Simplicity News May 2007

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I am pleased to report that my weekly radio show, Organization Nation is going strong and I just LOVE doing it! Thank you for your support and for calling in with your questions each week!

Plus, I have guest experts nearly every week, so be sure to tune in for great ideas, inspiration and tips! And, if YOU have an idea for a radio show topic, I'd love to hear it!

This week's topic will be Organizing Shopping and Meal Planning and my guest will be Chef Maggie Green from The Green Apron. 

Check out the show this Tuesday at noon Eastern Time and if you have a question for me feel welcome to call toll-free at 1-866-356-0789.

An HGTV Web Forum Reader Asked...

As you know, I've been chosen to host the online version of the HGTV Spring Get Organized Challenge! This means I'll be answering reader's questions on the HGTV web forum. It's been in full swing for six weeks so far and it's been really fun!

An HGTV web forum reader named Oklahoma Guy logged onto the forum and asked,

"Monica, it's funny you just got back from OSU because I'm living in Oklahoma now, about 2.5 hours from Stillwater. Anyway, recently I had my bathroom redone due to a leak tht resulted in a mold problem. I paid $4500 for the repairs and total renovation. Now I am inspired to fix up every room in my house one step at a time. I want to do my bedroom next but my wife and I are clutter bugs.

We clean up and then we mess things up, and we say we're going to fix it. Then it stays messy for weeks at  time. We need help getting organized and making our bedroom more sensual and sexy. Also, we just had a baby who is now two months old so we have a bassinet/plapen in our room where the baby sleeps at night. She doesn't like her crib, and there is a bunch of baby clothes in there anyway... We need help in small town Oklahoma!" 

Here is my answer...

"OKGuy, first thing I'm going to recommend may be a little controversial, but you asked. Smile I think you and your wife need to clean the clothing out of the baby's crib first and foremost. I will presume she has a closet in her nursery? Hang her baby clothing in the closet, and if she doesn't have one, grab a used armoire on Craighslist to use as her closet. If you DO have a closet in the nursery, add an over the door shoe bag with clear compartments to hold little items such as socks, shoes, panties, tights, etc.

Then you will have freed up the crib space for your baby to begin sleeping in her own room. I really believe this is very important because I fear that if you don't do this now, you'll have a child sleeping in your room for a really long time. And if this happens, I guarantee you that your biggest complaint will be something other than lack of organization, if you know what I mean...

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If you haven't signed up yet sign up now to take the HGTV Get Organized Spring Challenge and get your organizing questions answered week by week!