It’s that time of year when we are wrapping up one year, and looking forward to the next.  We are making resolutions to be and do better in the coming year.  With that, I have a great little series of surprises, sponsored by ButtonedUp.  I’ve mentioned their products before, and if you haven’t seen them you are in for a treat!

First, the discount.

For a limited time, ButtonedUP has graciously offered a 25% discount to my readers for the above four products: Birthday.book, Greetings.stash, File.starter and Tax.filer.
(This discount is only good until 1/31/2010 so hurry!)

Here’s how you get it:

Go to their store: Shop ButtonedUP
Use discount code:  HO25OFF

It’s all over!  Be sure to visit ButtonedUp.com!

Enter the Giveaways!

I’m going to make this a little fun, kind of like a treasure hunt.  See those four products up there?  I’m giving all of them away this month!  There will be three chances to win*.  Look for them in the 8 Days of Resolutions posts (hint:  they will be highlighted in yellow boxes). Here’s prizes and the links to enter!

Prize #1: Birthday.book & Greetings.stash
Prize #2: Tax.filer
Prize #3: File.starter

These aren’t in any particular order, so keep an eye out for them over the next two weeks!  Watch the blog this month, follow the directions and you’ll be entered to win!

Good luck!

Congratulations to the winners!

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* You must be 18 or older to win, one prize per household.  Prizes can only be shipped to address in continental United States.  Winners will be chosen randomly.
(Disclosure: No compensation was received to offer the giveaway or discount.)

How do you pick just ten products?

Picking just ten products is a daunting task, since each person has somewhat different needs. So I thought I’d share the top ten in my own office; that’s a bit more manageable! I’ll skip over the critical-but-uninteresting file cabinets and bookshelves, and cover some of the other things that keep my home office organized.

Computer Stuff

1. My MacBook. Not everyone will want to have a digital calendar, address book, to-do list, etc. But these computer tools work beautifully for me. And given how much I rely on my computer, good back-ups are essential; right now I’m using external hard drives and SuperDuper.

2. My scanner. I really like my Fujitsu ScanSnap; others swear by NeatDesk. Having the scanner allows me to keep a lot less paper—and to have my records with me when I’m away from home.

3. Wireless anything. Dealing with cords is a hassle; going wireless cuts down on cable clutter. For now, I have a wireless keyboard and mouse. I don’t need a new printer—but when I do, that will be wireless, too.

Other Practical Tools

4. My shredder. I have a Fellowes PS-79Ci cross-cut shredder. It takes many sheets of paper at once. It takes staples. It never jams. It has a shut-off mechanism if hands, paws, or tails come too close to the opening. It’s reasonably quiet. It was well worth the upgrade from my prior shredder, which wasted way too much of my time. It’s usually available for much less than the suggested price on the Fellowes web site.

5. File folders. I use straight-line filing, and my preferred folders have a straight-cut tab, running the full length of the folder; the tab is two-ply for sturdiness. The straight-cut tabs give me lots of room for labels—no figuring out how to abbreviate something! I personally dislike manila folders, so mine are colored. Mostly I use random colors, but all my client folders are lavender. This makes them very easy to spot, and it’s a color that’s pleasing to me.

My hanging file folders are nothing special, except I do try to buy ones made with recycled content. But I do use the larger-size tabs—1/3 cut rather than 1/5 cut—to provide more space for a meaningful label. Many times I use a hanging file with no internal file folder.

6. Labeler. I used to scoff at the idea of needing a labeler—and then I started using one with a client, and I was hooked. Now I own two: one for home, and one for client work, which stays in my car. My labeler of choice is a Brother PT-1950, which is an older model.

Places to Get Creative

But what about all those fun, creative organizing options I write about so often? There are plenty of places for those: staplers, tape holders, bulletin boards, wastebaskets, etc. Some of mine are as follows.

7. A favorite coffee mug, to hold pencils and pens. The supply of clever and beautiful mugs is overwhelming; you could buy one specifically to hold your pens—or you could just raid you kitchen cabinets, since most people have more mugs than they’ll ever use for coffee. The one I use special meaning to me.

8. Inbox. There’s no need to buy an in box at a big-box office supplies store. My in box is a big basket I got from Cost Plus World Market.

