Conquering Mount Paperwork

It's amazing just how quickly paperwork can get out of hand! Between the junk mail, the stuff the kids bring home from school, bills that need to be paid, receipts, schedules, etc., I sometimes feel like I am surrounded by a mountain of paper.  You throw it all in a pile on your kitchen counter or on your desk and all is fine until you need one form - and of course, that is the one you can't find.  The one that has gone missing, and God forbid, ended up in the recycling bin which just got picked-up yesterday.

It has happened to all of us - even the most organized among us - and finding a system that works for you is so important.  Truth be told, the same system isn't going to work for every family, but I thought I'd share some ways that our Initials, Inc. products can help you stay organized and eliminate Mt. Paper all together!

Example 1: My desk.  I was having a serious issue keeping track of my work stuff on my desk.  Everything ended up in a big pile that I kept promising myself I would go through.  It ended up looking like this:

Before...

I was very excited when my first Organizer Caddy ($30) arrived.  It allowed me to take control of the papers and create a place for everything using hanging folders.

After...

And here is an close-up of the file folders with labels (ordered from Amazon or available at any local office supply store).  The Organizer Caddy holds standard size hanging folders (not legal) and to get a tight fit, I recommend folding the left and right sides in a little to prevent the files from falling off. This seems to work fine!  Then there are pockets for things such as pens (and scissors or rulers if you live in a house where you can leave these things out in the open without the fear of them being used as weapons.  I know there are some who are reading this and are probably at the point where they can't even leave pens out in the open!!)

There are all sorts of uses for the Organizer Caddy aside from the obvious use on a desk.

You could have one for each of your kids to keep files with homework, schedules, medical forms, etc. like pictured below.

You could also put one on the steps to your second floor labeled, "Up & Away" for all those things that you find downstairs that need to be put away upstairs.

You could also use it to easily sort and divide your mail as it comes in.

If you drive to appointments for work or need to have access to work stuff at all times, this is a great product for your car.  I have one with catalogs, order forms, hostess packets, and opportunity brochures so I am prepared at all times to do business on the go!

I hope this post inspires you to think about how you might put an Organizer Caddy to good use in your home.  Sometimes all it takes is one new product to help everything else fall into place.  We have lots of other products to conquer the clutter and I will share them in future blog posts.  In the meantime if you want to pick up a caddy, you can shop here or give me a shout out: www.myinitials-inc.com/beantownbags.

Bags That Can Work It!

I remember when I used to work in an office, I had so many bags that I felt like a homeless person on the move.  It amazes me how many people do this. Everyday.  I guess I could never find a bag big enough for everything I needed.  If I was working outside the home now, I could safely say that I could make everything fit in one big bag and one insulated tote.

Here's what I would chose.  First I would carry the insulated "Cool Tote" ($28) - that could fit all my snacks and lunch and a big bottle for water.  I actually took a picture for my sister and was able to fit everything shown in the bag (alternatively, it could hold 3 or 4 bottles of wine and has a pocket on the front for a corkscrew - just in case you need to pack a liquid lunch). 

My primary bag would be the Day Tripper ($40).  Like the Cool Tote it is available in a variety of microfiber fabrics that all wipe clean with soap and water! I have one in the piano dot fabric that matches the cool tote. Again, I chose a fun personalization over a traditional initial or monogram - "On Our Way!" in hot pink.

Then I would probably stick my phone in the front pocket of the bag.  Throw an All-In-One-Wallet ($26) and our Tote Organizer ($18) in for all my crap (tissues, Motrin, hand sanitizer, hand lotion, lip balm, and the many other things that I can't get through the day without!)  You could also stand a few file folders or magazines in the Tote Organizer - it has tons of pockets and keeps everything in place.

Lastly, I would slide my computer into our Laptop Case ($30) where it would be protected (there is also a Tablet Case available for $25). I'd have a useful front zipper pocket for loose papers - and I would be good to go!

So, for only $142 you could have a set of personalized bags that are hip and helpful at the same time - and no one would mistake you for a bag lady or hobo!  Interested in getting this ensemble for free or half price?  Host a party! And whether you're interested in partying or shopping, the website is the same: www.myinitials-inc.com/beantownbags. 

A Bag Blog??

Blogging about bags?  Who would have thought it?  I think this blog will give me the opportunity to weave together a few of my passions - writing, organization, and handbags.  Since I started selling Initials, Inc. bags in the beginning of August, I have found it so difficult to explain just how helpful our line is in a quick post on Facebook.  I have taken lots of pictures of lots of products, but each has a story and use that requires a little more page space to fully explain.  Luckily for me, I enjoying writing the stories behind the products.  I liken it to Elaine on Seinfeld coming up with the stories behind the products in the J. Peterman Catalog.  The Initials, Inc. tagline is Happy. Hip. Helpful. and after talking to a few friends, I realized that while people seem to get the "hip" factor right away, realizing the many "helpful" uses of the bags that can lead to a more organized life and a more "happy" you is a bigger leap for some - so hopefully these little blog entries will connect the "happy" and "helpful" to the "hip" for more people!