I discovered a cool new thing at the local Giant supermarket in Waldorf, MD on Sunday. They are offerring a new way to shop more efficiently and it’s a little gadget called Scan It! It’s described as one of their new In Store Shopping Tools that can help you get in and out of the supermarket quickly. Scan It! is a hand-held scanning device that you activate when you first enter the store using your Giant Bonus Card or keytag.
Then, take the scanner with you as you peruse the supermarket aisles and do your shopping as usual. The really cool thing is that it gives you a running total on how much you’re spending and how much money you’re saving. You can bag your groceries while you shop with (those not so good for the environment) plastic bags provided on the Scan It! station, but Giant does offer an eco-friendly option as well. You can buy reusable shopping bags in the store for just $.99 each or an insulated bag for $1.99. Once you’re finished shopping, go through the checkout lane, scan your Bonus Card at the register, follow a few simple instructions, and return the scanner. That’s it. Your puchase is completed quickly and efficiently. No mess, no fuss.
I must say that I’m pretty impressed with this new technology, though I still think you should carry a list with you so that you are prepared to buy what you need and decrease your chances of overspending. I can see how it might be a little tricky to hold your list and the scanner and bag your stuff all at the same time, but with a some pratice or an extra set of hands, you should be able to get the hang of it.
Unfortunatley for me, I didn’t discover Giant’s new gadget until I was LEAVING the supermarket!! Anyone wanna try it out and let me know what you think?
Back on November 19th, a very awesome, very cool thing happened. I gave away a Dymo LetraTag Plus!! Anyone who knows me knows that I LOVE my Dymo LetraTag (I actually have two), so I was more than thrilled to give one away. The lucky winner was someone I met on Twitter. She threw her hat in the ring to win the label maker, I pulled her name out of the hat (well, glass bowl), and the rest is history. She is Christina Peterson of ChristinaJade Jewelry. I asked her a few questions, just to get to know her a bit and to see how the label maker would help her stay more organized. Here’s what she had to say…
maker!! Tell us a bit about yourself and your company.I am a proud, single mom of an eight-year-old girl and owner of ChristinaJade Jewelry. I started my business with the firm belief that anyone can enjoy quality jewelry within reasonable prices. I have never been much of a fan of diamonds and the like, however, I love natural stones. When I found handmade Peruvian jewelry, the light bulb when off, and ChristinaJade Jewelry was born!
2. What’s a typical day like for you?
It is hard to describe a “typical day” for me. Since I run my business in such a personalized manner, every day is different! For example, one day I may be filling web orders and working on my my site, while another day, I could be setting up at a festival or event. I also host private jewelry parties and fill wholesale orders, so I am constantly doing new things and meeting new people, which is most of the fun of my business!
3. What do you enjoy most about your job?
Of course, the number one reason for starting my own little company is my daughter. I can work my schedule around hers, which not only eliminates the costs of day care or babysitters, but also means that we have more time together. So each day is a new day with a new challenge…something I dearly love!
4. If you could get one thing or area organized, what would it be?
Wow, get one area organized? I would love to improve all areas! :) Most importantly, I need to improve on my jewelry stock. I have always separated earrings, bracelets, necklaces, etc., but I am working now to sort items not only by what they are, but by design, stones, length, and so on. Since each item is handmade, I never get any 2 items that are just EXACTLY alike, which is a challenge when trying to know my inventory and to create matching sets.
5. Now that you’ve won the label maker, how will it help you with your business or personally?
The label maker has already helped me so much! I am able to simply stick a little description on the end of my jewelry trays, so I can easily find what I am looking for without the hassles of digging! I have labeled shelves for specific items, so everything has a place that is clearly marked. My daughter loves it as well. She has labeled the drawers in her room to help her put her clean laundry away by herself!
6. How can potential clients get in touch with you?
I am always somewhere and my schedule is posted on my home page at www.christinajadejewelry.com. I am also reachable via Twitter. Click here to send me an e-mail anytime.
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Everyone has a favorite item or thing that they just love. One famous person in particular has a show that highlights some of her favorite things. So, I figure it’s my turn to share with you a few of my favorite “home things” that help keep me on track. I’ve used a few of them for years and some were newly introduced to me but I love them all. If you have a favorite “home thing,” please share! Oh, and stay tuned for the office edition of my favorite things.
