I’m almost too embarrassed to tell you why I now need to wear an apron the next time I organize and not just any apron one with pockets.

The old me would have kept an embarrassing story like this under wraps. But since we’re friends, we’re friends right? Since we’re friends I’ll tell all…

Last evening I got the organizing bug. Has that ever happened to you? Where you just have to straighten stuff? I was on a mission to purge!

I’m a fan of striking when the iron is hot- so I got to work. Moving tubs of clothing, swapping stuff and trying not to get too sidetracked looking through a box of memorabilia (stay tuned more photos from that box to come.)

In the midst of my organizing frenzy I made the mistake of answering the phone. Then I made the bigger mistake of putting the phone down.

It wasn’t until today that I realized the phone was missing.

I pushed the “find” button on the base. Nothing.

I called my house phone from my cell phone. Nothing.

Then it hit me. The last time I used the phone was during the great organizing blitz of May 2012. Which could only mean one thing. The one would be found in one of the many bins I’d sorted through.

That’s when the great phone recovery mission of May 2012 began.

Fifteen minutes later the phone was recovered, wheww! And that’s why the next time I act on my urge to organize I’ll be wearing an apron with pockets. And why I’ll try my best to slip the phone into one of the pockets instead of simply putting it down.

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What if this time you actually followed through on your promise to take action on your goal of getting more organized?
Following through on your bite size goal requires these three things:
1.    Small consistent steps
2.    Accountability
3.    Support

So without those three things it’s no wonder that in the past things may not have worked out as planned.

But today that’s going to change!

Today is the first day of your 18 day challenge.

Eighteen days is a perfect amount of time, long enough to see a difference but short enough to maintain momentum.

Don’t put this off, here’s how to jump in today:
1.    Post your bite size goal here where you can read what others are working on
2.    Set your timer for 18 minutes and take your first bite size step today
3.    Post your success so you can track your progress and so we can cheer you on

Then repeat for 18 days. Yes, it is that easy!

Click here to post what you’re going to work on first.

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Have you ever had one of those weeks where you have a lot going on and you have to remember a lot?
You might be saying, “Yes Jamie, every week is like that!”
I know that feeling. But some weeks like before a holiday, vacation, or event you have even more to remember.
Welcome to my week. As you’ve probably heard this coming Sunday April 22nd at the Roy Smith Theater in Cranford, NJ I’ll present my new program “60 Minutes to a Happier and More Organized You!”
I’m nervous about forgetting to bring something with me, like my books, so I’ve been making lists upon lists. Then I remembered another trick I have for remembering things, tell me what you think about this:
Designate a single place like a shelf, basket or box as the one and only place to put stuff you’ll need.
Before Easter I tossed goodies into a small box which I then used when filling the baskets.
Before a vacation as I find things I want to take, like a small hair dryer, I toss them into a laundry basket. When I pack the suitcase I check the laundry basket. Items, like a toothbrush, that I use every day, I leave myself a reminder note to pack.
This week, in advance of Sunday’s big event, I’ve designated a single shelf as the one place to put things I need to take with me. Like a lint roller- if you’ve seen Holly you know why. And for the bigger things like cases of books I simply left myself a reminder note.
The best part is with a single place to store stuff we can have more confidence that we’ll remember it and we can stop keeping long mental lists!

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Are you tired of piles accumulating on flat surfaces throughout your home?

If you are ready to see the top of your dining room table, your kitchen counter and your office floor again then you need the Pile Preventer™
This revolutionary product installs in one single step. Just unroll the thin, clear, flexible Pile Preventer™ covering onto any flat surface in your home; then relax and wait for the Pile Preventer™ to start working.

Whenever someone puts something down on top of the patented Pile Preventer™ the signal is activated and you’ll hear an ear piercing alarm until the item is lifted off the covering.

For just $999.99 plus S&H the Pile Preventer™ can be yours. Act now! This is a limited time offer. And of course this item doesn’t really exist although I bet we wish it did. Happy April Fool’s Day!

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Could you use more space in your kitchen today without going through a major overhaul? Then you are in luck! I’ve got three 3-minute ideas to get you more space today.

Try one of these bite size ideas:

1. Remove a single large item you rarely use. I moved out a gigantic slow cooker. I tend to use it more over the winter for comfort foods. But during the spring I use the grill a lot more which means that slow cooker is out of here.

I placed it in a clearly labeled box and placed the box in the garage. But I also placed a reminder on my September calendar to get the cooker out of storage and I wrote a note so I know just where I put it.

2. Use a dishrack. But not for the clean dishes instead use it in the cabinet to keep pot lids upright. Imagine how much space you can save when you don’t have a pile of lids threatening to topple over.

3. Embrace reality. Let go of the artisan bread machine if you are not making bread. Pass along specialty cooking tools that are too much trouble to clean. Share your duplicate utensils with someone who will use them today.

No need to sort through it all, just pick one for today and it will make a big difference.

Congratulations, you now have more space in your kitchen.

Bonus tip: The Utensil Drawer

Not sure which utensils you use? Dump them all in a box then every time you use one this week put it away in the drawer. At the end of the week you’ll have a clear picture of which items you use.

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oh and a red or green light bulb, swap out a light for an instant holiday look plus it hides stuff you might not want guests to notice.

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I can’t tell you how many times I’ve needed to push that little tiny button to reset some device, a pen is too large and I’ve bent more than one earring post, so now I have my very own restart button pusher!

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If you’re like most of us you have a stack of recipes you’ve clipped and saved but never prepared. Well today is your lucky day.

The first of every month we’re trying a new recipe and sharing the results.

Ready! Shop! Cook! and try that recipe already…

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If you’re like most of us you have a stack of recipes you’ve clipped and saved but never prepared. Well today is your lucky day.

The first of every month we’re trying a new recipe and sharing the results.

Ready! Shop! Cook! and try that recipe already…

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Is there any better smell than hot buttered popcorn? I think not!

Although I’m not still not sure why the Jelly Belly company felt it necessary to make a hot buttered popcorn jellybean, that’s just wrong, but that’s another story.

I can still remember watching my Mom bring the popcorn maker out of the kitchen cabinet. She’d set it up on the counter top.

She’d lift me up to pour the kernels into the machine. Then she’d plug it in and the whirling noise would begin.

Mom would slide the big yellow bowl under the spout and we’d wait.

I was anxious for that first pop and even though I was expecting that first burst it would startle me. Then the popping would really get going. Pop, pop, pop…pop, pop, pop.

I seem to remember a little something called the popcorn dance. My own personal dance set in time to the musical popcorn popping.

That big yellow bowl would fill up quickly and a few wayward kernels would shoot past the bowl, I got to eat those first.

The butter would melt in that little top cup and when the popping stopped we’d salt and butter the popcorn.

Then we’d cozy up on the couch and dig in- good times!

Turns out October is National Popcorn Popping Month which means it’s time to dig out the popcorn machine and get poppin’.

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I was so excited to show you a photo of my new kitchen strainer!

Yes I know I’m weird that way, I get excited about kitchen gadgets and would pick a trip to the office supply store over a trip to Coach any day.

But back to the problem at hand- this morning I finally replaced my well worn kitchen strainer also known as a colander with an amazing new footed version. But now the strainer has gone MIA.

I’m adding a photo to a missing poster now- updates will be posted as soon as they become available.

UPDATE

The missing strainer poster was a success! The strainer has been located- sadly it was found being used to clean the river rocks from the bottom of the fish tank. Don’t ask.

Apparently I must learn to speak more clearly when asked for a strainer. Silly me I just assumed THAT person would take the old one and not rip the packaging off what was clearly a new one only to dump stinky, smelly rocks into it.

The good news is I get to shop for a new strainer and that store is next to the office supply store- I see a new pack of highlighters in my future.

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I’m not sure which is scarier…the fact that this random wheel just appeared on the carpet or the fact that no one in the house  has mentioned they’re missing a wheel.

First random wheels then who knows what! Frankly I’m a little afraid of what might show up next.

Which got me to thinking- am I the only one with unclaimed random items just appearing out of the blue?

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If you’re like most of us you have a stack of recipes you’ve clipped and saved but never prepared. Well today is your lucky day.

The first of every month we’re trying a new recipe and sharing the results.

Ready! Shop! Cook! and try that recipe already…

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Blame it on the salt rock lamp, really.

It all started the other morning, it was unexpectedly humid and I noticed my Himalayan Crystal Rock Salt Lamp was dripping. Normally this wouldn’t be a big deal, I always have the lamp on a small plate which I can easily rinse. However this day was a little different, the plate was askew.

That means instead of the salt drips conveniently collecting on the plate they were running off the edge of the plate and all over the top of the bookcase.

In all honestly that bookcase was in a need of a good dusting and what better time?

So I cleared off the items, wiping them down as I went. I washed the plate and then inspiration struck! With the bookcase now clear I could easily move it to the other side of the room- something I’d been thinking about but was never motivated to actually do it.

I slid the bookcase across the room but that left an empty looking wall. That empty wall was perfect for the fish tank but before I could move a fish tank I’d need to empty out the water (just in case you’re ever on Jeopardy and they ask 1 gallon of water weighs about 8 pounds so my 55 gallon tank- well you do the math.)

