(6058,1,'2017-10-18 21:57:24','2017-10-18 21:57:24','<strong>June 25, 2015 - 6:30 p.m. cst  (Recorded)</strong>\r\n\r\n<strong>Don\'t Go Chasing Waterfalls - A practical project management approach using an hybrid agile/waterfall method for non-development projects</strong>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #800000;\">Please note:  There were a few technical/audio issues at the beginning of the recording, but they fade away once the teaching begins.</span></strong></p>\r\n[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IM9Tpm8Gm_w]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">This event was in conjunction with Global Sisters in Project Management (\"GSPM\"), a small group of black women project managers which was started in 2006.  The Mission of GSPM is to build a network of minority women in the field of project management.  To become a primary resource for the advancement of its members by enhancing their knowledge base through educational opportunities, mentoring and creating alliances with other professional organizations.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">For additional information about GSPM, please send an email to gspmmeetings@gmail.com.</p>\r\n&nbsp;','Hybrid Agile and Waterfall Project Methodology','','inherit','closed','closed','','3541-revision-v1','','','2017-10-18 21:57:24','2017-10-18 21:57:24','',3541,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/3541-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6167,1,'2017-11-09 19:45:20','2017-11-09 19:45:20','','The Door Monkey - A Parents Best Friend','','inherit','open','closed','','door-monkey-2','','','2017-11-09 19:46:18','2017-11-09 19:46:18','',0,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/door-monkey.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(6175,1,'2017-11-22 22:05:12','2017-11-22 22:05:12','Take about 20 minutes to conduct a self evaluation by listing out what you see as being the good and the bad things about yourself. These are your own thoughts and beliefs, you don\'t have to take anyone else\'s opinions into account. This is a time to be honest with yourself and just free flow your thoughts. The purpose of this list is to be honest with yourself and to really find out how you feel about yourself.  We often want others to treat us a certain way, yet we don\'t do that ourselves.  In fact, we are often our own worst and hardest critic.\r\n<h1>The Review Process</h1>\r\nNow that you have your list, I want you to review it.  Identify how many good things you have an how many \"bad\" things you have.  Then place them in priority order.  Determine of those things how you can improve, change, or resolve them.  The important thing for you to realize during this exercise is that you can only fix or change yourself...no one else can.\r\n\r\nThis will help you see if you are truly happy.  Are you reaching your fullest potential? Are you stuck on things that are superficial or in the grand scheme of things don\'t really matter?\r\n<h1>Your Next Steps</h1>\r\n<img class=\"alignleft  wp-image-6178\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Blog-Pinnable-Graphic-1-200x300.png\" alt=\"Self Evaluation - An Important Key to Your Happiness | The Happiness Bucket\" width=\"211\" height=\"317\" />\r\n\r\nYou may come away from this exercise with some very defined goals that you can act upon. Some of you may come away with more questions than answers...that\'s ok, that\'s a part of self discovery. You can\'t change what you don\'t acknowledge.  If you need help, you know I\'m here for you.  If you have your list and are ready to cook with grease, lets make something spectacular!  I have a number of resources that can help you get started here on the site.  I encourage you to explore and see what sticks out to you.  Whether you are focused on <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/space-organization-getting-control-of-the-physical-stuff/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Space</a>, <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/lifeorganization/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Life</a>, <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/organizing-your-soul/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Soul</a> or <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/business-organization-2/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Business</a>, I can help you find yourself and your purpose.\r\n\r\nOn the <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/about-the-happiness-bucket/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">about page</a> I mentioned how the concept of the happiness bucket came to be...the ladies in that story have all reached a different place in their lives that has made them happier more fulfilled individuals, but they first had to do a self evaluation. Now it\'s your turn...don\'t be scared, you can do it! Squeeze my virtual hand and take a leap of faith.','Self Evaluation - A Key to Happiness','','inherit','closed','closed','','948-autosave-v1','','','2017-11-22 22:05:12','2017-11-22 22:05:12','',948,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/948-autosave-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6176,1,'2017-11-22 21:42:56','2017-11-22 21:42:56','Self Evaluation - An Important Key to Your Happiness | The Happiness Bucket','Self Evaluation - An Important Key to Your Happiness | The Happiness Bucket','','inherit','open','closed','','self-evaluation-2','','','2017-11-22 21:43:36','2017-11-22 21:43:36','',948,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Self-Evaluation.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(6177,1,'2017-11-22 21:50:19','2017-11-22 21:50:19','Take about 20 minutes to conduct a self evaluation by listing out what you see as being the good and the bad things about yourself. These are your own thoughts and beliefs, you don\'t have to take anyone else\'s opinions into account. This is a time to be honest with yourself and just free flow your thoughts. The purpose of this list is to be honest with yourself and to really find out how you feel about yourself.  We often want others to treat us a certain way, yet we don\'t do that ourselves.  In fact, we are often our own worst and hardest critic.\r\n<h1>The Review Process</h1>\r\nNow that you have your list, I want you to review it.  Identify how many good things you have an how many \"bad\" things you have.  Then place them in priority order.  Determine of those things how you can improve, change, or resolve them.  The important thing for you to realize during this exercise is that you can only fix or change yourself...no one else can.\r\n\r\nThis will help you see if you are truly happy.  Are you reaching your fullest potential? Are you stuck on things that are superficial or in the grand scheme of things don\'t really matter?\r\n<h1>Your Next Steps</h1>\r\nYou may come away from this exercise with some very defined goals that you can act upon. Some of you may come away with more questions than answers...that\'s ok, that\'s a part of self discovery. You can\'t change what you don\'t acknowledge.  If you need help, you know I\'m here for you.  If you have your list and are ready to cook with grease, lets make something spectacular!  I have a number of resources that can help you get started here on the site.  I encourage you to explore and see what sticks out to you.  Whether you are focused on <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/space-organization-getting-control-of-the-physical-stuff/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Space</a>, <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/lifeorganization/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Life</a>, <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/organizing-your-soul/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Soul</a> or <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/business-organization-2/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Business</a>, I can help you find yourself and your purpose.\r\n\r\nOn the <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/about-the-happiness-bucket/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">about page</a> I mentioned how the concept of the happiness bucket came to be...the ladies in that story have all reached a different place in their lives that has made them happier more fulfilled individuals, but they first had to do a self evaluation. Now it\'s your turn...don\'t be scared, you can do it! Squeeze my virtual hand and take a leap of faith.','Self Evaluation - A Key to Happiness','','inherit','closed','closed','','948-revision-v1','','','2017-11-22 21:50:19','2017-11-22 21:50:19','',948,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/948-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6178,1,'2017-11-22 22:03:44','2017-11-22 22:03:44','Self Evaluation - An Important Key to Your Happiness | The Happiness Bucket','Self Evaluation - An Important Key to Your Happiness | The Happiness Bucket','','inherit','open','closed','','blog-pinnable-graphic-1','','','2017-11-22 22:04:13','2017-11-22 22:04:13','',948,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Blog-Pinnable-Graphic-1.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(6179,1,'2017-11-22 22:05:40','2017-11-22 22:05:40','Take about 20 minutes to conduct a self evaluation by listing out what you see as being the good and the bad things about yourself. These are your own thoughts and beliefs, you don\'t have to take anyone else\'s opinions into account. This is a time to be honest with yourself and just free flow your thoughts. The purpose of this list is to be honest with yourself and to really find out how you feel about yourself.  We often want others to treat us a certain way, yet we don\'t do that ourselves.  In fact, we are often our own worst and hardest critic.\r\n<h1>The Review Process</h1>\r\nNow that you have your list, I want you to review it.  Identify how many good things you have an how many \"bad\" things you have.  Then place them in priority order.  Determine of those things how you can improve, change, or resolve them.  The important thing for you to realize during this exercise is that you can only fix or change yourself...no one else can.\r\n\r\nThis will help you see if you are truly happy.  Are you reaching your fullest potential? Are you stuck on things that are superficial or in the grand scheme of things don\'t really matter?\r\n<h1>Your Next Steps</h1>\r\n<img class=\"alignleft  wp-image-6178\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Blog-Pinnable-Graphic-1-200x300.png\" alt=\"Self Evaluation - An Important Key to Your Happiness | The Happiness Bucket\" width=\"211\" height=\"317\" />\r\n\r\nYou may come away from this exercise with some very defined goals that you can act upon. Some of you may come away with more questions than answers...that\'s ok, that\'s a part of self discovery. You can\'t change what you don\'t acknowledge.  If you need help, you know I\'m here for you.  If you have your list and are ready to cook with grease, lets make something spectacular!  I have a number of resources that can help you get started here on the site.  I encourage you to explore and see what sticks out to you.  Whether you are focused on <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/space-organization-getting-control-of-the-physical-stuff/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Space</a>, <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/lifeorganization/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Life</a>, <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/organizing-your-soul/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Soul</a> or <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/business-organization-2/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Business</a>, I can help you find yourself and your purpose.\r\n\r\nOn the <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/about-the-happiness-bucket/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">about page</a> I mentioned how the concept of the happiness bucket came to be...the ladies in that story have all reached a different place in their lives that has made them happier more fulfilled individuals, but they first had to do a self evaluation. Now it\'s your turn...don\'t be scared, you can do it! Squeeze my virtual hand and take a leap of faith.','Self Evaluation - A Key to Happiness','','inherit','closed','closed','','948-revision-v1','','','2017-11-22 22:05:40','2017-11-22 22:05:40','',948,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/948-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6180,1,'2017-11-22 22:25:36','2017-11-22 22:25:36','Free Coupons! Your Essential Shopper Paper |The Happiness Bucket','Free Coupons! Your Essential Shopper Paper |The Happiness Bucket','','inherit','open','closed','','yes-paper','','','2017-11-22 22:26:21','2017-11-22 22:26:21','',0,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/YES-Paper.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(6181,1,'2017-11-22 22:25:38','2017-11-22 22:25:38','http://www.essentialshopper.com/yes/','http://www.essentialshopper.com/yes/','','inherit','open','closed','','free-coupons','','','2017-11-22 22:27:38','2017-11-22 22:27:38','',0,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Free-Coupons.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(6185,1,'2017-11-22 22:45:11','2017-11-22 22:45:11','Declutter your Old Eyewear | The Happiness Bucket','Declutter your Old Eyewear | The Happiness Bucket','','inherit','open','closed','','eyewear-pin','','','2017-11-22 22:48:02','2017-11-22 22:48:02','',0,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Eyewear-pin.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(6186,1,'2017-11-22 22:45:15','2017-11-22 22:45:15','Declutter your Old Eyewear | The Happiness Bucket','Declutter your Old Eyewear | The Happiness Bucket','','inherit','open','closed','','eyewear','','','2017-11-22 22:45:53','2017-11-22 22:45:53','',0,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Eyewear.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(6188,1,'2017-11-22 23:00:32','2017-11-22 23:00:32','Declutter your Old Eyewear | The Happiness Bucket','Declutter your Old Eyewear | The Happiness Bucket','','inherit','open','closed','','wordpress-post-768-x-480','','','2017-11-22 23:00:52','2017-11-22 23:00:52','',0,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Wordpress-Post-768-x-480.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(6195,1,'2017-12-05 16:23:02','2017-12-05 16:23:02','','How to Organize your Photos into Photobooks | The Happiness Bucket','','inherit','open','closed','','how-to-create-photobooks','','','2017-12-05 16:44:18','2017-12-05 16:44:18','',3933,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/How-to-Create-Photobooks.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(6196,1,'2017-12-05 16:23:07','2017-12-05 16:23:07','','Creating Your Photobooks | The Happiness Bucket','','inherit','open','closed','','creating-photobooks-2','','','2017-12-05 16:24:03','2017-12-05 16:24:03','',3933,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Creating-Photobooks.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(6197,1,'2017-12-05 16:44:45','2017-12-05 16:44:45','This is our third post in our photo organizing series.  If you missed the first two posts:  <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/2015/10/16/organizing-physical-photos/\">Organizing your Printed Photos</a> and <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/organizing-digital-photos/\">Organizing your Digital Photos</a> make sure to check them out so you get the steps used to prep for preparing your next lesson, photobooks.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">As we discussed in our previous post, we began the process of creating photobooks out of our family photos to help preserve them and to also make it easy for us to give gifts to our family that live out of the country.  It is such a nice way to present your photos without having to print each one or having them permanently in one location.  I will say, if you prefer to touch your photos, you may want to use a photo album or scrapbook to store your photos or even just use the photo box method discussed in our <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/organizing-physical-photos/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">first post of the series</a>.  This post is specific to creating a photobook.<!--more--></p>\r\n\r\n<h1>Identify the Photos for your Photobook</h1>\r\nSo the first step to creating your photobook is to determine the various categories you want in the book.  As you can see in this image, I created the various book categories that I wanted to use, so\r\n\r\n<img class=\"size-full wp-image-3901 alignleft\" src=\"http://ecbiz182.inmotionhosting.com/~thehap27/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/digital-photo.jpg\" alt=\"Photo Folder List\" width=\"228\" height=\"197\" />\r\n\r\nI could sort the photos into the appropriate folder. By sorting in this fashion it makes the process of book creation much easier.  For example, in my daughter\'s first book we wanted to focus on birth to her 1st year birthday party. Needless to say there were literally 100\'s (if not 1,000\'s) of photos to go through, but this really wasn\'t as hard as you might think.   Once you get all the photos for the categories you have and start reviewing them you will notice as with the physical photos you have duplicates or very similar images.  Look at the photos carefully and pick your favorite ones.  Now, I would suggest getting rid of the others.  If they aren\'t good enough to go in the book why are you keeping them?  Okay okay I know there are some that look better based on the layout, so if this is the case it is perfectly fine to keep them.  I, however would suggest creating a sub-folder or category so you don\'t mix those up with the ones you are keeping for the book.\r\n<h1>Identify your Photobook Creation Software</h1>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOnce you have the photos you want for the photobook you will want to choose your photobook creator.  I chose to use Shutterfly mainly because they are the ones that offer regular discounts and that our Pamper points (yes you earn points when you buy diapers) at the time converted to...and you know how I am about my discounts! lol.  You may choose a different book creation tool and that is perfectly fine.  They are all pretty much created equal with a few minor differences, but for the purposes of this post I will refer to shutterfly.\r\n\r\nSo most photobook creators require you to create a password.  You want to make sure you read the fine print carefully to see what it says about selling your photos or using them for promotional purposes, prior to uploading them to the site.  Ultimately, make sure you are ok with what you are agreeing to...don\'t just blindly accept the terms.\r\n<h1>Determine the Photobook Style and Theme</h1>\r\nOnce your account is created you can pick the type of book you want to create.  I would suggest making sure you pick something you can easily maintain.  What I mean by that is to pick a style of book that isn\'t seasonal or being offered as a special so your books all look similar. In my case, we use the basic book which is small, but it is perfect for our purposes so our books aren\'t too large and it is also the one that is often offered free or at a discounted rate.\r\n\r\nAfter choosing your book type, you then will pick your layout.  There are a lot of cute designs that you can apply to your book to bring life to it.  For our wedding book we used a wedding theme which gave us cute images and wording that we could apply between photos.  For my daughters we used more of a modern layout.  Get creative here, you can even get your family involved if they are age appropriate.\r\n<h1>Design your Photobook - Get Creative</h1>\r\nYou then will arrange your photos on the page as you want them to appear.  I suggest once you get <img class=\"size-medium wp-image-6195 alignright\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/How-to-Create-Photobooks-200x300.png\" alt=\"How to Organize your Photos into Photobooks | The Happiness Bucket\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" />all the photos in the book layout that you want, you save it and take a break away from it.  I like to let it \"marinate\" and then come back to it to see if I still like the way it looks.  If not, don\'t be afraid to make a few adjustments.  Once finished you can enter your discount code (if you have one) and pay for your book or better yet just the shipping.  I definitely encourage you to wait until there is a special or you get a discount code whenever possible so you can get it for free and just pay for the shipping. Well, that\'s it...I told you it wasn\'t hard. I really love this process because I love making them and I feel good knowing we are going to have volumes of our lives preserved for easy digesting for many many years to come.  So, are you going to make your photo book today?\r\n\r\nPlease comment below and let me know what you liked most about this series and what you would like to see in the future.\r\n\r\nUntil the next post, stay happy!\r\n\r\nOh, if you are interested in the other posts in the series, check them out here:\r\n<a href=\"http://photos\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Series Post 1:  Organizing Printed Photos</a><a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/organizing-physical-photos/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">http://thehappinessbucket.com/organizing-physical-photos/</a>\r\n<a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/organizing-digital-photos/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Series Post 2:  Organizing Digital Photos</a>','Organizing your Photos by Creating Photobooks','','inherit','closed','closed','','3933-revision-v1','','','2017-12-05 16:44:45','2017-12-05 16:44:45','',3933,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/3933-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6198,1,'2017-12-05 16:48:04','2017-12-05 16:48:04','This is our third post in our photo organizing series.  If you missed the first two posts:  <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/2015/10/16/organizing-physical-photos/\">Organizing your Printed Photos</a> and <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/organizing-digital-photos/\">Organizing your Digital Photos</a> make sure to check them out so you get the steps used to prep for preparing your next lesson, photobooks.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">As we discussed in our previous post, we began the process of creating photobooks out of our family photos to help preserve them and to also make it easy for us to give gifts to our family that live out of the country.  It is such a nice way to present your photos without having to print each one or having them permanently in one location.  I will say, if you prefer to touch your photos, you may want to use a photo album or scrapbook to store your photos or even just use the photo box method discussed in our <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/organizing-physical-photos/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">first post of the series</a>.  This post is specific to creating a photobook.<!--more--></p>\r\n\r\n<h1>Identify the Photos for your Photobook</h1>\r\nSo the first step to creating your photobook is to determine the various categories you want in the book.  As you can see in this image, I created the various book categories that I wanted to use, so\r\n\r\n<img class=\"size-full wp-image-3901 alignleft\" src=\"http://ecbiz182.inmotionhosting.com/~thehap27/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/digital-photo.jpg\" alt=\"Photo Folder List\" width=\"228\" height=\"197\" />\r\n\r\nI could sort the photos into the appropriate folder. By sorting in this fashion it makes the process of book creation much easier.  For example, in my daughter\'s first book we wanted to focus on birth to her 1st year birthday party. Needless to say there were literally 100\'s (if not 1,000\'s) of photos to go through, but this really wasn\'t as hard as you might think.   Once you get all the photos for the categories you have and start reviewing them you will notice as with the physical photos you have duplicates or very similar images.  Look at the photos carefully and pick your favorite ones.  Now, I would suggest getting rid of the others.  If they aren\'t good enough to go in the book why are you keeping them?  Okay okay I know there are some that look better based on the layout, so if this is the case it is perfectly fine to keep them.  I, however would suggest creating a sub-folder or category so you don\'t mix those up with the ones you are keeping for the book.\r\n<h1>Identify your Photobook Creation Software</h1>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOnce you have the photos you want for the photobook you will want to choose your photobook creator.  I chose to use Shutterfly mainly because they are the ones that offer regular discounts and that our Pamper points (yes you earn points when you buy diapers) at the time converted to...and you know how I am about my discounts! lol.  You may choose a different book creation tool and that is perfectly fine.  They are all pretty much created equal with a few minor differences, but for the purposes of this post I will refer to shutterfly.\r\n\r\nSo most photobook creators require you to create a password.  You want to make sure you read the fine print carefully to see what it says about selling your photos or using them for promotional purposes, prior to uploading them to the site.  Ultimately, make sure you are ok with what you are agreeing to...don\'t just blindly accept the terms.\r\n<h1>Determine the Photobook Style and Theme</h1>\r\nOnce your account is created you can pick the type of book you want to create.  I would suggest making sure you pick something you can easily maintain.  What I mean by that is to pick a style of book that isn\'t seasonal or being offered as a special so your books all look similar. In my case, we use the basic book which is small, but it is perfect for our purposes so our books aren\'t too large and it is also the one that is often offered free or at a discounted rate.\r\n\r\nAfter choosing your book type, you then will pick your layout.  There are a lot of cute designs that you can apply to your book to bring life to it.  For our wedding book we used a wedding theme which gave us cute images and wording that we could apply between photos.  For my daughters we used more of a modern layout.  Get creative here, you can even get your family involved if they are age appropriate.\r\n<h1>Design your Photo Layout - Get Creative</h1>\r\nYou then will arrange your photos on the page as you want them to appear.  I suggest once you get <img class=\"size-medium wp-image-6195 alignright\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/How-to-Create-Photobooks-200x300.png\" alt=\"How to Organize your Photos into Photobooks | The Happiness Bucket\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" />all the photos in the book layout that you want, you save it and take a break away from it.  I like to let it \"marinate\" and then come back to it to see if I still like the way it looks.  If not, don\'t be afraid to make a few adjustments.  Once finished you can enter your discount code (if you have one) and pay for your book or better yet just the shipping.  I definitely encourage you to wait until there is a special or you get a discount code whenever possible so you can get it for free and just pay for the shipping. Well, that\'s it...I told you it wasn\'t hard. I really love this process because I love making them and I feel good knowing we are going to have volumes of our lives preserved for easy digesting for many many years to come.  So, are you going to make your photo book today?\r\n\r\nPlease comment below and let me know what you liked most about this series and what you would like to see in the future.\r\n\r\nUntil the next post, stay happy!\r\n\r\nOh, if you are interested in the other posts in the series, check them out here:\r\n<a href=\"http://photos\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Series Post 1:  Organizing Printed Photos</a><a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/organizing-physical-photos/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">http://thehappinessbucket.com/organizing-physical-photos/</a>\r\n<a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/organizing-digital-photos/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Series Post 2:  Organizing Digital Photos</a>','Organizing your Photos by Creating Photobooks','','inherit','closed','closed','','3933-revision-v1','','','2017-12-05 16:48:04','2017-12-05 16:48:04','',3933,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/3933-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6200,1,'2017-12-05 17:04:59','2017-12-05 17:04:59','If you missed my previous post, <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/2015/10/16/organizing-physical-photos/\">Organizing your Printed Photos</a>, I discussed how I handle our physical hard copy photos, but in this post I want to talk about digital photos.  This is becoming a big problem for many people because we all take many more photos today than we did years ago. Most digital devices have the ability to take photos so not only has the number of photos increased, but we have multiples of the same photo in a number of different places.  It is important that you create a system to handle these photos now before they get any further out of control.<!--more-->\r\n\r\nIf you had to guess, how many digital photos would you say you have on your smartphone/camera/ipad today?  No cheating come on just guess.  Well, I have to say today my number isn’t nearly as high as it was a month or two ago.  That’s only because I regularly work to declutter my photos.  I would guess most of you have 1000’s of photos on your devices and if you compare your photos with your spouse or family member’s photos, many are probably duplicated.  So, now that we have come to a realization that something needs to happen, lets make a plan to tackle the problem before it gets even bigger!\r\n<h1>Go Through Your Photos</h1>\r\nThere are many ways to do this, but I have actually done them three different ways\r\n<ol>\r\n 	<li>I go through them on my mobile device, usually when I’m bored somewhere wasting time;</li>\r\n 	<li>Upload them to your computer and go through them there. This is my preferred method because the screen is bigger and I can see any imperfections in the photo; or</li>\r\n 	<li>You could also upload them to the cloud or to an external hard-drive.</li>\r\n</ol>\r\nThere are pros and cons with each of these methods, you just have to use whichever one is easiest and works better for you.  The ultimate goal is for you to go through your photos and eliminate any that are not needed. [Now pause, you know you took 10 photos of the same thing hoping you get that one good picture.  Do you really need the other 9 that didn\'t make the facebook cut? Delete them...right now]\r\n<h1>Categorizing and Grouping your Photos</h1>\r\nNow, group these photos into logical categories. For me, I have one for my daughter, one for my family, one for my business, etc.  These categories/groups are used through out the year and is in one common place.  My photos and my husband\'s photos all get copied over to this one location, which makes it easier to eliminate the duplicates and pick our favorites.\r\n\r\nThe beauty of this common location is that we can adjust to life\'s happenings.  In fact, after we created our first two books we took a hiatus for no other reason other than we hadn\'t sat down to do it.  We know when we finally do they will be easy to digest/review and we can either create a number of smaller books or a few big books.  Ultimately, it keeps your photos organized until you are ready to work with them.\r\n\r\nAs I mentioned above, we have created two photo books so far.  The first photo book was created after we got married and I loved it so much that we created one to document our daughter\'s life from birth to 1 year old.  What we love about these books is that our daughter loves to grab them and talk about the photos and we love doing it as well.  We found that the books are a great way to enjoy our pictures on a regular basis.  We also can give them as gifts to our family, so they have them preserved as well.  If they get damaged for some reason, we can just order a copy or create another one since we have the photos stored by the books the photos are in. This allows us to easily locate a photo if someone sees it in a book and requests a copy.<img class=\"wp-image-3898 alignright\" src=\"http://ecbiz182.inmotionhosting.com/~thehap27/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/img_5823.jpg?w=300\" alt=\"NCM Photobook\" width=\"242\" height=\"242\" />\r\n\r\nIf you are interested in starting your own photo books, make sure to stay tuned for <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/creating-photobooks/\">my next post</a>, which will share how I actually corral our photos in preparation for our photo book development.\r\n\r\nI hope you found this post helpful and will begin to tackle your own photo book projects soon.  If you need help with your project, contact us for a virtual session or if you are local, we will be happy to provide in-person assistance.\r\n\r\nUntil the next post, stay happy.','Organizing your Digital Photos','','inherit','closed','closed','','3875-revision-v1','','','2017-12-05 17:04:59','2017-12-05 17:04:59','',3875,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/3875-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6201,1,'2017-12-05 17:07:05','2017-12-05 17:07:05','If you missed my previous post, <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/2015/10/16/organizing-physical-photos/\">Organizing your Printed Photos</a>, I discussed how I handle our physical hard copy photos, but in this post I want to talk about digital photos.  This is becoming a big problem for many people because we all take many more photos today than we did years ago. Most digital devices have the ability to take photos so not only has the number of photos increased, but we have multiples of the same photo in a number of different places.  It is important that you create a system to handle these photos now before they get any further out of control.<!--more-->\r\n\r\nIf you had to guess, how many digital photos would you say you have on your smartphone/camera/ipad today?  No cheating come on just guess.  Well, I have to say today my number isn’t nearly as high as it was a month or two ago.  That’s only because I regularly work to declutter my photos.  I would guess most of you have 1000’s of photos on your devices and if you compare your photos with your spouse or family member’s photos, many are probably duplicated.  So, now that we have come to a realization that something needs to happen, lets make a plan to tackle the problem before it gets even bigger!\r\n<h1>Go Through Your Photos</h1>\r\nThere are many ways to do this, but I have actually done them three different ways\r\n<ol>\r\n 	<li>I go through them on my mobile device, usually when I’m bored somewhere wasting time;</li>\r\n 	<li>Upload them to your computer and go through them there. This is my preferred method because the screen is bigger and I can see any imperfections in the photo; or</li>\r\n 	<li>You could also upload them to the cloud or to an external hard-drive.</li>\r\n</ol>\r\nThere are pros and cons with each of these methods, you just have to use whichever one is easiest and works better for you.  The ultimate goal is for you to go through your photos and eliminate any that are not needed. [Now pause, you know you took 10 photos of the same thing hoping you get that one good picture.  Do you really need the other 9 that didn\'t make the facebook cut? Delete them...right now]\r\n<h1>Categorizing and Grouping your Photos</h1>\r\nNow, group these photos into logical categories. For me, I have one for my daughter, one for my family, one for my business, etc.  These categories/groups are used through out the year and is in one common place.  My photos and my husband\'s photos all get copied over to this one location, which makes it easier to eliminate the duplicates and pick our favorites.\r\n\r\nThe beauty of this common location is that we can adjust to life\'s happenings.  In fact, after we created our first two books we took a hiatus for no other reason other than we hadn\'t sat down to do it.  We know when we finally do they will be easy to digest/review and we can either create a number of smaller books or a few big books.  Ultimately, it keeps your photos organized until you are ready to work with them.\r\n<h1>Creating Photo Books</h1>\r\nAs I mentioned above, we have created two photo books so far.  The first photo book was created after we got married and I loved it so much that we created one to document our daughter\'s life from birth to 1 year old.  What we love about these books is that our daughter loves to grab them and talk about the photos and we love doing it as well.  We found that the books are a great way to enjoy our pictures on a regular basis.  We also can give them as gifts to our family, so they have them preserved as well.  If they get damaged for some reason, we can just order a copy or create another one since we have the photos stored by the books the photos are in. This allows us to easily locate a photo if someone sees it in a book and requests a copy.<img class=\"wp-image-3898 alignright\" src=\"http://ecbiz182.inmotionhosting.com/~thehap27/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/img_5823.jpg?w=300\" alt=\"NCM Photobook\" width=\"242\" height=\"242\" />\r\n\r\nIf you are interested in starting your own photo books, make sure to stay tuned for <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/creating-photobooks/\">my next post</a>, which will share how I actually corral our photos in preparation for our photo book development.\r\n\r\nI hope you found this post helpful and will begin to tackle your own photo book projects soon.  If you need help with your project, contact us for a virtual session or if you are local, we will be happy to provide in-person assistance.\r\n\r\nUntil the next post, stay happy.','Organizing your Digital Photos','','inherit','closed','closed','','3875-revision-v1','','','2017-12-05 17:07:05','2017-12-05 17:07:05','',3875,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/3875-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6202,1,'2017-12-05 17:11:44','2017-12-05 17:11:44','This is our third post in our photo organizing series.  If you missed the first two posts:  <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/2015/10/16/organizing-physical-photos/\">Organizing your Printed Photos</a> and <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/organizing-digital-photos/\">Organizing your Digital Photos</a> make sure to check them out so you get the steps used to prep for preparing your next lesson, photo books.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">As we discussed in our previous post, we began the process of creating photo books out of our family photos to help preserve them and to also make it easy for us to give gifts to our family that live out of the country.  It is such a nice way to present your photos without having to print each one or having them permanently in one location.  I will say, if you prefer to touch your photos, you may want to use a photo album or scrapbook to store your photos or even just use the photo box method discussed in our <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/organizing-physical-photos/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">first post of the series</a>.  This post is specific to creating a photo book.<!--more--></p>\r\n\r\n<h1>Identify the Photos for your  Photo Book</h1>\r\nSo the first step to creating your photo book is to determine the various categories you want in the book.  As you can see in this image, I created the various book categories that I wanted to use, so\r\n\r\n<img class=\"size-full wp-image-3901 alignleft\" src=\"http://ecbiz182.inmotionhosting.com/~thehap27/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/digital-photo.jpg\" alt=\"Photo Folder List\" width=\"228\" height=\"197\" />\r\n\r\nI could sort the photos into the appropriate folder. By sorting in this fashion it makes the process of book creation much easier.  For example, in my daughter\'s first book we wanted to focus on birth to her 1st year birthday party. Needless to say there were literally 100\'s (if not 1,000\'s) of photos to go through, but this really wasn\'t as hard as you might think.   Once you get all the photos for the categories you have and start reviewing them you will notice as with the physical photos you have duplicates or very similar images.  Look at the photos carefully and pick your favorite ones.  Now, I would suggest getting rid of the others.  If they aren\'t good enough to go in the book why are you keeping them?  Okay okay I know there are some that look better based on the layout, so if this is the case it is perfectly fine to keep them.  I, however would suggest creating a sub-folder or category so you don\'t mix those up with the ones you are keeping for the book.\r\n<h1>Identify your Photo book Creation Software</h1>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOnce you have the photos you want for the photo book you will want to choose your photo book creator.  I chose to use Shutterfly mainly because they are the ones that offer regular discounts and that our Pamper points (yes you earn points when you buy diapers) at the time converted to...and you know how I am about my discounts! lol.  You may choose a different book creation tool and that is perfectly fine.  They are all pretty much created equal with a few minor differences, but for the purposes of this post I will refer to shutterfly.\r\n\r\nSo most photo book creators require you to create a password.  You want to make sure you read the fine print carefully to see what it says about selling your photos or using them for promotional purposes, prior to uploading them to the site.  Ultimately, make sure you are ok with what you are agreeing to...don\'t just blindly accept the terms.\r\n<h1>Determine the Photo book Style and Theme</h1>\r\nOnce your account is created you can pick the type of book you want to create.  I would suggest making sure you pick something you can easily maintain.  What I mean by that is to pick a style of book that isn\'t seasonal or being offered as a special so your books all look similar. In my case, we use the basic book which is small, but it is perfect for our purposes so our books aren\'t too large and it is also the one that is often offered free or at a discounted rate.\r\n\r\nAfter choosing your book type, you then will pick your layout.  There are a lot of cute designs that you can apply to your book to bring life to it.  For our wedding book we used a wedding theme which gave us cute images and wording that we could apply between photos.  For my daughters we used more of a modern layout.  Get creative here, you can even get your family involved if they are age appropriate.\r\n<h1>Design your Photo Layout - Get Creative</h1>\r\nYou then will arrange your photos on the page as you want them to appear.  I suggest once you get <img class=\"size-medium wp-image-6195 alignright\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/How-to-Create-Photobooks-200x300.png\" alt=\"How to Organize your Photos into Photobooks | The Happiness Bucket\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" />all the photos in the book layout that you want, you save it and take a break away from it.  I like to let it \"marinate\" and then come back to it to see if I still like the way it looks.  If not, don\'t be afraid to make a few adjustments.  Once finished you can enter your discount code (if you have one) and pay for your book or better yet just the shipping.  I definitely encourage you to wait until there is a special or you get a discount code whenever possible so you can get it for free and just pay for the shipping. Well, that\'s it...I told you it wasn\'t hard. I really love this process because I love making them and I feel good knowing we are going to have volumes of our lives preserved for easy digesting for many many years to come.  So, are you going to make your photo book today?\r\n\r\nPlease comment below and let me know what you liked most about this series and what you would like to see in the future.\r\n\r\nUntil the next post, stay happy!\r\n\r\nOh, if you are interested in the other posts in the series, check them out here:\r\n<a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/organizing-physical-photos/\">Series Post 1:  Organizing Printed Photos</a>\r\n<a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/organizing-digital-photos/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Series Post 2:  Organizing Digital Photos</a>','Organizing your Photos by Creating Photo books','','inherit','closed','closed','','3933-revision-v1','','','2017-12-05 17:11:44','2017-12-05 17:11:44','',3933,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/3933-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6203,1,'2017-12-05 17:12:04','2017-12-05 17:12:04','This is our third post in our photo organizing series.  If you missed the first two posts:  <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/2015/10/16/organizing-physical-photos/\">Organizing your Printed Photos</a> and <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/organizing-digital-photos/\">Organizing your Digital Photos</a> make sure to check them out so you get the steps used to prep for preparing your next lesson, photo books.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">As we discussed in our previous post, we began the process of creating photo books out of our family photos to help preserve them and to also make it easy for us to give gifts to our family that live out of the country.  It is such a nice way to present your photos without having to print each one or having them permanently in one location.  I will say, if you prefer to touch your photos, you may want to use a photo album or scrapbook to store your photos or even just use the photo box method discussed in our <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/organizing-physical-photos/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">first post of the series</a>.  This post is specific to creating a photo book.<!--more--></p>\r\n\r\n<h1>Identify the Photos for your Photo Book</h1>\r\nSo the first step to creating your photo book is to determine the various categories you want in the book.  As you can see in this image, I created the various book categories that I wanted to use, so\r\n\r\n<img class=\"size-full wp-image-3901 alignleft\" src=\"http://ecbiz182.inmotionhosting.com/~thehap27/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/digital-photo.jpg\" alt=\"Photo Folder List\" width=\"228\" height=\"197\" />\r\n\r\nI could sort the photos into the appropriate folder. By sorting in this fashion it makes the process of book creation much easier.  For example, in my daughter\'s first book we wanted to focus on birth to her 1st year birthday party. Needless to say there were literally 100\'s (if not 1,000\'s) of photos to go through, but this really wasn\'t as hard as you might think.   Once you get all the photos for the categories you have and start reviewing them you will notice as with the physical photos you have duplicates or very similar images.  Look at the photos carefully and pick your favorite ones.  Now, I would suggest getting rid of the others.  If they aren\'t good enough to go in the book why are you keeping them?  Okay okay I know there are some that look better based on the layout, so if this is the case it is perfectly fine to keep them.  I, however would suggest creating a sub-folder or category so you don\'t mix those up with the ones you are keeping for the book.\r\n<h1>Identify your Photo book Creation Software</h1>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOnce you have the photos you want for the photo book you will want to choose your photo book creator.  I chose to use Shutterfly mainly because they are the ones that offer regular discounts and that our Pamper points (yes you earn points when you buy diapers) at the time converted to...and you know how I am about my discounts! lol.  You may choose a different book creation tool and that is perfectly fine.  They are all pretty much created equal with a few minor differences, but for the purposes of this post I will refer to shutterfly.\r\n\r\nSo most photo book creators require you to create a password.  You want to make sure you read the fine print carefully to see what it says about selling your photos or using them for promotional purposes, prior to uploading them to the site.  Ultimately, make sure you are ok with what you are agreeing to...don\'t just blindly accept the terms.\r\n<h1>Determine the Photo book Style and Theme</h1>\r\nOnce your account is created you can pick the type of book you want to create.  I would suggest making sure you pick something you can easily maintain.  What I mean by that is to pick a style of book that isn\'t seasonal or being offered as a special so your books all look similar. In my case, we use the basic book which is small, but it is perfect for our purposes so our books aren\'t too large and it is also the one that is often offered free or at a discounted rate.\r\n\r\nAfter choosing your book type, you then will pick your layout.  There are a lot of cute designs that you can apply to your book to bring life to it.  For our wedding book we used a wedding theme which gave us cute images and wording that we could apply between photos.  For my daughters we used more of a modern layout.  Get creative here, you can even get your family involved if they are age appropriate.\r\n<h1>Design your Photo Layout - Get Creative</h1>\r\nYou then will arrange your photos on the page as you want them to appear.  I suggest once you get <img class=\"size-medium wp-image-6195 alignright\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/How-to-Create-Photobooks-200x300.png\" alt=\"How to Organize your Photos into Photobooks | The Happiness Bucket\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" />all the photos in the book layout that you want, you save it and take a break away from it.  I like to let it \"marinate\" and then come back to it to see if I still like the way it looks.  If not, don\'t be afraid to make a few adjustments.  Once finished you can enter your discount code (if you have one) and pay for your book or better yet just the shipping.  I definitely encourage you to wait until there is a special or you get a discount code whenever possible so you can get it for free and just pay for the shipping. Well, that\'s it...I told you it wasn\'t hard. I really love this process because I love making them and I feel good knowing we are going to have volumes of our lives preserved for easy digesting for many many years to come.  So, are you going to make your photo book today?\r\n\r\nPlease comment below and let me know what you liked most about this series and what you would like to see in the future.\r\n\r\nUntil the next post, stay happy!\r\n\r\nOh, if you are interested in the other posts in the series, check them out here:\r\n<a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/organizing-physical-photos/\">Series Post 1:  Organizing Printed Photos</a>\r\n<a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/organizing-digital-photos/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Series Post 2:  Organizing Digital Photos</a>','Organizing your Photos by Creating Photo books','','inherit','closed','closed','','3933-revision-v1','','','2017-12-05 17:12:04','2017-12-05 17:12:04','',3933,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/3933-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6204,1,'2017-12-05 17:12:40','2017-12-05 17:12:40','If you missed my previous post, <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/organizing-physical-photos/\">Organizing your Printed Photos</a>, I discussed how I handle our physical hard copy photos, but in this post I want to talk about digital photos.  This is becoming a big problem for many people because we all take many more photos today than we did years ago. Most digital devices have the ability to take photos so not only has the number of photos increased, but we have multiples of the same photo in a number of different places.  It is important that you create a system to handle these photos now before they get any further out of control.<!--more-->\r\n\r\nIf you had to guess, how many digital photos would you say you have on your smartphone/camera/ipad today?  No cheating come on just guess.  Well, I have to say today my number isn’t nearly as high as it was a month or two ago.  That’s only because I regularly work to declutter my photos.  I would guess most of you have 1000’s of photos on your devices and if you compare your photos with your spouse or family member’s photos, many are probably duplicated.  So, now that we have come to a realization that something needs to happen, lets make a plan to tackle the problem before it gets even bigger!\r\n<h1>Go Through Your Photos</h1>\r\nThere are many ways to do this, but I have actually done them three different ways\r\n<ol>\r\n 	<li>I go through them on my mobile device, usually when I’m bored somewhere wasting time;</li>\r\n 	<li>Upload them to your computer and go through them there. This is my preferred method because the screen is bigger and I can see any imperfections in the photo; or</li>\r\n 	<li>You could also upload them to the cloud or to an external hard-drive.</li>\r\n</ol>\r\nThere are pros and cons with each of these methods, you just have to use whichever one is easiest and works better for you.  The ultimate goal is for you to go through your photos and eliminate any that are not needed. [Now pause, you know you took 10 photos of the same thing hoping you get that one good picture.  Do you really need the other 9 that didn\'t make the facebook cut? Delete them...right now]\r\n<h1>Categorizing and Grouping your Photos</h1>\r\nNow, group these photos into logical categories. For me, I have one for my daughter, one for my family, one for my business, etc.  These categories/groups are used through out the year and is in one common place.  My photos and my husband\'s photos all get copied over to this one location, which makes it easier to eliminate the duplicates and pick our favorites.\r\n\r\nThe beauty of this common location is that we can adjust to life\'s happenings.  In fact, after we created our first two books we took a hiatus for no other reason other than we hadn\'t sat down to do it.  We know when we finally do they will be easy to digest/review and we can either create a number of smaller books or a few big books.  Ultimately, it keeps your photos organized until you are ready to work with them.\r\n<h1>Creating Photo Books</h1>\r\nAs I mentioned above, we have created two photo books so far.  The first photo book was created after we got married and I loved it so much that we created one to document our daughter\'s life from birth to 1 year old.  What we love about these books is that our daughter loves to grab them and talk about the photos and we love doing it as well.  We found that the books are a great way to enjoy our pictures on a regular basis.  We also can give them as gifts to our family, so they have them preserved as well.  If they get damaged for some reason, we can just order a copy or create another one since we have the photos stored by the books the photos are in. This allows us to easily locate a photo if someone sees it in a book and requests a copy.<img class=\"wp-image-3898 alignright\" src=\"http://ecbiz182.inmotionhosting.com/~thehap27/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/img_5823.jpg?w=300\" alt=\"NCM Photobook\" width=\"242\" height=\"242\" />\r\n\r\nIf you are interested in starting your own photo books, make sure to stay tuned for <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/creating-photobooks/\">my next post</a>, which will share how I actually corral our photos in preparation for our photo book development.\r\n\r\nI hope you found this post helpful and will begin to tackle your own photo book projects soon.  If you need help with your project, contact us for a virtual session or if you are local, we will be happy to provide in-person assistance.\r\n\r\nUntil the next post, stay happy.','Organizing your Digital Photos','','inherit','closed','closed','','3875-revision-v1','','','2017-12-05 17:12:40','2017-12-05 17:12:40','',3875,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/3875-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6205,1,'2017-12-05 17:21:28','2017-12-05 17:21:28','','Creating Photo Books','','inherit','open','closed','','creating-photo-books','','','2017-12-05 17:21:28','2017-12-05 17:21:28','',3875,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Creating-Photo-Books.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(6206,1,'2017-12-05 17:21:31','2017-12-05 17:21:31','','Organizing Digital Photos | The Happiness Bucket','','inherit','open','closed','','digital-photos','','','2017-12-05 17:22:16','2017-12-05 17:22:16','',3875,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Digital-Photos.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(6207,1,'2017-12-05 17:22:57','2017-12-05 17:22:57','If you missed my previous post, <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/organizing-physical-photos/\">Organizing your Printed Photos</a>, I discussed how I handle our physical hard copy photos, but in this post I want to talk about digital photos.  This is becoming a big problem for many people because we all take many more photos today than we did years ago. Most digital devices have the ability to take photos so not only has the number of photos increased, but we have multiples of the same photo in a number of different places.  It is important that you create a system to handle these photos now before they get any further out of control.<!--more-->\r\n\r\nIf you had to guess, how many digital photos would you say you have on your smartphone/camera/ipad today?  No cheating come on just guess.  Well, I have to say today my number isn’t nearly as high as it was a month or two ago.  That’s only because I regularly work to declutter my photos.  I would guess most of you have 1000’s of photos on your devices and if you compare your photos with your spouse or family member’s photos, many are probably duplicated.  So, now that we have come to a realization that something needs to happen, lets make a plan to tackle the problem before it gets even bigger!\r\n<h1>Go Through Your Photos</h1>\r\nThere are many ways to do this, but I have actually done them three different ways\r\n<ol>\r\n 	<li>I go through them on my mobile device, usually when I’m bored somewhere wasting time;</li>\r\n 	<li>Upload them to your computer and go through them there. This is my preferred method because the screen is bigger and I can see any imperfections in the photo; or</li>\r\n 	<li>You could also upload them to the cloud or to an external hard-drive.</li>\r\n</ol>\r\nThere are pros and cons with each of these methods, you just have to use whichever one is easiest and works better for you.  The ultimate goal is for you to go through your photos and eliminate any that are not needed. [Now pause, you know you took 10 photos of the same thing hoping you get that one good picture.  Do you really need the other 9 that didn\'t make the facebook cut? Delete them...right now]\r\n<h1>Categorizing and Grouping your Photos</h1>\r\nNow, group these photos into logical categories. For me, I have one for my daughter, one for my family, one for my business, etc.  These categories/groups are used through out the year and is in one common place.  My photos and my husband\'s photos all get copied over to this one location, which makes it easier to eliminate the duplicates and pick our favorites.\r\n\r\nThe beauty of this common location is that we can adjust to life\'s happenings.  In fact, after we created our first two books we took a hiatus for no other reason other than we hadn\'t sat down to do it.  We know when we finally do they will be easy to digest/review and we can either create a number of smaller books or a few big books.  Ultimately, it keeps your photos organized until you are ready to work with them.\r\n<h1>Creating Photo Books</h1>\r\nAs I mentioned above, we have created two photo books so far.  The first photo book was created after we got married and I loved it so much that we created one to document our daughter\'s life from birth to 1 year old.  What we love about these books is that our daughter loves to grab them and talk about the photos and we love doing it as well.  We found that the books are a great way to enjoy our pictures on a regular basis.  We also can give them as gifts to our family, so they have them preserved as well.  If they get damaged for some reason, we can just order a copy or create another one since we have the photos stored by the books the photos are in. This allows us to easily locate a photo if someone sees it in a book and requests a copy.<img class=\"size-medium wp-image-6195 alignright\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/How-to-Create-Photobooks-200x300.png\" alt=\"How to Organize your Photos into Photobooks | The Happiness Bucket\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" />\r\n\r\nIf you are interested in starting your own photo books, make sure to stay tuned for <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/creating-photobooks/\">my next post</a>, which will share how I actually corral our photos in preparation for our photo book development.\r\n\r\nI hope you found this post helpful and will begin to tackle your own photo book projects soon.  If you need help with your project, contact us for a virtual session or if you are local, we will be happy to provide in-person assistance.\r\n\r\nUntil the next post, stay happy.','Organizing your Digital Photos','','inherit','closed','closed','','3875-revision-v1','','','2017-12-05 17:22:57','2017-12-05 17:22:57','',3875,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/3875-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6208,1,'2017-12-05 17:24:25','2017-12-05 17:24:25','If you missed my previous post, <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/organizing-physical-photos/\">Organizing your Printed Photos</a>, I discussed how I handle our physical hard copy photos, but in this post I want to talk about digital photos.  This is becoming a big problem for many people because we all take many more photos today than we did years ago. Most digital devices have the ability to take photos so not only has the number of photos increased, but we have multiples of the same photo in a number of different places.  It is important that you create a system to handle these photos now before they get any further out of control.<!--more-->\r\n\r\nIf you had to guess, how many digital photos would you say you have on your smartphone/camera/ipad today?  No cheating come on just guess.  Well, I have to say today my number isn’t nearly as high as it was a month or two ago.  That’s only because I regularly work to declutter my photos.  I would guess most of you have 1000’s of photos on your devices and if you compare your photos with your spouse or family member’s photos, many are probably duplicated.  So, now that we have come to a realization that something needs to happen, lets make a plan to tackle the problem before it gets even bigger!\r\n<h1>Go Through Your Photos</h1>\r\nThere are many ways to do this, but I have actually done them three different ways\r\n<ol>\r\n 	<li>I go through them on my mobile device, usually when I’m bored somewhere wasting time;</li>\r\n 	<li>Upload them to your computer and go through them there. This is my preferred method because the screen is bigger and I can see any imperfections in the photo; or</li>\r\n 	<li>You could also upload them to the cloud or to an external hard-drive.</li>\r\n</ol>\r\nThere are pros and cons with each of these methods, you just have to use whichever one is easiest and works better for you.  The ultimate goal is for you to go through your photos and eliminate any that are not needed. [Now pause, you know you took 10 photos of the same thing hoping you get that one good picture.  Do you really need the other 9 that didn\'t make the facebook cut? Delete them...right now]\r\n<h1>Categorizing and Grouping your Photos</h1>\r\nNow, group these photos into logical categories. For me, I have one for my daughter, one for my family, one for my business, etc.  These categories/groups are used through out the year and is in one common place.  My photos and my husband\'s photos all get copied over to this one location, which makes it easier to eliminate the duplicates and pick our favorites.\r\n\r\nThe beauty of this common location is that we can adjust to life\'s happenings.  In fact, after we created our first two books we took a hiatus for no other reason other than we hadn\'t sat down to do it.  We know when we finally do they will be easy to digest/review and we can either create a number of smaller books or a few big books.  Ultimately, it keeps your photos organized until you are ready to work with them.\r\n<h1>Creating Photo Books</h1>\r\n<img class=\"size-medium wp-image-6195 alignleft\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/How-to-Create-Photobooks-200x300.png\" alt=\"How to Organize your Photos into Photobooks | The Happiness Bucket\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" />\r\n\r\nAs I mentioned above, we have created two photo books so far.  The first photo book was created\r\n\r\nafter we got married and I loved it so much that we created one to document our daughter\'s life from birth to 1 year old.  What we love about these books is that our daughter loves to grab them and talk about the photos and we love doing it as well.  We found that the books are a great way to enjoy our pictures on a regular basis.  We also can give them as gifts to our family, so they have them preserved as well.  If they get damaged for some reason, we can just order a copy or create another one since we have the photos stored by the books the photos are in. This allows us to easily locate a photo if someone sees it in a book and requests a copy.