It’s hard to believe spring is almost over and we’re headed into the summer months. If you missed the ball on “spring cleaning” – have no fear, there’s still time [...]
If you want to see results at home, there’s something you need to do. And that’s take action! But you probably already know that… But what creates action? Simply put, [...]
In the midst of decluttering, organizing, or tidying up the house, the bedroom is one of those spaces that can easily be forgotten about or de-prioritized. It’s usually upstairs [...]
No matter how messy a home is, here are 8 ways clutter can remind us to stop and be grateful. 1. Money – At each point in time, for every [...]
The holiday season is a lovely time to be around people. But when the house is a mess, it’s easy to hide inside and avoid inviting guests over (or hesitate [...]
The holidays are supposed to be magical. The sights. The sounds. The smells. It’s why we use words like “wonderland”, “miracle”, and “merry”. But maybe, for you, the holidays just [...]
I hope you’re doing well! Some of you have expressed interest in a personal update since we moved, so I thought I’d take time to share an update with you! [...]
Happy May to you and your family! I hope all is well on your end! Last month our company, Alejandra.tv, celebrated 10 years in business. While it does feel like [...]
Unfinished projects get such a bad rep. You start a project then abandon it when you get distracted, bored, stuck, out-of-time, or something shinier catches your attention. Soon enough thoughts [...]
In about two months, we’ll be celebrating 13 years of helping people declutter and get organized. And one of the things I’ve learned over time is that what can make [...]
Clutter is a funny thing. We fill our houses with inanimate objects. Things we need and things we don’t need. Things we use and things we don’t use. Things we [...]
As we all know, the New Year is the start of a new chapter. Although I don’t believe you should wait for January 1st to think about goals, it’s a [...]
Lack of time is often one of the presenting problems when it comes to getting organized. When we’re busy and need to tidy-up, it’s easy to think, “but I don’t [...]
There are many teachers out there for getting organized. There are teachers online. There are teachers in our community. And, if you live with others, there are even teachers at [...]
If you were in my bedroom you’d see my nightstand stack of books sorted by color! The common theme among my books is personal development. I just can’t get away [...]
This morning I was brushing my teeth before work and I glanced down and noticed the simple yet profound message on the inside of my black shirt (the bottom of [...]
No matter how messy a home may be, there’s one item most people put back after they take it out. Take a guess then scroll down… . . . . [...]
It’s officially been 10 months since 2017 started. Did you accomplish any of your organizing goals this year? If yes, GREAT! KEEP GOING! If not, there’s still time to make [...]
Problems are a sign of life. If you’re alive, you have them. Some problems are bigger and more painful than others. But we all have them. Someone gets sick. An [...]
If you made a list of all your organizing problems, you’d eventually reach a stopping point because there are a finite number of problems. Although you are unique, your problems [...]
Did you know that “the exact speed needed to orbit the earth depends on the altitude, according to a formula that was developed by Johannes Kepler in the early 1600’s: [...]
Tackling an organizing project can be a lot like meditating. Have you ever meditated? If so, you’ll know one way of meditating is consciously focusing on your breath while bringing [...]
I hope you’re having a great week! Before we get to this week’s post, we’ve received a few questions about my recent update on getting certified as a life coach [...]
I hope you’re having a great week and are looking forward to the weekend ahead! Last Thursday I sent out an update on the past couple months and what is [...]
I hope September has been wonderful for you! Welcome new readers and new members! I wanted to check in with you now that the new season is about to begin. [...]
If you asked me to go hiking 10 years ago, I probably would have said “no” out of fear of falling or twisting my ankle! Even hiking on a flat [...]
A lot of people have been wondering where I’ve been and what’s been going on. It’s been hard to put it all into words, but I’m finally ready to release [...]
Congratulations to our four winners! Each winner will receive my Photo Labels & Back-to-School Checklists plus a $100 Store More Card to The Container Store to help you prepare for [...]
Hi Everyone, As most of you know, earlier this year I announced we were starting an Alejandra.tv subscription box. You probably saw the announcement on Facebook and could tell how [...]
In honor of National Donut Day, here’s a picture of Ed and I popping out a chocolate sprinkled donut sculpture at Google’s headquarters in San Francisco! [...]
