Organizing Mission Monday Link Party – Week 26

Vacation!

Don’t you love them?  Don’t we need them?  I’m actually on one right now! I’ve gotten some awesome opportunities for our family to review some areas around Ohio.

Ford Media Fleet is providing us with some wheels!!   We have a  Lincoln MKT to drive for the week.  Swaeeeett!

Our first stop was the Hocking Hills area in Southern Ohio.  We went to the Hocking Hills Canopy Tours! I love ziplines!  It was SO fun!!  We all loved it! I’ll have a post on my Explore Ohio with Sandy blog within a week or two on all these adventures.

We went to  Mammoth Cave in KY today and then got to stop and visit my son in Lexington, KY.  That was a very short visit to see him at his new job as a buyer at the new CarMax they just built there.  The caves are not part of my review, but we wanted to take the kids there to see them.

We stopped by home and will be heading for a day at our farm.  We are going to be doing some fishing!

Then we are off to a three day fun package called Roar and Explore Adventure Getaway.  It includes a day at the Columbus zoo, a day at Zoombezi Bay and COSI.

This will be an awesome vacation.  I’ll be sharing videos and pictures later on my Explore Ohio with Sandy blog.

Check out my Featured Bloggers For This week!

Susan from Homeroad refinished this Ikea cart

Look at what she did to this cart!  Just refinishing my table and painting my Ikea table were big deals to me. This is what her Ikea cart that she has had several years looked like.
Then she did all kinds of things to it.  Not just sanding…. but she got to take out some aggression and pound it with a hammer to distress it (that would for sure distress me! lol). She also put some black tacks in it, nails in it, put on some hooks and handles…

Made a cool stencil for the top and it turned out like this!!  Isn’t this awesome!!

You can see all her tricks and techniques on how to get this Ikea cart looking so fab on her post called Ikea Cart Re-Make.

 

Anna from Ask Anna- Cleaning your Blow Dryer

has some great techniques and ideas on cleaning some of those things you just don’t think about cleaning, or you aren’t sure about how to clean.

She took her little old hair dryer that looks so nice and clean

Until you looked at the filter/vent area.  She used a little known secret of using dryer lint from her dryer to stick to the lint in the grates of her blow dryer to pull it out!

Look at the difference!!!  It looks so clean.

She has some other great ideas that you can get the links on my going to my Organizing Mission Monday link party Week 25 to see her posts, or you can just check out her blog! This one is called Hair Dryer Trick but she also cleaned the front of her oven door with a homemade mixture I want to try, and several other good cleaning ideas.

 

Card Cubby Giveaway is still going On! (Closed)

I am going to give away a Zebra Card Cubby!

***I am also giving a 10% discount from today until June 30th, 2011. If you use the code “Summer 11″ it will take off the 10%. This is good on the Card Cubby and pouchee purse organizer!

Required For Entry: Leave a comment below telling me how you would best like to use the Card Cubby if you won. **Be sure to come back here and leave me your answer in your comment. Your e-mail has to either in your comment or on your profile.   Please keep in mind….  Just posting a link to the link party is NOT an entry.  It is an option for an extra entry, but you have to ALSO put a comment in the comment section for it to be in the drawing.  At this point (morning of 6/13) there are only 24 entries for the 24 comments.

FOR EXTRA CHANCES TO WIN:

**Each of these HAS to have a separate comment to win. The winner is picked using Random.org. It just goes the number of comments….not by what you say.

1) Leave a link in the link party for one of your blog posts. (1 entry) You can leave more than one link in the link party, but only one of them counts towards an entry.

2) Subscribe to my Organize with Sandy blog (1 entry)

3) Follow me on Twitter @OrganizerSandy (Leave me your twitter name) 1 entry

4) Stumble one of my posts for 5 extra chances to win. (tell me which post – please don’t stumble this post, as giveaway posts aren’t so great to stumble.) 5 entries – be sure to leave 5 comments below for this one.

5) Tweet this out up to 3 times a day. You can use the tweet button at the top to make it easy. ( Pls leave your url link) 1 chance for each tweet.

Please keep in mind I approve my comments. So you won’t see them right away. Never fear!

This contest will run until 11:59pm est on Sunday, June 19, 2011 (Closed) 

Any comment that comes in after the above time will be deleted. This is open to US mailing addresses only. Must be 18+ to win. One person per mailing address only. Winner will be chosen by Random.org

You will have 48 hours to reply to my e-mail if you are picked as the winner, or else I will go on to the next winning number.

Link up to my Link Party

I would love to see what you are working on this week. But as always you can link up any organizing or cleaning or DIY post to my link party.

You can find the link for my button and also my “Proud to Be Featured Button” on my sidebar Rules 1) Link to your specific post – not your blog
2) Please Link back to my blog with my button or link (link just above underneath my button)
3) I’d love if you’d follow me on google and/or FB. The google is new and I’m trying to build it
4) Blog post related to Organizing or Cleaning or DIY or decorating
5) No sales pitches or web sites.
6) If I feature you I will use one or more of your pictures with a link back to your blog.
7) Feel free to link up more than 1 post.

