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After School Organizing Tips – you and your kids will love this one!

Do you feel like the time from after school until bed just flies by?

Do you dream of a stress free after school time frame?

Do you ever wonder how your mother did it all?

Gone are the days of walking home from school alone and then staying home alone until your parents got in from work. I guess there are the exclusive cases where this still happens, however in general I think most parents are so concerned with their child’s safety that they have them well looked after. Not to mention that there are so many more activities for kids to do these days.

When I was a kid…do you hate that saying as much as most people do? 🙂

Sorry, but when I was a kid we were allowed to attend one after school activity per week. I picked ballet and my sister picked baseball. Then one year I recall my sister picking horseback riding. That was exciting as being the youngest I got to tag along on the Saturday morning outing. I was afraid that the horses would kick me so I stayed far away and just watched.

I digress.

Please check out this short video on after school organizing tips to help get you started.

SNACKS: Did you know that between 2-3 pm is one of the universal learning times? Our bodies are at a peak which also means it is a great time for a snack. In order to be ready for this time of day you will want to be prepared and organized.

Some of the easiest snacks to have on hand are: single serving yogurts, fresh cut up fruit or vegetables, a block of cheese that you have cut up into cubes and wrapped in packages of say 4-5 cubes, little packages of crackers, protein bars (be sure to check the ingredients as some of the protein bars on the market are just glorified chocolate bars, this is not an ideal after school snack as the sugar high might get your kids fired up), pre-portioned dried fruit and nuts are one of my favorite afternoon snacks, and air popped popcorn is also a fun alternative.

Do you have any other favorite ready to go snacks for your kids? If so please share in the comment box below.

ACTIVITIES: Did you know most kids these days feel overwhelmed by how busy their schedules are? When surveyed they commented on how they wished they had more down time. Keeping that in mind, you will want to try as best as possible to plan after school activities that require the least amount of running around. For example; if you can have all of your children attend the same swimming pool for lessons all at the same time. I know this is not always possible.

What about painting classes or pottery? Volunteering at a senior’s home or the local soup kitchen. Activities that do not require as much thinking or the computer are a nice break not only for us but for kids too! This will help save some brain power for the next item on the list…

HOMEWORK: I recall having to do all of my homework before anything else. I liked that idea because the school brain was still “on” before I made room for the “play” brain. Plus I was not tired. Being tired brings on procrastination.

I think we would all agree kids have way more homework these days which requires more time. In order to have your kids organized and happy you will want to make time for homework where they do not feel rushed.

15 minutes to freedom bonus tip: Make lunches and snacks the night before. Get backpacks also ready with all school notices signed.

Have you taken advantage of your FREE session yet? Give me a call and we can discuss your organizing needs. I’ll share with you my number one saying in order to get and stay organized.

By Rowena List|2020-06-07T20:52:42+00:00November 25th, 2013|Organizer, Time Management|4 Comments

How to organize a large dinner party

Do you dread the holiday season and all of the large dinner parties that come with it?

Do you wish you had a magic wand and voila…dinner was on the table?

Have you changed your entertaining style over the years?

Somehow my home has become the place where all of the large dinner parties happen. This could be self induced or it could be because I have the space. Or is it habit? You know people do get use to tradition and routine. That being said, I have had to change up some of the ways in which I entertain.

There are ways to have a stress-free large dinner party. Check out this video and Getting It Together’s tips to see how.

Tip #1: Make a guest list.

Know your limit. How many people comfortably can fit around your dining room table? How many people do you feel comfortable cooking for? 6 people may be large for one person whereas 20 may not seem that large to another. I usually have between 12-14 at significant holidays. In general however, I really enjoy intimate dinner parties for 4-6.

Tip #2 Select your date and time.

Tip#3 Contact your guests with a personal invitation. Email or phone, whichever works best for you.

This is a great task to delegate to children if they are old enough.

Tip #4: Make your menu.

I like to write mine out as opposed to keeping it in my head. I keep in mind menu items that are easy and can be made in bulk. For example Caesar salad, mashed potatoes, baked beans, etc.

