Archive for the ‘ Lillian Vernon ’ Category

5 Tips: How to Organize Your Conference Bag

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I recently returned from the 2019 NAPO Conference held this year in Fort Worth, Texas. I always enjoy the conference–I get to take workshops, meet new Professional Organizers and reconnect with ones I haven’t seen in a while. The latest organizing products from NAPO’s business partners are on display and stepping away from my everyday responsibilities for a few days helps to ‘recharge my battery.’ The theme of this year’s conference was ‘Education is Bigger in Texas.’ Even my hotel room was big. It was so large, I could cartwheel through it. Not that I did–I’m just sayin’–everything is bigger in Texas…

As silly as it may sound, one of the things I look forward to at the NAPO Conference is the conference bag that’s given out every year. I have a nice collection of them by now running the gamut from a lovely red handbag-like tote (Lillian Vernon – Chicago 2004) to an amorphous recycle bag (New Orleans 2013) to a bag with a zippered top and water bottle/holder (Chicago 2018). I use the conference bag I received at the Orlando conference (2009) as the work bag I take to my client’s homes.

It’s important to me that everything I need to drag around with me during the day fits in the conference bag. After the not-so-fab New Orleans conference bag, I started packing an old conference tote (Minneapolis 2007) with me in case I didn’t like the conference bag been given out. But, this year, I did not pack the Minneapolis tote…

The night before I left for the NAPO Conference, I was thrilled to see that someone had posted a picture of this year’s conference bag on Facebook.

I was happy to see that it had contrasting colors and a little button closure–cute! It was roomy without being too big.

But, there are times when a bag can be too big and become a black hole for everything they’re carrying. When you’re at a conference, you need to use your brain power for learning and networking–not for searching and worrying about where all of your stuff is. You don’t have time to send a search party out to find your business cards and hotel room key!

If you or a friend, family member, or colleague are attending a conference in the future, here are 5 tips for keeping your conference bag organized so you’ll always be able to find what you need when you need it.

Tip #1 SORT

What items do you think you’ll want handy the day of the conference? Gather them and place them on a surface in front of you–couch, bed, desk, kitchen island–whatever works…

Then, take those items and sort them into categories such as electronics, items you’ll need to access quickly, note taking items, and most important–SNACKS!

Tip #2 CONTAINERIZE

Now that you’ve categorized your stuff, it’s time to put them in their own containers so they’re not floating around the bottom of your conference bag (eliminating the need for that search party mentioned above…) Pack a few pouches and small/medium/large Ziploc bags for this purpose. The size of the pouches and baggies are dependent upon the items you plan to carry in your conference bag.

This is the pouch I used that is so brightly colored, I think I could find it in a black hole.

I kept my necessities in here–phone, business cards, lip balm, pens, hotel room key.

Tip #3 RETURN ITEMS TO THEIR ‘HOME’

Conferences can be non-stop learning and networking events. You might feel rushed during your conference day and tired at night but it’s important for you to take the time to put items back in their baggies and pouches after using them. This will save you time later in the day and the next morning when you need to access your phone charger or hand someone your business card.

Tip #4 MAKE IT YOUR OWN

Whether there are fifty or six hundred and fifty conference attendees, almost everyone will be carrying the same conference bag. You’ll want to ensure that no one accidentally walks away with yours thinking it’s theirs! Make it stand out with a large pin, decorative ribbon, or brightly-colored scarf that no other bag will have. You’ll always know which bag is yours!

Since I saw a preview on Facebook of what the conference bag looked like, I packed a color-coordinating scarf to tie around the handle. I always knew which conference bag was mine!

Tip #5 PURGE

Purge your conference bag at the end of the day of items you no longer need–used tissues, energy bar wrappers, and the free swag you couldn’t resist putting in your bag. Getting rid of what you no longer need makes room for the items you will need the next day.

If you’re a visual person like me, click on my YouTube video below to see the 5 steps and get a sneak peek at this year’s NAPO Conference bag:

These 5 tips are going to ensure you have the most organized bag at your next conference–I guarantee it!

