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	<title>Gioia Ltd</title>
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	<link>http://www.gioia.net.nz</link>
	<description>Declutter your home, business and life</description>
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		<title>Where do you find joy?</title>
		<link>http://www.gioia.net.nz/decluttering-newsletters/where-do-you-find-joy.html/</link>
		<comments>http://www.gioia.net.nz/decluttering-newsletters/where-do-you-find-joy.html/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 19 Apr 2013 00:40:07 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Angella Gilbert</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Decluttering Newsletters]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.gioia.net.nz/decluttering-newsletters/where-do-you-find-joy.html/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[You may know that my company name, Gioia, is an Italian word meaning “joy” and that for me is what it’s all about. I count my joys [and blessings] daily and find them in countless guises. Here are just a few of my joys: - Wonderful family and friends who enrich my life. - My [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>You may know that my company name, Gioia, is an Italian word meaning “joy” and that for me is what it’s all about.  I count my joys [and blessings] daily and find them in countless guises.  Here are just a few of my joys:</p>
<p>-	Wonderful family and friends who enrich my life.<br />
-	My business which provides me with the opportunity to meet so many lovely people; it brings me joy and I believe makes a difference.<br />
-	I love and appreciate our beautiful city every day.<br />
-	And of course, I take joy in my home; it is my haven to come home to each day and the peacefulness and order of my surroundings allows me to relax with a sigh of pleasure.</p>
<p><strong>We all have joys in our lives, such as precious family members, special friends, pets, and the opportunity to enjoy our livelihood.  Why wouldn’t we want also the joy of a home which is free of clutter?  I know you’re probably thinking – okay she finally got it in there.  Yes, I had to say it, because clutter really can cause disruptions, frustration, and in some cases even misery.  I can’t stress enough what a difference it makes when you declutter and organise your home, and workplace.</strong>  <span id="more-1498"></span>I’ve spoken often of the benefits of decluttering, but here is what my clients say:</p>
<p><em>“I completely underestimated the value to me of getting my office organised.  I have saved time and money by being more organised, but more importantly it has freed me to spend energy on the creative side of my business and I have reaped the rewards from that. I would highly recommend Angella, not just for her organisational skills which are excellent but for her positive and bubbly personality. She was been a joy to work with.” </em> </p>
<p><em>“We are amazed at how much you helped us to achieve in such a short space of time. It has made our hobby/office space user friendly and much more enjoyable to be in. Thank you for your help! We would recommend you to anyone.”</em></p>
<p><em>“Thank you, Angella, straight from my heart, for your inspiration and encouragement to make &#8216;decluttering&#8217; a positive experience.  It&#8217;s JOY to work with you, it&#8217;s JOY to see these external changes creating new pathways to a greater lifestyle and it&#8217;s JOY to be self-empowered in the process of learning to apply your very valuable strategies for clarity, order and decision.”</em></p>
<p><em>“We were renovating our home with a view to selling it.  Angella made my daunting and overwhelming task of decluttering my house of 10 years worth of stuff so much more manageable, achievable and enjoyable. She organised us, pitched in, worked fast and efficiently, all the while sharing her knowledge in her very positive uplifting way.  I was not that organised as a person and Angella inspires me to get more organised and declutter.  And we feel so much better for it.” </em></p>
<p>This is not about blowing my own trumpet by the way, I&#8217;m always delighted to get such lovely feedback.  I wanted to share my clients’ experience of what we are able to do together.  Their comments will give you a better idea of the difference they felt and their renewed pleasure in their living and working environments.</p>
<p><strong>If you’re inspired to work on the clutter and get organised once and for all, do give me a call.  I’d love to help you do that.  Even if you feel you want to do it on your own, I encourage you to take it a small step at a time, it’s less daunting that way.  If you haven’t yet downloaded my free report from my website you may find that helpful – it’s a step by step guide on how to declutter.  And if you get stuck you are very welcome to phone or email me for advice – a phone call costs you nothing and I love to be able to help where I can.</strong></p>
<p>I wish you a month of joy and many blessings.</p>
<p>In Joy!</p>
<p>Angella Gilbert</p>
<p>
P: 09 410 4166<br />
M: 027 224 8937<br />
E: angella@gioia.net.nz<br />
W: www.gioia.net.nz
</p>
<p>Please feel free to forward this newsletter on to anyone you feel may be interested.</p>
<p>They can subscribe via this link: <a href="http://www.gioia.net.nz/feed/">RSS Feed</a></p>
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		<title>Unclutter your mind</title>
		<link>http://www.gioia.net.nz/decluttering-newsletters/unclutter-your-mind.html/</link>
		<comments>http://www.gioia.net.nz/decluttering-newsletters/unclutter-your-mind.html/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 21 Mar 2013 04:00:10 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Angella Gilbert</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Decluttering Newsletters]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.gioia.net.nz/decluttering-newsletters/unclutter-your-mind.html/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I am a great believer in not cluttering up my mind with things I need to remember to do and I confess I am one of those ‘list makers’. However my idea of fun is not searching through a mass of paper, magazines, newspapers etc to find the reminder note I need. So this month [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I am a great believer in not cluttering up my mind with things I need to remember to do and I confess I am one of those ‘list makers’.  However my idea of fun is not searching through a mass of paper, magazines, newspapers etc to find the reminder note I need.  So this month I’m going to purely talk about notebooks.  Those practical hard covered little books which fulfill a number of purposes, and are so wonderfully portable if you want to carry one in your bag or briefcase.</p>
