Spring is a wonderful season to let go, declutter, and organize. Maybe you’ve been thinking about taking action, but haven’t moved forward. The good news is that help has arrived! The Spring Organizing Giveaway has fun tips and goodies to get you started.

Spring Organizing Tips

• Get Inspired – Are you wondering how to start organizing? Read, think, shower (nothing like a little water to get those thoughts running,) and be inspired. There are many articles on this blog and in my book, The Other Side of Organized, about letting go, clutter, and motivation. If you prefer visual inspiration, browse through my collection of themed organizing Pinterest boards.

• Get Prepared – Once you’re inspiration infused, it’s time to prepare your organizing projects. Use lists to stay focused. Gather supplies like boxes and bags for releasing things and containers to organize the keepers. Some of my favorite retailers for fabulous organizing products are The Container Store, Target, Office Candy®, and See Jane Work.

• Get Rejuvenated – All work and no play is no fun! Organizing can be physically and emotionally exhausting. Pace yourself. Make sure that you take breaks to rejuvenate. Leisurely sip an iced tea or coffee, perhaps with a favorite friend, and admire the organizing work you’ve accomplished so far. 

The Spring Organizing Giveaway goodies were selected to inspire, organize, and rejuvenate you! The winner will receive everything described below (worth over $125):

Office Candy® Mini Clipboard & PadInspiration

• Autographed copy of The Other Side of Organized by Linda Samuels
• AquaNotes ® waterproof notepad
• “Say-it” sticky notes from NPW

Organization

• The Container Store $25 gift card
• Oval turquoise metal bin from The Container Store
• At Home At Work pad from Knock Knock
• Mini clipboard with matching pad from Office Candy®

Rejuvenation

• Starbucks $25 gift card
• Starbucks Salted Almond Chocolate Bites

Are you excited to win this fabulous group of favorites? The Spring Organizing Giveaway starts on April 8^th. One winner will be picked (using random.org) on April 14th. There’s no time like the present. Keep reading and enter now!

Contest Rules:

• Comment on this blog post about your favorite spring organizing project or tip
• Comment about the giveaway on the Oh, So Organized! Facebook page
• Tweet about this giveaway on Twitter and include @LindaSamuels when you do
• Subscribe to The Other Side of Organized free monthly e-newsletter for continued inspiration and motivation
• Follow Oh, So Organized! on Pinterest and comment on this blog post about which of our Pinterest boards you like best
• Comment on Pinterest about Oh, So Organized!’s new “Organize for Spring 2014” video
• Comment on Linda Samuels - Oh, So Organized!'s Google+ page on the Spring Organizing Giveaway post
• Do one or all of the above to enter. The more you do, the more times your name will be entered to win (up to 7 total entries!)

You are personally invited to join the conversation (and giveaway) about inspiration, organization, and rejuvenation. What are your thoughts? Happy Spring and good luck wishes!

Are you feeling motivated to declutter your spaces, let go of the things you no longer want, and organize your environment to support your needs? The less-frenzied pace of summer is the ideal time to take on those organizing projects you’ve been thinking about. The heat has arrived along with the Hot Organizing Giveaway. I’ve put together goodies and tips to motivate you to action.

Summer Organizing Tips

• Be Inspired – Not sure about where to begin with your organizing projects? Use think time to read and get inspired. There are many articles on this blog including posts about clutter, change, motivation, and letting go. If you prefer visual inspiration, browse through my collection of themed organizing Pinterest boards.
• Be Prepared – Feeling inspired? Next step is to prepare for your organizing project. Are there any supplies you need like boxes and bags for releasing things? Are there organizing products to purchase? You can find an array of organizing containers and products at my favorite retailers including The Container Store, Target, See Jane Work, Office Candy Gals, and Bed, Bath & Beyond.
• Be Rewarded – Have you completed all or part of your project? Organizing can be physically and emotionally exhausting. Pace yourself. Make sure that you take breaks, refresh, and reward yourself. Grab an iced tea or coffee, sit back, and admire the organizing work you’ve accomplished so far.

The Hot Organizing Giveaway goodies were selected to inspire, organize, and rejuvenate you. The winner will receive everything described below:

• Inspiration – Autographed copy of The Other Side of Organized by Linda Samuels
• Preparation – The Container Store $25 gift card
• Reward – Starbucks $25 gift card

I know you can't wait to win this fabulous group of favorites. The Hot Organizing Giveaway starts on July 9th. One winner will be picked (using random.org) on July 15th. There's no time like the present. Keep reading and enter now!

Contest Rules:

• Comment on this blog post below about your summer organizing project
• Comment about the giveaway on the Oh, So Organized! Facebook page
• Tweet about this giveaway on Twitter and include @LindaSamuels when you do
• Subscribe to The Other Side of Organized free monthly e-newsletter for continued inspiration and motivation
• Follow Oh, So Organized! on Pinterest and share which one of my boards you like best by commenting on this blog post
• Comment on Pinterest about Oh, So Organized!’s “Organize for Summer” video
• Do one or all of the above to enter. The more you do, the more times your name will be entered to win (up to 6 total entries!)

You are personally invited to join the conversation (and contest) about organizing, motivation and inspiration. What are your thoughts? Wishing you all the best of luck!

