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The Gift of Thanks

By Tanya Whitford, CPO® on November 27, 2013 No Comments

Many years ago, I got a wonderful voice-mail message from a colleague the day before Thanksgiving. She said she was thankful to have me in her life and shared what I meant to her. I don’t remember exactly what she said, but I do know that I listened to it many times and to this day the memory makes me smile. Someone took time out of their busy life to call me and tell me nice things!

This is the beginning of a very busy time of year. People will be out buying gifts and more gifts. But maybe the best gift of all is not a thing you buy in a store. Not a thing that might add clutter or go unused. Not a thing that will be played with for 7 seconds before moving onto the next thing. Maybe the best gift of all is to tell someone in person or call them on the phone and tell them how thankful you are to have them in your life. Not a tweet or a message on Facebook. Not an email or an e-card. An actual conversation or a voice-mail. That just might be the gift that means so much more and gets remembered years later.

Happy Thanksgiving! Thank you for reading this!

Categories : My Blog

Sick Days

By Tanya Whitford, CPO® on November 18, 2013 No Comments

At 2am on Halloween, my toddler started throwing up and it went on for hours. I got maybe 2 hours of sleep that night but thankfully she was feeling better by lunch time. We were having 35 people over for a Halloween party and things had to get done- sleep or no sleep. But under these new circumstances, adjustments had to be made. Less was going to have to be enough because there was no time or energy to do it all. Some friends helped out and we pulled off a wonderful party. With the party behind us, I thought it was time to catch up on things I had gotten behind on. Then I got sick and we realized this wasn’t a random sick day but a stomach bug. It was not a fun weekend and instead of catching up, I just got further behind. Not much you can do when you are exhausted and weak. Guess everything would have to wait again. I was too tired to even even catch up on my Tivo! Two days later, as I was starting to feel better, my other daughter got sick and had to stay home from school for two days. Then my husband got sick. For 7 days my whole family was either sick or trying to recover!

We never plan on getting sick. It always takes us by surprise. It throws everything off- schedules, plans, to do lists, chores, laundry, work, school- everything. When you have kids, you can’t do much when they are sick either because most kids, especially when they are young, need or want their parents to be with them at all times. In the end we just need to rest and take care of ourselves and our families and let everything else be not so important as getting better. Forget the living room that needs to be picked up or the emails that didn’t get answered fast enough. People will understand. Forget the blog post that was supposed to be be written or the errands that needed to be run. Things will simply have to be pushed back a few days.

Luckily, once we start to feel like our old selves, we are usually infused with some amazing energy. It feels so good to not be sick and be able to eat food that we might find ourselves getting all kinds of things done! It makes you appreciate each day when you feel good and can get even a few little things done.

Categories : My Blog

How Do You Get Organized?

By Tanya Whitford, CPO® on October 21, 2013 No Comments

What if you weren’t born organized? Is there still hope? Absolutely! You can always learn. There is no Rosetta Stone for organizing fluency or Cliff Notes to just get to the main points. There is not one best way to do it or a fool proof system that works for everyone. But there is a tremendous amount of information and resources out there to help you get organized in many different ways.

Here are some things to keep in mind as you begin your organizing journey:

1. Be kind to yourself. No sense in beating yourself up over past behaviors, purchases, or accumulated stuff. What matters now is that you are going to take a step forward and you are going to learn from your past.

2. Almost anything is progress. Forget about perfection. Don’t get caught up in trying to find the one best way or best product that will somehow be the miracle you have been waiting for. Doing something, no matter how small, is better than procrastinating and doing nothing.

3. Do what works for you- not what everyone else is doing. The amount of available programs, apps, and electronics is staggering. But if your paper calendar that you have been using for the last 18 years works for you- then keep using it. Don’t try and change to something newer and shinier just because everyone else seems to do it.

4. Don’t let guilt hold you back. Thoughts like,”but I spent so much money on this”, “but my grandmother gave that to me”, or “but I was supposed to be a size 2 again” can make it really hard to move forward. If you use it and love- great- keep it! But if you are keeping it only because you feel some sort of guilt about letting it go- then you need to learn to let it go. Free yourself from unnecessary guilt!

