Organized Assistant » Tools of the Trade http://organizedassistant.com Virtual Partner to Your Organizing Business Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:19:17 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 A Clever Way to Enhance Your Organizing Business http://organizedassistant.com/2012/02/09/a-clever-way-to-enhance-your-organizing-business/ http://organizedassistant.com/2012/02/09/a-clever-way-to-enhance-your-organizing-business/#comments Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:19:17 +0000 Janet http://organizedassistant.com/?p=3083 A Clever Way to Enhance Your Organizing Business
You provide a valuable service, but not everyone needs or can afford to pay for hands-on organizing, so maybe you also offer organizing seminars or workshops. My guest today is Audrey Cupo, who has found a great way to enhance her educational sessions with quality organizing products. A Complement to A BETTER SPACE I have [...]

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]]> A Clever Way to Enhance Your Organizing Business
You provide a valuable service, but not everyone needs or can afford to pay for hands-on organizing, so maybe you also offer organizing seminars or workshops. My guest today is Audrey Cupo, who has found a great way to enhance her educational sessions with quality organizing products. Sample products from Clever Container A Complement to A BETTER SPACE I have been a professional organizer since 2004 when I began my business A BETTER SPACE, which is based in Bucks County, PA in the United States. I have grown my residential organizing business each and every year to include not only in-home services, but writing, public speaking and product creation. My product line called "U Can Do It" was created to help those I could not reach with my in-home services to get organized and stay organized. It has served me well and has enabled me to reach out to people all over the world. Recently, however, I felt that I wanted to do more education-based work and was considering developing another aspect of my business where I could go into people’s homes and educate a group of women around a dining room table about how to get and stay organized. I was in the process of formulating how I was going to do this when, one day, back in November of 2011, I was on a LinkedIn group site created as a place for professional organizers to share information. One of the members asked if we had heard about Clever Container? I had not but was curious. So I investigated further. Upon learning about this company and researching it thoroughly, I learned that Clever Container is the only company of its kind in the United States (and soon to go International) that provides an opportunity for those who love organization to help others get organized while having fun at the same time with in-home party demonstrations. Just what I was looking for! I signed on within three days. I am thrilled that I can now offer my existing clients good, quality organizing products as "a complement to A BETTER SPACE". I am also able to provide education in a group setting right in someone’s own home surrounded by their friends and family members. I now schedule organizing parties which are fun and educational at the same time. The hostess gets to earn free and discounted products to help them get organized as well. Another bonus for me is I can do vendor events. I have always wanted to participate in vendor events but found it difficult to do so with only information products to display on my table. Now, I can provide a product that is in line with my business and my passion. The response has been overwhelming and it is very exciting! My professional organizing business can now provide my own information products as well as physical organizing products from Clever Container.  A BETTER SPACE has truly become a full service company! Are you interested in learning more? Simply visit www.4abetterspace.com/clever_container. If you like the products and want to place an order, you need to enter a Consultant ID #. My consultant number is 373. If you like what you see and want to become a Consultant, you have the ability to start your own CLEVER CONTAINER business and supplement your existing income. At my very first party, I sold $1000 worth of product (easily!) and as a consultant and host of that party, I got a commission, free products, discounts on additional products and free shipping. Contact me and I can help you get started right away. As a professional organizer, I think it’s the perfect complement to my business and I would love to have you on my team! Together, we can help others get organized just by scheduling parties. I don’t know about you, but I love a party! Audrey Cupo is a full-time Professional Organizer and sole proprietor of A BETTER SPACE based in Bucks County, PA. She specializes in residential organizing and focuses her business on helping busy moms and women entrepreneurs with home-based businesses get organized with her in-home services, writing and public speaking. She has created the her own "U Can Do It" product line and is an independent consultant for Clever Container.