We have the winners for our Spring Organization Giveaway! Congratulations to our two winners who will receive free enrollment in my Power Productivity Program plus a $500 elfa® gift card [...]
Congratulations to our four giveaway winners who will receive free enrollment in my Power Productivity Program plus a $250 Store More Card to The Container Store! We are so excited [...]
Who decided to finally get themselves organized this year?! Well, we’ve got something for 4 lucky people! We teamed up with The Container Store for a FUN giveaway that will [...]
Throwback Thursday! Found a picture of my closet from college circa 2004! It’s hard to tell what’s inside with the beaded curtains in the way but from what I can [...]
Just saw this in a hotel lobby and laughed… Seems silly to label a door handle but it’s a great example of labeling. Although YOU might try lifting this handle [...]
I got this funny coupon in the mail this weekend saying… “25% of people will break their New Year’s resolution within the first week.” (It’s a coupon to get our [...]
If you had to share one creative/organizational/storage “anything goes” tip for putting away your holiday decorations/stuff what would it be? Here’s mine: I put away Mojo’s Christmas-y toys until next [...]
A picture of my mom and me at Christmas at my sister’s house. My organizing skills came from her 🙂 [...]
Heading to Ed’s family’s house for dinner. Ed and I are wishing you and your family a Merry Christmas Eve! [...]
Just had a fun video shoot with our friends at Gearshift.tv! My 10-part “get organized” video series on my home office is coming soon in 2014! Now onto finishing up [...]
Saturday night = date night with Ed at one of our favorite local restaurants! Whenever we come here, we always sit at the same table (#25), it’s where we sat [...]
Thanksgiving is one week away! Have you done all of your planning yet? I just did my meal planning this afternoon (even though my sister is hosting, I’m bringing the [...]
Happy November! Below you’ll find our monthly update from October, and our Holiday Gift Guide of favorite organizing gifts to give this holiday season:) I hope you’re having a nice [...]
We received a few emails asking for a list of the products we included in our recent giveaway. Below are the products we selected (many of which are my absolute [...]
Okay, so the winner has been picked for our $200+ The Container Store product giveaway that we announced last week. And the winner is…. Kim H! YAY Kim!! You’ll be [...]
Monday’s aren’t so bad when you start them off feeling productive and on top of things. And that happens by taking care of a few things on Sunday night!! Ed’s [...]
I recently purged my filing cabinet and I must say, it’s always fun to see what you find!! I came across an old performance review from 2006 when I worked [...]
Okay, so The Container Store party last night was such a BLAST! Here’s a pic of the cookies they gave out at the end of the night- SO cute! I’m [...]
Today’s the pre-party grand opening of the new The Container Store in Virginia! I’ve been vlogging the entire event and can’t wait to share the fun soon!!! Here’s the dessert [...]
Another reason why I [...]
Ed & I just went sailing this past week with my old boss who loves to sail. Trying to enjoy the last few days of summer before the cool weather [...]
Poor Ed got roped into helping me organize the basement on a Sunday! Here he is helping me carry all of the blankets upstairs in one trip. Did anyone else [...]
I spent the past two days helping my friend Ashley organize her classroom for back-to-school. We had soooo much fun setting up the classroom!! Instead of filming my usual “How [...]
Digging for gold (school supplies) at Dollar Tree on a Saturday night! Poor Ed 🙁 On another note, there is a Budget Back-to-School Supplies Haul video coming soon 🙂 Update: [...]
Just drove by the new The Container Store that’s being built near my house in Virginia! I’m soooo excited for the grand opening in September! It’s like waiting for the [...]
Today we had our good friend Jon Jon over for his birthday. This is what happened after the birthday cake! Sometimes it’s just fun to be silly and make a [...]
I’m sooooo very excited to be writing this blog post! For awhile now (6 months to be exact!) I’ve been working on updating the Power Productivity Program (PPP). If you [...]
If yesterday you said “I’ll start over tomorrow”… Well, today is here. Did you start?!?! If not, and if you need a concrete starting point, I have one for you. [...]
Every video I post on my YouTube channel takes weeks (sometimes months) to plan, organize, film, edit, etc. Right now we are planning videos for back-to-school (August/September). Here’s a sneak [...]
I’m sitting here at my desk on Monday afternoon and finalllllllly feel like I can take a break and write an update on what’s been going on since the new [...]