<p>There are a number of quite diverse purposes for which you can use notebooks:</p>
<p><span id="more-1494"></span></p>
<p>-	<strong>Favourite and/or often used websites</strong> you subscribe to; a handy place to store the website links and your login and password.</p>
<p>-	<strong>Keeping track of your everyday spending</strong> to help you stay on budget; note everything you buy/ spend your money on for a month [including the coffees and any other small spends which you may think are incidental].  At the end of the month you can tally your spending by category and check it against your budget.</p>
<p>-	<strong>Goals and your step by step actions</strong> you’re going to take towards your goal plans.  You could even include your Bucket List in this notebook.</p>
<p>-	<strong>If you frequent the library</strong> as I do, and here I use an address book, you can note under each of your favourite authors’ names their books you’ve read.  I find it helpful to remind me of the authors I’ve enjoyed, and I also don’t end up getting the same book out twice.</p>
<p>-	<strong>Renovating the house?</strong>  Write down your ideas and plans in a notebook.  You can staple in paint cards and material swatches as well; make a list of helpful websites, and contact details of your suppliers.</p>
<p>-	<strong>Trying to lose weight? </strong> Use a notebook to write down everything you eat so you can track problem times of the day or unhelpful triggers.  It’s often surprising when we write down everything we eat to find we may have snuck in a snack or two without realising it.</p>
<p>-	<strong>Menu planning</strong>: my wonderfully organised sister-in-law plans her meals and menus for the week, a great time saver and it makes the weekly shopping a breeze.  Keeping your weekly meal plans in a notebook also allows you to refer back to previous plans for ideas.</p>
<p><strong>Using notebooks is easier and more effective than jotting everything down on pieces of paper; or worse, thinking you’ll commit your ideas to memory.  I have a very good memory and this may be partly because I write everything down.  In other words, I keep my mind as uncluttered as possible. </strong></p>
<p>Besides my notebooks, I also make scratch pads out of my recycled paper held together with a sturdy bulldog clip.  These scratch pads are kept in my home as well as in my car, [we can get great ideas when we’re driving, although you want to wait until you stop at the lights to write them down].</p>
<p><strong>Here’s what a few famous people have used their notebooks for:</strong></p>
<p>General George S Patton: used his notebook to record daily happenings, explore ideas of leadership and war strategy, draw diagrams, and even pen poetry on love. But its most important use was as a place to write down the affirmations and principles that would guide his journey toward his ultimate goal- becoming a great general.</p>
<p>Mark Twain: filled notebooks with observations of people he met, thoughts on religion and politics, drawings and sketches of what he saw on his travels, potential plots for books, and even ideas for inventions.</p>
<p>Director George Lucas [of Star Wars fame]: carried a pocket notebook with him at all times for taking down ideas, words, and plot angles on the go.</p>
<p>Ludwig Van Beethoven: was a devotee of the pocket notebook and was seldom seen without one in hand or pocket. He would walk the city streets and forest paths with it clutched behind his back in case inspiration should come upon him while away from home.</p>
<p>Ernest Hemingway: brought them on all his travels and adventures, jotting down notes wherever he was in a bar, a train, a bullfight.  He was a keen observer of life, trying to capture the richness and texture of his experiences.  He stored sights, sounds, and smells away for future use when they would re-emerge as vivid passages in his short stories and novels.</p>
<p>And Sir Richard Branson says:  “&#8221;I can&#8217;t believe when I see people not writing things down. You know they&#8217;re not going to remember everything&#8221;.  He now has 122 black ledger notebooks that he’s written in over the years.</p>
<p><strong>Why not indulge yourself and buy a few designer notebooks and decide what uses inspire you.  Have fun with it and you’ll love feeling super organised.</strong>  I hope you’ve found this newsletter interesting and useful, and I wish you a wonderful month ahead.</p>
<p>In Joy!</p>
<p>Angella Gilbert</p>
<p>
P: 09 410 4166<br />
M: 027 224 8937<br />
E: angella@gioia.net.nz<br />
W: www.gioia.net.nz
</p>
<p>Please feel free to forward this newsletter on to anyone you feel may be interested.</p>
<p>They can subscribe via this link: <a href="http://www.gioia.net.nz/feed/">RSS Feed</a></p>
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		<title>What is the one thing that will make an immediate difference in decluttering your home or workplace?</title>
		<link>http://www.gioia.net.nz/decluttering-newsletters/what-is-the-one-thing-that-will-make-an-immediate-difference-in-decluttering-your-home-or-workplace.html/</link>
