July 31, 2024 • 37 mins
Is clutter driving you crazy and stopping you from making the change you long for? You are not alone! A cluttered household is a natural part of living an American consumer lifestyle and remaining in your home for a long time.
Want to do something about it, but feel overwhelmed by the thought of sorting through all that stuff?
Meet Lisa Hawkinson, our guest for this episode, who turned her love for organizing into a thriving business: "How2getorganized.com". Lisa’s journey is nothing short of inspiring—from being teased as a child for her neatness to overcoming health challenges and helping others bring order to their lives. Learn practical downsizing strategies from Lisa's own experiences, like setting attainable goals, dedicating time, and starting with less emotional items. We'll explore the importance of a supportive friend and the benefits of letting go with a generous heart.
Helping elderly family members downsize can be emotionally challenging. This episode is packed with heartwarming stories and creative solutions for making this process smoother. We discuss the significance of understanding and validating seniors’ feelings, especially when cognitive impairments are in play. From taking photos of sentimental items to creating new ways to honor their memories, Lisa shares invaluable tips on how to make these necessary transitions with compassion and respect. You’ll also hear about the delicate balance required to assist aging parents while honoring their emotional attachments.
Unlock the secrets to an efficiently organized kitchen with Lisa's expert advice. Discover game-changing tips like using Lazy Susans, expandable shelves, and rectangular containers to optimize your space. Lisa introduces her unique touch, reach, walk, and hike strategy to keep your kitchen functional and clutter-free. Plus, learn about the supportive Smooth Organizer community, an affordable resource that offers guidance and accountability for decluttering your home.
Finally, we share success stories like Charlie's journey of preparing his home for sale, emphasizing the power of willingness and supportive companions in achieving a more manageable lifestyle. Tune in to take the first step toward right-sizing your home and life.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Happy days everyone.
This is Dennis Day with theEdge Group Teams how to
Right-Size your Home and Lifepodcast.
It's so great to hear and seeyou.
We are back with an excellentepisode.
Judy Gratton, tell us how areyou doing?
Speaker 2 (00:17):
I am doing fabulous, dennis, loving this summer
weather.
Speaker 1 (00:20):
I know, isn't it great?
Just people complaining aboutthe gloom and the doom, and
they're not wrong.
I mean, it is dark and cold andwet in this winter, but gosh,
these summers just areincredible.
It doesn't get dark until 10o'clock and it's just not too
(00:40):
hot and sunny, beautiful, so Ican't remember the last time we
had rain here, so it's beenamazing in the Seattle area.
Here Today we have our guest.
Host is Lisa Hawkinson of howto Get Organized, and her
business is there to help people.
So tell us, lisa, a little bitabout your background, who you
(01:03):
are, what your business does tohelp people, specifically the
people who are downsizing.
Speaker 3 (01:09):
Thanks, dennis.
So my early, early childhood Iliked organizing and I was
teased for it mercilessly.
My sister was highly praisedfor her art but I was teased.
So I was very ashamed of likingorder.
And when I was 38, I was at awomen's group and found out that
was a good thing.
I went okay, I like that.
That really helped my family,because my husband was ADD and
my son was ADHD.
(01:30):
We just homed as a family.
It was great.
And then late in my 40s I had avirus, very common virus that
just took me down.
I was in bed or on the couch orlounge chair for two years.
It was unbelievable and as Isaw the light coming at the end
of the time, I'm going to getbetter.
So I got off the lounge chairs,walked to the edge of the deck
and I just kind of suddenlyprayed God, what do I do for the
rest of my life?
(01:50):
My kids are going to be goingto college.
I don't want to be a sad emptynester.
And almost all day I heard helppeople get organized and I
thought that is weird, butthat'd be fun.
I didn't know there was aNational Association of
Professional Organizers 15 yearsbefore that.
So I just got started.
My naturopath at the timerecommended I see a woman and so
I went to visit her.
My first question was, after Ilooked around a little bit, I
(02:11):
said do you say to use Band-Aids?
And she said I'm not that bad,and so the book I started to
write, I'm just okay, she's notgoing to read.
So I just put that weight asidefor about off and on for about
three years and got a lot ofprogress but never really did.
Well, she had all hermedications out in the
countertop.
All the pill bottles were open.
Her oven was full of plasticbags and saran wrap.
(02:32):
It was just unbelievable.
Speaker 1 (02:33):
I had never seen anything like it would you
consider this some close tohoarding?
Speaker 3 (02:39):
oh yes, and so I've now drawn my own boundary lines.
They have to have a therapiston medication and I get to have
the therapist's name number,because it's just too hard for
some to move on and they have toreally want to.
I've helped some that can moveon, but so many just are so
reluctant.
But once I teach them how, ifthey're open to it, they can
gain ground in that.
(02:59):
So I help people downsize anddeclutter or get ready to move
whatever stage they're in.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
You know when you're helping someone downsize, so
they're downsizing.
They're not decluttering orjust organizing, but they're
downsizing and like what aresome of the really common
challenges around that one?
Speaker 3 (03:18):
It's really how do I get started?
Because it's just sooverwhelming.
And so, just to get themstarted in the I usually
recommend, have a goal of likewithin six months or whatever
period of time I want to be done, and then make a weekly
appointment with yourself, likea doctor appointment, like every
Tuesday for two hours orwhatever, and don't cancel on
that.
You have to show up and do somedownsizing and start with the
(03:38):
least emotional things like oh,I can let go of this easily, so
it's letting go, it's notgetting rid, I don't getting rid
sounds like it's junk, it'sjust letting it go somewhere
else.
And that helps them a lot.
And I try to help people grow amore generous heart to let go of
those things that they nolonger use or need.
So I really try to imprint intheir brain need, use, need, use
.
Are you using it?
Do you still need it?
How much would it cost if youreally had to?
(04:00):
That rarely happens, excuse me.
So some people will box thingsup and say if I haven't looked
at in a year, I'll let it go.
So whatever works for them,just to get started.
And then go deeper.
And it's really good to have afriend with you Someone who's
kind and won't ridicule you andjust say are you kidding?
You're not going to get back inthose pants again.
Let's be real.
Speaker 2 (04:20):
You know, what I've seen, too, is a lot of people
overvalue.
You know, what I've seen, too,is a lot of people overvalue.
I don't want to say overvalue,because whenever they bought
what it was, it was veryvaluable but anymore so little
like China crystal silver, coatssilver, not sterling silver,
but silver plated flatware.
(04:40):
I just I'm downsizing and Ijust talked to an estate sale
person and I like I haveNoritake China from occupied
Japan and he said to me NoritakeChina is not worth anything.
He said.
Speaker 3 (04:56):
So this is where you grow a really generous heart and
say, okay, the women startingover in life need new things in
their kitchen and so they cantake a full set.
A couple of women can split itand they can have new dishes.
Or people just starting out oryoung people starting out.
So I just love finding a thriftstore that has a mission that I
just have a resonate in myheart with and so I want to put
(05:18):
my stuff on their shelves tosell to help their mission.
So I've had men who willfinally get down to downside
their garage because there's aplace in Totem Lake.
They donate to search andrescue dogs in the state of
Washington.
We'll help a dog, they'll giveaway some hammers and different
things, so that's fun.
Speaker 2 (05:35):
Oh yeah, it's a challenge.
Speaker 3 (05:38):
It really is.
Yeah, I just feel like, okay, Igot blessed receiving a set of
mugs in 1969 for my weddingpresent.
I can't use them anymore.
We're going on a two-year saletrip, so I put things at my
front door.
The young people at that timewere about ready to leave home
on their own.
They would shop at my frontdoor.
That was fun.
I loved it.
Speaker 2 (05:56):
Oh cool, that might be a good idea.
I'm thinking of want the china.
I don't just want to put it ina value village, I want to know
that somebody wants it andappreciates it.
So I'm happy to give it away ifI knew that it was going
somewhere that people reallywanted it.
Speaker 3 (06:14):
So a place like Mary's place might be a place
you could check women who arestarting over.
Speaker 1 (06:21):
Oh, I like that.
Well, we'll keep a running listhere of places that will really
benefit others to donate to.
One of the things our familydoes is it's a buy nothing group
.
Speaker 3 (06:33):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (06:34):
And it's very specific to a neighborhood.
You have to prove you live inthat neighborhood and so forth,
and you have to give things away, and those who take them cannot
then go and sell them on eBayor other places.
So that's a free Facebook group, and we've gotten rid of so
(06:55):
much stuff.
We've also picked up a lot ofstuff too, so I'm not sure we're
in deficit.
No, not really.
Speaker 3 (07:05):
So how do you?
Have go ahead I live in both.
So there's a thrift store Ilove and they took a bothel fire
engine that was being retiredand it's in uh, peru, and it
goes through, says bothel, goingthrough town, but they, they
got this fire truck down there.
I just love their heart, theirmission, mission, which one is
that it's called Helping Handsand they have a thrift gently
(07:29):
used furniture store inClearview too.
Speaker 1 (07:31):
How do you help your clients determine what to keep
and what to let go?
Speaker 3 (07:37):
So I keep using that term need use.
Will you wear that again?
Would you buy it again today?
Does it still fit?
And just really get it done.
I want to help people live asimpler life, especially when
they get older and then and alsonot trip and fall in their
place because they have so muchstuff.
They've kept all their in-lawstuff or their parents who've
passed away and they haven'tdispersed it yet.
(07:58):
And so just to really think ofI want a simpler life.
I only want the things I needand use as we get over some far
less stuff.
