When a perfect new home doesn't have the white picket fence...

A common concern clients often have is letting go of an item that is clutter for them (unwanted, unused, unloved) but that they don't want to throw in landfill. And they just don't know what to do with it. So they hang on.

Finding perfect new homes for someone's clutter is a favourite aspect of my work as a Clutter Consultant. Who said "one person's trash is another's treasure"? They were right. When I find a perfect match I feel like clapping my hands and jumping up and down with glee. I'd like to share a few of those moments with you.

A 92 year old client, so sweet and gracious, had a photo taken at the 12th Annual Picnic or the Winnipeg Electric Railway Old Timers at Selkirk, Manitoba in 1921. She was 9 years old when she attended the picnic with her family. She could identify about six family members in the photo, which was 48" by 4 1/2". Being from Manitoba myself, I really wanted to find an appropriate home for the photo. I had heard about the Manitoba archives so I contacted them. They were prepared to keep the photo in their temperature and moisture controlled storage, for researchers to access. I was so pleased to deliver the photo personally a month later on a trip to visit my family. I wasn't sure who was more please, myself or my client.

Recently, another client had an unopened package of letterhead with matching envelopes. She liked the beach theme, but not the crab in the corner. I offered to take it to a destination wedding planner I know, Bobbi-Jo Roback, who could incorporate the stationary in her marketing and promos. It turned out to be exactly the same stationary Bobbi-Jo and her fiance used for their wedding invitations three years previously. She was delighted. Coincidental? Yes. And perfect.

Another client was going through a difficult transition of moving from her large family home to a retirement condo. Her budget was limited so she didn't want to throw out her bookshelves or donate them. I asked another client who needed storage in her workplace if she was interested in purchasing an economically priced bookshelf. She was. The neat thing was the bookshelf that the elderly client no longer needed ended up holding books for children. It was like a perfect cycle completed.

Is it any wonder I get a good feeling helping folks find homes for their things?

The stories could go on and on: a birdhouse from Vancouver's Westside was donated to Pooh Corner Daycare in Stanley Park, a handyman gift card won by one client was donated to a senior's fundraiser for their silent auction, a tuxedo from a retired gentleman went to a youth supporting Covenant House, oversized platters which had been a wedding gift but became clutter after the divorce (from someone who shall remain nameless but happens to be writing this column) went to my favourite caterer. See, it works! Even for me.

Finding a way to re-use, re-purpose, re-gift an item, can save landfill space, lessens our impact on the environment, can be a gift for a stranger, bring the oddest people together, and simply feels good!

Do you have items you no longer want but can't bring yourself to throw out? Remember Goodbye Clutter! because we make room for what matters!

Weekend mornings are made for nesting

Just when I start to wonder where and how I can downsize my 'stuff' to create an easier to live in, easier to clean, more comfortable, less crowded castle out if my 400 square feet home, along comes a weekend morning without plans. The best kind of morning at home for me. I love nesting.

This week I'd glanced at a corner of my home and got the idea for a minor switch in furniture. I'd wondered how things would look with just a bit of rearranging. Today I implemented my idea and in the process reviewed my entire book collection, purged, dusted, rearranged furniture, and had a delightful hour letting go once again.

Wait, my curiosity got the better of me and I've just measured my floors. My home is actually 385 square feet. Not bad. I live by the 'less is more' philosophy, so I feel a sense of pleasure learning I have less square feet than I thought.

My curiosity and love of numbers/details/data also led me to count how many books I've decided to keep. 48. That includes 13 in my 'to read' collection, some of which I will pack for my trip to Scotland in May and leave along the trail, 27 books (fiction, travel, atlas, non-fiction, running...) that I've read and like enough to keep and 8 children's books from my childhood (Splish, Splash and Splush) and adulthood (Olivia Saves the Circus -- my adorable hero). That doesn't include the 11 books about organizing I've tucked away in my antique cabinet with other business things.

