It's Not About Your Stuff

Tackling a large project: can it be done???

Once again, it's that time of the month...no, not THAT time, it's time for the Ask the Organizer  post on 5 Minutes for Mom! And as you know, yours truly (that would be me), is the organizer to ask!

This month, someone was wondering the best way to get started on a larger project like tackling the whole house. Interestingly enough, my next post will be about just that: my 5 days in Connecticut helping our wonderful client and new friend, Elizabeth, fill up her giant dumpster and change her life.

So, if you'd like to mosey on over to 5minutesformom.com to read the post, please do, there's some good stuff there.

photo courtesy of Rawkblog

OK, I'll give you one little teaser and the link:

With any large project, you want to capitalize on momentum and make sure you keep your spirits and energy up, otherwise you can hit the wall and come to a standstill. When that happens, start talking. Start digging deep inside, you have reached a beautiful doorway into your inner life, so if you can, take the chance to let go on every level. It is so amazing how once you declutter your heart and soul, magic and light and passion and spirit has room to blossom in your life in a new way. It is a rebirth, I have seen it again and again.

Hey, the post has barely been up for a few hours, and someone already has been inspired. That makes my heart full. Yes, Carrie, from over at Carrie Bartkowiak v. 5.0 is decluttering her whole house and she's got some great lessons that she's learned along the process, here are just a couple:

Create a sanctuary.
The first thing you should do when tackling an entire house is pick a room to be your “sanctuary”. It should be something you can declutter, clean, and organize quickly to get yourself revved up, but also so that you can go in there whenever the reality of the whole-house tackle is getting you down. read more

Focus on “creating space”, not “decluttering things”.
Because I was focusing on decluttering, rather than creating space, I naturally and unconciously found more things to declutter. Folks who’ve watched The Secret will know what I mean when I say that the Universe found a way to put more clutter into my path - because that’s what I was focusing on and that’s what I wanted to do - declutter!

Also, once you change your focus to “creating space”, you’ll start to recognize and appreciate more the space you’ve already made. It won’t be “god, I’ve still got SO much to do,” but instead will be “man, look at how far I’ve come!”

There is so much more in that post that is wonderful, I feel honored to be part of it! Go read it! Right now! (I have to say, I already REALLY like Carrie, even though I haven't spoken to her yet, because she called me her " decluttering inspiration angel". I can live with that!)

So, my friends, I am back! And my next post will be all about my fun and fabulous week in New England, making deep inroads in a salmon-colored, love-filled home in the middle of Connecticut.

till then,

Remember, I am on your team!

..· ´¨¨))  -:¦:-
         ¸.·´ .·´¨¨))
       ((¸¸.·´  ..·´   Jessica -:¦:-

     -:¦:-    ((¸¸.·´*

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I met Ariane Benefit of Neat & Simple Living! (better late than never!)

It seems like forever ago, but really, it's only been 3 weeks since Ariane Benefit, ADD / ADHD Organizing Coach  who authors Neat & Simple Living, an Organizing & Decluttering Blog, and I had lunch together at a yummy BBQ place in Manhattan near my dad's apartment. It was so cool to meet her in person after feeling like we had known one another forever! We chatted like magpies and exchanged ideas and stories and inspired each other to keep on doing what we do. It's easier, isn't it, knowing that there are people in your corner? I've been feeling so isolated lately, it's good to remember there are people tracking me so beautifully. I have blogging buddies (like Ariane) that I can pick up the phone and call whether it's fair weather or foul. That feels good.

She blogged about it, too!

I remember when I first started my blog, someone said that they had met people from all over the world that they never would have met if it weren't for blogging. I thought back then how cool that was, and I wondered if it would happen to me, too. I am so grateful to report that it has. I have not only met other bloggers, but I have met new clients, both on the phone and by organizing their homes. Wow. When I think about it, it seems so natural, such a part of my life. How could I have lived so long without the blogosphere?

Some of you might remember that back in January, I was fortunate enough to spend some time doing private coaching in Chicago with the now world-famous Wendy Piersall of emomsathome.com (who just announced her collaboration with Entrepreneur.com today!). We had a dinner meet up near Wrigley Field with the always fabulous Liz Strauss of Successful Blog.com and boy was that fun!

So...lesson learned: let's all spend more time socializing, more time relaxing and enjoying one another's company, more time being there for each other, more time connecting from the heart. After all, isn't that what truly makes us rich?

I have a dear friend Ellen who had a great idea a few years ago. Discouraged by the lame responses she was getting on one of the major dating sites, this brilliant and resourceful lady took it upon herself to use the site's internal search engine to look for some of the women her age who lived in her neighborhood and emailed them all, inviting them to a "women's meet up" at a local watering hole. About 50 women showed up and boy, did they have fun! They compared stories and men and dates and their deepest wishes and complaints, laughed, drank and were quite merry. What came out of that evening was a woman's group about 12 strong that has been meeting monthly for the last year and a half, and a blog, Wonderful Online Women (or W.O.W. as Ellen likes to call it). I was lucky enough to be invited to join the group after I spoke there last year and I have been a devoted member ever since.

If you are (or know of) a single woman in her 40's or 50's that lives in the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles, and want to make some new friends and possibly even meet the man of your dreams, come on down and have a drink with us in a few weeks. Ellen has been having fun now creating casual events for men and women to meet in person, rather than online. I'll be at the next one for sure!

Remember, I am on your team!

..· ´¨¨))  -:¦:-
         ¸.·´ .·´¨¨))
       ((¸¸.·´  ..·´   Jessica -:¦:-

     -:¦:-    ((¸¸.·´*

ok, ok, I throw my hat into the Organizer's Desk Challenge

Respectfully challenged by my "sister" organizer, Ariane Benefit of Neat Living, then shamed into action by Atlanta organizer extraordinaire, Monica Ricci, of Your Life. Organized. blog, I officially throw in my hat to the Organizer's Desk Challenge this evening by (FINALLY!) posting photos of my desk.