Speaker 2 (08:05):
We have been working with you, with someone, and can
you explain how you use the dots?
Speaker 3 (08:10):
Yeah, the dots have been very helpful, so I use a
green dot, for this will go withme to my new place, or a yellow
dot I'm going to sell this.
There's another dot color forit's going to be dumped, or
another dot for it's going to begiven to a thrift store.
So I have place movers thatwill take things to their new
place, to the junkyard and to athrift store of their choice.
Speaker 2 (08:32):
You have people who do that work for them.
Speaker 3 (08:34):
Yes, I do.
I just have to help them makethe pile, the staging areas.
So Habitat for Humanity isgreat, but they won't come in
the house.
You have to have things in thegarage ready to go or in the
driveway.
So that's a good thing to know,because some things just
physically can't move.
So my people can actually go inthe home and pick things up and
haul it out.
Speaker 1 (08:53):
Oh, wow, very good.
Speaker 3 (08:55):
There are several places that do that, so I love
recommendations.
I love to be a resource.
I've had people go in and takeout freezers and refrigerators.
Speaker 2 (09:02):
What do you do with people who struggle with letting
go of sentimental items?
Speaker 3 (09:08):
Yes, so I try to help them remember.
That item is not the person, soa woman who kept her mother's
dustpan for three years.
I can't judge, I don't laugh,but it's I'm going really a
dustpan.
That's not your mom.
Are you turning into a sconce?
How can you use it?
I tell them a good thing to dois take a picture of it and have
an album with those specialpieces I have one for myself and
(09:29):
then when you let that thing go, tell the story with it.
So my aunt, always, we alwayshave bean casserole and you
might even put the recipe inthere, and so the casserole dish
goes away.
I've had people come back to meover 10 years there and comment
on how Aunt Eva's dish I don'tknow if that was Aunt Ellen's so
just to help them keep track ofwho it was, just knowing the
stories with them is reallyspecial in my heart.
Speaker 2 (09:51):
Yeah, it is.
I think that's a wonderful idea.
Speaker 3 (09:55):
So then I also have dots, where you have an area for
family or friends, and I've hadgrandmas that want to give
things to their grandkids, butthey don't see them often enough
, and I say, well, let's take apicture of them on your phone,
let's text it to them and tellthem if you want it, please pick
up by a certain date or I'mgoing to give it away.
One grandma said I got a callwithin 10 minutes.
She was thrilled.
Speaker 1 (10:15):
And she gets to see her grandchildren too.
What a treat, that's true.
Speaker 3 (10:20):
So I'll tell you the 10 years before my mother passed
away.
Every time one of us six girlswent home we had to put a
sticker on something we wantedwhen she passed away.
So we got close to that timeand I said Mom, you know, we put
stickers on everything we want.
There's some things I know wewill probably sell.
Where would you like the moneyto go?
So she could tell us that wecould honor her wishes.
(10:40):
That was really fulfilling.
Speaker 2 (10:44):
That's wonderful.
I love these ideas.
Good, thank you.
We've dealt with so many peoplethat really are struggling,
especially when they're leavingthat home, family home and all
the memories for every littlething.
And you know, eventually I mademistakes.
It was like, oh yeah, you know,people were trying to tell me
(11:06):
their story around an item and Iwas trying to get them to pack
it up and leave and you've gotto let people tell their stories
.
Speaker 3 (11:14):
Right, right.
So when I was 18, I lived witha woman in Arizona.
She worked in the StateDepartment and she had a lot of
diplomas and certificates andshe was going to be moving with
her sister into assisted living.
And she said what do I do withall these things?
I said take them out of theframe, put them in a very large
scrapbook so she could take themwith her.
She loved that idea.
I had no idea I had that skillback then.
Speaker 1 (11:36):
Can you talk about what are some of the reasons why
people have this troubleletting go?
Speaker 3 (11:42):
They attach too much emotion to that piece, that item
, and that's true with mugs.
I mean people just collect mugslike you can't believe and you
have to go which ones are reallyimportant and how much room do
you have?
It gets down to what season oflife are you in?
Do I entertain 50 people once amonth?
I had a woman who told me shehad 56 mugs in her cabinet.
I said how often do 56 peopleshow up?
(12:05):
If you have that, make you putin a tub and then be able to
retrieve it, but just get itdown to what you need and use.
So some people I've talkedabout you could break the mugs
and put them in cement steps inyour home, outside your home.
Just really have a moregenerous heart to just let go.
Let go, let go.
Be real about what chapter oflife are you in, so that it's
(12:26):
that spring, summer, fall andwinter?
I'm in my winter chapter.
I don't need very many mugs.
I'm a second time widow.
I have four nice matching mugs.
I have two or three I just lovefor my personal use.
But if I have a couple peoplecome over I can have a few nice
mugs.
So it's just a reality of whereyou are in life.
It's hard to accept.
Just talking about people helpsand, like you said, just
(12:47):
listening to their story.
Speaker 2 (12:49):
I try really hard to do that now with people and you
know it's very hard to admit toyourself that you are in the
winter.
That's so true.
Yeah, I can attest to thatpersonally.
It's like I don't, I'm notgoing there.
You know I'm not, I'm not doneyet.
So oh, yeah we're not done.
Speaker 3 (13:10):
But when I'm working with two clients now who have
mental impairments, somecognitive impairment, it gets
even harder.
They're so attached to those.
You would think that that wasthe living person in this item.
I can appreciate that when Ihear the story.
Okay, let's find a place for it, if we can.
Speaker 2 (13:26):
I've run into this several times, where the family
is frustrated, somewhat angrywith their parents for making
this move so difficult.
They want to rush them throughit.
They want them to.
You know, they just want to fixit and and put them somewhere
it's, and it becomes this battlebetween the parents and the
(13:50):
kids.
Do you deal with that at all?
Do you run into that?
Oh, I have.
Speaker 3 (13:55):
So I think it's helping those adult children I'm
assuming they're adult 30 pluspeople.
Yeah, it's like you have tounderstand this is your parents
heart and mind.
That's wrapped up in this item.
Listen to their story when youthen validate them on that item,
how important it is to them and, if possible, let them keep
that item if it's not a hugeitem, but just validate them and
(14:15):
just help work them into thatthought of being generous with
their heart.
Mom, you've loved this forever.
You got from grandma, but youknow what?
You can't use it in your newplace, small place, we don't
have room for it.
We need to let it go.
Where should we let it go?
And we can find a place thatwould really help them and that
might help them move through theprocess.
Speaker 2 (14:34):
That's really good.
I want to stress that if thereare any family members listening
to this, you've got to rememberthis is your parents' lives and
their history and their storyand you can't just rush them out
of that because someday Right.
Speaker 3 (14:54):
And I don't want to be deceptive, but I have heard
women tell me that they havetaken things from their mother
that they then pass on.
But their mother thinks theyhave it.
The mother will never know theypassed it on.
But that comfort of the motherknowing they took it, it's not
lying, it's being generous, it'sbeing kind to their mom's heart
really.
Speaker 1 (15:10):
Have you been in a situation where the younger
family members are pushing,pushing, pushing and there are
consequences of that?
Speaker 3 (15:18):
Again, it's talking to them to help them understand
that they're just in differentplaces in life.
They don't understand what it'slike to be 70 or 80.
Now, it's just not possible.
And she has to say people don'tunderstand what it's like to be
30 when they're 10.
So try to understand.
This is a challenging time oflife and we go through those
seasons in life.
Here in this summer or springseason, how happy for you.
(15:38):
But your mom's in winter, veryclose to frost, you know, and so
let's love her all the waythrough.
Winter, very close to frost,you know, and so let's love her
all the way through, be kind toher, be kind and show her love.
And so I've often told peoplewhose parents are so more
functioning spend time with yourparent, maybe once a month.
You say mom, where did you getthis?
Why did you get this?
Why is this important to you?
Find out the story behind it,because that will make you.
(16:01):
She just loves being with youand loves telling the story of
her items and that's just a verypleasant time for everybody.
And you might make notes wheremom say well, mom, when you're
no longer here and using it,where would you like it to go
and have them tell you.
So I had one lady who was neardeath and the doctor told the
older son mom's not going tomake it through the night, so he
(16:22):
started giving her dolls awayand mom came back to life in 24
hours oxygen.
She's doing fine.
She was so pissed Her dollswere gone.
I said well, you didn't tellhim who gets the dolls.
So go through now and let'sidentify where the dolls are
going, because they were sospecial to her.
So it's our, our responsibilityas an adult to be an adult until
our last breath.
We turn into adult at somepoint in life and you're
(16:43):
responsible all for life, allthrough life.
You don't owe it to your kidsto give them a garage stuff full
and say thanks, you take careof kids, take time off, work
time without pay, vacation time,just take care of all my stuff
that I should have done as anadult.
So I'd like to I hammer ongroups when I'm talking to them
just be a blessing to your kids.
Have them say oh, I'm so gladdad got rid of all that stuff, I
(17:06):
don't need all those tools.
Speaker 1 (17:08):
It's interesting because we often hear that
parents don't want to be aburden to their children, but it
often happens.
Speaker 3 (17:15):
That's right.
I have a friend who just thislast week found her mother dead
at home.
Oh, that's awful, and she calledthe police a wellness check and
there's mom dead.
But she had a very pleasantlook on her face.
She was very happy for mom andshe'd been told that she didn't
have a certain surgery which shechose not to.
She might be dead in six to 12months and six months later she
passed away.
So now they're going through.
(17:35):
Even envelopes are not open.
