How Not to be Late for Your Next Appointment

Leave time to get there. Leave yourself plenty of time to get to your
destination. Don’t underestimate traffic time or try to squeeze in a stop to the
bank or dry cleaners. Think in terms of when you need to leave in order to be
there on time, every time.

Be considerate. Squeaking into a meeting or event at the last minutes looks
unprofessional and insensitive to the host. Show courtesy to others by
respecting their time. If something unexpected does arise, call immediately to
let your party know you are running late.

Write down all appointments and meetings, the dates and time. Don’t
rely on your memory.

Ideas for Clutter-free Gift Giving

- Tickets to a show, game, concert, etc.

- Edibles. Coffee of the month, fruit of the month, chocolate of the month are
some ideas, or how about baking or making something edible?

- Memberships to museums, the gym, the zoo, AAA travel club, etc.

- Pampering gifts. Give the gift of massage. Lotions or bath oils. Skin care
products. For fabulous Mary Kay gift ideas, contact Louise-Annette Burgess at
www.marykay.com/LBurgess

- Organization. Give a gift certificate from a professional organizer.

- Lessons and classes. Golf, computer, art, tennis, yoga, martial arts, dancing,
personal trainer sessions, cooking, gardening, etc.

- Netflix or Blockbuster subscription for someone on your list that loves movies.

- Gifts that save time. Gift certificate for cleaning services, lawn mowing or car
wash/detailing

- Gift Certificates for a person’s favorite restaurant

- Babysitting – make certificates to be cashed in for babysitting

- Make a donation to gift recipient’s favorite charity

How to Create a Gift Wrapping Station

1. Find a gift wrapping storage container that you like. Here are some terrific ones that can be bought at http://www.containerstore.com/.

I like and use the hanging one.

2. Stock your wrapping station.

• Gift tags


• Wrapping paper


• Gift bags


• Gift boxes


• Ribbon


• Bows


• Pens


• Markers


• Scissors


• Tape


• Tissue paper
  

3. If you have out of town packages to ship, also include:

• Shipping boxes


• Shipping tape


• Stamps


• Mailing labels


• Packing materials, such as packing peanuts

Now! You have all your wrapping stuff in one place. No searching for the tape or scissors. Your gift wrapping time will be reduced by taking the time to organize your gift wrapping supplies first.

Top 10 Most Stressful Holiday Activities

1. Spending too much money.

2. Deciding what gift to buy to whom.

3. Sending gifts and cards on time.

4. Taking care of phyiscal well-being.

5. Not enough time to shop.

6. Not enough time for events.

7. Decorating for or hosting a holiday party.

8. Managing workload to take time off.

9. Maintaining relationships with family, friends and co-workers.

10. Creating a specific holiday budget.

3 Tips for Getting a Head Start on the Holidays

I know…you are not ready to think about the holidays yet. However, the key to having a wonderful and stress-free holiday is planning ahead.

Here are three tips for making your holidays a bit more organized and a bit more enjoyable this year:

Holiday Tip #1: Holiday cards and gift lists. If you haven’t already, save your Christmas card list names and addresses on your computer. You can print labels or envelopes quickly and easily. Address changes are easy to handle and won’t get messy like trying to change addresses in a handwritten address book.

If you use a PDA, save your loved ones gift wish lists on the PDA. You will have the lists with you whenever you go shopping, so you can take advantage of a good deal when you see it. Keep a list of sizes on the PDA as well.

Holiday Tip #2: Take notes. Pay attention to friends and family during conversations. You’ll be surprised at how often they mention items they would like to have or plan to buy. The person receiving the gift will be grateful for a gift they truly want.

Holiday Tip #3: Consider “experience” gifts rather than things. Try something different this holiday season by thinking of what the gift recipient might enjoy. What about a concert, play tickets, spa certificate, tickets to a sporting event or a donation to the recipient’s favorite charity in their name?

5 Ways to Remember Everything

You are busy and have so many things on your mind. Keep your memory sharp by using these ideas to remember what you need to and free up memory...brain memory, that is:

1. Believe in yourself. Attitude means a lot. If you continually say you are forgetful, then you will be forgetful. Instead change your attitude and think about having a good memory.

2. Write it down. No one can remember everything. Writing down everything - your appointments, your schedule, your families schedule, your work schedule, your grocery list, things you need to do, tasks you need to delegate, etc., frees up your mind to think about whatever is happening in the present.

3. Record your thoughts. Sometimes you want to remember something, but can't write it down at the moment. Record your thoughts. Carry a little hand-held recorder or check to see if your cell phone has recording capabilities (many do).

4. Call yourself. Call your voice mail and leave yourself a message. Then you can listen and write it down when you get home or are in a place to be able to write down the message.

5. Set timers and alarms. Alarm clocks are not just for waking up. Use the alarm clock, the microwave timer or computer alarms a reminder.

Thankful and Organized for Thanksgiving

When I was single and living in Austin, Texas, my family was far away in North Carolina. I had a lot to be thankful for and having a lonely pity party was not on my Thanksgiving to-do list. So I found other ways to enjoy Thanksgiving.

