How to Sort Through Business Cards

(Oh, Hello Friend)

I kinda feel like my desk looks like this...times 50.  I've got lots of business cards to get through and follow-up on.  So I took my own advice:  take 10 minutes each day to tackle a task.

I separated them into 3 categories: record contact info, email a follow-up or email a referral.  The contact info was quick and easy to enter.  Then the follow-ups weren't too bad.  Each was a simple message of "nice to meet you, let's get together soon".  After I knocked out those piles, I moved on to referrals.  They took a little more time because it was usually an e-introduction or needed more info.  But over the week, with an average of 10 minutes each day, I got it all done.

Piles of paper clutter can be very daunting.  Yet if you break it down into 10-minute tasks, it'll be much more manageable.  And once you score down your cluster of business cards, try collecting the keepers in one of these cute card organizers.

Tell me, Appleshiners, what's cluttering your desk today?

PS- Look at this before/after of a Tribeca office or this before/after of a home office.  They were lot's of work but had great results!

Organization and Etiquette

Happy Monday Friends!  I hope you had a lovely weekend, full of family, friends and happy memories.  I certainly had a busy one.  I had dinner with a grade school friend on Friday, joined my brother for a Ghost Tour of Greenwich Village on Saturday and had Easter brunch with friends on Sunday.  Such a wonderful time with wonderful people.

My dear friend was so gracious to host us as it was her first big dinner party since she married her sweetheart.  And with it came a few lessons in hostess etiquette.  She joked about proper place settings and which serving utensils should she use for the lasagna rather than salad but really, modern day etiquette is not as apparent in the ways it used to be.

(Emily Post)

Emily Post's "Etiquette" is the quintessential book for any hostess-to-be looking to learn the ropes.  With organization comes invitations to let others into your organized lifestyle.  When you have an organized space, you'll want to share it with others.  Even if this guide may be a tad traditional for your taste, there are still beneficial hosting perks to pair with your clean and organized space.  Inviting others into your living space, whether it be at home or the office, tells them that you're not only proud of who you are and what you do but how you get around to doing it.  And an organizing lifestyle makes that nothing but easier to do.

Tell me, Appleshiners, how do you feel about hosting in your organized space?

How To Recycle Your Magazines

(via redpunchdesigns)

I'll be the first to admit it: I love magazines.  I'm a visual, tactile person and there's something lovely about flipping through the colorful pages of a magazine instead of mundanely clicking around the internet.  Yet I looked at my stack of magazines today and realized it was time to sort through and throw some out.  Well, not throw them out but, rather, recycle them.

Long gone are the myths of being unable to recycle 'glossy' paper.  Most sanitation departments now accept magazines.  In fact, one of the things I love, love, LOVE about NYC is the city's commitment to recycling.  Check out their full list of what you can (and cannot) recycle.

Although, I don't immediately toss a mag once I'm done with it.  I usually save the fashion and gossip ones to share with friends on girls' nights in.  And my building has the recycling bins set up inside so often times I put my used magazines on top, in case a fellow neighbor wants to read them.  This works with used books, as well.  And small furniture.  And some clothing.  It's kind of like a community swap at our first floor recycling center.

I try my best to move out magazines as soon as I'm done with them.  Yet if they've managed to pile up, take a moment to flip through them, tear out any pages you really want, and send them on their way asap.  Clearing out stacks of unused materials is like an instant-makeover for organization.  And you knooow how I feel about paper clutter.


Tell me, Appleshiners, how often do you recycle your magazines?

Business Card Organizers

Last month was a busy blur of introductions, handshakes and business card swapping.  I've amassed a pile of cards, stuffed in a ziploc bag inside my desk drawer.  A couple times a week, I make a point to process the contact info to my computer.  Then I got to thinking, what about business card organizers?

If you're a visual person (like me), then you might appreciate keeping all your contacts at hand, flipping through them one by one or scrolling down page by page of attractively imaged cards.  Here are a few flashy organizers that keep your contacts in one place:

(Girl of All Work)

(SeeJaneWork)

(Galison)

(PriaVanda)

I like the idea of a mini-binder; sleek, slender and you can tuck it away on the bookshelf.  Yet those rolodex options are might fine-looking for a desktop.  Or maybe you're not a paper person and you'd prefer to keep your contacts online.  If so, then check out this cool app that enters info for you with a snap of your camera phone.

