Living an Organized Life

OrganizedLifestyles.com

2009-02-03T13:01:00.000-08:00

Our Blog has moved ...and is newer and better

The new site for our blog is OrganizedLifestyles.com - the new site for the "Living an Organized Life" blog. We have over 760 subscribers to this blog and I want to ensure you sign up to receive updates on the new site so that you'll continue to get notice of posts. I will be sending subscribers an email notification about this.

As always, you'll be able to post comments, but you'll be able to do a lot, lot more. The site is essentially a WordPress website and provides more functionality to present you with a user-friendly environment to browse through all the information and advice contained in the site.

Enjoy and please send me feedback!

New site! Organized Lifestyles

2008-12-07T12:15:00.000-08:00

Just launched!

OrganizedLifestyles.com has just entered the World Wide Web!

The Organized-Living.com domain has been sold to Organized Living, LTD and the content of the site has been moved to a newly designed website at OrganizedLifestyles.com.

Keep the Organized-Living.com website bookmarked though because Organized Living is a place you'll find wonderful products to help you get organized and I'm sure they are going to make this domain a site you'll want to keep coming to!

As a matter of fact, you'll find that OrganizedLifestyles.com will even be highlighting and reviewing some of their products so that we can recommend the best organizing solutions for you. So be sure to subscribe to updates at OrganizedLifestyles so you get the latest and greatest product recommendations!

Going paperless

2008-11-19T17:41:00.000-08:00

Go paperless with on-demand document management

I don't need to tell you that people are drowning in paper. The average American household receives 100 mail pieces a month and, when you add that to daily receipts, emails, school paperwork, medical records, newspaper and magazine clippings and kids' art projects, it's no wonder people spend too much time looking for things.

Now, imagine if you will, your own virtual personal assistant to organize, file and fetch all your paperwork .. whenever and wherever you need it. Well, I found a place that will interest you then. It's called Pixily - www.pixily.com.

Pricing starts out as little as $14.99 a month, and may be worth it in the minutes each day you spend looking for things.

I haven't tried it myself yet, but plan on doing so. I'm looking at it as a "back up" of all my papers, both electronic and hard copies of things. With all the California fires lately (and one right in my own neighborhood where I had to evacuate!), this service looks like the perfect thing to do!

Hope this recommendation helps you in going a little more paperless!

Recycle for Dollars

2008-11-05T07:30:00.000-08:00

Good news for your old stuff

I found a website that will give you money for your old digital cameras, printers, laptops, dektops, MP3 players, LCD monitors, game systems, camcorders, and more!

As posted on their site: "...ecoNEW...combines a recycling program with a trade-in solution and brings it to the consumer through the retail channel."

They send you a prepaid label, you send in your old, used or unused item(s), they give it a look to determine its usability, send you a gift card to a major retailer (Sam's Club, Office Depot, ie.), and you have done your "green" duty. Note: not all items have monetary value, but you will have recycled your old item which makes this planet a better place to inhabit :o)

Sounds great! Click on the link below to look at it yourself.

http://econewonline.com/

Trailer of Get Organized DVD

2008-01-26T11:16:00.000-08:00

Get Organized with Cyndi Seidler

Organizing paperwork

2007-11-20T18:10:00.000-08:00

Neat Receipts Scanalizer Organizes Paper

The Martha Stewart video on YouTube shows it all and makes this scanner a Must-Have! You can scan receipts, bills, recipes, anything ... and categorize them in the Neat Receipts software. View the video.

To purchase the product, go to www.artofpossibility.com. You can also view the video at this site as well. The other great feature of the software is that it provides expense reports.

A Home Filing Solution

2007-05-16T01:16:00.000-07:00

Organize home papers with MyVitalFiles

There's a new product in town for those home files. In a press release about it, here is what they say...

Whether you are overwhelmed by paperwork, want to help a loved one get organized, you want to help your kids get a great start, or you just make sure you're prepare for an unexpected event, MyVitalFiles.com provides a place to get started.

MyVitalFiles.com's aim is to offer an innovative, practical, top-quality organizational product that can shower a blessing of well-equipped, more organized lifestyle than before.

MyVitalFiles.com has many unique features. Their Home Office Filing system design features include: ease of use, color coded labels, zero assembly required, pre-labeled, among many others.

Check out the web site for details and purchasing info.

Getting Organized at The Home Show

2007-02-18T08:32:00.000-08:00

Free seminar...

Cyndi Seidler is giving a seminar on the priniciples of eco-organizing at the Home Remodeling & Decorating Show this weekend.

Be sure to visit her at booth 354 and catch her new DVD playing to passy-bys!

Home Remodeling & Decorating Show

2007-02-15T23:50:00.000-08:00

Cyndi Seidler talks about principles of eco-organizing

At the 31st Annual Home Remodeling & Decorating Show Feb 16-18 at the L.A. Convention Center, Cyndi Seidler will talk about principles of eco-organizing. As an activist in environmental welfare and green home or natural home living, Cyndi will present some ways to be more energy efficient, like recycling and recycled products.

If you're in the area, visit her at booth 354 and come hear her speak on the Expo Stage at 11:30 on Sat and Sun.

Office Style & Organization

2007-01-25T19:02:00.000-08:00

See Jane Work

A friend told me about a site with stylish organizing products and I checked it out. SeeJaneWork.com is a delightful place that has many types of products to help you get organized in style.

I had never seen anything like these "Structured Letter Tray Set" and I took quite a liking to them.

There are many other colorful and decorative items to help you get organized and I hope you'll share your comments on them.

Too overwhelmed to get organized?

2006-12-07T20:58:00.000-08:00

Latest poll results...

In the latest Organized-Living.com poll, the biggest problem for people to get and stay organized is because they are too overwhelmed with stuff.

There were around 300 people surveyed:

Too overwhelmed with stuff: 42.5%
Don't know where to start: 25.2%
Too busy, no time: 17.3%
Don't know what to do: 9.4%
Don't know what to buy: 5.6%

Organize Junk Drawers

2006-12-03T19:48:00.000-08:00

What's in your junk drawer?

That's the headline for a recent article in Courier Post featuring advice from me on organizing a junk drawer.

A related article in the same publication "The first step: Admit you have a mess,"also features tips from me, although I didn't recall much of what she said I said when we interviewed. Funny how that goes when memory starts failing us.

However, the key points were there and it is a well-written piece. Hope you enjoy it!

Cyndi Seidler
Professional Organizer
DVD "Get Organized with Cyndi"

Get Organized with Cyndi

2006-11-19T16:53:00.000-08:00

New DVD Release

The DVD "Get Organized with Cyndi Seidler" just launched! It has been distributed to select retail stores for a test run and will be available in stores nationwide soon!

DVD is an entertaining and informative show that presents techniques to organize clutter and establish various organizing solutions to maintain organization.

"Organizer to the stars" Cyndi Seidler shows a simple method to deal with clutter, as well as highlighting various solutions and products that help in organizing a room, a home office, closets, drawers, and cabinets.

This DVD is also available online (43 minutes). Click here to purchase.

Get Organized for an Allergy-free Home

2006-10-21T13:28:00.000-07:00

What does clutter have to do with allergies?

Did you know that that surfaces of clutter collect allergy-forming dust mites? There are many things we can do to prevent allergies by just dealing with the things that trigger them. And clutter is one of those things that collect dust.

There are other things about being disorganized that trigger those allergy-forming dust mites...

Tightly crammed clothes in closets don't allow enough ventilation. And poor ventilation is another thing that will lead to dust mite allergens. Even clothes left out will collect dust, so they should be kept in closed closets and drawers.

Having minimal furniture and items around will help because it provides minimal surfaces on which dust mites can settle. And using sofa and pillow covers are better because they can be washed frequently.

These are just some ways to achieving an allergy-free home. It aligns with being organized and clutter-free, making it an important step to our health, as well as our well-being.

Folding Shirts

2006-10-12T12:41:00.000-07:00

Three folding techniques for shirts

A young kid named Ben Zweig entertains us with a delightful presentation of simple techniques to fold shirts. Watch this 3 minute video to learn his techniques for a "simple fold," the "Japanese fold," and his "machine fold." For those who leave their clothes in the dryer or a dried laundry pile until they need something, or even in a drawer unfolded, this might give you a little incentive....

Inspired by an OrganizingLA blog post

Creative Organizing

2006-10-11T00:20:00.001-07:00

Team up, tidy up

Quite entertaining...

When to toss that food

2006-10-10T15:55:00.000-07:00

The shelf life for foods

We've had the raw meat scare and the spinach food scare, and maybe some other food scares in the past, I'm sure. When we shop at the grocery store, do we now pay more attention to date stamps and expiration dates? Are they really going to stay fresh through the time stamped on it?

According to BusinessWeek Online, "It's a very inexact science since those dates include a wide margin of safety."

Well, so when should we toss our food? In the article "The Truth About Food Expiration Dates," it defines what the dates mean on grocery products. The date stamp "Use by" is like an expiration date and should not be consumed after that date. There is also the "Best if used by" date which "refers to a quality or flavor of the food." If you see "Sell by" don't buy it after the date stamped -- it informs the store how long a product can be displayed for sale.

Here's a warning though: "the refrigerator at home usually isn't cool enough to keep meat fresh for more than two days." Therefore, after two days from purchase, eat or freeze it.

Check out the article for the Guide to Shelf Life. We keep food in our refrigerators way too long, in many cases, and it would be a good idea to develop the habit of purging food on a regular basis (every couple days even).