		<comments>http://www.gioia.net.nz/decluttering-newsletters/what-is-the-one-thing-that-will-make-an-immediate-difference-in-decluttering-your-home-or-workplace.html/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 27 Feb 2013 02:52:22 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Angella Gilbert</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Decluttering Newsletters]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.gioia.net.nz/decluttering-newsletters/what-is-the-one-thing-that-will-make-an-immediate-difference-in-decluttering-your-home-or-workplace.html/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[You may have heard me say this before, but it bears repeating: the one thing that will make a huge difference to your decluttering efforts in your home is to “clear the surfaces”. Now I know that many do just that moments before visitors arrive, however I also suspect that everything gets shoved into a [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>You may have heard me say this before, but it bears repeating: <strong>the one thing that will make a huge difference to your decluttering efforts in your home is to “clear the surfaces”</strong>.  Now I know that many do just that moments before visitors arrive, however I also suspect that everything gets shoved into a drawer, under the bed, or in the spare room with the door shut.  And then doesn’t get sorted or put away later, and just becomes a jumble of clutter.</p>
<p><strong>Think about how nice the house looks when you have done this rushed, and sometimes desperate, declutter of the surfaces.  Wouldn’t it be nice to keep that look and feel. </strong> <span id="more-1491"></span>So when you are making a clean sweep of tabletops and the like, think about whether you want to keep those items, and/or where they ideally should live.  If items from other rooms have crept into your living room you might want to return them to their logical place, an example of this would be nail polishes and the like which should live in the bathroom; or the odd screwdriver which has been left out after the latest fix-it job and can be returned to the drawer or cupboard where you keep your tools.</p>
<p>Decorative boxes are also great for storing miscellaneous items in the living areas, and as they come in a variety of sizes you can use them for everything from magazines, TV remotes, CDs and DVDs, hobby items etc.  They can also be stacked on top of each other and sit in a corner of any room where they create an attractive but unobtrusive display.</p>
<p>I was talking just the other day to a lovely couple, Steve and Lisa Stone, who are top agents with  Harcourts in Remuera.  We were discussing the concern many of their clients have around preparing their homes for public viewing.  We will always be advised to clear away all the clutter before ‘open homes’ and I’ve helped several clients do just this before they put their house on the market.  The same principle as above applies but do consider this: if you are putting your home on the market, you will want to clear the surfaces but this is also a good time to really think about what you’re keeping and do you want to take it with you when you do eventually shift house.</p>
<p>If you are considering putting your home on the market anytime in the future, you may want to talk to Lisa and Steve, they love what they do and they’re very good at it &#8211; take a look at their website: <strong>http://steveandlisastone.harcourts.co.nz/</strong>.  Here’s their latest market update:  <em>“Tony Alexander (BNZ Chief Economist) and the Real Estate Institute of NZ do a monthly survey of real estate agents to get a ‘from the coal-face’ view of how the market is doing across all of New Zealand.   In their first BNZ-REINZ Residential Market Survey for 2013 they found the market to be very strong across all the indicators: from attendance at Open Homes, to auction clearance rates and interest from first home buyers and investors. Prices are strongly seen as rising and agents view the market as being a seller’s one.  This is particularly true in our local market (Eastern Suburbs, Parnell, etc.) which is of course great news for our sellers.”</em> </p>
<p><strong>We are almost into the third month of 2013 already, and if you have made decluttering your goal for this year, I would love to hear how you are getting on.  Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you get stuck, even if you just have a question and want some advice on a particular area of your home.</strong> </p>
<p>As always, I wish you a month of joy, laughter and delight.</p>
<p>In Joy!</p>
<p>Angella Gilbert</p>
<p>
P: 09 410 4166<br />
M: 027 224 8937<br />
E: angella@gioia.net.nz<br />
W: www.gioia.net.nz
</p>
<p>Please feel free to forward this newsletter on to anyone you feel may be interested.</p>
<p>They can subscribe via this link: <a href="http://www.gioia.net.nz/feed/">RSS Feed</a></p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Are you suffering from Wardrobe Overload?</title>
		<link>http://www.gioia.net.nz/decluttering-newsletters/are-you-suffering-from-wardrobe-overload.html/</link>
		<comments>http://www.gioia.net.nz/decluttering-newsletters/are-you-suffering-from-wardrobe-overload.html/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 29 Jan 2013 21:27:01 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Angella Gilbert</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Decluttering Newsletters]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.gioia.net.nz/decluttering-newsletters/are-you-suffering-from-wardrobe-overload.html/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[How many clothes do we really need? Do you really wear everything in your wardrobe? I’m directing these questions to you guys too; it’s not just us ladies who have bulging closets. I’ve even seen couples’ wardrobes where the guy’s clothes outnumber the gal’s – incredible but true! So, here are a few questions for [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>How many clothes do we really need?  Do you really wear everything in your wardrobe? </strong> I’m directing these questions to you guys too; it’s not just us ladies who have bulging closets.  I’ve even seen couples’ wardrobes where the guy’s clothes outnumber the gal’s – incredible but true!</p>
<p>So, here are a few questions for you to think about, that will give you a pretty good indication if you’re suffering from wardrobe overload:</p>
<p><span id="more-1489"></span></p>
<p>-	Does it take you long agonising minutes to find something to wear, whether it’s a work outfit or something for a night out?</p>
<p>-	Have your clothes spread into various areas of your room, including the floor?</p>
