tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29695656663867246482024-03-05T22:09:51.461-05:00Right Brain OrganizingFor right brainers, artsy-fartsies, doodlers, dreamers, and do-ers.Allison Spitzer Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01747319872226571354noreply@blogger.comBlogger56125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2969565666386724648.post-7728881587406370642009-02-24T21:38:00.004-05:002009-02-24T21:42:11.039-05:00Moving DayAs much as I like this neighborhood, I've got to move on. I got a new opportunity over at another blogsite and so you can follow me over there!<br />Right Brain Organizing can now be found at:<br /><a href="http://www.theprofessionalorganizer.com/blog">http://www.TheProfessionalOrganizer.com/blog</a><br /><br />I haven't posted in a while because, well, I was packing up and moving.<br /><br />Let me know how you like the new design.<br />I may re-decorate a few times before settling down.<br />How right brainy of me.<br /><br />-- AllisonAllison Spitzer Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01747319872226571354noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2969565666386724648.post-42067887824089871232009-01-09T15:24:00.004-05:002009-01-09T15:27:04.611-05:00Friday Filing<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrW1zAmhu3kovaEj-Skwklognz8HsvSdGmPdjlxuofu1P8rCnj-Jkv7oBqZCfIQ3ce4uA1UdtgfcRx6OH2w-Zz-mYBbqLZV1qEV0exTG7FIgDFb92GrsS4T9RD8WAS0RV9Wkfef9N1MRA/s1600-h/Filekat.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 229px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrW1zAmhu3kovaEj-Skwklognz8HsvSdGmPdjlxuofu1P8rCnj-Jkv7oBqZCfIQ3ce4uA1UdtgfcRx6OH2w-Zz-mYBbqLZV1qEV0exTG7FIgDFb92GrsS4T9RD8WAS0RV9Wkfef9N1MRA/s320/Filekat.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289393077065997442" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />My cat gets in on the filing action.Allison Spitzer Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01747319872226571354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2969565666386724648.post-89036058713656216922009-01-07T18:32:00.003-05:002009-01-07T18:38:25.431-05:00Un-ResolutionsThis time of year everyone is making resolutions, setting goals, and all that. If you aren't a resolution lover (like me), you will love this resolution Top 10 list.<br /><br />Jenny Isenman of the<a href="http://www.suburbanjungle.net/10-resolutions"> Suburban Jungle Blog </a>gives us her humorous take on New Year Goals.<br />(If you like this, you'll want to subscribe to her blog)<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: courier new;">10 Resolutions I Can Actually Keep</span></span><br /><br />If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!<br /><br />This time of year I amuse myself by looking back at last year’s resolutions. Ones I made with the best intentions, like learning an instrument or a foreign language. Last Chanukah I had my husband buy me a guitar. I had all the confidence in the world that by this new year, I would balk at a request to play Stairway To Heaven, saying something dismissive like… “Please, that’s so cliché, but why not?” or “Por favor, es muy cliché, pero porque no? Unfortunately, my guitar collects dust while my Spanish collects rust.<br /><br />So for this year, I have made some resolutions that are a bit more achievable:<br /><br />1. Nag More<br /><br />For 10 years my husband has not picked up a wet towel, washed ketchup off of a dish, changed a light bulb, or remembered trash day without a friendly, “How many times do I have to tell you?” I vow to be relentless in my nagging. I will lay immediate blame using words like always and never. As in, “I always, and you never.” I will play the martyr by saying, “Forget it. I’ll do it myself.” I will amp up the guilt with, “I do everything around here.” Or something unarguable like, “It’s obvious by your refusal to change a light bulb that you don’t love me anymore.” If all goes well, I’ll be nagging him to go to couples therapy by 2010.<br /><br />2. Gain weight<br /><br />I will add carbs to my diet with reckless abandon. I will start each meal with a generous helping of bread and rolls onto which I will spread an obnoxious amount of butter. I will stuff food into my mouth with such fervor it will make other eaters uncomfortable to watch. I vow to eat everything a la mode including ice cream.<br /><br />3. Work out less<br /><br />This will actually take serious effort. The only thing harder would be to shower less. If I need the proverbial cup of sugar, I will drive to my neighbor’s garage and beep until she comes out and hands it to me. I will take elevators in two-story buildings. Lastly, I will drop my membership to the gym and use the money I save to buy more carbs.<br /><br />4. Forget an old language<br /><br />This year, not only am I not going to learn a new language, I will let my brain atrophy to forget the one I already know. I will watch endless episodes of Sponge Bob and Chowder. I will stop doing crosswords and speaking in complete sentences. I will break all grammatical rules; I will misplace modifiers, dangle participles, and end sentences in prepositions. I will express my thoughts through that African clicking language, modern dance, and a set of bongos that I will wear around my neck.<br /><br />5. Stay out of touch<br /><br />This time of year, I am reminded of the many friends I have let time and space interfere with. I intend to further that distance. I will start by rejecting any new Facebook or social network requests. I will also attach a note that reads “I never liked you in the first place.” I will cuss out and hang up on people who call in hopes of fulfilling their own resolution to rekindle old friendships.<br /><br />6. Be less patient<br /><br />I will be aggravated, exasperated, and ready to blow my stack at the slightest misstep. The next time my son wants help with his homework I’ll say, “That’s it! Clearly this whole Elementary Education is not for you. If you don’t know how to spell December by now, you never will…Now go get a job! Oh, and take your sister with you, she sits on the potty way too long.”<br /><br />7. Hold grudges<br /><br />This year I will forgive no one. I don’t care if you step on my toe, or pay me the five bucks you owe me, a day after the assigned due date. I vow to hate you forever and never forget how you wronged me.