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Do you feel like you are drowning in paper? Don't know how to declutter? Here are 6 liberating tips on how to declutter to save you from drowning in all the paper that you deal with constantly in your home.
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Are you thinking about downsizing to move to a smaller home? You can
downsize even if you don’t plan on moving. Reducing the amount of
possessions on a regular basis will help avoid the physical exertion
and emotional trauma of doing it all at once.
Are you living in a home that has become too large for you and it is
harder to go up and down the stairs? Are you afraid of getting rid of
things because you are afraid you’ll be getting rid of your memories?
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Have you ever watched a television program where the people on a beautiful boat are deep sea fishing? They are all decked out in “boat attire” with their white shorts and colorful shirts holding very long fishing poles. When someone gets a bite the pole dips down into the ocean and everyone cheers and yells, “You’ve got one”. And the excitement begins. Everyone focuses on that fish being reeled in to the boat.
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Greek mythology is fascinating and the story of Pandora’s box is a spell binding myth.
Prometheus was a Titan who was a champion of human-kind and was known for his wily intelligence. He stole the secret of fire from the God Zeus and gave it to mortals. But the theft of fire angered Zeus and as one of his punishments he ordered Hephaestus to create the first woman, Pandora, as part of the punishment of mankind. (Now that doesn’t seem quite fair that he considered this a punishment does it?)
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I like the song “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town”. It is upbeat and happy and something I can sing along with. Santa makes a list and checks it twice. If you have ever sewed this is the advice given to sewers—“measure twice, cut once”. When you leave your house I bet you check to make sure you have the things you need like your wallet, tissues, cosmetics, keys and other things twice before leaving your home. December is a busy time of year because of all the delightful opportunities to celebrate Christmas and other holidays. It seems like there is always something that we want to prepare.
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Every December it is with great anticipation that we watch the mail for our invitation to the open house at the governor’s mansion. Our mailman becomes our new best friend for a few weeks as he delivers Christmas cards and packages. But we only get one invitation where we get to dress up and shake hands with the governor and his wife. This year we also mingled with the actor Edward Herrmann (We loved him in the North Avenue Irregulars movie).
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A few years ago I had horrible back problems. I had a bulging disk that was pushing on my sciatic nerve. It hurt so bad I couldn’t sit, or lie down for very long. I would pace the floor and moan and groan. I went to an orthopedic surgeon and he said, “When you can’t walk I can do surgery”. I went to a neurologist the day before Thanksgiving and he said I had to have surgery and I needed to go to the hospital the day after Thanksgiving. I told him no, I wouldn’t go in then because it was Christmas time and I had a lot to do. He countered by saying then I would be in the hospital on Christmas Day. I told him that was better than missing the Christmas season even with the pain. (I didn’t have surgery and I did eventually get better).
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“T’was the night before Christmas and all through the house not a
creature was stirring, not even a mouse. The children were nestled all
snug in their beds while visions of sugar plums danced in their heads”.
Ahh… such sweet dreams. When you have guests coming to stay at your
home during the holidays is it a dream come true or is it a nightmare?
Are you frantically scooping up piles of laundry off the bed and
clearing the clutter so there is just enough space for one suitcase and
hoping they will arrive later than their planned time of arrival?
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As a child I loved dolls. I had endless tea parties with them sitting with me around the kitchen table. I dressed and re-dressed them in the clothes my mother made for them. She was an expert seamstress and I had wonderful outfits for each doll. I never remember my mother staying up until 2:00 a.m. or later on Christmas Eve finishing my doll clothes or baking and whatever else people stay up to do on that magical night of the year. Now I know it was because she had learned how to declutter her schedule and take care of herself so she could take care of us.
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Let’s face it; holidays can be a pain in the neck. I know there are those out there who love everything about the holidays, the hustle and bustle, the frantic preparations, sleepless nights, meal preparation, shopping and tucking gifts away only to forget where they are hidden. But some of us enjoy the hustle and bustle on our own terms. As a profession organizer I have 8 tips on how to declutter during the holidays to make them happier and less stressful.
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My $35,000 turkey started out as a bargain. My daughter was shopping
and she called to tell me the store had turkeys for 40 cents a pound.
Wow! What a savings. Last year I paid 89 cents a pound so this sale
would save me big bucks. Now, we only have a fridge with a freezer on
top and I thought I could squeeze in one turkey. (What was I thinking?)
I must have forgotten how a turkey is shaped. Instead of being flat it
is roundish. But that isn’t the best part—she bought two turkeys. (One
for Thanksgiving and one for Christmas) If the weather had stayed cold
we could have kept them in the garage for a few days until I could find
a freezer, but no the weather wasn’t cooperating. And after I had saved
49 cents a pound I didn’t want rotten turkeys.
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As a professional organizer I am always telling people it is simple to
organize clutter when they have a home for everything and when that
item is not being used to put it back in its home. This is great advice
and will help organizing clutter much simpler as there won’t be as much
clutter to organize. It is advice I am still trying to master myself
and teach my own family.
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The fall leaves are turning bright yellow, red and orange. The hills look like a masterpiece painted by an artist. It is such a beautiful time of the year with the riot of color in the mountains and in the valleys. The air smells fresh and the cooler days and nights are glorious. So what’s not to like about fall? For me it is the hay fever that comes with more pollen and “stuff” in the air. About August I start hoping for snow to settle the air so I don’t have to carry around a box of tissues all the time.
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Stepping into your home you about break your neck as you trip over shoes left in the middle of the floor. You throw your keys on the table that you will be searching for later. You’re going to be late for work because you can’t find anything to wear. Where is that favorite tube of lipstick? How nice it would be to read a magazine if you only knew where it was. Your child almost missed the field trip because you didn’t know where you had put the permission slip. Sure, you could be organized—if only you could figure out how to declutter. How? Set aside one day (or a few evenings) and devote the time to figuring out what works for you and what isn’t working for you. Follow the daylong schedule to start organizing clutter.
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I was teaching a class the other night on clearing clutter in our homes and lives. We all spend a lot of time in our cars going to appointments, picking up dinner, taking the kids to their activities and doing a hundred other things. Since our car has become an extension of our home it is another place where we can clear clutter in minutes that will make a dramatic difference in our lives.
Back in the 70’s we owned a Volkswagen Bus. We loved that blue beetle and I loved piling the kids in and taking off to do errands or running them to school and activities. It was a casual vehicle and it had been a reliable vehicle until the day it caught fire. One day as I was pulling into the gas station one of the kids yelled, “There is smoke mommy”. It took me a second to realize that the smoke was coming from the back end of our “beetle” where the engine was. I yelled for all the kids to get out and at the same time someone came rushing over with a fire extinguisher and put the fire out. I was grateful we were all safe and sound and for the quick actions of the man with the fire extinguisher.
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