Virtually Organized

Virtually Organized Product Review: Tool Buddies

Recently I tried out two organizational gadgets by PacEasy Inc.:  Tool Buddies® and Pet Buddies®. According to the company's co-founder, Gretchen Frankenstein, these unique organizers were created by the company's founders themselves to solve the real-life problem's of their own friends and family.

Things to Think About Before You Buy:

These organizers are designed to hold specific types of tools and supplies.  If you have more screwdrivers than slots on your Tool Buddie, you may need more than one of these organizers.  Additionally, you must plan to hang these where you have enough wall space to accommodate their length.  I would not recommend hanging them on the back of a door, as there is no way to secure the bottom of the organizer and prevent it from slammingg against the door every time you open or close the door.                                                       

Things I Love About It:

The Tool Buddies and Pet Buddies are made out of high-quality, strong canvas with elastic strips. As tool holders, these are sure to get lots of wear and abuse, but they are made to withstand heavy use. I also appreciate the flexibility of the narrow and wide versions, as well as the assortment of colors available.  The price is actually pretty reasonable ($16 for the wide Tool Buddies and $20 for the wide Pet Buddies at OrganizedLiving.com)

To Buy or Not to Buy?

If you have a small tool collection, or you want to neatly organize a second area in your house or garage for tools, Tool Buddies are an excellent option.  And using Pet Buddies near your four-legged-friend's area of the house would help keep Fido's clutter organized, too. Just be sure to take stock of what you will store in the pockets before you purchase, so you are sure your stuff will have an appropriately-sized home.

I think these Buddies are a good value if you can fully utilize the pockets and tabs each organizer comes with.  It's certainly a better option than no storage, and with a specific home for each item, you are much more likely to put everything back where it belongs for the next time you need it.

How do you store YOUR pet supplies and overflow of tools? Leave me a comment to share your methods.

Simply yours,

Oh Lovely Lists, What Would I Do Without You?

I love to write lists. It’s how I de-clutter my head and focus my thoughts. A brain dump, if you will. My lists serve as a tangible memory, freeing up mental space for even more thoughts and ideas. I make all the typical household lists: grocery lists, to-do lists, honey-do lists. However, I take it a step further by making household-project lists, errands-to-run-this-week lists, goals-for-my-businesses lists, articles-to-write lists. The list of lists could go on forever! And while my Blackberry-toting husband has repeatedly tried to get me to go high tech, I just can’t give up the pencil and notepad version. I need to be able to physically touch them; to manually strike through the completed items. Otherwise, they don’t have the same motivating and productive affect on me.

The disconnect with my method, though, is that despite my love for lists, I can’t STAND paper clutter; it’s one of my all-time biggest pet peeves. The thought of random sticky notes plastered all over gives me the heebie jeebies! Plus, I like having my lists accessible. If I’m at home, I want to be able to put my hands on my honey-do list the minute hubby is in the mood for handy work (it doesn’t hit often, so I strike when I can!). Yet, when I’m on the road between clients and have extra time, I need my errands list so I can use my time productively and get a few chores crossed off. The perfect tool for me and my lovely lists are Planner Pads.

This calendar has all of the typical features of most planners (contacts, month- and week-at-a-glance), but the list-making feature make Planner Pads indispensable! I carry my planner everywhere, so there’s never a chance of being without my precious lists. For those of you who are list-lovers like me, I would highly recommend it! Besides the month-at-a-glance pages, which are great for long-range planning, each week is displayed in a 2-page spread that is designed to work like a funnel to prioritize, organize and plan your activities and commitments.

                   

According to the description on the Planner Pads web site:

“1) The top section replaces long lists written on tablets. . . a place where you can organize business and personal activities by category. The horizontal layout gives you maximum visibility. As you plan, it makes it easy to group like activities and see all that needs to be accomplished ... CATEGORIZE

2) The middle section is your daily activity plan. Select things that need attention from the top section. Assign specific days for action ... PRIORITIZE

3) The lower section is your "appointment book." Schedule people to see, meetings to attend, and personal activities... SCHEDULE “

Although it may seem like it, I honestly do not work for this company! Not even as an affiliate. I just love this method of managing my dear, lovely lists. These are just my opinions, so you’ll have to judge for yourself, but if you have any questions, shoot me an email or visit the Planner Pads site. Just make sure you add researching the Planner Pad to your list of things to help you get, and stay, organized!

