Posts Tagged ‘organization’
Wednesday, January 4th, 2012
Sounds simple, right? As we all know, setting goals is the easy part. Achieving them? Not always so easy. That’s why I’m happy to share with you this online workshop – How to Achieve Your Goals and Create a Life You Love!
If you are here on my blog, then it’s likely that you share my passion for cultivating a good life, and so do my friends at simplify 101! That’s why I am so excited about today’s giveaway. One of my blog readers will win a spot in this online workshop, taught by professional organizer Aby Garvey, co-author of The Organized & Inspired Scrapbooker. She gives you the foundation, ideas and inspiration you need to dream about a life you love and take steps to make it happen!
In this four-lesson, five-week workshop, you will:
- Learn how to dream. As crazy as this may sound, many of us have forgotten how to dream! Faced with the realities of the “real world” dreaming about what we truly want is becoming a lost art. In this workshop you’ll learn how to free yourself from anything that’s holding you back from allowing yourself to dream, which is the first step in creating a life you love.
- Learn how to turn your dreams into goals. Find out how to create an effective goal statement for all the key areas of your life. Plus, learn how to make your goal statements super compelling so you can’t help but take action on them!
- Learn how to make it happen! Find out how to turn your goals into simple action steps and begin taking action on your goals during the workshop. With the support and encouragement of your instructor and the workshop’s online community, you’ll be well on your way to creating a life you love before the workshop ends.
- Learn how to track your progress and celebrate your achievements. Monitoring your progress and celebrating your victories are keys to making goal-setting and accomplishment of those goals a habitual part of your life.
- Learn on your time schedule in a format that works for you. Class materials are presented online, via a printable PDF document, and via audio files you can listen to on your computer or MP3 player. Select the method (or methods) that work best for you!
- Get the support you need to succeed! Up through the workshop end date, you’ll have direct access to me via the private workshop forum. Plus, you’ll get inspiration and support from your classmates via the private online community and photo gallery for up to one year!
- Stay connected! NEW in this session of How to Achieve Your Goals and Create a Life You Love, you will have ongoing, exclusive access to the simplify 101 online community.
- Have fun! This workshop includes bonus, creative organizing project downloads, with colorful, step-by-step instructions. These optional projects give you hands-on projects that make it even more fun to take action on the workshop concepts and make them part of your daily life.
Aby only runs this workshop once a year and the 2012 session begins tomorrow – Thursday January 5, and one of my lucky readers gets a free spot! Plus, simplify 101 is offering my readers 15% off enrollment in any of their open workshops! To take advantage of this offer, enter BH15 during checkout. This coupon is good through January 6, 2012 and may not be combined with any other offers.
Simply leave a comment on this post telling me your first name, city, state or country, and one of your goals for 2012. I’ll announce the winner (adding the winner’s name to this actual blog post) by Thursday morning.
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***Added Thursday morning: We have a randomly chosen winner! Congratulations to Tanath in Karoonda, South Australia who said that one of her goals in 2012 is to “be present with my 4 children”. I love that. All the best to you as you prioritize what’s most important. Karoonda, email jay@simplify101.com and they’ll get you all set up in the online class. Enjoy!
Tags: aby garvey, giveaway, goals, online class, organization
Posted in organization | 400 Comments »
Monday, March 21st, 2011
Hey, congrats to our randomly selected winners of Saturday’s Unique Kids giveaway:
1. Jennifer in Amity, Oregon
2. Joy in Oak City, North Carolina
Ladies, email sales@unique-kidz.com to claim your prize!
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Happy Spring! (for those of you in the Northern Hemisphere) Something about the weather change means organization is on my brain. For some reason, I’ve never really “organized” my jewelry but that’s what I was recently in the mood to tackle. So I went on a little field trip, found these EVA brand drawer organizers at The Container Store, and got to work.
I already had a jewelry case, which I found at Razmataz about 5 years ago. It has been home to my accessories, but the drawers were cluttered and messy and I was easily forgetting what I had. The necklaces, however, have always been easy to keep organized on the hooks that came with this piece. The best thing about hanging necklaces is that it prevents potential tangling.
I got a few different configurations of EVA organizers to go in my drawers. For small earrings …
Larger earrings …
Bracelets and cuffs and watches …
And along the way, I came across things I kinda forgot about. I also came across plenty of items to donate. Some to my five-year-old daughter who is suddenly into jewelry (she is loving the “new” treasures!), and some to Deseret Industries, where we donate most of our unwanted items. And ONE of those things I’m donating to one of you!
Anyone interested in this little number? I made it myself years ago. It was one of my very first attempts at making jewelry and it is still intact. If you’re interested, leave your first name, city, state, and tell me if you want it for yourself, a loved one, a charity, or what. I’ll announce a winner on Wednesday this week.
