It's always so enlightening to see what various chat groups are discussing. I belong to a few organizations recently have been discussing procrastination, a topic that I love to debate. Is it a learned behavior or is it something we genetic? In my opinion, genetic things the color of our eyes, our skin tone or sadly rare diseases.

Some people I know (you know who you are ) claim that they procrastinate because they just are always that way and genetically that's just how they have always been.

The dictionary defines procrastination as:

–verb (used with object): to put off till another day or time; defer; delay.

The interesting thing about this word is that it starts with PRO, which typically means to think ahead or FORWARD action.

Are we ACTIVELY thinking we don't want to do something? Is the end result going to be really that bad?

What would happen if we actually completed the said task? How would that make us feel?

I can tell you from my own experience that procrastination makes me feel icky. I hate the guilt, stress or pressure in not completing a specific action. Believe me, I too fall prey to procrastination. Let's face it, we are all human. The key is to accepting what we do and making the change happen!

Tell me what you think about it... learned or inherited?

*image provided by Quo Vadis blog dot com

        

It occurred to me this morning that I am a little obsessive about a few things....

1. Brushing my teeth.
2. Washing dishes.
3. Cleaning the toilet.

I don't think it's a bad thing to be a little obsessive about "clean" however some might consider that to be a little compulsive. If you asked my husband, he would probably tell you that the list is much longer...

Is there something that you get a little"obsessive" about?

        

My husband and I have been together for almost 12 years now. The best 12 years I might add...

Looking back, it's strange that the smallest things can mean so much. We sometimes forget to look at the value that those small things bring to a relationship!

When we first met, my dear husband had a terrible habit of only using a towel once, then tossing it on the floor.  Each day, he would get up in the morning, have a shower, then lay the now used towel on the floor in a neat little pile. Rinse and repeat each day.

The "one use" ritual filtered into the everyday t-shirt and shorts for my dear husband. After many conversations about the issue that when you wear a pair of shorts for two hours, you can actually wear it again the next day for another two hours.... without having to wash them first.

It would drive me crazy to wash a t-shirt and shorts that still smelled like laundry soap. After many "complaints" from me, my dear husband began to realize that you can get multiple uses from certain items... however, this joyous change in his habits bread a new habit... the never ending pile of cloths laying on my closet floor.

This past weekend, he we had a major break through in the closet. My dear husband hung a nice new hook in the closet... just for his cloths. NO MORE PILES ON THE FLOOR. For the last two days I have walked into my closet to a clear floor, no piles. It's been pure bliss!

The point that I am trying to make is that change is possible (only 12 years in the making, but possible). Over time habits change. To say that your spouse, significant other or dear husband isn't capable of change is a flat our lie. It is possible! Come and take a peek in my closet and I will show you how it's possible.

*image courtesy of the container store dot com, all things organizing

        

I love Christmas! Remembering Christmastime as a kid was always exciting, lots of fun activities, great foods and special moments that will stay with me forever! I hope to create those fun memories for my kids so that when they have their own children, they remember those things that made it seem like Christmas! Here are some of my favorite holiday things...

Favorite Christmas dessert: My grandmother's Yankee Plum Pudding (no one can make it like she did).

Favorite Christmas activity: Going to get our tree. $5.00 for the permit and an adventurous day at the mountain. It doesn't get any better than that!

Favorite Christmas song: White Christmas and Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire (reminds me of my dad).

Favorite Christmas cookie: Martha's Gingerbread Cookie (it's the best one yet).

Favorite Christmas decoration: My White Christmas Snow Globe.

Favorite Christmas movie: Scrooge 1970 - with Albert Finney

Favorite Christmas tradition: Christmas day, big family breakfast and NO FAMILY but our own. That day is reserved for just us!

Favorite Christmas present: 2002, Maxwell was born on Christmas Eve!

My wish for the new year is good health, joyous memories and a prosperous year for all! Merry Christmas to you and Happy New year!


*image brought to you by the daily green dot com. The consumers guide to a green revolution!

        

Today has been a huge day for me. I did something I never thought I would be able to do.

I drove across the Hood River bridge... and didn't freak out or have a panic attack!

This is a really big deal for me.

I have had a life long fear of heights. The Hood River bridge is ultra narrow, super high and can be on certain days dangerously windy to drive across.

You can understand why this is such a big deal for me!  I made it. I did it.

I feel so great about being able to make this step in completely getting past (what I really consider) an unnecessary fear.

