Organized for Life » Product Review

Product Review: Urban Eco Trash Can

Martha — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 15:16:56 +0000

I do not have a good poker face.

So, when I opened my Christmas present from my oldest daughter, I know my face showed exactly what I was thinking. “You’ve got to be kidding! My daughter just gave me a trash can for a present!”

Sarah was quick to say, “I know it’s a trash can, Mom, but I know you of all people will appreciate how it works.”

Once I saw how the molded plastic arms easily store and use plastic grocery bags for quick disposal, I was thrilled and want to share the website where you can get one (or more) for yourself.

This Urban Eco Trash Can comes in either black or lime green.

To store the bags, place handles over the side arms. Then pull up and hook the handles over the inner tab to form a new liner. I love both ease of use and the excellent way to reuse those grocery bags.

Sad to be excited about a trash can, isn’t it? I do love my present, Sarah!

Hope you had a joyous holiday!

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Product Review: Life Facts Book

Martha — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 16:09:42 +0000

Get your Really Important Stuff together before “It” happens.

Recently I met with two ladies who are on a mission. Mary Greenlee and Lorie Copeland have just put the finishing touches on their Life Facts Book. Their mission:

To inspire you to organize and make accessible the facts of your life!

Mary’s husband, an attorney, passed away within a week of being diagnosed with a fatal condition. His legal affairs were in order, however, Mary did not know where to find all of the financial accounts, passwords, and business records she needed to process her husband’s estate. That experience gave rise to Mary’s desire to develop an easy-to-follow outline that others could use to avoid the kind of challenges she faced in the unexpected transition time!

This notebook is for you if you have needed information in times of crisis or emergency and thought “Why didn’t I prepare earlier so I can easily find the important papers I need?”

I love that Mary and Lorie have divided the Life Facts Book into bite-sized chunks of vital information that you can gather one piece at a time. The 100+ page notebook includes helpful hints for finding and recording personal, medical, financial, and end of life information.

There are over 40 master pages that you can duplicate as needed for each household member such as: medication/supplement chart, surgical history, pet history, advanced health directives, investment portfolio, and household inventory.

Can you imagine having all of your vital information identified in one place, ready to reference when moving, being in a weather crisis, retiring, divorcing, or experiencing major illness? Priceless! This product is definitely worth the asking price of $40.

Order a Life Facts Book online for you and one for a friend today!

Feel free to contact Mary or Lori through their website LifeFactsBook.com.

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Product Review: Holiday Planning Tool

Martha — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 16:18:21 +0000

Can you believe it is already the 26th of November? There are only 29 days ’til Christmas!

OK, it’s time to decide how you will celebrate the religious holiday you embrace this season. Once you have several (no more than 3!) preferred activities in mind, you can begin to plan on menus, invitations, and gifts.

I love making lists, getting my ideas on paper. I simply refuse to try to juggle a myriad of details in my brain.

That’s why I love the ready-made lists that are available for a $20 yearly charge at ListPlanIt.com! I have the professional membership so I can share pertinent lists with my clients.

You may choose to instantly download ListPlanIt’s Holiday ePlanner for just $7! These are a few of the lists you will be able to access:

Card lists & planners
Address book
Gift/Wish lists
Holiday party planning pages
Holiday meal planning pages
Daily, Weekly, Monthly calendars & to do lists
Advent planning pages

Sometimes the lists remind me of something I had not thought of. Have fun making your lists and getting a head start on fun and relaxing holidays!

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Christmas presents for Grandma – start now!

Martha — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 15:05:09 +0000

Wow! Can you believe it is already November? This is a good time to decide on what to get for extended family members.

Grandmas are really rather easy to buy for. Anything that will remind us daily of our wonderful grandchildren is always welcome! These are two gifts that easily fit that category.

Click image for larger view	Lil Davinci® 85 x11 Art Gallery Grandma will be ready to frame anything the kids draw on an 8 1/2 x 11 piece of paper. Includes 4 – 8.5 x 11 Kid’s Art Frames, wall mounting hardware, table stand, and template. Available in black, cherry, or white finish.
Click image for larger view	“My Grandchildren” Calendar Make a 2012 Calendar from for Grandma from this year’s photos. Do it yourself using Shutterfly.com or ask a Heritage Makers consultant to do it for you!

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Time Management : The Power Hour

Martha — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 14:45:26 +0000

A time management tool I have heard bandied about lately is the “power hour.” The idea is to decide on one essential task you must get done and set a timer for one hour.

Take phones off hooks or turn down the ringer sound, don’t check email or texts, get a drink and go to the bathroom before your hour starts. Then use that hour to take a huge bite out of that task.
This works for me. I do my best thinking when I am immersed in a project. I feel like I am diving deep under the surface and don’t even come up for air.

These are two of the timing tools I like best:

Click the image for a larger view - focusbooster.com App

Focus Booster– a free app that you download, then use as a timer on your computer. Note: when setting the time, moving the cursor to the right adds time, moving to the left gives less time.

Click the image for a larger view - Digital Hourglass Timer by Polder

Digital Hourglass Timer by Polder – This is a funky clock and timer with digital “sand” timing up to 99 minutes. Useful when you are working around the house, or as a limiting factor in meetings or workshops! Also available at selected Target stores.

Try the “power hour” with one of these or any timer you have on hand. See if it works for you. You may need some background noise if you are more of an auditory, sensing type.

If an hour is too long, start with 10 minutes of concentrated effort and lengthen the interval as you get more comfortable.

Now is also a good time to use your “power hour” to start on that thing you have been putting off for forever!

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Product Review: My Favorite Weapon

Martha — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 13:13:12 +0000

Those of you who have been in my small group Clutter Management Program, or have been a Simple Changes reader for a while know that I LOVE the Freedom Filer paper management system.

I have helped quite a few clients set up this system in their home to corral paper so they can find what they are looking for in 10 seconds or less. It’s kind of a “no brainer”. You purchase, set it up like in the picture, and it is so easy to use you don’t have to think. Love saving those little grey cells…

The best part is the “maintenance free” or as I like to call it “self-purging” aspect of this system. The color-coded categories not only tell you when to purge, but practically force you to do it!

What I usually do with clients is have them purchase the system online. I put the basic system together, then show up ready to customize and train on how to best use all the additional features. The client hands me the copy he/she ordered and pays only for materials and the training time.

The benefit of ordering directly from Freedom Filer is that the company will then email you reminders on when to update and purge. Love it!

Make the decision today to break free!

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Organizing Product Review: More Container Store Favs

Martha — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 15:35:18 +0000

I have to limit my trips to The Container Store – hard to keep my total purchase under $100. However, there are a few items that are so versatile, I use them often in client’s homes. If you are lucky enough to live close to a store, don’t forget you can do the shopping online and then pick up to avoid shipping.

Translucent stack drawers – $4.99-11.99

I use these with Slotted Interlocking Drawer Dividers ($4.99) for custom medicine storage.

24-Pocket Mesh Overdoor Shoe Bag – $12.99

Use this in any room of the house: pantry – for individual packets & odd-shaped items; bathroom – for most used toiletries; craft room – for scissors, glue, etc; kid’s closet – for small stuffed animals.

Clear Handled Storage Baskets – regular price $3.99-4.99

These are great for storing toiletries by category so you can find what you need easily. The handle makes it easy to pull out and look.

Who says organizing can’t be fun? I can easily spend 2 hours wandering in this store! You?

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