Happy list-making!

Simply yours,

5 Ways to Add Some "Glam" To Your Home or Office Organization

Pretty products that are also functional can make me smile. Glamorous products that make organizing easy?  Well, they just make me downright giddy!

So today, I'll spread that giddy feeling by sharing some of my recent pretty finds for storing and organizing around your home and office.

The Organized Parent has these great collapsible hampers.  What a classy way to store your dry cleaning, laundry or items that need mending. These are so pretty you may even start to enjoy these chores (okay, maybe not, but at least you'll feel fashionable while you tackle them!).

If you keep kids' toys in your main living areas, this would be a sophisticated way to conceal them.  And when company comes you can either just lift and stash them, or keep them out to show off, admire and adore!

                                

See Jane Work has these beautiful fabric covered bindersthat can double as lovely accents to your room.  They are extra thick and wide enough to function as a gorgeous family resource binder for an active household, a recipe binder for your cherished meals, or an attractive system for organizing and storing your major appliance owner's manuals and instructions. Everyday paper never had it so good!.

                                  

These bamboo organizersfrom The Container Store are simple, yet elegant. It's almost a shame to have them hidden inside a drawer. Think creatively with these babies: they could store jewelry or make-up on your vanity, display collections of shells or marbles, or stand them on end and use them as shadow boxes to contain and display a collection. And they are eco-friendly, too!

                     

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this tote from Organize.com. It would make a great library bag, grocery/shopping bag, or "outta' here"bag to store near the door for all the things you need to take with you on your way outta' the house. Isn't it just so pretty!?!

                                    

Back to TheOrganizedParent.com (did I mention this is a GREAT site for unique products?), these letter boxes are not only fresh and funky. but multi-purpose.  They would make a beautiful, covered, in-box or "papers to deal with" box on your office desk.  Their generous size also makes them great for storing portraits up to 8" by 10", or your children's cherished artwork. 

 

So these are my finds for the day. What do you think?  I know I'll be Internet shopping right after I hit the "post" button for this entry!

Simply yours,

Ask the Experts

I definitely have my share of favorite organizing products, but I’m always looking for different viewpoints and ideas to increase productivity and organization.  Recently I surveyed my Facebook and Twitter friends, both those in the organizing industry and those who have a non-Professional Organizer perspective.  They were generous enough to share some of their favorite, and most despised, organizing tools.  The results were interesting and varied:

Kim Oser of Put It Away!
“My favorite tools are shelves (so much more functional than drawers), and Freedom Filer (hanging and interior folders, not file folders).”

I’ve never used Freedom Filer, but I LOVE to use Find n’ File , both in my own home and with my organizing clients.  It's a simple filing system that is easy to install and very flexible to use.

Jane Campbell, a Washington DC Professional Organizer:
“I like the staple.  Because with one motion, and for the small price of some tiny holes, 20 questions become one Thing."

Tried and true supplies are usually the most reliable! And the staple can really help keep “like items with like items.”

Allison Carter of The Professional Organizer:
“I LOVE clear plastic bins, huggable hangers, butler bags, cb2's orange file drawers, desktop file boxes, and my shredder.  And I LOVE shoe bags for everything . . . cords, crafts, utility.  I HATE the toy organizers that have 9 to 12 colorful bins on 3 rows on a tilt. Hard to set right."

I’m with you on the toy organizer.  It seems like it would be a fabulous idea, but I have yet to see one that is truly functional AND sturdy.  Huggable hangers are great, especially for small closets.  I’ve got to get my hands on a Butler Bag . . . I’ve heard wonderful things about their organizational magic, but I’ve always been a fan of the ever-dependable Purseket. LOVE the versatility of a shoe bag organizer, too.  I’ve used them in kids’ room to house stuffed animals, and inside a linen closet to hold small toiletries and medicine cabinet items.

