my organizing idol

i first discovered Benita of (Chez Larsson) when i started blogging for Apartment Therapy last year. Benita makes organizing an art form--her photos are beautiful and her ideas are always amazing (and doable). 

Organizing Your Wallet: Part I

It's wallet week here at Bneato. Every day, I'll be profiling a friend and their organized wallet. The majority of my lady friends own the Bettina Framed Latico Wallet (myself included). But I'm also including a couple other organized wallets for variety and inspiration. And stay tuned for Sunday's post where I'll post a video of how I organize my wallet!

Heather's motto--less is more. She carries only the necessities and groups her cards in a zipper pocket for easy access. Her hobbies are shopping, shopping and shopping. Ultra sound technician by day and lead singer of a girl band by night--so you see, it's extremely important that her wallet stay organized.

How long have you had your wallet?
4 years

What do you like best about it?
It's sturdy and compact

How do you keep your wallet organized?
I only keep the essentials in there.  You don't need every credit card, social security card, etc, with you every second.  I have my AAA card, license, health insurance card and one debit/credit card.  Depending on events, you can add things or remove them from your wallet.  It also helps to go through my wallet every day and take out receipts.  They immediately go into a file at home.

Additional tips?

Take advantage of the key chain cards that grocery stores, etc. give you.  That way, your wallet has more breathing room for the important stuff.

Unpacking Groceries

The beau and I went to Vons this past Friday. Because we live separately, it's rare that we do our food shopping together. However, he needed to stock his fridge and I had to buy food for a 4th of July party. What's interesting is when Adam started to unpack the groceries, he stopped me in my tracks to show me how he unloads and puts everything away. It's important to note that Adam would classify his organization level somewhere between disorganized and messy. But apparently, he is quite efficient at putting away the groceries. He went on to show me how he unloads all the food onto the countertop into groups. One pile is frozen goods, another pile is allocated for the fridge and the rest is divided into pantry items. Once he's got all the items classified, he starts putting the food away in its proper home. Seeing that Adam's tendencies swing towards disorderly, you can imagine my surprise at his organized (and charming) method of unpacking the groceries.

(Image: The Daily Green)

My To-Do List

I find to-do lists fascinating. It's a small glimpse into someone's life (so to me, they're kinda neat). Some have doodling, some are written on napkins and others (like mine) get updated on a daily basis. I have my main to-do list in my notebook that I always carry. But, if I'm found without my notebook (eegats!) I put notes in my cell phone or type on my computer and then email them to myself. That way, the important piece of information is bound to find it's way on my master list.

My Unconventional Shoe Storage

Yes, I am a professional organizer and this is the way I store my shoes. But honestly, it's super efficient and accessible (and they're out of sight) which means no clutter! You may be asking yourself, how do they not get scuffed? Where are the rest of your shoes? Doesn't that bother you that they're jumbled up in a box?! Ever since I was in High School, I noticed that I could never keep my shoes pristine. I don't know if it's the way I walk or what but my shoes always seemed to get more wear and tear than other folk's shoes (so the extra teeny bit that my shoes might be suffering, I'm ok with). Plus, I only wear about 4-5 pairs of shoes on heavy rotation, so the box is perfect to store my footwear. The remainder of my shoe collection is in my teeny closet (and by teeny, I mean miniature). While my method is unconventional, it works perfectly for me (organizing is not one size fits all:)

I Would Love To...

... Organize the heck out of this room. This space belongs to my boyfriend--he likes to call it his smoking lounge (even though no one smokes in there). He's a screenwriter and therefore has tons of books and DVDs (and has recently started collecting Blu Ray DVDs...) I honestly don't have an issue with the mass amounts of DVDs and books (just the overwhelming display of them in this teeny room). He actually doesn't have enough room to store all of the DVDs (the rest are stacked in piles on the floor). I'm fine with the books staying put but I would love for him to purchase a vintage dresser or hutch and store all the DVDs inside. Or put the disks in CD binders with a corresponding notebook that lists his collection. I imagine that it would be so much nicer (and easier) to flip through a list and pick out a movie to watch (one day).