Tell me, Appleshiners, how do you organize your business cards?

PS- Look at this nifty card stand to put on your desk.

These creative card ideas are really out there. 

And when it comes to handing out your own business cards, my friend, Michael, says, 'a card is like a kiss'.  What??

Shoe Hangers Without Shoes

When organizing, I always talk about grouping 'like with like'.  Using bins, baskets, drawers or other receptacles are a great way to contain your materials but sometime it helps to be a bit more creative.

Here are a few ways to use shoe hangers for organizing things other than, well, shoes:

(bhg.com)

(iheartorganizing.blogspot.com)

(icanteachmychild.com)

(Heather Weston)

And look at this great idea to use a shoe hanger as a planter.

Tell me, Appleshiners, how would you use a shoe hanger for something else?

An Organizer's Dream: Crafts Room

I was the little girl who went on playdates and cleaned up my friends' rooms for fun.  And I'd mentally configure every small space I encountered into a one-room home.  The bed would flip out over the kitchen sink, which was above the stove and next to the closet, all on one wall.  That left me 3 other walls to construct.  Yup, that's when I knew that lifestyle organization would be my thing.

Decades later, I still play pretend with an imaginary space.

This image from Better Homes and Gardens is such an awesome inspiration for a crafts room.  There's ample storage yet everything's close at hand.  Letting your space ramble gives way to disorganization.

You can get the shelves here, the storage unit here and the baskets here.  These are a alternative type of wall shelves, if you'd prefer.  And here's a desk similar to the one pictured.

The designer let the storage space continue up to the ceiling with covered baskets, great for small items.  They even used these magazine holders for the shelves.  The flow of the room allows for lots of crafty materials to be contained in a small space.

And the best part about the design is the colors.  The soft gray walls, white and natural units, with only a dramatic pop of blue print keeps the space creative but not overpowering.  Ah...I love a good day dream.


Tell me, Appleshiners, how would you organize your 'dream' crafts room?

Appleshine: Filing Cabinet

Remember yesterday's post, when my client accused her office of being a 'dumping ground'?  Well, I think she meant her filing system.  Or lack thereof.

Yes, sorting through paper clutter takes a loooong time.  But it needs to be done.  If you're going to tackle it on your own, here are a few tips to keep in mind:

1) Reading paper files, over and over again, will be tiring.  So don't overwhelm yourself.  Take breaks or work in 30 minute intervals over several days to complete the task.

2) If you have paper to be shredded, put it aside.  It takes too much time to shred as you go.  Instead, finish the filing and then you can multi-task shredding while watching TV.

3) Let your papers decide how to divide your files.  Start with the basic categories:

     Home                             Credit Cards

     Car                                  Paychecks

     Medical                         Cell Phone

     Kids                                Utilities

   Then come up with the sub-categories as you go.  You might not need a whole file dedicated to your root canal surgery.

4) Try to eliminate as much paper clutter as possible by transferring to online e-files. Most bill services offer online banking and many companies will email you a receipt rather than a printed hardcopy.  It's an easy switch that will save space and stress in the long run.

Tell me, Appleshiners, how do you arrange your files?

PS- Remember my new favorite store, C-Wonder?  A reader just sent me this great new addition to their online store: check out their trendy iPod Speaker.  Thanks for the update!!

Appleshine: Tribeca Office

My client swore up and down that her office looked like "a dumping ground".  I assured her that everyone thinks their mess is the worst.  Yet to be honest, there wasn't much counter space to be seen.

We still managed to Appleshine our way our from under the paper clutter.  Here are the before/after pictures:

The overall aesthetic of her office became brighter and offered a little more breathing room once the project was complete.

Sorting and grouping the items helped streamline the bookcase.  

Well, her desk WAS a bit of a dumping ground.  So we careful went through all the papers, filing, shredded and moving them to their new homes, until it became a clear, uncluttered space.

I'm a big fan of clearing all countertops.  Paper creep just clutters a room and clouds the mind.

Tell me, Appleshiners, how do you keep your office organized?

PS- Come back tomorrow and see what I did with all her paper files.  Whew!!

Mail Organizers

The battle against paper clutter is an ongoing fight.  Do your part by clearing up the 'mail zone'.  