END NOTE:
The article was very informative and had good advice. I did NOT agree with the warning on drinking raw milk however. Research and thousands of people drinking raw milk proved that raw milk is safe (not to mention healthier than anything pasteruized). It's when the raw foods are heated that the bacterias become harmful to our bodies, and unheated those same bacterias help our bodies.

RELATED COMMENTARY:

Jurassic Fridge - The Lost Food World

Re-Gifting is in vogue

2006-10-06T14:02:00.000-07:00

Americans admit their re-gifting ways

In a recent study released this week by a research firm Harris Interactive, it found that "78 percent of consumers who were polled felt that it was acceptable to re-gift some or most of the time."

I don't think many of my clients were surveyed because, when I see the clutter of gifts they keep but don't need or want, I know they are NOT among the re-gifters!

However, I do know many of us do offer a gift we don't want and give it to someone else as a gift. Sometimes, it's because we don't have time to shop for a gift (or lazy to go out and purchase a new gift), but usually it's because it's more suitable for someone else.

The "re" in re-gifting goes along with the "re" in recycling. How 'bout that! Better than having gifts create clutter, I say!

DVD Get Organized

2006-09-29T00:44:00.000-07:00

DVD "Get Organized with Cyndi Seidler"

New DVD reveals simple method to clear clutter and get organized

Cyndi Seidler’s method derives from years of accumulated knowledge and experience helping individuals get organized. Her new DVD “Get Organized with Cyndi Seidler” demonstrates the process of clearing clutter using her ESAP (Empty; Sort; Assess; Place) method.

The DVD also shows how to maintain an organized home and keep clutter from happening again. Her tried-and-true approach has resulted in getting organizing projects done in half the time it might normally take.

You can reserve your copy of the DVD at a special pre-release offer. Go to GetOrganizedWithCyndi.com.

Organize Seasonal Clothes

2006-09-26T16:25:00.000-07:00

Make closet space for Fall clothing

It's a new season--Fall--and time to shift some clothes around to make room for Fall clothes. And, if you haven't been storing your seasonal clothes, you probably have jammed closets (unless, of course, your closets are the size of a bedroom!).

For those with limited closet space, the best thing is to store your seasonal clothes. When summer clothing is no longer needed, you can start pulling out your Fall wardrobe and replace the clothes you needed for warm weather.

Organize Your Art

2006-09-20T13:15:00.000-07:00

Too many art treasures?

Finding wall space that isn't used can be challenging when you've already hung a multitude of art, and have more sitting around wanting to be hung. Sitting around isn't a good use of your art, so maybe it's time to turn that art cluttering your spaces into something that can be appreciated.

In an article "Unconventional Ways To Display Artwork" the author suggests various ways and places to hang art.

"To find these little-used spots, start by looking up. There is so much space above eye level screaming to be covered. The 10-foot ceilings in my historic home give me ample room above windows and doorways to hang a set of botanical prints. Or, why not create a cluster of artwork that crawls up the wall and over a door, like a wandering vine?"

The author also suggests ways to "look in," "look around," and "look out" in finding unique spots for your art.

Very clever ideas!

Contest for Most Organized

2006-09-13T15:37:00.000-07:00

Fall contest for the most organized!

Organized-Living.com is seeking the most ingenious and unique solutions people have come up with that inspire and motivate others to get organized.

Motivation to Get Organized

2006-09-13T15:31:00.000-07:00

Poll Results

In a recent poll at Organized-Living.com, it was found that the #1 motivation people had to get organized was to feel relaxed in their space. Here are the results from 104 people surveyed:

35.6% to feel relaxed in my space
28.8 % to have the home look nice
18.3% to be able to find things easier, faster
14.4% to have a more functional space.
2.9 % other reason

I was a bit surprised to learn that, from those surveyed, they were more motivated by wanting to feel relaxed in their space, rather than to find things easier or to have a more functional space. Goes to show that people hate stress!

Martha Stewart Living Radio

2006-09-13T15:17:00.000-07:00

Get Round-the-clock radio featuring lifestyle experts

I received a call from someone at Martha Stewart Living Radio, looking for any events we have going on -- in consideration for event announcements on the station. Since this was the first I had heard of the radio station, I checked it out and was pleased to find another great resource to tell you about.

Martha Stewart and her team of lifestyle experts teach, advise and inspire listeners and viewers around-the-clock, with shows covering cooking, gardening, crafts, organizing, and more. If you can't watch, listen to Martha Television on Sirius M-F 11:00 AM ET.

It's subscriber-based, and you can sign up for a free 3-day trial subscription.

Organizing Kids

2006-09-06T11:40:00.000-07:00

Do your kids have good organizational habits?

It's back to school and time for kids to make the grade for higher responsibilities. In a recent article in The Bellingham Herald, "Organization Seen As Key To Student Success," it states that being organized is a life skill and schools are providing student planners to help kids develop proper organization habits. It says, "Teachers agree that organizational skills are critical in high school, but kids need to start learning those skills at a young age."

Why Recycle?

2006-09-01T12:25:00.000-07:00

Things you should know...

In "O At Home" magazine Fall issue, it gives some interesting figures about recycling:

If U.S. citizens recycled just 10 percent of our newspapers, we would save about 25 million trees each year.
Recycling one glass jar saves enough energy to light a 100-watt bulb for four hours. Left to its own devices, glass takes one million years to biodegrade.
Although 75 percent of what we throw out could be recycled, only 25 percent actually is.

There were many products shown in the article made from recycled material -- here's a couple things to check out:

Paint - Robert Redford's "Sundance Signature" house paints blended from contractor's leftovers
Recycled glass - from Noi, 3r Living, Oceanside Glasstile

I hope this helps you recyclers and should-be recyclers!

Natural Home Decorating

2006-08-22T12:22:00.000-07:00

Sustainable Home Furnishings

Earth-friendly, enviornmentally friendly, eco-living, and sustainable living all have something in common: an approach to social and economic activities that are compatable with the preservation of the environment. These terms are one in the same, as they all share the philosophy to respect for life and non-living parts of nature, and of the responsibility for future generations (taken from the Sustainable Living Network).

What does this have to do with organizing, you ask?

Well, when we make the effort to improve our environment and life through better organization, often times it may bring the art of design or decorating into the mix. Combined, both of these make our areas "home-friendly" to its inhabitants and guests.

When changes are made to our environment, I feel it is important to move toward a sustainable lifestyle, and not just make changes without thinking about our environment. In the current issue of Natural Home Magazine there is an article "Decorating Your Natural Home" that provides four principles:

1) Salvage, reuse, reclaim or repurpose it.
2) Choose natural and renewable.
3) Buy recycled.
4) Seek out the least harmful option.

In decorating, you can search out materials that are grown, made, organic, nontoxic, reusable, compostable, and recyclable.

There is natural paint, wood, metal and biocomposite boards for furniture, and natural textiles that all contribute to the sustainability of home decorating items. There are also many natural products for countertops and flooring.

You will find that many home furnishing stores manufacture furniture out of recycled wood or other material, so try to seek these out when replacing items in your home. I've found some real treasures worth restoring at second-hand shops, and it's sometimes like a real treasure hunt to find that right piece for your home! Makes it all fun that way.

Just try to re-think your shopping habits and see how you can make a difference!

Words of Organized Wisdom

2006-08-15T20:09:00.000-07:00

What is a home?

Every now and then I find a quote that is worth mentioning and this time I found two in one magazine! I couldn't write them down fast enough and bring them to you here:

"Every time you come home you should feel like you've arrived." (unknown -- stated in an ad)

"The real measure of a home is how it restores you at the end of the day." (Oprah)

Wow. I almost feel like I shouldn't comment about them and just leave the words for you to soak in yourself. To me, they are powerful words. I wish I said them :-)

Menu Organizers

2006-08-04T12:51:00.000-07:00

Organizing Products for Everything

Just when I thought I knew all the various types of organizing products out there, a friend had to surprise me with a Take-out Menu Organizer for my birthday! Who would've thought?

The one on the left is what I got and it is so cute, I had to display it in my kitchen where everyone would be sure to see it when they come in. It's a TableCraft Menu Minder and adds a little nostalgia.

I had to see if there were other products like this in the marketplace and, sure enough, there were!

Check out this one available at Stacks and Stacks:
Take Out Menu Organizer -Includes Sheet Protectors

Gooseberry Patch also has one, along with other organizers, like a coupon organizer, a special occasions organizer, a holiday planner, a receipt keeper, an online organizer, and a recipe organizer.

My goodness, does it get better than this?

Garage Retreats

2006-07-24T17:52:00.000-07:00

Bigger, bolder, better

When I learned that my parents had air conditioning installed in their garage, along with tiled floors and finished walls for their three cars, I thought this was quite out-of-the-ordinary. However, I recently discovered it isn't so unusual.

In a USA Today article entitled "Garages motor to new heights," it covers various homeowners who have turned their garages into a first-rate retreat for men.

With organizational units and top-of-the-line windows, one Minneapolis man created his favorite room in the house...in his 3-car garage. Even his skis and fishing equipment are hung so nicely that he calls it "garage art."

The article also pointed out that it doesn't have to be so expensive to redo a garage. It states that Home Depot reported that the average garage makeover runs around $500. The article featured more upscale, high-prices garages. One of the more extreme garage makeovers was a $60,000 job in Sioux Falls.

