I had the pleasure of chatting with Des Walsh this afternoon on BlogTalkRadio.  I love BTR – that’s where The O Myth started!

Today we chatted about home office organization and some deeper topics around which need consideration if you’re going to really get organized for good.  So, here, take a listen.

photo credit: Patrick Hoesly

I’m glued to the TV this week and next.  It’s an Olympic year, and I am just fascinated by it all!  These talented athletes are shining and showing the world what they are made of on their day of competition.  Let’s not forget what got them there.

The path to the medal podium starts with an every day commitment.

It’s easy to get caught up in the glory and excitement of the athletes and the crowd, and forget how much impact everyday decisions had on the path to this event.  Commitment to practice, eating the right foods, building muscle, honing skills and arranging a calendar around a training schedule is what takes to get to the top.   Most importantly, waking up in the morning and making the decision to follow through on that commitment.  That’s what makes these athletes who they are, and why we remember them from the cover of a sports magazine or the front of a cereal box.

The story behind the headline.

What does it take to be a superstar?  I love listening to the athletes’ stories.  The heart break, the injuries, the comeback against all odds, family situations, financial strain and the grateful nod they give to coaches and mentors.  I’ve noticed three common elements of most of these amazing champions  we can apply to any situation, including the upkeep of a home office.

Work at it everyday.   Make a decision once a day.  File the mail, make the phone calls, get through the email inbox.  Then, tomorrow, wake up and make that same decision again.  Little by little, day by day, things change.

Have a great attitude.  You don’t have to be delusional, but try looking at the brighter side.  Fall down?  Get back up.  Keep a good attitude and I believe you’ll be happier all the way around.  There’s that saying, “…whether you think you can or you can’t, you’re right”.

Get help to improve.   Confession: I hate bookkeeping.  So, I have someone to help me with it.  She’s better than I am, and I’m happy to have her around.  If there is something you need to work on, get help.  None of us can do it all…. well.

What’s your story?  What elements will you commit to?

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photo credit: Patrick Hoesly

I’ll be there!  This is a free event, so come join us!

NAPO Oregon Presents the 2010 Pacific Northwest Organizing Expo

January 30, 2010, 10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
Montgomery Park, 2701 NW Vaughn Street, Portland Oregon 97201

Admission is free.  For more information visit their website here.

New Year Resolution #7:
Help Others

This series is all about the top New Year Resolutions. One of those is “Get Organized”. Have you ever made this resolution? How did it go? Did you do a “crash & burn” weekend on Jan. 2nd and everything was back to the way it was by Jan. 10th? Try using organization as a tool for whatever change you desire. You may surprise yourself!

How do you give back?

I remember my mother gardening, giving our extra garden bounty away, helping others with their canning and watching her teach swimming classes for special needs children.  It seemed a part of her life (and still is) to help others.

When I was in high school, I had the distinct honor of being selected to study abroad as a Rotary Youth Exchange student.  I grew up in a small town of 14,000, and had never been on a commercial jet until I flew across the Pacific to the Land of the Rising Sun.  It was  a year of excitement, frustration, happiness, sadness and a year of growth experienced by few.  It changed who I was, and what path my life took.  I knew at some point, it would be my turn to give back to an organization that did so much for this young naive country girl.

What is burning in your heart?

I don’t mean to sound contrite or like a line in a made- for-TV-movie,  but really, what are you passionate about?  Is there an organization that did something for you in your time of need?  Were you afforded an opportunity you would not have had otherwise?

Make time, make a choice

There’s never a perfect time to give back, and there may never be a perfect financial situation to give all you would like to.  But, we can make time to give back, volunteer and help make our corner of the world a better place.

Around five years ago, I wanted to start helping out with Rotary Youth Exchange in my area.  I was lucky enough to seek out a connection I had in the area and ask how I could help.  I was greeted with open arms and encouragement to give what I could at that point.  I had a young toddler and a fledgling business, so my time was limited.  I gave what I could.

Last year, I decided to join Rotary as a full-fledged member, and to involve myself with the Youth Exchange program in our district.  Before making the jump, I had to give some other things up, rearrange and rethink commitments.  It is a decision I haven’t regretted since.

