Vicki Norris' Restoring Order Blog

Be Urgent for the Right Things

Mon, 04 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0800

I admit. I'm a driven person. My Strengths Finder assessment (you should try it at www.StrengthsFinder.com) says I'm an "Achiever". That means I have to get something done every day. And something significant. And by "every day" that means every week day, weekend, evening, holiday, vacation, etc. I feel lousy if I don't have anything to show for my day.

Despite the fact that I have an inborn sense of urgency to accomplish, I want to be sure that I'm urgent for the RIGHT things.

I've been thinking about how ironic it is that people will spend hours planning and strategizing for their business, home improvement projects, finances, hobbies, vacations, etc, but not spend ANY time investing to that level in their marriage or parenting - two of the greatest blessings and resources a person can have. And then we wonder why things are stale or frustrating.

So this year I want to practice the discipline (I'm saying "practice" because I don't FEEL it yet, but I know I will once I practice it) of applying my urgency strength to the things that really matter to me.

I want to practice a sense of urgency about investing in my marriage. That means re-instituting our date night. That means finishing a chapter in a book we're reading together. That means putting him ahead of my work and other plans.

I also want to practice urgency for investing in my children. So often, I find myself just doing my own thing while they are doing theirs, rather than interacting in a quality way. (After all, dishes and laundry and work has to be done!) I want to be instructing them and training them and being conscious of what I am inputting into them, rather than just focusing on behavior.

Practicing urgency for the things that matter is going to be a new skill for me. I want to focus this year on getting the LITTLE things right in my life so that I can be prepared for the BIG things ahead. Perhaps we miss opportunities in life because we haven't cultivated the discipline or perspective to be ready for them.

When I look back on my life I want to be glad that I was more URGENT for a quality life and interaction with my husband and children than my to-do list.

Have you been urgent for the wrong things? Bigger bank accounts? Promotions, projects, or plans or anything that is less important in the eternal scheme of things than your TRUE VALUES? I invite you to join me in practicing urgency for the things that really matter this year. Here's to a blessed 2010!

~Vicki Norris

True Confessions

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

If you are someone who thinks that "organized" means perfectly coiffed and put-together, I have some "insider information" for you....I'm wearing the same clothes today that I did yesterday and my naptime pillow left me with a bed head hairdo.

If you've imagined that a professional organizer must have a slick color-coded (or electronic) system for productive shopping trips, you'll grin when you learn that I took the kids to Target today and wrote my list in the car on the back of a business card I had in my purse.

"Organized" might not look like you thought, after all. It's not - at least in my view - about having a Martha Stewart home or perky June Cleaver preparedness. It's about making room for the things that matter....it's about LIVING a restored life; one where you are focusing on first things first. Of course, an orderly home and work life helps clear the way for purposeful living, but "organized" is a means, not an end.

So, today, let yourself off the hook for what you thought "organized" meant and just relax into real, satisfying life where you get to play with your kids, step over the blocks and toys for now, and enjoy a nap on a rainy day...even if you're left with bed head and pathetic grocery lists.

Wicked Wicket

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Thursday night my husband and boys were home playing croquet in the yard. My 14 month old Brock somehow managed to pull a wicket out of the ground, took a few steps with it, and promptly impaled it into his eye. Seriously.

My husband flew the truck to the ER. I'm not sure who was screaming louder, Brock in pain, blood streaming down his face, Nash in fear, or Dad in agony.

On the way to the ER, all we could think of is if our son would be blind.

In short, the wicked wicket narrowly missed Brock's eye and landed in the tissue beneath. Praise God. We've never held our boys so close.

We got a little glimpse of heaven's intervention, and I'm wishing you the same...and the power to see them. An angel to bump wickets and a healing touch. May you hold your babies closer and be THANKFUL for what you DO have.

~Vicki

Simplify Sale Savvy Shopper

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Meet Portland Sparks. This young lady attended our Aug. 22nd Simplify Sale. I met her as she was darting between the stations, acquiring new deals and squealing over her "finds" at the FREE table. Here she is pictured in a free blazer and sunglasses plus a Tweety bird bag containing a hand-held vacuum. It was fun to see her - and hundreds others - enjoying this special yard sale and all its unique elements.

I hope you'll join us for our LAST Simplify Sale of 2009: Saturday, September 26th form 9 am to 2 pm. And if you're local to the Portland, OR area and you want to lighten up and make some money, join us as a station vendor. We've already sold half the stations and we have 9 really cool life-simplifying service providers you'll get to meet when you attend.

See you there!
~Vicki

Re-Sync Button

Wed, 26 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0700

I was at a speaking engagement last week and my laptop didn't want to agree with the projector. The host smiled, "No problem, Vicki, I'll just hit the re-sync button." I exclaimed; "I want a re-sync button!"

Wouldn't it be cool if life had a re-sync button?

If you wake up and came downstairs to a chaotic kitchen, starting your day off facing a dreary, piled up mess...wouldn't it be nice to hit that button and start over?
If you get into one of "those fights" with your spouse where you fight over the same stuff you have for years (the one where no one wins and you'll never see eye to eye and both lose)...and you could just eject from that slippery slope with the re-sync button?

Now, here's the best news you've heard all day (maybe all year)...there IS a re-sync button! It's called restoration.

Maybe it's time to "restore order" to your household so you won't have to "pay the piper" every day, having your mess drain your energy time, and money. By restoring your space and setting up systems, you're making your home right again...or perhaps for the first time.
Maybe it's time to call a marriage huddle and set some new ground rules about fighting and which topics you're just going to drop. By showing your spouse you value them too much to continue the strife, and asking forgiveness where necessary, you're restoring the relationship.