Now, in all fairness, this is after being away for almost two weeks, so even though it is never "Martha Stewart neat", oh, heck, who am I kidding? This is how my desk usually looks...

I prefer the "L" shaped desk for the same reason that Ariane has two desks: breathing room and a separate space for my computer.

I spent a long time looking for this desk and I ordered it online (BIG mistake). I don't really like it all that much, but I have learned to live with it for now. I do like that my CPU is hidden there in the cabinet on the right, that my computer is up against the wall so the hideous cords and cables are not usually visible, and my desk is in proper Feng Shui aspect---I do not have my back to the door.

What I don't like about my desk is that the corner is too narrow for my chair and it is hard to swivel around. I may get one of those cool balls to sit on and the problem will be solved. (Not to mention that my back will love me!)

The files to the right of my monitor are the ones I use all the time, and I also have a small file drawer to my left, which I keep only the most commonly used files. In fact, most of the drawer is taken up by one of my favorite organizing gewgaws: the file drawer organizer. I bought it for about $7.00 and now I couldn't live without it. It holds my labeler, stapler, three hole punch, pens, paper clips, etc. It suits me just right, but it's only good if you have a file drawer that has spare room. Since I have two more two-drawer file cabinets, I had plenty of space to spare and no where to put all that office junk.

By the way, the photos do not do justice to how gorgeous my office is. I painted it an outrageous Mediterranean Blue by Ralph Lauren. The color was way too intense, so I toned it down by sponging on a moss-colored glaze. I have orange and yellow sari material flecked with gold thread for the curtains hanging over my two closets. I took the doors off, gutted them, painted the insides olive green and had someone create custom shelving and a space for my file drawers in one and a small desk for an office assistant and my printer in the other. I hung colorful prints of Hindu gods and goddesses framed in gold on the walls and I found a nice earthy rattan roll up shade for my window.

Although I am not done with my redesign, I still need a great rug, I am loving being in this room. It really makes a difference to spark your space up with color and life and things that have meaning to you, I notice I enjoy my time in here far more since I put my loving touches in the room.

One day, I want someone to build me a desk to my specs. I still don't think it will be neat and tidy, though, because I am a very visual person, and I need to have the projects and paperwork out in front of me as ticklers so I get things done. This level of disarray works for me because I can just close the door and no one has to see my space. I am in heaven. I am VERY organized, I am just not 'tidy'. I recommend you try it, if that's what works for you---set yourself free!

So... I will offer this challenge: to the first person who sends me a photo of their desk, I will give an online lesson in how to make your space work better for you. We can chat by phone for a few minutes and then I will make an assessment on this blog! I may even throw in a free bottle of Cedarwood essential oil, which is great for helping get and stay focused. It smells great, too.

Thanks, Ariane, for challenging us, and no, I haven't forgotten to post the photos (she and I met in REAL LIFE when I was back east---more on that as soon as I have a minute to catch up!), I can't wait to show everyone how beautiful you are!

Remember, I am on your team!

..· ´¨¨))  -:¦:-
         ¸.·´ .·´¨¨))
       ((¸¸.·´  ..·´   Jessica -:¦:-

     -:¦:-    ((¸¸.·´*

Did you find this post helpful? You can easily get my blog posting updates automatically by email! Just click here to subscribe to the feed, and you won't have to keep checking back every day.

Meeting Up In New York City!

I am so excited because tomorrow (Sunday), I am going to have lunch with one of my favorite blogging friends, Ariane Benefit, ADD / ADHD Organizing Coach  who authors Neat & Simple Living, an Organizing & Decluttering Blog,  in New York City. I am here with one of my team members for a week-long organizing makeover job in Connecticut starting on Monday, and so I am excited all the way around! Although we have exchanged links on our blogs, spent HOURS on the phone together brainstorming some great ideas and sharing from our hearts, we have never met in person. Funny, because I feel as though I have known her forever!

One of the best things I have found about the blogosphere is how friendly, caring, helpful and warm most bloggers are. It's like a social club that anyone can join in, and being an extrovert, making new friends all over the world is my idea of heaven!

So...many of you know Ariane from her blog that I often quote and link to: Neat & Simple Living. Ariane is a personal organizing consultant and coach in NJ who writes from her heart on many of the same issues that I do. She also has an amazing resource library which has dozens of articles on getting organized.

How did we 'meet'? A little over a year ago I saw her name pop up on my subscriber list and I had to go see what this Neat & Simple Living thing was all about. I immediately got goosebumps, because she and I are true kindred spirits, we approach our clients with such a similar attitude: that it's not about your stuff, it's about the emotions that lie underneath the clutter, that need to be released in order for true harmony to reign in your mind, heart and surroundings.

So, gang, if you haven't seen Neat & Simple Living go check it out and tomorrow, I will have real live photos for you of the two of us together. Some of you may remember that just a few months ago, I had a meet-up with the incomparable Wendy Piersall of emomsathome blog and the fabulous first lady of blogging, Liz Strauss of Successful Blog, when I was in Chicago.

By the way, I love meeting up with fellow bloggers, so if you are ever in LA, please send me an email and we can meet!

And if any of you fellow bloggers have pictures, stories or anything to share about meeting up with fellow bloggers, let me know!

..· ´¨¨))  -:¦:-
         ¸.·´ .·´¨¨))
       ((¸¸.·´  ..·´   Jessica -:¦:-

     -:¦:-    ((¸¸.·´*