I love to cook. I found a service agency that paired me up with a family that needed a helping hand for Thanksgiving. I was given the family’s name, their situation, how many to cook for and directions where to drop off the Thanksgiving dinner. That first Thanksgiving I was paired with the Johnsons, a family of five, the youngest being about two years old.

I cooked the traditional turkey, dressing and veggies and had picked up a couple of pies at the store. (As much as I like to cook, I don’t bake.) Almost as an afterthought, I picked up ice cream, some fall flowers, and some inexpensive candles and candleholders.

I made my delivery that afternoon. When I knocked on the door, Mr. Johnson and his oldest son came out to help me carry in the boxes of food. Mr. Johnson was quick to tell me that his family didn’t usually take hand-outs, but that he had been injured on the job. I told him he was doing me a favor…giving me somebody to cook for because my family was far away and that was all that talk we were going to have.

Inside the house, I was helping Mrs. Johnson unpack the boxes and the little two-year old spotted the ice cream. Her eyes got huge and she said, “Mommy, look! I-queem!” About the same time, Mrs. Johnson was unpacking the candles and candleholders and we both got emotional. We cried and hugged and the Johnsons’ insisted that I stay and eat with them. I wasn’t supposed to. I was supposed to just deliver the food and leave, but how could I refuse such a gracious family?

I signed up to do this for the five years I lived in Texas and it was some of the best Thanksgiving holidays I ever had. Now I have a wonderful husband to share Thanksgiving with. No matter how you celebrate Thanksgiving, the holiday can be less stressful if you use some of the following tips:

- Make a plan: Decide what you are going to do for the holiday now.

- Start a tradition where each guest or family member shares one thing they are thankful for.

- Get the house cleaning out of way early in the week. Book now if you plan to have a professional clean for you.

- Prepare side dishes and desserts ahead of time and freeze.

- Plan a menu. Decide what you are going to serve, write it down and stick to it.

- Frozen turkeys take 3-4 days to thaw in the refrigerator. Don’t forget to take your bird out of the freezer in time to allow for the thawing.

- Consider inviting a single friend or neighbor to join your family.

- Have some games on hand for the children to enjoy so the adults can watch ballgames, converse or nap after dinner.

- Make a grocery list and shop for non-perishables early.

- Have some disposable containers on hand so everyone can have a “to go” snack.

- Get out your serving dishes several days ahead of time. Label them with sticky notes. Others can help you dish up just by putting the stuffing in the bowl marked stuffing and so forth.

- Set the table the day before or at least early Thanksgiving morning.

- Mashed potatoes or other vegetables can be made ahead and kept warm in the crockpot.

- Cut up vegetables the day before and store in the fridge in zip bags.

- Consider just fixing the turkey and make the rest of the meal potluck.

- If you are terribly busy, most grocery stores sell ready made holiday meals. If you decide to use this option, keep in mind you still have to put in your order several days to a week ahead of time.

- Start yet another new Thanksgiving tradition by taking a walk after the meal.

Grateful for Routines

Once again I am grateful for having routines. I am writing this blog post from the waiting room at St. Vincent's hospital in Beaverton, Oregon. My father-in-law came in yesterday for what was supposed to have been routine tests and possibly stents down the road. It turns out that his heart blockage is more serious and he was scheduled for quaduple by-pass surgery today.

I am grateful that I have wonderful clients that didn't mind being rescheduled for later in the week so I could be with my husband and his family today.

I am grateful that I have routines so we have clean laundry, a car full of gas, the bills paid and a fridge & pantry full of food so we can just drop everything and be here for Dad.

I am grateful for my husband that has allowed me and my organizing ways into his life and loves every minute of it. Well, most of them anyway.

I am grateful to be a part of two loving families...mine and his.'

I am grateful for routines so that I have clean sheets to fall in between tonight after this very tiring day.

I am grateful.

Getting Ready for Winter

Brrrr! Get ready for the cold, winter season before it hits. Here is a checklist of things to do to be organized and ready for Old Man Winter:

__ Schedule a heating system maintenance call. A technician can clean the burners and fan, lubricate moving parts, and change the filter.

__ If you have a humidifier, clean & check it and replace the filter.

__ If you use a pellet stove, order pellets to be delivered now.

__ Have the car serviced before winter. Check the tire treads and pressure, the battery and all fluid levels. Replace windshield wipers.

__ Clean and store summer clothing, if you haven’t already.

__ Check windows and doors for any cracks and gaps and seal with weatherstripping and caulk. According to the Department of Energy, you can save up to 10% on your heating bill by doing this.

__ Clean out your entry closet and make sure you have hangers for winter coats. Take winter coats and accessories out of storage. Check to see if anything needs to be cleaned.

Trick or Treat? Organizing Tricks for Halloween

Halloween has changed dramatically since I was a little girl. Then, Halloween was asking Mom for an old sheet or raiding her fabric stash and then fashioning my own costume with lots of imagination. Then I got to visit a few of the neighbors (most of whom were relatives) for treats and that was pretty much it. Fun, but not the production that Halloween has become these days.

