My Favorite Things

No, not raindrops on roses, but my favorite things that help achieve life simplification. I am crazy about convenience - whatever makes navigating through the day easier. I want more time to do what I consider important, pleasurable, or just fun.

I don't get compensated for recommending any of these - just sharing stuff that works and makes me happy every time. Everything is easily found either online or in Central Arkansas.

Here are some favorites that come to mind and why:

1. Swiffer Duster - the quickest and easiest way to dust almost anything. It combines the power of Swiffer throw-away microfibers with little tendrils that get into nooks and crannies. You buy a set with handle then refills as needed. Fairly cheap (watch for coupons) and available at most grocery, discount, drug stores.

2. Huggable Hangers - my latest winner in my ongoing search for the perfect clothes hanging products. Available in some catalogs and in many colors and combinations on hsn.com
[full disclosure - I formerly worked at a sister company, Expedia/Hotels.com]. These cool hangers have a great shape - no shoulder bumps. Also nothing slips off with their faux velvet finish, and they are sturdy. The company's big selling point is that they are very narrow and take up less room in our generally over-crowded closets. You can use the hooks to cascade clothes down if you have extra vertical space which is useful, but I'm not crazy about the clips for pants or skirts. The don't hold very firmly.

3. My new tiny voice recorder for reminders. It's small enough to fit anywhere, and I use it when I drive or in the middle of the night if I wake up and need to remember something. Just speak it in, play it back. No tapes or anything complicated. Don't know yet how long the battery will last, but for now it's a cool tool.

4. My Action Filing System - see blog below on Conquering Paper Clutter. I LOVE mine and have gotten rave reviews from several others who have tried it.

5. [Guys - skip this one] YSL Touche Eclat - OK - not exactly an organizing or productivity tool, but it's the very best skin Highlighter product made to touch up dark circles, spots, add focus, contour, or whatever - and I've tested them all. It saves me time and anguish every morning at the make up mirror so that is convience!! It can be used over your make-up, touch ups never cake or build up, and it looks really natural. Seriously, lighten the inner corners of your eyes and lose 5 years! Pricey (about $35) but they last a long time - high end dept. or cosmetic stores, I get mine at Saks Fifth Avenue.

Send me your Favorite Things to bclark99@sbcglobal.net and I'll share with everyone.

Have a Convenient Week,
Becca

100 Years

Today's post is purely personal, a re-cap of my darling grandmother's 100th birthday party on Saturday. Yes, she's lived a century and is still remarkably healthy, happy, spry, and she has a perfect memory for long past events. She forgets her keys and loses track of appointments from time to time, but she just needs a better organizing system - I should add her to my client list!

Anyway, the celebration for Ms. Mildred Mazander was a huge success with over 80 people attending including local dignitaries and the press. She's on the cover of the Hot Springs newspaper today, and she got congratulatory letters from the Governor, the President, Willard Scott, and Bill Clinton. The Garland County Judge proclaimed June 14th as "Mildred Mazander Day".

The most amazing thing about my "Mema" (as the first grandchild I must take the blame/credit for naming her), is that she worked up until a year ago. She's on a Dept. of Labor website citing her for working 2 part time jobs with such enthusiasm...of course at that time she was only 97. Local AARP officials helped with the party and spoke about her work in their program, and they are currently trying to find her another part-time gig that is within walking distance from her home. They'll be breaking new ground finding work for a "Super- Senior" as the over-100's are apparently called.

She's my sweet, loving, fairly deaf grandmother who calls a few times a week to tell me stuff (she doesn't really hear much of my response) about her life. Still mentally and physically fit, she grows beautiful flowers and tomatoes in her small courtyard, roots for the Cardinals, keeps track of world events, has strong opinions on politics (that's a whole other blog!) and attends church as often as they let her in.

Let's all hope we get to live so well and experience and share as much joy as my Mema, however long we're here.

Cheers,
Becca

Conquer the Paper Piles!

I have a confession - I'm a "partial piler"! Yes, even Professional Organizers have their challenges and none has been bigger for me than this: what to do with all the "to do's"??? You know, the snail and email stuff that needs attention, but not right now.

Every paper item that comes into your home or office should fall into 3 categories: File, Act, or Toss (FAT). File and Toss are easy, but Act - that's tough. Most people (including me) tend to spread the papers out so they don't forget something. Then they run out of room, pile something else on top, and next thing you know the water is being disconnected. :(

So here's what I've come up with - an interim filing system that you can use everyday for things that need action within the month. I'm looking for a catchy name, but for now it's generically The Action Filing System. It has cleared up the little piles on my desk and kitchen cabinet, and I no longer worry that I've forgotten to deal with something important. Better space, better sleep, better life - now that's a solution!


How it Works:
1) get a letter size file box that is fairly small and easy to move around. See the photo of mine at left - from The Container Store.
2) Add a few hanging file folders (I put in 5, using only 3 so far)
3) here's the cool part - put in file dividers labeled 1 thru 31 (see below). From Office Depot these are a hard plastic which are sturdy and stand up nicely in the hanging file.









Every time you get mail, or bring home a to-do, or print something from the computer that needs action you just decide when you'll take care of it, then file the bill, paper, folder, whatever, into that date.

The hard part: you have to check it every day and review the stuff in that date - some discipline is required here. Then you can take action or defer it back to a later date. After a few deferments you need to admit you aren't going to do it and Toss.

It's worked really well for me and another client is testing it now. It's light and portable - fits under my desk. Let me know if you have questions or share your results. Happy Un-piling!!!

Becca