Make Memories... Organize them Later [ i've got a plan ]

I used to have my photos perfectly organized. I even jotted that skill down on an application for a job. #nojokin' Well that was before kids... and those days are gone.

I believe now is the time to make memories... I can organize them later. Like when the kids are in college and it's quiet and clean in my house.  I have this idea that that's when I'll tackle those digital files + boxes.

But I truly don't see myself sitting at home sipping on a bottle of wine going through my files whilst the kidlets are livin' it up at college. I'm sure if I wait that long it will be more like a case of wine, frazzled nerves and me kicking myself for not having dealt with the photos along the way. I see myself texting them about when or where the pic was taken and they'll tire of texts and refuse to reply to them. They'll show their friends my texts and they'll all laugh because their mom's do the same thing to them.

I'll be sad, tipsy, and defeated :( #whatasadstateofaffairs

Truth is... I've been scared to REALLY organize my family photos. I have a very simple system in place, but I've got pictures on CD's, pics on my phone, in my email files, on my iPad, in my computer, backed up to my hard drive, pictures in albums and pictures in boxes. 

I'm not organized. I don't have a grip on it. It scares me.

I can't offer to help others... I've been avoiding it.

Until now.

I recently joined APPO, the Association of Personal Photograph Organizers. They have a certification program and I'm all in...

I'm looking forward to meeting Cathi Nelson, the founder of APPO, at the NAPO Conference, National Assoc. of Professional Organizers, next week! She's presenting at the conference and hosting an informal Professional Organizer meet-up on Friday night in the Diamond Tavern from 5-7, which I've dubbed APPO-hour since she's providing the APPO-tizers ;) Remember how fun last year's meet-up was! I'm looking forward to making new memories with my NAPO friends and getting to know my new APPO colleagues.  I hope to see my #NAPOpeeps there!

Over the next couple of months I'm going to hunker down and learn the photo organizing basics, uncover the best tips + tricks, and bring that info to you. Keep an eye on my blog and my Facebook page www.facebook.com/kristacolvin.lifestyle  that's where I'll be sharing the nitty gritty about my certification process.

I'm not scared anymore. I've got a plan. #wooohooo!

*If you would like more info on becoming a photo organizer visit www.APPO.org or drop me an email [ krista @ kristacolvin .com remove the spaces~] and I'll be happy to connect you with an APPO Training Specialist in your neck of the woods.

*full disclosure* I believe so strongly about APPO.org that I begged them to let me share my certification journey with my readers and they agreed to a NAPO conference sponsorship. I love that. I love that sometimes I get paid to share the really cool things I find + do... it helps to make up for all the really cool companies that don't pay me diddly squat.