]]> http://organizedassistant.com/2012/02/09/a-clever-way-to-enhance-your-organizing-business/feed/ 0 Product Review: Quo Vadis Minister Prestige Weekly Planner http://organizedassistant.com/2011/11/29/product-review-quo-vadis-minister-prestige-weekly-planner/ http://organizedassistant.com/2011/11/29/product-review-quo-vadis-minister-prestige-weekly-planner/#comments Tue, 29 Nov 2011 14:00:11 +0000 Janet http://organizedassistant.com/?p=2913 Product Review: Quo Vadis Minister Prestige Weekly Planner
When I realized, nearly 30 years ago, that there was a whole world of calendars beyond those that were provided to me by my employer, bank, or local card shop, one of the first product lines I discovered was Quo Vadis. I was impressed by the quality of their planners as well as the extensive [...]

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]]> Product Review: Quo Vadis Minister Prestige Weekly Planner
When I realized, nearly 30 years ago, that there was a whole world of calendars beyond those that were provided to me by my employer, bank, or local card shop, one of the first product lines I discovered was Quo Vadis. I was impressed by the quality of their planners as well as the extensive variety of sizes and layouts they offered. Quo Vadis Minister Prestige Weekly Planner Thanks to the networking expertise of Margarita Ibbott, Quo Vadis Canada generously donated a supply of their planners to be distributed at her presentation at this year’s POC Conference. I was pleased to receive a conservative-yet-unique burgundy one, but I noticed that the others ranged from classic black to a fashionable cactus green. The cover is both pleasing to the touch and well-constructed, so you can continue using it and simply purchase a refill each year – a smart move both financially and ecologically. The inside spread, as shown above, is in a weekly grid format, running from Monday to Sunday. Although this can be confusing at first for someone who is accustomed to the traditional Sunday-to-Saturday layout of most wall calendars, it is ideal for planning purposes as it keeps weekends together. An eighth column includes small calendars for the previous, current, and following months, and identifies the current week and quarter of the year. Each daily column includes a spot to record the day’s priority at the top, followed by a scheduling section.  For Monday through Saturday, the schedule runs from 8 AM to 9 PM, which should meet the needs of most people, and includes a Notes section at the bottom. Sunday’s schedule runs from  8 AM to 8 PM, without the half-hour marks in between that appear on the rest of the days.  This allows a wide section below Sunday’s schedule and the weekly details for five task-related sections: Phone, Fax – E-mail, See – Do, Write, and To pay – To receive. This is not a format I would choose for myself, because most of my activities are not scheduled for specific times, so the time slots aren’t really that important to me, and I prefer to have most of the daily section blank to write my daily tasks, with a smaller section for scheduled appointments. However, for those who are more schedule-driven, it is well-designed. The corner of each page is perforated, making it easy to find the current week without the need for a marker. Other features include the current and following year at a glance (with space to write), mini calendars for the previous, current, and following years, and a removable address book. There are several pages of reference information such as maps, international holidays, and the like, that would probably only be of value to some users. One thing I really like about this planner is the fact that you can start using it on December 5. By this time of the year, we are planning for the new year far more often than we’re referring back to earlier dates, so this eliminates the need to carry two calendars. Although Quo Vadis were pioneers in the development of the weekly planner, they now offer daily and monthly planners as well, to meet the needs of an even wider audience. You can purchase Quo Vadis planners at Amazon.com and many other online and retailers.
]]> http://organizedassistant.com/2011/11/29/product-review-quo-vadis-minister-prestige-weekly-planner/feed/ 2 Product Review: DayMinder Premiere http://organizedassistant.com/2011/11/22/product-review-dayminder-premiere/ http://organizedassistant.com/2011/11/22/product-review-dayminder-premiere/#comments Tue, 22 Nov 2011 14:04:27 +0000 Janet http://organizedassistant.com/?p=2907 Product Review: DayMinder Premiere
It’s no secret that I’m a bit of a calendar junkie, and I’ve reviewed several of the unique planners I’ve come across here at Your Organizing Business. For those who prefer something more classic, this week we’ll take a look at a product from AT-A-GLANCE. The first thing you’ll notice when you pick up the [...]

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]]> Product Review: DayMinder Premiere
It’s no secret that I’m a bit of a calendar junkie, and I’ve reviewed several of the unique planners I’ve come across here at Your Organizing Business. For those who prefer something more classic, this week we’ll take a look at a product from AT-A-GLANCE. DayMinder Premiere Recycled Weekly Appointment Book DayMinder Premiere Recycled Weekly Appointment BookThe first thing you’ll notice when you pick up the DayMinder Premiere is its black leather-like hard cover, which not only looks professional but is clearly designed to maintain its appearance throughout the year. Unlike some other hardcover planners, the inside pages are coil-bound, allowing it to remain open on the desktop. The paper used for the pages isn’t as smooth or as thick as in some of the other planners I’ve seen, but it’s certainly adequate, and the fact that it contains 30% post-consumer waste makes up for it being a little less luxurious. There is a handy built-in address book at the back with alphabetical tabs that match the calendar section. Another nice extra is a plastic sheet with two storage pockets to keep loose notes from falling out. My husband has chosen the DayMinder Premiere Recycled Weekly Appointment Book as his personal planner for two years in a row. The inside view displays one week per spread, as shown above. The pre-printed time slots run from 8 AM to 5 PM, making this most suitable for someone whose most important activities are scheduled during the daytime. On the other hand, the numbers are discreet enough for someone who is less appointment-driven to disregard.  Each spread includes small monthly calendars for the current, previous, and next two months, minimizing the need to flip to other pages, but leather-like tabs for each month make it easy to flip back or ahead as needed. A full calendar for the year appears inside the front cover, and one for the following year inside the back cover. At 4 7/8" x 8", the appointment book is very portable and will fit easily in any briefcase and most purses. The Premiere is also available as a Monthly Planner and as a Daily Appointment Book. It is an above average quality product which I would recommend to anyone who likes a traditional time management system.
]]> http://organizedassistant.com/2011/11/22/product-review-dayminder-premiere/feed/ 0 Product Review: BusyBodyBook Organizers http://organizedassistant.com/2011/11/15/product-review-busybodybook-organizers/ http://organizedassistant.com/2011/11/15/product-review-busybodybook-organizers/#comments Tue, 15 Nov 2011 14:03:20 +0000 Janet http://organizedassistant.com/?p=2891 Product Review: BusyBodyBook Organizers
People who are loyal to a particular brand of calendar have probably already purchased their refill or planner for 2012, but others are still looking for one that will meet their needs. Over the next few weeks, I’ll be featuring several different products to help you guide your clients in their decision-making. Last year, I [...]

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]]> Product Review: BusyBodyBook Organizers
People who are loyal to a particular brand of calendar have probably already purchased their refill or planner for 2012, but others are still looking for one that will meet their needs. Over the next few weeks, I’ll be featuring several different products to help you guide your clients in their decision-making. BusyBodyBook Personal & Family Grid Organizer cover Last year, I was sent a review copy of the BusyBodyBook Personal & Family Grid Organizer (read my review here), and it worked so well for me that I didn’t think twice before ordering a new one for next year. It arrived quickly and in good condition, and I’m delighted to see that it’s the same high quality as this year’s edition. In fact, I like it a little better, because they’ve changed the color of the inside pages from bright green to a more muted brown shade, as shown below: BusyBodyBook Personal & Family Grid Organizer inside pages Along with my order, Joan Goldner, who developed the BusyBodyBook, was kind enough to send me a BusyBodyBook Wall Calendar as well as a 7-column BusyBodyBook Undated Weekly Grid Pad. The concept is essentially the same as the Personal & Family Grid Organizer, except that these two products have seven columns instead of five. The Undated Weekly Grid Pad, shown below, includes an additional “notes” column for recording tasks or other items that don’t need to be scheduled for a particular day. Each pad includes 52 pages, enough for a full year, unless you decide to use it for multiple purposes. Possible uses include family activities, meal planning, team planning… you name it! There’s a magnetic strip on the back so it can be posted on the fridge or filing cabinet, and it is three-hole punched for those who prefer to place it in a binder. 7-column BusyBodyBook Undated Weekly Grid Pad The Wall Calendar combines the layout of the Undated Weekly Grid Pad with the construction of the Personal & Family Grid Organizer. Unlike traditional wall calendars, there is no artwork. Instead, you have the option of viewing two weeks at a time, or saving wall space by displaying just one week. On the Wall Calendar, the notes section is moved to the bottom of the page, where you can also view mini-calendars for last month, this month, and next month at a glance. BusyBodyBook Wall Calendar These are really outstanding calendars for a very reasonable price, and would be suitable for organizing families or other groups as well as students, entrepreneurs, and other individuals with multiple roles or activities to manage. All products are available online via the BusyBodyBook website.
