Lists... and more lists!

I am a list-maker. I write them on notepads, in my calendar, on the back of old notices from school... and even emails to myself. I get great satisfaction writing them and then crossing off things as I go along. (I have even been known to write something on there I have already done just so I can cross something off the list right away. Ahhhh, the pride of accomplishment!... and the power of a pen stroke....

Tonight at my computer I was consolidating the half completed lists so I was ready to start my week fresh with a one, new "to do" list when I simply had to laugh out loud. There still waiting to be crossed out was this -

WASH CHOPIN AND ABERLIN

Why is this so funny?

Chopin is the dog my older daughter is currently dog sitting and Aberlin in my younger daughter. The fact that I would group them together in one thought made me laugh and laugh!

The good news is that they only share a line on my "to do" list... and not the same bath water!

Curious....then grossed out

Have you ever been appalled yet wickedly intrigued at the same time? Last night when I was picking over the discount bins at a store I saw just the thing that made me appalled and intrigued both at once. (By the way - you do look in those bins, right!? There are major organizational treasures hiding in there!)

There on the shelf was a brightly colored box of sour candy coated raisins. And here is the best part - the makers of these disgusting treats were proud to claim that the product contained no refined sugar ...and were being marketed as a "smart choice" for healthy kids!

It seems like an idea gone totally wrong to me. I picked up the box and even laughed out loud to someone passing with their cart. It should have been a clue when they had been marked down from 99 cents, to 69 cents and then finally to 24 cents.

Of course I bought a pack. How could I pass up such a bizarre deal??

Sitting in the parking lot I tried one. Only one... and that was enough. I normally don't make it a practice to spit things out preschooler-style but I did! I guess my "intrigued" voice spoke louder than my "appalled" sensibilities. Never again! :-}

Holiday Madness

This year really takes the cake!

I know that stores like to make us feel like we need, need, need things but this really is going too far. While strolling down the holiday aisle of a major big box store I saw Fall, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's AND Valentines Day items all at the same time!

As your friendly professional organizer, I beg you not to shop until you drop this season. Consider how you can celebrate these holidays other than buying something. Your closets, drawers and storage areas will thank you!

Hand-me-downs!?!?!?!

I am a major thrift shop junkie. There should really be a support group from people like me. The thought of finding a treasure in what looks like a pile of junk is better than going to Tiffany and Co. Truly!

What is EVEN BETTER than a thrift shop? Hand-me-downs.
Those big plastic bags from friends and family holding unknown gems are even more thrilling to me.

...BUT BEWARE! Those same bags of hand-me-downs can be a curse too! Accepting these "gifts" from others can get complicated. You don't need to be the central dumping station for anyone simply because you have children of a certain size.

If you chose to accept them - here is what to do. Sort the clothes immediately into three piles - keep, donate and trash. Once you do that place the keepers directly into the laundry, trash the throwaways, and bag up the donation items. Place them on the front passenger seat of the car. If they go in the trunk, they will stay there too long!

Keep in mind that it IS okay to decline hand-me-down offers. You shouldn't feel obligated to add to the (possible) piles of clutter already spilling out in unwanted places. Gently say that you have all that you need this season, thank you!