According to USA Today, the percentage of U.S. homes with garages that hold three or more cars is rising from 11% in 1992 to 18% in 2001. The National Association of Professional Organizers say that more than 500 organizing businesses are now specializing in garages -- twice as many as in 2000 -- and that organization products in general are now an $800-million-a-year industry.

One of the newer additions to the garage-organizing world is Add-a-Hook, which I talked about before in an earlier blog post. Sweet and simple is how I like it, and that's what these are. The company just sent me some more of their newer products and I'm eager to put them to use! They launched Add-a-Loop, Add-a-Lok, and Add-a-boot. Very cool!

To me, a garage is an extension of my home and I like to keep it neat and organized so I can find things stored there easily ... as well as park my car in it. Although it isn't any "retreat" for me, I do find it a pleasant place to be when I have to be in there. But hey, I'm a girl.

Hoarders Beware

2006-07-18T13:26:00.000-07:00

How Hoarding Can Cost You Your Home

I don't think hoarders read this blog because its focus is about helping people get organized, and most hoarders do not have this goal in mind. But, I thought our readers would find it interesting to see what some new local community forces are doing about excessive hoarders.

It's in the news all the time, not just this week or today: hoarders getting evicted, found dead, and/or causing fires in the home. Recently, an evicted hoarder decided to file a lawsuit for being locked out of his condo with a sign reading "Unfit for human habitation." See full article, "Fighting to Remain Engulfed in Junk" about Sam Shipkovitz. Should we feel sorry for him, or rejoyce that some people care about him enough to try and stop him?

I personally am thankful the hoarder task force moved in to do something about it. I do, however, sympathize with his plight -- I'm not cold-hearted. On the other hand, other articles about hoarders do not have such positive results (if we believe the result to be positive, that is). Many of them are about fires that wipe out a residence or adjoining apartment units, injuring firemen who have difficulty getting into the place to put out the fire. See ABC's Good Morning America news article, "Police Crack Down on Hoarders" to learn that 14 firefighters were injured in such an incident. This was also covered in a NY Daily News article, "Pack Rat Neighbors Feared Death Trap."

There are many programs springing up now to stop hoarders. In my blog entry "Putting a stop to hoarding," it talks about a Hoarding Convention that is aimed at approaching the problem with hoarders at the prevention level, as well as the intervention level.

In another related blog post about hoarders called "Dangerous Piles" it talks about one tradegy of a hoarder, although this isn't the only story of its kind either.

So, if we are unable to change the habits and lifestyles of hoarders, than intervention seems to be the only way to guarantee their own safety, as well as the safety of their neighbors. Is eviction then such a drastic measure if it means saving lives?

Comments and stories welcome.

A Good Reason to Get Organized

2006-07-17T15:15:00.000-07:00

Can a messy home affect relationships?

I really loved this article, "Why Getting Organized Can Improve Your Love Life." When some men were asked if they cared about their environment, it became evident that they do.

One married man stated his wife let the house go after a few years of marriage and felt this was the first sign that the marriage was over. Another man, a bachelor, wouldn't marry a woman who didn't keep her home tidy, but would date them.

Overall, the men surveyed wanted to be nurtured and creating a nice environment is part of that nurturing.

Organize Life

2006-07-06T13:06:00.000-07:00

Home Made Simple, TLC's New TV Show

A new television show that features organization, outdoor living, decor, and even cooking is now airing on The Learning Channel (TLC) -- Home Made Simple.

The web site features articles and tips, as seen on the show, and giveaways you could win. I've seen one show and it looks like some of the others I've seen, but hey ... it throws in a little more of this and that.

Living with Less

2006-07-04T13:09:00.000-07:00

Validating Ourselves with Our Stuff

In a Sew News Magazine interview with Christopher Lowell, he tells interviewer Ellen Marchant his observation:

Ellen: "...while reading your book, The Seven Layers of Organization, you wrote about the need to validate yourself with stuff. It made me realize that I don't need twelve copies of my first column as proof that I did something great!"

Christopher: "That's wonderful! You know, I believe I say this at the beginning of the book: Having clutter in your life is just like being overweight. It isn't something that's intentional. It just happens. We, as a culture, tend to hoard things. Having things around us makes us feel validated. There's a deep emotional reason why we can't get rid of our old life and make a new life.

"...They [people] said they walked back to their homes after Sept. 11 and found that their home wasn't nurturing them. They hoarded all this junk that didn't really mean anything...... I realized that before you can detach, you must purge. It isn't about the size of your space or where things should go, but rather the emotional side of things: Why can't I let go? Can I live with less and live with better? Tracing the psychology of why people hoard really cracked the surface of how to implement change in their lives."

I think this should be posted on the wall of all pack rats!

Clutter Causes Stress

2006-07-01T19:18:00.000-07:00

Poll Results

In a recent poll, 55.4% of the voters felt that the number one thing that causes them stress is living with clutter. 15.1% felt that paying bills was most stressful; while 13.7% felt that managing a household caused the most stress for them; 3.6% getting ready for work; 8.6% keeping track of important dates and appointments; 3.6% had other reasons.

Letting Go of Clutter

2006-06-29T01:27:00.000-07:00

Let It Go Day

I just missed posting the news about "National Let It Go Day" on June 28th. The day was originated by Thomas and Ruth Roy in regards to letting go of things that bother you, and I'm here to point out that clutter is one of the things that bugs most people. So, I'm looking at that as a motivation to let it go!

What do ya say? Shall we extend the event to take advantage of celebrating the activity of letting go of stuff? Who's with me on this one?!

Take Charge: Get Organized

2006-06-19T18:42:00.000-07:00

Take Charge of Your Life Week

June 19th marks the beginning of National Take Charge of Your Life Week and this can encompass many things and many areas of your life.

I am relating this week to getting organized because we can take this time to take charge and get organized. Set aside those excuses it can't be done right now and commit to doing something -- anything!

Here are some stories on taking charge:

Hurricane Preparedness

2006-06-07T22:56:00.000-07:00

Hurricane Checklist

For those of you who live in parts of the country that are prone to hurricanes, it is important to be prepared. Being organized is an integral part to being prepared.

Here's an article in the Miami Herald that might help: Hurricane Check List

Organize Creative Parties

2006-05-25T23:08:00.000-07:00

Lifestyle Channel's New TV Show

A new show scheduled to air in September brings many things together relating to women's interest in organization, cooking, decorating, and planning events. The pilot episode of Entertaining at Home and a few of the show's first episodes were shown to a select audience of homemakers, and the response was very good.

Michelle Simone’s Entertaining at Home, Lifestyle Channel’s new instructional TV show teaches viewers how to organize creative parties from start to finish.

Equipped with what she claimed as a natural talent in interior decorating and food service and a 20-year experience as her husband’s partner in an event planning business, Simone put up the TV program to inspire women how to decorate their homes, dress up, and prepare meals and souvenirs following a particular party theme.

Besides tips on how to organize innovative parties, Simone will also give viewers suggestions on what materials to use and where to purchase them; what substitutes can be utilized for materials unavailable for now; and how to improvise exotic décors and food from commonly used food and ornaments.

Read full article.

Putting A Stop To Hoarding

2006-05-23T22:07:00.000-07:00

Hazardous Hoarding

The 2nd Annual Hoarding Conference that was held at the Long Beach Convention Center May 17-18 focused on solutions, not horror stories, during its 2-day agenda.

Details of the hoarding convention describe programs that approach the problem at the prevention level, as well as the intervention level. Neighborhood residents have resources that deal with hoarders using pro-active steps to stop hoarders before they reach crisis level.

Those who work with hoarders be they private clean-up firms hired to help a pack rat, or fire inspectors and code enforcement officers tasked with investigating a problem property know how ugly it can get. If they were to spend the whole time comparing war stories of past cases, the conference would last weeks, not days, organizers said.

Right now, only the Long Beach, Torrance and Los Angeles Fire Departments are aggresively fighting the problem of hoarding in Southern California.

It's a start, and will hopefully spread to more areas.

Because hoarders get so out of control, by the time emergency personnel are brought in, the hoarder's health and life is already adversly affected. We don't have to stand by and watch anymore. There's something we can do.

If you have a hoarder in your neighborhood, you can contact your local fire department or get in touch with the National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization.

The above photo is taken from an article "Notes From A Fire Inspector" about the death of two recluse brothers who lived in a house filled with 136 tons of junk.

When Does Stuff Become Junk?

2006-05-18T09:11:00.000-07:00

Stuff and The City

That's the title of my latest column article in the American Chronicle. This weekend is my canyon neighborhood's annual Canyon Clean Up and we can load up the dumpsters and clear our spaces.

Since last weekend was the National Garage Sale day, I think it is evident that something is in the stars to entice us to get rid of our junk. If you think about it, in the spirit of "spring ahead" for Spring, all this de-junking helps us move forward with a fresh beginning. And, keeping stuff we no longer need or use is holding on to the past.

Hope you enjoy the article. I've got more work to do in preparation for the big clean up weekend!

Being Organized Pays Off

2006-05-17T11:08:00.000-07:00

Muttshack Acknowledged for "Most Organized"

Animal rescue groups and volunteers that were in New Orleans after Katrina are still talking about Muttshack Animal Rescue Foundation, who came into New Orleans after the storm and began animal rescue efforts.

Founder Amanda St. John returned home yesterday after months of handling the scene in N.O. Her stories tell the tale of volunteers of worked laborously to find and rescue animals abandoned after the floods; of the various other animal rescue camps and triage centers that provided temporary shelter for the rescued animals; of the vets who came from all over the world to help; of the fight to stay in New Orleans to carry out their rescue efforts; and many other stories.