Looking for other link parties? I have a whole list of them. Thumbnail via day above and keep scrolling down to find a more extensive text lists by day on my link party list.

If you aren’t sure how to link up… see my link party tutorial here. It is simple.

If You Are On A Reader and Want to View All the Great Link Up’s Please Click Here.

This link party will be open until 11:59 on Sunday June 19, 2011. Feel free to leave more than one post. (But only one counts as an extra entry for the giveaway)

Organizing Mission Monday Link Party – Week 25

Card Cubby – New Colors & Giveaway! (closed)

One more day before my dining room reveal!  I’m excited to show you.  But I’m going to be even more excited to show you my blog makeover. You might be seeing that REALLY soon too!!

Most of you know I love the Card Cubby. Enough that I began selling it in my store.  I’m not one to sell a lot of things (although I do want to start doing eBay or something to sell some items we don’t need anymore as compared to donating absolutely everything like I usually do). I only sell the Card Cubby and pouchee purse organizer at this point because I have to really LOVE something in order to associate my name with it.

You can see a review of the Card Cubby here. But it is an index file for all those gift cards, store discount cards, library cards that you end up with.  You can look under the letter “K” and actually find your Kohl’s Cash or under “S” for that Subway card that you accumulate points on when you buy something at Subway.  I used to just have them all together and I would have to shuffle through the pile to find what I wanted.

I just got a couple new colors for the Card Cubby that I wanted to share.  These are also awesome ways to give a gift card to a new grad, someone having a birthday or someone getting married.  People get so many gift cards now a days for gifts. Wouldn’t they love to have this to organize them?

The Tooled Leatherette Card Cubby

 

The Silver Grey Croc Card Cubby

I also restocked my black Croc and Red Croc Card Cubby’s!   You can find them in my Organize with Sandy Store.

Zebra Card Cubby

You can win this Zebra Card Cubby…. keep reading.

Featured Bloggers

 

Susan from Home Road thinks outside the box! Love it!

She took this trivet, pot holder, carrier (not sure what the official name is) and created this!  I mean really… who thinks of that?  I love seeing organizing products created from items that aren’t intended for organizing.

You can see how she created this and some other great shots of it on her blog, Home Road – Funky Desk Top Organizer

Look what Amy from Gabriel’s Good Tidings made? Isn’t it cute?

The clothes pins are really cute too. Here is a better shot of those.

You can see the rest of her tutorial on her blog  Gabriel’s Good Tidings !

Be sure to stop by and say hi to my featured bloggers!

Card Cubby Giveaway!! (Closed)

I am going to give away a Zebra Card Cubby!  (like one in picture above)

***I am also giving a 10% discount from today until June 30th, 2011.  If you use the code “Summer 11″ it will take off the 10%. This is good on the Card Cubby and pouchee purse organizer!

Required For Entry: Leave a comment below telling me how you would best like to use the Card Cubby if you won.  **Be sure to come back here and leave me your answer in your comment. Your e-mail has to either in your comment or on your profile.

FOR EXTRA CHANCES TO WIN:

**Each of these HAS to have a separate comment to win. The winner is picked using Random.org. It just goes the number of comments….not by what you say.

1) Leave a link in the link party for one of your blog posts.  (1 entry)  You can leave more than one link in the link party, but only one of them counts towards an entry.  You HAVE to include a comment if you want your link to count as an entry for the giveaway.

2) Subscribe to my Organize with Sandy blog (1 entry)

3) Follow me on Twitter @OrganizerSandy (Leave me your twitter name) 1 entry

4) Stumble one of my posts for 5 extra chances to win. (tell me which post – please don’t stumble this post, as giveaway posts aren’t so great to stumble.)  5 entries – be sure to leave 5 comments below for this one.

5) Tweet this out up to 3 times a day. You can use the tweet button at the top to make it easy. ( Pls leave your url link) 1 chance for each tweet.

Please keep in mind I approve my comments. So you won’t see them right away. Never fear!

This contest will run until 11:59pm est on Sunday, June 19, 2011 *Closed*

Any comment that comes in after the above time will be deleted. This is open to US mailing addresses only. Must be 18+ to win. One person per mailing address only. Winner will be chosen by Random.org

You will have 48 hours to reply to my e-mail if you are picked as the winner, or else I will go on to the next winning number.

 

Link up to my Link Party

I would love to see what you are working on this week. But as always you can link up any organizing or cleaning or DIY post to my link party.

You can find the link for my button and also my “Proud to Be Featured Button” on my sidebar Rules 1) Link to your specific post – not your blog
2) Please Link back to my blog with my button or link (link just above underneath my button)
3) I’d love if you’d follow me on google and/or FB. The google is new and I’m trying to build it
4) Blog post related to Organizing or Cleaning or DIY or decorating
5) No sales pitches or web sites.
6) If I feature you I will use one or more of your pictures with a link back to your blog.
7) Feel free to link up more than 1 post.

Looking for other link parties? I have a whole list of them. Thumbnail via day above and keep scrolling down to find a more extensive text lists by day on my link party list.

If you aren’t sure how to link up… see my link party tutorial here. It is simple.

