31 Days of Organizing Tips: Day 31 (Getting Help to Organize)

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Welcome to Day Thirty One of the 31 Days of Organizing Tips series!  It's the last day of the series!  I'm so glad you've joined me.  Throughout this series I've shared organizing tips that will help you on your journey from overwhelmed to organized.  I included lots of pictures and links for ideas that I've found around the web that relate to the topic each day.  I updated the introductory post for the series each day so you can check there for any posts you've missed.  Now, on with today's post!

Do you struggle with organizing because it seems too overwhelming to tackle alone?  I've shared a lot of organizing tips in this series and many of you will be able to get organized by implementing some of them.  But others of you need a bit more help than that.

Having another person helping you organize can make it easier, faster, and more effective.  Perhaps you can work with your spouse or children to tackle a project.  Maybe a friend or sibling can give you a hand.

Here are some ways having help can make a difference when you're organizing:

• You'll stay more focused and on task when you work with someone else
• Another person can help you be objective about your belongings
• They can ask you questions to help you evaluate what is working and not working
• More hands usually make lighter work!

Go back through the series and choose an organizing tip that you want to implement and then decide if it is something you can tackle alone.  If you are overwhelmed at the thought then think about who would be the best person to help you with it.

If you feel bad asking someone else to help you, maybe you can suggest a swap.  You can help them organize something in their house in exchange for their organizing help in your home.  Or you can offer to help them with something else they need (cleaning, babysitting, cooking) in return for their assistance with organizing at your house.

Sometimes, instead of a friend or family member, it's better to enlist the help of a professional organizer to help you organize your space.  This can be a very difficult decision to make.  There are lots of factors that come into play.  But admitting you need help is the first step!  Here are 2 great articles that will help you decide if you should follow this path.

1. Enlisting Help:  12 Pros and Cons
2. 10 Reasons to Hire a Professional Organizer Instead of Using a Friend

If you decide to work with a professional organizer to get organized, here are 2 articles that will help you find the right one.

1. Working With a Professional Organizer
2. Questions to Ask When Hiring a Professional Organizer

And, here are 3 posts that give some ideas on where to look for professional organizing help.

1. 10 Best Sources for Organizing Help
2. Directory of Organizers in your Area

Many professional organizers are specially trained and have experience working with people who have chronic organizational problems.  If you or someone you know would benefit from this specialized assistance, here's a link that will help you find someone in your area.

These are all really helpful articles so I hope you take the time to read them and that they help you decide how you want to proceed!   {Sorry no pictures today...just links.  These are informational articles rather than photo-worthy projects!}

For Day Thirty One, spend some time thinking about whether you need help in your journey from overwhelmed to organized or if you can work your way through it on your own (using tips like the ones I've shared in this series).  If you decide that getting help is the best way to go, then determine who the best person would be (family member, friend, or professional organizer) and take steps to make it happen.  The sooner you do so, the sooner you'll be able to go from overwhelmed to organized!

Well, that's it for the series!  I can't believe it's over.  I was looking back at some of the earlier posts and I've already forgotten some of what I wrote!  I'm sure you've forgotten some of what you read too.  {Don't worry, I'm not offended... it happens!}

I hope you'll go back and read any posts you missed or re-read ones that pertain to areas you need to organize! I'll be putting up a tab or button for the series tomorrow so you can always return to these posts later.

Tomorrow I'll share what I learned this month through writing this series.  It's been a wonderful journey and I want to spend some time reflecting on it :)

Thank you so much for reading this series!  I also really appreciate your comments and emails along the way.  Has anyone read all 31 posts?  If so, you rock!  Regardless of how many tips you read, you all totally made this series worth writing.

Have a great day and happy organizing!

Hilda



I link up at these great parties - Check them out!

All Star Block Party Features

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I had such a fun week guest co-hosting the All Star Block Party!  It was great seeing all the awesome projects you linked up.  You can check out last week's party here.  Before the next party gets started I wanted to share my features from last week.

I enjoyed seeing all the Halloween crafts, recipes, and decorations.  But, you know I'm all about organizing, so I figured I would feature links about organizing!  Here are my favourites.

I love this toy box that Megan from Our Pinteresting Family made out of an old stereo.  Upcycling at its best and it's a great place to store toys in a way that looks pretty!

