Professional Organizer | Clearing Clutter | Motivational Speaker | Salt Lake City, Utah

Show ‘N Share Tuesday is one I have been looking forward to showing and sharing for over 6 months. It has been that long since I won the trip to Dreams Cabo. eWisdomTV had a video contest and I won the super star grand prize. Thank you to everyone who voted and to eWisdomTV for a fabulous trip!

I have to say, it was GRAND. For 4 days and 3 nights we were pampered. Our day began with walking on the beach, breakfast, a stretching class on the beach, working out in the exercise room, swimming in the pool, then eating lunch at one of 5 restaurants. The food was delicious-o-so! After lunch we sat in lounge chairs enjoying the ocean waves, reading and napping. Then it was time for dinner. A movie was playing under the stars on a big blow up screen in the evening.

At one point I asked someone walking by on the beach to take our picture so everyone back home could see we do know how to relax. I didn’t do any organizing (that’s a shock I know) and there was no clutter clearing to do either. The perfect vacation for a few days.

I didn’t buy any clutter either–oops I mean souvenirs. The only thing I bought was a charm for my charm bracelet and a few post cards. Are you proud of me?

I recommend you take a look at the videos eWisdomTV  has to offer. It is a website with very good videos done by experts in their field. 

This is the best dollar I have every spent—it was exactly $1.00.

I bought this little coin purse on the street in New York City about 12 years ago. I needed someplace for my coins and on impulse I bought this from a street vendor.

I use it every time I travel as it takes up little space and it is just the perfect size. Every time I use it I say, “this is the best dollar I have ever spent”.

As a professional organizer I’m always curious what others use to help with clutter control. What is the best dollar you have ever spent?

This doesn’t have anything thing to do with getting rid of clutter or organizing, I just wanted to share these two little warm and fuzzy stories with you.

When we were at Bryce Canyon last week we were getting in the car after leaving the visitors center and my daughter comes running past us saying “I just found some money where those people pulled out of the parking space and I have to catch them”. She came back disappointed as it wasn’t them who had lost it. Into the visitors center she went to report she had found money and gave them contact information in case anyone asked if any money was turned in. (It was about $20.00).

Then on to Zion’s Canyon we went and as we walked into the visitors center at the end of the day there by the bench I saw a man’s wallet. My daughter turned it in to the ranger who wanted her name and contact information. (We don’t know why as we certainly would see it again).

It feels good to do the right thing dontchathink? What have you done lately that has made you feel good about doing the right thing?

More travel tips from a very experienced traveler from the UK:

“I have small bags for everything. Some are cheap, pound shop, (dollar store) cosmetic bags. And the list has the color of the bag and what is in it! My husband calls me the bag lady! I keep some of these bags always packed together in another bag (!!!) when not traveling.

Marilyn’s comment: Bags are a wonderful organizing idea. When we need to get an item out of our suitcase it is easy to pull out the item we are looking for without making a mess of everything in the suitcase. One of my favorite little bags was one I purchased in Japan at the Yen (dollar) store. I wish I would have bought more. I also use every size plastic bag available. The snack size are great for jewelry or medications. The jumbo are wonderful for clothes.

What is your favorite bag and how do you use it?

Pantha from the UK shares these tips about what to do before leaving home on a vacation: When we go away on vacation packing just the right things are not the only responsibilities we have before heading out”.

“We always switch off the answering machine. That way anyone who phones up will not be expecting a call back!

I have timed lamps in various rooms in the house for evenings and 2 radios timed to go on for an hour in the morning and evening. Hopefully our sons will cut the grass at the front of the house. Otherwise, it will be like a jungle when we get back”.

Marilyn: If you don’t have a relative to cut the grass, hire someone. Also stop the newspaper if you take it or ask a reliable neighbor to bring it in for you along with the mail.

“All our neighbors are quite elderly so I leave them a note saying when we are going etc with my friend’s telephone number and what her car looks like in case they get worried”.

Marilyn: Even if your neighbors aren’t elderly, tell them you will be gone and ask them to keep an eye on your house while you are away.

“We are trying to “eat the freezer” and cupboard – rather than buy before we go. And my friend has instructions to raid the fridge and take anything perishable left over when we have left. She also gets a few basics in for us when we get back like fresh milk and bread….yes she is a great friend. I do the same for her.”

Marilyn: What a nice arrangement to have with a friend. Thank you for these great organizing tips for my blog readers.

What do you do when you go away on vacation to make sure your home is safe while you are away–even if it is just for a weekend?