Sort-Things-Out Blog

Eva's Edict: In-Through-The-Out-Door Thursday

2011-02-03T12:33:00.000-05:00

In-Through-the-Out-Door Thursday, STO Sort Things Out, Eva's Edict: Take 5 minutes to clear the floor area leading to and from the doors in your home, including entry doors, bedroom doors, closet doors, etc. Pick up, move and put away the things that are blocking the area around your doors. Post when done!

Eva's Edict: End of the Month Monday

2011-01-31T10:38:00.000-05:00

Hi, this is Eva Abreu with the S T O Sort Things Out Organizing Plan. Today's Eva's Edict is End-of-the-Month Monday. http://www.cinchcast.com/sort-things-out/163999 Take 5 minutes to catch up with this past month's receipts, bills, paperwork, and filing. Take another 5 minutes to start preparing for next month. Create a new file or folder, take a look at your calendar for next month and see

In Sickness and In Health - Medication Log

2011-01-30T08:44:00.000-05:00

Winter time means cold and flu season. In our house, when one of us gets sick, chances are the rest of the family will too. I created this Medication Log form to keep track of medications, times given and symptoms such as fever and how many days it's lasted. Click on image below to view pdf: Feel free to print or download and use for your family. Let me know what you think about the

Halloween Tips - revisited

2010-11-01T07:11:00.010-04:00

Here's a reprint of a blog post that I did 5 years ago from a previous blog that I started back then, plus some additional tips from this year:Options for Halloween CandyAre you doing something different this year, instead of giving out candy for Halloweeen trick or treaters?We're trying to keep a low-sugar household (ideally I'd like it to be a candy-free house, but it's been very, very

"Make It Fresh" Friday Edition

2010-07-09T08:20:00.007-04:00

Jennnifer Wilner of New Jersey wanted to freshen up an unused corner of her basement to create a new space for her daughter to play in. She assessed the area and planned how to transform cinder block to a Cinderella-like space, now affectionately called the "Pink Room".Jennifer explained, "I purchased pink remnant fabric, then my husband drilled a few holes into the cinder block and mounted

Connect with us through Facebook STO Club Page

2010-07-06T10:39:00.005-04:00

Join us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/SortThingsOut for daily Eva's Edict audio messages (via Cinchcast) to share tips and ideas on getting organized, the STO way!Helping you to Sort Things Out, one step at a time.Let me know how I can help!Talk to you soon,Eva Abreu

Can Organizing Be Fun? Sure it can!

2010-01-14T06:45:00.005-05:00

Add a little fun to your organizing task! Do you know how to do the Macarena?What are some ways that YOU have fun when you organize? Leave a comment below or email me if you're stuck and need some ideas to help you get motivated.Regards,Eva Abreu, NJ Professional OrganizerSort Things Out

Eva's Edict: Chunk It, Trunk It

2010-01-12T06:17:00.000-05:00

Take 5 minutes to sort, organize and clear a small pile today. As seen on Twitter (follow me on Twitter:) 1. Separate like things together with like things (Chunk It).2. Find a home for everything (trash, recycle bin, put away items that you've decided to keep, bag/box items that you'll be donating and put it in the trunk of your car for drop off = Trunk It)3. Leave a comment when done so I can

Tacky Thursday: Release Something Sticky

2009-05-14T06:56:00.006-04:00

Easier said than done.Why are we holding on to certain things? This is a lamp. A tacky lamp. I got it from a family member who got it from someone else who didn't want it. No sentimental value here.The lamp shade is made of glass panels with scenes from Paris. I've never been to Paris, have no connection to Paris. One of the panels is missing because it shattered.I tried giving it away once on

Doing Dishes, Making Decisions

2009-03-20T23:18:00.013-04:00

This post was inspired by a tweet that I sent out on Twitter tonight.I needed to do one of two things, but was undecided about which one to do. Both would take about the same amount of time.Blogging requires brain power; doing dishes require physical action (and not a lot of brain power).I opted for the dishes, since my brain was tired. Plus, I needed the exercise too. Bend, stretch, reach to put

5 Things When Stuck Inside on Snowy Day

2009-02-04T02:50:00.015-05:00

The Story Behind the Video:When there's a snowy day in New Jersey and I'm stuck in the house, I go a little stir crazy. Cabin fever, I think it's called. Then I get this urge to make videos. Of Top 5 lists. All while trying to keep the regular routines at home.And this is going against all that I teach, which is Focus on One Thing.When I created and edited the video below, it was around 4:00pm in

STO February: Focus on One Thing

2009-02-01T03:01:00.012-05:00

The STO System - Make it a HabitEva's Edict 5 Minutes / 21 Days This month, focus on doing ONE thing at a time. Leave the multi-tasking to machines for now.Let's get started:Assess The ExcessWhat are your areas of clutter? Figure out where your clutter zones are.Pick One Area / 21 DaysZoom in and focus on just one area to sort through for the next 21 days (experts say it takes 21 day to make /

January is Get Organized Month!