The one thing I learned that made the most difference for volunteers in the animal rescue efforts was the fact that Muttshack was the only animal rescue group that had any organization and structure to their operations (according to volunteers).

As a result, animals rescued by Muttshackers were reunited with their owners or adopted out when a reunion was not an option for the owners. The stories of the other groups will not be told here.

It only proves how an organized activity can make the difference between things being done right and things going wrong.

For more information about Muttshack and how you can contribute, please visit their web site at www.muttshack.org.

Blueprint to Get Organized

2006-05-16T21:44:00.000-07:00

Martha Stewart's New Magazine

Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia have released a new magazine called BLUEPRINT advising on how to "get organized and live the perfectly stylish life."

The May premiere issue Editor's Note suggests the magazine contains "everything" that women are interested in. Although I haven't seen the new magazine myself yet, I can not comment on that. So, if anyone has seen the new magazine, please share your comments here about it, okay?

And, the new magazine would have been "great!" if it had MY column in it ... can I be so vain?! But, please check out my newly syndicated column when you get a chance: Click here!

Garage Sale Day

2006-05-11T21:36:00.000-07:00

Time to Clean Out

This weekend, May 13th, is National Garage Sale Day and that is time to make a little cash from your unwanted belongings.

A client recently said to me that she had dozens of towels she would never use but hated to get rid of them because they were perfectly good towels. I explained the concept of recycling and she liked it. That concept made her willing to get rid of things she didn't need but didn't want to wasteful about it.

So, consider going through your belongings and having a sale! Happy garage sale day!

New Get Organized Column

2006-05-08T15:44:00.000-07:00

New Syndicated Column

I am now writing a new column and would like to share this with you. One of the publications is American Chronicle and it syndicates my column to twenty-one other publications.

You'll find a list of my articles here:
http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/viewByAuthor.asp?authorID=865

Please note, I just got started, so there are only two articles posted. Click on any of the articles and you'll find that you can subscribe to my column. So, if you find you like what you read, I hope you'll subscribe.

Your Organizing Experience

2006-05-03T15:31:00.000-07:00

Making it easier to get organized...

We have some new Affiliate Partners to further enhance your organizing resources and experience at the site. We hope you'll check them out:

AbsoluteHome has the largest selection of home decor products on the internet. They offer low prices on renowned brands. AbsoluteHome ships to continental US only.
CardScan is a small desktop device that quickly and accurately reads the printed information from business cards into the fields of a powerfully searchable, highly compatible contact database. Rapid scanning, easy operation, and superior interpretive technology makes CardScan the must-have contact management tool.
Cooking.com is a leading online retailer of kitchenware and houseware items and offers thousands of products from every major kitchen brand and hard to find items in cookware, cutlery, bakeware and small appliances, and more.
eFax / eVoice provides you with a reliable and secure way to send and receive faxes from your email inbox and organize them digitally on your desktop. It's the #1 paperless faxing choice of individuals andbusinesses worldwide.
Get Organized! Taylor Gifts is a mail order catalog company with a wide variety of home & personal organizational products.
Stamps.com Turn your photos in real US postage with PhotoStamps. Over 300,000 individuals and businesses already use Stamps.com to print postage right from their PC! All it takes is a PC and a printer to print USPS-approved postage for envelopes, packages, and even Priority Mail right from home or office. Customers may never have to go to the Post Office again.
Wrapables.com provides a wide selection of home decor, bed & bath and dining & entertaining products for your home. These designer products have been carefully selected by buyers whose jobs are to find unique products from all over the world. Wrapables.com offers these at competitive prices so that customers won't need to go
anywhere else for the best deals. New products are added every day so that customers would always have the best selection.

Time to Get Organized

2006-05-01T12:21:00.000-07:00

Organizing Events In May

This month has several national events to help motivate people to get organized. Here are some:

Revise Your Work Schedule Month
Business Image Awareness Month
Clean Up Your Room Day (May 10)
Garage Sale Day (May 13)

Now, you might be wondering how some of these relate to getting organized, yes? Although the Clean Up Your Room Day is an obvious one, let me suggest how you can incorporate the other events into organizing events....

In revising your work schedule, you could come up with a better plan to structure your day and make it more efficient and productive. You could implement a different daily routine agenda that enables you to tackle more in a day, or an agenda that includes certain projects on certain days of the week.

Being aware of your business image could incorporate organizing, which would thereby improving your image. I know if I walk into a cluttered office, the image I get of that company (or person) is not so good. So, think about this one.

And, garage sales usually come about after going through our stuff and getting rid of things we no longer need or use. That means it's a good time to focus on streamlining your life and letting go of belongings we no longer need. It's a wonderful means to recycling!

Organized Lifestyle Makeovers

2006-04-29T10:20:00.000-07:00

As books about home organization grow...

We continue to see a multitude of cases where people are disorganized and living in disordered surroundings.

Amazon.com sells 304 different books about clutter and there are 217,086 books related to home organization. That would fill rows of shelves in a library, not to mention the number of hours it would take to read all of them!

With all the books on the subject, there are still people who read about getting organized yet maintain a disorganized lifestyle. And, there are people who buy the books to get organized, but never read them (probably can't find them after they get home).

In some cases, it can be concluded that people are getting the "know how" to get organized but don't have time to do it, or not inclined to incorporate such a task into their daily life. It can even be assumed that the particular books they read didn't include a "quick start" checklist, or some such, so that they could tackle it in steps or sections.

For the do-it-yourselfers who find it difficult to tackle a project on their own, HandyGirl Organizers put together an "Organized Lifestyle Makeover Program" that will take a person through the steps of getting every area of their life organized. The program is customized for each individual, and consultation is provided every step of the way.

It's never easy to go at a big project alone, no matter how much knowledge a person may have about doing it. But usually, with a little guidance and push and companionship (from a friend, relative or even a professional organizer), we can start to make those desired changes in our life.

Whatever it takes, just know that you don't have to be alone ... even if you're doing it on your own.

Blog 1 Year Anniversary

2006-04-25T23:45:00.000-07:00

April marks 1 year for this blog!

When I started this blog one year ago, it gave me an avenue to provide regular tips and commentaries about getting organized. It's been like having a regular column, but I only have to write short tid-bits.

I can see from the growing number of subscribers that people are reading this, and I'm happy to know that I just might be making a difference for many of you out there.

Let's toast to more years of blogging for me and more organized living for you!

Manage Tasks

2006-04-24T18:26:00.000-07:00

Website Poll Results

We recently closed the poll "What is your favorite and most used method to manage your tasks?" today and here are the results of that survey:

51.4% Written to-do lists
11.4% With an electronic device
00.0% Computer software
14.3% A combination of the above
22.9% No method

Home Office

2006-04-17T21:18:00.000-07:00

Making a Home Office Work

In an article in the Arizona Republic -- "Making a Home Office Work" -- it gives advice to setting up or remaking your home office.

"With an estimated 4.5 million people working at home in 2003, the latest figures available, according to the U.S. Census' "American Community Survey" and an increase of 1.1 million since 1990, home offices have become an integral part of our homes."

Organize Clutter

2006-04-15T19:39:00.000-07:00

Video That Shows an Organizing Spring Clean

A video "Spring Cleaning Tips and How to De-clutter" shows how to tackle your mess.

And, if you really want to see how spring cleaning is really done, click here to watch this video. It will show you that even a child can do it ... literally!

Enjoy!

Photo Clutter

2006-04-06T12:28:00.000-07:00

A Digital Archive of Memories

If boxes of forgotten photos sit in hidden drawers or closets, scanning your photos may be the way to go to get your photos organized so you can share and appreciate them.

With digitized photos, a trip down memory lane is easy. This type of project can be time-consuming, however. But, worth all the effort.

Recycling Month

2006-04-02T12:33:00.000-07:00

Giveaway options for your overflow

The latest issue of Domino Magazine has advice to offer your things a new home and make a difference in "Clear clutter, help others."

For books, it says you can send them at a special low rate (U.S. media or library mail) to Books For Africa (booksforafrica.org): 253 E. 4th Street, St. Paul, MN 55101.

"They will funnel your reading material into schools and libraries in regions where it’s desperately needed."

For furniture, your items can go to needy people referred to the National Furniture Bank Association (NFBA) by social-service organizations.

"The National Furniture Bank Association accepts chairs, tables, beds, cribs, and more...There are currently 34 furniture banks (in Atlanta, Chicago and Seattle among other cities), but there will be 62 by year’s end....For the nearest furniture bank, check the website and click on "Help1Up Locator" at thenfba.org."

Housewares and clothing can go in a Goodwill bag, the article suggests.

"When you upgrade your toaster oven or coffeemaker, pass along the still-functioning old model. Goodwill has more than 3,000 drop-off spots across the country.-- goodwill.org."

Manage Notes

2006-04-01T17:27:00.000-08:00

Personal Knowbase Helps Organize Notes

I was quite pleased to find a good Personal Information Management (PIM) software that is easy to store and index your notes and information.

I found that the Personal Knowbase by Bitsmith Software does this for me. I downloaded it yesterday and was in full use of it within minutes. That I liked!

It comes with a free trial and costs $39.95 if you should decide you want to purchase it.

I’ve tried numerous ones in the past, but the index feature of this one seems to make it easier to retrieve my notes quicker.

