Wordless Wednesday: Goodbye clutter, Hello Garage

                     Homeless Items made this Garage Unusable...

Before

Giving every item a home returned this garage to a usuable space in time for Spring.

After

Are you a packrat?

A person who likes to accumulate material items and has a very hard time parting with things is often labeled as a "packrat" in our society.

Out of curiosity I was doing some reading about the rodent the packrat on Wikipedia found a few the terms to be more accurate than I would have previously thought.

• The packrat is active nocturnally. Like many people whose disorganization causes stress which can lead to sleep problems like insomnia developing. I often hear clients complain of trouble sleeping due to the guilt of not staying up to deal with their clutter.

• Packrats will often trade one item they have for something more interesting. Animal experts have observed a packrat carrying one treasure and dropping it to pick up another item that is more interesting to them. Hmmm... I think I have seen this at yard sales by people who are in search of the best treasure for a quarter.

• Packrats will store their treasures inside their vast nests. The treasures have no purpose for the rodent other than to take up space or in some instances to support a part of the nest. How many treasures do you own that have no real purpose except to take up space? I have seen homes where it seems that those "treasures" are helping to support the ceiling of the home.

• Packrats continue to expand their nest to make more room all the time. Hmmm... how many of us look for bigger houses, rent storage units, expand our home, or bring sheds into the backyard, all because we need more room for our stuff. I once spoke to a family that was looking to sell their home for the sole reason that they wanted to have a bigger junk room.

• The rodent is said to be very vocal with fighting between other rodents. Clutter is the cause of MANY fights and rifts in families. I see clients all the time that are desperate to ease conflicts with spouses, friends, and family members by heeding their requests for the person to get more organized.


So the next time that you are called a packrat or you use the term to label someone else... stop and think a moment if you really want to be compared to a rodent who spends their life in a state of high stress, with little rest, always in search of the next big treasure to add to their stash. Do you really want to keep running the same "rat “race or are you ready to make a change in your life? A change that can decrease your stress, improve your sleep, improve your relationships, and allow you to enjoy your life more... a change to get more organized.

Professional Tips on Preparing for Pictures

Professional photographer, Amy Pennington caught my eye recently as I was looking at her blog.  She specializes in working with children and families and has an amazing gift for creating BEAUTIFUL pictures and capturing amazing memories on film for parents.  I asked Amy some questions recently about tips on how to plan ahead and prepare for the best photography session possible, check out our interview below:


Q: When it comes to planning outfits for the pictures, do you suggest that parents dress them at home, in the studio, how many extra sets should they bring, etc…

I think this depends on the age of the child. Children under 18 months dress them at the studio. Children above 18 months, put them in picture appropriate clothing. It is a shock to some children to take them in a strange place and start removing their clothing which could make them upset. Bring as many clothing changes, fun hats, toys, etc. We will prioritize them and see how far we make it.

Q: Are there certain colors or fabrics that take better pictures than others?

Details in white or black clothing can get lost; also satin items do not photograph well. I always suggest bright fun colors for children.

Q: I always recommend that parents schedule pictures in the morning when child is awake and alert or right after nap in the afternoon… both times when they are well rested and not too hungry, would this be consistent with your advice for parents?

Absolutely, I'm always willing to wake up extra early for an early riser to get the best shots. I suggest just enough time to get up, get dressed and eat. I find that if your child is going to miss a nap it's going to be on picture day.

Q:  Are there any favorite tips you have for parents that have worked to get a great shot of their kiddo? Bring special toys or other items?

I do recommend bringing special toys, blankets, comfort items, snacks (fruit snacks work great), and a drink. If they are overstimulated giving them a little break always makes them happy.

Q:  As far as family pictures go… what tips do you have about choosing outfits, poses, etc…

I recommend wearing clothing that would be normal for your family to wear, as if you are dressing for a nice but casual outing. You wouldn't all get up and dress in exactly the same colors. I like to keep clothing simple with little pops of color here and there.

Q:  Do most parents come in with an idea of what they want or do they let you be creative?

Almost all families leave the creativity to me. I sort of get a feel for what the family is like and go from there. Some will have seen a shot that I did with another family and want a similar shot.
This is fine, but I will make sure it is personalized for them.

Q:  How long should you plan to have your child’s session last to get good picture choices.

This really depends on the child and how well they know me. With some children I've got the perfect shots within the first five minutes and the rest is just a bonus. Others will take a warming up period. At least 30-45 minutes.

Q:  Are there any big NO-NOs that you would share with parents about planning pictures?

Bringing a child in when they aren't feeling well, and scheduling close to nap time.

Q: What is your favorite time of the year to get great pictures?

Summer, morning or sunset.

Q:  Many picture sessions I have done with my children… it is like organized chaos. What tips do you have to make the session go smoother?

I would say to relax and have fun, if the children are acting up it's much easier to play along with them than discipline them. Those are the best true to life candid family shots.


