Less Is More…

It is not necessary for me to go on and on about how up and down (or just down) the American economy is right now. Between the government bail-out, home foreclosures, gas prices, drops in the stock market and mass lay offs, it’s enough to make someone’s head spin. Well one of my (and Oprah’s) favorite organizers and previous special guest, Peter Walsh, has written about his take on this predicament the country has gotten itself into. He says “We need to change the way we think about our finances, and clear out the financial clutter that is ruining our lives.” In his October newsletter he talks about how people just don’t need help with clutter in their home, they also need help wading through the financial clutter. Read on to see what Peter has to say about tackling financial clutter and reframe how we view what we own, what we buy and what we can afford.

LESS IS MORE – MY TAKE ON THE CURRENT FINANCIAL CRISIS
by Peter Walsh

In my work with people whose lives are spinning out of control, it’s obvious to them that the opposite of clutter is order. Order is absolutely necessary to create the vision you want for your life. Read on for eight clear, practical and achievable steps to help create the lives we want for ourselves and our families.

Step 1:  Start with the vision you have for the life you want.
Start with the basic question that I ask in all my work in decluttering: what is the vision you have for your life?  Is your vision realistic? Feasible? Sensible? Achievable? What is the reality vs. the vision: where is there dissonance between the life you have and the life you want? Does the stuff you consume, or rather, the stuff you want or ”have to have” take you closer to or farther away from the life you want?

Step 2:  Look at the cost of your debt.
The quantity of our stuff can no longer be considered the measure of our success.  It is the quality of our relationships that leads to deeper personal happiness. Debt doesn’t just ruin your credit rating; it ruins your relationships. How much time do you spend paying bills and talking to creditors? How much time is devoted to shopping? What about maintenance of your lifestyle? All of this comes at a cost. That cost is emotional and spiritual, and affects all of your relationships. Have you had to take on a second job to support your shopping habit? I guarantee that with debt your family life and friendships will suffer. Debt creates selfishness, an inward focus and a preoccupation that robs you of what really matters—your true self and your relationships.

Step 3:  Explore your limits – you only have what you have.
You only have so much space in your home. And you only have so much money. The same goes for time and emotional energy. We don’t have unlimited resources in this world, whether it’s fossil fuel, or whether it’s time to spend with our families. Credit card companies love to send out offers for no-limit or high-dollar limit cards, giving us the illusion that we can buy on credit forever. I’m sure some of you have hit the credit card wall, and have maxed out your cards. But you can also max out the time and energy you need to spend generating money to pay your bills. Each of us needs to recognize and pinpoint our limits. We can continue to ignore them, or we can start to set healthy limits for ourselves.

Step 4:  Stop and consider – where is “more” taking over your life?
It’s time to get real. Where is your pursuit of “more” taking over your life, robbing you of true happiness? It’s time to take a cold, hard look at your spending habits (and remember that habits are habitual, something that you repeat). Where exactly is your money going? Is it on dinners out? Clothes? Collectibles? Home renovation? Vacations? Presents for your spouse and kids? How do they tie into your habits? For example, do you get up every Saturday and rush to the mall? Do you spend your evenings online, buying things you don’t need? Shopping is a means to an end.  If it’s an end in itself then there’s a problem.

Step 5:  The more you have the more you spend.
We’ve all heard this before. Once we get our hands on a little bit of money, we’ll do anything to keep up our lifestyle. Nice clothes, the latest cell phone, a foreign car, hours at the hairdresser and nail salon—we start to think that these are essentials. I’m here to tell you that they’re not: there are very few luxuries in your life that are essential to you, your family, and their happiness. The time has come to sit and talk with your spouse, or partner or family and separate what you consider to be necessities from the luxuries.

Step 6:  Consider your happiness quotient not just your credit score.
Less is more. Don’t believe it, do you? Recent studies have shown that people who earn more also stress more about money, and that those who have more show no commensurate jump in their feelings of happiness and well being. Happiness is all about balance–head, heart, spirit—it’s all connected. When we’re in debt, we are out of balance. Consider where you derive pleasure and happiness from in your life and pursue that.