If you want to volunteer or participate in a charity, here’s a few tips to get started:

1. Be real about your schedule.  How much time do you have to give?

2. Find a good fit.  Ask a lot of questions about the commitment expected, the time involved and if you are expected to cover your own expenses.  Know what you are getting into so there are few surprises.

3. Start saying “no” more. You may have to juggle your schedule around, even eliminating something to ensure you’re not overextending yourself.  Don’t overdo it.  No organization wants an unhappy, burnt out volunteer.

How can you give back this year?

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New Year Resolution #6:
Spend More Time with Loved Ones

This series is all about the top New Year Resolutions. One of those is “Get Organized”. Have you ever made this resolution? How did it go? Did you do a “crash & burn” weekend on Jan. 2nd and everything was back to the way it was by Jan. 10th? Try using organization as a tool for whatever change you desire. You may surprise yourself!

Title

Spending time with those we love is something to strive for.  It never seems to be enough, even when we make it a priority.  Extra appointments on the schedule, events we’ve committed to and other things get in the way.  Or do they?

It’s not the quantity, but rather the quality.

How do you remember your childhood?  I remember moments of happiness:  seeing my parents in the stands at a volleyball game, sharing a holiday meal or tearfully hugging my little sister at the airport when I left for a year abroad as an exchange student.  I’ll bet you can remember some of those things too.  I believe in making moments special, and being truely engaged in that moment. Here’s some ways to spend some quality time, and really being “in the moment”:

1.  Plan for it.  Get chores done, wash the clothes, put things away, whatever.  If it’s on your mind, and you can do it quickly, take care of it.

2.  Turn off distractions. The “always on” cell phone can be really distracting (I get it, really I do) so put it on vibrate in another room for a period of time.

3.  Quit procrastinating and start acting.  If you can’t spend time with those you love because life is out of control, take action.  Get control of your action paper, find a way to focus each day or discover and address what is really bothering you.  Get to the heart of the matter, so you can breathe and enjoy life.

What can you do so you can spend more time with your loved ones?

GIVEAWAY ALERT! Want to win the ButtonedUP Birthday.book &-Greetings.stash? Leave a comment below, sharing your resolution and how you could use organization to help you achieve it. Enter by 1/10/2010! (Read the ButtonedUP giveaway & special reader discount details here.)

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Did you know that you can save paper and ink by changing your print settings?

Double-sided printing: Using the double-sided print, black and white (or gray-scale, black cartridge only) and draft modes on your printer.   Most printers (if not all) have a double-sided mode.  This may mean you need to feed the document back into the printer to get both sides printed, but it’s really simple.

Grayscale printing: Also, set your color setting to “gray-scale” or “black and white” with the black cartridge only.  Did you know that some printers will use your color cartridge even if you say black and white?  So check it out.

Print in “draft” mode:  Also, printing in “draft” mode is best for everyday less important printing.  Important documents are really the only things needing to be printed in normal mode.

Save money & time. Double-sided printing saves half the paper produced by your printer, not to mention the time it takes to manage paper clutter accumulating in your home or office.  It also saves you money, since you don’t have to buy as much paper.

I’ve been using the double-sided and “black cartridge only” idea for a year, and it’s amazing how much of a difference it makes!  Also, print preview your document to make sure you’re not printing an ad or a few letters, which also wastes an incredible amount of paper.

Recycle used printer cartridges.  Were you aware of printer cartridge recycling?  Most manufacturers now have recycling programs.  They send you an envelope, you fill it with your used cartridges and mail it in.  In most cases, the shipping is free!  Keep the envelope right by your printer, so you’re more likely to remember.  Also, many office supply stores will take used cartridges and give you a discount or other credit.

Here’s a few resources:   HP, Canon, Earth911

Here’s a great article and some resources from Ideal Bite on this very subject!

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photo credit: isaac bowen

There is a lot of buzz in recent years about “balance” and “simple life”.  Besides the ridiculous TV shows (you know who you are) about living more simply, we seem to crave a less complicated life. Why is that? If our surroundings are any indication, we are overloaded with information and advertisements. We buy things out of impulse or a perceived need.  Maybe it’s time to get back to what matters, but how do we start?

What does “simple” really mean?

