Clearing Space by Design

5 Home Organizing Tips for the New Year (As seen on 2News this Morning)

2012-01-09T06:30:00.010-07:00

Welcome once again 2 News This Morning Viewers! Great to have you stop by. Here are the tips from this morning. Click on the link below to watch the segment. http://connect2utah.com/libraries/nxd/media/?data=media_player&v=377527

Calendar it: Get a new calendar and transfer over all birthdays, anniversaries and other important events. Don’t forget to add appointments that you have already scheduled for this year. Color-code each event by category using highlighters in different colors so that you can see what’s coming up at a glance. Purchase a calendar wall hanger and hang up your calendar for daily viewing.

Make a File, Shred a Pile: Start getting your files and records in order. Make a list of what you need to do to update or revamp your filing system. Don’t forget to purge what you don’t need and move other documents, like taxes to long-term storage. Now is a great time to filter through the bills and receipts of the past year and shred them to make room for new records.

Make a List and Check It Twice: Make a Christmas card mailing list. Put each name and address into Word’s label feature (under tools, letters/mailings, envelopes/labels) so that next year you can save time by printing out address labels.

Delegate: Assign different cleaning and organizing tasks to family members or roommates (or even for yourself), so there is a little goal every day to keep the home clean.

Make organization part of your life: Do a little every day. Don’t save all of the cleaning for one monumental spring cleaning spree in early April. Schedule a time for organizing in your daily routine, such as after the kids get home from school. Just 10 minutes a day can make that disorganized home seem “so last year. The slow and steady win the organizing race.

Thanks for stop us by and come back often!

Tiny little tips to de-clutter and organize your house in record time, Tip 6; 3 Common Space Invaders

2012-01-03T05:42:00.004-07:00

Tip 6: Banish the Space Invaders. What do I mean by this?? Common things that tend to clog up your closets, rooms, etc. Here are 3 of the worst:

1. Clothes
The clothes you wear on a day-to-day basis come from a mere 20 percent of the clothes in your closet. 80 percent of those clothes are just taking up space and never worn. Time to pair down and only keep what clothing fits and what you feel good in.

2. Small Appliances
Bread machines, juicers, all purpose mixers and other small appliances are great tools--if you use them on a regular basis. If you can’t remember the last time you used them or you have not used them in more than a year, it’s time to free up your counter space for new creations.

3. Junk Mail
Form a habit of not even letting the junkmail enter into your home. Go from the mailbox to the garbage can for any junkmail that does not have any personal account numbers on the paperwork. Create a Shred pile for those docs and shred regularly. Want to minimize junkmail? Head to www.the_dma.org and www.catalogchoice.org to be removed from their listings.

Tiny little tips to de-clutter and organize your house in record time; Tip 5: Organizing your plastic containers

2012-01-02T06:13:00.017-07:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR!! Day 5 of "Tiny little tips to de-clutter and organize your house in record time" Day 5: Organize and Pair Down your Plastic Containers. Those pesky plastic food storage containers! Who isn’t guilty of accumulating far more than they actually ever use? Here are a few tips to keep this monster at bay:

Save the one’s you use the most and that have a good lid that fits on the container.
Discard the Rest. Unless you have a definite use for them or you have a way to re-purpose or recycle the them, it’s time to say goodbye.. Throw away discolored or otherwise damaged containers that have missing lids.
Invest. If you have a mismatch of containers that don’t stack well, consider investing in a set. Buy just a few sizes small, medium, large, so that all of your containers take up the smallest amount of space in your cabinet.
Contain the Containers. Organize the containers by size on an assigned shelf. Use an inexpensive Ice Chest container or small dish rack to hold lids or store them upright by size.

I LOVE comments! Share with our readers your solution for this pesky problem! Happy Monday!

Tiny little tips to de-clutter and organize your house in record time; Tip 4 Create an Organizing Tool Kit

2011-12-31T05:14:00.002-07:00

In this fast pace world we all need little "tools"to help us along the way. This Organizing Tool kit is one of them. Find a cute tote or basket to keep your items in and add or subtract according to your needs. You'll be amazed how handy this kit will be!

Everything You Need to Organize Your Toolkit

Sticky notes and markers: As you sort items, label the groups for daily use, often, seldom, and never. Daily-use things should get prime storage real estate, while never-use things should go out the door.
Grocery sacks and trash bags: Use them to sort and discard items.
Pen and paper: Jot down to-dos, products you need to buy, and organizing ideas you may have along the way.
Tape measure: Determine what your storage needs are. After you declutter, measure the amount of available space you are left with in order to get the correct-sized bins and storage receptacles.
Label maker: Choose a simple and portable model to label bins and storage spaces — so you can know exactly what's inside.

Hope your New Years Celebration is a good one! CHEERS!

Tiny little tips to de-clutter and organize your house in record time; DeCluttering your Herbs and spices

2011-12-30T06:27:00.001-07:00

Day 3 of a new series that will go into the new year entitled “Tiny little tips to de-clutter and organize your house in record time”.

TIP 3: Filter through your cooking spices and herbs.

Most dried spices maintain their freshness for one to three years. If you cannot remember when you bought it or the contents are starting to clump up, it's a safe bet to discard the spice. Now is a great time take inventory of what you have and what you need so you don't waste money on duplicates.

And lastly, get out your hose vacuum, suck up any excess spice spillage, clean off each bottle and clean the cabinet it is stored in. How much time will it take to complete this task? It depends on how many spices you have. The average person should be done with the entire task in 30 minutes.

Tiny little tips to de-clutter and organize your house in record time” Day 2: Organizing and disgarding Cosmetics

2011-12-29T06:18:00.003-07:00

Day 2 of a new series that will go into the new year entitled “Tiny little tips to de-clutter and organize your house in record time”.

TIP 2: Organize and Discard your Cosmetics. Filter through your makeup. Here are the shelf life guidelines for cosmetics:

MASCARA:Every two to three months to be safe because of the bacteria that builds on the brush.

FOUNDATION: If opened 6 to 12 months. Unopened 2-3 years.

CONCEALER: Concealers in powder and stick form can last for up to two years, while liquids should be tossed after one.

FACE POWDER:16 months max

BLUSH: Cream blush, 6 months Powder blush 16 months.

EYE SHADOW:3 months- too much bacteria builds if you keep it longer than that and you risk nasty eye infections.

EYELINER:Both liquid and pencil, every 3 months.

LIPSTICK AND LIP GLOSS: About a year

NAIL POLISH: 2 years (otherwise it dries out and gets clumpy).

TOOLS: If cleaned and stored properly, good brushes can last for years, but when the bristles start to fray or fall out, it's time for a new set. Give them a thorough cleaning every two weeks with a gentle hair shampoo. The best way to store them is propped upright in a glass, where they can air out and won't be squashed and deformed. Cheap makeup sponges should be replaced after two uses—one side, then the other.

I also wipe down all my makeup with disinfectant every 3 months to keep the bacteria down. This task should take less than an hour to complete from start to finish. Enjoy!

Tiny little tips to de-clutter and organize your house in record time; DeCluttering the Medicine Cabinet

2011-12-28T06:00:00.001-07:00

Greetings Everyone!

I hope each of you are having a fantastic Holiday Season.

Today is day 1 of a new series that will go into the new year entitled “Tiny little tips to de-lcutter and organize your house in record time”.

TIP 1: Clean out your medicine cabinet. Filter through OTC medicines and discard any that have expired. Remove empty boxes and empty tubes. Dispose of expired Prescription Drugs in the proper receptical. Many cities have a prescription waste disposal drop off location. Ours is at the police station. Average time for completing this task??? 30 minutes. Good Luck!

Hosting Thanksgiving this year or another Holiday Party? Use our Party Checklist and you won't forget a thing!

2011-11-21T09:29:00.002-07:00

Double Click on image to enlarge and Print!

Here is the second article from LDS Living Magazine Entitiled: LDS professional organizer featured in A&E’s ‘Hoarders’

2011-11-17T18:15:00.001-07:00

Linda Isom, a professional organizer in Utah, recently showed her stuff (while getting rid of others' stuff) on the popular A&E show Hoarders.

Scaling cliffs and avoiding feral animals are sometimes exciting when in the great outdoors. But what if those cliffs are actually piles of stuff you have to scale just to enter your home? And those figurative feral animals are harder to avoid since your family member brings them into the house by the dozens? And though you have a bed somewhere in the house, finding it is more difficult than finding shelter in the wilderness?

In reality, hoarding affects two to four percent of America’s population. Often linked to obsessive-compulsive behavior, hoarding is reaching a point where professionals are considering distinguishing it as a separate disorder that should have its own diagnosis and treatment.

With the numbers on the rise, this new disorder has also captured the fancy of TV viewers across the nation in several shows highlighting the homes, habits, and compulsions of these people. A&E’s show Hoarders has been nominated for a 2011 Emmy in Outstanding Reality Programming. In this year’s new season, the crew has turned to an LDS woman, Utah native and professional organizer Linda Isom, who was featured in the show Monday, November 14.

Isom was contacted by the “Clutter Expert” Matt Paxton from the show. “I remember saying to my husband, ‘I’ve never worked with an extreme hoarder like they have on the show, but I think I understand the hoarding mindset,” Isom said. After narrowing the field of potential organizers, Paxton let her know she got the gig. “You seemed the most genuine and real and understood the hoarder’s mindset and seemed to legitimately care about people,” he told her.

Isom’s journey to this point was a gradual one. As a child she tried to help make sense of chaos, and as a teenager she would tidy and organize while on a babysitting job. But it wasn’t until she was put on bed rest while pregnant years ago that she realized this was something she could do. “[I] had to bring in someone to take care of my home and my family. . . . When that was over, I decided to organize everything in my home and label it all so if something similar happened like that again, anyone could come in and help.” She then began to take classes and work with other seasoned professionals before venturing out on her own, picking up tips, trying new things, and finding the best way to handle organizing.