Now, stores have two or three aisles of costumes, another two or three of various candies, and yet another two or three of decorations and even orange lights. Grocery stores have huge piles of pumpkins to be carved. There are Halloween parties for kids and adults alike. Adults have theme parties and dinners.

With more Halloween “stuff” and activities comes scheduling, time management and storage issues. Here are some tricks for making your Halloween preparations a treat:

Decorating. Early in the month is the time to take out your autumn decorations and decorate your house.

Start planning what your children will need of Halloween costumes. The earlier you shop for costumes, the better the selection.

Candy and treats are displayed and on sale now for Halloween. Go ahead and stock up.

Choose a pumpkin for dual purposes. Carving a pumpkin has become a fun family tradition. Start a new Halloween tradition and use the meat of the pumpkin and bake a pumpkin pie as a family project.

RSVP for any parties for you and/or your children now. Note the commitments on your calendar so as not to over schedule.

Remember the key to being organized for Halloween: Take down your decorations promptly, store them in a container in long term storage. Label the storage container for easy retrieval next year.

Shop for new Halloween decorations the next day or two after Halloween, when prices are slashed. Think about where you are going to store decorations before shopping. Purge old decorations. Store and label the new decorations right away.

Have a safe and fun Halloween!

Fall Organizing Projects

Fall is a time of new beginnings…the beginning of the school year, the beginning of the fourth business quarter and changing weather. Fall can be a good time to start new organizing projects, too.

Here are some suggestions for projects to help you get organized this fall season:

Change out your wardrobe. Go through last year’s fall and winter clothes. See what you want to keep and what you want to donate. Put the clothes to donate in a box or bag and take immediately to the car to be dropped off. Don’t clutter your closet with the donations. Do it now instead of later. Once you have determined what clothes you have left, then you can see what pieces you need to make your fall wardrobe complete.

Wash outside windows. Fall is a great time to wash the dust of summer off your windows. You want them to be as sparkling clean as possible to bring in the fall and winter light.

Sort toys: Sort through children’s toys before the holiday season. Have your children help you put the ones they no longer play with in a large box to be donated. Explain to them how they are blessing other children that won’t be getting new toys for the holidays. Praise them for being kind and giving.

Landscaping: Fall is the time to prune back perennials, plant bulbs and mulch flower beds to be ready for next spring.

Hose it. Drag out bikes, lawn mowers, plastic garbage bins and any other items that can be washed into your driveway on a sunny fall day. Hose them down, let them dry and then store back in the garage.

Sweep it. While the stuff from your garage is drying in the driveway is a great time to sweep out the garage.

Holiday shopping: Do your holiday shopping now so you can enjoy the holiday season in November and December with your family instead of rushing to the crowded stores.

Plastic Shopping Bags are like Bunnies

Plastic shopping bags are like bunnies...they multiply. Decide how many bags you need to keep and contain them. (I suggest no more than 10.)









Contain them in a wall unit or under cabinet dispenser.



Here are some uses to recycle and use those bags:

• Carry dirty gym clothes or wet clothing


• pet waste container (at the park or on walks)


• small trash can liners


• extra odor protection for diapers in garbage


• give to the local farmers market to use for bagging produce


• ask if your library takes them for patrons' use


• keep a couple in the car for trash and wet umbrellas


• use for shoes in your suitcase


• take a few in your suitcase for soiled laundry

10 Tips to Work More Effectively at Your Desk

1. Handle each piece of paper only once, keep paperwork moving.

2. Remove all the papers from your desk you are not working on. This prevents lost or mixed up files.

3. Put limits on visits and phone calls, if you can.

4. Use your high productivity hours for your top priority projects.

5. Establish a place for everything and put it back in its place.

6. Concentrate on one task at a time.

7. Do not over schedule. Leave some time each day free from appointments.

8. Tackle time-consuming projects in stages.

9. Plan your day the last 15 minutes of the day before.

10. Write down your ideas.

10 More Ideas for Taking Care of Yourself

1. Have lunch with a friend.

2. Visit a pet shelter and pet an animal.

3. Try a new restaurant.

4. Spend time with a child doing something childish.

5. Work out.

6. Give a hug.

7. Pick something off your list of favorite activities and do it.

8. Blow bubbles

9. Color in a coloring book.

10. Fix something that is broken.

10 Random Ideas for Taking Care of Yourself

Want to be healthier, more balanced, more peaceful and less stressed? Start taking time for yourself. Here are 10 ways to get started:

1. Listen to your favorite music for 15 minutes without getting out of your chair.
2. Read a book just for pleasure.
3. Sign up for a fun class.
4. Turn off the phones for a day.
5. Buy yourself a present...just because.
6. Watch an old comedy and laugh out loud.
7. Watch a sunset.
8. Watch a sunrise.
9. Call a long distance friend.
10. Make a list of what you would do if you had time.

