Special Guest Lillian Charles

Clients of "Wardrobes by Lillian Charles" have called Lillian a wardrobe consultant, fierce fashionista, personal stylist and “closet-tamer.” Instead of urging women to buy completely new wardrobes, Lillian shows her clients how to breathe new life into items they already own by creating fun, fresh pairings and giving classic looks an updated twist. Her goal is to make your wardrobe effective, efficient, and inspiring without having to spend your hard earned money on a bunch of new pieces. And we’re bringing her to you for free at our Spring Fling! She’ll style you on the spot this Monday from 1pm-7pm. Bring in an item or two that you haven’t been able to work into your wardrobe and Lillian will give you ideas on how to best compliment the piece.

Want to take her home with you? We’re raffling off a free two-hour session of in-home styling with Lillian. Make sure to enter for a chance to win when you shop with us this Monday.

Learn more about Lillian on her website: www.wardrobesbylilliancharles.com

Two events this Saturday!

We're closing our March workshop series with a bang this Saturday: back by popular demand, "Closet Chaos to Closet Confidence" by Bonnie Kallenberg, our fearless leader, will inspire you to spring clean your stuffed closets and excavate your personal style in the process. Bonnie has probably evaluated more pieces of clothing than any other person in Atlanta, and her workshop will teach you how to get control of your closet with organizational strategies that are easy to implement once you take the plunge...and she's all about getting started! Bonus: she'll also give you a few pointers about successful consigning, which is great since spring (and spring cleaning!) are officially here. This workshop will begin at 9:30am sharp this Saturday, March 24th.

You're invited to a Shredding Event! What better way to show paper who's boss by telling it where to go and how to there? In this case: on a secure Ecoshred truck that will shred your paper on site. Talk about satisfying. Celebrate your victory by safely destroying old documents during this shred event at Finders Keepers Furnishings. The cost is $6 per box (computer-paper sized box), and will be held from 12pm - 2pm this Saturday, March 24th. Learn more about Ecoshred on their official website: www.ecoshredding.com.

Both of these events will be held at Finders Keepers Furnishings:
2753 E. College Avenue in Decatur.

March into spring cleaning with these free organization workshops!

March into Spring Cleaning: Winning the war on paper.

Paper. Stacks of paper. Loose sheets. Wadded up balls. A bundle of week old mail. And where did you stick that really-important-gotta-keep-this-somewhere-safe tax form? If that sounds like you, then stop shuffling through those mounds on your desk and check out the schedule below of FREE organization workshops that will help you show paper who’s boss (it’s you, by the way,) and reclaim your desk for life.

This series of free workshops will be hosted by Finders Keepers Furnishings, located at: 2753 E. College Ave., Decatur GA 30030

Thursday, March 8^th from 1pm-2pm:  Creating an Organized Work Space with Gigi Miller:  In this one hour interactive workshop, attendees will learn how to create and maintain an organized (clutter-free) work space, eliminate paper clutter, set up filing systems, create storage solutions and incorporate organization into their daily routines.

About the Presenter:  Gigi K. Miller is the owner of Vision Organizing, an Atlanta based Professional Organizing and Consulting company that creates customized organizing solutions for home, work, and life that are simple, practical, and easy to maintain. Her motto:  Live simple. Live organized. Live well. For additional information, please visit www.VisionOrganizing.com.

Saturday, March 10^th from 9:30am – 10:30am:  Tax Talk with Jim Connelly of H&R Block: Deductions, audits, and the IRS, oh my! Does tax season make you feel like holing up in the cellar and waiting for the storm to pass? A little know-how will help pave a yellow brick road through your taxes. Jim Connelly, CPA and Master Tax Advisor at H&R Block will discuss schedule A itemized deductions, potential for audit, and what to do if you owe the IRS.

About the presenter: Jim has 9 years tax preparation service and specializes in personal tax returns including: investments, rental homes, retirement income, itemized deductions, and education credits.

