A Rocket Scientist organized our office!

Recently I helped Priceless Preservation get their office organized and develop a system for the flow of their projects.  From incoming, work status to completion, they now can see what needs to be done or ready for pick-up.

Priceless Preservation are passionate about preserving your memories, the story of yours and your family's life.  Their mission is to help preserve your media collections with thoughtfulness, creativity and cost efficiency.

They were so pleased with the results of their organizing project, they wrote a blog post.  You can read the contents below, but I recommend you go to the original post for more images:

We can't say enough about professional organizer Angie Weid who is whipping our Main Street office into great shape - and streamlining our project flow.

Angie, who started Organized Solutions in 2004 and is a proud member of the National Association of Professional Organizers, is affectionately referred to as a real rocket scientist by her clients -- and it's actually quite true.  Angie is a graduate of Purdue University with a B.S. in Aeronautical/Astronautical Engineering.

She has 8 years experience as a Design Engineer and Program Manager at Ford Motor Company. Good organization, creativity and quick critical thinking are a few skills she has developed as an engineer. As a single mother of 2 beautiful boys, she has learned the art of multi-tasking and understands how overwhelming life can get without a plan to enjoy it.

We feel so fortunate to have the opportunity to work with Angie to make Priceless Preservation a more efficient and inviting downtown Ann Arbor small business. We hope you'll stop in soon and see the changes that already are starting to take place.

Now that we have new shelving and a system in place for organizing our digitization, restoration and preservation projects, we'll spend June redecorating and bringing on another team member.

Thank you for everything you've done to bring us this far on our journey. We have your repeat business and client referrals to thank for making this exciting phase in our development both necessary and possible.

For more information about Angie's wonderful small business, visit her Organized Solutions website. 

Organizing Gift Certificates ... for the person who has everything ... really

Finding a fun, creative and appreciative gift this holiday season can be quite challenging.  With the craziness of life, many times just a little bit of extra help to ease the stress and strain of an overwhelmed world is amazingly refreshing.

An Organized Solutions gift certificate may be that perfect fit for your favorite loved one who has been dreaming of getting organized.  Available directly at our website (upper right corner).

If you are thinking of purchasing a gift certificate, I encourage you to contact me to make sure your gift will be happily received. Nothing worse than getting a gift like that ugly sweater your Aunt Bonnie gave you when you were 16 year old.

After all, we all give with best intentions, though making sure your gift is perfect is priceless.

From Cluttered to Clean

It's a new year and time for a new you!

One of the best ways to begin becoming more organized is to let go of things.  Items that are no longer serving a positive function in your life should be sent on their way:  donate, recycle, sell or trash.  

Here's a fabulous little article from the Monroe News to give you a few little ideas to get started:

I truly believe that if you can live with less, you will have more time, energy and freedom to accomplish anything.

You can do it!  I believe in you.

What did you let go of from your home?

Honoring Your Loved Ones Memory

This is one of my favorite organizing project stories ever. Love this story, and so appropriate for this time of year. Enjoy.


"Terry" admits she get overwhelmed in attempting to stay organized. Like many of us, the dramas of life can take over and the last thing on your list of things to care for is yourself.

Terry had been hanging on to a gift certificate for my services for 11 months. The certificate made her feel good when she received it and if she used it, Terry felt it would be gone. Finally, she broke down and we met.

We talked a bit about her goals. I gave her some ideas about managing tasks to get and stay organized. Then she told me about a craft box in her attic.

This craft box was her mother's. Terry cherished this box of craft supplies. The thing is, Terry's mother passed away 11 years ago. Yes, 11 years this box sat in her attic collecting dust and funk.

She finally decided that the time had come to part with it. Terry told me she believed,

"If you release what is holding you back, good will come back."

A woman came to Terry's home from Freecycle to pick up her mother's craft box. The next week, there was a knock on Terry's front door.

The woman had returned to give Terry this Christmas display for her home. Made only from the items found in the gifted box. Terry immediately recognized certain parts of the arrangement that her mother decorated with. Needless to say, Terry was beside herself with joy and happiness. I got the chills when she told me the story.

Memories of a past loved one are good. They should be honored since they played a loving role in your life. Though if you have them cramped in a dusty, funky smelling old box in your attic, is that really a positive way to remember them?

If you are not enjoying them, perhaps it is time to part with them.
Another person will find joy in the items you give.
........ And good will come back to you.

What's in your attic?

Let It Go and Enjoy!

Want to truly enjoy your new  Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or Festivus gifts  that you will be receiving soon?
... Take this weekend to "Let Go" of items in your home
that no longer make you smile & feel wonderful
(or that you are tired of dusting)
What did you "let go" in your home?

