You are here: Home / Archives for Claire Kurtz

On the Go: Our Favorite Organizational Apps

January 20, 2012 By Leave a Comment

In keeping with our recent theme of organizational resolutions for the New Year, let’s spend a little time going mobile! That’s right, your mobile devices and computers are great resources for helping you achieve your goals in the time management, organizational and financial arenas – on the go. Here are the best WOW-approved apps for keeping your life organized, no matter where you are in your day!

EverNote: Let’s face it, it’s tough keeping track of everything you need to do and remember in your life. That’s why I LOVE Evernote.com and its mobile app. The majority of my day is spent out of the house and at appointments. Working is therapeutic for me –  I often do a lot of my best thinking during this time – which means I’m always coming up with ideas and to-dos for my own life. It can be tough to organize these goals, but with the Evernote app, I can easily whip out my phone and record such things as the books I’d like to read, movies I’d like to watch, articles I’d like to write, recipes I’d like to cook, webpages I’d like to revisit and new organizational tools I’d like to try. But what if I can’t remember the note once I need it? Well, there’s a tool for that, of course! Evernote has a search function that allows me to use keywords to reference the note or list I’d created for myself earlier that day or even two weeks ago. It syncs with my other devices, and I can even share notes with friends and employees. This app is my organizational lifesaver, and I recommend it to most of my clients.

Mint: Ever feel like you have so many accounts in so many places and no way to organize them? Fear not!  Mint.com does it for you in a safe, secure and mobile environment. Your Mint app connects and tracks information from each of your checking accounts, savings accounts, credit cards, loans and retirement funds. At any point in time, I can pull up my mint.com profile and see how much money is in each my financial accounts, all in one place. But what I love most about this app is the goal-setting function. You can set goals for paying off credit card and loan balances or saving for big purchases, on a self-determined timeline. The app shows you how much you need to pay or save each month to reach your goal. We all need a little help to reach our financial goals, and mint.com provides the encouragement and accountability you need to achieve an organized financial year.

PageOnce: Pageonce.com is a wonderful app that helps you organize your finances AND pay your bills online, from one place. Like mint.com, you can view each and every account in your financial life, safely and securely, and you can pay your bills on time from your smartphone with the touch of a button. Pageonce.com will also send you alerts and reminders when you have a bill due, which helps avoid late fees. You can even choose which account you’d like to use to pay that bill. I appreciate this function, as I can’t always remember every single log-in and password when I’m on the move and in between appointments. As a bonus feature, Pageonce will also import updates from other online accounts, such as travel, shopping, social networks, event management sites, and email. If you’re a busy woman, the Pageonce app keeps your online life organized and respects your time management goals – WOW!

Dinner Spinner: Whenever I decide to cook a meal that is unfamiliar to me and my kitchen, I head straight to allrecipes.com for ideas that are quick and easy. I love to cook, but I’m also very busy, and so are my clients. Not only do I find what I’m looking for, but allrecipes.com also points me to variations on the theme in the event that the first recipe I find isn’t the right one for me and my family. Dinner Spinner is the mobile app for allrecipes.com, and it is compatible with both the iPhone and Android platforms. With this app, I can browse recipes, bookmark my favorites, share recipes with friends and create a shopping list. Cooking dinner at home helps me save money, a goal I set for my family every year. Being able to organize my meals on the go is just the icing on the cake!

 

Grocery Gadgets: Another app that saves me money and time on my way to the grocery store is Grocery Gadgets. It allows me to organize my grocery lists, recipes and coupons for free, on my phone. The app even syncs with every device in my household, which keeps my kitchen life managed, no matter where I am. With Grocery Gadgets, I can create my list, see the prices and search for offers online – talk about organized! The part I love the most about this app is that I can check the items off when I’ve bought them – putting the check in check-list is most gratifying for a Well-organized Woman!

 

If you are a mobile woman who is on the go all of the time, give any of these apps a try. You’ll be an organized, domestic and financial goddess in no time! Enjoy!

-TWOW

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Meet the WOW Team!

December 19, 2011 By Leave a Comment

WOW is growing by leaps and bounds, and I couldn’t be happier about that! With each new person that has joined our team, we’ve added additional capabilities to our WOW list of services, and I’d like to introduce you to our group.