Wednesday, March 14^th from 1pm-2pm: “Mail Management” with Renee Kutner:  Ever wish you could nail your mailbox shut so you didn’t have to deal with more paper marching its way through your front door every day? The bad news: the mailman would probably just stick it on your doorstep. The good news: there’s a better (and legal) way to gain control of the never-ending parade of new paper. Learn how to manage your snail-mail during this hour long free workshop.

About the presenter: Renee is the founder of Peace by Piece Organizing. She is also a member of the National Association of Professional Organizers. Learn more about Renee on her website: http://www.peacebypieceorganizing.com/.

Saturday, March 17^th 9:30am-10:30am: Getting Control of Your Household Papers with Jonda Beattie and Diane Quintana. Is the thought of organizing the papers and documents shoved in every drawer and stacked on every surface as daunting as the idea of driving cattle from here to the west coast? Well pull on your boots and giddy on up to this free workshop. Learn how to lasso your daily influx of papers and corral those pesky manuals, warranties, and other important documents. About the presenters:

Jonda has appeared as a consultant on episodes of television shows Buried Alive and Hoarding. She is the founder of Time Space Organization and is a member of NAPO (The National Association of Professional Organizers) and ICD (The Institute for Challenging Disorganization.) Diane is the founder of DNQ Solutions. She specializes in residential and home-office organizing in metropolitan Atlanta and in working with people challenged by chronic disorganization. She is also a member of NAPO, ICD, and the Atlanta Hoarding Task Force.

Saturday, March 24^th from 9:30am – 10:30am: Closet Chaos to Closet Confidence with Bonnie Kallenberg: Take a break, bandage any hard-won paper cuts, and venture to a place that papers dare not go… your wardrobe. Or do you dare not spend more time in your closet than you have to? Your clothes should be a source of inspiration, not frustration Learn how to love your wardrobe at this free workshop with Bonnie, the owner of Finders Keepers Consignment Stores.

About the presenter: With 20+ years of consignment experience under her favorite belt, Bonnie has evaluated a lot (and I mean a lot of clothes.) But did you know she got her start in retail as a buyer for Davidsons Department store? She’s made a living by screening fashion for quality and style since 1982. Learn more about Bonnie on her stores’ website: www.fkconsign.com.

Saturday, March 24th, 12pm - 2pm: You’re invited to a Shredding Event! What better way to show paper who’s boss by telling it where to go and how to there? In this case: on a secure truck bound for one really big shredder. Celebrate your victory by safely destroying old documents during this shred event at Finders Keepers Furnishings. Cost: $6 per box (computer-paper sized boxes please)

Workshop schedule and bios (January 26th - February 1st)

Free Workshop Schedule

Thursday, January 26th at 1:30pm - Closet Organizing with Renee Kutner: Are you constantly running late in the mornings because you spent too long looking for the clothes you want to wear?  Do you trip over a pile of shoes to reach the outfit you're trying to put on? Your closet should be inspirational - not stressful. Renee of Peace by Piece Organizing will teach you a few simple steps to make your closet a place of wow instead of woe. Learn more about Renee on her company's website: http://www.peacebypieceorganizing.com/

Saturday, January 28th at 9:30am - Kitchen Organization Made Simple with Gigi Miller: During this workshop, Gigi Miller of Vision Organizing will teach you how to plan your space, choose the right organizing products, and address problem areas such Tupperware clutter/pantry overload/junk drawers. Each participant will receive a workshop handout outlining Gigi's 5 steps for getting organized in the kitchen and helpful tips for maintaining your space. And....there will be a special give-away for one lucky member! Learn more about Gigi on her company's website: http://www.visionorganizing.com/.

Wednesday, February 1st at 10am - De-Stressing and Decluttering with Renee Kutner:
Renee is back to help you learn how to conquer your clutter for good. During this workshop, Renee will help you answer these three basic questions: What should I keep?  What should I do with the stuff I keep?  What should I do with the stuff I don't keep? Learn how to answer those easy questions and you'll be able to declutter without all the stress! Learn more about Renee's company on their website: http://www.peacebypieceorganzing.com/.

