True Confessions of a Professional Organizer: Magazine Hoarding

Posted on January 25, 2012 by

How come I can’t get rid of my Southern Living magazines?

With a little downtime on a cold wintry Sunday, I decided at last to go through my Southern Living magazines. This collection, dating back to 2008, is one I have hauled with me through two moves.

Said magazines, which I acquired a subscription to as an Independent Southern Living at Home Consultant, are not something I “need” to keep, for any logical reason.

  • I don’t live in the South
  • I don’t regularly travel to the South
  • I don’t live in a growing region anything like the South

So, I decided, time to purge. But just tossing the whole lot was NOT an option. I KNOW there’s valuable stuff in these magazines. (Just what I can’t specifically say right now…some cool decorating ideas, fabulous recipes…) I can’t just dump ‘em. Maybe I’ll sit today and go through the whole stack. Maybe I’ll just whip through one or two a day to whittle it down to nothing.

Grabbing one off the top of the stack I think, “This’ll be easy and quick. I’ll just tear out the good stuff:  deco ideas for a binder and recipes for my recipe folder, and recycle the rest.” Exactly what I would tell a client to do.

And it did start out easy. And quick. I whipped right through the regional features and travel content.

Then I got to an article about a den makeover. “Hmm, I don’t think I’ve read this. Oh, I love what they did with that fireplace. Yikes, I can’t believe they painted the parquet floor!” Finished the article, moving on…

Recipes. This’ll be fast, I’ll just tear out what sounds yummy. This one, that one, another and another…All of them sounding delicious (and I’d just had breakfast). Turn the page, “Chicken Dumplings – Mama’s Way and Your Way”, I need this too.

You can see where this was going.

These magazines have been taking up precious shelf space for YEARS. I’ve passed by them, ignored them, not consulted or needed them until now. Now, I can’t live without them.

What am I going to do?

 (The stack still sits there.)

 

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Monday Bliss: Buy Yourself Flowers

Posted on January 23, 2012 by

Welcome to “Monday Bliss”, my Monday posting to help us start off the week with our best foot forward (instead of dragging behind with the “Monday Blahs”). My idea for this week is to:

Buy Yourself Flowers

 

Happy Chinese New Year of the Dragon, everyone! What better way to celebrate than with some fresh flowers to radiate beauty in your space and perk up your spirits as you move forward into the new year.

Why do we enjoy getting flowers? Because it means someone thought of us. They made a gesture of love and appreciation.

 You can do the same for yourself. Make it a gesture that says, “Self, I love you. You’re so <insert compliment here>. I give you this gift of beauty so that you know what a beautiful person you are.”

 And let THAT carry you through to the next week!

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Having an Organized Year Part 2

Posted on January 19, 2012 by

 In my earlier post, I discussed the difference between making “resolutions” and setting “intentions” for the new year. If you’re on the bandwagon with that shift, what intentions do you have? If you’ve already made “resolutions”, how can you re-frame them as intentions? 

Maybe you’ve made a resolution to “be more organized”. That resolution tends to be weak because 1) it’s too vague and 2) it implies that you’re not organized, and that not being organized is bad (needs to be changed).

Getting Clear

I encourage you to ask yourself the questions below, to become clear about what “being organized” means for you, as it is different for everyone. And when you can define a clear intention, you can work with positive energy to fulfill it, even by using feng shui to put it into physical form in your space – but more about that later.

Questions to Get Clear: What Does “Getting Organized” Mean for You?

What area of my home needs organizing or de-cluttering attention?

What area of my home tends to collect lots of things?

What area of my home bothers me the most?

What do I struggle with keeping organized on a day-to-day basis?

If I had success organizing or de-cluttering an area that needs attention/tends to collect lots of things/bothers me the most/that I struggle with keeping organized on a day-to-day basis what would that look like?

What is the least I would like to see happen?

What is the most I would like to see happen?

Do I have a “happy medium” that would bring me peace for now?

