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Getting Organized with Debbie Lillard
By metropolitanmama | January 10, 2008
The National Association of Professional Organizers has deemed January “Get Organized Month.” It seems appropriate since I tend to go on a huge clean, purge, and straighten “kick” after New Years.
If you’re like me and you’re setting some goals in this area, you’ll probably enjoy “meeting” Debbie Lillard, a professional organizer serving the Philadelphia area and author of Absolutely Organized: A Mom’s Guide to a No-Stress Schedule and Clutter-Free Home.
Q. How many kids do you have of your own and what are their ages?
A. Three – my daughter is 11, and I have two sons, ages 8 and 5.
Q. How long have your been a professional organizer and what attracted you to the field?
A. I started in 2003. I had done several other part time jobs after my daughter was born. I worked for my husband. I sold Mary Kay. But I liked the idea of having my own business and being able to set my own hours. I thought, “What can I do from 10-2?” Then, I saw Julie Morgenstern on Oprah.
Q. What did you do to get your business off the ground?
A. I found someone who was doing it full time. I went on the NAPO website. I made up business cards. I spread the word to moms club. I offered a discounted rate for my first 10 customers….
Q. If a mom wants to hire a professional organizer, what can she expect to pay for the organizer’s time and expertise?
A. The average is $50-65 an hour, but it varies.
A professional organizer can help bring order to your garage, your pantry, your closets, your kids rooms, your home office, your filing systems, even your time. You can find a professional organizer near you on the NAPO website. You’ll also find some home organizing tips and office organizing tips there.
Debbie also has a “Tips of the Month” section on her website and a cool YouTube video where you can watch her help a client transform a kitchen from cluttered to clean.
WIN IT! One winner will receive a signed copy of Absolutely Organized: A Mom’s Guide to a No-Stress Schedule and Clutter-Free Home. To enter, simply leave a comment and your e-mail address prior to Saturday, Jan. 12. The winner will be contacted and announced on Sunday, Jan. 13. * Winner must provide a U.S. mailing address.
* UPDATED * The winner is #46 twitchy. Congratulations!
Topics: Mom-Owned Business, contests |
January 10th, 2008 at 4:29 am
Sounds like a winner - sign me up!
January 10th, 2008 at 4:59 am
sounds like a great book!
January 10th, 2008 at 5:10 am
Thank you both for the information! I definitely need help with organizing and decluttering! I drive my sister and my niece ( her daughter ) crazy because they are throw-awayers. Please enter me in your contest of this wonderful book! Thank you very much…..Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com
January 10th, 2008 at 5:25 am
I am so out of control with things lately…I really could use a book like this~ to help get more organized! I am tired of the clutter everywhere, too…and I am learning to “let go”. Really, if I haven’t used it in the last 5 years, am I going to ever use it? LOL
Thanks for another great giveaway and review!
sharvey at connections-etc dot net
January 10th, 2008 at 5:37 am
I’ve had alot of trouble getting back into the routine of things since we got back from our vacation so this would probably help.
January 10th, 2008 at 5:39 am
I love organizing books. Thanks for offering this!
January 10th, 2008 at 5:50 am
I have a feeling I’m going to need this!
January 10th, 2008 at 6:01 am
O M G I need this! No seriously, I NEED this!!
January 10th, 2008 at 6:33 am
With 6 kids I am always looking for inspiring organizational products! Thanks for the great giveaway!
fructifying at ourblessedarrows dot com
January 10th, 2008 at 11:47 am
Oh I can’t wait to get my hands on this book! I so need the help in organizing everything right down to my time!
January 10th, 2008 at 12:37 pm
Im in my decluttering mode and this sounds like a great help! jbubolz-miller@hotmail.com
January 10th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
With two children under 3 and no time…I would love this book
momsclubssm@yahoo.ca
January 10th, 2008 at 1:01 pm
This would sure help me get better organized. I need it!
January 10th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
Wow, this sounds exactly like what I need! Enter me please!
January 10th, 2008 at 1:14 pm
I need this!!!
January 10th, 2008 at 1:23 pm
Oh, I would LOVE this book! Thanks for including me!
cbdulrich[at]yahoo[dot]com
January 10th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
I am hoping this kind of thing could help me. Organized I am not these days. Thanks!
