I was recently interviewed on Global News about de-cluttering your home.

Unwrap the gift of time – tips on keeping on top of the holiday season

http://www.heartandstroke.com/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=ikIQLcMWJtE&b=4016859&ct=11516905

Recently I was featured in an article for the Heart and Stroke Foundation’s Newsletter about preparing for the holiday season.

St. Patrick’s Day is only days away. And for me it’s an odd mixture of feelings that come to the surface. When I grew up in Ireland St. Patrick’s Day was a very simple affair. You went to mass, watched a tiny parade in the rain and went home to dry off. But it was not the big drink festival it is around the world now. I’ve never really got into either version to be honest – I would much rather Irish music, or Irish writers, or Irish artists or even Irish cooking were celebrated on this day. Popular demand dictates otherwise.

However, Martin Zibauer of Cottage Life approached me regarding traditional Irish dishes he might write about. I was delighted to be of help. My mother’s Irish Stew came to mind immediately. I dug the recipe up and sent it to Martin. I warned him that though it did seem like a pretty bland meal it was “simply delicious”. Martin made the stew and wrote about it for Cottage Life:

Cottage Life

What was interesting about this article was that the dish was so simple – really just lamb, potatoes and one herb. But it’s simplicity allows the ingredients and the meal delight the senses. And I agree with Martin that culturally now-a-days we have become so complicated with our tastes.

It is the same with our lives. We create homes that accommodate so many purposes and needs. We have kitchen gadgets especially designed for one function and one dish. We have creams for so many different parts of our bodies.

Sometimes simple really is best and sometimes it’s also delicious. This year see where you can simplify your life so that what’s important can really be enjoyed and savored.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Getting It Together Organizing is donating a full day of organizing for the silent auction at this year’s fundraiser for The Waladi Child Education Fund of Toronto.

On Saturday 20th FebruaryThe Waladi Child Education Fund of Toronto will hold its annual fundraising gala commemorating its founder’s 60^th birthday to raise funds for children’s education with a portion donated specifically to the children of Haiti this year. The Dinner and Dance will be held at Canada’s National Ballet School and will feature a performance by the Toronto All-Star Big Band and a silent auction. For tickets and Info: patti@johnlloyd.ca or Ossian@alacartekirchen.com

The Waladi Child Education Fund of Toronto

Fundraising Gala

Saturday, February 20th, 2010

Gala Dinner & Dance presented by à la Carte Kitchen

With the Fabulous sound of The Toronto All Star Big Band

Live and Silent Auctions, and lots of entertainment and surprises

To be held at

Canada’s National Ballet School

400 Jarvis Street, Toronto, Ontario

Cocktail reception at 6.30PM followed by Dinner

Dessert reception and Dance starting at 9.30PM

Tickets

Gala Reception & Dinner + Dance Party-$300 per person

Dessert Reception + Dance Party – $125 per person

Tables of 10 are available

Sponsor Table $5000 Patron Table $3000

For Tickets and Information please call:

Patti Burnett -416.778.9363 E: patti@johnlloyd.ca Ossian Ghazal – 416.971.4068 E: ossian@alacartekitchen.com

I am going to be leading a workshop in Toronto on April 8th on organizing your home office.

Paper be gone! Organize your home office now!

Address your own personal “hurdles” that keep you disorganized. Learn skills and techniques to bring greater productivity and calm to cluttered and non-functioning environments. Set up an efficient office space without spending a bundle

Cost $20 in advance, $25 at door

2nd Floor, 243 Queen St. W.
@ University
Toronto, ON M5V 1Z4
(647) 347 – 1899

For more details: Be The Change

I received a comment from Angelina regarding her son the other day. She had so many appointments for herself and her son that it was difficult to keep on time and she asked me if there was an application out there that would help her.

There is SOOOOO much out there! The difficulty is in making a choice and deciding whether you want to pay for it or not. I spent some time looking at what is out there. What I found is only a fraction of what is on offer. And a small disclaimer here: I am not personally recommending any app. – they look good, they have a good rep. and if they are not free they have free trials. Try them out and see what works for you.

I  love the name of this one! It’s free too. Get reminded, anywhere, locate your tasks, work together and share tasks, organize the way you want – lists or notes etc. Add tasks wherever you are.  It’s interface is clear and simple.

Life Balance

Life Balance is award winning coaching software that provides a dynamically ordered To Do List driven by the importance of your goals, your desired allocation of time and effort, and feedback from what you get done each day.

TimeGT is built to make life and tasks handling much easier and more accessible. TimeGT offers numerous ways to organize tasks, ideas and notes. It will suit a wide range of time management techniques used by different people: Getting Things Done (GTD) by David Allen, important-urgent method by Dwight D. Eisenhower, First Things First by Stephen Covey, and many others.

Organize your schedule and share events with friends. With Google’s free online calendar, it’s easy to keep track of life’s important events all in one place. Share your schedule. Let your family and friends see your calendar, and view schedules that others have shared with you. Get your calendar on the go. Access your calendar from your phone using its built-in calendar or mobile browser. Never forget another event Get event reminders via email or have text messages sent right to your mobile phone.

Gift Certificates

The perfect gift for that special someone who has everything but nowhere left to put it.
Getting It Together Organizing’s Gift Certificates have always been a most popular gift. And they are great value too!

You choose the kind of organizing gift you would like it to be. Perhaps someone you know is considering having renovations done in their home. A consultation with me before they start work with the contractor will ensure that their renovations don’t just look good but that they also accommodate the many uses and storage needs of each room.

Or perhaps a baby is on the way? A half day working with me will create a home environment that can easily deal with all the new gadgets and toys that are about to flood their home.

There are many reasons why someone might need help with organizing – in their home or office – but for sure most people in these busy times do.

When you defer and do things in a rush eventually everything (in your life) becomes a last dash… it isn’t about thriving, it’s about surviving.