Jim Deitzel, eMarketing Manager at Rubbermaid
“I'm a big fan of our FastTrack garage product.  Our Easy Find Lid food container system has many nice features:  Locking lids, nesting bases, lids fit multiple bases. And the lids and bases fit other product lines, too.”

Anything that makes a garage more efficient and accessible is always great to have on hand.  And the name says it all with the Easy Find Lid containers! I’ve convinced many clients to recycle their take-out food plastic containers and switch to these space-saving food containers instead.

Scott Roewer of Solutions by Scott  and declutteryou.com:
“I used the Rubbermaid Easy Find Lids on a news segment last week.  Jim is right, they're great. I love elfa® from The Container Store.  The system is easy to install, customizable to any closet and easy to change if your needs change.  I use elfa® as well as the elfa® free standing in my clients' closets, basements, garages, offices . . . virtually anywhere.  I highly recommend the elfa® shelving.”

I really like the new free standing elfa®. The options are practically endless. The gift wrapping paper station is one of my absolute favorites, especially with the holidays right around the corner. And right now, all elfa® is 25% off!

Sue Dehmel:
“I love baskets . . .  paper sized, CD sized, office supply sized, etc. I also love a white board and a bulletin board.  I dislike hanging files!! They just seem to make me more disorganized - too much paper!”

Baskets can be GREAT to contain collections of “stuff.”  I used to be addicted to Longaberger baskets for all my personal organizing needs, especially the ones with lids.  My collection is still hard at work, but I now prefer cloth covered boxes.  They’re easy to label and stack and I appreciate the modern, simple look.

Elaine Shannon of Organizing Connection:
“Most loved:  my label maker.  Biggest waste of money for me:  the biz car reader."

Oooh! Gotta love the label maker! The iron-on label tape is WONDERFUL when you send your kids to sleep-away camp. Check out my DYMO review for more details.

Thanks to everyone for contributing your ideas.  So now it’s YOUR turn.  What organizing products have you had great luck with, and which ones fail to make good on their promises? Leave a comment below to share your thoughts!

Simply yours,

Take the Stress Out of Dinnertime Decisions

I’ve been meaning to get into Menu Planning for quite some time.  Organizing Junkie has a great Menu Planning Monday post that I read every week, but have put off joining.  No, I’m not procrastinating. Really!  I know in the long run menu planning will save me time and money.  And with the busy school year off to a crazy start already, menu planning could really help with the second shift of our day when the extracurricular activities take over our evening schedule.  But the planning part always scare me off! 

The idea is that every weekend you sit down and plan your dinners for the week.  So, first you dig through your recipe books and pick out your selections.  I like to plan my meals around what’s on sale, so that means cross-referencing the store’s circular add as you decide which recipes to use.

Finally, you need to generate a grocery list based on the plan, pick out the appropriate coupons to bring along, and then hit the store (as I’ve mentioned in previous posts, grocery shopping is my least favorite thing to do. Ever!)

To work effectively, this should all be done on Sunday so you can start out the busy week with the plan ready to go.  I’m sorry, but that’s just more effort than I care to exert on a lazy weekend afternoon!

So, to menu plan or not?  That is the question I had been struggling with until I finally found the answer to my dinner-time dilemmas!

My new friend Tammy, who shares my passion for all things organized, recently introduced me to E-MEALZ:  Easy Meals for Busy and Frugal Families.  E-Z Meals was created by two sisters who were frustrated with their own hodge-podge menu planning systems, but longed to create easy, wholesome meals for their growing families. The goal of E-Z Meals, and the core beliefs that drive these sisters’ efforts, is reflected in the name they choose for their organization: Make Time for Family. Wouldn’t we ALL like to live by that creed?

