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    April 2006 Edition
   
Organized Lifestyle Magazine
HOME * OFFICE * TIME * SPIRIT
April 2006
Deanne
Hello,

When every 'thing' has a place life can be crazy simple. The choice then is yours as to whether you put your 'things' back in their place and when.

Have you ever had a friend say they will drop by in fifteen minutes so you go into a ”straightening up your house frenzy” only to find that it didn’t take that long and it really wasn’t that bad? According to statistics (yes, people do research these things) you can save ¾ of your cleaning time by simply putting things back where they belong.

I like to believe that I am not the only person who does this and what makes it a little more uncomfortable, in my world, is that people have a preconceived idea of what my house should look like. Some people even think that I live a little like the pictures in the magazines. That image is certainly a long shot for me because I have an eclectic style, so the magazine would have to be a very specific one, however, everything does have its place. And if I am being honest, lots of those places are labelled – it makes it easier for me and the kids to put their own things where they belong.

When those places start to overflow we review what stays and what goes. Yes, you read correctly. I like to keep the kids involved in the recycling process. When ‘stuff’ comes in other ‘stuff’ goes out – clothes, toys, artwork, etc.

This issue is dedicated to those of you who are moving, thinking of moving, downsizing, want to spring clean, or are just ready to add an organizational idea to your repertoire to enhance the calmness that being organized gives you.


Kaos Group was recently featured in The Toronto Star for our Office Organizing Services – Read More

Kitchens, Kids and Keepsakes
* HOME *
artwork

Do you have a daily onslaught of artwork being dropped on your counter only to discover that you’re just not sure where to display the latest pieces from your junior Picasso?

Start with a basket or cool container where the kids put their one-of-a-kinds as soon as they empty their backpack from school. They can choose which pieces they want hung in the “artwork display area” and the remainder of their one-of-a-kinds are kept in one container. The “artwork display area” might be your fridge, a door that you have corked, a cool string with clothes pins to hang the work, or an area where you have mounted a metal board (two sizes sold at Ikea) using Earth Magnets from Lee Valley a super-strength magnet that holds up to 12 pictures per magnet.

The next step is to determine which pics are going into the archives and which don’t make the cut. The archive items should be dated because let’s face it, one month from now you will never remember when they drew it. You are now ready to place them into your labelled plastic storage container for safe keeping. This same container can be used for other kid keepsakes such as that little onesie, the blanket, the first shoes, the first special outfit, etc.

This container can be kept at the back of a closet, under the stairs, beneath all the winter coats, anywhere in the home where it will be easy to access yet out of the way - otherwise you will be less likely to follow through on the idea.

There is another upside to this idea and that is just how much kids love knowing about who they are. My daughter truly enjoys going through her artwork and all of her keepsakes. She seems to marvel at how she used to draw and what a great drawer she is now – I can’t wait to hear what she has to say a few years from now! She has suggested that we start a container for her little brother!

Donate Your Stuff – The Easy Way
* TIME *

So you’re ready to donate your stuff but not sure where to take it or who will pick it up? Here is our list of some of the places in Canada that you can donate your items to:

Canadian Diabetes Association www.diabetes.ca

Computers for Schools – 1-888-636-9899

Habitat for Humanity – www.habitat.ca

Salvation Army – www.salvationarmy.ca

Dress Your Best - www.dressyourbest.ca

Goodwill www.goodwill.org

AIDS Committee of Ontario 416.340.8484 x230
to donate kitchenware, electronics

Anishnawbe Health Toronto 416.920.2605
To donate Clothing

Breaking the Cycle 416.364.7373
To donate women’s clothes, kid’s clothes & toys

Red Door 416.423.0310
To donate women’s clothes, kid’s clothes & toys

Oasis 416.488.5393

Nellie’s 416.461.0521

Ontario Humane Society Thrift Stores 416.266.7716

Recycling Matters 416.466.1620

1-800 Got Junk

Arts Junktion 416.393.0894
To donate Art supplies

You can also contact your local MPP to find who accepts donations in your own community.

Is Downsizing Stressing You Out?
Read this helpful article on downsizing with great tips from many experts. Article

Thank you fellow Professional Organizer Maxine Sidran, owner of The Uncluttered Life, for her assistance in compiling this list. Maxine can be contacted at maxine.sidran@sympatico.ca

Kaos Community Board
Taking Your Business to the Next Level

At THE EXPERT’S GUIDE TO PUBLICITY workshop, you’ll learn:

My secrets to getting on TV, radio and in print . . . and how you can do it within 30 days of this workshop.

What goes into a media kit & how to make yourself an incredibly desirable guest they'll want to interview again & again.

