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Thanks for visiting my blog. Hope you find some helpful hints for organizing your time and space. My passions are to help you make home a refuge instead of a crisis center, and to help you function in peace rather than chaos - at home or at work. I have switched my main blog to 1-2-3 ... Get Organized on WordPress, so please visit me there.
Here's an article I found in the January 4 Washington Post by Terri Sapienza about her search for the perfect paper planner. If you're a paper lover, this might help your search:
"For longer than I care to remember, the following items have occupied the top spots on my New Year’s resolutions list: exercise every day, organize the basement and find the perfect daily planner.
While I can almost guarantee the first two items will make a repeat appearance in 2013, I have made it my mission to scratch the last one off my list for good. But deciding on a personal calendar system is more difficult than it sounds.
I want a month-at-a-glance calendar with boxes big enough to write in; something that can sit open on my desk, can be easily tossed into my bag and is stylish. (No cutesy covers, please.)
Simple, right? Apparently not, because every year I find myself flailing planner-lessly well into March before settling on something out of sheer necessity.
Yes, I know: There’s this thing called technology, and it can make my life easier.
But I’m a paper person. And nothing, not even my arsenal of Apple products, is going to sway me to the other side.
There is something supremely satisfying and reassuring about scheduling an appointment or writing a to-do list by hand. And getting to cross one of those items off when completed? For a task-oriented person, there are few things better.
Another clear advantage of paper? Permanence. Once I write something down, I know it will not suddenly, and without warning, disappear. As paper company Graphic Image says on its Web site, its products are “crash proof.”
Like me, Sarah Pinto searched for years for a paper planner that worked for her. She eventually gave up and decided to create her own. In 2007, the San Francisco resident launched www.sarahpinto.com, an online company that sells planners, notebooks and postcards.
“I’m a visual person,” she says. “Even if I make a grocery list on my iPhone, I write a paper list, too.”
Also like me, she has no plans to become paperless.
“I worry about my phone dying,” she says, “or things being accidentally deleted by my kids.”
Because creating my own planner isn’t going to happen (see: exercise and basement organization, above), I went to some of my go-to sources to find a 2012 calendar.
I browsed the Paper Source, Kate’s Paperie, Graphic Image, Moleskine and See Jane Work and found lovely options, but none that met my exact needs. They were too big, too small, too bulky or too trendy or included too many for pages for extraneous things, such as expenses, anniversaries, addresses and maps. Some appeared perfect until I looked inside and realized the calender format was wrong for me.
Finally, I went to one of my favorite Web sites for office supplies, Russell & Hazel,and found a potential winner. (Caution to discerning paper people: Visiting this site can be hazardous to your bank account. You’ll want one of everything.)
Its 10 3/4-by-12 SmartDate planner is a build-it-yourself system that allows me to choose everything according to my needs and my style. I could opt for daily, weekly or monthly calendar views, or all three, and add things such as ruled sheets, index dividers and address pages. Or not. There is a 7-by-9 mini version, still big enough to easily write in, which would allow me to keep the planner open on my desk or easily toss it into my bag.
And there are accessories such as rubber bands and pretty, pink to-do pads, that I would probably find impossible to pass up on. (Because, really, besides the perfect planner, they are essential to keeping my life running smoothly.)
Customization comes at a cost, however. When I was finished building my system, my shopping cart totaled $73. But, if this system works for me, I should have to shell out only for the calendar ($18) and filler paper refills ($10) in the future.
Overall, it sounded like a great fit, but I wanted to find out more. So I called Chris Plantan, founder and owner of Russell & Hazel, to get her thoughts.
Plantan started her high-end stationery and office supply company as an e-commerce site in 2003. Since then, Russell & Hazel has blossomed into a thriving business that has seen double-digit growth five years in a row, says Plantan.
“While we are all tech dependent . . . there is a big segment that still loves paper,” she says. “We still make lists, we still print out information, and we still file and keep important documents. It is difficult to do everything we need to do in a day on a screen, whether mobile or desktop.”
Plantan says the binder-based system is one of the company’s best-selling items, with sales growing 20 to 30 percent every year.
She uses a mini system herself: a silver binder filled with month tabs, daily sheets and a mini notebook.
“I have things written down, I have things clipped to it. . . . My personal and professional things are all in one place, and I can take it with me,” she says. “It ends up being a journal of sorts, and it’s fun looking back. I keep mine every year.”
