Mr. Blogger Boutique
Welcome to Mr. Blogger Boutique! This is a unique organizing blog about living with an organizer. It features stories, facts, thoughts and opinions from the point of view of the other side. Comical, witty and definitely informative, the entries below have an "opposites attract" theme. Besides, what would the organizers do without those who need organizing?? Also featured are some great personal accounts from Mr. Blogger himself. Enjoy! Check back with us every few weeks for new postings. You can also subscribe to The Organizing Boutique's Blog by clicking here or by clicking the "What's New" button at the top of the navigation bar on the left side of this page. Search Our Site **Have any comments or questions to add? We would love to hear from you. Fill out the form at the bottom of the page.** Happy Birthday “It’s that time, Christmas time is here! Everybody knows there’s not a better time of year!” Those are the opening lines to my favorite Christmas movie, Christmas Vacation. That’s right folks, the holidays are BACK!!! And as fast as they came, they’ll go! Each year you can note their arrival by all of the lights, Christmas trees, Menorahs and other decorations that dress our yards, homes and storefronts. It’s almost as if we are all consumed by the spirit of the season and are unable to think about anything besides Santa Claus and the clay you made your dreidel out of. I however, would like to tell you about another celebration around this time, that I was privileged to grow up with because it doesn’t get a lot of commercial advertising. That occasion is my Father’s birthday, which falls on December 25th. Can you believe it?? My Dad’s birthday is Christmas day! (I also have a sister who was born on the 22nd. You can just imagine what it’s like to buy presents for two separate birthdays and Christmas in a matter of 3 days, but that’s a topic for another post. ha) The natural reaction is for people to say “Wow, you’re Dad is so lucky. He gets double the presents!” These people……they don’t really think before they speak (but please keep reading even if you were one of them). There is so much that happens during the holidays that the last thing anyone thinks about is someone’s birthday. Everyone is so busy thinking about holiday cards, gifts, lights, the tree, stockings, Chanukah candles, this year’s special edition Coca Cola can or how the Grinch’s heart grew so big, that it actually broke that weird scale. Therefore, it’s almost as if my Dad doesn’t get his own special day. So, in this Mr. Blogger Boutique Holiday Spectacular, I would like to share with you a few presents that my Father (along with my Mother of course) has given me. These amazing gifts include the ability to recognize things that may otherwise be easily overlooked, the element of surprise to loved ones, the happiness of celebrating the holidays together and of course every single collector’s edition Hess truck since 1988. Now, not all of these gifts were given on Christmas. When I was a young boy, perhaps 8 or 9, my Father took me camping at Allaire State Park in New Jersey (It’s a great state, so don’t listen to the MORONS who say otherwise). We did a lot of hiking, a lot of cooking, a lot of star gazing, and just a lot of overall hanging out. There is one specific memory however that really sticks out. He and I were both sleeping in the tent when all of a sudden he woke up and nudged me. I looked at him, a little surprised, and said “What?” He replied “Listen… it’s raining. You hear the rain drops hitting the tent?” It was raining lightly but I didn’t think much of it. Laying there and listening for a while, I started to enjoy the sound of the light pitter patter against the roof of the tent. He said, “Doesn’t that sound nice?” After another minute or so I said “Yeah, it does.” All of a sudden a lot of things made sense to me. The whole time my Dad was pointing out how pretty the trees were, why we should stop if we thought a deer may cross our trail and how cool the stars looked from an open field when the city lights weren’t obstructing God’s perfect universe. Yet, it was the raindrops that really made me recognize just how nice everything is. To this day, I can’t remember how long it took us to drive to the campground; I can’t tell you whether or not we saw a deer or whether or not we saw a shooting star. But I can still hear those raindrops….and they sound nice. Now, whenever it rains, I think back to my first camping trip, and I smile. Now, let me tell you about my favorite Christmas morning. My Father used to work for an Australian bank and for a few years we all moved away to the great “Down Under.” I was very little at the time but I do remember our time there. It was a very cool experience. I can recall going to the zoo to see wallabies, wombats and butterflies galore! There were Koalas, Kangaroos and many many more! We can discuss stories about how big the spiders were (talk to my Sisters), how gross the vegemite is (talk to my Mom) and how going to the Outback Steakhouse on Route 35 in Middletown, New Jersey is nothing like being in Australia. Celebrating the holidays was very different for us. We had a fake tree for crying out loud! Christmas was also in the summer time AND a day early (don’t spend too much time on that one). It was absolute craziness. Yet, it was still a lot of fun. We may not have been back home in America for those few years, but it was perfect because we were all together. Then came a year in which we were in the midst of a