The first day of spring is only one week away. This is a great time to spring clean, purge, pitch, organize, de-clutter, downsize. I love the feeling afterwards, feeling a little lighter, more free, unencumbered, more relaxed, more in love with my home, happier to see the things I love (a 1950's brown leather suitcase, the globe from my Dad, my precious tractor won at Massey Ferguson day in 1964...)

With the tragic global events to remind me that stuff doesn't matter I feel like I've had the best morning, doing what I love, creating my castle, and being the me that I love to be.

So if you're thinking of spring cleaning your castle, I encourage you to think of Goodbye Clutter. We'll help you make room for what matters.

Clutter in our identity as women and International Women's Day Day

Years ago I presented a workshop at a Women and Spirituality Conference at UBC. My topic was "Clutter in our identity". The focus was to examine how we identified ourselves and how we were labeled by others We looked at how accurate those labels felt and how we wanted to identify ourselves moving forward.

I created a simple exercise and asked the 40+ women present to share labels they'd been given at any point in their life. I wrote them all on a blackboard. I don't recall if I was anticipating the powerful catharsis that unfolded. The list started 'mildly' with words like mother, sister, daughter, girlfriend, lover, teacher, writer, artist and got fun with things like cookie, chicky-babe, sweet-lips, pumpkin, smartest in class, class clown, future prime-minister, and then went in a more disturbing though honest direction to bitch, slut, whore, cock-tease, ice queen, dumb blonde, arm candy, eye candy, cock candy, douche bag... I asked what we thought of ourselves and out came: not good enough, exhausted, burned out, inspired, funny, smart, capable, unstoppable, strong, weak, powerful, powerless, depressed, passionate, sexy, determined, soft, warm, sensuous, female, girl, lady, woman...

It was an eye-opening process, to see the words appear, till every inch of the blackboard was full and we were a room full of women looking at our collective identity. I then talked about clutter in our homes, offices and lives and the effects clutter had, how it kept us from seeing clearly, how the treasures got buried in a sea of un-important stuff, how as time passed our tastes changed and sometimes our favourite item faded into dusty oblivion, and how we kept things because of guilt, oppression... not because it lifted our spirit and added to the richness of our lives.

Using clutter as an analogy, we 'de-cluttered' our identity, and let go of anything we thought didn't fit, that we no longer wanted (or would stand for) and made room for what was near and dear to us. There were cleansing tears and lots of laughter and I was honoured to have created this de-cluttering experience for those precious few. I'd love to do that for women all around the world today. Perhaps I could start with myself and use International Women's Day to re-examine how I identify myself and be the me I'd really like to be.

In honour of IWD, and the special women in my past, I have three virtual gifts for you today. Three links. One features Judi Dench and Daniel Craig (like you've never seen him before, in heel higher than I've ever worn) in Bond defects to the other side Then there is That Girl's Marlo Thomas article The Movement about her experience in the 1960's and 1970's reminding me of the button I used to wear "I am the woman your mother warned you against". And lastly, Time's photo essay of 16 of History's Most Rebellious Women reminding me that once upon a time in the late 70's I was a rebellious biker chick myself.

There is so much more on the internet about women, our history, IWD, our heroes... Enjoy the surfing, and remember....

Goodbye Clutter! We make room for what matters. Today you can too!

I must be hungry...I'm thinking about restaurants

It's Sunday morning, I've had my pre-gym workout fuel, a yummy, healthy flax bread with banana, but perusing the WestEnders Best of Vancouver awards, I once again have food on my mind.

Recently I was delighted to read that two of my favourite culinary experiences have been recognized with awards: Deacon's Corner, for best Breakfast restaurant, and the Secret Garden Tea Company, for best Teahouse.

I met Kathy and Erin Wyder, two sisters who run the Secret Garden Tea Company a few years ago through their mother, Helen Burnham, an incredible woman in her own right who received the Order of British Columbia in 2000 for her work as founder of Avalon Women's Centres. Kathy and Erin wanted some help organizing the office where they ran their highly successful, very busy restaurant, the Secret Garden Tea Company, at 5559 West Boulevard.

