5 comments about The One-Minute Organizer Plain & Simple.

1. This book has 500 tips for getting your life in order and most of them take a lot longer than one minute. I'll let you do the math on that. But each of the tips is pretty quick to read about, and that's mostly what I do. I keep this book on my bedside table so that when I need something light to wind me down, I can pick it up, read a tip or two, like " . . . create standard packing checklists for volunteer meetings, children's overnights, or family camping trips," and think to myself, who lives this way? If I did all the things this books suggests, my family would have me at the psychiatrist's office getting me diagnosed. So I don't really do any of it. I just find crazy books like this highly entertaining. I think you will, too.
   Lucy Adams, author of If Mama Don't Laugh, It Ain't Funny



2. This is a very useful little book filled with tips on keeping yourself organized. I found many great ideas in the book and it covered just what I was looking for.
   
   The book is organized into two parts:
   
   Getting organized (getting started, clearing clutter, paper stuff, spaces & things)
   Staying organized (everyday strategies, clutter control, home management, schedules & to-do's)
   
   I found so many of the tips useful (perhaps more useful tips than other similar books). Putting small items in zippered bags in your purse helps to cut down on clutter and makes finding things much faster. (I did this with my makeup and now finding my lipstick is a snap and I don't have to worry about the lid coming off in my purse!). Stapling product receipts to the manual is also a great idea. The author warns about keeping your will in a safe-deposit box because it will be sealed at your death - an important piece of information!
   
   I also really like the format of this book. You can read it from front to back or just open to any page and start, which makes it easy to read in small bytes before going to bed or for a minute or two while your coffee is brewing in the morning. The typeface on the pages sorts the information visually: lists are easy to read, important words are bolded or printed in a different typeset. This probably sounds unimportant, but it helps you to read the book very fast and get lots of ideas in a short amount of time. The author also includes little sentences to encourage you in your organizing (like: "Remember nothing worth doing is easy").
   
   This book is full of ideas you can really use and is so easy to read. A great reference for anyone and would also make a nice gift!



3. If you are like me (and you just might be if you are reading reviews about this book) you have a tendency toward clutter, but have never given up the fight. If that sounds like you, I urge you to get this book. Each page has one or two bullet points in large print - advice and tips on how to get organized.
   
   One of the best sections in the book for me was on paper clutter. I seem to drown in papers. Until I read this book, I had struggled for years with how to organize my files. In just a few bullet points of advice, I was able to understand for the first time how to file. I am still in the process of switching over the headings of my files, but what I have done so far makes paperwork a breeze. Taxes this year were a cinch because of how I had my tax paperwork filed.
   
   Based on this book by Donna Smallin, I look forward to reading her other books.



4. I liked this book. The author gives a plethora of tips on how to get organized in any part of the house. It is nice that she focuses on many different areas such as clutter control, paper management, family tips, and work tips. My only complaint about this book is that while it is an organization book, it didn't seem very organized and jumped around a bit.
   
   I am a professional organizer in Honolulu, HI [...], and there are certainly tips in here that are effective and useful, and that I would use in my business.



5. Most people like me are disorganized because there is too much information!!! This handy SIMPLE book gave me tips in a SIMPLE format, which is what I needed to get myself organized. I refer to the book from time to time, reinforcing the organizational tools needed to simply my life.

1 comments about The Nest Home Design Handbook: Simple ways to decorate, organize, and personalize your place.

1. I purchased this book because I wanted some unique ideas in an easy to read format and sure enough, this is what I was given!!! I love it!!! It is FULL of pictures which makes it easy for my husband to flip through and say like it/hate it....and that brings a huge grin to my face ;-) Oh, we relocate every three to four years (nope, not a military family) and we ALWAYS have new places and spaces. This gives great advice on using what you have and really adding speacial pieces.

5 comments about Smart Closet Makeovers.

