Buying a shredder – What to look for

March 15, 2010 – 12:16 am

With so much technology, it’s ironic how much paper we still receive in the mail and have piled up on our desks. It’s important to shred anything with sensitive information like financial statements or credit card applications. A lot of clients ask me what to look for when they go out to buy a shredder. Here’s what I tell them:

  1. Cross-Cut - This type of shredder cuts paper into smaller bits and is much more secure than a strip-cut paper shredder.
  2. Able to shred plastic like credit cards, DVDs and CDs
  3. Shouldn’t have a problem shredding the sticky part of envelopes
  4. Large capacity – The container or basket should hold at least two weeks worth of shredding.
By Elizabeth Bowman | Posted in Business Organizing, Home Office Organizing, Paper Management, Quick Tips | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment

Upcoming Event this Friday – Email Management 101

March 10, 2010 – 10:11 pm

Is your email inbox full? Are you overwhelmed by the number of messages you receive every day? Do you spend hours just trying to catch up with all that email? This is the right seminar for you!

EMAIL MANAGEMENT 101

Friday, March 12th, 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM

Bellevue Chamber

302 Bellevue Square, Bellevue, WA 98004

Click here to sign up now.

By Elizabeth Bowman | Posted in Business Organizing, Electronic Information Management, Home Office Organizing, Organizing Process, Upcoming Events | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment

Event Recap – NW Womens Show & NAPO Vendor Fair

March 8, 2010 – 11:14 pm

The weekend was a flurry of activity for Innovatively Organized!

Our booth at the NW Women’s Show was extremely busy with hundreds of visitors stopping to find out more on organizing their homes and businesses. For those of you who aren’t familiar with the show, it’s the largest expo of its kind in the country, featuring a multitude of exhibitors aimed at the needs of women. There were vendors showcasing fashion, health and wellness, home decor, money matters, workplace leadership, food, travel and beauty. One of the most popular organizing questions we heard from guests was about paper management. Despite our addiction to communicating online and with electronic gadgets, everyone still needs to conquer the paper pile! Check out my paper management tips for more help with clearing the paper clutter.

Also over the weekend was the first annual Vendor Fair & Ask the Organizer Panel sponsored by the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO). Attendees were able to meet local organizers and get questions about organization answered by a panel of experts.

Keep checking my blog and your email inbox for more news on upcoming events from Innovatively Organized!

By Elizabeth Bowman | Posted in Business Organizing, Electronic Information Management, Fun Stories, Paper Management, Upcoming Events | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment

Organizing and Saving Important Documents

March 2, 2010 – 7:31 am

Has the pending tax season motivated you to organize all of your important documents along with the financial ones?  This is the perfect opportunity to start some new filing habits and protect or replace any missing papers, credentials and forms.  Can you easily find your passport? What about your birth certificate?  Are you sure you know where you put that lease agreement?  I recently found an article in Real Simple magazine that gives great advice on how to get copies of critical documents.

Also, refer to my previous blog post Multiple Ways to File Paper for more organizing tips.

By Elizabeth Bowman | Posted in Business Organizing, Finance and money, Home Office Organizing, Paper Management, Quick Tips, storage | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment

Organize with everyday items

February 25, 2010 – 7:40 am

It’s not always necessary to buy a lot of new products to get organized. I tell my clients that a lot of organizing solutions are already in their home or office. It’s just about looking at them from a different perspective. For example, glass jars aren’t just for jam or snacks. Use them to group and categorize items for crafts or supplies – it’s an easy and simple way to prevent clutter. For more ideas, check out this Real Simple article.

By Elizabeth Bowman | Posted in Favorite Products, Home Office Organizing, Interesting Sites, Kitchen Organizing, Organizing Small Spaces, Quick Tips, storage | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment

2010 Spring into Organizing Vendor Fair

February 22, 2010 – 11:37 pm

The 2010 Spring into Organizing Vendor Fair and Ask the Organizer Panel is just a few weeks away!