So, how does E-Z Mealz simplify your life? You choose the grocery store you most often visit (if the store you go to is not on their list, you can select the “Any Store” option). Each week you will receive a detailed menu plan (complete with side dishes AND instructions) and an itemized, aisle-by-aisle grocery list with ample room to jot down additional items you need to pick up while shopping.  In addition to the store options, you can further customize your plan by choosing the Family Plan (feeds 4-6) or the Couples’ Plan, and either the regular, low-fat, low-carb, vegetarian, or Weight Watchers Points plan.

The meals are kid-friendly AND easy to prepare. They do ALL the time-consuming planning, and they base the menus according to what’s on sale at your chosen store for the week!  They even provide the prices so you can see just what your grocery tab will be before you even walk through the door. For just $1.25/week to sign up for the service, my family has chopped our food-budget in half since using E-Z Mealz!

                   

My only complaint is that the weekly plans are not automatically delivered to my in-box, however the site is easy to navigate and I can quickly sign-in and download my menus whenever I need to.

Here’s a sample to give you an idea of how your plan will print out:

                                             

In the interest of full disclosure, I should mention that I am an affiliate of E-Z Mealz.  But regardless of whether you choose to use my above link or not, if you’ve been looking for an easy, well-planned dinnertime system, I recommend you try E-Z Mealz!!  Let me know what you think!

Simply yours,

Virtually Organized Product Reviews-Kelty

I love the outdoors.  And while I wish I could say I enjoy camping, the truth is my idea of roughing it is a hotel without a heated pool.

I do, however, appreciate rugged camping gear that can pull double duty and help organize the outings I do participate in (regardless of how un-mountain-girly they may be).

Recently the kind folks from Kelty sent me some great organizing products to try out and review.  Kelty is known for making a wide variety of outdoor and camping gear, but they recently launched a line of Basecamp gear that includes several organizers perfect for camping OR road trips and around the home.

So, since I didn’t have to break out the bug spray and hiking boots to justify their use, I decided to put them to the ultimate test . . . surviving the minivan trunk!

The first product is the Kelty Binto Hauler 3.

More than just a run-of-the mill duffle bag, this baby comes with three freestanding different-colored “binto” bags that fit perfectly inside the duffle. Each binto bag comes with a plastic labeling pocket on top (Oh, how I LOVE to use my labelmaker!!).

I assigned a different one to each of my girls, my husband and I share the third, and the whole thing fits nicely in the minivan trunk, with plenty of room to spare.

During softball season, Blue-eyed Jane used her red binto to store her cleats, glove, team visor, and extra softballs.  Now that we’ve moved into soccer, she replaced the glove, visor, and balls with her shin guards and sparkly pink soccer ball.  No more worrying about having the required gear when we arrive for practice or a game, and if we find ourselves at Grandma’s for the day, she’s ready for an impromptu game with her cousins!

Moody Judy uses her green binto to store things to keep occupied while at her sister’s many sporting events, such as a Frisbee, tennis balls and a softball mitt to play on the sidelines and entertain the players’ younger siblings. She also keeps a puzzle book in it . . . Gymnastics meets can last the better part of a day and she’s often desperate for something to do while she waits for her sister to compete.

I use the third silver bag to hold emergency items for long road trips and a fleece blanket for when we go watch my husband’s recreational ice hockey games.

What I really like about this bag are the containers inside the container for easy sorting and quick retrieval.  And if we are heading to the grocery store or need to have more space in the trunk, EVERYTHING is confined to the one bag-just pop it out.  Or, if I just need the emergency kit, everything else can stay in the garage and I just throw the silver binto back in.

The Picnic Hauler is another great Kelty product.

 

I used this thing all summer to haul lunches and munchies to the pool.  Just like the Binto Hauler 3, this Picnic Hauler comes with a removable cooler binto that only takes up half of the interior space of the Picnic Hauler.

Some days, we just carried the cooler.  On days when we had more to bring we used the entire system, with the cooler inside the Picnic Hauler. On days when we were bringing everything but the kitchen itself, we could pack up BOTH bags to their capacity and just carry them separately.  The versatility of this picnic system is fabulous! I’ll never go back to traveling with a hard case cooler again.  And based on the quality of the construction of these bags, I may never have to!

