tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52654180387588171722024-03-13T11:53:45.027-04:00Organized ArtistryA blog by Professional Organizer Stacey Agin Murray bursting with cool products, 'gotta-tell-a-friend' ideas, and a whole lotta organizing know-howStacey Agin Murray, Professional Organizerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03979357428881696821noreply@blogger.comBlogger189125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5265418038758817172.post-25660950295823880982014-05-14T12:17:00.001-04:002014-05-14T12:17:48.699-04:00Moving Forward: Bye Bye Blogger, Hello WordPressIn the Fall of 2009, I sent my three year old off to preschool and started my blog. October will mark my 5 year anniversary of blogging and in that time, I've greatly enjoyed sharing helpful organizing tips, products and resources to make your lives easier.<br />
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But, it's time to move on to bigger and better. Bye-bye Blogger. Hello, WordPress!<br />
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I'll still be writing about helpful organizing tips, products and resources--just in a different place--my new website! If you haven't checked it out yet, take a moment to stop by and peruse the new <a href="http://organizedartistry.com/">Organized Artistry website</a>.<br />
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When you get there, scroll down to the bottom of the page and sign up for our newsletter. You'll get my 'Top Ten Tips for Organized Living' along with a newsletter chock full of organizing goodness.<br />
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I'll be blogging from my new website shortly. Getting used to a new home for my website is like getting used to a new place to live. I'll have trouble finding what I need. I'll bump into a few walls but I'm sure that slowly and over time, it will feel like 'home.'<br />
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<a href="http://organizedartistry.com/">Come</a> welcome me to my new home! No basket of cookies necessary...<br />
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<br />Stacey Agin Murray, Professional Organizerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03979357428881696821noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5265418038758817172.post-30742363672751712262014-03-12T13:30:00.002-04:002014-03-12T13:30:52.716-04:00A New Logo for Organized Artistry!When I started my business twelve years ago, I designed my own logo. I have a BA in Art/Graphic design so I knew I could put typography together and not offend anyone. I didn't have the proper computer programs to create it so I took advantage of the computers at Kinko's and created my logo there.<br />
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My old logo:<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IK7lnDzGJWk/UyCUy8adFgI/AAAAAAAABHU/KQLMnDexD4E/s1600/OA+logo5.5.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IK7lnDzGJWk/UyCUy8adFgI/AAAAAAAABHU/KQLMnDexD4E/s1600/OA+logo5.5.gif" height="71" width="320" /></a></div>
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I liked the openness of the 'Artistry' font (Caslon Open Face) and that it contrasted well with the font I selected for 'Organized.'<br />
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The above logo has gotten a ton of compliments over the years which always made me feel happy and that my design skills had not gone to waste. But, after 12 years in business, it was time for a change. I hired the talented Kate McMillan of <a href="http://www.outboxonline.com/">Outbox Online Design</a> to move my company, brand and logo forward into 2014.<br />
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I was nervous--what ideas would Kate come up with? Would I like them? Change isn't easy--even for Professional organizers!<br />
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My new Logo:<br />
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<b>I have Logo Love...</b></div>
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Most of all, I love that scribble. When I first saw it, I knew this was the logo for me. To me, the scribble represents chaos--any type of chaos, whether it's an overcrowded closet or a mile-high stack of papers leading to that state of being 'Organized.' It's 'Chaos' turning into 'Organized Artistry.'</div>
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Here's the vertical design...<br />
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Love that one, too. The scribble isn't attached but it still resonates.</div>
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By the way, Kate is also redesigning my website. Wait until you see it...</div>
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Stacey Agin Murray, Professional Organizerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03979357428881696821noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5265418038758817172.post-65851403393317178842014-03-06T10:03:00.003-05:002014-03-06T10:03:52.594-05:00Confessions of an Email Hoarding Professional Organizer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hi. My name is Stacey and I am a reforming email hoarder.<br />
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Did I mention I was also a Professional Organizer?<br />
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That's OK--laugh if you want to. I laugh every time I tell someone this story.<br />
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How did I get to be an email hoarder?<br />
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All it takes is being a very busy woman with lots of interests and one email address for both business and personal emails. Throw in two young kids, not enough time in one's day, and being a visual person and the emails began to accumulate.<br />
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"I'll look back at them later." I said.<br />
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"If I put them in a folder, I'll forget about them." I figured.<br />
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"I'll chip away at them little by little." I promised myself.<br />
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Yes, I looked back at a bunch and yes, I did chip away at some but the emails were coming in faster than I could take action upon them.<br />
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By February, I had a thousand emails in my Inbox. Yes, you read that right--1000--one thousand. That's A LOT of emails...<br />
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Organized Artistry is getting a facelift this year--a new logo and a newly-designed website and blog. My web designer mentioned that I needed to change the hosting company of my website due to compatibility issues so I did the domain transfer. The last step was to have my email flow from my old host to my new host.<br />
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So last week, I got on the phone with my new host to help me take that last step. What the person on the other end didn't ask me was whether or not I had any emails in my Inbox. When the email was transferred to the new host's server, it wiped my Inbox clean. As you can imagine, I almost had a heart attack. After lacing into him for this oversight I asked how it could be fixed. He told me I had to call my old hosting service for some coding and some numbers and then I had to call my new host back with that information.<br />
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I wasn't happy, but I did it. I called my old web host and explained the problem. We accessed my inbox through 'webmail' and yes, all the emails were still there. He put me on hold for a few minutes so he could figure out the best solution.<br />
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While on hold with the tech guy, I had an organizing revelation--an 'a ha' moment. Did I really want all 1000 emails in my Inbox? The answer was 'No.' If I were helping a client, I would have guided them to make the same choice. It would be like moving to a new home and taking everything with you even though you didn't need it. I felt the time had come--this would be a good opportunity to 'de-clutter' my Inbox. A colossal purge.<br />
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To quote the song from Frozen, <i>"Let it go..."</i><br />
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Although it took me a long time and the process still isn't complete, I sorted through all 1000 emails and forwarded one-quarter of them to an alternate email account. Over the next few days, I'll be forwarding them to my stacey@organizedartistry.com account and either filing them in a folder or taking action upon them. I purged old newsletters and correspondence. I'll now be filing emails I had once lost track of. From now on, I'm going to do better by incorporating one of the most important steps in getting organized--<b>maintenance</b>.<br />
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Although Professional Organizers are fairly organized, we sometimes experience similar situations to our clients. It's the old saying, "The shoemaker's son has no shoes." Sometimes we can't keep up, either. And that's OK. We're human and so are you. Please take a moment to look through your Inbox. Delete a few emails. Create folders for others and remember--even Professional Organizers need to get organized!<br />
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<br />Stacey Agin Murray, Professional Organizerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03979357428881696821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5265418038758817172.post-34419862425553043962014-02-16T21:06:00.000-05:002014-02-16T21:06:09.797-05:0025 Organizing Tips to Survive an Ice Storm<i>It's been a bad winter. Really bad. Snow, ice, freezing temperatures for weeks on end have made life more challenging this season. Just like any other season, it's important to be prepared with the tools to get through the changes in weather--shovels, rock salt, snow brushes, warm gloves and boots--the list goes on. My guest blogger, Moreen Torpy of <b>De-Clutter Coach</b> in Ontario, Canada knows a thing or two about being prepared for cold weather. Today she's sharing with us 'Southerners' 25 ways to survive an ice storm. I hope we never have to use any of these tips, but they're here for you just in case...</i><br />
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This winter has brought more than our fair share of ice storms and the resulting power outages, cold, inability to access transportation and all manner of other inconveniences.<br />
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After the realization sinks in that this might be a longer experience than you’d like it to be, after realizing you’re very cold will be the thought of what to do with food so it doesn’t become waste.<br />
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The following are lessons I learned from surviving the 1998 ice storm in Montreal:<br />
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<b>Food:</b><br />
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1. Keep a few large plastic storage containers or clean garbage bins available to store your freezer contents outside without power. You can always chip off the ice to get into them when necessary.<br />
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2. Fill your BBQ propane tank at the end of summer so it can be used in case of winter emergency to cook whatever you have in your freezer, warm soup or boil water for coffee/hot chocolate/tea. Never use your BBQ or propane stove indoors. Set up in your garage if you have one, or outside<br />
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3. Use fresh food first, frozen food second and canned food last so you eliminate as much waste as possible. Cook whatever can be cooked when you can, then eat it cold if necessary. This will ensure less waste and provide as healthy a diet as possible under the circumstances.<br />
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4. Ensure you have a manual can opener and know where it is should you need it.<br />
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5. Don’t ever get rid of your fondue pot! It can be very useful to warm soup or water. Check now if you have fuel for it, and if not purchase a couple of bottles. Keep them with the pot so you know where they are.<br />
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6. Don’t cook anything that takes a lot of cleaning up, such as cheese. Remember, you don’t have hot water to do that right now.<br />
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<b>Light/Heat:</b><br />
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7. Collect all candles and batteries from wherever you have them around your house and centralize them in one place. Inventory what you have and purchase what you still need—do you have D-batteries for your flashlight? C-batteries for your portable radio? What about candles? The dollar-store brand won’t last very long not to mention the mess they create when molten wax spills over. Keep something to light the candles with them, whether matches or a BBQ lighter.<br />
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8. Find any oil lamps you may have, purchase oil for them and keep them where they’re easily found when needed.<br />
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9. Find a mirror and put it with your candles. It doubles the light from lit candles as well as the heat produced. You might also toast marshmallows over the flames if you’re feeling adventurous. Maybe even assemble some s’mores!<br />
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<b>Grooming:</b><br />
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10. Get used to the idea it may be a while until you can shower, shave or wash your hair. If there’s a shopping centre nearby with power, you could go to the hairdresser or take your hair dryer and wash your hair there. And perhaps even wash yourself as well. Hot water is better than cold any day for these personal care tasks.<br />
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<b>Home:</b><br />
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11. Turn off as many lights and anything else electrical as you remember having on before the power failure and turn on your front porch light. This way, when the power comes back on, you won’t be as much of a drain on the infrastructure, and you’ll know immediately from outside if you have light.<br />
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12. Close doors to rooms you’re not using to keep any available heat in those you are using. This is a good time to congregate in as few rooms as necessary to take advantage of each other’s body heat.<br />
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13. Close off the entrance to the room where your gas fireplace is, if you have one, and spend your time there. This will keep the heat in that room and not where it won’t be doing any good.<br />
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14. Before abandoning your home, pour windshield washer fluid into the drains and toilet to prevent the pipes from freezing when your home has no heat. Also open faucets to allow a small trickle of water to help keep it moving.<br />
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<b>Vehicle:</b><br />
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15. Always keep your vehicle’s fuel topped up. If there’s no power, the gas pumps won’t work. Additionally there’ll be less space for moisture to form in the car’s gas tank.<br />
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16. Be very careful when removing ice from your vehicle. You don’t want to damage it by being too aggressive<br />
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17. Keep your vehicle’s trunk as empty as possible in case you need it to store used cookware that can’t be washed until you have plenty of hot water. You might also store frozen food in your car until you need it.<br />
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<b>Varia:</b><br />
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18. Keep an amount of cash in your home—bank machines won’t work without power.<br />
