“Eighty percent of success is showing up.”
― Woody Allen

Here is a great "quote of the day" from Real Simple Magazine:


“Don’t agonize. Organize.”

― Florynce R. Kennedy

Pendaflex Pile Smart Organizers - A Review

I've been asked to review three wonderful products from the premier file organizer company - Pendaflex. I am being compensated for this review.



The first item I will review is my favorite of the three - the Pendaflex Pile Smart Organizer Tray. I'm always trying to keep my clients from using file trays as items tend to get piled up and forgotten. But this product takes piling to a new, organized, level. The Pile Smart Organizer tray allows you to pile items, but organize them at the same time by providing dividers so items do not get lost or forgotten in the piles.

The Organizer Tray comes with 6 dividers with tabs both on the side and on top. The dividers are loose, not attached, which means you can pile a large document within each divider. The tabs have a write and erase finish on them so they can be used over and over. The organizer tray is a clear lucite tray which would go with any office decor. I will be using this product in the fall when I return to an administrative position at a local private school. I'm so looking forward to using and recommending this organizer tray to my clients.

The Pile Smart Organizer Tray is available through amazon.com.



The second item I will be reviewing is the Pendaflex Pile Smart View Folders. These are letter size, multi-colored see-through folders with tabs on the side. I can easily see using these in a desktop multi-tiered filing system. The best part about these files is that they're see-through and you can easily remove the labels from the tabs and use these files again and again.

The Pile Smart View Folders come 6 to a package and contain 2 of each color: blue, purple and green and are available online at amazon.com.



My last review is for another product in the Pile Smart line - the Pendaflex Pile Smart Binder Clips. These binder clips are fantastic in that they actually have a place on the clip to label what is being clipped. A new and innovative idea that again keeps items on your desk from getting lost or buried under other paperwork. I love these clips and plan on using them over and over in the coming months.

The Pile Smart Binder Clips come 6 to a package and come in three colors - blue, purple and green - to match the Pile Smart View Folders. The Pile Smart Binder Clips are available online at amazon.com.

Thank you Pendaflex for continually coming up with innovative products that make organizing so much easier.

You can follow the Pendaflex company on Facebook using the call name Beyond Folders and on Twitter with the call name beyondfolders.

Happy Independence Day

A Quote from Winston Churchill

“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.”
― Winston Churchill

Vacation Time!

“A vacation is what you take when you can no longer take what you’ve been taking. ”
― Earl Wilson

Here is a re-post of a blog I posted a few years back. It's time to start making your vacation plans for Summer 2010!

Summertime is vacation time. Here are a few tips for making your summer travel plans carefree.



Plan far enough ahead to make sure your passports are current. With the new passport laws, it’s taking longer to get passports than ever before. Check with your local post office for passport delivery times.

Go online to search for things to do when you reach your destination. Plan an informal schedule of places you want to see or restaurants you want to try. The internet is also a great source for weather information.

Call the hotel ahead of time to see if the room is equipped with shampoo, hair dryer, iron, refrigerator, etc. Airline carry-on sizes of shampoos, conditioners, hairspray, etc. are limited to 3-ounce bottles.

If you’re traveling out of the country, make sure you’re aware of what inoculations are necessary for your destination. Plan accordingly.

Try the 50% packing rule – after packing your suitcase, remove 50% of the clothing items you packed. Most of us over pack. Mix and match or layer your items so they can be worn more than once.

Include a plastic bag in your suitcase for dirty items and wet bathing suits.

Try rolling your clothing when packing your suitcase. Pack socks and underwear inside shoes. Leave some room in your suitcase for items you may purchase on your trip.



Pare down items in your wallet – bring necessary items only: identification card, credit card(s), insurance card(s) and AAA card.

Before leaving the house, clear your refrigerator of any perishable items. Clean the house and put fresh sheets on the bed. Put lights on auto timers. Have your mail held at the post office and cancel the newspaper. Most newspapers will let you donate these copies to local schools.

If you’re traveling with young children, create a boredom survival kit – books on tape, educational DVD’s, and creative car games such as state license plate search and travel bingo.

Make sure you travel with a small first-aid kit and motion sickness pills.

Lastly, don’t forget to have a GREAT time!

