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  • Published on

    The Serene Process...giving you the deets!

    Ready to tackle your organizing projects and not sure where to start.  We are giving you all the deets here today, follow these steps and you are sure to make some major progress on your organizing goals.  Just remember you are only one person and can only do so much at a time so don't get down on yourself if things aren't going as quickly as you imagined.  Stay with it and your future self will thank you! 
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  • Published on

    What's the best label?

    I know, I know. A professional organizer wanting to talk about labels. Shocker, right? What if I told you though, that Cricut labels and labels from my P-touch label maker aren’t my favorite labels? That might shock you.
    I mean don’t get me wrong, I do LOVE using the Cricut and my P-touch Label maker. I have labels from both in about every space of my home. As Professional Organizers, we label ALL THE THINGS. 
    Why do we love labels so much? Is it because they make the bins look pretty or because it makes us feel more in control of where things go or are we just too lazy to look in the bins? Well, I guess being lazy isn’t too far off. That’s kind of why I love my house organized, I am too lazy to go look for things. If it is in the right spot, then I am not wasting time and energy rummaging through the drawers and cabinets looking for another lost item. As Professional Organizers, we love helping you simplify your life. By using labels, you can take the guesswork and effort out of putting things away. When we have labels, others in the household are more willing to help AND put it in the right spot.
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    So… what are my favorite types of labels? PICTURE LABELS! When my kids were small, years ago, I was not the fun mom. Every evening (ok sometimes more often), my kids had to clean up their toys. If they were big enough to dump the toys, they were big enough to help clean them up. I learned right away that it is hard for kids to remember where something goes if they can’t read the label. That’s when I started putting Picture Labels on all the bins. My oldest is 20, so this was back before I even knew label makers existed. I would take a picture of the toys in a bin or find an example online, write the word underneath and attach it to the pull handle of the bins. The picture paired with the word also helped them to learn to read. Once I discovered a laminator, I upgraded to laminating the picture card. This made the labels so much more durable. Once the kids could see what went inside, it was a game changer. They were a lot more willing to help and they learned independence and life skills along the way.​
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    When my kids got old enough to be in school full time, I started working as a Paraprofessional at their school in California. This is where I really learned the value of a picture label, as well as a laminator and Velcro 😊. Not only did picture labels help kids put their toys away, but it helped them navigate life! I was blessed to be asked to work in a self-contained Autism classroom. Not only did my love of picture labels grow, but I fell in love with working with the kiddos as well. I learned so much in my 3 years there, about how a simple picture label (of all sorts) could help a child learn routines, communicate their wants and needs, READ, and yes even clean up their toys in the classroom. 😊 
    Over the years, before I found my dream job as an organizer, I have been fortunate to work in several different ESE classrooms, in 3 different states. No matter where I worked, whether it be in an Autism Classroom, EBD classroom, or 3 year old Preschool classroom, it was evident that picture labels and communication were an essential part of life. Next time you drive down the street, look around and notice how many “picture labels” of all sorts are EVERYWHERE. ​
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    I think I mastered my craft though, when I worked in a 3-year-old preschool classroom (talk about fun     😊). I volunteered to take on the role of making sure all the bins in the classroom had an updated picture label (shocker, huh?). I knew it helped some, but I really realized the value the label had when I was sick on a Monday. At the end of every week, we changed out the activities and toys in each center. I would then put out all the matching labels or make them over the weekend if we had new activities or just didn’t have a label to match. Well, one weekend I got sick and didn’t return to school until Tuesday. I was immediately told by my co-workers that the kids were so upset that the bins didn’t have their labels. One kid had even exclaimed “how are we supposed to know where to put anything! We need Ms. Sam back.” I then heard about the lack of labels again and again as the kids arrived at the classroom that morning. At the beginning of this school year I received an email asking me to share the file and template I had used, so that they could continue to use the same system.
    So, if you have a loved one that would benefit from picture labels, don’t hesitate to use them. I mean you can always call me to make some for you; picture labels are kinda my jam. It doesn’t matter what type of labels you use, just remember….LABEL.ALL.THE.THINGS. 😊
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    ​Sam Zapata, Professional Organizer,
    ​Serene Spaces Professional Organizing
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  • Published on

    Resolutions? One Word? Vision Board? Goals? What's the best way to start 2024?

    Are New Year's Resolutions your thing? If they are and they work for you, GREAT! I am truly glad to hear it!

    New Year's Resolutions used to be my thing but I seem to keep drifting further and further away from them. For many years I would go hard for several weeks and then life would happen, I would slip up and then start to lose steam. Once I lost steam I would start to feel like I failed, lose all further motivation, and then it was over. My resolution was just another failed attempt.  Sometimes. I think there is so much pressure that it becomes easy to get defeated if/when you slip up or fall short. When I decided that New Year's Resolutions no longer worked for me I decided to choose a word to focus on and that felt more intentional and something easier to stick with, which was precisely what I likely needed during those particular seasons. 
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    I am here to remind you that if you set a goal or a resolution and it's no longer working for you it's ok to say that.  It's ok to scratch that and set a goal that is better suited for you and your current season of life no matter what time of year it is.  Also, don't hear me wrong...your goals don't have to be centered around productivity, having more, or being more of a certain way, etc.  Your goals should truly be something that adds value to you and your life. Sometimes that means taking something off of your plate or setting boundaries in areas where stress seems to creep into your life.  
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    As I get older the years seem to go by faster so while I think it is very important to be intentional, set goals,  and have a vision for your future, I don't particularly like the pressure of a New Year's Resolution and I want more than just one word.  I think the power is in constantly evaluating your goals throughout the year and staying motivated to strive to reach those goals.  
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    ​The past couple years I have created a vision board and I do really enjoy that process and the diversity of it.  For me it usually encompasses goals that are personal, family centered, and business related.  I hang it in my closet where I see it in the mornings and evenings (sometimes more).  It seems to be a great visual reminder of what is important to me so I don't forget in the day to day hustle.  I also love that if my goals shift I can just adjust.  Nothing says what you put on your vision board is permanent.  The vision board is meant to keep you pushing towards goals that work for you. 

    ​I think it's important to remember that progress happens in the small steps that lead to larger distances so our small steps DO make a difference!  My final reminder is to give yourself grace if you slip up or if things don't go perfectly the way you want.  We are all human and just because things aren't going perfectly or you have had a set back it doesn't mean you should give up.  Maybe it's just time to reevaluate and reset! 

    I would love to hear your thoughts...
    ​Do you set resolutions? intentional words? Goals?  Vision Boards? 
    Is the new year just another day for you?