Today marks the 20th anniversary of the Northridge earthquake on January 17, 1994. Anyone who experienced that quake will never forget it or where they were when it hit.  I’ve lived through many earthquakes, but that was definitely the most scary. And I’m not just saying that because I lived alone at the time. The way my condo building just shook up and down it felt like the building was going to collapse. Fortunately I had no damage, save for my large TV falling out of it’s cabinet and ending up in TV heaven.

You would think that living in earthquake country my whole life, and knowing that the BIG ONE could happen at anytime, that I would be prepared. NOPE. I think about it. Have I done anything? Not really. Sure, we have some batteries, electronic candles, a hand-crank radio (that I won by making a donation to KPCC), lots of canned goods (though most condiments) and a few bottles of water.

In fact,  one very hot day last summer we had a power outage for about six hours (felt like 24), and once it got dark it was quite difficult to maneuver around the house. The flashlights and three electronic candles weren’t exactly cutting it as we attempted to light up 2400 square feet of house. I vowed then and there that I would buy a couple of headlamps (oops). Hopefully writing this post will spur me (and you) to not only buy headlamps, but take serious action. The American Red Cross Earthquake Preparedness site is a good place to start. They cover everything, from making a plan, to what emergency supplies to have, to learning how to shut off gas & water, pet care, senior care and communication.

While I know it’s daunting to think about where to start, probably the first and easiest thing we can all do is have a first aid kit, in our homes and in our cars. After all, we don’t know where we’ll be when the next earthquake hits.

You probably have a first aid kit of sorts already. You can supplement it with supplies recommended by the American Red Cross.

If want to make it really easy on yourself, you can outfit your home, car and even take preparedness classes at SOS Products . You can shop either online or in-person at their Van Nuys store. They truly are one-stop shopping for disaster preparedness.

While I didn’t provide you an exhaustive list of what you need for the BIG ONE, hopefully I’ve led you to the right resources to start, update or supplement your emergency preparedness plan and supplies.

Now, I must quickly redeem myself and start my earthquake kit by ordering some headlamps at amazon.com.

Have a safe and wonderful weekend.  Hopefully the only shaking you will experience will be the ice cubes in your beverage of choice!

This is one of those “only in L.A.” scenarios, where Fall temps can fluctuate 30 or more degrees during the course of a day.  We can easily be wearing sandals during the day and boots at night. This can create some space issues in our closets, depending upon the size of the closet and the size of our shoe wardrobe.

Truth be told, and I’m sure not surprising to many of you, I have a lot of shoes, especially sandals. I don’t have a particularly large closet and do change it seasonally (L.A. adjusted, of course). While I continue to wear sandals year-round, I certainly don’t need all of them utilizing prime real estate in my closet.  Earlier this week I was doing a little seasonal shoe shifting had a little “lightbulb” moment. I decided the easiest way to create more shoe storage was to make a quick trip over to The Container Store and snatch up this nifty under the bed storage container. This baby holds up to 16 pairs of sandals (or other shoes) and fits nicely under the bed. Problem solved.

If you are “closet space challenged” and also LOVE shoes, you may want to consider implementing a variety of options. If part of your closet has some long-hanging space (single bar at the top) available, I would recommend using a hanging shoe bag. These are great for flat shoes and sandals as you can fit one pair per slot or two pairs of flip-flops per slot. This model holds up to 10 pairs.

If you don’t have room for this kind of bag in your closet you might try an over the door hanging shoe bag. This one holds up to 30 pairs.

If your closet has some shelves that can accommodate shoes, reserve that space for bulkier types, such as booties, pumps, or clogs. For shoes that can fit into boxes I prefer to use clear shoe boxes which provide a clean, uniform look and make it easy to see what’s inside. Of course you can always go the extra step and label each box.

Lastly, for tall boots, I like to line them up on the floor, using boot shapers to retain their shape and to keep them upright.

Well, it’s another summer/fall day in L.A. Time for me to grab some sandals and head out the door. Let me know any great shoe storage solutions you’ve implemented and have a great weekend!

