or consign.
At ten years old she loves consigning her things and having her own "mad money".

As far as my office; I feel so in control and ready to rock the New Year when I look at everything and clear the clutter. Business cards, paper and supplies I no longer need or want get shredded, recycled or donated. It takes a few hours so I put on the news (I am a news junkie), get a bottle of water and purge away. I love it!! I get a little endorphin rush each time I bring a bag full of trash to the dumpster or a donation bag to my car. Am I crazy? Like a fox. These are stressful times and clutter adds to the stress. I want to know that my home and my home office are current and clutter-free. When things get crazy as they inevitably do, I have a peaceful home and one less thing to worry about.
Try it and let me know what you think. Happy New Year!

IKEA Get Organized Workshop

2010-01-24T07:55:00.000-08:00

Wow, what a turnout!! Thanks to all of you who braved the weather and made the drive to IKEA to attend my workshop. It was so nice to meet some of my newsletter subscribers (one all the way from Minnesota!). I hope you all took away at least one thing that will help you with your organizing goals in 2010. I'll be speaking again in March and I hope to see you all again with friends.

A Fearless Client

2010-01-10T04:46:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year! This is my first post for twenty ten. I am writing this to tell you about a client I have been working with for the past two weeks, her amazing endeavor and what you can apply to your own spaces. This was a big project! My client D was married over two years ago. There were extenuating circumstances around the time of her marriage that prevented her from merging the two households. Over two years later it was time to cut the storage cost and deal with the contents. D interviewed several organizers (I was so happy she chose me) as she is highly organized in her work but felt overwhelmed with the spacial aspect of organizing. She also committed her entire holiday vacation to this organizing endeavor. She is fearless!! D hates organizing but in spite of that she opened her door to me each morning with a smile on her face for two solid weeks. Here are some of the things we did for D that you can apply to your own spaces.

-edited clothing and kept only what she loved to wear
-swapped out the old mismatched hangars for thin "huggable hangars" that allowed us to fit more clothing into the closet.
-moved two old bookshelves into the home office closet to store reference binders, books and office supplies.
-we used a lot of well labeled bins, consistent in size to contain various items that needed to be stored in the garage.
-donated, consigned and recycled anything that wasn't used or loved.
-have a donation receptacle handy to easily catch any future donations quickly and easily.
-when everything was finished D took pictures of the spaces, saved them in an organizing file on her computer to refer to if things start looking disorganized in the future.
All in all it was an amazing two weeks. D worked so hard and the space is totally transformed. Now the decorating...

Holiday Organizing Video

2009-12-03T05:22:00.000-08:00

Click HERE to watch the video, Happy Holidays!!

Five Ways to make your Holidays Merry

2009-12-02T13:55:00.000-08:00

The holidays are here again, if their arrival has once again caught you by surprise you are not alone. This is a season filled with fun and festivities, but for many it can feel like a season of stress. If you’re feeling more frantic than festive the following tips can help.
One: Identify your priorities. As an individual or a family consider your values and priorities. Many of us do what we do during the holiday season because we always have turning the month of December into a mad whirl of activities. If the things on your list that you have to do outnumber the things you want to do, it’s time to indentify the things that truly bring joy to you and your family and consider eliminating the rest.
Two: Make a list. It works for Santa and it will work for you. Lists reduce stress. Getting it out of your head and onto paper help keep you in control of your time and relieves the mental pressure that comes with trying to remember everything. Use a master list to keep track of the big picture and a daily list to make the most of your time and daily to-dos. Don’t expect to get it all done each day-strive for progress not perfection. Transfer anything you haven’t done on your daily to-do to the next day’s list. Cross the things you’ve completed off the master list. Keep your lists in one place, whether on paper or electronically and maintain them each day.
Three: Clear Clutter. Less stuff equals more time. This is a great time of year to reassess all of your possessions to identify the things that are truly useful to you. Consider donating household items, toys, and holiday decorations to those in need. It’s a great time to teach kids about charitable giving by helping them to identify toys and clothing they may no longer need or love. Recycle wrapping paper you haven’t used in years or donate it to the art department of your local school, church or synagogue. Evaluate your decorations annually and discard anything damaged or overly worn. Excess items only complicate your storage.
Four: Reassess your holiday storage. When it comes to storage I am a big fan of consistency. If you are storing your holiday decorations in cardboard boxes or mismatched bins consider buying a new set of containers this year. My favorite bins are available year round at Costco. They cost around seven dollars and have interlocking black lids that remain attached. These industrial strength containers will stack together to create a storage system that will last for years. Use numbers to label the bins and list the contents of each numbered bin in a Christmas binder. If you love to save cards that you receive, create a home for them in an archival photo box you can find them at www.exposuresonline.com. Gather all you kitchen supplies that you only use once a year and designate an out of the way shelf to store them. If your kitchen is small store them in a bin. Bins work great for holiday linens as well.
Five: Plan ahead for the next holiday season. Create home for holiday information using a binder, binder pockets and a zippered pouch all found at office supply stores. Use the zippered pouch to store receipts for purchased gifts. Use the binder pockets to keep track of the following categories or create your own
• Christmas card list. You can add any address changes you receive throughout the year.
• Christmas Decoration Inventory. List each box number and the contents. Take photos of each room’s décor to make decorating a snap the next year.
• Entertaining. Be an inspired hostess by saving entertaining ideas throughout the year.
• Gift ideas. Use this pocket to capture all the perfect gift ideas torn from magazines.
• Recipes. This is a great place to store your favorite holiday recipes old and new.
• Tips. Anything you tear from a magazine or print from the web you want to refer to each holiday season.
• Travel. Keep travel itineraries, tickets and directions here.
I have added CD pockets to my binder to store holiday music and added lyrics in page protectors. Another helpful addition is a business card page to keep track of vendors you use seasonally. This binder can be tailored to fit your family and your personal needs.

