I'm so delighted to announce that I have teamed up with the amazing Kirsty O'Callaghan from Unity Qld to deliver two WEBINARS WITH 'KIRSTY AND LOUISE' in 2013.

I'm a big fan of Kirsty and admire what she has achieved both personally and professionally.  She began her business over a decade ago to help people live more positively, less stressfully and with more health and happiness. Her philosophies, transformational tools and strategies have been developed from years of study, her own personal and professional challenges and working with thousands of Australians.

We have two Webinars with 'Kirsty and Louise' - one in May and August:

Balance?!  What Balance
Work/life Balance and 6 steps to DeClutter Anything
Wednesday 29th May 2013 7 - 8pm EST (see world clock for other time zones)

Relax?! Who has time to relax let alone cook!?
Relaxation Techniques and Too Busy to Eat Well.
Wednesday 28 August 2013 7 – 8pm EST (see world clock for other time zones)

You can attend these sessions from the comfort of your own home for one session for $21.00 or come to both for $35 for 2.

I'd love to see you online!  To book your tickets go to www.unity-qld.com.au

 We are so used to the routine of our days that we don’t notice how we could be using our time in a better way.  Routine has a habit of allowing us to function on auto pilot. We assume we’re doing things the best way because that is the way they have always been done!

I don't know about you but time is one of the resources I am not a natural at 'organising' - so I really do understand my client's struggles with time. 

There are a few strategies that you can use to help get on top of time - and that is routines.  Having routines is the only way I find that life can run - not like clock work, but it does help me keep on track, so I know where I need to be and what I need to be doing.

There are two simple questions I want you to ask yourself.  I have asked myself these (and I share that with you below):

1) What do I wish you had more time for? 
You won't have to think hard on this question - the answers will come flooding in!

For me it has always been exercise, and my excuses were around I can't afford it (ie as a combination of time and money).  Now that I am working on my routines I go for a walk at least 4 days a week, dance class once a week and yoga once a week.  I realised it was me that was getting in the way.
 
2) What do I spend WAY too much time on?
Work out what it is for you - and it is likely to be habits that aren't particularly helpful - TV? Perfectionism? Procrastination?

For me it is perfectionism, and procrastination and working! I love what I do - helping my clients simplify everyday life is a joy - I truly love it.  But perfectionism kicks in and then I procrastinate because it won't be perfect even thought it is 99% done.....!  This means I work a lot more than I need to!  NOT SMART at all.  So I've got help on board for key discrete projects, and there are more tasks I'm yet to streamline.  I know doing this in other areas will make a huge difference to my feelings of keeping on top of it all!

What are your struggle areas?

As you may know in Queensland I'm the Additive Alert Community Talks Presenter.  This year to co-incide with the new school year I'm running sessions in the following South East Queensland locations to help parents, teachers and childcare staff learn what the numbers on food products mean - and which are worth avoiding! Would love to see you there and make sure you come up and say hello!!!


Maroochydore:
Food for a Happy and Calm Household
Wednesday 6 March 2013, 7pm-9pm (with Special Guest Tania Hubbard from Gluten Free Grain Free Company)
Tickets: $20 each or Online deal: $49.50 for 3 (includes the Additives to Avoid wallet card).

Toowoomba:
Food for a Happy and Calm Household
Wednesday 20 March 2013, 7pm-9pm
Tickets:$20 each or Online deal: $49.50 for 3 (includes the Additives to Avoid wallet card).
(rescheduled from Wed 27 February due to localised flooding and inclement weather)

Brisbane:
Food for a Happy and Calm Household
Thursday 21 March 2013, 7pm-9pm
Cooparoo Bowls Club
Tickets: $20 each or Online deal: $49.50 for 3 (includes the Additives to Avoid wallet card).

Bookings are essential for all talks and can be made via our sister site: Meal Planning Your Way - Click here to book for the events.

The start of a new year presents us with a host of opportunities to do something different.  This year I'm focusing on doing simple things on a consist basis that make me feel better.  I'm resolving to make LITTLE changes because I know sometimes LITTLE equals BIG results.

And I am not going to get obsessive about it – 100% isn’t the only option – I'm going to do what I can in key areas and make a commitment to just - keep - doing.  You might have seen our new facebook timeline image with the quote from Jim Rohen:  Motivation is what gets you started – Habit is what keeps you going.  This really is the focus for this year!

This year I’m playing with the concept of getting things done with fun, ease and grace.  Ok maybe more awkward than grace sometimes!  I know I have a tendency of being like a sumo wrestler – just keep moving and pushing forward to get things done. Fun, ease and grace means stopping when I get tired.  I don't have to do everything in a day!  In 2013 I’m sticking with a few themes only.   I'd love to hear what little resolves/ pledges you're considering in 2013.

Remember LITTLE changes = BIG results!

We're delighted to announce our new guide - Too Busy to Eat Well - is available on our sister site - Meal Planning Your Way!

If thinking about dinner, or creating a ‘Meal Plan’ is stressful and exhausting and can’t find the time or space to cook in your kitchen - YOU ARE NOT ALONE! You might have seen our brand new guide being sold through the shop on the fabulous Stay at Home Mums website - we are super excited!

This is also true for how you manage your time!
I recently bit the bullet and discovered my Time Management Style by taking the Pink Shoe Power Profiler.   I was a little unsure at first as to how helpful or accurate it would be, but I was amazed at how spot on it was for me.   I love knowing my Time Management Style because it just makes so much sense (I’m a Last Minute Lucy and Driven Diana – quite the combo!!).

I have been able to re-evaluate my current time management habits and make sure I am doing only what WORKS!  It was great to get that advice specific for ME and Time Management Style so I know the strategies I need to be using to help keep me on track and get the most out of my time.  If you really want to get more things done AND have more time for you, then knowing your Time Management Style is a great step forward!

What I also discovered was when you know your Time Management Style, it adds an extra dimension to your Meal Planning Personality and where you need to be careful so you don’t trip yourself up!  For example, my  Menu Planning Personality is Intuitive and as my Time Management Style is a Last Minute Lucy, I know I’m likely to give myself too little time for food shopping or preparation, and combine that with being a Driven Diana - doing everything I said I would do, I will get so absorbed I’ll forget to go shopping!  So as an Intuitive (in the Meal Planning Personality Profile) who never knows what I will feel like eating, having the ingredients on hand to create quick and easy meals is CRUICIAL!  Days when I’m not up against a deadline are perfect for preparing meals in advance and freezing them so I have them on hand when I’m under pressure. Otherwise it is way too easy for this Personality/Style combination to reach for junk food or call for takeaway!

If you want to find out your Time Management Style, here’s a link that will take you to the Pink Shoe Power profiling tool to identify your Time Management Style or combination of Styles!  I highly recommend it and use it myself!

I love the personalized report with all the details about your Style (or Styles if you’re a combination like me): your strengths and challenges and some of the best strategies for your Style to help you get in control of your time.  I have found that the advice is spot on and very valuable because it helps you to know what are the best strategies for YOU based on HOW you think and approach time.  It SAVES time because you know what you need to do so it will work for you.

I highly recommend their book, Time Management Styles: What they Mean for your Success in Business and Life. It gives you an overview of the 5 Time Styles, their strengths and challenges and includes clever strategies for your Style or combination of Styles.  Here’s a link if you want to get a copy or find out more. 

Once you’ve taken the Pink Shoe Profiler, be sure to let me know what your Time Management Style is, as well as what you are in the Meal Planning Personality Profile!

 As we begin to enjoy the winter months and we start to retreat indoors, it’s around this time when we become acutely aware of just how much or how little living space we have!!!   It’s also around this time that thoughts around moving “because you’ve run out of space!” might be popping up.  You’ll be happy to know you’re not alone!  According to an Australia Institute survey one in eight people moved house so they could accommodate their ‘stuff’. 

