The Orderly Life

Do You Know What I Am Hearing?

2008-04-02T12:57:00.000-07:00

Dear Panic at the Disco:

Thank you for your new album Pretty. Odd. It's an entire album for me to love all on my own. I grew up listening to the Beatles. My mom would put on the Sgt. Peppers album and clean the house. Pretty. Odd. is my Sgt. Peppers. I have never had my own Sgt. Peppers and I love you for giving it to me. It makes my house all sparkly and wonderful.

BOOK REVIEW: Shopaholic and Sister

2007-10-18T09:20:00.000-07:00

All of the Shopaholic books are pure fluff. Just silly fun reads. This one followed the same formula as the others, Shopaholic shops too much, gets herself in some kind of bind (financially and personally), hilarity ensues as she tries to find her way out of trouble.

Check out Callapidder Days for book reviews from others participating in the Fall Reading Challenge.

BOOK REVIEW: I Know This Much Is True, Wally Lamb

2007-10-02T07:29:00.000-07:00

I just finished reading I Know This Much Is True last night. And overall I liked it. I had already read She's Come Undone, so I went into this book knowing that Wally Lamb's stories can be a little intense at times.

What I liked: That his characters are so very human. There are no obvious bad guys in this book. Just a bunch of people who have had bad stuff happen to them, who have made mistakes, lapses in judgments, etc. I love that about this book. It feels very honest to me. Yes, his ending is a little too conveniently happy in certain situations, but since the many previous pages were filled with such UNhappiness, I refuse to question the (comparatively) happy ending.

What I did not like: The prolific use of the F-word. It didn't feel out of place coming from the characters, but I just don't care for a lot of profanity.

Words of Warning: This is NOT a happy, easy to read book. A lot of terrible things happen in this book. I read most of this book while I was on a camping trip. Even though I was having a great time on the camping trip, there was one day where I found myself near tears from the "weight" of this book.

Stationary Idea

2007-09-20T06:46:00.000-07:00

I might actually use all my stationary and cards, if it were out in the open and displayed like this.

WFMW: Top 5

2007-06-13T12:24:00.000-07:00

My WFMW is about how I stay on task and motivated at work. Every day before I leave work I make a list of the the TOP 5 things that I really need to focus on the next day. It is not too many to get me overwhelmed and it prevents little unimportant tasks from sapping my attention. I am starting to use this same method at home, but as a TOP 3 instead of 5.

Tackle It Tuesday: Ordering Pictures

2007-06-12T10:53:00.000-07:00

As part of my baby sister's graduation present everyone in the family was supposed to create a scrapbook page for a scrapbook. She graduated over a week ago and my page has not even been started. In fact, I haven't even got the pictures printed out yet. While it helps that I am not the only one in my family that hasn't completed the assignment, I still have this project hanging over my head. For my Tackle It Tuesday project, I will take care of the 1st step and order the required pictures off of Shutterfly.

I will also be putting in some more work on Project Sanctuary.

For more Tackle It Tuesday projects, check out 5 Minutes for Mom.

My 101st post? Before & After pictures.

2007-06-11T12:13:00.000-07:00

Below are the before pictures of my in-laws garage.

This back portion of the garage had been walled off as a shelved storage area. You could not get to any of the shelves because of the piles of stuff all around them.

And now for the afters pictures:

If you look closely you can see that not only is every part of the shelving system accessible, there is even a teeny tiny bit of space left open on the shelves (and plenty of floor space underneath the shelves).

Here is the other view:

What went right: Cooperative "clients" My in-laws pretty much gave me free rein. I threw away enough stuff to fill a dumpster and they didn't bat an eye. I gave anything salvageable to Goodwill.

What I learned: Plan for garbage disposal in advance (a dumpster, a pickup, something) and plan to either drop off to a charity or have a charity come make a pickup in advance.

I still don't feel like the job is quite done yet. There are some minor projects that I would like to accomplish in that space. They had a couple of large storage containers full of Tupperware containers. I would like to go back through and get all of those containers matched with their lids, cleaned, and stacked neatly. I think that would give them a lot of additional space. Also, my mother in law would like part of their garage to function as a gym, so I would like to put in some time helping her get that set up in a way that doesn't encourage more clutter.

Things you can learn from this project:
1. Don't let "stuff" get in the way of preserving precious family memories. This garage held family pictures that were getting ruined and had family memorabilia that was getting lost in the shuffle. I am not a believer in holding on to every childhood art project and paper, but it made me sad that there were little to none of those items left to be found for my husband and his siblings.

2. A place for everything. One thing that led the garage to its bad state was that my mother in law couldn't find things that she had bought and so she bought them again. She is not the only person who has this problem. I think it is a pretty common one. By having one specific place for something, you always know where to look for it. I worked towards having things labeled and easy to find so that in the future she knew exactly where to go.

3. Closely following the "a place for everything" rule is this one for every one thing that you bring into the house get rid of another. This rule is not intended for everyday household necessities, but rather things we collect like purses (me), clothes, shoes, and knick knacks. It keeps clutter from ballooning to a point where you feel out of control.

My 100th Post!!! Part of the Your Blogging Story Carnival

2007-06-11T10:41:00.000-07:00

How appropriate that this carnival is going on just as I reach my 100th post.

How did you start blogging? My cousin was talking about how he and some others he knew were making spare change through developing websites and putting ads on them, my husband told me I should check it out, and I ended up at blogger doing the blog thing. And not caring at all if I ever made a dime off of it because I have so much fun with it.

Did you intend to be a blog w/a following? If so, how did you go about it? I don't think I have much of a following currently, but I wouldn't mind one. I try and get involved in like blogs. Get to know other bloggers, comment, etc. I have to admit that I don't seek a following too actively, but that might change in the future.

What do you hope to achieve or accomplish with your blog? Have you been successful? If not, do you have a plan to achieve those goals? Keep all of my organizing ideas in one place, inspire others to get organized, motivate myself to maybe take my organizing skills to a professional level. I have been as successful as I can be this early in the game.

Has the focus of your blog changed since you started blogging? How? The focus of my blog hasn't changed too much. The more I read some of the great blogs out there, the harder I try to infuse personality in my blog.

What do you know now that you wish you'd known when you started? That it changes the way you think, the way you see life. You are always on the lookout for the next thing you can blog about.

Do you make money with your blog?No, but I am going to be looking into money making options in the future (be it e-books, ads, whatever).

Does your immediate or extended family know about your blog? If so, do they read it? If not, why?Some do, some don't. I am not keeping it a secret, but I don't talk about it a lot either. Why? Because they know that "behind closed doors" I am not organized all the time. I guess I want the blog me and the real me to match before I go telling them about my blog. Or I am perfectionist who has a hard time accepting that it is okay to not be all things to all people all the time. It depends on how deep you wanna go with this. : )

What two pieces of advice would you give to a new blogger?
1. If you are looking for feedback on your blog, you have to get more involved in the blogging community. 2. Be prepared to become consumed!!!!