1. Profusely illustrated throughout, Smart Closet Makeovers offers step-by-step instructions on basic shelf building, practical tips on putting together "ready-to-assemble" kits, and shows how to effectively upgrade light fixtures to brighten a closet. There are literally dozens of examples of closet configurations to select from for any weekend do-it-yourself closet makeover project. Readers will also discover new and useful storage products that will increase the capacity, accessibility, and orderliness of any closet. Enhanced with a special bonus section showcasing forty-four organizing ideas applicable to any area of the home, Smart Closet Makeovers is enthusiastically recommended for anyone needing to make their closets more efficient, more elegant, more esthetic, or simply better organized.



2. I can always count on Sunset books for good info, clear photos and good coverage on a topic. This books tells how to get the most from your closet space. I like that this doesn't just tackle the clothes closet, but also covers pantries, utility closets, craft closets and office closets.
   When I hear of people renting storage facilities for their excess things, it makes me realize we need to streamline and organize. The books tells how to get more space in your closets by adding shelves and organizing systems. It also tells how to purge some of the overflow. The projects include step-by-step directions.



3. No holds barred, this closet makeover book is the best! Highly practical in its format, giving solutions for storage for small and large spaces, instructions and ideas are presented in a very clear way. Makeovers range from the extremely simple (adding another shelf) to the complex and everything in between. If this book doesn't inspire you to redesign your closet to suit YOUR needs, nothing will!



4. This book certainly furnishes many different projects. Since I have limited closet space, it was very informative.



5. Great color photos, lots of good info on how to organize and arrange your closets. Not only for clothes closets, but this also gives details on turning a small closet into an office, pantry, etc. Great decorative schemes, and so many ideas you won't know what to do with. I like the before and afters.

5 comments about Living with Chickens: Everything You Need to Know to Raise Your Own Backyard Flock.

1. This is a great introduction to keeping chickens, and I found it very useful.
   
   The author goes through all the basic info you need to know in order to raise chickens. It is a very easy and entertaining read - the author has a great writing style that is enjoyable. It is full of lovely photos that really add to the book. It is a fast read as well.
   
   It is not terribly complete - you will need another source for information once you get into the chicken care part. I would recommend "A Guide to Raising Chickens" by Gail Damerow as a companion to this book. The Damerow book is *very* complete, but it also has the dryness of a textbook and isn't nearly as fun to read [think "dense" and kinda boring].
   
   So, I would recommend buying this book if you are considering raising some chickens because this book will give you all the information you need to make an educated decision. Then, if you do decide to raise some chickens, get the Damerow book in addition to this one so that you have every single detail you need to know.



2. Excellent for those who wish to have a home flock. Very informative on the subject and the "how to" of keeping a small flock.



3. The recommendations in this book make it a waste of time, especially the nesting box design.
   Save your time and money and befriend someone who has healthy chickens. Learn from them.
   These men are not as well informed as they think they are.
   Frustrating.



4. This book is a nightmare to read: a chapter heading page will have four type faces and five type sizes with text running around a picture and photo captions way too small to read. Yes, the information is all there, but it's like pulling teeth to find it in any organized manner: a page will have so much graphic on it that the type is wandering through the photos like a path through a dark forest. I wanted a handbook; this is an entertainment book which looks like it is aimed at those folks who have raised chickens in the past and have many happy memories to relive. For us newbies, this is not the book. I found Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens much clearer and easier to read.



5. The book was most certainly worth the money. As a newcomer to the world of poultry keeping, it was both easy to read and well laid out for easy reference, detailing everything you could need to know on a husbandry level.
   
   A definite for anyone thinking of taking on the challenge of chicken keeping!!!

5 comments about The Beverly Hills Organizer's Home Organizing Bible: A Pro's Answers to Your Organizing Prayers.

