Thank YOU for Your Continued Support

I would like to thank each and every one of you who have supported me and Organize N Refine from the beginning. Your comments, emails, and messages do not go unnoticed. I feel very blessed to have such a great support system filled with such innovative, inspirational, and motivational people. In the next few months you will see new changes to the site, blog, and our overall media presence. I look forward to sharing my growth and success with each and every one of you! God bless.

Goal Organization

Most of us have goals and visions of future accomplishments. At times it may be hard to actualize these thoughts, due to the hustle and bustle of everyday life. However, it is important to prioritize and find balance between acting out your daily routine and creating time to contribute to your future ambitions.

Do you feel overwhelmed by all of your desires, plans, tasks, projects, future ambitions? Do you ever feel like there is so much to do and so little time? Do you find yourself saying "I don't have time for..."? If so, it may be time to Organize N Refine your goals. Goals cannot be effectively executed when left unprioritized. Create a priority checklist of 10 specifically stated short-term goals with a completion date/deadline. Place list somewhere highly visible in your home or office and as you accomplish one goal, check it off the list until all goals have been obtained. Remain diligent and focused in your pursuit of growth.

Remember, time waits for no man. As much as we would like, there will never be more than 24 hours in a day. Today is the day to stop making excuses for what you haven't done and start prioritizing your goals. Only YOU have the power to change your habits.

In order for there to be a change in action, there must be a change in mindset. Is your MIND SET on goal achievement?




CEO, Organize N Refine

Don't Know Where to Start? Start Small.

I've been receiving so many tweets asking for tips on where to start when tackling a space. My friends on twitter have inspired me to blog! A challenge for some may be where to start - where as, for others a challenge may be how to start. Regardless of which category you fall into, the solution is simple: just start!
Yes, it is important to have a plan of action, but it is equally important to not fall into a place of analysis paralysis with productivity. As we all know, in life experiences we can prepare until our brain hurts, but there is noting like getting up and getting started.

Many of my followers have families and feel overwhelmed with the load and responsibility of taking care of home. It is important to remember that family is an inclusive word. Family does not mean "you". Therefore, when things are out of order and the home needs to be cleaned and/or organized, it is vital that you include the family. Assign an area or a room to each child, along with a feasible list of tasks to complete. Assign yourself and your spouse an area, as well. work together as a family unit and create a more comfortable environment for everyone. If you get in the habit of this while the kids are young, you will be less likely susceptible to being viewed as the maid or the butler.

Many tasks are simple, but because we often don't feel like taking action - we make things more complicated. This leads to procrastination, which is the opposite of productivity. Avoid totally neglecting big home or office responsibilities by starting small. Pick a corner, a shelf, a cabinet, or a countertop and begin! Complete a little bit each day and take pictures of your progress. This will give you a visual of where you started and how far you've come. Completing household chores like cleaning the kitchen, dusting the furniture, or doing laundry can potentially be a one day affair, if you are willing to set aside the time to get it done and include the entire family.

For instance, my schedule permits Monday afternoon to be a great "cleaning and errand day." After handling my daily business between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m., I run all errands (note: I create an eList on my cell phone the night before of tasks to complete), I swing by the local store to pick up cleaning supplies, trashbags, or organization tools I may need, and when I arrive home I get started. Typically, I start laundry first because while the clothes are washing and drying, I can focus on other areas. Next, I focus my attention to the kitchen and bathroom, because those are common areas. Lastly, once all clothes are dry, I sort, fold, and hang them in my closet while straightening the bedroom, as well.

I acknowledge that everyone has different priorities and daily responsibilities. However, if you create systems that require you to live in a clean and organized fashion, you'll find that you have less cleaning/straightening up to do during the week. Below are a few ideas that make household tasks less stressful and save time.

1. Use 2 hampers for colors and whites. This allows your clothes to be pre-sorted before doing laundry. If you have a large family, designate a hamper for each person or even better, use 2 hampers for the boys' colors and whites, and 2 hampers for the girls' colors and whites.
2. Use the dishwasher as you go. Each time you use a cup or dish, rinse it out thoroughly, and place into the dishwasher. Once the dishwasher is full, turn it on, and there you have it! This minimizes the chore of washing dishes down to only pots, pans, and glassware that shouldn't be placed in the dishwasher.
3. Make your bed. This may sound like something you tell your 8 year-old, but a neat bed gives the bedroom a neat and orderly appearance. You are less likely to throw things across your bed, if you make it everyday.
4. Keep all cleaning supplies in one spot.
5. Clean off countertops, desks, and dressers before you end your night.
6. Create a To-do list for tomorrow's priorities.
7. Toss all junk mail from the mailbox before entering the house.
8. Shake out mats and small rugs regulary.
9. Clean countertops and load dishwasher immediately dinner.
10. Take out the trash immediately when full.

