My latest video details a recent visit to a friend's house, and my conversation with her related to organizing and storage. Visit:

http://www.getorganizednow.com/gon-videos.html

For your convenience, if you've missed any of our past videos, you can find those here:

http://www.getorganizednow.com/gon-videos-all.html

Now that summer is here, I spend a lot of time at the town pool with my family.

I recently ran into a friend while I was there, and although it was hotter than hot, she would not take her cover-up off to reveal her swimsuit.

She said she was embarrassed because she put on some weight, and just didn't like the way she was looking.

While I was chit chatting with her, her children tried to convince her to go for a swim with them, but she remained on the lounge chair the remainder of the time we were there, watching her children enjoying themselves in the cool water.

She had her last child three years ago, and she confided in me that although she's tried some diets here and there, she just hasn't been able to shed those pounds she put on when she was with child. She was really feeling bad about herself.

What a shame. I felt bad for her. Unfortunately, her self- esteem wasn't at an all-time high, to say the least.

Anyway, our conversation reminded me of a resource I found on the Web--a free video--that I immediately recommended to her--because I know it has helped so many people.

It's called The Diet Solution, and it's chock full of information that not only helps with those nasty excess pounds, but also changes your thinking about why the so- called 'healthy' foods you're eating are likely stopping you from reaching your weight goals.

Now take it from me...when given the choice, I'd choose a slice of pizza over a handful of carrots. Let's face it...life is too short to not enjoy delicious foods.

That's why I loved all of the valuable information on this video. It was very down-to-earth, made perfect sense AND was filled with information to help you look and feel great all swimsuit-season long and thereafter--without depriving yourself of delicious foods.

I was very impressed with the amount of quality information on this video and could hardly believe they were giving it all away. It's unheard of. Check out the video for yourself:

http://getorganizednow.com/rd-ds.html

Maria Gracia

P.S. Extra special BONUSES! Because it's my birthday month, until FRIDAY, JULY 6TH AT 11:59 P.M., if you order anything from the Diet Solution folks after watching the video, I will send you the following bonuses valued at over $150--complimentary--via email within 24 hours of your order!

1) Organizing Clinics - Volume One - eBook
2) 20 Little Ways to Stop and Smell the Roses eBook
3) 101 Steps to Success eBook
4) The Most Inspiring Quotes of All Times eBook
5) Managing Your Money for All Ages eBook
6) Get a Grip on Life eBook
7) Improve Your Self-Esteem in One Weekend eBook

******************

IMPORTANT: Because these bonuses are exclusively available for my readers, you won't see anything about them on the video. To get your complimentary bonuses, just email me at getorgnow@charter.net along with your order number and I'll email your files immediately.

Everything below can be accessed on our home page:

http://www.getorganizednow.com

** NEW Easy-as-Pie Organizing Challenge of the Week (Updated for 6/24): With all of our TO DOs, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. But, here at GON, we make it as easy- as- pie. Here are this week’s 5 challenges. (Box 2)

** NEW GON Video: Wine and Crayons Don't Mix! (Box 3)

** NEW Blog Post: In one of my recent newsletter issues, there was a reader question that I responded to in relation to receipts and magazine clutter. It generated lots of response from our readers, with their own thoughts and ideas. I included these responses in my blog this week! (Box 4)

** New Discussion Forum Thread: A reader asks, ’I've been reading everyone's posts about productivity and biz's, getting jobs and careers. Did you ever wish you could just stay home?’ (Box 5)

** FEATURED Article: Don’t Get Bit by the Clutterbug: It starts off as small as a sticky note. Then, just when you least expect it, you discover that the clutterbug is running amuck. (Box 7)

Note: Each 'box' on our web site is numbered. 'Box Numbers' next to each update below, correspond with the numbered boxes on my web site so you can easily find what you're looking for!

1) Dress comfortably, not in good clothes. Cleaning can be dirty work.

2) Energizing music is helpful to many people. Others find housecleaning days to be a good time to catch up on podcasts. Some turn on TV as white noise in the background. Still others enjoy quiet for cleaning. What helps you?

3) Why are you cleaning? Is it because company is coming in an hour or because at the end of the week or weekend, the house looks a bit uncared for and disorganized? Your reason may have an impact on the order in which you clean.

4) Is anyone else helping? If you can enlist children, assign them age appropriate tasks, anything from putting their toys in a toy basket, to being completely responsible for a room. Alternately, some people find that enlisting the spouse to take the kids to a movie or the playground for a few hours results in a clean house faster.

5) If you are expecting company, first take care of the rooms they will see. Tidy each of these rooms--most likely living room, bathroom, and maybe kitchen, and then clean. Perhaps open a window in each room as you clean to let in some fresh air.

6) If this is a non-emergency clean, you have more options. Begin wherever you wish. Some people work their way from one end of the house to the other. Others start in a particular room because it is the one they most want to look good.

7) It is easier to clean if things are neat. Therefore, begin in each room with a quick pick up and ordering. Straighten magazines and books, put remotes where they belong, and fluff pillows.

8) In bedrooms, hang clothes or deposit them in the hamper. Pick up toys.

