Blog & Video

Organize, Simplify, Solve. “If a home doesn’t make sense, nothing does.” ~ Henrietta Ripperberger

Give Yourself a Break

Sometimes we all just need a quick break.  Here’s an idea to help you break free from whatever has you stuck.  Cut out the labels in the image below, and place them in a “Give Yourself a Break jar.”  When you feel the urge to take a break, write down on a sticky note what you will do when you return from the break, then pick a slip from the jar and do it.  After you’ve had your moment, return to the task on your sticky note.  To download a printable pdf version of this posting, please click on this

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Irish Blessings

I hope everyone enjoyed being Irish for just a day! You don’t have to be Irish to appreciate blessings, good wishes and  pride in your heritage. My celebration, this year, was less about drinking green beer and more about reflecting on the blessings I received as the result of a very brave young couple making a hard voyage to start a new life. My grandparents, George and Nora Lemon came to America from Ireland in the 1920’s after my grandfather fought in the Irish regiment in Africa during WWI. They came to Baltimore seeking a better life. George worked as a landscaper and Nora sewed

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Looking Back…Moving Forward

An Empty Nester Organizes The summer of three kids at home has ended with the special significance of the twenty two year old moving to Baltimore, the twenty year old going back to college and then studying abroad in the spring, and the youngest going to college for the first time. This is all happening the same month the announcement of the first grandchild is made. By my calculations that leaves me and my beloved, empty nesters, expecting. So what does a mother-of six, artist and professional organizer do to adapt to these changing circumstances? Organize, of course! Its’ time

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Healthy New Year!

Did you resolve to get healthier this year? Make it easier by getting organized first. To have a healthy body* you need to eat healthy, nutritious meals. To avoid picking up dinner at MacDonald’s or buying packaged dinners, you need a simple meal plan, time to prepare, and an efficient kitchen. It’s easier to chop vegetables when the counter is clear of mail and school papers. Eating healthy meals can help you achieve weight loss too. Other ways to trim down are to burn calories with a regular cleaning and home maintenance routine. Simplifying systems can help minimize calorie intake from stress

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Richer, Smarter and Better Looking

Is it too early to talk holiday gift giving?  Nope, not if you want to avoid stress and enjoy the festivities. Here’s another tip: If, when you ask someone what they want for Christmas, they answer, “I want to be richer, smarter and better looking,” call me, because that’s just what I do! Here’s how: Richer Good organizational systems help you get richer by creating less waste. How much food are you throwing away from your refrigerator each month from lack of planning? How many expired items are in your pantry? How much money are you spending eating out? Yikes…that really adds

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Living and Staging…the Vacation Scenario

Simple vacations are my favorite. I like them easy to get to, affordable, and not so much work while I’m away, please. So, a drive to the beach and a weekly rental can really satisfy. I’m happy to cook simple meals in order to keep costs down. When the kids were young, eating in was often easier  than dining out. One summer, while spending a week in a brand new condo in Bethany, I took notice of how much simpler it was to fix dinner when the only supplies in the kitchen were just exactly what was needed to prepare

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It’s Not Easy Being Green

    Green is the new annoying…. I just got recycling down! Not only are we expected to care for our families, be loving spouses, work or volunteer, eat healthfully, exercise regularly, discover our spiritual path, attend girls night out and be knowledgeable in wine and food parings, we are to do all this while saving the planet. Something’s gotta give…we’re not superheroes. As an organizer, I’ve witnessed the negative effects of we-expect- too- much- of -ourselves syndrome. Being unrealistic about what we can accomplish can leave us in a state of inertia where very little gets done or anything

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Groundhog Blues

So what does a groundhog know? What a great character… a ground hog that predicts our wintry fate. No matter how slightly, we all love to believe in the possibility of a few less weeks of cold weather. We’re not gullible…but gee it’s fun to fantasize! (Punxsutawney Phil was off big time this year.) Fantasizing can take us to some great places, but left unchecked our creative minds can lead us down the wrong path, as well. For instance, how are those New Years resolutions going? Were you just a little unrealistic about what you hoped to achieve?After spending some time consulting with

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Getting the Biz

At my mentoring group this morning, Bonnie reminded us that the successful business person should think: God, Family, Networking. I’d like to squeeze a few more words between family and networking, so I look for alternative ways to drive business to me. This new website is a great asset…thank Chelsea…and now I’ve found a way to get my website found! I’m so happy I’ve found Thumbtack.com <a href=”http://www.thumbtack.com/md/arnold/personal-organizers/professional-organizer”>personal organizer</a>. It’s a great way to communicate my message out there and help connect me to my favorite types of clients.

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Organize to Entertain

  The holidays are the time to gather with friends and family. We enjoy conversation, laughter and togetherness. We reminisce the past and reveal our plans for the future.  Being the one who brings this together offers great satisfaction and appreciation. Yet many of us hesitate to do so. Planning a party may seem too over whelming, with too many hurdles to overcome. But once the desire to entertain is moved up the priority list, a strategy can be devised to achieve this goal. Less is More- the simpler entertaining is, the more likely you will do it. Reduce stress

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A Fish Out of Water

There were certain aspects of marketing I had been avoiding… namely the learning about it and doing it parts.  I love organizing and helping others, I approach running TLC Home like I ran a large household, but getting the business has been, well… an annoyance. There is not one marketing task natural to my skill sets.  With no prior training or natural talent, I have been slogging through this essential part of business building from the beginning. This September and October were designated a marketing season for my business. I’ve gotten assistance, a mentor, and taken classes. I’ve begun writing,

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