Here are two questions to ask before buying containers:

1. What do I need to store? If you can’t specifically answer this question while standing in the container isle, then you’re not ready to buy just yet. Instead, go home and do some decluttering. Let go of items you no longer use, need or love. In the process you may find that you empty some perfectly good storage containers for the items you do need to store. Or you may find that you can clearly identify homeless items that truly could benefit from a storage container.
2. Where will I put the container? Once you have identified specific items that need to be stored, next think about where it makes sense to keep them. Do you have similar items already stored somewhere in your home? Perhaps you have some new Holiday decorations that are in need of a home. Is there space for them (and the storage bin you’ve been eyeballing) on a shelf in your basement next to your other holiday decorations? Identifying the primary storage such as the shelf, cabinet, or closet where your items and new container will live is a critical step in creating an organized space. It will help you ensure you buy a container that fits the contents you need to store as well as the location where the container will live.

Without asking these questions first, containers can actually add to your clutter instead of helping you be more organized. But with these two questions tucked in your back pocket, containers can be a handy tool in your organizing toolkit.

Happy organizing!

The post Why Containers Won’t Make You Organized appeared first on simplify 101.

The start of a New Year is a natural time to make a fresh start. But how do you avoid the resolution trap, where you start with great enthusiasm only to find your motivation waning after just a few weeks? Here’s a simple plan you can use to create a fresh start and stay motivated along the way.

Make a list of goals. Start by writing a quick list of what you want. Don’t worry if your list feels more like a to-do list at the start. Getting those mundane tasks out of your head will help you get to the heart of what you really want — your true goals. It can help when setting goals to think about the various areas of your life such as relationships, health and fitness, home, career, finances, etc. Having goals that represent various areas of your life will also help you create balance in your life.

Figure out what’s blocking you. If you’re struggling to come up with a list of goals, brainstorm what’s standing in your way. Perhaps you’re feeling overwhelmed by an already too long to-do list, or maybe the clutter in your home makes it feel impossible to move forward on anything. Once you have a feel for what is standing in your way, make clearing this block your very first goal.

Dedicate time to make progress. Once you have a feel for the fresh start you want to make, think about the cadence of your weekly schedule. Where are blocks of time when you can work on your goals? If you have a 9 to 5 that’s more like a 7 to 7, then weekends may be the best place to find dedicated time to work on your goals. Get as specific as possible, such as scheduling time on Tuesday and Thursday evenings for a workout and Saturday mornings for making progress on your decluttering goal. Be realistic about your schedule and the actual time you have. Schedule your most important goals first, knowing you can come back to your list once some of your goals have been accomplished. Creating a realistic game plan that prioritizes your most important goals will help you maintain your motivation going forward.

Bite size the big goals. Another way to stay motivated is to bite size your big goals. For example, if you want to organize your whole house, bite size this into specific rooms, and then areas within that room. By focusing solely on one small area of your home at a time, you’ll feel less overwhelmed and get a greater sense of accomplishment as you check your smaller goals off your list.

Establish check-in points. Pull out your calendar and schedule specific blocks of time to check in on your goals. Think of these check-ins as opportunities to take stock of the progress you’ve made and then reassess. During these check-ins, do a gut check. Do you still feel energized and excited about your goals? If not, consider diverting your attention to other goals for a period of time so you feel reenergized and motivated to keep going!

Celebrate your victories. Finally, celebrate your victories big and small throughout the year. This step is one of the best ways to stay motivated as you continue moving forward.

P.S. Don’t forget – now is the time to get started on your fresh start with simplify 101’s online classes. Get started today!

The post How to Make a Fresh Start (and Keep Going!) appeared first on simplify 101.

While out shopping on Small Business Saturday, I came across an idea that would help reduce the mess that comes after Christmas morning. It’s that moment when you’re looking around at all of the new stuff and wondering where in the world it’s all going to go. This is particularly tough if you have small kiddos, who get lots of new toys from Santa when their toy boxes are already filled.

