2012 SF Hoarding and Cluttering Conference

The San Francisco Mental Health Association has announced the dates for its 2012 Hoarding and Cluttering Conference.

What's New

SAVE THE DATE

The 14th Conference on Compulsive Hoarding and Cluttering
(now a 2-day International event!) will be held on

April 26-27, 2012

at the Westin SF Airport in Millbrae, CA 

You can follow them on Facebook.

Coming in 2012...

My business model and fee structure will be changing beginning January 2012.
Please contact me to find out more
(or check back on my Packages/PayPal tab).

(All hours left on current packages bought before the end of 2011 will be honored,
but those packages will not be available for purchase to new or returning clients in 2012.)

*Current 2011 rates: $70/hour.
Pre-paid packages are $700 for a 10+1 hour package (11 hours) and
$1400 for a 20 + 3 hour package (23 hours)

I will be working exclusively with only 1-2 regular weekly clients
and 2-3 phone-coaching or maintenance clients at a time.

 This will enable me to work with clients who wish to work intensively and quickly on projects involving large areas of clutter or chronic disorganization,
reaching goals within the week or month.

Four-hour sessions are available Monday thru Friday from
(approximately) 9:30 am to 2:30 pm.
Three-hour sessions will be available only if the client
is unable (physically) to work for four hours.

The first Assessment Session (3-4 hours) is paid hourly and at the time of service,
and includes a full assessment and hands-on organizing if there is time.

Further working sessions are part of
pre-paid larger packages that offer a savings.

Call or e-mail me now if you are ready to get going!
(A 20-minute phone consultation is always available at no charge.)

707-823-3479

margaret@organizeinharmony.com

PayPal Accepted Now!

Since clients have been asking if they can pay by credit card, I have now set up a PayPal account! This is a safe and secure way to use your credit card and make payments using your credit card via the PayPal website.

NBOC and Soles4Souls Shoe Drive

My local group of organizers (North Bay Organizers and Coaches-NBOC) is collecting shoes in connection with the non-profit Soles4Souls (they take shoes to people around the world who need them). We already have well over 500 pairs, and our goal is 5,000! Luckily, one of our members (the drive coordinator, Teri Mendelson) has a barn to hold all these gently used shoes. (That's Jillian Stocks there helping her and Teri at the controls.)

Soles4Souls threw down the gauntlet at our NAPO (National Association of Professional Organizers) 2011 conference earlier this year. They want us (as a national group) to collect over a million pairs of shoes!

The kicker here (pun intended) is that while collecting shoes is relatively easy, shipping them is not. Our clients are happy to give them up when we are helping to purge closets, and many folks have donated at the bins we have placed at Sole Desire and Fleet Feet locations. (See the list of drop off sites on the NBOC web page.)

Sole Desire is offering a $10 off coupon for every
pair donated through October 31 at one of their stores.

The NBOC will keep up the shoe drive through the end of the year. You can donate directly to any of us in the NBOC or at bins we will keep up through Sonoma County until December 31, 2011.

We are asking our clients/friends/family and anyone with a charitable bent to help us with the cost of shipping these shoes to the Las Vegas warehouse (about $1/pair). You can do this safely and securely online at the NBOC Soles4Soles donation page. The nice thing about this is that you can also make your donation in the memory of someone who has passed away or in honor of someone in your life.

I donated in memory of my dad, Hal Pearson, who passed away in 2003. He grew up in the Depression a poor Kansas farm boy, orphaned at a young age. I'm betting he went barefoot a good portion of his life. He made sure I never did. He also dedicated his life to teaching, and his last 20 years were spent at schools in the "rougher" parts of town with kids at a distinct disadvantage in life.

Who would you like to honor?

Click here to help us ship shoes.

The OCD Chef Cutting Board

This was just too funny to not pass along...

This "OCD Chef" cutting board is available at ThinkGeek for $24.99.
I had a good chuckle when this came across in an e-mail today. I first thought it was a paper cutting board, but then realized it's for cutting your veggies (and whatever else) to very exacting measurements. Oh how Mr. Monk would love this! Saves you the time of getting your ruler out.

Please rest assured, I am not making fun of anyone--I think this is a grand product. While I am not OCD myself around cutting veggies, I do have my teeny tiny OCD-like issues. I won't use a salad fork, I only drink out of glass (or Tervis Tumblers now), my glasses need to be in height order in the cabinet and what is it with money coming out ATM's now not all facing the same direction?