So, why don't we all use the re-sync button we have access to? It's so easy to stick with the painful status-quo. It takes no effort to continue as-is. When you change something big, something that matters, it requires something of you. In the case of organizing, it takes commitment and some time and new ways of doing things. So, we resist hitting that re-sync button because we don't want to do what it takes. Sadly, we'd rather pay the piper every day - frustrated with our life - instead of doing the work and making changes. When it comes to relationships, change requires humility, self-assessment, putting everything in perspective, forgiveness, and a lot more...and whew, that's HARD! So, we'd rather fight the same old fight than re-sync.

I don't know about you, but for me, it's usually pain or gaining perspective that helps me to decide to re-sync. What do you need the re-sync button of restoration for?

~Vicki Norris

Plaque Problem

Wed, 19 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0700

I love words. They move me. I savor them. I love to wrap just the right description around something I esteem. I enjoy acquiring vocabulary and I not-so-secretly relish stomping my husband in Scrabble.

My favorite are inspiring words. I hung a piece of artwork in the playroom that reads "How great would life be if we lived a little of it everyday." I justified buying it because it has a vintage plane on it and my son loves planes. But I really bought it for me...to remind me to unplug and remember to LIVE life today.

In my kitchen hangs a wooden plaque that bears this reminder: "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." I have an unshakeable sense of belief, not only in what I'm doing but I love to believe for others as well. That's how Restoring Order was born, after all...because those who are in disarray get shortchanged by their chaotic life and rarely seize their dreams - what a tragedy! This plaque gives me an boost when I need it.

This weekend I bought yet another saying...a shabby chic mirror with "Cherish Life's Simple Pleasures"etched into the gilt...I'm going to hang it by my desk this week.

Can you see a pattern? I am inspired by words and I buy too many plaques.

When I came to the realization that my plaque count was mounting, I also began to see why I keep greeting cards too long. I just love to enjoy people's fond words and revisit them. If someone took the time to say something kind or if the card memorializes someone's handwritting, I just can't let it go. I'm not too sentimental about stuff, but words are treasures. Words are my love language. I have kept every card my husband has ever written me in 9 years of knowing each other...now don't get too worried, that's probably only about 12 cards; not an overwhelming pile. LOL.

So, before getting too hard on yourself for collecting stuff, think about your reasons for keeping. Of course, some clutter is just backlog and it's holding you back. But maybe it's hard to let go because you're inspired by some of it. Sort out which it is and ditch the deadwood clogging your space. Then take that which inspires you and give it a place of honor.

~Here's to enjoying life more everyday!
Vicki Norris

Trade, Don't Buy!

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0700

I love discovering life simplifying service providers that really work. I just signed up for a national online bartering website: www.Tradia.net.

It's a site that allows you to trade what you have for what you need. For example, I could do an organizing project for a Tradia member and earn Tradia credits in the dollar amount of my standard rates. Then, I can cash in those Tradia credits to purchase something I need, like a new roof, siding, a vacation, signage, printing...anything for my business or personal life that I'd rather not pay cash for...

It's good stewardship and it's practical. Plus, it keeps the cash in the bank.

Sound good? If you have skills, services, or products of value you can barter, check out www.Tradia.net. If you're in Oregon, give Cari or Ken at the Portland franchise a call at (503) 625-5100. If you sign up with them tell them I sent you and they'll give you a free dinner out!

Cool Pilot and Alligator

Tue, 11 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Monday my husband was rushing the boys out of the house to go flying. It's his passion and it's becoming an almost daily occurrence around here. Nash said to him "Daddy, Brock coming too?" Trevor said, "Yah, buddy, Brock's coming, too. He's the navigator and you're the co-pilot."

Nash hurried along behind him talking to himself excitedly, trying not to trip. I was behind him and heard him repeating his daddy...."Brock the alligator and I'm the cool pilot!"

I could hardly stop laughing and had to fill my husband in on why I had collapsed in hilarity. Don't forget to stop today and enjoy the funny moments of your day. Laugh more and scowl less. Slow down and savor. Hug those alligators and cool pilots.

Fave Furniture

Wed, 29 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

It's a changing station. It's a landing strip for small aircraft. It's a place to put your drink, your guitar, your magazine. It's a foot rest, an extra seat, and a serving station. It's lightweight, boy-proof, and it's even slipcovered. It's my favorite piece of furniture and it is my ottoman. Talk about multi-tasking! What is YOUR favorite piece of furniture and why?

The Simplify Sale Rocked!

Mon, 27 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

It has been a busy week and a half since our first Simplify Sale on July 25th!

We had overwhelming success with our newest business venture! Over 500 people attended, with 40 participant stations, live band, yummy BBQ, and a gloriously sunny day. The snowcones took the edge off the sizzle.

Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue fire men and women brought two engines and shared the shiny trucks with kids and adults alike.

Station vendors sold their wares - everything from cowboy boots to ceramic roosters to jewelry to holiday decor to shabby chic goodies. I was impressed at the variety of items at the Sale and BARGAINS I found. (I personally bought 5 things....including a fab dish dryer and chair!)

KPTV Channel 12 was there covering the story....since the Simplify Sale is such a unique new way that people can lighten up and clear out the clutter.

I can't wait for our next Sale August 22nd!

The Simplify Sale is Here!

Thu, 23 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Have you ever had one of THOSE ideas that are so good you can't say no, but so BIG you just hold on for the ride? That pretty much sums up the last 2 months.

In my last blog I was literally just birthing the Simplify Sale. Now I've brought the "baby" home (the Simplify Sale is the first event of our new Events division). Like any new baby, I've been staying up late with it and learning a lot!

And Saturday, July 25th is our first Simplify Sale ever! If you haven't yet heard about it, I haven't done my job in marketing. It's a gigantic vintage yard sale (over 30 stations of bargains!), outdoor concert (a really cool band call Cry of Stones), BBQ (our workshop caterer AB Catering) and charity event (unsold goods will go to Love INC).