Smead Product Reviews

I was lucky to be able to recently sample three new products from Smead - a leader in office supplies. The three products are:

Smead Super Tab Folders
Smead Viewables Color-Coded Labeling System
Smead New Stadium File Organizer

Super Tab Folders - the best feature of this product is the larger label area - great for larger titles on file labels - easier to read and easier to find the correct file. I also loved the new subtle pastel colors - light blue, lavendar, mint green, coral and light pink. The file size is standard letter size and the folders come in 1/3 cut tabs.

The Super Tab Folders are available at Office Depot and Staples.




Viewables Starter Kit - this kit includes 160 adhesive labels and the 4.0 Viewables Software which prints on two sides of the label which measures 3 7/16" x 1 1/4". The labels are inkjet and laser printer compatible. The kit does not include file folders. I was unable to run the software as I have a Mac and the software requires a PC/Microsoft format. The labels are compatible with the above-mentioned Super Tab Folders as well as standard file folders.

The Viewables Starter Kit is available for purchase at Office Depot and Staples.




New Stadium File Organizer - this is my favorite of the three products I sampled. I love 12-pocket organizers for organizing my yearly receipts, bank statements, credit card bills and anything else needed for compiling my yearly tax information. I have tried other gusseted organizers but what I liked about the Stadium File Organizer is that you don't have to remove a cover to place your receipts inside. This makes it easier to file receipts on a daily or weekly basis rather than waiting to file at a later time. It's also so much more attractive than the old rust colored cardboard stand up guesseted file organizers. I will definitely be using this product.

The Stadium File Organizer is available at Office Depot, Amazon.com and Franklin Covey.


You can follow Smead on Twitter at SmeadOrganomics or on Facebook at Smead Organomics.

Finally, I should mention that I am being compensated for this review but would gladly have purchased any of these products on my own without any compensation.

My dear daughter is graduating from high school today. I am so very proud of everything she has accomplished.

"If you can give your son or daughter only one gift, let it be enthusiasm.”

―Bruce Barton

Donate your old Career Wardrobe to a Good Cause

Have you changed careers in the last few years? Do you have suits, dress slacks, blouses and shoes in your closet that you no longer wear?

Contact The Women's Alliance. They provide opportunities to donate your career clothing to disadvantaged job-seeking women.

Let's Get Organized!

“Not everything that is faced can be changed. But nothing can be changed until it is faced.”

― James Arthur Baldwin

Donate Your Musical Instruments for a Good Cause

Donating your old musical instruments to The Roots of Music provides students enrolled in after-school programs in New Orleans with the ability to learn to read and play music. The instruments must be in working order. Click here for more information.

Purge your File Cabinets

Take the time to go through your file cabinets and shred, toss or recycle any items that are no longer relevant to your current situation. This will fee up space in your file cabinets as well as enable you to re-use existing filing supplies rather than purchasing new ones.

Something to Consider....

“You’ve got to get up every morning with determination if you’re going to go to bed with satisfaction.”
― George Lorimer

Organize Your Batteries

Here's a great product for organizing all the different batteries we use everyday. The Battery Organizer by Snapware is available at organize.com. Click here to get more information on this wonderful product.

Can You Unplug for 30 Minutes a Day?

Take the Huffington Post's 30-day Unplug and Recharge Challenge. Click here for more details.

Wishing all my readers and their mothers a very Happy Mother's Day.

Is it Okay to Break Fashion's Rules?

Click here for a great article from Real Simple Magazine about the do's and don'ts of fashion. Great ideas to consider when paring down what's in your wardrobe and when you're considering a new purchase.

The Ultimate in Organization - Disneyland After Dark

Today's Los Angeles Times features an article on what happens at Disneyland after it closes each night. So much I never knew - especially the feral cats.
After dark, the dirty work at Disneyland begins - latimes.com

Posted using ShareThis

How I Spent My Saturday Night

Okay, not the most exciting story here - but I just spent the last 15 minutes cleaning out the refrigerator, freezer and pantry at my house. Threw away a lot of old frozen food and many old bottles of vinegars, oils, bread crumbs and bottled sauces that had, or were about to, expire.

