Simply Squared Away

My BLOG is over HERE now....

2011-04-08T21:42:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the confusion but I wanted my website and blog to be together! And now they are and it is a beautiful thing! :)

Come and visit me to see the new look!

This Blog has Continued @ Simply Squared Away (dot) com

2010-12-10T14:33:00.000-08:00

Just a quick, AND VERY IMPORTANT NOTE: We are continuing our blog on our website!!! Yeah! Woohoo! Yipppeee!

Feel free to browse here for as long as you like and then come on over to our NEW & IMPROVED & CUTE (but clean, simple and organized) website where our blog continues!!

Please join our mailing list on the website to get blog posts directly in your inbox. We will have a few regular topics like:

PROJECTS - see before and after pictures and hear the stories behind them
Got Questions? - get answers to your pressing questions
It's All About Me - I will be sharing life...mysterious, eh!?
Guest Bloggers
Giveaways

You won't want to miss it! See you there!

Tracy

FREE Boots

2010-11-03T17:26:00.000-07:00

Do you need a pair of free, stylish boots for this winter?? I just couldn't pass up informing you of a great deal going on by UGG boots...Sign up to receive their newsletter here and be entered to win a free pair of Whooga boots by UGG!!
"What exactly are Whooga boots by UGG?" you ask. This is a mini description taken directly from their website:

"What are Whooga ugg boots?
Whooga is widely recognised as the world’s fastest growing boutique brand of ugg boots. We stand proud as an alternative brand for chilli toes seeking something a little warmer than normal. We achieve this legendary warmth and comfort with Thermofleece which offers a number of benefits over traditional ugg boots.
- Whooga is an internationally trademarked brand
- The fastest growing winter footwear brand for the past 4 years
- A passion for fashion and creating the worlds warmest boots
- We warm ten's of thousands of toes every single day"

This new gold color is my favorite.

If you like free click here to sign up for their newsletter and be in the drawing this month!! Let me know if you win!!! :)

Quote of the Day

2010-10-28T07:41:00.000-07:00

A good quote can give you something to think about all day...It can change the way you look at things!

"Instead of being overwhelmed by the vultures be amazed at the peacocks."

~ Barbara Hemphill

Learn more about this by listening to her three minute podcast here.

Small Project - Organizing a Bathroom Countertop

2010-10-27T17:22:00.000-07:00

Are you ready to tackle a small project? The bathroom countertop can be a ~~constant mess~~ challenge. It gets used every day - most likely twice a day! Removing everything from the counter and storing it in a cabinet would be great but the reality is that it becomes a pain (in the back) to bend over and pull things out of a lower cabinet AND then to bend over and put them back twice a day! Most people will not maintain that system and the countertop returns back to being ~~a mess~~ unorganized! That is why I am a fan of "reality" organizing.

Here is an example of a real life countertop that is unorganized. Can you relate at all!? Stuff has accumulated...and now it is crammed in the corner...somewhat of an eye sore to start your day!

In addition to looking bad it tends to be unclean, too, because wiping down the countertop means lifting each item separately...a time consuming activity.

"What is the best way to organize this?" you ask. Here are a few guidelines:

Sort your countertop items into two piles:

what you use everyday or at least every other day
what you use less frequently

Ask yourself if you have more countertop space, back of the door space or wall space. This helps you decide if you should use the wall to store regularly used items (in a cabinet that you hang or mount), the door (in an over-the-door organizer with individual pockets), on the countertop (in a container), or a little of all three!
Choose products that are ATTRACTIVE to you AND durable and the right size to hold your items.

Pretty simple, eh? Here is the after picture of this countertop:

Is that not the cutest basket? It was purchased at Pier 1 for $10.00. The webbing is a plastic-y material so that if it does get wet it won't ruin the container. Try using a temporary container first - an old tupperware or planter to check size and see if you even like it before going and purchasing something. Then you can take the temporary container with you to find just the right size!

From now on the countertops can remain organized, kept clean easily and if you want to clear it off for company it takes just one hand to move the basket inside a cabinet!!!

How do you keep your bathroom countertop organized?

Pantry Organization

2010-09-01T10:40:00.000-07:00

Sometimes all you need is a fresh perspective and a new set of eyes! My client is known by her friends and in her neighborhood as one of the most organized people they know!! But she was "stuck" on her pantry. She called and asked if I could help.

One key thing that she said to me was that the set of shelves as you enter the pantry were specifically made for and called "can" shelves. The only problem was that you couldn't stack two standard size cans and space was being wasted when only one can was placed there! We all do this. We think that because we have always put sheets in a linen closet that sheets have to go in a linen closet. Another client's house didn't have a linen closet so we hung her sheets up on hangers in the spare bedroom closet!! It worked! So, think outside the box. Have a friend come and think along side you!

BEFORE...the shelves made for cans had to house cans, right?

Also, focus on trying to make your space as beautiful as you can when you first walk in or open the door. I wanted those "can" shelves to be uniform, neat, and appealing to the eye. We used all clear plastic bins to do this and labeled them. We used one shelf for sauces and we reduced her cookbooks slightly so they could all fit neatly on two shelves! That is the first thing she sees now when she opens the door!

AFTER: Labeled, clear plastic bins, neatly stacked cookbooks...appealing to the eye AND useful!

Next, most pantries have boxes and cans. Free tip: Put all boxes on one shelf and all cans on another. Within those two category you can arrange more specifically. For example, group all breakfast items together, pasta items together, etc.

BEFORE: A little confusing even though everything is labeled and lots of containers are used.

AFTER: Boxes together, cans together, breakfast together = appealing to the eye AND easy to put things away!

Finally, use square baskets in pantries to house like items - chips, pasta bags, rice, snacks, etc. They are beautiful the shelf. If you housed baking supplies in one you could just pull it out when baking and have everything at your fingertips!

Good, quality BASKETS that won't snag are a useful addition to house like items. These are from Bed, Bath and Beyond.

Share your favorite tips for organizing your pantry!

Paper, Paper, EVERYWHERE!

2010-09-01T09:13:00.000-07:00

Cute & classy organizing products can aid us in our 5th step of organizing (read about the 5 steps here and here) - Maintain. Below are two pictures of a portable action file that I made. The purpose of the action file is to temporarily house paper coming into your home. Every piece of paper coming in should have a place to go. It could be recycled, thrown out, filed, returned immediately to a backpack or your car for delivery OR housed in your action file.

Creating an action file is easy. This is a service I offer and is very customizable to meet your needs. You can also make one on your own. This action file is housed in a DiVoga Desktop File Bin from Office Max(only in stores). It is made of a clear, hard plastic so that you can purchase any decorative file folder to match your decor, slide a file folder in the front and back and, "Wahhh La", you have made it cute & classy or fun & colorful or simple & satisfying, whatever your taste.

Then, as you sort through your piles of paper see what kind of compartments (files with tabs) you need. In the photo you can see some basic examples people might use. The key is to remember that this is a temporary holding spot - not meant for permanent papers that need to be archived. Enjoy making your portable action file (and of course, send me a photo)!

Go through one stack of papers today and get them put away! Let me know how it goes! Happy Wednesday!

Delayed Decisions in the Basement

2010-08-31T15:47:00.000-07:00

Check out our Facebook page - AND become a fan, please (by pressing the "LIKE" button)!! Eighteen photos have been uploaded in perfect "before and after" order of our precious client's basement. Sit back and enjoy them and imagine transforming your space into usable, efficient, BEAUTIFUL living space!

Remember, anytime you delay making a decision about what to do with something you are creating clutter! Try making three decisions today about what to do with your things. Tell me about it by posting a comment below.

Organizing Your Recipes - Part II

2010-08-30T10:09:00.001-07:00

In Organizing Your Recipes - Part I I shared 5 steps to organizing your recipes using my organizing acronym SPASM. Following those steps you should have all of your recipes into sheet protectors by category with a tab in front of each main category.

Now we will label each tab. I use the white tabs that come with the insertable plastic dividers. I print out the category name on my label maker and stick the label onto one of the tabs. I wrap the excess label around the back of the tab if there is any so that I don't spend time cutting down the length. But, you could write your category on the tab or print out labels on card stock and cut them out. Here is a picture of my tabs.

Notice that I have BARS separate from cakes and cookies. In my recipe box I would always wonder which category my lemon bar recipe or my Loui's Ooey Gooeys recipe would be under. I LOVE it that I can have my own tab for BARS!!!!! That is the great thing about customizing your binder. It fits YOU!

Next, I wanted them to look great. I went on my computer to create a cover and a spine for the binder. I found an attractive photo and font and made the cover. I printed it on photo paper which I think makes a huge difference in the appearance.

Then I used a text box, adjusted the size to match the spine's width and length and typed out the categories in each binder. I wanted to easily see which binder I needed to pull off my shelf to find the recipe I would be looking for.

Now your binders are ready for your shelf. I keep mine in a cabinet but am considering where I could put them out because they make me so happy! :)

The great thing about a binder for your recipes is that you can use various size sheet protectors to add recipes. Here is a recipe printed off the computer in an 8 1/2 X 11 sheet protector. You may have a lot of recipes like that. GREAT! Just insert those behind the right tab.

What if you print a new recipe off or rip an article out of a magazine that you want to try? I would suggest you put it in the tab folder before inserting it into a page protector. That way when you plan out your next week's menu you will see that you have a new recipe to try and will schedule it into your menu!

This weekend I was craving my favorite Bran Muffins so I pulled out my binder and under BREAD I found it! It was so fast and enjoyable just looking for the recipe! My daughter helped my make them. I didn't even take the recipe card out. I just left the binder out on the stove. All the recipe cards are protected behind plastic.

PLEASE share with me how you organize your recipes. And, of course, send pictures of your new binders if this post has motivated you to organize your recipes!!

As promised in Part I here is my favorite bran muffin recipe...

Simply Squared Away's Bran Muffins

In mixing bowl stir bran and milk. Let stand 1-2 minutes.

