Everything in Its Place

Some Resources to Organize YOU!

2012-01-23T17:35:00.000-05:00

This is YOUR YEAR!

Below is a super list of websites for organizing resources to help your 2012 get off to an organized start!

GENERAL SUPPLIES

Ikea: http://www.ikea.com/
Target stores: http://www.target.com/

GENERAL OFFICE SUPPLIES

Avery: http://www.avery.com/

MomAgenda: http://www.momagenda.com/

Neat Co.: www.neat.com/products

Office Depot: http://www.officedepot.com/

Office Max: http://www.officemax.com/

Quill: http://www.quill.com/

Staples: http://www.staples.com/

UNIQUE AND BEAUTIFUL OFFICE SUPPLIES

Levenger: http://www.levenger.com/

russell + hazel: http://www.russellandhazel.com/

See Jane Work: http://www.seejanework.com/

HOME IMPROVEMENT/CLOSETS

Home Depot: http://www.homedepot.com/

Lowe's: http://www.lowes.com/

ORGANIZING PRODUCTS

Bed, Bath & Beyond: http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/

The Container Store: http://www.containerstore.com/

Crate & Barrel: http://www.crateandbarrel.com/

Current Catalog: http://www.currentcatalog.com/

Hold Everything: http://www.holdeverything.com/

Lillian Vernon: http://www.lillianvernon.com/

Linens-n-Things: http://www.lnt.com/

OnlineOrganizing: http://www.onlineorganizing.com/

Organize.com: http://www.organize.com/

Organized A to Z: http://www.organizedatoz.com/

Pottery Barn: http://www.potterybarn.com/

Rubbermaid: http://www.rubbermaid.com/

Stack and Stacks: http://www.stacksandstacks.com/

Storables: http://www.storables.com/

SCRAPBOOKING

Creative Memories: http://www.creativememories.com/

Cheers to a New Year! Will a little less clutter and a lot more peace!

Simply Yours,
Kim B.

Container Clutter

2011-07-10T01:36:00.003-04:00

While helping my clients purge to pack to move, I've noticed a recurring issue house to house. CONTAINER CLUTTER. Shoe boxes, containers, old cardboard boxes, etc. saved for those "things" you may ONE DAY put in them. They seem so useful. The right size. Handy. Stackable. The problem is, they pile up quickly, eating up space in our homes, rarely used to their fullest.

Container clutter is one of the biggest space eaters in your home. Once or twice a month schedule a "container/boxes" inventory day to see what can go and what you WILL use.

Then the next time you tackle an organizing project and think you need to shop for containers to tidy up your space, first reference your inventory to find ALL the containers and shoe boxes that already live there and repurpose your stock.

Containers are great, but only keep what you have room to store and walk in freedom as you donate and toss the rest : )

Notebooks

2011-04-06T23:11:00.028-04:00

Are you a note taker?
I am a BIG TIME note taker. I take notes in church, from the radio, while watching TV, or whenever I need to write something down so that I don't forget it later. We have so much information coming at us all the time, and it's really hard some days to keep up! AMEN? So ya know what I do? I keep little notebooks in my purse, book bags, car console and on my nightstand. Small enough to keep my purse from overflowing and big enough to take down a substantial amount of information when needed.

Notebooks are great to have on hand when someone needs to give you directions, a phone number or a date for your calendar. When you're on the go, sometimes it's much easier to have pen and paper ready. IPhones and Blackberry's are good for jotting down quick information too, but we don't always have time to pull up the app, and type. The good old fashion pen and pad has proven to be the best solution for me. Below is a photo of the notebooks I like best. The brands I use are called Hot Chocolate and/or
Studio C. Both can be purchased at your local Target or CVS stores. I simply love their whimsical and colorful presentation. And two other fabulous features are their stretch straps that keep the pages protected and closed as well as an inside pocket for extra notes or business cards.

Cute! Useful! Economical! And they pack a purposeful punch.

What are you waiting for? Go shopping and get your thoughts and note taking covered!

You don't want to miss another incredible piece of information do you?

This little tool could be the beginning of the rest of your organized life (and thoughts!).

Don't forget to buy one in every color!!

5,000 Digital Photo's?

2011-04-05T15:19:00.005-04:00

I bet you have a million pictures just sitting on your computer at home? Am I right? If you are like me, and you love taking pictures, you've probably accumulated enough to fill 1000's of albums. I'll bet if you layed those albums side by side, fillled up with all your memories, they could probably reach from here to Texas! That's A LOT of pictures.

If you're like me, you probably have some of those photo's in folders on your computer, some labeled with titles, some with dates and some with a series of numbers that give you no clue as to what is what. Day after day you say to yourself.." THIS WEEK, I'm gonna organize all my photo's on my computer!" And then another year goes by and you've accumulated another 1000 photo's. Sound familiar?