There are thousands of ways to keep your household clean and orderly. Keep reading our blog, as we continuously provide weekly tips to creating your balanced lifestyle. Thank you twitter friends for the wonderful questions and inspiration. I appreciate you all!

Until We Blog Again....



CEO, Organize N Refine

Tidy Tuesday Tips - Go Paperless

Once again, it's Tidy Tuesday! Today, I would like to share a few tips to help you get started in your transition to a paperless office and household. Reducing the amount of files and paper you have laying around eliminates clutter and gives you a more seamless workspace. Yes, going paperless requires you to rely on technology more, but with constant technological evolution - it's inevitable that eventually, computers, scanners, USB flash drives, and the like will have to become your best friend. Why not make the transition now?

Let's get started!

If you do not already own the following, it will definitely be a wise long-term investment to maintain a paperless environment:

• Computer
• Scanner
• Shredder
• Recycle bin
• USB flash drive - 2GB, 4GB, or 8GB depending on the data load

1. Go paperless

Each bill you receive monthly paper statements for - go to your account online, find the "go paperless" link and click it! Eliminate unecessary mail. If you have been paying the same bill for years, you do not need paper clutter reminders. You know when your bills are due and typically, how much they will be. Everyones' monthly responsibilities are different, therefore, if you have a substantial amount of bills and notices each month, take time to write them on your calender (i.e. May 15 - Sallie Mae: $600) or switch to email reminders. If you choose the latter, be careful to not transform paper clutter into email clutter.



Photo from http://www.officedepot.com/
Ativa® LD60 6-Sheet Cross-Cut Shredder
http://bit.ly/f8NOLK

 2. Sort through all paper files, bills, and scattered documents.

Shred all outdated documents you will not need in the future that contain your personal information. (i.e. electric bill from 2007, 2003 W-2, old notices, credit card offers, etc.) Remember to recycle all shredded documents!

3. Categorize remaining documents.

Create temporary neat piles for the remaining files. (i.e. Car Insurance, Tax Forms, Tuition Receipts, Student Loans, Discover Card, Electric Bill, Mortgage Lender, and the list goes on) Remember, the remaining documents should be current and most likely needed for near-future reference.

4. Create e-folders.

Under the "my documents" section on your computer, create a "new folder" for each category created in the previous step.

5. Scan and save

Once all of your folders are created and labeled, begin scanning each document and saving the uploaded dcoument to the appropriate folder. During this process, it's a great idea to convert all documents to a PDF file. You can learn more about how to convert by clicking here. This can be a bit tedious but remember, you're not trying to create a paperless environment overnight. It's a process. Throughout the scanning process, remember to intermittently stop and back up all files to your USB flash drive.

 6. Back up all files

It is extremely important to invest in a USB flash drive. You can find them just about anywhere from Walmart to CVS. I carry one on my keychain. Upon completion of scanning and converting all documents to PDF's, insert flash drive into the USB port, and back up all important data. Trust me, you'll be glad you did.



Until We Blog Again....



CEO, Organize N Refine

Coupon Control

Whoever invented coupons is a genius! Whoever invented clutter, eh, not so much.
Coupons are a great tool to save money, catch great deals, and enjoy good food, entertainment, and recreation on a budget. The problem comes when the coupon collection becomes disorganized and you have no real view of what can be used and what has expired. Treat your coupons like money. No, you cannot deposit them into your savings account or tip your waiter, but you can create what I like to call, a coupon portfolio. In essence, a simple binder or photo album used to collect and categorize all coupons.

Typically, for photos it is not in your best interest to buy a photo album with sticky pages, because the adhesive can damage them over time - but with coupons it's perfectly ok. Let's get started! Follow the tips below and get your coupons organized so you can begin using them before the expire!

1. Purchase photo album

Visit your local Walmart, Big Lots, or dollar store for an inexpensive photo album. Be sure to purchase one that is fitting to the amount of coupons you save. (i.e. 8 x 10 album with 50 pages, 3 x 5 album with 20 pages) I recommend a larger album because you have space to add more coupons, if necessary.


2. Sort through coupons

The sorting process simply requires you to look through all of your cluttered coupons and toss (recycle) what has expired or what you will never use. If you have a coupon for the Big & Tall store, and you are small & short, TOSS IT! Another option is to give the unexpired coupons away to a friend or relative. However, do not use this as an excuse to hoard the coupons and eventually, recreate coupon clutter.


3. Categorize binder

Label categories throughout the binder providing a guideline for how you will organize the coupons. You can organize them by expiration date, product (i.e. beauty, restaurant, recreation, fashion), or alphabetically.


4. Stock the binder with remaining coupons


These simple steps will help you better organize your coupons. Remember, if there isn't any room to add new coupons, it's time to sort, toss, and make space. To ensure use, consider keeping 1 or 2 coupons to your favorite restaurant or store in your wallet. Continue saving money and using great discounts in an organized fashion!


