Speaking Schedule
Susan Lovallo is a member of National Speakers Association. She is available to speak on organizing topics. Check out her speaking schedule for up-coming events.
Marion Arbusto was simply the most organized person in the world. No one knows that better than her daughter, professional organizer, Susan Lovallo. Come and learn some of Marian's tried and true methods for clearing clutter and living a freer life. Bring your mother or daughter, friend or other family members . We’ll tackle everything from your paperwork to your junk drawer. In this class we drill down to the daily actions and methods that get and keep your life organized. Based on Susan’s book, “Happily Organized: Little Stories About My Mom, The Most Organized Person In The World.” Marian was a Trumbull resident for over 40 years! November 5, 2018, Monday Procrastination is prevalent in 20 – 25 % of adult men and women. If you are in this category, if it is impacting your life and you would like to break free then this class is for you! Whether you would like to be more efficient at home or at work, want to change your food plan, start exercising, or get rid of those piles of paper and clutter – you can accomplish your long lived dreams and goals. Learn how to take active steps to get important tasks done, be on time, finish those big projects and get your great ideas to fruition. November 8, 2018, Thursday, 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM 54% of people who are moving in 2018 will be moving to a smaller home! Are you one of them? It is said we spend the first half of our lives accumulation things and the second half getting rid of them! We will discuss how to tackle whole house organizing when we need to look at everything we own. There is a manageable method to complete this process one step at a time. This workshop will help you be ready for the moving truck! November 10, 2018, Saturday Marion Arbusto was simply the most organized person in the world. No one knows that better than her daughter, professional organizer, Susan Lovallo. Come and learn some of Marian's tried and true methods for clearing clutter and living a freer life. Bring your mother or daughter, friend or other family members . We’ll tackle everything from your paperwork to your junk drawer. In this class we drill down to the daily actions and methods that get and keep your life organized. Based on Susan’s book, “Happily Organized: Little Stories About My Mom, The Most Organized Person In The World.” Susan is a 15 year Fairfield, CT resident! November 14, 2018, Wednesday Paperwork is the #1 clutter problem and this class will provide the solution! It is time to get rid of years’ worth of paper piles. Learn a step-by-step plan to address daily paperwork, how, when and where to file papers, and how long papers should be kept, as well as a paper management system that is simple to set up and easily maintained. December 6, 2018, Thursday Marion Arbusto was simply the most organized person in the world. No one knows that better than her daughter, professional organizer, Susan Lovallo. Come and learn some of Marian's tried and true methods for clearing clutter and living a freer life. Bring your mother or daughter, friend or other family members. We’ll tackle everything from your paperwork to your junk drawer. In this class we drill down to the daily actions and methods that get and keep your life organized. Based on Susan’s book, “Happily Organized: Little Stories About My Mom, The Most Organized Person In The World.” Marian was a Trumbull resident for over 40 years! February 9, 2019, Saturday 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM Norwalk Community College 188 Richards Avenue Norwalk, CT 06854 203-857-7080 Tuition $39.00 Class # CRN 5316 Room W230 Marion Arbusto was simply the most organized person in the world. No one knows that better than her daughter, professional organizer, Susan Lovallo. Come and learn some of Marian's tried and true methods for clearing clutter and living a freer life. Bring your mother or daughter, friend or other family members. We’ll tackle everything from your paperwork to your junk drawer. In this class we drill down to the daily actions and methods that get and keep your life organized. Based on Susan’s book, “Happily Organized: Little Stories About My Mom, The Most Organized Person In The World.” Marian was a Trumbull resident for over 40 years! March 7, 2019, Thursday 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM Westport Continuing Education Staples High School 70 North Avenue, Westport, CT Registration: 203-341-1209 Cost: $35 54% of people who are moving in 2020 will be moving to a smaller home! Are you one of them? It is said we spend the first half of our lives accumulation things and the second half getting rid of them! We will discuss how to tackle whole house organizing when we need to look at everything we own. There is a manageable method to complete this process one step at a time. This workshop will help you be ready for the moving truck! March 7, 2020 Saturday https://www.wisdomhouse.org/program-calendar/2020/3/7/downsizing-amp-staging-your-home 860-567-3163 In our personal and business lives there is much to do, many places to go, many people to see. How do you fit it all in? Learn strategies for how to arrive on time, focus on your priorities, handle email, paperwork and work more efficiently, and stay organized throughout your day. Westport Continuing Education Staples High School 70 North Avenue Westport, CT 06880 