BALANCED LIFE and LAUNDRY SYSTEM

Say regularly to yourself the powerful MA habit:

STOW AS YOU GO!

Sandra Felton, THE ORGANIZER LADY®
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Contents of New Ideas for Today

1. Message of the Day - BALANCED LIFE
2. Habit of the Day
3. Family Reminder of the Day
4. Did You Know?
5. Quote of the Day
6. Question of The Day
7. From the Trenches - LAUNDRY SYSTEM
8. More Info

-----------------------------

1. Message of the Day

BALANCED LIFE

"I can get my house under control but I just can't keep it that way. What is wrong?"

Often the reason is not primarily a problem with organizing. Our whole life system is unbalanced. Those problems encroach on our organizing efforts.

Household organizing does not stand alone. It is part of the flow of our daily lives.

We need to address the problems of

• Messy kids
• Busy schedules
• Lack of focus
• Emotional baggage such as discouragement, sentimentality, 
• and the like.

None of us maintains a perfectly balanced life. However, the more well-balanced the whole of our life is, the better chance we have of maintaining an orderly one.
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2. Habit of the Day

CLEAN AS YOU GO

Keep short accounts on putting things up as you work. As you cook, wash and dry your pots, pans, etc. or put them in the dishwasher as you use them.
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3. Family Reminder of the Day

Pick one of these reminders or make one of your own to share with your family each day.

In our family, we put what we need the next day by the front door the night before.

In our family, we don't drop our things when we come in the door. We take them and put them where they belong.
-----------------------------

4. Did You Know?

I've Got to Get Rid of This Stuff!

If “I want to get rid of it but I just can’t” sounds like you and if you are ready to change, this ebooklet is for you.

This is a self-help program designed to make a significant difference in three weeks time.

Click here to go to our webpage where you can purchase for $4.99. The ebooklet will be sent to you via email.

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NEW and IMPROVED K.I.S.S. (KEEP IT SUPER SIMPLE) Flipper is available!

The K.I.S.S. Flipper has fresh ideas on how to 

move through your home, day by day, room by room, with simple choices for maintenance and organizing. It will gently guide you through the process of creating clear and shining surfaces throughout out your home!

With the New K.I.S.S. Flipper all you have to do to is FLIP through the spiral-bound, sequentially numbered full-color job idea cards. No more sliding cards into sleeves; the New K.I.S.S. Flipper is ready to use out of the package. When you are ready to begin, make a few simple choices each day from one card and you will be on your way to a clutter-free and well maintained home.

Free BONUS:  Once you order, you will also receive the "K.I.S.S. eBooklet" via email to learn the "Hows and Whys" of the system while you wait for your Flipper, so you will be ready to start the day your Filpper arrives.

$26.95  Introductory Price $20.00 Free US Postage at this time

Go to the link below to order your New K.I.S.S. Flipper:
http://messies.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=25

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5. Quote of the Day

There are two kind of pain in the world, the pain of discipline and the pain of regret. The pain of discipline weighs ounces. The pain of regret weighs tons.

The application to us is obvious. Disciplining ourselves to organize is very, very hard. But, oh, the heartbreak of leaving it undone!
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6. Question of the Day

Is there anything you need to overcome procrastinating. If so, what? When is your deadline? And what is your consequence if you don't?

Tell us by posting on Friends-of-The-Organizer-Lady.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Friends-of-The-Organizer-Lady
-----------------------------

7. From the Trenches

Sandra J.'s laundry system from MessiesTalk group.

I keep only one hamper in the bedroom - it is relatively small, so it holds only a 2-3 days of soiled clothes (for the two of us). I take the hamper to the laundry room and as I pull the clothes out I sort them into a triple bag laundry sorter. as each section of the sorter become full, I do that load (whites, mixed, black, etc.) for me it means a load every day, which I wash before dinner and 
dry after dinner.

Everything goes on hanger as it comes out of the dryer (we have a wooden dowel mounted below a shelf next to the dryer) or into a basket to go into the drawers (one basket for his and one for mine). He (hubby) takes his basket and hangers to the bedroom. I have arranged the wash schedule so that his work clothes are done on Thursday, so that Sunday night there isn't a scramble at 
midnight to get his black sock done! Not anymore.