Highlights: A chance to win an organizing makeover worth over $1000! A visit from the fire truck! A huge FREE section!

At these Sales, I aim to:

1. Bless the needy with useful and needed household items (the beneficiary of unsold goods will be Love Inc.)

2. Provide station-holders a chance to lighten up, simplify, and make money (they don’t have to advertise their own sale nor deal with the stuff left over)

3. Give attendees the opportunity to buy bargain re-purposed stuff and enjoy a fun day with live music, BBQ, and a fair-type atmosphere

4. Introduce the community to a handful of local small business owners (sponsors) who help people manage home and life.

It's not too late! If you're looking for an organizing outcome for cheap, clear out your clutter, load up your car, and join us as a station vendor!

If you're just looking for something to do this weekend, please come out to Dream Acres in Sherwood and enjoy fun in the sun with great deals, food, music, and community!

Committed to creating new ways for YOU to get organized,
~Vicki Norris

New Ventures Are Brewing

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0700

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.

"I Gotch You"

Mon, 04 May 2009 00:00:00 -0700

"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?

Low Effort

Fri, 03 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0700

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.

Wandering Items

Sat, 07 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Tonight I spied my belt (which I didn't know I was missing) in the TV armoire behind a stack of DVDs. Later I was searching for the black television remote and found it a half hour later in the dog's bed. I am a professional organizer. I have a toddler.

-Vicki Norris

Finally FB

Sat, 07 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Thanks, Stacey Wilson. For telling me I can "poach" your friends on Facebook. Thanks for taking pity on my pathetic 30-something FB fear. Or is it malaise?

I think I figured out how to add a network. I've tried 10 times to add who I am married to and FB won't record it. Weird. For the record, I'm married to Trevor Norris, who is my best friend, a brilliantly talented craftsman and pilot, and a defiantly disorganized man! God has a funny sense of humor.

Not sure why I've resisted FB so long...perhaps I've been too busy doing things to stop and tell people what I'm doing. I need to get over the time commitment obstacle. I can do this! I am a college graduate! With honors! (Whatever that means.) I run a small business in the midst of an economic crisis and I am my own economic stimulus. I am a woman for heaven's sake. What can't we do?

Vicki Norris

My Shabby Life

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0800

I like to buy furniture that is already distressed. That way my son's array of tools don't add any discernable damage. Almost every piece of upolstered furniture I own is slipcovered...good for Charlie the Dog's lovely "moments" and the pen my husband bought that looks like an airplane and is therefore irresistable to my son.

When we moved into our dream home, I actually hired someone to make my kitchen walls look old. It's the vintage look I adore. I love to be surrounded by the comfortable...the mushy gushy couch covered in yummy fancy fabric that invites snuggling and the red wood stove that I love to gather around and get toasty.

But it's more than the vintage, comfortable "look" that I can't live without...it's a throw-back, true-to-basics, deeply comforting way of life that I can't live without. You see, if my shabby chic farmhouse burned down, I would still have my shabby life.

My shabby life has gathered some nicks and scars along the journey...but it has been those marks that I've allowed to make me richer. A life where I've learned to anticipate and accept the bumps and bruises that will be coming my way in life and plan for them so I don't let them break my spirit. Instead of expecting life to be perfect (which a lot of mis-led folks mistake for "organized"), I am learning it to live in the present and consider it a gift.

More thoughts on my shabby life in my next blog...stay tuned!

~Vicki Norris

Traffic Jam

Mon, 09 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0800

My shoes are stuck in a traffic jam.

We have been remodeling our office since we moved into our new home last fall. It is all done except for a few things. My husband put hooks up in our mudroom and we still have to install the shoe bar when we get a little time (which is in short supply with two little ones!).

Yes, I did say "shoe bar"....I am sooooo excited for a fabulous place to display and store all of our shoes. I've decided that ALL of our shoes (except the muddy boots) will live in our mudroom, not our bedrooms.

You know the problem of a two-story house...some shoes live by the front door, some live in the bedrooms (no one knows which ones), and some live in the garage, etc. Many just are just transients and clutter up the floor wherever the owner kicks them off. And, remember, I'm raising three (I mean TWO) boys!

So, anyway the shoe bar has not yet come into its glorious existence yet. But I've already cleared my shoes out of the master closet to make room for my husband's clothes. So, my shoes are lined up in awkward rows on the floor in the mudroom and my husband's and son's shoes are still scattered about and it slays me.

My shoes are in purgatory and it isn't pretty. I'm sure you have experienced something like this...a traffic jam of household disorder. Until the mudroom gets resolved, our shoes shall remain frustratingly nomadic. It's a back up and I'm laying on the horn!

Fortunately, I know that this situation is temporary. If you are having traffic jams in your own household, resolve them one at a time as soon as you can in order to avoid a downward spiral. And if your jam is temporary like mine (though nonetheless annoying) do what I'm doing: havea glass of wine and dreaming of my shoe bar (insert your dream here) just off the next exit!

Here's to shoe bars,

Vicki Norris

Imagination Organization

Wed, 14 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0800

I learned from one of my first clients - almost a decade ago - that organization that works is organization that fits the person. And it's the cherry on top if your system can evoke your imagination.

We were organizing her craft room and I wanted a neat and tidy solution for her ribbons (and she had a LOT). She insisted on taking her favorite shimmery ribbons and spilling them about on an antique plate that was also scattered with her favorite buttons. She told me that seeing these accessories inspired her and made her want to take on the next project. She said seeing her ribbons displayed like that (like an "I Spy" book) was like "eye candy" to her.

From then on, I tuned in more closely to each client to see if they had the same aesthetic preferences. I want to help tap into all the senses and evoke imagination with each client.