Not Strictly Organizing, but Closely Related

9. A desk that isn’t placed back-to-the-door. Near the start of my career, I hired a feng shui consultant who helped me arrange my office space. The first thing she did was position my desk so that my back is to a wall, and I face the door. A window looking out at my garden is on my right. The impact was incredible.

10. An ergonomic set-up. If you spend any significant amount of time on your computer, please invest in an ergonomic workspace. You really don’t want to get a repetitive stress injury. I have an external monitor, keyboard and mouse for my laptop, which makes it easier to be ergonomically correct—but you can be fine on a laptop without going quite that far. A good chair helps a lot, too; mine is the good old Aeron chair, size medium.

About the Author:

Jeri Dansky is a professional organizer and blogger.  Her blog, “Jeri’s Organizing & Decluttering News” is well-known throughout the organizing industry and beyond. To learn more about her you can visit her website, or sign up for her newsletter.  You can also follow her on Twitter.

Shopping for back to school or need some home office supplies?  Look at these coupons I just found for some great home office deals!

25% off russell+hazel purchases (ends 9/30/09)
20% off momAgenda (ends 9/15/09)

Click here for the PDF coupon

(Found the coupon link at www.frugallivingnw.com)

How do you track projects?  There are a gazillion ways to keep track of tasks, but how do you know you are getting projects done?

I love, love, love technology – especially the “helps me be productive” kind (i.e. PDAs, etc.).  However, sometimes there is a really steep learning curve, not to mention crashes and other annoyances.  So, I think a simple solution can be a great thing when you just want to get things done.  Like, now.

Know where you’re at.

I happen to love pencil and paper for working on projects.  I’m also very visual, and learn things by doing (check out this audio if you want to learn more about that).  Having whatever I’m working on right in front of me is crucial – otherwise it fades into the ether!  I also like simple solutions.  Know what I mean?  Ok then.

It’s easy.  I promise.

I started using the Todoodlist system for tracking projects a couple months ago, and I’m loving it!  It’s similar to a simple mindmap to track your projects and their associated tasks.  Also, since I can’t leave well enough alone, I adapted it by using a task list to the side of little things like making phone calls, errands and emails I need to send on a separate piece of paper.  That way, when I think of little things I need to do which aren’t associated with projects, they don’t get forgotten either.  Since I use a small notebook, everything’s in front of me and completely portable – love that!

Go check it out.

The Todoodlist ebook (yes, it’s ironic, since he advocates using paper) is a really quick read.  I read it in one night.  It helps me know where I’m at on the things which are important to me in business and life.

Let me know what you think!

Click here to view more details on Todoodlist

Click here to view the embedded video.

Product:  Naturally Knotty totes

My Experience:  Just arrived in the mail today!  The two sizes are great for many different uses, mine will be to haul my laptop and other mobile office type supplies around in.

My Favorite Thing:  The lamination on the bags will help them last long term.  I also love all the pockets and the great long handles!

My Least Favorite Thing:  That I didn’t find them earlier!

Overall Rating:   Recommended!  I love the pockets and the overall styling of the products.  Best of all, they are sustainable, recycled and renewable!  Eye-catching styling and great overall design.  Love it!

Where To Find It:  www.naturallyknotty.com

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This contest is now closed.  Make sure you don’t miss the next giveaway or contest!  Get this blog’s updates by subscribing via RSS or subscribing to my mailing list HERE.

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Alright ya’ll, did you read my QuickBooks 2009 review?  Well, check this out:  Intuit has given me 5 copies of Quickbooks Pro 2009 to give away to The Home Office Organizer readers!  That’s a $199 value each!

So, now you can get your bookkeeping together and get your digits and customer information organized!

So, I bet you’re wondering how you win?  That’s easy.  Here’s how:

1.  Leave a comment below by the deadline, June 1, 2009 at 12:00pm (noon) PST / 3:00pm EST. (Be sure to include your email address so I can contact you if you win!)

2. Subscribe to this blog (if you haven’t already).  Subscribe in an RSS Reader by clicking HERE or by email by clicking HERE.

That’s it!

Bonus points:

Re-tweet:  Are you following me on Twitter?  Be sure to retweet this contest after you enter!