Are you frequently misplacing your keys, sunglasses, or other important items? Some of us can be a little absent-minded, in a hurry, or are often running out the door only to be delayed because we can’t find our keys or phone. Growing up my Mom was forever losing her sunglasses. I never kept track, but I bet she bought at least several pairs a year throughout my childhood.

There is no magic bullet to solve this problem. But there is hope. A combination of behavior change and using a simple organizing tool can make a world of difference.

One of the basic tenets of getting organized is to assign homes for things, especially things you use on a daily basis.  I’m not saying you will automatically use the new “home” every day, but over time it will become a habit and eventually sub-conscious behavior.  For me, switching from plastic/paper grocery bags to bringing my own recyclable bags has definitely been a change of behavior adjustment. In the beginning I would remember to use my bags about every 5th trip to the grocery store. Now I remember about 98% of the time. Tip: keep your cloth grocery bags in your trunk so they are always available.

Several years ago I bought this clever “Do Not Forget” door hanger  for my husband, who is forever misplacing his keys and wallet. It hangs on our front door, and though it definitely took some time before it became a habit, nine times out of ten his keys are happily perched in their new home.

If you’d rather have something on a nearby table, try using a decorative dish or bowl, placed near the door your exit most makes losing these items nearly impossible.  You probably have something on hand.  If not, think of it as an excuse to buy a cute home decor item that serves a very useful purpose. I just love this little ‘Paris’ tray from Waiting on Martha.

If you don’t have a table upon which to place a bowl or tray, try using a wall-mounted system, such as this cute option from Umbra available at The Container Store. It serves double-duty, as a home for both your keys and outgoing mail or paperwork.

Do you have a designated place to keep your keys, sunglasses and other go-to items?

Have a super weekend and let me know if this post inspires you to designate a home for frequently misplaced items.

Does just the thought of packing for a trip make you anxious?  Me too.  How will I fit everything I need into a carry-on suitcase, cuz who wants to check their luggage these days — certainly not me! Between fitting in the 1,852 pairs of shoes that I absolutely must have, 42 layering options for every possible climate scenario, while making sure said suitcase doesn’t tip the airport scales and cause eye-rolling from the husband, I start to panic. Did I mention we’re traveling next week?  This particular trip has its packing challenges because we will need multiple types of clothing (and of course, shoes).

We’ll be attending a wedding in Seattle, where it appears Fall has already arrived. We’re making this trip a bit of a mini-vacation, staying a few extra days and plan on doing a little hiking, some lots of wine tasting, and ending the trip with a little sight-seeing. Over the years I’ve developed some tricks to help me pack like a pro and have everything I need.  The first thing you need is a good rolling suitcase, preferably a light-weight model.  Ever since borrowing my sister’s Delsey carry-on I’ve had my eye on getting one of my own.

This model spins, eliminating the possibility of it falling to one side when it’s upright and only weighs about seven pounds. Once you’ve decided which suitcase to use, plan your wardrobe around a neutral color (black, grey, brown or navy) and add in pops of color with shirts, scarves and other accessories. I typically choose black or grey as my neutrals. Every article I’ve ever read about packing says to take just a few bottoms and alternate with tops. I agree, this is definitely the way to go, if you can keep your pants clean! Some of us have the dropsies when eating…….

I just read about a new app called Stylebook that is designed to help you create outfits with your wardrobe so you can get the most out of what you already have in your closet. It also makes it easier to choose new pieces that will integrate well into your wardrobe. This app could really make packing a breeze with outfits already “designed” in your closet. You can simply make a few tweaks to adapt your outfits for the trip. I start with a checklist, writing down everything I plan to pack, including clothes, accessories, undergarments, toiletries/makeup, jewelry, medications, chargers, umbrellas, boarding passes, etc. — basically the whole kit and caboodle.  Then I can check off each item as I lay it out and pack it. This is also a good way to figure out if you are over-packing and where you can eliminate items.  I like to use a combination of rolling and folding, to maximize space and prevent wrinkles.