January 10th, 2008 at 1:48 pm
Hey I would love a chance at winning this book. Thanks
January 10th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
Wow, how interesting- I can use all the help I can get!
January 10th, 2008 at 2:09 pm
Sounds like a great book!
danascraps(at)comcast.net
January 10th, 2008 at 2:09 pm
This sounds excellent!
kelli (at) pfrog (dot) net
January 10th, 2008 at 2:18 pm
I could definitely use some help in this department!
January 10th, 2008 at 2:38 pm
Help organizing? Yes please!
January 10th, 2008 at 2:54 pm
Sounds like a great book–I could use the help!
im_just_lori (at) yahoo (d0t) com
January 10th, 2008 at 2:56 pm
Oh, my, I’d simply adore this book. ( meg dot wilson at gmail dot com )
January 10th, 2008 at 3:06 pm
The book looks very interesting and useful (and I can use all the help I can get!). jlslaughter06@gmail.com
January 10th, 2008 at 3:10 pm
Sounds like a book I could really use
January 10th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
I would love this book!
-Megan
kings.3(at)comcast(dot)net
January 10th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
very cool! count me in…
January 10th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
very cool…count me in!
January 10th, 2008 at 3:31 pm
Oh this is an item that I DEFINITELY need!!!
dansan826 at yahoo.com
January 10th, 2008 at 3:40 pm
Wow, I could really use some tips in this area. Thanks for the giveaway!
January 10th, 2008 at 3:41 pm
need… organization… now…
January 10th, 2008 at 4:19 pm
apparently my new years resolution is kicking me in the pants. Declutter, de-junk and get over it!
January 10th, 2008 at 4:22 pm
I desperatly need this!!
January 10th, 2008 at 4:38 pm
I am so ready for this!
January 10th, 2008 at 5:02 pm
Oh boy, could I use this! Thanks for offering it!
mrsaharper@hotmail.com
January 10th, 2008 at 5:02 pm
I could definitely use this book!
the_angel_forever at yahoo dot com
http://www.theangelforever.com
January 10th, 2008 at 5:15 pm
i need it!! jodi@whitsitt.net
http://www.allaboutthemomofem.blogspot.com
January 10th, 2008 at 5:21 pm
Yes, I could really use some organizational help! Thanks for the contest.
January 10th, 2008 at 5:27 pm
Wow, organization is an area that I am totally lacking in! As a full-time working mom of a 2.5 year old, this would be great!
Thanks for the contest!
January 10th, 2008 at 5:27 pm
i love to be organized and am alwasy looking for new ideas!
January 10th, 2008 at 5:37 pm
I would love to win this book. My email address is oconnellhouse@msn.com
January 10th, 2008 at 5:50 pm
This would be a godsend!
January 10th, 2008 at 6:11 pm
Yes! This would be a good start!
January 10th, 2008 at 6:45 pm
Count me in!
January 10th, 2008 at 6:50 pm
How helpful! I could certainly use the advice in this book, and the interview and links are also nice.
January 10th, 2008 at 6:56 pm
Definitely need this. My place is a mess. Count me in
January 10th, 2008 at 6:59 pm
Thanks for another great giveaway!
January 10th, 2008 at 7:52 pm
I will be needing this soon!
January 10th, 2008 at 7:54 pm
What a life saver, SInce taking on my homemaker responsabilities again becasue I let my home based business go I can really use the help. Happy New Year
January 10th, 2008 at 7:55 pm
i’m sitting here bleary-eyed in an apartment exploded with clutter and i see this post.
if i don’t win it, i’m going to have to buy it!
January 10th, 2008 at 8:33 pm
Fantastic prize! I hope I win. If not, I’m sure I’ll buy it!
January 10th, 2008 at 9:07 pm
I try to not allow so much clutter in our home but I could be doing so much better. With seven children it’s hard necessity we NEED to learn!
January 10th, 2008 at 11:07 pm
Would LOVE to win this! I really could use help in the area of organization.
January 11th, 2008 at 12:32 am
I am the clutter queen, this would be great to have.
January 11th, 2008 at 12:42 am
I would love to win this!