So, when you think about getting organized, don't limit yourself to "containerizing" and labeling...thinking about what would evoke your senses and put a smile on your face. Here are a few ways I've tapped into imagination in my own systems:

I've arranged my son's metal airplanes under his bed. We call it his "hangar." I love watching him take friends and drag them up to his room to show off his "hang-ah". I can just see the wheels turning in his head as he imagines the runway and the planes taxiing. As early as 9 months his airport sound effects started developing!
Inside my linen closet, I've put an unexpected box of potpourri...so now the soothing smell of that closet is a little extra touch that inspires me to keep it organized.
I've become increasingly daring with my beloved teacup collection, stacking up to three cups inside one another and balancing the plates along the back rail to show off their fabulous designs. I've inserted everything from tattered doilies to pocket watches amongst my collection for a bit of family history. I just love to handle the china and arrange it and just savor all the associated memories. After all, that's what a collection is all about.

Too often, we don't enjoy our "good things" because we're afraid something will happen to them. During my recent move, I broke a handle on my forget-me-not and lilly of the valley cup. I was only fleetingly sad as I remembered the friend who gave it to me. The handle is just sitting in the cup, hoping I'll repair it soon. Even if I don't I'll still have the saucer. But you don't notice it amongst the overflowing pattern and variety that surrounds it. Just like shimmery ribbons and buttons, my teacup collection is organized in my own way....in stacked, gleaming, jaunty glory. It's my eye candy.

Here's to using YOUR imagination in your next organizing project,

Vicki Norris

Workshop Success!

Sun, 11 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Yesterday - Saturday, January 10th - was the launch of the first-ever Restoring Order workshop series. It was held at the NEW Restoring Order headquarters, right here at Dream Acres. We had a packed house and everyone was brimming with excitement. Our first topic was the "Five P's of Paper Management", which kicked off the first six months of our series--all of which will cover paper management. The second six months of our series will cover space management.

Pens and pencils were furiously scribbling notes on the new clipboards. With each advancing PowerPoint slide, these 20 star students gained an invaluable filter through which they can now view paper. Instead of being overwhelmed by the paper on their desk and floor and surfaces, workshop participants are now equipped to discern between different types of paper (Which is actionable? Which needs to be filed? Which is reference?).

Feeling empowered, the participants practically begged for homework at the end with hands raised with the query "What should I do first?!" I was so thrilled by the packed house but especially impressed by the workshop participants' desire to learn and APPLY.

Thirteen of the 20 participants stayed for the BOOK CLUB that followed. This year we are covering my first book "Restoring Order" (also known as "Reclaim Your Life".) It was a white-tablecloth fancy-dancy luncheon. We sipped on our spritzers and coffee and nibbled on our fab salads and gourmet sammies. We shared our organizing successes and embarassments. Even in our first session (I covered Chapter One - Life Management and Chapter Five - The Freedom Factor), participants felt free to share what they struggle with and how they are addressing their mess so that they can live a life of purpose and meaning. We concluded by discussing how we are all determined to invest in our quality of life this year and what we must tackle/face to do so. It was a special time shared and we are all committed to learning together and living with purpose in the coming months.

If you haven't already done so, and you live in the northwest, won't you consider joining our very special "Second Saturday" events? I will be adding a second workshop due to interest. It will be from 1:00-2:30 pm and we may likely add another book club (an afternoon high tea, I think) directly following from 3:00-4:00 pm.

If you're interested, send an email to Workshop@RestoringOrder.com with your full name, address, phone numbers, and email and you'll be personally contacted.

These workshops and book clubs are the fulfillment of NEW POSSIBILITIES within the Restoring Order brand of offerings. I am thrilled that they are already practically and affordably meeting the needs of regular people like you and me...helping folks who want to TAKE BACK THEIR LIFE to make 2009 the year that they INVEST IN THEMSELVES.

Your friend in this journey of life,

Vicki Norris

"Stand White Dare"

Tue, 23 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0800

“Stand White Dare!” Bleary-eyed and fighting off sleep, my two year old son orders me to stand at the end of his bed and wait for him to fall asleep, to “stand right there.”

Apparently my husband told him a few nights ago that he would “stand right here” until little Nash fell asleep. Well, this tenacious toddler doesn’t miss a beat and now he knows just how to articulate what he wants.

Now this isn’t going to be a parenting opinion/advice blog about “to stay or not to stay.” We’ve tried both strategies and frankly we don’t have the formula figured out.

What I DO know is that Nash wants us to reassure him. He wants his final moments of awake time to be filled with us…impatient, tired-out, imperfect US. What a wonder. What an undeserved honor. What a treasure I want to live up to….

Are there people in YOUR life you need to “stand right by” at this time? Folks in financial trouble? Friends in need? Girlfriends who need an encouraging word? (Recently my best friend told me “you’re a good mom, Vic.” And I just bawled. We all need it sometimes.) Who can you stand right next to at this moment?

Remember, Christmas is about the One who came and stood in the gap for us. Imperfect us. What a wonder. What an undeserved honor. What a treasure I want to live up to….

Living with "Ish"

Tue, 16 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0800

I got my Christmas tree half decorated. My two year old "helped" and you can imagine how productive that was! After getting everyone settled into bed way past their bedtime, I "fluffed" the things in the dryer for the 99th time and collapsed into bed before I could fold. I got up the next morning and got the kitchen half cleaned. Then I unloaded the dryer (finally) and realized everything in the washer needed to be re-washed (for obvious reasons) before setting that smell forever by drying those clothes.

These days it seems like I'm not able to do more than part of a job before the baby needs to be nursed or the next conference call or appointment. Quite frustrating for a "get it done" kind of girl like me.

This working mom, half-done, sleep-deprived state has FORCED me to live with "ish." I tell my friends I will be at their house "five-ish". I get the house "clean-ish" (aka: presentable enough) and lately my vacuum has been hanging out in my living room so that when I walk by it I can quickly spin around the house when inspiration strikes. There are hundreds of projects that need to be done in our new house, and I know they will get done soon-ish.