But hoarding is often a symptom of something more than just disorganization. Typically, hoarding begins or intensifies when the individual is dealing with stress or some tragedy. “It’s almost always related to a cataclysmic event in their life,” Isom said. “Hoarding is commonly viewed in the medical field as their ‘drug of choice’ and needs to be treated like any other compulsion to truly understand where their mind is. If you think of the person as having a severe mental disorder, you can begin to understand where they are coming from. They’ve created this environment and they have built walls of clutter around themselves and have begun to shut everything and everyone else out.”

The National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization has a “Clutter Hoarding Scale,” with someone who is messy falling anywhere between stage one and stage three. The higher the rating (the highest is stage five), the more it affects the person’s relationships and interactions with others. Hoarders deals primarily with stage-five clients. “That’s when hoarding becomes a problem,” said Isom. “When you can’t move from one room to another.”

“My key role was to take care of the aftercare when the show is done,” she said. “[The client has] up to six months of optional aftercare available to them from the show. They have to be the ones to make the effort to continue with the services, and they get the same amount of psychological help for that same amount of time. The show does make efforts to help the people as much as they can. This season they’ve gone in and checked on people from previous seasons to see how they’re doing. If they did not accept the aftercare provided by the show, it is likely they have continued to hoard.”

Dealing with someone who is a hoarder requires more than an ability to throw stuff away and organize. “If you are a family member of a hoarder, you need to first identify if they have emotional issues they are suppressing by buying or collecting things,” said Isom.

Even though attempts to help may start with simply cleaning and purging, that should generally be the last thing you do, Isom said, because a person needs to be internally motivated to change before they will accept help. Like a crash diet, if the person isn’t ready to change their lifestyle, old habits will resurface, causing the accumulation binge to intensify. Individuals should be ready to change and properly participate in therapy to discover the underlying issues of their hoarding first.

“The aid of a professional organizer is a great way to get started,” said Isom. “Often that first initial consultation helping a hoarder is hard, but if they see the benefit with a mountain of positive encouragement, they can find their way out of the behavior and find a much improved way of living.”

Isom’s episode of Hoarders can be viewed online at aetv.com/hoarders.
To read some of Isom’s tips for organizing your home provided especially for LDS Living, click here.

Take a look at this article featured in LDS Living Magazine

2011-11-16T17:30:00.001-07:00

Six simple tips for getting your home organized, from professional organizer (and mother) Linda Isom.
Professional organizer Linda Isom has organized her own home and was a featured organizer on this week’s episode of A&E’s Hoarders, called “Eileen/Judy.” (Read more about it by clicking here.) “In a nutshell, an organized house is an enormous time saver,” said Isom. “The general structure to the home influences children’s behavior, has a positive effect on your psyche, and makes it much easier to get things accomplished.” Having loads of clutter experience Isom has a few tried and true tips to share with us.

1. Make a “go-backs” basket
One of our favorite ideas from Isom is the go-backs basket. Often movie rentals or rebate coupons sit in the house for weeks, and sometimes they make it to the car where they sit . . . for weeks. Isom utilizes a regular basket or bin to keep near the door. Place items that need to go to the recycling, rental store, or post office right in the bin. On your way out the door in the morning, carry the box to your car. As you drive to work, carpool, or run errands, you will have everything with you to deposit. At the end of the day, sweep your car of anything that does not belong: kids’ toys, magazines, those really pretty but really uncomfortable new shoes you tried to wear all day at work, and drop those in the bin to bring back inside.

2. Use a timer
Set a timer in small segments, such as five or ten minutes, and have your children work on cleaning in categories of “like” items: picking up laundry, toy cars, or books. They may even enjoy trying to “beat the clock.” They’ll soon begin to clean things up in less than half the time it would otherwise have taken them. Breaking it up into small projects with “like” items also helps the child understand how to break down the mess in their minds so it’s easier to clean.

3. Clean one room at a time
Sometimes focus is hard, but clearing one room at a time is essential for getting things done and not becoming overwhelmed. Isom suggests grabbing an empty laundry basket and placing items that belong somewhere else in the basket as you find them instead of taking them directly to the other room and becoming distracted by what needs to be done in there.
Continue until the room is finished, then, once one room is clear, return the items to their proper places.

4. Keep younger children entertained in the meantime
Cleaning while you have little kids underfoot can often be a challenge. Isom suggests setting the little ones in a separate, already clean room with toys they love but that won’t cause a mess or too much clutter. That way, you control what they play with. If this still doesn’t work for you, it’s okay to turn on the TV for a little while. “I’m not for allowing television to do the babysitting all the time,” Isom warns, “but with half an hour in front of Dora in order for you to have sanity, your children should be just fine.”

5. Teach your older children to help—repeatedly
For older children, Isom says, “Don’t have a perfectionist attitude: allow time to teach your kids to do chores and do things around the house.” Adults go through training at a new job, being shown how to perform the task and going through follow-up evaluations until they can complete the task solo. Children are no different. “I’ve been teaching my son to wipe the table after dinner. It took me showing him 15 times to be able to wipe it the way I wanted.” Having your children involved in chores teaches them to follow instructions, complete a task, and take pride in ownership.

6. Make the decisions beforehand; buy containers and know where you are going to store something before you buy
“The thing I can’t stress enough is stress doesn’t come from clutter; it comes from not knowing what to do with it,” Isom says. Everything in your house should have its place. Knowing where to store an item before you bring it home will keep the clutter at bay. If you don’t have a place in mind, pick up a container with the item when you buy it. If you don’t use it in a while, purge it. That way you now have a new space for the items you need.

From www.ldsliving.com

Link to the Hoarders Episode Online

2011-11-15T19:16:00.002-07:00

Missed the Hoarders episode?? Here it is online. Thanks everyone for all of your support!

http://www.aetv.com/hoarders/video/?bcpid=740859023001&bclid=910141054001&bctid=1270554797001&baseURL=/bcconfig/Player/3Tier/Hoarders_3Tws/config-xml/&baseDIR=/bcplayers/Player/3Tier_ws/baseDIR/

UTAH HOARDER EPISODE TO FINALLY AIR!!!

2011-11-08T16:16:00.003-07:00

It's finally here! Linda Isom will make her national television debut on Monday, November 14th on the A&E Channel at 9/8 C Time. The name of the show is Eileen / Judy. Linda worked with Judy and her family to transform her home. The episode was filmed 7 months ago so Linda is thrilled for it to finally air. For more information go to: http://www.aetv.com/hoarders/.

Would love to hear all your comments after you watch the show!

Check out this article about Linda and CSBD from the Davis Clipper!

2011-10-03T23:01:00.003-06:00

Local organizer to help ‘Hoarders’: LAYTON— “I get to leave every place I organize, better than I found it. I find great satisfaction in that,” says Linda Isom, professional organizer and owner of Clearing Space by Design. Isom, ...

Creating a Family Command Center and a Action Desktop File

2011-10-03T07:15:00.008-06:00

Welcome 2 News Viewers, so glad you stopped by! Here is the link to watch the segment. I apologize there is no way to imbed this onto our site.
http://connect2utah.com/libraries/nxd/media/?data=media_player&v=307867

See our article below:

*Vinyl lettering was purchased from Word Candy Vinyl*

“People come into the kitchen and drop everything on the floor or counter-top”. I hear this from busy Mom’s all the time. Never fear, Help. Is. Here!

Think about how many times a day, you answer the same questions about where things are in your house... "Where's that piece of paper with the message from the doctor’s office?" "What happen to that power bill that was due sometime this week?" "Where is that invitation to the party the kids were invited to this weekend?" And my personal favorite “Where is that piece of homework that needs a parent’s signature!”

Would you be surprised if I told you that the average American burns 55 minutes a day, roughly 12 weeks a year, looking for things they know they own, but can't find (Newsweek, 6/7/04)? That’s about 1 hour EVERY single day!!! And who does not need / want another hour in their day to get things done or to enjoy life??

*Vinyl lettering was purchased from Word Candy Vinyl*

A Family Command Center is a is going to be different for every family, but in a nutshell it is a place where you store your important Family Papers so you have quick access to them when you need them. Or a central place for managing household communication and running the family's day-to-day activities.

Basically, a Command Center encompasses the following 3 activities:

· Incoming Papers: Papers that come into the house and what we need to do with those papers.

· Outgoing Papers: Papers that need to be taken elsewhere or out of the home.

· Temporary Papers: These paper items are like school lunch menus, theater tickets, sporting event calendars, etc. These are very temporary papers, but need to be kept in a central location.

Where do I create my Family Communication in my House, you ask?

· Location, Location, Location: I usually suggest the kitchen, office, or mud room as they are central locations for all family members.

o SUPER TIP: It is CRITICAL to your success that you create this place close to the area where the paper already lands. Ideally there should be a fair amount of wall space, as well as an adequate amount of general storage area. That said, even small areas can be arranged to accommodate this system.

o Best Locations: where you and your family most often enter and exit your house. Since the kitchen is usually the hub of the house, an ideal location is in an upper cabinet in the kitchen near the phone (see pictures from the 2News Spot). Bottom line, make sure it's a functional space and that the location works best for you and your family.

Ask yourself this question:

· What areas do I need to control?

o i.e., Children’s activity schedules, homework, family calendars, invitations, activities or permission slips, snail mail, library books, car keys etc.

How do I do this and what do I use? What organizing tools would work best to use for my family?

· Find a way to incorporate a Corkboard, Magnetic board and/or a Dry-erase board for the space.

o Some examples of what to hang up are: Menus, Chores Telephone Lists, Lunch menus, Invitations, and Grocery lists.

o Hanging file or folder system, Key hooks, Clock, Labels/name tags for various supplies, etc.

o SUPER TIP: Remember to clear things off as you complete the task or the event has passed. That way your system will work. Otherwise if there is no up-keep, the system will fail.

