CLUTTER!!

And what happens to clutter?

It gets P.U.R.G.E.D.

So she uses them.  She is a writer at heart so I often see her writing furiously away.  In fact she is working on a novel and that apparently takes many notebooks :)

So imagine the fighting that ensues anytime a stationery company sends us a “care” package.  The drool alone is ridiculous but the cat fighting is so unnecessary, sheesh :)  Actually I’m totally on to her and now I secretly sneak those stationery boxes into the house and squirrel them away in my office.  At least until I’ve had a chance to review them.

Blue Sky is one company we recently received a box from.  I’ve used their products before and they are fun, fun, fun.  They have a product called a Multi-Task Notebook and it is essentially a list notebook.  Some of you may remember this post I did on why I think having a list notebook is such a great idea.  Any notebook will work but this is the first time I’ve sort of seen one geared specifically for this purpose.  Let me show you.

It provides you with different sections to batch tasks which is something else I strongly suggest.  This notebook includes three sections….to do, to buy and to call.  It also includes pocket pages in between each.

One of their weekly/monthly planners is what I’m now using as my blog planner and it is working beautifully for me, a much better fit for this purpose.

Love these planning pages at the beginning of every month.

And I really love the monthly tabs.

Here’s a quick glimpse of some of their other fun products:

Don’t Forget Notepad for the door

Magnetic Grocery Pad

And a MousePad Pad

Plus many many more!  You can find this line of products for purchase at two places…their Blue Sky website and as well at Target.  I am also hoping to arrange a weekly bundle offer for my shop as well, that would be awesome.  I’ll keep you posted if we can make it work.

So tell me, are you a stationery junkie too?

Stationery Love is a post from: I'm an Organizing Junkie

image credit: shutterstock

Well this shouldn’t come as a shock to most of you but I really hate to clean and yes there is a HUGE difference between cleaning and organizing.  So while I’m your girl for helpful organizing tips I am most definitely not your girl for helpful cleaning tips.  I mean, don’t get me wrong, my house doesn’t look too bad (thanks to minimal clutter to help reduce cleaning time and kids that are pretty good at getting their chores done) but I could always use some help in this area.

Today I’d like to introduce someone who knows all about the ins and outs of not only cleaning but other valuable skills for everyday living.  Heather Solos started her blog, Home-Ec 101, in 2007 which is originally how we met but we finally got to meet in person at Blissdom Canada last year which was very cool.  Heather also just released a book based on her blog called, Home-Ec 101: Skills for Everyday Living – Cook it, Clean it, Fix it, Wash it.  She is a smarty pants for sure.  I’m in awe of her knowledge of all things domesticated and her desire to help teach others such valuable skills for real life.  I also really enjoy her entertaining sarcastic humor.

Throughout Heather’s 240 page book you’ll find information on all things to do with cleaning, washing, scrubbing, fixing, dusting, organizing, plumbing and cooking.  Seriously it is FULL of answers for so many common household dilemmas and problems that are super quick to find too because she’s got the book broken down into four easy to refer to sections (so important!).

Section 1: Clean It – help for all your cleaning challenges

Section 2: Wash It – help for all your laundry challenges

Section 3: Fix It – handyman (girl) help for common household challenges

Section 4: Cook It – help in the kitchen including tips on menu planning (which she says isn’t just for control freaks..hahaha!)

So one of my household challenges?  Mini blinds.  Yuck!  Our new house has them and I can’t afford to replace them.  So I looked up blinds in the detailed index in the back, turned to page 71 and now know that the easiest way to get those suckers clean is just to take them down and soak them in the bathtub with some dish soap.  And yes I tried to clean each slat one by one (talk about a painful messy experience!) before I read that little piece of wisdom.  I told you I need help!

Anyway this is a great book to pick up for inspiration for yourself or for a shower gift or even as a graduation gift for that teen in your life.

Also available for Kindle!

Giveaway:

In addition to the book I received to review, I also have THREE to giveaway as well.  Simply leave a comment on this post, prior to Wednesday, May 4th at 2:00 pm EST, telling me one of your own household cleaning challenges. No other hoops to jump through :)

Good luck!

Home-Ec 101 giveaway! is a post from: I'm an Organizing Junkie

A couple of years ago I posted about how I organize my blogging.  I created my own notebook/calendar of sorts and that worked for me quite some time.  However as my workload increased I found that my homemade jobie wasn’t cutting it anymore and I floundered along in disorganization for awhile until I finally found the system that works for me now.

Now I use the BusyBodyBook to organize my blogging and it is working beautifully!  This is the one I have but there are also other cover styles to choose from.  Isn’t it pretty!

What makes this planner/calendar so unique is the weekly grid with 5 columns for each day.

