I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again.  Photobooks changed my life!  I absolutely have converted over from printing individual digital pictures and filing them away in an uninteresting album to creating beautiful photobooks that are fun to look and way less work to produce than traditional scrapbooking.  They also make stunning inexpensive gifts!

I recently had the pleasure of creating a photobook using Shutterfly.  They sent me a coupon for a free photobook and I jumped at the chance to create an album of our summer camping trip because both my mom and sister have used Shutterfly in the past and told me what a great experience they had.

So easy to use!

I am happy to report that Shutterfly was very easy to use and I was super excited to find out that they have a Simple Path format  for people like me who don’t have a lot of time and want to create beautiful photobooks fast.  With Simple Path all you have to do is upload your photos, choose a photobook size and theme and then have Shutterfly auto-fill those photos for you in chronological order into your book, automatically selecting the photo layouts and backgrounds.  I LOVE this feature so much because when it’s done I can quickly and easily make any necessary adjustments I want and be in and out with no fuss, no muss.  It really couldn’t be any easier than that.

Of course you always have the option of doing a more custom photobook as well depending on the time you have available.  It’s totally your choice, the cost is the same either way.

So many background options and picture layouts!

Choosing background wallpaper is what make photobooks so much fun.  Shutterfly has many different coordinating varieties to choose from.  You can use all the same one or be wild and crazy and mix and match them

Picture quality is superb!

Oh my goodness I was stunned by the first class picture quality.  The photos are sharp and the colors true to live.  Many of the pictures in my book fill an entire page and it feels like I could step right inside the photo it’s that clear.

Oh and I almost forgot to tell you about one of my very favorite features.  Spine writing!  You can write your title on the spine so that when your books are lined up on your shelf you can easily grab the one you need.  Such great attention to detail!!

Want to try Shutterfly out for yourself?

I have TWO coupons available from Shutterfly for two free photobooks.  One 5×7 book and one 7×9  book.   Leave a comment on this post and I’ll select two random winners to each win one photobook to try out.  Winners must use coupons before November 30, 2009.

Deadline to comment is November 7th at 9:00 pm PST.

Good luck and happy photobooking!!

]]> http://www.orgjunkie.com/reviews/2009/11/shutterfly-photobook-giveaway/feed/ 208 http://www.orgjunkie.com/reviews/2009/10/get-organized-for-the-holidays-giveaway/ http://www.orgjunkie.com/reviews/2009/10/get-organized-for-the-holidays-giveaway/#comments Wed, 28 Oct 2009 03:18:21 +0000 admin http://www.orgjunkie.com/reviews/?p=548 Updated to add:  This giveaway is now closed.  The winner is #84 Carla!

Friends, it’s that time of the year again.  That time of the year when we promise ourselves that this is the year we are finally going to get organized for the holidays.  Well how would you like a little helping hand keeping that promise to yourself once and for all this year?

My friend Aby Garvey of Simplify 101 is once again offering her very popular 5-lesson/10-week online workshop Get Organized for the Holidays and this year I’m excited to announce that I’m going to be a part of it, yay!  Aby has asked me to to contribute by offering a bonus handout to participants on Holiday Meal Planning Made Easy.   I truly believe the holidays are about spending quality time with family and friends and not about spending hours in the kitchen missing out on all the fun.  It’s definitely possible with some advance planning and during the workshop I’m going to show you how.

This fantastic holiday workshop is set to begin next week and there are many more highlights and benefits to signing up.  Some of those include:

• Figuring out what’s most important to you and your family to have a joyful holiday season.

• Creating a holiday planner and filling it up with printable forms and worksheets that will organize all aspects of your holiday preparations.

• Creating a customized holiday plan so you can get it all done. You’ll be organized, prioritized and energized!

• Learning practical, doable strategies for simplifying the key areas of your holiday preparations…from cooking, baking and entertaining, to shopping, wrapping and sending out holiday cards.

• Sharing gift ideas, recipes, holiday traditions, tips and more in the private workshop forum.

• Learning a simple process for getting your holiday gifts put away and your home put back together.

• Learning how to store your holiday décor efficiently and effectively.

• Getting tips and ideas for making next year’s holiday season even better than this year, and exchange ideas with your classmates.

• Sharing photos of your holiday decorations and storage solutions in the online photo gallery.

