tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21240840444079101932012-01-27T12:32:35.104-05:00Strategies to bring CALM and ORGANIZATION to your chaos and clutter.Carolyn Caldwell, CPO®, CPO-CD®http://www.blogger.com/profile/00740610449436292368noreply@blogger.comBlogger1721100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-43677218672263115152011-12-31T09:07:00.001-05:002011-12-31T09:07:00.941-05:00

Best wishes to all our readers for a healthy, happy and prosperous coming year.  May all your goals for the year be specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and accomplished by this time next year!

Carolyn Caldwell, CPO®, CPO-CD®http://www.blogger.com/profile/00740610449436292368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-61949808107043615922011-12-25T07:06:00.001-05:002011-12-25T07:06:00.340-05:00

To all of our readers who celebrate Christmas, we wish you a very joyful and peaceful time with family and friends.  Merry Christmas.

Carolyn Caldwell, CPO®, CPO-CD®http://www.blogger.com/profile/00740610449436292368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-48949517960324644122011-12-21T07:03:00.002-05:002011-12-21T07:03:01.106-05:00

To all of our readers who celebrate Hanukkah, we wish you a peaceful and joyful time with family and friends.

Carolyn Caldwell, CPO®, CPO-CD®http://www.blogger.com/profile/00740610449436292368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-13294311480298471762011-12-12T00:08:00.000-05:002011-12-12T00:08:39.669-05:00

Many of you are opening up the holiday decorations, unpacking boxes and bins and joining in festivities with lights, wreaths, Christmas tree ornaments and those special holiday decorations that live on the mantel.  Problem is, every year there are a few more to add to the mix.  Can anyone remember how to get them all back in the box?  Packing up those boxes in January can be worse than that 1,000

Carolyn Caldwell, CPO®, CPO-CD®http://www.blogger.com/profile/00740610449436292368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-13858481437957775812011-12-07T10:37:00.000-05:002011-12-07T10:37:27.332-05:00

For individuals managing ADD, learning to manage time can be an ongoing challenge.  Professional organizers and ADD coaches often encourage the use of timers to make sure hyper-focus doesn't cause the swallowing of hours and hours of time scheduled for something else. Here's an idea I created for a young client whose tremendous creativity sent me searching for an alternate timing device.  

Carolyn Caldwell, CPO®, CPO-CD®http://www.blogger.com/profile/00740610449436292368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-37841427079129828832011-11-30T09:55:00.000-05:002011-11-30T09:55:25.314-05:00

Dale Carnegie first penned his book, How to Win Friends and Influence People, in 1936.  I'm reading it as part of my Program Mentor training with the Institute for Challenging Disorganization.  Imagine my surprise when I sourced a copy at the Toronto Public Library, I found there were 17 copies and all were on loan or on reserve. I highly recommend this read.  It is easy to get through with

Carolyn Caldwell, CPO®, CPO-CD®http://www.blogger.com/profile/00740610449436292368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-34306332232385147462011-11-24T12:11:00.000-05:002011-11-24T12:11:27.300-05:00

To our American readers best wishes for a health, happy and joyful Thanksgiving with your family and friends.

Carolyn Caldwell, CPO®, CPO-CD®http://www.blogger.com/profile/00740610449436292368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-91407489182825516082011-11-22T09:23:00.000-05:002011-11-22T09:23:48.396-05:00

Just returned from an Ontario Sailing training camp in Miami at the US Sailing Centre.  The trip was great but the luggage is not.  We still use a super strong, two part suitcase designed to protect ski gear from air travel.  I've weighed the darn thing and it comes in at 10lbs before I put in a single pair of shorts.  The last three times I've travelled, despite pre-weighing here at home (has

Carolyn Caldwell, CPO®, CPO-CD®http://www.blogger.com/profile/00740610449436292368noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-42167037002035722692011-04-21T10:46:00.000-04:002011-04-21T10:46:31.785-04:00

I have 4 hours all to myself today: that is, all to myself and the mound of paper work that accumulated while I was off tending to clients. We schedule our meetings with clients, with staff and all manner of other related services for our lives but how often do we book time with ourselves to clear out the clutter?  Unfortunately we know from decades of time management publications, that unless a

Carolyn Caldwell, CPO®, CPO-CD®http://www.blogger.com/profile/00740610449436292368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-49635555459902210282011-01-19T17:25:00.001-05:002011-01-19T17:25:36.521-05:00

The recent car battery troubles of my neighbour, and our own car last month, gave me a chance to ponder the need for battery booster cables here in Canada.  As the car I drive often takes us out of the city and around the province, if not the country, we have booster cables that never leave the back of the car except to boost someone's battery.  We have a set for the second car which KLR drives

Carolyn Caldwell, CPO®, CPO-CD®http://www.blogger.com/profile/00740610449436292368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-50174959403222730212010-12-25T06:23:00.005-05:002010-12-25T06:23:00.482-05:00

On behalf of the professional organizers at Wellrich Organizers, I would like to wish you all a very peaceful and joyful Christmas.  We wish you a day full of cheer and hope. Carolyn, Chris and Jennie

Carolyn Caldwell, CPO®, CPO-CD®http://www.blogger.com/profile/00740610449436292368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-90004126146000789072010-12-13T14:34:00.000-05:002010-12-13T14:34:58.450-05:00

Here Comes Winter! Is it snowing in your part of the world like it is here in Toronto?  If you haven't done so yet, now is a great time to clear the garage and make room for the car - so it can overnight out of the snow.  Some quick tips: Check that the sports gear still fits e.g. no point in storing a bicycle that will be too small next spring; Put away the garden spades/shovels and put snow

Carolyn Caldwell, CPO®, CPO-CD®http://www.blogger.com/profile/00740610449436292368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-47849647067370057312010-12-03T07:57:00.000-05:002010-12-03T07:57:00.262-05:00

Organizing is about balance: enough stuff - not too little, not too much; enough stuff in your time available - not too little, not too much.  Its also about having the right stuff at the right time in balance with the priorities of your life.  As many of you know, I work with a significant number of hoarding clients.  Much of our work together involves helping them balance the stuff in their

Carolyn Caldwell, CPO®, CPO-CD®http://www.blogger.com/profile/00740610449436292368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-50062953354902314332010-12-02T00:01:00.002-05:002010-12-02T19:55:22.322-05:00

Today, the beginning of Chanukkah, we would like to wish all our Jewish readers a Happy Hanukkah.