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19. If your local shopping centre has WIFI, take your device charger(s) with you and use them there. You might also hang out there with your phone, e-reader or laptop. The food court, while mostly junk food, can provide a hot meal if this is your only choice for one.<br />
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20. Don't bundle up in all your clothes to sleep. I know this sounds counter-intuitive, however you will warm up faster under the covers with just your usual nightwear or just something a bit warmer on. If you share a bed, take advantage of each other’s warmth. This is a good time for all the kids to pile in with parents so everyone stays warmer.<br />
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21. Remember Fluffy and Fido will be cold too, so allow them to cuddle with you.<br />
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22. Be as active as you can to build body heat if you’re staying in a cold house, but don’t work up a sweat or you’ll be colder than you were before.<br />
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23. Keep your medical prescriptions up-to-date, not waiting until you’re on your last pill. If you’re stuck without power, your pharmacy probably is as well and won’t be able to refill them.<br />
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24. If you intend to join others (family or friends) to wait out the power outage, select people you get along with and can hopefully find the humour in your situation.<br />
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25. Try to look on the experience as an adventure you can talk about and embellish in future telling of the story.<br />
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For more about emergency preparedness, check out my FREE report, <a href="http://www.organizeforemergencies.com/">Emergency Preparedness the Organized Way</a>.<br />
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What’s your ice storm experience? Do you have any tips in addition to those above? I’d love to hear about both your experience and your tips. Please share!<br />
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We would be honored for you to reprint this article. If you do, please include the resource box below with the hyperlinks intact.</div>
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Moreen Torpy is the De-Clutter Coach, a Trained Professional Organizer, Author, and Speaker. Her new book is Going Forward: Downsizing, Moving and Settling In. See <a href="http://www.GoForwardDownsize.com/">www.GoForwardDownsize.com</a> for more about the book including where to purchase it, and <a href="http://www.decluttercoach.ca/">www.decluttercoach.ca </a>to learn about her organizing services and other books.</div>
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<br />Stacey Agin Murray, Professional Organizerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03979357428881696821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5265418038758817172.post-87193698701555757552014-02-06T10:34:00.000-05:002014-02-06T10:34:00.288-05:00GO Month 2014 - Operation Preschool Phase 1A few weeks ago, I told you about a <a href="http://organizedartistry.blogspot.com/2014/01/get-organized-month-2014-operation.html">project I am working on</a>--the organization of two storage closets at my son's preschool. Because of the snow and bad weather we've been having, the project is going slower than expected, but I wanted to share it's progress with you.<br />
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On Martin Luther King Day, my hubby had the day off from work and offered to help me with Phase 1 of organizing the storage closet. He came in very handy as a second pair of eyes and a pair of strong arms. Thanks, Hubs!<br />
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Here's what the closet looked like before we started:<br />
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Two and a half hours later here's what it looked like:<br />
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Before we opened the closet door, I gave my hubby two rules to follow that day:<br />
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<b>Work SLOWLY</b>.</div>
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<b>Work SAFELY.</b></div>
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We opened the door and started getting things off the floor.<br />
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When I work with a client in a space like this, we begin de-cluttering the floor first for one simple reason: <b>SAFETY</b>. It's very easy to slip on or trip over an object on the floor. Getting injured really slows down the organizing process...<br />
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What did we do? We...<br />
• stacked all the chairs together<br />
• created a temporary area for the custodial supplies that share this space<br />
• removed anything that was broken beyond repair, yellowed, and crushed under the weight of heavier items<br />
• grouped all toys, papers, classroom items that were in good shape in one spot so the teachers can look through them at a later date<br />
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Before, during, or after the school day the teachers can take a few minutes to go through the supplies and make decisions--keep or toss. Now, they can actually step into the closet safely to accomplish this and move the project forward!<br />
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So if you have a room in your home that looks like this, follow my two rules above and here's a third:<br />
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<b>Wear CLOSED TOE shoes while organizing</b>. </div>
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Even the lightest object falling on your foot can hurt if you're wearing open toed shoes, walking around in socks, or are going barefoot.<br />
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Once the weather gets better, we'll be forging ahead with the next steps in organizing the closets--I'll keep you posted!<br />
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<br />Stacey Agin Murray, Professional Organizerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03979357428881696821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5265418038758817172.post-18122763205044003552014-01-26T11:21:00.000-05:002014-01-26T11:21:36.967-05:00Organizing Quick Tip: Organizing Donation RequestsDo you get a truckload of charities and non-profits sending you requests for donations? They can really pile up--especially at holiday time!<br />
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This scenario may sound familiar...<br />
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You write a check to a charity. A few months later another donation request from the same charity lands in your mailbox. You don't remember whether you've donated to them or not so you do one of two things:<br />
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• you send them more money<br />
• you toss the envelope on your desk and now it's clutter<br />
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Today's Organizing Quick Tip will help you keep track of all of those donation requests...<br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Create a home for </span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">'donation request' envelopes. </span></b></div>
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Follow these steps to keep those donation requests under control...<br />
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• Get a small box--approximately the size of a shoe box.<br />
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Examples of some boxes for this task:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-onJ3SqIRhfs/UuKIkhy9WbI/AAAAAAAABF0/oJcYrCbb1wg/s1600/StockholmPhotoBox_06_x.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-onJ3SqIRhfs/UuKIkhy9WbI/AAAAAAAABF0/oJcYrCbb1wg/s1600/StockholmPhotoBox_06_x.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stockholm Photo Box from The Container Store</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">KASSETT Box w/Lid from IKEA</td></tr>
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• Place the box in an area close to where the mail enters the house.<br />
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• When a donation envelope comes in the mail, place it in that box.<br />
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• Go through the box every three months to sort and purge for duplicates. I guarantee--you WILL have duplicates!<br />
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• After Thanksgiving, sort and purge the the donation envelopes one last time and decide which organization(s) you'll donate to. Spread the piles across your dining room table or sofa if you need a lot of room.<br />
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• Make your donations in December--once a year (if possible). That way you'll have no problem remembering when you sent your charitable donations. This eliminates the need to look back at a year's worth of checkbook and credit card statements to see when and who you donated to.<br />
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• If you don't already have one, create a 'tax file' for papers you'll need to collect for tax purposes.<br />
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• Place receipts for your charitable donations in the tax file.<br />
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• Empty your 'donation request' box and start over.<br />
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I recently set up this system for a client and she said it made her life so much easier in these ways:</div>
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• It organized all of her donation requests in one spot.</div>
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• It allowed her to notice when she had multiple envelopes from the same charity/non-profit.</div>
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• By doing her donations once a year, she no longer has to try and remember or look back in a check book register or credit card statement to see if she already made a donation.<br />
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This will save you time, money and brain power. Give it a try--let me know how it works for you!<br />
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Stacey Agin Murray, Professional Organizerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03979357428881696821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5265418038758817172.post-69443821004883778632014-01-14T22:59:00.000-05:002014-01-14T22:59:38.444-05:00Get Organized Month 2014: Operation PreschoolWhat is January is known for?<br />
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Blizzards.<br />
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White sales.<br />
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Lots of award shows on TV.<br />
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January is also a time for setting goals for the new year. Maybe you're looking to lose weight or get your finances in order. Or maybe...just maybe...you're thinking of getting organized!<br />
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Well, if that's the case, you're in luck because January is Get Organized Month (also known as GO Month).<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z7-QnvVibJQ/UtBFJ2qwpWI/AAAAAAAABEQ/9kkPJ2CkF2E/s1600/GoMonth_eBanner_sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="136" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z7-QnvVibJQ/UtBFJ2qwpWI/AAAAAAAABEQ/9kkPJ2CkF2E/s1600/GoMonth_eBanner_sm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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In 2005, the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO) proclaimed January as Get Organized Month. They developed a national campaign to stimulate public awareness of the profession and the importance of getting and staying organized. Local chapters of NAPO as well as individual professional organizers use this month to help individuals, businesses and schools bring time management, organization, storage solutions and productivity into their lives.<br />
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The last chapter-sponsored GO Month event I participated in was when I was seven months pregnant with my second child. It was held at the IKEA of Paramus and my job was to walk around the store answering questions and taking pictures of my colleagues giving demonstrations and workshops. Instead of walking, I was waddling and most of the questions I was asked by shoppers were less about organizing and more about my pregnancy!<br />
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NAPO started sending out emails about GO Month in late 2013. At around the same time, the director of my son's preschool approached me for assistance. She knows I'm a Professional Organizer and mentioned to me that the two storage closets designated for the preschool were disorganized and could use some TLC. Could I help? "Sure," I said.<br />
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When I told the teachers I'd be organizing the closets and they all asked, "Have you seen them lately?" To which I replied, "No. I'm sure they just need a little organizing and some love." <br />
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Then I took a look...<br />
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Here's another view...</div>
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Then I walked into the other storage closet...</div>
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OK...maybe they'll need a little more TLC than expected...</div>
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This is my personal 2014 GO Month project--to get the storage closets of my son's preschool organized.</div>
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What will result once these storage closets are organized?</div>
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• The teachers/director will be able to find the supplies when they need them.</div>
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• There will be no need to buy extra supplies because what they need is not accessible or can't be found.</div>
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• It will de-clutter and free up space in the classrooms and office.</div>
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• It will bring smiles to the faces of the people who have been so good to my children (and it will make their jobs A LOT easier).</div>
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I'll keep you updated on my progress!</div>
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Stacey Agin Murray, Professional Organizerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03979357428881696821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5265418038758817172.post-10704715430959752702013-12-30T22:53:00.000-05:002013-12-30T22:53:04.806-05:00Get Clear on What You Want<i>Jack Canfield, the guy behind the wildly successful <b>Chicken Soup for the Soul</b> empire, has some great planning advice for 2014. I read a similar article at the end of 2011 and set goals based on his ideas below. It took me two years, but I accomplished 90% of the goals I had set for myself and turned the other 10% into longer term goals. Why not give it a try and turn your dreams and aspirations into reality? Thanks for your words of wisdom, Jack!</i><br />
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Are you ready to make 2014 your best year yet?<br />
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It’s easy to start the new year full of enthusiasm and optimism. But to maintain your momentum through the year, you need to set powerful, crystal-clear goals.<br />
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The first step to getting what you want out of life is to decide exactly what you want.<br />
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What do you want to accomplish?
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What do you want to experience?
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What do you want to acquire?
