tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47350074777912988952012-01-27T07:56:30.735-07:00Tips for organizing your home, your office, and your time.1-2-3...Get Organizedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123826505027282592noreply@blogger.comBlogger11151100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735007477791298895.post-74815501291024625692012-01-27T07:41:00.000-07:002012-01-27T07:41:16.846-07:00

    Do you find that you need something a couple of times a year, but don't really want to buy it and have it clutter up your home?  Or do you only use something a few times a year and would like to earn a little extra money by lending it out? Snapgoods helps us make the world a little greener by allowing people to lend or borrow goods. You can browse ads. You can create your own ad. You can

1-2-3...Get Organizedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123826505027282592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735007477791298895.post-77723669792631016882012-01-25T06:57:00.000-07:002012-01-25T06:57:03.938-07:00

      When our daughter Sara came for Christmas, I was impressed by her jewelry organizer. You know I love my jewelry organizer that hangs on my wall, but it is not conducive to travel at all, as you can see!       Sara's on the other hand, fits her traveling lifestyle. It has a hanger at the top so you can hang it in a closet or on a hook. Both sides have small, medium and large containers

1-2-3...Get Organizedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123826505027282592noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735007477791298895.post-90273900534545086492012-01-24T05:37:00.000-07:002012-01-24T05:37:34.312-07:00

    I'm delighted to say that I have finished putting my time management and organizing books Kindle! The last three titles added are: Three Steps to Time Management Three Steps to Time Management for the Single Mom Three Steps to Planning Your Child's Parties.   If you have the inclination, I'd welcome a plug or shout out to your friends. Thanks so much!

1-2-3...Get Organizedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123826505027282592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735007477791298895.post-56753716096118537312012-01-23T06:48:00.001-07:002012-01-23T06:48:00.993-07:00

      If your head is swimming with all the things you need to do today, it's time to prioritize! Make a list of the things you need to do today.  You have several options: - do the hardest thing first - do the highest priority first - do the highest/hardest thing during your peak energy time. Of course, it's nice if all of the above could coincide - doing the hardest and top priority during

1-2-3...Get Organizedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123826505027282592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735007477791298895.post-25355872329854590192012-01-20T08:12:00.000-07:002012-01-20T08:12:06.813-07:00

     Two more of my 1-2-3 ... Get Organized series books are now on Kindle: Three Steps to  Downsizing to a Smaller Residence   Three Steps to Planning Dinner   See them here.  More on my Kindle books: Three Steps to Decluttering is on Kindle! Just in Time for Get Organized Month - More of My Books on Kindle! Four More of My Organizing Books on Kindle! 

1-2-3...Get Organizedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123826505027282592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735007477791298895.post-45951721676739494112012-01-20T07:29:00.000-07:002012-01-20T07:29:00.930-07:00

    When our daughter got married, we spent about a year planning for it. It is such a big job! If a wedding is in your future, you have a lot of organizing to do! Here are a few free software or online progams that might make your wedding planning less stressful: Perfect Day: The Wedding Planning Suite 1.04  My Wedding Workbook EZ Wedding Planner  VowDoo  More on wedding planning: A Dozen

1-2-3...Get Organizedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123826505027282592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735007477791298895.post-45101564856458178542012-01-18T07:53:00.001-07:002012-01-18T07:53:00.787-07:00

       Even though I no longer live in Ohio, Lisa Abraham was kind enough to interview me for the following article "Time to Give the Kitchen a Clean Sweep, which appeared in today's Akron Beacon Journal. Professional organizer Jamie Escola (left) of Calm & Collected Organizing provides helpful tips to homeowner Marcia Cianchetti on ridding her home of

1-2-3...Get Organizedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123826505027282592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735007477791298895.post-26250141748617606612012-01-16T06:32:00.001-07:002012-01-16T06:32:00.720-07:00

        This is the season for power outages (if winter ever shows up!!) - snow and ice and high winds. We had high winds recently with a forecast of power failure. So I decided to make sure we were ready. My brother first told me about power failure lights - lights plugged in throughout your home that activate if the power goes out.  Yes, flashlights are good. But these lights illuminate a

1-2-3...Get Organizedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123826505027282592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735007477791298895.post-26970767225153579232012-01-13T10:26:00.003-07:002012-01-14T12:18:11.178-07:00

     I put the last of our Christmas stuff away yesterday. I use Sterilite clear plastic containers so I can see what's inside. I also put a piece of paper down the side of the containers with the contents listed. This morning when I looked at my email, I received one from Amazon about their best selling storage containers. So I decided to search Amazon to check out all their storage

1-2-3...Get Organizedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123826505027282592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735007477791298895.post-45656507588870615172012-01-11T07:07:00.000-07:002012-01-11T07:07:00.448-07:00

      Doesn't it kill you to throw away those expensive fresh herbs? I often have used them in a recipe, and then forget about them until they're soggy and nasty. I found a delicious pesto recipe that uses a combination of herbs and fresh spinach. You can mix and match what you have on hand.  I'm not a super fan of regular pesto because of the strong basil taste. But I fell in love with the

1-2-3...Get Organizedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123826505027282592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735007477791298895.post-64051263292370684222012-01-10T09:25:00.000-07:002012-01-10T09:25:23.147-07:00

       Just wanted to update you on my Kindle adventure. I have published four more of my 1-2-3 ... Get Organized books on Kindle: Three Steps to Time Management at the Office Three Steps to Time Management for the Stay-at-Home Mom Three Steps to Time Management for the Working Mom Three Steps to Time Management for the College Student It's a great time of year to rethink your passions,

1-2-3...Get Organizedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123826505027282592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735007477791298895.post-84468430734462408622012-01-09T06:34:00.001-07:002012-01-09T06:34:00.806-07:00

         Here's an article I found in the January 4 Washington Post by Terri Sapienza about her search for the perfect paper planner. If you're a paper lover, this might help your search: "For longer than I care to remember, the following items have occupied the top spots on my New Year’s resolutions list: exercise every day, organize the basement and find the perfect daily