Like With Like

Like with like. Huh? Exactly. When professional organizers say, "let's organize your belongings using the rule, like with like," what he/she means is organizing items by color, shape, size or function. As you can see, I organized the drum kit in my SCION by size, function (and coincidentally, color). On one side of the car, all of the circular drums of similar size are stacked on top of one another. On the opposite side, cymbal stands and drum accessories are grouped together (silver on one side, black on the other). When organizing a drawer or space, decide how you're going to group your items. It will be much easier for you to keep that spot organized if you follow the rule, like with like.

Go Vertical

Sometimes a workspace is without drawers. Meaning, your items don't have a home, so they stay out (and keep the space looking cluttered). What's a gal to do? Go vertical!

Working with a client today, we used rods and containers from IKEA to display her work tools. Because the door is non-functioning, we put it to work. We used the back of the door instead of wall space because all of the walls are concrete (boo!).

You can also use hanging shoe organizers and over the door hooks to go vertical. Or, if your walls are agreeable and things are easy to hang--use shelving to go vertical.

Saving Time by Organizing

If there's one thing I hate--it has to be wasting time. I hate spending time picking out an outfit. If it was socially acceptable, I'd wear my favorite outfit everyday (which happens to be jeans and a t-shirt). Same goes with applying make-up. Fortunately, it takes me way less time than it used to. Accutane has cleared up my face (so less time covering up). But recently, I switched powders. I went from using one, simple compact powder to now having to open and apply three different powders to get an even complexion. Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining about the results--just the packaging. You see, Bare Minerals doesn't label any of their containers (except for the Mineral Veil). While it is labeled, it may just be the smallest writing I've ever seen. So for the last month, my morning routine goes as follows; pick up first container and turn over to see if it's the first step--it's usually not. Pick up the second container and flip over to see if it's the first step--nope, wrong again. I'm not sure why it took me so long to finally label each container but I can tell you, applying powder in the morning (post labeling) has been so much easier (and less frustrating).


New and improved labels. I never use the 4th container so I left it blank. When I now go to reach for the appropriate container for each step--I always grab the right one because of a simple and easy to read label.



I also timed myself applying powder the old way (without labels) and the new way (with labels). I am now saving around 11 seconds with my new labels. That adds up to a little over an hour over the course of a year (and I can always use an extra hour)!

Organizing Receipts

Having a simple way to handle receipts will save you tons of time
1. Just say no. Grocery store receipts are rarely needed so just say no at the check out line and decline the receipt.
2. If you use your credit/debit card at Target, they're able to pull up your receipt (so again--you can feel confident declining the receipt at the register).
3. Have a place for your receipts to go in your purse or wallet. Go through them when you get home and transfer them to an active storage spot.
4. Your active storage spot might be a small drawer or an accordion file folder. Each week (or as often as needed) go through your active file spot and recycle or shred receipts that you no longer need.
5. If you're going to hang onto your receipts long-term, think about scanning them in. Most receipts are printed on thermal paper (which fades over time). Plus, the IRS prefers scanned in paperwork (which means less clutter)!
6. Fijitsu SnapScan and Neat Receipts are great products to invest in for scanning paperwork.

How To: Organize A Purse

Not being able to find an item when we need it is a big cause of frustration. Not only can we not find the item, it usually happens when we’re already running behind or just about to leave the house. To prevent wasting time looking for items in our v. large purse, we’ve organized our purse to suit our needs. Because our big ‘ole red purse (thank you Jessica Simpson) has 5 smaller compartments and one big compartment--we’ve assigned each space a specific function. For items we use all the time, the outside compartments are homes for things like business cards, a cell phone and chewing gum. The inside pockets hold items like pens and our sunglasses with the biggest compartment holding our wallet, notebook and bigger ticket items. Now, when we go to use our cell phone or put on lip gloss, we know just the pocket to look in. When we’re done, back it goes. How do you organize your purse? Is it a big one like ours or do have an extremely organized smaller purse?