Desktop Files

My home is split into 4 levels. My office is on the 3^rd level while my Kitchen is on my 2^nd level. The papers used to pile on my counter and drive me crazy. Even though all we had to do is take them downstairs and file them in the office, they never seemed to get there.

Sound familiar? I bet it does. So I went about devising a solution for my small space. I have implemented it in many clients spaces too. Want to add 55 minutes to your day? I imagine you are saying... ABSOLUTELY!! Read on, you’re going to LOVE this!

What is a Desktop Action File?

· It’s a tabletop file for daily, short-term filing. Use an Action File to organize bills for payment, papers that require response and information that must be filed.

o Here is an example of some of my subject files in our desktop file:

To do/ To Call
To Read
To Shred
To File
PhoneLists / Numbers
Coupons
Menus
Magazines
Store Ads
Receipts
File for every person in the Family
Business
Temporary

I added this list to hopefully this gets your mind contemplating what your desktop file may be for your family.

Where do I purchase these items?

· The desktop file I talked about on 2News is from The Container Store. You can also purchase them at Target, Wal-Mart, Office Max, Office Depot, & Staples.

o Have fun when purchasing your hanging file folders! Army green is so passé when it comes to hanging file folders these days. You can virtually pick any color of the rainbow (within reason) for the files you are going to look at and use every day. Get a color you enjoy looking at it.

How long will it take me to create my own Family Command Center?

· On average 5 to 8 hours. Some of you are asking, ‘really?’ to your computer screen and my response is, yes REALLY. If you get done quicker than that, consider yourself and organizing rockstar!

I’ve identified the area I want to use. How do I decide where to put things?

· SUPER TIP! Use a roll of blue painter’s tape or masking tape to layout where you will hang your command center tools. This will give you an idea how it will look, if your children are tall enough to access the command center and if what you will be hanging up will all fit prior to the actual permanent installation of your command center tools.

Next, it’s time to hang and assemble your Family Command Center.

How do I get my family to start using this system?

· Whenever a new system is introduced in a business setting, employees are trained on the use of it. Family is not different

o Have a Family meeting to illustrate how the new system works

o Explain in detail how the new Family Command Center will benefit benefit everyone and keep things under control in your family.

o Have each member be given a paper or item that will be stored there and let them actually go through the process of where the item is kept (spouses included).

o SUPER TIP! Reinforce this instruction for at least two weeks so they get into the habit of immediately using the system.

o SUPER TIP! Be prepared for a little tweaking in the first few weeks so the system runs like a well-oiled machine.

How does doing all this benefit me?

· SANITY RETURNS (Queue the Hallelujah Choir). When it comes to running a household it is always chaotic. Using these tools you can turn Overwhelming Chaos” into “Organized Chaos”. And who wouldn’t want that?

Check out my “Family Command Center Board” on PINTEREST for a large variety of visual ideas on how to create your own Family Command Center.

Like what you see and here? Follow me and send me your ideas and questions. Happy Organizing!

Organizing a Successful Yard Sale / Garage Sale / Tag Sale or Fundraiser

2011-09-16T12:00:00.005-06:00

It’s that time of year again, when the weather cools off and it is absolutely gorgeous outside in most areas of the country.

Several of my clients and friends are planning Yard Sales / Garage Sales/ Tag Sales/ Fundraisers in the coming weeks and have been asking for some great tips for planning a successful sale.

Whatever you call it, it is important to organize your sale for maximum benefits! Here are the BEST tried and true tips for a successful and PROFITABLE sale.

1. When preparing, sort items like with like and make sure everything is clean (especially clothes).

a. Sort children’s clothes according to gender and size. Plastic or cardboard boxes work well for this. Make sure you label the each container.
b. You’re more likely to sell everything for a better price if they are clean.

2. Purchase or have available a box of plastic bags for purchased clothing and other small Items. We purchased a box of 200 bags for $10.00 at our local Sam’s Club. That way you can bag multiple items as needed.

3. Any big-ticket or larger items, place near the street with a big readable price tag. That big-ticket items will catch the attention of those driving by to take a peek (and there will be many).

4. Set everything up like you would if all the items were new. Presentation is everything even at a garage sale.

5. Advertising: Be sure to advertise your sale in the actual physical local papers. Advertising online is NOT the best route.

a. Typical garage sale junkies have their newspaper in hand and go to each sale one by one. I have the research to back up my claims when I say you are likely to make 20 to 30% more off your sale if you do this. Yes it does cost money, but well worth the return in your investment. List your big ticket most attractive items in your sale to get the ultimate traffic.

b. STILL advertise via email, Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites as you will get some people who will come from posting it.

6. Tag everything with the price you want begin to negotiate at, not the price you're willing to sell it, that way you have built in negotiating power from the beginning.

7. Make the signs and directions BIG BLOCK BLACK LETTERS with DRAMATIC bright colored poster board or paper. Block letters will catch the eye much better than just writing the information on a plain white poster in sticking it up.

a. Keep the information short and sweet. That way it can be easily read by people as they pass in their cars.

b. Fluorescent colored poster paper works best. It is also helpful to print off large arrows from your computer or make them by hand if you are confident you can make them legibly, to point to where the yard sale is located.

c. IMPORTANT! Before posting your signs around town, check with your city government to make sure that they allow you to do this. We learned this the hard way as on the first day of our garage sale the city came and took down our signs. If you post the sign on someone’s actual property (not the parking strip) they are not authorized to take them down. Be sure to get permission from the property owner before you display your signs.

8. Start mega bargaining with the items once you are halfway into the sale. It is better to let the item go for a cheap price than to haul it off after the sale is over.

9. DO NOT have a cash box! I cannot stress this enough. Instead, use a small plastic poly expander file (see image below) You can purchase these for a buck at a dollar store or a place like Wal-mart or Office Max.

a. Make sure to get plenty of small bills in advance, $1’s $5’s and $10’s, a few $20’s and also at least $5 in quarters distributed between you. Plan on getting a little over $100.00 in small bills and distribute it evenly between those of you who are carrying the money. You don’t want to fall victim to a criminal who could be casing your sale and waiting for the opportune time to sneak in and grab your cash box.

b. Keep the cash with you at all times.

c. Have everyone who is taking money, wear a waist apron with deep pockets. Keep that apron on you at all times with the poly expanding file and cash you collect. That way you can separate the smaller bills from the larger bills so that you can exchange money quickly and swiftly (see 3 pocket waist apron picture below).

10. Provide Free Refreshments: lemonade, punch & cookies, whatever is easy to eat while you shop. I was amazed at how many people that I offered a cookie and while they were eating at looking at things said,” I feel like I have to buy something now that I've eaten your cookie.” Again remember presentation is everything so if your cookies are “store bought,” you may want to at least lay them out on a larger platter so they look a little more appetizing.

11. Try doing something like “package discounts,’ for instance, say someone is buying a bunch of kids clothes. Instead of taking the time to add up all individually, knock off a couple bucks off the top and it is possible they might buy more. Make those deals as people buy, as everything is about bartering at a garage sale.

12. Make a large sign easy for people to see that says: CASH ONLY. Do not accept checks unless you know for sure who the person is. If you know the person, tell them secretly that you will accept a check from them because you know them. That way you will not have to deal with any bounced checks. Or simply just don't except them period. If the person really wants the item(s), they will find the cash to pay for it.

13.LOCK IT UP! If you plan on doing your sale at your home, keep the doors to the inside of it locked. You don’t want to fall victim to a crime while you are trying to make money.

Fundraiser Tips:

For those of you who are doing these sales as fundraisers, here are a few additional tips;

Hang a large sign (block letters again) that everyone can see in block letters at the garage sale site thanking them for their purchase and what their purchase was going towards.
Print out thank you cards on inexpensive business card sheets and put one in every bag with a link to the organization you are raising money for.

Above, plan, plan, plan! The more prepared you are, the money you will make and the easier it will be have a very successful sale. Good Luck!

Organizing your Home for a Successful School Year. Part 1: Preparation

2011-08-25T14:36:00.002-06:00

Here we are again, back to school! Summer went unusually fast for me this year, how about you? By now most schools have started classes here in Utah and I thought it would be a perfect time to give some tips for the pounds of paper and homework that is coming our way. I hear it all the time from Mom’s, there utter frustration with the amount of paper that comes home from school! Here we are in our digital society and yet we fight with paper everyday when our kids empty their backpacks. Organization is a crucial part of educational success. Here are some surefire ways for a successful school year;

Drop Zone
Create a space if possible where the items “drop” for backpacks, books, jackets, shoes, etc. Establishing a “home” for the items for school makes them easy to locate as you sprint out the door to the car or bus. The drop zone should ideally have multiple shelves and containers, labeled with each family member’s name in their specific spot which can literally stop things piling up in the wrong places. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, labeling can be your best friend. So LABEL EVERYTHING. Make sure also that all items that are going back out the door the next morning, be back in there “homes” the night before. And when everything is labeled, it's a very simple task to do.

Designate a Homework Spot

As much as we all wish it weren’t so because of the mess and clutter, the kitchen or dining room table tend to be the places chosen for our kids to do homework. This can work well if you establish a “drop zone” (see above) near the table. That way when the kids come home from school they have a place to put their homework, papers to be signed, etc.

Family Papers Command Center

Find an easy to access location for a family papers command center. A desktop file is a great way to do this. Make a hanging file folder for every person in you home, that way you are “containing “the paper clutter and they have their own designated space. It also may be helpful depending on your child’s school schedule to create a Homework “to-do” and Homework “completed” hanging file folder. This is especially helpful for children who struggle with ADD / ADHD (more helpful tips for those with ADD / ADHD and school work later). The command center becomes the “home” for each person’s loose papers, and the additional files add a home for those other papers with actions required. Set aside a time each day (that’s right, I said daily) to file the daily papers, I guarantee you will never lose another important paper again!