They're finding things thatthey could never find if they're
looking for it.
And one gal, she even found herbaby teeth.
Her mom had saved her babyteeth.
I might have to say I did thatfor a while, so that's another
way.
So I tell people, when you'redownsizing, seriously downsizing
(17:57):
, and thinking about finalstages of you're in the winter,
go through every shelf, everycloset, every cabinet and see
what you have, and because youmight be ashamed or embarrassed
of what you kept.
So I had talked to a realtorone time and she had given her
elder dog to a woman who didthat out of love.
She was an older woman and whenshe passed away they found
seven dead dogs in her freezer.
So her kids were not payingenough attention to where mom
(18:18):
was and what she needed.
She needed someone to dig ahole or take the pet to a vet.
Speaker 2 (18:23):
So stay in touch.
Yeah, I had a client who didthat and it was more a matter
she could not, because she wasalso a dear friend and she could
not bury them.
She wanted to have themcremated together at some point
in time, but she didn't reallyhave the money to do it.
(18:46):
And so, yeah, when she passed,I knew they were there.
I called her son-in-law andsaid just before you start going
through things, you need toknow that these animals are in
the freezer.
It's amazing.
She loved those animals dearlyand couldn't let them go.
Speaker 3 (19:06):
Someone told me recently and I can't give all
the details, but they had anamputation and that amputated
part was in the freezer it'slike.
Are you kidding me?
Speaker 1 (19:15):
Surprised.
Speaker 3 (19:15):
a hospital or whatever would allow that I know
, I know I don't know how theygot that part home.
It was kind of a small part,but still it's just bizarre what
people will do.
Don't know how they got thatpart home.
It was kind of a small part,but still it's just bizarre what
people will do.
Speaker 1 (19:26):
You don't work with just people who are downsizing
and ready to move.
The hard part of any sort ofactivity is maintaining it,
doing it over and over.
I mean, I can start an exerciseprogram and in two weeks I've
kind of abandoned it.
How do you help people maintaintheir declutter once they've uh
(19:48):
sort of achieved that?
Speaker 3 (19:50):
well, it's a mindset that they keep need use, need
use and as you're going throughthings, you go oh my gosh, I
have 12 pair of glasses in thisdrawer.
I didn't realize that, and sothey.
I need to give them away andperiodically once a year or once
a month go through a room.
I know a couple that goesthrough one room every month and
they see, doesn't need paint,what do I need to downsize in it
(20:13):
?
Let go of, and so a system thatworks for them on a monthly or
yearly basis to stay on top ofthings and just keep in mind the
goal of having a simpler life.
Speaker 2 (20:23):
Do you have any organizational tools that you
recommend or products that yousuggest that people use,
especially when they're gettinginto a smaller home?
Speaker 3 (20:32):
Yes.
So I like to think abouteverything has to have a purpose
and a place, not just a place.
We can't just put themayonnaise anywhere.
It has to have a purpose and aplace.
So I like those rounds.
Lazy Susan's, under my, my sinkI have a 25 inch round, so
things come to me.
I'm not digging and forgettingtheir stuff in the back.
And there are little shelvesthat put in, so that space above
(20:54):
the mugs usually there'sanother set of mugs that could
go there, so they have littleshelves you can put there and so
you have double, double stackcups.
Very good.
And I like rectangularcontainers for flour and sugar,
not round, because they fitbetter and you can stack brown
sugar and powdered sugar on topof each other and you can see
what you have.
So you have to have visibilityand access so I have easy access
(21:17):
and easy availability.
Find these things.
Do you remember that store?
It's called storables.
I love that store.
It was like cocaine.
I'd buy a whole bunch of stuffand I told the guy one time I
said this is like cocaine.
He looked at me like I was soweird, but it's just so cool.
So I worked with a client thatshe was kind of short and she
had a pantry that was two levelscame together In that corner.
(21:38):
I put a round in each one soshe could get to it and see what
she had.
She could get to it and seewhat she had.
And then they had thoseexpandable shelves in kitchen
stores.
You pull apart thistwo-sectional piece and there's
three levels.
So you have your canned goodson three levels, okay.
And then you group like things,so all your vegetables go
together, your soups go together, so you know you have access to
it, you can see what you have.
(21:59):
My other key thing is thestrategy of touch, reach, walk
and hike.
So if I'm staying at my kitchensink the things I need there I
need to be able to touch itwithout walking to the other
side of the kitchen.
So my cutting board is nearthere.
I don't walk to the other sideof the kitchen which I've had
women tell me and I need thereplaceable garbage bags under
the sink.
I don't need to walk across thekitchen, which I've seen women
(22:21):
do.
I go, bring it back here.
So then after I leave, they goto that closet off the side of
the kitchen to get their garbagereplacement bags.
Oh no, they're not here.
What leads to say, oh, where Ineed them.
So they go back.
Oh yeah, they're under thekitchen sink.
Your dishwasher is close toyour kitchen sink so you want to
be able to touch and reach, putthose things away.
You don't need to walk acrossthe kitchen.
(22:42):
Walk is a couple steps away.
Touch, reach, walk and hike isto a second bedroom or a bedroom
closet, even out in the garagefor some things that use
seasonally.
So I had a woman in a verysmall condo.
She had a huge Christmas bowlin her kitchen.
She was wasting space so Ihelped her with that system.
So not only the tools, it's theplacement of things.
(23:04):
So I want to be efficient.
So the things you get to veryinfrequently are the very top
shelf.
If you're getting to more often, the middle shelf, that makes
sense.
My mom got to the point whereshe couldn't, with her arthritis
, couldn't put things away, soshe had a drawer with her
plastic plates.
It was so smart, I was so proudof her.
Speaker 1 (23:25):
Lisa, you are a giving person.
This is kind of a mission.
It sounds like it's a sort of amission in your life and you
want to help people but you needto make a living.
So tell us how you arecompensated for your time
helping people.
Speaker 3 (23:39):
So I do do things on an hourly basis, but I don't do
the heavy lifting anymore and Ican give people direction and I
can have them be accountable tome, and I've moved all my skills
into what I call a smoothorganizer community, and so I
ask them what their goal is,their intention.
They report to me on whatthey're doing, their
accomplishments, and I want areport on what's funny that you
(23:59):
find.
So a woman last week told meshe was working on her office.
She found eight staplers.
I'm like are you kidding me?
When I'm talking to audiences,I say, okay, I have an old
toothbrush under my bathroom, mykitchen sink, Do you have one?
And I'll get one or two peoplearound the faucet.
I had a woman with 36toothbrushes under the sink.
I go what is the plan?
Are they color coded?
(24:21):
What is this deal?
So I have this group it's calledSmooth Organizers and my goal
is to help them realize that thebest place to be is to be able
to list be able to list yourhouse in 30 days.
So what do you have to do toget to that point?
And so we work towards that.
They may want to take sixmonths to do it, or they may
want to take 30 days.
I've had to do that before andso we just work on that goal and
(24:44):
that timeline and so they haveaccountability and they have
some humor along the way.
So it's free to widows I charge$300 for a year and people
usually get it done within ayear their choice.
Speaker 2 (24:56):
Very good Okay.
Speaker 3 (25:02):
So now, when you say you charge $300 to join the
group, you're talking about theSmooth Organizer group.
Yes, and we do face, I dovideos and I make calls and we
will do a live Zoom grouptogether.
Speaker 2 (25:09):
Okay, that's a cool idea.
So they don't have tonecessarily have you come into
their home and do the work.
Right, that's it.
Oh, I like that.
Speaker 3 (25:19):
So a widow I worked with before she's a recent widow
.
I worked with her before shewas a widow on her little small
apartment condo on LakeSammamish and so she wanted me
to go through and I helped herorganize her kitchen and so she
did all the work.
We just talked weekly and shereally got to a place where she
had control and didn't have toomuch stuff.
Now her husband has passed awayso she goes.
Now what do I do?
(25:39):
So I did visit with her.
We talked about what she couldlet go of and she agreed.
It's a very touching thing as awidow to downsize and live a
simpler life as a single woman.
Speaker 2 (25:53):
So I have a heart for widows.
Are widowers allowed into thatgroup as well?
Have you run into them?
Speaker 3 (25:57):
Sure they are.
Yes, they are, but I'm a partof three widow groups, so that's
who I'm around mostly.
Speaker 1 (26:04):
What resources would you suggest for getting rid of
this stuff responsibly, not justthrowing it all in a landfill?
We've mentioned the Buy Nothingand you had the Habitat for
Humanity.
Are there other suggestions?
Speaker 3 (26:19):
Well, I would Google thrift stores in your area and
find out what the mission is foreach one and which one grabs
your heart the most, and thatreally helps.
I think that'd be the bestthing and I have.
I have resources, so people canreach out to me for resources.
I have someone and you probablydo too, Judy for estate sales.
I have someone in Gig Harborthat really works with
collectibles, so if you have awonderful collection, we could
(26:40):
send pictures to him and hecould tell you what to do or how
he could sell it for you.
Speaker 1 (26:45):
Do you help people set up for estate sales?
Speaker 3 (26:48):
No, I don't.
We just get it down to whatthey're going to.
I don't place it.
No, but we can thin things out.
Speaker 1 (26:54):
Can you talk to us about one of your success
stories that you'd like to share?
Speaker 3 (27:00):
Oh, Charlie comes to mind immediately.
Charlie heard me speaking at agroup one time and In about 10
years, there, he called me andsaid Lisa, are you still doing
that stuff?
And I said yes, and so he hadme come to his home.
He says I want to list my housein 30 days.