<br /><br />8. Stress more<br /><br />I will lose sleep thinking about planning parties, redecorating my house, trying to budget, missing appointments, teacher conferences, and health issues. I will laugh an evil cackle while erasing all the plans from my PDA, and then cry over what I have just done. I will empty our bank account on frivolous investments and watch it dwindle away. Oh, wait…that already happened. Well good, more for me to worry about.<br /><br />9. Become addicted to something<br /><br />Smoking, alcoholism and Starbucks are so trite. I’m thinking something unique like nasal spray or hand sanitizer. Or at least something beneficial to my endurance like crack. Look, I already have a shopping addiction, maybe I could offset the bills with a robust gambling problem.<br /><br />10. Gossip More<br /><br />I vow to talk about everything you do in the new year. If I see you at the pediatrician for so much as a flu shot, I will tell everyone your child has hand foot mouth, so you can be verbally assaulted when you show up at a birthday party the next day. If you look too skinny, I will assume it’s a divorce or an addiction. If you look too hot, I’ll call it a torrid affair. If you look too young, it’s an addiction to surgical procedures because you’re getting divorced due to a torrid affair. I will start a rumor phone tree and a blog called “WhatYourNeighborsAreReallyUpTo.com.” I may even have a megaphone installed on my “Gossip Mobile,” so I can drive through local parking lots amplifying the skeletons in your closet to all within earshot. Oh, wait… I’ll just write about it in my next column.<br /><br />HAPPY NEW YEAR!<br /><br />Thanks Jenny for this fun post!Allison Spitzer Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01747319872226571354noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2969565666386724648.post-14402821464219672602009-01-06T14:25:00.005-05:002009-01-06T14:48:50.262-05:00Save Money Organizing MailA second story ran on organizing today featuring ME! weee.
<br />Here is the <a href="http://www.11alive.com/video?maven_playerId=sect_money&maven_referralPlaylistId=3138d2a165f502ede242866f4d36a3e05028fc09&maven_referralObject=986415400">link to the video: Save Money Organizing Mail</a> on Ch. 11/NBC Atlanta
<br />http://www.11alive.com
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<br />Text of previous day blog which features mail sorting files is here:
<br />http://www.11alive.com/money/columnist/blogs/coupon_blog.aspAllison Spitzer Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01747319872226571354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2969565666386724648.post-61940759174116393882009-01-05T12:12:00.003-05:002009-01-05T12:13:59.532-05:00Save Money Getting OrganizedAllison Carter is featured on 11 Alive/NBC Atlanta.<br />Just in time for Get Organized Month.<br />And that's my real home office. Lots of color for me makes it work.<br /><br /><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,0,0" id="embeddedplayer" height="305" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://gannett.a.mms.mavenapps.net/mms/rt/1/site/gannett-wxia-3321-pub01-live/current/immersiveplayer/immersive/client/embedded/embedded.swf"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><param name="scale" value="noscale"><param name="salign" value="LT"><param name="bgcolor" value="#000000"><param name="wmode" value="window"><param name="FlashVars" value="playerId=immersiveplayerwrapper&referralObject=985210638&referralPlaylistId=ddcf53a4d4ff0503868184650139ed07710044fa&adServerBasePath=http://gannett.gcion.com/adrawdata/.0/5111.1/281378/0/0/header=yes;cc=2;cookie=info;alias=&adPositionId=video_prestream&adSiteId=video.11alive.com/&gpaperCode=gntbcstwxia&marketName=Atlanta, GA&division=broadcast&pageContentCategory=video&pageContentSubcategory=immersiveplayerwrapper"><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://gannett.a.mms.mavenapps.net/mms/rt/1/site/gannett-wxia-3321-pub01-live/current/immersiveplayer/immersive/client/embedded/embedded.swf" id="embeddedplayer" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" menu="false" quality="high" play="false" name="immersiveplayerwrapper" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" scale="noscale" salign="LT" bgcolor="#000000" wmode="window" flashvars="playerId=immersiveplayerwrapper&referralObject=985210638&referralPlaylistId=ddcf53a4d4ff0503868184650139ed07710044fa&adServerBasePath=http://gannett.gcion.com/adrawdata/.0/5111.1/281378/0/0/header=yes;cc=2;cookie=info;alias=&adPositionId=video_prestream&adSiteId=video.11alive.com/&gpaperCode=gntbcstwxia&marketName=Atlanta, GA&division=broadcast&pageContentCategory=video&pageContentSubcategory=immersiveplayerwrapper" height="305" width="320"></embed></object>Allison Spitzer Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01747319872226571354noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2969565666386724648.post-35026804112775070362009-01-02T21:05:00.005-05:002009-01-02T21:25:10.114-05:002009 Word of the Year: "Essentializing"The recent shift in the U.S. and world economy has had a remarkable effect on the human psyche.<br />It's as if we got a re-boot in our thinking and could start fresh like our ancestors.<br /><br />We have entered the era of essentializing. I thought of that term when I saw the cover of a recent "Real Simple" magazine touting the essentials.<br /><br />We are now in mode to be realistic about what we NEED vs. what we WANT.<br />The over-shoppers are having a reality check.<br />The house-fillers are wondering how they ever got so full.<br />Even the wealthy aren't spending money as if it grows on trees any longer.<br /><br />I dare you all to take a moment and write down the top 25 things in your <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslow%27s_hierarchy_of_needs">hierarchy of needs </a>(Beyond the physiological needs, safety needs, and love ) and to pause and notice all the other stuff that fills your life that does more harm than good.<br /><br />My top 10 things I would hate to live without:<br />In no particular order<br /><br /><ol><li>Nose strips - so I can breathe</li><li>Medicine - I hate feeling sick. I like to treat the symptoms even if virus will go away by itself.</li><li>Sneakers - comfortable shoes<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZtg2d8rwTIObgvFv-QfTnn8_VaX6YkJgVkTFkMxhJzleOVQIbiaEUNQeATfMM6POBxpcqdKL5kfv-Fe7RGloLFr7PUZqfp0mQ-6qfXKLgJS9kLwgDGhbnrGLigR_Sup3RAOA1cwy5g1c/s1600-h/DSCN0654.