My Cup has Overflowed!

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?

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?

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

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?

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!

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.