<p>-	Are there several different sizes in your wardrobe: do you have fat and thin clothes?</p>
<p>-	Are there a load of orphans in your wardrobe: separates that don’t seem to have anything you can put with them?</p>
<p>-	Do you have a few ‘mistake buys’ that you’re loathe to pass on because you spent good money on them?</p>
<p>-	Have you resorted to keeping clothes in plastic containers because there’s no room left in your chest of drawers?  [I’m not talking about archiving out of season clothes here.]</p>
<p>-	Do you have loads of a particular item, and not enough of another?</p>
<p>-	Is there a stack of clothes on the floor of the wardrobe that you know you need to sort but there’s just no room to hang or store them?</p>
<p>-	Have you resorted to going out and buying a particular item that you know you already have but you’ve given up looking for it because the wardrobe is a shambles?</p>
<p>-	Are you holding onto clothes you’ve had for decades because you can’t bear to get rid of them?  [Clothes really don’t come back into fashion in the same form.]</p>
<p>-	How many wardrobes in the house are you using for your clothes?</p>
<p>-	Do you buy clothes in the sales because they’re such a bargain that you can’t pass them up, even though your wardrobe is already bursting at the seams?</p>
<p>-	Have you got a stack of clothes that you’re going to put on Trade Me but you just don’t seem to get around to it?</p>
<p>-	Are you desperate to get your wardrobe sorted but just can’t face it, or don’t know how?</p>
<p><strong>And this is just about the clothes!  What about your shoes?  If you’ve answered yes to more than two or three questions above then you would really do yourself a favour by getting your wardrobe sorted so that it becomes a pleasure rather than a nightmare.</strong></p>
<p>I have done countless wardrobes with clients and they always feel a vast sense of relief and satisfaction when it’s done and they’re faced with a lovely organised wardrobe.  I am always happy to give bags of clothes that I no longer need or want to the charities because <strong>I know how great it feels to have an organised wardrobe which only contains clothes I love, that make me feel good, and which suit my needs.</strong>  That’s what it’s all about.  I love clothes but I don’t love excess because it just becomes overwhelming.</p>
<p>I’m not going to try and solve the wardrobe situation in this newsletter, but I do want you to think about what it could be like not to feel frustration when you open your wardrobe, or try to figure out what to wear for a special occasion. </p>
<p><strong>Sorting your wardrobe will save you time and money, that’s guaranteed.  One session with me is all you need to have your wardrobe looking fabulous.  If you do one thing for yourself, do this &#8211; treat yourself to a wardrobe session with me – I make it an enjoyable experience.</strong>  One of my recent clients emailed me following a decluttering and organising session we had in her bedroom and wardrobe saying <strong><em>“You really are a lifter of burdens and a guiding light!”</em></strong>  What a lovely response to our work together, and in fact I feel honoured to have the opportunity to make a difference and am always delighted with what we are able to accomplish together.</p>
<p>I hope you had a wonderful holiday season and wish you joy, prosperity and delight in this new year.</p>
<p>In Joy!</p>
<p>Angella Gilbert</p>
<p>
P: 09 410 4166<br />
M: 027 224 8937<br />
E: angella@gioia.net.nz<br />
W: www.gioia.net.nz
</p>
<p>Please feel free to forward this newsletter on to anyone you feel may be interested.</p>
<p>They can subscribe via this link: <a href="http://www.gioia.net.nz/feed/">RSS Feed</a></p>
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		<title>How do you store your memorabilia?</title>
		<link>http://www.gioia.net.nz/decluttering-newsletters/how-do-you-store-your-memorabilia.html/</link>
		<comments>http://www.gioia.net.nz/decluttering-newsletters/how-do-you-store-your-memorabilia.html/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 12 Dec 2012 04:09:49 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Angella Gilbert</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Decluttering Newsletters]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.gioia.net.nz/decluttering-newsletters/how-do-you-store-your-memorabilia.html/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Christmas can be such a magical time of year, and for me it’s also a time when I more keenly miss those loved ones who are not with me, my parents who have passed away, and members of my family who live overseas. I don’t have a lot of memorabilia, but there are some special [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Christmas can be such a magical time of year, and for me it’s also a time when I more keenly miss those loved ones who are not with me, my parents who have passed away, and members of my family who live overseas.  I don’t have a lot of memorabilia, but there are some special items I treasure, and at Christmas my Mum’s Santa comes out to sit pride of place on my dining table.  Whenever I look at him I remember Mum’s childlike joy at Christmas – she loved it and shared that joy with everyone around her.</p>
<p>Memorabilia can probably fit neatly into two categories: items which we want to keep but don’t need to see every day, and beautiful or interesting things which we could put on display, if we could figure out where. </p>
<p> <span id="more-1487"></span></p>
<p>I often suggest the use of beautiful boxes to store special items away, and if you have a problem with storage space these can create an attractive display in the corner of a room.  Larger items could be tucked away at the top of a spare room wardrobe.  The main thing here is to pare items down to just those you really want to keep. </p>
<p>If you have inherited a ‘collection’ which may have been handed down through the family you could create a fabulous display of these items and obviously this would depend on the type of collection.  However, if they are small or medium size items you could have them featured on stand alone shelves, or in cubes which affix to the wall.  There are so many different types of shelves you can choose from and a bare wall could be beautifully enhanced with a collection of like-minded objects.</p>