Towels have their own hamper in the bathroom. When towels or sheets come out of the dryer, they are piled in a chair in the LR for me to fold while watching TV. Fortunately, our linen closet is in hall next to LR so it's a short walk to finish the job. I usually do towels and sheets on the weekend, because I can start a load before we go out for recreation and it doesn't matter if they set in the washer or dryer all day.

Don't get me wrong, I still have to work hard against my natural tendencies, but at least I have a plan to attempt to follow; and it works most of the time. Hope these ideas help someone.

(Thanks to Sandra J. for sharing her system.)
----------------------------------------

8. More Info

Repetition is important. Forward to friends if desired but not to other sites.
Read this whole posting or only what you can take in today, then delete it.

Don't forget the daily reminders!!! The daily Reminders and How-To's are found on our website at "How to Begin" http://www.messies.com
------------------------------------------

MESSIES ANONYMOUS SLOGAN

Please memorize this slogan and post it on your wall.

The secret to success is making very small, yet very consistent, changes.

Or to make it short; Baby steps, baby steps in the right direction.

Never underestimate the inevitability of gradualness.
Anonymous


4 © 2010 Sandra Felton

The Organizer Lady® is a registered trademark of Sandra Felton, founder of Messies Anonymous.

CARE! CARE! CARE! and PERSPECTIVE

In the midst of struggle to change, don't overlook 
how far you have already come -- no matter how small 
it may seem at the time -- and be thankful.

Sandra Felton THE ORGANIZER LADY®
------------------------

Contents of New Ideas for Today

1. Message of the Day - CARE! CARE! CARE!
2. Sharing Our Successes
3. Habit of the Day
4. Did You Know?
5. Family Reminder of the Day
6. Quote of the Day
7. Question of The Day
8. From the Trenches - PERSPECTIVE
9. More Info

------------------------

1. Message of the Day

CARE! CARE! CARE!

Messies are an emotional lot. We love our belongings, our memories, and our present habits dearly. We are strongly attached to our many hobbies and projects. That's why we resist letting any go.

Let us transfer that emotional approach to love for a better way of life. Train yourself to love to come home to an orderly house. Entwine tightly around yourself the concept of a beautiful and organized life.

Be driven by strong emotion to do whatever it takes to make the change you need, the change you want, and the change you deserve. In short, care intently 
and keep on caring until it is done.
------------------------

2. Sharing Our Successes

It is still much of a fight to get things organized but the two most important achievements help me come  through the days and having hope for more achievements: 

* The shining sink. I made it a routine to have the  kitchen shine at me before I go to sleep so it will smile at me in the morning. It is not perfect and I keep putting things from one site to the other but  this way the sink and the surface of the dishwasher  and washing machine are empty and clean.

* The bed made in the morning right away. Not perfect, but done. So when I come back from the bathroom it already spreads a nice atmosphere.

I thank you from all my heart
Lina

(Thank you Lina for taking the time to tell us of your success.)
---------------------------------------

Apply "The 4 Legs of the Organizing Table, on which much

organizing success rests!" to your daily habits today!!

1 - Bed made daily and kept clear
2 - Clear dining room table
3 - Sink clear as you keep things moving
4 - Inspiration Point guarded from clutter

http://messies.com/index.php/component/content/article?id=11
---------------------------------------

3. Did You Know?

NEW and IMPROVED K.I.S.S. (KEEP IT SUPER SIMPLE) Flipper 

is available NOW!

The K.I.S.S. Flipper has fresh ideas on how to move through your home, day by day, room by room, with simple choices for maintenance and organizing. It will 

gently guide you through the process of creating clear and shining surfaces throughout out your home!

With the New K.I.S.S. Flipper all you have to do to is FLIP through the spiral-bound, sequentially numbered full-color job idea cards. No more sliding cards into sleeves; the New K.I.S.S. Flipper is ready to use out of the package. 
When you are ready to begin, make a few simple choices each day from one card and you will be on your way to a clutter-free and well maintained home.