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZtg2d8rwTIObgvFv-QfTnn8_VaX6YkJgVkTFkMxhJzleOVQIbiaEUNQeATfMM6POBxpcqdKL5kfv-Fe7RGloLFr7PUZqfp0mQ-6qfXKLgJS9kLwgDGhbnrGLigR_Sup3RAOA1cwy5g1c/s200/DSCN0654.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286887595146324306" border="0" /></a></li><li>Photo albums - I like to make them and view them<br /></li><li>Mac computer - to get work done and be creative</li><li>Television - cheapest entertainment around</li><li>The occasional dinner out - for a change of scenery</li><li>Trips to the beach - It's where I re-energize</li><li>My dog and cat - I like the company of friends who don't talk back (( That's my dog Sasha at the beach>>>))<br /></li><li>Enough free time to be creative, do art, write, think</li></ol>What's on your list??Allison Spitzer Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01747319872226571354noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2969565666386724648.post-22655377139082296642008-12-31T14:01:00.003-05:002008-12-31T14:04:52.028-05:00Holiday Wrap UpThe new year is upon us. So that means it's time to put away all the goodies from the holidays, eat all the cookies that remain, and make the last latkes for a while. (They're good all year round).<br /><br />But you're a right brainer and it's sooooo tedious to clean up when there are so many other things to do...<br />Time to hunker down, step up and get over to organizing. [dread, sigh]<br /><br />Here's a short checklist to help you push through. <br />Do one thing each day and you'll be done in no time.<br />Get family to help of course.<br />Put on some rocking music or mellow thinking music.<br />Ready, Set, Stow!<br /><br />1. Collect holiday greeting cards. Toss, put into a holiday album or a keepsake box.<br />Green option: cut up cards to use as gift tags next year.<br /><br />2. Grab the return addresses from the holiday cards and enter the new ones into your address list.<br /><br />3. Wrap up ornaments and decorations and put into containers.<br />If you have many, make separate containers for:<br />Tree ornaments, indoor lights, outdoor lights, indoor decorations,<br />outdoor decorations, holiday wrapping paper.<br />**Label the bins!<br /><br />4. Before you put all the decorations away, look over the items you did NOT use.<br />Give away or toss the items that you don't love any longer.<br /><br />5. Put Hanukkah dreidles and menorah's into a bin with anything else you have for the holiday.<br />**Label the bin!<br />Keep extra candles handy to put on birthday cakes!<br /><br />6. Gather all the instructions from your new gifts.<br />File them in a "manuals" file box.<br />Make categories such as: Toys, Electronics, Appliances, etc.<br />** Label the files!<br /><br />7. Save gift receipts for one month to be sure the item continues to work properly. <br />Save original boxes for warrantied items until the warranty expires.<br />Then you can safely recycle them.<br /><br />8. For the tracker: Keep track of gifts you have given and received, wish lists, send thank you cards and more at http://www.giftboxhome.com - no cost.<br /><br />9. What's your best tip for wrapping up the holidays?Allison Spitzer Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01747319872226571354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2969565666386724648.post-78386272472020566432008-12-20T10:43:00.003-05:002008-12-20T10:53:46.072-05:00Recycle Holiday Gift Cards<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.parkeastinc.com/blog/uploads/2007/11/itunes_giftcard.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 339px; height: 218px;" src="http://www.parkeastinc.com/blog/uploads/2007/11/itunes_giftcard.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />It's been a good year for my husband, who is a High School English Teacher. Every year at this time we get a flood of gift cards (happily accepted).<br /><br />Up to now, after they were used up, I would struggle to toss some out because some are really cool looking. Honestly. Some stores actually put thought into the design (Target, Starbucks, iTunes).<br /><br />The other looming question: Will the cards be collectible someday?<br /><br />I now have a great Right-Brainy way to re-cycle them thanks to a random comment to a comment on a blog. No joke.<br />(<a href="http://dandrcustomorganizers.com/blog/are-you-really-going-to-keep-that/">Debbie Jordan Kravitz of Virtually Organized</a> asked her followers on Twitter what we couldn't live without.<br />I said nose strips. I stand by it.<br /><a href="http://mypartofcolorado.blogspot.com/2008/03/i-hate-to-throw-things-away.html">Paul Merrill,</a> a rubbish artist in Colorado, commented that he has a post similar.)<br />and here comes the winning comment:<br /><br />An idea for recycling: Ian cuts these up into guitar picks!<br />Yay! A great used for cool, hip plastic.<br /><br />Another idea: Ice scraper for car windows<br /><br />What else can you do you do with your used gift cards? (besides tossing them)Allison Spitzer Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01747319872226571354noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2969565666386724648.post-12300830714099692122008-12-16T15:27:00.003-05:002008-12-16T15:35:46.589-05:00Re-Gifting gone wild<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.theregiftkit.com/regiftstickers.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 353px; height: 264px;" src="http://www.theregiftkit.com/regiftstickers.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I've blogged about decluttering by regifting but I never expected to find this:<br /><a href="http://www.theregiftkit.com/"> The Regift Kit!!!</a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.theregiftkit.com/enclosurecards.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 211px; height: 186px;" src="http://www.theregiftkit.com/enclosurecards.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />I couldn't be more proud. (sniff. shedding tears of joy)<br />For just a few bucks, you can get stickers that help you make light of your re-gifting habit and have a good time with the whole idea!<br /><br />The Regift kit has stickers and cards for sending a trinket off to a better owner!<br />Less clutter for you!!<br /><br />My favorite part of the site though is the owner's email address:<br />cheapo@theregiftkit.com<br />-- AllisonAllison Spitzer Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01747319872226571354noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2969565666386724648.post-61573416308328560642008-12-14T09:37:00.003-05:002008-12-14T09:49:07.478-05:00About Organizing for Visual PeopleLots of people I organize with say they are "visual" and want to have the fun, pretty things out where they can see them and enjoy their space.