Review and Giveaway: Pretty Neat by Alicia Rockmore and Sarah Welch

About the Book:

Pretty Neat is a handbook that embraces the chaotic reality that lies beneath org porn’s glossy veneer, offering pithy anecdotes and candid advice from experts and real women alike on tackling organizational inertia. Funny, irreverent, entertaining, and helpful, the book covers all facets of clutter-control, from tried-and-true tips for conquering to-do lists and wrangling family schedules to ideas on excavating inboxes, eliminating excuses, and delegating housework. Most importantly, Pretty Neat insists that women need to stop holding themselves to impossibly high standards, and focus instead on defining their own, realistic organizational goals. Full of engaging examples from everyday women, Pretty Neat offers readers unorthodox, surprisingly simple methods to reduce their org porn–fueled stress, insisting that perfection is impossible — and unnecessary — in this messy, unpredictable world called real life.

Boy, I wish my life were "Pretty Neat." But right now it isn't. But in reading this book I found out that's OK! We are overloaded with images of organizational perfection that the authors call "org porn" and while we may all desire that result actually living with and maintaining it is just about impossible. They espouse letting go of that perfection and just accepting what you CAN be.

I'm all for that. At this stage in my life I'm just happy to be in my house.

But there is still one area that drives me batty.  We designed the yurt so I would have a craft room. A place to make my jewelry, to leave my soaps to cure, to even have a sewing machine again. Oh, and there would be a little spot for the hubby to tie flies. I had it all pictured in my head - yes, full of all manner of organizational devices. This is what it looks like currently

Uh-huh. It's still a construction zone. At least two of the four walls are now primed. That's good, right? All those boxes? The rest of the bamboo flooring for the yurt. *sigh*  All of the stuff for my jewelry making and the packing supplies for mailing my orders?

Uh-huh - sitting in the dining area under the countertop in the space where he is going to build me bookshelves. Makes for a lovely "modern art" installation for guests while dining.

*sigh*

All in good time I suppose. I AM out of the trailer and THAT is good. So I take what I read to heart and I will not stress over this. There really is nothing I can do about it anyway and it straightens a bit better when that company does come to visit.  I WILL eventually have that room but I suspect not with all of the organizational pieces. Those buggers are expensive and the budget just won't allow. I will have to get creative!

So, look around your clutter and see what you can let be "Pretty Neat" and not have to be perfect. Your life will be less stressful and you might just find yourself with a bit more time on your hands for the fun stuff.

The authors of Pretty Neat have a very cool blog full of videos and other information to help you in your quest. It's called Buttoned Up

One lucky reader is going to win a copy of Pretty Neat to help them on their way to simple organizational bliss!

How do you win? It's easy!

But first some rules:

US only

NO PO Boxes

18 yrs older+

One copy per household

MANDATORY ENTRY:

Leave an organizational tip so we all can learn. Be sure to leave your email so I can contact you if you win.

EXTRA ENTRIES:

1. Follow Buttoned Up on Facebook
2. Follow me on twitter and tweet about the giveaway(one per day) - #Win Pretty Neat to help organize your life with less stress @GetButtonedUp & @BrokenTeepee @http://tinyurl.com/68hybkl #giveaway

3. Become a fan of Broken Teepee on Facebook

4. Share the giveaway using the share buttons at the end of the post - 1 entry for each share. Leave a separate comment for each (except StumbleUpon)

5. Follow @GetButtonedUp on Twitter

6. Follow the Buttoned Up Blog on GFC the widget is on the middle left of the page

7. Sign up for the Buttoned Up Newsletter

SEE THE EXTRA ENTRIES PAGE FOR ADDITIONAL WAYS TO ENTER.

All entries need to be in by 9PM MST on March 18th when I will go to Random.org to choose the winner. He/she will have 48hrs. to respond or I will choose a new winner.

Good luck everyone.

Disclosure:  I received a gratis copy of Pretty Neat through my relationship with Global Influence.. Any opinions expressed are my honest opinions and were not impacted by my receipt of the free book. I received no monetary compensation for this post but I will be entered into a drawing for gift cards and the company's products.