<p><strong>Whether you decide to declutter or not over the holidays, I hope you have a lovely relaxing break, and enjoy the brand new year that’s just around the corner.  I am taking a break and holidaying with family over Christmas in Australia.  I’ll only be away from 18th to 26th December, so if you want to contact me I’ll get back to you on my return.</strong></p>
<p>My warmest best wishes that you and your loved ones have a wonderful and joyful Christmas.</p>
<p>In Joy!</p>
<p>Angella Gilbert</p>
<p>
P: 09 410 4166<br />
M: 027 224 8937<br />
E: angella@gioia.net.nz<br />
W: www.gioia.net.nz
</p>
<p>Please feel free to forward this newsletter on to anyone you feel may be interested.</p>
<p>They can subscribe via this link: <a href="http://www.gioia.net.nz/feed/">RSS Feed</a></p>
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		<title>And once again, what to do with all that paper&#8230;</title>
		<link>http://www.gioia.net.nz/decluttering-newsletters/and-once-again-what-to-do-with-all-that-paper.html/</link>
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		<pubDate>Wed, 28 Nov 2012 05:01:29 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Angella Gilbert</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Decluttering Newsletters]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.gioia.net.nz/decluttering-newsletters/and-once-again-what-to-do-with-all-that-paper.html/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I was asked by a couple of clients over the last few weeks whether my last newsletter ‘declaring a war on paper’ was pointed at them. And of course it wasn’t, I believe almost everyone has a problem with paper these days. We get far too much of it. Last month I talked about ‘macro [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I was asked by a couple of clients over the last few weeks whether my last newsletter ‘declaring a war on paper’ was pointed at them.  And of course it wasn’t, I believe almost everyone has a problem with paper these days.  We get far too much of it.</p>
<p><strong>Last month I talked about ‘macro sorting’ and then the ‘fine tuning’.  This time I want you to think about the type of paper you may be holding onto, or just not getting around to throwing away.</strong>  Here’s a list of the typical paper categories I find in many homes:</p>
<p><span id="more-1484"></span></p>
<p>-	<strong>Advertising material [otherwise known as junk mail]</strong><br />
If you want to sift through your junk mail for ideas and special offers, that’s fine, but do keep all this material together in a tidy folder so it’s easy to go through when you feel so inclined.  And I would suggest you regularly cull the folder so you’re not just dumping all your junk mail into it without doing a fast sort of what you absolutely know is not of interest.</p>
<p>-	<strong>Magazines and periodicals</strong><br />
Glossy magazines are gorgeous and many of us love to keep them for a period of time to browse through.  However, you don’t want to end up with years’ worth of magazines and periodicals which you no longer look at.  My general rule of thumb is that anything older than one year goes into the recycling.  To store your mags, if you have a good pile of them, perhaps a cupboard or bookshelves may work better than a magazine holder.</p>
<p>-	<strong>Interesting articles printed from the internet or torn out of magazines</strong><br />
These pieces of paper can quickly become a deluge if you keep printing items off the internet then not doing anything with them.  Create a file, either for your filing cabinet or a cupboard, and label it ‘interesting articles to read’.  Or even better still, simply Bookmark the link to the page you&#8217;re interested in so you can return to it another time.  You could also download the article, or copy and paste it into a Word file, and create a file in ‘My Documents’ to hold this type of information.  If you have a propensity for ripping articles out of magazines which you may wish to read one day, it&#8217;s easiest if you keep them all together in a file, as tidily as possible otherwise they quickly become messy.</p>
<p>-	<strong>Recipes either ripped out of magazines or written out on scraps of paper</strong><br />
Recipes on scraps of paper or from magazines can be filed in a concertina type of file so you can categorise each sleeve in the file as to the type of recipe/meal.  The main thing is to keep them all together in the one place, and organised.  Rather than scraps of paper you could use a notebook or exercise book to write the recipes in.</p>
<p>-	<strong>Household accounts</strong><br />
If you have a filing cabinet for your home accounts, then it’s just a matter of making sure it’s clearly labeled so your filing is easy.  I use a concertina file for my accounts then archive them at the end of the year into a large envelope labeled with the year.  For those accounts which you need to action, I suggest you keep them all in a folder which is easily accessible and as you pay each account file it away so the Accounts to be Paid file only contains those to be paid.</p>
<p>-	<strong>Work papers</strong><br />
I mentioned in last month’s newsletter the various filing systems you can use to organise any papers.  Obviously your system will depend upon the amount of paper you need to store at home, and if you work from home then you may have already invested in a filing cabinet.  A filing cabinet will only work for you when you set it up efficiently, labeling each drop file in a logical order so everything is easy to file away, and easy to find again.</p>
<p><strong>The most important thing here is that whichever system you choose to use to deal with your paper, it needs to be clear, quick and easy to use, and it needs to be maintained. </strong> One of my clients recently told me he was able to keep his office clear of clutter because we had set up such an easy filing system to follow that he had continued to use it.</p>