If you'd like to participate as well go ahead and then link up over at Chiliheads.

Address Books

2007-06-09T23:08:00.000-07:00

The lovely Marcia of Marcia's Organising Tips posted a question about address books and how to keep them updated and orderly. She gives a thorough response to the question that you can read here. If I were asked this question I would have to admit that I had no good answers for any paper systems. I struggled with keeping any paper system in good order due to constant changes. My mom has always kept a pen and paper address book and she just uses a lot of white out. I use Microsoft Outlook Contacts. So easy to update and I can sync it up with my Blackberry so I have all of my contacts with me always. I don't know if Blackberries are the only phones that have these capabilities, but it is certainly worth looking into to see if your phone does. I can't stress enough what an awesome convenience it has become for me to have my address book in my phone and backed up on my computer (or vice versa).

A new twist on Google Calendar (or any other)

2007-06-09T23:03:00.001-07:00

I just read a post over at Lifehacker.com about how one of their readers uses Google Calendar (but I am guessing there are other calendars you could use just as well) to keep track of history rather than present or future. Clever idea and great tool to keep certain kinds of information organized in a completely uncluttered way.

And since we are talking about SHS: An update

2007-06-01T10:51:00.000-07:00

So I wanted to go back and review how I am doing on my past SHS.

1st one was putting my clothes up and keeping them off the floor. I am doing better at this, but have slacked off a bit in the past few weeks. I am committed to renewing my efforts to this one.

2nd was limiting my sugar intake. Not happening at all. I don't think I am really ready for this one. I will have to come back to it at a later date.

Today is my 3rd one, developing a better bedtime routine. I started last night, so we will see how tonight goes.

SHS: Bedtime Routine

2007-06-01T10:40:00.001-07:00

I already have a bedtime routine and it goes something like this: At some point after 10:oopm I get into bed and then channel surf until I can channel surf no more, put the TV on mute, take my glasses off, close my eyes, and try not to concentrate on all the nasty things I JUST saw on that CSI (or Law & Order)rerun on cable. I love my crime dramas!

However, crime dramas do not always make the most effective recipe for a peaceful night's sleep. So here is the new habit I want to develop:

1. Read something short and relatively drama free (like a magazine article).

2. Give myself a hand and foot massage using my awesome Bath & Body Works Butter

3. Turn out the lights and call it a night.

Stair Storage

2007-06-01T09:45:00.000-07:00

So this is love?

Help on deciding which sentimental items to keep.

2007-05-24T09:31:00.001-07:00

Jeri Dansky has fabulous organizing blog. It has been even more fabulous than usual lately.
On Tuesday, she posted some advice from an organizing book she has been reading on deciding whether you should keep a "sentimental" item or not. And it is really great, sound advice. Thank you Jeri for sharing what you have been reading! I think I will be picking up Organizing Solutions for People with Attention Deficit Disorder, by Susan Pinsky too.

Are you disorganized at work?

2007-05-24T09:25:00.000-07:00

Check out Ian's Messy Desk for his two criteria. I think he has hit the nail on the head.

Makeup saving idea

2007-05-21T12:13:00.000-07:00

I have some eye shadows that I really love, but the container they were in broke and my choices were toss my beloved (discontinued) eyeshadow out before it spills everywhere or find a new container for it. I chose the latter. At first I thought that I would be able to find some sort of container in the "travel size" section of Health & Beauty at Wal-Mart, but everything there was too big.

I finally found this for $0.98. It shuts tightly enough that I won't worry about spillage and it doesn't take up too much space in my makeup bag. Perfect.

Baskets

2007-05-15T10:08:00.000-07:00

RealSimple has an article full of pretty baskets you can use to organize around the house. I must admit that many of them are a little out of my price range, but looking at them gave me a better idea of what styles I liked.

And here is their follow up article with ideas on what to do with those baskets.

Socks

2007-05-15T08:54:00.000-07:00

As I was doing my usual Internet reading about a week or so ago, I came to a post by Jeri Dansky @ Jeri's Organizing & Decluttering News about organizing socks. Now if you are not familiar with Jeri's blog, check it out! The products that she showcases are always so aesthetically pleasing.

Her post about socks mentioned something that I have been doing for years. That is throwing out all of your old socks and buying a couple large packs of the exact same socks so that there is absolutely no matching required. They all match each other! There are no words for how convenient I find this practice. Try it out!

Tackle It Tuesday: Public Transportation

2007-05-08T13:57:00.000-07:00

For the past few years, I have dabbled in different ways to make my commute faster, shorter and cheaper, but for the most part have been unsuccessful. Recently however, I have been putting more research into it and today for the 1st time I took the route that I will be taking full time from now on. No more driving for me! ~~No more fender benders~~ Take that gas prices! And I get to read on the way to work. What could be cooler?

And the savings? Wow! If I buy a monthly pass and use it just 2 weeks out of the month, I save at least $30. If I use it 3 weeks out of the month I save at least $75 in gas prices alone. I will also eat out less because I won't have the wheels to get me anywhere so there is money to be saved there as well.

I am also hoping that the few extra steps and stairs that I have to take each day getting to and from the bus and train will be a sneaky little source of exercise.

All in all, if you can figure out a way to make it work....try public transportation!

A wealth of smart tips

2007-05-07T12:52:00.000-07:00

I was browsing OrganizedHome.com when I found a section dedicated to Readers' Tips. I have only started going through them (I started with the kitchen section) and they are some of the best, easiest, smartest tips I have ever read. I will be spending a lot more time going through these and pulling out my favorites to try.

I hope you get use out of them as well.

So This Is Love

2007-05-07T10:21:00.000-07:00

http://www.mightygoods.com/items/gadgets/

My favorites so far are this one and this one.

My First Job.

2007-05-07T08:37:00.000-07:00

I think a lot about becoming a professional organizer and this weekend I decided to at least stick my toes in the pool and check the temperature. So I made my mom my guinea pig.

Friday night we tackled her linen closet.

Before After

Things I learned:
1. Vet Clinics, animal hospitals, animal shelters, etc will GLADLY accept linens that you no longer use. They go through them rather quickly.

2. The importance of a balance between common sense and sentimental value. I am a little too common sense, my mom is a little too sentimental value. With both of us working together, I think we created a perfect balance.

Things I hope I helped my mom achieve:
1. More peace of mind.
2. The ability to find, get, use, store whatever she needs, whenever she needs without having to dig through anything or move a bunch of stuff around.

And because the linen closet went so well, Saturday morning we tackled the coat closet.

Before: During: After:

What you can't see in the first picture is that all 3 shelves are jam packed with blankets. We reduced that to 1 full shelf and 1 almost full shelf of blankets.

The total time for both closets (minus interruptions) was about 2.5 hours and we did not spend any money. If there had been a budget, I would have prioritized getting vacuum sealed bags and vacuum sealing the linens that are seldom used but have sentimental value or are antique. I also might have added a few pretty baskets here and there for holding some of the smaller items in the linen closet.

What I learned from the entire project: My mom has huge closets and I am extremely jealous!!

Today I want YOUR advice

2007-05-04T07:22:00.000-07:00

This is a subject that I have mentioned in passing on this blog before, but I try very hard to avoid this topic because it is so complicated it could easily create a blog all its own.

About 4 months ago my husband and I converted our spare room into a room for twin 10 year old girls. They are my husband's cousins. Again too complicated for details, so I will get straight to what I need advice on....

That room constantly looks like it has been "tossed" by deranged criminals!!! The 2 biggest problems are clothes and books. Scratch that. The biggest problem is that these are troubled girls and they have a stealing problem. I need to find ways to get them to keep their room clean for sanity and sanitary reasons, but (sadly) also so that it is easier for my husband and I to see what they have in there that doesn't belong to them.

So to all the women out there who actually have a clue how to raise kids (especially if you have any experience dealing with troubled kids): How do you get them to keep the mess under control ?? (I was a slob as a kid, so I don't expect perfection.)

Fun Befores and Afters

2007-05-03T13:36:00.000-07:00

Laura at Organizing Junkie had an organizational challenge and all the participants have posted up their before and after photos. They are so much fun to look through! You can look through them all here. I am definitely going to be participating in the next one.

The Right Now

2007-05-03T12:00:00.000-07:00

The past few days have been rough. I don't want to go into detail because I will inevitably sound whiny, but I will say that the biggest problem is that everyone in our house is sick. ~~Especially~~ Including me.

The only way that I have accomplished anything is by taking a step back and asking myself: What needs to be done right now? I make a short list (no more than 3 or 4 things) and get to it.

Last night I was overwhelming myself thinking of all the things that I wanted to do. I finally just had to stop and ask myself that question. The answer was: Make dinner, finish unpacking from vacation, a little bit of exercise, and then get a good night's sleep.

It wasn't easy, I had to keep pushing my wants out of my mind. I kept reminding myself that I if I took care of myself now, I would be that much more productive later when I was 100%. And it worked. I feel a lot better today and I am getting more accomplished.

So when you feel like you are "getting nowhere fast" take a minute to ask yourself what you absolutely must accomplish right now.

Update: Here is an article from LifeOrganizers.com that supports this point of view.

Tackle It Tuesday: Project Sanctuary

2007-05-01T08:58:00.000-07:00

Ever since I wrote this post, the wheels in my head have been turning. Today is Tackle It Tuesday, hosted by 5 Minutes for Mom, so I have decided to use this day to start putting my thoughts into actions. I am going to start developing a 5 week project that I am calling Project Sanctuary.

I have already established a theme for each week and now I am gathering resources. My goal is to be able to have Project Sanctuary up and running on my blog by July. This project will be focusing on making everyday life feel like a peaceful sanctuary.

I'm baaaaaack!

2007-05-01T06:42:00.000-07:00

And although I didn't think I would be, I am quite happy to be back to my own little corner of the world. Vacation was fabulous, but we were sharing cramped quarters for the duration of the trip so it is wonderful to get back to my own apartment and my own space at work.

Okay so 1st things 1st, I would like to say that cutting back on chocolate last week went really well and I hope that this habit continues now that I am back at work and my office's never ending chocolate supply. (See previous post).

2nd things 2nd, I did a lot of reading on vacation, but none of the books that I pictured on my Spring Reading Thing post. Here is what I did read:

Every Secret Thing by Lila Shaara. It was not what I expected. I was expecting an "Oprah Book Club" type book that explored the innermost depths of humanity or something. And there was a little of that, but it was also a lot of other things. There was love, suspense, family drama, and a little bit of a twist at the end. I didn't necessarily relate with the main character, but I liked her nonetheless.

The Hour Game by David Baldacci. This book's main characters come from another Baldacci book called Split Second. I think I liked that one a lot better. If a suspense novel doesn't have me on the edge of my seat, it's not a good suspense novel. And this one didn't. I wanted to like it, it just felt way too formulaic. Actually, you know what I really thought? I thought that it had the same plot twists as a lot of the Nancy Drew books that I read when I was in my "tweens." Except that I liked and connected with Nancy Drew and her gang a lot more than the two main characters in this book.

Scarlet Feather by Maeve Binchy. This is the 2nd Maeve Binchy book I have read. I read Tara Road years ago and I remember liking it, so I thought I would try another one. I liked this one as well. The main characters are flawed, likable people who you are rooting for from the get go, so even though the book is a bit of a slow read, you want to read to the end to make sure that everything works out for them. And it does, but in a non-chick lit realistic way.

Too cool not to mention

2007-04-17T14:43:00.000-07:00

I was browsing through Organized Home.com when I found an article on how to make your own cleaning wipes. I won't be testing this right now because I don't have all the tools required, but I would love to try. If you have tried this or try this in the future, let me know how it works!

Important Travel Checklist

2007-04-17T14:38:00.000-07:00

I am ashamed to admit that I had totally forgotten some important things I needed to check before I left on vacation. I remembered thanks to this checklist.

Not travel related! SHS:Smart Habits Saturday

2007-04-16T14:21:00.000-07:00

Gulp! I can't believe I am about to say this! My new habit is going to be limiting my sugar intake. I am going to start by limiting myself to two small pieces of chocolate a day. You don't even want to know what my current intake is. Usually people use their vacations to indulge, but I am going to try and use my vacation to be in better shape. Nice jogs on the beach, watching what I eat, and kick starting my new habit by cutting back on sweets.

Click here to see what others are trying!

Also, since I posted not too long ago about the importance of finding your motivation behind your actions, I would like to say that I am working on this habit for these reasons 1) I would like to weigh slightly less than I do now 2)I use sugar & caffeine to regulate my moods and energy levels, which can't be good and I need to stop this so I can find healthier ways to regulate my energy levels and mood.

Surprise! Travel tips!

2007-04-16T10:21:00.000-07:00

Pointless side note: Due to a sister who is 8 years younger than me, I spent a lot of teenage time watching Disney movies. Including Aladdin. Every time somebody uses the phrase "Surprise!" in sarcasm (see post title) this quote runs through my head: "I think I'll have a heart attack and die of not surprise!" Spoken by Jafar's annoying evil bird. How can I remember that line and not remember that bird's name?