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Who do you want to be?<br />
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One of primary reasons most people don’t get what they want is that they aren’t clear about what they want. Others will recognize what they’d like to have, but when they can’t see how it’s possible to get what they want, and they dismiss their desires as foolish and unattainable.<br />
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Don’t sabotage yourself this way! <br />
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After decades of research into how the human brain works, scientists now know that for our brains to figure out how to get what we want, we must first decide what we want. Once we lock-in our desires, our mind and the universe can step in to help make our dreams a reality.<br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Dream Big</span></b><br />
We start the process by getting clear about what we want. So, what do you want? To create a balanced and successful life, write down a minimum of 3 goals in each of the following 7 areas:<br />
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Financial Goals
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Career/Business Goals<br />
Free Time/Family Time<br />
Health/Appearance Goals
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Relationship Goals
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Personal Growth
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Making a Difference<br />
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If you have more goals than this, don’t limit yourself – write them down! On the other hand, if writing down 21 goals seems like a lot, remember that we can have a mix of long- and short-term goals. For example, in the financial area, you may have a short-term goal of paying off a $5,000 credit card balance, as well as a long-term goal of amassing a net worth of $5 million dollars. You want to keep both goals present in your mind, even though you’ll be working more actively on the short-term goal first.<br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Stretch Yourself</span></b><br />
When setting our goals, it’s important to include a few that will make us stretch and grow to achieve them. These might be learning a new skill or trying something that is uncomfortable and maybe a little frightening, such as public speaking. It also helps to set a breakthrough goal that would represent a quantum leap. Examples of breakthrough goals include publishing a book, starting a business, getting on Oprah, winning a gold medal at the Olympics, or getting elected president of your industry association.<br />
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Material goals are important, but the ultimate goal is to become a master at life. In the long run, the greatest benefit we receive from pursuing our dreams is not the outer trappings of fulfilling the dream, but who we become in the process.<br />
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The outer symbols of success can all be easily lost. Houses burn down, companies go bankrupt, relationships end, cars get old, bodies age and fame wanes, but who you are, what you have learned, and the new skills you have developed never go away. These are the true prizes of success. Motivational philosopher Jim Rohn advises that<b> “You should set a goal big enough that in the process of achieving it, you become someone worth becoming.”</b><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Turn Your Dreams Into Goals and Objectives</span></b><br />
Once you are clear about what you want, write them down and turn each item into a measurable objective. Measurable means measurable in space and time – how much and by when.<br />
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For instance, if you were to tell me that you wanted more money, I might pull out a dollar and give it to you. You would probably protest, saying “No, I meant a lot more money, like $20,000!” But there is no way I’d know how you’d define “more money” unless you tell me, right?<br />
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Similarly, your boss, your friends, your spouse, your brain, God, and the Universe can’t figure out what you want unless you tell them specifically what it is. What exactly do you want and when do you want it by?<br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Your Goals Impact Others</span></b><br />
As soon as you commit to a big dream and really go after it, your subconscious creative mind will come up with big ideas to make it happen. You’ll start attracting the people, resources, and opportunities you need into your life to make your dream come true. Big dreams not only inspire you, they compel others to want to play big, too.<br />
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You’ll also discover that when your dreams include service to others – that is, accomplishing something that contributes to others – it accelerates the accomplishment of that goal. People want to be part of something that contributes and makes a difference.<br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Work on Your Goals Daily</span></b><br />
To keep your subconscious mind focused on what you want, read your list of goals everyday. For an even more powerful approach, close your eyes and focus on each goal and ask yourself, <b>"What is one thing I could do today to move toward the achievement of this goal?"</b> Write down your answers and take those actions.<br />
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As the old joke goes, “How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.” Steady progress in bite-sized chunks puts even the most audacious goals into reach.<br />
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Jack Canfield, America's #1 Success Coach, is founder of the billion-dollar book brand <b>Chicken Soup for the Soul</b>® and a leading authority on Peak Performance and Life Success. If you're ready to jump-start your life, make more money, and have more fun and joy in all that you do, get FREE success tips from Jack Canfield now at:<a href="http://jackcanfield.com/free-resources/success-strategies-newsletter/"> www.FreeSuccessStrategies.com</a><br />
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<br />Stacey Agin Murray, Professional Organizerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03979357428881696821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5265418038758817172.post-80958457164577814942013-12-23T11:47:00.002-05:002013-12-23T11:47:53.144-05:00A Collection of Organizing 'Funnies'It's the holiday season. We know that it doesn't take much to make his time of year feel stressful. Everyone is talking about how to get and stay organized for the holidays. And, yes--it's important to be organized, but it's also important (and necessary) to sit down for a while, rest your weary "I've been cooking, shopping, doing-for-others-all-day" bones and <b>LAUGH</b>.<br />
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I've been seeing a lot of those 'your e cards' from <a href="http://somecards.com/">somecards.com</a> on Pinterest. They always give me a good chuckle so I thought I'd share and put a bunch of my favorites here. I could give you organizing tips, but I thought I'd give you a good belly laugh instead...<br />
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Yikes!</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0iNg50oE0pk/Up4TuZRxUMI/AAAAAAAAA_s/7bzdQW95Qjc/s1600/hoarder+e+card.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0iNg50oE0pk/Up4TuZRxUMI/AAAAAAAAA_s/7bzdQW95Qjc/s400/hoarder+e+card.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Gotta love Maxine's sense of humor...</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-79upP67l3ZM/Up4T1Fz1ecI/AAAAAAAAA_0/pCLxylQ3i0M/s1600/orgo+blog+Maxinecartoon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="361" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-79upP67l3ZM/Up4T1Fz1ecI/AAAAAAAAA_0/pCLxylQ3i0M/s400/orgo+blog+Maxinecartoon.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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This reminds me of the children's book, <i>Swimmy</i> by Leo Lionni...</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fyCXvc6s0ys/Up4T6MpeOdI/AAAAAAAAA_8/ek3ct5Dsn7w/s1600/orgo+fish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fyCXvc6s0ys/Up4T6MpeOdI/AAAAAAAAA_8/ek3ct5Dsn7w/s400/orgo+fish.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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A little scientific organizing humor...</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S2GyVot2sv4/Up4UBsg-2VI/AAAAAAAABAE/CvFYAWCrlbM/s1600/space+party.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="315" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S2GyVot2sv4/Up4UBsg-2VI/AAAAAAAABAE/CvFYAWCrlbM/s400/space+party.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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Even animals can benefit from getting organized!</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4BCd4iDpgT8/Up4VJkNr1OI/AAAAAAAABAQ/-Lfu2HG_gY4/s1600/orgo+snake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4BCd4iDpgT8/Up4VJkNr1OI/AAAAAAAABAQ/-Lfu2HG_gY4/s400/orgo+snake.jpg" width="353" /></a></div>
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And this one's for the ladies...</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7ePAGBAxedM/Up4VeGoigrI/AAAAAAAABAY/uQhewoAdwIA/s1600/Gossling+pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7ePAGBAxedM/Up4VeGoigrI/AAAAAAAABAY/uQhewoAdwIA/s400/Gossling+pic.jpg" width="305" /></a></div>
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Hope I made you smile. Happy holidays!</div>
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<br />Stacey Agin Murray, Professional Organizerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03979357428881696821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5265418038758817172.post-39672197212374420892013-12-11T22:30:00.001-05:002013-12-11T22:30:31.288-05:00Organizing MY Home: A Two-Foot Wide Mudroom The last week of November was a busy time in my household. It was Thanksgiving. It was Hanukkah. And it was also my birthday. Lots of food and festivities. Not a lot of downtime.<br />
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But, my hubby and I carved out a small amount of time that weekend to make our home more organized. The colder weather was upon us and we had to create a solution to a recent organization problem.<br />
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We have a front door and a closet next to that door. Coats, shoes, umbrellas and accessories are kept in that closet.<br />
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<b>Problem: </b>My children and I enter and exit our home most days through the garage. No closet next to that door. Instead, we have a tiny laundry room with an even tinier broom closet that we converted to a storage closet years ago. We installed a row of hooks across the top and at the bottom of the closet we store shopping and recycle bags of varying sizes.<br />
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On this closet door, we installed a<a href="http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3902738&cp=&parentPage=search"> 4-pocket organizer</a> from Babies R' Us which has proved to be an extraordinarily helpful organizing product. Each of us has a pocket to store accessories and one is for infrequently used items like snow gloves.</div>
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This worked well for a while. My children were young and had little coats and my jacket fit just fine next to theirs. Now, my kids are bigger and so are their coats. They have more hats and mittens, too. With all three of our winter coats in there, the closet door no longer stayed closed. And the hooks were so high, I was the person in charge of hanging everyone's coats.<br />
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What to do?<br />
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I had suggested a hall tree for the room adjacent to the garage which just so happens to be my home office. It wouldn't thrill me to have coats and backpacks hanging in my work space but it was better than having them spill out of the storage closet--especially when I was doing the laundry.<br />
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My husband did not like the hall tree idea for two reasons:<br />
1) He thought a hall tree would have looked messy. (I agree)<br />
2) The hall tree would have to stand in the space currently occupied by his grandmother's table which he loves and it would not fit in our attic.<br />
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So, for a while we thought about it, spent the summer leaving camp bags in the garage but then Autumn came and the problem was back. Backpacks and diaper bags were dropped as we entered the house and coats were dumped on a couch that sits opposite my desk in this room. (No picture is available--too embarrassing for this Professional Organizer to admit!)<br />
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Besides the fact that it looked terrible, it didn't exactly instill the importance of being organized to our two young children.<br />
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Once again we asked ourselves, "What to do?"<br />
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<b>Solution:</b> One day, my husband looked at me and said, "What if we move the ironing board and vacuum cleaner out of the laundry room and use that space as a mudroom? I measured the space. It was 24" wide. I was skeptical but I grew up in a 5'x12' bedroom. I knew I could make this work.<br />
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<i><b>Challenge accepted!</b></i><br />
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I'll give my husband credit for thinking of utilizing this space. I probably never considered it because my husband likes to iron despite the fact he doesn't do it much anymore (Yes--he does laundry, too. I'm a lucky lady...). We had not hung an iron in the iron holder since our first child started crawling six years ago. It was a great iron/ironing board organizer from <a href="http://www.rubbermaid.com/Category/Pages/ProductDetail.aspx?Prod_ID=RP091369">Rubbermaid</a> but it's time was up. We relocated the real vacuum to the garage with the ironing board and the toy vacuum went to the basement playroom.</div>
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I thought to myself, "Where am I going to find what I need to fit into a two-foot wide space?"</div>
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I looked in Home Goods and online and didn't see much that would fit my tight secifications. Then one day, I was in Target and went to check out their <a href="http://www.closetmaid.com/en-US/Pages/Default.aspx">Closetmaid</a> collection. I've used their products in the past for organizing my kid's toys and got to check out their new products at the NAPO Conference last year.</div>
