Organize the Whole Shebang

The Organizer's House.... featuring Stephanie Calahan

A Sneak Peek into the home of Professional Organizer Stephanie LH Calahan of Illinois and Founder/CEO of Calahan Solutions, Inc.

Ever wonder how a business performance and personal productivity consultant organizes her office... Stephanie went all out giving us a personal tour of her space! I have to confess that Stephanie sent me her info a while back... I lost it. Yes. Yes I did. Thankfully she brought it to my attention and I was able to search my email inbox and find her! #whoopsydaisy #blushblush

HER ORGANIZED SPACE: Home Office

1) This is my ACTION SYSTEM. Every item of paper that requires action is in this graduated file holder. It is easily accessible and in immediate view so that I don’t lose track of important items I need to DO to move my business forward.

2) This is my EASY ACCESS SYSTEM. This cabinet is on casters and can move for easy access. Each drawer is labeled and I can get to what I need quickly. I store items that I use on a daily basis in this cart.

3) DUAL MONITORS. My main source computer is my laptop, but when I’m not traveling; my second monitor is connected to increase my ability to get things done. Microsoft researchers have found that you can increase your productivity from 9-50 percent! My active work is on one monitor while my other monitor holds the windows that I check periodically, such as social media.

4) LOTS OF WATER. One of the fastest “cures” for foggy thinking is to increase your water intake. Did you know that the average person is dehydrated? Add to that, our brains are made of mostly water. If you are dehydrated, you diminish your ability to think clearly.

5A) MODULAR FILING CABINETS. I Love my Levenger file cabinets! This particular model allows me to add drawers as I have an increased need for filing. I have them within arms’ reach so that I can get to what I need quickly.
5B) PAPER TIGER FILING. One of my favorite office organizing tools is Paper Tiger (http://www.FindInFiveSeconds.com). I use this tool both in my home and work office.

6) OFFICE PHONE WITH HEADSET. I am on the phone throughout the day talking with my coaching clients. My headset is an invaluable productivity tool! By using a headset, I’m able to be hands free to take notes. This sounds very minor, but I have many clients that have complained of back/neck pain that distracts them from their work. When they change their phone setup, their pain goes away and do does the distraction.

7) CLEAR SPACE TO THINK AND WORK. As you can see, I have two desks in my office. One holds my computer and all corresponding technology. However, when I need to really think through a project, learn new information or focus on a client problem, visual distractions would be a problem. So, I turn around and use my “executive” desk for that type of work. The clear space allows me to stay focused.

HER ORGANIZING STYLE:

This is my library. It is on the opposite wall from my technology space. One thing that surprises many people that come into my office is how I have my material arranged on the shelf. It is not alphabetical by author or title. Each shelf holds a topic – marketing and PR, organizing, productivity and time management, self-development, etc. I often forget titles and authors, so organizing by either of those methods, would make it hard for me to find what I’m looking for. I’m visual, so I can go to my time management shelf and know that the orange book holds what I’m looking for.

*If you're a professional organizer + you'd like to be featured on "The Organizer's House"... drop me an email and let me know! I've got room for you~

Want more? Take a Peeky into more Professional Organizer's Homes by clicking here.

a good, good life

Yesterday and today Facebook is rolling out changes #again... and with that I noticed many of my friends aren't good with change. In response I posted this: i find it funny how many people loathe change... it's only facebook people, no one asked you to sleep on the other side of the bed

I'm good with change...it's limbo that I loathe. Limbo was finding out I may have cancer, then waiting to find out 'my plan' of attack. Limbo is when you sell your house and don't have a new place to live. Limbo is being unemployed. We all have our own limbo moments... We all just want the plan.

This is me last year. I knew where I was, where I was going. #ihadaplan

Green Valley Ranch Resort, Las Vegas. September 2010

This is me this year. I have a plan. I'm moving forward. I'm going to live the good life.

 
OneRepublic Concert at The Beach at Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas. September 2011

  

Oh this has gotta be the good life
This has gotta be the good life
This could really be a good life, good life

Say oh, got this feeling that you can't fight
Like this city is on fire tonight
This could really be a good life
A good, good life

Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh
A good good life Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh

[Bridge 2]

Hopelessly
I feel like there might be something that I'll miss
Hopelessly
I feel like the window closes oh so quick
Hopelessly
I'm taking a mental picture of you now
'Cuz hopelessly
The hope is we have so much to feel good about

[Chorus]

Oh this has gotta be the good life
This has gotta be the good life
This could really be a good life, good life

Say oh, got this feeling that you can't fight
Like this city is on fire tonight
This could really be a good life
A good, good life

Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh
Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh

Thanks OneRepublic...It is a good, good life.

