Getting Organized for Life

The End of an Era: RIP George

By Hazel Thornton on January 20, 2020 14 Comments

Curious George looking to see where I went. (I had gone outside to talk with my neighbor, Lonna.)

George was my constant companion for 17-1/2 years.

Social media friends got to see a lot of him.

He died in December from multiple health conditions (OK, I had him euthanized, ugh!), and I miss him terribly. I know many pet owners who can relate, and I so appreciate those of you who expressed your condolences on Facebook, and those of you who sent cards to my home…!

A farewell to George, Org4life’s kitty mascot.

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Categories : Hazel's Family Stories

Tags : cats, era, George

Org4life: The First 15 Years

By Hazel Thornton on January 5, 2020 18 Comments

Please join me in celebrating 15 years of helping clients to declutter, simplify, organize, and refresh their homes, offices, schedules, and lives…and helping them discover their roots and tell their family stories, too!

And what’s an anniversary without gratitude, a few selected highlights, and a crossword puzzle?

What’s an anniversary without gratitude, a few selected highlights, and a crossword puzzle?

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Categories : Hazel's Organizing Stories

FOCUS on 2020: A VISION for Peace in the New Year

By Hazel Thornton on December 28, 2019 12 Comments

FOCUS on 20/20, er, I mean 2020.

As I shift my focus from 2019 to 2020, I have chosen a focus word for the new year. It is….wait for it….FOCUS.

Either that, or VISION.

Whatever. They go hand in hand, don’t they?

I can’t be the only one who picks FOCUS or VISION for 2020, but that’s OK. It’s not a competition.

What is your focus word for 2020?

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Categories : Inspiration & Motivation

Tags : focus word, goals, new year

Luminarias at the Cemetery

By Hazel Thornton on December 24, 2019 3 Comments

Internet photo of the luminarias at the cemetery next door (Mt. Calvary).

(This story was originally posted in a Facebook Note on December 24, 2012.)

Luminarias are one of my favorite family holiday traditions. It comes from my mom’s having grown up (from the age of 10) in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

But… in the cemetery? Let me explain.

What is your favorite holiday tradition?

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Categories : Hazel's Family Stories, Uncategorized

Mom’s Boxes Part 9: Mom’s Good Silverware

By Hazel Thornton on November 24, 2019 11 Comments

One never knows what will happen when you pass a family keepsake on to the next generation. Will they love it? Or, not so much? There’s only one way to find out….if your kids are adults now, ask them!

Keep reading to find out what happened when I offered my mom’s good silverware to my niece Vinca as a wedding present.

Not all kids want the things you are saving for them! If they are adults now, ask them.

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What do you think my niece said when I offered her my mom’s good silverware as a wedding present?

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Categories : Uncategorized

Organizing to De-Stress Your Holidays (all of them)

By Hazel Thornton on November 18, 2019 11 Comments

What are “holidays” and why are they so stressful? A holiday is any special occasion, all year round, which involves extra preparations; extra time, money and energy; and extra people, families in particular. Examples include birthdays, weddings, religious holidays, and secular holidays.

Holiday stress comes from having unrealistic expectations of yourself and others. Sometimes it’s the family getting together that contributes to the stress, and sometimes it’s the fact that you’re not getting together, or can’t, whatever the reason may be.

If you can relate to this definition, keep reading for some tips that will help you reduce holiday stress in four major areas of your life.

Holiday stress comes from having unrealistic expectations of yourself and others.

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Categories : Organize Your Holidays, Organize Your Home, Organize Your Mind, Organize Your Time

Tags : clutter-free, family, gratitude, holiday, stress-free

How NOT to Save Your Photos

By Hazel Thornton on November 11, 2019 11 Comments

Photos found in donated books (click to enlarge)

Have you ever hidden anything in a book? Maybe used a photo as a bookmark? I don’t recommend it as a way to save your photos! Here’s why:

I volunteer weekly for my local Friends of the Library. We price and sort donated books for our monthly used book sales (at which I also run a cash register), and we have a lovely used book shop in the Main library downtown which is open six days a week. We raise around $200K every year for library programs such as the Summer Reading Program for children.

Don’t forget to check your books before donating them!

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Categories : Memorabilia

Tags : keepsakes, memorabilia, photos

The 21 Day Habit Myth (Don’t Break the Chain!)

By Hazel Thornton on November 4, 2019 17 Comments

Calendar bird photo by Ann Strober.

I hate to be a party pooper, but I just don’t believe it takes 21 days to create a habit. Or 30 days. Or however long people are saying. It’s true that you can’t simply do something for only 3 days, or 10, and expect it to “stick”. And the effort required to create a new habit is well worth it! But I think there are too many factors to pin it down to a specific number of days for all habits and all people.

21 days may not be enough to create the habit you desire. But don’t give up!

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Categories : Organize Your Time

Tags : getting back on track, goals, habits, resolutions