5. Organizing is not an event. It is a lifestyle. It takes time and effort to get organized and then time and effort to stay organized. It is not something you do one weekend and then you are done with organizing forever. Once the initial hard work is done, and some behaviors are changed, maintaining that organization gets easier and easier. It is a new way of handling your everyday life that ends up saving you time and stress.

6. Sometimes you need a professional. Let’s face it. We eat better if we have a personal chef. We train better (or actually get to the gym) if we have a personal trainer. All the cook books and exercise videos in the world are not as good as having that expert right by your side working on your specific issues. The same goes for organizing. There are lots of books and videos out there to help you- but sometimes, having a Professional Organizer by your side is the difference between actually getting things done and learning new skills or feeling hopeless and overwhelmed. Know when it is time to get help.

Happy Organizing!

Categories : Simple and Organized

Arrange Those Papers

By Tanya Whitford, CPO® on October 7, 2013 No Comments

One of my favorite products to handle papers are paperwork arrangers. I have been using them daily since before I was an organizer and couldn’t imagine not using them. Paperwork arrangers are basically 2 pieces of plastic sealed on 2 sides that allow you to hold papers in them and see the top page. It is a simple concept that makes a big difference. I use them for everything from client files to current projects to manage things like “Bills to Pay” and “To Do’s”. They don’t replace file folders in my file cabinet, but rather are the way I manage my active papers and the things that I need to carry around a lot. Any papers on my desk are in paperwork arrangers with a handy post it note to specify what it is from “Calls To Make” to “Review Insurance Policy”. Having no loose papers makes things easier. And paperwork arrangers simply feel organized!

Paperwork arrangers come in many different styles, colors, weights and prices. You can get them at any office supply store. Here are a few of my favorite ones and why:

1. Century-Safe Paperwork Arrangers from Century Business Solution– These are my main paperwork arrangers because they are very strong and last for years. I use both the 1/3 cut version and the regular straight edge. I like the clear ones and the colored ones- especially when I can get a whole pack of purple ones. These are on the expensive side, but they will last you a very long time.

2. The Pendaflex PileSmart QuickView Jackets with Write-On Tabs– What is unique about these paperwork arrangers is that they have a long colored edge along the bottom to write on and make these folders stand out when piled up. If you are a piler not a filer- these may be for you.

3. Avery Plastic Sleeves– These are very thin and not good to carry around papers, but they are perfect to be used inside file folders as a way to separate a small subgroup within a folder that does not warrant an entire folder to itself. They fit easily into file folders and make separating and grabbing small sections very simple.

If you already use paperwork arrangers then I am preaching to the choir here. What is your favorite kind? If you have never used them, it is time to give them a try. You will wonder how you lived without them!

Categories : Helpful Products, Paper

The Best Way to Fold Sheets and Towels

By Tanya Whitford, CPO® on September 23, 2013 No Comments

The best way to fold sheets and towels is…. not to fold them! That’s right. Don’t fold them! Wash them, dry them, and put them back on the bed. Wash them, dry them, and put them back on the hooks and towel bars. Then you never have to fold them. Get in the habit of doing laundry on the same day each week. For example, I wash all the towels late Saturday night. When I wake up in the morning, all the towels are dry and ready to hang back up before anyone else knows they are missing. On Sunday morning I wash all the sheets and the beds are ready for the kids’ nap- or mine if I were so lucky. I’d rather not spend time folding and unfolding sheets and towels. I have a back-up set should they be needed for guests or someone gets sick. But that back-up set sits on the shelf until needed.

If you are folding your sheets and towels, there are plenty of videos to show you how to do it. But honestly, if you just fold every towel the same exact way you fold the first towel, the stack will look great and be space efficient. It sounds simple, but you’d be surprised how many different ways the same person can fold a basket of towels when they aren’t really thinking about it. If you are folding sheets but get frustrated with the fitted sheet, just do your best and then place it inside the pillow case. Then fold the pillow case in half. The pillow case will make it look cleaner and keep the set together in a little packet.

This plan is not for people who like to rotate linens or can’t wait for the time it will take to launder linens. It is for people who don’t want to spend time folding and unfolding linens every week and can coordinate when they wash them. Keep it easy!