Mandi Armond- The newest member of the WOW team, Mandi brings experience in executive communications and writing, calendaring, travel coordination, lifestyle organization and household management. Her professional past includes positions assisting C-level executives, families, and individuals in a variety of settings and with a number of professional and personal tasks. She will be instrumental to the growth of our organization, as she also brings experience and awareness in the areas of marketing, social media and public relations, website development, and events planning. A resident of Midtown Atlanta, Mandi holds a B.A. in Political Science from California Lutheran University and an M.A. in Psychology from University of San Francisco. The Well-Organized Woman is thrilled to have Mandi by her side!

Lisa Herhuth – Lisa serves as a Professional Organizer and Personal Assistant for WOW, working  directly with clients, as well as behind the scenes to maintain the high level of service our clients deserve and expect. She has worked with a diverse range of clientele, including prominent television personalities and business owners and has an extensive background in all facets of personal and administrative assistance. Lisa’s areas of expertise include planning events and travel arrangements, in-home and office organization, and staging and accessorizing spaces. She has been with WOW for over a year and has played a significant role in strengthening our core capabilities. She and her husband Ron live in the Roswell area.

Elise Giannasi – Elise recently joined The Well-Organized Woman as our Social Media Director, working to integrate all WOW-related content across our various web platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, the WOW website and more! She is based in New York City where she began her career in management consulting and now holds a post at an advertising agency in Manhattan. She is also a hairstylist in her spare time and you’ll also see her as a  contributing style and beauty editor to our blog!

Allison Workman – We’ve expanded our reach, bringing the gifts of organization and personal assistance to the Athens area with Allison Workman at the helm of our new branch. She has spent over 20 years helping people help themselves in a number of settings, so we are thrilled to have her leading the charge in our new geography. Allison is a firm believer in making your time, space and possessions work for you, not against you. In fact, she is living proof that an organized and simplified life allows the experiences you love to enter your day — in addition to being a founding member of Canopy Studio’s Repertory Company, Allison teaches adult trapeze classes in the evenings and is the mother of a 5-year old son. Welcome Allison and Athens!

Debbie Strasser – Debbie joins the Well-Organized Woman team as a Master Organizer with six years of entrepreneurial experience in the field. Her past positions in the restaurant, retail management and recruitment fields created the foundation for her foray into organizing. And of course, being the mother of four active boys under age 13 has also refined Debbie’s expertise in organization and time management. Debbie’s areas of specialization include personal, small business, and family organization with emphasis on creating systems that are easily mastered and enable clients to manage their daily life. Space planning and design solutions are also important facets of Debbie’s well-rounded skill set, and we are thrilled to have her here to bolster the offerings of WOW! She and her family reside in Acworth.

 

We are so grateful for such a well-rounded team and look forward to growing WOW even more in the coming year, so stay tuned!
-TWOW

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: , , ,

GUEST POST: Organizing Your Child’s Library

December 9, 2011 By 1 Comment

“So please, oh PLEASE, we beg, we pray, Go throw your TV set away, And in its place you can install, A lovely bookshelf on the wall.”
— Roald Dahl, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory


If your child has enough books to operate her own children’s library, is it possible that she has too much of a good thing?

First of all, is storage space or clutter the primary concern? Have you weeded the toy population yet? (In my humble opinion, books trump toys!) If so, by all means limit the number of books to fit comfortably in the child’s room. Work with your child to set aside stacks of his favorite books and those that don’t appeal to him. Don’t state that any books will be discarded at first, as this may result in a number of unlikely additions to the favorites pile. Some “special” books may include favorite bedtime stories, gifts from family members, or the first book that your child read on her own.

If your little one is too young to help with this task, spend a week or two paying close attention to his current likes and dislikes. As you know best, some items are grabbed and handled more than others!

Once the selection is complete, set aside any discarded books that once had special meaning for you and your child. If space permits, he may value having these as an adult. You may also wish to store seasonal favorites or any books that you suspect your child has discarded because they are too advanced for her present reading level. These may also be stored and introduced at an appropriate time (more on that later!).

Whether your home can hold the entire Library of Congress collection or only a single shelf’s worth of books, now is a great time to consider the role that the books in your child’s room play in her literacy development. It’s amazing how significantly home-based reading habits and choices can affect your child’s reading confidence and proficiency!

Remain in active dialogue with your child’s teacher and other caregivers about her reading habits and development at school or daycare. We teachers are always happy to support at-home learning! Whether you hear that your child could use some support to reach grade level proficiency, is right on target, or is several steps ahead of his peers, you’ll be able to reinforce and challenge his learning at home.