Organizing Studio Space

A majority of clients that turn to Bneato for help are business owners whose businesses have become swamped overnight (and need help with creating new systems to keep their workflow organized). A new client of ours that fits this bill is Suzy Yun, creator of fashion forward clothing line, Unhee. Suzy, like many of Bneato’s clients, has an organized mindset but became overwhelmed when the clothes she was making starting flying off the rack. It’s no wonder with clients like Selma Blair and Tyra Banks wearing your line, fashionable women take notice (and want to buy an outfit or two). Enter Bneato--we’re working with Suzy’s current work style and taking it to the next level (without making it hard to follow). We love creating systems that are accessible to each client’s lifestyle (so the systems can grow with them as their business keeps thriving). Check back next month to see our process in action (plus the “after” pictures).

Jenn's Organized Closet

Hello Beth-

I did my closet this weekend and it was GREAT!
Your suggestions were wonderful and made it easy to accomplish. I used the bed as you noted, it is a great space to be able to rummage through the piles easily without getting up and down off the floor. I also used bins like you suggested... I now have enough room to fit my HUGE yoga ball and ALL my exercise stuff and clothes ALL in the closet. WOW! I spent under $30.00 for the neat stripped bins, hanger and curtains (garage sale find) and a new upright clothes hamper. I utilized the shoe rack and shelves that I already had but arranged them in a better way to fit within the closet nicely. The best thing was that I found clothes that I love and have not worn in a long time because they were too hidden and now they are out and easily accessible to wear. I also found clothes that I tried on and NOW they fit.... Thanks to All About You Exercise Boot Camp! In total, I got rid of 4 bags of clothes and shoes etc. from my closet. 
It is such a difference without the cluttered look and it is calming and peaceful in my bedroom now! 

P.S.; I wanted to say that I also went to the web for images of organized closets for inspiration--it made it so much fun to get started!

Thank you Beth so much!

Bneato Organizing Boot Camp

Helping folks shred paper!

Bneato labels

A Boot Camp-er creates temporary files

Filing Basics

Each Boot Camp-er has their own station equipped with files, a file sorter, letter opener, post-its and a Sharpie. We also have a shredder, label makers and tons of office supplies!!

Block 'n Roll

working from home is pretty darn awesome. you get to plan your own schedule... oh wait-- i have to plan my own schedule? it’s a sneaky catch-22-- without a blueprint for your work week, you may end up working harder than you need to, leaving little personal time (or as i call it-- “me time”).

i’ve been working out of my home for a stretch and i find it to be quite nice. the freedom to do as i please is satisfying but I sometimes miss having a schedule set in stone. being on time or on schedule is something that comes naturally to me. in the beginning of my professional organizing career, balancing work and “me time” was easier. sure, i was learning the ropes but i had the time to. fast forward to now and i’m lucky to watch one dvd a month. when i realized i wasn’t using my netflix subscription to it’s fullest i knew something had to be done.
i can help other people plan for just about anything, but i also know that a healthy lifestyle effectively balances both work and play. for that, i needed a little assistance. i called my amazing friend and colleague Dyana Valentine to the rescue. after a few questions regarding goals, we dove right in.
the picture above is what i scribbled down as we were brainstorming. the strategies and tips really helped free up some time as well as allow me to focus on what really needs to get done week-to-week. i wanted to share some of those with you... so keep reading and plan to get it done!
1. start with the beginning of your work week
2. look at your planner. what are you already getting done during the week that
works well for you (keep it that way)
3. look again at your planner. what is left on your to-do list that re-appears every
week. try and schedule the things that are important next to those tasks you
are getting done. also ask yourself “if the tasks aren’t being done-- are they
really that important?”
4. now start with each day and block off time for: 1. clients and/or work
2. answering email
3. client cultivation/ideas
4. bookkeeping/bill paying
5. laundry/grocery/errands
6. 1 to 1 client time
7. “me” time
there are many categories that could pertain to you-- make a list before you start and try to place them where they flow for you. if you’re a morning person, schedule clients or return phone calls then. errands should be grouped together so you’re not running out to the store more than once a week. and always be flexible. when a client is in a bind and you must move the session, just go with the flow. you’ll recoup the time by filling it with another task. planning out a schedule will also help you say “no” when that friend of yours calls to have long lunches. you’ve always had trouble saying no-- but now you have to because you have “xyz” already blocked off. if it seems a bit overwhelming at first-- start small. add one new block of time each week for a task. before long you’ll have oodles of time for all those items on your to-do list that never get crossed off. or, if you’re like me, you will finally be able to sit back and take advantage of your dusty netflix movie rentals.

