Organize and More

Power Outage Tips for homes

2011-12-02T10:53:00.007-07:00

Power outages tips for homes is a topic on the minds of many who live in Centerville, Bountiful, Kaysville, Layton and surrounding areas in Utah after an extreme wind storm caused damage in those areas yesterday with approximately 100 mph winds.

Since I am a member of the National Emergency Coalition, I like to pass along useful info about getting prepared and dealing with emergencies, thus I wanted to share an informative article titled "How to Survive a Night without Power" from KSL.com. Some examples are to turn your front porch light on, which helps utility workers see at a glance if power has or has not been restored to your neighborhood. Also, with your car outside the garage, you can recharge your cell phone long enough to make important calls while you briefly warm up in the car (and I would add, you'll be glad you had previously purchased a cell phone car adapter for this purpose!).

Power outages can happen unexpectedly thus I always encourage my clients, neighbors and friends to get prepared while the sun is shining and life is calm; you'll appreciate those efforts if and when the storms roll in.

Linda Richards, owner of Organize and More, has moved to Utah

2011-11-15T14:01:00.000-07:00

Linda Richards, owner of Organize and More, has moved her professional organizing business to Utah. She will continue to serve her Florida clients via virtual services and looks forward to servicing new clients in Salt Lake City, Cottonwood Heights, Holladay, Sandy, Draper and neighboring areas.

After working as a professional organizer in Florida for 10 years (& living in the state for a total of 24 years), she is sad to say goodbye to the Sunshine State but very excited to reconnect with the Beehive State!

Linda Richards is teaching "Dealing with Hoarding" class through Santa Fe Community College

2011-01-31T11:22:00.000-07:00

Linda Richards is teaching a new “Dealing with Hoarding” class through Santa Fe Community College on Thursday February 3, 2011 from 7:00-8:00pm at Santa Fe College in Gainesville, Florida. Please register through SFC’s Community Education program (352-395-5193) or register online using the search word ‘hoard”.

If you have seen the various TV shows about hoarders, you might be curious about why people hoard. Basic info will be shared about how hoarders think and some resources that can be useful to hoarders and their families.

Faux Hurricane Party article by Linda Richards

2010-09-18T08:00:00.000-06:00

A Faux Hurricane Party article by Linda Richards was reported in The Gainesville Sun.

I suggested a fun way to invite your neighbors over in order to practice going through an emergency together. Read about it here and start thinking about having your neighbors over soon for an impromptu 'faux' emergency party. It's a party they'll never forget!

Emergency Preparedness Americans with Disabilities video

2010-09-16T08:47:00.001-06:00

Emergency preparedness Americans with Disabilities video is filled with useful information for you or your loved one. Any American would benefit from getting organized before an emergency occurs, such as the evacuations we Floridians sometimes experience due to an impending hurricane, but those with special needs especially benefit from taking a little bit of time now, to avoid frustration and discomfort later. Get a piece of paper handy so that you can take notes while you watch the video below.

Emergency Preparedness Kit for Pets Video

2010-09-16T08:00:00.000-06:00

Emergency Preparedness kit for pets is essential for pet lovers. I've always considered my dog as 'one of the family' and bet you do too!

If you ever have to evacuate your pet, you'll be glad you spent time now preparing ahead of time. For example, when I had my Great Dane, I was horrified to realize that she was so big, if I someday had to evacuate with her, I'd have to leave some of my emergency supplies home. Being a giant breed, she took up the entire back seat of my car!!! That led me to realize it is a good idea to do a 'dry run' and pack your car with all of your emergency items, plus your pet, to be sure everything fits. I became much more realistic about how many supplies I could take with me once I did that. I was so glad I realized that ahead of time, instead of waiting until the last minute.

Great info in the video clip below.