Wherever you may be in the process of gaining some control of all your precious memories (or not), let's look at some things we can do today to make the process easy and once and for all, give those pictures a real home.

First of all, choose a software program that can help you organize your photo's. There are a number of programs to choose from, but for starters, here are a few that I think are good. Picasa is a good free option, and iPhoto is great too. These programs help you do some basic editting and organizing.
Next, decide how you would like to organize your photo's. You can group them into chronological order (by date), or alphabetically (by category), giving each folder a title (ex: Kids/Kentucky Vacation 2011/Scenary, etc.). Or both.
Label your photo's with a description. Give each photo a name and date. For instance the lable for this photo below would look like this....20110401-Miles. That way, when the computer sorts your photo's alphabetically, they will also come up in chronological order.

The most important tip for organizing your photo's on your computer is USE YOUR DELETE BUTTON! You may think that every picture you took has value, and perhaps they do. But it's so much easier to manage a reasonable amount of EXCELLENT pictures, as opposed to 1000's of just O.K. shots. Use your delete button and wipe out all those out of focus shots, duplicates and bad shots. This will help you cut down on your snap happy clutter and you will value the ones that you keep so much more!
Back up your pictures! You should have an external hardrive for your computer to backup ALL photo's (and documents). You can save pictures to a disk, external hardrive or an online site (ex; Snapfish, Shutterfly, etc.). I actually prefer both. My pictures are stored on my computer hardrive, backed up to my external unit, and over time, I've saved many to an online website. Online websites also make it easy to share mulitiple photo's with your friends and family and to create fun albums and gifts for people you love.

Getting organized is a matter of time, and your memories are worth it! Set a goal to have all your digital pictures purged, sorted, dated and named by a certain time period. Then break down the project by weeks. In no time, you will have created an online photo storage that is ready for the albums you want to create or the family reunions you will attend.

Keep taking pictures! But don't forget to take some time to manage your memories too.

My Favorite Things

2011-04-04T20:02:00.000-04:00

Today has been a reminiscent day of all things I love and things that have proven useful and beautiful to me. I thought I'd share some of them with y'all. And you are welcome to hum "My Favorite Things" by Julie Andrews as you peruse MY favorite things : )

Daisies....the happiest flower.

Cool Car Containers for things you need everyday.

The best store on planet earth.

Beautiful totes in EVERY color. I cannot have enough tote bags!

It's a fetish...I admit it.

Old window pane used as home decor. Super idea from

my pal Annie.

Cool signs that encourage and inspire!

My new jewelry tree inspired by Kara M.

Doubles as home decor and obviously very useful.

Sweet refreshment. Need I say more?

My faithful assistant.

Miles the Wonder Dog!

Jesus...the One and Only.

Happy Easter (a little early)!

Every pathway that leads to the beach!

These are a few of my favorite things!

This is the STUFF...that drives ME crazy!

2011-03-28T12:10:00.000-04:00

One of my favorite singing groups of the past are The Carpenter's. I just love Karen Carpenter and her deep lovely voice. One song she sings that continues to be a favorite in my life is Rainy Days and Mondays. The song is actually a bit on the depressing side, but it sure rings truth on those days (like today) when a Monday is A MONDAY. And on top of it...it's raining! But if you are an allergy sufferer like myself, you are actually breathing a little deeper today. So there IS blessing in the rainy Monday. A new song on the top Christian charts that I love is by a young sweet mom named Francesca Battistelli. It's called, This Is The Stuff...and it's about all the "little things" that seem to pile up into bigger things. The little things that are really just that....little. But depending on the day of the week (Monday), and the condition of the day (Raining), and the hurried and harried YOU that is trying desperately to get through it, those little things can ofter seem monstrous. Amen?

However, when we look at the little things that keep tripping us up as blessings and lessons in disguise from our Creator, we can dance in rain and we CAN make it through our Mondays. What can you eliminate today from your home, your calendar, or your thought process to make your Monday a blessing and not a curse? Think about it! Let's be intentional about living The Simple Life this week. I've attached this fabulous song for your enjoyment. Don't take yourself quite so seriously today.

It's all just stuff...and most of it...is little.

Happy Rainy Monday!

Clutter Free Gifts

2011-02-13T18:55:00.003-05:00

I don't know about you, but I'm always looking for ways to "give" to others without adding more things to the mess of their lives. We all love stuff. And we all love getting and giving gifts. But do we honestly need one more tchotchke (pronounced & defined: CHOCH-kuh\, noun:(a trinket; a knickknack)? I think not.