Maintaining book balance:

Even timid readers typically feel very proud of their reading accomplishments. Be sure to keep a few books that your child has mastered recently and allow her the opportunity to “show off” her skills by reading aloud to you or a sibling. Likewise, particularly if your child is an emerging reader, keep those alphabet and phonics-based books handy. She may benefit from looking back at these for some time.

Every child requires a bit of challenge for reading advancement. Your child’s book collection should include several books that are challenging for him to read alone, but that, with your help and practice, he will be able to master with effort. Parents can be particularly helpful during a child’s transition from picture to chapter books. It’s a good idea to have a few of these on hand and read them with your child in small doses, even if he resists reading them alone or isn’t yet able to do so.

Whether or not you have the space for serious stacks or a single shelf, remember that reducing the number of things your child owns is a great opportunity to teach lasting positive behaviors. Consider helping your child decide to donate some favorite but outgrown books to charity. Exchanging books at a used bookstore is a great way to teach the concept of “reusing” resources.

Finally, don’t forget your neighborhood library! You’ll be happy with the saved space and money. Your child will find an abundance of books free for the reading and will gain a sense of responsibility when she learns how to check out a book, enjoy it at home, and return it on time so others may enjoy it.

Back to the original question for a second, though—the teacher in me says there can never be “too many” books in a child’s life—it’s really just a matter of managing their presence appropriately.

–Erin L. Kelly, M.A., C.A.S., M.Ed.
Art Conservator / Educator / Outreach

Erin is an independent educator, art conservator, and visual artist who enjoys writing and promoting creative projects in her spare time and is happy to call Atlanta home. She enjoys teaching students of all ages and has worked in traditional classrooms, universities, museums, and remotely, as a distance learning coach. Along with visual art and art-integrated science, English, and math instruction, Erin offers curriculum design, content, and consulting services.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

From the WOW Kitchen – Favorite Thanksgiving Recipes

November 23, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Given that Thanksgiving is just a day away, I thought I’d take a moment to share a few of my favorite recipes I’ve used over the years at this holiday, just in case you’re in need of some last-minute menu organization. My recipes are all quite simple and are often borrowed from other sources, including the back of the bag the main ingredient is in! Enjoy!

Fig & Pine Nut Stuffing - from RealSimple.com, this recipe has the hearty flavors of fall, and the figs add just a pinch of sweetness. I recommend making this recipe the night before or the morning of Thanksgiving before you start on the turkey. You can always warm it up just before everything goes out on the table!

Ingredients:

  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus more for the baking dish and foil
  • 1 large loaf Italian bread (about 1 pound), cut into 3⁄4-inch pieces (about 16 cups)
  • 2 medium onions, chopped
  • 4 celery stalks, thinly sliced
  • kosher salt and black pepper
  • 1/2 cup dry white wine
  • 2 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 2 large eggs, beaten
  • 1 cup dried mission figs, chopped
  • 1/2 cup pine nuts
  • 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves

Directions:

  1. Heat oven to 375° F. Butter a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Divide the bread between 2 rimmed baking sheets and bake until dry and crisp, 10 to 12 minutes.
  2. Meanwhile, melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onions, celery, 1 teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until very tender and beginning to brown, 10 to 12 minutes. Add the wine and cook until evaporated, 2 to 4 minutes; transfer to a large bowl and let cool for 10 minutes.
  3. Add the bread, broth, eggs, figs, pine nuts, thyme, and ½ teaspoon salt to the vegetables and toss to combine. Transfer to the prepared baking dish. Cover with buttered foil and bake for 20 minutes. Uncover and bake until browned, 20 to 30 minutes more.

Sweet Potato Casserole – Who doesn’t love sweet potatoes on Thanksgiving?! This recipe, from the southern food section of about.com, adds a lovely sweetness to your plate, and it makes the house smell amazing while it’s baking!

Ingredients:

  • 3 cups mashed sweet potatoes
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 2 eggs, lightly beaten
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1/2 cup melted butter
  • Topping:
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1/3 cup flour
  • 1/3 cup melted butter
  • 1 cup chopped pecans

Directions:

Combine first 6 ingredients. Pour into a buttered 1 1/2 to 2-quart casserole dish. Mix remaining ingredients together and sprinkle over top. Bake at 350° for 30 to 40 minutes, until hot and browned. Serves 6 to 8.

Green Bean Casserole – This recipe is from allrecipes.com. It’s a lovely variation on the traditional Campbell’s soup recipe. In fact, I like it better! I still use the fried onions because I love their flavor and texture. Simply substitute ~1 cup in place of the crackers below.

