Orderly Oasis LLC

Does your New Year's Resolution include something about money, getting organized, or getting your money organized?Starting next Wednesday, January 6, 2010, Orderly Oasis LLC will be presenting a new series called the "...and Stuff" series. Each month we will feature a n...ew topic and how it relates to your "stuff" - your space, time, actions, and beliefs.January's topic will be "Money and Stuff". It will focus on how money (or the lack of it!) interacts with our use space and time. Every Wednesday right here on the Orderly Oasis blog, we will feature a practical exercise or a summary of key points taken from expert authors on the subject. In other words, I'll do the reading, you'll get the benefit!I hope you'll join us and tell you friends, too!

January usually bring good deals onstorage containersand organizing materials, but consider these ideasbefore you buy:

Before you pack away the holiday decorations and tinsel, you may want to take advantage ofthe decluttering opportunity that this situation presents.

The holidays are almost over and you have a stack of greeting cards that you don't know what to do with sitting in your home.Here are 5 things that you can do with those cards:

May your holiday festivities go smoothly and orderly. May you enjoy your time with loved ones, families, and friends.May you stay safe in your travels.May you be filled with peace, hope, and joy for the New Year!Merry Christmas from us to you!

Getting organized typically shows up near the top of the list of people's New Year's resolutions, right behind lose weight.Most NewYear'sresolutions stem from the idea that "Life would be so much better if[something different] would happen...". ...

Does your New Year's Resolution include something about money, getting organized, or getting your money organized?Starting in January 2010, Orderly Oasis LLC will be presenting a new series called the "...and Stuff" series. Each month we will investigate a new topic and... how it relates to your "stuff" - your time, space, actions, and beliefs. January's topic will be "Money and Stuff". It will focus on how money (or the lack of it!) interacts with our use of space and time. Every Wednesday right here on the Orderly Oasis blog and on the Get Organized group on LibraryThing, we will feature a practical exercise or the key points taken from a book I've read on the subject. In other words, I'll do the reading, you'll get the benefit!I hope you'll join us ... and tell your friends, too!Note: I am not a financial advisor and will not be giving specific financial advice. What I intend through this series is that you will gain a better understanding of your relationship to your money and how you can change or leverage that relationship to get the more balanced, organized life you want in 2010.

Winter ishere in Michigan. Snow is on the ground.Is yoursnow removal equipment stored so you can access it safely and easily and put it back when you're done?

There is much talk about green gifts these days - i.e. gifts that help save the earth, promote recycling, save energy or encourage fair trade. These are certainly good things to discuss and promote. But the greenest gifts, in my opinion, have certain -more basic -things... in common:1. Green gifts will be used by someone. Green gifts will become part of someone's everyday life and daily habits. No gift that sits in its packaging on a shelf in the storage room indefinitely because it didn't fit the lifestyle, decor, personalities, or tastes of the recipients is green. If it's not being used by someone, then all the time, energy, and expense that went into producing, purchasing, delivering, wrapping, and unwrapping it was mostly wasted.2. Green gifts can be enjoyed over and over. Green gifts can provide long periods of entertainment, use, or value for one investment. Those that are used for a moment or two and then break, fall apart, or those that need constant updating or accessories are not quite as green as those that can sustain need or interest longer.3. Green gifts offer flexibility. Green gifts can be used for multiple purposes over time. For instance, a neutral-toned basket can be used year round to hold various items, while a basket in the shape of a snowman would most likely be used for a limited time each year (if one remembers to take it out at all!). With those things in mind, you can now ask yourself: Is the countertop kitchen composting crock made by an Ecuadorian monk from recycled flip flops using only a saftey pin and three organic bricks really the greenest gift choice for your sister-in-law who does not cook? You may also be interested in:Where can I recycle old Christmas lights?Clutter-free hostess gift ideasHow to deal with holiday catalogs, flyers, and papers

Holiday cards and annual letters may be arriving almost daily at your house this season. Before yourecycle that envelope or put the cards away for the season,takeanotherlook at the information that you have.

There are some people who are calm, cool, and collected before entertaining guests at their homes. For the rest us, it becomes a game to see if we can get everything done before people arrive.Have you ever played any of the following organizing games? Stash and Dash. It...'s a race against time, people are coming, and you take whatever's in the way and stash it somewhere out of sight "for now" so you can deal with it "later". (Sometimes the people who prefer this game also tend to have a boxer organizing workstyle.)Duck and Cover. Similar to Stash and Dash, the Duck and Cover game involves cramming items into shelves, closets, or containers so tightly that when they opened again, things fly out at an alarming speed. Could also be played by covering excess items with a sheet, towel, or curtain to hide the sight.Slide and Glide to the Side. The Slide and Glide to the Side game involves moving items to the side, against walls, or along a path to make way for the guests. Unlike the Stash and Dash or the Duck and Cover games there is no attempt to hide what's moved, the items are simply repositioned. (This person may also tend to have a bulldozer organizing style.)Open Shut Them. Trying to find items in unmarked containers becomes a dance of opening and closing lids, boxes, piles, bags, and doors in search of that thing "that's in here somewhere, I know it.". Finish Line Frenzy This game involves a flurry of activity to finish all those old projects or installing new things before people come over. Usually involves last-minute touch-ups drying paint, or cutting off price tags as people arrive.You may also be interested in: Home organizing checklist before company comes over4 powerful questions for an organized homeThe best kept secrets of organized homes

Maybe it was in yourfamily for yearsormaybe it was downloadedfrom the internet only yesterday, butkeeping track of those treasured recipescan be a tricky balance of space, time, and effort in your kitchen.

January 2010 kicks off a new series for the Orderly Oasis blog called the "...and Stuff" series. Each month we will investigate a new topic and how it relates to your "stuff" -- your space, time, actions, and beliefs. Every Wednesday I will feature a practical exercise ...that you can try or the most memorable ideas from a book that I've read relating to the topic of the month. In other words, I'll do the reading, you'll get the benefit!January's topic will be "Money and Stuff". It will focus on how money (or the lack of it!) interacts with our actions, beliefs, use of space, and time.I hope you will join us.

Runners' medals may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you're organizing your home, but perhaps you have one or two (or a whole box!) that you don't know what to do with.Medals4Mettle ...