So what’s a solution? The “Old Toys for Santa” bag. The idea is simple. Get a really big bag and have your children fill it with old toys they no longer play with. Santa picks them up on Christmas Eve and either delivers them to other kiddos, or takes them back to his workshop for next year. I think this is a brilliant idea because, really, what kid doesn’t want to help Santa? 

I saw the bag pictured above at a local shop called Where They Roam. But other versions are available online, like this one from Pottery Barn.

The bag is admittedly a bit pricey, so you could look for a large cotton Santa Bag or add a drawstring to a king size pillowcase, and attach a note to Santa like the one above.

If you no longer have young kids at home, you can still get in on the fun. Grab your own very large sack, and as you are decorating or picking out what to wear for holiday events, take notice of items that you no longer love. Simply drop them into the bag and when it’s full, deliver to your favorite charity. Won’t it feel great to get a jump start on January’s decluttering and organizing way ahead of time? It sure will. 

Happy Holidays!

P.S. Don’t forget about our big holiday organizing sale. Every single online class is at least 60% off! Shop now >>>

The post A Fun Way To Reduce Post-Holiday Clutter appeared first on simplify 101.

For the 13th time, it’s back to school season in the Garvey household. In just two short weeks, I’ll be sending a senior (!) and a sophomore back to school. The process of getting everyone organized and ready for the school year is much easier now than it was in the early days. There are fewer school supplies to buy. We also wait to buy fall clothes until closer to the cooler temperatures, just to hold out for any last minute growth spurts or changes in fashion preferences. But one of the biggest reasons back to school is easier now is due to tried and true organizing systems. Here are my top five organizing systems for back to school:

Command Central Binder. Also know as a household binder or reference binder, this system houses paperwork that you want or need to refer to on a regular basis. It’s a great place to stash an extra copy of the school schedule for older kids, or the lunch menu and classroom policies for younger children. If you don’t yet use a Command Central Binder, now’s a terrific time to set one up. Here’s a link to a free step-by-step guide to setup your own household binder.

File basket. My file basket is a great compliment to the command central binder. I use it to stash coupons (great for back-to-school shopping trips), my menu planner / grocery list template, and there’s a folder for each child to stash frequently accessed items (like my daughter’s driver’s permit!) I used to keep my file basket on the counter, but recently moved it to a small table off my kitchen, creating a mini command center.

Drop zone. Having a place to drop items as you walk in the door, is one of the most effective strategies I know for keeping surface clutter under control. Our drop zone is equipped with hooks for backpacks and jackets, and cubbies for stashing gym bags and gear for after school activities.

Supply cabinet / homework center. Our supply cabinet is much more streamlined than it used to be (less need for colored paper, crayons and glue) but the system has definitely stood the test of time. This blog post shows you how to create a homework cabinet and this post has a checklist for your homework station.

Planner / Calendar. Finally, the glue that holds it all together is a calendar or planner. If your kids are younger, a family wall calendar is a terrific way to make sure everyone knows where to be when. As your kids get older, assign them the responsibility of adding their events and due dates to the family calendar. This way they’ll have basic time management and planning skills which will set them up for success when they receive school-issued planners for tracking homework assignments and test dates. This is the stage we’re at now, so I use my planner to track school holidays and school-related events I’ll be attending (college planning seminars!). My kids use a combination of the school-issued planners and phone calendars to keep track of school deadlines, after school activities and work schedules.

So there you have it, my top five tried and true systems for an organized school year. What keeps you family on track and organized? Thanks for sharing!

The post Get Organized for Back to School: 5 Tried and True Systems appeared first on simplify 101.

I started by pinning color palettes on Pinterest on my Home Decorating Ideas board and scrolling through old pins that I’ve been collecting for several years. Browsing through this board makes it pretty clear what I like: a neutral foundation with pops of aquas, greens and yellows.

As helpful as this was, I was still struggling to to translate my Pinterest inspiration into specific paint colors. So I turned to a friend for help. She suggested browsing through magazines. How old school, right? But it was oh so helpful!

I collected all of my remaining Better Homes and Gardens magazines, and started flipping and tearing. I came across many color palette ideas, as well as many tips for selecting colors for your home. One of my favorite tips was to create an inspiration board. I loved this idea because it would allow me to collect all of my favorite ideas into one visual collection, and add in paint chips, flooring samples and fabric as well. 