2 1/2 cups Bran Flake cereal

1 1/4 cup milk

Add egg and oil to bran mixture stirring.

1 egg

1/4 cup oil
In separate bowl mix dry ingredients.

3/4 cup whole wheat flour

3/4 cup white flour

1/2 t salt

1 T baking powder

1/2 cup sugar

(I add 1/4 cup ground flax seeds)

Mix dry ingredients with wet JUST until combined. Put into muffin tins. Bake at 400 degrees for 18 minutes. Eat fresh and hot with butter.

Organizing Your Recipes - Part I

2010-08-28T11:29:00.000-07:00

I knew it was time to organize MY recipes because...

My recipe box looked like this! Ugh! It was crammed full with recipe cards, torn slips of paper and recipes printed on full sheets of paper folded up! The tabs were worn and bent. AND, the lid kept falling off!!

Every time I needed to find a recipe I had to grab the whole category (e.g. main dishes) and look at each title one by one to find the recipe I wanted. OR, I had to sift through loose recipes and papers.
I had so many recipes in each category that as I scanned the titles I would think, "I should throw that out. I have never even made that! That looks too hard. That doesn't even sound good."

I finally had the time to work on this project. I had some of the supplies I needed and then actually remembered (wow!) when I was out running errands to look for the 3X5 page protectors. Here are the supplies I used:

A Binder - I used a 1 1/2 inch and a 1 inch binder. I later switched this blue one to a white one so the two binders matched. In part two I will show you the after picture of my awesome recipe binders! :)
3X5 page protectors - I like the 3X5 size because my cards are that size (duh!) and because there are 4 per page (the 4X6 only have 2 per page). I found mine at Office Depot. I bought 10 packages just so I wouldn't run out.

Dividers - I LOVE this kind. They have 8 dividers and each one has pockets - I will talk about how to use the pockets later.

So, let's get STARTED!!!

The 1st step in organizing is to...SORT! Since recipes in a box are already sorted I sorted my loose papers/recipes into the existing categories in the box. Then I took one category (i.e. main dishes) at a time and sorted them down further: Chicken, Beef, Ham, Italian, Mexican, etc. Please note that I continued with step 2 and 3 for each main food category before starting the next.

The 2nd step in my organizing acronym - SPASM - is to PURGE! Get realistic. If you haven't tried a recipe in a year don't keep it. If you decide to keep it then get it on your calendar and buy the ingredients. When you have whittled it down to those you want to keep you are ready for step three!

The 3rd step is the A - ASSIGN A HOME! Each main category's 'home' will be after it's tab divider. Place the first tab into your binder. Use a sticky note to label this tab temporarily until you are certain that this is the order you are happy with. Before placing your recipes into the protectors decide how you want to order the recipes/mini categories. I put them into the sheet protectors by mini categories. For example, I choose to put my chicken recipes in first with my favorite chicken recipes in the front. Then I put my beef recipes in with my favorite beef recipes in the beginning. And so on... There were a couple of blank pockets after each mini category so I would have room to add recipes later.

CONTINUE this process until all of your recipes are in the binder(s) with each main category behind a new tab.

The 4th step is to SET LIMITS. Try and think of natural limits that help control your stuff. Here, it could be the actual binder - once the binder is full you must purge. Or, another limit could be the number of page protectors per section - for example, 5 pages per category, etc.

The 5th step is to MAINTAIN. Here again try and think of natural occurrences where maintenance could occur. For example, with a closet you could maintain each time you wash clothes, each season when you switch seasonal clothing, each time you bring a new item in, etc. With your recipe binder(s) you can maintain each week when you menu plan or whenever you pull your binder off the shelf.

In Organizing Your Recipes - Part II I will talk about labeling the tabs, creating the cover and spine, and what to do with new recipes coming in! I will even post a picture of the first time using my new binder AND a favorite recipe!

Hangers: Can they change the way you FEEL??

2010-08-16T09:33:00.000-07:00

Okay, I have to admit that I have not organized, or even purged, my own closet in the last two years! Well, maybe an item removed here or there but nothing big. I have walked into it several times ready to do some purging but stood there unsure where to start and decided I didn't have enough time, felt overwhelmed and turned around and walked out. Can you relate to that? I had these images in my mind of a complete closet restructure/makeover but when reality hits the closet is the last thing to get done.

The other day I was out returning something at Kohl's when I saw these hangers - the ones in all the pictures, sleek black velvet to keep clothes hung up, thin to create more room in your closet. I was inspired to once again organize my closet and since the hangers were on sale (and I had a coupon) I purchased them!

If you have stood at the door of your messy closet and felt overwhelmed and stuck here is the one, magical tip that helped me get started and keep going AND it can help you, too:

Organize and purge by color.

This makes it EASY to do a little at a time. It is EASY to get started. It is NOT overwhelming. Here is my step by step...

1. I grabbed all my white clothes - shirts, sweater, jackets, etc (I did pants/skirts separate). I placed the white pile on my bed and went through one piece at a time. Do I wear this? Is it in good shape? Does it fit good? Will I wear it next season? Answering those questions directed the piece to the donate pile OR I switched hangers and put it in my "keep" pile.

2. When I finished the white pile I grabbed the white "keep" pile off my bed, hung it at the front of my closet, arranged it in the order I wanted - I like short sleeve, sweater, jackets...

3. Then, grab the next color. It is easy to pick another color because color stands out. Choose a color you have less of. That way it is not overwhelming to go through a pile of five items verses 75.

4. Decide if it goes in the donate pile or "keep" pile, switch hangers and move to the next piece. Once that color is finished take the keep pile with nice, new hangers and place it next to the white clothes in the closet. Arrange in the order you like. Choose another color and repeat.

5. You may find an item that needs mending. Make a hard decision here. Are you going to take it to the seamstress right away or will it sit in a pile for a year cluttering your space. If you won't likely deal with it then donate it and move on.

6. I finished the process with black because I had a lot more black items.

7. Then move to pants and skirts. I fold some pants and shorts so once I finished with my hanging items I started on my shelves. The hangers were so beautiful to look at AND my clothes were color coordinated...I gained momentum and inspiration to keep going.

The great thing is that if time is running out and you need to move on to another activity you can easily come back to this project and just start in on another color!

Here is a section of my closet before (yes, a little embarrassing):

And, here is the same section after:

The hangers DO change the way I feel...EVERY time I walk into my closet!!

Organizing a Toy Room

2010-07-25T22:16:00.000-07:00

I LOVE before and after pictures!!! Don't you? They inspire! They help you remember what life was like "before"! They remind you of the potential! They motivate you to move to the next space! They even help you remember to maintain!

I have the honor of sharing some before and after pictures of my client's basement (by the way, have I shared that we have been organizing a lot of basements lately?). In the next few weeks I will post the rest of the pictures but today we will see just the zone designated as the play area/therapy room.

This wonderful family has been blessed with four children - two of which have autism. The last five years have been a whirlwind of emotion, therapy, paperwork, learning, hard work, challenging times and joy filled moments for them. In the midst of all that some things were set aside - one being the home. Now, as the family comes to a point where they can focus on their home they have called me to help. I LOVE HELPING!

The basement was an area where things were taken and left until...later! When you stand and look at an area in your own home begin by asking yourself what will take place in this area. This basement needed to have 4 areas, or zones:

Toy/therapy
Workout/exercise
Relaxing - TV/books
Game room

Once we talked this out we could begin the organizing process:

Sort
Purge
Assign a home
Set limits (with containers, shelves, etc)
Maintain

Remember my acronym SPASM? If not read about it here.

Here it is...what was once the office and holding area is now a bright and cheery playroom used for play and for therapy!

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Amazing, eh?

INDEPENDENCE From Clutter

2010-06-29T20:23:00.000-07:00

Happy Independence Day!!!

As we plan to celebrate Independence Day this July I wanted to remind us how to have "independence" from clutter. First, remember that clutter is delayed decisions. Look around at the piles in your home, on your counter, stashed in your closet or basement. Look at your inbox and see the piles of emails. Most piles are because you (or someone in your home) either haven't had time to put them away OR you delayed to make a decision on what to do with it.

The first step in improving clutter build up is to be aware of it. Then, when you are tempted to put something down before making a decision, you can ask yourself, "Do I want clutter that I WILL eventually have to deal with later OR can I make a decision about it right now?"

Ask yourself questions like:

Can I put this away right now?
Can I throw this away (delete this)? Or give it away?
What is the next step I have to take regarding this?
Do I need to find a permanent home for this?

Take one item off a pile right now and ask yourself these questions. Deal with that one item. Try one more item... Keep it up for five or ten minutes and repeat daily!

Happy Independence-from-clutter Day!

Even Your Font Can Save You Money!

2010-06-01T13:06:00.000-07:00

Last week I heard a great tip from Chuck Bentley on Crown Financial's MoneyLife about what FONT to use when printing to save you the most money on ink!! I can't say that I have ever thought about changing my FONT to save on ink! Click here to get all the details of their research and read the article from printer.com's April 13th blog.

Bentley had more "Tips To Cut Expenses and Reduce Stress". Click here for all the tips and links.

Oh, enough suspense...the FONT that will save you the most money is Century Gothic. EcoFont is second and Times New Roman is third. The worst of the 10 most commonly used fonts is Franklin Gothic Medium.

Which FONT do you use the most? Will knowing this information cause you to change the font you use?

Lunch Making Tip

2010-05-22T20:40:00.000-07:00

This is the best idea for organizing your mornings!! I Facebooked this yesterday:

"Tip for making lunches (courtesy of Jenn Rogers): Buy deli meat on sale, take a loaf or two of bread, make it all into sandwiches (PB&J, too) and place into the freezer in individual freezer baggies. In the mornings, just grab a sandwich from the freezer add the sides and whaalaaa... Lunch! I made a loaf of sandwiches this morning! Please, add a lunch-making tip of your own!"