MOVING ON!!!!

One of my new favorite organizational bloggers is Marcia. I think she is just awesome. Here is a post from Marcia with travel tips and some of hers are really, really good. My fave? 5, 6, & 9. Go check them out.

Travel Tips

2007-04-16T08:04:00.000-07:00

This week is going to be crazy, but for a good reason, so you will not hear me complaining.

Here's the deal: Thursday and Friday my mom and 2 out of 3 of my sisters and I are going to do a little jaunt to Chicago. We will get home late Friday and then Sunday, my husband and I, along with his brother and another couple are all going to the beach for a week. Just typing that is so delicious.

So I have to get all of my work lined up and in order because I hate leaving work for whoever fills in for me. I also have to get all packed up for both trips and my house scrubbed down so that I don't come home to a mess. What better way to kill a post-vacation glow than coming home to a wreck of a house?

So don't expect a lot of posts from me for the next two weeks, although I will try! I understand that there is a way to post using your cell phone so if I can do that I will on Saturday.

And also expect that what you do get from me this week is going to be ALL about travel. Like these awesome packing lists from Real Simple. Except I do have a non-travel WFMW post that I hope to get posted.

WFMW: You have to mean it.

2007-04-11T09:00:00.000-07:00

Stick with me to the end here people, it's gonna be a bumpy ride!

A couple of weeks ago, I claimed that I would participate in Smart Habits Saturday hosted by The Lazy Organizer by working on keeping my clothes put up(I am worse than most children when it comes to hanging up my clothes). I really, really meant it(because even I get tired of driving my husband crazy), but as it turned out the professional part of my life sucked every last molecule of my mojo right out of me. Not that I have so much to start. Anyway all my good intentions got me nowhere.

Fast forward to Good Friday. I had the day off and I vowed to use it to do some deeper cleaning. I started in our bedroom and I ended up being in there for almost 4 hours. Cause that is what happens when you only clean during the commercials. When I was done, my bedroom looked better than it had looked in months. It looked so good that I just wanted to shut myself off from the rest of the apartment and spend the rest of my day admiring my work in the bedroom. It also saddened me to realize that in 2.8 nanoseconds, it would all be messed up again. By me. And my inability to clean up after myself.

And then it hit me.

In my busy life I want-no-NEED to have one space in my life that feels like a retreat, a spa, a hotel, a vacation, but also a home. A safe space. Not just one more chore hanging over my head as I end another "not enough hours in the day" day.

Flash forward to today. Since that Oprah Aha! Moment, I have been hanging up my clothes and otherwise picking up after myself in my bedroom. Does it look as good as it did Friday? No, but it looks good enough that it still retains that feel of total relaxation. Will I keep it up? I pray that I do because it feels fantastic.

So what Works For Me this Wednesday? Making a connection between what you think you are supposed to be getting done in your life and why it matters so much to me personally to actually get it done. For me, it turns out, the difference between the two is the gap between intention and action.

To read more practical and less long winded WFMW click here.

My Products Purge

2007-04-11T06:19:00.000-07:00

I remembered that I had sworn to purge some of what I refer to as my "products" (lotion, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, perfume, etc. etc), just as I was thinking about going to bed.

I could have used this as an excuse not to do it, but I didn't. I purged. I will admit that I was not AS ruthless as maybe I should have been. I am generally extremely ruthless when I purge, but my products are my greatest weakness, so I am still proud of the results. Here is what I threw away.

There will be no picture of what I kept. If I posted that, I might have to get really honest with myself and go purge again. This is merely a drop in my products bucket.

Hello, my name is Meg and I am a productholic.

Moment of Truth

2007-04-10T10:06:00.000-07:00

What does my desk look like right now?

THIS: (I know the pic quality is junk, they were taken w/ my phone).

A few papers are out of order, but nothing major.

Further along my wraparound desk it looks like this:

Why am I doing this? Because of this post.

What to purge when

2007-04-10T07:26:00.000-07:00

This is an Oprah.com article on purging in the kitchen, desk area, closets, etc. I like to get rid of stuff because I hate feeling cluttered except in one area: toiletries. I. can. not. let. go. I am saying here and now that I am committed to throwing away some of the old lotions, conditioners, sprays, perfumes, etc. etc. etc. that I have been holding on to for way too long.

Let tonight be the night! If I think of it, I will take a picture of all the stuff I throw away.

Back to Blogging

2007-04-10T06:09:00.000-07:00

I haven't posted in what feels like ages. I read a book yesterday and it felt so good that I decided to join in the Spring Reading Thing hosted by Callapidder Days.

Here is a picture of some of the books that I would like to read:

I know it is a terrible picture!!

It's The Last of the Mohicans

Jemima J

Gap Creek

Mississippi Solo

Their Eyes Were Watching God

I Know This Much Is True

and not pictured are Every Secret Thing, Sparrow, and another one from the library that I can't remember the name of right now.

I am going to be spending a week on the beach, so it is possible that I just might get something in that stack read.

Another nifty weekly blog feature....

2007-03-14T08:32:00.000-07:00

This time sponsored by "Rocks in My Dryer" it is called "Works For Me Wednesday".

My WFMW tip involves keeping track of how much water you drink a day. I drink almost only water because I am selective in my beverage choices. I hate carbonation, so no soda for me. But I think that I probably don't drink enough water. I think that I get a little dehydrated a lot. So here is how I track how much water I am drinking......

See the little label at the bottom? It is a "Remove 'Em" file label made by Avery. Their label code is 6466. These labels stay on firmly, but come right off with no mess. I stick it at the bottom of the bright, cheerful, less than $2 cup I bought from Wal-Mart for this specific purpose.

I make a little mark for each glass I drink. It just gives me an idea of where I am at. Once I get in the habit of drinking more water, I will stop keeping track. WORKS FOR ME!

S.M.A.R.T. Habits Saturday

2007-03-09T10:45:00.000-08:00

"The Lazy Organizer" does this S.M.A.R.T. Habits Saturday thing which you can check out by clicking on the link above.

I have decided to give it a try so this week's habit for me is going to be keeping my clothes put away. I have always been so terrible about it and it really is embarrassing to be a full fledged adult and still not know how to keep my clothes up off the floor.

The Future Queen's Favorite Things

2007-03-09T06:40:00.000-08:00

I can not believe I am just now remembering to post about this! I guess the excitement of solving the linen closet problem made me forget my excitement over the new under the bed storage that I bought.