\r\n\r\nIf you are interested in starting your own photo books, make sure to stay tuned for <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/creating-photobooks/\">my next post</a>, which will share how I actually corral our photos in preparation for our photo book development.\r\n\r\nI hope you found this post helpful and will begin to tackle your own photo book projects soon.  If you need help with your project, contact us for a virtual session or if you are local, we will be happy to provide in-person assistance.\r\n\r\nUntil the next post, stay happy.','Organizing your Digital Photos','','inherit','closed','closed','','3875-revision-v1','','','2017-12-05 17:24:25','2017-12-05 17:24:25','',3875,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/3875-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6210,1,'2017-12-05 17:33:38','2017-12-05 17:33:38','Organizing photos can be one of the most difficult jobs you have when it comes to organizing and decluttering in your home.  It is mainly because photos tend to hold more memories then basic objects.  Just looking at them can cause instant emotions, that you may not have known were there.  It is hard to just toss those memories in the trash because they hold historical significance and many times just bring us joy. To compound this problem you have to organize not only your physical photos but your digital photos as well.  Each category holds it\'s own challenges, which is why we are doing a mini-series on photo organizing.  Today, we are going to discuss the process of organizing our physical photos.<!--more-->\r\n<h1>Gathering your Physical Photos</h1>\r\nT<img class=\"alignleft wp-image-3892 size-medium\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/photo-256887_1920-300x199.jpg\" alt=\"photo-256887_1920\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\" />he first step we would suggest when tackling a physical photo project is to gather all of your photos into one place.  A lot of times people have photos stored in numerous locations, so following our normal process you should bring them together in one place so you can see/know just how many photos you are needing to organize.  This will also help you determine if your storage plan is practical for the amount of photos you possess.\r\n<h1>Sorting and Evaluating your Physical Photos</h1>\r\nOnce you have all of your photos in one place, you need to begin sorting them into categories. My suggestion is to start with broad categories such as vacations, special occasions, children, family group photos, etc.  You can always break it down further if these categories end up being too big, but this is a great place to start.  Once you have everything sorted, you need to evaluate them very carefully.  You should eliminate duplicates (give them to family members if that is applicable) and get rid of any that don\'t have any real significance to you.  The measuring stick that I like to use is...when you first look at each picture, did it give you a positive or negative reaction...did you frown, smile, cry or think of a story?  Let those reactions guide your decisions to keep or toss, not your guilt or feeling of obligation.\r\n<h1>Preserving your Physical Photos</h1>\r\nOnce you have gone through the photo evaluation process you will have the pictures that you want to keep and can begin determining how you want to preserve them.  You can choose to digitize them or you may want to create physical photo albums or scrapbook with the photos. It is perfectly okay if you just want to store them.\r\n\r\nThe beauty is at this point you can store them in a secure and safe photo box being sure to clearly label the categories within the box.  One suggestion I do have is that you store your photos by filing them like in a filing cabinet vs. stacking them on top of each other.  Stacking photos can cause them to stick together and ultimately damage the photo.\r\n\r\nAlright, so now that we have tackled your physical photos, make sure to join me next week when I will discuss <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/organizing-digital-photos/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">digital photos</a>.  Until then, stay happy!','Organizing your Printed Photos','','inherit','closed','closed','','3766-revision-v1','','','2017-12-05 17:33:38','2017-12-05 17:33:38','',3766,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/3766-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6211,1,'2017-12-05 17:35:48','2017-12-05 17:35:48','Organizing photos can be one of the most difficult jobs you have when it comes to organizing and decluttering in your home.  It is mainly because photos tend to hold more memories then basic objects.  Just looking at them can cause instant emotions, that you may not have known were there.  It is hard to just toss those memories in the trash because they hold historical significance and many times just bring us joy. To compound this problem you have to organize not only your physical photos but your digital photos as well.  Each category holds it\'s own challenges, which is why we are doing a mini-series on photo organizing.  Today, we are going to discuss the process of organizing our physical photos.<!--more-->\r\n<h1>Gathering your Physical Photos</h1>\r\nT<img class=\"alignleft wp-image-3892 size-medium\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/photo-256887_1920-300x199.jpg\" alt=\"photo-256887_1920\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\" />he first step we would suggest when tackling a physical photo project is to gather all of your photos into one place.  A lot of times people have photos stored in numerous locations, so following our normal process you should bring them together in one place so you can see/know just how many photos you are needing to organize.  This will also help you determine if your storage plan is practical for the amount of photos you possess.\r\n<h1>Sorting and Evaluating your Physical Photos</h1>\r\nOnce you have all of your photos in one place, you need to begin sorting them into categories. My suggestion is to start with broad categories such as vacations, special occasions, children, family group photos, etc.  You can always break it down further if these categories end up being too big, but this is a great place to start.  Once you have everything sorted, you need to evaluate them very carefully.  You should eliminate duplicates (give them to family members if that is applicable) and get rid of any that don\'t have any real significance to you.  The measuring stick that I like to use is...when you first look at each picture, did it give you a positive or negative reaction...did you frown, smile, cry or think of a story?  Let those reactions guide your decisions to keep or toss, not your guilt or feeling of obligation.\r\n<h1>Preserving your Physical Photos</h1>\r\nOnce you have gone through the photo evaluation process you will have the pictures that you want to keep and can begin determining how you want to preserve them.  You can choose to digitize them or you may want to create physical photo albums or scrapbook with the photos. It is perfectly okay if you just want to store them.\r\n\r\nThe beauty is at this point you can store them in a secure and safe photo box being sure to clearly label the categories within the box.  One suggestion I do have is that you store your photos by filing them like in a filing cabinet vs. stacking them on top of each other.  Stacking photos can cause them to stick together and ultimately damage the photo.\r\n\r\nAlright, so now that we have tackled your physical photos, make sure to check out the other posts in this series:\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/organizing-digital-photos/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Organizing your Digital Photos</a>\r\n<a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/creating-photobooks/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Creating your Photo Book</a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Organizing your Printed Photos','','inherit','closed','closed','','3766-revision-v1','','','2017-12-05 17:35:48','2017-12-05 17:35:48','',3766,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/3766-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6212,1,'2017-12-05 17:39:31','2017-12-05 17:39:31','If you missed my previous post, <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/organizing-physical-photos/\">Organizing your Printed Photos</a>, I discussed how I handle our physical hard copy photos, but in this post I want to talk about digital photos.  This is becoming a big problem for many people because we all take many more photos today than we did years ago. Most digital devices have the ability to take photos so not only has the number of photos increased, but we have multiples of the same photo in a number of different places.  It is important that you create a system to handle these photos now before they get any further out of control.<!--more-->\n\nIf you had to guess, how many digital photos would you say you have on your smartphone/camera/ipad today?  No cheating come on just guess.  Well, I have to say today my number isn’t nearly as high as it was a month or two ago.  That’s only because I regularly work to declutter my photos.  I would guess most of you have 1000’s of photos on your devices and if you compare your photos with your spouse or family member’s photos, many are probably duplicated.  So, now that we have come to a realization that something needs to happen, lets make a plan to tackle the problem before it gets even bigger!\n<h1>Go Through Your Photos</h1>\nThere are many ways to do this, but I have actually done them three different ways\n<ol>\n 	<li>I go through them on my mobile device, usually when I’m bored somewhere wasting time;</li>\n 	<li>Upload them to your computer and go through them there. This is my preferred method because the screen is bigger and I can see any imperfections in the photo; or</li>\n 	<li>You could also upload them to the cloud or to an external hard-drive.</li>\n</ol>\nThere are pros and cons with each of these methods, you just have to use whichever one is easiest and works better for you.  The ultimate goal is for you to go through your photos and eliminate any that are not needed. [Now pause, you know you took 10 photos of the same thing hoping you get that one good picture.  Do you really need the other 9 that didn\'t make the facebook cut? Delete them...right now]\n<h1>Categorizing and Grouping your Photos</h1>\nNow, group these photos into logical categories. For me, I have one for my daughter, one for my family, one for my business, etc.  These categories/groups are used through out the year and is in one common place.  My photos and my husband\'s photos all get copied over to this one location, which makes it easier to eliminate the duplicates and pick our favorites.\n\nThe beauty of this common location is that we can adjust to life\'s happenings.  In fact, after we created our first two books we took a hiatus for no other reason other than we hadn\'t sat down to do it.  We know when we finally do they will be easy to digest/review and we can either create a number of smaller books or a few big books.  Ultimately, it keeps your photos organized until you are ready to work with them.\n<h1>Creating Photo Books</h1>\n<img class=\"size-medium wp-image-6195 alignleft\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/How-to-Create-Photobooks-200x300.png\" alt=\"How to Organize your Photos into Photobooks | The Happiness Bucket\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" />\n\nAs I mentioned above, we have created two photo books so far.  The first photo book was created\n\nafter we got married and I loved it so much that we created one to document our daughter\'s life from birth to 1 year old.  What we love about these books is that our daughter loves to grab them and talk about the photos and we love doing it as well.  We found that the books are a great way to enjoy our pictures on a regular basis.  We also can give them as gifts to our family, so they have them preserved as well.  If they get damaged for some reason, we can just order a copy or create another one since we have the photos stored by the books the photos are in. This allows us to easily locate a photo if someone sees it in a book and requests a copy.\n\nIf you are interested in starting your own photo books, make sure to stay tuned for <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/creating-photobooks/\">my next post in this series</a>, which will share how I actually corral our photos in preparation for our photo book development.\n\nI hope you found this post helpful and will begin to tackle your own photo book projects soon.  If you need help with your project, contact us for a virtual session or if you are local, we will be happy to provide in-person assistance.\n\nUntil the next post, stay happy.','Organizing your Digital Photos','','inherit','closed','closed','','3875-autosave-v1','','','2017-12-05 17:39:31','2017-12-05 17:39:31','',3875,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/3875-autosave-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6213,1,'2017-12-05 17:39:35','2017-12-05 17:39:35','If you missed my previous post, <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/organizing-physical-photos/\">Organizing your Printed Photos</a>, I discussed how I handle our physical hard copy photos, but in this post I want to talk about digital photos.  This is becoming a big problem for many people because we all take many more photos today than we did years ago. Most digital devices have the ability to take photos so not only has the number of photos increased, but we have multiples of the same photo in a number of different places.  It is important that you create a system to handle these photos now before they get any further out of control.<!--more-->\r\n\r\nIf you had to guess, how many digital photos would you say you have on your smartphone/camera/ipad today?  No cheating come on just guess.  Well, I have to say today my number isn’t nearly as high as it was a month or two ago.  That’s only because I regularly work to declutter my photos.  I would guess most of you have 1000’s of photos on your devices and if you compare your photos with your spouse or family member’s photos, many are probably duplicated.  So, now that we have come to a realization that something needs to happen, lets make a plan to tackle the problem before it gets even bigger!\r\n<h1>Go Through Your Photos</h1>\r\nThere are many ways to do this, but I have actually done them three different ways\r\n<ol>\r\n 	<li>I go through them on my mobile device, usually when I’m bored somewhere wasting time;</li>\r\n 	<li>Upload them to your computer and go through them there. This is my preferred method because the screen is bigger and I can see any imperfections in the photo; or</li>\r\n 	<li>You could also upload them to the cloud or to an external hard-drive.</li>\r\n</ol>\r\nThere are pros and cons with each of these methods, you just have to use whichever one is easiest and works better for you.  The ultimate goal is for you to go through your photos and eliminate any that are not needed. [Now pause, you know you took 10 photos of the same thing hoping you get that one good picture.  Do you really need the other 9 that didn\'t make the facebook cut? Delete them...right now]\r\n<h1>Categorizing and Grouping your Photos</h1>\r\nNow, group these photos into logical categories. For me, I have one for my daughter, one for my family, one for my business, etc.  These categories/groups are used through out the year and is in one common place.  My photos and my husband\'s photos all get copied over to this one location, which makes it easier to eliminate the duplicates and pick our favorites.\r\n\r\nThe beauty of this common location is that we can adjust to life\'s happenings.  In fact, after we created our first two books we took a hiatus for no other reason other than we hadn\'t sat down to do it.  We know when we finally do they will be easy to digest/review and we can either create a number of smaller books or a few big books.  Ultimately, it keeps your photos organized until you are ready to work with them.\r\n<h1>Creating Photo Books</h1>\r\n<img class=\"size-medium wp-image-6195 alignleft\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/How-to-Create-Photobooks-200x300.png\" alt=\"How to Organize your Photos into Photobooks | The Happiness Bucket\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" />\r\n\r\nAs I mentioned above, we have created two photo books so far.  The first photo book was created\r\n\r\nafter we got married and I loved it so much that we created one to document our daughter\'s life from birth to 1 year old.  What we love about these books is that our daughter loves to grab them and talk about the photos and we love doing it as well.  We found that the books are a great way to enjoy our pictures on a regular basis.  We also can give them as gifts to our family, so they have them preserved as well.  If they get damaged for some reason, we can just order a copy or create another one since we have the photos stored by the books the photos are in. This allows us to easily locate a photo if someone sees it in a book and requests a copy.\r\n\r\nIf you are interested in starting your own photo books, make sure to stay tuned for <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/creating-photobooks/\">my next post in this series</a>, which will share how I actually corral our photos in preparation for our photo book development.\r\n\r\nI hope you found this post helpful and will begin to tackle your own photo book projects soon.  If you need help with your project, contact us for a virtual session or if you are local, we will be happy to provide in-person assistance.\r\n\r\nUntil the next post, stay happy.','Organizing your Digital Photos','','inherit','closed','closed','','3875-revision-v1','','','2017-12-05 17:39:35','2017-12-05 17:39:35','',3875,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/3875-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6215,1,'2017-12-05 20:31:53','2017-12-05 20:31:53','When life gets hectic and you don\'t have enough time in the day to get everything done, how do you feel?  Are you anxious, frustrated or overwhelmed?  Well, as you know here at The Happiness bucket I like to give you tools to help you reduce and eventually eliminate those feelings and replace them with calm and happiness.  So I\'m going to help you out!  Lets talk about the Get Things Done Challenge, because it will help you identify and prioritize all the things you need to do to get things done.  It helps you learn how to plan things out in your day, week and month so you begin to <a href=\"http://development.thehappinessbucket.com/batch-organizing/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">batch</a> your to do\'s to be more efficient and even find ways to delegate tasks to other people.<!--more-->\r\n\r\nIn an ideal world you will have a master book of to do\'s and yes your THB Journal would be a great place to put these lists.  In total, you should plan for 12 - 24 pages for your Get Things Done Challenge lists in your journal, so make sure you have enough room.  You will need 1 - 2 pages per month, depending on how big you write or how many lines there are per page in your journal.  As the challenge progresses, you will find yourself anticipating your needs for the following months, plugging in to dos early and anticipating things that you must get done before you actually need them.  Seriously, it\'s a beautiful thing!  So, now that you know the overall plan of action, lets talk about the steps to the challenge.\r\n<h1>The Steps to the Get Things Done Challenge</h1>\r\nFor those who are new to this, the challenge is set up to hold you accountable.  To make you think through what you have to do, write it down and take action.  This is how it works:\r\n\r\n1.  Number a piece of paper (or your spreadsheet for you techy\'s) using the number of days in a month (i.e., November has 30).  So using this example your page should be numbered 1 - 30.\r\n\r\n2.  On each of those lines identify something you need to do.  Make your holiday card list, Wash the car, clean out your purse, make the Thanksgiving menu, take items to goodwill, read a book for a bookclub mtg, etc.\r\n\r\n3.  On November 1 (or whatever day you start the challenge) you are to take a photo of your list and post it in the <a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/groups/ChangeAcademy/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">group</a> with #gtdchallenge.\r\n\r\n<img class=\" wp-image-5528 alignleft\" src=\"http://development.thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Planning-200x300.png\" alt=\"Get Things Done Challenge\" width=\"195\" height=\"293\" />\r\n\r\n4.  Each day, you should complete at least one thing on your list and post in the group what you completed (note:  if it is a personal task, just say I completed task number 3 today!) I would love for you to take a photo of the completed task (if that is possible) and/or list how it made you feel to have it done. Remember to use the #gtdchallenge.\r\n\r\n5.  On November 30 (or whatever day you end the challenge) share a summary of how the challenge helped you.\r\n\r\nIf these tasks are things for the house, I encourage you to incorporate the entire family.  I mean who said you have to be the only one getting things done?!?!?\r\n<h2>Identifying the Challenge Goal</h2>\r\nThe goal of this challenge is to get you to take action and to learn how to plan, even if it is small action.  This challenge will ultimately help you organize your thoughts and plan ahead for things that normally would cause you stress.  Now, that being said...I don\'t want you to panic if you don\'t finish your whole list.  As time goes on you will learn how to accomplish the tasks and goals you have on your list.  You will also learn how to pair down and be realistic in the overall goals you set for yourself.  So, if you don\'t finish the list this month, just move any items you haven\'t completed to a new list for the following month and pick additional items so that your list totals the number of days in the month (i.e., December has 31 days).  You continue this through to the end of the year and if you decide to keep the list you can see what all you accomplished throughout the year...but ummmm lets discard it at the end of the year.  Seriously, no need to hold on to clutter.\r\n\r\nNow speaking of clutter, one suggested way to use this list...specifically those of you who are working on an organizing project...is to make the list things that will help you meet your organizational goals.  You could make a declutter list, or a project list of to do\'s, maybe you are planning a move or a life transition.  You figure out what works for you.  I love to use this list around the <a href=\"http://development.thehappinessbucket.com/holiday-planning-guide-pt1/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">October - December</a> time frame because the <a href=\"http://development.thehappinessbucket.com/holidayorganizing/\">holiday\'s</a> can always get really hectic for me and since it is my favorite time of the year, I want to be able to enjoy it.\r\n\r\nIn the process of developing the list.  It\'s also okay to put fun stuff on the list, I mean all work and no play makes you well...not so much fun LOL.\r\n\r\nGet creative.  Enjoy yourself and see how much you can take action on today!','The Get Things Done Challenge Helps You Organize','','inherit','closed','closed','','4765-autosave-v1','','','2017-12-05 20:31:53','2017-12-05 20:31:53','',4765,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/4765-autosave-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6217,1,'2017-12-05 20:49:19','2017-12-05 20:49:19','','Eliminating Clutter | The Happiness Bucket','','inherit','open','closed','','eliminate-clutter','','','2017-12-05 20:50:00','2017-12-05 20:50:00','',5829,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Eliminate-Clutter.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(6218,1,'2017-12-05 21:12:56','2017-12-05 21:12:56','','Eliminate Clutter - Ask these key questions | The Happiness Bucket','','inherit','open','closed','','keyquestions','','','2017-12-05 21:13:27','2017-12-05 21:13:27','',5829,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/KeyQuestions.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(6219,1,'2017-12-05 21:13:38','2017-12-05 21:13:38','The never ending purging cycle...where does all the clutter come from?  Do you feel like you are having to purge stuff every few months because there is just too much???  Well, I have good news...I have a solution to help you eliminate clutter, but if I\'m honest...it never goes completely away, but it is definitely something that is manageable with the right systems in place.\r\n\r\nNow, if you have followed me for a while you have heard me refer to the <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/organizational-roadmap-workshop/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">organizational roadmap stages</a>, but I want to specifically break down one important area - how to apply the key questions to help you eliminate the clutter coming into your space.\r\n<h1>Observation of Clutter Frustrations</h1>\r\nThere is usually a specific area that plagues you and your family on a regular basis and it is important that you observe and/or discuss how these items come into your home and/or how they become a problem.  This is really the first step in identifying the problem for you.  You see until you review what got you there in the first place you can\'t really address it.  Instead you will be placing temporary solutions (actually more clutter) in the space, creating sometimes more problems instead of solutions.\r\n<h1>The Key Questions to Eliminate Clutter</h1>\r\n<img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-6218\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/KeyQuestions-200x300.png\" alt=\"Eliminate Clutter - Ask these key questions | The Happiness Bucket\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" />To begin this process you need to ask yourself the key questions - who, what, when, where and why.  These questions help to remove the opinions and the guesswork and get to the facts of what needs to be done to eliminate clutter from your space. I also encourage you to ask the questions until you can\'t ask anymore...sometimes that may mean going four or five levels deep.\r\n\r\nFor example, if paper is an issue for you and those around you, I\'d find out what all the sources are of the paper entering the space.  Where does it come from? How does it enter the space?  What type of paper is it?  Why are you keeping it?  Who needs it? How often do they need it?  Who normally brings it in?  When does it seem to be at it\'s worst? etc. etc.  The answers to these questions give you a foundational view into the problem at hand.  It also lets you know where you can consolidate or eliminate issues. Keep asking questions until you can\'t ask any more.\r\n\r\nI used paper as the example here because this was one of the main areas of frustration when we moved into our home.  It seemed to always multiply and congregate on our dining room table and kitchen cabinets (ha like it\'s a person) and only got worse once our daughter started school.  We were able to identify and isolate the main problem, create a system that worked for our family and identify a purging plan.  We also identified ways we could reduce the paper coming into the house.  The key questions were especially helpful in identifying what paper clutter we could eliminate, where we stored each type of paper and how long we stored it.\r\n\r\nI encourage you to evaluate your situation today and apply my <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/roadmap-checklist/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">organizational roadmap concepts</a> to determine where you can reduce or eliminate clutter from your life.  If you would like more detailed direction as to how to eliminate clutter and organize your space, I encourage you to signup for my <a href=\"https://thechangeacademy.thinkific.com/courses/OLPFoundation\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Organize Like a Pro Course</a>.','How to Eliminate Clutter by Asking Key Questions','','inherit','closed','closed','','5829-revision-v1','','','2017-12-05 21:13:38','2017-12-05 21:13:38','',5829,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/5829-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6220,1,'2017-12-05 21:16:45','2017-12-05 21:16:45','The never ending purging cycle...where does all the clutter come from?  Do you feel like you are having to purge stuff every few months because there is just too much???  Well, I have good news...I have a solution to help you eliminate clutter, but if I\'m honest...it never goes completely away, but it is definitely something that is manageable with the right systems in place.\r\n\r\nNow, if you have followed me for a while you have heard me refer to the <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/organizational-roadmap-workshop/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">organizational roadmap stages</a>, but I want to specifically break down one important area - how to apply the key questions to help you eliminate the clutter coming into your space.\r\n<h1>Observation of Clutter Causes</h1>\r\nThere is usually a specific area that plagues you and your family on a regular basis and it is important that you observe and/or discuss how these items come into your home and/or how they become a problem.  This is really the first step in identifying the problem for you.  You see until you review what got you there in the first place you can\'t really address it.  Instead you will be placing temporary solutions (actually more clutter) in the space, creating sometimes more problems instead of solutions.\r\n<h1>Ask the Key Questions to Eliminate Clutter</h1>\r\n<img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-6218\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/KeyQuestions-200x300.png\" alt=\"Eliminate Clutter - Ask these key questions | The Happiness Bucket\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" />To begin this process you need to ask yourself the key questions - who, what, when, where and why.  These questions help to remove the opinions and the guesswork and get to the facts of what needs to be done to eliminate clutter from your space. I also encourage you to ask the questions until you can\'t ask anymore...sometimes that may mean going four or five levels deep.\r\n\r\nFor example, if paper is an issue for you and those around you, I\'d find out what all the sources are of the paper entering the space.  Where does it come from? How does it enter the space?  What type of paper is it?  Why are you keeping it?  Who needs it? How often do they need it?  Who normally brings it in?  When does it seem to be at it\'s worst? etc. etc.  The answers to these questions give you a foundational view into the problem at hand.  It also lets you know where you can consolidate or eliminate issues. Keep asking questions until you can\'t ask any more.\r\n\r\nI used paper as the example here because this was one of the main areas of frustration when we moved into our home.  It seemed to always multiply and congregate on our dining room table and kitchen cabinets (ha like it\'s a person) and only got worse once our daughter started school.  We were able to identify and isolate the main problem, create a system that worked for our family and identify a purging plan.  We also identified ways we could reduce the paper coming into the house.  The key questions were especially helpful in identifying what paper clutter we could eliminate, where we stored each type of paper and how long we stored it.\r\n\r\nI encourage you to evaluate your situation today and apply my <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/roadmap-checklist/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">organizational roadmap concepts</a> to determine where you can reduce or eliminate clutter from your life.  If you would like more detailed direction as to how to eliminate clutter and organize your space, I encourage you to signup for my <a href=\"https://thechangeacademy.thinkific.com/courses/OLPFoundation\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Organize Like a Pro Course</a>.','How to Eliminate Clutter by Asking Key Questions','','inherit','closed','closed','','5829-revision-v1','','','2017-12-05 21:16:45','2017-12-05 21:16:45','',5829,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/5829-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6273,1,'2017-12-12 22:38:58','2017-12-12 22:38:58','','Organizing Coupons - To Save More Money | The Happiness Bucket','','inherit','open','closed','','savemoneypin','','','2017-12-12 22:39:56','2017-12-12 22:39:56','',0,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/SaveMoneyPin.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(6274,1,'2017-12-12 22:39:02','2017-12-12 22:39:02','','Organizing Coupons - The Easy Way to Save | The Happiness Bucket','','inherit','open','closed','','organizingcoupons','','','2017-12-12 22:41:43','2017-12-12 22:41:43','',0,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/OrganizingCoupons.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(6294,1,'2017-12-14 21:28:58','2017-12-14 21:28:58','<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">We have all encountered the awkward situation when a family member offers you something that you really don\'t want or need, but to prevent hurt feelings you begrudgingly accept it into your home or worse yet get a storage facility to house said belongings, when what you really want to do is get rid of it.  <!--more-->I have done it myself and later was upset for accepting something I knew I didn\'t want. Yes, I know what some of you are saying...you\'d rather sacrifice your space than hurt your family member\'s feelings.  I definitely understand that thought process, but I also think honesty is best for everyone.</p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Begin the \"get rid of it\" Conversation</h2>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">I truly believe that there is a way to begin the conversation with your loved one(s) so you don\'t intentionally hurt there feelings. I also encourage you to start the conversation as early as possible, this gives them time to process what you are saying.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">My parents and I have regularly discussed death in our family, but we are a military family so this is par for the course.  You are prepared to know things may change in the blink of an eye, although you pray it doesn\'t.  Well, once my father retired we continued these discussions and also began discussing how to handle their belongings upon their death.  I used it as an opportunity to ask what they wanted us to do with their stuff...making sure to mention specific pieces so we could open the discussion.  One such item was the china cabinet that my parents had, which was older than me.  It <img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5569\" src=\"http://development.thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/dining-room-740231_640-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"Dining Cabinet\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" />was beautiful, but I didn\'t feel it suited my decor and I also didn\'t have space for it in my home. After determining that no one wanted it, she decided to try and sell it so she could get something that better suited their current needs. [stay tuned for the final results of my parent\'s new dining room]</p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Use the Conversation Flip Technique</h2>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Using the conversation flip is a great tactic to use when your loved ones are trying to give or save something for you that you don\'t want.  Ask the question, \"Why are you getting rid of it?\", then use some of the same words they use to explain why you can\'t use it either.  For example your mom says, \"I\'m moving into a one bedroom nursing facility so I can\'t take it with me, I want you to take it.\" Your response could be, \"You know mom I definitely understand that, and as beautiful as I feel it is I just don\'t feel like we have the room in our home either.  Why don\'t you see if there is a nursing facility or other organization that could use it and appreciate it as much as we do?\" Then talk about the memories you have of the item.</p>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h2>How to Avoid Hurt Feelings</h2>\r\n<img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5570 alignright\" style=\"text-align: justify;\" src=\"http://development.thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Getting-Rid-200x300.png\" alt=\"Getting Rid of Your Parent\'s Stuff\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" />\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The key is to start the conversation before it is necessary. Mention it in passing so when the time  comes it isn\'t a shock to your loved one. Over time, you will find a diplomatic way to not accept other people\'s stuff into your space (those things you don\'t want nor need) and no one will be left  with a broken heart. I think many times we are assuming that is how the other person would feel, when honestly they just want it out of their house. Now, there are some situations where you would be completely correct and the individual\'s feelings would be hurt...and I get it. So, if you have gotten suckered...I mean agree to take something you know you don\'t want or need, I suggest you set a time limit as to how long it will remain in your home or space out of guilt.</p>\r\n\r\n<h2>After Loved Ones Are Gone</h2>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Now, for those who had the unfortunate experience of inheriting a loved one\'s possessions after they have passed away I can only imagine how difficult this may be for you.  I would suggest trying to select a few key pieces that mean the most to you and letting go of the rest, once you have mourned. To bring a house full of furniture to a home that is already packed to the hilt, or to get a storage facility to store it forever (because that is usually what happens) is not giving the items any more honor than if you sold them or donated them to a charity that could really use them.  Stop and really look at the items and determine why you want to keep them. If it is for memory sake only, I encourage you to work towards giving them to a place or a person who could really use them...THIS will be honoring your loved one in the best way possible. Identify an organization or cause that was important to your loved one and donate items to them.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">All in all, I believe the key is starting the conversation before you need it. This will help set the mindset (Stage 1 of my Organizational Roadmap), so when the time comes you are ready and willing to let go of those items that no longer serve a purpose in your life or the life of your loved one.</p>','How to Get Rid of Our Parent\'s Stuff and Not Add to Our Clutter','','inherit','closed','closed','','3507-revision-v1','','','2017-12-14 21:28:58','2017-12-14 21:28:58','',3507,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/3507-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6319,1,'2019-04-19 18:20:33','2019-04-19 18:20:33','When working with Clients I find decluttering is the hardest area for most to wrap their heads around.  It is the <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/organizational-roadmap\">organizational stage</a> that takes the longest and is the most emotional for people. I have identified that people make at least one decluttering mistake that is listed below when they embark on their organizational journey.  Lets see if you have done (or still do) any of these, so we can stop the cycle now:\n<h1>Decluttering Mistake #1 - Fearing the Unknown</h1>\nThere are many stories of people starting the decluttering process and finding long lost documents or even money/gift cards they had forgotten.  That is one reason I am not a fan of just picking a box up and throwing it away.  I know it many times can open an even bigger can of worms, but it can also be very eye opening and therapeutic for you to see what you have been lugging around for years or to see that item that you had all along but because you couldn’t find it, you had to rush order another one and so you ultimately spent $50 unnecessarily (i.e., lost birth certificate or passport).  It forces you to face the reality of your life head on.\n<h1>Decluttering Mistake #2 - Losing Sight of the Big Picture</h1>\nMany people see an inspiration photo on a blog or on pinterest and they immediately want to replicate this in their own space worrying about where they got the container or that set of curtains, instead of focusing on the need to go through their belongings and evaluating their system to see if that would work in their world/space.  I get inspiration from pinterest and blogs too and many times use them in my work with clients, but adaption is key...adapting to your reality, your life and to your space is important if you want to develop successful systems.\n<h1>Decluttering Mistake #3 - Getting Overwhelmed by Unimportant Details</h1>\nI like to encourage Clients to just start by sorting what they currently have.  Don’t focus on what you are getting rid of or what you can’t bear to part with, focus on putting like things together.  Sometimes just seeing the amount of items you have in a specific category will make it easier for you to rid yourself of the clutter.\n<h1>Decluttering Mistake #4 - Ignoring the Logical or Organic for the Popular</h1>\nWhere do you logically place things, where do you organically look for something when you need it…you know...that first place you go.  If you always go to the kitchen when you first come in the house, maybe that is the most logical place to create a landing pad for you to dump your pockets.  Maybe designate a cabinet or a basket where these items will go.  If you always charge your phone by your bed…create a charging station there for all your electronics.  What is typically in your pockets when you empty them and where do you usually do the emptying?  Create a pocket emptying station in this location be that the laundry room, where you place your keys or in your bedroom.  It may not make sense to others, but what matters is that it makes sense to you...and that will increase the likelihood of success.\n<h1>Decluttering Mistake #5 - Getting Stuck on One Item</h1>\nIn many situations there is that one item that the mere mention of getting rid of it creates tears and palpitations. Instead of trying to force the issue at the time, you have one of two choices…and read these carefully.  (1) place the item(s) in a box/container and seal it.  On the container put a big note that says if this seal hasn’t been broken as of (enter a date 6 mths - a year in the future) then discard it unopened.  This gives the person the mourning time with their belongings.  Sometimes it is just overwhelming for them to get rid of items all at one time, especially when they have an emotional tie to it.  (2) Give the item prominence in the home.  Take a photo of it and/or frame it.  Many times the idea of framing an item will put the reality into perspective.  Ask yourself, \"If I don’t want to display it or give it to someone then why am I keeping it?\"  (3) you could put a note on it that says until space is needed.  That way you know you either get rid of it or get rid of something else.  As much as I don’t like clutter, if you have room for the items and have that big of an attachment to it…don’t harp on it.  Press pause and come back to it at the end.  Celebrate the wins.  You never know by the time you get to the end, you may be ready to let it go.\n<h1>Decluttering Mistake # 6 - Getting Rid of Someone Else\'s Belongings</h1>\nThis is a big pet peeve of mine when I see the conversations on forums and groups.  Lets ignore the fact that this is unbelievably rude and focus on the fact that there is no way for you to know the status/purpose of everything that person is keeping.  Put yourself in that situation and think about how that would make you feel.  It wouldn\'t be nice at all.  It may drive you crazy that your spouse/teen won\'t get rid of their \"junk\", instead of making the decision for them, offer to work with them to help organize and or declutter it.  One recommendation I have is that you should start decluttering/organizing other areas of the space/home until there is nothing left.  Many times when a person starts seeing how it makes them feel to live in an organized space they will decide to do it on their own.  In some cases this won\'t happen and you may have to bring in an expert or determine if this is a battle worth fighting.  If it is an area that only they frequent, then let it be and move on.  Now, the only time I will abandon this rule is when you have children under the age of understanding.  I purposely didn\'t add an age here because each child has a different developmental calendar.  As early as possible, I would include them in regular declutter sessions so they get used to understanding what it is to get rid of things they no longer use or need.  Set up systems for them as well so they can easily make those decisions.  One way to help children of all ages is to give them limits.  Here are some that I have used in the past:\n<ul>\n 	<li>Oh you got five new toys so lets get rid of five;</li>\n 	<li>Your Birthday/Christmas is coming so lets see what you have outgrown (toys and clothes); or</li>\n 	<li>You used this when you were a baby, but you are my big girl/boy now!  Why don\'t we give it to [enter person or donation spot here] because they don\'t have anything like this...or you can use this space to put your [enter their favorite toy here].</li>\n</ul>\nNow that you know the 6 things to avoid, pick an area and jump in there.  Remember to take a before and after photo and share it with the THB family in our Facebook Group!  I would love to hear your story...and who knows you may get featured on our blog.\n\nIf you found this information helpful, please comment and let me know.  Make sure to join our Newsletter, so you don\'t miss our next post.  Until then, have a happy day!','6 Common Mistakes When Decluttering','','inherit','closed','closed','','3075-autosave-v1','','','2019-04-19 18:20:33','2019-04-19 18:20:33','',3075,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/3075-autosave-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6320,1,'2017-12-18 23:01:50','2017-12-18 23:01:50','When working with Clients I find decluttering is the hardest area for most to wrap their heads around.  It is the <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/organizational-roadmap-workshop/\">organizational stage</a> that takes the longest and is the most emotional for people. I have identified that people make at least one decluttering mistake that is listed below when they embark on their organizational journey.  Lets see if you have done (or still do) any of these, so we can stop the cycle now:\r\n<h1>Decluttering Mistake #1 - Fearing the Unknown</h1>\r\nThere are many stories of people starting the decluttering process and finding long lost documents or even money/gift cards they had forgotten.  That is one reason I am not a fan of just picking a box up and throwing it away.  I know it many times can open an even bigger can of worms, but it can also be very eye opening and therapeutic for you to see what you have been lugging around for years or to see that item that you had all along but because you couldn’t find it, you had to rush order another one and so you ultimately spent $50 unnecessarily (i.e., lost birth certificate or passport).  It forces you to face the reality of your life head on.\r\n<h1>Decluttering <strong>Mistake #2 - Losing Sight of the Big Picture</strong></h1>\r\nMany people see an inspiration photo on a blog or on pinterest and they immediately want to replicate this in their own space worrying about where they got the container or that set of curtains, instead of focusing on the need to go through their belongings and evaluating their system to see if that would work in their world/space.  I get inspiration from pinterest and blogs too and many times use them in my work with clients, but adaption is key...adapting to your reality, your life and to your space is important if you want to develop successful systems.\r\n<h1>Decluttering M<strong>istake #3 - Getting Overwhelmed by Unimportant Details</strong></h1>\r\nI like to encourage Clients to just start by sorting what they currently have.  Don’t focus on what you are getting rid of or what you can’t bear to part with, focus on putting like things together.  Sometimes just seeing the amount of items you have in a specific category will make it easier for you to rid yourself of the clutter.\r\n<h1>Decluttering <strong>Mistake #4 - Ignoring the Logical or Organic for the Popular</strong></h1>\r\nWhere do you logically place things, where do you organically look for something when you need it…you know...that first place you go.  If you always go to the kitchen when you first come in the house, maybe that is the most logical place to create a landing pad for you to dump your pockets.  Maybe designate a cabinet or a basket where these items will go.  If you always charge your phone by your bed…create a charging station there for all your electronics.  What is typically in your pockets when you empty them and where do you usually do the emptying?  Create a pocket emptying station in this location be that the laundry room, where you place your keys or in your bedroom.  It may not make sense to others, but what matters is that it makes sense to you...and that will increase the likelihood of success.\r\n<h1>Decluttering Mistake #5 - Getting Stuck on One Item</h1>\r\nIn many situations there is that one item that the mere mention of getting rid of it creates tears and palpitations. Instead of trying to force the issue at the time, you have one of two choices…and read these carefully.  (1) place the item(s) in a box/container and seal it.  On the container put a big note that says if this seal hasn’t been broken as of (enter a date 6 mths - a year in the future) then discard it unopened.  This gives the person the mourning time with their belongings.  Sometimes it is just overwhelming for them to get rid of items all at one time, especially when they have an emotional tie to it.  (2) Give the item prominence in the home.  Take a photo of it and/or frame it.  Many times the idea of framing an item will put the reality into perspective.  Ask yourself, \"If I don’t want to display it or give it to someone then why am I keeping it?\"  (3) you could put a note on it that says until space is needed.  That way you know you either get rid of it or get rid of something else.  As much as I don’t like clutter, if you have room for the items and have that big of an attachment to it…don’t harp on it.  Press pause and come back to it at the end.  Celebrate the wins.  You never know by the time you get to the end, you may be ready to let it go.\r\n<h1>Decluttering Mistake # 6 - Getting Rid of Someone Else\'s Belongings</h1>\r\nThis is a big pet peeve of mine when I see the conversations on forums and groups.  Lets ignore the fact that this is unbelievably rude and focus on the fact that there is no way for you to know the status/purpose of everything that person is keeping.  Put yourself in that situation and think about how that would make you feel.  It wouldn\'t be nice at all.  It may drive you crazy that your spouse/teen won\'t get rid of their \"junk\", instead of making the decision for them, offer to work with them to help organize and or declutter it.  One recommendation I have is that you should start decluttering/organizing other areas of the space/home until there is nothing left.  Many times when a person starts seeing how it makes them feel to live in an organized space they will decide to do it on their own.  In some cases this won\'t happen and you may have to bring in an expert or determine if this is a battle worth fighting.  If it is an area that only they frequent, then let it be and move on.  Now, the only time I will abandon this rule is when you have children under the age of understanding.  I purposely didn\'t add an age here because each child has a different developmental calendar.  As early as possible, I would include them in regular declutter sessions so they get used to understanding what it is to get rid of things they no longer use or need.  Set up systems for them as well so they can easily make those decisions.  One way to help children of all ages is to give them limits.  Here are some that I have used in the past:\r\n<ul>\r\n 	<li>Oh you got five new toys so lets get rid of five;</li>\r\n 	<li>Your Birthday/Christmas is coming so lets see what you have outgrown (toys and clothes); or</li>\r\n 	<li>You used this when you were a baby, but you are my big girl/boy now!  Why don\'t we give it to [enter person or donation spot here] because they don\'t have anything like this...or you can use this space to put your [enter their favorite toy here].</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nNow that you know the 6 things to avoid, pick an area and jump in there.  Remember to take a before and after photo and share it with the THB family in our Facebook Group!  I would love to hear your story...and who knows you may get featured on our blog.\r\n\r\nIf you found this information helpful, please comment and let me know.  Make sure to join our Newsletter, so you don\'t miss our next post.  Until then, have a happy day!','6 Common Mistakes When Decluttering','','inherit','closed','closed','','3075-revision-v1','','','2017-12-18 23:01:50','2017-12-18 23:01:50','',3075,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/3075-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6321,1,'2017-12-18 23:03:07','2017-12-18 23:03:07','When working with Clients I find decluttering is the hardest area for most to wrap their heads around.  It is the <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/organizational-roadmap-workshop/\">organizational stage</a> that takes the longest and is the most emotional for people. I have identified that people make at least one decluttering mistake that is listed below when they embark on their organizational journey.  Lets see if you have done (or still do) any of these, so we can stop the cycle now:\r\n<h1>Decluttering Mistake #1 - Fearing the Unknown</h1>\r\nThere are many stories of people starting the decluttering process and finding long lost documents or even money/gift cards they had forgotten.  That is one reason I am not a fan of just picking a box up and throwing it away.  I know it many times can open an even bigger can of worms, but it can also be very eye opening and therapeutic for you to see what you have been lugging around for years or to see that item that you had all along but because you couldn’t find it, you had to rush order another one and so you ultimately spent $50 unnecessarily (i.e., lost birth certificate or passport).  It forces you to face the reality of your life head on.\r\n<h1>Decluttering Mistake #2 - Losing Sight of the Big Picture</h1>\r\nMany people see an inspiration photo on a blog or on pinterest and they immediately want to replicate this in their own space worrying about where they got the container or that set of curtains, instead of focusing on the need to go through their belongings and evaluating their system to see if that would work in their world/space.  I get inspiration from pinterest and blogs too and many times use them in my work with clients, but adaption is key...adapting to your reality, your life and to your space is important if you want to develop successful systems.\r\n<h1>Decluttering Mistake #3 - Getting Overwhelmed by Unimportant Details</h1>\r\nI like to encourage Clients to just start by sorting what they currently have.  Don’t focus on what you are getting rid of or what you can’t bear to part with, focus on putting like things together.  Sometimes just seeing the amount of items you have in a specific category will make it easier for you to rid yourself of the clutter.\r\n<h1>Decluttering Mistake #4 - Ignoring the Logical or Organic for the Popular</h1>\r\nWhere do you logically place things, where do you organically look for something when you need it…you know...that first place you go.  If you always go to the kitchen when you first come in the house, maybe that is the most logical place to create a landing pad for you to dump your pockets.  Maybe designate a cabinet or a basket where these items will go.  If you always charge your phone by your bed…create a charging station there for all your electronics.  What is typically in your pockets when you empty them and where do you usually do the emptying?  Create a pocket emptying station in this location be that the laundry room, where you place your keys or in your bedroom.  It may not make sense to others, but what matters is that it makes sense to you...and that will increase the likelihood of success.\r\n<h1>Decluttering Mistake #5 - Getting Stuck on One Item</h1>\r\nIn many situations there is that one item that the mere mention of getting rid of it creates tears and palpitations. Instead of trying to force the issue at the time, you have one of two choices…and read these carefully.  (1) place the item(s) in a box/container and seal it.  On the container put a big note that says if this seal hasn’t been broken as of (enter a date 6 mths - a year in the future) then discard it unopened.  This gives the person the mourning time with their belongings.  Sometimes it is just overwhelming for them to get rid of items all at one time, especially when they have an emotional tie to it.  (2) Give the item prominence in the home.  Take a photo of it and/or frame it.  Many times the idea of framing an item will put the reality into perspective.  Ask yourself, \"If I don’t want to display it or give it to someone then why am I keeping it?\"  (3) you could put a note on it that says until space is needed.  That way you know you either get rid of it or get rid of something else.  As much as I don’t like clutter, if you have room for the items and have that big of an attachment to it…don’t harp on it.  Press pause and come back to it at the end.  Celebrate the wins.  You never know by the time you get to the end, you may be ready to let it go.\r\n<h1>Decluttering Mistake # 6 - Getting Rid of Someone Else\'s Belongings</h1>\r\nThis is a big pet peeve of mine when I see the conversations on forums and groups.  Lets ignore the fact that this is unbelievably rude and focus on the fact that there is no way for you to know the status/purpose of everything that person is keeping.  Put yourself in that situation and think about how that would make you feel.  It wouldn\'t be nice at all.  It may drive you crazy that your spouse/teen won\'t get rid of their \"junk\", instead of making the decision for them, offer to work with them to help organize and or declutter it.  One recommendation I have is that you should start decluttering/organizing other areas of the space/home until there is nothing left.  Many times when a person starts seeing how it makes them feel to live in an organized space they will decide to do it on their own.  In some cases this won\'t happen and you may have to bring in an expert or determine if this is a battle worth fighting.  If it is an area that only they frequent, then let it be and move on.  Now, the only time I will abandon this rule is when you have children under the age of understanding.  I purposely didn\'t add an age here because each child has a different developmental calendar.  As early as possible, I would include them in regular declutter sessions so they get used to understanding what it is to get rid of things they no longer use or need.  Set up systems for them as well so they can easily make those decisions.  One way to help children of all ages is to give them limits.  Here are some that I have used in the past:\r\n<ul>\r\n 	<li>Oh you got five new toys so lets get rid of five;</li>\r\n 	<li>Your Birthday/Christmas is coming so lets see what you have outgrown (toys and clothes); or</li>\r\n 	<li>You used this when you were a baby, but you are my big girl/boy now!  Why don\'t we give it to [enter person or donation spot here] because they don\'t have anything like this...or you can use this space to put your [enter their favorite toy here].</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nNow that you know the 6 things to avoid, pick an area and jump in there.  Remember to take a before and after photo and share it with the THB family in our Facebook Group!  I would love to hear your story...and who knows you may get featured on our blog.\r\n\r\nIf you found this information helpful, please comment and let me know.  Make sure to join our Newsletter, so you don\'t miss our next post.  Until then, have a happy day!','6 Common Mistakes When Decluttering','','inherit','closed','closed','','3075-revision-v1','','','2017-12-18 23:03:07','2017-12-18 23:03:07','',3075,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/3075-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6340,1,'2017-12-21 22:41:06','2017-12-21 22:41:06','','Saving Money with Holiday Sales | The Happiness Bucket','','inherit','open','closed','','saving-money-with-holiday-sales','','','2017-12-21 22:41:34','2017-12-21 22:41:34','',0,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Saving-Money-with-Holiday-Sales.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(6342,1,'2017-12-21 22:55:44','2017-12-21 22:55:44','','Saving Money with Holiday Sales FB | The Happiness Bucket','','inherit','open','closed','','saving-money-with-holiday-sales-fb','','','2017-12-21 22:56:06','2017-12-21 22:56:06','',0,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Saving-Money-with-Holiday-Sales-FB.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(6343,1,'2017-12-21 23:58:35','2017-12-21 23:58:35','','Click to tweet Saving Money | The Happiness Bucket','','inherit','open','closed','','click-to-tweet-saving','','','2017-12-21 23:59:05','2017-12-21 23:59:05','',0,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Click-to-tweet-Saving.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(6344,1,'2017-12-22 00:03:35','2017-12-22 00:03:35','','Click to Tweet Saving Logistics | The Happiness Bucket','','inherit','open','closed','','click-to-tweet-saving-logistics','','','2017-12-22 00:04:45','2017-12-22 00:04:45','',0,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Click-to-tweet-Saving-Logistics.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(6397,1,'2017-12-29 20:48:33','2017-12-29 20:48:33','','Fix Broken Processes | The Happiness Bucket','','inherit','open','closed','','fix-broken-processes','','','2017-12-29 20:49:05','2017-12-29 20:49:05','',5865,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Fix-Broken-Processes.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(6398,1,'2017-12-29 20:50:51','2017-12-29 20:50:51','Think about all the entry points to your business - Your website, in person events, all your social media sites, etc.  Do you know the steps individuals are taking to connect with you?  Do they need to connect to specific sites to get to unique information and is their experience on each different? Unless you are intentionally marketing in different ways (i.e., you are appealing to the visual learner on one site and the auditory learner on another) you should ask yourself if your voice is unified. And just to note, even if you are appealing to different types of learners...you still need a unified brand voice when you are doing it.  For example, I may post two different visual representations of a single blog post on pinterest.  The pictures are different and the text written on each is different, but the colors, font and style are all similar.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://development.thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Business-Leaks.mp3\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-6397 size-full\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Fix-Broken-Processes.png\" alt=\"Fix Broken Processes Audio | The Happiness Bucket\" width=\"728\" height=\"90\" /></a>\r\n\r\n[audio mp3=\"http://development.thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Business-Leaks.mp3\"][/audio]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h1>Mapping Out Your Process Flow</h1>\r\nThe first thing I recommend you do, is take some time and map out the flow that your customers are taking when they encounter your business.  Think through all the different types of customers you have as well as all the methods by which they can access you or your business. Don\'t belittle any connection or path because they all count in this process.  By doing this, you get a birds eye view of your business, which helps you see problems in a much faster way.  You can quickly pick up on processes that don\'t make sense or processes that are old.  You may even decide you don\'t want a particular process based on where your business is now.\r\n<h1>Identifying Your Leaks</h1>\r\nOnce you have fully mapped out your current processes, you will need to identify areas for improvement. Determine how can you unify the routes you have so they are all similar no matter the platform. You want to identify routes that should be eliminated and those that should be added.\r\n\r\nIf I click on the get to know me button on your facebook page, does it have the same or similar wording, coloring, branding as the one on your website or on instagram?  These are just a few of the things I call leaks in your business.  They are process flows or lack there of that cause customers to have to stop the forward process of getting to you or your product.\r\n<h1>Unifying Process Routes</h1>\r\nOnce you have identified the leaks, you will want to resolve the process route problems.  Ultimately <img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5869\" src=\"http://development.thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Fix-Business-Leaks-200x300.png\" alt=\"How to Fix Business Leaks | The Happiness Bucket\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" />the goal is to ensure that no matter how people are trying to join your newsletter, their experience/route will be the same or similar.  Each platform is a little different, but the actual route they take should be the same and should be the fastest route possible for what they are trying to do.\r\n\r\nIf you identify routes with drop offs (they don\'t have a path to you or your product), then you will need to rectify that or make a plan to rectify it.  