http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogList.asp?sort=organizer&schedule=2 Hello and welcome to my blog! If you're interested in clutter, you came to the right place! Whether you have clutter issues with your office, schedule, finances, a particular room of your home, or life in general, I will provide some interesting and informative observations as we have fun examining the clutter. Tue, 16 Sep 2008 13:15:38 EST en-us http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=1823 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=1823 Mon, 8 Sep 2008 08:00:00 EST Everywhere you go you find evidence of not only how the organizing field has grown, but how organizing in general effects us every day in some way. I took a trip recently with my friends Maria, Kelly, and Michelle to a bellydance competition in Boston, Massachusetts. Michelle drove, and had her car cleaned and organized before we left. How nice it was to sit in the back and relax and not have to worry about sitting on crumbs from kids, or looking out the window through smudges ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=1690 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=1690 Mon, 7 Jul 2008 08:00:00 EST Isn't it great to have a pool in your back yard for those refreshing dips in this hot weather?! The pool shed always seems to be a catch-all for all kinds of things. Try the tips below to turn your pool shed into a well-organized place for your summer things! First, decide what you plan to use your pool shed for. This may sound obvious, but often times we just shove things in places with no thought. Maybe you would like to use your pool shed to store pool supplies, inflatables ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=1635 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=1635 Mon, 9 Jun 2008 08:00:00 EST Hi Everyone! Sorry I haven't been here to talk with you in a while. I needed a break! And that's exactly what we're going to talk about this week, taking a break! It probably didn't take you long to figure out that organizing can actually be pretty fun if you do it the right way. You may have also figured out that once you start seeing progress with your project, you can get pretty excited about it! One of the things I notice with the people I work with ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=1290 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=1290 Mon, 31 Mar 2008 08:00:00 EST It's three in the morning and I can't sleep. I don't know if I'm more irritated about not being able to sleep, or about how my day went today. You see, today was errand day. And while this may not seem unusual to you, to me, I got to thinking about some things as I spent my day going to the post office, the office supply store, drug store, hardware store, donation center and consignment shop, vet, bank, bead shop, hair salon for product, grocery store, and a few other places ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=1228 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=1228 Mon, 24 Mar 2008 08:00:00 EST The white sales are going on! It's a perfect time to purchase new linens for your master bedroom or guest room. Or, maybe its time to replace some of those ratty towels you've kept "just in case you need them." But before you go, why not check out your linen closet! The linen closet can be one of the most ignored areas in the home. We don't see it very often, but when we do, the linens come toppling down on top of us, along with whatever else is stored in there! Try ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=1227 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=1227 Mon, 17 Mar 2008 08:00:00 EST It was a lazy Sunday morning. I decided to sleep in late underneath my favorite comforter along with my furry friends, Madison and Maxwell when I got "the call". It was Brad, checking in to see how things were going and oh, by the way, "We will be home in 20 minutes". "We?" "Yes, me and Bill." "and oh, we are going to offer him our shower!" Well, not quite the call I was expecting. Did I panic? Nope! Why? Because I am organized, silly! I got up, made the bed, showered and ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=1167 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=1167 Mon, 10 Mar 2008 08:00:00 EST I recently read somewhere that most people wear 20% of their wardrobe 80% of the time. So what does that mean? Should people start tossing away their belongings? I have to admit, while there may be some truth to not wearing "everything", I feel this statistic is very aggressive. And if you feel like you may fall into this category, please, take my advice. Don't toss everything out, get organized instead! I find that most people I work with feel like they don't ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=1166 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=1166 Mon, 3 Mar 2008 08:00:00 EST I met with my friend Beth last week for a cup of hot chai tea. As usual, our conversation turned to the work I do with my clients. She asked whether or not a child's upbringing can affect its lifestyle once it leaves home and ventures out into the world of life. I often run across clients who claim that they are cluttered because that was the way they were brought up. The house they grew up in was always in the state of disarray. Maybe both parents worked and "didn't have ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=1123 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=1123 Mon, 25 Feb 2008 08:00:00 EST My husband walked into the house last night with a sheepish grin on his face. I knew he was up to something. He stated that he got a new toy and asked if I wanted to see it. As he reached into his briefcase I thought to myself "Please, don't let it be!" and sure enough, he pulled out a brand spanking new….BLACKBERRY! After a small discussion that started with "I can't believe you succumbed to THIS!" I realized that his argument was understandable. After being on several ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=959 