Organizing With You Tuesday Tip of the Week: Shoe Pantry!

A creative solution for storing shoes

by Pooja Gugnani

If your closet space is tight, you can install a pull-out pantry which can become a shoe closet when the shelves are installed at an angle.

Nonskid shelf liners can prevent pairs from sliding when the unit moves.

Before founding Organizing With You, Inc., Pooja Gugnani worked for six years as a marketing and communications executive in a health care non-profit organization. Her belief that organizing paves the way for personal development and general well-being  led her to explore a career as a professional organizer. Pooja is passionate about organizing and loves that she is able work with clients ranging from executives, busy moms, entrepreneurs, students to seniors. Pooja resides in downtown Chicago with her husband, and is also an avid artist. She has had numerous clients benefit from her services. You can find Organizing With You on Facebook and you can follow her on Twitter.

Free Organizing Seminar February 11, 2012

Pooja Gugnani, CEO and Founder of Organizing With You, will be presenting a free organizing seminar on Saturday, February 11, 11 a.m – 12 p.m. at South Loop Community Church, 1347 S. State St. Pooja will help simplify your life by maximizing your space and time.

Before (left) and after (right)

There will be a 30 minute presentation, followed by a Q & A session. Pooja says, “Whether you’re a mom, executive, or student, you will benefit from this seminar.” As a bonus, Pooja will provide an exclusive coupon offer for seminar attendees.

Coffee and drinks will be provided.

Before founding Organizing With You, Inc., Pooja Gugnani worked for six years as a marketing and communications executive in a health care non-profit organization. Her belief that organizing paves the way for personal development and general well-being  led her to explore a career as a professional organizer. Pooja is passionate about organizing and loves that she is able work with clients ranging from executives, busy moms, entrepreneurs, students to seniors. Pooja resides in downtown Chicago with her husband, and is also an avid artist. She has had numerous clients benefit from her services. You can find Organizing With You on Facebook and you can follow her on Twitter.

Tip of the Week from “Organizing with You”

by Pooja Gugnani
 
Good Habits Are Crucial
Creating good habits is crucial to staying organized. Some good tips for creating new habits: Take 15 minutes at the end of each day to put things away and keep a small notebook/cell phone on hand to write down your creative ideas/reminders and you will be less likely to forget it.

Write It Down!
Writing is reinforcing! Your new habits will only erase your old habits if you practice consistently.

Before founding Organizing With You, Inc., Pooja Gugnani worked for six years as a marketing and communications executive in a health care non-profit organization. Her belief that organizing paves the way for personal development and general well-being  led her to explore a career as a professional organizer. Pooja is passionate about organizing and loves that she is able work with clients ranging from executives, busy moms, entrepreneurs, students to seniors. Pooja resides in downtown Chicago with her husband, and is also an avid artist. She has had numerous clients benefit from her services. You can find Organizing With You on Facebook and you can follow her on Twitter.

Organizing With You Tip of the Week: Planning for the Holidays

by Pooja Gugnani

Start planning for the holiday early—at least a month in by filling out a centralized holiday calendar for the weeks leading up to, during and after the holiday. Write everything from travel plans, guest arrival days, holiday parties, and work events.  Make sure to block off time for shopping and holiday cooking, just so you don't miss anything. Also, don’t forget to mark a few “off” days to rest and enjoy.

Before founding Organizing With You, Inc., Pooja Gugnani worked for six years as a marketing and communications executive in a health care non-profit organization. Her belief that organizing paves the way for personal development and general well-being  led her to explore a career as a professional organizer. Pooja is passionate about organizing and loves that she is able work with clients ranging from executives, busy moms, entrepreneurs, students to seniors. Pooja resides in downtown Chicago with her husband, and is also an avid artist. She has had numerous clients benefit from her services. You can find Organizing With You on Facebook and you can follow her on Twitter.