These of course are pretty serious <a href=\"http://.thehappinessbucket.com/business-leaks-guide/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">leaks in your </a><a href=\"http://.thehappinessbucket.com/business-leaks-guide/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">business</a> and once identified, you always want to fill these as quickly as possible.\r\n<h1>Schedule Regular Process Reviews</h1>\r\nNow, leak filling is never a hit and quit type of action.  Just like I teach in the <a href=\"http://development.thehappinessbucket.com/roadmap-checklist/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">organizational roadmap</a>, there is always a maintenance stage that needs to be completed.  The amount of time between maintenance sessions depends on your developed systems and the number of changes you have had in your business since the last one.  A person who adds a new service, opt-in or product on a regular basis would need much more frequent review periods than the person who rarely has changes.  If you notice a software update or change in your provider(s) platform, this should also trigger a maintenance review.  My standard recommendation is for a monthly review for those who add regularly and a quarterly review for those who change things less often.\r\n\r\nThis will ensure everything is working and flowing as expected.','How to Fix Broken Processes in Your Business','','inherit','closed','closed','','5865-revision-v1','','','2017-12-29 20:50:51','2017-12-29 20:50:51','',5865,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/5865-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6399,1,'2017-12-29 20:53:25','2017-12-29 20:53:25','','Fix Broken Processes Pin | The Happiness Bucket','','inherit','open','closed','','fix-broken-processes-pin','','','2017-12-29 20:53:51','2017-12-29 20:53:51','',5865,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Fix-Broken-Processes-Pin.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(6400,1,'2017-12-29 20:55:34','2017-12-29 20:55:34','','Fix Broken Processes Post | The Happiness Bucket','','inherit','open','closed','','fix-broken-processes-post','','','2017-12-29 20:55:54','2017-12-29 20:55:54','',5865,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Fix-Broken-Processes-Post.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(6401,1,'2017-12-29 21:00:21','2017-12-29 21:00:21','','Fix Broken Processes FB | The Happiness Bucket','','inherit','open','closed','','fix-broken-processes-fb','','','2017-12-29 21:00:44','2017-12-29 21:00:44','',5865,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Fix-Broken-Processes-FB.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(6402,1,'2017-12-29 21:00:56','2017-12-29 21:00:56','Think about all the entry points to your business - Your website, in person events, all your social media sites, etc.  Do you know the steps individuals are taking to connect with you?  Do they need to connect to specific sites to get to unique information and is their experience on each different? Unless you are intentionally marketing in different ways (i.e., you are appealing to the visual learner on one site and the auditory learner on another) you should ask yourself if your voice is unified. And just to note, even if you are appealing to different types of learners...you still need a unified brand voice when you are doing it.  For example, I may post two different visual representations of a single blog post on pinterest.  The pictures are different and the text written on each is different, but the colors, font and style are all similar.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://development.thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Business-Leaks.mp3\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-6397 size-full\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Fix-Broken-Processes.png\" alt=\"Fix Broken Processes Audio | The Happiness Bucket\" width=\"728\" height=\"90\" /></a>\r\n\r\n[audio mp3=\"http://development.thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Business-Leaks.mp3\"][/audio]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h1>Mapping Out Your Process Flow</h1>\r\nThe first thing I recommend you do, is take some time and map out the flow that your customers are taking when they encounter your business.  Think through all the different types of customers you have as well as all the methods by which they can access you or your business. Don\'t belittle any connection or path because they all count in this process.  By doing this, you get a birds eye view of your business, which helps you see problems in a much faster way.  You can quickly pick up on processes that don\'t make sense or processes that are old.  You may even decide you don\'t want a particular process based on where your business is now.\r\n<h1>Identifying Your Leaks</h1>\r\nOnce you have fully mapped out your current processes, you will need to identify areas for improvement. Determine how can you unify the routes you have so they are all similar no matter the platform. You want to identify routes that should be eliminated and those that should be added.\r\n\r\nIf I click on the get to know me button on your facebook page, does it have the same or similar wording, coloring, branding as the one on your website or on instagram?  These are just a few of the things I call leaks in your business.  They are process flows or lack there of that cause customers to have to stop the forward process of getting to you or your product.\r\n<h1>Unifying Process Routes</h1>\r\nOnce you have identified the leaks, you will want to resolve the process route problems.  Ultimately <img class=\"wp-image-6399 size-medium alignleft\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Fix-Broken-Processes-Pin-200x300.png\" alt=\"Fix Broken Processes Pin | The Happiness Bucket\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" />the goal is to ensure that no matter how people are trying to join your newsletter, their experience/route will be the same or similar.  Each platform is a little different, but the actual route they take should be the same and should be the fastest route possible for what they are trying to do.\r\n\r\nIf you identify routes with drop offs (they don\'t have a path to you or your product), then you will need to rectify that or make a plan to rectify it.  These of course are pretty serious <a href=\"http://.thehappinessbucket.com/business-leaks-guide/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">leaks in your </a><a href=\"http://.thehappinessbucket.com/business-leaks-guide/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">business</a> and once identified, you always want to fill these as quickly as possible.\r\n<h1>Schedule Regular Process Reviews</h1>\r\nNow, leak filling is never a hit and quit type of action.  Just like I teach in the <a href=\"http://development.thehappinessbucket.com/roadmap-checklist/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">organizational roadmap</a>, there is always a maintenance stage that needs to be completed.  The amount of time between maintenance sessions depends on your developed systems and the number of changes you have had in your business since the last one.  A person who adds a new service, opt-in or product on a regular basis would need much more frequent review periods than the person who rarely has changes.  If you notice a software update or change in your provider(s) platform, this should also trigger a maintenance review.  My standard recommendation is for a monthly review for those who add regularly and a quarterly review for those who change things less often.\r\n\r\nThis will ensure everything is working and flowing as expected.','How to Fix Broken Processes in Your Business','','inherit','closed','closed','','5865-revision-v1','','','2017-12-29 21:00:56','2017-12-29 21:00:56','',5865,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/5865-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6404,1,'2017-12-29 22:07:42','2017-12-29 22:07:42','','Improve Productivity by Routing Your Day | The Happiness Bucket','','inherit','open','closed','','improve-productivity-by-routing-your-day','','','2017-12-29 22:08:09','2017-12-29 22:08:09','',5124,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Improve-Productivity-by-Routing-Your-Day.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(6405,1,'2019-04-19 17:02:48','2019-04-19 17:02:48','The never ending purging cycle...where does all the clutter come from?  Do you feel like you are having to purge stuff every few months because there is just too much???  Well, I have good news...I have a solution to help you eliminate clutter, but if I\'m honest...it never goes completely away, but it is definitely something that is manageable with the right systems in place.\n\nNow, if you have followed me for a while you have heard me refer to the <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/organizational-roadmap\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">organizational roadmap stages</a>, but I want to specifically break down one important area - how to apply the key questions to help you eliminate the clutter coming into your space.\n<h1>Observation of Clutter Causes</h1>\nThere is usually a specific area that plagues you and your family on a regular basis and it is important that you observe and/or discuss how these items come into your home and/or how they become a problem.  This is really the first step in identifying the problem for you.  You see until you review what got you there in the first place you can\'t really address it.  Instead you will be placing temporary solutions (actually more clutter) in the space, creating sometimes more problems instead of solutions.\n<h1>Ask the Key Questions to Eliminate Clutter</h1>\n<img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-6218\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/KeyQuestions-200x300.png\" alt=\"Eliminate Clutter - Ask these key questions | The Happiness Bucket\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" />To begin this process you need to ask yourself the key questions - who, what, when, where and why.  These questions help to remove the opinions and the guesswork and get to the facts of what needs to be done to eliminate clutter from your space. I also encourage you to ask the questions until you can\'t ask anymore...sometimes that may mean going four or five levels deep.\n\nFor example, if paper is an issue for you and those around you, I\'d find out what all the sources are of the paper entering the space.  Where does it come from? How does it enter the space?  What type of paper is it?  Why are you keeping it?  Who needs it? How often do they need it?  Who normally brings it in?  When does it seem to be at it\'s worst? etc. etc.  The answers to these questions give you a foundational view into the problem at hand.  It also lets you know where you can consolidate or eliminate issues. Keep asking questions until you can\'t ask any more.\n\nI used paper as the example here because this was one of the main areas of frustration when we moved into our home.  It seemed to always multiply and congregate on our dining room table and kitchen cabinets (ha like it\'s a person) and only got worse once our daughter started school.  We were able to identify and isolate the main problem, create a system that worked for our family and identify a purging plan.  We also identified ways we could reduce the paper coming into the house.  The key questions were especially helpful in identifying what paper clutter we could eliminate, where we stored each type of paper and how long we stored it.\n\nI encourage you to evaluate your situation today and apply my <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/organizational-roadmap\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">organizational roadmap concepts</a> to determine where you can reduce or eliminate clutter from your life.  If you would like more detailed direction as to how to eliminate clutter and organize your space, I encourage you to signup for my <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/GettingOrganized\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Organize Like a Pro Course</a>.','How to Eliminate Clutter by Asking Key Questions','','inherit','closed','closed','','5829-autosave-v1','','','2019-04-19 17:02:48','2019-04-19 17:02:48','',5829,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/5829-autosave-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6406,1,'2017-12-29 22:35:34','2017-12-29 22:35:34','','Eliminate Clutter by Asking Key Questions | The Happiness Bucket','','inherit','open','closed','','ask-key-questions','','','2017-12-29 22:36:14','2017-12-29 22:36:14','',5829,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Ask-Key-Questions.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(6407,1,'2017-12-29 22:39:41','2017-12-29 22:39:41','','Click to tweet - Routing Your Day | The Happiness Bucket','','inherit','open','closed','','click-to-tweet-768-x-150','','','2017-12-29 22:40:24','2017-12-29 22:40:24','',5124,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Click-to-tweet-768-x-150.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(6408,1,'2017-12-29 22:41:32','2017-12-29 22:41:32','You guys know I am all about saving time and money, but what you may not know is that I absolutely love using routing to improve my overall productivity.  What is routing?  it is the act or process by which you plan out and route your journey so you follow the path of least resistance.\r\n\r\nAlright, I know that was a lot of words, so let me give you an example.  Lets say today you have a meeting you need to attend, you need to drop off a sales packet and run by a supplier.  In planning those events for today I would map out the path these take and basically make a circle. Determine if you have any downtime between meetings and plan in a site visit or look up the nearest Starbucks where you can work.  You also would need to ensure you have the files you need to work on while at Starbucks.\r\n<h2>How Does Routing Improve Productivity?</h2>\r\nYou see unless you have a delivery service, most people don\'t realize how much time is truly wasted when they fail to route their day.  In the above mentioned scenario it is often that people will go to work then go to the supplier, then back to work...to leave 45 minutes later to drop off the sales packet, etc.  The result of this is wasted time and money.\r\n\r\nOnce you begin the process of routing, you will find that early planning helps you better plan your route.  You may start by just routing one day and see how it helps, but think about how applying <a href=\"http://ctt.ec/UB4F9\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img class=\"alignright\" src=\"http://clicktotweet.com/img/tweet-graphic-3.png\" alt=\"Tweet: Start by routing one day and see how it helps increase your productivity. Learn how here http://ctt.ec/UB4F9+ #productivity #timemanagement\" /></a>routing to your entire week will save you a lot of time.  How planning one particular day of the week as the day to schedule out of office meetings or maybe you service one side of the city on certain days?  The possibilities are endless, just think outside the box about what you are doing on a daily basis and see where you can route your activities.<a href=\"http://ctt.ec/UB4F9\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-6407 size-full\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Click-to-tweet-768-x-150.png\" alt=\"Click to tweet - Routing Your Day | The Happiness Bucket\" width=\"768\" height=\"150\" /></a>\r\n<h2>How Do You \"Route\" to Improve Productivity?</h2>\r\nSo, now that I\'ve told you all about this fabulousness, how do you do it?  Well, it is easier than you think.  In a nutshell, you figure out all the things you need to do for the day and then you map out a plan to accomplish it with as little effort as possible.  So, start by looking at your calendar for today...does it require you to leave your office or your desk?  If you are a solopreneur or someone trying to work a full-time job and build a business at a same time, I encourage you to include your personal items as well.  Why?  because you are often times struggling to find pockets of time in your life as a whole, not just your business.  Alright so lets walk through it:\r\n<h3>Create your List of Things To Do</h3>\r\nStart the process of routing by just writing down everything that needs to be done for the day. On your schedule today you have to do the following:\r\n<ul>\r\n 	<li>Take the dog to the vet, which closes at 5 (5 miles from your home);</li>\r\n 	<li>Drop off your upcoming event invitations at the printer;</li>\r\n 	<li>Conduct a consultation with a potential client;</li>\r\n 	<li>Pick up your child from school at 4 (10 miles from home);</li>\r\n 	<li>Go grocery shopping for dinner (2 miles from home);</li>\r\n 	<li>Get stamps at the post office to mail the invitations; and</li>\r\n 	<li>Take your child to practice (you normally just sit and wait).</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<h3>Begin the Routing Process</h3>\r\n<img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5791\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Routing-101-200x300.png\" alt=\"How to Increase Productivity with Routing | www.thehappinessbucket.com\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" />\r\n\r\nIn looking at what has to be done, see where things can be done together.  In looking at the list above, I would route it as follows (I have included the why):\r\n<ol>\r\n 	<li> I\'d work to conduct the consultation with the potential client as early as possible.  You want to make sure you are fresh.  This also gives the client time to get settled and allows you to avoid rush hour.  You want to be able to wear something a little more professional as you are a representative of your business.</li>\r\n 	<li>Depending on when the consultation is I would drop off the event invites at the printer before or after the consultation.</li>\r\n 	<li>On the way home I\'d go to the grocery store and knock out the grocery shopping, at the same time I\'d pick up the stamps (assuming I absolutely want to add a stamp, otherwise I\'d just plan to hand deliver these to the post office and have them stamp them there with the machine). This allows me to drop off the groceries at home, change my clothes and pick up the dog (I would also try to figure out a less busy day to grocery shop if possible).</li>\r\n 	<li>I\'d then take the dog to the vet on my way to pick up the kids from school (if there was enough time and if it wasn\'t an overnight visit).  I\'d work on my report while waiting on the dog to finish, if it wasn\'t overnight.</li>\r\n 	<li>Take my child to their practice and continue to work on the consultation report from that morning.</li>\r\n</ol>\r\nBy developing this routing schedule, I know exactly what I need to do and how to do it in the most efficient way possible.\r\n<h2>The Productivity Benefits of Routing</h2>\r\nWhen you start routing your calendar, you begin to identify your optimal times of the day and week. You will begin to see how much easier things are and how much time you can recover.  You will begin to make deliberate decisions as to when and how you are going to do something.  No more doing things randomly, each action is calculated as to how it effects the day and your desired deliverables.\r\n<h3>The Birth of Batching</h3>\r\nSuccessful routing eventually grows into batching, which I talk about in <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/batching/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Organizing and Increasing Productivity Using Batching</a>.  You will also begin to see patterns and areas where you can move things around.  Why do you grocery shop during the week?  Can you pick a different day of the week when you aren\'t as busy or are naturally in the area.  You will figure out when you have must haves versus like to haves or I wanna\'s.  You will also be able to eliminate things that you really don\'t need to do.\r\n\r\nSo I\'m curious, prior to reading this post had you ever routed?  If so, share any ideas or ways you use routing to improve your overall productivity.  If this is your first time hearing about routing? How will try to incorporate it in your day?','Improve Personal Productivity by Routing Your Day','','inherit','closed','closed','','5124-revision-v1','','','2017-12-29 22:41:32','2017-12-29 22:41:32','',5124,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/5124-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6409,1,'2017-12-29 22:48:43','2017-12-29 22:48:43','','Click to Tweet Photo Organizing | The Happiness Bucket','','inherit','open','closed','','click-to-tweet-photo-organizing','','','2017-12-29 22:49:03','2017-12-29 22:49:03','',3766,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Click-to-Tweet-Photo-Organizing.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(6410,1,'2017-12-29 22:49:10','2017-12-29 22:49:10','Organizing photos can be one of the most difficult jobs you have when it comes to organizing and decluttering in your home.  It is mainly because photos tend to hold more memories then basic objects.  Just looking at them can cause instant emotions, that you may not have known were there.  It is hard to just toss those memories in the trash because they hold historical significance and many times just bring us joy. To compound this problem you have to organize not only your physical photos but your digital photos as well.  Each category holds it\'s own challenges, which is why we are doing a mini-series on photo organizing.  Today, we are going to discuss the process of organizing our physical photos.<!--more-->\n<h1>Gathering your Physical Photos</h1>\nT<img class=\"alignleft wp-image-3892 size-medium\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/photo-256887_1920-300x199.jpg\" alt=\"photo-256887_1920\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\" />he first step we would suggest when tackling a physical photo project is to gather all of your photos into one place.  A lot of times people have photos stored in numerous locations, so following our normal process you should bring them together in one place so you can see/know just how many photos you are needing to organize.  This will also help you determine if your storage plan is practical for the amount of photos you possess.\n<h1>Sorting and Evaluating your Physical Photos</h1>\nOnce you have all of your photos in one place, you need to begin sorting them into categories. My suggestion is to start with broad categories such as vacations, special occasions, children, family group photos, etc.  You can always break it down further if these categories end up being too big, but this is a great place to start.  Once you have everything sorted, you need to evaluate them very carefully.  You should eliminate duplicates (give them to family members if that is applicable) and get rid of any that don\'t have any real significance to you.  The measuring stick that I like to use is...when you first look at each picture, did it give you a positive or negative reaction...did you frown, smile, cry or think of a story?  Let those reactions guide your decisions to keep or toss, not your guilt or feeling of obligation.<a href=\"https://ctt.ec/8sF53\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-6409\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Click-to-Tweet-Photo-Organizing.png\" alt=\"Click to Tweet Photo Organizing | The Happiness Bucket\" width=\"768\" height=\"150\" /></a>\n<h1>Preserving your Physical Photos</h1>\nOnce you have gone through the photo evaluation process you will have the pictures that you want to keep and can begin determining how you want to preserve them.  You can choose to digitize them or you may want to create physical photo albums or scrapbook with the photos. It is perfectly okay if you just want to store them.\n\nThe beauty is at this point you can store them in a secure and safe photo box being sure to clearly label the categories within the box.  One suggestion I do have is that you store your photos by filing them like in a filing cabinet vs. stacking them on top of each other.  Stacking photos can cause them to stick together and ultimately damage the photo.\n\nAlright, so now that we have tackled your physical photos, make sure to check out the other posts in this series:\n\n<a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/organizing-digital-photos/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Organizing your Digital Photos</a>\n<a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/creating-photobooks/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Creating your Photo Book</a>\n\n&nbsp;','Organizing your Printed Photos','','inherit','closed','closed','','3766-autosave-v1','','','2017-12-29 22:49:10','2017-12-29 22:49:10','',3766,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/3766-autosave-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6411,1,'2017-12-29 22:59:06','2017-12-29 22:59:06','Organizing photos can be one of the most difficult jobs you have when it comes to organizing and decluttering in your home.  It is mainly because photos tend to hold more memories then basic objects.  Just looking at them can cause instant emotions, that you may not have known were there.  It is hard to just toss those memories in the trash because they hold historical significance and many times just bring us joy. To compound this problem you have to organize not only your physical photos but your digital photos as well.  Each category holds it\'s own challenges, which is why we are doing a mini-series on photo organizing.  Today, we are going to discuss the process of organizing our physical photos.<!--more-->\r\n<h1>Gathering your Physical Photos</h1>\r\nT<img class=\"alignleft wp-image-3892 size-medium\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/photo-256887_1920-300x199.jpg\" alt=\"photo-256887_1920\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\" />he first step we would suggest when tackling a physical photo project is to gather all of your photos into one place.  A lot of times people have photos stored in numerous locations, so following our normal process you should bring them together in one place so you can see/know just how many photos you are needing to organize.  This will also help you determine if your storage plan is practical for the amount of photos you possess.\r\n<h1>Sorting and Evaluating your Physical Photos</h1>\r\nOnce you have all of your photos in one place, you need to begin sorting them into categories. My suggestion is to start with broad categories such as vacations, special occasions, children, family group photos, etc.  You can always break it down further if these categories end up being too big, but this is a great place to start.  Once you have everything sorted, you need to evaluate them very carefully.  You should eliminate duplicates (give them to family members if that is applicable) and get rid of any that don\'t have any real significance to you.  The measuring stick that I like to use is...when you first look at each picture, did it give you a positive or negative reaction...did you frown, smile, cry or think of a story?  Let those reactions guide your decisions to keep or toss, not your guilt or feeling of obligation.<a href=\"https://ctt.ec/8sF53\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-6409\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Click-to-Tweet-Photo-Organizing.png\" alt=\"Click to Tweet Photo Organizing | The Happiness Bucket\" width=\"768\" height=\"150\" /></a>\r\n<h1>Preserving your Physical Photos</h1>\r\nOnce you have gone through the photo evaluation process you will have the pictures that you want to keep and can begin determining how you want to preserve them.  You can choose to digitize them or you may want to create physical photo albums or scrapbook with the photos. It is perfectly okay if you just want to store them.\r\n\r\nThe beauty is at this point you can store them in a secure and safe photo box being sure to clearly label the categories within the box.  One suggestion I do have is that you store your photos by filing them like in a filing cabinet vs. stacking them on top of each other.  Stacking photos can cause them to stick together and ultimately damage the photo.\r\n\r\nAlright, so now that we have tackled your physical photos, make sure to check out the other posts in this series:\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/organizing-digital-photos/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Organizing your Digital Photos</a>\r\n<a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/creating-photobooks/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Creating your Photo Book</a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Organizing your Printed Photos','','inherit','closed','closed','','3766-revision-v1','','','2017-12-29 22:59:06','2017-12-29 22:59:06','',3766,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/3766-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6436,1,'2018-01-02 19:10:34','2018-01-02 19:10:34','Many of you probably didn\'t know but I was actually a customer service representative for the Internal Revenue Service back in the day.  It was a great experience and made me realize the mistakes that people make on a regular basis as it relates to their personal income tax.  I decided it would be good for me to share some of the most common issues I used to and still do see (almost twenty years later), to help you avoid them.\r\n\r\nNow I know that many of you get anxious and itching to file your taxes in January, because that is like an instant payday to you.  I mean I totally get it, but seriously people CALM DOWN!!!!  I promise you taking a little time and ensuring you have crossed the T\'s and dotted the I\'s can save you not only time but money and frustration.  Ok now before I provide you with these tips I want to put out a disclaimer:  I am not a tax professional.  I am providing you information based on my own experiences as a CSR for those filing personal tax returns and want you to use your own judgement as to whether or not you should take it or not.\r\n\r\nAlright, now that that\'s out of the way, lets get to it:\r\n<h2>1.  Don\'t File Too Fast</h2>\r\nMany of you only worked at one place, so you get your W2 and you want to go ahead and file.  I say, \"whoaaaaaa nelly\"!!!  Do you really have all the documents you need to file?  You need to really think about what assets/liabilities you have and ensure you properly account for them in all the places on your tax form.  You\'d hate to receive your refund and then have to pay back money or amend your return because you omitted something in error.  By law, all tax documents should be postmarked by Jan 31st...so at least wait until Feb 5th. to ensure you have what you need.\r\n<h2>2.  Avoid Anticipation Loans</h2>\r\nNow, I don\'t want any of these companies trying to sue me for telling the truth here.  The truth is that by going to these places you are essentially taking out a loan on your own money!  Did you know by filing electronically you can get your money in as quick as 7 days?!?!  Why pay someone to do the same thing that you can do for free?  Just go directly to the source, file your taxes electronically...provide them with an account number and they will deposit your money into it directly.  If you want to <a href=\"https://sa.www4.irs.gov/irfof/lang/en/irfofgetstatus.jsp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">get the status of your refund</a>, you can go to the IRS website directly.\r\n<h2>3.  Mind Who You Claim</h2>\r\nIf you have a person that may be claimable by someone else you need to ensure you can claim them before you put them on your taxes.  Just because they live with you during the year does not mean you can claim them.  It\'s based on five tests:  Relationship, age, residency, support and joint return and the answers aren\'t necessarily what you may think.  Divorce decrees and/or written declarations can also change the rules.  Chapter 3 of <a title=\"Publication 17\" href=\"http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p17.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">IRS Publication 17</a> details this out.  If all else fails <a href=\"https://www.irs.gov/help/telephone-assistance\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">call and ask</a> a CSR, but be honest in your responses so they can give you the real answer.  Claiming someone on your taxes that someone else should claim will only delay your refund or cause you to owe money back.\r\n<h2>4.  Get Help Preparing Your Taxes</h2>\r\nFor those who make $54,000 or less you can receive free help at a <a href=\"http://irs.treasury.gov/freetaxprep/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">VITA site</a>.  Those over the age of 60 can participate in the Tax Counseling for the elderly program and there are some things for a few other specific groups as well.  For everyone else don\'t be afraid to call 1-800-829-1040, the IRS help line, to get assistance.  Also, use <a title=\"Publication 17\" href=\"http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p17.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">IRS Publication 17 </a>to assist you in preparing your taxes.\r\n<h2>5.  Use Free Online Filing Options</h2>\r\nYou should use the <a title=\"E-File Through IRS\" href=\"https://www.irs.gov/uac/Free-File:-Do-Your-Federal-Taxes-for-Free\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">IRS Free File links</a> to identify all available offers.  Many \"other\" sites have tricky extras that end up costing you when using their links.  Make sure you read and understand (especially the fine print) before clicking the button of sites outside of the list the IRS provides.\r\n<h2>6.  Appropriately Apply Deductions and Credits</h2>\r\n<img class=\"alignleft wp-image-5751 \" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/tax-filing-683x1024.png\" alt=\"Organize for Tax Filing - Common Mistakes\" width=\"306\" height=\"459\" />\r\n\r\nThere are many deductions and credits out there that people miss because they don\'t educate themselves.  The online filing sites ask questions that help determine whether you are or aren\'t eligible for specific deductions and credits.  If you are using a preparer and the deduction or credit seems too good to be true, always ask for a detailed explanation of how they came up with it or what makes you eligible.  Every deduction and credit has an <a href=\"https://taxmap.ntis.gov/taxmap/pubs/pubtoc.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">IRS Publication</a> associated with it.  It doesn\'t take an extremely long time to review them...empower yourself!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h2>7.  Get a Copy of <a title=\"Publication 17\" href=\"http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p17.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">IRS Publication 17</a></h2>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIt explains most of the scenarios you will need to have covered.  If when reading it refers to another publication, just get it or download it from the website, they are all there.  This is a great place to start when researching changes in the tax code each year too.\r\n<h2>8.  Keep Good Records</h2>\r\nYou always want to make sure you have records of anything you plan on claiming...or have a way of proving it if you are ever audited.  Most people have a general idea of what those things are so start keeping a running file of those items be that electronic or physical.  If you know you will have a lot of receipts, have a way of categorizing them to make it easier come tax time.  If filing a F1040, make sure you keep a charitable donation and gift log as well.  In some cases the standard deduction was more beneficial for me, but you never know until you crunch the numbers...so plan for it just in case.\r\n<h2>9.  Know Tax Year Changes</h2>\r\nWe all experience life happenings, some of the biggest ones are caused by natural disasters, job loss, home loss and other national happenings.  Along with these changes comes changes to the tax rules, some good and some bad.  Please educate yourselves so you don\'t miss out or make a mistake when it comes to <a href=\"https://www.irs.gov/Credits-&amp;-Deductions\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">credits and deductions</a>.  Don\'t let this one scare you, you have the ability to do this on your own.  Again, most of the information you need to know is covered in Publication 17.  Just be aware so you can ensure there isn\'t a credit, deduction or additional tax that you didn\'t have to pay in years past (marriage/divorce, birth/death, new home, etc.)\r\n<h2>10.  Don\'t Miss the Deadline</h2>\r\nWhatever you do, do not miss the April 15th deadline if you owe!  File an extension, but don\'t just try to ignore it as though it\'s going to go away because it is not.  In fact, all that\'s going to happen is interest and penalties will continue to add up (these are calculated daily!).   If it is just a matter of you don\'t have the money, it\'s okay!!!  Just call and tell them you want to make an arrangement to pay.  They will set you up on a payment plan that works for your budget...no matter the amount.  I actually had to do this myself the year I was categorized as an Independent Contractor and didn\'t realize I had to pay my own taxes (I was young).  I owed $20,000 and went into a mass panic when I received the letter from the IRS.  I was able to make arrangements and pay it off.  It took me about 10 or so years, but I did it...and you can too.\r\n<h1>A Few Bonus Tax Tips</h1>\r\nOk, so after writing #10 above, I felt obligated to add a couple of bonus tips for you small business owners...\r\n<h2>Bonus 1:  Know Small Business Requirements</h2>\r\nMake sure you know what taxes you owe, both for your Federal and State taxes.  As a person who experienced the stress of owing the Government, you want to make sure you know and understand your requirements as a business owner, especially all of you who are independent contractors.  If you don\'t pay quarterly taxes you need to ensure you are taking the appropriate taxes out of the money you make from every sell.  If not, you risk getting shocked at the end of the year.\r\n<h2>Bonus 2:  Business Tax and Sale Log</h2>\r\nNow for some small businesses you haven\'t made enough sells to justify purchasing an accounting software for your business.  There are mixed feelings about this, but I say do what is best for your business.  If you are diligent about keeping track of what is going in and out of your business, you can do it by hand without a problem.  Of course the more successful you are, the more complicated your in-take and out-take procedures and processes are the riskier and more difficult it becomes.\r\n<h2>Bonus 3:  Know What You Are Filing</h2>\r\nEven if you have your taxes prepared by someone else, you should always have a clear understanding and approve of what is being filed on your behalf.  You are ultimately responsible, whether someone else made the decision to do it or not.  By signing the last line on your physical and electronic return, you are certifying that you are taking the responsibility for everything on the document, so take it seriously.  Don\'t let someone rush you through the explanation of your taxes. If you are paying them, you are paying for their time...so use it.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI hope you found these tips helpful!  Please let me know if you do by liking this post and/or commenting below, I\'d love your feedback.','Organize your Tax Filing Process with these 10 Tax Filing Tips','','inherit','closed','closed','','145-revision-v1','','','2018-01-02 19:10:34','2018-01-02 19:10:34','',145,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/145-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6437,1,'2018-01-02 19:11:10','2018-01-02 19:11:10','Many of you probably didn\'t know but I was actually a customer service representative for the Internal Revenue Service back in the day.  It was a great experience and made me realize the mistakes that people make on a regular basis as it relates to their personal income tax.  I decided it would be good for me to share some of the most common issues I used to and still do see (almost twenty years later), to help you avoid them.\r\n\r\nNow I know that many of you get anxious and itching to file your taxes in January, because that is like an instant payday to you.  I mean I totally get it, but seriously people CALM DOWN!!!!  I promise you taking a little time and ensuring you have crossed the T\'s and dotted the I\'s can save you not only time but money and frustration.  Ok now before I provide you with these tips I want to put out a disclaimer:  I am not a tax professional.  I am providing you information based on my own experiences as a CSR for those filing personal tax returns and want you to use your own judgement as to whether or not you should implement these tips in your own life.\r\n\r\nAlright, now that that\'s out of the way, lets get to it:\r\n<h2>1.  Don\'t File Too Fast</h2>\r\nMany of you only worked at one place, so you get your W2 and you want to go ahead and file.  I say, \"whoaaaaaa nelly\"!!!  Do you really have all the documents you need to file?  You need to really think about what assets/liabilities you have and ensure you properly account for them in all the places on your tax form.  You\'d hate to receive your refund and then have to pay back money or amend your return because you omitted something in error.  By law, all tax documents should be postmarked by Jan 31st...so at least wait until Feb 5th. to ensure you have what you need.\r\n<h2>2.  Avoid Anticipation Loans</h2>\r\nNow, I don\'t want any of these companies trying to sue me for telling the truth here.  The truth is that by going to these places you are essentially taking out a loan on your own money!  Did you know by filing electronically you can get your money in as quick as 7 days?!?!  Why pay someone to do the same thing that you can do for free?  Just go directly to the source, file your taxes electronically...provide them with an account number and they will deposit your money into it directly.  If you want to <a href=\"https://sa.www4.irs.gov/irfof/lang/en/irfofgetstatus.jsp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">get the status of your refund</a>, you can go to the IRS website directly.\r\n<h2>3.  Mind Who You Claim</h2>\r\nIf you have a person that may be claimable by someone else you need to ensure you can claim them before you put them on your taxes.  Just because they live with you during the year does not mean you can claim them.  It\'s based on five tests:  Relationship, age, residency, support and joint return and the answers aren\'t necessarily what you may think.  Divorce decrees and/or written declarations can also change the rules.  Chapter 3 of <a title=\"Publication 17\" href=\"http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p17.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">IRS Publication 17</a> details this out.  If all else fails <a href=\"https://www.irs.gov/help/telephone-assistance\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">call and ask</a> a CSR, but be honest in your responses so they can give you the real answer.  Claiming someone on your taxes that someone else should claim will only delay your refund or cause you to owe money back.\r\n<h2>4.  Get Help Preparing Your Taxes</h2>\r\nFor those who make $54,000 or less you can receive free help at a <a href=\"http://irs.treasury.gov/freetaxprep/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">VITA site</a>.  Those over the age of 60 can participate in the Tax Counseling for the elderly program and there are some things for a few other specific groups as well.  For everyone else don\'t be afraid to call 1-800-829-1040, the IRS help line, to get assistance.  Also, use <a title=\"Publication 17\" href=\"http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p17.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">IRS Publication 17 </a>to assist you in preparing your taxes.\r\n<h2>5.  Use Free Online Filing Options</h2>\r\nYou should use the <a title=\"E-File Through IRS\" href=\"https://www.irs.gov/uac/Free-File:-Do-Your-Federal-Taxes-for-Free\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">IRS Free File links</a> to identify all available offers.  Many \"other\" sites have tricky extras that end up costing you when using their links.  Make sure you read and understand (especially the fine print) before clicking the button of sites outside of the list the IRS provides.\r\n<h2>6.  Appropriately Apply Deductions and Credits</h2>\r\n<img class=\"alignleft wp-image-5751 \" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/tax-filing-683x1024.png\" alt=\"Organize for Tax Filing - Common Mistakes\" width=\"306\" height=\"459\" />\r\n\r\nThere are many deductions and credits out there that people miss because they don\'t educate themselves.  The online filing sites ask questions that help determine whether you are or aren\'t eligible for specific deductions and credits.  If you are using a preparer and the deduction or credit seems too good to be true, always ask for a detailed explanation of how they came up with it or what makes you eligible.  Every deduction and credit has an <a href=\"https://taxmap.ntis.gov/taxmap/pubs/pubtoc.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">IRS Publication</a> associated with it.  It doesn\'t take an extremely long time to review them...empower yourself!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h2>7.  Get a Copy of <a title=\"Publication 17\" href=\"http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p17.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">IRS Publication 17</a></h2>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIt explains most of the scenarios you will need to have covered.  If when reading it refers to another publication, just get it or download it from the website, they are all there.  This is a great place to start when researching changes in the tax code each year too.\r\n<h2>8.  Keep Good Records</h2>\r\nYou always want to make sure you have records of anything you plan on claiming...or have a way of proving it if you are ever audited.  Most people have a general idea of what those things are so start keeping a running file of those items be that electronic or physical.  If you know you will have a lot of receipts, have a way of categorizing them to make it easier come tax time.  If filing a F1040, make sure you keep a charitable donation and gift log as well.  In some cases the standard deduction was more beneficial for me, but you never know until you crunch the numbers...so plan for it just in case.\r\n<h2>9.  Know Tax Year Changes</h2>\r\nWe all experience life happenings, some of the biggest ones are caused by natural disasters, job loss, home loss and other national happenings.  Along with these changes comes changes to the tax rules, some good and some bad.  Please educate yourselves so you don\'t miss out or make a mistake when it comes to <a href=\"https://www.irs.gov/Credits-&amp;-Deductions\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">credits and deductions</a>.  Don\'t let this one scare you, you have the ability to do this on your own.  Again, most of the information you need to know is covered in Publication 17.  Just be aware so you can ensure there isn\'t a credit, deduction or additional tax that you didn\'t have to pay in years past (marriage/divorce, birth/death, new home, etc.)\r\n<h2>10.  Don\'t Miss the Deadline</h2>\r\nWhatever you do, do not miss the April 15th deadline if you owe!  File an extension, but don\'t just try to ignore it as though it\'s going to go away because it is not.  In fact, all that\'s going to happen is interest and penalties will continue to add up (these are calculated daily!).   If it is just a matter of you don\'t have the money, it\'s okay!!!  Just call and tell them you want to make an arrangement to pay.  They will set you up on a payment plan that works for your budget...no matter the amount.  I actually had to do this myself the year I was categorized as an Independent Contractor and didn\'t realize I had to pay my own taxes (I was young).  I owed $20,000 and went into a mass panic when I received the letter from the IRS.  I was able to make arrangements and pay it off.  It took me about 10 or so years, but I did it...and you can too.\r\n<h1>A Few Bonus Tax Tips</h1>\r\nOk, so after writing #10 above, I felt obligated to add a couple of bonus tips for you small business owners...\r\n<h2>Bonus 1:  Know Small Business Requirements</h2>\r\nMake sure you know what taxes you owe, both for your Federal and State taxes.  As a person who experienced the stress of owing the Government, you want to make sure you know and understand your requirements as a business owner, especially all of you who are independent contractors.  If you don\'t pay quarterly taxes you need to ensure you are taking the appropriate taxes out of the money you make from every sell.  If not, you risk getting shocked at the end of the year.\r\n<h2>Bonus 2:  Business Tax and Sale Log</h2>\r\nNow for some small businesses you haven\'t made enough sells to justify purchasing an accounting software for your business.  There are mixed feelings about this, but I say do what is best for your business.  If you are diligent about keeping track of what is going in and out of your business, you can do it by hand without a problem.  Of course the more successful you are, the more complicated your in-take and out-take procedures and processes are the riskier and more difficult it becomes.\r\n<h2>Bonus 3:  Know What You Are Filing</h2>\r\nEven if you have your taxes prepared by someone else, you should always have a clear understanding and approve of what is being filed on your behalf.  You are ultimately responsible, whether someone else made the decision to do it or not.  By signing the last line on your physical and electronic return, you are certifying that you are taking the responsibility for everything on the document, so take it seriously.  Don\'t let someone rush you through the explanation of your taxes. If you are paying them, you are paying for their time...so use it.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI hope you found these tips helpful!  Please let me know if you do by liking this post and/or commenting below, I\'d love your feedback.','Organize your Tax Filing Process with these 10 Tax Filing Tips','','inherit','closed','closed','','145-revision-v1','','','2018-01-02 19:11:10','2018-01-02 19:11:10','',145,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/145-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6438,1,'2019-01-07 17:36:09','2019-01-07 17:36:09','Many of you probably didn\'t know but I was actually a customer service representative (CSR) for the Internal Revenue Service back in the day.  It was a great experience and made me realize the mistakes that people make on a regular basis as it relates to their personal income tax.  I decided it would be good for me to share some of the most common issues I used to and still do see (almost twenty years later), to help you avoid them.\n\nNow I know that many of you get anxious and itching to file your taxes in January, because that is like an instant payday to you.  I mean I totally get it, but seriously people CALM DOWN!!!!  I promise you taking a little time and ensuring you have crossed the T\'s and dotted the I\'s can save you not only time but money and frustration.\n\nOk now before I provide you with these tips I want to put out a disclaimer:  I am not a tax professional.  I am providing you information based on my own experiences as a CSR for those filing personal tax returns and want you to use your own judgement as to whether or not you should implement these tips in your own life.\n\nAlright, now that that\'s out of the way, lets get to it:\n<h2>1.  Don\'t File Too Fast</h2>\nMany of you only worked at one place, so you get your W2 and you want to go ahead and file.  I say, \"whoaaaaaa nelly\"!!!  Do you really have all the documents you need to file?  You need to really think about what assets and liabilities you have and ensure you properly account for them in all the places on your tax form.  You\'d hate to receive your refund and then have to pay back money or amend your return because you omitted something in error.  By law, all tax documents should be postmarked by Jan 31st...so at least wait until Feb 5th. to ensure you have what you need.\n<h2>2.  Avoid Anticipation Loans</h2>\nNow, I don\'t want any of these companies trying to sue me for telling the truth here.  The truth is that by going to these places you are essentially taking out a loan on your own money!  Did you know by filing electronically you can get your money in as quick as 7 days?!?!  Why pay someone to do the same thing that you can do for free?  Just go directly to the source, file your taxes electronically...provide them with an account number and they will deposit your money into it directly.  If you want to <a href=\"https://sa.www4.irs.gov/irfof/lang/en/irfofgetstatus.jsp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">get the status of your refund</a>, you can go to the IRS website directly.\n<h2>3.  Mind Who You Claim</h2>\nIf you have a person that may be claimable by someone else you need to ensure you can claim them before you put them on your taxes.  Just because they live with you during the year does not mean you can claim them.  It\'s based on five tests:  Relationship, age, residency, support and joint return and the answers aren\'t necessarily what you may think. Divorce decrees and/or written declarations can also change the rules. Chapter 3 of <a title=\"Publication 17\" href=\"http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p17.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">IRS Publication 17</a> details this out.\n\nIf all else fails <a href=\"https://www.irs.gov/help/telephone-assistance\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">call and ask</a> a CSR, but be honest in your responses so they can give you the real answer.  Claiming someone on your taxes that someone else should claim could delay your refund or cause you to owe money back.  This is also true if the actual person you are claiming files and claim\'s them self.\n<h2>4.  Get Help Preparing Your Taxes</h2>\nFor those who make $54,000 or less you can receive free help at a <a href=\"https://www.irs.gov/individuals/free-tax-return-preparation-for-you-by-volunteers\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">VITA site</a>.  Those over the age of 60 can participate in the Tax Counseling for the elderly program and there are some things for a few other specific groups as well.  For everyone else don\'t be afraid to call 1-800-829-1040, the IRS help line, to get assistance (after the government shutdown ends).  Also, use <a title=\"Publication 17\" href=\"http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p17.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">IRS Publication 17 </a>to assist you in preparing your taxes.\n<h2>5.  Use Free Online Filing Options</h2>\nYou should use the <a title=\"E-File Through IRS\" href=\"https://www.irs.gov/uac/Free-File:-Do-Your-Federal-Taxes-for-Free\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">IRS Free File links</a> to identify all available offers.  Many \"other\" sites have tricky extras that end up costing you when using their links.  Make sure you read and understand (especially the fine print) before clicking the button of sites outside of the list the IRS provides and even read those too.\n<h2>6.  Appropriately Apply Deductions and Credits</h2>\n<img class=\"alignleft wp-image-5751 \" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/tax-filing-683x1024.png\" alt=\"Organize for Tax Filing - Common Mistakes\" width=\"306\" height=\"459\" />\n\nThere are many deductions and credits out there that people miss because they don\'t educate themselves.  The online filing sites ask questions that help determine whether you are or aren\'t eligible for specific deductions and credits.  If you are using a preparer and the deduction or credit seems too good to be true, always ask for a detailed explanation of how they came up with it or what makes you eligible.  Every deduction and credit has an <a href=\"https://www.irs.gov/publications\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">IRS Publication</a> associated with it.  It doesn\'t take an extremely long time to review them...empower yourself!\n\nAdditionally, you can review the <a href=\"https://taxchanges.us/?source=ttk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">latest changes to the IRS regulations here</a> from the Taxpayer Advocates Office.\n\n&nbsp;\n<h2>7.  Get a Copy of <a title=\"Publication 17\" href=\"http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p17.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">IRS Publication 17</a></h2>\nIt explains most of the scenarios you will need to have covered.  If when reading it refers to another publication, just get it or download it from the website, they are all there.  This is a great place to start when researching changes in the tax code each year too.\n<h2>8.  Keep Good Records</h2>\nYou always want to make sure you have records of anything you plan on claiming...or have a way of proving it if you are ever audited.  Most people have a general idea of what those things are so start keeping a running file of those items, be that electronic or physical.  If you know you will have a lot of receipts, have a way of categorizing them to make it easier come tax time.\n\nJust to note, everyone now files a Form 1040, (<a href=\"https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-1040\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">see recent changes</a>).  Additionally, with the new tax law changes the standard deduction will probably be more beneficial for most people, but you never know until you crunch the numbers...so plan for it until you identify what is best for you.\n<h2>9.  Know Tax Year Changes</h2>\nWe all experience life happenings, some of the biggest ones are caused by natural disasters, job loss, home loss and other national happenings.  Along with these changes comes changes to the tax rules, some good and some bad.  Please educate yourselves so you don\'t miss out or make a mistake when it comes to <a href=\"https://www.irs.gov/Credits-&amp;-Deductions\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">credits and deductions</a>. (i.e., If you claim the <a title=\"Earned Income Tax Credit\" href=\"https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/earned-income-tax-credit\" data-entity-substitution=\"canonical\" data-entity-type=\"node\" data-entity-uuid=\"4acaffc8-4b32-479f-af7c-6bc23902a13f\">Earned Income Tax Credit</a> or <a title=\"Does My Child/Dependent Qualify for the Child Tax Credit or the Credit for Other Dependents?  \" href=\"https://www.irs.gov/help/ita/does-my-childdependent-qualify-for-the-child-tax-credit-or-the-credit-for-other-dependents\" data-entity-substitution=\"canonical\" data-entity-type=\"node\" data-entity-uuid=\"6b0e6fb6-274b-40df-963f-02bae20a5ede\">Additional Child Tax Credit</a>, the IRS cannot issue refunds before mid-February\n\nDon\'t let this one scare you, you have the ability to do this on your own.  Again, most of the information you need to know is covered in Publication 17 or you can check out the <a href=\"https://taxchanges.us/?source=ttk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Taxpayer Advocate Office\'s list of changes here</a>.  One tip is to look for the green or red arrows to identify items you need to pay close attention to.\n\nThe key is for you to be aware so you can ensure there isn\'t a credit, deduction or additional tax that you didn\'t have to pay in years past (marriage/divorce, birth/death, new home, etc.) or new ones that you do.  Don\'t leave money on the table.\n<h2>10.  Don\'t Miss the Deadline</h2>\nWhatever you do, do not miss the April 15th deadline if you owe!  File an extension, but don\'t just try to ignore it as though it\'s going to go away because it is not.  In fact, all that\'s going to happen is interest and penalties will continue to add up (these are calculated daily!).   If it is just a matter of you don\'t have the money, it\'s okay!!!  Just call and tell them you want to make an arrangement to pay.  They will set you up on a payment plan that works for your budget...no matter the amount.  I actually had to do this myself shortly after college when I was categorized as an Independent Contractor and didn\'t realize I had to pay my own taxes (I was young).  The letter I received from the IRS stated that I owed $20,000 and I of course went into a mass panic.  The key to this story is that I was able to make arrangements and pay it off.  It took me a while, but I did it...and you can too.\n<h1>A Few Bonus Tax Tips</h1>\nOk, so after writing #10 above, I felt obligated to add a couple of bonus tips for you small business owners...\n<h2>Bonus 1:  Know Small Business Requirements</h2>\nMake sure you know what taxes you owe, both for your Federal and State taxes.  As a person who experienced the stress of owing the Government, you want to make sure you know and understand your requirements as a business owner, especially all of you who are independent contractors.  If you don\'t pay quarterly taxes you need to ensure you are taking the appropriate taxes out of the money you make from every sell.  If not, you risk getting shocked at the end of the year.\n<h2>Bonus 2:  Business Tax and Sale Log</h2>\nNow for some small businesses you haven\'t made enough sells to justify purchasing an accounting software for your business.  There are mixed feelings about this, but I say do what is best for your business.  If you are diligent about keeping track of what is going in and out of your business, you can do it by hand without a problem.  Of course the more successful you are, the more complicated your in-take and out-take procedures and processes are and the riskier and more difficult it becomes.\n<h2>Bonus 3:  Know What You Are Filing</h2>\nEven if you have your taxes prepared by someone else, you should always have a clear understanding and approve of what is being filed on your behalf.  You are ultimately responsible, whether someone else made the decision to do it or not.  By signing the last line on your physical and electronic return, you are certifying that you are taking the responsibility for everything on the document, so take it seriously.  Don\'t let someone rush you through the explanation of your taxes. If you are paying them, you are paying for their time...so use it.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI hope you found these tips helpful!  Please let me know if you do by sharing, liking and/or commenting on this post below, I\'d love your feedback.','10 Tax Filing Tips to Help Organize Your Filing Process with the IRS','','inherit','closed','closed','','145-autosave-v1','','','2019-01-07 17:36:09','2019-01-07 17:36:09','',145,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/145-autosave-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6439,1,'2018-01-02 19:22:34','2018-01-02 19:22:34','Many of you probably didn\'t know but I was actually a customer service representative for the Internal Revenue Service back in the day.  It was a great experience and made me realize the mistakes that people make on a regular basis as it relates to their personal income tax.  I decided it would be good for me to share some of the most common issues I used to and still do see (almost twenty years later), to help you avoid them.\r\n\r\nNow I know that many of you get anxious and itching to file your taxes in January, because that is like an instant payday to you.  I mean I totally get it, but seriously people CALM DOWN!!!!  I promise you taking a little time and ensuring you have crossed the T\'s and dotted the I\'s can save you not only time but money and frustration.  Ok now before I provide you with these tips I want to put out a disclaimer:  I am not a tax professional.  I am providing you information based on my own experiences as a CSR for those filing personal tax returns and want you to use your own judgement as to whether or not you should implement these tips in your own life.\r\n\r\nAlright, now that that\'s out of the way, lets get to it:\r\n<h2>1.  Don\'t File Too Fast</h2>\r\nMany of you only worked at one place, so you get your W2 and you want to go ahead and file.  I say, \"whoaaaaaa nelly\"!!!  Do you really have all the documents you need to file?  You need to really think about what assets/liabilities you have and ensure you properly account for them in all the places on your tax form.  You\'d hate to receive your refund and then have to pay back money or amend your return because you omitted something in error.  By law, all tax documents should be postmarked by Jan 31st...so at least wait until Feb 5th. to ensure you have what you need.\r\n<h2>2.  Avoid Anticipation Loans</h2>\r\nNow, I don\'t want any of these companies trying to sue me for telling the truth here.  The truth is that by going to these places you are essentially taking out a loan on your own money!  Did you know by filing electronically you can get your money in as quick as 7 days?!?!  Why pay someone to do the same thing that you can do for free?  Just go directly to the source, file your taxes electronically...provide them with an account number and they will deposit your money into it directly.  If you want to <a href=\"https://sa.www4.irs.gov/irfof/lang/en/irfofgetstatus.jsp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">get the status of your refund</a>, you can go to the IRS website directly.\r\n<h2>3.  Mind Who You Claim</h2>\r\nIf you have a person that may be claimable by someone else you need to ensure you can claim them before you put them on your taxes.  Just because they live with you during the year does not mean you can claim them.  It\'s based on five tests:  Relationship, age, residency, support and joint return and the answers aren\'t necessarily what you may think.  Divorce decrees and/or written declarations can also change the rules.  Chapter 3 of <a title=\"Publication 17\" href=\"http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p17.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">IRS Publication 17</a> details this out.  If all else fails <a href=\"https://www.irs.gov/help/telephone-assistance\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">call and ask</a> a CSR, but be honest in your responses so they can give you the real answer.  