My BLOG is over HERE now....

CLICK HERE to go to my BLOG! 

Sorry for the confusion but I wanted my website and blog to be together! And now they are and it is a beautiful thing! :)

Come and visit me to see the new look!

This Blog has Continued @ Simply Squared Away (dot) com

Just a quick, AND VERY IMPORTANT NOTE: We are continuing our blog on our website!!! Yeah! Woohoo! Yipppeee!

Feel free to browse here for as long as you like and then come on over to our NEW & IMPROVED & CUTE (but clean, simple and organized) website where our blog continues!!

Please join our mailing list on the website to get blog posts directly in your inbox. We will have a few regular topics like:

• PROJECTS - see before and after pictures and hear the stories behind them
• Got Questions? - get answers to your pressing questions
• It's All About Me - I will be sharing life...mysterious, eh!?
• Guest Bloggers
• Giveaways

You won't want to miss it! See you there!

Tracy

FREE Boots

Do you need a pair of free, stylish boots for this winter?? I just couldn't pass up informing you of a great deal going on by UGG boots...Sign up to receive their newsletter here and be entered to win a free pair of Whooga boots by UGG!!
"What exactly are Whooga boots by UGG?" you ask. This is a mini description taken directly from their website:

"What are Whooga ugg boots?

Whooga is widely recognised as the world’s fastest growing boutique brand of ugg boots. We stand proud as an alternative brand for chilli toes seeking something a little warmer than normal. We achieve this legendary warmth and comfort with Thermofleece which offers a number of benefits over traditional ugg boots.
- Whooga is an internationally trademarked brand
- The fastest growing winter footwear brand for the past 4 years
- A passion for fashion and creating the worlds warmest boots
- We warm ten's of thousands of toes every single day"

This new gold color is my favorite.

If you like free click here to sign up for their newsletter and be in the drawing this month!! Let me know if you win!!! :)

Quote of the Day

A good quote can give you something to think about all day...It can change the way you look at things!

"Instead of being overwhelmed by the vultures be amazed at the peacocks."

                 ~ Barbara Hemphill                        

Learn more about this by listening to her three minute podcast here.

Small Project - Organizing a Bathroom Countertop

Are you ready to tackle a small project? The bathroom countertop can be a constant mess challenge. It gets used every day - most likely twice a day! Removing everything from the counter and storing it in a cabinet would be great but the reality is that it becomes a pain (in the back) to bend over and pull things out of a lower cabinet AND then to bend over and put them back twice a day! Most people will not maintain that system and the countertop returns back to being a mess unorganized! That is why I am a fan of "reality" organizing.

Here is an example of a real life countertop that is unorganized. Can you relate at all!? Stuff has accumulated...and now it is crammed in the corner...somewhat of an eye sore to start your day!

In addition to looking bad it tends to be unclean, too, because wiping down the countertop means lifting each item separately...a time consuming activity.

"What is the best way to organize this?" you ask. Here are a few guidelines:

1. Sort your countertop items into two piles:
• what you use everyday or at least every other day
• what you use less frequently
2. Ask yourself if you have more countertop space, back of the door space or wall space. This helps you decide if you should use the wall to store regularly used items (in a cabinet that you hang or mount), the door (in an over-the-door organizer with individual pockets), on the countertop (in a container), or a little of all three!
3. Choose products that are ATTRACTIVE to you AND durable and the right size to hold your items.

Pretty simple, eh? Here is the after picture of this countertop:
 

Is that not the cutest basket? It was purchased at Pier 1 for $10.00. The webbing is a plastic-y material so that if it does get wet it won't ruin the container. Try using a temporary container first - an old tupperware or planter to check size and see if you even like it before going and purchasing something. Then you can take the temporary container with you to find just the right size!


From now on the countertops can remain organized, kept clean easily and if you want to clear it off for company it takes just one hand to move the basket inside a cabinet!!!

How do you keep your bathroom countertop organized?

Pantry Organization

Sometimes all you need is a fresh perspective and a new set of eyes! My client is known by her friends and in her neighborhood as one of the most organized people they know!! But she was "stuck" on her pantry. She called and asked if I could help.

One key thing that she said to me was that the set of shelves as you enter the pantry were specifically made for and called "can" shelves. The only problem was that you couldn't stack two standard size cans and space was being wasted when only one can was placed there! We all do this. We think that because we have always put sheets in a linen closet that sheets have to go in a linen closet. Another client's house didn't have a linen closet so we hung her sheets up on hangers in the spare bedroom closet!! It worked! So, think outside the box. Have a friend come and think along side you!