Los Angeles Organizing Awards

yes. That’s right. The Los Angeles Chapter of the National Association of Professional Organizers (what a mouthful) has an awards show every January. and this one rocked. first of all, it was held at the Luxe Hotel in swank city, Beverly Hills. red carpet-- check. famous guest host, Sherri Shepard-- check. famous attendees (in no particular order): Peter Walsh, Julie Morgenstern, Linda Coopersmith plus many more-- check!

i haven’t been to many awards shows-- o.k. so I haven’t been to any but this reminded me of the Golden Globes. decked out tables with more silverware than I can count and our own “miss organizer” to pass out the awards (see above picture)-- my friend and fellow organizer Abbey Claire Keusch. plus really awesome take-away bags stocked with freebies!

alright, alright--you’re probably asking yourself-- “big whoop? another awards show. what’s the big deal?”
to answer, i’m going to backtrack for a moment. when I first joined NAPO/LA in January of 2006, I went to my first meeting. during the meeting they had a slide-show of the organizing awards that had just taken place, and one picture in particular resonated with me: the table centerpieces consisted of fish bowls. odd at a glance. but upon closer inspection each bowl was labeled with one simple word: “fish”.

it’s one of my favorite memories of Napo/LA. by doing this they communicated that they have a sense of humor about being “too” organized. there are still a lot of hurdles that organizers have to overcome when dealing with the public’s perception on what we actually do. we aren’t domestic dictators who come in and give final rulings on how to organize your life. we want to help you live your best life with your goals in mind. The Organizing Awards are a great way to publicize the life changing effect that we have on our clients. besides-- what better way to recognize your peers? bravo!

The Timer of My Life

“the first step is the hardest.”

i don’t know who said it first but it rings true for most people. i know this to be a fact from personal experience. as i struggle out of bed at an unmentionable hour in the morning--i head over to the reservoir to start my daily run. the first mile is definitely the most difficult. it’s the first ten minutes when i question my sanity and my legs are telling me to run right back to the car. it’s not until i make that 4th turn when my body starts to fall back into step and the run actually starts to become natural. as the minutes add up and the miles are clocked, the accomplishment becomes the greatest reward and sometimes it’s actually hard to stop the run--okay, okay--that only happened once-- but mile 18 is oh so much sweeter than mile 1 by a long shot.

the same goes with any task. the first step is the hardest. that’s where the timer of my life comes into play. i have found that if i’m working on a big project, or even something that i’m kind of dreading/procrastinating on--i just set my timer to 30 minutes. whether it be brainstorming about the project or writing down ideas or researching articles on the web--once the timer buzzes, i really have quite a bit done. after that 30 minutes, i usually wind the timer right back and keep on truckin’. the thing to note is that once the timer has started his/her countdown, you should just focus on your one task. major no-no’s are
1. phone calls, dialing and receiving
2. eating
3. breaking for a walk
4. checking email

you can find your timer of your life at the grocery store, target or any drugstore. take the 30 minute challenge and let us know what you’ve accomplished.

