Mrs. Organized Blog http://site.bestorganize.com/blog Clean. Neat. Easy. Thu, 20 Dec 2007 23:23:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.2 en Dashing to the stores… http://site.bestorganize.com/blog/2007/12/20/dashing-to-the-stores/ http://site.bestorganize.com/blog/2007/12/20/dashing-to-the-stores/#comments Thu, 20 Dec 2007 23:23:05 +0000 Administrator Uncategorized http://site.bestorganize.com/blog/2007/12/20/dashing-to-the-stores/ Greetings Everyone!

No matter how organized you are, there always seems to be a few last minute gifts you need to pick up. I’m no expception. Giving presents is one of my favorite things to do and I typically leave out no one. In today’s check list, I remembered the nail shop, while Terry added his hair shop, along with a baby gift he owed. Don’t forget Hostess Gifts for your Christmas Eve and Christmas Day hostess. If you saw The Today Show this morning, Meredith Vieira had some great ideas that included Mrs. Meyers Lotions and Cleaners. These are great last minute gifts, easy to wrap or bag and are wonderful in a gift basket! The Gingerbread is yummy and all the candles smell just as good. The best part? These products are earth friendly, so you are also giving a ‘green gift’ at the same time.

If you are in need of a great last minute gift that needs to be personal - gift baskets are the answer. My advice is to choose a theme, the colors and run with it. I’ve recycled several theme ideas and with a sprinkle of different product, they are unique. Some of my favorites are “The Perfect Bath” (a bath caddy is a great start), “The Party’s In Here”, (champagne and blowers included), “Coffee & Me” (Starbucks & more), “Girlfriends” (see The Laundress!) and tons of Holiday ideas that are just as fun to make as they are to give. Just remember, there’s no right or wrong and pretty ribbons are definetely the finishing touch. My latest? A stack of filled red holiday snowflake boxes tied and accented with pink,white, red ribbons along with a tube of the cutest All Decked Out lip glosses (Two’s Company) hanging from the top bow. I must say, it looked very cute.

I’m off for what I hope to be my final dash tonight. I am so ready to start enjoying the most wonderful time of the year!

 

 

]]> http://site.bestorganize.com/blog/2007/12/20/dashing-to-the-stores/feed/ ‘Tis the Season For Entertaining http://site.bestorganize.com/blog/2007/12/06/tis-the-season-for-entertaining/ http://site.bestorganize.com/blog/2007/12/06/tis-the-season-for-entertaining/#comments Thu, 06 Dec 2007 00:22:30 +0000 Administrator Entertaining http://site.bestorganize.com/blog/2007/12/06/tis-the-season-for-entertaining/ Holiday parties are upon us - our house included! You know how much I love to entertain and this season our home will be filled with friends and family once again. We will kick off the Holidays with a party for 80 this week. This may sound crazy, but I just can’t wait! Every room is in order (or will be by tonight), is as decorated as it can be for now, the caterer’s and servers are lined up and most of the shopping is done. I’m down to my favorite part…the details. These are really the most fun for me and I think I’ve bought whatever I could find in red, pink and silver combo. Nate Berkhus and I have one huge thing in common. We shop anywhere and I did! It’s just about time to add the flowers, light the candles, bring in the music, add the Holiday spirit and we’re ready.

If you are entertaining, the most important thing to keep your sanity is to also keep daily lists going. This will help you stay organized and on track to enjoy the day of your event. List books are great and Holiday Organizers - even better. Remember to have fun yourself and to make it great for your date, spouse or partner. Have that cute little cocktail dress ready, with shoes and bag at it’s side. It’s definetely the time of the year for something fun to put in your hair.

Holiday Entertaining Tips:

Be sure that you check your list twice for party tubs, where you will hang those extra coats and wraps (garment racks do the trick!), are there guest towels or napkins in the bathrooms and do you have enough glasses? I chose acrylic martini glasses for our Signature Lemon Drops we’ll serve at this year’s party. Everyone loved them at the last soiree.

Happy Entertaining!

Mrs. O

]]> http://site.bestorganize.com/blog/2007/12/06/tis-the-season-for-entertaining/feed/ Happy Fall! http://site.bestorganize.com/blog/2007/11/05/happy-fall/ http://site.bestorganize.com/blog/2007/11/05/happy-fall/#comments Mon, 05 Nov 2007 01:13:42 +0000 Administrator Holidays http://site.bestorganize.com/blog/2007/11/05/happy-fall/ It finally feels like fall today in Southern California and I can’t wait to put on my favorite sweater! The chill in the air told me so this morning. I just love the change of the seasons and miss the beautiful colors of fall that I enjoyed while growing up in Upstate New York.