BEFORE...the shelves made for cans had to house cans, right?

Also, focus on trying to make your space as beautiful as you can when you first walk in or open the door. I wanted those "can" shelves to be uniform, neat, and appealing to the eye. We used all clear plastic bins to do this and labeled them. We used one shelf  for sauces and we reduced her cookbooks slightly so they could all fit neatly on two shelves! That is the first thing she sees now when she opens the door!

AFTER: Labeled, clear plastic bins, neatly stacked cookbooks...appealing to the eye AND useful!

Next, most pantries have boxes and cans. Free tip: Put all boxes on one shelf and all cans on another. Within those two category you can arrange more specifically. For example, group all breakfast items together, pasta items together, etc. 

BEFORE: A little confusing even though everything is labeled and lots of containers are used.

AFTER: Boxes together, cans together, breakfast together = appealing to the eye AND easy to put things away!

Finally, use square baskets in pantries to house like items - chips, pasta bags, rice, snacks, etc. They are beautiful the shelf. If you housed baking supplies in one you could just pull it out when baking and have everything at your fingertips!

Good, quality BASKETS that won't snag are a useful addition to house like items. These are from Bed, Bath and Beyond.

Share your favorite tips for organizing your pantry!

Paper, Paper, EVERYWHERE!

Cute & classy organizing products can aid us in our 5th step of organizing (read about the 5 steps here and here) - Maintain. Below are two pictures of a portable action file that I made. The purpose of the action file is to temporarily house paper coming into your home. Every piece of paper coming in should have a place to go. It could be recycled, thrown out, filed, returned immediately to a backpack or your car for delivery OR housed in your action file.

Creating an action file is easy. This is a service I offer and is very customizable to meet your needs. You can also make one on your own. This action file is housed in a DiVoga Desktop File Bin from Office Max(only in stores). It is made of a clear, hard plastic so that you can purchase any decorative file folder to match your decor, slide a file folder in the front and back and, "Wahhh La", you have made it cute & classy or fun & colorful or simple & satisfying, whatever your taste.

Then, as you sort through your piles of paper see what kind of compartments (files with tabs) you need. In the photo you can see some basic examples people might use. The key is to remember that this is a temporary holding spot - not meant for permanent papers that need to be archived. Enjoy making your portable action file (and of course, send me a photo)!

Go through one stack of papers today and get them put away! Let me know how it goes! Happy Wednesday!

Delayed Decisions in the Basement

Check out our Facebook page - AND become a fan, please (by pressing the "LIKE" button)!! Eighteen photos have been uploaded in perfect "before and after" order of our precious client's basement. Sit back and enjoy them and imagine transforming your space into usable, efficient, BEAUTIFUL living space!

Remember, anytime you delay making a decision about what to do with something you are creating clutter! Try making three decisions today about what to do with your things. Tell me about it by posting a comment below.

Organizing Your Recipes - Part II

In Organizing Your Recipes - Part I I shared 5 steps to organizing your recipes using my organizing acronym SPASM. Following those steps you should have all of your recipes into sheet protectors by category with a tab in front of each main category.

Now we will label each tab. I use the white tabs that come with the insertable plastic dividers. I print out the category name on my label maker and stick the label onto one of the tabs. I wrap the excess label around the back of the tab if there is any so that I don't spend time cutting down the length. But, you could write your category on the tab or print out labels on card stock and cut them out. Here is a picture of my tabs.


Notice that I have BARS separate from cakes and cookies. In my recipe box I would always wonder which category my lemon bar recipe or my Loui's Ooey Gooeys recipe would be under. I LOVE it that I can have my own tab for BARS!!!!! That is the great thing about customizing your binder. It fits YOU!

Next, I wanted them to look great. I went on my computer to create a cover and a spine for the binder. I found an attractive photo and font and made the cover. I printed it on photo paper which I think makes a huge difference in the appearance.

Then I used a text box, adjusted the size to match the spine's width and length and typed out the categories in each binder. I wanted to easily see which binder I needed to pull off my shelf to find the recipe I would be looking for.


Now your binders are ready for your shelf. I keep mine in a cabinet but am considering where I could put them out because they make me so happy! :)

The great thing about a binder for your recipes is that you can use various size sheet protectors to add recipes. Here is a recipe printed off the computer in an 8 1/2 X 11 sheet protector. You may have a lot of recipes like that. GREAT! Just insert those behind the right tab.