The holiday season should be a pleasure, not an ordeal. With a little planning, a great list and a dash of simplicity you can bring back the comfort and joy.

Organizing Recipes Video

2009-11-07T06:50:00.001-08:00

Organizing Recipes

2009-11-02T06:27:00.000-08:00

Whether or not you’re a serious cook chances are you will find yourself wanting to make a favorite recipe. Often, the challenge can be finding it in an efficient manner.
Recipes are part of a family’s history. Most of us have handwritten cards passed down from mothers and grandmothers, favorite cookbooks, recipes torn from magazines and printed from the computer. Keeping track of all the different shapes and sizes can feel overwhelming.
The best thing to do is to find one method that works for you and stick to it. Here are five solutions that will appeal to everyone from the sentimental cook to the high tech chef.
Solution One: Mark the pages. Use book darts to mark your favorite recipes in any cookbook. Book darts are small metal clips that won’t wrinkle or mark pages and won’t fall off. They come in three colors so you can distinguish recipes you have tried from ones you haven’t or appetizers from main dishes. Post-its also work well for marking as the name of the recipe can be written in plain view. Great for serious cook book collectors.
Solution Two: Use an index card file to keep track of handwritten recipe cards. Use blank index cards to keep track of recipes in your favorite books. Simply write the name you are likely to remember, the cookbook and the page number. File the cards alphabetically in the box, dividing them into sections such as appetizers, desserts, holiday favorites, etc. This method appeals to those sentimental cooks who love the grease stained recipe card that grandma used.
Solution Three: Three ring binders. Create one binder for ‘Recipes to Try’. Use binder pockets labeled by category to capture each type of recipe you tear out of a magazine or print off a computer. When you are in the mood to cook something new they’ll be easy to find. After you have tried a new recipe, toss it if it’s a dud. If it’s a keeper, put it in a page protector and transfer it into a binder of your favorites. This method works well for those who love cooking magazines. Keep track of the recipes that sound appealing and toss or pass on the actual magazine.
Solution Four: File folders. This works well if you have a file drawer in your kitchen that can be designated for recipes. If you don’t have a drawer, there are many attractive portable files you can use. Simply create a folder for each type of recipe and a folder for recipes to try. This method will appeal to extremely busy cooks as it’s easy to catch all shapes and sizes within a folder. The caveat is the tendency to overstuff the folders making it hard to locate the recipe you want.
Solution Five: Online. Scan favorite recipes and keep them in files on your computer. Easily ensure the security of all your prized dishes by ensuring your computer is backed up. For easy and continual remote backup try www.carbonite.com. You can also use software such as www.bigoven.com or Cook’n www.dvo.com to organized all your favorite cookbooks online, create shopping list, watch cooking videos and even figure out what to cook for dinner by entering what’s in your refrigerator. The demo at dvo.com is a must watch. Amazing!!! This method is great for all types of cooks but especially appealing to those who don’t have room for cookbooks in their kitchen.

Realize that the initial organizing of your recipes will be a time consuming process, albeit a worthy endeavor. The next time you find yourself looking out on a cold rainy day you may just want to grab a cup of something warm and snuggle up with your recipes, just in time for holiday cooking

Hissyfits Hullabaloo

2009-10-29T20:47:00.001-07:00

I have told all of you about my favorite consignment boutique, Hissyfits. Well, if you haven't had a chance to check it out mark your calendar for Sunday November 8th and visit the Hissyfits Hullaballoo, an amazing array of local crafters. Shop for the holidays and consign your kids clothes at the same time!!
Hissyfits is located in Phoenix on 7th Street just north of Glendale Avenue.

I'll be there, hope you will be too!