If You Are On A Reader and Want to View All the Great Link Up’s Please Click Here.

This link party will be open until 11:59 on Sunday June 19, 2011.  Feel free to leave more than one post. (But only one counts as an extra entry for the giveaway)

Purse Organizer

Card Cubby

Another Product I Found To Help Keep My Purse Organized Is The Card Cubby

When I first saw this I thought it was only to use as a business card organizer. I didn’t need that. Then I realized the full potential of the Card Cubby and I fell in love.

Do you have a zillion discount cards, frequent user cards, gift cards, library cards, rewards cards?  We get so many. I had a stack of them in my wallet and I would have to pull out that stack and thumb through them every time I needed one.

I found the Card Cubby and realized how wonderful these little alphabetized dividers could be!

If I need my Target gift card I just go to the letter “T” and there it is!

It makes it so nice an easy when you are in a store.  Not having to dig through everything and hold up the line, or worse yet, knowing you have that discount or gift card and you can’t find it!

There is a little zipper pocket in the back of the card cubby that you could carry some hidden cash. I like to keep a little sharpie in mine. That way when I have a gift card, I can write the remaining balance on the back of the card. Makes it so easy the next time I need to use it.

I keep my Card Cubby right in my purse.  But I know some people who don’t want it in their purses, they just keep it in their car so it is still near by when they need it.

It comes in all kinds of fun colors, so it is easy to find down inside your purse.

Here are some more of the fun colors:

And some more, but you can see them all at my pouchee store that also has my Card Cubbies:

I don’t think of this as a good coupon organizer.  You would have to fold the coupons and it really wouldn’t do well for that.  There is a coupon organizer in my pouchee / card cubby store that works great for that.

There is also a front window on the Card Cubby where you can put your business card or a picture.

This product has been a life saver for me and helped me to organize my purse much better, so I wanted to let you in on one of my favorite products.
I do sell the Card Cubby ( I did not invent it and do not make it) in my pouchee store.

**You can also use the discount code “ORGANIZED PURSE” for 10% off of the Card Cubby through March 31, 2011.

Be sure to watch for the rest of my posts this week:

Purse Organizing -  (Part 1)
Purse Organizing - The pouchee (Part 2) *watch for the discount code to order one
Purse Organizing – All those purses

I want to see your purse organizing! If you link up your purse post to my linky party and it is of your purse organizing, I’ll pull a picture and add a link to this post too!

I’d love for you to link it up to my Organizing Mission Monday Link Party
It will be open until March 27th to link to.

I LOVE your comments!

Purse Organizing – The pouchee (Part 2)

Having A Purse Organizer Can Make It Much Easier To Keep Your Purse Organized

I found the pouchee purse organizer several years ago and liked it so much that I began selling it myself.  There are many purse organizers out there.  I have seen and tried a few other ones.  The problems I have had with those are that they are either too big, bulky and expensive or that they don’t have any handles and they are just pockets that line the inside of your purse. Those tend to fall down and get pushed to the bottom of the purse.

The pouchee has two ring handles. They fold down to stay out of the way.

The handles make it really easy to grab the pouchee and either carry it by itself into a store so that you don’t have to carry your heavy purse on your shoulder or to lift it out of your purse and switch it from purse to purse when you change your outfits.  I don’t do that myself, but I know many of you do switch your handbags often to match what you are wearing.

There are several features to the pouchee that help you to organize your things.

There is a divider down the center.  I keep my checkbooks on either side of the liner. I can fit all 3 of my checkbooks into the pouchee.

There is a zipper pocket for change or personal items.

On the other side is another pouch that you can put your money, pictures or papers.

The front has slots for discount cards, business cards etc. You can put a pen where I have it, or a pair of thin glasses fit nicely there too.

The other side of the pouchee has two pockets. Cell phones (Droid X and iphone do fit) There is also a pen slot on this side of it.

You don’t have to have a big purse to use the pouchee.  It works for smaller purses too.  Of course not the really small purses, but compare it to the size of the checkbooks that fit in the pouchee.

It is an awesome way to transfer your essentials if you don’t want to carry a purse and a diaper bag or purse and gym bag. Just pull out your pouchee and put it in your diaper bag or gym bag and you are ready to go.

Again, I don’t make the pouchee, I didn’t invent the pouchee… but I do sell the pouchee it because I love it!

**For my readers I have a special going on only through March 31, 2011. You to my pouchee store. If you add the code “ORGANIZED PURSE” you will receive a 10% discount. Keep in mind that I already have my pouchees priced lower than most other sources. This code will also work for the Card Cubby

Here are a couple other reviews of the pouchee that you can see.

Toni from A Bowl Full of Lemons
Monica from Your Life Organized

Be sure to watch for the rest of my posts this week:- (Part 1)

Purse Organizing – Part 1
Purse Organizing – Card Cubby (Part 3)
Purse Organizing – All those purses (Part 4)

How is your purse organizing coming?
I want to see your purse organizing! If you link up your purse post to my linky party and it is of your purse organizing, I’ll pull a picture and add a link to the part 1 Purse Organizing post too!