]]> http://organizedassistant.com/2011/11/15/product-review-busybodybook-organizers/feed/ 2 E-Book Review: Sync or Swim: 201 Organizing Tips You Need to Survive the Currents of Change http://organizedassistant.com/2011/08/02/e-book-review-sync-or-swim-201-organizing-tips-you-need-to-survive-the-currents-of-change/ http://organizedassistant.com/2011/08/02/e-book-review-sync-or-swim-201-organizing-tips-you-need-to-survive-the-currents-of-change/#comments Tue, 02 Aug 2011 13:37:01 +0000 Janet http://organizedassistant.com/?p=2664 E-Book Review: Sync or Swim: 201 Organizing Tips You Need to Survive the Currents of Change
I was really flattered when Allison Carter and Judith Kolberg contacted me in January with a request to review their new e-book. The fact that I am only doing so now takes me back to my corporate days, when I overheard a colleague say he was too busy to attend the time management workshop his [...]

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]]> E-Book Review: Sync or Swim: 201 Organizing Tips You Need to Survive the Currents of Change
I was really flattered when Allison Carter and Judith Kolberg contacted me in January with a request to review their new e-book. The fact that I am only doing so now takes me back to my corporate days, when I overheard a colleague say he was too busy to attend the time management workshop his manager had scheduled for him. Sync or Swim by Judith Kolberg and Allison Carter Although I was definitely feeling overwhelmed with both work and reading materials earlier in the year, the ironic reality is that had I made a sincere effort to read the e-book sooner rather than later, I'd have been pleased to discover that it is a light and easy read that took only about an hour of my time. Even more importantly, it addresses the very issues that were contributing to my sense of overwhelm: information overload, multiple sources of communication, and social media. Yes, today's technology has presented us with challenges that my co-worker couldn't even have imagined back in the 80s, but at the same time, it has provided us with wonderful tools to help us to organize just about every aspect of our personal and professional lives. And this is where Sync or Swim stands apart from other organizing books you may have read. As it says in the introduction,
Sync or Swim tips are “new school”. They address problems with a ‘technology-light’ spin. We cover managing the inflow of information, storing information and syncing devices, managing social media, organizing finances, home maintenance and family management, safety and security, organizing gizmos and gadgets, and health and wellness.
Although Kolberg and Carter are recognized experts in the organizing industry, they didn't rely on their own knowledge to write this book. Instead, they supplemented their advice with selected tips from more than 50 other contributors to provide a broad range of perspectives and ideas. While looking at the list of contributors, I was pleased to see my client Julie Stobbe of Mind over Clutter as well as several Professional Organizers Blog Carnival Star Bloggers: Ellen Delap of Professional-Organizer.com, Julie Bestry of Best Results Organizing, Ramona Creel, and Deb Lee of D. Allison Lee LLC. One of the things I like best about Sync or Swim is the abundance of practical tools recommended throughout. There are many tools available online for managing time, money, and all types of information, and Sync or Swim is a great resource for learning what's out there and helping you find a solution that's right for your client or for yourself. Although I read through it in an hour, I plan to spend much more time exploring the links suggested by the various contributors, many of which had eluded the attention of even this admitted information junkie. You can order Sync or Swim in Kindle format through The Bookstore for Professional Organizers, or click on the image below to order it as a PDF through Squall Press. It would make a great addition to your library! What is YOUR best tip for staying afloat in our changing world?
