Your Life. Organized.

Web Site & Email Are DOWN

As you know I've been out of town for a few days. I thought it was odd that I hadn't gotten any email since the 27th... then I realized that my web site has also been out of town for a few days. Like three!

I am not able to receive any email at my domain at CatalystOrganizing.com so if you are wondering why everything you send is bouncing back, that's why. My web hosting company was acquired and is moving their servers from Miami to Tampa, and in the process, many web sites that are hosted with them have been down for three days. Three days! I am literally being held hostage at this point with no way to receive email so my business has come to a screeching halt. Yeah, I'm not so happy right now.

Please send emails to me at shoeless356(AT)gmail(DOT)com in the meantime. Otherwise, please contact me via telephone. I'm so sorry and you can imagine how frustrating this is for me. I'll obviously be switching web hosting companies.

The Globe Atlanta Delivers Big Time

Remember last fall when I told you about the other Monica Ricci? You know, the one who just won’t part with her domain name? She lives in another part of the country and when she travels to Atlanta on business, we get together for dinner and it’s been really fun.

A few months ago when she was here, we did it again and this time was the Best. Dinner. Yet! We were going to try a place we'd both heard of, but too many of the online reviews were bad. Then I remembered I'd been wanting to try The Globe, named Atlanta Magazine's 2006 Restaurant of the Year, sits at the corner of...

The 4-Hour Master Bedroom Makeover

Poor Natasha Bigl wasn't sure what she had gotten herself into, winning this Vicky and Jen contest to have me come organize her master bedroom. She may not have anticipated how much work it would be, but it was worth it! We jumped right into it this morning at 9:00 and between the four of us, by 1:30 in the afternoon, we had totally transformed Natasha and John's master bedroom from a chaotic, cluttered, and crowded space to a beautiful, serene and organized sanctuary with a place for everything and a whole new energy! Ouch, I think I may have strained my arm patting myself on the back. Stay tuned here and on Vicky and Jen's web site for the before, during and after photos and the full story in a bit.

I'm Leavin' On a Jet Plane...

Well, it's here. Tomorrow morning I'm getting on the MARTA train (at o'dark thirty) to head to the airport so I can wing my way to Cincinnati Ohio to finally meet my BFFs Vicky and Jen! Yahoo! We'll be doing an in-studio podcast AND meeting our Vicky and Jen contest winner.

So when you're all cozy and snuggling in your bed at 6:00 a.m. tomorrow, I'll be on the MARTA train listening to a little of the new Bon Jovi album and getting psyched for my trip. Watch for photos of our half-day organizing session with our contest winner, Natasha Bigl!

See you in Cincy!

Radio This Week:Organizing Your Kids for Academic Success

Join me for this week's Organization Nation when I interview two of my organizing colleagues, Michelle Cooper and Michelle Grey of Organized Students of Atlanta. We'll be talking about why your kids hate doing homework in their bedrooms, how to handle the 3-ton backpack, how to get your child to use his planner and more! If you have kids in school, don't miss this show! Tune in and listen live Tuesday at noon Eastern Time, 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time and call in with your questions toll-free at 1-866-356-0789.

Edited to add a faaaaabulous photo of Michelle Grey, me and Michelle Cooper. Are we hot or what?? Oh, and do ya dig my new glasses? These are mostly reserved for days when I can't wear or am not in the mood to mess with my contact lenses. (Or if I just feel like looking like an artsier version of myself.)

 

My Tiny Ears Have Found Relief!

Christmas Boy bought me an 30gig video iPod for Christmas in 2005, and I really love it. A while back, I posted about how I had ditched the earbuds because I only listened to my iPod in the car anyway, and I use the radio transmitter (which is SO cool by the way). The other reason I ditched the earbuds is that like many people, I have very small...

Found a Rat in the Closet

Timing is everything. I'm posting this on the heels of an email discussion among several NAPO colleagues about how to deal with a client situation that makes you uncomfortable or could be a health hazard. For example, there are times when organizers will encounter homes with mold, extreme dirt and dust, insects, animal feces and the like. Understand, this is not a typical client situation, but there are times when it happens.

These situations can be a difficult because although our professional ethics call for us to be  non-judgmental, at the same time, it's important that we don't expose ourselves or our team members to health or safety hazards. In keeping with this discussion, I thought I'd share a story about my own rodent experience today...

Hello Darkness, My Old Friend

Don't you just love Simon and Garfunkel? Ok, maybe you don't love 'em, but I do. As I was driving to the gym today, I chose to drive in total silence. I did it because, in my quest to become self-actualized, I realized that the first thing I do when I get into the car is turn on music.

I put on either the radio or I hook up my iPod and the whole time I'm driving, I'm just a loud, happy, singin' fool! Not that there's anything wrong with that -- although, if you've heard me sing, you might disagree -- but I think that's pretty typical behavior for most people. So I got to thinking about how...

I've Added a New Category

You'll see a new category for blog posts to fall under as of today. Along with Your Home, Your Business, Your Life and Your Time, now you'll see a category called Your Head.

You see, I believe so much of organizing your life involves your thoughts, your attitude, and your habits and that's all a function of what goes on in your head. Since it's so important, I thought it warranted its own category. What do you think?

Two Contests Ending Soon!

Just a reminder that two contests are ending soon...

Vicky and Jen are holding a contest that ends this Friday July 20th. The winner will get a half-day closet organizing session with me. Click here to enter and I'll see you in Cincinnati in a week!

My "name my new blog feature" contest ends Tuesday July 31st. The winner will get a brand new Dymo Letratag Labeler. All you have to do to enter is submit a name for my new blog feature that I'll be starting in August. I'll be reviewing various organizing products, letting you know my honest opinions, and how to purchase them if you're so inclined. I just can't come up with a catchy name for the feature on my own, so I'm hoping my readers can help me. I've already gotten a bunch of good entries (check the comments section of this post) but am definitely open to more!