Winners will be announced Tuesday, June 2, 2009!

Please be sure to visit the giveaway sponsor:

They are running a Small Business Grant Contest – go and vote for your favorite HERE.  There are some great small businesses up for some serious prizes!  Also, check out the Intuit Twitter peeps: @SharnQuickBooks, @kirasw, @rkeuretig and @JaredRicardo

Good luck everyone!

Update, June 2, 2009:

Thanks to all who entered, and congratulations to the winners: Tom Cox, Kara, Danielle, Tracy S and Deborah Beatty!

Product: Internet Password Organizer®

My Experience:

I don’t know about you, but I have LOTS of passwords to manage.  I’ve got blogs, bookmarking sites like StumbleUpon, Twitter, Facebook and the list goes on!  It’s a lot to manage, and let’s just say that this head of mine does not have enough memory to remember them all.   This is also something my clients struggle with.   There are some software programs out there to manage such things, but some people want paper.  The Internet Password Organizer is such a product.  It’s a great little notebook, and has a very intuitive layout with handy tabs on the side.

My Favorite Thing:

No learning curve.  Open the book, grab a pen and write.  Straight forward, and useful.  This version also has a hard cover, which will help it stand up to high usage.  There’s also a section in the back for ISP, Home Network and a License Manager.  There’s also a section for Notes, for things that just don’t fit anywhere else.

My Least Favorite Thing:

No backups.  If you lose it, it’s gone.  I’d recommend keeping this by your computer, and leaving it there.  If you travel, be sure to lock it up.

Overall Rating:

This is a great product for paper-philes.  If you have a paper planner, you’re gonna love the Internet Password Organizer.  Open, write, done.  Sometimes paper is the best! 

Where To Find It:

Internet Password Organizer

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Product:

Brother MFC-490CW Printer

My Experience:

I was so excited to get this printer.  What was I excited about?  It’s Wifi capable, baby!  For this home office girl, that is a major perk.  From the first slice into the box, I had the printer up and running in about an hour.   It would have been quicker, but I had little experience setting up the wireless.  However, once I figured it out, I was printing away.

My Favorite Things:

Wireless:  Did I mention I like the Wifi compatibility?

Separate ink cartridges: This makes for a small cost savings over time.  Love that.

Photos are gorgeous! I don’t print them a lot, but I gave it a whirl with some of my food photos.  They turned out beautifully and are now hanging in my dining room.

It’s quiet. My last printer could be heard throughout the house at the odd hours I sometimes work at.  If I print from another room, I have to listen carefully to hear it (and sometimes I don’t!).

Small footprint + Multi-Function: Printer, scanner, copier and fax all in one small package.

Adjustable LCD Monitor: The monitor is bright and tilts so I can see it.

What Could Be Improved:

Double-sided printing:  My last printer had this capability, which I must say I miss.  (With this printer, you could remedy this by printing out the odd pages, reinserting them into the paper tray and printing the even pages.  But, an option that is hands-free would be much more convenient.)

Overall Rating:

Recommended for home office professionals.  The Wifi & multi-functionality make this a no-brainer, especially if you are a work at home parent.    Small foot print, lots of horsepower and options.

Where To Find It:

Brother MFC-490CW Printer on Amazon

For More Information:

Brother’s Website

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*Disclosure:  This printer was provided to me by Brother, free of charge.  I was not compensated or paid to write this review.

Tip #12: Build Up: Use built-ins, shelving and cabinetry for more storage

Do you have built-in cabinetry, or do you have empty walls?  No matter if you have built-in cabinetry or shelving, did you know you can double your storage space by using your walls?

In many home offices, space is at a premium or non-existent.  So, take a note from life in the big city: build up.  Use existing built-ins if you have them, or buy shelving.  Your local stores, garage sales and flea markets are sure to have some great looking alternatives.  If you’d like to buy new, easy to install shelving, here’s some great options:

Storables.com
TheContainerStore.com
Rubbermaid’s Configuration Closet System

(Want more tips? Pick up my ebooklet, “101 Tips for Your Home Office” HERE.)