Can you help me?
Without taking a thorough look,I said, sure, we spent 240
hours and got his house on themarket in 30 days.
He got top dollar in hisneighborhood.
(27:21):
The realtor was really happy.
So he had a three bay garage.
So he had a bay for to family,a bay to his new place and a bay
to thrift stores and it reallyworked well.
He was so proud so I had histestimony on my, my signature
page, because he's he was inmarketing and he was a very
talented man.
There's a beetle size pile ofthings.
(27:43):
He had things he had used as acaterer, so he could not touch
it emotionally for almost to theend and he finally said, okay,
I can do it.
And so then we went through.
He picked out a few things, buthe let go of a lot of it.
Speaker 2 (27:55):
It's willingness.
You've got to be open andwilling to change, and it's
really hard for me for anyone togo.
Speaker 3 (28:04):
Change is something we're not too fond of, period,
so he was moving from a 3 000square foot home to a probably
two-bedroom apartment with a 13year old son, and so I laid out
on the on the hall all hisstuffed animals.
I said now how much of this cango?
He had a six foot stuffedalligator.
So what are you going to takein?
a bedroom right now, where doesa guy sleep?
(28:27):
So you had to really get itdone.
Okay, ask him what top fivethings does he want to take?
So I'm.
My parents moved from ohio toarizona with the six girls.
My dad took a station wagonwith all our belongings,
everything in it, what the girlswere allowed to keep, one doll
and that was it.
Everything else had to go.
So I learned early in life keepwhat you need and use absolute
(28:50):
love.
So I tell people you have tohave a few lovely things.
So when I moved as a widow, Iwanted a theme in my condo, my
apartment.
So my theme is nautical becauseI've done a lot of sailing.
So if you walk in here and lookaround, you're nautical.
It's not overwhelming, but youget a sense of what it is.
I've been in a home that's verySpanish oriented and you'd
really get the feel that they'refrom Mexico.
(29:12):
It's wonderful.
Speaker 2 (29:13):
What are some common misconceptions?
Do you think about downsizingand organizing?
Speaker 3 (29:20):
I think you're not scrubbing your life and you're
not scrubbing your life ofmemories, You're just being more
selective because you justdon't have room.
So that woman I told you aboutthat I lived with had a lovely
home.
She eventually lived in asister living with her sister
because her sister needed hercompanionship.
They were older.
She lived in assisted livingwith her sister because her
sister needed her companionship.
They were older.
She was allowed to take one bed, one chair, one picture and all
(29:40):
my life.
I went, okay, I will take thispicture or that picture.
I mean, that's just been mymentality.
And she had five outfits.
She was just complete officejewelry, jacket, pants, whatever
.
She just alternated, changedevery day.
It was just one less than life.
I didn't realize, I waslearning that at the time.
Speaker 1 (29:57):
Is it hard for people to get started because they're
so overwhelmed?
Speaker 3 (30:01):
Once they talk to me, they feel like they need to
start, but I give a soft kick onthe butt with my slipper.
Okay, when do you want to havethis done?
Let's just start with theunemotional stuff.
So let's walk through.
What can you let go of easily?
Do you need all 50 shot glassesfrom every state?
Which two states are importantto you?
So just start whittling it down.
Speaker 1 (30:22):
Anything else you'd like to add?
Lisa spent terrific information.
Speaker 3 (30:26):
Oh, thank you so much .
Just encourage people to justbe honest about where they are
in life.
What do they need and what willthey enjoy having they cannot
have?
Have the pool table, the grandpiano in a one-bedroom apartment
, you know?
Just get into reality and bevery selective and have
encouragement.
Have a friend or or me alongwith you to encourage you doing
(30:48):
a good job.
Keep going, let go, let go, letgo, be free.
Everyone I've ever talked toI'm in the senior community I
just say have you taken anythingwith you that you didn't need?
They just laugh at me, they go.
Oh yeah, I can't believe.
I still have to downsize.
So I had one lady that sheabsolutely insists on taking 40
pair of slacks to assistedliving.
I mean yellow, green, orange,blue, tan.
(31:09):
I could not convince her.
She only needed three to five,but she was thinking she's in a
fashion show every day.
So it's just the reality ofwhere we are in life.
I am my own client truly yoursmooth organization group.
Speaker 2 (31:23):
Do you have people from other parts of the country?
And I do yes, I have.
Speaker 3 (31:28):
People have.
I've helped people.
They're not currently with me,but, alabama, make a move.
There's things you can do overthe phone, just getting them the
system, how to pack, how soI've had to do it myself with
babies, and so there's a systemfor doing it at whatever stage
of life you're in.
So the smooth organizers canask me questions and we learn
from each other.
So I just recently learned of aauction place in Mount Vernon
(31:51):
called McMillan's I think, andit's an online auction.
I have a widow that buys thingsfor a dollar and then she
donates them.
That's just her heart.
She'll buy a whole set ofdishes for a dollar and she'll
go donate them, and I have tocall them and find out how do
you get your stuff there?
Do you take pictures of it,what do you do?
And the Zoom calls.
So I learned that from a widowin a widow group.
(32:12):
So it's just, we learn fromeach other and can pass it on
that's a wonderful.
Speaker 2 (32:16):
I really like that organization.
Well, can we post that on oursite?
Speaker 3 (32:22):
I will.
Yes, I will send you.
Oh, I'm going to pay you onemore thing.
Yes, smooth organizers.
But I just learned of a newthing I just bought.
It's called knock box and, okay, next of kin box, and I'll
hyperlink that to you, judy, sothere's different levels you can
buy.
So I already have file box.
It's everything my kids willneed.
The moment I pass, I thought Ihad things in order, but this
(32:44):
makes it in better order and youcan just do it so quickly.
And so my friend who found hermother dead, she goes Lisa, tell
me how long it takes you tofill that up for what it needs.
So I'm keeping track of myhours on that.
Speaker 2 (32:57):
Wow, very good, very good.
Speaker 3 (33:00):
So smooth.
Organizer and knock box, that'sthe best thing.
Pictures is another thing.
What do you do with pictures?
So legacy box is great.
I've used them several times.
There's a place in Linwood thatyou can personally go to that I
have also used.
But I've taken my son with ADHD.
He didn't want all this picture.
She goes mom are you kidding?
I go, these are treasures.
So I put them in lockbox.
(33:21):
So he has on a DVD and he has amemory stick with all his
pictures on it.
So legacy box, legacy box, sowhat?
And then knock box.
Speaker 2 (33:32):
Okay, well, the legacy box.
How do you the photos?
Speaker 3 (33:35):
because I have so I bought a package and I estimate
how so different levels.
So I put 25 pictures in apackage with a sticker on.
So I basically bought thatpackage worth that would go on a
dvd.
And I also sent along eightmillimeter things that we used
to take pictures with eightmillimeters on our camera.
As they turned that into dvdstoo, so you can buy it at
(33:57):
whatever low you want.
So you kind of have to talk tothem.
But that's why I also like thisplace in linwood, because I can
actually talk to them, say, canyou just duplicate this?
They can do that.
So now I have some slides I'mgoing to take to them.
It's expensive to go throughkenmore camera or even costco to
have it, but it's doable.
So you've just got to get itinto day's technology.
(34:17):
You don't want to throw thosememories away.
Speaker 2 (34:20):
No, and I'm literally sitting here going someone, one
of my relatives who passed,handed down well, my great aunt,
who was a hoarder when theywere taking the house apart,
they asked me what, what Iwanted, and I knew she had done
a family history and I'm like,well, I know she's done, you
(34:40):
know, a family history andanything you see that looks like
it might fit into that.
I got 200 pounds of photos.
Speaker 1 (34:48):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (34:49):
I can't believe it.
And reading cards from herhusband during the war, and I
mean just and, and her yearbookfrom high school.
Like the yearbook from highschool I definitely want to keep
and my daughter definitelywants that.
But all the photos, a lot ofthem, are people.
I don't even know who they areand so I've had to unfortunately
(35:12):
throw those away.
But I've also heard that likethe old time really old time
photos, people like those forcrafting.
So I did have a garage sale andI put a box out.
Nobody took.
I was like, free take them ifyou want.
Nobody did so Legacy Box andthe name of the place in Linwood
is and it's audio visual.
Speaker 3 (35:34):
I can send you that too Great.
Speaker 2 (35:37):
We will put these links and especially your smooth
organization we want those withthis podcast so people can
reach out to you on that one.
Speaker 3 (35:47):
Thank you very much.
I'd like to help a lot ofpeople.
That's my legacy.
I can't just throw my brainaway.
I love doing this.
It's my passion and I lovehelping people, and especially
at the winter stage of life it'shard for people to move through
that.
It's so easy when you're 30 or40.
You're just accumulating likecrazy, and then there's a time
when you've got to thin down arethe younger people collecting
(36:08):
just as much as the no?
they really grabbed on to.
I think when our motherschanged our diapers she said
you'll keep this and you'll keepthat and you'll keep more.
I mean, how did I ever think Ihad to keep baby teeth?
That's just ridiculous.
So the younger people are moreminimalist.
My sons like that.
Both boys are.
I'm very careful when I givethem something, because when you
(36:31):
give something away, you haveto realize it could end up in a
burn pile, which some of mystuff did, and I have to just go
.
Well, I'm okay, I gave it away.
I don't want it.
They used it for a period oftime and then they just didn't
have the heart or motivation todonate it, which I think they
could or should have.
But it wasn't their mom at thetime to do that, to tell them no
, no, no, lisa, if someonewanted your skills and is ready
(37:01):
to tackle this, how would theyget ahold of you?