]]> http://organizedassistant.com/2011/08/02/e-book-review-sync-or-swim-201-organizing-tips-you-need-to-survive-the-currents-of-change/feed/ 0 Product Review and Giveaway: Filertek Dry Erase Hanging File Tabs http://organizedassistant.com/2011/06/07/product-review-and-giveaway-filertek-dry-erase-hanging-file-tabs/ http://organizedassistant.com/2011/06/07/product-review-and-giveaway-filertek-dry-erase-hanging-file-tabs/#comments Tue, 07 Jun 2011 12:54:28 +0000 Janet http://organizedassistant.com/?p=2571 Product Review and Giveaway: Filertek Dry Erase Hanging File Tabs
One of the most popular ways to organize paper files for home or business, whether the project is best suited to an alphabetical, numeric, or topical system, is a set of hanging files, but I've never been a huge fan of hanging files, for various reasons. Many hanging file tabs come with inserts that are [...]

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]]> Product Review and Giveaway: Filertek Dry Erase Hanging File Tabs
One of the most popular ways to organize paper files for home or business, whether the project is best suited to an alphabetical, numeric, or topical system, is a set of hanging files, but I've never been a huge fan of hanging files, for various reasons. Filertek Dry Erase Hanging File Tabs Many hanging file tabs come with inserts that are pre-labeled from A to Z or January to December, which is handy IF that's what your client needs, but often that's not the case. Most of the time you end up affixing a label over top or folding them the other way so you can write on the back. These inserts can only be re-used so many times before they need to be replaced. Even worse, many hanging file tabs are made from thin plastic which wears out over time, causing them to break and fall off. This is especially problematic if the tabs have been removed and updated or replaced, and it severely limits the efficiency of your filing system. Fortunately, filing products have come a long way since my early days working in an office, when hanging files came in only olive drab! They're now available in assorted shades, with hanging tabs to match, and it's great to see that manufacturers are also coming up with innovative products that eliminate the issues we had to deal with in the past. One such manufacturer is The Pencil Grip Inc., who have done away with those little cardboard slips altogether with their Filertek line of file indexing systems. You simply pop open the durable plastic cover, write on the file label using a dry-erase pen (included when you purchase a set of tabs, or available separately), and close it again. This clever system means the tabs can be used over and over again, so your client doesn't go to update a label one day, only to discover they have no paper inserts in stock. Not only is this convenient, it makes sense from an environmental perspective and keeps expenses down as well. The tabs are lovely and strong, so you don't have to worry about them falling off. Although I wouldn't recommend the practice, I actually pulled one of my files out of the drawer by the tab and it remained firmly in place. I'm so impressed that I'm probably going to use them in my office filing cabinet, which I've refused to do for many years. Filertek Hanging File Tabs are available in packages of 5, 12, and 50, and come in assorted colors for the benefit of your visually-oriented clients, or in clear, for those who prefer a cleaner, more uniform look. If you can't find them in your local office supply store, you can order them directly from The Pencil Grip or from Amazon.com. If you'd like to try this product out with one of your organizing clients, or even in your own office, you'll be thrilled to know that The Pencil Grip Inc. has generously offered to send a sample to one of my blog readers! For a chance to win, simply leave a comment below. For additional entries you can:
  • Join our mailing list and leave a comment to let me know you have
  • Follow me on Twitter and leave a comment to let me know
  • Blog about this giveaway and leave a comment to let me know (please include the URL to your blog post)
  • Tweet about this giveaway and leave a comment to let me know (please include @JanetBarclay in your tweet)
You're allowed to tweet about the giveaway once per day, so you can have up to 10 chances to win! The giveaway closes at midnight (Eastern Daylight time) on Sunday, June 12, and the winner will be selected using a random number generator and announced on June 13. Good luck!