As we approach Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day, Mothers Day, and a load of birthdays in between, let's think about some CLUTTER FREE Gift Giving Ideas that will bless the socks off the people we love.

Here are some hot ideas for your gift receivers!

Clutter Free Gifts:

1. Acts of Service: One of my favorite gifts to give to new moms for Mothers Day (or birthday) is a dinner out and free babysitting. You could also help a friend with an organizing project that they keep dragging their feet on or don't have the skills to do.
Landscaping is much friendlier with two...give someone a day of yard work help.

2. Charitable donations: Give a gift (money, food or clothing) to your friend or family members favorite charitable organization in their name.

3. Entertainment: Movie passes/theater tickets, or a year's subscription to Netflix or Blockbuster.

4. Spa Treats: Manicures, pedicures, massages and facials are always a big hit for the women AND men in your life!

5. Gift Cards: Who doesn't love to have money burning a hole in their wallet? Gift cards are a great way to get the people on your list exactly what they want.

6. Restaurant Gift Certificates: Do your friends and family members have a favorite restaurant that they frequent? This will save them money and you can be sure if it's a favorite spot, it will be used up.

7. Special Outings - Take the people on your list on a picnic that you prepared or go boating, or skydiving, or to the theater! Do you have entertainment parks in your area? Treat them to a day of fun!

8. Homemade Goodies: If you like to bake, make something yummy along with a homemade card. Every birthday and holiday my daddy says to me..."Ahhh, just make me a card. That's all I really need." Who doesn't love receiving something made with love?

9. Ready Made Items: Gift packages from Harry & David or Honey-Baked Ham or a basket of coffees are wonderful store bought items that are consumable and delicious!

10. The Gift of Organization: In a world spilling over with clutter, giving the gift of organization to help the people you love find peace and order in their lives. This is the the gift that keeps on giving! And I think I know a Professional Organizer who can help : ) Gift cards are available.

Let's spend less money this year on things that may never be used or will probably be re-gifted later, and let's find creative ways to give the people we love, gifts that bless and relieve and encourage.

Got Avery Labels?

2011-01-29T15:05:00.000-05:00

Daily Affirmations

2011-01-26T17:34:00.000-05:00

There are some days you just need a little reminder that YOU CAN.

After my second week of being down and out from upper respiratory invasion, I made a choice today to draw a line in the sand and stop the madness of my own discouragement. You know how it is....you feel terrible, your plans get interrupted because you feel terrible, you can't think straight, you wander around in circles getting nowhere fast, and well...., you just FEEL TERRIBLE.

Sometimes when we face a mountain of clutter in our lives it makes us feel terrible and we aren't sure where to begin or how to face the madness. The best medicine to change our perspective and to gain a little courage to begin is some daily affirmations of the things we LOVE. This always helps motivate me to tackle the messes in my life with confidence and perseverance. This video I have attached is one of my favorites. Everybody needs a little Jessica in their lives!

After praying through some frustrating strongholds, I found myself late this afternoon, sweeping my carport and saying OUT LOUD...."I love my dog....I love my family...I love my house...I love my car....I love my book bag.....I love my Bible...I love organizing...I love my Jesus....I love my friends....I LOVE EVERYTHING! And then I felt so much better.

Check out this fabulous reminder and remember that YOU CAN love your house and face the madness with determination after you've given your heart a little affirmation.

Cleaning for a Reason!

2011-01-24T13:08:00.000-05:00

We all need a little help now and then, just to manage the every day tasks, to-do's, and people in our lives. But if you, like a number of my friends, are currently undergoing cancer treatments, not feeling very productive or energetic to get it all done, then this is a resource for YOU!

Personally, I have 11 women on my prayer list who are battling cancer that I pray for weekly. Women of Courage...Women of Faith...Women on the front line of the battlefield. They are my hero's.
But there are many days that I know they just don't feel good...period.

If you have a loved one that needs a little help from their friends, physically and financially, please check out Cleaning for a Reason. Here's a little info about who they are and what they offer.

Cleaning for a Reason

If you know of any woman currently undergoing chemotherapy, please pass the word to her that there is a cleaning service that provides FREE housecleaning - once per month for 4 months while she is in treatment. All she has to do is sign up and have her doctor fax a note confirming the treatment. Cleaning for a Reason will have a

participating maid service in her zip code area arrange for the service.

This organization serves the entire USA and currently has 547 partners to help these women. It's our job to pass the word and let them know that there are people out there that care. Be a blessing to someone and pass this information along.

Here the link ! Pass this information along to anyone you know who could use a little help from their friends!

http://www.cleaningforareason.org/

What do I do with ALL these Photo's??

2011-01-24T10:51:00.000-05:00

Memories...we love them.