When you're retreating indoors for the winter, you want your space to be so much more FUNCTIONAL and spacious!!  So why not take advantage of the time you're indoors and start getting organised.

If you're not sure where to begin, it’s always best to stop and take stock! 

There are a few common organisational challenges we see which and the good news is there are strategies to address it. 

Grab pen and paper and ............   keep reading our article in Mathilda's Magazine on page 40 (click here)

 
As a Home Economist, I spend a lot of time in people's kitchens and pantries - either helping them uncover their Meal Planning Personality to make solving the what's for dinner challenge easier, or creating order in their kitchen so cooking is a whole lot easier! 

Every time you do a pantry declutter with a client it's hard NOT to chat about the food you find - you are afterall checking dates.... 

Some of the most common questions I'm asked are:

• Is the food any good? 
• Are there better options I could be buying?
  

As many Revampers know I am completely passionate about raising awareness of what’s in our food as Queensland's Additive Alert Community Talks presenter.  I think it is important that we all know a little bit about food additives, just as we need to know a little bit about fat, fibre, salt and sugar if we truly want to be healthy.  If you want to find out more, our next session is on in a few weeks!

Date 
19 July 2012
Time
5.30pm - 7.30pm
Location
Caboolture Hub, Learning & Business Centre, Level 1, 4 Hasking Street, Caboolture Qld 4510
Cost
$15.00 per person. 
Visit the Moreton Bay Regional Council Website to book:  Click here
Need more info?
Contact Caboolture Hub's wonderful Venue Manager Bronwyn Dickinson on Ph: (07) 5433 3700

 
Yesterday (2nd July) we turned 3!


We had a great day of planning and refocusing on what makes Revamp so special - YOU!!!

Revamp exists to SERVE YOU - our fabulous Revampers.

We love helping you clarify what is truly important and meaningful to you, then guiding and inspiring you to change your life for the better.

As many of you know I have spent my entire working life identifying a range strategies and tools that improve health, boost productivity and reduce stress in our working lives and home lives.  In all the areas and organisations I have worked (nutrition, health promotion in corporate settings and workplace health) there are consistent strategies that really do help to make life healthier, happier and simpler. 

THANK YOU for letting me share these lessons in your life, and my personal learnings with you too.  It means a lot that we can help you feel on top of things, and get that reassurance that we ALL need from time to time - that YOU are completely and utterly - NORMAL :) 

Your Birthday Thank You
If you haven't signed up to our newsletter click here so you can grab a copy of our new little guide The Art of Stress Free Living: Steps to achieve a healthier, happier and simpler life. 

It really cements our focus and committment to help you live a happier, healthier and simpler life.

Recent events in Queensland this week go to show just how disorganisation can get you into trouble!  Queensland Premier Campbell Newman dumped Gympie MP David Gibson as Police Minister over allegations he drove while suspended.

Now I'm the first to admit I've missed paying a bill, but what's interesting is according to reports in The Courier Mail Gympie MP David Gibson would have received at least FIVE letters of warning about a speeding fine incurred in May or June 2011, and he admitted to be in receipt of at least ONE of those.

So while we might all be guilty of missing a bill once in a while, missing FIVE notifications is a whole other story!!!  It is a sign that his current system – or lack of paperwork system has let him down - BIG TIME!!!!

Statistics show that being disorganised has a huge impact.   The Wall Street Journal reported on a survey of 1000 middle managers of large companies in the U.S. and U.K found that 59% miss important information almost every day because it exists within the company but they cannot find it.  Another survey of 2,600 executives found they waste six weeks per year searching for lost documents (FastCompany Magazine, 8/2004)


Recent events highlight just how much of an impact overlooking your paperwork can have on your career.  

So here are some tips to revamp your paperwork processes and keep out of trouble:

• Create an Arrivals Lounge – in your usual drop/ dumping spot get yourself a tray, basket, shelf or drawer. Don’t worry about opening your mail – or making a decision on it just yet.  Then again if you see something that looks like official Government corresspondence you might want to open it....
• Set aside regular times so you can see what the paper needs you to do.  This is really important because if we waited until we felt like it, we’d never do it!! 
• Learn the ART of Paper.  Now you have your allocated paperwork time – you’re now ready to send that paper on it’s way based on the ART of paper

• Act file (subcategories for your regular ACTION files are really good e.g. Bills to pay would be a handy one)
• Reference files (subcategories such as Home – with insurance, Car – registration, repairs, paid fines) or
• Toss into Archive or Shred/bin. 

The trick is you do have to make time to create some order to your paperwork but I think recent events really go to show that it can have a HUGE impact on your career.

Well I think it does anyway - what do you think?  Is it a case of disorganisation impacting upon a career?

One of the things I love to do is help people reinvent their homes and create functional spaces - formerly known as 'Dumping Grounds.'

One of the areas I commonly see clutter accumulating in a lot is the kitchen and/or dining room table.

Regardless of whether my client is a busy professional that lives on their own or a family - the situation is the SAME!?! Without fail these are the things I discover:

• Mail - opened and unopened – including Bills
• Work/ school books/ notes
• car keys
• stationery
• catalogues
• recent purchases
• receipts

[Pinned from Better Homes and Gardens]

By the end of the day everything gets stacked up into a single large pile, and day after day it accumulates, only moving from table to a nearby corner or shelf and back again....

This year I've been helping my clients focus on the order and systems to put in place as soon as you walk in the door. To help you in your efforts I thought I would run through a few questions to ask yourself when designing these vitally important areas, AND share some inspiring images to get the creative juices flowing!!

As always we start with the R-E-V-A-M-P Process!

Remember: What’s the purpose of the arrivals area? When you get home from being out all day what is it that you desperately need to ‘dump’ e.g. Mail; school notes, bags? You'll also need to think about do you want some items to be here in a Holding Pattern or is it going to be where some items live (e.g. handbag?)

What do you dream this space could look like?

[Entry Way organisation - Pinned from Better Homes and Gardens]

ok, now let's get back to reality..........


Evaluate: What is it that is really irritating you about this area? No home for anything? Stuff just gets dumped into a pile? Hard to find a letter or document? Write down everything that works and doesn’t work! Be honest!!

Value: What items are really important? What do you need to find quickly? What things only need to be in this area temporarily? E.g. is it handbags, mail, vs temporary space for bills, school notes, receipts. Don’t worry about where to put them (that’s the next step), for now you just need to know what has got to stay here vs go elsewhere?

[Craft Space - Pinned from Better Homes and Garden]

[Lounge Room - Pinned from Better Homes and Garden]

Maintain: The habit creation phase is where we often get stuck. Take time to think through what is happening now, so you can avoid this in your new system/ or introduce tricky strategies to make it easier!

Are items not migrating 'home'? Maybe it's because there is nowhere these items belong? or maybe there isn’t enough room for them to go into their new ‘home’ because the area is packed already or putting them away is difficult and awkward, so you don’t even bother! Now that you’ve thought through this space, look at what you can do to keep it that way? What can you do everyday/ evening/ week? A little bit of maintenance makes it easier in the long run.

Party: The last step in the process, and the most important – what will you do to celebrate!? Make it worthwhile!

I hope our strategies and inspiration help you to have a clutter free kitchen/ dining room table! If you get stuck, feel free to drop me a line!

I'm sure I've said it before, but just incase I haven't declared it enough - I LOVE magazine holders (AKA magazine files) - just like this gorgeous purple one from Smiggle. They are perfect for paper pilers like me. Even though I am a professional organiser I have a natural inclination to pile papers!

One of the best organising tools I have found to tackle paperwork in my office are magazine holders. It suits me perfectly because it means I can PILE WITH PURPOSE, and it gives me my space back! Instead of having piles on every flat surface ALL the time, I can pop the paper (or book) into it's dedicated home! When I want it, I can grab it.