So my Chicaritas... this is just a friendly reminder to stop griping over the lil' things. Take care of them... so that you can enjoy the lil' things . #likeanoutdoorconcert #whenthesunshinesjustso #acupofjoe #aphonecallfromyourgirlfriend  and handle the big things.

XXOO, Krista

 

The Organizers House.... featuring Beth Brodsky

A Sneak Peek into the home of Professional Organizer Beth Brodsky of New York City, NY and owner of  B ORGANIZED, LLC.

I've often wondered how those NYC chicas can fit all their fashionable togs in such small apartments... Now I know. Thanks to Beth for sharing her tips + tricks with my small-closeted readers. We appreciate you allowing us to lurk in your closet!

HER ORGANIZED SPACE:  Main Clothing Closet

 

HER ORGANIZING TIPS:

1)  Make sure that every item has its own home. You need a designated area to put jewelry, scarves, belts, bags, etc otherwise they will end up on the floor or hanging over the chaise lounge in your bedroom.

 

 
2) Do an analysis of items you use and wear most frequently and put them in easy to reach places. For example I am always accessorizing with necklaces, earrings, and bracelets so I like to see what I have instead of keeping it tucked away in boxes.

 
 

3) Use the vertical space in your closet – it is prime real estate!! Most rental apartments don’t have built in closet shelving so it becomes wasted space. Invest in shelving units to double the storage room in your closet.

 

4) Spend the money and buy nice hangers.  Uniform hangers are the key to a neat looking closet.

HER ORGANIZING STYLE:  

I wanted to have a whole dressing area with all the pieces I need to get ready in one place.  Living in NYC this is no easy fete.  I chose the items that I love and wear the most to stay in the closet (shoes and purses that I wear less often reside in another closet or in storage units under the bed). I was diligent about finding space in the closet for all the pieces I need to make a complete look (tops, skirts, pants, accessories, purses, and shoes) and made sure that all items have a specific place to go so that it is simple and fun to put items away at the end of the day. I love the way my closet looks, its like my own little private dressing room – since I am so happy with the aesthetics I am constantly wanting to upkeep and maintain it.

 

*If you're a professional organizer + you'd like to be featured on "The Organizer's House"... drop me an email and let me know! I've got room for you~

Want more? Take a Peeky into more Professional Organizer's Homes by clicking here.

Back to Me... getting my groove on

I had a coffee date with myself... I spent the time identifying what I'd like to do this school year...

I brought along one of my cute paper journals [because i'm a complete + utter sucker for cute paper products] and then drew a few lines and began brainstorming.

I divided my page into 3 columns with the heading
Self | Home | Endeavors. It's a play on my whole Shebang philosophy... I believe we juggle 3 areas of our lives and I gave them the cute SHE acronym ;)

I then brainstormed what was important to me and items I wanted to focus on this school year... Items that I'd like to add to my life, Projects that need to be addressed. 

If you don't have a cute journal,don't fret- I created this cute doc for you to print out and use: Download Shebang she list

 

After my brainstorm I created 3 pages, each with their own heading: Self, Home, Endeavors. On each page I went a little bit deeper determining some of the steps or specifics of what I meant or needed to do. Here's what my Home page looked like. [it may not make sense to you... but it does to me!]

 

Now I'm ready to revisit my SHE ROUTINES and add these items to my daily + weekly + monthly routines. I've chatted before about my SHE ROUTINES, these are what keep me sane. And since Summer throws my routines to the curbside it's time to get my groove back on. Time to revisit + recreate my routines. Time to get + stay sane! More about that here.

Here's the SHE ROUTINE VIP docs for you:
Download 1.SHEBANG101-SHEROUTINES 
Download 1.SHEBANG101 SHEROUTINES.SAMPLE 

*don't forget to include the kid's new sport's schedules into your weeky routines

If you have questions... let me know~ Here's to getting our groove back!

Cheers, Krista

PS if you are having problems opening the docs... Sign up to be a SHE VIP in the upper right hand column and I'll send them to you.

Clutter

I did a double-take when I spotted this shop... truly could it really be aptly named The Aspirin Shop... just imagining all this clutter in my home gave me a headache of immense proportions.

This is the kind of 'stuff' I thought was soooo pretty when I was a child. It's the kind of stuff I dread my kids having in their rooms. It's my personal hell... #somebodygiveme2aspirinsandpromisemeallthiscrapwillbegoneinthemorning

  

The Organizer's House... featuring Marcie Lovett

A Sneak Peek into the home of Professional Organizer & Productivity Consultant, Marcie Lovett, of Olney, Maryland and owner of Organized by Marcie.

I don't know Marcie yet... but after getting this full view of what she eats.. because you are what you eat right?! I think I know her... I know that we both use similar organizing techniques and that we both prefer square containers to round :) I also know she went to Pepperdine for Grad school and that my parent's wouldn't send me there for undergrad :( but I know this from her book bio and you can check that out here: The Clutter Book: When You Can't Let Go [maybe I shouldlet go of that whole 'I didn't get to go to Pepperdine' thing, you think?!]