I am the proud owner of a long, shallow container on wheels that slides easily in and out from under the bed. It's the kind where the lid opens on both ends so if you so desired you could do a his/hers scenario on either side of the bed. It was less than $13.00 at Wal-mart. And the wheels are the same shade of green as the accents in our bedroom. Will anyone ever see that? No. Does it still make me super happy? Yes!

My original intention was to store my purses, my photo albums, and some books in there. What I failed to take into account was that I have mysteriously accumulated a lot of purses and bags. A woman in my family being a bag lady, fancy that! (Drip, drip, drip goes the sarcasm).

So even after purging the bags that I really, really, really thought that I could part with, I STILL had so many purses and bags that all I had room for was a few older photo albums.

I regret to inform my husband that I will be purchasing yet another under the bed slice of awesomeness on my next trip to Wal-Mart. Unless I go to the new Container Store tonight like I want to, cause then all bets are most definitely off.

Always carry a spare

2007-03-08T06:43:00.000-08:00

I have discovered a whole bunch of new blogs rife with great tips and ideas. The first one comes from "Life in a shoe." Click on the link for a great idea for how to deal with those markers that always seem to be missing a lid.

Cleaning solutions link

2007-03-07T13:42:00.000-08:00

While most of their information will include a shameless plug of their products, S.C. Johnson does have a nice, helpful section on their website known as the "Clean Home Journal."

It could come in handy as a guide on how to remove certain types of stains or clean a material that you haven't cleaned before.

So simple a caveman could do it!

2007-03-06T09:40:00.000-08:00

I don't know why I never thought of this! So simple and so effective.

If you looked at my last post, you would know that I have been unhappy with my linen closet and unable to figure out a way to set it up better until last night.

This morning, I read an old email forward that included the tip to keep your sheet sets organized by putting the top sheet, fitted sheet, and 2nd pillow case all in the 1st pillow case.

I will be doing that tonight!

This simple solution should solve the last of my linen problems. I am a huge geek to be so happy about this.

Why it is more than just cleaning....

2007-03-06T09:24:00.000-08:00

It's a long story, but it ends with the words, "so now my husband's 10 yr old twin cousins are living with us." They are nice kids, but they are 2 girls who have never had much and like to get into(and take) other peoples' stuff. Most especially, it turns out, girly bathroom stuff. We bought them some things of their own, but to a certain extent they were still pillaging.

Solution: Organizing. And I killed two birds with one stone. Maybe three.

Here are the facts:
1. The cabinet under the sink was always in a state of disarray.
2. I was unhappy with the linen closet because the bath towels were shelved too high and the hand towels and washcloths were always falling out when you opened the door due to insufficient organization.
3. I needed to get the stuff under the sink out of the reach of the girls.

NOW, the washcloths are folded and stacked neatly (and cutely) on a little pull out shelf at the top of the cabinets under the sink. Below them are the hand towels. Next to the hand towels are the bath towels rolled instead of folded for maximum space and aesthetic appeal.

The girls can be in the bathroom all day long and I won't be concerned about whether my makeup is being spilled because it isn't in there.

Everything that I want to keep in eye on is in a hallway where they can't get into it unseen and most things they want to get into are out of their reach. This week I have to spend a little more time straightening the closet because I didn't have time last night, but otherwise, I am as happy as can be with this solution.

If you are going to spring clean, read these articles first.

2007-02-28T08:29:00.000-08:00

Kitchen

Bathroom, How to clean your makeup brushes,

What to use to wash your walls depending on the surface

Living Room

Bedroom

Dining Room

Cool tool to help you customize your own checklist

Organizing holidays

2007-02-28T07:34:00.000-08:00

OnlineOrganizing.com has a list of organizing "holidays" (for instance, the Clutter Awareness Week). You can check those out on their website.

I for my part hope to have my own SPRING CLEANING weekend holiday sometime this month. I just have to actually find a free weekend to do it and a place to send all the people who are currently living with me. Cause they can't be in my way. This is serious business.

Saving Energy

2007-02-28T07:26:00.000-08:00

Pop quiz: Which saves more energy, letting your car idle so that you don't have to restart it or turning it off & turning it back on?

Find the answer to this question and more about energy saving here.

For more in depth information about energy and the environment check out the "An Inconvenient Truth" website here.

How does this relate to organization? A desire to be organized generally comes from a desire to live a clean, simple life. Saving energy and caring about the environment is all part of clean, simple life.

Everything AND the kitchen sink

2007-02-27T07:42:00.000-08:00

Here is a Real Simple article on making your kitchen sink area look neat and tidy. I could use it so I thought you might be able to use it as well.

I didn't get to watch Oprah

2007-02-12T12:38:00.000-08:00

But here website always has a synopsis of the show. Just go to oprah.com. I read through it and it was interesting enough, but nothing stood out to me.

Tune In Tomorrow!

2007-02-06T07:50:00.000-08:00

The Oprah Show is all about organizing tomorrow. If I get a chance to watch it, I will report back.

How to clean your keyboard

2007-02-01T14:49:00.000-08:00

Last time around, I went with the get a new keyboard option. Now that I have a new keyboard, I want to keep it nice and it is already getting a little crusty. Here are some detailed instructions on how to keep your keyboard truly clean.

Address Book Organization

2007-02-01T14:47:00.000-08:00

Article from Oprah.com. I used to have a good personal address book in excel, but when I switched computers it got lost in the shuffle. I swear by my Outlook Contact book for work. Now I just need to get the personal one going again.

Straight Line Filing is bringing sexyback

2007-01-27T00:19:00.000-08:00

Maybe my title is a little bit of an exaggeration, but I am now a firm believer in straight line filing. Traditional filing calls for the tab of the folder or the tabs on top of the hanging folders to all be staggered, but the new (to me?) trend in filing is to put these tabs in a straight line.

It puts all of your tabs in one straight line of vision. It is aesthetically pleasing and it prevents you from overlooking a file. If you feel like your filing system is looking a bit ragged, you might want to give this a try.

"Never Check Your Email in the Morning"

2007-01-27T00:13:00.000-08:00

I just finished reading "Never Check Your Email in the Morning" by Julie Morgenstern. I liked this one just as much as the last one (previously reviewed on this blog). Some really great strategies. You might guess that one of them is to put off checking your email when you get to work. You would be correct. So smart you are!!

A quick summary of the reasoning behind this strategy is that you will be more productive if you dive right in to your top priority tasks at work before letting a bunch of lower priority emails distract you.

While I got a lot out of the book (I found the section on thinking like an entrepreneur especially motivating), I think people who are a little higher up in the food chain would find this book even more useful than I did. Some of her strategies would be very hard for me to implement given the peon nature of my work. I am not complaining, I love my job. Those are just the facts.