Claiming someone on your taxes that someone else should claim could delay your refund or cause you to owe money back.  This is true if the actual person you are claiming files and claim\'s them self.\r\n<h2>4.  Get Help Preparing Your Taxes</h2>\r\nFor those who make $54,000 or less you can receive free help at a <a href=\"http://irs.treasury.gov/freetaxprep/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">VITA site</a>.  Those over the age of 60 can participate in the Tax Counseling for the elderly program and there are some things for a few other specific groups as well.  For everyone else don\'t be afraid to call 1-800-829-1040, the IRS help line, to get assistance.  Also, use <a title=\"Publication 17\" href=\"http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p17.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">IRS Publication 17 </a>to assist you in preparing your taxes.\r\n<h2>5.  Use Free Online Filing Options</h2>\r\nYou should use the <a title=\"E-File Through IRS\" href=\"https://www.irs.gov/uac/Free-File:-Do-Your-Federal-Taxes-for-Free\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">IRS Free File links</a> to identify all available offers.  Many \"other\" sites have tricky extras that end up costing you when using their links.  Make sure you read and understand (especially the fine print) before clicking the button of sites outside of the list the IRS provides and even read those too.\r\n<h2>6.  Appropriately Apply Deductions and Credits</h2>\r\n<img class=\"alignleft wp-image-5751 \" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/tax-filing-683x1024.png\" alt=\"Organize for Tax Filing - Common Mistakes\" width=\"306\" height=\"459\" />\r\n\r\nThere are many deductions and credits out there that people miss because they don\'t educate themselves.  The online filing sites ask questions that help determine whether you are or aren\'t eligible for specific deductions and credits.  If you are using a preparer and the deduction or credit seems too good to be true, always ask for a detailed explanation of how they came up with it or what makes you eligible.  Every deduction and credit has an <a href=\"https://taxmap.ntis.gov/taxmap/pubs/pubtoc.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">IRS Publication</a> associated with it.  It doesn\'t take an extremely long time to review them...empower yourself!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h2>7.  Get a Copy of <a title=\"Publication 17\" href=\"http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p17.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">IRS Publication 17</a></h2>\r\nIt explains most of the scenarios you will need to have covered.  If when reading it refers to another publication, just get it or download it from the website, they are all there.  This is a great place to start when researching changes in the tax code each year too.\r\n<h2>8.  Keep Good Records</h2>\r\nYou always want to make sure you have records of anything you plan on claiming...or have a way of proving it if you are ever audited.  Most people have a general idea of what those things are so start keeping a running file of those items be that electronic or physical.  If you know you will have a lot of receipts, have a way of categorizing them to make it easier come tax time.  If filing a 1040 Form (aka F1040), make sure you keep a charitable donation and gift log as well.  In some cases the standard deduction was more beneficial for me, but you never know until you crunch the numbers...so plan for it just in case.\r\n<h2>9.  Know Tax Year Changes</h2>\r\nWe all experience life happenings, some of the biggest ones are caused by natural disasters, job loss, home loss and other national happenings.  Along with these changes comes changes to the tax rules, some good and some bad.  Please educate yourselves so you don\'t miss out or make a mistake when it comes to <a href=\"https://www.irs.gov/Credits-&amp;-Deductions\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">credits and deductions</a>.  Don\'t let this one scare you, you have the ability to do this on your own.  Again, most of the information you need to know is covered in Publication 17.  Just be aware so you can ensure there isn\'t a credit, deduction or additional tax that you didn\'t have to pay in years past (marriage/divorce, birth/death, new home, etc.) or new ones that you do.\r\n<h2>10.  Don\'t Miss the Deadline</h2>\r\nWhatever you do, do not miss the April 15th deadline if you owe!  File an extension, but don\'t just try to ignore it as though it\'s going to go away because it is not.  In fact, all that\'s going to happen is interest and penalties will continue to add up (these are calculated daily!).   If it is just a matter of you don\'t have the money, it\'s okay!!!  Just call and tell them you want to make an arrangement to pay.  They will set you up on a payment plan that works for your budget...no matter the amount.  I actually had to do this myself the year I was categorized as an Independent Contractor and didn\'t realize I had to pay my own taxes (I was young).  The letter I received from the IRS stated that I owed $20,000 and I of course went into a mass panic.  The key to this story is that I was able to make arrangements and pay it off.  It took me about 10 or so years, but I did it...and you can too.\r\n<h1>A Few Bonus Tax Tips</h1>\r\nOk, so after writing #10 above, I felt obligated to add a couple of bonus tips for you small business owners...\r\n<h2>Bonus 1:  Know Small Business Requirements</h2>\r\nMake sure you know what taxes you owe, both for your Federal and State taxes.  As a person who experienced the stress of owing the Government, you want to make sure you know and understand your requirements as a business owner, especially all of you who are independent contractors.  If you don\'t pay quarterly taxes you need to ensure you are taking the appropriate taxes out of the money you make from every sell.  If not, you risk getting shocked at the end of the year.\r\n<h2>Bonus 2:  Business Tax and Sale Log</h2>\r\nNow for some small businesses you haven\'t made enough sells to justify purchasing an accounting software for your business.  There are mixed feelings about this, but I say do what is best for your business.  If you are diligent about keeping track of what is going in and out of your business, you can do it by hand without a problem.  Of course the more successful you are, the more complicated your in-take and out-take procedures and processes are and the riskier and more difficult it becomes.\r\n<h2>Bonus 3:  Know What You Are Filing</h2>\r\nEven if you have your taxes prepared by someone else, you should always have a clear understanding and approve of what is being filed on your behalf.  You are ultimately responsible, whether someone else made the decision to do it or not.  By signing the last line on your physical and electronic return, you are certifying that you are taking the responsibility for everything on the document, so take it seriously.  Don\'t let someone rush you through the explanation of your taxes. If you are paying them, you are paying for their time...so use it.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI hope you found these tips helpful!  Please let me know if you do by sharing, liking and/or commenting on this post below, I\'d love your feedback.','Organize your Tax Filing Process with these 10 Tax Filing Tips','','inherit','closed','closed','','145-revision-v1','','','2018-01-02 19:22:34','2018-01-02 19:22:34','',145,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/145-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6440,1,'2018-01-02 19:44:05','2018-01-02 19:44:05','You guys know I am all about saving time and money, but what you may not know is that I absolutely love using routing to improve my overall productivity.  What is routing?  It is the act or process by which you plan out and route your journey so you follow the path of least resistance.\r\n\r\nAlright, I know that was a lot of words, so let me give you an example.  Lets say today you have a meeting you need to attend, you need to drop off a sales packet and run by a supplier.  In planning those events for today I would map out the path these take and basically make a circle. Determine if you have any downtime between meetings and plan in a site visit or look up the nearest Starbucks where you can work.  You also would need to ensure you have the files you need to work on while at Starbucks.\r\n<h2>How Does Routing Improve Productivity?</h2>\r\nYou see unless you have a delivery service, most people don\'t realize how much time is truly wasted when they fail to route their day.  In the above mentioned scenario it is often that people will go to work then go to the supplier, then back to work...to leave 45 minutes later to drop off the sales packet, etc.  The result of this is wasted time and money.\r\n\r\nOnce you begin the process of routing, you will find that early planning helps you better plan your route.  You may start by just routing one day and see how it helps, but think about how applying <a href=\"http://ctt.ec/UB4F9\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img class=\"alignright\" src=\"http://clicktotweet.com/img/tweet-graphic-3.png\" alt=\"Tweet: Start by routing one day and see how it helps increase your productivity. Learn how here http://ctt.ec/UB4F9+ #productivity #timemanagement\" /></a>routing to your entire week will save you a lot of time.  How planning one particular day of the week as the day to schedule out of office meetings or maybe you service one side of the city on certain days?  The possibilities are endless, just think outside the box about what you are doing on a daily basis and see where you can route your activities.<a href=\"http://ctt.ec/UB4F9\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-6407 size-full\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Click-to-tweet-768-x-150.png\" alt=\"Click to tweet - Routing Your Day | The Happiness Bucket\" width=\"768\" height=\"150\" /></a>\r\n<h2>How Do You \"Route\" to Improve Productivity?</h2>\r\nSo, now that I\'ve told you all about this fabulousness, how do you do it?  Well, it is easier than you think.  In a nutshell, you figure out all the things you need to do for the day and then you map out a plan to accomplish it with as little effort as possible.  So, start by looking at your calendar for today...does it require you to leave your office or your desk?  If you are a solopreneur or someone trying to work a full-time job and build a business at a same time, I encourage you to include your personal items as well.  Why?  because you are often times struggling to find pockets of time in your life as a whole, not just your business.  Alright so lets walk through it:\r\n<h3>Create your List of Things To Do</h3>\r\nStart the process of routing by just writing down everything that needs to be done for the day. On your schedule today you have to do the following:\r\n<ul>\r\n 	<li>Take the dog to the vet, which closes at 5 (5 miles from your home);</li>\r\n 	<li>Drop off your upcoming event invitations at the printer;</li>\r\n 	<li>Conduct a consultation with a potential client;</li>\r\n 	<li>Pick up your child from school at 4 (10 miles from home);</li>\r\n 	<li>Go grocery shopping for dinner (2 miles from home);</li>\r\n 	<li>Get stamps at the post office to mail the invitations; and</li>\r\n 	<li>Take your child to practice (you normally just sit and wait).</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<h3>Begin the Routing Process</h3>\r\n<img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5791\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Routing-101-200x300.png\" alt=\"How to Increase Productivity with Routing | www.thehappinessbucket.com\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" />\r\n\r\nIn looking at what has to be done, see where things can be done together.  In looking at the list above, I would route it as follows (I have included the why):\r\n<ol>\r\n 	<li> I\'d work to conduct the consultation with the potential client as early as possible.  You want to make sure you are fresh.  This also gives the client time to get settled and allows you to avoid rush hour.  You want to be able to wear something a little more professional as you are a representative of your business.</li>\r\n 	<li>Depending on when the consultation is I would drop off the event invites at the printer before or after the consultation.</li>\r\n 	<li>On the way home I\'d go to the grocery store and knock out the grocery shopping, at the same time I\'d pick up the stamps (assuming I absolutely want to add a stamp, otherwise I\'d just plan to hand deliver these to the post office and have them stamp them there with the machine). This allows me to drop off the groceries at home, change my clothes and pick up the dog (I would also try to figure out a less busy day to grocery shop if possible).</li>\r\n 	<li>I\'d then take the dog to the vet on my way to pick up the kids from school (if there was enough time and if it wasn\'t an overnight visit).  I\'d work on my report while waiting on the dog to finish, if it wasn\'t overnight.</li>\r\n 	<li>Take my child to their practice and continue to work on the consultation report from that morning.</li>\r\n</ol>\r\nBy developing this routing schedule, I know exactly what I need to do and how to do it in the most efficient way possible.\r\n<h2>The Productivity Benefits of Routing</h2>\r\nWhen you start routing your calendar, you begin to identify your optimal times of the day and week. You will begin to see how much easier things are and how much time you can recover.  You will begin to make deliberate decisions as to when and how you are going to do something.  No more doing things randomly, each action is calculated as to how it effects the day and your desired deliverables.\r\n<h3>The Birth of Batching</h3>\r\nSuccessful routing eventually grows into batching, which I talk about in <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/batching/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Organizing and Increasing Productivity Using Batching</a>.  You will also begin to see patterns and areas where you can move things around.  Why do you grocery shop during the week?  Can you pick a different day of the week when you aren\'t as busy or are naturally in the area.  You will figure out when you have must haves versus like to haves or I wanna\'s.  You will also be able to eliminate things that you really don\'t need to do.\r\n\r\nSo I\'m curious, prior to reading this post had you ever routed?  If so, share any ideas or ways you use routing to improve your overall productivity.  If this is your first time hearing about routing? How will try to incorporate it in your day?','Improve Personal Productivity by Routing Your Day','','inherit','closed','closed','','5124-revision-v1','','','2018-01-02 19:44:05','2018-01-02 19:44:05','',5124,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/5124-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6441,1,'2018-01-02 19:44:54','2018-01-02 19:44:54','Project brainstorming is something that can honestly make or break your project. It is the time you and/or your team comes together to think of the pros and the cons, all the things that need to happen, and the assumed order in which those things should take place. It\'s a time when your team feels heard and all ideas are considered safe.\r\n\r\nNo matter whether the team is made up of internal employees or a Client and their employees, it\'s a great time to build team moral and the overall excitement for the project. As the team leader you can observe how your team is working together to identify problem areas, personality conflicts and overall strengths and weaknesses.\r\n\r\nI love this time in a project, because it really shows what I have to work with...it is the one time everyone is a little vulnerable and is on the same level. It\'s new beginnings and the energy that enters the room that is truly amazing.\r\n<h2>How to Start the Brainstorming Process</h2>\r\nThere are many ways to go about the brainstorming process. The one thing as a small business owner you don\'t want to do, is brainstorm completely by yourself. You also don\'t want to conduct a brainstorming session with non-workers. You need worker bees to give their input and buy-in because they are the ones really doing the work. If you are able to, you want to get some feedback from the people who are actually using or those that you want to use the system, product, space, etc. These individuals in the project management world are referred to as your key Stakeholders, Clients or Target Market. The people you will be servicing or who will benefit the most from whatever it is you are providing. The worst thing you can do is create something for yourself assuming others will think it is just as great as your mind makes it out to be. The reality is that you aren\'t the customer. You are the person providing the service or product or developing the system. You are biased so you need to get as many unbiased opinions as possible.\r\n\r\n<img class=\"alignleft wp-image-5788 size-medium\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/small-business-brainstorming-200x300.png\" alt=\"How to Brainstorm as a Small Business | www.thehappinessbucket.com\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" />This is how you build a full plan...this is how you begin identifying requirements and risks. This is the one piece of the puzzle you don\'t want to miss or it could be extremely detrimental to your timeline and possibly your project as a whole.\r\n<h2>Brainstorming Techniques</h2>\r\nOn <a href=\"https://www.instagram.com/thehappinessbucket/\">Instagram</a>, we covered many different brainstorming techniques.  Lets talk about a two of my favorities:\r\n<h3>The Sticky Note Brainstorming Technique</h3>\r\nOne of my favorites is the sticky note technique. It is basically when you give all participants a stack of sticky notes and you give them a topic and say go! They begin to write down things that need to be done or questions that they may have around the topic. You put those under the section so everyone can see all the input. By seeing it in this fashion, some of the items will trigger other thoughts and action items and in some cases, it may breed a brand new topic area that you hadn\'t thought about.  Participants can also add an identifier of agreement on the sticky to \"bump it up\" in importance.\r\n<h3>The Kanban Board Brainstorming Technique</h3>\r\nAnother favorite of mine is the kanban board. You basically take a number of different columns/channels and you create a grid on the wall/board/sheet of paper. The most common categories I use are - backlog, active, pending, complete/closed and hold. You aren\'t bound by these specific categories, but they are very common. Every to do, issue, and question goes under the backlog section. Your team then would work from this master list ...picking off things that are most important (this can be done by view or using a scoring method). They move the items through the categories until they reach the completed/closed column. Usually there are rules as to how <img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5787 alignright\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Brainstorming-Session-300x300.png\" alt=\"Brainstorming Session | www.thehappinessbucket.com\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" />many items you can have in play at one time...and sometimes there is a limit as to how many low vs. high items you can pick at a time. These rules are determined by your project team.\r\n<h3>The Mindmap Brainstorming Technique</h3>\r\nThe mindmap brainstorming technique rounds out my top favorites.  This technique uses a tree root type of development system.  Each thought brings on other thoughts which builds out your plan or root system of thought.  You start with one topic/idea, and you let that branch off into other areas that need to be explored.  Each area can branch off into areas related to them, ultimately creating a full root system of ideas.  This is a great technique to use when you have no idea where to start. Let your thoughts dictate which branch to develop and brainstorm.\r\n\r\nNow there are other techniques out there, but these are three of my favorites.\r\n<h2>Brainstorming as a Solopreneur</h2>\r\nIf you are a solopreneur or a small business owner with only one employee, don\'t fret...you can use brainstorming methods too. You just won\'t have a lot of input from others...it will mainly be just you and your employee if you have one. I often times will recommend letting an independent person look at your brainstorming results and see if they can poke a hole in it or ask questions maybe you didn\'t ask. This is a great peer to peer exercise, because we are sometimes so close to something that we can\'t see the forest for the trees.  You can also conduct a focus group with some individuals from your target market or your peer group.  The key is you want to get someone else\'s feedback prior to proceeding.\r\n<h3>The Benefits of a Success Brainstorming Session</h3>\r\nOnce your brainstorming session is over you can review the information received and often times it will jump start the development of your project plan.  It can begin to build your issues and/or action log.  It can also help you develop your project requirements list.  A successful brainstorming session is definitely a valuable tool that you should use on as many projects as possible.\r\n\r\nSo how often do you use brainstorming on your projects? Is this a step that you have missed in the past or did you make the mistake of conducting it without any outside input? Let me know in the comments below.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Check out our <a href=\"https://www.instagram.com/thehappinessbucket/\">Instagram posts</a> for more information about brainstorming and other organization and productivity tips.</p>','Brainstorming for Small Businesses','','inherit','closed','closed','','5249-autosave-v1','','','2018-01-02 19:44:54','2018-01-02 19:44:54','',5249,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/5249-autosave-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6442,1,'2018-01-02 20:15:57','2018-01-02 20:15:57','Today, we are making a deposit in our business bucket, because I\'m seeing something that needs to be addressed.  As moms and small business owners, we are often juggling many things at the same time and one of those things is our business. In observing small businesses around the area and on online, I have found that many are missing some basic business processes.  Now, I know many of us learn on the job, myself included...but there are a few business processes that are important for you to get right out of the gate.\n\nNow, don\'t fret if you find that you need to resolve a number of these areas in your business. Business processes aren\'t necessarily a small business owner\'s specialty, your craft is...but don\'t worry because it is my specialty and I\'m gonna help you through it all. By making a few of these small changes in your processes, you can turn from being a reactive business to a proactive one and drive potential customers to your product or service, instead of to your competitors.\n\nSo lets get into these business process tips:\n<h2>Anticipate Your Customer\'s Needs</h2>\nWhen you are creating processes in your business, you should do so by anticipating your customer\'s needs.  This enables you to prepare to answer their questions and deliver the supporting items to help meet their needs.  By taking this small step, it makes your customers feel understood, supported and safe doing business with you.\n<h2>Create Business Policies</h2>\nMany customers want to know their risk level upfront before they commit to doing business with you.  Think about the things you want to put into place to protect not only your business, but your customers too.  A few of the common policies you need to have in place are:  refund/return/cancellation policy, payment policy, travel policy, etc.  Think about the things you would want to know about a company if you were the customer and ensure you have those same policies and guidelines in place.\n<h2>Frequently Asked Questions</h2>\n<img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5743 alignleft\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Reactive-Proactive-200x300.png\" alt=\"Reactive vs. Proactive Business Processes\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" />\n\nAnother area where you can anticipate need is by having a frequently asked questions (FAQ) list.  You can easily build this list from the questions people regularly ask you.  You can choose where you provide access to this information, it may be once a person shows interest in your service/product that you provide it then, or you may just list it on your website for easy access.  I find this usually depends on your industry and whether or not you provide a service or a product.  I personally don\'t think there is a right or wrong answer, just do what works best for you and makes you and your customer feel comfortable.\n\n&nbsp;\n<h2>Identify Customer Requirements</h2>\nPlace yourself in the position of your customer and try to think through the expectation or requirements they may have for your service or product.  For example, a landscaper needs a customer to make specific decisions or provide specific information.  This information will help you complete the job as expected by the customer.  For example, how low do you want the grass cut, are there restrictions in your neighborhood, how often should you come, etc.  By obtaining this information ahead of time, it sets the expectations and the requirements for the job.  Creating customer information forms or questionnaires can help identify and capture these requirements from the customer.\n<h2>Quality Assurance</h2>\nThis is an area that is often missed.  Testing and looking for quality within your product or service is critical for retaining clients.  You should test your processes in both a controlled and uncontrolled environment.  Walk through your processes as though you are your ideal customer, to ensure you have thought through all the possible scenarios (or the top three) that could come up.   Once you feel comfortable with your processes, have someone else walk through it without your assistance to see if they notice anything that isn\'t right or to see if they have any questions about the process.\n\nI hope you have found this information helpful.  Feel free to watch the video below, which covers this information in a little more detail.  If you feel you need a little more guidance in reviewing your business processes, I encourage you to <a href=\"mailto: dana@thehappinessbucket.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">connect with me to set up your business consultation.</a> or consider purchasing my <a href=\"https://gumroad.com/l/sEes\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">business process leaks ebook</a>.\n\n[embed]https://youtu.be/yfPE2XG7wFM[/embed]\n\n&nbsp;','Be More Proactive with Defined Business Processes','','inherit','closed','closed','','5236-autosave-v1','','','2018-01-02 20:15:57','2018-01-02 20:15:57','',5236,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/5236-autosave-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6443,1,'2018-01-02 20:17:03','2018-01-02 20:17:03','Today, we are making a deposit in our business bucket, because I\'m seeing something that needs to be addressed.  As moms and small business owners, we are often juggling many things at the same time and one of those things is our business. In observing small businesses around the area and on online, I have found that many are missing some basic business processes.  Now, I know many of us learn on the job, myself included...but there are a few business processes that are important for you to get right out of the gate.\r\n\r\nNow, don\'t fret if you find that you need to resolve a number of these areas in your business. Business processes aren\'t necessarily a small business owner\'s specialty, your craft is...but don\'t worry because it is my specialty and I\'m gonna help you through it all. By making a few of these small changes in your processes, you can turn from being a reactive business to a proactive one and drive potential customers to your product or service, instead of to your competitors.\r\n\r\nSo lets get into these business process tips:\r\n<h2>Anticipate Your Customer\'s Needs</h2>\r\nWhen you are creating processes in your business, you should do so by anticipating your customer\'s needs.  This enables you to prepare to answer their questions and deliver the supporting items to help meet their needs.  By taking this small step, it makes your customers feel understood, supported and safe doing business with you.\r\n<h2>Create Business Policies</h2>\r\nMany customers want to know their risk level upfront before they commit to doing business with you.  Think about the things you want to put into place to protect not only your business, but your customers too.  A few of the common policies you need to have in place are:  refund/return/cancellation policy, payment policy, travel policy, etc.  Think about the things you would want to know about a company if you were the customer and ensure you have those same policies and guidelines in place.\r\n<h2>Frequently Asked Questions</h2>\r\n<img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5743 alignleft\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Reactive-Proactive-200x300.png\" alt=\"Reactive vs. Proactive Business Processes\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" />\r\n\r\nAnother area where you can anticipate need is by having a frequently asked questions (FAQ) list.  You can easily build this list from the questions people regularly ask you.  You can choose where you provide access to this information, it may be once a person shows interest in your service/product that you provide it then, or you may just list it on your website for easy access.  I find this usually depends on your industry and whether or not you provide a service or a product.  I personally don\'t think there is a right or wrong answer, just do what works best for you and makes you and your customer feel comfortable.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h2>Identify Customer Requirements</h2>\r\nPlace yourself in the position of your customer and try to think through the expectation or requirements they may have for your service or product.  For example, a landscaper needs a customer to make specific decisions or provide specific information.  This information will help you complete the job as expected by the customer.  For example, how low do you want the grass cut, are there restrictions in your neighborhood, how often should you come, etc.  By obtaining this information ahead of time, it sets the expectations and the requirements for the job.  Creating customer information forms or questionnaires can help identify and capture these requirements from the customer.\r\n<h2>Quality Assurance</h2>\r\nThis is an area that is often missed.  Testing and looking for quality within your product or service is critical for retaining clients.  You should test your processes in both a controlled and uncontrolled environment.  Walk through your processes as though you are your ideal customer, to ensure you have thought through all the possible scenarios (or the top three) that could come up.   Once you feel comfortable with your processes, have someone else walk through it without your assistance to see if they notice anything that isn\'t right or to see if they have any questions about the process.\r\n\r\nI hope you have found this information helpful.  Feel free to watch the video below, which covers this information in a little more detail.  If you feel you need a little more guidance in reviewing your business processes, I encourage you to <a href=\"mailto: dana@thehappinessbucket.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">connect with me to set up your business consultation.</a> or consider purchasing my <a href=\"https://gumroad.com/l/sEes\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">business process leaks ebook</a>.\r\n\r\n[embed]https://youtu.be/yfPE2XG7wFM[/embed]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Be More Proactive with Defined Business Processes','','inherit','closed','closed','','5236-revision-v1','','','2018-01-02 20:17:03','2018-01-02 20:17:03','',5236,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/5236-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6450,1,'2018-01-03 20:21:42','2018-01-03 20:21:42','How many times have you looked around and realized you had notes written on every type of surface.  Sticky notes, pads of paper, on the back of an envelope, on something you shouldn\'t have...\r\n\r\nThe day I discovered Evernote is the day that really changed the game for me and my family.  It is a program that truly understands the mobile person/family and keeping them organized.  So let me share 5 ways that Evernote can change your personal, family or business dynamic too.<!--more-->\r\n<h1>Use Evernote for Grocery and Stockpile Lists</h1>\r\nHow many times have you been at the store and thought, how much of XYZ do we have and you pick one up just in case to get home and see you have three.  Okay well what about when your spouse is going by the grocery store and he/she calls you at work and says, honey do we have XYZ at home?  You are thinking, I have no idea?!?!?  Well, my husband and I now use Evernote to keep track of both our grocery and stockpile list.  It is great!  At any time we are at the store we can pull it up on our mobile device and add it.  It is also great for those moments when you are out and remember you need this or that...you can just open it and add it right there.  This has changed the game!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h1>Use Evernote for Home Management</h1>\r\nSo I am a big proponent of the home management binder, but the one problem I always had was trying to keep the info updated in the binder...and everyone having the info handy when it was needed.  Well low and behold Evernote resolved that issue for us.  We now have it electronic\r\n\r\n<img class=\"wp-image-3294 alignleft\" src=\"https://thehappinessbucket.files.wordpress.com/2015/04/proj-mgmt-website-image.png?w=300\" alt=\"Pen and Journal\" width=\"268\" height=\"151\" />\r\n\r\nin this system.  I have a \"note\" that lists all of our information from light bulb brands/sizes to the air conditioner man\'s number and rates.  Again, it is all there and can be shared with the necessary people.  Just yesterday my husband called to ask me the sizes of our filters.  Unfortunately, it wasn\'t in Evernote, but it is now!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h1>Use Evernote for Email To Do\'s</h1>\r\nA feature of Evernote I love is the Outlook email capture feature.  Now, I\'m not sure if this is a feature in all email or even email on your mobile device, but I have this plugin on my work computer.  So, as I work, if I get an email with an action item attached to it I can either just add it to an Action - To Call list I have set up or I can capture that email, removing the info I don\'t need from it and just save the action that way.  This has allowed me to reduce my email box size as well as millions of trees.  Now yes, you could do this in your mail system, but if you choose to do that make sure your notes/tasks are available offline when you aren\'t on your computer.  As you guys know I like to batch my work, so knowing I\'m working on a project to knock out XYZ and can just tunnel vision into that makes me very happy and Evernote allows me to do just that.\r\n<h1>Use Evernote\'s Website Capture Feature</h1>\r\nThis is another great feature that allows you to take pieces of a webpage and save it as well.  This is helpful for those projects you work on where you need the website visual so you know what to do or to reference for a short period and then you can get rid of it.  You really don\'t want to save it in your favorites but you don\'t want to lose it either.\r\n<h1>Use Evernote to keep track of Random Lists</h1>\r\nI maintain a number of lists with this system as well.  Book reading order list, list of vendors I like to use for my business, list of items I need to research, Sizes of my In-Law\'s, etc.  The other great things is that you can set reminders for your \"notes\" too.  There is a checklist bullet that allows you to check things off as you complete them as well.\r\n\r\nAs you can see, the ability to create notes and lists on the fly and sync them through all of your devices is something that has changed our world.  Something I didn\'t even mention is the fact that you can tag your notes for easy retrieval, but it also has a great generic search and the fact that you can share your notes with others or just print them.  I encourage you to give it a try, it is free so what will you lose.  Make sure to share what you think about it and if you have used it for other purposes I\'d love to hear that too.\r\n\r\nUntil next time, happy organizing!\r\n\r\n<hr />\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">I hope you found some useful information in this post. If you did, please consider letting me know.</p>','5 Ways that Evernote Organized My Life','','inherit','closed','closed','','3619-autosave-v1','','','2018-01-03 20:21:42','2018-01-03 20:21:42','',3619,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/3619-autosave-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6451,1,'2018-01-03 20:17:25','2018-01-03 20:17:25','','Use Evernote to Organize | The Happiness Bucket','','inherit','open','closed','','evernote-main','','','2018-01-03 20:18:12','2018-01-03 20:18:12','',3619,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Evernote-Main.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(6452,1,'2018-01-03 20:17:27','2018-01-03 20:17:27','','Use Evernote to Organize | The Happiness Bucket','','inherit','open','closed','','evernote','','','2018-01-03 20:18:42','2018-01-03 20:18:42','',3619,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Evernote.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(6453,1,'2018-01-03 20:22:08','2018-01-03 20:22:08','How many times have you looked around and realized you had notes written on every type of surface.  Sticky notes, pads of paper, on the back of an envelope, on something you shouldn\'t have...\r\n\r\nThe day I discovered Evernote is the day that really changed the game for me and my family.  It is a program that truly understands the mobile person/family and keeping them organized.  So let me share 5 ways that Evernote can change your personal, family or business dynamic too.<!--more-->\r\n<h1>Use Evernote for Grocery and Stockpile Lists</h1>\r\nHow many times have you been at the store and thought, how much of XYZ do we have and you pick one up just in case to get home and see you have three.  Okay well what about when your spouse is going by the grocery store and he/she calls you at work and says, honey do we have XYZ at home?  You are thinking, I have no idea?!?!?  Well, my husband and I now use Evernote to keep track of both our grocery and stockpile list.  It is great!  At any time we are at the store we can pull it up on our mobile device and add it.  It is also great for those moments when you are out and remember you need this or that...you can just open it and add it right there.  This has changed the game!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h1>Use Evernote for Home Management</h1>\r\nSo I am a big proponent of the home management binder, but the one problem I always had was trying to keep the info updated in the binder...and everyone having the info handy when it was needed.  Well low and behold Evernote resolved that issue for us.  We now have it electronic\r\n\r\n<img class=\"wp-image-3294 alignleft\" src=\"https://thehappinessbucket.files.wordpress.com/2015/04/proj-mgmt-website-image.png?w=300\" alt=\"Pen and Journal\" width=\"268\" height=\"151\" />\r\n\r\nin this system.  I have a \"note\" that lists all of our information from light bulb brands/sizes to the air conditioner man\'s number and rates.  Again, it is all there and can be shared with the necessary people.  Just yesterday my husband called to ask me the sizes of our filters.  Unfortunately, it wasn\'t in Evernote, but it is now!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h1>Use Evernote for Email To Do\'s</h1>\r\nA feature of Evernote I love is the Outlook email capture feature.  Now, I\'m not sure if this is a feature in all email or even email on your mobile device, but I have this plugin on my work computer.  So, as I work, if I get an email with an action item attached to it I can either just add it to an Action - To Call list I have set up or I can capture that email, removing the info I don\'t need from it and just save the action that way.  This has allowed me to reduce my email box size as well as millions of trees.  Now yes, you could do this in your mail system, but if you choose to do that make sure your notes/tasks are available offline when you aren\'t on your computer.  As you guys know I like to batch my work, so knowing I\'m working on a project to knock out XYZ and can just tunnel vision into that makes me very happy and Evernote allows me to do just that.\r\n<h1>Use Evernote\'s Website Capture Feature</h1>\r\nThis is another great feature that allows you to take pieces of a webpage and save it as well.  This is helpful for those projects you work on where you need the website visual so you know what to do or to reference for a short period and then you can get rid of it.  You really don\'t want to save it in your favorites but you don\'t want to lose it either.\r\n<h1>Use Evernote to keep track of Random Lists</h1>\r\nI maintain a number of lists with this system as well.  Book reading order list, list of vendors I like to use for my business, list of items I need to research, Sizes of my In-Law\'s, etc.  The other great things is that you can set reminders for your \"notes\" too.  There is a checklist bullet that allows you to check things off as you complete them as well.\r\n\r\nAs you can see, the ability to create notes and lists on the fly and sync them through all of your devices is something that has changed our world.  Something I didn\'t even mention is the fact that you can tag your notes for easy retrieval, but it also has a great generic search and the fact that you can share your notes with others or just print them.  I encourage you to give it a try, it is free so what will you lose.  Make sure to share what you think about it and if you have used it for other purposes I\'d love to hear that too.\r\n\r\nUntil next time, happy organizing!\r\n\r\n<hr />\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">I hope you found some useful information in this post. If you did, please consider letting me know.</p>','5 Ways that Evernote Organized My Life','','inherit','closed','closed','','3619-revision-v1','','','2018-01-03 20:22:08','2018-01-03 20:22:08','',3619,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/3619-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6469,1,'2018-01-05 20:04:08','2018-01-05 20:04:08','','Click for Pinterest | The Happiness Bucket','','inherit','open','closed','','click-for-pinterest','','','2018-01-05 20:05:03','2018-01-05 20:05:03','',0,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Click-for-Pinterest.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(6470,1,'2018-01-05 20:30:24','2018-01-05 20:30:24','','Resuse Old Candles | The Happiness Bucket','','inherit','open','closed','','resuse-old-candles','','','2018-01-05 20:31:06','2018-01-05 20:31:06','',0,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Resuse-Old-Candles.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(6471,1,'2018-01-05 20:37:35','2018-01-05 20:37:35','','Scentsy Warmer | The Happiness Bucket','','inherit','open','closed','','scentsy-warmer','','','2018-01-05 20:38:01','2018-01-05 20:38:01','',0,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Scentsy-Warmer.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(6474,1,'2018-01-05 22:45:38','2018-01-05 22:45:38','','Organizational Roadmap | The Happiness Bucket','','inherit','open','closed','','organizational-roadmap-3','','','2018-01-05 22:46:03','2018-01-05 22:46:03','',0,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Organizational-Roadmap-1.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(6516,1,'2018-01-11 20:49:20','2018-01-11 20:49:20','','Create a Photobook | The Happiness Bucket','','inherit','open','closed','','create-a-photobook','','','2018-01-11 20:49:49','2018-01-11 20:49:49','',0,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Create-a-Photobook.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(6678,1,'2018-02-05 22:45:22','2018-02-05 22:45:22','Are you building self-care into your day or week? I see moms all the time running so much that they burn out and get overwhelmed by the mere thought of one more added task/errand. So the question I have for you is are you putting moments of breathing room into your day.\n\nBreathing room can be anything that forces you to take a moment. It could be a 30 min coffee break, a walk around the block, just sitting on your porch. Everyone has their own way of breathing, but here are the rules you need to follow:\n<ol>\n 	<li>Your self-care moments must be for you and only you;</li>\n 	<li>You can invite others, but they must be participating in breathing too (no worrying about children, spouses, work, etc. You are there to relax and breathe);</li>\n 	<li>Your self-care must be for at least 30 mins, but there is no real limit on how long you should take, but realistically if you are doing this once a day it should be limited to probably 30 mins to an hour. If once a week then you can extend that to 2 - 4 hours. Some even take one full day of self-care. Look at your family and your abilities and work around that but make it happen...shoot you could even say every week it\'s 30 and once a month it\'s a full day. The key is don\'t be afraid to voice what you need.;</li>\n 	<li>Notify your family/friends when that time is...and that they should not bother you during your breathing time. Even with little kids you can tell them you are in your breathing corner, encourage them to use that time as their breathing time too. Get a timer or a special chime or music that plays during your breathing time so when they hear it they know what time it is. Think about schools and their nap times and their coordinated events, kids learn fast and they understand what it means when you set expectations and rules to it; and\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_5730\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"200\"]<img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5730\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Self-Care-200x300.png\" alt=\"How to use self-care\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" /> How to use self-care to reduce your overwhelm[/caption]</li>\n 	<li>Don\'t feel one ounce of guilt. You DESERVE the ability to take a moment to yourself to breathe. If you think about it your kids take self-care moments, when they quietly occupy themselves playing a book or vegging on the couch watching tv. You don\'t bother them...and they are left to their own devices. Your spouse takes their self-care time to do it too...what makes you less deserving than them?</li>\n</ol>\nSo today, I want you to commit to yourself that you will take your breathing time seriously. Put an appointment on your calendar, have the conversation with your family and friends and then thank me later lol. I\'d love to hear about your plan of action! Please share below or in our <a href=\"http://www.facebook.com/groups/changeacademy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">community facebook group</a>','How to Use Self-Care to Reduce Your Overwhelm','','inherit','closed','closed','','5722-autosave-v1','','','2018-02-05 22:45:22','2018-02-05 22:45:22','',5722,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/5722-autosave-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6679,1,'2018-02-05 22:46:03','2018-02-05 22:46:03','Are you building self-care into your day or week? I see moms all the time running so much that they burn out and get overwhelmed by the mere thought of one more added task/errand. So the question I have for you is are you putting moments of breathing room into your day.\r\n\r\nBreathing room can be anything that forces you to take a moment. It could be a 30 min coffee break, a walk around the block, just sitting on your porch. Everyone has their own way of breathing, but here are the rules you need to follow:\r\n<ol>\r\n 	<li>Your self-care moments must be for you and only you;</li>\r\n 	<li>You can invite others, but they must be participating in breathing too (no worrying about children, spouses, work, etc. You are there to relax and breathe);</li>\r\n 	<li>Your self-care must be for at least 30 mins, but there is no real limit on how long you should take, but realistically if you are doing this once a day it should be limited to probably 30 mins to an hour. If once a week then you can extend that to 2 - 4 hours. Some even take one full day of self-care. Look at your family and your abilities and work around that but make it happen...shoot you could even say every week it\'s 30 and once a month it\'s a full day. The key is don\'t be afraid to voice what you need;</li>\r\n 	<li>Notify your family/friends when that time is...and that they should not bother you during your breathing time. Even with little kids, you can tell them you are in your breathing corner, encourage them to use that time as their breathing time too. Get a timer or a special chime or music that plays during your breathing time so when they hear it they know what time it is. Think about schools and their nap times and their coordinated events, kids learn fast and they understand what it means when you set expectations and rules for it; and\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_5730\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"200\"]<img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5730\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Self-Care-200x300.png\" alt=\"How to use self-care\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" /> How to use self-care to reduce your overwhelm[/caption]</li>\r\n 	<li>Don\'t feel one ounce of guilt. You DESERVE the ability to take a moment to yourself to breathe. If you think about it your kids take self-care moments, when they quietly occupy themselves playing a book or vegging on the couch watching tv. You don\'t bother them...and they are left to their own devices. Your spouse takes their self-care time to do it too...what makes you less deserving than them?</li>\r\n</ol>\r\nSo today, I want you to commit to yourself that you will take your breathing time seriously. Put an appointment on your calendar, have the conversation with your family and friends and then thank me later lol. I\'d love to hear about your plan of action! Please share below or in our <a href=\"http://www.facebook.com/groups/changeacademy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">community facebook group</a>','How to Use Self-Care to Reduce Your Overwhelm','','inherit','closed','closed','','5722-revision-v1','','','2018-02-05 22:46:03','2018-02-05 22:46:03','',5722,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/5722-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6692,1,'2018-02-07 03:56:36','2018-02-07 03:56:36','.  <img class=\"wp-image-3739 alignleft\" src=\"https://thehappinessbucket.files.wordpress.com/2015/08/dresses-53319_1280.jpg?w=300\" alt=\"dresses-53319_1280\" width=\"229\" height=\"185\" />\r\n\r\nWhen you enter your closet do you hear yourself saying, \"I have nothing to wear!\", yet you have a closet full of clothes? This is a problem that many people experience. The truth is you can\'t see the things you have to wear, because of all the clutter in your closet, which I like to call noise.  Today, let\'s talk about organizing your closet and getting rid of the noise...setting it free so you can hear (see) the clothes you were meant to wear.\r\n\r\nAs many of you know I had a <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/2015/06/26/thborganize-how-to-get-rid-of-excess-weight/\">clothing dilemma</a> due to my weight gain...although I regularly went through my closet I realized I had a lot of excess noise in it.  I had removed most of the too little clothes and put them in bins in our attic, but I still had a number of items in my closet that I skipped over on a daily basis.   It was time for me to face the reality in my life that I had gained my weight back and although I had a few pieces left from my larger days, many were old and faded, some I just didn\'t like, but to keep from purchasing something I forced myself to keep the items. Truth is they just frustrated and complicated my mornings and still remained in my closet unworn (well, more like on the floor or in the side chair). One day I had had enough and decided to tackle my closet once and for all! I was determined to set these clothes and myself free.\r\n<h2>Organizing Starts with Decluttering</h2>\r\nWe all want to look nice in our clothes. We want to look sexy and to feel good and the truth is many of the items in my closet did just the opposite of that. I decided to just release those items...one by one. I let my gut and heart guide me, literally and figuratively. I entered my closet and grabbed anything I didn\'t like.  I grabbed items I regularly skipped over and items I put on and immediately took off...not because I didn\'t like it, but because it didn\'t fit properly.  I know you are thinking...but if I do that I wouldn\'t have anything to wear...I will have to wear the same thing every day!  Well, let me dispel this falsity right now...\r\n\r\n1. You weren\'t wearing it, to begin with, so let it go;\r\n\r\n2.  Many people wear the same clothes all the time.  Observe the people around you and you will see that people just alternate and match things in new ways..  Even if they don\'t so what...DO YOU;\r\n\r\n3.  Getting rid of the noise will help you determine what you really need.\r\n\r\nI decided to live in my now instead of what is to be...yes I\'m working on losing weight, but until then I\'ve decided to embrace the body I have and dress it impeccably.  Since organizing my closet, you know what I have experienced???\r\n<h2>How Clearing the Noise Helped Me</h2>\r\n<ul>\r\n 	<li>Getting dressed is now easy and fun;</li>\r\n 	<li>I\'ve discovered new combinations of clothing I\'ve never paired together before;</li>\r\n 	<li>People are regularly commenting on how good I look or how nice my outfit is;</li>\r\n 	<li>Many think I have new clothes when they are the same items I\'ve worn for years, just in a bad combination.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3176\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"225\"]<img class=\"wp-image-3176 size-medium\" src=\"https://thehappinessbucket.files.wordpress.com/2015/04/img_5835.jpg?w=225\" alt=\"IMG_5835\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /> My closet before my recent purge.[/caption]\r\n\r\nI encourage you to take a step out on faith and try it...organize your closet today and I promise you, you will feel free! Trust me, you will thank me later. Visually my closet wasn\'t cluttered, in fact, it was very organized...a bunch of organized noise.\r\n\r\nGo ahead and tackle your closet today!  I\'d love to see your results so feel free to <a href=\"http://www.facebook.com/group/changeacademy\">join my Facebook Group</a> to share with the rest of the THB Family so we can cheer you on!  You might also enjoy some of our other post <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/new-closet-system/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Creating a New Closet System</a>','How to Organize your Closet and Get Rid of the Noise','','inherit','closed','closed','','3729-revision-v1','','','2018-02-07 03:56:36','2018-02-07 03:56:36','',3729,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/3729-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6693,1,'2018-02-07 04:04:28','2018-02-07 04:04:28','','Organize Your Closet | The Happiness Bucket','','inherit','open','closed','','organize-your-closet-2','','','2018-02-07 04:04:57','2018-02-07 04:04:57','',3729,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Organize-Your-Closet.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(6694,1,'2018-02-07 04:07:05','2018-02-07 04:07:05','.\r\n\r\nWhen you enter your closet do you hear yourself saying, \"I have nothing to wear!\", yet you have a closet full of clothes? This is a problem that many people experience. The truth is you can\'t see the things you have to wear, because of all the clutter in your closet, which I like to call noise.  Today, let\'s talk about organizing your closet and getting rid of the noise...setting it free so you can hear (see) the clothes you were meant to wear.\r\n\r\nAs many of you know I had a <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/2015/06/26/thborganize-how-to-get-rid-of-excess-weight/\">clothing dilemma</a> due to my weight gain...although I regularly went through my closet I realized I had a lot of excess noise in it.  I had removed most of the too little clothes and put them in bins in our attic, but I still had a number of items in my closet that I skipped over on a daily basis.   It was time for me to face<img class=\"wp-image-3739 alignright\" src=\"https://thehappinessbucket.files.wordpress.com/2015/08/dresses-53319_1280.jpg?w=300\" alt=\"dresses-53319_1280\" width=\"229\" height=\"185\" />\r\n\r\nthe reality in my life that I had gained my weight back and although I had a few pieces left from my larger days, many were old and faded, some I just didn\'t like, but to keep from purchasing something I forced myself to keep the items. Truth is they just frustrated and complicated my mornings and still remained in my closet unworn (well, more like on the floor or in the side chair). One day I had had enough and decided to tackle my closet once and for all! I was determined to set these clothes and myself free.\r\n<h2>Organizing Starts with Decluttering</h2>\r\nWe all want to look nice in our clothes. We want to look sexy and to feel good and the truth is many of the items in my closet did just the opposite of that. I decided to just release those items...one by one. I let my gut and heart guide me, literally and figuratively. I entered my closet and grabbed anything I didn\'t like.  I grabbed items I regularly skipped over and items I put on and immediately took off...not because I didn\'t like it, but because it didn\'t fit properly.  I know you are thinking...but if I do that I wouldn\'t have anything to wear...I will have to wear the same thing every day!  Well, let me dispel this falsity right now...\r\n\r\n1. You weren\'t wearing it, to begin with, so let it go;\r\n\r\n2.  Many people wear the same clothes all the time.  Observe the people around you and you will see that people just alternate and match things in new ways..  Even if they don\'t so what...DO YOU;\r\n\r\n3.  Getting rid of the noise will help you determine what you really need.\r\n\r\nI decided to live in my now instead of what is to be...yes I\'m working on losing weight, but until then I\'ve decided to embrace the body I have and dress it impeccably.  Since organizing my closet, you know what I have experienced???\r\n<h2>How Clearing the Noise Helped Me</h2>\r\n<ul>\r\n 	<li>Getting dressed is now easy and fun;</li>\r\n 	<li>I\'ve discovered new combinations of clothing I\'ve never paired together before;</li>\r\n 	<li>People are regularly commenting on how good I look or how nice my outfit is;</li>\r\n 	<li>Many think I have new clothes when they are the same items I\'ve worn for years, just in a bad combination.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3176\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"225\"]<img class=\"wp-image-3176 size-medium\" src=\"https://thehappinessbucket.files.wordpress.com/2015/04/img_5835.jpg?w=225\" alt=\"IMG_5835\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /> My closet before my recent purge.[/caption]\r\n\r\nI encourage you to take a step out on faith and try it...organize your closet today and I promise you, you will feel free! Trust me, you will thank me later. Visually my closet wasn\'t cluttered, in fact, it was very organized...a bunch of organized noise.\r\n\r\nGo ahead and tackle your closet today!  I\'d love to see your results so feel free to <a href=\"http://www.facebook.com/group/changeacademy\">join my Facebook Group</a> to share with the rest of the THB Family so we can cheer you on!  You might also enjoy some of our other post <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/new-closet-system/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Creating a New Closet System</a>','How to Organize your Closet and Get Rid of the Noise','','inherit','closed','closed','','3729-revision-v1','','','2018-02-07 04:07:05','2018-02-07 04:07:05','',3729,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/3729-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6695,1,'2018-02-07 04:09:02','2018-02-07 04:09:02','.\r\n\r\nWhen you enter your closet do you hear yourself saying, \"I have nothing to wear!\", yet you have a closet full of clothes? This is a problem that many people experience. The truth is you can\'t see the things you have to wear, because of all the clutter in your closet, which I like to call noise.  Today, let\'s talk about organizing your closet and getting rid of the noise...setting it free so you can hear (see) the clothes you were meant to wear.\r\n\r\nAs many of you know I had a <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/how-to-get-rid-of-excess-weight/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">clothing dilemma</a> due to my weight gain...although I regularly went through my closet I realized I had a lot of excess noise in it.  I had removed most of the too little clothes and put them in bins in our attic, but I still had a number of items in my closet that I skipped over on a daily basis.   It was time for me to face<img class=\"wp-image-3739 alignright\" src=\"https://thehappinessbucket.files.wordpress.com/2015/08/dresses-53319_1280.jpg?w=300\" alt=\"dresses-53319_1280\" width=\"229\" height=\"185\" />\r\n\r\nthe reality in my life that I had gained my weight back and although I had a few pieces left from my larger days, many were old and faded, some I just didn\'t like, but to keep from purchasing something I forced myself to keep the items. Truth is they just frustrated and complicated my mornings and still remained in my closet unworn (well, more like on the floor or in the side chair). One day I had had enough and decided to tackle my closet once and for all! I was determined to set these clothes and myself free.\r\n<h2>Organizing Starts with Decluttering</h2>\r\nWe all want to look nice in our clothes. We want to look sexy and to feel good and the truth is many of the items in my closet did just the opposite of that. I decided to just release those items...one by one. I let my gut and heart guide me, literally and figuratively. I entered my closet and grabbed anything I didn\'t like.  I grabbed items I regularly skipped over and items I put on and immediately took off...not because I didn\'t like it, but because it didn\'t fit properly.  I know you are thinking...but if I do that I wouldn\'t have anything to wear...I will have to wear the same thing every day!  Well, let me dispel this falsity right now...\r\n\r\n1. You weren\'t wearing it, to begin with, so let it go;\r\n\r\n2.  Many people wear the same clothes all the time.  Observe the people around you and you will see that people just alternate and match things in new ways..  Even if they don\'t so what...DO YOU;\r\n\r\n3.  Getting rid of the noise will help you determine what you really need.\r\n\r\nI decided to live in my now instead of what is to be...yes I\'m working on losing weight, but until then I\'ve decided to embrace the body I have and dress it impeccably.  Since organizing my closet, you know what I have experienced???\r\n<h2>How Clearing the Noise Helped Me</h2>\r\n<ul>\r\n 	<li>Getting dressed is now easy and fun;</li>\r\n 	<li>I\'ve discovered new combinations of clothing I\'ve never paired together before;</li>\r\n 	<li>People are regularly commenting on how good I look or how nice my outfit is;</li>\r\n 	<li>Many think I have new clothes when they are the same items I\'ve worn for years, just in a bad combination.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3176\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"225\"]<img class=\"wp-image-3176 size-medium\" src=\"https://thehappinessbucket.files.wordpress.com/2015/04/img_5835.jpg?w=225\" alt=\"IMG_5835\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /> My closet before my recent purge.[/caption]\r\n\r\nI encourage you to take a step out on faith and try it...organize your closet today and I promise you, you will feel free! Trust me, you will thank me later. Visually my closet wasn\'t cluttered, in fact, it was very organized...a bunch of organized noise.\r\n\r\nGo ahead and tackle your closet today!  I\'d love to see your results so feel free to <a href=\"http://www.facebook.com/group/changeacademy\">join my Facebook Group</a> to share with the rest of the THB Family so we can cheer you on!  You might also enjoy some of our other post <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/new-closet-system/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Creating a New Closet System</a>','How to Organize your Closet and Get Rid of the Noise','','inherit','closed','closed','','3729-revision-v1','','','2018-02-07 04:09:02','2018-02-07 04:09:02','',3729,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/3729-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6696,1,'2018-02-07 04:10:41','2018-02-07 04:10:41','.\r\n\r\nWhen you enter your closet do you hear yourself saying, \"I have nothing to wear!\", yet you have a closet full of clothes? This is a problem that many people experience. The truth is you can\'t see the things you have to wear, because of all the clutter in your closet, which I like to call noise.  Today, let\'s talk about organizing your closet and getting rid of the noise...setting it free so you can hear (see) the clothes you were meant to wear.\r\n\r\nAs many of you know I had a <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/how-to-get-rid-of-excess-weight/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">clothing dilemma</a> due to my weight gain...although I regularly went through my closet I realized I had a lot of excess noise in it.  