So out came the tube to drain the tank water- after all the tank could use a good cleaning.

With the tank empty I slid it to the empty wall but then the television looked out of place, so I needed to move that which meant I had to adjust the position of the couch. Moving the couch made the are rug have to move and then I realized all the wall art that had been centered was not so centered any more.

This went on and on and on…

I found things I’d forgotten I had like a cake board for my cake creations. And I found things I wish I never had like a killer dust bunny.

It is almost five days later and I still have piles that need to be put away. Turns out thanks to the dripping salt rock lamp I got the motivation I needed to get the job started, now I’m just waiting for the inspiration to get the job done!

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Dear Catalog Company,

I have a question, why do you continue to mail me catalogs after you’ve already told me “this will be my last catalog unless I order?”

Really that just feels like a false promise. I’m banking on the fact you’ll stop sending these unwanted catalogs, yet more are shoved into my mailbox!

Fondly,
Jamie “her recycling bag is breaking her back” Novak

Here’s the back story:

At a summer BBQ I was smitten by the floating lily pad lights in the hostess’ koi pond. When I complimented her she showed me the catalog where she ordered them. I quickly jotted down the website and when I got home I made the mistake of ordering a catalog of my own.

Since then my mailbox has been bombarded by catalogs from this company. But that’s not all, apparently this company thought since I’d requested their catalog they’d take the liberty of giving selling my name and address to multiple other companies.

These companies have taken it upon themselves to mail me their catalogs too!

Enough already, I cry Uncle

If you’re being assaulted by unwanted catalogs you can get off the mailing lists at catalogchoice.org

And here are those lily lights that started it all!

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I’m doing it. I’m clearing out my CD collection. Most of the music I listen to is in digital format- the proof is in the layer of dust on my CD’s.

I traded in a few on Amazon.com for instant account credit, but others I decided to pass along to people I know who would appreciate them.

After I stuck a note onto this case I slid it into a padded envelope, wrote the address on the outside, marked it media mail, and added a few stamps.

I knew Serena “yoga teacher extraordinaire” would enjoy the CD so you can imagine how silly I felt when she called me a few days later.

The phone rang.

I saw Serena’s phone number and assumed she was calling to thank me for the CD.

But here’s how the call really went down:

“Hello?”

“Hi Jamie, it’s Serena.”

“Hey, how are you?”

“Fantastic!” (She’s annoyingly ALWAYS fantastic.) “Listen I wanted to thank you for thinking of me and sending that CD, Tracy is one of my favorites.”

“I’m so glad, I thought you might enjoy it.”

“Well I would, if the CD had been in the case, but it isn’t there.”

“Hmmm, really?”

“Yep.”

“Wait let me check my player.”

I hit the eject button and the lid lifted revealing, you guessed it, the CD that was supposed to be in the case!

Yep I sent her an empty case:

Note to self: check the case BEFORE you send the CD.

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Have you ever had one of those ideas that under the cover of night sounds absolutely brilliant but then in the glare of the morning sun you realized it wasn’t your best idea? That’s exactly what happened the other evening when an infomercial came on the TV.

The petite, bubble host asked me if I wanted to feel better. Yes!

Did I want to look better? Sure!

Would I like a portable option that was also fun? Absolutely!

A few days later this box arrived at my doorstep.

Carefully I cut the box open…

Under the air filled padding…

My portable, fun, answer was revealed!

A hoola-hoop! What was I thinking???

Eight segments needed to  be snapped together. This must be the portability the host was talking about. Where exactly I’ll tote my hoop to I’m not sure…

Each piece has a hole for the button to be secured into…

Snap times eight…

And my hoop is ready to go. How difficult could this be? Like child’s play right?

I’ll spare you the pictures of my lame attempts. Three spins and drops later I realized this weighted hoop is no joke.

Now I’m determined to get this thing going like the actors on that infomercial.

And I can’t be held responsible if the next time I turn on the TV late at night because I can’t sleep they’re advertising a trapeze for my yard.

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Today I had every intention of writing an article about organizing paperwork. I had a great opening line and a few new tips to share.

However Holly had every intention of sitting on my lap at the desk and resting her head on my keyboard.

Since I couldn’t reach the keys I couldn’t type the best article ever.

So if your paper pile is tall enough to topple or your not sure which papers you need to keep blame Holly

Luckily before she took over the keyboard I’d already put the finishing touches on the Best Paper Course Ever which you can read about here.

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Credit: Warner Bros. The Ellen Show

Not that long ago I shared a few of Betty White’s thoughts on getting organized. I’m thrilled to say Betty is not the Hollywood Star who has thoughts on organizing, Ellen DeGeneres calls herself “neat” and talks about getting organized in her new book Seriously…I’m kidding!

Ellen spills secrets about all the clutter her Mama pad to have wrapped, packed and moved; things like a 1953 colander.

I believe what Ellen says is true: it’s freeing. So what item will you be freeing yourself from today?

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Today is National acorn squash day and if I’d had one I would have made an acorn squash dish. But I didn’t. I had a spaghetti squash, so I made Martha Stewart’s Roasted Shrimp with Spaghetti Squash. It was remarkably quick and easy to make, slice then bake the squash. Broil the shrimp and you’re done! It tasted wonderful, like something you’d order from the ‘daily specials’ menu at your favorite restaurant. You can probably guess I like squash- do you? If so what’s your favorite dish?

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If you’re like most of us you have a stack of recipes you’ve clipped and saved but never prepared. Well today is your lucky day.

The first of every month we’re trying a new recipe and sharing the results.

Ready! Shop! Cook! and try that recipe already…

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A 5.9 magnitude earthquake based in Virginia sent tremors from the nation’s capital to New York City and New England Tuesday afternoon. Events like these remind me that we all need a home inventory.

If you need to leave your home or if your home suffers damage you’ll have a record for the insurance company. I teamed up with Collectify- I have a few simple steps to create your own inventory.

And if you’re thinking, “But Jamie I don’t own expensive art – why do I need to have an inventory?” But think about this- if you had to replace just 1 week’s worth of outfits and the bath towels what would you spend? $400? $500? That would come out of your pocket if you didn’t inventory it!

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Mistake #1

Not shopping at home first. We can be too quick to head to the store. This year before you get in the car try shopping from home. Chances are you already own most of what you need.

Mistake #2

Not swap shopping. You may not need 12 spiral notebooks, but you buy them anyway since the bulk deal is a steal. Your neighbor is buying 24 pens for the same reason. If you get together, split the list then divide the items you’ll save big!

Mistake #3

Not creating a supplies bin. You’ll get more than you need right now. But in a few short months you’ll need the extras, but will you be able to find them? You will if you toss them in a bin labeled “school supplies” then you can shop from home.

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See the 90 second video here

Today I’ll show you how to take the guess-work out of the most difficult part of getting things done: knowing where to start or what to do first.

First, you’ll need a common item, a pair of dice from a board game.

Next you’ll write a numbered list of tasks you need to get done. For example: clean out purse, write thank you notes, call insurance company, de-clutter kitchen utensil drawer…you get the idea, right?

Then (you probably guessed this part) you’ll roll the dice.

The number that comes up is the task you do.

See- zero guesswork! A two means you tackle #2 on your list. No re-rolls, that’s cheating!

A total bonus is this sort of makes it fun, almost game-like and this is a perfect way to motivate family members.

Keep the list handy so you can easily add tasks and cross off the completed ones; tape the list to the inside of a kitchen cabinet door. I keep the dice in the nearby junk drawer.

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You know that Kitchen Aid mixer taking up space in your kitchen cabinet? That mixer can make you $20. today! Seriously.

And no need to invest in a Kitchen Aid mixer to make that one cake one time a year, instead you can rent one.

There is a new trend taking place and it is to rent your stuff or space- so once you de-clutter your basement you can rent some space.

Here are the top three renting websites SnapGoods.com, StoreAtMyHouse.com, and SingleSpotCamping.com.

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When summer began on June 21st what did you plan on getting done? You had big plans right? Summer is half over, that means we still have half a summer to get stuff done! So what do you want to be sure happens before Autumn begins on September 23rd?

Get it on the calendar and make it happen. You still have plenty of time for summer fun!

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If you’re like most of us you have a stack of recipes you’ve clipped and saved but never prepared.Well today is your lucky day.

The first of every month we’re trying a new recipe and sharing the results.

Ready! Shop! Cook! and try that recipe already…

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The Smurf Movie hits theaters tomorrow and for those of you that read my newest book Stop Throwing Money you know what that means!

It is time to dig through those boxes of old toys to find anything Smurf to sell- think Ebay, Facebook Marketplace or even a yard sale.

As a kid I had the little figures (see the image of Papa Smurf below) and I know there are still some in boxes somewhere. Today is the day to find them and put them up for sale. Anything hot in the movies is a hot seller online. So Smurf to it!

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I love bookstores, I’ve been known to get lost inside a bookstore for hours. That’s why I’m sad to say goodbye to one of my favorites, Borders.

Whenever a store announces it will be closing I automatically think, “Do I have any unused gift cards?”

If so usually they must be used by a specific date, so do you have a Borders card sitting in a pile? If so you know what to do!