They can call me or text me at206-915-9911 or email me at lisa
spelled E-L-I-S-A athow2getorganizedcom.
Love to talk to them.
Speaker 1 (37:13):
Well, thank you so much.
This has been really helpful.
And, judo, we know this is anissue, but you know, with the
boomer generation, ourgeneration, and rooms full of
stuff, rooms full of stuff,garages full of stuff.
Thank you, lisa, thank you forinviting me.
Speaker 3 (37:34):
I enjoyed this very much.
Speaker 1 (37:37):
This has been Getting your Edge how to Right Size
your Home and Life podcast.
Thank you our guest, LisaHawkinson, of how to Get
Organized.
Thank you, Judy.
This has been wonderful.
Take care, everyone, We'll seeyou next time.
Speaker 2 (37:52):
See you next time.
Bye.
Happy days everyone.
This is Dennis Day with theEdge Group Teams how to
Right-Size your Home and Lifepodcast.
It's so great to hear and seeyou.
We are back with an excellentepisode.
Judy Gratton, tell us how areyou doing?
Speaker 2 (00:17):
I am doing fabulous, dennis, loving this summer
weather.
Speaker 1 (00:20):
I know, isn't it great?
Just people complaining aboutthe gloom and the doom, and
they're not wrong.
I mean, it is dark and cold andwet in this winter, but gosh,
these summers just areincredible.
It doesn't get dark until 10o'clock and it's just not too
(00:40):
hot and sunny, beautiful, so Ican't remember the last time we
had rain here, so it's beenamazing in the Seattle area.
Here Today we have our guest.
Host is Lisa Hawkinson of howto Get Organized, and her
business is there to help people.
So tell us, lisa, a little bitabout your background, who you
(01:03):
are, what your business does tohelp people, specifically the
people who are downsizing.
Speaker 3 (01:09):
Thanks, dennis.
So my early, early childhood Iliked organizing and I was
teased for it mercilessly.
My sister was highly praisedfor her art but I was teased.
So I was very ashamed of likingorder.
And when I was 38, I was at awomen's group and found out that
was a good thing.
I went okay, I like that.
That really helped my family,because my husband was ADD and
my son was ADHD.
(01:30):
We just homed as a family.
It was great.
And then late in my 40s I had avirus, very common virus that
just took me down.
I was in bed or on the couch orlounge chair for two years.
It was unbelievable and as Isaw the light coming at the end
of the time, I'm going to getbetter.
So I got off the lounge chairs,walked to the edge of the deck
and I just kind of suddenlyprayed God, what do I do for the
rest of my life?
(01:50):
My kids are going to be goingto college.
I don't want to be a sad emptynester.
And almost all day I heard helppeople get organized and I
thought that is weird, butthat'd be fun.
I didn't know there was aNational Association of
Professional Organizers 15 yearsbefore that.
So I just got started.
My naturopath at the timerecommended I see a woman and so
I went to visit her.
My first question was, after Ilooked around a little bit, I
(02:11):
said do you say to use Band-Aids?
And she said I'm not that bad,and so the book I started to
write, I'm just okay, she's notgoing to read.
So I just put that weight asidefor about off and on for about
three years and got a lot ofprogress but never really did.
Well, she had all hermedications out in the
countertop.
All the pill bottles were open.
Her oven was full of plasticbags and saran wrap.
(02:32):
It was just unbelievable.
Speaker 1 (02:33):
I had never seen anything like it would you
consider this some close tohoarding?
Speaker 3 (02:39):
oh yes, and so I've now drawn my own boundary lines.
They have to have a therapiston medication and I get to have
the therapist's name number,because it's just too hard for
some to move on and they have toreally want to.
I've helped some that can moveon, but so many just are so
reluctant.
But once I teach them how, ifthey're open to it, they can
gain ground in that.
(02:59):
So I help people downsize anddeclutter or get ready to move
whatever stage they're in.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
You know when you're helping someone downsize, so
they're downsizing.
They're not decluttering orjust organizing, but they're
downsizing and like what aresome of the really common
challenges around that one?
Speaker 3 (03:18):
It's really how do I get started?
Because it's just sooverwhelming.
And so, just to get themstarted in the I usually
recommend, have a goal of likewithin six months or whatever
period of time I want to be done, and then make a weekly
appointment with yourself, likea doctor appointment, like every
Tuesday for two hours orwhatever, and don't cancel on
that.
You have to show up and do somedownsizing and start with the
(03:38):
least emotional things like oh,I can let go of this easily, so
it's letting go, it's notgetting rid, I don't getting rid
sounds like it's junk, it'sjust letting it go somewhere
else.
And that helps them a lot.
And I try to help people grow amore generous heart to let go of
those things that they nolonger use or need.
So I really try to imprint intheir brain need, use, need, use
.
Are you using it?
Do you still need it?
How much would it cost if youreally had to?
(04:00):
That rarely happens, excuse me.
So some people will box thingsup and say if I haven't looked
at in a year, I'll let it go.
So whatever works for them,just to get started.
And then go deeper.
And it's really good to have afriend with you Someone who's
kind and won't ridicule you andjust say are you kidding?
You're not going to get back inthose pants again.
Let's be real.
Speaker 2 (04:20):
You know, what I've seen, too, is a lot of people
overvalue.
You know, what I've seen, too,is a lot of people overvalue.
I don't want to say overvalue,because whenever they bought
what it was, it was veryvaluable but anymore so little
like China crystal silver, coatssilver, not sterling silver,
but silver plated flatware.
(04:40):
I just I'm downsizing and Ijust talked to an estate sale
person and I like I haveNoritake China from occupied
Japan and he said to me NoritakeChina is not worth anything.
He said.
Speaker 3 (04:56):
So this is where you grow a really generous heart and
say, okay, the women startingover in life need new things in
their kitchen and so they cantake a full set.
A couple of women can split itand they can have new dishes.
Or people just starting out oryoung people starting out.
So I just love finding a thriftstore that has a mission that I
just have a resonate in myheart with and so I want to put
(05:18):
my stuff on their shelves tosell to help their mission.
So I've had men who willfinally get down to downside
their garage because there's aplace in Totem Lake.
They donate to search andrescue dogs in the state of
Washington.
We'll help a dog, they'll giveaway some hammers and different
things, so that's fun.
Speaker 2 (05:35):
Oh yeah, it's a challenge.
Speaker 3 (05:38):
It really is.
Yeah, I just feel like, okay, Igot blessed receiving a set of
mugs in 1969 for my weddingpresent.
I can't use them anymore.
We're going on a two-year saletrip, so I put things at my
front door.
The young people at that timewere about ready to leave home
on their own.
They would shop at my frontdoor.
That was fun.
I loved it.
Speaker 2 (05:56):
Oh cool, that might be a good idea.
I'm thinking of want the china.
I don't just want to put it ina value village, I want to know
that somebody wants it andappreciates it.
So I'm happy to give it away ifI knew that it was going
somewhere that people reallywanted it.
Speaker 3 (06:14):
So a place like Mary's place might be a place
you could check women who arestarting over.
Speaker 1 (06:21):
Oh, I like that.
Well, we'll keep a running listhere of places that will really
benefit others to donate to.
One of the things our familydoes is it's a buy nothing group
.
Speaker 3 (06:33):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (06:34):
And it's very specific to a neighborhood.
You have to prove you live inthat neighborhood and so forth,
and you have to give things away, and those who take them cannot
then go and sell them on eBayor other places.
So that's a free Facebook group, and we've gotten rid of so
(06:55):
much stuff.
We've also picked up a lot ofstuff too, so I'm not sure we're
in deficit.
No, not really.
Speaker 3 (07:05):
So how do you?
Have go ahead I live in both.
So there's a thrift store Ilove and they took a bothel fire
engine that was being retiredand it's in uh, peru, and it
goes through, says bothel, goingthrough town, but they, they
got this fire truck down there.
I just love their heart, theirmission, mission, which one is
that it's called Helping Handsand they have a thrift gently
(07:29):
used furniture store inClearview too.
Speaker 1 (07:31):
How do you help your clients determine what to keep
and what to let go?
Speaker 3 (07:37):
So I keep using that term need use.
Will you wear that again?
Would you buy it again today?
Does it still fit?
And just really get it done.
I want to help people live asimpler life, especially when
they get older and then and alsonot trip and fall in their
place because they have so muchstuff.
They've kept all their in-lawstuff or their parents who've
passed away and they haven'tdispersed it yet.
(07:58):
And so just to really think ofI want a simpler life.
I only want the things I needand use as we get over some far
less stuff.
Speaker 2 (08:05):
We have been working with you, with someone, and can
you explain how you use the dots?
Speaker 3 (08:10):
Yeah, the dots have been very helpful, so I use a
green dot, for this will go withme to my new place, or a yellow
dot I'm going to sell this.
There's another dot color forit's going to be dumped, or
another dot for it's going to begiven to a thrift store.
So I have place movers thatwill take things to their new
place, to the junkyard and to athrift store of their choice.
Speaker 2 (08:32):
You have people who do that work for them.
Speaker 3 (08:34):
Yes, I do.
I just have to help them makethe pile, the staging areas.
So Habitat for Humanity isgreat, but they won't come in
the house.
You have to have things in thegarage ready to go or in the
driveway.
So that's a good thing to know,because some things just
physically can't move.
So my people can actually go inthe home and pick things up and
haul it out.
Speaker 1 (08:53):
Oh, wow, very good.