To me, simple means less is more (to beat an old cliche into the ground).  Having more “stuff” can never fill an intangible hole.  Of course, you may be wondering, “what the heck does that have to do with organizing?”  Well, to be honest, a lot (some would say half or more) of the process of organizing is letting go of the excess we have piling up or lying around.  Clutter symbolizes many things for many people, and it’s not just about those things we can touch.  Clutter can run much deeper than we’d like to think it does.

Finding “simple” at the bottom of the pile.

Too much clutter can tip you off to a loss of balance somewhere internally – and it’s not just the pile of stuff teetering on the edge of your desk!  I was amazed at what I found when I started working on my office a few years ago.  I challenge you to do the same thing.  Take an area in your home office (or life) and start to peel away the layers of excess.  I bet you’ll be surprised at what you find.    You may just find out what you don’t need.  Simple, may in fact, be better.

The other day my podcast co-host and I took our kids, saddled them up in the car, stopped at the local coffee shop for a caffeine fix and took off to pick blackberries.  I love the summer & early fall, and usually try to take in as much fresh fruit & products from the Farmers’ Markets as humanly possible.  Pies, cobbler, yogurt with granola and fruit, salad and just straight up fruit and fresh veg.  Ahhhh…  Another thing I love to do is make homemade jam.  It’s a simple pleasure that allows me to unplug and create something we’ll use in the coming months.

Simple Pleasures = Connection

I believe life is too short to be a workaholic, so I take time for hobbies that bring me joy.  I love making jam in June-September because in February when my son bites into a PB&J I know I made that happen with my own two hands.  Something about homemade goodies makes me happy and connects me to a simpler time.  Blackberries + sugar + pectin + jar = yummy purply goodness on toast in the morning.  Blackberries + sugar + butter + flour + water + lemon juice = a blackberry pie that makes my hubby swoon.  Simple to do, and (when done right) smiling happy faces eating something positively yummy.

I’ve been asked how I have time to make jam, and I’m amazed at how many people not only don’t know how to do it but are intimidated by the entire process.  Canning was a part of my life growing up, and I remember my mother staying up literally all night.  In my hometown, summer temperatures soared to over 100F, so nighttime was a perfect time of day to heat up the kitchen without overloading the air conditioner.  So, she stayed up with her wooden spoon, canning kettle and jars cranking out jars of peaches, pears, tomato sauce, jam, pickles and veggies of all kinds.  I remember the shelves in our hallway overflowing with all the colors of the rainbow perfectly preserved and waiting for the cold winter months.

Nothin’ says lovin’ like something you made yourself.  What hobby or activity makes you smile and connects you to good memories or a feeling of satisfaction?  When was the last time you did it?  What are you waiting for?

It’s spring break season in the U.S., and many people are taking family vacations, travelling to see family, taking business trips or even a drive since (in some places) the weather is getting a bit more traveller friendly. If you’re getting ready to drive, fly or just trying to pack light, I’ve got some links to help you out. Have a great trip!

TSA’s “What To Know Before You Go”

Luggage Forward: Door to door delivery for your excess luggage

OneBag.com: “The Art & Science of Travelling Light”. Great tips to travel light, how to do it, and what to pack. Resources galore!

“Packing Light Revisted”: Great article by Monica Ricci

Melissa Michaels, The Style Coach

This week I’m honored to interview Melissa Michaels, The Style Coach. Her popular blog is not only gorgeous to look at, but so inspirational if you want to create beautiful rooms. (She recently spoke with Alexandra Stoddard!) Her style and eye for design certainly inspire me, so I wondered what inspires her and asked her to share some tips with you. I hope you are inspired, and take a moment to visit her blog. Creating rooms that inspire you can help you live and work to your fullest potential. Enjoy!

The name of your blog is “The Inspired Room”. How did that come about?

It was important to me that my business name reflected my philosophy. I felt there was a distinction in my approach so I wanted a special name to illustrate that. I didn’t want to be a decorator in the traditional sense, I wanted to inspire people to love living in their homes. I love rooms that are meaningful rather than just decorated for beauty alone. The word “inspired” seemed to conjure up something special and extraordinary. Thus, The Inspired Room seemed perfect!

You are an Interior Refiner. How does a room affect the people in it?

Oh, I could go on all day with this topic! In a nutshell, if a room is well thought out and put together, it can affect everyone who enters it in a positive way. A beautiful room welcomes you, invites you in, nurtures you and inspires you to love life. Seems like a tall order for a room, but if you do it right, a room becomes so much more than four walls.