I like to think of myself as organized, but there’s always room to learn something new.
blogged ya:
http://laurawilliamsmusings.blogspot.com/2008/01/thursday-edition-of-contests-galore.html
Thanks!
Laura
lauraw68 @ yahoo.com
January 11th, 2008 at 1:05 am
Any busy mom could use this to help keep the family organized.
January 11th, 2008 at 1:13 am
I could use any possible help getting and keeping my family organized! I’d love to win!!
January 11th, 2008 at 1:45 am
This book would help me with my New Year’s Resolution! Sign me up!!! Hollie
riovert@earthlink.net
January 11th, 2008 at 2:03 am
She should want to come to my house for free…I like dictating people’s desires for my own good.
gumbi1313@msn.com
January 11th, 2008 at 2:16 am
I need some organizing help!
mccammacks(at)sbcglobal(dot)net
January 11th, 2008 at 3:21 am
Should I win (and miraculously find time to read this book) my husband will sing your praises.
January 11th, 2008 at 4:39 am
Exactly what I should use - I need help. maraco36@yahoo.com
January 11th, 2008 at 5:34 am
I would love to learn some tricks from this book!
disarray [at] onebox [dot] com
January 11th, 2008 at 7:25 am
OK, this is the story of Me….I have a mess here and there. I get tired of being cluttered and/or unorganized. I wait to be in the ‘mood’ to organize. I organize. A few weeks (or sometimes only days) goes by and then I have a mess here and there….and so on and on and on.
I would really LOVE this book. I need a good kick in the tush (and some great advice) to help keep me on the right path. We’re getting ready to move into a new house and I want to start off organized and then STAY that way!
Awesome giveaway!
~melody~
January 11th, 2008 at 11:24 am
I could definitely use some help in this dept…ask hubby!
January 11th, 2008 at 2:30 pm
I sure could use this book!
January 11th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
Count me as someone else in need to help! Thanks for the chance…
sanna1999@verizon.net
January 11th, 2008 at 4:26 pm
sign me up too, this house could use some organizing!!
January 11th, 2008 at 4:28 pm
I could really benefit from a product like this. I am so busy with product reviews, book reviews, Women’s ministry and parenting 7 kids, and I don’t know which end is up some days!
Oh, did I mention that I babysit???? Yep, crazy.
January 11th, 2008 at 4:31 pm
Cool. She’s local for me, so I’ll have to check her out!
ddmmooney@yahoo.com
January 11th, 2008 at 4:48 pm
This would be great!
January 11th, 2008 at 7:38 pm
sign me up…
January 11th, 2008 at 7:56 pm
I need this!
January 11th, 2008 at 9:02 pm
I really need this book! Count me in!
January 11th, 2008 at 10:05 pm
Sounds like a great book!
taureau AT yahoo DOT com
January 11th, 2008 at 10:06 pm
SIGN ME UP!!!! Jan 12 is my 30th birthday…pick me!!!
January 11th, 2008 at 10:10 pm
great giveaway-please enter me!
January 11th, 2008 at 11:15 pm
You don’t even know how much I need this book! Thanks for the website links. My word for this year is Simplify & this book sure could help
January 12th, 2008 at 1:47 am
I need so much help! My email is tgerner at att.com
January 12th, 2008 at 3:25 am
sign me up for this one!
January 12th, 2008 at 6:13 am
I really need this book! It would feel so great to be organized again.
January 12th, 2008 at 6:37 am
sounds like a book I really need to help me with my resolutions….thanks for the great giveaway!
January 12th, 2008 at 7:14 am
Will this keep me from forgetting where I left the baby? Okay, it’s not that bad yet, but getting close…
January 12th, 2008 at 1:22 pm
My poor dh would love it if I read and actually applied this book! The baby’s taken over the house!!!!
January 12th, 2008 at 4:14 pm
Am I too late? My email is sarahw56@gmail.com
I would love this!!!
January 12th, 2008 at 6:41 pm
I need so much organizational help. Maybe this book would be a good starting point.
January 12th, 2008 at 10:33 pm
sounds great! Thank you for sharing!
January 13th, 2008 at 5:37 am
neato..i need a good decluttering
January 13th, 2008 at 7:38 am
That sounds like it was made for me! Sign me up!