Kitchen Drawer Organizing Video

2009-10-07T12:30:00.001-07:00

Click HERE to watch the video

Are your kitchen drawers overflowing, hard to close? Do you sift through a maze of mashers trying to find a spatula as your pancakes are burning? This article is for you and for anyone else who wants to have an efficient environment in which to cook. With the holiday’s fast approaching even those of us who manage to avoid cooking will most likely find ourselves in the kitchen. This is a great time of year to clear out the clutter and take a good look at how your kitchen functions.
As always the most important thing before beginning any organizing project is to put some thought into where your family is in life and how your kitchen is used an a daily basis.
Kitchen drawers are an essential part of your kitchen’s storage and flow. From occasional to gourmet, the following tips will help any cook clear out the clutter and define your drawers just in time for the season.
• Half measures don’t bring results. For this reason it is absolutely necessary to empty out all your kitchen’s drawers sorting their contents into groups of like items. By grouping things together you will catch duplicates and truly see what you have and what you’re missing.
• Eliminate excess. Do you really need eight potato peelers? Are you hanging on to obsolete or broken items for sentimental reasons? Define the things you use on a regular basis and donate the rest.
• Create a ‘half way house’ for hard to part with items or for items that are seldom used but necessary. A ‘halfway house’ is my term for off-site storage. It can be a bin in your pantry or in a high cupboard. If you are on the fence about parting with something, not sure you need it but not ready to let it go, put it in a bin so it does not clutter up the things you do use on a regular basis. If you don’t need it or look for it in a year’s time, let it go!
• Store items at their point of use. To make your kitchen really flow return items to drawers close to where the items will be used. For example, stove top gadgets should be next to the stove, knives close to the prep area and so on…
• Divide and conquer! Use drawer dividers to keep drawers neat and the contents easily accessible. My favorites are deep acrylic dividers that are easily cleaned and keep things in their place.
There are so many different types of kitchen drawer configurations the following tips may help those who have unique situations.
• If you have toddlers in the house, consider storing their sippy cups in a drawer that is accessible to them. It clears out space in your cabinet and creates the pride of knowing they have their own drawer to use.
• If you don’t have many drawers use a shallow storage bin without the lid to create drawer space in your cabinet. This works great for Tupperware and kid gear
• Yes, everyone had a junk drawer just clean it out on a regular basis.
• For deep drawers, use a tension rod to separate lids from pots and pans.
• Consider laying spices flat in a drawer next to the stove.
Whatever your kitchen configuration may be recognizing what is essential to your family and clearing out what is not will go a long way to keep your kitchen cooking.

Craft Room Nirvana

2009-09-22T05:48:00.000-07:00

OK, I swear, I'm not a product spokesperson but I have to share another great product with all of you. Thank you to my friend Jytte, who is an avid cook and crafter for telling me about this modular and well made system to house all of your supplies. They could easily be labeled in variety of ways. I would use small metal frames like you see on library shelves to identify the contents. The web site also gives instructions on how they can be stained to match any decor. The draw back is that they are a bit expensive. However, if you are serious about your crafts I would definitely check them our. www.scrapncube.com

Turn Your Vinyl Records Into MP3 files

2009-09-20T07:43:00.000-07:00

I found this turntable on Kim Komando's site. What a great way to clear out the album clutter in your home. Simply Scan the cover and turn the music into a playable MP3 file.

Premium USB Turntable
Converts all your vinyl LPs to MP3 fast & easy!

This high-end turntable lets you transfer music from records and cassettes to your PC or Mac. You can listen to your music, record it to CD, or transfer it to your iPod or MP3 player and take it with you. It also connects with ease to your home stereo– no pre-amp required!

The included exclusive software suite gives you a powerful set of tools that makes transferring your music easy. Record and convert vinyl directly to your music library. Automatically add album, artist, and song information.

It also has a line input jack so you can connect other music sources such as cassette decks, and turn your other music into MP3s.

* Turn your records into MP3s fast & easy
* Play records on your home stereo
* Adjustable anti-skate control for increased stereo balancing
* 33 1/3 and 45 RPM settings
* Records 78 RPM albums using included software
* Switchable-level RCA output
* Software for advanced recording and editing
* Requires PC running XP or Vista or Mac running OS X 10.4 or higher
* One available USB 1.1 port or higher
check it out at komando.com
$199.95

My Lazy Summer Break Follow Up

2009-09-09T06:08:00.000-07:00

Earlier this year I blogged about my house being a mess. When my daughter goes to visit family each year on the Jersey Shore I use the time to rip apart my house and edit the contents of every nook and cranny. I donate some, consign things of value and clean like a mad woman. During this two week process I let my home get so messy. I go into what I call "sloth mode" and I only work when I feel like it. Of course, I know that I eventually will pick it all up and put it away in it's proper place because I feel better when my home is clean and in order. But it is so much fun to be messy for awhile. Here are pictures of what I donated and what I consigned at Hissyfits, my new favorite place to unload my stuff and get Christmas money for new stuff!

The reason I was prompted to write about my annual ritual again is that I was forwarded a link to a website www.storyofstuff.com. At first, as a started to watch the twenty minute video about the life of stuff, I found it off-putting. I thought it to be propaganda. I do still question some of the facts and would love to hear a healthy debate on the subject, but all in all it is just an amazing presentation. I woke up this morning still thinking about it. You see, my annual ritual is about too much stuff. I hate it when my home is bursting at the seams. I call it stuffication and it stifles me. Look at the video and tell me what you think. I'll never go shopping again!! We'll maybe not as often...

Clutter Expands to the Space Alloted

2009-09-04T20:23:00.000-07:00

Are you guilty of surface abuse. Just something to think about...