These two motivated, focused, high energy women managed to run a bustling, popular tea house out of a very small office, 4'x8' at best. It was one of those organizing projects, like many, that are 'fun' and have the best work memories. They were a dream to work with, providing me with a fascinating look at the behind the scenes operations of a restaurant. Occasionally I even convinced Kathy that a few of their exquisite mini high tea sandwiches were clutter and of course they made their way promptly to my stomach. (Just trying to be helpful, as always.) Since then, I have enjoyed several delicious high tea sessions, yummy lunch soups, and tasty tea's at the Secret Garden Tea Company.

Deacon's Corner attracted my attention by it's name. It sounded vaguely familiar. On my first visit, I learned why. The owner hails from the Winnipeg area and just outside Winnipeg, on the TransCanada, if memory serves me correctly, there is an intersection named by locals as Deacon's Corner. With this connection to my home province, and then the incredible biscuits and gravy on the menu, this restaurant jumped to the front of my line for breakfast places to patronize. On all my visits, the place has been busy, with a clientele mix including police officers, actors, and generally zany creative looking folks. It's at the foot of Main Street, by Alexander, so I don't frequent it often but if you're ever wondering where you can take me for breakfast (I'm free next Saturday!) this is the place: Deacons Corner

Today's blog may not have much to do with organizing, but then again, next time you're asked to organize a breakfast or high tea, you'll be in the know of two popular Vancouver places to go. Plus, after your strenuous spring cleaning session that I know you have planned, you'll need fuel, try one of the above, or both.

Here's my slightly altered tagline for the day: Goodbye Clutter! We make room for what matters. And what matter's today is biscuits, gravy and high tea.

A bear in the bathroom...

Have you ever had an item in your life which has gone from the 1) I love this! So cute! to the 2) hmm is this getting dated stages but you still want to keep it? I have that from time to time. I start to question, is this clutter? but like the thing and want to keep it, but...but...

Here's my item in question:

Bear was sent to me as a get well card in September 2010 after a very nasty fall down some stairs (Note: avoid checking email on iPhone when walking through dark lobby with dark granite steps albeit in lovely green.) My fall was traumatizing (ok so stunningly painful I thought "it can't be broken because then I'd feel something and this hurts so much I can't feel my leg!!") with almost broken bones and more than almost knee injuries, halting my marathon running in mid-stride (darn! bummer! just 3 days after a hilly 10k on Bowen Island to celebrate my 51st!)

The bear card was a warm and fuzzy reminder of my real teddy bear that helped me get through trauma at age 30 (a blog post for another day.) So I loved that card. It caught my breath when I opened it and I felt like I'd just taken a visual hit of Rescue Remedy, immediately feeling soothed. Thank you Janice at www.sendacardeverytime.com for your timely, perfect card.

But then it was January... February, and my clutter radar was beeping.

Now, clutter isn't clutter anymore if we can re-purpose it. On a trip to my medicine cabinet to get a bandaid, my organizer light bulb went off and I knew Bear was staying. His place was going to be with my few first aid items, as my personal Dr. Bear. Voila! From clutter to happy moments. He now gives me a hit whenever I open the cabinet, and as needed, my booboo's are pleasantly eased with his cute presence.

Here's his home now with before and afters. Fitting him in gave me the opportunity for a quick de-cluttering session in another corner. So he stays but actually there were a few items in the cabinet that had to go.

How about you? Do you have any items you think might be clutter but you'd like to re-pupose? Maybe I can help. That's what I do at Goodbye Clutter: I make room for what matters.

Paper paper paper!

I'm one of those who doesn't like paper. Are you with me?

It's tax season once again. That means its the time of year that I get to work with clients who either are fighting off the beast of home-office-paper-gone-wild, or have carefully collected (read procrastinated) stock pile of unorganized business and personal tax paperwork.