2009-01-01T09:34:00.003-05:00

Welcome to the New Year!Let's Make it a Fun Time in Two-Thousand-and-Nine!And kicking it off in January is Get Organized MonthCan organizing be fun? Sure it can!There's lots of neat stuff planned for this month to help keep you motivated and primed to do some serious and not-so-serious organizing, such as...A new desk calendar, Eva's Edict 5 Minutes Organizing Calendar, memo cube style, tear off

Eva's Edict: Purge a Pile to Donate

2008-12-08T12:00:00.009-05:00

In the spirit of the season, as they say: "It's Better To Give, Than To Receive"......let's do an Eva's Edict 5 Minutes: Purge a Pile to Donate.Go ahead and choose from one of the following categories:- Clothes- Books- Toys- Food (see previous post on Pantry Purge)- Other - your choiceAm I hearing choruses of , "...but I have no time, especially this time of year!"?I say: Give it a try, 5 minutes

Eva's Edict: 5 Minutes Holiday Lists

2008-11-05T15:10:00.012-05:00

Do you have your lists prepared for the holidays yet? If not, that's OK! We'll be working on lists today.Today's Eva's Edict: take 5 Minutes to plan your Holiday Lists.OK, ready? We're going to List Your Lists.First, let's focus on which Holiday that you're working on (Thanksgiving, or Winter Holiday).What lists would be helpful to you? Let's mention a few here.(Note: You don't have to start

Eva's Edict: 5 Minutes Holiday Planning

2008-11-04T10:06:00.011-05:00

Today, take 5 minutes to do some Holiday planning. Yes, just 5 minutes, that's it.Your choice of Holiday:- Thanksgiving- Christmas- Hanukkah- Kwanzaa- Other: Your ChoiceFirst thing to get started, (for non-techie's) grab something to write with (pen, pencil, crayon, whatever's handy)...and something to write on (dayplanner, notebook, 3 ring binder, or recycle some paper and re-use the back of the

Eva's Edict: End of Month Paper Purge!

2008-10-31T06:30:00.004-04:00

It's the end of the month again... Let's roll out another one of Eva's Edict!Want to be in the game? GREAT! I'll post your story in my next blog.OK, let's GO!Today, I'd like you to choose ONE area of paperwork to focus on, to Clean Out, Clear Out, Close Out.Even though you might have piles of papers all around you, we're going to ZOOM in and focus on ONE thing to work on.We want to make the most

Organizing: Inspired By Nature

2008-10-19T16:24:00.017-04:00

Sometimes, we need a fresh perspective of things, to step out... or step away from it all, to see things through new eyes.The most recent book that I reviewed as host of a monthly Barnes & Noble book group gave me that fresh perspective this week.The title: The Power of Vastu Living: Welcoming Your Soul Into Your Home and Workplace, by Kathleen Cox (Simon & Schuster) is not the typical organizing

Guest at Special Occasion: Things to Bring

2008-10-11T11:44:00.006-04:00

I attended a wedding last night at a first-rate catering hall that had a thoughtful, well-stocked basket in the ladies room on the sink counter. Included was hairspray, a sewing kit, safety pins, small first aid kit, and assorted supplies that a lady-in- distress would be grateful in finding.It's been quite a while since I last attended a wedding and I thought to jot down a short list of things

Eva's Edict: Clean Out Your Pantry

2008-10-07T09:31:00.006-04:00

This post was inspired by today's news report about local food banks looking to increase their donations of food items.The new economy gives us an opportunity to re-examine what we have in our lives and release what we no longer use.Let's focus on our pantry, where we store our canned and boxed foods. (Perhaps you have a cabinet, cupboard, or shelf, rather than a pantry.Or, you simply use your

