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Sherry Borsheim

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Aug 26
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Sherry’s Current Reading List

By Blog, Business Organizing, Home Organizing 2 Comments

If you know me, you know I’ve always got a book tucked away in each room of my home!

 

This has been a great encouragement in pushing myself to read more often because no matter the place, when inspiration strikes, I love that I’m able to pick up a book at arms length and delve right in.

 

You may think that by having so many different books on the go I would be mixing up the lessons and stories. But that’s not the case!

 

I try to only have one open book at a time in each of my favourite genres. That way, my mind can stay on track with which is which, since the storyline is just so different for each!

 

But enough from me – let’s introduce my first fave of the moment:

What I just Downloaded on my Kindle:

Great leaders are driven to win. Yet career wins can come at great cost to your health, relationships, and personal well-being. Why does it seem impossible to both win at work and succeed at life?

 

With clarity, humor, and plenty of motivation, Win at Work and Succeed at Life gives you

• an understanding of the historical and cultural forces that have led to overworking

• 5 principles to rethink work and productivity from the ground up

• simple but proven practices that enable you to slow down and reclaim your life

Successful Women Lead Businesses:

In Believe IT, Jamie Kern Lima, founder of IT Cosmetics, shares the wild but true story of how a once struggling waitress turned her against-the-grain idea into an international bestselling sensation, eventually selling the company for over a billion dollars and becoming the first female CEO of a brand in L’Oréal’s 100+ year history.

 

Faced with self-doubt, body-doubt, God-doubt, down to her last few dollars and told “No one is going to buy makeup from someone who has your body,” Jamie reveals for the first time what really went down, how she almost didn’t make it, how she learned to trust herself, and the powerful lessons you, too, can use to go from underestimated to unstoppable.

Mindset:

In this groundbreaking book, designer Ingrid Fetell Lee explores how making small changes to your surroundings can create extraordinary happiness in your life.

 

Drawing on insights from neuroscience and psychology, she reveals how the seemingly mundane spaces and objects we interact with every day have surprising effects on our mood and how we can harness the power of our environment to live fuller, healthier and more joyful lives.

Interior Design:

Beautiful design isn’t just pleasant to look at; it improves the quality of our lives.

 

In Live Beautiful, EyeSwoon creator Athena Calderone taps into her international network of interior decorators, fashion designers, and tastemakers to reveal how carefully crafted interiors come together. She also opens the doors to two of her own residences.

Spiritual:

In our daily pursuit of joy through people, adventures, and success, we often come up empty and gasping for air. Always needing more.

 

After the crushing loss of both her first and her second beloved husbands, author Heidi McLaughlin desperately needed joy that was sustainable and fresh. Fresh Joy takes you by the hand and guides you through honest and raw stories, biblical truths, and practical steps to help you find and grow deep, fulfilling, and lasting joy.

I will hold myself to a standard of grace, not perfection.

Grace, Not Perfection takes this message from a daily planner to an inspirational book that encourages women to simplify and prioritize. Designed with Emily Ley’s signature aesthetic, this book gives women tangible ways to simplify their lives to give space to what matters most. With a focus on faith, Emily reminds readers that God abundantly pours out grace on us–and that surely we can extend grace to ourselves.

Mornings can be tough. Sometimes, a hearty breakfast and strong cup of coffee just aren’t enough.

 

Instead, much-loved author Paul David Tripp aims to energize Christian readers with the most potent encouragement imaginable: the gospel. 365 devotional readings, each beginning with a compelling, gospel-centred tweet (in 140 characters or less), are followed by an extended meditation on a key thought for the day, to inspire reflection and prayer.

Health & Wellness:

Sara Panton, co-founder of the premium essential oil company vitruvi, shares her knowledge of botanicals and wellness practices to help you live more naturally and elevate the simple moments of your day.

 

The book guides you through ways to customize your beauty, body, and home routines–turning them into easy yet sophisticated wellness experiences. Learn how to create a custom face oil for your skin type; do a facial lymphatic massage; make a Mediterranean-inspired botanical foot soak; and blend unique essential oil diffuser aromas for your home.

From the trusted, influential, and famously trend-setting website comes the first ever Well+Good cookbook.

 

Founders Alexia Brue and Melisse Gelula have curated a collection of 100 easy and delicious recipes from the luminaries across their community to help you eat for wellness. These dishes don’t require a million ingredients or crazy long prep times. They are what the buzziest and busiest people in every facet of the wellness world—fitness, beauty, spirituality, women’s health, and more—cook for themselves.

Featuring over 100 recipes, “This Kitchen is for Dancing” shares Karlene’s journey toward healthier living through nutrient-packed, never-complicated menus that simply refuse to skimp on flavor.

 

Too busy to cook? Don’t know where to start? Can’t figure out how to keep everybody in your household happy at the dinner table? Karlene shares all her tricks and tips, from how to shop and stock a pantry, to step-by-step instructions for planning and cooking your week’s meals on a Sunday afternoon.

Organizing:

Having less stuff is the key to happiness.