Messy vs. Tidy

2006-03-29T17:46:00.000-08:00

Organizational category types in the work place

"Messy desk or clean?" is the headline of a recent news article. The on-going debate that people are organized, even with stacks of paper spread out around their desk and office surfaces, is one that shall continue to be in question, I suppose.

"A recent survey by organizational manufacturer Pendaflex found employees tend to fall into one of three categories when it comes to organization: Pilers, Filers and Tossers."

In this story, Penaflex's organizational expert Sharon Mann expressed:

"Keeping a desk entirely clear is both unrealistic and unnecessary."

One such opinion was expressed in Organize LA Blog by John Trosko where he talked about a CNNMoney "Ask Annie" advice column entitled "Is a messy office hazardous to your career?" The opinion here was from productivity specialist Christine Reiter was:

"Even though a messy desk isn't a sign of a character flaw, it does tend to give your managers and peers the impression that the job is too much for you to handle, you can't make decisions, you are not doing the job, or all of the above."

It gets really interesting when you read The Philadelphia Inquirer's journalist Jane M. Von Bergen's "Digging Out" blog (and weekly column) about getting herself organzied at the office. "Still a mess" was her latest column report, but she's really trying.

"I'm a month into "Digging Out," and despite lots of advice, encouragement and support from our readers, I haven't dug out that much."

It's great fun to read her blog (and column), and I believe it provides lots of inspiration. At the end of the column list the problems, obstacles, and solutions. People can even confess their mess and share organizing troubles at her blog.

This topic is really a news item, apparently. Another recent news article "Having a messy work area can carry a hefty price" gives some informative numbers on the cost of productivity and poorly managed information.

"15 percent of all paper handled in businesses is lost, according to the Delphi Group, a Boston consultancy group, and 30 percent of all employees' time is spent trying to find lost documents."

It's what he says afterwards that lightens it up ...

"Please. Spend no more time or money. You can come and look in my cubicle for free. Your lost paper is probably here -- somewhere."

I stopped looking for messy desk news after that -- can't top that one!

Organize Garage

2006-03-28T13:09:00.000-08:00

Garage "Add-a-Hook" for Garage Storage

A representative from the ADDAHOOK company sent me some of their Add-a-Hook products to try, and I was really pleased with the simplicity and use of this product.

When I received it, I wasn't quite sure what to use it for (I don't have a bike). However, after going to their web site, I found the various uses for it, and got the idea to use it with a clothes rod over my laundry area. Then, I had another brilliant idea ... why not use it to hang curtains in front of my open shelving areas (since I didn't have the closed-door cabinets I preferred). Wow, I was getting happier by the moment!

How a simple tool like this could be used for so many things is a wonderful thing. Check it out!

Watch their commercial video and discover ways you can use it! .

Get More Space In Closet

2006-03-26T10:22:00.000-08:00

Create Extra Space Using the Right Systems and Products

In my previous blog post, I talked about the videos on organizing available to view, and there was one that I forgot to mention that is worth watching ... about creating extra space in your clothes closet using Space Bags.

I recommend the use of this type of vacuum bag for storing seasonal or occassional clothing, not everyday-wear.

There are other things you can do to create extra space in your closet, too. I find that the double hang product (from Organize-Everything.com) is another way to double the space.

Finding and using a suitable closet system for your needs is important in organizing your closet, and you don't have to go the expensive-custom-built route either. There are plenty of "prefab" closet systems available that can be customized to fit your needs.

I know that Organized Your Closet Week came to an end yesterday, but it's never too late, and you can always create your own event to organize those closets! Happy organizing!

Videos on organizing

2006-03-23T00:17:00.000-08:00

Watch videos on the Internet to help you get organized

If you've ever browsed some of Yahoo or Google's video collections, you're bound to find some pretty interesting pieces. Granted, some of it is pretty bad, but some of it is actually entertaining and some are actually educational.

By typing in the search words "get organized," you'll find numerous broadcast news videos on organizing that are informative, as well as short specials, and even amateur videos on the subject.

Some I'd like to share include Organizing Your Life (3 minutes) --mainly targeted for women viewers, and Time Saving Tips Making Dinner at Breakfast (1-1/2 minutes). Another one is Finances for Divorced and Widowed Women (1 min 47 sec).

If you have some minutes to spare, watch a few. You just might be entertained. And, do share ones you find interesting here ... just post a comment!

Organize with Backpack

2006-03-21T12:35:00.000-08:00

Get organized with Backpack

I stumbled upon something this morning that is worthy of mention -- Backpack. It's a website that lets you organize your to-dos, your projects, your thoughts, your notes, and more. You can share your files and photos, too. Endless possibilities and uses.

I won't write a review on this yet because I just signed up for a free account (they have options for more features, less limitations, etc. on paid accounts), but there are numerous reviews written about this available on their site. One is the Wall Street Journal review that describes Backpack's features and its ease of use.

Take a look and try it with a free sign up. Then, come back and give your comments here after you've tried it!

Spring Into Order

2006-03-20T11:00:00.000-08:00

First Day of Spring Starts With Clutter Awareness Week and Organize Your Closet Week

Today marks the beginning of two national events that celebrate the first day of Spring --Clutter Awareness Week and Organize Your Closet Week.

In a recent post, a few tips are offered to organizing a closet. There are many storage solutions available to put order into your closets, and some advice from "Ask the Builder" provides one type of solution for messy shoes by using closet cubbies. I also suggest HomeTips.com for advice on choosing a closet system for your needs.

HGTV Program

2006-03-18T22:31:00.000-08:00

HGTV is looking for unique do-it-yourself projects

In our Message Board, a posting was made about an HGTV program produced by Weller Grossman that is looking for one-of-a-kind transformations by real people without the help of designers or contractors.

Here is an excerpt of this posting:

HGTV (Home and Garden Television) and Weller/Grossman Productions are looking for unique, cool and creative projects designed and done by real people without the help of contractors or experts. We're searching for individuals across the country that would like to share their fun stories and incredible results.

This fun and inspirational new program chronicles everyday people and their amazing “did it myself” design endeavors and the one-of-a-kind projects that transformed their homes! From unbelievable room reinventions, to cool outdoor creations, innovative kids rooms, wild wall treatments, playful pet projects, and more … we’re looking for ideas that break the design mold and make people say “wow!”

Clutter Awareness

2006-03-12T13:27:00.000-08:00

Does Your Clutter Think It's Invisible?

When you walk into a person's cluttered home or office, sometimes you would wonder if that person is aware that there's all this "stuff" lying around taking up space and hiding furniture surfaces. I wonder, if they were to see it, wouldn't they object to it?

I can't help to conclude that it must have been there so long that they don't see it anymore, and that's how they have managed to work around it all this time (and I say the word "work" loosely).

Maybe that's why someone invented the national event "Clutter Awareness Week," put on the calendar month the third week of March -- the week Spring season officially starts. This year, the event falls on the week of March 20. I've also seen Clutter Awareness Week listed for the fourth week of March, so maybe we have two weeks, who knows?!

In one of my columns "Clearing Clutter Frees Space in Home, Mind," there's a quote from Don Aslett's book, "Not For Packrats Only,"

"Across the board, rich or poor, mansion or bungalow, twelve kids or two, junk and clutter causes more headaches, strained backs, strained budgets, and strained relationships, more frustration, discouragement, guilt, embarrassment, chaos, and confusion than any other housework challenge!"

I guess that tells me that some people actually SEE their clutter, or how else would they be stressed or embarrassed by it? That's a good start: knowing the clutter is there.

Doing something about it is another matter. In "How To Organize In 4 Easy Steps," I describe how we make our choices in life, and coming to the decision "to be organized or not to be organized -- that is the choice."

So, take a long, hard look around you and see what's there...I mean, really SEE it. If it's not to your liking, then at least you'll know you have choices about whether to do something or not do something about it.

Just be aware. That's step one.

Then decide to do something about it. That's step two.

Then do it. That's step three.

Then be it ... The last step: be organized. Enjoy the lifestyle!

Organize Office

2006-03-06T21:07:00.000-08:00

Organize Your Home Office Day

Today is the annual national event to organize your home office. I've written numerous articles on the subject to help individuals establish more efficient work spaces and create a work environment that helps them focus better.

In an article from Home Decorating Made Easy, "Create a Home Office Design That Matches Your Work Style," it provides advice on setting up a functional and attractive work area in your home.

"...to create a home office design that will meet your needs, you should first identify all the activities that will occur in that space. For example, will you be the only user or will it also be a room for your children to do homework, play videos, or watch television?"

A home office doesn't have to look like a corporate office. Add a sense of style and give it a taste of your favorite things and color schemes.

Make your home office environment a place you enjoy spending time in!

Organize Closet

2006-03-05T00:41:00.000-08:00

Shop In Your Own Closet

In this month's issue of In Style magazine, my tips on organizing a closet are featured. NBC's Today Show presented contributing editor Amy Goodman to talk about these tips and show how to organize a closet.

How to shop in your own closet
The "Today" show's Natalie Morales talks with Amy Goodman from InStyle about tips for using what's in your closet for a new wardrobe.

In my interview with In Style Correspondent Kwala Mandel, we discussed the best kind of lighting for a closet, types of hangers to use, how to store shoes, organizing solutions for accessories, type of items to store on shelves, how to deal with seasonal clothing, and many other general closet organizing tips.