Christa from Controlling Craziness shared these great hooks she put up behind her door.  I love that they are flush with the wall and don't stick out very far, and of course that they will help keep coats and bags off the floor.

Sherry from Inspiration Cafe made this great cork board calendar (and included a tutorial so you can make one too!).  I love the painted mini clothespins that she glued to pushpins too, so you don't have to pull the pins out to stick your paper up or get holes in the things you're pinning!

This movie inventory Rebecca at Time to Organize made is a very organized way to keep track of movies.  It's even categorized and colour coded so you can quickly find what you're looking for.

Amanda from Bullfrogs and Bulldogs made this beautiful vintage desk organizer out of an old wooden tray she bought at a thrift store for $0.99.  Just goes to show that being organized doesn't have to cost a lot!

I love this organized workshop from Korrie at Red Hen Home!  Pegboard on the walls and doors is a great idea.

And, last but not least, this Lego manuals binder is a great idea for keeping all those Lego manuals organized.  Danielle from 2 Little Superheroes also shared a free printable cover you can use if you make one of these yourself.

Congratulations on being featured ladies!  Don't forget to grab the featured button below.

<div align="center"> <a href="http://intheoldroad.blogspot.com" title="In The Old Road"><img src="http://i1207.photobucket.com/albums/bb466/intheoldroad/allstar11150x150.jpg" alt="In The Old Road" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

Thanks again to Shasta for including me as a guest co-host at the party!  And once again, thank you to Shasta, Holly, Meg, and Heather for hosting this party every week.

I look forward to seeing what you all link up this week!

Happy Halloween to all of you and be safe!

Hilda

31 Days of Organizing Tips: Day 30 (More DIY Storage)

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Welcome to Day Thirty of the 31 Days of Organizing Tips series!  Wow...only one day left.  I'm so glad you've joined me.  Throughout this series I've been sharing organizing tips that will help you on your journey from overwhelmed to organized.  I'm including lots of pictures and links for ideas that I've found around the web that relate to the topic each day.  I update the introductory post for the series each day so you can check there for any posts you've missed.

Today I'm going to share more DIY storage ideas.  I got a lot of positive feedback after a similar post on day 20.  Since then I've been pinning lots more ideas on my DIY Organizers board.

Here are some of my favourites to help you get organized without spending a lot of money:

1.  Create your own canvas bins that are custom-fit to your space.  Check out this full tutorial!

Source:  http://lassothemoon.typepad.com/lasso_the_moon/2012/04/custom-sized-canvas-bins-a-tutorial.html

2.  If you have deep drawers in your kitchen or buffet, here's a tutorial to make these beautiful cutlery trays so you can maximize the space in your drawers.

Source:  http://iheartorganizing.blogspot.ca/2012/09/uheart-organizing-super-solution-for.html

3.  For rolls of ribbon or washi tape, you can make a dispenser like this one.  Click the link for instructions.

Source:  http://www.tealandlime.com/2012/06/easiest-diy-washi-tape-dispenser/

4.  I love this idea.  Use an old crib rail to hang ties and belts.  You could also use it for scarves. It's so easy to keep them organized this way!

Source:  http://atirinspireddecor.blogspot.ca/2012/10/hubby-is-tied-up-50th-birthday-giveaway.html

5.  You don't need to spend any money on drawer organizers if you save cans or boxes and use them to keep your drawers organized.

Source:  http://www.hgtv.com/specialty-rooms/repurposing-household-items-for-closet-organization/pictures/index.html?nl=HGI_102412_featheadline

6.  If you'd like to make your own wall mounted jars or cups, here's a tutorial that tells you how.

Source:  http://practicallyfunctional.net/2012/08/organize-your-bathroom-diy-wall-mounted-storage/

7.  These pails are so cute and make great organizers.  Check out the link for the steps to make them yourself (you could use flower pots or empty cans too).

Source:  http://www.queenbandme.com/2012/05/tin-buckets-makeover.html

8.  Large baskets can be expensive but with a little time and effort and a few affordable supplies, you can make your own beautiful baskets out of cardboard boxes!  This post shows you how.