A tool that I use ALL the time

2007-01-19T12:19:00.000-08:00

Today it is so easy to pay all of your bills and look at the standing of any account that you may have on the Internet. I have created for myself a little spreadsheet that helps me remember all the information I need in order to do such. Obviously, this will contain information that would be disastrous in the wrong hands so I recommend password protecting the file and/or keeping any paper copies in a secure location.

Organization that might just save your life.

2007-01-19T11:36:00.000-08:00

WebMD offers tips on organizing an Emergency/Disaster plan and an emergency supply kit. It also provides links on where to find more information on this potentially life-saving topic.

Fitness Challenge Chart

2007-01-17T14:41:00.000-08:00

Earlier I posted about the Fitness Challenge going on at my gym. I made myself a little check in chart to make sure that I am accomplishing all my missions. I never like the charts the gym gives me. Use it as an idea of how to keep track of your fitness goals.

Now we're cooking

2007-01-17T11:11:00.000-08:00

I am a big fan of allrecipes.com. First off, they have a huge database of recipes. Secondly, for a lot of the recipes you can see comments on the bottom of people who actually made that recipe and how it worked for them, what changes they did/would make, and whether or not it was actually good. LOVE IT!

Today I was on there looking for soup recipes and I noticed that they have a cooking school section. I liked the How-To section (click View All to see all of their How-Tos). Among the How-Tos are step by step guides to chopping garlic, making lattice top pie crusts, kneading dough, chopping fruits and vegetables, and all sorts of other helpful things. They also offer How-To videos, but I don't have the patience to try and watch those on my current computer. It always stutters through videos.

These guides could save me a lot of time since when I don't know what I am doing in the kitchen, I am forced to phone various friends and relatives until I find one who can answer my question.

Tip of the Day

2007-01-17T10:31:00.000-08:00

OnlineOrganizing.com offers a Tip of the Day and I need to follow today's tip in my kitchen. The cabinet that holds my spices is a fiasco. I can't link to their Tip of the Day because it is a pop-up. See tip below.

SUPPLIES: Lazy susans come in all sizes and make it easy to get at items stored in the back of deep cabinets and shelves.

Off the top of my head, I am thinking this could also be a cool little idea for cleaning supplies and under the sink toiletries. I haven't looked, but I bet you could find cheap plastic ones at any discount store.

Cool Tip

2007-01-17T10:27:00.000-08:00

This is a cool tip on how to keep your pictures hanging straight. I am having a problem with one of my pictures staying straight, so I am going to go home and try this. I will let you know if it doesn't work.

A successful New Year's resolution

2007-01-17T08:22:00.000-08:00

As part of a New Year's resolution, my favorite blogger has been organizing her house. Check it out at dooce.com.

Fitness Motivation

2007-01-15T10:41:00.000-08:00

If you have a gym membership, you might want to check into whether or not your gym offers special get in shape programs. Mine does an 8-week "challenge" where you are only competing against yourself. Each week there is a different task that you must accomplish in order to qualify for the next week's task. If you complete all 8 weeks successfully, you get your name put up on the bulletin board and you get your name put in for a prize drawing. The fee is only $5.oo.

For those of us (me), who have a hard time finding the motivation and are drawn to organized programs, this is a sure winner. If your gym doesn't have this kind of program, you might want to talk to the manager about setting one up.

Quick Question

2007-01-15T10:09:00.000-08:00

If your life is out of control enough where you are looking at a list of tips to help get things back under your control; is this really the kind of tip you are looking for?

Real Simple has let me down.

Organizing Your Photos

2007-01-12T09:52:00.000-08:00

Here is a link to an article that lays out an easy, sensible way to organize your digital photos.

Tips with a slice of entertainment.

2007-01-12T09:27:00.000-08:00

If you are looking for more than just some cut and dry list of tips, check out this link. The Organizing Guy is pretty entertaining to me.

A debate

2007-01-11T06:52:00.000-08:00

I JUST finished reading this article from the St. Louis Post Dispatch on the advantages of messiness. While I agree with the idea that to be overly neat, especially with young kids, can be tiresome, but so can being so cluttered that your children don't have room to play in the house. There are people who are just that cluttered.

Last night while I was asleep my husband cleaned the spare room. I use the term cleaned loosely, but at least now there is a clear bed and clear floor space. Somewhere between what a magazine picture says my spare room should look like and how it looked before last night is reality. I don't want everything to be in place every second of the day. I just want it to be organized enough so that when I do decide to clean it, I know where to put everything.

All of this to say, that the conclusion of this debate for me is "moderation in all things."

Martha Stewat Living Cool Idea

2007-01-08T11:27:00.000-08:00

I don't know if I have ever looked at Martha Stewart's Living magazine before, and I am not entirely sure I ever will again. Everything in there seems so complicated! I am more of a Real Simple type girl.

That being said, very cool article about colored chalkboard paint. Lots of neat ideas on how to use (stuff I hadn't thought of before) it in different places in the house, instructions on how to make a calendar out of it, etc. It looked a little complicated, but not outrageously or impossibly so.

This was in the current issue that I found at Barnes & Noble. Can you guess where I went this weekend? (Hint: It was Barnes & Noble)

Better Homes and Gardens: Special Storage Issue

2007-01-08T11:21:00.000-08:00

If you have a kitchen remodel coming up, are building a new house, or have some extra cash burning a hole in your pocket, pick up this special issue. I found it at Barnes & Noble. Really cool looking ideas that seem super functional, but not practical for a lot of people (such as an apartment renter like myself).

It did make me very excited for the day when my husband and I will be proud owners of our own home. So many ideas!

Pretty Home Clutter Solutions

2007-01-05T14:53:00.000-08:00

This link takes you to 3 of the prettiest extra storage options I have seen.

http://tinyurl.com/yd65cf

Enjoy!

As we enter the tax season....

2007-01-05T09:56:00.000-08:00

I offer you this link:

http://tinyurl.com/y4oe27

Listing of tax resources from OnlineOrganizing.com

Organizing From the Inside Out, Julie Morgenstern

2007-01-05T09:06:00.000-08:00

1st things 1st: I don't usually read anything that is non-fiction. I rarely read a self-help book past the 1st chapter, but this book is an easy(and surprisingly engaging) read.

Here is the information that I found to be particularly useful and/or important:

1. Before you go out and buy any kind of container measure the height, width, & depth of what you need to store and the area you are going to store it. When you get to the store, measure the containers that you want. This saves you any unnecessary trips to return items that are too small or too big.

It seems so obvious, but it hadn't occurred to me. Now I will remember to measure the space between my bed and the floor so that whatever containers I buy to store the extra blankets will actually fit under my bed.

2. Page 42 of the book contains a little fill in the blank exercise that is to help you take stock of the problems you want to solve and why. It also helps you find the motivation to get these problems solved. It is an easy little thing to fill out and it really helps you see clearly what needs to be done.