HER ORGANIZED SPACE: Refrigerator
No one will mistake my house for Martha Stewart’s because it isn’t spotless.  Still, I want to find what I need without thinking about it.  I can identify everything in the refrigerator by its location, which keeps food from getting “lost” and turning into a science project.  I also know how much there is of any given item, so it’s easy to maintain inventory.

 
 

ORGANIZING TIPS:
1) Keep like items together.  Jams and spreads are on the top the top door shelf, condiments are in the center, drinks are on the bottom. The basket on the bottom shelf contains fruit and there’s more in the right crisper drawer, which also holds juice boxes. The left crisper drawer holds vegetables.  Sliced meats and cheeses go in the small drawer for sandwich and salad making.  Leftovers are pushed to the front so they get noticed and eaten. Yogurt and pudding are on the top, easy to grab and eat or pop in a lunch bag. Coffee is located conveniently beside the soda so I don’t have to open my eyes to find it in the morning.
  

2) Use clear containers for leftovers so you can see what’s inside.  I recommend squares over round shapes because they maximize space.  Stick with one brand so they stack well and don’t fall over. 

 

3) Have a plan for surplus food.  Take advantage of sales on items you buy often, but don’t overbuy and waste money by throwing out food you didn’t eat.  Make sure you have room to store the food until you are ready to use it.  I have 6 packages of cheese in the freezer because it was insanely cheap and I use it in so many different recipes. 

 
HER ORGANIZING STYLE:  As much as I like things to be attractive, I like function even more.  I recently dumped my old, stained food containers and replaced them with new ones that use the same-size lid on different-size containers.  That, in itself, is a huge time and space saver.

*If you're a professional organizer + you'd like to be featured on "The Organizer's House"... drop me an email and let me know! I've got room for you~

Want more? Take a Peeky into more Professional Organizer's Homes by clicking here.

Taming Morning Chaos, Kid's Chores + then some... as seen on AMNW

*click here  if video isn't showing

Hey Mamas, You don't have to do EVERYTHING! 

The kidlets are fully capable of getting ready for school and out the door on time. They just need some guidance. So sit back have a cup of joe and watch the kidlets run out the door... 

Ok, who am I kidding. It takes practice+ you to guide them. My segment has some helpful tips but you'll need to bring the bull horn ;)

Here's my worksheet for creating Kid's Routines: Download KIDSROUTINES.SCHOOLAGE The small message board can be placed in their room or on their bathroom mirror as a reminder of what to do + when to do it.

 

The Kidlets are also FULLY CAPABLE of helping piece together their lunch...

 

LUNCH THOUGHTS: 

Have your child identify which days they want school lunch...
Our school sends home a monthly printout. I have my daughter circles the meals she likes.

Kids don't mind eating the SAME lunch everyday...
I think we put all sorts of unnecessary pressure on ourselves to create clever + cute meals. Get over it sister...

Have the kids prep their lunch...
Grapes can be washed + placed in the containers + stored in the lowest refrigerator drawer. I also place cheese sticks + their snacks in this 'kid drawer'.

Goldfish/Ritz/Raisins etc can be sorted into the reusable containers or snack bags for the entire week. These can be stored together in a 'for school lunch' container.

I make Peanut Butter + Honey/Jelly sandwiches for the week and freeze them in the plastic containers shown in the above pic.

Puttin' it all together...
Lunches can be pieced together by the kidlets- just tell them to do it, but spend a week guiding them through the process. "hey kidlet.. grab a sandwich, juice box, grape container + cracker container, place them in your lunch box... have a great day!"

 Our New Chore Boards! Products from Craft Warehouse

Chores:

I was caught off-guard by the fact that my kidlets actually wanted chores + haven't complained 'yet' about doing them. Together we brainstormed what they could do to help around the house. I like the word "Contribute" so I used that a lot during our chat- meaning no money will be attached to their chores.

We visited the craft store...
Because I know that 'people tend to support what they help to create' so the kidlet's picked out the paper used to cover their magnet board. They helped glue the DO and DONE onto the clear stones. Then they wanted to show their friends what they made :)
1. Frame, Magnetic 12x12 square, scrap book paper, magnets. Remove glass,place paper, magnetic board in the frame. Add magnets +  chores!

Management...
I decided to switch out their chores monthly because I don't want to try to remember who's day it is to do what. #paininthea$$

Chore items...
I wanted the children to learn how to fully complete a task- for example if they are responsible for taking out the trash cans they are also the person to gather all the trash within the house and place it in the big trash can. They load and unload the dishwasher. The American Picker boys would call this bundling ;)

 

Cheers to a wonderful + less chaotic school year!
Krista