Source:  http://diydesignfanatic.blogspot.ca/2012/08/baskets-made-from-cardboard-boxes.html

Aren't these great ideas?  If you like these DIY ideas and are on Pinterest, I invite you to follow my  DIY Organizers board.  I'm sure I'll be adding lots more too!

Please remember to pin from the original source for all of these lovely pictures!

For Day Thirty, if you need storage containers to get organized but have been putting it off because of the expense, then pick one of these DIY ideas and make it!  You'll love it every time you look at it because you put the effort into making it yourself.  And you'll likely stay more organized as a result :)

{Note:  If you're getting overwhelmed with all the ideas in this series, please understand that is NOT my intention! :)  This series is designed for me to write every day for a month, not for you to completely organize your house in a month.  That thought overwhelms me!  So, feel free to skim and pin/bookmark these tips now and then come back later when you're ready to tackle a particular organizing project.  I'll add a button or tab to the blog at the end of the series that will make it easy for you to find all the posts.  Hope that takes some pressure off!}

Tomorrow I'll finish the series off with some tips for knowing when you or someone you know may need help to get organized and where you can look for that help.  I can't believe the series is almost over!

What storage or organizing items have you made yourself?  What's the best organizing tip you've implemented?

Have a great day and happy organizing!

Hilda



I link up at these great parties - Check them out!

31 Days of Organizing Tips: Day 29 (Sentimental Items)

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Welcome to Day Twenty Nine of the 31 Days of Organizing Tips series!  Wow...only a few days left.  I'm so glad you've joined me.  Throughout this series I've been sharing organizing tips that will help you on your journey from overwhelmed to organized.  I'm including lots of pictures and links for ideas that I've found around the web that relate to the topic each day.  I update the introductory post for the series each day so you can check there for any posts you've missed.

OK, I need to be honest with you here.  I feel very hypocritical writing today's post.  I have a very hard time organizing sentimental items.  Mainly because I keep too many things.  Especially when it comes to stuff my kids made.

I have piles and piles of their school work, art work, and other creations to sort through.  I also have stacks of birthday cards, souvenirs from places we've visited, and other memorabilia to go through.   I have a hard time throwing away things that bring back memories of them when they were younger.

I am getting better.  Slowly.  I purged a lot of baby clothes, books, and toys a few months ago and just kept a few special things for each of my kids from their baby and toddler years.  But I need to tackle those piles and save the best items and purge the rest.

In addition to kids' memorabilia and work, there are lots of other sentimental items people struggle to organize (again, myself included).  I had planned to include tips for organizing things we've inherited from parents and grandparents as well as memorabilia from our own childhood, teen years, and adulthood.  But, I want to do justice to those topics so I will do a separate post another time on them.

OK, enough about all the sentimental stuff I'm hanging onto.  Here are a couple tips for narrowing down what you want to keep.

Erin at Sunny Side Up shares her multi-step purging process in this post (click the link below the picture to see a description and more pictures).  Then, once she has completely decided what to keep, she creates layouts for books that she makes for each of her kids, using the most memorable items.

Source:  http://www.thesunnysideupblog.com/search/label/Scrapbooking

And Leanne at Organize and Decorate Everything says this:  "You don't have to keep everything.  You have permission to not keep every little tiny thing your child has ever made a mark on and you won't be considered a bad parent."  What a great reminder.  Thanks Leanne!  In addition to tips on how to decide what to keep, she shares several great ideas on how to organize the masterpieces that you chose.

Source:  http://organizeyourstuffnow.com/wordpress/displaying-and-storing-kids-art-work-and-school-papers

Here are several other ideas on how to organize or display your kids' masterpieces and memorabilia.

1.  If you want to keep special greeting cards you can make a book out of them using binder rings.

Source:  http://mommyofgg.blogspot.ca/2012/04/keepsake-card-books.html

2.  Use Ziplock bags to group like items together and then label them and put them in a plastic bin.  Great for baby clothes, special occasions, time periods.  

Source:  http://mommyofgg.blogspot.ca/2012/04/organizing-your-childs-memorabilia.html

3.  In a previous Organizing Ideas for the Weekend post, I shared a tip from Jenny at The Frugal Girls to take a picture of your child holding their creation.  This would also work for special gifts or sentimental items.  If you take a picture with the person who gave it to you then you will not only remember the item but that person and your memories associated with them too.

