Take your own advice!

Well, do you?

I've been feeling quite unbalanced these past few days, the mighty Organizta has lost her "do it all" mojo and is searching to get it back.

So as I sit here contemplating on how to find my lost motivation, I wondered what I'd tell my friends, readers, and loved ones, were they to approach me with this issue.

I'd tell them to make manageable lists and cross things off as they approach them.

Also not to beat themselves up when they didn't get as much done as they wanted (advice I NEVER take: this must change).

I'd tell them to take 1 yoga class this week, to thank their bodies, minds, and souls for always leading them to greatness. (I will go to at least 1 class this week, hopefully two- anyone want to hold me to that?!)

I'd tell them to make a 5 month plan, then continue breaking down the plan until they have daily plans that feel completely do-able to the point of it just being daily life.

So here I sit, before I begin my work day, and wonder why I have all the advice in the world, yet I feel stagnant.

As a woman I feel that I must do it all, every day with grace and style. Well guess what, my ratty old GAP sweatshirt does NOT scream style, and my bumpy pony tail isn't really the epitome of grace.

Things must change, this I do know.

So today at the top top of my "To-Do" list is to find my balance. My balance of peace in my mind, amidst the chaos of my schedule.

Once peace has been obtained I believe the rest will fall into place.

Living in the moment is very hard when futures can be so uncertain, but I'm trusting my heart and gut to lead me wherever I need to be.

Today I am taking my own advice, and it feels great. :)

Tomorrow I will take over the world with grace and style and complete organization!

Free Like Me

There are days I wake up and wish I was half as smart as you were.

Times that I look in the mirror and wonder who's end of the stick was shorter

There are moments in my life when I wished a little more of your wisdom had penetrated the walls of the womb before it was too late;

Instances when regret fills my soul with fear and sadness and I just wish in that exact moment that I was stronger- like you.

Minutes when I wonder what the darkness I was kept in was for, to keep me safer; or to keep you from seeing things for what they were, admitting to life that you did, in fact, need help beyond your control.

There are evenings in my kitchen as I stir in your silver pot, that I wish I could cook like you, or channel you in some way for your secrets or just your loving touch that seemed to make life so delicious.

Days in my life I look around and wish you could meet these people who have touched my life, helped me grow, dried my tears, and accepted me for everything that I am and most of all showed me love.

These people, mom, you would have loved for pushing me when I was unmotivated, and slowing me down when I become obsessed over the unknown.

...and then time stands still, and I think about the not so dark-ness that you tried to save me from and I wonder;

I wonder in those moments if you wished, for just a minute, that you could be free like me-

Free from the captivity that a daunting past held your heart and soul- I wish in these moments that I could have the strength, love, wisdom, and voice to show you just how it could be...

Where there is a will...

...the universe will make a way.

So since my last blog, from what seems like ages ago my life has been in fast forward, hopefully on the track to success! No, DEFINITELY on the track of success.

As I stated by June I would have my organizing business underway, well it is certainly underway alright, and waaaayyyy ahead of schedule.

I wasn't quite ready for all of this to happen so fast, but it did and I am grateful nonetheless. However 2011 is going to be one busy year for this girl.

So as any aspiring small business owner would do, I began a blog ( http://theorganizta.com/ ) started a business Facebook page ( http://facebook.com/pages/Organizta/ ). I blogged for a few weeks, getting advice from my friends on how to get the most out of your blog, and just put out into the universe that I will be a successful business owner.

My aspirations were heard and the day I posted my phone number to my website, my phone rang just hours later. Business opportunities started to come in, partnering up with some really amazing people such as Deb from the Thrifty HoG, founder of Hearts of Gold ( http://heartsofgold.org/ ) to put together something awesomely organizing for National Clean out your Closet Week.

So here I am, about 6 weeks into my pipedream and I'm more on my way than I ever thought possible. It just feels good to have big dreams again. I dream of being national, I dream of helping many people along my way, I dream of touching lives, and I dream of being successful by my own will and ways.

I am humbled at life. I am grateful for my future. I am wise from my past.

In my life, I can achieve anything. I hold my own destiny.