Carolyn Caldwell, CPO®, CPO-CD®http://www.blogger.com/profile/00740610449436292368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-21061114569359990062010-11-23T23:31:00.003-05:002010-11-23T23:42:44.176-05:00

People who hoard do not normally brag about their hoarding behaviour.  In fact, most of them are very private and often have not let anyone in their home for many years. Professional organizers do not normally go public with the names of their clients ~ client confidentiality is a key ingredient and ethical imperative in the organizing business. So this situation is really unusual.  I am

Carolyn Caldwell, CPO®, CPO-CD®http://www.blogger.com/profile/00740610449436292368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-14491681813424832632010-11-17T14:07:00.000-05:002010-11-17T14:07:58.285-05:00

I recently had an opportunity to appear on Breakfast Television (checkout photo #16) speaking on unplugging kids after the summer.  Many parents are increasingly aware of the amount of screen time their children have over the course of a day.  Think about it: TV, computer (in school, at home), IPOD, cell phone.  Add in there a movie or attempts to look up a reference at the library and a modern

Carolyn Caldwell, CPO®, CPO-CD®http://www.blogger.com/profile/00740610449436292368noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-47325787718553708872010-10-15T07:30:00.000-04:002010-10-15T07:30:01.710-04:00

Do you ever wonder where your money goes? Or why your waistline just won’t shrink? The answer to both these questions may be found in your lunch bag. Yes, the one that has been pushed to the back of your highest shelf.Grabbing a bite on the go responds to our need for variety, and convenience. While there are more healthy choices available, both the healthy and not-so-healthy lunch options are

Chris Janeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492776424615822421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-21762579765488179742010-10-13T18:57:00.001-04:002010-10-13T18:58:26.148-04:00

The question of whether multi-tasking works to increase productivity comes up frequently at our house.  What can I say?  I have a teenager.  This age bracket of our species has taken multi-tasking to new heights with ear buds, television, blackberry and homework all going at the same time. My experience is that multi-tasking does not work well.  I define multi-tasking as participating at one

Carolyn Caldwell, CPO®, CPO-CD®http://www.blogger.com/profile/00740610449436292368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-90093961312835817332010-10-08T07:30:00.000-04:002010-10-08T07:30:01.212-04:00

If you’re the lucky family member making a turkey this weekend you must be making a grocery list as well. As you sit to consider everything that will make your gathering a success, take a moment to also consider the aftermath of the holiday feast. Do you look forward to demonstrating your culinary expertise, night after night preparing turkey pot pie, turkey pizza, turkey à la king – whatever it

Chris Janeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492776424615822421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-77140335330689697682010-07-22T07:00:00.001-04:002010-07-22T07:00:06.827-04:00

Like so many of us, I have increasing problems with memory these days.  I like to blame it on the heat, the fact I have a busy family or that my business as a professional organizer is growing and I too much to keep track of.  The fact that I am of a certain age is of course not relevant! Here's a tip to help you remember a myriad of items: use the memo pad or notes function on your phone to

Carolyn Caldwell, CPO®, CPO-CD®http://www.blogger.com/profile/00740610449436292368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-35684823602562230692010-07-18T13:30:00.004-04:002010-07-18T14:47:29.636-04:00

I've just been given the latest issue of Wired magazine to read... "Look! There's an article about organizing in here!" Of course I wasn't surprised, as organizing touches every aspect of our lives. They've featured four room makeovers with a range of organizing ideas, from simple fixes to high-tech solutions.In 'The Office' the use of rolling filing cabinets adapted well to the work habits

Jennie Vlietstrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14055242498982840898noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-58014650843726123652010-07-09T20:41:00.006-04:002010-07-09T21:30:57.619-04:00

There seems to be no shortage of ways to store spices. Among the most common are the carousel, the magnetic board, the bulk purchase in a baggy, and the store-bought jars that land on a lazy susan or wall mounted rack. What happens when you don’t have the space for a sprawling display of your spices, or simply prefer to keep them out-of-sight and away from the heat of your oven? If you are

Chris Janeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492776424615822421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-35123083631422488762010-07-07T11:56:00.004-04:002010-07-07T12:34:07.327-04:00

Organizing is an on going process, one that requires revisiting drawers, closets and surfaces often to keep our organization up to date with our ever changing lives. I've been going through this review process with my home office. I recently made the decision to move my desk from the second floor into the basement. This involved the physical relocation of my workspace but it's also been an

Jennie Vlietstrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14055242498982840898noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-59727827019945564152010-06-30T15:05:00.002-04:002010-06-30T15:21:38.450-04:00

This holiday weekend you may be looking to get outside to enjoy some summer sunshine. Consider organizing a picnic to share with a loved one, family or friends.First, choose your location. It may be in a park, on the beach, or even in your backyard. I'm planning our picnic at a favourite spot, next to the sights and sounds of moving water.Packing for your picnic will depend on how you will

Jennie Vlietstrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14055242498982840898noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-78138903799148215852010-06-25T07:30:00.003-04:002010-06-25T07:30:00.134-04:00

I baked a cake for my husband on Father’s Day. I’ve had the recipe since 2003; it’s the first time I’ve baked the cake. Fortunately, it was delicious and will be made again. Two weeks ago I baked some oatmeal cranberry muffins. Horrible, squishy, chewy little lumps. Muffins into the green bin; recipe into the blue bin. This is especially disappointing because I’d had the recipe since 2000. In my

Chris Janeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492776424615822421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-73081299199798288512010-06-24T07:00:00.001-04:002010-06-24T07:00:06.019-04:00

Keeping track of electronic files can be a challenge even for Professional Organizers.  One solution is to let your computer do all the filing work for you. Your computer reads files names from the left whether they include numbers or letters.  It will automatically file letters by alphabet.  Alpha filing is great when you have a few files so it is a good solution for folder names. Consider

Carolyn Caldwell, CPO®, CPO-CD®http://www.blogger.com/profile/00740610449436292368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-42997555782887331752010-06-23T12:53:00.003-04:002010-06-23T13:10:02.756-04:00