How to 'pitch' editors and producers so you sound different than everyone else & get easily noticed.

My top 10 tips for launching your PR campaign.

How to leverage valuable media coverage to generate even more leads.

Friday April 28, 2006
Toronto Business Development Centre
(near Kipling Subway Stn)
9:15 am - 4:00 pm
$299

JenniferBeale@unleashpr.ca
www.unleashpr.ca/events
Phone: 416-865-3274


What's Your Story? What is branding and why is it important for the success of your business?

What happens when you are finally getting press coverage and you are asked to make a presentation or need to answer questions about you and your business? Do you know what to say and how to say it?

Are you telling your story to the right people, the right way? Does your story create a demand for your products and services? Do people understand what you do and how it will positively impact them?

Branding is telling the story about your business – it shapes who you are, what you do, how you do it, and why you’re different.

Branding is about consistently delivering your message and your Promise of Performance to as many potential customers as possible, with the most effective use of your time and money.

Story telling is our unique method of “branding” that is cost effective, easy to implement, and gives you a clear point of differentiation in a competitive marketplace.

Fullcircle Marketing teaches you the fundamental “brand story telling” principals you need to help you market your story - who to tell it to, how to tell it, and how to develop it.

Fullcircle Marketing: How to tell Your Brand Story
Half Day One-on-one Session with Denise Vassil Phelps
$250.00

What you will learn:
In this one-on-one session participants will start to create their story outline and learn the necessary steps to bring their story to life. Your business will grow when you are able to tell your story to your customers verbally and in writing. You will use your brand story in all your marketing materials. When you make your story meaningful and memorable to your customers they feel like they are an important part of your business and they enjoy being part of your story.

Denise Vassil Phelps
T.416.447.2599
denise@fullcirclemarketing.ca
www.fullcirclemarketing.ca

Think INSIDE of the Box
* OFFICE *
boxes

Everything has to be moved at some point in our lives – so why not work with experts to ensure a smooth transition?

Moving your office can take a toll on your billable hours not to mention peace of mind if it’s not planned out well. Whether you have outgrown your home office or you are a large firm moving to a new location, Kaos Group offers you a seamless move so that you can continue to run your business in the midst of big changes.

We create your inventory list, add in the pictures and our CAD expert creates your floor plan. Sounds simple? It really is. If your move is coming up, call us to help you maintain a piece of mind.

Kaos Group offers the same for residential moves, however, we don’t always need our CAD expert for that!

Doesn’t the idea of someone delivering all the stock you need to move sound wonderful? Well there are great people who do just that. Cardboard boxes or rental boxes, wrap, tape, paper, and anything you need to move. Contact Toronto’s Best Moving Store at www.movingstore.com

Get Your Articles in Order
* SPIRIT *
magazines

Do you find yourself keeping great magazines only to later wonder, which one has the article about organizing or renovating your bathroom? What about that great recipe or the tip on how to get that stain out? Here are a few ways to organize the articles, once and for all, that otherwise elude you when you need them most.

1. In your filing cabinet create a hanging folder called “Renovations” or “House Ideas”. Rip out the articles and drop into the folder.

2. Want to keep the whole magazine? Dedicate a group of magazine boxes to your cause. You can label the boxes to suit your style. “Renovating”, “Organizing”, “Gardening”, “Recipes” – you get the idea. Note: Be sure to mark the pages as you are flipping through the magazine. You can use the cool highlighter by Post It that has page tabs built in, you can use the *3M Post-it Durable Index Tabs, or just good ‘ole mini sticky notes. Whatever you choose keep your supplies handy.

3. If your areas of interest are vast then you could consider a three ring binder with sections of interest – allow me to divulge some of the category titles of my personal binder:

  1. Storage & Organizing Solutions
  2. Bathrooms
  3. Decorating ideas – Valentines, holidays, center pieces
  4. Stain Removal
  5. Gardening

If gardening is your thing: www.markcullen.com

*3M Post-it Durable Index Tabs
A Great Product for Organizing and Retrieving Information
These durable tabs are stronger and sturdier than standard Post-it flags. Tabs pop up easily one at a time from a convenient pop-up dispenser, and are ready to use. These tabs are easy to write on, and the unique repositionable adhesive holds tabs firmly in place yet allows clean removal. Various colours help to search for information visually. Perfect for files, folders, books and catalogues. Flags measure 1" x 1-1/2".

Making it Simple
Deanne's Tips

Solutions for every space in your home www.Spacesolutions.ca

Nifty ideas and items for every kind of organizing www.onlineorganizing.com

A truly different experience in home care: Toronto Maid www.TorontoMaid.com


Tips for Downsizing to a Condo

SCALE - that big overstuffed couch probably won't fit into the new condo. Lots of condo sized furniture is now available.

