Living for today and not the "what if's"

This past weekend we took the kids to Spokane for the weekend. For no particular reason we just decided to head North for a couple of days. Being in the car for long periods of time, I decided to pack up my stack of magazines and read them in the car.

I was especially taken with an article I read in Family Circle (November 2009 Issue) called House Call (by Meredith Janson). Not realizing what the article was (after all it was under the "Health" section of the magazine), I was pleased to see this discussion about....

...how clutter effects our overall health and quality of life.

The author brings in all the experts that I love and follow, Laurie Marrero (Clutter Diet), Peter Walsh (Clean Sweep), David Allen (Getting Things Done) and Julie Morgenstern (SHED Your Stuff). It really is an amazing thing to think about how your stuff truly does effect our overall health. Too often I hear about clutter situations and how it effects the household and one's quality of life (or in some cases even death).

It's an interesting thing... clutter. Most people really do have genuinely a relationship with their clutter and often, find that it fills a space in life similar to like a family member does. Taking it away would make them feel badly and often sad. One of the points made in the article, which is frequently an "ah-ha" moment for some, is when they talk about the "what if's."

• What if I need that someday?
• What if I can give it to a family member or someone who will need it?
• What if it I should find a better way to recycle it?
• What if it will harm someone or the earth?

The "what if's" are a never ending list and there will always be a reason to have a "what if". Taking a look at how the clutter is impacting your life TODAY is where the focus really needs to be. Ask yourself...

• ...what are you sacrificing TODAY to keep your clutter around?
• ... are you living the life you want to TODAY?
• ... what does keeping the stuff do for you TODAY?
• ... what value does keeping the stuff give you TODAY?

When you can look at clutter from a different perspective, it becomes easier to see things a little differently. It's not always about just throwing everything away, but living your life the best you can.

Are we living our best when we can't eat a meal at the table with our family?

Are we living our best when we can't invite our loved ones over for dinner?

BOOK REVIEW: Get Rich Organizing: The Professional Organizers Survival Guide...

I love to read (it's almost funny to hear myself say that sometimes).

Typically, I like to read at least two books at the same time (my dad would be so proud), one personal and one business/organizing book. This summer though I decided to take a break from business/organizing books and dedicated my time to reading for pleasure.

In late August though, a friend of mine released her new book, Get Rich Organizing: The Professional Organizers Survival Guide to Launch, Manage and Grow a Profitable Business, I knew I had to get a copy and dig in!

If I had to sum it up in one sentence, I would say that "this book needs to be on every new organizers book shelf!"

Getting Rich has not a whole lot to do with money, it has to do with getting a rich experience from being a professional organizer and giving the richest experience for your clients (and yourself). The money just comes along with the experiences.

Anne Blumer, CPO shares her passion and dedication throughout the book and it's clear she is good at what she does. She mentioned in the book early on, that when she started her business, no such book existed. I couldn't agree more, that this book would have saved me a lot of time and energy when I started my business.

With her vast knowledge of the industry and as the owner of the Professional Organizing Institute, she shares a wealth of information on running an organizing business. Who wouldn't want to tap into that?  She examines every step needed in starting a business, as well as gives you the tools needed to get right out into the field and properly assess your clients needs.

Everyone has the ability to be an organizer, but running an organizing business is an entirely different story. Anne really can equip you with everything needed to run your business and then some!

Great job Anne! As a five year business owner and professional organizer, I was able to get a lot of great ideas and information that I too can implement into my business... A great investment for any professional organizer starting out!

P.S. You can follow Anne on her blog too!

The Post-It Label Pad - A must have in your supply box

Yesterday was our one year anniversary living in the new house in Hood River! When people ask me what it's like living out in the gorge, I tell them it's like living on vacation everyday! It's hard to believe a whole year has gone by so quickly.

We just love it here... we feel at home!

For some reason though, I am still struggling with getting various spaces organized (yes, organizers struggle with getting organized too). The kitchen is especially my biggest challenge.

I have moved my pots and pans probably three times in the last six months, and I still can't quit find the right spot for them. I have sorted, downsized and even gotten rid of a few items I don't use and yet I still struggle. It drives my husband crazy that I keep moving things around... especially when he is unloading the dishwasher and all the pans have moved... again!