Designate a “Homework” Time every weeknight

Whether you require your child to complete their homework after school, lessons, sports or dinner, designating a set time everyday when homework is to be completed enhances your child’s chances in succeeding. It may not be the same “time” every night due to scheduling, but every week night should have a designated time in which homework is completed.

Keep School Supplies well stocked in the Homework Spot.
I keep a small container in my kitchen (because our office is downstairs) of staples, tape, white-out, papers, pens, pencils, glues, etc. in a small box so if we are in need of one of these items while doing homework, we don’t have to go far to find it. This makes the supplies very assessable to the kids. Ideally you want them all in ONE place, if possible. Because my house has 4 levels, this is not possible for me. So we keep the bulk of the office/school supplies in our basement office By having supplies where homework is worked on, you know what school supplies you have. I take inventory of all my office supplies when I make a list for my big shopping trip to the grocery store. This could be an ideal time for you to do it too.

Weekly Family Caucus
Sunday night is “the night” at the Isom household that we hold a family caucus. It is simply a time set aside weekly when your family comes together to share their schedules and activities for upcoming week. Designating a specific night and time increases your chances of success with doing this weekly. We have a large calendar on the refrigerator door so everyone has access to it and are able to see everything easily. Go over each family member’s commitments for the week. I even have my son decide what days he wants to eat school lunch and what days he wants home lunch so I can prepare things the night before and it is not as much of a rush in the morning to get things done. By doing this you are teaching your children vital organization and communication skills they will use their entire lives. And it helps bring the family together and every person feel like their life and scheduled activates are important.

Still Frazzled? Give me call and I’d be more than happy to assist your family with calendars, paper organization, etc so your family will have a successful school year.

Surviving those long hours "traveling in the car" to your vacation destination.

2011-08-19T23:58:00.005-06:00

It seems more often nowadays that families are opting to drive to their destinations than flying. With the price of fuel high and airline tickets reflecting the cost, more and more of us are hitting to the roads and braving the drive with our kiddos instead of flying the friendly skies. We did it as kid's all the time. Things like walkmans were the lifesavers for our parents and somehow we all survived with minimal battlescars. I am convinced if the gadgets now were available when I was growing up in the 80's my parent's would have been all over them like we parents are now.

One of my Facebook friends, Amanda(see her blog here) recently posed this question on her page:

What are your favorite car trip snacks/foods/activities?

I LOVED so many of the suggestions Amanda's wise friends who are Mom's made I asked permission to post their ideas here! Enjoy! It's amazing what we can do when we help each out as Moms! These Moms ideas RULE!

Julianna Strunk Wolfley Licorice is my favorite snack! When we took our 18 hour drive to a family member's house, I found a lot of fun printables online for the girls. I also went to the dollar store and picked up a couple of fun things. We let them pick something new at each gas stop.... well worth the money!
Michelle Langston Hanna Alphabet game......go through the whole alphabet picking the letters out from signs and license plates while on the road.
Shauna Dalton Steed I Spy bags are fun to take on a car trip. It's a fun thing to have for trips.
Ashley Reese Graves Treat, trail mix!!Activities, looking for out of state licence plates to see if you can find all 50 states.
Heather Woolf Bennett We are planning a surprise Disneyland trip from Santa. Bret had a cute idea to bring little gifts along the way, that they can open at certain milestones/cities. Things like coloring books, Push Pops, a new DVD to share. They have DS and Leapster too, so we will probably get them each one new game.
Michelle Bradshaw I second Michelle's idea....but then we find things that start with the letter, find things with a specific color, etc...20 questions, start a story and then everyone has to add on a part. I could go on with my games but my kids mostly think I'm annoying...quiet things are watch movies, color, mazes, word searches, etc...can you tell we take the 14 hr trek to UT a lot?
Michelle Bradshaw Snacks....I will eat constantly the entire trip so I started cutting up fruit and putting it in a little cooler with drinks etc.. kind of sticky..but eating 30 grapes is better than the whole can of pringles. My kids like the fruit too.
Alycia Danielson Nelson My sister in law did the cheap gift thing - she went to the dollar store and got fun things that they could open every few hours and her kids LOVED it! The portable DVD player worked wonders for our kids and for snacks - I ended up getting them things they never get or don't get very often that they like. I noticed my kids drank more in the car than normal - so maybe a fun drink or water bottle?? I really like to bring a small cooler and fill it with fruits and veggies cuz they're so nice to have when you get sick of the "traditional travel junk food".
Melanie Parker Thompson Google Disney princess coloring pages. I did that and found hundreds of free coloring pages to print out and stick in a binder for my little girl to color. We also try and do snacks that aren't messy, like grapes, raisins, wheat thins (they don't crumble), etc.
Linda Grover I bring books, stuff for the kids to enjoy on the way back. Have a safe trip.
Alice Palmer I always bring lots and lots of treats and snacks on our really long road trips--it makes a big difference--we like to make our own trail mix with random stuff like swedish fish, pretzels, fruit loops, etc. I bring lots of little baggies to distribute the food. My kids like grapes and sliced apples too and I always like to bring a bag of tootsie pops or dum dums because they last a long time and keep them quiet. Good luck!
Kira M. Muddy buddies are my favorite car trip snack!
Carli Kraus Gaskill We've got lots of miles under our belts and our favorite roadtrip activities are music we sing along with and audio books. We've listened to The Chronicles of Narnia series, Charlotte's Web (read by EB himself) and, the ultimate hit, the Frog and Toad books (read by Lobel himself). I also love these Scratch and Sketch series of books if your kids are into art. Check them out on amazon.
Amie Duncan Ashby Nothing that will melt!! Have fun. :)
Julia Dodge Clark Red licorice and I give each kid a travel kit. It is mostly stocked with things from the dollar store which they haven't seen until the moment they get into the car. If the ruin it no biggie it was a dollar-at least they were occupied. I took my girls on a 20 hour road trip last summer-by myself. What saved me was the Dollar store stuff and Redbox. I picked a different "new" movie at each gas fill up. Good luck and I hope you have fun!
Rebecca Duncan Snacks-a good combo of sweet and salty-grapes, string cheese, carrots, apples, etc. I'm not all junk on trips-let alone eating it in general. I have found that we all have a better time, and the kids behave better as well when there's less junk involved. As crazy as it sounds, it's true.
Jackie Tomlinson Ward I second the audio books! We love to check them out from the library. We even get the short picture books for the littler kids, that way they don't have to stay focused for long, and they can turn the pages along with the CD. My kids also love dry erase boards. They each have a lap sized one, and it will entertain them for hours. As corny as this sounds, my littlest ones love puppets/finger puppets in the car. When the toddler gets cranky, we put on puppet shows. (backs of car seats make great backdrops!) Now that I have older ones, they will help entertain the little ones. The other thing my kids have liked on car trips is the lacing thing. You can get all sorts of shapes and animals with shoelaces to lace up. Also, like Carli, we have our favorite traveling CD's that we sing along to. Have fun. We've make the trek from SLC to Portland or vice versa at least once a year since I got married.
Linda Clark Isom Another fun thing I did with my son was buy a super cheap generic scrapbook. Every time we stopped (whether it was a gas station or pottie) we would glue one item on the scrapbook and write about what we did. We also wrote in it every day we we at our destination and pasted post cards of what we were doing. It so fun to look at at it an see what we were doing and what my son had to say. Good Luck!
Melanie Willardson Something cheap and very entertaining is a bag of colored pipe cleaners (that you would buy in the craft aisle). We've been on many long trips since our relatives live on the other side of the country. The pipe cleaners last a long time. You can make necklaces, bracelets, rings, crowns, etc. Then, take them apart and make animals, etc. etc.

Thanks Ladies, for the FABULOUS ideas ! Happy Tripping!

Tiny little tips around the house that speed up housework: A Laundry Hamper in every room

2011-07-21T14:31:00.001-06:00

This is the final tip for on little ways to speed up housework.

Click on the picture to buy directly from The Container Store!

Again, this might be a no brainier to some of you and an Ah, ha, to others. Having a laundry hamper in every bedroom is essential when it comes to keeping up with the clutter. Some find it neccessary for each family member to have a laundry hamper even if some are sharing rooms.

Following through with putting dirty clothes in the hamper with your kids, significant other, and yourself is another must. When it's time to do a load of laundry at my house, I have everyone bring in their hamper to laundry room, sort the dirty clothes into appropriate color piles and then return the hamper to their rooms. There should be no excuse to have clothes on the floor of rooms when there is a hamper to put the dirty clothes in and hangers to hang up clean clothes. Again, Enforcement is the hardest thing. If your children know you are going to follow through with a consequence if dirty laundry is not put in the proper place, then a laundry hamper in each room can be your best friend!

Happy Thursday!

Tiny little tips around the house that speed up housework: Cleaning supplies in every bathroom

2011-07-19T12:25:00.000-06:00

Happy Tuesday! Continuing with our bathroom theme, I suggest you keep a caddy or bucket of bathroom cleaners under each sink in all of your bathrooms.or wherever there is a place for them in each bathroom in your home. I have 3 bathrooms on different levels in my house and this saves me a lot of time so I don't have to drag around cleaners to every bathroom on each level. It's also nice to have a toilet brush in each bathroom too. Toilet brush holders have also come a long way and you easy find affordable brush holders in stainless steal and every color you can imagine.

The cleaners come in handy for little messes in-between your weekly deep cleaning of bathrooms. They are also great to have around if you are a mother of young children that need to be watched while in the bathtub. Mom's can use this time to clean the toilet, sink, counter tops & mirrors while keeping an eye on your little ones.

Yes there is extra cost to compile these products for each bathroom initially, however, it all evens out over time and saves you so much time and energy in the long run.

