disorder2order blog

Small Space Organizing: A Room-by-Room Guide...

2012-01-15T09:38:00.000-08:00

Have you ever picked up a book on getting organized and realized half way through, "this isn't the book for me?" There are millions of books on getting organized, and it's hard to choose which one will speak to your needs. When in doubt, I always say ask an organizer!

If you are looking for a DIY organizing book, in my opinion there are four things you need to look for: real life examples, helpful tips and ideas, resources of places to find products, and most of all a place to write notes down. If you have even two of the four you've probably got a good book.

Recently I read a book called "Small Space Organizing, A Room-by-Room Guide to Maximizing Your Space", and I loved it!

Kathryn Bechen, breaks each chapter down into the many spaces within your home (inside and out), and she include all the key elements of a great organizing book.

The kitchen space is always in crisis. It's usually located in the center of the home, and serves as the hub of every household. No matter how big or small the kitchen is always a busy room. In chapter 7, Kathryn breaks down the kitchen into brilliant manageable pieces. She addresses storage and inventory and it's importance to the space, while offering an extensive list of helpful tips to managing it all. She gives you an entire page of resources and an entire page to write notes. Brilliant!

Dining isn't just about breakfast and dinner. We often entertain in our kitchen space so learning to adapt for events such as holiday entertaining is key? No worries, Kathryn offers excellent advice on how to be prepared, plan ahead and ultimately enjoy your company and/or holiday.

Small Space Organizing isn't just about a small spaces, it's about giving you options and solutions that will work for you. If there is one great skill professional organizers offer it's RESOURCES. Never underestimate a person who can help you get it done, and where you can get products to do it better!

Great job Kathryn and a great book! You can learn more at www.smallspaceorganizing.com. Happy Reading!

Cyber Monday is the day to UNSUBSCRIBE!

2011-11-28T08:36:00.000-08:00

Bombarded by emails?

Hate dealing with cleaning out your inbox each week?
The delete button and I have had an intimate relationship over the years, but as I sit here this Monday morning; this Cyber Monday morning in fact, it dawned on me how today is the day to seize the moment and UNSUBSCRIBE from all those unwanted emails.

My tip for you this week is to spend 15 minutes each day and unsubscribe rather than hitting that delete button. You will find your inbox to be a little lighter in the coming months, and you can actually have the time to read those messages that are important to you.

Believe me, as a business owner who sends out emails I don't want anyone to be deleting my emails, I would rather have subscribers that enjoy reading my messages.

Great new resource for those who struggle with organization...

2011-11-03T16:40:00.000-07:00

The Institute for Challenging Disorganization (ICD) now has classes available online for the general public. I have been a member of this organization for the last three years and I have to say that that this organization is a leading educator on all things "challenging" when it comes to getting organized. Here's the line up:

Understanding Chronic Disorganization presented by Lynne Johnson, CPO-CD®

Introduction to ADD presented by Denslow Brown, CPO-CD®

Introduction to ADD and Procrastination presented by Tiffany deSilva, CPO-CD®

Introduction to Hoarding presented by Geralin Thomas, CPO-CD®

These are some AMAZING speakers (some of which I have learned a great deal from... you know who you are...). You can sign up by simply doing the following steps:

1. Go to the Public Page at ICD

2. Pay the $10 class fee

3. Within 48 hours, you will get an email with the link and instructions for the class recording.

4. You will have two weeks to listen to the class from the time you recieve the instructions.

5. At the end of that time you will get a short survey (which just helps us to provide better classes).

It's that easy. I can tell you (from experience) these are some awesome women to learn from.

Daydreaming helps to achieve your goals

2011-08-24T16:19:00.000-07:00

This past weekend, my husband and I celebrated our 10 year wedding anniversary with a kid free weekend in Portland. It was probably one of the most relaxing weekends I've in a long time. We spent Saturday morning sipping coffee and watching the set up of Saturday Market (which was an impressive orchestration).

We must have sat there for an hour. I found myself daydreaming about things my husband and I have done in the past 10 years and the many things we want to do in the next 10 years.