I think this snippet from the kikki.K website sums it up perfectly: "Removing unsightly piles of magazines and papers in your space improves the flow of energy leading to greater piece of mind and feelings of control. With the clutter gone, you'll be more creative and productive." AND guess what - It's all TRUE! Well, ok it is true for me that is.

I find that my desk can sometimes get out of control with a few piles of discrete projects. When that happens it is a reminder to me to create a new home for this project if I don't have one (ie get a new magazine holder!) OR put the items back into their dedicated file.

If your a paper piler you might like the idea of using Magazine Holders to create a more productive and creative office space. I find it so handy - if I find something that could be useful for a project I can just pop the document/ book or note to self into the file for when I want to work on that project, vs letting papers pile up on my desk. I keep all the magazine holders on bookshelves and just call them forth when I want to work on them.

Every so often thought I do need to make sure I go through my Project files (AKA The Buffet) and weed out unnecessary or out of date paper.

Magazine holders really can add a bit of style or colour and personality to any space. Here are some fab looking magazine holders that I think the paper pilers out there just might like!

Stylish as Always:
kikki.K from $14.95

Organising Brightly:
Smiggle from $6.95
Typo from $6.95

Options galore:
Officeworks Philosophy range from $10

I'd love to know how you go!!

The Australian Food Safety Information Council released a national survey that shows on warm days 8% of workers who take a packed lunch make no attempt to keep their packed lunches cool.

What was worse - 20% of those with children who take a packed lunch to school don’t provide their children with a frozen drink or ice brick to help keep their packed lunch cool.

For more info check out the Australian Food Safety Information Council media release (click here) which has some great ideas. One of the easiest options - freeze some water in a drink bottle and keep it near your food.

Be sure to check out Kidspot's summary of some really fab looking lunch products - click here

So how do you keep lunch cold on hot days when a fridge isn't handy?

Healthful Kids’ Meals and Locally Sourced Ingredients are the hottest restaurant menu trends we can expect to see in 2012 - well in the US officially anyhow!

The annual National Restaurant Association survey of American Culinary Federation member chefs (more than 1,800) revealed some interesting restaurant trends that are totally applicable in the Australian culinary environment.

As you look at the top 20 trends you’ll notice the recurring themes amongst the top 10 - healthy options for kids and locally sourced ingredients. In Australia I think we acknowledge where our food comes from really well – definitely in some of the better restaurants. I love it that many places take such pride in telling you which local farmers and food producers the food comes from. I think we have a long way to go, but at least we are seeing this also with our supermarkets!

Ok so, here are the top 20 menu trends for 2012 as reported:

• Locally sourced meats and seafood;
• Locally grown produce;
• Healthful kids’ meals;
• Hyper-local items;
• Sustainability as a culinary theme;
• Children’s nutrition as a culinary theme;
• Gluten-free/food allergy-conscious items;
• Locally produced wine and beer;
• Sustainable seafood; and
• Whole grain items in kids’ meals.
• Newly fabricated cuts of meat;
• Farm/estate-branded items;
• Food trucks/street food;
• Artisan spirits;
• House-made/artisan ice cream;
• Health/nutrition as a culinary theme;
• Non-traditional fish;
• Fruit/vegetable kids’ side items;
• Children’s mini-meals (i.e. smaller versions of adult menu items); and
• Culinary cocktails.

What was also really cool was that technology rated a mention too, though there was a bit of debate about the TOP trend! Basically technology trends involve social media and smart phone apps, tablets (ie iPads for menus and wine lists) and wireless pay at the table options. I’m thinking there are no real surprises there?

What WAS really interesting though was 61% of chefs said they would consider launching a food truck as an entrepreneurial business venture. I wonder if that would be true here in Australia?

For complete What’s Hot in 2012 survey results visit www.restaurant.org/foodtrends.

I don't know about you but I do a lot of planning at this time of year - business plans, action plans, you name it.

I am careful to make sure I include goals that relate to how I want to live and work too.

While I look back over 2011, I achieved quite a few goals, including achieving Accreditation as an EXPERT Professional Organiser. I'm incredibly proud of this achievement that you all supported!!

Now while I didn't quite achieve some of the standards I set and I'm not further down the track of where I wanted to be in some areas (classic over achiever...), at least I know I'm on the RIGHT track! What a relief. And quite honestly, I can say I am where I am and I'm ok with that!

If you're planning for 2012 too, and want to get on the RIGHT track, you'll be delighted to know about a program we are kicking off later this year with Australian Author and Coach Kerrie Phipps - Revamp and Create the Life YOU Want!

Last year we hosted a call to help you kick start your thinking about 2012 and let you know about the program.

Please let me know ASAP if you’d like a free mp3 recording of the call because it was incredible! Kerrie asked such insightful questions to get us thinking, and it was so inspiring to hear of the success clients on Kerries recent program had (including Lea from Christchurch!!!!).

Lea completed Kerrie’s recent Success With Confidence coaching program (I supported it with learning calls). Lea inspired us all with her comeback from the devastating earthquakes in Christchurch. Lea wasn’t alone – each of Kerrie’s clients made significant changes - new jobs, great new clients, amazing office spaces, increased confidence and clarity.

About the Revamp and Create the Life Program
I’m really excited about the unique 3 month coaching program we’re launching as it has been specifically designed to help you over a three month period to declutter your thinking, your time and your space, to make room for what really matters most.

We work together over 3 months starting with:

• a one on one session with Kerrie to clarify your goals, then
• Group Coaching calls to declutter your thinking
• Group Learning calls to declutter your space and time. We'll give you the tools and strategies you need to get organised, save time and boost your health and your productivity.
• Loads of practical resources to help you declutter your thinking, your time and your space! and
• Creative Focus Sessions to help you when you get stuck!

Don’t forget just contact us if you want the recording so you can plan for 2012 and find out about the program.

A UK Government-funded study confirms what many parents have long suspected - some of the chemicals put into everyday foods and drinks can cause temper tantrums, sleep disturbance and disruptive behaviour.
.
How much do you really know about what’s actually in the foods you eat?

I am very excited to announce I am running our very popular Food for a Happy and Calm Household seminar where parents and educators discover some alarming surprises in everyday healthy food choices.

I really love this session and I keep it fun and informative - over the 2 hour seminar. I really do appreicate that your investing your time to come and learn about better options for your family.

We cover lots in the two hours:

• Which food additives are linked to health, learning and behaviour problems (including asthma and hyperactivity).
• How easy it is to shop smarter and still stay sane.
• How to read and interpret food labels so you know which additives are worth avoiding.

We will also have Lucky Door Prizes and light refreshments (on arrival). Another really important tool that everyone loves to take away is the handy Additives to Avoid card. It really does help to make shopping easier!

We've got a great deal going if you'd like to buy your tickets online! Be sure to check out the event page for full details. I really look forward to seeing you there!

I recently spent time with one of my office organising clients providing some Masterful Delegation Coaching.

Delegation is one of those skills that can be done really well or really poorly. Delegation can provide an excellent opportunity for staff or children to feel valued and learn new skills. It can also be a brilliant time management tool for you!

Unfortunately my client had a not-so-great experience exercising their delegation muscles. As I listened I got an idea of the challenges they were facing, what they could control and what opportunities they had. When the time was right we gained some insights and I shared loads of tips to try and tools to use which would make the whole delegation process so much easier in the future.

One of the things we talked about was how delegation is one of the most effective time management tools for managers and leaders. According to a survey of 1400 Chief Financial Officers delegation was reported as the most effective time management tool.

Done right Masterful Delegation can save your time and your life from being lived at work, in your business and doing everything yourself!! Learning how to delegate either to staff or children is a terrific way to share the workload at home and at the office!

No matter who you're trying to delegate to, there are three simple steps to consider. The PCS approach (with accompanying Masterful Delegation Checklist) is only one of many tools we teach clients - and a great place to start getting better results immediately.