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I walked down the aisle and not only did I see what would work for me, it was on sale!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Closetmaid 24" Horizontal Stackable Organizer</td></tr>
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Twenty four inches wide, too! What luck! My plan was to have the boys keep their backpacks on the top shelf, store their sneakers on the middle and bottom shelves and since their feet aren't too big, maybe there would be room for a basket to hold accessories.</div>
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Now, I needed to figure out the second half of the mudroom--a place to hang coats. There are so many hook choices out there from the simple to the whimsical. We just needed simple. And, we needed more than one set of hooks. One was to be placed at the top of the space for my coat/handbag/hat and the other was to be placed so my kids could hang and retrieve their own outerwear.</div>
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Before Thanksgiving, I attended the holiday party for the local organizer group I belong to--NAPO-NNJ. Besides a lovely dinner, we had a Yankee Swap. The table was filled with gifts and I had pulled the last number for picking. By the time it was my turn to pick, there was one gift left on the table. You'll never believe what it was?</div>
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<b>A SET OF HOOKS!</b></div>
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What else do you think Professional Organizers would bring to a Yankee Swap??? It was meant to be!</div>
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And, the person who bought the hooks hadn't removed the price tag entirely. They were from <a href="http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/white-hook-rail-with-satin-nickel-double-hooks/118387?Keyword=hooks">Bed Bath and Beyond</a>. You can't imagine how giddy I was over a set of hooks!</div>
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The next day with my trusty 20% coupon in hand, I bought another set. I was ready for construction to begin.</div>
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We charged our electric drill, connected with our inner Bob Villa, and made Mudroom Magic. Hubby and I put together the Closetmaid shelf in less than ten minutes. We measured and hung the hooks making sure they were straight with the iHandy level on my iPhone.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Measure twice, make hole once!</td></tr>
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My kids tried putting their backpacks on the bench--plenty of room!</div>
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Hooks were hung and so were the coats. The laundry room is tight--here'a a few pics of what it looks like now.</div>
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My kids have been using it everyday--I am so proud of them! Sometimes I find my husband staring at this space with a big grin on his face. I love it, too. No more coat clutter. It looks great. It keeps us organized. Twenty-four inches of space. Challenge accepted. Challenge met. <b><i>Challenge complete!</i></b></div>
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What organizing challenges have you resolved in your home recently?</div>
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Stacey Agin Murray, Professional Organizerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03979357428881696821noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5265418038758817172.post-73719474685997968282013-12-04T22:49:00.002-05:002013-12-04T22:49:38.240-05:00I 'Heart' Container Store Stocking Stuffers - 2013 EditionI am one of those lucky Professional Organizers that lives less than 15 minutes from <a href="http://www.containerstore.com/">The Container Store</a>. It's great to be able to stop in, wander the aisles and check out new products whenever the mood strikes.<br />
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Despite it's proximity to my home, I always look forward to receiving their catalogs. My favorite one arrives through my mail slot at the end of November--<b>The Stocking Stuffers catalog</b>. There's something about this collection of cute, helpful, gadgety things that just makes me smile.<br />
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I flipped through the catalog last week and found a few items to share with you. Are you looking to fill holiday stockings or are you in need of the 'next best thing' to keep you organized? I think you'll find a product here or on the <a href="http://www.containerstore.com/shop/giftWrapWonderland/stockingStuffers">stocking stuffers page</a> of The Container Store's website to suit your gift giving and organizing needs. <br />
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And now, some of my favorite Container Store Stocking Stuffers of 2013...<br />
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<b>Bondi</b><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AfLyum_S9B8/Up9erx9xrJI/AAAAAAAABBI/ZQ1jJmEJWOs/s1600/Bondi_l.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AfLyum_S9B8/Up9erx9xrJI/AAAAAAAABBI/ZQ1jJmEJWOs/s400/Bondi_l.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The Bondi is known as a 'helping hand.' Use it to secure an item and hang it over a doorknob, rearview mirror, stroller or anywhere you need to hang something small.<br />
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<b>Cuppa and Dash Measuring Cups and Spoon</b><br />
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Designed by <a href="http://www.umbra.com/ustore/home.site">Umbra</a>, these space-saving items are perfect for the cook who is short on space and appreciates good design.<br />
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<b>Tab and Page Markers</b><br />
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If you're like me, as you read you feel the need to mark off helpful or inspiring passages in books and magazines. I don't usually read without a pack of these next to me. Great for color coding and they come in their own carrying case. <br />
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<b>Dressing-2-Go</b><br />
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Ever take a salad to work or to an event but you don't want to bring the whole bottle of dressing with you? Enter the Dressing-2-Go bottle. It's BPA free, leakproof and holds 2 oz of dressing--perfect for those watching their calories.<br />
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This last one will probably not keep you organized, but it was so cute I wanted to share it...<br />
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<b>Shower Cap</b><br />
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For the ladies, this vintage-inspired shower cap is covered in rubber duckies--what could be more adorable? It also has a ruffled rim which keeps water out of your eyes. I don't want to leave any one out, but this item may be a bit too girly for a guy with long hair...<br />
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Now, if you'll excuse me, I think I hear some stocking stuffers calling my name. Good thing I live close to The Container Store...<br />
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<br />Stacey Agin Murray, Professional Organizerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03979357428881696821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5265418038758817172.post-43590578699632783092013-11-19T22:31:00.000-05:002013-11-25T13:27:39.870-05:00Get Organized for Thanksgivukkah!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Courtesy of PJlibrary.org</td></tr>
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If you haven't been on Facebook lately or you're not into pop-culture, you may not have heard the news. This year, for the first time since 1861 and the last time until the year 79,811, the holidays of Thanksgiving and Hannukah land on the same day. To commemorate this special day, the phrase, '<b>Thanksgivukkah</b>,' was coined (and trademarked) by two women in Boston. A Facebook and Twitter account devoted to the day was created and the idea spread like wildfire across the United States.<br />
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For many of you, this day is business as usual. Turkey, cranberry sauce, football, and family traditions will be the norm. But for those who celebrate Hannukah as well, this day just became a little more challenging. <br />
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One holiday is religious. One is secular. The foods are different. Maybe you celebrate Turkey-day and Latke-day with different people. Celebrating two holidays at once? OY!<br />
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If you haven't already started to plan, here are a few tips for getting organized for the won't-see-this-again-in-our-lifetime holiday of Thanksgivukkah:<br />
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<b>De-clutter Your Brain</b><br />
You're probably thinking, "Two holidays? What am I going to do? Where do I start?"<br />
Start by dumping your brain onto a piece of paper or into a productivity app. Write down all the shopping, cooking, gift-giving, prepping and schlepping you'll need to do for both holidays. Prioritize and then...<br />
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<b>Delegate</b><br />
It's tough enough preparing for one holiday, but two? You're going to need to delegate tasks in order to cover the important rituals and traditions of both holidays. If you're a self-declared perfectionist, this is the time to lose the title. Control freak? LET IT GO. Some tasks to delegate:<br />
• preparation of a Thanksgivukkah side dish<br />
• creating and facilitating games to keep the kiddies occupied<br />
• shopping for gifts<br />
• cleaning up the kitchen<br />
• playing 'bartender' for the day<br />
• supplying candles and matches for the menorah/menurkey<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p1RMcP1npfY/Uous9ZY63VI/AAAAAAAAA-w/BwKiOSkqCnI/s1600/menurkey.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="287" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p1RMcP1npfY/Uous9ZY63VI/AAAAAAAAA-w/BwKiOSkqCnI/s400/menurkey.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Menurkey--created by a ten year old boy with a Thanksgivukkah dream...</td></tr>
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<b>Prepare in Advance</b><br />
<a href="http://organizedartistry.blogspot.com/2012/02/mise-en-place-cooking-organized-way.html">Mise en Place</a> is a French phrase meaning, 'to have all of your cooking tools and ingredients prepared before you start cooking.' The key to not stressing out while cooking for two different holidays at once is organization. Review every recipe and take note of what ingredients you'll need. Also take note of what size measuring cups and spoons you'll be working with. Do you have enough platters? What dishes need to cook in the oven and which on the stove top? Preparing in advance will prevent kitchen chaos and 'Harried Hostess-itis.'<br />
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<b>Keep it Simple</b><br />
Two major holidays. One day. 'Nuff said.<br />
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Ways to Keep it Simple:<br />
• Usually, I advise people to make lists and store them in a file or electronically for the next year. You're celebrating these two holidays together for the first and last time next week. Feel free to jot down notes but I don't recommend creating a permanent file labeled 'Thanksgivukkah' unless you want to look back at it for some reason. I leave that up to you.<br />
• Buy some pre-made food. My husband and I used to make potato latkes from scratch. Then we had two kids. No more latkes from scratch. My savior--Trader Joe's Potato Pancakes. They are delicious and I don't stay up half a night cleaning my kitchen.<br />
• Eliminate a ton of side dishes by melding the two holidays in your recipes. Ideas: <a href="http://www.koshereye.com/side-dishes/1397-sweet-potato-latkes.html#.UousNSg5MqY">Sweet potato latkes</a>, <a href="http://theshiksa.com/2010/11/10/savory-challah-stuffing/">challah-chestnut stuffing</a>, pumpkin pie a la mode with <a href="http://whatjewwannaeat.com/manischewitz-ice-cream/">Manischewitz ice cream</a>! (delegate the last item to someone with an ice cream maker and time on their hands...)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Latkes? Stuffing? Or both!</td></tr>
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It's been a real hoot reading articles about this once-in-a-lifetime holiday. Here are some interesting and informative ideas about Thanksgivukkah that were cool to read and helped me write this post:<br />
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Much of the historical information for this post has been gleaned from articles on the web and this one from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thanksgivukkah">Wikipedia</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/christinebyrne/thanksgivukkah">How to Celebrate Thanksgivukkah, The Best Holiday of All Time</a><br />
Recipes, decorations and funny stuff<br />
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<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/urj/thanksgivukkah-a-once-in-a-lifetime-holiday/">Pinterest does Thanksgivukkah</a><br />
Food, gifts, decorating and great ideas<br />
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<a href="http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/lifestyle/2013/11/ingenious-nine-year-old-creates-menurkey-for-thanksgivukkah/">Ingeniuous 10-Year Old Creates 'Menurkey' for Thanksgivukkah</a><br />
Never underestimate a child again...<br />
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Happy Organized Thanksgivukkah!<br />
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<br />Stacey Agin Murray, Professional Organizerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03979357428881696821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5265418038758817172.post-17238484358711363972013-10-20T23:20:00.000-04:002013-10-20T23:20:28.659-04:00Ideas for an Organized Halloween<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<b>BOO!</b></h3>
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Hope I didn't scare you too badly...</div>
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If you couldn't tell by walking around the mall or your neighborhood, Halloween is just around the corner. I've bought my candy and scoured the Target One Spot for cool Halloween pencils. My eldest child's costume is almost complete (baseball player) while my three year old just prefers to wear an orange shirt (his favorite color) and I'm 100% fine with that.<br />
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What do you do to celebrate Halloween? Decorate your house? Cook Halloween-themed treats? Put on a costume to hand out candy?<br />
