If you’re professional organizer or other small business owner, I encourage you to check out the Business Simplicity Summit being organized by Molly Winters, The Connection Copywriter.
Tagged with: geralin thomas, learning opportunities, simplicity
Before 2020 I very rarely talked with anyone via video. But then the pandemic hit and just like that Zoom became a way of life. My Zoom backdrop it was quite cluttered and distracting. So I got some help.
Tagged with: geralin thomas, zoom, zoom backdrop, zoom background, zoom styling
My friend, Geralin Thomas of Metropolitan Organizing in Cary, N.C., is a professional organizer who specializes in coaching other professional organizers. If you’re not aware of all the amazing content she has put together to help organizers, you’re missing out. Let me help you remedy that.
Tagged with: becoming a po, becoming a professional organizer, geralin thomas
My father, Gene Adams, turned 90 on September 11. He lives in Walla Walla, in remote southeastern Washington state. I usually visit about four times a year but because of COVID, I hadn’t seen him since early February. I couldn’t stand the idea of not being with him to celebrate such a big day, but I also wasn’t comfortable flying there and potentially picking up and transmitting the virus to him. So I drove. It was a 4,000-mile roundtrip journey and I had a great time despite the weirdness of COVID-era travel. (I promise a post on the trip and the precautions I took.)
Tagged with: geralin thomas, gift giving, gifts, trello
In May 2017, I blogged about my Loopy iPhone case, which I still adore. I’ve edited the post slightly and reprint it here. I’ve used the heck out of that loop for three years and it started to tear, so a month or two ago I ordered a replacement loop. I inquired about shipping and in the course of my conversation with customer service they offered to refund what I’d paid for the replacement loop, because Loopy has a lifetime warranty! I was very impressed. It makes me love them even more.
Tagged with: apple, ergonomics, geralin thomas, iphone, technology, worth repeating
I wrote this blog post in 2015, after a delightful visit from my friend Geralin Thomas. I’ve updated it a little, including adding that Geralin is now selling an inexpensive Wardrobe Wisdom Workbook and adding my new favorite resale shop now that the Scholarshop is closed. Geralin is my secret weapon when it comes to looking good. I’m so lucky (and grateful)!
Tagged with: closets, geralin thomas, mindful shopping, minimalism, shopping, wardrobe, worth repeating
If you’re reading this blog, you may very well be a professional organizer or perhaps an aspiring organizer. That’s why I want you to know about Stand Out the podcast from the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals (NAPO). Stand Out is produced for professional organizers, but its content would be useful to all sorts of small business owners.
Tagged with: geralin thomas, napo, podcasts, rachel henken
Tagged with: becoming a po, becoming a professional organizer, forms, geralin thomas, guest post
I had a lovely time creating a capsule wardrobe with my friend and wardrobe advisor, Geralin Thomas. Geralin has been helping me with my clothing since for eight years and I am so grateful for her expert advice.
Tagged with: geralin thomas, mindful shopping, shopping, wardrobe, worth repeating
I attended the NAPO conference last month and roomed, as usual, with my pal, Geralin Thomas. Geralin is always turning me on to great things and I’ve learned over the years to take her recommendations very seriously.
This time, she showed me her phone case, which is called Loopy. This case has a collapsible silicon loop on the back, which threads through holes in the case to securely fasten the loop inside the case.
Tagged with: apple, ergonomics, geralin thomas, iphone, technology
Thanks to all who entered the giveaway for a copy of Decluttering Your Home: Tips, Techniques & Trade Secrets, by Geralin Thomas. I used the Random Number Generator to select a winner.
Tagged with: books, geralin thomas, giveaway
My friend, the amazing organizer Geralin Thomas, has written a fabulous new book, Decluttering Your Home: Tips, Techniques & Trade Secrets. The 176-page book, published by Firefly Books, is heavily illustrated with beautiful photos and drawings.