I’d love for you to link it up to my Organizing Mission Monday Link Party
It will be open until March 27th to link to.

I LOVE your comments!

Purse Organizing – Part 1

Purses Can Be A Bottomless Pit!

“I know I put it in here?”   “It just has to be here!” “Where are my keys?”  Do any of those sound familiar?

When it comes to purse organization I don’t know if any method can be completely foolproof, unless you are never in a hurry, never just throw something in your purse and always take the time to put everything back perfectly.

I know that isn’t me, and I would bet it also doesn’t include 99% of you! lol

But, purses do not have to be hopeless. There are some really good ways to organize them.  There are many purse organizers out there. I have my favorite and that is what I will show you today when I clean out my purse.

Here is my purse “Before”  Things aren’t where they belong, there are receipts tucked in the sides, etc..

I use a Butler Bag that I reviewed last year.  I still love it (although I’d like a spring color).  I like having a place for everything in my purse and this helps me do it.

Step 1: Dump everything out of it.

Step 2:  Sort it!   (just like you sort anything you organize)

Do you use it?
Do you need it in your purse?
Does it serve a purpose in your purse?

This is pretty much of what I decided to keep.  Not the little buttons, and add in the coupon keeper and make up/medicine bag.

Step 3: Clean It

Then if possible pull out the lining of your purse and clean it.  Even if you are planning to switch out and use your spring purse now and store this (or donate it), you should still clean it thoroughly.  Get out all those cracker crumbs and loose pennies, gum wrappers etc, that get caught down in your purse.

Once you have cleaned it and sorted it, you can start putting things back in. My old pouchee was still in decent shape after a couple of years, but it was dirty and dingy looking.  I could have spent some time working to clean it up, but since I’m spoiled and I sell them, I just went and picked out a new hot pink one. lol

Step 4: Reload it

I’ll be going over my pouchee tomorrow with you in detail and how useful it can be.   I start with putting my newly organized pouchee down in my purse.  I am showing you how you can switch out for a spring purse if you’d like….

But in reality I am still going to use my Butler bag, so my pouchee will go back in it. I also cleaned out this medicine/makeup bag that I use in my purse. I have my ibuprofen, stomach medicine for my hubby, Benadryl, tiny sewing kit, Shout stain remover, etc.. in here.  I did clean out some things I didn’t need or that were expired.

Then I put things back in the slots I like them in. I keep my frequent user cards and gift cards in the lime green Card Cubby (which I’ll show you later this week) also hand lotion, gum, a phone battery charger and a little multi tool in this side.

My husband calls my purse, “Your bag of many wonders”.  lol   I have my coupon holder (black long thin thing, a note pad, sun glasses, extra reading glasses, my medicine bag (off to left) my flip video camera, a high lighter, lipstick, pen.

That is one thing I really like about this purse, it has all the separated pockets.  Before this I have always looked for a purse with organizing pockets in it.  So that things can have their own places.

Designer purses are not important to me.  What is important to me is finding a purse that is usable and that has organization stamped all over it!

I then tuck my pouchee down in on the side. It has my three (yes…  one for joint account, one for my son’s support account and one for my business account) checkbooks, money, pen and my phone fits in it too.  Then my keys usually tuck down in the space to the right of my pouchee so I can find them easily.

Keeping your purse organized doesn’t have to be hard if everything has a place.  Rather it is this purse organizer (pouchee) or another one, they are very handy and I do encourage you to try one.  Also using things like the Card Cubby or a little bag like I have my medicine in also helps to categorize and organize things.

Be sure to watch for the rest of my posts this week:

Purse Organizing – The pouchee (Part 2) *watch for the discount code to order one
Purse Organizing – Card Cubby (Part 3) *watch for the discount code to order one
Purse Organizing – All those purses (Part 4)

See my Readers purse organizing posts.

Randomly Robyn: Purse Purging

Robyn also posted how she is organizing all her purses now.  She is using a sweater storage hanger.

Good Enough Mommy: Healthy Back Bag

I want to see your purse organizing!  If you link up your purse post to my linky party and it is of your purse organizing, I’ll pull a picture and add a link to this post too!

I’d love for you to link it up to my Organizing Mission Monday Link Party
It will be open until March 27th to link to.

I LOVE your comments!

I’m linking up to these blogs:

A Snob Comes Clean

Sandy’s Blog Summary Friday

In an effort to keep my head above water, I am cutting back on trying to keep all 3 blogs going all the time.  Obviously for the last several weeks I have not posted on my Explore Ohio with Sandy blog (I did this week though).  But I have consistently tried to keep my Chat with Sandy blog going strong.  I have had a lot of giveaways on that, and I realize when I don’t have a giveaway… it isn’t being read by many.  So I am not going to stress about it, I will just use it as I need it for issues that don’t relate to Organizing.

I have been trying to focus more on my Organizing blog and I’m also realizing that people really like to see more pictures and have less writing.  So… I am working to switching that up a bit on my blog.  I realize it when I go to these blogs that have the “how to’s” in pictures.. I enjoy it myself.

So I might not need to have my Blog Summary every Friday, but I’ll at least have it once every couple of weeks if not weekly.

