I’m pleased to announce that our recent closet clean-out event, “Clothing Swap & Cocktails”, was a swapping success!  Innovatively Organized hosted over 25 guests who brought their gently loved clothing items to exchange with others. There was a variety of garments and accessories, ranging from jackets and shoes to purses and dresses and jewelry. I was so impressed with the enthusiasm expressed by the participants that I’m planning to make this a regular Innovatively Organized event!

Remember, the main goal of this is to help you create more effective use of your space and to eliminate items that clutter your closets, shelves and dresser drawers. By the looks of the inventory available at the clothes swap, I’d say that everyone did a wonderful job of purging their homes of unwanted and unused things! The best part is that we donated all of the left over pieces to Goodwill.

I had a great time and really enjoyed providing an entertaining forum for a typically unpleasant task. Cleaning out your closets can definitely be fun! Each attendee also received a goodie bag with coupons for organizing, make-up and fitness. Don’t miss it next time!

One of the biggest challenges that all my clients face is trying to stay organized while constantly on-the-go. Electronic gadgets are great for keeping phone numbers, dates and PDFs, but what about all of the necessary paper documents that you still use and refer to every day? Contracts, invoices, school forms, pictures, receipts and all other important paper back-up can be cumbersome to carry around in folders or a purse. But I’ve discovered a new favorite thing!

The Bungalow File Holder is sized to hold standard hanging files so you can label and sort everything and take it with you. It’s also attractive enough to sit on your desk, conference table or wherever you may have a meeting.  The best part is that it folds flat for storage and the exterior and interior wipes clean.

Living in a high-rise downtown definitely cuts down on the size of my carbon footprint. I use less electricity and water and use more public transportation, but I can still do more to reduce waste and save natural resources. Recycling is an easy way to help the environment and it also has an added benefit of doing something positive with your clutter! The goal is to divert items from landfills that can be repurposed or reused. A few quick suggestions:

- Put all your junk mail, old newspapers, catalogs and unnecessary papers from your home office into a recycling bin that you keep under your desk or garage. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy, a simple basket or plastic trash can will do the job.

- Turn sturdy cereal boxes into magazine holders by cutting off the flaps and wrapping it in decorative paper.

- Too many toys in your kids’ rooms? Ask them to choose some gently loved items to donate to a local shelter or children’s charity.

- Hold a clothing and accessories swap party with your family, friends and neighbors. Turn that pair of shoes you hardly wore into the perfect match for your sister’s new dress. Add music and refreshments to make it even more fun!

Living in Seattle definitely makes us more conscientious about the environment, and there is always more to learn. Click here to learn more about what can go into your garbage and what happens to it after it gets picked up at the curb.

Is your wallet bulging with receipts? Do you have a stack of business cards waiting to be filed? Are there papers and invoices taking up valuable desk space?

If so, one of my favorite products is called, NeatDesk™. It’s a high speed desktop scanner and digital filing system that boasts “intelligent text recognition.” What does that mean? Neatdesk runs a unique software technology to identify and capture fields of information from any type of document you scan. Plus it has multiple input trays to accommodate various paper sizes and saves your digital output as a JPEG or PDF, or it can also be sent to Outlook, Excel, Quicken and many other applications.

Anything that helps control clutter is definitely a favorite thing! Learn more about NeatDesk.

Closet Clean-Out Event

Downtown Seattle

Saturday, June 13th

2 PM - 4 PM

Make room for your summer clothes by clearing out the old!

Empty your closet by bringing any and all items you are ready to part with to this event.  We will have racks and areas for you to display your items. Then you will be able to “shop” from the items others brought with them. There will be refreshments, fun prizes and a raffle!

RSVP directly to [email protected] and we’ll send you more details.

This event has passed, but check out our upcoming events page!

Many of my clients come to me with similar problems. They have piles of paper covering the surfaces in their homes and offices, their desk is buried and it’s trouble if they have to locate a specific document quickly and when they need it. If this all sounds familiar, then my upcoming workshop is one that you can’t afford miss!

5:30 PM to 7:30 PM

June 11th, 18th, 25th

Outback Steakhouse, 701 Westlake Avenue North, Seattle, WA 98109

Register Early for just $24 per session!

(Pay at the door for $29 per session, cash or check only)

Learn the advantages of an “Action File” and how to create one, find out the best and most useful filing do’s and don’ts, and receive help with making decisions on what papers to keep or toss.

This event has passed, but check out our upcoming events page!

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