So, today, I just had to report this...I was running out of the house taking two of my girls to a softball game. From there we had to go straight to my son's piano recital and from there I was leaving to meet with a client. At the last minute (of course) I realized that I wouldn't be able to eat for several hours and may not have time to stop and get something. I was soooo happy to be able to grab a sandwich out of the freezer, grab an orange from the frig and a bag of chips and a water. Off I went.

As I drove to the recital I just couldn't wait any longer. I had to try out this sandwich from my freezer! Here goes, the results I had been waiting for...It was AWESOME!! I loved it. It had just thawed. The bread wasn't soggy at all. It tasted like I had just made it! You all must try this, too. Healthier lunches, less stress, better organized... Life is good!

Does This Photo Make My Butt Look Big?

2010-05-13T13:11:00.000-07:00

So, have you ever looked in the mirror and wondered if your pants made your butt look big? I was in a photo shoot recently and had chosen the one photo that I liked to send in for an article about my business. I got home and was about to email it when my two boys and husband came over. I showed them the photo and much to my surprise they were NOT impressed!

They pointed out that my head looked small and my butt looked like it had an entire extra pad attached to it!!! (I am sure it is the way I am sitting!) I guess, because I have never been accused of having a big butt, I never even thought about if the photo made it look big. They also pointed out that the organizing bins looked as if they were falling on me and they did not understand the background. "What are those pictures??" they asked.

After we laughed for several minutes they helped me decide on another photo and I sent that in. But (no pun intended :)), because I will probably never use this photo now I thought I should ask, "Does this photo make my butt look big?"

Odd Job: Proffessional Organizer

2010-05-13T12:10:00.000-07:00

I have had the honor of being interviewed by Katy Ryan, a freelance writer for KC Free Press. To read the full interview Click here .

KC Free Press launched in December 2009 as a Web-based news and information source serving metropolitan Kansas City. As Kansas City’s first “built-for-the-Web” media outlet, the site was founded on a belief that a multimedia approach to reporting combined with a focus on local content and voices provides the best experience for users.

Katy is doing a series for KC Free Press titled "Odd Jobs." In addition to me, a professional organizer, Katy has interviewed a storm chaser, toy designer, KCMO fountain maintenance manager, geese police, T-shirt boutique owner and more for her 'Odd Jobs' series. It is so fun and interesting to learn about these people and their jobs and know they all live right here in the Kansas City area!

Katy Ryan is a blogger, too. Take a little trip over to her blog titled "girl about KC". She also has just published her first book, Moon Kansas City, which you can find here. As a Missouri native she covers the best of the Kansas City area, including River Market, Crossroads, Westport, and Brookside. Ryan provides various travel strategies, including The Best of Kansas City in Four Days, and explores notable restaurants as well as the various arts and entertainment the city has to offer.

Sounds like a must read for us Kansas City residents, eh?! Or for those who might visit Kansas City. This could help you locals ORGANIZE your summer outings and help introduce your out of town visitors to the treasures of KANSAS CITY!

Let me know your thoughts and what 'odd' job you have right now!

What Papers Should I Keep?

2010-04-22T09:26:00.000-07:00

Everyone wants to know what papers they should keep and what papers are okay to throw away. With so much contradicting information going around how do we know what to do?

I received a flyer with my ING investment statements that I found quite helpful and wanted to share that with you. It is simple and to the point. Here is a wrap up of what papers to keep and for how long...

Permanent Papers: (keep forever)

Birth, marriage and death certificates
Passports
A copy of your will and health care directives
Copies of beneficiary designations for retirement accounts
All current insurance papers

Long-Term Papers:

Federal and state income tax returns with the supporting documentation (minimum 3 years)
Household papers including receipts, instructions and warranties for major appliances as well as records of capital improvements (keep as long as you own your home/appliance)

Short-Term papers:

Monthly statements
Investment papers confirming transactions
Pay stubs (discard once you receive the year-end statement)
Utility and telephone bills (shred as soon as they're paid)
ATM receipts and deposit slips (destroy once they appear on your bank statement)

If you wanted to make files simple you could follow this outline for your file tabs! Keep the permanent papers in a fire proof box or safe.

As always, check with your accountant or tax advisor. For a complete guide to tax record keeping, see IRS Publication 552, Recordkeeping for Individuals at www.irs.gov.

"The Cabinet"

2010-04-12T06:53:00.000-07:00

Do you have one of these cabinets...It is the catch all place for all office supplies, phone books, papers of all kinds, markers, kids crafts, cords, electronics, etc. Usually it is around the area you handle the mail. For most it is in the kitchen near a desk...

I wanted to show one of my client's NEW, organized cabinet. Too bad I forgot to take a before picture so that you could see how full of papers and stuff it was - unrecognizable. But we all have something like it...somewhere. And even the most organized people out there have to consistently maintain this special cabinet.

This cabinet is great because it has adjustable shelves. If you look closely you will see that we put the black notebooks in a clear-ish magazine holder turned on its side so they wouldn't fall over. Most of the paper that was smashed in the cabinet was thrown out or moved to permanent files but the white binder with clear sheet protectors keeps important documents.

My client found the Clear AkroBins on the left at The Container Store. We labeled them for the various things she wanted to keep near her kitchen/desk area: markers, pencils, nail supplies, office supplies, money, postage, etc. The top shelf has four areas reserved for stationary, pet supplies, cameras/cords, and checks.

To start a project like this on your own use my organizing acronym "SPASM" to help...

Pull out the things in your cabinet one by one and Sort them into piles. Use a sticky note to write each category name near the pile so you don't forget. You may have categories like crafts, paper, phone books, addresses, office supplies, etc.
Purge each pile. Throw away, donate or recycle all that you can.
Now Assign a home to each category. Do you want to keep it in this cabinet? This step is a little like a puzzle - figuring out how and where each item will fit into the cabinet. Try it different ways until you come up with a solution you like.
Next, Set limits by using containers. Decide what kind of containers you need. Try items you have around the house - old Tupperware, cups for pencils, shoe boxes - just to see how it fits. Then you can search the stores or online to find just the right containers. Set limits with statements, too. Say, "I will only use this area for stationary (or pens, phone books, post-its). When it is full I will purge and donate some to make room for the new."
Lastly, Maintain! This is key to continued organization. When you notice it is getting messy follow this acronym again. Maybe you will have to make some changes, add a new category or move a category to a different location.

Have fun! Send me before and after pictures of your project! Enjoy the results but don't waste too much time staring at your beautiful cabinet!!

Organizing...Creating an Environment of Support

2010-03-21T20:30:00.000-07:00

In response to my previous post - our GO Month project - Ray Smith, National Director of Finance and Administration of the Polycystic Kidney Disease Foundation, said,

"We are so thankful for the help we received in organizing our kitchen and storage areas after our recent move. In our old space, we had one large storage area, and everything just got stored wherever there was an open space for it. Now we have segmented areas for certain items and departments – and the organizers developed a labeling system that will help us to keep things where they belong. It is going to be so much easier to find what we need, to know when items need to be re-stocked, and to purge items we are no longer using."

Organizing is meant to create an environment that supports your work and your life. This project will support the work that the Polycystic Kidney Disease Foundation is doing. That is what it is all about!!

What in your work or in your life needs the support that organization can bring?

GO Month Project...A Success

2010-03-11T12:05:00.000-08:00

Our local Kansas City organizers have completed our GO (Get Organized) Month project. I had blogged about here. We were so interested in helping the Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) Foundation that we waited until March 1st, after they moved into their new office space, to complete our project.

As promised I am posting the before and after pictures! Here is all of the organizers after finishing our project...still smiling because we LOVE organizing. Can you pick me out? (clue: I am the tallest one in the picture!)

It feels great to help a cause... Without the worry of unpacking and organizing these areas the PKD staff is now ready to start working at their highest level of productivity and efficiency!

There were 4 areas that we organized. First, is the mail room:

A quick tip: The temporary blue post-its are being replaced by 3x5 plastic sleeves that will attach to the front of each cabinet with a computer printed label that slides in the sleeve. This makes it attractive AND easy to change out when supplies in the cabinets change.

Next, their kitchen:

A quick tip: Create stations in your kitchen. The coffee station is right by the coffee pots. The coffee cups are right above the pots and all the creamer, stir straws, etc are right there, too. The water station has all water cups right above the water filter machine.

Then, the storage room:

A quick tip: We created a center work station where they can wrap and prepare packages to send out! Also, be prepared to have an area for packages coming in to be housed temporarily until there is time to put them on the right shelf.

Lastly, the marketing closet:

A quick tip: Each box has a sample taped to the front of it so that anyone can easily see what is in the box. No wasting time reading labels and opening boxes. Also, it is important to have open space available for incoming supplies.

If your storage spaces need organizing, or your entire office is moving, why not invest in professional help. Have an organizer or a team of organizers get your space Simply Squared Away! You can reach me through my website!

Meal Planning

2010-02-24T10:01:00.000-08:00

Meal planning - getting a healthy, balanced meal to our tables - is an area where many people lack organization and become frustrated and disappointed.

I always find myself drawn to this topic. I usually plan a menu and go to the grocery store to buy the ingredients I need but I am always looking for new ideas and recipes. I have friends on both sides of the spectrum - those that don't have any list or meals planned out and those that have it down to a science with coupons, fliers and deal-hunting focus. My mother-in-law always tells me that she menu planned around the sale ads - whatever meat that was on sale was the center of her menu.

Categorizing each day of the week is a handy tool that helps with menu planning. Of course, you need to arrange the categories to fit your schedule. Try these category ideas:

Monday - New recipe
Tuesday - Crock pot
Wednesday - Easy/Fast
Thursday - Kid's Favorite
Friday - Meatless
Saturday - Asian
Sunday - Eat out

Or you could also try categories like these:

Monday - Mexican
Tuesday - Italian
Wednesday - Crock pot
Thursday - Asian
Friday - American
Saturday - Frozen
Sunday - Eat out

Or what about salad, pizza, soup, sandwich...Remember to stay flexible! Have an outline of meals for the week but when it comes down to it don't cry if you forgot to put food in the crock pot on Wednesday morning. When you get home, eat the frozen meal from Friday and do the crock pot meal later in the week. Also, if you ate Mexican on Sunday when you went out to dinner you might want to switch your Mexican Monday with your Asian Thursday meal.