To check out the full line of Kelty bags, visit them online at www.kelty.com.

Click here check out more Virtually Organized Product Reviews.

Happy Hauling!

Simply yours,

Virtually Organized Product Reviews-Sherpani

                               

For the past month, I’ve been trying out a new work tote made by Sherpani.  Sherpani’s design philosophy states “We are making bags for the kind of people we are and the kind of people we want to be.” They strive for “pure, clean and simple lines and boldly fresh and feminine designs, because we are not unisex, we are women.” (Notice below how the “SHE” stands out in the SHErpani logo!)

                                  

All of Sherpani’s bags help their users stay organized in everything from work to the gym and, coming in January 2009, they will be introducing a travel line. Bags are available in a range of colors from neutral to bright, and are lined in Sherpani’s signature floral.

The actual bag I tried out was one of Sherpani’s top sellers, the Flora Major Extra Large Yoga Messenger Bag. It is designed to hold all your gym gear and can also double as a weekend bag. Since I have yet to do yoga publicly (heck, I BARELY feel comfortable doing it privately!), I chose to re-purpose my bag for work.

Things I Love About It:
While I definitely appreciate simple lines and feminine styling (I do like pretty!), my top priorities when it comes to tote bags are durability and functionality.

This bag delivers BOTH.I was so sure the yellow ("Corn Silk") fabric would be filthy within the first week of using my Sherpani.  I was SO wrong! This bag is super durable.  I am extremely hard on my bags, especially my work totes (which go with me EVERYWHERE). After nearly a month of taking this bag to client appointments, the hardware store, on a trolley in Philadelphia, and to the pool, this bag still doesn’t show any signs of wear!

The bag has tons of pockets and, being the “me” that I am, I designated each one to a specific task. The waterproof interior zippered pocket holds my pens and pencils. The main inside section holds my laptop and Planner Pad. The smaller interior pocket holds papers and folders. This still leaves another interior pocket, 4 exterior small zippered spaces, 2 water bottle holders, padded swivel shoulder strap, key fob, waist strap and adjustable yoga mat straps. (I’m still working on a clever way to repurpose the yoga mat straps-any creative ideas out there?)

Things To Think About Before You Buy:
While these bags are definitely high quality, they are a little pricey. The yoga bag I tried retails for $69.95, but I challenge you to find something just as well made for less.  Check them out and let me know what you think! Just make sure you pick a color that you REALLY like because if the bag I've been using is any indication, your Sherpani will be with you for a VERY long time!

Simply yours,

Are We There Yet?

Summertime and road trips go hand in hand. And keeping things organized in the car is a MUST when you're on the road.  My own family is planning a few road trips this summer, so in preparation, I gave the ol' minivan an organizational overhaul!

First off, I put to use some great products from the The Organized Parent. (Stephanie, the OFFICIAL Organized Parent, generously provided a coupon code just for Virtually Organized and D & R Custom Organizers friends and famiy.  See the end of the post for the code.)

My girls don't travel far without some sort of snack, so this "Trash Stash" keeps all the wrappers and remains under control. It's completely leak proof and snaps shut, too.

                                                

To keep all MY stuff organized, I installed the Swing Away Driver Organizer.

                                                

This installs around the neck of the headrest on the passenger seat. When you actually HAVE a passenger up front with you, just swing it out of the way to the back of the seat. I keep an extra water bottle in the cup holder. You can't see it in the picture, but there's a drink holder on the other side of the organizer, too. If I plan to be on the road for most of the day, I store a frozen water bottle there. By the time I've finished the first one, the second is thawed, but still cold.

I also store a small notepad and a few pens (useful for SO many reasons), tissues, my card cubby (which holds all my discount cards and store coupons), a Tide To Go pen (just in case!), a fingernail file, and mints.  I also keep files in the back pocket for the clients I am visiting that day.

