Essentially Organized - Aromatherapy and Decluttering

Essentially Organized – Aromatherapy and Decluttering

Aromatherapy is strongly associated with healing. We go to the spa and part of the experience along with the actual treatment, is the aromatherapy. Your body is letting go of toxins, and the invigorating smells are assisting. In my opinion, decluttering is a form of healing. You are letting go of items that hold energy in your space and heart. Some of them are emotionally toxic, you may feel overwhelmed when you see them, you may begin revisiting failures of the past. It's very hard to let things go. I love helping people release the energy of these items. So why not have aromatherapy as part of a decluttering session?

For a while now, I have personally used raw Amber to help me feel grounded during emotional Client sessions. A dab on my wrists, behind the ears and on the heart. I get a lot of compliments on the smell, even from people who are “scent-sitive”. I am always on the lookout for essential oils and

lotions, and just recently found some that I like a lot. I like these oils so much, I had a custom batch made up just to help my Clients during their sessions. This proprietary blend contains properties that assist in the emotional letting go of things while helping you stay energized during the process. Hence the name, “Letting Go”. Please feel free to indulge if you have a session scheduled with me. It is complimentary.

If you are not on the calendar feel free to order:

(1) 4oz Roll On Vial of "Letting Go" $13.50 (s+h included)
Email: rachel@collectorcare.com

Interested in other oils? Check out our doTerra Website vendor here:

http://www.mydoterra.com/92034/

Aromatherapy can be defined as the art and science of utilizing naturally extracted aromatic essences from plants to balance, harmonize and promote the health of body, mind and spirit. It is an art and science that seeks to explore the physiological, psychological and spiritual realm of the individual's response to aromatic extracts as well as to observe and enhance the individual's innate healing process.
(Source: National Association of Holistic Aromatherapy www.naha.org. )

Collector Care Professional Organizers
925-548-7750
www.collectorcare.com
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4.5 Things You Might Not Know About Collector Care

Hello Collectors! We get asked all sorts of things on the job, so I thought I would make some information readily available for any potential clients reading our blog. Please feel free to use this as a forum to ask any other burning questions you might have!

1. We do cleaning as well. Light cleans and deep cleans based on your specific situation. This includes bathrooms and kitchens, dusting and vacuuming. You should ask us!
2. Is safety a concern for you or a loved one? Let us come in and do a free risk assessment. We install fire alarms, carbon monoxide alarms, and do small handyman repairs to assist in your safety.
3. We are not going to come in and throw all your stuff out. We are trained to go item by item upon your discretion, and nothing leaves your home without your approval. We are hands on, meticulous and thorough. We recover valuables daily.
4. Hablo español! ¿Conoces a alguien que necesita ayuda, pero no habla Inglés?  
5. We have a dance that we made up called the Collector Care, first you bend your knees and then you

Collector Care Professional Organizers in the San Francisco Bay Area. We serve the entire Bay Area - we travel often, we don't mind driving - so no excuses! We provide honest timelines and pride ourselves on our efficiency and skill. Whether you have people coming to visit, have always been disorganized, have hoarding disorder, or you just moved - we can help. Closet control and garage organization - we love it.  Can you not have repairs done due to clutter? Have you been turned down from a house cleaning service? Are you tired of living in chaos? These are things we hear all of the time. We understand how you feel, and want to help you regain your living space. Go ahead, give us a call... we offer free estimates. 925-548-7750

Rachel Seavey, Professional Organizer (and blogger) For Collector Care

Collector Care specializes in hoarding disorder, chronic disorganization and professional organizing. We  love what we do, and  provide realistic expectations and timelines. Please visit our website at

www.collectorcare.com  or call 925-548-7750

Tweet us on Twitter : Like our Facebook page : Pin with us on Pinterest

Collector Care Professional Organizers - Hotel in San Francisco Before & After Photos

Hello Collectors! This is a project that we did in beautiful San Francisco, California. Our client just moved into her hotel room and needed help getting organized. By using a free room planning app, she was able to create the exact layout she wanted. We were very excited to make it happen and super thankful for allowing us to use these  pictures. 

Here are some before and after pictures:

View from the front door (Before)

View from the back corner of the room - not much room in this 200 square foot hotel suite.

We needed to organize the kitchen/pantry space. as well as define a living room (Before)

 

After several hours we were able to get the job done, and were just finishing up the final touches for the rest of the pictures below. I use my iPhone camera so please excuse the poor resolution. I try not to bring too much into any session with me to avoid losing items. : ) 

View from the front door (After)

Kitchen/Pantry We even deep cleaned her refrigerator! (After)

The kitchen/pantry is behind me and there is at least three feet of open space to walk around. Tony hung up pictures. We dusted cleaned and vacuumed.