I hope that these tips from the talented Amy Pennington help you and your family prepare for the best possible pictures.  If you are in the Springfield, Missouri area I highly recommend that you consider using Amy and her studio to get some amazing pictures of your family! 

Visit Amy's Website and Blog by clicking on the links.

Wordless Wednesday: Decluttering the Organizer

I thought you all would enjoy seeing that I too took advantage of National Clutter Awareness Week.  I had a little "Organizer, Organize Thyself." session and purged out 13 empty three ring binders, 2 empty accordian files, 6 blank presentation binders, 3 empty plastic tubs, 52 old magazines, and 15 outdated files from my filing cabinet.

My clutter my look a little different than yours... but it was clutter nonetheless and I feel better having taken it out of my office this week. 

New Spring Trends for your Kid's Room

We talk a great deal on this blog about ideas to organize kids rooms and toys... but today I wanted to go in a little different direction with our discussion. We all want are kids rooms to not only be organized but also a fun and comfortable space for them that is uniquly theirs.

Recently, I had the oppertunity to visit with Kim Gellman is the owner of Artisticsensations.com, a fun and hip website that sells kids furniture, bedding, and room decor from baby to college age kids. Kim is the mother of two boys and prides herself on enjoying every moment of life and all its adventures.

This is what Kim had to say of her own personal organization tendencies, "Being organized helps me plan and schedule my day in my business and makes me feel I have some control. I think its essential for success. I also feel I am setting an example for my kids as a role model that you can accomplish a lot in life when you are organized and a planner."

Kim is my kind of mom!  So I also asked if she could share with our readers some budget friendly ideas for creating a great space for kids with the new, hot trends for spring.

So take it away Kim...

"Spring is upon us and many of our clients are looking for change in their home accents but want to stay within a budget. Some inexpensive ways to update a room and add a subtle change is pillows, a lamp or even a rug. You can take a neutral room and add a shaggy raggy rug in yellow or orange, both popular choices for this spring. A colorful lamp in royal blue and reds will make a wow statement.

Pillows in our best friend’s collection in black and white toile and yellow polka dots or stripes are a trendy way to change up a sofa or a bedding set. Put a throw blanket in red and white harlequin and voila, a redo!


Pinks, oranges and greens are everywhere and we are placing many wall stickies in rooms for just a slight change of color. Wall stickies in florals, trees and even modern with circles or squares and a first initial are a terrific statement.


Plain canvases in all pink with orange scrolls and electric blue with neon green dots will take a room from drab to fab. Or adding a splash of hot pink, bright orange or neon greens and yellows with some animal print pillows in pink and black or orange and white and green and white.

A chair is also a fun way to spice up a room and a great place for a child to sit and read, study or lounge. Mod chairs are comfortable and easy to move around to different places in the child’s room and can also be used in playrooms, living rooms and family rooms.

Looking for fun way to throw some color in a teen room or for a gift? Try one of our sleeping bags in a pink, green and black polka dot or peace signs in red, another trendy choice.
Whatever bright colors you choose for your child's room, playroom or family room, spring is in the air, so get ready!"

Kim's Company ArtisticSensations also has a some great choices in toy storage and organizing products for your kids rooms. I have never been a big fan of toy benches or boxes; however, as cute as these are they would be worth including in a room... just be careful not to overfill them with toys because they can quickly become a clutter trap.

As you can see from some of these pictures Kim's Company Artisticsensations.com has some VERY cute products!  I am excited to share with you that Kim is going to be giving away an adorable polka dotted sleeping bag to one of our lucky readers this month!

Here are the rules to enter:

1.  Comment on this post for one entry.

3. Visit Kim's Website at Artisticsensations.com and include your thoughts of her site in your comment for a second entry.

3. Be a Follower of our SOS Organize Blog for one entry.

4. Be following us on Twitter for one entry.

5.  Be a Fan of Simple Organized Sanity on Facebook for one entry.

The winner will be announced on our Facebook Page, our Twitter Page, and here on the Blog on 

Friday, April 2nd 2010 at 2pm CST!

Good luck everyone and Thank You Kim for the great tips and this fun giveaway and the great spring decorating tips!

Calories Burned While Organizing

This is clutter awareness week, a time to focus on clearing out the clutter in your home and life. 

Clutter can be found in many forms, professionals define it as “anything that takes up space in your home, office, or life without serving a purpose. “ It can be as severe as a basement full of outgrown clothing, old toys, unneeded papers, and outdated furniture or as simple as a stack of outdated magazines and unread junk mail.

We have talked about how organizing has many benefits in our home and life, and today I want to share with you an often overlooked benefit of getting organized... all the calories that you can burn! 

Here are 10 common calorie burning tasks that you may be doing when organizing:

Filing (Office Work) burns 151 calories an hour.

Packing and Unpacking Boxes burns 238 calories per hour.

Carrying boxes upstairs burns 510 calories per hour.

General Cleaning House burns 204 calories per hour

Taking out the trash and Dusting burns 170 calories per hour

Walking to put away household items and laundry burns 204 calories per hour.