<p><strong>Efficient workable systems are vital both at home and at work.  Your days can flow much more smoothly if there’s less frustration around dealing with paper, or any type of clutter.  If you’re stuck and don’t know where to start, why not contact me. </strong> It’s what I do and I’m very good at creating systems for my clients that work for them.  I love my work, and the satisfaction I get when I&#8217;m able to really make a difference with people who are all too often overwhelmed by their clutter.</p>
<p>My very best wishes to you for a happy, and hopefully not frenetic, month leading up to Christmas.</p>
<p>In Joy!</p>
<p>Angella Gilbert</p>
<p>
P: 09 410 4166<br />
M: 027 224 8937<br />
E: angella@gioia.net.nz<br />
W: www.gioia.net.nz
</p>
<p>Please feel free to forward this newsletter on to anyone you feel may be interested.</p>
<p>They can subscribe via this link: <a href="http://www.gioia.net.nz/feed/">RSS Feed</a></p>
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		<title>Are you drowning in paper?</title>
		<link>http://www.gioia.net.nz/decluttering-newsletters/are-you-drowning-in-paper.html/</link>
		<comments>http://www.gioia.net.nz/decluttering-newsletters/are-you-drowning-in-paper.html/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 28 Oct 2012 23:55:57 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Angella Gilbert</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Decluttering Newsletters]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.gioia.net.nz/decluttering-newsletters/are-you-drowning-in-paper.html/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I would love to declare a war on paper! That may sound exaggerated but I truly believe we are being inundated with paper, and although we do not need to hold onto the majority of it, most of the time we seem to do just that. I think that’s partly a factor of not taking [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I would love to declare a war on paper!  That may sound exaggerated but I truly believe <strong>we are being inundated with paper, and although we do not need to hold onto the majority of it, most of the time we seem to do just that.</strong>  I think that’s partly a factor of not taking the time to decide in the moment whether a piece of paper is really necessary or not.  And partly the fact that paper acts as a magnet, if you already have a pile or two of paper clutter then it just becomes easy to add to it.</p>
<p>Stacks and stacks of paper around the house do become overwhelming though, and will make any area of your home look and feel cluttered. <strong> Here’s a fairly simple plan for cutting through the worst of it: <span id="more-1481"></span></strong></p>
<p>-	Collect up every stack of paper from around the house and gather it all into the one area, which potentially could be the dining room or kitchen table.  In other words, you want a decent size working area that you can spread out on. </p>
<p>-	Put 2 different types of boxes or large plastic bags beside your chair; one will be for recyclable paper and the other for confidential paper which you might want to shred.  An extra rubbish bag might also be useful for plastic wrap and the like which you may find amongst your papers.</p>
<p>-	Now begins the sorting process, and you need to decide what paper you really need to hold onto:</p>
<p>o	Does it relate to financial papers which you are legally required to keep?<br />
o	Is this information something you could just as easily find on the internet?<br />
o	Is this piece of paper really useful?</p>
<p>-	Before you start sorting and culling make sure you have a nice clear area on the table so as you sort through the paper you can put it into categories, use post it notes to label each category and if you have some spare manila folders you could use one for each category which will keep the paper contained as you sort.</p>
<p>-	The trick here is to sort quickly and decisively, because if you start reading every piece of paper you’ll get bogged down and it will all become too hard.  You’ll soon get into the swing of deciding what you really need to keep and what you don’t, and it will become a satisfying exercise as you start to see the boxes fill up, and your stacks of paper reduce.</p>
<p>Once you’ve sorted through your piles of paper you may have filled up the boxes and will have a few stacks of papers [or manila folders] on the table in front of you, with a post it note on each as to the category.  You’ve now done the ‘macro’ sorting and it’s time to do the fine tuning.  Now that you can see how any files you need to store you can work out where they’re going to go.  <strong>You will need a filing system which will enable you to keep your papers sorted on an ongoing basis</strong> such as:</p>
<p>-	A filing cabinet with well labeled drop files<br />
-	Magazine files to hold L-shaped pocket files [these hold up to 30 sheets of paper each, come in different colours and are transparent]<br />
-	Concertina file with indexed or numbered pockets<br />
-	Archive boxes</p>
<p>The system you adopt may be dependent on the storage space you’re going to use for your files, which could potentially be a cupboard or spare room wardrobe.  Ideally your files will be stored out of sight and in such a way that you can access them easily.  If they’re easy to see and to get to then you will be more likely to file the paper as it comes in the door.</p>
<p><strong>Believe me, this will be the most worthwhile exercise you can do in cutting through the clutter because paper is probably the worst offender.  And once you have sorted it all and set up your systems you&#8217;ll enjoy the sense of relief that there&#8217;s no more overwhelming paper clutter, and you&#8217;ll become more discerning when it comes to what paper you let in the door.</strong></p>
<p>I hope these tips inspire you to get control of any paper clutter you may have, and do contact me if you have any questions on what I’ve outlined above, or need any further ideas.</p>
<p>I wish you a wonderful month ahead.</p>
<p>In Joy!</p>
<p>Angella Gilbert</p>
<p>
P: 09 410 4166<br />
M: 027 224 8937<br />
E: angella@gioia.net.nz<br />
W: www.gioia.net.nz
</p>
<p>Please feel free to forward this newsletter on to anyone you feel may be interested.</p>
<p>They can subscribe via this link: <a href="http://www.gioia.net.nz/feed/">RSS Feed</a></p>
