For Men’s Eyes Only … Shhh!

Reminder: Mother’s Day is this Sunday, May 9th!

Not sure what to give your sweetie for Mother’s Day this year? We’ve got an idea we think she’ll love! Give her the Gift of Time. This is a gift that won’t add clutter to her life and that she’s sure to appreciate.

Most Mom’s we know are constantly giving of themselves. Often putting others first means that their needs, wants and desires are a second (or last) thought.

When my husband asked me what I wanted for Mother’s Day this year, it wasn’t anything material that came to my mind, it was that I wanted time! Time with my family, time to myself, time with my husband, time to do the things that I don’t get to but would like to do (or have done) … these are the things I wish someone could give to me.

We have a couple of suggestions:

1. Give her a gift certificate to a service provider that can save her time. Think house cleaner, gardener, handy-man (unless you’re caught up on your “honey-do” list or love to do these things yourself), baby sitter, Professional Organizer (hint hint). These professionals can take tasks off her hands, or even show her how to save time or make her life easier.

2. Bring us in to do some Productivity Consulting with you at work so we can help you get more done in less time and send you home earlier each day to enjoy your family (and so they can enjoy more time with you!). Your wife will appreciate the efforts you make to get home earlier or more consistantly.

3. Do the same for your wife if she works outside the home. Send us in to her office for a Productivity Consultation. If we can help her get more done efficiently and effectively at work, she’ll have more time for herself.

4. Arrange for a date-night (you get the sitter, make the plans and give her the gift of experience). Enjoy the time together as she enjoys not having to make any of the arrangements!

5. Send her out for some “me-time”. Get her a gift-certificate for a day spa, or a cooking class (if she’s find that enjoyable), or surprise her by having a girl friend of hers swing by to take her on a hike. While she’s away, do one or two things around the house that she would normally do. Not only does she enjoy the time away to “recharge”, but she comes home to a few things checked off her list. Double gift!

You get the idea. The Gift of Time is usually high on her list and is a great option (not to mention that its easy to arrange last minute … just in case you’ve put off getting a gift, or have forgotten that Mother’s Day is just days away).

Let us know how it goes and let us know if we can help you out!

Happy Mother’s Day to the women in your life. And don’t worry, your turn is next month!

First steps to Getting Organized in the New Year

Happy New Year!!!

It’s the first official business day of 2010. Are you one of millions of Americans who have resolved to Get Organized?

Start with making sure you have closure on the “things” involved with the Holiday Season of 2009. Put away any decorations used or new items received during the holidays and set your intentions for a fabulous year ahead.

Here are a few tips to help you get started:

Clear the holiday clutter.

Gather all holiday decorations and prepare to put them away.  As you do, take a close look at the decorations themselves.  Don’t pack up or put away things you won’t use again next year.  Toss broken lights and ornaments and donate items you just don’t love anymore.

Let go of holiday cards and greetings you recieved. If you’ve kept them up to this point because you feel funny about tossing them, you have my permission to do so! Quickly take one last look at each one, appreciate the sentiment that came with them, and then recycle. (OK, if there is one or two that are particularly meaningful, heartfelt or special, put them into a memory box or file for safe keeping and to look back on in the years ahead.)

Pack things up for the next holiday season.

Clear plastic bins are great for storing holiday decorations.  Be sure to group like items together and label all of your bins.  Try to store all holiday decorations in one area.  This will make it easier next season when you go to decorate your home or office. Since these items are pulled out and returned only once a year, its appropriate to have them tucked away. Get them out of the way and make sure they don’t block items you use more regularly.

At places like Storables and The Container Store, they have containers specifically made to hold ornaments, wreaths, wrapping paper, etc.  If you have the budget to invest in new organizing products, a few of these items can be very useful in containing your holiday related supplies and decorations.

Find a home for any new items you received over the holidays.

Want to find what you need, when you need it? Establish a “home” for all of the new items that came into your life during the holidays.  Find the right spot, and then commit to putting things back away where they belong when you are done using them. This is a huge time saver for the next occasion you need to find something!

Reflect on 2009 and set intentions for 2010.

If you haven’t done so already, take a little time to reflect on the year that has just passed…what accomplishments have you made, what challenges did you face and what do you want to do differently this year?

Set your intentions for 2010.  What do you intend to do, accomplish and have in 2010?  What will it take to make that happen? Take some time right now, to reflect and write down your goals for the upcoming year.

Want to hear a few more ideas on how to get organized in the New Year? Listen to the our interview on Let’s Talk by Jennifer Malocha, where we share a few of these ideas and more.