1-2-3...Get Organizedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123826505027282592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735007477791298895.post-59910079428950964452012-01-05T09:07:00.000-07:002012-01-05T09:07:28.643-07:00

     It's so much more fun decorating for Christmas than putting it all away, isn't it? While we're doing it, though, we may as well make it easier for next year. I usually undecorate by room: I store all the decorations I use in the living room, for example, in the same box. Then when I decorate next year, the living room Christmas decorations box goes in the living room and voila! it's so

1-2-3...Get Organizedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123826505027282592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735007477791298895.post-61030675949413732942012-01-03T06:55:00.000-07:002012-01-03T06:55:34.373-07:00

    Happy New Year! I wish you many blessings and exciting opportunities in 2012! Our family has had a wonderful time together over the holidays. Our daughter Comfort and her husband Steve put a bid on a house during this time. Sadly, our daughter Sara is leaving us tomorrow.  But I guess we all need to get on with our lives. Couldn't have asked for a sweeter time as a family.  I'm excited for

1-2-3...Get Organizedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123826505027282592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735007477791298895.post-68962662259875413352011-12-30T06:29:00.000-07:002011-12-30T06:29:00.180-07:00

     I'm happy to announce that my book Three Steps to Decluttering is now available on Kindle!  As always, it is still available in print and as a download on 1-2-3 ... Get Organized. Happy decluttering!

1-2-3...Get Organizedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123826505027282592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735007477791298895.post-33098206264000793272011-12-24T06:50:00.000-07:002011-12-24T06:50:18.082-07:00

    Merry Christmas to you and yours! We are celebrating with both our daughters and son-in-law here. We've learned how to geo-cache, shared meals together, played games, cooked and baked together, laughed, and had great discussions. We look forward to another week of the same. Most of all we are grateful for the Reason for the season!  Blessings on your Christmas and New Year - Bev

1-2-3...Get Organizedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123826505027282592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735007477791298895.post-3987379817118716642011-12-16T06:09:00.000-07:002011-12-16T06:09:12.400-07:00

       I've been working with a client who has Alzheimer's. We organized her closet and dresser a couple of days ago. Today we are going to label shelves, drawers, and closet space.  Why? Because, even though she was present when we organized, and we talked about where we had placed her things, she is already putting things away in random places. Having the labels as prompts will help her "

1-2-3...Get Organizedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123826505027282592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735007477791298895.post-2123627655939888632011-12-14T09:07:00.003-07:002011-12-14T09:07:01.208-07:00

    I have written an iPhone app called Upscale Express Dinners, recipes for one or two people that are upscale yet quick and inexpensive. Meals have an average cost of less than $5 per person. It's four weeks of simple recipes with grocery lists and easy instructions.  You don't need to actually cook the meals, although it would be nice if you cooked a couple. What I really want is for you to

1-2-3...Get Organizedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123826505027282592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735007477791298895.post-77479572568945955962011-12-12T17:06:00.000-07:002011-12-12T17:06:39.341-07:00

     Instead of letting leftovers grow green fuzz, it's fun to repurpose them into a quick meal. Not only is it efficient, but it's economical, too. And you may be able to disguise leftovers into something new for those who object to leftovers. Last week I had some leftover bruschetta from our Christmas party, and some leftover rice from a previous meal. So I defrosted some tilapia and cooked it

1-2-3...Get Organizedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123826505027282592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735007477791298895.post-11137485085432412262011-12-08T06:30:00.000-07:002011-12-08T06:30:37.568-07:00

      I discovered these clever bathroom organizing and space-saving ideas from Martha Stewart. Two of them include how-to instructions. Hope you enjoy them!   "Make space for supplies over the bathroom door so that they'll be accessible when they need to be replenished without cluttering under-the-sink cabinets. Get the How-To"  "No room for a bathroom cabinet? Install a hotel-style

1-2-3...Get Organizedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123826505027282592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735007477791298895.post-8398943554932995382011-12-05T06:37:00.000-07:002011-12-05T06:37:01.233-07:00

     In my humble opinion, one irritation in life is gathering up hangers for doing laundry. I try to hang clothing immediately upon taking them out of the dryer so I want a stash of hangers handy. Lately, when getting dressed, I have started putting the empty hangers in the laundry hamper with the dirty clothes. Then when I take my hamper to the laundry room, the hangers go with me. No extra

1-2-3...Get Organizedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123826505027282592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735007477791298895.post-45189213593653934812011-12-01T06:45:00.002-07:002011-12-01T06:45:00.483-07:00

    Here's the final installment of my Destressing Christmas 2011 series. How appropriate for December 1! I hope this month is joyous,  meaningful, and destressed!  I'm hosting a Christmas party Friday night, which I love! Cleaning, shopping and getting ready today. :) On to our topic for today: It seems that our country is drowning in clutter! Our kids have so many toys, their rooms are

1-2-3...Get Organizedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123826505027282592noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735007477791298895.post-69001879441567651612011-11-29T06:34:00.000-07:002011-11-29T06:34:00.319-07:00

  A few years ago, the Ball Claw people asked me to do a review of their, at that time, new product - a new way to store athletic balls. Unfortunately, I never did the review. So now I will make up for it. The Ball Claw is an ingenious way to store those hard-to-store athletic balls. It comes with just a few screws, grips the ball, and can be used in various places - even in your car trunk!