Speaker 3 (08:55):
There are several places that do that, so I love
recommendations.
I love to be a resource.
I've had people go in and takeout freezers and refrigerators.
Speaker 2 (09:02):
What do you do with people who struggle with letting
go of sentimental items?
Speaker 3 (09:08):
Yes, so I try to help them remember.
That item is not the person, soa woman who kept her mother's
dustpan for three years.
I can't judge, I don't laugh,but it's I'm going really a
dustpan.
That's not your mom.
Are you turning into a sconce?
How can you use it?
I tell them a good thing to dois take a picture of it and have
an album with those specialpieces I have one for myself and
(09:29):
then when you let that thing go, tell the story with it.
So my aunt, always, we alwayshave bean casserole and you
might even put the recipe inthere, and so the casserole dish
goes away.
I've had people come back to meover 10 years there and comment
on how Aunt Eva's dish I don'tknow if that was Aunt Ellen's so
just to help them keep track ofwho it was, just knowing the
stories with them is reallyspecial in my heart.
Speaker 2 (09:51):
Yeah, it is.
I think that's a wonderful idea.
Speaker 3 (09:55):
So then I also have dots, where you have an area for
family or friends, and I've hadgrandmas that want to give
things to their grandkids, butthey don't see them often enough
, and I say, well, let's take apicture of them on your phone,
let's text it to them and tellthem if you want it, please pick
up by a certain date or I'mgoing to give it away.
One grandma said I got a callwithin 10 minutes.
She was thrilled.
Speaker 1 (10:15):
And she gets to see her grandchildren too.
What a treat, that's true.
Speaker 3 (10:20):
So I'll tell you the 10 years before my mother passed
away.
Every time one of us six girlswent home we had to put a
sticker on something we wantedwhen she passed away.
So we got close to that timeand I said Mom, you know, we put
stickers on everything we want.
There's some things I know wewill probably sell.
Where would you like the moneyto go?
So she could tell us that wecould honor her wishes.
(10:40):
That was really fulfilling.
Speaker 2 (10:44):
That's wonderful.
I love these ideas.
Good, thank you.
We've dealt with so many peoplethat really are struggling,
especially when they're leavingthat home, family home and all
the memories for every littlething.
And you know, eventually I mademistakes.
It was like, oh yeah, you know,people were trying to tell me
(11:06):
their story around an item and Iwas trying to get them to pack
it up and leave and you've gotto let people tell their stories
.
Speaker 3 (11:14):
Right, right.
So when I was 18, I lived witha woman in Arizona.
She worked in the StateDepartment and she had a lot of
diplomas and certificates andshe was going to be moving with
her sister into assisted living.
And she said what do I do withall these things?
I said take them out of theframe, put them in a very large
scrapbook so she could take themwith her.
She loved that idea.
I had no idea I had that skillback then.
Speaker 1 (11:36):
Can you talk about what are some of the reasons why
people have this troubleletting go?
Speaker 3 (11:42):
They attach too much emotion to that piece, that item
, and that's true with mugs.
I mean people just collect mugslike you can't believe and you
have to go which ones are reallyimportant and how much room do
you have?
It gets down to what season oflife are you in?
Do I entertain 50 people once amonth?
I had a woman who told me shehad 56 mugs in her cabinet.
I said how often do 56 peopleshow up?
(12:05):
If you have that, make you putin a tub and then be able to
retrieve it, but just get itdown to what you need and use.
So some people I've talkedabout you could break the mugs
and put them in cement steps inyour home, outside your home.
Just really have a moregenerous heart to just let go.
Let go, let go.
Be real about what chapter oflife are you in, so that it's
(12:26):
that spring, summer, fall andwinter?
I'm in my winter chapter.
I don't need very many mugs.
I'm a second time widow.
I have four nice matching mugs.
I have two or three I just lovefor my personal use.
But if I have a couple peoplecome over I can have a few nice
mugs.
So it's just a reality of whereyou are in life.
It's hard to accept.
Just talking about people helpsand, like you said, just
(12:47):
listening to their story.
Speaker 2 (12:49):
I try really hard to do that now with people and you
know it's very hard to admit toyourself that you are in the
winter.
That's so true.
Yeah, I can attest to thatpersonally.
It's like I don't, I'm notgoing there.
You know I'm not, I'm not doneyet.
So oh, yeah we're not done.
Speaker 3 (13:10):
But when I'm working with two clients now who have
mental impairments, somecognitive impairment, it gets
even harder.
They're so attached to those.
You would think that that wasthe living person in this item.
I can appreciate that when Ihear the story.
Okay, let's find a place for it, if we can.
Speaker 2 (13:26):
I've run into this several times, where the family
is frustrated, somewhat angrywith their parents for making
this move so difficult.
They want to rush them throughit.
They want them to.
You know, they just want to fixit and and put them somewhere
it's, and it becomes this battlebetween the parents and the
(13:50):
kids.
Do you deal with that at all?
Do you run into that?
Oh, I have.
Speaker 3 (13:55):
So I think it's helping those adult children I'm
assuming they're adult 30 pluspeople.
Yeah, it's like you have tounderstand this is your parents
heart and mind.
That's wrapped up in this item.
Listen to their story when youthen validate them on that item,
how important it is to them and, if possible, let them keep
that item if it's not a hugeitem, but just validate them and
(14:15):
just help work them into thatthought of being generous with
their heart.
Mom, you've loved this forever.
You got from grandma, but youknow what?
You can't use it in your newplace, small place, we don't
have room for it.
We need to let it go.
Where should we let it go?
And we can find a place thatwould really help them and that
might help them move through theprocess.
Speaker 2 (14:34):
That's really good.
I want to stress that if thereare any family members listening
to this, you've got to rememberthis is your parents' lives and
their history and their storyand you can't just rush them out
of that because someday Right.
Speaker 3 (14:54):
And I don't want to be deceptive, but I have heard
women tell me that they havetaken things from their mother
that they then pass on.
But their mother thinks theyhave it.
The mother will never know theypassed it on.
But that comfort of the motherknowing they took it, it's not
lying, it's being generous, it'sbeing kind to their mom's heart
really.
Speaker 1 (15:10):
Have you been in a situation where the younger
family members are pushing,pushing, pushing and there are
consequences of that?
Speaker 3 (15:18):
Again, it's talking to them to help them understand
that they're just in differentplaces in life.
They don't understand what it'slike to be 70 or 80.
Now, it's just not possible.
And she has to say people don'tunderstand what it's like to be
30 when they're 10.
So try to understand.
This is a challenging time oflife and we go through those
seasons in life.
Here in this summer or springseason, how happy for you.
(15:38):
But your mom's in winter, veryclose to frost, you know, and so
let's love her all the waythrough.
Winter, very close to frost,you know, and so let's love her
all the way through, be kind toher, be kind and show her love.
And so I've often told peoplewhose parents are so more
functioning spend time with yourparent, maybe once a month.
You say mom, where did you getthis?
Why did you get this?
Why is this important to you?
Find out the story behind it,because that will make you.
(16:01):
She just loves being with youand loves telling the story of
her items and that's just a verypleasant time for everybody.
And you might make notes wheremom say well, mom, when you're
no longer here and using it,where would you like it to go
and have them tell you.
So I had one lady who was neardeath and the doctor told the
older son mom's not going tomake it through the night, so he
(16:22):
started giving her dolls awayand mom came back to life in 24
hours oxygen.
She's doing fine.
She was so pissed Her dollswere gone.
I said well, you didn't tellhim who gets the dolls.
So go through now and let'sidentify where the dolls are
going, because they were sospecial to her.
So it's our, our responsibilityas an adult to be an adult until
our last breath.
We turn into adult at somepoint in life and you're
(16:43):
responsible all for life, allthrough life.
You don't owe it to your kidsto give them a garage stuff full
and say thanks, you take careof kids, take time off, work
time without pay, vacation time,just take care of all my stuff
that I should have done as anadult.
So I'd like to I hammer ongroups when I'm talking to them
just be a blessing to your kids.
Have them say oh, I'm so gladdad got rid of all that stuff, I
(17:06):
don't need all those tools.
Speaker 1 (17:08):
It's interesting because we often hear that
parents don't want to be aburden to their children, but it
often happens.
Speaker 3 (17:15):
That's right.
I have a friend who just thislast week found her mother dead
at home.
Oh, that's awful, and she calledthe police a wellness check and
there's mom dead.
But she had a very pleasantlook on her face.
She was very happy for mom andshe'd been told that she didn't
have a certain surgery which shechose not to.
She might be dead in six to 12months and six months later she
passed away.
So now they're going through.
(17:35):
Even envelopes are not open.
They're finding things thatthey could never find if they're
looking for it.
And one gal, she even found herbaby teeth.
Her mom had saved her babyteeth.
I might have to say I did thatfor a while, so that's another
way.
So I tell people, when you'redownsizing, seriously downsizing
(17:57):
, and thinking about finalstages of you're in the winter,
go through every shelf, everycloset, every cabinet and see
what you have, and because youmight be ashamed or embarrassed
of what you kept.
So I had talked to a realtorone time and she had given her
elder dog to a woman who didthat out of love.
She was an older woman and whenshe passed away they found
seven dead dogs in her freezer.
So her kids were not payingenough attention to where mom
(18:18):
was and what she needed.
She needed someone to dig ahole or take the pet to a vet.
Speaker 2 (18:23):
So stay in touch.
Yeah, I had a client who didthat and it was more a matter
she could not, because she wasalso a dear friend and she could
not bury them.