I keep my socks separated by color with the help of clear boxes. It’s such a simple tool that really just gets the job done. I don’t have to rummage through my socks to find what I’m looking for and I really like that the boxes made from recycled plastic. Eco-friendly and organized? What else could I want? Buy Clear Sox Boxes
Erasable Food Storage Labels
This one’s for all you cooks out there who make scrumptious food and then throw
an extra batch in freezer. After a few weeks or months, do you even know what’s in there? That’s where these handy dandy labels come in. They help you remember what you made and when you made it. So, when the concoctions you come up with aren’t recognizable anymore, pick up a pack of Erasable Food Storage Labels. They’re tough little buggers and can stand up to the freezer/refrigerator, microwave and dishwasher. They even come with one of my other favorite products – a fine point Sharpie marker and eraser! Wanna know what I used my labels for the other day? To identify jerk chicken my mom brought over on a recent visit. Yum! Buy Erasable Food Storge Labels
Rubbermaid Easy Find Lids
So, maybe you store all that great food in just any old
container. Well, I have news for you. Rubbermaid’s Easy Find Lids are amazing. They keep your food nice and fresh AND it’s super easy to find them because the lids attach easily to the containers! Another plus, the lids fit multiple bases. Clever, huh? These are not the containers to giveaway when you’re sending food home with your guests. You definitely want to hold on to them.
Dymo LetraTag Plus
I can’t live without my LetraTag! Ok, so this one’s a bit of a home 
AND office thing because I have two LetraTags. I use one to label everything in my office (e.g., shelving, file folders) and the other for when I work with my clients. It’s portable, very easy to use, and has a variety of text features. Plus, you can have some fun with colored labels. Truth be told, I was on the verge of buying another recently. Don’t worry, I didn’t buy it. I talked myself out of it! Buy Dymo LetraTag Plus
BlackBerry Pearl
Alright, my BlackBerry Pearl is another “double duty” favorite. I use it primarily for work, but I also use it as my alarm clock. I really could not live without it. My emails, calendar, reminders, and contacts are all housed in my smart phone. I even use it to take before and after pictures at client sites (and for my blog, too). It’s compact and fits easily in my purse or pocket and has some pretty cool applications, too. I’m sure the iPhone is great but I’m not parting ways with my Pearl. It really is a gem! (yes, pun intended) Buy BlackBerry Pearl
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On my way home today, I listened to All Things Considered on NPR and heard about a story that had a direct connection to my recent blog post, The Gift Giving Conundrum. There seems to be a mystery gift giver who has caught the attention of some people in the gift giving business. In the “People and Places” segment, host Michelle Norris talked with Megan Spears, who’s with the Salvation Army in Lee County, Florida, about an anonymous gift they received.
It turns out that for three years running, a Liberty Eagle coin that’s worth 
about $1000 was left in a Lee County Salvation Army kettle. As in the previous years, it was accompanied by a note that said “In Memory of Mimi.” It was not signed and no one from the Salvation Army knows who’s behind the show of generosity. A random act of kindness. Giving without the expectation of anything in return. Not a novel idea but certainly a good one.
So, how do the folks at the Lee County Salvation Army feel about this? Here’s what Ms. Spears had to say:
“There’s such a good heart inside this person to continue to do something for so long and I don’t think there’s any more to say than thank you so very much, and just to tell them how appreciative we are…thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”
So moved by the gesture was Ms. Spears that she offered up a gift of her own…a hug.
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It’s the time of year when everyone’s getting ready to spend time with family and stocking up gifts. I’m all for spending time with loved ones, and who doesn’t like getting presents? Still, the gift giving tradition has me a bit conflicted for a couple reasons.
As an organizer, I see so many homes that are cluttered with lots of gifts that have been bought over the years that have yet to be given to the intended recipients. Some people get very stressed out and overspend on gifts/decorations, especially when they are hosting a holiday dinner. It’s curious that this happens only at select times of year.
Even more curious, why isn’t every day a celebration? Why isn’t “family time” special all the time? Why not just give a gift for no reason at all? Personally, I’m just more apt to give a gift “just because,” and I’m not the only one who does this.