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		<title>Creating a work plan to declutter and organise your bedroom</title>
		<link>http://www.gioia.net.nz/decluttering-newsletters/creating-a-work-plan-to-declutter-and-organise-your-bedroom.html/</link>
		<comments>http://www.gioia.net.nz/decluttering-newsletters/creating-a-work-plan-to-declutter-and-organise-your-bedroom.html/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 10 Sep 2012 05:22:22 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Angella Gilbert</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Decluttering Newsletters]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.gioia.net.nz/decluttering-newsletters/creating-a-work-plan-to-declutter-and-organise-your-bedroom.html/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Before I begin any decluttering project, whether it be a home office, kitchen or bedroom, I first stand back and assess the room. Let’s say you want to start with your bedroom, here are my suggestions on how to put together your plan to achieve your vision of how you want the room to look [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Before I begin any decluttering project, whether it be a home office, kitchen or bedroom, I first stand back and assess the room.  Let’s say you want to start with your bedroom, <strong>here are my suggestions on how to put together your plan</strong> to achieve your vision of how you want the room to look and function. </p>
<p>Stand back in the doorway of the room and get a good overall picture of it.  Notice if there is clutter over every surface and the floor, or do you just have a few little problem areas.  Here’s what to make a note of:</p>
<p><span id="more-1450"></span></p>
<p>▪	In an ideal world how would you love your room to look?</p>
<p>▪	Is your furniture in the best position?  Is one side of the bed up against a wall so one of you has to climb over the other to get in or out of bed?  </p>
<p>▪	Do you have enough drawer space for both of you?  Do you each have a chest of drawers or are you struggling to share a single set?</p>
<p>▪	Is your wardrobe so full of his and her clothes that it takes you 20 minutes each morning to figure out what you can wear to work?</p>
<p>▪	Are your bedside tables so completely covered with miscellaneous objects you barely have space for your current book or reading glasses?</p>
<p>▪	Do you have good lighting and preferably lamps on each side of the bed?</p>
<p>▪	And hopefully you haven’t got your computer in your bedroom; this is a divine space to relax and sleep peacefully, not think about work or your next internet search.</p>
<p><strong>Once you’ve made a note of what isn’t working for you, you’re able to formulate a plan on how to correct it.</strong>  Your plan will address these points and from there you’ll be able to work out whether you need to shift furniture, buy another set of drawers or maybe cull some of your wardrobe.  <strong>Create your vision for the room and keep this front of mind</strong> as you work through your plan – it will keep you inspired and you’ll be delighted as the room aligns with your vision.</p>
<p>I hope you find these ideas useful.  If you are struggling with any area of your home and you&#8217;d like some expert help, do contact me.  Working together will not only be an enjoyable experience, we&#8217;ll also create a great outcome. </p>
<p>My very best wishes to you for a wonderful  month.</p>
<p>In Joy!</p>
<p>Angella Gilbert</p>
<p>
P: 09 410 4166<br />
M: 027 224 8937<br />
E: angella@gioia.net.nz<br />
W: www.gioia.net.nz
</p>
<p>Please feel free to forward this newsletter on to anyone you feel may be interested.</p>
<p>They can subscribe via this link: <a href="http://www.gioia.net.nz/feed/">RSS Feed</a></p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Organising the Laundry</title>
		<link>http://www.gioia.net.nz/decluttering-newsletters/organising-the-laundry.html/</link>
		<comments>http://www.gioia.net.nz/decluttering-newsletters/organising-the-laundry.html/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 22 Aug 2012 04:54:55 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Angella Gilbert</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Decluttering Newsletters]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.gioia.net.nz/decluttering-newsletters/organising-the-laundry.html/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[You may be thinking, as I often do, ‘Yikes I have no space in my laundry for anything except the washing machine’. Or you may be one of those very fortunate people who have a lovely spacious laundry room complete with shelves, cupboards and a folding table. I don’t know anybody that lucky, but I’m [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>You may be thinking, as I often do, ‘Yikes I have no space in my laundry for anything except the washing machine’.  Or you may be one of those very fortunate people who have a lovely spacious laundry room complete with shelves, cupboards and a folding table.  I don’t know anybody that lucky, but I’m sure they’re out there.</p>
<p><strong>The main thing in a laundry is to have adequate shelving and storage</strong>.  If your laundry room doesn’t have any built in cupboards, then shelves or a free-standing metal shelving rack will work equally as well and will store a variety of items:<span id="more-1446"></span></p>
<p>▪	Washing detergents<br />
▪	Household cleaners<br />
▪	Old cloths, dusters and rags for cleaning<br />
▪	Sprays<br />
▪	Peg basket<br />
▪	Extra toilet rolls and paper products<br />
▪	Appliances such as iron, dust-buster, and potentially even the vacuum cleaner</p>
<p>Rather than stacking these items directly onto the shelves, I suggest you sort them by category and put them into their own individual containers [ice cream containers work well for storing large items].   Ideally products will stand upright in their container so it’s easy to see everything, and standing the items up also stops potential spillage.</p>
<p><strong>It’s also worth thinking about getting a tall cupboard</strong> where items such as ironing board and brooms can be stored out of sight.  If the cupboard is two-door, with shelves on one side and standing room on the other, then the shelves can be used to store all of the above items, and the other side used for the tall items.</p>