<br />Yesterday, working with a client, this became a slight sticking point because the area was utility shelves in her laundry room, which can be seen from the kitchen when the door is open.<br />Most of the items were kitchen roll-over items for entertaining, such as trays, bowls, casseroles, etc.<br />Even though the space was working fine, she didn't like how it looked!<br /><br />So, when you don't like it, fix it.<br />We decided to weed out items she didn't need and take some lesser used items to a storage area so her utility shelves didn't look so "busy" and cluttered.<br /><br />The first thing we did was take everything off so she could visualize the shelves with nothing on them.<br />Then we only put back up the things that she uses daily or weekly.<br />Then we put back up the things she uses monthly.<br />We did some arranging and re-arranging as we went along.<br />Now the things she uses only rarely (about 30%) we made a space for in her basement storage room. Her Christmas items, Easter platters, and odds and ends were on the way out so that the shelves looked more attractive.<br />We also found several items she didn't use at all and she was ready to give them to charity (even a gift from her son).<br />All this took less than an hour.<br /><br />So what space are you living with even though you don't like how it looks?<br />Try removing 30% of the items and see if it looks less cluttery.<br />Send me a photo if you do!<br />-- AllisonAllison Spitzer Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01747319872226571354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2969565666386724648.post-7618201007688337312008-12-10T10:29:00.002-05:002008-12-10T10:32:15.324-05:00Zappos Creative Environment<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://blogs.openforum.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/zappos13.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 440px; height: 292px;" src="http://blogs.openforum.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/zappos13.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://blogs.openforum.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/zappos12.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 440px; height: 292px;" src="http://blogs.openforum.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/zappos12.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Would you want to work here?<br />I would! I would probably work for less too just to be in a fun environment.<br />See more about this workplace here:<br /><span class="status_body"><a set="yes" linkindex="75" href="http://tinyurl.com/6bvzv6" onmousedown="'UntrustedLink.bootstrap($(this)," target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Zappos Offices </a><br /><br /></span>Allison Spitzer Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01747319872226571354noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2969565666386724648.post-48371461990604719392008-12-10T10:23:00.002-05:002008-12-10T10:25:38.898-05:00Re-Gifting Rules for the SeasonAs a professional organizer, and rampant de-clutterer, I asked my followers on Twitter and facebook friends about re-gifting to see if people are all in agreement these days.<br />Our opinions are about the same - re-gifting is a great way to get things to the right person and declutter at the same time.<br /><br />My Re-gifting Rules:<br />1. It's ok to re-gift if the recipient would really like it.<br />2. It's not ok to re-gift anything used<br />3. Mark your gifts you might re-gift with the name of the person who gave them to you so you don't mistakenly give them back or to friends or at same event.<br />4. Make fun of re-gifting by having a re-gifting party where you can only bring something you got and isn't right for you for whatever reason.<br />5. Never re-gift fruit cake<br />6. Never re-gift a partially used gift-card.<br />7. Repackage whenever possible (new wrapping) or you might leave an old card in by accident.<br /><br />---<br />Twitter replies about re-gifting<br />Love to regift BUT some have to go to a worthy cause especially from my dear sister in law<br /><br />I so agree with ur views on regifting something that hasn't been used &was not right for U but is "just right" for ur friend<br /><br />---<br />Facebook replies:<br />So, regifting researcher . . . If someone gets, say a 2.5 lb can of gormet peanuts from a printer, but that someone doesn't eat nuts . . . is it in good taste to regift it to her client who is The Professional Organizer? :)<br /><br />Depends on the gift - if it is something that you will never use and you give it to someone who can use the item, then I think it is a great idea.<br /><br />Regifting.. there is nothing wrong with it as long as the person will like, enjoy or appreciate.<br />Agreed. In the spirit of recycling (and giving) - anything given to the right person for the right reason is OK. I think we should remove the stigma of used items completely, it was artificially drilled into us by retailers. I have a ton of Lincoln Logs and other such things that my kids have grown out of and can easily pass on to several ... Read Moregenerations.<br />I say - consider it the "green" thing to do. Maybe we can start a "Green Christmas Revolution." By the way - you're all getting socks with holes in them. :)<br /><br />Depends on the motivation. If it's truly a matter of having a great gift around that you just aren't going to use but is perfect for somebody else, it can work. But if you're secretly trying to justify not spending money on somebody you don't like much by re-gifting, that's bad karma!<br /><br />Hmmm, I haven't re-gifted, but I have donated several things I would never want or use to a charitiable thrift store nearby. (People, please don't give crap just to say you did something...know your friends and give them something appropriate.) But, if I did get something great but thought another friend could make better use of it, I think I would happily pass it on. (No passing on the dreaded fruitcake, and the like, though.) :)Allison Spitzer Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01747319872226571354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2969565666386724648.post-62934421580122246052008-12-04T21:13:00.002-05:002008-12-04T21:23:44.418-05:00Did I wear that last time??