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Some people love Halloween, some celebrate it because of their kids, and some would rather shut off all the lights in their house and hide in their basement on Halloween. If you fall into the first two categories, read on.<br />
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Holidays require preparation and Halloween is no different. Ordering/making costumes, buying candy, preparing themed food, setting out decorations all take time. Then there's the purging of old costumes, candy-sorting, and the putting away of all decorations--lots to do for one day!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NuhAntRf5ds/UmFZsrg98EI/AAAAAAAAA9w/jtBJ_hL-04c/s1600/Mummy-Hot-Dogs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NuhAntRf5ds/UmFZsrg98EI/AAAAAAAAA9w/jtBJ_hL-04c/s400/Mummy-Hot-Dogs.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mummy Hot Dogs - photo courtesy of Yummly.com</td></tr>
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In order to make your Halloween a less stressful and cluttered holiday, I've gathered a few articles for you to read on the topic of organizing for Halloween.<br />
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From the people at Jurasic Junk Removal: <a href="http://www.jurassic-junk.com/2011/10/14/get-organized-for-halloween/"><b>Get Organized for Halloween</b></a><br />
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From Examiner.com: <a href="http://www.examiner.com/article/top-10-tips-organizing-tricks-to-make-your-halloween-a-treat"><b>Top 10 Tips: Organizing Tricks to Make Your Halloween a Treat</b></a><br />
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From my organizing colleague and frequent guest blogger, Cena Block of <a href="http://sanespaces.com/">Sane Spaces</a>: <a href="http://sanespaces.com/2011/10/get-organized-for-halloween/"><b>Get Organized for Halloween</b></a><br />
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I hope these articles provide you with some good ideas on how to keep your Halloween organized so you can enjoy a stress and clutter-free holiday.<br />
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Watch out for ghosts and goblins and have a fun Halloween!<br />
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<br />Stacey Agin Murray, Professional Organizerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03979357428881696821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5265418038758817172.post-34890243012045108192013-10-09T21:45:00.001-04:002013-10-09T21:45:17.210-04:00Anniversary Post - It's Been Four Years!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It doesn't seem that long ago that I dropped my three year old off at preschool, came back to my office and wrote <a href="http://organizedartistry.blogspot.com/2009/10/blogging-beginner.html">my first blog post</a>. I had so many ideas swirling around in my head--I couldn't wait to put them in blog form.<br />
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That three year old is now in second grade and it's the fourth anniversary of my blog! The four years have flown by quickly. I can't believe I've written close to two hundred posts in that time.<br />
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In reviewing my posts, I saw that the most popular post I've written over the past four years is <a href="http://organizedartistry.blogspot.com/2012/04/best-products-for-organizing-your-car.html">Best Products for Organizing Your Car</a>. I'm thinking of writing a Part 2. Or maybe a series of posts titled, 'Best Products for Organizing Your ________.' Gotta go with what works!<br />
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I'm always thinking about what I'll write next. Sometimes it will be about something I've seen, learned or experienced. Sometimes I'll write about a product or helpful resource. What I do try to keep in mind as I write is that <b>a blog post should do at least one of five things for their readers</b>:<br />
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• Educate<br />
• Entertain<br />
• Inform<br />
• Inspire<br />
• Empower<br />
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I keep this list handy when I'm gathering ideas for my blog. I write for my own enjoyment and to keep up my skills as a writer but for the most part, <b>I write for YOU--my reader</b>. I hope over the past four years I have educated, entertained, informed, inspired and empowered you to lead a more organized life.<br />
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I also have exciting news! All being well and good, this time next year, my blog will be part of a WordPress website--no more separate blog. I am in the process of hiring a designer to merge my existing website and blog into one WordPress site. I can't wait--my website has needed a makeover for a while and there are things about my blog I'd love to change (larger writing and photo area, different fonts/colors). I'll be keeping you posted throughout the process and I look forward to celebrating my fifth anniversary with you and my new, improved WordPress site.<br />
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Another exciting development--my book. Although I've said in past anniversary posts that I would post updates about the book I was writing, I've been pretty quiet. I promise to blog about it more often in the future. I completed the manuscript at the end of 2012 and hired a book coach this summer to help me navigate the sometimes bumpy road to self-publishing. One of the many details she helped me with was a title. The working title is: <i>The Organized Bride's Thank You Note Handbook: Let Systems and 101 Modern Sample Thank You Notes Take You From Overwhelmed to Organized</i>. The peer review stage is almost complete and the manuscript will be reviewed by an editor by the end of the year.<br />
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With all of these exciting projects come extra work. And extra work means sometimes I don't have ample time to write a blog post (kids home on school vacations take away from writing time, too). So, I have been hosting guest bloggers to bring you new ideas and fresh perspectives when I am unable to fill that space. I hope you have learned from them--I know I've picked up a few great organizing ideas from my guest bloggers, too.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RTMTCINPw_U/UlQzYJ1VduI/AAAAAAAAA9M/m_0FpDGJskM/s1600/ThankYouSign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="193" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RTMTCINPw_U/UlQzYJ1VduI/AAAAAAAAA9M/m_0FpDGJskM/s320/ThankYouSign.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image from beedivinedesigns.com</td></tr>
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I want to thank you for taking the time to read my posts. Your support, kind comments and words of encouragement motivate me to keep writing and bringing you the best of the world of organizing. Onward to year five of blogging!<br />
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<br />Stacey Agin Murray, Professional Organizerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03979357428881696821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5265418038758817172.post-87325611517769873272013-10-02T23:17:00.000-04:002013-10-03T09:54:13.682-04:00Tales of a Town-Wide Garage Sale In 2000, my husband and I got married and merged two households. Between all the stuff we came with and the beautiful wedding gifts we had received, our home was overflowing with three of this, four of that and too much of a whole lotta stuff. So, we decided to sort through what we owned, purge out what we didn't need and have a garage sale.<br />
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I wish I had pictures to show you but our driveway and lawn were filled with our belongings. People thought we were downsizing and moving! I overheard one woman on her cell phone yelling to a friend, "You gotta come over here--there's so much great stuff!"<br />
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Two days and almost $1000 later, we had done a good job of clearing space in our home. We used the funds to buy a patio set which we still own. At the end of day two, I turned to my husband and said "I never want to have enough stuff in our home to do a garage sale again..."<br />
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It's now 2013. We've had two children and our house was feeling full. My husband swore our attic floor would soon buckle and bins of stuff would crash to the floor below. In the Spring we began, Operation 'Get It Out of the House.' Big ticket items like our crib and two exersaucers found new homes. Bags upon bags of baby clothing found their way to three different expectant mothers. My husband says he could hear the attic exhale for the first time in years.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Multiply this times three and that's how many bags of 0-12m baby clothing I gave away!</td></tr>
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I kept purging--kiddie toys to the preschool, old pillows to the trash and then it happened...My neighbor tells me our town is having it's first town-wide garage sale.<br />
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I pass the great news on to my husband. He's as excited as I am.<br />
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I continue purging. I started to collect boxes and plastic bags, and began pricing. I even dug up the Word file for the garage sale sign I had created in 2000 (Hubby says that didn't surprise him one bit...).<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My cousin Dale gave me the 'Fill a bag for $1' idea. Brilliant!</td></tr>
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After pricing, I sorted our items by category--Baby, Kid Toys, Housewares, Books, etc. counting down the days when I could finally reclaim my garage space again.<br />
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We had about a tenth of the stuff we put out in 2000. Our friend gave us some of her things to put in the garage sale so she could purge her house, too. We had two beautiful sunny days and although foot traffic was light, enough customers made purchases to say it was successful.</div>
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My neighbors across the street set up a few tables and my nine year old neighbor decided to try his hand at selling some toys he and his brother didn't play with anymore. I advised him to lay them out on towels grouping 'like' with 'like'--dinosaurs with other dinos and all vehicles together, too. He sold a few items (including one of the bikes in the background) but at least half of them went to my son's preschool or to my own kids!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FXv8fiUsIlQ/UktATstDyvI/AAAAAAAAA8U/W6WKyCIl7v4/s1600/IMG_3089.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FXv8fiUsIlQ/UktATstDyvI/AAAAAAAAA8U/W6WKyCIl7v4/s400/IMG_3089.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The wares of a budding entrepreneur...</td></tr>
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A few shoppers commented on how organized my labeled pricing system was. I smiled and said, 'Thanks.' Oh, if they only knew...</div>
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Two days later, we made less than a tenth of the money we had made in the 2000 garage sale but that's OK. We weren't doing it for the money--we were getting rid of the 'old' to make room for the 'new.'</div>
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<b>Some funny/unexpected things that happened during the garage sale:</b><br />
• My neighbors bought some of my stuff!<br />
• A shopper thought a painting marked $3.00 was actually $300. We all had a good chuckle...<br />
• A grandma about six inches shorter than me bought and then picked up a Little Tikes picnic table and walked back to her house with it.<br />
• I sold a NJ Devils giveaway towel to my seven year old for $ .25. I thought it would be a good math lesson...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He said, "Mommy, I can't believe you were going to sell this!"</td></tr>
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<b>Some great things that happened during the garage sale:</b><br />
• I had fun hanging out with my neighbors and celebrating our selling successes.<br />
• My kids acquired some cool toys and baseball mitts from our neighbors across the street.<br />
• I got to read two magazines during selling 'downtime.' Any mom of small kids know that this is quite a feat!<br />
• We made a little extra spending money.<br />
• We purged our home of things we no longer needed.<br />
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At the end of the garage sale, I packed up all unsold goods and split them into three categories. Give to Preschool, Give to Thrift Shop, Bring Back in the Garage. The 'Give to Thrift Shop' bags and boxes went from my driveway to my car to a local donation center. My 'Preschool' items are enjoying a new home in my son's classroom and the one (!) bin marked 'Bring Back in the Garage' is being dealt with this week.<br />
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So, if your town is declaring a town-wide garage sale soon, or you're looking to make some room in your home and some money for your wallet, <b>here are a few tips to make your garage sale successful:</b><br />
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• Use a color coded pricing system and hang your signs everywhere. I used blue painter's tape and a marker for any item over $2.<br />
• Wear comfortable clothes with pockets and comfy footwear. You're going to be moving and standing a lot.<br />
• A few weeks before your sale, start collecting large and small plastic shopping bags for customers to put their purchases in.<br />
• Group like items together. If someone is looking for kids toys and they're strewn across your lawn, customers are less likely to see them and buy them.<br />
• Smile and welcome your potential customers. Engage them in conversation and ask if you can help them find anything special.<br />
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OK--Who is ready to have a garage sale?<br />
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<br />Stacey Agin Murray, Professional Organizerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03979357428881696821noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5265418038758817172.post-52338214743828595332013-09-22T14:26:00.000-04:002013-09-22T14:26:35.453-04:00Organizing 'Quick Tip:' ICE: In Case of EmergencyWildfires, hurricanes, and floods, seem to be making headlines lately. The news speaks of of lives lost, homes and communities destroyed, and families displaced. We hope to never find ourselves in such a situation.<br />
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September is <b>National Preparedness Month</b>--the perfect time to consider what you might need in a time of crisis.<br />
