OrganizingLA Blog: October 2012

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October 2012

October 23, 2012

Crush Your Clutter With PepsiNEXT and Task Rabbit

If you had an extra hour in your day, what would you do with it?

People are busier than ever. Recognizing that, Pepsi NEXT has partnered with productivity startup Task Rabbit to add an extra hour to your day.

How the Extra Hour Sweepstakes works

Through November 12th 2012, Pepsi NEXT fans can enter for their chance to win an “Extra Hour” at http://www.taskRabbit.com/pepsinext. Every week, 50 winners will be randomly chosen to receive a dedicated TaskRabbit to tackle errands as diverse as waiting in line for concert tickets, picking up the dry cleaning, walking a needy pet, gardening, handyman services or personal organization (organizing clutter). The TaskRabbit will even bring a Pepsi NEXT for each winner to enjoy with their new found time.

"A cluttered home leads to a cluttered mind. The Task Rabbit - Pepsi NEXT extra hour package includes 1 hour of organizing pantries and closets plus a PepsiNEXT."

About Task Rabbit

Task Rabbit operates a website and mobile app enabling people to outsource jobs and tasks to fully-vetted folks in their neighborhood. Services are currently available in Boston, San Francisco Bay Area, San Antonio, Austin, Chicago, Seattle, Portland, Los Angeles, Orange County and New York City.OrganizingLA is not affiliated with Pepsi or Task Rabbit but we thought this was a fun clutter busting program to get involved in. We know they're using highly vetted individuals but not necessarily a National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO)-affiliated professional organizer.

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Posted on October 23, 2012 in Demystifying the Professional Organizer Experience, Home & Home Office Tips, Organizing Industry News, Technology | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

October 19, 2012

Kate Gosselin On The Importance of Organization

Being a mother is one of the toughest jobs out there.

Regardless of what folks may say about Kate Plus 8 star Kate Gosselin, you have to admit, you better be organized if you have a big family. Here is what Kate said at the end of one of her recent CouponCabin blog posts said about the importance of organization in her own life and family:

"The importance of organization and clutter minimization cannot be underestimated; it is directly linked to savings. If I am organized, then I typically will not buy doubles of items because I misplaced the first. Similarly, if things are where they are supposed to be, we won’t lose them and have to buy another."

Kate's Tips for Organization:

On her blog, Kate provides some easy tips for you to get and stay organized:

Mail - Sort it instantly, shred and recycle, store bills on your desk.
Routines - Have a system for your kids when they come home from school, where the drop off their book bags, uniforms, lunch boxes, papers and jackets.
Bedrooms - Allow some leniency when it comes to clutter in their own private spaces.
Schedules - Write all activities down on a datebook, iPhone calendar, keep running lists on separate pages for stores and use coupon apps to stay up to date on current discounts and promotions.

Kind of an unusual association: Kate is also a featured contributor in our book The Experts Guide To Doing Things Faster: 100 Ways To Make Life More Efficient where she contributed the chapter on tackling your to-do list (we contributed a chapter on closet organization). So regardless of your feelings how she hired a professional organizer (well, her show's producers), you have to be somewhat organized to save time and money.

If you are a busy mom or dad, what innovative systems do you use to stay organized at home?

image courtesy Hollybaby

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Posted on October 19, 2012 in Celebrity Organization, Experts' Guide Book | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

October 13, 2012

A Tour Inside Kat Von D's Kool Shoe Kloset

Last winter, we stood in line behind Kat Von D at the H&M store in the Beverly Center. There was no debate: she has her own unique style from head to toe, including her shoes.

Born in Mexico, Kat Von D's parents were missionaries and moved to the Inland Empire (an hour east of Los Angeles) when she was four. Her Spanish, German and Italian background along with her love of playing classical piano influenced her later career as a tattoo artist, business owner and television personality (Kat starred in LA Ink on TLC for four seasons).

Kat's style is a mixture of heavy metal, punk, tattoo, rockabilly, skater and pinup girl. Her clothes range from black leather, tube tops, big buckle belts, leopard and animal prints, corsets, anything dark and black but chic.

Kat Von D's High Voltage Tattoo and Wonderland Gallery is located in Hollywood on La Brea Avenue

Kat's Shoe Kloset

This week Kat opened up her closet to talk about her passion for shoes. Her collection includes unusual eBay finds, unique creations, original 1970's platforms and her favorite Anastasia Radevich studded boots. We like how Kat turned an extra room or closet into a display room where she can see and choose from her collection-- not something everyone can afford to do but inspiring for shoe aficionados.

What are some of your favorite shoes? Do you have any unusual ways of organizing them on shelves, baskets, or boxes? Please share in the comment section below or by letting us know on Twitter @johntrosko.

High Voltage Tattoo image courtesy Emma R on Flickr.

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Posted on October 13, 2012 in Celebrity Organization | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

October 07, 2012

Could Cher Have Become a Professional Organizer?

The new Entertainment Weekly "Reunion Issue" is profiling the casts and major players for various television shows and movies from the last three decades. Included among them is the cast of Clueless (from, amazingly, 17 years ago--1995!)

Written and directed by Amy Heckerling, Clueless is a satire loosely based on Jane Austen's 1815 novel, Emma. Set in Beverly Hills, the film looks at ultra-rich teenagers at a nearby open-air high school.

It was amusing to hear the characters take on their experience. In particular, we laughed when Alicia Silverstone was asked where she imagined her character, Cher Horowitz, would be now in 2012. Her reply, in part:

"Hopefully she's married to her brother (Paul Rudd) and has children and works hard at something she loves a lot. Maybe she's a professional organizer..."

Here is a quick look at two examples of her character Cher's innovative organizational expertise:

Cher's Rotating Color Coordinated Closet:

Cher's character in the movie unveiled a very organized, color coded RotaBob rotary rotating closet system. And Cher saved space by utilizing verticle height in her closet. As far as we can tell, rotary closets were only installed in industrial settings until about 2006/7 when they were finally introduced into residential closets. Example #1 of her expertise.

Cher's Dress-Me Computer Program:

Cher's amazing "Dress Me" computer program preceded iPhone and Android apps, or luggage-free GardeRobe wardrobe systems. Imagine the ingenuity involved in this Barbie-style program, one of the reasons why Cher's wardrobe made her a 90's fashion icon. She also saved time by surfing through her closet electronically. Example # 2, you go Cher!

Who knows, maybe we're onto something. Maybe Cher does have the skills the reconfigure the lives of others. So we say: beware the mighty Cher Horowitz, Beverly Hills Professional Organizer!

Do you think Cher Horowitz has the attributes of an organized person? Sound off in the comments below or send us a comment to @johntrosko on Twitter.

Blog piece inspirated by Julie Bestry, Best Results Organizing, Chattanooga, Tennessee.