Basically, it's my car purse, but it's so much easier to access while I'm on the road. And having it all contained, gives the car a less cluttered look than using all the dashboard and console cubbies.

The final element is a pink lap desk for Blue Eyed Jane, who is a much easier traveler when she has something to keep her busy during long car drives.

She uses this special lap desk for coloring, working on her suduku for kids books, or, at times, drumming to the beat of her favorite song.  The desk has a cup holder, but since the back of the van has a built in cup holder already, she uses the space on the desk for storing pencils and crayons as she's working, or a baggie of snacks (she a notorious muncher). Don't you just LOVE the great designs?

To mark the beginning of the vacation travel season, The Organized Parent wants to help make it easier to fill your gas tank this summer by giving away a $100 gas card! And they'll help entertain your kids, too, with a prize package of assorted travel games. But there's a catch--you need to have a DVD-free car for the entire travel season.

Up for the challenge? Just share your most creative (yet simple!) tips and ideas on reconnecting with your family while traveling on vacation. To enter, send an email with your idea to dvdfree@theorganizedparent.com. But hurry! Submissions will be accepted through June 30, 2008.

My ideas for keeping the kids entertained sans movies? Since space is always at a premium no matter what vehicle you are traveling in, I like to keep the entertainment light on supplies. Here are just a few of the games I'm sure we'll be playing on our upcoming road trip to Philly:

• the tried-and-true license plate treasure hunt game,
• the alphabet game (starting with "A" and moving through the alphabet, take turns completing the phrase "I'm going to (Alaska) to (annoy) (Andrew)," filling in the blanks with words that start with your letter,
• play a car version of The Singing Bee by playing songs on the radio or mp3 player, and then turning them off mid song to see who can keep singing the correct lyrics,
• for older kids, give them a map and let them chart the course as you drive,
• or give them tourist information for your final destination and let them write a list of the attractions they most want to visit,
• to keep bickering at bay, give the kids $10 each (or 10 quarters, if they are younger). Every time someone complains, argues, or any other behavior you would rather not have to deal with, take a dollar (or quarter) away from the offending party.  Whatever they are left with at the end of the car ride is there's to spending at your vacation spot.
• when all else fails, play the "First one who talks is a rotten egg game" (won't get you peace and quiet for all that long, but it should last long enough to think up the next game to occupy the troops!)

Have any other great travel games, or car organizing tips? Let me know! My car can never be TOO organized, and my kids can never be TOO distracted, while road tripping!!

By the way, the special discount code for The Organized Parent is DANDR15. Use this code and get 15% off your ENTIRE order!

Next week I discuss ways to organize the trunk of your car. You know, that dark scary place that gobbles up soccer cleats, water bottles, extra flashlights and whatever else is unlucky enough to end up there! Until then, happy trails!

Simply yours,

Multi-age Toy Storage

A Post from the Past . . .

Toy storage is a chronic problem ─ just ask any Mom who’s ever screamed in pain from tripping over Legos in their bare feet or stumbled down a flight of stairs after getting tangled up in a big toy frog (This last one actually happened to me years ago!  I even broke my pinky toe as a result!).  However, what adds insult to injury (literally, in my case!) is how to handle toy storage so that the smaller pieces of more “grown-up” toys are accessible to older kids, but not a danger to younger siblings.  Recently, Donna wrote me asking for tips on this issue,

“My dilemma is finding containers for Legos, Tinker Toys and Lincoln logs that aren't easily opened by my 1 year old son. The tinker toys are a challenge to find a container that fits on shelving because of the long pieces. I know I cannot find containers that are completely child proof but at least something that he cannot just pull the lid off with one try. I don't leave him in a room with free access to the toys ─ I am in the room ─ but I would like to find some containers that the lids don't pop right off of when they are pulled from the shelf by him.  I am putting shelves along the back wall of the basement and want to put all of the toys in containers on the shelves.  I haven't bought any containers yet so any suggestions would be great.”

