A few months ago I blogged about my mission to sort out the toys in the kids play room. The play room is actually an extra bedroom which for now (THANK GOODNESS) we don't need as a bedroom as the twins share a room. I am waiting for Kate to say that she no longer wants to share a room with Adam. It's coming, but thankfully not yet. (Poor Adam, he would love to continue sharing with his beloved sister forever while Kate would prefer that she was an only child). My plan is to move Max in with Adam when he is a bit older and then Kate can have her own room away from the BOYS.
The toys were disorganized and messy and so no one ever played with them. I needed to get organized. I first asked all of you (because you are so wise) and then I had a brainwave - why not hire the services of a personal organizer! I could pay someone to come in and put together a strategy and action plan to sort out the mess and institute a system that would stop it from becoming messy again.
My husband was a big sceptic. He is convinced that I am constantly looking for ways to waste money and if I can't find a way, I will make something up. He said "I think it will be a total waste of time and money, but because you are so gorgeous and divine and I am nothing without you, you can go ahead my darling honey pie". Or maybe just part of that. The first part.
So I googled 'personal organizers' and found a company that looked pretty good. They responded to my emails straight away and were really friendly. I was allocated a personal organizer and a first session was booked.
I should have realized at the first session that perhaps my expectations were slightly off target. We spent the time discussing all sorts of touchy feely stuff (my fave - not). I then had to fill in a touchy feely questionnaire. Hmmm, nice - but I don't have the time or money for 'nice'. I suggested that instead of paying the organizer to do so, Rose focuses on the "declutter" and she focuses on the strategy / solution side.
Anyway, long story short - after a three hour session in which the organizer moved things around from one pile to another (apparently a very important part of the "declutter" process - whatever) and ticked things off on a clipboard, I decided that as much as I hate to admit it - my husband was right - it was a total waste of time and money!! AARRGGHHH!! I hate wasting money. HATE. Almost as much as I hate my husband being right when I am wrong.
It wasn't really the personal organizer's fault. She went strictly according to the book. She was sweet and friendly and had given me three hours of her time, so of course I paid her. But it really, really didn't add any value at all.
BUT... what it did do is inspire Rose and I to get organized ourselves! Between the two of us, we did a fantastic job of arranging the playroom and kid's bedroom. (Actually, it was mostly Rose but I did help). So it wasn't a total waste to hire the organizer. It provided the kick up the bum that we needed to get organized. It was just a bloody expensive kick up the arse.
Please check out the results of our organizing blitz. I am very impressed with ourselves. I even bought a laminating machine to make the labels which I absolutely LOVE. I have laminated every possible thing I can including one of the dogs and a few of the fish. Almost. Marko sleeps with one eye open in case I laminate him while he sleeps. If you need anything laminated, I'm your man.
The cupboard with all the labelled boxes (clear so that the kids can see through them). My clever husband did the shelving.
I even bought a new cupboard. We now have loads of storage space. Actually this was one suggestion that the organizer made - get rid of the big bulky desk and cupboard we had and replace it with something narrower. See! More money's worth. (Never mind that cupboard cost an absolute fortune)
The bedroom (Kate sleeps on the bottom)
The bookcase
So there you have it. Rose and I make a formidable personal organizing team. You can hire us for an affordable fee of 1000000 bucks per hour and we promise to do no touchy feely stuff with you or use words like "declutter".
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The room is beautiful! You and Rose did a fantastic job :)
Posted by: Marcia (123 blog) | 15 January 2011 at 06:23 PM
Absolutely beautiful.
Thanks for the heads-up re: personal organizers. I was quite keen to do the same and you have saved me a lot of money. When I told my husband about my plans to get in an organizer he told me that this is NOT an Oprah show...
Posted by: Julia | 16 January 2011 at 07:58 AM
Whahahaha... seriously... I'll say it again... you're living my life (aside from the fertility thing... and the truck load of children... and Rosey... but other than that???)
I also tried the Personal Organiser (she was on Decor Made Simple once) and I never actually got to use her, because Handsome Hubby was adamant that it was a complete waste of money! However... I still have the rewards of not having her - no kick up the backside, and I've relented and accepted the opinion that ... POSSIBLY... I'm a hoarder.
Posted by: JennJenn | 17 January 2011 at 08:49 AM
Love the cupboard with the red/grey and yellow draws. Where did you get it?
Posted by: Bajin | 17 January 2011 at 11:26 AM
OMG. I just used the word 'declutter' in a blog post about cleaning the kids' playroom and saw this post when I came to get your link to add you to my blogroll. Oh the shame of it. :P
That cupboard is way impressive, I'm SO stealing some of your ideas!
Posted by: Tania | 18 January 2011 at 02:12 PM
I must say you and Rosie have done a great job. The kids room and the bookcase looks perfect.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQVTXSgd2Cg I've got loads to clean up. Your article is quite an inspiration.
Posted by: Kids room | 19 January 2011 at 12:14 PM
Wow! I am impressed and the rooms are so great especially the bedroom of Kate. Feels I love to sleep there. Yeah you did a great job with Rose.
Posted by: insomnia symptoms | 20 January 2011 at 11:30 AM
Very impressive! I think you should take Marco's credit card, laminate it, and sneak it back in his wallet for a nice little surprise later.
Posted by: One of Two Mommies | 20 January 2011 at 04:08 PM
The day my husband would EVER let me hire an organizer....NEVER will happen. But I can't imagine they would have any better ideas than what you can come up with or find on the web...
Looks very nice!
Posted by: jen w | 20 January 2011 at 06:23 PM