Did you know that there’s a group in Japan’s Shinjuku 
district, that gives free hugs as mini gifts to people just to cheer them up? These random acts of kindness are done with no expectation for what they will get in return. How cool…and nice…is that?
It doesn’t cost to give hugs, so it’s easy, right? Well, some people give large amounts of money without being named. Here are a few…
Back in February 2008, someone anonymously gave $5 million to the Opera Santa Barbara. The donor will be identified only after his or her death. Here’s another…In 2007, the University of California at San Francisco received $150 million for cancer care and research. Still one more…back in 2001, someone gave $100 million to Johns Hopkins University to create a malaria institute. In fact, a recent article in the LA Times mentioned that anonymous donors in 2007 made 87 gifts that totaled almost $1.1 billion.
Ok, so maybe some of the folks giving away all that money might have one or two ulterior motives. Really though, the point I’m trying to make is that gift giving should be meaningful, not based on what will be gotten in return nor dictated by tradition. This may sound radical to some and you might really enjoy giving presents during the holidays.
So, perhaps you might reconsider the type of gifts that you buy. Check out Clutter Free Holiday Gift Giving That is Both Meaningful and Useful by fellow organizer, Scott Roewer. The title says it all. Also, take a peek at 2008 Gift Giving Guide: Gifts of Clutter on Unclutterer.com. It tells you exactly what to leave on the store shelf.
Happy shopping…or not.
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Oprah is not the only one looking for the messiest homes across America. So Niecy Nash from Clean House! Now, I heard a little rumor a while back that Niecy was no longer on Clean House but it seems that she’s still as fabulous as ever on the CH website and is listed as a cast member.
So, if you want to give Niecy and her crew a shot at transforming your space, all you have to do is complete the online form and submit a photo of your home. You can also submit the photo and information of a friend or family member who is drowning in clutter.
You just might be chosen to appear on a special episode of Clean House and get a makeover for your house. Oh, don’t worry if you don’t live in LA, Niecy will come to you!
CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT YOUR INFO
Clean House airs on Wednesdays, 10/9 Central
Got electronics clutter? I just found 2 old laptops, a laptop keyboard, 12 laptop hard drives, and 1 CPU in my office! It’s not as bad as it sounds. I used the hard drives for a presentation I did in a former life. Well, maybe it is as bad as it sounds.
The good news is that the counties in the DC Metro area schedule special recycling events in addition to their usual drop off days. So, if you’re like me and have a few electronic items to get rid of, check out the next event in Montgomery County…details below…there’s a shredding event, too!
Where: Walt Whitman High School
7100 Whittier Blvd
Bethesda, MD 20817
Click Here For Map
When: December 14, 2008
Time: 12 pm – 4 pm
What:
- Small Electronic Appliances
- Calculators
- Camcorders
- CD’s and Floppy Disks
- CD players
- Cell phones
- Computers and Computer-related Products
- Consume Electronics
- Copiers
- Cords and Cables (including chargers)
- Digital Cameras
- Electronic Typewriters
- Fax Machines
- Microwave Ovens
- Personal Digital Assistant Equipment
- Printers
- Projection Equipment
- Scanners
- Telephones
- Televisions **Up to 3 Only**
- Small Electronic Toys
- VCR’s **No Video Tapes**
The Montgomery County Solid Waste Transfer Facility does take electronics daily. Click here for more info.
If you’ve got the electronics under control but have lots of paper to shred, there’s an event for you, too! This event is sponsored by NBC 4, PNC Bank, the Upcounty Regional Services Center, Montgomery County Solid Waste Services, and Shred IT. This is really great way to help protect yourself against identity theft and help the environment.
Where: Montgomery County Fairgrounds
Perry Parkway and Route 355
Gaithersburg, MD 20877
Click Here For Directions
When: December 13, 2008
Time: 8 am – 11 am
**Cars Only – Must Be In Line By 11am**
What: Up to 5 Boxes of Personal Documents
**No Business or Commercial Documents**
- Credit & Charge Card Bills/Receipts
- Bank Statements
- Cancelled/Voided Checks
- ATM Receipts
- Pay Stubs
- Expired Credit Cards and ID’s (includes driver’s licenses, military ID’s, employee badges, medical insurance cards, etc.)
Before
After
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