Do you have a fear that you struggle with facing?

        

If you have ever been to my house, you might notice that I love to hang pictures of family, friends and memories from days gone by. I love to be surrounded by things that make me smile.

Because I enjoy hanging pictures up in my house, I am always looking out for deals on photo frames (which of course means ACCUMULATION).  I never cared much what the frame looked like, and that "eclectic" look was always appealing as a "twenty-something" gal.

As I am quickly approaching my "forty-somethings," I have found that a traditional black frame gives me a sense of consistency.  So over the last year, I have been swapping out my frames for basic black. Now I am faced with a large stack of frames I don't use.

When trying to get organized most people face the issue of what to do with things we don't think we want; don't need to keep; or question if we should toss it in to the donation box when it's still usable.

With any sort of "project" it really comes down to looking at what we love and keeping those things that make us feel good (all within reason)! Here are three simple steps you can take to sort through photo frames.

1. Gather all questionable items together for sorting.
I have been collecting old frames in a box in my craft area for the last year to deal with when the box was full. Today, I noticed that the box wouldn't closet. Which means... Time to Sort!

2. Sort out the "keepers" into one pile.
A keeper should be the creme de la creme of whatever you are sorting out. They should be the best and most valuable items within the stack. In my situation, it came down to the best looking, unblemished and pristine condition frames.

3. Sort out the damaged and/or broken items into one pile.
This is always the easiest task for me. I try not to keep anything that is broken or damaged, however if it can be repaired and still usable, I will typically keep it. HOWEVER (and this is the most important element of keeping damaged goods), if I know that I am not going to fix it within a short period of time, I will discard it. No sense in keeping things I won't repair.

At this point, the pile has significantly decreased in size so it becomes easier to make the hard decisions on the what to do with the remaining items.  Today, I managed to put nine frames into my box to go to S.C.R.A.P. (one is missing a back and the rest are still in decent condition but I just know I won't need or use them). Four miscellaneous frames that I will keep to use for gifts, plus four remaining black frames for future memories that I will someday hang on my walls.

Photo from ApartmentTherapy from a great article on inspirational ideas for photo frames.

        

I am really excited today! I finished my holiday cards yesterday and got them to the post office.

This task, although rather a long process, is one that I will never give up. No matter what. I have been told (you know who you are) that I am a little obsessive with my holiday cards. I don't look at it as obsessive. I look at it as doing things just the way I like it.

I like to send a photo card of my family (so people can see just how big my kids are getting), along with a holiday letter of what we have been up to (this year is a Q & A from each family member). On each letter I like to write a little note of greetings to the reader, so that they know that I truly mean what I am wishing for them this holiday season. In addition to that, I hand address each card.

Doesn't seem like that big of a deal, right... I do this times (this year) 287.  I make the process so simple it really doesn't seem like much work. Here is what I do...

1. ORDER HOLIDAY CARDS. Typically I start just after Halloween downloading pictures and getting the cards ordered online.
2. WRITE HOLIDAY LETTER AND PRINT. This is the easiest part, but of course takes time to print off XXX number of letters. I usually get paper the year before when everything goes on sale.
3. GATHER SUPPLIES. Things like stamps, a good pen, my address stamp, letters, cards etc., into a basket or bin so that no matter where I am at home, I can take it with me and work on my cards. Sofa, playroom, office, kitchen table, I like that I can go "moblie" where ever I need to be and can work on the cards.
   
4. WRITING THEM OUT. This is the easiest task to multi-task. Almost always November is filled with old movies, basketball games or quite evenings at home (because my DH is working late). I spend usually a couple of hours every few days working on them.
5. COMPLETE! This is the best, a gratifying trip to the post office to drop them off!
   

My goal is always to get them completed sometime in the first week of December. Mostly because I want to be thinking about what cookies I am going to bake or all the great bazaars I can frequent through these last few days before Christmas!

The goal is to simplify.

Find what makes you happy and stick with it.

Keep it easy and you will always enjoy it! I do!

*photo from MyExpressions

        

Newsflash... I have fallen and I can't get up... just kidding.

Can you believe it...? 41 days since my last post. Where did those 41 days go?

It's been a crazy busy 41 days and within those 41 days, it was critical that I get down to basic survival skills to keep things a float (i.e. feeding the kids, making sure they have clean underwear and keeping up with my appointments/commitments), which clearly didn't leave much time for the "other stuff."

