Posts Tagged ‘Free Stuff’

Get Motivated with John Lubbock!

Posted on: July 18th, 2016 by Cathy Mendler No Comments

John Lubbock Quote

 

Please share your favourite quote with us on our FACEBOOK PAGE.



TACKLING SUMMER PROJECTS

Posted on: July 13th, 2016 by Cathy Mendler No Comments

Cathy Mendler SUMMER IS HERE!

Summer has arrived–with its high temperatures and humidity.

Whether you’re taking day trips or a lengthy vacation, going to the beach or just trying to stay cool, remember to have fun! And don’t forget to stay hydrated!

Let’s get started and turn over another leaf! 

TACKLING SUMMER PROJECTS

Warm summer days make it easier to work on outdoor projects.  

Planning

Be realistic about how many projects you can handle. If you’ve chosen a stay-at-home vacation this year, you don’t want to spend your whole time working!

Books

“I still think of summer as the best time to read for fun.”  Margaret Haddix

Before pulling up a lawn chair and grabbing a book you haven’t read yet, sort through your bookcase. Donate your used books to friends, neighbours or your favourite charity.

Organize your books by category, alphabetically or by author. Leave some space on your shelves for new purchases. Or sign up for a library card and borrow books–saving yourself some money!

Magazines

Summer can be the perfect time to get caught up with your magazine reading. When you only have a few minutes to read, short magazine articles are often best.

When you pick up a magazine at the store or your new issue arrives in the mail, put it in your designated reading area. If you haven’t read an issue by the time the next one arrives, you probably won’t read it–give it to a friend or recycle it.

Photographs/Movies

When you get together with family and friends–especially if a reunion is on your schedule–spend a couple of hours reminiscing and sort through your old photos. There may be photos you don’t wish to keep, but someone else might appreciate them.

Photographs can be organized in a number of ways. Organize them by child, family, friends, decades, vacations, etc. Store photographs in mylar albums or acidfree photo boxes; plastic or painted metal boxes can cause photos to deteriorate.

Transfer old home movies onto DVDs. There are a number of businesses that provide this service if you don’t want to attempt it yourself. It’s also a great gift idea.

Gardening

Spending time in your garden is a wonderful way to enjoy the fresh air. Take photos of your garden during the summer months. If you like to plan next year’s garden during the winter, photos will come in handy. Make some notes; they’ll help you decide what you liked or what you’d like to do differently next year.

Garage

Organizing the garage can be a very big undertaking. Click here for our tips.

Outdoor Projects

Make a list of all your outdoor projects–paint garage doors, stain deck or refinish a chair. Our warm weather never seems to last long enough to accomplish everything we want to do. 

Reward Yourself

The best part about summer projects is that you get to spend some time outside. Plan a fun activity for the whole family–head to your favourite place for ice cream, a picnic in the park or an outing to the beach–after the hard work is finished.

Until next month,

P.S.  Do YOU or someone you know need a professional organizer? TAKE OUR TEST and find out for yourself today!



Checklists

Posted on: July 4th, 2016 by Cathy Mendler No Comments

 

Get Checking...

 

Check out Cottage Life’s article “How to pack for a canoe trip.”

Don’t forget to check out our Vacation Planning Checklist as well as our Packing Checklist.



How to Plan for a PRODUCTIVE DAY!

Posted on: June 27th, 2016 by Cathy Mendler No Comments

Get Productive...

If you’re itching to get outside to enjoy a beautiful day, check out “How to plan for a productive day.”

The sooner you get your work done, the sooner you can head outside!

 



Get Motivated by Joshua Becker

Posted on: June 21st, 2016 by Cathy Mendler No Comments

Writer Joshua Becker, who is interviewed in Minimalism, shares 10 Images to Help Inspire Simplicity in Your Life.

Please share your favourite with us on our FACEBOOK PAGE.



Strawberries have arrived!

Posted on: June 15th, 2016 by Cathy Mendler No Comments

CAN YOU SAY STRAWBERRIES?

Strawberries are on store shelves now, and they never seem to be around very long. Support your neighbourhood market and purchase local fresh produce. In Southwestern Ontario, we are very fortunate that our farmers provide us with a tremendous variety of fruits and vegetables throughout the summer.

How are you celebrating Canada Day? Check out Kraft’s Canadian Flag Cake.

For more recipes, check out our GET HEALTHY archives.



MINIMALISM

Posted on: June 9th, 2016 by Cathy Mendler No Comments

Cathy Mendler SUMMER’S ALMOST HERE!