Emergency Preparedness for Your Home Video

2010-09-16T00:00:00.000-06:00

Emergency Preparedness for your home is important. It is easy to do if you buy a little bit extra each time you go to the grocery store. If you buy items in small sizes, you won't have to worry about refrigeration issues if the power goes out, because you can eat it all in one meal.

Buy what your family likes to eat, for example, if no one likes tuna fish, don't buy it! Consider other protein options such as canned chicken, salmon in foil pouches, or nuts (shelled almonds & walnuts are great choices). Who wants to add to the stress of an unexpected emergency by eating food they don't like!

Linda Richards supports National Preparedness Month

2010-09-15T11:37:00.000-06:00

Linda Richards supports National Preparedness Month and encourages all of her clients, students and friends to annually consider how prepared they are for unexpected emergencies. September is the month chosen as the National Preparedness Month, to remind citizens to think about getting prepared as individuals, families and businesses.

I'm happy to say that my Organize and More professional organizing business has been a National Preparedness Month Coalition Member for several years.

Humor can do a great job motivating people and I think the video below might help you to check your emergency food supplies today! Think about what you would eat, if you had to depend on your kitchen pantry, during a natural or a man-made emergency. After watching the video clip below, check to see if you have more than tomato paste to eat. Read this list and start getting prepared today. Food for thought!!

Emergency 3 Steps Kit for Families Video

2010-09-15T09:00:00.000-06:00

Emergency 3 Steps kit for families video is below. Share it with your family tonight!

Adult ADHD Awareness Super Webinar (free)

2010-09-09T12:53:00.000-06:00

"Adult ADHD Awareness Super Webinar" is a special free ADHD Awareness Week session on Thursday, September 16, 2010 from 7 pm to 10 pm EST. Since so many of my clients and students (or their family members) have Attention Deficit Disorder (either with or with the "H"), I thought I'd let you know the details about this virtual event:

TimeTopic/Presenter
7:00 pm - 7:30 pm ADHD 101, Ari Tuckman, PsyD, MBA
7:30 pm - 8:00 pmTreatment Options A-Z, Part 1: Medication and Alternative Treatments, Tracy Ware, MD
8:00 pm - 8:15 pmBreak
8:15 pm - 8:45 pmTreatment Options A-Z, Part 2: Psychological Interventions, David Teplin, PhD
8:45 pm - 9:15 pmPractical Strategies to Calm the Chaos, Kim Kensington, PsyD and Linda Roggli
9:15 pm - 10:00 pmEverything You Wanted to Know about ADHD but Forgot to Ask, all presenters

The sessions will be open to the public (usually webinars are a benefit of ADDA membership).To register for the webinar http://budurl.com/553m

Clutter Club class returns to Santa Fe College Community Education

2010-08-20T14:26:00.000-06:00

The Clutter Club class returns to Santa Fe College Community Education program for Fall A term. Linda Richards will again teach the class 3 Tuesdays, beginning Aug. 31st from 7:30-8:30pm at the SFC Main NW Campus in Gainesville, Florida. Register online (using the keyword: organize) or call SFC Community Education at (352) 395-5193. Class will run 8/31; 9/14 & 9/28.

If you've ever noticed how you get more accomplished when others know about your goal and offer support, you'll want to come join us as class members share their difficulties in getting organized with clutter, paper, etc. (at home or work). We'll discuss how to set 1 realistic goal to work on between the 3 class sessions. Many have said the support of this class has helped them to do things they've been wanting to do for years!

Recycling guide from Santa Fe College

2010-08-20T14:05:00.001-06:00

Hi, Linda,

I want to share some information. Santa Fe College has a very comprehensive list of where to recycle and where to donate just about everything, for the Gainesville area.

http://www.sfcollege.edu/sustainability/index.php?section=recycling

Sheila (from your Santa Fe class)

Recycling guide for Alachua County, Florida

2010-07-09T08:48:00.000-06:00

A recycling guide for Alachua County, Florida is available online. If you wonder what exactly can go into your “Big Blue” and “Big Orange” recycling containers, you can look at their website for answers.