Step 7:  Create space for what really matters.
Once your life is decluttered and organized it takes on a different focus: the stuff loses its importance. Your home is a respite, a reflection of your goals. Consuming less improves your lifestyle. An ordered home reflects a life without debt.  Think about what you want from your home, how you are achieving it, and cut down on the influx of stuff, which immediately translates into spending less money.

Step 8:  Making It Real – Out From Under the Clutter.
It’s easy to find our way into debt but not so easy to find our way out.  A clear vision and established limits are key first steps in solving financial problems, but then comes the hard decisions.  How much should you be spending on your living expenses?  What is reasonable to fork out each month on rent or a mortgage?  What can you afford to spend on food, or entertainment?  How much should be going into your savings?  Should you be investing or is that only for rich people?  And what about a rainy day?  College?  Elderly parents?  Life and health insurance?  What to do?  Take the time to develop a budget, to seek sound financial advice and establish a realistic financial plan.  Now is the time to organize your home, your wallet and bank account to achieve what you desire.

I hope you enjoyed Peter’s take on approaching the burden of debt in a fresh and unexpected way that looks not at the debris of the current crisis, but rather at the root causes.

Happy Organizing!

- Mrs. O

No Comments October 28, 2008 on 4:04 pm | In Uncategorized

A Few Tips for the Love Birds…

As our “Say I Do to Organization” Giveaway comes to end in just a few days, I would like to share a few more tips for the couple-to-be as told by Maria Gracia, one of my Favorite Organizers and founder of Get Organized Now! In our giveaway, one lucky pair has the opportunity to win a trip to the Bahamas, a wedding dress, party favors for the wedding and so much more! While March is the popular season to tie the knot, now is the time when all those spring brides start planning and organizing. Take some time to check out Maria’s tips that can help you decide what to register for, how to get all the gifts in the house and what to do with them once they’re there. Enjoy!

A New Life, A New Adventure, Part II
by Maria Gracia

6. Make a grid pattern of each room in your new home,
and indicate the square footage. This way, you’ll be able
to see what you can fit furniture and storage-wise.

7. Move the furniture in first, before any boxes. The bed
is a good place to start, in case you want to take a rest
in between moving. Arrange it as you want to before the
rest of the stuff is unloaded.

8. When you get your things off the moving truck, bring
each box into the room where the contents will be stored
(i.e. linens into the linen closet room, comforters and
pillows into the bedroom, dishes into the kitchen.) Begin
unloading a box at a time, and putting things where they
belong–rather than unloading everything onto the counter
or the floor. Try to do 2-3 boxes minimum each day.

9. Yes, you’ll likely need to rearrange a bit later on,
but make a good effort the first time around–otherwise
you’re going to be living out of boxes for weeks.

10. Remember, you’re newlyweds, so in between the packing
and unpacking, remember to have fun. Order your meals in
the first day, sit on your new patio, sip some coffee and take
some time to meet your new neighbors and enjoy each other!

I hope Maria’s tips have helped the process of combining two lives into one a bit easier and the challenge of making room for all those gifts less daunting.

Happy Organizing!

- Mrs. O

No Comments October 24, 2008 on 10:22 pm | In Uncategorized

Thanksgiving Tips From Mrs. Organized!

It’s still pretty warm in southern California, but I’m finally feeling like fall is in the air. I’m just waiting for that day to put on a cute cozy sweater. I’m such a summer person, but I really do love the change of seasons and deeply miss the beautiful seasons and colors of Upstate New York. I don’t think there is anywhere in the country quite as beautiful this time of the year.

As we move toward fall, it means that Thanksgiving is on its way. Everyone knows how much I love to entertain, but I just LOVE Thanksgiving! I can’t believe we’ll be around the table in just six weeks. This can only mean one thing…it’s time to get organized!

How do you get it all done? We’ve put together some easy steps to help you prepare and plan for a stress free holiday. We begin 3 weeks before the big day and count down to just hours before Thanksgiving dinner. To get you started, check out these useful tips:

3 Weeks Before
Confirm your guest list and choose the recipes you want to make.  Keep in mind the space you have in your refrigerator and oven when planning your menu. Once you have chosen your menu, decide what can be made ahead of time. Start a list of what you need to accomplish on each of the days leading up to Thanksgiving.

