Alexa, Organize Me!

I heard on the news about the little girl in Texas who told  “Alexa” she wanted cookies and a dollhouse. And what arrived on the doorstep? You got it! Four and half pounds of sugar cookies and a $160 dollhouse. As a professional organizer, I sometimes ask my clients to tell me a little about the boxes often piled at the front door. I think poor “Alexa” will become the scapegoat for many a spontaneous order!

“Alexa”, the voice activated digital assistant in Amazon’s Echo Dot will no doubt make life easier. You can use “Alexa” to purchase more stuff or you can let her help you get organized. It’s like your very own genie in a bottle - use it wisely!

                 

           

Alexa can not only add things to your to-do list via Evernote, your shopping list via Any.do or your calendar via Google Calendar, she can connect to some of your other favorite apps enabling you to send an email to yourself or send a reminder alarm to your phone in case you wander out of earshot.  It’s like having an assistant follow you around with a notepad.

Need a little more hands-on help? Try this “Alexa, call 21times Professional Organizing.”

Quote him!

It does not matter how slowly you go, as long as you do not stop.   -Confucius

Decorations!!!

Who doesn't LOVE decorations?? I know I do!!! I know I have had too many decorations in the past. I've also had sentimental items that weren't quite right for my decor but I still couldn't let go...so I kept them in the box and stored them year after year. 
And then I stopped. I gave myself a limit for each holiday. How many crates seem reasonable to you? And be reasonable. ; ) I then went through every single decoration one at a time and asked myself do I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it? AND would I buy it again? Downsizing was so easy to do with these two questions. 
If possible, have a friend join you in the process. My sister was right by my side, checking out every item. Did she just gasp at those skeleton tongs?? Here you go!!! So fun and easy to give away something when someone you love really wants it...She also snagged a very large, very funny chick candle. When she couldn't stop laughing, I couldn't hand it over fast enough!
Also, when you are checking out each piece one by one - you really see it. You see the chips, scratches, bad paint jobs, etc. Sometimes you find your not crazy about it anymore but it's what you've always hung on the door (without really thinking about it!). Let it go if it doesn't make you smile or make you feel great. Isn't that why we decorate? 
I had a ton of sentimental pieces that I photographed, scanned and then said goodbye to. You can put those pictures in an album that's displayed every holiday so that those sentimental pieces can be shared and enjoyed. Then tuck the album away with the decorations- it takes up a lot less space, doesn't it? 
I also think it's a lot more fun to decorate and un-decorate when there is less to do. It doesn't seem like such a chore and it's actually fun! Give it a whirl and let us know how you do!
Here, I'll start you off...Happy Holidays!!!

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