Monday to Monday Focus

I was asked how I come up with the Monday focus and this is how: I focus and challenge on things I need to do. Yes, I know, I am a professional organizer and I go into women’s homes and help them organize. But that doesn’t mean I am not constantly organizing my own home—that is how I keep organized. And I bet that is how you keep organized and the clutter away too.

On to the focus—My home town (it is really a city but town sounds better) has a “Cars for Coats” car rally every year. It was held this past weekend in our local park. Everyone can donate coats for kids (and adults) and see nifty, beautifully restored old cars. (Sorry I didn’t get any photos)

It is never too early to get rid of clutter in your coat closet or where ever you store your coats. It is HOT outside but go through your coats and see if you need to get rid of clutter by donating any to your local thrift shop. They can store them until it is time to bring them out to sell.

I am off to reduce clutter and go through my closet—how about you? Are you going to get rid of clutter this week?

Today is typically product review day but instead I want to talk about souvenirs you buy when on vacation. (After all they are products too). Graduations and school being out for the kids is upon us and with that often comes travel.

Let me ask you—have the souvenirs you have purchased in the past become dust collectors or clutter? There are certain things we just have to buy. (For instance; nesting dolls if you are in Russia or sea shells from the coast, etc).

In the moment when we are looking in the shops for things to buy I recommend thinking ahead to where you will use it and do you absolutely love it. Also consider what you are buying for others. Will it be a burden to them or will they love it. If they have a collection of something and you add to that it is probably a good bet that will be a treasured souvenir to them.

My souvenirs are my photo albums, a patch from the area that I immediately put on my “travel/memory” quilt, post cards that go in my albums and a charm for my charm bracelet.

It is fun to have something to look for as you wander in and out of shops—I’m just saying give souvenirs serious thought about them becoming clutter or not. What do you buy for souvenirs? What is the best souvenir you have ever received?

Did you know today is Flag Day in the United States? I love all the flags displayed everywhere on this day—how about you?

I was chatting with my friend, telling her my latest de-clutter project in my home and we both realized we pretty much organize the same way

She said it is sometimes hard for her to get started organized even though she wants to get rid of clutter. I asked her how she finally gets started and this is what she said: (Which is exactly what I say too)

Picture the space you will have after you have de-cluttered and organized.

· Once started energy flows and you just want to get it done.

· Self Talk—asking questions such as. How long since I have used this, do I like it, is it important to me, is there a better place for it to stored etc.

· Set a time limit as to how long you plan on organizing—you can always go longer if your energy allows it, or shorter if it doesn’t.

· Organize when you have the most energy—for the majority of us that is in the morning.

De-cluttering your home can be fun and help relieve stress. What are some of your basic rules to de-cluttering your home?

I saw this bumper sticker this morning and I had to chuckle.

“Everyone of us are opera singers…me..me..me..me..”

Does this attitude affect the way you get rid of clutter? Do you have family members that feel it is o.k. to clutter common areas in your home without taking responsibility?

Does the me..me..me attitude help or hinder you in getting rid of clutter in your home?

For instance—It is always left up to ME to clear clutter and I am tired of it so why even try?

My kids only think about themselves and are always creating clutter.

Do you ever say these things and how do you overcome it when it comes to clearing clutter?

Show ‘N Share Tuesday

I told you yesterday I would share my drawer where I got rid of clutter when I returned home from our quick northwest trip.

I always organize something when I come home from a vacation or trip. (What is my deal???)

I decided on the plane I would get rid of 50% of the clutter I had in this drawer. I actually had it organized, or so I thought. I keep things I travel with here and I realized a lot of the things I was keeping I wasn’t using. Some of the things I considered clutter in this premium space was:

· My “before” pants (before I lost lots of weight). I moved these to a place that is not premium space.

· 10 pairs of ear plugs for the plane, I kept 3 sets.

· A pair of shorts that were practically brand new but I never wear because they are too hot no matter what time of year it is.

