But then they sweetened the pot even further. If I did review their book and do a posting about it, I would then be entered in a contest to win Two Hundred and Fifty Dollars. Yes, you read that right, $250.00!! But they then took it one step further. Our blogs 'readers' could also enter a contest to win $250.00 for themselves. I know what I'd like to do with $250.00, and I bet you do too, so I figured that I had better say "yes" to their offer, so that we could both win! o;-) Yes, both of us could win!!! Stay focused, I'll explain how later on in this posting. ;-p
First off, whom was I approached by? Alicia Rockmore [and her 'right hand gal', Anne Marie]. Alicia and Sarah Welch both co-founded the company 'Get Buttoned Up' and co-authored the new book. I had first stumbled upon Alicia via one of her ideas in a magazine article, which you can read all about in THIS POSTING. Then in early Oct., they had asked me to put to use and then do a product review on some of Smead's (TM) new file folders. I did, and you can see and read about them HERE. I guess they approved of my postings, because come late Oct., they asked me to review and blog about their newly released book. I was intrigued. Then they offered me a chance at winning cash. AND our 'readers' could enter a different chance to win cash. Triple reason to do it right there folks! ;-p
What book am I talking about? "PRETTY NEAT - the buttoned-up way to get organized and let go of perfection."
Here is a picture of the book, for your viewing pleasure. ;-p
My 'review' of the book? W-e-l-l, back when I originally agreed to do this, I was sure that I would no longer be dealing with this darn Vertigo by the time the book came. That's what I get for 'thinkin', huh? 8-/ Nope, I'm not. Over it that is. So-o.... I am not up to doing a "quick read" (which all of you whom know me, know IS something I can usually do). And then to add to it, the book was 'suppose' to have arrived back before Thanksgiving. It arrived today. But I still haven't shed this Vertigo. Yes, I'm grumbling. Sorry! So I'm not up to reading the whole book and reviewing it. But don't worry, I came up with a 'plan'. :-). Hey, who did I just hear mutter, "Ought Oh"?!? o;-p
I did read a part of the books introduction, and really like what I found there. So much so, that it gave me an idea (yeah, hold on o;-p). I checked, after the intro., there are twelve (12) chapters. Twelve, area specific, problem solving titled chapters.
So what I aim to do is, every day for the next twelve (12) days, I will give you a brief glimpse of something about or from each of the chapters. Trust me, they will be tid-bits!! You know, just enough to entice you to go buy the book for yourself. o;-p But also enough so that once I can handle regular reading, I will read the whole book myself !!
For today, I'll just give you a small glimpse of the books intro .. (first part of fourth paragraph) "Instead of holding yourself to an impossible org-porn (def. - "that glossy, airbrushed fantasy world, where everything is pristine, serene, and perfectly in order, ....") standard, we advocate ditching perfection and instead focusing on why you want to get organized in the first place. Remind yourself that org-porn is merely entertainment and an escape that few, if any, actually achieve."
I do know a couple of people whom have achieved it. All I'm going to say, is that there are other areas of their life which paid the price for that achievement. In the long run, I don't think their accomplishment was worth the price. But that's my perspective.
But as you also know about me, that does not mean that I think we shouldn't strive for some organization. We should! Strive away!! Just don't set 'perfection' as the end goal.
So so-far, this book definitely get's a "thumb's up" from me! Why? Because it's realistic. Yup, that plain and simple. But woo-hoo for that!!! Not all such books are.
Now for the "how". As in, how can we both be entered in contests to win $250.00?
Seeings how I've done this posting, I am now entered. :-D! All of the blog owners whom they approached to review and post about their new book, are entered in what we'll call drawing #1. The winner of drawing #1 will be the blog owner whom has the highest number of comments on the posting about the book. The comments must contain a organizational tip of your own.. AND, the comments must be left on our blog. So-o-o, all of you whom get our postings via emails, to enter, you must go to OUR BLOG and enter your organizational tip or shortcut {"comment"} at the end of this posting, you can't just send me your organizational tip or shortcut {"comment"} via a email reply. Don't worry, if you do not have a blog of your own, you can use "anonymous" to leave your comment under. HOWEVER, you MUST include your name in order to get credit for the organizational tip or shortcut ("comment")!!!