1. This book was what I was looking for; it gave me ideas on how to create storage areas. I knew how to declutter etc. I just needed ideas on how to make the most of the storage areas that I already have. (Closets etc) Excellent Book



2. I first checked out the library copy of this book to make sure it would fill my needs, and now I'm going to buy it. This book is filled with helpful pictures and clear instructions on what containers/drawer organizers/wire-coated shelving, etc., to buy. Linda Coopersmith explains how to measure each storage space to buy the correct size containers. She even has a chapter on how to set up a home-filing system, and exactly what you can eliminate if your paper trail is too long! She also references several inexpensive sources (i.e. Lowe's, Wal Mart, K-Mart, Linens & Things, Bed, Bath & Beyond, etc.) in order to make the most of your storage space. I love the clear, concise numbered format she uses to show us how to organize our homes. This is one book I will reference over and over! However, I have to admit that Linda does not talk about decluttering for those people who consider themselves packrats. Decluttering is a necessary first step for packrats. A good beginning book for this stage of organization would be "Flylady" by Marla Cilley.



3. THIS IS REALLY A BOOK THAT ANYBODY CAN LEARN SOMETHING FROM. Linda Koopersmith knows what she is taliking about, and I love how she shows a normal person with a normal wardrobe how to fold and organize anything! Her tips about creating space in your home can be used and understood by normal people, in other words, she does not make you feel like an idiot. She impressed me on Clean House, but I am even more impressed now that I have her book! This book is a super buy for anybody who hates clutter, and who loves to know where everything in their home is!



4. 
   Thank you Linda: I have looked at organization in a whole new way. Thanks for the pictures and the step-by-step guides.
   
   I hope you plan on doing another book soon.



5. This book is a veritable goldmine of clear, practical, and actually doable suggestions for getting things organized just about everywhere in your home and office. As we plan to move into a smaller home, Linda's common sense suggestions and helpful photos have made us think of things that we had never considered before. Her listings of resources are a real asset. With Linda's help, I believe our dream of having an organized yet comfortable smaller space will become a reality.

5 comments about Organizing Plain and Simple: A Ready Reference Guide with Hundreds of Solutions to Your Everyday Clutter Challenges.

1. Donna Smallin's book delivers ! Organizing Plain and Simple, offers people a reasonable and concrete way to dig out from under the chaos. First, you declutter. Her excellent suggestions on how to finally accomplish this daunting task gives one hope that it can be done. No organizing cliches here, instead, yellow panels of ideas and actions targeted to specific problems appear among the text as quick, handy action steps to move you forward in your efforts.
   She tells you what to write on labels, how to select storage options, ( disorganized people rarely measure, that's a problem), what to do if you can't seem to discard a particular item and reminds you that what you really want is to be surrounded by what you love. You learn how to keep what is left so you can find it everytime, and not spend money to replace "lost" items.
   Donna Smallin is the sensible friend, who knows you and wants you to succeed, and she is guiding you to be able to do it yourself and to understand why and how.
   You even get a reward at the end...the organized life you deeply desire...that now has room for better things, personal confidence, career success, pleasant surroundings and the time and ability to share your hospitality with others.
   READ THIS SMART, INTELLIGENTLY WRITTEN BOOK AND RELEASE YOURSELF FROM CHAOS, CONFUSION AND CLUTTER FOREVER ! You deserve that joy.



2. In addition to the valuable information in this book, it is filled with tips and checklists that are well put together. The book begins by talking about organizing in general and then focuses on specific rooms, finances, time, home life, and transitions.



3. I got this book from the library originally, and was so motivated and floored by the amount of information covered, I just had to have it. It's one of those books that you like to own so you can hilight sections, make notes, etc. The book is not full of fluff - it's literally full of tidbits and information that covers budgeting, organizing closets, the house in general, decluttering (this is where I needed the most help!), etc. I just can't even begin to tell you how absolutey motivating this book is! I highly recommend it as a must have to help you accomplish your organizational goals at home.