<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.weekdate.com/wdiww.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 225px; height: 390px;" src="http://www.weekdate.com/wdiww.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Do you ever worry about wearing the same outfit to an event with the same people, but cannot remember what on earth you wore the last time you went?<br /><br />I actually tried writing my outfit down on my calendar every day so I didn't wear the same thing to the same client over and over again.<br /><br />Now the problem solvers over at <a href="http://www.weekdate.com/">Weekdate</a> have designed a closet notepad to track your outfits so you're not seen in the same thing too often.<br /><br />This has even bigger implications for organizing though. If you take the time to really write down what you wear every day, at the end of a year you'll be able to clearly see, without a doubt, if you don't wear certain clothes. And that can help tremendously when you have to make room in your closet and make tough choices about what to keep... and what's gotta go!<br /><br />It comes with a hole for hanging.<br />If you don't have a hook in your closet, 3M Command hooks <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://solutions.3m.com/3MContentRetrievalAPI/BlobServlet?locale=en_US&univid=1114282661192&fallback=true&assetType=MMM_Image&blobAttribute=ImageFile&placeId=7BC6E48B1800BAE180A88EBDDE349085&version=current"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 77px; height: 92px;" src="http://solutions.3m.com/3MContentRetrievalAPI/BlobServlet?locale=en_US&univid=1114282661192&fallback=true&assetType=MMM_Image&blobAttribute=ImageFile&placeId=7BC6E48B1800BAE180A88EBDDE349085&version=current" alt="" border="0" /></a>are super easy to put up and come in so many sizes you can find one for just about anything. And you don't have to put a hole in the wall because they stick right on. I like this size for my calendar - it hooks right on.<br /><br />-- AllisonAllison Spitzer Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01747319872226571354noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2969565666386724648.post-15452494312404262142008-12-04T21:07:00.003-05:002008-12-04T21:13:47.119-05:00Either ON or OFFAre you a creative person who operates in ON or OFF mode, but not much inbetween?<br />That's me in a nutshell... and I have been off for a few weeks.<br />I started a project around the training/mentoring in my organizing business (<a href="http://www.organizeru.com">Organizer U.</a>), and oooops, I have neglected my funky little blog.<br /><br />But it led me to give some thought to the creative process and whether other Right Brainers have these same tendencies.<br />Well, today I had a meeting with a book graphic artist and whaddya know, she says she's the same way. No wonder I prefer a marathon of organizing rather than doing it a little at a time. When I'm focused I'm really really focused. And when I'm not, I'm not.<br /><br />Something to think about. It doesn't make me a good or bad person, but it's useful to know so I don't set myself up for failure, expecting myself to work on something in bits when I'd rather be "All in".<br /><br />How about you?Allison Spitzer Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01747319872226571354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2969565666386724648.post-37183475081214263852008-11-11T07:45:00.002-05:002008-11-11T08:03:49.863-05:00Organized Artist/Author SARKDuring my Creativity Consult with author<a href="http://www.planetsark.com/"> SARK,</a> I took the opportunity to ask her about her own organizing habits.<br />When she was in Atlanta on book tour I found out she was not only organized, she confessed to being ultra-organized, something that is hard for a creative person to own, because creatives are supposed to be messy and embrace messiness, right?<br />Wrong!<br />SARK loves being organized.<br /><ul><li>Her files are organized by topic and then alphabetically within the topic.</li><li>She organizes her address book by first name, which computers and phones are not very cooperative about.</li><li>She says she would rather do her winter clothing purge than go to a party!</li><li>She is Virgo rising for all you astrology followers out there - which she says indicates she is obsessed with detail.</li></ul><br />We got to talking about junk drawers, and the point at which I just toss the crumbs of stuff into the trash. She told me a short story about her packrat parents. She would organize the junk drawer and throw out the stray paperclips and pennies.<br /><br />But her father would go through the trash and emerge asking, " Do you know what I just found? A string, a paper clip, a rubberband and a penny! Do you know where I found them?"<br />She would answer, "in the trash."<br />She laughed thinking about it now.<br /><br />By the way, SARK says she is planning to add these individual creativity consults to her business coming in January 2009. She's going to call it Couching with SARK, (instead of coaching - It tooke me a few minutes to get the play)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.planetsark.com/studio_ask_jupiter.htm"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 254px;" src="http://www.planetsark.com/cs_functions/ask_jupiter/images/ask_me_08.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />So you too can get inspired by the juicy artist/writer/coach.<br />Keep watching<a href="http://www.planetsark.com/index.htm"> her website</a> for more details.<br />Oh - do sign up for her newsletter. It's colorful and so fun to get each month.<br /><br />There are a few other freebies on the site and one really silly spot - <a href="http://www.planetsark.com/studio_ask_jupiter.htm">ask Jupiter</a> (her cat)<br />If the Magic 8 Ball was a cat, what would the answer be when you asked it a question.<br /><br />Find it in the the<a href="http://www.planetsark.com/studio_home.htm"> Sark Studio</a>Allison Spitzer Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01747319872226571354noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2969565666386724648.post-10304349724813158332008-11-10T21:23:00.002-05:002008-11-10T21:30:17.278-05:00on a SARK high!I drank from the SARK water tonight and I'm on a high!