2 Weeks Before
Begin your lists. I’m a real ‘list person’, so typically I have 5! These include my Guest list, menu list (which drives my grocery store list), Costco list and bakery list. I add to each as I think of things. If anyone on my guest list is bringing their favorite recipe, I mark their name next to the dish on my menu list.

I have a couple of favorite items that I like to use for menu or party planning. I LOVE the Recipe Binder Set from Russell + Hazel, the Weekly Menu Pad from momAgenda, and the Shopping Pad from Buttoned Up. I’m also a big fan of the 8 Days-A-Week Planner Pad from Bob’s Your Uncle to keep me organized ‘at a glance’!

My Favorite Thanksgiving item this year?

The Thanksgiving Box of Questions! I think they will be a lot of fun around the table this year and make a perfect Thanksgiving hostess gift if you are invited to join friends and family.

Stay tuned on how to organize your weekend before and the last days leading up to Thanksgiving.

Happy Organizing!

- Mrs. O

No Comments October 23, 2008 on 11:44 pm | In Thanksgiving

Happy Birthday Wishes…

As Organize.com gets ready to celebrate our 10th birthday (WOW!), I would like to send out warm and happy birthday wishes to one of Mrs. O’s Favorite Organizers, Tamah Vega. Tamah founded A Sense of Home in 2004 to help women who are overwhelmed, overscheduled, and suffocated by too much stuff create the lifestyle they desire. An active NAPO member, Tamah currently sits on the board of the NAPO-San Francisco Bay Area chapter as the Associate Member Director. She is also a skilled artist who values aesthetics and order. With a passion for design and color, she has always enjoyed creating unique artwork and pleasing environments. I hope Tamah has a wonderful birthday and enjoys some relaxing and peaceful time with her husband and two children.

Happy Organizing!

- Mrs. O

1 Comment October 23, 2008 on 12:10 am | In Uncategorized

Oprah’s Search for the Messiest Room in America…

Look what we found! Our fellow NAPO members, College Hunks Hauling Junk, are asking “Is Your Junk Ready for the Oprah Winfrey Show?” and on a mission to help Oprah and her favorite organization expert, Peter Walsh, find the messiest rooms in America. If you are in need of a clutter intervention and are prepared to share your story on national television, send an email to PR@1800JunkUSA.com explaining why you’d be the perfect guest for this show.

If you are in the process of downsizing, have rooms full of stuff you need to get rid of, or have a storage unit that you just don’t know what to do with, College Hunks Hauling Junk may be the solution you are looking for. They help you FINALLY get rid of those unwanted items by providing friendly and collegiate teams to remove junk, including old furniture, computer equipment, electronics, renovation debris and yard brush from anywhere within your commercial or residential property. They proudly donate a portion of revenues from each job to local college scholarship programs. They recycle over 60% of the items they haul and handle bulk trash removal from your home or office in an environmentally safe method.

In honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I’d also like to share with you the 2009 College Hunks Hauling Junk Calendar. All proceeds benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

Happy Organizing!

- Mrs. O

No Comments October 17, 2008 on 9:21 pm | In Uncategorized

How To Organize A Halloween Party…

It’s that time of year again when the weather cools, the leaves star to fall off the trees, and little ghosts and ghouls venture into the neighborhood for a night of sugar induced fun. If you’re not on Trick or Treat duty and throwing a monster bash instead, here are some tips on how to organize a Halloween party:

1) Pick a Theme. Will it be monsters, movie characters, celebrities, pirates, or a free for all? Depending on whether you are having a children’s or adult party, will help to determine the theme. If hosting a children’s party, be sure to have plenty of parental supervision. And if you decide ‘costumes required’ party or casual.

2) Invitations. Make a guest list and send out invitations 2 weeks before the party. Choose invitations that will go along with your theme and get creative. You can save time and money and buy invites from your local party supply store or have some fun and make them yourself. Remember to keep it simple and be budget conscious. E-mails are also a fast, easy, and eco-friendly way to send out invites. Be sure to specify details about the party. Indicate if it is an adult, children’s or all ages party. If it is going to be a themed party, make sure to include instructions regarding costumes and if they are required. Don’t forget to include directions to the party, beginning and ending times and any special announcements such as costume contests.