I had removed most of the too little clothes and put them in bins in our attic, but I still had a number of items in my closet that I skipped over on a daily basis.   It was time for me to face<img class=\"wp-image-3739 alignleft\" src=\"https://thehappinessbucket.files.wordpress.com/2015/08/dresses-53319_1280.jpg?w=300\" alt=\"dresses-53319_1280\" width=\"229\" height=\"185\" />\r\n\r\nthe reality in my life that I had gained my weight back and although I had a few pieces left from my larger days, many were old and faded, some I just didn\'t like, but to keep from purchasing something I forced myself to keep the items. Truth is they just frustrated and complicated my mornings and still remained in my closet unworn (well, more like on the floor or in the side chair). One day I had had enough and decided to tackle my closet once and for all! I was determined to set these clothes and myself free.\r\n<h2>Organizing Starts with Decluttering</h2>\r\nWe all want to look nice in our clothes. We want to look sexy and to feel good and the truth is many of the items in my closet did just the opposite of that. I decided to just release those items...one by one. I let my gut and heart guide me, literally and figuratively. I entered my closet and grabbed anything I didn\'t like.  I grabbed items I regularly skipped over and items I put on and immediately took off...not because I didn\'t like it, but because it didn\'t fit properly.  I know you are thinking...but if I do that I wouldn\'t have anything to wear...I will have to wear the same thing every day!  Well, let me dispel this falsity right now...\r\n\r\n1. You weren\'t wearing it, to begin with, so let it go;\r\n\r\n2.  Many people wear the same clothes all the time.  Observe the people around you and you will see that people just alternate and match things in new ways..  Even if they don\'t so what...DO YOU;\r\n\r\n3.  Getting rid of the noise will help you determine what you really need.\r\n\r\nI decided to live in my now instead of what is to be...yes I\'m working on losing weight, but until then I\'ve decided to embrace the body I have and dress it impeccably.  Since organizing my closet, you know what I have experienced???\r\n<h2>How Clearing the Noise Helped Me</h2>\r\n<ul>\r\n 	<li>Getting dressed is now easy and fun;</li>\r\n 	<li>I\'ve discovered new combinations of clothing I\'ve never paired together before;</li>\r\n 	<li>People are regularly commenting on how good I look or how nice my outfit is;</li>\r\n 	<li>Many think I have new clothes when they are the same items I\'ve worn for years, just in a bad combination.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3176\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"225\"]<img class=\"wp-image-3176 size-medium\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/img_5835-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"IMG_5835\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /> My closet before my purge.[/caption]\r\n\r\nI encourage you to take a step out on faith and try it...organize your closet today and I promise you, you will feel free! Trust me, you will thank me later. Visually my closet wasn\'t cluttered, in fact, it was very organized...a bunch of organized noise.\r\n\r\nGo ahead and tackle your closet today!  I\'d love to see your results so feel free to <a href=\"http://www.facebook.com/group/changeacademy\">join my Facebook Group</a> to share with the rest of the THB Family so we can cheer you on!  You might also enjoy some of our other post <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/new-closet-system/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Creating a New Closet System</a>','How to Organize your Closet and Get Rid of the Noise','','inherit','closed','closed','','3729-revision-v1','','','2018-02-07 04:10:41','2018-02-07 04:10:41','',3729,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/3729-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6763,1,'2018-02-18 04:10:51','2018-02-18 04:10:51','','Organizing and Planning A Move | The Happiness Bucket','','inherit','open','closed','','14-organizing-and-planning-a-move-tips','','','2018-02-18 04:14:27','2018-02-18 04:14:27','',2982,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/14-Organizing-and-Planning-A-Move-Tips.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(6764,1,'2018-02-18 04:10:59','2018-02-18 04:10:59','','14 Tips When Organizing and Planning A Move | The Happiness Bucket','','inherit','open','closed','','organizing-and-planning-a-move-2','','','2018-02-18 04:11:38','2018-02-18 04:11:38','',2982,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Organizing-and-Planning-A-Move.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(6765,1,'2018-02-18 04:18:28','2018-02-18 04:18:28','<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">In honor of National Move month, we are going to take a trip back in time to March/April of 2013.  This is when my husband and I were anticipating the arrival of our daughter.  It was also the time when we decided it was time to move into a stand-alone home.  My goal when I began the process of planning our move, was that I wanted to make sure that my husband and family would know where I wanted things to go and what was in which box in case I was not able to be there. I knew that I wouldn\'t be able to move around as quickly as I wanted because I was carrying this extra load (my daughter) and I also couldn\'t be at the condo, new house and storage shelter all at the same time. So knowing the goal I set out to find a way to organize the move so anyone could jump in and help.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><img class=\" wp-image-636 alignleft\" src=\"https://thehappinessbucket.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/20120305-192257.jpg\" alt=\"20120305-192257.jpg\" width=\"138\" height=\"138\" /></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">I want to share with you some key tips on how to plan a move, and don\'t worry...being pregnant isn\'t a prerequisite:</p>\r\n\r\n<h1 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 30px; font-weight: bold;\">Create a Move Binder</span></h1>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">This is the master binder that will help keep you sane.  You will have one place to reference everything related to your move.  Check out my post <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/move-binder/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Increase Your Chances of a Successful Move with a Move Binder</a> <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/move-binder/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"></a>for more detailed information.</p>\r\n\r\n<h1>Establish Responsibilities</h1>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">If you and your spouse/helper are available on move day, delegate move day responsibilities. In our scenario, my hubby was responsible for getting the truck loaded/moving the heavy stuff and I was responsible for the little things, last minute packing and new space coordination.  This helped eliminate the need for everyone to contact me for every decision. If delegation isn\'t possible, you definitely want the next three items.</p>\r\n\r\n<h1>Create a Floor Plan Map</h1>\r\nThis is invaluable in helping to plan out where everything needs to go in your new space.  I learned this trick from our many many office moves at the law firm.  It was standard practice that you would draw out how you want your office set up with your desk, filing cabinets, computer, etc.  That way the people moving you would know where to place your items and wouldn\'t need you there to show them.  You tape the floor plan on the wall outside the space and/or place it in the space so the movers can see where to place your large items.  Check out <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/organize-move-floor-plan-map/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">How to Organize Your Move with a Floor Plan Map</a> for more information.\r\n<h1>Create a Kitchen Map</h1>\r\nThis is also an invaluable tool if you are able to create one.  In a future blog post I will detail the specifics of how you create one.  The kitchen is usually the first one you organize and the one that you can easily delegate to someone else to arrange if you have a map.  It is also the one area (other than setting up your bed(s) and cleaning your bathroom) that you want to make sure is up and running so you can eat and make coffee during your first week in your new home.\r\n<h1>Have a Move Meeting</h1>\r\nYes, a meeting...one with everyone involved in the move.  When you have four or more people involved moving and packing items it can get chaotic really quickly.  It is helpful to have everyone in one space so you can ensure they are all on the same page.  Use this time to explain the space colors, floor plan maps, responsibility delegation, timing, break or eating schedule and any other instructions that are needed.\r\n<h1>Declutter</h1>\r\nNow you knew this one was going to be on here!  Just think about it, moving is costly so why would you want to waste time and money moving items you don\'t need or want?  For those with short notice, it may be more difficult, but you can still do it.  If you pick up an item to pack, and you think to yourself - what is this or why do I still have this?  Then don\'t pack it, put it in a predetermined giveaway/throwaway box or bag.  Think about the space/home you are going to and whether or not the item(s) are needed in your new situation.\r\n<h1>Pack Based on your New Space</h1>\r\nI think this is one of the most important tips (other than the one above) that I can give you.  Think about your new space and how it will be arranged.  Pack your boxes based on the new space not the old.  This will definitely come in handy if you are used to keeping non-room related items in a space just because you didn\'t have a dedicated space for it.  For us, we were moving from a 1355 sq ft home to a 3000 sq ft home.  My guest room, guest bathroom, overflow closet, baby room and office didn\'t have to share space any longer.  If I had packed all the items together as they were in the old space, I would have had to travel up and down the stairs just to put items away.<img class=\"alignleft wp-image-6763 \" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/14-Organizing-and-Planning-A-Move-Tips-683x1024.png\" alt=\"Organizing and Planning A Move | The Happiness Bucket\" width=\"305\" height=\"458\" />\r\n<h1>Color Code your Rooms</h1>\r\nThis will be helpful for you and for your movers.  We will get more into this in a future post, but you want to assign a dot color to each room.  We got our dots at an office supply store, but most big box stores have them in the office supply section.  We used one package that had all the primary colors and one that had pastel colors.\r\n<h1>Create a Box Inventory</h1>\r\nFor those going on long moves across the country, this can be extremely important to prove you had an item in case of loss or damage.  This is also helpful when you are trying to find something, in your new space, before you get completely unpacked.\r\n<h1>Pack a bag...or Two</h1>\r\nReally, each person in your home should probably pack as though they were going on a week or weekend-long trip.  You are going to be exhausted when you finish moving everything and all you will want to see is your bed and MAYBE a shower before you go to sleep.  So when you wake, you will need to be able to locate your toiletries and a change of clothes.  Now, devils advocate, what are you going to spend the day doing on day two?  Are you going to unpack everything?  Well, okay in my case, yes...but it was very helpful to not HAVE to do this.  Make sure to put your valuables in this bag as well or include it with the next suggestion.\r\n<h1>Pack a Box...OR Two</h1>\r\nUsing the same premise above,  you need to be able to quickly find your sheets, coffee, snacks, hand-towel/towels, etc.  Yes, some of this you could pack in your suitcases, but I would suggest you have a separate box for the more bulkier items and that you carry them in your vehicle to ensure it arrives safely and you know where it is.  The thought is to pack items in this box that you will need right away...again think a week-long trip where you have to bring everything, what would you need?\r\n<h1>Cleaning Supplies</h1>\r\nThis is another set of items you want to have set aside for easy access.  You will need to clean your old space once everything is out and clean your new space before you put everything in.  If nothing else make sure these items are the last thing loaded on your moving truck, unless you are moving cross country then you may consider putting them in your vehicle as you may arrive before your stuff.\r\n<h1>Schedule Utility Start and End Times</h1>\r\nYou need to ensure you have your utilities (water, electric and gas) turned on at your new location as well as shut off at the old space.  It will be hard to clean your new home if you don\'t have water or electricity.  You also want to verify how they will calculate your new and old bill, so you don\'t get overcharged.\r\n<h1>Eat a Healthy Breakfast</h1>\r\nThis seems so simple, but so many people forget about this step.  You will be really active on move day and you don\'t want to run out of energy or worse have a medical issue due to your blood sugar dropping.  Eat something substantial, but leave cracker barrel for another day.  You don\'t want to be so satisfied that you are sluggish most of the day.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Happy Moving!!!</p>\r\n&nbsp;','14 Tips When Organizing and Planning A Move','','inherit','closed','closed','','2982-revision-v1','','','2018-02-18 04:18:28','2018-02-18 04:18:28','',2982,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/2982-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6766,1,'2018-02-18 04:19:30','2018-02-18 04:19:30','<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">In honor of National Move month, we are going to take a trip back in time to March/April of 2013.  This is when my husband and I were anticipating the arrival of our daughter.  It was also the time when we decided it was time to move into a stand-alone home.  My goal when I began the process of planning our move, was that I wanted to make sure that my husband and family would know where I wanted things to go and what was in which box in case I was not able to be there. I knew that I wouldn\'t be able to move around as quickly as I wanted because I was carrying this extra load (my daughter) and I also couldn\'t be at the condo, new house and storage shelter all at the same time. So knowing the goal I set out to find a way to organize the move so anyone could jump in and help.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><img class=\" wp-image-636 alignleft\" src=\"https://thehappinessbucket.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/20120305-192257.jpg\" alt=\"20120305-192257.jpg\" width=\"138\" height=\"138\" /></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">I want to share with you some key tips on how to plan a move, and don\'t worry...being pregnant isn\'t a prerequisite:</p>\r\n\r\n<h1 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 30px; font-weight: bold;\">Create a Move Binder</span></h1>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">This is the master binder that will help keep you sane.  You will have one place to reference everything related to your move.  Check out my post <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/move-binder/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Increase Your Chances of a Successful Move with a Move Binder</a> for more detailed information.</p>\r\n\r\n<h1>Establish Responsibilities</h1>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">If you and your spouse/helper are available on move day, delegate move day responsibilities. In our scenario, my hubby was responsible for getting the truck loaded/moving the heavy stuff and I was responsible for the little things, last minute packing and new space coordination.  This helped eliminate the need for everyone to contact me for every decision. If delegation isn\'t possible, you definitely want the next three items.</p>\r\n\r\n<h1>Create a Floor Plan Map</h1>\r\nThis is invaluable in helping to plan out where everything needs to go in your new space.  I learned this trick from our many many office moves at the law firm.  It was standard practice that you would draw out how you want your office set up with your desk, filing cabinets, computer, etc.  That way the people moving you would know where to place your items and wouldn\'t need you there to show them.  You tape the floor plan on the wall outside the space and/or place it in the space so the movers can see where to place your large items.  Check out <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/organize-move-floor-plan-map/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">How to Organize Your Move with a Floor Plan Map</a> for more information.\r\n<h1>Create a Kitchen Map</h1>\r\nThis is also an invaluable tool if you are able to create one.  In a future blog post I will detail the specifics of how you create one.  The kitchen is usually the first one you organize and the one that you can easily delegate to someone else to arrange if you have a map.  It is also the one area (other than setting up your bed(s) and cleaning your bathroom) that you want to make sure is up and running so you can eat and make coffee during your first week in your new home.\r\n<h1>Have a Move Meeting</h1>\r\nYes, a meeting...one with everyone involved in the move.  When you have four or more people involved moving and packing items it can get chaotic really quickly.  It is helpful to have everyone in one space so you can ensure they are all on the same page.  Use this time to explain the space colors, floor plan maps, responsibility delegation, timing, break or eating schedule and any other instructions that are needed.\r\n<h1>Declutter</h1>\r\nNow you knew this one was going to be on here!  Just think about it, moving is costly so why would you want to waste time and money moving items you don\'t need or want?  For those with short notice, it may be more difficult, but you can still do it.  If you pick up an item to pack, and you think to yourself - what is this or why do I still have this?  Then don\'t pack it, put it in a predetermined giveaway/throwaway box or bag.  Think about the space/home you are going to and whether or not the item(s) are needed in your new situation.\r\n<h1>Pack Based on your New Space</h1>\r\nI think this is one of the most important tips (other than the one above) that I can give you.  Think about your new space and how it will be arranged.  Pack your boxes based on the new space not the old.  This will definitely come in handy if you are used to keeping non-room related items in a space just because you didn\'t have a dedicated space for it.  For us, we were moving from a 1355 sq ft home to a 3000 sq ft home.  My guest room, guest bathroom, overflow closet, baby room and office didn\'t have to share space any longer.  If I had packed all the items together as they were in the old space, I would have had to travel up and down the stairs just to put items away.<img class=\"alignleft wp-image-6763 \" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/14-Organizing-and-Planning-A-Move-Tips-683x1024.png\" alt=\"Organizing and Planning A Move | The Happiness Bucket\" width=\"305\" height=\"458\" />\r\n<h1>Color Code your Rooms</h1>\r\nThis will be helpful for you and for your movers.  We will get more into this in a future post, but you want to assign a dot color to each room.  We got our dots at an office supply store, but most big box stores have them in the office supply section.  We used one package that had all the primary colors and one that had pastel colors.\r\n<h1>Create a Box Inventory</h1>\r\nFor those going on long moves across the country, this can be extremely important to prove you had an item in case of loss or damage.  This is also helpful when you are trying to find something, in your new space, before you get completely unpacked.\r\n<h1>Pack a bag...or Two</h1>\r\nReally, each person in your home should probably pack as though they were going on a week or weekend-long trip.  You are going to be exhausted when you finish moving everything and all you will want to see is your bed and MAYBE a shower before you go to sleep.  So when you wake, you will need to be able to locate your toiletries and a change of clothes.  Now, devils advocate, what are you going to spend the day doing on day two?  Are you going to unpack everything?  Well, okay in my case, yes...but it was very helpful to not HAVE to do this.  Make sure to put your valuables in this bag as well or include it with the next suggestion.\r\n<h1>Pack a Box...OR Two</h1>\r\nUsing the same premise above,  you need to be able to quickly find your sheets, coffee, snacks, hand-towel/towels, etc.  Yes, some of this you could pack in your suitcases, but I would suggest you have a separate box for the more bulkier items and that you carry them in your vehicle to ensure it arrives safely and you know where it is.  The thought is to pack items in this box that you will need right away...again think a week-long trip where you have to bring everything, what would you need?\r\n<h1>Cleaning Supplies</h1>\r\nThis is another set of items you want to have set aside for easy access.  You will need to clean your old space once everything is out and clean your new space before you put everything in.  If nothing else make sure these items are the last thing loaded on your moving truck, unless you are moving cross country then you may consider putting them in your vehicle as you may arrive before your stuff.\r\n<h1>Schedule Utility Start and End Times</h1>\r\nYou need to ensure you have your utilities (water, electric and gas) turned on at your new location as well as shut off at the old space.  It will be hard to clean your new home if you don\'t have water or electricity.  You also want to verify how they will calculate your new and old bill, so you don\'t get overcharged.\r\n<h1>Eat a Healthy Breakfast</h1>\r\nThis seems so simple, but so many people forget about this step.  You will be really active on move day and you don\'t want to run out of energy or worse have a medical issue due to your blood sugar dropping.  Eat something substantial, but leave cracker barrel for another day.  You don\'t want to be so satisfied that you are sluggish most of the day.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Happy Moving!!!</p>\r\n&nbsp;','14 Tips When Organizing and Planning A Move','','inherit','closed','closed','','2982-revision-v1','','','2018-02-18 04:19:30','2018-02-18 04:19:30','',2982,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/2982-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6767,1,'2018-02-18 04:49:53','2018-02-18 04:49:53','','Move Floor Plan | The Happiness Bucket','','inherit','open','closed','','move-floor-plan','','','2018-02-18 04:50:15','2018-02-18 04:50:15','',3402,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Move-Floor-Plan.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(6768,1,'2018-02-18 04:53:04','2018-02-18 04:53:04','Recently, I posted an article titled, <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/thborganize-14-tips-when-organizing-and-planning-a-move/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">14 Tips When Organizing and Planning A Move</a>.  In it, I mentioned an invaluable tool called a floor map.  This is a rough sketch of how you want the room setup.  Now, this map can be as detailed or as basic as you wish, the main purpose of it is to help those who will be helping you move know where things should go without your assistance.\r\n\r\nOn most move maps you want to focus on the big furniture items and any large electrical items that may need to be connected.  There is nothing like having a ton of help on move day to only realize after everyone is gone that things aren\'t quite where they need to be.  It is so much easier to get the heavy items placed right the first time.\r\n<h1>How to Draw Your Floor Plan</h1>\r\nNow, first things first...most of the time I create floor maps with a good ol pencil/pen and a piece of paper.  Again, this doesn\'t have to be to scale or overly complicated.  You just want to give a general idea of where things should go.  On your sketch, you should make it clear where the windows and doors are so those looking at it clearly understand the directions.  Think about the heaviest items in the room and how you ideally want it placed.  Draw or write on the map where these go.  (i.e., a square with the word bed in the middle of it).  Also designated where you\'d like for them to stack the boxes that go with that room.  Ideally again they will be placed against a wall in the space (that doesn\'t require other items).  No need in having to go through a maze to try and find your bed after a long day of moving.\r\n\r\n<img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-6767\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Move-Floor-Plan-200x300.png\" alt=\"Move Floor Plan | The Happiness Bucket\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" />\r\n\r\nI would also recommend that you measure your space prior to making your map to ensure your layout will actually work.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h1>Other Considerations for your Floor Plan</h1>\r\nOnce you finish drawing your floor map, you should make sure your room color is clearly notated on the page.  We use the color dots you get from office supply stores to label not only the move map but also the boxes that belong in the designated space.\r\n\r\nYou will find that most dots are in primary colors, but if you are moving into a larger home you may need to get the pastels too so each room can have a distinct color.  This makes it easy for movers to know where the boxes go and it also makes it easier for you to identify the items in a box from across the room.\r\n<h1>Developing Your Master Move Legend</h1>\r\nI recommend you develop a few master move legends that just have the room color, name and location (upstairs or downstairs, left or right arrows) so movers can know with a quick glance where they need to go.  You know boxes and large furniture are pretty heavy, so no need in prolonging the processes with indecisiveness.  Tape your room maps on the door frame of each room and make sure to strategically place the master maps at key direction points throughout the house.\r\n\r\nAnother place where you want to put the move legend is in your storage shelter (if applicable).  It will allow you to identify items quickly at a glance.\r\n\r\nI hope you have found this moving tip helpful.  If you have, please let us know by commenting below and make sure to signup to regularly receive our organizational tips.\r\n\r\nI wish you a successful and easy move!','How to Organize Your Move with a Floor Plan Map ','','inherit','closed','closed','','3402-revision-v1','','','2018-02-18 04:53:04','2018-02-18 04:53:04','',3402,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/3402-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6782,1,'2018-02-19 16:09:28','2018-02-19 16:09:28','As you all know, I am addicted to Pinterest! It is one of the best technology creations I\'ve experienced in a while. So, in an effort to challenge myself and to put all these fabulous pins to work, I decided I was going to start incorporating my many pins into real life experiences.\n\nNow that I have so eloquently set this up for you...It is time to open the blinds on my DIY antics for the second time.  I figured this was ok since my first one <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/clutter-buster-recycling-candles-and-my-scentsy-warmer/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Recycling Candles Using My Scentsy Warmer</a> was so successful.\n\nOk, so many months ago I found a pin that \"claimed\" to have the recipe for chick-fil-a nuggets. Supposedly the secret, believe it or not, is dill pickle juice and powdered sugar. When I read this I was immediately skeptical because that just didn\'t seem right, but I read the reviews at the bottom of the post and 99.9% of them were raving at how close these nuggets were to the real thing. Well, that\'s all I needed to read since I eat there so much I should have stock in the company...is it just me???  Yeah, I know it isn\'t...which is why I\'m sharing this with you!\n<h1>My Lucy Experience</h1>\nNow...let me just start this by saying my experience was a lot like the I Love Lucy episode when they switched roles...\n\n[embed]https://youtu.be/gvYZ3gpZMpY?t=1m31s[/embed]\n\nThe marinade bag fell over so there was an egg, milk, pickle juice mixture all on the cabinet...and THEN, the pan was too hot so as soon as I put the nuggets in the pan they started to brown!!! Needless to say, I was able to make the necessary adjustments and cooked all the nuggets without burning the house down (barely). The end result...FABULOUS!!! It was not exactly like Chick-fil-a\'s nuggets, but it was extremely close. My sweetheart even put his stamp of approval on them.\n<h1>Lessons Learned</h1>\nThe beauty is that even though I had a few mistakes, I learned from them as I went along.  I decided it would only be fair for me to go ahead and share these lessons learned with you so you can spare yourself the drama...although it was kind of funny:\n\n1. Start off with your temperature a little lower than what the recipe says because on my stove it was hotter than it needed to be.  You can always turn it up as you go.\n2. Get all your chicken out the marinade and into the flour mixture before you start cooking.  This just makes for a cleaner and smoother kitchen.  I mean do you really need pickle juice all over your cabinet?\n3. Double the flour mixture if cooking more than one cut up breast. I had two and almost ran out of the mixture.\n4. Oil amount seemed low but not extremely...this may have been due to the heat level I started with.\n\nSooooo I\'m sorry I ate all the nuggets before I even thought to take a pic, but it\'s ok you can look at the pic on the original blog post. Now all I need is the recipe for their BBQ sauce!\n\nHere is the full recipe from the original blog:  <a href=\"http://iowagirleats.com/2012/03/01/chick-fil-a-bites-with-honey-mustard-dipping-sauce/comment-page-1/#comment-1045866\">http://iowagirleats.com/2012/03/01/chick-fil-a-bites-with-honey-mustard-dipping-sauce/comment-page-1/#comment-1045866</a>\n\nI believe this one has filled my Happiness Bucket!','How to Make DIY Chick-fil-a Chicken Nuggets','','inherit','closed','closed','','759-autosave-v1','','','2018-02-19 16:09:28','2018-02-19 16:09:28','',759,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/759-autosave-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6783,1,'2018-02-19 15:42:45','2018-02-19 15:42:45','As you all know from my recent confession I am addicted to pinterest! It is one of the best technology creations I\'ve experienced in a while. I decided a few weeks ago that I was going to start working to incorporate my many pins into real life experiences. Yes, I decided to get to work. Well, this is officially #2 in my demystifying the monster. If you\'d like to revisit the official #1 - Clutter Buster - Recycling Candles and My Scentsy Warmer <a title=\"Clutter Buster - Recycling Candles and My Scentsy Warmer\" href=\"http://wp.me/p1gZF5-ba\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">click here</a>.\r\n\r\nOk, so many months ago I found a pin that \"claimed\" to have the recipe for chick-fil-a nuggets. Supposedly the secret, believe it or not, was dill pickle juice and powdered sugar. When I read this I was immediately skeptical because that just doesn\'t seem right, but I read the reviews at the bottom of the post and 99.9% of them were raving at how close these were to the real thing. Well, that\'s all I needed to read since I eat there do much I should have stock in the company. I followed the beginning of the recipe, which created a marinade for the chicken. The next night on my way home I stopped by the store and bought some powdered sugar.\r\n\r\nNow...let me just say my experience was like Lucy when she was in the chocolate factory, because I had flour everywhere...the marinade bag fell over so there was an egg, milk, pickle juice mixture all on the cabinet...and THEN, the pan was too hot so as soon as I put the nuggets in the pan they started to brown!!! Needless to say I was able to make the necessary adjustments and cooked all the nuggets without burning the house down (barely). The end result....FABULOUS!!! It was not exactly like it but it was extremely close. My sweetheart even put his stamp of approval on them. I\'ve learned from the mistakes I\'ve made so I thought I\'d spare with you by listing them here:\r\n\r\n1. Start off with your temp lower that what the recipe says, because on my stove it was hotter than it needed to be.\r\n2. Get all your chicken out the marinade and into the flour mixture before you start cooking.\r\n3. Double the flour mixture if cooking more than one cut up breast. I had two and almost ran out of the mixture.\r\n4. Oil amount seemed low but not extremely...this may have been due to the heat level I started with.\r\n\r\nSooooo I\'m sorry I ate all the nuggets before I even thought to take a pic, but it\'s ok you can look at the pic on the original blog post. Now all I need is the recipe for their BBQ sauce!\r\n\r\nHere is the full recipe from the original blog:  <a href=\"http://iowagirleats.com/2012/03/01/chick-fil-a-bites-with-honey-mustard-dipping-sauce/comment-page-1/#comment-1045866\">http://iowagirleats.com/2012/03/01/chick-fil-a-bites-with-honey-mustard-dipping-sauce/comment-page-1/#comment-1045866</a>\r\n\r\nI believe this one has filled my Happiness Bucket!','How to Make DIY Chick-fil-a Chicken Nuggets','','inherit','closed','closed','','759-revision-v1','','','2018-02-19 15:42:45','2018-02-19 15:42:45','',759,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/759-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6784,1,'2018-02-19 16:12:44','2018-02-19 16:12:44','As you all know, I am addicted to Pinterest! It is one of the best technology creations I\'ve experienced in a while. So, in an effort to challenge myself and to put all these fabulous pins to work, I decided I was going to start incorporating my many pins into real life experiences.\r\n\r\nNow that I have so eloquently set this up for you...It is time to open the blinds on my DIY antics for the second time.  I figured this was ok since my first one <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/clutter-buster-recycling-candles-and-my-scentsy-warmer/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Recycling Candles Using My Scentsy Warmer</a> was so successful.\r\n\r\nOk, so many months ago I found a pin that \"claimed\" to have the recipe for chick-fil-a nuggets. Supposedly the secret, believe it or not, is dill pickle juice and powdered sugar. When I read this I was immediately skeptical because that just didn\'t seem right, but I read the reviews at the bottom of the post and 99.9% of them were raving at how close these nuggets were to the real thing. Well, that\'s all I needed to read since I eat there so much I should have stock in the company...is it just me???  Yeah, I know it isn\'t...which is why I\'m sharing this with you!\r\n<h1>My Lucy Experience</h1>\r\nNow...let me just start this by saying my experience was a lot like the I Love Lucy episode when they switched roles...\r\n\r\n[embed]https://youtu.be/gvYZ3gpZMpY?t=1m31s[/embed]\r\n\r\nThe marinade bag fell over so there was an egg, milk, pickle juice mixture all on the cabinet...and THEN, the pan was too hot so as soon as I put the nuggets in the pan they started to brown!!! Needless to say, I was able to make the necessary adjustments and cooked all the nuggets without burning the house down (barely). The end result...FABULOUS!!! It was not exactly like Chick-fil-a\'s nuggets, but it was extremely close. My sweetheart even put his stamp of approval on them.\r\n<h1>Lessons Learned</h1>\r\nThe beauty is that even though I had a few mistakes, I learned from them as I went along.  I decided it would only be fair for me to go ahead and share these lessons learned with you so you can spare yourself the drama...although it was kind of funny:\r\n\r\n1. Start off with your temperature a little lower than what the recipe says because on my stove it was hotter than it needed to be.  You can always turn it up as you go.\r\n2. Get all your chicken out the marinade and into the flour mixture before you start cooking.  This just makes for a cleaner and smoother kitchen.  I mean do you really need pickle juice all over your cabinet?\r\n3. Double the flour mixture if cooking more than one cut up breast. I had two and almost ran out of the mixture.\r\n4. Oil amount seemed low but not extremely...this may have been due to the heat level I started with.\r\n\r\nSooooo I\'m sorry I ate all the nuggets before I even thought to take a pic, but it\'s ok you can look at the pic on the original blog post. Now all I need is the recipe for their BBQ sauce!\r\n\r\nHere is the full recipe from the original blog:  <a href=\"http://iowagirleats.com/2012/03/01/chick-fil-a-bites-with-honey-mustard-dipping-sauce/comment-page-1/#comment-1045866\">http://iowagirleats.com/2012/03/01/chick-fil-a-bites-with-honey-mustard-dipping-sauce/comment-page-1/#comment-1045866</a>\r\n\r\nI believe this one has filled my Happiness Bucket!','How to Make DIY Chick-fil-a Chicken Nuggets','','inherit','closed','closed','','759-revision-v1','','','2018-02-19 16:12:44','2018-02-19 16:12:44','',759,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/759-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6785,1,'2019-02-05 21:20:51','2019-02-05 21:20:51','One of the biggest struggles working moms have is finding meals to make with easy recipes to feed their family after a long day of working.  You want to know about easy make ahead meals that taste great.  Well, I\'ve got your back and am about to share a meal with you that literally will take you five minutes to prep!  You guys know I am a true believer of freezer meals, casseroles, and crock-pot cooking because they all allow me to save time in the kitchen but still feed my family healthy and delicious meals.\n\nNow if you didn\'t know, I am a closet Julia Child\'s wanna be...I like to experiment when it comes to new recipes and challenging my limited flavor pallet every so often.  I also encourage those of you who don\'t know how to cook, or don\'t cook often to challenge yourselves with a new easy recipes every once in a while.  Well, I made roast beef in the crock-pot.\n\nAlthough this recipe isn\'t new to me, I am eating it in a new way, encouraged by a trip I took to California for a quinceanera.  One of the houses I visited had purchased some precooked roast beef and we had it on a tortilla...OMGGGGGG.\n\nSo, after I returned home, I immediately decided to try and recreate this delicious meal and it was just as good with my crock-pot roast beef.  Since that was such a success, I decided I\'d experiment putting it in one of my favorite types of bread, Bolillo! Check out what I did below...\n\nIf you aren\'t counting, I just gave you three possible meals out of one!!!!  Once you make this will you please return and tell me how it was and how you tweaked it to make it your own!\n\nTrust me it will be a total time saver for you and your family and your belly will thank me too!\n\n<a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/20120705-195331.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full alignleft\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/20120705-195331.jpg\" alt=\"20120705-195331.jpg\" /></a>\n<h1>The Crock-Pot Roast Beef Recipe</h1>\nThis recipe is very simple that you can start in the morning before you begin working!  I also have been known to cook this on the weekend during a freezer meal cooking session.  I don\'t have images of the meat cooking, but trust it is so easy!\n\n<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Crock-Pot Roast Beef\n</span>Pot Roast (your meat...can be whatever cut you prefer)\n2 cans of cream of mushroom soup\n1 can of water (just fill one of the emptied Cream of Mushroom cans)\n1 packet of Lipton onion soup mix\n\nMix all the ingredients together in a bowl and pour it over the meat. Some choose to brown off the meat first, but I\'ve stopped doing that now and just add salt and pepper to the meat prior to putting it in the crock-pot. Cook it on high for 4 hrs or low for 8 hrs or until it is the tenderness you like. I like for the meat to be firm, but easy to shred.\n<h1>Building Your Sandwich</h1>\nNow to make the sandwich, just added the meat to a Bolillo roll. Bolillo is a type of Mexican savory bread similar to a baguette. Now my sweetheart, Luis, added avocado, peppers, tomatoes, mayonnaise, and cheese to his (he may have added something else, I honestly can\'t remember)...me I just had mayonnaise and american cheese with the meat. When I tell you this sandwich was DELICIOUS!!!! I promise you I am not exaggerating. Try it for yourself and you will be so happy you did. You can find the bolillo (bo-lee-yo) bread in most Panderia\'s (Mexican Bakeries).  I have even found small versions in the Wal-mart bakery. This is what it looks like.\n\n<a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/bolillo-bread.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-764\" title=\"bolillo bread\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/bolillo-bread.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"271\" height=\"186\" /></a>\n\nI hope you try out this easy recipe that I know will help out some of you busy moms!  I mean who doesn\'t want to fill their belly and their happiness bucket at the same time!?!?!\n\nHappy Eating!  My Happiness Bucket is definitely full, is yours?','Easy Recipes for Working Moms - Crock-pot Roast Beef on Bolillo Bread','','inherit','closed','closed','','727-autosave-v1','','','2019-02-05 21:20:51','2019-02-05 21:20:51','',727,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/727-autosave-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6786,1,'2018-02-19 23:55:20','2018-02-19 23:55:20','<a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/20120705-195331.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-full\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/20120705-195331.jpg\" alt=\"20120705-195331.jpg\" /></a>\r\n\r\nSo you guys know I am a closet Julia Child\'s wanna be...I like to experiment when it comes to new recipes and challenging my limited flavor pallet every so often.  I also encourage those of you who don\'t know how to cook, or don\'t cook often to challenge yourselves with a new recipe every once in a while.  Well, I made roast beef in the crockpot. Now, although this recipe isn\'t new, I am eating it in a new way, encouraged by a trip I took to California for a quinceanera.  One of the houses I visited had purchased some precooked roast beef and we had it on a tortilla...OMGGGGGG.\r\n\r\nSo, after I returned home, I immediately decided to try and recreate this delicious meal and it was just as good with my crock pot roast beef.  Since that was such a success, I decided I\'d experiment putting it in one of my favorite types of bread, Bollio! Check out what I did below...\r\n<h1>The Recipe</h1>\r\nThe recipe is very simple so I will provide it here although I don\'t have a photo of the meat cooking.\r\n\r\n<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Crock Pot Roast Beef\r\n</span>Pot Roast (your meat...can be whatever cut you prefer)\r\n2 cans of cream of mushroom soup (I personally use the low-fat one)\r\n1 can of water (just fill one of the emptied Cream of Mushroom cans)\r\n1 packet of Lipton onion soup mix\r\n\r\nMix all the ingredients together in a bowl and pour it over the meat. Some choose to brown off the meat first, but I\'ve stopped doing that now and just add salt and pepper to the meat prior to putting it in the crockpot and then I pour the water/soup mixture over it. Cook on high for 4 hrs or low for 8 hrs or until it is the tenderness you like. I like for the meat to be firm, but easy to shred.\r\n<h1>Building Your Sandwich</h1>\r\nNow to make the sandwich, we just added the meat to a Bolillo roll. Bolillo is a type of Mexican savory <a title=\"Bread\" href=\"/wiki/Bread\">bread</a> similar to a baguette. Now my sweetheart, Luis, added avocado, peppers, tomatoes, mayonnaise and cheese to his (he may have added something else, I honestly can\'t remember)...me I just had mayonnaise and american cheese with the meat. When I tell you this sandwich was DELICIOUS!!!! I promise you I am not exaggerating. Try it for yourself and you will be so happy you did. You can find the bolillo (bo-lee-yo) bread in most Panderia\'s (Mexican Bakeries).  I have even found small versions in the Wal-mart bakery. This is what it looks like.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/bolillo-bread.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-764\" title=\"bolillo bread\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/bolillo-bread.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"271\" height=\"186\" /></a>\r\n\r\nI hope you try out this delicious recipe and fill your belly and your Life bucket as well!\r\n\r\nHappy Eating!  My Happiness Bucket is definitely full, is yours?','My Inner Latina:  Roast Beef on Bolillo Bread','','inherit','closed','closed','','727-revision-v1','','','2018-02-19 23:55:20','2018-02-19 23:55:20','',727,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/727-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6787,1,'2018-02-20 00:07:26','2018-02-20 00:07:26','','Bolillo Roast Beef Sandwich | The Happiness Bucket','','inherit','open','closed','','bolillo','','','2018-02-20 00:07:58','2018-02-20 00:07:58','',727,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Bolillo.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(6788,1,'2018-02-20 00:08:19','2018-02-20 00:08:19','<a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/20120705-195331.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-full\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/20120705-195331.jpg\" alt=\"20120705-195331.jpg\" /></a>\r\n\r\nSo you guys know I am a closet Julia Child\'s wanna be...I like to experiment when it comes to new recipes and challenging my limited flavor pallet every so often.  I also encourage those of you who don\'t know how to cook, or don\'t cook often to challenge yourselves with a new recipe every once in a while.  Well, I made roast beef in the crockpot. Now, although this recipe isn\'t new, I am eating it in a new way, encouraged by a trip I took to California for a quinceanera.  One of the houses I visited had purchased some precooked roast beef and we had it on a tortilla...OMGGGGGG.\r\n\r\nSo, after I returned home, I immediately decided to try and recreate this delicious meal and it was just as good with my crock pot roast beef.  Since that was such a success, I decided I\'d experiment putting it in one of my favorite types of bread, Bolillo! Check out what I did below...\r\n<h1>The Recipe</h1>\r\nThe recipe is very simple so I will provide it here although I don\'t have a photo of the meat cooking.\r\n\r\n<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Crock Pot Roast Beef\r\n</span>Pot Roast (your meat...can be whatever cut you prefer)\r\n2 cans of cream of mushroom soup (I personally use the low-fat one)\r\n1 can of water (just fill one of the emptied Cream of Mushroom cans)\r\n1 packet of Lipton onion soup mix\r\n\r\nMix all the ingredients together in a bowl and pour it over the meat. Some choose to brown off the meat first, but I\'ve stopped doing that now and just add salt and pepper to the meat prior to putting it in the crockpot and then I pour the water/soup mixture over it. Cook on high for 4 hrs or low for 8 hrs or until it is the tenderness you like. I like for the meat to be firm, but easy to shred.\r\n<h1>Building Your Sandwich</h1>\r\nNow to make the sandwich, we just added the meat to a Bolillo roll. Bolillo is a type of Mexican savory <a title=\"Bread\" href=\"/wiki/Bread\">bread</a> similar to a baguette. Now my sweetheart, Luis, added avocado, peppers, tomatoes, mayonnaise and cheese to his (he may have added something else, I honestly can\'t remember)...me I just had mayonnaise and american cheese with the meat. When I tell you this sandwich was DELICIOUS!!!! I promise you I am not exaggerating. Try it for yourself and you will be so happy you did. You can find the bolillo (bo-lee-yo) bread in most Panderia\'s (Mexican Bakeries).  I have even found small versions in the Wal-mart bakery. This is what it looks like.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/bolillo-bread.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-764\" title=\"bolillo bread\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/bolillo-bread.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"271\" height=\"186\" /></a>\r\n\r\nI hope you try out this delicious recipe and fill your belly and your Life bucket as well!\r\n\r\nHappy Eating!  My Happiness Bucket is definitely full, is yours?','My Inner Latina:  Roast Beef on Bolillo Bread','','inherit','closed','closed','','727-revision-v1','','','2018-02-20 00:08:19','2018-02-20 00:08:19','',727,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/727-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6789,1,'2018-02-20 00:10:59','2018-02-20 00:10:59','&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSo you guys know I am a closet Julia Child\'s wanna be...I like to experiment when it comes to new recipes and challenging my limited flavor pallet every so often.  I also encourage those of you who don\'t know how to cook, or don\'t cook often to challenge yourselves with a new recipe every once in a while.  Well, I made roast beef in the crockpot. Now, although this recipe isn\'t new, I am eating it in a new way, encouraged by a trip I took to California for a quinceanera.  One of the houses I visited had purchased some precooked roast beef and we had it on a tortilla...OMGGGGGG.\r\n\r\nSo, after I returned home, I immediately decided to try and recreate this delicious meal and it was just as good with my crock pot roast beef.  Since that was such a success, I decided I\'d experiment putting it in one of my favorite types of bread, Bolillo! Check out what I did below...<a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/20120705-195331.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full alignleft\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/20120705-195331.jpg\" alt=\"20120705-195331.jpg\" /></a>\r\n<h1>The Recipe</h1>\r\nThe recipe is very simple so I will provide it here although I don\'t have a photo of the meat cooking.\r\n\r\n<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Crock Pot Roast Beef\r\n</span>Pot Roast (your meat...can be whatever cut you prefer)\r\n2 cans of cream of mushroom soup (I personally use the low-fat one)\r\n1 can of water (just fill one of the emptied Cream of Mushroom cans)\r\n1 packet of Lipton onion soup mix\r\n\r\nMix all the ingredients together in a bowl and pour it over the meat. Some choose to brown off the meat first, but I\'ve stopped doing that now and just add salt and pepper to the meat prior to putting it in the crockpot and then I pour the water/soup mixture over it. Cook on high for 4 hrs or low for 8 hrs or until it is the tenderness you like. I like for the meat to be firm, but easy to shred.\r\n<h1>Building Your Sandwich</h1>\r\nNow to make the sandwich, we just added the meat to a Bolillo roll. Bolillo is a type of Mexican savory <a title=\"Bread\" href=\"/wiki/Bread\">bread</a> similar to a baguette. Now my sweetheart, Luis, added avocado, peppers, tomatoes, mayonnaise and cheese to his (he may have added something else, I honestly can\'t remember)...me I just had mayonnaise and american cheese with the meat. When I tell you this sandwich was DELICIOUS!!!! I promise you I am not exaggerating. Try it for yourself and you will be so happy you did. You can find the bolillo (bo-lee-yo) bread in most Panderia\'s (Mexican Bakeries).  I have even found small versions in the Wal-mart bakery. This is what it looks like.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/bolillo-bread.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-764\" title=\"bolillo bread\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/bolillo-bread.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"271\" height=\"186\" /></a>\r\n\r\nI hope you try out this delicious recipe and fill your belly and your Life bucket as well!\r\n\r\nHappy Eating!  My Happiness Bucket is definitely full, is yours?','My Inner Latina:  Roast Beef on Bolillo Bread','','inherit','closed','closed','','727-revision-v1','','','2018-02-20 00:10:59','2018-02-20 00:10:59','',727,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/727-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6790,1,'2018-02-20 00:12:54','2018-02-20 00:12:54','&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSo you guys know I am a closet Julia Child\'s wanna be...I like to experiment when it comes to new recipes and challenging my limited flavor pallet every so often.  I also encourage those of you who don\'t know how to cook, or don\'t cook often to challenge yourselves with a new recipe every once in a while.  Well, I made roast beef in the crockpot. Now, although this recipe isn\'t new, I am eating it in a new way, encouraged by a trip I took to California for a quinceanera.  One of the houses I visited had purchased some precooked roast beef and we had it on a tortilla...OMGGGGGG.\r\n\r\nSo, after I returned home, I immediately decided to try and recreate this delicious meal and it was just as good with my crock pot roast beef.  Since that was such a success, I decided I\'d experiment putting it in one of my favorite types of bread, Bolillo! Check out what I did below...<a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/20120705-195331.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full alignleft\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/20120705-195331.jpg\" alt=\"20120705-195331.jpg\" /></a>\r\n<h1>The Recipe</h1>\r\nThe recipe is very simple so I will provide it here although I don\'t have a photo of the meat cooking.\r\n\r\n<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Crock Pot Roast Beef\r\n</span>Pot Roast (your meat...can be whatever cut you prefer)\r\n2 cans of cream of mushroom soup (I personally use the low-fat one)\r\n1 can of water (just fill one of the emptied Cream of Mushroom cans)\r\n1 packet of Lipton onion soup mix\r\n\r\nMix all the ingredients together in a bowl and pour it over the meat. Some choose to brown off the meat first, but I\'ve stopped doing that now and just add salt and pepper to the meat prior to putting it in the crockpot and then I pour the water/soup mixture over it. Cook on high for 4 hrs or low for 8 hrs or until it is the tenderness you like. I like for the meat to be firm, but easy to shred.\r\n<h1>Building Your Sandwich</h1>\r\nNow to make the sandwich, we just added the meat to a Bolillo roll. Bolillo is a type of Mexican savory <a title=\"Bread\" href=\"/wiki/Bread\">bread</a> similar to a baguette. Now my sweetheart, Luis, added avocado, peppers, tomatoes, mayonnaise, and cheese to his (he may have added something else, I honestly can\'t remember)...me I just had mayonnaise and American cheese with the meat. When I tell you this sandwich was DELICIOUS!!!! I promise you I am not exaggerating. Try it for yourself and you will be so happy you did. You can find the bolillo (bo-lee-yo) bread in most Panderia\'s (Mexican Bakeries).  I have even found small versions in the Wal-mart bakery. This is what it looks like.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/bolillo-bread.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-764\" title=\"bolillo bread\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/bolillo-bread.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"271\" height=\"186\" /></a>\r\n\r\nI hope you try out this delicious recipe and fill your belly and your Life bucket as well!\r\n\r\nHappy Eating!  My Happiness Bucket is definitely full, is yours?','My Inner Latina:  Roast Beef on Bolillo Bread','','inherit','closed','closed','','727-revision-v1','','','2018-02-20 00:12:54','2018-02-20 00:12:54','',727,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/727-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6802,1,'2018-02-20 14:38:17','0000-00-00 00:00:00','','widget_image','','draft','closed','closed','','','','','2018-02-20 14:38:17','0000-00-00 00:00:00','a:1:{s:12:\"_multiwidget\";i:1;}',0,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/?post_type=jetpack_migration&p=6802',0,'jetpack_migration','',0),(6803,1,'2018-02-20 14:38:17','0000-00-00 00:00:00','','sidebars_widgets','','draft','closed','closed','','','','','2018-02-20 14:38:17','0000-00-00 00:00:00','a:11:{s:19:\"wp_inactive_widgets\";a:3:{i:0;s:7:\"text-19\";i:1;s:12:\"categories-7\";i:2;s:11:\"tag_cloud-2\";}s:24:\"excellent_footer_options\";a:2:{i:0;s:17:\"instashowwidget-2\";i:1;s:36:\"excellent_plus_edit_footer_options-3\";}s:18:\"excellent_404_page\";a:0:{}s:18:\"excellent_footer_1\";a:1:{i:0;s:18:\"facebook-likebox-2\";}s:18:\"excellent_footer_2\";a:0:{}s:18:\"excellent_footer_3\";a:1:{i:0;s:13:\"custom_html-6\";}s:22:\"excellent_main_sidebar\";a:6:{i:0;s:8:\"search-4\";i:1;s:10:\"archives-4\";i:2;s:13:\"custom_html-3\";i:3;s:13:\"custom_html-7\";i:4;s:13:\"custom_html-8\";i:5;s:13:\"media_image-2\";}s:21:\"excellent_header_info\";a:1:{i:0;s:13:\"custom_html-4\";}s:30:\"excellent_contact_page_sidebar\";a:1:{i:0;s:13:\"custom_html-2\";}s:31:\"excellent_form_for_contact_page\";a:0:{}s:29:\"excellent_woocommerce_sidebar\";a:1:{i:0;s:12:\"categories-4\";}}',0,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/?post_type=jetpack_migration&p=6803',0,'jetpack_migration','',0),(6804,1,'2018-02-20 14:38:18','2018-02-20 14:38:18','/*\nWelcome to Custom CSS!\n\nTo learn how this works, see http://wp.me/PEmnE-Bt\n*/\n.site-branding {\n	background: transparent;\n}\n\n.main-navigation {\n	background-color: #9493ca;\n}','sela','','inherit','closed','closed','','4926-revision-v1','','','2018-02-20 14:38:18','2018-02-20 14:38:18','',4926,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/4926-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6805,1,'2018-02-20 14:38:18','2018-02-20 14:38:18','/*\nWelcome to Custom CSS!\n\nTo learn how this works, see http://wp.me/PEmnE-Bt\n*/\n.site-branding {\n	background: transparent;\n}\n\n.main-navigation {\n	background-color: #9493ca;\n}\n\n.nav-menu > li > a:after {\n	color: #ffffff;','sela','','inherit','closed','closed','','4926-revision-v1','','','2018-02-20 14:38:18','2018-02-20 14:38:18','',4926,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/4926-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6806,1,'2018-02-20 14:38:18','2018-02-20 14:38:18','/*\nWelcome to Custom CSS!\n\nTo learn how this works, see http://wp.me/PEmnE-Bt\n*/\n.site-branding {\n	background: transparent;\n}\n\nbutton,\n.main-navigation {\n	background-color: #9493ca;\n}\n\n.nav-menu > li > a:after {\n	color: #ffffff;','sela','','inherit','closed','closed','','4926-revision-v1','','','2018-02-20 14:38:18','2018-02-20 14:38:18','',4926,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/4926-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6807,1,'2018-02-20 14:38:19','2018-02-20 14:38:19','/*\nWelcome to Custom CSS!\n\nTo learn how this works, see http://wp.me/PEmnE-Bt\n*/\n.site-branding {\n	background: transparent;\n}\n\nbutton,\n.main-navigation {\n	background-color: #9493ca;\n}\n\n.nav-menu > li > a:after {\n	color: #ffffff;\n	background: #e77458;\n}','sela','','inherit','closed','closed','','4926-revision-v1','','','2018-02-20 14:38:19','2018-02-20 14:38:19','',4926,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/4926-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6808,1,'2018-02-20 14:38:19','2018-02-20 14:38:19','/*\nWelcome to Custom CSS!\n\nTo learn how this works, see http://wp.me/PEmnE-Bt\n*/\n.site-branding {\n	background: transparent;\n}\n\nbutton,\n.main-navigation {\n	background-color: #9493ca;\n}\n\n.nav-menu > li > a:after {\n	color: #ffffff;\n}\n\n.social-links ul a:before {\n	background: #e77458;\n}','sela','','inherit','closed','closed','','4926-revision-v1','','','2018-02-20 14:38:19','2018-02-20 14:38:19','',4926,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/4926-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6809,1,'2018-02-20 14:38:19','2018-02-20 14:38:19','/*\nWelcome to Custom CSS!\n\nTo learn how this works, see http://wp.me/PEmnE-Bt\n*/\n.site-branding {\n	background: transparent;\n}\n\nbutton,\n.main-navigation {\n	background-color: #9493ca;\n}\n\n.nav-menu > li > a:after {\n	color: #ffffff;\n}\n\n.social-links ul a:before {\n	background: #9493ca;\n}','sela','','inherit','closed','closed','','4926-revision-v1','','','2018-02-20 14:38:19','2018-02-20 14:38:19','',4926,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/4926-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6810,1,'2018-02-20 14:38:19','2018-02-20 14:38:19','/*\nWelcome to Custom CSS!\n\nTo learn how this works, see http://wp.me/PEmnE-Bt\n*/\n.site-branding {\n	background: transparent;\n}\n\nbutton,\n.main-navigation {\n	background-color: #b093ca;\n}\n\n.nav-menu > li > a:after {\n	color: #ffffff;\n}\n\n.social-links ul a:before {\n	background: #9493ca;\n}','sela','','inherit','closed','closed','','4926-revision-v1','','','2018-02-20 14:38:19','2018-02-20 14:38:19','',4926,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/4926-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6811,1,'2018-02-20 14:38:19','2018-02-20 14:38:19','/*\nWelcome to Custom CSS!\n\nTo learn how this works, see http://wp.me/PEmnE-Bt\n*/\n.site-branding {\n	background: transparent;\n}\n\nbutton,\n.main-navigation {\n	background-color: #ad8fe0;\n}\n\n.nav-menu > li > a:after {\n	color: #ffffff;\n}\n\n.social-links ul a:before {\n	background: #9493ca;\n}','sela','','inherit','closed','closed','','4926-revision-v1','','','2018-02-20 14:38:19','2018-02-20 14:38:19','',4926,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/4926-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6812,1,'2018-02-20 14:38:19','2018-02-20 14:38:19','/*\nWelcome to Custom CSS!\n\nTo learn how this works, see http://wp.me/PEmnE-Bt\n*/\n.site-branding {\n	background: transparent;\n}\n\nbutton,\n.main-navigation {\n	background-color: #0000a5;\n}\n\n.nav-menu > li > a:after {\n	color: #ffffff;\n}\n\n.social-links ul a:before {\n	background: #9493ca;\n}','sela','','inherit','closed','closed','','4926-revision-v1','','','2018-02-20 14:38:19','2018-02-20 14:38:19','',4926,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/4926-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6813,1,'2018-02-20 14:38:19','2018-02-20 14:38:19','/*\nWelcome to Custom CSS!\n\nTo learn how this works, see http://wp.me/PEmnE-Bt\n*/\n.site-branding {\n	background: transparent;\n}\n\nbutton,\n.main-navigation {\n	background-color: #4343ff;\n}\n\n.nav-menu > li > a:after {\n	color: #ffffff;\n}\n\n.social-links ul a:before {\n	background: #9493ca;\n}','sela','','inherit','closed','closed','','4926-revision-v1','','','2018-02-20 14:38:19','2018-02-20 14:38:19','',4926,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/4926-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6814,1,'2018-02-20 14:38:19','2018-02-20 14:38:19','/*\nWelcome to Custom CSS!\n\nTo learn how this works, see http://wp.me/PEmnE-Bt\n*/\n.site-branding {\n	background: transparent;\n}\n\nbutton,\n.main-navigation {\n	background-color: #5757ff;\n}\n\n.nav-menu > li > a:after {\n	color: #ffffff;\n}\n\n.social-links ul a:before {\n	background: #9493ca;\n}','sela','','inherit','closed','closed','','4926-revision-v1','','','2018-02-20 14:38:19','2018-02-20 14:38:19','',4926,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/4926-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6815,1,'2018-02-20 14:38:20','2018-02-20 14:38:20','/*\nWelcome to Custom CSS!\n\nTo learn how this works, see http://wp.me/PEmnE-Bt\n*/\n.site-branding {\n	background: transparent;\n}\n\nbutton,\n.main-navigation {\n	background-color: #e700e7;\n}\n\n.nav-menu > li > a:after {\n	color: #ffffff;\n}\n\n.social-links ul a:before {\n	background: #9493ca;\n}','sela','','inherit','closed','closed','','4926-revision-v1','','','2018-02-20 14:38:20','2018-02-20 14:38:20','',4926,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/4926-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6816,1,'2018-02-20 14:38:20','2018-02-20 14:38:20','/*\nWelcome to Custom CSS!\n\nTo learn how this works, see http://wp.me/PEmnE-Bt\n*/\n.site-branding {\n	background: transparent;\n}\n\nbutton,\n.main-navigation {\n	background-color: #5757ff;\n}\n\n.nav-menu > li > a:after {\n	color: #ffffff;\n}\n\n.social-links ul a:before {\n	background: #9493ca;\n}','sela','','inherit','closed','closed','','4926-revision-v1','','','2018-02-20 14:38:20','2018-02-20 14:38:20','',4926,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/4926-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6817,1,'2018-02-20 14:38:20','2018-02-20 14:38:20','/*\nWelcome to Custom CSS!\n\nTo learn how this works, see http://wp.me/PEmnE-Bt\n*/\n.site-branding {\n	background: transparent;\n}\n\nbutton,\n.main-navigation {\n	background-color: #62629d;\n}\n\n.nav-menu > li > a:after {\n	color: #ffffff;\n}\n\n.social-links ul a:before {\n	background: #9493ca;\n}','sela','','inherit','closed','closed','','4926-revision-v1','','','2018-02-20 14:38:20','2018-02-20 14:38:20','',4926,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/4926-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6818,1,'2018-02-20 14:38:20','2018-02-20 14:38:20','/*\nWelcome to Custom CSS!\n\nTo learn how this works, see http://wp.me/PEmnE-Bt\n*/\n.site-branding {\n	background: transparent;\n}\n\nbutton,\n.main-navigation {\n	background-color: #62629d;\n}\n\n.nav-menu > li > a:after {\n	color: #ffffff;\n}\n\n.social-links ul a:before {\n	background: #62629d;\n}','sela','','inherit','closed','closed','','4926-revision-v1','','','2018-02-20 14:38:20','2018-02-20 14:38:20','',4926,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/4926-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6819,1,'2018-02-20 14:38:20','2018-02-20 14:38:20','/*\nWelcome to Custom CSS!