Explore Ohio with Sandy

Fort Rapids Indoor Waterpark Resort Review in Columbus Ohio – Jan. 12, 2011

Chat With Sandy

Exercising #31Days – Jan. 10, 2011

Wow… hard to believe I only posted 1 thing in there! I think that is a first.

I would love for you to join my Organizing Mission Monday link party. I do keep that open until 11:59 pm on Fridays.  If you have a cleaning or organizing blog post, link up.

Also if you have a link party of your own, please link it on my linky list.

Looking to organize your purse?  Don’t forget to check out my pouchee and Card Cubby’s!

I would love it if you could vote for my blog! You can vote up to once per day. Just click the button. Thank you!

Holiday Gift Guide 2010 – Organize with Sandy

Bringing you my favorite products I have reviewed

The items I am listing in my gift guide are products that I have already reviewed that I really love and use frequently.  I am linking you to the reviews I did of the products.  It says “Contest is Closed” on most of them because these are past giveaways…but…  Watch for a couple  of giveaways among them!!

Organizing Products  - My Favorite 10 for my 1st Gift Guide!

#10 Avery Customized Binder

Avery Binder Review  from October 4, 2010 .. contest is closed.

Zazzle.com/averybinder $18.99

I love being able to make personalized binders – what a fantastic way to make that special place for each child to keep their special papers, your recipes can be categorized into different binders with pictures and recipes using your own pictures.  I had fun making my own binder and was SO excited when it came in the mail.

#9 Twirly Hanger

Twirly Hanger – Feb. 19, 2010 contest is closed

Twirlyhanger.com  $9.99

The twirly hanger is still hanging up in my bathroom. I keep most of my frequently worn necklaces on it.  I bet I have at least 15 necklaces on it and I have very little problems with them getting tangled. They are easy to see when I am looking for a necklace to wear for an outfit.. and easy to get to.

#8 Neatnix Stuff Bucket

Neatnix Stuff Bucket – Oct. 18, 2010 contest is closed

Neatnix.com – $16.00

I am currently using this Stuff Bucket in my bathroom. I have my blow dryer in the main section and my most freq. used cosmetics in the pockets.  There are organizers that would fit better in the corner… but they aren’t as cute. I just like looking at cute things sometimes… they cheer me up.

#7 BedZak Bed Pockets

BedZak Bed Pockets – Dec. 7, 2009 contest is closed

Bedzak.com $29.99

I have this at my bedside and still use it nightly.  The TV controller is the biggest thing. But I have a pocket pen light and notepad in there (although you can’t really see them… and some hand lotion in another pocket.  Very convenient and has held up well.

#6 belle dangles Jewelry

belle danglesJewelry Organizer – Nov. 30, 2009  contest is closed

belledangles.com $34.99

I use this daily also.  It is on the wall above my soaking tub. The Twirly hanger is right to the left of it.  This holds my bracelets, scarves and some odds and ends.  It is solid… and I would miss it now if I didn’t have it.

#5 Butler Bag

Butler Bag – April 19, 2010 contest is closed but ENJOY an Exclusive 25% discount!! Use code “SANDY25”

Butlerbag.com - I don’t see the bag I have on the site now, but there are 4 beautiful bags! I love the colors of the Day Swagger bag, and like the outter zipper pockets of the Medium tote they have on their site now!

I have been using this purse as my main purse since I did this post.  I was thrilled that my pouchee and card cubby fit well with this purse and do like having the slots to keep track of my little items that go in my purse.

#4 Teamson Kids Magic Garden Bookshelf

Giveaway Going on NOW!!  (until Dec. 17, 2010)

Teamson Kids Magic Garden Bookshelf (see giveaway here)

This shelf is SO cute!  But not only cute and functional – is is very well made.  The quality is superb and impressed my husband as he was putting it together.

#3 Card Cubby

Giveaway Going on Now (Dec. 10, 2010)

Card Cubby Giveaway (see giveaway here)

I think you all know I like the Card Cubby! I sell it for peak sake.  I do not produce it and it wasn’t my idea… but I started using it and love it so much I wanted to make it available to you.  You can find it in my Organize with Sandy Store too. You can purchase them with a $2.00 discount by entering code “GiftGuide10″ until Dec. 31, 2010 (while supplies last)

#2 pouchee Purse Organizer

Giveaway Going on NOW (Dec. 17, 2010)

pouchee purse Organizer (see giveaway here)

The pouchee is an awesome purse organizer.  I also sell this in my Organize with Sandy Store. I am also giving a $2.00 discount on the pouchee until Dec. 31, 2010 by entering the code “GiftGuide10″ (while supplies last)  I like it much better than other purse organizers because it has handles that fold down to get out of the way, but also make it possible to move it from purse to purse or carry on it’s own.  There are very few other purse organizers out there that you can do that with.

#1 Favorite Review & Giveaway –  Campus Quilt!