1-2-3...Get Organizedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123826505027282592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735007477791298895.post-70317669817764213832011-11-25T06:31:00.000-07:002011-11-25T06:31:00.924-07:00

         We got a lot of snow last weekend - it looks like a winter wonderland here. Here's a picture of our front yard. Doesn't it look like it could be a Christmas card?  Speaking of Christmas cards: Sending out Christmas cards can seem like an overwhelming and costly task. Here are some ways to make it more doable. - Send out digital Christmas cards or letters to as many people as

1-2-3...Get Organizedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123826505027282592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735007477791298895.post-78389012549980513092011-11-24T06:28:00.002-07:002011-11-24T06:28:00.302-07:00

  Just wanted to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving. Hope your day is filled with remembering your blessings. :)       

1-2-3...Get Organizedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123826505027282592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735007477791298895.post-7441275090399612152011-11-22T06:30:00.001-07:002011-11-22T06:30:03.629-07:00

    Are you gearing up for holiday shopping? If you are a Black Friday shopper, the following links contain Black Friday ads for major retailers, so you can plan your strategy. Kohl's and Target are opening at 12 midnight on Thanksgiving Day, with Walmart opening at 10 pm. Black Friday Ads Black Friday  If however, you would rather shop from your armchair, Cyber Monday may be your preference.

1-2-3...Get Organizedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123826505027282592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735007477791298895.post-68095921551494197882011-11-21T06:14:00.000-07:002011-11-21T06:14:00.360-07:00

    Each year I've posted ways I've gotten a jump on Christmas cookies. This year's method is different. We usually have our daughter and son-in-law over for dinner on Friday nights. So last week I started making cookies for dessert.  I'm doing it for three reasons:  - for dessert;  - I'm making double batches and freezing half; - at least half of the cookies I bake go to our church to help with

1-2-3...Get Organizedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123826505027282592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735007477791298895.post-82855690189379481772011-11-18T06:33:00.000-07:002011-11-18T06:33:56.311-07:00

A couple of stories to learn from: I recently heard a story of someone's house being cleaned out after their car was broken into. Their GPS and garage door opener were stolen. The GPS had "home" listed as a destination. The thieves drove to their home, opened the garage door and loaded their truck with their victims' valuables. The moral of the story: don't put "home" on your GPS. Put a nearby

1-2-3...Get Organizedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123826505027282592noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735007477791298895.post-7954011613864507952011-11-16T11:21:00.001-07:002011-11-16T11:21:00.611-07:00

    Not sure what our Thanksgiving will look like this year. Our daughter and son-in-law who are here will be visiting his parents. And our other daughter will be celebrating with my parents and family. So I don't know if we'll be cooking or not. Nevertheless, here are some thoughts about holiday meals: - Determine which special holiday meals you’ll be preparing. Will you be hosting any parties

1-2-3...Get Organizedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123826505027282592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735007477791298895.post-70727914618606352262011-11-14T15:52:00.000-07:002011-11-14T15:52:20.812-07:00

   There are a number of must-do tasks once you have moved. There's so much to do when you move, isn't there?! Here are the essentials: 1. Register your car (need: title, former registration, mileage). 2. Get a new driver's license (need: birth certificate or passport, social security card, driver's license from your previous residence, and proof of residence - a bill with your current address,

1-2-3...Get Organizedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123826505027282592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735007477791298895.post-76344936388914998992011-11-11T09:31:00.000-07:002011-11-11T09:31:02.598-07:00

     I'm a bit under the weather today - a nice day to stay inside and sip tea! But Christmas is looming, so here's another one in my series on destressing Christmas: Have you ever found yourself flitting about from one holiday event to another, just because your were invited, or it seemed like a nice thing to do? Unless you plan out your holiday calendar, you may find yourself tossed about

1-2-3...Get Organizedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123826505027282592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735007477791298895.post-26560301782012354502011-11-08T06:56:00.000-07:002011-11-08T06:56:55.426-07:00

       I became aware of Updater after our move, unfortunately. This service changes your address and eliminates unwanted paper mail, even if you haven't moved. Here's what their website says: Moving and need to change your address? Updater simplifies the change of address process and gives you control over who can access and use your postal address. Rather than spending hours notifying

1-2-3...Get Organizedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123826505027282592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735007477791298895.post-13667183332168555782011-11-03T05:43:00.000-07:002011-11-03T05:43:19.759-07:00

   Can you believe it's November already? I thought we'd be snowed in here in Montana by now. Unlike the Northeast, though, we've only seen an occasional flake here and there. To help reduce your stress for Christmas, here's another in my reposted series on destressing Christmas: I love having people in over the holidays! But that means my house must be clean and, of course, I’ll want to

1-2-3...Get Organizedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123826505027282592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735007477791298895.post-31137206753091517952011-11-01T05:02:00.002-07:002011-11-01T05:05:00.750-07:00

           A fellow organizer alerted me to the Bagster - basically a portable dumpster. Just buy the bag from a hardware store, fill it with up to 3300 pounds of trash, and arrange for pickup. The bag is around $30 and pickup costs from $50-100 based on where you live. Here's more info from their website: Buy the Bagster® bag at your local home improvement retailer, including participating

1-2-3...Get Organizedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123826505027282592noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735007477791298895.post-54156111869143517432011-10-28T03:51:00.003-07:002011-10-28T03:51:00.448-07:00

        With the economy being so difficult, we all may need to get very creative in the gift-giving department this year. I hope the following re-post helps.  My brother loves the crowds and the hustle and bustle of holiday shopping. I don’t know many others who do, though! I am stressed if I have to elbow my way through a store or not be able to find what I want because I waited too late.

1-2-3...Get Organizedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123826505027282592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735007477791298895.post-35169749530101692342011-10-27T09:36:00.000-07:002011-10-27T09:36:58.565-07:00

    1-2-3 ... Get Organized has been named one of the Top 50 Productivity Blogs for 2011 by Evan Carmichael's The Entrepreneur Blog. Check out the others on his list! I'm honored!

