Organize the Whole Shebang

Junk in the Trunk- function meets fab!

Have you been eye balling these?  ME TOO!  Oh where oh where can it fit...  I want all three because they are so fabulous as a set!  Just picture all the things that can get stashed in there- blankets, family keepsakes, kid's keepsakes (put one of these at the foot of their bed!).

Let's think this one through... could use as a nightstand next to the bed that is low to the ground, maybe the guest room (wait, I don't have a guest room).  How about as a coffee table or just like they are shown over in a corner... now we're talking.  They even come in 3 sizes. 

What great texture and storage.  But really now, how often are you going to take the 2 trunks down so that you can get to the goods inside.  So think this one through before loading it up with stuff.

Reality is... I won't purchase one.  I'll just adore them from a far.  I'll dream of the 2nd house in the San Juan's that it would fit perfectly in.  None the less, they are quite fabulous.

For Him or You- function meets fabulous

 
I'm playing on the Pottery Barn website and came across this little gem on sale for $29.99.  Wouldn't this make a great Father's Day gift or a little special somethin' somethin' for you own stash of eye wear and other out-the-door items? 

Picture your belongings all nicely stored away... could go in the top drawer of your kitchen office space or the one drawer you may be lucky enough to have in your laundry room just off the garage.  It measures 15 x 13 x 2 which will accommodate most drawers but double check.  This is definitely an item that needs to land where your "stuff" lands and if it's the counter top or on top of the dryer, this little didy would be sprucing it up a bit!

Isn't it one of the ESPN broadcasters that says "You can only hope to contain him"...

Love it

I need this!  I think your desk may just need it too!  Ditch the old coffee mug and step up to the plate.  Did I mention they are on sale at See Jane Work  Use the tray to house your small stash of paperclips and your fabulous ring that just twirls as you type- you know what I'm talkin' about.

Organizing Those Tax Docs

Traditional + then a fabulous little modern twist. www.storables.com

If you haven't started getting those tax docs together...I wanted to give you a little kick in the spanx!  Here are 3 resources to motivate, inspire, and get you going!

1. Click Here to view my tv segment on Organizing your Tax docs! Choose March 2007.

2. Take a look at the article Putting it Together - This Tax Season in Fidelity Magazine, featuring my Seattle colleague Lara Leist.   More great info from another fabulous professional organizer!

3. Another great little link is http://www.storables.com/Customer_Service/Tax-To-Dos/  It's a simple to-do list with some fun products to get you in the mood!

Saying "No" to Junk Mail- quick + easy

UGH... are you over the top with junk mail?  I love getting a catalog or two, but those pesky ValPak coupons and credit offers have got to go... go away that is.  Here's some quick info that will put you back in control.

The info is from Metro in Portland, Oregon.  Thanks Metro... love my little green corner of the world~

Drop the ValPak coupons! You'll need your envelope to input the correct info. click here

Call the Credit Bureaus
to opt out... www.optoutprescreen.com Contact them again in 2 years.

Remove your name from the Direct Marketing Association Mailing lists: click here

Of course there are a million and one things you can do to reduce the influx, but commit to do something instead of waiting around to do it all.  Then go smile at a tree and breathe in some fresh air :)

Love my Sunset Magazine!

photos courtesy of the housemartin blog.

Anyone else LOVE their Sunset magazine subscription?!  For as long as I can remember my mom and I have both enjoyed this fabulous magazine. 

This month I LOVE it even more because local PDX gal, and fellow Ladies Who Launcher, and the women that inspired and guided me in creating my own blog had a FULL page feature!!! 

Pam Zsori  also has a fabulous spread on their blog, which you should visit right now!  The incredible bouquets above are hers... see, she's FABULOUS isn't she!

Cheers to Pam!  Cheers to spring!  Cheers to Sunset mag!

Portland Mamas Inc.

I have kids, I have a business, I have a husband, I have a lot going on... as most of us do.  One of my secrets is Portland Mamas Inc.  I commune with like minded mamas that strive to do it all.  The photo is from one of the meetings.  Some meetings are mama only others are kid friendly.