Oh, and one last note on the topic of jewelry, because I know the question will come up: Where do I find my favorite pieces? Some of my all-time faves are from traveling, since I like to pick up a little something whenever we go somewhere new & different. I’m also partial to pieces that others have made for me … such sweet gestures. I’ve found some really fun things at boutiques too. Forever 21, Target … I don’t know. Just random places. I never spend very much for any one piece. Not my style.
Tags: drawers, giveaway, handmade, jewelry, organization, The Container Store
Posted in organization | 111 Comments »
Friday, January 7th, 2011
As we head into a weekend I wanted to share some fun ideas with you, curtesy of a few dear readers like yourself.
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{ inspired by her creative paper uses }
Rosie in South Australia didn’t have a hard time thinking of ways to use the bonus designer cardstock in her Amber Edition of Project Life. First of all, she took some “blah” magazine holders and turned them into darling-yet-functional accessories.
She also framed some of the paper. Rosie wrote: “I do this all the time. I have white frames in my hall and rotate regularly with the kids’ artwork, Christmas wrapping paper at Christmas time, quotes and sayings etc. Even fabric looks great. You don’t have to be an artist to create great looking art! And all of this costs next to nothing. I am looking forward to making cards with the rest of the paper too. The cardstock really is a great addition to the kit.”
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{ inspired by her enthusiasm }
I enjoyed a good laugh reading this email from reader Denise in Pennsylvania: “After daily checking the UPS tracking website… And by daily, I mean about ten times a day… IT ARRIVED! I just spent nearly two hours setting it up. It was two hours of bliss!”
She continues: “I was alone in the house & this was my conversation out loud:
12:43 PM: “I hear it! I hear [the UPS truck]!”
12:44 PM: *waves* “Thanks, Mr. UPS man!” (He looked at me like I was absolutely insane).
12:45 PM: Grabbed my camera and started shooting!
1:00 PM: (Started Opening)
1:10 PM: “Hey, Where are my month bookmarks?”
1:11 PM: (Opens another box) “Oh, they’re here!” “THEY’RE HERE! THEY’RE BEAUTIFUL!”
1:12 PM: “I thought I was supposed to have bi-fold journaling cards.”
1:13 PM: “OOH! There they are! Oh my goodness. This is awesome.”
1:14 PM: “This is awesome.”
1:15 PM: “Becky Higgins, I love you.”
1:17 PM: “Seriously, Becky Higgins. Your website doesn’t do this project justice.”
1:20 PM: “If I had a million dollars, I’d buy this for everyone I knew that was getting married, having kids, moving… everyone!”
1:45 PM: “Becky, I heart you & Project Life”
1:50 PM: “I LOVE THIS! I LOVE THIS I LOVE THIS!”
3:30 PM: My parents come home as I’m sitting in the middle of Project-Life-land and asks how my day is going. My response? *grins* “Oh, nothing. Just having the best day of my life.”
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{ inspired by her loyalty and awesome project-follow-through }
Karen in Wisconsin wrote: “I just wanted to share with you how much you have inspired me. Your blog is about the only blog I read and I try just about all of your ideas. I’m not one to come up with crafty things on my own BUT I LOVE to copy good ideas! I wanted to show you just SOME of the examples. THANK YOU for all your wonderful ideas!!!”
Photograph inspired by Tracy’s picture in this post (3rd one down). Announcement inspired by this post.
Inspired by this post – making your own custom coasters.
Inspired by all the spray-painting posts. For example, this one.
Inspired by the Gratitude family project in this post.
Inspired by how we organize in our home office, as shown in this post.
Inspired by a photo display in our home office, as shown in this post.
Inspired by this post about making digital invites.
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If you’d like to share your projects with me, particularly if you’ve done something outside-the-box with your Project Life kits or any Becky Higgins products, I’d love to see. Feel free to email your pictures to submissions@beckyhiggins.com.
Tags: baby announcement, cardstock, coasters, denise, gratitude, home decor, invite, karen, magazine holders, organization, photo display, rosie, spray paint
Posted in style & design | 7 Comments »
Wednesday, May 5th, 2010
I’ve gotten some questions about the picture you see on my home page. Those containers (the orange ones and the white bumpy textured ones) are from The Container Store. The tins are from Ikea. And as with all my label-making endeavors, the handy dandy label maker is my friend. The one we use is shown here, in my pantry organization post from last month.
Tags: home office, organization, The Container Store
Posted in organization | 13 Comments »
Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010
Last week I invited you to ask anything you wanted. Just for fun. No rules. The twist? I have to answer in 3 words or less. I’ll answer a bunch more, but here’s a start.
Q: Will you ever write another book?
A: Not anytime soon.
Q: What makes you happy at this moment?
A: Hands-down: family.
Q: What is something special you would do to brighten someone’s day?
A: Borrow their kids.
Q: How do you organize your kids’ school work? I throw a lot away but I still have more that I don’t know what to do with. Help.