Eva's Edict: Friday 5 Minutes / 5 Things

2008-10-03T10:04:00.011-04:00

Friday is here! Eva's Edict for today: 5 Minutes / 5 Things for FridayPhoto by Brian J. GeraghtyYour choice: (choose 1 today, or, if you want to mix it up, do both! ...you choose)A. Take 5 Minutes to clear an area that you've been avoiding.Perfectionists beware, I'm going to tell you to give yourself permission to stop after 5 minutes. If you're so inclined, keep going for another 5 minutes at a

Done! Eva's Edict: End-of-Month Clean Out

2008-10-01T14:31:00.011-04:00

Congratulations to Jim Deitzel of Rubbermaid who took on the challenge yesterday of Eva's Edict: End-of-Month Clean Out!Within minutes after seeing my post on Twitter, he had completed the assignment within 15 minutes and cleared out a bunch of old files to the recycle bin.Jim says, "When you have a pile of old files/papers, it's not too hard to get rid of them. They were all in one nice tidy

Eva's Edict: End-of-Month Clean Out

2008-09-30T10:33:00.011-04:00

It's the end of the month, end of Q3 (third quarter of the year), end of the summer season.Perfect time to roll out another one of Eva's Edict!Today, I'd like you to choose ONE area to focus on, to Clean Out, Clear Out, Close Out.Photo by Jon Sullivan, www.public-domain-photos.comLike I say in my presentations, even though the whole house may be in need of help, we're going to ZOOM in and focus

Moving On-Campus: Top 100 Things to Bring

2008-08-24T01:29:00.007-04:00

In the next few days, college students will begin their trek back to college campuses across the country in preparation for The Big Move. It's an exciting, nerve-wracking, hectic, and emotional rite of passage for students, staff and parents alike, as boxes, totes and belongings are unloaded curbside and transported to dorm rooms.Colleges have different ways of handling the move-in process. A

Re-Organize Your Marketing for the New Economy

2008-08-22T14:06:00.003-04:00

Here's a press release for a new mastermind networking group that I'm forming. Hope you can make it! Thanks ~Eva***********************************************************************************A new weekly business mastermind group will meet for lunch every Monday at 12:00 noon, beginning September 8, 2008 at IHOP Restaurant, 1340 Centennial Ave, Piscataway, New Jersey. The fee is $15 in

Baltimore Inner Harbor - Top Picks

2008-08-12T14:08:00.006-04:00

A friend of mine is planning a trip to Baltimore (Maryland) Inner Harbor so I decided to offer up my Top Picks of where to go and what to see while on vacation there. (Note, the info below is just my own personal opinion; I'm not compensated in any way).Feel free to add your Top Picks in comments as well.VISIT INNER HARBORBarnes & Noble, built inside historic Baltimore Power PlantVery cool place

Kids & Day Trips: What to Bring

2008-08-12T02:25:00.006-04:00

It's August; summer is winding down. Perhaps you're looking forward to taking one last day trip with the kids before heading back to school.(Photo by: Chance Agrella)Here are a few tips, from my own mental notes, after spending a Sunday afternoon at the local county fair. I'm sure you'll have a few tips of your own to share as well!1. Eat a meal before you head out.Otherwise, you may find

Kids & Vacation: Traveling by Car

2008-08-05T14:24:00.006-04:00

Here are some quick tips for traveling by car with your kids on vacation:1. Pack a nightlight.2. Bring a kiddie port-a-potty (believe me, it's worth the extra investment to have one just dedicated for the car).3. Pack a full box of tissues, paper towels, napkins, and baby wipes.4. Stock up before you go: bottled water & juice boxes (freeze a few hours before you leave so it stays cold), granola

Blogging: Organizing Your Thoughts

2008-08-05T14:00:00.006-04:00

I have a couple of blogs that I write, including this one you're reading right now and another blog featuring stories about the things we keep.Here are some reasons why I like blogging as a tool to help me stay organized:1. Too many ideas swimming in my head and I need to have a place to do a brain drain, where it might also benefit someone who happens to be reading it.2. My typing is much neater

Eva's Edicts: Car Clean-Out Continued

2008-07-25T10:53:00.002-04:00

Today, we're continuing to work on Eva's Edicts from last week.Today, take 5 minutes to clean out another section of your car.5 minutes, then stop.If your whole car needs help and you want to keep going, go ahead and do another 5 minutes. Rinse & repeat as needed. Do just enough, but just don't get burned-out.If you don't have the time to go on another 5 minutes, simply stop. Pick it up at

