Let go of your excess pens

Little Known Fact:
You only write with one pen/pencil/marker at a time.

The other 40+ writing instruments on top of your desk are taking up valuable space.  Likely, half of them you hate to use or are dried up.

You can toss them.
It's OK.
Really.

Note: this Little Known Fact may not apply if you are some sort of Crayon Picasso. Coloring with a fistful of crayons is quite fun.

How many pens/pencils/markers did you toss?
(it's OK if you say 1-3 coffee cups)

Be a GlowWorm (or another version of awesomeness)

"We are all worms, but I do believe I am a glowworm."
~Winston Churchill


This quote came across my random quotes of the day and it made me chuckle a bit. If you think about it, it's the perfect way to think about yourself.

We're all the same, though if you can think of yourself as special, unique ... heck, let's just say you're a ROCKSTAR!

Keep that mindset throughout your day, repeat it to yourself. It's not being pompous or self-centered. This is your own fun little mantra for the day. No one needs to know about it but YOU.

I bet you will begin to feel more confident, walk with a little swagger or bounce in your step because you are believing in yourself.
Nothing is more powerful than yourself.

C'mon, give it a shot.
Whadda got to lose??
You Glowworm, Rockstar, Diva, Empress, Ruler, Guru you.

Who are you?
"Today, I believe I am a _____."

Time to Get Organized: Challenge #2

You know that drawer with all those kitchen tools and devices for cooking, baking, spreading, flipping, piercing, poking, whisking and stirring  filled with items you never really use much but have them, so you keep them ...

Yeah, THAT drawer or dust covered counter top holder thingy.


Today's organizing project:
Your Kitchen Utensils 
Dump them out.  Keep only what you USE.

Reward: Pancakes for dinner!

Now don't cut yourself on the cheese slicer given to you as a wedding gift 15 years ago, though you should be OK since it is still in the packaging ... Uh, maybe you can let that one go?

Organizing your kitchen is vital to having a peaceful home.
Think about it.

Your kitchen provides nourishment to your body. If your kitchen is not happy, you're likely not going to want to spend much time in it. Everyone enjoys going out eat. But, if you're going out to eat because your kitchen is a mess, perhaps it is time to make a change.

Focus on making your kitchen happy.
You can do it!

What did you have for dinner?

Time to Get Organized: Challenge #1

New Year Organizing challenges are back!  
Hey, I gave you a week to ramp up to this, right?

I know.  I know.  But you got start somewhere on your path to organizing success.

Let's kick off the "Time to Get Organized" Challenges with something familiar. Even if it has been a year (or never) since you cleaned out your email inbox.

With a full week to rest and recoup from the holiday hoopla, now it is time to get back to business. These organizing challenges are to give you some direction at conquering your organizing goals.

Today's 10 min project: Your InBox.

Spend 10 minutes deleting (yes, I said 'delete')
old emails from your inbox.
HUGE slice of cheescake, or an alternate reward,
if you get your box down to 25 messages.

Check back for the next organizing challenge.

Imagine how awesome you are going to feel by the end of the month!

How many messages are in your inbox (before & after numbers)?

Grab Your Toilet Paper and Get Organized

It's your home.
You have lived there for years and become accustom to how things are.

Look around your home
and pick a room.
What do you see?



One BIG, HUGE mess with no hope of EVER getting organized. Why even bother? You've lived this long with it. Yeah, you feel overwhelmed and cranky about it, though there is nothing you can really do. It's just too much.

You have a problem. And, yeah, it may be a pretty big one, too. The thing is that all BIG problems are made of up smaller problems. Those smaller problems are made up of tiny problems. Solving these tiny problems, is exactly what you need to accomplish to love your home again.



How do you find these tiny problems to solve?
Reduce your vision.



Here's a clip from FOX Toledo news showing you this little trick:

Focusing in on a project: foxtoledo.com

So, grab a roll of toilet paper and look through the hole.
What do you see? Tiny problems.

By reduce your vision of the entire area, you can focus on smaller tasks. As you conquer these smaller tasks, the bigger problem begins to dwindle away. You begin to breathe easier in your home. Everything seems lighter and brighter.

Pretty slick, uh?
Get out there and enjoy the day!

What did your toilet paper roll show you?

Time to Get Organized: Challenge #5

Magazines.
Who knew these innocent little reads could cause such headaches as the pile up around you, if you do not keep them in control.

Today's organizing project:
Your Magazines.

Clear out your magazines.
Reward: When taking a shower, linger for
an extra couple minutes with your eyes closed.

Grab a brown paper grocery bag and start loading it up with your old magazines. Any magazine over 3 months has got to go. Most articles are available on-line if that is your justification for keeping it. If there is a layer of dust on them, it has got to go. (plus do you seriously want to dust a magazine?)

