FAQ: What Happens When You Contact Simply Squared Away?

When you contact Simply Squared Away by phone, email or the contact form on our website there will be one thing that happens: We will respond and answer your questions! There is no pressure or sales tactics used to make you take the next step. We love answering your questions and will try to be as thorough as possible. If we miss answering something just keep asking until you know what you need.

The next step is to set up an assessment. An assessment is where we come to you. We tour your space(s) and ask a lot of questions in order to learn about you and your situation...your frustrations, what is working, your dreams and goals, etc. The assessment usually takes 30 - 90 minutes. At the end of the assessment we give you an estimate of the number of hours we think it will take to complete the project.

If you are ready to get started we schedule our first "hands-on" organizing session. This is where we come in and get the work done! Scheduling and completing these sessions are the stepping stones you need in order to reach the goals and life changes that you desire!

There are unique situations and this process will vary slightly depending on those situations. But, remember, if you have questions please contact us so we can get the answers to you!

The Cycle Problem

Do you ever wonder how your space becomes a mess? Peter Walsh explains that it is a cycle problem.

We are all familiar with laundry...after it is worn it gets put into the hamper (hopefully!), from your hamper it gets put into the washer, once clean you transfer it to the dryer, when dry it is folded or hung up and finally it gets put away. The worst thing you could do would be to stop this cycle by leaving a load in the washer after it has been washed. What would you get? A mound of smelly laundry. Why? You didn't complete the cycle!

Papers that come into our homes have a cycle (process) that needs to be completed, too. Paper comes into our homes from the mailbox or our kid's backpacks, we look through it and make decisions: act on it, file it or throw it away...a cycle completed. If we don't complete the cycle it becomes a pile of stinky paper cluttering up our surfaces.

If you want a glass of milk and then stop the cycle half way through by not putting the carton back in the refrigerator you have sour milk. If you change your clothes three times in the morning but don't hang them back up you have broken a cycle and end up with a messy bedroom.

Walsh says, "We have a choice: to be mindful and complete the cycle, or to end up with a stinky load of washing in the metaphorical machine. Inside we're all 8-year-olds expecting someone to pick up after us. Those days are gone."

Make a plan, a cycle, for those frustrating areas where things seem to accumulate and then choose to finish the "cycle."

Read more of Peter Walsh's interview in the March 2009 issue of O Magazine by clicking here.

Cereal Containers

As I do my regular shopping I am on the look out for useful, inexpensive, attractive organizing products. Sometimes I find things I love that do not fit one or two of those criteria. For example, I might love the look but it is over priced or it is useful but I don't love the color, etc.

Recently I was looking for cereal containers that fit those 3 criteria. I looked at every local shop it seemed and couldn't find anything! That week I had a session with my "container-finding" client and of course she had found the perfect cereal containers, Store 'n Pour Dry Food Dispensers, at The Container Store! Click here to go to their website to view these containers. Here is the picture of her cabinet where she keeps her cereal:

Isn't it beautiful! I love that it doesn't have color that will go out of style. I love the indention for your hand to grip. The top has a snap lid that you just push down and it seals shut. All this for only $9.99!

If you have found a cereal container you like please comment and let us all know!

What is a professional organizer?

Have you ever asked yourself, "What does a professional organizer do?" "Why would I need one?" "How can they help me?"

NAPO (the National Association of Professional Organizer) defines a professional organizer as one who "enhances the lives of clients by designing systems and processes using organizing principles and by transferring organizing skills. A professional organizer also educates the public on organizing solutions and the resulting benefits."

People need professional organizers for various reasons. Here are some of them...

• They are wanting or needing to downsize
• They are overwhelmed with their "stuff" and don't know how or where to begin
• They are frustrated that they waste so much TIME looking for things and straightening "the piles"
• They are busy and don't have the time to devote to organizing
• They are not gifted in that area and want someone experienced and trained to help them
• A situation (new baby, move, growth of business, death of loved ones) has caused them to become disorganized and they need guidance
• They are ready to live a simpler life
• They want to become more productive

An organizer can help you in many ways. I have found that first of all it helps that they schedule time to devote to this task. Second, you have an experienced professional that listens to how you think and what you need to be more efficient and plans out how to make that happen. Third, they motivate you, give you hope and even have fun in the process. They also transfer skills - teaching you the steps to organize. And, they are your support team and your resource for products and ideas to keep you organized and living a simpler life!

Professional Organizers are more needed and more valuable as people get more stuff and more busy!

What does being "organized" mean?

Barbara Hemphill, CPO® (Certified Professional Organizer), “America’s Favorite Organizer”and owner of The Paper Tiger Productivity Institute, defines organization by asking the following 4 questions:

1. Does it work?
2. Do you like it?
3. Does it work for other people?
4. Can you recover quickly from inevitable disorganization? (Life happens, we are busy, things get messy...but can you recover quickly?)

Isn't that great!? Ask yourselves those questions in regard to your home...or your office...or your business.

Here is a picture of Barabara (who has been organizing for 30 years!!) and I at the 2009 National Association of Professional Organizer's conference in Orlando, Florida.

Inspiration and information!

Office Transformation

I love amazing transformations!! They motivate. They bring life into a dead space. They help someone (or many people) become more productive. There is order. It is beautiful to see the treasures on display. You can find things. It is a gift. Oh, the list goes on... It is why I LOVE to organize!

I could not wait to show these astonishing before and after pictures of a client's home office. Now remember, all of this was done using the basic organizing steps - sort, go through each pile, find a home, contain & label, keep it simple...and then plan to maintain. Following these steps will lead you to organizing just about anything!

We moved the lighter shelf to the other side of the office to go with it's match. Are these black shelves not sooo cute?? My client is talented at decorating...and you can see the treasures!

Notice the shelves have a home for everything and it is all labeled! Off to organize...have an amazing day!

Recent Conversations

I had the privilege of giving an Organizing Presentation to the Greater Kansas City Mother of Twins Chapter last night. There were over 40 moms present. I presented on Why We Need To Organize and The Basic Organizing Steps. Then we looked at before and after pictures and walked through the steps of organizing each photo. We learned how to set up an "Action File" to conquer the overwhelming amount of paper in our homes. After some question/answer discussion we had a drawing for a beautiful bouquet of Gerber daisies and lime (my favorite color) mini mums AND for two free hours of organizing services. Congratulations to the winners!!!

I wanted to post some links below that will answer some of questions that we discussed last night!

1. How long should we keep bills, taxes, receipts, etc?

First, always speak directly to your accountant regarding your specific issues but these links have some great guidelines:

• http://www.groco.com/tools/taxretentionguide.aspx
• http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/mtg/20000518h.asp
• http://www.irs.gov/publications/p552/ar02.html#en_US_publink10008614

2. My favorite website for product searches and ideas:

• http://www.containerstore.com/index.jhtml
• http://www.organizedliving.com/
• http://www.organize.com/
• http://www.organizeit.com/index.asp
• http://www.stacksandstacks.com/

3. Here is some garage organization information:

• contact Wayne Zetzman at wzetzman@completegarage.com. He will come out and give you an estimate and one-on-one attention. Check out his website at http://www.completegarage.com/. Of course, tell him I referred you. :)
• Home Depot has the Rubbermaid FastTrack System for you do-it-yourself people
• Here is a link in Kansas City where you can buy Slatwall http://www.kc-store-fixtures.com/slatwall_panels.php. Also, here is a link with tons of pictures for ideas: http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&q=slatwall+garage&gbv=2&aq=f&oq=

I hope this information was helpful! Thanks again ladies for a wonderful evening!