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Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Office in a Box!

Monday I posted a picture on Instagram of my "office in a box". I had several people ask what was in it. So here is a breakdown of the box that keeps me sane. Backstory, I am not organized. I DESPERATELY want to be organized but it never works out. So although I have an office/desk in a corner, it's always messy and I can never find anything. Hence the reason I've started keeping everything I need in this Your Way Cube. It's mobile and small enough to keep organized without becoming overwhelmed. You'll notice that it's not just Thirty One stuff in this box, for me there is no separation between job and home. It's all meshed together because it's easier for me that way. If I have too many "systems" I get confused and again overwhelmed.

So here goes!

"What's in the box??"


















We'll start with the big picture, this is my "office in a box". It is a Thirty One Your Way Cube with a Fold N File inside. 

A. Document holder, I keep this stocked and ready to walk out of the house or to a party at all times. 
It has: order forms, recruiting fliers, special fliers, and catalogs. 
B. Various envelopes for mailing catalogs, invites, minis, whatevs. 
C. Hostess packets stocked and ready to go at all times.
D. My fabulous stamp from Dear Madaline Designs
I stamp catalogs, minis, my kid, my dog, anything that will sit still. 
Because I don't use business cards, I stamp my mini catalogs and
pass them out like candy. 
E. Welcome to the Team notecards
F. Labels of various sizes. I use labels to stamp my catalogs. 
Keeps it from smearing and let's me choose where I want it to go.
(on the front over the jean skirt)
G. My weekly planner from Dear Madaline Designs.
H. Extra order forms
I. Extra catalogs. 
























What's in my Fold N File? 
Usually I pull this out and throw it in an Organizing Utility Tote when I'm going to a party. Sometimes if I've been lazy and the Fold N File isn't stocked I'll grab the whole cube. But I try to avoid doing that if possible. 

a. Order forms
b. Recruiting fliers
c. Monthly special fliers
d. Completed parties, order forms, order print outs, any notes I've taken. 
e. The Princess's artwork
f. Grocery store receipts. 
(coming soon to the files, business receipts. I ran out of files.)
g. My planner. It holds my entire life. 
h. Pretty tape for mailing. 
i. My timeless beauty bag containing all of my many notecards and stamps. 
j. Extra mini catalogs
k. Small prizes for parties and hostesses, key fobs, nail files, rosette clips. 
l. My thank you cards that I attach to the pink bags, also from Dear Madaline Designs
m. Pretty paper clips for my planner
n. My Square reader

So there you have it! My "office in a box"! 

How do you keep your life organized? I'm always looking for new ways to do things!

Friday, February 21, 2014

Don't throw out your old catalogs!

How many of you direct sales consultants have tons of outdated catalogs? I know I do. I tend to buy too many so I don't run out. I'm then left with a big stack that can't be used. I decided to put them to use! Waste nothing! My wonderful friend over at Dear Madaline Designs taught me to make these cute envelopes last summer. My life was changed forever! I now use them for everything!! Christmas gifts, goodie bags, door prizes, so many choices!! Now I will spread the love and share with you! Normally I use a glue stick for these, but the catalog paper is so slick and it's going through the post office I thought it should be extra tight. Hot glue it is!
Here we go! Super cute envelopes in just ten steps!!

Step 1: Gather up your old catalogs. Open it to the middle and find the seam. Remove the staples. Don't use your fingernails! These guys are tough!!







Step 2: Look at all these beautiful future envelopes. Choose your favorite page!







Step 3: Fold the right side in, to meet the middle seam. Flatten the fold nice and thin.








Step 4: Repeat step 3 on the left side.
(you can fold these to make the envelope as small or large as you like)







Step 5: Glue the seam down, from the top all the way to the bottom. I use as thin a strip of glue as possible so it's not bulky.







Step 6: Glue the bottom of the envelope closed, as close to the bottom edge as possible. Remember, thin strips of glue if you're using hot glue. Bulky envelopes are no good.






Step 7: Fold over the bottom of the envelope and glue down. Flatten that fold down nice and tight.













Step 8: Fold down the top of the envelope. I like to make a bigger fold for the top. You will not be gluing this one down!












Step 9: Add your fillings for your happy mail! Your customers will be so excited!
I like to seal the envelope with my business information. Maybe someone will see something they like on my "envelope" and they'll know exactly who to contact!





Step 10: Add your labels and head off to the post office! I guarantee these envelopes will not soon be forgotten!
(I have not been to the post office yet, I don't know how much postage this will take but will update when I do. I can't imagine it will be much.)






I tried to explain it well but if you have questions, feel free to ask in the comments!


Side note, when using these for goodie bags I punch two holes in the top flap and tie it with a ribbon. The bow is usually MUCH bigger but I was toying with the idea of sending the bow through the post. I decided I'd rather use a sticker with all my info on it. 

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Good quality is so refreshing!!

Man tested and approved for durability. 
The Thirty One thermal collection is water resistant, not water proof. Try telling "the man" that. This picnic thermal spent a day at the golf course full of ice and a night in the carport full of water. And no puddle! You can't beat a quality product! Especially when it's misused!! That man does not listen to me!!

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Do you plan?

Getting ready to grocery shop. Trying out a weekly trip. I usually buy for two or three weeks at a time. We'll see how this works. How often do you go? Do you meal plan? I love the #Cozi app for keeping up with my recipes and shopping list. And #flylady helps me keep my house clean and happy!

Monday, February 17, 2014

Happy President's Day!!






















A great gift for any occasion! It has the presidential seal of approval!

















background graphic thanks to http://www.freevector.com/

Sunday, February 16, 2014

I love to organize!

I love organizing. Does it stay that way for very long? Not normally. But I'm working on it. One of the great things about Thirty One products is that they are so functional it's hard to lose control. So I'm hopeful. This week I've remade my whole pantry and also my car. Two areas of my life that were a wreck! I am super happy with the results! I just want to sit and stare at the finished product!
I hope this provides you with a little inspiration to tackle your problem areas!

First things first, start off with a little free credit to spend! I decided to host my own party so I could take advantage of double hostess credit month. My favorite month of the year!! So I had a bit to spend!
I plotted and made a rough draft of how I wanted my pantry to look and what I would be storing the most. That way I didn't end up with too many or too few bins. Plus I wanted to monogram them for added cuteness! Did I mention I like to plan?

So I had my list and I ordered my product! Then came the long wait. Not really long but when you are this excited it felt long!!!

It all finally arrived!! I stared at it for a moment and then got to work!
 My before was a wreck! I can admit that. And I think I let it get even more wrecked because I knew it was about to get amazing!
My after. It's beautiful, functional, and everything I hoped and dreamed it would be. 

Friday, February 14, 2014

Happy Love Day!



The only Valentine I need! My precious girl. She has wanted a new lunch tote and this bird coin purse for weeks. Every time an order came in and she didn't get it she was so confused. I held strong and saved it! She was so excited this morning.

How to organize your car with just three products!

My car is always kind of a wreck. I can never find anything. I finally decided to take control!! I bought three organizers from Thirty One, the Hang Up Activity Organizer, the Flip Top Organizing Bin, and the Pack and Pull Caddy. I honestly wasn't expecting to love it this much. But it makes my OCD heart skip a beat.
The proof is in the pictures. #glorious!