Please consider dropping off your magazines to a recycling center or check with you local school to see if they may need them for art projects.

The National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO) has deemed January as National Get Organized Month. Michigan Governer, Jennifer Granholm recently signed a proclamation in support of being more organized in 2010.

Remember getting organized is an investment in yourself.

Enjoy the day!

What's your favorite magazine?

Time to Get Organized: Challenge #3

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.

Today's organizing project: Your Junk Drawer
Bring the garbage can nearby and start tossing thing out.
Reward: Call up a friend you have not spoken to in far too long.
Seriously, are you REALLY going to need that "L" shaped assembly tool for the cabinet you put together 5 years ago? What about those little bags of extras screws?
Get rid of them!

As you pull items out, place them into similar groups. Once everything is out of your junk drawer, wipe the funk out of it and think about what you REALLY need. There are all sorts of fancy plastic containers to use to keep items organized. Use them if you wish, but you may have some small boxes or old plastic bowls that could be used, as well.

Make your junk drawer a functioning member of your happy organized home.
... and guess what.  You are going to feel sooooo much better, too!

How many screws did you have in your junk drawer?

Time to Get Organized: Challenge #2

You know that drawer with all those kitchen tools and devices for cooking, baking, spreading, flipping, piercing, poking, whisking and stirring  filled with items you never really use much but have them, so you keep them ...

Yeah, THAT drawer or dust covered counter top holder thingy.



Today's organizing project:
Your Kitchen Utensils 
Dump them out.  Keep only what you USE.

Reward: Pancakes for dinner!

Now don't cut yourself on the cheese slicer given to you as a wedding gift 15 years ago, though you should be OK since it is still in the packaging ... Uh, maybe you can let that one go?

Organizing your kitchen is vital to having a peaceful home.
Think about it.

Your kitchen provides nourishment to your body. If your kitchen is not happy, you're likely not going to want to spend much time in it. Everyone enjoys going out eat. But, if you're going out to eat because your kitchen is a mess, perhaps it is time to make a change.

Focus on making your kitchen happy.
You can do it!

What did you have for dinner?

Perhaps We're All a Tinge OCD

OK, I'm going to jump right in an say I have a routine I must do or my day just feels weird.

One of my things:
I must put on my right sock,
then left sock,
then put on my right shoe and tie it,
then put on my left shoe and tie it.

If this sequence is jumbled up,
I will start over to bare feet and begin again
(I'll feel like I'm walking in circles all day if I don't).

Many of us have these little "routines" we do everyday. Perhaps we are aware, maybe we are oblivious though others around you are totally laughing inside at your antics. That's OK, you're happy right? Nothing wrong with having an OCD tendency here and there.

Think about this:
Being TOO organized with everything in its place. Nothing ever so slightly crooked on your walls. Perhaps to the point of shelves and bins labeled. No dust on any of your flat surfaces (Oh, I have excepted dust into my household as my friend). You may be a bit OCD.

On the other hand, you have stacks of clothes, papers, newspapers, egg crates and such everywhere. You love collections. There is a bit of order to the chaos in your home, though its just a lot of stuff. Keeping you from enjoying your home as you wish you could. This may be a bit OCD, too.

See we all, likely, at some level have OCD.
Again I believe whole-heartedly in:

"Everything in moderation is good."
Take a moment and think about what's going on in your life and home. Perhaps there is an area that has gotten a bit out of control. Lasso that bad boy and take charge.

You'll feel better.

What is your daily OCD routine?

Organizing 3 Items At a Time

Look around your desk, how does it look?
Perhaps a better question: How does it feel?

You know, calm and ready for action today or ugh, overwelmed, why bother, I need a coffee.

Getting you on the organized path starts with your first step.

Ready?
(this is not going to hurt at all)

Look at your desk.
Choose 3 items and make a decision, Keep or Trash.
If your keeping, put it away.
Trash ... well, you know. Bah-bye!
Feel better?

Repeat as frequently as needed for happy feelings.

What did you put away today?

Free Hugs Toledo

I love helping you organize your homes and lives, though my ultimate goal is to make your day brighter and happier.

Free Hugs Toledo is a fun event which we create smiles and joy by a simple
no-strings-attached hug.
Free Hugs Toledo, Ohio
prior to the Mud Hens game
(and Crystal Bowersox singing our national anthem)
Friday, May 14, 2010
You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one.
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one.

Thank you John Lennon for "Imagine."

Thank you U2 for "One."
Challenge yourself to make the day brighter for someone. If hugging isn't your thing, perhaps a beautiful compliment or simply hold the door open. By making a stranger's day shine, you shine too.

Need more Free Hugs?
Check out our first Free Hugs Toledo video .

When was the last time you hugged a stranger?

