Guilty of not being able to keep up with reading my magazines. I’m now down to one subscription and I have a stack that I’m slowly chipping away at. See, even Professional Organizers get behind on tasks!
I just finished reading the March 2012 ‘De-clutter Your Life’ issue of O “Oprah’ magazine and really enjoyed reading an article called, “Journey to the Center of Gayle’s Closet.”
In the article, Adam Glassman, O Magazine’s Creative Director along with a small team of helpers assist Gayle King (Oprah’s ‘bestie’) with a closet intervention: sorting, purging and organizing her clothes closet.
It’s a great piece written by the very talented Lisa Kogan. She is so funny, I’d read the phone book if I knew she wrote it…
There’s a section at the bottom of the article showing products to help to organize a closet–that’s where I got the following quote from…
Quote: “What good are boxes and bins if you can’t easily tell what’s in them?” says Adam Glassman.
“People can last a day or two without food and water, but no one can live without a label maker!”
Loved that. Had to share. Who is running out and getting a label maker?
Last month, I started blogging about products from a company called SMEAD. If you haven’t heard of them, just walk into your local office supply store and check the shelves. They create products for document management. If you have paper, you’ve probably seen or used one of their products.
In August, I talked about SMEAD’s ‘My Organizer’ Products/MO File System. Today, I’m going to give you a tour of another one of their helpful products…the Super Tab Folder.
Have you ever started filing your papers and realized you didn’t have enough room to write what you wanted to on the folder tab? I know, I have. You can squeeze just so many words in a small space! I guess the people at SMEAD heard that complaint a million times and decided to do something about it.
Here is a photo of SMEAD’s Super tab folder. (The reflection is of my light fight fixture and of me taking the picture.)
This isn’t any ordinary file folder. When you open it up–it’s also a folder with two pockets! You may be asking–what is that doohickey is at the top of the folder?
That doohickey acts as a clamp to hold your papers in place while the folder is being carried or filed in your file cabinet. Here it is open:
With a stack of papers in it…
The doohickey at the top of the folder is perfect for those prone to the ‘dropsies.’ If you accidentally drop this folder, your papers aren’t going to fall out all over the floor like they would from a regular file folder. That’s great news–especially for those who never put page numbers on their documents…
By the way–if you haven’t figured it out already, THIS is why they call it the SUPER TAB folder…
That writing area is almost twice the size of a tab on a regular file folder. Ever try and fit everything you want to write on a tab but you’d run out of room? Not anymore with the Super Tab folder! I could write a novel on that tab!
I think the concept is great–the file folder is a 2-pocket folder with a built in paperweight. The only drawback to this product is its glossiness. After handling it for a while, my fingerprints were all over it. Maybe the cast of CSI should use it to file their papers and catch criminals!
Check back in October for my next SMEAD product post! I don’t know what it will be but I’ll be sure to let you know about more of SMEAD’s helpful paper organizing products as they come through my mail slot.
While at the NAPO Conference in Baltimore this past Spring, I got to meet a lovely representative from SMEAD at our Product EXPO. She and I chatted about office products, ‘liked’ each other on Facebook and a few months later, she asked me if I would want to review SMEAD products on my blog.
What organizer can say no to checking out new organizing products?
A few weeks later, I received the MO File System. MO stands for ‘My Organizer.’ There are three parts to the MO File system: a folder kit, a file case and a case wrap. Here’s a video with all the details:
I received three pieces: the File Case, the Case Wrap, and the Financial Kit. They come in different colors but I got the green pattered one which coincidentally fits in with the decor of my home office.
Besides the Financial Kit, the other kits sold are the MO Medical Kit, the MO Project Kit and the MO Starter Kit. According to the SMEAD website,
“MO file kits provide all the help you need to get organized. Each kit contains 9 letter size SuperTab folders, one label sheet with pre-printed and/or blank labels and a detailed instruction sheet.”
The My Organizer system can be found at most office supply stores and on Amazon.com.
Why consider the My Organizer File system for your paper organizing needs?