About Renee: They say you should do what you love. It just so happens that Renée Kutner loves doing something many people find daunting, and even dreadful: organizing. So she founded Peace by Piece Organizing to bring order to chaos, and peace to our otherwise hectic lives. Ask anyone who’s crossed Renée’s professional path and they’ll tell you no one they know could get so much done with so little on their desk. It became a trademark of sorts — so much so that starting early in her career, years before envisioning the formation of Peace by Piece Organizing,  Renée was conducting workshops for peers and supervisors alike on efficient time and project management. Renée is a member of the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO) and the Georgia chapter of NAPO. For more please visit my website: http://www.peacebypieceorganizing.com/

About Gigi: Gigi serves as the Marketing Director for The National Association of Professional Organizers- Georgia (NAPO-GA) and is the owner of Vision Organizing, an Atlanta based company that works with individuals and businesses.  As a Professional Organizer, Gigi utilizes her highly honed organizational skills towards helping others realize the benefits of living an organized life. Vision Organizing's mission is to create customized solutions for home, work, and life that are simple, practical, and easy to maintain. For additional information, please visit www.VisionOrganizing.com.

A follow-up with workshop speaker Jiffy Page

First, thank you for coming out on a cold Saturday morning. I hope you took away some helpful information and thought it was a useful way to spend an hour. If you have suggestions for us, please pass them along - we're always tweaking and adjusting. Your feedback is helpful and greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Second, as was mentioned this morning, we were given the sign-in sheet with your email address and thus, you're getting this email. Let me be honest - we would love to have you as a Pixorium client. That said, at Pixorium we treat people as we wish to be treated which means we only want to be in your email box if you want us there. So, do me this favor - if you do NOT want to be in our database, please reply to this email and let me know. I will understand and won't have my feelings hurt, promise. :)

If you stay in our database, what are we going to send you? The main (and at this point only) email you'll get from us is an "almost" quarterly e-newsletter. In it we write about useful tips, ideas and other things we think you'll want to know. After all, we want you to read it, so we try hard to make it interesting, relevant and fun. Here's a link to our most recent one, which was much more "here's what we're doing" than usual: http://t.co/zzWlTh1N

We also have a Facebook page that we'd be delighted for your to visit regularly (and "like", share with your friends, etc.) if you're an FB person:
www.facebook.com/pages/Pixorium/146253261222  

We also tweet - it's an easy way to share fun and interesting tidbits or photos, which we do about once a week - @pixorium

But the best place for information on Pixorium is our website: http://www.pixorium.com/. We keep it up-to-date and actually, you can read the tweets right on our home page. I also write a blog post which you can access from there. Again, it's almost quarterly and I work hard to make it interesting, relevant and fun. Take a look; I'd love to know what you think about what's there now and any suggestions you have for future posts.

Lastly, I hope you were inspired today - maybe to open that huge box of photos and think about an organizing plan; to move the photos from the attic/basement/garage to an inside-your-home-closet; to think about the way you'd look for a photo if you had it organized; to go to pfile.com and see what they have for archival binders, boxes, sleeves; to think about what would be the best way for you to back up your photos - separate hard drive, cloud back-up, etc.

The hardest part is getting started. We know that. So, let us know if we can be of help. For us the point is to encourage and enable people to save and share their photos and family stories; here's hoping we encouraged you this morning and perhaps enabled you a bit too.

Wishing you and yours a wonderful 2012,

Sincerely,

Jiffy

(on behalf of Wally, too...)

Jiffy Page

Principal
Pixorium
404-680-5341
http://www.pixorium.com/
@pixorium

Celebrating our 5th Anniversary with
"Snapshots & Stories - A Celebration" Photo Exhibit

See pix on our FB page:
www.facebook.com/pages/Pixorium/146253261222

See now @ Va Hi San Francisco Coffee  (mysfcoffee.com)
 a new location to announced soon...

Pixorium is an Atlanta-based photo storytelling business. We create video shows, custom books and other fun ways to celebrate and share the stories of families and organizations. We also provide digital conversion services, scanning prints, slides, film, VHS tapes to digital images.
Life is a story. How do you tell yours?