This year has been a blast! Terry and I celebrated our 1st Anniversary on Labor Day weekend and I have had my dream job in Marketing for almost as long. I really am a lucky gal and have a lot to be thankfull for. I’m counting my blessings twice this year.

Speaking of giving thanks, are you on the road to ready yet? Only 17 more days until Thanksgiving. Before we start talking turkey, let’s talk getting organized, the table and decorating.

The Steps To A GREAT Thanksgiving?

- Make your lists! You may want to take a look at our List Books and Holiday Planners to get you started on the right track.

- Take check of your Thanksgiving Tools. We’ve together an easy list of must haves.

- The Guest List. Whether you are having a sit down dinner for 12 or a buffet for 50, if you haven’t already, extend your invitations and take count of the number of guests that will be around your table.

- Plan your dinner menu. I typically have three lists. The first is my Costco list, that includes everything that I can buy there in advance. The second are items that I can purchase ahead of time at my local supermarket and the last includes all the fresh items that I need to buy just a day or so before the Holiday.

- Organize your shopping list. Keep this stored on your computer so that you can save and add to it. Print and hang on your refridgerator so that it’s available in the kitchen as you run out of or remember items, too. One of the best items I found so far, is the SmartShopper Electronic Organizer. It’s voice activated, prints your lists. It doesn’t get much easier than that. I found them at Frontgate.com and Sur la Table. Great gift idea too!

- Give thought to your linens, charger plates and serving pieces. Are the linens pressed, would you like a new fall color in tablecloths and napkins to adorn the dining room this year and are the guest bathrooms and bedrooms in order?

- Decorate! Candles will light up any room and make them feel warm and cozy. Check your inventory for tapers, votives and maybe add a new lantern or two to freshen your decor. There are some really fun ones on the market right now. Hang your wreaths, be sure you have the the right floral containers, and if you are thinking about making placecards or one of your favorite crafty items for Thanksgiving - head to the craft stores early to get your material and get started!

Oh and don’t forget…get a brand new bag for all those trips to the grocery store and help the enviroment at the same time!

Happy Organizing!

-Mrs. Organized

]]> http://site.bestorganize.com/blog/2007/11/05/happy-fall/feed/ Happy Halloween! http://site.bestorganize.com/blog/2007/10/31/happy-halloween/ http://site.bestorganize.com/blog/2007/10/31/happy-halloween/#comments Wed, 31 Oct 2007 04:43:34 +0000 Administrator Holidays Halloween http://site.bestorganize.com/blog/2007/10/31/happy-halloween/  

The little ghosts and goblins are ready to have fun and Halloween ranks high with Christmas and birthdays when it comes to kids getting excited. Sure, we have to watch the sugar intake, but as the saying goes “everything in moderation”. By now, the costumes are ready, you have the candy (or are picking it up on the way home), and the house is decorated. Let the ghoulish fun begin!

My kids are grown now, but I can remember each costume for just about every year. I guess I should since I sewed most of them! There were bunnies, pumpkins, clowns, and mummies. I think we wrapped ‘mummy’ for hours. We have so many more things to be cautious of today when it comes to safety, so be sure you have thought about the last minute check list:

 - Keep costumes away from fire and open flames

 - Watch those capes and dangling fabrics

 - Be sure to have plenty of flashlights (and batteries!)

 - Start out at dusk and stay in groups

 - Let your children know that they must obey “Halloween Buddy” rules (tell them the bats will get them if they don’t!)

 - Take “safe candy checks’ seriously. If in doubt toss it!

 According to Judith Lieberman of The Today Show, Halloween is the fifth highest day for candle fires, which closely follows Christmas. “Most fires happen between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. so it is crucial to turn off lights before bedtime and blow out candles”.

Make Halloween fun, and be sure to have the right items to store all your Halloween costumes for younger siblings, friends and relatives for “re-cycle” when it’s time to put them away. You can find storage boxes in plastic, corrugated or canvas at Organize.com in just about any size you might need. Don’t forget to label each container with the costume title, size and year so that you can easily find them when you want to!

Have a Happy & Fun Halloween!