I don't feel badly, although I feel like my blogging outlet has left my a little empty in the creativity department and I have missed my blogging friends.

This past weekend was Thanksgiving and ours was wonderful. The turkey was perfect, the company was exceptional and I have never felt more relaxed than I do right now! I have so many things to be thankful for this year that I sure hope I still have readers... because truly, I am thankful for them!

I am bound and determined to get back on track this month.

I am not going to end this year feeling an empty feeling like maybe I haven't accomplished what I set out to do (even though I know it's not true)...

So here is my three step plan to regain the order I need for myself and my business!

1. Schedule appointment with myself for goal setting. DONE
2. Get back to my weekly blogging. Starting this week!
3. Get back to one new marketing task each week.  Due by Friday

Everyone falls off the wagon and no matter what happens, the important thing (and key) is to pick yourself up, dust yourself off and keep on keeping on!

Have a super week!

        

This past weekend we took the kids to Spokane for the weekend. For no particular reason we just decided to head North for a couple of days. Being in the car for long periods of time, I decided to pack up my stack of magazines and read them in the car.

I was especially taken with an article I read in Family Circle (November 2009 Issue) called House Call (by Meredith Janson). Not realizing what the article was (after all it was under the "Health" section of the magazine), I was pleased to see this discussion about....

...how clutter effects our overall health and quality of life.

The author brings in all the experts that I love and follow, Laurie Marrero (Clutter Diet), Peter Walsh (Clean Sweep), David Allen (Getting Things Done) and Julie Morgenstern (SHED Your Stuff). It really is an amazing thing to think about how your stuff truly does effect our overall health. Too often I hear about clutter situations and how it effects the household and one's quality of life (or in some cases even death).

It's an interesting thing... clutter. Most people really do have genuinely a relationship with their clutter and often, find that it fills a space in life similar to like a family member does. Taking it away would make them feel badly and often sad. One of the points made in the article, which is frequently an "ah-ha" moment for some, is when they talk about the "what if's."

• What if I need that someday?
• What if I can give it to a family member or someone who will need it?
• What if it I should find a better way to recycle it?
• What if it will harm someone or the earth?

The "what if's" are a never ending list and there will always be a reason to have a "what if". Taking a look at how the clutter is impacting your life TODAY is where the focus really needs to be. Ask yourself...

• ...what are you sacrificing TODAY to keep your clutter around?
• ... are you living the life you want to TODAY?
• ... what does keeping the stuff do for you TODAY?
• ... what value does keeping the stuff give you TODAY?

When you can look at clutter from a different perspective, it becomes easier to see things a little differently. It's not always about just throwing everything away, but living your life the best you can.

Are we living our best when we can't eat a meal at the table with our family?

Are we living our best when we can't invite our loved ones over for dinner?

Related Stories: YES TO LESS: The Power of Less and Paper piles: How you too can overcome them

        

I love to read (it's almost funny to hear myself say that sometimes).

Typically, I like to read at least two books at the same time (my dad would be so proud), one personal and one business/organizing book. This summer though I decided to take a break from business/organizing books and dedicated my time to reading for pleasure.

In late August though, a friend of mine released her new book, Get Rich Organizing: The Professional Organizers Survival Guide to Launch, Manage and Grow a Profitable Business, I knew I had to get a copy and dig in!

If I had to sum it up in one sentence, I would say that "this book needs to be on every new organizers book shelf!"

Getting Rich has not a whole lot to do with money, it has to do with getting a rich experience from being a professional organizer and giving the richest experience for your clients (and yourself). The money just comes along with the experiences.

Anne Blumer, CPO shares her passion and dedication throughout the book and it's clear she is good at what she does. She mentioned in the book early on, that when she started her business, no such book existed. I couldn't agree more, that this book would have saved me a lot of time and energy when I started my business.

With her vast knowledge of the industry and as the owner of the Professional Organizing Institute, she shares a wealth of information on running an organizing business. Who wouldn't want to tap into that?  She examines every step needed in starting a business, as well as gives you the tools needed to get right out into the field and properly assess your clients needs.

Everyone has the ability to be an organizer, but running an organizing business is an entirely different story. Anne really can equip you with everything needed to run your business and then some!

Great job Anne! As a five year business owner and professional organizer, I was able to get a lot of great ideas and information that I too can implement into my business... A great investment for any professional organizer starting out!

P.S. You can follow Anne on her blog too!