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XOXOXO

Monday, February 13th, 2012 by admin

Monday’s De-cluttering Your Home Focus:

I love Valentine’s Day, I love hearts and I love love! I have been decorating with hearts for the past few weeks and it has been so much fun. When I sign letters to those I love I always put in a few XOXOXO.

Sandy our friend from Taiwan was taking English classes there and the teacher asked if they knew what xoxoxo mean on a letter. She said because of me she knew the answer. I thought that was sweet.

Many believe the ‘X’ symbol became synonymous with the kiss in medieval times. People who couldn’t write their names signed in front of a witness with an ‘X’. The ‘X’ was then kissed to show their sincerity.

As you are de-cluttering your home this week take some time to write someone (surprise them with some ‘good’ mail) and include a little xoxoxo.

Posted in Challenge, Declutter Your Home | 3 Comments »

Wise Clutter Control = Monday Foucs

Monday, November 7th, 2011 by admin

Monday Clutter Control Focus:

We had a bit of a plumbing problem last week. The bathtub in one of the bathrooms was leaking like a sieve. My husband went to work on it and he had to take a back panel off in the closet to get to the pipes. I know that is odd but that is the way it is.

When it came time to put the panel back on he needed the duck tape. By the way I have been told about another tape called gorilla tape which is even stronger—have you seen it or used it? I am going to look for it.

Anyway, I went to get the duck tape and it wasn’t in the drawer where it belonged—(It wasn’t me who put it away). After he was finished using it I put it back in its assigned home with the rest of the tape.

I thought what a good focus to suggest on clutter control. This week find one thing, or more, that has been put in the wrong place and put it where it belongs. This is a great way to keep organized.

Clutter control is easy when it is done a little at a time. When you see something out of place put it in its place right then.

Posted in Challenge, Clutter Control, Monday Focus, Monday's Focus | 4 Comments »

I Was Locked Out Of My Car And Far From Home

Monday, July 11th, 2011 by admin

The winner of the drawing for the hum bug bag is Fiona. I have already emailed you asking for your address. Thank you to everyone who left a comment both on my blog and on FB.

Did you know it was Samuel Newhouse’s dream that Salt Lake City Utah would be the Wall Street of the West? My daughter and I were privileged to be guides in the Boston Building which was part of his dream back in 1908.

After two hours of greeting the public and showing off this gorgeous building it was quite a shock to find we had locked the keys in the car.

I think you can guess what the Monday focus is. Now mind you, I had three keys so this would never happen to me again. I have actually done it 3 times with the car I own now.
My daughter has a key; I have one on my key ring and another one in my wallet which I usually have with me. But on this day all keys were in the locked car.
I thought I might have another one at my house. I didn’t. Long story short my new best friend is a nice young locksmith who came out on Saturday and in less than 30 seconds had my door open. Two other locksmiths answered their phones but said they couldn’t come until Monday.
It is routine for me to do clutter control on a regular basis. I am so glad I do because before I called the locksmith I had my friend search my cupboards to see if I had another spare key at the house.
Along with clutter control my Monday focus is to check your car key situation.

Have you ever locked yourself out of your car? What’s your story?

 

Posted in Car Organizing, Challenge | 3 Comments »

Unhurried Clutter Clearing For The 4th Of July

Monday, June 27th, 2011 by admin

Clutter Clearing Monday Focus:  4th of July

Next Monday we celebrate the freedoms we have here in the United States. We have parades, get together’s with friends and family. Or it means a day off work to just chill out. For me it is a day to honor those who have fought for my freedom and to wave the flag and feel proud to be an American.

Since it is holiday time focus this week on clutter clearing where ever you need it. If you are having a picnic check to see if you have the paper products you need or do you have a box or picnic basket to carry your food in to the park? Are the sheets changed in the guest room if you’re having guests, are the meals planned and the food purchased?

Clutter clearing isn’t just about not having clutter it is also being able to see what you have and it being convenient to get to when you need it. Of course it is all the clutter clearing you have done that makes this possible.

Happy focusing on your own priority this week.

Posted in Challenge | 6 Comments »

Monday’s Carefree Clutter Clearing Challenge

Monday, April 18th, 2011 by admin

What is your organizing style when you are clutter clearing?  Saturday I was told the following story:

“My husband said he vacuumed the carpets in several rooms. He said he also vacuumed the stairs going down to the basement but he only did the ones that looked like they needed it. He didn’t do the last 3 steps because he didn’t want to unplug and re-plug in the vacuum.” I had a good laugh when I was told this—I think all of the stairs are used equally. At least she got some help so that’s a good thing.

My mom used to say, “If a job is worth doing it is worth doing well/right”.

Monday’s challenge is:

  • What clutter clearing are you going to do?
  • Make a point to do it right the first time.

I remind myself of this all the time! It doesn’t take as long to do it right the first time as it does to make changes later.  Don’tchathink?