Announcing the G.O. Month Schedule of Workshops for 2012

GO MONTH 2012 – FINDERS KEEPERS SATURDAY ORGANIZING WORKSHOPS

Date:  Saturday, January 14

Time:  9:30am – 10:30am

Workshop Title:  Tips for Organizing, Saving, & Digitizing Your Photos

Description:  Professional organizer Jiffy Page and business partner Wally Buckner will discuss and take questions regarding how to organize and preserve the "tangible" photos you have, how to organize the "digital" photos you have and Mac and PC options for identifying and storing information about those pictures. Also, they'll talk about the scanning and restoration of photos (prints, negatives and slides) so you can both preserve and share your family's photographic memories. This workshop is held at Finders Keepers Furnishings and will begin at 9:30am sharp on Saturday, January 14th. Seating is provided on a first-come, first-serve basis so arrive early! Last week's workshop drew a full house, and was standing-room only by the time it started

About Jiffy Page:  Jiffy started Pixorium in the fall of 2006. Her photostorytelling business has helped hundreds of Atlanta-area clients preserve, save and share their photos (prints, slides, negatives, videos, film) and stories by digitizing the images and telling the stories in videos, books and other fun ways. Learn more by visiting www.pixorium.com.

Date:  Saturday, January 21

Time:  9:30am – 10:30am

Workshop Title:  When Collectors Become Hoarders

Description:  Humans are sentimental. It’s a characteristic that distinguishes us from other species. But sometimes our positive affection for objects can backfire. We’ll explore the reasons people collect, how to saving objects undermines the joy of collecting, the signs of hoarding, and how to keep your collecting habits healthy and positive. The presentation will be 45 minutes with a robust 15 minutes question and answer period, free handouts, and discounted books.

About Judith Kolberg:  Judith pioneered FileHeads Professional Organizers in 1989. She founded the National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization, the precursor to the Institute for Challenging Disorganization (ICD) and is credited with launching a field of professional organizing specifically dedicated to addressing the needs of individuals challenged by chronic disorganized. Respected by her peers for her innovative organizing ideas, she is the recipient of the industry’s highest honors. Select books authored by Judith are recommended reading by the Board of Certification for Professional Organizers and the ICD certificate program. Her books have sold a quarter of million copies in the US, England, Korea, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, and Japan. She is a popular speaker on a wide range of organization/ disorganization topics and is a virtual instructor for Pearson Education, a global education company. Kolberg was a featured organizer on the “Buried Alive: Hoarders ” TV series. She currently directs the Atlanta Hoarding Task Force. A native of Levittown, NY, Kolberg lives in Atlanta, GA where she takes care of her Mom, continues to see clients, writes, publishes, and blogs.

Date:  Saturday, January 28

Time:  9:30am- 10:30am

Workshop Title:  Kitchen Organization Made Simple

Description:  During this workshop, you will learn how to plan your space, choose the right organizing products, and address problem areas such Tupperware clutter/pantry overload/junk drawers.  Each participant will receive a workshop handout outlining Gigi’s 5 steps for getting organized in the kitchen and helpful tips for maintaining your space.  And….there will be a special give-away for one lucky member!

About Gigi K. Miller:  Gigi serves as the Marketing Director for The National Association of Professional Organizers- Georgia (NAPO-GA) and is the owner of Vision Organizing, an Atlanta based company that works with individuals and businesses.  As a Professional Organizer, Gigi utilizes her highly honed organizational skills towards helping others realize the benefits of living an organized life. Vision Organizing's mission is to create customized solutions for home, work, and life that are simple, practical, and easy to maintain. For additional information, please visit www.VisionOrganizing.com.

Workshop with Rusty and Pine Street Market - and bacon!

The workshop last Saturday with Pine Street Market was terrific! We had 28 people. Rusty cooked beer braised Brats with peppers, tomato & garlic. Yummy. He told us that he will be featured in the holiday a=edition of "Bon Apetite" magazine and is also currently a finalist in a National Culinary Recognition. He will be coming back the first of the year. So say all of the attendees!!