move back to Staten Island. Being very little, I don’t remember all of the logistics, but because of work, my Dad had to stay in Australia while my Sisters, my Mom and I moved back to New York. Soon Christmas was upon us and my Dad was still all the way on the other side of the world. We were going to have to celebrate without him. Alone on his birthday, “Down Under” he would be. So, we decorated the tree, we put up our lights, baked cookies… the whole nine yards. Pretty soon it was Christmas Eve and I went to bed thinking about all of the presents Santa was about to bring me. Assured by my Mom that Santa did in fact know that we moved back to Staten Island, I was excited to see what he was going to bring. The next morning one of my sisters woke me up. It was Christmas morning and time to open gifts! Woooooooohoooooooooo!!!!!!!!!! The three of us ran down the hallway and into the living room. We saw that Santa had made it to our new apt, as there were gifts all around the tree. To my Mother’s room we ran! Boom! Boom! Boom! “Mom, wake up! Santa came! Wake up!” we yelled. My Mom opened the door and said “Ok everybody. Merry Christmas! Just give me a few minutes and I’ll be right out. Go back to your room and I’ll call to you when I’m ready.” I remember thinking… are you kidding me???!!! Does my Mom have any idea how hard it is for a 5 year old to go to sleep on Christmas Eve??!!!! Now, I have to wait a few more minutes!!??? We walked back and gathered in one of the rooms. Each passing second felt like a minute and each minute an hour. Soon, we heard my Mom, “Ok, come on in!” Boom! The door flew open like we were hot out of the gate in the Kentucky Derby! Down the hallway, around the corner and into the living room we ran. Then….. suddenly….. we stopped. Stunned by what we saw, we were completely speechless. Right by the gifts and next to the tree was my Dad. It was nothing short of a miracle. After a pause and my Dad saying, “Helloooo???” we sprinted over to him and hugged him. Completely surprised, I asked “Dad, how did you get here? How were you not here last night but now you’re here this morning?!” He exuberantly claimed “Santa Claus brought me! I couldn’t catch a flight, so I called Santa!” At this point I was ready to faint. My Dad knew Santa!!!!! He then told me all about the sleigh and meeting all of the reindeer, even Rudolph. I was the happiest a kid could be. We celebrated together all day long. It was a very Merry Christmas. These memories are priceless to me. There are many more, but for the sake of getting on with your holiday I’ll save them for another post. This holiday season, think about someone who’s given everything they could possibly give to make you happy (even if it was THEIR birthday). This year, for me I think of my Dad. He’s someone who can show you beauty and peacefulness when it rains. And on Christmas he’s shown that his Love for my Mother, my Sisters and I, is so important that it’s worth giving Santa a call and asking for a ride on Santa’s busiest day of the year, just so he can be with his family. He has also taught me to Love others. I only wish he could see my face as my Fiancee teaches me the Hebrew prayers as we light our Menorah, together. My Father is loved by many. To my Fiancee and other female friends he’s known as “Papa John,” because he cares for them as if they’re his own. To my drinking buddies he’s known as “T-bone,” because they’ve seen him gawk over a grill full of meat while drinking enough Jack Daniels to walk through a screen door. To my Sisters and I, he’s still referred to at times, plainly as “Daddy.” I don’t know why, but maybe because no matter how old we get, he still gives us that “Daddy” feeling. No matter who he is to a number of people, to me he’ll always be my Dad and he’ll always be my Hero. To my loyal readers out there I would like to say Merry Christmas to all!!!! Happy Chanukah to you!!!!!! Have a wonderful New Year!!!! I’ll see you in 2010!!!!!!!! To my Dad, Happy Birthday. - Owen Patrick ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Ever Live With A Tater Tot?? Much has happened since I have written to you all, my loyal readers. Last time we spoke I was on one knee with a diamond quoting The Big Lebowski, asking Nealey to marry me. I believe I wrote that it was the happiest moment of my life, and it was. Fortunately, each new day has been happier and happier as Nealey and I prep for the big day. Well to be honest, there have been a few stressful days in there. I don’t know how many of you are married, but there is a lot to think about. What’s the date? Where’s the venue? What’s for dinner? Who’s in the bridal party? What hotels are recommended for out of town guests? Dresses! Tuxedos and centerpieces!!!! It never ends! Even my own Father said to me “The food better be good cause I got friends showin up.” Thanks Dad!! So obviously I’ve got a lot going on. The day after I asked Nealey to marry me, we moved across the street to a beautiful new building. We had wanted to move for some time. We liked the building that we were in, but we wanted something that was nicer and most importantly we (Nealey) wanted something that was PET FRIENDLY!!!! We needed a dog and we needed a dog NOW!! So while I was fully on board to move and get a dog, you have to understand that I’m a cat guy. I grew up with cats and they were great. Smokey, Scrapper, Squeaker and Harry were dream pets. So as you can see, I am not a stranger to pets, but I have never had a dog. After living in our building for about