What if you print a new recipe off or rip an article out of a magazine that you want to try? I would suggest you put it in the tab folder before inserting it into a page protector. That way when you plan out your next week's menu you will see that you have a new recipe to try and will schedule it into your menu!

This weekend I was craving my favorite Bran Muffins so I pulled out my binder and under BREAD I found it! It was so fast and enjoyable just looking for the recipe! My daughter helped my make them. I didn't even take the recipe card out. I just left the binder out on the stove. All the recipe cards are protected behind plastic.

PLEASE share with me how you organize your recipes. And, of course, send pictures of your new binders if this post has motivated you to organize your recipes!!

As promised in Part I here is my favorite bran muffin recipe...

Simply Squared Away's Bran Muffins

In mixing bowl stir bran and milk. Let stand 1-2 minutes.

2 1/2 cups Bran Flake cereal

1 1/4 cup milk

Add egg and oil to bran mixture stirring.

1 egg

1/4 cup oil
In separate bowl mix dry ingredients.

3/4 cup whole wheat flour

3/4 cup white flour

1/2 t salt

1 T baking powder

1/2 cup sugar

(I add 1/4 cup ground flax seeds)

Mix dry ingredients with wet JUST until combined. Put into muffin tins. Bake at 400 degrees for 18 minutes. Eat fresh and hot with butter.

Organizing Your Recipes - Part I

I knew it was time to organize MY recipes because...

• My recipe box looked like this! Ugh! It was crammed full with recipe cards, torn slips of paper and recipes printed on full sheets of paper folded up! The tabs were worn and bent. AND, the lid kept falling off!!

• Every time I needed to find a recipe I had to grab the whole category (e.g. main dishes) and look at each title one by one to find the recipe I wanted. OR, I had to sift through loose recipes and papers.
  
• I had so many recipes in each category that as I scanned the titles I would think, "I should throw that out. I have never even made that! That looks too hard. That doesn't even sound good."

I finally had the time to work on this project. I had some of the supplies I needed and then actually remembered (wow!) when I was out running errands to look for the 3X5 page protectors. Here are the supplies I used:

• A Binder - I used a 1 1/2 inch and a 1 inch binder. I later switched this blue one to a white one so the two binders matched. In part two I will show you the after picture of my awesome recipe binders! :)
• 3X5 page protectors - I like the 3X5 size because my cards are that size (duh!) and because there are 4 per page (the 4X6 only have 2 per page). I found mine at Office Depot. I bought 10 packages just so I wouldn't run out.

• Dividers - I LOVE this kind. They have 8 dividers and each one has pockets - I will talk about how to use the pockets later.

So, let's get STARTED!!!

The 1st step in organizing is to...SORT! Since recipes in a box are already sorted I sorted my loose papers/recipes into the existing categories in the box. Then I took one category (i.e. main dishes) at a time and sorted them down further: Chicken, Beef, Ham, Italian, Mexican, etc. Please note that I continued with step 2 and 3 for each main food category before starting the next.

The 2nd step in my organizing acronym - SPASM - is to PURGE! Get realistic. If you haven't tried a recipe in a year don't keep it. If you decide to keep it then get it on your calendar and buy the ingredients. When you have whittled it down to those you want to keep you are ready for step three!

The 3rd step is the A - ASSIGN A HOME! Each main category's 'home' will be after it's tab divider. Place the first tab into your binder. Use a sticky note to label this tab temporarily until you are certain that this is the order you are happy with. Before placing your recipes into the protectors decide how you want to order the recipes/mini categories. I put them into the sheet protectors by mini categories. For example, I choose to put my chicken recipes in first with my favorite chicken recipes in the front. Then I put my beef recipes in with my favorite beef recipes in the beginning. And so on... There were a couple of blank pockets after each mini category so I would have room to add recipes later.

CONTINUE this process until all of your recipes are in the binder(s) with each main category behind a new tab.

The 4th step is to SET LIMITS. Try and think of natural limits that help control your stuff. Here, it could be the actual binder - once the binder is full you must purge. Or, another limit could be the number of page protectors per section - for example, 5 pages per category, etc.

The 5th step is to MAINTAIN. Here again try and think of natural occurrences where maintenance could occur. For example, with a closet you could maintain each time you wash clothes, each season when you switch seasonal clothing, each time you bring a new item in, etc. With your recipe binder(s) you can maintain each week when you menu plan or whenever you pull your binder off the shelf.