In cleaning out your closet for spring fashion, Goodman discussed some of the tips we covered such as:

Store coats and non-clothing items in another closet.
Group categories of clothing together (pants / slacks, shirts / blouses, dresses / skirts, etc.)
Sort clothing and donate what you haven't worn (in 6 mo - 1 yr), doesn't fit, and in need of repair.
For every piece of clothing you purchase, get rid of another piece of clothing.

Pick up the March issue of In Style magazine and read the article!

Home Office Disorder

2006-02-28T11:57:00.000-08:00

Keeping up with an orderly office
In a recent poll, the home office was voted as the #1 "most difficult area at home to keep organized."

Here are the results of this poll taken by 100 individuals:

30.5% - home office
18.6% - kitchen
16.9% - bedroom
6.8% - garage
6.8% - living room
5.1% - kid's room
5.1% - attic / basement
5.1% - bathroom
3.4% - den / family room
1.7% - dining room

I really wasn't surprised by the poll results. The home office typically deals with more daily activities and longer hours spent in than any other area of a home. After all, this is the place where the work involves paper ... lots of it ... and keeping up with it can be challenging, even with paper-flow systems in place. Without paper-flow systems however, the area (and work) can be overwhelming.

In one of my articles "Managing Paperwork," it describes implementing a paper-flow system to manage the flow of paper and work.

"A system needs to be in place to handle the flow of paper so that it flows in and flows out. Imagine a traffic cop who allows cars to come into an intersection but doesn’t allow them to leave it once they’ve arrived. A pile-up occurs and the flow of cars stop with a jammed up intersection."

In a related article "Paper Management," it talks about the steps to manage paper.

"The management of your paper flow means getting rid of any paper stacks and handling each piece so you know what you have to deal with and how to find something easily and fast. Everything should have a "home," meaning there is a place for it. The piles may initially appear like it would take weeks, even months, to sort through, but they won't."

Junk Drawers

2006-02-21T23:02:00.000-08:00

Even Doodads Need a Place

I got a real chuckle at reading a commentary about junk drawers -- "Treasured Memories of a Junk Drawer." This piece had my full agreement, so I must share pieces of it (although I recommend you read the whole thing!):

"...a junk drawer is a mysterious and benevolent thing. It giveth you things you occasionally need, and it taketh away things you don't want to look at on a daily basis...the main problem a lot of people have with junk drawers...finding the thing you need. But, for me, that's the very heart of why I love my junk drawer."

I love my junk drawer and must have one in my kitchen, no matter what. I don't care if there isn't enough drawer space for other things ... I must have a junk drawer!

And, if I may add another part of this article without stealing the whole thing, let me add this part:

"Above all, a good junk drawer is the drawer of the optimist. It is hope, incarnate. Hope, that I will find that thing I need. Hope that an answer exists for most problems at hand. Hope that I have the right-sized wing nut or some kind of a thingamajig that I can somehow twist or cut or flatten into some kind of a thing-a-ma-dude to prevent the gutter from falling down. Hope that I don't have to run to the hardware store and buy something (sorry Manny) and make a fool of myself in the process by asking for a "thingamadude."

I want to shake this writer's hand, I'll tell you.

Scraps Into Art

2006-02-20T13:37:00.000-08:00

Turn Your Keepsake Papers Into Works of Art

Browsing through news headlines often gives me some interesting topics. And, one in particular has really earned an honorable mention: "Scraps of Paper Become Works of Art" by Molly Gilmore-Baldwin.

She wrote about an artist who turns scraps of paper -- like advertisements, flyers, envelopes -- and creates layered art pieces.

“It’s about finding beauty in what people normally would consider trash, and it’s about finding something new in what people would consider trash,” said (Mark) Schultz, now of Tacoma, who’s been creating the collages for 14 years and has had several solo shows, most in California."

Finding beauty in trash ... I don't think I would've ever thought of that! But, that's what I call creative recycling! And, it takes me to another thought: what about turning your boxed-up keepsakes into works of art? That would be one way to display and appreciate them, now wouldn't it?

Oh, the wonders of creative thought!

Getting Organized

2006-02-11T23:45:00.000-08:00

The Organized Home Club -- Coming to an area near you!

The launch of The Organized Home Club (TOHC) is official, and registrations are beginning to come in!

It is a community of people who want to get together and share organizing ideas, issues, problems, solutins, whatever! There's a Discussion Board, a discussion email list, an interactive calendar, and a chat room. In-person group meetings will be taking place in your community, as more and more people come aboard, too!

Check it out now and join in!

Cyndi Seidler
Group Leader, Los Angeles SFV area
The Organized Home Club
www.theorganizedhomeclub.com

Off-site Storage

2006-02-08T02:05:00.000-08:00

How to choose an off-site storage facility

I came across a very informative article within the Yahoo Small Business information services that gives advice on storing away archived documents. In an excerpt from this article (found in Yahoo Small Business Resources, Office & Technology, Business Services) it states:

"When choosing an off-site storage facility, you'll want to keep a number of criteria in mind. First, ask yourself how often you will need to access the documents. If it is more than once a week, off-site storage may prove to be more of a hassle than a space reliever. Also, if you know that you'll need to access records regularly, choose a facility that is close enough to offer delivery service in your area, as opposed to a cheaper one located further away."

Read the full article.

Preparing for taxes

2006-02-04T12:51:00.000-08:00

Organizing your papers for tax time

"Being organized not only saves time, it can also save you money," says a CPA in an article "Plan now to get a jump on tax time." (he's not the only one who says that, of course!) He reports that some taxpayers are still showing up with disorganized tax records, leaving it for him to sort out. This can be costly.

For those itemizing deductions, those receipts have value and should be added up to get you a better deduction. In my article, "Take the Pain Out of Organizing Your Taxes," I wrote about being prepared for tax time and the value of organizing your tax papers early.

Some articles on the Internet that might help in organizing for taxes are:
http://www.organizetogether.com/taxes.html
http://www.bankrate.com/brm/itax/news/20001117a.asp
http://www.containerstore.com/browse/tips/organize_before_you_itemize.jhtml

Our Own Lost Treasures

2006-02-04T11:58:00.000-08:00

Sorting Through Our "Goodies"

As we go through life, many of us acquire a lot of things that we hold reminiscent of our past. Some of it is just stuff that doesn't hold much value to us anymore, but some of it presents historical value.

In a column by Al Neuharth of USA Today entitled "When you die, where should 'goodies' go?" he writes of donating his historical first edition papers and other valuable keepsakes to the Library of Congress. I admired his willingness to let go of these and donate them for others to enjoy before he dies.

While we tend to keep a lot of our treasured keepsakes in stored boxes among rows of other boxes piled around each other in hidden storage areas, you have to wonder what value these really have to you. How is it appreciated hidden away?

In one of my columns, "Toss your junk while you still can," I talked about other people going through our stuff after we die, although this relates more to our junk, not our treasures. It still makes a valid point on going through our stuff now, while we're still alive.

Sorting through our stuff can be a good experience ... and letting go of it now can be rewarding, as we see others enjoying those things we've treasured.

Lowes Organizing Clinics

2006-02-01T17:27:00.000-08:00

Lowes Helps Individuals Get Organized for 2006

In a recent press release from Lowes (Jan. 19, 2006), it stated that 86% of U.S. adults have indictated that some space in their home needs organization for the new year -- per their recent survey.

The company resolves to help homeowners get organized this year and have launched a nationwide free How-to Clinics every Saturday starting in January. For information about this, click here (or type / paste www.lowes.com/clinics).

New Organizing Show

2006-01-29T21:01:00.000-08:00

Real Simple Comes to TV

Some of you may have missed the premiere of this new TV show, but you don't have to miss future episodes ...

Gwinnet Daily Post article by Shelley Mann, 1/5/06:

TV Show Brings Real Simple to Life

Lessons from the pages of Real Simple, the magazine devoted to simplifying meals, homes and lives, are never more relevant than at the start of a new year.

So there’s no better time for PBS to debut a new television show inspired by the magazine. The show is scheduled to premiere at 4 p.m. Jan. 14. It’s not the last we’ll see of “Real Simple,” either — its creators are trying to brand their simplified approach to life this year with a product line and a collection of books.

The show is meant to help make life easier, whether it’s finding a quick alternative to cooking a complicated dish or tackling an overstuffed closet.

Read whole article

Super Bowl

2006-01-27T17:50:00.000-08:00

Organize a Super Bowl Party
The Super Bowl game is the sports event of the year and many people bring friends together at home to watch it.

If you're planning a Super Bowl party, I found some tips on the Internet to help you with planning that. About.com has party tips with links at the bottom with more Super Bowl related articles.

At AskMen.com, there is a great article about organizing a Super Bowl party. I, myself, am going to use the advice in this article for my party!

Organize with Style

2006-01-17T14:07:00.000-08:00

Decorative Style Solutions

Walk into most any store now and you'll find some type of storage container product of various sizes, shapes, and purposes. Plastic storage containers are the most useful and popular among storage solutions and, while these are great for storage areas and inside cabinets, they may not be the most attractive for room decor.

That's where decorative baskets, artful boxes, stylish box luggage, and many other types of items that contain and store things. Even furniture manufacturers are making furniture that serves dual purposes: like end tables with a magazine rack;, bench seats with storage; foot stools with storage...and so on.

When I wanted my home office to get away from the "office look," nice wicker stacking baskets fit better than plastic. A wrought-iron wall rack was much nicer-looking than a plastic file holder, too. And, on my wall shelves, a decorative piece of luggage holding some greeting cards served as a much better storage solution than plastic boxes, too.