]]> http://organizedassistant.com/2011/06/07/product-review-and-giveaway-filertek-dry-erase-hanging-file-tabs/feed/ 20 Product Review: Chaos… simplified Woman’s Day Planner http://organizedassistant.com/2011/02/15/product-review-chaos-simplified-womans-day-planner/ http://organizedassistant.com/2011/02/15/product-review-chaos-simplified-womans-day-planner/#comments Tue, 15 Feb 2011 13:50:15 +0000 Janet http://organizedassistant.com/?p=2039 Product Review: Chaos… simplified Woman’s Day Planner
In my ongoing search for the perfect paper planner, I was very excited to learn last spring that Laura of I'm an Organizing Junkie had a wonderful Canadian product available to give away. Although I wasn't the lucky winner, I was so impressed with Laura's review that I contacted the designer/publisher, Corrie Bitner, and asked [...]

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]]> Product Review: Chaos… simplified Woman’s Day Planner
In my ongoing search for the perfect paper planner, I was very excited to learn last spring that Laura of I'm an Organizing Junkie had a wonderful Canadian product available to give away. Although I wasn't the lucky winner, I was so impressed with Laura's review that I contacted the designer/publisher, Corrie Bitner, and asked if I could have a copy to review for Your Organizing Business. Chaos... simplified Woman's Day Planner Although Corri wasn't able to send me a planner right away, she agreed to send me a 2011 version when they were available, and I eagerly awaited its arrival. My first impression was that this planner will appeal mainly to creative types, with its handwriting-style fonts and nature-inspired cover image. Unlike planners which focus on productivity, the overall theme of Chaos... simplified is harmony and beauty. For each month, there is not just a page or two, but an entire section, which includes:
  • Financial Outlook page for recording income, expenses, and comparing figures to budgeted amounts
  • Monthly plan, including goals for self, family, household, and financials, as well as "what's happening" this month and next, "things on my mind", and important dates to remember
  • Monthly calendar view, which lies open next to the weekly view, as shown above. This feature means you don’t have to flip back and forth between views, or copy events from your monthly calendar to your weekly schedule
Each monthly calendar includes a section for "scribbled thoughts n' sketched dreams" and the weekly calendars have sections for "things to do" and "phone calls to make." There is also a divider with pockets to hold receipts, recipes, or other loose bits of paper. Instructions are provided to remove these dividers if you find your planner getting too bulky as the year progresses. The rear cover includes a flap to tuck into the current page, so you can easily keep your place without a separate bookmark. Additional sections allow you to record financial information, wish lists for books, movies, restaurants, and vacations, Christmas planning, important phone numbers, and other contacts. I wouldn't recommend this planner as a business tool, but it would be ideal for your clients who are busy home managers or stay-at-home moms. To learn more about the Woman's Day Planner as well as the Girls Day Planner for tweens and teens, visit the Chaos... simplified website.
]]> http://organizedassistant.com/2011/02/15/product-review-chaos-simplified-womans-day-planner/feed/ 5 Product Review: BusyBodyBook Personal & Family Grid Organizer http://organizedassistant.com/2011/01/18/busybodybook-personal-family-grid-organizer/ http://organizedassistant.com/2011/01/18/busybodybook-personal-family-grid-organizer/#comments Tue, 18 Jan 2011 13:54:44 +0000 Janet http://organizedassistant.com/?p=1988 Product Review: BusyBodyBook Personal & Family Grid Organizer
From the first time I saw an office products catalog, I've been amazed by the wide variety of calendars and planners. What was available back then seems limited and boring compared to the unique and colourful assortment on the market today, and I'm always excited to learn about a new product, like the BusyBodyBook. We [...]