In your blog, you talk about “…practicing and inspiring others in what I call Authentic Living nd Authentic Style.” What does that mean?

Authentic Living is being true to who you are. It is finding daily joy in the life you have. When we are focused on creating a life we can actually live out and experience day to day, one that makes sense for us, we are more content and happy. Authentic Living is the discipline of actually living a full, beautiful and meaningful life rather than only dreaming of one that may ever come to be.
Authentic Style is a term I use to describe our own personal style in our home. I think our homes should be a reflection of our style of living, our history and experiences. When you pull together life in a beautiful way through furnishings, accessories, colors and art, no one else could ever duplicate that effect. It is authentic.

Your tagline is “When life inspires our home, our home will inspire our life.” Great line! How can our life inspire our home or home office?

I think life should inspire our homes and home offices in many ways. Here is a personal example. I’m in the process right now of creating a new home office for my business. While some of the things I am putting in it are just functional, I realize that in order to be fully connected to that space and drawn to want to work in it, I need to bring in things that inspire me. Using colors I love, framing cards that my husband has given me, displaying artwork my children have created, having memory boards with encouraging notes from friends and clients, photos of places I love, pens in colors I love, notebooks that I find pretty…these are all ways I can create a space based on what inspires me.

In addition to visual connections to things and people that inspire me, it is important to me to be mindful of how I work and what my organizational challenges are! If I create a space inspired by me rather than someone else, it is more likely to work for me. I need to recognize my habits and tendencies and the kind of work I do in order to create systems that keep me on task. And because I am a visual person, I need to use systems that please my eye in order for me to want to use them. It is all a cycle for me, I create a room inspired by my life and what I love, and then in turn that room inspires me to feel happy, productive and creative every day.

You are the “Style Coach”. What are your top 5 tips for someone who wants to create rooms inspired by their life?

In no particular order, here are some tips for getting started on finding your own personal style:

1) Spend time living the life you want and gathering mementos along the way. Your home will come together as you experience life. It shouldn’t be an overnight process!

2) Create rooms and spaces to inspire and accommodate your life. Evaluate what kind of life you really want to live and set things up to make that life possible and enjoyable. Do you love to read? Have friends over for movies? Cook? Write? Have the neighborhood kids over to play with your children? Do you have hobbies? Do you host large parties? Make sure your house is set up to accommodate you—homes should never keep us from fully experiencing what we love to do. Nor should they be staged for someone else’s idea of a good life. Your home should make sense for you.

3) Eliminate things that are unattractive or don’t stir your senses in some way. Avoid random decorations. Most everything should have a story that makes you happy or reminds you of a special time or person. Or at least things should be attractive and facilitate your life in some way. If it is useless or ugly, get rid of it.

4) Make ordinary things beautiful. Most of our life is spent doing ordinary things. Those
ordinary activities should inspire our homes even more than the few highlights of our life. Everyday we spend time eating, cleaning, bathing, sleeping, working. Take the time to make these every day experiences more organized and pleasing to your eye.

5) Don’t be afraid to ask for help in creating a beautiful home, but be careful who you ask. Friends mean well but can confuse their personal taste with what is appropriate for you.
Friends don’t have to love your home. Designers can be a wealth of information and ideas but can also lead you to spend money you don’t need to spend and end up creating a home that reflects their style rather than yours. Find someone who understands what you are trying to achieve and can use what you already have and love to create something authentic to you.
Not everyone is naturally inclined to be able to arrange things in attractive ways–we all have our strengths. Don’t feel badly if you need some help in organizing or pulling your belongings together so that you can truly love your home.

Who inspires you?

Oh, I have a lot of people who inspire me on different levels. People who inspire me to stay true to who I am and yet challenge me to be the best I can be would be high on my list! Women inspire me by living a beautiful life (in their own unique ways) and are especially inspiring when they are giving and gracious enough to share their experience with others.
Interior designer and author Alexandra Stoddard is a kindred spirit in that way. She definitely inspires me.

What inspires you?

Simple things can inspire me. A note from a friend or reader of my blog. A kiss from my 7-year-old son. Seeing my daughters blossoming in to beautiful young women. My husband. Reading. Museums. Travel. Knowing that God has a purpose for me and I want to be faithful and useful. Seeing beautiful things around me. Mementos that remind me of happy memories. Sunshine. Being creative. Nature. Music.