Well, Donna, here goes:

• One way to meet the needs of the different age groups is to cordon off an area for the OLDER child.  There are all sorts of child gates available to section off a room and create a play area within your playroom where the small toys can be stored and played with.  Some gates can even be set up in the round without a wall nearby (like below, but with the older ones on the INSIDE).  Since kids don’t always put ALL their toys away, this separate section just for the smaller toys will protect the youngest ones from discovering small pieces that were left behind.  As an added benefit, if older children want to build a tall structure, or assemble an intricate racetrack, they do not have to worry about a younger sibling on purpose accidentally batting it down or walking across it, destroying their hard work and creativity.  In Donna’s case, maybe the gate could incorporate a section of the bookshelves designate specifically to these smaller toys, while the adjoining shelves can store toys that are safe for ALL of the brothers.

• Another idea, especially appealing to boys, is to use inexpensive plastic tackle boxes or toolboxes.  Not the “kiddie” kind, but the REAL THING.  The latches are too tricky for a one-year-old to manipulate, and they can even be locked, if need be.  Plus, the cool container becomes a toy in itself.  If this idea does not appeal to those of you who have girls, divided craft organizers used for beading or sewing could have the same result, storing, of course beads and jewelry kits, as well as Barbie clothes and shoes (Oh, those dreaded, tiny, perfect-for-choking Barbie shoes!)
• Yet another option is to simply banish all toys with choking-hazard pieces from the shared playroom  and instead keep them in the older boys’ rooms, with the understanding that these toys can only be played with in their bedrooms.  The toys can be stored in either recycled, labeled shoeboxes, or new, see-through, lidded plastic boxes.   Of course, this method takes some discipline, both on the part of the older children keeping their toys confined to their rooms, and for the parents, not allowing the youngest ones to have free access to their siblings’ rooms.

                                       

• Another creative idea for toy collections with bulky pieces too large for toolboxes or shoeboxes is to use large zippered tote bags.  Canvas bags from Land’s End or LL Bean, for example, are sturdy enough to withstand the abuse, can be monogrammed (either with the child’s name or the contents of the bag). I really like the Lazy Organizer's see-through, zippered organizing bags.  They come in various sizes and are PERFECT for this type of containerizing.  And they require more advanced fine motor skills than the very young ones are capable of.  These would be ideal for storing toys with multiple sizes, such as the Lincoln Logs and Tinker Toys.  And, when it’s time to head to Grandma’s or a play date, the bag is perfect to take along on the trip.

                              

I hope that some of these ideas will prove useful.  If you have any other ideas, please let me know.  And keep those questions coming-I would love the opportunity to discuss ideas for YOUR organizing dilemmas.

P.S. Don't forget to enter the Virtually Organize Me! Giveaway.  EVERY entry will win an entry prize worth $99 and the Grand Prize winner will receive a prize worth nearly $600!

Simply yours,
Debbie

Fashionable Filing!

When it comes to organizing products, I have to admit it.  I. Like. Pretty.  Manila folders may be functional, and they have their rightful place INSIDE a filing cabinet. But for those "hot" files I keep in my Family Command Center or on my office desk, manila just doesn't cut it! But, being relatively frugal, it does pain me to spend too much on "Pretty."

Enter Donna Smallin (Professional Organizing Guru and Author) and Staples' newest product line, "M" (My Style. My Way.)

I recently had the wonderful pleasure of listening to Donna's presentation to unveil this new line of fashionable file folders, notebooks, and office accessories.  These are high-quality products WITHOUT the high price tag.  And the designs will leave you eager to get your office in shape!!

My absolute FAVORITE is the pink patent leather journal.  Right now I keep my writing thoughts and ideas in a traditional spiral notebook, but this little beauty will bring some importance and sophistication to those ramblings, and it looks GREAT sitting out on my desk.

I also really like the tiger file folders, which I recently used for a client's Family Command Center.  These babies are STRONG! And I LOVE the idea Donna presented about using these files to help organize paper piles:

I am usually against this method of paper organization, but for some people, piling papers is the only way to function effectively.  This method of piling IN a folder solves the problem of piles getting mixed up with each other, and makes eventually clearing off the desk (or floor) much more likely AND possible.  And the folders really DO stand up on their own!