ANOTHER SATISFIED CLIENT!

Thank you to our client for being so open about us using their pictures on the internet. Sometimes people just need help moving in and getting cozy ... Do you need help moving in? How about moving out?

Whatever your needs are, we try and help you reach those goals. Sometimes you might be disorganized due to moving, health issues, family drama, being too busy with work and life, other people's stuff etc. It's okay! Maybe you have always been disorganized - and feel it's impairing your life in a negative way. It's still okay! We are trained to find creative solutions for collectors with AD/HD, physical impairments and hoarding disorder. We pride on ourselves on being efficient and providing reasonable expectations. We offer affordable maintenance plans as well. Don't face your clutter alone!

We organize the entire Bay Area including Livermore, Pleasanton, Brentwood, Antioch, Concord, Walnut Creek, Danville, Castro Valley, Hayward, Oakland Alameda, Berkeley, San Francisco, San Mateo, Sonoma, Vallejo, Palo Alto, Milpitas, and if we have not listed a city here, just call and ask us!

925-548-7750

Rachel Seavey, Professional Organizer (and blogger) For Collector Care

Collector Care specializes in hoarding disorder, chronic disorganization and professional organizing. We  love what we do, and  provide realistic expectations and timelines. Please visit our website at

www.collectorcare.com  or call 925-548-7750

Tweet us on Twitter : Like our Facebook page : Pin with us on Pinterest

Collector Care: 4.5 Tips On Keeping Your Kitchen Tidy

Hello Collectors!
Are you overwhelmed with kitchen chores? Dirty dishes piling up?
No room to sit down and eat or prepare a meal?

We all get busy and have dishes pile up. Below are 4.5 tips to help you maintain your kitchen space:

1. Dishes don't bite! Wash them. If you don't have time to wash them daily - you might want to consider paper plates. Mold can grow on your dirty dishes, making it difficult to breathe, and hazardous.
2. Take out the trash. Fruit flies, house flies and odor are invasive. 
3. Free up cupboard space by donating your unused cups, dishes and food. 1 in 6 American households are suffering from some form of food starvation. 
4. Clean our your fridge - or at least throw out the spoiled food. Then throw that bag away!
5. Sweep or vacuum your floor. Make sure there are no wet areas so to avoid slips and 

Not sure where to start? Hire a www.collectorcare.com organizer today! 925-548-7750

Collector Care: 4.5 Tips On Handling Mail Clutter

Hello Collectors! Are you overwhelmed by mail? Not sure what to keep or save? If you are located in the San Francisco Bay Area, then give us a call today!

Tony Leonardini offers a "Mail Sorting Class" included in our services. Let us create a system that works for you. Save money on late fees and lost paperwork today.

If you are not able to have us over, here are 4.5 tips that can help you reduce mail clutter right away.

1. Do you have piles of mail around? Start by weeding out the junk and recycling it. Junk mail is bulky and by the time you get to read it the coupons may be expired.
2. Do you receive catalogs you don't need? Call the number listed for them and ask them to stop sending you mail.
3. Surrounded by bills? A lot of bills are available online. See what sort of paperless options your providers offer.
4. Set a timer for 30 minutes a day to tackle back logged mail.
5. Worried about your name? Tear it out and shred it. Recycle the rest of the remaining

Don't let mail keep you down any longer!

Collector Care offers custom solutions for clutter. Clear clutter and be happy!

Collector Care Interviews Linda Samuels - Organizer, Author and New President of the Institute for Challenging Disorganization

Hello Collectors! I am very excited to bring you this interview. In some of my other blog posts I have mentioned the Institute for Challenging Disorganization (ICD)  and what a wonderful resource it is for those with clutter and for professionals like myself. If you have not subscribed to ICD yet - I suggest you do!  http://www.challengingdisorganization.org/. In addition to her work with the ICD, she is a hands on organizer, amazing blogger and author!

I had the absolute pleasure of meeting Linda Samuels, new ICD prez elect a couple of weeks ago at a convention. She is an absolute ray of sunshine inside and out. Dressed in vibrant ICD colors and a sparkling personality, I was immediately drawn to her. As a fairly new organizer I am always humbled to meet our veterans - and was even more humbled when Linda asked me to join her in an ICD commercial/interview! The ICD is a true collaborative of professionals, that all support each other and Linda Samuels is proof that even the most experienced and savvy organizers are kind and helpful to us "newbies".

http://www.ohsoorganized.com/

So now on to the interview! I hope you enjoy!