How freaking exciting is that?!

Dream Big, Make bold changes, and welcome your new life!

~Tatum

Back on the Train

So I'm back here writing, after a brief hiatus where life decided to just toss all my balls up in the air to see how good I am at juggling.

The week before Thanksgiving, Andrew and I decided to move, again. The apartment we'd been renting was growing increasingly small, and the vibe of the place wasn't what you'd want for your little love nest and family. We'd gotten a new little kitten addition to our family, Mara Jade.

Our landlords were also growing increasingly irritating as they were going through some financial issues and beginning to harass me on a weekly basis about whatever she felt it was ok to unleash on me.

After a very unpleasant voicemail and our neighbors telling us that the land lords had disclosed some of our PERSONAL information I'd had it, off to Craigslist I went, I wanted to see what Highlands had for rent.

I opened the Jersey Shore CL section for rentals, and the very first rental was a 2 bedroom (more space HOORAY!) on the water, and very affordable. I emailed the lister immediately.

About a half hour later he had responded, he was going to be in town Saturday and would love for us to come see it.

YIKES! Holy fast pace!

They say, "be careful and choose your words wisely" when you're asking the universe for something as it works much faster than you think!

That weekend we went to take a look at the new place, it was indeed gorgeous with so much more space for our family of 4. The water front with its private beach was just breath taking to this little shore girl from New England. I mean, living on the water? No one can afford that in New England unless you're very wealthy and successful.

We met the landlord, looked around the place, and we filled out the application all that day. He wanted us in Dec 1st.

Wowzers Penny, that's a fast move for the girl who likes to plan her plans and have back up plans to the Plan B.

We packed, and worked hard, and moved in 2 weeks, giving ourselves an extra month to leave the old place in good condition.

So, here I am, a few blocks over on the water in our little 2 bedroom apartment loving life! I'm not going to lie, it was stress over stress financially with the holidays and all that comes along with it, but this year really closed out wonderfully for us. I feel very blessed and very empowered that I can do anything that I want in this lifetime.

Which leads me to my next exciting announcement(I say this as if I have readers haha).

By June, I will have started my very own organizing business. (HOORAY!) So stay tuned for all the plan A's B's C's and Z's that come with this new life I will build for myself.

In talking almost daily to my best friend; who works at a corporate job that pays her barely enough for all she does for them, that stifles her creativity, that enslaves her hours upon hours in a tiny cubicle and makes her so unhappy in her life; I came to the decision that I absolutely can not bring myself to march back into a corporate office and sit myself in a tiny cubicle.

The thoughts of 45 minutes for lunch at a specific time every day, being in at 7:30 sharp (or be spoken to if you have a late morning), not being able to get up and stretch your legs or be creative at any point in your 40 hour work week, make me want to immediately cry. That is not the life I will return to. Don't get me wrong, my corporate jobs gave me great training, and instilled some good "work" qualities in me, and saved me financially many times....but it is not the life I want to live.

I am a creative being, I am a spacial(and yes special too hehe) person who needs to live and breathe and flow at my own pace. I was never the cookie cutter student or employee, I always had different, more eccentric views on life and the world and all that the world holds in it.

This new found inspiration has me nervous and excited all at the same time! I refuse to entertain the questions and "what if's" I'm going to just take steps to the business I want to build.

My organizing business will begin with me being just a PO (professional Organizer), but I'm not stopping there. I'm going to head back to school and work on getting a therapist/psychologist degree so that I may help my clients obtain an organized life, leading to a peaceful mind. I know for myself that when my desk is a disaster, or my home has chores that have backed up on me, I feel cluttered and very overwhelmed. Its easy to get to the "where to I even begin" and not begin at all. I want to help and teach people how to avoid those overwhelming moments.

I want to encourage my clients to attack that big pile of bills and organize it so that it feels manageable, and not so that you keep covering up the pile of bills on the desk/dresser/table.

I will save the world from disorganization and all the bad habits that come with it! So stay tuned for my HUGE PLAN B journey. I'm super excited to see how it all unfolds.

Happy Organizing!

~Tatum