We want to frame every single one we possibly can. We get snap happy at every birthday party, every graduation, every trip around the world, and every "first everything"! And before we know it, we are knee deep in pictures, copies of pictures, doubles, triples, and boxes spilling out with all of those wonderful MEMORIES!

If I hear it once a week with a client, I hear it 10 times...."What do I do with ALL these photo's?" Stop taking pictures? No... That's not possible. We love to capture life too much. Photography is one of my favorite hobbies and I know the value in the 150 you take to get that ONE perfect shot! Thankfully today, we live in the world of Digital. This is much more manageable than the old world of film and negatives and really really bad shots that we have to pay for. Life is improving in the department of photo memorabilia, but there are still all those pictures you took prior to the era of digital.

As I was perusing my own spilling over stash of old and new pics, I thought I'd share with y'all some of the ways I keep my photo memories organized, stored and pared down to a workable amount.

1. Find a large space (dining room table, card table, utility room counter tops, etc.) where you can spread all those memories out before you to begin your project.

2. Go through each box and purge out ALL bad out of focus shots, old negatives (when was the last time you searched for an old pic on a negative?) and duplicates.

3. Once you have shaved off a layer of photos that are not necessary, begin sorting by category. You can sort by year if you have labeled them well enough to know what year it is, or if you have a general idea of the time frame. Or,you can sort by groups (Travel, Family, Kids, Grand kids, Holidays, Archives, etc.).

4. Buy photo boxes or clear large shoe box size containers to store your photo's by category.

5. Label your boxes so that when you need that one specific photo for a project or to frame, you will know exactly where to find it.

6. Designate a closet in your house that is just for photo memorabilia. This will help keep those pictures in ONE PLACE and not stuffed here there and everywhere!

7. Set some goals for your pictures for the new year. What do you want to do with all those memories? Put them in an album? Begin Creative Memories cropping parties? Organize them into cool photo boxes and use to decorate bookshelves? Frame and decorate a "Wall of Fame" of pictures old and new? Or simply have them all together, sorted and organized for the occasional project, family reunion, etc.?

Something I like to do with my pictures is have a basket or a barrel or an old antique suitcase that sits in the family room full of random photos for family and friends to look through for fun. We have all these memories, but how often to we sit down and look back and have a laugh or two?

The skies the limit on what you can do with all those pictures. But the hardest part is just to BEGIN. Now that you have some direction, get out your calendar and set a date to stroll down memory lane!

Let's make 2011 the year that we don't make "Making Memories" just another way to clutter up our lives. Your pictures need a home too : )

Happy Organizing!

A Spacious Place

2010-10-07T17:47:00.000-04:00

He is wooing you from the jaws of distress to a spacious place free from restriction, to the comfort of your table laden with choice food.”

Job 36:16

We live in a world full of clutter. We fill our homes with stuff; we fill the hours of our day with activity, noise and stress. More always seems to be better and enough is never enough. Our good intentions of “simplifying” are quickly snuffed out by waves of distractions. Distractions that wage a war within us, distractions the world presents as important and cool and necessary for survival. Before we know it, we are stuffed to the max, worn to the bone, and often left wondering if anything we are doing is seriously making an impact on this world.

It truly is a problem that quickly becomes a vicious cycle...Simplify…Need more stuff…Simplify…Shop…Let it Go…Do more things… I see it every single day in my job. I see it in my own life. Some people are called to the mission field in Africa. Others are called to inner city missions for children and women. For the past 10 years I have been called to the mission field of homes and offices. Called to bring peace in the midst of the chaos and clutter! Try to picture if you will the mountains of clutter I have climbed in 10 years. Don’t think about it too long, it’s a scary thought indeed. In fact, my waistline should be a heck of a lot slimmer than it is for all the mountains I’ve climbed! But we won’t talk about THAT clutter today.

Years ago I had a client say to me very honestly…”Kim, the clutter in my head is as bad as the clutter in my home.” Can anyone relate? If we are honest with ourselves, I think we can all relate in some capacity of our busy lives. Sometimes we just need a break in the routine of life to just…breathe. When was the last time you stopped the madness and just inhaled deeply and then exhaled? Go ahead, stop reading and do it right now! Ahhhhhhh...sweet relief, huh? Why is it we fill our plates so full, we stuff ourselves to the point of exploding (heart, house and time), and we think it’s good? I don’t know about y’all, but there are days that I just need some space! Space to think, space to take inventory of all my activities, and space to BREATHE.