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You might be thinking--"I don't live in tornado territory." Or, "My apartment on the 18th floor and wouldn't be affected by a flood. I understand your thinking but, I implore you to put 'personal safety' on your to-do list this month.<br />
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We've all heard about creating an emergency kit for a car or stocking a three-day supply of water in our basements--all important preparations. What I'd like you to do in the next day or two is today's Organizing 'Quick Tip'...<br />
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<b>Prepare for an emergency by programming your cell phone with I.C.E.</b></div>
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<b>I.C.E.</b> stands for <b>In Case of Emergency</b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PV-AG4-e-MU/Uj5E9un_OvI/AAAAAAAAA7Y/DanfUwiuIfA/s1600/ICE+iPhone.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PV-AG4-e-MU/Uj5E9un_OvI/AAAAAAAAA7Y/DanfUwiuIfA/s1600/ICE+iPhone.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo courtesy of Worldstart.com</td></tr>
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It's very easy and could save your life in an emergency.</div>
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Programming emergency contacts on my iPhone has been on my to-do list for a while. In honor of National Preparedness Month, I took a few moments to set up those I.C.E. contacts. My husband and my parents are my contacts and I have added my home telephone number so a message could be left on our answering machine if necessary. I also listed my allergies and my blood type. Not only is my pertinent information listed, I've included the names of my children in case they are in an accident with me. I've identified each of them by their hair color and what they are allergic to.<br />
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After you've read this post, please make an appointment with yourself to program I.C.E. contacts on your phone. Here are a few how-to's articles to give you some ideas...<br />
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For iPhone:</div>
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http://www.worldstart.com/adding-ice-contacts-to-your-iphone/</div>
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Smartphone and iPhone with Siri in case of password protection:<br />
http://rnn10.wordpress.com/2010/06/21/how-to-set-up-an-ice-contact-on-your-iphone/<br />
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Now, go get organized for an emergency!<br />
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<br />Stacey Agin Murray, Professional Organizerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03979357428881696821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5265418038758817172.post-69630861020880005022013-09-03T21:33:00.000-04:002013-09-03T21:33:08.714-04:00Organizing Help for Back to School<i>Some of your children may have started school already. Some may still be anticipating the first day. Despite their start date, my guest blogger, Linda Samuels of <a href="http://www.ohsoorganized.com/">Oh, So Organized!</a> wants to make sure your child's school year is a happy and organized one. Read on for her top tips for creating simple systems for getting and staying organized throughout the school year.</i><br />
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It’s that time of year. Leaves are turning, classes are starting, and new school supplies are flying off store shelves. The other day I came across an old pre-printed pad, “A Note to School from Linda Samuels,” which I no longer use since our daughters are in college and beyond. Seeing the notepad made me think about all the years of excited anticipation we had preparing for school to begin. Are you and your kids ready for the transition? Take a deep breath. Getting that organizing piece working for you can make a big difference in having your days run more smoothly. Here are my top tips for an organized, joyful school year.<br />
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<b>Cycle</b> – Giving closure to the previous school year helps us get ready for this year. Sort through last year’s school papers (preferably with your kids.) It’s a great opportunity to review what was accomplished and what they were most proud of. It gives you a chance to create a mini time capsule representing last year. Be ruthless when you sort. Save what’s important and recycle the rest. Store the “keepers” in a large envelope. Write your kid’s name, grade and year on the outside. Store the envelope in a larger container. Add a new envelope at the end of each school year.<br />
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<b>Capture</b> – Establish a place to put the current school papers as they enter your home. You can use bins, binders, boxes, or any container that’s easily accessible. As artwork, graded papers, or programs come in, put them in their designated spot. You might want a separate container for each kid. When the container gets full, you can do some editing. Then the “keepers” can be stored in their year-end envelope, as described above.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NiZzC0t4RYU/UiU7pXN_QwI/AAAAAAAAA7E/WwE2dX7EKx0/s1600/ClassicStockholmMagazineFiles_l.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NiZzC0t4RYU/UiU7pXN_QwI/AAAAAAAAA7E/WwE2dX7EKx0/s320/ClassicStockholmMagazineFiles_l.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Classic Stockholm Magazine Files from the Container Store are helpful for organizing papers</td></tr>
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<b>Land</b> – Create a place for backpacks, coats and notes to reside. When kids come home, they will know where to put their belongings. Cubbies work well, as do hooks. Make them easily accessible both in terms of their physical placement in the home and the heights that you place things. The easier you make it, the better chance you have for creating the “place it here” habit. Consider adding a white board or other communication center in this area to leave notes, messages and important items for kids to remember. Before bed, have your kids make sure that all needed items for the next morning are reading in the “land” area.<br />
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<b>Center</b> – One of the essential ingredients for school success is establishing a place to do homework and have school supplies readily available. When it’s time to do that science project, it’s no fun to have to hunt for the markers. Review your current supplies to see if there are any items that need to be replaced. Create a zone for the supplies to reside. If your kids like to move around to various locations for doing their homework, then put together a portable tote or crate to hold the supplies. Whether they prefer working on a desk, their bed or the kitchen table, the supplies can “travel” with your kids.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-afmcSKVhSB0/UiU7JJMHv7I/AAAAAAAAA68/raPqYyfxWpY/s1600/PB+Schoolhouse+desk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="282" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-afmcSKVhSB0/UiU7JJMHv7I/AAAAAAAAA68/raPqYyfxWpY/s320/PB+Schoolhouse+desk.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pottery Barn Schoolhouse Craft Desk</td></tr>
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<b>Assess</b> – Fall is a natural time to review clothing needs. Organize with each kid separately. Go through their closets and drawers. Remove any items that no longer fit, they won’t wear, or need repair or cleaning. With the “do not wants or fits,” donate or save for younger kids if appropriate. Make a shopping list of items that are needed. Remember that less is easier to maintain than too much. Factor in how often laundry is done. Especially if it’s done frequently, you many not need as many clothes. Getting dressed is so much easier and less stressful when everything fits, is clean, and organized.<br />
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<b>Resources</b> – This is the time of year when back to school tips and suggestions are abundant. Many of my organizing colleagues have great wisdom to share. Some of my favorite tips and posts are <a href="http://www.clutterdietblog.com/2012/08/clutter-video-tip-make-a-family-binder-for-organizing-school-papers-emergency-information-more.html#">Lorie Marrero’s video</a> about using a binder for organizing school papers and more, Leslie Josel’s <a href="http://pinterest.com/orderoochaos/student-organizing/"><i>Student Organizing</i> Pinterest board</a>, Clare Kumar’s <a href="http://streamlife.ca/blog/2012/08/14/5-tips-for-a-better-back-to-school/"><i>5 Tips for a Better Back to School</i></a>, Helena Alkhas’ <a href="http://streamlife.ca/blog/2012/08/14/5-tips-for-a-better-back-to-school/">school paper organizing system</a>, and Ellen Delap’s <a href="http://professional-organizer.com/WordPress/2012/07/31/back-to-school-tips-to-organize-your-home/"><i>Back to School Tips to Organize Your Home</i></a>.<br />
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<b>Perspective</b> – With transitions come new patterns, more to dos, and extra stress. Reminding our selves to enjoy the moments can be helpful. They go so fast. A few years ago I wrote a guest post for Working Mother, <a href="http://www.workingmother.com/blogs/oh-so-organized/moms039-quotto-doquot-lists"><i>Moms’ ‘To Do’ Lists</i></a>, about getting things done, parenting and appreciating the various stages of our children’s lives.<br />
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What are some of your favorite ways to stay organized for the school year? Come stop by to share your best tips and resources.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-A7AaPJfd4VY/UiTn1Idr4rI/AAAAAAAAA6U/zSdaN75MAns/s1600/LindaSamuelsHD.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-A7AaPJfd4VY/UiTn1Idr4rI/AAAAAAAAA6U/zSdaN75MAns/s200/LindaSamuelsHD.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div>
<b>Linda Samuels</b>, CPO-CD® is a compassionate, enthusiastic professional organizer and coach, founder of Oh, So Organized! (1993), author of <i>The Other Side of Organized</i>, and blogger on organizing and life balance. In July 2013, Linda joined the Institute for Challenging Disorganization (ICD) Board of Directors as President-Elect. She has been featured in <i>The New York Times, Woman’s Day, Bottom Line Personal, Westchester Magazine, Everyday with Rachael Ray, and Enterpreneur.com</i>. Connect with Linda on <a href="https://twitter.com/LindaSamuels">Twitter</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Oh-So-Organized">Facebook</a>, <a href="http://pinterest.com/ohsoorganized/">Pinterest</a>, <a href="http://theothersideoforganized.com/">blog</a>, or <a href="http://www.ohsoorganized.com/">website</a>. Sign up for a free monthly e-newsletter with bonus tips at <a href="http://ohsoorganized.com/">ohsoorganized.com</a>.<br />
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<br />Stacey Agin Murray, Professional Organizerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03979357428881696821noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5265418038758817172.post-69129370147826602812013-08-25T23:12:00.001-04:002013-08-25T23:12:38.643-04:00Organizing a Backpack<i>Students from preschool to college love to use backpacks. They come in a multitude of sizes, colors and price points and can hold a ton of books and supplies. My guest blogger, Amber Kostelny of <b><a href="http://www.ambersorganizing.com/">Amber's Organizing</a></b> knows that a backpack has the potential to be a black hole or bottomless pit so she's offering some of her best tips for organizing a backpack. Read on...</i><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--XSurxBRnNI/UhO6bpcWs_I/AAAAAAAAA6A/FGuWpsSWC-A/s1600/LL+Bean+backpack2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--XSurxBRnNI/UhO6bpcWs_I/AAAAAAAAA6A/FGuWpsSWC-A/s1600/LL+Bean+backpack2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">LL Bean Turbo Transit Backpack</td></tr>
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Organizing a backpack and keeping it neat and tidy is not much different from organizing something else in your home or office. Similar principles apply. Here are my top tips! (and if you’ve got some to share- please comment! We’d love to hear them.) <br />
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• <b>Use pouches that are colored and clear</b>. This may sound confusing, so let me explain. Seeing through a container or pouch makes finding pencils, pens, and erasers a lot easier. If they are tinted a color, that’s even better. Over time, your child will for example associate blue for pencils and red for note cards. This makes it easier to grab a pouch out of the bag. Avoid loose crayons, highlighters and erasers. Everything should be in a pouch or small bag.<br />
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• <b>Assign each pocket in the backpack its’ own function or use.</b> For example, maybe the front small pocket will always contain the pencil case and the first large pocket- folders and paper, where as the second large compartment or pocket will house the books. Again, over time your student will instinctively associate certain pockets with certain contents. They’ll never have to guess where something is if everything “has a home”.<br />
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• <b>Clean it out regularly.</b> This step is the most important. I recommend each and every night, clean out and tidy up the backpack. This may not be realistic for your child but if you can get into this habit, it will really help. Otherwise, shoot for once a week. That will help keep the mess at bay.<br />
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• <b>Label everything.</b> Cases, pouches, books, folders and just about anything else you can think of- label it! Although kids like to write the label or title out themselves, encourage them to use your label maker. It will make it easier for everyone if the labels are clearly typed out.<br />
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• <b>Color code folders, binders, and notepads.</b> Choose one color to represent one subject. Perhaps your child’s math book has a book cover. Then stick to a blue folder or notebook to match it. All of these little changes can sometimes make a huge difference if you child identifies with colors to stay organized.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zHPKd9xhyzo/UhO1f4mVL4I/AAAAAAAAA5w/rYsYBzpM6mo/s1600/Amber+headshot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="142" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zHPKd9xhyzo/UhO1f4mVL4I/AAAAAAAAA5w/rYsYBzpM6mo/s200/Amber+headshot.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
Amber has been serving the Chicago area as a professional organizer since January 2004. She is a <a href="http://www.certifiedprofessionalorganizers.com/">Certified Professional Organizer</a>® and specializes in residential and small business organizing. She especially enjoys working one on one with clients to customize the organizing solutions and systems to add efficiency to their space or business. Helping people problem solve difficult spaces and creating productive work spaces is very rewarding to her. Amber is a Golden Circle member of the <a href="http://www.napo.net/">National Association of Professional Organizers</a> as well as local member of the <a href="http://www.napochicago.com/">Chicago chapter</a>.<br />