Moving Furniture or Carrying boxes burns 408 calories per hour

Sweeping burns 272 calories per hour

Standing to sort a drawer out burns 136 calories per hour.

Doing Laundry burns 139 calories per hour.

Exact Calorie totals would be based upon your own height and weight. These numbers are based on an average 145 pound person.

To figure your exact calorie totals visit http://www.livestrong.com/ and sign up for a free account.

So if you were looking for yet another reason to get motivated to get organized I hope that knowing the calorie burning benefits may encourage you to start to tackle your clutter during this National Clutter Awareness week and get more organized and healthier at the same time! 

Friday Five: Five ways to reduce spam in your inbox

Lately I have been noticing a larger amount of spam and unwanted emails cluttering up my smart phone and my inbox.  I thought I would do a week long experiment to track the percentage of emails that I wanted to read versus the ones that I don't have time to mess with.  The results surprised even me:

Monday:  76% of the emails I got were Junk or unwanted

Tuesday: 76% of the emails that I got were Junk or unwanted

Wednesday:  93.1% of the emails that I got were junk or unwanted

Thursday: 94% of the emails that I got were junk or unwanted

Friday:  82% of the emails that I got were junk or unwanted

Saturday:  83% of the emails that I got were junk or unwanted

Sunday:  82% of the emails that I got were junk or unwanted

This meant that the average for the week was 83.71% junk or unwanted emails that were cluttering up my inbox! 

What was so surprising for me was that I had spam filters in place so this is what was slipping through the cracks...

So I did some research and here are Five ways in addition to having a spam filter installed that can help to reduce the amount of Spam and Unwanted emails in your inbox:

1.  Be careful who you give your email address out to.  I keep a free gmail address that I give out to mailing lists, newsletters, etc... so that those items to do not clog up my business email.

2.  Set up folders and rules for your inbox.  You can set up a folder for newsletters and items to read later.  You can even specify that certain address go straight to the trash box instead of your inbox.  If you need detailed steps on setting up folders and rules click here.

3.  Email clients like Outlook are prone to being spammed so experts recommend installing a free email client like Thunderbird 3 that has stronger spam protection.

4.  Report spam emails to sites like Spam Cop or the National Fraud Information Center

5.  If you have a website, use a contact form for people to contact you with rather than giving out your email address.  Spammers have computer programs that do nothing but scan the internet for email addresses on websites to spam. 

In the week since I followed some of these steps I have seen a decrease in the amount of unwanted email in my inbox by more than 50%!  Now that is more like it.

SOS Reviews the Box4Blox

I was very excited when the developers of the Box4Blox allowed me the oppertunity to review their product for our blog.  As a mom with a son who is wild about his Lego (TM) Collection, I am always on the lookout for a new way to organize them so that they take up less room and are easier to play with.

The Box4Blox had been on my radar for sometime.  I knew that it had the potential of being that rare combination of space saver for me and easier access to his beloved blocks for my son.

The buzz surrounding this product has been as high as my expectations for it!  It has recieeved numerous rave reviews from users, a mention in Women's Day magazine as a favorite organizing tool, and was recently honored with the prestigious "Organizers Choice Award"  as a "Best New Home OrganizingProduct"

at a National Association of Professional Organizers event.

Needless to say, I was excited the day mine was dropped off by my favorite UPS driver!  Here is what my son's Lego (TM) collection looked like before we tried the Box4Blox:

We were storing his blocks in a plastic drawer system and had tried to keep them sorted out by size... that did not always happen and I was not happy with how much room these plastic drawers took up in his room.


Space Concern
My primary concern was that all of his blocks would not fit inside of the one Box4Blox unit, even though their website says that a unit can hold "approximately 1500 - 1700 Lego bricks."

I had never sat down and counted the size of my son's collection so I was a little nervous when I looked at the two systems side by side.

But the Box4Blox works in a very unique way that allows it to store so much in such a smaller space:

The graded openings in the bottom of each tray get smaller allowing the larger blocks to stay in the yellow tray while the small, hard to find pieces end up in the green tray at the bottom.

Putting it to the Test at my House

So I did as insturcted and removed the large base plates and larger blocks that would obviously end up in yellow contanior and set them aside so they did not block the other blocks from being sorted.

I stopped halfway through each of the plastic drawers that I was dumping the blocks out of and gently shook the stacked trays allowing the smaller blocks to filter down through the openings.

The entire process to switch from our old storage system to the Box4Blox took a little over five minutes!!!

This is what my son's collection looked like after just 5 quick moments!!!

I could not be happier with the results.  My inital concern of all of the blocks fitting in this product was quickly answered because there was room to spare in each tray!

So this is the transformation that this product allowed me to experience in my son's room... I am trading out the big, bulky plastic storage drawers and replacing it with this WONDERFUL product!

The only downside I see to this product is the lack of a handle to make it easier for kids to carry themselves; however, I understand the company's issue with how the addition of a handle would increase the cost of the product.

It is really not hard to pick the unit up with two hands from the bottom and carry it where it needs to go... but bear in mind smaller children may need help with this task.