Speaking of Engagements...

i have a couple of public speaking events on the horizon (“events on the horizon”--does that sound like a steven spielberg film to anyone?)

on october 2nd, 2007, i’ll be teaching a class on time management at the edendale branch library at 6:30. this will be part 2 of my organizing symposium.

on october 8th i’ll be speaking to the mom’s club of silverlake. we’ll be discussing the ins and outs of organizing and some tips for busy moms. check back for time!

i’m hoping to schedule another class on filing for the residents of glendale--so if you missed the first one--no worries! i’ll keep you posted.

stay neato.
beth

Stacked and Stoked

most of my friends know, i don’t posses many belongings. i keep what’s necessary and employ functional items that work for me. i call it “smart living.” it could stem from the simple fact that i have moved across the country more than once, allowing only the items lucky enough to survive the “car cut.” but honestly, i just live better in my surroundings when i know that my belongings have a purpose and meaning.
that being said, i have always wanted a matryoshka doll. also known as a russian nesting doll or stacking doll or even a babushka doll. it stems from one roommate in particular. i’ll call her jessica. she owned lots of things--most of which ended up on the kitchen table. but most importantly, jessica owned one of these matryoshka dolls--which i blatantly coveted on a weekly basis. i had high hopes that my roommate would one day no longer see the need for her nesting doll and relinquish it upon me. that never happened. i guess i could have sought one out--but again, an individual like me didn’t want to bring another matryoshka doll into the house, when there was a perfectly good version available to look at. lucky for me i was at an antique fair yesterday and happened to come across this particular matryoshka doll in the above picture. now that i am sans the roommate that owned doll--i knew that i had to make the purchase.
what i have failed to mention is the reason why i think the doll is so cool--the dolls come in a set of decreasing sizes and are placed inside one another. “they can be seen metaphorically, as a design paradigm, known as the "matryoshka principle" or "nested doll principle". it denotes a recognizable relationship of "similar object-within-similar object" that appears in the design of many other natural and man made objects.” ah hah! the doll totally relates to organizing. not knowing why i gravitated towards the doll before--now it all made sense. i love the fact that the dolls all fit perfectly inside one another. each doll has a home--a place to live--which is one of the first rules of organizing. neato!!

Filing class @ The Edendale Library

So being from a small town in South Carolina, I was always “in the know” about the community. I now live in Echo Park, which has that same small town feel to it--which i love. When i started my organizing business, Bneato, I knew that I wanted to reach out and be involved in the community.
What better way to dive right in than to teach a class on filing at the local library.
eegats!
I had never taught a class before, unless you count that one time in public speaking in high school when I taught all my fellow ninth graders how to make doughnuts using bubbling oil and canned biscuits. Needless to say, I grew popular over night.

On the eve of my filing class, with 5 best friends in tow, I arrived at the Edendale Library on Sunset. The first order of business was to thank the gentleman who I stayed in constant contact with and who allowed me the opportunity to teach the class. His name is Neils Bartel. Sweetheart--but I did almost faint when, over the loudspeaker, about 5 minutes before class started he announced, “Beth Zeigler, a professional organizer, will be teaching a FREE class in the activities room on filing.” OMG!

Once the class actually got underway, I was cool as a cucumber. About twenty people were in attendance--complete strangers that were actually interested in learning about filing systems! Everyone learned a bit about my road to becoming a professional organizer and why people need professional organizers in their lives.
The class went by so fast! It was interactive and man was I witty--or at least I felt like I was.
Honestly, I had such a great time teaching the class, I called Mr. Neils Bartel and asked if he would allow me to teach another class--and he said yes.

So the next installment of neato’s teaching series will be on tuesday, October 2nd @ 6:30 p.m. I’m pretty sure it will be a class on time management--but i’m open for suggestions/ideas.