Helping Your Child Get Organized

2008-07-22T01:38:00.003-04:00

Here's a TV segment that I did recently on the topic of "Helping Your Child Get Organized".Summertime is a great time to get started on developing good habits for getting organized. And, we can make it fun for the child, rather than being a battle.For many children, they need structure and a sense of routine. I know I personally need this for myself as well, ESPECIALLY during the summer!With the

Introduction of "Eva's Edicts" on Organizing

2008-07-18T13:47:00.011-04:00

OK, I'm hereby declaring the official roll-out of "Eva's Edicts" on Organizing, as of today.First, let's define, 'what's an edict?' An edict is a decree or proclamation, a formal pronouncement or command.I'm introducing Eva's Edicts in order to get you better organized and to Sort Things Out, one step at a time.I'm directing this for those of you who need someone to "tell" you what to do, in

Kitchen Pencil Jar

2008-07-05T10:26:00.003-04:00

Here's a hint for the kitchen:Keep a large jar in the kitchen for pencils, pens, etc. I like using a spare mug (you know the kind that you collect from trade shows, or given to you as a gift?) or spare plastic promotional cup, recycled glass jar, or whatever you have on hand that'll do the job.Line the bottom with a folded up paper towel, in case of a pen malfunction.Gather up all lost pens,

Too Many Shoes?

2008-05-26T01:01:00.008-04:00

Remember Imelda Marcos? She opened a museum back in 2001 to display her collection of shoes. Now, most of us don't have the luxury of paying homage to our shoes. According to a local closet contractor that I spoke to recently, the average women owns 40 pairs of shoes. I'm happy to say that I fall below average in this category.A recent Wall Street Journal Quick Fix article titled, "Making Good

Catalogs & Magazines

2008-05-15T13:32:00.004-04:00

As you continue on your journey of organizing and releasing, one tip that I share in my workshops is to "Stop the Flow" of whatever it is that you have too much of.Here are two ideas to help cut back on the number of incoming catalogs & magazines that may be accummulating in your home:CATALOGS"Catalogs: Thanks but No Thanks" -- article written by Cathi Gandel (AARP Bulletin May 2008, Vol. 49, No

Organizing Advice: One Size Doesn't Fit All

2008-05-11T00:38:00.007-04:00

Here's an expanded discussion about organizing receipts on the Sort Things Out network forum that I moderate on Ryze.Does it makes sense that I personally use several different systems at the same time, to file receipts (primarily using a binder, sometime scanning, and archiving long term receipts in a file cabinet) or is that too confusing to some? It seems to work for me right now, but for

Working on a new book!

2008-02-16T04:27:00.003-05:00

I'm excited to announce that I'm working on a new book titled Our Stories, Our Stuff: The Special Meaning Behind The Things That We Keep.I'm looking for real-life stories about your stuff to include in my book. Please visit my other blog for more details on how to submit your story: www.OurStories-OurStuff.blogspot.com Thanks for sharing!Eva Abreuwww.Sort-Things-Out.com

Great tip for organizing receipts

2007-11-09T07:59:00.000-05:00

Here's a great tip from a participant at one of my recent presentations:Use a 3-ring binder to separate receipts by store name, in alphabetical order.I'm a big fan of the binder system for filing and the above tip is a great idea for receipts that end up crumpled in your wallet or purse, or scattered throughout the house.Grab an empty 3-ring binder, use clear sheet protectors or pocket index

September: National Preparedness Month

2007-09-04T08:55:00.000-04:00

How prepared are you in the event of an emergency? Even though we may not always like to think about it, let's take a moment to discuss some ways to help prepare ourselves, our families, and our businesses in the event of an emergency. We'll cover various areas over the next few weeks. September is National Preparedness Month and as a member of the National Association of Professional

What can you de-clutter this week?

2007-08-19T12:47:00.000-04:00

I just had to share my horoscope (Sunday Aug. 18, published by Creators Syndicate):~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~"Oh, how you love to de-clutter you life.Take inventory to determine what you have that's worth the effort it takes to maintain it.This step is always a sign that something wonderful is coming to you. "~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~How true!What can you de-clutter this week, to make room for something

Working from Home? no, .... Car

2007-08-15T23:59:00.000-04:00

The latest buzz word, WAH (Work-at-Home), describes folks who either own home-based businesses, run consulting firms from home offices, are in sales, or tele-commute from home. The common theme: they are all working from home every day (or for the majority of their time), rather than going in to a traditional corporate office or working at a bricks-and-mortar place of business.For many WAH'ers,

Living with Less

2007-07-24T07:11:00.000-04:00

We have my kids birthday parties during the summer and enjoy entertaining and having lots of family and friends over to celebrate. However, I'm not thrilled about having lots of toys to add to our already growing collection. Also, I don't want to have neighbors and acqaintances feel obligated to have to buy something to bring. So, I introduced the concept of a donation party to my kids when they

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes.....