Some of the other extra items I keep in every bathroom are:

Extra bar and liquid soap
Tissue Paper
Shampoo
And the no-brainier essential, Toilet Paper

We will wrap up our tiny tips in the next post. Coming up in the next few days.........Remodeling or choosing new cabinets for your new house? Before you choose how they look, it's essential to make sure they also function too. I'll have some great tips on questions to ask yourself and your cabinet contractor before you have them installed.

Have a fantastic rest of the day!

Tiny little tips around the house that speed up housework: Disinfecting Wipes in Every Bathroom

2011-07-16T08:18:00.006-06:00

Although this may not be the "Eco-Friendly" way to go, it sure saves a lot of headaches for Moms. For years people have asked my how I keep my bathrooms always smelling fresh and clean, the secret is simple; I wipe down the counters, toilet seat, wipe out the sink, polish chrome fixtures and anything else that may need a quick freshening up with disinfecting wipes. If being environmentally friendly is important to you, a clean cloth and some Eco-friendly spray cleaner under each sink in your bathrooms will do just fine as well.

I try to do this once a day in the morning or the evening and it's a quick and easy thing to do when company shows up unexpectedly. This of course does NOT replace weekly deep cleaning but the fresh smell can cover a multitude of sins! Happy Organizing. Enjoy the weekend!

Organizer Hint: Before your guests come over, empty the waste baskets in your bathrooms. Another easy way to make your bathrooms sparkle when people use them!

Tiny little tips around the house that speed up housework: Puting extra garbage bags in the bottom of your wastebaskets.

2011-07-15T14:26:00.002-06:00

It's amazing sometimes how busy things get! My apologies for the hiatus in posting! I have a few more tiny tips I think you'll love so here goes.....

Adding extra bags to the bottom of your wastebasket is a great way to save time and keep things sanitary. You simply just put 5 to 10 extra bags in the wastebasket underneath the current bag you are using for garbage. You'll be amazed how much time this saves and how much they come in handy.

You never know when those unexpected messes happen in the bathrooms, family room, or heaven forbid, someones bedroom! Extra bags make a big difference!

Tiny little tips around the house that speed up housework: A wastebasket in every room

2011-07-06T11:25:00.000-06:00

Click on the picture below to purchase directly from The Container Store!

For some of you this may be a "No duh." But for the rest of you all, I promise this will make a HUGE difference in the cleanliness of your home. It's so worth it!

I have a waste basket in every room in my house with the exception of the Front Room. That room is rarely used unlike the rest of the rooms in my house. This means the rest of the rooms have a place for a the garbage that accumulates in each space.

Wastebasket's have come a long way (as you can see with the photo above) in the past few years. You literally can find one to fit in virtually any decor.

So get to it and have some fun! You'll find that this little tip makes a big difference when you implement it into your home. Happy Wednesday!

Tiny Little Tips that speed up the Housework: Labeling your computer and other electronic wires.

2011-07-01T17:43:00.002-06:00

This is a HUGE timesaver when you are trying to isolate a problem with one of the cords connected to the back of your computer, television, gaming system, etc.

I used my P-Touch Labeler to make my labels but the less expensive sticker labels and your handwriting will do. Even a piece of cream colored masking tape would do the trick.

This has saved me many a time when I need to unplug just one thing in the spaghetti bowl of wires attached to the back my electronics.

Yes it takes about a ½ hour to identify and label all the cords, but it is well worth it!

One thing to note: I label the chords two places. I label right where the cord goes into the back of the computer or electronic and I add a label at the other end of the cord by the plug. That way, no matter what needs to be temporarily removed on either end of the cord, you’ll know what it is!

Have a fantastic holiday weekend and as always, happy organizing!

Tiny little tips around the house that speed up housework: Avoid Crisscross Organizing

2011-06-29T14:34:00.005-06:00

This tip is especially for all you busy Mom’s out there. Crisscross organizing is a term I use to explain what happens to Mom’s when they scatter their efforts over multiple rooms in their home which results in not one room completely clean and organized. Compartmentalizing the clutter in your home can be daunting, hence the reason the crisscrossing occurs in the first place.

Instead, for noticeable and impressive results, work to clear the clutter ONE room at a time, even perhaps one area in the room at a time. If you find things in the room you are working on that belong elsewhere, stick them in a bin or laundry basket so when the whole room is finished, you can easily distribute those items to their appropriate homes. This eliminates your urge to organize other things in other rooms in your home because you are waiting to distribute the items that belong in the other rooms or areas of your house until you are entirely finished in one area. That was a mouthful to say!

You’ll be amazed how much quicker the clean-up goes if you follow this tip!

Tiny Little Tips that speed up the Housework: Streamlining the Silverware in the Dishwasher

2011-06-28T15:32:00.001-06:00

I know what you're thinking, silverware on an organizing blog? There are drawer inserts for those! They don't get disorganized! You're absolutely right, they don't get unorganized in the drawer. But they do get thrown into the dishwasher every which way you can imagine.

One day while I was loading my sister in law's dishwasher after a family party, I asked her if she had a certain way she loaded the dishwasher (some of us do, some of us don't). She said the only thing she was particular about was how she loaded the silverware basket.

Here's how she does it: Each slot in the dishwasher basket that holds silverware and other kitchen utensils is designated for one particular utensil. Meaning, the forks all go in one slot together, same thing with the knives, spoons, etc. That way when she empties the silverware basket from the dishwasher, it takes a matter of seconds rather than minutes to put the silverware away because they are already grouped together and don't need to be sorted when put away.

Since then, I too have been taking the time to separate the utensils into "like" items when I load the dishwasher. Sure it may only save a few minutes, but a few minutes here and there can add up to more like hours at the end of the day. Try it, you'll never go back to the old way of unloading your utensils from the dishwasher!

Next up tomorrow; do you criss cross organize? I bet you do!

Favorite Organizing Products 2.0: Snap-Up Office Storage Boxes

2011-06-27T17:34:00.000-06:00

These Snap-Up Boxes are one of the smartest storage options around.

Click on the picture below to buy directly from The Container Store!

(From the Container Store) "These clever boxes fold flat when not in use, then assemble in seconds to provide roomy, protective storage. These File Boxes and Record Storage Boxes are designed with the home office in mind. The Check File Box is perfectly sized for personal checks and legal-size envelopes. The Record Storage Box has roomy dimensions to accommodate both letter and legal size documents."

I use these to store all kinds of lightweight things. Because you can label each box, your closets and open storage shelves become streamlined and clean and all items are easy to access. The items are contained in the box where they are easily assessable to everyone.

This is it! The last of our Favorite Organizing Products 2.0. Next up, simple easy time saving tips for around the house! Happy Organizing!

Favorite Organizing Products 2.0: Canvas Bins

2011-06-23T12:14:00.002-06:00

These canvas bins are great to "contain" items that clutter shelves. I use them for all kinds of things!

Click on the picture to buy directly from The Container Store!

I use them for folded laundry. Each member of the family has their named tagged to a bin and they are required to put away the clean laundry in the bin.
I use them to contain odd sized items in the laundry room.
I use them for small toys .
I use them for extra office supplies.

What I love is the fact it has a little window where you can clearly identify with a label what you are using the bin for, which is KEY to keeping things organized in your home. Enjoy!

Favorite Organizing Products 2.0: 2-Drawer Stackable Organizer

2011-06-21T07:17:00.000-06:00

This is another product I absolutely LOVE! It's perfect for the medicine / linen closet. Best part of it all is it's on sale at The Container Store right now for $6.99 each.

Click the picture to buy directly from The Container Store!

As I mentioned I use these in my medicine cabinet to store medicine and other related items. I really like them because I can see what I have which helps me avoid duplicate purchases. These also would be great in a pantry where some of those hard-to-store items can be contained to one place.

You're going to love these! They are great!

Love the show Hoarders? Then you will LOVE the new A&E show Dirty Money.

2011-06-16T17:23:00.000-06:00

New show featuring Matt Paxton (from Hoarders) called "Dirty Money" on Saturday, June 18th @ 1pm EST (3pm MST) on the A and E Channel.

I have cut and pasted this from the following site that gives you more info: 5 Decisions Away

"Matt Paxton and his team of loveable misfits at Clutter Cleaner are the kind of guys who will tackle any clean up, no matter how extreme. Whether the township sees your 4-acre car collection as more junkyard than museum, a storm has ripped the roof off your house and soaked everything inside, or you inherit 80 years of your parent’s belongings–Matt will clean it all up. And he’ll do it all for free. But there’s a catch. He only gets paid if he finds enough valuable goods to sell for cash. Follow Matt and the guys on an unbelievable mission that ends not only with the reveal of a cleaned up space, but a tally of how much Matt was able to make on his finds and whether or not his gamble paid off."

This is going to be a GREAT show. Set your DVR's to watch it Saturday June 18th on A and E.

Favorite Organizing Products 2.0: Fellows Shredder

2011-06-16T14:14:00.000-06:00

I have had a lot of different shredders in my day. Too many to be honest. A few years back I went on a crusade of sorts to find the BEST shredder for the money. The Fellows Shredder shown below is the best one on the market!

Click on the picture to buy!

It has a great motor and it takes a lot for this machine to overheat. I have put 12 pages in this thing and it barely labors to shred them.

Best part is that Office Max has them on sale right now so NOW is the time to buy! Happy Thursday!

Favorite Organizing Products 2.0: NEAT Receipts

2011-06-14T13:26:00.001-06:00

I copied and pasted these descriptions form the Neat Receipts website. These digital scanners are super user friendly and make things simple and easy to scan and put in the appropriate file! These are amazing!

Click on the picture to order!!!!

NeatReceipts is a mobile scanner and digital filing system that helps you manage all of your paperwork on the computer. Includes our NeatWorks software that identifies and extracts the important information from receipts, business cards and documents and automatically organizes it for you. All scanned documents can be searched by keyword so you can find exactly what you need.
The patented NeatWorks software gives you an easy-to-use, intuitive application to manage all of your business and personal paperwork.