Early, early morning is not my favourite time of the day. When I have an early appointment, like this morning, I want to spend every possible extra second in bed that I can. To do that I need to prepare ahead and organize everything that I will need to take with me.Starting the evening before:1. Confirm the time and address of your appointment. Look up the location on a map or print if

Jennie Vlietstrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14055242498982840898noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-251799267068356422010-06-18T07:30:00.005-04:002010-06-18T07:30:00.710-04:00

Have you ever looked at something, without really seeing it? I recently discovered that our dishwasher has a Delay button. We’ve had the dishwasher four-and-a-half years. It wasn’t until reading the manual that accompanied my mother’s new dishwasher, that I even realized dishwashers have a Delay button.I’ve heard of washing machines having a delay feature. While I marvelled at the idea when I was

Chris Janeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492776424615822421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-1717227102180115192010-06-17T07:00:00.001-04:002010-06-17T07:00:00.873-04:00

With the recent downsizing of my own parent, and the move of my SO to working from a home office, our house has a few too many boxes stashed in a few too many places.  SO and I have been making a serious attempt to empty, sort and purge the contents of those boxes.  I've become my own organizing client.  And just like everyone else, it is easier sorting someone else's stuff. This week we tackled

Carolyn Caldwell, CPO®, CPO-CD®http://www.blogger.com/profile/00740610449436292368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-11066384607590170482010-06-11T07:30:00.005-04:002010-06-11T07:30:01.199-04:00

Zoning does not pertain to city planning alone. This term is often used by interior designers when trying to delineate functions within a multipurpose room; the same concept can be applied to organizing. And guess what, you’re doing it. You may not realize it, but you’re zoning.Manufacturers of kitchen appliances and accessories make zoning suggestions. The presence of a dairy compartment,

Chris Janeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492776424615822421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-3681333364928084172010-06-09T11:30:00.006-04:002010-06-09T12:01:57.932-04:00

We’ve talked about recycling plastic bags but there are other approaches to keep your plastic bags from overflowing – reducing your plastic bag use with reusable containers. From cloth and nylon bags, to boxes and baskets, or backpacks and push carts there are many alternative ways to reduce the number of plastic bags accumulating in your home. The less you have the easier it will be to stay

Jennie Vlietstrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14055242498982840898noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-18182405814008767612010-06-08T10:03:00.001-04:002010-06-08T10:06:15.942-04:00

Even professional organizers have to let go sometimes and yes, even professional organizers are known to have a few emotional items in their closets.  We like to think of these hiccups in our otherwise perfectly organized (NOT) lives as assurance that we are human and reminders of the struggles of our clients.  Right - human we are.  Straight face I have not. So I was not surprised, if perhaps a

Carolyn Caldwell, CPO®, CPO-CD®http://www.blogger.com/profile/00740610449436292368noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-19987068145213617212010-06-04T19:05:00.003-04:002010-06-04T19:30:07.758-04:00

When my local recycling program added plastic grocery and shopping bags to their list of acceptable recyclables I was so happy. People with bags of bags know what I’m talking about. Finally, there was an option for disposing all of those indestructible plastics, other than the landfill for the next 1,000 years.To reduce your bag accumulation start by sorting out all of those with holes or rips

Jennie Vlietstrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14055242498982840898noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-26085733495711573132010-06-04T07:30:00.003-04:002010-06-04T07:30:00.844-04:00

A meeting with a colleague ran overtime on a Friday afternoon a couple weeks ago. As I dashed out the door I said, “I hope dinner’s ready when I get home”. Unfortunately, that’s not how it played out. I arrived home to discover our fridge sitting in the middle of the kitchen. Our four-year-old fridge had died. We learned that General Electric (GE) had identified a defect with the motherboard. The

Chris Janeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492776424615822421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-15614413617205961632010-05-31T10:02:00.000-04:002010-05-31T10:02:17.372-04:00

It's that time of year again: holiday trips, cottage weekends, camping excursions.  They all involve loading the gear, the kids and sometimes the dog/cat/hamster/fish into the family car and heading off down the highway. Here are a couple of tips to keep all that stuff organized so you can relax, enjoy the view and arrive ready for your time away. Take only what you need, clear out the rest -

Carolyn Caldwell, CPO®, CPO-CD®http://www.blogger.com/profile/00740610449436292368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-40589357132118094722010-05-28T07:30:00.002-04:002010-05-28T07:30:00.729-04:00

It seems that no matter what the publication, the first thing I look for is the recipes. I will admit that while leafing through the latest issue of Chatelaine I made the shocking discovery that I had flipped to the recipes, before even realizing they were launching their clutter-busting series. But I digress . . .Magazines remain my number one source for new food ideas. Only when I’m really

Chris Janeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492776424615822421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-17014461200501583122010-05-27T21:55:00.000-04:002010-05-27T21:55:22.309-04:00

Please join me in welcoming our new blogger, Christine Janes, to our blog pages.  Tomorrow will be her first posting day. Chris is a Trained Professional Organizer and member of POC. She brings 10 years of corporate experience managing people and processes to her organizing work. If your kitchen looks like a tornado passed through it, Chris will bring her appreciation for balance and harmony, a

Carolyn Caldwell, CPO®, CPO-CD®http://www.blogger.com/profile/00740610449436292368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-68667391496920007402010-05-27T00:02:00.000-04:002010-05-27T00:02:21.773-04:00

Calm the Clutter is expanding.  Starting this week, the blog will have two additional authors.  Please join me in welcoming Chris Janes and Jennie Vlietstra both Associates with Wellrich Organizers.  Stay tuned for more scoop on both these authors and their initial posts later this week! Welcome aboard Chris and Jennie.