https://adults.westportcontinuinged.com/CourseCatalog/ScheduleView.asp?ScheduleId=4338 203-341-1209 Cost $35.00 Paperwork is the #1 clutter problem and this class will provide the solution! It is time to get rid of years’ worth of paper piles. Learn a step-by-step plan to address daily paperwork, how, when and where to file papers, and how long papers should be kept, as well as a paper management system that is simple to set up and easily maintained. January 28, 2021 Thursday via Zoom! Class listed in the "Personal Growth & Lifestyle" sectionwww.BronxvilleAdultSchool.org Please be sure to register by the day before the class at the latest. You will receive an invitation email with a link to join the Zoom meeting. A monthly group discussion group facilitated by the FOCUS Organizers, three Professional Organizers in Fairfield County, on current ideas in the minimalist movement. We discuss organizing and de-cluttering from a minimalist perspective. Mark your calendars! Past topics: Have an idea for discussion? Please contact ne at Susan@ClutterSolutions.com. A Zoom link will be sent to you. Please contact Susan@ClutterSolutions.com for the link. BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE FOCUS ORGANIZERS FAIRFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT FOCUS is a consortium of Fairfield County’s leading professional organizers who team up to provide cutting-edge advice, inspiration and education about organizing and productivity to the community. FOCUS Organizers operate individual businesses throughout Fairfield County. Our service offerings include household organizing, small business organizing, photo organizing, paperwork management, team decluttering and more. Remodeling requires a lot of organizing: knowing where to begin, choosing a contractor, tracking the costs. What steps can you put in place to make sure the process goes smoothly and the end result is what you envisioned? Join Susan Lovallo, Professional Organizer and accountant who just finished a major remodel of her home. Learn tips on how to live in your home while it is under construction, how to supervise the workers if you need to move out, how to stay on budget and many other useful insights to get you to the home of your dreams. February 25, 2021, Thursday, 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM Class listed in the "Home / Garden" section www.adults.westportcontinuinged.com/CourseCatalog www.WestportContinuingEd.com Happy New Year! Have you made any resolutions for 2022? We are two weeks into the New Year, how are those 01-01-22 declarations going? Statistics say most folks have forgotten about them by now. To be honest, resolutions is not on my favorite word list. I prefer my organizing vocabulary to include stronger words like plan, map, blueprint. This gives me something concrete I can follow. And that is exactly what the FOCUS Organizers will be discussing at this months Minimal Quest (MQ) Discussion Group meeting. "My Minimalist Plan for 2022." Seana, Matt, and I would like you to know Dear-Fellow-Work-In-Progress Minimalist, that we are here for you in 2022. We are in this together. We travel this road too. Join us on Tuesday as we continue our journey together. Maybe you have not attended a MQ meeting in the past? No worries, jump in any time you are ready. You prefer to listen and not discuss? That's fine. All are welcome. Hope to Zoom with you on Tuesday! Happy Organizing and Happy Minimalizing, Susan Zoom Meeting Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83285561433?pwd=QUVMZDNxUU1jVzl2K2cvL013azBSQT09 Meeting ID: 832 8556 1433 Password: 486036 One tap mobile +13017158592,,83285561433#,,1#,486036# US (Germantown) +13126266799,,83285561433#,,1#,486036# US (Chicago) Dial by your location +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) +1 929 205 6099 US (New York) +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) +1 301 715 8592 US (Germantown) +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose) Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kGBFQ3Fug Happy Almost Valentine's Day. Love is in the air here in want-to-be Minimalist Land. Can you feel it? It is the passionate, committed, deep in our soul love of organizing and decluttering and minimalism. This Tuesday at our Minimalist Discussion Group we will be discussing "Strategies for Letting Go." I found a bunch of quotes on the internet related to letting go. Maybe these authors did not intent to talk about our stuff, but see if you can connect any of these quotes to our things: "Holding on is believing that there's only a past: letting go is knowing that there's a future." Daphne Rose Kingma "Letting go gives us freedom and freedom is the only condition for happiness." Nhat Hanh "Anything that costs you your peace is too expensive...learn to let it go." Unkown Well truly I did not set out to be so philosophical about organizing. But as organizers we believe that loving our stuff and letting go of the rest really does enhance our lives. Join us on Tuesday to discuss ways to make that happen. Hope to Zoom with you on Tuesday! Happy Organizing and Happy Minimalizing, Susan Zoom.US https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83285561433?pwd=QUVMZDNxUU1jVzl2K2cvL013azBSQT09 Meeting ID: 832 8556 1433 Password: 486036 One tap mobile +13017158592,,83285561433#,,1#,486036# US (Germantown) +13126266799,,83285561433#,,1#,486036# US (Chicago) Dial by your location +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) +1 929 205 6099 US (New York) +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) +1 301 715 8592 US (Germantown) +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose) Wow! Another fast summer and here are at the new season of the Minimal Quest Discussion Group. I have always felt that September is a mini New Year as it brings renewed energy and a sense beginning. Are you revved up about your fall organizing projects? The FOCUS Organizers can help with that! This months topic is When Organizing Isn't Minimalism. Yes, there is a difference between regular organizing and minimalism. Join the discussion this month to learn more. Happy Organizing and Happy Minimalizing, Susan Happy New Year Greetings Aspiring Minimalists! The FOCUS Organizers are back and ready for another discussion about our favorite topic: Minimalism! And since it is January, and the year is still young, and organizing has again made it to the top of the resolutions list nationwide, what else would we be talking about? And because we are a well rounded group, many of our suggestions will apply to other goals you may have for the next 11 1/2 months. We will discuss resolutions and goals but also some other ideas on how to stay the course in 2023 and beyond. Happy Organizing and Happy Minimalizing, Susan Susan Travel season is upon us! Hoorah! Whether taking that bucket list trip, visiting family, or business travel, there is much planning and organizing that needs to be done before, during, and after. And that is where the FOCUS Organizers come in! This month we are going to lay out a plan to get you out of town, keep you organized while away, and get you back into your life with ease! Happy Organizing and Happy Minimalizing, Susan Being / becoming a minimalist is a daily practice. Joint the FOCUS Organizers this month as we each discuss what you can do on a day-to-day basis to continue on your minimal quest journey. We will cover a broad range of topics including how minimalist handle money! Hope to see you Tuesday! Happy Organizing and Happy Minimalizing, Susan Clutter. It can hide in plain sight. Why? Because it can be anywhere. It can lurk your home, office, car, garage, shed, calendar, pocketbook, wallet. Join us this months as we discuss Minimalist Hidden Opportunities: large and small places that clutter can accumulate right under our nose! Happy Organizing and Happy Minimalizing, Susan Letting Go. It is the cornerstone of decluttering, organizing, minimalism, and, well, life really. This is always a popular topic here at Minimal Quest (MQ) and something Seana, Matt and I talk about a lot. At this month's MQ meeting we have an extra special treat as guest speaker Derrick Martinez from The Junkluggers will join us. The Junkluggers is a company that provides a sustainable disposal services. They works with local non-profits and charities to donate or repurposed unwanted items of all kinds large and small. While the Professional Organizers will discuss the decisions and emotions of letting go, Derrick will address the practical side of what to do with hard to get rid of items. So bring your questions because we are setting aside a large a large chunk of time for questions and answers. As in past years we don't have Minimal Quest meetings in July or August but will resume meetings in September. Stay tunes for dates and topics. Happy Organizing, Happy Minimalizing, and Happy Summer! Susan For so many of us September feels a bit like the beginning of a New Year. Why is that? Certainly, because we all were all students once and that is when the new school year began. Or maybe it is because of the weather change. Or possibly it is due to what always seems to be the long-awaited-yet-gone-in-a-flash end of the summer. Whatever the reason, this time of year brings a renewed energy for organizing. And with that our new season of Minimal Quest is about to begin! So, let's start at the very beginning with our topic of "Getting Started with Minimalism." This may be a refresher for you if you have been attending meetings for a while or all new info if you are just stepping into the world of minimalism. Either way, we have some great ideas to help you start or continue your minimizing/decluttering/organizing journey: The word "free" has a magnetic element to it. Recently I was at an event in which a speaker stated she just released her first book. She brought free books with her to give away but stated she did not know the size of the group and realized she did not bring enough for everyone. To be fair she would do a raffle. Immediately I though "I hope I get one!" Free stuff is everywhere and it is not that is is "bad" but it can be a hinderance to our I-want-to-be-a-minimalist-or-at-least-decluttered-and-organized goal. But what if the free item is great? What if we love it? What if we get it and keep it and think we will use it and never do? The FOCUS Organizers will spend an hour discussing this topic during October's Minimal Quest Discussion Group session. There can be a show-and-tell segment if you would like to show us your cherished free item. We would love to see it and know where we can get one too! Plus, the meeting is free! Is it time for you to decrease the size of your home? Are you moving to a smaller space that will not fit your things? Do you just want to clear the clutter and have less stuff? It is said we spend the first half of our lives accumulating things and the second half getting rid of them! We will discuss how to tackle whole-house organizing when we need to look at everything we own. There is a manageable method to complete this process one step at a time. Downsizing is a natural progression towards Swedish Death