Month: December 2006

  • Resolutionaries – The Get Organized TV Show Premieres New Year’s Eve

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    Last Summer, I auditioned for Resolutionaries, a new show for TLC.


    I unfortunately wasn't cast.  But the casting did become a family affair of sorts, when friends of mine were hired in different segments filmed all over Los Angeles.  It was a great audition though, I got to meet some of the folks who produce one of my favorite shows, Monster House.


    Premiering New Years Eve on TCL, Resolutionaries will explore the trauma, perseverance and inadvertent humor of taking on the world’s most popular (and most unfulfilled) self improvement projects. The first three episodes tackle Quitting Smoking, Losing Weight and Getting Organized.


    Each of our participants is teamed with an expert coach who will guide their progress and keep them motivated through temptation, frustration and psychological barriers.


    Folks we knew who were cast include our friend, Long Beach Professional Organizer Michelle Quintana of the Simple Organizer and Amy Applebaum, Life Coach and kick-ass owner of Bootcamp for your Mind.  Both are tackling the Get Organized segment with different approaches.


    John McGrail, Clinical Hypnotherapist is tackling the Stop Smoking portion and Andy Petranek, of Petranek Fitness is exercising his coaching skills in the Losing Weight segment.


    Resolutionaries Premieres on TLC New Years Eve beginning at 8pm.  Check your local listings for exact times and click on the links below for more information including tips from the experts when working with a coach.


     

    Picture above from last Mother's Day KCBS/KCAL pro-bono day of organizing, featuring John Trosko and various organizing colleagues.

     

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  • “A Perfect Mess” – If You Love Clutter, This Book May Be Your “Get Of Jail For Free” Card

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    A new book written by Eric Abrahamson and David H. Freedman claims that a moderate amount of mess is not necessarily a bad thing– in fact it may be beneficial.

    A Perfect Mess is causing quite a clutter controversy.  Read ahead and share your thoughts.

    Their basic argument is that the organization, storage and maintenance is actually more time-consuming, pricey and restrictive than living with a moderate amount of crap.  And without that moderate amount of crap, you may miss out on that creative thought that sparks when you excavate.

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  • Space Organizers Lead Houseware Sales According to New Industry Report

    The International Housewares Association 2006 State of the Industry Report has been released, and we can all rejoice! What are some interesting facts, and how do organizing supplies fit into housewares purchasing?

    • The average household spent $578 on housewares, representing a .05 percent increase.
    • Specialty stores and DIY hardware and home centers increased their share in housewares retailing in 2005.
    • Hardware stores and home centers see the majority of their housewares sales in space organizers, home decor and household electrics.
    • Specialty stores accounted for 13 percent of all direct to retail housewares sales, up from 10.3 percent in 2004, and are the top channel for kitchen electrics and home and office supplies.

    What are three major trends impacting the housewares industry?

    • The eco-friendly movement
    • The do-it-yourself market
    • Outdoor spaces

    The report is composed of data from the IHA annual membership survey, as well as analysis of U.S. and global market data by Raftery Resource Network, and research from other leading firms.

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  • Office and Business Organizing Tips – Los Angeles Times Features John Trosko in Business Section

    Organize_home_office_2The working-weary may sit back this week and enjoy peace and quite inside their four-walled office.

    But don’t let the quiet fool you.

    If you have some downtime between Christmas and New Years, spend a few minutes picking up your office, and I promise you:  you’ll enjoy a year of increased productivity.

    Where else can you get some office organizing tips?  In today’s Los Angeles Times Business Section of course, where yours truly is being featured in Karen Klein’s In Box column.

    "Question: I have some downtime this week and need to get my home office organized. Can you offer any suggestions on where and how to start?"

    "Remove all the items from your space that you no longer need or use, and get rid of anything that you don’t use now and can easily replace," Trosko said. "Once you stop hoarding staples, you can weed your supply pile down to a manageable level."

    Picture above courtesy of Real Simple and Bob Hiemstra

    How much time are you spending in your office this week and what are you doing to catch up?  Please write a comment below this post, we’d love to hear about it!

    UPDATE 01/09/07 – We’ve converted this article to PDF.  To view it in our press kit, click here.

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  • Organizing Emergency: An Architectural Librarian Needs Storage Advise

    "The librarian in our architectural firm wants to organize little samples in storage containers to put on shelves. Can you suggest a vendor for such?  Signed, Dierdre in Downtown"

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    Dierdre— Before you go crazy and make your company’s storage purchases, make ultra sure that you have clearly reviewed all your tile (and whatever you are storing, textiles, paints, metal samples, etc.)  You need to make decisions to get rid of anything that’s broken or outdated.

    Next, if you’re storing items on shelves, we love the boxy look, with tight containers and lids for stacking.

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  • Oprah at Home – Winter 2006 Get Organized Challenge

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    I picked up the Winter 2006 O at Home Magazine not only because it had a "Get Organized" Banner along the front, but I also thought my friend Chris McKenry of Get it Together LA! was being quoted inside.  So, I was wrong, about Chris– it’s next month Chris’s expertise will be duly noted.

    Oprah is big on lifestyle help at home.  New York City online furniture importer Jane Mount and her boyfriend Darko Karas, a graphic designer created an ingenious use of space, and their use of camouflage was terrific.  I especially loved how they disguised their row of freestanding IKEA closet with a photomural, and the chalkboard cupboards, pictured above.  Now the couple always knows which cabinet holds the chips and dips, peas and pasta.

    So, design inquiry here:  would you paint your kitchen cabinets with chalk paint?

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“John Trosko offers creative solutions for clearing cluttered spaces while spilling Hollywood habitués’ domestic obsessions.”

– Cristina Tudino, Self Magazine

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