Source:  http://thefrugalgirls.com/2012/09/preserving-kids-artwork.html

4.  I love this idea!  Scan your kids' work and then make a collage and frame it!

Source:  http://www.jenthousandwords.com/2008/08/artwork-in-boys-room.html

5.  You can use a portfolio folder to display and store sentimental items and kids' work.

Source:  http://blog.kuzakscloset.com/2012/10/kids-artwork-organization-idea.html

6.  This is a great way to organize school paperwork.  Put each grade in a hanging folder and then keep them in a plastic file box.  It helps limit what you keep but makes it easy to maintain.  Click the link below the picture for free printable labels and a template for the cover page for each year!

Source:  http://iheartorganizing.blogspot.ca/2010/11/school-paperwork-storage.html

This is the system I plan to use to keep my kids' school work and art work organized.  I've already bought my plastic file bins and created labels for the hanging folders.  Now I just need to sort through those piles!  Stay tuned for the results in a future post :)

Please remember to pin from the original source for all of these lovely pictures!

For Day Twenty Nine, look at your current organizational system for your kids' creations.  Is it working?  Do you need to purge more?  If your system needs to be revamped, choose one of the tips in this post and get started on it.  It's a tough task but keep your focus on the memories and not the things.  Unless you have unlimited space, you won't be able to keep everything your kids ever bring home (and they won't want to take it all with them when they grow up!) so it's important to figure out how to manage and organize it all that will work for you.  Good luck!

{Note:  If you're getting overwhelmed with all the ideas in this series, please understand that is NOT my intention! :)  This series is designed for me to write every day for a month, not for you to completely organize your house in a month.  That thought overwhelms me!  So, feel free to skim and pin/bookmark these tips now and then come back later when you're ready to tackle a particular organizing project.  I'll add a button or tab to the blog at the end of the series that will make it easy for you to find all the posts.  Hope that takes some pressure off!}

Tomorrow I'll share some more DIY storage ideas.  I can't believe there are only 2 more days left in this series!  I look forward to sharing the remaining posts with you and hearing your tips too!

How do you organize your sentimental items?  What's the best organizing tip you've implemented?

Have a great day and happy organizing!

Hilda



I link up at these great parties - Check them out!

31 Days of Organizing Tips: Day 28 (Multi-purpose rooms)

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Welcome to Day Twenty Eight of the 31 Days of Organizing Tips series!  Wow...only a few days left.  I'm so glad you've joined me.  Throughout this series I've been sharing organizing tips that will help you on your journey from overwhelmed to organized.  I'm including lots of pictures and links for ideas that I've found around the web that relate to the topic each day.  I update the introductory post for the series each day so you can check there for any posts you've missed.

Today's tips are about organizing rooms that have more than one purpose.  Those rooms that do double (or triple!) duty.  The ones with a "slash" in their name :)  Here are some examples:

• Office / Craft Room
• Guest Room / Playroom
• Bedroom / Office
• Family Room / Exercise Room

If you have a large house, you may not have combined rooms.  That's great!  Think of someone else who may need help with their shared-purpose rooms and forward this to them.  Then enjoy a coffee in one of your single purpose rooms :)

For many of us though, our space or living arrangements require that we have double-duty rooms. These rooms can be overwhelming because they have twice as much "stuff" packed into them.  They can be tricky to keep organized.

Here are some tips to help you out:

• Set up zones for each purpose
• Establish a vision for each zone
• Keep all items associated with each purpose in the correct zone.
• Have separate storage options for each zone.
• Find creative furniture options that will also function as storage or that can be hidden or made smaller when needed.
• Once you've established your zones, stick to them!

Check out these pictures for inspiration!

1.  One of my favourite organizers, Peter Walsh, has a guest room / TV room / office.  His couch is a pullout couch for guests.  His office is a closet with the doors taken off and Venetian blinds hung in front so it can be hidden when guests are over.  And his ottoman holds DVDs.  It's a very organized room!  Not that I would expect anything less from him :)

Source:  http://www.oprah.com/home/Peter-Walsh-Organizing-Secrets-Spring-Cleaning-Tips/2

2.  If you have a dining room that you don't use regularly, it may function as an office some of the time.  A buffet/hutch is useful for storing office supplies when you have guests over for dinner (utensil drawers make great office supply drawers).  In this picture, the window seat hides hanging file folders too.  {Click the link to see more pictures and a tutorial on how you can do this in your home.}

Source:  http://www.marthastewart.com/274366/desk-organizing-ideas/@center/276989/organizing#268492

3.  If you're using part of your bedroom for an office, you can use the space under the bed to store files without causing a lot of visual clutter or needing extra furniture.

