Friday, February 26, 2010

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.

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

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.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

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.

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

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.

Friday, February 5, 2010

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.

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

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.

Monday, February 1, 2010

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.