I am happy to recommend this product to clients, readers, moms, and anyone else who is looking for a GREAT solution for Lego (TM) and other small blocks.

The True Test

I may be a professional organizer and mom but it was my son's reaction to his new organizing system that may hold more influence over your need to have one of these units in your home:

Click below to hear his thoughts on the Box4Blox.

Our Rating

 To order your own Box4Blox click here it is well worth the cost of the product ($29.95 + $10.00 Shipping and Handling) Plus the company has special deals if you are ordering more than one product at once.

We were not paid for our review of this product.  Box4Blox did furnish the unit featured in the review but there was no compensation received for this review- it is strictly my personal views of the product.

Wordless Wednesday: Unique Way to Store Sheets

My Son is Allergic to Dust Mites, so to protect the clean sheets and pillow cases in our home I store them in Large and Extra Large Ziploc bags and seperate them out by bedroom.

There is a bag for each of my son's sheets, my daughter's sheets, and our master bed.  The smaller bag is for pillow cases.

I have looped the handles through a hanger so that I can easily hang them in the linen closet for easy access.

Finding the Perfect Online Organizer to Meet your Needs

In the last couple of years, online organizers have popped up and become a popular way for families to stay more organized.  I have spent the last few weeks comparing four of the most popular online organizers to see how they are different from one another. 

The one thing that these four all had in common is that they are all free to users but after that they differ slightly so you may want to consult this list to find one that best meets your needs before signing up.

	Cozi	CasaBlast	Famjama	Dotpag
Stores  Mobile Numbers	X	X	X
Send Texts to Stored Numbers	X	X	X
Family Calendar Feature	X	X	X	X
Can Color Code Calendar by Family Member	X	X	X
Stores Grocery/Shopping Lists	X	X	X
Able to text shopping lists to stored mobile numbers	X	X
Able to email shopping list			X
Has a 1-800 number you can call into to hear your shopping lists	X
Diary or Journal Feature	X			X
To Do List Feature	Yes, sorted by family member	Yes, You can text tasks but not sort by person.	Yes	Yes
Save and organize internet bookmarks			X	X
Address Book Feature		X	X	X
Track Kid's School Assignments			X
Allows Family members to submit meal requests			X
Shows local weather forcasts			X
Has iphone App			X
Has Blackberry App.
Has Android App
Syncs with Outlook Calendar	X	X	X
Send batch Texts to Groups or Teams			X
Tracks your RSS Feeds				X

HTML Tables

Our Downloadable Planner Line

We are very excited about our downloadable planner line and we wanted to share with you a quick overview of each of the specialty planners now available on our website. We hope that you enjoy this video and find a planner that is perfect to meet your organizational needs.




Click here if you would like to visit this section of our website 

Friday Five: Five Routines Every Mom Needs

I have said it before and I will say it again...


"Routines, as boring as they may be, are the building blocks to a more organized and less stressed existence."

In my opinion there are five areas of every mom's life where she needs a good solid routine (There are probably more but then it wouldn't have been a Friday Five post.) So here are five of the big ones:

                              1  . A morning routine: Let's face it for most families mornings are nothing less than sheer chaos. You are trying to get yourself and your family ready, fed, and packed to head out and face the day. Along with being chaotic-- mornings are also stressful and one of the most common times of the day that fights break out amongst family members. You are still tired and rushed... never a good combination for anyone. However; having a good morning routine can ease some of that stress chaos by making mornings more predictable and less rushed.

Get kids up at the same time, have them get ready in the same order (kids like predictable), serve a healthy breakfast about the same time each morning, and try to always say goodbye without angry words... these things will always start your day off better.

2. An Evening Routine: The natural flip side of the coin. Are there certain things that you can do each evening to help prevent some of the craziness of the impending morning rush? Here are three quick things you could do each evening to help you in the morning: 

You can pack briefcases, backpacks, purses, and diaper bags the night before with anything that will be needed the following day.

You can make your kid's lunches for school the night before (I do this with everything but the sandwich... I am not a big fan of soggy sandwiches- so I make those in the morning)

You can lay out tomorrow's clothes so that you do not have to dig and search for what everyone wants to wear in the morning.

You can pack briefcases, backpacks, purses, and diaperbags the night before with anything that will be needed the following day. 

You can make your kid's lunches for school the night before (I do this with everything but the sandwhich... I am not a big fan of soggy sandwhiches- so I make those in the morning)

You can lay out tomorrow's clothes so that you do not have to dig and search for what everyone wants to wear in the morning.

3. A laundry Routine: Let's face it... if you do not have a routines to stay on top of your laundry it will multiply into a pile that will take over your home! My goal is one load a day- everyday. I start it in the morning when I get up, I throw it in the dryer at lunchtime, and I fold it after dinner and put it away as I go into say goodnight to each of my kids. This routine works for me... but everyone is different. You might try assigning each day of the week a specific load. For example; Colors on Monday, Whites on Tuesday, Jeans on Wednesday, Towels on Thursday, Another load of colors on Friday... etc...