• Creating a simple and fun project to organize your holiday cards so you can enjoy them next year.

Today I am giving away ONE spot in this upcoming workshop.  All you have to do to enter is leave a comment on this post answering the following question:

Which one of the above workshop highlights interests you the most?

Last day to enter is Saturday, October 31st at 12:00 pm PST.

Happy holiday organizing everyone!

I just wanted to remind you that this is the last day to enter the sweepstakes as it ends October 23, 2009 at 11:59 pm ET.  Don’t miss out on this exciting opportunity to get your home organized!

I also had the pleasure of trying out a few Avery products that were graciously sent to me as a thank you.  I had no idea that there was a whole new line of removable, re-positionable products and I must say they are perfect for a girl like me who has commitment issues

I’m an organizer but no where in my house will you find labels that are impossible to remove.  Oh you know the ones I’m talking about.  The ones you have to pick at and scrape off and just be totally annoyed by.   That doesn’t work for me because I’m always changing out my totes and baskets.  I’m constantly shuffling them around (it’s the addict in me what can I say!) trying new arrangements and systems.  For that reason I simply can’t use anything on my containers that is permanent.  I couldn’t deface one of my precious beauties like that, nope just can’t do it!  I love the Removable Label Pads because they are sticky over the entire back surface with a small non-stick perforated section that allows you to re-position the label if you need to before tearing that section off.

The other product I absolutely love and had never seen before are the Pocket Tabs.   These nifty little storage pockets can be added, by way of a sticky backing, to any binder or surface where you could use a pocket for storing such stuff as notes, photos, business cards or receipts.  They won’t damage documents and the best part is they remove easily and are totally re-positionable.  So very handy indeed!

They even have a File Folder Label Pad so you don’t have to commit to how your folders are labeled.  Use these removable ones and change your mind over and over and over again.

Thanks Avery for introducing me to these great products!

Now don’t forget to go on over and enter the sweepstakes (US only).  I would be absolutely thrilled if one of my very own blog readers won such a cool prize!!

See also Avery on Twitter

I was anxious to read Debbie’s book because I too believe that I’m a recovering perfectionist.  It wasn’t too long ago that I would completely fall apart if something didn’t go according to my plan.  To say I was a control freak was an understatement.  Spontaneous wasn’t even a word in my dictionary because heaven forbid I actually do something without planning it to death.  It was terrible and I’m sure I wasn’t a lot of fun to live with.  But slowly over the years I’ve learned to let go of these exhausting tendencies and embrace the Plan B.  I’m going to be writing more on this in the months to follow.

I loved Debbie’s book so much that I wrote a testimonial for her and how surprised was I when I received the book to find it right there on the back cover.  So exciting!  Here is what I had to say:

“Everything I Know About Perfectionism” is filled with straightforward and practical advice.  It is further enhanced and made possible by the honesty with which Debbie tells her own story.  If you struggle with perfectionism and want to experience the freedom of living an authentic life, imperfections and all, this book is for you.  Discover how perfectionism can keep you from living the life you dream of, and how to overpower it once and for all.”

I asked Debbie to make my blog one of her stops on her book tour and she was kind enough to answer a few questions for me that I’m so excited to share with you today.  I know it’s a bit long but Debbie’s story is so inspiring and definitely offers hope to anyone experiencing the debilitating affects of perfectionism in their own life.  I hope you feel encouraged by her answers.  At the end you’ll find a discount code to receive 10% off the price of the book.

Hi Debbie, thanks for joining me here today.  As I read your book I was amazed at all the different ways perfectionism can manifest itself.  Tell me a little bit about why you use to consider yourself to be a perfectionist.

I was the stereotypical over-achieving, type-A, first-born child. I was highly competitive (mostly with myself) and would silently agonize over every mistake I made. When I was first married and starting my own family, I was determined to create a “perfect” life. I had huge expectations for myself, and when I couldn’t live up to these self-imposed standards I was left disappointed and overwhelmed with my perceived shortcomings.

And what did your breasts have to do with changing this behavior?

