Photo: SXC

I do have a bookshelf in most rooms, but I try to limit it to one. I treat my books like my closet. I keep a few sentimental favorites and the rest have to be read or consulted sometime in the past year to make the cut. I also have three baskets of books. One for library books and one for each kid. They love to flip through the baskets and having one for the library books enables me to keep track of the books and to avoid having them get mixed in with our personal books.

Now, if I could just fall out of love with the smell and feel of actual books, with the magic of opening a cover and finding a new world in the pages inside, I could get an e-book reader, like the Kindle through Amazon.com and have all of my books stored electronically. So far, it just isn’t for me, though.

How do you keep your books straight?

Post from: Blisstree

Keeping All Those Books Straight

If you’re new to Declutter It, you may have missed me talking about this amazing book. If so, read, Organize Now! Possibly the Only Organizing Book You Need…

Trust me, I’ve read scads of organizing books, and many are good, even great, but this book you will love. If your goal is to get neat and tidy this year, check out my review of this book.

Next up, we’ll return to our regularly scheduled bathroom make-over.

Post from: Blisstree

An Organized Reminder

First of all, yes, the book really is this cute. I love the style and bright color. Face it, if you need to get organized, the last thing you need is to lose your darn guidebook. You won’t lose this one.

Basic facts about Organize Now!: 

• Organize Now! Is pratical without being dull. Not simply a how-to, there are loads of action steps included.
• The action steps and advice given are for short projects. This is cool, because when you’re first trying to get organized, a HUGE project seems, well, huge. Small steps are best for organizing newbies and that’s what this book dishes up.
• Besides smaller action steps there are also some great long-term goals included, but they totally won’t overwhelm you.
• I was actually kind of impressed that Jennifer found so many things to organize. This book covers the basics, such as bill paying systems, kids toys, and home spaces, but then went on to cover some completely non-typical organizing topics, like organizing your holiday, pregnancy, and how to organize after a loss. Many of these topics you don’t see in other books.

How the book is set up:

Hardback but spiral bound so it opens flat – perfect because it allows you to follow the tips, check them off, and take notes.

The book is broken into 7 major headings. Under each heading are smaller projects that go with the major heading. Example:

Then each smaller heading, for example, Organize Your Home Office, is broken down into four pages – an intro to the project, the weeks goals in a checkoff list format, helpful tips, and a very cool stay organized page that offers ideas for keeping your office organized at various intervals (once a month, every 3-6 months, once a year). There’s also a spot for personal notes.

Here are some image examples, so you can see the format (PS yeah they’re a little fuzzy, but I’m a blogger, not a photographer – sadly):

Visually – this is hands down the prettiest organizing book I’ve ever seen. Each section has it’s own special colors and design. This is part of the intro – look at the flowers!

And each chapter has a different fun paper design:

Overall book review score: 

PLUS

I’m giving this book six out of five stars. Why…

• Mainly because it actually kept me interested and I read a lot of organizing books, so keeping me interested in a new one, well, tough job. I think the visual appeal had a lot to do with that.
• This is the perfect book for folks new to organizing. I’d probably go so far to say, that this might be the only book you’d need.
• There were no surprises; each chapter was organized just like the last.
• There was no annoying hook. So many decluttering and organizing books have some oddball hook, motto, or slang that peppers the entire text (which is SO annoying). This was no nonsense, simple, get it done organizing advice.
• Lastly, it’s a great deal – (under $11 at Amazon) you can’t beat it.

Get the book, get organized, and stay organized – you can thank me later. Get the book, Organize Now!

Visit Jennifer’s site and blog

[images via my little old camera and Jennifer's site]

Post from: Blisstree

Holiday Gift Guide: Organize Now! Possibly the Only Organizing Book You Need…

So, without looking at the original post, can you tell what sort of organizing structure this is? Julie – would know, (so Julie no guessing)
It’s ultra cool and the entire set-up can be seen at Apartment Therapy (a killer blog by the way).

Post from: Blisstree

Pop Quiz: Name This Organizing Structure