Carolyn Caldwell, CPO®, CPO-CD®http://www.blogger.com/profile/00740610449436292368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-35244538018922247692010-01-27T09:41:00.002-05:002010-01-27T09:49:48.921-05:00

My clients are equally split between the number that use electronic calendars and those that use paper calendars. The electronic device allows you to have instant access to your schedule 5 years out or five years back without the weight of 5 books. They also allow you to flip things around with the touch of a role ball, touch screen or mouse. No need for those messy erasers and rewriting the

Carolyn Caldwell, CPO®, CPO-CD®http://www.blogger.com/profile/00740610449436292368noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-42676516585058927772010-01-26T07:04:00.003-05:002010-01-26T07:16:35.397-05:00

Its winter - cold, wet and sometimes just plain grey. You, like many of us, may have limited your trips to the drive-thru car wash and vacuum station while the snow flies and Canadian wind howls. I know I have. You may also find yourself increasingly frustrated or discouraged with the debris in the car that doesn't get cleaned out when those freshen up stops at the service station get curtailed

Carolyn Caldwell, CPO®, CPO-CD®http://www.blogger.com/profile/00740610449436292368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-4708770624429312672009-10-19T09:16:00.002-04:002009-10-19T09:21:40.033-04:00

If you have school age children you are very familiar with agendas, projects, dictation, reading lists and the myriad of tasks that come home for the children to accomplish. You probably even monitor that your children sit down and do homework each evening in order to get through the list. Maybe you go as far as to check that they have the due dates in their agendas.Have you ever taught them

Carolyn Caldwell, CPO®, CPO-CD®http://www.blogger.com/profile/00740610449436292368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-76532503350983239112009-09-16T06:29:00.003-04:002009-09-16T06:47:38.505-04:00

How was your summer? Was it cold and wet like here in Toronto (Canada)? Did you run away from your clutter and chaos and get some vacation time in beautifully organized hotels? Maybe a trip to the cottage where organizing takes on a very relaxed form of archival collecting? I'd love to hear your stories.And what did Wellrich Organizers do that left the blog pages silent for so long?I took on

Carolyn Caldwell, CPO®, CPO-CD®http://www.blogger.com/profile/00740610449436292368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-40757757084264006152009-06-01T11:04:00.004-04:002009-06-01T11:23:34.104-04:00

When it comes to the really big downsizing projects - from the family home to a 900 sq.ft. condo, sometimes there just aren't enough family members or grandchildren to absorb all the pieces of furniture - loved though they may be - that have accumulated over the years. Furniture consignment stores are popping up all over cities these days in an attempt to keep some of the items in circulation,

Carolyn Caldwell, CPO®, CPO-CD®http://www.blogger.com/profile/00740610449436292368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-58365025749760790002009-05-27T10:29:00.003-04:002009-05-27T10:50:09.892-04:00

It's happening everywhere - garage sales abound as the spring cleaning bug hits neighbourhoods everywhere. A Saturday morning, coffee in hand, perusing the garage sales and flea markets can be a fun start to a spring weekend. Perhaps you pick up another book on old boats which you love so much, or an addition to your 1950's Irish stoneware.Reality hits when you return home to find the bookshelf

Carolyn Caldwell, CPO®, CPO-CD®http://www.blogger.com/profile/00740610449436292368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-69033004720150487802009-05-14T09:50:00.004-04:002009-05-14T10:07:56.048-04:00

For Canadians, this weekend brings the long awaited Victoria Day Weekend - the first of our almost monthly summer long weekends and traditionally the weekend for cottage openings and annual plantings.If you are heading for garden, this will be a great weekend to organize that shed. Here are some things to keep in mind:Start by emptying the entire shed if feasible. Once it is empty, you will be

Carolyn Caldwell, CPO®, CPO-CD®http://www.blogger.com/profile/00740610449436292368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-65820758650170256922009-05-13T09:50:00.004-04:002009-05-13T09:57:18.024-04:00

.. And we are not talking Orange County here folks.This is "end of year" season. The concerts, open houses, school events, choir performances, track meets are coming at me at such a fast pace my online calendar and handheld device can barely keep up.Oh, that's right. It's May again. I should have known. It happens every May and September.Sound familiar? When events collide all at once to

Carolyn Caldwell, CPO®, CPO-CD®http://www.blogger.com/profile/00740610449436292368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-34486453918667606962009-05-11T13:30:00.000-04:002009-05-11T13:31:49.826-04:00

The ten minute challenge is one of my favourite organizing techniques. It's great for getting kids involved in a daily clean up and when used regularly, is highly effective at keeping one's home organized.Give each person in your home a bag - the new recycled shopping bags are great for this. Let everyone know they have 10 minutes to fill their bag with items that are not in their homes and need

Carolyn Caldwell, CPO®, CPO-CD®http://www.blogger.com/profile/00740610449436292368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-33968269199003248102009-04-20T09:55:00.004-04:002009-04-20T10:13:31.140-04:00

I'm back folks - took a little break there. Back to those downsizing issues...With almost every client I work, we end up purging out a significant amount of material that can not be re-purposed, is not suitable for sale or donation and therefore ends up in either the garbage or recycling. When clearing out a space, even just to reorganize to make the space function better, clients are often

Carolyn Caldwell, CPO®, CPO-CD®http://www.blogger.com/profile/00740610449436292368noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-38100626252596808562009-04-06T09:16:00.003-04:002009-04-06T09:30:11.448-04:00

If you or someone you know is involved in downsizing their home, or even a spring clear-out project, then you or they are familiar with the problems of finding homes for the things you once loved or used and which you are now ready to pass on. Some of these items truly belong in the garbage. As one client once said to me "Even good treasures left long enough become garbage." This next series

Carolyn Caldwell, CPO®, CPO-CD®http://www.blogger.com/profile/00740610449436292368noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-35484830693043576042009-04-01T09:43:00.002-04:002009-04-01T09:55:09.672-04:00

It's officially spring. If you live in the northern hemisphere, like me, your days are getting longer and warmer. If you live in the southern hemisphere (a big shout out to our African readers) your days are getting shorter and cooler. Whichever the case, the seasons are changing and so are our kids' clothing needs.Have you noticed how children grow? We feed them, hydrate them, make sure they

Carolyn Caldwell, CPO®, CPO-CD®http://www.blogger.com/profile/00740610449436292368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-81181994124047215642009-03-25T09:24:00.002-04:002009-04-06T09:31:09.725-04:00

If you are struggling to manage photos and mementos, I suggest you hop over to Org Junkie. This month Laura is dedicating to organizing photographs and keepsakes. These items are always a challenge for clients - they are even a challenge for me. She has recently collected a series of helpful links and resources.