<br />I won a creativity consultation with the author in a blogging contest and I couldn't have asked for a more perfect prize. See I've been hesitating to promote my book "Color Me Organized" because my evil lizard self keeps sending me "not good enough" thoughts.<br />So tonight I got the chance to talk to my muse about my thoughts.<br />What an extraordinary woman. She was so easy to talk to, like talking to a friend I've known for years. She gave me some great pointers for using my "not good enough" thoughts to spark the answers for myself.<br />I give my SARK time two thumbs up with sparkly purple nail polish on my thumbs.<br />Now I do my exercises and baby steps and become the best organizing writer for artsy fartsies.<br />-- AllisonAllison Spitzer Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01747319872226571354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2969565666386724648.post-3038343754527916232008-11-08T11:02:00.003-05:002008-11-08T11:18:06.588-05:00Alternate to FilingFiling is a great way to store paper. But let's just face the fact that Righties often take issue with it.<br />1. if you don't do it regularly you get a pile.<br />so<br />2. why not just pile in the first place<br />and<br />3. I know where things are in my piles so why should I put things in a drawer or box because then I won't know where they are anymore.<br /><br />There are some handy alternatives for those who don't want to file because it is m<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.seejanework.com/ProductCart/pc/catalog/905400_general.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="http://www.seejanework.com/ProductCart/pc/catalog/905400_general.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>ore work or suffer from OOSOOM (out of sight, out of mind).<br /><br />My favorite is using stacking trays because you can get lots of them and at least have categorized stacks. The same principles apply as in filing, but you will need broader categories so that you don't have 137 or more trays.<br />These fun colored trays are from <a href="http://www.seejanework.com">See Jane Work</a><br /><br />Begin with the action trays: To Do, To Go, To File, To Pay and Someday<br />That can be one stack.<br />2nd Stack will be home papers: House, Finances, Insurance, Health, Personal<br />This only works well if you're willing to cut the crap and just save the minimum amount of stuff.<br />If you are an info-holic, you gotta pick another route because you'll end up with too many trays to manage.<br /><br />Other handy bins, buckets and trays:<br />coupons to use<br />receipts to keep/file/toss later<br />schedules<br /><br />The people at Pendaflex did a bunch of research and found that there are a ton of people who actually prefer piling to filing and they created some great products to make your piling more workable.<br /><br />My favorite is the <a href="http://tinyurl.com/6hv89s">Pilesmart files</a> .<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41fC4mYRnLL._SL500_AA280_PIbundle-6,TopRight,0,0_AA280_SH20_.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 280px; height: 280px;" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41fC4mYRnLL._SL500_AA280_PIbundle-6,TopRight,0,0_AA280_SH20_.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />You can see into them and lay them across your desk with just the tab showing or the whole thing showing.<br />There are a variety of these with write-on tabs on the side or bottom.<br />The files also make it easy to take your action items on the go.<br /><br />Lots of people will tell you all kinds of rules about managing paper, but there is only one rule<br />Find out what works for your style.<br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Do </span></span>what works for you<br />And make it work!Allison Spitzer Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01747319872226571354noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2969565666386724648.post-81510646188204054012008-11-06T09:01:00.003-05:002008-11-06T09:11:24.017-05:00Gadget Junkie ConfessesPart 1 - The Stuff<br />It's me. I admit it. I'm a gadget junkie. It started out as a kid. I wanted a calculator (can you guess my age?) They were expensive and were the Bar Mitzvah gift of choice. It grew as I collected walkman after walkman, cd players, tape recorders and cameras. Then came the computer era to usher in a new unfathomable pletorha of cool gadgets. It's not just the stuff that plugs in either. It's also the software and the online tools.<br />It can be an organizers nightmare.... or a dream.<br /><br />I have dealt with this need to try new stuff by making a single rule. I can only keep the thing that is newest and the one that came before it. (keep the last generation in case something stops working suddenly) Anything older must go. It's about the only way I can stay sane and not become the collector of all things gadget.<br /><br />Do I wish I still had my 512K macintosh from college to use as the coolest doorstop ever? Nah.<br />Once you begin living with a rule, it becomes the norm and a rationalization you can live by forever.<br /><br />I recently found my college broadcast journalism tape recorder and microphone. I wish I could say they are collectors items, but alas, they are just new techno junkery.<br /><br />PART II - The Passwords<br />Every time I want to try out new online gadgets I have to sign in with a user name and password. And sometimes they don't let me use the same one that I usually use.<br />And like a true Right Brainer - I don't want to take the time to open up my spreadsheet of passwords every time I make one.<br />So instead I write the PW on a post-it along with my user name and website.<br />I stick the PW on my every-day-spiral where I write everything I'm doing, thinking, messages, etc. <br />When the pile gets to be about 10 high - I go to my spreadsheet(s) and enter them all in, and alphabetize the list (by website)<br /><br />How do you organize your passwords? And is it working?Allison Spitzer Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01747319872226571354noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2969565666386724648.post-86362562093935493352008-10-30T16:41:00.004-04:002008-10-30T16:50:55.827-04:00How to be creativeThere is a lot of great advice on the internet about how to be creative, get inspired, start when staring at a blank page....<br />This is one of <a href="http://www.gapingvoid.com/Moveable_Type/archives/000932.html">my favorite lists - from Gaping Void</a>'s Hugh Macleod.