About a month ago, I ran across an ad in a magazine (but it might have been a commercial I saw... I don't remember) for the Post-It Removable Label Pads. Either way, when I saw the product I knew that I had to try it... it was calling my name! It was a little hard to find at first as it's a brand new product. They apparently are stocked at the big box stores, but I ordered online.

I purchased the 525 assorted pack. All sizes and shapes (and colors) came in the pack and I was really excited to see if I can put these to good use as I am still finding homes for all my stuff (especially in the kitchen). You can use them to label food containers, snack bins, file folders, storage items, boxes in the garage... the possibilities are endless!

The pad functions just like a regular post-it pad, but in a reverse format to a standard post-it pad. The entire surface area is now sticky, with a small non-sticky area perforated so that you can remove each sheet, tear off the perforation for placement. How often have you used just the sticky part of a post-it to create your own "removable" label? No more!

Post-it does it once again... I can't wait to get up into the kids playroom with the bright orange labels!

*image from the 3M Website - where all things good happen!

Paper piles: How you too can overcome them

I got a phone call the other day from a friend and client (friend first, client second). This is what she said...

"Hi Meg, whatcha doing?" She sounded a little panicked and I could tell that something was going on and it didn't sound good... I said, "fine, what are you doing, are you okay?"

She proceeded, "I am working in my office... HELP ME... Give me a tip, some advice or something that will help me... I have all these piles and I don't know what to do."

How often does this happen to you? The overwhelming feeling that relates to too many piles of paper.

I am convinced that paper is the biggest contributing factors to what makes clutter happen. It grows rapidly and can become so powerful that it truly can stop you in your tracks.

As I talked to my friend, I asked her some questions about the paper... "tell me what are in the piles?" She proceeded to divulge the various projects she has been stacking, paycheck stubs she was collecting to file, other paperwork etc., etc., etc.

I began to ask her a series of specific questions about the piles, what she planned to do with each pile or project, why was she holding on to certain paper and I noticed that as she was explaining the paper, her speech started to slow down, she didn't sound as frazzled as she initially did and her sense of panic was slowly dissipating away.

By the end of the call (which really lasted only about 15 minutes) she had a game plan. She had made some decisions and knew where to go in getting her office cleared. Later that evening, this was the email I got ...


Thank you so much for your advice and encouragement earlier today. I made it through a big portion of the clean up and feel so much better about my office.

I still have to organize my "project pile, hand and/or purge pictures, and organize my craft/pictures area. Each of those projects are their own, but I got through a huge chunk today. I really appreciate your support.


So you see... sometimes it doesn't have to be making mountains of progress... it might be just working through one pile, one stack... it's just taking the time to do it... consistently!

Gosh... it's good to be back at my blog!

BOOK REVIEW: The Silent Savior (Daring to Believe He's Still There)

What a great summer it’s been. As always a bitter sweet time of year, fall begins and the leaves start dropping, but it also means getting back into the daily grind. This year is particularly monumental for me because we are coming up to the first anniversary of our big move to Hood River. It’s been such an amazing year filled with so many blessings!

This summer I decided to take a break from books on the organizing industry and I read for pleasure. I recently finished reading a book, SILENT SAVIOR, by A.J. Gregory and I have to say this was really an enjoyable book!

I felt so connected with A.J.’s book because I too struggle with understanding the silence of God. It’s never been a question of whether or not God exist, but more like why He is it so hard to hear what He is saying.

Before we moved, I was overwhelmingly frustrated with the silence. For the longest time I couldn’t figure out why God wasn’t listening to me. At first, I was angry and wondered if the silence was going to push me to the brink. The anger then turned into frustration and defeat. It was enough to drive me to the edge, but really all it did was drive me to my knees. Overtime, I began to soften and spend more time in prayer, and slowly I began to understand truly what God was trying to teach me.

A.J. Gregory’s book, SILENT SAVIOR discusses over and over these same struggles. With humor and true emotion, she shares personal stories of how she dealt with the silence and began to really hear what God was saying. Although silence is usually the most difficult thing to understand, it really does play an big role in the overall understanding of our faith.