4. A clean up Routine: If you have small children at home all day, set time aside twice a day is what I always tell clients. One clean up before lunch and one again before dinner. If you have not read our post about clean up songs be sure to check it out for a big improvement to how your little one's pick up toys!
If your children are older and you are not home as often than one evening clean up should be fine. The point is... clean up the messes daily when they are small and they will always be manageable... let them grow for days or weeks and everyone's stress level and reluctance to clean up will grow!

5. A routine for running Errands: Errands are inevitable... we all have to run by the bank, the store, the dry cleaners, etc... at some point in our weeks. I always tell clients to make a list of the errands they need to run the next day and write them down in the order you are going to run them so you are saving driving time and gas. Before you leave to run errands make sure that you have everything you will need to complete them; grocery list (check), dry cleaner stub (check), water bill to drop off (check).... you get the idea.



Need help developing a routine? I would love to help you develop some routines that are customized to your family's schedule. Click here to find out how I can help you.

Do you have an area in your life where routines really help? Leave me a comment; I would love to hear about it!

After I am Gone File

Okay, before I even begin today’s post I want to preface it by saying… I know this is not a fun topic to think about. I understand that for many of us, including myself we would rather spend the day at the dentist than planning for life after we or a loved one is gone. However, having said that, I also want to tell you that while it may be depressing and a little sad to think about… it is very important to think about.


It has been more than a year ago since I received a phone call from a woman who needed the services of my company. She shared with me on the phone that her husband had died in a car accident more than five years ago and she had no idea where anything was in her home office. Needless to say, my heart went out to her and as we scheduled her appointment for a week from that day. I was unsure what kind of situation I would be walking into… but I was not prepared for the impact it had on me both personally and professionally.

When I walked into that office it was as if time had stood still and the only thing that had changed was the amount of mail that had been piled up over the years. This poor woman was lost in many ways because she had no idea how to get into much of the stuff in the office. Her husband’s briefcase lay on the floor next to the desk because she did not have the combination to it. The computer was rarely used because she did not know all of the passwords for their online banking, websites, and filter settings.

Filing was out of the question and she trouble understanding the system that he had put into place which made it hard for her to retrieve a document in a timely fashion. In many ways she had shut down because she did not know where to begin. She was stressed out beyond belief and was feeling a great deal of pressure from family and friends to finally address this room once and for all. She shared with me that it was not because she did not want to deal with it all… she just did not know where to start.

As we worked for days and weeks to transform the piles into files and make some order out of the chaos she opened up and shared parts of her story with me. The one thing that I feel is safe to share with our readers is this one resounding statement, “We were not prepared for this… we were in our thirties. We had not discussed funeral plans, where things were in case something happened… I was lost having to figure it all out myself on top of dealing with the loss of him.”

My heart ached for her and an idea began to form in my head- each of us needs to be aware of the wishes, wants, and whereabouts of our loved ones things after they are gone. As I said earlier, I know it is not happy dinner conversation but it is one that is important to have so that if heaven forbid you ever find yourself in a similar place as this woman… you will not be dealing with these issues on top of your grief.

For months I wondered what the best way to help people have this conversation would be and then one day the idea occurred to me to create a worksheet. It is a simple three page worksheet that you can purchase from our website by clicking here, and it takes you step by step through all of the questions, information, and arrangements that are good to discuss before it is too late. Some examples of the questions on the worksheet are:

Personal information, Social Security Numbers, Location of your Birth, etc…

Contact information for people that someone may need to contact about insurance, transcripts, etc…

Military Service Information

Funeral Arrangement details

Passwords and logins.

And much more…

I challenge each of reading this to download this packet (the best $0.99 you will ever spend) and save it to your computer. Print out a copy for you, your spouse, etc… and fill them out.  Have this hard converstation now!  Then save your completed worksheets in a file labeled “After I am Gone”. You can keep this file in your filing cabinet, a lock box, safety deposit box, etc... Just be sure that you let a few important people know that it is there and ensure they have access to it.


Along with death can come many emotions, your prior preperation and courage to have these hard conversations can help to smooth the way after you are gone.  Families have endurded anger on top of heartache at these times simply because they did not agree on how to best honor the friend or family member that had passed.  Take some of this oppertunity for arguements and hurt feelings away by being specfic in your wishes. 

Not only that but I also challenge you to Tweet, Facebook, and email this post to friends and family members so that we can spread the word about how important it is to plan ahead!  Such a simple act now can make the weeks, months, and years, after you are gone less stressful and more organized for those that are left behind.

Be sure to leave me a comment with your thoughts on this important issue and how you are helping us spread the word on this important issue.

Wordless Wednesday

Over the Door Shoe organizers are not just for Shoes!

This one hangs in my laundry room and stores the dog medicine and leash. Extra Batteries, hot glue gun and glue sticks, Matches and Lighters, Cleaning Sprays, Dog Shampoos, Batteries Chargers, Screwdrivers and tools, Dog hair remover mitt, Fish Aquarium Misc., measuring tape, chargers and cords grouped by category, My dust pan, and a place for kids to set toys that need batteries put in them.