Every year, millions of New Years resolutions are made, only to be broken a few months later. Why does this happen? Well, while reasons vary from person to person, the overarching reason why so few New Years resolutions are realized is a general lack of commitment. While losing weight and quitting smoking are noble resolutions to tackle, both are quite lofty goals and require a considerable amount ambition and commitment. This year, why not set yourself some attainable goals and make organizing your home office one of them? Getting organized is one of the top resolutions year after year, which is a good thing because it’s so easily attainable. Here are some helpful office organization tips that you can take with you into the New Year.

Boost Productivity with Comfortability

There’s more to organizing your office than filing away your papers and putting away your pens. By creating a work space that’s conducive to productivity, you not only ensure that the work will get done, but you are more likely to keep your space organized! Your space needs to look stylish and be absolutely comfortable. Having the right office chair is the first step. Today’s selection of ergonomic chairs is better than it ever has been. You can custom select a chair based on your height, weight, all the while having it match your office decor! The Aeron Chair from Herman Miller (also part of the Lifework Portfolio) is the perfect option. The lightweight and breathable Pellicle fabrics distribute the user’s weight evenly over the seat and back and a Kinemat tilt allows the body to naturally pivot at the ankles, knees and hips. Available with adjustable lumbar support for your lower back, the Aeron Chair is pure comfort and style all wrapped up in one package. When you are seated comfortably, you’re less fidgety and more likely to be productive.

By eliminating office clutter, organizing your essential office supplies and choosing the optimal desk chair, you are bound to have a fruitful and productive new year.

About the author:

Jamie Sward is a home and office decor expert for CSN Chairs.com, a part of CSN Stores, where he has been for over a year. With a BA in Journalism from Indiana University, Jamie loves to write about the latest in design trends for the home. He currently resides in Boston, MA.

Just got my Entrepreneur magazine, and they have a fantastic article on Free Stuff you can use in your business.  Their list is enormous with great resources.  Since I’m a user of such services, I thought I would share my top ten favorites (most of them are listed in the Entrepreneur article, too!).

My Top Ten Favorite Freebies

DimDim

Conferencing and collaboration.  Have you ever tried to show a friend/colleague something on your screen, only they are in Holland?  Yeah, now you can do that without pulling out your hair.

PrimoPDF

I’ve been using this program for about two years.  It’s invaluable!  I used it to create my 101 Home Office Tips eBooklet.  Easy to use and download.  (Entrepreneur’s article mentions CutePDF Writer which is also a great option.)

BlogTalkRadio

You have heard our show, right?  Oh, you haven’t?  Well, check that out HERE at www.theomyth.com.  We use BlogTalkRadio for our monthly live show.

WordPress

Blog, website or content management system – call it whatever you like, it’s got it all and then some.  Like my site?  It’s all run on WordPress baby.  Don’t want the extra expense and hassle of hosting your site, and just want to set up a blog?  Check out their free (hosted) version at wordpress.com (which is where my blog started).  Give it a whirl!

Remember The Milk

A task management tool.  I love this little program.  Yes, I use Outlook, but I find this tool easier to use.  The basic is free (which is what I use) and hooks up to Gmail.  Love that!

Audacity

Audio editing tool.  Love, love, love this program.  It’s a desktop audio editing tool.  A friend of mine told me about this over a year ago.  It’s powerful enough for me.  I’ve used it to edit my “Organizing For Your Brain Type” audio and our podcast show, “The O Myth“.

FeedBurner

If you subscribe to my blog (and chances are you do if you are reading this, and if not, you can subscribe by clicking HERE) then you are getting it through Feedburner.  Great tool, easy to use for blogs and websites with an RSS feed.

Google Docs

Online document management, editing and collaboration tool. Ok, I don’t mean to sound like a broken record, but Google Docs is another tool we use behind the scenes on “The O Myth“.  We keep our working documents there, and work on them together.  (Sometimes even using them live on the show!)

SurveyMonkey

Online surveys.  I have used this to poll readers, etc.  Easy to set up and use.

Wesabe

Need a budget?  I ran across this utility recently, and fell in LOVE with it!  I’ve recommended it to others.  It’s a great tool if you don’t have a budget down on paper.

What’s YOUR favorite freebie?