If your questions aren't answered there, go to their guidelines page, for more information. By the way, they explain why you should remove caps from bottles!

Since I have professional organizing clients who live or work in Gainesville Florida and Alachua County, Florida, I like to let them (and others) know that there are answers online for both areas. (Note: sometimes there are slightly different guidelines for different cities/locations.)

Recycling guide for Gainesville, Florida

2010-07-08T08:35:00.000-06:00

An excellent recycling guide for Gainesville Florida is available online . With summer being the season that many people move and need to weed out excess ‘stuff’ in their home, many people ask me what to do with their unwanted items. I encourage my professional organizing clients to avoid tossing things into a trash can, even though that is so easy to do and usually their first impulse. Instead I suggest they take an extra minute to figure out the proper place to dispose of the item because things that are sent to the dump become a problem for the environment. Donating items that are in good condition to charity is a good first step. Other items, that are in poor condition and recyclable, should be disposed of properly. Gainesville, Florida has a very detailed, "A-Z" indexed, and easy to use recycling guide. If you live in another city or state search the Internet for your locale and you'll probably find a similar guide online.

Taking an extra minute to ponder where to properly dispose of your unwanted items can bless the lives of others who are currently needy in your community now and can also help the earth in the future.

Linda Richards, Professional Organizer, and A&E “Hoarders” Geralin Thomas

2010-05-25T10:23:00.000-06:00

Linda Richards, Professional Organizer, and A&E “Hoarders” Geralin Thomas are pictured at the 2010 NAPO conference in Columbus, Ohio

Geralin Thomas and I are both members of the National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization (NSGCD). Geralin has been on the A&E “Hoarders” tv show, sharing her Professional Organizing services. It has been interesting for me to hear her (& other Professional Organizers who have worked on the show nationwide) share 'behind the scenes' experiences.

The organizers I have met who work in extreme hoarding environments are kind, compassionate and knowledgeable professionals. Since I prefer to work with hoarders who have ‘very mild to mild’ hoarding situations, I have a great respect for PO's who work in environments that are in great decay, dangerous and unsafe for individuals and families to live in.

Which brings to mind a question that was asked during one of the sessions at the 2010 national conference for NAPO (National Association of Professional Organizers), ‘Why are shows like “Hoarders” so popular?" and "Is it ‘good or bad’ to have shows like that?” I can personally say I almost never watch tv but do feel that if a show helps people know they are not the only ones with special needs and also educates them about resources available to help them change their lives, it can be a good thing, if it is done in a compassionate, professional manner. Many people are now learning about the help available for hoarders as a result of shows like “Hoarders” so I can say that is one benefit.

What do you think about shows like “Hoarders”?

5 Organizing Tips When Attending a Conference

2010-05-06T13:25:00.000-06:00

5 organizing tips when attending a professional conference are:

1. To remember to wear your conference name badge, each evening loop it around your conference bag, laptop carrier, or briefcase handle.

2. Put all course materials and replenish any other items you'll need the next day (pens, snacks, water bottle, aspirin, etc.) into your conference bag the night before

3. Position any "absolutely must remember" reminders into the shoes that you'll wear the next morning.

4. Place extra copies of your business cards inside the back pocket of your conference badge. Makes it very quick and easy to hand out when you meet new people.

5. Place all of the above items right by your hotel room door, so there is no way you can forget to take it all with you the next morning. (You'll for sure notice the conference bag as you try to open the door!)

Linda Richards with NAPO president Laura Leist at the 2010 NAPO national conference in Columbus, Ohio

2010-05-06T11:49:00.000-06:00

I always enjoy the annual NAPO (National Association of Professional Organizers) conference, there are many reasons why, such as getting to meet presidents (past and current) of NAPO and other organizations, who have donated so much of their personal time and energy to a cause they believe in.