When you work from home, your home is your office and your office is your home. Everything just blurs together! Here’s a shot of our kitchen transformed photo studio! The [...]
Here’s a crazy question- in what order do you color-code when organizing (if you color-code)? Do you put the white before OR after the black?! Where does the gray and [...]
What’s your motivation for immediately folding your clean laundry? I have four: 1) I don’t want to wear wrinkled clothes 2) I really don’t want to iron to get rid [...]
I just re-organized all of the files on my desktop. Phewwww, that felt good! Keeping digital files organized on the computer can be so tough, especially if you are creative [...]
Anyone else looking forward to the weekend?! I totally am. It’s been such a longgggg week at our home/office. Yesterday we filmed for 8 hours straight after weeks of preparation. [...]
Earlier today I spent time “disorganizing” my pantry. It’s funny, it takes sooooo long to organize a space, yet, it only takes minutes to mess up! Anyway, this week we [...]
What’s one of your pet peeves when you think of “organizing?” One of mine is leaving the store label on organizing products. I can’t stand seeing the original sticker slapped [...]
This closet is my next victim! But first, I need your input. My goal is to organize this small bedroom closet with a really small budget (things from the dollar [...]
Today one of our members and a fellow YouTuber, Joanne, posted a video of three binders (coupon, holiday, recipe) she organized based on watching my videos. I must say, I [...]
One of the things that motivates me to do a “difficult” task I’m dreading at work is how good I’ll feel tomorrow after it’s accomplished. The pain of NOT doing [...]
Some days its just hard to get things done (tired, not feeling well, just not feeling it). One thing that helps me during “those” days is yanking out my jumbo [...]
Happy Holidays! The holidays are just a few weeks away but in case you still have shopping left, I’ve put together a list of my 18 favorite “organizing” gift ideas. [...]
Has anyone else started decorating for the holiday season yet? We just got our Christmas tree which means tomorrow we’ll decorate the house! I must say, I loooove this time [...]
Spent Thanksgiving at my parents house all day. Thankful for so much today and everyday. If you’re reading this, I’m thankful for you joining me on this journey to all [...]
One of my “escapes” is playing Wheel of Fortune (love puzzles) on my iPad in bed. This was my puzzle recently! I, of course, solved this one and had to [...]
Just found a picture of my old office from 2008. It’s always so fun to look back and reminisce on old organizing systems! 4 years later and my office organizing [...]
Wishing you a happy Halloween!!! What kind of candy are you giving out tonight? Here’s our candy dish plus Mojo dressed as a little hot dog! [...]
Ed & I just got home this weekend from sunny Los Angeles to Hurricane Sandy warnings! This was the view at the grocery store today in Virginia… Anyone else preparing [...]
One of my friends gave me this quirky to-do list notepad for my birthday last week. Can you tell she knows me well?! The notepad is filled with different quirky [...]
This past month has been non-stop traveling for work! Today Ed & I head to California for the week. On a side note, I think I’ve memorized the spiel the [...]
Somebody recently told me that women usually sleep on the side of the bed CLOSEST to the bedroom door. When I heard this, I thought back to all of my [...]
Ed and I just got to Arizona for the week and I think I found my new favorite froyo place: organized toppings + neatly typed pink labels = beautiful & [...]
If you’ve ever contacted our tech support- here’s who you’ve spoken to! Ed’s our help desk guy, video camera holder, handy man for installing cool organizing products, and connoisseur of [...]
One thing I do while cleaning and organizing (to make the task/project more fun) is play music in the background. I have a playlist on my iPod called “Cleaning/Organizing” and [...]
We just bought a deep freezer from Costco to keep in the garage for extra freezer items. Is it weird that I’m soooo excited to organize it?!? I don’t think [...]
I’m taking a poll: Does anyone actually use the clear elastic built-in shirt straps for hanging shirts on the hanger? I never use them. In fact, I find them annoying [...]
After two weeks of traveling to Florida and Chicago plus a week of being sick, I’m finally back to work, filming organizing videos, and answering questions on the members forum. [...]
Cold rainy (tornado warning?!) sick days are always better with fun socks, hot soup, and a fuzzy poodle to cuddle up with in bed. Definitely feels like fall in Virginia! [...]