Until We Blog Again....



CEO, Organize N Refine

Tidy Tuesday Tips

This Tuesday is all about transforming the entrance to your home! Let's get started!

The entrance or foyer of your home is the first area seen upon arrival and the last area encountered upon departure. It is important to set the tone for the rest of the home with an organized and inviting entrance. Here are a few tips to declutter your foyer and develop an entrance that exudes calm and positive energy.

1. Invest in a small shoe rack

Place a small shoe rack by the door, preferably inside the coat closet, if one exists. This allows the family and guests to store a limited number of shoes by the door. What doesn't fit on the rack must be placed in the bedroom closet.


2. If you do not have a coat closet, consider using a coat rack

This is a great storage solution for rain and winter coats, or for storing umbrellas.


3. Consider installing a peg rack for coats, umbrellas, and keys

4. If space allows, place a decorative storage bench in the foyer

The storage bench is great for blankets, newspapers, etc. Depending on the depth of the bench, you could potentially store shoes inside, as well.


5. Invest in a decorative mirror with hanging hooks for keys or umbrellas

This option allows you to add a nice decorative touch with a mirror, while providing a place to hang keys and umbrellas.


6. Revisit the foyer entrance before bed.

Before you retreat to bed, walk through the entrance and take all items that should be stored elsewhere, and put them away in their respective locations. (i.e. mail, excess shoes, etc.)


Until We Blog Again....


CEO, Organize N Refine

Get Rid of the Book Collection Blues

How many of you have books scattered throughout your home: in drawers, cluttered into shelves, ontop of tables, or in the car? Literature is designed to educate, enhance, and stimulate our minds. You should find solace and relaxation in sitting down with a good book. A disorganized book collection takes away from the relaxing literary experience. Also, how many times have you needed a reference tool for a certain topic and couldn't get answers, because you had no clue where the book was amongst the clutter? Today, is a new day and we are going to revamp our book collections together! If you don't think you have a collection, it's because your books are probably not organized collectively in one common place. Follow the list of instructions below and get your books in order. Are you ready?

1. Pull all books off the shelves, tables, out of the car, etc.

This allows you to physically see exaclty how many books you really own and how much shelving space is necessary to store them properly.


2. Quickly flip through each book. Remove items, such as bookmarks, money, sticky notes, etc.

You would be surprised how much money and how many lost documents are found inside of books, used as a bookmark. I'd hate to bust any bubbles, but your 2009 W-4 is not the best idea for a bookmark. :) Anything that was not attached to the book when it was purchased should be removed.

To make things more interesting, all money found, if any must be donated to a charity of your choice. Those funds could be better allocated,  if they were simply a "place holder" in a book you haven't read in years.

3. Seperate wanted books from unwanted books.

Books from your personal collection are a great, inexpensive gift idea for a loved one. Sort through your collection and DONATE or GIFT all books you no longer need. Place these books neatly in a box and drop them off or ship them to a great literary organization

Here are a few national programs dedicated to increasing literacy through donated books:

   - http://www.housingworks.org/
   - http://www.booksthroughbars.org/
   - http://www.booksforafrica.org/
   - http://www.craigslist.org/
   - http://www.justgive.org/
   - http://www.bookcrossing.com/


4. Write down titles and authors of all damaged books. Then, recycle them.

All books that are damaged or torn to the point of being illegible must go! There is no point of holding onto items with no purpose or use. If the book is worth having, jot down the author and title, visit your local bookstore, and repurchase.


5. Thoroughly clean the shelves with furniture polish or all-purpose cleaner.

If you do not have a shelving system in your home or do not own bookshelves, there are several inexpensive shelving options. Visit your local Target, Walmart, Container Store, Big Lots, or even http://www.craigslist.com/ for great shelving solutions.


6. Organize your collection onto the shelf.

Decide how you would like to organize your collection. There is no set way to categorize your books, because everyone's collection is different. Choose a system that is individually unique and stick with it.
Here are a few cateegory ideas:

   - by title
   - by genre
   - by size
   - by author
   - by subject

Be sure to keep it simple. Overcomplicating this process is a sure way to end up disorganized in a matter of weeks. Personally, I organize my books by genre and size. For example: Self-help (genre), tallest book starting from the left of the shelf, decreasing in book size to the right.


7. Consider labeling the shelves based on your previously selected categories.
Use a hand-held label maker and neatly label each part of the shelf that represents a new category (i.e.  Authors A - C, Titles D - G, Horror, Romance, Kids, Reference)


Get rid of your book collection blues and follow these steps! Please, comment below on your progress or tweet me @organizenrefine on how this worked for you. Enjoy your day friends!


Until We Blog Again....

CEO, Organize N Refine