Key Features:

Scan in receipts to:
• Save digital copies of receipts and records of vendors, dates, and totals
• Create expense reports and manage business and personal expenses
• Keep track of expenses for tax time (records accepted by the IRS)
• Export data to PDF, Excel®, Quicken®, QuickBooks®, TurboTax®

Scan in business cards to:
• Keep digital images of cards and contact information
• Capture name, address, company title, etc.
• Create your own searchable contact database
• Export data to Outlook and more

Scan in documents to:
• Create searchable PDF files
• Edit text using copy/paste
• Organize and store in your digital filing system

New in Version 4.0:
• The Quick Scan Center lets you scan documents from a system tray application
• The Inbox organizes all of your scanned items and lets you verify and then file the information
• The application interface has been redesigned to be faster and easier to navigate

It works where you work.
At less than one pound, NeatReceipts is perfect for the road, home, or office.

Click on the picture to order!!!!

NeatDesk is a scanner and digital filing system that intelligently organizes and secures all your important information on the PC.

Transform your workspace into a space that works.
At work or at home, NeatDesk declutters your workspace, providing a central “inbox” for all your papers—ready to scan when you are.

All-in-one scanning.
The removable input tray can scan both sides of up to 10 receipts, 10 business cards, and 10 documents at a time—or even a single, 50-page document.

Key Features:

Scan in receipts to:
• Save digital copies of receipts and records of vendors, dates, and totals
• Create expense reports and manage business and personal expenses
• Keep track of expenses for tax time (records accepted by the IRS)
• Export data to Excel®, Quicken®, QuickBooks®, TurboTax®

Scan in business cards to:
• Keep digital images of cards and contact information
• Capture name, address company, title, etc.
• Create your own searchable contact database
• Export data to Outlook and more

Scan in documents to:
• Create searchable PDF files
• Edit text using copy/paste
• Organize and store in your digital filing cabinet

Nearly all of your paper can be scanned into this software. The rare exceptions are things you need the original copy of life insurance declaration pages, titles, etc. If you are ready to go paperless, this is your first step toward that goal!

Favorite Organizing Products 2.0: Poly Envelopes

2011-06-13T15:21:00.002-06:00

Have you seen these in stores and wondered what you would use them for? I have a bunch of things I use them for and I love them!

Click the picture to buy directly from Office Max!

Most office supply stores carry these and a few discount retailers. I love that I can see through them and that they are slip and can be carried in a purse or easy to take with you. Here are some of the things I use them for:

Stamps
Return Address Labels
Stickers
Business Cards
Bank Deposits
Envelopes to be Mailed
School Reward Tokens

I take these with me in the car when I need to make a bank deposit or need to mail envelops too. That way everything stays together and you can keep both hands on the wheel.

I know these little envelopes are super simple. But that is another reason why I love them! Happy Organizing Shopping!

Favorite Organizing Products 2.0: Velcro Fasteners

2011-06-10T10:10:00.002-06:00

I have had clients laugh at me with my love affair with these groovy things. I can't help it! They're awesome!

Got a box full of chords that are all tangled together? These straps are your solution! I use them all over the house to roll up cords that would be a mess otherwise.

These straps come perforated on rolls in various lengths and colors. Simply tear them off the roll as you need them. Besides working great, a wide variety of available colors allow for easy identification of the most complex wiring scheme when you create a simple color legend. They're magic if you ask me!

My iron and hand mixer are so much easier to store with these straps! I've seen these straps at Wal-mart, Home Depot, Office Max, Lowes & Crafts Stores. Enjoy your Friday!

Favorite Organizing Products 2.0

2011-06-09T08:47:00.007-06:00

While improving my blog I realized that the last time I did my "Favorite Organizing Products" posts was way back in '09. Since then I have found so many new organizing products I love so it's time to share more of the jewels with you all. Here we go!

The Desktop File (cue applause)
Click on the picture to order directly from The Container Store.

This little gem will keep you sane! I do a lot of what I call "Family Command Center" organizing jobs. The kitchen counter seems to be the catch all for every one's paper. My house is no different. Frustrated with the problem at my house a few years ago, I sought out a way to combat the paper clutter in my kitchen. I have since implemented it in many homes with fantastic results and super happy Mom's.

There are 4 levels to my house. My office is on another level than my kitchen and my kitchen is super small for the scale of the house. The entry from my garage is also in the kitchen. So when we come home, everything is dropped on the kitchen counter. Receipts, School Papers, Mail, etc.

I would try to gather it all up and take it down to the office to be filed but because my office is on the lower level more often than not the papers would pile up for several days.

My solution was this desktop file. There are many styles to chose from this is from The Container Store but you can also find them at office supply store and places like Target and Wal-mart. The Container Store has by far the best selection. I carry this file down to my basement and file what needs to be filed and I also filter through the rest of the folders and discard anything that is no longer needed.

Here is a sample of some of my hanging file folder tabs:

To do/ To Call
To Read
To Shred
To File
Phone Lists / Numbers
Coupons
Menus
Magazines
Store Ads
Receipts
File for every person in the Family
Business (if you run a home-based business, this is a MUST)
Temporary (School lunch menus, Concert Tickets, etc)
Someday Maybe (A wish list of things you want and need a place to put the information)

This list is just a guide to follow and hopefully gets your brain going thinking about different subjects files you would put in your desktop file.

As you can see the desktop is not large on purpose. When it gets overstuffed which is usually once a week, it's time to empty things out.

The convenient thing about this is you literally pick up the box and carry it where you need it. In my case I have a archival file in the office for things like receipts, health insurance statements, insurance, etc.

Make the desktop file something you enjoy looking at.

I banned the ugly olive green hanging file folders years ago in favor of more colorful attractive files. You can find them in every color you can imagine and if your local office supply store does not have the particular color you want, you can easily get in online and have it shipped right to your door.

This is one of my favorites and I guarantee if you implement it in your home, you'll love it too!

Organizer Tip: If you can find a way to organize things where they are dropped or dumped, it will be much more likely that the system you create will stay in place.

Step 4: Kids & Chores. Kids & Chores: Using a timer during chore time. The best 5 dollars you’ll ever spend!

2011-06-07T12:32:00.004-06:00

There are fancier timers ones made exclusively for kids with ADHD and then there are the simple 5 dollar timers you buy at a supermarket. If you have a child or you yourself suffer greatly from ADD/ADHD it is a worthy investment. For the rest of us, the basic timer will do.

First off, don’t sabotage yourself. Don’t set the timer for 20 minutes and tell your child you want their room spic and span at the end of the 20 minutes. If the room seems like a gigantic mess for you as an adult, you can only imagine what it looks like to your child.

This means that you, yes you the parent will have to take part in following throw with the chores.

Start small: Set the timer for 5 minutes and tell your child to only pick up their dirty clothes or perhaps just their books. Breaking things down into “like” items does wonders for your child’s brain.

Once they have cleaned up all the books, set the timer again to cleanup all the Cars, Barbie’s, Trains, Lego's, etc., always by category, not all at once. Set the timer in small segments and continue to have them work on cleaning in categories of "like" items.

You will find they enjoy being timed and "beating the clock".

Before you know it, they will have things cleaned up in less than half the time it would have taken them otherwise. Breaking it up into small projects with "like" items also helps the child understand how to break down the mess in their minds so it's easier to clean.

Why is this technique so effective? Because timers and buzzers turn gray areas into black and white — no ambiguity allowed. A buzzer turns now into 1, 5, or 10 minutes — not when the next commercial break occurs. And as you’ve probably learned from your own kids, just give a child some ambiguity or a shade of gray, and you’re a sitting duck for an argument or a problem!

Depending on the amount of children you have, you may want to present each child with their own timer. The buzzer is theirs to use to help them to move faster in terms of getting out of bed on time, bathing, brushing teeth, completing homework, and anything else that needs some putting the pedal to the metal. Show them the Mom or Dad timer also and explain that you’ll be simultaneously setting yours so that they won’t be able to stop their timers in order to give themselves more leeway. In discussing this, don’t worry that you’re putting a sneaky idea in their heads — most kids figure it out the first day on the timer system.

Review the program. Summarize what will be timed and what will not, as well as stating the consequences attached to not beating the buzzer. A suggested consequence would be the loss of television privileges in the evening if the kid didn’t beat the homework buzzer earlier in the day or no playing with friends the next day if the child dawdled too much and didn’t come to the dinner table in a timely manner. Be creative and think outside of the box — use what works with the individual child.

Falling off the Wagon

Admit it we’re all human, myself included. So yes, if you fall off the wagon of doing chores for a few weeks it just means you’re normal and life has been busy. Many of my clients faithfully use the timer system for the first month or two and are awed at the new, obedient children who are now residing in their homes. Then the parents get lazy for a few days... The timer becomes misplaced in a drawer, and trust me, the kids notice that it’s no longer being used. If they see that you are not on top of timing the problem areas in the day — watch out! Some children will continue to respect your priorities, while others will begin to slack off. If you see this process occurring in your house, it’s time to rifle through the kitchen drawers, find the buzzers, and restore the timer system. There may be a few grumps and groans from your children, but it will work again and you’ll be a happier, less frustrated parent.

Well, that's it for the chores for now. Good luck and let me know what system works best for you.

Step 3: Chore Charts

2011-05-25T14:57:00.006-06:00

We’ve all seen cutsie chore charts like this one. The one’s that have perfect penmanship and scream Martha, or those that look like they would be scrapbook worthy. When in reality, any written down chore chart that is easy for kid’s to follow will do.

You know your children best. Choose the chores you feel he or she can do and check off the days they complete the chores. If you are just starting out assigning chores, start small. Overwhelming a child with a list of chores when they previously thought being cute and making messes was there only function in life, can be daunting. The goal is to integrate helping around the house and becoming independent with their daily activities.