Source:  http://homedesign.marthastewart.com/2011/08/an-organized-home-office.html

4.  This room is a craft room / office.  One end of the room has a craft worktable and storage for all the craft supplies.  The other end of the room has a desk and shelves for office supplies.

Source:  http://iheartorganizing.blogspot.ca/2012/10/a-surprise-craft-room-before-after-story.html

Source:  http://iheartorganizing.blogspot.ca/2012/10/a-surprise-craft-room-before-after-story.html

5.  How cool is this sewing area in a closet?!  When you're finished your project, the sewing machine just slides back in and you can close the doors and hide everything.

Source:  http://www.marthastewart.com/269981/sewing-room-in-a-closet

6.  Not everyone has a separate room for an office but a lot of people have used their closets to create an office.  Just do a search on Google or Pinterest and you'll have lots of examples to choose from.  Here are 2 of my favourites.

Source:  http://www.thebloominghydrangea.com/2011/02/cloffice-reveal.html

This one has a tutorial with it (click the link below the picture).

Source:  http://www.countryliving.com/homes/makeovers/transform-closet-into-office-0310?click=img_sr#slide-1

7.  Here's a kitchen / office that makes great use of a small space.  Everything needed for paying bills, sending greeting cards, and writing notes is organized and accessible.

Source:  http://iheartorganizing.blogspot.ca/2012/03/reader-space-hard-working-cabinet.html

8.  Basements frequently have several purposes.  Working out beside your laundry room?  Curtain off the laundry area and use the remaining space for your exercise equipment.

Source:  http://www.bhg.com/rooms/rooms/basement/basement-solutions-for-real-life/#page=6

Please remember to pin from the original source for all of these lovely pictures!

For Day Twenty Eight, take a fresh look at a double-duty room in your house.  Choose one of these tips or photos to make your room function better for you.

{Note:  If you're getting overwhelmed with all the ideas in this series, please understand that is NOT my intention! :)  This series is designed for me to write every day for a month, not for you to completely organize your house in a month.  That thought overwhelms me!  So, feel free to skim and pin/bookmark these tips now and then come back later when you're ready to tackle a particular organizing project.  I'll add a button or tab to the blog at the end of the series that will make it easy for you to find all the posts.  Hope that takes some pressure off!}

Tomorrow we'll look at tips for purging and organizing sentimental things so they don't become overwhelming.  I can't believe there are only a few more days left in this series!  I look forward to sharing the remaining posts with you and hearing your tips too!

How do you organize your multi-purpose rooms?  What's the best organizing tip you've implemented?

Have a great day and happy organizing!

Hilda



I link up at these great parties - Check them out!

31 Days of Organizing Tips: Day 27 (Office)

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Welcome to Day Twenty Seven of the 31 Days of Organizing Tips series!  Wow...only a few days left.  I'm so glad you've joined me.  Throughout this series I've been sharing organizing tips that will help you on your journey from overwhelmed to organized.  I'm including lots of pictures and links for ideas that I've found around the web that relate to the topic each day.  I update the introductory post for the series each day so you can check there for any posts you've missed.

Today's tips are to help you organize your office.  Whether you work from home and have a separate room designated as an office, or you have a desk in your kitchen, bedroom, or basement that you use when you pay bills, your office area can be overwhelming.

Paper clutter builds up very quickly!  Offices can often be a dumping ground because they aren't used as much as some rooms in the house, and desks can become cluttered surfaces very quickly.

But, with some organization, you can create a space where you can get your work done efficiently and effectively.

I need this post as much as many of you.  I don't really have an office.  We have the elements of an office in various parts of our home that have been moved several times as our family has grown and our circumstances have changed.   Our whole office system needs an overhaul and I'll be tackling it soon.

