Welcome to returning subscribers! Thank you for your continued interest and support. I appreciate your time.

Welcome also to all the new subscribers this month! I hope you find this issue enjoyable and packed full of helpful information.

Contact me if there is information you would like to see in future issues. I'm here to serve you!

Hard to believe that 2009 is already here! YIPEE!

I had someone tell me long ago that you know you're getting old when the days, months and years begin to fly by. I didn't think much about it until recently. I guess I AM getting old (but only physically --- otherwise, I'm tarp as a shack!) LOL!!

Here's hoping that you and your loved ones have a safe, happy, healthy and prosperous New Year!

In this issue:

• ORGANIZING YOUR CRAFT ROOM
• ORGANIZING YOUR COMPUTER
• NEAT RECEIPTS -- KEEP YOUR PAPER TO A MINIMUM

If you can't get enough of your favorite happy hobby, then you probably have a craft room that needs some TLC. If one of your New Year Resolutions is to get more organized, you might want to start where you heart is . . . in your craft room.

Most creative people don't want to spend time organizing, they would rather be crafting! Does this sound like you?

Well . . . if you'd rather spend more time being creative, spending a small amount of time up front to organize your craft room will reap tremendous benefits in the long run. You'll be able to see things easier, locate what you need and get crafting instead of rummaging around trying to find what you're looking for. You also won't waste money buying something you already own!

Every craft has specific tools and "stuff." Painters, quilters, paper crafters all utilize different items. This article is not intend to be craft-specific. Take these general directions and apply them to your hobby of choice.

If you've been disorganized for awhile, you may find it hard to know where to start. Here's some suggestions:

Plan, Plan, Plan A little planning goes a long way. It will save you time and effort. Look at what you have. Think of the items in terms of "categories" (brushes, paper, paint, etc.) Make a list of items to purchase to store each category. Similar items should be conveniently stored together. See-though boxes are my favorite. I can see exactly what I have without opening the box.

Craft Area Set aside an area of your home for your craft projects. If you don't have a separate room, look for a closet that can be rearranged or even a chest of drawers. If you have a special place, you can fill the space with creative ideas that will make you more productive. If you don't have space for a special craft room and craft in a room with another purpose, use a divider to divide your crafting space from the remainder of the room.

Work Station & Tools If space and money permits, investing in a large, comfortable table to use as a workstation allows you to spread your projects out. You can see what you have to work with and you won't waste time rummaging to find the item you need. You may even want to consider getting a table at a secondhand store (you won't worry about getting glue, paint, etc. on it). Think functionality! Adding a tool rack that mounts to the wall will allow you to hang your tools where you can easily see what you need.

Shelving If space permits, install shelving to utilize your vertical space (this tends to be over-looked). You can store your plastic storage bins here for easy access.

Clean It Out Remove items not used for crafting (e.g. don't store extra canned goods, etc. in your craft area just because you have shelves). Keep your space strictly for crafts. Clean up at the close of every craft session, even if you're exhausted. If you get it out, put it back! This will keep your crafting space from becoming disorganized.

Sort & Donate It may be hard to let go of things, but if you have craft items you haven't used in years, considering sorting through your craft supplies and donating what you don't need or use. Senior Centers, Salvation Army, elementary teachers, etc. would delight to use your unused supplies.

Lighting Don't forget to think about adding some proper lighting in your crafting space. You don't have to add windows (unless you can afford to), but adding a floor, desk or swing arm lamp or too will shed light on your projects and save your eyesight!

Since Christmas is on the way, that means that 2009 is just around the corner. Hard to believe!!!

Most people like to make resolutions for the new year. Resolutions is another way of saying "goal setting."

Here are some key thoughts to help you with setting and achieving your new year goals (resolutions):

• Be Decisive If you're not sure what you want, you probably won't achieve much. You must decide: (1) what you want, (2) why you want it, and (3) how you plan to achieve it. No one but you can, will, or should do that for you.
  
  
• Get Focused and Stay That Way The second step is getting focused on your objective and staying focused from beginning to the end until success is achieved. While it's normal to become unfocused from time to time, the ability to put your goal(resolution) back into focus will help you achieve the desired result.
  
  
• Don't Fear Failure Failure is a part of the learning process. Everyone fails. Failing to achieve your goal (resolution) the first time out doesn't mean you are a failure. Learning to accept a certain amount of failure and regroup, redirect and get back on target will help you grow and achieve your ultimate goal (resolution).
  
