Ellen Hankes

Learning From the Fortune Cookie

Don't you love the excitement of opening a fortune cookie? The results could be a lifetime of love, happiness, wisdom, and of course, untold wealth.

I must admit at first I was disappointed when I read "Talking does not teach" as I cracked open the small source of wisdom. However, as a professional organizer I often hear people exclaim "He(she) just won't listen when I tell them how to get organized."

One of the reasons professional organizers can help people is that they show a person how to implement systems that will keep them organized long term. While talking can open doors of awareness, the real opportunity to learn comes from a qualified and experienced teacher.

What's keeping you from learning?

Repurpose for Earth Day

Earth Day is a great day to celebrate the renewal of the earth in it's new spring green hues. I love how the brown grass has responded to the warmer temperatures, sunshine and moisture to provide a lush backdrop for the budding trees.

While we all celebrate Earth Day in unique ways, I was interested in the creative approach Artistic Bead, a Des Moines, Iowa bead shop takes to encourage its patrons to recycle. This shop offers a contest for beaded objects that also include reused material. Some of the suggestions included in an on-line newsletter included pop cans, package labeling, or vintage beads or buttons. I am looking forward to seeing the completed contest entries.

My husband, the beader in our family, loves to repurpose vintage jewelry to create contemporary designs. In a sense, pearls are a repurposed item. A natural pearl is formed by the mollusk in response to an irritant. When the pearl is harvested and used for jewelry it is repurposed and given a new life.

How are you observing Earth Day? What do you do that extends the life of objects?

The Mighty Binder Clip

Have you discovered the wonders of binder clips? Since they were invented nearly a century ago, binder clips have been used primarily for clipping together bundles of paper. Here's a few more ideas for your binder clips:

• Corral cords. Remove one of the wires from the metal clip. Arrange it around unsightly computer or phone cords and replace it on the metal clip. Attach the clip to an out of sight portion of the desk or other convenient place for an effective cord corral.Check this demonstration video.
• Bundle your to-do's. Affix a printed or handwritten label on the black metal area. Some examples are To Call, To Do, Day Off Dreams, or other topics for which you have multiple pieces of paper. Use the labeled clip to bundle all items that fit in that category. The benefit is fewer lost papers and clearer direction on what needs to be done.
• Focus on important things. Clip the agenda, calendar, goals or whatever needs to be kept front and center to your planner or notebook. You can keep it more visible on the front or place it discreetly just inside the front cover.
• Complete your outfit. Larger clips can be used on clothes hangers to hold scarves, undergarments, or pieces of jewelry to complete a special look.

The possibilities are endless for uses for these handy binder clips. How have you used binder clips to increase your productivity and organization? We would like to hear your ideas!