Productive & Organized Home

Do I need to be a neat freak to be organized?

When someone begins thinking of organizing, many questions can pop into their thoughts. Every once-in-a-while we will select questions from our readers and share our response with you.

Q: Do I need to be a neat freak to be organized?

Lighten Up! Free Yourself from Clutter

Lighten Up!

Lighten Up! Free Yourself from Clutter is the first book of its kind to view cleaning clutter not as a burdensome chore but as a transformational experience. If those piles of stuff are draining you of energy, if they're not supporting and nurturing you, then get out from under them! Lighten Up! Free Yourself from Clutter is a practical yet inspirational guide that encourages you to approach clutter cleaning as a fun, creative, soul-enriching endeavor.

Have you read this book?  What do you think about it?  Let us know!

Financial Management Resources

23% of adults say they pay bills late (& thus incur fees) because they loose them, according to Harris Interactive. The systems you use (or don't use) can make or break your financial situation.  Here are some web resources to help you get your financial affairs in order and reach towards your financial freedom!

Cluttered houses are dangerous and risk lives

There are frequently stories on homes that have gone up in flames and the fire fighters struggled to put out the fire.  When you look at your home, do you see an easy way for emergency personnel to come in and help you, or would emergency staff struggle to find you?  Take a look at a recent story in Oregon.

Cluttered house ignites, makes firefighting difficult | KATU.com - Portland, Oregon | News

Are You Stressed?

This month is Stress Awareness Month.  Understanding the stress in your life and how to overcome that stress is one of the first steps to living your life to your priorities.  We have provided the following links for you to learn more about stress and what you can do to fight it.

Kitchen Savvy Leads to Abundance

Technorati Tags: kitchen organization,abundance

The American Chronicle had a great article today about how to make your kitchen the space of your dreams.  You can find the entire article at Kitchen Savvy Leads to Abundance.  Author Pat Heydlauff tells you of a Feng Shui focused 3-step system to

"creating great energy in your kitchen – the kind of energy that stays with you and nurtures you every day of the week."

Check it out for some great kitchen ideas. 

Your Turn!

Do you have things that help you stay organized in the kitchen?  Please share them.  We love to hear your ideas.

Love it or Lose It!

Love It or Lose It

Love It Or Loose It Love It Or Lose It introduces the 5-step Clutter Campaign that helps you finally and forever combat the Clutter Trap. Features the LILI Inventory to help you assess the impact of clutter on enjoying your life and work. This book helps you: Reduce stress and distractions Claim the freedom and focus you deserve Create and sustain an environment you love

Have you read this book?  How has it helped you?  What did you think of it?

5 Tips For a Productive Sewing Area

Whether your sewing space is a corner of the dining room, a dedicated closet or a separate room just for sewing, you can make that space inviting and efficient for your sewing tasks. With some thought and organization, your sewing area can be a source of enjoyment and many accomplished projects.  Here are 5 tips to start you on your way to a great organized sewing area.

Got (or want) Books? Have Some to Get Rid Of?

Got (or want) Books?  Here's a great web site for you....
Want to increase your business library?  Or like to curl up with a good book to relax and unwind from the day?  Do this for next to nothing, while also being environmentally friendly, with www.paperbackswap.com.   It is easy to use and there's no subscription fees for the service.  Here is how it works:

Inspection Process - Get Ready!

When you are in the process of selling your home you will likely have to experience the inspection of your home.  Here is a checklist that you can use to get you and your home ready for a good report.  Download preparing_your_home_for_an_inspection.pdf

This Spring Take Control of Your Clutter

Sharon Wolfe of the Pantagraph newspaper interviewed me for a very nice feature story home section of the paper.   You can read the online version here:  This Spring Take Control of Your Clutter

Cleaning Services - They are not all made the same

When searching for cleaners (and note, cleaners are not the same as organizers), it is important to distinguish between professional cleaning services and independent cleaners. Professional cleaning services are usually licensed (typically by the city, county or, in some cases, the state), meaning that they have met basic service standards and criteria. They may also be bonded and insured, protecting against damages and theft of your valuables—as well as protecting you from liability should a cleaner injure him or herself in your home while working. Professional cleaning services generally pre-screen and train their employees, and typically send a team of two to three people to clean your home.

DeCluttering Success Story!

Every once in a while we like to share success stories from our readers, workshop participants or clients.  We received an email from Dava.  She attended a workshop that we presented and had asked some great questions during the session. 

EBay the Easy Way

One of my long-time readers asked me if I knew of a resource to learn more about e-bay.  He wants to "unload all of this stuff" and he is also considering the possibility of a home-based business using e-bay.