I agree with the author, Donna Smallin, that to be organized you must either have a magic wand or a system.  She gives you simple steps that help pave the way and make it easier to be cleaner and clutter-free.

 

This book helped me break down in 10 minutes a day - the way to get rid of items I do not really need.  Inside this book there are time saver tips, a clutter need quiz, and a whole lot more!

 

I liked the clever bright colors and the matter of fact way to face the items that take over a home.  I am a saver, of special things, and with this book I was able to give priority to the things that matter to me most.

 

I cannot believe how easy and fast it was to change how I looked at the items cluttering up my living room.  The best part is - I have made time - just 10 minutes a day or so to keep it looking sharp.  This book is a keeper on every shelf or coffee table since it has several tips and uses!

 

 

***This ARC copy was given free from Netgalley.com, for review purposes.

Donna Smallin's "Organizing Plain and Simple" was a very helpful, all-in-one reference guide to organizing different rooms and tasks around the home, whether it was sorting bills, sorting clothes in the closet, organizing and cordinating tasks among the family, and other measures. I liked it, though I'll admit I didn't really learn all that much from it than I already knew or could draw conclusions by with common sense. I think if you're looking for a book that supplements other organizational guides or something that compiles this information in one place, this would be a good one to pick up, but it may be helpful only to a point if you've read many other guides of its nature.

Overall score: 3/5 stars.

My particular interest is in organizing and controlling the physical stuff in my house. This book covered that, but also organizing your finances, your time, your family, etc. Because of that, much of the book will only pertain to people in specific circumstances - my children are all grown now, for instance, so all the advice about organizing info about the family activities was no longer relevant. And, if you already have your finances under basic control, there's nothing new or exciting here.

Overall, though, all the advice seems reasonably sound and sensible. Definitely a book to get from the library and check out the sections that pertain and gather useful tips. It's not a book that I would buy to keep around as a reference work, though.