the art of organizing

Proud to be Canadian!

Both my parents immigrated to Canada in the early 70's and our family is a real blend of cultures. I’m extremely proud of my heritage but equally proud that Canada is a nation that embraces diversity.

So when the Olympics recently descended on our city, I had no idea the impact it would have on my family and for Canadians in general! Day-after-day, Vancouverites (and the rest of our country) came together to cheer our amazing athletes and celebrate our victories. The best part about it was seeing so many people, stoked and so extremely proud of our otherwise humble nation. For a brief few weeks we were family, rallying together merrily, respectfully and peacefully…and I feel honored and privileged to be Canadian!

Favorite moment: hearing my two year-old daughter learn the words “Go Canada Go!”.

Packing Tips:

I was recently asked by a journalist about packing tips when going on holiday…let's face it most of us dread this task! Some of us procrastinate and throw it all in the suitcase last minute and others drag out the process packing many things unnecessarily. Here are a few packing tips whether you are holidaying in the tropics or taking a family/business trip…

The Carry-On bag - very under-rated but by far the most important. If you lose your luggage (heaven forbid) at least you have this blessed bag carrying your most essential items.

- Medication
- Toiletries/Emergency kit of must haves (quick fixes for minor crises: band-aids, Tylenol, spot remover, nail clippers etc)
- Water/Snacks
- Book/Travel Game (Suduko, Crosswords, Scrabble etc)
- Cardigan/Pashmina
- Ipod/Laptop
- Passport/Visa/Important Phone Numbers (for Home and Destination)

Luggage - Make sure you choose appropriate luggage suitable for the destination. Will you be moving from place to place - maybe a backpack is best or if you have a car rental the roll-on/suitcase will probably suffice. Don't forget to personalize your luggage - attach a colorful ribbon or ID tag - it helps when trying to distinguish your black suitcase from everyone else's!

Packing - Lay everything out on the bed. That way you have a good idea of how much you are taking (maybe too much!) and how well everything co-ordinates. Pick a neutral color scheme and Mix'n'Match items (You hear this all the time from fashionistas!) …and don't forget to use accessories to pull different looks together.

Happy Travels!

It's a girl!

I am pleased to finally report we are proud parents of a baby girl named Natalie! Born 3 1/2 weeks early on October 5, she weighed in at 5 pounds looking exactly like her dad - she is adorable and sweet. The recovery period has been long but I am finally starting to feel better despite the sleep deprivation…It's been challenging & exciting but everyone tells me it will get easier. Thank Goodness.

A big thank you for all your tremendous support and encouragement during this time - especially to those who are patiently waiting my return to work. On that note I will be scheduling appointments in the New Year. In the meantime I will be checking e-mails/messages so please feel free to contact me regarding any questions you may have.

I can't believe Christmas is already creeping up (thanks to many shops décor and yuletide music!) so I will take this opportunity and wish you and your loved ones a very happy and festive holiday season!...and of course Happy Organizing!

Best,
Julie

Maternity Leave

Yes, it's true I am pregnant and due at the end of October! It's been a hectic year (especially juggling morning sickness with work!) but I am overjoyed at the prospect of becoming a mother for the first time. I have certainly learned this year (working with many, many families) that an organized family is a happy family - allowing more time to spend with one another. On that note, I am busily preparing for our new arrival, making lists, carrying out to-do's and reading up on what's to come!

As far as TAO is concerned, I am in the process of winding down many projects but am hoping to take maternity leave starting in September. As I've advised all my clients, I will be available for questions and consults through my leave and anticipate taking bookings in the early Spring 2008 (March or April).

In the meantime, please don't hesitate to contact me whether it's regarding organizing or parental advice. I'd love to hear from you and will promise to keep you updated on my progress. Above all, thank you for your understanding and well wishes!!

Canadian House & Home Magazine - Kitchens Edition, Renovate & Decorate

Kitchens are generally a challenging area for most people. Not only is it a place to eat and cook but it's an area where families and guests tend to congregate - sometimes even doubles as an office or homework area as well - it is truly the busiest room in your home.

When Canadian House and Home approached me a few months ago to help them with an article on tips on keeping a well-ordered kitchen, I was ecstatic. When you get me started on the topic of organizing, particularly using smart storage tools and accessories, I tend to go off!

The article is entitled Behind Closed Doors (p 57, Source Guide p 135) and lists 18 ways to organize your cupboards and drawers. One of my favorites is tip #13: “Instead of tossing odds and ends into a junk drawer, use a good-looking wooden organizer (such as Pottery Barn's Bedford Caddy) to keep pens, bills and to-do lists in one aesthetically pleasing spot”. This is an accessory I recommend often and is always a hit! Clients especially love being able to insert family photos in the front.