In Organizing Your Recipes - Part II I will talk about labeling the tabs, creating the cover and spine, and what to do with new recipes coming in! I will even post a picture of the first time using my new binder AND a favorite recipe!

Hangers: Can they change the way you FEEL??

Okay, I have to admit that I have not organized, or even purged, my own closet in the last two years! Well, maybe an item removed here or there but nothing big. I have walked into it several times ready to do some purging but stood there unsure where to start and decided I didn't have enough time, felt overwhelmed and turned around and walked out. Can you relate to that? I had these images in my mind of a complete closet restructure/makeover but when reality hits the closet is the last thing to get done.

The other day I was out returning something at Kohl's when I saw these hangers - the ones in all the pictures, sleek black velvet to keep clothes hung up, thin to create more room in your closet. I was inspired to once again organize my closet and since the hangers were on sale (and I had a coupon) I purchased them!

If you have stood at the door of your messy closet and felt overwhelmed and stuck here is the one, magical tip that helped me get started and keep going AND it can help you, too:

Organize and purge by color.

This makes it EASY to do a little at a time. It is EASY to get started. It is NOT overwhelming. Here is my step by step...

1. I grabbed all my white clothes - shirts, sweater, jackets, etc (I did pants/skirts separate). I placed the white pile on my bed and went through one piece at a time. Do I wear this? Is it in good shape? Does it fit good? Will I wear it next season? Answering those questions directed the piece to the donate pile OR I switched hangers and put it in my "keep" pile.

2. When I finished the white pile I grabbed the white "keep" pile off my bed, hung it at the front of my closet, arranged it in the order I wanted - I like short sleeve, sweater, jackets...

3. Then, grab the next color. It is easy to pick another color because color stands out. Choose a color you have less of. That way it is not overwhelming to go through a pile of five items verses 75.

4. Decide if it goes in the donate pile or "keep" pile, switch hangers and move to the next piece. Once that color is finished take the keep pile with nice, new hangers and place it next to the white clothes in the closet. Arrange in the order you like. Choose another color and repeat.

5. You may find an item that needs mending. Make a hard decision here. Are you going to take it to the seamstress right away or will it sit in a pile for a year cluttering your space. If you won't likely deal with it then donate it and move on.

6. I finished the process with black because I had a lot more black items.

7. Then move to pants and skirts. I fold some pants and shorts so once I finished with my hanging items I started on my shelves. The hangers were so beautiful to look at AND my clothes were color coordinated...I gained momentum and inspiration to keep going.

The great thing is that if time is running out and you need to move on to another activity you can easily come back to this project and just start in on another color!

Here is a section of my closet before (yes, a little embarrassing):

And, here is the same section after:

The hangers DO change the way I feel...EVERY time I walk into my closet!!

Organizing a Toy Room

I LOVE before and after pictures!!! Don't you? They inspire! They help you remember what life was like "before"! They remind you of the potential! They motivate you to move to the next space! They even help you remember to maintain!

I have the honor of sharing some before and after pictures of my client's basement (by the way, have I shared that we have been organizing a lot of basements lately?). In the next few weeks I will post the rest of the pictures but today we will see just the zone designated as the play area/therapy room.

This wonderful family has been blessed with four children - two of which have autism. The last five years have been a whirlwind of emotion, therapy, paperwork, learning, hard work, challenging times and joy filled moments for them. In the midst of all that some things were set aside - one being the home. Now, as the family comes to a point where they can focus on their home they have called me to help. I LOVE HELPING!

The basement was an area where things were taken and left until...later! When you stand and look at an area in your own home begin by asking yourself what will take place in this area. This basement needed to have 4 areas, or zones:

1. Toy/therapy
2. Workout/exercise
3. Relaxing - TV/books
4. Game room

Once we talked this out we could begin the organizing process:

• Sort
• Purge
• Assign a home
• Set limits (with containers, shelves, etc)
• Maintain

Remember my acronym SPASM? If not read about it here.

Here it is...what was once the office and holding area is now a bright and cheery playroom used for play and for therapy!

BEFORE:


AFTER:

Amazing, eh?

INDEPENDENCE From Clutter

Happy Independence Day!!!

As we plan to celebrate Independence Day this July I wanted to remind us how to have "independence" from clutter. First, remember that clutter is delayed decisions. Look around at the piles in your home, on your counter, stashed in your closet or basement. Look at your inbox and see the piles of emails. Most piles are because you (or someone in your home) either haven't had time to put them away OR you delayed to make a decision on what to do with it.

