TO GET ORGANIZED, SAVE MONEY AND SAVE TIME YOU NEED TO STOP SHOPPING
I love shopping! Yes, me, the same person who recently sold/consigned/gave away every single piece of furniture and accessory in her living and dining rooms in order to start fresh with the minimal amount of “stuff” in her life and the same person who is so anti-stuff...
EASY TRAVEL IS POSSIBLE WITH AN ORGANIZED CHECKLIST
I find the pre-travel preparation to be exhausting and terribly stressful. To alleviate some of the stress, I keep a track of everything by keeping an organized travel checklist.
ANNUAL TAX ORGANIZATION IS AS EASY AS ONE-TWO-THREE
Setting-up a simple three-file filing system to help you keep track of your paperwork and tax papers is the easiest way to keep on top of the paperwork year round. All you need are three files, one marked “taxes,” one marked “taxes/medical” and one marked “donations” and you’re on your way to being organized.
BEING ORGANIZED IS THE GREATEST GIFT YOU CAN LEAVE YOUR LOVED ONES
The greatest gift you can give your children is to organize your life by organizing your paperwork, decluttering, sorting out old photos and memorabilia and clearing out off-site storage units and the attic.
GET ORGANIZED BY NOT RENTING AN OFF-SITE STORAGE UNIT
If there’s one thing that makes me crazier than people who text while driving, it’s when people throw away their hard-earned money in order to store “stuff” in an off-site storage unit. And you thought Bernie Madoff was a crook? Trust me when I say putting your...
JEWELRY ORGANIZATION IS A BREEZE WITH THESE GREAT HINTS
Here’s an organizational conundrum sent to me by a friend: “Over the years I’ve spent more money on costume jewelry than most people spend on the real thing. I know I should probably try and get my shopping habit under control, for now the problem is not how...
ONE’S NEAT, ONE’S NOT/THE ODD COUPLE
Wondering how to tackle what’s behind closed doors and stuffed under the bed? Challenge everyone (slobs and neatniks alike) to an all-day purge-a-thon. At the end of the day, the person with the cleanest, most clutter-free room wins. Prizes can range from cash to services, such as the “runner-up” washing the winner’s car, or a special dinner out for the whole family. In the end, there are no losers, just winners.
HAVING AN IN CASE OF EMERGENCY CARD (ICE) COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE
No matter if you’re young or old; single, divorced, widowed or married; a college or high school student; senior citizen, baby boomer, millennial; mother or father, businesswoman or businessman, every adult should carry an up-to-date ICE Card in his/her wallet at all times, which, God forbid there be an emergency, could make the difference between life and death.
STOP THE MADNESS AND CUT THE CLUTTER WITH THESE GREAT HOLIDAY GIFT-GIVING IDEAS
Am I the only person who thinks holiday gift giving has gotten out of control? It’s bad enough when stores force employees to work on Thanksgiving Day, but when customers risk their lives in pursuit of this year’s “hottest gifts” and get trampled to death even before...
ORGANIZING SEASONAL PLATTERS, DISHES & LINENS
For those of you who can’t resist having an assortment of serving dishes for every occasion from Christmas and Hanukkah to Easter or Passover to Halloween and Thanksgiving, here are a few ideas how to organize your seasonal dishes, serving platters and linens year round.
IT’S NOT DOWNSIZING IF YOU’RE STILL HOLDING ONTO ALL THAT STUFF
October 2023 | FLORIDA WEEKLY
THE ULTIMATE
HURRICANE CHECKLIST
May 2024 | MARLA OTTENSTEIN
MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR HOME OFFICE
July 2020 | GULFSHORE BUSINESS
In Case of Emergency
June 2022 | MARLA OTTENSTEIN
THE ORGANIZERS CLOSET
January 2020 | FLORIDA WEEKLY
GET ORGANIZED
March 2019 | USA TODAY NETWORK
TRAVEL ESSENTIALS
July 2018 | NAPLES DAILY NEWS
BEST OF 2018
May 2018 | FLORIDA WEEKLY
AN ORGANIZED OFFICE
April 2018 | NAPLES DAILY NEWS
ON THE GO
MS. ADVENTURE
March 2018 | GULFSHORE LIFE
PRODUCTIVITY
BEGINS AT HOME
March 2018 | GULFSHORE BUSINESS
DOWNSIZING MADE EASY
February 2018 | NAPLES DAILY NEWS
CREATING SPACE
September 2017 | GULFSHORE LIFE
ORDER UP
March 2017 | NAPLES ILLUSTRATED
IT’S A PICNIC
June 2015 | NAPLES DAILY NEWS
THE RIGHT WAY TO RECYCLE
Oct 2015 | NAPLES DAILY NEWS
WHAT’S A SINGLE
WOMAN TO DO?
June 2015 | NAPLES DAILY NEWS
READIED FOR THE STORM
May 2014 | NAPLES DAILY NEWS
THE ORGANIZER CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE
July 2014 | GULFSHORE LIFE
5Q SERVICE/BIZ PROFILE
June 2015 | NAPLES DAILY NEWS
BALANCE/CLOSET LIBERATION
June 2013 | NAPLES ILLUSTRATED
BEST OF 2012
May 2012 | FLORIDA WEEKLY
THE A-LIST
September 2010 | NAPLES ILLUSTRATED
TRAVEL LIGHT/LOOK FAB
April 2012 | NAPLES ILLUSTRATED
CLOSET CASE
September 2010 | NAPLES ILLUSTRATED
RESOURCEFUL SOUTHWEST FLORIDIANS
September 2009 | FLORIDA WEEKLY
ABOUT MARLA
Marla is a popular columnist, motivational speaker & teacher. She is highly respected in the fields of professional organizing & move management.
For more great organizing ideas,
please visit Marla’s News/Blog page.
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Licensed & Insured | Member:
National Association of Productivity
& Organizing Professionals