Ready for Your Organizing Tune-up?

Ever get that feeling perhaps things could be working a little bit better? Everything is working pretty good around your home, though you are finding yourself a tad frustrated or worn out. Perhaps it is time to do a little tweeking to get things back to running smoothly again.

Items have found home in areas they should not be:
- Are you looking for clean clothes in the laundry room because they haven't quite made it to your bedroom?
- Has the pile of papers (ok, piles) on your desk seem to be growing while you sleep?
- Items in the kitchen counters are STILL on the kitchen counters instead of in their place in the cabinets?
-Your garage is ... well, perhaps that is a future post all on its own ...
- Kids toys have infiltrated your living room.

I will admit that even I, the rocket scientist of professional organizing, is in need of a Tune-Up in my home (hey, ever heard of the plumber who has leaky pipes in his home?). The hussle and hassles of life happens to us all, and sometimes our homes get out of whack. If you recognized something isn't jiving like it used to, that is a signal that you need to take action.

First, take a deep breath and slowly blow it out (may repeat a few times, if needed)
Now, pick a room and grab the items that are out of place and get them to their home. If the items belong in another room, place them near the door or stairway. Do NOT leave the room. If you are working on your desk paper pile (oh yeah, piles), grab it and get the papers filed or trashed.

Enlist the help of your kids to get their toys picked up. They know where their clothes, as well as yours, are suppose to go too. Get them to help.

You should be able to spend 10-15 minutes in each room tweeking it back into shape. If you have more time, fantastic!

You will be surprised how just a little organizing tune up will make your home feel and run better. Remember, life is meant to be enjoyed in big scoops.

What odd thing did you find in a strange spot?

It's Just Water

A small basement flood reminds me of this post of 4 years ago (Yeah, this blog is nearly 5 years old). Not much significant was lost. Most of what needs to be tossed are items I really should not have anymore anyway ... bonus in all of this is we will have a spanking clean basement.

Here's the post from February 14, 2007:

One Friday at 5:10pm, trying to get my two boys into the car so I can get them to the "drop and flop" (my nickname for the halfway meeting location) for their weekend with their dad. As we are rushing out the door, Jacob knocks over a full glass of water.

Water goes EVERYWHERE!
Jacob's face bursts into tears.
Matthew has this look of terror on his face
("Oh man, mom is going to FREAK!").

My reaction:
"WOW! You know, I needed to clean the floor and you just helped me out. It is OK. Let's clean this up together."

I cannot tell you the joy that came over Jacob's face.

It would have been quite easy for me to "FREAK" and point out how we were going to be even more late. It was so much better for us all to just stop, each grab a towel, wipe up the floor and leave the house happy.....not to mention our floor was a bit cleaner.

Next time something out of control happens, think about the choice you have in your reaction.

Does your reaction help the situation you are in?
You have a split moment to choose a positive outcome.

How has your positive reaction changed the outcome of a bad situation?

Put on Your Boogie Shoes!

Moving is stressful alone, let alone when you are rushed into it, which is exactly what happened with "Mary." The rushed moved caused her basement to become the dumping ground.














The first area we needed to pick up a bit to be able to assemble a desk. The tricky part was trying to figure out how to put the desk together without instructions. Once that assembled, Mary now had a raise working surface to sort through boxes. Later, her daughters could use the desk for crafting, games or puzzles.









Mary's daughters are big into dance and even has an area in her basement set up for them to practice. Though with the sudden move, the dance floor was the covered in boxes, bags and random household items. Box by box, we sorted through the pile, putting items away as we went. The dance floor was found again and Mary had an idea of what was left in each box she needed to sort through.

Out of all of this, there was one large bag of trash and two boxes of donation items. Mary's daughters will look through their toys and find more to donate. Mary will look through her boxes and find more to trash. In the end, the basement will be back in shape ready for practicing new dance moves and lounging around the TV.

"It's gonna take 13 hours to clean this mess up," Mary thought.
Well, we worked for 3 hours.
She has a bit more work to do, but way less than 13 hours.

What's your favorite type of dance music?

Just Some Random Thoughts

Ever get a bunch of random thoughts in your head and wonder why the heck am it thinking about this? Uh ... well ... I do (don't judge me).

Here's what is tumbling out of my head:

1. Think about where you want to be right now, what are you doing to get there?

2. Teaching your kids how to ride a bike is one of the greatest joys in the world.

3. If you could be any animal, what animal would you be?

4. Laughing everyday is key to success.

5. I LOVE jealous, mean people. Proves to me I am doing the right thing.

6. Life is precious, why waste it doing something boring?

7. Go to college.


8. Hong Kong Phooey IS the #1 super guy.

9. Everything in moderation is good.

10. Live life with no regrets.

11. You cannot fault honesty.


12. Why do we still need warnings on plastic bags?

13. Cheaters = Losers. Stay away from them.

14. If you are told, "Wow, you're cheap." Time to raise your rates!

15. Nothing better that people watchin'

16. F=ma

17. When in doubt, ask for help.

18. NEVER SETTLE!

19. Mountain Biking after a thunderstorm is Fantastic!

20. Don't be judgemental of others.

21. Singing to Meatloaf Videos with an electrical cord is perhaps the best night of my life!

That's the list I came up with.

What are your 3 random thoughts right now?

Thank you for your help in shaking up the organizing world

In the most wonderful words of STYX:

"Tonight's the night we'll make history ..."

The premier of the "Organized Solutions" segment will air on FOX Toledo News at 6:30pm. Then you can tune in EVERY FRIDAY to learn a fun, sexy, sassy organizing trick.

WOW!

There were so many times I was so close to quitting.
Damn thankful to have pushed through and make it to today.

There were people who told me to get a "real job" or that I was "working below my ability." To them I say thank you as well. You pushed me to rise above your criticisms.

Most importantly. I want to thank you: my readers, fans, friends, family and the Universe for all your support, comments, thoughts, laughter, tears and pride. I certainly could not have made it this far without you.

Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.

WOW!

Who are you thankful for today?