Another reason is that I also enjoy getting to know PO’s from all over the world. I had fun asking what type of client the people sitting near me (in workshops, meals, in the elevators, etc.) liked to work with. It amazed me to see the variety of niches that were mentioned.

You might be interested to see the list I came up with during the conference, about the different niches Professional Organizers can have:
· downsizing
· seniors/’elders’
· estate sales
· moves
· space planning residential
· space planning commercial
· closets
· garages
· homes
· families
· parents with young children
· students
· college professors
· executives/CEO’s
· shopaholics
· chronic fatigue syndrome
· hoarders
· AD/HD and CD (Chronic Disorganization)
· businesses (various sizes)
· corporate
· large business
· small business
· entrepreneur
· solopreneur
· productivity training
· ‘mental’ organizing
· time management/procrastination
· mobile workers /those who travel full-time
· large ‘net worth’ clients
· small spaces (apartments, full-time RV’ers, etc.)

As you can see there are many niches Professional Organizers can have. If you (or someone you know) needs organizing help, go to the NAPO site, put in your zip code and contact the organizers who service your community. If none do, try to find one that does virtual organizing (using the phone, computer, etc.) in the topic you need help in. In addition to traditional ‘hands on’ organizing, with my Organize and More business, I also offer virtual organizing to the types of clients I serve, which is anyone but particularly those with AD/HD (Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) and CD (Chronic Disorganization) or anyone who feels overwhelmed with their stuff, time/calendar and papers.

Which papers to keep for tax purposes?

2010-04-02T14:03:00.000-06:00

Which papers to keep for tax purposes is a question frequently asked by my clients and students. I always dodge answering the question directly, because I am not qualified to give an answer (I am not a CPA or a lawyer.) I recommend they contact whoever does their taxes. If they do their own taxes, I recommend they read the IRS Publication 552 Recordkeeping for Individuals. A big 'thank you' to one of my clients for sending me the link, because when I received it, I decided to peek to see if it was the same copy I have from long ago and delighted to see it was just revised (February 2010).

By the way, if you feel 'lost' about your taxes, I thought I'd let you know that I heard one Professional Organizer speaking at a NAPO national conference say "I've called the IRS before and guess what!?! They're actually very nice people and very helpful!"

FYI Publication 552 states:
Tax questions. If you have a tax question, check information available on www.irs.gov
or call 800-829-1040.

Good luck taking care of this typically dreaded annual 'chore'!

"Advanced Clutter Club" at Santa Fe College

2010-04-01T14:32:00.000-06:00

The new "Advanced Clutter Club" class will be taught by Linda Richards, Professional Organizer owner of Organize and More, at Santa Fe College in Gainesville, Florida starting Monday 4/19 from 7:30 - 8:30 pm (& meeting every other week 4/19, 5/3 and 5/17).

If you've taken Linda's basic "Clutter Club" community education class, or already know the basics regarding organizing, yet still can't seem to get organized, experience having the support of the class behind you as you learn to set 1 realistic clutter goal to work on between each of the 3 sessions.

Call SFC Community Education at (352) 395-5193 to register.

Linda Richards joins small group of Professional Organizers worldwide

2010-03-16T08:23:00.000-06:00

Linda Richards has joined a small group of Professional Organizers worldwide to have earned all 10 of the NSGCD Certificates of Study. This is from the business announcement I sent the Gainesville Sun announcing I had earned the Life Transitions certificate. I completed it in December 2009 but chose not to post it until later because I was busy with another exciting certification, which I'll let you know about another time.

I enjoy learning and being one of only a handful of organizers in the world to have received all 10 of these Certificates of Study is just 'icing on the cake'. I always hope that something I learn will help my clients. The Life Transitions material was a very interesting topic, as you can see from the NSGCD description below:

This certificate covers the specialized needs and issues of working with the CD client during a time of transition. Life transitions include but are not limited to entry into the work force, single to married, widowed, empty nest, divorce, death, and moving.