When I first started my biz, I was a bit in the closet about having children.  Especially when the biz line would ring.  Now, I'm out...Yes, I have kids and they come first. If it's after 3:30 pm and the phone rings, I either let it go to voice mail or quickly explain that I'm on "mom time" and let them know the fighting kids in the background may need my attention at any minute.

Last week I had the opportunity to speak to the PMI group along with architect Hiromi Ogawa.  What a fabulous group of women, a fabulous group of moms.  Here are a couple of things I shared with them:

1. Live in the Present- dinner parties can be put on hold, take a sabbatical from your bk (before kid) life and embrace your present life stage.
2. Lose the Shoulda Coulda Woulda's in your life- lose the guilt and shorten your to do list.
3. Create Routines- kids need them and so do we!  Routines will keep you sane.

Magical Children's Table and Chairs- Function meets Fabulous!

My little town of Camas, Washington has a fabulous library. In 2002 they did a major remodel.  It's the perfect mix of old + new.  The other day I took the kids, noticed once again how simply magical this table and chair set was and just had to whip out my camera and take a pic to share with you.

All the petals and leaves, aka chairs, are on casters so that you can move them about to create clever seating arrangements.

Here's a look at the Camas library...

A Few of My Favorite Things

 
I'm feeling blue, feeling mopey.  My early Spring allergies have reared themselves into a cold.  I attempted to make myself some chicken soup last night, but it's not the same as when someone else makes it and serves it up for you now is it?!

So in honor of me wanting to curl up and check out for a couple of days I'm going to share a few of my favorite things.  This is also a little game that my daughter and I play at night when she needs a little help falling asleep. Enjoy~  Oh... please feel free to add your own in the comments.  If you've never left a comment before it's easy, the system just wants you to verify a code so that the crazy virtual spammers can't leave weird crud on my blog.

1. Daffodils... lots of them clustered together
2. Late afternoon at Lake Tahoe in August
3. Finishing my tax return
4. Taking the scenic route
5. Walking through the forest at Camp Cispus
6. Dancing with my family on a Sunday morning
7. Singing really loud with the windows down and the sun shining
8. White tulips
9. A hazelnut latte
10. Captain Crunch Berries
11. Peaches and Cream
12. Bird nests

....these are a few of my favorite it things...

SHOP/o8 pdx

Earlier this week I had the pleasure of emceeing (is that really a word... it looks so odd) the Portland SHOP/o8 event!  Chris Van Dyke, the CEO of Nau, kicked off the day followed by incredibly talented panels of local entrepreneurs sharing their secrets.  Judith Spitzer wrote a fabulous review of the event on her Oregon Live Blog.

I have to share with you that I was quite the giddy girl with pixie dust in my eyes as I introduced myself to Chris Van Dyke (that's his photo above).   He's possibly the closet thing I'll ever get to the real Mary Poppins.  Yes, Chris is Dick Van Dyke's son and he's quite the accomplished business man.  But noooooo, the little girl in me didn't compliment him on his accomplishments... but went straight into "I just loooovvvee Mary Poppins" mode.  Do you ever do that... get all giddy around someone?

You may recall this post in which I took out a small family trying to get my photo taken with Mary at Disneyland.  And now that I look at the photo, I swear the kid dressed as Bert or is it Burt, is a former student of mine.  So if you aren't getting the connection here... Dick Van Dyke played Bert the Chimney Sweep.  Chris is Dick's son, whom I am sure had to have mingled with Mary, aka Julie Andrews, somewhere along the way.  So here is the coolest thing... Chris shared with me that HE was in Mary Poppins... as a boy he was quite tall and fit into a chimney sweep costume quite well. 

So now that I'm no longer floating on air... I am really impressed with Nau's mission statement. As Chris shared the company philosophy I realized that Chris was really in touch with his feminine side... Nau's approach to business is quite impressive.  Then it dawned on me... Chris must have had one hell of a mother.  So thank you to the Mrs. Van Dyke's out there that raised their boys to run their businesses with heart.