Welcome to My June 2010 Newsletter

Welcome to my June newsletter. There’s lots happening here with a new TV show in the works, a great competition that could have me in your home with some fantastic storage solutions and the roll out of a very cool line of new products for your home office.

ITHE OPRAH WINFREY NETWORK

There are some very exciting things afoot at the new Oprah Winfrey Network which is launching in January 2011. We’re working full steam on a new show called ‘Enough Already! with Peter Walsh’ and we’re looking for families who have cluttered homes and cluttered lives to be part of the show. At the moment we’re only looking for families in the Los Angeles area (more to come later!) so if you’re interested we’d love to hear from you.

Also, if you have an idea for a TV show – go to the OWN website, upload a video telling us about it, and see if your show is the one chosen to be made into a great new series! Lisa Ling, will.i.am and I recently recorded some great tips that will help with your entries – check them out!

WIN SOME GREAT STORAGE SOLUTIONS – AND ME AS WELL!

We’ve just launched an exciting contest on Facebook with California Closets with the opportunity for people in North America (check out the entry form for details) to win a $20,000 free custom storage solution and an in-home consultation from me! Second Prize will win one $10,000 custom storage solution, Third Prize will win one of four $5,000 custom storage solutions, and there will be daily prizes given to participants at random. The competition isn’t available everywhere unfortunately, but if you’re eligible visit www.facebook.com/CaliforniaClosets and enter to win.

Once you enter, get your friends, family, co-workers, and anyone else you know to log onto Facebook, enter themselves and vote for you. There are some great entries in already but if you have a cluttered space and would like to see me on your doorstep, get that photo of your organization disaster in today!

Click here to find out how to enter to win

TACKLE A CLUTTER PROJECT – AND TELL ME ALL ABOUT IT

I think about all of you every time I am conquering a clutter disaster. It is so important to me that everyone finds solutions to their clutter problems and makes time to tackle projects that may seem daunting or overwhelming.

As summer starts to creep up on us all in the Northern hemisphere, start to plan ahead a project that you have been meaning to complete. Whether it’s time during your summer vacation to clean out that garage or just an hour a day to finish that scrap book or clutter project in your home, having a victory over clutter will motivate you to achieve greater things.

I want to hear from you! I want to hear about those summer decluttering and organization projects – whether it’s an hour, a day or a week of effort and energy, please tell me about it. At the end of summer, right in time for our September newsletter, I want to feature one of your stories in my newsletter with some pictures (from you) and the story behind your project.

When you think you’re ready to share your story send an email to me at services@peterwalshdesign.com with your thoughts, pictures and anything you feel that will make your story special.

I am looking forward to hearing from you soon!

THE NO-NAG SOLUTION FOR A CLEAN AND ORGANIZED HOME

If you’re looking for a great summary of how I approach decluttering and organizing, check out this recent article from ShelterPop.

The article takes you step-by-step through getting your family on board with the decluttering and organizing process, how to get your home in shape and, most importantly, how to maintain order once and for all.

And if you’re curious what a Friday Box is and how it can change your kids’ attitudes to picking up their stuff, this is a must-read!

A CLUTTER-FREE LIFE IS WITHIN REACH!

I have just released a very cool desk and board system with my friends at OfficeMax. The You.Organized with Peter Walsh desk and board systems are the result of all of the feedback and ideas I’ve heard over the years from families struggling to organize their home office, their family’s routine or just their daily life.

The desk system includes a file management system, a charging station, a mail center and a very clever storage ottoman. The board system is completely mix-and-match with a very simple easy-to-hang system and magnetic accessories that can be customized to suit your family’s need. All of this comes with additional organizing tips that will help get your clutter under control and your home organized.

If you’re looking for an all-in-one desk solution or want to create a message center in your home that will give you more time and less stress, then check out these new items either online or at an OfficeMax store near you today. I’m very proud of the You.Organized range and look forward to hearing your reaction and comments.

EMAIL INBOX

I have been talking a lot lately about the importance of ‘finishing the cycle’. Someone once said that clutter is really ‘decisions delayed’ – a comment that I love. So, if you often tell yourself that you’ll ‘get to that later’, chances are that clutter is a problem for you.

This is just one email from a reader who has taken the ‘finish the cycle’ idea to heart:

“I just wanted to thank you for helping me to transform my daily existence!

I had a baby about six months ago and count my blessings every day. I am so grateful (beyond words) for our son!