Are you heading to a conference soon? What item would you need most in your conference bag?

Holiday Storage

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I once had a client who kept her artificial Christmas tree in a ratty cardboard box. She said to me, “Every year I take it out of the box and hope it (the box) survives another year. I just don’t know how else to store it.”

I also had a client who stored her tree ornaments between towels in a laundry basket.

To both of them, I recommended holiday storage solutions.

Why use holiday storage?
• It protects your holiday decorations from dirt/bugs/small creatures
• It holds the shape of holiday items such as trees and wreaths
• It helps to organize decorative items

Now is the perfect time to purchase holiday storage–before the tree and all of its trimmings get put away. Here are a few options at different price points that can assist in making next year’s holidays less stressful and more joyous.

From inexpensive to high-end:

Christmas Tree Shop (or any similar discount store)
I saw an ornament organizer for less than $5 last time I was there.

The Container Store
Wing-Lid Ornament and Light Storage Boxes $14.99-19.99

Lillian Vernon
Wreath Storage Bag $14.98

Brookstone:
Tree Duffel $69.95

The Cover Store
Rolling Tree Storage Bag (up to 15′) $149.99

If anyone knows of menorah storage solutions, I’d be interested in seeing those…

Cool Products – Back to School

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The beginning of the school year is a perfect time to get your children organized. I’ve found some ‘cool products’ that are sure to keep mornings calm and the kids on track…

Lillian Vernon has a few that I thought would be helpful. The first ‘Cool Product’ is the Days of the Week Hanging Organizer.

How many of you have fought the ‘What am I Going to Wear Today?’ battle…and lost? Check the weather report and the kids’ schedules and fill each compartment with clothes and accessories for the week. No more morning hassles and “Where is my…?” questions.

It comes in two styles–one that hangs in the closet and one that hangs over the door–choose whichever works best for your child’s space.

The second ‘Cool Product’ is Personalized Pencils

When I was a elementary school teacher, my students were always losing their pencils and accusing each other of taking them. With the personalized pencils, your child will always know if someone has ‘borrowed’ one by mistake. They’ll be more likely to keep them safe from loss, too. Your child will always be prepared with a pencil!

The third Cool Back to School Product from Lillian Vernon is the Over-the-Door Library Center–a great way to organize children’s books. Designate one or two spots for library books and you’ll always be able to find them when it’s time to return them. That’s what being organized is all about: Being able to find the things you need when you need them.

To see these and more organizing products for kids, go to http://www.lillianvernon.com and click on ‘Lilly’s Kids.’

It’s never too late to get your kids organized for the school year!

Cool Product – Dinnerware Storage

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Have you finished your turkey leftovers yet? Good–now it’s time to buckle down and get ready for the rest of the ho-ho-holiday season.

Today’s ‘Cool Product’ goes out to those who celebrate Christmas. I have worked with many clients at the holiday season who have special dishes for the Christmas holiday. At least half of them store them in a cardboard box wrapped in newspaper. Half of those people never utilize their dishes because in the hustle and bustle of the season, they can’t find the time or energy to unwrap dishes (cups and platters, too), wash them and then rewrap and store them after the holidays.

If this sounds like you or someone you know, check out Lillian Vernon’s ‘Jolly Holly’ quilted/padded dinnerware storage pieces. Whether it’s the fine china you inherited from Grandma or the wine glasses you rarely use, I recommend storing them in these types of dinnerware storage pieces–also called ‘China Keepers.’ The come in canvas or plastic and come with cardboard or flat/foam dividers to separate each dish.

Why the ‘Jolly Holly’ storage pieces for your Christmas dishes? Placing your Christmas dishes in Christmas-themed storage pieces will help you identify them very quickly on the shelves of an overstuffed closet or basement/attic space. Who has time during the holidays to hunt down dishes? Gotta make life easy and less stressful during the month of December and that’s what these ‘Jolly Holly’ china keepers do.