Be sure you’ve scheduled time on Saturday, March 6, 2010 to come by the Sheraton Hotel in Bellevue.  You’ll be glad you did!  The Expo starts at 9:00 AM with fantastic products, presentations and door prizes until 1:00 PM.  This event, sponsored by the Seattle Area Chapter of the National Association of Professional Organizers, is sure to be packed with fun organizing tips and products.  Invite a friend and join us for a fun time.

Please contact me if I can answer any questions or visit the Seattle NAPO website for full details.  Register online at the early bird price of $8 (it’ll be $10 at the door).

I look forward to seeing you at the event!  Look for me at the “Ask the Organizer Panel” too!

By Elizabeth Bowman | Posted in Upcoming Events | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a Comment

Before and After – Bulletin Board

February 15, 2010 – 9:26 am

What does your bulletin board say about you?  Is it covered with papers?  Divided in sections?  How organized are you?  Bulletin boards can be a lifesaver when you use them consistently and efficiently! But what happens when it becomes inundated with clutter?  Read this RealSimple article about one family’s bulletin board makeover!

By Elizabeth Bowman | Posted in Business Organizing, Favorite Products, Fun Stories, Home Office Organizing, Student Organizing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (1)

Be My Organized Valentine

February 12, 2010 – 12:08 am

According to the National Retail Federation, the average person will spend over $100 on Valentine’s Day gifts this year. Instead of exchanging items that come in a box, here are some ideas for presents that don’t take up a lot of space or create clutter (some are even eco-friendly!):

  • Instead of the cute teddy bear, get a box of gourmet chocolates – don’t forget to recycle the packaging
  • Pamper your special someone with a spa gift certificate rather than buying candles and soaps
  • Donate to a worthy cause such as the American Heart Association in the name of a loved one
  • Tie on your apron - serve breakfast in bed or bake cookies or muffins as yummy gifts
  • Be traditional – flowers are always a beautiful treat, and there are many florists now who sell bouquets that come from organic farms using sustainable practices
By Elizabeth Bowman | Posted in Green Organizing, Holiday Preparation, Quick Tips | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment

Elizabeth’s Favorite Things: Digital filing with Evernote

February 8, 2010 – 11:35 am

Have you ever needed a “virtual or digital” notebook or filing system?  Well, I know I’m constantly looking for ways to keep paper to a minimum without losing valuable information or time.  Sometimes you need more than a sticky note to remember ideas or information too.  Evernote is an online electronic storage solution that doesn’t just keep track of all the notes you create, it keeps them organized, electronic and easily searchable in one “digital file cabinet.” Whether it’s a web page, picture, document, email or an audio dictation, Evernote stores it all for free. You can even save messages from Twitter!  Evernote works on Windows or Mac platforms, via the internet, as well as a range of smart phones.  Learn more about Evernote and stayed tuned for future posts with more tips on how you could use Evernote to be more productive (my favorite topic!).

By Elizabeth Bowman | Posted in Business Organizing, Electronic Information Management, Favorite Products, Green Organizing, Interesting Sites, Paper Management, Time Management, storage | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment

New Seminar – Maximize your Growing Business in 2010!

February 4, 2010 – 6:20 pm

Growing your business in today’s economy is hard work.
Join Innovatively Organized, the Puget Sound Business Journal (PSBJ) and Merrill Lynch for a special business seminar.

“Maximize your Growing Business”

Wednesday, February 10th
9:30am – Noon
Mercer Island Community Center
Sign up now for only $20!

To find strong leads for your business, every sales channel needs to be explored, and the PSBJ will show you how to use print media to your advantage. Once you get that sales lead, are you set up to follow up and track prospects effectively? Being organized is imperative. I’ll teach you the best ways to organize those leads so you can close more business! As you build more wealth, are you aware of all your financing options? Learn useful tips on managing your earnings from Merrill Lynch.

By Elizabeth Bowman | Posted in Business Organizing, Finance and money, Home Office Organizing, Organizing Process, Quick Tips, Time Management, Upcoming Events | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment