Simply Chic and Eye Candy– Get Organized with Style!
August 8, 2008
Just in time for my personal back to school organizing, I was able to try out the most incredible organizing products I have seen in a long time. The Simply Chic and Eye Candy collections are by far my favorites when it comes to getting myself organized. (And let’s face it, as a board member on two PTA boards, I need all the help I can get!)
If you know me, you know that I am not only not the most organized person you will meet, I am probably one of the most dis-organized people you will come across. I try! I really do. But I haven’t found anything that meets my need and is something that I would want to use. Oh, I have bought more than my share to get me there, but nothing has worked. With these products, I have found the secret to getting organized. I need to make it fun!
I had the best time getting my work papers organized, my PTA forms filed and my calendar filled in. I even used the sticky notes for things I need to remember at meetings and the flag stickies to make notes of what pages (and where) I need to sign when it comes to back to school papers.
You can believe that when I pulled out my super organized folders and calendar and the first PTA board meeting, those who knew me nearly fell on the floor in shock. (Totally worth it!) In fact, they were asking me where I got them. (Organized and a trend setter. Does it get better for back to school?)
Carolina Pad and Paper and Jacqueline Savage McFee have introduced two new lines of products to make getting organized fun, cool and chic with organizational tools that actually have personality and style. Now, I am definitely the technology mom who loves to have the latest gadgets for my computer and phone, but in my heart, I still love the simplicity of sticky notes, folders, binders and paper calendars that I can stuff in my bag or purse to keep the never ending flow of paperwork organized. I was thrilled to hear that Mom Central teamed up with Jackie and Carolina Pad and Paper to promote the two incredibly beautiful new lines of paper and organizational products to help moms like me get organized in style. (Did I mention chic and fun?)
When I was sent me a box of several new Simply Chic and Eye Candy products courtesy of Mom Central, I nearly passed out with glee over the contents– including a note pad, a datebook, magnets, a journal, and organizational folders (a regular folder and my all time favorite accordian style folder as well as a super chic mouse pad. Even their magnets are hip. The pens? I am totally not loaning out at meetings or to friends. They are now my favorite pens and I am going to be greedy with them. All of these come in fun and (yes, I will say it) sassy designs and stylishly chic colors. These totally fit my personality! (Sadly, they also seem to be just as much fun to my daughter who was sad that the box was not for her. Not this time! I get to be the one with the fun back to school folders.) However, these incredible products are available at Wal-Mart so I can actually be nice and share with my daughter. Rather, I can buy her her own set of stylish back to school products because this mom is going to get herself organized first!
Simply Chic is the more subdued of the two new designs. It’s black. It’s simple. And it is very chic. The Eye Candy designs are more fun and playful with bright colors and fun designs. Both are a perfect mix of class and sass.
In addition, the team is currently running a “Glam Your Office Makeover Contest.” To help women and teens get organized in style, submit your best organizational tip by visiting Carolina Pad and Paper. The 10 most original and creative entries will be featured on the Carolina Pad and Paper Web site’s “Get Organized” page, and the winners will receive:
Complete Eye Candy or Simply Chic office system
$100 gift card
1000 Best Quick and Easy Organizing Secrets by Jamie Novak
This is a win-win for you because I guarantee once you see these products, you will not only enter to win, but will probably immediately run out to purchase your own! (Because like I said before, I am not sharing mine!)
Posted by Jenn @
2:58 am | |
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Day Runner Family Matters Calendar System
December 3, 2007
Any time I am asked to try out any product that will help me to become better organized, I jumped at it. You should see the number of calendars, planners, containers, etc that I have. I have yet to find one that works for me and my family. You see, I can keep track of my appointments and activities online or with a PDA, but when it comes keeping the entire family of five all on the same page and everyone aware of upcoming events, therein lies the challenge. And let us not forget, I am one of the worst when it comes to organization. Yes, I actually do need someone to take me by the hand and show me the way.When Parent Bloggers asked me to test out the Family Matters product line by Day Runner, I knew that this might actually be the product that would benefit not only me, but my family. Day Runner has come out with a color-coded organizational line, that includes:
- an undated erasable wall planner
- a wire bound monthly/weekly appointment book
- erasable door reminders
- activity folders, and
- storage cases
I tried out each of the products with my kids. They could choose the color that would forever be The Color Of Their Life and what they wanted to keep in their storage cases. Beyond that, Mom was off and running to get this family’s life under organization control!