The first step in improving clutter build up is to be aware of it. Then, when you are tempted to put something down before making a decision, you can ask yourself, "Do I want clutter that I WILL eventually have to deal with later OR can I make a decision about it right now?"

Ask yourself questions like:

1. Can I put this away right now?
2. Can I throw this away (delete this)? Or give it away?
3. What is the next step I have to take regarding this?
4. Do I need to find a permanent home for this?

Take one item off a pile right now and ask yourself these questions. Deal with that one item. Try one more item... Keep it up for five or ten minutes and repeat daily!

Happy Independence-from-clutter Day!

Even Your Font Can Save You Money!

Last week I heard a great tip from Chuck Bentley on Crown Financial's MoneyLife about what FONT to use when printing to save you the most money on ink!! I can't say that I have ever thought about changing my FONT to save on ink! Click here to get all the details of their research and read the article from printer.com's April 13th blog.

Bentley had more "Tips To Cut Expenses and Reduce Stress". Click here for all the tips and links.

Oh, enough suspense...the FONT that will save you the most money is Century Gothic. EcoFont is second and Times New Roman is third. The worst of the 10 most commonly used fonts is Franklin Gothic Medium.

Which FONT do you use the most? Will knowing this information cause you to change the font you use?

Lunch Making Tip

This is the best idea for organizing your mornings!! I Facebooked this yesterday:

"Tip for making lunches (courtesy of Jenn Rogers): Buy deli meat on sale, take a loaf or two of bread, make it all into sandwiches (PB&J, too) and place into the freezer in individual freezer baggies. In the mornings, just grab a sandwich from the freezer add the sides and whaalaaa... Lunch! I made a loaf of sandwiches this morning! Please, add a lunch-making tip of your own!"

So, today, I just had to report this...I was running out of the house taking two of my girls to a softball game. From there we had to go straight to my son's piano recital and from there I was leaving to meet with a client. At the last minute (of course) I realized that I wouldn't be able to eat for several hours and may not have time to stop and get something. I was soooo happy to be able to grab a sandwich out of the freezer, grab an orange from the frig and a bag of chips and a water. Off I went.

As I drove to the recital I just couldn't wait any longer. I had to try out this sandwich from my freezer! Here goes, the results I had been waiting for...It was AWESOME!! I loved it. It had just thawed. The bread wasn't soggy at all. It tasted like I had just made it! You all must try this, too. Healthier lunches, less stress, better organized... Life is good!

Does This Photo Make My Butt Look Big?

So, have you ever looked in the mirror and wondered if your pants made your butt look big? I was in a photo shoot recently and had chosen the one photo that I liked to send in for an article about my business. I got home and was about to email it when my two boys and husband came over. I showed them the photo and much to my surprise they were NOT impressed!

They pointed out that my head looked small and my butt looked like it had an entire extra pad attached to it!!! (I am sure it is the way I am sitting!) I guess, because I have never been accused of having a big butt, I never even thought about if the photo made it look big. They also pointed out that the organizing bins looked as if they were falling on me and they did not understand the background. "What are those pictures??" they asked.

After we laughed for several minutes they helped me decide on another photo and I sent that in. But (no pun intended :)), because I will probably never use this photo now I thought I should ask, "Does this photo make my butt look big?"

Odd Job: Proffessional Organizer

I have had the honor of being interviewed by Katy Ryan, a freelance writer for KC Free Press. To read the full interview Click here .

KC Free Press launched in December 2009 as a Web-based news and information source serving metropolitan Kansas City. As Kansas City’s first “built-for-the-Web” media outlet, the site was founded on a belief that a multimedia approach to reporting combined with a focus on local content and voices provides the best experience for users.

Katy is doing a series for KC Free Press titled "Odd Jobs." In addition to me, a professional organizer, Katy has interviewed a storm chaser, toy designer, KCMO fountain maintenance manager, geese police, T-shirt boutique owner and more for her 'Odd Jobs' series. It is so fun and interesting to learn about these people and their jobs and know they all live right here in the Kansas City area!

Katy Ryan is a blogger, too. Take a little trip over to her blog titled "girl about KC". She also has just published her first book, Moon Kansas City, which you can find here. As a Missouri native she covers the best of the Kansas City area, including River Market, Crossroads, Westport, and Brookside. Ryan provides various travel strategies, including The Best of Kansas City in Four Days, and explores notable restaurants as well as the various arts and entertainment the city has to offer.