4. I purchased this book because I wanted to organize the spaces in my home (I am terrible about not "finding a home" for new items and letting my mail pile up everywhere). I did find some information to help me in those areas, but this book contains a lot more information that what I was looking for - it is more of a "how to organize your entire life" guide. If that's what you are looking for, I think this is a good book. Here are the main sections:
   
   Getting Started (uncluttering)
   Organizing Room by Room
   Organizing Finances (saving & managing money, reducing debt)
   Organizing Time (stress, work/life balance)
   Organizing Home Life (family schedules, vacations, home safety)
   Organizing Transitions (moving, new baby, new pet, your estate)
   
   Some of the topics covered are items that can encompass an entire book (debt reduction, stress management), so I would consider the information presented as more of a starting point that a complete "how-to" and readers needing lots of help may want to find a book dedicated solely to that subject. However, the information presented is useful and is worth reading before taking on a task (i.e. - reviewing the travel section before taking a trip may ensure you don't forget an important detail)
   
   The book is easy-to-read and contains lots of helpful hints and ideas. The author also includes some good, straight-forward checklists (preparing for taxes, what items you will need for a new baby, list of items for a car emergency kit). I liked those and I also thought she offered some good advice - for example, a list of fun activities your family can do for free if you are trying to save money.
   
   Overall, this book covered more topics that I was looking for, but the information presented was good. I like this book as an overall reference to organizing. For a quick read on organizing your clutter, readers may want to consider Donna's book "The One-Minute Organizer Plain & Simple."



5. I was hesitate about getting this book on all the mixed reviews. Well I am glad I got it. Within 5 minutes of looking through the book I TOTALLY organized my kids mittens/gloves/hats/scarfs and now my foyer looks neat instead of messy. Can't wait to try the other tips I read about!!!!!!!!!

3 comments about Simplify Your Space: Create Order and Reduce Stress.

1. I've read many organizing and decorating books and I loved Simplify Your Space by Marcia Ramsland. It walks you through decluttering and simplifying each area of your home in a way that gives you the biggest results in the least amount of time. You can't go wrong using Marcia's CALM method, and the decorating tips at the end of each chapter will have you living in style in no time. I also liked her stories about working with actual organizing clients. I give this book a definite thumbs up!



2. Marsha Ramsland's Simplify Your Space has Simplified my life, my work, my home, my travel, and my family frustrations! Kudos to you Marsha for practical help on life's most frustrating topic: our stuff! I hope all your other readers find the help I did so they can have the CALM life your method provides! Thanks you!
   
   Pam Farrel
   El Cajon, Ca



3. Marcia's easy-going, motivational style of writing is just what I needed to make a BIG DIFFERENCE in my home. As a retiree, I have accumulated many things over the years. Since my home is small, each inch counts. I was encouraged to SIMPLIFY THE SPACE in each room, including the garage. I love the feeling of now having a home that reflects me (not my stuff), with space to relax and entertain. Sometimes it's hard to "declutter" because we're emotionally attached to items. Marcia's CALM technique helped me to "let go" while still appreciating their value. Her diagrams and stories of clients gave me freedom to choose styles of organizing that fit me and my space. WHAT A DIFFERENCE! Thanks, Marcia!

5 comments about The Naturally Clean Home: 100 Safe and Easy Herbal Formulas for Non-Toxic Cleansers.

1. You know, I was skeptical that basic natural ingredients and a little essential oil could beat the cleaning powers of many commercial products. After having tried about four of the recipes and using them regularly for a few weeks I am sold on this method of cleaning. It's not only easier and in the long run A LOT cheaper, but my house is actually cleaner with less effort than ever before. My husband says that the house doesn't smell "clean", it smells like a mountain. I also feel better about the fact that I am not releasing a mess of toxic vapors and poisonous fluids into the environment anymore. My daughter used to wake up every morning with severe nasal allergies but since I've been cleaning "Naturally" I have not recently seen her wake up rubbing her nose and sneezing for the first few hours every day. Another thing, sugar ants are very common in my area and usually infest most household kitchen surfaces after meal preparations, even after you wash those surfaces down. The antibacterial spray recipe I tried contains an oil stated to ward off ants... I guess so because those buggers haven't been back to my kitchen for weeks! So, I'm happy, and my whole family is happy too. We are all breathing a little easier and enjoying the benefits of a naturally cleaned home! I agree with one of the other reviewers that the mold deterrent recipe is just AWESOME! It works, NO scrubbing, and it smells fantastic! Most of the oils I was able to find at a local GNC, and the containers I use are cleaned, RECYCLED ones from all the old commercial stuff I used to use! It's a win-win!



