Summer is coming to an end, families have enjoyed vacations, kids are getting ready for school, and it's time to get organized. I have begun to see my workload increase as organizing calls pick up and I am invited to make organizing presentations at schools and churches throughout the fall season.
This back to school year is a twist of emotions for me. My youngest is in his senior year and has many decisions to make for his future. I am ready to be out of the public school system, but at the same time I know my role in my son's life will soon change from authority to friend. This is a very hard transition for me as a parent but one I went through with my own parents.
Looking back as I live out the same journey, I wish I had cared more about what my parents must have felt when I left home to marry days after turning eighteen. I did not think of them at all. I was just ready to start my life.
I have gained and retained so much wisdom during the years managing my family and now I share that wisdom with our clients and those that hear me speak on a regular basis. As I transition, I will add to my resume insights on how to deal with adult children. It is a family dynamic that many of you will soon find your self confronted with as well.
One of the most enjoyable results of my life experiences is the satisfaction I get from helping others through this physical and emotional transition of life. Cleaning out clutter from past years, knowing what to keep, and finding the best solutions for storing it, is the focus of the company that has grown with my family. I am able to impart wisdom to parents on how to have an organized, well managed, and thriving home.
When you see clutter in your own home or in that of a family member or friend, remember that it is normally the byproduct of something under the surface that is causing the problem. Get Organized! would be honored to help you get in control of your life. Whether it be physical clutter, emotional clutter, or a calendar that is cluttered, we can schedule a clutter cleanout of your home or life.
You may soon find yourself where I am, with one more year to experience the best memories of childhood. Vow to not let the clutter of your life get in the way. Get Organized!
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Lorraine Brock will be leading three free workshops in the Metroplex during the month of September on
her most-requested topic: Getting Organized for Back to School. Invite a friend, register if needed at the links below, and hear her at one of these locations:
Thursday, September 4, 2014 at 1:00 p.m.
Lorraine will share helpful information on organizing kids' papers, systems for kids' chores and allowances, car organization, and of course, great organizing tools. Free giveaways. This presentation is free, but registration is required at 972-874-6165. Bring your brown bag lunch and dessert will be provided.
 Wednesday
September 10, 2014
at 10:30 a.m.
Lorraine will discuss systems for organizing and storing kids' school papers, artwork, and more. She has hand-selected useful tools from IKEA to help organize a mud area, homework area, and kids' rooms. Lorraine will also give tips on how to get out the door faster on busy school mornings. Free giveaways provided by IKEA. Free childcare.
Saturday, September 20, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. Desoto Public Library 
Lorraine will present practical solutions for getting piles of paper under control, share products to maximize your space and will have plenty of tools on hand for show and tell. Lorraine will share real solutions and concepts to organize your home and life, giving firsthand experience of what works and what's just another cute idea. Free giveaways.
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Back to School Routines
It's hard to believe that school will be starting soon. The summer seems to have gone by so fast! Now is a good time, before everyone gets rushed, to plan for managing the daily after-school routine. Here are some things to think about:
- Routines reduce bad habits. Take a minute to think about how you would like the afternoon and evening to go so you can design a plan to achieve it. Do you allow a set amount of free time for playing or texting right after school, or does homework come first? Will there be a limit on how many minutes kids can spend per day on "screen time" (time watching TV, playing video games, surfing the web, or on other devices)? Be realistic as you plan. Finding practical answers to these questions now will prepare you for the inevitable chaos of the first week.
- Everything needs a home. Designate a place for the things kids bring home daily: backpacks, jackets, and lunchboxes, plus folders or papers that have to be checked each night. Hold kids responsible for putting their own things away as soon as they get home instead of leaving them in a pile by the door.
- Get the kids' cooperation. Allow them to make adjustments to your plan with your approval. You want their "buy in" to the new routine so they will be more likely to follow through. Make a daily checklist that everyone can look at as the new habits are being formed. Put this list in a page protector on the refrigerator (dry erase pens will mark and wipe off easily) or post it on a central chalkboard.
Use the excitement of a new school year to develop an after-school routine. The good habits you establish with your children now will teach them responsible behavior, which will help them the rest of their lives.
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Make a Style Board
When you are planning a room redesign, it can be helpful to build a style board to collect and display your ideas and bring focus to the colors and styles you want in the end result.
Start with an empty bulletin board or blank foam-core board. Pin or tape pictures, objects, and colors that inspire you. Paint chips, fabric swatches, and magazine photos are useful design items, but do not overlook pieces such as greeting cards, jewelry, and photographs of favorite home goods and furniture that reflect the mood of your new room. Floor plans and room dimensions are helpful to keep your design on track.