As I sat there, I was reminded of an article I read recently in Martha Stewart's Living (Great Escape, Aug. 2011) on daydreaming. In the article, daydreaming was defined as "spontaneous thinking about something else other than the task at hand". The author said that the act of random mind wandering wasn't a bad thing. The article went on to say that daydreams "help you to hatch solutions to everyday issues or figure out how to take action on a bigger goal.."

Isn't that exciting to think that daydreams give you permission to think about all those random things you want to do. Some of my best ideas have come out of one of those conversations... "someday I'm going to____."

We spend so much time meeting deadlines, focusing on the tasks at hand that we forget to let our minds wander. Lighten your brain a little today and give yourself permission to wander.

Organizing Cords, Clips Crayons and Cables with Grid-It

2011-04-19T19:51:00.000-07:00

This is my big attempt to get back into blogging. I think when you do something for a really long time you have to work really hard to get back into it after such a long break.

No worries, I'm back and I'm going to have a lot to say, so I hope you join me on this organizing journey.

Two weeks ago, I attended the NAPO conference in (very cold) San Diego California. This was my fourth conference and for the first time ever, I made a point to spend more time in the expo seeing all the latest and greatest of organizing gear. I checked out some of my more favorite booths such as NeatCo. and the NeatDesk, Pendeflex and their new Divide It Up File Folder (which will redefine the idea of filing) but the one product that just spoke to me was the Grid-It by Cocoon Innovations. This was a new exhibitor and can I say, by far the coolest product too. They won best organizing product and for good reason.

The Grid-It is a simple concept of elastic straps on a solid but bendable surface. It holds everything you can imagine. It's rather masculine but functional so it can really work for anyone.

I was selling my fellow organizers on the idea of using it for a man's briefcase, holding kids crayons in the car side pocket all the way to your computer case and all the cords. Did I mention that it's ranges in price from $9.99 - $29.99 in every shape and size.

I believe that a specialty case for your iPad is coming this July. Cocoon Innovations is a company to watch and definitely a website to bookmark!

blog.disorder2order is officially over

2011-02-26T19:12:00.000-08:00

I finally did it. I'm back on blogger. I look forward to sharing with you helpful advice and insight on how you too can get organized. Creating and defining what organized means to you is what I am all about. Cheers and happy organizing!

**meg**

Happy Monday!

2009-09-14T09:51:00.000-07:00

Just wondering if this link works. Happy Monday everyone!

We are dating again...

2009-03-19T09:12:00.001-07:00

So, I don't know if you remember back when I broke up with Blogger. I am regretting that now, believe you me. I am so totally frustrated with my blog that I dread it when I want to post something... it's just a huge pain. Here is my what frustrates me...

1. My provider don't like my browsers... they conflict and create problems when trying to post a new entry; error messages, processes quite half way and so on.

2. Limitations on how you can design and layout your side bar and page. This is to be expected with a free service, but when you are paying for a service shouldn't you have more capabilities than a free service, right?

3. I get more and more people telling me that they can't leave a comment. That stinks!

So... like a teenager, I am am two timing my current blog and (behind it's back) I am entertaining the idea of getting back together with my first blog.

2009-02-27T10:35:00.001-08:00

happy that the sun is shining today!

2009-02-26T08:13:00.001-08:00

frustrated with more snow, but still going to brave the elements for my clients! :)

Organized Everyday: Tackle it Tuesday: organizing cookbooks

2009-02-23T19:41:00.000-08:00

Organized Everyday: Tackle it Tuesday: organizing cookbooks

2009-02-23T07:29:00.001-08:00

going to do some research today and is happy with the Oscar results!

2009-02-20T11:54:00.001-08:00

playing board games today. It's just that kind of a day!

2009-02-18T07:34:00.001-08:00

is going to be gone this afternoon, so I am preparing for a meeting tonight and prepping for tomorrow's work day .. PLAN AHEAD!!!

2009-02-15T12:15:00.001-08:00

Want to get organised right at your desk? Marcia is hosting a Virtual Seminar, just blogged at blog.disorder2order.com - check it out!

2009-02-13T11:26:00.001-08:00

I have found the ultimate tool - Ping.fm - it might be love! Happy V-Day to me!

Come and see me sometime...

2009-02-09T11:20:00.001-08:00

Come and see me over at my blog... soon to be moving back to blogger... but for now, you can find me here...