Rachel: I love that you still work hands on with clients. What is your favorite thing about working hands on with someone who is chronically disorganized?

Linda:Whether my clients are chronically disorganized or not, what I enjoy most are the wonderful relationships that develop. Particularly with my CD clients, these relationships are long lasting. I feel very lucky to be invited into my clients’ lives and be partners with them as they navigate change and witness the “ah-has.” Since I tend to work with my clients for an extended period, I experience many life transitions with them. I love the variety, the challenges, the connection, and the creative aspect of my work.

 

Rachel: What was one of your biggest mistakes as a new organizer?

Linda: Perhaps the biggest mistake I made as a new organizer was that I didn’t have clear enough boundaries. I found myself in uncomfortable situations too many times. It took me a while to establish guidelines so that there would be no unwelcome surprises for my clients or myself. I used the difficult situations as learning experiences, but it would have been better if I had anticipated at least some of these issues ahead of time. One of the most valuable classes I took to help me think about these issues was “Boundaries and Ethics”, which was co-created by my colleagues Sheila Delson and Terry Prince for the Institute of Challenging Disorganization (ICD).

Rachel:  The ICD has the most fabulous classes.  Thank you so much for this information! Setting boundaries has been one of my biggest challenges. It's nice to know that there are resources for new organizers that address this, and that even the best have gone through this challenge.

Rachel: What advice do you have for new organizers wanting to work with the chronically disorganized?

Linda: The best advice I can share for any organizers, new or veteran that wants to work with CD clients is to seek out education. Without knowledge and training, organizers run the risk of doing more harm than good. The best source for information, education, and strategies for those that work with the CD population is ICD. This association attracts experts that share their resources, strategies and research about chronic disorganization. The ICD website has info including free fact sheets, teleclasses, publications, and conferences.

Rachel: When you aren't organizing, writing books, speaking or blogging, what do you do for fun?

Linda: I love to have fun! This includes taking Comedy Improv classes, dancing in our living room or at Zydeco gigs, taking walks by the two rivers and in the woods, laughing with my husband and daughters, baking, getting together with family and friends, going on road trips, watching movies, and having adventures with my wonderful husband of almost 30 years.

Rachel: I love your website, and of course read your bio. I wanted to ask you - why a purple front door? What does this mean to you?

Linda: From early on, I always loved the color purple. I enjoy other colors too, but have a special “thing” for purple, which has only intensified as I’ve grown. Embracing all that we’re passionate about whether that’s color, people, or work, is essential to living joyfully. Let the things you love surround you. Let the work you love be part of your days. Let those you love know it. Embrace your passions.

Rachel: My favorite color is purple as well,  it started when I realized that the amythest was my birthstone. I love your doorway idea, what a beautiful way to celeberate this marvelous color. Thank you so much for this interview.

About Linda:

 

 

Linda Samuels, CPO-CD^® is a compassionate, enthusiastic professional organizer and coach, founder of Oh, So Organized! (1993), author of The Other Side of Organized and blogger on organizing and life balance. She has been featured in The New York Times, Woman’s Day, Bottom Line Personal, Westchester Magazine, Everyday with Rachael Ray, and Enterpreneur.com. Connect with Linda on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, blog, or website. Sign up for a free monthly e-newsletter with bonus tips at ohsoorganized.com.

Linda’s Contact info:

Email: linda@ohsoorganized.com

Phone: 914-271-5673

Website: http://www.ohsoorganized.com

Blog: http://theothersideoforganized.com

Twitter:  @LindaSamuels

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Oh-So-Organized

Pinterest:  http://pinterest.com/ohsoorganized/

Collector Care Interviews Organizing Extraordinaire Peter Walsh

You may have seen this handsome Australian American on the TLC hit show "Extreme Clutter", or heard his enchanting voice on the radio. He is a compassionate helper, an amazing organizer and absolutely the kindest for allowing me to interview him on our blog. Folks, let's get a round of applause for Peter Walsh!

Rachel:  At this moment in time, who would you most like to get (free) advice from and why?

Peter: Hmm - great question! I'd like to get free advice from any social media guru and I'm sure there are things in that domain that I could be doing more effectively.

Rachel:  Define success and name a few people you think are successful.

Peter: I think that many people forego success and happiness because when it arrives it doesn't look the way they expected it to look. I think success has to be defined as being firmly in the present with a balanced and reasonable set of expectations. From this perspective, then, success is something that is first achieved internally and not assessed by external criteria. So, for me, another person's success is determined by them, not by me.

