There are several sources for ordering organizing supplies on line.
Online Organizing.com is perhaps my favorite. They offer a plethora of organizing resources -- over 3000 of them! They also have discussion boards, newsletters, and items on sale every month.
In May 2007, I spent a delightful day in Seattle with Suzette and Beth, the women behind Scraprack and More (www.scraprack-and-more.com). This is a truly intelligent system for organizing scrapbooking supplies so that they are both easily accessible and portable. The Scraprack is also an interesting tool for organizing papers so that they stay visible. I was impressed enough with both the product and the ladies that I've signed on as a product representative -- something I rarely do. To read the article I wrote on organizing scrapbooking supplies, go to Ultimate Organization for Scrapbooking on the Articles page.
To reduce the onslaught of unwanted telemarketing calls, sign up with the National Do Not Call Registry at http://donotcall.gov.
To reduce the onslaught of catalogs (and the temptation to shop, thus adding to your clutter), call the 800 numbers on the catalogs and ask that you be removed from their mailing list. Or, if you prefer to operate online, register with the free service, www.catalogchoice.org and select which catalogs you no longer wish to receive.
This website offers a free download of its home inventory software. I find the software easy to use. A great resource for organizing your estate! www.knowyourstuff.org.
Recycling and Donating
Need a place to donate your old computer or electronic toys? Want to recycle other clutter you no longer need? Check out www.1800cleanup.org. Enter your zip code, and explore the options.
When recycling your computer and electronics, it's important to verify that the recycling is done by an ISO 14001 certified organization. This guarantees that environmental and labor laws are being followed for everybody's safety. Greensight.com abides by ISO 14001 regulations.
If you would like to donate your old plaques or trophies, gccreativeimages.com would be happy to take them. Gccreative.com refurbishes and donates your old trophies to nonprofit organizations such as Special Olympics, School Children Groups, etc. that don't have the money to spend on new ones.
To recycle any brand of sneakers (so long as they don't have any metal components), contact Nike's program. www.nikereuseashoe.com. Your old sneakers will be ground into the material that cushions a playground or tennis court.
For you outdoorsy types who've worn through your Patagonia capilene clothing, as long as the garment is at least 95 percent polyester, Patagonia will recycle it. For more information, see their
website at www.patagonia.com/recycle.
Several options exist for passing along the books you no longer want. BlueRectangle.com will buy back some of your books. They're prices aren't great and they don't take everything, but the site is easy and the shipping is free. BookCrossing.com is a fun way to "read and release" your books for others to find and enjoy. And two book-swapping sites are PaperbackSwap.com and BookMooch.com ("Give books away. Get books you want.") I've also heard of SwapTree.com
Another interesting website, especially for recycling extra school and office supplies, is the Reusable Office Supply Exchange, or R.O.S.E. This website is specific to the exchange at Humboldt State University, but has links to other universities across the U.S. with comparable programs.
My colleague Jeri Dansky has an amazingly resourceful blog called Jeri'sOrganizing and Decluttering News . On it, she shared a number of resources for disposing of your expired medications. These include:
If you are interested in environmentally and socially responsible items, either for yourself or as gifts, visit
www.taraluna.com. They carry a number of products, including supplies for your home, garden, pets, and spa. They also have jewelry, tea, cosmetics, and baby gifts.
According to their website, Zanisa.com's "contemporary collections focus on items that are handmade, natural, recycled, organic, fairly traded and sustainable." Their website is hosted using wind-powered energy, they use of recycled materials for packaging, and they have a tree planted for every order of $50 or more.
On a non-organizing topic... I have found Linda Wahlund to be quite helpful when I can't get through to my cats on my own. If you are interested in working with an animal communicator, or in having your animal receive Reiki, visit Linda's website at www.creaturespeak.com.
Another Reiki practitioner and healer is Denise Payne-Ollivier. Visit her website at http://reikimastertouch.abmp.com to learn more about the healing modalities Denise offers.
Some Favorite Books that have nothing to do with organizing (a mixture of fiction and nonfiction)
And for a good time, call... Seriously, I want to plug my favorite rafting company, Redwoods and Rivers Rafting. Please visit their website at www.redwoods-rivers.com.
