Mabel’s Labels :: Where Has The Internet Gone?

This post is my entry to Mabel’s Labels contest where, in 300 words or less, we respond to the following hypothetical situation:  Electrical storms are going to wipe out the internet (perhaps forever).  We have one day left to write about our passions – what do we want to say to the blogosphere?  Well, here’s what I’ve got to say (you’ll notice it isn’t my usual writing style, but it is pure me anyway):

tap.tap.tap.tap…what the?!?

seriously…electrical storms wiping out the internet…sure …

what…really? when?

oh

but I haven’t finished blogging about my love affair with my label maker

what, honey? well, yes, I guess I do have time for ice cream and a tea party then

but I need to guest post about proper filing techniques

hmmm? you’re right, the porch fan is refreshing…is that a glass of wine?

but I was just checking out this podcast on clutter control

well, I guess that fresh tomato really is beautiful…from our garden, you say?

but I still haven’t finished the updates to my new home page

what’s that noise? oh, the robins are out … and what on earth? oh, the sun is … oh my … I didn’t realize how beautiful today is … not a cloud in the sky

but I was just in the middle of placing my order for my new business cards and those …

is that my copy of The Art of French Cooking? I’ve been meaning to make Julia’s boeuf bourguignon … and you got down my grandma’s  LeCreuset dutch oven from the cupboard

but Twitter is calling to me … I have 28 DM’s … people love me out there

you love me here too? well, I know that, and I love you too, you know that, right? You do, don’t you?

if I could just freshen up my Linked In page, I’d be just all good

well, yes, I see our friends are here … and the cribbage board is set up

but my Facebook fans are depending on me to write on their walls

hey, goofy cat, get out of my crochet bag … it has been a while … hasn’t it

you’ve got mail …

deep breath

sit up straight

look around

life

No Comments Yet

Check out these related posts:

• No Related Post

Organizing & 2 Hours . . .

Hiring anyone to come in and do a project in your home or business can sometimes be a difficult decision.  You ask yourself if it’s worth it, how long will it take and especially, how much it will cost.  Everyone wants to feel that they are getting their money’s worth.

Well, based on testimonials from my clients, having a Professional Organizer come in and work with you on your pantry, office, computer, whatever, is usually the best money they’ve ever spent because any Organizer worth their salt will not only get you organized but will teach you the skills you need to stay organized.

But since I bill by the hour (as many Organizers do) and I have a 2 hour minimum (again, as many Organizers do), the question comes up, “well, how long will Project X  take?”.  Really what you want to know is, for my 2 hours – what am I getting.  So with some fabulous input from Professional Organizers around the country (thanks Twitter!) and from my own NAPO Chapter here in Nashville, I’ve created a list of typical organizing projects that can be accomplished in 2 hours!

*This list is based on the assumptions that a. You as a client are motivated and can make decisions relatively easily AND b. Your clutter in the project area is “normal” (meaning this isn’t a hoarding situation or an area stuffed full of teeny tiny objects or papers that each need to be evaluated).

So here we go – 2 hours can . . .

• create a Family Command Center
• spiff up a desk
• clean up & organize an entry way/foyer
• organize a small clothes or storage closet
• clean out and organize a pantry
• organize a small bathroom
• organize a hall coat closet or a linen closet
• organize a kids toy area
• organize junk drawers
• clean out and organize a car (yes, you can organize in a car!)
• clean out and organize purses & luggage
• create a “landing area” at an entry point
• install under cabinet shelving/slide-out baskets in a kitchen or bathroom
• organize a mudroom
• organize drawers and/or cabinets in a kitchen (depends on size of kitchen!)
• organize a refrigerator
• purge & organize a bookshelf
• set up a basic filing system for home or business
• create a paper management system in a home office
• set up a kids homework station/desk
• purge & organize bedroom nightstands and dressers
• create a recipe binder

I sincerely thank all the organizers that contributed to this list:  Debbie Jordan Kravitz, Paige McClain-Ramsey, Susanna Starr, Deb Lee, Anne Bryant, Jeri Dansky (see her before & after pics), Ellen Zucker, Christie Love, Matt Baier, Allison Carter & Kelly Spalding.

So, if you are a Professional Organizer, what could YOU do in 2 hours?

And if you want to be organized – contact a Professional Organizer today and get going!  You’ll be amazed at the difference 2 hours can make.

3 Comments

Check out these related posts:

• Like with like … that’s all I’m sayin’
• Book Review: The Organized Mom by Stacey Crew
• Blog Talk Radio with Julie Verleger & Me!

Like with like … that’s all I’m sayin’

I’ve been organizing for such a while now that I sometimes worry that what I’m harping on explaining to my clients is too simplistic or should be obvious.  Then I realize, usually from either the glazed look in their eyes or the look of awe and wonder, that yes, I need to explain that we group items together that are alike.

