Let's celebrate the Valentine’s Day love! The "Be Mine" Organizing Giveaway is here! I've put together some of my favorite goodies that are fun and fabulous. We're talking The Container Store $25 gift card, Tate's mouth watering Chocolate Chip Cookies, Anne Taintor's sticky notes and so much more!

During the three plus years I’ve been writing The Other Side of Organized blog, an amazing community of people including you, have come together to share ideas about change, clutter, organizing, letting go, life balance, and more. My deepest gratitude goes to you for your wonderful feedback, tweets, posts, reviews, and support. If you haven't already done so, I personally invite you to join in the conversation and of course, enter the contest.

The “Be Mine” Organizing Giveaway of goodies was selected to organize, inspire, relax, and delight you. It's worth over $100. The winner will receive everything described below:

• The Container Store $25 gift card
• “Had she really hit Reply to All?!?!?” Sticky Notes from Anne Taintor
• Oh, So Organized! coffee mug
• “get relaxed” Tea from The Republic of Tea
• Starbucks $25 gift card
• Tate’s Chocolate Chip cookies
• Hershey’s Kisses
• Tribeca bin from The Container Store
• “To Do” clothespin
• Autographed copy of The Other Side of Organized by Linda Samuels

I know you can't wait to win this handpicked selection of my favorites! The “Be Mine” Organizing Giveaway starts on February 5th. One winner will be picked on February 11th. There's no time like the present to enter. Keep reading and act now!

Contest Rules:

• Comment on this blog post below about what you love to organize, what you're passionate about, or your most treasured Valentine's Day tradition or memory.
• Comment about the giveaway on the Oh, So Organized! Facebook page.
• Re-tweet about this giveaway on Twitter and include @LindaSamuels when you do.
• Subscribe to The Other Side of Organized free monthly e-newsletter for continued inspiration and motivation.
• Follow Oh, So Organized! on Pinterest and let me know which of my boards you like best by commenting on this blog post.
• Comment on Pinterest about Oh, So Organized!’s “Organize for Winter” video.
• Do one or all of the above to enter. The more you do, the more times your name will be entered to win (up to 6 total entries!)

Come join the conversation about love, chocolate, organizing and more. What are your thoughts? I’m looking forward to hearing your “voice.” Happy Valentine’s Day! Wishing you love and luck!

We’ve arrived together. It’s a new beautiful winter season, the beginning of the year, and the opportunity for a fresh start. Before we look ahead, it’s just as essential to reflect back on what happened, what we learned, what we accomplished, and where we currently are. We locate ourselves so that we can move forward with focus and enthusiasm.

For this amazing community of sharers, while all the conversations have been incredible, I thought you’d like to know which posts resonated the most with you this year. Your insights and thoughts have been invaluable. We talked with experts like Julie Morgenstern about time management, we had giveaways for books, organizing products and most importantly…chocolate. We shared ideas about clutter, change, enlisting help, and more. Enjoy the 2012 highlights!

10 Most Popular Posts of 2012 . . .

1. Ask the Expert

Julie Morgenstern – The “Ask the Expert” monthly feature, newly introduced in 2012 was very well received. Julie’s interview on time management generated an especially dynamic conversation. My favorite question was, “Why do some of us have so much difficulty managing our time?”

2. Giveaway

Fall Organizing Giveaway – Fall organizing tips on inspiration, relaxation, and organization were shared along with a giveaway including a $25 Starbucks gift card, Purse Perfector handbag organizer, and autographed copy of The Other Side of Organized to lucky winner, Rachel. More fun giveaways will be coming in 2013.

3. Wonderfully Human

Sometimes It’s The Little Things – Following on the heels of Superstorm Sandy, we shared our thoughts about gratitude.

4. Possibility Thinking

5 Tips to Eliminate Your Excuses – We looked at the top five excuses and tips for overcoming them in order to move forward and embrace the possibilities.

5. Success Secrets

8 Tips for Bouncing Back – Eight wonderful colleagues shared their best advice for handling life’s surprises and setbacks. Thank you Yota, Leslie, Geralin, Ellen, Janice, Janet, Sue, and Helena for your unique perspectives.

6. Enlisting Help

Top 10 Reasons People Ask for Organizing Help – As a professional organizer for over 20 years, I’ve noticed certain patterns that propel people to reach out for organizing help. Can you add other reasons to the list?

7. Getting Motivated

10 Motivation Challenges & Fixes – What de-motivates us and prevents us from moving ahead? We identified challenges and talked about tips for overcoming them.

8. Too Much Clutter

What’s Your Relationship to Clutter? – We talked about our views about clutter. We looked at if we were on a clutter hiatus, oblivious to clutter, or overwhelmed by it? After locating ourselves, we discussed next steps.

9. Embracing Change

4 Tips for Navigating Change – Procrastination can keep us stuck. This post, inspired by a pair of purple velvet slippers, looked at what to do when we’re struggling with change.

10. Fresh Start

Recombobulation Area – Transitions are integral to beginning something new. We shared ideas about the shift from a disconnected to a more balanced state.

Thank you for being part of this community and taking time to reflect back over the best of this past year. Did you have a favorite post? I’d love to know which one and what you liked about it.