Maintain your mail center close to the front door, limiting the battle grounds.  If you can, keep a small garbage basket or paper shredder handy to toss out the junk.  And I highly recommend an organizer, preferably one hanging on the wall, to sort and store mail as soon as it comes in.

Here are a few suggestions:

It's basic, it's black and it's functional; therefore, fitting into any decor.

If you're up for a DIY project, grab an oversized flap of burlap and an old bulletin board.  If not, you can get one just like it from Etsy.  It acts as both separate shelves and a note board.

Or this chalkboard version is great for a studio or one-bedroom apartment. Small and compact, you can write notes to yourself to stay on track.

I like this modern take on a wall organizer.  The metal shelf comes with magnets to post bills or notices.  

Tell me, Appleshiners, how do you sort your mail?

Collecting your Cords

Keeping track of your cords can be challenging; covering them up can be messy.  So we tend to shove them behind or underneath furniture, hoping we'll never have to actually deal with them.

Instead of giving in to the blackhole of cords, here are a few ways to keep them organized, accessible and even attractive:

These colorful little cord clips can stick to your desktop or workspace and prevent your cords from sliding down when you unplug your device.

This larger recharge station works well by your front door, serving as a catchall for your devices, mail and keys.

A see-through pouch neatly holds all your cords.  Keep it in your junk drawer to minimize clutter.

I really like this concept of offering a shelf for your phone while it charges.

Ah, the mother of all charging stations almost eliminates the cord problem completely.  Plug the skateboard-like induction tray into an outlet.  Then leave your devices on top to charge.  Easy!

Tell me, Appleshiners, how to you keep your cords under control?

Time Savers

No matter how productive we are on the weekend, Mondays always arrive with a pressing need to find order in things.  Planning ahead can only take you so far and a need to make the most of your time is forever on your To Do List.

In the interest of saving time, here are a few ways to simplify your life on all 7 days of the week:

This nifty holder takes things vertical, where all good NYC real estate is found (even on your countertop).

We all know those cords behind the desk are a mess.  Keep track of what's-what with these reusable labels. 

This forward facing shredder can fit on a shelf or tuck under your desk.  Keeping it close by lets you move out old papers now, keeping you on task.

How great is this?! A baby spoon that dispenses food as you go with just a little squeeze.

Recycling and garbage all in one pail.  Just up to you to remember which side is which ;)

Tell me, Appleshiners, what useful tools help you simplify your week?

Snooping

"People assume - always - that you're a nicer person if your space is clean."
    -Samuel Gosling, PhD Social Psychology


Interesting, huh?  Gosling has made a career out of snooping in people's homes to determine what their stuff says about them.  He reviews their belongings and, based on his findings, completes a "personality inventory", assessing traits like agreeableness and neuroticism.

Think about it: when it comes to your favorite book, how does the author better acquaint you with the main character?  By describing their lifestyle and surroundings.  And movie props intentionally create a specific vision for a character's behavior.  (Like Steve Carell in 'The 40-Year-Old Virgin', who owned a collection of vintage action figures.  Just saying.)


Tell me, Appleshiners, what do your surroundings say about you?

Appleshine: Home Office

Remember yesterday's post with my client's art studio?  She was on an Appleshine spree.  So next, we tackled her home.  When I arrived, she led me to what used to be the office.  Unfortunately, it was now functioning as an upstairs basement; the room was filled with piles of misplaced stuff, so much you couldn't even see the floor.  And here's the kicker- she needed to complete this project that day!

With no time to waste, I went to work. After a long day of Appleshining, the room had resumed it's original purpose of a home office.  Check out these before/after pictures:

Don't be fooled- we had to clear a path to survey to room before I could get started ;)

Storage boxes packed every corner of the room.  I sorted through them, dispersing their contents to their rightful homes throughout the house (few of which included the office).

Turns out, nothing on the desk was actually office supplies.  After we cleared it off, I left it as an open workspace.

When it comes to paper clutter, keep in mind that most everything, from bank statements to owner's manuals, can be found online.  Keep the tax reports, year-end investment summaries and other irreplaceable papers.  The rest can go in your shredder.

Once again, project complete with great results.  And my client informed me that she's continued Appleshining the rest of her home on her own- good job!!

Tell me, Appleshiners, have you done a total room transformation lately?