The past few weeks I have been on a word search through the Scriptures. Over and over and over again the Lord has led me to a particular verse that says…”He brought me out into a spacious place…”

Fascinated by this phrase, particularly because He keeps speaking it to my heart, over and over again, I did a little research to understand it more clearly. This is what I discovered. The Hebrew word for “spacious place” is merchab, which means a broad or roomy place, an expansive place, or a wide place. One of the verses in
2 Samuel 22:20 states…” He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me.”

Doing a little further investigation, I found these parallel translations of the same phrase.

“He led me to a place of safety…” (New Living Translation)

“He brought me out into a broad place...” (English Standard Version)

“He brought me forth also into a large place…” (King James Version)

And my favorite version by Eugene Peterson’s (The Message) says…

…“you gave me room to breathe.” How often do you give yourself room to breathe? This spacious place is a provision from the Lord. It’s a stopping place for our hearts and our minds to get off the fast track of cluttered living and just rest. He brings us to this place because He delights in us! He truly has our best interest at heart. When we bring our “stuff” out into a WIDE OPEN place, we can inventory what truly is important verses what seems urgent in our own eyes. We are able to breathe deeper and most importantly, we are able to see and hear the One that is calling us to a life of peace in the midst of a busy world.

I don’t know about you, but I am so thankful to the Lord for the spacious places He provides for me. A place to get off the treadmill of life to breathe, a place to say “no” with confidence, remembering that “no” is a complete sentence. And a place to walk around barefoot in the grass with Jesus, just because He delights in me. Today let’s embrace that large place of safety and relief, free from the restrictions and burdens of this world. Your clutter does not define you. But how quickly it does take over our lives when we don’t take time to stop off in the “spacious place” to be refreshed and renewed in the Spirit.

I’m camping out in these verses for the next few weeks until the Lord and I are walking in step with one another in the grass of His priorities for me.

Breathing deep sighs of relief for us all!

In Him,

Kim B.

Make Room for the Car!

2010-08-30T23:59:00.000-04:00

GOT CARS?

Does this picture look familiar? If so, you are not alone. Nine out of every ten houses that have a garage, rarely let the car live in it's very own room. Why? Because it has become for most of us, a dumping ground for everything that we do not know what to do with! There are thousands of cars around the world crying out for their very own room! But as consumers, we keep packing in more stuff in their very space. Unless you are saving yourselves a lot of money in monthly storage fees by using your garage for your own YOU-STORE-IT space, then it's time to let out the junk and make room for the CAR!

I know, it can be a bit overwhelming and you don't know where to begin. Never fear...today is a new day! Today we're gonna gain some victory in your most valuable space for "overflow storage" and show your hot wheels some respect.
This weekend is Labor Day, and if you plan to have a "stay cation" with the family, then it could be the perfect time to get things in order at home as the new school year kicks off. Multiply the work of your hands with all the other hands that live with you. Working together gives the entire family responsibility, and it cuts your work time in half. Let's make this a "Take Back the Garage weekend"!

First things first....load up on some ice cold drinks, gather enough rags for each family member, and pull out the garbage bags, garbage cans and the broom. Once you have all the supplies you'll need then open the garage door and let's begin.
I always begin every job that involves organization and rearrangement by PURGING. The best way to see your space in full, is to pull everything out in the light of day (weather pending) and begin the process of elimination. I will bet that almost
40 % of your stuff will find a new home in the garbage or Goodwill. Wanna bet?

After you've eliminated everything that is definitely rubbish, is not useful, or has outgrown your family, then begin by categorizing what's left. Stores like Home Depot, Lowe's, Target, or Walmart carry a variety of shelving systems that will help you go UP with your storage to make more room for the CAR! Before you begin your work day, do some research online or at your store of choice to see what systems work best with your budget and your space. Next we will begin by sorting into different categories.

Categories for most garages will include:
Gardening (pots, soil, bug sprays, etc.)
Sports (balls, mitts, tennis rackets)
Toys (outdoor toys, small riding vehicles, etc.)
Biking Equipment (helmets, water bottles, etc.)
Boating/Fishing (if you have a boat)
Lawn (mower, weeder, rakes, edgers, etc.)
Tools
These are basic categories most families will have, but you may also need a section for decorations, Sam's/Costco supplies, or laundry (if your laundry room is in the garage). Containers for each section can also be found at the stores mentioned above. You may need a variety containers to fit your various items. Label containers with a label maker so you know where to return your things. Assign each family member to a category or two, and have them organize that particular space as efficiently as possible. Remember, we're making room...FOR THE CAR!

Once you are purged, sorted by category, and contained, give the garage a good sweep and clean up of excess debris. Any items like decorations or memorabilia that do not fit inside your home, may also be contained up high on shelves in tubs or containers. Now that wasn't so bad, was it? Give yourself a pat on the back, grab the keys, and move the car into it's desired space. I'll bet you still have time for a cookout and a ballgame on T.V.!