Shoes and belts

Make use of those shoe bags that you’ve inevitably saved from shoe purchases. I can typically fit one pair in one bag, unless they are boots or large shoes.  If you are packing socks stuff them inside your shoes to save space in the suitcase. Line the edges and corners of your suitcase with shoes.  While of course I was joking about the number of shoes I pack for a trip, it’s very hard not to bring at least three pairs.  And while I love to work out when traveling, those darn sneakers take up so much room in the suitcase, argh!!  Try to wear your heaviest pair of shoes on the plane (same goes for your jacket or coat). Belts can be rolled and stuck around the perimeter of the suitcase to keep other items from moving around.

Unmentionables

I would recommend either putting bras and undies in the side pockets of your suitcase (if it has them) or using a gallon or two gallon size zip loc bag so they lie flat and are easily accessible. This also keeps those pesky TSA agents from touching your unmentionables.

Jewelry

For me jewelry is the accessory I can’t live without. Hence the jewelry roll – a perfect solution to stashing my loot, keeping it safe and tangle-free. If you are bringing any valuables keep them in your purse for safety. Pants/Tee Shirts/Lightweight Sweaters

Here is where the rolling technique pays off.  Rolling saves space and reduces wrinkles.  For jeans and pants, fold them lengthwise so that the legs are stacked on top of each other. Now, starting from the bottom (cuff), roll your way up.  For tee shirts, place face down, fold arms back into a rectangle, fold lengthwise, and roll up. I actually learned this technique from my husband, who sometimes surprises me with his organizational know-how. I’ve also rolled skirts and dresses, using the same basic techniques outlined above.

Sweaters and Blouses

The square fold works best for these items. Button all buttons and lay shirts face down on a flat surface.  Smooth away any wrinkles.  Fold material in at the shoulders and lay arms flat along the body so that you create a roughly two-inch overlap of material on both sides.  Now fold up a third of  the material from the bottom and overlap a third from the top.  You are now qualified to work at the Gap!!

Toiletries/Makeup

I’ve become a big fan of the hanging dop-kit.  It’s rare that there isn’t a towel rack or hook upon which to hang it and having everything in one easy, roll-up container is such a breeze.

Electronics/Chargers

For many of us, our “devices” and their associated chargers are the most important items not to forget when packing. Chargers and earbuds can be stuffed into a corner in the suitcase or if you feel more secure put them in an old eyeglass case and keep in your purse.

If bringing a laptop or iPad please use a padded case to keep it safe in the off chance you drop it.  Personally, I love bringing my ipad on trips instead of books to eliminate the weight while allowing me to check email on something larger than my smartphone.

Time to start planning my wardrobe for the Seattle trip — eeks – anyone have a Xanax??  Just kidding.  I will definitely be shoe-challenged and constantly checking weather.com before actually packing.

It’s no secret that I like to shop.  And if I can score an amazing deal then I’ve really hit the jackpot!  Now that online shopping has become mainstream – heck, even my Mom is doing it, I’ve learned a few things about how to find stuff and how to score the best deal, including free shipping.

Pretty much every store is constantly offering discounts, coupons and pretty much weekly sales.  There’s no reason to ever pay full price for anything, unless you absolutely have no time to do a little comparison shopping, or you simply don’t care.

The first step is to sign up for ebates.  I can’t believe I just learned about this website.  It’s essentially a portal to countless online stores.  By simply clicking through ebates to your store/s of choice, you will earn a percentage on each purchase.  Ebates sends members a quarterly check. So now I can get paid to shop — sign me up baby!

In addition to ebates sign up for emails from your favorite stores.  They might appear in your inbox a little more frequently than you’d like, but you can quickly delete the ones you aren’t interested in. You can save anywhere from 20-50% on a regular basis. You may also want to get a couple of credit cards from stores you frequent on a regular basis.  Bloomingdales, Gap/Banana/Old Navy, and Nordstrom all have enticing rewards programs.  Spend a certain amount of money and you’ll earn rewards coupons to be used as cash in each store. Combine the percentage offers with your rewards coupons and you will score some really great deals.