The Pampered Pantry

2009-09-03T08:38:00.000-07:00

It’s no doubt that our pantries play an integral role in our family’s life. They come in all shapes and sizes and they all have one thing in common, they need to be organized in order to save you and your family time and money. With our busy lives the reality for pantries is that they often fall victim to what I like to call “the shove and close method”. If you and your family are prone to putting things away on the first glimpse of a shelf the answer if definition. Yes, definition is what organizing is all about. The following tips will help reclaim you space and restore order to one of your household’s busiest areas.
• Schedule the time. Large pantries can take up to six hours to organize
• Assemble your tools: a large garbage bin for expired items, a donation box for the local food bank (let go of items your family no longer enjoys before they expire and turn into garbage), a container to relocate all the things you’ll find in the pantry that don’t really belong there, a tape measure, a shopping list for organizing supplies you’ll need once you determine what you are keeping and where it will live and a label maker.
• Identify your pantry’s “prime real-estate”. These are the shelves that are most accessible to you. Your go-to items should make their home on these spaces.
• Sort the items you have removed from your pantry into like groups discarding anything that is expired or unwanted. If you find holiday items while you are organizing, set them aside to be stored with other holiday items in a remote location. Most pantries are not large enough for holiday storage and should be used only for food and kitchen items.
• Take a moment to look at your empty pantry and decide where the things you are keeping should live. Remember, seldom used items should be placed on the hardest to reach shelves and often used items should be very accessible. Don’t forget to consider the door and wall space. Often times wire racks can be added to these spaces to accommodate extra items.
At this point, if you are able, it is a great time to make a trip to the local organizing store or discount department store to purchase containers to organize with. If you are unable to make the trip during your organizing time, take measurements to shop with later. Resist buying items in advance unless you are really good about returning unused purchases and know exactly what is in your pantry and what you will keep.
My favorite products are baskets that fit your shelves to contain bags of pasta, rice and grains. Baskets are also great to contain bulk purchases of lunch snacks. Label one sweet snacks and the other salty snacks and dump the boxes of small packages into them. Kids love this!! I also love turntables that fit the shelf for oils, vinegars, marinades and condiments (turn tables make items on high shelves accessible). They are also good for liquor, vases and any other tall, round items like airtight containers of flour sugar etc. I use plastic containers with lids and labels to contain small items used for baking such as sprinkles, cookie cutters, and birthday candles.
• Load up your pantry. Place things according to how often they are used. Heavy appliances should be on lower shelves and seldom used things up high. Avoid using the floor space if at all possible. Having a clean floor helps keep the dust at bay and will make your pantry much more appealing.
• Label everything and explain to your family the new system so they will understand there is now an assigned space for each item.
• Hang a shopping list in or nearby your pantry. When you see your running low on a family favorite jot it on the list. This will save a lot of time and money at the grocery store.
Pantries can run the gamut from functional to beautiful and they are one of my favorite things to organize. Once you have restored order to your food storage the key is to maintain it. Avoid bulk purchases if you have a small family. If you have a small pantry and you need to buy in bulk consider storing the bulk items in a warehouse area either in a basement or garage until you need to restock your pantry. When you see your pantry looking disheveled, take a moment to straighten it up and discard any stale or expired items. With a little elbow grease, definition and new habits you too can take your pantry from pathetic to pampered.

Thank You Diane

2009-08-23T19:15:00.000-07:00

One of the best things about my profession is the wonderful people I have had the privilege of working with. One such client really touched me when, on my birthday last week, she threw an intimate and incredible dinner party for my daughter and I. The dinner was fabulous, the balloons made me smile but what touched me the most is the poem she wrote for me. I don't cry often but when I read it aloud, I became so choked up. I met Diane through her New York organizer, Janine. Janine interviewed many local organizers and thought that I was the best fit for her beloved client. So, here's the poem. I love it so much I want to share it with all of you.

I moved to Arizona, was really quite a mess
The more i looked around me, the more it caused distress.

Janine said don't you worry, I'm Johnny on the spot,
And then one lovely springtime day, in walked Charlotte (pronounced like A Lot)

We sat 'neath piles of boxes, papers, clothes and rags,
It was so overwhelming, the clothes had on their tags.

She told me not to worry, the word she used was "edit"
I just had no patience, knowing me, I'd rather shred it.

We laughed, we joked we worked hard, we tried to make it fun,
And every time I think we're through, we've only just begun.

I really have enjoyed you, the house is on the mend,
But most of what I cherish, is that I've made a friend.

I wish you happy 50, there's so much more to go,
You have tremendous talent, I'm glad to watch you grow.

Happy, happy birthday, and please enjoy the day,
And when the project's over, please don't stay away.

Thank you so much Diane and Maria, I love you both!!!

Kid's Consignment

2009-08-09T10:20:00.000-07:00

I have found the greatest kid's consignment store. This retail space is chock full of great designer duds, cute, kitschy decor and just plain fun stuff you and your kids will adore.
The new fall clothes are now available.
Check them out if you're in the area...Tell them Charlotte sent you.
7036 N. 7th Street Phoenix Arizona 602 674 1250

Back to School

2009-08-09T10:06:00.001-07:00

Oh my Gosh!!! I can't believe my daughter is back to school tomorrow. Yikes!! This summer has flown by. If only the heat would leave too!! The following is an article I wrote for the Sonoran Living website. I will be on the show this Tuesday, August 11th to talk about getting your family organized for the school year. There's only so much I can say in three or four minutes but I confident that those who watch will take away something helpful. For those of you who don't live in the Phoenix area you can watch the segment online at www.abc15.com Happy Organizing!!!