Each phase of the PCS approach has a series of questions I've summarised it into two questions per stage!

P - Preparation - take some time to think and gather what the delegatee will need to know about the task
C - Communicate - the outcomes you're looking for, how often you'll need to meet.
S - Supervision - what will you do to keep track of the task you've delegated so you can get the result your looking for and provide a learning opportunity

After running through these steps plus a host of other strategies they felt much better prepared to stretch that delegation muscle once again!

As many of my clients know I have a background in occupational health and safety. This might seem an odd combination with being a professional organiser - but it is actually quite perfect!

When I learnt about the improvement strategies that manufacturing and mining companies implemented I immediately knew elements of these productivity improvement strategies could equally apply to office processes and even the laundry!!

At Revamp we pride ourselves in looking at how we can reduce the wasted time, effort and money that often happens in everyday tasks! Washing is a great example of how we can think about everyday tasks as a production process. Watch our latest video to discover....

Click here to view the video.

Have you noticed the Christmas Decorations in stores already? A friend of mine posted a photo on facebook the moment he saw them – in SEPTEMBER! Strange isn’t it?!

As many Revampers would know, Christmas for me is all about the food (ie the FEASTive Season) and being with the people I love. Last week I was interviewed by a Journalist for my top tips on how to create a delicious Christmas Menu on a budget.

When I was being interviewed even I was astounded at just how much you can SAVE at Christmas by being organised with your Christmas Menu. So I thought I’d share two tips to help you get ahead.

Start growing some of your vegetables now for Christmas!

If you get in early you’ll be able to harvest some of your vegetables for your Christmas dinner. Easy growers include Lebanese cucumbers and eggplant. I remember one year for Christmas I gave everyone a beautiful home grown eggplant because I grew so many! They were so beautiful wrapped simply with a red ribbon. Yes rather random but grown with love!

Introduce more vegetarian dishes
Our Christmas menus can often be heavy on the meat with ham, turkey, chicken, roasts! Look for ways to prepare vegetables in season before the day so it saves you heaps of time and money too!

Zucchini and asparagus are both in season so why not make a Zucchini Slice as well as an Asparagus Quiche. My favourite Asparagus Quiche recipe has no pastry! The best thing is you can make these the day or night before and serve them cold – so easy and delicious!

If you’d like our favourite Asparagus Quiche Recipe, just drop us a line and we will send it to you!

With an Australia Institute survey revealing that 88 per cent of homes have at least one cluttered room (usually the spare room), and the average home has three or more cluttered rooms, we thought we'd take the time to ask - what is your dream spare room like?

If you want to convert it from cluttered and out of control to Purposeful and Fabulous we've got some special tips just for you!

Our brand new video gives you some tips and tricks on how to approach organising it!

Click here to watch the video.

Don't forget to look at the R-E-V-A-M-P process to help guide your efforts first on paper.

It's well-known that Australian homes have grown massively in size. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, they have leapt from 150 square metres in 1984-1985 to 206 square metres by 2002-2003.

While many of us need a bigger property as our families expand and our lifestyles change, an Australia Institute survey also reveals some reasons for our moves:

• 88 per cent of homes have at least one cluttered room (usually the spare room)
• The average home has three or more cluttered rooms,
• One in five respondents had built a shed or garage to keep or store things,
• One in eight had moved house to accommodate their superfluous ‘stuff’
• More than a quarter of respondents had an average of seven unpacked boxes in the home from their last move.

This week a Revamper from the UK shared with me this brilliant video featuring Graham Hill – it is sensational and I thought you might like to see it too! It only takes 6 minutes to watch and presents wonderful insight on those important boxes we take with us on every move….

Graham Hill, writer, designer and founder of TreeHugger.com asks “Can having less stuff, in less room, lead to more happiness?” He showcases some great innovations, and lays out three rules for editing your life. It’s great!!!!!

Where to start?
Before you even open your wardrobe take a moment to answer these questions:

• What type of clothes match your lifestyle NOW vs five years ago?
• How do you need your wardrobe to function first thing in the morning?
• What clothes/ outfits do you wear that everyone compliments you on?
• Where will you donate or sell the items that don’t make you look absolutely positively fabulous?

Ok, now you’re ready to open the door!

How to declutter your wardrobe
Take each item out and if you know instantly it doesn’t belong in your life anymore, send it packing!

If you still like and wear the item, work out what it is and group like with like, colour with colour – and winter items together. The aim is to be able to see if you have 15 black short sleeve turtle neck tops, so you can pick the best ones to stay. When the going gets tough - remember to focus on your chosen charity to make the “donate” decision easier!

Once you know what stays you’ve got a better idea of how much stuff you really have and what sort of storage you need.

At this point the aim is to look at the way you store your clothes to get better access to them as it is said we only wear 20% of our clothes 80% of the time.

Clever storage solutions
Check out our You Tube video on clever storage solutions for wardrobes to find out the organising tools we recommend to all our clients.

How to keep your wardrobe organised
Use a system to monitor the items you aren’t ready to let go!

One of the simplest is to hang all of your coat hangers facing one way (e.g. backwards). As you return an item put the hanger facing the opposite way (e.g. forwards). You’ll be able to see quickly which items are taking up precious real estate in your wardrobe because the items you don’t use will have their hangers facing backwards.

Set some rules around the inflow of clothes. For every new item you bring in one thing has got to go! If you want to challenge yourself try one in, FIVE out.

Have fun with this!!

Taking the time to sort through your winter clothes now and store them properly means that come next winter, your clothes will be ready to go back into your wardrobe and closet.

Here are our tips to help you on your way:

• Collect all your winter clothes and place them together in one place so you can see how many items you have. This will also help you work out the style and number of storage containers you will need.
• Empty the pockets of each item of clothing and check for rips, tears, and stains.
• Toss any clothes that have seen better days.
• Wash the clothes you are going to store so they are in great condition.
• Pack your clothes in a dry, cool location. Consider investing in quality storage containers that can roll under your bed or be stored on a high shelf in your wardrobe.
• If you have suits or coats that are not suitable for folding, consider hanging vaccum bags. They will seal the clothes and reduce the space they take up.

I recently saw in the media some commentary around Victoria Beckham’s diet – rumoured to be a diet called the ‘Five Hands’ diet. Finding anything legitimate about it is proving to be a challenge.

According to Grazia Magazine she is following it to taper her figure in time for a grand unveiling at New York Fashion Week from September 8-15.

Now what I’ve found interesting in all this is reading the comments on websites and noticing what is being talked about. Now I’ve never really taken notice of what Ms Beckham has been doing (other than her incredible brand extension strategies post Spice Girls!)..... but I have to admit I’m a little intrigued by all the interest in it!

“A source told the magazine that she has cut out sugar and has been snacking on miniscule portions of smoked salmon, prawns with chilli, yellow-fin tuna sushi and scrambled eggs.”

“Five days after giving birth, she started eating five high-protein meals a day accompanied by green vegetables, drinking gallons of water, and only snacking on goji berries and nuts.”

Now most of the comments I’ve read on websites in response to these reports have focused on “she’s only snacking on goji berries and nuts” and unfortunately and ignoring the potential positive aspects of what she IS doing. While there are lots of questions about it and there is little to no info on it, I'm wondering if the five hands refers to the size of the protein or the whole meal? If it is the size of the protein serve then she is actually eating an appropriate sized serving of lean protein i.e. hand/ palm size (if you look at Trudy William’s This = That you’ll see what I mean – a palm size serving is all you need of lean protein). This combined with green vegetables. Sounds reasonable too. It is also reported that she has included loads of water, and is eating nuts and berries as snacks. Again that sounds reasonable. What’s even better - cutting out sugar (=unnecessary calories!) and salt - doesn’t sound too outlandish does it?