I feel a little hypocritical giving tips to you when my office is in such an unorganized state, but I know this is an area that is overwhelming to a lot of people.  When I worked outside the home I was always tweaking how I organized my office, so I'm going to share tips I implemented there as well as great office organizing ideas I've seen around the web.

Before you start, sort through your office and relocate any items that do not belong there.  Then purge as much as you can.  {Make sure you shred any documents with personal and sensitive information.}

Most people keep a lot more than they need to because they think they may need it someday.  Click the links below these pictures for advice on how long to keep documents and records.

In the United States:

Source:  http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/25/your-money/household-budgeting/25RECORDS.html?_r=1&

In Canada:

Source:  http://www.mrsjanuary.com/personal-finance/how-long-to-hold-on-to-financial-records-in-canada/

Now that you've purged, here are some specific office organizing tips (click the links below the pictures for more details on how these offices were organized).

1.  Use drawer organizers to group like items together in your desk (paperclips, note pads, erasers, etc.)

Source:  http://getsimplifized.com/lets-talk-a-little-odo-aka-office-desk-organization

2.  Keep the top of your desk uncluttered.  Just like cleaning your kitchen counters helps you get a fresh start in the morning, a tidy desk will help you start each day with a clean slate.  All that should be on your desk is your computer, a hanging or stacking file system and a desk organizer for a few pens and pencils, as well as whatever project you are currently working on (but put it away when you leave your office, even if you haven't finished it completely).

Source:  http://www.goodbyehousehellohome.com/2012/03/day-3-spring-into-organization-tour.html

3.  Set up your office so that everything you use frequently is in arm's reach when you're sitting at your desk.

Source:  http://organizingmadefun.blogspot.ca/2012/06/omf-headquarters-big-reveal-of-my.html

4.  Keep like items together.  Paper should be stored near your printer.  A recycling bin, garbage can, and shredder should be placed near your desk.  Use magazine holders, boxes, and baskets to contain like items.

Source:  http://www.abowlfulloflemons.net/2012/09/home-organization-101-week-4-office.html

5.  Organize your file cabinets in a system that works for you.  Some options are using colour coded files and folders, alphabetical folders, or sorting by function (house, car, health, etc.).

Source:  http://www.mrsjanuary.com/organization/how-to-organize-your-filing-cabinet/

So those are some tips to help you organize your office.  If you don't want to buy a big desk, here's a simple DIY desk made out of a door and 2 small bookshelves.  I've also done this with file cabinets in the past.

Source:  http://www.marthastewart.com/274366/desk-organizing-ideas/@center/276989/organizing#352810

If you don't have space in your home for a separate office, you can still implement these organizing tips in a small desk area in a kitchen, bedroom, family room, dining room, craft room, or even a hallway.  I love this little desk that makes great use of this space in a hallway and you can even close it up when you're not using it!  {Click the link for a tutorial and to see pictures of all the storage.}

Source:  http://www.marthastewart.com/274366/desk-organizing-ideas/@center/276989/organizing#182810

Please remember to pin from the original source for all of these lovely pictures!

For Day Twenty Seven, purge your office (especially your paperwork).  Decide which of these tips will help you get organized and then put it into action.  If you feel overwhelmed at how large a task this is, set a timer for 15 minutes and see how much you can get done.  Then you can either keep going for another 15 minutes or wait until tomorrow.  If you do 15 minutes every day, you'll be surprised how much you can accomplish.  Once you get your office organized, remember to maintain it so it won't become overwhelming again.

{Note:  If you're getting overwhelmed with all the ideas in this series, please understand that is NOT my intention! :)  This series is designed for me to write every day for a month, not for you to completely organize your house in a month.  That thought overwhelms me!  So, feel free to skim and pin/bookmark these tips now and then come back later when you're ready to tackle a particular organizing project.  I'll add a button or tab to the blog at the end of the series that will make it easy for you to find all the posts.  Hope that takes some pressure off!}

Tomorrow we'll look at organizing shared spaces or rooms with multiple functions.  I can't believe there are only a few more days left in this series!  I look forward to sharing the remaining posts with you and hearing your tips too!

How do you organize your office?  What's the best organizing tip you've implemented?

Have a great day and happy organizing!

Hilda



I link up at these great parties - Check them out!