What are you doing this weekend? Even though it's probably more exciting than this, take a few minutes to clean out your fridge, freezer and pantry in the next few days.

Moving Tips

House Beautiful's May issue has a great article about moving companies. Click here to see the slideshow and read the article.

Happy Earth Day

“When we heal the earth, we heal ourselves.”

― David Orr

I Love Their Slogan

Bravo to Pendaflex for coming up with the perfect slogan to describe their product. I wonder who does their ad campaign?

“Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers.”
― Charles W. Eliot

I've always thought so...

How Cute is This?

I thought I'd brighten up my blog this Spring with this adorable (free) blog background that I got from Templates by Tenille. Click here and you can get a cute new one for your blog too. Enjoy!

Tip Tuesday - Convert CD's to MP3 Files

If you've still got a large collection of CD's gathering dust in your home, consider converting your favorite songs to MP3's on your computer. Upload only your favorite songs and when you're finished, you may be able to sell the used CD's for cash.

Home Office Organization with Free Shipping

Pottery Barn is offering free shipping on their Home Office Organizing products. Click here to see the wonderful products they offer to make your home office amazing!

Happy Spring!

Clean Up the Paper in Your Life

Take some time this week to recycle those old magazines, newspapers, and other periodicals in your home. Remember, if next month's magazine arrives in the mail and you haven't read this month's, it's time to re-evaluate that subscription. Same goes for newspapers.

Use up Food in the Fridge, Freezer & Pantry This Week

“As a child my family’s menu consisted of two choices: Take it or leave it."

―Buddy Hackett

This week, try to plan your meals around food already in the house - whether it's fresh, frozen or packaged. You'll be surprised by how much money you'll save by using up what you already have. Be creative!

Time to Spring Forward - It's Daylight Savings Time!

Before you go to bed tonight, remember to set your clocks ahead one hour (unless you live in Hawaii or Arizona) for Daylight Savings Time. Sweet Dreams!

Transform a Closet into an Office

I found this great article in the March issue of County Living Magazine.
Transform a Closet into an Office


What I love about this closet/office makeover:

The color - first and foremost - it's Benjamin Moore's "At Sea".

I love the pegboard attached to the door to hang office supplies at the ready

Love the wallpaper on the back wall - it's nice to have something pretty to look at when you're sitting in a closet/office space

Love the cool wicker/iron chair - $89.99 from Ikea.

Oh, and who wouldn't love a crystal chandelier hanging above you in your closet!

Tip Tuesday - If the Shoe Fits: Wear It!

When trying to decide what shoes to keep and what to give away, put a small adhesive dot inside the left shoe. When you wear the shoes, take out the dot. After 6 to 8 months, any shoes that still have the dot in place should be donated.

Organizing your Sunglasses

I love this idea of organizing your sunglasses collection safely. I found this website in In Style Magazine's segment on organizing American Idol Kara DioGuardi's closet. The company is called Gershel Brothers and they sell all kinds of display products from closet racks to display tables, hangers and jewelry displays.

Tip Tuesday - Make Color Work For You

“The best color in the whole world is the one that looks good on you!”
― Coco Chanel

When deciding what to keep and what to toss in your wardrobe, keep only the colors that work best on you. When people compliment you on something you're wearing, remember that when deciding what is and isn't working.

Get Your Office in Order

Good news! The Container Store is having a "Work Smart Office Sale" now through March 28, 2010.

The sale includes items for paper and file storage, message boards, magazine and newspaper organizers, and desktop organization.

15 Minutes a Day - That's a Great Start

“Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.”
―Martin Luther King Jr.

Many people become overwhelmed when it comes time to get organized. I highly recommend spending as little as 15 minutes a day getting organized. Spend that time on one space - a drawer, closet, counter, desk. You will be surprised how little steps turn into big changes.

Document Retention - What to Keep and What to Shred

The beginning of the year is always a good time to cull through previous years' bills, bank statements, and other documents. Many people are not sure what to keep and what can be shredded or thrown away/recycled.

Here are some basic guidelines to follow:

PAYCHECK STUBS: One year. Keep until you receive your W-2 at the end of the year to compare figures. Then shred the stubs and the W-2 will go with your tax return.