Now while there are some big questions over the alleged diet's nutritional adequacy (e.g. calcium) especially if she is breastfeeding, I guess I was just shocked at how shocked the people commenting were that her diet was "ridiculous". Maybe interms of portion size if it is 5 handfuls all up - but if it just refers to portion size of protein, I think it is a better than average effort by a celebrity to eat well.

Anyhow reading these comments really got me thinking about what does mainstream thinking consider a ‘healthy’ diet to be? Should we be shocked by what Victoria Beckham is eating - no sugar and no salt!? Or applauding her for eating 5 smaller meals of fish, eggs, with lots of green vegetables and snacking on nuts and berries?

One thing I know for sure as a home economist and having worked in workplace health - is this - clutter and disorganisation impacts upon your health and wellbeing in a very, very real way.

It adds stress to your already busy life. It saps your energy and it can be really difficult to find the motivation to tackle other important jobs.

Have you ever noticed as soon as you put something down - anywhere - it's like a silent signal gets emitted into the universe and before you know it, a stack of all sorts of other random items have accumulated around it too?! How crazy is that?!

Feng Shui experts say that clutter has a really sticky energy to it and I can absolutely vouch for that. Chances are if you've ever been into a space and you felt too overwhelmed by the clutter, it means you've felt that stuck sticky energy that hangs around clutter.

What is disorganisation/ clutter stopping you from getting to at home (cooking healthy meals, hobbies) or for your business (marketing, strategic planning)?

To help you tackle this, here are some of our tips to get you on your way:

• Everything in your home or office needs to have a home -- a place that is logical and close to where you use/ or look for an item. If it is an item you use for every day, you need it to be within easy reach and readily accessible for everyday use. Other stuff like archive documents or kitchen appliances you use occasionaly are best stored in an out-of-the-way area.
• It is a good habit to train your ITEMS to return home ;) When an object strays from its 'home,' it can easily be lost, and these items build-up in random locations.
• Pick one area that if you worked on would make LIFE SIMPLE - in your WORK life or your HOME life. Choose ONE AREA that you rely on daily. This might be your pantry; your incoming mail zone; your paperwork flow. It might even be your time. Whatever is causing you the biggest grief - stop wasting your precious time, your energy and your money tolerating a really really inefficient system. Don't waste another day - pick an area and allocate 30 minutes to PLAN how you will tackle it - break it down into little jobs and schedule it in. Focus on one thing at a time instead of cluttering your mind with multiple tasks. Multi-tasking is overrated!!
• Once you've achieved a win - set aside a regular time to do a quick straighten up - 10 minutes is often enough to do a quick mad dash to pop things away - get the family and your staff (at the office) involved and responsible for their own items.

If it seems too hard - supercharge your efforts and call us! So many of my clients tell me they should have called us years ago. We focus specifically on creating systems around your kitchen and meal planning and streamlining and simplifying your paperwork and office.

I’m often asked what do I take for lunch when I’m working with clients. My clients can tell you I do practice what I preach about healthy eating and avoiding food additives!

If you’re a gal on the go too, you might like some of these ideas too!

• fresh fruit – I pre-peel my mandarins and pop them into a container. I’ll add chopped fruit too if I have time in the morning (e.g. sliced kiwi fruit, rockmelon)
• whole fruit (e.g. Apple)
• Vegetables (carrot, celery, zucchini, cucumber) in slices/sticks
• trail mix - organic sulphate free dried fruit and nut packs (raisins, currants, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds)
• reduced fat cheese sticks/cubes/slices
• Cheese and crackers (or rice cakes/corn cakes)
• Small dinner rolls with tomato and reduced fat cheese
• Home made savoury cheese and vegetable muffins
• Home made sweet muffins
• If possible – Sandwich with cheese and salad (egg)
• Chopped Sushi

I keep everything cold with a freezer brick and UHT milk or Juice.

Drop me a line and share any other ideas you have?

Checklists are great tools to help simplify everyday life. A shopping list is a great example of how they help us in everyday life - it keeps us accountable as well as a reminder of what we went into the shop to buy!

I don't know about you but I love lists - I find these really help my efficiency especially because my memory is shocking!! If you're not sure how a checklist would help, take a minute to identify those times you keep asking the same question but forget the answer.....

Here are our top picks to get started with:

Leaving the House Checklist
Make your mornings easy by knowing you’ve got everything you need. Jot down the essentials and blutac it near your front door. If you have to be organised and take gym gear or the kids have sport on set days – make a 7 day leave the house list.

Checklist for the week
Start your week by making a list of all the things that you need to accomplish this week by breaking it down into each day. Carry it with you and mark each item off when completed. This will give a great feeling of accomplishment and closure.

Easy Lunches Checklist
Make a list of all the easy lunches and snacks that you could have. Keep it in the kitchen so you can stop wasting time wondering what should I have for lunch today. It also helps you when you are preparing your shopping list – you can look at your easy lunches list and add on a few items to make sure you’ve got lunch and snack items all week.

Camping Checklist
If you love camping, make your life easier by having a list of things you need to pack and when. Breaking it down into when to pack means you don’t have to do everything at once. Work out what you can pack a week before vs two days before vs on the day. Packing a little at a time is so much easier and less stressful!!

If the thought of creating your own list sends you into a spin click here for cool lists from List Plan It! They've done all the hard work for you!!!

What are you doing with your time?

Often people assume that just because I'm a professional organiser I must be uber organised and was born with the ability and skill to be organised and manage my time perfectly. The truth is organising space is easy for me - looking for systems is like breathing! Helping OTHERS find pockets of time and managing it - easy. Dealing with my own time? Let's just say I've had my struggles of using and abusing time. I think I'm getting more relaxed about sharing my story in the hope it helps others - because I am afterall, human.

I'm sure you've heard it before but time is the ONLY resource that once used - is used forever. I'm painfully reminded of this when I think to the things I wish I had done with friends and family when I had the chance.

The lesson I want to share with you is simple..... Discriminate what you say YES to

I know I know - you've heard it all before! Just say no! Oh it can be so annoying to hear - As if it is that simple?! And you know what - it isn't simple. It requires work to really change that habit. It is so ingrained that you have to really WANT to do things differently.

Doing it IS hard - but WORTH IT! Believe me I know!! If you're the person who says yes to every request for help, you're not alone. This was me: "Of course I can! I can do that - oh and do you need someone to do this too? Sign me up!"

If this sounds familiar it won’t surprise you to know that a lot of people who struggle with managing their time, hate to let others down by saying no - even if it leads to them being overwhelmed by work/ committments and no time for family. So much of my working life I felt I had to prove myself. I'd take on more and more to show how competent I was and not wanting to disappoint others. In the end all I ever did was dissappoint myself and feel like I wasn't working hard enough and efficient enough because I just couldn't seem to get through it all. And so started a vicious cycle.

Constantly helping others work on their priorities while my tasks got behind. I needed to work long hours to complete tasks. I wasn't able to finish the things I needed to in a normal business day and they built up and up and up. Add to the mix being a perfectionist - and I was wondering what was wrong with me because everything took so long! I was stuck in a tower of ‘stuff’ and struggling to get out while everyone else seems to be going on with their lives.

An Aha Moment.... Lived out out loud... very loud
I had an aha moment where I discovered I was not taking responsiblity for what I was doing to myself. I was at a workshop on looking at Your Mindset and the facilitator needed someone to work with - on stage. The perfectionist in me wanted to keep sitting quietly (you won't know what you're doing - you'll look silly) - but the people pleaser in noticed "not too many people have their hands up and I'd hate for the facilitator to feel that no-one was there for them." The people pleaser in me won out - and up went my hand. oh dear....

Let's just say that people pleaser part of me got the shock of its life - once the light was shone on that part of myself - you can not take back what you've learnt - I was being a "people pleaser" in the wrong parts of my life and allowing it to run my life in cahoots with my "perfectionist". What a gift - an opportunity if you like, to do something different! I grabbed that with both hands and I haven't looked back. I know WHY I am saying yes and saying no - simply because I take the time to hear myself think!

