Your Life. Organized.

Actually, the Sky's NOT the Limit

Limits have gotten a bad rap over the past few years. Anthony Robbins and Jack Canfield both advise us to "THINK BIG!"  "Use The Secret to get what you want!"   "Opportunity is limitless!"   "No boundaries!"

And I agree. In the realm of attitude, self-growth and success, railing against our own self-imposed limiting beliefs is appropriate -- even necessary. However, the concept of "no limits " in the realm of organization and simplicity gets a lot of folks into trouble. The universe is wonderfully balanced, isn't it? It's interesting that while limits in the realm of attitude and success are undesirable and can hold you back, limits in the physical world are absolutely crucial and liberate you to create your greatest success. BOTH kinds of limits are necessary yet so many people get it backwards. They limit themselves mentally, while having few boundaries in the physical world. Talk about a recipe for chaos! Yikes.

We've all experienced the negative result of limitless living. For example, when was the last time you...

Shred Hot Summer!

Ahhhh Summertime. It's the perfect time to kick back, relax with a refreshing beverage, and clean out your file cabinets. Wait. What? No way.

Yes way. Why not use the summer months to have your own personal Shred-A-Palooza so that 6 short weeks from now, (oh mercy, yes just six) you can head into the new school year and a new season feeling all organized and caught up? We all keep too much paper (yes, even me) and with identity theft remaining a major threat, it's more important than ever to take precautions with not only your own personal information, but that of your clients as well.

You should already have a personal shredder at home, but if you don't, here are some tips to keep in mind when purchasing:

The Big O: Vicky and Jen "Ask Monica Anything"

Last month on "The Big O" we did a show on Best-Kept Organizing Secrets! This month we're doing another episode of "The Big O: Ask Monica Anything!"  We did one of these a while back, and they are SO much fun! To listen to the first "Ask Monica Anything" show, just click here.

And when you're done, tune in to the NEW one this week to hear the answers to many listener questions. We talk about almost every room in the house, from the kitchen to the bedroom and everything in between. In addition to all the good organizing stuff, Vicky and Jen gave me two personal pop quizzes... tea or coffee?  Foot rub or back rub?  Tattoo or piercing? To find out the answers to these (and other burning questions!), listen to my new episode of "The Big O: Ask Monica Anything" on Vicky and Jen's podcast What Really Matters.

PS: Follow me on Twitter and Facebook. And if you like this info, share it using the links below!

Is Your Car a Halfway House?

If not, it should be, and here's why. We all have "stuff that belongs elsewhere". Right now, I have my friend Sara's fleecy vest and a Blackberry case I want to give her, and I have few items I want to take to the dry cleaner. Plus, I have a few things to return to Bed, Bath & Beyond this week.

My challenge is that I tend to leave the house without taking the "stuff that belongs elsewhere" with me. So I'll end up seeing meeting Sara somewhere and realize DRAT, I forgot to bring her stuff with me. Or I'll go by the cleaners, but I will have forgotten to bring my clothes. So, I've started treating my car like a halfway house...

How To Choose a Consignment Shop

These days more and more of my clients are looking to consign clothing rather than donate, to attempt to recoup some of their initial investment. I think consignment is a good idea, provided you do it fully informed before you commit. Here are a few questions to ask yourself before you make the consignment leap...

Strengthen Your Decision Muscle!

Decisions are part of life, and we each have our own way of approaching them. Some people make all decisions quickly, while others agonize over every decision no matter how small. Some people consult others on most of their decisions, while others keep strictly to their own counsel, trusting their own instincts. Some decisions are major, such as where to live, where to go to school, who to marry, whether or not to have children, and where to work. Others are minor -- they're somewhat important, but not at all what I'd call life-changing. These minor decisions could be choosing where to vacation, what shoes to buy for that fancy event, or what color to paint the kitchen. There's also a third kind of decision, one that I call micro...

Get An Organizer's Best Secrets on The Big O with Vicky and Jen!

Don't you just love insider secrets? I know I'm always curious about what the experts know that I don't! This week on Vicky and Jen's podcast What Really Matters, you'll get expert's insider secrets... MINE! :o) 

Also, we've added a new feature of The Big O, called O'Baby where I talk about one of my favorite products that will make you say "O Baby, I gotta get one of those!"  Click here to listen to the new show and join us as I crack open the vault and share the Five Best Secrets of Organizers (and organized people) and as always, we have a ton of fun.