Take a look around our site for products that might help you add style to your organizing project!

Dangerous Piles

2006-01-12T09:15:00.000-08:00

Tradegy for Hoarder

I couldn't believe the story I came across and, as a concerned organization consultant, this is as bad as it gets: a woman fell and suffocated under her piles of clutter at home. When husband reported her missing, it took two searches for them to find her under the clutter (estimated at several tons piled in the house). It's true.

Click here for the story.

Professional Organizers

2006-01-10T15:05:00.000-08:00

Professional Organizers Can Help

Professional Organizers can assist individuals in getting organized with many areas of organization: home and business, managing paper, managing time, implementing filing systems, helping with a move, organizing finances, organizing an event, designing and organizing closets, garages and storage areas.

A professional organizer will:

Assess your needs
Offer tailored solutions
Provide encouragement and support
Do the physical work (in most cases)

The Organized-Living.com site is sponsored by HandyGirl Organizers who serves the L.A. County and surrounding areas. To find a professional organizer near you, visit the National Association of Professional Organizers.

Get Organized Month

2006-01-01T11:19:00.000-08:00

It's a New Year

Well, it's here ... it's 2006, and we have 12 new months to reach new goals, to accomplish new heights, to do new things.

To start the new year off with those dreams and resolutions, the National Association of Professional Organizers designated January as Get Organized Month. The more organized you are, the more you'll get done. And, that's no small thing.

So, make a list and check it twice ... this could be the start of something wonderful!

Happy new year!

Recycling

2005-12-29T10:47:00.000-08:00

How Often We Recycle Gifts

According to a survey by the Opinion Research for DHL, about 26% of consumers say they have recycled holiday gifts they do not want.

74% Never
23% Occassionally
3% Frequently

I'm all for it, however if you keep the gift around a little while, it may be wise to label who the gift was from so it doesn't get regifted back to them! This may sound silly to say, but it's happened! My own sister got her gift back one year later!

New Year Resolutions

2005-12-27T12:59:00.000-08:00

A New Year, A New Start

Time goes by when we go about our daily lives, and now it's another new year ... again. I say that because it happens after every 12 months. But, there's something that doesn't have to repeat itself this time: failed goals and resolutions.

This time, we can do it. This time, we can set our aim high and achieve those goals we want to reach. We can make those new resolutions and make them happen. We can do it ... this time.

It's a decision, really. When you DECIDE on something and start taking ACTION on that decision, things happen.

It's just too simple.

Happy new year ... and may you never be the same!

Environmentally Friendly

2005-12-20T12:17:00.000-08:00

Pleasing Mother Nature

Low-Impact Holiday Shopping
December 2005
Taken from an issue of Greentips online

In the frenzy of holiday shopping, it’s easy to neglect the environmental impact of your purchases, but Mother Nature doesn’t have to be left off your gift list. Here are some thoughtful gifts that are environmentally friendly as well.

Environmental news delivered right to your desktop!
The Union of Concerned Scientists has launched an online service that will alert you to important environmental research and legislation. It’s easy and free—click here for more details on the UCS RSS feed.

For food and wine lovers:

Cooking or serving materials made from recycled glass or bamboo (a fast-growing grass).
A selection of organic wines (available online and at many liquor and natural food stores).
Membership in a local Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm. The recipient will receive a bounty of sustainably grown produce throughout the summer and fall.

For outdoors enthusiasts:

Gift certificates for low-impact outdoor adventures such as rafting or canoeing trips.
Membership to one or more state parks, or a National Parks Pass. The National Parks Pass, administered by the National Park Foundation, covers the entry fee to many national parks and monuments. Fleece outerwear (jackets, gloves, hats, scarves) made from post- consumer recycled plastic.

For gardeners:

A selection of seeds for heirloom and native (non-invasive) plants. Heirloom fruits and vegetables are grown from seeds passed down from generation to generation, helping to preserve genetic diversity. Native plants are adapted for the local climate and therefore require less water, fertilizer, pesticide, and maintenance than exotic varieties. Books on environmentally friendly gardening and landscaping techniques.

For new homeowners:

An energy efficiency gift basket including weather stripping, a water heater blanket, a programmable thermostat, and compact fluorescent light bulbs. A home energy audit to be performed by the local utility.

For gadget lovers:

Rechargeable batteries (available in most hardware stores).
Wind-up or solar-powered battery chargers for laptops and cell phones.
For all the other people on your shopping list, consider gifts that are locally made, durable, made from recycled or recyclable materials, or use minimal packaging.

For more information:

Organic Consumers Association—Organic Wine
http://www.organicconsumers.org/Organic/OrganicWine.htm

LocalHarvest—Community Supported Agriculture
www.localharvest.org/csa

National Park Foundation
http://www.nationalparks.org

Seed Savers Exchange
www.seedsavers.org

Native Seeds/SEARCH
http://www.nativeseeds.org

National Green Pages
http://www.coopamerica.org/pubs/greenpages/

Organize A Gift Exchange

2005-12-19T13:31:00.000-08:00

Gift Exchange Event Planner

Hope this doesn't come too late! I just came across a Secret Santa online gift exchange site that allows people to create and manage gift exchanges.

Secret Santa is powered by an email guest list. It makes matches, assigns a gift idea, and notifies participants. Participants can provide a "wish list" and a "do not need" list and secret givers can pose anonymous questions to get size info and color preferences.

Another site that does this is Draw Names. Check these out and have fun this holiday with gift exchanges!

Organize Photos

2005-12-16T11:32:00.000-08:00

Have Fun with Scrapbooking

Over the past few days I've been watching my 25-yr old daughter organize photos for a scrapbook gift, and it feels like I've gone back in time when I would sit and watch her do crafts as a child. She's having so much fun, I have to tear her away to join me for a ride to Starbucks - which is a lot considering our addiction.

I'm also pleased to see how organized she is about the endeavor, too. The photo albums are laid out with index sticker tabs marking pages with pulled out photos for scanning. What's more, the photos are marked on the back as to what photo album they came from. Who taught this child anyway?!

For those who haven't organized photos into albums, but keep them in photo boxes or special drawers, scrapbooking can still make incredible family gifts ... with just a little time and creative juices.

Try these places to get your creativity going:

Scrapbooking Magazine and forum
Creating Keepsakes
Memories

... to name a few!

And now back to the store for more scrapbooking items ... my daughter is relentless.

Stay-at-home Shoppers

2005-12-09T18:18:00.000-08:00

Getting Malled at the Malls

Republished from Cyndi Seidler's Blog

Those who truly value their sanity are staying away from the holiday Mall shopping. My bank teller told me that she heard about this woman who drove around this mall parking lot looking for a parking spot, and just kept driving up and down the isles, watching other cars pull into newly vacated spots she just missed because the line of cars she got behind in the next isle got there first. Her stress level was rising and this was before she even entered the mall!

Approximately 30 minutes later, she got into the building and the crowd of people were such that she felt driven to yell into a store at a clerk there and plead, "Just throw something out -- anything!"

While the malls and large department stores might be a good one-stop shopping endeavor, it may not be worth it. I suggest, if you must go out and shop, to try retail stores in small shopping strips, or along boulevards with a variety of specialty shops.

As for myself, I'm going to let my fingers do the shopping ... thank you Internet!

Gift Wrap Clutter

2005-12-06T10:43:00.000-08:00

Wrapping Gifts Made Easy

Wouldn't it be nice to keep all your holiday wrapping in one place, nicely organized and easy to get to?

Consider using a gift wrap station, like this one that stores all those wrapping products. It sure beats the clutter of gift wrap paraphernalia!

For this item, click here to purchase.

Organize an Event

2005-12-04T13:23:00.000-08:00

Starting a Holiday Event The Easy Way

If you're considering a holiday event, it can be as simple to start as deciding on a date and time and making a guest list. The time-consuming part can be invitations, but there is an easy way to get the word out.

Online services like Evite (www.evite.com) and Sendomatic (www.sendomatic.com/evites) are a simple way to manage this task. Of course, you'll need email addresses instead of postal addresses, however it is a great way to provide details of your event and have people RSVP. Evite even allows you to link your address for map directions (I haven't checked out Sendomatic for this).

The rest is your own creativity. Food, music, games, whatever. I'm planning a Kris Kringle style Christmas bash where everyone brings a cheap gift for someone and gets a cheap gift from someone. No need to coordinate a big effort here -- just have guests initial their gift so they don't get their own gift back in the gift exchange!

Have fun!

Junk Mail

2005-12-01T10:08:00.000-08:00

Mail Box Filled with Catalogs?

According to surveys by the Direct Marketing Association, 7 in 10 Americans shop from catalogs, on the Internet, by mail or over the phone.

You may probably be seeing a diluge of catalogs this holiday season to entice consumers to shop without having to get in their cars. The only thing with this is the overwhelming accumulation of paper we end up with.

To opt out (option to get out of) receiving catalogs, write to:

The Abacus Alliance
POB 1478
Broomfield, CO 80038

Or, email optout@abacus.us.com with your name and address.

You can opt out mail solicitations (for free) by writing to:

Mail Preference Service
Direct Marketing Assoc.
POB 643
Carmel, NY 10512

Include your name, address and signature. For a $5 fee, you can do this online at www.dmaconsumers.org.

New Products

2005-11-17T13:07:00.000-08:00

More New Affiliates

Organized-Living.com recently partnered with more affiliates to bring you even more choices for your organizing solution needs. There were a few that looked nice for the holidays or just anytime, and we wanted to share those offers, too.