@2012 Photo by Linda SamuelsValentine’s Day includes some of my favorite things including hearts, cards, sparkles, chocolate, flowers, and most importantly, love. It’s a day for gratitude and reminding the special people in your life how much they mean to you.

I’ve been writing The Other Side of Organized blog for over two years. The blog has gathered a community of people that enjoy conversing and sharing ideas about organizing and life balance. It’s a gift to all of us when you stop by to join the conversation, leave comments, reflect or ask questions. I am thankful for you and all that you continue to share.

To celebrate my favorite holiday and appreciation of you, I’m having a V-Day Organizing Giveaway beginning today, February 14^th. One winner will be selected on February 20^th.  For the giveaway description and contest rules, continue reading.

The V-Day Organizing Giveaway includes goodies that will organize, inspire, relax and delight you. The winner will receive everything described below:

• The Container Store $25 gift card
• Semicolon Document Box from See Jane Work
• Task Clips by Knock Knock
• One Word A Day Journal by Knock Knock
• Dove Chocolate Hearts
• Autographed copy of The Other Side of Organized by Linda Samuels

Contest Rules:

• Comment on this blog post below with your favorite Valentine’s Day thought, memory, tradition, organizing tip or challenge
• Comment about the giveaway on the Oh, So Organized! Facebook page
• Re-tweet this giveaway on Twitter and include @LindaSamuels when you do
• Subscribe to The Other Side of Organized free monthly e-newsletter for continued inspiration and motivation
• Follow Oh, So Organized! on Pinterest and let me know which of my boards is your favorite
• Do one or all of the above to enter. The more you do, the more times your name will be entered to win (up to 5 total entries!)

What are your thoughts on this love-filled day? I look forward to our conversation about love, chocolate, organizing and more. Happy Valentine’s Day! Wishing you all good luck!

My “Things That Make Me Happy” list includes celebrating Valentine’s Day. This holiday combines some of my favorite things such as love, chocolate, sparkly hearts and romance. As a kid, I remember waking up on Valentine’s Day to a breakfast table decorated with construction paper hearts made by my mom. She stapled them together into pockets and slipped Nestlé’s Crunch bars inside them. My dad signed the valentines too with his unique “cartoon” signature. Not only did we enjoy getting chocolate for breakfast, but also we felt especially loved.

As our girls grew up, my husband and I created our own Valentine’s Day traditions. Making valentine cards was an elaborate and joyful event. We’d bring out the craft supplies and the girls and I would sit around for hours making cards and writing notes to all the special people in our life. Valentine’s Day breakfast was and still is part of the celebration. I love to decorate the table, make strawberry muffins or chocolate waffles with fresh berries, and share Valentine’s Day cards and small gifts with my family. Chocolate is always involved.

Mainly, though, it’s a day to stop and remind those that you love how much they mean to you. It’s a day about love, gratitude, passion and let’s not forget chocolate.

So, what does any of this have to do with organizing? There are organizing systems that surround traditions, including Valentine’s Day. Here are some ideas:

• V-day Card-Making: Do you have a place where you can easily store all your card-making needs? Use a box or drawer to house your paper, glitter, glue, tape, scissors, stickers and envelopes. When you’re done creating the cards, all supplies can return to their designated spot.

• V-day Card Memorabilia: What do you do with the cards and love letters you’ve received? I keep cards that have special heart-felt messages written on them, in a decorative box stored in a closet. The ones that are signed “love, _____,” I usually enjoy for about a week and then let them go.

• V-day Decorations: Whether you enjoy decorating the entire house or prefer to set the table in a Valentine’s Day theme, establish a place to store your V-day decorations. Depending upon the quantity, you might need one large plastic storage bin or only a portion of a shelf or drawer. A convenient storage location will make it easy to access, put away decorations and contain potential clutter.

• V-day Chocolate: As far as I can tell, there’s no need to organize or store it. Chocolate gets consumed so quickly (at least in our household) that it’s not an organizing challenge. For those that are adept at savoring their chocolate, consider storing it in some out of the way location like on a shelf that’s difficult to reach or in a box that’s impossible to open.

• V-day Lingerie: When you’re not wearing it, take care to store pieces carefully in drawers or on padded satin hangers. Place scented soap in your lingerie drawer to keep things smelling lovely. 

As promised, to celebrate one of my favorite holidays, the LOVE-ly Organizing Giveaway starts on February 7th.  One winner will be selected on February 14th.  For the giveaway description and contest rules, continue reading.

The LOVE-ly Organizing Giveaway includes goodies that will organize, inspire, relax and delight you. The winner will receive everything described below:

• ADD & Romance by Jonathan Halverstadt

• Starbucks $25 gift card

• Emily’s Dark Chocolate covered Fortune Cookies

• Barnes & Noble Red Mesh Zippered Pouches (set of 4)

• Red metal tin to organize cards and love letters

Contest Rules:

• Comment on this blog post below with your favorite Valentine’s Day thought, memory, tradition, organizing tip or challenge

• Comment about the giveaway on the Oh, So Organized! Facebook page

• Re-tweet this giveaway on Twitter and include  @LindaSamuels when you do

• Subscribe to The Other Side of Organized monthly e-newsletter for continued inspiration and motivation

• Do one or all of the above to enter. The more you do, the more times your name will be entered to win (up to 4 total entries!)

I look forward to our conversation about love, chocolate, organizing and more. Wishing you all good luck!