Ingredients:

  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon white sugar
  • 1/4 cup onion, diced
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 3 (14.5 ounce) cans French style green beans, drained
  • 2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
  • 1/2 cup crumbled buttery round crackers
  • 1 tablespoon butter, melted

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
  2. Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Stir in flour until smooth, and cook for one minute. Stir in the salt, sugar, onion, and sour cream. Add green beans, and stir to coat.
  3. Transfer the mixture to a 2 1/2 quart casserole dish. Spread shredded cheese over the top. In a small bowl, toss together cracker crumbs and remaining butter, and sprinkle over the cheese.
  4. Bake for 30 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the top is golden and cheese is bubbly.

Cranberry Sauce - Though it’s right off the bag of the Ocean Spray cranberries, this recipe is one of my favorites and has always been a welcome addition to my plate – especially on a piece of turkey! I like to make two batches the night before Turkey Day and save one to go with all of our leftovers!

Ingredients:

1 c. sugar
1 c. water
1 12 oz. bag Ocean Spray Cranberries

Directions:

Combine sugar and water in a medium saucepan. Bring to boil; add cranberries, return to boil. Reduce heat and boil gently for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Cover and cool completely at room temperature. Refrigerate until serving time. Makes 2 1/4 cups.

Pecan Pie – This is my favorite pecan pie recipe from my favorite restaurant in Athens, GA, The Grit! My family loves it so much, I even made extras last year and sent them as gifts! Buy the cookbook here!

Ingredients:

1 Basic Pie Crust
⅓ c. melted butter
1 c. sugar
1 c. light corn syrup
3 large eggs, beaten
⅛ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 teaspoon brandy
1-1/2 c. pecan halves or pieces

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a deep-dish pie pan with Basic Pie Crust. In a large mixing bowl, beat together butter, sugar, and corn syrup. Beat in eggs and stir in remaining ingredients. Pour into pie crust. Place pie on large cookie sheet. Bake 50 to 55 minutes until crust is lightly browned, filling is dark brown and a toothpick inserted into center comes out clean. Cool completely before serving. Yields 8 to 10 servings.

 

Other easy favorites include green peas and mushrooms (to add a little color to your plate), Pilsbury crescent rolls (so warm and buttery) and, in a pinch, Costco pumpkin pie (it’s enormous and really tasty)! Best of luck with your holiday meals. I am thankful for each of my clients and all of my readers!

-TWOW

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Claire Kurtz Organizes Her Closet: A Follow-up Post

October 21, 2011 By 1 Comment

As a follow-up to last week’s post, I’d like to share my own seasonal closet changeover experience. After all, I wouldn’t be the Well-Organized Woman if I didn’t follow my own advice! It’s really taken an unexpected turn towards arctic temps this week here in Georgia, so I knew it was time to dig in – out with the old and in with the warm and cozy, I say! And yes, ‘arctic temps’ is a slight exaggeration.

Sandals to Keep

I started the closet rotation by gathering my summer clothes and shoes and sorting into my store, donate and trash piles. Decisions for what to keep are usually pretty easy for me, so I was able to quickly gather and bag these items for storage. These silver sandals were my only question mark for the keeps.  I like them but I’ve owned them for two summers and have worn them once. I’ll give them one more summer, and if I don’t wear them again, they’re out!

I like to cycle things in and out of my wardrobe, so donate and trash piles are not too much of a struggle for me, either. However, I still like to give them a little thought. I picked out a summer dress, a black lace cami and a pair of shoes to donate. The dress is a color I like but it requires a cami under it and a shrug over it, and I’ve never felt great in it. It’s still in good condition so off to Goodwill it goes! I purchased these shoes on sale while shopping for boots. I’ve worn them once, they hurt my heels and aren’t even my style so….Goodwill for these, as well. And finally, this black lace cami is still in good condition, but I no longer like it so that was a fast drop into the donate pile.

Cami to Donate

Shoes to Donate

Dress to Donate

Yesterday I grabbed my trash items quickly. A few undergarments went right in the trash, of course, and then I said goodbye to this comfortable but shapeless sleep shirt and this well-worn work shirt.

Shirts for the Trash

I have to place an online order for basic camis and tank tops first, and then all of the old versions are into the trash, as well. (I’m very hard on my clothes!!)