  
• Write It Down We all have a tendency to forget things. Write down your goals (resoultions) in a permanent place. Be clear and precise. Goals (resoultions) should also have a specific beginning and ending date or time.
  
  
• Think and Plan Thoroughly There's an old saying: "Most people don't plan to fail, they just fail to plan." True!! Proper thought and planning prevents both frustration during the process as well as poor end results. Plan your work and work your plan!
  
  
• Get Help If Needed No person is an island. Think of people who have knowledge and skills that you don't that might be able to assist you. Think of yourself as the CEO of your own company and others who can help you as your own "Board of Directors." A wise person includes others in their plans.
  
  
• Take That First Step and Keep Walking You have to begin and stick with your plan. If you don't do anything you will achieve nothing. You won't arrive at your destination if you don't get out there and get started!
  
  

• Be Persistent and Patient Persistence will help you stay the course until you achieve your goal (resolution). Being patient with yourself in the process can be more challenging (at least in my experience). Keep at it and remind yourself you're "worth it!"
  
  

Do you ever wish you had a way to keep your family information and planning all in one convenient place? With Cozi, you can!

Get help organizing your family life. Cozi is a FREE web service that helps you manage your family calendar, track your shopping and to-do lists, organize your chores, and stay in touch with your family. Access Cozi from anywhere—home, work, or on the go—with any computer or mobile phone. All you need to get started is a Cozi account—it's quick and easy, with no downloads required!

I recently signed up for this free service and have enjoyed using it so far. Here are the features:

Family Calendar Family life can be crazy; the Cozi family calendar helps keep it sane. With the help of a central calendar, you'll spend less time juggling activities, priorities, and appointments, and more time snuggling your kids.

Family Journal It can be hard to find time to scrapbook or create a family blog. Heck, sometimes it's hard to find time to eat lunch. The family journal is the easy way to save those special moments like the funny things your kids say, the big catch at last night's game, or your trip to the Grand Canyon.

Photo Screen Saver Finally there's a way to re-acquaint yourself with all those great photos just sitting on your computer. Cozi takes your digital memories and turns them into captivating collages. Cozi makes collages automatically. You just watch them change, like a slide show. Photos are automatically organized by family event, holiday, or trip. Appointment reminders and the current time keep you from getting lost down memory lane for too long.

Cozy Sync With Outlook Cozi is the cure for famnesia. You know, that peculiar affliction that erases family events from your mind as soon as you get to work? Now your home and work calendars are finally in sync—no double entries and no missed family events. Enter appointments in one place, Cozi will do the rest. You're the boss. Choose which appointments to share with the family calendar (business trips, yes; the fiscal year budget review, not so much). See your family appointments on your PDA, cell phone, or any device that syncs with Outlook.

Reminders & Messages Life has a way of disrupting the most carefully orchestrated schedules. Meetings change, practice schedules change, even doctor's appointments change—it's almost too much to keep up with. Fortunately, Cozi can help. Send a quick note or reminder right from your Cozi family home page to keep everyone on track. You don't even need a cell phone to send text messages. Communicate schedule updates to family members at home, work, or school.

Customizable Lists No more sticky notes and scraps of paper, no more return trips to the grocery store. Cozi helps you manage the various items you need to purchase and tasks that need to be done. Plus, Cozi lists go where you go. Text your lists to any mobile phone, or call Cozi toll-free to have them read to you. To add items, just start typing. It's as easy as using a note pad. Share grocery, shopping, to-do lists and more with the whole family. Cozi lists are always available—access your lists from home, work, or wherever.

Mobile Phone Access That list you made for the kids' lunches is on the fridge, and unless you're in a moving van, your fridge is back home in the kitchen. No worries, you can call Cozi toll-free from any mobile phone to get a shopping list, to-do list, or your day's appointments. Get your schedule or grocery list from the store, the airport, or the soccer field—Cozi can read it to you or text it to your phone. Access your information any time of day—Cozi never sleeps. Cozi works with any mobile phone. No downloads required.

Click here to Sign Up Now!

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In next month's issue:

1. Organizing Your Craft Room
2. Organizing Your Computer
3. Product Review (another surprise)

Stay tuned for the next issue!

Toodles!