Tip#5: Write out your shopping list.

I wish I could get everything in one place however that does not work for the type of cooking I do, so I create a list for each of the stores I shop at. Having a list really helps with staying on course and not over shopping.

Tip #6: Make an action plan.

Take all the things you need to do and divide them up over the few days before your large dinner party. 2 days before you can do all of the grocery shopping. As you know from previous blogs I highly suggest cleaning all of your produce as soon as you bring it home and before you put it away. This is a huge time saver.

2 days before you can set your dining room table (another great task to delegate to older children).

One day before you can do all of the prep work, make desserts, etc. For example when I host Thanksgiving dinner I cook all the ingredients for the stuffing one day before putting it all together with the dried bread crumbs. I cut up all the vegetables and get all the big pots and pans out.

On the day of the large dinner party the turkey went in the oven, the stuffing went in the slow cooker, the potatoes went into the big pot and the vegetables went into the steamer.

I even had time for a nice long walk in the beautiful Vancouver sun shine and a relaxing cup of coffee out on a deck!

In the past I have done it all myself. If anyone offered to help I would say “thank you but I have it all covered”. Now when someone offers to help I jump on it.

If they would like to bring something I happily agree and give them an item that I feel would be best suited to them. For example, if one of your guests is always late you will want to delegate dessert to them. If they are the type of guest who is always on time then asking them to bring an appetizer works well.

If one of your guests is not particularly fond of cooking then give them the task of bringing fresh bread.

I have come to realize that everyone likes to contribute and that also means when it is time for clean up.

Tip #7: If no one offers to help or bring anything then it is time to delegate.

This past Thanksgiving the step granddaughters were over. They are not accustomed to offering to help yet. This is the perfect opportunity to practice delegation. They love to help and to feel important. This year Harper was so helpful with putting the cut flowers in a vase, cutting up the garlic and smashing the skore bars in preparation for Sundae Sunday. Harper is taking home economics this year and was very excited to help out.

By Rowena List|2020-06-07T20:52:42+00:00November 11th, 2013|Organizer, Self Care Organization, Time Management|2 Comments

How to Organize Your Passwords

Fess up! How often do you forget a password?

Do you have several different passwords you use for several different sites?

Can you imagine having just ONE password for everything?

Have you ever wished there was one secure place to store all of your passwords?

Well there is.

Check out this short video on How to Organize your Passwords for the latest Getting It Together tips.

Now that you have watched this video it is time to organize and set up all of your passwords.

Here are the four simple steps:

1. You will want to make a list of all the passwords you have and what company they are attached to.

2. Then you will want to double check that the passwords you have still works and that you still really want to be a part of that site or company. You may have set up passwords for site that you needed at one time and have since found that you no longer require that site.

I found that I had passwords set up for things I no longer needed or used. DELETE! There is no need keeping records of things you no longer need or use.

3. Next, you will want to set up your account with http://www.1password.com.

4. Lastly you input all of your passwords into http://www.1password.com

Once all your passwords are inputted you can lock it up.

The best thing about 1password.com is you can access your passwords from anywhere in the world as long as you remember your ONE and only master password.

If you feel you might forget that one master password then you will want to write it down in a secure, safe place. You might even want to write it out backwards so only you know what it means. Look how successful Oprah has been using her name backwards. Her production company is Harpo. 😀

As part of my estate organizing services I am recommending my clients write out their passwords on a piece of paper and keep it in their safety deposit box. This is helpful information that your executor might need.

What did you think of the way I use to keep my passwords?

Looking forward to hearing your comments on storing passwords. Please leave them in the box below.

Have you had your FREE session yet? If not then please pick up the phone and take full advantage of your FREE 20 minute session. We can discuss any password dilemmas you might have and or any other de-cluttering questions.

Call, text or Facetime: 604-520-9550 PST

By Rowena List|2020-06-07T20:52:42+00:00October 28th, 2013|Organizer|0 Comments

What is a professional organizer?