a week/week and a half, I got a call from Nealey on the way to work. I picked up the phone and said “Hello?” The only thing I heard was Nealey saying “I found a puuuuuuuuuuuuuug!!!” I can’t remember the rest of the conversation, but I can imagine that I said anything more than a sarcastic “great,” and hung up. I never had a dog before! An engagement ring took months of planning and plotting. Moving took months of saving and prepping. Now, I had to become a dog owner!!!! Oooffff! Well, I guess I was as ready as I could be. Nealey had been talking about getting a pug for, well, for years actually. I knew it was inevitable. Before you knew it, I was in our Saturn SUV on the way to no man’s land Virginia, to pick up our baby pug on a country farm. Honestly, I was nervous. I’ve never been a dog owner before and I really wanted our new puppy to like me. When I told Nealey I was nervous as we were approaching the farm, she told me that my butterflies were a good sign. She reassured me and said I would be a good “Daddy.” It was ironic that I previously had said I wasn’t even going to get out of the car because I did not want to see the puppies we didn’t take. Yet, as soon as we showed up, I got out and walked over to two pugs that were wrestling with each other in the grass. Nealey stood there smiling before she glanced at me and said, “Which one?” Without even blinking I said, “The little one.” I was instantly in love with a tiny pug that we call Tater Tot. She’s a crazy little dog and she’s not exactly an A+ organizer. Sometimes I’ll come home from work and she will have completely ripped up one of her “pee pads.” She’ll also steal my socks and try to rip apart my shoes. She really tests Nealey sometimes in what I find to be some pretty funny battles. I used to think dog owners were semi-weird, but now I understand things a bit better. Tater Tot is a funny, happy little dog who could cheer you up at anytime. Her little face is perfect to me. At times when I am having a rough day at work, I take comfort in knowing that I will go home to Nealey and Tater Tot. They’re definitely a pair you couldn’t say no to. She’s funny, she’s smart and if she’s all that we got, we’d be very happy with our little Tater Tot. -Owen Patrick ------------------------------------------------------------------------ How To Propose To An Organizer Hello. Normally this blog is about how a semi-messy, mid twenty-something, aspiring political scientist tries to stay orderly while living with the DC area's most eminent organizer. Today however, I would like to share with you a personal story, one that I have no problem shouting from the rooftops. Since I do not own a roof, I’ll tell you through this blog. Nealey and I just recently moved from a great apartment. It was a place that we really enjoyed being in and it gave us a lot of memories. We had our ups and we had our downs, but most importantly we grew together as a couple in that apartment and I am very grateful to have those memories in a place we called home for three amazing years. Because of this, I realized I wanted to have one last special moment in the apartment. It was a few short weeks ago that I came home with a surprise for Nealey. While I was at work, Nealey had been prepping for our move. Of course, I was not allowed to do all THAT much, because specific things had to go in specific boxes and be kept in specific places. That way when the movers came, Nealey could tell the movers what needed to go first, where it should go and how it should be picked up! Glorious! As you can see, it is obviously not easy to hide or keep something from an organizer, like a small box with a surprise in it. ESPECIALLY DURING A MOVE!!!! Over the past few months I had been going to South Jersey with a close associate of mine (a guy from Jersey) to look at engagement rings under the guise of having to go to a “bachelor” or “pirate party.” It worked! She had no idea I was visiting a jeweler and checking out diamonds and rings (they come separate and then the jeweler puts it together). Anyway, after picking out what I wanted I had the ring sent to my office because there was no way I could send it home (guess who checks the mail?). When it came, I showed several people in my office what it looked like. Of course people wondered how I was going to propose. After releasing very few details, I was given suggestions. Never in my life have I heard more ridiculous advice. If I have any male fans out there who want some really corny advice on how to propose to your girlfriend, ask your co-workers. I heard hypothetical scenarios from the most cliché to the utter insane. I was even begged to record the proposal so I could put it on Facebook! FACEBOOK!!!!!!!!! Folks, you’ve got to keep it simple. I took a very relaxed cab ride home from work on a beautiful Monday evening in our nation’s capital, I walked into the apartment and I got down on one knee. Nealey was sitting on the couch so she had no idea I was about to propose. To quote Walter Sobchak we were just facing “eyeball to eyeball,” so that gave nothing away. I told her that she was the greatest thing that has ever happened to me and that I could live in a room full of boxes (like the room we were in) or an empty apartment for the rest of my life, as long as I am with her, I am home and I am happy. Truer words, I have never spoken. It was the happiest moment of my Life, and it wasn’t even organized. ;-) I Love You Nealey. - Owen Patrick ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Master of