Thanks so much for the opportunity to share!

Melissa Michaels, The Style Coach, is an interior design consultant and author. Melissa is passionate about helping others refine their homes and find beauty in every day living. Melissa writes extensively about lifestyle and interior design for her own popular blog and is a monthly columnist for Christian Women Online.

Visit her website at www.theinspiredroom.net

*  Books by Alexandra Stoddard:
Time Alive: Celebrate Your Life Every Day

Creating a Beautiful Home

Living a Beautiful Life: 500 Ways to Add Elegance, Order, Beauty and Joy to Every Day of Your Life

You Are Your Choices: 50 Ways to Live the Good Life

I just found the greatest post on making gift tags from paper grocery bags and had to share! Here is a slideshow to help you do it and my post about reusing paper bags on OnlineOrganizing.com. Enjoy!

Ready to downsize?  The pioneer of one-day interior redesign, Lauri Ward, has a new book out!  It’s called “Downsizing With Style“.  The book is about living well in smaller spaces.  Mine is in the mail, and I can’t wait to read it.  I’m all about living well with less (space, stuff, whatever).

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Love hot chocolate? Me too! I’m going off topic a bit today. Why? Because Aby Garvey threw this most excellent question out there, and I just had to respond! I’m a professed chocoholic (and foodie) – and there is nothing better than a frothy, smooth and silky cup of steaming hot chocolate. Personally, milk and I don’t get along, so I’m a soy kinda girl. My trick is to use 3/4 plain or vanilla soy milk (I prefer Silk) and add 1/4 soy creamer. Yum!

So, if you need a little treat in your office, try one of my hot chocolate favorites on your next coffee break:

#3: Scharfenberger Cocoa: It’s unsweetened, but follow the directions on the back and add a teaspoon of instant espresso. Yum.

#2: Nigella’s Hot Chocolate: What’s not to love about a chef who is gorgeous and engaging, and looks like she actually consumes what she eats. ( I leave the alcohol out, just a personal preference.)

#1: My own (adapted) hot chocolate recipe. Warning: this is for hard core chocolate lovers only.   It’s also not a recipe for those on a diet – you’ve been warned.  It also takes a little effort, but I think it’s well worth it.  Will it be your favorite?  That’s up to you…

Sometimes I think my family thinks I’m a little nutty. They might be onto something, but that’s ok with me. Everyday I take small steps to be more in the “green”. You can too, and here’s a few tips to get you started:

• Less packaging. Whenever possible, buy products with less packaging. This could be meat, poultry and fish with no styrofoam or plastic tray.
• Turn down the thermostat. As the weather gets colder, help your furnace, your wallet and the environment by turning the temperature down and putting on a warm sweater. Better yet, cuddle up to your sweetie.
• Take a day or two off. Group your errands together 2-3 days per week instead of everyday.
• Recycle. Paper, plastic, glass, computers, ink cartridges and cell phones. Need some ideas where to take it all? Go to earth911.org.
• Buy less stuff. Stop and think before you buy. Do you really need it? How long will it last?

So go ahead, get green!

It really is easier than you think. Start with a few things, and change as you go. If you’re just starting out, here are some eco-tips to get your office more “in the green”.

1. Choose green office supplies: Choosing “green” products only takes different choices in the store and online. Most office supply stores carry “green” supplies. It’s pretty easy to find printer paper, filing supplies and binders in ranges of 10-100% recycled content.
2. Sort the mail immediately: As soon as the mail comes in the door, take 30-60 seconds to sort and file it. Junk mail goes right into the recycling bin (or the fireplace basket) and doesn’t pile up. Recycling your junk mail will cut down on the overall trash that is quickly accumulating in landfills (and hopefully makes it into new products!).
3. Get off the junk mail lists: Make your life easier and just get off the direct marketing lists. Keep in mind this does not include companies you have or will do business with in the future. Be sure to use the “opt-out” option with these companies. Here’s a form to help you out: Mail Preference Form
4. Scratch paper: Do you print reports that use a lot of unnecessary paper? use the leftovers for scratch paper. Put it by the phone or wherever you need something to write on. No need to buy separate paper – it’s already at your fingertips!
5. Print smart: Use “draft mode” and double sided printing for less important documents. You’ll use have the paper, your ink cartridges will last longer and you’ll spend less of the greenbacks (bonus!). Also, be sure to recycle your ink cartridges.