Be a GlowWorm (or another version of extreme awesomeness)

"We are all worms,
but I do believe I am a glowworm."
~Winston Churchill
This quote came across my random quotes of the day and it made me chuckle a bit. If you think about it, it's the perfect way to think about yourself.

We're all the same, though if you can think of yourself as special, unique ... heck, let's just say you're a ROCKSTAR!

Keep that mindset throughout your day, repeat it to yourself. It's not being pompous or self-centered. This is your own fun little mantra for the day. No one needs to know about it but YOU.

I bet you will begin to feel more confident, walk with a little swagger or bounce in your step because you are believing in yourself.
Nothing is more powerful than yourself.

C'mon, give it a shot.
Whadda got to lose??
You Glowworm, Rockstar, Diva, Empress, Ruler, Guru you.

Who are you?
"We are all _____ but I believe I am a _____."

Time To Get Organized: Challenge #10

Saving one of the worst,
most dreaded organizing tasks out there
for the last of our organizing challenge series.

Though it must be done.

And, if you can come up with a system, you will save a TON of time.

Today's organizing project:
Your paper filing system

Sort & Purge those files

Reward: Tell the kids they can have cookies for breakfast
if they let you sleep in.

Organizing paper is very tedious and time consuming. It is likely that as you begin, every paper needs to be glanced at to figure out "why am I keeping this?" Once you get on a roll, hopefully the papers will begin to fly into the recycling bin or shredder.

Not sure what you need to keep? Check out this post from last year:
"Do I Really Need My Last 5 Years of Electric Bills?"

If you're computer savy, toss the majority of manuals because they are available on-line. Think about your Federal and State tax line items, perhaps set up a folder for each one this year. Saving a big of time and effort rather than sorting a wad of receipts at the end of the year.

Think about how paper moves in and out of your home. Set up your filing system to work with it. For all the great filing systems out there, they will not work unless you use them.

Here's a list of our 2010 organizing challenges:
#1 Organizing Your Inbox
#2 Organizing Your Medicine Cabinet
#3 Organizing Your Pantry
#4 Organizing Your Work Area
#5 Organizing Your Magazines
#6 Organizing Your Car
#7 Organizing Scavenger Hunt
#8 Organizing Your Linen Closet
#9 Organizing Your Sock Drawer

My hope was to give you a starting point to becoming more organized in the new year. Perhaps from time to time I will add a little challenge here and there to keep you on track. Please keep us posted on how you're doing.

What is the oldest manual you had filed away?

Time To Get Organized: Challenge #9

Ever realize at 3:00pm you have on one blue sock with one black sock?

Heck, I remember one time going to work at Ford Motor Company with one blue and one black pump. Now that I think about it. It was around 3-4:00, too, when I realized the fashion faux pas.

Today's organizing project:
Your Sock Drawer.

Dump it out and start over

Reward: Crank up the music in your home
and dance like you're Beyonce.

Dump out drawer and check out the pile.
Match up your socks.
Group them into colors and styles.
Return your happy little sorted piles into the drawer.


Remember to place your black socks away from your blue socks. If you put your gym socks in the middle of them, may keep them from drifting together a bit longer.

Ah, an organized sock drawer. No more fumbling for the right socks ... well, at least of a little while.

What song did you crank up and boogie?

Time To Get Organized: Challenge #8

Sitting in your closet for months, years, waiting to be used. Yet, nope ... just doesn't happen. Your old towels and sheets are "too good" to throw out, yet you just cannot part with them.

So they sit ... and sit ...
in your linen closet waiting for the day you will need 6 blue bath towels sets, even though your bathroom is now green. Then there are the double size sheet sets you still have, alas now you have a queen size bed. Yet there is nothing wrong with the double sheet set except they do not fit your bed.

Today's organizing project:
Your Linen Closet.

Remove towels or sheets that are not being used

Reward: Kick back, enjoy your favorite beverage
and think about the last time you laughed REALLY hard
(if its been too long, go rent "The Hangover.")

My favorite place to donate linens to are your local animal shelter. They are always in need of towels, sheets, blankets, rugs ... heck anything to wipe up a mess or let the animals cuddle up into for a nap.

By organizing your linen closet, you are going to end up with a TON more room. Instead of blankets tumbling out everytime you open the door to grab a fresh towel, everything will stay in place. Plus, you'll only have your freshest and softest towels for available for use.

One week left in National Get Organized month and hopefully you are beginning to feel a bit lighter around your home, the air seems easier to breathe and you are able to relax and enjoy yourself more.

Here's a list of our 2010 organizing challenges to date:
#1 Organizing Your Inbox
#2 Organizing Your Medicine Cabinet
#3 Organizing Your Pantry
#4 Organizing Your Work Area
#5 Organizing Your Magazines
#6 Organizing Your Car
#7 Organizing Scavenger Hunt

What made you laugh REALLY hard?