I am a very organized, neat person. I can't think with clutter and mess! Since having my son I have had to surrender to the laundry, dirty dishes and more. It seems that most people I talk to are okay with letting it go -- it's okay to have a messy house at this stage. Intellectually, I know this. But it is very hard for me to be okay with this change in my life. Especially because things that I am typically good at don't work anymore, or don't work the same...like multi-tasking. And where does the time go? *Everything* is different now!!

I was watching a playback of Oprah and there was one thing that you said that helped me so much. You talked about one woman's problem being that she doesn't "finish the cycle". My daily mantra now is: ‘Finish the cycle’ or, ’What cycle can I finish?’ Somehow, this little piece of wisdom has made me feel so much better. If I go to sleep knowing I have finished a cycle (or maybe even two), I sleep well (well...the baby does wake up quite frequently, but you get the idea). It's not ALL clean, but at least one part is totally taken care of.

From the bottom of my heart, thanks for those words. Seriously, I am a new woman since hearing them!”

I love sharing emails from all of you so keep them coming and look for your email in this section next month.

IF IT’S JUNE YOU MAY HAVE THE KIDS AROUND MORE THAN USUAL – AT LEAST IN THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE

With the kids on vacation June is a great month to get them involved in all of those decluttering and organizing tasks that they can really help you with.

Here are some tips for the month from It's All Too Much: An Easy Plan for Living a Richer Life with Less Stuff. Enjoy the decluttering!

“But Mom, I’m bored!” Nobody wants to hear that all summer. Now’s the time to get your children involved in the maintenance of good systems in your home. Reward their positive behavior and let them see that decluttering and organization have definite benefits.

Tackle your kids’ spaces
Work with your children to identify what is working and what’s not in their bedrooms. Make a project of their personal space. Identify as many zones as make sense for your child—reading, clothes, homework, crafts, computer games, laundry. Have fun making artistic labels for the areas. Work with your child to make sure that items are in their correct area.

Make kid-friendly closets
Our closets need to change as we age, so make sure your child’s closet suits him or her. Are her favorite things easily accessible? Make room by putting off-season items high up on shelves, get everything but shoes off the floor, and buy or build appropriate storage containers for the things she needs every day. Help your child decide which clothes and shoes it’s time to discard. Before you know it, you’ll have a clean closet.

Tackle the toys
Gather old toys, games, and books that are no longer used or age-appropriate. Even consider establishing a giveaway bin or a broken-toy bin so your child can make these decisions part of regular cleanup. When you go to make the charity drop-off, bring your children along. That way they can make the donation themselves and learn the value of giving to others less fortunate than themselves.

Limits and routines
Your child’s toy, book, and clothing limits should be clearly set by the size of the toy containers, bookshelves, and dresser or closet. Reinforce these agreed-upon limits. Make it part of your household routine to identify items that need to be donated to charity or sold at a yard sale. Without the pressure of school, create or revise a schedule of chores. Make sure you and your child agree that it will still work when school starts again and homework becomes a factor.

Rewards
No child is going to enjoy sitting around organizing his room all summer. Make the projects as fun as you can. Find a balance between organization and play. Spread projects out throughout the summer. It never hurts to schedule less-than-thrilling tasks next to favorite activities. For example, you might go to the pool every Saturday after addressing one of the zones in your child’s room. And remember to keep everything on a calendar which you and your child discuss and anticipate.

ON THE OTHER HAND …… IF IT’S JUNE AND YOU’RE IN THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE - IT’S TIME TO BRACE YOURSELF FOR WINTER!

Those falling leaves are a sign that winter is around the corner, but don’t go into hibernation mode yet. Better to clean out your garage and winterize your home before the first frost.

Garage cleanup
Your car is one of your most expensive and useful possessions. The goal here is to park it in the garage so the winter elements don’t diminish your investment. Take everything out of the garage, sweep out dust and debris, and hose down the floor. Discard unused items, arrange like items together. If you haven’t already, now’s the time to install sturdy shelving to clear items off the floor.

Designate zones
Specify where items belong. Install shelving, a Peg-Board, and racks for sporting goods, tools, and storage bins. Label everything clearly. You can even mark areas on the floor for the kids’ bikes. If the garage is a tight fit for your car, install mirrors to make parking easier. Check each zone to make sure it is meeting your storage needs.

Winterize the house
Clear gutters of leaves and debris. Have your chimney, fireplace, and heating system inspected. Make sure all your gardening tools and equipment are properly cleaned and stored out of the weather.

Improve the heating efficiency of your home. Check doors and windows for drafts and reseal accordingly. The planet will thank you!

Best to you and yours,

Peter