Spring Cleaning is all about moving out the dust and cobwebs of winter to welcome sunshine and spring breezes to freshen your home inside. It is the process of transforming the dinginess of winter into the springtime feeling of a clean house. Whether you spend one day or one month at it, you can make an impact by jumping into spring cleaning purposefully.

Where Do I Begin?

The best way to begin is to work by “Priority Rooms,” those rooms that will make a positive visual and emotional impact on you. Pick a specific area and schedule one to three hours there. Post a large sign of declaration to stay on track. “Today I am Spring Cleaning the Family Room 9-11:30 a.m.!”

Follow these simple spring cleaning steps to maximize your effort. Pick one project a day (or weekend) such as:

#1. Bedroom – Create an “Oasis of Calm” to come home to each night.
· Wash sheets, blankets, and bedspread. Vacuum the mattress and under the bed. The room is now half clean.
· Complete the other half by working in sections: one dresser and nightstand at a time from top to bottom. Empty, wipe out, and reorganize the contents in each drawer.
· Arrange the dresser top with visually pleasing items.

#2. Closet – Picture waking up to an organized clothes closet!
· Empty, vacuum, and neatly return the floor items.
· Group hanging items by category and put unused items in a donation bag.
· Clear the shelves and put back only what you like and use. Hurrah – you’re finished again!

#3. Family Room and Living Room – Invite company for next weekend to motivate yourself into action!
· Begin clockwise by clearing off, dusting, and repositioning attractive items on flat surfaces such as countertops, coffee tables, and end tables. Keep your sights on getting all the way around the room. You’re one third finished.
· Put away piles of “stuff” stacked on the floor and then vacuum. Now you’re two-thirds of the way there.
· Focus on one shelf at a time. Again, clear everything off, dust, and lineup the videos, CD’s, and books. Give several away until they fit neatly. Whew – you’re finished!

#4. Garage or Basement – Visualize garage sale income and beautiful, uncluttered space.
· Begin in the center and move items into sections along the wall such as household tools, sports equipment, and recycle bins. Then vacuum or sweep the floor.
· Go back and fine-tune each section, donating and tossing as much as you can. Begin at the doorway and work clockwise around the walls.
· Place remaining storage items behind closed cabinets and labeled boxes. End with a trip to a charitable donation with bags full of giveaway items.

“Two Step” Spring Cleaning
If your time is limited and you can’t do all of the above, just do the two most important things. First, vacuum more thoroughly than usual, from the ceiling cobwebs down to the floor corners and behind the furniture. Second, wash the windows inside and out to capture the sunlight streaming into your home.

Anything you do counts toward your goal of a clean and healthy home!

*** Register for our “Closet Organizing” and “Garage Cleaning” Online Classes to accomplish your goals! at
http://www.organizingpro.com/store

Question: What one thing do you do for Spring Cleaning?

Through a seven week DVD study, organizer Marcia Ramsland, author of Simplify Your Life, will teach you how to organize your home, your work, and your life. Learn new strategies to find time for yourself, power through projects, get rid of paper piles, and organize your home and office.

Marcia’s interactive teaching style with before and after photos will encourage you to make changes in your like that will make a difference. This book and Proverbs 31 DVD Bible Study will teach you how to be God’s woman in action everyday! Learn what is important and finish the day with more things done than undone.

Stats for “Simplify Your Life” DVD Groups

• How Many Groups? 56 groups and Midday Connection radio nationwide!
• How Many States? 22 States + 3 groups in Canada!
• How many Participants? 853 Women in Groups!

Member Comments
“This class is excellent. I wish I had this class offered to me 30 years ago! I learned in class to spend 15 minutes on paperwork a day. It took me 9 hours of filing to catch up. Now it’s under control and I will never have to do that again!”
- Connie, Midland TX

“I’m a bit of a neat freak so I wondered what I would learn. One habit I acquired is papers go in the file. Filing it when I get them Don’t wait.”
- Carol, Frisco TX

What’s Covered in the Class?
Your class is so well organized you will FEEL organized just by checking out the Class Agenda here.>

Recommended Materials for a Group or Individual Study
“The Complete Class Package” with the “Simplify Your Life” book, workbook, DVDs, and CD. (For groups of 10 or more, request our discount Order Form.)

SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFE Package #2: COMPLETE CLASS PACKAGE $75.00 (Reg. ($98) The Complete Class Package includes the Book, Workbook, DVDs, and CD! Get one package and have your friend(s) get their book and workbook. You’ll reference the DVD’s over and over whether you are organizing your closet, your paperwork, your desk, or your garage. Begin by watching the first 30 minute DVD and you’ll be hooked to read the book, do all seven lessons, and apply it to your life immediately!