Rachel: I'm a new business owner trying to grow my organizing business. What are 3 things you wish you'd done differently when you first started your organizing business?

Peter: I wish I'd spoken with more professional organizers to get some broader perspectives on the profession. I wish I'd embraced social media earlier and more aggressively.
I wish I'd realized that 20% of a job usually takes 80% of the effort.

Rachel: By my standards you are a very successful person; a brand. Would you share some of the types of support you have in place to keep the Peter Walsh brand going strong?

Peter: Sure - I have a very clear vision for my brand, what it is, what it represents and how it presents itself. I call this 'brand intention'. I don't do anything that doesn't align with that. I answer every email that comes to me myself. I delegate wherever possible. I make every effort to work with and to employ people who are much smarter than I am.
As well as his work on TV he has written a few best-selling books about clutter and organization. His first (and favorite) is “It’s All Too Much: An Easy Plan for Living a Richer Life with Less Stuff”. He is now also designing some cool organizational products and hosting a national radio program. This all keeps him busy when he is not travelling or helping people turn their clutter and chaos into calm.

Rachel Seavey, Professional Organizer At Collector Care
Collector Care  serves the San Francisco Bay Area. We specialize in clearing clutter, hoarding disorder, and chronic disorganization.
We  love what we do, and  provide realistic expectations and timelines.

Please visit our website at www.collectorcare.com  or call 925-548-7750
Tweet us on Twitter : Like our Facebook page : Pin us on Pinterest

Need Help Getting Organized? Collector Care Commercial

You heard the man! 

Call us today at 925-548-7750

or visit us at www.collectorcare.com

www.facebook.com/collectorcare

www.twitter.com/collectorcare

www.pinterest.com/collectorcare

Collector Care Goes Charlie Chaplin Style - Organizing Fun

Hello Collectors! If you know me, you know I have a sense of humor. I have collaborated with some talent and we came up with this video. Do you ever feel like you are always searching for items in clutter? You are not alone. At Collector Care, we understand!

This video may not be sold or redistributed - Copyright Collector Care 2013
However please feel free to share using the social media links provided on this blog, thank you!

Got Clutter? Call us today! 925-548-7750. Clear clutter and start enjoying your new space in no time.
Now offering hauling and on-site shredding!

 

Dr. Kathleen Crombie - Buried In Treasures Workshop 2013

Is clutter getting in the way of how you want to live your life? 

 Are you feeling overwhelmed with too many possessions?  

Are you embarrassed to have people over?

 Sign up today for a "Buried in Treasures" Workshop in San Francisco Bay Area 

When and Where

Tuesdays from 7:30 PM to 8:30 PM PST starting February 5, 2013 for 15 weeks
286 Santa Clara Ave                                         Oakland, CA 94610
OR
Thursdays from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM PST starting February 7, 2013 for 15 weeks       
700 Ygnacio Valley Blvd., Suite 320         Walnut Creek, CA 94596
Add to Calendar

Contact

Kathleen Crombie, M.A., M.Ed. Counselor & Professional Organizer
Summit Center
510-390-8187
kathleencrombie@summitcenter.us

Many people struggle with clutter. The causes of excess clutter are unique to each person and common among bright, creative people. We are excited to offer a low cost and proven method to learn skills to gain back the control you crave.  Based on the book "Buried in Treasures" the 15 week workshop presents step-by-step, practical solutions to improve your relationship with stuff.  Join us for this unique action-oriented workshop based on proven cognitive-behavioral techniques.  Each week there will be homework of readings and exercises to complete along with setting reasonable goals.  A maintenance group will be offered at the conclusion for all participants.  The workshop is limited to 10 participants at each site. 
Chose the location or day that works for you and make the commitment to change today!  The "Buried in Treasures" workshop will be held:

• Tuesdays from 7:30-8:30 pm starting February 5 Grand-Lake district of Oakland, CA 
• Thursdays, 6:00-7:00 pm starting February 7 in Walnut Creek, CA

The fee is less than $40 per meeting if you take advantage of the early registration fee. Payment must be made for the entire 15 weeks to secure a spot in the workshop.   BONUS:  Included in the fee for all early registrants is a copy of the required book "Buried in Treasures: Help for Compulsive Acquiring, Saving, and Hoarding" by David F. Tolin, Randy O. Frost and Gail Steketee. 

 Make this the year you create a more organized, functional home!

Register Now!