Simple, smart and stylish.
Sold."
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More on planners:
It's so much more fun decorating for Christmas than putting it all away, isn't it? While we're doing it, though, we may as well make it easier for next year.
I usually undecorate by room: I store all the decorations I use in the living room, for example, in the same box. Then when I decorate next year, the living room Christmas decorations box goes in the living room and voila! it's so simple. If your tree decorations are used in the living room, though, store them separately.
When you get your Christmas storage boxes out to return the decorations you used, are there decorations still in the boxes that you didn't use? Ask yourself why you didn't use them. If you don't really love them, you might consider getting rid of them. Donate them to a family member, someone just starting out with few decorations, or a local charity.
If your decorations are valuable, but you don't like them, consider selling them on eBay, Craigslist, or a local consignment shop.
If they are sentimental, but you have too many, ask family members who share the sentiment if they'd like them. Or, for example, if they belonged to your parents, see if people who cherished your parents would like some decorations in memory of them.
I store my Christmas things in large, clear plastic containers by Sterilite (you can get them at Target, Walmart, etc.). I then slip a paper labeled with the contents and location down the side of the container so it shows on the side of the box. Next year, when I bring my boxes in, I know what's in each one and to which room it goes. If you can still find them, you can buy red or green clear boxes for your Christmas items to make them even more easily identifiable.
Look at those things that just seem to multiply like rabbits - cookie tins, Christmas platters, Christmas mugs, etc. How many are enough? Then donate the rest. Or use cookie tins for storage elsewhere in your house - they're great for sewing items. Or repurpose those Christmas platters next year - give them away with goodies loaded on them. I won't tell! :)
Get rid of all those sad looking bows and wrapping paper you think you might reuse. Tissue paper and gift bags are easily reused. Even gift tags. But unless wrapping paper has sentimental value, recycle the old stuff. It's too hard to use it without all those tape marks showing up. And besides, when you buy it after Christmas, it's a bargain! And it's much more inspiring to wrap gifts when the paper is new and crisp.
Speaking of wrapping paper, you may consider getting one of those tall gift wrap containers if you have a lot of wrapping paper on rolls. I got one yesterday at Bed, Bath and Beyond.
If you were given Christmas decorations you don't like, get rid of them, too! Getting rid of something that was given to you by someone you love, doesn't diminish your love for them. They won't even notice. And if they do, you can say, "I didn't find it this year." It's true. It's not a lie. You didn't find it because it wasn't there!!
When I put up my Christmas decorations, I remove regular decorations and place them in my Christmas boxes. That way, I know where to find them again! When you're taking out your regular decorations again, ask yourself if you love them. You may want to purge them, too!
The moral of the story: reduce the number of Christmas boxes you must get out next Christmas by getting rid of stuff you don't like or use. You will be so proud of yourself now and you'll make life much easier next Christmas!
More on Christmas decorations:
Happy New Year! I wish you many blessings and exciting opportunities in 2012!
Our family has had a wonderful time together over the holidays. Our daughter Comfort and her husband Steve put a bid on a house during this time. Sadly, our daughter Sara is leaving us tomorrow. But I guess we all need to get on with our lives. Couldn't have asked for a sweeter time as a family.
I'm excited for 2012, as I have some new adventures going on. As I mentioned in an earlier blog, my Three Steps to Decluttering is on Kindle. Well, I've been busy ...
I now have five books on Kindle:
Three Steps to Decluttering
Three Steps to Organizing Your Office
Three Steps to Organizing Your Kitchen
Three Steps to Organizing Your Child's Room
Three Steps to Time Management for the Stay-at-Home Mom
I'm hoping to put the rest of my books on Kindle in the next week or so. These were written for the organizationally overwhelmed. Pretty appropriate for Get Organized month, don't you think? :) We're all kind of ready to get life back under control after the holidays.
I'll be posting more ideas on getting organized in the new year this month.
Merry Christmas to you and yours! We are celebrating with both our daughters and son-in-law here. We've learned how to geo-cache, shared meals together, played games, cooked and baked together, laughed, and had great discussions. We look forward to another week of the same. Most of all we are grateful for the Reason for the season!
Blessings on your Christmas and New Year - Bev
I've been working with a client who has Alzheimer's. We organized her closet and dresser a couple of days ago. Today we are going to label shelves, drawers, and closet space.
