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About This Blog
I know your time is valuable and to I hope to make each of your visits here meaningful. I’ve been in the organizing business for nearly a decade and people everywhere tell me they feel utterly overwhelmed. What’s the solution? Quick tips and tricks are so appealing in the moment, but they leave us disillusioned and just as disorganized as ever. That’s why you won’t find them on my blog…instead I want to bring you inspiration to take back your life. You’ll be invited to push the “reset” button and embrace an entirely new definition of “authentic organizing.” You’ll gain insight into your true priorities and  motivation to achieve a higher quality of life. Life is short, thanks for sharing yours with me as we strive together to reclaim the things that really matter.

-Vicki Norris

Monday, June 8th, 2009
New Ventures Are Brewing
Sorry I haven't written in a while. I promised not to blog just to chatter and my brain has been on overload for the last month. I've transitioned in a new organizing consultant to our organizing team, been working on the relaunch of my website/blog/webstore, I've been working on building my workshops, and my NEW venture...so read on.... Tonight I'm playing with designs and colors and patterns...all for the identity system (graphic design package) for our new farm property "Dream Acres" and its future adventures. It's an aesthetic experience, like rolling around a new taste in your mouth or feeling a silky shimmery ribbon. It has to fit the simple but inspiring perspective I'm trying to offer through everything I do (consulting, books, products, speaking, events). It has to be classy and snappy and speak to people. In one glance it all has to capture and give hope and draw people in. I am hoping to have the signage up by the end of summer. I'll let you know what I come up with... The first series of events at Dream Acres are going to be my "Simplify Sales"--unique community yard sales. In addition to tons of tables of great stuff you can buy (acquiring previously-loved items is savvy and affordable), I'm going to have a live band, a yummy barbeque, snow cones, and vendors that can help you simplify your life. These will take place the 4th Sat. of July, August, and September. Contact us if you're in Oregon and want to get a table at Info@RestoringOrder.com.
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Monday, May 4th, 2009
"I Gotch You"

"I GOTCH YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!" he screams in my ears as he presses his two year old face into mine with wild vigor. So much for my makeup. But I don't care. I'm just lapping up this toddler love.

I guess he learned that from all the cute little games we play where I proclaim"I got you!" (usually followed with a tickle) as he dissolves into giggles.

My heart aches to think about the day when my babies don't want me to snuggle them close anymore. I'm already seeing signs of this impending day with the emphatic "Do it my OWN self, mommy!"

And I'm reminded how blessed I am to be the object of his affection.

I wish for you a life - amidst paying the bills and the daily grind - where you can clear the way for the things that truly matter. If you're living on the edge of sanity, buried with clutter and overwhelm, (like so many are) you are likely turning inward and forgetting to SAVOR the screams in the face. If you're stressed out, you bark at the family, are quicker to anger, and are less thankful for the little things.

It's time to make room for savoring the simple things. Who do you gotch and who gotch you?

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Friday, April 3rd, 2009
Low Effort

A long time ago I created an anti-superhero. His name is "Low Effort Man". (But you have to say it like this in a radio announcer voice: "Loooooh Eeeeeffort Man!" to get the full effect).

Low Effort Man does only enough to keep his head above water. He doesn't unload the dishwasher when the dishes are clean; it's easier to just let the new dishes pile up on the counter. He doesn't change out the toilet paper when it is almost out...in fact, he leaves at least one square of toilet paper on the roll so that it's therefore someone else's responsibility to change the roll. It can't be his, he has better things to do. He waits until he is completely out of his anti-superhero shorts before he attempts any laundry. Most things just get the smell test.

As much as we hate to admit it, we are all guilty of Low Effort Man habits sometimes. Myself included. It is much easier to be lazy than to be vigilant.

Ironically, though, we are buried by our own low effort habits. While it may seem like liberty to let ourselves off the hook from the chores of life, what appears to be freedom actually becomes bondage.

If you suffer from LES (Low Effort Syndrome), your organizing efforts will be short-lived at best. In order to break-through this wrong thinking, you'll need to face the facts: organizing takes time and effort. It's not a glamorous truth, but it will set you free.

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Monday, April 20th, 2009
Comment By: PK
So true!!!!!
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Up and Down Stairs Basket
One of my favorite household organizing systems (as an owner of a two-level home) is my "up and down stairs" basket. I leave it at the bottom of the stairs and throughout the day deposit items to be returned to the upper regions. Nightly, I carry it up and re-distribute. It's not perfect because its users are not perfect but it does minimize nomadic clutter from forming. Establish your own up and down stairs basket, along with the new habit of distributing items back to their destination!
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