\n\nTo learn how this works, see http://wp.me/PEmnE-Bt\n*/\n.site-branding {\n	background: transparent;\n}\n\nbutton,\n.main-navigation {\n	background-color: #62629d;\n}\n\n.nav-menu > li > a:after {\n	color: #ffffff;\n}\n\n.social-links ul a:before {\n	background: #62629d;\n}\n\n.main-navigation a:hover,\n.main-navigation ul > :hover > a,\n.main-navigation ul > .focus > a {\n	color: #cce5cc;\n}','sela','','inherit','closed','closed','','4926-revision-v1','','','2018-02-20 14:38:20','2018-02-20 14:38:20','',4926,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/4926-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6820,1,'2018-02-20 14:38:21','2018-02-20 14:38:21','/*\nWelcome to Custom CSS!\n\nTo learn how this works, see http://wp.me/PEmnE-Bt\n*/\n.site-branding {\n	background: transparent;\n}\n\nbutton,\n.main-navigation {\n	background-color: #62629d;\n}\n\n.nav-menu > li > a:after {\n	color: #ffffff;\n}\n\n.social-links ul a:before {\n	background: #62629d;\n}\n\n.main-navigation a:hover,\n.main-navigation ul > :hover > a,\n.main-navigation ul > .focus > a {\n	color: #cce5cc;\n}\n\n#secondary input[type=\"submit\"] {\n	background-color: #cce5cc;\n}','sela','','inherit','closed','closed','','4926-revision-v1','','','2018-02-20 14:38:21','2018-02-20 14:38:21','',4926,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/4926-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6821,1,'2018-02-20 14:38:21','2018-02-20 14:38:21','/*\nWelcome to Custom CSS!\n\nTo learn how this works, see http://wp.me/PEmnE-Bt\n*/\n.site-branding {\n	background: transparent;\n}\n\nbutton,\n.main-navigation {\n	background-color: #62629d;\n}\n\n.nav-menu > li > a:after {\n	color: #ffffff;\n}\n\n.social-links ul a:before {\n	background: #62629d;\n}\n\n.main-navigation a:hover,\n.main-navigation ul > :hover > a,\n.main-navigation ul > .focus > a {\n	color: #cce5cc;\n}\n\n#secondary input[type=\"submit\"] {\n	background-color: #00e600;\n}','sela','','inherit','closed','closed','','4926-revision-v1','','','2018-02-20 14:38:21','2018-02-20 14:38:21','',4926,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/4926-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6822,1,'2018-02-20 14:38:21','2018-02-20 14:38:21','/*\nWelcome to Custom CSS!\n\nTo learn how this works, see http://wp.me/PEmnE-Bt\n*/\n.site-branding {\n	background: transparent;\n}\n\nbutton,\n.main-navigation {\n	background-color: #62629d;\n}\n\n.nav-menu > li > a:after {\n	color: #ffffff;\n}\n\n.social-links ul a:before {\n	background: #62629d;\n}\n\n.main-navigation a:hover,\n.main-navigation ul > :hover > a,\n.main-navigation ul > .focus > a {\n	color: #cce5cc;\n}\n\n#secondary input[type=\"submit\"] {\n	background-color: #8ec127;\n}','sela','','inherit','closed','closed','','4926-revision-v1','','','2018-02-20 14:38:21','2018-02-20 14:38:21','',4926,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/4926-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6823,1,'2018-02-20 14:38:21','2018-02-20 14:38:21','/*\nWelcome to Custom CSS!\n\nTo learn how this works, see http://wp.me/PEmnE-Bt\n*/\n.site-branding {\n	background: transparent;\n}\n\nbutton,\n.main-navigation {\n	background-color: #62629d;\n}\n\n.nav-menu > li > a:after {\n	color: #ffffff;\n}\n\n.social-links ul a:before {\n	background: #62629d;\n}\n\n.main-navigation a:hover,\n.main-navigation ul > :hover > a,\n.main-navigation ul > .focus > a {\n	color: #8ec127;\n}\n\n#secondary input[type=\"submit\"] {\n	background-color: #8ec127;\n}','sela','','inherit','closed','closed','','4926-revision-v1','','','2018-02-20 14:38:21','2018-02-20 14:38:21','',4926,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/4926-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6824,1,'2018-02-20 14:38:21','2018-02-20 14:38:21','/*\nWelcome to Custom CSS!\n\nTo learn how this works, see http://wp.me/PEmnE-Bt\n*/\n.site-branding {\n	background: transparent;\n}\n\nbutton,\n.main-navigation {\n	background-color: #62629d;\n}\n\n.nav-menu > li > a:after {\n	color: #ffffff;\n}\n\n.social-links ul a:before {\n	background: #62629d;\n}\n\n.main-navigation a:hover,\n.main-navigation ul > :hover > a,\n.main-navigation ul > .focus > a {\n	color: #8ec127;\n}\n\n#secondary input[type=\"submit\"] {\n	background-color: #8ec127;\n}\n\n#page {\n	position: relative;\n}\n\n.social-links {\n	position: absolute;\n	top: 10px;\n	right: 50px;\n}','sela','','inherit','closed','closed','','4926-revision-v1','','','2018-02-20 14:38:21','2018-02-20 14:38:21','',4926,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/4926-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6825,1,'2018-02-20 14:38:21','2018-02-20 14:38:21','/*\nWelcome to Custom CSS!\n\nTo learn how this works, see http://wp.me/PEmnE-Bt\n*/\n.site-branding {\n	background: transparent;\n}\n\nbutton,\n.main-navigation {\n	background-color: #62629d;\n}\n\n.nav-menu > li > a:after {\n	color: #ffffff;\n}\n\n.social-links ul a:before {\n	background: #62629d;\n}\n\n.main-navigation a:hover,\n.main-navigation ul > :hover > a,\n.main-navigation ul > .focus > a {\n	color: #8ec127;\n}\n\n#secondary input[type=\"submit\"] {\n	background-color: #8ec127;\n}','sela','','inherit','closed','closed','','4926-revision-v1','','','2018-02-20 14:38:21','2018-02-20 14:38:21','',4926,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/4926-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6826,1,'2018-02-20 14:38:22','2018-02-20 14:38:22','/*\nWelcome to Custom CSS!\n\nTo learn how this works, see http://wp.me/PEmnE-Bt\n*/\n.site-branding {\n	background: transparent;\n}\n\nbutton,\n.main-navigation {\n	background-color: #62629d;\n}\n\n.nav-menu > li > a:after {\n	color: #ffffff;\n}\n\n.social-links ul a:before {\n	background: #62629d;\n}\n\n.main-navigation a:hover,\n.main-navigation ul > :hover > a,\n.main-navigation ul > .focus > a {\n	color: #8ec127;\n}\n\n#secondary input[type=\"submit\"] {\n	background-color: #8ec127;\n}\n\n@media screen and (min-width: 768px) {\n	#site-navigation.main-navigation ul ul a:hover {\n		color: #8ec127;\n	}\n}','sela','','inherit','closed','closed','','4926-revision-v1','','','2018-02-20 14:38:22','2018-02-20 14:38:22','',4926,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/4926-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6827,1,'2018-02-20 14:38:22','2018-02-20 14:38:22','/*\nWelcome to Custom CSS!\n\nTo learn how this works, see http://wp.me/PEmnE-Bt\n*/\n.site-branding {\n	background: transparent;\n}\n\nbutton,\n.main-navigation {\n	background-color: #9493ca;\n}\n\n.nav-menu > li > a:after {\n	color: #ffffff;\n}\n\n.social-links ul a:before {\n	background: #62629d;\n}\n\n.main-navigation a:hover,\n.main-navigation ul > :hover > a,\n.main-navigation ul > .focus > a {\n	color: #8ec127;\n}\n\n#secondary input[type=\"submit\"] {\n	background-color: #8ec127;\n}\n\n@media screen and (min-width: 768px) {\n	#site-navigation.main-navigation ul ul a:hover {\n		color: #8ec127;\n	}\n}','sela','','inherit','closed','closed','','4926-revision-v1','','','2018-02-20 14:38:22','2018-02-20 14:38:22','',4926,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/4926-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6828,1,'2018-02-20 14:38:22','2018-02-20 14:38:22','/*\nWelcome to Custom CSS!\n\nTo learn how this works, see http://wp.me/PEmnE-Bt\n*/\nbutton,\n.main-navigation {\n	background-color: #62629d;\n}\n\n.nav-menu > li > a:after {\n	color: #ffffff;\n}\n\n.social-links ul a:before {\n	background: #62629d;\n}\n\n.main-navigation a:hover,\n.main-navigation ul > :hover > a,\n.main-navigation ul > .focus > a {\n	color: #8ec127;\n}\n\n#secondary input[type=\"submit\"] {\n	background-color: #8ec127;\n}\n\n@media screen and (min-width: 768px) {\n	#site-navigation.main-navigation ul ul a:hover {\n		color: #8ec127;\n	}\n}','sela','','inherit','closed','closed','','4926-revision-v1','','','2018-02-20 14:38:22','2018-02-20 14:38:22','',4926,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/4926-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6829,1,'2018-02-20 14:38:22','2018-02-20 14:38:22','/*\nWelcome to Custom CSS!\n\nTo learn how this works, see http://wp.me/PEmnE-Bt\n*/\nbutton,\n.main-navigation {\n	background-color: #62629d;\n}\n\n.nav-menu > li > a:after {\n	color: #ffffff;\n}\n\n.social-links ul a:before {\n	background: #62629d;\n}\n\n.main-navigation a:hover,\n.main-navigation ul > :hover > a,\n.main-navigation ul > .focus > a {\n	color: #8ec127;\n}\n\n#secondary input[type=\"submit\"] {\n	background-color: #8ec127;\n}\n\n@media screen and (min-width: 768px) {\n	#site-navigation.main-navigation ul ul a:hover {\n		color: #8ec127;\n	}\n}\n\nrequire([mojo/signup-forms/Loader], function(L) {\n}	\n}','sela','','inherit','closed','closed','','4926-revision-v1','','','2018-02-20 14:38:22','2018-02-20 14:38:22','',4926,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/4926-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6830,1,'2018-02-20 14:38:22','2018-02-20 14:38:22','/*\nWelcome to Custom CSS!\n\nTo learn how this works, see http://wp.me/PEmnE-Bt\n*/\nbutton,\n.main-navigation {\n	background-color: #62629d;\n}\n\n.nav-menu > li > a:after {\n	color: #ffffff;\n}\n\n.social-links ul a:before {\n	background: #62629d;\n}\n\n.main-navigation a:hover,\n.main-navigation ul > :hover > a,\n.main-navigation ul > .focus > a {\n	color: #8ec127;\n}\n\n#secondary input[type=\"submit\"] {\n	background-color: #8ec127;\n}\n\n@media screen and (min-width: 768px) {\n	#site-navigation.main-navigation ul ul a:hover {\n		color: #8ec127;\n	}\n}','sela','','inherit','closed','closed','','4926-revision-v1','','','2018-02-20 14:38:22','2018-02-20 14:38:22','',4926,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/4926-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6831,1,'2018-02-20 14:38:23','2018-02-20 14:38:23','/*\nWelcome to Custom CSS!\n\nTo learn how this works, see http://wp.me/PEmnE-Bt\n*/\nbutton,\n.main-navigation {\n	background-color: #62629d;\n}\n\n.nav-menu > li > a:after {\n	color: #ffffff;\n}\n\n.social-links ul a:before {\n	background: #62629d;\n}\n\n.main-navigation a:hover,\n.main-navigation ul > :hover > a,\n.main-navigation ul > .focus > a {\n	color: #8ec127;\n}\n\n#secondary input[type=\"submit\"] {\n	background-color: #8ec127;\n}\n\n@media screen and (min-width: 768px) {\n	#site-navigation.main-navigation ul ul a:hover {\n		color: #8ec127;\n	}\n}\n\n.site-info {\n	display: none;\n}','sela','','inherit','closed','closed','','4926-revision-v1','','','2018-02-20 14:38:23','2018-02-20 14:38:23','',4926,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/4926-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6832,1,'2018-02-20 14:38:23','2018-02-20 14:38:23','/*\nWelcome to Custom CSS!\n\nTo learn how this works, see http://wp.me/PEmnE-Bt\n*/\nbutton,\n.main-navigation {\n	background-color: #62629d;\n}\n\n.nav-menu > li > a:after {\n	color: #ffffff;\n}\n\n.social-links ul a:before {\n	background: #62629d;\n}\n\n.main-navigation a:hover,\n.main-navigation ul > :hover > a,\n.main-navigation ul > .focus > a {\n	color: #8ec127;\n}\n\n#secondary input[type=\"submit\"] {\n	background-color: #8ec127;\n}\n\n@media screen and (min-width: 768px) {\n	#site-navigation.main-navigation ul ul a:hover {\n		color: #8ec127;\n	}\n}\n\n.site-info {\n	display: The Happiness Bucket copyright 2015;\n}','sela','','inherit','closed','closed','','4926-revision-v1','','','2018-02-20 14:38:23','2018-02-20 14:38:23','',4926,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/4926-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6833,1,'2018-02-20 14:38:23','2018-02-20 14:38:23','/*\nWelcome to Custom CSS!\n\nTo learn how this works, see http://wp.me/PEmnE-Bt\n*/\nbutton,\n.main-navigation {\n	background-color: #62629d;\n}\n\n.nav-menu > li > a:after {\n	color: #ffffff;\n}\n\n.social-links ul a:before {\n	background: #62629d;\n}\n\n.main-navigation a:hover,\n.main-navigation ul > :hover > a,\n.main-navigation ul > .focus > a {\n	color: #8ec127;\n}\n\n#secondary input[type=\"submit\"] {\n	background-color: #8ec127;\n}\n\n@media screen and (min-width: 768px) {\n	#site-navigation.main-navigation ul ul a:hover {\n		color: #8ec127;\n	}\n}\n\n.site-info {\n	display: none;\n}','sela','','inherit','closed','closed','','4926-revision-v1','','','2018-02-20 14:38:23','2018-02-20 14:38:23','',4926,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/4926-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6834,1,'2018-02-20 14:38:23','2018-02-20 14:38:23','/*\nWelcome to Custom CSS!\n\nTo learn how this works, see http://wp.me/PEmnE-Bt\n*/\nbutton,\n.main-navigation {\n	background-color: #62629d;\n}\n\n.nav-menu > li > a:after {\n	color: #ffffff;\n}\n\n.social-links ul a:before {\n	background: #62629d;\n}\n\n.main-navigation a:hover,\n.main-navigation ul > :hover > a,\n.main-navigation ul > .focus > a {\n	color: #8ec127;\n}\n\n#secondary input[type=\"submit\"] {\n	background-color: #8ec127;\n}\n\n@media screen and (min-width: 768px) {\n	#site-navigation.main-navigation ul ul a:hover {\n		color: #8ec127;\n	}\n}\n\n.site-info {\n	visibility: hidden;\n}\n\n.site-info:before {\n	visibility: visible;\n	content: \"The Happiness Bucket copyright 2015\";\n	display: block;\n}','sela','','inherit','closed','closed','','4926-revision-v1','','','2018-02-20 14:38:23','2018-02-20 14:38:23','',4926,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/4926-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6835,1,'2018-02-20 14:38:24','2018-02-20 14:38:24','/*\nWelcome to Custom CSS!\n\nTo learn how this works, see http://wp.me/PEmnE-Bt\n*/\nbutton,\n.main-navigation {\n	background-color: #62629d;\n}\n\n.nav-menu > li > a:after {\n	color: #ffffff;\n}\n\n.social-links ul a:before {\n	background: #62629d;\n}\n\n.main-navigation a:hover,\n.main-navigation ul > :hover > a,\n.main-navigation ul > .focus > a {\n	color: #8ec127;\n}\n\n#secondary input[type=\"submit\"] {\n	background-color: #8ec127;\n}\n\n@media screen and (min-width: 768px) {\n	#site-navigation.main-navigation ul ul a:hover {\n		color: #8ec127;\n	}\n}\n\n.site-info {\n	visibility: hidden;\n}\n\n.site-info:before {\n	visibility: visible;\n	content: \"Copyright © 2015 The Happiness Bucket\";\n	display: block;\n}','sela','','inherit','closed','closed','','4926-revision-v1','','','2018-02-20 14:38:24','2018-02-20 14:38:24','',4926,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/4926-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6836,1,'2018-02-20 14:38:24','2018-02-20 14:38:24','/*\nWelcome to Custom CSS!\n\nTo learn how this works, see http://wp.me/PEmnE-Bt\n*/\nbutton,\n.main-navigation {\n	background-color: #62629d;\n}\n\n.nav-menu > li > a:after {\n	color: #ffffff;\n}\n\n.social-links ul a:before {\n	background: #62629d;\n}\n\n.main-navigation a:hover,\n.main-navigation ul > :hover > a,\n.main-navigation ul > .focus > a {\n	color: #8ec127;\n}\n\n#secondary input[type=\"submit\"] {\n	background-color: #8ec127;\n}\n\n@media screen and (min-width: 768px) {\n	#site-navigation.main-navigation ul ul a:hover {\n		color: #8ec127;\n	}\n}\n\n.site-info {\n	visibility: hidden;\n}\n\n.site-info:before {\n	visibility: visible;\n	content: \"Copyright © 2015 The Happiness Bucket\";\n	display: block;\n}\n\n.footer-widget-area {\n	padding-top: 0;\n	padding-bottom: 0;\n}','sela','','inherit','closed','closed','','4926-revision-v1','','','2018-02-20 14:38:24','2018-02-20 14:38:24','',4926,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/4926-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6837,1,'2018-02-20 14:38:24','2018-02-20 14:38:24','/*\nWelcome to Custom CSS!\n\nTo learn how this works, see http://wp.me/PEmnE-Bt\n*/\nbutton,\n.main-navigation {\n	background-color: #62629d;\n}\n\n.nav-menu > li > a:after {\n	color: #ffffff;\n}\n\n.social-links ul a:before {\n	background: #62629d;\n}\n\n.main-navigation a:hover,\n.main-navigation ul > :hover > a,\n.main-navigation ul > .focus > a {\n	color: #8ec127;\n}\n\n#secondary input[type=\"submit\"] {\n	background-color: #8ec127;\n}\n\n@media screen and (min-width: 768px) {\n	#site-navigation.main-navigation ul ul a:hover {\n		color: #8ec127;\n	}\n}\n\n.site-info {\n	visibility: hidden;\n}\n\n.site-info:before {\n	visibility: visible;\n	content: \"Copyright © 2015 The Happiness Bucket\";\n	display: block;\n}\n\n.site-branding {\n	display: none;\n}\n\n.home .site-branding {\n	display: inherit;\n}','sela','','inherit','closed','closed','','4926-revision-v1','','','2018-02-20 14:38:24','2018-02-20 14:38:24','',4926,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/4926-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6838,1,'2018-02-20 14:38:24','2018-02-20 14:38:24','/*\nWelcome to Custom CSS!\n\nTo learn how this works, see http://wp.me/PEmnE-Bt\n*/\nbutton,\n.main-navigation {\n	background-color: #62629d;\n}\n\n.nav-menu > li > a:after {\n	color: #ffffff;\n}\n\n.social-links ul a:before {\n	background: #62629d;\n}\n\n.main-navigation a:hover,\n.main-navigation ul > :hover > a,\n.main-navigation ul > .focus > a {\n	color: #8ec127;\n}\n\n#secondary input[type=\"submit\"] {\n	background-color: #8ec127;\n}\n\n@media screen and (min-width: 768px) {\n	#site-navigation.main-navigation ul ul a:hover {\n		color: #8ec127;\n	}\n}\n\n.site-info {\n	visibility: hidden;\n}\n\n.site-info:before {\n	visibility: visible;\n	content: \"Copyright © 2015 The Happiness Bucket\";\n	display: block;\n}\n\n.page-id-3601 #logo_section_full,\n.page-id-3601 #menu {\n	display: none;\n}','sela','','inherit','closed','closed','','4926-revision-v1','','','2018-02-20 14:38:24','2018-02-20 14:38:24','',4926,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/4926-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6839,1,'2018-02-20 14:38:25','2018-02-20 14:38:25','/*\nWelcome to Custom CSS!\n\nTo learn how this works, see http://wp.me/PEmnE-Bt\n*/\nbutton,\n.main-navigation {\n	background-color: #62629d;\n}\n\n.nav-menu > li > a:after {\n	color: #ffffff;\n}\n\n.social-links ul a:before {\n	background: #62629d;\n}\n\n.main-navigation a:hover,\n.main-navigation ul > :hover > a,\n.main-navigation ul > .focus > a {\n	color: #8ec127;\n}\n\n#secondary input[type=\"submit\"] {\n	background-color: #8ec127;\n}\n\n@media screen and (min-width: 768px) {\n	#site-navigation.main-navigation ul ul a:hover {\n		color: #8ec127;\n	}\n}\n\n.site-info {\n	visibility: hidden;\n}\n\n.site-info:before {\n	visibility: visible;\n	content: \"Copyright © 2015 The Happiness Bucket\";\n	display: block;\n}\n\n.3601 #nav-container {\n	display: none;\n}','sela','','inherit','closed','closed','','4926-revision-v1','','','2018-02-20 14:38:25','2018-02-20 14:38:25','',4926,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/4926-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6840,1,'2018-02-20 14:38:25','2018-02-20 14:38:25','','sydney','','inherit','closed','closed','','4963-revision-v1','','','2018-02-20 14:38:25','2018-02-20 14:38:25','',4963,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/4963-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6841,1,'2018-02-20 14:38:25','2018-02-20 14:38:25','/*\nWelcome to Custom CSS!\n\nTo learn how this works, see http://wp.me/PEmnE-Bt\n*/\n.hentry .meta-post {\n	display: none;\n}','sydney','','inherit','closed','closed','','4963-revision-v1','','','2018-02-20 14:38:25','2018-02-20 14:38:25','',4963,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/4963-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6842,1,'2018-02-20 14:38:25','2018-02-20 14:38:25','/*\nWelcome to Custom CSS!\n\nTo learn how this works, see http://wp.me/PEmnE-Bt\n*/\n.hentry .meta-post {\n	display: none;\n}\n\nvar $zoho= $zoho || {\n}\n\n,ready:function() {\n}	\n}\n\n	\n}','sydney','','inherit','closed','closed','','4963-revision-v1','','','2018-02-20 14:38:25','2018-02-20 14:38:25','',4963,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/4963-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6843,1,'2018-02-20 14:38:25','2018-02-20 14:38:25','/*\nWelcome to Custom CSS!\n\nTo learn how this works, see http://wp.me/PEmnE-Bt\n*/\n.hentry .meta-post {\n	display: none;\n}','sydney','','inherit','closed','closed','','4963-revision-v1','','','2018-02-20 14:38:25','2018-02-20 14:38:25','',4963,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/4963-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6844,1,'2018-02-20 14:38:25','2018-02-20 14:38:25','/*\nYou can add your own CSS here.\n\nClick the help icon above to learn more.\n*/\n.site-info .copyright {\n	margin-top: 30px;}\n\n#site-title {\n  display: none;\n}\n.page-id-5195 .page-title {\n  display: none;\n}\n.page-id-5698 .page-title {\n  display: none;\n}\r\n\r\n/*\r\n	CSS Migrated from Jetpack:\r\n*/\r\n\r\n/*\nWelcome to Custom CSS!\n\nTo learn how this works, see http://wp.me/PEmnE-Bt\n*/\n.hentry .meta-post {\n	display: none;\n}','excellent','','inherit','closed','closed','','407-revision-v1','','','2018-02-20 14:38:25','2018-02-20 14:38:25','',407,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/407-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6845,1,'2018-02-20 17:17:23','2018-02-20 17:17:23','Hello, my name is Dana LaRieal Morales and I\'m so glad you\'re here and entrusting me with your needs.  I am all about helping people be the best version of themselves.  How do I do it?, well I do it using my knowledge as a Project Manager, an organization enthusiast and someone who loves helping people.\r\n\r\nIt is my belief, that everyone should have a good family, work and life balance, because at the end of the day that is what makes you a well-rounded individual and a great business person.\r\n\r\nI am an Alum of the University of Tennessee Knoxville, where I studied sociology with a concentration in criminal justice, so you will probably see the criminal justice influence by my strange references to Perry Mason or other common crime shows.  I also love solving puzzles which lends greatly to solving problems, organization, project management and process improvement.  Oh, and I must not forget to mention I am also an Alum of the illustrious Tennessee State University, where I obtained my Masters in Public Administration.\r\n<h2>Why Should You Listen to Dana LaRieal Morales?</h2>\r\nFor over 24 years, I have been in the service field assisting people with their problems.  I am also a Certified Project Manager and have worked on a number of implementation, development and process improvement projects during that time.  My unique take on the area of process improvement lends well to small and medium-sized business owners and implementation teams.  I believe with the right process, you can simplify your workload and increase your overall productivity.\r\n\r\nSo, now that you know a little about me, I hope you will tell me a little about you.  Please jump on over to our <a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/groups/ChangeAcademy/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Change Academy Facebook Group</a> and introduce yourself to everyone.  Whether you are new to organization, process improvement or <a href=\"http://development.thehappinessbucket.com/projectmanagement/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">project management</a> or not I want to interact with you.\r\n\r\nIf you aren\'t a Facebook person or you just like to connect in various ways, I suggest you join our THB Family.[convertkit form=5059620] Now wait! Before you start rolling your eyes, I promise not to spam you because I can not stand that myself. I promise to use your email responsibly and only send information that provides value. Once you become a member of the THB Family, you will have the opportunity to choose a few different options based on your interests, this will help me determine what emails you would consider valuable and which ones you might consider junk.  Either way, I\'m just glad you have decided to join me on this journey!\r\n\r\nUntil we talk again, have a great night and stay happy!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Who is Dana','','inherit','closed','closed','','5085-revision-v1','','','2018-02-20 17:17:23','2018-02-20 17:17:23','',5085,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/5085-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6848,1,'2018-02-20 17:30:28','2018-02-20 17:30:28','The Happiness Bucket seed was planted in my heart many years ago when I was in college interning as a Sentencing Advocate.  At the time, I realized that there are many life circumstances that make us who we are today.  Regardless of whether your circumstances are good or bad, they can affect your life in many ways.  The key thing to remember is that nothing is permanent.  You can always change your circumstances if you have determination, the right circle around you and you are willing to make the necessary changes in and around yourself. My idea of the C.H.A.N.G.E Center, which is what it was called at the time, was centered around reusing an old school building that would house a number of service agencies (social security, police, fire stations) trade schools and a community center.  It would also have a restaurant that would train non-violent offenders in the restaurant industry.  The entire idea was to have a central place where you could get your problems addressed, grow as a person and feel safe.  It would be the center safe place of the community where you were honoring excellence in one another.  Although this idea has never completely gone away, it was never completely born either.\r\n\r\nFast forward to 2008, when I had the opportunity to talk with a group of women who were going through a lot of personal issues.  In listening to their stories I knew I could help on a different scale.  In that mini-mastermind session, I began to dig deeper with the ladies by working to discover the center of their happiness.  You see, they truly didn\'t know what would make them happy and that was part of the root cause of their problems.  By the end of our visit, each woman had a plan of action and was reassured that they would make it through and past their situations to become a happier version of themselves. I\'m happy to say they all began working towards their goals and were successful in accomplishing many of them.  Thus this session reignited that original dream of a community of excellence, just from a different angle.\r\n<h2>The <span style=\"color: #e100b1;\">C.H.A.N.G.E</span> ACADEMY</h2>\r\nOut of that session in 2008, a Community Honoring A New Goal of Excellence, the C.H.A.N.G.E Academy was born.  It was developed specifically to help provide guidance, workshops and encouragement in reaching your individual goals.  It is a place where I want you to feel safe sharing your most intimate dreams and fears and know you will receive genuine support.  This is a safe place to ask questions and a place where it is okay to laugh and cry.\r\n\r\nThe C.H.A.N.G.E Academy is a holistic learning portal.  Here at the Happiness Bucket, I believe we have to deal with our lives in totality.  You are one person with many different hats on, why then would we only address a hat and not the person?  Your family is made of many different people with many different hats, why then would we not deal with the individuals and then the family unit? As Michael Jackson said, \"Start with the [wo]man in the mirror\".\r\n\r\nThere are two ways in which you can be a part of the Academy:\r\n<ul>\r\n 	<li>Join our <a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/groups/ChangeAcademy/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Change Academy Facebook Group</a> - this is our community of support, where THB Family Members gather to share all types of information, provide support and learn.</li>\r\n 	<li>Visit our <a href=\"https://thechangeacademy.thinkific.com/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Change Academy Portal</a> - this is where our coursework takes place.  You can find both free and paid courses and resources in the Academy Portal.  All of the educational resources are centered around the organization of your space, life, soul, and business.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nTake whichever route makes the most sense for you today (if not both), just take action and do something.  I look forward to working with you on a deeper level as you begin your C.H.A.N.G.E Journey today!\r\n<h2>What is The Happiness Bucket About?</h2>\r\nAs you look at the Happiness Bucket\'s theme I know some of you are wondering what it represents, what it is about.  You see our company represents change, growth, and beauty.  It represents the flourishing life you were meant to have.  You are a seed that needs to be watered and nourished to grow into what God has made you to be and that is what The Happiness Bucket tries to bring to your life...that water and food you need to grow.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">So how do you grow?  By letting go…letting go of that barrier that is keeping you from reaching your dreams and goals.  I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase, “Let go and let God”, and that is what you need to do.  Make the decision to take the back seat in your life, behind Jesus, and begin doing the work so you can do what you were made to do.  You see He drives me and guides me down the path that I need to go.  When I try to take the wheel, I always end up on the wrong path and I don’t get back on the right path until I let Him take the wheel again.  The same, I’m sure is true for you.  So…my message to you today is to let go and let God take the wheel in your life and you will be amazed at where you can go. Trust Him, even when you don’t really understand or want to because when the time is right He will make the path and purpose clear to you.</p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Rooted in Organization</h2>\r\nSo what does this have to do with Organization?  Well, organization is the root of all things...you are either organized or disorganized.  In most cases, you feel the effects pretty quickly in either direction.  By using project management principles, The Happiness Bucket can help you organize your space, life, soul, and business ultimately allowing you to live your happiest life.  You see, if you are struggling in any of those areas, you more than likely are experiencing some level of disorganization in all areas.  Conquering that problem at the root will help you build on a solid foundation, and trust...once you start you won\'t want to stop!','About THB','','inherit','closed','closed','','4669-revision-v1','','','2018-02-20 17:30:28','2018-02-20 17:30:28','',4669,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/4669-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6849,1,'2018-02-20 18:17:06','2018-02-20 18:17:06','<div id=\"pl-6849\"  class=\"panel-layout\" ><div id=\"pg-6849-0\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-has-style\"  data-style=\"{&quot;padding&quot;:&quot;10px&quot;}\" ><div class=\"panel-row-style panel-row-style-for-6849-0\" ><div id=\"pgc-6849-0-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\"  data-weight=\"1\" ><div id=\"panel-6849-0-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-first-child\" data-index=\"0\" data-style=\"{&quot;background_display&quot;:&quot;tile&quot;}\" ><div class=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\">\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n	<p>You are a holistic being and I believe that everything in your life is interconnected.  It is not uncommon for me to begin working with you on one issue and end up working on many others that you didn\'t even know existed.  The reason this happens is because clutter serves as a block in your mind.  It keeps you from being creative and productive in all areas.  Once you clear that block, you are more productive and ultimately happier because you can be creative, produce and live again.  </p></div>\n</div></div><div id=\"panel-6849-0-0-1\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-last-child\" data-index=\"1\" data-style=\"{&quot;background_image_attachment&quot;:false,&quot;background_display&quot;:&quot;tile&quot;}\" ><div class=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\">\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n	<p>Your starting point is to evaluate where you are and where you would like to be.  Take a few minutes to complete this needs assessment, which will tell me exactly where you need to begin your journey.  Once I receive your completed assessment, I will contact you to discuss how I can assist you further.  I look forward to helping you live your happiest life. </p></div>\n</div></div></div></div></div><div id=\"pg-6849-1\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\"  data-style=\"{&quot;background_display&quot;:&quot;tile&quot;,&quot;cell_alignment&quot;:&quot;flex-start&quot;}\" ><div id=\"pgc-6849-1-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\"  data-weight=\"1\" ><div id=\"panel-6849-1-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-button panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"2\" data-style=\"{&quot;background_display&quot;:&quot;tile&quot;}\" >[siteorigin_widget class=\"SiteOrigin_Widget_Button_Widget\"]<input type=\"hidden\" value=\"{&quot;instance&quot;:{&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Needs Assessment&quot;,&quot;url&quot;:&quot;http:\\/\\/www.thehappinessbucket.com\\/assessment&quot;,&quot;new_window&quot;:true,&quot;button_icon&quot;:{&quot;icon_selected&quot;:&quot;fontawesome-edit&quot;,&quot;icon_color&quot;:&quot;#000000&quot;,&quot;icon&quot;:0,&quot;so_field_container_state&quot;:&quot;open&quot;},&quot;design&quot;:{&quot;width&quot;:false,&quot;width_unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;align&quot;:&quot;center&quot;,&quot;theme&quot;:&quot;atom&quot;,&quot;button_color&quot;:&quot;#f224c8&quot;,&quot;text_color&quot;:&quot;#ffffff&quot;,&quot;hover&quot;:true,&quot;font&quot;:&quot;default&quot;,&quot;font_size&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;rounding&quot;:&quot;0.25&quot;,&quot;padding&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;so_field_container_state&quot;:&quot;open&quot;},&quot;attributes&quot;:{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;classes&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;onclick&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;rel&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;so_field_container_state&quot;:&quot;closed&quot;},&quot;_sow_form_id&quot;:&quot;59499b0c63d56&quot;,&quot;_sow_form_timestamp&quot;:&quot;&quot;},&quot;args&quot;:{&quot;before_widget&quot;:&quot;&lt;div id=\\&quot;panel-6849-1-0-0\\&quot; class=\\&quot;so-panel widget widget_sow-button panel-first-child panel-last-child\\&quot; data-index=\\&quot;2\\&quot; data-style=\\&quot;{&amp;quot;background_display&amp;quot;:&amp;quot;tile&amp;quot;}\\&quot; &gt;&quot;,&quot;after_widget&quot;:&quot;&lt;\\/div&gt;&quot;,&quot;before_title&quot;:&quot;&lt;h3 class=\\&quot;widget-title\\&quot;&gt;&quot;,&quot;after_title&quot;:&quot;&lt;\\/h3&gt;&quot;,&quot;widget_id&quot;:&quot;widget-1-0-0&quot;}}\" />[/siteorigin_widget]</div></div></div></div>','Let\'s Get Started Clearing the Clutter and Getting Organized','','inherit','closed','closed','','3238-revision-v1','','','2018-02-20 18:17:06','2018-02-20 18:17:06','',3238,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/3238-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6850,1,'2018-02-20 18:17:06','2018-02-20 18:17:06','<div id=\"pl-3238\"  class=\"panel-layout\" ><div id=\"pg-3238-0\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-has-style\"  data-style=\"{&quot;padding&quot;:&quot;10px&quot;}\" ><div class=\"panel-row-style panel-row-style-for-3238-0\" ><div id=\"pgc-3238-0-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\"  data-weight=\"1\" ><div id=\"panel-3238-0-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-first-child\" data-index=\"0\" data-style=\"{&quot;background_display&quot;:&quot;tile&quot;}\" ><div class=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\">\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n	<p>You are a holistic being and I believe that everything in your life is interconnected.  It is not uncommon for me to begin working with you on one issue and end up working on many others that you didn\'t even know existed.  The reason this happens is because clutter serves as a block in your mind.  It keeps you from being creative and productive in all areas.  Once you clear that block, you are more productive and ultimately happier because you can be creative, produce and live again.  </p></div>\n</div></div><div id=\"panel-3238-0-0-1\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-last-child\" data-index=\"1\" data-style=\"{&quot;background_image_attachment&quot;:false,&quot;background_display&quot;:&quot;tile&quot;}\" ><div class=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\">\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n	<p>Your starting point is to evaluate where you are and where you would like to be.  Take a few minutes to complete this needs assessment, which will tell me exactly where you need to begin your journey.  Once I receive your completed assessment, I will contact you to discuss how I can assist you further.  I look forward to helping you live your happiest life. </p></div>\n</div></div></div></div></div><div id=\"pg-3238-1\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\"  data-style=\"{&quot;background_display&quot;:&quot;tile&quot;,&quot;cell_alignment&quot;:&quot;flex-start&quot;}\" ><div id=\"pgc-3238-1-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\"  data-weight=\"1\" ><div id=\"panel-3238-1-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-button panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"2\" data-style=\"{&quot;background_display&quot;:&quot;tile&quot;}\" >[siteorigin_widget class=\"SiteOrigin_Widget_Button_Widget\"]<input type=\"hidden\" value=\"{&quot;instance&quot;:{&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Needs Assessment&quot;,&quot;url&quot;:&quot;http:\\/\\/www.thehappinessbucket.com\\/assessment&quot;,&quot;new_window&quot;:true,&quot;button_icon&quot;:{&quot;icon_selected&quot;:&quot;fontawesome-edit&quot;,&quot;icon_color&quot;:&quot;#000000&quot;,&quot;icon&quot;:0,&quot;so_field_container_state&quot;:&quot;open&quot;},&quot;design&quot;:{&quot;width&quot;:false,&quot;width_unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;align&quot;:&quot;center&quot;,&quot;theme&quot;:&quot;atom&quot;,&quot;button_color&quot;:&quot;#f224c8&quot;,&quot;text_color&quot;:&quot;#ffffff&quot;,&quot;hover&quot;:true,&quot;font&quot;:&quot;default&quot;,&quot;font_size&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;rounding&quot;:&quot;0.25&quot;,&quot;padding&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;so_field_container_state&quot;:&quot;open&quot;},&quot;attributes&quot;:{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;classes&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;onclick&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;rel&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;so_field_container_state&quot;:&quot;closed&quot;},&quot;_sow_form_id&quot;:&quot;59499b0c63d56&quot;,&quot;_sow_form_timestamp&quot;:&quot;&quot;},&quot;args&quot;:{&quot;before_widget&quot;:&quot;&lt;div id=\\&quot;panel-3238-1-0-0\\&quot; class=\\&quot;so-panel widget widget_sow-button panel-first-child panel-last-child\\&quot; data-index=\\&quot;2\\&quot; data-style=\\&quot;{&amp;quot;background_display&amp;quot;:&amp;quot;tile&amp;quot;}\\&quot; &gt;&quot;,&quot;after_widget&quot;:&quot;&lt;\\/div&gt;&quot;,&quot;before_title&quot;:&quot;&lt;h3 class=\\&quot;widget-title\\&quot;&gt;&quot;,&quot;after_title&quot;:&quot;&lt;\\/h3&gt;&quot;,&quot;widget_id&quot;:&quot;widget-1-0-0&quot;}}\" />[/siteorigin_widget]</div></div></div></div>','Let\'s Get Started Clearing the Clutter and Getting Organized','','inherit','closed','closed','','3238-revision-v1','','','2018-02-20 18:17:06','2018-02-20 18:17:06','',3238,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/3238-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6851,1,'2018-02-20 18:30:08','2018-02-20 18:30:08','<div id=\"pl-6851\"  class=\"panel-layout\" ><div id=\"pg-6851-0\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-has-style\"  data-style=\"{&quot;padding&quot;:&quot;10px&quot;}\" ><div class=\"panel-row-style panel-row-style-for-6851-0\" ><div id=\"pgc-6851-0-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\"  data-weight=\"1\" ><div id=\"panel-6851-0-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-first-child\" data-index=\"0\" data-style=\"{&quot;background_image_attachment&quot;:false,&quot;background_display&quot;:&quot;tile&quot;}\" ><div class=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\"><h3 class=\"widget-title\">Getting Control of the Physical Stuff</h3>\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n	<p>The Happiness Bucket uses a very defined method for helping you clear the noise and find your organizational happy place.  I help you and your family to develop your unique organic systems  economically and compassionately.  The beauty of this system is that it is not based off of what others are doing, but what you are naturally doing.  I truly believe that everyone has the power to create an environment that brings them happiness and peace.  Eliminate the overwhelm and begin developing your unique system in a very compassionate and economical way today. </p></div>\n</div></div><div id=\"panel-6851-0-0-1\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor\" data-index=\"1\" data-style=\"{&quot;padding&quot;:&quot;25px 25px 25px 25px&quot;,&quot;background_display&quot;:&quot;tile&quot;}\" ><div class=\"panel-widget-style panel-widget-style-for-6851-0-0-1\" ><div class=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\">\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n	<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><b>Complete your free space consultation today, so w</b><strong>e can discuss your specific needs and get you started on your journey!</strong></p></div>\n</div></div></div><div id=\"panel-6851-0-0-2\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-button panel-last-child\" data-index=\"2\" data-style=\"{&quot;background_display&quot;:&quot;tile&quot;}\" >[siteorigin_widget class=\"SiteOrigin_Widget_Button_Widget\"]<input type=\"hidden\" value=\"{&quot;instance&quot;:{&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Complete Free Space Assessment&quot;,&quot;url&quot;:&quot;http:\\/\\/development.thehappinessbucket.com\\/SpaceAssessment&quot;,&quot;new_window&quot;:true,&quot;button_icon&quot;:{&quot;icon_selected&quot;:&quot;fontawesome-calendar&quot;,&quot;icon_color&quot;:&quot;#000000&quot;,&quot;icon&quot;:0,&quot;so_field_container_state&quot;:&quot;open&quot;},&quot;design&quot;:{&quot;width&quot;:false,&quot;width_unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;align&quot;:&quot;center&quot;,&quot;theme&quot;:&quot;atom&quot;,&quot;button_color&quot;:&quot;#f224c8&quot;,&quot;text_color&quot;:false,&quot;hover&quot;:true,&quot;font&quot;:&quot;default&quot;,&quot;font_size&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;rounding&quot;:&quot;0.25&quot;,&quot;padding&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;so_field_container_state&quot;:&quot;open&quot;},&quot;attributes&quot;:{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;classes&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;onclick&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;rel&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;so_field_container_state&quot;:&quot;closed&quot;},&quot;_sow_form_id&quot;:&quot;58d4aaa2d70ed&quot;,&quot;_sow_form_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1502405659533&quot;},&quot;args&quot;:{&quot;before_widget&quot;:&quot;&lt;div id=\\&quot;panel-6851-0-0-2\\&quot; class=\\&quot;so-panel widget widget_sow-button panel-last-child\\&quot; data-index=\\&quot;2\\&quot; data-style=\\&quot;{&amp;quot;background_display&amp;quot;:&amp;quot;tile&amp;quot;}\\&quot; &gt;&quot;,&quot;after_widget&quot;:&quot;&lt;\\/div&gt;&quot;,&quot;before_title&quot;:&quot;&lt;h3 class=\\&quot;widget-title\\&quot;&gt;&quot;,&quot;after_title&quot;:&quot;&lt;\\/h3&gt;&quot;,&quot;widget_id&quot;:&quot;widget-0-0-2&quot;}}\" />[/siteorigin_widget]</div></div></div></div><div id=\"pg-6851-1\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\" ><div id=\"pgc-6851-1-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\"  data-weight=\"1\" ><div id=\"panel-6851-1-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-first-child\" data-index=\"3\" data-style=\"{&quot;background_display&quot;:&quot;tile&quot;}\" ><div class=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\">\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n	<p>What is the cause of your frustration?  Are you experiencing a life transition (Engagement/Marriage/Divorce, Birth/Death, Selling or purchasing a home, obtained or lost a job, right-sizing into a smaller home or assisted living facility, physical changes or illness, etc.) or just because of life in general?  The Happiness Bucket is here to help you through this period in your life with compassion and efficiency.  I encourage you to schedule your free 30 minute session today to see how I can help you regain peace in your life.</p></div>\n</div></div><div id=\"panel-6851-1-0-1\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-last-child\" data-index=\"4\" data-style=\"{&quot;background_display&quot;:&quot;tile&quot;}\" ><div class=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\">\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n	<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong><br />Coaching Specialty Areas</strong></h4><h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong><img class=\"alignright wp-image-3283 \" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/laundryb-and-a.png\" alt=\"LaundryB and A\" width=\"485\" height=\"273\" /></strong></h4><ul><li>Bedrooms</li><li>Closets</li><li>Children Rooms</li><li>Pantries</li><li>Linen Closets</li><li>Home Offices</li><li>Laundry Rooms</li><li>Digital Files</li><li>Electronic Photos</li><li>Paper, etc.</li></ul></div>\n</div></div></div></div></div>','Space Organization','','inherit','closed','closed','','5359-revision-v1','','','2018-02-20 18:30:09','2018-02-20 18:30:09','',5359,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/5359-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6852,1,'2018-02-20 18:30:09','2018-02-20 18:30:09','<div id=\"pl-5359\"  class=\"panel-layout\" ><div id=\"pg-5359-0\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-has-style\"  data-style=\"{&quot;padding&quot;:&quot;10px&quot;}\" ><div class=\"panel-row-style panel-row-style-for-5359-0\" ><div id=\"pgc-5359-0-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\"  data-weight=\"1\" ><div id=\"panel-5359-0-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-first-child\" data-index=\"0\" data-style=\"{&quot;background_image_attachment&quot;:false,&quot;background_display&quot;:&quot;tile&quot;}\" ><div class=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\"><h3 class=\"widget-title\">Getting Control of the Physical Stuff</h3>\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n	<p>The Happiness Bucket uses a very defined method for helping you clear the noise and find your organizational happy place.  I help you and your family to develop your unique organic systems  economically and compassionately.  The beauty of this system is that it is not based off of what others are doing, but what you are naturally doing.  I truly believe that everyone has the power to create an environment that brings them happiness and peace.  Eliminate the overwhelm and begin developing your unique system in a very compassionate and economical way today. </p></div>\n</div></div><div id=\"panel-5359-0-0-1\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor\" data-index=\"1\" data-style=\"{&quot;padding&quot;:&quot;25px 25px 25px 25px&quot;,&quot;background_display&quot;:&quot;tile&quot;}\" ><div class=\"panel-widget-style panel-widget-style-for-5359-0-0-1\" ><div class=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\">\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n	<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><b>Complete your free space consultation today, so w</b><strong>e can discuss your specific needs and get you started on your journey!</strong></p></div>\n</div></div></div><div id=\"panel-5359-0-0-2\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-button panel-last-child\" data-index=\"2\" data-style=\"{&quot;background_display&quot;:&quot;tile&quot;}\" >[siteorigin_widget class=\"SiteOrigin_Widget_Button_Widget\"]<input type=\"hidden\" value=\"{&quot;instance&quot;:{&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Complete Free Space Assessment&quot;,&quot;url&quot;:&quot;http:\\/\\/development.thehappinessbucket.com\\/SpaceAssessment&quot;,&quot;new_window&quot;:true,&quot;button_icon&quot;:{&quot;icon_selected&quot;:&quot;fontawesome-calendar&quot;,&quot;icon_color&quot;:&quot;#000000&quot;,&quot;icon&quot;:0,&quot;so_field_container_state&quot;:&quot;open&quot;},&quot;design&quot;:{&quot;width&quot;:false,&quot;width_unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;align&quot;:&quot;center&quot;,&quot;theme&quot;:&quot;atom&quot;,&quot;button_color&quot;:&quot;#f224c8&quot;,&quot;text_color&quot;:false,&quot;hover&quot;:true,&quot;font&quot;:&quot;default&quot;,&quot;font_size&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;rounding&quot;:&quot;0.25&quot;,&quot;padding&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;so_field_container_state&quot;:&quot;open&quot;},&quot;attributes&quot;:{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;classes&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;onclick&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;rel&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;so_field_container_state&quot;:&quot;closed&quot;},&quot;_sow_form_id&quot;:&quot;58d4aaa2d70ed&quot;,&quot;_sow_form_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1502405659533&quot;},&quot;args&quot;:{&quot;before_widget&quot;:&quot;&lt;div id=\\&quot;panel-5359-0-0-2\\&quot; class=\\&quot;so-panel widget widget_sow-button panel-last-child\\&quot; data-index=\\&quot;2\\&quot; data-style=\\&quot;{&amp;quot;background_display&amp;quot;:&amp;quot;tile&amp;quot;}\\&quot; &gt;&quot;,&quot;after_widget&quot;:&quot;&lt;\\/div&gt;&quot;,&quot;before_title&quot;:&quot;&lt;h3 class=\\&quot;widget-title\\&quot;&gt;&quot;,&quot;after_title&quot;:&quot;&lt;\\/h3&gt;&quot;,&quot;widget_id&quot;:&quot;widget-0-0-2&quot;}}\" />[/siteorigin_widget]</div></div></div></div><div id=\"pg-5359-1\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\" ><div id=\"pgc-5359-1-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\"  data-weight=\"1\" ><div id=\"panel-5359-1-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-first-child\" data-index=\"3\" data-style=\"{&quot;background_display&quot;:&quot;tile&quot;}\" ><div class=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\">\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n	<p>What is the cause of your frustration?  Are you experiencing a life transition (Engagement/Marriage/Divorce, Birth/Death, Selling or purchasing a home, obtained or lost a job, right-sizing into a smaller home or assisted living facility, physical changes or illness, etc.) or just because of life in general?  The Happiness Bucket is here to help you through this period in your life with compassion and efficiency.  I encourage you to schedule your free 30 minute session today to see how I can help you regain peace in your life.</p></div>\n</div></div><div id=\"panel-5359-1-0-1\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-last-child\" data-index=\"4\" data-style=\"{&quot;background_display&quot;:&quot;tile&quot;}\" ><div class=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\">\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n	<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong><br />Coaching Specialty Areas</strong></h4><h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong><img class=\"alignright wp-image-3283 \" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/laundryb-and-a.png\" alt=\"LaundryB and A\" width=\"485\" height=\"273\" /></strong></h4><ul><li>Bedrooms</li><li>Closets</li><li>Children Rooms</li><li>Pantries</li><li>Linen Closets</li><li>Home Offices</li><li>Laundry Rooms</li><li>Digital Files</li><li>Electronic Photos</li><li>Paper, etc.</li></ul></div>\n</div></div></div></div></div>','Space Organization','','inherit','closed','closed','','5359-revision-v1','','','2018-02-20 18:30:09','2018-02-20 18:30:09','',5359,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/5359-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6853,1,'2018-02-20 18:33:43','2018-02-20 18:33:43','<div id=\"pl-6853\"  class=\"panel-layout\" ><div id=\"pg-6853-0\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-has-style\"  data-style=\"{&quot;padding&quot;:&quot;10px&quot;}\" ><div class=\"panel-row-style panel-row-style-for-6853-0\" ><div id=\"pgc-6853-0-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\"  data-weight=\"1\" ><div id=\"panel-6853-0-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-first-child\" data-index=\"0\" data-style=\"{&quot;background_display&quot;:&quot;tile&quot;}\" ><div class=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\"><h3 class=\"widget-title\">Getting Control of the Physical Stuff</h3>\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n	<p>The Happiness Bucket uses a very defined method for helping you clear the noise and find your organizational happy place.  I help you and your family to develop your unique organic systems  economically and compassionately.  The beauty of this system is that it is not based off of what others are doing, but what you are naturally doing.  I truly believe that everyone has the power to create an environment that brings them happiness and peace.  Eliminate the overwhelm and begin developing your unique system in a very compassionate and economical way today. </p></div>\n</div></div><div id=\"panel-6853-0-0-1\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor\" data-index=\"1\" data-style=\"{&quot;padding&quot;:&quot;25px 25px 25px 25px&quot;,&quot;background_display&quot;:&quot;tile&quot;}\" ><div class=\"panel-widget-style panel-widget-style-for-6853-0-0-1\" ><div class=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\">\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n	<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><b>Complete your free space consultation today, so w</b><strong>e can discuss your specific needs and get you started on your journey!</strong></p></div>\n</div></div></div><div id=\"panel-6853-0-0-2\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-button panel-last-child\" data-index=\"2\" data-style=\"{&quot;background_display&quot;:&quot;tile&quot;}\" >[siteorigin_widget class=\"SiteOrigin_Widget_Button_Widget\"]<input type=\"hidden\" value=\"{&quot;instance&quot;:{&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Complete Free Space Assessment&quot;,&quot;url&quot;:&quot;http:\\/\\/development.thehappinessbucket.com\\/SpaceAssessment&quot;,&quot;new_window&quot;:true,&quot;button_icon&quot;:{&quot;icon_selected&quot;:&quot;fontawesome-calendar&quot;,&quot;icon_color&quot;:&quot;#000000&quot;,&quot;icon&quot;:0,&quot;so_field_container_state&quot;:&quot;open&quot;},&quot;design&quot;:{&quot;width&quot;:false,&quot;width_unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;align&quot;:&quot;center&quot;,&quot;theme&quot;:&quot;atom&quot;,&quot;button_color&quot;:&quot;#f224c8&quot;,&quot;text_color&quot;:false,&quot;hover&quot;:true,&quot;font&quot;:&quot;default&quot;,&quot;font_size&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;rounding&quot;:&quot;0.25&quot;,&quot;padding&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;so_field_container_state&quot;:&quot;open&quot;},&quot;attributes&quot;:{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;classes&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;onclick&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;rel&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;so_field_container_state&quot;:&quot;closed&quot;},&quot;_sow_form_id&quot;:&quot;58d4aaa2d70ed&quot;,&quot;_sow_form_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1502405659533&quot;},&quot;args&quot;:{&quot;before_widget&quot;:&quot;&lt;div id=\\&quot;panel-6853-0-0-2\\&quot; class=\\&quot;so-panel widget widget_sow-button panel-last-child\\&quot; data-index=\\&quot;2\\&quot; data-style=\\&quot;{&amp;quot;background_display&amp;quot;:&amp;quot;tile&amp;quot;}\\&quot; &gt;&quot;,&quot;after_widget&quot;:&quot;&lt;\\/div&gt;&quot;,&quot;before_title&quot;:&quot;&lt;h3 class=\\&quot;widget-title\\&quot;&gt;&quot;,&quot;after_title&quot;:&quot;&lt;\\/h3&gt;&quot;,&quot;widget_id&quot;:&quot;widget-0-0-2&quot;}}\" />[/siteorigin_widget]</div></div></div></div><div id=\"pg-6853-1\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\" ><div id=\"pgc-6853-1-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\"  data-weight=\"1\" ><div id=\"panel-6853-1-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-first-child\" data-index=\"3\" data-style=\"{&quot;background_image_attachment&quot;:false,&quot;background_display&quot;:&quot;tile&quot;}\" ><div class=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\">\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n	<p>What is the source of your frustration?  Are you a shopaholic?  Not enough space? Too many people in too little of a house?  Too much stuff?  I am here to help you get control of the space.  Trust me I have seen it all.  Don\'t be embarrassed or concerned that I\'ve never seen it \"this bad\", I probably have and if I haven\'t...no worries.  You will never know.  I pride myself on professionalism and confidentiality.  I encourage you to schedule your free 30 minute session today to see how I can help you regain peace in your space.</p></div>\n</div></div><div id=\"panel-6853-1-0-1\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-last-child\" data-index=\"4\" data-style=\"{&quot;background_display&quot;:&quot;tile&quot;}\" ><div class=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\">\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n	<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong><br />Coaching Specialty Areas</strong></h4><h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong><img class=\"alignright wp-image-3283 \" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/laundryb-and-a.png\" alt=\"LaundryB and A\" width=\"485\" height=\"273\" /></strong></h4><ul><li>Bedrooms</li><li>Closets</li><li>Children Rooms</li><li>Pantries</li><li>Linen Closets</li><li>Home Offices</li><li>Laundry Rooms</li><li>Digital Files</li><li>Electronic Photos</li><li>Paper, etc.</li></ul></div>\n</div></div></div></div></div>','Space Organization','','inherit','closed','closed','','5359-revision-v1','','','2018-02-20 18:33:43','2018-02-20 18:33:43','',5359,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/5359-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6854,1,'2018-02-20 18:33:43','2018-02-20 18:33:43','<div id=\"pl-5359\"  class=\"panel-layout\" ><div id=\"pg-5359-0\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-has-style\"  data-style=\"{&quot;padding&quot;:&quot;10px&quot;}\" ><div class=\"panel-row-style panel-row-style-for-5359-0\" ><div id=\"pgc-5359-0-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\"  data-weight=\"1\" ><div id=\"panel-5359-0-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-first-child\" data-index=\"0\" data-style=\"{&quot;background_display&quot;:&quot;tile&quot;}\" ><div class=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\"><h3 class=\"widget-title\">Getting Control of the Physical Stuff</h3>\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n	<p>The Happiness Bucket uses a very defined method for helping you clear the noise and find your organizational happy place.  I help you and your family to develop your unique organic systems  economically and compassionately.  The beauty of this system is that it is not based off of what others are doing, but what you are naturally doing.  I truly believe that everyone has the power to create an environment that brings them happiness and peace.  Eliminate the overwhelm and begin developing your unique system in a very compassionate and economical way today. </p></div>\n</div></div><div id=\"panel-5359-0-0-1\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor\" data-index=\"1\" data-style=\"{&quot;padding&quot;:&quot;25px 25px 25px 25px&quot;,&quot;background_display&quot;:&quot;tile&quot;}\" ><div class=\"panel-widget-style panel-widget-style-for-5359-0-0-1\" ><div class=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\">\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n	<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><b>Complete your free space consultation today, so w</b><strong>e can discuss your specific needs and get you started on your journey!</strong></p></div>\n</div></div></div><div id=\"panel-5359-0-0-2\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-button panel-last-child\" data-index=\"2\" data-style=\"{&quot;background_display&quot;:&quot;tile&quot;}\" >[siteorigin_widget class=\"SiteOrigin_Widget_Button_Widget\"]<input type=\"hidden\" value=\"{&quot;instance&quot;:{&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Complete Free Space Assessment&quot;,&quot;url&quot;:&quot;http:\\/\\/development.thehappinessbucket.com\\/SpaceAssessment&quot;,&quot;new_window&quot;:true,&quot;button_icon&quot;:{&quot;icon_selected&quot;:&quot;fontawesome-calendar&quot;,&quot;icon_color&quot;:&quot;#000000&quot;,&quot;icon&quot;:0,&quot;so_field_container_state&quot;:&quot;open&quot;},&quot;design&quot;:{&quot;width&quot;:false,&quot;width_unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;align&quot;:&quot;center&quot;,&quot;theme&quot;:&quot;atom&quot;,&quot;button_color&quot;:&quot;#f224c8&quot;,&quot;text_color&quot;:false,&quot;hover&quot;:true,&quot;font&quot;:&quot;default&quot;,&quot;font_size&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;rounding&quot;:&quot;0.25&quot;,&quot;padding&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;so_field_container_state&quot;:&quot;open&quot;},&quot;attributes&quot;:{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;classes&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;onclick&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;rel&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;so_field_container_state&quot;:&quot;closed&quot;},&quot;_sow_form_id&quot;:&quot;58d4aaa2d70ed&quot;,&quot;_sow_form_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1502405659533&quot;},&quot;args&quot;:{&quot;before_widget&quot;:&quot;&lt;div id=\\&quot;panel-5359-0-0-2\\&quot; class=\\&quot;so-panel widget widget_sow-button panel-last-child\\&quot; data-index=\\&quot;2\\&quot; data-style=\\&quot;{&amp;quot;background_display&amp;quot;:&amp;quot;tile&amp;quot;}\\&quot; &gt;&quot;,&quot;after_widget&quot;:&quot;&lt;\\/div&gt;&quot;,&quot;before_title&quot;:&quot;&lt;h3 class=\\&quot;widget-title\\&quot;&gt;&quot;,&quot;after_title&quot;:&quot;&lt;\\/h3&gt;&quot;,&quot;widget_id&quot;:&quot;widget-0-0-2&quot;}}\" />[/siteorigin_widget]</div></div></div></div><div id=\"pg-5359-1\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\" ><div id=\"pgc-5359-1-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\"  data-weight=\"1\" ><div id=\"panel-5359-1-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-first-child\" data-index=\"3\" data-style=\"{&quot;background_image_attachment&quot;:false,&quot;background_display&quot;:&quot;tile&quot;}\" ><div class=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\">\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n	<p>What is the source of your frustration?  Are you a shopaholic?  Not enough space? Too many people in too little of a house?  Too much stuff?  I am here to help you get control of the space.  Trust me I have seen it all.  Don\'t be embarrassed or concerned that I\'ve never seen it \"this bad\", I probably have and if I haven\'t...no worries.  You will never know.  I pride myself on professionalism and confidentiality.  I encourage you to schedule your free 30 minute session today to see how I can help you regain peace in your space.</p></div>\n</div></div><div id=\"panel-5359-1-0-1\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-last-child\" data-index=\"4\" data-style=\"{&quot;background_display&quot;:&quot;tile&quot;}\" ><div class=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\">\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n	<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong><br />Coaching Specialty Areas</strong></h4><h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong><img class=\"alignright wp-image-3283 \" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/laundryb-and-a.png\" alt=\"LaundryB and A\" width=\"485\" height=\"273\" /></strong></h4><ul><li>Bedrooms</li><li>Closets</li><li>Children Rooms</li><li>Pantries</li><li>Linen Closets</li><li>Home Offices</li><li>Laundry Rooms</li><li>Digital Files</li><li>Electronic Photos</li><li>Paper, etc.</li></ul></div>\n</div></div></div></div></div>','Space Organization','','inherit','closed','closed','','5359-revision-v1','','','2018-02-20 18:33:43','2018-02-20 18:33:43','',5359,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/5359-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6855,1,'2018-02-20 18:36:04','2018-02-20 18:36:04','<div id=\"pl-6855\"  class=\"panel-layout\" ><div id=\"pg-6855-0\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-has-style\"  data-style=\"{&quot;padding&quot;:&quot;10px&quot;}\" ><div class=\"panel-row-style panel-row-style-for-6855-0\" ><div id=\"pgc-6855-0-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\"  data-weight=\"1\" ><div id=\"panel-6855-0-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-first-child\" data-index=\"0\" data-style=\"{&quot;background_display&quot;:&quot;tile&quot;}\" ><div class=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\"><h3 class=\"widget-title\">Getting Control of the Physical Stuff</h3>\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n	<p>The Happiness Bucket uses a very defined method for helping you clear the noise and find your organizational happy place.  I help you and your family to develop your unique organic systems  economically and compassionately.  The beauty of this system is that it is not based off of what others are doing, but what you are naturally doing.  I truly believe that everyone has the power to create an environment that brings them happiness and peace.  