CREDIT CARD STATEMENTS: Proof-read your statement each month to make sure there are no fraudulent charges showing. Then, unless you need to keep the statement for a business expense, you can shred the statement after paying the bill.

BANK STATEMENTS: One year, same as credit card statements.

TAX RETURNS: Keep forever - including back-up tax information.

HOUSE-RELATED RECORDS: Keep those records on your current residence in the event you sell your home and need proof of home improvements which can lower your capital gains tax.

IRA CONTRIBUTIONS: Keep indefinitely - with the appropriate year tax records.

PAID BILLS: Keep only until you receive proof that payment has been received - canceled check, credit card statement. I keep one copy of each of my credit card and utility bills in case I need to contact the company.

INSURANCE POLICIES: Keep all active policies. You can shred old policies when they are replaced.

WARRANTIES AND CONTRACTS: Keep active and shred expired warranties or contracts and for any items you no longer own.

AUTO RECORDS: Keep for as long as you own the car. Retain sales transaction information for six (6) years after the car is sold.

INVESTMENT STATEMENTS: Keep one year current and retain the annual statements from previous years. Keep records of stock and securities transactions along with your tax information.

Tip Tuesday - Great Garlic Tip

I heard this on Melinda Lee's weekend cooking radio program recently and wanted to share it with you:

To get the smell of garlic off your hands after chopping it for your favorite dish, wash your hands and rub them on something made of stainless steel at the same time. This will eliminate the smell.

A New Month - A New Thought....

“Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending.”
― Anonymous

Happy February! Make a plan to get organized - starting today.

Los Angeles Organizing Awards - January 30th at Raleigh Studios

This Saturday night, the professional organizing community will gather together to celebrate the best and the brightest at the 2010 Los Angeles Organizing Awards. This wonderful evening is put together by the board and volunteers of the Los Angeles chapter of the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO-LA) and will be held at the fabulous Raleigh Studios in Hollywood, California.


This year, comedienne and actress Kim Coles will be hosting the awards program and Avery Dennison will be the presenting sponsor. Avery Dennison is the leader in office products for the home and business and NAPO-LA is honored to have them on its team.



A sample of the awards that will be given out on Saturday night include Best Organizing Product Retailer, Best Closet Design Firm, Best Garage Design Firm, Best Time Management Expert, Best Organizing Book and Best Organizing Website or Blog. Previous winners include: the TLC program "Real Simple, Real Life", John Trosko - Immediate Past-President NAPO-LA and creator of the innovative Organizing LA Blog, Organizit - Garage Design Firm, and Real Simple Magazine (which I quote frequently here in my blog).

Two wonderful prizes will be given to two lucky attendees. The first is a full weekend's use of a Jaguar XF luxury sedan courtesy of Hornburg Jaguar of West Hollywood. The second prize is a two-night stay at the fabulous Hollywood Renaissance Hotel on the corner of Hollywood and Highland in the heart of downtown Hollywood. This is a prize package worth $2,000.

Click here for a wonderful video showcasing the 2009 awards ceremony.

There will also be a brunch held the next morning at The Farm of Beverly Hills at 10:30 a.m. for those who want to attend a more informal gathering or just to catch up on the previous evening's festivities.

The Los Angeles Organizing Awards are open to the public and tickets are on sale through the NAPO-LA website.

Tip Tuesday - Repurposing an Earring

Here's a great idea I found on RealSimple.com:

If you've lost the mate to a pair of stud earrings, use the remaining earring as an attractive push pin on your bulletin board.

Tip Tuesday - A Place for Everything

“Waste your money and you’re only out of money, but waste your time and you’ve lost a part of your life.”
― Michael Leboeuf

Create systems in your home and office for your items. You'll spend much less time looking for them if they are always put away in the same place.

Get Organized Month - Help for the Little Ones in Your Life

Help your kids get organized with this great item from Lillian Vernon. The Weekdays Organizer allows you and your kids to put together outfits for the whole week so mornings are a breeze when it's time to get them dressed and out the door.

Click here to get to Lillian Vernon's website.

Tip Tuesday - Get Your Health in Order

With the new year in full swing, now's the time to make those doctor and dentist appointments you've been putting off. Start the new year off with a healthy outlook.