Posted in Challenge, Clutter Clearing | 2 Comments »

Feel-Good Challenge For Clearing Clutter

Monday, April 4th, 2011 by admin

Do you remember the movie, “I know who you are, I know what you did”? It was a scary movie. I can’t watch scary movies unless I have someone to grab a hold of because I am a scaredy cat.

Do you know what’s behind your doors? Take a look. Was it scary? This is Monday’s challenge for clearing clutter.

In the photo you see what is behind my office room door. Fly fishing is popular in my home. I’m not the fisherman—my daughter is. This is her rod’s home. It isn’t in the way, it is never seen and it is easy to get to.

See all the bags? They are out of the way and convenient to grab and go. There was no clearing clutter that needed to be done here.

How about behind your doors? Are there things that don’t belong? Can you open your doors all the way or is there clutter that needs to go?

Posted in Challenge, Clearing Clutter | 3 Comments »

Clutter Clearing Challenge In The Box

Monday, March 28th, 2011 by admin

I have been home a week and a half from my trip to Cabo and I swear I am still on vacation. Do you ever have days like that? All I want to do is play. I found some decorated bottle caps I had misplaced and I needed to glue magnets to the back of them so I can get them sent off to my friend.

The cap on the glue was really stuck so I used my pliers to get the lid off. This leads me into Monday’s challenge. Men are notorious for leaving their tools lying around and losing them. (Not all men, but you and I know the ones who do). As I work with women in their homes clutter clearing this is a complaint I hear all the time.

Years ago I set up my own tool kit with a hammer, screw driver, and pliers. It has grown bigger through the years and nothing is ever lost because I am the only one in charge of it.

The challenge: If you don’t have a tool kit of your own, make one and let everyone in your home know it is only for you to use. If they borrow they have to ask permission and give it back to you at the end of the day. If they aren’t finished in one day, they have to re-borrow it the next day. We’re talking serious business here.

If you have a tool kit already then go through it this week and see if it needs some clutter clearing. I just went through mine. I didn’t get rid of anything but I did a little rearranging and putting wire back where it belonged.

Do you have a tool kit? Does it need some clutter clearing? Is it a problem in your home—tools being lost by others? Whatchatgoingto do about it?

Posted in Challenge, Clutter Clearing | 3 Comments »

Clutter Control 101 Challenge

Monday, March 21st, 2011 by admin

Monday’s organizing challenge is a fun one today. Don’t you find it frustrating to get out a bowl and put the leftover food in it only to realize you can’t find the matching lid?

Clutter control your bowls and lids. Take every bowl out of the cupboard—check the fridge and dishwasher. Next find all of your lids. Maybe there is a renegade placed on top of a bowl that it doesn’t fit.

There—now you have rounded up all of your bowls and all of your lids. Start matching them together. If you don’t have matches, put them in a plastic bag and put them someplace else for a month, if the matches aren’t found get rid of the orphans.

That is a clutter control 101 tutorial.  What is your secret for keeping bowls matched to lids?

Posted in Challenge, Clutter Control | 5 Comments »

Time -Saving Clutter Control Challenge

Monday, March 14th, 2011 by admin

Hey to all you Canadians—happy Commonwealth Day! This is the annual celebration of the Commonwealth of Nations. The Queen (of England) starts the Queen’s baton relay at Buckingham Palace. It has a certain official status; it is not a public holiday in most Commonwealth countries. (Sorry you guys, it is still a work day).

And by the way if you didn’t set your clocks forward (in the U.S.) yesterday you will be an hour late for everything until you do.

My Monday challenge for clutter control is to get rid of clocks and watches that don’t work, that you don’t like or that you don’t use. I have a friend who collects them and if you do too I still challenge you to take a look at them and if they don’t meet the above criteria donate them and see how good you feel.

I took this clutter control challenge myself a few months ago and I had 2 watches I let go of. One was a hand me down from my daughter that I had never used, nor would I ever use as I couldn’t read the time on it and the band was well worn and I didn’t want to spend money for a new one. I have never missed it or the other one that I can’t even remember what it looked like.

Get your clutter control fingers moving and let us know if you accepted the challenge.

Posted in Challenge, Clutter Control | 3 Comments »

Challenge To Get Rid Of Clutter Sings

Monday, March 7th, 2011 by admin

As a professional organizer I go into a lot of homes and help women with their paper piles. Even if we aren’t organizing an office everyone always has a lot of paper they need to get rid of, file or act on.

I am a firm believer that everyone needs a shredder or a place they go to get their paper shredded. Today’s challenge is to get rid of clutter by shredding at least 20 pieces of paper. If you don’t have a shredder then find a place that have free shred days or that will come to your home to take away and shred. Consider buying a shredder—start pricing them and put it in your budget to buy one.

Where I live America First Credit Union has free shred days every few months open to the entire community. My bank said to bring in what I wanted shredded and they would add it to theirs.

It is necessary to shred some documents and before it becomes a burden get rid of clutter NOW by shredding or finding a place to shred it.

Let us know if you did it–if not today, this week.

Posted in Challenge, Get Rid Of Clutter, Office/Paper Work | 3 Comments »

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