Eliminate the overwhelm and begin developing your unique system in a very compassionate and economical way today. </p></div>\n</div></div><div id=\"panel-6855-0-0-1\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor\" data-index=\"1\" data-style=\"{&quot;padding&quot;:&quot;25px 25px 25px 25px&quot;,&quot;background_display&quot;:&quot;tile&quot;}\" ><div class=\"panel-widget-style panel-widget-style-for-6855-0-0-1\" ><div class=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\">\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n	<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><b>Complete your free space consultation today, so w</b><strong>e can discuss your specific needs and get you started on your journey!</strong></p></div>\n</div></div></div><div id=\"panel-6855-0-0-2\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-button panel-last-child\" data-index=\"2\" data-style=\"{&quot;background_display&quot;:&quot;tile&quot;}\" >[siteorigin_widget class=\"SiteOrigin_Widget_Button_Widget\"]<input type=\"hidden\" value=\"{&quot;instance&quot;:{&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Complete Free Space Assessment&quot;,&quot;url&quot;:&quot;http:\\/\\/development.thehappinessbucket.com\\/SpaceAssessment&quot;,&quot;new_window&quot;:true,&quot;button_icon&quot;:{&quot;icon_selected&quot;:&quot;fontawesome-calendar&quot;,&quot;icon_color&quot;:&quot;#000000&quot;,&quot;icon&quot;:0,&quot;so_field_container_state&quot;:&quot;open&quot;},&quot;design&quot;:{&quot;width&quot;:false,&quot;width_unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;align&quot;:&quot;center&quot;,&quot;theme&quot;:&quot;atom&quot;,&quot;button_color&quot;:&quot;#f224c8&quot;,&quot;text_color&quot;:false,&quot;hover&quot;:true,&quot;font&quot;:&quot;default&quot;,&quot;font_size&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;rounding&quot;:&quot;0.25&quot;,&quot;padding&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;so_field_container_state&quot;:&quot;open&quot;},&quot;attributes&quot;:{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;classes&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;onclick&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;rel&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;so_field_container_state&quot;:&quot;closed&quot;},&quot;_sow_form_id&quot;:&quot;58d4aaa2d70ed&quot;,&quot;_sow_form_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1502405659533&quot;},&quot;args&quot;:{&quot;before_widget&quot;:&quot;&lt;div id=\\&quot;panel-6855-0-0-2\\&quot; class=\\&quot;so-panel widget widget_sow-button panel-last-child\\&quot; data-index=\\&quot;2\\&quot; data-style=\\&quot;{&amp;quot;background_display&amp;quot;:&amp;quot;tile&amp;quot;}\\&quot; &gt;&quot;,&quot;after_widget&quot;:&quot;&lt;\\/div&gt;&quot;,&quot;before_title&quot;:&quot;&lt;h3 class=\\&quot;widget-title\\&quot;&gt;&quot;,&quot;after_title&quot;:&quot;&lt;\\/h3&gt;&quot;,&quot;widget_id&quot;:&quot;widget-0-0-2&quot;}}\" />[/siteorigin_widget]</div></div></div></div><div id=\"pg-6855-1\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\" ><div id=\"pgc-6855-1-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\"  data-weight=\"1\" ><div id=\"panel-6855-1-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-first-child\" data-index=\"3\" data-style=\"{&quot;background_image_attachment&quot;:false,&quot;background_display&quot;:&quot;tile&quot;}\" ><div class=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\">\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n	<p>What is the source of your frustration?  Not enough time? Are you a shopaholic?  Not enough space? Too many people in too little of a house?  Too much stuff?  I am here to help you get control of the space.  Trust me I have seen it all.  Don\'t be embarrassed or concerned that I\'ve never seen it \"this bad\", I probably have and if I haven\'t...no worries.  You will never know.  I pride myself on professionalism and confidentiality.  I encourage you to schedule your free 30 minute session today to see how I can help you regain peace in your space.</p></div>\n</div></div><div id=\"panel-6855-1-0-1\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-last-child\" data-index=\"4\" data-style=\"{&quot;background_display&quot;:&quot;tile&quot;}\" ><div class=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\">\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n	<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong><br />Coaching Specialty Areas</strong></h4><h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong><img class=\"alignright wp-image-3283 \" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/laundryb-and-a.png\" alt=\"LaundryB and A\" width=\"485\" height=\"273\" /></strong></h4><ul><li>Bedrooms</li><li>Closets</li><li>Children Rooms</li><li>Pantries</li><li>Linen Closets</li><li>Home Offices</li><li>Laundry Rooms</li><li>Digital Files</li><li>Electronic Photos</li><li>Paper, etc.</li></ul></div>\n</div></div></div></div></div>','Space Organization','','inherit','closed','closed','','5359-revision-v1','','','2018-02-20 18:36:04','2018-02-20 18:36:04','',5359,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/5359-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6856,1,'2018-02-20 18:36:04','2018-02-20 18:36:04','<div id=\"pl-5359\"  class=\"panel-layout\" ><div id=\"pg-5359-0\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-has-style\"  data-style=\"{&quot;padding&quot;:&quot;10px&quot;}\" ><div class=\"panel-row-style panel-row-style-for-5359-0\" ><div id=\"pgc-5359-0-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\"  data-weight=\"1\" ><div id=\"panel-5359-0-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-first-child\" data-index=\"0\" data-style=\"{&quot;background_display&quot;:&quot;tile&quot;}\" ><div class=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\"><h3 class=\"widget-title\">Getting Control of the Physical Stuff</h3>\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n	<p>The Happiness Bucket uses a very defined method for helping you clear the noise and find your organizational happy place.  I help you and your family to develop your unique organic systems  economically and compassionately.  The beauty of this system is that it is not based off of what others are doing, but what you are naturally doing.  I truly believe that everyone has the power to create an environment that brings them happiness and peace.  Eliminate the overwhelm and begin developing your unique system in a very compassionate and economical way today. </p></div>\n</div></div><div id=\"panel-5359-0-0-1\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor\" data-index=\"1\" data-style=\"{&quot;padding&quot;:&quot;25px 25px 25px 25px&quot;,&quot;background_display&quot;:&quot;tile&quot;}\" ><div class=\"panel-widget-style panel-widget-style-for-5359-0-0-1\" ><div class=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\">\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n	<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><b>Complete your free space consultation today, so w</b><strong>e can discuss your specific needs and get you started on your journey!</strong></p></div>\n</div></div></div><div id=\"panel-5359-0-0-2\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-button panel-last-child\" data-index=\"2\" data-style=\"{&quot;background_display&quot;:&quot;tile&quot;}\" >[siteorigin_widget class=\"SiteOrigin_Widget_Button_Widget\"]<input type=\"hidden\" value=\"{&quot;instance&quot;:{&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Complete Free Space Assessment&quot;,&quot;url&quot;:&quot;http:\\/\\/development.thehappinessbucket.com\\/SpaceAssessment&quot;,&quot;new_window&quot;:true,&quot;button_icon&quot;:{&quot;icon_selected&quot;:&quot;fontawesome-calendar&quot;,&quot;icon_color&quot;:&quot;#000000&quot;,&quot;icon&quot;:0,&quot;so_field_container_state&quot;:&quot;open&quot;},&quot;design&quot;:{&quot;width&quot;:false,&quot;width_unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;align&quot;:&quot;center&quot;,&quot;theme&quot;:&quot;atom&quot;,&quot;button_color&quot;:&quot;#f224c8&quot;,&quot;text_color&quot;:false,&quot;hover&quot;:true,&quot;font&quot;:&quot;default&quot;,&quot;font_size&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;rounding&quot;:&quot;0.25&quot;,&quot;padding&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;so_field_container_state&quot;:&quot;open&quot;},&quot;attributes&quot;:{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;classes&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;onclick&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;rel&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;so_field_container_state&quot;:&quot;closed&quot;},&quot;_sow_form_id&quot;:&quot;58d4aaa2d70ed&quot;,&quot;_sow_form_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1502405659533&quot;},&quot;args&quot;:{&quot;before_widget&quot;:&quot;&lt;div id=\\&quot;panel-5359-0-0-2\\&quot; class=\\&quot;so-panel widget widget_sow-button panel-last-child\\&quot; data-index=\\&quot;2\\&quot; data-style=\\&quot;{&amp;quot;background_display&amp;quot;:&amp;quot;tile&amp;quot;}\\&quot; &gt;&quot;,&quot;after_widget&quot;:&quot;&lt;\\/div&gt;&quot;,&quot;before_title&quot;:&quot;&lt;h3 class=\\&quot;widget-title\\&quot;&gt;&quot;,&quot;after_title&quot;:&quot;&lt;\\/h3&gt;&quot;,&quot;widget_id&quot;:&quot;widget-0-0-2&quot;}}\" />[/siteorigin_widget]</div></div></div></div><div id=\"pg-5359-1\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\" ><div id=\"pgc-5359-1-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\"  data-weight=\"1\" ><div id=\"panel-5359-1-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-first-child\" data-index=\"3\" data-style=\"{&quot;background_image_attachment&quot;:false,&quot;background_display&quot;:&quot;tile&quot;}\" ><div class=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\">\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n	<p>What is the source of your frustration?  Not enough time? Are you a shopaholic?  Not enough space? Too many people in too little of a house?  Too much stuff?  I am here to help you get control of the space.  Trust me I have seen it all.  Don\'t be embarrassed or concerned that I\'ve never seen it \"this bad\", I probably have and if I haven\'t...no worries.  You will never know.  I pride myself on professionalism and confidentiality.  I encourage you to schedule your free 30 minute session today to see how I can help you regain peace in your space.</p></div>\n</div></div><div id=\"panel-5359-1-0-1\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-last-child\" data-index=\"4\" data-style=\"{&quot;background_display&quot;:&quot;tile&quot;}\" ><div class=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\">\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n	<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong><br />Coaching Specialty Areas</strong></h4><h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong><img class=\"alignright wp-image-3283 \" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/laundryb-and-a.png\" alt=\"LaundryB and A\" width=\"485\" height=\"273\" /></strong></h4><ul><li>Bedrooms</li><li>Closets</li><li>Children Rooms</li><li>Pantries</li><li>Linen Closets</li><li>Home Offices</li><li>Laundry Rooms</li><li>Digital Files</li><li>Electronic Photos</li><li>Paper, etc.</li></ul></div>\n</div></div></div></div></div>','Space Organization','','inherit','closed','closed','','5359-revision-v1','','','2018-02-20 18:36:04','2018-02-20 18:36:04','',5359,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/5359-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6857,1,'2018-02-20 18:44:24','2018-02-20 18:44:24','<div id=\"pl-6857\"  class=\"panel-layout\" ><div id=\"pg-6857-0\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-has-style\"  data-style=\"{&quot;padding&quot;:&quot;10px&quot;}\" ><div class=\"panel-row-style panel-row-style-for-6857-0\" ><div id=\"pgc-6857-0-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\"  data-weight=\"1\" ><div id=\"panel-6857-0-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-first-child\" data-index=\"0\" data-style=\"{&quot;background_image_attachment&quot;:false,&quot;background_display&quot;:&quot;tile&quot;}\" ><div class=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\"><h3 class=\"widget-title\">Getting Control of the Physical Stuff</h3>\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n	<p>Here at The Happiness Bucket I use the <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/organizational-roadmap-workshop/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Organizational Roadmap System</a> to help teach you how to clear the noise and find your organizational happy place.  I help you and your family develop your unique organic systems, economically and compassionately.  The beauty of this system is that it is not based off of what others are doing, but what you are naturally doing.  I truly believe that everyone has the power to create an environment that brings them happiness and peace.  Eliminate the overwhelm and begin developing your unique system in a very compassionate and economical way today. </p></div>\n</div></div><div id=\"panel-6857-0-0-1\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor\" data-index=\"1\" data-style=\"{&quot;padding&quot;:&quot;25px 25px 25px 25px&quot;,&quot;background_display&quot;:&quot;tile&quot;}\" ><div class=\"panel-widget-style panel-widget-style-for-6857-0-0-1\" ><div class=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\">\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n	<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><b>Complete your free space consultation today, so w</b><strong>e can discuss your specific needs and get you started on your journey!</strong></p></div>\n</div></div></div><div id=\"panel-6857-0-0-2\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-button panel-last-child\" data-index=\"2\" data-style=\"{&quot;background_display&quot;:&quot;tile&quot;}\" >[siteorigin_widget class=\"SiteOrigin_Widget_Button_Widget\"]<input type=\"hidden\" value=\"{&quot;instance&quot;:{&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Complete Free Space Assessment&quot;,&quot;url&quot;:&quot;http:\\/\\/development.thehappinessbucket.com\\/SpaceAssessment&quot;,&quot;new_window&quot;:true,&quot;button_icon&quot;:{&quot;icon_selected&quot;:&quot;fontawesome-calendar&quot;,&quot;icon_color&quot;:&quot;#000000&quot;,&quot;icon&quot;:0,&quot;so_field_container_state&quot;:&quot;open&quot;},&quot;design&quot;:{&quot;width&quot;:false,&quot;width_unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;align&quot;:&quot;center&quot;,&quot;theme&quot;:&quot;atom&quot;,&quot;button_color&quot;:&quot;#f224c8&quot;,&quot;text_color&quot;:false,&quot;hover&quot;:true,&quot;font&quot;:&quot;default&quot;,&quot;font_size&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;rounding&quot;:&quot;0.25&quot;,&quot;padding&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;so_field_container_state&quot;:&quot;open&quot;},&quot;attributes&quot;:{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;classes&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;onclick&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;rel&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;so_field_container_state&quot;:&quot;closed&quot;},&quot;_sow_form_id&quot;:&quot;58d4aaa2d70ed&quot;,&quot;_sow_form_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1502405659533&quot;},&quot;args&quot;:{&quot;before_widget&quot;:&quot;&lt;div id=\\&quot;panel-6857-0-0-2\\&quot; class=\\&quot;so-panel widget widget_sow-button panel-last-child\\&quot; data-index=\\&quot;2\\&quot; data-style=\\&quot;{&amp;quot;background_display&amp;quot;:&amp;quot;tile&amp;quot;}\\&quot; &gt;&quot;,&quot;after_widget&quot;:&quot;&lt;\\/div&gt;&quot;,&quot;before_title&quot;:&quot;&lt;h3 class=\\&quot;widget-title\\&quot;&gt;&quot;,&quot;after_title&quot;:&quot;&lt;\\/h3&gt;&quot;,&quot;widget_id&quot;:&quot;widget-0-0-2&quot;}}\" />[/siteorigin_widget]</div></div></div></div><div id=\"pg-6857-1\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\" ><div id=\"pgc-6857-1-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\"  data-weight=\"1\" ><div id=\"panel-6857-1-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-first-child\" data-index=\"3\" data-style=\"{&quot;background_display&quot;:&quot;tile&quot;}\" ><div class=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\">\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n	<p>What is the source of your frustration?  Not enough time? Are you a shopaholic?  Not enough space? Too many people in too little of a house?  Too much stuff?  I am here to help you get control of the space.  Trust me I have seen it all.  Don\'t be embarrassed or concerned that I\'ve never seen it \"this bad\", I probably have and if I haven\'t...no worries.  You will never know.  I pride myself on professionalism and confidentiality.  I encourage you to schedule your free 30 minute session today to see how I can help you regain peace in your space.</p></div>\n</div></div><div id=\"panel-6857-1-0-1\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-last-child\" data-index=\"4\" data-style=\"{&quot;background_display&quot;:&quot;tile&quot;}\" ><div class=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\">\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n	<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong><br />Coaching Specialty Areas</strong></h4><h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong><img class=\"alignright wp-image-3283 \" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/laundryb-and-a.png\" alt=\"LaundryB and A\" width=\"485\" height=\"273\" /></strong></h4><ul><li>Bedrooms</li><li>Closets</li><li>Children Rooms</li><li>Pantries</li><li>Linen Closets</li><li>Home Offices</li><li>Laundry Rooms</li><li>Digital Files</li><li>Electronic Photos</li><li>Paper, etc.</li></ul></div>\n</div></div></div></div></div>','Space Organization','','inherit','closed','closed','','5359-revision-v1','','','2018-02-20 18:44:24','2018-02-20 18:44:24','',5359,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/5359-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6858,1,'2018-02-20 18:44:24','2018-02-20 18:44:24','<div id=\"pl-5359\"  class=\"panel-layout\" ><div id=\"pg-5359-0\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-has-style\"  data-style=\"{&quot;padding&quot;:&quot;10px&quot;}\" ><div class=\"panel-row-style panel-row-style-for-5359-0\" ><div id=\"pgc-5359-0-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\"  data-weight=\"1\" ><div id=\"panel-5359-0-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-first-child\" data-index=\"0\" data-style=\"{&quot;background_image_attachment&quot;:false,&quot;background_display&quot;:&quot;tile&quot;}\" ><div class=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\"><h3 class=\"widget-title\">Getting Control of the Physical Stuff</h3>\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n	<p>Here at The Happiness Bucket I use the <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/organizational-roadmap-workshop/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Organizational Roadmap System</a> to help teach you how to clear the noise and find your organizational happy place.  I help you and your family develop your unique organic systems, economically and compassionately.  The beauty of this system is that it is not based off of what others are doing, but what you are naturally doing.  I truly believe that everyone has the power to create an environment that brings them happiness and peace.  Eliminate the overwhelm and begin developing your unique system in a very compassionate and economical way today. </p></div>\n</div></div><div id=\"panel-5359-0-0-1\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor\" data-index=\"1\" data-style=\"{&quot;padding&quot;:&quot;25px 25px 25px 25px&quot;,&quot;background_display&quot;:&quot;tile&quot;}\" ><div class=\"panel-widget-style panel-widget-style-for-5359-0-0-1\" ><div class=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\">\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n	<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><b>Complete your free space consultation today, so w</b><strong>e can discuss your specific needs and get you started on your journey!</strong></p></div>\n</div></div></div><div id=\"panel-5359-0-0-2\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-button panel-last-child\" data-index=\"2\" data-style=\"{&quot;background_display&quot;:&quot;tile&quot;}\" >[siteorigin_widget class=\"SiteOrigin_Widget_Button_Widget\"]<input type=\"hidden\" value=\"{&quot;instance&quot;:{&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Complete Free Space Assessment&quot;,&quot;url&quot;:&quot;http:\\/\\/development.thehappinessbucket.com\\/SpaceAssessment&quot;,&quot;new_window&quot;:true,&quot;button_icon&quot;:{&quot;icon_selected&quot;:&quot;fontawesome-calendar&quot;,&quot;icon_color&quot;:&quot;#000000&quot;,&quot;icon&quot;:0,&quot;so_field_container_state&quot;:&quot;open&quot;},&quot;design&quot;:{&quot;width&quot;:false,&quot;width_unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;align&quot;:&quot;center&quot;,&quot;theme&quot;:&quot;atom&quot;,&quot;button_color&quot;:&quot;#f224c8&quot;,&quot;text_color&quot;:false,&quot;hover&quot;:true,&quot;font&quot;:&quot;default&quot;,&quot;font_size&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;rounding&quot;:&quot;0.25&quot;,&quot;padding&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;so_field_container_state&quot;:&quot;open&quot;},&quot;attributes&quot;:{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;classes&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;onclick&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;rel&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;so_field_container_state&quot;:&quot;closed&quot;},&quot;_sow_form_id&quot;:&quot;58d4aaa2d70ed&quot;,&quot;_sow_form_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1502405659533&quot;},&quot;args&quot;:{&quot;before_widget&quot;:&quot;&lt;div id=\\&quot;panel-5359-0-0-2\\&quot; class=\\&quot;so-panel widget widget_sow-button panel-last-child\\&quot; data-index=\\&quot;2\\&quot; data-style=\\&quot;{&amp;quot;background_display&amp;quot;:&amp;quot;tile&amp;quot;}\\&quot; &gt;&quot;,&quot;after_widget&quot;:&quot;&lt;\\/div&gt;&quot;,&quot;before_title&quot;:&quot;&lt;h3 class=\\&quot;widget-title\\&quot;&gt;&quot;,&quot;after_title&quot;:&quot;&lt;\\/h3&gt;&quot;,&quot;widget_id&quot;:&quot;widget-0-0-2&quot;}}\" />[/siteorigin_widget]</div></div></div></div><div id=\"pg-5359-1\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\" ><div id=\"pgc-5359-1-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\"  data-weight=\"1\" ><div id=\"panel-5359-1-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-first-child\" data-index=\"3\" data-style=\"{&quot;background_display&quot;:&quot;tile&quot;}\" ><div class=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\">\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n	<p>What is the source of your frustration?  Not enough time? Are you a shopaholic?  Not enough space? Too many people in too little of a house?  Too much stuff?  I am here to help you get control of the space.  Trust me I have seen it all.  Don\'t be embarrassed or concerned that I\'ve never seen it \"this bad\", I probably have and if I haven\'t...no worries.  You will never know.  I pride myself on professionalism and confidentiality.  I encourage you to schedule your free 30 minute session today to see how I can help you regain peace in your space.</p></div>\n</div></div><div id=\"panel-5359-1-0-1\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-last-child\" data-index=\"4\" data-style=\"{&quot;background_display&quot;:&quot;tile&quot;}\" ><div class=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\">\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n	<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong><br />Coaching Specialty Areas</strong></h4><h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong><img class=\"alignright wp-image-3283 \" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/laundryb-and-a.png\" alt=\"LaundryB and A\" width=\"485\" height=\"273\" /></strong></h4><ul><li>Bedrooms</li><li>Closets</li><li>Children Rooms</li><li>Pantries</li><li>Linen Closets</li><li>Home Offices</li><li>Laundry Rooms</li><li>Digital Files</li><li>Electronic Photos</li><li>Paper, etc.</li></ul></div>\n</div></div></div></div></div>','Space Organization','','inherit','closed','closed','','5359-revision-v1','','','2018-02-20 18:44:24','2018-02-20 18:44:24','',5359,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/5359-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6859,1,'2018-02-20 18:51:24','2018-02-20 18:51:24','<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Let’s talk electronic bill pay.  This is something that has been around since the mid 1990s, but I know many of you still don’t take advantage of it.  I honestly can’t tell you when I swapped from writing checks to paying electronically through my bank, but I can tell you I now pay all but one thing via electronic bill pay and that is our tithes to the church…although I could do that electronically, I just like having something to physically put in the collection plate each Sunday.</p>\r\nThe reason I am broaching this subject is because bills and the papers produced by them create a mountain of unnecessary paper in your home.  Add to that paper checks, boxes of checks, bank statements, etc. and you have a ton of paper and processes that can easily be eliminated.\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>So let’s review my electronic pay system and bill pay process:</strong></span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><span style=\"color: #000000; text-decoration: underline;\">Step 1</span></span>:  I set up all of the companies/Individuals I pay as payee accounts in my online bank account.  All you need is the bill or payee information in front of you to do this.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3700\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"364\"]<a href=\"https://thehappinessbucket.files.wordpress.com/2015/07/boa.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-3700\" src=\"https://thehappinessbucket.files.wordpress.com/2015/07/boa.jpg?w=300\" alt=\"Bank of America Manage Pay to Accounts area (Note: Your bank\'s area may look different)\" width=\"364\" height=\"147\" /></a> Bank of America Manage Pay to Accounts area (Note: Your bank\'s area may look different)[/caption]\r\n\r\nYou can actually stop here in the process and decide that every time you need to pay a bill you will just go online and “schedule a payment”.  If you choose to do this you just open your bill get the amount, go to your bill pay area of your bank website and enter the amount and date to pay.  Most banks have a two day processing time, so make sure to keep that in mind when scheduling the payment.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline; color: #000000;\">Step 2</span>:  I choose to set all of my bills up as reoccurring payments unless it isn’t something that comes regularly or the change in amount is too drastic (i.e., credit card - we don’t ever have a set amount because we try to pay it off each month).  Now, for those things that often change, but the change isn\'t drastic like our electric, gas and water bills, I put in an average amount as the reoccurring payment.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Note:  Steps 1 and 2 theoretically only have to be done once, unless you are adding a new payee account or changing your reoccurring payment.</em></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline; color: #000000;\">Step 3</span>:  When the bill comes in each month, I look at the amount of the bill and the amount in my bill pay area, if they are different I update it with the correct amount for that payment.  This step literally takes me 5 - 10 mins, if that, twice a month (my routine is to go into my account twice a month to schedule payments, but sometimes I’m feeling froggy and I schedule them as soon as I get the bill.  It usually depends on if I\'m at the computer or not at the time the bill is placed in my hand.</p>\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>So why do I choose to pay online using reoccurring payments and what are the benefits?</strong></span>\r\n<ul>\r\n 	<li>I never miss a due date.  Life happens and sometimes you just get busy and a bill accidentally gets misplaced between the mailbox and your hands.  The way I have guesstimated my utilities they are more often on the high side, so I get a small credit on the next bill, if I don\'t go in and change it in time;</li>\r\n 	<li>It is much easier than pulling out the check book and/or going to the location to pay in person;</li>\r\n 	<li>It eliminates the need to have a bill pay center in your home;</li>\r\n 	<li>It eliminates the need for postage;</li>\r\n 	<li>It eliminates the need for physical bill files - for utility type accounts or other monthly accounts that you pay in full, I only have one file.  I keep one month of each bill.  As soon as I get the next bill that shows the amount was paid in full, I discard the previous month, which eliminates the need to keep a separate file for each bill;</li>\r\n 	<li>Historical information is kept online, so no need to keep the physical paper and if you absolutely must have the information you can download and save the electronic copy of your pay history and/or bank statement;</li>\r\n 	<li>You get discounts when you receive your bank statement online and/or for some banks you get a perk when you activate online bill pay; and</li>\r\n 	<li>The information feeds into most personal/business accounting software systems like Mint</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>What if I\'m barely making ends meet?</strong></span>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Lets evaluate this for a minute.  If you are living paycheck to paycheck, I would suggest scheduling all the \"have to pay\" items through your bank so you ensure they are paid on time so you don\'t incur late fees.  We get paid basically twice a month the last day of the month and the 15th.  All of our bills are scheduled to come out around those two dates.  Even if the bill is due on the 25th I pay it on the 16th.  That way I know once those are paid how much money is left for the rest of that two week period.  If your due date is in the middle of that time frame, see if you can get it changed and/or pay it early.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>What about direct debit?</strong></span></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Well, I much prefer electronic bill pay through your bank over the direct debit system.  There is just something about companies having access to my checking account that I don\'t like.  I do, however, have a few of those set up as well (insurance/student loans).</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>What about security</strong></span></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">With all of the system hacks companies are experiencing these days I can understand why you may be concerned with banking online.  I can tell you that they adhere to a pretty stringent security standard and I have never felt compromised when it came to online banking.  Also, banks are FDIC insured so your money is protected (up to $250,000).   I would say if you are concerned to contact your bank and discuss how they protect your data online and your account.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">All in all you can decide what method of online payment you want to test out, scheduled payments or reoccurring payments.  It is just one more way you can eliminate clutter in your home and set up a system to better control and organize your life.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">If you like this post, please like it and make sure to subscribe to our blog to receive more like it. Also, our free 30 day Declutter Challenge starts on September 1st.  Make sure to register using the link to the right.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Have a Happy Clutter Free Day!</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"></p>','THBOrganize:  How Electronic Bill Pay Helps You Declutter','','inherit','closed','closed','','3699-revision-v1','','','2018-02-20 18:51:24','2018-02-20 18:51:24','',3699,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/3699-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6860,1,'2018-02-20 18:52:17','2018-02-20 18:52:17','<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Let’s talk electronic bill pay.  This is something that has been around since the mid 1990s, but I know many of you still don’t take advantage of it.  I honestly can’t tell you when I swapped from writing checks to paying electronically through my bank, but I can tell you I now pay all but one thing via electronic bill pay and that is our tithes to the church…although I could do that electronically, I just like having something to physically put in the collection plate each Sunday.</p>\r\nThe reason I am broaching this subject is because bills and the papers produced by them create a mountain of unnecessary paper in your home.  Add to that paper checks, boxes of checks, bank statements, etc. and you have a ton of paper and processes that can easily be eliminated.\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>So let’s review my electronic pay system and bill pay process:</strong></span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><span style=\"color: #000000; text-decoration: underline;\">Step 1</span></span>:  I set up all of the companies/Individuals I pay as payee accounts in my online bank account.  All you need is the bill or payee information in front of you to do this.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3700\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"364\"]<a href=\"https://thehappinessbucket.files.wordpress.com/2015/07/boa.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-3700\" src=\"https://thehappinessbucket.files.wordpress.com/2015/07/boa.jpg?w=300\" alt=\"Bank of America Manage Pay to Accounts area (Note: Your bank\'s area may look different)\" width=\"364\" height=\"147\" /></a> Bank of America Manage Pay to Accounts area (Note: Your bank\'s area may look different)[/caption]\r\n\r\nYou can actually stop here in the process and decide that every time you need to pay a bill you will just go online and “schedule a payment”.  If you choose to do this you just open your bill get the amount, go to your bill pay area of your bank website and enter the amount and date to pay.  Most banks have a two day processing time, so make sure to keep that in mind when scheduling the payment.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline; color: #000000;\">Step 2</span>:  I choose to set all of my bills up as reoccurring payments unless it isn’t something that comes regularly or the change in amount is too drastic (i.e., credit card - we don’t ever have a set amount because we try to pay it off each month).  Now, for those things that often change, but the change isn\'t drastic like our electric, gas and water bills, I put in an average amount as the reoccurring payment.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Note:  Steps 1 and 2 theoretically only have to be done once, unless you are adding a new payee account or changing your reoccurring payment.</em></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline; color: #000000;\">Step 3</span>:  When the bill comes in each month, I look at the amount of the bill and the amount in my bill pay area, if they are different I update it with the correct amount for that payment.  This step literally takes me 5 - 10 mins, if that, twice a month (my routine is to go into my account twice a month to schedule payments, but sometimes I’m feeling froggy and I schedule them as soon as I get the bill.  It usually depends on if I\'m at the computer or not at the time the bill is placed in my hand.</p>\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>So why do I choose to pay online using reoccurring payments and what are the benefits?</strong></span>\r\n<ul>\r\n 	<li>I never miss a due date.  Life happens and sometimes you just get busy and a bill accidentally gets misplaced between the mailbox and your hands.  The way I have guesstimated my utilities they are more often on the high side, so I get a small credit on the next bill, if I don\'t go in and change it in time;</li>\r\n 	<li>It is much easier than pulling out the check book and/or going to the location to pay in person;</li>\r\n 	<li>It eliminates the need to have a bill pay center in your home;</li>\r\n 	<li>It eliminates the need for postage;</li>\r\n 	<li>It eliminates the need for physical bill files - for utility type accounts or other monthly accounts that you pay in full, I only have one file.  I keep one month of each bill.  As soon as I get the next bill that shows the amount was paid in full, I discard the previous month, which eliminates the need to keep a separate file for each bill;</li>\r\n 	<li>Historical information is kept online, so no need to keep the physical paper and if you absolutely must have the information you can download and save the electronic copy of your pay history and/or bank statement;</li>\r\n 	<li>You get discounts when you receive your bank statement online and/or for some banks you get a perk when you activate online bill pay; and</li>\r\n 	<li>The information feeds into most personal/business accounting software systems like Mint</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>What if I\'m barely making ends meet?</strong></span>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Lets evaluate this for a minute.  If you are living paycheck to paycheck, I would suggest scheduling all the \"have to pay\" items through your bank so you ensure they are paid on time so you don\'t incur late fees.  We get paid basically twice a month the last day of the month and the 15th.  All of our bills are scheduled to come out around those two dates.  Even if the bill is due on the 25th I pay it on the 16th.  That way I know once those are paid how much money is left for the rest of that two week period.  If your due date is in the middle of that time frame, see if you can get it changed and/or pay it early.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>What about direct debit?</strong></span></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Well, I much prefer electronic bill pay through your bank over the direct debit system.  There is just something about companies having access to my checking account that I don\'t like.  I do, however, have a few of those set up as well (insurance/student loans).</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>What about security</strong></span></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">With all of the system hacks companies are experiencing these days I can understand why you may be concerned with banking online.  I can tell you that they adhere to a pretty stringent security standard and I have never felt compromised when it came to online banking.  Also, banks are FDIC insured so your money is protected (up to $250,000).   I would say if you are concerned to contact your bank and discuss how they protect your data online and your account.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">All in all you can decide what method of online payment you want to test out, scheduled payments or reoccurring payments.  It is just one more way you can eliminate clutter in your home and set up a system to better control and organize your life.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">If you like this post, please like it and make sure to subscribe to our blog to receive more like it. Also, our free 30 day Declutter Challenge starts on September 1st.  Make sure to register using the link to the right.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Have a Happy Clutter Free Day!</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"></p>','How Electronic Bill Pay Helps You Declutter','','inherit','closed','closed','','3699-revision-v1','','','2018-02-20 18:52:17','2018-02-20 18:52:17','',3699,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/3699-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6862,1,'2018-02-20 19:46:31','2018-02-20 19:46:31','<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Let’s talk electronic bill pay.  This is something that has been around since the mid 90s, but I know many of you still don’t take advantage of it.  I honestly can’t tell you when I swapped from writing checks to paying electronically through my bank, but I can tell you I now pay all but one thing via electronic bill pay and that is our tithes to the church…although I could do that electronically, I just like having something to physically put in the collection plate each Sunday.</p>\r\nThe reason I am broaching this subject is because bills and the papers produced by them create a mountain of unnecessary paper in your home.  Add to that paper checks, boxes of checks, bank statements, etc. and you have a ton of paper and processes that can easily be eliminated.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h1><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Setup Your Payee Accounts</span></h1>\r\nI set up all of the companies/Individuals I pay as payee accounts in my online bank account.  All you need is the bill or payee information in front of you to do this.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3700\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"364\"]<a href=\"https://thehappinessbucket.files.wordpress.com/2015/07/boa.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-3700\" src=\"https://thehappinessbucket.files.wordpress.com/2015/07/boa.jpg?w=300\" alt=\"Bank of America Manage Pay to Accounts area (Note: Your bank\'s area may look different)\" width=\"364\" height=\"147\" /></a> Bank of America Manage Pay to Accounts area (Note: Your bank\'s area may look different)[/caption]\r\n\r\nYou can actually stop here in the process and decide that every time you need to pay a bill you will just go online and “schedule a payment”.  If you choose to do this, just open your bill get the amount, go to your bill pay area of your bank website and enter the amount and date to pay.  Most banks have a two day processing time, so make sure to keep that in mind when scheduling the payment.\r\n<h1 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Setup Reoccurring Payments</span></h1>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">I choose to set all of my bills as reoccurring payments unless it isn’t something that comes regularly or the change in amount is too drastic (i.e., credit card - we don’t ever have a set amount because we try to pay it off each month).  Now, for those things that often change, but the change isn\'t drastic like our electric, gas and water bills, I put in an average amount as the reoccurring payment.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Note:  The two steps above theoretically only have to be done once, unless you are adding a new payee account or changing your reoccurring payment.</em></p>\r\n\r\n<h1 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Review Your Account </span></h1>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">When the bill comes in each month, I look at the amount of the bill and the amount in my bill pay area, if they are different I update it with the correct amount for that payment.  This step literally takes me 5 - 10 mins, if that, twice a month (my routine is to go into my account twice a month to schedule payments, but sometimes I’m feeling froggy and I schedule them as soon as I get the bill.  It usually depends on if I\'m at the computer or not at the time the bill is placed in my hand.)  You can set your own schedule based on your <a href=\"https://thechangeacademy.thinkific.com/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">monthly budget</a>.</p>\r\n\r\n<h1>Benefits of Electronic Bill Pay</h1>\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">There are a number of benefits to using electronic bill pay.  Here are just a few that I have noted over time:</span>\r\n<ul>\r\n 	<li>I never miss a due date.  Life happens and sometimes you just get busy and a bill accidentally gets misplaced between the mailbox and your hands.  The way I have guesstimated my utilities they are more often on the high side, so I get a small credit on the next bill if I don\'t go in and change it in time;</li>\r\n 	<li>It is much easier than pulling out the checkbook and/or going to the location to pay in person;</li>\r\n 	<li>It eliminates the need to have a bill pay center in your home;</li>\r\n 	<li>It eliminates the need for postage;</li>\r\n 	<li>It eliminates or reduces the need for physical bill files - for utility type accounts or other monthly accounts that you pay in full, I only have one file.  I keep one month of each bill.  As soon as I get the next bill that shows the amount was paid in full, I discard the previous month, which eliminates the need to keep a separate file for each bill;</li>\r\n 	<li>Historical information is kept online, so no need to keep the physical paper and if you absolutely must have the information you can download and save the electronic copy of your payment history and/or bank statement;</li>\r\n 	<li>You get discounts when you receive your bank statement online and/or for some banks you get a perk when you activate online bill pay; and</li>\r\n 	<li>The information feeds into most personal/business accounting software systems like Mint</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<h1>Lets Discuss Your Concerns</h1>\r\n<h2><span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>What if I\'m barely making ends meet?</strong></span></h2>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">So let\'s evaluate this for a minute because it is a valid concern.  If you are living paycheck to paycheck, I would suggest scheduling all the \"have to pay\" items, I discussed in the <a href=\"https://thechangeacademy.thinkific.com/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">budgeting course</a>, through your bank so you ensure they are paid on time and you don\'t incur late fees.  In my example, I get paid twice a month - the last day of the month and the 15th.  All of our bills are scheduled to come out around those two dates.  Even if the bill is due on the 25th I pay it on the 16th.  That way I know once those are paid how much money is left for the rest of that two week period.  If your due date is in the middle of that time frame, see if you can get it changed and/or pay it early.  There are a number of factors that need to be considered in this situation, but the first step is completing your budget so you know when and how you need to pay your bills.  This will allow you to compare when bills are due versus when the money will be in the account.  If you still need help after completing the <a href=\"https://thechangeacademy.thinkific.com/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">free budgeting course</a>, I recommend, <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/lifeorganization/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">scheduling a coaching session</a> with me to discuss your individual needs.</p>\r\n\r\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>What about direct debit?</strong></span></h2>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Well, I much prefer electronic bill pay through your bank over the direct debit system.  There is just something about companies having access to my checking account that I don\'t like.  I\'d rather an issue be on my end than on a computer or another person\'s end.  I\'ve had a situation where the person entered the information erroneously and debited my account twice in one month.  I understand mistakes, but if I had been struggling or living pay check to pay check that would have caused a ton of problems.  That being said, I do have a few of those set up because there was no other option offered (insurance/student loans).</p>\r\n\r\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>What about security?</strong></span></h2>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">With all of the system hacks companies are experiencing these days I can understand why you may be concerned with banking online.  I can tell you that they adhere to a pretty stringent security standard and I have never felt compromised when it came to online banking.  Also, banks are FDIC insured so your money is protected (up to $250,000).   I would say if you are concerned to contact your bank and discuss how they protect your online data and your account.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">All in all, you can decide what method of online payment you want to test out, scheduled payments or reoccurring payments.  It is just one more way you can eliminate clutter in your home and set up a system to better control and organize your life.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">If you like this post, please make sure to signup for our mailing list so you know when more like it are posted.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"></p>','How Electronic Bill Pay Helps You Declutter','','inherit','closed','closed','','3699-revision-v1','','','2018-02-20 19:46:31','2018-02-20 19:46:31','',3699,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/3699-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6863,1,'2018-02-20 20:00:36','2018-02-20 20:00:36','','Electronic Bill Pay | The Happiness Bucket','','inherit','open','closed','','electronic-bill-pay-2','','','2018-02-20 20:01:03','2018-02-20 20:01:03','',3699,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Electronic-Bill-Pay.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(6864,1,'2018-02-20 20:04:13','2018-02-20 20:04:13','<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Let’s talk electronic bill pay.  This is something that has been around since the mid 90s, but I know many of you still don’t take advantage of it.  I honestly can’t tell you when I swapped from writing checks to paying electronically through my bank, but I can tell you I now pay all but one thing via electronic bill pay and that is our tithes to the church…although I could do that electronically, I just like having something to physically put in the collection plate each Sunday.</p>\r\nThe reason I am broaching this subject is because bills and the papers produced by them create a mountain of unnecessary paper in your home.  Add to that paper checks, boxes of checks, bank statements, etc. and you have a ton of paper and processes that can easily be eliminated.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h1><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Setup Your Payee Accounts</span></h1>\r\nI set up all of the companies/Individuals I pay as payee accounts in my online bank account.  All you need is the bill or payee information in front of you to do this.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3700\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"364\"]<a href=\"https://thehappinessbucket.files.wordpress.com/2015/07/boa.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-3700\" src=\"https://thehappinessbucket.files.wordpress.com/2015/07/boa.jpg?w=300\" alt=\"Bank of America Manage Pay to Accounts area (Note: Your bank\'s area may look different)\" width=\"364\" height=\"147\" /></a> Bank of America Manage Pay to Accounts area (Note: Your bank\'s area may look different)[/caption]\r\n\r\nYou can actually stop here in the process and decide that every time you need to pay a bill you will just go online and “schedule a payment”.  If you choose to do this, just open your bill get the amount, go to your bill pay area of your bank website and enter the amount and date to pay.  Most banks have a two day processing time, so make sure to keep that in mind when scheduling the payment.\r\n<h1 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Setup Reoccurring Payments</span></h1>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">I choose to set all of my bills as reoccurring payments unless it isn’t something that comes regularly or the change in amount is too drastic (i.e., credit card - we don’t ever have a set amount because we try to pay it off each month).  Now, for those things that often change, but the change isn\'t drastic like our electric, gas and water bills, I put in an average amount as the reoccurring payment.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Note:  The two steps above theoretically only have to be done once, unless you are adding a new payee account or changing your reoccurring payment.</em></p>\r\n\r\n<h1 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Review Your Account </span></h1>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">When the bill comes in each month, I look at the amount of the bill and the amount in my bill pay area, if they are different I update it with the correct amount for that payment.  This step literally takes me 5 - 10 mins, if that, twice a month (my routine is to go into my account twice a month to schedule payments, but sometimes I’m feeling froggy and I schedule them as soon as I get the bill.  It usually depends on if I\'m at the computer or not at the time the bill is placed in my hand.)  You can set your own schedule based on your <a href=\"https://thechangeacademy.thinkific.com/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">monthly budget</a>.</p>\r\n\r\n<h1>Benefits of Electronic Bill Pay</h1>\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">There are a number of benefits to using electronic bill pay.  Here are just a few that I have noted over time:</span>\r\n<ul>\r\n 	<li>I never miss a due date.  Life happens and sometimes you just get busy and a bill accidentally gets misplaced between the mailbox and your hands.  The way I have guesstimated my utilities they are more often on the high side, so I get a small credit on the next bill if I don\'t go in and change it in time;</li>\r\n 	<li>It is much easier than pulling out the checkbook and/or going to the location to pay in person;</li>\r\n 	<li>It eliminates the need to have a bill pay center in your home;</li>\r\n 	<li>It eliminates the need for postage;</li>\r\n 	<li>It eliminates or reduces the need for physical bill files - for utility type accounts or other monthly accounts that you pay in full, I only have one file.  I keep one month of each bill.  As soon as I get the next bill that shows the amount was paid in full, I discard the previous month, which eliminates the need to keep a separate file for each bill;</li>\r\n 	<li>Historical information is kept online, so no need to keep the physical paper and if you absolutely must have the information you can download and save the electronic copy of your payment history and/or bank statement;</li>\r\n 	<li>You get discounts when you receive your bank statement online and/or for some banks you get a perk when you activate online bill pay; and</li>\r\n 	<li>The information feeds into most personal/business accounting software systems like Mint</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<h1>Lets Discuss Your Concerns</h1>\r\n<h2><span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>What if I\'m barely making ends meet?</strong></span></h2>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">So let\'s evaluate this for a minute because it is a valid concern.  If you are living paycheck to paycheck, I would suggest scheduling all the \"have to pay\" items, I discussed in the <a href=\"https://thechangeacademy.thinkific.com/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">budgeting course</a>, through your bank so you ensure they are paid on time and you don\'t incur late fees.  In my example, I get paid twice a month - the last day of the month and the 15th.  All of our bills are scheduled to come out around those two dates.  Even if the bill is due on the 25th I pay it on the 16th.  That way I know once those are paid how much money is left for the rest of that two week period.  If your due date is in the middle of that time frame, see if you can get it changed and/or pay it early.  There are a number of factors that need to be considered in this situation, but the first step is completing your budget so you know when and how you need to pay your bills.  This will allow you to compare when bills are due versus when the money will be in the account.  If you still need help after completing the <a href=\"https://thechangeacademy.thinkific.com/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">free budgeting course</a>, I recommend, <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/lifeorganization/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">scheduling a coaching session</a> with me to discuss your individual needs.</p>\r\n\r\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>What about direct debit?</strong></span></h2>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Well, I much prefer electronic bill pay through your bank over the direct debit system.  There is just something about companies having access to my checking account that I don\'t like.  I\'d rather an issue be on my end than on a computer or another person\'s end.  I\'ve had a situation where the person entered the information erroneously and debited my account twice in one month.  I understand mistakes, but if I had been struggling or living pay check to pay check that would have caused a ton of problems.  That being said, I do have a few of those set up because there was no other option offered (insurance/student loans).</p>\r\n\r\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>What about security?</strong></span></h2>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">With all of the system hacks companies are experiencing these days I can understand why you may be concerned with banking online.  I can tell you that they adhere to a pretty stringent security standard and I have never felt compromised when it came to online banking.  Also, banks are FDIC insured so your money is protected (up to $250,000).   I would say if you are concerned to contact your bank and discuss how they protect your online data and your account.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">All in all, you can decide what method of online payment you want to test out, scheduled payments or reoccurring payments.  It is just one more way you can eliminate clutter in your home and set up a system to better control and organize your life.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">If you like this post, please make sure to signup for our mailing list so you know when more like it are posted.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"></p>','How Electronic Bill Pay Helps You Declutter','','inherit','closed','closed','','3699-autosave-v1','','','2018-02-20 20:04:13','2018-02-20 20:04:13','',3699,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/3699-autosave-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6865,0,'2018-02-22 00:32:32','0000-00-00 00:00:00','<p>\n<strong>NEW: Improved Reporting Dashboard with MonsterInsights 7.0</strong><br />\nYou asked for it, here it is. MonsterInsights 7.0 comes with beautiful new reporting dashboard.</p>\n<p>We have created custom reports for Publishers, eCommerce store owners, Google Search Console, and Custom Dimensions. You also have the ability to choose custom date ranges.\n</p>\n<p><a href=\"https://www.monsterinsights.com/lite/?utm_source=wpdashboard&#038;utm_medium=amnotification&#038;utm_campaign=newreports\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"button button-primary\">Click Here to Upgrade &raquo;</a> <a href=\"https://www.monsterinsights.com/introducing-monsterinsights-7/?utm_source=wpdashboard&#038;utm_medium=amnotification&#038;utm_campaign=newreports\" class=\"button button-secondary\" target=\"_blank\">Read the Full Announcement</a></p>\n<p>Thanks as always for your continuous support of MonsterInsights!<br />\nChris Christoff<br />\nLead Developer of MonsterInsights</p>\n','','','draft','closed','closed','','','','','2018-02-22 00:32:32','0000-00-00 00:00:00','',0,'http://development.thehappinessbucket.com/?post_type=amn_mi-lite&p=6865',0,'amn_mi-lite','',0),(6877,1,'2018-02-28 05:08:24','2018-02-28 05:08:24','','How to Organize - Children Organization | The Happiness Bucket','','inherit','open','closed','','how-to-organize-children-organization-1','','','2018-02-28 05:08:57','2018-02-28 05:08:57','',0,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/How-to-Organize-Children-Organization-1.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(6878,560,'2018-02-28 17:51:36','2018-02-28 17:51:36','<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" style=\"text-align: left;\" data-header=\"0\" data-doc-id=\"4817100000000373033\">I am often asked the question regarding the best project management system on the market and although I know most are looking for me to rattle off some PM tools like Smartsheet, Trello, Asana, MS Project, etc. The truth is this won\'t really answer the question. You see there are many things that go into picking the best project management system and I want to discuss those with you today.<!--more--></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><iframe src=\"https://www.youtube.com/embed/VgnXJCocztM\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"></iframe></p>\r\n\r\n<h1 class=\"zw-paragraph heading1\" data-header=\"1\" data-hd-info=\"1\">What Constitutes as Best?</h1>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\">The first thing I need to address is the parameters around \"Best\" in your eyes. What is best for me may not be best for you and your environment. When working with Clients I am often faced with the task of bursting bubbles because I can\'t give the simple and easy answer to this question. It requires you to look at your internal needs, your likes, and dislikes, your growth plan, etc. Your environment may need something completely different from mine so by pushing my best on you, it could easily be the most expensive worst product you ever purchased or used.</p>\r\n\r\n<h1 class=\"zw-paragraph heading1\" data-header=\"1\" data-hd-info=\"1\">Do You Already Have A Project Management System?</h1>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\">Alright, so now that we understand \"Best\" is subjective, I want to evaluate your current situation. Do you already have a project management system that you are using or are you starting from scratch and realizing that you need to do something different? This again requires some introspection because we need to determine why the current tool that you have isn\'t working or if you don\'t have one, how do you envision a PM tool helping you in the future.</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\">A current PM system also adds a layer of difficulty in the tool selection process because you have to take into account the learning curve and the migration process. Can you start with a tool from scratch manually porting information over or can you migrate it in an automated fashion? Will it take you a long time to adapt to the new system and do you have time to do that in your day to day world?</p>\r\n\r\n<h1 class=\"zw-paragraph heading1\" data-header=\"1\" data-hd-info=\"1\">Are Your Processes Developed?</h1>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\"><img class=\"zw-image alignnone\" title=\"The Best Project Management System for Small Business | The Happiness Bucket\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Best-Tool-for-Project-Management-200x300.png\" alt=\"The Best Project Management System for Small Business | The Happiness Bucket\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" align=\"bottom\" /></p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\">You see, tools are just that they take your current process and make them easier. I often find that people purchase a tool and then develop their processes around a tool. This is the worst thing you can do. A tool is a proprietary way of addressing an issue or a process and it is developed in a unique way. If that tool goes away, how does the process translate to another one? If the tool breaks how do you handle the process manually? You should always have a developed process in place first before you select or incorporate a tool. This again will help you determine which is best for you.</p>\r\n\r\n<h1 class=\"zw-paragraph heading1\" data-header=\"1\" data-hd-info=\"1\">Who Will Use the Tool and How?</h1>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\">This is another important factor in determining the best tool for you and your business. Different types of people and different roles of people will need to use the tool in different ways. What are those roles and ways in which the tool will be used? This is essential for determining the features you need and whether it will accommodate all those involved. A seasoned Project Manager may need a much more robust tool than a novice Project Manager. A person helping on the project may feel they don\'t need the tool at all, they just want a checklist.</p>\r\n\r\n<h1 class=\"zw-paragraph heading1\" data-header=\"1\" data-hd-info=\"1\">What is Your PM Tool Budget?</h1>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\">Budget is often the overall deciding factor when selecting a tool, but is often the last thing discussed. You can get all the features, bells and whistles but those often have a pretty big price tag. So, take this into consideration when identifying the \"Best\" tool for you and your environment.</p>\r\n\r\n<h1 class=\"zw-paragraph heading1\" data-header=\"1\" data-hd-info=\"1\">So What Do I Think is the Best Project Management System?</h1>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\">In a nutshell, I believe many tools are great and have their purposes...and all can be crowned the best. There is no one answer to this question and it will require a lot more introspection of you and your team to determine what is best for you...sorry the answer is still the same. Build your requirements list first before delving too deeply into product selection. In my opinion, YOU are the best tool. As long as you can get what you need when you need it and the return on investment is high, you are good to go. I have used products like excel and word to do my PM processes and depending on the project it was the best at the time. I have also used some other tools, some free and some at cost. I have<a href=\"https://thechangeacademy.thinkific.com/courses/THBBusinessToolbox\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"> a list of the best project management systems for small business</a> that you can evaluate yourself.