Want other ideas of places to use a Over the door Shoe Organizer in your home?  Check out this old post.

Phone A Thon Weekend!!!!

I know that there are many of you out there that have always wanted to chat with a Professional Organizer and get some ideas on ways to conquer the clutter and chaos in your home, office, or life... this week is your chance!!!!

I am hosting our First Phone a Thon!!!

Thursday, Friday, and Saturday all of our coaching calls are 50% off!!!!  I challenge you to see if you can fill up my calendar and change your home at the same time.

These 30 min. could change the look of your home, the stress in your life, and the direction of your family... why would you NOT want to be part of it???

All you have to do is click here and you will be taken to our Website where you can pick the call that best suits your needs.  Purchase it (50% discount is taken off at checkout) and I will email you to schedule a time in the next three days that we can talk about your organizational challenges and give you ideas on how to solve them on any budget!

Oh, and did I mention that EACH person that participates in our phone-A-thon is entered to win a FREE virtual organizing session for even more tips and ideas! (A $50 value!)

So what are you waiting for... go sign up... Hope to talk to you soon!

Be a Role Model: Follow Your Dreams!

Guest Post By Britt Michaelian, M.A.

There’s no doubt about it. The love a mother feels for her children is profound, but in this incredibly beautiful experience of motherhood, many moms also disconnect from their dreams. With constant demands on our time, energy and attention, it is easy to see how some moms can get lost in the very role of being the mother. Now, take a moment to acknowledge the power a mother holds when she has her own personal goals and takes active steps to follow them. By having ambition and taking an active role in her destiny, she is showing her children how to follow their dreams! Mothers are role models and children do as we do, not as we say. Right?

The reality is that when everything in a mother’s life becomes about her children, her own needs, wants and desires get lost in the shuffle. In addition, children can see this lack of self-care as an unconscious example to follow. Ask yourself this question: Do you want your children to follow their dreams or live a life that consists of fulfilling their obligations? The majority of moms want their children to be happy which means the answer to this question is that you want your children to spend their lives pursuing their dreams!

So, just as the flight attendants demonstrate on airplanes, we must remember we cannot truly encourage and support our children in their efforts unless we put our own oxygen masks on first! This act of self-care is not selfish, it is necessary for own survival and happiness.

As our own interests may sometimes fall second or third in line to the duties that are required to raise our families, we cannot forget to take the time we need to focus on what makes us happy. The truth is that we need to feel good about and show love to ourselves regularly so that we can show our children how to love, value and respect themselves. We must remind ourselves that everything we do as moms reflects on our children and plays a large role on their future.

What You Can Do Now:

If you are ready to follow your dreams (or if you are feeling out of touch with your inner passions) here are some things you can do to get back on track and reconnect with yourself.

First, take a deep breath and release all of your feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt. You deserve to have a passion, purpose and personal goals. Everyone does! Letting go of the idea that you can’t have your own interests because you are a mom is a self-limiting belief that will not serve you or your children well. Leave these false beliefs behind and move forward with the understanding that by giving yourself your dreams back, you will be happier, more fulfilled and a better mom!

Second, start writing down a list of all of the dreams that you have had throughout your life, even things from childhood that you never thought could be achieved. No dream is out of reach. Some may take more creativity to achieve than others, so if you catch yourself saying that something is impossible remind yourself that there was a day when no one could fly! Now, it’s your turn to spread your wings and soar!

Third, choose your top three dreams and write down 3 to 5 action steps you can take this week to achieve them. Yes, this week! Then, commit to and continue with those action steps until you have reached your goals. Baby steps add up into massive growth very quickly!

Most importantly, enjoy every moment of this process and surround yourself with people who support your dreams. You really can do whatever you set your mind to. And when you do, your children will have proof that by taking decisive action dreams really can come true!

Bio: Britt Michaelian, M.A. is a mompreneur with multiple business and a new 12 week coaching program for moms who are ready to take the leap and start a lifestyle business. To sign up for a FREE Smart Start Up Teleseminar and newsletter go to http://brittmichaelian.com/

I am one of you... I promise

I was introduced to a new couple at our church a few weeks ago, as we began chatting about all of the normal get to know you questions something interesting happened.

It started with the husband asking, "So what do you do?" An innocent enough question, to which I responded, "I own my own professional organization company that helps moms and families get more organized." An honest and innocent answer.

The interesting part came in the wife's quick response by saying, "Well so much for ever inviting you over for dinner." If her tone had contained even a tint of humor it might not have stung as badly; however, she was quite sincere in here comment. So I got to thinking... does the term Professional Organizer really put people off? I may enjoy filing and color coding and, yes, my label maker may be my favorite household item... but in reality I am not all that different from you.
Need more convincing??? Here are 5 facts about me that should convince you:

1. I hate laundry.... no that is not true... I LOOTHE laundry!!! (Yes, I have a system to make sure that it gets done daily... but that does not mean that I like it.)