After a long week, Ed and I decided to take a spontaneous trip to the vineyards and orchards to go apple picking this past Friday night! Luckily both places allowed [...]
Attention, Members!! The September giveaway has been posted to the forum!! The theme for September’s giveaway is “Organizing Products for Your Car/Garage” September is always the perfect time for garage/car [...]
We just added 3 private (not on YouTube) organizing videos to our FREE “Get Organized” video series – Have you taken the free series yet? Sign-up here for instant access [...]
It’s hard to believe it’s already September! All summer long we’ve been working on our new website since we changed our name earlier this year from Color-Coded to Alejandra.tv – [...]
It’s so nice to be on vacation! The beach house has a pool that we’ve been taking advantage of each day. Unfortunately, today is our last day of vacation in [...]
This week Ed & I are on vacation (yay!!!). Fifteen people (plus two poodles and one bunny) in one beach house for our family vacation = pantry chaos! If I’m [...]
Sending a big congratulations to one of our members, Nancy Harrison of A Pinch of Something Good, who just tackled her linen closet (complete with photo labels and all)! A-M-A-Z-I-N-G [...]
Does anyone else always have so many things to return or exchange? Here’s my current pile of organizing products to return back to the store (I’m soooo picky with my [...]
Members!! The August giveaway has been posted to the forum!! Click here to login and enter to win. The theme for August’s giveaway is “Favorite Filing Products.” Here’s what’s exactly [...]
Last weekend I was going through old photos at my parents’ house and I found a picture of me (age 5/6ish) sitting at my organized desk in my bedroom! I [...]
This past week I celebrated a milestone on my YouTube channel (I reached 1 million video views). Ed & I celebrated with a jumbo funfetti cupcake from Crumbs Bake Shop! [...]
Working on the last step of organizing the pantry: LABELING (and yes, Ed is helping cut and glue gun the labels)!! Recording the “after” video this week and will be [...]
I’ve had this coupon hanging in my office all summer and thought others could use it for their organizing projects too. When you order online from The Container Store and pick-up in [...]
I spent the day at my parents’ house (we were celebrating Nana’s 79th birthday) and I came across a bin of photo albums and pictures in their basement. My roommate [...]
Members! The theme for July’s giveaway is “Fun Organizing Supplies from Martha Stewart”. In case you didn’t know, Martha Stewart recently launched a new line of office/kitchen/home organizing supplies sold [...]
After weeks of packing and organizing, we are finalllllly finished! Tomorrow we move. It’s our last night in Arlington so were celebrating at our favorite homemade ice cream shop- best [...]
Grocery shopping for the week ahead- accomplished. Now onto packing, packing, packing! Last week in our condo- so very excited to move! Hope everyone is having a great weekend 😉 [...]
About Me: Hello I am Katie, I am In my late 30s! (not sure why we always have to put age down!!!) I am married with two lovely boys. I [...]
Happy Memorial Day! Every year around this time (start of summer) I carve a watermelon into a fun shape (I LOVE watermelon). Last year I made a shark (see pic). [...]
Packing for our move has officially begun! Tomorrow I’m filming “The 7 best boxes to use when moving” video. One of the them includes apple boxes from the grocery store [...]
I LOVE post-it notes! I just received my free sample of post-it label pads (the removable all-sticky post-it labels)- If you’re not a “Post-It Perks Member”, you can sign up [...]
A good way to start the day off productively is by making your bed. Doesn’t need to be perfect and it only takes 3 minutes. Plus, it feels better getting [...]
My favorite door pockets that I use to organize my makeup (you can use them to organize anything) are 20% off. Go here: http://simplystashed.com/ and use coupon code “color” to [...]
Ed & I saved up our money and bought one of those fancy schmancy blenders that blend ANYTHING! This called for following the “one-in, one-out” rule- in with the new, [...]
My old favorite magazine back in 2008 was called “Organize” (it was AWESOME but then discontinued. Earlier this year “Getting Organized Magazine” came out- I just sat down to read [...]
So, I just spent an hour shopping at The Container Store (I could spend all day there!). It really is one of my favorite stores since I’m obsessed with organizing. [...]
The tassels have been turned and the yearbooks signed – it’s off to college! Whether you are an incoming freshman, or a fifth year senior, living the dorm lifestyle can [...]