The bad thing about living with "ish" is that I am constantly disappointing my own standards of timeliness, cleanliness, and even organization (!) But that is also the good thing about living with "ish." I am giving myself the grace to ACCEPT that for this season of life, I must do what I can when I can. I'm sacrificing my old standards so that I can put first things first.

Instead of seeing myself as a victim of "ish" (wherein I would feel mighty peeved that children and other "distractions" were causing this ishy-ness) I am choosing to accept "ish" and I'm daily trying to be content with the "undone."

The tree is still half-decorated and Christmas is in one week. I've decided that it looks nice and less cluttered that way. :-)

Dream Acres

Sat, 29 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0800

Have you ever had a dream (or a collection of dreams) that is SO big you don't ever know how it could come true? During the last six months, I've realized a host of lifelong dreams all at once. It's so overwhelming, nostalgic, and beautiful, my heart is just seized with a breathless pain...the kind of pain you experience when your heart is bursting with gratitude. I can't even list all of the dreams that I've harbored in the far nooks of my heart and mind over the years that are now coming true.

I've always been a sentimental person, loving "old things" because they all have a story. Things from the past evoke simpler times, and I - as you know - am drawn in by the beauty of simplicity. (For example, "The Night Before Christmas" house was just the time period I imagined myself living in....the Victorian house laced with velvet, red plaid, and sugarplums just tickled my fancy.) My friends, I'm living in just such a house...a home that just welcomes you in with warmth.

Trevor and I received an enormous gift and we moved into our dream home this October. Our property is five acres, complete with barn and shop and garden and orchard. There's even a play structure for our boys. Just yesterday I climbed up in the loft of the shop and swept out the planks, dreaming of all the wonderful shipwrecks, space crafts, and cowboy hideouts my boys will have here. I thought back and remembered how -since I was a girl- I have been captivated by spaces like this. I wandered through the dirt floors of the barn, envisioning the farm fruit stand I will have here come spring. I'm dreaming of where I'll put the Christmas trees next winter and the apples in the fall. How will I organize the space and make it feel homey and warm for visitors? I then walk across the drive to the garden and I imagine where the big fire pit will be and the picnic tables and....I just keep walking and dreaming.

I guess I just want you to know that dreams really do come true. Dreams that were planted in your heart when you were little are there for a reason. Your affinities, your hopes, your imagination - all these are part of what make you uniquely YOU.

I drove past this house for TWELVE YEARS and admired it from afar. For some reason (heaven knows even when we don't) I had an affinity in my heart for this particular house....and now I live here.

Friends, don't give up on YOUR dreams. Don't let the economy or your retirement or your stressors hold you back from dreaming. Reach back into the attic of your mind, all the way back to your childhood. Trace your dreams from then to now and follow where they lead.

Those who live a purposeful life are far more likely to recognize and seize their dreams. Join me in dreaming outlandish dreams. Who konws, they might just ALL come true!

~Vicki

Eight Weeks Under

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0800

Talk about a blog break...this has been more a like a blog break-up!

If anyone is wondering where I've been these last few weeks; I've been dealing with more than my share of LIFE CHANGE!

In the last eight weeks, my husband and I have closed on (and moved into) our dream home on five acres. My folks bought the adjoining five acres, so now my sons will get to grow up next door to "Nana and Papa." We are calling it Dream Acres, and I can't wait to tell you all about it...we're living our priorities every day.
As a result, we moved our household and my business Restoring Order. I had lived in my home for 12 years and Restoring Order is about to celebrate its tenth year in business, so this was no small feat. It was an organized move, but it was peppered with visits to the hospital....read on...
Concurrent with this move has been a family medical crisis. My mother had back surgery, which resulted in complications, a second surgery, and over a month in the hospital. She remains in the hospital. Hers is a case for Dr. House because no one can figure out what is going on with her blood pressure.
In addition, I became violently ill myself over the last three weeks and have since given this epic cold to both my sons. I am just now surfacing.
Lastly, in order to move my business into its new building, a total remodel was required. One wall was torn down, another erected...flooring was torn up and new flooring put down. Sheetrock, paint, electrical, you name it. Thankfully, I'm married to the world's handiest man.

Some people just ask for it, eh?

I'm back in the saddle and wanted to break the blog silence with an update. I have learned so much in this time, and I have much to share with you. Stay tuned!

Weathering life's changes alongside you,

Vicki Norris

Socially Under-Networked

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0700

In 2007, my friend invited me to join Facebook. He posted some pictures of his adorable family and asked me to write on his "wall." I followed the link and did my best to fill out a rudimentary profile. Up until today, I had never updated that ancient profile. Today, I sorted through 14 invitations to be a "friend." Kind of pathetic that I only had 14 people offer to be my friend in over a year, but that's another story. (Maybe people don't realize how fun I really am. Ha.) Now, I have an odd assortment of friends, some of whom are acquaintances and others who are near and dear. Not sure it's very representative of my inner circle....My husband Trevor doesn't even know what Facebook is, and he is my best friend.

I feel stressed by the hundreds of others I should be extending and accepting invitations to and from to be friends. What if they see me on there and think that I'm not their friend? I spent more than half my day doing all of this. I had to complete my basic information including personal information (oh, dear, what shall I share?), contact information (what about all the weirdos out there in cyberspace?) and my education and work information (what for? So my alumni association can track me down and ask me for money? So that people can send me resumes?) Wow, this is taking a lot of commitment.

I felt sort-of stupid for being SO behind-the-times and slow to "catch on" to this not-so-new, apparently essential form of community. Yet, conversely, there seemed to be something kind of ego-centric about the whole thing, as well. Some people post several times a day, I learned, and a lot of it is just random musings that they think others want to hear....their up-to-the-moment state-of-being. I can think of a lot of other things I can and should be doing with my time. As my dad would say, I think I have "bigger fish to fry."