Our Home Storage Unit

At home, my husband and I use this 9-cube organizer in our closet to store all sorts of clothing: in winter – sweaters and work-out clothes and in summer – shorts, work-out clothes and tanks. Clients may recognize this organizer as the one I recommend for virtually any room! From playrooms and craft rooms to closets and kitchens, it’s a great multipurpose storage item.  It is now empty and ready for our trip to storage this evening to retrieve our sweaters and winter work-out clothes.

Ready for a trip to storage!

We love living in Midtown Atlanta, but the trade-off for city living in a condo is, of course, space!  Our solution is a storage unit nearby that holds our off-season clothing, large luggage and various holiday decorations.

Every seasonal closet rotation or decorating spree requires a quick trip to the storage space where we pull out the new season’s needs and pack in last month’s goods until next year.

And with that, I’ll wish you a happy weekend!
–TWOW

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Choosing Your Personalized Stationery

September 29, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Recently, I ordered two new sets of personalized stationery and an address stamp, and it struck me that I should share the process with my readers. Not only is having your own stationery a small way of showing care for yourself, but it also shows your recipients that you think they are special. After all, there is nothing more personal and thoughtful than a handwritten note.

I am crazy about stationery and always have been. In my pre-WOW years, I even collected too much of it! I had note cards of every style, shape and size. As I began my transformation to a well-organized life, I realized that I didn’t need so much of a variety, but instead wanted something a little more personal.

Claire's Personal Stationery

I’ve heard similar stories from many clients who, as they discovered the well-organized woman within, made the choice to free themselves of quantity and opt for quality.

To create a streamlined, organized and simple stationery wardrobe, you can start small with a set of correspondence cards, fold-over notes (informals) and envelopes.

  • Personal Set: Allow yourself one set that is just for you for personal notes, thank you notes, notes of sympathy, etc. I’ve included pictures of my choice for my own personal set.
  • Family Set: A set for you and your partner or family is optional but often appropriate. It can be perfect for thank-you notes and attaching to gifts from the family or the two of you. If your spouse does not want his own stationery, a family set with just your last name initial is easy for him to use, as well. I’ve also included a photo of my family set choice.
  • Gift Enclosures: I ordered gift enclosures with my new set of stationery. They are usually the size of a business card, come with a corresponding envelope and are perfect for tucking into a gift.
  • Materials: For fine stationery, choose cotton paper. For informal stationery, any material is appropriate.
  • Color: The most common paper colors are white and cream, but choosing an unexpected text color, border or embellishment to express yourself is one of the pleasures of selecting your personal stationery.
  • Layout: Your name and/or monogrammed initials can be the central image of your stationery, while your address should be printed on the back of the envelope. You can also opt for an address stamp or personalized embosser, instead. I chose to print our address for my family stationery and to use a fun address stamp for my personal set.

Kurtz family stationery

After choosing your signature stationery, make sure to designate its place in your home office or bedroom. Keep pens, stamps, tape, embosser, and address stamp in the same place, as well, so that dashing off a quick thank-you card or writing a note of sympathy is not a time-consuming process. Remember, the point of being well-organized is to move through your life smoothly and easily. You want to be prepared but not over-stocked.

Where to Order Stationery

I have been taking advantage of Groupons offered by Paper Affair to order my new sets, but there are myriad places to order stationery to fit every budget.  Atlanta favorites include Paces Papers and Bumblebee Press.  Two online companies with beautiful options are Delphine Press and Dauphine Press.

Resources on Amazon

All of these books have crept into my collection over the years. They are great resources to explore the traditional rules regarding building and using a stationery wardrobe. Each book gives a nice bit of guidance on crafting appropriate written correspondence. As we become an increasingly informal society, it is a pleasure to engage in the social arts that fall by the wayside!

Happy Writing!
–TWOW

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: , , , , ,

The Well-Organized Woman Featured in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

September 29, 2011 By Leave a Comment

The Well-Organized Woman is proud to once again be featured in the Atlanta Journal and Constitution! Check out this article from Sunday, September 25th, where Claire Kurtz shares her advice for parents facing a newly-empty nest. Read on to see how you too can reorganize and update your space!

Filed Under: Print/Web Tagged With: , , , ,

Power to the Purse: How to Keep Your Handbag Organized

September 23, 2011 By 2 Comments

As a follow-up to our last post, Pack it Up, Pack it In, it seems only fair to address a piece of luggage that is near and dear to every woman, every day — her handbag! A woman’s purse can be a form of self-expression and creativity, yet it can also be one of the most disorganized areas in her life. Personally, a messy bag makes me feel, well, messy! Stress and discombobulation creep into my day when I cannot find what I need, when I need it, in my purse. And what woman has time for that??