Reward yourself. You deserve it!

Kids get rewarded all the time. Sometimes its a simple star on their paper, and that star means the world to them. Any parent with a fridge full of starred and smiley faced papers will agree. It does not take much to feel special to children because they simply enjoy the act of being honored without value being added to it.

I have found that the last person rewarded in many households is the mom. The one person busting their butt for everyone inside and outside the home. Your mom orchestrates the ballet of soccer, school projects, scouts, meals, laundry, dishes and "Oh mom, I need 12 things that start with the letter 'H' by tomorrow morning." And she does it with a smile (at least it looks like a smile).

Slowly the clutter begins to build up around the house. There are only so many hours in a day and you begin to believe you can't get caught up, so what's the point in trying?
"If you think you can or think you can't, you are right," is the famous saying by Henry Ford.

Challenge yourself to stop the "I can't" thinking and turn yourself around. It took time for the clutter to build. It will take time for it to get under control. Be patient with yourself.

Let me suggest this:1. With notepad in hand, walk through your home and note the areas you want to work on.
2. Choose an area to get organized, schedule it on your calendar.
3. Break the project down into small tasks. Instead of organize kitchen, think organize upper cabinets, lower cabinets, junk drawer, pantry, or counter top.
4. Take on one small task and complete it.
5. Schedule your next project.
6. REWARD YOURSELF!! Take a couple minutes longer in the shower, let the kids eat cookies for breakfast so you can sleep in a bit, go for a walk after dinner by yourself .... geez, sometimes going to the bathroom by yourself is a treat!
Post your list of projects to complete and put stars next to them as you complete them. It may sound elementary, though remember how great you felt in school when your teacher put a star on you paper.

Don't forget: Your home is going to be feeling better and better with each task you complete.

How do you reward yourself?

Organize Spring Magazine ... Woo Hoo!!

SUPER EXCITED!!!

Not only is the mother of all snow meltdowns about to begin but a national publication is hitting the book stands and yours truly is one of the "leading experts."

Woo hoo!!

You can pick up your copy at your favorite Costco, Target, Barnes & Noble and other major new stands.

I was interviewed for the section on organizing tips and tricks for storing your winter gear for the beautiful warm sunny days of spring and summer.

Also, being a single mom with any second becoming a "mommy meltdown moment" in a flash of a Nerf dart whizzing by head, I was asked about ways to find some time for yourself in a section entitled "Taking a Moment."  I laughed out loud when I read one of my quotes.

If you are looking for some great tips (and laughs) on getting organized this spring, get out and grab your copy today!

What are you looking forward to doing this Spring?

"Someday" will never come

Little known fact: There is no "Someday" or "Later" on any calendar.

If you are going to get a task done,
schedule it
write it down
make it happen.

Then reward yourself with a little treat.  Perhaps calling a friend, taking a bit longer shower or may favorite - cheesecake.

What are you getting done today?

Living Better by Organizing

This is so true.
Everyone's idea about organizing is their own.
Understand what you want and how you wish things to be,
and DO IT!

If you need help,
no worries,
I have your back.

You can do it!
I believe in you.

How are you living better?

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)

Home Lifestyle Show - Organizing Tips presentation

The Monroe County Home Builders and Remodelers Association (HBRA) asked me to be their "Celebrity guest & Master Organizer" for their Home Lifestyle Show.  I was quite honored to share with their audience tips and tricks to getting organized.

This is an article that appeared in the Bedford Now and the Monroe Evening News prior to the event:

It was a great event and the response was overwhelmingly positive.  Glad I could help and encourage the attendees to think about the "other" benefits about being organized and ways to be more productive throughout the day.

What is your favorite organizing trick?

Organizing Tips for the Holidays ... and a Hot New Book

Getting ready for the holiday season can be crazy and stressful.

Rebecca Regnier invited me to her weekly show Rebecca Regnier's Full Plate to talk about some organizing tips you can use to, hopefully, ease some of the overwhelming anxiety that can build this time of year.

13abc.com: Breaking News, Weather and Sports ... and, yes. You heard correctly.

 I have published a book, Divorcing A [______], sharing some of the craziness that happens from the divorcing process. Along with little lessons, and a good dose of humor,  learned in the process. It has received some fantastic reviews on Amazon.com.  You can purchase directly from me (autographs are free, just ask!) from the book website or visit Amazon.com, eBooks available with Kindle and Nook versions.

The book is targeted for anyone going through a divorce, though you can apply the lessons learned to any struggle or challenging event in your life.  I am thankful for the wonderful feedback from readers.

What is your favorite holiday dessert?