2. I have dirty dishes in my sink right now. Yes, as we speak there are dirty dishes in my sink and not because the dishwasher is full or running... just because I have not loaded them yet. (Yes, I will load them before I go to bed... but still... they are there now and I am ignoring them.)

3. I had a not one but two fights with my daughter this weekend over the current state of her bedroom. She is four and exerting her independence... and it is LOVELY. (Can you feel the sarcasm dripping off of those capitol letters?)  You will get to hear more about this ongoing battle in weeks to come.... look forward to that...

4. My spices are not alphabetized. (Why is this one of the most common assumptions that people ask me?) 

5. My garage is a mess... but that is my husband's fault and a battle that I gave up to save my marriage. (though I must say... he did sweep it today, bonus points for him.) Read our story here in this old post.

I share this with you for a few very important reasons... I want you to know that I am a mom too. I am battling a crazy schedule with busy kids too. I have housework that I avoid too. But it is also for these reasons that I am such a huge believer in being an organized mom... it is because we live crazy lives in crammed homes... that is essential to be more organized if we are not we get overwhelmed and stressed out.

I do not strive for perfection in my home so how could I ever ask it of a client??? I only seek to find solutions that are practical and family friendly my home is full of such ideas and I hope to help fill yours with them as well. The mission statement of our company is to save moms time, money, and energy by helping them get organized and find real world solutions to combat clutter and chaos...

So if you are a new visitor to our SOS Organize blog and feel like you too are waving the white flag of surrender in your home... I invite you to do three things today as the first steps to changing your life:
1. Become a follower of our blog and check back daily to read the REAL LIFE and PRACTICAL solutions that we will share with you.

2. Check out the website for our company Simple Organized Sanity to see how we can help you get organized no matter where you live!

3. Leave me a comment and let me know what your biggest real world struggle is as a mom... who knows your struggle may addressed in a future post with some ideas and solutions.

I am looking forward to reading your comments and continuing to interact with our current and future readers not as a professional speaking to clients, but as a fellow mom who shares your struggles and your frustrations... because after all -- I am one of you... I promise!!!!

Friday Five today is a little different... it is our First Vlog!!!

I have wanted to experiment with doing a vlog for awhile... and today's Friday Five seemed like the perfect topic. Please be sure to comment and let us know if you like this format and we will use it again for other topics like this one.

The Light bulb File

Okay, raise your hand if you have ever had a great idea or saw on somewhere that you did not want to forget.  Now raise your hand if you jotted that idea down or tore it out of a magazine only to loose it later and wonder what you did with it. 

I was afraid of that...

So many of us have great intentions but because we do not have good systems we end up with lackluster follow through of intentions and ideas. 

A few years ago I started subscribing to a magazine that was so full of great ideas that I was terrified to throw them away.  I would mark pages, dog ear ideas and then stack them; however, when the time came to find one of those great ideas again... I would have to dig through each magazine or try to remember what issue it was in.  This dilemma inspired me to create my "Light bulb File", curious?  Let me explain how it works and how you can set one up for yourself so you never again are victim of another lost idea.

The Light bulb File

Step One: Purchase a three ring binder that is 1" wide or larger.

Step Two: Purchase a set of tabbed dividers and label them for the different type of ideas, inspiration, clippings, etc... Anything that make your "light bulb" go off when you see it or thing of it. It is that idea that makes you say... "I would love to do this!"

For me some of my categories were: birthday party themes, games with the kids, crafts with the kids, household decor ideas, organizing ideas, etc...

Everyone's light bulb has a different trigger so everyone’s labels will be different!

Step Three: Either use a clear plastic page protectors or a three-hole punch to slip clippings and papers into the appropriate categories. Also have blank paper in each category so that you can quickly jot down ideas that you think of or mount pictures that you take for inspiration.

The light bulb file is very simplistic by design... but it's true "wattage" or power lies in the hands of the user. I love the quote that says "Thinking is easy, acting is difficult, and to put one's thoughts into action is the most difficult thing in the world." (Johann Wolfgang von Goethe) So much truth in that statement... it is easy to have or find a great idea... the next step is doing something about it.

I challenge each of you to make an idea file... your "light bulb" file if you will... and use it not as a safe keeping place where thoughts get trapped and not released into great action... but as a springboard to take you to new places in your homes, families, and businesses!

Staring at Mommy's Shoes

This may sound strange to many of you, but one of my greatest time management tools in my life as a WAHM is my shoes. I know, I know... many of you were probably expecting me to say my planner, my watch, a timer, or anything else traditional thought of when one mentions time management. (Though I love all of these too).

It is true though my shoes are vital to my sanity as I try to constantly juggle my competing roles and mom and business owner... let me tell you why:

Before I launched Simple Organized Sanity in the early month of 2009, I worked at home in numerous different capacities while my children were very small. I am thankful everyday for those early experiences because many of the tricks that I learned in those days have become the foundation of my now evolving business.