Organizing With You Tip of The Week: Fall Landscaping

by Pooja Gugnani


Clean Out That Garage
Working on your fall landscape projects? Organize all your garden tools including your lawn mower (some people in the city have lawns). Take this opportunity to clean out your garage and take inventory of everything in there.

Before founding Organizing With You, Inc., Pooja Gugnani worked for six years as a marketing and communications executive in a health care non-profit organization. Her belief that organizing paves the way for personal development and general well-being  led her to explore a career as a professional organizer. Pooja is passionate about organizing and loves that she is able work with clients ranging from executives, busy moms, entrepreneurs, students to seniors. Pooja resides in downtown Chicago with her husband, and is also an avid artist. She has had numerous clients benefit from her services. You can find Organizing With You on Facebook and you can follow her on Twitter.

Organizing With You Tip of the Week: Getting Ready for the Holidays

Pooja Gugnani

Want to make the most of your holiday shopping this season? Here are some tips.

• Find out which stores are having early bird deals the day after Thanksgiving and keep list handy.
• Save gift ideas and coupons together.
• Visit local mall/stores’ Web sites to see what discounts/coupons they’re offering.
• Visit the sales rack in any store first to see what you can find before you shop regularly.
• Use gift cards for last minute gifts.

Make your shopping trips enjoyable with these shopping tips!

Before founding Organizing With You, Inc., Pooja Gugnani worked for six years as a marketing and communications executive in a health care non-profit organization. Her belief that organizing paves the way for personal development and general well-being  led her to explore a career as a professional organizer. Pooja is passionate about organizing and loves that she is able work with clients ranging from executives, busy moms, entrepreneurs, students to seniors. Pooja resides in downtown Chicago with her husband, and is also an avid artist. She has had numerous clients benefit from her services. You can find Organizing With You on Facebook and you can follow her on Twitter.

Organizing With Your Tip Of The Week: “Clearing Clutter”

Pooja Gugnani


Fall: Second Busiest Season
Fall is the second busiest season of the year. To maintain an organized home, keep a calendar in a common room like the kitchen/family room that keeps track of everyone’s important dates/activities.

Systematize
Put systems in place to minimize time spent clearing clutter. Go through the house with a laundry basket and collect everything you have borrowed (CDs, books etc).

Before founding Organizing With You, Inc., Pooja Gugnani worked for six years as a marketing and communications executive in a health care non-profit organization. Her belief that organizing paves the way for personal development and general well-being  led her to explore a career as a professional organizer. Pooja is passionate about organizing and loves that she is able work with clients ranging from executives, busy moms, entrepreneurs, students to seniors. Pooja resides in downtown Chicago with her husband, and is also an avid artist. She has had numerous clients benefit from her services. You can find Organizing With You on Facebook and you can follow her on Twitter.

Organizing With You Tip of the Week: “Pruning”

Pooja Gugnani


Three questions to ask yourself when pruning down your belongings:

1.  Do I really need this item? Be specific as to how.
2.  When was the last time I used it? 
3.  Are there others—my family, friends, co-workers, charity—who could make better use of it?

By asking yourself these questions, you will have the answers right in front of you to help determine whether you are simply collecting or keeping with a purpose.

You might want to consider
donating some of your belongings
to a charitable organization.

Before founding Organizing With You, Inc., Pooja Gugnani worked for six years as a marketing and communications executive in a health care non-profit organization. Her belief that organizing paves the way for personal development and general well-being  led her to explore a career as a professional organizer. Pooja is passionate about organizing and loves that she is able work with clients ranging from executives, busy moms, entrepreneurs, students to seniors. Pooja resides in downtown Chicago with her husband, and is also an avid artist. She has had numerous clients benefit from her services. You can find Organizing With You on Facebook and you can follow her on Twitter.

Organizing With You Tip of the Week: Back to School

Adjustable shelves can help create
 more storage space

Pooja Gugnani


As a perfect addition to your Back-to-School efforts, here is a great product. Everyone loves their locker and I think you'll agree that lockers can become quickly crammed. These adjustable shelves from The Container Store hold about 15 lbs. each and create more vertical space instantly!