I get on these kicks when I am reading a new [recipe] book and have to try a ton of new recipes. My favorite book, click here for my post reviewing this book , The Eat Clean Diet has a RECHARGED version out now. In it is my new favorite recipe: Thai Basil Chicken Fried Rice that is unbelievably delicious. This was the first time I cooked with fish sauce and oyster sauce...not a nice smell when you add it to the mix but somehow it turns into fabulous flavor! Also, the Thai Steak on Soba Noodles was wonderful. I think that is why I have a category for Asian in both lists!

Try this:
Take an hour this weekend and plan out a month of meals using the category ideas above. Write your grocery lists for each week. Keep the menus and lists in a binder for easy access. Let me know how this helps you stay organized with your meal planning this next month!

Are there other ideas that work for you when it comes to meal planning? Please share!

Becoming... In Order To Reach Your Goals

2010-01-27T08:01:00.001-08:00

I am going through Darren Hardy's The Best 10 Years material and am learning sooo much. I would recommend that everyone go through it! Last week he talked about goals. I have gained a new perspective! This quote summarizes what I am learning...

“To achieve something you have never achieved before you must become someone you have never been.” —Les Brown

Here is an example of a goal and then asking the question, "Who do I need to become to reach that goal?" Darren uses this example on his blog. I highly recommend you click over to read the entire post! He says,

"Let me give you another example to bring this home for you. Let’s say your goal is to earn another $100,000 this year. Now we need to ask the question, ‘Who do you need to become to be an extra $100,000 valuable?’ Your answer might contain some attributes—stated in the positive, “I am”—such as:

I am a disciplined master of time efficiency.
I focus solely on high-payoff and high-productivity actions.
I wake up an hour earlier and review my priority objectives each morning.
I fuel my body properly and exercise four days a week so I am energetic and highly effective each work hour.
I feed my mind ideas and inspiration that will support and bolster my passion.
I surround myself with peers and mentors who elevate my expectations and prod me to rise to greater levels of discipline, commitment and achievement.
I am a smart, confident and effective leader. I seek and cultivate the strength and greatness in everyone around me.
I deliver excellence to my clients and continually find ways to ‘wow’ them, encouraging repeat transactions and abundant referrals.

Before you can have, you must do. And before you can do, you must become."

Very interesting, eh? It makes me think about my goals and what I need to 'become' to reach them and be the best person I can be. And, it is not all about money. Darren is big on life balance. Goals should be balanced around work, family, your calling, mental, spiritual, etc.

What are some of your goals? Has this helped you think about how you will achieve them - who you will 'become'?

GO Month Project: Organizing the PKD Foundations' New Office Space

2010-01-13T13:44:00.000-08:00

January is NAPO's National Get Organized (GO) Month. It is a time for professional organizers around the world to give back to their community and educate the public about what we do and how it can be of help.

The professional organizers in Kansas City are giving back to our community by helping the Polycystic Kidney Disease Foundation. The PKD Foundation is the only organization, worldwide, dedicated to fighting polycystic kidney disease (PKD). The mission of the PKD Foundation is to: "Promote programs of research, advocacy, education, support and awareness in order to discover treatments and a cure for Polycystic Kidney Disease and improve the lives of all it affects."

We will be organizing their mail and storage rooms when they move into their new office space. Since their move doesn't take place until the end of February our GO Month project will not be finished until then. We didn't want to miss this opportunity to give the PKD staff a fresh, organized and productive start in their new offices.

Yesterday, three other organizers and I toured the PKD's national headquarters' current office space and then traveled to their new office space. We compared and planned how they could fit their current inventory into the new space to create optimal productivity, be visually appealing AND be easy to maintain.

Ray Smith, the National Director of Finance and Administration, commented, "The timing could not have been more perfect...Before construction begins on the new space we now have a plan to best organize our storage and mail room supplies AND a list of things to do to get ready for the move! Thank you!"

Be looking for the before and after photos in early March when the project is complete!

I am the Winner of the NEW $5 Dinner Mom Cookbook

2010-01-13T13:19:00.000-08:00

Is there anything better than finding out you WON something?! I sat down this afternoon to check my email and read that I had won the brand new $5 Dinner Mom Cookbook! Laura, over at I'm an Organizing Junkie, has wonderful giveaways and product reviews along with her very informative blog that I subscribe to and love to read. I sign up for as many of the giveaways as I have time for and I have WON a very exciting prize.

Erin Chase, the $5 Mom, has a wonderful story. Visit her blog and read about her and her talents! Her website has TONS of deals that she finds out about and shares with her readers. She gives the links to print coupons or sign up for these deals. It is amazing. She has just published her cookbook where every meal in it she has made for $5! I cannot wait to see it, learn from it and cook from it. I spend way too much money on groceries and am not a coupon/deal queen. Since I do cook most of our meals from scratch though I am very excited to learn some new tips and recipes! Thanks, Erin and Laura!

FREE Program To Learn How To Achieve Lifelong Goals

2010-01-07T08:08:00.000-08:00

I have just been introduced by Laura, over at I'm An Organizing Junkie, about a FREE program that started January 5th (but you can still join in). It is being given by Darren Hardy, publisher of Success Magazine. The program is called Designing the Best 10 Years of Your Life: Your Personal Strategic Plan for Achieving Lifelong Goals. Click here to visit his site and watch an 8 minutes video from Darren himself explaining exactly what he is doing in this one-time-only-FREE event. To register you will need to enter your email address in the right column on his site.

What a better time than NOW to strategically plan and learn how to achieve your goals. Darren does explain that he learned this skill when he was 18! Please feel free to forward this to friends, family or colleges so they, too, can join in. Lets do it together!

I love in the video when he says that the motivation and commitment we have when we sign up will disappear in a couple of weeks (isn't that the truth!) BUT that is when we need to push ourselves and keep going, completing the process! I will keep you posted on my progress. Keep me posted on yours!

2010 Workout Motivation

2010-01-06T16:28:00.000-08:00

Okay, I don't know about you, but when I am on the treadmill my brain tells me things like, "You are going to DIE!" "You cannot make it!" "Stop NOW, you cannot go another step!!!" Do you all feel like this? I have found it helpful to have distractions - pictures, verses, very loud music on my ipod - to motivate me to keep going.

I also need new contests, programs or ideas to keep motivated. This year my sister-in-law and I are having a 12 week contest. I won't give you the details but I have my workouts planned -thanks to my personal trainer brother-in-law. Now it is just making sure I do those workouts!

As some of you may know my motto for 2010 is...

live Simple. dream BIG.

This week I spent some time enhancing (I had a few things up from last year) my motivation! I wanted to share this picture with you all!

I love it! The first thing I see is my motto which starts my mind to thinking, dreaming, planning... When my brain is telling me to quit I look at the two girls running and my "brain talk" changes! It says, "They are doing it, so can you!" "She is going up that mountain, look how beautiful it is." "Look at their muscles!" When I get bored I read my verse for the year and recommit to it in every area of my life.

It is nothing fancy - just a simple, unpainted cement wall! But, it works! Please share what motivates you!

Shelf Dividers

2009-12-09T09:20:00.000-08:00

I LOVE shelf dividers! You can order them from The Container Store for about $7.00 a pair. They really do their job - which is to keep your shelves orderly! I also LOVE before and after pictures and have included some from a recent client's armoire. We used shelf dividers to keep her beautiful sweaters organized!

2010 - Paper or Electronic?

2009-12-02T18:04:00.000-08:00

I am now "officially" a writer and have been published in The Great Calendar Debate!! This is a must read for the month of December - the end of 2009 - as we embark on a new year.

Twenty-one experts weigh-in with Stephanie Calahan, of Calahan Solutions, on which is better: paper or electronic...How to choose the right system for YOU for 2010! Valuable information, a fairly quick read plus recommendations, pros and cons and links to each preferred product. Don't miss it!! Leave a comment below on what you use or what you are going to use for 2010!

Jewelry Perfection!

2009-11-30T11:36:00.000-08:00

Ever wonder what to do with all of your jewelry?? Before deciding, think through this question: Do you have more drawer space, closet hanging space or more wall/over-the-door space? Once you figure this out there are three types of products I would recommend...

If you have more drawer space I would suggest velvet, stackable jewelry organizers that can be found at Bed, Bath and Beyond or other similar stores. They have a wide variety for rings, bracelets and necklaces.

If you have more room in your closet hanging from a rod try this Hanging Pocket Jewelry Organizer. There are a several places to find these with a lot of variety as well.

If you have room behind your closet door or wall space in the closet, or close by, try this Over-the-Door Organizer with the option to mount it on the wall. It has a LOT of room for all types of jewelry! Here is a picture where I used it with one of my clients.

Whatever your unique jewelry situation think through which option would be best for you and have fun organizing, and possibly discovering, all of your jewelry!

Easy, Remarkable Solutions

2009-11-20T20:49:00.000-08:00

I have three simple additions to any child's (or adults!) room to help bring order and simplicity! Plus, some real life before and after pictures where I used these products. They will magically ADD space, give amazing visual transformations and provide the structure that will help you stay organized.

First, are the Drawer Dividers. They are spring loaded and you insert them in your drawers to separate your clothes. They come in a wood look also. My girls and I love them. Try them in your sock and undergarment drawer!

Second, if you have a small closet rod OR lots of clothes try adding an additional Double Hang Clothes Rod below your current one! Especially with kids clothing this product works great and even allows a younger child to reach their own clothes!

The third product is the Over-the-Door Shoe Hanger! Behind the door is a space that is often forgotten. In the after picture below we used it for hats and other miscellaneous things in addition to the shoes!