Did all of you notice that in order for a blog owner to be the 'winner', they must have the blog that receives the most organizational tips or shortcuts ("comments")? In other words - HELP US WIN!!! Leave us your own organizational tips or shortcuts !!!
Drawing #2 then, is for all of the 'commenter's'. "The reader who submits the best tip ("organizational tip or short cut") across all participating blogs will also win $250.00." So-o-o, hit us with your best tip! And (in another comment) what you think is your second best tip, and then your third.... cuz you can't be sure that they look at things the same way you do, and thus they might like something a LOT that you think is only 'okay'. ;-)
The winning 'tip' will be selected by Alicia Rockmore and Sarah Welch, the books co-authors.
The dead line for having submitted your tip is Midnight, December 31st (New Years Eve).
The winners will be announced on their blog 'Get Buttoned Up' on Jan. 10th, 2011.
:-) ... :-) ... :-) ... :-) ... :-) ... :-) ... :-) ...
For your convenience, we are going to put a "link" in the side bar of our blog, so that every day after you read that day's little 'tid-bit', you can click on the link and come back to this here posting to leave that day's comment / organization tip or short-cut, that way it will be counted for our overall number, and then they will be sure and find it to consider it in drawing #2. :-) The link to this posting will remain in our side bar for the entire month of Dec.
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For Future Reference :
All of the "tidbit" postings about the various chapters of this book, etc., will be able to be found in our 'Blog Archive' under the listed postings for December, 2010.
They will not have 'Labels' attached to them, but you will be able to find them in our 'Blog Archive's'. ;-)
;-> ... ;-> ... ;-> ... ;-> ... ;-> ...
To the owners of other blogs - YES, you may mention this contest and link to this posting on your own blogs ;-)
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"For the Record" Disclosure :
Yes, We are being paid / compensated for doing this particular posting.
First off, the book was shipped to us completely free of charge. :-)
Secondly, We will be winning the $250 prize due to having the most comments (organizational tips/ short cuts) of all of the participating blogs. [You ARE going to help us win that, r-i-g-h-t? o;-p]
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(NEXT WEEK) I 'plan' on linking this particular posting up to:
~ "Making Your Home Sing Monday('s)", are hosted by Nan, at 'Mom's the Word (I love to hear)' (http://momstheword--livingforhim.blogspot.com/).
~ "Homemaker Mondays ... Yours, Mine & Ours", are hosted by Jen, at '11th Heaven's Homemaking Haven' (http://rtheyallyours.blogspot.com/).
~ "Market Yourself Monday", are hosted by Sumo, at 'Sumo's Sweet Stuff' (http://sumossweetstuff.blogspot.com/)
~ "Whatever Goes Wednesday('s), hosted by Michelle, at 'Someday Crafts' (http://somedaycrafts.blogspot.com/)
Blog Theme Day Hosts - If it is a problem that I got 'paid' for doing this particular posting, please let me know and I shall remove my link from your blog theme day. Thanks!
My organizational tip is one of the many little things I do to keep my brain running steady through this whole grad-school-plus-four-jobs thing. :) I love love LOVE page protectors. I can print out slides and articles for class, take notes all over them, and just slip them into a page protector in my binder and not have to worry about punching holes in the paper and losing what I've written. I can slip extra sheets of paper in with notes that go with a particular topic. I can flip through my notes one section at a time instead of one page at a time, which makes searching faster.
ReplyDeleteI also use them to keep my church music organized - I have a binder for stuff we use year-round (that's a big one!), another one for Advent and Christmas, and another one for Lent and Easter. It's extra nice for this purpose because my music is all different sizes and would be tricky to hole punch or put in folders.