Do you feel guilty when you say no?
Now the thing is - that people pleaser is still in me. I'm just more willing to question my automatic response to say YES to everything. I'm discriminating - is this for my higher good and the good of my family, what about the business? Am I REALLY the only person who can do this? Who else had the knowledge or skill to do this? By saying YES what opportunities am I depriving someone else from learning?

Instead of doing things out of habit or tradition, I've learnt to think it through. Unfortunately we are trained so early in our lives to be helpful that it can be to our detriment. This secret is about identifying your automatic habits.

Some of these might be:

• Saying yes too quickly to invitations and requests.
• Constantly helping others work on their priorities while your tasks get behind. If you need to work long hours to complete your tasks this might be something that you're doing.

Most of us have ‘triggers’ that flick us into ‘yes’ mode.
It could be specific people who flick your switch or perhaps there is something deeper inside that you need to track down and identify. When you take on all this extra work there will be a payoff for you, even if you don’t realise it.

What might the payoff be for you? Feeling needed, appearing reliable and even indispensible? I know that is what it was for me and without realizing it I had trained people to come to me to solve every little problem for them!

It’s OK to say no. It’s healthy to say no. You have the right to say no. You aren’t responsible for other people’s problems. A great little story I once heard from a Buddhist monk was "Just because someone drops elephant dung on your doorstep - does not mean you need to be the one pick it up." How cool is that?!

One of the things that will help you accept your right to say ‘no’ is to understand what triggers your switch. When you know what they are, you can deal with them and prepare for them.


How to Get Started: Find Your Triggers

Pull out a notebook and:

• Ask yourself “What or who do you always say yes to?”
• Describe the situation you tend to be in. e.g. In front of others, in a meeting, it’s your mum/ mother in law asking…….
• Describe how it makes you feel? What emotions run through you? E.g. guilt, pride, panic…

By working out whether there is a place or time that really puts you under pressure to accept the work you can start to build some strategies to manage the situation.

So, in your notebook, for each situation you described as a trigger I want you to write down some answers to this question:

Instead of saying yes, what else could I say or do?

By working this way through each of your trigger points, you will have some alternate strategies in place for the next time someone wants to flick that switch.

When you are able to say no, you're on your way to reduce the chaos in your life. Believe me I really do know what it is like!

Did you know it has been estimated that every year Australian’s consume at least 5kg of food additives each? Now this wouldn't bother us so much if all of the additives in our food were 100% safe with no questions. What we are disapointed about is while our food regulatory body permits approximately 300 additives in our food, there is evidence that at least 60 of these additives are questionable in terms of safety and some are even BANNED in many European countries.

This is among the many mind boggling things you'll discover at the Additive Alert Community Talks based on Julie Eady's best selling book Additive Alert.

Additive Alert Pty Ltd was founded by Julie Eady in 2004 to promote better consumer awareness of food additives and their effects on health, and to advocate for better labeling of Australian foods. Since then Additive Alert has delivered over 200 information sessions to educational, community and corporate groups locally and interstate. As demand for the workshops has grown steadily, Additive Alert have a team of trained, passionate presenters available to deliver the workshops and information sessions within the community.

We are delighted to announce to Revampers that we are now part of the Additive Alert team as Queensland's authorised Community Talks presenter!

Every year, Julie receives letters and emails from consumers all over the country detailing how food additives are having a serious impact on the health and wellbeing of their families. These letters often detail startling improvements to health and behavioural issues and confirm just how important it is that Australian consumers, especially parents, find out the facts about which food additives can cause harm.

If you'd like to find out which additives to avoid and why, contact us today to book in the very low cost Additive Alert Community Talk for Childcare, Community Groups and schools - starting from a tiny $100.

Choose foods that help you to maximise your energy throughout the day. This will also help managing your body weight. Here are some quick tips you might like to try!

Lunches

• Use wholegrain breads
• Add beans or lentils to your salads and sandwiches — 3 bean mix is an easy choice!
• Add a variety of vinegars (apple cider, balsamic, red wine, white wine) to your salads
• Make a pita with falafel and hummus
• Try different salads such as pasta salads, brown rice salads, chickpea salads
• Baked beans on wholegrain toast or bread

Snacks

• low fat yoghurts
• avocado dip and pita bread chips
• fruit - apples, pears, peaches, summer stone fruit
• home made popcorn (watch the butter and salt!)

If you're hosting Christmas and don't want it all to be about the food, why not add some games to the mix? 

We've taken some inspiration from all places including our favourite show Spicks and Specks!  We've tried to pick games that will work for kids, some that will work for the adults and some that will work for both!  Have fun!!

Timed Guessing Games
This includes naming the gifts on each of the 12 days of Christmas, naming as many Christmas carols as you can, taking a word and making as many words as you can from it, and a Christmas word scramble. You can have little stocking stuffers for the winners. Kids and adults are good for this one.

Family Trivia
Who knows the most about their relatives? Let each relative write down something that happened to them and give them to the person in charge of the game. Everyone else gets a piece of paper. After each question is read, all players write down whom in the room each is referring to. The one with the most correct answers at the end of the list wins!

Charades
This is a tried and true party game. Mix it up so some of the guesses relate to Christmas and popular cartoons, movie, book, song, or even event. The team with the most correct answers wins. Just like on Spicks and Specks you could make this a drawing game - perfect way to recycle big sheets of Christmas wrapping paper!

Name that Christmas Carol
Just like on Spicks and Specks grab about 6 books - really dull or interesting ones (that you or your Christmas guests bring) and write the names of Christmas carols on a card.  Stick one in each book and each family member has to sing the Christmas Carol using the words in the book, but to the melody of the Christmas Carol.  Whoever guesses the tune first wins a prize!!  Start off with easy carols and progress to harder ones!

Have you noticed how more chaotic life seems to get as soon as we start the count down to Christmas?

If you're feeling like there is no chance to get an organised life because you just can't find the time, here are 10 ideas you can do in 10 minutes to help you keep organised and feel a little bit in control.

Don't forget now is a good time to book in your free one hour consultation for January! Drop us a line via our website or give me a call on 0408 723 559.

Disorganised Folders?

• Set aside one minute per folder and recycle any papers you no longer need

Junk Draw Power Purge

• Set your oven timer for ten minutes, grab a garbage bag, open the junk drawer, pick through anything no longer needed and toss it in the garbage. When the timer ends, you stop and take your bag of unwanted items to the bin.

I just don't love you anymore

• Go through your wardrobe and choose five articles of clothing you never wear. Yes - only five!!! No more no less! Put them in a donation bag, to be given to your favourite charity.

Toys reunited

• This is one you and the kids can do. Set the timer on your oven and walk around your home with a box/ green shopping bags and put in any stray toys. Once the timer goes - STOP!! Putting them away is tomorrow's 10-minute organising project!

Get ahead

• Ok can I confess I get behind in birthdays if I haven't done this. Write out all of your birthday, anniversary and other greeting cards for one month. Address them, stamp them and send them out.

Book it in!

• Set aside a regular 10 minutes a week as your book it in time. Whether you've been meaning to make an appointment with a doctor, your accountant, a repairman or a friend, taking a regular 10 minutes to do this helps you keep organised.
• You might also want to add call Louise at Revamp to book in a free one consult after Christmas/ in January to get organised in 2011.

Crazy Cluttered Inbox full of Emails!

• I struggle with this one too, so set an alarm on your phone for 10 minutes for a power purge of your cluttered inbox to delete emails you no longer need.

I'm sure there was a flat surface here...

• Whether the surface is a table, a dresser, a desk or an ottoman, remove any clutter so you can actually see the surface again! File any papers needing filing, return any stray items to their rightful homes and toss any junk.

