Blog Entries for Karen Gardiner

Love Our Earth

karen@simplifyforlife.com — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 05:00:00 +0100

In celebration of Earth Day tomorrow I wanted to share some information on recycling electronics and other products we use every day that contain chemicals that are potentially hazardous to our health and the environment. See the links below to gain access to the how, where and when of disposing of electronics and other hazardous items in your home that are no longer needed.

ALEXANDRIA -

General information on rules and regulations of recycling in Alexandria.

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Design Event on Saturday, April 24th

karen@simplifyforlife.com — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 05:00:00 +0100

Simplify for Life is a new business partner with the Habitat for Humanity ReStore in Alexandria. I believe there is a synergy between my company's mission - to help people gain clarity and time through the process of organizing, and the ReStore's mission to support the Habitat for Humanity of Northern Virginia's mission to provide affordable housing to low income families in the area. A significant part of organizing is purging and letting go of items no longer needed and a good way to do so is [...]

Clear the Clutter to Find your Life!

karen@simplifyforlife.com — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 05:00:00 +0100

It is so uplifting to see everyone working on their yards, and to hear the sounds of nature and lawn mowers in our neighborhood. Spring is here finally after our long, hard winter! I feel the need, more strongly this year, to purge things from the inside of our home. I want the weight of unnecessary things removed from our newly renovated home. I am really trying to push my agenda of simplicity which sometimes is met with resistance from everyone else in my family.

One of my fav [...]

Community Reuse and Recycle Event This Saturday!

karen@simplifyforlife.com — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 05:00:00 +0100

I meant to post this info earlier, but it has been busy. A large Shred and Share event is planned for this Saturday, March 27th from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. It is a collaboration of the City of Alexandria, County of Fairfax, the Habitat for Humanity ReStore, Landmark Mall, ProShred and McEnerney Realtors. ProShred will have a shredding truck to shred and recycle your old personal documents and the ReStore in Alexandria will be accepting donations.

Shredding Details: Shred up to 5 medium-siz [...]

The Critical Hub of A Home

karen@simplifyforlife.com — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 05:00:00 +0100

A client friend of mine sent me a link to some good products for organizing the kitchen. We have been working on her kitchen recently, and like most of us, her kitchen serves many purposes beyond cooking. We have been working on streamlining her desk that is in the kitchen, reworking her cabinets so that the shelves and cabinets that are most accessible hold items that she uses most frequently, and purging items that don't work for her any longer.

The kitchen is such a vital room for [...]

Feels Like Spring

karen@simplifyforlife.com — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0100

I don't know about you, but yesterday with the sun shining so brightly and the temperature in the high 40s, it almost felt like spring was in the air. Just as nature changes for the better (in my opinion) in the spring, many of us feel the urge to bring positive change to our homes, schedules and self. With spring, comes the desire to make our homes lighter and brighter. Additionally, we look for ways we can free up time to enjoy the longer days and maybe mak [...]

Snow and Donuts!!

karen@simplifyforlife.com — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0100

I think it is safe to say that we all are going a little stir crazy! Having an unexpected snow day in the middle of the winter can be fun, and can break up our routines, but too much snow, and too many days off from school (and work) can wreck havoc with our over packed schedules, create stress and sometimes be very demotivating.

Our neighborhood streets are still pretty bad since we haven't been plowed. I have been able to get out, but on a limited basis. Yesterday, I worked out at h [...]

Three Elements to Organizing

karen@simplifyforlife.com — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0100

I am sometimes asked by a client why a room that we have worked on together still gets disorganized. Sometimes it is because the system needs tweaking, or it may be time again for a good purge. Though, sometimes it is because there are some habits or behaviors that if modified, could help support the system.

Usually the first phase of organizing focuses on the physical space. This is where the most change happens. In order to organize a space, items need to be so [...]

January is Get Organized Month

karen@simplifyforlife.com — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 05:00:00 +0100

Hello Brooksfield family. I greatly appreciate this opportunity to be an occasional blogger for your school community.

I have been working in the organizing field, providing both residential and business organizing services, for over 8 years. My motivation and passion is to assist clients, through the organizing process, to find clarity and time in their home and work lives. Prior to starting my company, Simplify for Life, I worked in the association management f [...]

Organizational Consultant: Karen Gardiner

karen@simplifyforlife.com — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 05:00:00 +0100

Come back for organizational tips and news.

Karen Gardiner

www.simplifyforlife.com