$26.95  Introductory Price $20.00 Free US Postage at this time

Go to the link below to order your New K.I.S.S. Flipper:
http://messies.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=25

----------------------------------

4. Habit of the Day

LOOK BACK, REALLY LOOK BACK! 

When you begin an area or room, go to the door and focus on seeing what you need to do. Make yourself tune in visually.

Hint: 
Circle your hand or use an empty toilet roll as a telescope to focus your attention on what you are seeing. Better yet, take a digital snapshot before and after.
------------------------

5. Family Reminder of the Day

Pick one of these reminders or make one of your own to share with your family each day.

In our family, we put what we need the next day by the front door the night before.

In our family, we don't drop our things when we come in the door. We take them and put them where they belong.
------------------------

6. Quote of the Day

If I change my Thinking I will change my Feelings.
If I change my Feelings I will change my Actions.
If I change my Actions, I will change my Life.

Start today to change your thinking. The rest will follow.
------------------------

7. Question of The Day

Do just one thing! Is there anything you need to overcome procrastinating? If so, what? When is your deadline? And what is your consequence if you don't?

Tell us by posting on Friends-of-The-Organizer-Lady.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Friends-of-The-Organizer-Lady
------------------------

8. From the Trenches

PERSPECTIVE

The thought of moving got me going again. I was out walking on Thanksgiving and came across a house for sale that was exactly what I had always dreamed of. Only problem is that it is way more than we could afford unless we manage to win the lotto. But it didn't keep me from fantasizing. What would we take with us? What would we get rid of? Of course that would only go so far. For example, if we did win the lotto, I would get rid of several boxes of clothing and just buy new instead of waiting to go through them to see if there is anything we need. But it did help me realize that there still was a lot of stuff that I don't need even now and I managed to clear out several spaces over the weekend. About three bags to Goodwill.

(Thanks to Betsy)
-------------------------

9. More Info

This is a simple program. We stick with the basics as they are presented in these messages. Keep reading.Keep adding one part of the program at a time.

Repetition is important.
Forward to friends if desired but not to other sites.
Read this whole posting or only what you can take in today, then delete it.

Don't forget the daily reminders!!! Do you have a copy posted somewhere?
Click here to print a copy of the daily Reminders and How-To's 
------------------------------------------

MESSIES ANONYMOUS SLOGAN

Please memorize this slogan and post it on your wall.

The secret to success is making very small, yet very consistent, changes.

Or to make it short; Baby steps, baby steps in the right direction.

Never underestimate the inevitability of gradualness.
Anonymous

2 © Sandra Felton 2010

THE ORGANIZER LADY® is a trademark of Sandra Felton, founder of Messies Anonymous.

SIMPLE and WHITE STORAGE BOXES

Try to keep the floor as bare as possible.
It's easier to keep clean that way and looks much neater.

Sandra Felton, THE ORGANIZER LADY®
-----------------------------

Contents of New Ideas for Today

1. Message of the Day - KEEP YOUR PLANS SIMPLE
2. Sharing Our Successes
3. Habit of the Day
4. Did You Know?
5. Family Reminder of the Day
6. Quote of the Day
7. Question of The Day
8. From the Trenches - WHITE BOXES
9. More Info

----------------------------

1. MESSAGE OF THE DAY

KEEP YOUR PLANS SIMPLE

SIMPLE basically means to search for the real heart of the matter. Then determine what few actions are the significant ones to accomplish what is really meaningful in our lives.

Our opportunities are too many. We can't do them all. Time, energy, and money hinder us. But we can spot the high points and work those well.

Narrow your focus in order to expand your enjoyment.
------------------------------------------------

2. SHARING OUR SUCCESSES

Yesterday I got contact lenses. I remembered that you needed Ivory soap to wash your hands before touching them. I bought some Monday. Yesterday afternoon I thought-where did I put it? Figured I'd better look in case I couldn't find it & had to buy more. I asked myself where does it belong? I have a small three drawer organizer under MB sink. I looked in drawer labeled "eye care" 
& there was the three bar pack of Ivory! It is so nice to be organized!

SC in S CA

Yes It Is Nice! Thank you SC
----------------------------------------

Apply "The 4 Legs of the Organizing Table,  on which much organizing success rests!" to your daily habits today!!