2. Clean Home is a great recipe book for some great home-made cleaning products. Our house smells better than ever before, and we don't have to worry about the two-year-old tornado (my daughter) touching anything that is toxic or cancer-causing. I'm pretty sure you can ingest every product in our cleaning cabinet with minimal side-effects. I would recommend this book to anyone with kids and everyone who cares about the air they breathe in their home. The best part about it? Once you get the ingredients and add the prices up, you'll be saving money versus store bought cleaning products.



3. I am a teacher who cleans houses in the summer. I am switching over to all environmentally friendly cleaning products because the of constant exposure to chemicals. This book has been the most helpful! I didn't want to buy the expensive green products they sell in stores because many aren't really environmentally friendly and they are expensive. This book has been invaluable. It has chapters on the kitchen, laundry room, bathroom, etc. There are many options and I love the new cleaners I'm using.



4. This book has great formulas, but many of them are the same "recipe" but they use different essential oils. Many of the formulas can be found online through a simple google search. However, it is a good reference to have on hand, just don't purchase it new.



5. This book is good but not great. I bought it because I was looking for Better Basics for the Home for my daughter to take back to her apartment at school. My local bookstore didn't have it so I bought this one instead. This book has some nice recipes for cleaning around the house and suggests some good essential oil combinations. I bought one for myself and for my daughter but it is nowhere near as comprehensive as Better Basics for the Home. In fact that is why I am on Amazon today - to order the one I wanted in the first place!

5 comments about Making Peace with the Things in Your Life: Why Your Papers, Books, Clothes, and Other Possessions Keep Overwhelming You and What to Do About It.

1. I really enjoyed reading this one. I actually have a better understanding of myself and my stuff after reading this book.



2. As others have written,I too have read many, many, MANY clutter, organizing, packrat books. I still have so many, they have contributed to the clutter. This was one of the good ones. My problem is not organizing my stuff-- I want to get rid of it. Most books give you detailed file organizing and specific instructions. I wanted to know WHY I couldn't let go of so many things. This may not be everyone's problem, but it was mine. Once I understood why, it actually helped to get rid of them - not organize them.



3. This is by far the most useful book on decluttering I've read. It gets right down into your heart and helps you sort out what you find there. It doesn't tell you what products to buy, but helps you understand what blips in your brain chemistry or psychology may be contributing to the clutter problem, and suggests specific strategies for dealing with the various reasons.



4. I did not read the book entirely. From my brief scanning the book seems to be very informative and instructional-- a good guide.



5. This book is the only book I've read that has had a permanent effect on decluttering for me. While it is a little tedious to get through, I discovered that upon finishing it, I was actually changing my habits. I had been in the midst of a house-wide declutter project, but it would certainly have crept back to the normal messy state of things if I hadn't changed my habits. It changed the little day to day ways I manage my things and changed my way of thinking. It was a little short on specific strategies, and was quite deficient on managing papers, reading materials and documents (was more focused on getting rid of/managing things), but I am still giving it 5 stars since it has had such a positive impact in my life.

5 comments about Baking Soda: Over 500 Fabulous, Fun, and Frugal Uses You've Probably Never Thought Of (Lansky, Vicki).

1. Great little book with lots of cool info. on how to use common baking soda in ways you never dreamed possible. Perfect for anyone trying to do natural cleaning methods without using harsh chemicals.



2. Great information and details on how to use baking soda instead of other less environmentally friendly cleaners.



3. If you are tired of using harmful or expensive products or just want to know some old-fashioned remedies, this is the book for you. As the title says, it contains over 500 ideas covering a wide variety of subjects-- stain removal, cooking, health problems, cleaning, even some organic pest control. I guarantee you will find many new uses for baking soda, even if you are already a believer in it's powers!