I also like to do a general google search for an item to see who has the best price. I simply “google” a description of the item, including the brand name, color and name of the item. For example, “Sam Edelman black Petty booties”.  All sites who carry this product will pop up and you can quickly decipher who has the item in your desired size and color and who has the best price (including shipping). This is also a great way to find something that seems to be sold out at your go-to stores. Don’t be afraid to buy something from a site you’ve never heard of.

With all this online shopping, the shipping fees can sometimes be a little hefty. My goal is to always score free shipping.  Oftentimes websites will offer free shipping with a minimum purchase.  It typically ranges from $50 – $150, though free shipping coupons are also frequently offered, many times in combination with a promotion. Some sites have a flat rate of $5.00 regardless of the amount of purchase, but this is more the exception than the rule.  Let’s say you wish to buy something at J Crew and they aren’t offering free shipping. Save the item in your cart on the J Crew site and then google “J Crew free shipping code” and see what sites pop up and their offers.

I’ve found that Retailmenot.com, coupons.com, and dealspl.us have the most reliable coupons.  Incidentally, these sites offer all kinds of discount codes, not just free shipping. If you can’t find a free shipping code and you still want the J Crew item without paying too much to get it, you have two other options.  One is to buy more items to meet the free shipping threshold (then simply return the unwanted items at the store), or two, go to J Crew and order the item over the phone at the store.  Obviously if the store has the item in stock there is no need to place an order. J Crew, Anthropologie and many others stores offer free shipping when you place an order directly from their stores.

Many of you probably know that Nordstrom “will not be undersold”.  If you find an item that Nordstrom carries at another store for a better price they will match that price. The clincher is that Nordstrom must have the exact color and your size in stock in order to give you the deal.  You simply call their 800 number with the item number and website where you found it and they will verify the information. They will then take your order over the phone.  Nordstrom also offers free shipping and returns on all purchases, with no minimum purchase.

Over the last several years a number of websites have cropped up that offer daily sales on designer goods from clothing to home goods to travel deals. Some of my favorites include Rue La La, Hautelook, MyHabit, and Gilt. Gilt also has a site called Gilt City with offers tailored to certain cities. I’ve found great deals on jewelry, cooking classes, fitness classes and travel.  Their shipping fees are fairly reasonable and they also offer free shipping for a year for a set price.  This may make sense if you shop a particular site frequently.

You can also shop for drugstore items online now too and sometimes get a better deal than at CVS or Walgreens. The combined sites of drugstore.com and beauty.com combine shopping for vitamins and mascara into one simple transaction. Just yesterday I earned $5 ebates dollars shopping at drugstore.com in addition to earning my drugstore.com $$ to be used on future purchases. Woo hoo!!

What online deals have you found?

Everyday I come across cool new products, many of which make it easier to get organized or simplify daily tasks. Who doesn’t love that!

For those of you with kids heading off to college and doing laundry, maybe for the first time, dormify.com has designed a nifty backpack laundry bag, complete with a detergent holder.

While I’m generally not a proponent of having lots of kitchen gadgets, this pineapple slicer works like a charm.  Just be careful not to cut yourself on the sharp blade!

Do you love tall boots as much as I do?  Do you hate how they don’t stay rigid in your closet? Me too. I’ve got two solutions for you.  The first comes to you from our  good friends at Real Simple and is free (if you have two empty wine bottles). I may have a few extra if you need ’em…….

image courtesy of Real Simple

Another option comes from a new company called Keeper Goods.  These beautiful, handmade boot supporters are simply lovely. They are a bit pricey, but a nice indulgence for your favorite boots.

Always eating on the go and in need of utensils? Welcome to the Spork — a spoon, knife and fork in one.  Another invention that is so duh, why didn’t I think of that?

Even though it’s only mid-August, it’s back-to-school for many and time for kids to get back into a daily routine.  Here is a pad designed to help kids keep track of homework assignments and backpack contents.

Another new product with lots of uses, for kids and adults alike is the smart store system from the Container Store. Multifunctional, you can choose from four sizes of open totes and then select inserts and trays to organize the items inside.  Ideal for craft supplies, cleaning supplies, office items, toys and more.