2007-06-27T03:55:00.000-04:00

June is typically not a month known for any major holidays, but it seems to be one of the most busiest times of the year for many people.End of school, graduations, marriages, remodeling, home sales, relocations, etc. we hear about these things happening frequently in the month of June. Many of these events are happy and joyful milestones in our lives, but what we tend not to talk about openly is

New! Sort Things Out Talk Radio

2007-06-18T02:55:00.000-04:00

Through the power of the Internet, I'm pleased to announce my new podcast, Sort Things Out Talk Radio!Available on my website for now at www.Sort-Things-Out.com, we'll be distributing it to various podcast directories and make it available for download in the very near future.The first show is now available, which is the first of a three-part series on "De-cluttering and Organizing, How to Get

Organize for Success: Seminar in NY area, June 1st

2007-04-30T03:42:00.000-04:00

I'm very excited to announce a new seminar in the New York / New Jersey area! I'll be one of 4 presenters in this dynamic workshop for women and would like to extend an invitation to you to be a part of it. Here are the details:Empower You! A Seminar for Today's WomanDo you have an inner knowing that you are meant for incredible success, yet there seems to be something blocking that tremendous

Mommy Wars on Montel, Tue. May 1st

2007-04-29T03:29:00.000-04:00

As some of you may know, I started on the road to recovery of getting organized when I became a new mom and was totally overwhelmed. Slowly, after reading and learning different organizing tips and methods, I tried some of the suggestions and figured out which ones worked for me and which ones didn't.As a mom, that's what we're constantly doing in all areas of our life; trying to figure out what

Conquer CHAOS Promotion!

2007-04-03T03:41:00.000-04:00

Got CHAOS? You’re not alone!From April 3 through April 10th, I’ll be running a special promotion to help you conquer your real-life CHAOS challenges.Selected participants will receive a complimentary bag of CHAOS Organic Snack Chip mix from Robert's American Gourmet and a FREE one hour virtual Organizing Session with me, to help you break through your CHAOS!Submit your CHAOS Confession here on

Using an Organizing Partner

2007-02-15T14:08:00.000-05:00

"I just want to avoid doing it!" "It's easier just to close the door and hide the mess"Sound familiar? That's me, talking about my shed. Yes, I have my own dark secrets too.It's one thing when I walk into a client's home: I immediately see things objectively and work together with the client to accomplish their goal, but...I have a really hard time to do the same thing for myself... and by myself

February: One Organizing Goal

2007-02-02T11:53:00.000-05:00

We're into February already! Let's focus on One Organizing Goal for this month.It can be a continuation of last month's One Organizing Goal. Don't worry if you weren't able to reach it yet. As I tell my students who take my Organizing Class, it may take several months before progress is made. Life gets in the way. We're very busy.The main thing is... to keep focused on One Organizing Goal.A hint

Happy New Year! Reaching Your One Goal

2006-12-31T19:45:00.000-05:00

Wishing you the very best for 2007!January is Get Organized Month and we're looking forward to helping you to Sort Things Out, one step at a time!If you had to choose one thing to Get Organized in your life for 2007, what would it be?We'll be focusing one just one organizing goal for the month of January, and would like you to share your success with us!ASSIGNMENT:1. Post your One Organizing Goal

Holiday Shopping - Last Minute Gift Cards - Fraud Alert

2006-12-23T03:24:00.000-05:00

For those of you who are doing last minute shopping in the next 48 hours (like me), just be aware of a recent fraud alert about Gift Cards on open display racks or in the shopping aisles of retail stores.Here's the recommendation of the best way to purchase your Gift Cards: "It is recommended that individuals who purchase a gift card buy them from a customer service representative and not

Holiday Preparedness: Avoid Family Conflicts

2006-12-21T01:50:00.000-05:00

Being organized has a way of bringing peace into your life. We especially need this around the holidays, when the stress levels are at an all time high.The key is... advance planning. Let's look at one big source of stress in many peoples lives: Visiting Family. (Is this hitting a nerve with any of you?)