And most importantly, your shiny automobile is...SMILING : )

Hot Out?

2010-08-19T10:07:00.000-04:00

Keep Your Kids from Catching the CLUTTER BUG!

2010-03-09T18:43:00.000-05:00

If you can’t see the floor of your childs room or you’re afraid to open the door, then it’s time for a new plan. Help your kids ORGANIZE their rooms so that their space is fun to play in and easy to pick up. And let them know that putting their rooms in order does not mean they have to throw away all their treasures.

ORGANIZING YOUR KIDS WORLD!

1. Set a good example. Keep your own rooms organized. Make it a household rule that beds are made every morning and floors picked up every evening. Your children will learn your habits (good or bad) and carry them out into the world as they grow up. Order begins with you. Set a good example.

2. Include your children in the order of their room. This gives them ownership of the process and teaches them why it’s important and how to do it. Try to see your child’s room from his/her perspective. Hang shelves and hooks where they can reach their things.

3. Teach your kids to group similar items together (example: books, balls, cars, dolls, etc.). This will help them know where to put things. Every item in their room should have a home where it resides when not in use.

4. Use open storage bins, or baskets or containers so children can see what’s inside. If it’s out of sight in a large toy box, it’s usually out of mind. LABEL liberally - use a label maker for their storage bins or photographs for children that cannot read.

5. Under the bed boxes are great for storing artwork, puzzles and off-season clothes.

6. Rotate toys and games, and leave out only a reasonable number at any given time. When your child outgrows a toy or game, give it away. Then pull from your hidden stash and call it your “TOY LIBRARY”.

7. Put a laundry basket on the floor or their closet to keep their dirty clothes off the floor. Begin now teaching your children how to wash and fold laundry. It takes a village to raise them and to launder them. Why not pool from your own village.

8. Have a few “clean sweep” baskets around the house designated for toys and clothes/shoes that need to be returned to their specific rooms. Set the timer for 10-15 minutes each night for a quick pick up.

9. Using a “ 5-days of the week” closet- hanging organizer. This will help your child know what to wear each day. It saves time and stress getting ready in the morning if you plan ahead.

10. Consistency is a key factor is keeping kids organized. Keep telling yourself… It’s WORTH THE TIME YOU PUT IN IT!

11. Have a yard sale or “DONATE DAY” once a quarter to teach your children the importance of letting go and helping someone less fortunate. This will create more space for you!

12. Create your child’s space to be relaxing, fun to play in and easy for them to pick up.

What YOU SAID in 2009!

2010-01-06T12:37:00.000-05:00

I know, I know...
it's been a LONG time since my last blog.
My busy season exploded just before we ate turkey in November, then the Christmas preparations began and now we are blasting into a New Year with resolutions to Be Organzied in 2010! Oh yes, and a trip to Kentucky in the middle of it all! Blah, blah, blah. Excuses, excuses. But it IS a New Year and I am so excited to see what 2010 brings. Aren't You?

Nothing like a clean slate, a fresh start, and a chance to begin AGAIN. Before we get focused on the New Year before us, let's look back for a few minutes and see what YOU SAID in 2009! See if you can find yourself or perhaps relate to the comments below. And while you are reading them, don't lose heart, remember, it's a NEW YEAR.

We are hammering out 2009 and making 2010 our year for FREEDOM!
"The clutter in my closet is as bad as the clutter in my head!"

"I have been looking for THAT (fill in the blank____) for YEARS!"

"Will I ever get it together? I seem to take two steps forward towards freedom from the clutter, and before I know it, I've taken 10 steps backwards.

"What do I do with all these photo's??"

" I NEED HELP!!!"

" My mother keeps giving me more stuff! How do I tell her, NO MORE CLUTTER, when she means so well? Her gifts are becoming my burdens."

"I have ADD and cannot stay on task long enough to finish anything."

" WHERE is the floor?"

"I am always running late. Why can't I get anywhere ON TIME?"

"How do I encourage my family to be part of the process of keeping our house a place of peace?"

" I need these clothes! Even if they don't fit now, they will fit later!"

"I know it looks bad, but I really am organized with some things."

" I can't get a grip on the paperwork. It just keeps coming and coming and coming!"

" The mess in my home is a true reflection of the mess in my family's hearts and lives."

" I need to learn to say NO to more committments."

"I'm finally getting it under control. It's been a process, but we ARE making progress!"

"It feels so good to have a system in place. I finally know where to put my stuff!"

"OMG!...why didn't I think to move this room around. We have so much more space!"

"I have become a shredding wonder!"

" I need help with my move. I need help with my yard sale. I need help making room for baby!"

"What would I do without Organize U?"