Love bacon?

This Saturday, Finders Keepers Furnishings concludes its fall workshop series with a complimentary sampling of Pine Street Market's delicious meats and treats. Rusty, owner of Pine Street Market, will be cooking fresh samples of his shop's most popular products. He'll demonstrate his delicious recipe for beer-braised bratwursts, and is going to raffle off a pound of the best bacon ever (as declared by Betsy and Bonnie!) Rusty will also dish all about his Cider-brined, peachtree smoked holiday hams, which are natural, boneless, and humanely raised! Ladies - what a good way to get the menfolk to come shopping with you! We'll kick off this tasty workshop at 9:30 am this Saturday. Learn more about Rusty and the Pine Street Market on their website: http://www.pinestreetmarket.com/.

Weekend Wine Tasting at Finders Keepers Furnishings

Our weekend workshops at Finders Keepers Furnishings have been focused on organization all year - so we decided to have a little fun! Last Saturday we held a free wine and pairings tasting compliments of The Little Wine Shop in Avondale Estates. Saturday morning might seem a little early for wine, but the samples were delicious with danishes and doughnuts!

Sweet words we want to share!

A customer wrote us about her experience at our free workshop "Double Trouble," hosted by Finders Keepers Furnishings:


Betsy, I just wanted to let you and Linda know how much I enjoyed the workshop. High time the two of you did one!!! So many great ideas and all very budget minded; you couldn't have done it better unless you did it longer. I called a friend and read her my list; she was just floored and I think will use some of your ideas. I know I will! Please know that ALL the workshops are well done and greatly appreciated in these times when money is tight. Imagination and trial & error are our best weapons. Maybe you and Linda will do a yearly workshop along with your other people that help with our gardens, organization, decorating and keeping our sanity. Decatur is truly lucky to have a wonderful resource in all the Finders Keepers shops. Thanks so much!
~ L. Huffman
 
Thank YOU Ms. Huffman! You made our day :)

Free Workshop this Saturday! Survive the Holidaze...

Holidays are often a time of joy, family, and laughter... and chaos, panic, and pandemonium. And that's when holidays turn into holidaze - and makes you feel like you deserve a congratulatory t-shirt commemorating the fact that you made it through with your sanity intact. Is there a way to make the race to the end of the year go more smoothly? Well, this Saturday, you get a chance to learn how to tie a proverbial bow on your practically painless holiday planning. Finders Keepers Furnishings' free workshop series brings you:Surviving the Holidaze with Jonda Beattie: professional organizer, author, presenter, and owner/operator of Time Space Organization. This workshop will begin at 9:30 am this Saturday, October 8th. Learn more about Jonda on her website: http://www.timespaceorg.com/.

A personal note from Saturday's presenter, Jonda Beattie: Is it possible anymore for your holidays to feel peaceful and stress free. To capture that Norman Rockwell feeling? The vision of the perfect holiday fades and becomes dimmer as we get caught up in the turmoil of overlapping preparations. The holidays become a time of long "to do" lists, over commitment, overbuying, overeating, and sleep deprivation. Let's look at how to make your vision of a wonderful holiday come true by prioritizing, using your calendar, and organizing holiday zones in your home.

Free Workshop! Make your decor work double duty!

Decorating in a consignment store can take a heap of creativity, which adds even more sparkle to the wow factor of Finders Keepers Furnishings. Items in the store often serve double decorative duty. Betsy and Linda - our own Dynamic Duo - has spent the past six years honing their "wow factor" skills How can a wine rack can extend the space in a small bathroom? How do wine glasses make a spectacular centerpiece? There are so many ways to use many items in your house! Learn more at this Saturday's workshop! This workshop will begin at 9:30am Saturday, October 1st. Seating is based on first come, first serve.

Double Trouble! Come pick the very creative and inventive minds of Betsy and Linda this Saturday. Call for details: 404-377-1944

Workshop: Color Splash with Carrie Fowler!