Faith means hanging around, not giving up on the miracle that may come, not leaving before we may hear a knock at the door. Some miracles come and others never show up. Some prayers are answered, and some are followed by silence. The point of faith is to keep on keeping on. It gives us the right amount of strength to do so.

I love how A.J. paints a true picture of her struggles in silence for her readers. It’s like you are her oldest girlfriend and she is baring her soul to you because you, her oldest friend will understand. She is not talking to her congregation or the media; she is talking to you!

Over and over again throughout the book, I was reminded that it’s okay to be frustrated, it’s okay to feel overwhelmed. Because at the end of the day, I still believe in Gold, I still have faith in His power and I will still keep moving forward. Pick it up, it’s a great read!

Book: A.J. Gregory, THE SILENT SAVIOR: DARING TO BELIEVE HE’S STILL THERE by Revell, a division of Baker Publishing.

22 things to do with dryer sheets

I can't believe it's been 19 days since my last post. Argh, time is just getting away from me and it seems like there is always something to do. Keep up with the everyday stuff during the summer is just a challenge, but in the end everything seems to get done. I was working through some emails the other day and I just get overwhelmed with the "FW's". I love all my friends and family but this time of year I just don't have time to read them all... except this one caught my attention and I wanted to share.

I did a blog post about dryer sheets a few months ago and I had no idea there were so many uses for dryer sheets. I am still planning to invest into my dryer ball but in the meantime here are a few great ways to re-use a dryer sheet!

1. It will chase ants away when you lay a  sheet near them. It also repels  mice.

 2. Spread sheets around foundation areas,  or in trailers, or cars that are sitting and it keeps mice from entering your vehicle.

3. It takes the odor out of books and photo  albums that don't get opened too often.

4. It repels mosquitoes. Tie a sheet of  Bounce through a belt loop when outdoors during mosquito season.

5. Eliminate static electricity from your  television (or computer) screen.

6. Since Bounce is designed to help  eliminate static cling, wipe your television screen with a used sheet of Bounce to keep dust  from resettling..

7. Dissolve soap scum from shower doors.  Clean with a sheet of Bounce.

8. To freshen the air in your home - Place an individual sheet of Bounce in a drawer or hang in the closet.

9. Put Bounce sheet in vacuum cleaner.

10. Prevent thread from tangling. Run a threaded needle through a sheet of Bounce before beginning to sew.

11. Prevent musty suitcases. Place an individual sheet of Bounce inside empty luggage before storing.

12. To freshen the air in your car - Place a  sheet of Bounce under the front seat.

13. Clean baked-on foods from a cooking pan. Put a sheet in a pan, fill with water, let sit overnight, and sponge clean. The anti-static agent apparently weakens the bond between the food and the pan.

14. Eliminate odors in wastebaskets. Place a sheet of Bounce at the bottom of the wastebasket.

15. Collect cat hair. Rubbing the area with a sheet of Bounce will magnetically attract all the lose hairs.

16. Eliminate static electricity from Venetian blinds. Wipe the blinds with a sheet of Bounce to prevent dust from resettling.

17. Wipe up sawdust from drilling or sand papering. A used sheet of Bounce will collect sawdust like a tack cloth.

18. Eliminate odors in dirty laundry. Place an individual sheet of Bounce at the bottom of a laundry bag or hamper.

19.. Deodorize shoes or sneakers. Place a sheet of Bounce in your shoes or sneakers overnight.

20.. Golfers put a Bounce sheet in their back pocket to keep the bees away.

21. Put a Bounce sheet in your sleeping bag and tent before folding and storing them. It will keep them smelling fresh.

22. Wet a Bounce sheet, hose down your car, and wipe lovebugs off easily with the wet Bounce.

*image courtesy of totallyfreecrap.com

Summer distraction leads to procrastination...

Summer time is an endless distraction for me. A million things to do, weeds to be pulled, parties to attend and kids to entertain, it's always something.  Distractions... something to take me away from doing what I know what I should be doing but clearly am not (aka Procrastination). Although I have always put my kids first, I find myself feeling guilty enjoying an afternoon together when there are chores to be done or work to be completed. Guilt... I hate that word!