Have you ever wondered what exactly is a professional organizer?

Have you ever wondered what does a professional organizer do?

Have you ever wondered how a professional organizer got started in the profession? (This is the question I get asked the most.)

Sign up for your FREE session here.

If you sign up for your complimentary session with me, I will share my story with you…only if you are really curious. If not, no worries we will just dive right into your challenges and how to solve them. 😀

Check out this short video on what is a professional organizer.

A Professional organizer supports, empowers and encourages their clients through the non-judgmental process of sorting, purging and storing of unwanted and wanted items. A Professional organizer provides hands-on services. A professional organizer coaches and transfers organizing skills to help clients develop appropriate and lasting solutions for their individual needs. A professional organizer follows up and is always there for you….on time.

Some of the services I specialize in are:

Residential Hands-On Organizing: De-cluttering and organizing garages, storage lockers, closets, bedrooms, kitchens, kids rooms and home offices just to name a few. I can also support and encourage you with space planning, closet design and storage solutions. And then there are the projects of sorting and organizing memorabilia and photos. Basically if it has anything to do with organizing, I do it.

Other services I provide are: time management, goal setting, packing and moving and productivity coaching.

I also conduct seminars, workshops and keynote speaking engagements.

Do you belong to a networking group, a women’s business group, business professional organization or any other association that you feel might enjoy hearing top organizing tips?

If so, please fill in the comment box below or send me an email at rowena@gettingittogether.ca. Let me know who you would like me to speak to. We can discuss topics that would best suit your organizations needs.

If you are not in the “Getting it Together” community, add your email address to the right. You’ll get instant access to a free ebook that outlines a simple 10-day plan for organizing 10 different areas of your home in 15 minutes or less.

By Rowena List|2020-06-07T20:52:42+00:00October 14th, 2013|Home Organization, Organizer, Organizing to Move, Self Care Organization, Time Management|2 Comments

A Cluttered Life – how is it affecting your relationships?

Have you ever been out with a friend or been in a business meeting and known that the other person is not giving you their undivided attention?

Or you were talking to someone on the phone and you know darn well they are not paying attention.

How does this make you feel? Have you ever been caught on the other end of the stick?

Multitasking does not pay off.

How can you stay engaged and focused when you have a cluttered mind or a cluttered life?

Check out this short video:

Did you know the mind can only focus on one thought at a time?

I was having a big meeting the other day. The person I was with had their phone on the table. Each time it buzzed beeped moved or shook she looked. These little interruptions make our would- have-been 30 minute meeting into 45 minutes. You think not so bad only an extra 15 minutes however, that all adds up. Not to mention I did not feel important or special. I was wanting to hire this person for one of my clients. Would they give my client their undivided attention?

Could this multitasking cost you a job? Could this multitasking be costing you a loving relationship? Could this multitasking be giving you a cluttered mind or a cluttered life?

A doctor was telling me that her nine year old daughter will ask her “mommy where did you just go” when she sees her mom lose attention or disengage. Imagine a nine-year-old being tuned into that. Her precious nine year old mind is not cluttered and hopefully she does not have a cluttered life.

Why not give these top 5 tips on a cluttered life a try.

Tip #1: Start by dedicating your full attention. Relationships are built on trust and you earn trust by listening and proving you are interested. If you cannot do this then rebook your time with them.

Tip#2: Turn off your phone, computer, etc. when you are in the company of others. Especially business meetings and family time.

Tip #3: Focus by really concentrating on the other person’s words. Listen to them instead of thinking about what you might say next.

Tip #4: Clear your mind of other thoughts prior to a meeting or prior to family time, by taking a few deep breaths or listening to your favorite tunes.

Tip #5: Don’t answer your phone unless you can give your full attention to the person on the other end.

Is a cluttered life hurting your relationships? Are you able to give your full attention to the person you are with? Are you able to turn off work when you get home and hang out with your kids?

Do you need to take a few minutes to change “hats?” If so, you will want to take those few minutes.

In the long run people remember how you made them feel. They do not always remember your words or actions.