My (Or Your) Domain! Hellooo out there! How's everybody? I am sorry that I've been away for some time, but the good news is that Mr. Blogger is back. Booyah! It has been a little while since I last spoke to you. Please accept my apologies for the lengthy time away. Here's a little update. For the past several months I had been preparing to take a comprehensive exam that I had to pass in order to graduate and receive my Master's degree. After many weeks of (organized) studying I took the test, and passed with flying...well I passed. :) I was extremely excited. However, this time presented me with a daunting task that needed careful organization. Prepping for the test was not easy. "What should I study first?" I wondered. The Behavioral Revolution? Neorealism? Democratic Peace? Well, I won't bore you with the details of my studies the way I do Nealey. But I will tell you that my girlfriend's way of thinking really did help me break down what I needed to study and when to study it. Because of my successful book worming, several weeks later I was master of my domain! Yahoo! Today's lesson, as you may have figured out, is not about stacking books neatly or stapling papers in some organized fashion. It's about structure. Watching Nealey do what she does everyday has not only helped me organize material things, but how to prioritize as well. Fortunately, this lesson helped me prioritize which theories and authors to focus on before my test. In a way, organizing is prioritizing. Take this lesson and you too can be master of your domain!! -Owen Patrick ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Straight A Organization It’s good to see you again everybody. It’s 2009 and I am feeling fine!!! Today’s lesson will be more focused on something that I myself will need to master in the coming months. As you may know I am a graduate student wrapping up my MA in political science. Because I work 9-6 during the week, getting ready for my comprehensive exam and my class on Tuesday night is not always the easiest of tasks. Coming home to an organized collection of books and knowing exactly what I need to review for the next class or study session would be ideal. However, after a long day I am sometimes unmotivated and likely to get lost in an episode of Seinfeld or The Simpsons. Oh, it’s also really hard to avoid happy hour. So what does this mean? Well, for anyone out there who is finishing school or who needs their kids to be more organized, let me give you a few tips that I sometimes find helpful and we’ll get through this together. Let’s say you have class tomorrow and you want to be sure you don’t miss a beat. Participating actively will always help your final grade. My first suggestion is to review your readings due the next day, but also glance over your notes from last time. This seems like a simple recommendation but it’s the little things that will help you as a student the most. Secondly, where you do schoolwork in your house needs to be a neat and tidy area. This is why living with an organizer is extremely beneficial because Nealey constantly reminds me not to have my books and notes scattered around the apartment. This is good for her because our place looks organized but it’s also good for me because I won’t lose anything that is important to my class. Lastly, keep an organized school bag or backpack. Whatever it is that you carry your books and notes around in should always be kept neat. Do your best not to throw food or drinks into the same compartment as anything important. An explosive Yoo-hoo or a crusty sandwich can make for a long class or a messy study session. Now, take these small tips and go stimulate scholarship. I hope these recommendations with give you many days of hard earned straight A’s. Bon Chance!!! -Owen Patrick ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Holidays Are Here: DON'T PANIC Hello everybody. Happy Holidays and welcome back to Mr. Blogger Boutique! It's amazing how quickly this time of year approaches. Just a few months ago, Nealey and I were on a beach in Hilton Head, South Carolina watching fireworks on the 4th of July. It was an amazing time, but within a blink of an eye, school was starting in September, Halloween was creeping around the corner, and Thanksgiving was gobbling on down the road. Whether you are shopping for school clothes, figuring out a costume or wondering what new dish to serve on Turkey Day (I made beer boiled shrimp as an appetizer), you seem to never catch a break once Summer is over. The worst part is, Fall is just the beginning! Chanukah, Christmas and New Year's are now here and it seems as if there is no end in sight... Well guess what..You are in luck. Mr. Blogger's advice to you this holiday season is simply this: DON'T PANIC. If you want to prevent your holiday season from getting out of control and avoid a Clark W. Griswold melt down, you need to approach these holidays in a laid back manner. Impossible you say? Well...maybe. Getting frustrated or flustered however, will only exacerbate any organization problems you already have. I grew up with cats and when we were done opening gifts on Christmas morning, they had a field day ripping apart loose wrapping paper. For those of you with pets, there is a simple solution. Keep them away!! (in-laws too...just kidding) Do you have family coming over? Do you have to entertain them this holiday season? Let's be honest with each other. We all love seeing our family and friends...but we don't like moving Heaven and Earth to accommodate