Who doesn’t love the warm weather? It’s hard to resist the temptation to be outside when it’s nice.

On the May 24 weekend, I was able to enjoy a few days of rest and relaxation at a friend’s cottage on beautiful Lake Temagami. It truly felt like summer!

The first day of summer is just about here. Kids are getting excited about the last day of school. People are trading in their socks and shoes for sandals or flip flops. The good weather never seems to last long enough in Canada. Enjoy it when you can!

So what do professional organizers do for fun? Last week my local POC chapter learned about apps to help our clients organize their lives. (I’ll share more about those apps in future editions.)

MINIMALISM

After our app learning session, we headed to downtown Toronto to attend a screening of “Minimalism: A Documentary About The Important Things” in which Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus discuss living a meaningful life with less stuff. They sum up minimalism as “a tool to rid yourself of life’s excess in favor of focusing on what’s important–so you can find happiness, fulfillment and freedom.”

Josh and Ryan made a conscious decision to quit their high-paying corporate jobs, pay off their sizeable debt, consume less and pursue their passion. Embracing minimalism has enabled them to find “lasting happiness…through life itself.”

How much does it cost to keep up with the Joneses? Did you know that advertising/marketing budgets directed at children has reached 2 billion dollars per year. That’s downright frightening!

Every day consumers are bombarded with messages to do this or need that. You have the power to determine how your hard-earned dollars are spent. Are you a mindful consumer?

As a professional organizer, I’ve witnessed clients who feel so much better after reducing the excess in their homes. It’s like a burden has been lifted off their shoulders.

What can you do? Ask yourself these questions:

  • Am I living my ideal life?
  • What’s most important in my life?
  • What can I simplify?
  • What can I reduce or eliminate?

Take some time to reflect–either by yourself or with those closest to you–and unearth your true purpose.

There’s no time like the present to lighten up your life!

Until next month,

P.S.  Do YOU or someone you know need a professional organizer? TAKE OUR TEST and find out for yourself today!



Get Motivated… by Israel Broussard

Posted on: May 19th, 2016 by Cathy Mendler No Comments

“I’m the type to over-analyze everything. If I was to rob a house, I’d have a checklist to make sure nothing goes wrong.”

Israel Broussard – American actor

Think of how a checklist(s) could simplify your life. Please share your ideas with us on our BLOG or FACEBOOK PAGE.



THE VALUE OF A CHECKLIST

Posted on: May 12th, 2016 by Cathy Mendler No Comments

Cathy Mendler HAPPY SPRING–FINALLY!

The warm weather is finally upon us, the spring flowers are in bloom, and the “May 24 weekend” (as we like to call it in Canada) is just around the corner. Get outside and enjoy it whenever you can!

On a personal note–Congratulations to Melissa and Patrice who welcomed their baby boy Clément on April 19! I was thrilled to become a great aunt.

THE VALUE OF A CHECKLIST

When you start a task or project, do you jump right in and get started–without a plan? Are you satisfied with the outcome? Is it what you had hoped? If not, take the time to create a plan.

Time spent planning can produce amazing results. Yes, it will take some time to create the original checklist, but it will save you valuable time down the road. Having a plan should reduce your sense of being overwhelmed too!

A checklist is a great tool for repetitive processes–big or small. For large projects, you may only be able to use a checklist for part of a project.  And remember, your checklist is not carved in stone. Consider it a work in progress, and revise it as required.

Do you own a business or work in a business that participates in trade shows? Are you always scrambling at the last minute getting ready? Do you inevitably forget to bring something with you? Click here for my Trade Show Checklist.

Don’t forget to take a look at our “Get Checking” archives too!

P.S.  Do YOU or someone you know need a professional organizer? TAKE OUR TEST and find out for yourself today!



Yummy Salad!

Posted on: May 6th, 2016 by Cathy Mendler No Comments

     HEALTHY RADISH, FENNEL AND PARMESAN SALAD

             

                  Pair this yummy salad with a healthy meal!

INGREDIENTS

•    2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
•    1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
•    2 teaspoons whole-grain mustard
•    coarse salt and ground black pepper
•    1 bulb fennel, cored and thinly sliced, plus 1/4 cup fronds
•    5 radishes, thinly sliced
•    3 tablespoons freshly shaved Parmesan cheese

PREPARATION

1. Whisk together oil, lemon juice, and mustard. Season with salt and
pepper.

2. Toss dressing with fennel bulb and radishes, and adjust seasoning if
necessary. Top with Parmesan and fennel fronds.


For more recipes, check out our GET HEALTHY archives.