1-2-3...Get Organizedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123826505027282592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735007477791298895.post-49650166366359591792011-10-26T03:45:00.001-07:002011-10-26T03:45:00.158-07:00

         If you know a move is imminent in your future, start planning now! We started planning last Christmas for our move in October, as we felt the timing would be right to make a change. Here are some steps we used which might be helpful to you. 1. Start decluttering. When I put the Christmas decorations away last Christmas, I began purging. Even though I had gone through Christmas

1-2-3...Get Organizedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123826505027282592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735007477791298895.post-66793205275292150612011-10-24T06:00:00.001-07:002011-10-24T06:00:08.854-07:00

         I'm excited about Christmas this year! In Christmases past, it was a major ordeal to get three households together from three different parts of the world. Now our one daughter is planning to come and join the rest of us here in Montana. I can't wait! Today we'll look at another way to destress Christmas: thinking through the needs of your family and friends. By using this as a

1-2-3...Get Organizedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123826505027282592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735007477791298895.post-90877153849828124602011-10-20T10:46:00.000-07:002011-10-20T10:46:28.498-07:00

   We always have good intentions of keeping up with our shredding, don't we? But it gets out of hand and we overheat our shredders (or catch them on fire!!) when we finally get around to shredding.   One of the best investments we've made is the Royal MC14MX 14 Sheet Microcut Paper Shredder. It is a heavy duty shredder which will shred 14 sheets of paper at a time. I don't know about you,

1-2-3...Get Organizedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123826505027282592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735007477791298895.post-82506765623692090892011-10-18T06:23:00.000-07:002011-10-18T06:23:36.371-07:00

    I'm back! We are feeling pretty settled. Most boxes are unpacked and we are pretty functional. Due to the move, Christmas has snuck up on me ... at least until I go shopping and everything is Christmas! Can you believe it's only 67 days until Christmas!!?!! That doesn't seem very long to me. I'm reposting a series I do every year to help you destress Christmas. Thinking Through Your

1-2-3...Get Organizedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123826505027282592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735007477791298895.post-54082714319033959942011-09-26T05:48:00.000-07:002011-09-26T05:48:49.186-07:00

             As I mentioned in an earlier blog post, my husband and I are moving to Montana to be near our daughter and son-in-law who are expecting our first grandchild! As a result, I will not be posting for a bit. I'll talk to you soon. J

1-2-3...Get Organizedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123826505027282592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735007477791298895.post-50882358451357707962011-09-22T05:03:00.000-07:002011-09-22T05:03:41.218-07:00

       We are moving to Montana! We have felt for several months that it was time to move on from being houseparents for teenage girls. So we decided to move near our daughter and son-in-law who live in Bozeman, MT.  The day after we made our decision, they told us they were expecting our first grandchild! Icing on the cake. Our other daughter who will be relocating to Kazakhstan in the spring,

1-2-3...Get Organizedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123826505027282592noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735007477791298895.post-34938563159612946722011-09-20T06:01:00.000-07:002011-09-20T06:01:30.433-07:00

      I always took 8 o'clock classes in college, not necesarily because I wanted to, but because I worked every day at 1 pm and needed to get all my classes in before then. A new study by psychology professors Serge Onyper and Pamela Thacher of St. Lawrence University explains why those who take earlier classes get better grades than those who start later. Those who have 8 am classes don't tend

1-2-3...Get Organizedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123826505027282592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735007477791298895.post-18291721937049720342011-09-15T06:07:00.001-07:002011-09-15T06:07:00.531-07:00

       How efficient to have a very inexpensive product that provides so many home remedies! I stole most of these ideas from Circle of Moms. Vinegar can reduce itching (cover area with cotton ball or cloth soaked in vinegar):- from insect bites- from plants, including poison ivy. Vinegar removes fungi:- For foot fungus, soak foot in warm water (1 gallon) and vinegar (1 cup) daily for several

1-2-3...Get Organizedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123826505027282592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735007477791298895.post-40712210417504206952011-09-12T04:18:00.001-07:002011-09-12T04:20:25.986-07:00

               We had a fun-filled weekend with our girls: the zoo, a movie, baking cookies, fishing, and a church picnic. We wore one girl out so much, that she slept 12 hours one night!  We do a lot of driving, and a car emergency is always a possibility. Last week I found an interesting alternative to combustible flares for a car emergency: a life saver light. It's a flashlight/worklight

1-2-3...Get Organizedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123826505027282592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735007477791298895.post-46766417484486053702011-09-08T06:34:00.000-07:002011-09-08T06:34:46.296-07:00

     My friend Margaret went home yesterday - such a nice visit! And we're getting a new foster daughter today. So that brings us up to three girls in the house. As you can imagine, laundry is done quite often here! Thankfully, the girls do their own laundry. As I've posted before, my husband and I sort our dirty clothes in laundry hampers as we take them off. This saves clutter in a couple of

1-2-3...Get Organizedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123826505027282592noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735007477791298895.post-69947948569798396722011-09-06T05:58:00.000-07:002011-09-06T05:58:22.897-07:00

I'm having a delightful time with my friend Margaret who is visiting from Pennsylvania. Long-time friends are a blessing, aren't they?  Now on to a more serious topic ... As we have seen lately, millions of people have had to live with no electricity for extended periods of time. If you needed to remain in your home without electricity for any length of time, would you have what you need? 

1-2-3...Get Organizedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123826505027282592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735007477791298895.post-91244379970054843372011-08-31T05:33:00.001-07:002011-08-31T05:33:00.196-07:00

In all the houses I've lived in prior to this one, I've never had enough kitchen space for my addiction to dishes. So ... near and dear to my heart are cabinet expanders. Yes, I know. I'm a professional organizer. I'm not supposed to have storage problems.  Oh. well. That's why they make cabinet expanders. :) Here are my favorites:   This two-piece expander is great for cabinets that are too

1-2-3...Get Organizedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123826505027282592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735007477791298895.post-87019462828132269112011-08-29T05:47:00.002-07:002011-08-29T05:48:44.004-07:00

It's been a crazy week, saying good-bye to one foster daughter who is going to college, welcoming another into our home, and dealing with enrollment issues with a third. Translation: we're down to two girls now, and hopefully they will both be in school tomorrow. We've watched Irene with rapt interest, enjoying gorgeous weather while empathizing with those in her path. I'm sure you've asked

1-2-3...Get Organizedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123826505027282592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735007477791298895.post-13305986520664341932011-08-25T11:26:00.000-07:002011-08-25T11:26:57.599-07:00