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Links:<br />
<a href="http://ambersorganizing.com/">ambersorganizing.com</a><br />
<a href="http://chicagoprofessionalorganizer.com/">chicagoprofessionalorganizer.com</a><br />
<a href="http://facebook.com/ambersorganizingllc">facebook.com/ambersorganizingllc</a><br />
<a href="http://twitter.com/luvtoorganize">twitter.com/luvtoorganize</a><br />
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<br />Stacey Agin Murray, Professional Organizerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03979357428881696821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5265418038758817172.post-69722078302558236882013-08-18T21:03:00.001-04:002013-08-18T21:03:05.682-04:00Cool Product - ArtkiveI know it's summer, and no one likes to mention the word 'school' during the summer, but I want to prepare you for what is coming. I bring up the topic of 'school' because just like kids, parents need to start the school year with tools to make their lives easier.<br />
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I've started using an app for de-cluttering my house and I wanted to share it with you so you're ready for the day your child brings home this:<br />
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and this:<br />
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And enough three-dimesional pieces of art to fill an exhibition space at the MOMA.<br />
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The app is called <b><a href="http://www.artkiveapp.com/">Artkive</a></b>...<br />
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Their tag line is: 'The clutter free way to save and enjoy your child's artwork'<br />
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I read about it in an article on apps for Moms about a year ago and decided to give it a try. I'm so glad I did--I LOVE IT!<br />
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True Confessions: Despite the fact I'm a Professional Organizer, I still have to deal with the influx of my children's artwork just like you do. What I've done in the past was display some of my son's artwork, have him sort and purge all of it with me at the end of the year, photograph him with some of it, keep his best pieces and toss the rest. We still take pics of his artwork if he no longer wants to keep it but Artkive has made the process a much easier and organized one.<br />
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Now, artwork comes home from TWO children and as it comes out of their backpacks, I 'Artkive' the work of art and place them in each child's room either for display or storage.<br />
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If you'd like to see the top of your horizontal surfaces this school year, read on--you can thank me later...<br />
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How to start...</div>
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• Download the Artkive app (for <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/artkive/id549980508?mt=8">iPhone</a> and <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.artkive.theartkiveapp">Android</a>).<br />
• Set up an account with the name(s) of your child(ren) and their grade in school.<br />
• Take a picture of your kid's artwork or upload from your camera roll.<br />
• Tag the photo with your child's name, grade, date and title of artwork.<br />
• Share with family and friend or turn into a book (coming soon: other products).<br />
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It's just that simple. I haven't created a book of my kids' artwork yet, but it's something I would definitely try out in the future. Currently, there are two options: 8"x8" or 8"x11." The cost is $25 for the first 20 pages--$1.00 for each additional page. Before holiday time, Artkive plans to expand to gifts like mugs, calendars and the like.</div>
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Why I love Artkive...<br />
• It's EASY to use.<br />
• I can quickly email artwork to my husband or parents without having to first download the pictures to my computer and emailing them from there.<br />
• All artwork is backed up in the 'cloud.'</div>
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• It helps eliminate artwork clutter.</div>
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• It's free. Go download it and set it up before the first day of school.<br />
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You're welcome.<br />
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After you've used it for a while, come back and let me know what you think about Artkive!</div>
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Stacey Agin Murray, Professional Organizerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03979357428881696821noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5265418038758817172.post-34134845391967690312013-08-11T19:00:00.001-04:002013-08-11T19:00:29.035-04:00Morning Routine Secret Weapon: How I Get Two Kids Out of the House on Time<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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"I want to watch TV!"<br />
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"I want to play with my toys!"<br />
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"I'll brush my teeth later!"<br />
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Have you heard these cries from your kids in the morning? They are direct quotes from my two children. And on occasion, I have been guilty of giving in to them. What did it get me? Some prodding, pleading and yelling, a mad dash out the door, and no one starting out their day in a good mood.<br />
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I like to start my day in a good mood--I want the same for my kids. It's important to start the day off with a smile--especially at back-to-school time.<br />
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How did I turn our morning routine around?<br />
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<b>My secret weapon: </b></div>
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<b>The 'Business Before 'Pleasure' Method for Morning Routines</b></div>
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What does the '<b>Business Before Pleasure' Method</b> involve? Its basic philosophy is that all morning 'business' must be taken care of before 'pleasure' (playing or watching TV). Morning business includes (in no particular order):<br />
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• Using the bathroom and washing face/brushing teeth<br />
• Selecting clothes (if it wasn't done the night before)<br />
• Getting dressed<br />
• Eating breakfast<br />
• Cleaning up after breakfast<br />
• Putting on shoes<br />
• Checking school bag for everything needed for the day<br />
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My kids are 7 and 3. My big guy can do most of the 'morning business' himself by now but still needs a bit of prodding. My little one can be a bit of a 'wild card.' You never know what he's going to do. For these reasons and more, it was important to create a set of 'rules' to dictate what needs to happen before they could play/watch TV and so I can get them to school on time.<br />
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What makes the <b>'Business Before Pleasure' Method</b> an easier way of getting ready in the morning?<br />
• Lunches and school bags are prepared the night before<br />
• The weather report is checked and clothes are picked out for the next day before bedtime<br />
• The kids know what they are responsible for accomplishing in the morning<br />
• They are learning how to manage their time<br />
• Their desire to have that extra 'pleasure' time in the morning motivates them and ensures me a little extra time in case of an emergency or glitch (ex. full diaper/last-minute requests/faulty coat zipper)<br />
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Thanks to the <b>'Business Before Pleasure' Method, </b>our mornings are more smooth and less hectic now. And, yes--most mornings my guys get to play and watch a little TV before leaving the house.<br />
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By the way, just saying the phrase 'Business Before Pleasure' drives my 7 year old crazy. But, better it drive him crazy for a fleeting moment than have Mommy crazy the whole morning!<br />
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<br />Stacey Agin Murray, Professional Organizerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03979357428881696821noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5265418038758817172.post-10611889523033796102013-08-05T21:57:00.000-04:002013-08-05T21:57:17.918-04:00Back-to-School: Tips on Creating a First-Aid Kit for College<i>We remember to pack sheets, electronics, and posters for the wall when kids go to college but what about medicine? Yes, there's usually a medical center on campus but my guest blogger, Professional Organizer Heather Ahern of <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;">The FUNctional Home</span></b> believes that preparing college students for minor medical issues is equally as important as preparing them for academics (I agree!).</i><br />
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<b>When packing a student to live away at college, don’t forget to assemble </b><b>a comprehensive first aid kit.</b> </div>
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Think beyond ibuprofen and Band-Aids when creating this kit for a dorm room. On campus the Health Services are often not available 24 hours a day and some things can be handled easily if the right supplies are on hand. Students need more than the typical pre-packed first aid kit that contains only one or two doses of medications and a few bandages. Also when stocking your own first aid kit, you can ensure the medications are your preferred brands and have a longer shelf life by checking the expiration dates.<br />
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<b>A typical first aid kit should include the basic tools and equipment needed for cuts, bumps and bruises: </b><br />
•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Adhesive bandages in all shapes and sizes<br />
•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>antiseptic wipe packets<br />
•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>antibiotic ointment<br />
•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>sterile gauze pads<br />
•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>adhesive tape<br />
•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>hydrocortisone ointment<br />
•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>scissors<br />
•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>eye wash<br />
•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>instant cold compresses<br />
•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>hot packs<br />
•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>elastic (Ace) bandage<br />
•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>thermometer<br />
•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>tweezers<br />
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<b>This kit will also be an extension of your medicine cabinet at home so it needs to include: </b><br />
•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Acetaminophen for aches and pains,<br />
•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Ibuprofen for pain caused by inflammation and swelling<br />
•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>laxatives<br />
•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>anti-diarrhea pills<br />
•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>antacids in case of indigestion<br />
•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Benadryl for allergic reactions<br />
•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>seasonal allergy medicine<br />
•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>some basic medications for cold and flu season.<br />
•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Athlete's foot medicine may come in handy as well.<br />
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<b>A conversation on how to use all these new purchases will be helpful for many </b><b>students living away from home for the first time. </b></div>
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Before my son left for his freshman year at college we took an unhurried trip to the drugstore. We walked up and down each isle collecting what he needed, discussing why he may need it, with an explanation on how to use it. Being in a new situation, having an altered schedule and eating different foods can bring on a variety of issues in the first few months that many students may have never dealt with before. Take some time to clarify why you included Imodium or Dulcolax for example and the difference between them. You may want to cover when the “kit” is appropriate and in what circumstances the Campus Health Services would be a better choice.<br />
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<b>Purchase a durable box to contain all these supplies </b><b>after you have amassed all the items to insure everything will fit. </b> </div>
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Remove some items like bandages from their original boxes and use plastic zip-top storage bags to save space. Be sure to include a copy of their insurance card, the campus health center’s phone number, the phone number for your child's physician and a list of any known allergies to medication.<br />
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Remember all first aid kits need to be restocked occasionally. Check expiration dates and replace any used or out-of-date contents each year before heading back to school. This is a good time to do an inventory of your own supplies at home too.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f2ifzQneiHA/Uf_FsgS5rlI/AAAAAAAAA4s/4-wT42puEjM/s1600/H_Ahern_web_color+crop+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f2ifzQneiHA/Uf_FsgS5rlI/AAAAAAAAA4s/4-wT42puEjM/s200/H_Ahern_web_color+crop+4.jpg" width="140" /></a>Heather Ahern is a Professional Organizer living in Bridgewater MA<br />
helping families and seniors “Make Sense of their Stuff and Create<br />
Peace in their Home”. <br />
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For more information, tips and inspiration<br />
visit <a href="http://TheFUNctionalHome.com/">TheFUNctionalHome.com</a> or follow Heather on Facebook at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheFUNctionalHome">https://www.facebook.com/TheFUNctionalHome</a>.<br />