Cleaning, a process of cleaning up our stuff in our lifetime and not leaving this task to our family and friends. It is also about an effective, permanent form of organization that makes your everyday life run more smoothly in the present at any stage of life. Cost $30.00 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM To register: https://www.bronxvilleadultschool.org/bronxville/Course/Course.aspx?c=852 Many of my clients have very small homes with not much storage space. Others live in spaces that most would consider quite large and have storage everywhere. What do these two clients have in common? They both want to make "good use of space." And how is that accomplished? Two of my favorite options are to have items that either serve a multiple purpose or are a space saver. Join our Minimal Quest Discussion group where Seana, Matt and I will do a show-and-tell of products that will help you make the best use of your drawers, closets, cabinets, etc. Do you have a favorite item in your home that fits that description? Bring it to the group via Zoom on Tuesday. We love your ideas! A few years ago, I read a very informative article titled "The Experts in Your Life: What They Know That You Don't." (See link below for article). It was described as telling you "Journeyman secrets, awkward truths and indispensable intel, straight from the source." There was info from doctors, flight attendants, financial planners, hairstylists, real estate agents, car salesmen/women, marriage counselors and many more. However, the article did not include any words of wisdom from Professional Organizers! Well, Seana, Matt, and I would like to do something about that! So, this month we will each give you straightforward advice based on our years and years of experience, working with hundreds and hundreds of clients for hours and hours and hours. Please attend! We have so much to share with you! Article: The Experts in Your Life: What They Know That You Don't We often think of organizing projects as BIG. Meaning it will take big time, big effort, big energy to complete. While that may be true for many projects, there are a plethora of things we can do in 10 minutes or 2 minutes to work towards our organizing/declutter/minimizing goals. Join the Minimal Quest Team this month as we discuss dozens of quick organizing tasks you can do to keep you on track. How do I get rid of my stuff? It's a questions I get all the time. Your no longer want / need / use the item. Your are ready to let it go. It has value, it's an antique, it was expensive. You would like to sell it and get some or all or more than what it cost. But how? Where? Who? Meet Suzanne Dawson of Downsize Managers. She is the expert and she is our guest speaker at our Minimal Quest Discussion Group on Tuesday night. Are you ready to create a simpler life? Would you enjoy your home more if you had left stuff? Then the principles of minimalism will help you achieve your goals. Whether you want to be a true minimalist or declutter and get organized this class is for you. Learn where to start, how to prioritize, and how to get rid of years of accumulation. It is time to refocus your life away from clutter and towards what matters most. Do you hang onto items you no long use because you would like to sell them? It is something I hear that quite often. It was hardly used. It has value. You would like to recap some of the cost of the item. How do you do that? At this month's Minimal Quest Discussion Group we have a guest speaker who is going to tell us how it's done for "luxury retail." Join us when Kimberly Mansfield of Let It Go guides us through the process. Ahh...summer. The word brings visions of afternoons at the beach, outdoor concerts, and overall fun in the sun. But wait! Does that mean you stop organizing for the summer? Well no of course not. There is a plethora of things that are easier more enjoyable (yes I intentionally used that word) to organize when the temperature is warmer. At this months month's Minimal Quest Discussion Group we will discuss how to organize big outdoor projects, stuff you keep outside, and the garage. Hope you had an enjoyable summer and got some organizing projects checked off your to-do list! The FOCUS Organizers are kicking off the new season of Minimal Quest with the topic of Downsizing. Maybe it is time for you to move to a smaller place, or it is part of your one year plan, or you just want to organize everything in your house. We will discuss how to approach this project, what to do with those hard to part with items, and how to let go. Before I became a Professional Organizer, I was under the delusional notion that certain people had a plethora of time. Teachers during the summer, retirees, folks who made their own work hours. Ha! Was I wrong! I apologize to all of you! In the 24 years that I have been invited into the homes and offices of my clients, I have witnessed the extent of everyone's busyness. At the end of the day / month / year are we left with enough time to do the things we really love to do? How can we increase our enjoyment time and minimize our taking-care-of-our-lives-time? Join the FOCUS Organizers this month to discuss this all important topic. What is the best place for your clutter? Certainly "off the floor" is key. One of my favorite organizing sayings is "nothing on the floor except furniture." But even better clutter should be out the door! This month we have a special guest speaker to address the off the floor component. Alex Modica of ShelfGenie will be taking about storage options. Check out his