Tired of being surrounded by the dull colors in your office? Add a little excitement to the space by giving your desk some organizational flair. Jonathan Adler and Lifeguard Press have designed the perfect Desk Dock Organizer that allows you to very handily store everything from pens and pencils to paperclips and push pins. It even manages the cord clutter on your desk from your iPod and mobile phone. The Desk Dock Organizer comes in two vibrant patterns (Diamond and Greek Key) that are sure to add a little color to your space and put a smile on your face.
P.S. – It has also recently been mentioned on the O List!
With tax time around the corner, many of us will be sorting through papers and throwing away documents that could list sensitive information such as bank numbers, addresses, full names and social security numbers. As I mentioned in my recent newsletter, identity theft affects millions of people every year and it is not an issue that should be taken lightly. While some people actively try to prevent identify theft by shredding all their documents, many still do not. Their reasoning for not shredding documents can range from not liking the noise of a shredder to child safety. Whatever the reasoning may be, I have recently discovered a simple alternative – the Guard Your ID Stamp.
Sold everywhere from the Container Store to QVC, the Guard Your ID Stamp, is a quick and easy way to prevent your sensitive information from landing in the wrong hands. All you need to do is stamp the information you want blocked and the Guard Your ID Stamp’s unique pattern completely masks your information. Even when holding it up to the light or changing the angle of the light, nothing comes through! Plus, since most waste management companies will not recycle shredded paper (shredding weakens fibers and makes sorting nearly impossible), the Guard Your ID Stamp is the greener solution to your identity protection.
While I still recommend using a shredder or shredding service for large amounts of sensitive information, the Guard Your ID Stamp is perfect for managing everyday mail and small projects.
If you have little children, I am sure that you are familiar with the constant flow of artwork that comes home with them almost daily from their daycare or school. With every new piece being their favorite, you can’t help but put it on display – not only are your refrigerator doors full, but their bedroom walls have become a gallery and your desk at work even houses several of their masterpieces. As proud as you are to display their work, you may be wondering if there is a way to more neatly showcase their art that won’t leave your walls or refrigerator cluttered.
Several years ago, the ladies of Wexel Art were pondering the same thing, which led to the creation of the Wexel Art Floating Frame. This easy-to-install, acrylic panel frame comes with 4 pairs of strong magnets that allow you to quickly and effortlessly change the prized work of your little artist (or, update the latest photo of your child with this week’s favorite Kodak moment). The clean modern design blends well with a variety of decorating styles and can easily be incorporated into a kitchen, a child’s bedroom or playroom, a casual family room, or even a home office. Use one frame to make a singular statement, or group them together to create a trio or a fun collage. These frames will not only leave your walls looking neat, but they will also make your little artist feel proud as you display their work in a more special way.
Wexel Frames come in various shapes, sizes and styles, which makes them the perfect solution for displaying:
Artwork
Photos
Menus
Recipes
Store signage
Award Certificates
And more!
This Spring, Wexel Art will also be offering a limited edition run of frames designed by Eva Zeisel. Visit their website to find out more about the various sizes available, or to inquire about creating custom shape or custom size frames.
It’s one of those small annoyances in life. You disconnect your laptop to bring it with you and when you return the power cord is no longer there. It has very quietly slipped away… possibly down the side of your desk, or, worse yet, down that little hole at the back of your desk that now requires you to crawl on the floor and fish the cord back up through the hole so that you can plug your laptop back into its power source. For years I did everything from placing a heavy object on top of the cord once it was removed from my computer, to using two nails or tacks to create a bracket to hold the cord in its place.
Today, I am thankful that I no longer have to worry about this minuscule, non-life threatening issue thanks in part to the CableDrop. Created by the Bluelounge, the CableDrop solves the issue of losing your cords and cables to the pull of gravity. The CableDrop will safely keep your cord or cable where you want it, but will allow you to easily remove the cord in the event that you need to take it with you. As with many of their products, the Bluelounge has created the CableDrop in colors that will blend in with its surroundings, or stand out in a bright and fun way – I love that!