3. On Page 85 in the Traditional Offices and Filing Systems chapter, she suggests creating a file index. Simply put it is an list of the files that you keep and what is in those files. I really like this idea. It helps make filing and finding fast and easy.

Other highlights include a look at why we get or are so disorganized and how we can overcome these psychological and environmental factors, list of Julie's favorite tools for different areas (closets, desks, etc.), and a No-Brainer Toss List for each different area.

Mail System

2007-01-04T10:10:00.000-08:00

My current mail system (and filing system) falls under the category of NONEXISTENT. I throw stuff on my dining room table and from there it either gets pitched or thrown in the "office/spare room/room I try not to look in because it has gotten so bad." However, last night we put in a beautiful new dining room table. It is almost too nice for our apartment. It is so nice that not only do I not want people to ever sit at it, eat at it, or touch it, I also do not want mail strewn all over it.

So here is my big idea: I took 3 pretty colored file folders and I labeled one Current Bills, one Coupons & Such, and one Personal Mail. Then I stapled these 3 folders together. 3 staples on each side and not to close to the top so that I can still reach in and get stuff in and out of them. Then I added sticky backed magnetic strips to the back off this little homemade contraption.

I am going to put this on the side of my fridge where it won't be overly visible, but it will be right above the trash can and very close to my old mail sorter, the dining room table.

Very excited about this. If it doesn't work, I will post about it and let you know why. Otherwise, it is safe to assume that I am the happiest little mail sorter IN THE WORLD.

Also, here is a link to a list put together by OnlineOrganizing. It is a listing of resources to help you reduce junk mail. There are some fees involved with some of them, so it is all about how much it is worth to you. http://www.onlineorganizing.com/UsefulLinksSubCategory.asp?subcategory=endjunkmail

Checklists & Contact Sheets

2007-01-04T09:52:00.000-08:00

http://tinyurl.com/yhe9du

This link will lead you to 19 different checklist/contact sheets in pdf form at Real Simple. They cover everything from Budgeting to Babysitter cheat sheets. I am fond of the 4 in 1 checklist(particularly for the eating out guide...I am always dialing 411). If nothing else, these checklists may give you some starting point ideas for creating these types of lists yourself.

Real Simple Clutter Buster Tips

2007-01-04T08:44:00.000-08:00

http://tinyurl.com/yej2oo

I especially enjoyed the 1st two tips. They reminded me of some of the stuff I read in Julie Morgenstern's "Organizing from the Inside Out" book. I plan to review the book and mention some highlights in a future post. I am about to start reading her 2nd book that is more focused on work.

Catching up

2006-12-28T10:49:00.000-08:00

I haven't posted in 3 weeks because I have been so busy, but I am hoping to catch up very soon.

If hoping was getting, it would be this afternoon.

Organized = Sexy?

2006-12-07T12:54:00.000-08:00

http://tinyurl.com/y9knhz

Daily Organizing Checklist

2006-11-28T14:20:00.000-08:00

http://www.ineedmoretime.com/daily.htm

I just found the "I Need More Time" website, but I have already found lots of good information on this site. You might want to bookmark this one. The link above is for a daily checklist that you might find helps create a really good(but not too restrictive) routine.

How do you really use your time?

2006-11-28T13:23:00.000-08:00

If you really want to look at where all of your time is going, follow this link: http://www.studygs.net/schedule/

I was a little disappointed in myself when I saw how many good hours of the day I am letting slip away just mindlessly channel surfing. What a waste!

Cost of disorganization

2006-11-28T12:18:00.000-08:00

According to Serene Spaces, LLC, the average person spends $3000 and 180 hours PER YEAR to disorganization and clutter.

I can easily see the 180 hours per year, but the $3000 part surprised me. If you would like to read the reasons here is the link: http://www.serenespaces.com/cost_of_disorganization.php

If nothing else has motivated you to get organized, maybe the idea of getting 180 extra hours a year will. Imagine what you could accomplish or how much fun you could have in that amount of time. Or what an awesome shopping spree $3000 would make.

And since we have been talking about purses

2006-11-28T09:46:00.000-08:00

http://tinyurl.com/y9x3rx

So simple, but what a difference it can make.

DIY website

2006-11-28T09:32:00.000-08:00

This website isn't really about organizing, but if part of the reason behind your disorganization is home improvement projects that aren't getting done, you might want to check out this website. It is a DIY website geared towards women.

http://www.bejane.com/

Put this on your list of daily to-do's

2006-11-28T08:21:00.000-08:00

Also entitled: Proof that being clean and organized can save your life(or at least save you from some medical bills).

I love Snopes.com If you haven't heard of this website before, it is a website that researches and reports on urban legends and their origin. I don't put any faith in an email forward until I read about it on Snopes.com.

Maybe you have seen the email about the importance of cleaning off the outside of your purse. If you haven't, check out the following link.

Ladies, I don't know about you, but I will be anti-bacterial wiping my purse from now on because mine is always on the kitchen table.

http://www.snopes.com/medical/disease/purse.asp

Personal Information Management

2006-11-27T14:54:00.000-08:00

http://tinyurl.com/y9vpoe

The above link takes you to Wikipedia and their list of Personal Information Managers (Calendar, Address book, etc.).

I use Microsoft Outlook because it is what has been made available to me at work, but I am going to look into some of these others for at home use. If you keep scrolling down you will see that some of the are free online programs.

I can not make any recommendations about any of them, so proceed with caution.

An article I really need right now....

2006-11-27T10:05:00.000-08:00

And maybe you do too!

It is about not letting missteps or set backs completely wreck your fitness goals. I have been suffering from a serious set back known as laziness. Here's hoping this article helps me start moving forward again.

http://preview.tinyurl.com/zbq6a

Finding Energy to get it done

2006-11-27T09:56:00.000-08:00

Here's an article on finding the energy to get your organizing done:

http://www.getorganizednow.com/art-energy.html

I will be employing this article tonight to get my office/spare bedroom into tip top shape. Now if only there was a tip on how to stay away from the tv when "Heros" and "Studio 60" are on.

I wonder if I can convince my husband that the key to a clean house and an in shape wife is TiVo.

Find a ruthless friend

2006-11-27T09:35:00.000-08:00

I was looking at another HGTV article and it had a tip that has worked for me in the past.

Here is the tip: Ask a friend or relative to help. "You always do better if you have someone looking over your shoulder," she says. It's harder to throw everything into a junk drawer while someone is watching. Link: http://tinyurl.com/c25wc

I think most people have that one box or bag or whatever of "stuff." You know what I mean when I say stuff?"