<br />Here is a sampling to whet your appetite:<br /><p><b>15. The most important thing a creative person can learn professionally is where to draw the red line that separates what you are willing to do, and what you are not.</b></p> <p><b>16. The world is changing.</b></p> <p><b>17. Merit can be bought. Passion can't. </b></p> <p><b>18. Avoid the Watercooler Gang.</b></p> <p><b>19. Sing in your own voice.</b></p><br />The genius of his cartoons is the utter simplicty.<br />He is known for cartooning on the back of business cards.<br />If you haven't seen his work, check it out at <a href="http://www.gapingvoid.com">www.gapingvoid.com</a>Allison Spitzer Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01747319872226571354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2969565666386724648.post-71146764542272036132008-10-27T14:51:00.004-04:002008-10-27T15:00:36.699-04:00Color Me Organized is even more colorful<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo5iZ9vGSWNwCte7ycFExAPHAtEE4HNygcrO1YP2YYpCqlpzZq9dIzNls73KWO0CYWv9OBPnc7aAHPszqHZt4aZg8wrYY44REr19brZhNsD-a2GN-RV-qBq5LNhl35nd4BaFlujbcvREY/s1600-h/CMOorangemed.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 154px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo5iZ9vGSWNwCte7ycFExAPHAtEE4HNygcrO1YP2YYpCqlpzZq9dIzNls73KWO0CYWv9OBPnc7aAHPszqHZt4aZg8wrYY44REr19brZhNsD-a2GN-RV-qBq5LNhl35nd4BaFlujbcvREY/s200/CMOorangemed.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261909191089689010" border="0" /></a><br />Coming up with ideas is difficult for so many people.<br />Not for us creatives!<br />Ideas come bubbling up all the time for me.<br />I had so many more activity and how-to ideas that I had to update the activity-play-book for the clutter challenged.<br /><br />I've uploaded the newest version on lulu.com (she said relieved - as if going through childbirth.)<br />Take a sneak peek here:<br /><a href="http://www.lulu.com/content/4653870">http://www.lulu.com/content/4653870</a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEhpRwR9hYVDl8_10yteOBbp4anrQyVQKIPOz1J5ealyiDOLLDs_kCTbSfTgS16_kYrm4FRLGA05R3f5Xj4whHTXV3MA_jJPq2wEfqL5yUhZg3WB1hyphenhyphenmY_nE7_ecaXs-HA3RldhJRSjiU/s1600-h/magicwand.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 154px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEhpRwR9hYVDl8_10yteOBbp4anrQyVQKIPOz1J5ealyiDOLLDs_kCTbSfTgS16_kYrm4FRLGA05R3f5Xj4whHTXV3MA_jJPq2wEfqL5yUhZg3WB1hyphenhyphenmY_nE7_ecaXs-HA3RldhJRSjiU/s200/magicwand.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261910261340004066" border="0" /></a><br />Here's a page that didn't go in the book.<br />It is part of the Color-Me-Organized workshop.<br /><br />-- AllisonAllison Spitzer Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01747319872226571354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2969565666386724648.post-88129092988352206742008-10-24T08:38:00.003-04:002008-10-24T08:58:48.128-04:00Creative way to get kids to clean up<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.boston.com/yourlife/family/blog/messy%20room.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 397px; height: 300px;" src="http://www.boston.com/yourlife/family/blog/messy%20room.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />I've got to tell you I nearly fell off my chair laughing when my wonderfully sarcastic friend Amy told me this story of how she got her 10-year-old son to pick up his room.<br /><br />Amy said, Jay, come up to your room. There's a get together.<br />We're having a party.<br /><br />Of course he was curious and amused and quickly followed.<br /><br />Once in the room, Amy said Jay, let me make some introductions.<br />Dirty clothes, meet the hamper.<br />Mr. Hamper, meet Mr. Underwear.<br />And Jay put the clothes in the hamper.<br />Jay, meet your drawers. <br />And she kept going around the room introducing items to Jay and the spot they belong.<br />She says he was laughing the whole way through.<br />Having a sense of humor about it took the stress out of getting Jay to do what needed to be done.<br />I might serve mocktails if they do a good job.<br /><br />Have you tried using humor to motivate you or others to get organized?<br /><br />-- AllisonAllison Spitzer Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01747319872226571354noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2969565666386724648.post-69232073542141406012008-10-22T20:57:00.003-04:002008-10-22T21:04:19.597-04:00Creatives do your own marketing?Marketing advice is everywhere these days.<br />But everyone in business has a lightbulb moment - a favorite piece of advice that gets your wheels turning in a new direction.<br />The best piece of marketing advice I got was to stop doing my own marketing.<br />Us creatives think if we're visual we are certainly going to do work as good as any designer.<br />I was trying to make a great logo, print my own business cards, make flyers and more.<br />They weren't terrible, but they also weren't "professional" looking.<br />Oh yeah, I did my own web design too.<br />But now, I let the experts make me look good.<br />My stuff may or may not be your cup o'tea, but it shows I am investing in my own company.<br /><br />What is the best marketing advice you ever got?Allison Spitzer Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01747319872226571354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2969565666386724648.post-86853647924145561642008-10-19T09:22:00.003-04:002008-10-19T10:13:11.080-04:00Creating Books<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.lulu.com/author/display_thumbnail.php?fSize=detail_&fCID=2601266"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://www.lulu.com/author/display_thumbnail.php?fSize=detail_&fCID=2601266" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Creative people couldn't be living at a better time.<br />Our techie counterparts have made it soooo easy for us to take our ideas and make them into interesting and memorable products that can be used for ourselves, shared, and sold.<br />I'm talking about books. Picture books. Word books. Work books. And play books.<br />The internet abounds with places to put your creative works on paper.<br /><br />Photography lovers have a multitude of options for creating picture books that are of artistic nature, or just a photo album for the family or to commemorate an event. I'm no photography buff, nor am I a graphic artist, but I was able to make a photo book for my parents' 50th wedding anniversary in minutes using apple's program straight from my iphoto library.