Friday Favorites: Office Organizing!

Happy Friday Y'all!

I woke up this morning with a new attitude - and I needed one!  I have had a hectic couple of weeks and I needed to re-adjust and get back on track.  This morning I decided that it was time to get my act together and stop racing around like a chicken with it's head cut off!

So, my precious assistant Kendal and I are wearing our jeans to the office and we have set aside some time to organize.

I refuse to show you what my desk looks like now but this is what I hope my desk looks like at the end of the day:  clean and ready for a project (I have a few on my to-do list!)

Office of San Francisco interior designer Catherine Kwong.

I needed some inspiration and I wanted to share a little bit of what I found:

My friend Catherine Carr, a professional organizer, has dubbed this "Love Your Files Week." Check out her ideas!

Love this site for fantastic office supplies.

Seven steps for perfect files from See Jane Work.

Check out this amazing built-in bar to home office nook transformation.

I want all of the office supplies on this site. 

Of course it all needs to look great too so I need to set some time aside to do this to some of my frames.  Gorgeous!

Friday Favorites

LOVE this chic post filled with vintage tablesettings.  Image meals with quite a few "dah-lings" and beaucoup des cigarettes!

Love the decor of this home.

So sweet - Tweet! Tweet!

I can't get to the beach because this baby is due soon but I am hoping that maybe this will make me feel like I am there.

So excited that my favorite professional organizer is blogging!  

Back to School Checklist

I love Mom Adgenda Products.  I have spoken about them before on the Gene & Julie Show but I always follow their new items and keep an eye out for things that might be helpful.  They often offer free downloadable checklists and worksheets and they are fantastic!  The latest free help sheet they have created is a fantastic Back To School Checklist.  I also love their Goal Sheets and helpful Holiday Lists.

I also love their School Years Portfolios.  They are fantastic journals to keep photographs, write down memories, and record your childs height, weight and other details.  There is a space to store a report card, a few art or project samples and some writing samples.  It is the perfect book to hold everything you need to keep for an entire school career!  It comes in Aqua, Sage and Rose.  The owner and founder of MomAdgenda says that if her house ever catches on fire, the School Years Portfolios are the first thing she will grab!

Bagadocious' Tips for Taking Care of Your Bags!

Leslie Fuller of Bagadocious makes the cutest dust covers for handbags.  You can place your custom order by sending her a photograph of your handbag and she prints it right on to your bag!  That way, you can protect your bag but know what is inside at the same time!

Here are her tips for caring for your bags:

-Empty out the purse and check it for little things that can get left behind.  Be sure to get out every little piece of trash, candy, and quarter that might get left behind.

-Vacum the inside of the bag and, if possible, every seam and pocket.

-Clean the lining with warm soapy water and a white cloth.  If you are not sure about the material being cleaned, test a small patch on the bottom of the bag.

-Never rub...just Blot Blot Blot.

-Dry the outside of the bag with a hair dryer.  If you don't dry the bag completely, it can mildew and be ruined.

-Add a fragrance sachet.

-Stuff your purse with a plastic bag.  Be sure it is almost overstuffed to help keeps it's shape.

-Criss cross the hands or straps across the bag so that they don't crease.  Don't completely close the bag so that you can keep air flow.

-Use an envelope or drawstring storage bag and always store your bags off the floor.

To order your own bag,  watch Leslie's video on You Tube for a 20% discount and ordering instructions.

How to remember Birthdays!

My gracious!  Although I have the best intentions, I miss the birthdays of so many of my friends!  One tool that has really helped me is www.birthdayalarm.com.  I simply list the birthday's of my friends and family and the website sends me an email both two weeks in advance and the day before!

I try to keep a stock of great cards at home in a card file I created. Some people use a binder with pockets to store their cards but I use a shoe box with tabs in it to separate cards by occasion.  I made a card file for my grandmother using an accordion file as well.  When I have a few extra minutes at a store I browse the card section and purchase a bundle to file away for the perfect occasion.  Then, when I get an emailed birthday reminder, I have the cards right at my fingertips.