Bathroom Beauty

• This is a great 10 minute job. Take a look and toss out any old makeup and ones you never use, expired prescriptions and anything else you don't need! Clear benchtops are a step towards creating your own day spa!

As we stand on the brink of the FEASTive season, are you starting to think about all the weight you might gain? Usually at this time of year we become fantastic at eating with reckless abandon! A more helpful way to think about it, is to look at how to maintain your weight during the season, as well as introducing some healthy eating behaviours for the NON party meals? It takes only 21 days to create a habit so try some of the ideas below everyday for the next 21 days. Before you know you'll be on your way to surviving the season with these tips and in no time you’ll be on your way to making better decisions for your health!

1. Am I hungry?
Eating when we aren’t hungry means we miss our body’s natural cues. Many of us fall into the habit of eating when we’re bored, eating out of convenience or eating because we’ve had a bad day.

At this time of year eating nibblies at a party is something that you can allow yourself. The trick is to think about the other foods or courses to come, portion sizes and mindless eating. If you're going to eat snacks - enjoy them being conscious of how delicious they are, the smell and texture. Use all your senses. Once you've had the opportunity to enjoy and notice how absolutely fabulous they are, move onto the next item or stop. I promise you there is more delicious food coming! Afterall you don't have to follow the lessons of your childhood; no one is telling you you have to eat EVERYTHING on your plate before you can have desert!

2. Water, water, and more water.
Each day we need around 2 litres (8 glasses). Not only is this good for our body, it can actually make you feel full. Also, when you think you're hungry, chances are your body is actually thirsty and dehydrated! Don't wait to drink until you feel thirsty. The easiest way to get that kick start is to drink two glasses of water FIRST THING in the morning - yes before your properly awake!! This is a great habit to start - do it for 21 days!

3. Divert your energy.
What non-eating activities can you do during this time of year? If you're getting ready to out out to a Christmas event, turn the music on and dance around for at least 5 minutes. Our goal is to get in the habit of moving more! It takes only 21 days to create a habit so do something everyday - even something as little as when you’re in front of the TV try knitting, pilates, yoga or if you have one, ride an exercise bike or treadmill. Don't forget to park your car further away from work or the shops, take the stairs instead of the lift - try all sorts of little things to move more!

4. Declutter your pantry.
This is really important to help move your sabotage foods out of the house - especially at this time of year. I bet you don’t even need to open the pantry to tell me what they are. Support your efforts and get them out!

5. Get lunches and healthy snacks organised for everyday eating!
The key to helping you stay on track at this time of year is to have healthy lunches and snacks readily available in your home for everyday eating. For lunches try salads, quiches, boiled eggs, tuna. For snacks carrot and celery sticks, home made popcorn without butter, fruits, or a make-your-own trail mix with raisins, nuts, and dried fruits.

This is a great time of year to balance out the FEASTive season eating by introducing healthy habits so you don't have to feel guilty about enjoying the beautiful foods and celebrations this time of year offers!

With research showing 88 per cent of homes have at least one cluttered room, and the average home having three or more cluttered rooms, where you can, try and choose gifts that don’t add too much clutter to your family, friends or children's teacher’s lives!! Just by thinking outside the box there are some great gift ideas that won’t add clutter!

1. Gift cards
There are lots of giftcards on the market now - everything from donations, through to iTunes, to experiences like hot air balloon rides! Giftcards mean the gift recipient can get exactly what they want vs what you think they want!


2. Gourmet lovers
Do you know someone who loves tea or coffee. Why not put together a little gift basket of a few different types of specialty teas or coffees, with gourmet biscuits? If you can – resist the urge to buy a cup or teapot - unless you know they want one and the style they like!

3. Pampered Kings and Queens
This is a great one! Perfect for overworked family members or your child's favourite teacher! Afterall what teacher wouldn’t appreciate a gift certificate for a massage to melt away the stress of the year?

4. Socially aware
If you or someone you know is passionate about a cause, consider making a donation to a charity on their behalf. If you’re not sure which one, choose a charity that offers unconventional gifts!

At Revamp we choose to support Opportunity International - an organisation that provides microcredit or a micro loan to help people in India, Indonesia and the Phillipines start or grow their own small business. The majority of loans are taken out by women so they can earn an income to afford food, clean water, proper shelter and an education for their children. What's great is as each business grows, loans are paid back and lent out again. With 97% of loans repaid, the cycle continues, year after year. Each successful business feeds a family, employs more people and eventually helps empower a whole community. How good is that?

5. Ecofriendly or Organic Gardeners
If you know a keen gardeners, or wanna be gardener, why not buy them some gardening supplies. This might include packets of vegetable seeds (organic heirloom varieties if you can), and accompanying companion plants and flowers to keep the bugs away!

These ideas are only the tip of the iceberg, once you start thinking the possibilities are endless!

The month of August has tested my skills as a professional organiser! When you’ve lived through a renovation you know how much it impacts upon your life. This month I thought I’d share the challenges and strategies I used as I faced as our second last instalment of renovations.

1. There is always more than we think
I honestly didn’t expect to do much decluttering – after all it was only bedrooms, a linen press and home office that needed to be moved. And well, I’m a professional organiser - of course I’ve decluttered my belongings, and pared them down to the basics!

Hmm famous last words! As soon as I started taking items out, I became aware of the enormity of it – I felt how many of my clients do – when you begin to wonder when will the end be in sight? Eventually all of our belongings were neatly covering every square inch of our living room and dining room furniture and floor. I found it very confronting as I could see what I have always known – my stuff outweighed my husband’s.

2. Breaks are good
I discovered I needed to stop on a regular basis to keep my energy going. I was so grateful for my wonderful clients who welcomed me into their homes to let me organise them during the last month, and wonderful colleagues who met me for coffee to talk business. Thank you for providing me with respite from MY chaos! I also found my slow cooker was a handy little “power tool” for renovating too.

3. Mindful Organising
Organising by yourself can lead to YoYo organising! YoYo is all about starting in one area, then finding something that belongs elsewhere (e.g. tea towel), and before you know it your organising the whole area that you were just meant to drop something off in e.g. linen press or tea towel draws in the kitchen.

Practicing mindful organising meant I had to keep asking myself WHAT am I doing right NOW – walk away from the linen press and put the tea towel DOWN!!

4. Deadlines are helpful
Having a deadline really made a difference to my schedule and when I needed to have rooms organised and emptied by.

5. Everyone is different and so is their organising style
While the work was done on the house we had the good fortune of being able to house sit for my parents and their beautiful vegetable patch! The interesting thing about house sitting is you get to appreciate how your organising style differs from others. In particular my kitchen, pantry, fridge and freezer is set up to suit my menu planning personality!! The only thing I need to confess is I did re-organise their utensil draw (nothing was tossed - just put like with like).

The other benefit of house sitting is it makes you prioritise your can’t live without clothes and items.

6. Ready for a quick escape?
Years ago I created a dedicated travelling toiletries case! If you travel a lot or go camping a lot you must create yourself one and pop in first aid items that are relevant for travelling needs. I can honestly say this saved me an enourmous amount of time pre and post holidays! All I need to do is pop in new soap and the electric toothbrush and we are ready to go! I do keep a spare toothbrush handy if I don’t want to take the electric toothbrush.

7. Do I really need it and where will it live?
Ok this is when it got really tough. This week we arrived back home to a brand new looking home! Freshly painted and luxurious carpet under our feet! Seeing just how wonderful it was helped me re-evaluate how much of this stuff do I really need?