- Mrs. Organized

]]> http://site.bestorganize.com/blog/2007/10/31/happy-halloween/feed/ Thanks and more! http://site.bestorganize.com/blog/2007/10/22/thanks-and-more/ http://site.bestorganize.com/blog/2007/10/22/thanks-and-more/#comments Mon, 22 Oct 2007 03:23:36 +0000 Administrator Seasons http://site.bestorganize.com/blog/2007/10/22/thanks-and-more/  

Thanks to everyone for your emails, phone calls and good wishes! I’m so glad that you came by to visit. Now that we are underway with our new site, you will be hearing from me all the time. I just can’t wait for you to see the new Mrs. Organized format and all that we have in store for you! There will be loads of new products at Organize.com coming your way and plenty of items that will “make it easy” for the holidays.

Many of you already know how I just LOVE the holidays - so the fun is just beginning! Fall is really in the air and Thanksgiving is just around the corner. We’ve added a list of fall faves to our site that includes the kitchen tools to help any cook get organized. We’ll also help you to organize every room in your house before the company arrives. I’m anxious for you to see how easy we’ve have made our storage category to shop and will look forward to your comments and suggestions. This year we’ve added holiday decor, hostess gifts and something special for everyone. We also expanded our china and stemware, food, and holiday storage categories. We hope to help make this year’s holidays the most enjoyable!

Happy Fall!

Mrs. Organized

Today’s thought:

Simplicity is making the journey of of this life with just baggage enough.

- Charles Dudley Warner

]]> http://site.bestorganize.com/blog/2007/10/22/thanks-and-more/feed/ Welcome to Mrs. Organized! http://site.bestorganize.com/blog/2007/10/11/welcome-to-mrs-organized/ http://site.bestorganize.com/blog/2007/10/11/welcome-to-mrs-organized/#comments Thu, 11 Oct 2007 01:42:26 +0000 Administrator Welcome http://site.bestorganize.com/blog/2007/10/11/welcome-to-mrs-organized/

Along with the excitement of the NEW Organize.com launch, we are also introducing our new Mrs. Organized blog. This will be an organized (of course!) meeting place for our guests to share and journal about the many facets of our lifestyles that include home, fashion, entertaining, travel, parenting, cooking, gardening, health and beauty, special occasions (wedding & baby), holidays, the latest hot topics (let’s go green!) and of course – tips and advice on organization. You will also find Special Guest appearances from experts in these categories that we promise to be fun and exciting!

Whether you are a corporate attorney or a new urban mom, there will be something for you. We hope you will stop by to read a little, write a little and laugh a lot. I am thrilled to extend a personal invitation to you to join us by contributing your thoughts, ideas and suggestions in our world of social networking. See the quote below, because it’s all about the spirit!

-Deborah

Today’s Thought:
If you want to accomplish the goals of your life - you have to begin with the spirit!
-Oprah Winfrey

]]> http://site.bestorganize.com/blog/2007/10/11/welcome-to-mrs-organized/feed/ The Dinner of a Lifetime… http://site.bestorganize.com/blog/2007/03/29/the-dinner-of-a-lifetime/ http://site.bestorganize.com/blog/2007/03/29/the-dinner-of-a-lifetime/#comments Thu, 29 Mar 2007 00:57:16 +0000 Administrator Entertaining http://site.bestorganize.com/blog/2007/10/11/the-dinner-of-a-lifetime/  

Four thousand roses…a fleet of limosines and seven lucky viewers! EVERY last detail was perfect (by Colin Cowie - of course!) for Sidney Poitier…Oprah’s personal hero. “The entire event was a labor of love, really, from my heart to the man who made me believe (this is my favorite part)…that I could dream a bigger dream”, says Oprah. Her goal for this evening - ‘a magical evening with Sidney and seven lucky readers of her book selection The Measure of a Man.

The details by…’Master party planner’ Colin Cowie, created the the mood and surroundings - in only the way he could, red velvet invitations hand-designed by none other than Ellen Welden, Celebrity Chef Wolfgang Puck prepared the perfect dinner at Sidney’s Hollywood favorite - Spago. There was magnifecent food, wonderful stories and heart-warming toasts. However, if you saw the show..there was more than a lavish dinner party. As the evening unfolded…I saw a man who was taught the values of pride and integrity - in many ways touched peoples lives.

Today’s Thought:

“The biggest adventure you can ever take is to live the life of your dreams.”