About Kathleen Crombie

With over 18 years of mental health counseling experience and 4 years as a professional organizer, Kathleen brings a unique blend of skills and compassion to help with clutter issues. She is an experienced group facilitator with a focus on practical solutions. Kathleen is also an active member of the San Francisco Mental Health Hoarding Task Force, a member of American Psychological Association, California Association for the Gifted, Institute of Challenging Disorganization and National Association for Professional Organizers.

Download Flyer Above

Rachel Seavey, Professional Organizer
I am located in Pleasanton Ca, and serve the San Francisco Bay Area.
I specialize in Hoarding Disorder, Chronic Disorganization and helping the overwhelmed with clutter. I love what I do, and I provide realistic expectations and timelines. Don't suffer in chaos any  more. Every breath is a new beginning! Please visit my site at www.collectorcare.com
Tweet me on Twitter : Like my Facebook page : Find me on Pinterest

Local Self Help Group For Clutterers - Pleasanton and the Entire BayArea Ca

Hello Locals! Join me as I present "Clutter Busting - 15 minutes a day" on January 14, 2013 at 7pm. I will provide information, tips and ideas all using the Time Timer. Hope to see you there!!!

I have had the pleasure of attending the Clutterless.org group of Pleasanton several times this year, and feel they deserve a very special place on my blog.

This group has been going on for many years, as an anonymous hoarding and clutter self help group.
They follow very strict guidelines on confidentiality, and the facilitators are genuine and helpful.

Being overwhelmed with stuff is a tough place to be, we all know it. It's great to know there are others out there that suffer from the same challenges. Some of these folks have become friends for years. The group is inviting, honest and their expectations are reasonable.

The group started out by author Mike Nelson at www.clutterless.org. This is the only group like this in the area. Specific information such as dates and times are listed on my homepage as well as below.

PLEASE NOTE: CLUTTERLESS OF PLEASANTON WILL BE CLOSED FOR THE HOLIDAYS AND STARTING UP WITH FULL FORCE ON JANUARY 7TH 2013!

Local Self Help Group for Clutterers!

ClutterLess (CL) is a nonprofit, peer-based, self-help, support group for people with difficulty discarding unwanted possessions.

Room 7 at 7 pm. 
NOTE We meet EVERY MONDAY 
(Except some Holidays  like Labor Day - Please come before or after)

7:00 to 8:30 pm at the: 
St Mary & St. John Coptic Orthodox Church 
RM 7, 4300 MIRADOR DR.
PLEASANTON, Ca. 
(The building was formerly the Pleasanton Presbyterian Church)*
Feel free to download these 10 commandments which the group goes over each meeting!

 

Hope to see you there folks!

Rachel Seavey, Professional Organizer
I am located in Pleasanton Ca, and serve the San Francisco Bay Area.
I specialize in Hoarding Disorder, Chronic Disorganization and helping the overwhelmed with clutter. I love what I do, and I provide realistic expectations and timelines. Don't suffer in chaos any  more. Every breath is a new beginning! Please visit my site at www.collectorcare.com
Tweet me on Twitter : Like my Facebook page : Find me on Pinterest

Overwhelmed With Clutter? 5 Tips To Keep You Motivated

Is the laundry piling up? How are your floors looking? Do you get aggravated when you can't find something? Besides having a busy life, there are only 24 hours in the day, How do you work, be a parent, have a relationship, dare to think of having a hobby AND keep your house clean? 

You might think you are the only one out there with dirty clothes or papers stacked up, but you are not.

Keep it real people. It is not easy to juggle all of these things at once. If you are feeling overwhelmed at home, there is hope!

There are ways to simplify to your life by using systems that work with your life. Every life and family is different. There is no right or wrong way to do things, but there are ways to help yourself get through the day without feeling hopeless.

1. Start by making time for your sanity and space. Take 15 minutes a day to tackle small areas at once. You will be amazed at how much you can get done over a work week. 
2. Set reasonable expectations.  Instead of the whole closet try half first.
3. Leave time to put things back away. Adding to the clutter will not help.  
4. Don't be hard on yourself. If you miss a day, onward and upward, no big deal.
5. Reward yourself by cleaning the new space you cleared.

Yes folks, it is possible to live a happy and (relatively) clutter free life. Are you ready?

Rachel Seavey, Professional Organizer
I am located in Pleasanton Ca, and serve the San Francisco Bay Area.
I specialize in Hoarding Disorder, Chronic Disorganization and helping the overwhelmed with clutter. I love what I do, and I provide realistic expectations and timelines. Don't suffer in chaos any  more. Every breath is a new beginning! Please visit my site at www.collectorcare.com
Tweet me on Twitter : Like my Facebook page : Find me on Pinterest