Tagged with: books, geralin thomas, giveaway
As I posted last week, I had a lovely time creating a capsule wardrobe with my friend and wardrobe advisor, Geralin Thomas. Geralin has been helping me with my clothing since for eight years and I am so grateful for her expert advice.
Tagged with: geralin thomas, mindful shopping, shopping, wardrobe
For the last eight years I’ve been fortunate enough to be friends with Geralin Thomas, a professional organizer and wardrobe consultant who has patiently been trying to educate me on what to wear and how to wear it. (I like looking nice, but I lack confidence in knowing what looks great on me and how to put together outfits.)
Tagged with: closets, geralin thomas, mindful shopping, minimalism, shopping, wardrobe
My friend and fab professional organizer, Geralin Thomas, came for a visit a couple of weeks ago. One of the services Geralin offers her clients is wardrobe organization, which includes closet organizing and wardrobe selection. She helped me six years ago (time flies!) and I leaped at the chance to have her help me with my wardrobe again.
Tagged with: closets, geralin thomas, mindful shopping, minimalism, shopping, wardrobe
Like millions of others around the world, I love doing family history research. Sometimes friends will ask what is it about genealogy that turns me on so much. I think it boils down to this:
Tagged with: family history research, genealogy, geralin thomas, organize your family history
If you have trouble parting with clothes, you’re not alone. Even Oprah Winfrey has a tough time, as I explained in this 2010 blog post. Incidentally, I still adore the fact that the clothes in my closet are organized by color!
Tagged with: closets, decluttering, geralin thomas, oprah, worth repeating
I have to admit, I’ve been a little slow to the game with Pinterest, the online pinboard social media site that’s swept the nation. Lots of my friends have been loving it for years, but in the past, I’d go to the site and scratch my head trying to figure out how it could be useful to me.
Tagged with: aby garvey, geralin thomas, jennifer hofmann, pinterest
On her Facebook page my buddy Gerailn Thomas shared the following words of wisdom this past Friday: “It’s Okay to Say No.”
Tagged with: commitments, geralin thomas, self-care, time management
Up until a few years ago, traveling with jewelry wasn’t much of an issue for me. I had a few pairs of earrings and a tiny (2” by 3”) little oriental cloth zipper case I put them in when I traveled. Then I met Geralin Thomas who, among her many talents, is a wardrobe consultant. She’s helped me up my game in terms of clothing and especially in terms of accessories.
Tagged with: clos-ette too, geralin thomas, giveaway, jewelry, organizing products, travel
I admit it. I’m a conference junkie. Since I became an organizer in 2005, I’ve attended every conference of the my two main professional groups, the National Association of Professional Organizers and the National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization (now Institute for Challenging Disorganization), plus three NAPO regional conferences, the Professional Organizers in Canada conference last year and the Australasian Association of Professional Organisers conference in 2009 (where I spoke).
Tagged with: conference, geralin thomas, napo, scott roewer
Part of me is jealous of people who are starting their organizing businesses now. Of course, the economy isn’t the greatest. But compared to 2005 when I started my business, there are so many resources available, at a reasonable rate, to help people get started.
Tagged with: becoming a po, geralin thomas, napo
I’ve been traveling and working hard these last couple of weeks. I was in Raleigh, N.C. to attend the Institute for Challenging Disorganization’s annual conference which was, in a word, fantastic. (If somewhat exhausting.)
Tagged with: geralin thomas, icd, self-care
My friend, Geralin Thomas, CPO-CD®, who is one of the regularly featured organizers on A&E’s Hoarders tv show let me know that tonight on ABC’s 20/20 program, they’ll be doing an episode on children of hoarders.
Tagged with: geralin thomas, hoarders, hoarding
There’s little I like better than having fun while learning. And that’s exactly what I’m doing here in San Diego at the NAPO conference.
Tagged with: education, geralin thomas, icd, napo, standolyn robertson
I leave this afternoon to fly to San Diego for the annual conference of the National Association of Professional Organizers. This will be my sixth NAPO conference in a row and, as always, I’m very excited.