Here’s what I find a lot when I start a project:

• lots of stuff packed in boxes or on shelves
• random items strewn around that were never put away (mostly because there wasn’t a place to put them)
• drawers crammed full of things
• comments of “oh, I wondered where that was!” or “I forgot we even had that!”

Here’s what you do:

• empty out the areas full of stuff
• group items together that have a common theme
• discard any items you don’t need or want
• contain the items in a bin or basket or on a shelf or in some manner where they are together

The key here is LIKE WITH LIKE.  This means put the pens with the pens, the sweaters with the sweaters, the serving platters with the serving platters.

Now it’s ok to mix pens and pencils (both writing instruments) or have a bin with office supplies such as tape, scissors and post it notes.  But the key is usage.  If you use items for a similar purpose – then group them together and store them together.

Being organized is about finding what you need when you need it.  Grouping like with like and storing them in logical places (read: where you use it) makes this happen.

No Comments Yet

Check out these related posts:

• Organizing & 2 Hours . . .
• easier to find . . . easier to put away . . . everything needs a home
• organizing a 6 year old . . . and her mom

Book Review: The Organized Mom by Stacey Crew

As an organizer, I love organizing books and as a mom, I love organizing books.  Stacey Crew’s new book, The Organized Mom, combines the best of both worlds.

When I had my daughter, I was in my late 30’s and had absolutely no idea what I was getting into.  Oh, I went to the classes, and read the popular books but while those were great for the big picture – I was still amazed at how much I didn’t know and even though I was pretty organized, there was a lot of things I bought that I really didn’t need, and things that didn’t make sense until after I was in the midst of it all.

What I really like about Stacey’s book is that it has a great mix of the warm & fuzzy part of being a mom, and the practical side of what you need to know AND how to do it.  So much of being a mom is being organized and having a book like this at your side can be invaluable.

The book is broken into two parts:  Organizing Your Home & Organizing For The Baby’s Arrival.

Organizing Your Home encompasses the definitions of organizing, Stacey’s GOPACK method for organizing, and organizing room by room.  This is helpful for just about anyone – and as well done as any organizing book I’ve read (and I’ve read a lot!).

Organizing For The Baby’s Arrival spans going to the hospital and coming home to babyproofing to baby’s firsts.  This is the part I wish I had when I was pregnant!

Some of my favorite things:

• defining of terms like ‘binky’ and ‘nesting’
• real life stories of how people solved common issues
• super practical and detailed recommendations and ideas
• checklists of what you need (including notations to indicate things that are nice but not necessary)
• diagrams for nursery set up and zones for rooms of the house
• an obvious understanding of what it is to be a mom, and a person with a life before parenthood
• the Appendix that has Worksheets and the one that has Resources

Plus the general philosophy that swirls through the book about having a vision for your life and about being mindful.

A few minor quibbles:

• I may have missed it but the book uses “mom” and “dad” which doesn’t necessarily encompass various permutations of couples such as same sex couples or single parents.  However, I suspect this was done for ease of writing and not a deliberate omission.
• The book also appears to make the assumption that someone will have a support system which is not always the case.

The best thing about this book is its logical, step by step approach to getting things done in ways that are achievable and, dare I say, even fun.  Plus, learning the skills as an expectant mom will allow mom to teach the skills to her child which may end up being even more valuable.  Being organized isn’t natural for all people, and learning the skills during childhood can only make later life better.

Stacey and I share a philosophy that less is more, and that life is so much simpler when there is not so much ’stuff’ in your way.  Bringing a baby into a family doesn’t have to cause chaos.  The planning ahead that this book lays out for readers makes it, in my opinion, an absolute must as a baby shower present for any mom-to-be.

You can find Stacey on her blog “The Organizing Mama” and on twitter @staceycrew ———>

No Comments Yet

Check out these related posts:

• Blog Talk Radio with Julie Verleger & Me!
• getting kids out the door in the morning without ripping out your hair
• kids, Christmas and lots of stuff

Blog Talk Radio with Julie Verleger & Me!

Organizing kids and their stuff was the topic today on Blog Talk Radio with Julie Verleger of The Organized Home.  I was a bit nervous as this was my first time on Blog Talk Radio but I had a good time and hopefully didn’t sound like too much of a dork.

If you missed it, you can hear the show in its entirety.  Be sure to listen to Julie’s other shows as well.  She sure made it easy for me to be a part of this!  Lots of tips on organizing with kids plus answered some questions from listeners.

Blog Talk Radio:  Organizing Kids and Their Stuff!

No Comments Yet

Check out these related posts:

• getting kids out the door in the morning without ripping out your hair
• Book Review: The Organized Mom by Stacey Crew
• Barbies, Legos & Crayons, Oh My!