Organize the Whole Shebang

This Black Bag has Multiple Personalities

Wow!  Wrapping up + bringing her home... the Summer Guest Post Series finale is here! 

Thank you to Lauren Halagarda of The Organization Conncection, for introducing me + now you, to this fun little handbag for those of us with mulitple personalities.  I've added pics of my favs... check out the site and tell me what your inner Sybil must-haves are! Mine are as shown: black/silver Cori, Amy, Lauren- all begin w/ the basic black base.

             
                           

 

 

It’s in the bag!  by Lauren Halagarda, Certified Professional Organizer®

One of the misconceptions about getting organized is that you have to give up everything you love.  While I agree, you probably do have to let go of some of the stuff you have been holding onto, the purpose is to make room for what you love and use. 

I find it most challenging for my female clients when organizing their closet…or more specifically purses.  Clothing styles come and go but our love affair with accessories lives on.  There are totes, satchels, clutches, drawstring, hobo, dog carriers, evening bags, messenger, etc.  They come in your choice of patent leather, buckles, zippers, satin, tassles, velour, canvas, studs and choice of straps… The perfect purse allows us to express our individuality, reflects our personality and lifestyle, and one size fits all.   Heck, there’s even a museum exhibit entitled “The Purse and The Person: A century of women’s purses” (currently at the Dane G. Hansen Memorial Museum and Plaza in Logan, Kansas).  Purses really do tell a story.  

You can still express yourself in a more organized fashion by finding products and accessories that are flexible and fun.  I was strolling through the mall recently and came across this fabulous purse called the Miche™ Bag (pronounced MEE-chee).  It’s a basic bag with interchangeable covers.  You get to choose basic brown or black for the base bag.  Sounds boring, right?  But wait, you get to choose from a cool collection of shells that attach in a matter of seconds.  Not only does it use a fraction of the space in your closet- it also saves you time (no need to change purses...only shells).  One Miche™ bag lover organizes her shells in a filing system (a woman after my own heart).  The Miche™ bag also eliminates that “uh, oh” moment when you realize that you left your money in your other purse.  And it means that you can travel and still bring a purse (shell) for every outfit.

You’ve got to see it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKwtl-RjYcU

http://www.michebag.com/

Aby Garvey...on the radio... whoa on the radio!

 

Aby, Aby, Aby... she's my creative organizing hero- hmm scratch hero, insert hipster.  She's got it going on in the scrapbooking world and was our guest today on The O Myth.. the radio show I co-host w/ Brandie Kajino.  We debated + debunked the organizing myth "creative people can't get organized"- which is a total + complete myth sister!  Missed the Live show- no biggie, listen to the show here: The O Myth.

Brandie + I mentioned a couple of books for you creative, right brainers (takes one to know one) including Aby's book that we will be giving away!

 The Organized & Inspired Scrapbooker (Aby Garvey & Wendy Smedley)

Organizing for Your Brain Type, by Lanna Nakone

Organizing for the Creative Person, by Dorothy Lehmkuhl & Dolores Cotter Lamping, CSW

Also check out Aby's reaaaaalllly cute blog:   www.creativeorganizing.typepad.com and her website www.simplify101.com 

Aby did a guest post for us last month- check it out because even if you aren't a scrapbooker you can SO relate to her 5 tips! read it here!

AND NOW for the GIVE AWAY...
WIN ABY'S BOOK-
The Organized & Inspired Scrapbooker (Aby Garvey & Wendy Smedley)

leave a comment to say hi + share your creative outlet-
beader chick? scrapbooker? lego builder?

contest closes: 9/5/08

What the Fort?

 

Sometimes you've got to say "What the Fort?"  Hi my name is Krista Colvin and I'm a professional organizer.  Ok... I've got kids, they make a mess and I can't leave them at home with with a piece of newspaper on the bathroom floor.  Puppies they are not... but kids are kids and I believe in forts! 

The crazy + creative chaos pictured is just one of many forts my kids have built.  And I let them go at it... pillows + blankets + now furniture is all tossed in.  Oh vey...  But truly it only takes about 5 minutes to pick up if I chip in and help. 

Do you fort?

Collections Barn House Style

I'm sooo loving the boys of Barn House!  Their flea market was over-the-top fabulous and now this... this fabulous post for my Summer Guest Series.  Can't wait to share... But first a big ol bloggy hug + kiss to Joe + Jermonne and I'm sure you'll give them a little sugah after you feast your eyes on their collections! Enough with the love fest already...

 

Look what HE found!!

When Krista asked us to be “guest-bloggers” for her summer series, of course we said YES!  We are so honored to be considered worthy!!  But honestly, we had nooooo idea what the heck we would have to say on someone else’s blog.  So in the 11^th hour (sorry Krista), we decided to focus on something that you incredible women can get your husband/partner/boyfriend interested in collecting…AND something that YOU can actually stand looking at and even love too!  No car parts, no sports memorabilia and NO swimsuit calendars.  These are items that will not only look beautiful in your home, but will be also items that you BOTH enjoy. ..Barn House Style!  Disclaimer:   You just might need to give your man a little “guidance” on what to actually collect.   AND it may have to be done in a manner that is “on the down-low”…so he doesn’t really know that you have already decided what HIS collection is going to be.   BUT, this is a great way to “trick” him into coming out and shopping with you (at great places like Barn House), while at the same time putting his stamp (small-to-large…you decide) on your beautiful home decor!

Old bottles…Our favorite seems to be “Alcohol Paraphernalia” (Beautiful Decanters, Flasks, and Other Functional Stuff!)  :o)

 

Bird Houses for the home or yard…

 

Tool boxes that can also act as fantastic displays for your own collections…

And Unique Old Shaving brushes….