Carolyn Caldwell, CPO®, CPO-CD®http://www.blogger.com/profile/00740610449436292368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-50768391952999812042009-03-23T09:08:00.003-04:002009-03-23T09:20:42.658-04:00

You are looking at the title of this post and thinking to yourself "OK, Carolyn has lost it. Why would I go to all this work if I don't enjoy being organized?"Because people organize themselves for all kinds of reasons. Some of us like to be more in control of those parts of our lives that our within our control. Some of us are responding to the pressure from our spouses, our kids or - yup,

Carolyn Caldwell, CPO®, CPO-CD®http://www.blogger.com/profile/00740610449436292368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-72555171059392996492009-03-20T12:38:00.003-04:002009-03-20T12:45:09.691-04:00

To keep the organizing going, and the clutter at bay, every item needs to go back to its home. for a residential organizing project, next to purging and/or downsizing, much of the work is in establishing a home for everything in your home. Once an item has a home, it needs to return there when you finish using/playing with it.Again, just a few minutes a day to scan through your home and put

Carolyn Caldwell, CPO®, CPO-CD®http://www.blogger.com/profile/00740610449436292368noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-36323702933964918802009-03-19T11:12:00.003-04:002009-03-20T12:45:56.277-04:00

"If I had time", you say, "I would be more organized!" I know, me too. Unfortunately since none of us have figured out how to put an extra couple of hours into each day, we will just have to work with the 24 hours that we have.Let's start with your calendar. Do you have one? Do you carry it with you all the time? If it is a paper calendar, can you put it into your purse, briefcase, computer

Carolyn Caldwell, CPO®, CPO-CD®http://www.blogger.com/profile/00740610449436292368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-16766006230787248992009-03-17T10:32:00.002-04:002009-03-20T12:45:56.278-04:00

Have you ever noticed the tendency to walk into a house, room or office and immediately put down on the first horizontal surface whatever is in your hands? It is such a common habit that we professional organizers find amongst our clients that if you are missing something, I would suggest you check the first flat surface you find in each of the rooms you have just visited.To maintain your

Carolyn Caldwell, CPO®, CPO-CD®http://www.blogger.com/profile/00740610449436292368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-71138669304067654272009-03-16T13:48:00.004-04:002009-03-20T12:45:56.280-04:00

I am committed to education. Yes, the formal kind our kids attend; for my clients I am committed to educating them with new behaviours and habits to adopt to keep their lives organized. I have heard it said that insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. If my clients continue to do what they have always done - their lives will once again be full of

Carolyn Caldwell, CPO®, CPO-CD®http://www.blogger.com/profile/00740610449436292368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-17572050121587368532009-03-12T08:16:00.004-04:002009-03-12T08:31:28.611-04:00

If you or someone you know/love struggles to organize under with ADD then this is the book for you. ADD-Friendly ways to Organize your Life by Judith Kolberg and Kathleen Nadeau, is even written to hold the attention - but not the hyper focus - of individuals with ADD.It's seven chapters, including one with further Resources, are chock full of information, strategies, suggestions and ways to

Carolyn Caldwell, CPO®, CPO-CD®http://www.blogger.com/profile/00740610449436292368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-726117238848068212009-03-11T10:06:00.004-04:002009-03-11T10:41:20.484-04:00

Today's book is a little lighter read. Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui, by Karen Kingston is a handy feng shui and space clearing primer. It is an easy read with practical tips in language that is understandable even to those of us who usually get hung up on the direction finding side of feng shui. In addition Karen addresses the background of clutter and helps identify what it is and how it

Carolyn Caldwell, CPO®, CPO-CD®http://www.blogger.com/profile/00740610449436292368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-23662372759213415962009-03-10T09:44:00.002-04:002009-03-10T09:58:00.305-04:00

For this week, I am focussing on organizing resources and for now, sticking with books.I recommend Buried in Treasures by David Tolin, Randy Frost and Gail Steketee, for packrats and their friends or family. In the past month alone, I have received three phone calls from family members who are distressed by the hoarding or packrat behaviour of siblings. This is the book for you. The authors

Carolyn Caldwell, CPO®, CPO-CD®http://www.blogger.com/profile/00740610449436292368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-43047544880270560332009-03-09T09:37:00.002-04:002009-03-09T09:43:53.104-04:00

Peter Walsh's most recent book Enough Already is now available on Amazon. I highly recommend this to those of you who are overwhelmed not only by your clutter, but by your life in general. True to his character, Peter handles not just the stuff in our lives but the issues of emotional and mental clutter.Whether you are tackling little clutter, big clutter at home or at work, I recommend this

Carolyn Caldwell, CPO®, CPO-CD®http://www.blogger.com/profile/00740610449436292368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-38838080189583906752009-03-05T11:26:00.002-05:002009-03-05T11:36:27.827-05:00

Starting to get organized is sometimes the biggest challenge of any organizing project. Where to start? Which pile of clutter will be demolished first?There are two places in any home that typically have a big impact on one's outlook on life - picking up one's spirits and positive outlook. They are the front entrance home and the bedroom.The front entrance is a place one's immediately upon

Carolyn Caldwell, CPO®, CPO-CD®http://www.blogger.com/profile/00740610449436292368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-21117658489586562492009-03-04T09:44:00.002-05:002009-03-04T10:00:46.706-05:00

With spring just around the corner, I felt compelled to use the old cliche "springing into action". Hopefully the weather is at least sunny where you are reading this - as it is while I write, although still very cold - in order to set you in a spring organizing mindset.One of the most important elements of organizing is to be confident about your ability to make a change in your life and/or

Carolyn Caldwell, CPO®, CPO-CD®http://www.blogger.com/profile/00740610449436292368noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-91437946080658229712009-02-26T09:56:00.003-05:002009-02-26T10:05:19.346-05:00

In visiting other exhibitors at the National Home Show, I have been very impressed with the quality of storage solutions available to home owners. In my mind I have chosen new clothes storage several times over in each of the styles available from each of the closet manufacturers.It brings to mind, however, the difference in organizing styles the all of us have. Some of us are folders; others