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Did you read this headline? “A collection of Chinese cups at the Tulsa stop Saturday of “Antiques Roadshow” was the most valuable find in the appraisal show’s 16 years. Their value? $1 million to $1.5 million!

Articles like these get us all to wondering what valuables we might have boxed away in our closets and attics. But just how valuable is a collection of TV Guide’s?

Here’s three ways you can find out:

1. Log onto eBay.com and search to buy the item you own, you’ll come up with active listings (items still available to buy) which help you to see current interest in the item as well as any closed listings (the item is no longer available to buy because it either sold or the auction ended before the item sold) where you can see what the items actually sold for, if it sold.

2. If you need expert help check out Appraisers Association of America at appraisers.org or appraisersassoc.org. Most items have their own specialty appraisers’ organization like baseball cards, coins, dolls and quilts so search for your category and the word “appraiser” to find the specific association.

3. Head to the air-conditioned library. Pop over to the reference section where your friendly Reference Librarian can direct you to the appraisal guides to see what your item is actually worth.

The top three reasons why your collection may not be worth all you think it should be:

1.Too common. Just because it was given a number or signed does not make it special. If the market is flooded with quantity it’s not worth a lot. That Snuggie you couldn’t resist ordering from a late night infomercial, even sealed in its original package is worth a little less than you paid and if you don’t have the free book light that came with it forget breaking even.

2.Too personalized. You might not think so but buyers find personalization less viable. While an autograph signed to your uncle is great a simple signature is far greater.

3. Too damaged. To an untrained eye it might be impossible to detect subtle imperfections done to an item in storage. But it happens, collections not kept in cool and dry areas risk damage due to exposure to sunlight, moisture, and temperature fluctuations.

So this week I’m going to check the value of my antique ring how about you?

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You’ve heard the story of the woman who had a tarnished ashtray stuffed in a box up in her attic that ended up being worth a million dollars, right? And none of us wants to be THAT person, the one who gives away a candlestick that ends up being valued at a few thousand dollars.

And we all know the who keeps every issue of The TV Guide and National Geographic because they think they’ll be valuable one day. Maybe that’s you

So we keep the items, just in case they’re valuable. We fear making a wrong choice. I’m not talking about sentimental value, that’s a conversation for another day. I mean monetary value.

Trouble is we plan to research their value later and well- later never comes. So we end up with boxes of stuff that may or may not be worth keeping.

Today is the day to take a bite out of potentially valuable items- pick one and research the value so you can make an informed decision about what to do with the item. Ready? Set? Research!

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1. Pack an empty tote bag to carry back souvenirs.
2. Pack an empty laundry bag to collect dirty laundry.
3. Call ahead to where you are staying to see what services and amenities they offer. If they have a hair dryer or iron, you won’t have to pack one.
4. Seal things that can spill in Ziploc bags.
5. Pack essentials in the carry on in case your luggage is lost like medications, toothbrush, and a change of clothes.
6. Pack multi-use items like a pair of black pants that you can pair with a T-shirt for a casual look or with a sequin top for a dressier style.
7. Pack mini versions of items like toothpaste or use samples.
8. Pick out what you plan to pack—then put 50 percent of it back.
9. Create a master list of the items you pack and then store it in your luggage to reuse the next time you travel.
10. Tie a ribbon or a bright strand of material to your bag so it will stand out from the crowd of other suitcases.
11. Take a picture of your luggage in case it is lost. This will make it easier for airport personnel to locate it.
12. Pack half your clothing in one suitcase and half of someone else’s that way if one is lost you each still have something.
13. Ask someone to check in on your home (look for broken water pipes, a back puffing oil burner, etc.) and restock the basics in your refrigerator before you come home.
14. Pack your passport, tickets, and small bills for tipping in a small bag you’ll slip around your neck.

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1. Turn off appliances and unplug them in every room.

2. Set up automatic timers so your lights will go on and off.

3. Trim the trees back so windows can easily be seen.

4. Lock the door and garage doors.

5. Ask neighbors to be on the look out. Give them a key and your itinerary.

6. Have your lawn mowed while you are away.

7. Ask neighbor to park in your driveway so it looks like someone is home.

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Frigidaire Unit as seen on Amazon.com

It’s HOT! With most of the county experiencing a heat wave – many of us in triple digits I thought you might be interested to learn three ways getting more organized can keep you cool and save you money on your energy bill at the same time!

1. Post a reminder note near the ceiling fan switch of how to reverse the blades.

Did you know a ceiling fan will lower the temperature in the room by 5 degrees? Turns out when the blades rotate in a ‘reverse’ counter-clockwise motion they create a cooling breeze. When they blow downward they’re actually blowing the hot air that rose onto you- that’s the last thing you want to do!

So you can save money on your cooling costs by not having the A/C on as much if you reverse the blades pattern. Trick if you have to remember how to do it- which is why posting a reminder is the best way to go.

2. Clear the clutter away from the vents.

Recently I spoke with a repair technicition for a cooling compnay and he told me he estiamtes about 15% of his calls are unnesseay. Why? Because the homeowner calls to say the home is not as cool as it should be- when he arrives the repair tech diagnoses the problem as clutter blockign teh vent.

Nothing is wrong with the cooling unit other than the fact there is too much stuff blocking the vent so the cool air can’t flow. The bill to come and tell you to move the stuff – an average of $90.00!

So take a look around and move clutter, piles of books, and even furniture away from the vents.

3. Make pulling curtains shut a daily routine.

Adding a simple task like closing the window curtains and blinds may not seem like a big deal, but it is. Sunlight streaming though open windows heats your home and then you need to pay to cool it down.

These are my three ideas, tell me yous…

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Vacations are great but it can be a challenge to stay organized when you’re not in your own home. Try these tricks to keep it together so you have more time for fun!

1. Use a toiletry bag that unrolls and hangs from the back of a door to save counter space.

2. Pack a pop-up clothes hamper for dirty laundry.

3. Schedule time to set up your hotel room before you start your vacation. A little preparation saves you a lot of time looking for things.

4. Pack a spare duffle bag to carry home all the souvenirs. Write a list of who you want to buy gifts for and check them off as you buy them to avoid overbuying.

5. Schedule time to unpack once you arrive home.

6. Take five minutes before you leave your room for the day to tidy up so when you come back the room is how you want it.

7. Bring a collapsible set of shelves that hang from the rod in the closet. The extra space will be welcome.

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I needed a new shower curtain, I knew just the one I wanted and the best part was I had a gift card that would cover the cost!

On “errand” day AKA Wednesday I drove to the store, parked the car, walked to the bath department, picked out my shower curtain, got in line, checked out, got back in the car and that’s when I realized I’d done it again!

Can you guess what did I do?

Yep, I paid with cash instead of my gift card!

Now I still have a gift card to use but at least I have a new shower curtain and here are my clever re-uses for those shower curtain rings.

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I am the designated birthday cake maker in our family. Back in March I baked up these yummy cakes. This past weekend was my nephew W’s 3rd birthday. He’s into trucks and cars and things with wheels which meant I was making a car cake.

I started with the idea of a single car cake, but that didn’t seem good enough. After all he does like fire trucks too. So, I decided to go with two cakes, a car and a truck. But then creativity struck and the possibilities seemed endless…cars, trucks, bulldozers, trains and so on.

As you can clearly see I opted for seven (yes, 7!) individual cakes PLUS cake “boulders” otherwise known as cake pops sans the stick.

I realized I had to balance my unrealistic expectations, my impossible standards (that by the way I set for myself since W would love anything coating in icing) and I had to accept how the cakes turned out whether they looked like how I expected or not.

The cakes were delicious and his reaction was priceless.

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What if I told you there was a chance for you to save hundreds of dollars and it would only take you about two minutes?

Interesting, right?

No, we’re not selling any of our clutter on Ebay or hosting the World’s Largest Yardsale.

All you have to do is this:

Step 1 Pick up the phone and dial the 1-800 number on the back of your credit card

Step 2 Speak with a customer service representative

Step 3 Take note of all the benefits that come along with being a card member

For example, I found out about three benefits I didn’t know I had, check these out!

Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver—you have built-in coverage for collisions when you rent your vehicle with your Visa Business card.

Travel and Emergency Assistance Service—you’ve got 24/7 assistance for a wide variety of travel and emergency-related needs, including medical, legal, and transportation. Plus, emergency ticket replacement and lost luggage locator services are available should you need them.

$0 Fraud Liability—you’re protected from unauthorized charges.

In addition some of my cards offer:

• FREE museum passes
• 50% off gym memberships
• Price match guarantee on purchases
• Extended warranties on purchases
• Money off gasoline purchases
• Discounts on movie tickets
• and more…

You could sit with a magnifying glass and read the brochure that comes with your card or you can take the shortcut and call, either way just do it! It will just take a minute but it can save you thousands! I can’t wait to hear what benefits you have.

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Ready to relax? Vacations are great but planning them can be a little stressful. Try these seven tips to make your vacation planning a little easier. Then share your ideas by adding your own tips to the comments section below:

1. In one spiral bound notebook, collect ideas of where you want to stop and things you want to see while you are away.

2. Designate one area of your home as the packing zone—anything that needs to be packed should be put there.

3. Put a hold on mail delivery online at www.usps.com.

4. Use the day you return to catch up on mail and laundry—even if you have to tell everyone you’ll be back a day later than planned.