     In a little over two weeks, we've seen two of our foster daughters move out to live with family (a good thing for them!) and one new foster daughter visit and move in. Our own daughter left this morning after a wonderful visit. So I'm trying to catch my breath at the moment. I'll be back soon with more posts. :) - Bev  

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      We're having a wonderful visit from one of our daughters - playing games, laughing, talking, reliving memories, eating good food. What a wonderful gift! Now on to our blog post for today: When I help my clients downsize locally, I like to use my own plastic containers. They are reusable, clear, and sturdy. No need to use boxes that must be discarded later. No taping, either. Just slide

1-2-3...Get Organizedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123826505027282592noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735007477791298895.post-92108045193294790912011-08-20T06:34:00.000-07:002011-08-20T06:34:51.464-07:00

One of our daughters is here for a visit while we have some time off. We're looking forward to some movies, games, laughter and fun! Now for our post for today ...  According to Suzanne Otte, MBA, MSW and Gail Steketee, PhD in their recent article in the Psychiatric Times on August 19, 2011, hoarding is under consideration for becoming a stand-alone disorder. I found this excerpt from their

1-2-3...Get Organizedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123826505027282592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735007477791298895.post-9073109800927417262011-08-17T09:46:00.000-07:002011-08-17T09:46:51.642-07:00

Is your key ring resembling a peacock with its tail feathers fanned out? All those membership cards can get cumbersome! Here's a review by Fantabulously Frugal in Chicago on a free app that puts them all on your smart phone. "I get approached on a near daily basis by companies wanting me to tell you about their new smart phone app. Apps are neat, but they're also kind of

1-2-3...Get Organizedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123826505027282592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735007477791298895.post-55128477969676395322011-08-15T06:05:00.000-07:002011-08-15T06:05:31.017-07:00

       If you have school-age children there are three times a year when it might be beneficial to re-prioritize your activities and schedule: January, summer and fall.  Even if you don't have kids, fall is like a second January. Summertime is usually chaotic, and now it's time to regroup. Prioritizing activities and schedules involves looking at your schedule in light of your passions and

1-2-3...Get Organizedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123826505027282592noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735007477791298895.post-92201525272109783872011-08-12T09:09:00.000-07:002011-08-12T09:09:33.140-07:00

   I repeat this blog post every year because paper gets out of control so easily! If you have a system from the beginning, you're less likely to get overwhelmed. Along with school, comes all those papers! And art masterpieces. What to do with them? You want to preserve memories of your child’s school years, but you don’t want to train her to be a pack rat. I’ll have to admit – I wasn’t

1-2-3...Get Organizedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123826505027282592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735007477791298895.post-40656825943038726302011-08-10T05:02:00.000-07:002011-08-10T05:02:16.832-07:00

     We're off to a water park today, even though it will be a little chilly (76 high). It's our last chance before one of the girls leaves on Friday. A fun day to make memories! Now on to our topic of the day ... Here's another one of my favorite organizing products - a giant paper clip! I try to be green and recycle paper that has been used on only one side. The girls' computer sits on a small

1-2-3...Get Organizedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123826505027282592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735007477791298895.post-16489382777619180472011-08-08T11:04:00.000-07:002011-08-08T11:04:08.636-07:00

       Our girls haven't been reading our books lately, and I'm wondering if it's because the books are so disorganized. I had organized them when we first moved in, but somehow they have become quite random! :) I'm sure that never happens at your house, does it? LOL!   I started by getting rid of some books. Books that might interest our girls were placed in the "prime real estate" area - the

1-2-3...Get Organizedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123826505027282592noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735007477791298895.post-26981050264436633302011-08-03T06:20:00.000-07:002011-08-03T06:20:51.483-07:00

Today our we and our foster daughters are preparing a meal to take to the Akron Ronald McDonald House tomorrow. We've done it once before and the girls really enjoyed it. We did some cleaning while there, too. It does the heart good to do something for those who are in hard circumstances, doesn't it? Now on to our post for today ... Does your Ohio business have surplus items that you want to

1-2-3...Get Organizedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123826505027282592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735007477791298895.post-38496794308720098872011-08-01T06:00:00.000-07:002011-08-01T06:00:54.955-07:00

      I'm taking our three foster daughters shopping today. School starts on the 24th, and the all-important "first-day-of-school outfits" must be bought! School shopping can be extremely stressful - financially, emotionally and physically. Here are some tips I've learned along the way to reduce that stress: 1. Help your child (if age appropriate) go through his/her clothes and remove any that

1-2-3...Get Organizedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123826505027282592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735007477791298895.post-60024747487106012442011-07-29T05:53:00.000-07:002011-07-29T05:53:56.258-07:00

     I polished up a blog from the past on getting ready for school: It's hard to believe that in some parts of the country school will be starting in 1-2 weeks! School here starts August 24. Only about a month left! Prepare now to avoid chaos later.  If you don't have one already, create a hub - a location where you keep papers to be signed for school, library books, invitations, and

1-2-3...Get Organizedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123826505027282592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735007477791298895.post-74699964576857659882011-07-27T05:47:00.004-07:002011-07-27T05:47:00.566-07:00

   We have yet another foster daughter going to college this fall. She has begun the process of packing and is doing very well. - She has gone through her possessions several times to get rid of excess. - She has already packed things she won't need for a while - winter clothes, etc. - She has packed like things together - school supplies, etc. - She has shopped for items she needs - linens, a

1-2-3...Get Organizedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123826505027282592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735007477791298895.post-77522213128923374442011-07-25T05:39:00.001-07:002011-07-25T05:39:00.119-07:00

     I thoroughly enjoyed some time off, during which time I got the chance to visit my family in Oklahoma. My three siblings took time off, too, and we headquartered at my parents' home. All of us had a great time laughing, playing, talking, and catching up. Sooooo nice! Today I'll continue my series on my favorite products. Turntables are ideal for small items like spices.They are at your

1-2-3...Get Organizedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123826505027282592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735007477791298895.post-38634612783903654802011-07-04T06:32:00.001-07:002011-07-04T06:33:08.209-07:00