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]]> Product Review: BusyBodyBook Personal & Family Grid Organizer
From the first time I saw an office products catalog, I've been amazed by the wide variety of calendars and planners. What was available back then seems limited and boring compared to the unique and colourful assortment on the market today, and I'm always excited to learn about a new product, like the BusyBodyBook. BusyBodyBook Personal & Family Grid Organizer We all have our own needs and wants when it comes to choosing a planner. My preferences include:
  • De-emphasis of time slots, as I use my electronic calendar for scheduling appointments
  • Weekly grid format for planning my day-to-day activities
  • Space for a master to-do list for the week
  • Monthly pages for planning blog posts
  • Space to jot dates for the following year
  • Coil bound, so it will lie flat on my desk, whether open or closed
  • Esthetically pleasing
  • Good quality paper and construction
When I opened my review copy of the 2011 BusyBodyBook Personal & Family Grid Organizer, I was thrilled to see that it has every one of the above features. Furthermore, it has pockets inside the front and back covers to hold any loose papers, lots of space for additional notes, a couple of pages to record key contact information, and even detachable pages for additional lists. I especially like the heavy plastic cover which not only protects the attractive inner cover but makes it easy to find the cover when the book is folded open to an inside page. As shown above, each weekly page has five columns which you can use in whatever way works for the way you organize your life. I'm using mine for: Organized Assistant business, client work, personal, home, and social. That may change as the year unfolds, but since they're unlabeled, I'll be able to make that transition easily should the need arise. Someone who is trying to lose weight might use it to record menus for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks, and physical activity. A student could use it to keep track of homework for different classes. The possibilities are endless! If someone you know hasn't yet purchased their 2011 planner, or they're not happy with the one they picked out, let them know they can save 15% off the regular price on the BusyBodyBook website, while supplies last. It is also available from Amazon.com and FranklinCovey.
]]> http://organizedassistant.com/2011/01/18/busybodybook-personal-family-grid-organizer/feed/ 4 Product Review: WeekDate http://organizedassistant.com/2010/12/21/product-review-weekdate/ http://organizedassistant.com/2010/12/21/product-review-weekdate/#comments Tue, 21 Dec 2010 13:43:28 +0000 Janet http://organizedassistant.com/?p=1962 Product Review: WeekDate
I love exploring different paper planners, so when I saw Deanna Koller demonstrating her new WeekDate calendar to her colleagues from Southwestern Ontario on the train ride to the POC Conference last month, I invited her to write a review for Your Organizing Business. Luckily for all of us, she said Yes! Read on to [...]

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]]> Product Review: WeekDate
I love exploring different paper planners, so when I saw Deanna Koller demonstrating her new WeekDate calendar to her colleagues from Southwestern Ontario on the train ride to the POC Conference last month, I invited her to write a review for Your Organizing Business. Luckily for all of us, she said Yes! Read on to learn about this unique product. WeekDate calendar Like Janet, I am also a lover of the paper planner. After years of loyalty to a specialty 3” x 6” insert that fit my leather bound planner, I had come to realize that it was more fashion than function and it was time to move on. With the world of paper planners open to me, I dove in first to the Planner Pad.  It had over double the amount of space I previously had to write in, and all activities, to-do’s, and appointments were arranged to help me make the most effective use of my time.  Soon though, I was getting to the point where I needed to plan planning time so that I could fill out regular appointments week after week, month after month.  This became drudgery and the WeekDate planner claimed to solve my dilemma. Its tagline, “Only Write it Once” was instantly appealing to me.  After watching their “How it Works” video, I knew it had to be mine. The 9½” x 4” planner opens to 9½” x 13½” full size and is divided into three sections.  At the top of the planner is the colour coded section called Monthlies. Each colour represents a week in the month, from the first to the last. Here you write in items that occur on a monthly basis. My POC Chapter meets the third Wednesday of each month. I wrote it in once, and now I’m done for the year. The bottom section is where the weekly items are listed. Any scheduled items that occur every week are placed here in the appropriate day. Here I placed my entire recurring weekly schedule, including children’s lessons, fitness classes, bill paying and shopping.  Once and it’s done. The everyday items that are not regularly repeating are written in the middle section by date. The colour coding on the page refers to the monthlies section, so if the colour above the date is green, you look at the second week of the month to see if you have a monthly appointment. Each page has a tear away tab that allows you to get to your current week easily. On the back page of the past week are lined columns for whatever notes you may take during the current week. This planner has two integrated plastic pockets. In one is a phone card that you can remove and place into your next year’s WeekDate. In the other is a removable annuals card for birthdays and anniversaries that I can refer to regularly.  These pockets can also hold receipts and tickets. I was initially concerned with the non-traditional layout that places Monday at the beginning of the week, but writing a weekend event with two days next to each other makes sense, so we will see how I adjust. My concerns as I go through the year will be if I can manage my to-do lists and goal setting effectively with this system and if it will be sturdy enough to go through the rigorous use I intend to put it through. Just how committed am I?  Not only have I made the switch, but so will my family, as this whole system is available as a wall calendar and I can’t wait to get the family in line! You can view and order this planner and their complementary products at www.weekdate.com Deanna Koller resides in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, and can be reached through Heart of the Matter Professional Organizing.