An Easy Button for your Holiday Cards

Want to get your holiday cards (or “anytime” correspondence) sent out quickly and painlessly with the click of a button?  Send Out Cards allows you to send a real card, with a real stamp, even in your handwriting if you choose, online and easily. You can send a card one at a time, or create a card and send it to a group of people in the same amount of time as it takes to send one card.

When first introduced to Send Out Cards, we thought it was pretty cool, but it wasn’t until we started using it more that we saw the possibilities. We were so excited about how this could help our clients organize their correspondence and make their “keep in touch” efforts easier, that we became a distributor for Send Out Cards so we could help spread the word.

Contact us  for a trial account and send a card or two out on us.  We’re convinced this is a great way to organize and create systems around your correspondence.  Send Out Cards is a fantastic tool to help you get in touch, keep in touch and stay “top of mind.”  Follow through on promptings; build your personal and professional relationships today.  Your life will be richer for it  in many ways. Your business can benefit by using Send Out Cards as a very personal, customizable marketing tool. Stand out from the masses. Who doesn’t like getting a hand written card in the mail amongst all the junk and impersonal mail we normally get. What type of mail do you get excited about and open first when you see it? Point made!

Send Out Cards is efficient, organized, productive and economical. We’d be happy to tell you more about it or answer your questions. Just ask.

Let us know  what you think about this “out of the box” organization and productivity tool that we’ve found beneficial.  We love to share great ideas when we come across them!

That was easy.

Tune In on December 1st!

Debbie was invited to be a guest on Sue Lundquist’s I’m Thankful Network radio show.  Sue’s show airs every Tuesday and Thursday morning at 9am PST.

 According to Sue, the mission for the I’m Thankful Network is to facilitate and create a safe environment for folks to come and get their tools to create a positive difference in their lives.  She says the Network is about Inspiration, Education and Collaboration. We’re excited to be a part!

 Please tune in next Tuesday, December 1st when Debbie will appear as guest on the I’m Thankful™ Network Radio Program.  Simply go to www.ImThankful.com and click the VIEW LIVE or LISTEN LIVE buttons.  Locally in Seattle, tune into 1150am ~ KKNW Alternative Talk Radio.  

Show host, Sue Lundquist, has asked Debbie to cover two topics for listeners:  Taming Family Chaos and A Simply Organized Holiday Season. I know Sue will have some great questions to ask, and Debbie has lots of easy strategies to share that really can Tame Family Chaos (through organization of time, space and stuff) and to Maximize Joy and Minimize Stress this holiday season.

We hope you are able to join us and listen in!

We’re in RachaelRay.com

 We were interviewed for an article on Holiday Organizing for Rachael Ray’s website recently and the article is now up!

You can read Katia Hetter’s article “Simplify the Season with some Organizing Tips” here. Let us know what you think.

If you’d like more organizing tips to help you maximize the joy and minimize the stress this holiday season, check out or Simply Organized Holidays products. The e-book, workbook, or money saving bundle can help you keep things simple and have the holidays you want.

Looking for some personal help? Take a look at our current organizing specials and let us know if one of them is just right for you.

Radio Waves

This morning I was interviewed by Jennifer Malocha, owner of Wuhoo Fitness and host of the “Let’s Talk” program on the Diva Toolbox Radio. We discussed lots of tips and ideas for an Organized Holiday Season.

If you missed the interview, but would like to listen to the recorded version, you can do so here.

It was a pleasure to be Jennifer’s guest. She is a smart, fun and savvy host. Thanks for having me Jennifer!

Want more of Simply Placed on the radio? Make sure to tune in on Tuesday, December 1st when I will appear as a guest on the I’m Thankful Network Radio Program. Simply go to www.imthankful.com and click the View Live or Listen Live buttons. Locally in Seattle, tune into 1150am – KKNW Alternative Talk Radio.

No Rinsing Required

My husband and son carving the bird and arranging the turkey platter

Real Simple Magazine always has great tips on organization and ideas on ways to save time. Today they posted something on their website that was news to me. I wanted to share it with you as it may save you a little time when it comes to meal preparation and cooking.

Real Simple reports that we do not need to wash or rinse poultry before cooking it. Skipping this step (they claim any bacteria will be cooked off during cooking anyway) not only saves prep time, but can save clean up time as well (thoroughly washing out your sink and cutting board to rid them of any bacteria from rinsing the poultry).

Read the article here and let me know what you think. Will this be a time saver for you? Does it make you nervous and you’ll continue rinsing anyway? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Thanksgiving is one week away. If you haven’t already planned out your meal or are hosting company and haven’t taken the time to create your action plan, consider our Meal Planning Made Easy System and/or Simply Organized Holidays e-book, workbook or bundle to show you ways to save time, money and stress, for this holiday and many more to come.