Also, notice the shirts folded once and stacked on the closet shelf. If there is not enough closet space to hang all the little shirts try folding them and stacking them on a shelf. This way you can see each shirt AND you only have to fold them once - in half!! In a drawer you can only see the top shirt! So, here are three product ideas with the links to where I found them. Now you are ready to start organizing your bedrooms! Be inspired!

Book Review Time

2009-11-12T13:25:00.000-08:00

Okay, this book doesn't have too much to do with organizing but I am on a health kick and this book is awesome!!! You must read it if...

You want some new recipe ideas
You want to learn about some new healthy foods
You want to change your way of eating
You want quick, simple steps to help your family be healthier
You want to be inspired and motivated to eat "clean"

The books are called The Eat-Clean Diet and The Eat-Clean Diet for Family & Kids by Tosca Reno. My friend, Alicia, was changing the way she eats and told me about them. They are colorful, easy and fun to read AND Tosca uses such wonderful adjectives to describe clean foods through the entire book that whenever I read it my mouth was watering!

I am now drinking 3L of water every day and eating foods like freshly ground (in my coffee grinder!!) flax seed, homemade hummus, whole grains, sprouted Ezekiel bread, ground bison, yogurt cheese and much more. I am sweetening things with agave nectar not the 'poisonous' white sugar!

Okay, okay, you are right, I tend to go a little extreme...at least my kids think so! But, I am feeling great and enjoying the taste of yummy, healthy, pure foods. I shopped at Whole Foods for the first time - a tiny store in midtown Kansas City at 43rd and Main. I love small grocery stores! We do not have one up north or I would go more often. Now, I am making a recipe book on TASTE BOOK (check out their website) of all my favorite recipes for clean eating!

Let me know what you think of the book and how it inspires you! It does take some basic organizing and planning to eat right! Cheers!

Office Revamp

2009-10-22T10:52:00.001-07:00

Traveling a lot, not having systems in place that work, waiting until clutter builds up and being overwhelmed with where to start can turn your home office into a place you would rather not go! That is how my client felt and that is why she asked for help. Following the basic organizing steps we transformed her home office into a place where she can get projects completed and even enjoy spending time there! Have fun looking at these before and after photos!

Organizing Girl's Hair Pretties

2009-10-22T08:36:00.000-07:00

One of my friends calls hair accessories "hair pretties" so that is how I titled the post!

A recent client has three daughters. They have LOTS of hair pretties. They had tried to find a way to organize the cabinet where they kept these things but nothing ever worked and the cabinet would always end up a mess with all the hair pretties piled in!

Here is what we did with just two three drawer organizers that you can find at Target for $9.99 each and some Velcro and ribbon! Her daughters LOVE it and they LOVE to keep it CLEAN!

We sorted through all the hair things which was probably the most time consuming. Then we labeled the drawers for each type: ponies, head bands, ponies with decorations, clipies, etc. We attached ribbon to a piece of Velcro at the top and bottom and then attached it to the inside of the cabinet door. The Velcro has adhesive on both sides so we didn't even need glue. Then we clipped all the bows to the ribbon.

Simple. Cute. Organized.

My New Favorite Motivational Quote

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

I was listening to Dave Ramsey for about 3 minutes in the car today and the one thing I heard him say was,

"Adults devise a plan and follow it. Children do what feels good."

I love that. You could apply that to work, your eating/working out goals, your spiritual life, your home, raising children, your marriage, etc. I even think it should be,

"Mature people devises a plan and follow it. Immature people just do what feels good at the moment."

That is so true. I ask myself, "Tracy, do you want to be mature or immature? Do you want to stay in bed and listen to your feelings or get up and work out? Do you want to stay connected with the Lord? So, follow your plan and meet with Him. Don't let your child (immature) self take over and get what it wants. Do I want my room to be a mess or should I follow the plan like a mature adult and hang up the clothes I decided not to wear? Should I eat the rest of the bag of M&M's or say I am done with my sweets for the day? Should I spend money that I don't have? Do I want a great marriage?" Oh, the list could go on!!

FOLLOWING THE PLAN TAKES WORK!!

Maturity takes work. Immaturity is the easy was out. What will you do today to choose maturity? To follow your plan?

Project Garage

2009-08-21T12:22:00.000-07:00

Across America there is a common phenomena...Garage Overload! Maybe you can relate to that overwhelming feeling you get when you open the door to your garage. "How can I ever fix this??" you ask. So, what happens? You close the door and go on with life leaving 'project garage' for another time. The weight of knowing something needs to be done is heavy on your brain now causing emotional clutter as well as physical clutter!

Here are some pictures from the real life garage of the Russell family. They are an active family that enjoy camping, hunting, fishing, BBQing and boating plus they have all the supplies to go with their hobbies. They also have grown children and are storing some of their transitional things temporarily. After 30 years in the same house the garage had become...full, to say the least.

Here are the before, middle and after pictures of their 'project garage'. Along with one other hard-working, family friend with lots of muscles, Maggie Russell and I tackled the project!! Her brother Jim helped whenever he could, too. We worked almost six hours one day and only two and a half hours the next and after 30 years Maggie can now open the garage door with pride AND park there, too!!!

Three before pictures:

This was in the middle of the project. We had taken everything out of the garage. As we did we sorted it all into categories. Can you tell?

Can you believe this is the same garage? They remembered it looking like this 30 years ago when they moved in.

These are the finished photos! There is still one group of transitional tubs and a few pieces of furniture that they need to go through and move to a permanent location. All the gardening, automotive and paint supplies are on these shelves, in tubs and labeled: All camping, fishing, boating and hunting supplies are on these shelves:Be inspired!

Inspiring Quote

2009-07-08T06:52:00.000-07:00

"Believe, when you are most unhappy, that there is something for you to do in the world. So long as you sweeten another's pain, life is not in vain."

~ Helen Keller
This quote got me thinking! Life is always better when we focus on being a blessing to others. It is all in the perspective! Lets ask ourself, "Who's life can I sweeten today?"

FAQ: What Happens When You Contact Simply Squared Away?

2009-06-30T13:51:00.000-07:00

When you contact Simply Squared Away by phone, email or the contact form on our website there will be one thing that happens: We will respond and answer your questions! There is no pressure or sales tactics used to make you take the next step. We love answering your questions and will try to be as thorough as possible. If we miss answering something just keep asking until you know what you need.

The next step is to set up an assessment. An assessment is where we come to you. We tour your space(s) and ask a lot of questions in order to learn about you and your situation...your frustrations, what is working, your dreams and goals, etc. The assessment usually takes 30 - 90 minutes. At the end of the assessment we give you an estimate of the number of hours we think it will take to complete the project.

If you are ready to get started we schedule our first "hands-on" organizing session. This is where we come in and get the work done! Scheduling and completing these sessions are the stepping stones you need in order to reach the goals and life changes that you desire!

There are unique situations and this process will vary slightly depending on those situations. But, remember, if you have questions please contact us so we can get the answers to you!

The Cycle Problem

2009-06-13T16:42:00.000-07:00

Do you ever wonder how your space becomes a mess? Peter Walsh explains that it is a cycle problem.

We are all familiar with laundry...after it is worn it gets put into the hamper (hopefully!), from your hamper it gets put into the washer, once clean you transfer it to the dryer, when dry it is folded or hung up and finally it gets put away. The worst thing you could do would be to stop this cycle by leaving a load in the washer after it has been washed. What would you get? A mound of smelly laundry. Why? You didn't complete the cycle!

Papers that come into our homes have a cycle (process) that needs to be completed, too. Paper comes into our homes from the mailbox or our kid's backpacks, we look through it and make decisions: act on it, file it or throw it away...a cycle completed. If we don't complete the cycle it becomes a pile of stinky paper cluttering up our surfaces.

If you want a glass of milk and then stop the cycle half way through by not putting the carton back in the refrigerator you have sour milk. If you change your clothes three times in the morning but don't hang them back up you have broken a cycle and end up with a messy bedroom.

Walsh says, "We have a choice: to be mindful and complete the cycle, or to end up with a stinky load of washing in the metaphorical machine. Inside we're all 8-year-olds expecting someone to pick up after us. Those days are gone."

Make a plan, a cycle, for those frustrating areas where things seem to accumulate and then choose to finish the "cycle."

Read more of Peter Walsh's interview in the March 2009 issue of O Magazine by clicking here.

Cereal Containers

2009-05-17T12:39:00.000-07:00

As I do my regular shopping I am on the look out for useful, inexpensive, attractive organizing products. Sometimes I find things I love that do not fit one or two of those criteria. For example, I might love the look but it is over priced or it is useful but I don't love the color, etc.

Recently I was looking for cereal containers that fit those 3 criteria. I looked at every local shop it seemed and couldn't find anything! That week I had a session with my "container-finding" client and of course she had found the perfect cereal containers, Store 'n Pour Dry Food Dispensers, at The Container Store! Click here to go to their website to view these containers. Here is the picture of her cabinet where she keeps her cereal:

Isn't it beautiful! I love that it doesn't have color that will go out of style. I love the indention for your hand to grip. The top has a snap lid that you just push down and it seals shut. All this for only $9.99!

If you have found a cereal container you like please comment and let us all know!

What is a professional organizer?

2009-05-08T21:57:00.000-07:00

Have you ever asked yourself, "What does a professional organizer do?" "Why would I need one?" "How can they help me?"

NAPO (the National Association of Professional Organizer) defines a professional organizer as one who "enhances the lives of clients by designing systems and processes using organizing principles and by transferring organizing skills. A professional organizer also educates the public on organizing solutions and the resulting benefits."

People need professional organizers for various reasons. Here are some of them...

They are wanting or needing to downsize
They are overwhelmed with their "stuff" and don't know how or where to begin
They are frustrated that they waste so much TIME looking for things and straightening "the piles"
They are busy and don't have the time to devote to organizing
They are not gifted in that area and want someone experienced and trained to help them
A situation (new baby, move, growth of business, death of loved ones) has caused them to become disorganized and they need guidance
They are ready to live a simpler life
They want to become more productive

An organizer can help you in many ways. I have found that first of all it helps that they schedule time to devote to this task. Second, you have an experienced professional that listens to how you think and what you need to be more efficient and plans out how to make that happen. Third, they motivate you, give you hope and even have fun in the process. They also transfer skills - teaching you the steps to organize. And, they are your support team and your resource for products and ideas to keep you organized and living a simpler life!