BALANCE - A good mixture of large and small furniture and accessories is important to keep the eye moving. One tall piece of furniture will anchor the room.

COLOUR - Colours should flow from one room to the other, giving a sense of a different room and yet still connecting to the rest of the condo.

BUILT-INS - Essential for storage and flow. A condo doesn't have as much storage space as a house. The built-ins must be meticulously planned to conceal and store items that would create clutter.

ELIMINATE - Now is the time to eliminate all items that you truly don't like or that don't have a purpose in the new condo. Decorate around what you love.

HAVE FUN!

>From Barbara Cole, interior designer and owner of Feather Our Nest
featherournest@sympatico.ca


Stage to Sell

Want to sell your home for top dollar? Home Staging is simply the process of presenting your home at its best to get the highest price in the quickest time. When you sell your car, you clean it out, take out the kids toys and check the engine, so why wouldn't you get your largest investment ready for sale in the same way?

Staged homes sell up to 2-3 times faster and net 3-10% more money on average than unstaged homes. The cost of Staging is less than your first price reduction and homes that sit on the market for a long time are harder to sell.

At StreamlineLiving, we look at your home through the buyer's eyes and make it appealing to the broadest market so everyone loves your home! Contact us now to learn about the many packages we offer
416-270-7508 info@streamlineliving.com
Nicki Manley & Tammy Rafferty


In case you missed our Tax Links from last month – they are back by popular demand and an April 30, 2006 deadline.

Informative Articles for Tax Questions, Myths, Deductions, and Tips:

8 Tax Strategies To Maximize Your Business Income Tax Deductions

5 Common Business Tax Myths

Canadian Income Tax FAQ For Small Businesses

Maximize Your Business Income Tax Deductions

Specific tax deductions for home-based businesses

Business Expenses as Tax Deductions

Deanne's Web Picks

The Breast Cancer site will donate a fr*ee mammogram a day if you simply click on the pink window once a day – it only takes 18 seconds if you have DSL. www.thebreastcancersite.com

Donate your HBC points www.ywcatoronto.org

Remember to check your Carbon Monoxide Detectors and your Fire Detectors . The rule of thumb is when we change the clocks check your detectors. Thanks Michael! www.homerepair.about.com

Support Wheels to Work – Donate a Vehicle www.goodwill.org

Sisters PACE Fitness in the Beach is EASY, FUN, FAST and EFFECTIVE. We are a locally owned and operated, independent women's fitness centre offering personalized and responsive service as well as competitive prices. Our 30-minute circuit program is ideal for today's busy lifestyle.
416.691.7223 www.sistersinthebeach.com

Great restaurant food delivered to your door. www.restaurantstogo.com

Packing tips www.moving.about.com

Celebrate Earth Day

Learn more about Staples and the environment Staples

Ten ways you can make earth day matter www.worldwildlife.org

Measure your impact on the Earth's resources www.earthday.net

Earth Day Canada www.earthday.ca

What can you do to support Earth Day in your community? www.earthday.envirolink.org

Time Management & Balancing the Core Four Seminar
Do you wish you were more organized? Do you understand the need but lack the follow through on how to optimize your systems? Do you want to have a more successful business or take your existing business to the next level?

You can find your peace of mind personally and profit professionally with the use of the “Core Four” system in your day to day life.

Learn how to implement techniques for success in the “Core Four” TM quadrants of your life: Home – Office – Time – Spirit. Learn how to make the most of your time, generate more money, identify your efficiency barriers, break free of the clutter and still take some time for yourself.

Coming in May 2006

Organize. Optimize. And Profit – here’s how you can get started!

Nuts and Bolts of Tax Time
Interested in getting your taxes done - now and organized long term?

Contact the experts for your Nut's and Bolts of Tax Time Preparation - a one-on-one session to empower you with the know-how and customized systems needed for year-round tracking of all your important tax time information. Record your deductions, track your expenses, file your receipts and submit your taxes effortlessly and on time, every year.
Email us for your appointment or with any questions you may have. info@kaosgroup.com

Where Is Your 125 Hour Coupon? Interested in learning how to shave 125 hours per year off your administrative duties?

Of course you are because those hours could be yours personally, or professionally in billable hours.

Do the quick math - you invest one morning or one afternoon with me and we divulge where and how you can be creating an additional 125 hours per year to use how you choose.

Here is another way to look at it. Multiply your hourly rate by 125 hours. That great big number is what you can generate by learning how to operate your office more efficiently. Freedom 125 - contact us today. info@kaosgroup.com


Deanne Kelleher
Kaos Group
phone: 416.347.9002