Oh and one more important thing! I almost forgot... Vicky and Jen are preparing for another episode of "Ask Monica", which is where I answer listener questions. And I mean ANYTHING -- just ask! But in order to do that, we need your questions! (See how that works??)  Email your questions to for me, whether it's about organizing, or food, or life, or travel, or WHATEVER you want to know. Last episode of "Ask Monica" listeners asked me "Have you ever been in a fight?", "What's your favorite food?", and many other fun ones! "Ask Monica" is one of my favorite show formats and I hope you will send your questions, no matter how silly!  Email your questions to: questions@vickyandjen.com and then tune in to hear the answer!

PS: Follow me on Twitter, and if you like this information, be sure to share it by clicking on one of the social bookmarking links below.

I'm Beach Bound for Beazer!

A quick reminder for those readers in the Panama City Florida area this weekend, come see me on Saturday April 4th from 11:00am to 2:00pm at the Grand Opening Celebration of Beazer Homes Whisper Dunes Villas! There will be food, fun, prizes, and you'll get to see all the super-cool SMARTDESIGN options Beazer is offering in their new homes.

Plus just for extra fun, I'll be there signing books. The first 25 attendees will receive a free copy of my book, Organize Your Office In No Time. So swing on down and say hi, bring your organizing questions and a photo of a cluttered room to get free suggestions on how to regain control of your home!

See you on Saturday April 4th!

PS: Follow me on Twitter, and if you like this info, share it on Facebook or other social media by clicking on one of the links below.

Directions to Whisper Dunes Villas:

From Panama City:

• Follow Hwy. 98 to Hwy. 79 (approximately 8 miles from the intersection of Front Beach Rd. and Hwy. 98)
• Cross Hwy. 79 and follow Hwy. 98 approximately 3 miles.
• Whisper Dunes is on the right.

Buy Less So You Can Have More

The recent economic downturn has a lot of people re-considering and re-inventing their spending habits. I love this and think it's about time! But if the economy hasn't really taken a toll on you and you're still keeping your old spending habits, I want you to consider that when you buy LESS you can have MORE.

We all like to get "a deal" and if you work for your money like most of us do, there's nothing wrong with that. But over the years, Americans have gotten so accustomed to being able to find affordable (read: cheap) merchandise, that it's been easy to just buy buy buy and not really worry about the clutter or the long term life of the items. Much of what we purchase on a regular basis we've come to view as disposable in many ways. So instead of having your life filled with lovely things that you really love and use, your life is filled with cheap crap that ends up feeling like clutter.

But what's the real cost of the "cheap" stuff you've acquired over the years? If you were to add up all the price tags, I bet it would be staggering. Five bucks here, ten bucks there, twenty bucks somewhere else. It seems small in the moment, but over time, it adds up to thousands of dollars spent on stuff that you didn't really need and you have no real relationship with.

Contrast this quantity mindset with a whole different one which stresses need, value, functionality, and quality over price. When you begin to look at the money you spend on non-consumables as an INVESTMENT, you won't part with your money so easily. I'll give you an example...

Meet Me At The Beach!

Attention Floridians! Mark your calendars now to come visit me in Panama City Beach on Saturday April 4th from 11:00am to 2:00pm! I'll be at the Grand Opening Celebration of Beazer Homes Whisper Dunes Villas! There will be food, fun, prizes, and you'll get to see all the super-cool SMARTDESIGN options Beazer is offering in their new homes. Plus, I'll be there signing books, and the first 25 attendees will receive a free copy of my book, Organize Your Office In No Time. So swing on down and say hi, bring your organizing questions and a photo of a cluttered room to get free suggestions on how to regain control of your home! See you on Saturday April 4th!

PS: Remember... if you like this info, share it on Facebook or other social media by clicking on one of the links below.

Directions to Whisper Dunes Villas:

From Panama City:

• Follow Hwy. 98 to Hwy. 79 (approximately 8 miles from the intersection of Front Beach Rd. and Hwy. 98)
• Cross Hwy. 79 and follow Hwy. 98 approximately 3 miles.
• Whisper Dunes is on the right.