 

Do you ever feel overwhelmed, instead of overjoyed, by all your possessions? Do you secretly wish a gale force wind would blow the clutter from your home? If so, it’s time to simplify your life! The Joy of Less is a fun, lighthearted guide to minimalist living:

• Part One provides an inspirational pep talk on the joys and rewards of paring down.

• Part Two presents the STREAMLINE method: ten easy steps to rid your house of clutter.

• Part Three goes room by room, outlining specific ways to tackle each one.

• Part Four helps you get your family on board and live more lightly and gracefully on the earth.

At home or on the go, you don’t have to live like a minimalist to feel happy and calm.

 

The Home Edit mentality is all about embracing your life–whether you’re a busy mom, a roommate living with three, or someone who’s always traveling for work. You just need to know how to set up a system that works for you. Clea and Joanna are here to remind you that “it’s okay to own things” in the quest for pretty and smart spaces. With The Home Edit Life, you’ll soon be corralling phone cords, archiving old photos, arranging your phone apps by color, and packing your suitcase like a pro.

Productivity & Performance:

In Essentialism, Greg McKeown, CEO of a Leadership and Strategy agency in Silicon Valley who has run courses at Apple, Google and Facebook, shows you how to achieve what he calls the disciplined pursuit of less.

 

Being an Essentialist is about a disciplined way of thinking. By applying a more selective criteria for what is essential, the pursuit of less allows us to regain control of our own choices so we can channel our time, energy and effort into making the highest possible contribution toward the goals and activities that matter.

Just six habits can make the difference between massive success and a dead-end job.

 

High Performance Habits makes it clear that by building up positive habits you can make a huge change in your life. It is harder than you might think but making a daily effort to incorporate each of the six habits recommended by Brendon Burchard will be the start of your self-growing period. Do you want to be extraordinary? Do you desire more than anything else to be capable of reaching the peak of the professional world? If your answer is Yes to any of the above questions, this book is for you.

Unable to overcome debilitating fatigue and depression, bestselling author and personal devel-opment expert Ben Angel set out on a 90-day mission to find and conquer the root of his rut.

 

The result of his journey is Unstoppable, a highly revealing book where Ben gives you a look into the world of nootropics, wearable devices, and nutrition and delivers a guide to help you reduce stress, increase focus, improve physical performance, and eliminate your fears.

So my fellow bookies, have any of these titles, covers, or synopses caught your eye? Or maybe a few are familiar?

 

Let me know in the comments which ones you’re clicking to buy now!

 

 

 

(Disclaimer: I do earn a small commission from the sales through the links attached to these book recommendations!)

 

 

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Aug 25
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Ultimate Guide: My Kitchen Organizing Process

By Blog, Home Organizing, Simple Living 2 Comments

Do you know what the most frustrating room for the majority of people to organize is?

If you guessed the kitchen… you’re right!

A kitchen is often seen as the least approachable room in a home to organize because it’s one of the bigger spaces, but it’s filled with so many small items!

 

Think about it, you have eating and serving utensils, pots and pans, a morning beverage zone, mugs and cups, serving and eating dishes, baking items, special holiday items, and so much more!

With all of this in mind, I wouldn’t be surprised if you feel a little anxiety creeping up – but relax! Through this guide I will take you on a complete walkthrough of my kitchen organizing process. Hopefully I can show you that once you’re through the messy parts, the rest is simple (like tetris) and just consists of fitting the puzzle together.

Let’s begin!

 

When starting to plan a kitchen,

I always work with your desires and will ask questions in order to create the plan with you.

First I’ll ask,

What does your dream kitchen look like?

What’s not working in your kitchen right now?

What do you have for breakfast? Do you want a coffee & tea station?

Who does the cooking? Do they like to bake?

What are the essential items that you need access to most frequently?

Do you have inspiration pictures to show me?

What look do you want to go with for containers? (glass, wood lids, OXO type containers, etc.)

I’ll need to know what you use daily vs. once in a while. That determines what items get stored on higher shelves or further back in deep cupboards.

Secondly I’ll ask,

Where would you like to do your meal prep?

Typically, it’s close to the sink or on the kitchen island. This is the first step in planning where things will go.

This step is something most don’t think about doing. Open all the cupboards and drawers in the kitchen and take a step back to look at your kitchen. Imagine how you want it to flow.

 

Next, create zones in the kitchen.

These zones are for the different activities based on your personal needs.

We already know the meal prep zone, so we just need to decide where the breakfast zone will be, the baking zone, cooking zone, oils & vinegars, spices, pantry foods, vitamins and supplements, food wraps, dishes, cutlery, glasses, tea and coffee mugs, food containers, kids lunch containers, baby food and bottles, pots & pans, etc.

Then we need to see the zones in action.

I like to use sticky notes and place them on drawers and cupboards.

Most people are very visual and this helps with the planning process. The other way I can do this for new construction or kitchen renovations, is by writing on the actual plans.

Once the kitchen is planned out,

I pull each section’s items out and re-arrange them according to our new plan.