~Oprah Winfrey

]]> http://site.bestorganize.com/blog/2007/03/29/the-dinner-of-a-lifetime/feed/ The Little Black Dress http://site.bestorganize.com/blog/2007/03/27/the-little-black-dress/ http://site.bestorganize.com/blog/2007/03/27/the-little-black-dress/#comments Tue, 27 Mar 2007 01:01:14 +0000 Administrator Fashion http://site.bestorganize.com/blog/2007/03/27/the-little-black-dress/
Today Show Style Editor and author of The Buzz for in Touch Weekly, Bobby Thomas - did a fabulous piece on wearing the ‘noir shade’. Maybe you already knew that it was Coco Chanel who cast The Little Black Dress as a staple of any wardrobe, but news alert to me! I’ve had them in all different shapes, lengths (and sizes!)…but never did the research. The LBD probably hangs in the closets of most woman in the world in some way, shape or form and could take all of us just about anywhere!

 

Bobbie showed three different ways to wear the black dress. The Power Dress, when paired with a blazer for the office - can easily translate to the after work ensemble. These combined with classic pearl earrings and red lips will ‘demand respect while looking drop dead gorgeous’. As Bobbie pointed out, ‘Jackie O was the perfect example of a fashion icon who was sophisticated and stylish, without being over-the-top trendy’. I found a TDF Vera Wang LBD at Bloomingdales that had Audrey and Natalie written all over it.

The Play dress can take you from ‘day to play’ says Bobbie. Sun dresses will be the core of any wardrobe this season. A black one is a necessity and perfect example of how versatile an LBD really is. These travel easily and can fun with flip-flops and a cute bag for daytime shopping, or paired with ’strappy jeweled’ sandals for dinner.

Last, but not least is ‘the party dress’. This should be both fun and flirty! As for the shoes…anything goes. Have fun with the accessories - including wraps and bags, of course. Re-inventing this classic piece of art can be a party in itself. Just remember to keep the golden ‘less is more’ rule from Coco Chanel…the true godmother of the LBD.

The best part…they don’t have to cost you this week’s paycheck. You can find a fabulous LBD party dress from Nordstroms, Gap, to the best of discounters!

Today’s Thought:

Fashion fades…only style remains the same.

~Coco Chanel

]]> http://site.bestorganize.com/blog/2007/03/27/the-little-black-dress/feed/ Wearing White or Shoes? http://site.bestorganize.com/blog/2007/03/22/wearing-white-or-shoes/ http://site.bestorganize.com/blog/2007/03/22/wearing-white-or-shoes/#comments Thu, 22 Mar 2007 01:03:23 +0000 Administrator Fashion http://site.bestorganize.com/blog/2007/03/22/wearing-white-or-shoes/

So – I’m on iVillage to find out more on what Meredith Viera had to say this morning on The Today Show about when to wear white. I’ll get back to that in a minute. All of a sudden, I see that the Hottest Shopping Section is spotlighting shoes today. NOW…we all know about my obsession with shoes – but did they have to list four categories that included pumps, sandals, espadrilles and peep toes! (don’t you just want to hug the people that brought the last two back to life?!). Do I need to tell you how excited I got when I saw 18,172 matches in just the first category? Even though these were listed as ‘dress shoes – once populated, that’s a LOT of shoes – even for me. Of course, I found three pairs before I even got to sandals, but all of a sudden it hit me. The shoe compartments that line the floor of my closet are maxed and just how many more cases of shoe boxes am I going to need now?! I guess I could have worse habits and certainly there can’t be a better hobby. Is there? One good thing. At least I know where I can get the shoe boxes!  

Back to the white thing. Grandmothers around the world taught us that you don’t wear white before Memorial Day or after Labor Day. Suddenly, somebody breaks the rule. I can’t quite remember what the deal was with everyone wearing white patent leather shoes for Easter when that’s always before Memorial Day, but oh well. In the meantime – I live in southern California. They claim you can where white here anytime. Harper’s confirms this to be true - anywhere and anytime. For now, I’m on the thermometer gauge. If it feels like summer – then dress like summer. When the white shoes and bags come out, I also move my winter wools to the hanging garment bags that protected my summer whites.  It’s an easy transition. Oh – and another little tip…now that all my summer bags are kept in one storage container, they are so easy to get to. I also like the way they look on the top of my closet. The sweater size canvas boxes are perfect to line up smaller bags and the larger storage boxes keep all my everyday bags so that I can get to them as I decide at the last minute to change bags as I run out the door. Some things never change!

Today’s Thought:

Be yourself. Everybody else is already taken.

~Oscar Wilde

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