Here we go again!

I’m excited to start the new year in the office. 

Last week, I cleaned out, cleaned up by purging all of the extra paper hanging around my desk and bookshelves. I also caught up on my “to do” list in preparation for some upcoming meetings. 

The last thing I did before leaving for the last day of the year was to clean out my personal drawer - you know, the one which houses my pack of gum, hand lotions, extra plastic forks and knives. It felt so good to make everything fresh and clean. 

I realize that it probably won’t take long for a few extra pieces of paper to creep back onto the desk, and I really didn’t get to absolutely everything (like the old WWD editions to be put away), but at least it feels good and looks WAY more professional for now.

What did you do to get ready for the new year in your same office space?

snack happy

So - sometimes I want something sweet in the afternoons (like dessert after lunches).  When I do - I either grab an apple or pear (watch out for the juice!) . . . 

OR . . . . 

gum. I chew the green flavor, but I don’t just chew one piece - no. if I enjoy one piece of gum - I will have just had four within the hour.

(Still beats candy or cookies for the good ol’ afternoon pick me up!) 

And yes, that is an extra Luna Bar, but that is for the emergency I-didn’t-bring-my-lunch-and-now-it’s-too-late-to-go-pick-some-up moment.

What’s in your snack drawer?

green AND cute

I drink water throughout my work day. I WANT to be green. I’ve tried a MILLION different reusable water bottles. They never really seemed appropriate for work due to their large sizes or their wide mouths (or if they would sweat on the conference room tables - ugh!). The colors of the bottles (my fault, since I purchased them) would always attract too much attention to them. They just didn’t fit in to regular, normal office protocol. 

Until I found this super cute CUP (which includes a handy straw!!).

I bought two - one for home and one for the office. It’s a good size, about the same as my Starbucks drink cup. It’s not super huge or really small. It’s just right. And simple. Perfect for the office. Doesn’t sweat. BPA free, too.

You can get it at:

BeGoodToPeople.com

$11

money? who needs money?

Speaking of numbers - MUST DO EXPENSE REPORTS.

For a while there, I was really on top of these!! I mean same day turn in whenever I made a purchase. So good!

What happened?

How is it that I’ve let myself get behind again.

Oh yeah - it was thanks to all of those other important things that I do for a living that when push came to shove, I shoved the expense reports to the bottom of the priority list. 

And NOW - of course - all my little purchases here and there (all necessary of course) have completely caught up with me and I have a MONSTER expense report to get in, by tomorrow. 

Oh yeah. Good times.

for the love

It’s kinda sick, but I LOVE to file. It’s not actually the act of the filing that I enjoy. Determining what files should be most logically called and then creating a file folder (and what color code does that file fit into?!?) - ugh. So many decisions. What I like the most is once it’s over and things are all properly put away and I can actually find what I’m looking for. 

All of the important papers not are a part of peace - instead of chaos.

where have i been?

I seriously didn’t know that silver binder clips existed until I was handed a presentation with one the other day. Af first, I just found it slightly unusual, but now I’m LOVING the silver binder clip (and am very curious about the gold). The one that I received added just a little more polish than the usual black. I did a little digging and in case you’re also curious here’s the info: 

- they come in packs of 30, assorted sizes (mini, small and medium)

- made of durable steel metal with a smooth, polished finish

- $4.99 each at OfficeMax

- $2.19 each at Office Depot

Staples also has silver binder clips - pack of 40 with small & medium sizes, but they don’t look as shiny silver (could just be the photography). Their price for a pack of 40 is $3.99. 

After researching further online - who knew that you can express yourself in a plethora of design and color options for binder clips? They are actually available in just about any style you could want. It’s really amazing. I found a JUMBO size (for all of you matchy-match folk - like me) on Amazon, but it currently says “unavailable.” I HOPE that this means that they’re just temporarily out of stock (otherwise I would seriously need to reconsider).

Anyway - go find the perfect binder clip that speaks to you. You might make someone else realize what amazing office style you have! 

straight up

I like to store new file folders standing up. This makes staying on top of organization a little easier because of quick access to the type of folder and color I want to use.

Another bonus is that it's easy to see how many of each color are left, so I have a better idea of when it's time to restock.

Besides that - it just looks better than holding onto the bulky boxes that file folders come in.

I realize that this sounds a little compulsive, but yep - it's this way in my home office as well.