Before founding Organizing With You, Inc., Pooja Gugnani worked for six years as a marketing and communications executive in a health care non-profit organization. Her belief that organizing paves the way for personal development and general well-being  led her to explore a career as a professional organizer. Pooja is passionate about organizing and loves that she is able work with clients ranging from executives, busy moms, entrepreneurs, students to seniors. Pooja resides in downtown Chicago with her husband, and is also an avid artist. She has had numerous clients benefit from her services. You can find Organizing With You on Facebook and you can follow her on Twitter.

Organizing With You Tip of the Week: Colder Days Means Better Organizing Inside

Pooja Gugnani

As you prepare for the fall, you also prepare to stay indoors a lot more in the coming months. This could mean more family time, or activities that take place within the home. Create zones in the common hangout areas of your home by the type of activity, and support those zones with the right type of storage. For example, if there’s an area where the family plays board games, invest in a drawer unit/tower where they can be stowed away after you’re done playing. If your family watches a lot of TV, have a wide mouth container to hold all the remote controls. This is a great way to keep the clutter down as you get ready for the cold months ahead!

 
Before founding Organizing With You, Inc., Pooja Gugnani worked for six years as a marketing and communications executive in a health care non-profit organization. Her belief that organizing paves the way for personal development and general well-being led her to explore a career as a professional organizer. Pooja is passionate about organizing and loves that she is able work with clients ranging from executives, busy moms, entrepreneurs, students to seniors. Pooja resides in downtown Chicago with her husband, and is also an avid artist. She has had numerous clients benefit from her services. You can find Organizing With You on Facebook and you can follow her on Twitter.

Organizing With You Tip of the Week: Off To College !

Pooja Gugnani


Starting college this fall and want to have an organized dorm room?  Follow these three rules.

1. Plan ahead. 
2. Buy the right products. 
3. Personalize your room a little. 

Dorm room organization is all about space maximization. Use under the bed storage containers and utilize that space, invest in accessories such as hooks and baskets and buy clever organizing products such as pocketed hanging clothes organizers for the closet, which you will likely share with your roommate(s).

Before founding Organizing With You, Inc., Pooja Gugnani worked for six years as a marketing and communications executive in a health care non-profit organization. Her belief that organizing paves the way for personal development and general well-being led her to explore a career as a professional organizer. Pooja is passionate about organizing and loves that she is able work with clients ranging from executives, busy moms, entrepreneurs, students to seniors. Pooja resides in downtown Chicago with her husband, and is also an avid artist. She has had numerous clients benefit from her services. You can find Organizing With You on Facebook and you can follow her on Twitter.

“Ask Pooja” from Organizing With You in Live Facebook Event

Pooja Gugnani wants your closets to look like this!

Pooja Gugnani from Organizing With You will be holding two Facebook events on Tuesday, August 2, 2011. The first Facebook event will be from noon – 1 p.m. CST. The second from 7 – 9 p.m. CST. Pooja requests that your questions be related to your home (and one question per person, please). In an effort to answer as many questions as possible, she may group together questions with a common theme.

Make sure you're a fan of Organizing With You on Facebook to participate in the live event.

Before founding Organizing With You, Inc., Pooja Gugnani worked for six years as a marketing and communications executive in a health care non-profit organization. Her belief that organizing paves the way for personal development and general well-being led her to explore a career as a professional organizer. Pooja is passionate about organizing and loves that she is able work with clients ranging from executives, busy moms, entrepreneurs, students to seniors. Pooja resides in downtown Chicago with her husband, and is also an avid artist. She has had numerous clients benefit from her services. You can find Organizing With You on Facebook and you can follow her on Twitter.

Organizing With You Tip of the Week: Making the Most of Small Spaces

Pooja Gugnani

Making the Most of Your Space
When space is an issue, think about giving your room a dual/multi-purpose and having furniture that can do the same.

