There is a long story why there is no Small Thing posted today but the short version is: late hockey practice last night, computer problems, pinched nerve in neck, can't get out of bed. I'll be back with it tomorrow.

In the meantime, I want to share this:

Zoanna and Me

Yesterday, I had the fun experience of meeting long-time Company Girl Zoanna (of Penchant for Pens) when she had a brief stop in Dallas.

My suspicion proved true: Company Girls are the best people in the whole world. She is just as sweet in real life as she is on her blog.

We felt like we'd known each other for years, and we kinda HAVE. It is this crazy thing about blogging that opens up your world to people who are kindred spirits - if you look, you really can find them. Zo is that kind of person - generous, funny, witty and thoughtful. Who would think that we could connect, even though separated by half of the USA? It's so cool.

I, on the other hand, was not so thoughtful. I made her late for her next plane and did not bring her any food, so she had to involuntarily fast on her next flight. I feel awful about that. I'm so sorry, Zo....I'll do better next time.

I love getting to meet my online friends IRL!

Stop over and get to know her...tell her I said "hi!"

There's been a proliferation of bottles and jars in the refrigerator's condiment community lately. I've noticed that finding things in the refrigerator has become much more difficult than it used to be....what with all the fancy dijons refusing to hang out with the blue collar ketchups.  It's a regular melting pot of society in there: the smooth mayonnaise, the dill slices, the high-brow poppy seed dressing and the Nascar loving barbeque sauce.  They used to all live in the neighborhood of the door shelves, but they've spilled into every compartment and drawer imagineable due to their different tastes and cultures.  The parmesan cheese won't even speak to the grape jam anymore.

Today's Small Thing is to straighten up the condiment community in your fridge.  Those guys tend to be unruly - all those spicy personalities - but I find that if you just put them all together in one area, they'll remember put aside their differences and work together.  Some of them are a bit messy and rough around the edges, but a quick swipe of a cloth is usually enough to remind them to be on their best behavior.

Can't they all just get along?  Yes, they can.

POINTS: 40 for organizing the condiments in your fridge

BONUS POINTS: 40 for organizing the condiments in your cabinets

Song of the Day: Frim Fram Sauce, Ella Fitzgerald

The wonderful people over at simplify101 are sponsoring this month's prize for us, AND giving the Company Girls some exclusive discounts (I love the sound of that) that we can use right away. Check it out:

The September Most Points Winner will receive FREE PARTICIPATION in an incredible workshop titled, Quick + Simple Clutter Control. I've never thought of "quick and simple" as being in the same sentence as "clutter control" but they know what they are talking about so I'll go with it. :)

Quick + Simple Clutter Control  This simplify 101 online workshop teaches you how to clear surface clutter and gives you do-able strategies to keep clutter at bay! Get inspired. Stay motivated. Make clutter a thing of your past! Throughout this 2 lesson / 3 week workshop you’ll have direct access to your instructor, professional organizer Aby Garvey, via the workshop’s private forum. With the private online community and photo gallery, you’ll get the ideas and support you need to start—and finish—your clutter control projects. The workshop begins October 19, 2010.  Click here to view the workshop syllabus.

 I think this will be a great way to head into the holidays - I mean, direct access to Aby Garvey???? Come on! This is a prize DEFINITELY worth competing for. Thank you, simplify101 for such a generous prize.

 

I'll get to the Random Drawing Prize in a minute, but while we're on the subject of simplify101, I am so excited that they are offering discounts to these two workshops for us. Talk about nice.

 

With the simplify 101 online workshop Organize Your Closet, you’ll be saying “ahhh” every time you look in your closet. In this two lesson workshop, you’ll learn professional organizer   Aby Garvey's closet organizing secrets. Find out how to utilize your closet space to its fullest potential, solve common closet organizing problems without spending a fortune, and let go of clothes you no longer wear. Say “goodbye” to jumbled piles of shoes, clothes, and purses, and say “hello” to closet organizing bliss. Click here  to view the entire workshop syllabus. The workshop begins September 23, 2010.

 

 

That paper mountain growing on your countertop represents a loss of freedom, a loss of control, and a nagging feeling that something important isn’t getting done. Replace your paper clutter with systems that give you feelings of confidence, relief and peace of mind! In the online workshop Organize Your Paper Clutter, you’ll learn how to decide if you need a piece of paper and how to organize it so you’ll find it again. Best of all–you won’t go it alone. Throughout this six-lesson / seven-week online workshop, you’ll enjoy support, ideas and motivation from professional organizer Aby Garvey and the simplify 101 online community. You’ll get the support, answers and motivation you need to tackle your paper organizing projects so you can put an end to paper clutter. The workshop begins September 21, 2010. Click here to view the entire workshop syllabus.

simplify 101 is offering the readers of Home Sanctuary 15% off enrollment of either (or both!) of these two workshops through Thursday, September  9th! To take advantage of this offer and start eliminating stress by organizing your paper clutter and/or your closet, enter HOMESANCTUARY during checkout.

Man, it feels a little bit fabulous to have a personalized code designated "HOMESANCTUARY," doesn't it? We have really arrived, ladies.

Now, our Random Drawing Winner will receive something from my grab bag....and I haven't grabbed it yet.  So it's gonna be a surprise for all of us! Woo! I will make it a good one, so keep the faith. :) Let's call it a "Rachel's Grab Bag Surprise" prize and then it will sound official.

September is off to another great start - let's have fun together, OK? Today's Small Thing is in the next post....