Do I have a “goal for now” that will lead me to a “goal for the future”?

After answering these questions, can you come up with your “intentions” for getting organized this year?

Examples:

  • I intend to keep a clear walkway into my home.
  • I intend to file papers at the end of each month.
  • I intend to have a system for organizing kids’ toys.
  • I intend to go through my closet each season.
  • I intend to make the storage area clutter-free.

 What are yours? Please share in the comment section below.

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Monday Bliss: Display a Motivational Quote

Posted on January 16, 2012 by

Welcome to “Monday Bliss”, my Monday posting to help us start off the week with our best foot forward (instead of dragging behind with the “Monday Blahs”). My idea for this week is to:

Get Motivation “In Your Face”

What do you need a little motivation for? If you’ve got some intentions for new things to come-to-be in this next year, it’ll help to put a motivational quote or saying in a prominent place in your space. So you can’t miss it, get a boost every time you see it, and continue to put a positive force out there for what you want. It works even on a subconscious level.

Maybe it’s something that will carry you through the weeks to come, maybe it’s just something that can help you get through this week. What do you want to focus on, to stay positive and propelled forward towards your goals?

Great places to get motivation “in your face”:

  • Refrigerator
  • Bathroom mirror
  • Top of dresser
  • Car dash
  • Cell phone/computer screen
  • Cell phone/computer reminder

Need help finding a great quote? Click here

Or maybe some classic sayings (or shall we say “stolen slogans”) will do the trick for you:

  • Just do it!
  • Be all that you can be

Do you have a favorite? I’d love for you to share, please comment below.

 

Without inspiration the best powers of the mind remain dormant. There is a fuel in us which needs to be ignited with sparks.
Johann Gottfried Von Herder

 

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Having an Organized Year Part 1

Posted on January 13, 2012 by

 Is getting organized one of your new year’s “resolutions”?

If you’ve been reading my Day to Day Feng Shui blog lately you’ve heard me talking about setting “intentions” for the year, as opposed to “resolutions”. Here’s the difference:

  1. A resolution implies that something is wrong and needs to change (you “resolve” to change it). An intention simply identifies something you intend – to do, be or happen. There is less negativity, such as wrong-doing, guilt, shame and inadequacy involved.
  2. Instead of being involved in the negative energy of what you don’t want, or being set back by failing at your resolve, setting an intention frees you to put out the positive energy of what you do want, to magnetize that back to you.

Setting intentions and putting those intentions into physical form in your space is a big part of feng shui. It’s how you can harness the power of feng shui for a specific purpose – say keeping the kitchen counter clear, setting up your laundry room to be more functional, or getting your taxes filed on time.

Stay tuned for my next post:  Having an Organized Year Part 2 for questions you can ask yourself to get clear on what your intentions really are for “getting organized” this year.

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Monday Bliss

Posted on January 9, 2012 by

Speaking of having a fresh start, I’ve got a plan for a feature on this new blog called “Monday Bliss”. So kiss those Monday “Blahs” goodbye, and keep your eye out for some inspiration at the beginning of each week.

Instead of feeling unexcited, overburdened or daunted at the thought of the week ahead, let’s re-focus. Let’s lift our chi at the beginning of the week, and set intentions– for a particular outcome, accomplishment or way of being. These posts will give you some ideas.

My Monday Bliss idea for today? Soak up the sun.

Although it’s unseasonably warm here in Minnesota, it’s still a cool 36 degrees. But it’s sunny! Wherever you are, whether it’s sunny or not, pause for just a moment. Let the light of the sun, real or imagined, warm you to the core. If you’re working near a window and can let in some sun, open those shades wide! The sun embodies Yang energy, which is strength, action and perseverance. Let the warm light give you that Yang energy, and perk you up for your day and week ahead.

Happy Monday!

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New Year New Beginnings

Posted on January 6, 2012 by

Doesn’t it feel good to have a fresh start? I’ve noticed clients and myself feeling motivated and excited this time of year. The busy holiday season is over, and now we have a chance to breathe and decide what we want the next year to be all about.