Campus Quilt – Dec. 14, 2009 (Contest closed)

Campus Quilt.com I absolutely LOVE my quilt that Campus Quilt made for me!  They normally do t-shirt quilts (with all your favorite t-shirts) ..but they added some special things in that I requested.  I was able to have them put in squares from my wedding dress (wedding in 2006), my step daughter first Christmas dress (that I got to buy for a little girl ..since I had all boys). My Mom’s wedding gloves and her hankie.. They also made me a pillow from the bodice of my wedding dress.  This is a treasure and a great way to decrease some of that “stuff” in your closet that you don’t really wear, but want to keep… and this makes it special to see everyday!

Visit my Chat with Sandy Blog and see my Gift Guide (and giveaways)

Disclosure:  None of these Brands knew I was going to add them into my Gift Guide. I was not asked to have any of these in my Gift Guide…nor did I pitch anyone for this gift guide. I just wanted to let you know what my favorite 10 items have been to review!

Sandy’s Blog Summary Friday

My Weekly Overview Of What Is Happening On My Other 2 Blogs!

Chat with Sandy

Cold Stone Creamery Hot Cocoa – Nov. 19, 2010

Motorcycle Dogs – Nov 21, 2010

aeternum Cookware by Bialetti Review – Nov. 24, 2010

I did not post anything this week on my Explore Ohio with Sandy blog.  I took a week off for Thanksgiving.  lol

Giveaways!

There is some Good Stuff coming up next week!!!  I will have about 4 giveaways going on at the same time.  I will also be coming out with my Gift Guide – My 10 Favorite items for my Organize with Sandy review site and my 10 favorite items I reviewed from my Chat with Sandy site.

The only one up right now is the Card Cubby Giveaway - Check it out.. there is a discount if you buy one too!

Card Cubby Review and Giveaway *CLOSED*

Congrats to Karen Med Random.org #10

Who doesn’t love their Card Cubby?

Isn’t this a fun Card Cubby?  The Zebra print is just way cool. The one thing that I like about a bright or noticeable card cubby is that when you look down in your purse … it is EASY PEASY to spot! If you have a black entire lined purse..and have a black card cubby….it is just a little harder to spot.

I use my card cubby constantly. I do not use it for business cards. You could… but I use my for gift cards, frequent flyer cards, library cards, etc..
Being able to go into a Target or Walmart, not sure if you have any gift cards left.. or maybe you have a few dollars left on that one from Christmas? You can just go to your letter “T” divider for Target or “W” for Walmart and look. That quick and simple. You don’t have to sit and thumb through a whole pile of cards (maybe with a rubber band around them). I heard of someone else who used a ring and punched holes in all of their cards and put them on a ring. Kind of a neat idea.. except – do you always have that hole punch? I know what would happen. You would start with the cards you presently have. It would be good at first (until someone needed swipe that card and you had to take it off the ring) …but then you would have a constant changing of the cards.. and the system would break down.

To Buy a Card Cubby

Contact Me!! I sell them. Go to Organize with Sandy Store You can go here and order and if you use the code “GiftGuide10″ I will give you $2.00 off through December 31. (only while supplies last)

To Enter to Win a Card Cubby

You can win a “Zebra” card cubby as pictured in the top picture!

Go to the Card Cubby tab in my Organize with Sandy Store and tell me 2 facts about the Card Cubby  that you find on the site link.  **Be sure to come back here and leave me your answer in your comment. Your e-mail has to either in your comment or on your profile.

FOR EXTRA CHANCES TO WIN:

**Each of these HAS to have a separate comment to win. The winner is picked using Random.org. It just goes the number of comments….not by what you say.

1) Subscribe to my Organize with Sandy blog This is for 5 chances to win! (use 5 separate comments)

2) Subscribe to my Chat with Sandy blog This is for 5 chances to win! (use 5 separate comments)

3) Subscribe to my Explore Ohio with Sandy blog.  Come back here for 5 separate chances to win.

3) Follow me on Twitter. Leave me your twitter id in your comment

4) Subscribe to my YouTube channel

5) Tweet this out up to 3 times a day. (one comment for each tweet) Pls leave your link

6) I can’t ask you to “like” me on Facebook, but I can ask you to leave a comment for an entry.  3 chances for each comment on any of my FB  pages:

Organize with Sandy

OrganizerSandy (Organizing Fan page)

Explore Ohio with Sandy

See lots of way to enter!!

This contest will run until 11:59pm est on Thursday December 10, 2010 *THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED*

Any comment that comes in after the above time will be deleted. This is open to US mailing addresses only. One person per mailing  address only.  Winner will be chosen by Random.org

You will have 48 hours to reply to my e-mail if you are picked as the winner, or else I will go on to the next winning number.

You can see my other giveaways going on here:

Dirt Road South Etsy Jewelry Shop – Dec. 10, 2010

pouchee purse organizer – Dec. 17, 2010

Teamson Kids Hand Painted Book Shelf – Dec. 17, 2010

1-800- Flowers Cheryl’s Cookies & Fannie May Candy – Dec. 10, 2010

Genesis Today Omega Orange Juice - Dec. 17, 2010

lia Sophia Wisteria Necklace – Dec. 17, 2010
Disclosure: I sell the Card Cubby – this is one of my own products I am using for the contest.