So in summary: yay page protectors! :)
I would agree that perfect organization is illusive! And children are one of the greatest challenges to reaching that goal. Since our children are more important than perfection, I work hard at letting go of the standard of perfection that I was raised on. But yet I do keep working toward a healthy level of organization. One thing I've found helpful with children, especially in the school-age years, is a file folder for each of them. Then, when they leave papers lying around that I'm not sure if they want or not, I can slip them in their folder for future review--out of sight, but not lost. When it gets too full (like my college-age son's is right now), we need to set a time to sort through and trash what is out of date. But at least I'm not drowning in the profuse paperwork that my children can bring in to our home.
ReplyDeleteI have an organization tip for bloggers who enjoy participating in Friday Fragments! Keep a little notebook in your purse/car to jot down your random thoughts from throughout your week. That way, you have a nice little collection when you're ready to post! :)
ReplyDeleteAnother tip I have is to get your kitchen breakfast-ready the night before, so that you can get out the door easier in the morning. Set up the coffee pot, vitamins, cereal, dishes, etc. Although it doesn't actually save time, it moves the time taken to the night before, when you are less stressed :)
ReplyDeleteI used to get frustrated with my children after I had gone to all the work of folding their clothes, just to have them toss them on the floor or paw through their drawers, making them all a mess again. So, I no longer fold their clothing. I decided they can set their own standards for their clothes. I separate clean clothes by person, lay them out flat and leave them on their beds for them to take care of. Less stress for me and they hopefully will learn to appreciate the effort if THEY are the ones to put it forth.
ReplyDeleteOne of the things that has helped me accomplish my daily tasks actually came from the days when I lived with cockroaches! Living in Texas means living with cockroaches, no matter how good your housekeeping is, and I mean BIG ones. I was terrified of stepping on one in the night (when they are more active). So, being a mom of small children and up in the night often, I made sure my floors were clear of toys and such when I went to bed each night. Then if I saw something on the floor in the night, I would know it was a cockroach! But picking up at night also makes it easier to get up in the morning to face a new day with a "clean slate" per se. And children should learn to be a part of that routine. Make it fun, but make it mandatory!
ReplyDeleteI organize online information by being disorganized, in a way. I simply copy and paste info into MS Word documents and then rely on the "find" function to help me get what I need. I have docs called "post links" and "contact for advertising" and "affiliate codes" and a few more that look like just a mess, but they keep my blog moving at warp speed because I don't have to format all my information beautifully or in columns, and I can find things so fast!
ReplyDeleteI do believe strongly in delegating tasks to my children, especially. As I tell them, my job is to teach them such that they could do my job without me (so they'll grow up to be adults!) But especially when they are young, doing the jobs TOGETHER is the key. They love to work with you when they are little, whether it is sorting socks, running washed dishes through a sink full of rinse water, baking, or cleaning the bathroom. As they get older, they don't love it so much, but they've learned a lot working with me and are ready to take over without the supervision. Delegation works best when it was preceded by sharing the job together. My son cleans the bathroom spectacularly now! And I believe some day his wife will thank me profusely!
ReplyDeleteThere are many iPod/iPad/iPhone apps that are terrific for organization. One of my favorites is Sticky Notes. I use the hard-copy sticky notes, but I end up with them everywhere!
ReplyDeleteI also love Delicious.com for organizing my favorite websites. It's awesome, because you can access it from any computer, and you can organize each link with tags.
ReplyDeleteGot a child who is disorganized when it comes to school? The smartest investment you can make is to buy them a nice, expandable file. Label each slot with a class, or keep it simple by getting one with just a few folders and labeling them "Homework In" and "Homework Out." You'll have extra slots, and you can label one "Communication" to include notes/papers between the teacher and parent.
ReplyDeletemy friend Dee Dee sent me this reply after the posting about living rooms - "Just keep a large leaf blower handy and the front door open..that's my method!!!!" ;-b!!!!!!!
ReplyDelete