Help support Organized-Living.com by making your purchases with us!

Organize Home

2005-11-17T00:28:00.000-08:00

Making Your Home "Guest Ready"

In one of my columns "It's Not So Hard Being Ready For Guests," I wrote about creating a safe-haven in our home. There are so many things we can do to make people feel more comfortable in your home, and it's also important we feel the same.

This is the time of year when we can open up our homes and enjoy the company of friends. If you're embarrassed about the way your home looks and feels, maybe it's time to look around and see what you can do to make things better.

Let's make our home our castle, and enjoy the holidays!

Living the Lifestyle

2005-11-15T20:47:00.000-08:00

From www.childfun.com

Season To-do's

2005-11-12T18:02:00.000-08:00

'Tis the Season ...

...to be ready! And, the stores sure are ready -- they are stocking the shelves with things for us to buy for the holidays. Big reminders the holiday season is here whenever we enter a store, yes?

That gives us time, if we want to use it. So, my tips for this week are to:

1. Get holiday cards now
2. Make a gift list
3. Get out the decorations (after Thanksgiving is a great time)

America Recycles Day

2005-11-08T13:50:00.000-08:00

Recycling Stuff

How long have some of your belongings sat in storage or as unused space-hogs? It's time to start thinking about recycling those unused items to donation-provider's second-hand stores, or holding a garage sale.

November 14th marks the day -- America Recycles Day. This could also be a good time to bring out those holiday decorations and, what you don't use, sell or donate to others who are getting ready for the holiday season.

For more information about recycling, there's an Internet Consumer Recycling Guide at:
http://www.obviously.com/recycle

Economize Stuff

2005-11-07T11:19:00.000-08:00

Stuff in Storage

According to the National Self-Storage Association, one in eleven percent of Americans rent storage space in a given year.

If stored stuff cannot fit into one's own home, what's the cost of holding on to it?

It is understandable that archived boxes that can't fit in a person's storage places might be necesasary to store elsewhere, because certain things must be kept (i.e., accounting and historical documents). But, what's all the other stuff people store away? Is the price they pay to keep things really worth it?

I suppose if a person were to inventory what they store away, then add up the cost of storage, one might determine the actual value, or worth of their belongings. It might be a rude awakening to discover that all those infant and toddler clothes and toys you saved in case you have another child, for example, have now cost you $2000 to hold on to.

Must be pretty valuable stuff.

Sometimes a person can't let go of things on their own. Sometimes they need a professional organizer or a friend or family member to help in the decision-making process. Whatever the case, decisions should be made to try and economize what we buy, what we keep, and what we store away.

You just might find yourself with some extra money without that monthly storage bill!

Functional Home Design

2005-11-06T11:34:00.000-08:00

Building Efficiency Into the Home

The Denver Business Journal published and article, "Organized Homes Built to Last" focused to bring attention to building and designing a home that is not only aesthetic, but that implements organizational function of a home with the lifestyle of a family.

The concept was to create a design team that includes a builder, architect, designer, and professional organizer. An organizing consultant in the design team helps "improve your lifestyle, comfort zone and the systems for maintaining the environmentally friendly atmosphere that is appealing to you."

To read the story, click here.

HandyGirl Organizers, a Los Angeles based company and key sponsor of the Organized-Living.com website, combines both organization and design into their makeover projects. Their makeover team consists of a decorator, handyman, carpenter, electrician, and painter -- a sort of "one stop shop" for doing room makeovers and assisting with major remodeling and bulding construction.

This is something to consider when it becomes difficult to maintain your environment easily.

Impulse-buying Adds "Stuff"

2005-11-04T14:07:00.000-08:00

Is a Sale a Savings?

Stores are smart -- they put all these interesting things and "oh, that might be useful" gadgets near the checkout lanes so we'll be tempted to get them, even if we don't need them. And, we wonder how we end up with all "this stuff!"

I admit, I've been guilt of impulse-buying. But, knowing this, I've made a big effort to curb my enthusiasm for those unplanned purchases that sit there having me ask myself if I could use another nail clipper or not.

Same goes with those items on sale. I just saw all these Christmas decorations on sale and I only went to the store to get blank tapes. Boy, was I tempted. I looked at them, I touched them, I stood back and watched them. I did everything except put them in my shopping cart. Reason was, after careful examination and asking myself a dozen questions about my need for more Christmas decorations, I decided the best thing was to pass up the store's wonderful offer.

I mean, how are we really "saving" if we hadn't planned on making the purchase in the first place? Didn't I "save" money by NOT buying something?

Yes, it took will-power. This decision-making is not for the weak. Yet, when I walked out of the store, I was proud of myself. And, that gave me a sense of accomplishment I hadn't planned on.

Scary Rooms

2005-10-31T08:38:00.000-08:00

Rooms that go bump in the night

It's Halloween, so I thought I would tell a scary story ...

Once there was a family man who started sleep-walking and, unlike his peaceful nights before, he would get out of bed and head for the den.

He had to go down a flight of steps from his upstairs bedroom and avoid stepping on the stacks of paper and household paraphernalia along side the stairs. At the bottom of the stairs, he would turn to walk across a short hallway toward the den.

The obstacle course ahead of him was a perilous one; lined with over-stuffed, open boxes and more piles of dusty stacked paper decorated with some cobwebs. They weren't the kind of cobwebs a person could buy at a retail store either.

Somehow, the sleepwalker would manage to reach the den without injury. As he entered the clutter-laden room, his aim seemed to be to put himself on the sofa in front of the blank television screen. This was not going to be without incident if he could manage to walk through a cluster of toys spread along his pathway, the over-abundance of protruding furniture blocking his way, and more piles of meaningless paper on the floor.

The face of any onlooker might be an aghast of horror. Will he make it? Is he going to get a rude wake up? Can he survive this sleepwalk?

As luck would have it, he did make it to his sofa destination without harm. The only explanation for this was that he knew the room, like a blind man knowing where to walk and what things to avoid. His plight was not over, however.

Before him sat a six-foot sofa that had room enough for one. As he began to sit himself down, one could only watch in anxious anticipation for whether or not he'd miss the broken toaster oven that sat there waiting to be fixed for the past several weeks. What it was doing on the sofa? was anyone's question.

Again, the sleepwalker had luck on his side. He sat himself down, surrounded with "stuff" lining the sofa seats. He had found a clear spot, and onlookers could breath a sigh of relief.

Then, just as he thoughtlessly reached for the television remote control sitting on the coffee table in front of him, he brushed upon an electronic Halloween gadget that jumped up from the table surface and began to spur out loud ghostly sounds. The sleepwalker shook in a startling awakened state, and darted up to get out of the room.

That's when he slipped on the mound of slippery paper and went down to the floor with a heavy thump.

Clutter haunts him to this day.

Keeping Records - Vinyl, that is

2005-10-25T11:35:00.000-07:00

Record Junkies

There is a minority of pack-rat vinyl collectors that eventually must face a new perspective when circumstances change. Like, a move to smaller quarters, for example.

That's what happened to one DJ and columnist, Denise Benson, who wrote a recent article about her dilemma to pare down her growing record collection for her new digs to a smaller space.

She writes, "I've lived for 15-plus years in a huge, shared apartment -- one that has easily accommodated my pack-rat nature and obsession with vinyl. Now, as I prepare to move into a much smaller space, I'm forced to face the crap side of this equation head-on and pare down by shedding thousands of 12-inches and albums. It ain't easy, but I'm looking forward to having a proper bedroom rather than a record room that masquerades as one."

One of her solutions was from the advice of her DJ comrade, Freddy Fresh, who was also an admitted record junkie. He's been putting all his records on CD, which also preserves them.

Even though these vinyl collectors are old-fashioned, they realize they can do tricks on their CD Pioneer Decks that can't be done on turntables.

From an organized standpoint, they get their space back. And, that's a happy thing.

Organized Style

2005-10-14T12:37:00.000-07:00

Make a Dull Room Cheerful

If rooms could speak, what do you think they would say when you walked into them? Some rooms may say, "Welcome! Sit down and relax!" while another room may shout, "Warning! Enter at your own risk!"

Then, there are those rooms that just sort of yawn at you when you enter. It could be saying that there's nothing very interesting going on in here, or it could be saying you could come in but don't expect to stay long.

Yes, if rooms could communicate, what would they say?

The most troubled room in my house was my home office. It was dull and uninviting. I could work in it okay, but I wasn't enjoying the space. I wanted it to be warm and inviting like my other rooms in the house. So, I finally did something about it; I redecorated.

It's amazing what a little bright colored paint and moving furniture around can do to a space. My vision was to make the room more romantic, and I started off with the concept of that theme. Here's the result:

Organized and pretty ... that's what I like!

Forgetful or Disorganized?

2005-10-10T14:22:00.000-07:00

Systems to Remember

If anyone has forgotten something and was commented upon as being disorganized, in some cases it may not be that distant from the truth.

You see, often times when a person forgets something, it is because they didn’t write it down, or didn’t have a systematic approach to remembering it after it was written down.

Birthdays, for example, can be missed when they are not kept someplace and not written on an annual calendar. That’s one way to organize birthdays so as not to forget them.

On the other hand, however, just forgetting a person’s name doesn’t mean they are disorganized. Other factors may be involved with this kind of forgetfulness.

But, in most cases, forgetfulness can be alleviated by developing systems to remember. And since organization has to do with systems, it ties right in with being organized... another thing to consider in being better organized.