Categories : Simple and Organized

Bathroom Pile-Up

By Tanya Whitford, CPO® on September 9, 2013 No Comments

The more people that share a bathroom, the more chaotic the space can be. I share a bathroom with 2 little girls so there is a lot of stuff just for the bathtub! On a trip to Target, I came across a product I didn’t know I needed until I saw it. It was a Room Essential 3 Tier Basket Stand which fit perfectly in the tiny space between my bathtub and sink. I moved all kid related items to the basket stand. The top basket holds everything I need to wash their hair and comb out tangles- all in easy reach and easy to see. The middle basket holds rubber duckies and toys. The bottom basket holds all the foam letters to play with. Since the baskets are plastic and have holes, I can dump even wet toys in there and they will dry out. All the baskets are re-moveable with the top one also having a handle. It works so well for my kids stuff and leaves the bathtub shelves for my stuff. It is about 2 feet tall, 7 1/2″ wide, and 12 1/2″ deep and cost just under $25.

Something like this would be perfect for college students, especially with the top handled basket to easily cart toiletries to the bathroom. It could also work for arts and crafts and small toys. In the kitchen for a grab & go snack tower or fruits and vegetables. In the living room to hold TV remotes, DVDs, video games, or magazines. The possibilities are endless! You can certainly find something similar at other stores. Look for something that stores vertically rather than horizontally, has a small footprint but lots of storage that gives you flexibility to fit your needs.

One of my favorite things about this basket stand is that my kids know how to put all their stuff away. I was amazed to watch my 2 year old put everything back after her bath in the right baskets. She loves doing it and it really helps me out!

Categories : Helpful Products, Kids

Party Prep Made Easy

By Tanya Whitford, CPO® on August 26, 2013 No Comments

Labor Day and a big BBQ weekend are almost here. Whether you entertain frequently or just occasionally, preparing to have people over can cause so much stress and work that you may question why you ever decided to do it in the first place. Here are some simple ways to make party planning easier.

1. Make a “Pre-Party” To-Do List. What needs to be done ahead of time? Order balloons? A cake? Make goodie bags? Clean the outdoor toys and furniture? Make some of the food? Make a master list and use it every time you have a party. Whether it is a kid’s birthday party or a big family gathering, basically the same things need to happen ahead of time. Just open up the master list on your computer and adjust it to the current party. This way you don’t forget anything and it helps keep you grounded.

2. Make a “Day of Party” To-Do List. Put the list out and whoever is there to help set up can easily see what needs to be done or what errands have to be run. (See part of my list in the photo above.) This keeps everyone on the same page and eliminates constantly asking the host what to do. Once again, make this a master list that you alter slightly for each event. You can even have a kitchen/food list for all the people who end up in the kitchen asking if you need any help while you are cooking. Some people really like to be helpful so make it easy for them!

3. You Don’t Have to Clean Everything. Some of the stress people feel before having a party is that they must clean every nook and cranny of their house before company comes. Your guests are not coming over with white gloves to check dust levels or look under your bed to see if there is a hair ball. Your guests are coming over to see you and have a wonderful time which is hard for you to do if you are exhausted from cleaning behind the fridge. Save that for spring cleaning! Just straighten up and do a quick clean. If you are having children over, a clean house only lasts 3 minutes anyway.

In the end, everyone has a great time and more wonderful memories are made. All the stress, planning and effort melt away and you think, “That wasn’t so bad. We can do it again.” And you will!

Categories : Simple and Organized, Time Management

Tags : Party

Packing Tips for Families

By Tanya Whitford, CPO® on August 11, 2013 No Comments

I hate packing. I am a Professional Organizer. I have a packing list. I get excited when The Container Store has their travel sale. I help clients pack. But I still hate packing. I am not sure how something that should take an hour or two stretches itself out and takes me an entire day to do. My husband packs in 7 minutes. Then I realized what it was. Kids.

Now I have to pack for 3 people at very different stages of life and it can be overwhelming. How many snacks would we go through if we got stranded on the runway for 4 hours again? Is the tablet fully charged? Are the liquids and computer easy to pull from our carry-ons? How light can we travel to avoid paying baggage fees? Should we buy diapers and wipes on the other end to avoid packing them?

Here are 4 things that can be very helpful for packing with kids.

1. Ziploc Bags rule. Not just the quart size to put your carry-on liquids in, but all sizes. Anything that might leak or could break- stick it in a Ziploc. I even double Ziploc the baby bottles and sippy cups. Changing altitudes can leave you with leaking containers so wrap them in a paper towel to help even more. I carry a few extras at all times because they always come in handy, from dividing up snacks to sealing up a dirty diaper.

