April 02, 2010
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!”.
Posted by tao at 01:04 PM | Comments (0)
November 14, 2007
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
Posted by tao at 04:07 PM | Comments (0)
August 20, 2007
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!!
Posted by tao at 04:06 PM | Comments (0)
January 11, 2007
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!
Posted by tao at 09:03 AM | Comments (0)
November 16, 2006
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.
Posted by tao at 09:05 PM | Comments (0)
September 21, 2006
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!
Posted by tao at 02:41 PM | Comments (0)
September 19, 2006
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.
Posted by tao at 11:59 AM | Comments (0)
June 02, 2006
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.
Posted by tao at 03:28 PM | Comments (0)
January 10, 2006
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…!)
Posted by tao at 11:07 AM | Comments (0)
December 20, 2005
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!
Posted by tao at 02:38 PM | Comments (0)
June 05, 2005
How I Chose 'The Art of Organizing'
Writing my first ‘blog’ entry is a little intimidating. Apparently I should just write about anything, almost haphazardly, because I can. This however, is daunting for a professional organizer who prides herself on making every little thing perfect! So here goes topic #1. How I chose the name for my company – The Art of Organizing.
For me, the name of a company is very important. It should communicate the product or service, be distinguishable, and be easy to remember. So when I came up with The Art of Organizing, I was pleasantly surprised to find out its acronym was: TAO. TAO, a Chinese Taoist term, quite simply means ‘harmony in nature’. Achieving a harmonious space is critical – everything should have a place and be part of a long-term system to help keep order.
There is indeed an art to organizing. It requires skillfully determining an organizational system that functions for each individual without maintaining orderly perfection. It requires creating an esthetically pleasing environment without compromising one’s unique style. In the end, your home should be a restful, nurturing and comfortable place to be. This quite simply is TAO’s vision and how the name came to be…
Posted by tao at 01:44 PM | Comments (0)
April 29, 2005
Meet the husband
My dear wife was not excited to learn that I'd be posting my own rants on her blog - after all everything in her life is well-planned and organized to the moon.
But without jeopardizing her professional image, I simply couldn't resist the temptation to add my perspective. After all, I figure most prospective clients would want to know what's it's like to live with a professional organizer. Well let me tell you...
First, Jules and I live in a rather small Yaletown condo. To help save the marriage, Jules was the first to find creative ways to store all my sports equipment without making the place feel like a 'frat house'.
I liken our home to living on a boat (she'd hate the anology) mainly because everything needs to have a 'home' and be stored in it's home, otherwise things quickly get out of hand. In little over 650 square feet, we have: a dining room, a living room, a home office, a pantry, a outdoor sports equipment storage space, a semi-walk-in closet, 3 surfboards, golf clubs, 3 sets of skis, some plants and all the other usual stuff that makes a home a home.
All this organization is 100% due to my wife. The funny thing is that even though I seem to create chaos around me, the moment I understand where something is supposed to live, I quickly get on the organzing program. I'm now so quick to unpack my gear after a trip that it takes me little more than five minutes to unpack.
Bottom line is that I'm converted! If this little woman can organize me, I promise she can organize anyone...
(more from me later- gw)
Posted by tao at 06:38 PM | Comments (0)