Carolyn Caldwell, CPO®, CPO-CD®http://www.blogger.com/profile/00740610449436292368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-14902825506187605892009-02-25T09:07:00.002-05:002009-02-25T09:11:46.568-05:00

Do you find that clothes end up on the floor regardless of how hard you try to keep them contained in their proper homes?Take a close look at your dressing area, no matter how small or how big. Are your clothes all contained within the one area? Do you have to go from one side of the room to the other just to find all the pieces of clothing you need for the day?The farther apart your clothing

Carolyn Caldwell, CPO®, CPO-CD®http://www.blogger.com/profile/00740610449436292368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-72212041042185692632009-02-24T09:48:00.003-05:002009-02-24T09:52:13.059-05:00

Organizing photos on your computer can be a challenge. Many people handle the challenge by using photo management software. If you use such software, here is a tip for labelling your photos.Computers don't read or count. They recognized yes or no. When labeling your files, the computer will automatically try and sort either alphabetically or numerically depending on the symbols you have chosen (

Carolyn Caldwell, CPO®, CPO-CD®http://www.blogger.com/profile/00740610449436292368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-51494853028033328922009-02-23T11:51:00.002-05:002009-02-23T11:57:35.714-05:00

The Toronto Chapter of Professional Organizers in Canada has a booth at this year's National Home Show. If you are in the area, drop by and check us out in Exhibitor section B, booth 3009.

Carolyn Caldwell, CPO®, CPO-CD®http://www.blogger.com/profile/00740610449436292368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-45531154926390631912009-02-18T08:49:00.002-05:002009-02-18T08:58:32.503-05:00

Backsliding is a term used by professional organizers to describe a client's return to previous behaviour or habits that led to disorganization. Many, if not most, of my clients experience backsliding to some degree several times over the course of our work together. While not necessary, it is frequently experienced by many people as they try and get more control over the space, time and "stuff

Carolyn Caldwell, CPO®, CPO-CD®http://www.blogger.com/profile/00740610449436292368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-77160975468334517812009-02-17T21:28:00.003-05:002009-02-17T21:42:39.014-05:00

What's dancing on your computer desktop? Virtual clutter can be just as bad as the stuff kicking around the floor of your office. Do you habitually leave documents sitting on your desktop so that you can find them easily the next time you want to work with them? It's not a bad idea - until there are so many files or shortcuts on your desktop that you can't find any of them. That's right; just

Carolyn Caldwell, CPO®, CPO-CD®http://www.blogger.com/profile/00740610449436292368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-48994153314699813982009-02-13T10:52:00.004-05:002009-02-25T09:06:59.067-05:00

If you are considered a pack rat, by yourself or anyone else, your home may be suffering from very stagnant energy. You, as a result, may also suffer from very low energy.While I do not profess to be a specialist in feng shui, there is no doubt that a hall full of clutter does not allow the free movement of energy through the house.Try clearing just one small space, no matter how small, and see

Carolyn Caldwell, CPO®, CPO-CD®http://www.blogger.com/profile/00740610449436292368noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-68302512860643755552009-02-11T23:20:00.002-05:002009-02-11T23:25:27.191-05:00

Has your young son or daughter finished preparing their Valentine's cards for their class mates yet? Ever wonder what to do with the left over few cards from the box. Like many of us you probably wish you could hang on to them for next year so they could be used but don't want to add them to the paper clutter in your home. Here's a couple of different ideas. Hopefully one will fit your

Carolyn Caldwell, CPO®, CPO-CD®http://www.blogger.com/profile/00740610449436292368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-17710616991226429602009-02-11T12:46:00.002-05:002009-02-11T13:03:08.860-05:00

Have you ever found yourself trying to access or put away an item only to find yourself frustrated or irritated by the process? I had this experience just this morning putting away the clip closure from a now empty bag which I had discarded. I went to the drawer to the zip lock bag where the clips are stored. I opened the bag tossed in the clip and closed it up. Then I wondered,"Why does this

Carolyn Caldwell, CPO®, CPO-CD®http://www.blogger.com/profile/00740610449436292368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-33493595254044475792009-02-10T10:53:00.007-05:002009-02-17T21:51:15.465-05:00

This is a follow up post from the recent Where is Everything item.Many of my clients, friends, family and acquaintances struggle with paper. It's everywhere despite our best attempts to go electronic. Organizing paper is probably the number one frustration of almost all my clients.One of the paper challenges are receipts coming into the household that many of us keep to maintain our household

Carolyn Caldwell, CPO®, CPO-CD®http://www.blogger.com/profile/00740610449436292368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-48848288117339976602009-02-09T09:59:00.001-05:002009-02-09T10:00:59.428-05:00

It seems more than a few people are becoming concerned, and now willing to discuss, the very real concern that is a shopping addiction. This recent Chatelaine article on Shopaholics, by Rebecca Caldwell (no known relation), is a healthy discussion on how this addiction looks in real life.

Carolyn Caldwell, CPO®, CPO-CD®http://www.blogger.com/profile/00740610449436292368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-26252151907821477562009-02-06T08:04:00.004-05:002009-02-06T08:12:05.858-05:00

It's the end of the first week in February - do you know where your due bills are?Do you pay your bills when they first come in the door?Do you have a designated place to store them until they are due?Are your due bills all in one room?Can you find those bills when you go to pay them?Is the designated place close to your bill-paying method: computer; cheque book and stamps?Is the designated place

Carolyn Caldwell, CPO®, CPO-CD®http://www.blogger.com/profile/00740610449436292368noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-70528187192656017362009-02-05T18:53:00.002-05:002009-02-05T18:59:31.301-05:00

Has your high school student just finished first term? Is his/her home workspace cluttered with the remnants of first term study?Do everyone a favour, especially your student, and help them purge out the first term to make room for second term. The longer you leave the remnant clutter hanging around, the less likely it is to be sorted and purged before chaos sets in. Help your student sort

Carolyn Caldwell, CPO®, CPO-CD®http://www.blogger.com/profile/00740610449436292368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-82661514306195770392009-02-04T09:26:00.005-05:002009-02-04T09:46:55.080-05:00

Over on Wellrich for Business, I periodically post on the Top 5 Series. While they generally address the small business or home office organizing issues, I felt this particular post would be of interest to my residential readership as well. Do these excuses sound familiar? Maybe some help from a professional organizer would be a good idea!"I don't have time to worry about tidy piles of paper".