Don't judge.

soften up

I know, I know - the lipsticks are making a comeback in beauty trends, but still - I’m LOVING these two colors of lip gloss by Bobbi Brown. They have the perfect amount of shiny (not too sticky) and a nice pop of soft color - so my lips won’t disappear. These lip glosses make a perfect balance to eyes with eyeliner, which make for a less severe, tired appearance on a Monday morning in the office (WHY do I have tired face on Mondays?). Also, lips feel soft and moisturized thanks to the Jojoba, Avocado, Chamomile Oils and Aloe Extract which gives a seriously luxe feel. Less expensive lip glosses have less “staying power” and leave lips feeling dry and sad (causing several moments of buyers remorse). I’ve become addicted to the soothing power this gloss, and love how long this little tube of gloss lasts (regardless of how often I apply throughout each day) and quite honestly, I feel instantly pretty with every application. But, be prepared - it’s an investment (like good shoes!).

Here are the details:
Top: Bobbi Brown  Lip Gloss, Rosy 22
Bottom: Bobbi Brown Lip Gloss, Tangerine 15

Available at fine department stores such:
Nordstrom
Saks Fifth Avenue
Neiman Marcus

OR shop directly at BobbiBrownCosmetics.com
$20 each

super awesome thingee

Whether you need to reference a new page in your always-with-you notebook, big project binder, stack of research materials or within your files, Avery NoteTabs are a great office tool. Think of a big, transparent square that has light adhesive (like a Post-It), but with a sturdy tab that is designed to stick out for quick, easy reference.

The super awesome factor is that you can move it (reuse the same NoteTab)! So, where I normally use a paperclip (go figure!) to mark the next clean page in my notebook (cheap but lumpy), or a Post-It note to mark certain pages within files - the NoteTab is an even better solution. I can write myself a note on the tab (probably how they named it, duh me) or highlight words shown within the see-through surface area stuck on the page. As my position needs to move, I can easily lift it up and move it without losing any ink from where it was.

It’s a really nifty tool. With the sturdiness of the material, and the fact that they are reusable means that you’ll be saving several (LOTS) of Post-It Notes from your garbage!

Avery NoteTabs, available in many colors, $8.39 for a 20 pack, Office Depot

pretty darn happy!

So, I have to say that I love The Container Store. This store always carries items that are intended to help keep things organized. It’s that “a place for everything and everything in its place” mentality that I love, but even better than that - it has cute "places" to keep things tidy. How encouraging!

So, I signed up to receive The Container Store emails and happy happy, joy joy - I received my first “Welcome” email with a 20% off savings! What a way to excite me to go shopping there as soon as possible!

home away from home

If you work all day, every day in the same office - the things you choose to have around you are very important. For instance, there might be a picture of your family that acts as a reminder of who you are supporting with your career. You might also have a certain piece of art that makes you smile because it was something your child made just for you to take to work. Maybe there is a memento from your last amazing vacation. Whatever the object(s), the idea is to ensure that you feel comfortable and productive. Also, you can learn more about the people you work with by noticing their unique workspace items. Everyone has different comfort objects.

Crafting the most inspiring and productive work environment is an evolution. Things that were once near and dear to me (little pebbles that I picked up while visiting an island far away) have found a new home, which is not in my office. But lately, I’ve been intrigued by finding inexpensive fine china pieces to house daily objects. Also, people who walk into my workspace think that I cross stitch. I do not have that skill, but I enjoy being around art that has a strong, cozy pop of color for an otherwise very corporate environment.

Just take note of your surroundings. If the most personal touch your workspace has is a post-it note pad, you might consider what can be added to your work “home” to make it an inviting, inspiring and productive environment. And no, a cup of Starbucks does not count.

Weapon of choice

How do you manage all of the many MANY "to do" lists in your life?

My answer is now very simple - it's the Todo iPhone app. This app allows for multiple running lists. Mine include "work" (of course!), "home," "B&B" (my kids list) and also "paperclip" (for this blog). With this app you can:
- View your entries as one giant list, or by list type
- Add an item on a list you and assign it to whichever list it should belong in
- Note which items are special by adding a star to them
- Set up repeating items (such as a reoccurring deadline)

This app has more capabilities than I've even discovered, but what I have discovered is a very easy method for keeping all of my tasks organized. It's extremely simple to learn and use. There is a free version of this app to try, before you fall in love with this app (full version is $9.99). Enjoy!