Top 10 Reasons We Procrastinate

1. Fear of Failure
2. Feeling Overwhelmed
3. Avoidance
4. Low Self-Esteem
5. Undervaluing the Reward of Completion
6. Resentment
7. Low Priority
8. Perfectionism
9. Lazy
10. Lack of Commitment

From the No More Chaos Inbox: Email

Dear Beryl,

I was on vacation for a week and I have thousands of emails in my inbox. I am totally overwhelmed. How can I regain control? Help!!!

Susan


Dear Susan,

Schedule 15 minutes a day to work on your email. Focus only on emails during that 15 minutes. No phone calls, no interruptions. Take each email one at a time and make a decision. The decision: put it in a folder, respond to it or delete it. Do that with each email...one at a time. Do this for 15 minutes every day until the backlog is caught up. You will be amazed at how many you can get done in 15 minutes.

Beryl

Organizing Your Office – Top 10 Things Every Office Needs to be Organized

1. A good calendar to keep track of events – paper or electronic, whichever works for you.

2. A label maker. Label every cord, file and bin so you know what’s in it.

3. Action File. Portable file container that holds papers that correspond to appointments on your calendar. This file will hold play tickets, school forms, directions to client’s businesses or home, plane tickets, travel lists, etc.

4. A business card binder, file box or scanner.

5. Garbage can.

6. A shredder.

7. Supply cabinet/closet/drawer.

8. Off site records storage. Don’t keep archived files in with your active files. This storage could be a seldom used area of your office, a closet, or the attic, etc.

9. Small bins/boxes. They keep small things organized and together to maximize space in your drawers and on your shelves.

10. Letter opener. A letter opener may not be necessary, but it sure beats having paper cuts and they are so inexpensive.

11 Tips for Working More Effectively

1. Control interruptions. Limit visits and phone calls.
2. There are only three things you can do with a piece of paper. FAT - File it, Act on it or Toss it.
3. Keep only the project or papers you are working on out on your desk. Put away other files and papers.
4. Keep like items together and put everything back in its place.
5. Take breaks and relax every so often.
6. Doing one thing at a time will help you focus and get tasks done quicker.
7. Do not schedule 100% of your day. Leave at least 30% for interruptions.
8. Break projects into small, manageable tasks.
9. Do your most important tasks during your peak energy level time.
10. Determine your priorities before you start the day. Use the last 15 minutes of the day before to plan for tomorrow.
11. Write everything down. Appointments, ideas, phone numbers, people's names...everything.

Turn off the lights!

Gas in Lebanon, Oregon, at the time I am writing this, is $4.25 a gallon. As high as gas is, I think groceries have risen even higher. We sat down and came up with a list of things we could do to cut our expenses.

Here is what we came up with:

(1) My husband found a buddy at work that lives in our area and they are carpooling three days a week.

(2) My husband asked his boss if he could work four 11-hour days rather than five 9 hour days to save driving another day. His boss agreed to try it.

(3) I have been checking out a local farm and produce stand for fresh fruits and veggies.

(4) I am using coupons for household and cleaning supplies and looking for sales to match up with the coupons.

(5) I have always planned menus and made a grocery list, but now I am taking a calculator with me grocery shopping and setting a limit for what I spend.

(6) My parents always taught me to turn out the lights when I leave a room. My husband has a nasty habit of leaving on the lights. He has left them on ALL night before! He is working on creating a habit of turning them off.

(7) Instead of just turning off my computer at night, I am turning off the computer, the printer, both monitors, the battery backup, the mouse charger and whatever else is plugged in down there.

I would love to see your comments on what you are doing differently to cut expenses.

Old Timey Household Tips

My uncle, knowing I am an organizer, sent me these tips as a joke. Actually,
some of them are valid, but I am presenting them to you as my uncle did to me,
with humor in mind. Try them at your own risk especially the one about hiding
the dead body!

A sealed envelope - Put in the freezer for a few hours, then slide a knife under the flap. The
envelope can then be resealed. (hmmmmmm...)
============================================

Use empty toilet paper roll to store appliance cords. It keeps them neat and you can write on the
roll what appliance it belongs to.
============================================

For icy door steps in freezing temperatures: get warm water and put dish washing liquid in it.
Pour it all over the steps. They won't refreeze. (Wish I had known this for the last 40 years!)
============================================

To remove old wax from a glass candle holder, put it in the freezer for a few hours. Then take
the candle holder out and turn it upside down. The wax will fall out.
=================================================

Crayon marks on walls? This works wonderfully! A damp rag, dipped in baking soda. Comes off
with little effort (elbow grease that is!).
============================================

Permanent marker on appliances/counter tops (like store receipt BLUE!) rubbing alcohol on a paper towel.
=============================================

Whenever I purchase a box of S.O.S Pads, I immediately take a pair of Scissors and cut each pad
into halves. After years of having to throw away rusted and unused and smelly pads, I finally
decided that this would be much more economical. Now a box of S.O.S pads last me indefinitely!
In fact, I have noticed that the scissors get 'sharpened'' this way!
=============================================

Blood stains on clothes? Not to worry! Just pour a little hydrogen peroxide on a cloth and
proceed to wipe off every drop of blood. Works every time! (Now, where to put the body?)
=============================================

Use vertical strokes when washing windows outside and horizontal for inside windows. This way
you can tell which side has the streaks.

