**CLOSED**
'It seems to be a fact of life today that we put ourselves last on the priority list. There's just too much to do and not enough time to do it, so we're often forced to make hard choices, generally under the pressure of immediate deadlines.'
I was recently given the opportunity to read and review the book
Pretty Neat the buttoned-up way to get organized & let go of perfection. Now I would consider myself to be pretty organized but in a different way. I have piles of receipts, papers and other stuff that just need to be filed away. If you asked me where a certain paper or receipt was I could get it for you!
Pretty Neat is a book written by Alicia Rockmore & Sarah Welch who are busy women just like you & me who feel that we often times hold ourselves to an org-porn way of organizing. If your not certain as to what the heck I am talking about I will show you!
This first room is what we wish our rooms looked like.
The second room is a room that I have learned to deal with in my own way....one step at a time!
In this book they help you let go of perfection and strive for real life! Don't get me wrong here, the book isn't about how we(those of us who aren't Martha Stewart)need to be organized, it's a book on how to let go of stressing out on being organized and to find out which organizing strategy is best for you and your family! This is one of my favorite sections in the book.
Develop Your Own Meaning Of Organized
Our goal in this section is to help you define it in a way that will enable you to do a better job of managing the things you love to do, not do more organizing. Taking charge may feel strange at first-old habits die hard. But it is worth the effort. It's tempting to define organizational solutions tactically, such as 'set up a filing system' or 'get toy bins.' But unless you take the time to (1) identify your real organizational issues, (2) understand the root causes of those issues, and (3) consciously arrive at a clear understanding of a 'good enough' goal, you're likely to fall back into your old habits.
I also feel that often times we see or know people who seem so put together-right? Well have you looked in their closets, behind their closed doors? I know a lot of people who will have the main rooms of their home looking like it was pulled from a spread in House Beautiful, only to be shocked when I opened the closet and saw all of their main living areas clutter shoved into the closet!
My problem area is my craft room. I have a lot of scrapbook paper, tools, sewing notions, fabric, and okay I will be totally honest, it's a catch-all for stuff that nobody knows where to put. Not to mention it doubles as a guest room!!!
I try to keep it organized by putting things away as soon as buy it or get it, place things into their bins, keep like things together, for instance all of my sewing supplies are all in one area, all of my scrapping supplies are in bins or in another area together. The only thing that I struggle with now is my fabric. I am learning to sew and have all this fabric that has to be stored right or could ruin. I have some organizing ideas in mind but have to be practical in the small space that I have. I may not have it all put together right now, but I am working on getting it where I want it to be, in my own way and on my own time!
I am going to be totally honest with you(again)and tell you that I might have passed this book up on the shelf.
ONLY because I would have thought it was another book on how to organize in someone else's 'perfect way,' which in reality doesn't exist, or give me some good eye candy to look at but doesn't really fit my life and lifestyle! It was a great book that didn't take long to read, it is filled with
'Pretty Neat Tips,' 'Pretty Neat Wisdom,' & 'Pretty Neat Exercises.' that will help you on your way to YOUR ORGANIZED PERFECT! It has helped me to look at my life and my organized chaos and
think know that it looks, feels and is 'Pretty Neat!'
Purchase It:
You can purchase your copy of Pretty Neat at the
Buttoned Up Store for $14.95.
Win It:
One(1) Winner will win a copy of Pretty Neat!
But wait, there's more! One winner will be selected from all the winners on the blog tour(all the winners from each blog that reviewed Pretty Neat will be automatically entered)to receive a $200 same as cash GIFT CARD(Visa or AMEX) & $50 worth of Buttoned Up organizational products!
How To Enter:
*You must be a follower of Ma21cuteboy publicly to enter!* Please leave your email address in your comment for winning notification purposes.
Mandatory Entry:(This entry must be done for the 'extra entries' to count. If this is not done & you win you will forfeit the prize!)
ShareConfess an area in your home that is out of control and how you cover it up.
Do you shove it in a closet, hide it under the bed, or just leave it in plain sight?
Extra Entries:(Are just that 'extra' you don't have to complete these but it will greater your chances of winning!)
'Like' Buttoned Up on
Facebook-leave your FB name
'Like' Ma21cuteboy on
Facebook-leave your FB name
Subscribe to Ma21cuteboy via Email or RSS-you must activate your subscription
Vote for me-can be 1x daily
Enter my current
giveaway
{5}Blog about this giveaway with a link to this post-leave a link
{2}Post this giveaway on your Facebook page(link to Ma21cuteboy(Chacoy Aguayo) along with a link to this giveaway-leave a link
Follow Ma21cuteboy on
Twitter-leave your Twitter handle ie. @Ma21cuteboy
Tweet the following:(
can be done 2x daily)
I just entered to win a 'Pretty Neat' giveaway($200) @Ma21cuteboy from @GetButtonedUp!
http://bit.ly/eIv7f3 2/20 U.S.
GOOD LUCK!!!
Contest Rules:
Open to U.S. Residents only
Contest will close on March 20th at 12:00 NOON p.m. MT
Winner will be chosen via
Random.org
Winner will have 48 hours to claim their prize or a new winner will be chosen
Winner will be notified via email as well as in a winning post on the blog
I
verify all entries and if they are
not done, you will forfeit your prize!
*Disclosure: I was provided with a copy of Pretty Neat to facilitate my review. I am also entered to win a gift card & Buttoned Up products. The reviews expressed are honest & that of my own, others' may differ.
