Get Organized: G Is For...

This post is part of the "Organizers A to Z" series. Cool organizers you could live without, but why would you want to?!

G is for GearGripper by X-treme Geek.

iPod - check. Cell - check. Camera - check.

And those are only 3 fish in the great, big sea of technology. Chances are, you have a few more to add to that list!

One thing's for certain: the more gizmos you collect, the greater your need for a place to store them all. In which case, the GearGripper may be just what you need...

I like to think of it as a slinky - it bends to the surface you want to place it upon and the stuff you want it to hold. And just as the slinky jingle says - it's fun for a girl and a boy!

How much? $7.95

Where? Buy online at X-tremegeek

(Note: This item is pretty popular and is currently sold-out. It'll be back in-stock on or around 25 Mar 09. Backorders are possible, if you so desire.)

Why? It's bendy, it's trendy, and it keeps your gadgets in order!

How do you store your technology?

Get Organized: Clutter That's Outta This World!

What do you first think of when you hear the word clutter? As with most people, my thoughts include overstuffed closets, overflowing file cabinets, overbooked schedules.

But what about space clutter?

On February 12th, a US commercial satellite collided with a now defunct Russian military satellite over Northern Siberia. And the incident has started a buzz about the amount of stuff in outerspace.

NASA's Orbital Debris Program, which is dedicated to tracking objects in the Earth's orbit, states in their website FAQs that:

"Approximately 17,000 objects larger than 10 cm are known to exist. The estimated population of particles between 1 and 10 cm in diameter is greater than 200,000. The number of particles smaller than 1 cm probably exceeds tens of millions." (See picture.)

As for the source of the debris? The FAQs go on to explain that "satellite explosions...constitute the largest component of cataloged orbital debris."

Wow. And we thought clutter was just for earthlings...

See also: Large Image, NASA's Orbital Debris Program FAQs


Note: Information and graphics courtesy of NASA's Orbital Debris Program Office.

Get Organized: F Is For...

This post is part of the "Organizers A to Z" series. Cool organizers you could live without, but why would you want to?!

F is for File Folders by Knock Knock.

Knock Knock!

Who's There?

Butter.

Butter Who?

Butter get organized! (That's right, ladies and gents, I'll be here all week...)

And what's "butter" to help you get organized than the ever-sarcastic file folders by Knock Knock?

The Useless Documents series (pictured) is my favorite. But the fun doesn't stop there! You'll find other labels like Blah Blah Blah, Total Crap, and I'll Never. Rest assured that each will make anybody in your office chuckle, including your boss.

How much? $9.99

Where? Buy online at Organize

Why? It's traditional with a twist, it's organized, and it's your funny little sidekick!

If you could label a Knock Knock folder, what would it say?

Get Organized: Clutter & Marriage

Every marriage comes with his and her piles. Sometimes the piles are of equal size. Sometimes the piles are itty bitty. Sometimes the piles are epic. And sometimes the piles are higher on 1 side than the other.

In any case, clutter and marriage apparently don't go together like a horse and carriage.

According to a recent article called "Show Me The Love" in the February issue of Family Circle magazine, fighting over stuff is 1 of 4 major pitfalls that married couples should avoid in order to build a stronger bond.

The article states: "More often than not, picking on our partner's possessions is code for, 'I don't like this about you, so change already!' But it's unfair to demand that...there will be some things you love [about your spouse] and some you don't. That's part of being married."

So is there a solution?

Find a middle ground. Determine what belongings are really important to the other person and then just accept them. Those things are part of a packaged deal -- they're staying with your better half, like it or not!

As for the stuff that's not really of value to either party, the article recommends, "...brainstorm solutions together. For instance, you could hold a garage sale and include some of your [_____] and his extra [_____] to start a fund for the [_____] you've both been wanting." You fill in the blanks.

Do you have any other ideas for finding a middle ground in a relationship when it comes to clutter?

Note: Image and article information courtesy of Family Circle magazine.

Get Organized: E Is For...

This post is part of the "Organizers A to Z" series. Cool organizers you could live without, but why would you want to?!

E is for Envirosax Reusable Shopping Bags.

Envirosax help you help mother earth, no doubt. But they also help you help yourself, which makes 'em even better.

Environsax are so compact that, when not in use, they can be folded to the size of a piece of sushi. That makes for a pretty portable helping hand!

Keep 1 in your purse, in case you need a central place to hold small purchases while shopping. Keep 1 with your carry-on luggage, in case you need extra room for last-minute souvenirs. Keep a set in your glove box, in case you have more stuff to get out of the car than you can hold onto. I could go on...

There are 4 available Envirosax series: graphic, organic, kids, and greengrocer. Most styles can be purchased individually or in sets of 5.

How much? $7.95 to 37.95

Where? Buy online at Envorosax

Why? It's reusable, it's compact, it's a portable personal assistant!