Straight vinegar will get outside windows really clean. Don't wash windows on a sunny day. The
will dry too quickly and will probably streak.
============================================

Spray a bit of perfume on the light bulb (when bulb is cold) in any room to create a lovely light
scent in each room when the light is turned on.
============================================

Candles will last a lot longer if placed in the freezer for at least 3 hours prior to burning.
=============================================

To clean artificial flowers, pour some salt into a paper bag and add the flowers. Shake vigorously
as the salt will absorb all the dust and dirt and leave your artificial flowers looking like new!
Works like a charm!
=============================================

To easily remove burnt on food from your skillet, simply add a drop or two of dish soap and
enough water to cover bottom of pan, and bring to a boil on stove top.
==============================================

Spray your plastic ware with nonstick cooking spray before pouring in tomato based sauces and
there won't be any stains.
=============================================

Wrap celery in aluminum foil when putting in the refrigerator and it will keep for weeks.
=============================================

When boiling corn on the cob, add a pinch of sugar to help bring out the corn's natural
sweetness.
=============================================

Cure for headaches: Take a lemon, cut it in half, and rub it on your forehead. The throbbing will
go away.
=============================================

Don't throw out all that leftover wine: Freeze into ice cubes for future use in casseroles and
sauces. Left over wine? What's that? :)
=============================================

To get rid of itch from mosquito bites, try applying soap on the area and you will experience
instant relief.
=============================================

Ants, ants, ants everywhere. Well, they are said to never cross a chalk line. So, get your chalk
out and draw a line on the floor or wherever ants tend to march. See for yourself.
============================================

When you get a splinter, reach for the scotch tape before resorting to tweezers or a needle.
Simply put the scotch tape over the splinter, And then pull it off. Scotch tape removes most
splinters painlessly and easily.
=====================================

Now look what you can do with Alka Seltzer........

Clean a toilet. Drop in two Alka Seltzer tablets; wait twenty minutes, brush and flush.
The citric acid and effervescent action clean vitreous china.

Clean a vase. To remove a stain from the bottom of a glass vase or cruet, fill with water and
drop in two Alka Seltzer tablets.

Polish jewelry. Drop two Alka Seltzer tablets into a glass of water and immerse the jewelry for
two minutes.

Clean a thermos bottle. Fill the bottle with water, drop in four Alka Seltzer tablets, and let soak
for an hour (or longer, if necessary).

Unclog a drain. Clear the sink drain by dropping three Alka Seltzer tablets down the drain
followed by a cup of white vinegar. Wait a few minutes, and then run the hot water.

Makes you wonder about ingesting Alka Seltzer, doesn't it?

3 Habits to Break to be Organized

1. Don't have a catch-all spot in your home or office. A mountain of clutter will form there and you will have to expend a lot of energy to get rid of it. You will never seem to have enough time or motivation to tackle it. Put things back where they belong to eliminate catch-all spots. If the belonging doesn't have a home, create one for it or decide whether you actually need it.

2. Don't try to accomplish all your organizing goals in one day. You will get overwhelmed and frustrated trying to do too much at once. Do a little daily until you finish.

3. Don't put off tasks until tomorrow. If you need to start organizing, start today. Just start!

Simplify: 7 Tips for Simplifying Your Life

A dear friend gave a lot of thought to a birthday gift for me last year. She knows that I don’t care much for gifts that create clutter so she gave me a metal sign in large, bold letters that spells “Simplify”. What a perfect gift for me! I had just the place to hang it in my office. It reminds me as I am writing and working on ideas for my organizing clients what organizing is about.

Here are 7 tips for simplifying your life:

1. Simplify your work day. Reduce interruptions and stay focused on the task at hand. Turn off your email and phone if you are working on an important project. Set aside routine time for business reading and for working on projects.

2. Simplify your desk. Clear your desk of unnecessary papers and knick-knacks. If you don’t use something on your desktop daily, put it in a drawer or on a bookshelf to free up your work space.

3. Simplify task completion. Focus on one task at a time instead of multi-tasking. One finished task is worth more than three unfinished ones.

4. Simplify your surroundings. Eliminate clutter. Clear out your closets, chests, pantry and cabinets. If you don’t use it, love it or need it – lose it!

5. Simplify cleaning. You can’t clean clutter. Simplify your cleaning by completely de-cluttering first. Cleaning becomes simple, easy and quick when you are not trying to clean around stuff.

6. Simplify your schedule. To keep your schedule simple, think twice before adding anything new. Before signing up for another activity or starting a new hobby, decide what you will give up in its place.

7. Simplify shopping. Avoid running out of staples and making last minute trips to the store by keeping an extra of regularly used items on hand. When you get the last of an item out of the pantry or cabinet, put it on your grocery list immediately to pick up next trip.