Need time for fun stuff?

This could be you! Well, you know what I mean....

This could be you out having fun at the beach, surfing or pretending to be a Chihuahua that likes to surf!

But, instead, are you sitting at home, looking at all your stuff around you? 

Letting it talk to you, giving you grief?

Yes? Then it's time to do something about all that stuff, huh?

• make some decisions
• clear the clutter
• find the sunscreen in the pile in the bathroom
  
  ...and oh yeah...
  
• GET OUT AND LIVE LIFE!

Need some help to do that?

I work with people who are:

• Ready to dig into the piles. 
• Work hard. 
• Let go of old ways. 
• Start living.

Call me.

(707) 823-3479

margaret@organizeinharmony.com

Closet Clock

I am often humbled by my clients because they come up with the greatest ideas (and jealous because I didn't think of them first!).

While talking with a client today (I had suggested she put up more clocks in her home office) in our phone coaching session she mentioned that she had also put a clock in her bedroom closet.

What a fabulous, simple solution! She has a walk-in closet and she says sometimes she loses track of time in there because she gets busy organizing it. This helps her keep track of the time (just like in her office) and keep her more aware of how much time is passing.

When I googled "closet clock" I got a number of interesting items. While you certainly can use any kind of clock in your closet, I was curious to see if there were any clocks expressly made for closets. (Oh, maybe one that lights up would be nice!)

I thought the one pictured above would be funny whether you are a man or a woman. (You probably need a really healthy sense of humor if you are a man!) It's called "The Closet Closet Clock."

The other great idea I saw was using a weather clock in your closet. Now, these are a little cluttered-looking to me. I like a simple large clock with a big numbers and a easily seen hands. But a weather clock serves a great function–letting you know how to dress for the day! I often turn on the news in the morning to see what the day's weather is going to be or check my iPhone (but it's rarely in my bedroom since I sync or charge it with my computer in my home office) for the local weather forecast. (Click on images to be taken to the website where you can buy this clock. I'm not affiliated with any of these sites.)

Or you can just go with cute!
(This came from a great blog article on closet organizing at Fabulous After Forty.)

Or why not hang one of your many watches (I know you have them) up on a nail? I don't really have much wall space in my closet and the little strip of space I have would be perfect for a watch. (I found actual clocks that look like giant watches online. This one is a plan/components to make one yourself. I think you can find vintage ones on e-bay and Etsy.) Dad's or Grampa's giant old watch you inherited might be perfect for this.

 

Tom Hatton saves you the time (ha ha!) by making and selling these giant watches on Etsy:

What a wonderful design element for a man's closet!

Have you found a wonderful ADHD therapist?

The ADDitude magazine website has a great article titled 

"The 10 Worst Therapists for ADHD Adults."

http://www.additudemag.com/adhd/article/7287.html

No, this article doesn't name names! It's a quick and easy to read "slide show" describing the kinds of therapists you DON'T want to have if you are an adult living with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder).

1. The Disciplinarian
2. The Drug Pusher
3. The Researcher
4. The Nervous Nellie
5. The Comedian
6. The Blame Gamer
7. The Quick Fixer
8. The Distant Judge
9. The Fuzzy Comforter
10. The Dream Dissector

They do give a list of traits you DO want in your therapist at the end of the article.

Have you had a good experience with your therapist or counselor around ADHD (or clutter or hoarding) in the Sonoma or Marin County area? I'm always looking for good professionals to refer my clients to. A great support team for many of my clients often includes a therapist or counselor.

NAPO National Conference, San Diego

I'm very excited to be attending this year's NAPO (National Association of Professional Organizers) Annual Conference in San Diego next week. This conference comes to the west coast every three years, and I attended it in Reno 3 years ago, Boston 5 years ago and my very first conference was in 2005 in back in San Diego.

I'm proud to be flying down there with two of my organizing buddies from the North Bay Organizers and Coaches group, one of whom I drove down with in 2005, Gina Burdette (Get it Organized). I look forward to getting to know Amy Brueske (Always Organizing) better on the flight there and back. Boy, three organizers in one row of seats!