4. Vicki Lansky's one-woman tribute to sodium bicarbonate boggles the mind. In her own mother's words, "Who would believe she could have come up with all these uses?"
   
   Everyone knows you can cook with baking soda: it makes bread rise. It's a natural antacid. Dentists say you can brush your teeth with it. And it's quite common for to see an open box in the fridge for food odor absorption.
   
   But did you know that fridge box is only good for 3 months? After that, its freshening properties are used up. Get another box. What to do with the used-up, old box? Well, Lansky's got ideas for that, such as sprinkling the powder around the soil of tomato plants to lower their acidity and discourage pests. I haven't tried this one, yet.
   
   So, okay, I'm game. I tried a few of these `uses' and hard a darned good time doing it. My fiance thinks I'm nuts for getting so excited over baking soda, but likes that the product is undeniably cheap.
   
   Playing with powder
   Here are the ideas from the book that I tried, and how it all went.
   
   
   * Laundry Booster - On the book's recommendation, I added a ½ cup to my washer load, along with my detergent. Not only did my colors and whites come out brighter, but even my workout clothes smelled nice when I took them out. Lanksy notes this boosting effect only works with liquid laundry detergents, however. I suspect the deodorizing effect works with either kind.
   
   * Garbage Disposal Maintenance - When I noticed a stink arising from the disposal afer a weekend away, I immediately poured a ½ cup down the drain, followed by vinegar. It bubbled and frothed and took the nasty scent away. I didn't even need to run water after it.
   
   * Garbage Can Odors - This one's easy - sprinkle over wet, nasty garbage to remove the odor. My take is that you need too much soda to really get the odor out. It's better to just take out the garbage. But I did find that sprinkling a little soda in the garbage can bottom, between changing the bags, was helpful.
   
   * Carpet Cleaner - Sprinkle over the carpet and let sit overnight. Use a cheese shaker or flour sifter to spread it evenly - otherwise it either clumps, or all comes out at once. Vacuum in the morning. This old technique still works great. As the proud owner of two dogs, I can verify how well baking soda works to dissolve canine odor.
   
   * Tarnished Silver - I tried two baking soda techniques for cleaning silver and was pleasantly surprised with both.
   
   In the past, I used harsh-smelling chemical products, the kind that's impregnated in a wad of wool, to scrub, scrub, scrub my silver. The process was always messy and stinky. On really old, dirty, heirloom silver, it didn't even work at all, besides stripping away my silver plate to reveal the copper beneath.
   
   Blech. These methods are MUCH better:
   
   1. Baking soda and water, mixed into a paste, cleans the tarnish right away. Spread the goop all over your silver item, let it sit for ten minutes, then rub with your fingers (or an old toothbrush) until dirty baking soda paste falls away. Rinse, buff - and if necessary - repeat. This method cleaning and safely bids the grime begone from my stemware and plates.
   
   2. The other method is great for utensils. Fill a plastic bucket, or your sink with hot water. Add a square of aluminum foil. Sprinkle your silver with baking soda, drop into hot water, and let sit 15 minutes. Take out the silver and buff with a soft cloth. My silver turned clean and shiny with very little effort!



5. This book is a wonderful resource for anyone that wants to 'green' up their housecleaning, and it also gives tons of ideas on uses for baking soda. I have been trying to eliminate harmful chemicals from my household as much as possible now that I have a little one on the way. This book along with Vinegar: Over 400 Various, Versatile, and Very Good Uses You've Probably Never Thought Of by the same auther, and Green Housekeeping by Ellen Sandbeck provide a well rounded reference for using natural products instead of chemicals for just about any job around the house from cleaning appliances, sinks, tubs and toilets, to cleaning jewelry and composting. Even if you only take a handful of the ideas from these books they are worth the investment. This book is set up so that you can easily look up a job you want to accomplish in the index and go right to the appropriate page.