I happened to have an unused cork board, so after editing my clippings, I grabbed some scissors, thumbtacks, paint swatches, hardwood floor samples, and my cork board, and crafted an old-school pin board. Want to take a peek? Here it is:

This is the general look and feel I’d like to go for in my kitchen and great room. In my lower level, I’d like to go with some even brighter pops of color (deeper blues and add in some red as well.)

My next step will be to purchase paint samples, and paint some swatches right on the wall. If you’ve never tried this before, it’s a terrific way to see your paint colors in a variety of lighting situations so you’re sure to select a color you’ll love anytime of day.

After that, I’ll just have to figure out what to paint first, upstairs or downstairs. I’ll keep you posted on my selections and progress.

What is your process for selecting paint colors? Do you have any tips to share? I’d love to hear from you!

Happy refreshing!

The post How to Choose Paint Colors appeared first on simplify 101.

Did you snag your Ultimate Homemaking Bundle? If not, hurry because for two days only it’s back! (And I really don’t want you to miss out because I think you will absolutely love this!) Here’s the low down. The bundle includes 93 eBooks and eCourses on all of your favorite topics like organizing, time management, food and cooking, budgeting and much, much more. The contents are valued at over $1,000 but you can snag your bundle for just $29.97. That’s like 97% off. Crazy, amazing deal, if you ask me.

Still not convinced you’ll love this bundle? Here are 7 more reasons why you will love the Ultimate Homemaking Bundle.

1. You can pick and choose the resources that are best for you and your goals. The bundle includes 93 eBooks and eCourses. This could sound a little bit overwhelming, unless you think of it as buying access to your own eLibrary. You can “check out” items from your library as you want them. And because the bundle is priced so well, you certainly don’t have to feel like you need to read all the books or do all of the courses. Instead, pick one that addresses your needs right now. Do it, enjoy it, and then, pick the next one to dig into. You have a year to download the eBooks and take the eCourses, but once you download them, they’re yours to keep forever.

2. You’ll get amazing bonuses! As if 93 resources wasn’t enough, the bundle team added in some pretty incredible bonuses. Including FREE Mrs. Meyer’s Dish Soap, Mrs. Meyer’s Multi Surface Spray, Grove Collaborative Spray Bottle, Grove Collaborative Scrubber Sponges and FREE 60-day VIP trial with FREE shipping from Grove Collaborative ($30 value)

3. You’ll find out how to regain control of your time. If you’ve always wanted to take my It’s About Time class but haven’t yet, you’ll definitely want to snag a bundle. That’s because the written materials from It’s About Time are included in the bundle! What this means is you can get It’s About Time for 40% off the regular price, PLUS have access to the other 92 other incredible resources. All of which means one thing: now is the time to regain control of your time and to-do list!

4. You’ll love exploring Tsh Oxenreider’s Upstream Field Guide. ​This 8 ­lesson Upstream Field Guide eCourse will help you discover who you really are, hone in on your purpose, and create a life that makes more sense. (Love that!) The regular price for this eCourse is $59 which means if you purchase the bundle you can get the course for half off! (And still, the other 92 things!)

5. You’ll love clearing the clutter. Since you’re here at simplify 101, I know you love clearing the clutter, so this one is a no-brainer. Included in the bundle is Ruth Soukup’s 31 Days to a Clutter Free Life where you’ll get inspired and empowered to clear the clutter that is filling your home, mind, and schedule.

6. You’ll love the bundle because other women like you love it, too! I’d like you to meet Jennifer, Jessica and Charity. They are just a few of more than 40,000 people who made the investment in a previous year’s edition of The Ultimate Homemaking Bundle. Here’s what they had to say…

7. Finally, you’ll love the 100% money back guarantee. Once you snag your bundle, you can spend the first 30 days looking through the resources to see what you think. If you’re not completely satisfied, you can get a full, no questions asked refund. So what do you have to lose? Not a thing.