So, over the last two days I have challenged myself – my husband gently encouraging me by saying he knew this great little organising company that might be able to help! So, here are the questions I found very helpful (funnily enough it is the REVAMP process!):

• What is the purpose of this room/ space/ cupboard (R-emember)
• What items need to be here/ would I like to have here in this beautiful newly painted and carpeted space? (E-valuate)
• When was the last time I used it/ wore it (do I look positively fab in it)? Can it be repurposed e.g. a bedside table is repurposed as a printer stand! Could someone love it more than me? (V-alue)
• If I do keep it what will I do to use and honour it and where will it live? Where will I keep the things I need the most? (A-ssign)
• What can I do on a regular basis to monitor ‘stuff’ (M-aintain)
• What can we do to celebrate our new space? (P-arty)

At times it was really tough – especially with the “emotional clutter” mementos from my beloved Nonna and Nonno’s (grandparents). Asking these questions helped me to evaluate each item and it made the process a lot easier. In some cases I had kept an item because of the emotional attachment I have to a memory or person. I really had to cut through that and look at the item and work out when and how I was going to use it, if it still worked and how could I honour it.

We ended up dropping off about 5 garbage bags of clothes, jackets, towels, sheets, knick knacks, clothes hangers, glass ware, and a dinner set to Lifeline and Red Cross, and tossing/ recycling another 2! Not bad when I though I’d have nothing to donate/ toss.

8. Flexibility
One of the other things I learnt was that it is ok to adjust your priorities. Sometimes I got behind in emails, sometimes because the information I needed was on a different computer, in the box near the dining room table or the back up discs on the other side of town!

What else did I learn?
Having gone through the process of organising our space really did help me to reconnect to what my clients go through when we work together. As always it is rarely about the stuff – it is all the feelings, emotions, or busyness of a crazy schedule that led to its accumulation or what the items mean in the bigger picture of life.

The evaluation report prepared by The University of Melbourne and Deakin University on The Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program program, which operates in 139 schools around Australia to help primary schools set up a kitchen garden has heralded the program a great success!

The study found that children involved showed clear changes in attitude, knowledge, skills and confidence in relation to cooking and gardening.

Here are some of the key findings of the report:

• A significant increase in children’s willingness to try new foods, with 39% of children reporting they would try new foods, compared with 26% at the start of the Program
• 71% of children in participating schools reported they enjoyed cooking, compared with just 50% at non-participating schools
• Children are not the only beneficiaries of the Program, with 41% of parents in the survey claiming their children asked them to cook food they had made at school
• The Program was considered by teachers to be particularly effective in engaging ‘non-academic learners’.

Visit the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program Website to look at the Key Findings and Final Report on this fantastic program!!!

VEGINSIGHTS is a new quarterly report produced by the Australian vegetable industry (AUSVEG).

Surprisingly this is the first time that the report has been produced but it reveals some interesting data on consumers favourite fresh vegetables!

The top vegies, purchased twice as much as any other vegetable, include carrots, lettuce, potato and tomato!

The data is based on purchasing patterns from the October-December 2009 period and revealed that 58 per cent of households purchased carrots and potatoes in the December quarter, meaning they were in the top four vegetables purchased, with onions following closely behind at 54 per cent.

While lettuce was also purchased by 58 per cent of households, double the amount of females to males purchased lettuce in the December quarter! I am wondering how they know it was female purchasers.... anyhow I can't wait to get my copy of the report from AUSVEG!

Capsicum, mushroom, broccoli, pumpkin and zucchini also made the top 10, however, all were purchased by less than 40 per cent of the households surveyed.

How does this compare to your household? I'd love to hear what you're whipping up in your kitchen with these vegetables?

Have you ever wondered to yourself “life wasn’t meant to be this exhausting?”

If so, it sounds like you could join us for The Art of Stress Free Living!

In this fabulous one day playshop on Saturday 17 July in Brisbane, Revamp Professional Organisers Pty Ltd has teamed up with Helen Butler from Clutter Rescue and Narelle Todd from Successful Living to show you real simple and easy ways to organise yourself, your home, your meals and your family’s schedule as we dispel the myths of work-life-balance!

You’ll leave the day with a vision board, goodies bag and 9 Breathe-Easy Secrets to help you Get Control of your Home, Family Life and Create a Sanctuary Just for You!

Stop putting it off! Seats are limited for the event, so please go to our website and book your tickets early.

For more details and bookings visit www.TheArtOfStressFreeLiving.com

Paper paper every where!? Paperwork challenges the best of us (yes Professional Organisers included)! I spent last month working with a successful and busy woman find their way out of years of paperwork in their busy home office. My client realized she couldn’t tackle this big job on her own – and she was right - her paper situation was incredibly complex! For her, dealing with the bare paperwork essentials was the only way to survive.

We don’t often realise it, but the way we organise our lives has a big impact upon our health. We know it when we find ourselves struggling to balance our work, family and social commitments. Creating just a little bit of order helped my fabulous client stop feeling stressed and overwhelmed, and reclaim time to do some of the things she loves (guilt free)!

So, how did we help her get on top of her paperwork? We started with these 3 tips:

1. When paper arrives ask what you need to do with it.  
Do you need to:  Act; Refer or Toss that piece of paper? Asking questions helps you work out where it needs to go on its journey!

2.  Act on it!
Are you finding common themes?  Pay bills; claims to make;  school notes to sign?  Create a spot to deal with this incoming paper and have the tools near by so you can write on it what you need to do with it.  Don't waste your energy re-reading it every time you pick it up!  

Do you have some projects on the go?  This might be revamping your website, planning a business planning session or getting a fence built.  Create a file to keep your 'project' paperwork together.  Once you've acted on it - you might need to refer to it later, or if you're lucky enough, can you toss it?

What are your peak times?  Do you need to tackle your paperwork when you are feeling energetic?  Take a look at how often you perform paperwork tasks - is it daily, weekly, twice a month, or once a month? Setting aside regular times to act on it is important because if we waited until we felt like it, we’d never do it!!  
 
3. Refer - Everything needs a home
If you need to refer back to a piece of paper,  you need to set up a retrieval system that works for you.   There are lots of different ways to organise your files - the categories don't matter, as long as you can find them.  If you work from home, keep business and home filing separate.   Don’t forget it is said that we only refer to 20% of what we file 80% of the time.  Unless you have to keep it for tax or warranties, ask yourself do you really need to keep more than a year’s worth of documentation?

The best thing is my client can now find what she is looking for without the frustrations she used to experience. The next challenge we're going to solve together is What's for Dinner!

When was the last time you felt this good? Need some help to find that balance?

Have you ever wondered to yourself “life wasn’t meant to be this exhausting?” If so, it sounds like you could join us for The Art of Stress Free Living!

In this fabulous one day playshop on Saturday 17 July in Brisbane, Revamp Professional Organisers Pty Ltd has teamed up with Helen Butler from Clutter Rescue and Narelle Todd from Successful Living to show you real simple and easy ways to organise yourself, your home, your meals and your family’s schedule as we dispel the myths of work-life-balance! You’ll leave the day with 9 Breathe-Easy Secrets to help you Get Control of your Home, Family Life and Create a Sanctuary Just for You!

Stop putting it off! Go to The Art of Stress Free Living Website.

Toys everywhere! Is this a common problem in your home? I get a lot of enquiries from busy parents looking for tips and tricks to make the toy clutter easier to manage!

The most important weapon in the fight with toys is to set up your toy library!

To set up your toy library you need to do some observation! That's right just like a wildlife watcher! You need to know which are their favourite toys. Watch them for a week and see which toys they hunt out every day.

Once you know that, put everyday toys into smaller easy to access containers at a height suitable for the little hunters!

Now you can have a craft afternoon and create labels for the everyday toys.

So what do you do with the least favourite toys? Put them into a long term library storage - with a view to donate in 12 months time (if there are no other children on the way!) The toys that are used occasionly can be put into a week day toy library. You might take this out once a week or a couple of times a month on a set day just to add a little bit of interest to their play. There aren't any hard and fast rules so, just test out what works and try some of our bonus tips!

That's right - if you are ready for more tips we've put together a little tip book with 15 fabulous tips to help you on your way. Drop us a line and we'll send it out to you!