1 - Bed made daily and kept clear
2 - Clear dining room table
3 - Sink clear as you keep things moving
4 - Inspiration Point guarded from clutter

http://messies.com/index.php/component/content/article?id=11
---------------------------------------

3. HABIT OF THE DAY

FOLLOW THE RULE OF TEN (MINUTES)

Set a timer for ten minutes and attack a hotspot with a vengeance.
------------------------------------------------

4. DID YOU KNOW?

The NEW and IMPROVED K.I.S.S. (KEEP IT SUPER SIMPLE) Flipper is available!

 

The  K.I.S.S. Flipper has fresh ideas on how to move through your home, day by day, room by room, with simple choices for maintenance and organizing. It will gently guide you through the process of creating clear and shining surfacesthroughout out your home!

With the NEW K.I.S.S. Flipper all you have to do to is FLIP through the spiral-bound, sequentially numbered, full-color job idea cards.  No more sliding cards into sleeves; the NEW K.I.S.S. Flipper is ready to use out of the package.  When you are readyto begin, make a few simple choices each day from one card and you will be on your way to a clutter-free and well maintained home.

Introductory price $20.00 US postage included

Go to the link below to order you NEW K.I.S.S. Flipper today.

http://messies.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=25 

-----------------------------------------------

5. Family Reminder of the Day

Pick one of these reminders or make one of your own to share with your family each day.

In our family, we put what we need the next day by the front door the night before.

In our family, we don't drop our things when we come in the door. We take them and put them where they belong.
-----------------------------

6. QUOTE OF THE DAY

"We are all self-made. But only the successful will admit it."

Earl Nightingale.

It is hard to face that the messy condition of our houses today is the result of many of small, poor decisions on our parts.

The good news is that organized condition of our houses in the future will be the result of many small smart decisions. Let's start making them one by one today.
------------------------------------------------

7. NEW QUESTION OF THE DAY

Is there anything you need to overcome procrastinating?

If so, what? When is your deadline? And what is your consequence if you don't?

Tell us by posting on Friends-of-The-Organizer-Lady.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Friends-of-The-Organizer-Lady
-----------------------------

8. FROM THE TRENCHES

Someone asked what were the white storage boxes that are used for the Mt. Vernon and Mt. Vesuvius programs. Here is the answer given by Diane, posted on Friends of the Organizer Lady:

WHITE STORAGE BOXES

The storage boxes referred to are cardboard file storage boxes (various sizes) that are used to store records/files/etc. that need to be retained. The great part is that these boxes are flat until you fold and insert their tabs, so they take up little room until you begin using them. They have lids that fit! The lids are either a separate piece, but some are attached. You can find them at any office supply.

I use these all the time. I have a decorated one that is labeled Joy Box and holds correspondence and other items that were sent to me or found by me that I want to look at again.

Larger items, such as financial records are stored in these when they are more than one year old. The previous year's records are in the file cabinet behind the current year's.

There are numerous uses for these boxes, so use your imagination. 
If you get a chance, go to an office supply store. I hope that helps you!

(Thanks to Diane)

Editor note: One big advantage is that after you empty them, you can collapse them and put them out of your way or (gasp!) throw them out. They are cheap and easily replaced if necessary.
---------------------------------------------

9. More Info

This is a simple program. We stick with the basics as they are presented in these messages. Keep reading. Keep adding one part of the program at a time.

Repetition is important.
Forward to friends if desired but not to other sites.
Read this whole posting or only what you can take in today, then delete it.

Don't forget the daily reminders!!! Do you have a copy posted 
somewhere?

Click here to print a copy of the daily Reminders and How-To's 
------------------------------------------

MESSIES ANONYMOUS SLOGAN

Please memorize this slogan and post it on your wall.

The secret to success is making very small, yet very consistent, changes.

Or to make it short; Baby steps, baby steps in the right direction.

Never underestimate the inevitability of gradualness.

3 © 2010 Sandra Felton





THE ORGANIZER LADY® is a registered trademark
of Sandra Felton, founder of Messies Anonymous.