The CableDrop is great for all types of cords and cables from Ethernet and laptop power cords to phone chargers and mp3 auxiliary cords in your car.
As a professional organizer, there are certain products and services that I consider my go-to resources – my tried-and-true favorites. Resources make my list for reasons such as quality, efficiency, ease-of-use, value and company customer service. For the past several years, one of my favorite products on this list is the Container Store’sElfa shelving and drawer system.
From creating a versatile closet system to a functional home office work station, there are endless possibilities for this system. The various Elfa components allow you to create customizable solutions to fit your closet, kitchen, garage, pantry, office and playroom. Whether you are looking for drawers to house snacks in the pantry, or racks for shoes in your closet, Elfa has the answer to help you get your belongings more organized. In addition, the versatility of the system will allow you to continue to edit your storage solution as your needs change. Maybe right now you need a system to organize all your children’s toys, but in the future you will need it to organize their clothing… not a problem. You can reconfigure the components you already have (including bringing pieces back to the Container Store to have them cut to fit) and you can buy new components to add-on to your current system. This makes Elfa a great value solution, as you will be able to continue to benefit from your investment for years to come. You can even take the system with you if you move into a new home and reconfigure it for the new space. So while it is built to look like a permanent system, its semi-permanent nature will allow you to easily take it with you so you can continue to keep yourself super organized.
From the beginning phases of designing your solution at the store to the installation in your home, the experience is seamless. I strongly recommend that you check out Elfa to help you get organized in 2011. Plus, if you shop before February 15, you can save 30% on your system and installation. A deal that only happens once a year!
Example of a walk-in closet solution with double-hanging for clothes, drawers for shirts, sweaters and undergarments, and top-shelf storage for purses and seasonal itemsThe jewelry tray component allows you to keep earings, pins, rings and clips separated and visibleThe pull-out tie rack component allows you to keep your ties organized and easily accessibleTwo different shoe components allow you to maximize storage for both high heel shoes and flatsSeveral shelves create a simple storage solution for a home office closet
As a child, I loved collecting business cards. There were so many neat colors and designs, and it was fun picking them up everywhere I went. Even though I had no purpose for the cards, being that I was seven years old, I took the time to organize them in a scrapbook to keep them orderly and neat.
Funny enough, today I loathe business cards for the mere reason of clutter. While I still love a well-designed card and the purpose the cards serve, I want nothing more than to get the info into my contacts and the card off my desk ASAP.
Recently, I was introduced to the CamCard – an app that will help me accomplish my goal of quickly eliminating business card clutter. All I need to do is photograph the business card with my iPhone (the app is also available for other smartphones) and it scans the information directly into my contacts. It allows me to verify if the info is all correct, make any necessary edits and even saves a picture of the card for future reference. Also, I love being able to scan the card almost immediately after receiving it so that I don’t get back logged on entering people’s info into my contacts.
The CamCard app will not only help you eliminate clutter, but it will also save you time when initially entering people’s contact info and when looking for it in the future.
Living in a small apartment in New York City I am often left searching for space to plug something in, whether it is a toothbrush charger, a beard trimmer, or a mobile device. Even once I find a spot, I struggle with the messy cord and the item taking up my valuable counter space.
While I was recently out shopping, I came across the answer to my problem – The OXO Charging Shelf. This simple little invention allows you to charge your phone while keeping it off of the floor or counter-top. It helps to keep your counter clear of clutter and prevents your phone from being stepped on since you no longer have to rest it on the floor while charging. It even allows you to wrap up the cord to keep things looking neat and tidy.
When it comes to offices, I want nothing more than to hide every single cable coming out of a wall or a computer. I can’t be happier with the advancements that have been made in recent years with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi technology, as the closer we move to a wireless society the more easily I can breathe. 🙂
While I wait for the wires to disappear completely I have found joy in the CableBox created by the folks over at Bluelounge. The CableBox keeps your unruly cables, surge protectors and power strips out of view and safely tucked away in a fire-retardant plastic box. You can either store it under your desk, or keep the cleanly designed box of joy out in the open. No unplugging is required for installation so you can clean-up those cables in less than five minutes.