Why? Because, even though she was present when we organized, and we talked about where we had placed her things, she is already putting things away in random places.
Having the labels as prompts will help her "remember" where to put things. This system can also be used in the kitchen, bathroom and other locations where things are stored.
It's frustrating for those who cannot remember simple things as well as for those caring for them. Labeling can remove a bit of that frustration for everyone involved.
More on Alheimer's:
I have written an iPhone app called Upscale Express Dinners, recipes for one or two people that are upscale yet quick and inexpensive. Meals have an average cost of less than $5 per person.
It's four weeks of simple recipes with grocery lists and easy instructions.
You don't need to actually cook the meals, although it would be nice if you cooked a couple. What I really want is for you to get a feel for the app. Is it easy to use and maneuver? How do you like the look? Other likes and/or dislikes?
So, I need some app users to see if this app is pleasant to use. Just look it over for a few days and give me your review.
If you're interested in helping out, please comment below, or you can email me at Bev@1-2-3GetOrganized.com.
Thanks so much for your help!
Instead of letting leftovers grow green fuzz, it's fun to repurpose them into a quick meal. Not only is it efficient, but it's economical, too. And you may be able to disguise leftovers into something new for those who object to leftovers.
Last week I had some leftover bruschetta from our Christmas party, and some leftover rice from a previous meal. So I defrosted some tilapia and cooked it in a non-stick skillet with the bruschetta and heated up the rice in the microwave. With some grapes, it made a complete, very tasty and quick five-minute meal.
Whenever I cook rice, I always cook extra. Even if I don't use it in the next few days, I'll freeze it and defrost it in the microwave when I need it, saving time. Fried rice is another meal option, too.
Of course, a big pot of soup is a wonderful catch-all. It's a great meal the day before grocery shopping - a nice way to get rid of all those little bits of veggies and leftovers. Spice it boldly with pepper or some red pepper flakes to give it a zing!
We had a ham steak recently, and I put the bone and some leftover ham in split pea soup later in the week and made a butternut and ham bisque another time.
Leftover pasta goes nicely in stir fries. Or mix it with Italian dressing, your choice of veggies, meat, and cheese, and it's a pasta salad for dinner tomorrow night! I'm not too fond of pasta in soups, though, as it gets soggy if it's cooked very long.
When I cook London broil, I cook twice what we need and it morphs into a stir fry or fajitas on another day.
I always feel such a satisfaction when I can turn my leftovers into a tasty second meal, and especially so if it's a quick one. What about you?
More on leftovers:
I discovered these clever bathroom organizing and space-saving ideas from Martha Stewart. Two of them include how-to instructions. Hope you enjoy them!
"Make space for supplies over the bathroom door so that they'll be accessible when they need to be replenished without cluttering under-the-sink cabinets. Get the How-To"
"No room for a bathroom cabinet? Install a hotel-style multitiered rack on the wall next to the tub to hold bath towels and washcloths."
"Maximize usable space in a tiny medicine cabinet by making use of magnets. Get the How-To"
I especially love the magnetic medicine cabinet! What about you?
More on bathroom organizing:
In my humble opinion, one irritation in life is gathering up hangers for doing laundry. I try to hang clothing immediately upon taking them out of the dryer so I want a stash of hangers handy.
Lately, when getting dressed, I have started putting the empty hangers in the laundry hamper with the dirty clothes. Then when I take my hamper to the laundry room, the hangers go with me. No extra step of digging through the closet to find hangers.
As you may remember, I sort my laundry into whites, lights, darks, and towels with four laundry hampers. When one gets full, it's time to do a load of laundry without making a huge mess sorting.
Laundry is a never-ending decluttering chore - why not make it a little more pleasant?
More on laundry:
Here's the final installment of my Destressing Christmas 2011 series. How appropriate for December 1! I hope this month is joyous, meaningful, and destressed!
I'm hosting a Christmas party Friday night, which I love! Cleaning, shopping and getting ready today. :) On to our topic for today:
It seems that our country is drowning in clutter! Our kids have so many toys, their rooms are overflowing. We have to rent storage units to hold our excess stuff.
This Christmas and throughout the year, consider giving memories instead of clutter. Give experiences! I've talked about some of these before, but they are worth repeating. :)
One year my parents were visiting us at Christmas when we lived in the DC area. Their gift from us: tickets for them to take our daughters to the Nutcracker at the Kennedy Center.