The magazine is available on newsstands now, check it out!

A New Year...

Happy 007! Now that the holidays are behind us, it's time to focus on the New Year and start fresh. If you're planning on making resolutions this year you may want to jot them down. Studies have shown people are more likely to accomplish their goals if they commit them to paper.

This is truly an exciting time of year for organizers. I'm thrilled to see so many people energized and motivated - ready to roll up their sleeves and get organized. Just yesterday I was in Office Depot (www.officedepot.ca) searching for new 2007 calendar/planner inserts and was surprised to see so many people hunched over the same shelf scrambling to purchase what was left. Then over to Home Sense (www.homesense.ca) where I found myself in organizing heaven, along with other hordes of shoppers! The aisles were well-stocked with great organizing accessories; shoe caddies in great colors (finally!), damask printed bins, leather boxes in fun colors, great belt/tie racks etc. Hurray for stylish practical items! And hurray for people scrambling to jump on the organizing bandwagon. A New Year, a new beginning…think of the great possibilities.

Here's hoping you have a happy, healthy and organized 007!

Happy Travels

Bonjour! I'm fresh back from travelling through France and Italy and wow what a whirlwind tour! I won't bore you with all the details (I'll save that for my friends and family!) but include some of the highlights: wine tasting in Beane, hiking the Mt Blanc region of Chamonix, strolling the medieval towns of Vezeley, Eze, Siena and San Gimignano, touring the cathedrals of Florence and Paris, biking in majestic Tuscany, walking the famous Cinque Terre route and finally relaxing on the Mediterranean.

To go from balmy Mediterranean temperatures of 18 degrees to Vancouver's soggy and cold weather, well let's just say it's not easy adjusting back to real life! Nevertheless, I'm excited to be back. There's only so much organizing you can do while travelling. My husband always laughed at me, as we drove into a new city. I'd quickly pull out the guidebook reading out the highlighted sections and history of the region. I spent most evenings pouring over our maps and guidebooks trying to get us organized for the next day's adventure, not wanting to miss a single site!

But it's back to work...and business as usual here at TAO. I'm re-energized, inspired and thrilled to be organizing once again. Big thanks also to all of you who patiently waited for my return.

Endless Summer

It's been a busy summer season for TAO. Families getting organized in time for the new school year, entrepreneurs gearing up for the fall, and people downsizing before the cold weather hits. Summer is a great time to get organized; people are generally more relaxed and stoked to get their life in order and I've enjoyed every working minute of it.

As summer comes to an end, so too does my work as I prepare to depart on an extended holiday touring around France and Italy. On my last trip to Europe I swore I would be back the following year. Five years later (gulp) and here I am panicking about leaving and writing endless lists about what to pack (yes, I am indeed packing one week before my trip!). Mid-September seems to be a fabulous time to travel since most of the holiday crowds have dispersed and the temperatures are still generally mild. So here's to an endless summer…or at least until I have to return.

I am back in Vancouver the first week of November and I'm already taking bookings. See you then and bon voyage!

Walk down memory lane

Admit it. You have boxes or drawers filled with photos or memorabilia and you've told yourself you will eventually get around to doing something with them. Like any type of organizing this requires devoting a little bit of time to the project. Why not start by setting a date on the calendar to get you kids or partner to help you? It's amazing how much fun you'll have reminiscing about that trip you took, those special family celebrations, or those important milestones in your life. Not only is it fun to walk down memory lane but I would argue that it's important for you to chronicle your family's memories.

Showcasing your belongings and treasures is often under-rated; in fact many clients even forget what they have! But by cleaning out the clutter, you'd be amazed at the wonderful memories that come back - - unpacking those long lost items is like Christmas all over again. So dust off those old photos and help bring to life some of your most cherished memories.

Favorite 'Home' Stores

In Vancouver we are blessed with a wide array of wonderful home stores. It seems everyone is into home decorating due in part to the many great makeover/renovation television shows. I have to admit sometimes I can't tear myself away from Home and Garden television (www.HGTV.com) - I am drawn to the clean modern esthetic and beautifully organized spaces.

Not to be confused with furniture stores, 'home' stores for me are retailers that cater specifically to home furnishings. That is everything you need to outfit your home (candles, kitchen utensils, bathroom items, linens etc.) including great organizational accessories. Some of my favorite stores (and where I do a lot of shopping for clients) are generally the big outfitters such as Home Sense (www.homesense.ca), Home Outfitters (www.hbc.com) or Linens'n Things (www.lnt.com). I find these places an oasis for practical quality items at very affordable prices.

Try buying a new colorful bath set - it's a great way to rejuvenate your bathroom. Or purchase some new modern frames to update some old photographs. It's also fun to visit these stores when the holiday seasons approach - they seem to carry colorful, festive accessories that give you great ideas on how to decorate or entertain. The trouble is I always walk in with a list of what to buy and invariably walk out with much much more!