     I'm taking some time off, so I won't be posting any articles for a couple of weeks. Feel free to peruse our 1200 blog posts. :)

1-2-3...Get Organizedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123826505027282592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735007477791298895.post-3382435632010741782011-07-01T06:14:00.001-07:002011-07-01T06:14:00.199-07:00

            Do you want to get rid of some blankets and towels that are not nice enough to donate to other charities? Animal shelters go through scads of these each year, using them for drying off animals, cleaning up messes, and for bedding. Both cloth and vinyl placemats are useful as well. The animals don't care if they're faded or worn or have spots on them. Vinyl placemats can go under

1-2-3...Get Organizedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123826505027282592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735007477791298895.post-20958269848729766862011-06-29T05:59:00.000-07:002011-06-29T05:59:23.239-07:00

        Summit Akron Solid Waste Management Authority offers the following advice for disposing of medication without harming the environment. Check with your police department in your area to see if they have a similar program. "Improper disposal of medication is a growing concern which can lead to environmental problems and contribute to prescription drug abuse, especially among teens and

1-2-3...Get Organizedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123826505027282592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735007477791298895.post-86247367454589850862011-06-28T06:15:00.001-07:002011-06-28T06:15:00.821-07:00

       I thought I'd do a series on my favorite organizing products. Since the entry we use to our house is the mud room/laundry room, I'll start there. When we enter our mud room, two sets of hooks hold items we shed. In the summer - wet towels, bathing suits and such. In the winter, book bags, coats and more. Without these hooks, our house would explode as people walk in the door. We also

1-2-3...Get Organizedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123826505027282592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735007477791298895.post-45673362953191303672011-06-27T06:09:00.000-07:002011-06-27T06:09:00.588-07:00

      The following shelterpop article by Amy Preise is a fun read. Maybe you can use it to inspire your child! Feeling too lazy to tackle your closet? Shame -- and inspire -- yourself by browsing actress Kiernan Shipka's stellar organizing skills. Jake Rosenberg for The Coveteur Recently The Coveteur turned its lens on the adorable and precocious "Mad Men" star Kiernan Shipka -- she

1-2-3...Get Organizedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123826505027282592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735007477791298895.post-26940204059424492712011-06-24T07:37:00.000-07:002011-06-24T07:37:35.869-07:00

    As you declutter your garage or storage area, you may find some old paint you want to get rid of. Our local recycling center recommends the following for disposing of latex paint responsibly. "Dried out Latex Paint (water-based) is an acceptable item for curbside trash.  To solidify follow these simple instructions: DO... Mix absorbent material (i.e. cat litter, sawdust, shredded newspaper)

1-2-3...Get Organizedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123826505027282592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735007477791298895.post-58744765440683768292011-06-23T15:17:00.000-07:002011-06-23T15:17:36.066-07:00

    I'm sorry it has taken me so long to finish up this garage series. We have been helping a new foster daughter settle in and we've been helping our high school graduate move out. Unfortunately, the place she was going to move into did not come through on their promises, so we helped her move back in yesterday! Life is like that sometimes, isn't it? Now onto our garage ... Now that you've

1-2-3...Get Organizedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123826505027282592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735007477791298895.post-3373802827383926132011-06-20T10:31:00.000-07:002011-06-20T10:31:04.644-07:00

       Take advantage of these free recycling days in Summit County, OH - a great way to get rid of some of that sensitive paper without having to pay for it. Locations and dates:  Free shredding days! Confidential recycling and shredding of your documentsSaturdays from 9 am - noon (rain or shine) JULY 23 MACEDONIA 9699 Valley View Road [Entrance at the Macedonia Administration Building]

1-2-3...Get Organizedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123826505027282592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735007477791298895.post-10000354654648289362011-06-17T10:53:00.000-07:002011-06-17T10:53:42.073-07:00

     I'm always looking for quick summer meals that don't require a lot of time or heat. Today we had our main meal at lunch - I love doing that because our schedule can be more flexible the rest of the day. This is what we had: Crockpot Barbecued ChickenCiabata RollsBroccoli Raisin Salad Fruit Plate The only thing that took any time was the broccoli raisin salad, which could be left out or

1-2-3...Get Organizedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123826505027282592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735007477791298895.post-63519770502770470062011-06-16T17:11:00.000-07:002011-06-16T17:11:43.540-07:00

         Today we took the first load of possessions belonging to our recent high school graduate over to her new place. We measured her room, planned where furniture would go, and unpacked what we brought. We'll continue to make trips each day until she is moved in. Now for today's topic: In speaking with a client today, we discussed motivation. My suggestions:  - Start in an area in which

1-2-3...Get Organizedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123826505027282592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735007477791298895.post-9259627586031011212011-06-15T06:45:00.000-07:002011-06-15T06:45:28.348-07:00

  According to a new survey from American Express OPEN (small business division of American Express) only 46 percent of small business owners will take a week's vacation this summer. Thirty-seven percent said they are too busy and 29 percent said they couldn't afford it. Earlier in the year, American Express OPEN reported that thirty-four percent of small business owners take time off

1-2-3...Get Organizedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123826505027282592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735007477791298895.post-28266843730885137452011-06-14T06:09:00.001-07:002011-06-14T06:09:00.309-07:00

            Today is my husband's and my 36th anniversary! It's hard to believe it! We are celebrating by taking an island-hopping cruise on Lake Erie. Now, on to our post for today ... what to do with those plastic garden containers without putting them in the landfill: On June 18th from 9:00 – 4:00 Graf Growers Garden Center will be hosting their first Recycle Day where they will be

1-2-3...Get Organizedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123826505027282592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735007477791298895.post-24743430145874182622011-06-13T07:17:00.000-07:002011-06-13T07:17:19.646-07:00

     Just wanted to  let you know that I'll be giving a Decluttering Seminar at Reed Memorial Library in Ravenna, OH on Saturday, June 23 at 2:30 pm. Hope to see you there!