Back to School Organizing
(Setting your family up for success)

If you cringe at the thought of the morning chaos and the mounds of paper the school year brings you are not alone. There are many Moms out there that are starting to feel overwhelmed as the beginning of another school year draws near. Kids feel it too. They generally want to be responsible and become stressed at the idea of falling short of parental expectations. The key is giving yourself and your family the tools for success.
As with any organizing endeavor, planning goes a long way. First you must designate a place in your home for a family information hub. This will be where you keep the family calendar, chore charts, reference books and papers that need to be processed. You will also need a place to keep your children’s special accomplishments and special memories from the year. The following are some of my favorite solutions to manage your busy family while maintaining order in your home.
• Pick an area in your home to set up your family command center. This should be an area that is central well trafficked. You will need wall space for a calendar and a surface for paper management.
• Use a family calendar to keep track of busy schedules. Write down standing appointments and classes at the beginning of each month and add additional happenings as soon as you commit to them. Whether you use a paper calendar or a dry erase, color coding is a must. Use a different color for each family member.
• Post invitations in chronological order near the calendar. A magnetic strip works well for this. They can be found at organizing stores in various lengths.
• Compile all pertinent family information in one binder. This will be your go to book for schedules, phone lists, and team and school information. To create this you will need a binder, binder pockets, page protectors and a label maker. Tell your family what the binder contains so everyone will have easy reference to needed information.
• Create an in box for papers that parents need to process. Having one place for papers that need to be signed takes the stress out of processing the many permission slips and school papers that come into the home each year. Just as important is a designated outbox. Use five magazine files (one for each day of the week) to process out going papers. If it’s Monday simply grab the contents of that day’s box and go.
• Help forgetful kids remember their responsibilities. Use a chore chart for weekly responsibilities. A great way to make sure your child feels in control is to laminate a list of each day’s responsibilities, morning and night for easy reference.
• Create a memory box. Use a plastic file box with hanging files for each year of your child’s education. Keep the current year’s folder handy to quickly be able to store your child’s important memories. Edit the folder at the end of the year to keep only the best of the best.
• Designate a family art wall. Use poster tape that won’t damage the walls or the art. When you’re ready to rotate the art, keep only the best of the best in a kid’s art portfolio. Don’t forget to write the date on the back. For three dimensional art that is hard to store. Take a picture of your child holding the piece. When your child no longer wants to display the thing in their room you have the memory of the art and the pride on your child’s face. You can create bound books of your child’s artistic accomplishments by uploading your pictures at photo sites like Picassa or Snapfish.
There are three components to an organized life: systems tailored to your family, products to divide and conquer and the new habits to keep the systems working. With a little preplanning and newly formed habits you and your family will be on track for an A+ school year.
Site’s to explore:
Momagenda.com for chore chart’s family calendars and Mom’s personal planner.
PotteryBarn.com for great dry erase calendars and magnetic surfaces.
Containerstore.com for magazine files and magnetic strips for invitations.

I AM SO LAZY

2009-07-13T20:09:00.000-07:00

Well, I bet you all will be surprised by this post. Each summer, my daughter goes back east to visit family. For those of you that don't know, I am a single mom with full custody. That means twenty four seven motherhood. For this reason, this two week respite I am given each year is truly blissful for me.
I wanted to let you all know that my house is a mess. There's stuff everywhere and I'm just laying around doing nothing about it. I would take a picture but I'm too lazy to do that too. I rather just sit here on the couch and each ice cream sandwiches.
Now, truth be known, I use this time I have all to myself to rip my home apart and donate or sell any obsolete or unwanted thing I can find. My reward is more money in my Christmas account from consignments and the great feeling I get when I donate items to my favorite charity. I don't worry what it looks like during this annual ritual of mine. It just feels good to be messy. For those of you that think I may be a total neat nick you are only partially right. The fact is that I know I function better when I am organized. I feel better when I walk in my door when everything is put away, but I do love to be in sloth mode each July.
Because my home is organized and everything does have a place I also have the peace of mind knowing that it really won't take me that long to clean it up when I have had my fill of lazy evenings with my laptop and a skinny cow (my favorite ice cream sandwich). I'll think about taking a picture for you all tomorrow. Right now, the freezer is calling.