3) Décor. Prepare your decorations 1 week before the party. Buy them from a party store, OR make them yourself. Give your self enough time to decorate. Depending on the complexity of your decorations, begin decorating the day before, or have some guests arrive early the day of to help out. One of my favorite décor pieces this season are the Oversized Paper Jack-O-Lanterns. The set of 3 are perfect for indoors or under the moonlight and collapse down flat so when not in use they can be easily stored.  Additional decoration tricks are throwing some white sheets over furniture to give an abandoned look. Replace regular light bulbs with black lights and red or green bulbs. Fog machines or dry ice in hot water always set a spooky mood. Fake spider webs are inexpensive and go a long way when decorating for Halloween and don’t forget the classic black and orange helium balloons to add instant spirit to your home.

4) Food and Drinks. Decide what type of food you will be providing and if you will provide a buffet table, simple refreshments and finger foods, delivery/take out or a potluck. Drinks will depend whether it is a children’s or adult party. Wine, cocktails, beer or a special Witch’s Brew is always fun! Drinks for the little ones can include fruit punch, soda, juice or a non-alcoholic Witch’s Brew. The perfect ice bucket or party tub can help you’re your drinks ice cold and refreshing the whole night through. And what’s a Halloween party without sweet treats? The dessert table should include cupcakes, cookies, ice cream, pumpkin pie and a bowl of candy. Whether young or old, it’s always a good thank your guests with a goody bag full of treats and party favors

5) Party Games. Depending on the crowd, you may want to plan and organize games for your party that are age appropriate and fun for everyone! Make the games more appealing with door prizes for all the winners.

6) Music. Set the perfect atmosphere with the right music and sounds. Buy or make a soundtrack for your party. Look for creepy and eerie sounds like screams, ghoulish grunts, creaking doors and more! Throw some fun and nostalgia into the mix with some classic Halloween songs like Monster Mash by Bobbie Boris Pickett & The Crypt-Kickers, Thriller by Michael Jackson, the Ghostbusters theme song by Ray Parker Jr., the Twilight Zone theme song by Neil Norman & His Cosmic Orchestra, The Addams Family theme song by Vic Mizzy, The Munsters theme song, Put A Spell On You by Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, Dead Man’s Party by Oingo Boingo and the ever so popular Time Warp from The Rocky Horror Picture Show Soundtrack.

7) Clean Up. After the party is over, it’s time to clean up the mess! Have some friends help you out and make sure you have all the essential tools and accessories. Large trash bags (don’t forget to recycle!), large trash can, broom and dust pan, rubber gloves, bucket, caddy, sponges, scrubbers (for the sticky messes), cleaning towels, and an all purpose cleaner.

Storage. Store your Halloween decorations in plastic bins, lidded boxes and storage bags to keep them in great shape for next year!

Happy Organizing!

- Mrs. O

1 Comment October 15, 2008 on 12:03 am | In Uncategorized

Clear Clutter and Help Others in the Process…

During the month of October, while some of us are planning Halloween parties, making costumes or creating the scariest haunted house in the neighborhood, others are working toward making a difference and helping to find for a cure. October is National Breast Cancer Awareness month and as Organize.com does their part to Think Pink and give back to a well deserved community of fighters and survivors, I would like to share some ways that one of our favorite organizers likes to de-clutter the home and help others in the process. Tamah Vega, founder of A Sense of Home, is an organizing coach & consultant, and an associate member director for NAPO in the San Francisco Bay area. She has given me 8 easy and fulfilling ways to clear some clutter and make a difference in your neighborhood. Check them out below:

8 Ways to Clear the Clutter and Help Others In the Process
By Tamah Vega

1. Help build a home for others. Habitat for Humanity ReStores accept donations of new and saleable, used building materials such as cabinets, lighting and plumbing fixtures, doors, flooring, and windows. Some materials are used to build Habitat for Humanity houses. The rest is sold to the public at 50-75% off the retail price with proceeds going back to Habitat towards building homes in partnership with local low-income families.

2. Share the gift of literacy. Donate all those books and magazines you’ve already read, plus the ones you think you should read but know you don’t really have time for. Many local public libraries have literacy programs and are in need of books and magazines.