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=959 Mon, 18 Feb 2008 08:00:00 EST Last week we covered getting rid of excess clutter to eliminate 40% of your housework. I have another tidbit for you. Did you know that in one generation home square footage expanded from less than 1,000 to an average of 2,330? Brad and I moved about five years ago into a bigger home. When I came across this statistic, I started thinking about my own situation. Did we really need to move because we had too much stuff (ok, did I have too much stuff)? After further reflection, I ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=958 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=958 Mon, 11 Feb 2008 08:00:00 EST I love this statistic: "Cleaning professionals say that getting rid of excess clutter would eliminate 40% of the housework in an average home." So, what do you think about that? Well, I totally agree!! Imagine all the things taking up space in your home. Think about it. Basically, everything needs to be "managed". And what do I mean by that? Well, it has to be dusted, vacuumed, cleaned, put away, hung, folded, or filed away. The more stuff you have, the more time you're ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=957 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=957 Mon, 4 Feb 2008 08:00:00 EST My grandmother passed away recently. She was 93 years old. While I was sorry to see her go, I know she lived a very fulfilling life and she was healthy until about three months ago. The days that followed involved getting her flown up here from North Carolina, setting up the wake and funeral, meeting with the priest to go over services and choose readings and hymns, meeting with the restaurant to provide lunch for local and visiting family members, and reviewing finances and the will ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=956 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=956 Mon, 28 Jan 2008 08:00:00 EST I woke up yesterday to a small flood under my refrigerator. After some investigation, I realized that my freezer was not working properly. I cleaned the area and put down a serving tray to capture the dripping water, which I am embarrassed to say, normally is used to serve my dogs' dinner on! I also put down some fluffy towels. All this done in an effort to save our hardwood floor. When I called the repair service, they said they couldn't come until tomorrow, and I was happy with ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=606 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=606 Mon, 21 Jan 2008 08:00:00 EST Over a recent Chai Tea Latte with my best friend Beth, a discussion rose regarding bulk purchases. "What do you think?" Beth asked. "Well, I'm not sure." I replied. The truth is, I'm not. There is much discussion around whether or not bulk purchasing is a good thing to do. Here is my take on it. Bulk purchases can be good because it allows you to "stock up" at a cheaper price. maybe you're stocking up because the item is on sale, or it's a special deal ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=605 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=605 Mon, 14 Jan 2008 08:00:00 EST So, by now you have been reading my blog long enough to figure out that I am a late night sitcom junkie! I love to watch TV after a long day of work, or play, to help me relax. I like to read too, but sometimes the TV just lets me be, lets me veg out to the state of the unconscious. Well, the other night, before I entered the state of unconscious, through the snoring my husband Brad was making, I was watching "Everybody Loves Raymond". In this particular episode, the family had ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=604 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=604 Mon, 7 Jan 2008 08:00:00 EST Twelve. I can fit twelve pairs of jeans into my front load, energy efficient washing machine. This is what the salesman told me when we purchased the washer. I was thinking about this a few minutes ago as I was cramming my king size comforter inside the machine. "Well, if I can fit twelve pairs of jeans in here, I certainly can fit this comforter in here!" I thought to myself. Then I let I let my mind run, as I usually do. What the heck was that salesman thinking anyway? ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=602 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=602 Mon, 31 Dec 2007 08:00:00 EST On a recent episode of "Reba" the daughter asked the mother "How do people balance their life? There seems to be so much to juggle; work, school, being a mom. How do you do it?" The mother replied "Organization". The mother was right. Finding that perfect balance between work, family, and fun can be a challenge. But it's even more of a challenge if you're not organized! So, what are some things you can do to create more balance? Well, first of all, sit and ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=601 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=601 Mon, 24 Dec 2007 08:00:00 EST On a recent trip to Niagara Falls, I came to the realization that I have this bad habit. That habit is to strip the hotel room as soon as I enter it. It's not that I don't find the decor interesting or inviting, it's more like I miss my home. I find nothing more annoying and uninviting than walking into a hotel room and seeing instructions out everywhere on how to use the telphone, or not to smoke. On this particular trip, there were little cards placed all around ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=600 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=600 Mon, 17 Dec 2007 08:00:00 EST I'm about to embark on a very important time of year, it's time to go to visit my in-laws! And, believe it or not, I look forward to this every year! Not that being in Naples, FL in the middle of winter has anything to do with that, noooo! But, it reminded me of something very important that we often times forget. That would be the guest room! The guest room is usually the place where we keep our ironing board, extra books, folded laundry that we didn't ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=599 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=599 Mon, 10 Dec 2007 08:00:00 EST I was working recently with a client of mine and came up with the bright idea of emptying out her three display cabinets. It was somthing I have wanted to do for a while now. It was an easy sell. I explained that while the items "looked" organized in the cabinets, they really weren't. There were African artifacts mixed in with Lladro figurines. There were endless amounts of bowls, stuffed into one another. Stacked plates and platters. ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=598 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=598 Mon, 3 Dec 2007 08:00:00 EST On a recent episode of "The Ellen DeGeneres Show", a young boy named Andrew talked about his excitement about recycling. I really enjoyed listening to this six year old talk about the ways he gets involved in his neighborhood! I got to thinking about my own neighborhood. In my town, they recently passed a law stating that if you have more than one can of trash, you will be charged for the extra trash to be taken away. This was implemented to raise the awareness of recycling. ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=530 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=530 Mon, 26 Nov 2007 08:00:00 EST There was much discussion in the organizing field this week over a recent "Oprah" show which featured a family with a hoarding problem. During the show, someone made a comment to Oprah about the number of shoes she owns. That raised a question that one of my peers asked, "Well, if Oprah has THAT many shoes, wouldn't she be considered a hoarder?" Well, at first blush, it looks like she is a hoarder. But then, I suppose, would I be considered a hoarder myself because ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=464 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=464 Mon, 19 Nov 2007 08:00:00 EST Let's see, I know they're around here somewhere. I checked the kitchen countertop, the laundry room, the coffee table, my closet, the bathroom (just in case), and the junk drawer. Where are those car keys? Oh, NOW I remember, I left them in my car so I could find them! Too bad I just wasted precious time trying to find them and now I'm late for my meeting! An average person loses at least one hour a day due to disorganization. How true this statement is! Each day ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=384 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=384 Mon, 12 Nov 2007 08:00:00 EST "Mommy, can you help me with my homework?" "Honey, what time is dinner?" "Woof, Woof, I need a walk!" "Brett, when is that report going to be ready?" "Ring, ring, answer me!" "You have a message!" "Ding, dong, Avon calling!" Ok, maybe I went a little too far on the last one, but you get the drift! Whether you have an office to go to, work out of your home, you're a stay at home mom or dad, or you're retired, the statistic is the same "The ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=314 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=314 Mon, 5 Nov 2007 08:00:00 EST On a daily basis, most of us need to remember an average of 50-75 individual things; appointments, errands, phone calls, documents. No wonder we are going crazy! And, its not a surprise that we forget things, because our brain is bogged down with too much stuff! Make life easier for yourself by organizing your thoughts. How do you do that? Easy! Start keeping a "To Do" list. By taking the information out of your head and putting it down on paper, you're leaving that space in ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=233 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=233 Mon, 29 Oct 2007 08:00:00 EST Two weeks ago I found myself in a local department store looking for THE PERFECT LITTLE OUTFIT to wear to a wedding that my husband and I were attending. I was really excited to go, I LOVE weddings! Plus, it was a chance to dress up, which I don't get to do enough. As I was shopping, I realized how difficult it was to find "the perfect little outfit". Everything in the store was organized by designer. Liz Claiborne here, Karen Scott there, Jones New York in the ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=164 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=164 Mon, 22 Oct 2007 08:00:00 EST I recently read someplace that if your kitchen is organized it can help you loose weight. My first thought about that was "Silly people!" But after thinking about it for a little while, I realized that maybe there was some truth in this. I thought about how I go about my day. My mornings are usually busy, trying to get a few things done around the house or fit in some office time before I leave to see clients. Then there are days when I'm in between clients and I only have ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=93 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=93 Mon, 15 Oct 2007 08:00:00 EST I don't know how we create clutter! Maybe You do! Seriously! We all accumulate clutter in different ways. Maybe it's the clothing that your friend hands down to you, and two years later you still haven't had a chance to look through it. The bags, now sagging, are taking up room in your closet. Maybe it's the stack of notepads, pens, and free key chains you collected at last year's expo. "It's free!" you said to yourself as you grabbed five, maybe ten of ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=31 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=31 Mon, 8 Oct 2007 08:00:00 EST What is clutter? Is it stuff piled on the floor? Is it stuff shoved in a drawer? Is it the pile of chairs stacked in the room at the church where I take my writing class on Wednesday nights? Merriam-Webster states that clutter means "to fill or cover with scattered or disordered things that impede movement or reduce effectiveness". So, with that in mind, maybe all the above is clutter. But wait! What if my items were all organized in a drawer, then would it still be considered ...