Here are some links to some chore list that can get you down the right track:

http://www.chorecharts.com
http://www.chorecharts.net
http://www.successfulfamilychores.com/Chore_Charts
http://www.handipoints.com/printable-chart/chore-chart.html
http://www.freeprintablebehaviorcharts.com/chorecharts4-10.htm
http://www.momswhothink.com/printables/printable-chore-charts.html
http://familyfun.go.com/printables/chore-chart-702875/

Implementing chores does not mean you don’t want your kids to have fun. You want to balance play with completion of chores and daily tasks. Once the system is in place, do not look forward to the inevitable hassles that go with threatening, barking orders, or generally trying to do anything to short of throwing your own fit to motivate your kids to get them to do their work on time. They are in fact kids so they will need guidance through their chores.

To put it simply, it comes down to the simple fact that what “now” means to a kid is often different from what “now” means to their folks. Children want chores to be fit in between video games, TV shows or playtime outdoors. Mom and Dad, however, usually prefer work to be completed before play begins, and that’s where the friction starts.

I suggest you use an action or a consequence rather than a lot of verbal warning that are never going to be followed through with, and you’ll begin to see your child’s behavior change for the better and in turn your home a happier place to be. They may not want to clean up the bedroom, but they will if there’s an effective consequence lurking around the corner. That's where following through with the consequence is KEY for you as a parent.

Below I have a copy of a chore list I have made for clients. I laminate it once the jobs are defined. Hole punch it and stick it on a hook on the back of the door in the room it is intended for. I then attach a dry erase marker to the list with velcro so the children and/or the parent can check of the tasks as they go. Double Click on the picture to get a closer look.

Paying money to your kids to do Chores: The great debate

Chores are part of being a family, and everyone does chores. This is our philosophy at our house and it works for us. I am in no way suggesting it should be yours also or is the only way to do things. We believe there are some things children should be required to do just because they are a member of the family and household. We do have extra chores for our son to do if he would like to earn money, but they are above and beyond the normal chores he is required to do as a family member (that means he is required to make his bed, clean his room, put his laundry away, everyday as a member of the family). He gets paid between 50 cents to a $1.00 if he wipes down all the baseboards in the house. Or if he wipes down the kitchen chairs or washes all the windows he can reach, you get the idea.

Teaching your children to do these maintenance deep cleaning chores will benefit you greatly. We have already reaped of these benefits.

At our house we don’t believe in allowance. However our son is eight and this may change as he gets older. I imagine that we will require him to do the work we have asked him to before we hand him money.

Avoid becoming a Dictator

We’ve all seen them and been inside one; the house that has nothing out of place….ever. Oft times the children in the home are not allowed to creatively express themselves because the mother or parent is more concerned that the home be spotless. Creativity is where chaos lives. You can let your children be creative and still have an orderly home. It’s not the chaos that causes the trouble; it’s what to do with it afterwards. If you have a “home” for all the items when the activity is over, then the chaos is contained. Try to strike a balance in-between. Everyone will be happier because of it.

Another thing to think about. If you fall into to this dictator profile, consider this; Your children will grow up and be just like you or more often are super messy as adults and eventually call me for help. Those who are messy adults antiquate things being clean as frigid, uncreative, and stuffy (they are often very creative by nature). It takes lots of convincing to help them understand that the don't have to be this way to be organized. Their homes are not as organized as others, but comfortable for them and that is what is most important!

As always you are welcome to make comments and ask questions! I am happy to answer any of your questions on the subject!

PARDON OUR DUST

2011-05-04T20:01:00.002-06:00

Hey friends, I know it has been a while. I've been super busy organizing clients and having some amazing experiences along the way (more on that later). In the meantime my blog has been put on the back burner. My apologies!

For now, take a look around at the changes and tell me what you think. Check back often, you'll not want to miss what is coming up! Cheers!

Step 2: How to get your kid's to do chores.

2011-01-12T14:52:00.004-07:00

2. Make an age appropriate list for each child.

I am here to tell you we severely underestimate our children! Even a three year old is capable of a chore list and learning to pick up. So take the time to identify the everyday chores vs. the chores that are extra and the children would be able to either earn an extra privilege or small amount of money for completing.

Here is an age appropriate list for each child's age group:

Ages 2 and 3

Many toddlers are eager to help with chores, and while their “helping” may not always be appreciated, keeping their excitement and the habit of helping out alive, should be. Sticker charts are a great way to keep toddlers excited about helping. Their chores may have to be completed with you helping every step of the way, but you are laying the groundwork for children that find chores and helping a way of life.

Some chores 2-3 year olds can do…

Help make the bed.
Pick up toys and books.
Take laundry to the laundry room.
Help feed pets.
Help wipe up messes.
Dust with socks on their hands.
Mop in areas with help.

Ages 4 and 5

Preschoolers still find helping to be an exciting venture and usually are thrilled when time is taken to teach them new chores. They are ready to do some chores without constant supervision. Rewards at this age are very motivating. A sticker chart that allows you to build up to bigger rewards can be appropriate. For some preschoolers, tying chores to an allowance is a great option and fosters independence in choosing a reward.

Some chores preschoolers can do in addition to the ones above…

Clear and set the table.
Dust
Help out in cooking and preparing food.
Carrying and putting away groceries.

Ages 6-8

These school age kids may or may not still have their childlike enthusiasm for completing chores. What they do have, however, is an overwhelming desire to be independent. Parents and caregivers can guide children to become independent in their chores, using chore charts to keep track of their responsibilities both completed and pending.

Some chores that they are capable of in addition to the ones above…

Take care of pets.
Vacuum and mop.
Take out trash.
Fold and put away laundry.

Ages 9-12

Children in this preteen age are capable of increasing responsibility where chores are concerned. Keep in mind that many children this age rely on continuity. Find a system that works for your family and do not change it without the input and support of the people it directly affects. Make sure that you factor in rewards and consequences and address those issues with your children. Let them know the consequences of not completing chores, as well as the rewards for fulfilling their responsibilities.

Some Chores preteens are capable of in addition to the ones above…

Help wash the car.
Learn to wash dishes.
Help prepare simple meals.
Clean the bathroom.
Rake leaves.

Operate the washer and dryer.

Ages 13-17

Teenagers are developmentally ready to handle almost any chore in the home. At the same time a teenager’s schedule can sometimes become quite hectic, leaving little time for chores. Make sure that the workload of your teenagers is manageable.

Some chores teenagers are capable of in addition to the ones above…

Replace light bulbs and vacuum cleaner bags.
All parts of the laundry.
Wash windows.
Clean out refrigerator and other kitchen appliances.
Prepare meals.
Prepare grocery lists.

Remember that children mature at their own pace and not all kids will be capable of advanced chores at the same age, just as some children may be ready for more difficult chores at a younger age. The most important guidelines are supervision and evaluation of your child’s needs and abilities. That's right, you MUST supervise as they learn or they will not be inclined to do the work. Step 3 is next.

The highly anticiapted: "How to get your kids to do Chores" series. Step One: Mom loses the excuses.

2011-01-05T00:38:00.014-07:00

Excuse 1: "They don't do the chores the way I like it done."

Teaching children how to work is not an easy process. It takes time,energy, and a abundance of patience on the parent's behalf. That being said, the benefits far outweigh the time you spend teaching them these skills.
Discard the perfectionist attitude, roll up your sleeves and teach your child how you expect things to be cleaned up.
One time instructions won't do it: The average habit is formed in twenty-one days. As adults we rarely catch on to a new job or concept with just one explanation. Give your child a bit of a learning period before expecting perfection and even then, their "age appropriate perfection" may not be the same as yours and that is okay. More importantly you are teaching them to work which in time will make your job as a parent much easier.

Excuse 2:"I have to scream and yell to get them to do their chores and I get tired of fighting with them."

Have a family meeting or caucus and set down rules and guidelines. Involve your kids in the process.
Let them decide what the consequences are if they do not do their chores (you will be surprised what they will come up with). Always, always follow through with the consequences or your chore system will never work. The consequences need to be specific and involve everyday things they enjoy doing in their spare time.
Have a heart to heart and tell them how it makes you as a parent(s) feel when you live in a home full of clutter and chaos. You can bet none of them will say they like the house being a mess either. And if they do, they don't actually mean it (teenagers included). Explain to them the positive benefits of a clean and orderly home.If everyone helps a little there will be more time to do fun things. Remember organizing is freeing not restrictive!
Consistency is KEY and it is your job as the parent to keep up your end of the process. Sure, you will have off days, but as long as you are consistent more days out of the week then not, they will learn to make it a priority and know what is expected of them.

Excuse 3: "We don't have the time to do chores"

If you are so busy you cannot require your kids to do 10 to 20 minutes of chores a day you need to seriously re-evaluate the activities that are taking up your child's day. It's not healthy for them to be away from home all the time everyday.

Excuse 4: " I can't get my act together so why should I expect my children to get it together?"

" Don't make excuses and Don't talk about it. Do it." -Benjamin Franklin

If you wait until you think you have it together you will waste all the tomorrows with this excuse. You will not only be teaching your children a negative habit, you and they will continue to spiral down even further by them watching you not deal with it. And you can be sure a chunk of my clients are those who grew up in chaos and were never taught how to manage and run a home.
START SMALL! Pick a corner of a room or just one kitchen cabinet and work on keeping that clean and organized. Do the same with your kids. Start with a very achievable goal like having them consistently putting their dirty clothes in the hamper. Or putting folding clothes away in there drawers and closets, and then move on to something else.
Remember! Don't abandon what is working; just add to it by organizing more things bit by bit.
If you feel stuck, the investment in hiring a professional organizer will likely save you thousands of dollars and restore or bring sanity to your home. You can also check out a book at the library or have a trusted friend or family member help you in the process. There is even ehow-to videos on the Internet from mopping the floor to scrubbing the bathtub.

Remember consistency is KING! The time you spent TEACHING your children how to not just work but to work well with expectations will benefit everyone in the long run and your home will be a more peaceful and happy place.

