How To Get Rid of Practically Anything!

Not sure where to turn to eliminate stuff at your home or office?  Use this list to get your stuff moving!

  • šElectronics: Best Buy.com, earth911.com
  • šCDs: Swap.com
  • šJunk mail: www.catalogchoice.org
  • šBooks: cash4books.net, BookScouter.com
  • šBeanies: beaniesforbagdad.com, fire station
  • šAppliances: GotJunk
  • šShredding:theshredguy.net

Conquering a To Do List by the Wall Street Journal

Is it really this simple?  Thanks to the Wall Street Journal!

More from this article! http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204296804577124742529431640.html

Dress for Success Send One Suit Drive

It’s that time again!

Kingwood professional organizer Ellen Delap and her company Professional – Organizer.com will be participating in this year’s Dress For Success Houston’s S.O.S. (Send One Suit) Drive.  The effort provides interview suits, confidence boosts and career development to more than 45,000 women in over 75 cities each year.  Dress for Success is a not-for-profit organization that helps low-income women make tailored transitions into the workforce. Each Dress for Success client receives one suit when she has a job interview and a second suit when she gets the job.

 If you would like to contribute, please bring your interview appropriate suit in excellent condition, cleaned, pressed and on a hanger to Kingwood Country Club on March 6, 2012 from 5:00  – 6:30 p.m.  Don’t have suit to donate?  Dress For Success Houston suggests donating $75 toward the cost of a suit for clients over size 14. Receipts for donations will be sent directly by Dress For Success Houston.  For more information call 281-360-3928 or email edelap@professional-organizer.com.

Fire Up Your Biz – Enrich Your Life

I am honored to be a part of an amazing group of presenters, sharing information and more.  Get ready to stop constantly riding the brake on your business and shift into OVERDRIVE!  Listen in for free from your computer, phone or skype!

  • Fire up your personal performance.
  • Unleash your profit potential™.
  • Discover new strategies to manage the demands of running your own business.
  • Get a handle on the minutia and details that prevent you from doing the ‘heavy lifting’ to move your business to the next level.
  • Quiet the ‘fear voices’ and manifest a larger vision for your company.
  • Have a profitable business and time for what’s important to you!
  • Live a richer, more fulfilling life
  • Have powerful support systems that allow you to free up time and grow your business at the same time.
  • And lots more!!  Check out the session descriptions below.

Fire Up Your Biz – Enrich Your Life was born from the 1000s of conversations that we have had with business owners just like you about what holds them back from really going where they want to go with their business.

Join us for the fun and learning!  https://war91778.infusionsoft.com/go/FireUp/EDelap

Important Documents

important papers and vital documents

 

Not long ago, life proceeded smoothly on a regular basis. In the past few years, that’s not the case. Emergencies seem to occur “regularly.”
Life’s emergencies require organization. Whether it’s a natural disaster, the death of a loved one, or evacuation from your home, it’s important to be prepared with your important documents. Gathering these together before an emergency gives you peace of mind.

 

Use this list for a reference to get your important papers in order. Remember, every family and every situation is different. Check with your lawyer and accountant to be sure you include all pertinent papers.

 

There are several ways to keep up with these papers.

  • Keep these papers in a notebook with tabbed slash pockets. No need to punch holes. Label the tabs with the name of the document. There are notebook systems like Life.doc to set up your system.
  • Keep these papers in a fireproof home safe in labeled folders. Your safe is portable, so it can be taken along with you.
  • Scan these papers. You can scan in your papers and keep them safe regardless of your location. Then the information is kept in the cloud. There are no worries about having all the papers with you all the time this way as you can access them wherever and whenever. By scanning, you can digitally share with family, friends and others.