Everyone has an invisible sign hanging around their neck that reads “make me feel important”…even you.

By Rowena List|2020-06-07T20:52:43+00:00September 13th, 2013|Organizer, Self Care Organization, Time Management|3 Comments

A Cluttered Life – what is hiding in your box?

Has this ever happened to you?

You moved from one home to another.

Prior to the move, you decide to downsize, purge and toss. You have the best of intentions. You start off in one room. Before long you are getting distracted and losing focus. All of a sudden the phone rings with a better offer on the other end. You know what I mean. You decide the better idea would be to just simply pack everything and toss/clear out the clutter when you unpack in your new pad.

Check out this short video on a cluttered life:

Fast forward.

You are in your new living space. Time goes by.

There is a box or two sitting on the sidelines. What are your thoughts each time you pass that box? Maybe you even kick it out of the way. Are you saying “I must empty the box.” “What is in that box anyway?” These thoughts are causing mind clutter.

The other day I was working with a client and such a box appeared. It had been neatly, well actually not so neatly, packed 26 years ago. One of those last-minute tossing in and go boxes. Upon opening the box we discovered unopened greeting cards from her second wedding anniversary. Inside one card was a crisp new 26 year old $20 bill. Bingo!! Let’s open all the cards. Another envelope had a cheque from her grandmother for $75. How come the grandma never questioned her out of balance bank account for 26 years? Conscious or subconscious, this box has been weighing heavy on my clients mind. Thinking about it and worrying about it takes up precious time. Not to mention paying to have it moved and storing it in the garage.

Here are my top 3 tips to helping you with a cluttered life and how to de-clutter it.

Tip #1: Take the 15 minutes to do it right. Instead of tossing things into a box simply take the 15 minutes to deal with the stuff you are about to dump into that box. Book those 15 minutes with yourself like it is a client appointment. Put this appointment right in your calendar. It is a date with yourself and the box.

Tip#2: Set up piles for keep, shred, toss, recycle or donate. Handle each piece of paper once or each item once. Putting it in one of those piles. The key factor here is to stay focused on that one task for 15 minutes. That one box. Turn off the phone, email indicator, close the door, do whatever it takes. Just think how clear your mind will feel once you have emptied that box.

Do you have more than one such box? If so, handle one box at a time in 15 minute increments.

Tip#3: Once you have your piles, you need to deal with them. The toss and recycle piles are the easiest. Donate is easy if you remember to put the items in your car and drop them off at your local charity. Shred is straight forward. Get your kids to do that for you if they are old enough or you can do it while watching TV. The keep pile is where the rubber meets the road. Take each item and deal with that item. Does it need to be filed? Does it need to be put away? Do you need to set up a system for some items?

You will be surprised at how fast you move if you have the 15 minute timer on and stay focused.

We are humans and take the path of least resistance. You do not want to do this when it comes to your boxes. In the long run it will save you so much grief and stress. Kiss a cluttered life goodbye.

By Rowena List|2020-06-07T20:52:43+00:00September 2nd, 2013|Home Organization, Organizer, Organizing to Move|0 Comments

Do You Need to Hire a Professional Organizer?

Are you suffering from too much stuff in too small a space, too much stuff in a large space or simply too much stuff?

Do you have trouble locating important information in your office?

Can you find what you are looking for without getting stressed out?

Do you lose your keys, phone, eye glasses or kids?

Do you need to hire a professional organizer?

Check out this video to see.

Ask yourself these questions:

Have you ever thought “there has got to be a better way to manage all your papers”?
Is it a challenge for you and your family to get out the door on time each morning?
Are you feeling overwhelmed?
What is your stress level? Would you like it lower?
Are you embarrassed to have friends or family over?
How would you feel if the neighbours dropped in unexpectedly?
Does it take you more than 20 seconds to find what you are looking for?
Would you like systems?
Would you like your kids to be more organized?

If you answered “YES” to any of these questions, it might be time to hire a professional organizer.