]]> http://organizedassistant.com/2010/12/21/product-review-weekdate/feed/ 3 Product Review: life_time.mine Day Planner http://organizedassistant.com/2010/10/19/product-review-life-time-mine-day-planner/ http://organizedassistant.com/2010/10/19/product-review-life-time-mine-day-planner/#comments Tue, 19 Oct 2010 12:39:52 +0000 Janet http://organizedassistant.com/?p=1877 Product Review: life_time.mine Day Planner
Fall is one of my favorite seasons: the air is fresh, the leaves are colourful, and the new planners are available! Many people buy the same product every year or use an electronic planner, but I just love trying something new and different, so I was delighted to receive a life_time-mine planner from the folks [...]

Please visit Your Organizing Business to read and comment on Product Review: life_time.mine Day Planner.

]]> Product Review: life_time.mine Day Planner
Fall is one of my favorite seasons: the air is fresh, the leaves are colourful, and the new planners are available! Many people buy the same product every year or use an electronic planner, but I just love trying something new and different, so I was delighted to receive a life_time-mine planner from the folks at dotmine. life_time-mine planner Upon opening the package, I was immediately impressed with the cover, which is a very soft leather in a soothing shade of pale blue, with a stretchy strap to hold it closed. Blue just happens to be my favorite color, but it's also available in pink or brown if that suits you better. Even the inside cover has an attractive design, as shown above. This planner was clearly designed to meet the needs of people who strive to balance their personal and professional lives, as each weekly page has a space for a Work to-do list on the left, and a Life to-do list on the right. I love that both are treated equally! These sections are perforated so you can tear them out to take with you, but I'm not sure how that's supposed to work, since if you tear out this week's Life list, you won't have a Work list for next week. In any case, although at 7 x 9 inches it's too large for my very tiny purse, it's only about half an inch thick, so I think it's light and portable enough to carry around without the need to tear anything out. Despite its compactness, there's room for all the essentials, including:
  • Contact information, emergency and other important phone numbers
  • List of holidays from August 2010 to December 2011
  • Monthly calendars from August 2010 to December 2011
  • One-page personal roadmap for recording yearly goals
  • Weekly calendars from August 30, 2010 to January 29, 2012
  • Two pages for recording work-related information
  • Two pages for recording life-related information (banks, car dealer, dentists, doctors, hairstylists, etc.)
  • One blank page for notes
  • Master Schedule Planning Guide and Weekly Schedule
There's even a handy pocket in the back to tuck away any receipts, business cards, or other papers you pick up while you're out and about so they don't get misplaced. Each weekly page also includes a spot to plan "me time" as well as a quote. I especially like the one for last week:
Bad habits are like a comfortable bed – easy to get into but hard to get out of. ~ Anonymous
I still have some others to check out, but there's a very good chance this will be my planner of choice for 2011!
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