– It fits easily into a letter-sized file drawer – It is easily transportable – It’s a great way to organize papers for a particular project or aspect of your life
I haven’t started using it yet but here’s what I like about My Organizer File system so far…
– It’s compact – The File Case slides out of both sides of the Case Wrap – The Super Tabs on the file folders are huge! Plenty of space for writing file descriptions.
I have a lot of business and family-related papers that always need action or are pending so I’m going to explore the features of he My Organizer File system and give it a try on my desk. I’ll keep you posted!
Open one of the drawers of your file cabinet. Are papers popping out or peeking over the top of your file folders? If your answer is ‘Yes,’ then read on…
I’ve learned a lot of cool organizing ‘hacks’ in the 16+ years I’ve been a Professional Organizer. Here’s one I think is the coolest–it’s going to help you keep your stacks of papers neat and organized…
Grab a manila folder and take a look at the front of it. You may not have ever noticed, but there are scored lines at the bottom of most folders–some folders have three lines across and some have five. Ever wonder what they were for? I hadn’t, until a colleague taught me this neat trick that I pass on to all of my paper organizing clients:
To make more space for papers in your folder, bend and crease one of the lines to create a box-bottomed effect.
Creasing the highest of the three or five lines will provide you with the most space inside your folder. Creating a box-bottomed effect will offer more space for papers in your file folder.
Go ahead–take a file folder out of your file cabinet and give it a try. The front of the folder will shorten but it will still be high enough to protect the papers inside.
These lines appear most often on plain manila or colored folders. You may not see them on decorative folders such as ones you’ll find at HomeGoods or Target–save those for smaller piles of paper that you wish to file.
To see these scored lines close up, click to watch my YouTube video below:
Wasn’t that cool? Share this post with a friend who could use this cool manila folder hack!
Long commute?
Live far from your family?
Got kids?
Then you probably spend a lot of time in your car.
Our cars are like a home-away-from-home. Sometimes we eat in our car. Sometimes we sleep in our car. We have TV screens and stereos and storage spaces in our cars. Yup–sounds like home to me…
So, if it’s important to keep our homes organized, it is equally important to keep our home-away-from-home organized, too.
I drive a big SUV and if I didn’t organize it, it would resemble a dumping ground on wheels. I have to organize my belongings, stuff for my kids, supplies for my business and supplies for the car just like I would organize any space in my home. When you’re ‘on-the-go’ you have to be able to find what you need quickly.
Your first step towards organizing your car is to sort and purge the items currently living in it. Once you know what is staying you’ll need a few organizing products to help you keep your home-away-from- home neat and tidy and of course–organized.
Here are a few products I use in my own car and a few that might be useful in special situations:
Trash receptacle – If you don’t want your car looking like the city dump. I highly recommend purchasing a trash receptacle for your car. This is the one I have by Case Logic and it works well for me. Unfortunately, it’s so old, the company doesn’t make it anymore:
I keep it thrown over my gear stick and hanging into the passenger side. It’s easy to stuff the garbage into the top and the velcro bottom opens easily to release the trash. I own this in tan to match my old car’s interior but when it has seen better days (the time is coming soon!), I’m getting one like this:
Auto Trash Bag by The Mod Mobile
There are so many fun, colorful and cool designs, I’m not sure which I would pick! Check all of them out on Allyson Hill’s The Mod Mobile Etsy site.
Visor CD Organizer – Downloading songs to my iPhone is on my long list of ‘Things I’d Like to Do Someday.’ So in the meantime, I’ve purchased a CD organizer for my visor–also from CaseLogic. My music, kiddie music–it’s all stored neatly and at arm’s reach.
Collapsible Crate – I got mine at a discount home store a bunch of years ago but you can find them at some office supply stores and The Container Store.
Photo Courtesy of Office Max
This is what is in mine: box of manila folders for organizing jobs, plastic bags, extra umbrella, and the ‘restaurant’ bag I’ll be discussing next. Other items that can fill the crate are groceries, car accessories, and random items that might otherwise float around your trunk or back of car.