Professional Organizers are more needed and more valuable as people get more stuff and more busy!

What does being "organized" mean?

2009-05-08T21:32:00.000-07:00

Barbara Hemphill, CPO® (Certified Professional Organizer), “America’s Favorite Organizer”and owner of The Paper Tiger Productivity Institute, defines organization by asking the following 4 questions:

Does it work?
Do you like it?
Does it work for other people?
Can you recover quickly from inevitable disorganization? (Life happens, we are busy, things get messy...but can you recover quickly?)

Isn't that great!? Ask yourselves those questions in regard to your home...or your office...or your business.

Here is a picture of Barabara (who has been organizing for 30 years!!) and I at the 2009 National Association of Professional Organizer's conference in Orlando, Florida.

Inspiration and information!

Office Transformation

2009-04-15T20:30:00.001-07:00

I love amazing transformations!! They motivate. They bring life into a dead space. They help someone (or many people) become more productive. There is order. It is beautiful to see the treasures on display. You can find things. It is a gift. Oh, the list goes on... It is why I LOVE to organize!

I could not wait to show these astonishing before and after pictures of a client's home office. Now remember, all of this was done using the basic organizing steps - sort, go through each pile, find a home, contain & label, keep it simple...and then plan to maintain. Following these steps will lead you to organizing just about anything!

We moved the lighter shelf to the other side of the office to go with it's match. Are these black shelves not sooo cute?? My client is talented at decorating...and you can see the treasures!

Notice the shelves have a home for everything and it is all labeled! Off to organize...have an amazing day!

Recent Conversations

2009-04-14T09:05:00.000-07:00

I had the privilege of giving an Organizing Presentation to the Greater Kansas City Mother of Twins Chapter last night. There were over 40 moms present. I presented on Why We Need To Organize and The Basic Organizing Steps. Then we looked at before and after pictures and walked through the steps of organizing each photo. We learned how to set up an "Action File" to conquer the overwhelming amount of paper in our homes. After some question/answer discussion we had a drawing for a beautiful bouquet of Gerber daisies and lime (my favorite color) mini mums AND for two free hours of organizing services. Congratulations to the winners!!!

I wanted to post some links below that will answer some of questions that we discussed last night!

1. How long should we keep bills, taxes, receipts, etc?

First, always speak directly to your accountant regarding your specific issues but these links have some great guidelines:

2. My favorite website for product searches and ideas:

3. Here is some garage organization information:

contact Wayne Zetzman at wzetzman@completegarage.com. He will come out and give you an estimate and one-on-one attention. Check out his website at http://www.completegarage.com/. Of course, tell him I referred you. :)
Home Depot has the Rubbermaid FastTrack System for you do-it-yourself people
Here is a link in Kansas City where you can buy Slatwall http://www.kc-store-fixtures.com/slatwall_panels.php. Also, here is a link with tons of pictures for ideas: http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&q=slatwall+garage&gbv=2&aq=f&oq=

I hope this information was helpful! Thanks again ladies for a wonderful evening!

Monday's Product Review

2009-03-23T09:20:00.000-07:00

Each Monday I will try to post a picture of a product that I have used or a client has used that I "approve of!" This week it is the shelf divider:

Shelf dividers are easy to use AND inexpensive (2 for $6.99 at the Container Store). I love putting kids clothes on shelves or in visible places rather than drawers, if possible. This allows them to "see" what they have plus the drawer doesn't get so jumbled with messy, and now wrinkled, clothes. Here is an after picture of a closet where we used shelf dividers...

Kids can easily put their folded clothes away and pick out what they want to wear. If your closet doesn't have shelves try using a hanging clothes organizer like the one below from Target for only $19.99.

I put folded t-shirts, shorts, sweaters and other clothing items on each shelf.

Now you can go and organize a couple shelves and hopefully the shelf divider will complete the project. Have fun organizing!

Fabric

2009-03-04T08:10:00.000-08:00

I wanted to post the finished fabric pictures from the quilting studio I had blogged about previously.

Megen wanted to be able to see her beautiful fabrics. She purchased shelving at an estate sale and after sorting through all of her fabric, purging what she no longer wanted, separating it into hues and folding it uniformly she was finished.

These are the before pictures...

This is the new fabric zone...No more digging through the cabinets and forgetting what she had hidden in the back. She can see every piece of fabric, be inspired and enjoy them daily!

Ideas for Trophies and Ribbons

2009-02-22T15:42:00.000-08:00

Receiving ribbons and trophies are a huge confidence booster for children.

But what do you do with them all???

Here is an idea for displaying your child's plaques, ribbons, medals and trophies!!

Remove your curtain and tie a string or wire across the window. Get it as tight as you can. Here we tied it in between the shelf supports but you could use a screw or nail on each end of the window. Then loop all the ribbons through their own strings around the wire. We hung medals on the ends of the shelf, hung plaques on the wall and put trophies on the shelf to make a complete "Award Display."

Another idea is to center the display around a bulletin board or shelving.

Have fun with it. Be creative. Let your kids give you their ideas. Send me pictures of your creative displays.

The Guest Room/Office Transformation

2009-02-19T16:49:00.000-08:00

I love what I do...helping people accomplish a task...transform a space... organize...provide peace of mind...transfer skills... whatever you call it, I LOVE it!

My clients are very capable, smart and talented people! They could do what I help them to do but many have said that this scheduled time, the extra set of hands, a focused perspective and experienced ideas are what gets the projects done!

A recent client who has three children and a full life had gotten overwhelmed and wanted help with her spare bedroom/office. She wanted her guests to have a clean, welcoming place to stay and for herself to have a place to do her work that was inviting. Some of the things that were being stored in the room were her children's memorabilia, family photos, paperwork, family history memorabilia and some things that she knew she could get rid of but just hadn't had the time to get through - a couple old file cabinets, pictures she wanted to sell on eBay, etc.

Here are the stunning before and after photos:

We went through the organizing steps: sort, purge/go through each pile, decide on where to store things, contain them, and finally enjoy the finished product!!

Obviously everything in the room didn't just disappear. The things that she kept - children's memorabilia that is now organized by year - and family history and photos are stored in clear, labeled plastic bins. There was a closet that was being used to store blankets and pillows that now houses these bins under a couple of the blankets!

The rest of the items had a home already elsewhere in the house or were donated, returned to someone else or placed in the trash.

Ahhhh, let the guests come visiting! And, let the goals get accomplished in an office like that!

A Stuffed T-shirt Drawer?

2009-02-10T13:48:00.000-08:00

This file drawer reminds me of my husband's old T-shirt drawer. His drawer was so stuffed full that I never wanted to put fresh, clean, well-folded shirts into it because I'd have to smash them in and crush down the piles just to get the drawer closed!!

Just like a stuffed full t-shirt drawer these files were stuffed full and rarely used. Nothing could fit in them and they were visually unattractive...which makes filing unappealing!

THE PROBLEM:

That's why I was called...to solve the problem: setting up a paper system...a flow for paper when it comes in the office and to create the file drawers. Where do you put things? Which files should go in which drawers? What do you do with reading material? Where should my briefcase go? Do I need to keep this?

THE PROCESS:

To solve the problem requires understanding it. My client and I talked through the papers, categories, job requirements, frustrations, factors involved in the position (competitors, partners, reference/historical papers to keep, reports, etc). We looked at the space available. I made a plan for each area using some general rules: keep action files closest to the desk, store historical data farthest from your work area, have a "home" for each item.

Then came the organizing process. We sorted all the paper in the office and cleaned out and sorted through all the drawers. I used post-its and made notes on the papers as we pulled them out so we knew what they were. This helped file faster at the end. A LOT of papers went in the trash.

Then, I wrote all the files in their categories and subcategories on the dry erase board. This way we could move things around and the client had a visual picture of what his files would look like - a road map.

Next, we made the files tabs. Smead Viewables (from Office Depot) are what I used for the main category tabs. These are tall, can be read from the front, side and back and are colorful and easy to make. For the subcategories I designed a template that had colors to match the Viewables. I read them off the board as my client typed them in the computer. After diligent fine motor skills the files were finished.

THE RESULT:

Here is one of his four file drawers.

You may notice that there are limited manila folders. I know for some things, especially those things that you pull in and out a lot, you might need a couple. Visually, I love the clean look with out them.

A fresh perspective, the right tools, a plan and hands-on help took these files from the "stuffed t-shirt drawer" look to a "glass front kitchen cabinet" look (you know the ones on Martha Stewart with all white matching dishes spaced evenly - crisp and clean)!! I think I would want to leave the drawer open just to see how awesome it looks. Filing in them would be a highlight of the day, don't you think? Read my client's testimony on my website's home page.

I am always so inspired by my clients that I went home and redid one of my own file drawers!

Be inspired yourself!!

What are you practicing?

2009-02-05T11:29:00.000-08:00

Have you ever thought about what you practice on a daily basis?

The more I think about it the more I realize how good I am at certain things because I practice them every day. For example, complaining about how cold I am in the winter time, putting on lip liner, cooking dinner, sorting through my mail, getting frustrated with my child because I didn't discipline the first time they disobeyed... I could think of more but I'm sure you don't want to hear everything I do - good and bad!!

What if we practiced the things that we wished we were good at? Maybe you wish you were more confident so you stop yourself from practicing negative talk and replace it with practicing positive talk. You might have to write the positive stuff down at first and read it aloud every time. Later, after you have practiced it a lot it will come easier.

Or, what if you wanted to be good at keeping your paper under control. First, you realize you have been practicing avoidance and piling. You need to plan how you are going to keep paper organized - set up a system - and then use it everyday. Practice using the system. Practice going through the paper every day. Practice making decisions about each piece of paper.