Does spending the week sitting in a cubical under florescent lights make you dream of warm, sunny days with your feet in the sand and the sound of waves rolling [...]
We are now into vacation season, that time of year when families head off to the beach for some rest and relaxation, head south to spend some time with Mickey [...]
Diamonds are a girl’s best friend, unless they are buried in the bottom of a sock drawer, hiding under the couch or getting tarnished on your dresser. While there are [...]
Once your children enter school and start getting involved in extracurricular activities, your family schedules begin to get a lot busier. Mom stays at home and works part-time promoting her [...]
It seems that every evening the news features a natural disaster or emergency situation. Tsunamis, hurricanes, tornados and house fires are hard to predict, but you can be prepared in [...]
If you were to open the cabinet under the kitchen sink in most homes, you would probably find a whole host cleaning supplies. If you dig deep into the far [...]
In general, attics are the unseen, overlooked, and and often forgotten places in your home. Attic spaces vary as greatly as the homes underneath; but if organized properly these hidden [...]
Whether it has four legs, two legs, or fins, according the American Pet Products Association, 62% of American households include at least one pet. Factor in food, squeaky toys, bedding, [...]
Can the placement of a mirror really make a difference in the mood and energy of a living space? Followers of the ancient Chinese art of Feng Shui believe so. [...]
Do you ever wonder what to do with all of your children’s craft supplies, art materials, crayons, markers, construction paper, puzzles, play-doh, and more?? So many times all of this [...]
If you have ever walked into a room with soft blues and greens and immediately felt calm? Or felt an air of mystery when in a room with shades of [...]
You are so excited to be getting away for the weekend with your spouse, traveling to see your family, or heading out for a week-long vacation at the beach. So you [...]
When people are considering the purchase and use of a safe for their home, it is to provide some piece of mind. In-home safes come in a wide variety and [...]
Most modern day homes have some form of home office. Some homes have large dedicated rooms such as a study or den, other homes have a smaller room or portion [...]
Having a new baby brings great excitement and anticipation along with love and energy to your home. The arrival of your newborn is one of life’s most significant changes as your [...]
According to the experts, the process of moving to a new home is on the top 10 list of life’s most stressful situations. Contributing to the anxiety are the many [...]
In a world where cell phones can start cars, GPS systems can help you avoid traffic, and Google Calendar lets you sync your schedule with your husband, kids, and dog [...]
The landscape across most cities and towns in the United States has changed drastically over the past several decades. One major change has been the boom of the self-storage industry [...]
The typical homeowner does not have dedicated area to house a fully functioning workshop; complete with all the tools ready to build a bookshelf, install hardwood floors, or replace door [...]
Despite what you think are your best efforts, your home has evolved into a cluttered mess. You certainly wouldn’t qualify for one of the hoarder shows on TV. Yet you [...]
You could be hard pressed to find something more satisfying than redecorating your living space, and that usually means new furniture! You’ve found the perfect pieces to suit your design [...]
You’ve got a closet full of brand name clothing that now no longer fits you or your needs. How can you recoup some of what you spent? Consigning! Consignment shops [...]
Does your significant other refuse to let you put anything of his in your beach bag (I mean purse!) because he will probably never see it again? Are you always rooting around [...]
Winter is well under way and if you are like many people, your cars have been banished to the driveway because your garage is overrun with bikes, kids’ toys, garden [...]
It’s that dreaded time of year again — tax season! It’s time to gather all your end of the year financial documents, income statements, itemized deductions, and other mounds of [...]
Each January the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO) celebrates “Get Organized Month (GO month)”. During GO month, NAPO chapters around the country organize public events with free giveaways and [...]
Update: Here is a list of The Container Store’s annual sale dates. Happy Holidays to you and your family. By this time you probably completed all of your holiday shopping. However, [...]
It’s that time of year again. This holiday season we’re helping you ‘think-outside-the-box’ with handy and practical tips to make the holidays less stressful and more organized. Below are 6 [...]
Did you know that you can recycle common things around the home? But now, it gets even better! Retail and on-line stores are now giving cash back rewards to encourage [...]
You might want to second think handing your kids lunch money if you’ve seen Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution. Instead, consider packing a healthy nutritious lunch for the kiddos to bring to [...]
