Month: May 2008

May 30, 2008

The Farmer’s Market in Los Angeles Can Make You More Productive
Can a shopping center really make you more organized?

Take this billboard at the famous at 3rd and Fairfax in Los Angeles. We snapped a picture of the billboard last week, on the way to dinner at Maggiano's next door.

"YOUR TO DO LIST HAS MET ITS MATCH. Get more done at Farmer's Market."

For many years, shopping centers and malls have pushed the thinking that life would not be as much fun or as sociable without them. They add amusement parks, carousels and Hunky Santas to get us to spend more time there. Even the Farmer's Market has valet parking. And now, they're telling us we can be more productive if we shop there.

But a lot of shopping is about wasting time, and malls want you to spend as much time there as possible so you buy more. What are some examples of big mall time-wasters?
- Having dinner sucks 2-hours out of your day
- Having to walk clear across the mall to get to one store sucks 15 minutes
- Seeing a movie sucks 2-hours out of your day
- Getting out of the damn parking lot can take 1-hour (okay, maybe not… but you get the idea.)
It's incongruent for an owner of a shopping center to say that you can be more productive at their mall because their main goal is to get you to spend more time in their shops.

Besides, this campaign is moot, Organized Living next door at the Grove shut down 2 years ago.

What time sucks does your local mall have that are hidden behind a veil of fun and family?

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May 30, 2008

Organizing Industry News
May 27, 2008

Hecht Of An Organizer – Winners Announced!
Happy day-after Memorial Day.

We honored Memorial Day by hosting 5 dozen friends and family for a Hawaiian-style poolside luau, complete with tiki torches, pineapple chicken, a volcano, silk flower leis and music from Don Ho. We even had some impromptu hula dancing, grass skirts and coconut shell bikinis tossed into the mix. Islanders played water volleyball in the "lagoon." Limbos were not allowed (John is still recovering from his fractured foot) as was fire-eating. Such much fun and a nice departure from what we normally do with a beach theme, or red, white or blue. What did you do this weekend?

Well, there's a different kind of celebration going on today, because we're announcing the winners of our Hecht of an Organizer giveaway. The winners of the giveaway are:
- Julia Wilson, Carrollton, Georgia
- Kim Jaeger, Columbus, Ohio
Linda Hecht, the inventor of the products was so thrilled with our response (over 32 entries) that she is giving us an additional product. That's generous. Each winner will receive one Hecht of an Organizer in the color of their choice.

"What a great idea, and it's green, as well! I would use this organizer as my portable "office" for my upcoming kitchen remodel. I need one place for idea files, receipts, and all those bulky tile and counter-top samples. I could keep this in my car and easily have everything near as I'm out comparing and gathering new ideas/samples." —Julia Wilson

"I am a Professional Organizer in Columbus, OH. I've heard of this product and would love to give these as gifts to clients! I have a smaller version that is a sentimental favorite (a gift) and my clients always want one. I would like to test drive the larger version.I have recommended this product as similar to mine but I would love to order them in bulk and distribute as holiday gifts if nothing else! Cheers!" — Kim Jaeger

Thank you to everyone who took the time to enter the giveaway. Stay in touch for more organizing products contests and you could be the next winner.

So what did you do this past weekend?

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May 27, 2008

Contests
May 26, 2008

OrganizingLA Travel Schedule
This Friday, John will be traveling to Philadelphia, Central New Jersey and Manhattan.

We'd love to be able to work with you. Please e-mail us or call (323) 512-7039 if you'd like to schedule organizing time while we're in your area.
- Philadelphia, PA: May 30-31
- Central New Jersey: June 1, 3-4
- Manhattan: June 2, attending NAPO New York general membership meeting
This is a work trip to meet with clients. While we're gone, we still plan on posting new material as always!

Image courtesy Family Vacation Getaways

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May 26, 2008

Demystifying the Professional Organizer Experience
May 23, 2008

Donna Smallin Introduces “M by Staples” – Video

Last Tuesday, we attented an organizing seminar hosted by Staples and our friend Donna Smallin.

Donna, author of The One-Minute Organizer, flew in from Phoenix to present a series of organizing seminars and give Los Angeles-area writers and bloggers an opportunity to learn more about a new line of fun, stylish organizing tools designed for M by Staples.

Donna was such a good sport. She agreed to be filmed in a few exclusive videos for OrganizingLA reviewing segments of her seminar while talking about the great new M products we're all sure to love. This is the first of three– you can see this one, 14 stories high above Wilshire Boulevard.

If you're reading this post on Feedblitz or RSS, click here to see the video. You can see all our YouTube videos by clicking here.

Stay tuned for more videos from Donna and the M by Staples line, including some fun product giveaways!

Any thoughts on the new product line that we can pass along to Donna?

May 23, 2008

Video
May 20, 2008

Hecht Of An Organizer 2.0 – Giveaway!

OrganizingLA Blog and Hecht of an Organizer are teaming up this week to give away one organizer (valued at $35.00) to a lucky blog reader.

To submit an entry, all you have to do is post a comment of value telling us how you'd use the organizer should you win. We'll select a winner at random and contact via email. Keep reading the comments, because the inventor herself will be monitoring and responding to comments as necessary.

Winner of a 2008 Los Angeles Organizing Award "The Green Award for Most Eco-friendly Organizing Product," inventor Linda Hecht (accepting her award last February) has one helluva product.

Linda told us this weekend how far the positive impact from her Award reached.

"Local cities around Indianapolis heard about our Los Angeles Organizing Award and began purchasing the organizers for their city police, fire and other city head departments. The City of Greencastle, Indiana was the first to get their city organized while going green. The Clerk – Treasurer then shared it with INDOT (Indiana Dept. of Transportation) who is now making Hecht Of An Organizer units available to their employees. Other cities in Indiana are also following suit. I am amazed at the sales and even more excited about the new 2.0 design improvements we've completed in just the past two weeks."

(more…)

May 20, 2008

Contests
May 19, 2008

Getting Organized Could Improve Your Health?
The Downtown LA News has a piece this week about indoor air quality and surprising health dangers.

Many, many times when we’re working with our Los Angeles organizing clients in their homes and offices, we identify chemicals sitting underneath sinks, tool sheds, garages and even food preparation areas. These items may have been carelessly left or a large amount was purchased and the remnants sit rotting away. These chemicals have the potential to contribute to poor air quality, and even poor health short term or long term.

Sometimes the act of getting organized means not only identifying what you want in your space, but also what you don’t want. The news article written by Dr. Rick Morris identifies several hazards he found in his downtown Los Angeles loft and his tips for future responsibility. Here are 7 we picked up from the piece. If you have time, check out the entire article online.
1. Ventilate your home by opening windows and doors
2. Use natural products
3. Use chemicals responsibility, do not mix chemicals
4. Only buy small amounts of chemicals and store as little in your home
5. Visit dry cleaners who use wet cleaning or a CO2 process
6. Wash permanent press sheets and clothes three times before using
7. Have carpets and drapes aired out for a few days before having them installed in your home
- Downtown Los Angeles News – It’s What’s Inside that Counts
picture courtesy US Davis Health System

What chemical dangers have you identified in your home or office?

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May 19, 2008

Home & Home Office Tips