In case you are curious about the other 9 Certificates of Study I've earned over the years they are:

1. Chronic Disorganization
2. Basic ADD Issues with the CD Client
3. CD Client Administration
4. Basic Physical Conditions Affecting the CD Client
5. Understanding the Needs of the Elderly CD Client
6. Learning Styles and Modalities
7. Basic Hoarding Issues with the CD Client
8. Understanding the Needs of the Student CD Client
9. Basic Mental Health Conditions and Challenges Affecting the CD Client

I enjoy taking as many classes as I can, because I'm always searching, like a detective, for techniques or ideas that might help my clients. It is nice to constantly add more 'tools' 'to my 'tool box' of organizing skills.

Hoarding "Buried in Treasures" book

2010-03-05T11:15:00.000-07:00

The hoarding "Buried In Treasures" book by David F. Tolin, Randy O. Frost and Gail Steketee is an excellent resource for those who want help regarding compulsive hoarding (or as the book says, you might use the term "pack rat" or "clutterbug". I would also add the term "clutterer").

There is a wide spectrum to this disorder, from those who have a few cluttered rooms, yet their life functions overall just fine, to those who have an entire house or office impacted and life is disrupted in a very severe way.

The book suggests when it might be time to seek professional help:
"There's no hard and fast rule...(a) if the problem seems too overwhelming to manage on your own or with the help of friends or family, "b" if the strategies in this book don't seem to help; or "c" if other mental health concerns such as anxiety or depression seem to be getting in the way of beating the hoarding problem." (p. 6)

I first learned about this book awhile back while attending a national conference for the National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization (NSGCD) It states how PO's are helpful:

"We think professional organizers can be a very useful addition to your team...The subgroup...who specialize in dealing with this kind of problem is called the National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization. Professional organizers, particularly those with this specialty, are great at helping you figure out ways to organize and manage possessions in your home. In fact, some of what we do in treatment is borrowed from the work of professional organizers." (p. 8).

I am the only Professional Organizer in North Central Florida to have the NSGCD certificate in hoarding. (FYI, a partial listing of my national credentials is in the left sidebar of my blog home page.)

This book is a very useful resource for those wanting to either get help or understand more about compulsive hoarding.

Hoarders A&E TV show

2010-03-03T08:42:00.000-07:00

The Hoarders A&E TV show has resulted in an increase in calls to my Organize and More professional organizing business. Typically the call begins with "I just saw that tv show "Hoarders" and I'm NO way near being like that but...I want to make sure I never end up that way and want your help now."

I do not work with extreme hoarders, such as those depicted on this show but I am a member of the NSGCD which is listed as a treatment resource. I do work with those who have 'mild' hoarding issues. In fact, I am the only Professional Organizer in North Central Florida to have the NSGCD Level I certificate in hoarding. I also have many other continuing education credits related to hoarding, Chronic Disorganization and other similar issues.

As a resource to those who want to begin to get help with hoarding, the FREE download NSGCD Clutter Hoarding Scale is available. It can be used to discuss the hoarding situation with the hoarder and is a very useful tool for therapists and other professionals.

Meal Planning Card System

2010-02-10T08:15:00.000-07:00

I found a wonderful meal planning card system on the Nurture Mama blog. I knew Kristi before I knew she had an amazing blog geared towards moms with young children. She really practices what she preaches and has a wonderfully organized AND happy family. I used to do meal planning using a variation of this system when my children were young. Since feeding children is a daily occurence (!), moms (or dads) will save time and energy over the long run by taking a little bit of time now to make a system that can be used over and over again in the future.

I always tell my clients and students everything in your life needs a 'home' so that it will be easy to find and use. Kristi uses this idea with her menu cards, taking recipes from several locations, putting favorites into 1 location (or 'home') and then using those to plan her grocery shopping for the week. She has great photos showing what the cards look like and many favorite recipes too.