Just remember, this deal ends in two days, so be sure to check out all that’s included and snag your bundle today. You don’t want to be kicking yourself  for missing out. So go here now to learn more and get your bundle!

P.S. If you’re on the fence, you definitely want to purchase today, because on June 3rd you simply can’t purchase the bundle. Remember, there’s a 30 day money back guarantee…so go for it! You won’t regret it.

The post 7 Reasons You’ll Love the Ultimate Bundle appeared first on simplify 101.

Focus on just one thing.

This can be so incredibly difficult to do, especially when you feel as if you have a million things you need to do. But, giving yourself permission to focus on just one thing at a time, will actually help you get more done and faster.

This is also an incredibly useful strategy if you’re feeling overwhelmed by clutter or your to-do list. When you feel this way, it’s often because you’re focusing on too many things…seeing all of the clutter, or all of the projects, and feeling as if it all needs to be dealt with right now. But if you focus on just one project, task, or to do, you free your mind to focus all of your energy on accomplishing just that one thing. And guess what happens? You’re much more likely to get it done! In turn, this will create momentum that will energize you to tackle the next “one” thing.

As we head into the weekend, give yourself permission to focus on one thing at a time. Don’t stress about what that first “one” thing is. Just pick something, focus your energy on it, and let momentum move you forward.

Happy weekend!

P.S. Don’t forget, the Spring Organize-athon is this weekend! It’s your chance to make progress on your organizing to-do list (one thing at a time) with me there for support, advice and ideas. This fun, online event begins at 6 PM CST tonight, so sign up now. I look forward to spending the weekend with you!

P.P.S. One more quick thing. Have you checked out the Ultimate Homemaking Bundle yet? If not, go here to see a video where I share why I think you will absolutely love this bundle! But hurry…this is a very limited time offer.

The post Organization Tip: Focus On Just One Thing appeared first on simplify 101.

That’s why I’m soooo excited to tell you about something very special that’s happening right now. It’s called The Ultimate Homemaking Bundle 2016 and you simply won’t believe everything that’s included!

The bundle was created to give you a plethora of amazing, high-quality resources to take some of the stress, overwhelm and difficulty out of keeping up with your home and life.

The Ultimate Homemaking Bundle includes 93 hand-picked eBooks, eCourses, and printables, on topics that matter to people like you and me such as:

• getting organized, establishing routines & creating a cozy home
• time management and getting things done (psst…my It’s About Time class pdf is included!)
• recipes, grocery shopping and meal planning
• budgeting and saving money
• motherhood (no matter what age your kids are)
• cultivating a strong marriage
• and even self-care (like exercise, weight loss, life planning and coloring books!)
• plus much more…

You have a full year to download the eBooks and printables and take the online eCourses, and everything you’ve downloaded becomes part of your permanent library, so you can go back to it whenever you need it.

Plus, it comes with these bonus offers from companies who know what women need and want. Some are 100% free; other are yours for the cost of shipping only. You’ll get:

• FREE Mrs. Meyer’s Dish Soap, Mrs. Meyer’s Multi Surface Spray, Grove Collaborative Spray Bottle, Grove Collaborative Scrubber Sponges and FREE 60-day VIP trial with FREE shipping from Grove Collaborative ($30 value)
• FREE Online Class from Craftsy ($29.99-$69.99 value)
• $15 Credit to Hope Ink Shop PLUS Two FREE 8×10 Art Prints with Any Purchase ($71)
• FREE SPOT Treatment for Acne & Eczema OR a $15 Gift Certificate from Bloom Naturals ($15 value)
• FREE 90-Day Pro Membership to ListPlanIt.com ($30)
• FREE 1-Year MollyGreen.com Membership ($29 value)

The Bundle is available for just 2 days – June 1 and June 2nd, 2016 at 11:59pm EST. That’s why the Ultimate Bundles team can offer so much, because they only have permission to sell it for such a short period of time.

The total value is an astonishing $1000+ (plus over $300 in bonuses), but you get it for just $29.97. That’s 97% off what it would cost to buy everything individually!

Learn more or get your bundle now!