9) Start in one corner of the room and work your way around and to the middle. Pick up things that belong in another room and place them in a basket near the doorway.

10) Bring a garbage bag into which waste baskets may be emptied and other trash placed. If you recycle, you may want an extra bag for the recyclables.

11) Depending on the amount of time you have, you may wish to clean each room immediately after it is picked up. This is a good option for emergency cleaning. If you have more time, straighten up all the rooms and then do the cleaning.

12) Dust first, from top to bottom. Crown moldings, ceiling fans, and corners, working your way down to lower surfaces and baseboards. Dust blinds if you have them, and windowsills.

13) Vacuum and/or mop after dusting.

14) In the bathroom, either rehang the towels neatly or put out fresh ones. Clear the countertops by putting things in their appropriate places. Spray some cleaner in the tub and shower, and pour your preferred cleaner into the toilet to work while you quickly wipe down the counters and sink. Clean the mirror. Now wipe the shower and tub and finish off the toilet. A quick damp mop of the floor and you are done.

15) In the kitchen, begin by filling the sink with soapy water and put things that do not go into the dishwasher in to soak briefly. Load other things in the dishwasher. Now put away things that have been left out, like the box of crackers or cookbooks. Wipe the countertops well with your preferred cleaner. Disinfectant wipes are great for when you are in a hurry. Wipe the outside of your large appliances and anything else that stays out on the countertop, like the coffee maker. Don’t forget to do the handles of the refrigerator and microwave.

16) To clean the microwave, put a measuring cup of water inside and microwave for a minute or two. The steam will loosen gunk that has stuck inside so that it can be more easily wiped away.

17) Now go back to the sink and make short work of those utensils that have been soaking.

18) If you have more time, take a quick look inside your refrigerator and get rid of fruits and vegetables that may have spoiled, or leftovers left too long. Scoot containers over and quickly wipe the shelves with a damp cloth. If there is time, remove and clean the vegetable and fruit drawers.

19) If your home office is a mess with papers strewn all over the desk and you are rushed, make four piles of papers--to throw away, to file, to deal with, to deal with as soon as possible. Toss the throwaways and put each of the other piles in a separate folder. Papers such as bills to be paid should go into the ASAP folder. Folders can then be neatly stacked on the desk or put in a drawer. However, if you tend to be an 'out of sight, out of mind' person, leave the ASAP folder out where you will see it.

20) The laundry room is much like the kitchen or bathroom to clean. Put things away. Use your spray cleaner on a damp cloth or paper towel to quickly wipe large appliances and clean the sink if there is one.

21) Vacuum any rooms you did not do earlier and mop any floors that need it. Mops that have flat heads with cloths that fit on them are faster and easier than carting around a bucket of water.

22) A bottle of spray cleaner or a mix of vinegar and water in a spray bottle is useful for particularly dirty spots on the floor. Spray, give it a few seconds to penetrate, then mop.

23) Remember the little 'odds and ends' of cleaning-- folding and putting away clothes, cleaning out the litter box, shaking out welcome mats, cleaning fingerprints from phones, switch plates, and doorknobs.

24) Small touches--fresh flowers from the garden or aromatic candles are a nice finish to a cleaning job.

25) Look around with a sense of achievement as you enjoy your clean house.

You have a special occasion coming up, and wouldn't you know it? The day before the event, you start feeling a cold sore coming on. By the next day, it's just awful!

If you want to finally cure your painful, embarrassing and contagious cold sores, without spending a fortune on useless over-the-counter products and disappointing medications that don’t work, then this is by far the most important information you’ll ever read.

Visit:
http://www.getorganizednow.com/rd-coldsores.html

P.S. Here's what just one customer had to say...

'I've been trying for years to get rid of the cold sores that appear every time and then on my upper lip. They are just too ugly and whenever I had them I just feel to stay at home until they go off. Surprisingly, after only a few days following your program, there's no sign of any cold sores anymore. They just healed off! I can never thank you enough for this. It was not just about cold sores, but about all the pain that I used to feel when I had to go our with them. Fortunately, this is something of the past now.'

--Amanda Dolson, Toronto, Canada

Do you love our newsletter? Do you have suggestions to make it better? Are there other topics you'd like to see us cover? Or do you just want to say Hello? We'd love to hear from you.

Although we cannot respond to each individual message, we do take your comments to heart and consider and appreciate each one.

Just send an email to:

getorgnow@charter.net

Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.
Life is beauty, admire it.
Life is a dream, realize it.
Life is a challenge, meet it.
Life is a duty, complete it.
Life is a game, play it.
Life is a promise, fulfill it.
Life is sorrow, overcome it.
Life is a song, sing it.
Life is a struggle, accept it.
Life is a tragedy, confront it.
Life is an adventure, dare it.
Life is luck, make it.
Life is too precious, do not destroy it.
Life is life, fight for it.
--Mother Teresa


And remember . . . there's no better time
to get organized, than to Get Organized Now!

Warmly,

Maria Gracia
Get Organized Now!
http://www.getorganizednow.com

(c) Copyright 2012 by Maria Gracia, Get Organized Now!

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