“Restaurant” Bag – I got a drawstring backpack as a promotion from a store I was making a large purchase at a few years ago. When I saw it, I knew what it would be perfect for–a ‘restaurant bag.’ I call it a ‘restaurant bag’ because it is filled with items to keep my kids occupied when we go out to eat. I keep it stocked with paper, crayons, stickers, and a package of wipes. This is kept in the crate so I’ll always know where to find it when we pull into the restaurant parking lot.
Other Organizing Products for Your Car:
The people from Tote Buddy were at the NAPO Conference 2012 EXPO with all of their beautiful designs. It would make a great gift for someone who prefers to use recycle bags when they go shopping.
Organizer for Kids: Kids come with a lot of STUFF and they like to bring some of that STUFF with them when they go in the car. To prevent all that STUFF from being all over your car, consider an organizing product that hangs over the driver/passenger seat and faces the child. Many styles have room for crayons, hand-held games, books, DVDs and other STUFF kids like to have with them in the car.
Desk: Do you or someone you know work out of their car? This product is a very good solution for those with mobile office needs. The Car Go Desk secures in the passenger seat with a seat belt and offers space for files, mobile equipment and peripherals.
OK–next time you get into your car, take a good look inside. Would any of these products make your car more organized? Do you currently use any of these products? Tell me–I’d love to know!
I love Target. I find it to be a very enjoyable place to shop. Stores are always brightly lit and clean. Staff in red shirts are ready to help and price scanners are plentiful.
Last week I stopped by my local Target for some random items–cleaning supplies, picture hangers, strawberries–a typical day of one-stop shopping. The first thing I did when I walked in the store was check out the weekly sale circular on the wall. Then, I headed straight to the Dollar Spot.
According to the Target website, The Dollar Spot was launched in 2004. If you haven’t stumbled upon it, it’s usually the first shopping area you see when you walk in the store. All of the items in the Dollar Spot cost $1 with a few costing $2.50. It’s a great place to pick up items for holidays, kids, pets and organizing.
Really? Organizing products for $1?
Yes–you’re not going to find elfa shelves here but you if you check the bins from time to time, you will find a few organizing products mixed in with the socks, books, and Hello Kitty paraphernalia.
Here’s are some organizing products I found at the Target Dollar Spot last week:
Magazine Files – for storing papers, folders and of course, magazines.
Decorative File Folders – Although it’s only a 2-pack, it’s an inexpensive way to brighten up your desk or file cabinet.
Large coupon file – use for Bed, Bath and Beyond coupons, receipts, anything on large slips of paper.
Small coupon/receipts file – good too, for storing gift cards and photographs.
Weekly Menu/Shopping List To-Do Pads – useful for getting thoughts out of your head and onto paper.
I bought the above bin for my pantry–I’ll show you how I’m using it to organize food and save time in a future blog post.
Next time you go to Target for hairspray, light bulbs, or a garden hose, be sure to wander over to the Dollar Spot. Be on the lookout for products to help you get and stay organized. You never know what you’ll find!
I don’t know anyone who doesn’t love Post-Its. Those somewhat sticky pieces of colored paper have become an everyday part of our lives. I have two or three packages of them on my desk and a ziploc baggie full of different sizes and colors in my work bag. I love Post Its so much, I even use the Classic Stickies program on my Mac–I’d be lost with out it.
We use them for reminders, to dos, shopping lists and a myriad of other uses. But I thought I’d share some great tips in the following article:
Creative Uses for 3M Post It Notes
I already use a few of the ideas offered by the experts but I plan on utilizing #18 next time my five year old is bored…
A blog by Professional Organizer Stacey Agin Murray bursting with cool products, 'gotta-tell-a-friend' ideas, and a whole lotta organizing know-how. Learn more...
Subscribe to the Blog
Subscribe to the blog and never miss a post!
About Stacey
When you grow up in a 5’x12′ bedroom, you learn to organize pretty quickly! I chose to take that knowledge and turn it into a business helping people find what they need when they need it. I’m also the author of The Organized Bride’s Thank You Note Handbook–a book that offers wedding thank you note-related organizing tips and how-to’s plus 101 unique sample thank you notes (what bride can’t use that?).
Contact Stacey to Get Started!