Carolyn Caldwell, CPO®, CPO-CD®http://www.blogger.com/profile/00740610449436292368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-90243490290725865982009-02-03T09:31:00.003-05:002009-02-03T09:41:04.286-05:00

Have you got a big project underway at home that is getting the better of you? Is your organization falling apart as this project mushrooms all over the house?Take a tip from the design world to help get a big project under control. Find a container big enough to hold all the bits and pieces and put the whole project into the container.For a child's school bristol board project a clear garbage

Carolyn Caldwell, CPO®, CPO-CD®http://www.blogger.com/profile/00740610449436292368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-82182290218530078332009-02-02T13:54:00.005-05:002009-02-03T09:30:48.385-05:00

Have you got a pile of unopened mail on your dining room table? Maybe it's in a pile on the counter. Here's some magic to make it disappear.Take all the mail offers and put them directly in the recycling bin. You can be sure, there are more on their way.Take all other enveloped articles and remove the envelopes. If you have to, staple the envelop contents together.Divide the remaining articles

Carolyn Caldwell, CPO®, CPO-CD®http://www.blogger.com/profile/00740610449436292368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-85955433984221299162009-01-30T11:32:00.005-05:002009-01-30T13:05:35.653-05:00

Your best friends are engineers. You cringe at the thought of straight books on a shelf. Your world is full of colour and ideas - and mess. And you are tired of it. The mess that is (engineers are ok). How about tailor made organizing support for the right brain world.Organizing for the Creative Person is just that. Dorothy Lehmkuhl and Dolores Cotter Lamping have captured the world of the right

Carolyn Caldwell, CPO®, CPO-CD®http://www.blogger.com/profile/00740610449436292368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-29011865153071750722009-01-28T23:29:00.004-05:002009-01-30T13:05:12.224-05:00

Professional organizers often find themselves with clients whose homes are filled with belongings. In many of these cases, the clients admit to suffering from compulsive shopping behaviour. Compulsive shopping, also known as shopping addiction , is as severe and debilitating as any other addiction. In some cases, it is even more difficult to manage; alcoholics can stop drinking. Individuals

Carolyn Caldwell, CPO®, CPO-CD®http://www.blogger.com/profile/00740610449436292368noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-66248363875637291752009-01-27T11:44:00.006-05:002009-01-28T15:05:41.575-05:00

As with most states of being, there are different degrees of disorganization. One can think of a continuum from very organized to severely disorganized. Chronic disorganization, however, is considered to be a different situation altogether.People who are chronically disorganized likely live in a state of severe disorganization. They do not typically respond to conventional organizing practicies

Carolyn Caldwell, CPO®, CPO-CD®http://www.blogger.com/profile/00740610449436292368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-19663525903820111552009-01-26T09:45:00.003-05:002009-01-26T10:00:05.712-05:00

Q "Now that you have seen my disorganization and mess, tell me, am I the worst that you have seen. Are there other people that are more disorganized than me and have more mess than me?"A Yes. Always.It often takes a lot of courage for a seriously disorganized person, or family, to let a professional organizer into their home. For that matter, many of my clients have not had anyone into their

Carolyn Caldwell, CPO®, CPO-CD®http://www.blogger.com/profile/00740610449436292368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-5561179054642381152009-01-23T09:33:00.003-05:002009-01-23T09:41:18.658-05:00

For many people the concept of anticipating what's coming down the road is hard to to grasp. We are all wired differently and not everyone has the same orientation to the future.In this case, I find helping clients to plan ahead is more helpful. How far can you plan ahead? Many of us work with financial planners to plan ahead for our retirement. That's a form of organizing the future. Some of us

Carolyn Caldwell, CPO®, CPO-CD®http://www.blogger.com/profile/00740610449436292368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-32444210239979491572009-01-21T10:15:00.004-05:002009-01-21T10:56:52.191-05:00

When working with a new client, one of the first challenges I face is to understand why the client is disorganized. Our first visit together is an assessment session which helps me to understand the issues that they face and why they face them. Understanding reasons for disorganization is key to overcoming it. Without an understanding of the underlying isssues, it is very difficult to help an

Carolyn Caldwell, CPO®, CPO-CD®http://www.blogger.com/profile/00740610449436292368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-86828790001001901322009-01-20T10:34:00.003-05:002009-01-20T10:43:56.053-05:00

Managing the behaviour and characteristics of a packrat is a common reason that professional organizers are called by clients. Packrat behaviour is seen equally often at the office as it is in the home. The only difference is that at the office, there may be someone in a position of authority reminding you to keep your workspace in a professional state. The following behaviours and

Carolyn Caldwell, CPO®, CPO-CD®http://www.blogger.com/profile/00740610449436292368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-30579579306423564402009-01-14T11:48:00.003-05:002009-01-14T12:01:44.138-05:00

Many of you have made resolutions for the New Year - big juicy goals for your excellent life that you are creating.How is that going for you? Here's a site that might be helpful. Suite101.com offers a selection of articles on setting and keeping those resolutions. Here's one that I found particularly helpful by Wie Yin Yong. New habits can be a challenge to establish - as frustrating as old

Carolyn Caldwell, CPO®, CPO-CD®http://www.blogger.com/profile/00740610449436292368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-92055694847361015082009-01-13T11:08:00.003-05:002009-01-13T11:25:56.033-05:00

Here is comes folks. All us semestered families are heading for the last stretch of the semester and the big E word: Exams.For some teenagers exams are just another opportunity to show off how much they know and how much fun they had studying. Not my teenager. She is having fun alright: at the swim meet, the ski hills and movie nights at a friend's house. So how do we instill the discipline to

Carolyn Caldwell, CPO®, CPO-CD®http://www.blogger.com/profile/00740610449436292368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-73193975382254647502009-01-06T11:35:00.001-05:002009-01-06T11:38:34.511-05:00

Q It seems that every surface in my home has stuff on it. My home is cluttered but I have no other place to put things. What else can I do? A It is human nature to put an object down or away in the place of least resistance or the most accessible spot when we are finished with it. For many people, that spot ends up being an empty flat surface. The result can be a cluttered space with every