Time to Trim Your Tree

So many of my friends continue their family tradition of dining on left-overs and trimming their tree the day after Thanksgiving.  I love decorating our tree!  Here are some tips to make Tree-trimming a bit easier:

 - Start by putting on the lights.  It should always be step one!  After the lights are up (and working!) you can add garlands and then the ornaments.

 Tip: Keep your empty wrapping paper rolls this year and use them to store your Christmas Lights.  Simply cut a notch into the end of the cardboard roll and stick the end of the lights there with the plug tucked inside of the roll.  Then wind the lights around the roll and tuck the end into the other side of the roll!  It makes for easy storage and easy unwrapping next year!

-It is always easiest to work from the inside out with your lights.  Wrap the inside of the tree first and then move to the outer branches of the tree.

-Separate your ornaments in to special show-stoppers and basic fillers.  Start by hanging your basic fillers on the "inside" of the tree to add depth and dimension to your decor.  Finish the tree by hanging your special ornaments on the tips of the branches.  Consider tying them on to the branches using a pretty ribbon to set them apart.

Plum Life

If you are one of those people who leads a hectic lifestyle that includes needing to manage a family full of schedules, you are probably feeling the heat right about now!  School has started.  Homework is hectic.  Soccer Games, Ballet Class and Back to School Parties are all being juggled.    It is crazy hard to keep it all straight!  
Well....you are in luck because Dallasite Regen Fearon has developed a software that might just make you sane again!  No more placing your mobile phone down in the fridge while you reach in a rush for a juice box before school and not finding it again until dinner time (yes....I actually did that).  No more miscommunications with the hubby about who was scheduled to pick up your children from school.  This is the perfect calendar software for anyone on the go who needs to grab on to their last shred of sanity!
They have a wonderful video on their website, www.plumlife.com that explains many of the benefits of the software and they are giving free six-month subscriptions to our listeners and readers if you sign up for one month at $9.99. Simply use the code KIM06.  That is so nice!  
Want to hear something even nicer?  Founder, Regen Fearon, is personally willing to chat with any one of you who wants to know more about the software and how it can help you! She is happy to talk/email with any of you to help you set up PlumLife so it best fits your particular situation.  You can reach her by using the Give Feedback or Contact Us buttons on the site.

Get Buttoned Up!

I love the organizational tips and tools at Get Buttoned Up.  They are fantastic!  Their daily tips are terrific and their free forms are fantastic too!  My favorite free form is the Goal sheet that helps you outline the steps you need to take to reach your goal!  I am really good at writing down my goals but outlining how to get there is another story!  This makes it easy.

I also love their Life.doc binder.  It comes with a great CD that allows you to fill out the forms on your computer and insert them into the binder or email them to others.  It is a great place to hold all of life's important information from your family's emergency plan and health information to legal and budget info.  It is not fun stuff but it is laid out in a fantastic way that makes it easy to organize.
 The also have a binder for your pet's information, school organization and notepads to help you organize.  Get yourself buttoned up today!

Administrative Assistants Day is Tomorrow!

Don't forget to do something special for the person who is always doing helpful things for you!  Tomorrow is Administrative Assistants Day!  Although a beautiful bouquet is really nice, adding a gift is a really nice touch.  Here are a few of my gift suggestions:
-A membership to a fun club that will suit your assistant's personality.  You could do a Blockbuster By Mail membership, The New York Times Crossword Puzzle Society, or a Membership to a local institution such as the Dallas Arboretum or the Nasher Sculpture Center.

-I love anything Lavender because it is so relaxing!  If your assistant spends a lot of time at the computer then this Lavender scented Computer Keyboard Pillow is the perfect gift.  

-If your assistant likes to laugh then check out the fantastic products made by Knock Knock!  Their notepads, file folders and paperclips look serious but when you read the fine print, you are sure to laugh! I adore the file folders with phrases like "Useless Documents to Provide Appearance of Importance in Meeting" and "Stuff to hide from Boss, Spouse, or Otherwise Nosy Individual."  