Time To Get Organized: Challenge #7

"One of these things is not like the others,
One of these things just doesn't belong,
Can you tell which thing is not like the others
By the time I finish my song?"

Aaaahh, the classic Sesame Street song.

Who knew you could use something you learned on Sesame Street to get organized?

Today's organizing project:
A Scavenger Hunt.

Walk around your home and pick up items that do not belong.

Reward: Schedule an appointment for yourself, a lunch date,
doctor visit, hair or nails, something you need to do for YOU.

This is a GREAT little organizing project because everyone in your home can play along.

Grab a bag, box or basket and simply walk around an area in your home and pick up items that do not belong. After you have gathered your stuff, then take and put the items back where they belong.

You may have many items that no longer even belong in your home. Those need to leave your home, either donate or trash. Your challenge should be to grab 27 items to stimulate good Feng Shui energy in your home.

Who's your favorite Sesame street character?

Time To Get Organizing: Challenge #6

Between your driving commute for work, hustling the kids around for sporting/social events and your own shopping errands, you are likely spending a lot of time in your car.

Today's organizing project:
Your Car.

Grab a bag (or two) and clean up
all those papers and toys.

Reward: Call up a friend you have not spoken to in far too long.

Nothing worse than scrambling in the morning to get everyone off to school and you jump into your car with papers, toys and that lingering smell of a 3 month old french fry under the seat.

Clean up all those crumpled fliers and receipts, wipe down the dashboard and steering wheel and shoot some Febreeze on the floor and seats for a fresh smell.

Now, when you jump into your car. You'll have a bit of a sense of peace as you cruise down the road singing like a rockstar. Plus, you had a great chat with your friend. Perhaps you are meeting for lunch later in the week.

What song makes you sing like a rockstar?

Time To Get Organized: Challenge #5

Magazines.
Who knew these innocent little reads could cause such headaches as the pile up around you, if you do not keep them in control.

Today's organizing project:
Your Magazines.

Clear out your magazines.

Reward: When taking a shower, linger for
an extra couple minutes with your eyes closed.

Grab a brown paper grocery bag and start loading it up with your old magazines. Any magazine over 3 months has got to go. Most articles are available on-line if that is your justification for keeping it. If there is a layer of dust on them, it has got to go. (plus do you seriously want to dust a magazine?)

Please consider dropping off your magazines to a recycling center or check with you local school to see if they may need them for art projects.

The National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO) has deemed January as National Get Organized Month. Michigan Governer, Jennifer Granholm recently signed a proclamation in support of being more organized in 2010.

Remember getting organized is an investment in yourself.

Enjoy the day!

What's your favorite magazine?

Time To Get Organized: Challenge #4

When you are surrounded by too much stuff, you just can't see all the good stuff you really have.

Monday's require an quick and easy organizing task. Look about the area you are sitting at right now. I bet there are at least five things you could pick up and put them away where they belong or just TOSS THEM. Look for dusty stuff if you're struggling ... it is Monday.

Today's organizing project:
Your work area.

Look for at least 5 items to pick up or throw away

Reward: take 5 minutes to think about what you are thankful for.

Moving stuff is good Feng Shui. You know it is good for your body to get up and move around from time to time. If your work area is feeling a bit bogged down, give this Feung Shui magic trick a shot.

You've moved your five items and thought about a few great things in your life. That, my friend, is an AWESOME way to start off the week.

Get out there and enjoy the day!

Here's a list of our 2010 organizing challenges to date:
#1 Organizing Your Inbox
#2 Organizing Your Medicine Cabinet
#3 Organizing Your Pantry

What are you thankful for today?

Time to Get Organized: Challenge #3

Recently found a can of soup from 1998 in a client's pantry which got me thinking about our next organizing challenge:

Today's project: Your Pantry.

Pull everything out, clean the shelves
and organize those cans and boxes

Reward: Rent that movie you keep passing,
yet you always look at it.
Oh, you'll need some popcorn, too
(hey, this is bigger than a 10 min project)

Organizing your pantry is a great weekend project. It's not going to take all weekend (I hope), though it will be longer than 10-15 minutes.

Remove everything from your "pantry" or the area you have all your food items. As you take items out, organized them into like groups:
soups, veggies, rice, pastas, sauces, treats, snacks, etc ...

You also will need to make sure you LIKE the stuff you are keeping and you will USE it. If it is from 1998 and you moved it from one home to your current home and you still have it, uh ... you're not going to use it in 2010.

Now, there will be crumbs and crusties about on the shelves.
Everyone has them.
I don't know how they get there, they just do.

You've got your storage area cleaned up.
Start placing your stuff back in the area using the groups you have sorted items.

Boom Baby!
You are ready to enjoy that goofy movie because your pantry is a fagizzely organized pantry.

Previous organizing challenges (click here)

What movie you chillin' with tonight?