I’m looking forward to the conversations we will continue to have this year. My heartfelt wishes go out to each of you for a happy, healthy, organized-enough, and joy-filled 2013!

Photo by Linda SamuelsSummer is the time to slow down, tackle those organizing projects and enjoy vacation time. One powerful motivator for getting things accomplished is having a time deadline. For example, knowing the bags have to be packed before the plane takes off or the minivan leaves for the family road trip creates an urgency to be ready. For the Summer Organizing Giveaway, I’ve put together some fun travel-related organizing tips and giveaways.

Organizing Travel Tips

• The List: Yes, we can try to keep all the details in our heads, but making a list of the items you want to take, makes packing easier and less stressful. After writing your list, “go shopping” in your drawers and closets. Gather items onto a large, flat surface and then pack away.
• The Containers: You can just throw things willy-nilly into your bags, but grouping items together in packing cubes or Ziploc bags will keep you and your suitcase organized. Packing cubes can also be used as drawer organizers when you arrive at your destination.
• The Nourishment: Bring items to feed both the mind and the body. For the body, pack some travel snacks (nuts, dried fruit, mints or chocolate) because you never know when hunger might strike. For the mind, travel light and download your favorite books to your electronic reader. The Other Side of Organized just became available for the iPad, iPhone, Kindle and Nook. It will soon be available on Sony Reader too.
• The Last Minutes:  Before any trip, there are always last minute things to do and purchase. Keep an extra list nearby to capture those “to do” thoughts that pop into your head. Having your action list nearby will help keep you focused and worry-free about not forgetting to cancel the newspaper, hold your mail or buy extra sunscreen.

The Summer Organizing Giveaway starts on July 14^th.  One winner will be selected on July 21^st.  It includes goodies that will organize, inspire, relax and delight you.  Continue reading for description and contest rules. The winner will receive everything described below:

• The Container Store $25 gift card
• “Pack This!” Pad by Knock Knock
• Eagle Creek Pack-It Cubes (2)
• Clear Zippered Case
• 24/7 Reusable, Compact Bag
• “To Do” Sticky Notes by Knock Knock
• Starbucks $25 gift card
• Oh, So Organized! coffee mug
• Autographed copy of The Other Side of Organized by Linda Samuels

Contest Rules:

• Comment on this blog post below with your favorite vacation spot, memory, travel organizing tip or challenge
• Comment about the giveaway on the Oh, So Organized! Facebook page
• Re-tweet this giveaway on Twitter and include @LindaSamuels when you do
• Subscribe to Oh, So Organized! monthly e-newsletter for continued inspiration and motivation
• Visit the newly redesigned Oh, So Organized! website and comment on this blog about your favorite feature, section or part
• Purchase a copy of The Other Side of Organized (paperback or e-Book) and email copy of receipt to linda@ohsoorganized.com
• Do one or all of the above to enter. The more you do, the more times your name will be entered to win (up to 6 total entries!)

Come join the conversation about vacations, organizing and more. Wishing you all good luck!

It’s fall! It’s fun! It’s a time of possibilities and change. Kids are going off to school. Leaves are changing colors. Acorns are dropping from the trees in droves. I’ve been traveling quite a bit the last few months including North Carolina, Boston, Curacao, Austin and DC. When I was in the fabulous city of Austin for the NSGCD conference (National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization,) I enjoyed visiting Allen's Boots and trying on some gorgeous cowboy boots. As I was about to write this post, my mind took a slight detour in connecting the words boot with book. So, while a boot tour could be fun, instead, I’m doing a book tour.

Let’s go back to possibilities. I’m in the midst of my Fall Book Blog Tour for The Other Side of Organized and having a great time! You never know what might happen. Already my book has traveled as far as Australia (thank you, Claire McFee) and in many places around the United States. Two special people, Crystal Patriarche and Stephanie Elliott of BookSparksPR are coordinating the events. They are amazing women and I couldn’t have done this without their expertise and guidance. Thank you, Crystal and Stephanie.

Of course, no tour would happen without the wonderful, generous people that are willing to host. The tour to date has included guest posts I’ve written about Paper Clutter, Dreaming, Technology & Life Balance, and Motivating Kids to Organize. There are lots more exciting happenings coming like guest posts about "Organization with a Sprinkling of Chaos," Q&As, book reviews and giveaways. My deepest gratitude goes out to all the people that have hosted my book tour so far. We’re going strong with many more stops to make. Below is a partial list of blogs visited to date:

• Almost Organized – Robert Carr
• Confessions of an Organized Homeschool Mom – Bethany LeBedz
• Five Minutes for Books – Dawn Mooney
• Neat Streak – Melanie Dennis
• Organize With Sandy – Sandy Jenny
• Organize Your Life Now – Claire McFee
• Rubbermaid – Erin Gentry
• Penelope’s Oasis – Penelope Guman

Please visit these blogs, leave a comment, enter a giveaway or just stop by and say “hello.” It’s wonderful to get out there, meet so many of you (even if it’s virtually) and share the conversation.  Check back often for the latest updates. I invite you to join me on Twitter @LindaSamuels, Oh, So Organized Facebook page, sign up for my free monthly e-newsletter or leave a comment on my blog. I personally invite you to join in the conversation about possibilities, organizing and life balance.