Hope your weekend is fun.  Let me know if you come across any cool products that make your life just a little bit easier.

Summer is nearly here (YAY!!!) and that means vacation, trips and traveling for many of us. With the process of traveling becoming more onerous each passing year, we all need to figure out how to streamline our own processes to lessen the stress we encounter as we embark on what should be a FUN trip.

Not only do we have to be strategic about packing (what to bring, what not to bring), how to pack, etc., we also need to have all our travel documents organized and accessible, especially for big trips. If you are traveling to multiple cities, with lots of transportation, hotels, tickets to museums, restaurant and hotel reservations, it’s important to have all your ducks in a row, and then some!

A client just arrived in Europe for a multi-city/country tour with her three teenage daughters.  Along the way, two of her daughters will be splitting off to attend summer programs.  As a single Mom in charge of this clan, my client wanted to make sure she had all the travel documents super organized so she can find anything at a moments notice.

She asked me to figure out how to make this happen. Of course I was happy to oblige. First we decided to create a Master Itinerary that would provide an overview as well as details for each leg of the trip.  Utilizing Excel, I created a table for flight information, ground transportation, hotel and restaurant reservations, museum and other tour ticket information.

Next, I recommended that we create Destination Sheets for each leg of the trip. Each destination sheet includes the information from the Master Itinerary for that leg as well as more detailed information including ideas/recommendations for things to see, restaurants, web links, etc.

Lastly, we also created two additional sheets.  The first was a Contacts Sheet so she could have one place to quickly find all phone numbers and emails for hotels, drivers and other folks she would be contacting on the trip.  The other was a General Information Sheet which included travel insurance policy information for each person, travel schedules for her daughter’s side trips and other miscellaneous information.

To keep all these papers organized and easily accessible we used  Staples Poly File Folders. Using a labelmaker, a label was created for each folder  identifying the destination, e.g. “BERLIN.”

I also suggested that my client use Staples poly zip envelopes to store everyones passports and tickets for museums and transportation.  Of course I labeled these envelopes as well so they can be quickly found.  These envelopes can be purchased individually or several to a pack.  When not in use during travel, they are perfect for corralling all your coupons and gift certificates.

Lastly, we needed a larger plastic envelope to house all the file folders and two small zip folders.  We used Staples Legal Poly File Envelope which worked perfectly.  Essentially it is the legal size version of the zip envelope pictured above and it can also be purchased individually or several to a pack.

Whether you’re embarking on a major trip or just a quick weekend jaunt, I hope these tips will make your travel easy and organized.

Next we’ll tackle packing!!

Now that I follow a number of blogs and have become quite the Pinterest addict, I frequently come across clever new products, some that are clearly of the organizing kind, others, just things that make life a little easier.  Here is a round-up of products I thought you might like.

Hoodie Buddie

Problem: the annoyance of trying to find your headphones (or just untangling the mess).  Solution: headphones built into your hoodie.  How cool is this?

Hoodie Buddie

The earbuds are attached to the hood tie with an interior cord that runs into the front pocket, ready to be plugged into any mobile device.  It’s machine washable, buds and all.  It comes in a variety of colors and styles.  Check it out.

Clinique Black Honey Lip Duo

Clinique Black Honey Lip Duo

Who woulda thought I would once again be sporting my very first lip gloss from junior high days. All the rage back in the 70’s, Clinique’s Black Honey Lipgloss has certainly stood the test of time. Clinique has re-packaged this timeless product into a two-fer (gloss & lipstick) with their Black Honey Lip Duo. Pretty cool. Pretty handy dandy.

IKEA Expedit

Not a new product, but certainly a versatile, affordable and attractive storage solution that can be used in a myriad of ways.  From playrooms to offices or even living rooms, the Expedit is a great option.

IKEA Expedit shelving

Home Office

Binder Clips

Not the sexiest of products, but don’t we all just love our binder clips.  Pier One has come out with some clever pre-labeled versions which seem to hit all the right notes.  Colorful, clever and about as fun as a binder clip can be.