Sandy’s Blog Summary Friday

Here’s What Happened This Week on my Other 2 Blogs:

Explore Ohio with Sandy

Sitting Around the Campfire – November 9, 2010

Chat with Sandy

Everything but the Kitchen Sink – Nov. 8, 2010

My New – Old Dodge Neon – Nov. 10, 2010

This has been a busy week for me.  Things have been a little crazy as I am trying to still play catch up from being out of town so much in October.  The kitchen remodel has been a zinger on my house.

I’m hoping next week to catch up my house and catch up my blogs… to lose 50 pounds and be the perfect mom.  What do you think? Unrealistic goals?  lol  (I need to at least catch up my house and blogs)

Extreme Home Makeover in Nashville, TN – Nov. 12, 2010

Giveaways Still going On

Lia Sophia necklace – Ends Monday Nov. 15th, 2010

Lee Jeans – Giving away 5 pair of Men’s Lee Jeans – Ends Thurs. Nov. 18, 2010

Pouchee and Card Cubby – Great gift ideas to help organize your purse

Sandy’s Blog Summary Friday

Chat with Sandy

Shoe Envy at Blog World Expo October 19, 2010

Moxie Girlz Review and Giveaway October 20, 2010

Dove Movement  for Self Esteem – Oct 22, 2010

Explore Ohio with Sandy

Nutcracker Restaurant in Pataskala Ohio – Oct. 18, 2010

Pouchee and Card Cubby

Great idea for those holiday gifts.

Sandy’s Blog Summary Friday

A Summary Overview of what happened on my 3 blogs this week

I have realized many people do not realize I even have 3 blogs (well 4 if you count my Review site and 5 if you count my store! LOL)   So I decided to start Sandy’s Blog Summary Friday.

Organize with Sandy.com

Charming CHARLIE Fashion Store is one Organized Store I featured this on my Explore blog as you will see below…but I wanted to point out on this blog how cool it is because it is so organized!

Organizing Sports Schedules in your home. As school along with fall sports start..are things at your house crazy?

Avery Teacher Celebrates Teachers Sweepstake Are you a teacher?  You have to check this out! Home school teachers can also enter.

Chat with Sandy.com

Exercise – Why is it so hard for me? Do you love to exercise? I WISH I did! This is a post about what my thoughts are about  having to exercise.

Breyers Sundae Scoop-Off Contest! Great prizes by coming up with a sundae recipe.

Click it for Breast Cancer Next month is Breast Cancer Awareness month, but a Fast Fixin and a group of 12 bloggers wanted to start things earlier than that.

Explore Ohio with Sandy.com

There are 2 places I showed you this week on my Explore Ohio with Sandy blog. You can see my visit to Charming CHARLIES at Polaris Fashion Place in Columbus.

I also took you on a little visit to The Columbus Zoo in Powell Ohio.

Kids Love Ohio Book Review. This book is a great resource to check out places in Ohio. I know I am going to be using it!

Reviews and Giveaways

Rubbermaid Reveal Mop on my Organize with Sandy Reviews blog. This runs until Monday Sept 6th, 2010

Bissel Lift-Off Multicyclonic Pet Vacuum on my Chat with Sandy blog. This runs until Thursday Sept 16th, 2010

Facebook & Twitter Love – I’d Love some!!

Facebook Pages - My Organize with Sandy or Sandy Jenney page (main page)

Organizer Sandy Fan page

Explore Ohio with Sandy Fan Page

Twitter – @OrganizerSandy

Sandy’s Store

Don’t forget I sell two different organizing products that I love!

Pouchee purse organizer and the Card Cubby.  You can organize your purse in a snap with these products. I love them and use them both…ask any of my friend!

Card Cubby

Congrats!

Winner #1  Random.org # 127 is Cheryl G.

Winner #2 Random.org #106 is Busiemommie

A Rolodex for Your Purse

I love an organized purse and this Card Cubby makes organizing all those gift cards, reward cards, library cards, etc… easy to find.  I know that I had a pile of them in my purse before…and what do you do each time you need one? Yes….you sort through them until you find the one you need. No more!!

The other thing I think is great…what a cool gift for Graduation or a Wedding?  What does everyone give now? Gift cards right? Wouldn’t it be neat to put your gift card in this to give to them?

The Card Cubby has  alphabetized dividers. So you Target gift card goes under “T”. Your Subway rewards card goes under “S”.  Easy to find!!

I have been using one for over a year before I decided to sell them myself.  It has held up great, it has a strong magnet on the front. It is easy to clean if needed and the dividers are a sturdy and haven’t gotten bent up or destroyed.

Here is a video to show you how the Card Cubby works

In Celebration of carrying them in my “store” I am going to give away 2 of them to you!

To Purchase Your Own:

Go to my Store and order.  They cost $19.95 each.

To Win:

Go to Organizewithsandy.com/pouchee and tell me which color Card Cubby you would like if you win. **Be sure to come back here and leave me a comment.  Your e-mail needs to be either on your comment or easily accessible in your profile.