For more information:

“Green” office products: http://www.thegreenoffice.com

Learn more about recycling: www.earth911.org

I can’t believe it! My 100th post today! I want to celebrate with a blog roundup and some of the great people I have met (or just love reading their blogs) since I began this blog last year. I have learned so much from all of them, whether directly or indirectly. Here’s a starter list, and by NO means comprehensive:

Monica Ricci: Your Life.Organized Blog

Ariane Benefit: Neat & Simple Living Blog

Disorder2Order Blog

Jeri Dansky: Organizing & Decluttering News

OrganizingLA

Jessica Duquette: It’s Not About Your Stuff Blog

zenhabits

Aby Garvey: Creative Organizing Blog

And this one is just for fun: ChocolateChipped

So, where are you at and what are your favorite blogs dear readers?

Have kids? Or have a need for a sideboard? Love antiques, or want to use what you already have? Here’s a project for you. This was using existing furnishings and accessories, with a few extra supplies.

This is the picture of the desk, with the organized contents below. This particular desk was being used as a sideboard, with a dual purpose of holding kids’ craft supplies. But, it was lacking a little something, and still looked a little cluttered.

With a little “stitch witch”, tension rod and an inexpensive curtain…..

The sideboard now looks like this. Kids’ stuff is hidden but within reach, and now attractive enough for grownups. The whole project was around $10 and 20 minutes!

What’s YOUR redesign challenge?

Ok, so I’m not a professed eco-fanatic, but I have been working toward a more eco-conscious life and consumer habits.  There are so many great options out there to do our part and conserve less energy (getting our furnace fixed two months ago was definitely a move in the right direction!  But that’s another story……)  So, as I am moving toward producing less carbon in the environment, I thought I would share some links for all to enjoy.

Eco-Relocation:  Organizing LA’s blog post on relocation

Natural Home Magazine:  Check out the Jan/Feb 2007 issue’s eco-friendly storage options.

Ideal Bite’s blog:   Fun and quirky blog and newsletter on going green

In response to Seth Godin’s challenge to blog about CF bulbs, here is my story…..and I’m stickin to it!

So, I had a really bad experience with a mis-programmed thermostat basically blowing out our furnace computer. Let’s not talk about the gory details, suffice to say that wow, if your utility bills are high, call the FIRST time that happens. Enough said……

A little slow, but I came around.

Last year in May, we decided to do a little interior work on our house. At that point, I thought I would try out the CF bulbs. Ok, so I’m a LITTLE slow – I eventually come around. Besides, a contractor told me he didn’t particularly care for them, but what a misconception I had!  I put them in our front hallway (part of the improvements) to see how they went. I felt that in my self-imposed Eco-makeover, I needed to get going on getting our house more into the “green” zone. I’m a voracious recycler, and have been known to pick things out of the trash and place them into the proper bins. However, I digress….

Hello Energy Audit, Goodbye high energy bills!

After, or rather during, the aforementioned Furnace Disaster 2006, I was graced with an Energy Audit from my local utility company. Hello education! Despite my rather insane jealousy over the auditor’s claim to have paid in a year what I had just paid in my last month’s utilities, I learned SO MUCH. I highly recommend anyone do this in their home! In my case, it was free, and I understand this is pretty common. After said audit, the representative bestowed a very useful array of trash and trinkets which included a rash of CF bulbs. I was delighted!! Did you know that there is a CF bulb that is made to not attract bugs? Ok, so it’s yellow, but really, yellow bulb at my front door vs. big “mosquito eaters” joining me thru the front door? NO comparison in my book. Bob (we’ll call him Auditor Man) gave me lots of other sizes and ways to save energy. I have to say that I learned so much! Ok, so maybe I said that already…..And there is some extra joy in my life when I turn on the lights in my house, knowing that the big chunk of the glacier that just fell into the ocean….NOT MY FAULT….

Seriously, get on it….these little CF’s save money and hey, maybe if we all used them, we could make a difference! Afterall, what do you have to lose? Or maybe you like paying for all that extra energy that could power an entire city….