This is where most people get really stressed and want to run the other way. However, you must remember that an integral part of organizing is the mess and chaos. But also keep in mind that it will get worse before it gets better.

I’m also here to help coach you through this stressful, overwhelming stage.

Once everything is in its new place,

I will then measure for containers and drawer inserts to create a shopping list. This is the fun part! Notice how I didn’t go shopping first, then start asking questions and organizing after? You don’t know what containers are going to fit until you have all your items planned and organized.

 

The next step,

Is to label containers and install them as planned.

 

Then we can take a step back and admire your beautifully organized, and highly functional kitchen. At this point, you’ll be so inspired to maintain it and keep it looking organized!

So in the end, does it really seem so stressful? With a vision and a bit of pre-planning, everything comes together very smoothly. The hardest part is to power through the warzone phase, and once you’re on the other side the rest is a breeze!

If you’re interested in working with a professional organizer either in-home or through virtual consult, visit me on my Services Page to learn more about how I can help you design and maintain the home of your dreams!

And yes, it is attainable for everyone!

 

 

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Aug 22
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Why We Prefer New Year’s Planning in September

By Blog, Inspiration, Time Management No Comments

Transitioning from the hazy days of summer back into the realities of fall for some reason tends to feel very fortifying.

 

Maybe it’s because our days that have consisted of a loose schedule and dozing in the sunshine are now moving towards a crisper breeze and we are awakening back to life. And as the sun moves toward the southern horizon, our days are gradually shortening; which gives us the clue to renovate our productivity cycles.

Everywhere we look at this time, the trending topic is back to school season. Though many of us are prepping for this change, there is another theme of importance as well:

 

September says, “fresh start.”

The majority of people still set their goals every January 1st, but September is a steady second in becoming the new time for “New Year’s Resolutions.” Think about it – after a holiday season of stress, family time, over-indulging, and diet-breaking, is it really realistic to try and break our bad habits or create new ones?

 

September already brings the air of change, so since we are subconsciously set in the mood for reconstructing, let’s use that to our advantage and set some goals!

 

Firstly, Understand Your Goal…

 

Let’s organize your goals into these three categories: Personal, Career, and Finance.

 

The most important part of setting a goal with the intention of actually achieving it, is to really reflect on WHY you are choosing this goal. Do you feel obligated to do it, or is it something you truly want?

 

You should be passionate about your goals for the right reasons as opposed to settling for them based on what you (or others) think you should be doing! With this in mind, you will feel the motivation in your heart and that will carry you through the steps needed to reach it.

 

…But Always Remain Flexible.

 

Make sure to revisit each category on a regular basis and update or change any goals that seem outdated to you, or that no longer align with the path you want to take in life.

It’s okay to cancel things out that you once thought would be good for you – people change, careers change, and our big goals can change too! This does not mean you failed, it just means you are staying true to what you really want.

 

For example, if you’re fighting unnecessarily hard with yourself to get up extra early and implement a specific morning routine, maybe the goal is not currently something in your bandwidth. You may be better off focusing on a calming night routine instead.

 

Remember – following what feels natural to you is likely the best for you, listen to your body and build on the positive routines you already have in place. Once these are optimized, then you can begin these slow steps for other, more difficult goals.

 

Reach Out To Your Inner Circle.

 

One of the more surefire ways to keep yourself on track is to enlist others to keep you on track. It might be easy to sweep your goals off today, tomorrow, or all week… but your inner circle will kick your butt and hold you accountable like no other!

 

These people want you to succeed and at the same time see so much potential in you. Tell your inner circle what you’re trying to achieve so they can regularly ask about your progress. Or if you want a smaller accountability method, try just with a partner.

 

Who can you commit to that you trust to hold you responsible and at times, deliver brutal honesty?

 

And don’t just put it on someone else to keep you on track – set yourself digital alerts of your goals and daily steps, so you stay inspired and focused throughout the day and week.

Check-In With Yourself.

 

If you set goals last January, check back in with them now. Are any of them still unaccomplished, or now irrelevant? Revamp the ones you’d like to keep and cross off the ones which you no longer want to adhere to.

 

Whether you are redoing or creating new goals, keep these three Q’s in mind for setting the steps:

 

What is one thing you would like to stop, one thing you would like to start, and one thing you would like to continue?

 

Keep a record (digital or written) of your accomplishments along the way. This will inspire you on gloomy days, and show you just how productive you were all year by next September when you look back and review all of the hard work you put into the past year. You should feel proud!

Be The Tortoise, Not The Hare.

 

You will never cross the finish line if you burn out – or at least, you won’t be able to race the same again. Don’t push yourself past your limits and remember to take breaks. The goal race is in fact, not a race at all!

 

Set your pace and stick with what feels comfortable. Push yourself when you can, and give yourself grace days when needed. Rome was not built in a day, and you won’t be the best version of yourself overnight. It takes time, perseverance, and self-control. We all have our days of slip ups and setbacks, but what makes us truly successful is when we get back up and try again.

 

And again.

 

And again if needed!

 

Now that September is just a week away, what goals are you going to set for this year?

Comment below!

 

 

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