Organized Travel

2009-07-03T19:35:00.000-07:00

Hey Everyone, on Tuesday July 7th I'll be doing my monthly segment on Sonoran Living Live. The topic: Organized travel. I hope you'll tune in to Channel 15 at 9:00. For those of you not in the Phoenix area you can catch it at www.sonoranliving.com. Here are some tips to can use right away. Bon Voyage!!
When it comes to traveling, there are two types of people; those who over pack and those who under pack. Vacations are supposed to be relaxing, but if you get stressed just thinking of another disorganized vacation these tips are for you…
• Plan ahead. Make lists and check them twice. You can download The Ultimate Travelers Checklist at www.packitup.com Or purchase a pad of PACK THIS checklists at www.knockknockstuff.com Check local weather and pack appropriately.
• Plan for the worst and expect the best. What if you lost your tickets and passport? Who would you call? What would you do? Make sure you answer those questions ahead of your trip and bring an emergency contact list with you. Make copies of your travelers check receipt, passport or birth certificate and tickets; keep them in a secure place separate from the originals.
• Pare down your wardrobe and avoid bulky fabrics. Think layers of silk, cashmere and rayon rather than bulky knits that take up too much room or cottons that will wrinkle (who wants to iron on vacation). Choose a neutral palette that will work together and dress it up with accessories for that punch of color.
• Bring a large tote as a carryon and pack a small purse inside. Totes are considered purses by many airlines so you can still bring another suitcase on board. Always bring medications with you in your carryon.
• Identify your bag and use a TSA approved lock for any checked luggage. It is so important to identify your checked luggage inside and out. If your suitcase ends up in a destination other than yours and the luggage tag on the outside has been ripped off by a conveyor belt (it happens), TSA can open your bag and find the ID that you have placed inside and send the bag to you expeditiously. I suggest a simple laminated sheet of paper placed right on top of your clothes. Do not have your name and address visibly displayed on any carry-on items. Thieves troll the airport looking for luggage tags with addresses on them. It is how they know you are away and your home is vacant.
• Lighten your load. My best friend and I, when traveling to Europe used to pack our oldest shoes and clothing instead of buying new things for our trip. Why? We wanted to shop!! We would leave our old clothing in our hotel with a note to please donate to a local charity. The old things that we were ready to part with were replaced with fabulous purchases from abroad. You can also lighten your load by tossing magazines and weeding papers as you go. Think about bringing UPS or Fedex forms to send back dirty laundry. Many airlines are charging fees for extra or heavy luggage so shipping things home could save you money as well.

Bottom line when traveling: less is more. Bring half of what you think you need and twice as much money.

A Sanctuary for Supplies

2009-06-28T21:59:00.001-07:00

My friend Kim recently told me about a closet in her home that never seems to be totally under control. The closet, she explained, is used for school supplies, family files, miscellaneous electronics and office supplies. It is used by her entire family. I went to her home to take a look and saw that Kim had done a great job of straightening it up, but I could see, that after a few weeks of use it would return to its chaotic state. How did I know? It's simple, the closet lacked definition. Organizing is about eliminating excess, defining spaces and creating systems that are easily maintained. Use the picture of my very own supply closet to inspire you. Still overwhelmed? I would love to help. Just visit www.simplyputorganizing.com to find out more...

Arizona Foothills

2009-06-14T19:18:00.000-07:00

Wow!! Thank you Arizona Foothills for a great article. Melissa Larsen, called to interview me in January. I had no idea they would do a three page article on my tips. I wish I could have used photographs of my actual work but their art department created some cute vignettes. You can enlarge any page by right clicking on it. Enjoy...
Check out the Queen of Clean's tips too. I bought the Sonic Scrubber and I love it!!!

Now You See Them Now You Don't

2009-06-06T19:56:00.000-07:00

Ok Moms, you are going to love this one if you've struggled with how to organize and store your child's stuffed animals. Plush toys are odd shaped and bulky and very hard to organize. I ask my daughter to donate some of her animals before birthdays and Christmas and she complies without complaint. She's grown up with the habit of regular editing and donating so she doesn't think twice about it. The problem was that so many of the stuffed toys are special to her. She is a mere nine years old so I am not ready to insist she gives up the furry little things she loves so much even though trying to store them in her small room was driving me insane. I know that the day will come when Caleigh is an adult and most of the stuffed friends will have journeyed to new homes, but until then they needed a place to live in our home.
One day I was flipping through a Pottery Barn Kid catalog admiring the great bean bag chairs when I noticed the covers were sold separate from the inserts. I thought, wouldn't it be great to stuff that chair with plush toys? So, I ordered a cover and stuffed it with my daughter's furry friends and voila,instant order!!
Caleigh loves the fact that all her stuffed animals are still with her, safe, secure and neatly organized.
Take a look...

I am so happy with the results as the chair has lots of room for future friends (I no longer cringe when Caleigh brings home a new stuffed animal) and we have an extra seat!!
BTW, I have already tried this with several clients and they love it too...

Sonoran Living Live

2009-06-02T12:56:00.000-07:00

This is a recent segment I did on behalf of Office Max which is my favorite office supply store. I really love the In Place line and all the Di Voga products so it wasn't hard to be their spokesperson. Thanks to all of you that came out to see me this past weekend. I haven't watched this all the way through as it's too hard to listen to myself. LOL
Tune in to Sonoran Living each month on the first Tuesday for more tips to get you organized.
Enjoy...

Be the Boss of Your Mailbox

2009-05-04T07:34:00.000-07:00

I found the a great resource last night while researching an article I was writing: Mail Stopper. Here's what it can do for just a twenty dollar annual subscription.

Stamp out junk mail.

Stop up to 90% of your junk mail with MailStopper - in just 90 days. We work with over 6,500 direct marketers - to make sure you get only the mail you want.
Un-Clutter your Life.