The thing I liked best about using the Family Matters system, is that the information was all in one obvious, clear, easy to access place. I hung the erasable wall planner with all of our monthly plans in a central location that the entire family could glance at and see what was happening on a certain day. No more “I didn’t know that I had to be home because you had an appointment and I needed to babysit!” We could see everyone’s schedule on a daily/weekly basis. It was also great for me to be able to plan ahead. An entire week ahead? Yeah, that was a no-can-do before Day Runner gave me an in your face reminder each week!
A really big hit with my daughter was the erasable door reminders. These are terrific! We hung one on each of the kids’ doors as well as one on the refrigerator. (Suction cups, baby.) The dry erase boards have a spot to hold a pen, which really comes in handy when you remember something for the store, to remind the kids of activities, post chore “requests” and on many days just a note to tell my kids I am proud of them. I would be remiss if I did not at least admit I think they are cute as well as convenient. Fun and functional? Who knew?!
I am very much looking forward to jumping into the wire bound appointment book. I have looked through it and already filled out the appointments I know I will have coming up, addresses I will need–including a spot for web addresses!- and have this bad boy ready to come come January. The size was perfect for me for my desk. Anything smaller would get lost. Anything larger would be in my way. This is the perfect size (traditional wire bound notebook that the office stores sell). Get this (because remember, I assigned my children color codes for life?), it was color-coded to coordinate with the rest of the set! Now my kids really do have to have this color for at least a year. (But I am going with a life time.)
The storage cases and folders are color coordinated to go with the set as well. They were easy to use, functional and not ugly, so I had no problem using them in places that would be visible to visitors. (I have had more people comment on how “clever I am to color code the kids’ paperwork. I totally take credit for the ingeniousness of it!) 
I have to admit, seeing as I am the most disorganized person to walk upright, I found the Family Matters line really useful for my family. Let’s face it, with a pre-teen, a teenager and a six year old, I need all the help I can get. This system has been wonderful. If you’re interested, check out the other reviews on Parent Bloggers to hear what everyone else thought.
Posted by Jenn @
7:12 am | |
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Little Black Book of (I have no) Style
September 7, 2007
I have no style. None. No. Wait. I do. My style is “I work from home so I can wear my pj’s and socks all day and no one cares” OR when I need to get dressed up I have “I am a PTA mom and can get away with jeans and t-shirts because kids make messes” style. So I have style. In fact, Nina Garcia (best known for her appearnace as the unerring, fromidable fashion judge on Project Runway), author of The Little Black Book of Style says I can have my own style. Though I know that is not what she had in mind when that message came across. Actually, I really did like the message that I can create my own style. One that makes me feel confident. (And I do mean beyond pj’s or jeans and t-shirts.) I love that there is such a strong emphasis on “being your own muse” and creating your own style. Without the freak.
As for how much I will actually get out of this book, probably not as much as someone else who is out and about in the “real world” more than I happen to be. I am not sure the book is the right fit for me, but it is nevertheless and incredible book. My favorite section? The Fashion Cliff Notes Decade by Decade. The illustrations are beautiful! Ruben Toledo is an illustrating master.
I do recommend this book for women who are looking for a bit of style guidance. It is a great, quick read with incredible advice from people who know fashion and style. I even learned a thing or two about ways to update my style. Just because I am a PTA/Soccer mom doesn’t mean I have to look like a slob. And just because I will never wear anything that is fresh off of a runway doesn’t mean I cannot have style.
Style is internal. And everyone can create their own. And good style? It will bring out your confidence. And any woman who has confidence is beautiful!
(more…)
Posted by Jenn @
7:52 am | |
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