One day, when my oldest son was about three years old I told him that I had to make a work phone call and do some computer work. I asked him to please watch his video quietly on the couch while I went just a few feet away to the dining room table. As I was walking away I clearly remember him saying to me... "You can't go to work Mommy... you don't have any shoes on."

Out of the mouth of babes. From this simple observation made by my toddler I began a tradition that I still cling to this day. I told him he was right and I marched into my closet and put on a pair of shoes and along with them my mindset that I was changing roles and "going to work". He watched his video and I did my work... when the video ended, I kicked off my shoes and resumed my role as mommy.

Now that my kids are older... the concept has remained even though the application has changed slightly. Over the years I have discovered that if I really want to feel like a successful business woman... I need that mentality shift so I now keep a pair of old heels under my desk. Every time I set down to work I slip them on my feet (unless of course I already have a pair of "work" shoes on) it is that simple act of changing my shoes that also allows me to focus and change my mind set. Not only that... it keeps me on task, I am less likley to shop online, chat with an old friend, or get lost in mindless google searches if I have made that mental adjustment of changing my shoes.  This visual reminder is a great way to help me make the most of my often limited office time.

The shoes do not only serve as a reminder to me, my kids have grown used to this routine as they have gotten older. I have often caught them looking at my shoes to see which hat I am wearing at that moment... Mommy or CEO... and more often than not they respect that time and know that I will be done soon and able to meet demands and help fill needs.

You can establish a visual reminder in your own home office it can be shoes like mine or maybe a special lamp that you turn on when you are working.  It could be a sign that you hang on your door or an item of clothing that you put on.  Whatever item you choose to use will work as long as you use it consistantly.
I can't tell you how thankful I am for that day so many years ago when my son stated such a simple observation that transformed an entire line of thought and approach for me... therefore creating my favorite time management tool out of a simple pair of shoes.

Add Time to your Life

If you look on the right hand side of our blog there is a box that reads:

"The average American wastes about an hour a day looking for things they can't find or redoing work that they already did but lost."

Think about all the other things you could be doing with that hour. What is disorganization costing you?

I was thinking yesterday about that quote and what it really means... what else could you do for yourself or your family if you had an added hour a day... that is an extra seven hours in a week!  I always tell people that getting organized is one of the very few things in this world that can actualy give you more time. 

Most of us have a list a mile long of things we would do if we had extra time!  However, in case you can't think of any exciting enough to motivate you... read this list of 50 things that women/moms can do if we only had that extra hour in our day:

 Spend Time With Family

1. Play with your kids

2. Read a book with your kids

3. Cuddle on the couch and watch a show with your kids

4. Go on a bike ride with your family

5. Take your kids out for ice cream

6. Spend an hour of time with your husband

7. Do a craft project with your kids

8. Bake cookies with your kids and share them with someone in your life

9. Play a board game as a family

Pamper Yourself

10. Take a bubble bath

11. Get a massage

12. Sleep in an hour

13. Get a manicure or pedicure

14. Go to the salon for a cute cut and style

15. Get a facial

16. Take a nap

Educate yourself

17. Read a book

18. Read a magazine

19. Go to the library

20. Research a topic you want to learn more about

21. Take a class that is offered in your community

Socialize

22. Go to lunch with a friend

23. Catch up with an old friend on the phone or by email

24. Plan a play date for your children.

25. Host a dinner party with friends

Do Good

26. Volunteer in your community or kid’s school

27. Visit a local nursing home and adopt a senior citizen to visit

28. Get involved in a church program where you can do community outreach

29. Volunteer at a local food bank or soup kitchen

30. Mentor a Teen Mom

31. Get more involved in your kid’s sports teams or activities

Try Something New

32. Take up a hobby

33. Start a blog

34. Start a journal

35. Plant and Tend a garden

36. Take a class to learn a skill you have always wanted to learn (dance, art, music)

37. Learn to bake or cook something new

38. Learn a foreign language

Make your house the home you want

39. Scrapbook old photos

40. Clean out a closet

41. Organize your pantry

42. Find ways to make your home more green and implement one a week

43. Tackle an overdue project you have wanted to do

Be a Healthier Version of You

44. Take a yoga/fitness class

45. Start working out

46. Shop at a health food store to find new foods and snacks for you and your family

47. Go for a walk

48. Try a new physical activity each week: Roller skating, biking, hiking, swimming, etc

Plan Ahead

49. Search for Vacation locations and shop for deals

50. Get a jump start on early gift giving for the holidays by shopping sales

Do any of these ideas appeal to you?  Do you find yourself reading one or two of them and saying... "Yes, I wish I had the time for that!"  It is not out of your reach... you can start today by making a choice to committ to get more organized and enjoy life a little more.  It's amazing what you can do when you are not bogged down by clutter!

I would love to hear what other ideas you have, which idea is your favorite... or what you would do with that extra hour a day.  Leave me a comment and you will be entered to win a 10 free downloads from our company Simple Organized Sanity!  We will draw for our winner Friday at 2:30 CST!  I am excited to hear from you.