Well, it wasn’t so much my breasts as it was my experience with stage 2 breast cancer at age 35. In the blink of an eye, my sense of order and control was gone. I was at the mercy of my diagnosis, my doctors, and the disease. I faced a bilateral mastectomy with reconstruction, chemotherapy, radiation, and a lifetime of medication. My very imperfect situation literally stared back at me in the bathroom mirror. It took a lot of introspection, but those imperfect breasts taught me many life lessons. Cancer became my “A-HA!” moment; it was the motivation I needed to finally sit back, take stock of my life and my priorities and realize that perfectionism was ruining my dream of a truly happy and fulfilled life.

I love that throughout the book you also include stories from others sharing how perfectionism played a role in their lives.  It really is a debilitating disease isn’t it?

Yes, it certainly can be. I was lucky to find some fellow recovering perfectionists with some amazing stories. Throughout my interviews, they discussed the reasons they developed their extreme perfectionism, as well as the countless negative consequences they experienced. Perfectionism rarely stands alone and is often intertwined with issues such as low-self esteem, procrastination, eating disorders, and mental paralysis.  Even chronic disorganization can co-exist with perfectionism, as more than one of my case studies revealed. Each interviewee also shared their personal “A-Ha!” moments, as well as their strategies and solutions for overpowering perfectionism.

What do you think is the most common negative consequence of perfectionism?

One common thread among all of the recovering perfectionists in my book is the regret we feel for everything we missed out on as a result of perfectionism. Perfectionists don’t typically take risks because we like to be able to ensure a successful, perfect, outcome. So we don’t try things we aren’t guaranteed to do perfectly. Being a perfectionist can hold you back from stepping outside of your comfort zone, trying new things and living a fulfilled life.

Are the symptoms always negative or are there some ways being a perfectionist can benefit us?

Although each recovering perfectionist I studied experienced very debilitating consequences as a result of being a life-long over-achiever, each one was also able to pinpoint many benefits, too. For example, in their youth, all of them were good students and a few even graduated from Ivy League schools. Several of the interviewees were accomplished athletes, too. It wasn’t until they took control of their perfectionism and learned to leverage its positive influences, however, that they were able to not only reach even greater success, but be satisfied with their accomplishments, as well. By finally learning to mitigate the negative impact of out-of-control perfectionism these people reached a level of personal success that was never possible to their former selves. Several are now successful business owners, and all of them are confident, accomplished and, most importantly, satisfied.

Is it possible to take the good without the bad?

Yes! The difference between a recovering perfectionist and a chronic perfectionist is awareness and control. A recovering perfectionist is aware of the negative consequences of his actions and consciously chooses to avoid such dangers. We do not let perfectionism take control of our life, but rather use all the benefits while dismissing the negatives. Now, I wish I could tell you that perfectionism is something I no longer struggle with, but the fact is, it’s a part of who I am. But my imperfect breasts have taught me that I am bigger than my perfectionism. I am more powerful, more persistent and more determined.

To read about so many women and how they conquered their perfectionism is really inspiring and you offer many helpful and practical solutions on how to do this.  Can you share your top five tips for overpowering perfectionism?

1.  Don’t try to banish perfectionism from your life, but rather accept that it is a part of your personality. Learn to distinguish the difference between “excellence” and “perfect” and decide for yourself what that means to your life.

2.  Fake it till you make it.  Try emulating the behavior of people you know who seem to be satisfied with “good enough.”

3.  Arm yourself with an anti-perfectionism mantra (mine is simply “I am NOT a perfectionist anymore!”). Whenever you feel perfectionism creeping up on you, chase it away with your silent, or not so silent, chant.

4.  Extend beyond your comfort zone and try something new. Approach this new adventure with no regard as to whether you succeed or fail.

5.  Step outside of perfectionism for one day and do something out of character to desensitize yourself to the uncomfortable feelings of imperfection (leave the dishes in the sink overnight, wear mismatched socks, go to the store without make-up on).

I love your mantra “seeking simplicity in all that you do”.  This is something I am always trying to achieve as well.  How has it made a difference in your life?

As a perfectionist, I would over-complicate things unnecessarily. Plus, I’ve always been a “got to do it ALL” type of person and I just couldn’t say “No” to new responsibilities. Now I aim for simplicity; saving time on the daily grind of keeping a household and business together so there is more time to spend on the things I enjoy. Taking the simple route has dramatically reduced the everyday stress in my life. Forgetting about “perfect” organization and instead striving toward being organized enough has made a huge difference, too. Simplicity also helps to reduce procrastination, because it is much easier to approach and complete a simple project, rather than an intricate, over-complicated ordeal.

