A & E Hoarders :: Me & “Kim”!

Earlier this year, I was in contact with the always awesome Geralin Thomas, Professional Organizer and one of the stars of A & E’s hit show Hoarders.  Geralin said she was doing a shoot here in my area and would I be interested in participating as an organizer on the show.  Let me think about that (nano-second later)…um…yeah!

Gathering up a crew of talented organizers nearby, we grabbed our label makers (my favorite Brother PT1290 Home and Office Labeler), bins (I usually use Rubbermaid Roughneck Storage Boxes)and Sharpies, and headed out to the site.  Our client, Kim, was an absolute delight to work with:  motivated, positive and ready to make a change.

The best part, besides working with Kim, was the behind the scenes peek into what goes on to make the show.  I’ve always watched it but wondered about how long it took and how many people were involved and where the drama comes from.  Had my questions answered here.  Envision 11 Professional Organizers, 1 therapist, a bunch of 1-800-Got-Junk guys, and what seemed like a dozen or more camera crew & staff from the show.  All in a 2 bedroom condo!  Plus they work with the client for a while before to make plans & preparations, as well as with the therapist and camera crew.

Click here to watch the episode!

When we arranged to work with Kim, we all were assigned areas that we specialize in or prefer.  I happen to love smaller spaces so I ended up in the bathroom & closet.  Many organizers were relieved they weren’t ‘cooped up’ in there but I loved it.  Sorting through all the hairsprays, jewelry, soaps, toothbrushes – and let me tell you – there were a LOT.  Did you see the toothbrushes on the show?? After gaining Kim’s trust with making decisions about what could be thrown out and what should be kept, progress was quickly made.

If you watched the show (or have watched previous episodes), you can see that things move quickly – and normally when I organize with clients – we work at their pace – so this was a change because people with hoarding issues also have difficulty making decisions.  Luckily, Geralin is such a pro and Kim was really ready to make a change.

So as I’m watching the show, I kept thinking, WHAT? When did that happen??  Being in the bathroom for 2 full days made me miss quite a bit.  But it also gave me the opportunity to really work with Kim, and get insights into her personality.  The weirdest thing that would happen is that I would be sorting & purging & containerizing (it’s a technical term) & labeling, then would glance up and there would be this huge camera lens in my face!  And then they put one of those close ups on national TV!  Aaack.  Personally I was surprised I had as much screen time as I did – but was really glad all the organizers involved were able to get a moment of fame.  I just wanted a minute of brag time!

Some observations:

• People who hoard or compulsively shop or keep things that don’t make sense to the rest of us are not deliberately trying to infuriate those around them.  Their brains are just wired differently, and the ability to make decisions is skewed in such a way that what may be an easy call for you or me may be like ripping out the soul of someone else.
• Hoarders see their things as precious, no matter what they are.  Stuff that I see as garbage or junk may be invaluable to them.  And I’m talking about plastic cups, faded clothing. scraps of paper or broken china.
• For many of the hoarders, and ‘collectors’, I’ve worked with, every item they touch – touches them.  Each thing brings back a memory, a feeling, a place of self.  They have such value – not monetarily but emotionally.
• Another one of the biggest factors is the fear of letting something go because they might need it someday.  I think this is common in many of us but with hoarders, it is taken to an extreme.
• Many hoarders feel that they have a responsibility to ‘care’ for objects.  If something was given to them, then it is theirs to take care of forever, as if it would injure the person who gave it to them if they let it go.

Some before & after pics:

and after . . .

"Kim" bathroom before

Me working on the Hoarders shoot.

Some more pics from the shoot.  I have to mention that while the closet still looks crowded, it is a bit misleading because of how much was removed and discarded (over 65 bottles of hairspray alone), but also how much extra was brought in and stored from other parts of the house.  Every time I thought I was done with hair care products or cosmetics or toothbrushes, someone would walk in with another box!  The big box at the lower left in the after photo is there for future organizing – gifts for friends that needed a home.  I worked with Kim at a later session and we created a gift closet area in another room so there is now free space there.

Bathroom closet before

Bathroom closet after

So I”ve continued to work with Kim at several more sessions, and she is making really good progress.  She’s super motivated to get her life in order and it’s been fun working with her.

Recently we worked on creating a computerized database of business cards so she doesn’t have to dig through hers to find the one she needs, and re-did her hall closet for tools, cleaning supplies and games.  It will be a lifelong struggle but I have confidence she will succeed.

PS Thanks to fellow organizer, Tanna Clark, for the great pictures – her camera and photo skills rock!

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

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.

Q & A with Rubbermaid – I’m on their blog!

Jim over at Rubbermaid asked me to participate in their Professional Organizer Q & A on their blog (Adventures In Organizing).  Of course!  How could I not – especially considering how important Rubbermaid is in my business, not to mention how great everyone is over there.  I love tweeting with them!

Please go check out the Q & A on the Rubbermaid Blog!

Vendors, Books & Bagels at the DC Organizing Conference

Final post in my series about the MARCPO Conference!  As I’ve mentioned, I really enjoyed the conference in Washington DC hosted by the DC NAPO Chapter.  Not only did I enjoy the speakers, but I met some lovely vendors, got some new organizing books to read, and discovered a few cool places in DC.  So here goes . . .

My favorite vendor had to be Aviva Goldfarb from The Six O’Clock Scramble.  Her on-line menu planning site is all about making quick, healthy meals for your family.  I do love to cook and menu planning isn’t really an issue for me, personally.  However, I have tons of clients who desperately need her service!  Not only is she delightful and energetic, her site is super useful and is a boon to anyone looking to organize their mealtimes.  She’s also got a great cookbook out called “The Six O’Clock Scramble“.

I also met Tricia Kolwicz & Tracy Butler Coe from My Blis (Best Life Information System).  Super nice, and a cool web based home and life information system at your fingertips.  Really great to meet them as the NAPO 2010 National Conference is in Columbus, OH and that is where they are based – looking forward to seeing them again next April.

I did enjoy the “bookstore” at the conference, and picked up a few new books that I’m pretty excited to read:

Erin Rooney Doland just released “Unclutter Your Life in One Week!!” and I got one hot off the presses signed by Erin.  Erin is Editor-In-Chief of Unclutterer.com.  This book is a day by day plan for purging your life of clutter and becoming more efficient and productive.  Who can’t use that?

Also looking forward to reading Julie Hall’s book, The Boomer Burden.  I often work with clients who are dealing with generations worth of stuff from books & papers to furniture & art.  They get overwhelmed separating the good stuff from the pieces that are not worth it, either from a value standpoint or an emotional one.

Finally, while in DC, I got to visit Georgetown Bagelry.  Picked up a few dozen bagels (OK – way too many but I couldn’t resist) for my family.  I twitter with Mary Beth Adler who owns the place and just had to pop in and check it out.  Super cute place and, just, YUM.

So vendors, books and bagels – what could be better?  Looking for more books to check out?  Look on my website “Readings” page.  My favorites are there and I’m continually updating as I read more.  Questions?  Shoot me an email and I’ll be happy to answer!