I also belong to Linked In. True confessions, though: my web designer updates my invites and groups. I simply don't have time to explore this virtual world. I'm busy living in the physical world of being a mom of two boys, a wife, and a small business owner.

An old sorority sister friend just invited me to join her in Linked In, and her invite is sitting in my Inbox and it's making me feel guilty because I really do want to re-connect with her. Another good friend asked me to make him a referral on Linked In, which I am happy to do after I get my Inbox below 100. He's a very good corporate attorney. If you want his name just call me. :-)

My question is: what about my database? That's what I use when I want to ask someone smarter than me a question or get connected to a person or an opportunity. Am I boorish and old-fashioned to just pick up the phone and call them or should I be poking, inviting, and writing grafitti on their "walls"? And do we simply phone those in our database, or network, or sphere of influence, or friends, or contact list, or whatever you want to call it, and just catch up anymore?

While we're on the subject, does anyone walk across the street anymore and talk to their neighbors? Here we are, citizens of the world, with hundreds of friends on Facebook, but do we even know our next-door neighbors? How do we have time to hang out in the cul-de-sac if we are glued to the screen?

It's really no wonder that our time management is out-of-control these days, we're getting carpal tunnel and eye strain from being on the computer with our virtual network.

It's kind of overwhelming to think of dedicating a part of each day -which is already full - to posting pictures, issuing invitations, and searching for friends. If so, I better create a time management seminar especially dedicated to scheduling these activities and I should be the first to take my own seminar!

I have a little theory here: my "friends" will be the ones who show up on Moving Day, which is in two and a half weeks and counting. Our family is moving to our dream house, and I plan to feed, thank, and spend time with those friends. Hopefully they won't hold it against me that they didn't get a formal e-vite.

I may be socially under-networked and woefully e-literate, but I'm thankful that I'm blessed with friends in the world I in live in day-to-day. Perhaps there's still hope for me in the virtual world, too.

~Vicki Norris

Whoa-ses

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0700

"Mommy, whoa-ses..." Nash said to me with imploring eyes.

"You want to go cut the roses?" I asked.

"Uh-heh."

"Ok, let's go cut the roses."

I have been teaching my toddler how to prune back the rose bushes almost every night. We go outside into the front yard with the clippers and the bucket and stand in the warm fading sunlight and trim back three beautiful rose bushes that frame my front window. He carries the bucket. I clip the dead roses and we talk about cutting out the ones that have died to make more room for the ones that are budding. Meanwhile he plays on the stump nearby, runs in the grass, and helps me weed.

I had just finished cutting out the deadwood and I stood back and looked at the roses that remained. I wondered why I don't bring more of the GOOD ones inside. Perhaps because I know they will wilt very soon after. But they wilt pretty fast on the bush as well....I began to realize. I guess I just get out there and "get the job done" on auto-pilot. It would be trite to say I don't "take the time to smell the roses," because I AM out there enjoying the evening sun and experience with my son. But, what I'm NOT doing--that I WANT to start doing more of--is ENJOYING the fruits of my work. I want to bring the GOOD ones inside.

Are there other areas of my life that I am doing this to myself? Where I am depriving myself of the beauty in life because I'm moving to fast?

The night I realized all this, there weren't very many good blooms left. So I brought Nash over to the hydrangea bushes and asked him which ones he liked best. He pointed them out and I cut them. We loaded them in our metal bucket, brought them inside and arranged them in vases. Every time I look at them (ironically) I am thinking of my "whoa-ses" and how glad I am that I'm bringing the outdoors indoors and enjoying the blooms life has to offer, no matter how fleeting.

May you bring some blooms into your life today!

~Vicki

Motherhood Times Two

Sat, 30 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700

If you're wondering why I haven't blogged for 8 weeks, there's a very good reason! I worked up till June 30th and then bailed out of this speeding train known as "running your own business" and drove to the hospital the next day and had a baby!

On July 1, 2008, Trevor and I welcomed our second son into our lives. Meet Brock Patrik Norris.

And now, after an 8 week hiatus (sorry, I should have mentioned that I'd be gone for a while!) I am back!

Baby Brock and big brother Nash are doing well. Colic and concern are fading, being replaced with more grins all around. I am so blessed and thankful to be a mother to my boys. I am trying to savor every moment. The time is going so fast!

I am sharing a picture of us in the hospital (now you know what I look like with no makeup!). Soon I will share more photos of our growing boys and family since we are ever changing! I am excited to share with you as time goes by how I'm adjusting and working hard to keep my priorities in focus.

For those of you who want to know, my home is crazy during the day, but by nightfall I sweep through and pick it up so I don't get depressed by morning! I'm enjoying our changing home and trying to keep things in perspective.

~Proud Mom Vicki Norris

Live Like You're Moving

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0700

I may be moving. My home is up for sale right now, and if we move, it will be close by....

I have to say that getting my home ready for sale has been a treat. Now, that may sound disgusting to those of you who live in FEAR of ever having to move...with all the organization and staging you'd have to do...you'd rather jump out the window. But, read on and learn WHY I am going to try to live in this state of transition for the rest of my life!

Here are some of the benefits I've received from having my home on the market:

I'm living in my home the way I've always wanted to...

I'm cutting fresh roses and bringing them inside each day and arranging them in my vintage jars
We're actually watering our annual flowers daily and maintaining two beautiful hanging baskets...things are looking better than just plain bark dust!
I'm making my bed EVERY day
I've purposely tried to keep the laundry below the tops of the hampers by doing a load every evening
I'm opening the windows to the summer breeze and turning on the jazz music, so that it is wafting through my house along with the sweet smell of summer
I'm viewing my home as a welcoming place of hospitality-in-a-hurry...I've always enjoyed having guests at any time, but now I'm proud to have people stop in at any time with no preparation

Best of all....my husband has found new inspiration....

