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My favorite things that keep me organized and my life simple

By Announcements, Blog, Expert Articles, Free Articles, IABO Weekly News, Resources No Comments

Don’t know what to get your boss, friend, or even yourself for the holidays? I am going to share my secrets with you on how I stay organized and enjoy a less hectic holiday season!

Below is my list of favorite apps, gadgets, and gifts that keep me organized and help keep my life simple.

Favorite iPhone & iPad Apps

iPhone Notes, OneNote or Evernote Apps – one place to keep me organized with all my lists and so much more.
Send Out Cards – Quickly send and mail a physical Birthday, Thank You or any other card in seconds.  Send a holiday card on me here.

Favorite Gifts

Blueruby Jewelery showcasing jewelery designers from around the world.  This is my favorite jewellery store and go to place for gifts.

Home

Bodum Bistro Electric Cordless Water Kettle – Bought mine at David’s Tea at Oakridge Shopping Centre. Finally, a tea kettle I can store in my cupboard and it’s perfect for travelling.  Thank you Kim for the great idea!
Spa Mobile – spa treatments in the comfort of your home.  A big time-saver!  Ask for Amanda.
Flameless Wax Candles from Pottery Barn – battery operated and automatic timer. No more fuss or worries of candle wax dripping and safe to use.  My favorite gift to give and my clients love these!

Healthy and Beauty

Bobby Brown tinted eye brighter. Simply the best and goes on smooth!
Laura Mercier compact eye lash curler – Small and compact for traveling.
JJ Virgin’s 6 Weeks to Sleeveless and Sexy – her 4 x 4 workout videos really work.
Fresh “Sugar” tinted lip balm with SPF 15 – Color without the lipstick and gloss.
Bumble and Bumble Brilliantine hair product – It’s so amazing for all kinds of hair.  Is unique and hard to define.  Gives hair polish and a sort of languid slept-in, sexy look.
Oribe Dry Texturing Spray – invisible dry hair spray that builds incredible volume and texture.  It’s the best dry shampoo I’ve ever used and is worth the price! Jennifer Lopez hairstylist designed the Oribe products and she uses the Shine and Body Shampoo.

Travel

Pack-it Custom Travel Bottle Set. Label items with you label maker.

Fashion

The Laundress Cashmere and Wool Sweater Wash –  Every November I was all my sweaters on gentle cycle or by hand.  Our cashmere and wool sweaters and scarves are fluffy and smell so fresh. No more trips to the dry cleaner! Also available at J. Crew.

Technology

Label Maker Brother PT 2100 or PT 2730 label maker – Can’t live without my label maker!  It automatically trims off short labels and uses laminated tapes that are easy to peel off. Do not use less expensive paper tapes as they curl on the edges and don’t peel off clean.
Camtasia software – allows me to record an audio and capture my computer screen for quick “how-to” training videos.

Organizing Holiday Card Addresses

By Blog, Business Organizing, Expert Articles, Free Articles, Quick Organizing Tips No Comments

organizedThis time of year mailboxes overflow with greeting from friends, family, and people we have done business with in the past year.  Sending out personalized season’s greetings to your clients is a great way to impress on them the importance of their business to you.

It can motivate an old client to call you up again, pass your name onto an acquaintance, or build your relationship for your next interaction.  In a world where your client can simply hop on a computer and find a dozen other businesses to use going the extra step to build relationships is crucial.

Getting Organized

Now that you’ve decided to send out cards you need to get organized.  Without a system in place this process can take countless precious business hours, and not many of us have that kind of time!   You need to create and keep up-to-date a holiday card address database.

Keeping it on Paper

You will likely opt to create this spreadsheet on a computer, however, pen and paper are always an option.  If you prefer to keep a paper address book that can be carried with you, consider keeping a second copy.  You can scan or photocopy your book occasionally to keep up with your updates.  Keep your backup in a safe place.  This way you won’t lose all your contacts if your address book is lost, spilled on, or otherwise damaged.

Holiday Spreadsheets

Creating a spreadsheet of addresses on your computer is an efficient way to store this information.  As a benefit many times this information can be imported to other programs which create your address labels, saving you time.  You can spend that time adding a personal note to your cards!

Clearly label this file so it is easy and fast to find. This way you can add addresses to it during the work year.  When you collect a client’s information simply add it to this spreadsheet, you’ll be ready to go when the time comes to address your cards.