For Extra chances to Win:

**Each of these HAS to have a separate comment written please. (I know its a pain, but other wise you won’t have as many chances if you don’t)

You can find all the links in my right hand sidebar.

1) Subscribe to my Organizing with Sandy blog – 5 chances to win (be sure to leave 5 comments)

2) Subscribe to my NEW Blog Chat with Sandy for 5 chances.

3) Follow me on Twitter

4) Follow me on Linked In

5) Tweet out this giveaway up to 3 times per day. Write a comment for each time you do with the link.

6) Add any of my 3 buttons (Organize with Sandy, Reviews, Chat with Sandy) to your sidebar and come back to let me know. Separate

entry for each one you add.

See….lots of ways to enter to win!

This contest will run until 11:59pm est on  June 3rd, 2010 . THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED

Any comment that comes in after the above time will be deleted.

This is open to US mailing addresses only. One person per mailing address only. Winner will be chosen by Random.org

You will have 48 hours to reply to my e-mail if you win to be eligible. If I don’t hear back then I will go to the next winner.

Disclosure Policy

Love me that Card Cubby!

I love the Card Cubby!! I have been using it close to a year now and think….wow, this is another product that I wish I thought of. (same with the pouchee..wish I came up with that one!)

I use mine for all my “cards”: discount cards, gift cards, library cards, insurance cards and special coupons..either free things or like 20% off Kohls card. I do not use it for all my coupons.
I also have one for business cards. So when I go to conferences I pull the other one out of my purse and throw in my business Card Cubby.
Pair this with the pouchee and you have one very organized purse.

I actually had 2 girls come up to me at the Type A Mom Conference and ask to see in my purse. They wanted to see if I really was organized. I was a little nervous wondering if I was going to pass the test (I am certainly not perfect and I can be known to throw something in my purse in a hurry when stressed!) But I did pass their test..{phew}. It basically looked just like this, except I have the brown croc card cubby now and my fall purse is that cool yellow gold color.

Full disclosure: I am an affiliate for the card cubby and I sell the pouchee (but I wouldn’t do either if I didn’t think these were the coolest purse organizing tools ever…duh!)

Organizing your Purse

Does this look anything like your purse?

Our purses: Our lifeline to being able to function!! We rely on having what we need when we need it.
Having that bandaide when Alex falls and scrapes his knee at the playground. A tissue when Tim has a runny nose in church, a brush to brush Elise’s hair when we are out and a ponytail holder to pull it back.
Our families look at us as being able to solve every problem such as having the gift cards they got from Christmas when they need them and always having a pen and paper to so we can take down a phone number when our husband’s are on the phone.
But can you find what you need in your purse when you need it? If you are like most people the answer to that is no. And not a little no…but a big fat…..”are you kidding me”..NO!
Here is the content of my purse minus my cell phone (I left by the couch and glasses that I was wearing…so just pretend there are 2 more things laying on the table.

There is a lot of stuff there! But I use almost everything at different times. Being an organizer I hate not being prepared.
Finding the right purse to start with is one of the big keys. I have to say that I am more into function and price than I am into style and name brand. I look for a purse that has several pockets. I like the outside pockets, and several compartments inside to keep things separated.
The pouchee has made keeping my purse organized sooooo much nicer!! I have my main items that I need in there. My checkbooks, glasses, cell phone, money, credit cards, pen, and keys. So I can changes purses easily if I want to or I can just grab that and go if I want to run into a store and not carry my entire purse.
(Thank you Anita Crook for inventing it!!)
I have also just recently discovered the card cubby. It is the hot pink item. I am actually having a giveaway on it right now on my Organize with Sandy Review site. You can win one!! It has all my gift cards and discount cards in it along with my business cards.
The other thing that I also discovered that I really love is the Fumi pursehook. It is the bracelet that looks like a zebra. Love it. I used it for real when I went to a movie the other night and there was no hook on the stall. I had it hooked to the handle of my purse instead of wearing it that night and just took it off and hung my purse on the door. Also having a giveaway right now on my Review site.
(Keep in mind that if I didn’t really like these 3 products and plan on continuing to use them after these contests…I wouldn’t be mentioning them right now.)
The reason I want you to find a purse with different pockets is so that you can separate your items to make it easier to find when you need them. This is how I have mine organized.
(Left) This is one of the zipper sections (not the main compartment). I have my camera, PDA and spelling directory in this pocket.

The right zipper section I have a little bag that I put all the bandaides etc. in. (not shown)
This is the end pocket where I keep my lipstick, brush, hand lotion and chap stick. It makes it very easy to grab my lipstick at anytime…no hunting around.
In this pocket I have gum and a notepad that has a pad of sticky notes and little colored tabs to mark things in magazines etc.
The main compartment of my purse has my pouchee and the card cubby (left) It is hard to see but I also have 2 pockets inside the purse that I have my little pink multi-tool that I use mainly for the scissors. Also on the strap I keep my new Fumi pursehook and my antibacterial hand gel.
Purse is put back together quickly and with just a little pain (it was very hard for me to just dump everything in the main compartment for my top picture! LOL
Keeping your purse organized will make doing your errand much easier when it comes time to check out at a store. Have fun organizing!!