5. Stop your newspaper delivery.

6. Put an autoresponder on your email to alert people that you are on vacation.

7. Leave your itinerary with someone you trust and can call in an emergency.

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Today alone 16 pieces of junk mail arrived in my mailbox! A car dealer wants me to buy a new car, an insurance company wants me to switch coverage, and a  new gym wants me to join- – probably because they saw the peanut butter fudge ice cream in my cart at Target.

Seriously, I’ve opted out a few ways, still I’m bombarded and now I know why! Seems I overlooked a key way my name is added to junk mail databases, I give up my zip code too easily! Seriously!

Have you ever wondered why a store clerk will ask for your zip code? Honestly I thought it was to figure out where their customers live. But that’s not why! Here’s why!

So this week in an effort to eliminate junk mail let’s all agree to stop giving out our zip codes.

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Today I’ll share the best tip ever for getting motivated, ready? Here’s the answer.

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Getting your space back doesn’t have to be a big production, in fact there are many things you can do in just two minutes to make more space in your life today! Here are a few of my favorites, what are some of yours?

1. Return borrowed items.

2. Pile everything in need of repair in one place.

3. Pick things up off the floor.

4. Find fifteen things you can let go of and put them in your car to pass along to people who need them.

5. Take out the garbage and recycling.

6. Remove unmatched things, like single socks.

7. Take eight items from your wardrobe that are the wrong size or season.

8. Clear the top of a surface.

9. Stack all the reading material in one place.

10. Move one big item, the piece of exercise equipment you’ve been meaning to part with, like the crib your child has outgrown or a broken chair.

11. Toss anything associated with a bad memory (leg cast from an accident).

12. Toss out expired coupons or empty bags.

13. Remove purchases from the shopping bags they came home in.

14. Part with items that are stained, too broken to repair, or can’t be used, like socks with holes, a pair of pants once used to paint in, or pens without ink.

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Today, July 4th, is a National Holiday here in the United States. Many of us will celebrate the holiday with a BBQ, a trip to the beach, catching a baseball game, watching a parade, and of course seeing a fireworks display!

And I bet you’ll be snapping photos of all these fun times which will become lasting memories.

Trouble is once you snap the shot it can stay in the camera for a long time until you finally download it into the camera and then it is gone…tossed into a folder with all the other photos…

So at the end of the day today take two minutes to download those precious memories into a folder that you clearly label as “2011 July 4th” so you can search and find them again to relive the fun times all over again!

Happy 4th of July everyone!

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credit: Disney

If you’ve ever worked with a professional organizer you know we arrive at your home or office carrying a big bag of tricks. I often think of this like Mary Poppins’s endless carpet bag.

In case you’re wondering what all is in that bag here are the top ten items:

• Three sizes of plastic food storage bags. You can fit just about anything in them, and they’re easy to see through.
• Trash bags. Don’t forget to clearly label bags used for donations.
• Tape measure. This will help you avoid buying shelves or containers that won’t fit your space.
• Kitchen timer. This will help you succeed, 18 minutes at a time.
• Notebook and pen. Keep these in one place to record ideas, measurements and a list of things you need to replace in your clutter-busting kit. Also where you can jot down items as you toss them in the bag to give away so you have an accurate account for tax records or for making notes to yourself

• Shredder. Save time by shredding as you go, instead of making a pile to deal with later.
• Permanent marker. This is easier to read than pen or pencil, and it won’t fade over time.
• Sticky notes. These are great for everything from labeling temporary files to identifying which pile goes where.
• Clear tape. You’ll need this to attach signs to the sorting area so you know what’s to Keep, Donate or Toss.
• Camera for before and after photos. Nothing like the picture of progress – not to mention the mess of the past — to motivate you to keep up your organizing ways.
• Nail file and bandages. Even the most experienced organizers get hurt on the job.
• Cleaning wipes and dust rags. You can just imagine what you might find behind the file cabinet or desk.
• Rubber gloves. See above.
• List of local charities. This will make it easy to schedule pick-up or drop-off of items you want to donate.
• Music. The right tunes can help you maintain energy and increase the fun factor.
• Water and snacks. Music isn’t the only energy-booster. Having snacks handy also will prevent you from getting sidetracked on the way to the kitchen.
• An apron. You can wear it to keep supplies at hand because as you organize you’ll easily lose your pen under something else

• Pop-up Totes. A few pop up totes for sorting or carrying items

• Trash Bags. A bunch of trash bags well you know what those are for.

• A Label Maker. Just right for labeling just about everything that stands still long enough.

So now you too can make your own carpet bag of tricks which will save a ton of time. Instead of starting a project and having to put it on hold as you go in search of a marker or plastic bag, you’ll have one at your fingertips!

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You might not think of a paintbrush as being a necessary item in your car’s glove box. You might expect drinking straws, napkins, a flashlight or even the car manual. But a paintbrush? Yes!

A clean, soft bristle paintbrush is the perfect tool for brushing sand off your legs.

So if you have a beach trip in your future pack a paintbrush.

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When you leave something simmering on the back burner a little too long it can catch fire!

Today is the day to update a task you’ve left on the back burner just a little too long before it becomes a full blown emergency.

Here’s what I mean: let’s say you are a member of a book club and one of the members asked you to research a bunch of books to propose to the group as the next read. You accepted the task then promptly felt overwhelmed, some of these thoughts might cross your mind:

• How many books should you research?
• Did she want a written report?
• When did she want this by?
• How would you find the time?
• What if you did it wrong?
• What if it wasn’t what she expected?
• Will she be disappointed?
• Has it been so long now she’s upset?
• Should you place it in a report folder?
• If so where would you find the perfect one?

So you left the whole task on the back burner and now it is three weeks later and you have nothing. Conversations with her start to get uncomfortable- is she waiting on you and just not mentioning it? Sometimes you think quitting the book club would be easier…

Here is what you need to do when you need relief from an overdue task:

Update the person and ask for clarity of you need it then self-impose a deadline.

Yep, it is that simple!

In this case a quick email, not overly apologetic, but to the point something like: I’m working on that list we talked about and I wanted to ask if 10 book suggestions with ratings from other book clubs would work for you. If so I can have it to you by the weekend.

Then get to work! Now that you’ve set a deadline with the person you have to get to work.

If you’re uncomfortable having a face-to-face conversation you can use email or even leave a phone message. Just get in touch to move the task along.

Oh and in case you’re feeling like too much time has passed think about how quickly a week goes by in your life. Chances are the person is not sitting by the phone waiting for you- if they were they’d have already been in touch with you for an update.

We’ll cover this topic and procrastination, interruptions, distractions and so much more in the upcoming Get More Done class by phone with Jamie

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What happens when you swap to another purse leaving leftovers in the bottom of the bag you were using?

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This past weekend I took in a fantastic concert put on by the iconic Kenny Rogers. Through the years I’ve seen him perform many times and he never disappoints.

This time watching him from orchestra seats at the opulent MGM Grand in Foxwoods I was truck by how even in glitzy theater Kenny kept it simple.

I think we can all take a page out if his songbook, I know I am!

There were just six musicians on stage, an over-sized screen and a few props to hide the musician’s equipment. That’s it.

Simple.

The un-cluttered stage allowed the audience to focus on what really mattered. The music.

And I think that is true of our lives and our homes as well. Simple and un-cluttered allows us to focus on what really matters.

So thank you Kenny for the music and the reminder to keep it simple.

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Thank you Panera for being there to help me celebrate National Junk Food Day! It would have been the same without your Chocolate Duet cookie!

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Are you trying to get a lot accomplished? If so try doing less, really.

Listen to my latest show all about 2 for 24 now.

I know it sounds backwards but trust me, doing less to accomplish more is one of the basic ideas of Bite Size Living, Here’s how it works:

Let’s say you have a three page to-do list or a whole room that needs to be cleaned out. That list or that room is overwhelming to even think about!

You might look at the list and think about doing the first task on the list or maybe something from the back page or you wait until you have more time to do a few tasks at once.

And that room, just looking at it can zap any energy or motivation you might have to even get started.

It is simply impossible to focus our attention in multiple directions successfully.

What we can do successfully is to choose two places to focus our attention for the next twenty four hours.

For example you might look at your list and decide to 1. Call to schedule that overdue oil change for the car and 2. Finally hose off the lawn furniture so you can enjoy sitting outside.

Done!

Then you can pick the next 2 for 24.

Or you might choose to 1. Pack up a single bag from that room to bring to charity and 2. Post the treadmill turned makeshift closet on Freecycle.org.

Done!

Then you can pick the next 2 for 24.

This is the recipe for successfully moving forward. I can’t wait to hear what you think of the 2 for 24 concept and how you plan to apply it to your life this week, hit reply now and let me know!

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I heart flameless candles, especially the ones on a timer! They turn on a designated time and turn off 4 or 8 hours later. I never have to remember to turn them on and off. Plus I have the benefit of flickering light without every having a real flame in my home. Well at least I would have flickering light if I could ever remember to turn the timer on!