Or, lets say you want to be an encourager. Instead of immediately thinking about the things you don't like begin to practice focusing on one thing you do like and expressing it. Pretty soon you will start getting really good at it.

Like in sports, sometimes you might need professional lessons! Look at what you want to become good at and think about who might be able to assist you. Maybe hiring a professional organizer or a life coach or enlisting a friend that does this trait well will give you a fresh perspective, a boost, the skills and the accountability you need.

Now remember, you don't become a great tennis player or piano player after 2 lessons and practicing for two weeks. Especially if you have never played before. Some of us have been practicing the things we dislike for our entire life.

Give yourself time. Keep your focus on the goal. And practice, practice, practice...EVERY DAY.

A Quote

2009-01-25T20:57:00.000-08:00

I just found this quote written on the corner of some notes of mine:

"Nothing great becomes great without

overcoming great resistance."

~Brian Klemmer

Isn't that....great!

Remember we CAN overcome great resistance - whatever it is - there is hope! And we become better because of it! I hope that is encouraging to you with whatever you are facing today, this week, this month or this year!

GO Month Project

2009-01-23T14:44:00.000-08:00

NAPO (National Association of Professional Organizers) sponsors Get Organized (GO) Month every January. Now in its fifth year, GO Month is dedicated to raising awareness of the benefits of getting organized and of hiring a NAPO professional organizer.

This month, here in Kansas City, a group of local professional organizers worked on a GO Month project together. We organized the kitchens and laundry room of The Kansas City Hospice House. The Kansas City Hospice House provides medical and nursing care for patients facing advanced illnesses, as well as emotional and spiritual support for patients and their families, all in the comfort of a beautiful, homelike environment.

The facility and people are warm and welcoming. Calm and peaceful feelings put their arms around you as you enter. It doesn't look unorganized. I was wondering what we were going to do. So this is what we did...

Whenever you have multiple people using an area it tends to get unorganized. People are not sure where to put things away, things get left behind, food expires but doesn't get thrown away, etc.

Myself and Ty, a fellow PO (Professional Organizer), took one of the kitchens. We started by cleaning out everything - sorting as we took things out. Below is a picture of all the extra dishes, Tupperware, trays and vases that we removed from the cabinets. None of these were getting used. They were stuck in the cabinets because they had most likely been left behind. Knowing that this would continue, we chose a shelf for Tupperware and dishes, labeled it and made a plan for the volunteer to clean out this shelf once a month. They will either donate these items or have a mini "garage sale" and use the money for things needed in the house.

Then, as we looked at what happens in the kitchen we placed things that were needed in close range. For example, coffee is served all day. Coffee condiments all are in one drawer right under the coffee pots with the refills for them in the cabinets below. We labeled the drawers in the front and on the top rim so that you could see them from both angles. Now, the volunteer assigned to this kitchen will know exactly where things go and where supplies needed to restock are located.

We continued in this manner until everything was labeled and had a home. Then we drew up a diagram of the kitchen and its contents. One of the lead organizers, Linda, had done a lot of the prep work and would be finishing the completed diagrams for each kitchen. We would place a "map" in each room so that visitors, volunteers and the staff all know where things belong.

Not a lot of hard core work but it needed to be done and it was a joy to work with wonderful people accomplishing a task. Hopefully with the maps of each room and the idea that a volunteer would be assigned to the specific upkeep of an area things will be maintained!

Delayed Decisions

2009-01-15T09:11:00.000-08:00

Take a minute and walk through your home or office. Look around. Open closets, cabinets, drawers...

Do you see junk? Stuff? Piles? Clutter?

Now think about this: Clutter is really just delayed decision making.

Couldn't decide what to do with this...where to file that...if you needed to keep or donate this. Couldn't decide on a home for that...really didn't have room for this...didn't have files made for that pile of paper...don't have time to decide on these papers...couldn't remember if that fit... And then, can't decide where to start organizing...should I ask for help... The list is endless but a lot of it comes down to decision making. We delay making a decision and clutter forms.

To help make decisions as you organize ask the following questions:

Do I need this? (If not have a bag or box ready and labeled to collect trash and donations.)
What purpose will it serve? (Everything needs a purpose!)
Do I love this? Is it beautiful?
Does this reflect the life I envision and desire? (Your old collection of thimbles or your 80's southwestern art may not be who you are now - or who you want to be!)
What will happen if I get rid of it? Is it information I can find elsewhere if I were to need it again?
Do I use it? Do I wear it (and look good) in it?

If you still can't make a decision try this:

Take a deep breath. Close your eyes. Exhale. Hold the item and be still for a moment. Envision the life you want. Are you feeling heavy and burdened by the item you are holding? Or, are you feeling excited and hopeful of the future as you hold this item. This method will confirm the answer you probably knew but didn't want to face.

Try doing this with 5 items per day. Keep a labeled donate box open and in an accessible spot - right inside your garage door, in your laundry room, etc. Start doing this regularly and you will get better at making decisions and clutter will start to disappear!!

Organizing is like Exercise

2009-01-12T09:24:00.000-08:00

When I thought about the fact that I would have to exercise for the REST of my life the thought was kind of depressing. I knew then that I would need to continually find something that motivated me (which often changes) and that I would have to enjoy it - or at least different aspects of it - in order to keep it up.

Organizing is like exercise... We have to find what motivates us and we need to find enjoyment in the process.

If we expect to organize, be done, and "relax," we are believing a lie and will most likely become overwhelmed, disappointed and give up. Realize that it is a lifelong process - once you reach your initial organization goals it requires maintenance to keep it up...forever!! On the bright side, once you find processes and systems that work for you - and you practice them - it does get easier.

The same goes for weight loss or exercise. You work hard, seek assistance to reach your initial goals (by joining a gym, hiring a trainer, becoming accountable with a friend) and then you maintain...for the rest of your life. At times you need to revamp, rededicate, work a little harder to get "back on the wagon" (does that sound familiar??). So, knowing it is a life long commitment requires that to keep it up you better make it enjoyable!!

Actually, a lot of things fit into this category: eating habits, our health, relationships, laundry...think on that awhile!

Chinese Philosopher Lao-tzu said, "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." If we see that journey just for the end location we miss out on the scenery and the adventure of the travel/process along the way.

Organizing can be a fun, enjoyable process. It is important to make it fun. I have included a couple of ideas to try while organizing your life, your home, your routines, etc...

First, write out your projects - break the big ones (like organizing the whole house) into smaller ones (list each room or area). Being able to check off completed projects will motivate you.

Second, include things that make you happy while you organize:

drink you favorite drink
light your favorite scented candle
play your favorite CD
laugh and take breaks
work with someone you like (a family member, friend, Professional Organizer)

Third, celebrate your accomplishments:

Have friends & family each pick a goal to surprise you with a reward. For example, if your goals are to clean out the guest room, finish your back taxes, create a 2 week menu, clean out the garage, get rid of 20 bags of "stuff" from your home - then have each person pick a goal. When you reach that goal they can surprise you with your reward. It may be a lunch out, a Red Box movie night with girlfriends, a CD you've been wanting, time together, etc... Have fun with this.
If you don't have family or friends with a vested interest then do this yourself. For example, put $100 away with each goal accomplished to go towards a trip you have dreamed of, buy one place setting of new dishes so that when you are done you can have a dinner celebration with friends, share your 2 week menu and recipes with all your friends, get a pedicure (and you can't have one before you reach your goal! :)), have a potluck with your 5 favorite friends, find a new park to take your dog for a walk in, etc. Remember you don't have to spend money - be creative and think of some fun rewards.
Make sure you write these down. Hang the list inside the cabinet door in your kitchen. I love to hang things inside the cabinet doors because I see them often but my kitchen remains uncluttered.

Lastly, make up games to challenge you while organizing.

Time yourself and see how fast you can fill up one bag to get rid of.
Pretend and plan that you are making your garage into a "Home Depot."
Have you and your kids blast the music and dance around while you put the laundry away! It will become a tradition that they love!

Try some of these things and let me know if they motivated you and/or helped you enjoy the process a little.

Feel the fear and take the leap anyway! Some of you may have anxiety to ask for help. Be honest and open. Tell someone how you're feeling. Ask them to help you or help you figure what your first step is or to pray for you and keep you accountable. This year is all about being honest and making changes to improve your life and the lives of those around you!!

Living Life with ADD

2008-12-28T14:49:00.000-08:00

See if you can relate to any of the following:

Do you feel overwhelmed by home and work?
Do you find that forgetfulness and lack of planning add to our daily stress?
Do you feel that daily life is too complicated?
Are you often late?
Do you find that you don't have time to relax or enjoy life?
Is it difficult for you to reach a decision - sometimes in the smallest tasks?
Then, compensate by avoiding making decisions or letting circumstances make the decisions for you?
Do you tend to develop addictive patterns of stimulation seeking?
Do you let "escape" activities interfere with responsibilities?
Do you tend to hyperfocus and lose track of time?
Do you live in crisis mode, reacting to the demands of circumstance?
Do you have a home cluttered with "reminders?"
Are you often forgetful or have difficulty remembering to do future tasks?

All of these are characteristics of an adult who struggles with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). Judith Kolberg and Kathleen Nadeau, PH.D. have written a book called ADD-Friendly Ways to Organize Your Life. It is a must read book for adults with ADD and all Professional Organizers or Coaches working with clients that struggle with ADD. The book is easy to read and provides specific organizational issues AND practical solutions. The solutions are provided in three levels:

Creating your own structure and support
Structure and support from family and friends
Structure and support from professionals (Professional Organizers, ADD coaches and Psychotherapists

So, you can implement the ideas immediately on your own and be guided to the support that you will need to keep on track and make changes successfully.

"SIMPLIFY" is the mantra for adults with ADD. Simplify your morning routine, your dinner menus, your laundry procedures, your kid's lunches, your closet and wardrobe options, your agenda, your information intake (newspaper, magazines, mailings...), your possessions, etc. Simplifying reduces the options available when making decisions. From there, with creative (and FUN) strategies, structure and support life changes can be made.