I know of a really great one! 😀

I will encourage, support and empower you with moving forward in getting organized and staying clutter free. I will support and encourage you with the purging of stuff. Most importantly I will give you your life back.

Let me know what area in your home is bugging you the most. Leave your bug list in the comment box below. I will give you a tip to get started right away with getting and staying clutter free.

Have you taken advantage of your FREE session yet?

If not then please ease on over HERE and let’s get started today.

We can discuss if you need to hire a professional organizer, or if you need some productivity coaching sessions or maybe you need just a little pep talk.

Either way I am here to support, encourage and empower you with moving forward.

By Rowena List|2020-06-07T20:52:43+00:00August 6th, 2013|Home Organization, Organizer, Organizing to Move, Self Care Organization, Tax Organization, Time Management, Travel Organization|2 Comments

A Stress Free Organized Move

Are you getting ready for a move? Do you dream of a stress free organized move? Would you like support from the experts? How would you like to be really on top of things?

Here are my top 5 tips to a Stress Free Organized Move:

Tip#1: Hire movers. Gone are the days of trying to do everything yourself. Gone are the days of a case of beer and a bunch of your guy friends. They are all too concerned with their backs now. You are busy. Your friends and family are busy. Professional movers have all the right boxes, packing supplies, dollies and manpower. They can get you packed and moved quickly and efficiently. If something breaks they cover it. If it is pouring with rain they get wet. Professional movers are worth every penny. I know of some great ones.

Tip#2: Pack a suitcase. Pretend you are going on a 2 week camping vacation. Prior to the movers arriving, pack a suitcase with clothes, your kid’s favorite toy or doll, towels, exercise attire, toiletries and a good book. This saves you time searching in your boxes for some much needed necessities. Be sure to keep a set of sheets handy along with a place setting for each member of the family. Have a box that is labeled “open me first.” You can arrive at your new home, set up the beds, have something to eat off of and have clean clothes in the morning.

Tip#3: Start early. How long have you lived in the place you are moving from? Clutter does not happen overnight, so therefore it is not cleared overnight. There may be several items to donate, sell or give away before you move. This all takes time. One comment I hear often is “I’ll sort and purge once I move into my new place.” I hate to be the one to burst your bubble but most people NEVER get around to doing that. Do you have any unpacked boxes in your house? People seem to underestimate how long it takes to pack up a house or condo. Start early by packing non seasonal clothing, china, books and any other items that are not needed day to day. Let the movers do the rest.

Tip#4: Pack a cooler. On moving day pack a cooler filled with must have food items. Have snacks for the kids, movers and yourself. Remember some of your favorite drinks as well. Grab a bottle of Champagne. You are going to want to celebrate your stress free organized move. Ask a friend to bring over pizza or a casserole to your new home. I had a friend do this and it was a life saver. It also made me stop and take five. We had a very casual fun dinner. They helped unpack for dessert.

Tip#5: Hire an organizer. This is really the most important part of your move. You will want to do all the sorting and purging long before your moving day. Did you know a professional organizer will support you in a stress free organized move? You will save time, energy and most importantly, money. You will only move items you love, need and use. Unpacking will be a dream.

Call today for a FREE 30 minute phone consultation.

We will discuss more tips on how to have a stress free organized move.

We will also discuss your move and provide the support you might need. Click here.

By Rowena List|2020-06-07T20:52:43+00:00July 22nd, 2013|Home Organization, Organizer, Organizing to Move|0 Comments

Organizing your closet

Do you have cleaning supplies in one area, your vacuum in another, and your broom in yet another?

Would you like to have everything in one place? Ya, who wouldn’t?

Are you lucky enough to have a hall closet that can be used for all your cleaning supplies and equipment?

If so, please take a quick moment to watch this video on organizing your closet

. I trust you will get a few tips to help you out.

Here are a few other simple tips to follow to organizing your closet.

Tip 1. Be sure to only keep household cleaning supplies that you like and use. I made the purchasing mistake of a Swiffer vacuum. My girlfriend swears by hers. I used it a few times and did not like the results. It is time to pass it on with love. There is no need keeping items in your closet that you simply move to one side every time you need the vacuum or broom.