-Phone Charger to old cell phone
-Batteries (old, new, do you want to lick them and find out?)
-Owner's manuals
-key chain
-cables and various wires
-3 pictures

Okay, now do you know what I mean? That is a pretty close representation of the odds and ends that I find when I pull out a "stuff" container.

What do you need to get rid of a "stuff" container that you don't want hanging around anymore? A ruthless friend. One who forces you to make a decision about EVERY item. If I go through a "stuff" container by myself the end result is a smaller, more organized container, but it is still just a container filled with "stuff" that should have a specific home. When my husband and I moved into our new, MUCH smaller apartment in January 2006, my friend was the one who said, "ummm wasn't this the "stuff" from the bigger box I helped you clean out last time you moved?" And then she forced me to clean it ALL out. ALL. It was great. Painful, but great.

So today's big idea....get a ruthless friend.

HGTV Tips

2006-11-27T09:31:00.000-08:00

Here is a nice article from HGTV. If I didn't have to hide cat litter boxes in my spare bedroom closest, I would turn it into my 'office' in a second. Dang cats! But oh how I love them.

http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/ah_organizing_storage/article/0,,HGTV_3142_1396918,00.html

My goal in the coming weeks is to spend a little bit of money on some different organizing tools. I am definitely going to invest in the low rolling containers that will fit under the bed.

After

2006-11-22T14:53:00.000-08:00

Quite nice. My desk top is very slightly cluttered, but who would know from the lovely countertop?

3 Cheers for countertop!!

Before

2006-11-22T14:47:00.000-08:00

Office Updates

2006-11-21T12:43:00.000-08:00

I should be able to put up before and after photos from the remodeling of my office. Feels good to have it done, now I just have to figure out where I want everything

Dealing w/ stacks of Magazines

2006-11-14T12:07:00.000-08:00

I was flipping through the newest issue of O at Home and the article on had a tip in it that I use myself, but hadn't thought to pass on.

If you keep magazine after magazine for just one article, recipe, or idea consider buying a binder and some page protectors. Cut the desired pages out of the magazine slide them into the page protectors in the binder and voila! No more stacks of magazines and no more searching for that one recipe that you KNOW is in there somewhere.

Linen Closet

2006-11-14T07:12:00.000-08:00

AKA the closet in my home that desperately needs to be dealt with because it is a disaster.

I found this article on Real Simple.com and it has some ideas that I am definitely going to put into practice. I may even buy some of the stuff it recommends, which means this project must be put off until I have a little bit of extra money. I will probably buy the Wal-Mart or Target version though.

Anyways, here is the link:

http://www.realsimple.com/realsimple/content/organize/0,21770,700363,00.html

Let's Wait Awhile

2006-11-14T07:07:00.000-08:00

The installation of our new office "suites" or whatever you want to call them, has been postponed until next Tuesday. Very sad. But I have my before pictures taken, all I need now is the afters.

Tip list for a clutter free desk

2006-11-13T11:47:00.000-08:00

http://www.myorganizedlife.com/archive_select.php?id=109

This is a link to an article about how to keep your desk clear. In my mind, a clear desk is a happy desk. Or okay a clear desk means I am a happy worker. I can't stand having my desk cluttered. You can tell how my day/week is going just by looking on my desk.

Cluttered Desk = Behind on work and Frustrated

Uncluttered Desk = On top of work, if not ahead of the game

I know, it's so "wax on, wax off" isn't it?

Clean Sweep Tips

2006-11-13T10:53:00.000-08:00

http://tlc.discovery.com/fansites/cleansweep/tips/tipsbyroom.html

Above is a link to a list of tips from the show Clean Sweep by room. It is easy to find lists of tips, but it is hard to find a GOOD list of tips. This is one of the better ones.

Random Statistic

2006-11-10T08:47:00.000-08:00

An average 3 bedroom home has this many things in it: 350,000

via http://www.organizedworld.com/

How crazy does that number sound?? For me the question in that statistic is, how much of those 350,000 things do you really need, use, and/or cherish?

Because my bathroom is TINY!!!!

2006-11-10T06:36:00.000-08:00

In a small bath, space is too precious to be taken up by clutter. Pare down your bath countertop to the things you really like or need to have handy, then store the rest. Customize your closets and cupboards with wire racks, bins, and shelves. By putting your possessions in order, you make the most of the space you have.

Source: BHG.com - Better Homes and Gardens online

Organize your way out of the winter blues?

2006-11-10T06:27:00.000-08:00

The link below should take you to an MSN article about beating the "winter blues." I am prone to the winter blues myself. One of the tips is to get organized because it makes your house feel roomier. A great way to combat "cabin fever" is to feel like you have more space.

There are some other good tips in there as well, so check it out.

http://lifestyle.msn.com/HomeandGarden/BeJane/Article.aspx?cp-documentid=1078846

Making your cell phone REALLY work for you

2006-11-10T06:17:00.000-08:00

My cell phone is by no means fancy. It is whatever phone came with my plan when I signed up a few years ago. Still even most basic phones come with a calendar in the tools section and have the ability to put notes in on certain days. If you are as forgetful as I am, you might find it helpful to start setting up reminders on your cell phone calendar.

For instance, if I promise someone I am going to call them at a certain time, I will quickly set up my calendar in my cell phone to ring at that time and then if necessary, I can go look at the note to remind myself why my reminder tone just went off.

It is just one of those little features that are available to people that is often overlooked. You might find that it really works for you.

WORK

2006-11-09T06:38:00.000-08:00

I am an Administrative Assistant at a small - medium sized company. Glamorous, no?
But it does require that I be ultra organized because I am the only admin and I have a lot of different tasks from different people thrown at me on a daily basis.

We are getting new office furniture at work and I could NOT be more excited. I will have more workspace and more storage. Sometimes, I like to just sit and dream about that day ONE week from now when I will get to reorganize everything into a thing of beauty. That being said, I do alright now with what I have got.

What has really worked for me:

1. Making my Outlook work for me.
-I could go on and on about how I use every single feature on Outlook and how much I love it, but instead I will just say: USE FOLDERS for your email. If you have ever had to scroll and scroll and scroll through your inbox trying to find something, Folders will make your life awesome. I organize them by who the email is from and then I have subfolders for what. I also use folders in my sent email.

2. Files in my physical inbox
-I have a vertical inbox that has a bunch of dividers. I have put in those dividers file folders labeled with my most important tasks. When someone puts something in my inbox, I stick it in the appropriate folder. It makes my inbox seem a lot less threatening and cluttered. It also helps me do all similar tasks at the same time. The folder that is most urgent gets moved to the front of the inbox.

I am hoping to be able to post pictures of my new office when it is all set up. Maybe some before and afters. Look for that sometime in the next week or two.