</p>','Best Project Management System for Small Business','','publish','open','open','','best-project-management-system','','','2019-07-27 05:16:00','2019-07-27 05:16:00','',0,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/?p=6878',0,'post','',0),(6879,1,'2018-02-28 16:17:32','2018-02-28 16:17:32','I am often asked the question regarding the best project management software on the market and although I know most are looking for me to rattle off a number of PM tools like Smartsheet, Trello, Asana, MS Project, etc. The truth is this won\'t really answer the question. You see there are many things that go into picking the best project management software and I want to discuss those with you today.\r\n<h1>What Constitutes as Best?</h1>\r\nThe first thing I need to address is the parameters around \"Best\" in your eyes.  What is best to me may not be best to you and your environment.  When working with Clients I am often faced with the task of bursting bubbles because I can\'t give the simple and easy answer to this question.  It requires you to look at your internal needs, your likes and dislikes, your growth plan, etc.  Your environment may need something complete different than mine so by pushing my best on you, it could easily be the most expensive worst product you every purchased or used.\r\n<h1>Do You Already Have A Project Management Tool?</h1>\r\nAlright, so now that we understand \"Best\" is subjective, I want to evaluate your current situation.  Do you already have a PM tool that you are using or are you starting from scratch and realizing that you need to do something different?  This again requires some introspection because we need to determine why the current tool that you have isn\'t working or if you don\'t have one, how do you envision a PM tool helping you in the future.\r\n\r\nA current PM tool also adds a layer of difficulty in the tool selection process because you have to take into account the learning curve and the migration process.  Can you start with a tool from scratch manually porting information over or can you migrate it in an automated fashion.  Will it take you a long time to adapt to the new system and do you have time to do that in your day to day world?\r\n<h1>A Tool Not A Process Developer</h1>\r\nYou see, tools are just that they take your current process and make them easier.  I often find that people purchase a tool and then develop their processes around a tool.  This is the worst thing you can do, because a tool is proprietary...it is developed in a unique way.  If that tool goes away, how does the process translate to another one?  If the tool breaks how do you handle the process manually?  You should always have a developed process in place first before you incorporate a tool.  This again will help you determine which is best for you.\r\n<h1>Who Will Use the Tool and How?</h1>\r\nThis is another important factor in determining the best tool for you and your business.  Different types of people and different roles of people will need to use the tool in different ways.  What are those roles and ways in which the tool will be used?  This is very important for determining the features you need and whether or not it will accommodate all those involved. A seasoned Project Manager may need a much more robust tool than a novice Project Manager.  A person helping on the project may feel they don\'t need the tool at all, they just want a checklist.\r\n<h1>What Budget Do You Have for a PM Tool?</h1>\r\nBudget is often the overall deciding factor when selecting a tool.  You can get all the features, bells and whistles but those often have a pretty big price tag.  So, take this into consideration when identifying the \"Best\" tool for you and your environment.\r\n<h1>So What Do I Think is the Best?</h1>\r\nIn a nutshell, I believe many tools are great and have their purposes...and all can be crowned the best.  There is no one answer to this question and it will require a lot more introspection of you and your team to determine what is best for you...sorry the answer is still the same.  Build your requirements list first before delving too deeply into product selection.  In my opinion, YOU are the best tool.  As long as you can get what you need when you need it, you are good to go.  I have used products like excel and word to do my PM processes and depending on the project it was the best at the time.  I have also used a number of other tools, some free and some at cost.  I have a list of well-known Project Management tools that you can evaluate for yourself.  Many of which I have tried and some I have not.  You can access the free list here [Enter Resource Library popup]','The Best Project Management Software for Small Business','','inherit','closed','closed','','6878-revision-v1','','','2018-02-28 16:17:32','2018-02-28 16:17:32','',6878,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/6878-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6880,1,'2018-02-28 16:19:32','2018-02-28 16:19:32','<code>I am often asked the question regarding the best project management software on the market and although I know most are looking for me to rattle off a number of PM tools like Smartsheet, Trello, Asana, MS Project, etc. The truth is this won\'t really answer the question. You see there are many things that go into picking the best project management software and I want to discuss those with you today.\r\n<h1>What Constitutes as Best?</h1>\r\nThe first thing I need to address is the parameters around \"Best\" in your eyes.  What is best to me may not be best to you and your environment.  When working with Clients I am often faced with the task of bursting bubbles because I can\'t give the simple and easy answer to this question.  It requires you to look at your internal needs, your likes and dislikes, your growth plan, etc.  Your environment may need something complete different than mine so by pushing my best on you, it could easily be the most expensive worst product you every purchased or used.\r\n<h1>Do You Already Have A Project Management Tool?</h1>\r\nAlright, so now that we understand \"Best\" is subjective, I want to evaluate your current situation.  Do you already have a PM tool that you are using or are you starting from scratch and realizing that you need to do something different?  This again requires some introspection because we need to determine why the current tool that you have isn\'t working or if you don\'t have one, how do you envision a PM tool helping you in the future.\r\n\r\nA current PM tool also adds a layer of difficulty in the tool selection process because you have to take into account the learning curve and the migration process.  Can you start with a tool from scratch manually porting information over or can you migrate it in an automated fashion.  Will it take you a long time to adapt to the new system and do you have time to do that in your day to day world?\r\n<h1>A Tool Not A Process Developer</h1>\r\nYou see, tools are just that they take your current process and make them easier.  I often find that people purchase a tool and then develop their processes around a tool.  This is the worst thing you can do, because a tool is proprietary...it is developed in a unique way.  If that tool goes away, how does the process translate to another one?  If the tool breaks how do you handle the process manually?  You should always have a developed process in place first before you incorporate a tool.  This again will help you determine which is best for you.\r\n<h1>Who Will Use the Tool and How?</h1>\r\nThis is another important factor in determining the best tool for you and your business.  Different types of people and different roles of people will need to use the tool in different ways.  What are those roles and ways in which the tool will be used?  This is very important for determining the features you need and whether or not it will accommodate all those involved. A seasoned Project Manager may need a much more robust tool than a novice Project Manager.  A person helping on the project may feel they don\'t need the tool at all, they just want a checklist.\r\n<h1>What Budget Do You Have for a PM Tool?</h1>\r\nBudget is often the overall deciding factor when selecting a tool.  You can get all the features, bells and whistles but those often have a pretty big price tag.  So, take this into consideration when identifying the \"Best\" tool for you and your environment.\r\n<h1>So What Do I Think is the Best?</h1>\r\nIn a nutshell, I believe many tools are great and have their purposes...and all can be crowned the best.  There is no one answer to this question and it will require a lot more introspection of you and your team to determine what is best for you...sorry the answer is still the same.  Build your requirements list first before delving too deeply into product selection.  In my opinion, YOU are the best tool.  As long as you can get what you need when you need it, you are good to go.  I have used products like excel and word to do my PM processes and depending on the project it was the best at the time.  I have also used a number of other tools, some free and some at cost.  I have a list of well-known Project Management tools that you can evaluate for yourself.  Many of which I have tried and some I have not.  You can access the free list here [Enter Resource Library popup]\r\n\r\n','The Best Project Management Software for Small Business','','inherit','closed','closed','','6878-revision-v1','','','2018-02-28 16:19:32','2018-02-28 16:19:32','',6878,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/6878-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6882,1,'2018-02-28 16:20:34','2018-02-28 16:20:34','/*\nYou can add your own CSS here.\n\nClick the help icon above to learn more.\n*/\n.site-info .copyright {\n	margin-top: 30px;}\n\n#site-title {\n  display: none;\n}\n.page-id-5195 .page-title {\n  display: none;\n}\n.page-id-5698 .page-title {\n  display: none;\n}\n\n/*\n	CSS Migrated from Jetpack:\n*/\n\n/*\nWelcome to Custom CSS!\n\nTo learn how this works, see http://wp.me/PEmnE-Bt\n*/\n.hentry .meta-post {\n	display: none;\n}\n.cta-button { text-align: center; } .cta-button a { background: #e5554e; color: #fff; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 1.6px; text-transform: uppercase; text-decoration: none; padding: 10px; margin: 0 auto; display: inline-block; overflow: hidden; text-align: center; } .cta-button a:hover { opacity: .9; }','excellent','','inherit','closed','closed','','407-revision-v1','','','2018-02-28 16:20:34','2018-02-28 16:20:34','',407,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/407-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6885,1,'2018-02-28 16:43:11','2018-02-28 16:43:11','/*\nYou can add your own CSS here.\n\nClick the help icon above to learn more.\n*/\n.site-info .copyright {\n	margin-top: 30px;}\n\n#site-title {\n  display: none;\n}\n.page-id-5195 .page-title {\n  display: none;\n}\n.page-id-5698 .page-title {\n  display: none;\n}\n\n/*\n	CSS Migrated from Jetpack:\n*/\n\n/*\nWelcome to Custom CSS!\n\nTo learn how this works, see http://wp.me/PEmnE-Bt\n*/\n.hentry .meta-post {\n	display: none;\n}\n.cta-button { text-align: center; } .cta-button a { background: #e100b1; color: #ffcc00; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 1.6px; text-transform: uppercase; text-decoration: none; padding: 10px; margin: 0 auto; display: inline-block; overflow: hidden; text-align: center; } .cta-button a:hover { opacity: .9; }','excellent','','inherit','closed','closed','','407-revision-v1','','','2018-02-28 16:43:11','2018-02-28 16:43:11','',407,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/407-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6886,1,'2018-02-28 16:53:49','2018-02-28 16:53:49','<code>I am often asked the question regarding the best project management software on the market and although I know most are looking for me to rattle off a number of PM tools like Smartsheet, Trello, Asana, MS Project, etc. The truth is this won\'t really answer the question. You see there are many things that go into picking the best project management software and I want to discuss those with you today.</code>\r\n<h1>What Constitutes as Best?</h1>\r\nThe first thing I need to address is the parameters around \"Best\" in your eyes.  What is best to me may not be best to you and your environment.  When working with Clients I am often faced with the task of bursting bubbles because I can\'t give the simple and easy answer to this question.  It requires you to look at your internal needs, your likes and dislikes, your growth plan, etc.  Your environment may need something complete different than mine so by pushing my best on you, it could easily be the most expensive worst product you every purchased or used.\r\n<h1>Do You Already Have A Project Management Tool?</h1>\r\nAlright, so now that we understand \"Best\" is subjective, I want to evaluate your current situation.  Do you already have a PM tool that you are using or are you starting from scratch and realizing that you need to do something different?  This again requires some introspection because we need to determine why the current tool that you have isn\'t working or if you don\'t have one, how do you envision a PM tool helping you in the future.\r\n\r\nA current PM tool also adds a layer of difficulty in the tool selection process because you have to take into account the learning curve and the migration process.  Can you start with a tool from scratch manually porting information over or can you migrate it in an automated fashion.  Will it take you a long time to adapt to the new system and do you have time to do that in your day to day world?\r\n<h1>A Tool Not A Process Developer</h1>\r\nYou see, tools are just that they take your current process and make them easier.  I often find that people purchase a tool and then develop their processes around a tool.  This is the worst thing you can do, because a tool is proprietary...it is developed in a unique way.  If that tool goes away, how does the process translate to another one?  If the tool breaks how do you handle the process manually?  You should always have a developed process in place first before you incorporate a tool.  This again will help you determine which is best for you.\r\n<h1>Who Will Use the Tool and How?</h1>\r\nThis is another important factor in determining the best tool for you and your business.  Different types of people and different roles of people will need to use the tool in different ways.  What are those roles and ways in which the tool will be used?  This is very important for determining the features you need and whether or not it will accommodate all those involved. A seasoned Project Manager may need a much more robust tool than a novice Project Manager.  A person helping on the project may feel they don\'t need the tool at all, they just want a checklist.\r\n<h1>What Budget Do You Have for a PM Tool?</h1>\r\nBudget is often the overall deciding factor when selecting a tool.  You can get all the features, bells and whistles but those often have a pretty big price tag.  So, take this into consideration when identifying the \"Best\" tool for you and your environment.\r\n<h1>So What Do I Think is the Best?</h1>\r\nIn a nutshell, I believe many tools are great and have their purposes...and all can be crowned the best.  There is no one answer to this question and it will require a lot more introspection of you and your team to determine what is best for you...sorry the answer is still the same.  Build your requirements list first before delving too deeply into product selection.  In my opinion, YOU are the best tool.  As long as you can get what you need when you need it, you are good to go.  I have used products like excel and word to do my PM processes and depending on the project it was the best at the time.  I have also used a number of other tools, some free and some at cost.  I have a list of well-known Project Management tools that you can evaluate for yourself.  Many of which I have tried and some I have not.  <div class=\"thinkific-product-card\" data-btn-txt=\"Get Access to List Now\" data-btn-txt-color=\"#ffff00\" data-btn-bg-color=\"#e100b1\" data-card-type=\"button\" data-link-type=\"checkout\" data-product=\"42657\" data-embed-version=\"0.0.2\" data-store-url=\"https://courses.thinkific.com/embeds/products/show\"><div class=\"iframe-container\"></div><script type=\"text/javascript\">document.getElementById(\"thinkific-product-embed\") || document.write(\'<script id=\"thinkific-product-embed\" type=\"text/javascript\" src=\"https://assets.thinkific.com/js/embeds/product-cards-client.min.js\"><\\/script>\');</script><noscript><a href=\"https://thechangeacademy.thinkific.com/enroll/42657?et=free\" target=\"_blank\">Get Access to List Now</a></noscript></div>','The Best Project Management Software for Small Business','','inherit','closed','closed','','6878-revision-v1','','','2018-02-28 16:53:49','2018-02-28 16:53:49','',6878,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/6878-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6887,1,'2018-02-28 16:54:26','2018-02-28 16:54:26','<code>I am often asked the question regarding the best project management software on the market and although I know most are looking for me to rattle off a number of PM tools like Smartsheet, Trello, Asana, MS Project, etc. The truth is this won\'t really answer the question. You see there are many things that go into picking the best project management software and I want to discuss those with you today.</code>\r\n<h1>What Constitutes as Best?</h1>\r\nThe first thing I need to address is the parameters around \"Best\" in your eyes.  What is best to me may not be best to you and your environment.  When working with Clients I am often faced with the task of bursting bubbles because I can\'t give the simple and easy answer to this question.  It requires you to look at your internal needs, your likes and dislikes, your growth plan, etc.  Your environment may need something complete different than mine so by pushing my best on you, it could easily be the most expensive worst product you every purchased or used.\r\n<h1>Do You Already Have A Project Management Tool?</h1>\r\nAlright, so now that we understand \"Best\" is subjective, I want to evaluate your current situation.  Do you already have a PM tool that you are using or are you starting from scratch and realizing that you need to do something different?  This again requires some introspection because we need to determine why the current tool that you have isn\'t working or if you don\'t have one, how do you envision a PM tool helping you in the future.\r\n\r\nA current PM tool also adds a layer of difficulty in the tool selection process because you have to take into account the learning curve and the migration process.  Can you start with a tool from scratch manually porting information over or can you migrate it in an automated fashion.  Will it take you a long time to adapt to the new system and do you have time to do that in your day to day world?\r\n<h1>A Tool Not A Process Developer</h1>\r\nYou see, tools are just that they take your current process and make them easier.  I often find that people purchase a tool and then develop their processes around a tool.  This is the worst thing you can do, because a tool is proprietary...it is developed in a unique way.  If that tool goes away, how does the process translate to another one?  If the tool breaks how do you handle the process manually?  You should always have a developed process in place first before you incorporate a tool.  This again will help you determine which is best for you.\r\n<h1>Who Will Use the Tool and How?</h1>\r\nThis is another important factor in determining the best tool for you and your business.  Different types of people and different roles of people will need to use the tool in different ways.  What are those roles and ways in which the tool will be used?  This is very important for determining the features you need and whether or not it will accommodate all those involved. A seasoned Project Manager may need a much more robust tool than a novice Project Manager.  A person helping on the project may feel they don\'t need the tool at all, they just want a checklist.\r\n<h1>What Budget Do You Have for a PM Tool?</h1>\r\nBudget is often the overall deciding factor when selecting a tool.  You can get all the features, bells and whistles but those often have a pretty big price tag.  So, take this into consideration when identifying the \"Best\" tool for you and your environment.\r\n<h1>So What Do I Think is the Best?</h1>\r\nIn a nutshell, I believe many tools are great and have their purposes...and all can be crowned the best.  There is no one answer to this question and it will require a lot more introspection of you and your team to determine what is best for you...sorry the answer is still the same.  Build your requirements list first before delving too deeply into product selection.  In my opinion, YOU are the best tool.  As long as you can get what you need when you need it, you are good to go.  I have used products like excel and word to do my PM processes and depending on the project it was the best at the time.  I have also used a number of other tools, some free and some at cost.  I have a list of well-known Project Management tools that you can evaluate for yourself.  Many of which I have tried and some I have not. <script type=\"text/javascript\">document.getElementById(\"thinkific-product-embed\") || document.write(\'<script id=\"thinkific-product-embed\" type=\"text/javascript\" src=\"https://assets.thinkific.com/js/embeds/product-cards-client.min.js\"><\\/script>\');</script>','The Best Project Management Software for Small Business','','inherit','closed','closed','','6878-revision-v1','','','2018-02-28 16:54:26','2018-02-28 16:54:26','',6878,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/6878-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6888,1,'2018-02-28 17:02:43','2018-02-28 17:02:43','<code>I am often asked the question regarding the best project management software on the market and although I know most are looking for me to rattle off a number of PM tools like Smartsheet, Trello, Asana, MS Project, etc. The truth is this won\'t really answer the question. You see there are many things that go into picking the best project management software and I want to discuss those with you today.</code>\r\n<h1>What Constitutes as Best?</h1>\r\nThe first thing I need to address is the parameters around \"Best\" in your eyes.  What is best for me may not be best for you and your environment.  When working with Clients I am often faced with the task of bursting bubbles because I can\'t give the simple and easy answer to this question.  It requires you to look at your internal needs, your likes, and dislikes, your growth plan, etc.  Your environment may need something completely different than mine so by pushing my best on you, it could easily be the most expensive worst product you ever purchased or used.\r\n<h1>Do You Already Have A Project Management Tool?</h1>\r\nAlright, so now that we understand \"Best\" is subjective, I want to evaluate your current situation.  Do you already have a PM tool that you are using or are you starting from scratch and realizing that you need to do something different?  This again requires some introspection because we need to determine why the current tool that you have isn\'t working or if you don\'t have one, how do you envision a PM tool helping you in the future.\r\n\r\nA current PM tool also adds a layer of difficulty in the tool selection process because you have to take into account the learning curve and the migration process.  Can you start with a tool from scratch manually porting information over or can you migrate it in an automated fashion?  Will it take you a long time to adapt to the new system and do you have time to do that in your day to day world?\r\n<h1>A Tool Not A Process Developer</h1>\r\nYou see, tools are just that they take your current process and make them easier.  I often find that people purchase a tool and then develop their processes around a tool.  This is the worst thing you can do.  A tool is a proprietary way of addressing an issue or a process and it is developed in a unique way.  If that tool goes away, how does the process translate to another one?  If the tool breaks how do you handle the process manually?  You should always have a developed process in place first before you select or incorporate a tool.  This again will help you determine which is best for you.\r\n<h1>Who Will Use the Tool and How?</h1>\r\nThis is another important factor in determining the best tool for you and your business.  Different types of people and different roles of people will need to use the tool in different ways.  What are those roles and ways in which the tool will be used?  This is very important for determining the features you need and whether or not it will accommodate all those involved. A seasoned Project Manager may need a much more robust tool than a novice Project Manager.  A person helping on the project may feel they don\'t need the tool at all, they just want a checklist.\r\n<h1>What is Your PM Tool Budget?</h1>\r\nBudget is often the overall deciding factor when selecting a tool, but is often the last thing discussed.  You can get all the features, bells and whistles but those often have a pretty big price tag.  So, take this into consideration when identifying the \"Best\" tool for you and your environment.\r\n<h1>So What Do I Think is Best?</h1>\r\nIn a nutshell, I believe many tools are great and have their purposes...and all can be crowned the best.  There is no one answer to this question and it will require a lot more introspection of you and your team to determine what is best for you...sorry the answer is still the same.  Build your requirements list first before delving too deeply into product selection.  In my opinion, YOU are the best tool.  As long as you can get what you need when you need it and the return on investment is high, you are good to go.  I have used products like excel and word to do my PM processes and depending on the project it was the best at the time.  I have also used a number of other tools, some free and some at cost.  I have a list of well-known Project Management tools that you can evaluate for yourself.  Many of which I have tried and some I have not. <script type=\"text/javascript\">document.getElementById(\"thinkific-product-embed\") || document.write(\'<script id=\"thinkific-product-embed\" type=\"text/javascript\" src=\"https://assets.thinkific.com/js/embeds/product-cards-client.min.js\"><\\/script>\');</script>','The Best Project Management Software for Small Business','','inherit','closed','closed','','6878-revision-v1','','','2018-02-28 17:02:43','2018-02-28 17:02:43','',6878,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/6878-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6889,1,'2018-02-28 17:18:37','2018-02-28 17:18:37','','Best Project Management Tool | The Happiness Bucket','','inherit','open','closed','','best-project-management-tool','','','2018-02-28 17:19:17','2018-02-28 17:19:17','',6878,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Best-Project-Management-Tool.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(6890,1,'2018-02-28 17:19:33','2018-02-28 17:19:33','I am often asked the question regarding the best project management software on the market and although I know most are looking for me to rattle off a number of PM tools like Smartsheet, Trello, Asana, MS Project, etc. The truth is this won\'t really answer the question. You see there are many things that go into picking the best project management software and I want to discuss those with you today.\r\n<h1>What Constitutes as Best?</h1>\r\nThe first thing I need to address is the parameters around \"Best\" in your eyes.  What is best for me may not be best for you and your environment.  When working with Clients I am often faced with the task of bursting bubbles because I can\'t give the simple and easy answer to this question.  It requires you to look at your internal needs, your likes, and dislikes, your growth plan, etc.  Your environment may need something completely different than mine so by pushing my best on you, it could easily be the most expensive worst product you ever purchased or used.\r\n<h1>Do You Already Have A Project Management Tool?</h1>\r\nAlright, so now that we understand \"Best\" is subjective, I want to evaluate your current situation.  Do you already have a PM tool that you are using or are you starting from scratch and realizing that you need to do something different?  This again requires some introspection because we need to determine why the current tool that you have isn\'t working or if you don\'t have one, how do you envision a PM tool helping you in the future.\r\n\r\nA current PM tool also adds a layer of difficulty in the tool selection process because you have to take into account the learning curve and the migration process.  Can you start with a tool from scratch manually porting information over or can you migrate it in an automated fashion?  Will it take you a long time to adapt to the new system and do you have time to do that in your day to day world?\r\n<h1>A Tool Not A Process Developer</h1>\r\nYou see, tools are just that they take your current process and make them easier.  I often find that people purchase a tool and then develop their processes around a tool.  This is the worst thing you can do.  A tool is a proprietary way of addressing an issue or a process and it is developed in a unique way.  If that tool goes away, how does the process translate to another one?  If the tool breaks how do you handle the process manually?  You should always have a developed process in place first before you select or incorporate a tool.  This again will help you determine which is best for you.\r\n<h1>Who Will Use the Tool and How?</h1>\r\nThis is another important factor in determining the best tool for you and your business.  Different types of people and different roles of people will need to use the tool in different ways.  What are those roles and ways in which the tool will be used?  This is very important for determining the features you need and whether or not it will accommodate all those involved. A seasoned Project Manager may need a much more robust tool than a novice Project Manager.  A person helping on the project may feel they don\'t need the tool at all, they just want a checklist.\r\n<h1>What is Your PM Tool Budget?</h1>\r\nBudget is often the overall deciding factor when selecting a tool, but is often the last thing discussed.  You can get all the features, bells and whistles but those often have a pretty big price tag.  So, take this into consideration when identifying the \"Best\" tool for you and your environment.\r\n<h1>So What Do I Think is Best?</h1>\r\nIn a nutshell, I believe many tools are great and have their purposes...and all can be crowned the best.  There is no one answer to this question and it will require a lot more introspection of you and your team to determine what is best for you...sorry the answer is still the same.  Build your requirements list first before delving too deeply into product selection.  In my opinion, YOU are the best tool.  As long as you can get what you need when you need it and the return on investment is high, you are good to go.  I have used products like excel and word to do my PM processes and depending on the project it was the best at the time.  I have also used a number of other tools, some free and some at cost.  I have a list of well-known Project Management tools that you can evaluate for yourself.  Many of which I have tried and some I have not. <script type=\"text/javascript\">document.getElementById(\"thinkific-product-embed\") || document.write(\'<script id=\"thinkific-product-embed\" type=\"text/javascript\" src=\"https://assets.thinkific.com/js/embeds/product-cards-client.min.js\"><\\/script>\');</script>','The Best Project Management Software for Small Business','','inherit','closed','closed','','6878-revision-v1','','','2018-02-28 17:19:33','2018-02-28 17:19:33','',6878,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/6878-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6891,1,'2018-02-28 17:24:27','2018-02-28 17:24:27','','Best Tool for Project Management | The Happiness Bucket','','inherit','open','closed','','best-tool-for-project-management','','','2018-02-28 17:25:16','2018-02-28 17:25:16','',6878,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Best-Tool-for-Project-Management.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(6892,1,'2018-02-28 17:25:31','2018-02-28 17:25:31','I am often asked the question regarding the best project management software on the market and although I know most are looking for me to rattle off a number of PM tools like Smartsheet, Trello, Asana, MS Project, etc. The truth is this won\'t really answer the question. You see there are many things that go into picking the best project management software and I want to discuss those with you today.\r\n<h1>What Constitutes as Best?</h1>\r\nThe first thing I need to address is the parameters around \"Best\" in your eyes.  What is best for me may not be best for you and your environment.  When working with Clients I am often faced with the task of bursting bubbles because I can\'t give the simple and easy answer to this question.  It requires you to look at your internal needs, your likes, and dislikes, your growth plan, etc.  Your environment may need something completely different than mine so by pushing my best on you, it could easily be the most expensive worst product you ever purchased or used.\r\n<h1>Do You Already Have A Project Management Tool?</h1>\r\nAlright, so now that we understand \"Best\" is subjective, I want to evaluate your current situation.  Do you already have a PM tool that you are using or are you starting from scratch and realizing that you need to do something different?  This again requires some introspection because we need to determine why the current tool that you have isn\'t working or if you don\'t have one, how do you envision a PM tool helping you in the future.\r\n\r\nA current PM tool also adds a layer of difficulty in the tool selection process because you have to take into account the learning curve and the migration process.  Can you start with a tool from scratch manually porting information over or can you migrate it in an automated fashion?  Will it take you a long time to adapt to the new system and do you have time to do that in your day to day world?\r\n<h1>A Tool Not A Process Developer</h1>\r\n<img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-6891\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Best-Tool-for-Project-Management-200x300.png\" alt=\"Best Tool for Project Management | The Happiness Bucket\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" />You see, tools are just that they take your current process and make them easier.  I often find that people purchase a tool and then develop their processes around a tool.  This is the worst thing you can do.  A tool is a proprietary way of addressing an issue or a process and it is developed in a unique way.  If that tool goes away, how does the process translate to another one?  If the tool breaks how do you handle the process manually?  You should always have a developed process in place first before you select or incorporate a tool.  This again will help you determine which is best for you.\r\n<h1>Who Will Use the Tool and How?</h1>\r\nThis is another important factor in determining the best tool for you and your business.  Different types of people and different roles of people will need to use the tool in different ways.  What are those roles and ways in which the tool will be used?  This is very important for determining the features you need and whether or not it will accommodate all those involved. A seasoned Project Manager may need a much more robust tool than a novice Project Manager.  A person helping on the project may feel they don\'t need the tool at all, they just want a checklist.\r\n<h1>What is Your PM Tool Budget?</h1>\r\nBudget is often the overall deciding factor when selecting a tool, but is often the last thing discussed.  You can get all the features, bells and whistles but those often have a pretty big price tag.  So, take this into consideration when identifying the \"Best\" tool for you and your environment.\r\n<h1>So What Do I Think is Best?</h1>\r\nIn a nutshell, I believe many tools are great and have their purposes...and all can be crowned the best.  There is no one answer to this question and it will require a lot more introspection of you and your team to determine what is best for you...sorry the answer is still the same.  Build your requirements list first before delving too deeply into product selection.  In my opinion, YOU are the best tool.  As long as you can get what you need when you need it and the return on investment is high, you are good to go.  I have used products like excel and word to do my PM processes and depending on the project it was the best at the time.  I have also used a number of other tools, some free and some at cost.  I have a list of well-known Project Management tools that you can evaluate for yourself.  Many of which I have tried and some I have not. <script type=\"text/javascript\">document.getElementById(\"thinkific-product-embed\") || document.write(\'<script id=\"thinkific-product-embed\" type=\"text/javascript\" src=\"https://assets.thinkific.com/js/embeds/product-cards-client.min.js\"><\\/script>\');</script>','The Best Project Management Software for Small Business','','inherit','closed','closed','','6878-revision-v1','','','2018-02-28 17:25:31','2018-02-28 17:25:31','',6878,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/6878-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6893,1,'2018-02-28 17:49:59','2018-02-28 17:49:59','I am often asked the question regarding the best project management software on the market and although I know most are looking for me to rattle off a number of PM tools like Smartsheet, Trello, Asana, MS Project, etc. The truth is this won\'t really answer the question. You see there are many things that go into picking the best project management software and I want to discuss those with you today.\r\n<h1>What Constitutes as Best?</h1>\r\nThe first thing I need to address is the parameters around \"Best\" in your eyes.  What is best for me may not be best for you and your environment.  When working with Clients I am often faced with the task of bursting bubbles because I can\'t give the simple and easy answer to this question.  It requires you to look at your internal needs, your likes, and dislikes, your growth plan, etc.  Your environment may need something completely different than mine so by pushing my best on you, it could easily be the most expensive worst product you ever purchased or used.\r\n<h1>Do You Already Have A Project Management Tool?</h1>\r\nAlright, so now that we understand \"Best\" is subjective, I want to evaluate your current situation.  Do you already have a PM tool that you are using or are you starting from scratch and realizing that you need to do something different?  This again requires some introspection because we need to determine why the current tool that you have isn\'t working or if you don\'t have one, how do you envision a PM tool helping you in the future.\r\n\r\nA current PM tool also adds a layer of difficulty in the tool selection process because you have to take into account the learning curve and the migration process.  Can you start with a tool from scratch manually porting information over or can you migrate it in an automated fashion?  Will it take you a long time to adapt to the new system and do you have time to do that in your day to day world?\r\n<h1>A Tool Not A Process Developer</h1>\r\n<img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-6891\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Best-Tool-for-Project-Management-200x300.png\" alt=\"Best Tool for Project Management | The Happiness Bucket\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" />You see, tools are just that they take your current process and make them easier.  I often find that people purchase a tool and then develop their processes around a tool.  This is the worst thing you can do.  A tool is a proprietary way of addressing an issue or a process and it is developed in a unique way.  If that tool goes away, how does the process translate to another one?  If the tool breaks how do you handle the process manually?  You should always have a developed process in place first before you select or incorporate a tool.  This again will help you determine which is best for you.\r\n<h1>Who Will Use the Tool and How?</h1>\r\nThis is another important factor in determining the best tool for you and your business.  Different types of people and different roles of people will need to use the tool in different ways.  What are those roles and ways in which the tool will be used?  This is very important for determining the features you need and whether or not it will accommodate all those involved. A seasoned Project Manager may need a much more robust tool than a novice Project Manager.  A person helping on the project may feel they don\'t need the tool at all, they just want a checklist.\r\n<h1>What is Your PM Tool Budget?</h1>\r\nBudget is often the overall deciding factor when selecting a tool, but is often the last thing discussed.  You can get all the features, bells and whistles but those often have a pretty big price tag.  So, take this into consideration when identifying the \"Best\" tool for you and your environment.\r\n<h1>So What Do I Think is Best?</h1>\r\nIn a nutshell, I believe many tools are great and have their purposes...and all can be crowned the best.  There is no one answer to this question and it will require a lot more introspection of you and your team to determine what is best for you...sorry the answer is still the same.  Build your requirements list first before delving too deeply into product selection.  In my opinion, YOU are the best tool.  As long as you can get what you need when you need it and the return on investment is high, you are good to go.  I have used products like excel and word to do my PM processes and depending on the project it was the best at the time.  I have also used a number of other tools, some free and some at cost.  I have a list of well-known Project Management tools that you can evaluate for yourself.  Many of which I have tried and some I have not.\r\n<div class=\"thinkific-product-card\" data-btn-txt=\"Get Access to List Now\" data-btn-txt-color=\"#ffff00\" data-btn-bg-color=\"#e100b1\" data-card-type=\"button\" data-link-type=\"checkout\" data-product=\"42657\" data-embed-version=\"0.0.2\" data-store-url=\"https://courses.thinkific.com/embeds/products/show\">\r\n<div class=\"iframe-container\"></div>\r\n<script type=\"text/javascript\">document.getElementById(\"thinkific-product-embed\") || document.write(\'<script id=\"thinkific-product-embed\" type=\"text/javascript\" src=\"https://assets.thinkific.com/js/embeds/product-cards-client.min.js\"><\\/script>\');</script><noscript>&lt;a href=\"https://thechangeacademy.thinkific.com/enroll/42657?et=free\" target=\"_blank\"&gt;Get Access to List Now&lt;/a&gt;</noscript>\r\n\r\n</div>','The Best Project Management Software for Small Business','','inherit','closed','closed','','6878-revision-v1','','','2018-02-28 17:49:59','2018-02-28 17:49:59','',6878,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/6878-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6894,1,'2019-01-10 18:04:37','2019-01-10 18:04:37','<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" style=\"text-align: left;\" data-header=\"0\" data-doc-id=\"4817100000000373033\">I am often asked the question regarding the best project management system on the market and although I know most are looking for me to rattle off some PM tools like Smartsheet, Trello, Asana, MS Project, etc. The truth is this won\'t really answer the question. You see there are many things that go into picking the best project management system and I want to discuss those with you today.<!--more--></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><iframe src=\"https://www.youtube.com/embed/VgnXJCocztM\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"></iframe></p>\n\n<h1 class=\"zw-paragraph heading1\" data-header=\"1\" data-hd-info=\"1\">What Constitutes as Best?</h1>\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\">The first thing I need to address is the parameters around \"Best\" in your eyes. What is best for me may not be best for you and your environment. When working with Clients I am often faced with the task of bursting bubbles because I can\'t give the simple and easy answer to this question. It requires you to look at your internal needs, your likes, and dislikes, your growth plan, etc. Your environment may need something completely different from mine so by pushing my best on you, it could easily be the most expensive worst product you ever purchased or used.</p>\n\n<h1 class=\"zw-paragraph heading1\" data-header=\"1\" data-hd-info=\"1\">Do You Already Have A Project Management System?</h1>\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\">Alright, so now that we understand \"Best\" is subjective, I want to evaluate your current situation. Do you already have a project management system that you are using or are you starting from scratch and realizing that you need to do something different? This again requires some introspection because we need to determine why the current tool that you have isn\'t working or if you don\'t have one, how do you envision a PM tool helping you in the future.</p>\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\">A current PM system also adds a layer of difficulty in the tool selection process because you have to take into account the learning curve and the migration process. Can you start with a tool from scratch manually porting information over or can you migrate it in an automated fashion? Will it take you a long time to adapt to the new system and do you have time to do that in your day to day world?</p>\n\n<h1 class=\"zw-paragraph heading1\" data-header=\"1\" data-hd-info=\"1\">Are Your Processes Developed?</h1>\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\"><img class=\"zw-image alignnone\" title=\"The Best Project Management System for Small Business | The Happiness Bucket\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Best-Tool-for-Project-Management-200x300.png\" alt=\"The Best Project Management System for Small Business | The Happiness Bucket\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" align=\"bottom\" /></p>\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\">You see, tools are just that they take your current process and make them easier. I often find that people purchase a tool and then develop their processes around a tool. This is the worst thing you can do. A tool is a proprietary way of addressing an issue or a process and it is developed in a unique way. If that tool goes away, how does the process translate to another one? If the tool breaks how do you handle the process manually? You should always have a developed process in place first before you select or incorporate a tool. This again will help you determine which is best for you.</p>\n\n<h1 class=\"zw-paragraph heading1\" data-header=\"1\" data-hd-info=\"1\">Who Will Use the Tool and How?</h1>\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\">This is another important factor in determining the best tool for you and your business. Different types of people and different roles of people will need to use the tool in different ways. What are those roles and ways in which the tool will be used? This is essential for determining the features you need and whether it will accommodate all those involved. A seasoned Project Manager may need a much more robust tool than a novice Project Manager. A person helping on the project may feel they don\'t need the tool at all, they just want a checklist.</p>\n\n<h1 class=\"zw-paragraph heading1\" data-header=\"1\" data-hd-info=\"1\">What is Your PM Tool Budget?</h1>\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\">Budget is often the overall deciding factor when selecting a tool, but is often the last thing discussed. You can get all the features, bells and whistles but those often have a pretty big price tag. So, take this into consideration when identifying the \"Best\" tool for you and your environment.</p>\n\n<h1 class=\"zw-paragraph heading1\" data-header=\"1\" data-hd-info=\"1\">So What Do I Think is the Best Project Management System?</h1>\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\">In a nutshell, I believe many tools are great and have their purposes...and all can be crowned the best. There is no one answer to this question and it will require a lot more introspection of you and your team to determine what is best for you...sorry the answer is still the same. Build your requirements list first before delving too deeply into product selection. In my opinion, YOU are the best tool. As long as you can get what you need when you need it and the return on investment is high, you are good to go. I have used products like excel and word to do my PM processes and depending on the project it was the best at the time. I have also used some other tools, some free and some at cost. I have<a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/projectmanagement/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> a list of the best project management systems for small business</a> that you can evaluate yourself.</p>','Best Project Management System for Small Business','','inherit','closed','closed','','6878-autosave-v1','','','2019-01-10 18:04:37','2019-01-10 18:04:37','',6878,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/6878-autosave-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6895,1,'2018-02-28 18:00:41','2018-02-28 18:00:41','I am often asked the question regarding the best project management software on the market and although I know most are looking for me to rattle off a number of PM tools like Smartsheet, Trello, Asana, MS Project, etc. The truth is this won\'t really answer the question. You see there are many things that go into picking the best project management software and I want to discuss those with you today.\r\n<h1>What Constitutes as Best?</h1>\r\nThe first thing I need to address is the parameters around \"Best\" in your eyes.  What is best for me may not be best for you and your environment.  When working with Clients I am often faced with the task of bursting bubbles because I can\'t give the simple and easy answer to this question.  It requires you to look at your internal needs, your likes, and dislikes, your growth plan, etc.  Your environment may need something completely different than mine so by pushing my best on you, it could easily be the most expensive worst product you ever purchased or used.\r\n<h1>Do You Already Have A Project Management Tool?</h1>\r\nAlright, so now that we understand \"Best\" is subjective, I want to evaluate your current situation.  Do you already have a PM tool that you are using or are you starting from scratch and realizing that you need to do something different?  This again requires some introspection because we need to determine why the current tool that you have isn\'t working or if you don\'t have one, how do you envision a PM tool helping you in the future.\r\n\r\nA current PM tool also adds a layer of difficulty in the tool selection process because you have to take into account the learning curve and the migration process.  Can you start with a tool from scratch manually porting information over or can you migrate it in an automated fashion?  Will it take you a long time to adapt to the new system and do you have time to do that in your day to day world?\r\n<h1>Are Your Processes Developed?</h1>\r\n<img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-6891\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Best-Tool-for-Project-Management-200x300.png\" alt=\"Best Tool for Project Management | The Happiness Bucket\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" />You see, tools are just that they take your current process and make them easier.  I often find that people purchase a tool and then develop their processes around a tool.  This is the worst thing you can do.  A tool is a proprietary way of addressing an issue or a process and it is developed in a unique way.  If that tool goes away, how does the process translate to another one?  If the tool breaks how do you handle the process manually?  You should always have a developed process in place first before you select or incorporate a tool.  This again will help you determine which is best for you.\r\n<h1>Who Will Use the Tool and How?</h1>\r\nThis is another important factor in determining the best tool for you and your business.  Different types of people and different roles of people will need to use the tool in different ways.  What are those roles and ways in which the tool will be used?  This is very important for determining the features you need and whether or not it will accommodate all those involved. A seasoned Project Manager may need a much more robust tool than a novice Project Manager.  A person helping on the project may feel they don\'t need the tool at all, they just want a checklist.\r\n<h1>What is Your PM Tool Budget?</h1>\r\nBudget is often the overall deciding factor when selecting a tool, but is often the last thing discussed.  You can get all the features, bells and whistles but those often have a pretty big price tag.  So, take this into consideration when identifying the \"Best\" tool for you and your environment.\r\n<h1>So What Do I Think is Best?</h1>\r\nIn a nutshell, I believe many tools are great and have their purposes...and all can be crowned the best.  There is no one answer to this question and it will require a lot more introspection of you and your team to determine what is best for you...sorry the answer is still the same.  Build your requirements list first before delving too deeply into product selection.  In my opinion, YOU are the best tool.  As long as you can get what you need when you need it and the return on investment is high, you are good to go.  I have used products like excel and word to do my PM processes and depending on the project it was the best at the time.  I have also used a number of other tools, some free and some at cost.  I have a list of well-known Project Management tools that you can evaluate for yourself.  Many of which I have tried and some I have not.\r\n<div class=\"thinkific-product-card\" data-btn-txt=\"Get Access to List Now\" data-btn-txt-color=\"#ffff00\" data-btn-bg-color=\"#e100b1\" data-card-type=\"button\" data-link-type=\"checkout\" data-product=\"42657\" data-embed-version=\"0.0.2\" data-store-url=\"https://courses.thinkific.com/embeds/products/show\">\r\n<div class=\"iframe-container\"></div>\r\n<script type=\"text/javascript\">document.getElementById(\"thinkific-product-embed\") || document.write(\'<script id=\"thinkific-product-embed\" type=\"text/javascript\" src=\"https://assets.thinkific.com/js/embeds/product-cards-client.min.js\"><\\/script>\');</script><noscript>&amp;lt;a href=\"https://thechangeacademy.thinkific.com/enroll/42657?et=free\" target=\"_blank\"&amp;gt;Get Access to List Now&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;</noscript>\r\n\r\n</div>','The Best Project Management Software for Small Business','','inherit','closed','closed','','6878-revision-v1','','','2018-02-28 18:00:41','2018-02-28 18:00:41','',6878,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/6878-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6896,1,'2018-02-28 20:38:31','2018-02-28 20:38:31','<div id=\"pl-4823\" class=\"panel-layout\">\r\n<div id=\"pg-4823-0\" class=\"panel-grid panel-has-style\" data-style=\"{&quot;padding&quot;:&quot;-2px&quot;}\">\r\n<div class=\"panel-row-style panel-row-style-for-4823-0\">\r\n<div id=\"pgc-4823-0-0\" class=\"panel-grid-cell\" data-weight=\"1\">\r\n<div id=\"panel-4823-0-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"0\" data-style=\"{&quot;padding&quot;:&quot;2px 10px 2px 10px&quot;,&quot;background_display&quot;:&quot;tile&quot;}\">\r\n<div class=\"panel-widget-style panel-widget-style-for-4823-0-0-0\">\r\n<div class=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\">\r\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\r\n\r\nHere at The Happiness Bucket there are a number of resources some paid and some free that will help you better organize your space, life, soul and business.  I encourage you to take advantage of all the free resources available to you.  Please let me know if you have any questions regarding these resources.  Happy Organizing!!!\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 540px;\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-4841 alignleft\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Dana.png\" alt=\"dana\" width=\"100\" height=\"100\" /></p>\r\n\r\n</div>\r\n</div>\r\n</div>\r\n</div>\r\n</div>\r\n</div>\r\n</div>\r\n<div id=\"pg-4823-1\" class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\" data-style=\"{&quot;background_display&quot;:&quot;tile&quot;,&quot;cell_alignment&quot;:&quot;flex-start&quot;}\">\r\n<div id=\"pgc-4823-1-0\" class=\"panel-grid-cell panel-grid-cell-mobile-last\" data-weight=\"0.5\">\r\n<div id=\"panel-4823-1-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-first-child\" data-index=\"1\" data-style=\"{&quot;background_display&quot;:&quot;tile&quot;}\">\r\n<div class=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\">\r\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\r\n\r\n<img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5495 alignleft\" src=\"http://development.thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/500x280-OrgRoadmap-Checklist-Card-300x168.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"168\" />\r\n\r\n</div>\r\n</div>\r\n</div>\r\n<div id=\"panel-4823-1-0-1\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-button panel-last-child\" data-index=\"2\" data-style=\"{&quot;background_display&quot;:&quot;tile&quot;}\">\r\n<div class=\"so-widget-sow-button so-widget-sow-button-atom-c500d163719a\">\r\n<div class=\"ow-button-base ow-button-align-center\"><a class=\" ow-button-hover\" title=\"OrgRoadmapChecklistWP\" href=\"http://development.thehappinessbucket.com/roadmap-checklist/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\r\n</a>Get Your Checklist!<a class=\" ow-button-hover\" title=\"OrgRoadmapChecklistWP\" href=\"http://development.thehappinessbucket.com/roadmap-checklist/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\r\n</a></div>\r\n</div>\r\n</div>\r\n</div>\r\n<div id=\"pgc-4823-1-1\" class=\"panel-grid-cell panel-grid-cell-empty\" data-weight=\"0.5\"></div>\r\n</div>\r\n<div id=\"pg-4823-2\" class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\" data-style=\"{&quot;background_display&quot;:&quot;tile&quot;,&quot;cell_alignment&quot;:&quot;flex-start&quot;}\">\r\n<div id=\"pgc-4823-2-0\" class=\"panel-grid-cell\" data-weight=\"1\">\r\n<div id=\"panel-4823-2-0-0\" class=\"widget_text so-panel widget widget_custom_html panel-first-child\" data-index=\"3\" data-style=\"{&quot;background_display&quot;:&quot;tile&quot;}\">\r\n<div class=\"textwidget custom-html-widget\">\r\n<div class=\"thinkific-product-card\" data-btn-txt=\"Enroll Me Now!\" data-btn-txt-color=\"#ffff00\" data-btn-bg-color=\"#e100b1\" data-card-type=\"card\" data-link-type=\"checkout\" data-product=\"42657\" data-embed-version=\"0.0.2\" data-card-txt-color=\"#000000\" data-card-bg-color=\"#ffffff\" data-store-url=\"https://courses.thinkific.com/embeds/products/show\">\r\n<div class=\"iframe-container\"></div>\r\n<script type=\"text/javascript\">document.getElementById(\"thinkific-product-embed\") || document.write(\'<script id=\"thinkific-product-embed\" type=\"text/javascript\" src=\"https://assets.thinkific.com/js/embeds/product-cards-client.min.js\"><\\/script>\');</script><noscript><a href=\"https://thechangeacademy.thinkific.com/enroll/42657?et=free\" target=\"_blank\">Enroll Me Now!</a></noscript>\r\n\r\n</div>\r\n</div>\r\n</div>\r\n<div id=\"panel-4823-2-0-1\" class=\"widget_text so-panel widget widget_custom_html panel-last-child\" data-index=\"4\" data-style=\"{&quot;background_display&quot;:&quot;tile&quot;}\">\r\n<div class=\"textwidget custom-html-widget\">\r\n<div class=\"thinkific-product-card\" data-btn-txt=\"Enroll Me Now!\" data-btn-txt-color=\"#ffff00\" data-btn-bg-color=\"#e100b1\" data-card-type=\"card\" data-link-type=\"checkout\" data-product=\"53252\" data-embed-version=\"0.0.2\" data-card-txt-color=\"#000000\" data-card-bg-color=\"#ffffff\" data-store-url=\"https://courses.thinkific.com/embeds/products/show\">\r\n<div class=\"iframe-container\"></div>\r\n<script type=\"text/javascript\">document.getElementById(\"thinkific-product-embed\") || document.write(\'<script id=\"thinkific-product-embed\" type=\"text/javascript\" src=\"https://assets.thinkific.com/js/embeds/product-cards-client.min.js\"><\\/script>\');</script><noscript><a href=\"https://thechangeacademy.thinkific.com/enroll/53252?et=free\" target=\"_blank\">Enroll Me Now!</a></noscript>\r\n\r\n</div>\r\n</div>\r\n</div>\r\n</div>\r\n</div>\r\n</div>','Resources','','inherit','closed','closed','','5606-revision-v1','','','2018-02-28 20:38:31','2018-02-28 20:38:31','',5606,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/5606-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(6897,1,'2018-02-28 20:39:55','2018-02-28 20:39:55','<div id=\"pl-6897\"  class=\"panel-layout\" ><div id=\"pg-6897-0\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-has-style\"  data-style=\"{&quot;padding&quot;:&quot;-2px&quot;}\" ><div class=\"panel-row-style panel-row-style-for-6897-0\" ><div id=\"pgc-6897-0-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\"  data-weight=\"1\" ><div id=\"panel-6897-0-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"0\" data-style=\"{&quot;padding&quot;:&quot;2px 10px 2px 10px&quot;,&quot;background_display&quot;:&quot;tile&quot;}\" ><div class=\"panel-widget-style panel-widget-style-for-6897-0-0-0\" ><div class=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\">\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n	<p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Here at The Happiness Bucket there are a number of resources some paid and some free that will help you better organize your space, life, soul and business. &nbsp;I encourage you to take advantage of all the free resources available to you. &nbsp;Please let me know if you have any questions regarding these resources. &nbsp;Happy Organizing!!!</p><p style=\"padding-left: 540px;\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-4841 alignleft\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Dana.png\" alt=\"dana\" width=\"100\" height=\"100\"></p></div>\n</div></div></div></div></div></div><div id=\"pg-6897-1\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\"  data-style=\"{&quot;background_display&quot;:&quot;tile&quot;,&quot;cell_alignment&quot;:&quot;flex-start&quot;}\" ><div id=\"pgc-6897-1-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell panel-grid-cell-mobile-last\"  data-weight=\"0.5\" ><div id=\"panel-6897-1-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-first-child\" data-index=\"1\" data-style=\"{&quot;background_display&quot;:&quot;tile&quot;}\" ><div class=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\">\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n	<p><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5495 alignleft\" src=\"http://development.thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/500x280-OrgRoadmap-Checklist-Card-300x168.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"168\"></p></div>\n</div></div><div id=\"panel-6897-1-0-1\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-last-child\" data-index=\"2\" data-style=\"{&quot;background_display&quot;:&quot;tile&quot;}\" ><div class=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\">\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n	<a class=\" ow-button-hover\" title=\"OrgRoadmapChecklistWP\" href=\"http://development.thehappinessbucket.com/roadmap-checklist/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><br> </a>Get Your Checklist!<a class=\" ow-button-hover\" title=\"OrgRoadmapChecklistWP\" href=\"http://development.thehappinessbucket.com/roadmap-checklist/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><br> </a></div>\n</div></div></div><div id=\"pgc-6897-1-1\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell panel-grid-cell-empty\"  data-weight=\"0.5\" ></div></div><div id=\"pg-6897-2\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\"  data-style=\"{&quot;background_display&quot;:&quot;tile&quot;,&quot;cell_alignment&quot;:&quot;flex-start&quot;}\" ><div id=\"pgc-6897-2-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\"  data-weight=\"1\" ><div id=\"panel-6897-2-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-first-child\" data-index=\"3\" data-style=\"{&quot;background_display&quot;:&quot;tile&quot;}\" ><div class=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\">\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n	<div class=\"iframe-container\">&nbsp;</div><p><script type=\"text/javascript\">document.getElementById(\"thinkific-product-embed\") || document.write(\'<script id=\"thinkific-product-embed\" type=\"text/javascript\" src=\"https://assets.thinkific.com/js/embeds/product-cards-client.min.js\"><\\/script>\');</script><noscript>&amp;lt;a href=\"https://thechangeacademy.thinkific.com/enroll/42657?et=free\" target=\"_blank\"&amp;gt;Enroll Me Now!&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;</noscript></p></div>\n</div></div><div id=\"panel-6897-2-0-1\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-last-child\" data-index=\"4\" data-style=\"{&quot;background_display&quot;:&quot;tile&quot;}\" ><div class=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\">\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n	<div class=\"iframe-container\">&nbsp;</div><p><script type=\"text/javascript\">document.getElementById(\"thinkific-product-embed\") || document.write(\'<script id=\"thinkific-product-embed\" type=\"text/javascript\" src=\"https://assets.thinkific.com/js/embeds/product-cards-client.min.js\"><\\/script>\');</script><noscript>&amp;lt;a href=\"https://thechangeacademy.thinkific.com/enroll/53252?et=free\" target=\"_blank\"&amp;gt;Enroll Me Now!&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;</noscript></p></div>\n</div></div></div></div></div>','Resources','','inherit','closed','closed','','5606-revision-v1','','','2018-02-28 20:39:55','2018-02-28 20:39:55','',5606,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/5606-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),