After I replace the batteries I need to switch the timer on at the time of day I want to candle to flicker. Trouble is it has been more than a week and I still haven’t remembered to turn the timer on.

So tonight I’m setting a timer to buzz at 9pm which is when I want the candle to turn on each and every night. Wish me luck! Here’s to a candle light full moon evening

Update: We have candlelight! I’m thrilled to report the timer worked. The buzzer went off and I switched the timer on.

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Today is National Herbs and Spice Day which makes it the perfect day to organize your spices.

And if you think you might have a spice jar that dates back to the year you got married use this freshness checker provided by Mc Cormick.

To alphabetize or not to alphabetize- that is the question. Personally I vote no. The reason being I like to store “like with like” which means I have my 5 most commonly used spices in a super easy place to grab on an almost daily basis. The I’ve got my baking spices with my baking supplies, no sense having vanilla extract next to the garlic or cumin, right?

I’ll share four products I’ve used over the years that actually work!

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When you want to get something done act like you’re making a strawberry rhubarb pie, really!

Just like this recipe from Food Network the very first thing you need is a list of the steps you plan to take. You can’t put the top crust on until you’ve pressed in teh bottom crust and prepared the filling. That’s why you follow a recipe and creating a project list is helpful to focus your mind on the steps.

Whenever I have a project I create my recipe for success by writing the end result at the bottom of the paper and working backwards step by step.

The very next thing you have to do is to check you have everything you need.

Nothing is worse than getting to the 3rd or 4th step and realizing you don’t have something you need like vanilla extract!

Step two is always gather what you need. So if you are tackling an organizing project you want to have the bag for charity. And if you’re going to clean the car you want to have all your supplies.

Then get started! One you have your recipe for success and  your supplies all that is left to do is mix in your action. So what will you be taking on next?

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How many crayons and crayon nubs are in your home right now? And be honest, have you ever used up the flesh tone crayon?

Instead of just tossing the nubs into the trash there is now a guilt-free way to get rid of those unused crayons. Send them off to be re-used by CrazyCrayons.com. This organization accepts donations of crayons, any shape, size or condition. They then melt them down to make new crayons for children who don’t have access to boxes of crayons.

So mail off those unused crayons, like the color white or the little stubs, today.

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Turns out Tuesdays are the least busy day at the grocery store. Making it the perfect day to pick up what you need. Looking for even more Supermarket Time Savers? Check these out!

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more colors available photo credit:Amazon/ Blue Avocado

I love this tote it easily wipes clean and keeps food hot or cold for 3 hours!

Here’s what I keep in my tote, ready to go when the moment strikes:

• Beach towel
• Plastic tablecloth or shower liner (to sit on a damp or muddy ground)
• Sunscreen and lip balm (sunscreen has a shelf life of about 6 months)
• Baby wipes or hand sanitizers
• Microfiber cloth or rags (I prefer these to paper towels)
• Mini first aid kit (anti-itch spray, bandages, antibiotic ointment)
• Water bottle and snacks
• Camera (stay tuned: in a future issue we’ll talk about organizing photos)
• Small bag with spending money
• Hat & sunglasses
• Baby powder and soft-bristle paintbrush (removes sand or dried mud easily)
• Hair ties
• Long sleeve shirt
• Bag for treasures (BEWARE OF CUTE “treasures” see what I mean in this how-to video here)
• Garbage/recycling bag (not every place has a trash nearby)
• Taking Fido or in my case Holly? Grab water bowl & leash

And so that you have time to actually USE the tote mark off time on your calendar right now, at least two times per month for the whole summer. Sure you might not know exactly what you’ll do (or maybe you do) but the time will be dedicated so you have no excuses…

Read more summer fun time tips here

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I was out to dinner with a friend (who will remain nameless to protect the cluttered) and she had a coupon for a free appetizer. Unfortunately she   could not find it in her wallet…so…she pulled everything out.

We found:

sunglasses, hair straightening cream, gum (three packs), *many* papers and receipts, perfume, cell phone, lipsticks (four), lip glosses, makeup bag, wallet, and finally the coupon!

We’re talked about purse make-overs in the past so I have to know would you let me look inside your purse today?

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Today I’m going to issue a challenge for the paper pile, we all have one (or more than one) and here’s mine. I stood a pen next to it so you could see just how high it really is.

This pile is on the corner of my desk. It started small, just a few papers. But then I had a busy day and I put a few more papers on top, after all I planned to get to them later. But later never came. And the pile got even taller. Now the pile has grown to overwhelming proportions.

I feel like I need to set aside an hour or three or four to have enough time to look through the papers. Trouble is I don’t see four hours in my future. Which means the pile will continue to grow and eventually I’ll scoop the whole pile up and dump it somewhere to deal with…you guessed it…later!

Here’s the One Less Paper challenge: today pick the top paper off the pile and deal with it.

I know you’re saying: but it is just one paper, what difference will that make? Trust me it makes a difference:

• it gets the ball rolling
• it proves you are successful at following through
• and it is one less paper to deal with later

So do you accept the one paper less challenge? If so join the conversation now on Facebook.

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The Golden Girls can often be found playing on my office television, I’ve always worked best with background noise. Somehow if it is too quiet I hear every little noise and I can’t focus- I know it sounds backwards but just go with it. Anyhow I’ve been a fan for years, long before her Snickers commercial and hosting Saturday Night Live.

I knew she was funny but I never knew she and I had so much in common. Not only are we both authors that write longhand first and who love animals but I found out how much we have in common as I was reading her newest book If You Ask Me (And Of Course You Won’t.) I’m specifically talking about page 229 her essay titled Dining Room Table.

Betty explains that she has an upstairs bedroom/office where her fax machine resides. However that room because a catch all room filled with too much clutter. So she moved piles to her dining room table! Turns out she can’t host dinner parties, she has everyone over for cocktails then they go out to dinner.

Betty dreams of taking a big garbage bags and tossing it all in- but she can’t bring herself to do it. She wakes at 4am in a panic haunted by the mess and she thinks to herself that she has to clean this before she dies since she could not stand having someone else sort through the piles. Like a lot of us Betty’s New Year’s Resolution is to clear the table…sound familiar?

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Vinegar rids your shower-head of hard water build up and mineral deposits. Fill a plastic bag with a 1/2 cup of warm water and a 1/2 cup of vinegar. Slide the bag over the shower-head and tie with a rubber band. Let it sit 1-12 hours and run a toothbrush over the holes before turning on the water to rinse, done! Read the other 2 tips now…

Don’t wait! Get tips like this delivered to your in-box every Monday morning sign up here and you’ll get a special report The Best Paper Tips Ever!

Oh and while we’re talking toothbrushes in case you missed Dr. Oz on the Nate Berkus show here is the answer to Why is having a covered toothbrush holder so important?

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Today was possibly one of the busiest days in months. The to-do list was a page long, emails arrived by the minute and the phone never stopped  ringing. But that’s not all, not only was the day jam packed but my husband woke up unable to put any pressure on his right foot, just a minor issue LOL

The world had to stop as I drove him to urgent care. So you might think that in the midst of all the chaos it would have been the worst possible time to pull into a town park to stop and enjoy the flowers.

But I realized if not now- when?

Tomorrow? Maybe, if I got everything off my list. The next day? Maybe, if it didn’t thundershower. The day after that? Maybe if we didn’t have a follow up doctor appointment…you get the idea.

If not now then when? And why did I think I’d have any more time tomorrow than I did today- as far as I know each day is still only 24 hours.

So we stopped.

And we took a deep breath.

And we looked at the flowers.

And the clouds.

And the people walking.

And the bugs crawling.

And then we got back in the car and drove home, 30 minutes later than planned but somehow everything still got done and the best part was I felt relaxed.

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If you’re in Spring Cleaning mode hit the medicine cabinet. The DEA set up safe disposal of meds you no longer want. Enter your zip code to find a local collection spot.

National Take Back Initiative Collection Site Search

The 2nd National Prescription Drug Take Back Day
Saturday, April 30, 2011
10:00 am – 2:00 pm

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Everyone has an opinion as to where I should store my footed colander, what do you suggest? Tell me now.

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Flip your to-do list upside down, just like a Pineapple Upside Down Cake. Today is National Pineapple Upside Down Cake Day (yes, really.) Which makes today the perfect day to share with you my theory about flipping our lists, here’s why…

Most of us have a to-do list that is either a mile long (and therefore unrealistic) or a list of the urgent things that need to get done today.

The two most important tasks end up w-a-y down at the very bottom of the list- what are they?

1. A part of a longer term project (think planning a menu for a party still two months away)

and

2.YOU!

So when we flip our list, just like the pineapple upside down cake, the two most important tasks end up on top. That’s important because if you skip planning long-tern those long away tasks will quickly turn out to be emergencies. And if you miss out on taking time for yourself then you’ll run out of energy fast! Try it today and see what a sanity saver this little tip really is!

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Have you ever noticed how when you’re in a rush things can get messy?

Like when you’re:

Rushing to make a cup of coffee and the grinds spill

Too quick to pour a bowl of cereal and the milk overflows

Anxious to add salt to a pot and the lid opens and you dump half in

Well the same is true when you or someone else is rushing to grab a snack from the pantry, other items can tip over and a mess happens.