1-2-3...Get Organizedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123826505027282592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735007477791298895.post-59966044846063135772011-06-08T11:25:00.000-07:002011-06-08T11:25:45.389-07:00

       An interesting article in the Daily Mail Reporter about Brits storing their kids' possessions. Definitely a problem - sometimes avoidable, sometimes not. Enjoy the read: "British parents are looking after nearly £2.5 billion of clutter their grown up children have left behind, a study shows. Young adults leaving home are using 'the warehouse of mum and dad' to store their belongings -

1-2-3...Get Organizedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123826505027282592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735007477791298895.post-33442411437391066772011-06-07T05:35:00.000-07:002011-06-07T05:35:08.373-07:00

      I'm re-posting this article from last year - who needs to do more dishes? LOL! Drinking glasses seem to multiply during the summertime, don't they? Last year I came up with an idea to try to reduce the number of drinking glasses we use each day. I found a package containing four different colors of disposable plastic glasses. Each person chose a color. But I felt very un-green! This year

1-2-3...Get Organizedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123826505027282592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735007477791298895.post-60979274303640913762011-06-06T06:19:00.001-07:002011-06-06T06:19:00.747-07:00

     I found another source of ideas for summer fun: 100 Days of Summer. Great ideas, pictures, and websites with instructions. My favorite: making Coke Icees! More on summer fun: Planning An Intentional Summer for Your KidsOrganizing Summer Fun When Everyone is Bored: Water SpoonsOrganizing Summer Fun When Everyone is Bored: Guess the Theme Day 

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So ... we've removed trash, recyclables and items to donate. And we've determined functional areas for the garage. The next step is to sort. I'm not one who likes to remove everything from the area unless the area is too crowded. If there are some things in the correct place, why remove them?  I like to start in one corner when I sort. It helps me stay focused. Now that I've determined

1-2-3...Get Organizedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123826505027282592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735007477791298895.post-71417031456020902192011-06-02T06:04:00.001-07:002011-06-02T06:04:00.606-07:00

         "Smart Moves" columnist Ellen James Martin wrote "Tips on Moving to a Much Smaller Habitat." I'm honored to be used as a resource for her column. Here's a copy: It's not only empty nesters who are selling large homes and buying smaller domains. Many younger people facing reduced income and higher expenses are trimming living space to reduce costs. "People are frightened economically

1-2-3...Get Organizedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123826505027282592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735007477791298895.post-32952301395394978762011-05-31T06:16:00.000-07:002011-05-31T06:16:00.159-07:00

     Hope you had a nice Memorial Day Weekend. We recovered from the graduation party we gave for one of our foster daughters. And we defrosted our freezer. Doesn't that sound like fun? We grilled some burgers, too! So back to the freezer. While we were taking out all our food, I got an idea: why not stack things vertically rather than horizontally? Then you can take something out without

1-2-3...Get Organizedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123826505027282592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735007477791298895.post-71408152529858075032011-05-30T06:45:00.000-07:002011-05-30T06:45:33.284-07:00

     Happy Memorial Day! A day to remember those who have and do provide freedom for us! Thank you to our troops! Just a quick note today. Rita over at Rita Reviews is giving away some of my books: - Three Steps to Time Management for the Stay-at-Home Mom - Three Steps to Organizing Your Office - Three Steps to Planning Dinner. Go on over and enter to win! More on my books: 1-2-3 ...

1-2-3...Get Organizedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123826505027282592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735007477791298895.post-32095008675579870212011-05-26T06:04:00.001-07:002011-05-26T06:04:00.140-07:00

            IBM conducted a study of 345 long-time email users to see whether it's more efficient to organize email into folders or simply search for an email when you need it. These email users conducted over 85,000 refinding actions - scrolling, searching, and filing of email into folders. For a while I have been leaving my email in my inbox, deleting those emails I don't want, following my

1-2-3...Get Organizedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123826505027282592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735007477791298895.post-35490256754812147702011-05-25T06:13:00.003-07:002011-05-25T06:13:00.307-07:00

         Our first attempt at the garage removed several things: recyclables, donated items, and trash.  Since then, we found more items to donate and loaded the car again!  Today's task: create functional areas. The functional areas in our garage are:  - tools and such located in a work area in the corner of the garage. - garden area located in an old cabinet with open shelves on the top

1-2-3...Get Organizedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123826505027282592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735007477791298895.post-36534418044425781002011-05-24T06:13:00.001-07:002011-05-24T06:13:00.393-07:00

        Summer is looming! One of our foster daughters got out of school May 20 (she's a senior), one gets out of school May 31, and the other two get out on June 3.  What to do when money is scarce and time is long? Trisha Navotny over at 24/7 Moms was kind enough to let me use some of her ideas for summer fun on a budget. I've added some of my own ideas, as well. - "Movies  at Regal and AMC.

1-2-3...Get Organizedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123826505027282592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735007477791298895.post-63907361364615907472011-05-23T06:09:00.000-07:002011-05-23T06:09:00.707-07:00

      We need to tackle our garage, but we'll probably need to do it a little at a time - know the feeling? So I'm going to write several blog posts that will break this big job into some bite-sized pieces. Start with removing several things: - Recyclable items. We keep several boxes just outside the laundry room door in the garage where we can throw paper, cardboard, etc. Our trash service

1-2-3...Get Organizedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123826505027282592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735007477791298895.post-11510575582845595402011-05-20T06:17:00.000-07:002011-05-20T06:17:00.273-07:00

         Whenever one of our foster daughters graduates from high school and is going to college, we make up a "College Survival Kit" as her graduation gift. I start with a large shower caddy and fill it with items I know she'll need while at school. I stand my Three Steps to Time Management for the College Student in the back section of the caddy or use my new flashdrive version (email me if

1-2-3...Get Organizedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123826505027282592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735007477791298895.post-36634768923064103362011-05-19T05:42:00.002-07:002011-05-19T05:42:00.885-07:00