The North Bay Organizers and Coaches group will be well represented this year at National. One of our members, Angela Wallace (Wallace and Associates) will be installed as the new President of NAPO. Whoo-hoo! I'm also expecting to see Susanne Otteman (Organize This!), Jillian Stocks (Jillian Stocks Organizing), Judy Stern (Organize Now), and Grace Brooke (The Efficiency Specialist).

Now, will I come back with a tan or still be pale from being in conference sessions all day?

CHADD Support Group in Santa Rosa

I am passing on this information about the Santa Rosa, CA CHADD
(“Children and Adults with Attention Deficit Disorder”) support group.

You are cordially welcomed to a newly revived Santa Rosa CHADD* Support Group meeting this Tuesday!

When: 7pm to 9pm, Tuesday, March 29th

Where: The Glaser Center (Unitarian Universalist Congregation), the Green Room
547 Mendocino Ave., downtown Santa Rosa

What: A NEW location in a comfortable room with new facilitators
Agenda:
1. Welcome & Introductions & Getting Started
2. (Voluntary) check-in by participants; visitors
3. Relevant current events and topics of group interest
4. Suggestions for the next meeting and Wrap-Up
5. Invitation to continue the conversation at a near-by restaurant/coffee shop

For past CHADD support group participants:
·         This new group replaces the monthly Wednesday night CHADD meetings that met at the Quaker Meetinghouse on Guerneville Rd.
·         Please come at 7 pm and see old friends, make new ones and help us create a great group!

For those who've never before attended a CHADD support group:
·         Do you or someone you know have ADD/ADHD?
·         Do you wonder if you have it, or have you recently been diagnosed with it?
·         Are you dealing with the emotional impact of ADD/ADHD?
·         Are you wondering what to do next or where to go for help?

Our goals are to provide all participants with
·         Information and resources leading to improved lives
·         A community based on mutual support, understanding, fellowship and camaraderie
·         An enjoyable evening of stimulating discussion, humor, encouragement, and hope

Thank you for forwarding this email to anyone who might benefit from attending.

Parking:
Downtown street parking is free after 6 pm and parking is also available at the city parking garage directly behind the Glaser Center ($.75 per hour).

For more information, please email Barry at thruthedoorway@yahoo.com or call (707) 888-8223.

Upcoming Presentations

Scheduled Workshops and Talks

 Thursday March 31, 2011
 "Is this hoarding and what can I do about it?" Presentation for the public through the Russian River Empowerment Center in Guerneville, CA.

Tuesday May 15, 2011
"Motivational Interviewing for the Professional Organizer" Presentation to members of the NBOC at the Spring Educational Seminar, Sonoma County, CA.

Date TBA, 2011

"Recognizing Hoarding Disorder"for West County Services

Magnetic Door Stop

Just a quick tool tip today. I discovered this gadget when our family rented a house in Hawaii several years ago. This little door stop kept all the doors from slamming shut all the time when a breeze came through. Also handy for keeping the door open when you are bringing in armloads of groceries. It's like having your own doorman. That you don't have to tip! I love the one I installed at home.

http://www.improvementscatalog.com/home/improvements/57046-magnetic-door-stop.html

Tips Sheets for Downloading

This is a new service I'm trying out. Please bear with me if it's not working right away.

You should be able to click on the link and download one of my free Tip Sheets.

1. Resources about Severe Clutter and Compulsive Hoarding (Local to Sonoma County)
   (Organizations, Websites, Support Groups, Books, Professional Organizers)

Margaret in the Media

Read this great blog post about Green Spring Cleaning at GreenLiving Arizona that quotes Margaret: http://www.greenlivingaz.com/?p=453 

Margaret was quoted in an article on unique organizing ideas for small spaces at Moving.com:
http://www.moving.com/blogs/2011/01/26/making-the-most-out-of-your-space/





Margaret can be heard in a radio interview with Kira Reginato of the Eldercare Show on KSRO 1350 AM talking about Chronic Disorganization and Compulsive Hoarding (1/14/2011:
http://media.ksro.com/Podcasts/1280/AsktheExpertFri011411.mp3



Margaret, along with organizers Diane Judd and Susanne Ottemen can be heard in a radio interview and panel discussion hosted by Kira Reginato of the Eldercare Show on KSRO 1350 AM organizing and resources (1/28/2011): (available 2/2/2011)

NSGCD is now ICD

 The National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization has formally changed its name to the Institute for Challenging Disorganization and you can see the website here:

http://www.challengingdisorganization.org/