I designate one column to keep track of my advertising spaces, one column to track my daily posting topics, one column to track my daily priority to do item, one column to plan ahead and one column for ideas.  I love how much better I feel knowing I’m on top of what needs to be done, it takes so much pressure off me which means less daily stress and I’m all for that!  I keep it right beside my laptop so I know what I’m suppose to be doing and when.  I use this organizer along with my List Notebook and together I’ve got one big brain dump…whoot!

Others use this calendar to organize their family…one column for each family member and that works great too because you can instantly see if you have any overlaps in scheduling.  You can also designate a column for menu planning as well or even tracking personal goals!!

Other highlights include:

• Full months-at-a-glance pages in front of book
• planning calendar for birthdays and anniversaries
• perforated shopping lists page
• important contacts pages
• 2 large inside cover pockets
• A bookmark always keeps you on the right page
• Protective clear plastic front and back covers
• Spiral binding
• Dimensions = 7″ x 10″
• $17.95 each

You have the option of purchasing the BusyBodyBook for the academic year (Aug to Aug) or the calendar year (Jan to Dec).   You can view samples of the BusyBodyBook pages here and for even more information, the BusyBodyBook was recently featured on the Daily Grommet!

Giveaway:

If you’d like the opportunity to win one of these great organizers simply leave a comment on this post (I’d love to hear how you would designate your columns) prior to Tuesday, August 31st at 4:00 pm PST.  Winner will be selected via random.org.  Open to everyone.

It’s time to get organized!

The BusyBodyBook Organizer Giveaway! is a post from: I'm an Organizing Junkie

How about a little sneak peek?

Need help organizing your desk? is a post from: I'm an Organizing Junkie

I have tried numerous other purse organizers in the past and while they were okay they didn’t really fill all my needs so eventually I stopped using them.  When this company contacted me to try yet another organizer I was totally skeptical to say the least. I am now so glad I gave the Purse Perfector a chance because it is awesome!!

It definitely serves the same purpose as all those other organizers I’ve tried but this one just offers a more complete package and includes everything I need in an organizer.

Unlike other organizers that are flimsy cotton that don’t stand up to my tough wear and tear this one is made of a sturdy high grade nylon that is able to stand alone and is super easy to clean.

Another thing that has always bothered me about other organizers is the handles they have so you can carry it around like a mini purse.  I always find that the handles only get in the way of accessing the contents in the middle section when you go to grab something from within your purse. I do not want to open my purse and then have to open something else to get out what I need. I like simple. The Purse Perfector sits open for easy access without anything else getting in the way.

It also unzips in the middle so you can open it up and use each section separately or as one long organizer depending on which style of purse you are using.

I love this product!  Take a peek inside my purse:

Oh ya baby!  I’m constantly pulling it out of my purse to show people because I’m so proud of it (there I go flashing my dork card again! :) )  Everything has a home and it makes changing purses so quick and easy to do. It also is available in multiple colors which you can see in my shop here.

Now the price is a little intimidating or at least it was for me at first and I so did not want to fall in love with it because of that.  In fact I even spent FOUR hours (I’m pretty stubborn sometimes) surfing on the internet one night trying to find a similar product for less money and you know what? I couldn’t do it. Not that has all the same benefits as the Purse Perfector. It’s brilliant and I do not hesitate to highly recommend it! If you see me in the street, ask to see inside my purse and I’ll be happy to show it off to you in person :)

Today I have one of these beautiful organizers to giveaway to one lucky reader.  To enter all you have to do is add your email address into the box below prior to Tuesday, May 11th at 8:00 pm PST.  It’s as easy as that, no comment necessary.  If you are reading this in a reader, you’ll have to pop on over to my site to find the box to enter. The winner will be chosen at random from the entries received.  Good luck! This giveaway is now closed.

Disclosure: I was given a Purse Perfector to sample but in no way does that reflect on my views of this product. As with all my reviews, products I trial go through and must pass a strict screening process before I ever decide to write about them. I’m very picky and only the best of the best will be shared with my audience.

Purse Perfector + Giveaway!! is a post from: I'm an Organizing Junkie

Chaos Simplified ~ The Womans Day Planner is a post from: I'm an Organizing Junkie

Teaching Kids Organizational Skills + giveaway is a post from: I'm an Organizing Junkie

Flirty Apron Giveaway is a post from: I'm an Organizing Junkie

The $5 Dinner Mom Cookbook is a post from: I'm an Organizing Junkie

Happy New Year!  What better way to start the new year than with another great giveaway!  This giveaway over on my review site is all about simplifying your menu planning to assist you in your 2010 organizing endeavors.  I wish you all a year of many blessings and may this be the year that all your organizing dreams turn into reality!

image courtesy of marathmola mawla

Plan to Eat New Year’s Giveaway is a post from: I'm an Organizing Junkie