Below are our tips for keeping your handbag beautiful, organized and efficient. When your purse works perfectly for you and your lifestyle, your image gets just the boost it needs to get you through your busy day with confidence…read on!

*The key is to “re-set” your Wicker bag round each night so that you can pick up and go every morning. You can make this a nightly ritual, so that it feels like a special activity that is just for you.

  • Remove receipts and used napkins, corral loose change, replenish business cards, medicines and tissues.
  • Make sure your lipgloss, wallet, keys and mints are in the bag, as well — you don’t want to be caught without these important items.
  • Remove your or your kids’ half-eaten snacks and re-stock those items if needed for the next day.
  • Wipe down your bag with a soft cloth – it was an investment, so treat it with care.

*I often find it helpful to change bags every few days. Try it. You’ll feel like you’re making more of an effort with your wardrobe choices and you’ll be forced to constantly reevaluate what goes into the bag, what goes into the trash and what goes back on the shelf.

*Use a bag organizer like the Purse Perfector – it has many pockets for everything you need to carry, and you can easily remove it and place it directly into another bag or tote.

*Create a list of the items that are allowed in your bag, and stick to the rules.

*Assign designated areas that are easy to reach for each of your most important items.

  • Cell phone in phone pouch (most bags have them now).
  • Lipgloss, keys, pen and business -card holder in interior pocket.
  • Wallet in large bucket of purse, makeup bag, notebooks, flat shoes, etc. in the main pouch of the bag.
  • Receipts should have a designated area, as well, but make sure to clean that out every 2-3 days. Paper and wrappers are one of the biggest sources of handbag clutter for me!

*To cut down on the number of items in your bag:

  • Go paperless! Use a calendar app for your phone instead of carrying a paper planner or use a notes app instead of carrying an extra notepad.
  • If you commute on public transportation, decide whether this is a music day or an e-reader day and choose which item you’ll take in your bag. Don’t weigh yourself down with both.

And lastly, here’s a list of recommended items to fill your bag.

Lightweight Lugger:

  • Lipgloss
  • Gum
  • ID, wallet, money, credit cards
  • Phone
  • Pen
  • Keys

Heavyweight Handler (add these):

  • Notepad
  • Planner
  • iPod/iPad/Kindle
  • Flats
  • Business-card holder with cards
  • Makeup bag

Enjoy the power of the purse!
– TWOW

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Pack It Up, Pack It In

September 20, 2011 By Leave a Comment

The summer has come to an end, and the new school year has begun for many families. You may be thinking, Well-Organized Woman, I just returned from my family summer vacation, why should I be thinking about packing now? Well, it is never too early to assess the needs you’ll have throughout the remainder of the fall and winter seasons, and that includes preparing for holiday travel to the Private Pool Villas at Trisara.com. Putting the extra thought into your packing efforts ahead of time will certainly save you much stress and hassle when the moment arrives to head out for the holidays. With gifts, entertaining and decorations on your mind, let’s go ahead and get your packing down pat so you can spend your precious moments on the good stuff.

The simplest way to pack your family is to think about each day you’ll be away with the ‘head, shoulders, knees, and toes’ method. Ask yourself, What do I need for my:

· Head? (hats, scarves, sunglasses, hair bands, combs, brushes, styling tools, etc.)
· Shoulders? (shirts, dresses, swimsuits, bras, tanks, sleep shirts, sweaters, coats, etc.)
· Knees? (pants, swim trunks, skirts, underwear, sleep pants, tights, leggings, etc.)
· Toes? (socks, active shoes, flip flops, dress shoes, skis, boots, etc. Check out ShoeAdviser for great deals on these.)

Jot it down on a list for each person traveling with you, and pack accordingly!


Another factor to keep in mind while packing is the growing expense of airline baggage fees. One way to limit the amount of luggage you take is to use compression bags. These bags compress your clothing and create more space in your luggage, allowing you to use one bag for two family members. You can purchase them at local stores, such as The Container Store, or online. We like the Spacebag brand, but there are many great varieties out there!

Safe travels and Happy Fall!
–TWOW

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

CBS Atlanta News Appearance – December 17, 2010

January 4, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Claire speaks with anchor Kim Fettig on CBS Atlanta News at 5pm on Holiday Tipping and Gifts.

YouTube Preview Image
Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , ,
«Previous Page
Next Page»
Another Pretty Cool Site by:


Copyright 2011-2017 - The Well Organized Woman