As you add to your board, you may want to remove things that do not fit with your developing style plan. Continue adding and subtracting until you have the mood you want in the new room. Your visual collection of inspiring designs will keep you organized and focused as you complete your project. |
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Helpful Podcasts
Do you listen to podcasts? If you have not yet, you might want to start now because they are the perfect way for busy people to listen to helpful information. You can listen to them using your smart phone, tablet, MP3 player, or personal computer as you drive, exercise, clean house, or do similar activities. You can learn as you work, or pause, rewind, and repeat as needed. Podcasts are good sources of information and inspiration. Plus, many of them are free. With topics ranging from home management to science to talk shows, there is a podcast for everyone. Here are some useful ones to get you started:
The Dave Ramsey Show-family finances and getting out of debt So Here's the Thing-new podcast from Kathi Lipp on parenting and marriage Family Talk- biblical advice on parenting, marriage, and family A New Beginning with Greg Laurie-inspirational sermons with a bit of humor
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Need a M oving Company?
Get Organized! is excited to announce a partnership with North Dallas Moving and Storage, an agent of United, as our official Get Organized! preferred moving company.
NDMS coordinates moves within DFW, nationwide, and internationally. They are the official moving company of the Dallas Stars and maintain an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.
Get Organized! has established a relationship with NDMS to see the quality of services they provide and have met many of their team members. We know that when we refer a company to our clients, our Get Organized! name and reputation for excellence goes with it.
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Become a Professional Organizer through our
Affiliate Program
Get Organized! is interested in connecting with individuals throughout Texas who are naturally organized, creative with space planning and organizational systems, have business smarts, self-motivation, and an understanding of the importance of excellent time management. Organizing skills are often learned or enhanced through tasks and hobbies you have done both in the corporate world and in your own home. These skills, in addition to the branding advantage and professional training from a successful organizing company, can launch you into a profitable organizing business.
Our Affiliate Program allows you to focus on working as a professional organizer while you save both time and money utilizing the experience, brand recognition, and proven processes from one of DFW's finest organizing companies - Get Organized!. The initial investment includes: your time, travel expenses (for training in the Dallas area), general liability bonding insurance, and insurance for business use of your vehicle. There are no other startup costs.
We look forward to hearing from you about starting your own organizing business anywhere in the great state of Texas.
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Savvy Ways to Save
at Lowe's to keep track of your home projects. Once you create your account, you'll swipe the card each time you purchase,
making it easy to keep track of paint colors and design details. You can also input room dimensions and other measurements, and returns will be a breeze. |
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Packing/Unpacking
Services
Our team of professional organizers can de-clutter
when packing, unpack, and set-up and organize your entire home once your move-in is complete.
We will also work with
your movers for placement of furniture, disposal of boxes, and shopping to fill the pantry. Our organizers will make sure your clocks are set and mints are on the pillows for a wonderful first night's sleep. It's all in the details.
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Senior Downsizing
Get Organized! works directly with seniors and their families to reduce what they have and get them ready for their new living space.
We de-clutter, pack, unpack, space plan and organize the new home,
set-up systems for paper management,
and so much more.
Here is a full list of all our services.
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Get Organized! only recommends
for the services listed below,
and we proudly recommend
them to our clients.
Carpet, oriental, and area rug cleaning, tile and grout cleaning and sealing, carpet repairs and stretching, leather cleaning and repairs, upholstery cleaning, 24 hour water damage restoration, and pet urine removal and teatment.
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Do you need a caregiver for your children or your elderly parent? Checkout
MomsBestFriend.com. See how they can help you.
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Need a storage unit for
a few months or long term?
Maybe a member of your family recently passed away and you inherited
things you need to store
until you have time to sort through them?
Get Organized!
recommends
They have 20+ locations in the DFW area.
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We are a full-service moving concierge company,
skilled and experienced in all relocation services. Located in
Dallas, Texas, we offer a
premium moving experience catered to your needs.
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Organizing Tip: If you love to collect something be it art, or clocks, or crystal, consider how you would most enjoy displaying them. Instead of scattering them around your home, mass the collection in a single area to make more of a visual statement and less about clutter. |
Lorraine on Podcast Interview Recently, Lorraine Brock was interviewed by Sarah Zink of Plaid for Women Radio. Lorraine discussed how clutter and disorganization cost us time, money, and family harmony, and shared ways to manage clutter and time. You can hear her interview here. |
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