website filled with amazing products at https://www.shelfgenie.com. Next the FOCUS Organizers will discuss the best way to get your clutter out the door. We will give our best tips and reasons for letting go of long held items. Is decluttering and getting organized on your list for 2025? The FOCUS Organizers would like to help you reach your goals this year. We are kickstarting a new year of Minimal Quest meetings with a guest speaker. Sam Grossman from Clearing House Estate Sales will bring us through the process of an easier way to have an estate sale. All of their sales are conducted online. Per their website this generates sale proceeds by 30 to 50% over traditional estate sale formats. Check out their website at www.ClearingHouseEstateSales.com. Some one once said to me "everything I let go of has claw marks all over it." As humans, we tend to hang on for now while thinking we will release at some future point in time. Maybe today is the day. Would you love to minimize and de-cutter but find yourself hanging on to things? There are many, many, many reasons to let go. During the next Minimal Quest Meetings we three Professional Organizers, Seana, Matt and myself, will be doing a show and tell with items we are getting rid of and our reasons for letting go. We cover a wide range of items and reasons. From everyday objects to the real heart-tugger-sentimental-items we cover it all. What better way to spend the day then learning more about getting de-cluttered and organized! The upcoming workshop will focus on effective strategies for getting and staying organized, as well as practical methods for decluttering your space. Participants will learn a range of techniques to streamline their environments, enhance productivity, and create a more harmonious living space. Join us for a day of Top 10s' for getting and staying organized. We will cover the: The session will cover key principles of organization, the psychological benefits of decluttering, and actionable steps to maintain an organized lifestyle. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage in collaborative discussions, share experiences, and develop personalized plans that suit their individual needs. This workshop promises to be a valuable resource for anyone looking to improve their organizational skills and foster a more efficient and peaceful atmosphere in their daily lives. If you have been to Wisdom House before, you know the magic of this sanctuary in the woods in the Litchfield Hills. The gardens, outdoor Labyrinth, the Chapel with the modern stained glass windows, art gallery, bookstore, amazing views, incredible chef prepared meals from local sourcing, and the overall good vibe. It is a day for you to detach from everyday life and enter a space filled with peace and love. Please check out their website at www.WisdomHouse.org. To register: Ann@WisdomHouse.org, 860-567-3163. Cost $50 includes lunch
7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Trumbull Continuing Education
Trumbull High School
72 Strobel Road
Trumbull, CT 06611
www.TrumbullPS.org/ce
203-452-4554
Tuition $45.00
Westport Continuing Education
Staples High School, Room 1049
70 North Avenue, Westport, CT
www.WestportContinuingEd.com
Registration: 203-341-1209
Cost: $35
9:30 AM to 11:30 AM
Norwalk Community College
188 Richards Avenue
Norwalk, CT 06854
www.ncc.commnet.edu
203-857-7237
Tuition $39.00
7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Fairfield Continuing Education
Fairfield Ludlowe Middle School
689 Unquowa Road
Fairfield, CT 06824
www.FairfieldContinuingEd.com
203-255-8376
Tuition $35.00Do you push aside the stacks of paperwork on your table before every meal?
Do you have mail piled up on your kitchen counter?
Do you have years of paperwork but don’t know what to keep and what to get rid of?
7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Bronxville Adult School
177 Pondfield Road
Bronxville, NY 10708
www.BronxvilleAdultSchool.org
914.793.4435
Tuition $35.00
1:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Wisdom House
229 East Litchfield Road
Litchfield, CT, 06759
Tuition $30.00
Do you push aside the stacks of paperwork on your table before every meal?
Do you have mail piled up on your kitchen counter?
Do you have years of paperwork but don’t know what to keep and what to get rid of?
7:00 PM to 8:30 PM
Bronxville Adult School
https://www.bronxvilleadultschool.org/bronxville/course/Paperwork
914.793.4435
Tuition $15.00
Minimal Quest meeting dates for 2021. All are Tuesday dates
January 19
February 16 - Topic: Tools To Get To Minimalism
March 16
April 20
May 18
June 15
Westport Continuing Education
https://adults.westportcontinuinged.com/CourseCatalog/TheOrganizedHomeRenovation
Registration: 203-341-1209
Cost: $29
Happy New Year Minimalists and Minimalist-Wan-Na-Be's like myself! Hope you had a great Holiday Season and are ready to face the New Year with renewed energy! How to make 2024 a year of productivity, efficiency, and of course joy? The FOCUS Organizers feel the road to fulfilling all your dreams is effective time management. Because, after all, how we spend our day is how we spend our lives. And this year will be different only if we make it different. So we are going to kick off the year with our first Minimalist Discussion Group topic of time management. We will each share our own systems as well as a variety of system we have used with our clients. Remember, it is not a one size fits all answer. It is quite individualized. How to find your system? Join our meeting on Tuesday and find out! We have lots to show you!
