A Book of Tales Like No Other

I'm writing a book.
Crazy.
And it is NOT on organizing.

The working title is:
"Tales, Trials & Turmoil of Divorcing a Nimrod"

Simply documenting the experiences over the past 5 years. None of the stories are made up. These are actual events that unfolded. Many of them are frankly embarassing that they even occured. Some are infuriating and upalling. The fact of the matter, they happened.

A few of the potential chapter titles:
The Fax Machine
The Popcorn Incident
My List
Driveway Chicken
Cookie Dough and the 16 Page Document
Yeah, I've Got Three Holes
Soccer
“Co-parenting” … Ha!
The Drop-n-Flop
The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
An Overpaid Nanny
Make-up Parenting Time
A Few Dollars More
Exotic Vacations

At first, my ex-husband's actions got the best of me. Now, I'm pretty much just sitting back kinda watching the train wreck unfold before my eyes. Reaching in my box of popcorn, sipping on my Coke waiting for the next chapter to unfold.
... and takin' notes along the way because Hollywood just can't come up with this stuff.

Oh, thinkin' I might like Jennifer Aniston to play me, perhaps, Christopher Walken to play him.

Open to all of your suggestions for book title, chapters and other ideas.

What story should you tell?

The Organizing Shuffle

You split the cards into two piles,
turn them toward each other,
Lift up the inside edges,
apply a little pressure,
and ... Viola! 2 stacks shuffle into one.

Yeah!

... Well, have you ever organized your area by grouping smaller piles into bigger piles?

Hate to say it, but you're doing the Organizing Shuffle.
(for some reason right now I hear the "Do the Hustle" softly in the background)

OK, the Organizing Shuffle also includes:
-Moving items from one room to another, to sort later.
-Clearing off an area, only to place everything back.
-Picking up the same item more than twice, setting it back down because you don't know what to do with it. (likely to only be picked up again very soon)

How do you combat the choregraphed movement of your stuff?
STOP IT

You've decided you want to get organized, Right?

The hard truth:
You are going to have to part with some stuff.
I'm not saying this is an easy task. Though I've seen the benefits in people's lives by letting go of a few items.

Remember, 80% of the clutter in most homes is a result of disorganization, not lack of space.

Start with a small project. Maybe you can only let go of 1-2 items the first time. That's better than nothing, right? Next project consider letting go of 4-6 items ... heck, maybe a whole box of stuff.

You'll begin to feel lighter, air will breathe easier into your lungs and looking around you'll be proud of your organizing project. Maybe ready to tackle another room.

What disco tune is shaking your booty?

All These Years And Not One Fart Joke!

The weekend is here and I say:
HAVE FUN!!

Perhaps you have some projects, perhaps even an organizing goal this weekend, remember to take the time to treat yourself.
“Don’t take life too seriously.
You’ll never get out alive.”
Bugs Bunny
With two boys, we live by hourly fart jokes on most days. And its true, Bugs never dropped a fart joke. You may ask:
"what do farts have to do with organizing?"

Frankly, nothing.

Except I was challenged to write including the word "fart" in a blog post at least 5 times. It's a fun. I like challenges.
Bottomline: farts are funny. BING!

Get out there and enjoy the weekend!!

What's your favorite Bugs Bunny quote?

Vegas, Zebras, Ant Farms and Desert Snowman

Been gone pretty much all last week in Las Vegas for the National Association of Senior Move Managers conference. I was honored to be invited to be a speaker in one of the educational sessions. My topic was a non-organizing topic, more like a marketing "rock show."

Well, like all great rock shows, there was some opening music. Then jumped right into the fun. It was awesome to hear the laughter and see the lightbulbs going off in many faces as I talked about how to make your most important marketing tool fun and unique -- YOURSELF!!

Good times indeed. In fact one person came up to me and said:
"I believe you could speak about
ant farms and make them sound exciting."

The set of zebras pic is one of my favorite slides from the show used to demostrate the power of being different. (you should see what I used for "unique")

Here's the opening playlist:
Spirit in the Sky, Nitty Gritty Band
Black Betty, Ram Jam
You Shook Me All Night Long, AC/DC
The Chain, Fleetwood Mac
Joy to the World, Three Dog Night
Lose Yourself, Eminem
Who Are You, The Who
How Far We've Come, Matchbox 20
Rockstar, Nickelback
Domino, Van Morrison
Son of a Preacherman, Dusty Springfield

Oh and of course my business partners were with me, my boys. We drove to Utah (because we could), toured the Hoover Dam (took lots of dam pictures), built a snowman in the Mojave Desert and they dragged me to the top of a 700 ft sand dune (so much damn fun).

What three songs would you have as YOUR opening playlist?

2010 Vision Board

One month and a few days into this fabulous year and my vision board for 2010 is done!


This is my fourth year creating these posters. This one has been on the floor in my office for a couple weeks, because there was no "things" on it. Finally decided, this must not be a year I need "things." Not that I am a thing kinda chick, at all. Guess I'm more of a "doing things" chick.

Here's to a funtabulouslyawesome year!!
(totally just made that word up, mine now)

“People only see what they are prepared to see.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson
What word can you make up right now?

Love It + Use It = Keep It

You are about to begin your organizing project.

Use this little organizing tip for sorting:
If your item makes you happy
AND
has a function in your life,
then keep it.
If you cannot answer "yes" to both, then it's time to part with it.

What do you have in your home that has lost it's use?
(You know, like tits on a boar hog)

Junk Drawer 101 ... Psst, Want a Freebie?

We all have junk drawers.
(OK, maybe a couple ... alright several)

An organized junk drawer, we'll that's just crazy talk.

Things get tossed into the junk drawer because they were needed at one time, not really sure an easy place was available when you were done with it. Now your junk is a mishmash of items from nail clippers, hair brushes, foreign coins, pencils, paintbrushes, ball inflator valves, guitar picks, ... uh, you get the point.

Rubbermaid has a new product hitting the stores in mid-February that could be the solution to organizing your junk drawer:



6 piece drawer organization set





Little rubber feet keep the pieces from sliding around your drawers as you open and close. Rubbermaid also molded in a rubber mat in each piece to help control items in each piece. To top it off, they designed the pieces to interlock which further aids keeping everything in its place.

Now, don't limit the use of this product to just your junk drawers (yes, drawers). Think about bathroom products, cosmetics, office supplies, craft room ... heck, anywhere you've got little stuff rolling around in a drawer.

To help you on your organizing quest for 2010, Rubbermaid is giving me set of this fantastic new product to give away to one of you. How awesome it that?!

Entering is simple:
- Leave a comment below and let me know what drawer you need to organize.
- Join the Organized Solutions Facebook Fan page and share your comment.
- Share with your Facebook friends and Tweeters the offer.

Heck, the more the merrier I say!

A winner will be selected Saturday, February 6th.
** Winner has been randomly chosen **
Congratulations @Skaro964!

What drawer are you going to organize?