A word of warning, not ALL Staples locations have these items in stock yet, so if you see a certain style or color on the website, don't get your hopes up TOO high of finding it in your local store. But be patient, I've heard through the grapevine that availability WILL improve.

Hopefully, these designs are hear to stay.  The "M" line definitely fulfills my "Pretty" requirement.  (I mean, they have sets of embellished paper clips, bin clips, magnets and push pins that ALL coordinate with the folders!!).  And the reasonable price tag allows me to by the COMPLETE set without stepping outside my budget's comfort level. 

As the Staples website states, "Whether you're looking to convey a professional image at work or simply enjoy expressing your personal taste, there's an M by Staples product to help you stand out with style."

I found my "M" with the pink patent leather set, what set do YOU just have to have?

Simply yours,

Debbie

A Few of My Favorite Little Things: Organizing Gadgets I Can’t Live Without

The quest for the ultimate organizational tools can often lead to some rather unique products.  Sometimes they can be wonderful finds; sometimes they can be quite expensive, and even cumbersome.  But don’t you just love it when LITTLE things have such a BIG impact?  It’s even more rewarding when those little things are also cheap!  Today I’d like to share with you my four of my “Favorite Little Organizing Gadgets” (and one of them even comes with a special 33% off for my readers and D & R organizing clients!!!  So keep reading!!!).

1.     1. Coil key ring: This very inexpensive key ring may not coordinate with the latest designer handbags, but for me, it is worth 10 little Coach purses, and then some.   I always seem to have my hands full when I head for my car.  I’m either loading the car with groceries, or going out for the day with my arms full of various necessities.  But with my handy little coil key ring slipped over my wrist, there’s no more juggling my packages to rummage in my purse or pockets for my keys.  Simple, but very useful!

2.    2.  Mrs. A’s Coupon Organizer. This is just THE best coupon organizer!  It not only categorizes your coupons, but you can see an entire category with a flip of the page.  It even comes with a corresponding categorized grocery list. Mrs. A’s is SO much easier and more efficient to use than a traditional accordion-style organizer (which, in my opinion, are more like coupon HOLDERS, as opposed to ORGANIZERS).  Instead of wasting time flipping through files of coupons, with just one flip and a glance you can quickly find the coupon you need.  The very first shopping trip I used this system I DOUBLED my normal coupon savings with very little effort. Simple AND cost effective!

      And, here's the best part, Mrs. A's has give the readers of Virtually Organized, and the friends and clients of D & R Custom Organizers, a special link for 33% off the price of the organizer!!  This offer is only available through this special link:  http://mrsascouponorganizer.com/DandR.html

3.       3. Purseket.   If you’ve ever referred to your purse as a bottomless pit, this organizer is the answer you’ve been waiting for!  Simply slide in the pocketed organized and assign a “home” for your smaller items.  The pockets vary in size to accommodate all sorts of items, and the pursekeet itself comes in different sizes to work with whatever size handbag you prefer.  And if you like to switch purses often, simply lift the pursekeet out, pop it into the new purse, and off you go!  Such a time-saver-I never carry a purse without mine! (Great idea for Mother’s Day, guys!!!)

4.    4.  Digital Sticky Notes.  I know, I know!  If you read my recent post, “For the Love of Lists!” I very clearly stated that I cannot stand sticky notes (something about the heebie-jeebies, I believe).  However, DIGITAL sticky notes are totally different!  I keep them docked on my PC’s desktop gadget sidebar.  As I’m working on my laptop, if something comes to me that I would normally jot down on a piece of paper, I use the digital notes instead-VERY GREEN, if I do say so myself!  And totally free!  As an added bonus, my daughters like to surprise me with love notes on my digital stickies.  This may not be an organizing benefit, but it sure makes my day when I discover them!

So what simple little gadget or organizing system makes YOU smile with delight?  Send me your favorites so I can try them out, too.  Looking forward to hearing from you!

Simply yours,

Debbie