A simple grab-n-go basket will prevent those pantry pile ups. Dedicate a simple basket on the shelf or a single drawer for all those single serve snacks, packs of  chewing gum and nutrition bars.

With these items easily within reach no matter who goes to grab one they won’t leave a mess behind.

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Be honest, have you ever bought a gift on the way to the party then wrapped it in the car? At least once, right?

Not all of us want to keep a gift shelf stocked with generic gifts at home. That means without a gift on hand it might be the day of the event before you realize you need to bring a gift, which means rushing out the door to stop on the way. Stopping on the way usually means a stressful trip to a store where you grab a not-so-thoughtful gift which probably costs more than you budgeted for; especially since you have to then buy paper, tape and scissors or at least a privacy gift-bag and colorful tissue paper.

Don’t even get me started on the card…

If you’ve had this experience or if you now plan ahead for these sorts of last minute trips by stocking your car with gift bags then you’re going to love this idea:

Whenever you mark a gift giving event on your calendar take an extra moment and pencil in a reminder about two weeks before to buy a gift. It is that simple!

That single reminder will be enough to get that gift on your shopping list so you have it before the drive over to the party.

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An email arrived today from a reader, in the email she shared how excited she was to get started on her organizing project. She outlined her plan, first on her list- she was heading to the local Target store to buy a bunch of bins, baskets and containers.

I quickly replied with my suggestion to put her shopping trip on the back burner. Why?

Well for three reasons:

One she had no idea what size or how many bins she even needs. It is important to clear the space and measure, really. I can’t tell you how may people tell me they bought a bin that was almost the right size. That requires wasting time returning the item.

Two chances are she’d find containers during the organizing process that she could re-use instead of buying new.I’m a fan of saving time, money and the environment every chance I get.

Three shopping for stuff is the fun part, which in part is why we have so much clutter. It is always better to hold off doing the fun part until you tackle some of the less fun stuff, then use the fun task as a sort of reward for having done the other part.

I heard back from the reader who thanked me for suggesting she hold off on her shopping trip. She told me she spent an hour make choices about the stuff in her hall closet and she’d made a tremendous amount of progress in the same time it would have taken her to get in the car, drive to the store, shop, check out and drive home.

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Insider tips:
1. Keep your car clean by dumping the trash when you get gas
2. Mark calendar as a reminder to check fluids – like wiper fluid and the pressure on your spare tire
3. Mark your calendar as a reminder to update paperwork like the car registration and inspection

A recent incident while driving my car gave me the idea for this list. Last week I was driving to the Upper Saddle River Library when the glaring sun made it challenging to see out my windshield. So I squirted the windshield wiper fluid and just a little came out, has that ever happened to you?

Now I had streaks on my windshield which made it impossible to see so I had to pull over. Luckily I had a can of windshield cleaner and microfiber cloth in my trunk, I wiped the windshield and was on my way.

I realized we focus so much attention on Spring Cleaning inside our homes we often overlook our car. Here is a list of the 25 things that you should carry in your car, after you give the car a thorough cleaning out.

1. Roadside ER kit (the kit should include a can of fix-a-flat)
2. Paper towels and/or microfiber cloths
3. A spare umbrella
4. A change of clothes for each person including comfortable shoes in case you need to walk for help
5. A cell phone charger cord and possible a one time use ER battery
6. Canvas shopping bags
7. A dog leash and treats and maybe a can of cat food (as an animal lover I’ve fed kittens & picked up a lost dog)
8. Snacks with a long shelf life
9. Money(emergency money and toll change)
10. Windshield cleaner
11. Tire pressure gauge
12. Blankets
13. Windshield wiper fluid
14. A pen & paper
15. A flashlight (I invert the batteries so in case the button is pushed by accident the batteries are not drained)
16. A hidden key
17. Handy wipes
18. A first aid kit
19. Wd-40(I just used this to loosen nuts on the license plate)
20. A disposable camera(to document an accident or in case of a great nature shot while driving)
21. A map (GPS is only great when it is charged or can be plugged in)
22. Two gallons water
23. A jumper box or cables
24. A fire extinguisher (having this lowered my insurance premium)
25. Extra sunglasses(I cracked mine on a sunny day now I keep a spare pair)

Did I miss anything? Let me know in the comments below…

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Did you watch The Talk today? Mother and daughter duo Naomi and Wynonna Judd were being interviewed and one comment in particular really stuck with me because it has so much truth to it.

I thought I’d share it with you and hopefully we can all celebrate the bite size wins a little more!

Wynonna was talking about empowering women and commented about women feeling the need to suffer alone, to bake the cookies and to do everything right then complain about the ten things we didn’t do! Sound familiar?

Instead, she suggested, we celebrate what we did do!

Now if you’ve attended one of my live events or taken a class with me you know this is always my closing message. We are so quick to count up all the things still left to do, all the items we wish we’d done differently or all the stuff that didn’t go right. We overlook all that we did do, we’re quick to discount any accomplishment by either brushing it off or by saying BUT there is still X, Y and Z. Guess what? There will always be X, Y and Z, that’s life

So today how about we all promise ourselves we’ll focus on the good stuff. We’ll take notice of and be proud of all we do. And the next time someone offers us help we’ll accept- after all that is a gift to them- helping makes us feel needed. And the next time someone gives us a compliment we won’t disregard it or send one right back, we’ll soak it in. Imagine that day…now let’s go celebrate!

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The real title of this article could have been how to actually prepare the recipe you clip. Think about the last recipe you cut out of a magazine or printed from online.

Did you actually prepare that recipe? Or did that recipe join the pile of all the other delicious looking recipes you’ve spent time carefully cutting out or printing off?

Probably the latter, right?

Well that’s about to change. Get ready to taste those yummy looking recipes using this secret tip.

As soon as you collect the recipe instead of putting it in a shoebox immediately add the ingredients to your grocery shopping list then tack it to the inside of your kitchen cabinet.

Once you shop and have the ingredients on hand you’ll be ready to try the recipe.

What’s that? The items on the recipe are too exotic? Too expensive? No one else in your family will enjoy it? The recipe takes two days to prepare? You already have at least seven other recipes just like it? Those are deal breakers, that recipe doesn’t make the cut, so don’t spend a second cutting it out!

On the other hand if the recipe makes the cut then you’ll prepare it that week, then you’ll know- if it was a hit then it makes the cut and gets a spot in your recipe box. Happy cooking!

Who knows it just might become a new family favorite!

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Do you have a stop to make at a local home store, like a Target, K-Mart? If so you’ll want to do your shopping after 7 pm, why?

• The parking lot have more open spaces closer to the door
• Check out lines will be shorter and
• There will be more employees available to help you locate what you are shopping for

When you add up all the time you waste shopping at peak hours you’ll see an instant time savings. Less time parking plus less time in line means more time in your day for other stuff!

So what will you spend all your new found time doing?

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With all these Spring Showers I thought you’d find this clever website super useful DoINeedAnUmbrella.com? Enter your zip code and get the answer- – either YES or NO. Now that’s simple.

If you’re an app person then head to itunes and pick up Umbrella Today and app that sends you an alert (at the time you set, like maybe right before you leave in the morning) to let you know if you should bring an umbrella with you.

Photo Credit: Totes Umbrella

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Program an In Case of Emergency (ICE) phone number into your cell phone. We’ve all heard this advice- right? But how many of us have actually taken a moment and done it? Today is the day…

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Here’s what’s under mine…

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Have you ever been in a store and you just can’t remember the brand, style number or size you normally buy?

That’s what happened to me today! I was out running errands and realized I had a coupon for my favorite makeup and it was about to expire. So I went to pick it up and I had no idea if it was #501 (ivory)  or #502 (classic ivory) or even #503 (natural) – - to be honest it might even be #505 (sand.)

Then I had to decide, guess and risk having to make a return if I guessed wrong or lose the $1.00 savings.

It was then I made decided to carry a cheat sheet for my makeup. When I got home, without my new makeup, I made a small list of the brands and  colors. I added this to the other mini lists I carry- – I have one of all the sizes for my family members and I have for the ink cartridges for my office printer and I have one other one for the items in my car like a 20″ windshield wiper blade.

These mini cheat sheets have saved me lots of aggravation and time since I don’t have to waste time retuning a wrong purchase. So will you make yourself a mini cheat sheet today?

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Program the phone number for to a reputable local locksmith into your cell phone. You’ll be glad you did if you ever need to call, especially since the computer you’d use to look up a reputable 24/7 service will be inside the very house you’ll be locked out of.

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By the time you read this you’ll probably be thinking about all the spring cleaning tasks in your future. This year you can simplify those tasks using a common rubber glove–really. You already know you can speed through tasks when you wear rubber gloves because A) you aren’t concerned about chipping your manicure, and B) read the rest here

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I can hardly believe it has been a year since the release of my book Stop Throwing Money Away.

If you picked up a copy I’d love to hear your favorite tip, you can tell me in the comments below.

And in honor of the year anniversary I thought I’d spill a few secrets:

Secret #1: all my clutter has a home

Sure, I may have left it out planning to put it away later (then later never came), but when I do make the time I can put it away. That’s the difference, if I didn’t have a place to put it then I would not just be messy, I’d be disorganized.