She wanted to have themcremated together at some point
in time, but she didn't reallyhave the money to do it.
(18:46):
And so, yeah, when she passed,I knew they were there.
I called her son-in-law andsaid just before you start going
through things, you need toknow that these animals are in
the freezer.
It's amazing.
She loved those animals dearlyand couldn't let them go.
Speaker 3 (19:06):
Someone told me recently and I can't give all
the details, but they had anamputation and that amputated
part was in the freezer it'slike.
Are you kidding me?
Speaker 1 (19:15):
Surprised.
Speaker 3 (19:15):
a hospital or whatever would allow that I know
, I know I don't know how theygot that part home.
It was kind of a small part,but still it's just bizarre what
people will do.
Don't know how they got thatpart home.
It was kind of a small part,but still it's just bizarre what
people will do.
Speaker 1 (19:26):
You don't work with just people who are downsizing
and ready to move.
The hard part of any sort ofactivity is maintaining it,
doing it over and over.
I mean, I can start an exerciseprogram and in two weeks I've
kind of abandoned it.
How do you help people maintaintheir declutter once they've uh
(19:48):
sort of achieved that?
Speaker 3 (19:50):
well, it's a mindset that they keep need use, need
use and as you're going throughthings, you go oh my gosh, I
have 12 pair of glasses in thisdrawer.
I didn't realize that, and sothey.
I need to give them away andperiodically once a year or once
a month go through a room.
I know a couple that goesthrough one room every month and
they see, doesn't need paint,what do I need to downsize in it
(20:13):
?
Let go of, and so a system thatworks for them on a monthly or
yearly basis to stay on top ofthings and just keep in mind the
goal of having a simpler life.
Speaker 2 (20:23):
Do you have any organizational tools that you
recommend or products that yousuggest that people use,
especially when they're gettinginto a smaller home?
Speaker 3 (20:32):
Yes.
So I like to think abouteverything has to have a purpose
and a place, not just a place.
We can't just put themayonnaise anywhere.
It has to have a purpose and aplace.
So I like those rounds.
Lazy Susan's, under my, my sinkI have a 25 inch round, so
things come to me.
I'm not digging and forgettingtheir stuff in the back.
And there are little shelvesthat put in, so that space above
(20:54):
the mugs usually there'sanother set of mugs that could
go there, so they have littleshelves you can put there and so
you have double, double stackcups.
Very good.
And I like rectangularcontainers for flour and sugar,
not round, because they fitbetter and you can stack brown
sugar and powdered sugar on topof each other and you can see
what you have.
So you have to have visibilityand access so I have easy access
(21:17):
and easy availability.
Find these things.
Do you remember that store?
It's called storables.
I love that store.
It was like cocaine.
I'd buy a whole bunch of stuffand I told the guy one time I
said this is like cocaine.
He looked at me like I was soweird, but it's just so cool.
So I worked with a client thatshe was kind of short and she
had a pantry that was two levelscame together In that corner.
(21:38):
I put a round in each one soshe could get to it and see what
she had.
She could get to it and seewhat she had.
And then they had thoseexpandable shelves in kitchen
stores.
You pull apart thistwo-sectional piece and there's
three levels.
So you have your canned goodson three levels, okay.
And then you group like things,so all your vegetables go
together, your soups go together, so you know you have access to
it, you can see what you have.
(21:59):
My other key thing is thestrategy of touch, reach, walk
and hike.
So if I'm staying at my kitchensink the things I need there I
need to be able to touch itwithout walking to the other
side of the kitchen.
So my cutting board is nearthere.
I don't walk to the other sideof the kitchen which I've had
women tell me and I need thereplaceable garbage bags under
the sink.
I don't need to walk across thekitchen, which I've seen women
(22:21):
do.
I go, bring it back here.
So then after I leave, they goto that closet off the side of
the kitchen to get their garbagereplacement bags.
Oh no, they're not here.
What leads to say, oh, where Ineed them.
So they go back.
Oh yeah, they're under thekitchen sink.
Your dishwasher is close toyour kitchen sink so you want to
be able to touch and reach, putthose things away.
You don't need to walk acrossthe kitchen.
(22:42):
Walk is a couple steps away.
Touch, reach, walk and hike isto a second bedroom or a bedroom
closet, even out in the garagefor some things that use
seasonally.
So I had a woman in a verysmall condo.
She had a huge Christmas bowlin her kitchen.
She was wasting space so Ihelped her with that system.
So not only the tools, it's theplacement of things.
(23:04):
So I want to be efficient.
So the things you get to veryinfrequently are the very top
shelf.
If you're getting to more often, the middle shelf, that makes
sense.
My mom got to the point whereshe couldn't, with her arthritis
, couldn't put things away, soshe had a drawer with her
plastic plates.
It was so smart, I was so proudof her.
Speaker 1 (23:25):
Lisa, you are a giving person.
This is kind of a mission.
It sounds like it's a sort of amission in your life and you
want to help people but you needto make a living.
So tell us how you arecompensated for your time
helping people.
Speaker 3 (23:39):
So I do do things on an hourly basis, but I don't do
the heavy lifting anymore and Ican give people direction and I
can have them be accountable tome, and I've moved all my skills
into what I call a smoothorganizer community, and so I
ask them what their goal is,their intention.
They report to me on whatthey're doing, their
accomplishments, and I want areport on what's funny that you
(23:59):
find.
So a woman last week told meshe was working on her office.
She found eight staplers.
I'm like are you kidding me?
When I'm talking to audiences,I say, okay, I have an old
toothbrush under my bathroom, mykitchen sink, Do you have one?
And I'll get one or two peoplearound the faucet.
I had a woman with 36toothbrushes under the sink.
I go what is the plan?
Are they color coded?
(24:21):
What is this deal?
So I have this group it's calledSmooth Organizers and my goal
is to help them realize that thebest place to be is to be able
to list be able to list yourhouse in 30 days.
So what do you have to do toget to that point?
And so we work towards that.
They may want to take sixmonths to do it, or they may
want to take 30 days.
I've had to do that before andso we just work on that goal and
(24:44):
that timeline and so they haveaccountability and they have
some humor along the way.
So it's free to widows I charge$300 for a year and people
usually get it done within ayear their choice.
Speaker 2 (24:56):
Very good Okay.
Speaker 3 (25:02):
So now, when you say you charge $300 to join the
group, you're talking about theSmooth Organizer group.
Yes, and we do face, I dovideos and I make calls and we
will do a live Zoom grouptogether.
Speaker 2 (25:09):
Okay, that's a cool idea.
So they don't have tonecessarily have you come into
their home and do the work.
Right, that's it.
Oh, I like that.
Speaker 3 (25:19):
So a widow I worked with before she's a recent widow
.
I worked with her before shewas a widow on her little small
apartment condo on LakeSammamish and so she wanted me
to go through and I helped herorganize her kitchen and so she
did all the work.
We just talked weekly and shereally got to a place where she
had control and didn't have toomuch stuff.
Now her husband has passed awayso she goes.
Now what do I do?
(25:39):
So I did visit with her.
We talked about what she couldlet go of and she agreed.
It's a very touching thing as awidow to downsize and live a
simpler life as a single woman.
Speaker 2 (25:53):
So I have a heart for widows.
Are widowers allowed into thatgroup as well?
Have you run into them?
Speaker 3 (25:57):
Sure they are.
Yes, they are, but I'm a partof three widow groups, so that's
who I'm around mostly.
Speaker 1 (26:04):
What resources would you suggest for getting rid of
this stuff responsibly, not justthrowing it all in a landfill?
We've mentioned the Buy Nothingand you had the Habitat for
Humanity.
Are there other suggestions?
Speaker 3 (26:19):
Well, I would Google thrift stores in your area and
find out what the mission is foreach one and which one grabs
your heart the most, and thatreally helps.
I think that'd be the bestthing and I have.
I have resources, so people canreach out to me for resources.
I have someone and you probablydo too, Judy for estate sales.
I have someone in Gig Harborthat really works with
collectibles, so if you have awonderful collection, we could
(26:40):
send pictures to him and hecould tell you what to do or how
he could sell it for you.
Speaker 1 (26:45):
Do you help people set up for estate sales?
Speaker 3 (26:48):
No, I don't.
We just get it down to whatthey're going to.
I don't place it.
No, but we can thin things out.
Speaker 1 (26:54):
Can you talk to us about one of your success
stories that you'd like to share?
Speaker 3 (27:00):
Oh, Charlie comes to mind immediately.
Charlie heard me speaking at agroup one time and In about 10
years, there, he called me andsaid Lisa, are you still doing
that stuff?
And I said yes, and so he hadme come to his home.
He says I want to list my housein 30 days.
Can you help me?
Without taking a thorough look,I said, sure, we spent 240
hours and got his house on themarket in 30 days.
He got top dollar in hisneighborhood.
(27:21):
The realtor was really happy.
So he had a three bay garage.
So he had a bay for to family,a bay to his new place and a bay
to thrift stores and it reallyworked well.
He was so proud so I had histestimony on my, my signature
page, because he's he was inmarketing and he was a very
talented man.
There's a beetle size pile ofthings.
(27:43):
He had things he had used as acaterer, so he could not touch
it emotionally for almost to theend and he finally said, okay,
I can do it.
And so then we went through.
He picked out a few things, buthe let go of a lot of it.
Speaker 2 (27:55):
It's willingness.
You've got to be open andwilling to change, and it's
really hard for me for anyone togo.