Carolyn Caldwell, CPO®, CPO-CD®http://www.blogger.com/profile/00740610449436292368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-20746808829166210032009-01-05T11:32:00.002-05:002009-01-05T11:48:04.320-05:00

Has your home settled down after the holiday activity? There is nothing like a little routine to get us all grounded and reorganized. If you haven't tried planning your menus, I highly recommend it. MPM comes from my colleague Laura over on OrgJunkie. She has posted some great links to gluten free recipes for those of you with special diets in your home.In the meantime, what's on your menu

Carolyn Caldwell, CPO®, CPO-CD®http://www.blogger.com/profile/00740610449436292368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-79156645021007512622009-01-05T10:40:00.004-05:002009-01-05T10:58:30.231-05:00

How often do we use the words "someday I will..." Occassionally? Frequently? Can anyone claim never?I have a colleague who can claim "not any more". Alex Fayle, a professional organizer used to say "Someday I will live and write in the south of Spain". Like so many of us he had his share of someday wishes. Unlike the majority of us, Alex did something about his someday wishes and made them

Carolyn Caldwell, CPO®, CPO-CD®http://www.blogger.com/profile/00740610449436292368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-27013372341662461972009-01-01T14:53:00.002-05:002009-01-01T14:55:40.336-05:00

I would like to wish all my readers a very happy, healthy and prosperous New Year!Stay tuned for more organizing tips starting Monday January 5, 2009.Carolyn

Carolyn Caldwell, CPO®, CPO-CD®http://www.blogger.com/profile/00740610449436292368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-88288255518601282612008-12-25T09:45:00.000-05:002008-12-25T09:45:00.400-05:00

#1 Celebrate - If you are celebrating Christmas, best wishes for you and your family for a very happy, joyful time in your celebrations. Enjoy.If you are not celebrating Christmas, I wish you a peaceful and restful time during this holiday season.Cheers

Carolyn Caldwell, CPO®, CPO-CD®http://www.blogger.com/profile/00740610449436292368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-5024085665394015892008-12-24T09:00:00.000-05:002008-12-24T09:00:02.723-05:00

#2 Last Minute Wrapping - Last day to shop. But you finished ages ago right? So you have a few small things to finish wrapping while you enjoy watching A Christmas Carol, White Christmas or Miracle on 34th Street for the “umpteenth” time. Remember to buy milk to get you over the holidays.

Carolyn Caldwell, CPO®, CPO-CD®http://www.blogger.com/profile/00740610449436292368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-36560181884384217162008-12-23T16:42:00.002-05:002008-12-23T16:43:33.746-05:00

#3 Attend Church Service - Celebrating Christmas? Haven’t been to church for awhile and wish you had? Check your local newspaper listings for pageant services you might consider taking in this weekend. Many churches have special Christmas Eve services.

Carolyn Caldwell, CPO®, CPO-CD®http://www.blogger.com/profile/00740610449436292368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-65325098713955590032008-12-22T13:16:00.000-05:002008-12-22T13:16:01.156-05:00

This week I highly recommend you check out OrgJunkie. Laura has posted pictures to go with her scrumptious menu for the week. I wish I could claim the same but creativity but the reality is, I'm cooking very little this week!Monday - Roast, potatoes, vegies, left over desertsTuesday - Caserole from slow cookerWednesday - Pasta night this week, tomato sauce with ground beefThursday - Turkey,

Carolyn Caldwell, CPO®, CPO-CD®http://www.blogger.com/profile/00740610449436292368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-34785748251366963532008-12-22T10:53:00.003-05:002008-12-22T11:26:57.934-05:00

#6 Volunteer at a Food Bank - For many people this is a season of giving and yet many more have little to give. If you have often wanted to volunteer at your local food bank, consider giving them a call and slotting in over the holidays.# 5 Decorate a Gingerbread House with your children - No children? Why not buy a kit and invite your nieces/nephews or the neighbours to come and help you

Carolyn Caldwell, CPO®, CPO-CD®http://www.blogger.com/profile/00740610449436292368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-4604047594832002662008-12-19T09:11:00.002-05:002008-12-19T09:26:35.590-05:00

# 7 Prepare to Write Thank You Notes - The writing of thank you notes for the receipt of gifts, dinners, visits and good gestures is perhaps a dying art. Not only do many of us exist online with communication almost solely through cyberspace, but many of the manners of the previous generation are being lost as quickly as our computer chips speed up and our computer memory expands.Why not revive

Carolyn Caldwell, CPO®, CPO-CD®http://www.blogger.com/profile/00740610449436292368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-64855828549311626732008-12-18T10:50:00.003-05:002008-12-18T11:00:14.664-05:00

#8 Clear out Kids' Toys - There will be more toys arriving in a week's time. Why not get a jump start on your organization before they do?Give your children each a box appropriate to their size and age. Tell them they have 10 minutes to fill the box with toys that they no longer play with, may have outgrown or do not like.Ten minutes later you could all make a trip to a local charity office to

Carolyn Caldwell, CPO®, CPO-CD®http://www.blogger.com/profile/00740610449436292368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-8486160896825565762008-12-17T09:40:00.003-05:002008-12-17T09:53:06.027-05:00

...Because not everyone celebrates Christmas. Many thanks to Lisa Brisbois from The Wisdom Practice who helped me out with today's post.If you are celebrating Hanukkah you may have already used some of the planning tips in our countdown to December 25. Your countdown is ending sooner though as Hanukkah starts this year December 21 at sunset and lasts 8 days to December 29 at sunset. Lisa

Carolyn Caldwell, CPO®, CPO-CD®http://www.blogger.com/profile/00740610449436292368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124084044407910193.post-73287711157470423272008-12-16T22:36:00.003-05:002008-12-16T22:48:06.855-05:00

The month of December is a challenging one for many people. As an organizer and blogger, I offer my clients and readers suggestions for easing the burden of multiple commitments and a fast paced society by organizing space,time and "stuff".Laura over at OrgJunkie has reminded us all that it is important from time to time to sit back, take stock and remind ourselves of what is really important in

Carolyn Caldwell, CPO®, CPO-CD®http://www.blogger.com/profile/00740610449436292368noreply@blogger.com0