Tip 2. Pair down cleaning supplies. Keep what you use, need and like. Good old fashion white vinegar does the trick for most cleaning jobs. This cuts down on the number of items you need in your closet and the number of chemicals. I like the idea of keeping a small supply of cleaning supplies under each sink in the home. That way if you want to quickly clean a bathroom you have the items right there.

Tip 3. Have a limit on the number of rags you keep. I have a small basket. Once it is full that is my limit. The interesting thing about homes it that we are always accumulating more rags. You know the odd left out sock, the tea towel that has seen better days or a t-shirt that is full of holes.

Did you know it takes 40% less time to clean an organized home? If you have a housekeeping service come in that will save you money. If you are the housekeeper, that will give you extra time to relax, play with the kids, go to a movie or have a relaxing bath. Some people like the idea of cleaning one area of your home per day. Others like the idea of cleaning the whole home in one day.

What works best for you? Please leave your comments in the box below.

Have you had your free session?

This would be the perfect time for us to discuss organizing your closet.

. Together we can come up with a solution as to the best way to organize your cleaning supplies.

Head on over HERE for all the details.

By Rowena List|2020-06-07T20:52:43+00:00July 8th, 2013|Home Organization, Organizer|0 Comments

How to Have an Organized Garden

Do you like to garden?

Do you find it takes more time than you can give it?

Has your garden gotten out of control?

Most of you know I am new to gardening. My goal is to keep my garden compact, neat and organized. My other goal is to garden and not get dirty! That goal is almost impossible to keep. Like most gardeners I find it very relaxing, quiet and therapeutic. There is also a great learning curve when it comes to plants and the garden.

Please take a minute to watch this short video on how to have an organized garden.

Here are my top 3 tips on how to have an organized garden:

Tip#1: Keep your garden compact. Every section of your garden does not have to have a plant in it. (Just like every cupboard in your kitchen does not have to be filled.) Some empty dirt spaces make your garden look more organized. You can see the individual plants and it gives them space to grow. I like to use hanging baskets. This keeps your herbs compact and easy to reach. As mentioned in the video be sure to keep mint in a pot or it will take over. I love picking the mint and making tea or adding it to cold water in the summer time. I also like hanging flower baskets. They add a splash of colour and are easy to maintain.

Tip#2: Take time to trim back. As a new gardener I got some help on this one. Twice a year we have a company come in and they trim back all the bushes, plants and trees. This seems to keep things under control. It makes weekly maintenance a little easier as well. As you experienced gardeners know, it does not take long for a garden to get out of control. In Vancouver Canada we have enough rain to make any garden lush.

Tip#3: Have a plan that you can adjust. Most people inherit a garden with the purchase of their home or townhome. The previous owners may or may not have had a plan. Now you need to add to that plan or start a new plan. Gardening can be pricy, so chances are you will add to the already excising plan. Look at magazines or other people’s garden for ideas. Consult local garden centres or expert gardeners. The one thing I find with gardeners (not me since I do not know enough!) is they are willing to share their knowledge. Gardeners are a happy group of people. If your garden is too much for you to care for, adjust your plan.

This is just a very small example of how to have an organized garden.

There is so much more to gardening then meets the eye. I’ll share more tips in future articles. In the meantime, if you have an awesome organizing garden tip please share it in the box below. Your comments are always welcome. Hey, maybe I’ll learn a great gardening tip from YOU.

Have you taken advantage of your FREE 30 minute call yetl? Soon the gardening gloves will be put away for the winter and the rubber gloves will be put on for some overdue “spring” clearing. I know how it works. The inside of the home gets neglected when the sun is out and the garden is calling your name. In our call I’ll give you 2 quick tips on getting back into the swing of things with keeping your home organized. To take advantage of this FREE call, click here.

By Rowena List|2020-06-07T20:52:43+00:00June 24th, 2013|Home Organization, Organizer|0 Comments

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