         Lately we have been downsizing and consolidating our files. When we first moved here to Ohio from Maryland, we had crate after crate of files. Both my husband and I had done quite a bit of teaching and speaking, so we had all sorts of resources. After six years here, we decided to tackle this project. First of all, we went through the files that were inactive - mostly topical on various

1-2-3...Get Organizedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123826505027282592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735007477791298895.post-73161810290628866842011-05-18T06:05:00.005-07:002011-05-18T06:05:00.504-07:00

               All four of our girls will be leaving our home sometime during the summer. Three will be going back to family and one will be going off to college. Two have already been going through their things, organizing them and getting rid of things they no longer want. Women after my own heart! Speaking of kids decluttering, that's our topic for today. Does your child have too many toys

1-2-3...Get Organizedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123826505027282592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735007477791298895.post-10443636683970466302011-05-17T06:17:00.000-07:002011-05-17T06:17:51.336-07:00

               The following article by Samantha Murphy appeared in TechNewsDaily, based on an unscientific survey Hunch did on its 700,000 members. Some interesting finds: Credit: Dreamstime "Computer users with messy desktops are more likely to be liberal, educated city-dwellers who are career-minded and good at math, while those that keep their computer icons neat and tidy are more

1-2-3...Get Organizedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123826505027282592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735007477791298895.post-1512759329280499272011-05-16T09:34:00.000-07:002011-05-16T09:34:59.084-07:00

         Do you or members of your family have trouble keeping track of your ear buds? Here's a solution from BudTrap: It slides into your earphone jack yet preserves the sound. No more lost ear buds! Quite reasonably priced, too. More on organizing technology: Clean Up and Organize Your iTunes with RinseGuest Post - Leveraging Technology to Get Organized: 4 Clever TipsThe Nook Digital

1-2-3...Get Organizedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123826505027282592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735007477791298895.post-35727742613535186692011-05-13T06:02:00.001-07:002011-05-13T10:54:17.155-07:00

             As you've done some spring cleaning, you may have discovered that you need additional storage. If you're in need of shelving, The Shelving Store notified me of their May-long clearance sale, 15-50% off. Thought you'd like to know.  They offer shelving kits for the living room, garage, kitchen, and more.  Closet units are available, and design help if you need it. They even have

1-2-3...Get Organizedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123826505027282592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735007477791298895.post-91597197171629313282011-05-11T05:50:00.001-07:002011-05-11T05:50:00.842-07:00

           How many old cell phones do you have lying around? It seems that almost as soon as we buy a phone, it's obsolete!      ecoATM is making it easier for us to recycle our cell phones. The ecoATM is similar to a regular ATM, but has the ability to evaluate your phone and determine its value. You can either get cash, a trade-up coupon, a gift card or you can donate it to charity.   

1-2-3...Get Organizedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123826505027282592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735007477791298895.post-15891227022979511582011-05-10T06:07:00.001-07:002011-05-10T06:07:00.809-07:00

       As a foster mom for four teenage girls, part of my job includes making doctor, dentist, dermatologist, orthodontist, optometrist, etc. appointments.  Sometimes I'm not as kind to myself. Last week I made three appointments I've been putting off for months. I've heard of some people who make all their annual appointments at the beginning of the year. I like that idea, but didn't do it. So

1-2-3...Get Organizedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123826505027282592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735007477791298895.post-9397253536435379052011-05-09T05:47:00.003-07:002011-05-09T05:47:00.387-07:00

       Spring not only brings spring cleaning and decluttering, but garage sales! If you're thinking about having a garage sale, organize it in such a way that you'll make the most from it! The following post is a result of combining a couple of posts I've done in the past on garage sales. According to a recent Ebay, Inc. survey, the average household has $3000 worth of clutter! Now that the

1-2-3...Get Organizedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123826505027282592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735007477791298895.post-40203350446821570172011-05-06T06:07:00.001-07:002011-05-06T06:07:00.301-07:00

    We're familiar with gift registries for weddings and babies, but did you know your graduate can register, too? One of our foster daughters is graduating from high school this year, and she registered at Target. Not only did she register for bedding, a microwave, iron, coffee maker, etc., but she decided to register for some not-so-typical items like laundry detergent, shampoo/conditioner and

1-2-3...Get Organizedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123826505027282592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735007477791298895.post-32948022613562659792011-05-05T05:48:00.001-07:002011-05-05T05:48:00.444-07:00

         "The National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO) announces the winners of the 2011 Organizing Excellence Awards, presented at its 23rd Annual Conference and Organizing Exposition held in San Diego, California.    Soles4Souls, the international shoe charity based in Nashville, Tennessee, was honored for the incredible organizational effort required to successfully coordinate

1-2-3...Get Organizedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123826505027282592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735007477791298895.post-75755334328449043262011-05-04T06:28:00.000-07:002011-05-04T06:28:01.182-07:00

Believe it or not, I was a slob as a teenager. I can still hear my father walk up the stairs, open my door, and say, "Bev, you're grounded!" because he couldn't see the floor of my room. Honestly, I had much more important things to do than keep my room neat and tidy.  That changed as I got older and got my own place. Now it bothers me to have things out of place because it accosts my senses.

1-2-3...Get Organizedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123826505027282592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735007477791298895.post-63432194534631055042011-05-03T06:04:00.003-07:002011-05-03T06:04:00.837-07:00

         Are you moving, and want to use portable storage units (like Pods)? Or just need an easy storage option? You have a lot of options:   Pods   1800packrat    Units Portable Storage   ABF  U-Haul  SmartBoxUSA  Portable Storage Units More on moving:  Short-Term and Long-Term MovingFinding Charities that Will Pick Up Your ClutterMoving Tips 

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    Over the weekend I got caught up on some organizing projects for myself. One that has been bothering me is holiday decorations - not Christmas, but holidays since then. I try to change centerpieces and placemats each month to fit with holidays or themes.  I consolidated winter and spring decorating items into one large plastic container - snowflakes for January, Valentine's, St. Patrick's

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