Comments, suggestions? Yes please! Share your tried and true tips with our subscribers!

2010-09-20T09:10:00.006-06:00

Locally we have an out-of- control fire in Salt Lake County. Because of this I am temporarily posting important information about gathering your vital documents BEFORE you are in an emergancy.

1. Do create a list of all your master accounts:

• Savings Account

• Checking Account

• Credit Cards

• Investments

• Insurance Records

2. Do make 3 copies each of the following Documents:

• Legal

• Certificates

• Insurance

• Medical

• Financial

• Personal

3. Once you have completed the 3 copies, Do store the copies in three different places:

• In your home and /or home office. (In a clearly marked folder, or electronically on a thumb drive or portable memory storage device).

• With your attorney, a close friend, or a family member who doesn't live with you.

• In a home Fire-proof safe that can withstand temperatures up to 1,700 degrees

• In your financial institutions Safe-deposit box.

4. Do make a list and inventory of all contents of your Safe-deposit box and / or Fire-Proof Safe:

• Make a list of all irreplaceable items (jewelry, photo negatives, heirlooms, etc.)

• All critical documents (for example: marriage license, birth certificates, stocks and bonds) that you've stored under lock and key.

• Also photocopy the documents for your household files.

5. Do make a photocopy of all the contents in your wallet:

• Once a year, make a copy of all the credit and ID cards you carry around.

• Remember to include; medical insurance, voter registration and health club membership cards.

6. Do take an inventory of all your belongings in your home.

• Make an inventory of your belongings, taking photographs of each room, and note the model and serial numbers of the items.

• Save receipts or canceled checks to prove the value and ownership of the items in your inventory. (Remember to include seasonal items stored in the attic, basement, or garage, such as holiday decorations, tools, and sporting equipment.)

7. Don’t keep invalid or outdated documents.

• Shred or destroy outdated insurance, financial or personal information. Keeping it only adds confusion in an already stressful situation.

8. Don’t assume you know what the contents of your insurance policies include unless you have carefully read them.

• When you buy a home or car, you must purchase insurance. Always make sure you understand exactly what you are insured for.

• Make sure you have a replacement insurance policy that covers the real cost of replacing your home, rather than an "actual cash value," which covers your belongings after depreciation

• If you do have replacement insurance coverage, insurers have been narrowing the definition of "replacement," leaving some homeowners with inadequate coverage.

Carefully read your insurance policy and discuss any questions / concerns with your insurance agent.

• In addition to proper replacement coverage, verify whether you need extra coverage for fires, earthquakes, or other special-situation losses, and confirm that your policy covers damage from flooding, wind, and hail. Also consider a policy that covers your living expenses while your home is being rebuilt.

• Be sure to contact your insurance agent to update your policy if you do renovations or improvements on your home.

9. Don’t assume if your spouse handles all the financial and / or insurance documents; that everything is in order.

• Go over your financial information together at least quarterly or ideally monthly.

• Often times when an emergency does occur, family members are not together or may be separated during the disaster evacuation.

• An emergency situation is not the time to be gathering information.

10. Don’t be too trusting of individuals with your personal

Information during an Emergency:

• Unfortunately some people use an emergency to their advantage and prey upon those who are too trusting.

• Guard your identity and personal information during an emergency just like you would at any other time.

• Recent disasters in this country have prompted thieves to steal other’s identity when they are most vulnerable. Don’t let yourself be a victim.

Above all be prepared. A flood, earthquake, or other disasters may seem highly unlikely, don’t become complacent, A lack of preparation will only add to the stress of the situation and will cost you large amounts of money if your preparations are incomplete during an Emergency

BIG SAVINGS AT TARGET THIS WEEK!!

2010-08-03T09:27:00.001-06:00

Heads up folks, Just want to let you know of the SUPER SALE at Target this week. 18 gallon rubbermaid totes which are regularly $8.99 are on sale for $5.44. That's a $3.55 savings per container!!! These bins are THE BEST quality on the market in my opinion. Don't miss out, they sell out fast!

To see what else is on sale at Target this week click here!

In the news!

2010-04-16T00:27:00.002-06:00

Clearing Space By Design was part of an article in the latest Utah Business Magazine! Take a look:

Check out the link to the article by clicking here. Having trouble reading the article? I have cut and pasted it below:

Paper Chase

Organizing Your Office Keeps You Out of the Rat Race

by Carolyn Campbell

27 April 2010—

Randall Pinson needed to organize his office. As the owner of Rocket Auctions, a surplus liquidation business, and Stellar Mindset, an e-commerce consulting company, Pinson wears many hats. “There were chaotic piles around my desk,” he says. “When I get stuff, I have a hard time prioritizing it, assuming I will get around to it. My piles reached a point where once a month I would have to shred, file or take action. This became a whole day process.”

Pinson’s cluttered desk took a mental toll as well. “If you are surrounded by clutter and don’t have a clean workplace, your brain has to work harder to put a project together.” While Pinson’s businesses are mainly online, he felt embarrassed if someone walked into his office unexpectedly. “I knew it wasn’t normal for someone to come into my office and cringe,” he says.

Pinson sought the expertise of Linda Isom, owner of Clearing Space by Design, a professional organizing business. She says office disorganization is common, especially in small businesses where owners take on multiple tasks.

“Disorganization can undermine a company’s credibility,” Isom says, adding that quick information retrieval is critically tied to business success. “When a client requests something, you need to find it right away. The organized business saves time, money and productivity. You can provide excellent customer service because what you need is right in front of you or you know where to get it.” Isom and other Utah organizers offer the following suggestions to get your office back in shape.

1. Consider a professional organizer.

Only 10 percent of people are “born organized—the rest have to learn,” says Isom. With multiple demands, a business owner becomes reactive instead of proactive. “They get a little defensive and allow the needs of the business and the demands of the employees to establish their workday. If your business has been organizationally challenged for a while, it helps to hire a professional organizer to offer a different perspective and tailor-made solutions for its specific challenges.”

2. Establish what stays.

“Start with items you know you have to keep, those ‘for sure’ things, such as your computer, your phone book, your paper. Then add items that you use regularly—daily, weekly, even monthly. Consider not keeping items that you might use or that you once used,” says Laura Lawrence, owner and CEO of Harmony Within. Marcia Warner, CEO of A Better Way Organizing Solutions, adds, “Keep things in your immediate space that you are currently dealing with and working on at this moment. If you keep articles and books for someday down the road, you will become inundated, overwhelmed and never get around to looking at them.”

3. Ask insightful questions.

Ask yourself, “Do I use it or will I use it again? Do I need it? Do I love it? Do I have space for it? How easy is this to replace should I need it again? Is it of good quality?” Answering these questions can give you insight to what you need to keep, says Laurie Reeve, professional organizer with Simply in Order.

When something arrives at your desk, ask, “Will I ever need this again?” suggests Lawrence. “Then ask, ‘If I do need this information again, is there another place where I could get it—a co-worker, the Internet, a company database. If I absolutely need to keep it, where is the best place to put it where I can find it?’”

3. Keep necessary IRS records.

Keep IRS records until after the statute of limitations for a particular year has expired, advises Isom. “You don’t want to be caught empty-handed if the IRS contacts you,” she says.

5. Choose a method to keep contacts.

Put contacts in an electronic contact management system, rather than try to keep business cards, says Warner. When deciding which contact information you should keep, Warner says keep information that will either build your business or add to your personal life. “Keep those who uplift you, encourage you or send you referrals, rather than those who degrade you. Maybe a client you are always trying to make happy is not the right client for you.”

6. Pare down the historical or sentimental items in your office.

"Choose one or two things that mean a lot to you. Honor those things, so that they have a place on a shelf, rather than keeping 15 or 20 trophies or plaques,” says Lawrence.

Today, Pinson says he’s relieved to be organized. “[I am able to] walk into my office and just get to work. With everything in its place, I no longer have to stare at all of my problems at once. I have mental peace of mind.” - Entrepreneur Edge, April Issue UBM

I'm a back!

2010-04-11T17:04:00.000-06:00

After an exhasting 90 days, I am brimming with ideas for my blog!! Check back soon for some great new tips and insights and Happy Spring!

Those Pesky Resolutions

2010-01-19T11:39:00.001-07:00

My apologies for my brief hiatus. We are in the process of adopting and it has monopolized the majority of my time.

Here we are three weeks into the month of January and how are those resolutions? Not started yet? Feel like you already failed and have given up? Doing well? Wherever you are, take heart very few people follow through with resolutions. Why is it you ask, is this the case? Because just like we add too many tasks to our to do list, we usually make too many resolutions. There should only be about three resolutions on your list. And they should be things that are attainable. So in this post we are going to talk about how you set your priorities and how to create a realistic resolutions:

Be Realistic:
Set mini goals instead of one great big one. For instance, say you want to lose 70 pounds (my resolution), instead of setting this lofty goal, break it down into smaller goals. "In Jaunary I want to lose 5 pounds." That way you will not set yourself up to fail because the task is too great.

Keep it Simple:
Setting a goal that is too difficult leads to frustration and a destines you to fail, which often result in people not following through on their goals. It's difficult enough for the average person to follow through on one ambitious New Year's resolution; why on earth would you set yourself with three or four that cannot be done? Choose the most pressing issue at hand, and concentrate on that. Trying to do everything at once practically guarantees failure across the board.

Stay Motivated:
Many people fail to meet their resolutions or have a minor slip up, and then decide to give up and it's just not going to work. Life happens and most people cannot completely live up to any goal. Successful aren't the perfect, but they are persistant.

Make your resolutions for yourself:
Do not make your resoluyions because you feel pressure from others. This is will like sabatage your efforts and cause you to not achieve it. Do what you feel you need to improve on and do not allow outside influences to dicate what your personal goals are. You will be more likely to complete your resolution and be better off as an individual for taking charge of your own self improvement.

Happy New Year all, hope this year is your best year yet!