My Roseanne Roseannadanna Hairbrush

It is really amazing what you can find when you just stop and look around. As a fairly organized person, I know where almost anything is in my house but every once in awhile I find something that I forgot about. The latest is my new hairbrush. Well, it isn't really NEW but it is new to me. I found it in a drawer in my bathroom that stores travel items so I only look in there a few times a year. When I DO look in there, rarely do I look in the very back of the drawer. Well, I just happened to take a peek the other day and lo-and-behold! I found a hairbrush. I usually use a large comb or hair pick but this brush looked like it might actually work in my naturally wavy hair (thanks, Mom!) without loosing half of it to the brush. The only problem with this great new hairbrush, is that with my hair type, the more I brush the bigger my hair becomes. Yes, this was great in the 80s when big hair was in, but it isn't so "in" anymore. This brush is really great because it gets out all the tangles and leaves my hair nice and soft...and really big. The longer I brush, the more I resemble a blonde Roseanne Roseannadanna. Which, again, in the 80s might have been cool but not so much now. But with Halloween coming up, this may be a great disguise for me! Tangle-free BIG hair and a costume all in one! To make this long story even longer, the point is to look around and see if there is something you have overlooked for a long time that you might be able to put into use right now without having to buy a new one. Less consumerism, more creativity! Let the hunt begin!

Spam -- it's not just for breakfast

We all either love spam or hate spam -- both kinds I mean. Personally, I love fried spam and I would love to fry the other kind of spam. I think after so much time spent trying to unsubscribe I would finally get the hint that it isn't working. Apparently, sometimes when you actually unsubscribe, marketers then know that they have a working email address and send you more spam. If only they would send the kind that I can eat...THAT would be something to celebrate.

So, what can you do about spam? The best way to rid yourself of it is to either change your email address or just learn to live with it. Make your delete key your best friend. Your best friend will protect you from the overseas lottery, the latest in Canadian drugs, and those annoying pet nail trimmers.

If you do decide to change your email address, I suggest you get one for work, one for friends and family, and one for ordering online items. The one you use for ordering online items can have the maximum amount of spam/junkmail control on it. It will take a bit of time to let everyone know your new email addresses, but if you and your best friend can't handle all the spam, just change your email address. Now that I have made myself hungry after all the spam talk, I'm heading for the kitchen...

Paper Towel-less (Heavy Sigh...)

It is official. I am no longer using paper towels or paper napkins. Yes I have wanted to do this for awhile now but it has taken me 5 YEARS to use up my Costco supply. Now that I am down to the last bit of paper towels and napkins, I am mentally getting ready to say good-bye to the paper for good. This crazy notion hit me when I first blogged about watching what goes into the trash can. I can easily say that I am a recovering paper-a-holic. Hello, my name is Lisa and I'm addicted to paper towels...

Well, I am free (almost...within the week...) and I am looking forward to using my cloth napkins on a daily basis. I was actually shopping today at Goodwill looking to purchase cloth napkins when it occurred to me that I have at least 2 dozen cloth napkins that I have been saving for a special occasion. Granted, this special occasion hasn't happened in the last 8 years so I think it probably won't. Yes, I do have some fancy-schmancy napkins that I use for the holidays but the other napkins haven't seen the light of day since before W was president. AND I purchased the coolest cloth (actually, 3 came in the pack) from Bed Bath & Beyond that absorbs, won't streak and is machine washable! I heard the angels sing and I could have sworn I saw a unicorn dance across a sparkly rainbow....

Take a look into YOUR garbage. I know it is not as interesting as the neighbor's, but see what you might be able to do without.

Organizing Incentives aka Scooby Snacks

It seems to me that in order to get organized, one needs to have an incentive. It can't come from a spouse's complaining or the fact that you can't find that important phone number. It really comes down to WANTING to be more organized. I don't care if it is your desk, your refrigerator, or your car. Once you have the incentive, it will get done. And in order to keep it organized you have to continually pat yourself on the back for each and every small task you have done to becoming more organized. Are you stressed out because your kitchen is a mess? Vow to keep the dishes done. When you have loaded them up into the dishwasher, pat yourself on the back or, if your spouse did the chore, give them a big pat on the back and a Scooby snack. The point is to recognize the little bit that you are doing and build from it. Old habits do die hard but they can be changed. I have seen it done, and I am a walking example of it as well. Here is a great quote for you to chew on (if you don't have that Scooby snack handy): "Good thoughts elevate deeds; good deeds elevate thoughts." -Anonymous

I'm Baaaaaack.......

Sorry, it has been a while. I promise to blog more often...

Kids are in school, craziness has calmed, and I am ready to send you on your way with my helpful tips and tricks to organize, simplify, and green up your life! Sounds like a pretty big task, doesn't it? Take one small bite at a time and before you know it, the whole cake is gone! Not that I would know...really.

Today's tiny tip is to go visit catalogchoice.org and sign up to get your name taken off of catalog mailing lists. You can also keep your name on lists that you still want to get but DON'T DO IT!!! Check my past blog on saving a tree. Remember, once the catalog reaches your hands, the coupon and specials are close to being outdated anyway. Visit your favorite stores online -- not through a catalog that was created by taking away Bambi's forest. Really. Don't. Do. It.

See? One small bite and you feel better already!

Coffee shop musings

I am sitting here in a coffee shop getting ready to do a presentation on paper management so I thought I would share with you some of the information I have regarding junk mail. Did you know that every year 100 million trees are used to produce junk mail in America? That is the equivalent of deforesting the entire Rocky Mountain National Park every 4 months. Every 4 months! Most of us are on the internet so anything we need is right at our fingertips and is always more updated than any piece of junk mail you receive in your mailbox. Here are a few websites you can visit to reduce the amount of junk mail you receive: proquo.com and donotmail.org. Check them out, take a moment and save a forest.

School is starting so start getting organized!

With the cute little boogers off to school this week, it is a perfect time for all of us to let out a collective sigh of relief. This is definitely the perfect time to get yourself organized and start looking ahead towards the holidays. I know, I know...who wants to think of the holidays already? But if you start now, the holidays will be a breeze. Take a look around and see what bits of clutter you can get rid of. Even just one or two things a day will really add up. DO NOT purchase MORE holiday decor until you have all of yours out on display. It will only add to your decluttering effort AFTER the last piece of pecan pie has been eaten.

So, go forth and get ready! Santa Claus is coming to town...