<br /><br />There are so many times these sites would be a great resource: weddings, birthdays, art portfolio, kids' artwork keepsake book, and I recently saw someone who scanned all of her concert tickets and made a book of concert memories. (Makes me wanna scream "freebird!") And how about a cookbook with photos? So many ideas, so little time. (a Right Brainer's curse) And for all you bloggers, you can turn your blog posts and photos into a book on blurb as well. (see example on their site)<br /><br />Just a few resources for creating photo books are:<br /><a href="http://www.blurb.com/">blurb</a><br /><a href="http://www.snapfish.com/">snapfish</a><br /><a href="http://www.ophoto.com/">ophoto</a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/">flickr</a><br /><a href="http://www.bighugelabs.com/">bighugelabs</a> - lots of fun products<br /><a href="http://www.apple.com/ilife/iphoto/#prints">apple</a> - using iphoto<br /><a href="http://www.lulu.com/">lulu</a><br /><br />For the writers, there are countless websites that allow you to create anything and everything you want in book form and on some there is no cost at all besides the printing and shipping. And what I love on many is that you can print one or thousands.<br />I have used lulu.com myself for a workbook, tips books, and a <a href="http://www.lulu.com/allisoncarter">coloring/how-to playbook</a> for organizing. But there are so many places to go if you want a printed book of your own poetry, comic strips or any other writing.<br />Some options are:<br /><a href="http://www.lulu.com/">lulu</a><br /><a href="http://www.iuniverse.com/">iuniverse</a><br /><a href="http://www.booksurge.com/">booksurge</a><br /><a href="http://www.xlibris.com/">xlibris</a><br /><br /><br />Information about Publishing and Printing on Demand<br /><a href="http://www.publishondemand.net/">http://www.publishondemand.net/</a><br /><a href="http://www.sfwa.org/BEWARE/printondemand.html">http://www.sfwa.org/BEWARE/printondemand.html</a><br /><br /><br />If you are planning to sell your product to the masses, be aware of <a href="http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/27/amazon-muscles-print-on-demand-services/">new policies that Amazon.com is putting into place.</a><br /><br />Have you made any print on demand books???<br />Tell us about your book and the experience!Allison Spitzer Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01747319872226571354noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2969565666386724648.post-7039083309347309282008-10-11T19:52:00.005-04:002008-10-11T20:44:48.889-04:00Right Brainers Rule #3 - Doodle DoingIdeas don't always come in neat sequential lists. In fact mine hardly ever do.<br /><br />The folks at <a href="http://www.lobotome.com/brainiac.htm#List%20Me%20note%20pad">Lobotome </a>know this too and they've made a nifty list maker just for Righties. The List Me ,Doodle Me notepad is great for taking to the grocery store or sitting at your desk. (That's where most my doodles happen)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.lobotome.com/images/listME5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://www.lobotome.com/images/listME5.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://shop.littleotsu.com/products/balloon-notes-notepad-by-lart-c-berliner">Little Otsu </a>offers up baloon notes, a to-do list or whatever list that is lined on one side and not on the other.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://static2.shopify.com/s/files/1/0006/3622/products/lo70_3_large.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://static2.shopify.com/s/files/1/0006/3622/products/lo70_3_large.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />And Little Otsu also has <a href="http://shop.littleotsu.com/products/to-do-notepad-by-yvonne-chen">this to do pad</a> - quirky lines on one side and blank on the other.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://static3.shopify.com/s/files/1/0006/3622/products/LO68_5_large.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://static3.shopify.com/s/files/1/0006/3622/products/LO68_5_large.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />What do your doodles mean??<br /><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A256466">Find out here</a><br />And <a href="http://www.heraldtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051122/FEATURES/51122001">here</a><br />and <a href="http://www.heraldtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051122/FEATURES/51122001">here</a><br /><br />Got any products for Right Brainers that you'd like to see here?<br />Send your ideas!Allison Spitzer Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01747319872226571354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2969565666386724648.post-65403066609636526482008-10-09T07:54:00.005-04:002008-10-09T08:23:53.014-04:00Right Brainers Rule Month #2<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNYzZc12X_OFo4iddTBHVuuJ5-n9zL3KURKOHR9EJ6VpKtAmZwPwO_A4E2u6p8SLcj9cgDN071F-4Fw4NC-IfkjE8HUuZ3XNrJOGdLJbnLWpbpSAy-U2WdkfYLlv2Jjb9NmZCgRgtSTbk/s1600-h/DSCN0282.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNYzZc12X_OFo4iddTBHVuuJ5-n9zL3KURKOHR9EJ6VpKtAmZwPwO_A4E2u6p8SLcj9cgDN071F-4Fw4NC-IfkjE8HUuZ3XNrJOGdLJbnLWpbpSAy-U2WdkfYLlv2Jjb9NmZCgRgtSTbk/s200/DSCN0282.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255122360303707426" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Try out a Right Brain approach you haven't tried before.<br />Organize books by color insted of by subject or alphabetical.<br /><br />This is my shelf of organizing books - I still like to keep them by category.<br />Other people have organized entire book collections by color. (2nd photo from flickr)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2339/1887520417_eb2e5d812a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2339/1887520417_eb2e5d812a.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>When your brain thinks that way.<br />If you search for a book by its blue jacket, then you probably think by color. I do that.<br /><br /> I also think in categories simultaneously so it helps me to sort by topic first, and then sort by color.<br /><br />If you like the look, try it! Let me know how you like it.<br />-- allison<br /><br />organizer@theprofessionalorganizer.comAllison Spitzer Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01747319872226571354noreply@blogger.com2