Tagged with: conference, education, geralin thomas, margaret lukens, napo
My friend, the fabulous organizer Geralin Thomas, just shared on her Facebook fan page a link to a website that can save you some money on holiday shopping. It’s FreeShipping.org, where you can get coupon codes for free shipping from online vendors. Going there first might help you narrow down where you want to shop!
Tagged with: facebook, geralin thomas, holidays, shopping
I have to admit that I’m kind of excited that A&E TV’s Hoarders program is having its third-season debut on Monday. They’ll be airing back-to-back new episodes starting at 9 pm/8 pm central.
Tagged with: geralin thomas, hoarders, standolyn robertson
Last night, after several months of repeats, A&E aired a new episode of its hit documentary TV series, Hoarders.
Tagged with: decluttering, geralin thomas, hoarders
Cleaning out the clothes closet is difficult for many people. Clothes can represent so much — like music, they can do a great job of capturing a feeling about an occasion or part of life. They also can represent hopes. You hope to wear that size again. Or you hope to have an occasion to wear that evening gown.
Tagged with: closets, decluttering, geralin thomas, oprah
Hot on the heels of the popularity of A&E TV’s Hoarders documentary TV series (the network’s top-rated show), the cable network TLC is producing its own documentary series on hoarding, called Hoarding: Buried Alive.
Tagged with: geralin thomas, hoarding, hoarding: buried alive, television
In the U.S., we gain an hour on Sunday as Daylight Savings Time (finally) ends. I always love this day because I’ve been given the gift of an extra hour. Rather than setting my clock back before bed, I do it after I wake up so I can actually experience gaining an hour.
Tagged with: geralin thomas, time management, twitter
I just earned a credential I’m really proud of. I’m now a Certified Professional Organizer in Chronic Disorganization®, a certification conferred by the National Study Group on Chronic Disorganizaton.
Tagged with: board of certified professional organizers, cpo, cpo-cd, geralin thomas, nsgcd, training
I’m back from Los Angeles, where I earned my Certified Professional Organizer in Chronic Disorganization® credential from the National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization — more on the significance of that in a post later this week. As usual after a trip, I’m struggling to get back into the swing of my routines. (I’m happy to report that I have managed to clear my desk each evening.)
Tagged with: chronic disorganization, geralin thomas, hoarders, hoarding, yvonne trostli
I’m hooked on A&E Television’s hit documentary series, Hoarders. When I first heard about it (when it was in the production phase), red flags went up. I was afraid the program wouldn’t be respectful to the hoarders who were featured on the show. Or they’d offer unrealistic portrayals or quick fixes.
Tagged with: brenden mcdaniel, david tolin, dorothy breininger, geralin thomas, hoarders, hoarding, matt paxton, television
I’m really excited to watch the new documentary series on A&E Television called Hoarders, which debuts on Monday at 10/9 central on A&E. My good friend, Geralin Thomas, a fabulous organizer in Cary, N.C., is one of the organizers featured on the show. In Monday’s episode, she’s seen helping Jennifer Miller, a mother of three whose husband is also a hoarder.
Tagged with: david tolin, geralin thomas, hoarders, hoarding, television
I don’t know what made me think I’d find time to blog while in Orlando for the 2009 conference of the National Association of Professional Organizers. You’d think by now I’d know that I spend little time in my room there and when I am in my room I’m either chatting or sleeping.
Tagged with: geralin thomas, kathy waddill, lauren halagarda, margaret lukens, mary ann pate, napo, scott roewer, standolyn robertson, twitter, wendy davie
I leave this morning for Orlando to attend the annual conference of the National Association of Professional Organizers. I have to admit that I’m a bit of a conference junkie. I really benefit from the information and energy of a conference full of passionate folks.
Tagged with: geralin thomas, napo, scott roewer, twitter
I’m been knitting up a storm and not always remembering to take pictures of projects before I give them away. Right now I’m halfway through a striped cotton poncho (the Rap on Stripes poncho from Pam Allen’s Wrap Style) that I’m excited about, for spring.