3. Support the arts. Arts and crafts that is. We all have hobbies we started and no longer have time for or that we grew tired of. Instead of letting those supplies collect dust and serve as a reminder of something you didn’t finish, give them to a local school. Teachers are always in need of craft supplies for school projects.

4. Use your broken or outdated electronics to support the fight against breast cancer. Cell phones, laptops, empty toner and inkjet cartridges, PDAs, IPODS & MP3 players, digital cameras, business phones, and more can be sent via FREE pre-paid shipping labels to Recycle for Breast Cancer. Recycle for Breast Cancer is committed to reducing the incidence of environmentally caused breast cancer by keeping electronic waste from entering our landfills and environment.

5. Offer the gift of sight. Lions Club‘s around the globe collect prescription or nonprescription glasses or sunglasses. Check your drawers, desks, or closets for adult or child glasses and help those in developing nations who have little or no access to basic eye care.

6. Share the sound of music. You can donate musical instruments to a variety of non-profits allowing those who cannot afford an instrument the chance to learn to play. Mr. Holland’s Opus accepts shipped orchestra instruments to support music education and its many benefits to underserved school and community music programs and individual students nationwide.  Hungry For Music is a program that provides musical instruments to individuals, schools, and community music programs who cannot afford them. Since the program began, Hungry for Music has donated over a thousand instruments throughout the United States, Mexico, and India. They accept any musical instrument, sheet music and music related books.

7. Offer help in a career search. If you would like to help a disadvantaged woman thrive in the mainstream workforce donate a suit or other business-appropriate clothing that you no longer wear to Dress for Success.

8. Pamper someone. How many bottles of lotion, perfume or hair products do you have collecting dust? Most are given as gifts that we didn’t like but feel too guilty to toss. Others we spent good money on, but they end up not being as great as we thought, and now we can’t just get rid of them. Give your unused toiletries to someone who will really appreciate them, a battered women’s or homeless shelter in your town.

As Tamah continues to offer solutions to busy women on how to create a life that is more organized, beautiful, and balanced, I hope that you can share her great ideas with others and help to make a difference. And as I mentioned, this is the time for planning those fabulous Halloween parties, so check in again tomorrow to get some great tips on how to organize your Halloween party.
Happy Organizing!

- Mrs. O

1 Comment October 13, 2008 on 10:08 pm | In Uncategorized

Lunch Time Fun…

Packing fun and nutritious lunches for the kids is not always easy. Add on trying to be earth-friendly at the same time and you have quite a challenge. Well, here is the solution. Get a few reusable lunch containers and some creative accessories and your job is done. I like the Healthy Food on the Go lunch container by Fit N Fresh. It is perfect for those on the go, hungry little mouths. The large compartment is spacious enough for sandwiches and entrees, while the 2 side compartments are just the right size for carrots, apples, crackers, cheese and so much more. The container comes with a removable ice pack to keep food fresh and cool until you’re ready to eat it. And the best part, it doesn’t go in the trash at the end of the meal. Another fun find are crust cutters! They will make your child’s sandwich one of a kind and have them looking forward to lunch time.

Happy Organizing!

- Mrs. O

No Comments October 10, 2008 on 9:17 pm | In Uncategorized

Question from the Readers…

Recently a reader wrote in and asked for some ideas on where she could find pull drawer labels for her son’s canvas drawers. The first thought that came to mind was the creative and innovative labels from Wonderful Graffiti. They have transfer labels that can be used on drawers, walls, containers, shelves, buckets, lockers, pet dishes and so much more!. They are flexible, durable and washable, making them perfect for the little one’s drawers. They won’t damage surfaces and stay in place until you are ready to remove them.

Another fun and creative solution for drawer labels are pictures! This is a great tip I read on Parents.com. Having a visual helps the child better associate and remember what goes inside the drawers. Make it a team effort and take the pictures together or get some paper and crayons and turn it in to an artistic project.

Stay tuned for more tips and ideas on how to keep you and the rest of the family organized.

Happy Organizing!

- Mrs. O

No Comments October 3, 2008 on 12:00 am | In Uncategorized