Include your client’s name, title, and business address in your spreadsheet.  Other notes you can include are what specific holiday your client celebrates.  It adds a personal touch if you can make your card unique to them.  If you don’t know that’s okay, don’t guess, prepare a general season’s greeting.

Taking it Online

There are programs, like Google spreadsheets, that allow you to share your spreadsheets online.  If you are combining lists with a business partner, an employee is helping to compile your list, or you are merging lists from several sources this could be a great option.

Storing information online can also be a great way to keep information safe from a potential computer meltdown.  Remember you’ll want electronic back-ups, just as you would want a paper back-up.

Extra Addressing Tips

Don’t go through all of the effort of sending out beautiful holiday greetings only to have your client question your attention to detail because of a simple grammar error.  There are several commonly made mistakes that you should avoid.

  • Don’t use an apostrophe on your envelope.  “The Smiths” implies you are addressing the card to the entire Smith family.  “The Smith’s” implies ownership of over something.  You want to use the plural, not the possessive.
  • There are a few cases when simply adding an s is not enough.  If the name you are addressing the card to ends in a “s, sh, ch, x, or z” you must add an “es” to achieve the plural.  So to create the plural of “The Williams” you would add an “es”, and get “The Williamses”. Want to avoid the “es”? Skip the plural and address your envelope to “The Williams Family”.

A Final Note

Spending a few hours this time of year to express appreciation to clients can pay dividends in your upcoming year.  Staying organized and efficient with your holiday address list will ensure this is a smooth process.

What works for you?  Share your successes in getting your holiday cards organized!

The One-in, One-Out Rule

By Blog, Business Organizing, Closet Organizing, Expert Articles, Free Articles, Home Office Organization, Home Organizing, IABO Weekly News, Quick Organizing Tips No Comments

organizingIs your closet so jammed packed that you can’t see what you have or you can’t squeeze another item into it?

Are your filing cabinets bulging to capacity and you struggle to get files in and out?  How many appliances do you really use in your kitchen?

We live in a consumer-based economy with ads demanding our attention all around us.  It’s so tempting to get the latest gadget or cool technology that’s suppose to make our life better.  But really, does having the latest new gadget or buying the latest trend bring fulfillment in your life?  I say no.  Too often, we tend to look in the wrong places to fulfill our lives and buying more stuff is not the answer.

As an Organizing and Productivity Consultant, I am passionate about helping people unclutter their offices, homes and lives, so they have more freedom and pursue their dreams and goals.  Helping them simplify and clear out the clutter is easy for me because I’m not attached to the items, but for the person purging, it can sometimes be difficult.

We tend to put a lot of meaning into our things and there’s a story for everything.  I heard someone once say that we are meaning making machines.  The meaning we associate with our things triggers emotions either positive or negative.  Depending on the meaning we give the item, will determine whether you keep it or let it go.

Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not about getting rid of everything and living with nothing.  But I can honestly say, that over the years I’ve realized that the more stuff I have, the more time, energy and money it costs me to maintain my stuff.  The more files I have, the more filing cabinets I need and the bigger office I need.  The more clothes I have, the more space I need and the more time I waste wondering what to wear.  The more toys and books kids have the more they want and they less they play with.

Take a look around your office and home and notice what clothes, toys or office items you use 80% of the time.  This is a real eye-opener when you are honest with yourself because 80% of what you use, you use 20% of the time.  The one-in, one-out rule goes hand-in-hand with the 80/20 Rule.

Applying the one-in, one-out rule and the 80/20 Rule are easy and will keep all your rooms clutter free and easy to maintain.  When I buy a new pair of shoes or a item of clothes, I give something away to a friend or a charity.  When I buy a new book, I pass on a book.

If I didn’t apply these two rules, my office and home would be jammed packed full of stuff and complicate my life on so many levels.  Clutter affects your relationships, your health, your energy and your productivity.  It can also drain your bank account.

So as we approach the Christmas season and think of those who need warm clothes or mothers and children who could use household items and toys, schedule time in your calendar this week to purge your closets and rooms.  And pass on items that are in good working condition, are in fashion and good condition.

Applying the one-in, one-out rule and the 80/20 rule will dramatically simplify your life and open up new and exciting opportunities for you.

I would love to hear how you did with the One-In, One Out rule! Please share how you did or offer your comments below.