Donate Prom Dresses to Becca's Closet

2010-02-10T07:33:00.000-07:00

Donate 'gently used' prom dresses hiding in your closet to organizations such as Becca's Closet so that others can use now, what you (or your daughter) used in the past.Take a photograph of the dress, to help preserve the memory of it, then donate the dress so that others can create new memories wearing it again this spring. Many times the only reason people hold onto old clothes is simply feeling afraid the memory will 'disappear' when the clothing is gone. Taking a photo helps allay that fear.

In my Gainesville, Florida area, members of Gainesville Health & Fitness can drop prom dresses off at the Main Center collection box during the month of February. Dresses will then become part of the Third Annual Prom dress giveaway in early March, at the Gainesville Boys and Girls club.

If you live in other cities or states, see if a local chapter of Becca's closet is near you, or consider starting a new chapter.

Paper Records: What to Toss, What to Keep - Kiplinger.com

2010-02-09T06:49:00.001-07:00

Recently one of my students in my new "Clutter Club" Santa Fe College community education class mentioned he'd found some useful information online at Kiplinger's about which personal papers to toss or keep.

Paper Records: What to Toss, What to Keep - Kiplinger.com

A 'friendly' reminder, when reading the above or any article about tossing financial papers, please be sure to contact your lawyer or financial advisor to see if what is recommended matches what they advise for your situation. This would be a good time to also ask if they could send you a brochure with records retention information. Save it and refer to it frequently when you purge papers. This information will help you feel more confident as you 'feed' old papers to your 'hungry' shredder!

Remember, the fewer papers you keep, the fewer to manage.

Salvation Army might be coming to your door soon!

2010-02-04T09:23:00.000-07:00

The Salvation Army might be coming to your door soon! If you live in areas in Gainesville, Florida that they are sending their donation trucks to, you can easily have them pick up your items purged from your closets.

Yesterday I received a noticee saying they are coming to my neighborhood in a couple of weeks. Instructions say to put boxes or bags of "usable clothes & household items" that are clearly marked outside your house by a certain time and date and they will pick them up. What could be easier!

For details, contact The Salvation Army in Gainesville, Florida link

"Shop" for space in your home or office

2010-01-30T07:31:00.001-07:00

"Shop" for space in your home or office by looking at drawers, bookshelves, etc. with fresh eyes. I did this the other day in my own house and laughed out loud when I realized I had 1 drawer that could be emptied in a bathroom. I was so used to it being filled with items that I never used (which meant I never opened it because it used to be filled w/ toothbrushes, combs, etc. for our 3 children.) Now that they've grown up and moved away, I can re-purpose that space into something I use daily. I turned it into a home for some of my reading materials, instead of leaving them on the top of the toilet (which I did not like).

Take 5 minutes now and 'shop' in your home or office. Open drawers, closets and containers to see if you might discover a space that can be repurposed for a current need, instead of being a burial ground for old items!

A Simple Time Management Formula

2010-01-15T17:26:00.001-07:00

A simple time management formula might help you keep your calendar more manageable. Make a quota of how many opportunities you can reasonably get involved with, for example volunteering. Keep in mind your stamina, other 'must do's' in life and so forth. I once heard someone say her friend set her quota at 3. Once she had said yes to those 3 assignments, she would say 'no' to any new requests, until 1 of the original 3 was completed. If she completed 1, she could then say 'yes' to 1 new opportunity, thus always keeping her quota at 3 volunteer or optional assignments.

Thus she could volunteer with 1 community organization, 1 church position and 1 professional volunteer assignment because she felt that was reasonable for her lifestyle . For example, she could volunteer 1x/month in her child's elementary school class, help in her church's Sunday School and be on 1 ad hoc committee at work. If she was approached by a 4th or 5th request from others, she could say 'no' guilt-free, knowing she had reached her personal quota regarding how much free time she had available to volunteer.