Catalogs. Credit card offers. Grocery store circulars. Not only does junk mail pile up - it also can lead to identity theft. With MailStopper, you'll save time, reduce waste, and protect your privacy.
Think green. Plant trees.

When you join MailStopper, we plant 5 trees on your behalf. Combined with the paper you save, it's like growing your own tiny forest.

I love the fact that they plant trees on your behalf. I have signed up and I'm really looking forward to ending the paper nightmare that is my mailbox.

I would love to get feedback on this if anyone else tries this service...

Can being completely organized ever be a reality?

2009-04-21T11:54:00.000-07:00

Recently, in a chat forum for Professional Organizers, a query was posted: Can being completely organized ever be a reality? I thought this was such a great question because there always seems to be confusion about organizing and organized people. There is definitely a difference between being organized and being perfect. I often say , "Organized, but not perfect" when I forget something, arrive late or just have a chaotic day. The difference for an organized person is they can get back on track faster and, knowing that everything is in it's place, have some peace of mind no matter how chaotic life gets.
Organization is about defining spaces in your home or work environment. Clutter is overwhelming, it weighs your life down. My clients almost always use the word overwhelming to describe the reason they've called. I have discovered, while creating organizing systems for clients that make sense to them; 'Completely Organized' is different for everyone. My job is to help define what organized is for each individual I work with and not impose my definition on them. To help them realize when they are to a point where they feel good about their home and more importantly, when they know how to easily maintain the system that has been created. Organizing is not a one time event. It is a constant process of reassessing your spaces to eliminate anything that is no longer useful to you. So, if you feel good about your home, feel in control for the most part and are able to relax I would say you are organized. Don't beat yourself up trying to make your spaces look like Real Simple magazine if that's impossible for you to maintain.
My favorite comment on the chat came from my friend and colleague, Janine Sarna-Jones of Organize Me, Inc. Her reply: The Question implies that organizing is something that can be finished, but it is not an act that one can perfect and cross off a list. It seems to be more of a practice (that one must incorporate into one's routine) than something tangible or concrete. Perhaps, like reaching Nirvana--you can work on getting there, but the journey is ultimately what it is all about.
Next question, "What came first, the chicken or the egg?"

Organized Shower

2009-04-14T09:12:00.001-07:00

Love this product!!! I found this at spacesavers.com and I added it to my shower curtain about a month ago. After giving it a test drive I am happy to report that it works great!! I have nothing around my tub and I don't have to deal with an annoying metal unit hanging from my shower head. My shampoo, conditioner and all my other things are within easy reach and the best part is I can throw this organizer in the washer if and when it gets gunky. All this for just 8.99!!

More on Paper...

2009-04-12T19:27:00.000-07:00

I love doing television segments!! My only frustration is that it is extremely difficult to boil down a complicated topic, like paper, to fit into a three and a half minute segment. So here's what I didn't get to say about paper. The best way to keep it from piling up is not to bring it into your home in the first place. Think before you hit the print button on your computer. Do you really need the piece of paper? If you need it do you have a place to keep it so that you can retrieve it when needed? If not, don't print!! If you are worried, as I once was, about losing information if your computer should crash check out this remote backup service, www.carbonite.com. For a small monthly fee it continually backs up your computer files. How do I know it works? My computer crashed!! When I bought a replacement computer, I went to my carbonite account, it asked me if I was on a new computer, I answered yes. It asked me if I wanted to restore my files, I answered yes and voila, done. All my information was intact. I no longer print anything that is stored in my document files on my computer. Complete Freedom!!
Another way to keep piles at a minimum is to keep a spiral notebook or a journal by your phone or in one or two easily reached places in your home. Instead of writing down messages or thoughts on random pieces of paper jot them down in the notebook and periodically date the pages for future reference.
The other service I love is Lifelock. I use this service to eliminate my fears of identity theft. For those of you afraid to toss your junk mail this is for you. Check it out at www.lifelock.com. Signing up for the service not only protects your identity, it stops almost all of the financial junk mail such as preapproved credit card offers from coming to your home in the first place. I also, had my nine year old daughter's identity locked.
Last but not least, get a shredder, a garbage can and a recycle bin and keep them close to the place you process mail and school papers. School papers...that's another post.

Organizing Paper: From Piles to Files

2009-04-06T19:54:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone!! I hope you'll all watch me tomorrow on Sonoran Living Live, Phoenix's ABC 15 at 9a. I'll be talking about paper and what the heck to do with it when it ends up in piles all over your home. Get a head start on restoring order to your environment with the article below. See you tomorrow...

Piles to Files

The fact about paper is that it is everywhere. It arrives daily in our mailbox. Our kids bring it home from school. We print out articles and pictures from our computer just in case we can’t find the website again. The list goes on and on. The problem with paper is that, if you don’t have a processing system, it can end up in piles all over your home. When that happens, digging out without a plan, feels overwhelming. As with any big project take it slowly, address a pile, or part of a pile, each day and create new habits for incoming papers.