· A couple of winter shirts that went to my winter clothes box.

Getting rid of clutter was so much fun and relaxing. I don’t always set a percentage goal but I did this time because I actually wanted space in this drawer.

Monday Focus:

Last week we spent 5 glorious days in the Northwest. The ocean waves lulled us to sleep every night and awakened us slowly in the morning. I was surprised that we could see the white caps of the waves at night. Other times when we have been on the ocean we couldn’t see anything. Needless to say it was gorgeous.

There were smells on the ocean we weren’t used to, but we mostly ignored them as we focused on the beauty of the water, the flowers and the most gracious people we met.

In our homes maybe it is time to actually focus on clutter that is bothering us rather than ignoring it and looking for just the organized spaces.

Of course we want to look for the best, but this week scope out a place that you feel needs to be organized. I did this when I came home and I will show it to you tomorrow for my show ‘n share. It felt so liberating to get rid of clutter.

How much clutter do you think you will get rid of this week?

Since I haven’t used this bag, I just really like the look of it and the accessory bags that can be purchased separately I am showing it on my product review day.

Viceroy Travel Tote

No matter where your travels take you, our stylish Viceroy Travel Tote will get you there with room to spare. It’s generously sized to hold everything from books and files to a cosmetics bag. The large open compartment can even accommodate a laptop and features a zippered pocket and a loop for securing a pen. A zippered closure keeps it all secure. Use it in conjunction with the other pieces of our Viceroy Collection for a completely organized travel experience.

· Made from durable, water-resistant nylon and polyester blend

·Le Leather-like trim

· Zzippered closure

· cclean with a damp cloth

Marilyn says: It is on sale right now–$10.00 off which makes it close to $30.00.

Do you have favorite bags you use when you travel? What have you found that works best? I have to say I love zip lock bags for everything, even putting them inside other cuter bags.

“In a letter to “Dear Abby,” a military officer explained how his wife packed all their belongings by herself when he was reassigned to the Pentagon.

“A year later, I was bragging to guests about how my wife handled everything.

‘Yes,’ she replied, ‘it gave me the opportunity to throw out the junk Bill had been carrying around all these years.’

Shocked, ‘Just what did you throw out?’ I asked.

‘Tell me what you’re missing, ‘she said, ‘and I’ll tell you if I threw it out.’

Try as I did, I couldn’t identify a single item I missed.”

As funny as this is I think we can all look at our homes and find things that we wouldn’t miss if we didn’t have them—things that have become clutter but we just live with it so we just let clutter live with us.

What do you think? As you look around do you need to get rid of clutter because there are things you have but don’t enjoy or wouldn’t miss if you didn’t have them?

“Will This Matter A Year From Now?”

When clearing clutter and sorting papers and going crazy because there is just too much stop and think—will this matter a year from now? Or even 6 months, 3 months, 1 month.

As a professional organizer I have seen women’s lives change for the better because they file their papers so they can find them AND they are willing to let go of paper that really isn’t important!

This may sound simple, but really for so many of us we have a love affair with our paper so we keep it all. As you are organizing think to yourself “Will this matter a year from now?”

I recommend checking out the Freedom Filer system if you need a great filing system that works for you and you can find all paper that comes into your home. I have set this system up for hundreds of women and I highly recommend this method of filing.

Show ‘N Share Tuesday:

I love, love, love these before and after pictures. I get so excited when I organize with women and we change the look and feel in their homes and offices.

As you can see in the after photo this part of the office is completely organized. There is no clutter, the books can be easily seen and reached. This is still a work in progress and some books will come off the shelves and be donated.

Likes are clustered together, office supplies are all together, containers were used that were already in the home so there was no expense purchasing other supplies.

Don’t you think the difference is a work of art? As we continue to organize this room I will show more before and after photos.

Do you have a book shelf or a closet that needs some clutter control? What is your “soft” spot?