A balanced life is a healthy life. However, for some of us, living a perfectly balanced life can be a challenge. From working, to family, to relationships, to maintaining the home, [...]
Are you ready to do your own organizing project at home or in the office? If you’re preparing to begin an organizational overhaul, then you will probably need some products [...]
Reuse plastic bags as trash liners in the bathroom Reuse plastic bags as a lunch tote for work or school Reuse plastic bags to cover your shoes in inclement weather [...]
Photos contain our most precious memories. Thankfully for the invention of digital cameras, we can take thousands of pictures without limited film. However, more photos, means more clutter. How do [...]
Being organized is an essential part of life. However, organization is a habit that is not typically taught in school. Children need to know the basics of organization in order [...]
The end of the summer is the perfect time to have a yard sale. While some of you might agree, others might be wondering where to begin. Below are some [...]
Who: Frustrated homeowners who are struggling for space in the kitchen. What: Mounting wine racks in the kitchen cabinets. Where: Wine racks available for purchase here. When: Total project time: [...]
When it comes to organizing by color, nobody has better ideas than our Color-Coded organizing experts! Below are a few ways to organize your spaces by color. Cables & Cords [...]
Stress-Free Moving Tips Are you moving into a new home? Moving can be one of life’s most stressful events. Between the deadlines, coordination, and overall workload of packing, moving can [...]
“I live in a 2-bedroom condo so space is limited. I hired Alejandra to organize my closet efficiently since I was struggling for space to store my clothes. Alejandra put [...]
“Organize” and “Makeup” are two words that many of us never even think to use together. There is simply too much to organize. It seems easier to throw it all in a makeup bag [...]
Art projects can be fun. That is, if you know where all of your art supplies are. From scrapbooking supplies to sewing materials – art supplies come in many different [...]
After a long day, it’s a relief to pull into the garage and know that you’re finally home. That is, unless you are welcomed by a cluttered mess. Although the [...]
While trying to keep an office, a car, and an entire home organized, it is easy to forget about an item that we use on a daily basis—our wallet! How [...]
In one year, Americans generate approximately 251 million tons of garbage1. This translates to 4.6 pounds of waste per person, per day. And 65% of this trash comes from residential [...]
“Where do I start?” That’s the question you typically ask yourself when you realize you have to tackle your cluttered spaces. This question is soon followed by, “How did it [...]
Many of us have unique tricks we keep up our sleeve, such as how to cook the perfect omelette or keeping a house smelling fresh. Did you know these tricks [...]
The fridge is always one of the most frequently access spaces in the home. But that doesn’t mean it has to stay cluttered. Here are some tips to keep your [...]
If you have kids, you understand the frustration when it comes to organizing. Luckily, our organizers have proven solutions that fit your home and lifestyle! Dress-up Accessories (click on the [...]
Physical media such as photographs, CDs, and DVDs are well on their way to becoming obsolete. From the influx digital photography to the downloading of instant movies and music from the [...]
Organizing is tons of fun, but organizing with color takes it to a whole new level! Whether you are organizing a closet or home office, there are tons of easy [...]
Besides the fridge, the pantry is the other most frequently accessed space in the home. When you go to grab a snack or a meal, wouldn’t it be nice if [...]
Sabrina Soto, real estate guru and organizational/design expert, is one of our favorite HGTV hosts. Sabrina is well known for hosting HGTV’s “Bang For Your Buck,” “House Hunters,” “Buying & [...]
Staying organized can be a difficult task when children are involved. The toys, books, stuffed animals, dolls, and trains can be overwhelming and add to the clutter of everyday life. [...]
The Back-to-School season has kicked-off! While some are thrilled, most are stressed. Before you pull your hair out, consider these 5 easy tips for starting off the season stress-free and [...]
About Alejandra
Since 2008, organizing expert & certified life coach, Alejandra Costello has taught thousands of students in 132 countries how to get organized through her video-based training programs. Her YouTube videos have been viewed 100+ million times. Named 1 of the 5 most organized people in America by HGTV and “The Decluttering Queen” by Good Morning America, Alejandra’s expertise has been featured in The New York Times, Oprah.com, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, Good Housekeeping, Family Circle, Woman’s Day, Parents Magazine, and CBS.