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 _____."

You feelin' like quitting? You're better than that.

Yeah, we've all been at that breaking point.
Over and over ... and over, again.

If you are in a tough spot, I guarantee there is another person in a much more difficult position.
For that person, you will persevere.


Rocky said it best. I ain't changing it:

The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It's a very mean and nasty place and I don't care how tough you are it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it.
You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't about how hard ya hit. It's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done!

Now if you know what you're worth then go out and get what you're worth. But ya gotta be willing to take the hits, and not pointing fingers saying you ain't where you wanna be because of him, or her, or anybody! Cowards do that and that ain't you! You're better than that!

Take the hits life has dealt you.
Learn from them and move on.
It's when you stop moving, you lose.

I believe in you.
Believe in yourself and you can do anything.

What are you going after today?

Procrastination ... So Easy, So Fun, So ... ah, What was I doing?

Getting distracted is sooooo easy to do.

Huge fan of SQUIRREL ... of losing focus from time t-SQUIRREL! ... to time.

Ellen DeGeneres did a little bit on her struggles in getting organized and how procrastination leads you down the distracted path of whatever you are attempting to accomplish.



Now that I've spent the last hour or so watching the rest of Ellen's standup, I can get back to business ... uh, what was I doing?

One favorite quotes from Ellen (on hands-free devices):

"If you need both of your hands to do something,
I'm thinking your brain should be in on it too"
What are you procrastinating from doing?

Honoring Your Loved Ones Memory

This is one of my favorite organizing project stories ever. Love this story, and so appropriate for this time of year. Enjoy.


"Terry" admits she get overwhelmed in attempting to stay organized. Like many of us, the dramas of life can take over and the last thing on your list of things to care for is yourself.

Terry had been hanging on to a gift certificate for my services for 11 months. The certificate made her feel good when she received it and if she used it, Terry felt it would be gone. Finally, she broke down and we met.

We talked a bit about her goals. I gave her some ideas about managing tasks to get and stay organized. Then she told me about a craft box in her attic.

This craft box was her mother's. Terry cherished this box of craft supplies. The thing is, Terry's mother passed away 11 years ago. Yes, 11 years this box sat in her attic collecting dust and funk.

She finally decided that the time had come to part with it. Terry told me she believed,

"If you release what is holding you back, good will come back."

A woman came to Terry's home from Freecycle to pick up her mother's craft box. The next week, there was a knock on Terry's front door.

The woman had returned to give Terry this Christmas display for her home. Made only from the items found in the gifted box. Terry immediately recognized certain parts of the arrangement that her mother decorated with. Needless to say, Terry was beside herself with joy and happiness. I got the chills when she told me the story.

Memories of a past loved one are good. They should be honored since they played a loving role in your life. Though if you have them cramped in a dusty, funky smelling old box in your attic, is that really a positive way to remember them?

If you are not enjoying them, perhaps it is time to part with them.
Another person will find joy in the items you give.
........ And good will come back to you.

What's in your attic?

Gorgeous Disorder

Today's post comes from Debbie Stanley owner of Thoughts In Order Counseling and Consulting. She has worked with chronically disorganized and hoarding clients since 1997, originally as an industrial psychologist and professional organizer and now as a licensed counselor. Debbie practice includes in-office, in-home, telephone, and Skype counseling, coaching, and corporate consultation.

Here in Day Two of the deluge of tributes to Steve Jobs, I’ve found a photo that makes my heart sing:

Steve Jobs in home office Dec 2004 - photo by Diana Walker

If you didn’t know before his death, you’ve had ample opportunity now to learn that Steve Jobs was brilliant–so much so that to call him brilliant is becoming an awkward understatement.

Now, look at his home office. Notice the rafters and the brick walls … looks like it’s in the basement. Notice the furnishings… as basic as it gets. And the books, in their gorgeous disorder. And the piles of stuff on the desk, under the desk, on the floor…. Beauty.

I’m in the business of helping people to find clarity through organization. Why does this photo please me? Because it proves that genius can thrive in an imperfect environment. Some people already have clarity without spatial organization. To tidy up would not help (at best) and might interfere (at worst). For them, it is a truly fine mess.

Thanks to photographer Diana Walker and her willing subject, this is no longer just my opinion. If you are excellent at what you do, and you do it at a messy desk in a messy office (with which you’d be perfectly content, if not for the nagging), your boss and your family don’t have to take my word for it that you’re fine as you are. They can look at this photo and recalibrate their opinions.