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<br />Stacey Agin Murray, Professional Organizerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03979357428881696821noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5265418038758817172.post-46647776803766541352013-07-29T11:04:00.002-04:002013-07-29T11:14:10.584-04:00My Top Ten Organizing Posts<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GxW82ryypg0/UfaDro4zw2I/AAAAAAAAA4Y/8odbY7UcYko/s1600/eleven.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;">=<img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GxW82ryypg0/UfaDro4zw2I/AAAAAAAAA4Y/8odbY7UcYko/s200/eleven.jpg" width="199" /></a></div>
It's hard to believe but Organized Artistry is heading into it's 11th year in business. The time has certainly flown! In that time, I've written organizing tip articles for my website and almost four years ago, I started this blog.<br />
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In honor of 11 years of organizing, I share with you the top ten most popular posts of this blog--plus one bonus post to make it 11. I hope at least one of them will offer you an idea or a resource for creating and maintaining an organized life.<br />
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Curious as to what readers liked most?<br />
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<b>Top 3 blog posts:</b><br />
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<a href="http://organizedartistry.blogspot.com/2012/04/best-products-for-organizing-your-car.html">Best Products for Organizing Your Car</a><br />
This post was the most popular by a landslide! Maybe I need to add 'car organizing' to my list of services...<br />
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<a href="http://organizedartistry.blogspot.com/2012/01/organizing-inspiration-from-curious.html">Organizing Inspiration from Curious George</a><br />
Who would think that a mischievous monkey could teach us a lesson on organization?<br />
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<a href="http://organizedartistry.blogspot.com/2012/10/peter-walsh-organizes-rachael-rays.html">Peter Walsh Organizes Rachael Ray's Kitchen</a><br />
She's got a smaller kitchen than one would assume. Peter Walsh makes cooking at home a more stress-free activity for the famous cook.<br />
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<b>Cool Product blog posts:</b><br />
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<a href="http://organizedartistry.blogspot.com/2011/07/cool-product-jewelry-organizer.html">Cool Product - Jewelry Organizer</a><br />
Not your usual jewelry holder...<br />
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<a href="http://organizedartistry.blogspot.com/2011/03/cool-product-cable-turtle.html">Cool Product - Cable Turtle</a><br />
Wires! Wires! Wires! No more unsightly wire messes thanks to cable turtles.<br />
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<a href="http://organizedartistry.blogspot.com/2011/06/cool-product-fridge-binz.html">Cool Product - Fridge Binz</a><br />
If your fridge need organizing, check these out...<br />
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<b>Other popular blog posts:</b><br />
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<a href="http://organizedartistry.blogspot.com/2009/10/decluttering-tips.html">De-Cluttering Tips</a><br />
Simple, basic steps to follow for de-cluttering...<br />
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<a href="http://organizedartistry.blogspot.com/2012/08/top-ten-helper-shelf-hot-spots-for-your.html">Top Ten Helper Shelf 'Hot Spots' for Your Home</a><br />
This was a popular post, too. I love helper shelves! See how they can transform your closets and cabinets.<br />
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<a href="http://organizedartistry.blogspot.com/2011/11/organizing-up-and-down-vertical.html">Organizing Up and Down--a Vertical Makeover</a><br />
My motto: "If you can't go outward, go UPWARD!"<br />
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<a href="http://organizedartistry.blogspot.com/2012/02/organizing-on-cheap-target-dollar-spot.html">Organizing on the Cheap: Target Dollar Spot</a><br />
Love the Target Dollar Spot. You never know what organizing products (or other goodies) you'll find there.<br />
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<a href="http://organizedartistry.blogspot.com/2012/05/new-baby-time-to-get-organized.html">New Baby? Time to Get Organized</a><br />
These little people have a lot of stuff and require a ton of organization!<br />
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<i>Bonus post:</i> Some organizing humor...<br />
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<a href="http://organizedartistry.blogspot.com/2011/10/professional-organizer-humor.html">Professional Organizer Humor</a><br />
Yes, there's a bumper sticker for our profession, too!<br />
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My blog posts are written with the intention of providing information, tips, resources and sometimes a good laugh. I hope they have provided you with all that and more. Thanks so much for supporting Organized Artistry!<br />
<br />Stacey Agin Murray, Professional Organizerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03979357428881696821noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5265418038758817172.post-36231188975410832322013-07-18T10:04:00.001-04:002013-07-18T10:06:00.455-04:00Organizing 'Quick Tip:' Take Action with Post-its If you've been reading my blog for a while or 'Like' <a href="https://www.facebook.com/OrganizedArtistryLLC">Organized Artistry on Facebook</a>, then you know how much I love Post-its. I own and use them in different colors, shapes and sizes. Up until recently, I used the 'Stickies' program on my Mac (replaced now by the paperless, <a href="https://evernote.com/">Evernote</a>...). Truth be told, I just downloaded the Post-it app to my smart phone--I couldn't help myself...<br />
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I use Post-its almost everyday, both in my business and personal life. I use them as a place to dump my brain and to help me remember what I need to do. I find that they come in handy when dealing with papers that need to be acted upon. Today's Organizing 'Quick Tip' of the day is...<br />
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<b>Use a Post-it to remind you to take a particular action.</b></div>
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For instance, I'm always collecting store coupons--especially ones for the stores where I buy my kids' clothing. They're always needing something in their wardrobe! When I get the coupon, I place a Post-it on top of it and jot down what I need to buy in that store. No need to comb my brain thinking about what I need to buy when I get a moment to shop. It's all there, ready for me to act upon.</div>
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A while back, I needed some picture frames and photo albums. I thought I might have trouble remembering what I needed once I got to the store--so I went searching for my good friend, the Post-it. I wrote on the Post-it above exactly what products I was looking for and stuck it to the coupon. By doing so, I spent less time at the store and no time trying to recall what I needed to buy.</div>
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Write the action that you need to take on a Post-it to remind you...</div>
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To pay a bill by a certain date.</div>
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To write back to someone who sent you a holiday card.</div>
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To create a new file for a stack of papers.</div>
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To donate or toss an unwanted item.</div>
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To follow up on an project you're working on.</div>
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What action will a Post-it remind you to take today?</div>
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Stacey Agin Murray, Professional Organizerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03979357428881696821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5265418038758817172.post-86053074584505719612013-07-08T13:39:00.002-04:002013-07-08T13:39:29.888-04:00Cool Product: Nalgene Leakproof BottlesHave you ever packed your suitcase and opened it later to find a mess? I'm talking about shampoo spilled all over your clothes. How about a body lotion explosion?<br />
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Regardless of what can open, spill or explode, the last thing you want to do when you arrive at your destination or get home from a trip is deal with messy laundry and suitcase cleaning.<br />
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If you're traveling by plane, train or automobile in the near future, you're going to want to take a close look at these...<br />
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Today's Cool Product is: <b>Nalgene Leakproof Bottles</b><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8nl2KAvl7FU/Udr0KmmJOVI/AAAAAAAAA2s/kuMDSQvtqrs/s1600/Nalgene+Round.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8nl2KAvl7FU/Udr0KmmJOVI/AAAAAAAAA2s/kuMDSQvtqrs/s320/Nalgene+Round.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nalgene Round Leakproof Bottles</td></tr>
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I first spotted them in the Travel section of the <a href="http://www.containerstore.com/">The Container Store</a>. I bought a few to try--filled them with my bath gel, shampoo and moisturizer and took them on a trip. To my surprise, I arrived at my destination with no leaky bottles in my suitcase. Success! I bought more and have relied on them for peace of mind, 'clean' and easy travel ever since.<br />
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Besides different shaped bottles, Nalgene makes jars, too. I use jars for items with a thicker consistency such as diaper rash cream and my nighttime moisturizer. An example:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7Std9Cnb7kc/Udr0sQXwsCI/AAAAAAAAA20/_OPwHAd7t3c/s1600/Nalgene+Jar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7Std9Cnb7kc/Udr0sQXwsCI/AAAAAAAAA20/_OPwHAd7t3c/s320/Nalgene+Jar.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nalgene Leakproof Jars</td></tr>
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The bottles and jars come in different sizes but the 1 oz. and 2 oz sizes work best for airline travel.<br />
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I keep a few extra Nalgene bottles and jars in my linen closet for when I need one at the last minute. No more last minute trips to the store before a vacation!<br />
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Now that I have two kids, I don't go away often. But when I do, I take my "I'm-ready-to-leave-the-house-at-a-moment's-notice" bag off the shelf. It has almost everything I need for a quick getaway--most of my toiletries are in Nalgene bottles labeled across the outside.<br />
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Which reminds me: Don't forget to label these bottles once you've filled them. You don't want to accidentally wash your hair with your face moisturizer... Use a <a href="http://organizedartistry.blogspot.com/2013/06/five-reasons-why-you-should-own-label.html">label maker</a> or removable labels by <a href="http://www.avery.com/avery/en_us/Products/Labels">Avery</a>. Blue painter's tape and a Sharpie will work, too if pressed for time. You don't want to miss your flight!<br />
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If you're planning to visit family or a far away country, get yourself a few Nalgene Leakproof Bottles and Jars. When you get back from your trip, I want to hear all about your adventures and your clean suitcase!<br />
<br />Stacey Agin Murray, Professional Organizerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03979357428881696821noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5265418038758817172.post-32253559496031614932013-07-02T11:29:00.001-04:002013-07-02T11:29:11.682-04:00Teach your Kids to Do Anything--Even Organize!Got kids?<br />
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Me, too.<br />
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Ever feel like you're constantly trying to pick up after them and maintain their stuff?<br />
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Hey, guess what--me, too. It's kind of like shoveling snow during a blizzard.<br />
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At my first NAPO Conference in 2004 (a few years before I had children) I took a workshop called 'Organizing the Family' given by Professional Organizer, <a href="http://theprofessionalorganizer.com/">Allison Carter</a> of Digital Life Organizing. In that terrific workshop, I learned something that I still remember almost ten years later. I'm sharing this with you in the hopes that you will use it to make your life as a parent a little easier.<br />
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In the workshop, I learned the <b>five steps to follow to teach your child mastery of almost any task</b>.<br />
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Woo-hoo! Hallelujah!<br />
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Write these five steps on a post-it and stick it where you can see it. Or, write them in an app on your smartphone. Jot them down somewhere you can access them easily. You're going to want to refer to these steps often. Remember, they're going to make your life as a parent easier (If you're reading this and you're not a parent, pass them on to someone who is!). Here they are...<br />
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<b>To Get Your Kids to Master ______________ ...</b><br />
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Step 1. Demonstrate the task you'd like your child to master<br />
Step 2. Do the task with them<br />
Step 3. Supervise your child doing the task<br />
Step 4. Let them do the task alone<br />
Step 5. Supervise your child occasionally<br />
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What are some skills your kids can master using these five steps?<br />
• Putting away their toys<br />
• Doing/folding their own laundry<br />
• Setting the table for a family meal<br />
• Using a knife<br />
• Sorting and purging their school papers<br />
• Household cleaning/gardening chores<br />
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Each step will take some time, effort and patience on your part but in the end, the investment of time will be worth it. And believe me--your future sons and daughters-in-law will thank you.<br />
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Thank you, Allison Carter for sharing your wisdom!<br />
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<br />Stacey Agin Murray, Professional Organizerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03979357428881696821noreply@blogger.com0