Use the simple processing system below to restore order in your environment:

Think F.A.T. paper falls into three categories, file, act and toss:

1. File: Papers that need to be kept for reference; insurance policies, medical reports, tax information and any other critical document falls into this category. You will need a file cabinet with clearly labeled folders for this type of paper. You’ll also need a clearly defined place to keep your papers that need to be filed until you can complete the task.

2. Act: Papers that need an action taken on them; invitations, coupons, projects, school assignments and anything else that is associated with a task. This type of paper needs to be stored in an action center. The action center should be in only one location in your home and needs to be checked daily. Checking your action center daily allows you to pull the items you need for that day and toss anything that is no longer relevant. Keep it current and file papers that need to be retained at least once a week. Three tiered sorters found at office supply centers are great for this purpose as the tiers can be labeled: to do, to file, and pending (papers that you’ve taken an action on and you’re waiting for a response).

3. Toss: Most papers that come into our lives fall into this category. Always open your mail close to a recycle bin or trash can in order to eliminate them before they hit a hard surface in your home.

Organization is about defining your spaces and creating homes for everything, including paper. After defining easy access homes for your paper to live the key to maintenance is a well established system and a routine to follow.

If you feel overwhelmed and just don’t know where to start please call for help. I would love to work with you. Simply Put Organizing 480 659 2663

Container Store Coupon

2009-03-26T05:49:00.000-07:00

Just found out that there is a 25% coupon for The Container Store on Oprah.com!!
Go to her home page, click on The Container Store link on the "hot topics" bar. Scroll down to the orange words that say " get your coupon" and voila, huge savings!!!
You can use it to buy one of my favorite items for summer. Great for all of you flip flop fans...Think about putting this in your closet or in the garage.
Another great way to store your summer footwear is to use a pretty basket, placed on your closet floor or wherever you would go to grab a pair.

Cute Storage Bins

2009-03-24T05:11:00.001-07:00

I love this bin!! It fits in most square cubicle storage units and works well on closet shelves. It is super convenient for new moms to organize diapers, wipes and any other baby gear they may need to tote around the house. Kids can easily organize their toys as each bin is generous in size but also has a center divider and a handle. How cool is that? They come in two sizes and three color combination's. Cute!!
Many thanks to Kalen at Stephanie's Little Luxeries for this great find.
check them out at www.skiphop.com

Office Supply Storage

2009-03-22T08:12:00.000-07:00

This is an armoire, in a client's home office that we
turned into a supply cabinet. This particular office
did not have a closet space to store the items
needed to support her business. Her supplies were scattered all over the house which made it difficult to be productive. Duplicates were often purchased because she had no idea what she already had. My client loves beautiful things so she had the inside of the cabinet upholstered. I added baskets with custom tags to reduce the cluttered appearance of the supplies.
Armoires are great for storage anywhere in the home. The key is to give them a specific purpose and then organize within based on retrieval.
I'm blogging on a Sunday morning, it is so peaceful in my own office. I could do this all day. However, my daughter just woke up....

My Best Friend's Desk After

2009-03-20T08:41:00.001-07:00

This is the end result of our organizing efforts. I should let you know that since I left Seattle Jytte gone wireless and removed the printer from the desk, Yay!! In it's place sits a beautful flower arrangment that soothes the senses in her work space. I truly believe that home offices should be beautiful and functional.

Here's how we arrived at this desktop nirvana: first we removed everything from the desk and drawers. Using a big trash can, a donation bag and a shredder we removed anything that wasn't needed to support Spice of Life cooking school. We assigned a specific use for each drawer in the desk and created a home for each necessary item. We added an action center with specific spaces for to dos, filing and pending items. Organizing is much more than tidying up. It is necessary to create systems tailored to an individuals personality and needs in order to maintain a clutter free environment.

This is her office supply drawer. We also designated a specific drawer for her business and personal stationery.

My Best Friend's Desk

2009-03-11T12:59:00.000-07:00

OK, while I'm here in Seattle, vacation or not I think I'll tackle my friends desk. Jytte is a gourmet cook, not an organizer. However, she has just started a fabulous cooking school and needs a clean slate from which to manage her business.

Here's a fact: clutter attracts clutter so if you have a surface that looks like this it's really easy just to add more to it. Then poof, just like that, it becomes overwhelming. This desk needs clearly defined spaces and files that are easy to reach. Jytte and I are going to take a trip to Storables, purchase some great products and tackle this office. Check back for the after...

My Very First Post

2009-03-10T17:46:00.000-07:00

I am officially a blogger! This is very exciting because there are so many things that I want to share with all of you but don't want to compile them into a newsletter that, let's face it, can be boring!!! So, I hope you'll all check my blog frequently for organizing inspiration, great products, services and fun.
I am blogging from Seattle which at the moment is cold and snowing. Because of this I am finally able to find the time to catch up on my to-do list and regroup. This is blissful for me because when I'm home life is non stop.
What i want to let all of you know right now is that I have posted some of my favorite links on my blog. One is to my website, simply put organizing, two are to great places to find organizing products; Storables and The Container Store, Gazelle is a great place to recycle your old electronics for cash and Remindr is a fantastic reminder service you must check out for yourself.

A big thank you goes out to my friend Alicia for her inspiration, advice and the little nudge she gave me to start blogging.