Time to store your winter clothing!

Yeah! After a few false alarms, I think it is now officially time to store our winter clothing! I have heard from a bunch of friends that they started to put their cold weather clothing away only to be surprised by our recent snow storm! If you think it is finally time to stick it away for next winter, here are a few tips for storing your off season clothing:

-Make sure your clothing is clean before you put it away. Clean clothing is less likely to attract insects. Also, if you put dirty clothing away, the dirt is likely going to set into your clothing and make a stain that might be impossible to remove!

-Line your boxes with Acid Free tissue paper to keep your clothing from turning colors or getting damaged.

-Avoid plastic containers that do not breathe potentially causing mildew and mold. The best storage is a clean suitcase that you are not using!

-Avoid mothballs (they are poisonous and stinky too!) and use cedar chips instead.

-Never hang your clothing to store it as it can get pulled out of shape. Always fold it!

My New Tattoo!

Kelly Ripa just got one. Jesse James obviously loves them. I thought it should be my turn! That's right! I got a new tattoo! OK....I admit...It is not going to last as long as theirs do but my tattoo will be more useful than any other! I picked up the To-Do Tattoo last week and I am so excited. For $3.50 I will have a new way to remember what my To-Do list includes. This cool kit includes 12 to do form tattoos that are meant to go on the palm of your hand. It also includes a skin-safe, washable-ink gel pen so that you can fill it in. So clever!

Annual Appointments

One of the fantastic tips I got from a friend recently was to take some time at the beginning of the year to schedule all of your families medical appointments. It is so easy to let a year slip by with out these essential appointments and if you take the time to schedule them properly you will have the time to prepare for them and to get the most out of them. Take an hour to schedule your regular Dentist, Pediatrician, Vet and Doctor appointments now! Here are a few tips to help you get the best appointments:

-Call from a quiet place with few distractions and call at a convenient time. Most offices get the most calls in the 30 minutes after they open. Unless it is an emergency, wait until an hour after they open to make your call. Never call at lunch time or in the hour before they close. You will not get the best attention on the other end of the line!

-Select a few ideal times and dates before you make the call and begin by asking if those appointments are available

-Collect your personal information before you call. You may be asked for Social Security numbers and Health Insurance information.

Other things you can do with Wine!

I love getting my magazines every month and I was fascinated by a little booklet sent to me by Real Simple Magazine as a Thank You for renewing my subscription. Inside the booklet was a great list of extraordinary uses or ordinary things and I loved the suggestions they had for wine bottles and corks.

• Use a pair of empty bottles as bookends. I love this idea! We often use our wine bottle as a "guest book" of sorts at special occasion dinners. We pass around the bottle and a gold or silver marker and everyone will write a message. We always put the date and occasion at the top and then keep the bottle in a wine closet. Now we can put those mementos of special occasions out on a shelf to hold up books.
• An empty wine bottle is a perfect rolling pin!
• A pair of empty bottles is a great way to keep your boots up when you are not wearing them!
• Use the cork to cap the end of a knife before you put it away. Not only will it keep the knife from getting dull but it will also keep things safe!
• Poke your small stud earrings into a cork and throw it in your travel bag. No worries about loosing those itty bitty accessories any more!

Photo Perfect!

I love looking through old photos but I get so overwhelmed trying to keep them organized! Especially now that we have JR because he is so funny and we are constantly trying to snap "cheeses" of him! He loves it! Here are some fun ideas and ways to keep your photos organized!