Choosing a realistic formula for your life is worth the few minutes it takes to figure it out. The benefits are a feeling of being in control of your calendar plus having the time & energy to do a quality job in those areas you do chose to say 'yes' to.

New York Times reader comments

2010-01-15T15:22:00.000-07:00

I just did a search for something in the New York Times online and by accident came across the following comments readers wrote in about organizing their desk areas. Some are creative, others funny! You might enjoy reading it & possibly stumble upon something that will work for your desk area. link

Buyology (The Today Show)

2010-01-15T15:00:00.001-07:00

View this video clip before you go shopping; watch for the 'tricks' that are used to entice you to buy things you don't really need. Be a smart shopper; only buy what you really want to buy, not what a company wants you to buy!

Buyology

2010-01-15T14:12:00.000-07:00

Feel like you're running as fast as you can but going nowhere?

2010-01-15T13:24:00.000-07:00

If you feel like this 'hamster', running all day long but going nowhere, you might need to learn how to prioritize your time better. If you have a watch that can have an hourly chime set on it, use it to help you stop and think every hour "What is THE absolutely most important thing I need to do over the next hour?" Then go DO that 1 thing.

If you do this simple exercise on a regular basis, it will help you begin to learn how to spend your time working on your top priority items, so that at the end of the day you will feel like you actually DID go somewhere (& got those important 'to do's' accomplished along the way.)

Linda's classes

2010-01-14T18:27:00.000-07:00

I teach community education classes quarterly at Santa Fe College in Gainesville, Florida.

My brand new 3 week class "Clutter Club" begins Tues. January 19, 2010 at 7:30 p.m. If every year you repeat the same New Year's resolution, "I'm going to get organized!" yet never do it, this class is for you. Learn the basics about why people get "stuck" when dealing with clutter goals. Experience having the support of the class behind you, as you learn to set 1 realistic clutter goal to work on between each of the 3 sessions.

Register by either calling SFC Community Education @
(352) 395-5193 or register online by using the keyword clutter at http://dept.sfcollege.edu/ce/

AD/HD article

2010-01-14T18:05:00.000-07:00

My clients who have children with AD/HD (Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity disorder) might find the following article in Science Daily interesting. A researcher says it is the first time direct evidence shows a 'disconnect' between 2 areas in the brain of children with AD/HD. link

Tip: Holidays

2009-12-15T13:11:00.000-07:00

A tip to help next year's Christmas (or any holiday throughout the year) decorating go faster: take a picture of each area that is decorated BEFORE you take down your decorations. Print out a copy and put it w/ the decorations it 'shows' before storing them. Next year, simply pull out the picture and you'll know exactly where to place each item (for example, how many snowmen go on the mantle). Saves time every year, so that you don't start from scratch thinking "Hmm, how many snowman go on the mantle and how many go on the bookcase?!?"

Before/After: "Castle" now enjoyed again by client

2009-12-15T12:15:00.000-07:00

Linda gave us our Castle back!! After being sick for a year and working 50 hour weeks, our castle became our prison. Piles turned into overwhelming mountains and who knew where or how to begin??

LINDA RICHARDS did and what a lifesaver. Now we can vacation at our own home.

Many thanks from the King & Queen of this Castle, Gainesville, Florida

Fact Sheet:: Use a friend or hire an Organizer?

2009-12-15T12:10:00.001-07:00

Fs008 Should I Hire PO or Friend Fact Sheet

Fact Sheet: Chronic Disorganization defined

2009-12-15T12:09:00.001-07:00

Fs003 Common Char. CD Fact Sheet

Fact Sheet: - Are you ready to change your life?

2009-12-15T11:19:00.000-07:00

Fs010 Readiness for Change

Welcome to the Organize and More blog

2009-11-11T13:51:00.000-07:00

Linda Richards, Professional Organizer, in Gainesville, Florida, welcomes you to the Organize and More blog which will soon be filled with organizing and time mangements tips.