<p>If you don’t have room for a cupboard or shelves, then the brooms and ironing board could stand neatly in a corner of the room, or hang from hooks affixed to the wall.  Even the clothes basket can hang from the wall.  <strong>In other words, when the room or area is small, use the walls as much as possible.</strong></p>
<p>I hope these few ideas are helpful.  Believe me, when we organise any area of our home the feeling of relief can be huge.  I love helping my clients organise their space, and their delight with the results is so satisfying.</p>
<p><strong>And I&#8217;d love you to follow me on my Gioia Facebook page: here&#8217;s that link: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Gioia/444038252297029  I&#8217;m going to be adding regular tips on this page.</strong></p>
<p>Spring is just around the corner, and we’re getting a taste of it already with these gorgeous sunny days.  I hope you get the opportunity to feel the sunshine and admire the blossoms.</p>
<p>In Joy!</p>
<p>Angella Gilbert</p>
<p>
P: 09 410 4166<br />
M: 027 224 8937<br />
E: angella@gioia.net.nz<br />
W: www.gioia.net.nz
</p>
<p>Please feel free to forward this newsletter on to anyone you feel may be interested.</p>
<p>They can subscribe via this link: <a href="http://www.gioia.net.nz/feed/">RSS Feed</a></p>
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		<title>What do you do with your parents’ belongings when they pass on&#8230;</title>
		<link>http://www.gioia.net.nz/decluttering-newsletters/what-do-you-do-with-your-parents%e2%80%99-belongings-when-they-pass-on.html/</link>
		<comments>http://www.gioia.net.nz/decluttering-newsletters/what-do-you-do-with-your-parents%e2%80%99-belongings-when-they-pass-on.html/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 16 Jul 2012 20:46:33 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Angella Gilbert</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Decluttering Newsletters]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.gioia.net.nz/decluttering-newsletters/what-do-you-do-with-your-parents%e2%80%99-belongings-when-they-pass-on.html/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[This is a tough one for most of us. I’ve spoken to many people in the close to 7 years since I began my decluttering business who have stacks of sealed boxes of their parents’ belongings; they struggle with storage in their home, and often with being able to let go of Mum and Dad’s [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>This is a tough one for most of us.  I’ve spoken to many people in the close to 7 years since I began my decluttering business who have stacks of sealed boxes of their parents’ belongings; they struggle with storage in their home, and often with being able to let go of Mum and Dad’s things.</p>
<p>Let me tell you how it was for me and my family when we had to make these difficult decisions.  Perhaps it was a little easier for us because when it came time to pack up their house our Mum had already been in care for over two years with advanced Alzheimer’s.  When the time came that Dad also needed full time care and had to move out of their home it was crunch time.  We had to clear out a house that our parents had lived in for over 35 years.  In the end we kept very little, it boiled down to just keeping what was precious to us.   Everything else we gave away to charity.<span id="more-1442"></span></p>
<p>When I said earlier that perhaps it was easier for us, I meant we were not yet mourning their passing so I’m sure there was less pain than if they had already left us.  We were also fortunate in that we had been brought up not to hoard our possessions; the memories and love were more precious than material items.  I still firmly believe that, even after they both eventually passed away.</p>
<p><strong>I have never and would not attempt to tell anyone that they should “get rid of” their parents’ things.  What I do try to do is help them let go of the boxes and boxes of things taking up much needed space in their own home. </strong> I also suggest they ask themselves if their parents would want them to hold onto their belongings, packed away in boxes and not being used by anyone.</p>
<p>Perhaps putting the emotion to one side temporarily one or two of these suggestions might work for you:</p>
<p>-	Clothes: there are so many families in need in our community, consider donating to our charities.</p>
<p>-	Furniture: if you’re not using it, and it can’t be recycled, you could give it away or sell it.</p>
<p>-	China and glassware: if you have the space and want to keep some favourite pieces then I suggest you enjoy using it.  Or you could create a pretty display in a cabinet where you can see and appreciate the pieces.</p>
<p>-	Personal items: these may be jewelry, collectors’ items, photos, music collections etc.  These are the things that will have more meaning for us and can be kept and contained in different ways.  Pretty decorative boxes, which can stack on top of each other, can be used to store memorabilia, photos, music and favourite cards.  Collectibles can be beautifully displayed on shelves, bookcases, and even hung on the wall.</p>
<p><strong>Above all, I believe we can always find space for these special items which evoke such wonderful memories.  When we can let go of what we know we don’t need or want, and just keep what we love, there’s great satisfaction and joy to be had.</strong></p>
<p>And one final word, if you do find yourself in this sad position, why not enlist the help of someone who you know will be empathetic and will walk down memory lane with you as you sift through the belongings of those who will always be so special to you.</p>
<p>I send you warm wishes and happy days.</p>
<p>In Joy!</p>
<p>Angella Gilbert</p>
<p>
P: 09 410 4166<br />
M: 027 224 8937<br />
E: angella@gioia.net.nz<br />
W: www.gioia.net.nz
</p>
<p>Please feel free to forward this newsletter on to anyone you feel may be interested.</p>
<p>They can subscribe via this link: <a href="http://www.gioia.net.nz/feed/">RSS Feed</a></p>
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