 

 

 Legal

Will, Durable Power of Attorney

Medical Power of Attorney, Living Will/Directive to Physicians/HIPPA release form

Declaration of Guardian and Appointment of Agent to Control Disposition of Remains

Revocable Living Trust

Driver’s license

Safe Deposit Keys and Bank address

Social Security Cards

Birth Certificates, Marriage Certificate, Adoption papers, Divorce papers, Military discharge

Passports

Home

Copies of home and auto insurance, with Insurance Agent name and phone number

Home closing documents

Home Title, Car titles and other Vehicle Titles

Utilities phone numbers and account numbers

Medical

Medical and prescription insurance cards

Allergies

Prescription names and amounts

Doctors names and phone numbers

Financial

Bank names and account numbers

Name of financial adviser and phone number

Investment account numbers

Copy of taxes

Original life insurance policies

Loans and outstanding debts

Credit card copies

Credit reports

Royalties, Certificates of Deposit, Stock Certificates, and other investments

Emergency Contacts

Family and Friends

Home helpers and neighbors that have access to your home

“To be contacted” in case of death or illness

 Miscellaneous

Passwords to all online accounts, as well as answers to security questions

Burial policies, Pre-paid funeral arrangements

 

 

Get started today on gathering your important documents.  You will be so glad you did!

Join us at Kingwood Library: Preparing and Organizing for Life’s Changes on January 12, 2012

 Be prepared for the difficulties and transitions that occur!  Join Certified Professional Organizer Ellen Delap and Tamara Hensarling Paul to learn about important papers and vital documents, what you need and how to organize these.  The program is hosted by Kingwood Public Library on Thursday, January 12 at  1pm. 

Tamara will share not only the important papers, but an important story to remind us all of how these papers are crucial when a disaster occurs.

Ellen will share additional papers and way to organize them in case of an emergency.

Whether you are aging, your parents are aging, or you just want to ease your childdren’s minds, join us for this seminar. 

Free and open to the public.

Calendars designed by Professional Organizers

Our productivity and professional organizer community is filled with creative and resourceful people! I admire their skills in creating calendars that will work for our clients.

Ready Aim Organize Organize Your Life Calendar

Theresa Finnegan has designed a fold out easel, day at a glance calendar filled with different daily organizing tips.  I love this calendar because it shares something new each day and keeps organizing a daily priority. You can purchase it at www.readyaimorganize.com

A Confident Mom 2012 Weekly Household Planner

Susan Heid created this weekly planner as a complete way to organize and clean your home throughout the year.  I love this calendar because is captures all the essentials. You can purchase this planner at http://www.theconfidentmom.com/services/classes-products/household-planner-sales-page/.

Order out Of Chaos Academic Planner

Leslie Josel has created an Academic Planner for middle and high schoolers to not just record but also plan their lives.  I love this calendar because it visually represents all the dimensions for kids.  You can order this calendar at http://www.orderoochaos.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=114&Itemid=70

Organizing and Exercise

I often think of the parallel with organizing and exercise. Both are lifestyle choices that require being  mindful of your priorities. In order to accomplish both, you make decisions about ways to spend your time, as well as committing to a healthier lifestyle. 

Organizing and exercising are best done with a partner.  I love my partners in wellness. I walk with 2 different friends. I do pilates with a great teacher (www.gulfcoastpilates.com). And I go to the gym with my husband. All these partners not only help me be accountable about exercising, I also enjoy the aspect of spending time with them!  Who can help you in a trusted, loving way to take your next step in decluttering or exercising?

In order to truly make organizing or exercising priorities, we must schedule time every day to “just do it.”  A little bite of both organizing and exercise makes a big diff for me! I certainly do not have hours to do either, but I know if I do 30 minutes a day, I can keep things maintained.  Both organizing and exercise are so high on my priorities that I make sure I do these first every day! I set my alarm at 6:30 daily just to walk.  I pick up my clothes, get my car together and make my list of the 3 most important tasks each evening.  How important are these lifestyle choices to you?  When do you do them?

 Think through this parallel and see what comes to mind to empower you to get the job done too!  Think wellness, think health and think transition!