Well my friends, the Savvy Organizer is back. But not in a “I am so organized, it would make you sick” kind of way, but more in a “I-am-so-overwhelmed-I-need-ME” kind of way. It is true. My house+move=total disaster!! Seriously, it is so not funny (even if it is more than a little ironic

Five second update: I had Ezra 18 months ago (yikes, has that ever ZIPPED by), Paul’s uncle died which took me to Calgary for 5 weeks before Christmas, my house froze and flooded Christmas day (a year ago), Insurance, massive renovations of half our living space, being the general contractor because I am THAT retarded, rebuilding massive amounts of Ikea, unpacking, final renos done by my beloved, albeit insanely busy husband, and then… I thought it would be AWESOME to move! And again not in a “I will think about this, plan for it, de-clutter and do this thing in a logical, timely process…” but in a “put an offer on a house that was no longer on the market, pack, move and re-paint a house in 3 weeks kind of way.” WHY do I do this to myself?!?

The house is perfect though. BIGGER!! Four bedrooms up!!! An office in the basement, main floor laundry, big kitchen, newly renovated basement, AN IN-GROUND POOL for summer fun (and yes, I know they are super dangerous and yes, it is fenced, and no - my children will never be allowed in it alone until they can swim like Michael Phelp’s), and still tons of grass space in the back yard!!! And here is the ultimate kicker… it is literally across the street from my brother and sister-in-law’s house. Ummm - SOLD! So even though we are back to square one with a house that we need to work on, it was too perfect to pass up.

That brings you up to date on the whole, “So, what have you been up to?” question. Now - why I need “me” or at least an organizing buddy.

I am so overwhelmed, I don’t know where to start! Every single room is a mess. There are boxes everywhere, partially painted rooms, and tools scattered throughout. We have been here a month, and while I am working everyday, I feel like I am not getting anywhere. Then my SIL suggested a podcast she found very helpful… haha… SMACK! But it has been making me think again of a time where I used to be organized. And then it dawned on me, that while I knew I needed help, I could be MY OWN client; that I could do this as “The Savvy Organizer”! Ok - before you start worry about my sanity and multiple-personalities - I think it is actually a really good idea. I realized that, like me, many, many people are overwhelmed with their houses. They have good intentions and strong desires, but don’t know HOW to get there. And that by me going public with my own personal disaster zone, and finding my way out of this mess, maybe they could too…!

The Plan! This is going to be an everyday blog where I am accountable to YOU. I will post in the morning the plan for the day, and account how the previous day went. There will also be a occasional podcast on something that I have learned or felt that I needed to expand upon. Because some of you are in a similar “spinning in circles” state… I want you to do this with me!! Your house might be WAY better than mine, but you have a pesky room/drawer/cupboard that you know you want to fix. Or your house may be much worse - with years and years of stumbling. Whatever the case - we can work together! Just think of it like exercise buddies, but organizing buddies instead!!! Seriously though - I desperately need help. And support. And encouragement. Because I can’t stand living like this and it is making me a grumpy mom! So I am throwing this out there to the internet - whoever you are, let’s work together.

SO - for my new client (oh, let’s just call her - oh, I don’t know… ummm … Maja) : First things first! For tomorrow, I need you to:
1) Take pictures of your entire house and post them. (You can post yours on the Flicker group).
2) Write down your goals for each and every single space that needs attention. Be detailed, specific and timely. “Get my house organized” is not going to cut it. This has to be involved. I need to know exactly what you are going to do and how you are going to get there. (These you can post ?)

Until next time friends! Get BUSY!

Join the Savvy Organizer photo pool on Flickr, and share your chaos as well as your triumphs in the wonderous world of organization.
Photo Pool here>>

Buying gifts for my husband is hard. He usually gets what he wants after a little cajoling, so when it came to Christmas this year, the plan was he ALREADY GOT HIS PRESENTS throughout the year! But, since I am a major suck and a loving wife, I decided to really splurge and get him an iPod Touch. He wasn’t expecting anything (due to our previous conversations about “limits”) and he was thrilled.

Since Christmas however, it has been a gift that keeps on giving - for ME! Man, I LOVE that thing!!! It is so much stinking fun I want to use it all the time! Whenever I am nursing Ezra, I have to have it, when I need a little break from this house, I want it… It has basically come down to Paul asking to use his own Christmas present! Sigh. While I wish I didn’t love it as much as I do, I really, really do.

So - for Valentines Day… guess what Paul is getting me?!!! I think he just wants his iPod back - which I don’t blame him for at all - but I am completely thrilled with how it has turned out. Now - what does this have to do with organization you ask?? Everything! I think that is why I love it so much. As soon as I get it I am downloading this great app called “Things” which seems promising to have as my calendar. I can’t WAIT to get it (neither can Paul) and as soon as I do, I will let you know if “Things” is as good as it looks. In addition to a to-do list, I am also scoping out the grocery list apps, a budget/balancing checkbook one and trying to find a goal setting one. I think it will be a great way to manage my time, keep me paperless (and therefore less cluttered), on task, on time and in such a beautiful, slick package…. Wow. Seriously. Can’t wait! Do you have a great app on your iPod/iPhone that you love and can’t live without? I need to hook up with the good stuff! - Maja

What a time it has been the last couple months. Without going into too much detail, it has been more than a bit of a gong show! Getting ready for Christmas was of course busy, and Daria had a family emergency that kept her away from the technical side of the Savvy Organizer.

Then, on Christmas Day, away from our home that I WORKED SO HARD TO HAVE PERFECT before I left, it apparently froze and we had pipes burst, toilets crack and a dishwasher break! ARGH! I have never experienced the headache of a flood, nor cutting our livable space in half before. It really has been a challenge condensing. I would look around every day at the disaster that was before my eyes and think “I need ME!” (someone to come in and help me organize this mess) or some serious drugs to help me focus! It was almost more than I could handle with 6 people living in about 1000 square feet. So we are now living on top of one another, but I finally feel like I have a handle on it. Not that I am done, but I no longer dread the morning and feel like there may be a light at the end of the tunnel! Wow. And the gigantic silver lining that is around this whole dark cloud is that I get a bright, beautiful new basement!!!! I love insurance!!! In 6 months I am confident I will look back and think it will be the best Christmas present ever. Until then, I think it may be a different story!

Have you ever experienced a flood? How did you organize from it? The focus of Savvy Organizer in the coming months will be on PURGING because that is all I will be doing around here! Hope you all had a great Christmas and New Years and I look forward to hearing your tips and sharing mine with you as I go. Here’s to a New Year, new basement, and a forced paring down. Love it!!!!!

Well - it has been a little about 2 months since the last post and let me tell you 4 kids has left me feeling not so savvy or organized!!! But looking at little Ezra George makes it all worth while, right?

There is nothing that sets a screw into a tight routine like a baby who does not love sleep as much as his mama! So it has been a time of a few adjustments while all of us getting settled into a new “routine”! Thankfully we are getting into one now and I am ready to get back on the saddle. While there has been a hiatus of posts and shows, I have got a lot planned for the coming months and can’t wait to get on it! First thing on the agenda… Holy Cow CHRISTMAS! (How did it sneak up on me so quickly?!?) It is just around the corner and I am starting to panic just a little bit, so join me while I get my head back on earth and into the season of delightful madness. I can’t wait! - Maja