A: Scan it all.
Q: What are the storage containers that you have shown in the picture on your home page?
A: The Container Store.
Q: If this scrapbooking/writing thing doesn’t “work out”, what other career path would you choose to pursue? 
A: Marriage enhancement retreats.
Q: If/When you go to Starbucks or a coffee house, what do you get?
A: I don’t.
Q: Do you plan on creating a new design for Project Life for next year?
A: Absolutely.
Q: Apple, orange, or banana?
A: Apple.
Q: Do you have a nanny or full time babysitter? I don’t understand how you do everything you do without help. Please say yes just to make me feel better.
A: No. Little help.
Q: Favorite TV show?
A: Planet Earth.
Q: On a scale of 1-10 with ten being the most, how afraid were you to leave Creating Keepsakes?
A: Zero.
Q: Who would you like to meet that you have never met before?
A: David’s maternal grandmother.
Q: Do you plan to offer just the page protectors from project life as a separate purchase?
A: That’s the plan.
Q: Do you have other projects in the works besides the next Project Life that you will be putting out to the world?
A: A couple ideas.
Q: I know you’ve lived in several states – which one is/was your favorite?
A: Each unique experience.
Q: What is one food item/main dish that you would eat everyday for the rest of your life if you had to?
A: Kellogg’s Raisin Bran.
Q: How old are you?
A: 33.
Q: What do you use to clean your walls with?
A: Magic eraser.
Q: What was your major in college?
A: Family Science.
Tags: age, book-writing, career, college, fruit, happiness, kids, major, organization, Project Life, school, storage containers, tv
Posted in Q&A | 7 Comments »
Friday, October 23rd, 2009
Q: After reading 212 questions, are you wondering what in the world you were thinking when you created this post? : )
A: If you’ve been visiting my blog for a while, you know that I invite your questions from time to time. I know you have questions. I’m happy to answer them. Obviously I can’t get to all of them, but I’m doing my best to get to lots of random topics. I think you guys are pretty super and I’m happy to share. That’s what my blog is for.
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Q: Do you have any Halloween decorating ideas?
A: Autumn is my favorite season but this year I’m not as seasonally decorative as I’d like to be. We have so many other projects going on. But … I did put a cluster of pumpkins (collected over a few years) in the center of our kitchen table. That’s our reminder of the season … even though we’re still pushing 90 degrees right now. : (
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Q: How do you organize your laundry? (I know that’s random, but there has to be a better system than I’m using!)
A: Our laundry baskets are in our master bedroom closet. It’s very simple. Plastic baskets are from Target. We like sturdy. Not bags. One for whites, one for colors, one for towels. The reason we wash towels separately is that we don’t use liquid fabric softener with our towels like we do with our clothes. Why? Because it can cause the towels to be less absorbent. How do we keep those towels soft? Fabric softener dryer sheets. I don’t do laundry on a certain day or schedule it or anything. I know that works for some people. I do it on an as-needed basis. Incidentally, right now I have piles and piles of clean laundry that I need to put away.
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Q: I am desperate for the file for the Adult life story pages. I need them for an activity for this Friday 10/23 and the link is not working anymore.
A: Here you go! Good luck with your activity. And I’m attaching the teen version again too, since some of you were asking for that.
ADULT.life.story.pdf
TEEN.life.story.pdf
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Q: What CK issue will be your last that I can expect to see your work?
A: The December 2009 issue of Creating Keepsakes will have my last article in it. I believe that issue is now available, or will be very soon.
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Q: Can I just guess that you are going to be asked the status of the 365 kit about a billion times? lol But seriously, my question is “do you know what’s next for you in the scrapbooking industry?” You have such great ideas, I hope we can continue to see them!
A: Yes, you can guess that. While I didn’t get a billion of those questions, it was absolutely the most popular question. No, I am not “bringing back” Project 365.
I have been working on a product that is better and more flexible. This kit is perfect for those who want to (and are able to) keep up with taking a picture a day. AND … it will be a kit that also works for those of you (and those you know) that would prefer a slower pace. It’s better. It reaches a broader audience. It’s going to be the perfect gift for someone you know. And it’s so stinking fun. More on this very soon, as we’re trying to make it available before the holidays.
So that’s what’s next for me in this industry. I’m not looking to work full-time. I’m just really passionate about creating solutions for people that want to scrapbook without all the time & money that scrapbooking sometimes entails. So that’s where I am. Just have a couple things up my sleeve.
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Q: Are you going to do another Christmas card kit?
A: This is something else that I will address in more detail soon, but I wanted to at least let you know that I’ve been working on a solution for your holiday cards that I think will make a lot of you really, really happy. ; )
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Stay tuned. There is obviously so much more to come around here.
Tags: creating keepsakes, halloween, holiday decorating, laundry, life story, organization
Posted in Q&A | No Comments »
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