Tagged with: geralin thomas, knitting, lace, yarn
I love having an organized purse. For some time I used the Baggallini City Bag, which I liked because it held what I needed and I could find things fairly easily. But it was a little more casual than I wanted when I was dressed to impress.
Tagged with: aby garvey, butler bag, geralin thomas, purse
Over at Unclutterer today, my pal Geralin Thomas of Metropolitan Organizing has a terrific blog post on how to hire a professional organizer. It includes fifteen questions to ask a prospective organizer, as well as qualifications to look for.
Tagged with: geralin thomas, hiring a po, professional organizer, unclutterer
I’ve been on Twitter for about a month now. As I posted a couple of weeks ago, I’m finding it very interesting, educational, and diverting. It hasn’t proved to be a time suck for me because I’m learning so much from the links people post to Twitter.
Tagged with: favrd, geralin thomas, twitter
When hoarding makes its way into the media, it’s usually in an article about some sort of tragedy that happened as a result of hoarding. (Firefighters unable to get to put out a fire, someone getting buried under their clutter.) Instead, this article on AlterNet, called How Compulsive Hoarding Can Threaten Your Health and Take Over Your Life helps readers understand hoarders a little better. It takes a compassionate approach, which is refreshing. The article, by Emily Wilson, is based on an interview with Dorothy Breininger of the Delphi Center for Organization, an organizer who really rocks. I’m a big fan of Dorothy’s.
Tagged with: dorothy breininger, geralin thomas, hoarding
My friend and life coach Shannon Wilkinson convinced me a couple of weeks ago to give Twitter a try. Until I spoke with her, I didn’t get it. Why would I want to post short little messages to a social networking site? And why would I want to read what others were posting? Sounded like kind of a time suck to me. Somehow I felt a little too old for it (which turned out to be ridiculous).
Tagged with: allison carter, brandie kajino, erin doland, geralin thomas, john trosko, krista colvin, lori marrero, scott roewer, shannon wilkinson, social networking, twitter
I had a day yesterday that was absolute heaven. My friend, Geralin Thomas, who among other things does wardrobe consulting, is in town for the annual conference of the National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization. She came in a day early, arriving at 8 a.m. yesterday morning, to see me and to do some wardrobe organizing and enhancing.
Tagged with: aby garvey, closets, geralin thomas, shopping, wardrobe
Whenever I have a client who says she wants to do a yard sale, I always groan inwardly. I usually convince the client that a more expeditious route to achieving her goals would be to donate unwanted items or, in a couple of really cluttered cases, get a local auction service to come take away the stuff and sell it for her.
Tagged with: garage sale, geralin thomas, unclutterer, yard sale
Over at Unclutterer today, they have a post on clothes hangers. What are the best clothes hangers? That’s an individual decision, but the Unclutterer article spells out the options.
Tagged with: closets, geralin thomas, hangers, saint louis closet company
Organizer Peter Walsh received a lot of press earlier this year upon the release of his book, Does this Clutter Make My Butt Look Fat? that explored the connection between getting organized and losing weight.
Tagged with: clutter, geralin thomas, lifetime tv, peter walsh, weight loss
Are you familiar with the Time Timer? It’s a tool, often recommended for people with ADD, that gives a visual representation of the passage of time.
Tagged with: geralin thomas, productivity, time management, time timer, tools
In my life right now, the answer to that question is T-A-X-E-S. I have to hang my head in shame and admit that my taxes aren’t done. But I’m quite sure they will be by the end of the day.
Tagged with: geralin thomas, procrastination, taxes
Checking in for a quick moment to say how wonderfully fortunate I feel to be at the national NAPO conference here in Reno. I just heard the most wonderful keynote address from Peter Walsh, who totally rocks.
Tagged with: education, empowerment, friendship, geralin thomas, napo, peter walsh
If you like watching organizing shows on TV, you’re in for a treat. Fine Living Network has a new show called Time Makeover that focuses on time management.
Tagged with: fine living network, geralin thomas, television, time makeover, time management