• Julie told me that she uploads all of her images to Kodak Gallery on the first of every month. I love that idea! That way they are organized chronologically and you can always find what you are looking for! She also makes a book for each month it is mailed to in an organized and memorable fashion. Shutterfly offers a similar product as does iPhoto. It is instant scrapbooking!
• I have an addiction to printing photos out. I know it sounds a bit old fashioned but I like to send them out to friends and frame the really good ones. I store my prints in boxes like this one. I just make a tab every time I add in a new event. It works really well as long as I don't let a big pile back up! My mom uses boxes too but instead of putting them in by event or date, she devotes a box to each member of the family and has others for group shots. It is a matter of preference. I also love the organizing tools from Exposures.com
• If you have old family photos or photographs that are very special, you might consider investing in some materials to help you keep them safe. There are so many special products designed to prevent discoloration and deterioration. Check some out here.
• I like to leave out a basket of bowl of photographs on my coffee table for people to peek through when they are over. I typically fill it with duplicates so that they can feel free to take the image home if they like it.
• If you are looking for a way to give your holiday snapshots a new look, upload them to Rollip. You have options for a dozen different effects that are so cool! They can give your photo beautiful textures and faded colors that old photographs used to have. You will love it!
• Another cool website that you can give your images a new look is All Pop Art. Send them your photograph and they can turn it into a Warhol-esque masterpiece or print it on canvas.

Put a Lid on It! New Years Organizing Tips from All In A Row!

Top 10 Organizing Tips for the New Year

1. Keep it simple – Pick one small area and decide to get it purged, sorted, and organized and then maintain that area during the year.

2. Less is more – If you want to take control of your space you have to eliminate clutter. Donate unused or excessive items (do you really need 10 different coats or 20 dish towels?) to your favorite charity and get a tax write off.

3. Find a purpose – Designate a shelf for a particular purpose “yoga accessories” or “guest bedroom sheets” and only put items pertaining to that purpose on that shelf.

4. Your labeler is your best friend – Mark what each shelf is used for with the help of a label it will take the stress off of you and other people in your house because everyone will know where to put things away.

5. Ask for help – If you’re really stuck in one project, call an organized friend and talk your concerns over with her, take your issue to the container store, their staff is very friendly and willing to brainstorm a solution with you, or call all in a row!

6. Put a lid on it – Contain your projects or like items together so they’re easy to keep up with – keep all your knitting needles, yarn, etc. in one bag and make it your knitting bag.

7. Save time – Locate an area closest to the door you use most in your home and create a space to keep your purse, keys, and sunglasses. Practice consistently putting your things in this area and you’ll always know where they are when it’s times to head out.

8. Lighten your load – Open your mail close to the trash and recycling and immediately let go of credit card offers, catalogues you don’t read, and any other items that might pile up forgotten in a corner.

9. Make a list – Before heading out to run all those errands, take a few minutes to plan your route. This will save you time and gas when you’re out on the town.

10. Practice the attitude of gratitude – Remember to take time to be grateful and have fun while you organize. This will change the work from a task to a positive experience.

My quest to remember every birthday was improved upon this year when I enlisted the help of a few tools!

-I started out writing out all of my friends birthday's in a perpetual calendar. I like this Andy Warhol calendar for it's bright iconic images. It is great when I remember to look at it! It is certainly helpful to a certain extent and I continue to keep it up but this next tool was the key to keeping on top of these special days.

-Birthdayalarm.com is an easy to use website that will send you an email reminder for all of the special occasions that you want to commemorate. I set mine to send me a reminder ten days in advance and then again the day before. This way, I can send a card or gift and call! I like to enter my dates manually but there is also a tool to send your friends an email that will allow them to enter their birthday's automatically. Their e-card feature is really convenient but nothing beats a real card sent by snail-mail and a phone call.

Calling all Moms!

I am so impressed with all mothers who juggle it all! Work, kids, fun, exercise. I could not believe my ears when I heard that business owner, Nina Restieri, the Founder and President of momAgenda LLC, is a mother of 4! How does she have time for herself? She keeps organized with her products from momAgenda! The attractive products allow a mom to manage her own schedule and that of up to four children in one place with their unique week at a view layout. The calendars start with the new school year in August and many of them run for 17 months. The fun, feminine designs are practical and stylish and they were designed for moms and by moms. Right now all Desktops are 25% off so it is a great time to take get your hands on this life saver! I also love the down loadable lists and forms they offer on their website. Check out their holiday shopping, card and gift lists!