Saved By My To-Do List

Even organizers have "those days" once in a while. I had something on my mind yesterday and was stressing. I know better than to worry or let things I can't control bother me, but sometimes it just happens.

My to-do list saved me. Every evening before I CFB (close for business), I choose the things from my Master List that I want to get done the next day. That is my to-do list.

My Master List is a list of all my thoughts, ideas, tasks to be done, wants, needs...all the stuff rattling around in my head. I write it all down so I don't lose my thoughts and ideas or forget something important or even the small stuff.

As I mentioned, my to-do list is the things I want to accomplish that day. Yesterday, when my mind was elsewhere, I would lose focus, but my to-do list kept bringing my mind back to where I needed to be and helped me get back on track. I won't say it was my most productive day, but I did manage to get the most important tasks on the list done. As distracted as I was, the day would have been a complete waste without my to-do list.

Handy Storage Containers

Here are a couple of pictures of favorite storage containers I like to use for clients and for myself. You can buy these at Staples, in the store and online. I know the black ones are readily available online. Sometimes the stores (and it varies from store to store) will have them in colors, too. I have seen navy and also striped.

The containers snap together and hold a multitude of items. You can use them closed or open for taller items. The lid makes a nice tray when you are using them open.

My tip for buying storage containers. Don't buy them until after you have sorted through the items you want to store and know what size and how many you need.

I Love My Blackberry

When I started my organizing business, I soon discovered that I needed to have phone numbers and access to my calendar everywhere I went. When I am at networking events or conducting workshops, people want to schedule consultations. When I am at a client's business or house, they want to make their next appointment.

I use Outlook as my calendar, address book, to-do list and more. I love using Outlook. At first I was printing out a couple of weeks worth of dates and trying to schedule that way. I quickly realized that I needed a better system.

I decided to get a Blackberry. I needed a new cell phone anyway. My old one had SIM card (whatever that is) error messages at least once a day. My needs were a phone that allowed me to enter contact names & information and calendaring. I knew I wanted a QUERTY keyboard so I could enter things easier while out and about. Most importantly, I wanted a phone that I could sych with Outlook and transfer information with a click.

The Blackberry does all that and more! I now recommend it to my busy business clients and stay-at-home moms alike. Moms need a good calendar for their families busy schedule and often need contact information while away from home. No need to carry a big bulky calendar or planner, when the Blackberry can hold all that information. You are going to carry a phone anyway!

The Blackberry is a real time-saver for me. And I am all about saving time!

7 Tips for Meal Planning

I attended a ladies brunch at my church last Saturday. During a question and answer session after the two speakers, the topic was brought up about meal planning and what to do for those days when you don't have time to think about dinner plans, much less actually cook! Our pastor's wife asked that we send her tips for meal planning, which she is going to compile to share with our members. I wanted to share with you what I shared with the church ladies.

Tip 1. My mom would be the first to tell you she is not a cook. However, she had three tried and true meals that she could make well and fell back on (a lot.)

1. Baked chicken
Baked potatoes
Baked beans
Brown & Serve rolls

Bake the first three for one hour, add the rolls and serve it all after the rolls are golden.

2. Baked Ham
Baked potatoes
Baked beans
Brown & Serve rolls

Bake the first three for one hour, add the rolls and serve it all after the rolls are golden.

3. Spaghetti
Salad
Brown & Serve rolls with butter and garlic on top

So…the tip here is: Have a couple of tried and true recipes that are quick and easy. Always keep the ingredients for those meals on hand and you’ll be ready for whatever life hurls at you that day.

Tip 2. Crockpot cooking. Defrost and even put the ingredients in the crock the night before and refrigerate. Pop the crock into the pot in the morning, turn it on and forget about it until time to serve.

Tip 3. Cook ahead and freeze for those days. Foods that freeze well: Pasta sauces, most casseroles, baked ziti, lasagna, red beans & rice, soups, stews. The nice thing about most of these type dishes…they cook well in the crockpot so combine Tips 2 and 3 for really streamlining your cooking!

Tip 4. Meal planning is very important. Why? Because if you don’t plan what you are going to prepare, then how do you know if you have all the ingredients on hand? I don’t mean a diehard list that you must have chicken, rice & broccoli for dinner on Monday, May 12th, but just jot down some menus. Then buy the items you need to make all the items on the list. Then on Sunday night, May 11th, you just choose from the list what you want to fix on May 12th. Another reason meal planning is important is to take advantage of the grocery store specials and seasonal specialty items. We can all use some help trimming our food budget these days. Shopping and then using the on-special items really does save.

Tip 5. Plan ahead. Look at your calendar for what is coming up during the week. If you have a late meeting or a sports event on Tuesday night, then you will know and can plan a crockpot meal, or soup/sandwiches or pizza out that night. Don’t wait until the last minute to decide on what to fix. A little planning ahead relieves a lot of stress.