There are 62 days until school starts (yeah, you heard me), and I am loving the long days with my boys. We have been berry picking, swimming at the pool, walks to the park, bike riding on the trails, camping, swimming lessons and occasionally just chillin' in the yard. Distractions!

When I make the time to work on business related things (or even laundry), I do the bare minimum... hence the reason why it's been almost a month since I blogged last.  These distractions are getting the better part of me and instead of fighting it, I am going to embrace what I have to offer and here is how I am going to do it...

1. Cut back. With my time being limited and knowing that things just aren't going to get done, it's time to cut back on some of the "fat". By examining what I have on my plate, I can see where I can start making the changes to relieve myself of some of the "extra" responsibilities. This is not a forever cutback, it's a temporary "hold" so that I can be more available for the things that I need to take care of (you know, my two little distractions).

2. Re-prioritize my goals. When looking at where to cutback, I have to start with my to-do list. If there are things that can sit idle for a while or be trimmed down, that's the first place to start. Less pressure to get so many things done means that when can actually dedicate the time to do the work I can be more focused.

3. Enjoy! We have to enjoy what we do. If we feel like everything is a burden, why do it? If I "feel" like I am getting things done, I am more inclined to press on. Life is too short!

FREE TELE-CLASS: Using Outlook

I am shocked to see how long it's been since I posted. Where does all the time go?

It's been a crazy few weeks all in good stride, I have been busy wrapping up and gearing up all at the same time. I love being busy but as you can see, a few things have had to sit (like my blog) while other projects take the center stage. I am exited for the next few months, especially since a project I have been working on for a while has finally come to the surface!


Do you struggle with Outlook?

Do you wonder if there is an easier way to execute a specific task in Outlook?


Here is your chance. I will be hosting a FREE teleclass on Using Outlook. In this one hour call, you will learn more about your inbox, using your contacts, the keys to a to-do list and how your calendar can work for you!

Sign up here today!  Did I mention that it's free?

Two FREE Fun activities for kids during the summer

I am a firm believer that there is no better activity for kids than ones that are FREE!

Free is one of my favorite words in the English language. To me it means Fun-Relaxing-Easy-Entertained!! What better way to start my summer planning for than with TWO GREAT FREE activities! Be sure to check out my resources (especially if you are local to the Portland Metro area) for more fun (and FREE activities) for the summer!

Library Summer Reading Program
I just picked up the schedule and this summer there are six great entertainers coming to the library here in HR, plus a weekly creative club and open studio time. What's not to love about that? Be sure to check out your local library to see what kind of summer activities they have planned for kids.






Family Fun Festival - Regal Cinemas
This is one event that we just don't miss. FREE movies! What's nice is that this is nationwide so all you need to do is find your state and see what local theaters are participating! Who doesn't love to go to the movies... for FREE!

Four steps to getting back on track

Do you ever get so busy that you wonder if you are really getting anything done?

It's been a crazy couple of weeks. I have been in a tornado of tasks, appointments and  meetings, I am just barely able to keep my head above water. It's an interesting feeling being this busy and really, a little bit uncomfortable for me. I know that eventually, I will get past all the details and get back to "normal". Here is how you too can do it...

1. Documentation
Formulate a tracking system is critical to the success of getting back on track and staying organized. By using a task list or planner will help to identify what you can do and when. There are many methods of tracking, pick what will work best for you!

2. Do what I can (when I can)
There are 24 hours in a day. Always process the most critical task first even if it's not a fun task. The important thing is to allow those less critical things to be set aside for a time until you are caught back up!

3. Review and Repeat
It's important to spend as much time managing tasks as you do processing them. By reviewing regularly you know exactly what needs to be done and when. If you have a lot going on, sometimes reviewing your list three or four times a day will help you stay on top of what needs to be done.

4. Anticipation
Being prepared and planning ahead allows you to better anticipate future tasks. If you know of an up coming event or task, and you have a little extra time do it now. You will save yourself time in the long run and open up extra time for unexpected events.

I am still about waist deep but I feel a little better in control. It's takes time to get back on track. Sometimes you just have to let go.