He is CLEANING UP AFTER HIMSELF EVERY DAY, including socks in the laundry, dishes washed and PUT AWAY, and even scrubbing the counters!
I am finally getting my husband through his "honey-do" list...at least a third of it is done...and supplies have been purchased for the remaining projects!!!

And here's a testimonial: yesterday, a Realtor called and wanted to preview the home and I was ready for her visit in 5 minutes (other than my own appearance!)

Friends, please hear my heart on this topic...I'm not advocating living in sanitized perfection. Nor am I suggesting that you should really put your home on the market unless there's a very good reason...especially in this economy. What I AM noticing, though, is the delightful state of mind and home (and yes, some habit changes) that are taking place with our home up for sale.

I think that after my home sells (or not), I will picture the "for sale" sign in my yard and try to remind myself of fresh roses on the nightstand.

Greeting Card-Worthy

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Whenever I need a good laugh, I like standing in the greeting card aisle and reading the funny cards. I have no problem breaking out in hysteria in public...and somehow it's even cathartic for me.

Recently I've had a lot of opportunities to buy greeting cards...Mother's Day, Father's Day, birthdays, sympathy, engagement, new baby...you name it and I've been in the market for the perfect card.

Like everyone else, I've noticed the skyrocketing price of cards (which makes me briefly and insanely consider making my own cards, but then quickly snap out of this Martha-moment in deference to reality). Yet, something else has also been laid on my heart as I stand there and read the heartfelt messages...

Have you ever tried to buy a card for someone, only to reject every one you pick up because the message didn't fit? Frankly, that person wasn't "always there for you," and they didn't always "show their support," or "make you feel special." Let's face it, sometimes it's hard to choose a card for someone (without feeling like a fake) because they haven't really lived up to your expectations.

I recently decided that I want to be a person that the really good greeting cards are about...Not that I want to live a sugary-sweet existence (anyone who knows me is having a good laugh right now) or that I expect people to say contrived things about me...but I want to live up to all that I'm capable of as a wife, as a mother, as a daughter, as a friend, and even as an employer/businesswoman. Let me be clear: I'm not saying I want to live for others' expectations of me (because heaven knows that would be exhausting and mis-directed). However, I do want to be a woman of heart, character, passion, intelligence, and diligence who is worthy of a heartfelt card.

When searching for a card for me, I don't want people to go through card after card, putting each one down, l ooking for another that says less so they don't have to feel dishonest.

As I aspire to live my true priorities and be worthy of the GOOD cards, will you aspire alongside me?

~Vicki

Giving Well

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0700

You know, this "going green" buzz phrase has gone a little far. People are using it to sell everything from clothes to homes these days. Sadly, for some it has become about adjusting our consumerism to products marked in a certain way rather than limiting it and being savvier about the choices we make.

Last weekend, I received the "new" crib from my girlfriend Jen. You would think it was right off the shelf. It had practically everything but the box it came in...there was a ziploc bag filled with spare parts and even the manual. Leave it to Jen to have filed away the manual and then reunite the manual with the item when giving it away...you can see why she's "my girl"! While assembling it, my husband said, "I love getting all these great things from Jen, they are always in "like-new" condition!"

I was thrilled I didn't have to buy something new and she was happy to let it go to a good home. Plus, I didn't have to deal with all the packaging, boxing, and superfluous stuff that comes with store-bought items. Best of all, when I'm done with the crib, I will try to find another friend I can bless with this furniture. Now, that's giving well, practicing good stewardship, AND green living!

GIVING

Next time you have something you'd like to part with, ask around before tossing, recycling, or dropping it off at a donation center.
Send around an email to friends and family or your network and see if anyone is interested in your cast-offs.
Give well. Ensure that the item is clean and, if possible, re-unite it with its instructions and spare parts.

RECEIVING

Next time you need something for yourself, family, home, or business, clarify between "need, want, and desire." Do you really need to acquire something else that you will have to pay for, store, dust, insure, etc.?
When you are begin your search, check with your network first and then with Freecycle and Craig's List and any other re-purposing communitites in your area.
Receive well. Express your thanks. Resolve to be a good steward of your own belongings so you can bless others when you're ready to let go.

Here's to giving well!

~ Vicki

Tackle Your Tangle

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Friends, I thought I'd share my recent household organizational challenge with you in the hopes it will inspire YOU to tackle your own projects.

With a baby coming soon, I'm in the midst of purposefully revising my household. Actually, the baby's nursery is ready, my main challenge is relocating the contents of my guest room and creating a "big boy" room for my toddler son.

Items that were stored in the guest room were: photos/memorabilia; sewing; gift wrap; and books. Here's my progress so far:

I bought some fabulous book shelves and created a "library" in my dining room. In our small home, I had to examine every square inch of wall space to determine where it would be best to carve out space for this library because it was important to me that all our books lived together rather than helter-skelter throughout the house.
I "pruned" the contents of one of my bedroom dressers (mostly serving as a valet for my husband's pocket contents!) and created a "gift wrap center" in it. In my ideal world (and ideal-sized home) I'd have a gift wrap center in a public space (like a spacious laundry room or mudroom or bonus room) rather than a private space (ie: my master bedroom) but in the real world, I made my space (and furniture!) work for me.
Cleaning supplies in my laundry room were re-located to pedestal drawers under the washer and dryer, creating space in the upper cabinets for my "sewing supplies." I like having my material, buttons, sewing kit, and sewing machine all together, and it makes sense to me to live in my laundromat!

Now my final challenge continuing to prune my photos and memorabilia and finding a destination for them. (Note that I'm using ongoing verbs like "continuing to" and "finding"....because I recognize this will be a process, not a one-time activity!) I saved the biggest challenge for last (following my own principle of "Do What You Know First") and there are a LOT of boxes associated with this category. I'm sentimental and I've kept a lot of photos and keepsakes over the years. The good news is: it's organized by year and now I just have to streamline the contents and figure out a place to store them.