Take some time to re-invent or update areas of your home. You'll be so glad you did.

Happy New Year

It’s funny how it takes a new year to make it all happen – when people resolve to make changes and begin great new things. I suppose we all need some incentive to make positive adjustments in our lives. Judging from the amount of enquiries, I think it’s safe to say a lot of people have made organizing a major resolution and I couldn’t be happier!

More and more people are seeing the value in simplifying their lives. In fact, the trend in home design is paired down, minimalist spaces. It seems clutter has overwhelmed us for far too long. Now more than ever (in a Consumer driven society) we are bombarded with ads to buy this and that but do we actually need any of these things. From my experience the answer is no – in fact we only use about 20% of our stuff.

Making ‘organizing’ a priority is the best way to start the New Year. When we create an efficient way to live and work we help streamline our busy lives. So make 2006 your best year ever! (And if you need some organizational help you know who to call…!)

Client Appreciation

As the christmas season rapidly approaches (gosh I love this time of year!) we are reminded to appreciate family & loved ones. It’s a time of giving and a time to be grateful for all that we have. On that note, I too must express my gratitude…to very loyal clients who make my line of work so fulfilling. Having worked closely with many of you (sometimes for days at a time), I feel truly honored to have made some wonderful friendships. I know how challenging it can be to ask someone for help let alone having someone rummaging through your personal belongings! It’s funny because I always think it’s the clients who reap the rewards of organizing but I too, come away very satisfied – it truly is all about the journey!

So I must thank all my clients for being so co-operative, fun, hard-working and determined. It’s you who make my job so great and why I love it so much. Thanks also to those who refer my services and to those who keep me busy organizing more than one project. Repeat business is what keeps my little enterprise going and I am just so happy to be called back to work together once again.

Take the time this season to honor loved ones and give thanks for how lucky we are. Happy holidays everyone!

Organizing Myth

Many people think organizing or decluttering requires throwing everything away. Absolutely not! There is no reason to toss possessions that mean something to you. The ultimate goal of a Professional Organizer is to help you display or store things you use and love. With so many organizing accessories there are many options to help you stay organized but what we do advise getting rid of are a) things you dislike and b) things you never use. Ask yourself why you’re holding onto it and what it means to you. Chances are if you didn’t even know you had it or haven’t used it in a year, it probably isn’t very important. Maybe it’s time to give it away – someone’s trash is always another’s treasure!

Importance of Home

It’s amazing how hectic our lives have become. It’s not enough that work takes up the majority of the day. There are relationships with family & friends to maintain, exercise to keep our energy levels up and then more time needed for recreational pursuits.

We basically rush around in order to maintain a balanced active lifestyle! Apparently though technological advancements have really made it easier for us; we have the Internet that does a lot of the legwork for us, we have e-mail, blackberries and cell phones to stay connected, ipods to keep us grooving and the list goes on. We are extremely busy. It’s no wonder I hear so many people say they fall into bed absolutely exhausted.

To quote one of my favorite Chinese proverbs: “Always keep a place to which you can retreat”. I can’t tell you how important it is to have a place where you can totally relax. Free from clutter (that stares at you wondering when you’ll get around to it), distractions (phones, computers etc) and any reference to work-related stuff, or bills. This place doesn’t necessarily have to be a cabin or boat it’s equally effective to have an area somewhere in your home. I find the bedroom or a den very cozy.

Personalize your space for optimum ambience; try painting your room a warm, rich color, surround yourself with photos of loved ones & beautifully smelling candles, and even good lighting can set the mood. It’s all about creating a sanctuary or place you can retreat to after a long, hard day. Take the time and effort to make it happen. After all, you deserve it. Isn’t it about time you felt pampered every night!

Speaking of home check out www.homemag.com - A savvy online magazine that offers, simple design ideas and solutions to many home queries. Ever wondered what to look for when purchasing a sofa? Or how to turn an uninspired living room into a vibrant space.

My 5 Favorite Organizing Accessories

The following accessories can all be found at department and/or home decor stores:

1) Hanging shoe caddy – a great way to store shoes when floor space is at a minimal and alternatively can be used to store hats, gloves and scarves.

2) Baskets – allow you to store items and esthetically fits in very nicely with most home decor .

3) Flat storage boxes – ideal for slipping under your bed or couch and can store many things such as seasonal items, clothes, linens etc.

4) Bulletin Board – a great space saver and way to display important information (important phone numbers, reminders), recent photographs, children’s drawings etc.

5) Tie and belt racks – simple solution that allows you to view accessories easily and comes in many convenient varieties (racks on hangers, wall mounted).