Tip 6. Sign up for my free weekly e-newsletter that has a new recipe plus other tips and information in it every week. The recipes are tested, nutritious and are geared for people with busy lives. You can sign up on the home page of the No More Chaos website at http://www.nomorechaos.biz/

Tip 7. Cooking and meal planning is much easier in an organized kitchen. Check out articles on my website, http://www.nomorechaos.biz/ for kitchen organizing articles such as, Clutter Free Kitchen Counters, What’s for Dinner, Parts 1 and 2 (about meal planning) and Cleaning out the Pantry. Once on the website, click on Article Archives to find these articles and lots more.

New Organizing Product Review - Rubbermaid Pan Stacker

There are several sites that I frequently check out for new organizing gadgets and storage ideas with Rubbermaid being one of them. Rubbermaid has a new kitchen cabinet storage idea called a Pan Stacker. I love it!

The Pan Stacker has room for 5 pans and/or lids. Think of the space this frees up in your pots and pans storage cabinet!

The problem is...I can't find a Pan Stacker to buy. The Rubbermaid website states the Pan Stacker is not for sale on its website. I contacted the Rubbermaid Company about where to purchase the Pan Stacker. They did email me back and said to try Target. My local Target is not carrying the Pan Stacker nor did I find it at Target online. Rubbermaid also said to try the Everything Rubbermaid online store. I did, but they aren't carrying the Pan Stacker either.

So...I have written Rubbermaid again and told them that I would love to purchase a Pan Stacker for my personal use and would like to recommend the Pan Stacker to my clients, but can't if I can't find it. I'll let you know if I get any more response from Rubbermaid.

Vacation and Unpacking

I got home from vacation last night at 6pm. We (husband, Steve and I) were gone eight days. By 6:30pm we had unpacked all three suitcases, put them away and started a load of laundry. Sure, I was tired, but unpacked suitcases causes chaos. By not unpacking immediately, it would have taken me much longer to get moving this morning...not to mention I would not have had anything clean to wear!

Here's how we got done so quickly:

1. Emptied the carry-on bag which was filled with snacks and books. Steve put away the unused snacks and put our books on the end table in the living room, while I started on my suitcase.

1. Opened my suitcase and sorted the dirty laundry into a three compartment sorter. (1 - brights, 2 - darks, and 3 - whites)

2. Filled up shampoo and other used toiletries and stowed the toiletry kit in the carry-on bag for our next trip.

3. Put my makeup back in its bathroom drawer and stowed the makeup bag in the carry-on bag.

4. Sorted the dirty laundry in Steve's suitcase. He refilled and put away his toiletry kit.

5. I started a load of laundry while Steve nested his smaller suitcase in my larger one and put them back in the hall closet along with the carry-on bag.

Less than 30 minutes and we were done!

Do You Hate Doing Laundry?

Most people hate doing laundry. Here are the main reasons that laundry is such a pain:

1. The drawers are too full. You dread doing laundry because putting the clothes away is hard. The drawers and closets are already too full and you are trying to add to them.

2. Too many clothes. The reason the drawers and closets are too full is you have too many clothes. In the past, you may have bought more and more clothes to keep from having to do laundry as often. The laundry piles just get bigger and bigger.

1. Dreading doing it. If the laundry piles up, the rest of the house seems piled up, too. Laundry is one of those chores that is never going to go away so just do it.

How to do laundry painlessly (well, as painlessly as possible):

1. Clean out the drawers and closets. Start with one drawer. One drawer will only take you 10 or 15 minutes. You can do this!

2. Do one load of laundry a day to stay caught up. You most likely have a washer and dryer, which does most of the work for you. Folding and putting away a load of clothes only takes 5 minutes. If you don't believe me, time it!

3. Stop dreading the laundry and just do it. Laundry is never going to go away. Just start a routine and stick to it. It is not so bad. Just do it, get it over with and GO PLAY!

Help! My desk doesn't have enough room for the bills!

Here is an email I got from a lady with a question about where to store her bills.

"I need to have a place to store my bills to be paid. My desk doesn't have enough room on it and has become an inferno! It doesn't seem to make sense to keep the bills in the kitchen when I actually pay them at the desk in the living room. Any suggestions of where to keep my bills (besides on my already too small desk) for little or no cost?"

1. A pretty box with a lid (I would suggest keeping the bills, stamps, envelopes, pen, etc., all together in the box to make bill paying easier. )
2. A tote bag
3. A used briefcase from the thrift store
4. A binder with pocket folders
5. An old purse
6. A manila envelope marked "bills"
7. A lunch box

Organizing Experts

One day last week I was at a business meeting. I was there a few minutes early and was chatting with some others that had already arrived. One of the women asked me a specific question about organizing. I answered her as fully as possible. She tried to argue with me! I just stopped the conversation and walked to get a drink of water to get away from her.

It amazes me at the "experts" out there! To ask me a question and then to argue about it is just ludicrous. How would she felt if I asked her a question about her profession and then argued when she tried to answer?