Do any of these cries for help sound familiar? If so, not to worry!
It surely has been a busy year, and you ARE making progress! I know! I've been in your homes and offices and I see change coming! Now don't look back anymore. Forget what is behind and focus on what is ahead.....FREEDOM! 2010 is the year that you are breaking free of everything in your life that is keeping you from living your life to the fullest!

Now grab a pen and pad, a hot cup of coffee or tea, and begin writing down all the areas of your home and office life that need a CHANGE. Tomorrow we will talk about the ways we are going to move towards our Freedom.

NO MORE CLUTTER! NO MORE TIME WASTERS!

Cling to the golden rule of having..."nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful."(William Morris)

Did you hammer out 2009 completely? No looking back?

GOOD.

Now let's get to work. Your journey towards Organized Freedom has begun!

My Cup has Overflowed!

2009-11-23T10:16:00.020-05:00

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Is your life spilling over with things eternal?

DRINKING FROM MY SAUCER
I've never made a fortune
And its probably to late now,
But I don't worry about that much
I'm happy anyhow.

And as I go along life's way
I'm reaping better than I sow.
I'm drinking from my saucer
'Cause my cup has overflowed!

Haven't got a lot of riches
And sometimes the going's tough,
But I've got loving ones around me
And that makes me rich enough.

I thank God for His blessings
And the mercies He's bestowed.
I'm drinking from my saucer
'Cause my cup has overflowed!

Oh, I remember times when things went wrong
And my faith wore somewhat thin.
But all at once the dark clouds broke
And sun peeped through again.

So Lord, help me not to gripe
About the tough rows that I've hoed.
I'm drinking from my saucer
"Cause my cup has overflowed!

If God gives me strength and courage
When the way grows steep and rough,
I'll not ask for other blessings
I'm already blessed enough.

And may I never be too busy
To help others bear their loads,
Then I'll keep drinking from my saucer
'Cause my cup has overflowed!

From a song written by: Michael Combs

Are YOU The Biggest Loser?

2009-11-20T12:59:00.012-05:00

Have you ever watched NBC's show THE BIGGEST LOSER?
Somehow, I have gotten sucked in to watching this crazy show where really obese men and women, some with very powerful testimonies, compete to lose the most weight in a certain time frame to win the tittle of The Biggest Loser. How in the world did I get sucked in? Because the drama alone is often too painful to watch. Secretly, I think it makes me feel thinner just watching the show and it motivates me to MOVE my own body. I find myself saying..." If THEY can do it, surely I can do it!" There are two teams each season competing for the title and they are each driven and coached by Juliane and Bob, two of the toughest motivating trainers on the planet. Not sure I would want to run into either of them at the gym.

Of course, if you and I had a personal trainer on a mission to help us lose a bunch of weight in a short window of time, because money and title were the driving force, we could be The Biggest Losers too!
Losing weight is an awesome accomplishment! And it's an ongoing challenge for most of us! Especially if you are living in the 40-60's age range where metabolism begins to take on it's own personality and pace.

Do you often feel like the "STUFF" in your house has taken on it's own personality, formed it's own Community and made getting around a bit difficult? If so, your home could be a likely candidate for the show The Biggest Loser. Your closets are busting at the seams, you waist time finding things because STUFF has choked the life out of your common areas (and your uncommon areas too). And you feel like a big fat loser because all this extra weight keeps you from living the abundant life you and your family were meant to live AT HOME.

It doesn't take long to fall into the category of The Biggest Loser Candidate.
We are busy people. We procrastinate, we say YES to things we don't have time for, we are too tired to manage our stuff, and we begin to do just that...STUFF...stuff things here, stuff things there, stuff things everywhere! And before we know it...we ARE The Biggest Loser Candidate.

So, you have a choice.
You can keep on living like the candidate you are becoming...The Biggest Loser.
OR, you could be a WINNER as The Biggest Loser (HOME EDITION) by starting TODAY to break down the strongholds in your life that are causing all the weight gain in your homes.
You don't need a TV show to motivate you, OR a personal trainer to scream at you....your stuff is already screaming at you! LET ME GO!! LET ME GO!!

Here are a few suggestions to light your fire...

1.Open those cabinets!
2. Open those closets!
3. Say "NO" to incoming invitations to Do More.
4. Shred the Junk Mail before you Pile It.
5. Purge and Donate....meet someone elses needs.
6. Take inventory before you shop.
7. Take a nap. You will need your energy to claim your New Title.
8. Find the car. It's there somewhere in the garage.
9. Enjoy the process, because it's freeing and you are losing weight!
10.Include the whole family. You are ALL managers of your stuff. Work as a Team!