Generally, it started out with at least some semblance of a system (how did shoeboxes become the favoured system?) but over time deteriorated. Sometimes badly. I can relate. In part. My own business paper isn't always a pristine, organized, colour coded, expression of harmony and calm. What I have is an in-between. With regular purges. Usually in December or January. And an ongoing distaste for paper. I'd rather be traveling, running, making jello, flirting...

I prefer my paper organized, in attractively coloured files, with consistent labels, and in reality, more than 75% of my paper ends up that way. The other stuff? Well a little less organized, a little more piled up on my table. Current projects, current client files, current marketing, the papers I want to have visible, those are my challenge.

For me, it's kind of like ...(insert your bias here men/women/)...I'll pick men. Can't live with em, can't live without em. That's me and paper.

Now, purging paper is a whole different story. I love that past time! And that's something I'm really good at. Into the shredder/fireplace/ant composter it goes.

So there you go, confessions of a Professional Organizer. Hope you weren't under the illusion that all organizers are uber-organized. We're not. Some day I'll tell you about the Professional Organizer who's teenager threatened to expose her if she didn't hand over the keys to the car. Until then, I've got some filing to do.

But remember, Goodbye Clutter! We make room for what matters. And sometimes that's jello.

the overwhelming thought of letting go

Creating your clutter free world may not be as daunting as it seems. No superhuman effort is required. After all, it takes years for things to accumulate. And in that light, the idea of making it all disappear over the course of a weekend could justifiably be considered a bit unreasonable.

As we endeavour to simplify our lives, consume less and jettison those things that are needlessly taking up space, we often think of letting go. The thought of letting go, however, can be overwhelming and not very rewarding. And the question becomes, how do we convert thought into action?

There isn’t one answer. We’re all different. That’s why professional insight can be so important. But one small act can make an enormous difference.

In her famous book, On Death and Dying, Elisabeth Kubler-Ross describes the five stages of grief. This won’t be the first time these five stages have been retooled and applied to another area. This is because what Kubler-Ross hit on is so universal. So, with apologies to the originator, here are the Five Stages of decluttering your life.

1. Denial: "It’s okay. I’ll just step over that."
2. Anger: "This shouldn’t be happening to me. I’m special."
3. Bargaining: "If I vacuum and dust it, it’s not really clutter, right?"
4. Depression: "All this stuff is bumming me out. I’m going shopping."
5. Acceptance: "I’m okay. I can simplify my life, then go to yoga."

(Today's entry is from guest blogger, D. Gillis)

Where's the GC green?

People asked me about my blog colours. They are wondering where the Goodbye Clutter signature green is.

I couldn't figure out how to get my green using the Blogspot program. I managed brown, representing my love of dark chocolate. I couldn't get my current favourite blue to work either. So I settled, for blues and chocolate.

I'm on the learning curve. Somewhere. Destined to greater things. Like favourite colours and tricks like links to photos. It's a big world, this world of computer. And I'm exploring it, one lesson at a time.

So forgive the branding incongruency for now. Go to my website www.goodbyeclutter.ca if you need a fix of green. Or email me and I'll mail you my business card. Or hire me and I'll wear my company green shirts.

A New Year, a New Blog

I love the new year. It's like a blank page. With limitless possibilities.

2011 has begun. It's well underway.

So far, my favourite phrase of the year is 'more is less'. In the past, I've heard 'less is more', but the concept of more is less, seems different. For me it emphasizes the drain of excess, the cost and even futility of consumption. I see this with some of my clients. Rooms packed full of items, some not even out of their bags. Multiples of things. Three tv's, two old vcr's, five sets of daily salt and pepper shakers, .... so much stuff.

It's easy to see how less is more. More space, more time, more calm. Surfaces you can see, rooms you can walk through, libraries where you can find the book you are looking for, closets you can walk into, hey even garages where you can park two cars.

I think the trends are changing. People seem to be catching on. They are realizing that stuff doesn't make us happy, we make us happy.

On that note, I think I'll relax in my 400 square feet of home. Small but manageable. And definitely comfortable. Not more. But less. Which is actually more...