If you think getting all those amazing resources for less than $30 sounds like a steal, then make sure to go HERE to see exactly what it includes. And be sure to grab yours before this deal ends! I don’t want you to miss out.

Disclosure: I am an affiliate for this offer. If you purchase a bundle from my link, I will receive a percentage of the sales. Thank you so much for your support!

The post 93 Ways to Simplify Life at Home appeared first on simplify 101.

Want to make next weekend a great one? Join me for my April 2016 Organize-athon. For just $19 you can spend the weekend tackling your organizing to-do list with the advice, ideas, and motivation of a veteran professional organizer! Get all the deets and secure your spot here >>>

If I had to come up with one word to describe my perfect weekend it would be restorative. Sometimes this means relaxing, unplugging, and spending quality time with family or friends. Other times it’s about making progress on a meaningful goal or project. Sometimes it’s a mix of both. Either way, when Sunday night rolls around I know it’s been a good weekend when I feel rejuvenated and ready to start the week ahead.

With my new work schedule, it’s more important to me than ever that I make the most out of those precious weekend days. But if Saturday and Sunday are filled with only the recurring, weekly household tasks like cleaning, laundry and running errands, when my weekend ends, I feel anything but restored. My current solution is to do more of the recurring tasks on weeknights so my weekend is open to more fulfilling possibilities. If this sounds like a good plan for you, here are some simple tasks to handle during the week, so your weekend stays open to bigger and better possibilities:

• Cleaning. You could either do a full-blown cleaning one day (or evening) or tackle one area of your home (or one cleaning task) on a single day.
• Meal planning. Developing a repertoire of simple weeknight meals makes meal planning a breeze and can help the rest of this plan fall into place.
• Grocery shopping and / or other errands.  
• Tossing in a few loads of laundry. For me, anything that lightens the weekend laundry load is a total win!
• Paying bills.
• Attending a workout class or two. This will up your energy level after a long day and make the rest of your evening more productive.  

So what’s the payoff? A weekend filled with wide open blocks of time where you can make progress on bigger projects such as organizing, decorating, or DIY, or go on a weekend getaway, or even relax and do nothing. This all comes without a nagging feeling that you should be doing something more productive. Sounds pretty good, doesn’t it?

Here’s to a productive week ahead, and a restorative weekend next weekend.

P.S. Be sure to keep your eyes open for a new post from me on Wednesday! This post will contain details about an exciting, limited-time offer loaded with resources to help you simplify life at home. You won’t want to miss out, so mark your calendar or set a reminder to look for that important post on Wednesday!

P.P.S. Don’t forget to join me this coming weekend for the Spring 2016 Organize-athon! Snag your spot now >>>

The post How to Take Charge of Your Weekend appeared first on simplify 101.

If this sounds familiar, you need to know two things:

1. We’ve all been there!
2. And, you’re doing way better than you think.

We all have days, and even months, when it’s hard to keep all of the balls in the air. I’ve been there, too! This is why I’m so excited to share this brand new (and free!) video series created by two moms who have lived their fair share of #momfail days.

Stephanie and Beth are not only popular bloggers, but they’re also moms in the trenches. They’ve got 8 kids and almost 20 years of mothering experience between them.

They also understand and have the deepest compassion for moms who are working their tails off, but are still hitting the pillow at night with a heavy heart and tear-stained face, because they feel like they’re failing at one of the most important things they’ll ever do in their lives.

And so they’ve put together an honest, candid and incredibly encouraging series of three videos just for moms. It’s called “The Truth About #MomFail Culture: 10 Things You Need to Hear on the Hard Days”.

It won’t solve all your problems, and much as they wish they could, they can’t reach through the computer and fold that pile’o’laundry for you. But we can all benefit from a fresh perspective and encouragement from someone who really gets it.

Each video is short – around 10 minutes, and you can watch it on any sort of device and whenever you’ve got a few spare minutes.

To watch the video series, just click this link and enter your name and email to sign up. You’ll get access to the first video today, and then one per day after that.

I truly hope you enjoy the series and that it helps you strike #momfail from your vocabulary…#forever.

The post New FREE Video Series for Moms appeared first on simplify 101.