Why did you want to write this book?

This book actually started as a post on my blog, www.VirtuallyOrganized.com. I really just wanted to share with my subscribers the lessons I had learned about the benefits of overpowering perfectionism. Soon after, I was asked to contribute a chapter to someone else’s book on how I simplify life. When the book fell through, it was actually my mother who suggested I write my own book. My fear of failure started to creep up and I dismissed the idea right away, but it wasn’t long until I decided to take my own advice, reach outside my comfort zone and go for it. I hope that I can help others discover a life outside of perfectionism, too, and possibly serve as an example of how you can take adversity, such as my breast cancer, and turn it into a life-changing “A-HA!” moment.

So awesome!  Thanks for stopping by Debbie and sharing your story with us!

From the sale of every book purchased via the link below and by using the code FYB in the donation code area, Debbie will donate $2.00 to an organization called Feel Your Boobies on my behalf and in honor of October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  FYB is an annual campaign focused on their mission of utilizing unexpected and unconventional methods to remind young women to “feel their boobies”.

Debbie is also offering orgjunkie readers a 10% discount on her book.  All you have to do is use the Add to Cart button below and your 10% off is instantly applied to the regular price of $19.95.

A couple of weeks ago as I was perusing around Etsy, one of my absolutely favorite sites, I came across these fun Family Rules Printables by Perfect Sentiment and just had to buy a set for myself.

I thought they would be awesome hung in our dining room as a great reminder about what the family rules are.  I love the idea of our expectations being clearly displayed for the kids in hopes that they might actually get it.  A girl can dream can’t she

The printables were reasonably priced at $4.00 and I figured that while I could easily make them myself I wasn’t willing to sacrifice the time it would take to do it.  Not when I could purchase them so inexpensively and be able to download them right away.

I quickly ran down to my local dollar store to purchase some 5×7 frames and was able to get 6 black frames for $10.00.

This little project took me no time at all to assemble and I was so pleased with the results I just had to share it with you.  This is how they look hung up in our dining room.

So for $14.00 I got a great piece of conversational art in my dining room that leads to many a family discussion around the dining room table.  And now that I own the printables I can easily assemble some sets for Christmas gifts if I want to.

When I emailed Erin of Perfect Sentiment to tell her how pleased I was she offered to give away a set of printables to one of my readers.  So if this is something that interests you just leave a comment on this post prior to Oct 11th at 12:00 pm PST to enter.  Open to everyone.

Today is the day that fellow Canadian Professional Organizers, Elaine Shannon and Kim Eagles from Organizing Connection, and my newest affiliate partners, release their brand new DVD, Organizing the Bedroom.

I had the opportunity to meet Elaine last year at the Professional Organizers Conference and she is an absolute hoot.  Her passion for organizing is so contagious and fun.  Elaine and Kim had a goal, to develop a way to walk visual learners through their six step organizing process. Through their roles as Professional Organizers they would regularly encounter people who simply couldn’t afford in-person professional organizing services so they decided to create an online organizing DVD series designed to fill this need.  Their downloadable series is a low cost solution that people can use conveniently on their own schedule in the privacy of their home.

Elaine sent me the collection of DVD’s to check out and I must say I was very impressed with the professionalism of them.  I was also excited because the scripts are uncluttered and easy to follow.  Laura, the host of the “show” is engaging and fun to watch and because the videos aren’t overly long in length, the bedroom one is 12 minutes long, you’ll find that they don’t drag on but rather are concise, to the point and entertaining.  In addition, to further enhance your organizing experience each DVD also comes with its own e-book and set of worksheets.

I’m definitely a visual learner and therefore I appreciate having someone show me what to do instead of just learning through listening or reading.  It makes so much more sense to me when I see it in action.

The four DVD’s currently available for purchase are:

Organizing the Bedroom

Organizing your Mudroom

My Kitchen is my Domain (one of my favorites!)

The Organizing Papertrail

To see for yourself what I’m talking about you can watch a preview of any of the above DVD’s by clicking here.

Today these two lovely ladies are launching the Bedroom DVD set.  This set comes complete with a 5 minute video explaining the basics of organizing, a 12 minute video that directs you to organizing success by walking you through the organizing process step by step, using clear and concise directions as well as 11 pages of worksheets and an e-book providing 30 tips to make the master bedroom, a teen’s bedroom or a baby’s bedroom a restful haven, all available for instant download.