2. Eagle Creek Pack-It cubes are great to pack several people in one bag. I know that all my clothes are in the black ones, the baby’s are the flower ones, and the toddler has purple ones. That makes it easy to find each person’s clothes at our destination without tearing apart the whole suitcase.

3. Label some things with a Sharpie and blue painter’s tape. When it is time to re-pack and return home, it is easy to match things back up. Any empty cases or bubble wrap would tell me what needed to go in them with easy to see blue tape. I didn’t think it was necessary to label things until I forgot the night light plugged in at the hotel. Next trip, I labeled a small bubble wrap baggie “night light” and won’t forget it again. Use the same bags and labels every time you pack for things like phone chargers, baby monitor, etc.

4. Let spouses and kids pack and then adjust. After my husband takes his 7 minutes to pack, I make some adjustments. There are 3 levels of luggage. First are the carry-on items that you need handy and will be under the seat like snacks and things to occupy your kids. Then it is the extra electronics, baby Bjorn and back-up clothes and diapers that might be in the overhead bin in case you do need them. Last there are the clothes and items that can be checked- hopefully for free. Once you know what your spouse and kids want to bring, you can adjust them to be in the proper bags based on when they will be needed.

After all effort of packing, there is some sense of accomplishment when you realize that the extra planning and effort paid off. I do love to unpack though. I don’t care how long the travel day has been. When I get home, I can unpack those suitcases, put them back in the garage and have laundry going in 10 minutes. Hopefully one day I will actually like packing too- but I doubt it!

Categories : Kids, Travel

Tags : kids, packing, travel

Broken Dishes- Trash or Treasure?

By Tanya Whitford, CPO® on July 28, 2013 No Comments

We had just moved into our new house. Rather than put all the pretty dishes we received as wedding gifts on the moving truck, I transported them myself in my car. I gently placed them in the display hutch in the kitchen. Then I realized the furniture was blocking the outlet by half an inch so I asked my husband if he could just push it a little to the right. My friend who was helping us unpack told me we should empty the hutch. I thought, “it’s only half an inch. It will be fine.” I was so wrong.

I thought my husband knew the hutch was not connected to the base as we had just seen the movers bring in the 2 parts. He didn’t remember, and I didn’t think to tell him. He pushed from the top and the whole hutch and everything in it went crashing to the floor. What a horrifying sound that made. I fought back tears. The fact that I was holding our 1 year old in my arms and no one was hurt was a sigh of relief, but seeing all those precious dishes broken on the floor was heart breaking. I had tried to be so careful with them and a single half inch mistake had broken them all.

I swept up all the pieces with sadness and disbelief. It was now trash to me. But I knew it wasn’t trash to someone else. In fact, there were quite a few artists on Freeceycle that really wanted my box of broken dishes to make mosaics. These beautiful dishes would live on in another form rather than be tossed and added to a landfill.

Every day, things most people would throw away have been given new life and a new owner by using Freecycle or Craigs List Free. Broken shredder? Someone else wants the motor? Broken glass door on microwave? Someone is willing to fix it? Bunch of old magazines? A teacher wants them for projects. The possibilities are endless! So next time you have something that is broken or not suitable for donation, try Freecycle or Craigs List Free. There is probably someone out there who is happy to turn your trash into their treasure. Everyone wins and it stays out of the landfill.

Categories : Donating & Recycling

Welcome to My Blog

By Tanya Whitford, CPO® on July 18, 2013 No Comments

I have resisted the urge to blog for a long time. I have been busy the last 6 years with my two little girls who take up a lot of time. Family and work. Work and family. With my oldest about to start kindergarten during the same month I started my business 14 years ago- I thought this was the perfect time to start blogging!

This is also a new website to go along with the blog. With so much positive feedback from clients about my previous website, my goal was to keep it pretty much the same, but just freshen up the look a little and be able to blog. So this is the result. I hope you like it!

I expect this blog will cover lots of my favorite things from organizing tips and products to recycling and composting and whatever strikes my fancy. I hope the wit and whimsy I demonstrate to only my immediate family and closets friends comes through here and you will find inspiration, hope, and a few laughs. I love to laugh. That is why I married a comedian.

Categories : My Blog