I hope you have given yourself a chance to do this. Your life is too precious, and you’re too important to the world to put your desires, hopes, dreams on the back burner. Don’t wait for when you have time to think about it. Postponing things for “someday” is one thing that deters us from having the space and the life we really want.

Take a stand for what YOU want. Set those desires, hopes, dreams – your “intentions” in motion. A great time to do this is at the Chinese New Year. From January 23, 2012 – February 9, 2013, we’re going to experience the year of the Water Dragon. According to Marina Lighthouse, this year “rewards those who take action and initiate new projects and ideas”. Read More  

So go for it! Just do it! You can attract what you want into your life with the power of feng shui and your intentions.

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New Year New Blog

Posted on January 4, 2012 by

Happy 2012!

I’m excited to begin 2012 by blogging from the all-new www.rejuvenatespace.com. If you’ve been following Day to Day Feng Shui  you’ll be getting more of the same feng shui insight and organizing tips that you’ve been utilizing and appreciating for over 2 years from me here now – but even better!

I’ve got big plans for 2012:  Giving you what you want and need to make your home work for you…

A sneak peek of what’s to come:

Blog posts with inspiration for you to REJUVENATE your space

  • useful ideas
  • real-life solutions
  • smart resources

 Tele-classes offering proven tools and strategies

  • learn exactly what you need to do to transform your space
  • from the comfort of your own home

 …plentiful ideas for how to create and maintain a space that works AND nourishes your soul. Because that’s what we all need – in a world of overconsumption, overstimulation and just plain busyness – a place of peace.

But don’t abandon Day to Day Feng Shui!

In fact, make sure you subscribe so you don’t miss out on any must-read posts. The blog is not going away. I’ve got plans to evolve it into a tid-bit-a-day blog, a place to get a little taste of feng shui:  something simple, relevant and inspiring you can be aware of or do each day to make sure you home has good feng shui, so you can lead the vibrant, healthy life you deserve!

Subscribe to Day to Day Feng Shui:

  1. Click the Day to Day Feng Shui link above
  2. In the new window that opens, scroll to the bottom of the page, and click on “Subscribe to”
  3. In the new window that opens, click on the link at the top of the page, “Subscribe to this feed”

 Then, you can get posts emailed directly to you – Day to Day Feng Shui!

Thanks for reading, and please comment below on what you think of the new site.

 

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$10 Gift Certificate Giveaway

Posted on November 29, 2011 by

It’s the Holiday Season and I’m excited to announce my new program:  Spread the Love!

Spread the Love! makes it easy for you to share the gift of a space that works. During my Initial Consultation, I share valuable information:

  • Key insight on how your space is affecting you
  • Practical tips for how to eliminate clutter
  • Creative ideas for organizing and interior design

With my new Spread the Love! Program, I’m giving 3 $10 Gift Certificates at every Initial Consultation, so not only YOU, but also your FRIENDS AND FAMILY can benefit.

 

Program Launch Special:

Since I’m so excited about spreading the love, and since it’s the perfect time for giving, I’m giving away 99 of these $10 Gift Certificates to ANYONE! No appointment or purchase required.

How many do you want? Contact me to reserve yours today! Giveaway Ends 1/31/12.

Use them for:

  • Your own Initial Consultation
  • To give to Friends and Family, towards their Initial Consultations

Give with a hostess or organizing-themed gift, as stocking stuffers or just as a “Hey, I know you care about your space, so here’s something to make it better” gift. It’s a $10 gift you don’t have to shop OR pay for! Talk about taking the pressure off.

Have a complementary business? Give a $10 Gift Certificate as a client gift or bonus.

HURRY! I’m only giving away 99 – make sure you get in on the goods! Ends 1/31/12.

Details:  The only stipulation is that the Gift Certificates are for use towards one appointment at a time. That’s it!

Questions? Contact me I’m happy to answer!

Gift Certificates also available for purchase in any amount.

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