See, there are LOTS of interesting collections for the men in your lives that you won’t actually have to keep boxed up in the basement!!!  :o)

Joe and Jermonne
The Boys of Barn House
www.barnhousebh.blogspot.com
Traci French (Bliss) took these pix http://www.blissfulb.blogspot.com/

 

 

Finally a Round Basket- function meets fabulous!

Sometime I just love me alittle Ballard Designs... sometimes she's a bit too fufu for my home- but today the incoming email had this basket.  And this basket my friends needs to be on top of my patio table surrounding my umbrella!

Getting your Spouse to Help Organize

 

the hint....                                                       the after~

hint hint.. is my method of choice...

Sometimes it's a post-it note on the bathroom mirror asking for hubby to "kindly choose 5 shirts that could be donated".  Once you get them going you'll find 15 shirts and 6 pairs of jeans on the bedroom floor. I did. 

This day, it was a big ol' HEY honey while your sittin' there can you go through this pile of magazines and pick out your favs to keep?  Subtle maybe, passive aggressive could be...EFFECTIVE why yes it was thank you very much.  Doesn't my tower look nice?

What works for you?  Do share we all need to be in-the-know! 

Smashing Souvenirs!

Today on AM Northwest, Portland's morning show...my monthly lifestyle segment was all about Simple + Stylish Solutions for your Travel Keepsakes.   Take a peek at the segment HERE.

First + foremost think Simple + Stylish when shopping for souvenirs!  Reader Beware...I'm going to go a little crazy with the S words to keep you from bringing home the mother of all S words ;)

S for Sensible: these ideas serve a purpose.
-Christmas Ornaments & Books

 photo- Hallstatt, Austria

S is for Simple! These items are lightweight + easy to bring home 'cuz we both know the airlines will now charge you up the ying yang for an extra suitcase.
-sea shells- display in a jar
-pressed pennies- the kids love these + they are inexpensive!
-tickets, maps, brochures + such- scrapbooky type items can be framed to create unusual art.

Frame your random keepsakes to create a bit of art- this is from my honeymoon;)

S is for Stylish~ Kick it up a notch and purchase something you really love!
-artwork- how cool to have something made by a local artist decorating your walls.
-decor
-jewelry- my personal favorite!
-clothing + accessories- think beyond printed t's... a handbag or a local piece of garb; like my wool nanny + the professor cape from Scotland!

Art is way better than a postcard!  Create charms out of your snapshots.

Add a charm to your bracelet, don a new ring (Santa fe) wear a coin (St. Wolfgang, Austria) or be the recipient of a fabulous bracelet from Italy...grazie Ellen!

 

AND last but certainly not least
S is for Snapshots: because you took a ton of them now display them!

Create an album from Photoworks-this one happens to be my big 4Oh in Las Vegas.  My big bro took photos of the incredible architecture + art then cleverly added them to the album~

-custom charms- I LOVE. LOVE. LOVE these!!!!  *see the photo above! I had these custom made... contact me for Natalie's info or leave a comment on her blog. Vintage Sparrow... and more on this as I adore them so much that I'm going to dedicate a post to them!
-frame it... cluster framed pics.

Does Technology Really Make your Life Easier?

 

 

If you are a new reader a big ol' WELCOME to you, along with a quicky explanation that I have a radio show along w/ my gal Brandie Kajino.  We chat about life's O myths... Organizing myths that is!

A tad ironic that the start of the O myth today had some technological difficulties... and of course I panicked while Brandie remained calm.  So if you listen to the show, and you should, just skip the first minute or cover your ears until we get the ball rolling! Listen Here

We interviewed Wendy Piersall of www.Sparkplugging.com and www.SparkplugU.com.  Is she a Supermom?  Does technology really make her life easier?  I was a bit surprised that she considers e-mail to be the vein of her existence and yet her laptop is her fav piece of modern technology.  Remember when email was new + fun + "you've got mail" elicited a flutter of excitement? Now... not so much.

We also chatted about vintage technology.  Here is a little pic, ok big pic, of Brandie at last weeks Barn House Flea Market, w/her rotary dial find... courtesy of Queen of Tarte.  I think she should tie a lil' ribbon on it and hang it on her armoire knob.  She thought she may put a photo in it.  Hey... I have an idea, oh I'll need to tell Brandie this one... we can put our cute little O myth logo in it!  I like that idea the best of all... Brandie what do you think?

Some linky links from we promised our listeners:
www.freegeek.com where to take your old computers
www.earth911.org  where to find a place to take your old computers
www.SparkplugU.com where to take a great little class for your biz.
www.Sparkplugging.com  (formerly e moms at home) where to find work at home resources.
www.activewords.com where you can figure out how to not have to type the whole word everytime!
www.officepdx.com where you can find fabulous modern + vintage office equipment.

More on the show... checkout Brandie's post.

CONTEST INFO!

Win a cute little Internet Notebook courtesy of www.TheOrganizedParent.com!!!! 

Just leave a comment on your favorite 'vintage' piece of technology. We'll announce the winner on our next show...August 22nd w/the fab Aby Garvey! 

Ok... I'll go first: my first baby blue princess phone ;)

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Simply Fabulous Floral Arrangements

I adored all all these quaint little floral arrangements in Antie Joy's booth at the Barn House flea market.  I took one picture and then another, and another, and another....  Feast you eyes on all these little gems. Get inspired then get out in the garden, dig through your cupboards then create up a storm!