Secret #2: organizing does not have to be expensive

Sure, you could invest in pricey drawer organizers and costly closet solutions or you could re-use common household items instead. I call it shopping from home or from a friend’s home, because what one of you doesn’t have the other one is bound to own.

I dedicated an entire section of my book Stop Throwing Money Away (out today) to clever re-uses for stuff you already own. You can organize your entire home for under $100!

Here are some of my favorite re-uses:

Cardboard Toilet Paper Insert

For cords. Bend the extension cord back and forth then insert into the tube. Don’t forget to label the tube so you know what’s inside.

An Egg Carton

As a drawer organizer. In a desk, makeup, or junk drawer, egg cartons make great organizers. They are shallow enough to fit in a slim drawer, you can leave the lid open to hold larger items or cut the lid off and just use the “cups.” You can even customize the size by trimming down the number of cups to suit your needs.

CD Cases

For necklaces. Keep your necklaces tangle-free by placing them in a CD case prior to traveling. Not only will they be protected, they’ll lie flat and will not be tangled into those disorganized knots.

Secret #3: the average home has 25 items (clutter) of value you can sell

In my book Stop Throwing Money Away (out today) I help you find the items and show you exactly how to sell them for the most money (and no, eBay is not the only option.)

When working with a recent client, Susan, we applied the steps in the “make money” section of the book and she made a whopping $3,500! Now, Susan had an above-average amount of clutter (oh, I mean treasures), which she was ready to let go. Susan was paying for two extra-large storage units; she also had stuff stashed at her parents’ home, and her car had not seen the inside of her garage in more than a year. As you might imagine, Susan was thrilled with her payday!

Happy reading!

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Today is National Chips and Dip Day! In honor of this holiday I thought I’d share one of my one step go-to dip recipes and I’d love to know yours.

You’ll need:

• 1 (15 ounce) can rinsed cannellini beans
• 2 chopped garlic cloves
• 3 TBS lemon juice 
• 1/3 C olive oil 
• salt and pepper to taste

Note: I serve this with pita chips but it is great with almost any chip

Toss all the ingredients into a food processor and pulse until blended. Season with salt and pepper, to taste then spoon into a serving bowl. 

For easy clean up I pulse soapy water in the food processor- rinse- then pulse hot water and set out to air dry.

And if you are looking to create space in your kitchen pantry try these tips:

1. use the back of the cabinet door- often overlooked you can take advantage of this commonly wasted space

2. add under the shelf baskets- you can utilize the inch or two of wasted space between the shelf and the top of the tallest container on the shelf below 

3. lazy susans are the perfect way to use the depth of the shelf to easily reach all the items- just be sure to measure the depth of your cabinet first to ensure the turntable will fit

That was easy and yummy!

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Good news to report- the cakes survived the hour long car ride to the party! E’s Ninjago cake was a huge hit. The Lego men are molded out of chocolate. Yummy…

The cake itself was a sheet cake with KitKat bars arranged as the training ground for the Ninjago men.

K’s cake was sweet. The fairy princess with her castle was just what K wanted.

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According to the calendar it is officially spring! I love this time of year for so many reasons, one of which is April is my birthday month.

Most of us are coming out of a whopper of a winter. Although I’m not a fan of the cold I do find sparkly snow to be beautiful and without the bitter cold I doubt I’d appreciate this warm weather as much.

Now that Spring has officially sprung I have to know what will you do first?

Update: On the first full day of Spring I woke up to a layer of snow and ice on the ground. Um, I was promised warm weather- what happened?

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In keeping with our bite size theme I have to ask, “What’s on your plate?”

This week is a particularly busy week for me. In addition to all the routine tasks like cooking and laundry I have a bunch of deadlines for work- -why is it they all fall in the same week?

But that’s not all, this is the week I will bake and decorate two very elaborate birthday cakes, a Lego cake for my nephew E and a fairy princess for my niece K.  

As I piled more and more items on to my plate I found myself getting more and more stressed. I knew for sure there was too much on my plate when I could not fall asleep because my to-do list was running through my head (sound familiar?) 

The solution? Take smaller portions.

I looked to see where I could scale back or put some things on the back burner. I ended up getting my groceries delivered saving me precious time. I also checked in with an editor to see if there was any flexibility with the deadline- – turns out she too had a lot on her plate and didn’t need my part until next week. Lastly I opted to wait on a few of those spring cleaning chores I planned to get to.

I’m pleased to report with these more manageable portions I can now fall asleep.

So how about you? What can you dish back or put on the back burner to make your plate a little more manageable?

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Tired of wasting time searching for the tweezers that fell to the back of the medicine cabinet shelf? Not looking to waste any more money replacing the clippers that went MIA?

I have a simple solution: a magnet, really!

Simply glue a magnet to the bottom of a shelf inside the medicine cabinet or to the inside of the cabinet door* and stick those little tools onto the magnet.

Once you finish this project send me a photo to showcase on the site.

*Before you glue the magnet to the door measure first you don’t want to the magnet to hit the shelf when you go to shut the door.

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Daylight savings time arrived this weekend- – as a result many of us moved our clocks forward one hour.

One routine we have in our house is to use this date as a reminder to also:

1. change air filters
2. change batteries in smoke alarms
3. change the batteries in the carbon monoxide detectors

Oh and don’t forget your wristwatches. Sure it is easy to remember all the wall clocks but we often overlook the wristwatches.

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For a few weeks now I’ve been collecting items to give away. I have a pile and it keeps getting bigger. I remember tossing in:

2 purses

1 tote bag

4 t-shirts

1 suit

1 umbrella

5 pairs of shoes

1 winter coat (ah maybe the pile has been there longer than I thought LOL)

and that’s just the clothing.

As my ‘give away’ pile gets more overwhelming and takes up more space in my home I realized if I had just been making smaller bags and dropping them off all along the stuff would be out of my home and actually being used!

So my goal today is to make a few bags and drop them off. Wondering where I’ll take them?

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As I look back over the list of things I’d hoped to accomplish this week I realize that since today is already Thursday I have little hope to no hope of completing everything that’s still on the list- why you ask?

Did I bite off more than I can chew? Nope.

Did I have a crisis that kept me busy? Not really.

Did I just overestimate what I could realistically get done? No.

Then what d’heck happened? Honestly I simply put stuff off day after day and now I only have one day left in the week!

Why did I procrastinate? The truth is the items are not all that exciting:

1. a trip to the post office to mail a package

2. return an item to the grocery store

3. check online bank statement to ensure deposits were credited properly

The trouble with this list is that not only are the tasks boring they have no real deadline, the person I’m mailing the package to is not expecting it, I have 60 days to make the grocery store return and as long as I check the bank statement within the next few weeks I’m covered.

But it sure would feel nice to knock these items off my list so I can stop thinking about them and stop rewriting them on my daily to do list.

So to end the procrastination I’m going to:

1. make it fun, the grocery store is by a cafe I love, I’ll grab a specialty drink AFTER I make the return, sure a third of my refund will go towards the drink, but at least I’ll get it done!

2. set a deadline, I’ll email the person that I’ve sent them a package, once they know it’s on the way I’ll have to mail it!

3. set a timer and spend no more than 10 minutes looking at the online bank statement, with the timer ticking down I’m sure to stay on task.

So tomorrow is the day, I can get this done! Here I go, wish me luck!

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No more mix packets getting lost on the the back of the shelf in your kitchen cabinets and pantry.

Mix packet holder

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In the rush of life sometimes it can be tempting to forgo the library and just buy the item we want. But how many times do we buy yet another novel or cookbook that ends up in the ‘to read’ pile?

How about that magazine that arrives in the mail but is tossed in the incoming mail pile on the kitchen counter, then by the time you read it the information is a month or two old…

There are so many things that you can get for free at the library! You can borrow books, check out movies and so much more.

And you can also find great resources, reference librarians are so knowledgeable. You can ask questions, pick up discount tickets for local events and much, much more!

So the next time you’re tempted to renew a magazine subscription or buy yet another book try the library first.

Oh and if you are wondering how to keep borrowed items organized try creating a borrowed shelf , basket or tote bag where you can store items until they are due or log onto Library Elf and they’ll remind you for free!

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When you come across old, worn-out sneakers consider donating them to Nike, they use the soles to make basketball courts! Learn more here

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On a recent trip I stayed in a hotel and in the hallways I saw the hospitality staff wheeling carts full of cleaning supplies from one room to the other, and I had a light bulb moment. If they could use this efficient method for a 300-room hotel why couldn’t I do the same in my own home?

So I set out on a mission to locate a personal rolling maid cart. Well I found one and I love it!

I use it to wheel cleaning supplies from room to room, I tote laundry on it and I even organize, using the bag as a catch all/garbage or recycling bin as needed.

What a time saver (and back-saver) this rolling cart is. The best part is I wheel it right into the closet when I’m finished.

 Rolling Maid Cart (get one here)

 I placed a handheld caddy ontop (get one here) so I could carry it up and down stairs

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I did it again! What you ask? I drove to a store thinking they open at 9 am when in fact they do not open until 10. So I had to waste an hour because I refused to drive back across town in a wasted trip.