Krista and I had the pleasure of talking with Jim Deitzel of Rubbermaid today on The O Myth.

Here’s the Pearls of Wisdom from the show today:

Think about where things are at in places such as the pantry: can the kids get their snacks easily

Jim likes the tips and tricks he’s picked up from the list of Organizers on his blog. Check out the list HERE.

Little projects each day add up to big change over time

How many albums full of memories are you giving your kids? Is there too much or just enough?

Quote of the day: “If I can do it, you can do it too!” (Jim shares his projects + pictures on his blog.)

How to find Jim:

blog.rubbermaid.com

twitter.com/rubbermaid

Our contest winners for the Peter Walsh books:

Congratulations Robert & Julia!

Enter the RUBBERMAID GIVEAWAY to win

Rubbermaid Easy Find Lids 24pc Set

Here’s the details:

1. Visit Jim at his blog, leave a comment, then come on back and leave a comment here letting me know you did!

2. Subscribe to my newsletter then let me know you did in the comment .

Open to United States residents 18 and over. One entry per a household. Begins December 5, 2008 and ends December 19th, 2008 at 9 a.m. PST.

** Next time on The O Myth:

Jodie Watson from the show, “Real Simple Real Life”, joins us on Dec. 19th at 10am PST.

Krista and I had the pleasure of talking with Erin Doland of Unclutterer.com.

(NEW!  Scroll to the bottom of this post to listen to the podcast.)

Here’s the Pearls of Wisdom from the show today:

• use flower pots as pen holders
• products aren’t always the only answer to organizing woes, but a system (like one for a closet) can be an invaluable tool)
• you might have something around the house that can be used in another way
• people are defensive about their asparagus pots
• you can make hard-boiled eggs in the oven (?!)
• rice cookers can be used for more than cooking rice

About Unclutter.com:

“Unclutterer is the blog about getting and staying organized. A place for everything, and everything in its place is our gospel.”

How to find Erin:

Unclutterer.com

Simply Stated on RealSimple.com

** Coming up on The O Myth: Peter Walsh, a regular on The Oprah Show, joins us on Nov. 14 at 10am PST.

Listen to this week’s show:

Have you seen Neat Receipts yet?  You have gotta check it out!  I just reviewed it for Sparkplugging (click to read the full article), and it’s also posted in Reviews section of the Neat Receipts website HERE. (Between PC World & Fortune Small Business I might add!!)

A portable little piece of technology that cuts down on data entry.  Gotta love that!

Love Neat Receipts?  Want to get one?  Check it out HERE.

It’s Earth Day!

Do you want to “go green” in your home office, but not sure where to start? Here’s a few links to get you going:

Here on The Home Office Organizer.com: The Green, Eco-Friendly Office, Greener everyday…, and Eco-Organizing, Eco-Friendly Life

Out on the web:

• Ikea.com: I was surprised when I read how environmentally conscious they really are. Check out their policy here.
• HGTV: They did an entire special on 20 ways you can “green” your home. Check out their blog.
• The Green Office. Green, eco-conscious office products and supplies.
• Treehugger.com’s article: “How to Green Your Work”
• Office Depot’s selection of green products
• Co-op America’s “Green Your Office in Ten Easy Steps”
• Time Magazine: “Going Green at the Office”
• Office Stuffer’s “35 Green Office Tips for Earth Day”
• Undress4Success makes a great case for working from home, and how it can make a significant impact on the environment.

Have a resource for greener living?  Share a comment below, and let us know where it is!

Happy Earth Day… make it everyday.

I was just tagged by Beth of My Simpler Life. So, here they are, my 5 favorite sites:

1. Google Reader – After reading a particularly wonderful post by Timothy Ferriss, interviewing blogger Robert Scoble, I switched from email delivery to Google Reader. I must tell you, my email became a much less scary place!
2. russell+hazel – Ok, seriously – could I love RH any more? Personally my robin’s egg mini binder still gives me the shivers.
3. Amazon.com – Ok, so it’s a cliche, but I’m telling you, I’m on that site at least twice per day. (And yes, I have an affiliate store, and I love it – which is NOT the link above just so you know.) But, I like Amazon because when I need to look something up, I can find it there 99.9% of the time – even if it’s just for reference material
4. Storables: Yep, there’s no doubt about it, I’m a huge fan. The live-in-person store makes me swoon. Now that they have a website, I use this quite a lot helping clients.
5. Epicurious.com – I love to cook, and I’m a self-professed foodie. So, when I get stumped and need a recipe, this is where I go.