Start Your Own Group

YOU could be the one to start the FIRST “Simplify Your Life” GROUP in any of these 29 states:

Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, Wyoming

Leader’s Guide
We have a Leader’s Guide that spells things out to make it easy for you. When you order 10 or more Book and Workbook sets, we’ll also send you the Leader’s Guide for FREE (Regularly $15).

Leader Comments
“The biggest impact on our group was the last dvd when Marcia shared her transitions story. We were all moved by Marcia’s honesty. Also, whenever Marcia was teaching from the Bible, it seemed like everyone was taking notes and was open to God’s Word. God’s Word always makes the biggest impact.”
- Linda, Hendersonville, TN

If you own more things than you have space, you have only two choices: downscale the quantity of items or increase the storage space. I prefer to downscale first, because it looks and functions better.

Family Room Checklist

You can be your own professional organizer by asking yourself these 10 questions.
Then change things up until you get all ‘yes’ answers!

1. Is the coffee table clutter free and attractive?

2. Are the end tables ready to use and piles gone?

3. Is the TV guide and remote put away but easy to access?

4. Are the DVDs and CDs in a drawer or container near where they are used?

5. Are toys sorted and neatly stored?

6. Are the bookshelves working for everyone?

7. Are current magazines available and the old ones recycled?

8. Are catalogs out of sight but easy to reach?

9. Does the newspaper have a daily or weekly rotation cycle and look neat?

10. Is my family room the organized and comfortable room we call “home”?

Tips from “The Decorating Coach,” by Susan Wells in Simplify Your Space

Bookshelves don’t have to be boring. Adorn the top of a stack of books with a family photo. The picture, frame, and matting should harmonize with the area.

Don’t cram your books together—leave room to focus on the beauty of each collection. Accent a grouping with a vase or pillar candle. …Finally, conceal papers and necessities in richly woven storage baskets artfully placed throughout the shelving.

(Excerpt from Chapter 3 of Simplify Your Space by Marcia Ramsland)

What’s the hardest part about keeping your family room (area) clean?
* Post your comment below, on Facebook Marcia Ramsland -Your Organizing Pro or on Twitter.

* New space and an organized look for your bookshelves!
* Increase your Tax Deductions that will be a form of Income next year.
* Bring in cash for a garage sale or online sales opportunity (example:www.half.com)
* Create room for new books with your new interests.

1) Sort your books into “Keep” or “Giveaway” piles. “Giveaway” would be ones you have had long enough, you don’t plan to read again, and know someone else would benefit from. “Keep” means they are your favorite and you’ll read them again.

2) Organize your books by categories. Label a shelf or section (always a good idea when organizing) to maintain order “Novels,” “Reference Books,” “My Favorites,” etc.

3) Limit your collection to the size of your bookshelves. Books piled sideways on top of other books, telltale stacks on a night stand, or dusty books are signs it’s time to organize your books!

My story: When we were moving from Dallas back to San Diego, my book count was 450 books, all “Treasures” I couldn’t part with (You know the feeling!). The collection had expanded to the many built in bookcases in that house, but which I didn’t have in the new house! So intentionally I went through each book on the shelf (left to right), held it and decided “ Keep or Go?”

The “Go” pile got sorted into:

Donate at Charity
Donate to Library
Offer to Friends (With their name on a Post-It note.)

I felt better having a place for them to go to and cut my book collection into almost half at 250 books.
It worked! I felt lighter, saved moving expense money, and realized I could let go. You can, too!

Where do you sell, donate, or giveaway books?

* Post your comment on Facebook Marcia Ramsland-Your Organizing Pro or Twitter @OrganizingPro.

One thing to easily organize are your CDs and DVDs. What better time to listen or watch them than while you do it?

Why Organize Your CDs/DVDs?
The benefits for a one time sort for you include:

* Saving space by returning loose ones to their cases or getting a new CD/DVD holder.
* Earning some cash by reselling ones you no longer have interest in.
* Realize you have too many once you pull them altogether.
* Discovering you and your tastes have changed!

5 Simple Steps to Manage Your CDs and DVDs

Organize one collection at a time. The principles are the same, but I suggest do the one that’s most annoying first. One area successfully organized will motivate you to do the other quickly.

1. Group. Gather all CDs and their cases on a table to sort. Check your family room, car and closet.

2. Edit. Match up all cases. Decide which holders you like best and use those. Edit out the rest.

3. Sort. Sort CDs by topic. Categories could be music, comedy, inspiration, photo/videos, blanks, or “Listen or Watch and Pass On!” Pitch ones that skip, have old info, or you don’t like. Sell others online at a site like half.com

4. Keep. Keep your favorite CDs in labeled holders or storage cases. If they are good reminders of a time in your life or inspire you, they deserve a label. For holders check out: spinkeeper.com or amazon.com

5. Extra. The extra “Listen/Watch and Giveaways?” Walk, listen at work, or watch while doing desk work.

The Goal: Organize your CD & DVD collection to enjoy with easy access. Better yet switch over to the digital age and upload or download on iTunes.