For example, my advice to parents is to invest in a dresser that can also convert into a changing station for their young ones.

For your living room, think about investing in a coffee table that is also a flat top trunk to give you additional storage. Utilize corner spaces and install shelving to maximize vertical storage. Murphy beds are also a great space saving alternative, especially for your studio or one bedroom apartment.

Before founding Organizing With You, Inc., Pooja Gugnani worked for six years as a marketing and communications executive in a health care non-profit organization. Her belief that organizing paves the way for personal development and general well-being led her to explore a career as a professional organizer. Pooja is passionate about organizing and loves that she is able work with clients ranging from executives, busy moms, entrepreneurs, students to seniors. Pooja resides in downtown Chicago with her husband, and is also an avid artist. She has had numerous clients benefit from her services. You can find Organizing With You on Facebook and you can follow her on Twitter.

Organizing With You Tip of the Week: Be Selfish!

It is important to develop a bond with your home and modify your mindset before you change your physical space.  Here are some ways to do that:

Be Selfish- Understand what your own needs are before addressing the needs of your home.

Live in the Present- Think about what you need from your space Now! Organize and design your space in a way that supports your present aspirations.

Be Free- Feel comfortable with relying on your instincts, if you want colorful and gaudy drapes because they make you happy, then get them! 

Before founding Organizing With You, Inc., Pooja Gugnani worked for six years as a marketing and communications executive in a health care non-profit organization. Her belief that organizing paves the way for personal development and general well-being led her to explore a career as a professional organizer. Pooja is passionate about organizing and loves that she is able work with clients ranging from executives, busy moms, entrepreneurs, students to seniors. Pooja resides in downtown Chicago with her husband, and is also an avid artist. She has had numerous clients benefit from her services. You can find Organizing With You on Facebook and you can follow her on Twitter.

Organizing With You Tip of the Week: No More Wire Hangers!

by Pooja Gugnami

When organizing your closet this season remember to create consistency: It is much more visually appealing to have a closet that supports the same type of hangers so you can create a uniform look. Invest in a bunch of retail hangers because they are clever and cheap (throw wire hangers out immediately). Save space by folding jeans. And never hang sweaters!

Before founding Organizing With You, Inc., Pooja Gugnani worked for six years as a marketing and communications executive in a health care non-profit organization. Her belief that organizing paves the way for personal development and general well-being led her to explore a career as a professional organizer. Pooja is passionate about organizing and loves that she is able work with clients ranging from executives, busy moms, entrepreneurs, students to seniors. Pooja resides in downtown Chicago with her husband, and is also an avid artist. She has had numerous clients benefit from her services. You can find Organizing With You on Facebook and you can follow her on Twitter.

Organizing With You Tip of the Week: Road Trip

by Pooja Gugnami

Planning a road trip or two with your little ones this summer? Here’s a tip to plan and organize your trip better so your travels are more enjoyable and less stressful.

Take stuff, but don’t stuff Packing enough to keep your kids busy is wise, but packing too many of the “just in case” items can be space hampering. Keep the packing simple! If they’re old enough, involve your kids in the planning process, by giving them a choice in the game or stuffed toy they bring along or if you have a baby, bring things that can serve a dual purpose, for example, a stroller/carrier combo. Check with the family or hotel you’re staying with/at to see what gear or amenities they have and pack accordingly. No pool, no bathing suit needed!

Pooja Gugnani

Before founding Organizing With You, Inc., Pooja Gugnani worked for six years as a marketing and communications executive in a health care non-profit organization. Her belief that organizing paves the way for personal development and general well-being led her to explore a career as a professional organizer. Pooja is passionate about organizing and loves that she is able work with clients ranging from executives, busy moms, entrepreneurs, students to seniors. Pooja resides in downtown Chicago with her husband, and is also an avid artist. She has had numerous clients benefit from her services. You can find Organizing With You on Facebook and you can follow her on Twitter.