Fortunately, my key priorities have been tackled, and I cannot describe the emotional and physical impact these changes have made. I feel lighter and like things are right again. I've made enormous progress from my torn-apart household to where I am now....and the "big boy" toddler room is looking good!

What is YOUR household tangle that you need to resolve? I encourage you to get after it so that you can experience the same RELIEF I've experienced in the last few days now that my home has begun to sync again!

~Vicki Norris

Trickle-Down Effect

Thu, 29 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Recently my husband installed new tile into our bathrooms and laundry room upstairs. The project took much longer than we thought and by the time he was done, we had grout on the carpet, tools laying everywhere, and a fine layer of dust covering every surface. The good news is: we were finally "done" and he even installed a warming pad under the tile in our master bath...so nice on the toes on cold mornings! Just when we thought the project was complete and he was nailing the last finish nail into the molding to re-attach it to the wall, he inadvertently hit a water line. Except we didn't know it. Thankfully, three hours later he heard a hissing sound and hunted it down. He pried the molding off the wall and we were both instantly doused with a jet of water.

The water leaked into our walls and ceiling over our dining room. Fortunately, I'm married to the handiest man on earth so he was able to tear everything apart (in the middle of the night), replace and soder the damaged copper pipe, and get water running again in our home. Yet, a week and a half later our wood floors still had sheetrock shmear, buckets, and paint drips on them. You can probably imagine the emotional crisis I experienced with my home ripped apart, first by the tile project, and then by the leak.

I--like many of you--experienced "situational disorganization." That's when a life event (move, divorce, remodel, illness, new baby, or any life transition) causes turmoil in your space. The good news is: with a little effort (and deep breathing), situational disorganization is entirely recoverable. The key is to tackle the problem before a new one is added. In my case, our tile project clean up was not quite finished before the leak incident. This meant that I had TWO problems causing disarray in my home before I knew it. Add to that the headache of a toddler running around screaming "SAW!" and "WATER!" as he sped around our bedroom "exploring" the sharp tools and buckets of standing water. Luckily we all survived, there was no blood shed, and my house is back together again (save a few pieces of molding!)

So, if you have some disorganization in your home you need to deal with, chances are some of it was caused by a life event that imposed itself upon you. After you've traced it to its root, resolve to unwind that mess before new ones have the chance to assault your space (as those unexpected situations often do!). Going forward, commit to eliminating this "trickle-down effect" of situational disorganization by tackling those unpleasant circumstances QUICKLY so they don't take over your space and life.

~Vicki

Too Much Going On?

Fri, 23 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700

It's the Friday before Memorial Day 2008 and my blog has officially launched!

I don't know about you, but I have too many things going on today. My husband and I are trying to get out of town tomorrow morning for the holiday weekend, we're moving furniture for the new carpet that's going to be installed, and I'm shuttling out-of-town family around for a last-minute visit to my grandma in the hospital...how did life get so busy? Oh, and did I mention the four loads of laundry in queue in my laundry room? Moreover, I'm juggling my career and an 18 month old who has just discovered "dumping" (from his tool box to puzzles to emptying drawers, he loves to get to "the bottom of things"...literally :-). One other minor detail: I've also got a baby on the way, due in 6 weeks, which means that the "waddle" has arrived.

So how can ORDER exist in my crazy busy life? I bet you're waiting to hear my "insider secrets from a professional organizer mom"...and I truly wish there were a quick tip or silver bullet I could share, like: "I only require four hours sleep," or "My morning energy drink helps me get infinitely more done in 24 hours!" but I think we all know deep down that living a life of order is more about a COMMITMENT than a series of tips and tricks. In my view, organizing your life is really about self-management and the choices we make to honor our priorities on a daily basis.

So, today I stayed in my pink robe a little longer so my son could snuggle into it as he had is morning bottle as I stroked his bed-head curls. I ran a load of laundry while I problem-solved with one of my employees. I ate my breakfast with the plastic dog from my son's toy fire engine as I checked my email. I surveyed the scene of my busy day and remembered to count my blessings. I have a beautiful life. My husband is caretaking for my son, my business is buzzing along, and so what if I have a lot on my plate? As my husband (my complete opposite) always reminds me, "It'll get done, babe." And he's usually right.

For me, living a life of order is NOT about having all the latest bins and baskets or being "neat and tidy," it's about investing myself in things of far greater consequence...it's about putting first things first: quality time with family, striving to live to my full potential, taking care of my business and all those who work with me . It's about loving the life you have and taking care of it, realizing that our days are short. It's also about forcing myself to slow down when my Type A instincts are to speed up. I don't want to miss the way my son is learning to count as I help him down the stairs "tree, for, f-eyeve, SiX!" or forget to kiss my husband as they head out the door. I don't want to build a business and forget to build a life or get so stressed about personal conditions that I neglect the mission at work that I feel I've been entrusted with...

As your Memorial Day weekend arrives, I hope you can take a deep breath and ENJOY it. In addition to remembering those who serve, let's remember to slow down and reclaim the things that really matter.

-Vicki

Get Inspired!

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Prune a Little

Has "purging" and "tossing" gotten you nowhere? These tactics may help you temporarily feel better, but they don't really have a direction or purpose.

Instead, try my Pruning Principle. When you "prune" your belongings, your space, and even your time, you are de-clogging and pulling out the deadwood. You're eliminating the extraneous "stuff." Pruning returns life and energy to the root system. Pruning restores health, vitality, and circulation.

In your next "letting go" efforts, you can "prune" by thinking about what life you could restore, what focus you could bring, if you were to eliminate that item or commitment. An ongoing practice of regular pruning is energizing and it results in a more fruitful, beautiful life!

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