Leadership Program and Organizing

I belong to the Lebanon Area Chamber of Commerce in Oregon. One of the many programs the Chamber offers is Cascade Leadership Program. I joined the program because I thought it would be a great way to meet people and network. It has been, but it is so much more!

How the program works is...on the second Thursday of each month, the group gathers at the Lebanon Boys and Girls Club. A business or businesses in the area sponsors for the day. We are provided with muffins and fruit to start out the day. Each month has a different theme. For example, yesterday was Public Safety Day. We spend the entire day. This is a two year program. Next year, we'll be planning the program for the freshman group coming in.

Back to Public Safety Day. We started out at the Lebanon Fire Department. We were given a presentation, learned about the Fire-Med program, among many other things and was given a tour of the facility, especially the trucks and equipment. Then, the highlght of the experience was getting to put on a fire helmet and being lifted 95 feet straight up in the air in the ladder truck! By the way, those helmets are heavy!

Then we traveled to Albany to the Linn County Sheriff's Dept. One of the Captains gave us a presentation about the Sheriff's Dept, a Detective told us about their Search and Rescue program and then we were served lunch. After lunch, we got an extensive tour of the 911/dispatching office and the jail. I am 40-something years old and have never been inside a jail so what an eye opening experience!

We completed the day with a trip to the Lebanon Police Dept. We were given the grand tour and was also given a demonstration of tazers.

You are probably asking...what does this have to do with organizing?

• I am impressed with last year's group and how well they have organized each day.


• I get to spend seven or eight hours with a group of business owners each month. We get to know each other really well!


• I get to meet people that I normally wouldn't meet if not for this program. I go home and send a thank you card to each person that has taken the time of their busy day to teach us. New contacts!


• I have gotten to know a group of people that cares about each other and wants to see each other succeed in business. We are happy to refer others to each other.


• I see some organized workspaces, some not-so-organized workspaces, and some that have been very creative with the limited space and resources they have. All the scenerios inspire me and help me to be more creative for my clients.

Let's "Go Play"

When I started No More Chaos, one of my goals was to help those frustrated by being unorganized. That is still my goal. I want EVERYONE to have routines and systems in place to do what they have to do quickly and easily so they can get on with life...doing what they want to do.

Anyone that has a home, whether buying or renting, has laundry, dishes and certain chores that never, ever go away. We all have certain papers we have keep and be able to find.

Anyone that has a business has paperwork and filing to stay on top of.

The quicker and easier we get those necessary chores out of the way, we quicker we can get to playing or working or realizing our goals. It really is that simple!

When my son was growing up and would grumble about having to do household chores, I would tell him that "there is no men's work or women's work. It is all work and all has to be done. The sooner we get it done, the sooner we can go play."

That is the concept behind my organizing business. I want to help people put simple systems into place so they have time to "go play".

7 Tips for Organizing the Kitchen

I recently taught a workshop about Meal Planning and Organizing the Kitchen. Here are some of the tips for organizing the kitchen I shared with the workshop participants:

1. Start with surface clutter. Surface clutter is stuff on the countertops, stuff on top of the fridge, stuff on the table and chairs that belongs in the cabinets or even in another room.

2. Clean off the fridge. Get rid of the cutesy little magnets and pieces of paper on the fridge. Your kitchen will look instantly less cluttered.

3. Take baby steps. Start in one corner of the kitchen and work your way around the room. Organize one cabinet or one drawer at a time.

4. Containerize. Airtight containers keep food fresher longer and makes it easier to see what food you have and what you need.

5. Eliminate seldom used gadgets and small appliances. Consider how much room these items take. Ask yourself how often you use them.

6. Purge your cookbooks. Chances are, most of your cookbooks only have a few recipes you really want to keep. Pare down the cookbook collection by donating or giving away those cookbooks. Copy out only the recipes you will use.

7. Make your stuff fit your space. Beware of warehouse shopping. Do you have room for a case of ketchup or 20 rolls of paper towels? Put like items together. Consider creating a pantry if you don't have one. What about making a pantry in a corner of the garage or basement or in a under-used hall or linen closet by adding sturdy shelving.

Blogging at Last!

Here I am...blogging at last. I want to start my first post about saying no. I have no problem saying no. I am Southern (from North Carolina) living in Oregon. (My husband is an Oregonian so that's how I ended up here.) I talk so polite and sweet compared to Northwesterners that they take my no's quite well. People keep asking me where I am from and where did I get that accent. My pat reply is "What accent? I talk perfectly normal. Ya'll are the ones with the accent!"

Some, ok many, of my clients, have a problem saying no. They feel guilty and end up overbooking their time, feel pressured and even resenting the task they have taken on.

Here are a few ways to say no without alienating the asker or hurting his/her feelings:

1. Say "I have another commitment." The asker doesn't have to know that your commitment is to watch Biggest Loser, play with your child or have dinner with your spouse. Just say "I have another commitment" and stop.

2. Say "I'm not taking on any new projects right now." You are implying that your schedule is full, but doesn't leave the impression that you just don't want to help.

3. Say "My calendar is full." Being filled means you have scheduled as much as you are willing.