Congratulations! YOU are now offically....THE BIGGEST LOSERS! (Home Edition)

Now don't you feel GOOD?

WHAT is hiding in your Cupboard?

2009-11-10T12:05:00.005-05:00

Recently, while helping a client begin the organizing process room-t0-room in her lovely, newly renovated, home, we had a visitor. Our jouney began in the kitchen. A very good place to start! After a few hours of purging and sorting through her cabinets, loading up the Goodwill boxes, and making her cupboards sing, we moved to The Pantry.

Only minutes after pulling everything out that needed to be removed we noticed something that did not belong in the pantry. The littlest vistor, whom we named, Willie.
Or otherwise known as, Wooly Willie. Below are a few photo's of this outdoor creature, that found a safe haven in the inside pantry. How in the world did an albino wooly worm end up in the pantry?
We will never know.

But he sure is cute! What's hidding in your cupboard? You won't know until you start the organizing process and set all those wild animals FREE!

MEET WILLIE!

LOOK really close (or click on the photo to enlarge it) and you will notice that Willie wears Sunglasses.

Lost and Found

2009-10-14T12:14:00.003-04:00

Almost every single week, for over 10 years, this Professional Organizer hears these words..."I've been looking for that ...(fill in blank....money, ring, remote, toy, shoe, document, etc.) for SO LONG! Where DID you find it?" It's like music to my ears hearing the joy and relief all wrapped into one glorious homecoming, when what was once lost, has now been found.

Can you relate? Ever have one of those years when more than one precious thing seems to be out of sight, gone for good, and lost somewhere amid the jungle of your home or work life?

You are not alone.
Nine out of ten households are waiting for some prodigal possession to come home.
To keep your household out of the 90Th percentile, here are a few preventative steps you can begin today:

1. PURGE, PURGE, PURGE!
We've just got to Let Go of some of our stuff! There is ALWAYS room to purge. ALWAYS.
Make purging a part of your weekly/monthly routine (like mowing the lawn, or brushing your teeth!). The less you have to live with, the less likely you will loose your prized possessions underneath the rubble and the clutter.

2. PLAN!
Does everything in your house have a "home" ? Does everything have a space and place where it lives? If not, then you need a PLAN. Once you have purged the excess, make a plan and set up a system for where your things should reside at the end of the day.

3. DON'T PROCRASTINATE!
Procrastination is the biggest stumbling block for losing things time and time again. Don't Procrastinate! Keeping things to a minimum (Purge), have a system in place (Plan) for everything you own, and don't put off until tomorrow (or next year) what needs some serious attention TODAY. The more you procrastinate, the more your life gets backed up, and the more likely you are to lose another precious thing.

Calling all prodigal possessions!!
Come out come out wherever you are!
Purge, Plan and Don't Procrastinate. You will surely have a homecoming of all homecomings when what was once lost, has now been found.

Here's to your organized day!

Kim B.

FORGETFUL?

2009-09-25T10:51:00.000-04:00

How many times each week do you get in the car, and half way down the street only to realize that you forgot something you needed? Anyone? Almost every week I have "things" that need to be returned, taken to a friend or to work that day and I find myself walking out the door and FORGETTING!

A number of years ago I started a system of using a "tote" to keep those important things in to help me remember! I call it my "Go Tote" ! This is any type of tote, or bag, or basket that sits by the door that you leave through each day. In it will go, your library books, clothes to take to Goodwill, that dish you borrowed from you BFF, and anything else that needs to be carried away with you. As you settle in the night before and get ready the next morning, all those things you need, can be placed in your "Go Tote" so that you won't FORGET!
When you leave the house, grab your Go Tote!

Once it's emptied, it can be used as a "clean sweep" basket to clean out your car at the end of the day. Bring it inside, and start all over again.

It's as simple as that ! Market totes, cute grocery bags, or baskets can be found at your local Target, Bed, Bath & Beyond and Marshall's!
Very inexpensive, and very helpful.

Here's to your organized day and NOT Forgetting!

Kim B.

Welcome to Organize U Blog!

2009-09-23T16:24:00.000-04:00

Welcome to Organize U blog!

TODAY is a great day to begin the rest of your organized life!

You may be thinking... "But I'm not naturally organized, I've never been organized and I hate organizing!" Never fear....help is here!

At Organize U, our motto is..." Organizing is a matter of time". And our hope is that you will find encouraging tips, suggestions, and resources through our blog to help you change a "few" things in your routine to recapture the time you have lost in making your home a safe place to land...for everyone!

Getting organized is a process, and today is the best day to begin! Whatever state your home or office may be in right now, there is hope . Clutter is a mountain that needs to be climbed. One small project at a time!

Here's to your organized day!

Kim B.