Speaker 3 (28:04):
Change is something we're not too fond of, period,
so he was moving from a 3 000square foot home to a probably
two-bedroom apartment with a 13year old son, and so I laid out
on the on the hall all hisstuffed animals.
I said now how much of this cango?
He had a six foot stuffedalligator.
So what are you going to takein?
a bedroom right now, where doesa guy sleep?
(28:27):
So you had to really get itdone.
Okay, ask him what top fivethings does he want to take?
So I'm.
My parents moved from ohio toarizona with the six girls.
My dad took a station wagonwith all our belongings,
everything in it, what the girlswere allowed to keep, one doll
and that was it.
Everything else had to go.
So I learned early in life keepwhat you need and use absolute
(28:50):
love.
So I tell people you have tohave a few lovely things.
So when I moved as a widow, Iwanted a theme in my condo, my
apartment.
So my theme is nautical becauseI've done a lot of sailing.
So if you walk in here and lookaround, you're nautical.
It's not overwhelming, but youget a sense of what it is.
I've been in a home that's verySpanish oriented and you'd
really get the feel that they'refrom Mexico.
(29:12):
It's wonderful.
Speaker 2 (29:13):
What are some common misconceptions?
Do you think about downsizingand organizing?
Speaker 3 (29:20):
I think you're not scrubbing your life and you're
not scrubbing your life ofmemories, You're just being more
selective because you justdon't have room.
So that woman I told you aboutthat I lived with had a lovely
home.
She eventually lived in asister living with her sister
because her sister needed hercompanionship.
They were older.
She lived in assisted livingwith her sister because her
sister needed her companionship.
They were older.
She was allowed to take one bed, one chair, one picture and all
(29:40):
my life.
I went, okay, I will take thispicture or that picture.
I mean, that's just been mymentality.
And she had five outfits.
She was just complete officejewelry, jacket, pants, whatever
.
She just alternated, changedevery day.
It was just one less than life.
I didn't realize, I waslearning that at the time.
Speaker 1 (29:57):
Is it hard for people to get started because they're
so overwhelmed?
Speaker 3 (30:01):
Once they talk to me, they feel like they need to
start, but I give a soft kick onthe butt with my slipper.
Okay, when do you want to havethis done?
Let's just start with theunemotional stuff.
So let's walk through.
What can you let go of easily?
Do you need all 50 shot glassesfrom every state?
Which two states are importantto you?
So just start whittling it down.
Speaker 1 (30:22):
Anything else you'd like to add?
Lisa spent terrific information.
Speaker 3 (30:26):
Oh, thank you so much .
Just encourage people to justbe honest about where they are
in life.
What do they need and what willthey enjoy having they cannot
have?
Have the pool table, the grandpiano in a one-bedroom apartment
, you know?
Just get into reality and bevery selective and have
encouragement.
Have a friend or or me alongwith you to encourage you doing
(30:48):
a good job.
Keep going, let go, let go, letgo, be free.
Everyone I've ever talked toI'm in the senior community I
just say have you taken anythingwith you that you didn't need?
They just laugh at me, they go.
Oh yeah, I can't believe.
I still have to downsize.
So I had one lady that sheabsolutely insists on taking 40
pair of slacks to assistedliving.
I mean yellow, green, orange,blue, tan.
(31:09):
I could not convince her.
She only needed three to five,but she was thinking she's in a
fashion show every day.
So it's just the reality ofwhere we are in life.
I am my own client truly yoursmooth organization group.
Speaker 2 (31:23):
Do you have people from other parts of the country?
And I do yes, I have.
Speaker 3 (31:28):
People have.
I've helped people.
They're not currently with me,but, alabama, make a move.
There's things you can do overthe phone, just getting them the
system, how to pack, how soI've had to do it myself with
babies, and so there's a systemfor doing it at whatever stage
of life you're in.
So the smooth organizers canask me questions and we learn
from each other.
So I just recently learned of aauction place in Mount Vernon
(31:51):
called McMillan's I think, andit's an online auction.
I have a widow that buys thingsfor a dollar and then she
donates them.
That's just her heart.
She'll buy a whole set ofdishes for a dollar and she'll
go donate them, and I have tocall them and find out how do
you get your stuff there?
Do you take pictures of it,what do you do?
And the Zoom calls.
So I learned that from a widowin a widow group.
(32:12):
So it's just, we learn fromeach other and can pass it on
that's a wonderful.
Speaker 2 (32:16):
I really like that organization.
Well, can we post that on oursite?
Speaker 3 (32:22):
I will.
Yes, I will send you.
Oh, I'm going to pay you onemore thing.
Yes, smooth organizers.
But I just learned of a newthing I just bought.
It's called knock box and, okay, next of kin box, and I'll
hyperlink that to you, judy, sothere's different levels you can
buy.
So I already have file box.
It's everything my kids willneed.
The moment I pass, I thought Ihad things in order, but this
(32:44):
makes it in better order and youcan just do it so quickly.
And so my friend who found hermother dead, she goes Lisa, tell
me how long it takes you tofill that up for what it needs.
So I'm keeping track of myhours on that.
Speaker 2 (32:57):
Wow, very good, very good.
Speaker 3 (33:00):
So smooth.
Organizer and knock box, that'sthe best thing.
Pictures is another thing.
What do you do with pictures?
So legacy box is great.
I've used them several times.
There's a place in Linwood thatyou can personally go to that I
have also used.
But I've taken my son with ADHD.
He didn't want all this picture.
She goes mom are you kidding?
I go, these are treasures.
So I put them in lockbox.
(33:21):
So he has on a DVD and he has amemory stick with all his
pictures on it.
So legacy box, legacy box, sowhat?
And then knock box.
Speaker 2 (33:32):
Okay, well, the legacy box.
How do you the photos?
Speaker 3 (33:35):
because I have so I bought a package and I estimate
how so different levels.
So I put 25 pictures in apackage with a sticker on.
So I basically bought thatpackage worth that would go on a
dvd.
And I also sent along eightmillimeter things that we used
to take pictures with eightmillimeters on our camera.
As they turned that into dvdstoo, so you can buy it at
(33:57):
whatever low you want.
So you kind of have to talk tothem.
But that's why I also like thisplace in linwood, because I can
actually talk to them, say, canyou just duplicate this?
They can do that.
So now I have some slides I'mgoing to take to them.
It's expensive to go throughkenmore camera or even costco to
have it, but it's doable.
So you've just got to get itinto day's technology.
(34:17):
You don't want to throw thosememories away.
Speaker 2 (34:20):
No, and I'm literally sitting here going someone, one
of my relatives who passed,handed down well, my great aunt,
who was a hoarder when theywere taking the house apart,
they asked me what, what Iwanted, and I knew she had done
a family history and I'm like,well, I know she's done, you
(34:40):
know, a family history andanything you see that looks like
it might fit into that.
I got 200 pounds of photos.
Speaker 1 (34:48):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (34:49):
I can't believe it.
And reading cards from herhusband during the war, and I
mean just and, and her yearbookfrom high school.
Like the yearbook from highschool I definitely want to keep
and my daughter definitelywants that.
But all the photos, a lot ofthem, are people.
I don't even know who they areand so I've had to unfortunately
(35:12):
throw those away.
But I've also heard that likethe old time really old time
photos, people like those forcrafting.
So I did have a garage sale andI put a box out.
Nobody took.
I was like, free take them ifyou want.
Nobody did so Legacy Box andthe name of the place in Linwood
is and it's audio visual.
Speaker 3 (35:34):
I can send you that too Great.
Speaker 2 (35:37):
We will put these links and especially your smooth
organization we want those withthis podcast so people can
reach out to you on that one.
Speaker 3 (35:47):
Thank you very much.
I'd like to help a lot ofpeople.
That's my legacy.
I can't just throw my brainaway.
I love doing this.
It's my passion and I lovehelping people, and especially
at the winter stage of life it'shard for people to move through
that.
It's so easy when you're 30 or40.
You're just accumulating likecrazy, and then there's a time
when you've got to thin down arethe younger people collecting
(36:08):
just as much as the no?
they really grabbed on to.
I think when our motherschanged our diapers she said
you'll keep this and you'll keepthat and you'll keep more.
I mean, how did I ever think Ihad to keep baby teeth?
That's just ridiculous.
So the younger people are moreminimalist.
My sons like that.
Both boys are.
I'm very careful when I givethem something, because when you
(36:31):
give something away, you haveto realize it could end up in a
burn pile, which some of mystuff did, and I have to just go
.
Well, I'm okay, I gave it away.
I don't want it.
They used it for a period oftime and then they just didn't
have the heart or motivation todonate it, which I think they
could or should have.
But it wasn't their mom at thetime to do that, to tell them no
, no, no, lisa, if someonewanted your skills and is ready
(37:01):
to tackle this, how would theyget ahold of you?
They can call me or text me at206-915-9911 or email me at lisa
spelled E-L-I-S-A athow2getorganizedcom.
Love to talk to them.
Speaker 1 (37:13):
Well, thank you so much.
This has been really helpful.
And, judo, we know this is anissue, but you know, with the
boomer generation, ourgeneration, and rooms full of
stuff, rooms full of stuff,garages full of stuff.
Thank you, lisa, thank you forinviting me.
Speaker 3 (37:34):
I enjoyed this very much.
Speaker 1 (37:37):
This has been Getting your Edge how to Right Size
your Home and Life podcast.
Thank you our guest, LisaHawkinson, of how to Get
Organized.
Thank you, Judy.
This has been wonderful.
Take care, everyone, We'll seeyou next time.
Speaker 2 (37:52):
See you next time.
Bye.
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