Saturday, September 17th @ Finders Keepers Furnishings: Free Workshop - Color Splash! Want to know the fastest and cheapest way to add life to your room? PAINT! Registered Interior Designer Carrie Fowler, of Carrie Fowler Interior Design will be offering a color workshop to help you add life to your rooms. Carrie will discuss paint color trends, textured wall treatments, wall coverings and how to punctuate you room with colorful accessories. Please bring pictures and fabrics swatches, Carrie will have pint decks on hand to help you individually pick a color! This is great opportunity to have an Interior Designer pick the right color for your home!

Workshop: GiGi Miller - your nest might have gotten quiet, but it's definitely not empty!

We had about 8 for the workshop and GiGi was nice enough to stay after for awhile and help our workshop attendees shop and put ideas into action.She spoke about changing up lamps with new lampshades, changing drawer pulls on dresser for a facelift, switch up area rugs for a new look, update picture frames or refinish them for a new look.

Free Workshops are back this month!

With the new school year upon us, the first 3 workshops will focus on getting your college bound kids in to their dorm rooms and reclaiming your nest once they've spread their wings! Tomorrow, Diane Quintana will give you the scoop on making that big college move easy through preparation and organization that you can do at home before you hit the road. She'll also give you tips on setting up your student's room in a way that will help set them up for success in this new chapter of their lives.

Our workshops begin at 9:30am and will last about an hour. Seating is first come, first serve. Call for details: 404-377-1944.

New Arrivals!

Check out pictures from some of our new arrivals! And stay tuned for exciting news about a new workshop series coming soon!!

This Saturday's Free Workshop: Creating Curb Appeal

Whether or not your house is on the market, curb appeal can be an unsung source of value for your home. If you are selling your home, it's the first impression for every potential buyer. The rest of their overall opinion of your house is colored by that initial introduction. And while you may not realize it, the way the front of your house speaks to you every time you come home can be a source of serenity or stress. You don't have to wait until you're ready to sell to gift wrap that first impression. Learn how to give your curb appeal a little TLC (or CPR) this Saturday as Vickie Bracewell, an award winning local real-estate agent, shares easy ways to cash in on your curb.

Top Tips from Helen Preston

Helen Preston with Rise and Organize shared some great tips for organizing your jewelry with the space that you have. If you missed the workshops, here are a few easy tips that she wanted to leave you with:

1. Give the jewelry you wear most often the prime location - and the same location - every time you take it off.
2. Keep everything in the same area so you don't have to check twenty places for where it "might" be.
3. Determine which approach works best for you: wall, drawer, or surface. Organize accordingly.

See more of Helen's tips on her website: http://www.riseandorganize.com/

An Organizational Wrap-Up Workshop with Suellen Germani

Making Room for Purpose and Passion: Certified Life Coach and Organizer Suellen Germani will discuss how to create room, literally and figuratively, for more fun, creativity, purpose and passion in your life. She'll cover everything from cutting clutter to dumping toxic relationships to reclaiming what YOU want more of in your space and in your day-to-day life.

When: This Saturday, 2/26 from 9:30am - 10:30am
Where: Finders Keepers Furnishings - 2753 E. College Avenue in Decatur
Cost: FREE, of course!

Free Workshop: Closet Chaos to Closet Confidence

Our very own fearless leader Bonnie Kallenberg took a turn on the free-workshop stage earlier this month to teach attendees how to fall in love with the wardrobe again. The first step: Try every. single. thing. that you own on. If it doesn't fit NOW, it doesn't flatter you, or it doesn't make you feel good when you're in it, get it out of your active wardrobe. You pay for your clothing - which means that THEY work for YOU. And if they're not meeting your expectations, they need a pink-slip departure from your closet. Free up room in your wardrobe for clothing that makes you feel like the very best you, and remember that when it comes to clothing, less is more. A lean, mean wardrobe in which you actually ENJOY every piece of clothing that you're choosing from makes getting dressed in the morning simple and fun.