Happy Prepping!

Organizing Goal Achieved

Last year around this time, I was able to help a family de-clutter and organize their home.  When working with this client, I learned that they had not been able to host Thanksgiving at their home for years because they were embarrased of how their home looked and because they didn’t have “room” for their guests.  

After helping this family decide what to keep and what to let go of and then organizing the things they chose to keep, they were able to welcome family and friends into their home for the holidays.  I love working with clients to make a big difference in their lives.

One of the things I love most about being an organizer, is that I get to help inspire others to get organized and regain control of their home and life.

Let us know if you’re looking for some organizing inspiration. We’d be glad to be a resource.

Gifts that Won’t Cause Clutter

Whether you’re starting to put together a shopping list of gifts to buy or a “wish list” for yourself so you’re ready when someone asks, “so what you do want for the holidays this year?’ , here are some gift ideas to give or receive that won’t cause clutter.

Gifts of Choice – Any gift you’re sure the recipient wants, will use and love will not cause clutter.   Alternately, let them chose their gift by giving them gift cards to sites or stores with options to suit all, such as iTunes, Amazon or a collection of stores is also a convenient, flexible option sure to please even the most difficult to buy for.

Experience Gifts – Give the gift of experience instead of “stuff.”  Some ideas include: theater tickets, concert tickets or sporting events.  You could aslo arrange a “get away” and take care of the travel costs and travel plans for someone special.   Treat your recipient to indulgence they may not get for themselves – spa certificates, coffee house certificates, a cooking class, zoo membership, gym membership or their favorite restaurant.

Gifts of Time – Giving the gift of time can be something you do personally for the recipient or you could hire a service provider for them.   Give the gift of a personal trainer, a professional organizer (shameless, but well intended plug!), a house cleaner, a personal assistant or a personal chef!

Gift of the Month – Gift a gift that keeps on giving throughout the year with a gift of the month.  You can suprise your spouse with a coupon for a date night once a month or offer to wash their car once a month.

Gift of Memories – This year set aside extra time and create your own gift of memories.  Give a framed family picture to grandparents and relatives.  Create a scrapbook, a photobook or a personalized calendar for your friends or family member.

Consumable Gifts – Consider baking cookies, fudge, cake or other consumable treats and giving them to teachers, co-workers and friends.

Gifts that do Good – Give a gift with real meaning.  You could offer to contribute to a loved one’s college fund, volunteer or donate to your local food bank, plant a tree in someone’s name, or make a donation to your recipient’s favorite charity.

Keep these ideas in mind this year as you do your shopping or make your wish list. We’re sure the thought you put in to Clutter Free Gift Giving will be appreciated by those lucky enough to receive gifts from you.

Is That Still Good?

With the holidays fast approaching, now is the perfect time to clean out your pantry, refrigerator and freezer to make room for baking ingredients, make-ahead and freeze dishes, and holidays meals and treats!  When was the last time you took time to purge your food products?

When working with our residential clients in kitchens and pantries we often get asked the following questions: “how long you think that is good for?” or  ”is that still safe to eat?”  We recently came across a website that helps us answer these very questions.   www.stilltasty.com will help you determine how long to keep a product and the best way to store it.   Be sure to take a peak!

McCormick also has a website that helps us know the shelf life of a spice.  Check it out here!

Once you have taken the time to purge, it is important to implement a few new organizing habits.  Here are a few quick ideas for you to do now:

1. Group like food items together (ie. baking ingredients, canned goods, cereals, pasta, rice, snack food, etc.)

2. Use shelf organizers to increase visibility.  Ladder organizers work great for canned food and allow you to see what you have without having to spend a lot of time searching. See our post on some of our favorite organizing products for the kitchen and pantry for other great ideas that can help you contain your items and be able to see what you have.

3. Label shelves and/or containers so that all family members know where things go.

3. Always take an inventory of what you have before you make your grocery list.  Take the time to look in your pantry, refrigerator and freezer so you know what you have before going to the store.  This will save you money as you will no longer be buying duplicates of things you already have. Our Meal Planning Made Easy system helps you remember to do this each time and can save you time, money and stress with your meal planning week after week.

4.  Before hosting a dinner party, take time to clean out your refrigerator to make room for prepared food and left- overs.

We hope this will help you as you start thinking about Holiday meal planning and preparation.  Let us know if we can help you get your kitchen or pantry organized. Make sure to take advantage of one of our current special Pre-Holiday Organizing packages if you know you’d like some help. Alternately, you can get lots of other ideas on how to have an organized holiday season in our e-Book, Simply Organized Holidays, and/or our companion Organized Holiday workbook. Purchase them together for the best pricing.