them. Since holidays are supposed to be fun and not frantic, keep things simple. Ask others to bring a dish or appetizer instead of slaving away for hours in a hot kitchen. If your father shows up with nothing but a bottle of Jack Daniels, tell him to get lost. Everyone should contribute to your holiday gathering because it is supposed to be fun and relaxing, not stressful!! This holiday season, don't bend over backwards if you don't have to. Think about simple ways to prevent a gift wrapping/opening mess. Stop making food for thirty if your family is giving you looks that are dirty. Keep things simple. Imagine your perfect holiday season and do what you can to spend it that way. This year take the stress out, because that's what the holidays are all about. Happy Chanukah and Merry Christmas to all! Come back in the new year, Mr. Blogger will be here. -Owen Patrick ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The "Dumping" Area Ladies and Gentlemen, the election is over and we can get back to our normal lives. There is just one problem. This is still a messy town. Boxes are still stacked, clothes are lying around, dishes are in the sink, the mail is piling high and don’t look now, but the holidays are just around the corner! Relax people. Take a breath. There is no need to flip out. Here is a little advice from a guy who has learned firsthand from the best organizer around! Before I get started, allow myself to introduce……..myself. Mr. Boutique is a very I’ll get to it later…kind of guy. I’m quite sure you know the type. Perhaps even you know a Mr. Boutique. Now, there is nothing wrong with being that kind of person as long as later doesn’t become next week or next month. Because after that, all you are going to want to say is fuhgeddaboutit! So how does a young guy like me take my laid back approach into an apartment with the Washington area’s hottest professional organizer?? It’s easy. Simple compromises are out there people, but you have to go find them! My biggest enemy in our apartment is my book, magazine and newspaper collection. I am a graduate student and I like to read read read! However, sometimes I’ve got books here, magazines there and newspapers (they’re new everyday) everywhere! And don’t even get me started on the mail. I come home from work at 6:30 and there is a stack of bills, catalogs, campaign literature, and on and on it goes! Who wants to deal with that?! Not me. Here is where it gets tricky. Since I refuse to put everything away exactly where it came from every time I pick something up, I designate an area where I can leave things. Let’s call this a “dumping area.” While many may immediately think this means the bathroom, it does not. My dumping area is a section of our dining room table. At least once a week, I will go to this area and see several books I may have picked up, magazines I might have read and of course, mail I still need to sort through. From there, I can return the books to the proper room or location. The same with the magazines, and I can categorize my mail into things that need to be shredded, thrown away or replied to. It is important to limit yourself to ONE dumping area. If you have several, you have nothing but piles of crap all over the place and that defeats the purpose of this exercise. Going through your designated area will only take you a few minutes. My experience doing this has kept my girlfriend and I very happy. This is a very simple way to keep your easy going lifestyle without having things strewn throughout your home. Give it a try. If you think this is a dumb idea, don’t do it. I’m not the one that has to live with you. But if you are looking for a way to keep things simple, I think you should listen to Mr. Boutique. He’s no sneak! Enjoy your Turkey dinner. I’ll see you in a few weeks. ;-) - Owen Patrick ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Welcome! My fellow Americans, welcome to The Organizing Boutique's official blog! My name is Owen Patrick and I am Mr. Blogger Boutique. I am very excited to be here. It is a pleasure to meet you, and I hope you frequent this blog during these exciting times. For the past two years, I have had the pleasure of spending each day with the area's most efficient organizer and hottest rising star, Nealey Levi. I've seen her tackle messy desks, make shoes fall in line, rearrange refrigerators and make bookshelves look like libraries. If any cluttered closets are reading this blog, here's some advice: don't let Nealey catch you with your door open! As a budding political scientist and someone who has lived in Washington for almost 8 years, I know that this can be a messy town. In this historic election year, many people have been slowing their domestic and office organizing routines to watch the conventions or hit the campaign trail. Others have been celebrating summer and recently returning from their Labor Day cheer. Well ladies and gentleman, Fall is upon us. School is back in session, football season has begun, the leaves will soon change colors, and before you know it the holidays will be here. People of America, have no fear! The Organizing Boutique is here! Visit our site for handy organizing tips. Read our blog for stories on the humorous yet successful interaction between the organized and the....."not so organized." Please come back, we hope you enjoy! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **Have any comments or questions to add? We would love to hear from you.**
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