It was a beautiful, sunny morning. I turned on the coffee maker to have a cup of coffee, and ended up working on clearing a clog from it for an hour and a half. I eventually got it working, but that's not how I planned on investing my time that day.

The same day, the ice maker in our freezer stopped making ice. My husband looked at it, did some research, and decided to call our local handyman, Craig. Craig stopped by, looked at it, and said it needed to be replaced and he'd return in a couple of days to do so once the part was in. OK...not a really big problem. We picked up a bag of ice and tossed it in the dispenser.

One day later...I kid you not...after a load of laundry was placed in the washing machine, the machine literally overflowed (we didn't notice for about 10 minutes) all over the utility room floor, as well as spilling into our finished basement underneath, through the ceilings and onto our rugs. That was a mess to say the least.

When Craig came over to replace the ice maker, he investigated the problem in our washing machine as well. It was a clogged tube. The tube was clogged because the innards of the washing machine were clogged as well, and finally a piece of that gunk broke off, entered the tube, and caused the overflow...followed by the flood.

Have you ever heard of the superstition, 'things happen in threes'? One, two, three...I certainly hope this is the last blip for appliances in the Gracia household for a bit. We've had our fill this week.

That being said, there are organizing tips in all of this...

1. Don't give up immediately if you're pretty sure you could handle the issue. I knew if I had to replace my Keurig, it would cost about $100. I also knew that, if I took the time to do a little online research, I would be able to save myself that $100. And I was confident that I would be able to do so in this case. Yes, it took about seven YouTube videos, some trial and error with the coffee maker mechanisms, a table full of toothpicks, safety pins, and a turkey baster (if you can believe that!) and time I had planned to do something else, BUT in the end, the machine is now working beautifully...and I still have that sense of satisfaction.

2. Have phone numbers of competent, reliable people on hand when you are pretty sure you can't fix it yourself. Our handyman, Craig, is an excellent resource for appliance repair. He's reasonable, honest, and does a great job every time. I keep his number handy on my cell phone and told him he could never move away. (I hope he likes Wisconsin...along with all its glories of winter.) During a household problem, be it with an appliance, an issue requiring a plumber or electrician, an air conditioner or heater problem, etc., the time to search for someone who can help is NOT when the problem is happening, but rather BEFORE you have a problem. This way, when you're in a bind, you won't have to think about or research who to call. Keep important numbers like this in your cell phone, being sure to label the contact with handyman, plumber, snow removal, etc. so you can quickly search for it.

3. Consider the cost of having an older appliance repaired versus purchasing a new one. Our handyman told us that our washer, which is nearing 17 years old, is in perfect condition...except for the clog. And that clog happened because the washing machine innards needed to be thoroughly cleaned out so another piece doesn't break off and clog the machine again. This isn't something we could clean...he needed to take it to his shop. He told us that to buy a new machine comparable to the quality of the one we have, that we'd have to spend $1,000. Many of the less expensive units on the market only last about 7 years. They sure don't build appliances like they used to. Craig offered to clean our machine for less than $200, including his labor. Guess which route we took? You guessed it, Craig is cleaning it out for us and he said it will be like brand new when he's done in a day. Of course, sometimes it's more economical to replace whatever it is versus repairing it. This is why it's important to do your homework AND have a professional helping you (when applicable) that you know, like, and trust.

5. Keep things in perspective. Yes, it took time to repair the coffee maker, cost money to replace the ice maker, took time and energy to sop up the water from the broken washer, and will cost us a bit more for the washer repair and clean-out. BUT, a friend told me about her brother whose home (located not far from my home) was struck by lightening a few days ago...and he's now dealing with $80,000 in fire and water damage, after just completing a kitchen remodeling project less than a week ago, AND he and his family can't live in their house until all the repairs are done...which could be months. There's always someone who has it worse.

So, I'm now kicking back with a fresh cup of coffee, later I'll be able to fill my water bottle with ice before heading to the gym...AND, after a few trips to the Laundromat, I'll be able to wash clothes again in the comfort of my own home. Life is good.

Just a very quick shout out to let you know that my latest issue of Anything and Everything is now available. It's the AUGUST 2019 issue and I know you're going to love it. Check it out:

https://www.getorganizednow.com/rd-ae.html

If you don't already receive it, it's a great time to get your hands on a full year of Anything and Everything because, when you do, we're giving away 10 Bonuses, AND ALL of the back issues...complimentary!

Here are the topics in the August Issue...

9 Little-known ways for more joyful days
Life is filled with chores, TO DOs, bills, work, traffic, etc. That's why it's important to refocus our minds and resurface the joy

Last-minute ingredient substitutions
You're in the middle of a recipe only to discover you're fresh out of a key ingredient. Before you run to the store, here are possible last-minute ingredient substitutions

12 hacks for simplifying life
If simplifying your life sounds like the perfect goal for you, here are some easy ways you can begin your journey

Living small.the tiny house movement
Have you ever thought about living in a tiny house, under 600 square feet of living space? Some folks are doing just that

10 things you should quit today and why
The act of quitting something generally has a negative connotation, but quitting isn't always a bad thing. In fact, it could be one of the best decisions you've ever made

How to be a more interesting person
Have you always wished you could be more interesting? Here are 9 ways to begin working on that goal and succeeding with it

I don't remember what I just read
Have you ever read something and then forgotten what you read minutes later? What's that about and how can you improve your reading comprehension?

Wisdom for book lovers
If you love to read, you'll love our inspirational quotes of the month, especially for book lovers

If you don't already subscribe to my 'Anything and Everything' resource, you can learn about how to do so here:

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We have thousands of readers who LOVE it...and I'm certain you will too!

Maria

P.S. BONUSES...Only Until 11:59 p.m. on August 9th: When you sign up for your Anything and Everything Subscription, you will receive tons of bonuses, plus ALL the BACK ISSUES COMPLIMENTARY!

August Organizing Checklist Make this last full month of summer 2019 your most organized yet. Start with our NEW August Organizing Checklist
getorganizednow.com/organizing-checklist-aug.html


August Organizing Mini-Challenges For August, our mini challenges are focused on Being Prepared. This week, focus on WEEK ONE.
getorganizednow.com/organizing-challenge-aug19-being-prepared.html


In ADDITION, on my home page, you'll also find lots of NEW and featured STUFF including...

New Web Poll When you walk into a room full of people, what do you do? Vote in our web poll and let us know

Perspective is our featured theme of the week, and the two quotes on my home page reflect this theme. What are your perspectives this week?

Access all of the above on my home page. Visit:
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'No man is broken because bad things happen to him. He's broken because he doesn't keep going after those things happen.' --Courtney Milan

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And remember...Being organized creates a happier, healthier, more fulfilling life!

Warmly,

Maria Gracia
Get Organized Now!

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