What if you are NOT Ready to Start but Everyone Says You Need to Organize!!

This can be tough. What if your husband or wife, friends and family are telling you that YOU NEED help? You may not think you are ready for that step.
First of all you have to think honestly to yourself.....
1) Are you happy with how your house looks?
2) Are you proud of your house?
3) Are you embarrassed to have people in your house?
4) Can you find what you need when you need it?
5) Are you ready for a change?
6) Are you ready to stay in the situation you are in?

These are several things that you can ask yourself....and be honest with yourself. You don't have to tell anyone your answers.

If other people are telling you have a problem...and you don't feel you are ready...you need to ask yourself...why?
Why do you want to keep your home the way it is? If you aren't proud of it...if you can't have company over because you are embarrassed.....then why aren't you ready to make a change?
Change can be scary. It can be hard...and that is usually the reason that we are resistant to it. We are scared of things that can be hard. We are scared of things that make us face reality. No one likes to do that. Plus it just seems too overwhelming to us to handle.
When you do realize you need help...then to reach out and get that help is the hard thing....once you get going...it will feel wonderful. It will feel like a weight has been lifted and you can breath.
Imagine if your mother in law or friend decides to drop in at on you at the last minute and you have no problem saying ...."Come on in and sit down!!"....without embarrassment! That would be great wouldn't it?
Think about it!

Being Sick but still keeping up.

This is sometimes how we feel we look when we are sick!! But being sick is no fun. If you are like me you just want to crawl back under the covers and stay there all day. I don't usually want to do anything!! But in todays busy world sometimes that is not an option.
Even if you aren't well enough to go to work there are still some thing you can do around your house that take little physical effort that will help you stay caught up in other areas of your life.
Balancing a check book would be a good one. Yuk...who likes to do that?
You know that big pile of papers that you have in your office that need to be filed? This is a great time do to that. Just take in your cup of tea and your blanket and file away.
Go through your "to do" list and update that. There may be some things on there that you can take care of since you are home. Make Doctor and Dentist appointments that are overdue. Call the cell phone company and complain about that bill that they messed up. (Oh yes....call and complain to someone when you are sick...that poor company!! Hee Hee)
Look for the little sit down things that need to be done, and make yourself do at least one or two of those. You won't feel like your day has totally been wasted.
When you feel just plain yucky....there are still some things you can do that at least make you feel a little better about your day at home.

Peanut Butter and Pickles Review Blog

You will have to go to the Peanut Butter and Pickles Review Blog at: http://pbandpickles.blogspot.com/ Lacie does reviews of products and I sent her a pouchee to review. She really liked it and we planned a give away of a free pouchee. So if you want a chance to win a free pouchee then go to her site and sign on the comments.

How To Decide What To Get Rid Of.

Trying to decide what to get rid of is a very hard thing to do. That is why it is very helpful to use an outside person (Professional Organizer) to help you. We don't have the attachments to the objects that you do. It is easier for us to help you make the decision based on need and not on emotions.
Here is a list that was compiled by the NAPO (National Assocation of Professional Organizers) Chat Group. Then Ilene Drexler (www.ilene@organizingwiz.com) took that list and organized it and added a few cute twist to it. She gave me permission to use it for you.
Here is a good list to read down and help you decide if you want to really keep something.

General Areas

*Was it a purchase mistake? (if so, it does not make it better to keep it)
*Does it take more time and effort to manage than it is worth?
*Does it make others unhappy to see it? Am I putting things before people and relationships?
*Do you need it? Is it redundant (i.e., do I really need 3 measuring spoon sets)?
*Do I love it? Does it make me happy or unhappy to see it?
*If you were moving, would you pay to have it packed and moved?
*Would you buy it again?
*Is it broken, and if so, are you ever going to fix it?
*Are you ever really going to finish this project (book, quilt, etc.)?
*Can you borrow or purchase another one, if needed, without spending a fortune or having trouble finding it?
*When's the last time you used it (assuming you knew it was there)?
*If you knew that someone else would really benefit from having this (i.e. if you found a great place to donate it), would that make it easier for you to let it go?
*Is this adding value to your home or business?
*Is this item getting in the way of your ability to find what you need, when you need it?
*Will this help me make or save money?
*How much space does it require (the more it takes, the more critical you should be in your decision to keep it)
*If you keep it, will you remember you have it? If you remember you have it, will you be able to find it?
*Convince yourself that you need to keep it.

Paper
*Am I legally required to keep it (i.e. vital & tax records), and if so, for how long? (a topic for another whole newsletter)
*Will I actually use it/refer to it/need it?
*Is the information still current?
*Can it easily be duplicated or created if needed again (i.e. found on the web)?
*What's the worst that can happen if you toss it?
*Is it a duplicate?

Clothes
*Is the item in good condition?...does it have stains or tears or is it too worn)?
*Is the item still in style (And no.....1980's shoulder pads are not going to come back into style in the same exact way)?
*Do you love the item, or even like it? Does it make you feel great to wear it?
*When was the last time I used this item….Would I use it again now that I remember that I have it?
*How many do I currently own of this type of item (maybe 20 pairs of black pants are too many)?
*Does it fit? If not, is it within a reasonable number of size ranges of my current size range to keep it?

Memorabilia
*Do you have anything else that reminds you of this (event, person, time)?
*If we took a picture of it, would that make it easier for you to let it go?
*Am I keeping it because someone gave it to me and I'll feel guilty if I get rid of it?
*Does the sentimental value exceed the practical value (if so, by all means, keep it!)

Using these guidelines can make it much easier to help you decide if you are going to part with something.

Closets - Be creative

"BEFORE"




"AFTER"





I was having a hard time working in a clients new office. It had been a bedroom in the past and I had a great closet that I could use for supplies...but the little shelves that were in there were not that functional. It was a rented house so we didn't want to install a closet system to help out.
My client had an extra bookshelf that I was SO excited to measure and find that it would fit into the closet!!!
We took out the shelves that were not attached...and just moved the bar that was half way down (no problem to put be all back when the move out). The bookshelf fit perfect. I was like a kid in a candy shop I was so excited for all the space. My client has a lot of extra supplies and I was able to put the closet to very good use!!

Cool pink tool huh?

My friend knows that I sell Tomboy tools and she sent this picture to me!
As she said...this is the "ultimate Tomboy tool"!!!
She was visiting her son in Alaska when she spotted this. She stopped and took a picture for me. Great friend too...huh?!!
Thanks Karla!!