“How do you Organize and Manage Your CDs/DVDs?”
* Post your comment on Facebook “Marcia Ramsland-Your Organizing Pro.”

The librarian paused at the other end. “We don’t take magazines … unless they are in excellent shape like National Geographics that are over 75 years old!” I was stunned. Who has time or space to keep magazines more than 75 years?!
Another class member said she had her husband put up book shelves in the basement to save her favorite magazines- until they collapsed with the weight of it!

There is a better way.

3 Steps to Make the Most of Your Magazines

While it’s winter, it’s a good time to go through your magazines. Here are 3 easy steps.

1. Read it. This is a time and habit factor. One organized woman I know sits down within 24 hours of getting a magazine with a cup of tea and leisurely reads cover to cover. Others skim it while at the hairdresser. Many more others stack it with past issues hoping for “sometime” to read it. That’s how magazine clutter begins.

2. Digest it. Clip the articles that most appeal to you and put them in a 3 ring binder. I have Real Simple magazines from 2003 and love the covers and look. But alas, there is only so much room in my office so I am clipping 2-3 articles per issue and creating my own favorite notebook. Now we can get magazines digitally so that won’t even be a problem once these are used up.

3. Share it. Make a rule for yourself: if a magazine is older than say 1 year, it’s time to pass it on.That way you get motivated to read or save your subscription money. Better yet, get organized and teach yourself, new one in, old one out even if I have to read it on the spot!

Magazines give you a wealth of ideas in a shorter space than a book. How do you make the most of your magazines?

* * * *

To get organized you don’t need to work harder, you need new ideas!
Get a fresh perspective. Check out our Online Classes

Get your life organized in just 7 Weeks with The Complete Class Package

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* * * *

Reader Suggestions:
Our library has a bin for magazine donations – free to the patrons. One patron comes in and takes stacks of donated magazines to the county jail – for both men and women.
- Jan

I work in the hospital with Oncology patients. They or their family may not feel like reading a book, but like reading a magazine. Teaching hospital and the VA Hospitals as well as nursing homes are a good place to donate.
Mary K.

I donate old magazines to the domestic women’s shelter they love it.
Becky S.

Hospital and Doctor Offices (any place you have to sit and wait for appointments) might be appropriate places to drop off magazines – just take a marker to black out your name and address if it was a subscription.
Krystal R.

Personally I’ve found one great way to simplify your life is to get and stay healthy! The program I personally follow is simple . . . AND we will coach you through everyday of it to form a lasting healthier lifestyle which is key to simplifying your life.

What is “5 DAY RESET & Beyond”?

The five days of RESET includes comprehensive health coaching in nutrition, diet and exercise along with daily Conference Call Coaching and answers to your questions. The program includes world-class nutritional supplements, which provide your body with the essential micro nutrients you need to maintain a healthy lifestyle.You will be replacing your meals and snacks, drinking lots of water, and walking for a full body cleanse.Afterward we do a free weekly call for 5 weeks to launch you into the Transform and Maintain stage so you can reach your Target Weight, which is always the healthiest. It works and it’s fun as a group!

	Read more about Health and Wellness Health and Freedom NEWSPAPER . This is the company that Marcia has trusted since 1998 with her daughter’s serious health crisis happened.
	Once you have reviewed the information, contact Marcia at least one week before the next RESET week: January 15, February 19, March 18 weeks Why not try RESET and improve your health and energy? Contact Marcia today! (858) 217-6320

Learn how to dress your best everyday with a strategy that will not only having you feeling comfortable and confident, but save you time and money in the process. Go from frumpy to fabulous in minutes!

You will learn:

* How to create “Grab & Go” outfits that will save you time

* 4 Personal Choices for dressing: Function, Fashion, Passion, or Reaction

* Accessory Encores that will have you styling up to the next level

* Makeup Tips that will bring out your best

* Ideas on how to dress your Passion and your Personality

* A Simple Formula for choosing what to wear every day of the week

* The Silent Language of clothing color and style

Whether you are dressing your style, in style or with style – this class will give you answers and strategies to make it all faster and easier. Join us for an entertaining, educational and enlightening class!

Dress Fast and Fabulous to Look Your Best Everyday!

Register for Class Here
$15 Registration Fee includes Teleclass and Handouts. ( 1 hour Class)