There is always hope for a better tomorrow. Take the first step. Read ADD-Friendly Ways to Organize Your Life and get the support you need to make some changes. Take small steps into 2009 and by the end of the year you will look back and thank yourself.

Parking in the Garage

2008-12-03T13:31:00.000-08:00

The cold weather is coming!! One thing I am thankful for and love is going straight from my warm house to my car without stepping outside and without scraping the frost off the windshield!! But, for those of you whose garages serve as storage areas for excess stuff instead of a place to park your car, you may not have this luxury.

This was the case for a recent client. BUT, she decided to change that! She decided to have a party instead. She invited two of her wonderful, servant friends to help her and I clear out her garage. The weekend prior she and her husband did some preliminary work. They got rid of 15 bags of trash and had a general idea of what to keep and what to get rid of.

As you can see she hadn't parked in her garage for some time!!

The party started at 1:00!! Her and I started clearing things out of the garage and hauling things to the curb for a scheduled big trash pick up the next day. The first friend showed up at 1:30 and joined in. By 2:15 we had the garage cleared out, swept clean and ready to do the real organizing.

Remember, the first step is to plan. We talked through our zones and planned out the best locations for each. The second friend showed up just in time for the second step - sorting!! We sorted, went through each pile, contained, labeled, wrote a list of extra supplies she needed to purchase and hand-drew a picture for the tool zone and storage wall which will be finished at a later time.

Now, catch this...by 3:30 we were done!! Here is the picture I took at 3:30!

And here is the curb!

Aahhhhh, the freedom and "weight" that is gone when you simplify the stuff you own.

Some people may be groaning or getting hives just thinking about their own garages (or other problem areas) but DO NOT FEAR! Those of us, like me, who love to organize get a contagious, exhilarating feeling knowing what possibilities and amazing results can be achieved!! We can even have FUN! And we can help you have fun! Have a party with your friends! Give it a try!

Transformations

2008-11-30T16:00:00.000-08:00

All of us encounter setbacks in our lives at one time or another. Something changes... a death, a new baby, a move... Maybe you haven't identified exactly what it is in your life but maybe you can relate to this client. She has allowed me to share this for those of you who are struggling with getting organized and moving on with the life you want to live.

"Tammy" had a baby AND moved with her husband across the country to an area where she had little extended family support. Then she had another baby and moved again... Her home was not the first priority and being a perfectionist and struggling with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder she just couldn't keep up. Then she had her third child. She finally, after working through the anxiety of letting someone come into her home, let me help.

In this post I will feature the "dining room." This room was being used for miscellaneous storage and had never gotten unpacked and therefore was not being used. She desired for this to be her children's playroom. She envisioned crafts, games, a cozy television area, a table to create things, etc. After talking with her about her dreams for this area we created three zones: crafts, electronics, and games. Simple, huh??

Now we have a plan. Remember that is the first step. Next, we started sorting. No decisions yet, just sorting. Of course, I am always forgetting to take before pictures so here is a mid-way-through-the-sorting picture:

After sorting, we went pile by pile. We donated some things, moved some things to other areas of the home - some for permanent storage and some to go through at a later date, we recycled, and sent some things to the trash bin.

Now that the room is finished there is nothing in the room that doesn't fit into one of the three zones. The electronic zone has a cozy couch, a television, and a television stand that also stores the children's music. The game zone has two shelving units that hold all of their games. There is a table that can be folded down or kept up for games, crafts, homework, etc.

And the best part...this awesome craft armoire!! They had this beautiful armoire in their garage not being used. Her husband added a shelf and we measured out the space to purchase clear storage for all of the craft mediums. The kids were so excited about their new room that they spent several days "crafting." They can clean up, too, because everything has a home!

What areas are unused in your home? Or filled with clutter or unpacked boxes? What are the possibilities? Don't be ashamed. Focus on the small steps that lead to the end result!! Dream big and then lets get it accomplished so you and the people around you can live a full, abundant life!!

The 123's of Organizing

2008-11-22T08:35:00.000-08:00

I wanted to explain the 123's of organizing just about anything. I will feature before and after pictures from Megen's quilt studio. Below is the row of cabinets that line one wall of her studio.

The first step is to create a plan for your space! Ask yourself questions like, "What is this space to be used for?", "What would this space look like if my dreams came true?", "What activities are going to happen in this space?". Plan out "zones" for the different activities that will take place in the room. Try and keep supplies and furniture for those activities in their "zones."

One of Megen's dreams for her studio was to have her beautiful colored fabrics displayed on shelves. Currently they were in these cabinets and hard to see, find and remember what was there.

The second step is to sort! We sorted through all of the fabric, supplies, projects, and miscellaneous things. Create piles all over the room. The great thing about sorting is that you don't have to make any decisions. Don't worry about what you should keep or get rid of. Just sort.

The third step is to go through your sorting piles. Ask yourself, "Do I need this?", "Have I used this in the last year?", "Do I love this?", "Does this make my life better?", "Does it fit with the "zone" I have planned for this space?". You will work through this step with ease if you have thoroughly completed step one.

Steps four and more entail finding a home for your things, containing them, labeling them, and planning a way to maintain them.

We proceeded with step three on Megen's fabric and Works in Progress (WIP). Now, seeing them all in front of her, she could easily decide what to keep and what to donate. We contained all of her projects in the containers that she already had. We labeled them and made a master list that she could refer to when deciding what project to tackle next. These WIPs took up three of the five available cabinets. Pictured is one of the three cabinets.

Removing all of Megen's fabric freed up a lot of Megen's cabinet space. Because her second grand baby was on the way, she was changing her guestroom to a grandchild room. This entailed cleaning out a closet where she kept all of her scrap booking supplies. We planned a "scrapbook zone" for the last two cabinets and continued through steps 2, 3, 4 and more. Now, whenever Megen wants to scrapbook, she can use a table by the cabinets and have all of her supplies at her fingertips.

Think about a project that you want to organize. It can be something as small as your purse. Start with step one: plan. Continue with step two: sort, step three: go through each pile, steps four and more: decide on a home, contain, label and make a plan to maintain. You will be amazed how easy it is when you follow the 123's of Organizing!

Personal Accountability

2008-11-22T06:27:00.000-08:00

I just finished reading John G. Miller's book QBQ! The Question Behind the Question. Everyone should read this book and everyone should start applying it to their daily lives. When you read the book you will understand why that sentence is so funny.

Mr. Miller teaches us about personal accountability. He explains how the questions we ask ourselves cause us to blame, complain and procrastinate OR, if we are asking QBQ's, they help us practice life-transforming personal accountability.

On page eighteen he gives us three simple guidelines for creating a QBQ that I must share now so you can begin:

1. Begin [your question] with "What" or "How" (not "Why," "When," or "Who").
2. Contain an "I" (not "they," "them," "we," or "you").
3. Focus on action.

Lets relate this to your organization needs... You may be asking yourself, "Why can't he/she ever put things back?" Instead of that question, which places blame, you could ask yourself a QBQ like, "What can I do to better understand why it is so hard for him/her to put things back?"

Here is another example... You may have said, "Why am I such a loser? I can't even get this little project accomplished." That places blame on yourself and doesn't accomplish a thing! Instead try the QBQ method and ask this, "How can I break this project down and schedule a small amount each day?" This would be transforming! You would have an immediate focus, breaking the project down, and small goals, scheduled small steps each day, to accomplish the project.

Practicing QBQ trains your thoughts and narrows your path toward accomplishment and accountability...truly life transforming!

I will close this by asking myself, "What can I read next to make me an expert in the organizing field?" Hmmm... Organized for Success - Top Executives and CEOs Reveal the Organizing Principles That Helped Them Reach the Top by Stephanie Winston.

Award Winner

2008-11-22T05:54:00.000-08:00

Certain people can accomplish a lot in a short amount of time. It takes motivation, focus and determination. I had a client recently, Megen, who did just that!

We had finished an organizing session and at the end of the session we had decided on some things that she could do before we met again (her "homework"). THREE days later she sent me pictures of the things she had completed! I was blown away and so impressed at how much she accomplished in such a short time! She earns the Simply Squared Away's Award for "Above and Beyond Homework Completion."

I wanted to share the before and after pictures. Megen had a wonderful space that she was using as her sewing and quilting room. She was ready to organize it, display her fabrics and create a system to know what projects she was currently working on. She wanted the room to have a creative, put together feel to it. Here is part of it before:

Her homework was to paint a dressing table that she already had. It would replace the current embroidery table. She also needed to paint the peg board that was in her garage and put those things in place. Remember, THREE days later she sent me this picture!

I love the "clean" feel I get when I see this finished area! I told Megen that it made me want to come have a cup of tea and learn how to quilt with her! We could probably get an entire quilt done in less than a day!

Hopefully you will be inspired to accomplish a project of your own today!

Following Your Dreams

2008-11-21T14:46:00.000-08:00

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Hi! My name is Tracy Hoth. I am a Professional Organizer and the owner of Simply Squared Away. It has been a long time dream of mine to help others create organized spaces so that they are free to live the life they have been given. To learn more about Simply Squared Away visit my website at SimplySquaredAway.com.

I have discovered that a large (and incredibly rewarding) part of my job is jump starting people's dreams. For example, a client will have a clutter need or a project that they want to accomplish. They haven't had the time or have been so overwhelmed at the task before them that they can only walk away from it. This idea is in their mind. The situation gets worse and worse. The weight of the task is daunting.

One day they decide to call for help. In I come and now they have deadlines (our appointments) and guidelines (my experience, organizing steps 101, "homework" assignments). They are amazed and motivated at the progress. This idea that has been in their mind for so long has come to fruition! They experience the process and now they can celebrate the end result!

Becasue the cloudy weight is no longer pressing on their mind they are free and motivated and inspired to accomplish another dream and another... Their adventure has just begun.

I hope you enjoy this blog and are inspired to accomplish a dream or two of your own!