How would you (or do you) use Envirosax Re-usable Shopping Bags?

Get Organized: 30 Room Makeover Ideas

MSN is running a feature called "30 Makeover Ideas You Can Do Now" -- 30 tips from 30 designers on how you can freshen up different rooms in your home.

And guess what? Organizing made the list. Not just once, not just twice, but 3 times!

Idea #5: Organize your drawers.

Idea #17: Edit your closet.

Idea #26: De-clutter your bathroom.

My husband said I should expand the list and also include a 4th organizing mention...

Idea #3: Use painter drop cloths to conceal. (Very funny. Haha. Can you tell my hubby isn't the organizer in our house?)

View the complete MSN article: 30 Makeover Ideas You Can Do Now

Get Organized: D Is For...

This post is part of the "Organizers A to Z" series. Cool organizers you could live without, but why would you want to?!

D is for Desk Dots by Dynomighty Designs. (Dare you to say that 3 times, fast!)

Ever want an organizer with super powers?

Desk Dots are very strong ceramic magnets that hold together, even with lots of stuff between them.

And the Dots can withstand multiple configurations as well. You can lay 'em in a row...pile 'em on top of each other...stick 'em on your fridge or file cabinet. (Just don't let your boss catch you playing around!)

Desk Dots are for those ordinary, disorganized citizens who need an organizing hero to save their desk...er, their day.

How much? $15.00

Where? Buy online or at a Dynomighty Store near you

Why? It's as sticky as Spidey's web, it's as strong as He-man, and it keeps your papers sorted!

Do you know of any other super powerful organizers?

Get Organized: C Is For...

This post is part of the "Organizers A to Z" series. Cool organizers you could live without, but why would you want to?!

C is for the Calendar Tin.

Calendars normally contain your reminders, appointments, and important dates. But this calendar doesn't hold words - it holds office supplies!

The Calendar Tin stands 3 "stories" high. (Not literally, silly! That would be pretty big.) Each story is a compartment...one for tacks, one for paper clips, and one for rubber bands. And all of these supplies are included with the tin, which makes it even a better bargain.

As far as how the calendar works, each of the 3 sections swivels to set the day, date, and month.

Choose from 4 colors: blue, cream, green, and red.

How much? $9.50

Where? Buy online at The Daily Planner (look under "Desktop Tools")

Why? It multi-tasks, it stores stuff, and it keeps you on schedule!

Do you know of any other cool organizing tins?

Get Organized: Scotch Pop-up Tape Coupons

Normally, you need to have 1 hand on the tape dispenser and 1 hand on the tape itself in order to tear some tape off. (This, of course, is extremely high on the irritate-me meter when it comes to wrapping presents!!!)

But with 4 varieties of Scotch Pop-up Tape Dispensers -- desktop, handband, portable, and mountable -- you no longer need 2 hands to get the job done. With each dispenser, the tape is already pre-cut for your taping pleasure.

Call it lazy. Call it genius. Call it what you will...

But if you like it, here's a $2 off coupon for the desktop dispenser or a $.75 off coupon for any of the 4 varieties. Offers end 3/31 and 6/30 respectively.

Get Organized: B Is For...

This post is part of the "Organizers A to Z" series. Cool organizers you could live without, but why would you want to?!

B is for Bento Boxes by Plastica.

In Japan, bento boxes have long been used as lunch boxes. The structure of each bento helps to pack a meal based upon the Japanese food pyramid, which includes grains, meats, and veggies. (What?! No junk food!)

But bentos don't just emphasize a balanced diet and portion control, they also keep lunches mighty organized! And so, it's lucky for us that the bento custom has gone international.

The Bento Box by Plastica has stackable compartments to separate different foods. And it also allows you to personalize; choose from 3 sizes and several colors. Overall, it brings a very modern feel to a very ancient concept!

How much? $24 - 38

Where? Buy online or at the Plastica Shop in LA

Why? It's healthy, it's "green", and it keeps your lunch in order!

Do you think a bento box could be used for storing other stuff besides food?

More info: Newsweek article, bento on Wikipedia, bento FAQs

Get Organized: A Is For...

This post is part of the "Organizers A to Z" series. Cool organizers you could live without, but why would you want to?!

A is for Anya Hindmarch To Do Totes.

They haven't even hit the stores yet, and the word is already on the street.

Anya Hindmarch, who started last year's I'm Not A Plastic Bag tote fad, has now moved on to bigger and better things -- to do list totes!

There are 6 canvas shopping totes in all, each with a design inspired by the markets of Provence: shopping, laundry (pictured), dry cleaning, poultry, fruit and veggies, and dairy. Très bien!

How much? $98
Where? Buy online or in Anya Hindmarch stores worldwide
Why? It's eco-friendly, it's euro-inspired, and it keeps your shopping organized!

Note: These totes are part of the Anya Hindmarch Spring 2009 Collection. They are not out yet but will be shortly...