Sounds like a must read for us Kansas City residents, eh?! Or for those who might visit Kansas City. This could help you locals ORGANIZE your summer outings and help introduce your out of town visitors to the treasures of KANSAS CITY!

Let me know your thoughts and what 'odd' job you have right now!

What Papers Should I Keep?

Everyone wants to know what papers they should keep and what papers are okay to throw away. With so much contradicting information going around how do we know what to do?

I received a flyer with my ING investment statements that I found quite helpful and wanted to share that with you. It is simple and to the point. Here is a wrap up of what papers to keep and for how long...

Permanent Papers: (keep forever)

• Birth, marriage and death certificates
• Passports
• A copy of your will and health care directives
• Copies of beneficiary designations for retirement accounts
• All current insurance papers

Long-Term Papers:

• Federal and state income tax returns with the supporting documentation (minimum 3 years)
• Household papers including receipts, instructions and warranties for major appliances as well as records of capital improvements (keep as long as you own your home/appliance)

Short-Term papers:

• Monthly statements
• Investment papers confirming transactions
• Pay stubs (discard once you receive the year-end statement)
• Utility and telephone bills (shred as soon as they're paid)
• ATM receipts and deposit slips (destroy once they appear on your bank statement)

If you wanted to make files simple you could follow this outline for your file tabs! Keep the permanent papers in a fire proof box or safe.

As always, check with your accountant or tax advisor. For a complete guide to tax record keeping, see IRS Publication 552, Recordkeeping for Individuals at www.irs.gov.

"The Cabinet"

Do you have one of these cabinets...It is the catch all place for all office supplies, phone books, papers of all kinds, markers, kids crafts, cords, electronics, etc. Usually it is around the area you handle the mail. For most it is in the kitchen near a desk...

I wanted to show one of my client's NEW, organized cabinet. Too bad I forgot to take a before picture so that you could see how full of papers and stuff it was - unrecognizable. But we all have something like it...somewhere. And even the most organized people out there have to consistently maintain this special cabinet.

This cabinet is great because it has adjustable shelves. If you look closely you will see that we put the black notebooks in a clear-ish magazine holder turned on its side so they wouldn't fall over. Most of the paper that was smashed in the cabinet was thrown out or moved to permanent files but the white binder with clear sheet protectors keeps important documents.

My client found the Clear AkroBins on the left at The Container Store. We labeled them for the various things she wanted to keep near her kitchen/desk area: markers, pencils, nail supplies, office supplies, money, postage, etc. The top shelf has four areas reserved for stationary, pet supplies, cameras/cords, and checks.

To start a project like this on your own use my organizing acronym "SPASM" to help...

1. Pull out the things in your cabinet one by one and Sort them into piles. Use a sticky note to write each category name near the pile so you don't forget. You may have categories like crafts, paper, phone books, addresses, office supplies, etc.
2. Purge each pile. Throw away, donate or recycle all that you can.
3. Now Assign a home to each category. Do you want to keep it in this cabinet? This step is a little like a puzzle - figuring out how and where each item will fit into the cabinet. Try it different ways until you come up with a solution you like.
4. Next, Set limits by using containers. Decide what kind of containers you need. Try items you have around the house - old Tupperware, cups for pencils, shoe boxes - just to see how it fits. Then you can search the stores or online to find just the right containers. Set limits with statements, too. Say, "I will only use this area for stationary (or pens, phone books, post-its). When it is full I will purge and donate some to make room for the new."
5. Lastly, Maintain! This is key to continued organization. When you notice it is getting messy follow this acronym again. Maybe you will have to make some changes, add a new category or move a category to a different location.

Have fun! Send me before and after pictures of your project! Enjoy the results but don't waste too much time staring at your beautiful cabinet!!

Organizing...Creating an Environment of Support

In response to my previous post - our GO Month project - Ray Smith, National Director of Finance and Administration of the Polycystic Kidney Disease Foundation, said,

"We are so thankful for the help we received in organizing our kitchen and storage areas after our recent move. In our old space, we had one large storage area, and everything just got stored wherever there was an open space for it. Now we have segmented areas for certain items and departments – and the organizers developed a labeling system that will help us to keep things where they belong. It is going to be so much easier to find what we need, to know when items need to be re-stocked, and to purge items we are no longer using."

Organizing is meant to create an environment that supports your work and your life. This project will support the work that the Polycystic Kidney Disease Foundation is doing. That is what it is all about!!

What in your work or in your life needs the support that organization can bring?