For one daughter's 16th birthday, we took her and her boyfriend (now husband) to see Stomp! in lieu of having a party. For our other daughter's birthday one year, we went to the play Little Women (one of her favorite books) followed by high tea, reminiscent of our time living in Kenya.
I have a dear friend who has four boys. Each time one graduates from high school, he gets to pick where in the country the family will go for vacation that year.
For my parents' 50th wedding anniversary, all four of us siblings typed out a tribute to them, framed them in gold frames, and presented them on a family vacation.
This year we celebrated their 60th and my brother created a video incorporating interviews he had done with mom and dad as well as photos throughout their lives. It was just a family affair - the four siblings and our children. We siblings each toasted my parents - what a wonderful memory and special time together!
Speaking of my parents, once when our girls stayed with them, my mom walked them around the neighborhood telling them about our neighbors who lived there when I was growing up. It included a trip to Midway Grocery, a tiny little grocery store where I and my siblings would go to buy candy. They still have fond memories of that experience!
When we lived in Kenya, my gift to the guys on our team was a dozen cookies every month for a year. Even though they were material objects, they didn't stay around long enough to create clutter!
When we visited one of our daughters this year, we decided to choose one five-star restaurant rather than several average places to eat. It made a fun and delicious memory!
Considering what your loved one or friend likes is the key. Here are some other ideas:
- If it is expensive, you may be able to team up with others. If Uncle Jim wants to celebrate his 80th birthday by sky diving or going for a hot-air balloon ride, have family members chip in.
- Share the experience. Accompany your friends or family to the event to make a joint memory.
- Give your time. Bring lunch over to auntie's and spend a couple of hours with her. Or babysit for a young mom who needs some time out of the house.
- One of our daughters is contemplating a ski day as one of her gifts this year, since we are so close to good skiing and she'll be here for Christmas.
Your gift experiences don't need to cost a lot. The only limit is your creativity!
More on no-clutter gifts:
A few years ago, the Ball Claw people asked me to do a review of their, at that time, new product - a new way to store athletic balls. Unfortunately, I never did the review. So now I will make up for it.
The Ball Claw is an ingenious way to store those hard-to-store athletic balls. It comes with just a few screws, grips the ball, and can be used in various places - even in your car trunk! Here are some options:
They're inexpensive ($11.99), simple to use, and make use of vertical space, rather than taking up floor space or closet space. Both of our girls are athletes - if we had only had the Ball Claw then! If you have athletes in the house, this product may be an answer to your athletic gear clutter!
More on organizing sports gear:
We got a lot of snow last weekend - it looks like a winter wonderland here. Here's a picture of our front yard. Doesn't it look like it could be a Christmas card?
Speaking of Christmas cards:
Sending out Christmas cards can seem like an overwhelming and costly task. Here are some ways to make it more doable.
- Send out digital Christmas cards or letters to as many people as possible. I know this offends some, but at least your message gets out. I like sending and receiving letters - catching up with our friends. When I receive a Christmas card with only a signature, I know my friends are alive, but that's about all!
You can email your letters or you can use an email service, like iContact.
If you have a blog, you can post your Christmas letter on your blog, too. If you want to get fancy, you could make a video Christmas greeting and put the link on your social networks.
- If you write a Christmas letter, make it no longer than one side of a page. It's cheaper to print and most people won't read more than that. It forces you to be economical with your words!
- Use your TV time or traveling time (if you're the passenger!) to address Christmas cards. You're doubling your time while enjoying yourself, too!
- Get the family involved. Your family members can help fold, stuff, seal, and stamp your cards and letters.
- In January, update your snail mail Christmas card list as you sort through your Christmas cards. Then you're set when it comes time to send out your cards next year.
However you do Christmas cards, your friends and family will love to hear from you!
More on reducing Christmas stress:
Just wanted to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving. Hope your day is filled with remembering your blessings. :)
Are you gearing up for holiday shopping? If you are a Black Friday shopper, the following links contain Black Friday ads for major retailers, so you can plan your strategy. Kohl's and Target are opening at 12 midnight on Thanksgiving Day, with Walmart opening at 10 pm.
Black Friday Ads
Black Friday
If however, you would rather shop from your armchair, Cyber Monday may be your preference.
Of course, the top Cyber Monday retailer is Amazon, whose sales have already started:
To find more Cyber Monday ads, go to:
Cyber Monday or Dealio.
Happy shopping!
More on shopping:
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