Now it’s your turn, dear readers! What are your most frequented websites for either work or just for fun?

I’m also tagging:

Melissa Michaels, The Inspired Room

Megan Spears, Disorder2Order

Sharon Sarmiento, Chocolate Chipped

Meredith Mathews, My Lemonade Stand

Products are only part of the solution.

Have you ever started an organizing project at the store?  “I KNOW this box is going to be the answer to my prayers…” you might have told yourself.  Now, before I go any further, let me just say that I have no issue with products (as you can tell by now), but for most, they are not the place to start.

If you are embarking on an organizing project, consider that when you go through your belongings, it’s important to sort – get rid of what you don’t need, keep what you do.  Once that process is complete, you have a way better idea of what will stay and how it should be housed.  Sure, research and an occasional field trip is great – just don’t go crazy and clean out the store, bringing it all home, finding it doesn’t fit or isn’t quite what you need, and have that stuff that was supposed to help become more clutter you don’t need, that you have to sort through, decided if you want to keep it, what you’ll do with it……  get the point?

So hey, sort first, then go and buy those cute containers at Storables or russell+hazel.  You’ll  save yourself some money, aggravation and time in the end!

So a trip to my local mall prompted me to step into a Papyrus store. So maybe I’m a little obsessed with paper products, but even in the age of information, nothing is as personal as a handwritten note sent by (*gasp*) snail mail. Meaning the sender took time to actually sit down and write out their thoughts with actual pen to paper… something I try and do often! So, if you’re looking for some absolutely gorgeous, high quality cards or stationery, check out www.papyrusonline.com!

Ok, so I get positively weak in the knees when I see stylish storage and office supplies. It may be a sickness, but I’m willing to admit that there is something about a useful and eye-catching product that makes me swoon! So, I thought I would share some with you, so you could revel in them as well!

seejanework.com : What’s not to love about a company that sells stylish products for the woman on the go. Out with the black and brown leather man-ish products and in with the colorful and fresh!

getbuttonedup.com : Sometimes you just want a product that is straightforward and simple! Just make it useful, make it easy and make it cute! If you’re moving, getting a handle on your life, tracking your valuables or just trying to get some stuff done – this may be a good product for you!

wishingfish.com : So, have you ever walked out to your car and had to climb in the sunroof, because the car next to you had blatant disregard for the parking lines? How about giving them a parking ticket? Or, you’re out at the park and there is no soap anywhere around, but you have got to wash your hands? Try Paper Soap! Or you love french press coffee? Try a press for one! You can find all these things, and some other outlandishly brash and entertaining products here. Ok, and they have some organizing stuff too…..

russell+hazel : Stylish and functional, what’s not to love? Their “Audrey” line is breathtaking and worthy of the red carpet!

OFFICE : Located in Portland, Oregon, this quirky and style-conscious “office supply” store has been featured in Better Homes & Gardens! The owners are fun and the brick and mortar location has a fabulous vintage feel. Their website is well stocked and full of innovative products. Go check it out!

What’s YOUR favorite office supply or storage resource?

Recently I had the distinct pleasure of meeting Ms. Chris Plantan, Architect and Founder of russell+hazel, at a Design Presentation & Trunk Show. The event was hosted by Office, a local retail shop and gallery in Portland, Oregon. Ms. Plantan and her VP of Sales cheerfully shared some creative processes, enlightening information about the office product and stationery industries, as well as some insights into the fashion world. Ms. Plantan also shared that her grandparents were inspirational in the creation of several products and also in the company’s name. How incredibly sweet is that?
Russell + Hazel is a fashion forward line of stationery, binders, pens and other products we use everyday. They are high quality, stylish and not your everyday pad of paper!

Stationery stores have long fascinated me – I could get lost (and have) in the pen section alone. So honestly, meeting Ms. Plantan was a treat to say the least! What’s not to love about a company that makes everyday things as nice to look at as they are to use?