So in honor of the bedroom DVD launch I have a hard copy of this DVD available that I’d like to give away to one of you.  Please leave a comment on this post answering the following question:

Tell me what one thing you could part with today in your bedroom to help move you towards the restful retreat you know it can be.  Perhaps it’s old clothes you no longer wear, dishes, laundry piles, books stacked to the roof, paper, whatever it is keeping you from enjoying your space, get rid of it.

Comment must be left by Friday, September 25th at 6:00 pm PST to be eligible to win.

Good luck and happy organizing!

]]> http://www.orgjunkie.com/reviews/2009/09/organizing-the-bedroom-giveaway/feed/ 218 http://www.orgjunkie.com/reviews/2009/09/the-organized-mom-shop-giveaway/ http://www.orgjunkie.com/reviews/2009/09/the-organized-mom-shop-giveaway/#comments Thu, 10 Sep 2009 14:23:02 +0000 admin http://www.orgjunkie.com/reviews/?p=406 This giveaway is now closed…the winner is #302 Vicky!

Sarah Kimmel of Organize Your Life and co-creator of the Daily Home Planner, has just started up a brand new shop full of organizing products and tools designed to make your life just a little bit easier.  In honor of her grand opening Sarah is offering one lucky reader here the chance to win a $50.00 gift certificate to her store, The Organized Mom Shop.  You get to pick out whatever you want.  Doesn’t that sound like fun!

If I won (which I totally can’t but let’s just pretend) I have my eye on any one of the following:

The Car Organizer for $38.95

or

My 3 yr old son would love this Road & Rail Zip Bin – $32.95 (and I would love how it keeps everything organized in one place)

There is also one for girls

or

This Wallie Wall Organizer would be great for my 12 yr old daughter’s room – $46.95

or

I would love a Charging Station – $21.95

or

This Pantry Organizer could be used for so many different things – $29.95

To enter your name into this giveaway, simply head on over to The Organized Mom Shop and drool tell me what you would buy if you won $50.00.  Don’t worry you can always change your mind if you win, I just like to see which products are the most coveted.  I’m nosey like that

Deadline to enter is Monday night at 6:00 pm PST.  Thanks and good luck!

So excited!

I was expecting a couple of hooks, I was not expecting this:

I love that 3M chose to show off their products in a lovely basket and packaged them so beautifully.  That tells me that detail is important to them and since I’m a girl that pays particular attention to detail, this makes me heart sing.  It tells me that 3M takes pride in their products from the top to the bottom.  I love companies that GET IT!

I have 3M hooks all over my house.  I’m a girl that loves changing things up and 3M hooks, because they aren’t permanent, allow me to do that quite easily.  I can put one up and then when I want to rearrange things I can take it down without wrecking my walls.  I have NEVER had a problem with them taking the paint off and I use these hooks constantly.  Here are a few examples of places I’ve used them around the house:

- to hang towels on the back of the bathroom door

- to hang Christmas decorations

- to hang calendars around my house

- to hang bathrobes and aprons

- to hang tote bags

- to hang picture frames

- to hang chore charts (as seen here)

You can see some more of these uses in action here.

The hooks come in different weights so be sure to select the right one for the job.  Oh and did I mention they are re-useable, you just have to put on a new sticky pad and many of the hooks come with an extra one.

3M now has a new line of very cute kid hooks ranging from Disney Cars to Hanana Montana.  I’ve got one hanging in my son’s room for his library bag.  Practical and fun, what’s not to love!

The 3M Adhesive line is pretty extensive.  There are hooks and organizers for pretty much any situation you can think of.

I can’t recommend these enough, they are the perfect organizing accompaniment.

Have fun!

Updated:  Whee by the looks of the comments I am not alone in my addiction…he he!  Oh and also Kelly made a good point…to make sure you don’t wreck your wall, be sure to take off the Command It by pulling straight down on the sticky thing and do not pull at an angle.