Baskets

Whiles using baskets as an organizing tool is nothing new, they continue to be both a functional and aesthetically pleasing solution.  Baskets are great for corralling so many things: dog toys, shoes, magazines, remote controls, just to name a few.  You can find baskets in all kinds of shapes, sizes, colors and price points — from Target to Crate and Barrel.  Here are a few of my current favorites.

Don’t you just love the color combination of these baskets?  So fresh, contemporary and fun.

As pictured, this basket is great for dog toys, but could also be perfect for small toys, or flip flops.

I love that this basket has a built-in chalkboard label.  Great in the garden, deck or even a playroom.

Smith & Hawken for Target

These taller baskets are a fabulous decorative element on their own; they don’t even need “stuff” in them.

Here is a new product from The Container Store.  A wall-mounted system, it’s a clever solution if you are short on space and want a visual representation of your office supplies, while keeping things tidy. I think this could work easily as well in a craftroom or child’s bedroom above their desk.

Urbio Office, The Container Store

Have you come across any noteworthy organizing products lately?  Please share your finds.

Paper seems to be the number one organizing challenge for most people.  Think about it. Paper enters our lives six days a week via the postman.  Decisions are required on each piece of mail.  For the pieces that aren’t immediately recycled or identified for shredding, further action is then required. Then there are the emails, paper-ish items you pick up when you’re out and about, schoolwork and artwork your children bring home.  Are you nodding your head yet?

Even my most organized friends sometimes struggle with finding the right system or maintaining an existing system. Heck, even I don’t really enjoy filing.  I may pile paid bills and other papers for several weeks until I feel like filing them — as utterly shocking as that may be.

I believe there are two things you need when it comes to having an organized office or office space:

1. A Simple File System (that works for you)

2. Commitment to using the File System

Filing isn’t just for putting papers away; it’s also for retrieval. Keeping it simple and not too complicated will make it so much easier for you to maintain and use your system. I like to use a series of tabs and corresponding file folder labels. Let’s use the category “Insurance” as an example.  We all have at least one insurance policy and need to access it to pay a premium or file a claim.  Create a tab labeled “Insurance” and file folders labeled with each type of policy you own (Auto, Life, Homeowners, Renters, Medical, etc).  Each year clean out the file or files, keeping only the current policies and paid statements and shred the older versions.

Create your tabs with the Insurance model in mind.  I have found that other typical “Tab” categories may include: Credit Cards, Medical, Travel, Auto, Utilities, Phones & Cable/Internet, Computers, etc. Go through all of your paperwork including monthly bills, insurance policies and other paperwork to identify the Tabs you need. Beyond the monthly bills you may wish to file articles to read/keep, restaurants to try, etc. The key is to create files that you can easily retrieve.  The system can be as creative as you like as long as it works for you.

Having a filing cabinet or some facsimile is critical to keeping the files orderly and accessible.

There are so many options out there, depending upon your space and budget. If you work from home you may want to keep files on your desk for current projects. Some options include:

desktop files

Here’s are some ideas for keeping files, mail or other papers nearby but not cluttering up your desk.

Another incentive for filing is to use some stylish file folders, boxes and other office products.  Kinda like decorating your desk.

Obviously a lot of things can now be stored electronically, obviating the need for a paper file.  I have found Pinterest to be a fun way to store everything from decorating ideas to recipes. You can either create your own pins or repin items found on other people’s boards.  Once you pin something to your own board you simply click on that pin to go to original website.  At that point you can either purchase the item, print the recipe, or get more information.

Once you’ve established a filing sytem make sure that you set aside time for filing. It may only take five minutes a week to do your filing so think about it as a break from doing something else. With a system in place you’ll be surprised how quickly you can find things and how quickly they can be stored.  My clients who formerly were overwhelmed by paper, now easily maintain their filing systems and almost seem to enjoy the task!

At the end of year clean out your files and prepare any new files you need for the coming year. This is also a good way to pull what you need to prepare for tax season.  Remember to shred items with open accounts (bank, investments, credit cards), your social security number and other personal data you wish to remain private.

Do you have filing sytem that works for you?  What are your tricks and tips for keeping your papers in check?