That’s Steve Jobs in the picture. If it were a regular Joe, or even a regular genius, many (maybe most) people would see it as just another messy-office guy struggling to keep up. Maybe they would see a self-employed contractor or architect or web designer who has to work in his unfinished basement to save money, and whose work is inferior because he’s disorganized and stressed. They probably wouldn’t imagine that the guy is a billionaire whose work changed the world and the house above his head is a mansion. But they are.

Thanks, Steve Jobs, for putting a ding in this stereotype.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thank you Debbie for sharing your blog post.
You ROCK!!

Messy desk or clean desk ... It all depends on what works for YOU.

Me?
 I will admit, I'm pretty much in the middle on desk organization.
... and I'm cool with it.

How do you feel about your desk?

It's OK ... You can say "No"

What?!
No time.
Too busy.
Other stuff to do.
... Are you crazy?!

Yeah, we all gotta work to pay the bills, though you should take care of yourself first. Take a moment and evaluate your commitments. Look where your time is being spent vs. what benefit are you getting from it. It's OK, be a bit selfish. This moment is all about you baby!


Let's look at a week: (warning math lesson ahead)
24 hours/day = 168 hours/week
168 hours/week - 56 hours sleeping/week = 112 hours/week 
(8 hours/night sleeping)
112 hours/week - 40 hours working/week = 72 hours/week
72 hours/week for everything else that is life.
WOW! I hope you are making the most of your time.

You can't do everything. You can try, though you will certainly burn out at some point likely resulting at screaming at your kids for leaving their mud covered soccer shoes on while running through the house like monkeys 
(not like that ever really happens).

It is OK to say 'No.'
Here are a few tips on saying 'No:'

1. You deserve to take priority. Take time for yourself. Make sure you give yourself some free time to pamper yourself, just relax, or work on a hobby. Perhaps it is only 10-15 minutes, better than zero. In our home, my boys know that "if mommy is not happy, no one is happy."

2. Do not make excuses for 'no.' People respect honesty and hate hearing excuses. Treat yourself right and you can't help but treat others right too. If you need to use humor to lighten the 'no', do it!

3. Do not make commitments you're not prepared to keep. Saying 'no' is only a refusal of that particular request. Taking on a task that may overwelm you will only result in added stress in your life and resentment toward the commitment. Much better for you to say 'no.'

4. Remember you don't have to give a reason. We don't give reasons when we say 'yes' so why should we have to give a reason for saying 'no.' A simple 'I appreciate you asking, but no thanks' will often do the trick. Kick your guilt to the curb!

5. Set limits. If you are only available to help for 4 hours on Saturday, tell them that and stick to your limits. Keep in mind to be firm but polite. You need to recognize how much you can reasonably do.

6. Delegate. If nothing else works or you begin to feel a bit a stress building, remember to ask for help. Perhaps delegate some of your commitments to others. Delegation is the key to being a good leader. Break up things among family members, friends, organizations, or co-workers. Allow others to help you.

I guess if all else fails next time someone asks you to do something you really don't want to do, and feel like you can't come up with something quickly, just tell them "Oh, I'd love to, but Angie said No." 
I'll take the heat for you.

What did you say 'No' to?

Happy Birthday Organized Solutions!! We're giving away FREE Professional Organizing

In your weakest most vulnerable moments, greatness is there if you are strong enough to see it.

Crazy when I think about it.
-Brand, spanking new single divorce mother of two boys, 6 and 4 years old.
-Been a stay at home mom for 5 years, after leaving a senior engineering position at Ford Motor Company.

Everything I had worked so hard for in my world, shattered apart. Gone.
At least it appeared that way ...

For at that time, I felt an opportunity was at hand.
"Well, if I'm going to start completely over in life. Let's make a difference and have some fun with it."

Single mom, 2 boys, unemployed, HUGE mortgage, alone, family living 2 hours away ... Yeah, let's start a business. All I knew was my whole life I loved to help people and I was learning again how much I loved to have fun. Guess the combo worked!

Organized Solutions is 7 years old today!

Hot Damn!!

I am so thankful for all the people I have met, clients who I have helped and companies who have contacted me. Thank you for reading this blog and commenting.

None of this could have been possible without my boys in my life. These dudes rock my world and keep my head on straight. They have been the best business partners anyone could ask for. It is so awesome to see their enthusiasm for our business.

To celebrate, we are giving away 4 hours to someone in need of getting organized. We need to hear your story. This could be yourself or someone you care about. Send me your nomination by September 30, 2011 and my boys and I will select our recipient. We need to keep this local to the surrounding Toledo area, though I will work to find help for those out of the area. I know professional organizers across the country who can help you.

My email address: angie "at" iorganizeyou.com

Thank you for all your help and support.
You all ROCK!!

Who do you need to thank for your success?

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?