]]> http://www.orgjunkie.com/reviews/2009/09/im-addicted-to-3m-adhesive-hooks/feed/ 37 http://www.orgjunkie.com/reviews/2009/09/peter-walsh-back-to-school/ http://www.orgjunkie.com/reviews/2009/09/peter-walsh-back-to-school/#comments Sat, 05 Sep 2009 21:56:01 +0000 admin http://www.orgjunkie.com/reviews/?p=369 This giveaway is now over. The winner is Ginny of Mom of 2 Dancers!

A couple of weeks ago I had the opportunity to sit in on a blogcast put on by Office Max and Organizing Expert Peter Walsh about back to school.   It was hard for me to think about back to school at the beginning of August seeing as how my kids don’t go back to school until next Tuesday but I had every intention of getting this post up earlier for everyone who has kids that return sooner.  Unfortunately life happens sometimes and I’m only now getting around to sharing this with you.  I think you’ll still find it super helpful as the suggestions are just excellent for organizing kids for the entire school year.  You can check out the video here.

Some of the highlights are:

TIPS FOR HOME

1) Find the vision you have for a space and start with a clean slate

2) Make organization a family value

3) Use the right tools for great organization

TIPS FOR ORGANIZING YOUR CHILD

1) Show that you value organization

2) Establish clear limits and routines

3) Always ‘finish the cycle’ (complete a task).  For example:  if you start something, finish it.  If you open something, close it.  If you use up something, replenish it.

TIPS FOR THE CLASSROOM

1) Establish clear routines

2) Involve kids with classroom organization

3) Use words, pictures and color to help organize

One of the best takeaways was Peter’s advice to get your kids involved in each step of the process, something I wholeheartedly agree with.  Have your child set up their desk and they will be more committed to maintaining it.

Thanks to Office Max I also have a few back to school supplies to share with you.  Here is what is included:

~ one green owl drawstring bag

~ one pencil box

~ one heart binder and 7 pocket expanding file

~ one composition notebook

~ 10 fun file folders in two designs (these are not from Office Max)

Office Max’s owl and cupcake product lines (available in store only) are absolutely adorable.  My daughter went ga ga over the cupcake line which is why you aren’t seeing any of them up for grabs

To enter, simply leave a comment on this post by Tuesday, September 8th at 4:00 pm PST.

Good luck!

Professional Organizer, Aby Garvey of simplify 101, is here again but this time is offering a free seat in not one but TWO of her fabulous online organizing workshops.   One winner will receive BOTH workshops!   I’ve had the chance to check out Aby’s workshops and they are FANTASTIC!!

As with all of Aby’s workshops you’ll receive class materials in all sorts of formats (including audio), ongoing support from Aby herself as well as worksheets and projects to inspire you into organizing action. For a sneak peek into how Aby’s workshops run, please watch this quick video.

Let me tell you a little more about each of these workshops:

Workshop #1:  Organizing 101

(this is the last time this one will be offered this year!)

Runs: Sept 8th – Oct 27th

If you’re taking the first steps on your organizing journey, or you’re looking to re-energize your organizing efforts, Organizing 101 is just for you!

In this fun and effective online workshop you will:

Learn how to overcome your organizing roadblocks (which is especially helpful if you’re someone who struggles with letting things go.)

Learn the role of storage in an organizing project as well as the best time in the process to buy containers.

Complete an organizing project using a simple organizing process that can be applied to projects of any size and scope.

Create an organizing plan customized to your home, your life, and your priorities.

Best of all, because this is an online workshop you can participate any time that fits your schedule. Plus, you’ll have seven weeks of support, ideas and inspiration from Aby and your fellow classmates!

more information about this workshop here

Workshop #2:  Organize Your Closet

(a quick & simple online workshop)

Runs:  Sept 22nd – Oct 13th

The closet class is a really fun class. It’s two lessons for just $20 US, and the class stays open for an additional week to give students time to get in there and organize their closet!  Aby developed a process to help students create an organized closet that will take the stress out of getting dressed in the morning, plus will help keep closet-clutter away going forward. Three weeks of access to a professional organizer and community of students who will also be organizing their closet…all for what you would pay for minutes of time working with a professional organizer in the home.  This is a great try-it class for students who aren’t sure if online classes are for them, and would really help them organize their home.

more information about this workshop here

To enter this fabulous organizing giveaway, simply leave a comment on this post prior to Monday, September 7th at 4:00 pm PST, answering the following question:

How would (or has) being organized change(d) your life?