If I had followed my own advice and kept the hours of operation with me I’d have known to go after 1o am.

So I took a few moments this afternoon and plugged the phone numbers of the stores and restaurants I request into my cell phone. Then under comments I keyed in the hours of operation.

 It was easy and a great use of my time.

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Yep it’s Saturday and that means I get to write a review of what I hope will be a useful organizing product or service, but I won’t know until I try it…so stick around for the verdict of the 6 way folding trunk organizer with waterproof thermal carrier.

I never gave trunk organizers much thought, in fact when I saw them advertised I wondered why someone might want one. It seemed like one more thing to have in the trunk and what purpose could it really serve, after all my car already came equipped with the net, what more could I need.

Then gas prices hit an all time high, I think here in NJ we’re at 3.83 a gallon (for now.) So more than ever I was planning out my errands and grocery store trips to conserve fuel. Which meant I might have frozen foods in the car when I needed to make one more quick stop and never one to let my Ben and Jerry’s suffer in a hit car I needed a solution and fast before my cake batter ice cream was a pool of sticky liquid.

Enter the 6 way folding trunk organizer with waterproof thermal carrier.

I placed it in my trunk and away I drove with my list of errands in hand. I’m happy to report that Ben and Jerry made it home in one piece!

The organizer folds into a variety of configurations, I’m not sure I’ve figured them all out just yet, but it does everything I need it to do and it does it well.

Here are the specs as listed on QVC

Transform your trunk space with this efficient multipurpose set. The versatile organizer folds six different ways to accommodate all your storage needs. The included waterproof, thermal-lined carrier contains spills and helps keep foods warm or cool for worry-free transport.

• Colors: Red/Black, Black/Gray, or Taupe/Black
• Organizer: anti-skid pads, sturdy handles, side mesh straps, collapsible
• Durable 600 denier nylon construction
• Approximate measurements: Organizer 30″L x 16″W x 7-1/2″D; Carrier 14″L x 14″W x 8-1/2″D e.

QVC Item # V21175

6-Way Folding Trunk Organizer with Waterproof Thermal Carrier

QVC Price: $22.00

Shipping & Handling: $6.22

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I have to share a fabulous and FREE resource with you. Remember the Milk is one of my new favorite sites.

You can map out your errands to save you time and gas. You can create lists (for those of us who are list lovers) and you can even get alerts when items are added to your list. Imagine being in the grocery store and your phone lets you know someone at home just ate the last apple, you can grab more without missing a beat.

There is so much you can do once you register for FREE with Remember the Milk. Start with one of their helpful ideas and then try a few more. I bet you’ll get hooked (and you’ll never forget the milk again!)

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 Park a Purse Organizer

 SKU: 043617 Price $29.98

Park-a-Purse organizer Makes changing purses fast, easy, and convenient! Boutique-style designs cover this light-blue Park-a-purse organizer made of sturdy, coated cardboard. 10 deep compartments hold bags upright and tangle free for easy viewing and selecting. Designed to fit standard closet shelves. Simple assembly required, how-to’s incl. 33 x 12 x 21″H.

You might also consider the versatile Purse Rack

SKU: 007289 Price $7.98

More organization means less wasted space! Hang fabric rack on wall or adjust the metal hooks to fit most door heights. 8 adjustable plastic hooks hold and organize purses, bags, belts, scarves, hats, and more! Hardware incl. 6 1/4 x 51 3/16″H

Make your own, see my blog on Whole Living Daily

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Every Sunday I’ll share with you a way for you to share your unused, unloved items with someone who will use and love them. And hey you may even get a tax break in the process, a true win-win

This week’s share: Materials for the Arts

Since 1978, Materials for the Arts has provided thousands of New York City’s arts and cultural organizations, public schools and community arts programs with the supplies they need to run and expand their programs. Materials are gathered from companies and individuals that no longer need them and redistributed to the artists and educators that do.

In the process, hundreds of tons are removed from the waste stream every year and kept out of landfills, helping to sustain our environment and promote reuse and waste reduction. MFTA helps artists realize their visions, provides students with a richer educational experience and furnishes businesses and individuals with a simple and efficient way to enhance the cultural life of their city.

 The success of MFTA and its programming would not be possible without the participation of material donors throughout the metropolitan area. If you are interested in donating your unwanted reusable items to MFTA please visit our Donor page or call 718.729.3001 ext. 207.

Most requested items:

• Chairs, especially office chairs
• Computers (no more than 4 years old)
• Computer related items like scanners, printers, and fax machines
• Household items like irons, dishes, silverware, vases, and lamps
• Frames
• Office supplies
• Paper, and poster board
• Projectors and screens
• Video equipment
• Wallpaper and home decorating supplies
• Miscellaneous – ladders, telephones, answering machines, etc.

NOTE: I’ll cover National and Regional places looking for stuff so check back often. If you know of a great way to share please submit it for consideration. And if you have something to give buy don’t know where let me know so I can research it for you!

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Loose fill packaging is a great site to log onto if you are looking for a place to donate your excess packaging material. You can call the Peanut Hotline 800-828-2214.

User note: this is a newer site but they are adding more drop off locations all the time so bookmark it and check back often.

In addition you might also drop off your packing material to a local rummage sale, they can always use it to pack up shoppers purchases. You’ll be the hero of the sale for being so thoughtful, very few people think to donate bags or packing material when the bring in items to be sold.

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For this week’s FREEbie Friday I want to share with you a free, quick and easy way to remove your name from unwanted catalog mailing lists!

Instead of contacting each catalog company individually to request your name be removed you can simply log onto Catalog Choice then look thought the database of catalogs to choose the ones you want to opt off of. Yes, it is that easy!

Imagine how much time and how many trees you can save….

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BookCrossing.com

BookCrossing: where 682,900 people in over 130 countries come to share their passion for books with the world.

At BookCrossing, you can register any book you have on the site, and then set the book free to travel the world and find new readers.

Leave it on a park bench, at a coffee shop, at a hotel on vacation. Share it with a friend or tuck it onto a bookshelf at the gym — anywhere it might find a new reader! What happens next is up to fate, and we never know where our books might travel next. Track the book’s journey around the world as it is passed on from person to person.

Join hundreds of thousands of active BookCrossers daily in our many forums to discuss your favorite authors, characters and books in every genre throughout history right up through current releases.

Help make the whole world a library and share the joy of literacy. Reading becomes an adventure when you BookCross!

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Ready for three short and sweet tips to go from to-do to to-done? Give these a try:

1 Sit with a blank sheet of paper, a pen and a timer. For three minutes simply list all those to-do’s that come to mind. For me this is the list that usually runs through my head at bedtime (often preventing me from falling asleep.)

I’ll make the long list, clearing out my mind, this will not be my immediate to-do list but I’ll have all the ideas on paper instead of rolling around in my already too full head.

This master list of tasks will sit until I make time to tackle some of them. But I sure can’t so them all and I definitely can’t do them all tomorrow.

2 Check my calendar for tomorrow and make a short menu of three tasks to accomplish I commit to accomplishing. These tasks will take priority over other tasks that pop up.

Note to self: these are bite size tasks!!! This is an important note. DO NOT choose a task like clean out garage. That is not specific enough and it won’t happen at once. Instead write gather all the seed packets, now that I can do.

3 At the end of the day tomorrow I will count up what I did accomplish and stop short of saying BUT I DIDN’T get to XYZ. There is always the next day and there will always be more. If I focus on where I failed I’ll get more failure, but if I focus on what went right I’ll get more of that!

I can’t wait which tasks you take from to-do to to-done!

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Sure boxes of chocolates are yummy and roses are beautiful but this year your gift can be from the heart!

Instead of spending an hour in the local mall trying to find a gift try these heartfelt gift ideas:

1. Create three invitations to upcoming events as a special gift. Choose something like a play at the local community theatre, a dinner out or a walk at the beach. To make this gift a success you must put an actual date on the invitation and write it on your calendar so it is already planned.

2. Make a list of reasons why the person matters to you. What do you love and admire? How do they make your life better? Everyone loves to hear what impact they have on others, but rarely do we think to count the ways until it is too late for them to hear us.

3. Make the special day last a week. Plan a little something you can do for that person each day of the week. Here are a few ideas- - do a chore for them. Toss their bath towel in the dryer while they’re in the shower and deliver it warm. Pick up their favorite snack or cafe drink. Warm up the car on a cold morning.

You can’t put a price tag on knowing someone is thinking about you…

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I know time management is a hot topic so I thought we’d talk about one way a lot of us, myself included, waste time everyday AND what we can do about it.

Ready?

After an interruption or distraction or break from a project do you find yourself wasting time catching up to figure out where you left off?

For example: you might be sorting a pile of papers. Bills in one pile. To be shred in another. Then the phone rings and you leave the project.

When you return you need to look at the piles to figure out which is which and where to begin again…a huge time waster.

Here’s a better idea: leave yourself notes.

Labeling the piles of paper means you could jump back into the project without wasting a moment. A simple Post-it note or scrap of paper will do.

Try this idea starting today. Leave yourself a little clue as to where you left off on any project and when you jump back in you won’t miss a beat!

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